>>> GOOD AFTERNOON. SELECT
COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY
CHANGES WILL COME TO ORDER. IT
IS 2:06 P.M., I'M ALEXIS
MERCEDES RINCK, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, WILL YOU CALL THE
ROLL AND LET THE MEMBERS REFLECT
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON WILL BE
JOINING THE MEETING LATER.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> VICE CHAIR MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR RINK?
>> PRESENT. RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED. WELCOME EVERYONE TO
THE FIRST MEETING OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY
CHANGES. BEFORE WE MOVE INTO
BUSINESS, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
AGAIN COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON WILL
BE JOINING US LATER IN THE
MEETING. ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO
NOTE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND
SECOND PANEL AS A PART OF
TODAY'S PRESENTATION,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WILL BE
PRESENTING A SIGN-ON LETTER IN
SUPPORT OF OUR FEDERAL WORKERS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FOR
LEADING THIS AT A TIME WHEN
WORKERS WHO PROVIDE OUR
COMMUNITY WITH ESSENTIAL
SERVICES NEED TO HEAR CLEARLY
THAT WE HAVE THEIR BACK. AND
FINALLY WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY
FULL AGENDA TODAY. I WANT TO BE
VERY MINDFUL OF OUR PRESENTERS
AND ENSURE WE END ON TIME AS
POSSIBLE. I'LL ASK MY
COLLEAGUES TO SAVE QUESTIONS
UNTIL THE END OF EACH ROUND
TABLE AND PANEL DISCUSSION. AND
TO OUR PRESENTERS, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING COUNCIL
TODAY FOR THIS CRITICAL
DISCUSSION. I KNOW HOW PRECIOUS
YOUR TIME IS DURING NORMAL
CIRCUMSTANCES. I THINK WE ARE
WELL AWARE OUR CURRENT SITUATION
IS NOT NORMAL. I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE PREPARATION
WORK DONE BY EVERYONE TO ENSURE
TODAY RUNS SMOOTHLY AND TIMELY.
WHILE WE HAVE LIMITED TIME IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TODAY, REST
ASSURED THIS IS NOT OUR FINAL
CONVERSATION ON ANYTHING
DISCUSSED OVER THE NEXT FEW
HOURS. AND TO MY COLLEAGUES IN
TAKING ON THESE LOCAL LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS, WE ALL HAVE OUR CIVIC
RESPONSIBILITY AND PUBLIC DUTY
TO THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE TO
LISTEN AND ACT ACCORDINGLY
DURING TIMES LIKE THESE. AND I
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING UP HERE
WITH ME TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM
OUR COMMUNITY ON HOUR THEY ARE
BEING IMPACTED BY THE CRUEL
ACTIONS OF OUR CURRENT NATIONAL
LEADERSHIP. AND TO OUR NEIGHBORS
THAT CALL THIS CITY HOME, WHILE
I DO NOT INTEND TO STOKE FEAR OR
PLAY INTO POLITICAL THEATER, OUR
COMMUNITY IS BEING THREATENED
DAILY. AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS
ONE OF THE LAST LINES OF
DEFENSE. AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HAS A HISTORY OF LOUDLY FIGHTING
FOR OUR RIGHTS AND VALUES DURING
TUMULTUOUS TIMES. CITY COUNCIL
HAS PLAYED A ROLE TO LESSEN PAIN
WHENEVER POSSIBLE. BACK IN 2017,
THEY PASSED A PROCLAMATION ON
IMMIGRANT HEALTHCARE AND
RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE
INCLUDING REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTHCARE. AND IN 2022 AND A
POST-WORLD CITY COUNCIL PASSED
SIX PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO
SAFEGUARD AND PROTECT ABORTION
ACCESS. AND I HOPE TO WORK WITH
OUR CURRENT COUNCIL TO CONTINUE
TO FIGHT DURING SUCH CRITICAL
POINT IN AMERICAN HISTORY. AND
WHILE I REALLY DON'T WANT TO,
NOR DO WE HAVE THE TIME TO
ENTIRELY REHASH ALL OF THE DAILY
ACTIONS BY THE CURRENT FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION, I DO WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT SEVERAL LOCAL IMPACTS
AND REPORTS THAT HAVE CAUGHT OUR
ATTENTION. AND THESE INCLUDE,
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE
ONGOING DEMORALIZATION OF OUR
FEDERAL WORK FORCE ACROSS REGION
TEN, WHICH INCLUDES WASHINGTON
STATE, OREGON, IDAHO, AND
ALASKA. SO FAR IN REGION TEN
ALONE, 150 POSITIONS IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT, AND NEARLY 900
POSITIONS AT THE NATIONAL
OCEANIC ATMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING THE
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERY SERVICE
HAVE BEEN OR ARE IN THE PROCESS
OF BEING ELIMINATED. THE
POSSIBLE SALE OF THE HENRY M.
JACKSON BUILDING IN SEATTLE
FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING
DOWNTOWN, THE 1202 BUILDING AND
THE FEDERAL CENTER SOUTH
BUILDING, WHICH HOUSES THE LOCAL
OFFICES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES
INCLUDING THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS, THE INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICE, THE BUREAU OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS, AND THE UNITED STATES
SENATE AFTER BEING DEEMED NOT
CORE TO GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
AND THEN THERE ARE THE NUMEROUS
LOCAL COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN
REACHING OUT TO MY OFFICE,
FLAGGING THAT THEIR FEDERAL
GRANTS, LOANS OR CONTRACTS ARE
BEING FROZEN. AND THIS INCLUDES
ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS
WHO WE LEARNED LAST WEEK FROM
HUD OFFICIALS THERE, IS INTENT
TO TERMINATE THE NON-PROFIT
CAPACITY GRANT PROGRAMS. THIS
WILL IMPACT OUR HOUSING SERVICES
AND SYSTEM. JUST EARLIER THIS
WEEK, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
FLAGGING ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN
HER DISTRICT, LOSING FEDERAL
GRANT MONEY, WHICH LEADS TO
PROVIDING DIAPERS FOR YOUNG
FAMILIES IN NEED. AND FINALLY
WHILE WE'RE WAITING TO SEE THE
FISCAL IMPACT OF NEWLY
IMPLEMENTED TARIFFS AND THE
RETALIATORY TRADE WARS THAT ARE
LIKELY TO FOLLOW, THE IMPACTS ON
OUR CITY, PORT AND BUSINESSES,
OF ALL SIZES AND THE PEOPLE WHO
LIVE HERE. WE KNOW THINGS WILL
BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE IN OUR
COMMUNITY. THIS WILL IMPACT OUR
ABILITY TO BUILD HOUSING OF ALL
KINDS. ALL OF THIS ALONG WITH
TOPICS FROM ENERGY AND
UTILITIES, FOOD, NUTRITION
ACCESS, TRANSPORTATION, DISASTER
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL BE
IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY COLLEAGUES TO ADDRESS THESE
WILDLY VARYING ISSUES, ALL TO
PROTECT SEATTLE. AND MOVING INTO
TODAY'S BUSINESS, WE WILL HAVE
TWO PANELS. THE FIRST ON LGBTQ
AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ISSUES.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR
PANELISTS. THESE TOPICS WERE
CHOSEN AS THIS COMMITTEE'S
FIRST MEETING BECAUSE INDIVIDUAL
CIVIL LIBERTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS
ARE UNDER A DIRECT AND DAILY
ASSAULT. EARLIER THIS WEEK IN A
JOINT ADDRESS TO CONGRESS, WE
HEARD REPEATEDLY, WE REPEATEDLY
HEARD ANTI-TRANS AND
ANTI-IMMIGRANT RHETORIC MET WITH
CHEERS FROM SOME OF THE MOST
POWERFUL PEOPLE IN OUR NATION
FOR OVER 90 MINUTES. AND JUST
YESTERDAY WE WATCHED OUR
REPUBLICAN LED HOUSE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE ATTEMPT TO BERATE
MAYORS FOR SIX HOURS FOR
UPHOLDING THEIR OWN LOCAL AND
STATE LAWS, AND PROVIDING LOCAL
AND STATE LAWS AND PROVIDING
HUMAN SERVICES TO UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS INCLUDING THOSE
SEEKING ASYLUM. AND WE CANNOT
SIT IDLY BY AS LOCAL LEADERS AND
DO NOTHING. IN ADDITION TO
TODAY'S DISCUSSIONS, MY OFFICE
WILL BE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
GROUPS ON A VARIETY OF
LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS INCLUDING
ENHANCING PROTECTIONS FOR
REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER
AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE AND HELPING
CITY EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS BETTER UNDERSTAND RIGHTS
RELATED TO IMMIGRATION STATUS.
THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY DESERVE
LEADERS WHO WILL FIGHT
UNAPOLOGETICALLY FOR OUR VALUES
AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. AND ON THAT
NOTE, WE WILL NOW OPEN UP THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
TODAY'S AGENDA ITEMS OR WITHIN
THE PER VIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP FOR TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE
IN-PERSON SPEAKER SIGNED UP, AND
THERE ARE THREE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> WONDERFUL. EACH SPEAKER -- WE
WILL START WITH IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. CLERK, CAN YOU
PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 30
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN IN-PERSON AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR
TIME. SPEAKERS ARE MUTED IF THEY
HAVE NOT ENDED THEIR COMMENTS I
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN, AND WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. AND THE
FIRST IN-PERSON SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. I AM HERE AS A
CHILD OF IMGRANTS. I HAVE
EMOTIONAL SCARS FROM BEING GAY
IN A SPACE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
DID NOT CARE ABOUT ME. OVER THE
LAST FEW WEEKS, I HAVE SEEN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STRIP
IDENTITIES LIKE MINE FROM MY
RACE THROUGH THE ATTACKS AND TO
MY SEXUAL ORIENTATION. SEATTLE
HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR NEARLY TEN
YEARS. IT'S BEEN MY SANCTUARY,
IT'S BEEN MY SAFE SPACE, AND IT
IS WHERE I CAN BE WHO I AM WHEN
I LEAVE MY APARTMENTS, WHEN I
WALK THE STREETS, WHEN I'M IN
THE TRAIN, WHEN I'M IN PUBLIC.
I REALLY WANT THE CITY COUNCIL
TO NOT JUST LISTEN, BUT PLEASE
ACT AND BE THE LAST BARRIER FOR
MANY. WE'RE AT AN ERA WHERE WE
ARE IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
2.0. WE ARE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE
MOVE TO SEATTLE FOR GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE. TO BE ABLE TO
HOLD HANDS AND LOVE WHO THEY
WANT TO LOVE. SO I DO ASK AS WE
LISTEN TO THIS PRESENTATION FROM
BOTH THE IMMIGRANTS AND THE
LGBTQ+ ON PRODUCTIVE HEALTH, THE
CITY COUNCIL TAKE THAT INTO
ACCOUNT AND PASS LEGISLATIVE
BILLS THAT WILL PROTECT AND
SECURE SAFETY, PHYSICAL,
EMOTIONAL, VERBAL, AND IN EVERY
WAY MAKE SEATTLE THE CITY IT IS
MEANT TO BE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW. AND OUR
NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTER.
>> MAYBE I COULD DO THIS ONE.
HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND
TAKING UP THE SPACE. IT IS SUPER
IMPORTANT. I THINK WE SAW THIS
WEEK AN AMAZING MAYOR, MICHELE
WU FROM BOSTON STEP UP. AND MY
MAIN CONCERN IS IN THE ORDINANCE
IF THE LANGUAGE WILL BE A
WELCOMING CITY OR A SANCTUARY
CITY. AND WITH A THAT MEANS FOR
OUR IMMIGRANT FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ALSO BEING
ATTACKED BY I.C.E. AND AS A
TRANS NON-BINARY PERSON, WE SAW
IN THE 90s PEOPLE FLED TO
SEATTLE TO DECENTLY DIE DURING
THE AIDS EPIDEMIC. THIS CITY HAS
BEEN A HOME TO QUEER PEOPLE FOR
A VERY LONG TIME. I THINK EVEN
THE SEATTLE TIMES PUBLISHED THAT
WE HAVE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE
OF SAME-SEX COUPLES. MY ACT IS
NOT TO SIMPLY PUT THEM IN THERE
AND SIT THERE, BUT FUEL FROM THE
INSIDE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OF
THE CITY AND OF IT HAD REGION TO
SET A PRECEDENT FOLLOWING
TACOMA, OLYMPIA, OTHERS. WE ARE
SEEING TRANS KIDS GET ATTACKED
IN TUMWATER. AND SO I REALLY
LOOK TO EACH ONE OF YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, KETTLE,
MOORE, STRAUSS, RINCK, TO STEP
UP. JOY, I SAW YOU ON ZOOM.
EVERYONE HERE IN OUR SOCIETY AND
THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY ARE RELYING
ON YOU. THANK YOU FOR TAKING
THIS UP. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING TO VIRTUAL
COMMENTERS. LET'S SEE, REMOTE
COMMENTERS. PARDON ME. THE FIRST
REMOTE SPEAKER.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX WHEN YOU
HEAR THE PROMPT. YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED. AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO. OKAY. HELLO. FULL
CREDIT AND A THANK YOU TO EACH
PRESENTATION ON THE DOCKET
TODAY. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME
OF THEIR STRONGEST CALLS TO
ACTION. FIRST, THE CITY COUNCIL
HAS UNINTENTIONALLY SUPPORTED
POLICIES THAT HARM TRANS AND
NON-BINARY COMMUNITIES LIKE
SPANNING PUNITIVE LAW AND ORDER
MEASURES. THESE POLICIES MIRROR
THE ADMINISTRATION'S AGGRESSIVE
APPROACH TO CRIMINALIZE
HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY, SEX WORK,
AND DRUG USE. DEEPENING FEAR AND
DISCRIMINATION. AND ALSO
ESTABLISH A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
EQUITY FUND TO SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES WITH THE HIGHEST
BARRIERS TO REPRODUCTIVE CARE.
AUDIT THE CITY'S CONTRACT TO
ENSURE PUBLIC FUNDING IS NOT
SPENT ON INSTITUTIONS THAT
RESTRICT POLICIES ON ABORTION.
AND FINALLY, INVEST IN A
WELCOMING IMMIGRANT AND
INCLUSION PROGRAM. AND WORK
FORCE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS
IMMIGRANT PROTECTIONS SUCH AS
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND TRAININGS.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THAT
DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH. THANK
YOU, AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU, ALBERTO. OUR NEXT
REMOTE SPEAKER IS ASHLEY FORD.
ASHLEY, PLEASE PRESS SIX WHEN
YOU HEAR THE PROMPT. YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED.
>> HEY, EVERYONE, MY NAME IS
ASHLEY FORD. I SERVE AS ONE OF
THE THREE VOLUNTEER COCHAIRS FOR
THE SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION. ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, I
WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A HEARTFELT
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN
ATTENDANCE TODAY. WE WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR
HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING SO
SOON AFTER BEING ELECTED, AND
FOR CREATING THE SPACE TODAY FOR
LGBTQ VOICES TO BE HEARD. IN THE
PAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE SEEN
CRUEL, MISINFORMED, TARGETED
ATTACKS ON THE QUEER COMMUNITY.
AND WITH A RAZOR SHARP FOCUS ON
TRANS AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING
FOLKS. EVEN IN SEATTLE, WE HAVE
NOT BEEN IMMUNED TO THESE
ATTACKS AS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY.
SEEING MANY LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
WHO ARE SCARED OF LOSING THEIR
FUNDING TAKING ACTIONS. THEY ARE
ALREADY CAUSING DIRECT HARM TO
OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU TO
THOSE OF YOU SITTING ON THIS
COMMITTEE. THOSE OF YOU TAKING
TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES
FOR BEING HERE. WE SEE YOU, AND
WE'RE COMMITTED TO KEEPING
THESE CONVERSATIONS GOING. WE
WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE HERE
TODAY INCLUDING THOSE OF YOU ON
COUNCIL TO OUR NEXT PUBLIC LGBTQ
COMMISSION MEETING. IT'S
HAPPENING TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY
ON THURSDAY, MARCH 20, FROM 6:30
TO 8:30 P.M. AND THE SPACE FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT YOU DON'T
HAVE TO COMMENT TO ATTEND. AND
THESE MEETINGS HAPPEN IN PERSON
AND VIRTUALLY. AND THEY ARE
ACCESSIBLE. YOU CAN GO TO
SEATTLE.GOV/LGBTQ TO LEARN MORE.
