>> JUNE 24, 25. WILL THE
COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THEM?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> IN ADDITION, WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER JOINING US.
WELCOME. AS ALWAYS, WELCOME TO
JOIN. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
IT WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING AND
SEEING NO OBJECTION. FOR CHAIR
COMMENT TODAY, WE ARE BASICALLY
AT THE 18 MONTH PART OF THE TERM
AND THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL.
WE HAVE A MISSION THAT FOCUSES
ON THE NEED TO CREATE A SAFE
SPACE FOR THE CITY AND OUR
CHILDREN CAN RIDE SAFELY ON THE
BUSES AND WE NOTED THAT AT THE
LAST MEETING OR HAVE BUSINESSES
NOW HAVE THE NEED FOR PRIVATE
SECURITY. WE HAVE THE PLAN TO
ACKNOWLEDGE A COMMON THREAD
ACROSS ALL PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT
THAT HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO GROW IN
OUR CITY. SPD STAFFING. WE HAVE
SEEN IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE
BOARD. I SAID TO THE MEN AND
WOMEN OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
GIVE US A YEAR. IF YOU ARE
LOOKING TO TRANSFER OR GIVE
RETIRE, GIVE US ONE YEAR. WITH
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE , WE HAVE ARC
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BILLS
AND LATERAL RECRUITMENT BILLS
COMING THROUGH. THROUGH SELECT
LABOR COMMITTEE, WE HAVE OUR SPA
AGREEMENT AND I WOULD ARGUE MORE
IMPORTANTLY HAS BEEN A
LEADERSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL AND
COMMITTEE IN THIS AREA. IT'S
ABOUT SHOWING UP AT ROLL CALLS .
IT'S ABOUT BEING THERE AND
ENGAGING. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
PARTICULARLY WITH THOSE WITH
SPD. I AM CHEERLEADING FOR SOME
OF US ARE CHEERLEADING AND IT'S
NOT ABOUT CHEERLEADING, BUT
IT'S ABOUT SUPPORTING AND BEING
THERE AND SHOWING LEADERSHIP.
PILLAR TWO IS ORDINANCES. HAVING
A DIFFERENCE ON THE GROUND.
AFTER HOURS ESTABLISHMENT BILL
AND WE HAVE UPDATED ORDINANCES
THROUGH CROWD MANAGEMENT AND OUR
CHIEF OF POLICE OF INVESTIGATION
ORDINANCE HAS TO BE UPDATED AND
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CHRONIC
NUISANCE PROPERTY BILL AND
LOOKING TO UPDATE THAT. VACANT
BUILDINGS AND LOTS . WE PASSED
OUR NUMBER ONE BILL AND THAT BY
ACCIDENT WAS WITH THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. BUILDING ABATEMENT.
FROM JUNE TO JUNE, WE DEMOLISHED
41 BUILDINGS THAT WERE PUBLIC
SAFETY THREAT TO OUR COMMUNITIES
AND MADE THEM SAFER FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES FOR A TOTAL OF 75
BUILDINGS ABATED. THE ROUTE THE
WHOLE OF 2024 AND 2025, NUMBERS
ARE 67 AND 37 FOR A TOTAL OF 104
BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE
SAFER THE COMMUNITIES EITHER
BEING DEMOLISHED OR REMODELED TO
ONE DEGREE OR ANOTHER. WE PASSED
THE FIRE CODE IN SUPPORT OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. TODAY, WE HAVE
OUR GRAFFITI BILL AND OTHER
EFFORTS ON GRAFFITI HERE IN THE
COUNCIL AND ELSEWHERE. WE HAVE
ALSO DONE THIS THROUGH THE
BUDGET PROCESS AND I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK JACKSON AND GRAFFITI
TEAM ON THE EXECUTIVE SIDE AND
THE EFFORTS ON THE BUDGET
PROCESS. WE NEED THIS TO BE A
COMPLETE ALL HANDS EFFORT. WE
DID HAVE OUR EMS LEVY THAT WE
PASSED LAST TIME AND OUR SUPPORT
FOR CARE AND ALSO GROUPS LIKE
LEAD AND PART OF THAT INTERFACE
BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HEALTH, BECAUSE AS I SAID MANY
TIMES, WE CANNOT SUCCEED AT
PUBLIC SAFETY IF WE DON'T ALSO
SUCCEED IN PUBLIC HEALTH. TWO
MEETINGS FROM NOW, THE 22nd OF
JULY WILL BE KING COUNTY DAY AND
WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING
UP. SEPARATE FROM THE PLAN AND
KIND OF UNDERLYING EVERYTHING IS
THE IDEA OF TECHNOLOGY
PARTICULARLY WITH OUR STAFFING
CHALLENGES . OUR BILLS INCLUDED
THE REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER AND
CCTV AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE
READER A LPR AND JUST RECENTLY
LAST TIME START CHASING. THESE
BILLS ARE M█AKING A DIFFERENCE
AND YOU WILL FIND DURING THE
COURSE OF DELAY BETWEEN NOW AND
THE RECESS HOW THESE BILLS AND
SYSTEM ARE COMING ONLINE AND ARE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR
EFFORTS TO CREATE A SAFER CITY.
OUR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED
IN THE CONSENT DECREE RESOLUTION
BEFORE GOING TO THAT I WANT TO
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
BECAUSE WE ALSO HAD TECHNOLOGY
PIECES THAT WERE DONE THROUGH
THE PARKS AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
AND TECHNOLOGY. THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR SAKA AND TAKE A STAND ON
THE DEFINED PLEDGE AND IT'S
IMPORTANT TO BRING THE BILLS UP.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND IT'S ALSO
IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE WORKING
WITH EXECUTIVE. IT IS HAPPENING
. THIS IS THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE.
WE HAVE THE TRANSITION IN BRIDGE
WE HAVE TO GO FROM OUR POSTURE
OF YESTERDAY , TODAY AND
TOMORROW. I MENTIONED THANKING
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL AND
COMMITTEE, BUT I WANT TO SAY
THAT WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGING ON
THE JUDICIAL SIDE AND ALSO THE
EXECUTIVE. THIS HAS BEEN A TEAM
EFFORT. COMING BACK TO THE
COUNCIL, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
HAVING A VICE CHAIR WHO IS ON
TOP OF PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES
TO INCLUDE TRANSIT SAFETY, BUT
ALSO COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, AS I COME
THROUGH. IT IS NOT ON THE
COMMITTEE WORKING HARD. IN
DISTRICT 4, THERE IS A LOT OF
CHALLENGES. I DID WANT TO THANK
AND THE CLOSED CHAIRS COMMENT ,
COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE IS A MEMBER
OF THE COMMITTEE AND I WANT TO
THANK HER FOR HER EFFORTS . IT
WAS A KEY PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
STAY OUT OF AREA PROSTITUTION.
HER SUPPORT FOR ALL THE BILLS
AND ALL BUT ONE VOTED FOR IN
TERMS OF THE EFFORTS THAT ARE
VERY MINDFUL AND RELEVANT
AMENDMENTS OFTENTIMES, SO I WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR
HER EFFORTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY,
PARTICULARLY UP NORTH WITH THE
NORTH PRECINCT, BUT THE WHOLE OF
SEATTLE. WITH THAT SAID WITH
TODAY'S CHAIR COMMENT, WE WILL
OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE
TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA OR
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. CLICK? HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE TWO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP AND ATE
REMOTE.
>> WE WILL START WITH IN PERSON.
TWO MINUTES.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MATTER IT IS UP TO 60
MINUTES AND SPEAKERS ARE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. THEY WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN THEY ARE WITHIN 10
SECONDS OF THEIR TIME. ALLOW US
TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OPEN
AND WE BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. THE FIRST
IN SPIRIT PERSON SPEAKER IS
AARON GOODMAN.
>> GOOD MORNING. EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA AND I THINK
THIS IS MY SECOND MEETING OF THE
COMMITTEE IN A ROW AND I THINK
THAT SPEAKS TO EXACTLY WHAT YOU
WERE JUST SAYING. THERE IS A LOT
HAPPENING IN THE COMMITTEE AND I
JUST WANT TO BE THANKFUL FOR
YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME REALLY
IMPORTANT ISSUES. ORDINANCE THAT
IS ON THE BOARD AND AS I SPOKE
TO YOU AND LAST WEEK IN A
LETTER, WE DEAL WITH ILLEGALLY
OPERATED NIGHTCLUBS AND A LOT OF
THE ACTIVITY THAT IS IMPACTFUL
FROM THERE IS NOT HAPPENING
INSIDE THE CLUB. IT IS ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE. WHILE
HE DID HAVE A HOMICIDE IN ONE OF
OUR CLUBS, WE HAVE HAD OVER 500
SHOTS FIRED IN THE LAST THREE
YEARS AROUND CLUBS. 50 SHOTS IN
FRONT OF SUPERNOVA . THEY ARE
NOT INSIDE THE CLUB. IT SHOWS
THE SIGNIFICANT PEDESTRIAN AND
VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUES . IT IS
OUTSIDE OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS.
WHAT I DID NOT SHARE WITH YOU AT
THE TIME WAS THE IMPACTS TO
NEIGHBORING PROPERTY BUSINESSES.
FOLKS HANGING OUT IN THEIR
PROPERTY AND LEAVING GARBAGE,
GRAFFITI AND ALL OF THAT.
STRONGLY SUPPORT THE EXPANSION
OF THE BILL TO SUPPORT THE
NIGHTLIFE AND I ALSO COULDN'T
STAND UP HERE AND NOT PLUG THE
GRAFFITI BILL, WHICH IS A MAJOR
ISSUE IN SOTO, AS WELL. ALSO,
ALL OF THIS NEEDS TO BE
SUPPORTED BY THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND CONFIRMING A
PERMANENT CHIEF IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO HAVING POLICE
DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU GUYS AND
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> A 50,000 FEET, BUT I'M
SPEAKING FROM STREET LEVEL AND
WE STILL HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS LESS
THAN 10 DETECTIVES IN SEATTLE
RIGHT NOW. ASSAULTS ARE MUCH
IGNORED . PHYSICAL ASSAULTS AND
SEXUAL ASSAULTS. I KNOW AT ONE
TIME IT REQUIRED A MINOR BEFORE
SOMETHING WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO
BE DONE. I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN
IDEA OF WHEN POLICE SERVICES ARE
GOING TO BE RESTORED TO THE
MASSES. A MEMBER OF THE MASSES
AND THEY HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN OR
A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THEN
MANY WARS. GOVERNMENTS HAVE PUT
TOGETHER COUNTRIES AND SEATTLE
IS STILL WAITING. I WILL BE
WAITING FOREVER. WE COULD USE
SOME SPECIAL SQUADS BACK AND
HANDLE THINGS LIKE BURGLARY ,
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THESE MINOR
THINGS WHERE YOU ARE USUALLY
DEALING WITH THE SAME PEOPLE
OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND IT HELPS
WHEN YOU HAVE THE SQUADS WHO
KNOW THEIR CONSTITUENTS. THEY
KNOW THE USUAL SUSPECTS WHEN
THEY HAD A 90% CHANCE OF PEOPLE
. IT MAKES THE INVESTIGATION
EASIER. SEATTLE HAS ALWAYS HAD
PROBLEMS IN CERTAIN ZONES OF THE
CITY AND WE NEVER WERE
COMPLETELY, BUT SEATTLE HAS SO
MUCH DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I WAS
YOUNG AND I THINK WE CAN DO SO
MUCH BETTER AND STILL BE A MAJOR
LEAGUE CITY. I REALLY HOPE THE
CHIEF WILL HAVE SOME
SELF-CORRECTING MECHANISMS AND
YOU COULD CALL THE CHIEF'S
OFFICE AND GET HELP.
>> THANK YOU. THE FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS HOWARD GAIL. PRESS
STAR SIX WHEN YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT. YOU HAVE BEEN UNNEEDED.
>> GOOD MORNING. TODAY, YOU WILL
CONSIDER THE CONFIRMATION OF
BARNES AS CHIEF POLICE. IN
RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS HE STATED THAT
THE SPD QUOTE, HOLDS ITSELF
ACCOUNTABLE THROUGH MANY SYSTEMS
OF CRITICAL SELF-ANALYSIS SUCH
AS THE INVESTIGATION TEAM,
REVIEW BOARD AND ONGOING
AMENDMENT ANALYZING PERFORMANCE
TO ACHIEVE THE OUTCOMES . THREE
MONTHS AGO, WE WITNESSED A VERB
IN A WEST SEATTLE POLICE
PRECINCT , THE 14th SIMILAR
KILLING IN LESS THAN 14 YEARS OF
A PERSON IN CRISIS WITH AN EDGE
OR NO WEAPON IN THE HAND AND
EVERY ONE OF THESE CASES, ALL OF
SEATTLE'S ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEMS ACCEPTED THESE KILLINGS
TO BECOME A LAWFUL AND PROPER.
PLEASE RESOLVE THE INSTANCE
WITHOUT KILLING THE PERSON IN
CRISIS. I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON
THE STATEMENT THAT PROTEST
QUOTE, THINKING IN THIS REGARD.
CHIEF BARNES WAS PUBLICLY WHILE
HE HAS HIS OFFICERS WHEN WE HAVE
SEEN RECENTLY IN LOS ANGELES AND
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FEDERAL
AGENTS ARE EGREGIOUSLY VIOLATING
PEOPLE FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHT
AND WASHINGTON STATE
CONSTITUTIONS PROVIDING
PROTECTIONS AGAINST UNREASONABLE
SEARCH AND SEIZURES AND THE NEED
FOR WARRANT OR PROBABLE CAUSE IN
TARGETING INDIVIDUALS. CHIEF
BARNES, SPD OFFICERS PROTECTING
PROPERTY HAVE THEM ACTIVELY
PROTECT PEOPLE AGAINST THE FAR
GREATER CRIMES AMENDMENT
VIOLATIONS, ILLEGAL SEARCH AND
SEIZURE AND DENIAL OF RIGHTS AND
DUE PROCESS. OFFICERS DEMAND THE
IDENTITY OF FEDERAL AGENTS OR
EVIDENCE OF PROBABLE CAUSE ,
RECORD THE INTERACTIONS AND
OBTAIN THE NAMES OF PEOPLE
SUBJECT TO THE ABUSES. WE DO NOT
NEED PERFORMATIVE STATEMENTS
FROM THE POLICE CHIEF WHILE
THEORETICALLY BEING ARRESTED BY
FEDERAL AGENTS BUT WE NEED THE
POLICE CHIEF TO GIVE CLEAR
DIRECTION TO THE OFFICERS TO
ACTIVELY PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE, SO THEY DO
NOT GET ILLEGALLY SEIZED AND
DISAPPEAR THEMSELVES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MIXED UP, ALICE LOCKHART.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMITTEE. HER
NAME IS ALICE LOCKHART AND I
LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE
UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME. I'M RIGHT
THERE IN THE SUB ZONE AND BY
UNFORTUNATE I MEAN THE CAMERAS
AND NOT THE PROSECUTE WHO HAS
NEVER DONE ME ANY HARM. MOVING
ON TO COUNSEL BILL 12100 SIX ,
YES, IT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE
UNEQUALLY ENFORCED , THEREFORE
ON A MORAL BASIS I OBJECT TO
THAT, BUT WHAT I REALLY EXPECT
AND WHAT I EXPECT WILL RESONATE
EQUALLY WITH THE COUNSEL IS THAT
THE BILL WILL COST THE CITY A
TON OF MONEY. IT IS FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE. CLAIM AGAINST PER
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SPD AND
CITY OF SEATTLE IN GENERAL
CONTINUE TO RISE. I ORGANIZE A
SOLIDARITY BUDGET AND I DON'T
WANT TO SEE ANOTHER BUDGET THAT
HAS TO HAVE MORE MONEY FOR
JUDGMENT AND CLAIM, BUT THIS
ORDINANCE WILL BE UNEQUALLY
ENFORCED AND IT WILL RESULT . IN
THE MEANTIME, IT IS EXTREMELY
VAGUE TERMS THAT WILL MAKE
PROSECUTIONS UNDER IT ALSO
EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND
TIME-CONSUMING. WE DON'T NEED
IT. WE DON'T WANT IT. PLEASE
DON'T DO IT.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT PERSON UP IS
HIGHTOWER.
>> I AM SPEAKING IN REGARDS TO
THE CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR SPD
CHIEF AND I AM THE SISTER OF WHO
WAS MURDERED BY SEATTLE POLICE
WHILE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS. I KNOW FIRSTHAND
THE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES OF SPD
ABUSING AND CHOOSING TO ESCALATE
INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
ALONG WITH CONVINCING POLICE
WITH POLICY TOWARDS COMMUNITY
MEMBERS OR THEIR
CONSTITUTIONALLY ASK PROTECTED
FREE SPEECH AND OTHER
INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC OF
THE KILLING THAT HAPPENED MARCH
OF THIS YEAR, SONOMA PEOPLE HAVE
TO LIVE WITH THE TRAGIC REALITY
THAT MY FAMILY AND SO MANY LIKE
MINE CONTINUE TO FACE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, ALBERTO
ALVAREZ.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING .
