>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, THE
JUNE 12th, 2025 MEETING ON
FAMILIES, EDUCATION, AND
PROMISED LEVY WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT IS 9:34 A.M., I AM
MARITZA RIVERA, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> THANK YOU, LET THE RECORD
REFLECT THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH WILL JOIN US
SHORTLY AND COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON IS EXCUSED FROM THIS
MEETING BUT IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL
NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT
RELATED ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> THERE ARE 17 IN PERSON
SPEAKERS AND EIGHT REMOTE
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, CLERK.
AS I SIT AND READ THINGS THIS
MONDAY, WE WILL LIMIT COMMENT
PERIOD TO 20 MINUTES, AS
REQUIRED PER COUNCIL RULES --
EXCUSE ME, SORRY. THANK YOU. WE
HAVE A LOT OF AMENDMENTS TO GET
THROUGH AND A LEVY TO GET
THROUGH COMMITTEE TODAY, SO,
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TIME
FOR THAT, SO, I WILL SAY -- IF
WE CAN GET THROUGH THE SPEAKERS
IN 20, I WOULD DO 30 MINUTES IF
WE COULD GET THROUGH EVERYONE,
BUT WE NEED TO MOVE ON, SO 30
MINUTES WILL BE THE CAP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY. IF YOU
DON'T GET TO DO YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE WELCOME WRITTEN
PUBLIC COMMENT. HOPEFULLY, WE
CAN GET THROUGH EVERYONE TODAY,
WE WILL DO ONE MINUTE OF PUBLIC
COMMENT. ALL RIGHT, SPEAKERS
WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN
WHICH THEY REGISTERED, WE WILL
BE ALTERNATING BETWEEN IN PERSON
AT REMOTE SPEAKERS EVERY 10
MINUTES UNTIL THE TIME HAS
ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME
WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT ON
THEIR TIME. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN, WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST. SO, I'M GOING TO CALL
SITE SPEAKERS, AND HOPEFULLY
EVERYONE -- THERE ARE THREE
MICROPHONES AND YOU CAN COME UP
TO ONE OF THE MIKE'S IF I CALL
YOUR NAME. DAVID JACOBSON. SARAH
BRAMMER . SUE RASH. [ INAUDIBLE
] I'M SO SORRY IF I DID NOT
PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME CORRECTLY.
ANDRE FISHER. LENA NGUYEN. [
INAUDIBLE ] BILL HIGHTOWER.
>> IT IS 9:37, SO I AM MARKING
THE TIME.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, AT A PTS A
MEETING TWO DAYS AGO, GARFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TERRENCE
SAID STUDENTS, STAFF, AND
FAMILIES ALL WANT POLICE
OFFICERS BACK ON CAMPUS. DR.
HART IS DESIGNING A PILOT
PROGRAM WITH THAT SCHOOL
DISTRICT THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF
GARFIELD AND IS RESPONSIBLE --
RESPONSIVE TO WHAT GARFIELD
STUDENTS SAY THEY ARE
COMFORTABLE WITH. NO ONE, HE
SAYS, IS GOING TO BE ARRESTING
ANYONE ON CAMPUS. AMENDMENT 1 TO
THE CITY'S PROPOSED EDUCATION
LEVY, SIX CONDITIONS ON SAFETY
INVESTMENTS. BUT INSERTING THAT
LANGUAGE MAY PREVENT GARFIELD
FROM GETTING WHAT IT WANTS AND
NEEDS FROM SROs. THAT CAN HAVE
DEADLY EFFECT , SINCE SIX OUT OF
THE SEVEN SHOOTING INCIDENTS
REPORTED AT GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
TOOK PLACE AFTER THE MORATORIUM
WENT INTO EFFECT. I URGE YOU TO
REJECT OR REWRITE AMENDMENT 1,
SO IT DOES NOT DISCOURAGE
PLACEMENT OF SROs IN SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AND LET THE RECORD
REFLECT, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH HAS JOINED US IN
CHAMBERS. GO AHEAD, SARAH.
>> THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS
SARAH BRAMMER AND I AM HERE
REPRESENTING THE GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL PTS A AS THE CURRENT VICE
PRESIDENT. AT OUR JUNE BOARD
MEETING, THE PTSA HAS THE
FOLLOWING RESOLUTION. JOINS THE
MAJORITY OF STUDENTS, STAFF,
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, AND FAMILIES
IN URGING THE SEATTLE SCHOOL
BOARD TO WITHDRAW THE INDEFINITE
MORATORIUM ON SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICERS. WE ASK THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO INITIATE A
CAREFULLY DESIGNED PILOT PROGRAM
THAT REINSTATES A SCHOOL
ENGAGEMENT OFFICER AT GARFIELD
STARTING IN THE FALL OF 2025. IN
ADDITION TO VOICING OUR SUPPORT
FOR THE POSITION AT GARFIELD,
I'M ALSO HERE BECAUSE YOUR
SUPPORT IS A CRITICAL SOURCE OF
FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT. WE
HOPE THAT PTSA'S RESOLUTION
WILL REMIND YOU THAT THE PILOT
HAS BROAD SUPPORT IN THE
GARFIELD COMMUNITY. AND I WILL
SKIP AHEAD TO THE VERY END, IN
CONCLUSION, WE STAND IN STRONG
SOLIDARITY WITH GARFIELD
STUDENTS AND STAFF AND SUPPORT
THIS SCO POSITION AND ARE ASKING
THE SEATTLE --
>> THANK YOU. YOU CAN SEND YOUR
WRITTEN COMMENT. THANK YOU. [
INAUDIBLE ]?
>> GREAT PRONUNCIATION, HONORARY
SRI LANKAN CITIZENSHIP THERE. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 3 WITH MY WIFE
AND THREE KIDS. OUR SON, SEAN,
GRADUATED FROM GARFIELD ON
MONDAY. [ INAUDIBLE ] AND I HAVE
LIVED IN SEATTLE 26 YEARS, I
KNOW THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS NOT
NEW IN AND AROUND GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL. AND WE KNOW THAT THE
ROOT CAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE IN
OUR COMMUNITY IS POVERTY,
THAT'S WHY I AM HERE TO SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS 1, 5, 7, AND 8 TO
PROTECT OUR STUDENTS. THERE IS
AMPLE EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT
POLICE WITH GUNS IN OUR HALLWAYS
DO NOT MAKE OUR CHILDREN SAFER,
AND OUR TWO YOUNGER CHILDREN
WILL START HIGH SCHOOL AT
GARFIELD NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ANDRE FISHER AND
LENA? ANDRE? OH, THERE YOU ARE.
GREAT.
>> GREETINGS, COUNCILMAN, IT IS
AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO STAND
BEFORE YOU PRINT MY NAME IS
ANDRE FISHER. [ INAUDIBLE ] FOR
US, THE SEATTLE PROMISE IS FOR
OUR STUDENTS, FOR A BETTER
FUTURE, TO ENSURE THAT OUR
EDUCATIONAL DREAMS ARE
FULFILLED. SEATTLE PROMISE FOR
US IS THE FAMILIES THAT
UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF
COLLEGE, THE UNDERSTANDING, THE
NAVIGATING OUR RESOURCES AND THE
FUTURE THAT REMAINS TO BE ON
SAID, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS
THAT SEATTLE PROMISE IS A
PROMISE THAT WE ASK THAT YOU ALL
COMMIT TO THE PROMISE FOR OUR
STUDENTS, FOR OUR FUTURE. IT
GUIDES THE READINESS OF WHAT WE
NEED TO SEE FOR OUR WRAPAROUND
SERVICES. SEATTLE PROMISE IS THE
BELONGINGNESS OF A COMMUNITY IN
THE CLASSROOM. SEATTLE PROMISE
IS ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY AND A
BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, SO WE SHARE
A RESPONSIBILITY HERE TODAY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE SPEAK UP
FOR COMMUNITIES AND WE ASK THAT
YOU DO THE SAME FOR SEATTLE
PROMISE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU DeANDRE. LENA AND
THEN [ INAUDIBLE ].
>> A CHILD WILL BURN A VILLAGE
DOWN TO FEEL SOME WARMTH. MY
NAME IS LENA AND I AM A JUSTICE
PRACTITIONER AT THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION, WHILE BLOCK. I AM
URGING ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOTE YES ON THE AMENDMENTS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK HAS BROUGHT
FORWARD. RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
VIOLENCE PREVENTION. IN THE FOUR
YEARS OF WORKING AT SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I HAVE [
INAUDIBLE ] INTO POWERFUL
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PEERS,
USING RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. ONE
OF MY MOST VIVID EXAMPLES OF
THIS IS WHEN MY FOURTH GRADE
STUDENTS WHO SHOWED UP TO MY
DOOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
WITH TWO FISTS PUMPED UP AND
READY TO FIGHT EACH ONE OF HER
FRIENDS, BUT SHE SHOWED UP TO MY
DOOR AND SHE WAS READY TO WORK
ON HER ANGER AND CHANGE YOUR
RELATIONSHIPS AT SCHOOL. FOR THE
REST OF THE YEAR, WE WORKED
THROUGH ONE ON ONE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH EACH OTHER, WORKED IN OUR
CLASSROOMS TOGETHER, WORKED WITH
HER TEACHER, TO MAKE SURE SHE
HAD A SPACE TO FEEL BELONGING,
AND TODAY, [ INAUDIBLE ] HER OWN
COMMUNITY BUILDING CIRCLES IN
HER CLASS. [ INAUDIBLE ] THE
VISION TO SHIFT SCHOOL CULTURES.
I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
YES ON THESE AMENDMENTS TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. [ INAUDIBLE ] AND
THEN TRISH HAGGERTY.
>> MY NAME IS [ INAUDIBLE ] AND
I AM A PRACTITIONER WITH WALL
BLOCK AND I'M URGING THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS AMENDMENTS TO THE
LEVY THAT INVESTS MONEY INTO
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. WHILE
BLOCK PARTNERS WITH SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, CLASSROOM
TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND DISTRICT
STAFF. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IS
FOUNDATION BUILDING WORK, IT IS
PROACTIVE BUT IT IS NOT JUST
ABOUT RESPONDING TO, IT IS ABOUT
BUILDING THE TYPE OF COMMUNITY
THAT CAN COLLECTIVELY RESPOND TO
HARM WHEN IT DOES OCCUR. THIS IS
STUDENT LED AND CENTERED WORK.
JUST YESTERDAY, I WAS AT ONE OF
OUR PARTNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS,
WHERE TWO FIFTH-GRADERS [
INAUDIBLE ] IN A SECOND GRADE
CLASSROOM. THE STUDENTS SPENT
EIGHT WEEKS GETTING THE SKILLS
NECESSARY TO BE LEADERS IN THEIR
COMMUNITY, LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY
STRONG EMOTIONS WITHIN
THEMSELVES AND OTHERS, THAT IS
HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND MORE.
STUDENTS LEARNED THAT [
INAUDIBLE ] THEY CAN TAKE A LEAD
IN. THIS IS THE WORK THAT BUILDS
SCHOOLS THAT ARE SAFE AND
ADDRESSES PROBLEMS AT THEIR
BREW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. CASTILLE, TRISH,
AND THEN LEANNE.
>> MY NAME IS CASTEEL HIGHTOWER
AND I'M THE LEAD ORGANIZER FOR
THE SEATTLE ATP AND [ INAUDIBLE
] MURDERED BY SEATTLE POLICE BY
EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS, SIMILARLY TO HOW A MAN
WAS KILLED BY SPD JUST MARCH OF
THIS YEAR. [ INAUDIBLE ] JUST
WEEKS AGO IN A DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
OVER THE PAST WEEK, INCLUDING
SPD, COORDINATING WITH ICE. I'M
ALSO A MEMBER OF THE KEEP YOUR
PROMISE COALITION, MANY STUDENTS
CANNOT BE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY,
SO I AM HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH
THEM AND ALL PEOPLE IMPACTED BY
STATE SANCTIONED VIOLENCE. [
INAUDIBLE ] TASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT ON AMENDMENTS 157 AND
EIGHT , SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, THE ONLY
COUNCILMEMBER TO RESPOND TO
EVERY STUDENT LED COALITION
EMAILS, WE SHOULD NOT BE PUSHING
FUNDING IN THE LEVY THAT PUTS
THE CENTRAL EDUCATION FUNDS AT
RISK AND [ INAUDIBLE ] ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, JUST HOW BRUTAL AND
AS MY FAMILY EXPERIENCE, HOW
DEADLY THE CONSEQUENCES CAN BE
TO OUR COMMUNITIES. [ INAUDIBLE
]
>> THANK YOU.
>> TRISH AND LEANNE, AND THEN WE
WILL GO TO AMBER DONELSON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS TRISH
HAGGERTY, I WORK IN SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR THE
SUPPORT BEHIND RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES, AND AS ONE OF THOSE
PRACTICES IS TO SPEAK AND LISTEN
FROM THE HEART, AND SO, I JUST
INVITE ALL OF YOU TO JOIN ME IN
THAT PRACTICE THIS MORNING, AND
THINKING ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND
OUR MOST MARGINALIZED,
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND I
WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A REALLY
INCREDIBLE, INSPIRING MOMENT
THAT I GOT TO BE PART OF WITH
ONE OF THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME
BEFORE ME. SHE HELPED SUPPORT
THE GRADUATION OF EIGHT, FOURTH,
AND FIFTH GRADE CIRCLE KEEPERS.
THOSE CIRCLE KEEPERS SHARED
INFORMATION IN A CIRCLE FORMAT ,
ALL THAT THEY LEARNED FOR THE
EIGHT WEEKS OF TRAINING. THEY
WANT TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY,
AND THIS IS JUST A BEGINNING.
>> THANK YOU. LEEANN AND AMBER
DONELSON, AND THEN WE WILL GO
ONLINE.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING, MY
NAME IS LEANNE, PROGRAM MANAGER
FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AS
THE YEAR WINDS DOWN, I VISITED
CLASSROOMS AND CONNECTED WITH
EDUCATORS AND I HAVE SEEN SOME
TRULY POWERFUL MOMENTS. STUDENTS
LEAD THEIR OWN CIRCLE
CONVERSATIONS REFLECTING ON
THEIR PURPOSE, THEIR GROWTH, AND
HOW THEY WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR
SCHOOL CULTURE. FOURTH AND FIFTH
GRADERS RAN CIRCLES FOR
KINDERGARTNERS, PROBABLY NAMING
THE SKILLS THEY BUILT , THE
BETTER GRADES THEY WERE EARNING,
THE CONFIDENCE THEY NOW FEEL.
THESE MOMENTS DIDN'T HAPPEN BY
CHANCE. THEY ARE THE RESULT OF
INTENTIONAL, ONGOING RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES WORK LED BY
RESTORATIVE PRACTICE
COORDINATORS AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, BOTH FUNDED BY THE
CITY, WHO THE CURRENT LEVY [
INAUDIBLE ]. THE NEXT LEVY IS
THE BEST AND ONLY WAY TO ENSURE
THAT THIS WORK CONTINUES. PLEASE
PROTECT AND PRIORITIZE THIS WORK
BY VOTING YES ON COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK'S AMENDMENTS,
SPECIFICALLY AMENDMENT 7. ITS
IMPACT CAN CONTINUE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, AMBER DONELSON?
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
AMBER DONALDSON AND I'M THE
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
COORDINATOR. [ INAUDIBLE ] I
FULLY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT
AMENDMENT 7, FUNDING FOR
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES . IN ORDER
FOR OUR STUDENTS TO EXPENSE TO
UNDERSTANDING, ACCEPTANCE, AND
VALUE, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE
HAVE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
CONTINUALLY AND OUR SCHOOLS. THE
CONSISTENCY OF THIS WORK TAKES A
LOT OF TIME, INTENTIONALITY, AND
EFFORT. MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE
THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO
CONTINUE IT MATTERS. IT MATTERS
TO OUR DISTRICT, IT MATTERS TO
OUR STUDENTS, IT MATTERS TO OUR
PARENTS, IT MATTERS TO OUR
COMMUNITY, AND IT MATTERS
SPECIFICALLY TO FRANKLIN HIGH
SCHOOL. CONSISTENCY IS KEY, AND
HE IS OPEN DOORS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. CLERK, CAN WE GO
TO THE ONLINE ?
>> THE FIRST ONLINE SPEAKER IS
MADDIE RAMIREZ, PRESS STAR SIX
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED.
>> HI, COUNCILMEMBERS, I AM AN
EDUCATOR AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
COORDINATOR WITHIN SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M HERE TODAY
TO URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON
AMENDMENT 7 AND THE FEPP LEVY.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S
AMENDMENT. CONTINUING TO FIND
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS CRUCIAL TO THE
WELLNESS, SAFETY, AND SECURITY
OF STUDENTS. VIOLENCE HAPPENS
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS
AND RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO
CONFLICTS. RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AT THE ROOT.
[ INAUDIBLE ] EMPOWERING THEM TO
MAKE SAFE CHOICES AND
PRODUCTIVELY RESPOND TO CONFLICT
IN OUR COMMUNITIES. DON'T JUST
TAKE IT FROM ME, TAKE IT FROM A
TESTIMONY OF ONE OF OUR SCHOOL
PARTNERS. SHE SAYS RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES SUPPORT STUDENTS'
MENTAL HEALTH, BECAUSE WHEN A
KID IS IN CRISIS OR NAVIGATING A
PERSONAL CONFLICT, IT IS HARD
FOR THEM TO ENGAGE IN LEARNING
AND IN THEIR CLASSROOM
COMMUNITY. THERE IN THEIR FIGHT,
FLIGHT MODE. ESPECIALLY IN OUR
COMMUNITY WHERE THERE ARE SO
MANY [ INAUDIBLE ]. STUDENTS
PROCESS FEELINGS TO BE
ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE MOMENT. [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS OLIVER, PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX WHEN YOU HEAR YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED.
>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE
FEPP LEVY SELECT COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS OLIVER, TESTIFYING
REMOTELY FROM GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL. I'M TESTIFYING IN
SUPPORT OF AMENDMENTS 1, 7, 8.
THESE AMENDMENTS DO NOT IMPACT
SRO CONVERSATIONS, THAT IS THE
SCHOOL BOARD'S JOB. [ INAUDIBLE
] TO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR
POLITICALLY CONTROVERSIAL ITEMS
LIKE [ INAUDIBLE ] PUTS THE LEVY
AT RISK OF BRINGING UNNECESSARY
CRITICISM TO THE LEVEES PASSAGE.
AS AN EDUCATOR, I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE REAL
SOLUTIONS TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS.
FEELING SAFE IS FUNDAMENTAL TO A
HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT. RESEARCH
OVERWHELMINGLY SHOWS THAT OUR
OFFICERS DO NOT PRESENT --
PREVENT VIOLENCE AND DO NOT [
INAUDIBLE ]. THE SURVEY THAT HAS
BEEN MENTIONED [ INAUDIBLE ] BAD
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES, AND
IT'S FACTS LIKE THESE THAT
CAUSE DISTRUST FOR OUR PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS. THERE HAS CLEARLY
NOT BEEN MUCH TIME OR ENGAGEMENT
ON THIS. [ INAUDIBLE ] DOES NOT
MEAN MAKING A FEW PARENTS FEEL
SAFE AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS JEN.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX WHEN YOU
HEAR YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JEN, I AM A
CANDIDATE FOR SEATTLE SCHOOL
BOARD IN DISTRICT 7. I WOULD
LIKE TO SUPPORT -- CALL IN IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK'S POST 1, 5, 7, AND 8.
AGAIN, IN AGREEMENT WITH ALL OF
HER, RESEARCH HAS NOT SUPPORTED
THAT SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
BENEFIT THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS.
STUDENTS HAVE LONG SOUGHT FOR
ADDITIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND
ADDITIONAL FUNDING. AMENDMENTS
1, 5, 7, AND 8 WOULD GET THAT
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICE IN
OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE SO
IMPACTFUL TO THE KIDS THAT NEED
IT WITHOUT [ INAUDIBLE ]
MEASURES THAT HURT THE STUDENTS
WHO NEED THE MOST HELP. I URGE
YOU TO VOTE YES ON 1, 5, 7, AND
8.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS MADELEINE. MADELEINE,
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX WHEN YOU
HEAR YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
>> HI. MY NAME IS MADELEINE AND
I AM A SECURITY MANAGER AT [
INAUDIBLE ] , PRESENT TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT OF AMENDMENTS 4 AND 5
TO ADVOCATE FOR THE INCLUSION OF
FOOD ACCESS, A TOP PRIORITY AND
CORE COMPONENT OF EDUCATIONAL
SUPPORT FOR SEATTLE STUDENTS. AT
UNITED WAY, [ INAUDIBLE ] AS
WELL AS STATEWIDE TO CONNECT
STUDENTS TO RESOURCES. WE ARE
EXCITED AND HOPEFUL TO SEE THESE
AMENDMENTS PROPOSED AND [
INAUDIBLE ] INDICATES THE
COUNCIL TAKES FOOD SECURITY AND
INSECURITY THAT SO MANY CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY
ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY. WE KNOW
THAT ONE IN SIX WASHINGTON KIDS
ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY
AND DEMAND FOR FOOD RESOURCES IS
INCREDIBLY ELEVATED IN THIS
MOMENT. WORKING FAMILIES MAKE
THE TOUGH DECISION [ INAUDIBLE
]. WE ALSO DO KNOW THAT THE
FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAM THAT
ARE ADMINISTERED BY SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DIRECT
BENEFIT PROGRAMS ARE SOME OF THE
MOST IMPACTFUL TOOLS AT OUR
DISPOSAL TO SUPPORT --
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS ALBERTO
ALVAREZ, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
WHEN YOU HEAR YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING. YES
TO COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S
AMENDMENTS. WE HAVE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SEATTLE POLICE
DOES NOTHING FOR A FAMILY HUNGRY
AND IN NEED OF FOOD. THESE
AMENDMENTS DO. SEATTLE POLICE
DOES NOT CONSOLE STUDENTS BEFORE
ESCALATION OR CRISIS. THESE
AMENDMENTS DO. SEATTLE POLICE IS
CHOOSING NOT TO PROTECT
IMMIGRANT PARENTS OR THEIR
CHILDREN . THESE AMENDMENTS DO.
COUNCIL HAS SIGNED PLENTY OF
DECLARATIONS IN SUPPORT OF
FAMILIES. IT'S TIME FOR DIRECT
ACTION LIKE PASSING ALL OF
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S AMENDMENTS
. NO DELAY. GET THIS FORTIFIED
LEVY ON THE BALLOT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS LORI ROSS. IX WHEN YU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. LORI, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX. LORI, WE SEE YOU
THERE, CAN YOU PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX? LORI? CAN YOU PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX?