WE WANT TO THANK THE PRESENTERS
SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
LGBTQ ISSUES WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
WE TRULY CAN'T SHOW ENOUGH
APPRECIATION FOR YOUR ADVOCACY,
VISIBILITY, AND EFFORTS DURING
THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ASHLEY. OUR LAST
REMOTE SPEAKER, DAVID HAINES.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX WHEN YOU
HEAR THE PROMPT. YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED.
>> DRAMA, NOTHING, BUT DRAMA.
THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD CHANGE ITS
NAME TO THE COMMITTEE OF VOTING
BLOCKS FOR PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS
THAT CAUSED TRUMP TO GET ELECTED
WITH THE MANDATE TO PURGE THE
DEVIANT RACIST EXPERIENCES,
DUMPING THEIR TRAUMA ONTO
EVERYONE ELSE, WHILE CONSPIRING
TO PREVENT CHILDREN AND
MISINTERPRETATION OF
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. WHILE
EXEMPTIONS FOR JAILS, FOR CRIMES
AGAINST HUMANITY, IT SEEMS TO BE
THE EXTENT OF THE PLATFORM IN
THE SPECIFIC NORTHWEST. USING
TAX DOLLARS TO BUY UP ACTIVISTS.
MAYBE WE NEED THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE TO FINALLY INVESTIGATE
SEATTLE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES,
POLICIES, AND PRIORITIES THAT
ARE A SWEAT TO INNOCENT CHILDREN
AND THE COMMUNITY. MAYBE SOME OF
YOU WILL GET MENTAL HEALTH FOR
YOUR TRAUMA, AND NOW YOU WANT
THE DUMP ON OTHER PEOPLE WHILE
NON-PROFITS THAT HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN ELECTING PROGRESSIVE
DEMOCRATS ARE SHOWING UP AND
JUST BRING THEIR DEMOCRAT PARTY
OFF AND START PAYING THEM OFF,
WHILE THE ECONOMY IS TAKING THE
DEBT CAUSED BY TREASONOUS,
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BOTTOM OF THE
BARREL POLICIES THAT ALL THESE
DEVIL'S ADVOCATES CONSPIRE. YOU
HAVE ALL DONE DAMAGE IN TRADING
THE INTEGRITY OF OVERSIGHT WITH
TAX MONEY, TRYING TO SOLVE A
HOMELESS CRISIS THAT CREATES
YOUR RE-ELECTION APPARATUS. YOU
ALL NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED. ANY
MONEY FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS,
ESPECIALLY AN AMERICAN WHO
FUNNELS MONEY TO THE PERSON WHO
STARTED IT, A RACIST WHO DID A
DISSERVICE TO THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST, AND SHOULD BE KICKED
OUT.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR REMOTE
SPEAKERS. WE HAVE ONE FINAL
IN-PERSON SPEAKER.
>> WELL, THAT WAS TERRIBLE AND
ALSO A GREAT REASON THAT WE NEED
TO HAVE THIS COMMITTEE. AND SO I
JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
I WORK IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
I'M A QUEER WOMAN, WHO LOVES
WORKING AND LIVING IN THE CITY.
HAVING THIS PLACE TO COME AND
YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN SUCH A
RESOURCE TO TALK THROUGH SOME OF
THE IMPACTS ON OUR DEVELOPERS,
YOU KNOW, OUR NON-PROFITS. AND
JUST LIKE THE LEVEL OF CONFUSION
AND FEAR WE FEEL IS SO
AFFIRMING. SO THANK YOU FOR
DOING THAT. AND ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, WE LOVE YOU
TOO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL
OF YOUR WORK IN THE HOUSING
SPACE. BUT I JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT AGAIN AND JUST THANK
YOU FOR DOING THIS, AND THANK
YOU FOR CREATING A SPACE FOR US
ALL TO COME AND, KNOW, BE
ABLE TO PROCESS HORRIBLE, SCARY
STUFF LIKE THAT, AND REALLY FEEL
LIKE WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT. SO I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS,
AND WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO OUR
ITEMS OF BUSINESS. LET'S SEE,
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST
ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 1 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEM 1, LESBIAN, GAY,
BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND
QUEER, AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
ISSUES FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> FABULOUS, AT THIS TIME I'LL
INVITE OUR INVESTORS TODAY TO
PLEASE JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
AS YOU'RE ALL GETTING SETTLED
IN, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE. IF YOU COULD EACH TAKE A
MOMENT TO PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF BY STATING YOUR FULL
NAME, ORGANIZATION INTO THE
MICROPHONE FOR THE RECORD. THANK
YOU.
>> IS IT THIS ON? HI, I'M
COURTNEY NORMAN, SHE/HER
PRONOUNS, I'M WASHINGTON
DIRECTOR FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
>> I'M SAMI ALLOY, SHE/HER
PRONOUNS, I'M THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR OF PRO-CHOICE
WASHINGTON.
>> I'M JAELYNN SCOTT, SHE/HER
PRONOUNS, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF
LAVENDER RIGHTS PROJECT.
>> I'M TAYLOR FARLEY AT QUEER
POWER ALLIANCE. AND I USE
THEY/THEM PRONOUNS.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. AND
COLLEAGUES, JUST AS A REMINDER,
WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE ALL THE
PRESENTATIONS TOGETHER, SO I
WILL ASK FOR YOU TO HOLD OUR
QUESTIONS UNTIL WE COMPLETED ALL
THE QUESTIONS FOR TODAY. AND I
BELIEVE LAVENDER RIGHTS PROJECT
IS KICKING US OFF?
>> SURE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE INVITATION. IT IS SO GREAT
TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. AND LRP
WAS FOUNDED IN 2016, RIGHT HERE
IN SEATTLE. WE ARE ONE OF THE
LARGEST BLACK TRANS
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY,
HEADQUARTERED RIGHT DOWN THE
STREET. WE FOCUS ON POLICY
HOUSING SERVICE AND IMPACT
LITIGATION, FIGHTING FOR
SOLUTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE BLACK
COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR. WE'RE
CURRENTLY AT 12 NATIONAL ROUND
TABLES, FIGHTING FOR SOLUTIONS
TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST PROJECT
2025. THOUGH SEATTLE IS FAR FROM
SAFE AND A SANCTUARY FOR OUR
PEOPLE, YET IT IS FAR AHEAD OF
MANY PLACES. AND IT SAYS A LOT
THAT OUR ORGANIZATION EXISTS
HERE. TRANS PEOPLE ARE NOT A
SINGLE ISSUE PEOPLE. REALLY
THINKING ABOUT OTHERS THAT WE
HEAR ALL THE TIME. THERE IS NO
SUCH THING AS A SINGLE ISSUE
STRUGGLE BECAUSE WE DO NOT LIVE
SINGLE ISSUED LIVES. LET'S
GROUND OURSELVES IN THE FACT
THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST
IMPACTED BY THESE EXECUTIVE
ORDERS AND THE WORK OF THE
EXTREME RIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE VERY BLACK. THEY EXIST IN
THE SOUTH, WHERE MOST OF OUR
PEOPLE LIVE, ESPECIALLY LATINO
TRANS FOLKS, ESPECIALLY NATIVE
TRANS PEOPLE. THOSE FOLKS WILL
BE THE ONES COMING HERE SEEKING
CARE AND RELIEF IT IN SEATTLE.
THIS NEW SCALE HITS US
DIFFERENTLY, TARGETING US
DIRECTLY. I WANT TO TOUCH REAL
QUICKLY. IT'S NOT JUST A
SYNONYM FOR DIVERSITY, BUT IT IS
MISOGYNY AGAINST BLACK WOMEN AND
ANTI-BLACKNESS, USING IT AS A
STRATEGY TO ENTIRE
COMMUNITY. IT'S WHAT WE NEED TO
LOOK AT NOW, ESPECIALLY WHO IS
BEING IMPACTED. WHEN LOOKING AT
THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, THE BAN
FOR YOUTH AND LIKELY FOR ADULTS
IN THE FUTURE. THE MILITARY BAN,
WHICH POSSIBLY IMPACTS DOD
EMPLOYEES, ONE OF THE LARGEST
EMPLOYERS OF TRANS AND QUEER
PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE
CRIMINALIZATION OF OUR
ORGANIZATIONS. BANNED ON GENDER
AFFIRMING CARES AND FOR THE
UNHOUSES. AND OTHER MEASURES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THEY WILL
THREATEN US AND THE COMMUNITY
THAT WE WORK WITH. WHAT COLORS
ARE THE TRANS PEOPLE WHO WILL BE
DETAINED FIRST, WHO WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
LAWS THAT I KNOW THE CITY IS
CONSIDERING IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON HAS PASSED. ONE OF MY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ASKED ME TO
SAY THIS WHEN I GOT HERE. WE
WANT OUR HORMONES, YES, BUT WE
ALSO DON'T WANT TO GO TO JAIL
AND BE PROFILED AS A SEX WORKER
JUST FOR EXISTING AS A TRANS
PERSON ON THE STREET. IT IS
BEING MADE
IS MAKING MOVES IN OUR
PROGRESSIVE CIRCLE. THERE'S
REAL CONCERN OF A CRIME IN OUR
COMMUNITY. WE HAVE LOST MEMBERS,
EVEN IN CAP L TO HILL DOWN OUR
OFFICE. YES, TO SOME EXTENT,
THIS NARRATIVE IS ROOTED IN A
BIT OF TRUTH. BUT IT IS INTENDED
TO PUSH FORWARD AND RIGHT
EXTREME RIGHT AGENDA. OUR
BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING. OUR
FOLKS ARE BEING KILLED. THAT'S
REAL. BUT THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO
UNWITTINGLY BE COMPLICIT OF THE
RIDES OF OVERSURVEILLANCE AND
CRIMINALIZATION THAT WILL
FURTHER THE PROJECT OF 2025. AND
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE LAW FOR
THE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE BILL
FOR THE FIX THAT'S HAPPENING IN
THE STATE AND THE SOLUTIONS
BEING CONSIDERED IN THE CITY.
BUT WE NEED TO BE ASKING THE
QUESTION OF HOW ARE THE LAWS
PROTECTING THE WEALTHY OVER THE
POOR. HOW IS THE GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE ACCESS NOT
ADDRESSING THE GROWING DISPARITY
OF GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. AND HOW ARE THE
FIXES TO THINGS LIKE 2081, AND
THE ADOPTION OF SEATTLE
PROTECTIONS PROTECTING TRANS
FOLKS OF COLOR, NOT ADDRESSING
THE ONGOING CRISIS OF
CRIMINALIZATION AND HEALTHCARE
DISPARITIES WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITY. 50% OF TRANSGENDER
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE MISTREATMENT
IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM,
SEEKING TRANSFERS OF COLOR. 67%
OF TRANS GENDER AND NON-BINARY
YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE DEPRESSION,
EXPERIENCED DEPRESSION, 71%
BLACK TRANS FOLKS. 46% OF TRANS
AND NON-BINARY YOUNG PEOPLE
CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE,
59%. GIVEN THE CURRENT CRISIS
AND THAT THE SIGNS ARE SHOWING
THAT THE DISPARITIES,
DEPRESSION, OF OUR YOUTH IS
INCREASING. IMAGINE WHAT THAT IS
DOING TO BLACK COMMUNITY. AND AN
INCREASE FROM 71% IS
CATASTROPHIC. PLEASE, AS WE
CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS,
AND I HOPE THIS IS THE
BEGINNING, THAT WE REMEMBER
IT'S THE BLACK BELT TRANS
FOLKS, THE ONES WHO WILL BE
COMING HERE NEEDING HELP. THAT
WE'RE AT RISK. 31% OF US IN THE
LAST FIVE YEARS HAVE BEEN
INCARCERATED. AND THAT STATE
CONTROL OVER OUR BODIES PUTS US
AT GREATER RISK BY THIS
ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JAELYNN.
>> HI, I'M THE LEAD ATTORNEY.
AND SO IN A TIME WHEN THE
ADMINISTRATION, THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION IS SEEKING TO
ROLL BACK TRANS LEGAL RIGHTS,
HISTORY, CRIMINALIZING OUR
COMMUNITY. WE REALLY NEED OUR
CITY COUNCIL TO BE FOCUSING OUR
RIGHTS MORE THAN EVER. AS A
TRANS INDIGENOUS ATTORNEY WHO
WORKS FOR LAVENDER RIGHTS
PROJECT AND A FORMER PUBLIC
DEFENDER. I'M SEEING THE
EXTREME HARMFUL IMPACT FIRSTHAND
THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS
HAVING ON OUR COMMUNITIES. I'VE
ALSO BEEN SEEING IT FOR A VERY
LONG TIME. AND SO THE HARM THAT
IS HAPPENING TO OUR COMMUNITIES
INCLUDES EVERYTHING THAT MS
JAELYNN SCOTT MENTIONED. IT ALSO
INCLUDES ISSUES LIKE
HOMELESSNESS, HOUSELESSNESS THAT
HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
TODAY IS WE'RE NOT TRYING TO
POINT FINGERS HERE IN THE SENSE
OF WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
REAL PROBLEMS, AND WE NEED REAL
SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES SUCH AS
HOUSELESSNESS, DRUG ADDICTION,
CRIMINALIZATION. AND WHAT WE
NEED IS NUANCE AND COMPLEX
SOLUTIONS. NOT THE SOLUTIONS
THAT ARE EASY. AND THAT IS WHY
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS, SO WE COULD
HOPEFULLY GET ON THE SAME PAGE.
I'M NOT HERE TRYING TO BLAME
ANYONE FOR TRYING TO HAVE ACTION
TO MAKE IT SAFER. BUT HOWEVER,
THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT
SINCE A
VIGIL EVERY YEAR OF MY LIFE
SINCE I WAS 13 YEARS OLD FOR A
TRANS COMMUNITY MEMBER. I CAN
TELL YOU THAT THE SOLUTION ARE
NOT EASY, THEY'RE HARD. THEY
INCLUDE SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS FOR
POVERTY, FOR HOUSELESSNESS,
HOMELESSNESS, DRUG ADDICTION,
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. AND WE
HAVE THOSE TOOLS. WE CAN USE
THEM TOGETHER. I'M ASKING YOU
ALL TO CONSIDER THAT BECAUSE
ANOTHER STATISTIC, WHICH MAY OR
MAY NOT BE TRUE, ESPECIALLY
TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR WILL HAVE A
LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 25 YEARS. I
DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER MANY
OF US WILL BE HERE AT THIS
TABLE. AND SO WHAT I'M SAYING
IS WE NEED SOLUTIONS THAT CAN
NOT HAVE REGRESSIVE POLICIES.
NOT INCLUDE THE HOMELESSNESS,
THE SOAP SODA, AND AGAIN, NOT
POINTING FINGERS. BUT THOSE ARE
NOT GOING TO HELP US FROM BEING
MURDERED. THIS WILL BE A TRIGGER
WARNING, BUT TWO BLOCKS FROM OUR
OFFICE, A YOUNG TRANS NON-BINARY
PERSON WAS MURDERED JUST A MONTH
AGO. SIX MONTHS AGO, A YOUNG
TRANS PERSON WAS MURDERED TWO
BLOCKS AWAY AS WELL. AGAIN, I
HAVE ATTENDED A VIGIL EVERY YEAR
OF MY LIFE, SOMETIMES AS MANY AS
FIVE. WHAT'S GOING TO HELP IS
COMPLEX SOLUTIONS, CENTERING
COMMUNITY AND ANTI-POVERTY WORK.
CENTERING TREATMENT, CENTERING
SERVICES. THANK YOU.