GROUPS THAT RALLIED AT CITY HALL
ON MAY 27th ARE ALLOWED TO
QUESTION PEOPLE'S RELIGIOUS
AFFILIATION OR LACK THEREOF FOR
ENTRY. THEY HAVE PLANS TO
RETURN. YES, THE GROUP HAS A
LEGAL RIGHT TO PREACH THEIR
PERSONAL HATE, HOWEVER THE SAME
CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS OF
FREE SPEECH ALSO STOP GOVERNMENT
FROM ESTABLISHING RELIGIOUS TASK
FOR ENTRY ONTO PUBLIC PROPERTY .
THE CITY GRANTED PRIVATE
ENTRYWAY, AND SEATTLE POLICE TO
ENFORCE A CHURCH OTHER THAN THAT
PROHIBITS ANYONE NOT PART OF
THEIR RELIGIOUS GROUP. ALL IN
VIOLATION SEPARATING CHURCH AND
STATE. WHAT OVERSIGHT ACTION OR
ACCOUNTABILITY CAN YOU MAKE TO
ENSURE THAT THEIR RELIGIOUS
AFFILIATION IS NOT A REQUIREMENT
FOR ENTRY INTO SEATTLE'S PUBLIC
SPACES? THANK YOU AND HAVE A
GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. ALVAREZ.
>> NEXT UP, DAVID HAYNES.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID HAYNES.
MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A CLIMATE
THAT ALL COPS HAVE TO STAY SOBER
IN BETWEEN SHIFTS AND NOT
ALLOWED TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE
BEER ON WEEKENDS ON VACATION OR
THE NIGHT BEFORE RETURNING TO
WORK. THE BARTENDERS WHO KEEP
OVER SERVING THEM NEED TO BE
FINED OR SHUT DOWN. WITH THAT
SAID, OUT OF ALL OF THE CRIME
HOTSPOT BUILDINGS AND MOTELS,
HOW MANY HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN
PROPERLY AND TORN DOWN
COMPLETELY AND REDEVELOPED WITH
EMERGENCY HOTEL HOUSING OR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR ANY
PROGRESS IN THE NEIGHBOR OF REAL
ESTATE ? IS COUNCIL GOING TO
PRIORITIZE PERSECUTING GRAFFITI
ARTISTS ON VACANT BUILDINGS AS
IF -- BECAUSE 79% OF THEM ARE
WHITE AND TRYING TO CHANGE THE
SKIN COLOR PERCENTAGES OF THOSE
INCARCERATED AND TO BLAME FOR
WHAT MAKES UNSAFE? THIS COMES
FROM THE MAYOR WHO HAS BEEN
RUNNING FOR HIS CRIMINAL
UNDERWORLD NEIGHBORS OF HIS
CHILDHOOD WHO ARE PRESENTLY
CONDUCTING UNCIVIL WAR ON
COMMUNITY WITH RIVAL DRUG GANGS
ESCALATING MOST VIOLENCE WHILE
THE MAYOR ASK ACTS LIKE WE HAVE
TO SYMPATHIZE WITH THE DEVIL AND
UNSAFE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY AND
VISIT. WHERE IS THE REAL
PROACTIVE CRIME-FIGHTING THAT
SHUTS DOWN ALL OF THE DRUG
PUSHERS? AND, ALL OF THE OPEN
DRUG MARKETS. WHERE IS ALL OF
THE TRUST IN QUESTION OF ALL OF
THESE REPEAT OFFENDERS WHO PUT
ON A COURT ORDER TASK TO BREAK
THEIR ADDICTION. BE SET UP BY
THE NATIONAL GUARD WITHIN 24 THE
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER THAT
SECURITY AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
ON SITE . WHERE IS THE NOBLE USE
OF TECHNOLOGY WHERE A DRONE
WOULD FOLLOW TWO PREDATORY DRUG
PUSHERS ON BIKES AND SCOOTERS
USING STOLEN DEBIT CARDS JOINT
TRANSPORTATION WILL GO BACK TO
THE STASH HOUSE TO GET ANOTHER
SUPPLY? THIS IS THE CRIME. WE
DON'T NEED THE POLICE CHIEF TO
GO INTO LAW TO LET US KNOW HOW
NICE THE COPS ARE. THEY ARE
PROFITABLY SHUT DOWN CRIMINALS
OUTSMARTING THE COPS WHO ARE ILL
TRAINED AND NON-DEPLOYABLE IN
CRIME HOTSPOT SHUTDOWNS.
>> NEXT UP, AIDEN CAROL. I
DON'T AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKER, BUT I WANT TO KEEP THE
FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT THESE
POLICIES ARE A MIXTURE OF A
PROBLEM WE DON'T HAVE THE
PROBLEMS WE DO . THESE LAWS ARE
NOT ONLY VAGUE , THEY ARE NOT
EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSING THE
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES THAT THEY
CLAIM TO. WE HAVE VACANT
BUILDINGS AND WE HAVE POVERTY .
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING WE
HAVE HAPPENING HERE. I'LL
DON'T WANT TO IMPLY THAT POOR
PEOPLE ARE CRIMINALS, BUT SO
MUCH CRIME IS CAUSED BY POVERTY
. I JUST WANT TO TAKE EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO RE-EMPHASIZE THAT
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE TO ALLEVIATE
DESPERATION IS THE MOST
EFFECTIVE THING YOU CAN POSSIBLY
BE DOING TO LOOK FOR DIFFERENT
WAYS TO ENFORCE DIFFERENT KINDS
OF LAWS AND BELIEFS THAT YOU
CAN'T FIND ENOUGH OF. WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING HARD TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. BESIDES THE FACT THAT IF
A LAW IS BEING SELECTIVELY
ENFORCED, IT IS NOT THERE. THERE
IS NO REASON THAT YOU CAN SIMPLY
CLAIM THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE
DRINKING ALCOHOL FROM A PLACE
LIKE BREWING , THAT'S A
DIFFERENT KIND OF NUISANCE THAN
BEING BOUGHT IN THE STORE. THIS
IS JUST SO MUCH WASTE OF OUR
TIME AND MONEY WITH ALL OF THESE
DISTRACTIONS. AS LONG AS THE
POLITICIANS ARE BOUGHT OFF AND
ONLY HOPING TO COMMUNICATE WITH
EACH OTHER AND TRY TO FIND A WAY
FOR THE CIVILIANS TO GO AROUND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS JULIA
BUCK.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS JULIA BUCK AND I'M A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX. I AM
CALLING TO EXPECT EXPRESS SOME
CONCERNS OVER THE UPDATED
LANGUAGE REGARDING NUISANCE
PROPERTIES . IN TERMS OF
BROADENING IT TO BE EVENTS THAT
OCCUR IN PROXIMITY TO A BUILDING
OR TO A PROPERTY RATHER THAN ON
A PROPERTY OR RELATED BE ABLE
THE WHICH IS ALSO NOT DEFINED IN
THE TEXT I CAN SEE. I AM
CONCERNED, BECAUSE THE LAW SEEMS
TO BE DESIGNED SO THAT THE LAW
CAN BE APPLIED TO MULTIPLE
PROPERTIES AT ONCE POTENTIALLY
OVER A SINGLE SET OF PROBLEMS.
THE REASON I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
THIS AS I HAVE A REAL ESTATE
BACKGROUND AND I'M FAMILIAR
WITH THE BLOCKBUSTING, WHICH IS
ILLEGAL UNDER DISCRIMINATION
LAWS , ALTHOUGH OF COURSE THOSE
ARE NO LONGER SUBJECT TO FEDERAL
ENFORCEMENT. THE PRACTICE OF THE
BLOCKBUSTING WAS MAKING A CALL
ONTO A WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD
INDICATING THAT A NONWHITE
FAMILY WAS MOVING IN AND THAT
CAUSED PANIC AND THE HOMEOWNERS
WOULD SELL THEIR PROPERTY FOR
CHEAP, THEN THE HOMES WOULD BE
RESOLD TO NONWHITE FAMILIES IN
THE MARKED UP RATE. THIS WOULD
BE IN VERSE WHERE THEY COULD
POTENTIALLY BE APPLIED IN THE
FUTURE TO APPLY FINES TO AN
ENTIRE BLOCK THAT HAS POTENTIAL
FOR PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT, AS
LONG AS SOMEONE CALLS THEM
CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS. THIS WOULD
FORCE PEOPLE TO SELL THEIR
PROPERTIES BELOW MARKET VALUE
AND POTENTIALLY FACILITATE
GENTRIFICATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
TO MY CONCERNS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS
EXPIRED AND WE WILL PROCEEDED TO
ITEMS OF BUSINESS. MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC ARE ENCOURAGED TO
SUBMIT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON
THE SET OF CARDS AVAILABLE ON
THE PODIUM OR EMAIL THE COUNCIL.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. PLEASE READ ITEM ONE
ONTO THE RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENT 2175, APPOINTMENT
OF FITZGERALD BARNES AS SEATTLE
POLICE CHIEF.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHIEF BARNES.
WELCOME. DIRECTOR ANDERSON WILL
BE JOINING YOU.
>> EXCUSE ME, CHIEF.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE SOME
REMARKS, THEN MOVE THE ITEM.
>> GO AHEAD, PLEASE. STATE YOUR
NAME FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU.
>> SEAN FITZGERALD BARNES.
>> NATALIE WALTON ANDERSON.
>> WILL START WITH REMARKS OR
COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE.
THANK YOU.
>> I WILL START WITH ARAMARK,
THEN COMMENTS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
ADDISON McKENZIE BARNES, YOUR
14th BIRTHDAY. I WANT TO PUT
THAT OUT THERE SINCE I COULDN'T
BE WITH HER TODAY. TO OUR CHAIR
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, VICE
CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND TO THE
DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, GOOD
MORNING. THANK YOU, ONCE AGAIN,
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
WITH YOU AS PART OF MY
CONFIRMATION PROCESS . DURING
OUR FIRST HEARING, I SHARED MY
JOURNEY INTO POLICING AND THE
EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPED MY
LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY. TODAY, I
WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE
CURRENT STATE OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT , PROGRESS WE
HAVE MADE OVER THE PAST SIX
MONTHS AND THE PATH FORWARD.
WHEN I ASSUMED LEADERSHIP OF THE
DEPARTMENT, I WAS CLEAR EYED
ABOUT BOTH PROMISE AND
CHALLENGES AHEAD. THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE DESERVE A POLICE
DEPARTMENT THAT IS EFFECTIVE ,
TRUSTED AND CONTINUOUSLY
EVOLVING TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. I
AM PROUD TO REPORT THAT UNDER
OUR CURRENT STRATEGY OF
SEATTLE'S CENTRIC POLICING ,
WHICH WAS PREVIEWED DURING OUR
LAST SESSION, WE ARE SEEING
RESULTS IN CRIME PREVENTION AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY COLLABORATIVE
PUBLIC SAFETY. AS OF TODAY,
HOMICIDE IS DOWN 37% IN OUR CITY
AND THE CLEARANCE RATE STANDS AT
73%. ROBBERIES HAVE DECLINED BY
16% AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT BY
17% AND BURGLARIES BY 23%. MOTOR
VEHICLE THEFT IS A TOP CONCERN
FOR CONSTITUENTS THAT HAS
DECREASED BY 27% AND WE ARE
SEEING CLEARANCE RATES ABOVE 67%
ACROSS MULTIPLE CRIME CATEGORIES
FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO OUR
DETECTIVE UNITS. THESE ARE NOT
JUST STATISTICS. THEY REPRESENT
REAL PEOPLE , SAFER STREETS,
LESS TRAUMA AND STRONGER
NEIGHBORHOODS. WITH YOUR
APPROVAL OF THE STARCHES
TECHNOLOGY IN ADDITION TO OUR
EXPANDING USE OF A LPR AND
REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER.
INTELLIGENCE LED AND MODERN
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT REDUCES
DANGEROUS PURSUITS WHILE IN HAND
OUR INVESTIGATIVE CAPACITY. THE
NUMBERS AND STATS ALONE DO NOT
BUILD TRUST OR MAKE PEOPLE FEEL
SAFER. COMMUNITY SAFELY MUST BE
DEFINED WITH OUR COMMUNITY. I AM
FIRM IN MY BELIEF THAT TRUE
PUBLIC SAFETY HAPPENS WHEN
EVERYDAY PEOPLE WORK ALONGSIDE
THOSE OF US WHO ARE INSIDE THE
SYSTEM. THAT IS TO DETERMINE HOW
TO DEFINE, IMPLEMENT AND ACHIEVE
PUBLIC SAFETY. TOGETHER, WE CAN
ENSURE THAT OUR VISION FOR
COMMUNITY POLICING IS GROUNDED
AND LISTENING , RESPECT AND
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. IT
CONTINUES TO BE MY TOP PRIORITY.
WE HAVE HIRED 87 NEW OFFICERS.
OUR NET STAFFING INCREASES AT 47
OFFICERS AND A SIGNIFICANT
IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST YEAR'S
NET GAIN OF JUST ONE. INCREASING
DAILY AS QUALIFIED APPLICANTS
ARE COMPLETING OUR BACKGROUND
PROCESS. THIS IS PROGRESS AND WE
MUST DO MORE PARTICULARLY IN
ATTRACTING AND RETAINING WOMEN
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. IT IS
ASPIRATIONAL AND ALSO
ACTIONABLE. THIS FALL, WE WILL
LAUNCH A WOMEN'S ONLY
LEADERSHIP TRAINING, DEFENSIVE
TACTICS TRAINING AND WE HAD
BALLISTIC VEST FOR OUR WOMEN
EMPLOYEES. WE ARE ALSO PREPARING
TO RECEIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE IMAGINE INSTITUTE'S REPORT
ON CHILD CARE , BECAUSE WE
BELIEVE IN CREATING A SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
AS SUCH, OUR COMMITMENTS TO
OFFICER AND SAFETY WELLNESS IS
UNWAVERING. EVERY SHIFT AND
EVERY DAY WE PRIORITIZE OFFICER
SAFETY NOT JUST THROUGH
EQUIPMENT AND TACTICS, BUT
EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND
PEER SUPPORT. OUR CHAPLAIN
PROGRAM COUNSELING SERVICES,
FINANCIAL LEARNERS AND
RECREATION ACTIVITIES REFLECT A
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PUBLIC
SAFETY , WHICH BEGINS TO CARING
TO THOSE WHO WORK WITH.
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF MY
CAREER , I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY
COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT , THAT MEANS
CONFRONTING HARD TRUTHS FROM THE
BUILDING SYSTEMS OF
ACCOUNTABILITY AND NEVER
SETTLING FOR THE WAY THINGS HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN. IT MEANS REFINING
OUR POLICIES , EVALUATING
ESCALATION TRAINING AND
INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY THAT
SUPPORTS BOTH PUBLIC OFFICE OF
TRUST AND EFFECTIVENESS. IT ALSO
MEANS ALIGNING OUR EFFORTS WITH
THE CITY'S BROADER ONE SEATTLE
VISION WORKING COLLABORATIVELY
WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THE
COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. SEATTLE
HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE
NATION IN WHAT MODERN COMMUNITY
CENTRIC POLICING LOOKS LIKE. TO
DO SO, WE MUST FEEL BOLD ENOUGH
TO CHANGE AND CONSISTENT ENOUGH
TO IMPROVE A UNITED ENOUGH TO
SUCCEED. I BELIEVE THE STATE AND
FUTURE OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS STRONG , BUT
ACHIEVING OUR GOALS WILL REQUIRE
LEADERSHIP THAT IS COURAGEOUS ,
COLLABORATIVE AND COMPASSIONATE.
I WILL END MY REMARKS WITH THE
QUOTE FROM THE ONLY AMERICAN
PRESIDENT WHO WAS A POLICE CHIEF
AND A POLICE COMMISSIONER, WHICH
WAS THEODORE ROOSEVELT WHO WAS
THE NYPD COMMISSIONER FROM 1895
TO 1897. AS A RESULT OF BEING A
POLICE CHIEF OR PRESIDENT AND IT
ALWAYS SPEAKS TO ME. WHERE THE
DOOR COULD HAVE DONE THEM BETTER
AND THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE
PERSON WHO WAS ACTUALLY IN THE
ARENA AND FACE MARRED WITH SWEAT
AND BLOOD AND STRIVES
COURAGEOUSLY COMES UP SHORT
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND THERE IS NO
EFFORT ABOUT ERA . DONE SO TO
STRIVE TO DO GOOD DEEDS AND
KNOWS GREAT ENTHUSIASM, DEVOTION
AND WHO SPENDS HIMSELF IN A
WORTHY CAUSE. AT LEAST IF HE
FAILS, HE FAILS WHILE DARING
GREATLY. I BELIEVE WE CAN
FULFILL OUR MISSION TO BUILD A
SAFER , STRONGER SEATTLE AND ONE
THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF BARNES.