>> [ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
CONSULTING TEACHER ON THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES TEAM.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK WITH YOU. I'M A
LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER AND PRIOR
WAS A CHILD WELFARE SOCIAL
WORKER FOR 14 YEARS. THE
OUTCOMES FOR THE STUDENTS I
SERVED WERE DIRECTLY TIED TO THE
RELATIONSHIPS THEY HAD WITHIN
THEIR SCHOOLS. EVEN ONE
RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ADULT AT
SCHOOL WAS LIFESAVING FOR THE
YOUNG PEOPLE I SERVED.
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IS
HUMANIZING WORK. IT BUILDS
COMMUNITY BETWEEN COLLEAGUES,
STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES.
FOUNDATION LAE, THIS IS WHAT WE
ALL NEED, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME
WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH VIOLENCE
AND LOSS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE
SENT A RELATIONSHIP AND
CONNECTION GREAT CAPACITY AND
PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIP AND COME TOGETHER
WHEN HARD THINGS HAPPEN. PLEASE
SUPPORT AMENDMENT 7 AND HELP US
CONTINUE THIS WORK AS A DISTRICT
TEAM SERVING OVER 100 SCHOOLS.
WE NEED RP COORDINATORS AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM HERE AS A
COMMUNITY MEMBER, AS WELL AS
YOUTH ORGANIZER THAT DEEPLY
CARES ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE. I URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT AMENDMENTS ONE,
FIVE, SEVEN AND EIGHT AS WELL AS
THE LEVEL TO CONTINUE THE
AMAZING WORK THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF
THE CITY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
REMIND YOU THAT BACK IN 20
20/20,000 WERE ASSIGNED TO A
PETITION TO GET SROs OUT OF OUR
SCHOOLS. STUDENTS HAVE
REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THAT THEY
WANT TO FEEL SAFE AT SCHOOL. I
BELIEVE THESE RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE PRACTICES ENSURING THEY
HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD AND
HOLISTICALLY SUPPORTING THEM
WILL CREATE THAT SAFE
ENVIRONMENT. BRINGING A GUN TO
SCHOOL DOES NOT CREATE A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT. WE NEED TO CONTINUE
TO DO THIS HEALING WORK AND
BELIEVE THAT OUR YOUTH KNOW WHAT
THEY WANT. PLEASE, I URGE YOU,
SUPPORT THE AMENDMENTS .
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I
WILL READ A STATEMENT FROM A
STUDENT AT FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS IN SUPPORT OF AMENDMENTS
ONE, FIVE, SEVEN AND EIGHT.
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, FOOD,
ACCESS, LEGAL AID AND SUPPORTED
SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS PLAY A
CRITICAL ROLE IN CREATING SAFETY
AND BELONGING FOR STUDENTS.
AMENDMENT ONE CLARIFIES THAT
LEVY FUNDS SHOULD NOT BE USED TO
SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT CONTRIBUTE
TO THE SCHOOL TO PRISON
PIPELINE. THIS AMENDMENT DOES
NOT PREVENT LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM
BEING PRESENT NEAR SCHOOLS, OR
RESPONDING TO CRISIS IN THE
BUILDINGS. NONPUNITIVE SAFETY
AND SECURITY MEASURES ALSO
INCLUDES STRENGTHENING PHYSICAL
SAFETY AND SCHOOLS THROUGH
SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENTS, KEY CARD ACCESS
SYSTEMS, INTERCOMS AND STAFF
TRAINING CAN IMPROVE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE A DAILY SAFETY. WE NEED
DEDICATED FUNDING AND STAFFING
TO AVOID OVERBURDENING SCHOOL
PERSONNEL. FINALLY, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO HAVE CLEAR
ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT FOR
SCHOOL SAFETY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU PER FIRST OF
ALL, I SEEK JUSTICE FOR ONE YEAR
AFTER HE WAS MURDERED IN THE
PARKING LOT OF GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL IN THE MIDDLE OF A SCHOOL
DAY. STILL NO SUSPECTS CHARGED
ARE CONTRARY TO THE
PREPONDERANCE OF WHICH YOU BEEN
HEARING TODAY, WE HAVE HEARD AS
RECENTLY AS THIS WEEK THAT THE
VAST MAJORITY OF CONCERNED
STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS AND
PRINCIPALS OF GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL ARE ALIGNED IN FAVOR OF
RETURNING SROs TO SCHOOLS TO
MAKE THEM SAFE AGAIN. I URGE YOU
AS A PARENT OF TWO STUDENTS TO
REJECT THE LANGUAGE OF ANY OF
THE AMENDMENTS THAT IN ANY THE O
SCHOOL. OTHERWISE, THERE WILL BE
A COUNCIL LEVY WITH LANGUAGE
THAT DISCOURAGES THE RETURNING
OF THESE OFFICERS NEEDED IN OUR
SCHOOLS. WE NEED BOTH. WE NEED
ALL THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
PRACTICES, AND SROs BACK IN
SCHOOL. THANK YOU .
>> GOOD MORNING. I IDENTIFY AS A
FEMALE PERSON OF COLOR AND ASIAN
AMERICAN. I AM AN INCOMING
PARENT OF A FRESHMAN AT GARFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL. I AM HERE TO URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT BRINGING SCHOOL
ENGAGEMENT OFFICERS BACK TO
GARFIELD IN ADDITION TO
CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN
COMMUNITY AND MENTAL HEALTH
SAFETY EFFORTS. I WILL BE
HONEST, I LOOKED AT PRIVATE
SCHOOLS THIS PAST YEAR , BECAUSE
OF THE SAFETY ASPECT AT
GARFIELD. I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT
A LOT OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS
DON'T EVEN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE PROBLEM
AT GARFIELD IS THAT OUTSIDE OF
THE SCHOOL, NOT INSIDE, AND I
ATTENDED THE SEATTLE SCHOOL
BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK . I
LISTENED TO THE CURRENT GARFIELD
PRINCIPAL , IN ADDITION TO THE
PREVIOUS PRINCIPAL, AND I AM
RUNNING OUT OF TIME . BUT
ULTIMATELY, MY SON IS GOING TO
GARFIELD NEXT YEAR TO SUPPORT
THEIR ACADEMIC DIVERSITY.
>> THANK YOU. YOU CAN SEND IN
YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T THINK I HAVE YOU ON
THE LIST. HIM. GO AHEAD.
APOLOGIES.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A
DIRECTING ATTORNEY FOR RIGHTS
PROJECT. AS ALL KNOW, URBAN
COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK
PROGRESSING DETENTIONS AT THE
IMMIGRATION COURT. WE HAVE SEEN
RAIDS AT WORKPLACES AND WORKERS
NOT COMING HOME TO FAMILIES. WE
ARE SEEING KIDS GETTING HARASSED
BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS UNDER
THE GUISE OF WELFARE CHECKS.
THIS IS THE MOMENT FOR SEATTLE
TO STEP UP. I AM HERE TO URGE
SUPPORT FOR AMENDMENT ONE, FIVE,
SEVEN AND EIGHT. I WAS HERE
BEFORE THIS COUNCIL RECENTLY.
THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY
SUPPORTED REAFFIRMING SEATTLE AS
A WELCOMING CITY. THIS IS THE
CHANCE TO CONTINUE TO STEP UP TO
APPROVE THESE A MEMO TO GIVE THE
VOTERS IN SEATTLE THE CHANCE TO
IMPROVE THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES
THAT ARE SO UNDER ATTACK. THANK
YOU .
>> THANK YOU, TIM. JAMIE .
>> -- GO AHEAD .
>> I AM A CANDIDATE FOR SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. I AM
HERE IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY. I
AM A PARENT OF A STUDENT WHO
ATTENDS CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT
GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL. I AM A
FORMER PTA COPRESIDENT OF
THURGOOD MARSHALL ELEMENTARY.
OUR SON DOES NOT ATTEND GARFIELD
ACADEMICALLY . WE ATTEND A
DIFFERENT SCHOOL WHERE THERE ARE
ROBUST MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS AND
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT WORK
TO, YOU KNOW, DEVELOP SOCIAL
EMOTIONAL SKILLS WITH CHILDREN.
THAT IS THE STUFF ACTUALLY --
THAT IS THE GOOD STUFF IN THIS
LEVY. I STAND HERE AS A MEMBER
OF THE KEEP OUR PROMISE
COALITION IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S
AMENDMENTS ONE, FIVE, SEVEN --
WELL, ALL OF HER AMENDMENTS,
ACTUALLY. ALSO, I DON'T THINK
ANY OF US HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS
WITHOUT MENTOR SHIP AND COACHING
AND SUPPORT FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
AS FOLKS IS THAT, ALL THE
SHOOTINGS HAVE OCCURRED OUTSIDE
OF GARFIELD, NOT INSIDE THE
SCHOOL. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE .
>> THANK YOU, JAMIE. WE HAVE ONE
LAST SPEAKER. CAN YOU PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX SO WE CAN HEAR
YOU? LAURIE, I'M SO SORRY.
PLEASE SEND IN YOUR WRITTEN
COMMENT. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO HEAR
YOU . IF YOU WOULD PLEASE SEND
IN YOUR WRITTEN COMMENT, WE
WOULD BE SO HAPPY TO READ IT.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT,
COLLEAGUES. WE GOT THROUGH
EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE. THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
NOW WE WILL PROCEED TO THE ITEM
OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 1 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, COUNCIL BILL
120981, ORDINANCE RELATED TO
REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES
REQUESTING THAT A SPECIAL
ELECTION BE HELD CONCURRENT WITH
THE NOVEMBER 4, 2025 GENERAL
ELECTION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE
QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY ,
A PROPER TISSERAND TO LIFT THE
LIMIT ON REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES
UNDER CHAPTER 84.55 RCW, AND TO
AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO LEVY
ADDITIONAL TAXES FOR UP TO SIX
YEARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVIDING EDUCATION SUPPORT
SERVICES DESIGNATED TO IMPROVE
ACCESS TO EARLY LEARNING ,
INCLUDING CHILDCARE AND
PRESCHOOL, ACADEMIC, HEALTH AND
SAFETY SUPPORTS FOR K-12
STUDENTS AND COLLEGE AND CAREER
PATHWAYS FOR SEATTLE STUDENTS ,
APPLYING THE EXEMPTION FOR LOW
INCOME SENIORS, DISABLED
VETERANS AND OTHERS AUTHORIZED
BY RCW 84 POINT 84.86.381
AUTHORIZING A CREATION OF A
DESIGNATED PHONE, DIRECTING THE
APPLICATION OF LEVY PROCEEDS,
ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTNERS,
ESTABLISHING ACCOUNTABILITY AND
REPORTING STRUCTURES, REQUIRING
A FORTHCOMING IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION PLAN, PROPOSING A
VALID TITLE, AUTHORIZING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENTS FOR
THIS LEVY LIFT, WHICH WILL BE
COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE FAMILIES
EDUCATION PRESCHOOL AND PROMISED
LEVY, AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS
FOR BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE THOUGH.
>> THANK YOU. THIS ITEM HAS BEEN
READ INTO THE RECORD. GOOD
MORNING, COLLEAGUES. I FEEL LIKE
IT IS GRADUATION DAY. THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THIS
MEETING GETS US ONE STEP CLOSER
TO PUTTING THIS IMPORTANT LEVY
ON THE BALLOT. WE WON'T BE
VOTING ON THE UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION AND AMENDMENTS
TODAY. THE LEGISLATION WILL THEN
MOVE ON TO FULL COUNCIL FOR A
JUNE 17 VOTE. THIS RENEWAL WILL
HELP MORE KIDS THAN EVER BEFORE.
IT DOUBLES AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE
SLOTS TO BENEFIT EVEN MORE KIDS
AND THEIR WORKING FAMILY. IT
INCREASES ACCESS ACROSS THE CITY
TO OUR AWARD-WINNING SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM , ADDING
HUNDREDS MORE SLOTS. IT WILL
FUND MORE OF THE HIGHLY UTILIZED
SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS AND
WILL PROVIDE NEEDED MENTAL
HEALTH CARE, BOTH IN PERSON AND
VIA TELEHEALTH. IT CONTINUES
UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO A FREE
TWO-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE AND ADDS
MORE PATHWAYS TO THE TRADES
THROUGH THE POPULAR SEATTLE
PROMISE PROGRAM. THIS LAST POINT
IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME,
AND I WILL BE HANDS-ON WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING DEAL, AS WE
AFFECTIONATELY CALL IT , AND OUR
LABEL PARTNERS WHILE WE DEVELOP
THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. THESE
INVESTMENTS HAVE MADE, AND WILL
MAKE, MEANINGFUL LONG-LASTING
POSITIVE DIFFERENCES IN THE
LIVES OF KIDS. THAT IS WHY
SEATTLE VOTERS HAVE COME TO
VALUE AND TRUST THIS LEVY. IT
BENEFITS KIDS AND DIRECTLY
SUPPORTS THEIR EDUCATIONAL
ACHIEVEMENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
ME TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF
THIS LEVY BY NOT DEVIATING FROM
THIS COURSE . IF LEVY
INVESTMENTS ARE CHANGED TO
SUPPORT ADULTS AND NOT KIDS, WE
WOULD BE COMPLETELY ALTERING THE
SCOPE OF THE LIVING BEYOND THE
HISTORICAL USE. AS I NOTED AT
THE LAST MEETING, THIS LEVY IS
ALREADY MORE THAN DOUBLE THE
CURRENT 2018 LEVY INVESTMENT.
THERE IS PLENTY OF FUNDING TO
EXPRESS YOUR POLICY AND
INVESTMENT PRIORITIES. IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
PLAN. JUST AS IN 2018, THERE
WILL BE A ROBUST AND PUBLIC
PROCESS FOR CREATING AN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AFTER HAS
ENGAGED WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN A ROBUST
WAY. WORTH MENTIONING IN THE
CONTEXT OF OUR CONVERSATION
TODAY IS THE DISCUSSION FROM THE
MOST RECENT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
FROM JUNE 12 WHERE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISCUSSED SAFETY
MEASURES FOR STUDENTS AND
SCHOOLS, INCLUDING SCHOOL
RESOURCE OFFICERS , WHICH SBS IS
CALLING SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT
OFFICERS. AT THIS MEETING, SPS
PRESENTED THE TOP FIVE SAFETY
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GARFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL TO KEEP THEIR
COMMUNITY SAFE. THESE INCLUDE
INCREASED SECURITY SPECIALIST
STAFFING, COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS
PARTNERSHIP, STUDENT
COACHES/CASE MANAGEMENT,
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, AND
REGULAR SPD PRESENTS. GARFIELD
DOESN'T JUST WANT ONE OF THESE
THINGS, THEY WANT ALL FIVE. IT
WAS MEANINGFUL TO HEAR FORMER
GARFIELD PRINCIPAL , NOW CURRENT
SPS ADMINISTRATOR , TED HOWARD,
ADVOCATE FOR LISTENING TO
STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY . AS HE
PUT IT "WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
RACISM AND EQUITY, NO ONE CAN
TALK FOR SOMEBODY ELSE."
TERRENCE HART, THE CURRENT
PRINCIPAL OF GARFIELD, WHO I HAD
THE PLEASURE OF MEETING LAST
WEEK, WAS VERY CLEAR THAT
OFFICERS WOULD BE THERE TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND SUPPORT
STUDENTS , LIKE THEY HAD DONE IN
THE PAST WHEN GARFIELD HAD THEIR
SRO. I QUOTE HIM SAYING "THERE
IS NO WAY THAT, AS A BLACK MAN,
I WILL ALLOW AN SCO TO RUN AMOK
ON OUR CAMPUS, DISRESPECTFUL AND
DOING HARM TO OUR STUDENTS."
COLLEAGUES, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES,
INCLUDING STUDENTS, PARENTS,
TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS
THEMSELVES, WANT MANY
STRATEGIES, AS DO WE ALL. IT IS
NOT OUR PLACE TO TELL WHICH
STRATEGIES TO USE OR WHICH
STRATEGIES TO PRIORITIZE. THAT
IS A DECISION FOR THE DISTRICT
AND THE STUDENTS AND SCHOOL
COMMUNITIES TO MAKE. AS AN SBS
MOM WHOSE CHILDREN WERE IN
LOCKDOWN WHEN A CHILD WAS
MURDERED IN THEIR SCHOOL, I AM
IN NO POSITION TO TELL ANY
SCHOOL WHAT THEY SHOULD DO TO
KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE. NONE OF
US ARE. HERE IS A FINAL POINT.
WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
STUDENTS HAVE SERIOUS NEEDS .
LAST YEAR, 60% OF FOURTH GRADERS
WERE NOT PROFICIENT IN READING ,
AND 70% OF EIGHTH GRADERS WERE
NOT PROFICIENT IN MATH,
ACCORDING TO THE FOUNDATION.
THAT IS WHY THE LEVY'S
EDUCATIONAL INVESTMENTS ARE
CRITICALLY NEEDED SO MORE KIDS
CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL AND
HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD PAYING JOBS
ACROSS THE CITY, OR ANYWHERE
THEY CHOOSE TO BE. THIS IS A
MOMENT FOR US TO COME TOGETHER
AND GET THIS LEVY ON THE BALLOT.
AND THEN, WORK THROUGH AN
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS THAT
KEEPS OUR KIDS IN THE FOREFRONT.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO
THE VOTING. I AM MOVING -- I
WILL MOVE THE BILL FOR PASSAGE.
THEN WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH
THE AMENDMENTS. I WILL TALK
ABOUT HOW THE AMENDMENTS ARE
GOING TO FLOW. I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 120981. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
THE BILL. HERE IS HOW WE ARE
GOING TO DO THE AMENDMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL MOVE THEIR
AMENDMENTS IN NUMERICAL ORDER.
AFTER RECEIVING A SECOND,
CENTRAL STAFF WILL PROVIDE A
VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE
AMENDMENT, AND AFTER CENTRAL
STAFF GIVES A BRIEF OVERVIEW,
THE SPONSOR WILL ADDRESS THE
AMENDMENT. AFTER THAT, WE WILL
OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION BEFORE
VOTING. THESE STEPS WILL BE
REPEATED FOR EACH PROPOSED
AMENDMENT UNTIL WE GET THROUGH
ALL 12. WE WILL NOW BEGIN WITH
AMENDMENT ONE. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> PARDON ME. I MOVE AMENDMENT
ONE AS PRESENTED .
>> SECOND .
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMENDMENT -- AND MEANT COUNCIL
BILL AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
ONE. CENTRAL STAFF, PLEASE
PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW AFTER YOUR
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE
AMENDMENT ONE SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD CLARIFY THAT THE
PRIORITIES AND IMPLEMENTATION
PRINCIPLES ADDENDA TO THE LEVY
WOULD PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS
TO SERVICES FOR HISTORICALLY
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND
ENSURE THE SAFETY INVESTMENTS
AND PRIORITIZE ADDRESSING ROOT
CAUSES OF VIOLENCE, NOT PUNITIVE
APPROACHES, I DO NOT CONTRIBUTE
TO THE SCHOOL TO PRISON
PIPELINE. THIS IS INTENDED TO BE
HIGH-LEVEL AND DOES NOT FIND THE
COUNCIL TO FUNDING ANY SPECIFIC
SERVICES .
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU FOR THAT OVERVIEW.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE HEARD FOR
OVER A MONTH NOW THIS PRESCHOOL
PROMISE LEVY IS A DEEP
INVESTMENT INTO THE FUTURE AS --
OF KIDDOS AND CURRENT FAMILIES
OF STUDENTS TRYING TO FORGE A
BETTER PATH THROUGH EDUCATION
AND WORKING. THIS IS A VITAL
LEVY THAT HAS ALREADY CHANGED
THOUSANDS OF LIVES. IT WILL
CONTINUE TO DO SO. I'M
COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT WE
INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FROM THOSE
MOST IMPACTED, FOLKS AND
SCHOOLS, AND THE PEOPLE DOING
THE WORK AT THE GROUND LEVEL.
FOR THAT REASON, I HAVE WORKED
WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS,
INCLUDING ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE
KEEPER PROMISE COALITION, TO
ENSURE THEIR VOICES WERE
REFLECTED IN THIS LEVY RENEWAL
PROCESS. WE HAVE EMAILED OFFICES
AND SHOWED UP AND SUPPORT FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WOULD
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON ALL
MY MMX TODAY, BUT STARTING WITH
AMENDMENT ONE, AS MOVED. THIS
PUTS THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS
FIRST AND PROTECTS THEM AS
PLACES OF LEARNING AND SAY
SPACES THAT WILL NOT BE
INTERRUPTED BY FEAR. WE WANT TO
ENSURE SAFETY IN A HOLISTIC
STAND POINT, AS WAS MENTIONED
BEFORE. THE APPROACH ALLOWS
STUDENTS TO KNOW THEY WON'T BE
UNNECESSARILY PENALIZED. THIS
AMENDMENT ALSO ENSURES WE ARE
STATING OUT RIGHT THAT THIS LEVY
DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL
EQUITY COMMITS TO DOING SO IN
WRITING. I WILL CLOSE WITH THESE
POINTS. THE SAFETY AROUND
SCHOOLS BUCKET OF THIS PROPOSED
LEVY IS NEW. THIS IS AN
EXPANSION TO THE LEVY. TO BE
VERY CLEAR, THIS IS A POLICY
CHANGE. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING
THE LEVY HAS HISTORICALLY FUNDED
. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BODY AND
SCOPE OF THE LEVY AND LEVEL OF
DETAIL WE PROVIDE AT THIS LEVEL
AND STAGE, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE
REPORT IS DEVELOPED. COLLEAGUES,
THE DETAIL WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN IS
THE DETAIL OF HOW THE PROPOSED
SCO PROGRAM CAN'T BE FUNDED
THROUGH THE CURRENT 457.$9
MILLION BUDGET. THIS IS THE
BIGGEST BUDGET IN SPD HISTORY
WITH NEARLY 60 MILLION MORE THAN
IN 2019. AS WAS STATED, THIS
AMENDMENT DOES NOT PREVENT THE
SEO PILOT PROGRAM FOR GOING
FORWARD. IF THIS IS A PRIORITY,
I AM POSITIVE THE EXECUTIVE AND
SPD WILL WORK WITH COUNCIL AND
THE SCHOOL BOARD TO PROVIDE
JUSTIFICATION ON HOW, WITHIN A
457.$9 MILLION BUDGET, WE CAN
CARVE OUT THAT FUNDING FOR THE
PILOT SEO PROGRAM. BUT I THINK
WE NEED TO BE CLEAR WITH VOTERS
. IF THIS LEVY IS ADDING FUNDING
TO THE BUDGET. I ASK YOU ALL IF
THAT IS YOUR INTENT. THIS
AMENDMENT PROVIDES CLARITY. I
THINK THE SEO DISCUSSION IS
IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE DONE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOL
COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES MOST
IMPACTED , AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THERE AREN'T EASY ANSWERS HERE,
AND I KNOW WE ALL WANT SAFETY
FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT I THINK WE
SHOULD BE CLEAR WITH VOTERS. I
ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA BURKE
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THIS
AMENDMENT. FIRST, THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF EDITS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING
EQUITY. YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT
THOSE PIECES. IN FACT, I BELIEVE
THE ENTIRE LEVY IS AN EQUITY
LEVY, REALLY HELPING THOSE
UNDERSERVED ACROSS THE BOARD
FROM THE SEATTLE PROMISE PROGRAM
. A PERFECT EXAMPLE. REGION
THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T
TRADITIONALLY GO TO COLLEGE. IN
THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. IVS HIS
ENTIRE LEVY AS AN EQUITY LEVY.