>> HI, I'M COURTNEY NORMAN,
WHICH IS A 501C4 ORGANIZATION
REPRESENTING FOUR DIFFERENT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTHCARE
ENTITIES ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE
AND FIVE OTHER STATES. I REALLY,
REALLY APPRECIATE GETTING TO GO
AFTER LAVENDER RIGHTS PROJECT,
JUST HONOR THE WORK YOU ALL DO.
I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH. WHAT
I HOPE TO SHARE TODAY IS MORE OF
AN UPDATE FROM A HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE
ANTICIPATED UNFOLDING ATTACKS
THAT WE ARE SEEING FROM THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND MY GOOD
FRIEND, SAMMY, WHO CAN KIND OF
ROUND THINGS OUT FROM WHAT THEY
COULD DO ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS.
AND I REALLY HOPE WE COULD
EXPLORE HOW IT IS NOT JUST OUR
RIGHTS THAT WE NEED TO BE
EMBRACING AND FOCUSING ON, BUT
ACCESS. WHAT DO THOSE RIGHTS
MEAN IF WE DON'T HAVE SAFE
COMMUNITIES AND WE DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO THE HEALTHCARE THAT WE
NEED? AND SO THERE ARE SIX CORE
ANTICIPATED THREATS THAT WE FEEL
ARE MOST IMMINENT FROM THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT COMES TO
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND SEXUAL
HEALTH. AND THE FIRST ONE IS A
TEXT THROUGH THE TITLE 10 FAMILY
PLANNING PROGRAM THAT IS KIND OF
A RERUN OF WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT
FROM THE FIRST TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION. THERE'S A
DEFUND GAG RULE OF OUR PLANNING
PROGRAM. THE EFFORT WAS TO
CHANGE THE RULE, SO THEY COULD
NOT BE DISCUSSED, YOU COULD NOT
BE A PART OF THE PLANNING
PROGRAM. AS YOU MAY RECALL,
WASHINGTON IS ONE OF THOSE MANY
STATES THAT WILL EXIT THE TITLE
10 PROGRAM AND ABLE TO BACK FILL
THE FUNDS THEY WERE NO LONGER
PROVIDING. THE SECOND THREAT IS
TRULY ONE OF THOSE THAT WILL BE
TO EXCLUDE OUR ORGANIZATIONS
FROM MEDICAID FUNDING. AND BEING
ABLE TO TAKE THEIR COVERAGE TO A
PROVIDER. IT'S OUR EXISTENCE,
EXCLUDING US FROM THE PROGRAM
OVERALL. THIS COULD BE DONE
THROUGH THE RULE MAKING, YOU
KNOW, BY INTERPRETING THE STATUE
IN A WAY THAT WILL DISQUALIFY
THOSE PROVIDERS, OR THEY COULD
BE THE POSSIBILITY OF BROADER
CONGRESSIONAL HAD ACTION AND THE
TAXPAYERS ACT THAT WILL MAKE IT
ILLEGAL FOR ANY ENTITY TO
PROVIDE ABORTION CARE EXCEPT FOR
VERY LIMITED CASES. AND JUST
GETTING A SENSE OF IT ABOUT 40%
OF ALL PLANNED PARENTHOOD ARE
MEDICAID PATIENT AND FOR THE
ABILITY TO BE SAFETY NET,
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AT ALL IN
WASHINGTON, ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD
ABOUT IT BEFORE AND IT IS A
PROGRAM THAT WILL MAKE IT BY
MAKING SURE NON-PROFIT
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS CAN ACCESS
DRUGS AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE AND
BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT MORE
ACCESSIBLE TO OUR PATIENTS. THEY
LAID THAT OUT AS ONE OF THEIR
BLUEPRINT IDEAS OF A WAY TO
AGAIN STRIP ACCESS TO
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, NOT
ONLY THROUGH THE TITLE TEN
PROGRAM, BUT ALSO THROUGH THE
CDC'S SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED
DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM. IF
YOU'RE KEEPING COUNT WITH ME,
ALREADY UNFOLDING, BANNING
COVERAGE OF GENDER AFFIRMING
CARE. THE WE ARE JUST VERY PROUD
PROVIDERS, WHERE WE WILL
CONTINUE TO OFFER THIS CARE NO
MATTER WHAT, AND WE WILL NOT
PROACTIVELY CONSENT TO WHAT
WE'RE SEEING AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE
YOU AWARE THAT PATIENTS COULD BE
BARRED FROM ACCESSING CARE WITH
US, WHICH WILL HELP THE THREAT
THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH
DISPARITIES AND ACCESS ACCORDING
TO YOUR INCOME. AND OF COURSE,
WE THINK PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT
THIS A LOT DURING THE ELECTION,
AND THE NATIONAL ABORTION BAN IS
A VERY REAL THREAT. AND SOME
FOLKS MAY THINK WE'RE SAFE HERE
IN WASHINGTON, BUT SINCE THE
DOBBS LOCATION, WE HAVE LOST OUR
FEDERAL RIGHT TO ABORTION CARE.
AND WE DO BELIEVE THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION COULD TRY TO
ENACT THE ABORTION BAN AND IN A
NUMBER OF WAYS. ONE, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, IT WILL BE CONGRESS
PASSING THE FEDERAL ABORTION
BAN, WHERE THEY WILL PROBABLY
CALL IT RESTRICTIONS, BUT MAKE
NO MISTAKE, IT WILL BE A BAN.
AND A SECOND ATTEMPT WOULD BE
THROUGH INTERPRETING A VERY OLD
1,800 LAW, THE ACT TO MAKE IT
ILLEGAL TO TRANSMIT SUPPLIES OR
TRANSPORT MATERIAL AND
MEDICATION AND SO ON ACROSS
STATE BORDERS TO BE ABLE TO
OFFER ABORTION CARE. SPEAKING OF
MEDICATION ABORTION, THE LAST
ATTACK AS YOU SAW IN RECENT
YEARS, ACCESS TO MEDICATION
ABORTION WILL ALSO BE TARGETED
BY WEAPONIZING THE FDA. THE
PROJECT CALLS FOR THE OVERALL
REPLICATION OF THE DRUGS, AND
THEY COULD JUST TRY TO TO TURN
SAMMY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HEARING FROM ME, AND I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE YOU WERE AWARE OF THE
FEDERAL LEVEL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE TODAY AND CONVENING THIS
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. I WORK
WITH PRO-CHOICE WASHINGTON,
WHERE WE ARE POWERED BY THE
VOICES OF 26,000 MEMBERS TO WORK
TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THE FULL
RANGE OF REPRODUCTIVE OPTIONS OF
ABORTION CARE AND GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE THROUGH ADVOCACY
AND ORGANIZING FOR
WASHINGTONIANS AND THE PEOPLE
WHO TRAVEL TO OUR STATE TO
RECEIVE THAT CARE. WE'VE HEARD
FROM COUNTLESS PATIENTS,
PROVIDERS WHO ARE FEELING FEAR
AND POWER LESSONS OF THE FUTURE
TO THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. AS
AN EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER IN THE FIRST
MONTH IN OFFICE HAVE ALREADY
SHOWN CHAOS, CAUSING IMMEDIATE
HARM TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
ON JANUARY 28, PRESIDENT TRUMP
ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
ORDERING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
TO CEASE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE
OR RISK LOSING THE FEDERAL
FUNDING AND MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID PARTICIPATION
ELIGIBILITY THAT MY COLLEAGUE,
COURTNEY, MENTIONED. IN
RESPONSE, THE HOSPITAL
IMMEDIATELY CANCELED ALL
EXISTING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE
APPOINTMENTS FOR YOUTH AND
NOTIFIED STAFF OF UPCOMING
LAYOFFS. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
VERY QUICKLY SUED FOR THE
CONTEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER,
GRANTED LATER ON THAT WEEK BY
THE FEDERAL JUDGE. BUT FOR MANY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE IMMEDIATE
HARM HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE.
MEMBERS OF THE ONLINE SEATTLE
PARENTS OF TRANS KIDS GROUPS
REPORTED THAT THEIR CHILDREN'S
UPCOMING APPOINTMENTS HAD
DISAPPEARED OFF THE PATIENT
PORTAL WITH LITTLE TO NO
INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION
FROM THEIR PROVIDERS, CAUSING
PANIC AND CONFUSION. AS JAELYNN
MENTIONED, MANY TRANS YOUTH
EXPERIENCED NEGATIVE MENTAL
HEALTH OUTCOMES BECAUSE OF
ANTI-TRANS BIGOTRY AND GENDER
DYSPHORIA, AND RELY ON GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE AS ESSENTIAL AND
LIFE SAFROM
AT LEAST TWO FAMILIES THAT
REPORTED BEING SERIOUSLY WORRIED
ABOUT THEIR CHILD IN THAT WEEK.
SO THIS STRATEGY WITH LOSS OF
FEDERAL FUNDING AND THE PROGRAMS
HAVE ALREADY BEEN USED TO TARGET
THE TRANS COMMUNITY, THOSE
PERCEIVED TO HAVE BENEFITED FROM
DEI PROGRAMS, IMMIGRANTS, AND
MANY OTHERS. WE EXPECT THE SAME
TOPICS WILL BE USED TO ABORTION
CARE AND SHUTTER THE
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CLINICS. NO
MATTER HOW THEY ARE AND IF
PROVIDERS ARE UNABLE TO
FUNCTION, ACCESS TO CARE WILL
VANISH. THEY'RE ESSENTIAL LIFE
SAVING CARE. WHEN ACCESS TO CARE
IS DESTABILIZED BY THE UNLAWFUL
ACTION BY THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION, OUR COMMUNITY
EXPERIENCED THAT IMMEDIATE HARM
AND CONSEQUENCE. AND THIS HARM
IS ONLY MAGNIFIED FOR IMMIGRANT,
REFUGEE, ASYLUM SEEKERS, LOW
INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FOR THE
REASON THAT MY COLLEAGUE
MENTIONED. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT
THE LOOMING THREAT, WHERE THAT
IS A VERY PLAUSIBLE AND
WELL-FOUNDED FEAR AND THREAT.
BUT FOR NOW, WASHINGTON REMAINS
ONE OF THE MOST PROTECTIVE
STATES IN THE NATION FOR
ABORTION AND GENDER ATERMING
CARE, PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS.
BUT THE PROVIDERS ARE STRETCHED
VERY THIN. AND LOW MEDICAID
REIMBURSEMENT RAIDS AND LACK OF
FUNDING AND AN INCREASE IN
PATIENTS THAT ARE TRAVELING TO
OUR COMMUNITIES FOR CARE HAVE
PUT AN IMPOSSIBLE BURDEN ON OUR
PROVIDERS, OUR CLINICS. SO THEY
NEED A ROBUST INVESTMENT OF
PUBLIC FUNDING TO SUSTAIN
OPERATIONS AND SUSTAIN THE
SHOCKS TO OUR SYSTEM CAUSED BY
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. AND SO
WHAT CAN THE CITY OF SEATTLE DO
TO HELP? WE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY
FIND CREATIVE FUNDING SOLUTIONS
TO BACK FILL THE LOSSES OF
FEDERAL FUNDING. AND A COUPLE OF
WAYS THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN
WOULD BE BY IMPLEMENTING
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FUND SIMILAR
TO WHAT THE STATE OF OREGON
WOULD HAVE, WHICH DISPERSES
FUNDS TO CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE
COMMUNITY BASED CARE PROVIDERS.
WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT A ROBUST
PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PUBLIC
HEALTH INFORMATION THAT WILL
INCLUDE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE
NON-STIGMATIZING AND MEDICALLY
ACCURATE INFORMATION ON HOW TO
ACCESS CARE AND KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
IN WASHINGTON. TARGETED
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IT IN
PARTICULAR. TO HELP PATIENTS
AVOID ANTI-ABORTION, FAKE
CLINICS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS. SOME
EXAMPLES OF GREAT PUBLIC HEALTH
RESOURCES THAT WILL EXIST ARE
THE ABORTION ACCESS HUB AND
PRO-CHOICE GUIDE, WHICH I
PICTURED ON MY SLIDE THERE.
ANOTHER FUNDING OPTION IS TO
AUDIT THE FUNDS THAT OUR CITY
SPENDS ON CONTRACTS AND TAX
BREAKS, TO ENSURE NO PUBLIC
DOLLARS ARE GOING TO HEALTH
SYSTEMS THAT HAVE DISCRIMINAL
THAT TOUR RESTRICTIONS ON GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE AND ABORTION
BECAUSE OF THEIR PARENT
COMPANY'S POLICIES, AND TO
REDIRECT ALL THE CARE THAT THEY
SEEK. AND THEN IN TERMS OF LEGAL
PROTECTIONS FOR OUR PATIENTS AND
PROVIDERS, WE ADVOCATE FOR FULLY
IMPLEMENTING AND COLLABORATING
WITH OUR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
ON WASHINGTON'S STATE SHIELD
LAW. WE HAVE ONE OF THE
STRONGEST STATE SHIELD LAWS IN
THE NATION. AND OUR GUIDANCE IS
THAT CONSISTENTLY IMPLEMENTING
OUR STATEWIDE LAW ACROSS THE
CITIES ARE THE BEST PROTECTION
FOR PATIENTS, YOU KNOW. MANY OF
THE CARE PROVIDERS THAT SEATTLE
PATIENTS WOULD USE ARE OUTSIDE
THE CITY OF SEATTLE LIKE THE
RIVER, THE CLINIC. AS MUCH AS I
THINK THE CITY SHIELD LAW IS AN
EFFORT, I THINK THAT STATE
ATTORNEY GENERALS IN THIS TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION AND THE LAST ONE
HAVE PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE
STRONGEST WORKS AGAINST THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. AND I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
COLLABORATING WITH OUR ATTORNEY
GENERAL TO IMPLEMENT THAT LAW
AND PROTECT OUR PATIENTS. AND
THEN ALSO ALIGNING WITH OUR
SHIELD LAW MEANS USING THE BEST
DATA PRIVACY PRACTICES,
INCLUDING CURTAILING SEATTLE
RESIDENTS AND USING AUTOMATIC
LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION
SOFTWARE. AND OF THAT STATE. AND
AS CITY AGENCIES, AND AND THOSE
NUMBERS. AND ENSURE THEY ARE
FULLY UPDATED, SO WE COULD POINT
TO THE LOCAL MUNICIPAL LAWS AND
THE WINDS OF THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION CAUSED
INSTABILITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING -- FOR SAYING SO MANY
AMAZING THINGS. AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN LISTENING
AND PAYING ATTENTION. AND IT IS
A LOT OF INFORMATION. OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE AT RISK AT THIS
POINT. AGAIN, I'M TAYLOR, I'M
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LETTING US
BE HERE AND GIVING US THIS
OPPORTUNITY AND CREATING AND
ESTABLISHING A SELECT COMMITTEE
FOR THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.
AND I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT
JAELYNN HAD SAID. WHEN WE'RE
PROTECTING TWO SPIRIT LGBTQ+
COMMUNITIES, WE ARE PROTECTING
ALL COMMUNITIES. AND SO WHEN
YOU'RE LISTENING TO THIS,
DON'T LISTEN TO IT FROM JUST
THE LGBTQ+ AND TO THE SPIRIT.
LISTEN TO YOUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE THE PACKAGE AND WE LIVE
IN THE INTERSECTIONS OF OUR
SOCIETY AROUND GENDER RACE,
CLASS, IMMIGRATION STATUS, AND
DISABILITIES. OUR LIVES, PARDON
ME. OUR LIVES, STRUGGLES, ARE
DEEP WOVEN INTO OUR COMMUNITIES
AND THE POLICIES THAT SAFEGUARD
OUR RIGHTS AND WILL STRENGTHEN
THE JUSTICE FOR EVERYONE. AND SO
AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT
WE ARE A PART OF THE FULL
FABRIC. I AM GOING TO FOCUS ON
DISPLACEMENT AND HOUSING
INSECURITIES. RISK TO THE LGBTQ+
INCREASE OF HOMELESSNESS,
ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AND EMPLOYMENT
EQUITIES FOR THE COMMUNITIES.