ANYTHING TO ADD ? AGAIN, WELCOME
. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME BACK
MY VICE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR SAKA
WHO COULD MAKE THE LAST MEETING.
AS USUAL, I GO TO MY VICE CHAIR
IF THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I
COULDN'T BE HER LAST MEETING. I
HAD A HORRIBLE FLU AND WAS
BEDRIDDEN , BUT I WENT BACK AND
WATCHED THE TAPE OF THE FIRST
SESSION , BUT IT IS A PLEASURE
TO HAVE YOU APPEAR BEFORE US
WITH ME JOINING TODAY. THANK
YOU, CHIEF BARNES. A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS. FIRST QUESTION
PERTAINS TO GUN VIOLENCE. AS A
COUNCILMEMBER AND VICE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE , I HAVE BEEN VERY
ENCOURAGED BY YOUR COMMITMENT
AMONG OTHER THINGS LOOKING AT
DATA AND FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT REGARDING GUN
VIOLENCE. YOU HAVE BEEN IN
OFFICE ON AN INTERIM CAPACITY
NOW FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS . CAN
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
WHAT CHANGES YOU HAVE MADE SINCE
BECOMING INTERIM CHIEF THAT YOU
FELT WITH RESPECT TO GUN
VIOLENCE? YOU FELT WERE LACKING
IN THE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE AND WOULD
HAVE BEEN THE INITIAL RESULTS
AND WHAT ADDITIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU SEE THAT
MAY LIE AHEAD ON A GO ORDER
BASIS?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE BACK AND
FEELING WELL. GUN VIOLENCE IS
SOMETHING THAT IS CERTAINLY
RELATED NOT ONLY TO OUR CRIME
RATE , BUT IS ALSO RELATED TO
THE FEAR OF CRIME WHEN COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND MEETINGS WE GO TO
TALK ABOUT BEING FEARFUL OF
CRIME AND THEY TALK ABOUT
HEARING GUNSHOTS. THEY TALK
ABOUT NOT KNOWING THE ORIGIN OR
DESTINATION FOR THOSE GUNSHOT ,
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR
DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
SOME CHANGES I HAVE MADE IS THAT
WE NORMALLY DO A WEEKLY GUN CALL
WHERE WE HAVE OUR PARTNERS ,
FEDERAL PARTNERS, LOCAL
PARTNERS, INTELLIGENCE GROUP TO
DISCUSS THE INCIDENCES OF GUN
VIOLENCE THAT WE HAVE HEARD,
WHETHER IT'S SHOTS FIRED OR
HOMICIDE ABOUT A ROBBERY . IF IT
INVOLVES VIOLENT CRIME, YOU HAVE
THAT MEETING AND WE EXPANDED
THAT MEETING TO CHOOSE TWO DAYS
A WEEK , SO WE CAN GET AHEAD OF
WHAT'S GOING ON THE WEEKEND,
WHICH TENDS TO BE MOST CITIES
WHERE YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN GUN
VIOLENCE AND AFTER THE WEEKEND
IS OVER TO REFLECT ON HOW WELL
WE DID IN ANY CHANGES THAT WE
NEED TO MAKE. WE ARE CERTAINLY
WORKING, I THINK WITH SOME OF
OUR TASK FORCE OFFICERS TO MAKE
SURE THAT IF THERE ARE PERSONS
WHO REPEAT GUN VIOLENCE
OFFENDERS THAT THOSE CHARGES ARE
NOT ONLY BROUGHT FEDERALLY , BUT
IF WE CAN BRING THOSE CHARGES TO
OUR KING COUNTY PROSECUTORS,
THEN WE CAN DO THAT. WE DID TRY
TO CREATE A GROUP OF OFFICERS
SPECIFICALLY FOR PROACTIVITY ,
BUT THAT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE
ACTUALIZED, BECAUSE IT IS A
VOLUNTEER BASIS AND THERE IS
COMPETITION FOR WORK THAT WE
WERE NOT ABLE TO FILL ON A
CONSISTENT BASIS, BUT STILL HAD
THAT AVAILABLE FOR OFFICERS AND
COMMANDERS. WE ARE EMPOWERING
OUR PRECINCT COMMANDERS TO WORK
ACROSS DIFFERENT BUREAUS ,
DIVISIONS AND SECTIONS TO ASK
FOR HELP. WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED
THE HELP OF OTHER UNITS THAT
TRADITIONALLY HAVE NOT GIVEN US
PROACTIVE PATROLS TO HELP WITH
SOME PROACTIVE PATROLS TO
INCLUDE OUR SQUAD TEAMS OR
HARBOR PATROLS FOR SOME OF OUR
PARTS WITH BOTH WATCHES ON THEM.
WE ARE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER
AS A TEAM AND IN ADDITION TO
THAT WE ARE CERTAINLY A BIG
PROPONENT OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
WITH A MEETING LATER TODAY TO
DISCUSS HOW WE CAN ENGAGE THE
COMMUNITY MORE IN DOING SOME OF
THAT, THEN JUST THE COMMITMENT
TO THE COMMUNITY. THE OFFICERS
AND PRECINCT CAPTAINS HAVE
INCREASED THE NUMBER OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
OPPORTUNITIES AND WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THIS AT MEETINGS
AND MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF THE
TRENDS WE ARE SEEING . WE ARE
ASKING FOR HELP AND TALK TO
FAMILIES . WE ARE ALSO SPREADING
THE MESSAGE ABOUT NOT LEAVING
GUNS IN OUR VEHICLES. WE HAVE AN
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF GUNS THAT
HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM VEHICLES
AND THEY TEND TO END UP IN THE
WRONG HANDS. WHEN WE DO RECOVER
THOSE WEAPONS, IT IS CALLED A
TRACE FORM, WHICH HELPS US
UNDERSTAND THE ORIGIN OF WHERE
THE WEAPON MAY HAVE OCCURRED AND
SOME OF THESE WEAPONS ARE BEING
PUT IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE,
BECAUSE THEY ARE STOLEN FROM
VEHICLES AND WHERE ASKING PEOPLE
TO TAKE THEIR WEAPONS INSIDE AND
SECURE PROPERLY.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT QUESTION
ON GUN VIOLENCE AND YOUR
ASSESSMENT. HOW CAN THE COUNCIL
THROUGH LEGISLATION OR BEING AN
EFFECTIVE PARTNER DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS HELP BEST MPOWER
YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT TO DRIVE
DOWN GUN VIOLENCE AND START
SEEING BETTER RESULTS?
>> I THINK THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN
AMAZING PARTNERS SINCE I'VE
BEEN HERE ON DOING SOME OF THAT
. HELPING US DEVELOP REAL-TIME
CRIME AND HAVE SEEN ONE INCIDENT
OF SHOTS FIRED, ON CAMERA AND
I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT OCCURRED,
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE AN
ARREST SAFELY AND NOT ABLE TO
INTRUDE ON SOMEONE'S PERSONAL
PRIVACY THAT WASN'T INVOLVED ,
SO BEING LASER FOCUSED ON THAT
CERTAINLY HELPS AND I THINK WHEN
IT COMES TO OUR STAFFING WITH
THE COUNCIL HAD DONE TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE JOB IS ATTRACTIVE
AND WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE THEY
CAN TAKE THEIR FAMILIES AND LIVE
-- IT HELPS THE SUPPORT WE HAVE
RECEIVED THAT I HAVE SEEN FROM
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, SUCH AS
YOURSELF, COUNCIL KETTLE WHO
HAVE GONE TO ONE OF BRIEFINGS
AND TALKED TO POLICE OFFICERS
ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO . WE DO
HAVE CRIMES THAT ARE ON THE
BOOKS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
RE-EDUCATE OUR POLICE OFFICERS
ON WHAT THEY CAN OR CAN'T DO
FOR SOMEONE TO LOWER-LEVEL
CRIMES, WHICH WE THINK WILL HAVE
A GREATER IMPACT ON WHAT WE ARE
SEEING WITH GUN VIOLENCE . THE
FINAL THING IS THAT WE HAVE TO
KEEP LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN
BETWEEN MY OFFICE AND ALL OF
COUNCILMEMBERS . WE WERE ON A
CALL YESTERDAY WITH ALL OF YOUR
CHIEFS OF STAFF AND THEY MET
WITH MY NEW CHIEF OF STAFF FOR
AN INTRODUCTORY CALL TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS YOU
NEED , SO YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE
YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHAT YOU ARE
DOING TO REDUCE CRIME TO HAVE
THOSE OPEN LINES OF
COMMUNICATION AND SOMETHING
GOING ON CRIME RELATED. TO GET
THAT AND HAVE REGULAR FOR
INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF BARNES. I
APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION ON THE ISSUE OF
GUN VIOLENCE FROM A CITYWIDE
PERSPECTIVE AND PARTICULARLY
WITH RESPECT TO KNOWN PROBLEM
AREAS IN MY COUNCIL DISTRICT,
DISTRICT 1 ALONG SNAKE HILL AND
I THINK THERE IS STILL
PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICES, AS
WELL. THERE IS STILL SOME WORK
TO DO TO ADDRESS THAT, BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE VICTIMIZED AND
TRAUMATIZED EVEN IF THEY DON'T
-- IF THEY ARE NOT PERSONALLY
HIT OR STRUCK BY A BULLET OR A
STRAY BULLET. PEOPLE ARE FED UP
AND I'M FED UP AND I KNOW YOU
ARE, AS WELL . PLENTY OF WORK TO
DO, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR
INITIAL COLLABORATION AND LOOK
FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU IN
YOUR WORK. WITH RESPECT TO THAT
SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD IN WEST
SEATTLE OR SET OF NEIGHBORHOODS
TO DO MORE , WHETHER IT IS A
REVIEW FOR THE EXTRA EMPHASIS
PATROLS IN PARKS , BUT ALSO FROM
A CITYWIDE PERSPECTIVE, SOME OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK . CHAIR
CATTLE, I APPRECIATE YOUR
INDULGENCE. I DO HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS, LET ME CHANGE GEARS.
KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE, CHIEF IS
OUR HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITY THAT
WE HAVE IN THE CITY. THERE IS NO
GREATER RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE
HAVE IN MY VIEW. WE LITERALLY
HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND
DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EVERYONE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY , THAT IS
OUR HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITY .
KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. KEEP PEOPLE
SAFE ON THE STREETS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES
AND ON OUR ROADS. THAT IS WHAT I
WOULD LOVE PART OF THE FOCUS OF
THE NEXT LINE OF QUESTIONING IS
KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE ON THE ROADS
. OUR CITY HAS A GOAL OF ENDING
TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SERIOUS
INJURIES ON CITY STREETS BY
2030. IT IS OUR VISION ZERO
INITIATIVE. TOGETHER, WE HAVE
MADE INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY, RECENT
VOTER APPROVED TRANSPORTATION
LEVY TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS AND
MAKE BOLD INVESTMENTS TO ADVANCE
THE GOAL WE HAVE . THE COUNCIL
HAS ALSO PASSED AND ADOPTED A
FUNDING IN IMPLEMENTING
LEGISLATION TO DEPLOY AMONG
OTHER THINGS, AUTOMATED TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT , SAFETY CAMERAS IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DESPERATELY
NEED THEM . WE KNOW THAT
ENFORCEMENT, PARTICULARLY
AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS
AND TECHNOLOGY IS A FEDERALLY
PROVEN COUNTERMEASURE , ONE OF
40 PLUS PROVEN COUNTY MEASURES
TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE ON THE
ROADS , WHETHER IT'S RED LIGHT
CAMERAS, SPEED CAMERAS IN SCHOOL
ZONES, NONSCHOOL ZONES , BLOCK
THE BOX CAMERAS ET CETERA AND
THE LIST GOES ON. IT SEEMS TO BE
GROWING ALL THE TIME , SO AS A
COUNCIL PAST AND PROVIDED
SIGNIFICANT APPROPRIATIONS TO
DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF AUTOMATED
ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS TO SCHOOL
ZONES AND ADD ALMOST $1.2
MILLION IN STARTUP EXPENSES AND
MOST OF THE CHEMISTRY FOR
THEMSELVES OVER TIME , BUT IN
THE START UP EXPENSES TO
INITIALLY START TO DEPLOY THE
NONSCHOOL SPEED HIS OWN CAMERAS
AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, SO THEY
PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN KEEPING
PEOPLE SAFE ON THE ROADS AND
HELPING US BETTER ACHIEVE OUR
VISION ZERO GOALS , BUT IT'S NOT
THE MAGIC BULLET DID NO SUCH
THING. IT'S A FAIRYTALE AND A
MYTH. IT'S THE IMPORTANT PART
OF A SOLUTION AND BROADER
COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION. THAT
SAID, AS WE'VE LEARNED, THIS
COUNCIL HAS AUTHORIZED THE
DEPLOYMENT SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS
AGO NO OF DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF
SPEED ZONE CAMERAS IN SCHOOLS
AND $1.2 MILLION FOR
NON-SCHOOLS. WE STILL HAVEN'T
SEEN ONE OF THE NONSCHOOL SPEED
CAMERA DEPLOYED AND THE DATE THE
DEPARTMENT IS MAKING GOOD
INITIAL PROJECTS PROGRESS ON
SOME SCHOOLS. BOTTOM LINE, IT
TAKES WORK TO OPERATIONALIZE AND
IMPLEMENT INVESTMENTS THAT WE DO
HERE IN PARTNERSHIP THE MAYOR.
IT TAKES WORK AND TIME,
UNFORTUNATELY. I AM IMPATIENT
AND IT TAKES TIME TO DO IT
RIGHT. EVEN WHEN WE DO FULLY
OPERATIONALIZE THESE AUTOMATED
ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES .
AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT
TECHNOLOGIES EVERYDAY DON'T
COVER THINGS LIKE RECKLESS
DRIVING , DISTRACTED DRIVING .
THOSE ARE HUGE CONTRIBUTORS TO
SOME OF THESE TRAFFIC DEATHS AND
BODILY INJURIES ON THE ROAD.
THEY ALSO DON'T ADDRESS THEM
UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO STATE LAW
PROHIBITIONS CERTAIN PUBLIC
ACTIVITY LIKE EXCESSIVE NOISE
AND VEHICLE NOISE. YOU WILL KNOW
THAT LAST YEAR WE TRY TO WORK ON
INITIATIVES AND WE WILL
NECESSITATED NEXT YEAR TO TRY TO
GET THE CHANGE. MY POINT IS THAT
UPPER REALIZATION OF THESE
ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES TAKES
TIME . TO DO IT RIGHT, IT TAKES
TIME. EVEN WHEN THE CURRENT
FUTURE CAPABILITY WITH STILL
SOME GAPS OF WHAT CAN AND CAN'T
DO. THERE ARE STILL NO
SUBSTITUTE FOR A PATROL OFFICER
UNDERTAKING PERSONALIZE
ENFORCEMENT ACTION ON A LIMITED
BASIS . I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS
ADVOCATING FOR BROAD WIDESCALE.
PATROL OFFICERS PARTICULARLY IN
A STAFFING CRISIS TO FOCUS
SOLELY ON TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS.
THEY DO PLAY A PART IN THE
BROADER SOLUTION, ESPECIALLY
GIVEN THE FUTURE GAP THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT . IN TERMS OF THE
ULTIMATE GOAL CHANGING BEHAVIOR
ON ROADS, ESPECIALLY CHANGING
DRIVER BEHAVIOR. I DO PERSONALLY
RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF POLICE
OFFICERS IN TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
SMART BASIS AND LIMITED BASIS.
ALL OF THAT THROAT CLEARING
ASIDE, MY QUESTION TO YOU,
CHIEF, AND IMPORTANT CONTEXT,
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE SPD'S ROLE
IS IN HELPING SUPPORT THE GOALS
OF VISION ZERO IN ELIMINATING
TRAFFIC DEATHS, SERIOUS INJURIES
ON OUR ROADS ? WHAT DO YOU
BELIEVE THE DEPARTMENT'S ROLE
IS IN HELPING TO THAT? WHAT
ADDITIONAL ACTIONS DO YOU THINK
THE DEPARTMENT COULD POTENTIALLY
TAKE TO HELP BETTER ACHIEVE
THESE GOALS? RECOGNIZING THAT
THE STOCK PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL
ROLE IN IMPLEMENTATION, AS WELL.