WITH RESPECT TO AMENDMENT NUMBER
ONE, THE ISSUE REALLY COMES DOWN
TO THE NUMBER THREE , ENSURE
SAFETY VEST IS PRIORITIZE
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF
VIOLENCE AND NONPUNITIVE
APPROACHES AND DO NOT CONTRIBUTE
TO THE SCHOOL TO PRISON
PIPELINE. IN ONE SENSE, THAT IS
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD,
PARTICULARLY THE FRONT HAVE. THE
CHALLENGE, THOUGH, IS THE WORDS
"I DO NOT ATTRIBUTE TO THE
SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE." THE
ISSUE IS, IT IS STRAIGHTFORWARD
IN ONE SENSE, BUT ACTUALLY
HOLDING A LOT BETWEEN EACH AND
EVERY WORD. AN EXAMPLE OF THAT
IS TWO EMAIL LETTERS WE RECEIVED
AS A COUNCIL FROM SEATTLE SCHOOL
BOARD MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE
VICE PRESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3 AND
DISTRICT POSITION 4 . IN THAT,
IT IS TOTALLY FOCUSED ON THIS
POINT . IT IS TOTALLY FOCUSED ON
THE QUESTION OF SROs . IT IS
TOTALLY FOCUSED ON PRESENCE OF
SPD, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT
THAT THERE'S A LOT BETWEEN
EVERY WORD AND THAT PART OF THE
AMENDMENT. BUT HERE'S THE
CHALLENGE. IT TALKS ABOUT ADDING
INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE. WELL,
NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY. IT SAYS
IT DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES IN TERMS OF SAFETY AT
SCHOOLS. AS REHEARD IN PUBLIC
COMMENT, IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER
OF INCIDENTS POST THE PULLING OF
THE SROs COMPARED TO PRIOR, --
AND LATER TALKS ABOUT
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES AND
THE LIKE. I WILL BE HONEST, THAT
IS BECOME A THROWAWAY TERM. YOU
CAN ARGUE EVIDENCE-BASED CAME
OUT OF PUBLIC COMMENT,
HIGHLIGHTING THESE INCIDENTS
CAME AFTER THE CHANGE. THEY
NOTED STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH
ORGANIZATIONS . I THINK THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT THEN IT
TALKED ABOUT WE MUST INTERRUPT
THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE,
NOT REINFORCE IT. THE
IMPLICATION THAT IT IS TOTALLY
FOCUSED ON SPD, SRO, PROGRAMS.
LATER HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS LETTER
EMAIL THE NEED TO TAKE A MORE
HOLISTIC AND EQUITABLE APPROACH
TO PUBLIC SAFETY. HOLISTIC WOULD
REQUIRE, AS MENTIONED BY THE
CHAIR, ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS
THAT ARE IN PLAY. EACH SCHOOL,
EACH NEIGHBORHOOD HAS UNIQUE
PIECES, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL
OF THESE IN PLAY. AND AVAILABLE.
FOR THE POSITION 4
REPRESENTATIVE AMENDMENT ONE IS
PARTICULARLY VITAL. RIGHT NEXT
GOES, CANNOT USE LEVY FUNDS FOR
PUNITIVE MEASURES, ENSURES THAT
WE ALIGN WITH BEST PRACTICES OF
SUPPORTING YOUTH. I WOULD ARGUE
CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR
OUR YOUTH IS A BEST PRACTICE .
AND THAT IT GOES, PROTECTING
STUDENTS FROM CRIMINALIZATION .
THAT IS A LOADED TERM. THAT IS A
LOADED, YOU KNOW, POSITION
RELATED TO SROs, AS CEOs AND THE
OVERALL TOPIC. MY RECOMMENDATION
TO THE BOARD MEMBERS IS TO GO TO
SEATTLE CHANNEL AND LISTEN TO
CHIEF BARNES , A FORMER SRO
HIMSELF. THE FORMER TEACHER
HIMSELF. HE SPOKE TO THIS DURING
TUESDAY'S PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING. IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT , AND HE IS A KEY
PERSON IN THIS, IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO GO TO
THAT COMMITTEE MEETING ON
SEATTLE CHANNEL AND WATCH IT. HE
WAS AGENDA NUMBER THREE. I
RECOGNIZE THIS IS A SENSITIVE
TOPIC. WE WORK SAFETY AS A
COUNCIL ACROSS THE BOARD. IT
ALSO INCLUDES SCHOOL SAFETY.
THAT IS MY CHARGE AS CHAIR
PUBLIC SAFETY. I AM LOOKING TO
CREATE A PLAN , THE OPPORTUNITY
TO INCREASE SAFETY ACROSS THE
CITY, BUT THAT ALSO INCLUDES FOR
OUR SCHOOLS . I ALSO NOTE IN ONE
OF THE LETTERS TALKING ABOUT
COMMUNITY SAFETY, COMMUNITY
PASSIONS WAYS, THAT IS
IMPORTANT. WE ARE GOING TO BE
LOOKING AT THAT FROM THE PUBLIC
SAFETY PERSPECTIVE LATER THIS
SUMMER. LOOKING AT HOW THAT
PROCESS IS. IT HAS KIND OF NOT
BEEN REALLY LOOKED AT IF IT IS
VESTED WITH THE OVERALL SECURITY
APPROACHES WE HAVE IS A CITY.
PART OF THE ONE SEATTLE
APPROACH, PART OF THE STRATEGIC
OTHER ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE? WE
HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF FOCUS
ON CARE, HEALTH 199, DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS OF ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE. BUT IN FACT, COMMUNITY
SAFETY IS ANOTHER ELEMENT OF
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, BUT IT IS
ON THE GROUND COMMUNITY-BASED
AND THE LIKE. I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS ALSO
VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENSURE
IT IS ACHIEVING ITS GOALS. IT IS
ACHIEVING WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AT
THE BOTTOM OF THIS IS, WE CAN'T
HAVE TRUE SCHOOL SAFETY IF WE
DON'T HAVE TRUE SCHOOL
NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY. THERE ARE A
LOT OF PIECES THAT DO THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF ROLE FOR THE
CITY IN THAT. I RECOGNIZE THE
CHALLENGES RELATED TO THE SCHOOL
BOARD AND SCHOOL SYSTEM ON THIS
PIECE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT I AM COMMITTED AS CHAIR OF
PUBLIC SAFETY TO BE WORKING
THOSE PIECES, AND TO WORK THE
WHOLE ELEMENTS , AS NOTED IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
. MY RECOMMENDATION, COLLEAGUES
, IS THAT WE VOTE NO ON THIS
AMENDMENT FOR THE BASIC FACT
THAT THE AMENDMENT AND THAT LINE
IS STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT EVERY
WORD HOLDS A LOT IN BETWEEN . I
THINK WE NEED TO AVOID THAT,
BECAUSE WE WON'T GET TO A SAFE
PLACE IF WE START RESTRICTING
OURSELVES . THANK YOU, CHAIR .
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA PER
>> I ECHO THE SENTIMENT
EXPRESSED BY OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
CHAIR IN HIS WORD BY WORD
PROVISION BY PROVISION ANALYSIS
OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT. FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK -- AND I
APPRECIATE THE INTENT BEHIND
THIS AMENDMENT , BUT AS I
MENTIONED LAST TIME, THE IMPACT
AND IMPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT I
FIND VERY TROUBLING. UNLIKE
EVERY OTHER AMENDMENT PUT FORTH
, WHICH BUILDS UPON THE LEVY ,
ADDS TO, SUPPLEMENTS , I THINK
THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS
EXTREMELY LIMITING , EXTREMELY
RESTRICTIVE . I AM NOT PREPARED
TO TELL THE FAMILIES OF PARENTS
AT GARFIELD, FOR EXAMPLE, NO,
THEY DON'T GET, THEY DON'T
DESERVE , NOR SHOULD THEY BE
FUNDED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
OR . THIS LEVY, IF PASSED, EVEN
THE ABSENCE OF THIS AMENDMENT
NUMBER ONE PASSING, WON'T
UNLOCK THE DOOR TO WIDESCALE
MASS DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE IN
EVERY SCHOOL AND NEIGHBORHOOD.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. NO. WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR LIMITED USE IN A
TRIAL MANNER WHERE THE COMMUNITY
CLEARLY DEMANDS THESE KIND OF
RESOURCES. A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE
PASSED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR
SUPPORT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS,
CALLING FOR A BALANCED LISTED
APPROACH THE PUBLIC SAFETY . I
THINK THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT
RUNS DIRECTLY COUNTER TO THE
SPIRIT, GOALS AND INTENT OF THAT
LEGISLATION . YES, EQUITABLE
PRIORITIES AND PRINCIPLES SHOULD
CONTROL, AND THEY WILL, EVEN IN
THE ABSENCE OF THIS LEGISLATION.
BUT AGGRIEVED FAMILIES , LIKE
THOSE OF AMARR MURPHY-PAINE,
DESERVE ANSWERS. IT IS NOT
EQUITABLE THAT HIS KILLER IS
STILL ON THE STREETS , AND HIS
PARENTS CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT.
IT IS NOT EQUITABLE THAT THE
FIRST HOMICIDE VICTIM IN SEATTLE
IN 2024, MY DISTRICT, A
15-YEAR-OLD , HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT
HAPPENED TO HIM. PROBABLY WON'T
KNOW. THAT IS NOT EQUITABLE.
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WERE
OVERREPRESENTED IN THE CRIMINAL
LEGAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ,
DISPROPORTIONALLY IMPACTED BY
GUN VIOLENCE , POLICING AND
RESPONSIBLY DEPLOYED IS A PART
OF THE SOLUTION. I'M NOT
PREPARED TO TELL THE FAMILIES AT
GARFIELDOR STRONGLY
CHARACTERS CLAMORING FOR THIS --
THESE KIND OF RESOURCES KNOW. --
NO. FOR THOSE REASONS, I WILL
NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS
AMENDMENT, BUT I DO APPRECIATE
THE INTENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH .
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
POWER. I WANT TO LIGHTEN THE
MOOD. I KNOW WE CAN GO ON AND
ON. THERE IS A LOT FOR US TO GET
THROUGH. I APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT
OF THIS. I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE
VOTING FOR THIS IF WE MADE A
VERBAL CHANGE TO THE AMENDMENT
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER. SEE
IF WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND
HERE. OKAY? THE FIRST PIECE .
I'M OFFERING IT FOR TWO SAY
HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED
COMMUNITIES. I DON'T BELIEVE
THE COMMUNITIES ARE UNDERSERVED.
I MEAN HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED.
BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDER
RESOURCED. THAT IS THE FIRST
CHANGE I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER .
>> I'M SORRY. INSTEAD OF
HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, WOULD
BE HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED?
>> YEAH. HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED
COMMUNITIES . AND THEN, -- JUST
A LITTLE TECHNICAL CHANGE. THE
SECOND PIECE WOULD BE THAT WE
KEEP ENSURING THE SAFETY
INVESTMENTS , PRIORITIZE
ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES OF
VIOLENCE AND NONPUNITIVE
APPROACHES , AND IT WOULD BE
EXCLUDING THE PRISON TO PIPELINE
PIECE. WE WOULD TAKE THAT OUT .
WHAT WE WOULD ADD WOULD BE
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. THAT
WOULD BE MY OFFER TO THE BODY
FOR THIS AMENDMENT.
>> I'M SORRY, IF YOU GET ME A
USB DRIVE, I CAN FIX IT AND PUT
IT UP ON THE SCREEN. JUST GIVE
ME 30 SECONDS.
>> THAT IS AN OFFICIAL MOTION OF
MINE. SORRY. FOR THE RECORD,
THAT IS AN OFFICIAL MOTION TO
CHANGE FROM HISTORICALLY
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO
HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED
COMMUNITIES, AND THE NEXT PIECE
OF ADDING THE , STRIKING THE
SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE AND
JUST SAYING, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES. THAT IS MY OFFICIAL
MOTION.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND .
>> MOVED AND SECONDED. DO PEOPLE
HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT
THIS PROPOSAL?
>> IF I MAY, MADAME CHAIR, WHAT
I AM TRYING TO GET TO IS TO
ENCOMPASS ALL THE THINGS I HAVE
HEARD OUR COLLEAGUES SAY, WHAT
I'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF -- FROM
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND
ALSO THE PARENTS AT GARFIELD,
THAT THIS IS A HOLISTIC
APPROACH. IT WOULD NOT BE -- THE
LANGUAGE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE SPOKE TO OR COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, IT WOULD TAKE OUT THE
PIECE WHERE IT MIGHT DISCOURAGE
COMMUNITY RESOURCE OFFICERS.
THAT IS MY OFFER TO THE BODY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I HAVE SOME
COMMENTS. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU TRYING TO BRING SOME
COMPROMISE TO THIS AMENDMENT . I
JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS
UNFORTUNATE THAT RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE, RESTORATIVE SERVICES,
ARE BEING PITTED AGAINST SROs.
THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT
STRATEGIES FOR HOW TO DEAL AND
MANAGE A SITUATION AT THE
SCHOOLS. THEY ARE ALL NEEDED. AS
I READ EARLIER, THERE ARE FIVE
STRATEGIES THAT GARFIELD IS
PUTTING FORTH TO ADDRESS SAFETY.
THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD PIT ONE
AGAINST THE OTHER IS TROUBLING
TO ME. THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS
LEVY, DEAL WILL DO THE
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING
WHAT THE DISTRICT, THE PARENTS,
THE SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS TO GET TO WHAT
THESE K-12 INVESTMENTS WILL BE.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS FOR US
TO BE PRIORITIZING ONE OF THOSE
STRATEGIES OVER ANOTHER WITHOUT
HAVING DONE THAT WORK WITH ALL
THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED TO GET
TO WHAT IS NEEDED. JUST BECAUSE
GARFIELD HAS INDICATED, AND
PRINCIPAL HARD AS INDICATED,
THEY WANT SEOs , THAT DOESN'T
MEAN THAT WILL HAPPEN. ALL THIS
WORK NEEDS TO GO. WHAT WE SHOULD
NOT BE DOING AS A BODY,
LEGISLATIVE BODY FOR THE CITY ,
NOT THE SCHOOL DIRECTOR OR THE
SCHOOL BOARD, ALL THE STUDENTS.
WE MAY BE PARENTS OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, IS
DIRECTING WHAT THEY DO WITHOUT
DOING THAT WORK. THERE IS ROOM
FOR ALL OF THESE STRATEGIES . SO
WHY WOULD WE -- I AM NOT IN
FAVOR OF PRIORITIZING SEOs OVER
ANYTHING ELSE. MY POINT SIMPLY
IS , I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO.
I AM SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I APPRECIATE YOU
TRYING TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE TO
BRING SOME COMPROMISE. WHAT IS
TROUBLING TO ME IS THE
PRIORITIZATION OF ONE STRATEGY
OVER ANOTHER. I SUPPORT
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES.
IN FACT, I SUPPORT ANYTHING ,
AND EVERYTHING, THAT WILL HELP
KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE. SOME
AGAIN, THIS IS WHY I KEPT
ENCOURAGING US TO SAVE ALL THIS
FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS,
BECAUSE IT GIVES THE DEPARTMENT
ACTUALLY THE ABILITY TO DO THAT
STAKEHOLDER RING AND TO WHAT IS
THE EVIDENCE-BASED PIECE. WHAT
DO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANT? WE
DON'T KNOW. WE ARE NOT -- WE
ARE NOT THE SCHOOL BOARD, BY THE
WAY. THE SCHOOLS HAVE TO WORK
WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO CHANGE
THE LAW THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD
PUT IN PLACE. THAT IS NOT OUR
RESPONSIBILITY. AND SO, WE
SHOULD NOT BE PRIORITIZING THIS
IN THIS LEVY. ONE LAST THING I
WILL SAY, IN GENERAL, THIS LEVY
, IT IS A HUGE LEVY. THIS IS A
REALLY SMALL PART OF THIS LEVY.
WE NEED TO LET THIS
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS THE
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS PLAY OUT SO
THAT DEEL CAN TELL US , AND
HERE'S WHAT WE PROPOSE AS THE
DEPARTMENT DOING THIS WORK IS
BEST FOR THIS LEVY. AT THAT
POINT, YOU CAN OFFER AN
AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE WHATEVER IT
IS YOU WANT THAT MAYBE YOU
DON'T SEE IN THERE. BUT I THINK
THIS IS PUTTING THE CART BEFORE
THE HORSE. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. IT IS
INTERESTING TO GO THROUGH THE
PROCESS, THE PARLIAMENTARY
PROCESS, AND JUST LITTLE THINGS
LIKE EXCLUDED VERSUS UNDERSERVED
. IT IS INTERESTING TO ME. WHAT
DOES THAT MEAN? AS SOMEBODY WHO
OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T GROW UP IN
THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT , OR
THESE COMMUNITIES, IT IS
INTERESTING TO ME. IT IS A
LEARNING POINT. I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. YOU
GAVE ME SOMETHING TO REFLECT ON.
PARTICULARLY WHO COMES FROM MY
BACKGROUND IN TERMS OF RACE,
PARTICULARLY. ON THE CHANGE FOR
NUMBER THREE, THERE ARE TWO
THINGS. ONE IS, I AGREE THAT WE
DO NEED TO ADDRESS THE ROOT
CAUSES OF VIOLENCE . THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT. THAT IS KIND
OF THE GOAL PIECE OFTEN, MY
CONCERN WITH ELEMENTS OF THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY IS THAT
OFTENTIMES WE GENERALLY HAVE A
WISH STRATEGY TO GET THERE. WE
WISH THINGS TO HAPPEN. THAT IS
SOMETHING I LOOK TO AVOID. LIKE
WITH OUR PLAN WITHIN PUBLIC
SAFETY . AT THIS AGE,
NONPUNITIVE, WE LOOK TO DO THAT
. SO WITH THE CHANGE, INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES , IN MY MIND, IT
DOESN'T CONSTRICT . IT DOES
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES, WHICH WILL BE COMING
UP LATER. CHAIR, RECOGNIZING THE
POINTS YOU MADE, I WILL SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH'S
AMENDED AMENDMENT OF
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON .
>> -- FRANKLY I DON'T KNOW
WHERE IN THIS DISCUSSION MY
COMMENTS TRULY BELONG. I WANTED
TO NOTE THAT CHAIR RIVERA HIT
THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN YOU
NOTED WHAT WE ARE REALLY HERE TO
DO TODAY, WHICH IS TO VOTE ON
THE LEVY THAT ADDRESSES SOME
SERIOUS ISSUES IN OUR EDUCATION
SYSTEM . I AM SPEAKING HERE
RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE KIDS THAT,
FOR WHATEVER REASON, NEED
ACADEMIC HELP . I IMAGINE THE
AVERAGE TAXPAYER AGREES THAT
THIS LEVY IS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY, AS IT PROVIDES EARLY
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND
RESOURCES, K-12 PROGRAMMING AND
POSTGRADUATE ASSISTANCE, AND
ALSO CAREER READINESS AND OTHER
PATHWAYS. AND SO, THAT IS WHAT
WE SHOULD FOCUS ON. THAT IS WHAT
THIS LEVY IS ABOUT TODAY. NOT
THIS SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING THAT
WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS WHEN WE APPROVE THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. AFTER THE
STAKEHOLDER , AMONG PARENTS,
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, DISTRICT
OFFICIALS, ET CETERA HAS BEEN
DONE, WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY
ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF
SROs IN SOME SCHOOLS. THIS
AMENDMENT IS NOT NEUTRAL. THAT
IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE RIGHT NOW.
IT IS NOT OUR PLACE TO WEIGH IN
ON THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW. IT IS
CLEARLY -- IT IS NOT
CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THE ISSUE OF
SCHOOL SAFETY IS A BIGGER
CONVERSATION AND DOES REQUIRE,
AS YOU NOTED, OR SOMEBODY ELSE
DID , AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE
CITY AND THE SCHOOL TRICKED THE
-- DISTRICT, ET CETERA. LET ME
NOTE THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO THE
TOPIC OF -- WHEN IT COMES TO
THIS TOPIC, OPINIONS VARY QUITE
WIDELY. WE DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL
FROM THE ALLIANCE RESPONSIBILITY
ARGUMENT AGAINST SROs. WE HAVE
HER TESTIMONY, PASSIONATE
TESTIMONY, FROM ADVOCATES AND
EMPLOYEES OF RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES NONPROFITS, AND ALSO
THE TESTIMONY OF PARENTS WHOSE
KIDS LIVE WITH THE THREAT OF
VIOLENCE EVERY DAY GOING TO
SCHOOL, AND YOUR TESTIMONY AS
WELL. I AM JUST SAYING THAT I
REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, YOUR OLIVE BRANCH
YOU ARE OFFERING HERE. I COME
BACK AGAIN TO SAYING THAT IT IS
-- THAT THIS DISCUSSION IS
BETTER HAD WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, JUST
BECAUSE IT DOES DISTRACT FROM
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO TODAY,
WHICH GET A LEVY BEFORE
TAXPAYERS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT
PASSES.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO
ECHO THE COMMENTS YOU HAVE MADE
AND THE COMMENTS THAT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON HAS MADE. I DID
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
HOLLINGSWORTH . BUT I TOO AM OF
THE POSITION WE SHOULDN'T BE --
IT IS PREMATURE FOR US TO BE
PRIORITIZING. WHAT I CAN SAY IS
, AS SOMEBODY WHO SERVED AS A
JUDGE IN KING COUNTY SUPERIOR
COURT, AND EVERY WEEK ON EVERY
FRIDAY I HAD A SENTENCING
CALENDAR WHERE I HAVE TO SEND
PEOPLE TO PRISON FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS . MOST OF THE PEOPLE I
SENT TO PRISON WHERE BLACK MEN.
IT WAS DISHEARTENING . IT REALLY
FELT LIKE WE WERE PART OF A
GRIND. I NOTICE A COMMON FACTOR
FOR SO MANY OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS. IT WAS A LACK OF
EDUCATION. THEY HAD NOT BEEN
ABLE TO FINISH. THEY DID NOT
HAVE A GED. THEY HAD NOT
FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL. SOME HAD
NOT EVEN FINISHED A MIDDLE
SCHOOL. TO ME, THE MOST
IMPORTANT ANTIVIOLENCE,
ANTIPOVERTY TOOL, IS EDUCATION.
EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION,
AND MENTORING AS PART OF THAT.
THE COMMUNITY WRAPPING THEIR
ARMS AROUND OUR STUDENTS IN THE
WAYS THAT THIS LEVY ATTEMPTS TO
DO. THIS WILL GET TO MY POINTS
LATER ON ABOUT WHY I AM NOT
VOTING FOR WELL-INTENTIONED
AMENDMENTS THAT INCREASE THE
SIZE OF THE LEVY, BECAUSE I AM
CONCERNED THAT WITH THE
FINANCIAL PRESSURES THAT WE HAVE
OUT THERE, THAT MIGHT JEOPARDIZE
THE LEVY TO INCREASE IT. THE
BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR OUR
COMMUNITY, AND TO TURN THE
TRAJECTORY AROUND, IS TO PROVIDE
FOR EDUCATION AND SUPPORT , AND
TO DO ANYTHING THAT I THINK DOES
NOT DO THAT OR JEOPARDIZES THAT
IS A DISSERVICE TO THE LARGER
ISSUES WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO
ADDRESS . WHEN I LOOK AT THIS
LANGUAGE, WHEN WE SAY ENSURE
THAT SAFETY INVESTMENTS
PRIORITIZE ADDRESSING THE ROOT
CAUSES OF VIOLENCE, I'M NOT
QUITE SURE HOW THEY DO THAT WHEN
THE ROOT CAUSE IS POVERTY, THE
ROOT CAUSE IS LACK OF EDUCATION,
LACK OF HEALTHCARE, LACK OF
FOOD. AGAIN, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR
EYES ON THE PRIZE HERE, WHICH IS
GETTING THIS OVER THE FINISH
LINE , AND THEN AT THAT POINT,
WE CAN BEGIN THESE DISCUSSIONS,
IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS, ABOUT
IMPLEMENTATION AND
PRIORITIZATION, AND MAKING SURE
WE HAVE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE,
MAKING SURE WE HAVE SUPPORT FOR
IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, MAKING SURE
THAT WE HAVE FOOD , ALL OF THESE
OTHER THINGS, AND THE ABILITY TO
PROVIDE FOR SEOs . THOSE ARE
ALSO AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT. FOR
THOSE REASONS, I WILL BE VOTING
AGAINST THE THOUGHTFUL
AMENDMENT, AS WELL AS TO THE
OTHER AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. BEFORE I LET YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
CLOSE OUT, IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE
COMMENTS --
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE
COMMENTS .
>> I DO WANT TO SAY THAT , I
SAID THIS LAST TIME WE WENT
THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS, BUT I
WANTED TO UNDERSCORE DEPUTY
MAYOR WASHINGTON'S.ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THIS LANGUAGE GOT ADDED TO
IN SOME WAY -- SOME OF THE
LANGUAGE, ANYWAY, THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE COMPONENT. AS SHE
SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO
UNDERMINING OF, OR A LACK OF
COMMITMENT ON HERS, OR THE
MAYOR'S OR DIRECTOR'S PART, OR
ON MY PART, FOR THAT MATTER. IS
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN HERE
THROUGH THE ENTIRETY OF THE LAST
SEVEN YEAR LEVY, WORKING WITH
DEEL THIS ENTIRE TIME, I KNOW
THEIR COMMITMENT TO REESE --
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE
ENTIRE LEVY FOCUSES AND
PRIORITIZES KIDS MOST IN NEED
AND HAS , THERE WAS A RACIAL
EQUITY TOOLKIT DONE. THERE IS A
STRONG COMMITMENT. I FEEL THIS
AMENDMENT ALSO UNDERCUTS THAT
FACT THAT ALL THAT WORK HAS BEEN
DONE, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE
DONE AS IN SOME SENSE, AS IF IT
IS NOT BEING DONE , AND IN SOME
WAY IT IS NOT GOING TO GET DONE.
IT WILL GET DONE. I WANTED TO
SAY THAT AS WELL AND RAISED THE
VOICE OF DEPUTY MAYOR WASHINGTON
AS WELL. I KNOW THEY ARE
COMMITTED TO OUR KIDS, TO THE
EFFORTS AS A CITY. ANYWAY,
CLERK, LET'S TAKE THE VOTE ON
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH'S
VERBAL AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT
ONE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
WE HAVE FOUR IN FAVOR, THREE
OPPOSED AND ONE ABSTENTION.
>> OKAY. THE VERBAL AMENDMENT
PASSES. WE CAN GET TO THE VOTE
ON THE UNDERLYING AMENDMENT.
NUMBER ONE IS AMENDED BY THE
VERBAL AMENDMENT.
>> I APOLOGIZE. THIS IS THE VOTE
FOR AMENDMENT ONE AS AMENDED?
>> THANK YOU .
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, IS THAT
AN OLD HAND?
>> YES.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR,
TWO OPPOSED AND TWO ABSTENTIONS.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. SORRY. THE MOTION
CARRIES . AMENDMENT ONE IS
ADOPTED. WERE GOING TO GO TO
AMENDMENT TWO. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE MM
IN TWO?
>> YES. I MOVE DeMENT COUNCIL
BILL 120981 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT TWO.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND -- COUNCIL
BILL 120981 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT TWO. JASMINE, PLEASE
PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW .
>> AMENDMENT TWO WOULD ADD THE
FOLLOWING TO THE LIST OF
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES
THAT MAY BE SUPPORTED BY THE
LEVY UNDER THE EARLY CATEGORY,
FEASIBILITY FEE, SUBSIDIZE
PRESCHOOLS COSTS FOR FAMILIES
WHERE SLOTS ARE UNAVAILABLE.
THIS LIST IS A NONEXHAUSTIVE
LIST AND INTENDED TO ILLUSTRATE
THE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS THAT
COULD BECAUSE THAT'S SUPPORTED
BY THE LEVY BUT DOESN'T BIND
THE COUNCIL THOSE SERVICES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED .
>> THANK YOU . I HOPE THIS ONE
WILL BE A LITTLE MORE
STRAIGHTFORWARD. HOPEFULLY, THIS
ONE IN THE NEXT FEW WE CAN SAIL
RIGHT THROUGH. THIS PROPOSED
AMENDMENT BUILDS UPON DECADES
AND DECADES OF STUDIES AND
RESEARCH THAT MAKES CLEAR THAT
INVESTING IN UNIVERSAL PRE-K OR
PRESCHOOL IS CONSIDERED ONE OF
THE BEST ECONOMIC INVESTMENTS
WITH THE RETURN OF SEVEN
DOLLARS, OR MORE, FOR EVERY
DOLLAR INVESTED. WE KNOW, AND I
COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH MY
COLLEAGUE , COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
EDUCATION IS, AND DOES, ADDRESS
THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME . I
WOULD ALSO ADD THAT JOBS AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES DIRECTLY
ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF
CRIME. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE
NEED, THE IMPERATIVE, TO PREVENT
THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE,
FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW , BECAUSE
EVIDENCE TELLS US, DATA TELLS
US, THAT CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED TO PRESCHOOL, PRE-K
PROGRAMMING OF ANY SORT, THEIR
OUTCOMES IN EDUCATION AND LIFE
ARE BETTER . THEIR HIGH SCHOOL
COMPLETION RATES ARE HIGHER .
COLLEGE ENTRANCE RATES ARE
HIGHER. COLLEGE GRADUATION RATES
HIGHER. AVERAGE YEARLY SALARY,
HIGHER. CHANCES THAT THEY WILL
END UP IN JAIL AT SOME POINT,
LOWER. WE NEED TO PUT SEATTLE ON
A PATH TO JOIN JURISDICTIONS
LIKE NEW YORK CITY , WASHINGTON
D.C., SAN FRANCISCO , DENVER AND
OTHERS WHO HAVE TAKEN
SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TO BUILD
TRUE UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL FOR ALL
PROGRAMS. THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT
THIS LEVY WERE $2 BILLION OR $3
BILLION, IS STILL LIKELY WOULD
NOT GET US THERE . WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING , AND THAT SOMETHING
HERE , I SUBMIT, IS PROVIDING
FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO FIND
THE PATH THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
DO MORE. BECAUSE EDUCATION AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ARE , AND
DO, DIRECTLY ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES
. FOR THOSE REASONS, I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE .
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. MY
QUESTION IS , THIS SEEMS TO BE
TWO SEPARATE PIECES. ONE IS THE
FEASIBILITY STUDY, AND THEN THE
SECOND PIECE IS TO SUBSIDIZE
PRESCHOOL COSTS FOR FAMILIES
WHERE THE SLOTS ARE UNAVAILABLE,
OR A GUEST, NOT THE ONES HE
FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING. IS THAT
CORRECT? IS IT TWO SEPARATE
THINGS THIS AMENDMENT IS DOING?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. MAY I MAKE A MOTION?
AGAIN, I VERY MUCH SUPPORT -- WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THE NEED
FOR UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL AND
CHILDCARE . I VERY MUCH SUPPORT
THAT AND SUPPORT A FEASIBILITY
STUDY. HOWEVER, I HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT THE SECOND PIECE. WHAT I
WOULD REQUEST OR PROPOSE IS THAT
WE MAKE THIS TWO SEPARATE
AMENDMENTS. MY MOTION WOULD BE
TO SEPARATE THIS AND TO HAVE
AMENDMENT 1B SERVICES MAY
FURTHER INCLUDE FEASIBILITY
STUDY TO EXPLORE UNIVERSAL
CITYWIDE PRESCHOOL. ONE MOTION.
THE SECOND MOTION WOULD BE,
SUBSIDIZE PRESCHOOL COSTS FOR
FAMILIES WHERE PROGRAM SLOTS ARE
UNAVAILABLE. SECOND AMENDMENT.
>> THIS IS A REQUEST TO DIVIDE
THE QUESTION. AS LONG AS THEY
COMPOSE TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS,
THE MOTION CAN BE DIVIDED. THE
FIRST MOTION WOULD BE TO TAKE UP
THE FIRST PART OF THE SENTENCE,
AND THE SECOND MOTION WOULD BE
TO TAKE UP THE SECOND PART. THE
QUESTION THEN WOULD REVERT TO
THE CURRENT MISSION BEFORE US,
THE FIRST PART, ENDING AT
PRESCHOOL .
>> CORRECT .
>> SECOND.
>> INTO TWO MOTIONS.
>> WE ARE TRYING TO VOTE .
>> THE FIRST QUESTION IS GOING
TO BE WHETHER OR NOT SERVICES
MAY FURTHER INCLUDE FEASIBILITY
STUDY TO EXPLORE UNIVERSAL
CITYWIDE PRESCHOOLS. THAT WOULD
BE THE FIRST QUESTION. ONCE WE
DISPOSE OF THAT QUESTION, WE CAN
MOVE INTO THE SECOND MOTION,
WHICH COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WOULD
MOVE THAT SECOND PART, WHICH
WOULD BE DONE , PROGRAM SLOTS
ARE UNAVAILABLE.
>> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE HAS
MADE A MOTION. IT HAS BEEN
SECONDED TO SEPARATE OUT THE TWO
PARTS OF THIS AMENDMENT. WE WILL
DISCUSS NOW KEEPING JUST THE
FEASIBILITY STUDY AS THE FIRST
MOTION, AND THEN WE WILL GET TO
THE SECOND MOTION. ARE THERE ANY
-- I SEE COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS
OR THE UNDERLYING AMENDMENT?
>> BOTH .
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I HAD THE
SAME CHALLENGE WITH THIS
AMENDMENT. I DO SUPPORT THE
FEASIBILITY STUDY TO EXPLORE
UNIVERSAL CITYWIDE PRESCHOOL .
AS THE FATHER OF A DAUGHTER WHO
IS GOING TO FINISH FOURTH GRADE,
I'M NOT FAR REMOVED FROM
PRESCHOOL. PRETTY CLOSE TO IT. I
SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESCHOOL.
I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF IT AND
HOW UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL WOULD BE
ADVANTAGEOUS TO OUR CITY. THE
SECOND PART IS SIGNING US UP FOR
COSTS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS
THE CHALLENGE. IS THE SECOND
PART WAS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
STUDY, THEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN
OKAY WITH THE AMENDMENT. THE
SECOND PART IS THE CHALLENGE. SO
I SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
AND WHAT SHE IS LOOKING TO DO.
JUST SO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING
OF THE SECOND PART THAT IS IN
THE AMENDMENT AND THAT COUNCIL
MEMBER MOORE ADDRESSED .
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS
ABOUT THE FIRST MOTION? I WILL
SAY -- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, WE
HAVE HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL. WE
BOTH SUPPORT THIS AND WISH WE
COULD DO THIS. I WILL SAY THAT ,
AND I KNOW WE WERE NOT ABLE TO
TALK EARLIER IN THE WEEK, BUT WE
WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS. I
WAS GOING TO PROPOSE THE SAME,
SEPARATING OUT, BECAUSE I THINK
THE SECOND PART IS WORRISOME IN
TERMS OF THE IMPACT TO THE
PROVIDERS. I SUPPORT SEPARATING
IT OUT SO WE CAN VOTE ON THEM
SEPARATELY. I REALLY THANK YOU
AND ADMIRE YOUR PASSION AND
SHARE YOUR PASSION FOR PRESCHOOL
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT,
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
WHAT KIDS NEED AND WHAT HAS
LONG-TERM SUCCESS FOR ALL KIDS,
EARLY LEARNING IS -- HAS BEEN
IMPROVING -- PROVEN TO MAKE THAT
BIG DIFFERENCE. IT DOVETAILS
INTO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT
EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION.
I AM LIVING PROOF THAT EDUCATION
WAS THE KEY OUT OF POVERTY IN MY
FAMILY. ANYWAY. OKAY. LET'S
TAKE THE VOTE .
>> CLARIFICATION.
>> THE FIRST PART, WHICH SAYS
FEASIBILITY STUDY TO EXPLORE
UNIVERSAL CITYWIDE PRESCHOOL.
THE VOTE, COLLEAGUES, IS IF YOU
WANT TO KEEP THAT IN THE
AMENDMENT.
>> CORRECTION. THE VOTE YOU ARE
TAKING RIGHT NOW IS ONLY GOING
TO BE ON THE FIRST PART OF THE
SENTENCE, SERVICES MAY FURTHER
INCLUDE A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO
EXPLORE UNIVERSAL CITYWIDE
PRESCHOOL. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE
VOTING ON RIGHT NOW. OKAY.
>> I HIGHLIGHTED IT ON THE
SCHOOL AS WELL .
>> APPRECIATE THAT.
>> JUST A POINT OF CLARITY, WE
ARE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENT TO
THE AMENDMENT?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> NOW WE WILL VOTE ON THE
SECOND PART, WHICH IS, DO YOU
WANT TO KEEP THE SUBSIDIZE
PRESCHOOL COSTS FOR FAMILIES FOR
SEATTLE -- WHEN SLOTS ARE
UNAVAILABLE? ANY COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR. ARE
PARTLY SPOKE EARLIER WHEN I SAID
THIS IS GOING TO BE FAIRLY
STRAIGHTFORWARD. WE HAVE GOT ALL
DAY.
>> NOT REALLY.
>> IN ANY EVENT, I ALSO DIDN'T
GET TO THE SECOND COMPONENT OF
MY TALKING POINTS ON THIS ,
WHICH I REALIZED AFTER THE FACT.
IN ANY EVENT, LET ME SHARE
BRIEFLY MY THINKING ON THIS. WE
KNOW EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE
SAME EXACT START. THIS WILL
LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD, BUT
AREAS WITH ACCESS TO THE
SEATTLE, CURRENT SEATTLE PROMISE
PROGRAM CENTERS, OFTEN OVERLAP
WITH UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES
. SUBSIDIZE PRESCHOOL HELPS
CLOSE OPPORTUNITIES ,
OPPORTUNITY GAPS, BEFORE THEY
WIDEN. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE SPP PROGRAM IS
A HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM .
HOWEVER, NOT ALL FAMILIES LIVE
CLOSE TO SPP SLOTS , OR THEY
MIGHT NOT CHOOSE THOSE SPP
PROGRAMS, FOR WHATEVER REASON,
CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOL OPTIONS
THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST FIT
FOR THEIR FAMILY. SO THIS IS TO
ENSURE THAT THOSE FAMILIES WHO
NEED SUBSIDIES AND WANT BETTER
CHOICE AND ACCESS FOR PRESCHOOL
CAN RECEIVE THEM IN AREAS WHERE
SPP SLOTS ARE NOT CLOSE BY. I
HEARD A CONCERN LARKING ABOUT
COST. COLLEAGUES, I REMINDED MY
AMENDMENTS ARE COST NEUTRAL.
ZERO COST. IT WOULD ADD NOTHING.
I MADE THE DECISION TO NOT ADD
ONE DOLLAR TO MY PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS. ZERO COST. ON TOP OF
-- IT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE. AGAIN,
THIS AMENDMENT IS ABOUT
MAXIMIZING CHOICE AND
FLEXIBILITY FOR FAMILIES. IT IS
ANOTHER WAY OF PUTTING MONEY
DIRECTLY IN THE HANDS OF
FAMILIES IN NEED TO CARE FOR
THEIR CHILD TO MAKE THE BEST
DETERMINATION OF WHAT CHILDCARE
ARRANGEMENT WORKS BEST FOR THEIR
FAMILY, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE
THAT DON'T LIVE CLOSE TO SPP
PROGRAMS OR THINK IT MAKES SENSE
FOR THEIR FAMILY, FOR WHATEVER
REASON. THAT IS WHAT THIS
AMENDMENT IS ABOUT. I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. GO
AHEAD.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO
DO HERE. I WANT TO NOTE THAT
PROVIDING CHILDCARE IS ONE OF
THE BIG LIFTS THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS
IDENTIFIED IN THE FUTURE OF
SEATTLE ECONOMY AS SOMETHING WE
MUST FOCUS ON FOR ALL THE
REASONS YOU SAID. I AM CONCERNED
THAT, IF WE STUDY DIVERTING
MONEY FROM THE LEVY TO ANY KIND
OF PRESCHOOL, I UNDERSTAND THAT
THE EXISTING PRESCHOOLS THAT
AREN'T NECESSARILY AVAILABLE TO
ALL PARENTS, BUT I WAS TALKING
TO A MACHINIST THE OTHER DAY,
AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT
OFF-HOURS THAT A REALLY
DIFFICULT. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU
GO TO WORK AT FOUR CLOCK IN THE
MORNING, FOR EXAMPLE? I THINK
THERE IS SPACE TO REALLY LOOK AT
HOW WE PROVIDE FOR THOSE
FAMILIES , AND NOT RISK MUDDYING
THE BRAND, FOR LACK OF A BETTER
WORD , OF THE AWARD-WINNING
PRESCHOOL THIS LEVY ALREADY
PROVIDES FOR AND PAYS FOR AND
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT STARTS
TO DIVERGE, IF THE SUPPORT FROM
THE LEVY STARTS TO DIVERGE FROM
THAT PROGRAM. I'M A LITTLE BIT
NERVOUS ABOUT THE -- WHAT THIS
WILL SIGNAL OR WHAT IT MEANS TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE , PERHAPS, REALLY
VOTING ON THIS LEVY BECAUSE THEY
ARE REALLY MOTIVATED BY ACCESS
TO THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. AGAIN,
I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS . I
WILL HAVE TO BE VOTING NO ONE
THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU. I AM SYMPATHETIC
TO THIS ISSUE. AND I HAVE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO FIND
CHILDCARE, PRESCHOOL, FOR MY
THREE CHILDREN AND DRIVING
AROUND THE CITY. I'M VERY MUCH
SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA. I THINK
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUGHT TO
BE PART OF THE FEASIBILITY
STUDY. MY CONCERN IS ABOUT , AS
ARTICULATED BY BOTH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND SHARE RIVERA,
ABOUT DIVERTING FUNDS. I'M
WORRIED ABOUT DIVERTING FUNDS
FROM THE PROVIDERS , AND I'M
ALSO, FRANKLY, A LITTLE BIT
WORRIED ABOUT , LESS PRESSURE O
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED
ABOUT IN COMMITTEE WAS THE FACT
THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH OF
THESE PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS SLOTS
IN THE NORTH END WHERE THERE IS
A DESPERATE NEED FOR THEM. I
WANT DEEL -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE
PRESSURE IS ON DEEL TO ACTUALLY
PUT , LOCATE THE SLOTS WHERE
THERE IS GREAT NEED FOR THEM.
THAT IS WHY I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO SEPARATE THESE. I,
UNFORTUNATELY, CANNOT SUPPORT
THIS AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
HANDS UP. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
YOU HAVE BEEN A CONSISTENT
SUPPORTER OF PRESCHOOL AND
CHILDCARE ACCESS. ACTUALLY, THIS
IS MAYBE THE THIRD TIME YOU HAVE
BEEN SUPPORTING THIS. IT IS A
CONSISTENT CHAMPIONSHIP OF A
RESOURCE THAT WE KNOW
SEATTLEITES NEED FOR THE ADULTS
TO BE ABLE TO GO TO WORK, FOR
THE ADULTS TO PICK UP THE
GROCERIES, FOR THE ADULTS TO BE
ABLE TO BE -- TO DO ANYTHING,
REALLY. I HAVE HEARD COLLEAGUES
SAY THEY WOULD NOT SUPPORT
INCREASING THE LEVY. I ALSO HER
CONCERNS ABOUT DIVERTING FUNDS.
WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS A MOMENT
WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER TO
SUPPORT CHILDCARE ACCESS . THAT
IS WHY I WILL BE SUPPORTING YOUR
MEMO TODAY. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING IT FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE
ALL IN AGREEMENT ABOUT CHILDCARE
ACCESS. THAT IS WHY IT IS BEING
DOUBLED IN THIS LEVY. WE HAVE
HUNDREDS MORE OF PRESCHOOL
SLOTS. WE ALL -- WHEN I HAD MY
INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH
ALL OF YOU, THIS WAS SOMETHING
THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL
OF YOU. IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT
TO THE MAYOR. THERE WAS A LOT OF
ALIGNMENT HERE. ON THE PRESCHOOL
-- THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I WOULD HAVE
PREFERRED TO HAVE HAD THE
CONVERSATION WITH DEEL TO DO
MORE RESEARCH ON THIS TO SEE THE
FEASIBILITY AND ACTUAL IMPACT ON
THE PROVIDERS, BECAUSE THE WAY
THE PROVIDERS ARE SET UP, THIS
COULD BE -- AND I THINK IT WILL,
DIVERT FUNDS FROM THE PROVIDERS,
AND IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT. THAT
IS WHY WHEN I CAME HERE IN
JANUARY, I TALKED TO DEEL ABOUT
HOW TO GET SLOTS WHERE THEY ARE
NEEDED IF THEY ARE UNDERUTILIZED
IN ONE AREA OF THE CITY . BUT
THE PROVIDERS REALLY RELY ON
THESE FUNDS TO STAY OPEN. I HAVE
CONCERNS THAT THIS WILL HAVE
THAT IMPACT WITHOUT HAVING DONE
THAT, DEEL HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT WORK TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT THE IMPACTS WILL
BE. IT MIGHT MEAN IT HAS A
SEVERE IMPACT ON A PROVIDER, OR
SOME OF THE PROVIDERS. AND SO, I
WON'T BE VOTING FOR THIS, BUT
YOU KNOW, I CARE ABOUT THE
FLEXIBILITY. I THINK THAT IS
WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO CREATE
WITH THIS, IF I AM NOT WRONG. I
AM HAPPY TO KEEP WORKING ON
THAT. THAT IS A CONCERN I HAVE.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> -- JUST A SECOND. I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANTED TO
QUICKLY TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR BRINGING
THIS MOMENT FORWARD. I THINK IT
IS REALLY THOUGHTFUL AND FORWARD
THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE
OF OUR INVESTMENTS COULD LOOK
LIKE. I THINK THIS IS A
FANTASTIC FIRST STEP TO REALLY
EXPLORE. I AM CERTAINLY CURIOUS
ABOUT WHAT KIND OF FINDINGS
COULD COME FROM THE FEASIBILITY
STUDY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BEING FORWARD THINKING. I WILL
BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
TRENT IT. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> I AM WONDERING, JASMINE, DO
YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MANY OF
OUR PRESCHOOL PROVIDERS ARE
UNIONIZED?
>> I DO NOT KNOW THAT OFF THE
TOP OF MY HEAD. I'M SORRY.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE ANY
OTHER HANDS. LET'S MOVE FORWARD
WITH THE VOTE. THE VOTE ON
WHETHER YOU WANT TO INCLUDE THIS
HIGHLIGHTED . IF YOU WANT TO
KEEP THIS IN THE AMENDMENT.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
-- YES TO RETAIN AND NO. THREE
IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED.
>> OKAY . THE MOTION FAILS. THE
VERBAL MOTION -- SORRY.
>> THE SECOND PART OF THE
SENTENCE.
>> FAILS. WE WILL MOVE FORWARD
WITH THE UNDERLYING AMENDMENT,
--
>> MOVING ON TO AMENDMENT THREE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE, COLLEAGUES. THERE HAS
BEEN A LOT MORE ACTIVITY ON
CHANGING THESE THEN WE HAVE HAD
IN MY RECENT RECOLLECTION.
AMENDMENT THREE. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120981 AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
THREE.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120981 WITH AMENDMENT THREE.
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA WOULD ADD THE FOLLOWING TO
THE LIST OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
SERVICES THAT MAY BE SUPPORTED
BY THE LEVY UNDER THE K-12
HEALTH AND SAFETY CATEGORY.
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR AT
RISK YOUTH. THIS LIST OF
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES IS
NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND INTENDED TO
ILLUSTRATE THE TYPES OF
INVESTMENTS THAT COULD BE
SUPPORTED AND DOES NOT BIND THE
COUNCIL TO FUNDING THESE
SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR. I
WILL ABSTAIN FROM ANY COLOR
COMMENTARY AROUND ANTICIPATED
TIME AND DURATION FOR
CONVERSATION, BUT I WILL JUST
SAY THAT I THINK THIS ONE IS
STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT IS FIVE
WORDS, OR WHATEVER. BUT ALL THIS
WOULD DO IS MAKE CLEAR THAT
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR
YOUTH, PARTICULARLY THOSE AT
RISK, OR AT OPPORTUNITY,
DEPENDING ON HOW YOU VIEW IT,
YOU KNOW, WOULD BE INCLUDED AND
COVERED AS PART OF THE PROGRAM
TOO. AGAIN, COST NEUTRAL. I ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR BRINGING
THIS UP. THIS AMENDMENT ACTUALLY
GOES TO THE EARLIER DISCUSSION,
BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT PROVIDING
OPTIONS TO WHATEVER PROGRAM
BEING DEVELOPED WITH EACH
SCHOOL. I JUST WANTED
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR THIS OMO
SCHO
>> THANK YOU . ANYONE ELSE? I
WILL SAY THAT DEEL ALREADY , THE
LEVY ALREADY DOES THIS. CALLING
IT OUT HERE IS JUST CALLING OUT
SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT
ALREADY DESPERATE THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> I TOO WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
FOR BRINGING THIS . OBVIOUSLY,
VERY IMPORTANT. I APPRECIATE YOU
SPECIFICALLY CALLING THIS OUT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. NOW WE WILL PROCEED TO
THE VOTE ON AMENDMENT THREE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. AMENDMENT
THREE IS ADOPTED. WE WILL GO ON
TO AMENDMENT FOUR. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I MOVE TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 120981 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT FOUR
VERSION 2.
>> SECOND. MOVED AND SECONDED TO
MOVE AMENDMENT FOUR VERSION 2 TO
COUNCIL BILL 120981. JASMINE?
>> THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ADD FOOD
ASSISTANCE TO THE LIST OF
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES
THAT MAY BE SUPPORTED BY THE
FEPP LEVY UNDER THE K-12
CATEGORY. THIS LIST IS NOT
EXHAUSTIVE AND INTENDED TO
ILLUSTRATE THE TYPES OF
INVESTMENTS THAT COULD BE
SUPPORTED. IT DOES NOT BIND THE
COUNCIL DEFENDING THE SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE .
>> THANK YOU. IT IS VERY
STRAIGHTFORWARD. I KNOW THIS IS
ALREADY DONE, BUT LIKE WE DID
WITH THE PREVIOUS AMENDMENT, I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT FOOD
ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE KEPT A
BROAD, AGAIN, TO ALLOW FOR
DISCUSSION ABOUT MORE SPECIFICS
AND THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. BUT
JUST REALLY, GIVEN THE FEDERAL
CUTS THAT ARE AFFECTING
AMERICORPS , THE FEDERAL CUTS
AFFECTING PROGRAMS LIKE HUNGER
INTERVENTION THAT RUN
AFTERSCHOOL , WEEKEND AND SUMMER
PROGRAMS, I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO SPECIFICALLY
HIGHLIGHT FOOD ASSISTANCE. THAT
IS WHY I BROUGHT IT. I WOULD ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. ANY COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER COLLINSWORTH FOR
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD, ESPECIALLY
HIGHLIGHTING FOOD ASSISTANCE. I
KNOW WE ALL -- I DON'T LIKE
SPEAKING FOR YOU ALL, BUT I KNOW
WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT FOOD ASSISTANCE IS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. LET'S PROCEED TO
A VOTE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
AMENDMENT FOUR IS ADOPTED.
MOVING ON TO AMENDMENT FIVE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO MOVE YOUR AMENDMENT?
>> YES. I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL
BILL 120981 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT FIVE VERSION 3.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120981 AS PRESENTED
IN AMENDMENT FIVE VERSION 3.
JAZZMAN.
>> AMENDMENT FIVE , SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, WOULD ADD
$2 MILLION ANNUALLY, OR $12
MILLION TOTAL, TO THE EXPECTED
REVENUES GENERATED BY THE FEPP
LEVY AND WOULD ALLOW FOR
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT THE
PROGRAM FOR K-12 STUDENTS AND
THEIR FAMILIES. THIS IS A
VOUCHER PROGRAM DISTURBING $40 A
MONTH TO INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW
INCOME. CURRENTLY, THE 25
ADOPTED BUDGET INCLUDES SIX.$9
MILLION FOR THE PROGRAM,
ENROLLMENT OF 12,000 HOUSEHOLDS
AND A WEIGHTLESS OF
APPROXIMATELY 4000. THE
ESTIMATED TAX RATE NEEDED WOULD
BE 610 SEVEN SENT IN ADDITION TO
WHAT IS PROPOSED IN THE
INTRODUCED VERSION , AND IT
WOULD HAVE AN ESTIMATED AVERAGE
ADDITIONAL TAX BURDEN OF $6.26
PER YEAR TO THE MEDIAN VALUE
PROPERTY OWNER. THE AMENDMENT
WOULD ALSO ADD FOOD ASSISTANCE
FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES
TO A LIST AND EDUCATIONAL
SUPPORT SERVICES THAT MAY BE
SUPPORTED BY THE FEPP LEVY UNDER
THE K-12 HEALTH AND SAFETY
CATEGORY. AGAIN, THE LIST IS
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES IS
NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND DOES NOT BIND
THE COUNCIL TO FUNDING THOSE
SERVICES. HOWEVER, IF THIS
AMENDMENT PASSES AND THE
ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS RAISED,
THE INTENT WILL BE TO USE THE
ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO -- OF $2
MILLION PER YEAR TOWARD
SUPPORTING A SCHOOL-BASED
DISTRIBUTION TO STUDENTS AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK
TO YOUR AMENDMENT?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AS WE HAVE
SEEN WITH THE INSTABILITY OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S POLICY
DECISIONS, IT IS VITAL MORE THAN
EVER FOR OUR CITY TO STEP UP TO
THE PLATE AND DESIGNATE MONEY
THAT KEEPS OUR FAMILIES FED AND
HEALTHY. AS WAS PROVIDED TO ALL
OF OUR OFFICES, THE SWEETENED
AND BEVERAGE TAX COMMUNITY
ADVISORY BOARD RELEASED THE
2025-26 BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS
VOICING SUPPORT FOR BOTH
AMENDMENT FOUR AND FIVE. WE KNOW
THAT HUNGER SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPACTS A CHILD'S ABILITY TO
LEARN, AND WE WANT THOSE
OUTCOMES FOR ALL OF OUR
CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
INCOME. THE EXPANSION OF THE
FRESH BUCKS PROGRAM WILL GET OUR
CITY CLOSER TO CLEARING THE OVER
4000 HOUSEHOLDS ON THE WAITLIST
WAITING TO RECEIVE FRESH FOOD
FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THIS IS A
LIEN PROGRAM . THIS IS A PROGRAM
THAT CURRENTLY SERVES OVER
12,000 HOUSEHOLDS, OFFERING A
$40 MONTHLY BENEFIT, TO
HOUSEHOLD AT 80% AMI OR BELOW.
IT IS A SMALL TEAM MANAGING THIS
AS WELL. JUST A HANDFUL OF CITY
STAFF THAT WORK ON THIS AND
DISTRIBUTE THIS INCREDIBLE
PROGRAM. IT HAS TREMENDOUS
ECONOMIC BENEFIT, AND INVEST IN
THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY WITH
CUSTOMER SPENDING FRESH BUCKS AT
OVER 40 LOCAL RETAILERS,
INCLUDING EIGHT LOCALLY OWNED
GROCERS, 17th FARMERS MARKETS
AND 16 SAFE WAYS. THE PROGRAM
UNAMENDED HAS A IMPACT ON OUR
LOCAL ECONOMY. $535,000 OF THAT
IS SPENT AT FARMERS MARKETS AND
INDEPENDENT GROCERS. A FEW WEEKS
AGO, I WAS VISITING WITH FAMILY
WORKS IN DISTRICT 4. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT CAME UP WAS HOW MANY
FAMILIES THEY ARE SERVING ARE
CURRENTLY ON THE TRAN60 SIX
WEIGHTLESS. THIS OFFERS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES ON THE
WAITLIST TO FINALLY GET THERE
BENEFIT AND BE ABLE TO GET FRESH
FOOD ON THE TABLE. I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS TODAY. ON A
FINAL NOTE, I WOULD BE REMISS IF
I DIDN'T MENTION THE THREATS TO
STAFF HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL. TO TALK ABOUT CUTTING A
THIRD OF SNAP. THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TAKE A
STEP LOCALLY, STEP UP TO THIS
MOMENT AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE STAY
FED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR BRINGING
THIS . CLEARLY, WE NEED TO DO
MORE FOR FOOD FOR STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES. I AM VERY MUCH
SUPPORTIVE OF TRYING TO FIND
WAYS TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING
, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE CUTS WE
ARE SEEING TO SNAP AND OTHER
PROGRAMS. BUT AGAIN, AS I SAID
EARLIER, I AM NOT GOING TO BE
VOTING FOR ANYTHING, NO MATTER
HOW WELL INTENTIONED AND
NECESSARY , BUT DOES INCREASE
THE SIZE OF THE LEVY, JUST
BECAUSE OF MY CONCERNS AND THE
FACT WE ARE ALREADY DOUBLING IT.
I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST IT,
EVEN THOUGH I SUPPORT THE INTENT
AND UNDERLYING NEED THAT THIS IS
SEEKING TO ADDRESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU. SIMILAR TO TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YES, WE
NEED TO CONTINUE OUR WORK IN
THIS AREA. I THINK THE CITY IS,
IN TERMS OF MY ENGAGEMENT ON
THIS, NEARLY 39 MILLION, THE
CHALLENGES RELATED TO THE LEVY
ITSELF, THE AGE ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS AND SO FORTH, AND
SO, IN A SENSE, THIS WOULD BE
MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE GENERAL
BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE GO
THROUGH VERSUS THE LEVY, SOLELY
JUST FOR THAT REASON I WILL BE
VOTING NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR. I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD
. I SUPPORT THE SPIRIT, INTENT,
THE GOALS , AND YES, THE
SUBSTANCE OF THIS AMENDMENT TOO.
I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.
I AM MINDFUL OF THE COST BURDEN,
THE ADDITIONAL COST BURDEN, ON
THE TAXPAYER AND PROPERTY OWNER
. I HAVE A LITTLE HEARTBURN
BECAUSE OF ALL THE AMENDMENTS
THAT AT INCREMENTAL COST TO THE
LEVY. I THINK THIS ONE HAS THE
HIGHEST. BUT I SUPPORT FRESH
BUCKS PROGRAM. I SUPPORT
EXPANDING ACCESS TO FOOD.
THEREFORE, I WILL SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, FOR
BRINGING IT FORWARD.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
SORRY, I CANNOT SPEAK TODAY. MY
APOLOGIES. I THINK, OBVIOUSLY,
YOU ALL KNOW HOW PASSIONATE I AM
ABOUT FOOD ACCESS AND FOOD
STABILITY FOR FAMILIES. I WILL
-- TODAY I THINK THIS WOULD BE
BETTER SERVED IN OUR GENERAL
BUDGET PROCESS. UNFORTUNATELY, I
WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS
TODAY, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE EXPANSION OF THIS,
PARTICULARLY FOR FAMILIES, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO THE BUDGET
PROCESS MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN
SAFEGUARD OUR FAMILIES FOR FOOD
THIS FALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
>> JUST BY WAY OF EXPLANATION OF
MY VOTE, I ECHO THAT -- TWO
THINGS. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT
COULD BE NEGOTIATED IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN , AND I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT ADDING TO A B
THAT IS, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY
SIZABLE. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT
PERCENTAGE OVER THE CURRENT ONE,
BUT THAT IS ALSO HELPING TO
DRIVE MY DECISIONS ABOUT THINGS
THAT ARE ADDING TO THIS LEVY.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I
WILL JUST SAY, COLLEAGUES,
BEYOND ADDING TO THE LEVY THAT
IS ALREADY MORE THAN DOUBLE LAST
TIME, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I DO
SUPPORT THE FRESH BUCKS PROGRAM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONVERSATIONS
IN THE FALL ABOUT THIS. I
SUPPORT FEEDING PEOPLE, OF
COURSE. I GREW UP IN A BIG
PUERTO RICAN FAMILY WHERE WE
DIDN'T HAVE VERY MUCH . WHAT WE
DID HAVE, EVERYONE WAS ALWAYS
WELCOME AT OUR TABLE. IT WAS
LIKE THE STORY OF THE FISH. IT
MULTIPLIED, BECAUSE I THINK WE
CARED SO MUCH ABOUT PEOPLE. THAT
IS JUST MY WAY OF SAYING THAT I
CARE ABOUT FEEDING PEOPLE. I
DON'T THINK THAT FRESH BUCKS
BELONGS IN THE LEVY. IT IS NOT A
PROGRAM SQUARELY FOR KIDS. IT IS
FAMILIES -- FRESH BUCKS GOES TO
INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES WITHOUT
KIDS. ALSO, WE HAVE FOOD
ASSISTANCE FOR KIDS IN THIS
LEVY. VERY SQUARELY FOR KIDS. WE
FEED KIDS IN THE SUMMER, AFTER
SCHOOL, WE PROVIDE SNACKS AT THE
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, WE
PROVIDE SNACKS IN THE CHILDCARE
AND PRESCHOOL FACILITIES. SO
THERE IS FOOD IN THIS LEVY.
BECAUSE OF THAT, I WILL NOT BE
SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT, AND I
WANTED TO EXPLAIN WHY. UNLESS
ANYONE HAS FURTHER COMMENTS. MAY
OFFER CLOSING COMMENTS? THANK
YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. I WANT TO OFFER SOME
CLARIFICATION , AS DISCUSSED
DURING THE LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS ON A PROGRAMMATIC LEVEL
TO ENSURE THESE FUNDS SERVE
FAMILIES, UNDERSTANDING THE
TRAN60 SIX PROGRAM SERVES A
NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING
SINGLE ADULTS, THAT WE CAN
ADDRESS ON THE PROGRAMMATIC
LEVEL ENSURING THESE FUNDS SERVE
FAMILIES. I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS
IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT I
UNDERSTAND A NUMBER OF FOLKS
HAVE MENTIONED ADDRESSING THIS
IN OUR UPCOMING BUDGET
DISCUSSION . I WOULD BE REMISS
IF I DID NOT MENTION THE
TREMENDOUS BUDGET DEFICIT WE ARE
FACING, AND THAT THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GROW
OUR REVENUE TO BE ABLE TO
DISTRIBUTE FUNDS AND PROGRAMS
OUT TO COMMUNITY. SO RATHER THAN
CUTTING MORE SLICES OUT OF AN
EXISTING PIE, THIS AMENDMENT
BEFORE YOU IS GROWING THAT PIE
IN A REALLY MEANINGFUL WAY, 4000
HOUSEHOLDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. I'M NOT SURE -- MAYBE
CAN TELL US HOW THE PROGRAM
WOULD GO ABOUT DIFFERENTIATING
AND DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE
FAMILIES WITH OR WITHOUT
CHILDREN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THAT WOULD TAKE. SOMETIMES
THINGS SEEM A LITTLE EASIER THAN
THEY REALLY ARE. I WONDER IF YOU
HAVE SOME INFORMATION TO SHARE
IN THAT REGARD, JUST BECAUSE I
KNOW THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT
OFFERS SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY
MANAGERS, NOT DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION. BECAUSE OF THE KID
COMPONENT, I DON'T KNOW HOW
THAT WOULD WORK. I ONLY BRING
THIS UP IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR
COMMENT JUST NOW THAT WE WOULD
SEPARATE THE TWO. I THINK SOME
PROGRAMS ARE EASIER TO DO THAT
THAN OTHERS. DO YOU HAVE SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT THAT YOU
CAN SHARE?
>> I INVITE JASMINE TO SPEAK ON
THIS.
>> CURRENTLY, FRESH BUCKS HAS A
DISTRIBUTION THROUGH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
SOME VOUCHERS ARE DISTRIBUTED
DIRECTLY FROM THE CITY, AND SOME
ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
IT IS FEASIBLE THAT YOU COULD
HAVE DISTRIBUTION OF VOUCHERS
THAT GO THROUGH THE SCHOOLS TO
THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES,
SIMILAR TO HOW THEY HAVE OTHER
THIRD PARTIES DISTRIBUTE THESE
VOUCHERS. I DOUBLE AND TRIPLE
CHECKED WITH LAW AFTER LAST
COMMITTEE. THEY WERE COMFORTABLE
WITH THE LANGUAGE HERE . IF THE
VOUCHERS GO TO STUDENTS AND
THEIR FAMILIES , THIS WOULD
BENEFIT K-12 STUDENTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES. AND SO, IF IT IS
DESERVEDLY THROUGH SCHOOLS,
THROUGH FAMILY SUPPORT WORKERS,
THEY WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
>> BE ADDRESSED AT THE
PROGRAMMATIC LEVEL.
>> THANK YOU, JASMINE. I DID
HAVE LEGAL ISSUES. AS LONG AS
THE VOTERS PAY FOR IT, -- THINGS
SEEM EASIER THAN THEY REALLY
ARE, AND I KNOW IT ADDS A LAYER
OF ADMINISTRATIVE PEACE. I
DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU ACTUALLY HAD
TALKED TO THE DEPARTMENT AND
THEY LAID OUT HOW THIS WOULD
WORK. WE ARE MAKING ASSUMPTIONS
ABOUT HOW IT WOULD WORK.
>> THAT IS CORRECT, BASED ON THE
FACT THEY CURRENTLY DO
DISTRIBUTE VOUCHERS THROUGH
THIRD PARTIES. THE SCHOOLS WOULD
JUST BE ANOTHER THIRD-PARTY.
>> TRUE, BUT NOT FRESH BUCKS
VOUCHERS. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY , I AM
THINKING THAT, BECAUSE AMENDMENT
FOUR PAST, THE BROAD CATEGORY OF
FOOD ASSISTANCE, WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES, THAT THE ABILITY TO
REVISIT THE ISSUE OF MONEY FOR
FRESH BUCKS THROUGH SCHOOL
VOUCHERS AND THAT SORT OF THING
CAN BE DONE IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. I CERTAINLY
WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT THAT
DISCUSSION HAPPEN IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
>> YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. THE DEPARTMENT CAN HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS. ALSO, JUST
TO SAY THAT THE LEVY DOES FUND
FOOD . WE WILL FINDING FOOD FOR
ALL KIDS AT SCHOOL, AND THERE
AFTERSCHOOL PLACES. THIS IS
HAPPENING. THE OTHER THING IS,
WITH THE FRESH BUCKS, AGAIN,
THERE IS THE ADULT PIECE THAT WE
DON'T DO WITH THE LEVY. SO
EXPANDING THE SCOPE. IN ANY
EVENT, UNLESS THERE ARE OTHER
QUESTIONS, LET'S MOVE FORWARD
WITH THE VOTE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] THREE IN FAVOR,
FIVE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION FAILS . AMENDMENT
FIVE IS NOT ADOPTED. LET'S MOVE
ONTO AMENDMENT SIX.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU. LUKE HERMANN
COUNCIL BILL 120981 AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT SIX VERSION 3.
>> SECOND.