AND AMPLIFY THE WORDS THAT HAVE
BEEN SAID AROUND OUR TRANS AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND SPECIFICALLY
TRANS PEOPLE OF COLOR AROUND
MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING, GETTING
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, AND
GETTING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE
CARE. THE FEDERAL POLICIES
AROUND DISPLACEMENT ON HOUSING.
THERE HAVE BEEN THREATS AND
THERE IS A RUMOR THAT HUD IS
GOING TO BE ATTACKED. I'VE HAD
REACHING OUT TO US AND ASKING US
IF THAT IS GOING TO BE TRUE AND
WHETHER OR NOT SECTION EIGHT IS
GOING TO BE IN JEOPARDY IF
PEOPLE WILL BECOME UNHOUSED. IF
PEOPLE WILL BE UNSTABLE. THE
ROLLBACKS OF THESE PROTECTIONS
MAKE THEM FEARFUL AND IT IS NOT
GOING TO BE JUST THE LGBTQ, BUT
ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WILL
BE ATTACKED ON THIS. WE NEED TO
MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN OUR
LOCAL TENANT PROTECTIONS, NOT TO
ROLLBACK WHAT WE HAVE. AND WE
PUT THEM IN PLACE BECAUSE THEY
WERE STILL NEEDED AND THEY ARE
GOING TO BE NEEDED FOR THE
FUTURE. KEY MEASURES INCLUDE
PRESERVING AND EXPANDING ANTI-
ANTI, SORRY, I STUTTER. YEP. YOU
KNOW THE WORD I'M TRYING TO
SAY, INCLUDING INCREASING
FUNDING FOR LGBTQ AND INCLUSIVE
HOUSING, AND INITIATIVES TO
ENSURE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WILL REMAIN ACCESSIBLE FOR THE
MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THE INCREASE
OF HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN A
CONVERSATION YOU'VE HAD
MULTIPLE TIMES. IT ENDS UP BEING
A CRIMINALIZED SITUATION. AND
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
ESPECIALLY OUR TRANS AND
NON-BINARY FOLKS DON'T HAVE
ANYWHERE TO GO WHEN WE DON'T
HAVE AFFIRMATIVE SHELTERS OR
HOUSING TO PUT THEM IN HOUSING.
AND THESE ARE AREAS THAT COULD
BE AMPLIFIED AND SHOULD BE
WITHIN OUR STATE AS STATED,
WHERE WE ARE, AS ANDREW SAID OR
ONE OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS SAID
THAT SPOKE AND SAID WE ARE THE
MOST -- OUR COMMUNITY IS QUITE
LARGE IN THE CITY. AND SO WE DO
NEED TO HAVE SHELTERS IN PLACE
FOR CASES WHERE OUR YOUTH, OUR
ELDERS, THEY WILL BECOME
UNHOUSED AND THAT ARE TRANS AND
NON-BINARY, ALONG WITH THE
INDIVIDUALS. SECURING SHELTERS
IN AN AFFIRMATIVE HOUSING AND
SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE. AROUND
ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND EMPLOYMENT
EQUITY FOR THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITIES. THE INDIVIDUALS
PARTICULARLY TRANS AND WORKERS
FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO
STABLE EMPLOYMENT, FAIR WAGES,
AND FINANCIAL SECURITY DUE TO
DISCRIMINATION AND LACK OF
INCLUSION WITHIN THE WORKPLACE.
AND FEDERAL TAX ON WORKPLACE, WE
KNOW THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE
ROLLBACKS AND SOME OF THESE ARE
GOING TO BE DIRECTLY TO THOSE
FOLKS, SETTING THIS AS A
PRECEDENT FOR OUR CITY THAT WILL
BE IMPORTANT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO
HAVE ACCESS TO ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP THAT
WITHOUT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
WE DON'T STAY HOUSED EITHER.
AND I HATE READING STUFF AND IT
DOESN'T FEEL REAL, AND I CAN
SEE THAT THIS IS EXHAUSTING, TO
CONSTANTLY BE SITTING HERE AND
HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ON
DEAF'S EARS. I'M NOT GOING TO
POINT IT OUT, BUT I'VE BEEN
HERE BEFORE. WE HAVE ALL BEEN
HERE BEFORE. WE HAVE ASKED FOR
THINGS NOT TO GET PASSED BEFORE
WE ASK FOR PROTECTIONS FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES. WE DON'T WANT TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT DEAF EAR.
WE WANT TO WORK IN
COLLABORATION. WE ARE ASKING YOU
TO RECOGNIZE OUR COMMUNITIES AT
LARGE, WHEN YOU'RE PROTECTING
US, PROTECTING EVERYONE. SO
PLEASE TAKE IT IN ACCOUNT THAT
THAT IS WHY WE'RE SHOWING UP
AND HOPE YOU'RE LISTENING
DEEPLY. I CAN SIT HERE. YOU KNOW
THE ANSWER. I CAN SIT HERE AND
TELL YOU THE ANSWERS AGAIN, BUT
YOU KNOW WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE.
BY CREATING HARMFUL
CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS,
TRANS, NON-BINARY FOLKS. PEOPLE.
YOU ARE HARMING OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE NOT HERE BECAUSE OF OUR
LACK OF ABILITIES. WE ARE HERE
BECAUSE WE THRIVE. WE HAVE LIVED
HERE IN THE CITY. I HAVE BEEN
HERE AS YOU SAID SINCE 13, I
HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE I WAS NINE.
LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITIES AND
LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY
BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IS COMING AFTER US, AND WE ARE
SCARED WITH OUR LIVES. WE DON'T
WANT TO BECOME HOMELESS. WE
DON'T WANT TO BECOME JOBLESS,
AND YOU DON'T WANT US ON YOUR
STREETS EITHER. SO WORK WITH US
AND LISTEN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
PRESENTATIONS TODAY AND YOUR
POWERFUL WORDS AND THE KNOWLEDGE
YOU SHARE AND THE CONTINUED WORK
YOU DO TRULY, I'LL OPEN IT UP
FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY
HAVE FOR TODAY'S PANELISTS.
>> THANK YOU, I DON'T HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, BUT I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS PRESENTATION TO US TODAY. I
WANT TO THANK YOU TODAY. IT'S
VERY MEANINGFUL.
>> RECOGNIZING COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE. LET ME LOWER
MY HAND, I APOLOGIZE. AND THANK
YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF
YOUR DAY TO HELP EDUCATE US
ABOUT THINGS GOING ON IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND BEING ATTACKED,
AND ALSO JUST, YOU KNOW, THE
FEELINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. AND
ONE OF THE THINGS, I DON'T KNOW
IF THIS IS A QUESTION OR
COMMENT, BUT THE SELF-REFLECTION
IS THE WORD SPACE. AND HOW
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SPACE IS,
AND I WILL BE VULNERABLE HERE.
FOR ME, AND PLACES ALONG OUR
PLACE AND WHAT THEY CALL THE
CHOCOLATE KISSES THAT WILL
CREATE A SPACE FOR THE BLACK AND
THOSE ARE SPACES THAT WERE SAFE
FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES. AND OUR
COMMUNITY, THE ONE THING I
WANTED TO JUST HEAR REAL QUICKLY
ABOUT AS WE'RE CREATING THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR SEATTLE. WHAT DO
SAFE SPACES LOOK LIKE FOR
PEOPLE? THAT THEY COULD DO TO
HELP CREATE THE SPACES, THE
COMMUNITY, AND THE DIFFERENT
THINGS I JUST WANT YOUR EXPERT
OPINION ON THAT. AND SOME OF THE
RALLIES THAT JUST SHOWED UP TO
THE VIGILS. AND AROUND TIMES
LIKE THESE. THERE WERE A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS, FUNDING THAT WENT
TO A NUMBER OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS. THINGS HAVE
CHANGED SLIGHTLY. AND THE ONE
POSITIVE BENEFIT AT THAT TIME IS
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR
WOULD RECEIVE A LOT MORE SUPPORT
THAN THEY USUALLY DO THROUGH THE
RACIAL JUSTICE LENS. AS WE HAVE
ADJUSTED AND SHIFTED AND
INVOLVED OUR THINKING, A LOT OF
THE FUNDING OR THE PROMISE OF
FUNDING HAS DISAPPEARED. AND
THAT HAS PUT US IN A VERY
CHALLENGING POSITION RIGHT NOW,
BOTH IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY
TO OFFER SERVICES TO OUR
COMMUNITY. A LOT OF OUR
ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT WELL
SUPPORTED AND FUNDED FOR THE
INFLUX OF SERVICES THAT ARE
COMING, INCREASING DISPARITY,
ETC. WE ALSO DON'T HAVE GOOD
SPACES AND PLACES CREATE
SPACE. AND THERE IS THE LAND
THAT WILL TRY TO CREATE SPACE.
NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
NOT AS SUPPORTED AS THEY CAN BE.
THE FUNDING WE HAVE IS TENUOUS
AT BEST, SO WE DO NEED MORE
FUNDING SUPPORT IN ORDER TO
ENSURE THAT WE CAN CREATE SAFE
SPACES THAT WILL HAVE SERVICES
AND ESPECIALLY FOR ORGANIZATIONS
OF COLOR UNDER THE BUDGET, BUT
WE JUST NEED IT.
>> I WOULD ADD THINKING ABOUT
SEATTLE AS A SPACE AS A WHOLE,
AND JUST REITERATING WHAT WE CAN
DO IS LOOK AT THE POLICIES THAT
HAVE BEEN PASSED RECENTLY.
WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO SAY
THAT IT IS, ESPECIALLY OUR
COMMUNITIES. AND TO MAKE OUR
COMMUNITY MORE AFFIRMING FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSELESS, PEOPLE
WHO ARE HAVING MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE OUR
NEIGHBORS, AND THEY ARE NOT
CRIMINALIZED, PUSHED OUT, AND IN
SHAME BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO
GET PEOPLE KILLED, SO THANK YOU.
>> AND ADDITION FALLLY I WOULD
ADD TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT THEY
WERE SAYING. BECAUSE THEY
COULDN'T AFFORD ANY OF THE
SPACES HERE. AND AFFORDABILITY
IS A REAL ISSUE. FINDING WHAT
HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE HAS BEEN
STRUGGLING TO FIND A SPACE THAT
NOT ONLY CAN THEY AFFORD, BUT IS
BIG ENOUGH FOR THE WORK THEY'RE
DOING. THIS IS A PART OF
CREATING SPACE FOR LGBTQ AND
IMMIGRANT ORGANIZATIONS THAT
THEY CAN AFFORD. EVEN IF IT
GIVES A DISCOUNTED PRICE, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
SELLING BUILDINGS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OWNS. CREATING SPACES
THAT ORGANIZATIONS CAN BE IN
ALONE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND
THEN ALSO CREATING THOSE SPACES
AS SAID FOR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
UNHOUSED TO BE ABLE TO GO INSIDE
AND TO HAVE A PLACE TO GET OUT
OF THE SORTS. TO BE ABLE TO
ACCESS A SHOWER, TO ACCESS A
SAFE PLACE THAT THEY KNOW THEY
ARE WELCOMED AT. AND THAT IT
ISN'T A COST BURDEN TO THE
ORGANIZATIONS. AND THOSE WOULD
BE ADDITIONAL WAYS TO CREATE
THOSE SAFE SPACES.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, ANY FOLLOW UP?
>> NO, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
ANSWERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. RECOGNIZING
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RINCK. I
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU
EVERYONE WHO HAS COME TODAY. I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE
ON THE PANEL. AND I JUST WANTED
TO NOTE AND SAY THAT THE LGBTQ+
COMMUNITY DOES HAVE A HOME HERE
IN SEATTLE, AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO SAY, AND IT IS ALSO
IMPORTANT TO SAY THIS SHOULD NOT
BE LIMITED TO SEATTLE. AND TO
SHOW THAT EXAMPLE AND THE OTHER
PLACES, ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THAT
THEY HAVE NOTED THAT I DO
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME
AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT AS NOTED.
I DO BELIEVE AS A CITY, AS THEY
CITED, THAT SAFE SPACE OR AS I
OFTEN SAY, CREATE THAT SAFE
BASE. BE AN EXAMPLE FOR OUR
NATIONS. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR COMING AND
PRESENTING TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> CAN I COMMENT ON THAT? THANK
YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT. AND
THEY BELIEVE THAT IS THE WAY
THAT WE SET PRECEDENT TO OTHER
CITIES. SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE
FIRST TO BRING UP THE MINIMUM
WAGE. NOW WE HAVE TUKWILA,
SEA-TAC, BURIEN, RENTON. YOU
HAVE SET THAT PRECEDENCE. YOU
HAVE SHOWN THROUGH RENTING
STABILIZATION HERE AND PROVIDING
LAWNS THAT HELP SUPPORT THAT AND
A RIPPLE EFFECT HAS HAPPENED.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT
CONTINUED RIPPLE EFFECT FOR THE
CITY AND OUR CITY DOES THAT, SO
THAT IT GOES ACROSS OUR STATE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> VICE CHAIR MOORE?
>> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR PRESENTATIONS. CERTAINLY
VERY HELPFUL TO HEAR. I THINK,
YOU KNOW, MANY OF THESE ISSUES
ARE LONG STANDING AND THEY ARE
SYSTEMIC. AND THERE ARE THINGS
THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO WORK ON.
WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, AND I
WOULD CERTAINLY DISAGREE WITH
SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO GO INTO THAT. BUT WHAT I DO
WANT TO HEAR FROM THE GROUP IS
WHAT ARE THE PARTICULAR FEDERAL
FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE BEING
CUT TO YOUR GROUPS THAT THE CITY
CAN LOOK AT? I MEAN, WE TOO HAVE
OUR BUDGET CHALLENGES, RIGHT?
BUT YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT
FUNDING IS POTENTIALLY UNDER
ATTACK. AND AGAIN, GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE IS UNDER ATTACK.
AND SO WHAT ARE THE PARTICULAR
CONCRETE PIECES ASIDE FROM
SETTING A WELCOMING CULTURE,
WHICH IS CLEARLY IMPORTANT TO
DO, AND WE HAVE DONE, AND WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO. I THINK
THE FACT THE COMMITTEE EXISTS
SHOWS THERE'S A REAL COMMITMENT
TO THAT. BUT IN A MORE CONCRETE
WAY, AND MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE
ALL THE ANSWERS NOW, BUT I WOULD
LOVE TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, AT SOME
POINT, FEEL FREE TO P COB TACT
MY OFFICE. BUT IF YOU HAVE A
MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT IT, IT WILL
BE HELPFUL.
>> I WAS GOING TO -- FOR PLANNED
PARENTHOOD AND SEXUAL
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS, THERE HAS BEEN A
PERFECT STORM OF ISSUES. AND IT
HAS REALLY CREATED A THREAT TO
OUR ABILITY TO KEEP GOING.
LOOKING BACK TO THE FIRST TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WITH THE TITLE 10
GAG RULE AND THE AFFECT THEY HAD
ON FAMILY PLANNING ACCESS. THE
COVID PANDEMIC, WHERE THE
FEDERAL FUNDING NOT
AVAILABLE TO ABORTION PROVIDERS.