>> WE ARE ALIGNED IN THAT
TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS CERTAINLY A
FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR US IN
PUBLIC SAFETY AND POLICING. WHEN
IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY ,
WHETHER IT'S TRAFFIC OR GUN
VIOLENCE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER,
POLICE ARE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR
AND NORMALLY THE FIRST ONES TO
ACKNOWLEDGE OR TO BE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY
BE. OUR ROLE IS TO WORK WITH
ESTAR AND OTHERS WHO ARE
INVOLVED IN VISION ZERO , WHICH
IS SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT AND
WE DID HAVE IN MY LAST JOB, AS
WELL. WE WORKED TOGETHER AND I
ASSUME WE WILL DO THE SAME THING
HERE. WE HAVE DATA THAT WE CAN
PROVIDE AS TO WHERE WE ARE
SEEING THE MOST DANGEROUS
COLLISIONS AND IN MY FORMER JOB,
WE DEVELOPED THE HIGH INJURY
TRAFFIC NETWORK WITH A LIST OF
INTERSECTIONS THAT
DISPROPORTIONATELY ACCOUNTED FOR
MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS WHERE
INJURY WAS THE THING, SO WE
WORKED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
AND ENGINEERING TO SEE IF THERE
WERE CHANGES THAT WE COULD MAKE
TO THE ROAD DESIGN OR CHANGES WE
COULD MAKE TO THE TRAFFIC
LIGHTS, WHICH I LEARNED IS THE
EXACT SCIENCE . THE TRAFFIC
LIGHTS CHANGING THOSE CHANGES
ALMOST LANDSCAPE OF AN ENTIRE
SECTION OF CITIES , SO IT'S NOT
AS EASY AS MAKING FLASHING
LIGHTS OR LONGER. IT'S A
SCIENCE BEHIND IT. MAKING SURE
THAT WE CAN PROVIDE DATA TO OUR
OTHER VISION ZERO PARTNERS IS
IMPORTANT. ENFORCEMENT IS
IMPORTANT AND IS CERTAINLY NOT
THE ONLY THING. WE HAVE BEEN
WRITING TRAFFIC TICKET SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF TIME AND STILL
WRITING , SO IT IS USUALLY A
POOR INDICATOR OF CHANGED
BEHAVIOR, BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES
HELP AND I KNOW WE HAVE THE
TRAFFIC UNIT AND WE ALSO HAVE A
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT I BELIEVE
GOING ON WHERE WE HAVE OFFICERS
WHO ARE WORKING WITH OUR TRAFFIC
UNITS, WHETHER IT'S OUR
MOTORCYCLES OR OTHER TYPE OF
UNITS TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC, BUT
THAT IS NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION
AND ONCE WE GET BACK TO FULL
STRENGTH, WE LOOK TO COURSE
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE
PARTICULAR UNITS FULLY STAFFED,
SO THEY CAN BE AT THE RIGHT
PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CAN SLOWDOWN
BEHAVIOR OR CHANGE BEHAVIOR FOR
PEOPLE NOT GETTING HURT IN
ACCIDENTS.
>> AS CHAIR FOR THE CITY
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO
PARTNER CLOSELY WITH US.ASKED.
AND WORK ACROSS THESE SILOS AND
ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF TRAFFIC
SAFETY THROUGH ENFORCEMENT IN
YOUR ROLE, BUT ALSO WORKING WITH
THE DEPARTMENTS TO DESIGN OTHER
ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS, AS WELL.
MAKE NO MISTAKE , ENFORCEMENT IS
PART OF THAT. THANK YOU, CHIEF.
APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK. NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. WE DID
TURN INTO A TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE FOR SECOND AND I'M ON
TRANSPORTATION TOO. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT POINT AND BY THE WAY,
PARKING ENFORCEMENT. THE CITY
MADE A MISTAKE YEARS AGO WHEN WE
PUSHED TO SDOT. IT IS BACKWARD
BELONGS NOW. THAT IS ANOTHER
AREA OF INTEREST FOR ME AND I
WILL PUT A PLUG IN FOR PARKING
ENFORCEMENT. THE LITTLE THINGS
COUNT. COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE
ARE IN A CRITICAL MOMENT IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY TRAJECTORY . IT'S
GREAT TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE A NET
POSITIVE OF 47 SO FAR AS
COMPARED TO ONE LAST YEAR. MY
QUESTION IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
RESPONSE GROUP. THE COMMUNITY
RESPONSE GROUP WAS FORMED IN
OCTOBER 2020 WITH 100 OFFICERS
AND THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT THIS
GROUP IS THAT THEY ARE DEPLOYED
CITYWIDE AND NOT ASSIGNED TO ANY
PRECINCT AND ARE DEPLOYED TO
RESPOND TO WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE
MOMENT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT THEY ALSO DO SOME PROACTIVE
POLICING AND THAT'S REALLY
GREAT, BECAUSE I CANNOT TELL YOU
HOW MANY TIMES I GET THE
QUESTION SIMILAR TO, I CAN SEE
PEOPLE RIGHT THERE SELLING DRUGS
ON THE STREET OUT OF AN RV OR
WHATEVER. WHY ISN'T THERE
ANYONE PROACTIVELY GOING AFTER
THAT? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
THE GROUP IS IMPORTANT FOR MANY
THINGS, INCLUDING EMERGENCY
RESPONSE AND I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S DOWN THERE
NOW OR HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN
THE GROUP ANYMORE ? DO YOU HAVE
ANY PLANS TO ADD TO THE NUMBERS
AS WE STEP UP, SO WE CAN RESPOND
TO THOSE QUESTIONS OR ISSUES
THAT I HEAR ABOUT A LOT? MORE
LOW-LEVEL THINGS THAT PEOPLE DO
NOTICE AND THINK THAT THERE
SHOULD BE A MORE SUSTAINED
PRESENCE FROM SPD?
>> I AGREE THE PRODUCTIVITY AND
CRIME PREVENTION IS NUMBER ONE.
THAT IS NUMBER ONE FOR ME AND
I'VE SAID IT MY ENTIRE CAREER
AND OUR FIRST SESSION. WE HAVE
GREAT WAYS TO HAVE MORE
PROACTIVITY. OUR COMMUNITY
RESPONSE GROUP DOES AN AMAZING
JOB FOR US, BUT THEY ARE QUITE
FRANKLY PULLED IN MANY
DIRECTIONS. WITH THINGS THAT ARE
GOING ON, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE AS WE STAFF UP , WHICH WE
ARE GETTING THERE, BUT AS WE
STAFF UP, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
MORE PROACTIVE UNITS ASSIGNED. I
THINK PRECINCT CAPTAINS NEED AND
RESERVE THEIR OWN OFFICERS WHO
ARE PROACTIVE AND CAN ADDRESS
THE CONCERNS IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS. AS WE STAFF OFF,
I WOULD RATHER SEE US CREATE A
SYSTEM, SO THAT THOSE OFFICERS
ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE PRECINCT
CAPTAINS. WE PUT A LOT ON THEM.
THEY ARE YOUR FIRST POINT OF
CONTACT. IT'S A LOT EASIER TO
CALL PEOPLE UNDER YOUR UMBRELLA
THAN OTHERS. WE ARE BREAKING
DOWN SOME SILOS, BUT THERE ARE
FIVE PRECINCT CAPTAINS AND THEY
ARE ALL ASKING FOR THE SAME
GROUP TO HELP AND THEY DO HELP.
THEY DO A GREAT JOB . TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION, AS WE STAFF UP, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE
PROACTIVITY OR PROACTIVE
OFFICERS ASSIGNED SPECIFICALLY
TO THE PRECINCT.
>> I AGREE. IT DOES MAKE SENSE
THAT THE PROACTIVE GROUPS ARE
WITHIN PRECINCTS, BECAUSE THEY
KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I DON'T
REALLY CARE WHICH GROUP IT IS.
IT IS THE PROACTIVE POLICING
PART THAT IS SO IMPORTANT AND IT
WOULD INCREASE THE CONFIDENCE OF
OUR CONSTITUENTS, AS WELL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WILL BE
BRIEF. I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS,
BUT I HAVE QUICK COMMENTS THAT I
WANT TO RELAY. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE, CHIEF. I WANT TO
THANK PUBLIC SAFETY CHIEF
NATALIE. IS THAT YOUR OFFICIAL
TITLE? IT SOUNDS RIGHT. SOUNDS
GOOD. FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, AS
WELL. I COME FROM A DISTRICT
THAT IS VERY UNIQUE IN DISTRICT
3 AND SAFETY LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEEDS ARE
VERY DIFFERENT. WE HAVE MENTAL
HEALTH, TRAFFIC SAFETY , DRUG
CRISIS ON THE STREETS, GUN
VIOLENCE AND SOMETIMES WHEN
PEOPLE SAY GUN VIOLENCE, I
PREFER IF IT'S YOUTH. OUR
BABIES ARE SHOOTING EACH OTHER
AND THAT REALLY HUMANIZES WHEN
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE
AND WE ALSO HAVE A LONG HISTORY
IN OUR DISTRICT FROM POLICING.
OUR FIRST BLACK COUNCILMEMBER
WHO ADVOCATED FOR THE EAST
PRECINCT, BECAUSE THE DISTRICT
WAS NOT GETTING RESPONDED TO TO
2020 IN THE DISTRICT THAT HAD
TAKEN PLACE. DURING THIS
CONFIRMATION, LISTEN TO
COMMUNITY AND PUT TOGETHER A
LIST OF FEEDBACK, WHICH IS GREAT
AND I RECEIVED THAT PEOPLE WANT
TO SEE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND OUR NEW CHIEF. DEPARTMENTS
THAT GUARD OUR COMMUNITY NOT
NECESSARILY WARRIORS , BUT HELP
EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL.
A DEPARTMENT THAT IS
COLLABORATIVE WITH OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS INTEGRATED WITH OUR
CITY . OFTENTIMES, PEOPLE SAY
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK
INSIDE AND BE ABLE TO TALK TO
SOMEONE FRONT FACING OR HAVE THE
INTERACTION. A DEPARTMENT THAT
IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY
ON ALL LEVELS FROM CAPTAINS,
CHIEF , LIEUTENANTS AND
OFFICERS. A DEPARTMENT THAT IS
TRANSPARENT AND COMMUNICATIVE
RECENTLY SOCIAL MEDIA
COMMUNICATIONS WITH CERTAIN
EVENTS HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT TONE
AND DIRECTION AND I REALLY
APPRECIATED THE SOCIAL MEDIA
CONTENT THAT HAS COME FROM OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT IN TALKING TO
OUR COMMUNITY AND THE TICKET HAS
THE RIGHT TONE AND I LOVE THAT.
EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT RESPECTS,
HONORS AND ELEVATES WOMEN IN
DIFFERENT POSITIONS AND ALSO
OFFICERS. A DEPARTMENT THAT
UNDERSTANDS THAT RESPONSES ARE
NEEDED AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT
GENERATIONS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT
NEEDS AND WE ARE EVOLVING AS A
SOCIETY IN KEEPING UP WITH THE
TIMES. A DEPARTMENT THAT
UNDERSTANDS MOST YOUTH ARE NOT
BAD, BUT BOARD AND THEY NEED
ACCOUNTABILITY, AS WELL. WE NEED
TO INCORPORATE PARENT SUCCESS IN
THAT COMMUNITY, AS WELL. I HAVE
HAD TWO FRIENDS THAT ARE MY
GRADE SCHOOL FRIENDS AND BETWEEN
THE TWO HAVE SPENT OVER 30 YEARS
IN PRISON. THEY WENT TO PRISON
WHEN THEY WERE 18 OR 19 FROM A
DISTRICT AND RECENTLY GOT OUT
AND I REMEMBER WE WERE AT THE
CORNER AND HAD NEVER BEEN TO
CITY HALL, BUT WE USED TO JOKE
ABOUT IT. ACROSS THE STREET TO
THE COUNTY JAIL. THEY NEVER STEP
FOOT INTO CITY HALL AND A LOT OF
KIDS JUST NEED EXPOSURE IN OUR
COMMUNITY. A LOT OF KIDS NEED
RESOURCES AND TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THE CITY IS FILLED WITH
RESOURCES AND EXPOSURE AND
CHANGING A KIDS LIFE TAKES ONE
MOMENT FOR THEM TO BE EXPOSED TO
SOMETHING THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ,
ESPECIALLY KIDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
WHO ARE SEEING SO MUCH CONTENT.
CHIEF AND POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT
UNDERSTANDS THAT KIDS NEED TO BE
EXPOSED TO GOOD THINGS THAT
REALLY WILL CORRECT THEM ON A
DIFFERENT PATH. ALSO, A CHIEF
THAT USES THEIR PLATFORM TO HELP
TRANSFORM SOME STEREOTYPES OF
TRADITIONAL POLICING. LAST BUT
NOT LEAST AND HOPEFULLY I GOT
YOUR TITLES RIGHT , BECAUSE YOU
ARE A FATHER, HUSBAND AND SON
AND BROTHER. MY FAMILY IS OVER
HERE, BUT IT'S OKAY THAT YOU
ARE A KAPPA, SO I GIVE YOU THAT.
YOU HAVE A PHD AND A FORMER
HISTORY TEACHER AND EDUCATOR.
OFTENTIMES, SEATTLE DOES THIS A
LOT. SEATTLE OFTEN LOOKS AT
CERTAIN COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE
LENS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND
CERTAIN COMMUNITIES THROUGH THAT
WITH OUR PROGRESSIVE SEATTLE
THAT SOMETIMES LOOK AT BLACK
COMMUNITY THROUGH THE LENS OF
MENTAL JUSTICE. THAT'S IT. MY
GOAL AND HOPE IS THAT YOU
CONTINUE TO USE THE PLATFORM TO
BREAK STEREOTYPES AND TO EDUCATE
PEOPLE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT
PEACE. SMALL BUSINESSES,
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, HEALTHCARE
AND EDUCATION. THOSE ARE
INTEGRATED WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND YOU CAN
USE THAT PLATFORM, AS WELL.
CONTINUE TO STAY ROOTED IN YOUR
MISSION . WHAT I DO BELIEVE IS
THAT YOUR HEART IS IN THE RIGHT
PLACE TO PROTECT THE CITY AND I
KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE
WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, BUT YOU
ARE HUMAN AND I KNOW YOU WILL DO
A GOOD JOB FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, SO THOSE ARE MY
COMMENTS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME AND I'LL BE SURE TO SEND
THESE TO YOU, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I MIGHT ADD --.
>> MY APOLOGIES, MR. CHAIR. AND,
A MARINE.
>> THANK YOU, ONCE AGAIN, FOR
ALLOWING FULL COUNCIL
PARTICIPATION TODAY FOR THE
IMPORTANT CONFIRMATION PROCESS.
THANK YOU, CHIEF BARNES FOR
BEING HERE TODAY FOR THE SECOND
ROUND OF QUESTIONS. IF WE ARE
ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS WE HAVE
FOR YOU IN WRITING AHEAD OF
THESE PROCESSES. TODAY, I HAVE
THREE QUESTIONS AND I WILL JUMP
IN. JUST OVER ONE YEAR AGO, WAS
MURDERED OUTSIDE OF GARFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL. ON JUNE 6th, THE
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON NATIONAL
GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, I
AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES JOINED
THEIR FAMILY, CLASSMATES IN A
WALKOUT RALLY AGAINST GUN
VIOLENCE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL. THE
MURDER IS STILL AT LARGE AND
POSSIBLY STILL WALKING IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. I HEARD FROM
NUMEROUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
MEDIA THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS NOT
GOTTEN THE KIND OF REGULAR
UPDATES ON THE INVESTIGATION
THAT WE DESERVE FROM SPD'S
OFFICE. HOW WILL YOU TO BE
DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT TO
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH
FAMILIES ON THE IMPORTANT MATTER
AND WHAT SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS
TO TRANSPARENCY AND MEDIA ACCESS
AND WE EXPECT FROM SPD UNDER
YOUR LEADERSHIP?
>> THANK YOU. TO THE FAMILY OF A
LIFE THAT WAS LOST , POTENTIAL
AND A LIFE, ONSET OF A PLACE
THAT I ALWAYS BELIEVED SHOULD BE
A SANCTUARY ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
OUR OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES
CONTINUE TO WORK THE CASE WITH
NO SUCH THING AS A COLD CASE IN
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DURING MY FIRST MONTH, I GOT
BRIEFED ON ONGOING CASES. CASES
WE HAVE YET TO SOLVE AND THIS
WAS ONE OF THEM. I WAS ASSURED
THAT ARCHITECT GOODS ARE IN
CONTACT WITH THE FAMILY . THERE
HAS NOT BEEN A LOT OF
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY
FOR REASON . OFFICERS AND
DETECTIVES ARE FOLLOWING UP ON
INFORMATION AND WE DO NOT WANT
TO PUT ANYTHING OUT THAT WOULD
COMPROMISE THE INFORMATION OR
WHEN PEOPLE COME FORWARD . WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THE
INFORMATION THEY ARE GIVING US
IS CONSISTENT WITH THE EVIDENCE
THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CASE THAT
COULD NOT BE THE CASE IF WE GAVE
TOO MUCH INFORMATION TO OUR
PUBLIC. WE ARE COMMITTED TO
RESOLVING THIS AND MANY OTHER
CASES THAT HAVE GONE UNSOLVED
AND I HAVE FULL FAITH AND
CONFIDENCE IN OUR HOMICIDE UNIT
AND DETECTIVE UNITS WHO ARE
WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS CASE.