>> COLLEAGUES, THIS AMENDMENT IS
CRITICAL TO PRESERVING THE
INCREDIBLY POPULAR AND RENOWNED
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND
OUTDOOR LEARNING PROGRAM. FOR
THOSE WHO MAY STILL NOT BE
FAMILIAR, THIS IS THE CITY
PROGRAM BUT DOES THINGS LIKE
TAKE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
OUR KIDS ON FIELD TRIPS, NATURE
WALKS AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY TO DO HANDS-ON
LEARNING IN OUR PARKS , FORESTS
AND BEACHES. A LOT OF THOSE KIDS
COME FROM UNDER RESOURCE TITLE I
SCHOOLS , AND MANY, FOR MANY,
THIS PROGRAM IS THEIR ONLY
GATEWAY TO THE OUTDOORS. IT IS A
MODEST PROGRAM CURRENTLY MADE UP
OF LESS THAN NINE EMPLOYEES ,
BUT THAT WORK IS SUPPLEMENTED ,
EXPANDED, BY NEARLY 100 AMAZING
VOLUNTEERS. ON TUESDAY, I JOINED
SOME OF THESE VOLUNTEERS AT THE
TIME SCHOOLS -- HAS A MEMBER
SAKA, NEAR PARKS.
>> CLOSE ENOUGH.
>> THE INNER ZONE IN WEST
SEATTLE WHERE THE VOLUNTEERS HAD
JUST FINISHED TAKING A BUS FULL
OF SEATTLE SECOND GRADERS ON AN
EDUCATIONAL WALK. ON THAT WALK
THEY LEARNED ABOUT OUR OCEANS,
LOCAL BIOLOGY. THEY EVEN SAW A
GIANT PACIFIC OCTOPUS.
UNFORTUNATELY, NO LONGER WITH
US. THE VOLUNTEERS TOLD ME A
STORY AFTER STORY ON THE IMPACT
OF THESE EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES AND WHAT THOSE
IMPACTS HAVE MADE ON STUDENTS.
FOR MANY KIDS, THIS IS SOMETHING
THEY LOOK FORWARD TO ALL YEAR.
THE CURRENT LEGISLATION DOES
GOOD WORK . IT RESTORES SOME OF
THE FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM .
ONLY 38%, THOUGH, WHICH WAS
TRADITIONALLY WHAT -- THE ONLY
PORTION THAT FUNDED STUDENT
LEARNING. WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE
PEOPLE DOING THIS WORK BUT THAT
SIMPLY WON'T BE ENOUGH. WE HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE. WE
SHOULD TAKE IT. AT A TIME WHEN
BASIC SCIENCE, LIKE CLIMATE
CHANGE AND THE CORE TENETS OF
ENVIRONMENTALISM ARE UNDER
ATTACK, FEW THINGS ARE MORE
IMPORTANT THAN GETTING KIDS OUT
INTO THE REAL, NATURAL WORLD FOR
HANDS-ON LEARNING. MY AMENDMENT
WOULD RESTORE THE FULL FUNDING
FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
PROGRAM , WHICH AGAIN,
COLLEAGUES, ADDS ON TO WHAT THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL CORRECTLY
FUNDED , WHICH WAS THE PORTION
THAT WAS DEDICATED TO YOUTH. MY
AMENDMENT WILL GIVE THE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EDUCATION AND
OUTDOOR LEARNING TEAM AND THEIR
VOLUNTEERS THE RESOURCES THEY
NEED TO KEEP THIS INCREDIBLE
PROGRAM WORKING . WHILE THERE
ARE STILL MORE CONVERSATIONS TO
BE HAD DURING IMPLEMENTATION
PHASE OF THIS WORK, THIS
AMENDMENT GIVES US THE
FLEXIBILITY TO DO IT RIGHT . BY
FULLY RESTORING THE ENVIRONMENT
EDUCATION PROGRAM, WE CAN
GUARANTEE OUR CITY'S KIDS AND
FAMILIES CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE
NATURE EDUCATION AND OUTDOOR
EXPERIENCES THAT MAKE OUR CITY
SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. WE
KNOW THIS PROGRAM IS CAPABLE.
THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS
INCREDIBLE. WHICH IS A MODEST
INVESTMENT, THEY ACHIEVED
INCREDIBLE THINGS IN 2024 ALONE
. THEY HOSTED 5383 STUDENTS FROM
65 SCHOOLS FOR FIELD TRIPS WITH
A LARGE PORTION COMING FROM
UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS. THEY HOSTED
38 PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND GUIDED
WALKS IN 20 PARKS AROUND
SEATTLE, TEACHING MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT NATIVE PLANTS,
MUSHROOMS, BIRDS , AND SALMON
AND MORE. THEY RAN 188 COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS AND SERVED
1693 PARTICIPANTS HELPING ENSURE
EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO
MEANINGFUL OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES,
ESPECIALLY GROUPS WHO DON'T
HAVE ACCESS TO THESE NATURAL
AREAS . THEY MANAGED A TEAM OF
ABOUT 100 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS,
WHO SPENT MORE THAN 4000 HOURS
FOR FREE GUIDING NATURE WALKS
AND EDUCATED PEOPLE ABOUT THE
OUTDOORS. SAVING THE CITY,
GIVING THE CITY A RETURN ON
INVESTMENT OF HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I HAVE
HEARD CONCERNS FROM COLLEAGUES
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE LEVY,
BECAUSE IT WOULD TEACH THE
ADULTS OR THING OR TWO MY.
COLLEAGUES, WE ALL KNOW THIS
LEVY LEGALLY CANNOT FUND ADULT
ACTIVITIES. MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT
MORE PROACTIVELY CLARIFYING AT
THE LAST COMMITTEE THAT THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD, IN FACT, MEAN
THE VOLUNTEERS WOULD CHANGE FROM
EDUCATING ADULTS, AS WELL AS
CHILDREN, TO JUST EDUCATING KIDS
. AND NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO
PASS A LAW REQUIRING CHAPERONES
TO WEAR EARPLUGS BECAUSE THEY
MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY LEARN
SOMETHING FROM VOLUNTEERS. THIS
AMENDMENT IS ABOUT EDUCATING
KIDS ON NATURE. IT IS ABOUT
GETTING A HUGE RETURN ON OUR
INVESTMENT . IT IS ABOUT
RETAINING OUR VOLUNTEER CORPS,
WHO LIVE THE ONE SEATTLE MODEL
BY VOLUNTEERING TIME AND LIFE TO
EDUCATE OTHER SEATTLEITES ABOUT
THE NATURAL WONDERS THAT ARE
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US IN PLAIN
SIGHT. AND YES, IT DOES CHANGE
FROM DOING ALL AGES PROGRAMMING
TO YOUTH ONLY PROGRAMMING. IF
THIS AMENDMENT DOESN'T PASS AND
WE HAVE TO REDUCE STAFFING, WE
LOSE VOLUNTEERS . WE HAVE SEEN
IN RECENT MONTHS THE DIRECT
IMPACT OF CLOSING PROGRAMS AND
THEN TRYING TO REBUILD THEM.
POWER ADMINISTRATION COMES TO
MIND, WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS WHO
WERE LAID OFF EARLIER THIS YEAR
ONLY TO TRYING TO BEING REHIRED
RIGHT NOW COME TO MIND. IF WE
CHOOSE TODAY TO REDUCE VOLUNTEER
CORPS, BECAUSE WE ARE INFLEXIBLE
ABOUT WHO OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE
EDUCATING, IT IS, IN MY OPINION,
SEATTLEITES LOSE OUT. IT WILL
COST MORE MONEY TO CLOSE HAVE
THIS PROGRAM AND RESTART IT THEN
IT WILL TO KEEP OPERATING AND
KEEP OUR VOLUNTEERS
VOLUNTEERING. THANK YOU TO THE
MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE
WRITTEN INTO THE COUNCIL SHARING
STORIES AND ADVOCATING FOR THIS
PROGRAM. I CAN SHARE FOR MY
PERSONAL LIFE THE ABILITY TO
RAISE BABY SALMON IN FIFTH GRADE
AT ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS
TAUGHT ME SOMETHING THAT HAS
LIVED WITH ME MY WHOLE LIFE WHEN
I WALKED DOWN TO THE SEAWALL ON
THE WATERFRONT, I DON'T HAVE TO
GUESS AS TO WHY THERE IS GLASS
TILES ON THE SIDEWALK. IS NOT
BECAUSE UNDERGROUND SEATTLE IS
BELOW, IT IS BECAUSE SALMON NEED
A LITTLE BIT MORE LIGHT TO BE
ABLE TO USE THAT HABITAT TO STAY
AWAY FROM PREY. THIS AMENDMENT
BEFORE US HAS THE POTENTIAL TO
CHANGE PUBLIC POLICY IN 20 YEARS
BY EDUCATING KIDS TODAY TO BE
READY TO BE LEADERS IN THE
FUTURE. COLLEAGUES, I HOPE YOU
WILL JOIN ME IN ENSURING THIS
PROGRAM HAS THE RESOURCES THEY
NEED TO CONTINUE DOING THEIR
IMPORTANT WORK AND GETTING AN
AMAZING RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS? JASMINE, I THINK HE
SUFFICIENTLY COVERED -- UNLESS
YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD.
COUNCILMEMBER AMARR MURPHY-PAINE
PER
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR PART
I JUST WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
BRINGING THIS FORTH. TAKE YOU
FOR ATTEMPTING TO PRONOUNCE THE
NAME CORRECTLY. THAT'S ALL I
CAN COMMIT TO DOING SOMETIMES ,
TRYING MY LEVEL BEST ASKING FOR
PATIENCE AND GRACE WHEN I FALL
SHORT. IN ANY EVENT, I'M PROUD
TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT TODAY
. THANK YOU FOR BEING A CHAMPION
OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE . THANK
YOU FOR PROVIDING A FUNDING PATH
FOR THIS CRITICAL NEED . ALSO,
THANKS FOR YOUR -- FOR YOUR
VERBAL CLARIFICATION THAT WE
WON'T REQUIRE EAR PROTECTION OF
ANY SORT FOR ANY ADULTS IT MIGHT
CHAPERONE YOUTH ENGAGING IN
THESE WONDERFUL LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES. BUT I SUPPORT THE
ENVIRONMENT, SUPPORT ENRICHING
OUR YOUTH AND CONNECTING THEM
WITH THE WONDERS OF THE NATURAL
WORLD. THIS WOULD UNLOCK THINGS
, OPPORTUNITIES, ACROSS THE
CITY, INCLUDING IN MY DISTRICT.
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
ACTIVITIES . FOR EXAMPLE, CAMP
LONG AND OTHERS. I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. I WAS GOING
TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT BRINGING
UP YOUR PROTECTION. I WON'T GO
FURTHER ON THAT PER
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT . IT
IS VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK
ABOUT, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,
MY EXPERIENCE AND WHAT IT OFFERS
OUR CHILDREN ACROSS OUR CITY ,
THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WE HAVE.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
CENTER, MUCH LIKE PACIFIC
SCIENCE CENTER, SO KEY, THE
AQUARIUM, WOODLAND ZOO. ALL
THESE GEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR
CITY ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
KIDS AS THEY PROGRESS FORWARD IN
THEIR DEVELOPMENT . TO HAVE THAT
KIND OF HANDS-ON IS SO
IMPORTANT. SEPARATELY, TO THE
POINT OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT,
THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS THAT
ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
IS INCREDIBLE THEIR DEDICATION
TO THE PROGRAM, AND TO NOT TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THAT RETURN ON
INVESTMENT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE.
I SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT IN
KEEPING WITH THE OVERALL
APPROACH WE ARE DOING AS A CITY.
I SHOULD ALSO HIGHLIGHT TOO THAT
WE SHOULD GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
OUR PARKS AND LIBRARIES. THIS
COMBINATION, PARKS, LIBRARIES,
ALONG WITH OUR BEAUTIFUL ZOO AND
AQUARIUM , AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL
LEARNING CENTER, IS KEY FOR US
AS A CITY. IT SHOWS WHERE OUR
HEART IS. IT IS ALSO MINDFUL OF
DOING THE RIGHT THING. IT PLAYS
INTO SO MANY THINGS ACROSS THE
BOARD AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A
SOCIETY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU. -- JUST FOR TRYING
TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE --
MAKING SURE WE ARE NOT
INCREASING THE LEVY, THAT WE ARE
NOT PICKING AND CHOOSING LOSERS,
WHICH WE ARE SORT OF DOING HERE
, IF WE CHOOSE THIS OVER FOOD .
FOR THOSE REASONS, WHILE I AGREE
IT IS AN IMPORTANT , I THINK WE
CAN FIND IT THROUGH THE GENERAL
FUND, AND THAT WE OUGHT TO BE
DOING THAT. AGAIN, I SUPPORT THE
INTENT , BUT FOR THE REASONS I
HAVE LAID OUT, I WON'T BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. LET ME MAKE SURE I AM NOT
MISSING ANYONE ELSE. COLLEAGUES,
I WILL SAY I GOT SOME FACTS ON
THIS ONE, BECAUSE I WAS VERY
CLEAR THAT WE WERE FUNDING THE
EDUCATIONAL PIECES IN THE LEVY
FOR THE LEARNING PROGRAM. SO THE
YOUTH LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE
ALREADY FUNDED IN THE LEVY.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I GOT A
LITTLE CONFUSED BY WHAT YOU WERE
SAYING IN TERMS OF , THIS IS
GOING TO YOUTH, SINCE THE
PROGRAMS ARE ALREADY IN THE
LEVY. I WILL SAY THAT, IN TERMS
OF THE VOLUNTEERS , PARKS IS
PLANNING FOR A NEW APPROACH TO
RECRUITING AND TRAINING
VOLUNTEERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL
LEARNING PROGRAM, AS WELL AS
PROGRAM SCHEDULING. THEY
ANTICIPATE THAT THIS WILL
INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT INVOLVEMENT
BY THEIR VOLUNTEER GUIDES. THIS
IS INFORMATION I GOT FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FROM THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT. UNDER THE
ASSUMPTIONS ENDORSED BUDGET, THE
VISITOR CENTER WILL BE CLOSED ON
AN ONGOING BASIS, UNLESS SPR WAS
ABLE TO FIND A PARTNER TO
OPERATE IT, WHICH I ACTUALLY
THINK IS A GREAT IDEA, BECAUSE
JUST YESTERDAY IN THE PARKS
COMMITTEE, WE HAD A PRESENTATION
ABOUT THE GOLF COURSES. I
REMEMBER THE GOLF COURSES WERE
IN PERIL OF CLOSING. THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT FOUND A PARTNER, AND
NOW THEY ARE DOING GREAT. THEY
ARE SELF-SUSTAINING. THIS WOULD
BE A GREAT PROGRAM TO FIND A
PARTNER SO IT COULD BE
SELF-SUSTAINING . I HAVE A
BACHELORS DEGREE IN BIOLOGY. I
SUPPORT SCIENCE. OF COURSE, IT
MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT WITH
OUR FUNDING CHALLENGES . I WILL
SAY THAT PARKS ALSO SAID THAT
THERE WAS A WATER MAIN BREAK AT
THE SITE FLOODING THE DISCOVERY
PARK VISITOR CENTER MECHANICAL
ROOM. THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE,
AND THE FACILITY HAS BEEN CLOSED
SINCE. I'M NOT REALLY SURE
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE
WATER MAIN BREAK THAT SEEMS VERY
SUBSTANTIAL. ALL THAT SAID,
GIVEN THAT THE LEVY IS ALREADY
FUNDING THOSE YOUTH LEARNING
PROGRAMS, I DO NOT SUPPORT
INCREASING THE LEVY TO ADD
THINGS THAT ARE NOT SQUARE ON
YOUTH FOCUSED. I WOULD SUPPORT
PARKS FINDING A PARTNER TO
ENGAGE IN A PARTNERSHIP LIKE
THEY DID THE GOLF COURSES SO
THIS CAN BE SELF-SUSTAINING, AND
WE ARE NOT ALWAYS EVERY YEAR
DURING BUDGET SCRAMBLING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE WILL SUPPORT
THESE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
PROGRAMS, BECAUSE THEY ARE
IMPORTANT. FOR THOSE REASONS, I
WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THIS . TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE'S., I KNOW
EVERYONE HAD THINGS THEY WOULD
HAVE LIKED TO HAVE ADDED TO
THIS, AND THEY DIDN'T. AND SO,
I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT
THAT. I WOULD HAVE WANTED TO
SUPPORT EVERYONE ADDING TO IT,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY.
I ALSO FEEL LIKE WE ARE PICKING
AND CHOOSING WHO GETS TO ADD AND
WHO DOESN'T. FOR THAT REASON, I
ALSO DIDN'T SUPPORT ANY ADS,
MONEY . COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS .
COLLEAGUES, IT IS 11:45. THIS IS
AMENDMENT SIX. WE HAVE SIX MORE
TO GET THROUGH. I WANT TO ASK
THAT YOU PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN
TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENT SO WE CAN
GET THROUGH THIS. I KNOW OTHER
FOLKS HAVE OTHER MEETINGS. WE
ALSO HAVE A 2:00 GOOD GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE MEETING. GO AHEAD. YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
RESPONDING TO A NUMBER OF POINTS
YOU JUST MADE TALKING ABOUT
OFFICE SPACE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT
THE DISCOVERY PARK CENTER OR,
NECESSARILY, ABOUT CAMP LONG,
THE TWO LOCATIONS THAT THESE
VOLUNTEERS HAVE USED FOR OFFICE
SPACE. IT IS, YOU KNOW, THEY DO
NEED TO HAVE OFFICE SPACE
SOMEWHERE, BUT YOU SHARED ABOUT
THE DISCOVERY PARK ENVIRONMENTAL
, THAT CENTER. IT HAS, A█S YOU
REPRESENTED, A WATER MAIN BREAK.
I KNOW THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS
PURSUING FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
THIS AMENDMENT HAS REALLY
NOTHING TO DO WITH DISCOVERY
PARK. NOR ABOUT CAMP LONG, WHICH
ALSO SUFFERED A FIRE DISRUPTING
THEIR OFFICE SPACE. YES, THEY DO
NEED OFFICE SPACE SOMEWHERE. IT
DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHERE.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL REMIND THE
BODY THAT WE HAVE HAD THE SECOND
DOWNTURN REVENUE FORECAST IN, I
BELIEVE, THE LAST TIME THERE WAS
TWO IN A ROW WAS IN 2020. THE
LAST TIME WE WERE IN THE
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THAT WE WERE
-- ARE IN WAS IN 2000 IT. THE
STATISTICS I REPRESENTED A
MOMENT AGO, THEY REPRESENT THE
ENTIRE RETURN ON INVESTMENT WE
GET FROM NINE PEOPLE. WE GET
110, 109 PEOPLE WORKING IN A ONE
SEATTLE METHOD FOR SEATTLEITES
VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME AND
LIVES TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
THOSE STATISTICS CANNOT BE
ACHIEVED WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT,
EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE TO
SUBSTITUTE OUT THE ADULTS,
BECAUSE THESE FOLKS WILL BE
TEACHING ADULTS, AND LESS THEY
ARE CHAPERONES NOT WEARING
EARPLUGS. BUT I THINK THIS IS A
MODEST INVESTMENT. IS A HUGE
RETURN ON INVESTMENT . IT IS A
REALLY GOOD IDEA FOR
SEATTLEITES. I URGE YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> AS COUNCILMEMBER MOORE APTLY
POINTED OUT, WE JUST VOTED DOWN
MONEY TO INCREASE THE LEVY FOR
FOOD, WHICH I WOULD SAY IS A
HUGE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. BUT
WE CAN'T DO ALL OF IT. ANYWAY ,
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE
VOTE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FIVE IN FAVOR,
THREE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION CARRIES
ON AMENDMENT SIX IT IS ADOPTED.
LET'S MOVE TO AMENDMENT SEVEN.
>> -- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO MOVE YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120981 AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
SEVEN VERSION 2.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120981 WITH AMENDMENT SEVEN
VERSION 2. JASMINE.
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
EIGHT WOULD ADD $1 MILLION
ANNUALLY, OR $6 MILLION TOTAL,
TO THE RESPECTIVE REVENUES
GENERATED BY THE FEPP LEVY. THIS
ADDITIONAL REVENUE WOULD ALLOW
FOR FURTHER INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. [
INAUDIBLE ] WITH THE INTENTION
OF REDUCING DISCIPLINARY
INCIDENTS AND CREATING A SAFER
AND MORE SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS. THE
ESTIMATED TAX RATE , WOULD BE
3/10 OF A CENT PER $1000. AN
ADDITIONAL TAX BURDEN OF $3.13
PER YEAR TO A MEDIAN VALUE
PROPERTY OWNER. THE LEVY WOULD
ALSO ADD RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
TO THE LIST OF EDUCATIONAL
SUPPORT SERVICES THAT MAY BE
SUPPORTED BY THE LEVY UNDER THE
K-12 HEALTH AND SAFETY CATEGORY.
THIS IS A NONEXHAUSTIVE LIST. IT
DOES NOT BIND TO THE COUNCIL,
HOWEVER, IF THE AMENDMENT PASSES
AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS RAISED,
THE INTENT WILL BE TO USE THE
ADDITIONAL REVENUE TOWARDS
SUPPORTING RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. DO YOU WANT TO ADD?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COLLEAGUES,
MM AND SEVEN, WE ARE CALLING FOR
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES TO BE
SPECIFICALLY FUNDED, AS THIS
PROGRAM HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN
FUNDED BY UNDERSTAND ART
RESERVES. THIS PROGRAM SERVES
THE YES AND APPROACH TO PUBLIC
SAFETY. WE KNOW CONNECTING
STUDENTS WITH TRUSTED ADULT AND
PROVIDING A SPACE TO HEAL
WITHOUT JUDGMENT HAS LED TO
INCREDIBLE OUTCOMES WITH A
REDUCTION IN SUSPENSION DAYS AND
PUNITIVE MEASURES. THIS PROGRAM
ALLOWS OUR STUDENTS TO ENTER THE
WORLD AFTER SCHOOL WITH CONFLICT
RESOLUTION, RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING SKILLS, ALL WHILE
CENTERING STUDENT JUSTICE. WHEN
I WAS AT GARFIELD LAST FRIDAY, I
HEARD DIRECTLY FROM STUDENTS
ABOUT THE IMPACT THEIR
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE STAFF HAS
HAD ON THEIR LIVES, WHAT A
POSITIVE BENEFIT THEY HAVE
BROUGHT TO THEIR SCHOOL
COMMUNITY. THE IMPACT OF THE
CONTINUATION OF SERVICES FOR
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES ALLOWS FOR
STUDENTS TO HEAL. $1 MILLION
WILL FUND APPROXIMATELY SIX FTE
PRACTITIONERS. MULTIPLYING THAT
IMPACT BY MULTIPLE CLASSROOMS
WITH MULTIPLE STUDENTS, THE
IMPACT IS IMMEASURABLE. I ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
RINCK. COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK .
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES , THIS
AMENDMENT , HAS BEEN ONE OF
INTEREST TO ME, PHYSICALLY FROM
A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
THIS TOO, LIKE SOME OF THE
OTHERS, CAME UP ON TUESDAY WITH
OUR CONFIRMATION HEARING WITH
CHIEF BARNES. IT NOTED THE
BENEFITS OF RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN
TERMS OF SCHOOL SAFETY, BUT ALSO
THE SAFETY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
OF OUR SCHOOLS AND ACROSS THE
CITY. AGAIN, IN TERMS OF RETURN
ON INVESTMENT, IT IS IMPORTANT
TO NOTE THAT, IN TERMS OF WHAT
IT DOES FOR THAT SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT, SCHOOL SAFETY
ENVIRONMENT, BUT THE GENERAL
PUBLIC SAFETY ENVIRONMENT, THESE
LESSONS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT LESSONS , YOU KNOW,
I THINK ABOUT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT ALLOWED NOWADAYS
GOING THROUGH THIS IS AN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARENT . THESE
CHALLENGES PARTICULARLY COMING
OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND HOW THAT
HAS BEEN IMPACTING OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE HERE IN SEATTLE. THIS
INVESTMENT IN THAT PROCESS, I
THINK, COULD CREATE, ALSO, AS
NOTED BY CHIEF BARNES, BUT IF
IT'S DOWN THE LINE AS WELL.
WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG ADULTS IN
THEIR 20s, I THINK ABOUT THE
SITUATION IN AND AROUND OUR
AFTER-HOURS ESTABLISHMENTS WHERE
DECISIONS, POOR DECISIONS, ARE
BEING MADE. I THINK ABOUT FIRST
IN UNION WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
MAKING POOR DECISIONS, AND ONE
LOST HIS LIFE . I THINK THAT
THAT BENEFIT IS ONE THAT WOULD
BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR CITY.
CONTEMPLATING THIS AND
UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE
ARE DOING IN TERMS OF THIS
BUDGET, I MEAN, THIS LEVY IN
TERMS OF THE AMOUNT, I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS ONE. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU , MADAME CHAIR. I
KNOW THAT WE ADDED THIS LANGUAGE
IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT
RECOGNIZING THAT THIS WAS PART
OF A SAFETY PIECE. AND SO, THAT
IS WHERE I FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE
SUPPORTING THIS AND MAKING SURE
THAT THE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
ARE DONE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS ON THIS. FULL
DISCLOSURE, I FULLY SUPPORT
THIS. I FULLY SUPPORT THE
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICE,
BUT NOT NECESSARILY THIS
AMENDMENT THAT CALLS IT OUT AND
ADD MORE ADDITIONALLY. I KNOW WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS. I ALSO
WANT TO SAY, FOR THE RECORD, I
AM VERY CLOSE TO THIS WORK AS I
HAVE REALLY CLOSE FAMILY AND
FRIENDS WHO WORK IN DIFFERENT
HIGH SCHOOLS ALL ACROSS THE CITY
WHO ARE OFFENDED BY THIS. IN
ADDITION TO A COUSIN WHO WORKS
IN THE McKINNEY PROGRAM WHO
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THE
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS,
AND OBVIOUSLY, KNOWS THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS. I THINK THIS
IS BETTER SERVED IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS AS WE ARE
DECIDING WHERE THOSE FUNDS GO. I
JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR THE
RECORD, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
THIS TO BE YES OR NO , DO YOU
SUPPORT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
PRACTICES, OR YOU DON'T. THAT
IS NOT WHERE IT IS. I HAD TO
STAY IN FOR THE RECORD FOR ALL
THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO CREATE
SOME TYPE OF BACK AND FORTH AND
SO FORTH. I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. I WILL JUST
SAY ABOUT THIS, BEYOND THE FACT
THAT IT IS AN ADD IN THE LEVY IS
ALREADY THE SIZE WHERE WE DON'T
NEED TO MAKE THAT, I ALSO FEEL
STRONGLY, AS I SAID EARLIER, I
SUPPORT RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN
ANY INVESTMENTS THAT WILL HELP
OUR KIDS SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND
FEEL SAFE IN SCHOOL. I FEEL
STRONGLY, THOUGH, THAT
EARMARKING -- THIS IS AN
EARMARKED TO THIS GROUP. WE ARE
NOT EARMARKING THINGS FOR OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS. I DON'T THINK IT
IS EQUITABLE. I THINK THAT THERE
WILL BE AN RFP PROCESS, AND THE
DEPARTMENT WILL WORK WITH
COMMUNITY ON ALL OF THESE
INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING
RESTORATIVE SERVICES
INVESTMENTS. THEY WILL DO THE
STAKEHOLDERING . THEY WILL BUILD
WHAT THE PROGRAM WILL LOOK LIKE,
WITH THE OFFERINGS WILL LOOK
LIKE. I HAVE COMMITTED, AND I
DID EMAIL WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE DOING RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES. I DID TELL THEM THAT
THEY WOULD DO -- WOULD HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH DEEL AS PART
OF THE STAKEHOLDERING WORK, AND
AS PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION
WORK. FOR THOSE REASONS, I
WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS, BUT I
REALLY THINK THAT THINGS LIKE
THIS PITCH COMMUNITIES AGAINST
COMMUNITIES. IT MAKES IT WHERE
YOU ARE PICKING LOSERS. I DON'T
THINK THAT IS EQUITABLE. I THINY
WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND NOT THEN
TURN AROUND AND THEN PICK AND
CHOOSE IN SOMETHING LIKE A LEVY.
I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE THE
SAME PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL OF
THESE INVESTMENTS, AND IT SHOULD
GO THROUGH THAT IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS. AGAIN, I SUPPORT THESE
INVESTMENTS , AND THERE IS A
PLACE FOR ALL OF THIS, BUT TO
PRIORITIZE SOMETHING OVER
ANOTHER IN THIS WAY, I DON'T
THINK IS EQUITABLE. THANK YOU.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, EVERYTHING IS. I
THINK WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THIS
BODY DOES SEE SOME VALUE IN
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE APPROACHES
AND THE WAYS IN WHICH IT CAN
CONTRIBUTE A BIT TO SCHOOL
SAFETY. AS WE HAVE TALKED TO
STUDENTS DIRECTLY AND HAVE HEARD
ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THESE
PRACTITIONERS HAVE HAD ON THEIR
COMMUNITIES, I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT NOT EVERY
SCHOOL HAS THESE PRACTITIONERS.
THIS WOULD BE A STEP TAKEN TO
ENSURE THAT WE CAN EXPAND THIS
TYPE OF SERVICE ACROSS OUR
COMMUNITY. AGAIN, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ALSO, WE CAN'T FORCE THE
SCHOOLS TO TAKE THE SERVICES. I
DON'T KNOW WHAT SCHOOLS WANT
THEM AND CAN'T AFFORD THEM, OR
WHAT SCHOOLS HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO
HAVE THEM. THE RESEARCH THAT WE
NEED TO DO AS PART OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WORK. OKAY.
I THINK WE ARE READY FOR THE
VOTE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR
AND FOUR OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION FAILS. AMENDMENT
EIGHT -- SORRY, AMENDMENT SEVEN
WILL NOT BE ADOPTED. WE WILL
MOVE ON TO AMENDMENT EIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>>
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRPERSON MOVED
TO MAINE COUNCIL BILL 120981 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT EIGHT
VERSION 2.
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120981 WITH
AMENDMENT EIGHT . -- VERSION 2.
JASMINE.
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK WOULD ADD $600,000
ANNUALLY, OR $3.6 MILLION TOTAL,
TO ANY
>> REVENUES GENERATED BY . THIS
ADDITIONAL REVENUE WOULD ALLOW
FOR FURTHER INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES .
THE ADDITIONAL TAX RATE NEEDED
TO ALLOW FOR THIS WOULD BE 2/10
OF A CENT PER $1000 ASSESSED
VALUE WITH ESTIMATED AVERAGE TAX
BURDEN OF $1.88 PER YEAR TO
MEDIAN VALUE PROPERTY UNDER. THE
AMENDMENT WOULD ALSO ADD SUPPORT
FOR FAMILIES FROM VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES TO THE LIST OF
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES
THAT MAY BE SUPPORTED BY THE
LEVY UNDER THE K-12 HEALTH AND
SAFETY CATEGORY. THIS LIST IS
NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND DOES NOT BIND
THE COUNCIL. IF THE MEMBER
PASSES AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS
RAISED, COUNCIL'S INTENT WILL
BE TO USE THAT EXTRA $600,000
PER YEAR TOWARD SUPPORTING
FAMILIES FROM VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU, JASMINE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THESE ARE
UNCERTAIN TIMES BUT I KNOW THAT
IS NOT LOST ON ANY OF US, BUT
THERE ARE SO MANY IN OUR
COMMUNITY WHO ARE FACING
UNCERTAINTY AND ARE EXPERIENCING
AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF FEAR
BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION. WE ALL SPOKE
ABOUT THIS ON THE DAIS JUST ON
TUESDAY. WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION.
WE CANNOT SIT IDLY BY AND WATCH
OUR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY BE
TAKEN AWAY OR LIVE IN FEAR. WE
NEED TO SPEAK AND ACT. THIS
AMENDMENT IS A REFLECTION OF OUR
VALUES. YESTERDAY I WALKED INTO
THE FEDERAL BUILDING TO
ACCOMPANY FOREIGN IMMIGRANT
FAMILIES FACING DEPORTATION.
FOUR FAMILIES, FOUR SETS OF
PARENTS WHO CAME TO AMERICA
SEEKING SAFETY AND OPPORTUNITY .
NOT ONE HAD AN ATTORNEY TO
DEFEND THEM. THERE WERE LEGAL
OBSERVERS, ADVOCATES, BUT NO ONE
HAD AN ATTORNEY. NOT ONE PERSON
HAD AN ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION
AGAINST A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO
TEAR FAMILIES APART. I WATCHED A
MOTHER HOLDS HER DAUGHTER NO WAY
THAT TRUMP'S MACHINERY OF
CRUELTY COULD TEAR THEM APART
AND SEPARATE THEM FOREVER. THIS
AMENDMENT OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DEFEND OUR NEIGHBORS BY
EXPANDING LEGAL SERVICES THAT
WOULD PUT LAWYERS AND FEDERAL
COURTROOMS, INJURING FAMILIES
HAVE THE REPRESENTATION THEY
DESERVE WHEN THEIR LIVES HANG IN
THE BALANCE. THE $600,000 WILL
IMPACT OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS
BY ENSURING THAT APPROXIMATELY
150 STUDENTS OR FAMILIES OF
STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE LEGAL
PROTECTION AND BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE GOING TO SCHOOL.
COLLEAGUES, I IMPLORE YOU, THIS
IS AN ACTUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO MEET THIS MOMENT. WE CAN BE
REMEMBERED AS LEADERS WHO
STEPPED UP WHEN OUR COMMUNITIES
NEEDED IT MOST. WE CAN UNITE AS
A COMMUNITY WHO LOOKED AT AN
UNJUST SYSTEM AND SAID, NOT ON
OUR WATCH, NOT IN OUR CITY, AND
NOT TO OUR KIDS. I ASK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS A MEMO
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER
KESSEL. -- KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA,
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER TRENT
IT. ON THIS AMENDMENT, FIRST, I
THINK AS A REFLECTION OF SEATTLE
VALUES IS THE FACT THAT THESE
SERVICES WITHIN THE LEVY ARE
AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE , TO
INCLUDE THOSE FROM VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO NOTE. I THINK THAT IS A
REFLECTION OF US AS A CITY AND
OUR VALUES AND GOES TO THE POINT
MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. MY
CONCERN WITH THIS AMENDMENT IS
THAT, ESSENTIALLY, IT CREATES ,
TO BE FRANK, A TARGET, FOR THE
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION TO GO
AFTER, WHICH IN TURN COULD HAVE
SECONDARY EFFECTS THAT COULD BE
DETRIMENTAL TO THE VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. FOR THAT REASON,
AND THAT CONCERN, DESPITE
UNDERSTANDING THE INTENT BEHIND
IT, I THINK IN THE PRACTICAL
WAY, IT COULD CREATE CHALLENGES
FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. WITH
THAT, I WILL BE VOTING NO.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AGAIN, AS I HAVE SAID , EVERY
AMENDMENT THAT ADDS MORE MONEY
TO THE LEVY, I AM VOTING AGAINST
IT FOR THAT REASON, EVEN THOUGH
I SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING INTENT.
CERTAINLY, THIS IS -- WE DO NEED
TO MEET THE MOMENT. I GUESS I
WOULD USE THIS AS A TIME TO CALL
OUT MY COLLEAGUES ON SOME OF --
AND SOME IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION
SO KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE
PROGRAMS, STARTED OUT AS A PRO
BONO PROGRAM THROUGH THE
MICROSOFT . AND EXPANDED, AND
THEY GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY
HAD PAID STAFF. THAT HAS BEEN
CUT. I WOULD ISSUE A CALL TO MY
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE STILL
PRACTICING , AND THERE ARE MANY
LARGE LAW FIRMS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WHO HAVE ROBUST PRO BONO
PROGRAMS, AND I WOULD URGE THEM
TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE TODAY TO
BE THERE, TO BE THE ONES
REPRESENTING THE VOICES OF THE
CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES WHO
ARE BEING DEPORTED WITHOUT DUE
PROCESS. THIS IS A MOMENT. THIS
IS A CALL TO ACTION TO THOSE IN
THE LEGAL PROFESSION WHO TOOK AN
OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION
, AND TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR
COMMUNITY. I AM JUST TAKING THIS
MOMENT TO ISSUE THAT CALL AND
URGE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. Y I
WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM NOT
MISSING ANY. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> ALSO, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. JUST FOR THE RECORD, SO
THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOWS, WE ARE
ONE OF 38 CITIES THAT HAS AN
OFFICE DEDICATED TO IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE SERVICES IN THE
COUNTRY. OVER $6 MILLION. WE DO
HAVE A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND AS
WELL. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT AS WELL. WE HAVE -- WE ARE
CONTINUING TO PUT IN PROTECTIONS
FOR OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
FAMILIES HERE AT THE CITY. I
KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ALL
OF MY I DON'T TO SPEAK FOR ALL
OF YOU, BUT I HAVE TALKED TO A
LOT OF YOU I KNOW IT IS ONE
THING WE REALLY WANT TO CONTINUE
TO PUT FORWARD AND CENTER. I
WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE
RECORD. WE ARE ONE OF 38 CITIES
IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS AN
OFFICE TICKLY DEDICATED TO
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICES.
THAT SHOWS OUR COMMITMENT AS A
CITY FOR THAT. WE WILL CONTINUE
TO CENTER THAT AND PUT FORTH
PROTECTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? COLLEAGUES, I ALSO
WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT
THIS LEVY DOES HAVE -- IT FUNDS
IMMIGRANT KIDS AS WELL. ALL OUR
SERVICES AT THE CITY, WE DON'T
REQUIRE PROOF OF STATUS. ALL OF
OUR SERVICES , ALL OF THE
RESIDENTS IN SEATTLE. I KNOW OUR
LEVY FUNDS THE MOST, YOU KNOW,
THE KIDS MOST IN NEED IN OUR
CITY. WE -- THAT IS WHERE THE
LEVY FUNDS GO. THAT INCLUDES
IMMIGRANT KIDS. JUST TO CENTER
US AND KNOW THAT OUR LEVY WILL
GO TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANT KIDS,
EVEN WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT .
AGAIN, IT ADDS MONEY TO THE
LEVY. SO I WILL BE VOTING
AGAINST IT. I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. YOU
CAN ALWAYS SPEAK FOR ME IN
MATTERS SUCH AS THESE, BECAUSE
THESE ARE ALL -- I SUPPORT ALL
OF THESE ITEMS , BUT I AM NOT
ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT, BECAUSE IT ADDS
MONEY, BUT I FEEL GOOD THAT I
KNOW IMMIGRANT KIDS ARE
SUPPORTED BY THE LEVY IN
GENERAL. THANK YOU. CALL FOR THE
VOTE. SORRY. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I APPRECIATE THE REMINDER THAT
SEATTLE IS A LEADER IN SO MANY
WAYS FOR PROTECTING OUR LOCAL
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES FROM THE
OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS, AND YES, ENSURING THAT
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES ARE ABLE
TO ACCESS CITY SERVICES. WE ARE
NOT PROHIBITIVE IN THAT WAY AT
ALL. SO YES, IMMIGRANT KIDS WILL
BENEFIT FROM THE FEPP LEVY
INVESTMENTS. THAT IS A FANTASTIC
THING. IMMIGRANT KIDS WILL HAVE
THEIR PARENTS DEPORTED IN THE
CITY. IT IS ALREADY HAPPENING .
HOW SAFE WILL THEY BE THEN? WE
HAVE ISSUES WITH UNACCOMPANIED
MINORS APPEARING IN COURT BY
THEMSELVES . COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
STATED CORRECTLY THAT KIDS
DEFENSE AS AN ORGANIZATION HAS
HAD TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS.
THOUSANDS OF UNACCOMPANIED
MINORS HAVING TO APPEAR IN
IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS BY
THEMSELVES WITHOUT LEGAL
REPRESENTATION. THAT IS A
HAUNTING THOUGHT. AGAIN, I
ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GO DOWN TO
THE JACKSON FEDERAL BUILDING AND
WITNESS FOR YOURSELVES WHEN
EVERYONE WAITS WITH BAITED
BREATH HOPING THE JUDGE DOESN'T
DISMISS A CASE AND A MOTHER HAS
TO LET HER TO YOUR UNCLE. THAT
IS THE REALITY WE ARE DEALING
WITH IN THE CITY. I HAVE TO
CENTER THAT BEFORE WE TAKE THIS
VOTE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] THREE IN FAVOR,
FIVE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION FAILS . AMENDMENT
EIGHT IS NOT ADOPTED. MOVING ON
TO -- I THINK THAT WAS AMENDMENT
EIGHT VERSION 2 IS NOT ADOPTED.
MOVING ON TO AMENDMENT NINE FOR
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED HIM AND
COUNCIL BILL 120981 AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT NINE VERSION 2.
>> SECOND.
>> JASMINE.
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS WOULD ADD THE FOLLOWING
TO THE LIST OF EDUCATIONAL
SUPPORT SERVICES THAT MAY BE
SUPPORTED BY A LEVY UNDER THE
COLLEGE AND CAREER SUPPORTS
CATEGORY. PUBLIC-SECTOR CAREERS,
SUCH AS THOSE WITH THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT OR SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS LIST IS
NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND INTENDED TO
ILLUSTRATE THE TYPES OF
INVESTMENTS AND DOES NOT BIND
THE COUNCIL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED .
>> THANK YOU. THIS AMENDMENT IS
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. A CALL
THAT IMPORTANT CAREER TRAINING
AND PATHWAYS THAT ARE POSSIBLE.
IT GIVES THE EXAMPLE OF
PUBLIC-SECTOR CAREERS, WERE WE
ALL KNOW CITIES AROUND THE
COUNTRY NEED HELP RECRUITING
WELL-QUALIFIED APPLICANTS AS I
HAVE TALKED TO A FEW PEOPLE IN
THE FIELD, AND IT'S NOT JUST
THAT WE NEED TO CREATE HIGH
SCHOOL TO CAREER PIPELINES, WE
REALLY NEED TO GET INTO THE
MIDDLE SCHOOL TO CAREER
PIPELINES FOR JOBS SUCH AS THOSE
WITH THE TRADES. THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT POLICE
DEPARTMENT. MUCH MORE WORK TO BE
DONE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN,
BUT I THINK SUPPORT TO CALL OUT
THESE PRIORITIES. THESE ARE
CLEAR PRIORITIES WE CAN ALL
AGREE ON. AS WAS REPORTED, IT IS
NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST. THIS
AMENDMENT DOES NOT LIMIT WHAT
CAREER PATHWAYS CAN BE INCLUDED
IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
THANK YOU. HOPE TO EARN YOUR
SUPPORT FOR
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYONE HAS A
COMMENT OR QUESTION. I WILL SAY
THAT I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR
THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE THE
LANGUAGE IS WRITTEN, INCLUDING
THE TRADES , TO BE INCLUSIVE OF
ALL THE TRADES. I THINK THIS
AMENDMENT IS PRIORITIZING THE
PUBLIC-SECTOR CAREERS. THAT WAS
NOT THE INTENT OF THE LEVY THAT
WAS PROPOSED. WE ALREADY ALSO DO
FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS ALREADY
CODIFIED, AS IT IS ALREADY A
PROGRAM WITHIN SEATTLE COLLEGES.
THERE IS A FIRE PROGRAM THAT I
AM ALWAYS PROUD TO SHARE CHIEF
SCOGGINS HELPED DESIGN THE
CURRICULAR AND -- CURRICULUM.
I'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE CAR -- COLLEGES ABOUT A
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
PROGRAM, IF POSSIBLE. I SUPPORT
ALL THESE TRADES , BUT I SUPPORT
ALL THE TRADES. I THINK THIS IS
PRIORITIZING SOME OVER OTHERS
CALLING OUT LIKE THIS.
PARTICULARLY, PUBLIC-SECTOR
CAREERS. BECAUSE OF THAT, I
WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS
PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA. I
NOTE THAT BOTH THIS AMENDMENT
AND THE NEXT AMENDMENT ARE
BASICALLY AMENDING THE SAME AREA
. ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS WHETHER
THE ORIGINAL PARAGRAPH COULD
REMAIN THE SAME IN THE NEXT TWO
AMENDMENTS COULD BE SEPARATED
FROM THAT AND PLACED TWO
BASICALLY, AS AN EXAMPLE, -- OF
THOSE PIECES. THE SEPARATION TO
THE POINT YOU MADE. ALSO,
HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS NOTED
. NO DOUBT, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
WOULD NOTE IN THE NEXT
AMENDMENT. JUST A QUESTION FOR
THE CHAIR FOR THE TWO SPONSORS
OF THIS AND THE NEXT AMENDMENT .
POTENTIALLY, I GUESS, I'M NOT
SURE 100% ON THE PROCESS FROM
THE CLERKS PERSPECTIVE.
>> ONE OPTION WE CAN DO, IF THE
BODY WOULD LIKE, IS TO MOVE TO
AMEND THIS AMENDMENT WITH
AMENDMENT 10, AND THAT WOULD
THEN BE RECONCILED IT WOULD BE
WITH THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE TO
INCLUDE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S
LANGUAGE. AND THAT, THAT VOTE
WOULD OCCUR AS TO WHETHER
COUNCILMEMBER -- THE LANGUAGE IN
AMENDMENT 10 IS INCLUDED OR NOT,
THE FINAL VOTE ON AMENDMENT NINE
WOULD OCCUR. IT WOULD BE UP TO
THE BODY IF THEY WANTED TO MOVE
AMENDMENT NINE WITH AMENDMENT
10.
>> COULD ANOTHER OPTION BE TO
CREATE IN AMENDMENT 13 THAT
COMBINES THE TWO , AND THEN I
CAN HAVE IT READY TO GO ?
>> IF YOU'RE ABLE TO. WE CAN
CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
COMBINE THE.