THE DOBBS DECISION, OF COURSE,
NOW WE HAVE ABOUT HALF OF OUR
STATES. THERE IS NO ABORTION
ACCESS. AND SO IN WASHINGTON,
WE'VE HAD, I THINK A 50%
INCREASE IN PATIENTS COMING TO
OUR STATE FOR CARE, WHICH WILL
EXTEND WAIT TIMES AND IMPACTS
THE SAFETY NET OVERALL. BEING A
HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IN AMERICA,
WE HAVE ALL THE SAME KINDS OF
CHALLENGES OTHER HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS FACE. BUT WITH LESS OF
AN ABILITY TO COMPETE AND WITH
HUGE SIGNING BONUSES AND THE
KINDS OF THINGS THAT A FOR
PROFIT ENTITY COULD OFFER, PLUS
INFLATION. AND SO IT PROBABLY
COMES AS NO SURPRISE WHEN I TELL
YOU THAT OVER 80% OF THE PLANNED
PARENTHOOD ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ARE RESTRUCTURING. MY
ORGANIZATION WAS AFFECTED AS
WELL. AND OUR TEAM HAS BEEN CUT
IF IN HALF. SO IT COMES DOWN TO
HOW DO WE KEEP THE DOORS OPEN
FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS. AND
THE BUDGET COULD GO A LONG WAY.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE IN OUR STATE. WE HAVE AN
UPSIDE DOWN TAX CODE THAT IS
CAUSING SERIOUS HARM, AND IT
WILL PUT US BACK IN THE
SITUATION WHEN WE ARE NOT ASKING
THE RICHEST IN OUR CITY OR IN
OUR STATE TO PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW,
ALL THE THINGS THAT I SHARED
BEFORE ABOUT THE FEDERAL THREATS
CERTAINLY WILL HIT HOME HERE IN
WASHINGTON AND SEATTLE. AND SO
WE ARE, OF COURSE, SEEKING
SUPPORT FROM THE STATE LEVEL
FROM SOME OF THE BUDGET
BACKFILL. BUT THERE ARE CUTS TO
THE STATE BUDGETS THAT ARE BEING
EXPLOITED AND CANNOT BALANCE THE
BUDGET AND FIND SAVINGS AT THIS
KIND OF DEPTH OF CUTS.
>> AND IF I COULD ADD TO
COURTNEY'S REMARKS. THAT'S THE
LIST THAT'S THE MOST DIRECTLY
RELATED TO REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. BUT THERE
ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT FORMS OF
FEDERAL FUNDING THAT ARE BEING
DISMANTLED RIGHT NOW FOR
INSTITUTIONS THAT AREN'T DOING
ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS JUST
DON'T LIKE, RIGHT? AND IF WE
THINK ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE,
FEDERAL GRANTS AND RESEARCH
PARTNERSHIPS WITH HOSPITALS LIKE
THE EXAMPLE OF SEATTLE
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL I MENTIONED
ENDED THEIR GENDER REAFFIRMING
CARE PROGRAM TEMPORARILY BECAUSE
THEY WERE AFRAID THAT
POTENTIALLY PEDIATRIC CANCER
RESEARCH GRANTS MIGHT BE
TERMINATED. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING
AT WAYS RESEARCH HOSPITALS LIKE
THE UW THAT ARE SORT OF
PROVIDING BEST IN THE FIELD,
ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE
TECHNOLOGY, GENDER AFFIRMING
CARE CLINICS, OTHER KINDS OF
SERVICES ARE IMPACTED BY ATTACKS
ON UNIVERSITIES BECAUSE OF
PERCEIVED DEI, CRITICAL RACE
THEORY PROGRAMS OR HAVING TRANS
WOMEN PARTICIPATE IN COLLEGIATE
SPORTS. THERE IS NO END WITH OUR
HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE SAFETY
NET OF SERVICES AND EDUCATION IN
OUR COUNTRY THAT CREATE THESE
WELCOMING SPACES AND CREATE
HEALTHCARE BEST PRACTICES FOR
OUR ENTIRE HEALTHCARE
INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR SOCIAL
SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE
BEING IMPACTED. I MEAN, ONE WAY
THAT I HAVE HEARD THE TRICKLE
DOWN EFFECT IS THAT PRIDE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE
SPONSORSHIP TO PRODUCE PRIDE.
THEY WILL RECEIVE A LOT OF
SPONSORSHIPS FROM CLINICS THAT
WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY. AND
BECAUSE OF MEDICAID AND MEDICARE
BEING CUT, FEDERALLY QUALIFIED
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE ENDING
SPONSORSHIPS TO COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY PARTNER
WITH AND THAT INCLUDES
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY
FACILITIES. SO THERE ARE SO MANY
WAYS. I KNOW THAT'S REALLY
OVERWHELMING BECAUSE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS DON'T HAVE FUNDING
TO BACKFILL THIS. BUT WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO FIND CREATIVE
SOLUTIONS, REVENUE REFORM, AND
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO
FIND WAYS TO SHORE UP OUR
INSTITUTIONS TO COMBAT FEAR THAT
THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO SHUTTER OPERATIONS AND
KEEP THEM OPERATIONAL. THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I'M
HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP, BUT I DO
THINK SEATTLE'S LGBTQ CENTER
ARE A COUPLE OF GOOD SPOTS THAT
MIGHT HAVE A MORE DIRECT IMPACT.
I THINK FOR ORGANIZATIONS OF
COLOR WHO ARE QUEER AND TRANS,
WE OFTEN NEVER RECEIVE THE
FEDERAL FUNDING. IF WE DID, IT
WAS VERY LIMITED. WE ARE SEEING
SECOND-HAND IMPACTS. FOUNDATIONS
ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR
FUNDING ON THEIR PHARMACEUTICAL
SIDE. THEREFORE, GILLIAD IS ONE
OF THE LARGEST FUNDERS OF BLACK
LGBTQ ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
COUNTRY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEM
MAKING A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT IT IS SAFE FOR THEM TO
CONTINUE SUPPORTING US IN THE
SAME WAY, NOT TO MENTION, HIV
RESEARCH FUNDING DRYING UP.
WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF
SECOND-HAND AFFECTS AND LIKE
SPONSORSHIPS. AND LESS SO ABOUT
THEM LOSING FUNDING, BUT THE
NERVOUSNESS ABOUT THEIR
AFFILIATION WITH THE TRANS
ORGANIZATIONS IS WHAT WE'RE
STARTING TO SEE.
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT
IS REALLY HELPFUL TO SORT OF THE
DOMINO AFFECT. AND TO THE
EXTENT, I'M JUST THINKING OFF
THE TOP OF MY HEAD HERE. BUT TO
THE EXTENT OF THE COUNCIL CAN BE
PARTICIPATING IN THOSE
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIVATE
PARTNERS OR THE UNIVERSITIES OR
WHATEVER TO SAY LIKE WE NEED TO
WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. WE
NEED TO STAND TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY. WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE
PROTECTION, WHERE WE ARE WILLING
TO DO THAT, AND I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE BEGIN TO HAVE
THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS
ACROSS THE BOARD. AND SO IT
ISN'T -- IT'S A PART OF THE
DIVIDE AND CONQUER, AND IT'S
THE SINGLE OUT, THE SMALL GROUP.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
STAND TALL. SO WE REALLY -- SO
WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER IS WHAT
I'M SAYING. WE NEED TO BEGIN TO
HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
EVEN IF WE CAN'T PROVIDE THE
MONEY, MAYBE WE CAN AT LEAST
PROVIDE THE COVER OR, YOU KNOW,
THE LETTER OR WHATEVER IT IS
THAT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO
STAND STRONG.
>> I'LL CHIME IN WITH MY
QUESTIONS. I SEE A HAND.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, PLEASE?
>> THANK YOU, I JUST REALLY
WANTED TO LEND MY GRATITUDE TO
THE PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE. WE
ARE GRAPPLING, ALL OF US, WITH
WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL. AND YOU KNOW, THESE ARE
VERY HARD TIMES FOR EVERYONE. I
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU BEING
HERE GIVING US THE INFORMATION
AND TAKING THE TIME TO ENB GAUGE
ON THIS. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU, AND I,
FOR ONE, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
YOU BEING HERE, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. KIND OF BUILDING
WHAT HAD BEEN RAISED, BUILDING
ON VICE PRESIDENT MOORE'S
COMMENTS JUST ABOUT STANDING
TOGETHER AND SOME OF THE
RESPONSES ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING
AT THE STATE LEVEL. I'M CURIOUS
ABOUT SOME YOUR THE
GENERAL'S OFFICE, AND ALSO
RIGHT NOW, THE STATE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
ARE THERE BILLS THAT WE CAN BE
LENDING OUR SUPPORT ON? WE KNOW
THE STATE BUDGET CHALLENGES IS A
HUGE ONE, SO HEARING THAT
DIRECTIVE CALL ABOUT THE NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSING THE STATE
BUDGET CHALLENGES. BUT WHAT
COULD SOME -- WHAT IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW ON THE STATE LEVEL?
HOW ARE YOU ALL ENGAGING WITH
THAT? AND ARE THERE BILLS THAT
WE COULD LEND OUR SUPPORT ON?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PROACTIVE
BILLS. I ALWAYS -- I CAN'T -- I
WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY
HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO GET TO
BE IN SEATTLE AND BE IN
WASHINGTON STATE, WHERE WE ARE
TRULY LEADING THE WAY AND
GETTING TO PUSH WHAT'S POSSIBLE
TO MAKE REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL
RIGHTS TRULY ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL
PEOPLE. WE'VE SEEN A FEW BILLS
JUST GET PASSED THIS WEEK.
THERE'S A LOT OF FLOOR ACTION
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. ONE IS AN
EXPANSION OF OUR STATE'S SHIELD
LAW, WHICH WOULD BETTER DEFINE
WHAT IT MEANS TO HELP SOMEONE.
SO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO DONATE TO ABORTION FUNDS OR
PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, HELP
SOMEONE TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON.
THOSE FOLKS NEED PROTECTIONS
FROM HOSTILE STATES THAT ARE
TRYING TO PERSECUTE PEOPLE. SO
WE WOULD LOOK AT ISSUES AROUND
WHEN AN ENTITY IS APPROACHED BY
ANOTHER STATE LOOKING FOR
INFORMATION TO PERCEIVE SOMEONE,
THAT THOSE ENTITIES NEED TO
PROACTIVELY INFORM THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE THAT IT HAS
HAPPENED. SO WE CAN KEEP TRACK
OF WHEN THOSE KINDS OF
OCCURRENCES HAPPEN. THERE IS
ALSO A BILL TO CODIFY
LEGISLATION FROM THE FEDERAL
LEVEL INTO STATE LAW AND AROUND
THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT
LABOR ACT. THIS IS FOR ANYONE
EXPERIENCING A PREGNANCY
EMERGENCY. IF THEY COME INTO A
HOSPITAL, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO ACCESS CARE ON SITE, BE
STABILIZED, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS
OF THAT HOSPITAL'S STANCE ON
ABORTION. THERE IS AN EMERGENCY
THREATENING THAT PERSON'S
HEALTH OR LIFE. THEY NEED TO
OFFER THE CARE. THE SUPREME
COURT HAS TOLD TEXAS IT'S OKAY
THEY DON'T HONOR. AND SO JUST
LOOKING AT THE PATH WE'RE ON
THERE, IT WOULD CODIFY THAT
LANGUAGE INTO OUR STATE LAW.
THERE ARE SOME MORE, BUT I WILL
UNDERSCORE AGAIN, THE STATE
BUDGET IS TRULY, IF YOU HAD ONE
THING TO FOCUS ON, PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE. AND WE ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO
BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, MY POLL JOY
DIRECTOR IS BEHIND ME, SO IF I
MESSED UP, I'M IN TROUBLE. I
PULLED UP THE WEBSITE. WE ARE
LOOKING AT SUPPORTING PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. AND IT STRENGTHENS
STUDENT'S RIGHTS TO PRIVACY,
EXTENDING PROTECTION FOR TRANS
YOUTH. ADDING A NEW STATEMENT
FOR STUDENT RIGHTS, AND
PARTICULARLY PROTECTS THE RACIAL
HISTORIES OF BLACK AND LATINO
STUDENTS AND CURRICULUM. THERE
IS AN AMENDING I-2180 BILL THAT
WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO AND
SUPPORTING SB5181 THAT IS TAKING
OUT SOME OF THE HARMFUL LANGUAGE
IN WHAT WE SAW AS A FORCED
OUTING BILL. AND THEN THERE'S
5179, SCHOOL DISTRICT
COMPLIANCE, WITH THE STATE'S
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY. AND
THE STATE'S POLICY MUST ENSURE
STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE
ADDRESSED BY PREFERRED NAME AND
PRONOUN, PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS
AND ACTIVITIES. ALIGN WITH THEIR
GENDER AND DRESS ACCORDINGLY.
AND THOSE ARE THE MAIN THINGS.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER ONES, BUT
THOSE ARE TOP OF MIND, AND WE
ARE RELEVANT TO THIS
CONVERSATION.
>> YEAH, FOR US, ALL OF THOSE ON
TOP OF WHAT I DO THINK IS
IMPORTANT TO AMPLIFY THE
ADDITIONAL ONE AROUND CLARIFYING
HATE CRIMES. AND THEN WITH THE
-- WE HAVE A FEW ON OURS, BUT OF
COURSE, THE RENT STABILIZATION
BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP NOT ONLY
STATEWIDE, BUT AMPLIFY THE LAWS
THAT ARE HERE IN SEATTLE. AND
THEN EXPANDING SB5101 INCLUDING
WORKERS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF HATE
CRIME AND BIAS INCIDENTS. AND
STRENGTHENING JOB SECURITY FOR
INDIVIDUALS UTILIZING PAID
FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE BENEFITS.
AND BECAUSE WE ALSO KNOW THAT
THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS THAT
DON'T ACCESS THAT BECAUSE THEY
DON'T FEEL THAT THEY CAN ACCESS
THAT. AND THE FEAR OF LOSING
THEIR JOBS. AND SO THOSE ARE
SOME OF OUR ADDITIONAL ONES.
>> AND ALL OF THE ABOVE. I WOULD
AGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE STATED. I'LL ADD THAT
BECAUSE BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES, DISPROPORTIONATELY
EXPERIENCED NEGATIVE MATERNAL
HEALTH AND PREGNANCY OUTCOMES
BECAUSE OF HEALTHCARE
DISCRIMINATION AND THE HARMS OF
WHITE SUPREMACY, ETC., THAT IT
IS NECESSARY TO PASS THE
PREGNANCY LOSS PACKAGE THAT
WE'RE WORKING ON WITH ALLIES
THAT WOULD AFFIRM IN OUR STATE
LAW TO MAKE SURE THAT PATIENTS
ARE NOT PROSECUTED WHEN THEY
EXPERIENCE FOOTBALL MISCARRIAGE,
STILLBIRTH, OR OTHER FORMS OF
NEGATIVE PREGNANCY OUTCOMES,
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
FROM ABORTION STATES AND WHAT
HAPPENED TO ONE WELL-KNOWN CASE.
AND ALSO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE
IS SEEN IN THE EYES OF MEDICARE
AND MEDICAID AS SILOED FROM
REGULAR HEALTHCARE, AND
THEREFORE HAS A LOWER MEDICAID
REIMBURSEMENT RATE. AND TO THE
EXTENT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO
HAVE MEDICAID IN OUR COUNTRY, WE
ARE HOPING THAT WE WILL GET
MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATES
INCREASED FOR SEXUAL AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS, SO THEY CAN CONTINUE
TO OPERATE STAINABLE.
>> OKAY, ANY FINAL QUESTIONS FOR
OUR ABSOLUTELY AMAZING PANEL
TODAY? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL
AGAIN. NOT JUST FOR BEING HERE
TODAY, BUT FOR SHOWING UP, DOING
THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.
AND I WILL SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND
HOW I SEE THINGS AND WHAT I
THINK YOU HAVE ALL CLEARLY LAID
OUT. AND THE REAL NEED TO BE
MOVING WITH URGENCY AROUND THESE
ISSUES. THESE ARE LIFE OR DEATH
MATTERS FOR SO MANY IN OUR
COMMUNITY. I HOPE I INTEND THIS
IS NOT OUR LAST CONVERSATION.
AND I KNOW THIS IS JUST A SUBSET
OF PANELISTS, REPRESENTING
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO REALLY
INCREDIBLE WORK IN OUR
COMMUNITY, AND THERE ARE SO MANY
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
SHOWING UP EVERY DAY TO TAKE
CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I
HOPE WE CONTINUE TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM AND JUST
TRULY STAND TOGETHER DURING
THESE TIMES. SO I THANK YOU ALL
AGAIN. AND WE WILL CERTAINLY BE
IN TOUCH AND REACH OUT ANY TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. COLLEAGUES,
BEFORE WE SWITCH DISCUSSIONS,
CONVERSATION STRAUSS HAS A
LETTER FOR SIGNATURES T OF FED
IMPACTED BY LAYOFFS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE
LEAD OUR DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COLLEAGUES,
WE DID ALERT YOU TO SEND OUT A
REVISED VERSION ABOUT 15 MINUTES
BEFORE COMMITTEE STARTED. I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR THIS. WE DID
OUR BEST TO INCORPORATE THEM.