MOVING FORWARD, AND VERY EXCITED
THAT WE HAVE A NEW
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR WITH US
AS COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
STATED AND EVEN WHAT WE ARE
DOING ON TWITTER LOOKS DIFFERENT
AND FEELS DIFFERENT, BECAUSE HER
AND HER TEAM ARE DOING AN
AMAZING JOB AND HAVE IDEAS . I
HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN THE WORD
WOULD BE OVER COMMUNICATING AND
YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT
THAT. USUALLY THROUGHOUT THE
COURSE OF MY CAREER, I'VE GONE
A COUPLE OF ROUNDS WITH
DETECTIVES ABOUT WHAT
INFORMATION WE SHOULD OR SHOULD
NOT PUT OUT, BUT IF IT DOESN'T
COMPROMISE THE CASE, MY BELIEF
IS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT
TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN
PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU CAN'T DO
THAT IF WE DO NOT HAVE THE
INFORMATION. YOU CAN EXPECT A
COMMUNICATION STYLE THAT IS OPEN
, FREQUENT AND TRANSPARENT.
>> CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. MOVING FORWARD WITH
MY SECOND QUESTION, LESTER THE
CITY RATIFIED PARTIAL LABOR
AGREEMENT WITH OVER $170 MILLION
IN OFFICER RAISES AND PASSED A
BUDGET WITH ROUGHLY 15% INCREASE
TO OVERALL ALLOCATION . THE CITY
IS FACING $250 MILLION BUDGET
GAP THAT THE BODY -- POSTPONED
INVESTMENTS AND ADDITIONAL
REVENUE. SEATTLE IS GOING TO DO
RIGHT BY ITS EMPLOYEES AND HAVE
TO MAKE SOME SACRIFICES AND
SHOULDER OUR FAIR SHARE OF THE
WORK . THE BIG PICTURE, WHERE
ARE WE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET
WITH THE KIND OF REDUCTIONS OF
EXPENDITURES WE WILL HAVE TO
MAKE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND
TO KEEP THE PROMISE TO BOTH
EMPLOYEES AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE
SERVE.
>> WE ARE DOING THAT PROCESS NOW
AND I THINK SOME OF OUR
NON-SWORN POSITIONS ARE BEING
FROZEN FOR SALARY SAVINGS .
OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE NOT WHERE WE
WANT TO BE WITH OFFICE OF
HIRINGS AND IN MY EXPERIENCE
EVALUATING TECHNOLOGY LICENSES
SET FOR RENEWAL OR THE EXPIRING
OUR WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND GIVE
SALARY SAVINGS. WE ARE
RECRUITING AND OFFICERS GETTING
IN PART TO THE BUDGET
INSTRUCTIONS I GAVE THEM A
MANDATE OF 200 OFFICERS BY THE
END OF THE YEAR, WHICH MAY CAUSE
PEOPLE TO HAVE HEART
PALPITATIONS. ONCE THEY CAME
BACK THEY SAID, WE CAN DO THIS.
I THINK OUR BACKGROUND
INVESTIGATIONS AND WHAT WE ARE
DOING WITH HR , THEY ARE DOING
AN AMAZING JOB AND LITERALLY
WORKING ALMOST 24/7 TO MAKE SURE
WE GET QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN AND
OUT OF THE HUDSON AREA WHERE THE
CITY NEEDS TO TURN BACK NOW.
>> THANK YOU. MY FINAL QUESTION
FOR TODAY. MY OFFICE HAS ASKED A
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS RELATED TO
HOW YOU INTEND TO APPROACH
ACCOUNTABILITY AND PARTNER WITH
OUR ACCOUNTABILITY BODIES MOVING
FORWARD AND THANK YOU FOR
PROVIDING ANSWERS AND WRITING.
TODAY DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, WE
HEARD FROM HIGHTOWER WHOSE
BROTHER WAS KILLED BY SPD WHILE
EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS. TOO MANY IN THE
COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE U.S.
HAVE BEEN KILLED AT THE HOUNDS
HANDS OF POLICE. WE NEED TACTICS
AND PREVENT DEATHS FROM
HAPPENING. FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DOES JUSTICE
LOOK LIKE FOR VICTIMS AND
FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF POLICE
VIOLENCE? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK
LIKE?
>> WHEN IT COMES TO INCIDENCES
THAT HAVE A DISPARATE OUTCOME OR
AN OUTCOME THAT NO ONE WANTS,
INCLUDING THE POLICE ,
ACCOUNTABILITY BEGINS LONG
BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.
ACCOUNTABILITY BEGINS WITH
POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS
WELL-TRAINED AND USES TACTICS
THAT HAVE GOOD SUPERVISION AND
MY DEFINITION OF ACCOUNTABILITY
MEANS THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL
HAVE THE TOOLS, TRAINING,
TECHNOLOGY AND TEAM TO GET THE
JOB DONE. ACCOUNTABILITY ALSO
MEANS THAT WHEN YOU ARE
COMMUNITY TO HELP US OUT, AS
WELL AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU
SEE THE WARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL
HEALTH AND SEE THE WARNING SIGNS
OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE THAT YOU KNOW
WHERE TO GO PRETTY WOULD BE
SURPRISED THAT MANY PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO, SO THEY
CALL 911 AND THE POLICE OFFICER
SHOWS UP. I HAVE BEEN WORKING OR
PART OF POLICING THAT WE DEBUTED
LAST TIME IS MAKING SURE THAT
PEOPLE OR OFFICERS HAVE A
RESOURCE LIST, SO WHEN WE GO TO
THE CALL AND SEE THE WARNING
SIGNS WE CAN GIVE OUT A RESOURCE
LIST , SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT NEXT
TIME SOMETHING HAPPENS OF
SOMETHING BEGINS TO ESCALATE IF
THEY CAN CALL FOR HELP . WHEN
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO CALL
FOR HELP, THEY CALL 911 AND A
POLICE OFFICER SHOWS UP. I WANT
TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE AND A
PARTNER WITH ANYONE IN THE
COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S
GOVERNMENT , CIVIC OR EVEN
NONPROFITS . IN MY LAST JOB WE
HAD AN AMAZING RELATIONSHIP WITH
OUR NONPROFITS AND WE PROVIDE
DATA THAT THEY NEEDED TO GIVE
THEIR GRANTS AND WE ALSO APPLIED
FOR GRANTS AND PASSED THROUGH
GRANTS. WE HAD MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS PASSED THROUGH GRANTS
THAT WAS GIVEN TO US FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS
AND WE GAVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE
NONPROFITS. I WOULD LIKE TO DO
THAT IN SEATTLE, BECAUSE WE ALL
WORKED TOGETHER TO INCREASE
SAFETY AND DECREASE THE
LIKELIHOOD THAT ANYONE GET HURT
IN A POLICE INTERACTION.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, THANK YOU
TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS. THERE
IS OVERLAP AND I WON'T ASK
QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL JUST GO
PRETTY QUICK, BECAUSE WE ARE ON
TIME CHALLENGES. I APPRECIATE
THE QUESTION ON COMMUNICATION
AND HAVE OFTEN SAID THERE'S ONE
WAY TO COMMUNICATIONS AS IT
RELATES TO SPD AND I WOULD LIKE
THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE MOVING
BUDGET WITH A LOT OF THINGS
GOING ON TO INCLUDE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WASHINGTON
STATE AND WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL
OF THAT. ACCOUNTABILITY IS
REALLY IMPORTANT WITH THE
GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS. IT'S
INTERESTING, TOO, AS THE
QUESTION WAS ASKED IS THAT IT'S
LIKE ANOTHER VERSION OR
INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HEALTH. WE ALSO HAVE TO WORK
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE OF THE
SITUATION AND CHALLENGE WE ARE
FACING. THAT CAME UP WITH
HIGHTOWER, BUT MR. GALE AND
OTHERS, AS WELL. BASICALLY, IT
GUYS TO THE QUESTION WHERE WE
ARE ON THIS BRIDGING MOMENT AND
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE MASSES AND
THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS , I BELIEVE
WE ARE IN THIS BRIDGING MOMENT
AND I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR US TO DO THE EXPECTATION
MANAGEMENT SAYING THAT WE ARE
WORKING THERE, BUT WE ARE NOT
WERE THERE YET. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US AS A CITY TO BE
DOING. I NOTED THAT THERE WERE
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROTESTS
FROM A COUPLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE ARE LESSONS AND THOSE
PROCESSES FOR CROWD MANAGEMENT
AND AT SOME POINT WE GET THOSE
REVIEWS AND WE BRING THEM TO
COMMITTEE. THEY HAVE TWO MORE,
BUT I WILL AND WITH A POSITIVE
PRINT FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ,
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
AND RECOGNIZE WITH THE JACKSON
BUILDING PROTECTIVE SERVICE.
THAT IS ONE PIECE. IF THERE IS
ANYTHING RELATED TO FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT SPECIFICALLY WITH
DHS OR IF THERE ARE
COMMUNICATIONS -- GOING BACK TO
COMMUNICATIONS, MY UNDERSTANDING
AND TALKING WITH DIFFERENT
PEOPLE, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY
AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE INTEREST
COMING OUT OF THE FEDERAL SIDE,
BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING ON THAT
FRONT, PLEASE CONTACT UNLESS YOU
HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. CONTACT
US. THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY
BEFORE I MAKE A MOVE HERE IS IN
THE ANSWERS THAT YOU GIVE US TO
QUESTIONS, YOU TALKED ABOUT
TRUST. THE ABILITY TO GAIN TRUST
IS LISTENING. I TALKED TO A LOT
OF PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF MEETINGS
AND ONE MEETING WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THE NATIVE COMMUNITY. HOW
YOU HAVE MET WITH THE MEMBERS OF
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL AND
OTHERS AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT.
THE AVERAGED ALL COMMUNITIES TO
INCLUDE THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE SUFFERING, LIKE THE NATIVE
COMMUNITIES, AND YOU CANNOT
REACH DOING AN OUTREACH IS
IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. WITH THAT
SAID, I MOVE THE RECOMMEND 3175
. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND BIRTH
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND . ARE THERE ANY FINAL
COMMENTS? ONE QUICK ONE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK
YOU, CHIEF BARNES, FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP OVER THE PAST FEW
MONTHS AND ADDRESSING THIS
COMPLEX PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
COLLABORATION AND AM VERY
IMPRESSED WITH YOU AND YOUR
APPROACH . YOU ARE CLEARLY VERY
HIGHLY CREDENTIALED . YOU HAVE
THE KNOWLEDGE SKILLS ,
EXPERIENCES AND ABILITIES TO
HELP US AS A CITY BETTER DELIVER
UPON OUR HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITY
TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND YOU CAME
IN AT A TIME WHEN WE NEEDED AN
OUTSIDER. MORE THAN EVER. THERE
IS A CONCEPT OF THE SEATTLE
FREEZE AND I HOPE IT HAS NOT
BEEN TOO CHILLY IN THAT REGARD.
I AM PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
YOUR NOMINATIONS TODAY. YOU ARE
VERY RESPONSIVE AND OUR CITY IS
LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. IT IS
ADDISON'S BIRTHDAY TODAY. IS
SHE YOUR DAUGHTER?
>> YES, SHE IS. YOUNG KIDS
MYSELF , I KNOW THAT SERVICE IS
REQUIRED FOR SACRIFICE AND TODAY
IS A DAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO MAKE SOME PERSONAL
FAMILIAL SACRIFICES. I HOPE
ADDISON ON THE FAMILY AND YOUR
COMMUNITY, WHICH IS OUR
COMMUNITY NOW IN SEATTLE
UNDERSTANDS THAT OUR SACRIFICES
ARE MAKING AN IMPACT AND
HOPEFULLY WE WILL CLEAR THE
BIGGEST HURDLE AND FOR YOU TO
BECOME PERMANENT CHIEF, WHICH
REFLECTS GREAT UPON YOU, YOUR
FAMILY AND YOUR ENTIRE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND OUR COMMUNITY. WITH
THAT SAID, THANK YOU, CHIEF
BARNES BIRDS PROUD TO SUPPORT
YOUR NOMINATION. HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
ADDISON. LIKE I SAID, WE ARE
LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL IN
RECOMMENDATION.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> FOUR IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED FOR THE
>> MOTION THAT THE WILL BE SENT
TO CITY COUNCIL AND PLEASED TO
MISS ADDISON BARNES AS A
BIRTHDAY PRESENT YOUR DAUGHTER,
MY VICE CHAIR BEAT ME TO THAT,
SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HER .
EITHER WAY, THANK HER FOR HER
SERVICE AND YOUR OTHER KIDS AND
WIFE, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS NOT UNDERSTOOD BY A LOT
AND IT'S IMPORTANT PRETTY
SPECIAL THANK YOU ON YOUR
BIRTHDAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR SECOND ITEM OF
THE BUSINESS. PLEASE READ ITEM
TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> HUNTSVILLE 1209 AND FIVE,
ORDINANCE RELATING TO NEW CIVIL
CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST GRAFFITI
TIGERS FOR ILLEGAL GRAFFITI ON
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY AND
REQUIRING RESTITUTION ADD A NEW
SECTION OF 10.0 7.055 TO THE
SEATTLE MENISCAL CODE AND
AMENDING SECTION 10.0 7.010 OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. I WANT TO
THANK THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR
JOINING US FOR OUR SECOND BILL
AND JOINING WITH MR. LINDSEY
ALSO FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE AND I BELIEVE FROM
CENTRAL STAFF. THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US. STATE YOUR NAME FOR
THE RECORD AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> HELLO. GOOD MORNING. I'M
CITY ATTORNEY ANN DAVISON.
>> SCOTT LINDSAY, DEPUTY CITY
ATTORNEY. GOOD MORNING.
>> WELCOME. OVER TO YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING
HERE AND PARTICIPATING AGAIN.