>> ONE CLEAN AMENDMENT. AND WE
CAN MOVE ON TO AMENDMENT 11.
>> CORRECT. YOU CAN DO THAT AS
WELL. ANOTHER OPTION.
>> SORRY, IF WE WERE TO MOVE
FORWARD TODAY?
>> THE FIRST OPTION WOULD BE TO
AMEND AMENDMENT NINE WITH THE
LANGUAGE OF AMENDMENT 10. OR
WITHDRAW AMENDMENT NINE AT THIS
POINT AND JESS AND WILL DEVELOP
AMENDMENT 13 TO CONCLUDE THAT
INCLUDE LANGUAGE FROM BOTH NINE
AND 10.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS . THIS
IS YOUR AMENDMENT. AND WANTED TO
RECOGNIZE YOU.
>> THINK IT. I MIGHT ALSO OFFER
THAT, IF WE PASS EACH OF THESE
AMENDMENTS INDIVIDUALLY, THEY
WILL STACK ON TOP OF EACH OTHER
AND WILL REQUIRE MUCH LESS WORK
AND CONFUSION AMONGST ALL OF US
WHILE WE ARE IN THIS MEETING. I
WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE JUST
VOTE ON THESE SEPARATELY . MY
BEST GUESS HERE IS THAT, IF
SOMETHING LOOKS WEIRD AFTER WE
DO THIS, WE CAN HAVE A TECHNICAL
FIX AT FULL COUNSEL. -- COUNCIL
>> THAT IS CORRECT. YOU CAN ALSO
CONSIDER THEM SEPARATELY BECAUSE
THEY CAN BE RECONCILED AFTER
THIS VOTE.
>> THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE.
>> THE REASON THIS IS VERSION 2
IS BECAUSE I REARRANGE THE WORDS
SUCH THAT IT COULD BE STACKED
TOGETHER. MY UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WANTED
WAS TO RETAIN THE FIRST PART OF
THE SENTENCE. THAT WOULD BE THE
DIFFERENCE. IF IT IS JUST ABOUT
STACKING THE TWO AMENDMENTS,
THEN I AGREE. MAYBE WE COULD
CLARIFY WHAT THE INTENT IS ABOUT
COMBINING THE AMENDMENTS.
>> I TRUST THE ADVICE OF OTHERS
WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROCESS. I
WAS JUST PROFFERING THIS IN THE
SENSE OF KEEPING THE ORIGINAL
PARAGRAPH D, KEEP IT CLEAN, AND
THEN HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY.
EITHER WAY, AS COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS WAS SAYING. WHATEVER IS
PREFERRED. IF THAT IS THE
PREFERENCE TO DO THAT.
>> ANOTHER OPTION IS POTENTIALLY
TO AMEND THIS AMENDMENT TO ADD
BACK IN THE LANGUAGE, INCLUDING
THE TRADES, AND THEN WE WOULD DO
THAT FOR AMENDMENT 10 AS WELL.
>> I CAN MOVE TO KEEP THE
LANGUAGE , TO AMEND THE
AMENDMENT TO KEEP THE LANGUAGE,
AND WE WOULD VOTE ON THAT, AND
THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. AT THE
END, YOU JUST RECONCILED THE
BOTTOM LANGUAGE WITH WHATEVER
PASSES.
>> YES. YOU WOULD HAVE TO AMEND
BOTH AMENDMENTS, BUT THAT MIGHT
ACTUALLY BE -- NO.
>> IF WE MOVE TO AMEND IT RIGHT
NOW TO RETAIN , WHEN WE CONSIDER
AMENDMENT 10, WE MOVE AMENDMENT
10 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THAT
LANGUAGE, BECAUSE IT HAS ALREADY
BEEN RETAINED THROUGH THE MOTION
RIGHT NOW. THOSE ARE THE TWO
OPTIONS FOR THAT SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY. GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA FOR
>> I STAND WITH COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS TO SUPPORT HIS WAY
FORWARD. I THINK WE ARE GETTING
A BIT HUNG UP ON THE FORM OVER
THE ACTUAL SUBSTANCE. I THINK
THE SUBSTANCE OF THESE
AMENDMENTS STAND OF THEIR OWN.
I'M ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT IN OUR
CENTRAL STAFF EXPERTS, TOGETHER
WITH OUR DCC EXPERTS, AND OUR
ABILITY TO RECONCILE ANY
TECHNICAL WORDING, MINOR
GLITCHES . SO THAT IS THE WAY
FORWARD, I WOULD OFFER, IN THE
INTEREST OF KEEPING US MOVING
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, YOU
HAVE BEEN WAITING.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS CONFUSING
WHEN WE GO HERE. I DIDN'T QUITE
UNDERSTAND IN THE BEGINNING WHY
INCLUDING THE TRADES WAS REMOVED
AND THEN ADDED AT THE BOTTOM.
HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY. I
WANT TO THANK YOUR LEADERSHIP
FOR INCLUDING A PATHWAY TO THE
TRADES IN THIS LEVY . IT IS THE
FIRST TIME THIS HAS BEEN DONE.
THE MECHANICS WILL BE WORKED OUT
BETWEEN DEEL AND THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, ET CETERA. I AM SURE
IT IS MORE COMPLICATED THAN I
THINK RIGHT NOW, BUT I WANT TO
SAY THAT WHEN I WAS TALKING TO
WORKS AT THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, WHEN I TOLD OTHER FOLKS
ABOUT THIS ADDITION, IT IS BEEN
APPRECIATED AND RECOGNIZED AS
QUITE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FOR
ALTERNATIVES THAT WANT TO DO
SOMETHING AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, BUT
NOT NECESSARILY GO INTO THE
TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TRACK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M
TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK
YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. I WOULD SAY THAT THE
PASTOR TRADES AS PART OF SEATTLE
PROMISE WOULD EXPAND THAT PASSED
YOU TRADES, AND PERHAPS, WORK
WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS WHO HAVE
ACCREDITED TRADE SCHOOLS, AND
PERHAPS, THE KIDS, IF THE THING
THEY WANT TO PURSUE IS NOT
AVAILABLE AT THE COLLEGES, IT IS
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO
PURSUE IT AT THE TRADE SCHOOL.
THIS IS SOMETHING DEEL AND I
HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH
. WE ARE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION
STAGE OF THIS AND WILL DO THAT
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS, AND THEN
REALLY DRILL INTO WHAT THIS
COULD LOOK LIKE. BUT
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, THANK YOU
FOR RAISING THE POINT. I WILL
SAY THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME
TO INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE ,
INCLUDING THE TRADES WHERE IT
IS. IT ELEVATES. IT IS NOT AN
EXAMPLE, IT WILL INCLUDE THE
TRADES. THAT IS WHY IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THAT
LANGUAGE WAS ABOVE. I WOULD LIKE
TO KEEP THE LANGUAGE ABOVE, BUT
I CAN ALWAYS BRING IN AMENDMENT
13 ON TUESDAY IF THAT MAKES IT
EASIER THAN WHAT A MEAL YOUR
SUGGESTED. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER PARKER WANT TO
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
YOU WERE ACKNOWLEDGING MY
INTEREST IN THIS PARTICULAR
PIECE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS HAS TO ME. I WANT TO
APPRECIATE THAT ON YOUR PART.
AMELIA -- I'M SORRY,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK. MY
APOLOGIES.
>> I MUST BE OFF YOUR SCREEN. I
JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THE
POINT THAT YOU JUST MADE . THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, FOR
RAISING IT. I DO THINK IT IS
STRONGER . IT IS MANDATORY WHEN
INCLUDED AT THE TOP, INCLUDING
THE TRADES, VERSUS MAY BE
SUPPORTED, AND THEN A LIST OF
POSSIBILITIES. SINCE THIS, AS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NOTED, THIS IS
BRAND NEW AN INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE IS NO AMBIVALENCE
ABOUT IT. I THINK IT STRENGTHENS
IT TO INCLUDE THE TRADES.
HOWEVER WE GET THAT LANGUAGE, I
AM SUPPORTIVE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. WOULD IT BE OKAY IF WE
BRING THAT ON TUESDAY?
>> IT IS UP TO YOU IF THEY WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND IT AT THIS
POINT. IS NOT, AS YOU MENTIONED,
YOU COULD MOVE IT AGAIN ON
TUESDAY.
>> I AM FINE MOVING FORWARD AND
SAYING I MOVE TO AMEND THE
LANGUAGE IN AMENDMENT NUMBER
NINE TO KEEP THE STRICKEN ,
INCLUDING THE TRADES.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO KEEP THE LANGUAGE,
INCLUDING THE TRADES WHERE IT
IS, UNDER D.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY. THIS IS A
YES AND A MOMENT WHERE WE ARE
KEEPING THE TRADES IN TWO
PLACES. CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> WONDERFUL. MUSIC TO MY EARS.
LET'S VOTE ON THIS AND KEEP
MOVING.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? WE ARE VOTING ON
KEEPING THAT LANGUAGE IN , NOT
THE UNDERLYING AMENDMENT QUITE
YET.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION PASSES TO KEEP
INCLUDING THE TRADES LANGUAGE IN
AMENDMENT NUMBER NINE VERSION 2
OF COUNCIL BILL 120981. NOW WERE
GOING TO BE VOTING ON THE
UNDERLYING AMENDMENT NINE
VERSION 22 COUNCIL BILL 120981.
WAS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION
ABOUT THIS? OKAY. I'M SORRY,
THE AMENDMENT. DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY?
>> URGES SUPPORT. THIS IS A GOOD
AMENDMENT. GOOD PRIORITIES.
>> OKAY. GREAT. CALL FOR THE
ROLE PLEASE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES .
AMENDMENT NINE VERSION 2 WILL
MOVE FORWARD . NOW WE'RE GOING
TO AMENDMENT 10 . COLLEAGUES, WE
ARE ALMOST THERE. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, DO YOU WANT TO MOVE YOUR
MIMICRY
>> I MOVE IN COUNCIL BILL WENT
TO 0981 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT 10 .
>> SECOND.
>> I WOULD BE OPEN TO, FOR
CLARITY, AS A FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT, THAT SAME CONCEPTUAL
CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUSLY
ADOPTED AMENDMENT NUMBER NINE
WHERE WE ESSENTIALLY PUT --
ADDED -- RESTORE THE LANGUAGE
INCLUDING THE TRADES AT THE
BEGINNING, AND THEN --
>> WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THAT
LANGUAGE, BECAUSE THAT HAS
ALREADY BEEN DECIDED.
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. ALL RIGHT.
DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS
AMENDMENT?
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA WOULD ADD THE FOLLOWING TO
THE LIST OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
SERVICES FOR THE COLLEGE AND
CAREER SUPPORTS CATEGORY SUPPORT
FOR CAREER PATHWAYS AND
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR
THE UTILIZE CODING LANGUAGES.
THIS IS A NONEXHAUSTIVE LIST
INTENDED TO ILLUSTRATE THE TYPES
OF INVESTMENTS THAT COULD BE
SUPPORTED AND DOES NOT BIND THE
COUNCIL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO ADDRESS YOUR MIMICRY
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD DO TWO THINGS.
IT WOULD SUPPORT FOSTER CARE ,
TRANSITIONING TO ADULTHOOD . AS
A FORMER FOSTER KID MYSELF AND
SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE SIBLINGS
IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING ONE WHO
ACED OUT, MY LATE BROTHER , AND
SEEING FIRSTHAND THE STRUGGLES
THAT HAS ON PEOPLE , THIS WOULD
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND
SERVICES AND HELP ADDRESS FOSTER
CARE TO PRISON PIPELINE, FOSTER
CARE TO HOMELESS THIS PIPELINE.
YOU NAME IT. BOTTOM LINE,
CALLING OUT, PARTICULARLY
VULNERABLE GROUP IN A
NONEXHAUSTIVE LIST FORMAT. THE
SECOND THING, IMPORTANTLY, IS
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL EMPOWERMENT ,
IN THIS CASE, VIS-À-VIS DIGITAL
SKILLING INITIATIVE, AND THERE
IS A NONEXHAUSTIVE LIST OF
CODING PROGRAMS AND LANGUAGES
FOR SPECIFIC SKILLS THAT ARE IN
HIGH DEMAND FOR OUR REGION'S
HIGH-TECH EMPLOYERS . JUST CALL
THEM UP AND ASK THEM THE TOP
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES AND SKILLS
THEY RECRUIT FOR, AND THESE ARE
THE THREE. AND SO, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT ANY PROGRAMS AND
DIGITAL SKILLING IS ACTUALLY NOT
JUST TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO BE
SAVVY AND SOCIAL MEDIA. I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ULTIMATELY
WILL NEED TO CODE, FOR EXAMPLE,
SO THEY CAN GET EMPLOYMENT IN
THESE HIGH TECH SECTORS LOCALLY.
THANK YOU. I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA. I
JUST WANTED TO COMMEND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR HIS
ADVOCACY RELATED TO FOSTER CARE
. THE POINTS HE MADE ARE REAL .
THEY HAVE IMPACTS IN TERMS OF
WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON OUR
STREETS. IT SHOWS THE CHALLENGES
WE FACE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
. GOING BACK TO SEATTLE VALUES
AND THE LIKE. THAT SAID, THE
REST, THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE
PREVIOUS AMENDMENT . I WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE IT ALL BROUGHT
TOGETHER IN A COHERENT WAY .
THAT IS A POINT I WAS MAKING
EARLIER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> I WAS GOING TO MAKE THIS
COMMENT BEFORE WITH YOUR OTHER
AMENDMENT, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. I
ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION. YOU HAVE EDUCATED
ME ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE BEING A
FOSTER CHILD, AND ALSO THE
SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. I THINK YOUR
EXPERIENCE IS REALLY BENEFICIAL
TO THE WHOLE BODY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I WILL JUST
SAY THAT THE LEVY
>> OBVIOUSLY, NOT EVERYTHING WAS
IN HERE THAT WE ALL WANTED. BUT
I THINK IT IS A VERY, VERY SOLID
PACKAGE. IS WHEN WE SHOULD BE
PROUD OF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP ON
THIS. YOU HAVE REALLY DONE A
PHENOMENAL JOB.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, MANAGER. JUST
JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON TO SAY
MY APPRECIATION FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND WILLINGNESS TO
WORK. THANK YOU, ALSO, TO MY
COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING
THOUGHTFUL AND LIMITS TO THE
PROCESS AS WELL. IT IS A LOT OF
WORK. OBVIOUSLY, THE DEPARTMENTS
AND EXECUTIVE AND ALL THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS , I KNOW
IT'S A BIG HEAVY LIFT. AND
THERE'S STILL MORE, BECAUSE IT
ACTUALLY HAS TO GO TO THE BALLOT
AND FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE ON IT.
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
--
>> ADDING TO THE CHOIR HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, I SAID AT OUR VERY
FIRST DISCUSSION THAT THIS WAS
MY FAVORITE LEVY, BECAUSE OF THE
IMPACT IT DOES HAVE ON OUR
CHILDREN IN THE CITY. AND SO,
THAT STANDS THROUGHOUT THIS
DISCUSSION. I ALSO JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT I KNOW HOW HARD YOU
WORKED BEFORE THIS EVEN CAME
BEFORE US. YOU WORKED VERY
DILIGENTLY ON YOUR OWN, AND WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR DILIGENCE
BRINGING US A PACKAGE WE CAN ALL
CELEBRATE. ADDING TRADES,
PRESCHOOL, AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO
IMPROVED IT AS WE WENT ALONG.
THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU . COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> ADDING ONTO THE CHORUS OF
GRATITUDE AND WANTED TO THANK
CENTRAL STAFF FOR ALL YOUR WORK
ON ALL OF THESE AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO
FURTHER HANDS. CLERK, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE RECOGNITION
TO PASS COUNCIL BILL 120981 AS
AMENDED.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] EIGHT IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT. THE RECOMMENDATION
THE COUNCIL BILL 120981 PAST AS
AMENDED WILL BE SENT TO THE JUNE
17 CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR
FINAL CONSIDERATION. NOW I CAN
SAY, THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH
ME FOR OVER THREE HOURS TO GET
THROUGH ALL THESE 12 AMENDMENTS.
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN LONG , AS
WELL AS THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY
PROCESS. I HAVE APPRECIATION FOR
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WAS HE WAS
GOING THROUGH THAT AND RENEWED
APPRECIATION HAVING JUST GONE
THROUGH THIS MYSELF. AND IT IS
EXTREMELY REWARDING THIS FEPP
LEVY CONTAINS, AND WILL CONTAIN,
SO MANY INVESTMENTS THAT OUR
KIDS NEED IN OUR CITY. IT REALLY
PRIORITIZES THE KIDS THAT NEED
THE MOST IN OUR CITY. THAT IS
SOMETHING TO BE INCREDIBLY PROUD
OF, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT -- IT
IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE REALLY
PROUD OF, AND PARTICULARLY IN
LIGHT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
COLLEAGUES, I THINK WE DID A
GREAT JOB WORKING TOGETHER,
HAGGLING BACK AND FORTH AND
COMING UP -- AND I WANT TO GIVE
A SHOUT OUT TO DIRECTOR CHAPELLE
IN ALL HIS STAFF AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING. I WANT TO GIVE A
SHOUT OUT TO DEPUTY MAYOR
WASHINGTON AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE HE WAS WORKING ON BEHALF
OF MAYOR HARRELL. THIS WAS
REALLY A TEAM EFFORT. THERE WAS
SO MUCH ALIGNMENT, AND I HAVE TO
UNDERSCORE THAT. THAT IS NOT
ALWAYS THE CASE. BUT WITH THIS
ONE, THERE WAS SO MUCH ALIGNMENT
THAT IT MADE IT SO MUCH BETTER.
BECAUSE OF OUR COLLECTIVE WORK,
THERE WILL BE A DOUBLING OF A
CHILD CARE INVESTMENT IN THE
CITY. I KNOW SOMETHING THAT
MAYOR HARRELL CARES VERY DEEPLY
ABOUT THAT AS WELL. BECAUSE OF
US, THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS MORE
SLOTS , PRESCHOOL SLOTS, IN THE
CITY. THERE IS GOING TO BE
ROBUST K-12 INVESTMENT SO THAT
OUR KIDS ARE SUCCEEDING IN
SCHOOL SO THEY GET THE JOBS.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BEGIN ABLE
TO GET THOSE JOBS IF THEY DON'T
SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. THERE ARE
SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND
PHYSICAL HEALTH. THE
SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS.
THERE IS GOING TO BE SUPPORT FOR
SCHOOL SAFETY. THIS IS NOW
PLAGUING OUR CITY. IT HAS BEEN
AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND IT
LANDED IN SEATTLE. VERY HARD AND
VERY STRONG. I CAN TELL YOU
FIRSTHAND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
WE WILL BE ADDRESSING WITH THIS
LEVY. OF COURSE, THE PROMISE
PROGRAM. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT
-- WE HOPED IT WOULD BE
SUCCESSFUL, BUT WHO WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THIS WILDLY
SUCCESSFUL? AND NOW WITH A
ROBUST PIECE IN THE TRADES THAT
WE CAN WORK WITH OUR LABOR
PARTNERS AND TALK ABOUT
APPRENTICESHIPS AND GET KIDS YOU
MIGHT NOT WANT THE TRADITIONAL
COLLEGE PATH, OR WHO JUST WANT A
REALLY GREAT PAYING JOB AND HAVE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT IS REALLY
AMAZING. WE DID THAT TOGETHER
WITH THE DEPARTMENT, WITH THE
MAYOR , AND THAT IS WHAT IS
GOING FORWARD TO THE VOTERS. IT
IS SOMETHING WE CAN STAND BEHIND
AND BE REALLY PROUD OF . BECAUSE
IT IS NOT ON THE BALLOT YET, I
CAN SAY THAT I HOPE VOTERS VOTE
FOR IT. IT WAS VERY THOUGHTFULLY
CRAFTED , THOUGHTFULLY LAID OUT.
IT HAD A COMMITMENT TO OUR KIDS,
TO OUR WORKING FAMILIES, AND A
COMMITMENT TO PARTNER TOGETHER
IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN STAGE
TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE DOLLARS
GO WHERE THEY ARE INTENDED TO GO
AND NEEDED MOST, AND TO HELP ALL
THE KIDS IN THE CITY. I AM SO
EXCITED AND SO PROUD AND SO
GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU FOR
JOINING ME IN THIS JOURNEY, AND
FOR PARTNERING TO MAKE THIS LEVY
PACKAGE THE BEST IT COULD
POSSIBLY BE. YOU ARE ALL, EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, REFLECTED
IN THIS PACKAGE. THAT IS
SOMETHING TO REALLY TAKE HOME
AND BE PROUD OF. YOUR FAMILIES
CAN BE PROUD. MY DAD WOULD BE SO
PROUD. IT IS HARD. I AM THAT
KID. I WAS THAT LOW INCOME KIDS.
MY PARENTS DIDN'T HAVE THE
EDUCATION. MY DAD AND MOM WERE
LIKE, YOU HAVE TO GET EDUCATED.
THAT IS HOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET
OUT OF POVERTY. WHEN I GRADUATED
FROM LAW SCHOOL, AND YOU'VE
HEARD ME SAY THIS, MY DAD WAS SO
STUNNED AND SO HAPPY, BECAUSE
HIS CHILD WOULD HAVE A BETTER
LIFE THAN HE HAD. THAT IS WHAT
THIS IS DOING FOR ALL THE KIDS
IN THE CITY, GIVING THEM A
CHANCE , THESE KIDS NEED A
CHANCE. THEY ALL NEED A CHANCE.
I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE, POST
PANDEMIC, THESE KIDS HAVE BEEN
THROUGH SO MUCH. NOW WITH THE
GUN VIOLENCE. THIS IS VERY
NEEDED. I KNOW IT IS A LOT TO
ASK VOTERS, BUT WE ARE DOING A
LOT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING
ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE DOLLARS. I
AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT
PASSING, AND THEN WORKING AGAIN
WITH ALL OF YOU TO PUSH THESE
INVESTMENTS FORWARD TO HELP
THESE KIDS. THANK YOU. I'M
SORRY I GOT EMOTIONAL. ALL
RIGHT. NO FURTHER BUSINESS
COMING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE, IT
IS 12:45 AND THE MEETING HAS
COME TO AN END. THANK YOU. I DO
WANT TO THANK MY STAFF , NICOLE
AND WENDY, FOR THE MANY LONG
HOURS THEY PUT IN PART I WANT TO
THANK CENTRAL STAFF, JASMINE,
AND I WANT TO THANK AMELIA AND
JODY. THEY ARE THE MOST AMAZING
CITY CLERKS . THEY ARE JUST
AMAZING. COULD NOT HAVE DONE ANY
OF THIS WITHOUT THEM. THANK YOU.
HOPEFULLY, I THANKED EVERYONE.
THANK YOU ALL. I LOST MY VOICE.