I'LL REMIND COLLEAGUES THAT I
SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR TRYING TO
GET EVERYONE TOGETHER AND THIS
IS THE PROCESS OF US WORKING
TOGETHER, RIGHT? THIS LETTER
HERE BEFORE US IS SUPPORTING OUR
FEDERAL WORKERS WHO WILL SUPPORT
US. I WON'T READ IT LINE FOR
LINE. I'LL SPEAK BRIEFLY ON THE
TOP LINES HERE. WE HAVE FEDERAL
WORKERS AT THE POWER
ADMINISTRATION MAKING SURE WE
HAVE OUR LIGHTS ON. WE ARE IN AN
UNUSUAL SITUATION WITH OUR CITY
THAT WE HAVE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT,
AND A LARGE PORTION OF OUR
ELECTRICITY THAT WILL COME FROM
BPA. AND BPA WILL SERVE OUR
ENTIRE REGION, AND AS WELL AS
CALIFORNIA AT THIS POINT. WE
HAVE FEDERAL WORKERS IN THE
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT'S
OFFICE, WHO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. I CAN TELL YOU
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY
BEEN UNDERINVESTING BEFORE THIS
YEAR REGARDING HOMELESSNESS, AND
THIS IS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE.
AND THE FEDERAL WORKERS WHO ARE
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS ARE
DOING IMPORTANT WORK FOR OUR
CITY AND OUR REGION. DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WILL MAKE
SURE THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR
COUNTRY ARE TAKEN B CARE OF HERE
AT HOME. AND WE HAVE ONE OF THE
LARGER VAs HERE IN SEATTLE. I
ALREADY HEARD IN GOOD TIMES,
THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES WHERE
VETERANS HAVE DECIDED TO GO INTO
THE PRIVATE PRACTICE AREAS
BECAUSE OF INCONSISTENCIES AT
THE V.A. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THE V.A. IS SET UP TO CARE FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED US ON THE
FRONT LINES. AND THE NATIONAL
OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION. THESE ARE THE
FOLKS THAT WILL MAKE SURE OUR
FISHERIES ARE UP. MAKE SURE THAT
OUR WEATHER IS PREDICTABLE. YOU
KNOW, MY DISTRICT IS THE HOME OF
ONE OF THE LARGEST PRODUCERS OF
SEAFOOD IN THE UNITED STATES. IT
IS NOT A TECH COMPANY. AND WHAT
REALLY HITS HOME FOR ME, IF OUR
WEATHER IS NOT PREDICTED WELL,
THAT MEANS A FISHING VESSEL MAY
NOT GO OUT TO SEA ON A CLEAR
DAY. ON THE OPPOSITE, IF THEY
READ THE WEATHER INCORRECTLY AND
GO OUT ON A BAD DAY, IT IS NOT
JUST THAT THEY ARE RISKING THEIR
ECONOMICS, BUT THEIR LIVES. WHEN
WE LOOK AT PLACES LIKE THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THEY
ARE A PLACE THAT LED TO THE END
OF WORLD WAR II, AND IT IS STILL
SEEING THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT
US HERE IN SEATTLE IF IT IS NOT
TAKEN B CARE OF WELL. AND I
COULDN'T FIND EGGS AT COSTCO
THE OTHER DAY. AND WE NEED THESE
WORKERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE TO MAKE SURE H5N1
REDUCED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,
AND OUR NATIONAL PARKS AND OUR
FORESTS BEYOND JUST RECREATING.
FOLKS MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW OUR
STATE CAPITOL IS BUILT WITHOUT
TAX DOLLARS, BECAUSE WE LOGGED
WHAT IS NOW CAPITAL STATE PARK
AND CAPITAL FOREST. WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE OUR NATIONAL PARKS AND
OUR FORCE ARE WELL PROTECTED.
AND MAINTAIN FOR THEIR ECONOMIC
AND THEIR ABILITIES AND NOT
UNDERCUT. WE'RE A PORT CITY. WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SET
UP TO BE RESILIENT. WITHIN THE
LETTER, WE NOTE THAT OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS
DOING THE GOOD WORK, TAKING BOLD
ACTION. WE THANK THEM, AS WELL
AS MAKING SURE THAT FEDERAL
WORKERS KNOW OUR PARK, THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, THEY ARE
DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT
THEM BY PROVIDING OUR BASIC CITY
SERVICES. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT
AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE HEARD
PANELS AND WE'RE ABOUT TO HEAR
ANOTHER ONE. OUR JOB IS TO
ENSURE OUR GOVERNMENT CONTINUES
TO FUNCTION, FUNCTION WELL
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE,
THEY DEPEND ON US TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEIR BUSES GET THERE ON
TIME, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THROUGH
METRO, TO MAKE SURE THE POTHOLES
ARE FILLED. TO MAKE SURE THEY
HAVE ACCESS TO GROCERY STORES.
TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
FUNCTIONING, SO THEY HAVE
SOMETHING STEADY TO RELY ON.
THAT IS MY NORTH STAR IN THIS
WORK, TO MAKE SURE OUR
GOVERNMENT CONTINUES FUNCTIONING
AND SERVING OUR PEOPLE TO THE
BEST OF OUR ABILITIES.
COLLEAGUES, THAT IS MY OVERVIEW.
I SPOKE LONG ENOUGH, SO WE COULD
GET EVERYONE HERE. I APPRECIATE
YOU ALL HERE. I'LL PASS IT BACK
TO YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
COLLEAGUES, ANY DISCUSSION ON
THIS LETTER BEFORE WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH SIGNATURES? ALL
RIGHT. SEEING THERE'S NO
FURTHER DISCUSSION. OF COURSE.
>> YES, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR BRINGING THIS LETTER
TOGETHER. ULTIMATELY IT IS JUST
A SIGN OF SOLIDARITY. THE LETTER
IS NOT, YOU KNOW,
HAVE THE ABILITY TO PREVENT WHAT
IS HAPPENING TO FEDERAL WORKERS.
BUT AS A PRIOR FEDERAL WORKER
MYSELF, MY HEART GOES OUT TO
WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS
THIS IS INCREDIBLY A STRESSFUL
TIME. SO I UNDERSTAND THE LETTER
IS MEANT TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE CITY SERVICES, AND WE
ARE HERE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
AND CONTINUE OUR CITY SERVICES.
SO THANK YOU. REALLY, I JUST
WANTED, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE
REALLY CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE
OFFERING FOLKS, SO THERE IS NO
CONFUSION. I DON'T WANT TO ADD
UNDUE STRESS TO FOLKS WHO ARE
ALREADY STRESSED OUT. SO I
WANTED TO REALLY CLARIFY THAT. I
FELT THE LETTER WAS A BIT
CONFUSING THAT WAY, BUT IT IS
REALLY TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH. FOR THOSE REASONS, I'LL
BE SIGNING THE LETTER. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. THE SEEING NO FURTHER
DISCUSSION ON THE LETTER. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
TO DETERMINE WHICH COUNCIL
MEMBERS WOULD LIKE ARE THEIR
SIGNATURES AFFIXED TO THE LETTER
IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL WORKERS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RINCK?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE ARE EIGHT
SIGNATURES THAT WILL BE AFFIXED
TO THE LETTER.
>> WONDERFUL. WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO OUR THIRD ITEM -- PARDON
ME, ITEM 3 INTO THE RECORD.
>> ITEM 2, IMMIGRANT AND LABOR
RIGHTS ISSUES FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> AT THIS POINT, I'LL INVITE
OUR PANELIST TO JOIN US IN THE
FRONT. WE'RE JOINED BY A NUMBER
OF ORGANIZATIONS. AND I'LL LET
THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. I'LL
SHARE SOME OF THE NAMES OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS NOW WHILE THEY'RE
COMING ON UP. WE HAVE SOME OF
OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING
THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE AFFAIRS, AS WELL AS THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS, AND A
NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING
IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE
NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
PROJECTS, WASHINGTON IMMIGRANT
SOLIDARITY NETWORK, ONE AMERICA,
AND AS WELL AS WASHINGTON'S
LGBTQ ALLIED CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, AND THE MLK LABOR
COUNCIL, AND FAIR WORK CENTER. I
KNOW WE HAVE A BIGGER CREW.
>> I'M VANESSA REYES, PRONOUN
MANAGER WITH THE WASHINGTON
IMMIGRANT SOLIDARITY NETWORK.
>> HAMDI MOHAMED, HERE AT THE
OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS.
>> ROXANA NOROUZI, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR WITH ONE AMERICA.
>> GABRIEL NEUMAN, I USE HE/HIM
PRONOUNS, I'M THE MANAGER AT
GSBA.
>> DANIELLE ALVARADO, FAIR WORK
CENTER.
>> STEVE MARCHESE, DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS.
>> RIGO VALDEZ, REPRESENTATIVE
MLK LABOR.
>> JENNY MASHEK FROM THE
NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
PROJECT.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE. I BELIEVE WE'RE
GOING TO BE STARTING WITH YOU
FIRST.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON HONORABLE MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL. FIRST, I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING TOGETHER THIS IMPORTANT
DISCUSSION ON FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY
CHANGES. THANK YOU TO THE
LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER
RINCK AND CHAIR. AND I'M PROUD
TO LIVE AND WORK IN A CITY THAT
IS PROTECTING ALL OF ITS
RESIDENTS, MAKING THAT A TOP
PRIORITY AND RECOGNIZING THE
IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL OF
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCLUDING
OUR IMMIGRANT REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES. WE ARE AN UNUSUAL
AND CHALLENGING TIMES, AND I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND
JUST THE CRITICAL WORK THAT SO
MANY OF OUR PARTNERS AROUND THIS
TABLE ARE DOING. WE STAND
TOGETHER IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS.
OUR IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY GROUPS
AND OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE
LABOR UNIONS, AND MANY OTHERS
ARE COMING TOGETHER IN THESE
MOMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
COORDINATED AND WORKING IN ALIGN
AREMENT WITH EACH OTHER. AND I
ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN
PROVIDING OUR OFFICE AND ALL
CITY DEPARTMENTS WITH CLEAR
GUIDANCE ON RESPONDING TO THE
VARIOUS ISSUES THAT IS STEMMING
FROM THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION
AND POLICY CHANGES. AND LET ME
JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE DONE
EXTENSIVE PREPARATION WORK THAT
TOOK PLACE EVEN BEFORE ANY OF
THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS FROM THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WENT INTO
EFFECT EVEN BEFORE INAUGURATION
DAY. ON JANUARY 10, 2025, MAYOR
HARRELL INTRODUCED A MAYOR
DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENTS WITH
CLEAR GUIDANCE AND RESPONDING TO
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. AND
ALSO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
RECOGNIZES THAT MANY OF THESE
FEDERAL ISSUES THAT ARE
IMPACTING OUR VULNERABLE
POPULATION ARE INTERCONNECTED.
WE RECOGNIZED THAT THIS WEEK. HE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO
STRENGTHEN LOCAL PROTECTIONS FOR
INDIVIDUALS SEEKING GENDER
AFFIRMING AND REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTHCARE IN SEATTLE. IN
ADDITION, THERE IS AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER INTRODUCED, MAKING
INFORMATION INCLUSIVE AND
WRITING AND DESIGN WAS ISSUED BY
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO ENHANCE
OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS, POLICIES
THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. AND
SO A LOT OF THESE ISSUES ARE TOP
OF MIND FOR OUR OFFICE, AND WE
ALSO RECOGNIZE HOW THEY ARE ALL
INTERCONNECTED. SO MANY OF US
AROUND THIS TABLE ARE WORKING
TOGETHER. I DON'T WANT TO
PROVIDE SLIDES TODAY. I'VE COME
BEFORE YOU ALL AND PROVIDED A
DETAILED PRESENTATION BEFORE, SO
I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO
REPEATING THAT. I WANT TO
MAXIMIZE OUR TIME TODAY BY
HEARING FROM THE PANEL MEMBERS
HERE TODAY. BUT I'M HERE TO
PROVIDE OR UNDERSTAND ALABAMA
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE TO
PROVIDE CLARITY ON ANY OF THE
WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AS A
CITY. WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO
TRAINING FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND THE DIVISION HEADS. ONE OF
THE THINGS WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS
MAKING SURE THE CITY OF SEATTLE
EMPLOYEES, THEY KNOW WHAT OUR
WELCOMING POLICIES ARE AND THAT
THEY ALSO KNOW THE LEGAL
BOUNDARIES THAT ARE SURROUNDING
AROUND THOSE POLICIES THAT WE DO
HAVE IN PLACE. OUR CITY POLICY
AND CITY EMPLOYEES DO NOT
INQUIRE IMMIGRATION STATUS
UNLESS IT'S REQUIRED BY
JUDICIAL ORDER, FOR MAKING SURE
FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT AND DOING
SOME TRAINER WORK. AND THE GOAL
IS TO ESTABLISH THE CLEAR
PROTOCOLS AND HAVE A UNIFORM
STANDARD RESPONSE FOR ALL OF OUR
CITY DEPARTMENTS AND ENSURING
THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROTOL
COS ARE IN PLACE AND IF THEY
ARE, IF THERE ARE ANY INQUIRIES
THAT WILL COME IN PLACE FROM THE
FEDERAL AGENCY, AND THAT WORK IS
GOING REALLY WELL SO FAR. AND
THE OTHER AREA THAT WE'RE
FOCUSED ON IS EXTERNAL. WE HAVE
DONE TRAININGS FOR SERVICE
PROVIDERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS
THAT MAY HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. WE'VE HAD OVER
A THOUSAND PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN
THOSE TRAININGS. THEY HAVE
ACTUALLY SHUT DOWN OUR TEAMS AT
A TIME OUR TEAM'S PLATFORM. AND
SO OUR NEXT ONE WILL BE AT THE
SEATTLE LIBRARY, AND WE ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THAT
TOGETHER RIGHT NOW. THE OTHER
THING WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS
CONVENING OUR FUNDERS. WE ARE
CONSIDERED A FUNDER OR A
CONTRACTOR FOR MANY OF OUR LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS. SO WE PULLED
TOGETHER THE STATE, OUR COUNTY
PARTNERS, AND WE HAVE HAD
CONVENINGS WITH THEM TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE COORDINATING IN OUR
FUNDING. WE KNOW FUNDING CUTS
ARE COMING FROM THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION. AND SO NOW MORE
THANDUPLICATING WHAT
WE'RE DOING, BUT THAT WE ARE
ENSURING THAT THOSE STRONG
ALIGNMENTS ARE AMONG US, AND
THOSE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN GOING
REALLY WELL. WE ARE ALSO
STANDING UP OUR RAPID RESPONSE
PROGRAM, AND THAT WILL FOCUS
HEAVILY ON TRYING TO GET
ACCURATE INFORMATION OUT INTO
THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING OUR
NON-PROFIT PARTNERS WHO ARE
DOING KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING,
SO THERE ARE MORE TO COME ON
THAT. AND THEN LASTLY YOU ALL
HAVE SEEN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
WITH THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP HAS
JOINED LEGAL ACTION WITH 16
OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES ON
SANCTUARY CITY LAWS. WE ARE
WELCOMING CITY, SO THE MAYOR
WILL PROTECT THAT AND WILL FIGHT
FOR IT AS A CITY, AND SO THOSE
JURISDICTIONS ARE WORKING
TOGETHER ON THOSE LEGAL ACTIONS,
WHERE WE ARE FOLLOWING ALL OF
THE LEGAL ACTIONS THAT ARE
COMING FROM THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION. AND OUR
DEPARTMENT SITS IN THE COMMITTEE
OF COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA, AND SO
I'M GIVING COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA AN UPDATE, WHERE I HOPE
THAT INFORMATION WILL REACH THE
REST OF YOU. AND I WILL JUST
CLOSE BY SAYING OUR GOAL IS TO
BE FAIR, TRANSPARENT, AND
LEGALLY SOUND WHEN IT WILL COME
TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND
WE ARE ALWAYS PREPARED TO STAND
FIRM AND PROTECT THE VALUES OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THANK YOU
FOR THE TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING US TO --
>> AND FOR A REFRESHER. WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE ALL OF OUR
PRESENTERS PRESENT FIRST AND
THEN WE'LL DO A LONGER BLOCK
WITH QUESTIONS. SO MOVING TO
WASHINGTON IMMIGRANT SOLIDARITY
NETWORK.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. AS I MENTIONED,
MY NAME IS VANESSA, AND I'M
WITH THE WASHINGTON IMMIGRANT
SOLIDARITY NETWORK KNOWN AS
WAISN. IT'S A STATEWIDE NETWORK
FORMED AFTER THE RESULTS OF THE
2016 ELECTION, AND OUR MISSION
IS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND
ADVANCE THE POWER OF REFUGEES IN
OUR STATE. WE DO THIS THROUGH
OUR PILLARS OF DEPORTATION
DEFENSE OR DEPORTATION DEFENSE
HOTLINE, RAPID RESPONSE, AND THE
COMPANY AND THE FAIR FIGHT BOND
FUND. THESE ARE THE WAYS IN
WHICH WE SUPPORT OUR REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES, SHARING IMPORTANT
INFORMATION, SUCH AS KNOW YOUR
RIGHTS, CONNECTING THEM TO
COMMUNITY RESOURCES FROM FOOD
BANKS TO HOUSING AND TO LEGAL
AID. SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO BE
RELEASED FROM IMMIGRATION
DETENTION AND THROUGH PAIN AND
IMMIGRATION BOND, AND
DISPATCHING TRAINED VOLUNTEERS
TO THE REPORTS OF THE
IMMIGRATION ACTIVITY AND
MONITORING AND DOCUMENTING
VIOLATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS, INFRINGEMENTS OF CIVIL
RIGHTS OR VIOLATIONS OF STATE
LAW. THIS IS ALSO THE WAY WE
HEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH THE
FEDERAL POLICIES ARE IMPACTING
THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. SINCE
JANUARY 20, WE HAVE SEEN AN
INCREASE IN CALLS TO OUR HOTLINE
WITH REPORTS OF IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT ACTION AND DETENTION
ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING IN
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY. WE'VE
RECEIVED MANY OTHER REPORTS IN
OTHER WAYS IN ADDITION TO THE
HOTLINE. SOME OF THE OVERALL
TRENDS THAT ARE BEING REPORTED
THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU
ALL. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY
REPORTS OF PEOPLE BEING STOPPED
WHILE DRIVING. BY IMMIGRATION
OFFICERS AND UNMARKED VEHICLES
WEARING PLAIN CLOTHES, VESTS
THAT WILL OFTEN SAY THE WORD
POLICE. OFFICERS REFUSING TO
IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. ONE CALLER
WHO WAS STOPPED HAD A TRAFFIC
STOPPED BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS
IS ACTUALLY NATIVE AMERICAN AND
BELIEVES HE WAS RACIALLY
PROFILED. AND HE WAS BRIEFLY
DETAINED BY IMMIGRATION
OFFICERS. WE'VE GOTTEN REPORTS
THAT SEEM TO INDICATE
COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. AND NOT
IN KING COUNTY, BUT OTHER
COUNTIES, WHICH WILL VIOLATE OUR
STATES, KEEP WASHINGTON WORKING
LAW. OFFICERS HAVE BEEN SEEN
KNOCKING ON DOORS IN TRAILER
PARKS AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
AND I.C.E. HAS BEEN SEEN DRIVING
AROUND IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS,
KIND OF CIRCLING AROUND CAUSING
A LOT OF FEAR AND PANIC.