EVEN IF HE HAS ALREADY EXITED, I
APPRECIATE INTERIM CHIEF BARNES
AND HOPEFULLY SOON PERMANENT, AS
WELL. HIS WORK IMPORTANTLY ON
ALL THINGS THAT ARE PUBLIC
SAFETY THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON,
AS WELL. AFTER POLICE SHOW UP
SOMETIMES WHEN THEY DO FIND THAT
THEY NEED TO REFER TO MY OFFICE
WITH 80% OF CRIME IN SEATTLE IS
MISDEMEANOR CRIME , WHICH COMES
TO MY OFFICE OF WHICH WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT GRAFFITI AND I'VE
HEARD FROM MANY OF YOU SITTING
HERE ON THE DAIS THAT THIS IS A
CONCERN FOR YOU INDIVIDUALLY FOR
YOUR DISTRICTS. WE HAVE HEARD
FROM THE MAYOR AND IT'S ALSO A
CONCERN OF HIS AND MINE. I HAVE
BEEN FOCUSED ON HOW TO BE
INSTRUMENTAL , SO THAT OUR CITY
IS KNOWN AS A PLACE OF ORDER AND
WHERE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR
RESOURCES, WHICH MEANS ASSETS,
BUILDINGS AND LOCATIONS. WHAT
CAN WE DO TO FURTHER MAKE SURE
LAWS ARE MEETING ALL AND THAT
PEOPLE COMPLY? YOU ARE LAWMAKERS
FOR THE CITY, SO THAT IS WHERE
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE THINGS FOLLOWED, AND PART
OF THAT ACCOUNT ABILITY WHEN IT
COMES TO ENFORCEMENT AND WHEN IT
COMES TO ACTS FOR MISDEMEANORS
AND GROSS MISDEMEANORS. WHAT
I'M COMING TO YOU WITH TODAY IS
A LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY THAT YOU
CAN BE PARTNERS IN THE SUPPORT
FOR THIS TOPIC OF IN REGARDS TO
OUR CITY OF THE ILLEGAL GRAFFITI
ACTION THAT WE SEE HAPPENING SO
MUCH AND IS SO PREVALENT
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. I HOSTED
MANY CITY ATTORNEYS FROM ACROSS
THE COUNTRY HAVE NOT BEEN HERE
BEFORE. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE
SAME BATTLE WE HAVE IN REGARDS
TO GRAFFITI. DESPITE BEING LARGE
METROPOLITAN AREAS, WE HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM THAT WE SEEM
TO NEED TO GET UNDER CONTROL AS
WE HELP SUPPORT OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS
AND THE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF TAX
DOLLARS, BECAUSE WE HAD TO
EXPEND A LOT OF THEM IN THE
CLEANUP OF THIS. WHAT I'M
BRINGING IS A CIVIL STRATEGY
WHEREBY WE CAN SUPPLEMENT THE
CRIMINAL PROSECUTION PIECE IF WE
FIND THAT THE EVIDENCE IS
DIFFICULT TO PROCEED ON FROM A
CRIMINAL PROCESS . WHAT CAN WE
DO FROM A CIVIL PROCESS THAT
WOULD BE A DETERRENT TO SAY THAT
PEOPLE NEED TO COMPLY WITH LAW
AND NOT DESTROY OTHER PEOPLE'S
PROPERTY? WHAT I'M BRINGING
ABOUT TODAY IS ABOUT THAT. IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, IT COSTS US
AS A THE AND STATE OF WASHINGTON
ALL OF WHICH IS TAXPAYER DOLLARS
TO CLEAN UP IN ADDITION TO
PROPERTY OWNERS. A LOT OF POLICE
OFFICERS KNOW THE TIGERS,
BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THEM
THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND USE
THIS TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES AND
THEIR WORK AND I HAVE NO
INTEREST IN GIVING THEM ANY
AIRTIME, SO I WILL NOT TALK
ABOUT THEM PERSONALLY. WE DO NOT
WANT TO ENCOURAGE ACTION THAT WE
DON'T WANT , SO WE WILL NOT
GIVE THEM MORE AIRTIME OR
ATTENTION, BUT WE DO SEE THEIR
ACTIONS AND A LOT OF POLICE DO
KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND HOW CAN WE
BE INSTRUMENTAL WITH THAT
SITUATION AND DO THINGS? I WILL
GIVE YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES
THAT WE DO HAVE GRAFFITI
INCIDENTS. OVER 28,000 JUST IN
2024 ALONE. ONLY 35% TO MY
OFFICE FOR REFERRAL FOR
POTENTIAL PROSECUTION. THAT IS
AN INCREDIBLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY
SMALL NUMBER THAT THEY HAVE
ENOUGH EVIDENCE THAT THEY THINK
THEY CAN SEND IT OVER TO MY
OFFICE. AGAIN, THE CITY IS
SPENDING $6 MILLION AS
COUNCILMEMBER TALKED ABOUT BEING
A GOOD STEWARD OF RESOURCE AND
INVESTMENTS AND THINGS THAT YOU
WANT TO APPROPRIATE FOR, SO I
WOULD GUESS THAT THIS IS NOT
MONEY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SPEND IN THIS CAPACITY, BUT IT
WOULD BE EASIER IF PEOPLE JUST
COMPLY WITH THE LAW AND NOT
DAMAGE PROPERTIES AND USE THE
DOLLARS FOR BETTERMENT OF OTHER
ITEMS. IN ADDITION TO PROPERTY
OWNERS WHO ALSO HAVE TO SPEND
MONEY OF THEIR OWN TO UPDATE THE
GRAFFITI PROBLEM. JUST TO GIVE
YOU A VISUAL AS TO WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN SEEING OVER THE COURSE OF
TIME , I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC AND
THIS IS HOW I MAKE MYSELF MAKE
DECISIONS BASED UPON DATA . YOU
CAN SEE A LOOK BACK TO 2017 TO
HOW MANY PERIPHERALS REFERRALS.
I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 30 YEARS
AND I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM
GROW , SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBER OF
PERIPHERALS HAS GONE DOWN, THE
PROBLEM IS INCREASING. TO GIVE
YOU A COMPARATIVE OF HOW MUCH
I'M CHARGING SINCE 2022 AND I
AM CHARGING MORE OF THOSE, BUT
I'M STILL GETTING FEWER. THE
INABILITY TO PUT A LOW NUMBER OF
OFFICERS WHEN WE NEED THEM TO
SEE SOMEBODY COMMIT THE CRIME ,
SO HOW ELSE CAN WE BE STRATEGIC
IN HELPING DETER PEOPLE IN THE
TYPE OF ACTIVITY WHERE IT'S
CAUSING DAMAGE TO PROPERTIES?
>> AGAIN, NOT WANTING TO GIVE
AIRTIME TO PEOPLE WHO THINK THIS
IS A WAY TO GIVE SOCIAL VALUE
FOR THEMSELVES AND BUILT THEIR
OWN REPUTATION , BUT YOU HAVE
SEEN A LOT OF TAX WHERE YOU
WOULD PROBABLY RECOGNIZE THE
NAME OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND
YOU MIGHT SEE ALL THE WAY DOWN
ALL THE WAY THROUGH ALONG I-5
ALONG ROADSIDES WHERE YOU CAN'T
READ THE EXIT THAT YOU ARE
TRYING TO SAFELY TAKE. THIS IS
PART OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE
CITY TO EXPERIENCE. WE HAVE HAD
THE CLUB CUP GOING ON NOW AND
WORLD CUP NEXT SUMMER. WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS A
PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET ABOUT
SAFELY AND WHEN THERE IS TAGGING
OVER ROADSIGNS, THAT IS
PROBLEMATIC FOR US , AS YOU
TALKED ABOUT ROAD SAFETY. I
THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE
THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
FOCUSING ON. MANY TAGGERS ARE
KNOWN, BECAUSE THEY PROMOTE
THEMSELVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH
PEOPLE ENCOURAGING THEM AND I
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
PROVIDE A TOOL THAT IS
MEANINGFUL TO SAY THAT LAWS NEED
TO BE COMPLIED WITH AND THAT IS
WHY I BROUGHT THIS CIVIL
STRATEGY FOR YOU. THIS NEW CIVIL
ENFORCEMENT TOOL WOULD HELP BE
ABLE TO CLOSELY CONNECT
CONSEQUENCES WITH CONDUCT AND
THAT IS A CRITICAL PART THAT WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING
ACROSS TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
ENGAGE WITH THIS TYPE OF
DAMAGING ACTIVITY TO A PROPERTY.
THIS WOULD AUTHORIZE THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO BRING CIVIL ACTION
AGAINST ILLEGAL TAGGERS IN
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT. THE
AMOUNT WOULD BE $1000 PER
VIOLATION PLUS RESTITUTION FOR
LABOR AND MATERIAL COSTS. IN
ADDITION TO THAT, THE MONETARY
DAMAGES TO BE CONVERTED TO
COMMUNITY SERVICE IF YOU DON'T
WANT TO PAY FOR THE CLEANUP,
THEN HE COULD DO IT YOURSELF,
BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO
ENGAGE IN THIS ACTIVITY AND
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO USE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, AS
YOU SAID, SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE
JUST BORED AND LET'S FIND OTHER
THINGS TO DO GOOD IN THE CIVIL
CASE, PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE
AS OPPOSED TO CRIMINAL VIOLATION
WHERE YOU HAVE TO PROVE BEYOND A
REASONABLE DOUBT. THIS IS NOT
INSTEAD OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION,
BUT WHERE WE THINK THAT THE
BETTER WAY THAT WE CAN PROCEED
FOR DETERRENT IMPACT IS THROUGH
CIVIL PREPONDERANCE STANDARD
WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE AND
MAKE SURE THE MESSAGE IS
RECEIVED. WE WOULD PRIORITIZE
BRINGING ACTIONS AGAINST THE
MOST PROLIFIC ILLEGAL GRAFFITI
TAGGERS AND MANY TAGS THAT YOU
WOULD RECOGNIZE AS YOU SEE THEM
NUMEROUS TIMES , BUT I WILL NOT
GIVE THEM AIRTIME TODAY. THIS
WILL GIVE YOU A DESCRIPTION
ABOUT THE REFERRALS THAT WE DO
HAVE, SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND
FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT
IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE TWO
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WITHIN OUR
CITY. YOU CAN SEE THE REFERRALS
THAT WE SEE -- IS THIS ON
REFERRALS? THIS IS BASED ON
CRIMINAL REFERRALS AND 85% MALE
AND 79% CAUCASIAN. THAT IS THE
DEMOGRAPHIC ENGAGED AND I WILL
CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE HOW THESE
ARE NOT NECESSARILY 19-YEAR-OLD,
BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY
FUNCTIONING UNEMPLOYED AND
ADULTS. THEY'RE NOT JUST PEOPLE
LOST AND YOUNG ADULTS OFTEN
TIMES THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
STRATEGICALLY ENGAGED IN THIS
ACTIVITY FOR A LONG TIME AND
LOOKING TO INCREASE THEIR SOCIAL
REPUTATION AND THE NOTORIETY BY
DAMAGING OUR PROPERTY AND
COSTING US MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THE CIVIL TOOL WILL BE ABLE TO
ADD TO A DIFFERENT WAY TO DETER
PEOPLE FROM ENGAGING IN THAT IT
CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU . ANYTHING FROM
CENTRAL STAFF?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I
DON'T HAVE ANY PREPARED REMARKS
TODAY, BUT THERE IS A STAFF
REPORT ONLINE FOR YOU ALL IF
YOU'RE INTERESTED ON COUNTS OF
THE 1209 AND FIVE AND WE WILL
NOTE A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM THE
STAFF REPORT OF OBSERVATIONS
THAT THE COUNCIL MAY REST TO
CONSIDER AND ONE IS THAT THE
BILL DOESN'T HAVE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS. IF YOU ALL WISH TO
SEE IN THE FUTURE HOW MANY CASES
THE CITY ATTORNEY DRIVES AND
OUTCOMES RESTITUTION OR
PENALTIES THAT WERE PAID , THAT
MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN
ADD TO THE BILL VIA AN AMENDMENT
OR ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE TO REPORT THAT DURING ONE
OF THEIR ANNUAL REPORTING
SESSIONS. SECOND, THE LANGUAGE
THAT DEFINES GRAFFITI SAYS THAT
IT IS ANY PERSON OR ENTITY THAT
APPLIES ILLEGAL GRAFFITI TO
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY
ANOTHER PERSON OR ENTITY TO DO
THE SAME. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU
ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY OR MAYBE
THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL BE
WILLING TO TALK MORE ABOUT HOW
THAT WOULD WORK IN COURT AND WHO
THAT PROVISION IS TARGETED AT
AND SPECIFICALLY THINKING ABOUT
THE FOLKS WHO ENCOURAGE ONLINE
GRAFFITI. THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU. LOOKING FOR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DAVIDSON . THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY.
REGULAR STAFF ANALYSIS AND NEVER
HOLD OF DOCUMENTS. FROM ONE OF
MY WISER COLLEAGUES, BUT I
MARKED IT UP, DOGEARED IT,
HIGHLIGHTED IT AND VERY HELPFUL.
ALSO, I APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION AND A SUMMARY AND
FISCAL NOTE . MY FIRST QUESTION
IS -- I ORIGINALLY HAD A
QUESTION ABOUT THE ANTICIPATED
NET REVENUE THAT WE CAN EXPECT
TO RECEIVE, THEN I READ FURTHER
IS THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY
DOESN'T EXPECT THERE TO BE MUCH
AND SAME WITH THE EXECUTIVE.
MUCH IN THE TERM WITH RESPECT TO
NET REVENUE THAT THE CITY COULD
POTENTIALLY REALIZE FROM THIS ,
WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE . THAT
SAID, ANOTHER ASPECT OR FEATURE
OF THE BILL IS THAT IT WOULD
AUTHORIZE THE CONVERSION OF
FINES AND RESTITUTION INTO
COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS. I
TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AND IT MAKES
SENSE THAT WE CAN EXPECT NOT TO
RECEIVE MUCH IN TERMS OF
MATERIAL FINES AND REVENUE FROM
THIS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED
TO BE ABLE TO QUANTIFY BASED OFF
OF THE INFORMATION WE KNOW
TODAY. WHAT IS THE INITIAL
ANTICIPATED IMPACT? ON ONE HAND,
WE KNOW THAT PROBABLY THE FINES
OR AMOUNTS OR REVENUES RECEIVED
ARE DE MINIMIS, BUT HOW MUCH
RESTITUTION AND COMMUNITY
SERVICE HOURS ROUGHLY BALLPARK
GOOD WE POTENTIALLY EXPECT TO
SEE OR BE YIELDED FROM THE BILL
IN YEAR ONE OR OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS OR WHATEVER. ARE YOU THINK
MAKES SENSE. WHAT IS THE
ESTIMATED IMPACT IN TERMS OF
ANTICIPATED RESTITUTION AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL FOR SAKA
AND I KNOW THIS IS A CRIMINAL
CASE BUT I'M NOT ASKING FOR
BUDGET SPECIFICALLY . I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT AS YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT DOLLAR AMOUNT AND
CIVIL ENFORCEMENT SECTION TO DO
THE WORK THAT THEY CURRENTLY DO
FOR OTHER THINGS. AGAIN, WE ARE
FOCUSING ON PROLIFIC TAGGERS
THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
IDENTIFY, SO IT'S NOT A LARGE
NUMBER, BUT IT IS AGAIN THAT
THEY DO A LOT OF DAMAGE. THAT
WOULD BE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS
UP TO IF THEY WANT TO PAY THE
FINE AMOUNT OR IF THEY WOULD
RATHER DO THE WORK AS CLEANING
UP, SO WE WOULD NEGOTIATE THAT
AND MINE WOULD NEGOTIATE WITH
THEIR REPRESENTATION TO DO THAT.
IT IS PROBABLY DIFFICULT FOR ME
TO FORECAST GIVEN THAT THE
INDIVIDUAL COULD CHOOSE BETWEEN
THE TWO OPTIONS AVAILABLE THERE.
>> THANK YOU. ON AN ATTACHMENT,
ONE OF THE PROSECUTION IN
SEATTLE GRAFFITI RATES -- CHARGE
RATES ARE HIGH . IT IS GENERALLY
ABOVE 50% OVER THE LAST FOUR OR
FIVE YEARS. THE DISPOSITION RATE
ON ANOTHER OUTCOME IS ONLY 11%
THAT RESULTED IN GUILTY PLEAS,
SO IT'S UNDERSTAND IT THAT IT
WOULD BE INTENDED TO PROVIDE
ANOTHER TOOL TO ADDRESS THAT, SO
BASED OFF OF THE CURRENT
REFERRALS AND CHARGE RATES, CAN
YOU AT LEAST QUANTIFY BALLPARK
-- THE VOLUME OF THE ANTICIPATED
VOLUME OF THOSE CASES THAT YOU
WOULD TRY TO PURSUE?
>> AGAIN, WE CAN ONLY ACT AFTER
WE GET INFORMATION FROM THE
INVEST GETTING AUTHORITY, WHICH
IN THIS CASE WOULD BE FROM
POLICE FOR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION
AND MUCH OF THE DATA WOULD BE
THE ONES THAT ARE USED ALSO FOR
THE CIVIL PEACE, SO WE WILL GIVE
YOU WHAT WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING
AND HOPEFULLY IT HAS BEEN
INCREASING FROM THE
INVESTIGATORY WORK AND IN
RELATION TO THE GRAFFITI IS THAT
THE EXECUTIVE HAS, AS WELL AND
I'LL PROBABLY HAVE MY DEPUTY
ADD DETAILS IF YOU WANT SOME
ADDITIONAL PIECES THAT I'M
UNABLE TO SPEAK TO RIGHT NOW.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, MOST OF THE
TOP 20 GRAFFITI TAGGERS IN THE
CITY RIGHT NOW HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED, SO WE KNOW WHO THEY
ARE AND THERE MAY BE OUTSTANDING
MISDEMEANOR AND/OR FELONY CASES
AGAINST THEM, BUT OFTEN THOSE
CASES WILL BE FOR A SINGLE
INCIDENT WHERE WE KNOW THAT
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOZENS
OR EVEN HUNDREDS OF GRAFFITI
TAGS AROUND THE CITY. WE ARE NOT
ABLE TO CHARGE THOSE OTHER
CASES, BECAUSE THEY WERE CAUGHT
IN THE ACT FOR THOSE, THEREFORE
WE CAN'T PROVE THEM AROUND ON
REASONABLE DOUBT. THE CITY
ATTORNEY SAID, WE BELIEVE WE CAN
BRING A CIVIL CASE FOR THOSE,
BECAUSE WE CAN BRING IT UNDER
THE PREPONDERANCE OF THE
EVIDENCE STANDARD, SO THE
INITIAL GOAL IS REALLY FOCUSED
ON THE TOP 20 OR SO GRAFFITI
TAGGERS IDENTIFYING THAT MOST OF
WHOM HAVE ALREADY BEEN
IDENTIFIED COLLECTING THE WORK
AND BRINGING CASES AGAINST US
FOR THIS TOPIC OF THE PROLIFIC
FOLKS TRYING TO CREATE THE
DETERRENCE EFFECT AT THE TOP AND
LET IT FILTER DOWN.