OFFICERS APPEARING AT
COURTHOUSES, COMMUNITY CENTERS,
GROCERY STORES, COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. AND WE HAVE RECEIVED
REPORTS OF I.C.E. APPEARING IN
PEOPLE'S WORKPLACES INCLUDING A
RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN REGULARLY
APPEARING FOR CHECK-INS WITH
IMMIGRATIONS AS THEY WILL
CONTINUE WITH THEIR IMMIGRATION
PROCESS HAVE BEEN DETAINED AT
THOSE CHECK-INS WITHOUT ANY
WARNING IN SEVERAL CASES. THERE
HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE HAD ANKLE MONITORING OR WHO
HAVE BEEN GIVEN A REASON TO
APPEAR IN PERSON AND TO BE
DETAINED. AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO
HAVE CALLED BECAUSE THEY DON'T
KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. WE'VE
GOTTEN REPORTS OF PEOPLE GETTING
DEPORTED VERY QUICKLY AFTER
DETENTION, BEING SENT TO
DETENTION AND OTHER STATES. AND
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE
DETENTION CENTER IN TACOMA
REPORT ON UNSAFE AND UNSANITARY
CONDITIONS. AND NOT SUFFICIENT
STAFFING FOR THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE BEING HELD THERE, FOOD
BEING POOR QUALITY SERVED HOURS
LATE. PEOPLE NOT RECEIVING THE
MEDICAL CARE WHEN THEY NEED IT.
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT ONE
ASYLUM SEEKER WHO HAD BEEN
LIVING IN SOUTH KING COUNTY
WHERE THEY STILL RESIDE, WHO
WERE DETAINED BRIEFLY IN TACOMA
AND THEN SENT TO GUANTANAMO BAY
BEFORE BEING DEPORTED. AND HE
WAS REPORTING MISTREATMENT AND
ABUSE WHILE IN DETENTION. AND
THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IS
CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE SIMPLY
GOING AFTER CRIMINALS, BUT THAT
IS NOT WHAT WE'RE SEEING. THE
REPORTS OF DETENTION INCLUDE
PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT ANY
CRIMINAL RECORDS BEING DETAINED
AND REPORTED. ONE CASE THAT WAS
RECENTLY SHARED WITH US WAS A
SITUATION WHERE A MOTHER WHO WAS
SEEKING ASYLUM WAS TOLD TO
APPEAR FOR AN I.C.E. CHECK-IN.
WHEN SHE APPEARED, SHE WAS
DETAINED AND DEPORTED TO
GUATEMALA ALONG WITH HER
1-YEAR-OLD U.S. CITIZEN CHILD
WITHOUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOTIFY
HER FAMILY, WHERE SHE WAS, OR
WHAT WAS HAPPENING UNTIL SHE WAS
OUT OF THE COUNTRY. AND THE REST
OF HER FAMILY ARE STILL SEEKING
ASYLUM AND THEY ARE LIVING IN
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, AND THEY ARE
AFRAID THAT THEY COULD BE NEXT.
AND THAT FEAR IS RAMPANT IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. WE'VE BEEN TOLD OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE AFRAID
TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSES, AFRAID OF
SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO
SCHOOL. AFRAID OF GOING TO WORK.
PEOPLE WHO STOPPED GOING TO THE
DOCTOR, STOPPED GOING TO FOOD
BANKS. WAISN AND OUR VOLUNTEERS
HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO
DISPEL RUMORS AND
MISINFORMATION, AND TO INFORM
PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEIR RIGHTS
ARE REGARDLESS OF THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS. WE'VE BEEN
REPORTING VIOLATIONS OF OUR
STATE LAWS WITH THE STATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THE
ADMINISTRATION IS NOT JUST GOING
AFTER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT
THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO STOP US
FROM DOING OUR WORK. SOME OF OUR
PARTNERS I'M SURE WILL SPEAK TO
THE FUNDING CUTS THAT HAVE BEEN
THREATENED OF PULLING PROGRAMS
AND FUNDING AND ADDING
ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS TO
PROVIDING SERVICES. THERE HAVE
BEEN CALLS TO PROSECUTE
INDIVIDUALS ORGANIZATIONS AND
ELECTED OFFICIALS
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAININGS,
MONITORING I.C.E. ABUSES. AND
FOUR REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN SENT
A LETTER TO PAM BONDI, ASKING
FOR IT HAD AND SPECIFICALLY
NAMED WAISN ALONG WITH A FEW
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS
LETTER. WE APPRECIATE WHAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE HAS DONE TO
SUPPORT ITS IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE IMMIGRANTS THROUGH THE
WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE.
THROUGH THE WORK OF DIRECTOR
MOHAMED, AND JOINING THE RECENT
LAWSUIT OF MUNICIPALITIES,
CHALLENGING FEDERAL OVERREACH.
AND ADDITIONAL WAYS IN WHICH THE
CITY COUNCIL CAN SUPPORT THEIR
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE IMMIGRANTS
ARE BY CONTINUING TO CHALLENGE
AND PUBLICLY SPEAKING OUT AND
AGAINST THE EFFORTS OF THE
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AS IT IS
STIGMATIZING AND DEMONIZING
REFUGEES. AND BY ASSESSING ALL
CITY POLICIES AND DEPARTMENTS
FOR WAYS IN WHICH THEY COULD PUT
THEM AT GREATER RISK, INCLUDING
WHAT THE POSSIBLE DAMES OF
EXPANDED POLICING, WEAPONS
AGAINST PROTESTERS, AND
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES. AND
BY INVESTMENT IF COMMUNITY
DEPORTATION DEFENSE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE OVERALL
SAFETY NET. THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS USING THEIR BUDGET
TO CARRY OUT AN ANTI-IMMIGRANT
AGENDA, AND WE BELIEVE OUR LOCAL
AND STATE BUDGETS AND POLICIES
SHOULD REFLECT OUR VALUES. IT IS
POSSIBLE TO INVEST IN THESE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I
WENT A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER.
WE WILL HEAR NEXT FROM THE
NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
PROJECT, AND THEN WE'LL HEAR
FROM ONE AMERICA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
WELCOMING US TODAY. THANK YOU
FOR ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING
HERE TOO. IT IS A LOT BETTER
WHEN IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE ALL
TOGETHER. I'M JENNY MASHEK AS I
SAID BEFORE, I'M ONE OF THE
DIRECTING ATTORNEYS AT THE
NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
PROJECT. THE NWIRP AS MANY OF
YOU KNOW HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 30
YEARS. WE'RE A STATEWIDE
ORGANIZATION WITH OUR
HEADQUARTERS HERE IN SEATTLE.
I'VE BEEN IN NWIRP FOR 17
YEARS. I CAN SAY IT WILL IS
REALLY NO GOOD TIME FOR
IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY,
BUT THIS TIME PERIOD IS
PARTICULARLY FRAUGHT. AND SO IT
WAS HARD TO EVEN SYNTHESIZE WITH
A TO BRING TO YOU TODAY BECAUSE
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS. IF YOU
WOULD KINDLY MOVE FORWARD TO THE
NEXT SLIDE. I TRIED TO DO SOME
BULLET POINTS OF SORT OF THE
MOST URGENT THINGS THAT I THINK
ARE RIGHT NOW. AND VANESSA
ELUDED TO MANY OF THESE IN THE
INFORMATION SHE WAS GIVING. SO
I'M GOING TO START GOING
THROUGH THEM. I KNOW PEOPLE
MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS. I KNOW THE
WRITING IS TOO SMALL TO ACTUALLY
READ. SO THE FIRST AREA OF
CONCERN WE SEE IS EXPANDING
CRIMINALIZATION. I'M SURE MANY
OF YOU HEARD ABOUT THE ACT AND
THEIR PASSAGE. ONE THING THAT IS
REALLY GOING TO HAVE A NEGATIVE
IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ARE THE WAY IF WHICH PEOPLE
COULD BE SUBJECT TO MANDATORY
DETENTION WITHOUT BOND, JUST FOR
BEING ARRESTED FOR SHOPLIFTING,
NOT EVEN CONVICTED, BUT JUST
POTENTIALLY BEING ACCUSED AND
ARRESTED. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO
SEE EXPANDED CRIMINALIZATION
THAT WAY. THAT TIES INTO
EXPANDED DEPORTATION AND
EXPEDITED REMOVAL. WE HAVE SEEN
THIS ADMINISTRATION IS REALLY
COMMITTED TO EXPANDING THE
DETENTION CAPACITY ACROSS THE
U.S. CURRENT CAPACITY AT THE
NORTHWEST I.C.E. PROCESSING
CENTER, WHICH IS KNOWN FOR THE
NORTHWEST DETENTION CENTER IS IN
THE 1500s. IT WAS AT AN ALL-TIME
LOW DURING COVID, BUT NOW IT IS
UP TO AROUND, I THINK JUST OVER
1,300 DETAINED PERSONS AND IN
VERY POOR CONDITIONS AS YOU JUST
HEARD. WE HAVE AN OFFICE IN
TACOMA. AND DURING THE, I THINK
THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION, WE RECEIVED A
STOP-WORK ORDER FOR OUR ILLEGAL
ORIENTATION PROGRAM. IT WASN'T
JUST NWIRP, BUT OTHERS THAT WORK
IN THIS FIELD. AND IT WAS LATER
RESCINDED, BUT THE DAMAGE HAD
BEEN DONE. THE OTHER THING WE'RE
SEEING IS THIS ADMINISTRATION IS
REALLY TRYING TO EXPAND THE
REACH OF EXPEDITED REMOVAL. WHAT
THAT MEANS IS THEY'RE GOING TO
BE LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO
HAVE BEEN IN THE U.S. LESS THAN
TWO YEARS, WHO MAY BE SEEKING
SOME KIND OF RELIEF OR NOT. BUT
THEY CAN ESSENTIALLY BE PICKED
UP ANYWHERE, SO IT IS NOT JUST
AT THE BORDER. THEY REALLY
INCREASED THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA
FOR ENFORCEMENT TO A LARGER
AREA. AND THEN IF THEY ARE
SUBJECT TO EXPEDITED REMOVAL,
THEY ARE REMOVED WITHOUT A COURT
HEARING. SO REALLY STRIPPING
AWAY DUE PROCESS FROM FOLKS.
NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO
THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT.
THIS IS CERTAINLY IN THE NEWS
LATELY. IT WILL EVOKE STRONG
CONNOTATIONS TO THINGS THAT
HAPPENED IN THE 20th CENTURY,
YOU KNOW, PERHAPS WE WOULD SEE
AGAIN. AND SO IN FEBRUARY, THEY
ANNOUNCED A NEW POLICY THAT IS
REQUIRING ALL IMMIGRANTS TO
REGISTER WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
IT'S BASED ON THE EXISTING AREA
OF THE LAW AND NEVER ENFORCED
UNDER ANY ADMINISTRATION. AND
THEY WILL REQUIRE PEOPLE WHO ARE
14 YEARS OR OLDER WHO HAVE NOT
BEEN FINGERPRINTED OR REGISTERED
AS PART OF THE APPLICATION
PROCESS TO ACTUALLY GO ONLINE
AND REGISTER THEMSELVES AND
APPLY TO BE FINGERPRINTED. AND
SO THAT COULD BE INDIVIDUALS WHO
ENTER THE U.S. WITHOUT
INSPECTION, ADMISSION, OR
PAROLE. THEY'RE SETTING UP THE
PROCESS ONLINE. PEOPLE THAT SEEM
TO BE KIND OF THE MOST -- WIDELY
ASKED QUESTION RIGHT NOW. SHOULD
I GO ONLINE. SHOULD I REGISTER?
OUR POSITION RIGHT NOW IS THAT
THERE HAVE NOT BEEN REGULATIONS
THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED IN
THE FEDERAL REGISTER. SO THIS
TIME, PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE GOING
ONLINE TO DO ANYTHING. AND THE
PROCESS IS NOT ACTUALLY THERE.