>> ANOTHER THING TO NOTE IS THAT
WHEN THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE TALKS ABOUT THE
OFFENDERS, ONE SEATTLE GRAFFITI
TEAM, THE GRAFFITI IS THAT THE
CITY ATTORNEY REFERRED TO A
MOMENT AGO, WHEN THERE ARE KNOWN
TAGGERS, AND WHEN IT IS A
HIGH-VALUE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN
DONE, THEY WILL DOCUMENT THEIR
ACTIVITIES AND CLEANED IT UP AND
TAKE PICTURES OF IT , THEN STORE
THAT INFORMATION SUCH THAT WHEN
THERE IS ANOTHER TAG DONE , THEY
HAVE A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF
PLACE, TIME AND PERSON . THEY
STORE THE INFORMATION AND WORK
WITH SPD AND THE SEATTLE OF
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO GO AFTER
THOSE FOLKS . I THINK WHAT IS
IMPORTANT AND THE REASON I
MENTION THIS IS BECAUSE THERE IS
ALREADY SORT OF THE SYSTEM BUILT
IN THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROCESS
SOME OF THOSE FOLKS. SHOULD THEY
PROSECUTE, BUT GO AFTER
ABATEMENT PURPOSES.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
PROVIDING THE DEMOGRAPHICS
ANALYSIS OF THE PEOPLE
COMMITTING THESE OFFENSES AND
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND AS
WE DEVISE SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS
THE NEED. BY MY READ OF
DEMOGRAPHICS PROVIDED, WHITE MEN
, WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION FROM
AN AGE PERSPECTIVE , ONE OF THE
DEMOGRAPHICS WITH RESPECT TO
AGE? YOU WOULDN'T SEE JUVENILE
CASES, BECAUSE THEY DON'T GO
THROUGH YOUR OFFICE. I WOULD
STILL LOVE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE DEMOGRAPHICS FROM AN AGE
PERSPECTIVE . I HEARD THERE WAS
A PROLIFIC 19-YEAR-OLD
POTENTIALLY , BUT IT WOULD BE
GOOD TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AGE.
>> WE DID NOT, BUT WE WILL
CONDUCT THE AGE ANALYSIS OF THE
REFERRALS. WHAT I CAN SAY IS
THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED AND HAVE
FOCUSED A LOT OF ATTENTION,
INCLUDING HELPING THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BILLED FELONY
CASES I THINK 17th MAJOR FELONY
CASES AND A MAJORITY OF THOSE
FOLKS WERE NOT ONLY WHITE MALE,
BUT IN THEIR 30s IN WHAT THE
CITY ATTORNEY WAS SAYING EARLIER
. OUR EXPERIENCE IS THAT MANY OF
THESE FOLKS ACTUALLY HAVE JOBS ,
RESOURCES, CARS, CONDOS AND
OTHER THINGS. THEY DO THIS IN
PART FOR BUILDING A SOCIAL MEDIA
REPUTATION AND IT WAS CAPTURED
ON I THINK SLIDE FOUR. A LOT OF
THIS IS ABOUT SELF-PROMOTION
ONLINE UNDER THEIR TIGER NAMES
AND THAT IS THE SUBCULTURE IN
WHICH THEY ARE TRYING TO THRIVE.
THANK YOU. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO
FOLLOW UP WITH THE AGE
DEMOGRAPHIC SIMILAR TO HOW YOU
DID FOR THIS? BREAK IT UP TO HOW
YOU THINK IT MAKES SENSE. THAT
WOULD BE HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND .
>> ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU. PERTAINING TO PAGE
FIVE FOR STAFF MEMBER ANALYSIS
MEMO WHO CALLS OUT, CONSIDER
ASKING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE TO ELABORATE ON HOW THE
PROVISION MIGHT WORK. I WOULD
ACTUALLY LOVE TO FOLLOW-UP
OFF-LINE, BECAUSE I WANT TO GET
YOU ONE OTHER QUESTION. IF YOU
ALL WOULDN'T MIND, IT IS
CONTAINED IN THAT LAST PARAGRAPH
OR LAST SENTENCE WHERE THERE IS
A QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE
PROVISION WOULD OPERATE IN
COURT. I WOULD LOVE TO GET MORE
QUERY ON THAT. IN THE TIME
REMAINING, CAN YOU TALK MORE
ABOUT THE FINE AMOUNT? I KNOW
IT'S $1000 PER VIOLATION. WHAT
FACTORS INFORMED THAT
DETERMINATION OF $1000 ? THINK
ABOUT COMPOUNDING OR ESCALATING
FINES FOR SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS?
CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT HOW THAT
SPECIFIC FINE AMOUNT WAS SET?
>> WE LOOKED AT OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE USED
THIS TYPE OF STRATEGY. IT WAS
OUR STARTING PLACE . AGAIN,
LOOKING AT LARGE PIECES, THEY
ARE COSTLY TO REMOVE, SO THIS
SEEMS LIKE A GOOD ROUND DOLLAR
TO START WITH. WE JUST WANT TO
BE AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS
POSSIBLE, BUT AGAIN COSTLY,
BECAUSE IT DOES COST US A LOT TO
CONTEND WITH AND WE ARE HAVING
TO DISCUSS IT, BECAUSE PEOPLE
HAVE CHOSEN TO ENGAGE WITH THE
DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR.
>> AS THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID,
THIS WAS A GUIDEPOST BASED ON
WHAT OTHER CITIES DID AND WHAT
OTHER FINES THE CITY IMPOSES FOR
OTHER PROBLEMATIC CONDUCT, BUT
IN ADDITION, THIS IS A $1000
FINE PER VIOLATION, SO I WOULD
IMAGINE A SPECIFIC TAG ON THE
SIDE OF THE FREEWAY , BILLBOARD,
LIGHTBOX AND IN ADDITION WE
WOULD ADD ON TOP OF THAT THE
COST OF ABATEMENT. SOMETIMES IT
CAN BE THREE, FIVE OR $10,000.
JUST FOR THAT SINGLE GRAFFITI
TAG , IT WILL BE $1000 PLUS THE
COST OF ABATEMENT FROM THE CITY,
SO THAT COULD END UP BEING
UPWARDS OF FIVE TO $10,000 PER
GRAFFITI TAG THAT WE ARE
ACTUALLY SEEKING ADJUSTMENT ON.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE LEARNED
THAT CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL
AND SPD AND OTHERS THAT WHEN WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT GRAFFITI,
IT'S NOT THE SPRAY PAINT ITSELF
THAT IS THE MOST PROBLEMATIC,
BUT THE ITCHING TOOLS. MOST CAN
BE REMOVED FAIRLY EASY WITH
CHEMICALS, BUT THE TOOLS THAT
RELEASE YEAR AND DAMAGE MATERIAL
AND CORRODE THE MATERIAL WHERE
THERE IS GLASS , LIKE WALLS OR
SOME SORT, THAT CREATES HARMFUL
DAMAGE . THANK YOU FOR
ENTERTAINING MY QUESTIONS. NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD
TO CAPTURING A YES VOTE ON THIS
LEGISLATION EVER SINCE YOU TOLD
ME ABOUT THIS, WHICH WAS A LONG
TIME AGO. I THINK THIS IS
GRAFFITI PREVENTION. THE
GRAFFITI VANDALISM REMOVAL COST
THE CITY MUCH MORE ABOUT THE
TIME , EFFORT AND COST TO SMALL
BUSINESSES TO REMOVE IT, BECAUSE
THAT IS THE LAW. AS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, IT TAKES A LONG
TIME. ONE SINGLE TAG OVER AND
OVER AGAIN IS FRUSTRATING AND I
WILL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT GRAFFITI
IS THE SINGLE MOST COMMON
COMPLAINT IN MY INBOX. THAT IS A
LOT OF COMPLAIN ABOUT GRAFFITI,
SO THIS WILL BE EXTREMELY
WELCOME. I JUST APPLAUD AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CITY
ATTORNEY, FOR PROVIDING US WITH
A TOOL TO DETER GRAFFITI
VANDALISM, WHICH IS IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE THROUGH
CIVIL INFRACTION, WHICH I'M
GOING INTO A PATTERN WHICH SEEMS
TO BE AN APPROACH YOU HAVE TAKEN
OR SPECIALIZING IN AND IT
MATTERS, BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE
SOMETHING THAT MAKES PEOPLE
THINK TWICE OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF
HAVING TO PAY. HOW MANY OF US
DON'T SPEED BECAUSE OF THE
TICKET? IN ANY CASE, THANK YOU
SO MUCH. YOU KNOW I'M GOING TO
VOTE. JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS.
I ALSO HAVE TO SAY THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO BE A COSPONSOR OF THE
LEGISLATION.
>> I THINK YOU ARE.
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU. IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME, YOU WEREN'T HERE FOR
SZCZUR COMMENT AND THE 18 MONTH
MARK, I HIGHLIGHTED THE CONNECT
TISSUE THAT IS FINDING THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES AND ONE
OF THEM IS GRAFFITI. THANK YOU
FOR THIS. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK
ON THIS IN COLLABORATION WITH
THE COUNCIL IN SPECIFICALLY THE
COMMITTEE ON A HOST OF ISSUES TO
INCLUDE THE NEXT ONE. BEFORE I
MOVED, I DO WANT TO ALSO
MENTIONED THAT THE GRAFFITI'S
ARE MR. JACKSON AND THE TEAM
THAT DOES A LOT OF THE WORK AND
DOES A LOT OF THE DOCUMENTATION,
THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT POINT
ABOUT THE TEAM THAT IS WORKING
HARD TO WORK THE GRAFFITI ISSUE
AND POTENTIALLY MAY GET SOME
HELP. WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH AND WE WILL MOVE QUICKLY TO
THE THIRD ITEM OF BUSINESS.
PLEASE READ ITEM THREE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> CONSTABLE 121006 , ORDINANCE
RELATED TO CHRONIC NUISANCE
PROPERTIES ALLOWING UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES OFF
PROPERTY NUISANCE ACTIVITY TO
COUNT TOWARDS DETERMINING THAT
PROPERTY IS A CHRONIC NUISANCE
AMENDING SECTIONS 10.0 9.010 AND
10.0 9.030 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. THANK YOU
FOR JOINING CITY ATTORNEY
DAVISON AND DEPUTY, AS WELL.
WELCOME, DEPUTY MAYOR AND
DIRECTOR FROM CENTRAL STAFF. I
RECOGNIZE WE ARE RUNNING LATE.
AND DON'T THE PATIENT'S OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND IT'S IMPORTANT .
WE HAVE A BITTY COMMITTEE
SCHEDULED THROUGH THE REST OF
THE YEAR AND I WOULD LIKE TO
KEEP THINGS ON TRACK, SO THANK
YOU AND OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY PRESENTATION
WILL TAKE LESS THAN TWO HOURS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING US PRESENT
TO YOU THIS MORNING ON THE
CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTY
ORDINANCE , WHICH WAS FIRST
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL BACK
IN 2009 IN THE 16 YEARS SINCE
THE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN IN PLACE
AND THE CITY HAS USED IT 17
TIMES. SEVEN USES AGAINST MOTELS
AND FIVE INVOLVED NIGHTCLUBS.
THREE WERE PRIVATE HOMES AND ONE
APARTMENT BUILDING AND ONE
COMMERCIAL EVENT SPACE. A
PROPERTY MAY BE DECLARED A
CHRONIC NUISANCE IF THREE OR
MORE CRIMINAL NUISANCE
ACTIVITIES OCCUR IN ANY 60 DAY
WINDOW OR SEVEN OR MORE IN ANY
12 MONTH PERIOD. THERE IS ONE
OTHER CATEGORY RELATED TO
CHRONIC NUISANCE INVOLVING DRUG
TRAFFICKING AND SEEKING JUDICIAL
WARRANTS THAT COULD ALSO BE
USED. THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN A
VITAL TOOL IN ADDRESSING SERIOUS
COMMITTAL BEHAVIOR AT SPECIFIC
LOCATIONS IN THE CITY WITH
PLACES THAT CAUSE GREAT HARM TO
PEOPLE AND THE ADJACENT
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CITY HAS
CAREFULLY AND AFFECT UGLY USED
THE ORDINANCE TO STOP CRIMINAL
NUISANCE ACTIVITIES. AS
CURRENTLY WRITTEN, THE
ACTIVITIES MUST OCCUR ON THE
PROPERTY BEING EVALUATED, BUT
SOMETIMES THESE ACTIVITIES WITH
THE DIRECT TO THE PROPERTY OCCUR
NEARBY AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE
PROPOSING THESE AMENDMENTS. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS A LIST OF
THE CURRENT QUALIFYING CRIMINAL
OFFENSES THAT CAN BE USED IN
CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT A
PROPERTY IS A CHRONIC NUISANCE
AND YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE
MAJORITY OF THESE OFFENSES
INVOLVE CRIMES OF VIOLENCE. THE
CHIEF OF POLICE IS AUTHORIZED IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO DECLARE A PROPERTY
CHRONIC NUISANCE AND NEGOTIATE A
CORRECTIONS AGREEMENT WITH THE
PROPERTY OWNER OR THE PERSON IN
CHARGE OF THE PROPERTY. ONCE THE
CHIEFS TO RATION LETTER HAS BEEN
SENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER ,
THEY HAVE SEVEN DAYS TO RESPOND
AND WORK ON THE CORRECTIONS
AGREEMENT. PENALTIES FOR
NONCOMPLIANCE CAN BE UP TO $500
PER DAY AND THERE IS ALSO A
PROVISION FOR A ONE-TIME $25,000
PENALTY. THE POLICE CHIEF LETTER
DECLARING A PROPERTY OF CHRONIC
NUISANCE DOCUMENTS THE
ACTIVITIES THAT LED TO THE
DECLARATION AND EXPLAINS THE
PROCESS THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER
OR PERSON IN CHARGE NEEDS TO
FOLLOW . CORRECTION AGREEMENTS
TYPICALLY REQUIRE MITIGATION
STEPS SUCH AS ADDING LIGHTING,
ADVANCED TRAINING FOR SECURITY
STAFF, TRASH CLEANUP, VEGETATION
REMOVAL, ENHANCED FENCING,
BETTER SCREENING FOR WEAPONS OR
OTHER ACTIONS DECIDED OR
DESIGNED TO STOP THE CHRONIC
NUISANCE ACTIVITIES. PROPERTY
OWNERS ARE USUALLY VERY QUICK TO
COMPLY AND THE CITY HAS NEVER
HAD TO GO TO COURT TO ENFORCE A
CORRECTIONS AGREEMENT. INCLUDE
PROCESS PROTECTIONS THAT HAVE
WORKED WELL TO PROTECT PROPERTY
OWNER RIGHTS AND AS A MENTIONED
LEAD TO THE CORRECTION
AGREEMENTS. THIS NEXT TABLE OR
THE RECENT FIVE USES OF THE
ORDINANCE. THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE
APPLICATIONS IN THE PAST FIVE
YEARS AND ARE DOCUMENTED ON THIS
SLIDE. THE THREE MOTELS IN 2020
, 2023 WERE CLOSED AND ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO REOPEN UNTIL THE
CORRECTIONS AGREEMENT WAS
SATISFIED AND THE PROPERTY PAST
THE CITY EXPECTION. THE PRIVATE
RESIDENTS IN 2021 INVOLVED A
FAMILY MEMBER WITH SIGNIFICANT
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND THE
FAMILY WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY
MOVE THE INDIVIDUAL TO AN ADULT
CARE HOME, THEN THEY SOLD THE
HOUSE. THE AFTER HOURS CLUB IN
APRIL OF THIS YEAR WAS CLOSED
AND THE OWNER INFORMED THE CITY
THAT HE WOULD NOT REOPEN. TWO
THE AMENDMENTS THEMSELVES, THE
FIRST ADDS LIQUOR VIOLATIONS TO
THE LIST OF OFFENSES THAT CAN BE
CONSIDERED WHEN A PROPERTY IS
BEING EVALUATED. THIS CHANGE
ADDRESSES AFTER HOURS VENUES AND
OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS THAT WILL
CONTINUALLY VIOLATE OUR CITY AND
STATE CRIMINAL LAWS RELATED TO
ALCOHOL. THE SECOND ALLOWS OFF
PROPERTY NUISANCE ACTIVITIES TO
BE CONSIDERED WHEN DETERMINING
WHETHER A PROPERTY IS A CHRONIC
NUISANCE, BUT THOSE OFF PREMISE
ACTIVITIES MUST MEET A
THREE-PART TEST. THEY MUST OCCUR
ADJACENT TO OR IN PROXIMITY TO
THE PROPERTY. THEY MUST INVOLVE
A PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH THE
PROPERTY, INCLUDING GUESTS AND
SPECIFIC FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
MUST ESTABLISH ANNEXES BETWEEN
THE NUISANCE ACTIVITY AND THE
PROPERTY. THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL IN
WASHINGTON STATE. BREMERTON ,
EVERETT, SPOKANE, SUNNYSIDE AND
TACOMA ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO
ANALYZE OFF PROPERTY INSTANCES
IN WHEN MAKING A DETERMINATION
OF CHRONIC NUISANCE. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. WE CONDUCTED STAKEHOLDER
OUTREACH REGARDING THESE
AMENDMENTS. WE DID THIS WITH
WASHINGTON NIGHTLIFE AND MUSIC
ASSOCIATION WITH APPROXIMATELY
40 INDIVIDUAL OWNERS OF
NIGHTLIFE VENUES AND WE HELD A
TEAMS QUESTION AND ANSWER
SESSION WITH NIGHTLIFE OWNERS
AND RE-ENGAGE WITH BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREAS, DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATE NATION ,
SEATTLE METRO CHAMBER . WE ALSO
HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THREE
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS STADIUMS. WE
HEARD TWO THINGS IN THESE
CONVERSATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
THEY ALL TOLD US THAT WE
UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE SEEKING
THESE AMENDMENTS. SOME SHARED
WITH US HOW WE ARE CONCERNED
WITH HOW THE CITY WILL ENFORCE
THE NEW ORDINANCE. WE ANSWERED
THE CONCERNS ABOUT ENFORCEMENT
BY POINTING TO THE HISTORY OF
THE ORDINANCE BEING USED ONLY 17
TIMES IN 16 YEARS AND THE
THREE-PART TEST THAT MUST BE
MET. WE ALSO REMINDED
STAKEHOLDERS THAT MULTIPLE
NUISANCE ACTIVITIES MUST BE
DOCUMENTED WITHIN SPECIFIC TIME
FRAMES. THIS IS NOT A ONE OFF
SITUATION. THIS ORDINANCE IS
USED WHEN PROPERTIES PRESENT A
CONSISTENT THREAT TO PUBLIC
SAFETY IN EVERY PREVIOUS SEEMS
THERE HAS BEEN A PATTERN OF
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR THAT WE WOULD
ALL AGREE CAUSE GREAT HARM.
THESE WERE GOOD DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE STAKEHOLDERS AND I REMINDED
THEM MOST OF WHOM WERE FROM THE
NIGHTLIFE AND MUSIC SECTOR THAT
THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN AN
EFFECTIVE TOOL TO PROTECT AND
STRENGTHEN THE CITIES NIGHTLIFE
ENVIRONMENT BY ADDRESSING
IRRESPONSIBLE PROPERTY OWNERS
AND VENUE OPERATORS. AT THE END
OF THE STAKEHOLDERS DISCUSSIONS,
NO ONE EXPRESSED OPPOSITION.
>> [ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
>> THE MEMO THE STATUS QUO,
INVOLVING THE CITY TO ENGAGE IN
REGULATION FOR ON-SITE
ACTIVITIES , IT DOES PROVIDE A
FAIR AMOUNT OF DUE PROCESS SO
THE CHIEF CAN ACT , AFTER
CONSULTING WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY THE ATTORNEY AND THE
COURT ARE LEFT AS A WAY TO
ENFORCE WHAT THE CITY IS
DEMANDING. AUTHORITY HAS BEEN
USED . THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
EXPAND THAT AUTHORITY, WITH
RESPECT TO ALCOHOL, TARGETED
TOWARDS VENUES SERVING ALCOHOL,
AFTER HOURS , THE EXPANSION TO
OFF-SITE REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT
EXPANSION OF THE CITY AUTHORITY,
NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. WHETHER
THE DUE PROCESS MEASURES IN
PLACE ARE SUFFICIENT TO BALANCE
THE INTEREST OF THE PROPERTY
OWNERS. OF THE PUBLIC FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY . I AM HAPPY TO DISCUSS
DETAILS , IF YOU ARE SEEKING
AMENDMENTS , I CAN HELP WITH
THOSE AS WELL.
>> CITY ATTORNEY , LAST WORD
BEFORE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU . THANK YOU, DEPUTY
MAYOR, FOR THE GREAT
PRESENTATION. THE LAST USE OF
THAT WAS TO CLOSE ONE OF THE
AFTER HOURS VENUES WITH A DOUBLE
HOMICIDE WAS , THAT WAS DONE IN
EXPEDIENT FASHION BECAUSE IT WAS
CLEAR TO DO THAT AND WE GOT THE
AGREEMENT FROM THE BUSINESS
OWNER AND THE PROPERTY OWNER.
THAT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT
IS RELATED TO GUN VIOLENCE AND
HOW CAN WE SEE A REDUCTION IN
THAT. THE EXPANSION OF THE
PROXIMITY PIECE IS CRITICAL AS
WE LOOK TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE,
BECAUSE , SOMETIMES WE CANNOT
USE THIS ORDINANCE AS IS,
BECAUSE 30 40 , 50 GUNSHOTS ARE
IN THE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE OF
THE VENUE AND NOT DIRECTLY IN IT
OR ON THE PROPERTY PREMISES .
THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE WE
CAN BE INSTRUMENTAL IN
SUPPORTING HER WORK.
>> THANK YOU . WE HAVE JUST
PASSED OUR TWO HOUR TIME , MAYBE
ONE QUESTION AND WE WILL HAVE A
FOLLOW-UP IN THE NEXT MEETING.
VICE CHAIR ?
>> THANK YOU , MR. CHAIR . I DO
NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I DO
HAVE SOME BRIEF REMARKS . I JUST
WANT TO THANK THE DEPUTY MAYOR
FOR BEING HERE, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR PROPOSING THIS ,
SMART PIECE OF LEGISLATION. LAST
YEAR, THIS COUNCIL , IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR, WE
PASSED A TRANSFORMATIVE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION , GAVE THE FIRE
CHIEF GREATER POWER TO TAKE
ACTION AGAINST UNSAFE, DANGEROUS
VACANT BUILDINGS. TO PREVENT
FIRE HAZARDS. SAVE LIVES. HAD ,
AMONG OTHER PROVISIONS , A
SUMMARY ABATEMENT PROVISION,
ALLOWING FOR SUMMARY ABATEMENT
OF BUILDINGS UNDER LIMITED
CONDITIONS. AND , BUT AT A HIGH
LEVEL , GAVE THE FIRE CHIEF
GREATER POWERS TO TAKE STRONGER
ACTION AND, AS THE CHAIR NOTED
IN HIS REMARKS EARLIER, IT IS
WORKING. EVEN THE THREAT OF , I
WILL WIELD THIS POWER IF I HAVE
TO , HAS COMPELLED BETTER
COOPERATION AND HELP INCENTIVIZE
BETTER ACTION FROM SOME OF THESE
PROPERTY OWNERS. WHEN WE ARE
ABLE TO DO THAT LAST YEAR , I
GOT TO THINKING, I THINK THERE
IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE
NEXT STEP AND DO A COMPANION
BILL , THIS YEAR , PURSUANT TO
WHICH WE GIVE THE POLICE CHIEF
GREATER POWERS TO TAKE ACTION
AGAINST CERTAIN NUISANCE
PROPERTIES. AND , I STARTED
TAKING INITIAL PRELIMINARY STEPS
, WORKING WITH OUR CENTRAL
STAFF, TO EXPLORE THIS AND
EXPLORE THE PATH TO WRITING
SOMETHING, MY OWN LEGISLATION ,
I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT
IDEA. AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH IN THIS BODY TO
MAKE IT EVEN BETTER AND
STRONGER, IF NEEDED, BUT THIS IS
AN EXCELLENT IDEA AND I VIEW
THIS AS THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP IN
GIVING OUR CHIEFS THE
>> Reporter: AUTHORITY TO CARRY
OUT THEIR IMPORTANT PUBLIC
SAFETY MANDATE . MAYBE NEXT
YEAR, WE WILL LOOK AT GIVING THE
CARE DEPARTMENT CHIEF GREATER
AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT THEIR --
AND DO SOMETHING SIMILAR, BUT,
THIS IS A SMART THING WE CAN DO
TO GIVE OUR POLICE CHIEF AND OUR
DEPARTMENT BETTER AUTHORITY TO
TAKE ACTION WHEN ONE OF MY
CONSTITUENTS WAS HERE TESTIFYING
, MY DISTRICT IS HEAVILY
IMPACTED BY SOME OF THESE
INCIDENTS, IT IS PIONEER SQUARE,
EARLIER THIS YEAR, MOST REBEL
GUNFIRE INCIDENTS AFTER HOURS ,
IN A PARKING LOT, THIS YEAR
ALREADY , FOLKS FROM THE
RESIDENCE COUNCIL CALLED ME AND
LET ME KNOW THEY ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS. NOT JUST THE
ESTABLISHMENT ITSELF, THE
PARKING LOT , ADJACENT ACTIVITY,
LET OUT , FROM YOUR CHART ,
DEPUTY MAYOR, WE KNOW THAT THE
PRIMARY USE CASES ARE COMMERCIAL
IN NATURE BUT NOT LIMITED AS
THERE ARE RESIDENTS
IMPLEMENTATIONS THAT ARE
POSSIBLE. WHICH WE NEED AS WELL.
SO , SMART PIECE OF LEGISLATION
AND KUDOS TO YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR,
FOR INCLUDING OTHER WASHINGTON
CITIES , YOU KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE.
ALL THAT AS TO SAY , CHAIR,
BECAUSE THIS WAS ALREADY -- I
ALREADY UNDERTOOK WORK TO
PRODUCE SOMETHING SIMILAR, I
WOULD LOVE AND ASK TO COSPONSOR
THIS LEGISLATION.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT ?
>> I WILL BE FAST AND TAKE THE
EDGE OFF LINE. LOOKING AT THE
CRIMES OF CHRONIC NUISANCE
CHARGE, RAPE, WEAPONS, ETC. IS
SMALLER LEVEL DRUG DEALING ,
CONSUMPTION , ASSAULT, AND
GENERAL HARASSMENT ENOUGH TO
TRIGGER SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
DOES THE AREA WHERE -- IN THE
CITY WHERE THIS IS OCCURRING GET
FACTORED IN TO THE NUISANCE
LEVEL? I AM THINKING OF
McDONALD'S ON THE 50 YARD LINE
DOWNTOWN, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY
IT IS THERE. COULD BE A FUNCTION
OF TRANSIT PATTERNS BUT I WANT
TO GET AN IDEA OF THE GRAVITY OF
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING INSIDE
OR AROUND THE BUSINESS TO
TRIGGER THIS.
>> DRUG VIOLATIONS , DRUG CRIMES
WOULD QUALIFY HERE. WHETHER OR
NOT, I DON'T THINK WE ARE
PREPARED TO THINK ABOUT A
SPECIFIC --
>> IT SEEMS LIKE A LEVEL DOWN
FROM THESE CRIMES. WHY DON'T
YOU JUST ANSWER ME LATER. OKAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> NO QUESTIONS.
>> NO QUESTIONS FOR ME. WHEN WE
BROUGHT THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
PLAN TOGETHER, PILLAR TWO,
FIXING ORDINANCES , THIS HAS
BEEN ON THE BACK OF MY MIND FOR
10 YEARS, MY EXPERIENCE, I HAVE
A PERFECT EXAMPLE, HOTEL-MOTEL,
THANK YOU FOR THE COLLABORATION.
AGAIN , THIS IS GOOD GOVERNANCE
. THIS IS THE EXECUTIVE THE
DEPUTY MAYOR , THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, THE JUDICIAL BRANCH, THANK
YOU, CITY ATTORNEY, WORKING WITH
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE AN
EXTENSION OF THE COUNCIL. IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT, BY DOING
NOTHING, I WILL SAY THAT, BASED
ON MY EXPERIENCE, NOT JUST ONE
EXAMPLE, BUT OTHERS , COUPLE
THINGS, ONE IS, ONCE YOU HAVE A
DRUGE -- DRUG MARKET , DID YOU
HAVE A STOLEN GOODS MARKET. TO
THAT POINT ABOUT DUE DILIGENCE
AND DUE PROCESS, WE WILL SHOW
THAT THERE IS A CLEAR AND
ENDURING NEXUS BETWEEN THESE
PROPERTIES . THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT HAS BEEN COMING TO ME FROM
VARIOUS PEOPLE . I THINK THAT
WILL BE SHOWN . I APPRECIATE THE
OUTRAGE YOU HAVE DONE THAT . THE
ONE LAST CHALLENGE, MAYBE THIS
WILL NOT BE -- THIS OFTEN COMES
UP, A CHALLENGE FOR THE CITY,
GENERALLY, THE EXAMPLE IN MY
MIND, THE QUEEN ANN EXAMPLE,
ABSENT LANDLORD OR PROPERTY
OWNERS. HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL
HELP IN THAT REALM BECAUSE, THIS
IS A CHALLENGE. I THINK, JUST TO
CLOSE, THE EXAMPLE WE HAVE ON
OUR VACANT BUILDINGS ABATEMENT
BILL, IS A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR US.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING
FORWARD TO US. VICE CHAIR? SUPER
QUICK.
>> I UNDERTOOK LEGISLATIVE WORK
TO LAUNCH MY OWN PIECE OF
LEGISLATION WHICH HAVE BEEN
COUNCIL GENERATED AS OPPOSED TO
EXECUTIVE GENERATED, BUT THE
EXECUTIVE BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH,
WHICH IS TERRIFIC. I WANT TO
CALL OUT THAT I WORKED WITH THE
SEE THE ATTORNEY TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE LANDSCAPE OF
THIS, WE DO NOT JUST LAUNCH
LEGISLATION , MINIMUM WORK GOES
INTO IT AHEAD OF TIME, PART IS
UNDERSTANDING THE LEGAL
LANDSCAPE, OPERATIONAL
LANDSCAPE, STAKEHOLDER
INVOLVEMENT, AND A LOT OF MOVING
PARTS, THAT IS THE TIP OF THE
ICEBERG, SO TO SPEAK , OF WHAT
IS INVOLVED AND I WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND SAY THANK YOU
FOR THE COLLABORATION FROM THE
CITY ATTORNEY ON HELPING ME
BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE,
YOU ADVISED THE EXECUTIVE AS
WELL AND I APPRECIATE THE
PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY THIS IS WHAT THE
COMMITTEE DOES. THIS IS NOT BY
ACCIDENT. WITH THAT, WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF THE AGENDA.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS?
>> I DO HAVE A PICE -- PIECE OF
OTHER BUSINESS, IT GETS AT THIS
ISSUE OF ENFORCEMENT , HOW OUR
LAWS TAKE PLACE IN THE REAL
WORLD. SHE HAS BEEN COMMENTING
ON THE OTHER NUISANCE
LEGISLATION WE HAVE CONCERNING
NIGHTLIFE . BUSINESSES . SHE
WANTS TO KNOW, FAS DO NOT HAVE
THE CAPACITY TO BE WATCHING FOR
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY FROM THE PEAK
HOURS FROM 2:00 TO 5:00 AND WE
NEED MORE CITY AND COUNTY
LEVERS, WE CAN KEEP THIS IN MIND
WHEN WE ARE OPERATIONALIZING
THIS , MORE CITY CONSULTANTS ARE
NEEDED , CONSULTATION IS NEEDED
WITH BUSINESSES, IN TERMS OF
WHERE THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IS
TAKING PLACE IN WHICH BUSINESSES
ARE OPERATING ILLEGALLY.
NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES ARE BOOTS
ON THE GROUND AND CAN BE AN
ASSET TO THE CITY. FINALLY ,
MORE CONVERSATIONS COULD BE
TAKING PLACE REGARDING LANDLORDS
WITH PROPER PERMITS AND
FOLLOWING THE LAWS IN GOOD FAITH
. THEY CAN BE GREAT PARTNERS AS
WELL.
>> THAT GOES TO THE POINT
EARLIER , ABOUT WORKING WITH THE
EXECUTIVE TO PUT THESE PIECES IN
PLACE . WE ARE DOING THAT,
STARTING WITH RECRUITMENT, THE
FIRE CHIEF , THE VACANT
BUILDINGS, THE STREET RACING,
ACROSS THE BOARD , PARTICULARLY
WITH THE TECHNOLOGY PIECES , AND
YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT, MS.
GOODMAN MAKES A GOOD POINT, THE
AFTER-HOURS ESTABLISHMENTS,
GROWING PAINS , IF YOU WILL,
PUTTING THINGS IN PLACE . WE
WILL BE FOLLOWING UP BECAUSE
THIS IS ABOUT KEEPING THE
PRESSURE UP AND , SOMETIMES
WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES TO
ENSURE THAT THESE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION ARE DOING WHAT THEY
ARE INTENDED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY,
DEPUTY MAYOR , AND THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES , FOR THE EXTRA