ONCE IT IS ANNOUNCED, IT WILL BE
VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO GET
INDIVIDUALIZED ADVICE ABOUT
THAT. AND THAT IS BECAUSE NOT
REGISTERING COULD HAVE
CONSEQUENCES AND REGISTERING
CERTAINLY WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES
FOR PEOPLE UNDOCUMENTED AND WHO
ARE WILLFULLY PUTTING THEIR
INFORMATION OUT THERE. AND EVEN
IF IT BECOMES LAW, YOU KNOW, WE
WOULD BE ADVISING PEOPLE THAT
THEY STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO
REMAIN SILENT. THEY STILL HAVE
THE RIGHT NOT TO INCRIMINATE
THEMSELVES. SO IT WILL BE AN
INDIVIDUAL CASE-BY-CASE
ANALYSIS. BUT I WANTED TO BRING
THAT UP TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT'S FOREMOST IN EVERYONE'S
MIND, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
NWIRP TO GIVE GUIDANCE. AND
LET'S SEE WHAT THEY SAY AND
THEN WE WILL GIVE INDIVIDUAL
GUIDANCE. AND THEN FINALLY WHAT
IS NEAR AND DEAR TO ME. I DON'T
KNOW IF I SAID THIS AT THE TOP,
BUT THE VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN'S ACT, WHICH IS KNOWN AS
OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT. AND
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS AN
EXPANSION OF WHAT WAS STARTED IN
THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION,
AND THAT IS STRIPPING
PROTECTIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE
SURVIVORS OF CRIME, WHETHER THAT
IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL
ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING,
TORTURE, OR ANY OTHER CRIMES. WE
ANTICIPATE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE
PENDING FORMS OF RELIEF, SUCH AS
VICTIMS, THE VISAS FOR
TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS, THEY WILL
BE SUBJECT TO ENFORCEMENT
ACTIONS THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN
UNDER PREVIOUS NON-TRUMP
ADMINISTRATIONS. AND AN EXAMPLE
OF THE PROTECTIONS BEING
STRIPPED IS THAT THIS WEEK, THE
ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THE
REIMPLEMENTATION OF THE NOTICE
TO APPEAR POLICY. PEOPLE WHO
APPLIED FOR HUMANITARIAN FORMS
IF THEY WERE DENIED FOR SOME
REASON, AND AS YOU MIGHT
IMAGINE, IMMIGRATION IS A HUGE
BUREAUCRACY, WHERE THEY MAKE
MISTAKES ALL THE TIME. EVEN IF
PEOPLE WERE DENIED, THEY WILL
AUTOMATICALLY BE ISSUED AND THE
NOTICE TO APPEAR IN IMMIGRATION
COURT, SO WE WILL ESSENTIALLY BE
IN THE PROCESS OF BEING
DEPORTED. AND THAT IS GOING TO
BE HUGELY PROBLEMATIC. AND IT
WILL EXPAND THE CATEGORIES OF
PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO DEFEND
AND REMOVE THE DEFENSE. WE'VE
SEEN HAVING ONE OF THOSE FORMS
IS REALLY PENDING AND IT IS NO
LONGER A GUARANTEE OF GETTING
ANY KIND OF RELIEF IN
IMMIGRATION COURT OR FROM I.C.E.
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. THEY
RESCINDED THE PREVIOUS VICTIM
CENTERED APPROACH MEMO FOR HOW
THEY WILL DEAL WITH FOLKSMENT WE
HAVE HEARD STORIES OF SURVIVORS
BEING DETAINED AND DEPORTED. AND
FINALLY RELATED TO OUR WORK WITH
SURVIVORS. WE HAVE A LARGE
PROGRAM THAT WILL WORK WITH
UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH. AND THEY
INTERRUPTED OUR SERVICES TO
YOUTH. AGAIN, THAT ORDER WAS
RESCINDED, BUT ESSENTIALLY
TRYING TO STOP US FROM DOING OUR
WORK, WHICH WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE NO MATTER WHAT. BUT
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO
MAKE IT AS DIFFICULT AS
POSSIBLE. IF YOU COULD GO TO THE
NEXT SLIDE. I JUST TRIED TO PUT
TOGETHER A FEW VERY GENERAL
POINTS. IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO KEEP PROVIDING LEGAL
DEFENSE FUNDING TO US. AS WE'VE
SEEN ALL THESE THINGS, THE
EXPANDED DETENTION AND
CRIMINALIZATION, IT IS GOING TO
PUT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE INTO A
POSITION WHERE THEY NEED THAT
KIND OF LEGAL DEFENSE. AND THEN
WE NEED CONTINUED FUNDING TO
SUPPORT OUR WORK REPRESENTING
IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF HUMAN
ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AGAIN, THOSE FOLKS WILL NOT HAVE
THE PROTECTIONS THEY'VE HAD
UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS.
MANY OF THEM ARE PROBABLY GOING
TO END UP
PROCEEDINGS, SO WE NEED HELP
WITH THAT. AND GOVERNOR FERGUSON
ANNOUNCED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER TO
CREATE A TASK FORCE TO MAKE A
RAPID RESPONSE TEAM DEALING WITH
FAMILY SEPARATION. WE THINK THAT
IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL. I'LL
STOP THERE, AND I CAN ANSWER
QUESTIONS LATER, BUT I THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL
TRANSITION TO ONEAMERICA.
>> WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. I
WANTED TO START OUT WITH WHAT
YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW, WHICH IS
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES ARE A
DEEP PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. AND THERE ARE
WORKERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS,
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND LIV,
AND THEY WORK IN EVERY SINGLE
DISTRICT THROUGHOUT THE CITY, SO
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL REALLY
LISTENING TODAY AND THINKING
ABOUT THE IMPACTS AND THE ROLES
THAT THEY HAVE. I WANTED TO
START WITH A LITTLE BIT OF
GROUNDING, WHICH IS WHAT SO MANY
OF US HAVE SHARED THAT THERE IS
A DEEP AMOUNT OF FEAR. A
CHILLING AFFECT ON OUR
COMMUNITY. THINGS LIKE THE
THREATS OF MASS DEPORTATION, THE
FEDERAL REGISTRY THAT WE JUST
TALKED ABOUT. EDUCATION AND
SOCIAL SERVICES BEING CUT HAS
CREATED A LOT OF DISTRUST.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESILIENCE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR FOLKS, SOME
OF THE MOST VULNERABLE THAT ARE
STEPPING UP TO ORGANIZE ONE
AMERICA, WHERE WE'RE A POWER
BUILDING ORGANIZATION. WE
ORGANIZE IMMIGRANTS DIRECTLY
IMPACTED TO FIGHT AGAINST
POLICIES THAT IMPACT IMMIGRANTS
AND REFUGEES. SO I REALLY WANT
TO EMPHASIZE AS MUCH FEAR AS
THERE IS, THERE'S A LOT OF
RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH IN OUR
COMMUNITIES THAT WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO LEAN ON AND STAND
FOR. AND REALLY THESE ARE THE
FOLKS WHO WILL BE THE LEADERS OF
WHERE THE CITY, OUR LOCAL
JURISDICTION AND THE STATES WILL
NEED TO GO. I WANT TO SHIFT
BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ALREADY SHARED SO MUCH ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
TO REALLY WHAT ARE THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY. AND
I THINK ONE OF THE BIG
OPPORTUNITIES HERE IS FOR THE
CITY TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN TRUST
WITH IMMIGRANT REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES IN A TIME WHERE
TRUST IS REALLY BROKEN AND THERE
IS DEEP FEAR. I THINK SOME WAYS
FOR THE CITY AND TO CONTINUE TO
BE VOCAL ABOUT YOUR SUPPORT FOR
IMMIGRANTS AT EVERY SINGLE
COUNCIL MEETING. YOU'RE ALL
TRUSTED LEADERS IN THE
COMMUNITY. AND I THINK TO IMPOSE
SOME OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM
THE OTHER ELECTED LEADERS IN DC.
WHAT YOU SAY AND HOW YOU SHOW UP
WILL REALLY MATTER. I ALSO WANT
TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE LAW IN
THIS STATE IS TO KEEP THEM
WORKING AS THEY WILL PREVENT
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM
DIRECTLY HANDING OVER DATA TO
I.C.E. AND IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT. AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF
LAW, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF
TRAINING FOR CITY STAFF AND PORY
DEPARTMENT TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO
MAINTAIN AND UPHOLD THAT LAW AND
HAVE PRACTICES IN PLACE TO
ENSURE THOSE THAT KEEP
WASHINGTON WORKING IS BEING
UPHELD AND INFORMATION IS NOT
BEING SHARED DIRECTLY WITH
IMMIGRATION. THAT'S NOT THE JOB
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE. AND THEN
THE OTHER THING WHICH HAMDI HAS
LED A LOT ON IS ENSURING
LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAMS AND THE
ABILITY FOR THOSE IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES IN OUR CITY TO ACCESS
INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S HAPPENING. SERVICE IS
THE UPMOST IMPORTANCE. AND I
THINK THE CITY HAS LED THE WAY
IN ENCOURAGING YOU ALL TO
CONTINUE AND SUPPORT THAT WORK.
IN TERMS OF FUNDING AND
POLICIES, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
AREAS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO
INVEST IN THE LEGAL DEFENSE
NETWORK, AND SO THAT IS FUNDING
FOR ATTORNEYS, IMMIGRATION
ATTORNEYS, ALSO FUNDING FOR THE
HOTLINE THAT VANESSA TALKED
ABOUT AND OUR MUTUAL AID
FUNCTIONS THAT ARE FUNDING, BUT
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM
TO REALLY STEP UP. IT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS ABOUT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE ENTIRE
CITY. TO SEE MORE INVESTMENTS IN
THOSE LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORKS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. ALSO, I WANT
TO URGE THE CITY TO THINK ABOUT
PREPARATIONS FOR POTENTIAL
LAWSUITS. AND WE SAW NOT ONLY
LAWSUITS AGAINST SOME OF THE
CITIES, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE
MAYORS BEING SUBPOENAED JUST
THIS WEEK. I URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE CITY TO BE
PREPARED. AND NOT TO BE PREPARED
FOR WHEN THEY DO COME OUR WAY
AND TO NOT WAIVER FROM THE
COMMITMENT TO BE A WELCOMING
CITY FROM THE IMMIGRANTS. AND
THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES
BEYOND DEPORTATION AND DEFENSE
FOR IMMIGRANTS FOR THE CITY TO
REALLY BOLSTER THEIR PROGRAMS
AND THINGS LIKE CITIZENSHIP,
WHICH IS THE ONLY PERMANENT
PROTECTION AGAINST DEPORTATION,
REALLY COMMITTING TO FUNDING
MORE LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS
TO BECOME CITIZENS, OPENING B
LISH CLASSES, INVESTMENT AND
WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL
AS PROTECTION FOR FUNDING KNOW
YOUR RIGHTS. MANY OF YOU KNOW
AND WE HAVE BEEN FACED WITH
THIS, A LARGE INFLUX OF ASYLUM
SEEKERS AND THE WORK THE CITY
HAS DONE TO COORDINATE WITH THE
COUNTY, THE STATE, IN GETTING
SUPPORTS TO THOSE ASYLUM
SEEKERS, ENSURING THAT THERE IS
RAPID RESPONSE INFRASTRUCTURE,
HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE, CASE
MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE TO
SUPPORT THOSE THAT ARE COMING TO
THE STATE AND THE CITY TO SEEK
FREEDOM REALLY
SOLID. AND THEN AGAIN, REALLY
FUNDING THE RAPID RESPONSE
NETWORKS AND DEPORTATION
DEFENSE, AND THEN THE RUB WILL
ALWAYS BE AROUND THE FUNDING AND
WITH THE THREATS OF FEDERAL
FUNDING BEING PULLED. SO I WANT
TO JUST END WITH AN URGE TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SOURCES THAT
THE CITY CAN CONSIDER TO REALLY
MEET THESE NEEDS BECAUSE THE
NEEDS ARE GOING TO GROW. OUR
ABILITY TO ACCESS FEDERAL FUNDS
MAY BECOME MORE LIMITED. AND SO
REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE
CITY HAS OPPORTUNITIES IN TERMS
OF PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, NOW WE'LL TURN IT
OVER TO THE GSBA.
>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR HAVING US. GSBA STARTED
IN THE CITY IN 1980. WE STARTED
DURING A SITUATION IN WHICH THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY WAS
MISUNDERSTOOD AND WAS NOT VERY
WELL SUPPORTED IN THE PUBLIC
LIGHT. AND SINCE THEN, WE HAVE
GROWN TO SEE A STATEWIDE
MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 1,200 MEMBERS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WE ARE
STILL MOSTLY CENTERED IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. ONCE AGAIN,
WE'RE IN A POSITION, YOU KNOW,
ONE OF THE MANY RIGHTS, AND
WHERE WE ARE IN A POSITION,
ESPECIALLY OUR TRANS COMMUNITY
IS ONCE AGAIN, THE SUBJECT OF
DEBATE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THAT HAS BROUGHT TRICKLING
IMPACTS TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESS
COMMUNITY. SO JUST A SNAPSHOT OF
SEATTLE'S LGBTQ SMALL
BUSINESSES. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT
8 L% OF WASHINGTON'S SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE LGBTQ+ OWNED. AND
IT IS ALSO LIKELY HIGHER
STATEWIDE. UNFORTUNATELY WE
STILL DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA
AS THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN
COLLECTED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
MOSTLY THE LGBTQ BUSINESSES
CENTER IN RETAIL AND
HOSPITALITY, MUCH MORE SO THAN
NON-LGBTQ BUSINESSES. MOST ARE
YOUNG, OFTEN THEY ARE LESS THAN
TEN YEARS OLD. THEY ARE ALSO
MORE LIKELY IMPACTED BY MAJOR
SHIFTS. 61% OF LGBTQ OWNED
BUSINESSES WERE REPORTING A
FINANCIAL LOSS IN 2020 COMPARED
TO 48%. COMPRISING OF SOLO
ENTREPRENEURS, ARTISTS,
CONSULTANTS. WE HAVE A LOT OF
START-UP IDEAS AND A LOT OF
MICRO BUSINESSES, OFTEN
COMPRISED OF ONE OR TWO PEOPLE
THAT HAVE AN IDEA THAT THEY WANT
TO MAKE SHINE. AND SO WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING? FIRST IS RELATED
TO THE ANTI-DEI CRACKDOWN AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL. ANTI-DEI
EXECUTIVE ORDERS IMPACT OUR
COMMUNITY IN TWO WAYS. FIRST, BY
ELIMINATING DIVERSITY
INITIATIVES AND FEDERAL CONTACTS
AND SPENDING. AND THIS MEANS
DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL NO LONGER
BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE THE
BUSINESS MINORITY STATUS FOR
SELECTING CONTRACTING BIDS.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HAS HAD THE DIVERSITY PROGRAM
SINCE 1950, IN WHICH IT HAS
CHAMPIONED INCLUSION INCLUDING
MINORITY VOICES AND MINORITY
OWNED BUSINESSES AS PART OF THE
MAJOR ELEMENT OF OUR COUNTRY'S
ECONOMIC SUCCESS. CURRENTLY 25%
OF THE U.S. FEDERAL CONTRACTING
SPENDING WILL FLOW TO SMALL AND
DIVERSE SUPPLIERS, MAKING THEM A
HUGE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE NATIONAL
ECONOMY. AND THIS WILL GO FROM
ALL SORTS OF FEDERAL CONTRACTS
FROM DEFENSE CONTRACTS, ALL THE
WAY DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, BUILDING
INFRASTRUCTURE AND FEDERAL
ROADS. SECOND, BY PROMISING TO
INVESTIGATE LARGER COMPANIES,
PRIVATE COMPANIES TO ENSURE THEY
NO LONGER SUPPORT THE -- TO
ENSURE THEY NO LONGER SUPPORT
GEI. THE EXECUTIVE ORDER SEEKS
TO COMBAT ILLEGAL PRIVATE SECTOR
PREFERENCES. HOWEVER, THAT
EXECUTIVE ORDER DOES NOT DEFINE
WHAT CONSTITUTES ILLEGAL DEI. AS
A RESULT, WE ARE SEEING A LOT
TAKE THE ACTIONS TO MINIMIZE OR
TAKE AWAY THEIR DEI PROGRAMMING
BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT
THEY WILL BE SUBJECT TO
INVESTIGATION OVER. AND RIGHT
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE
ALREADY LEGAL AND LIKE
INCORPORATING RACE BASED HIRING
PREFERENCES. AND WE ARE SEEING
MORE EFFORTS TO CURB THE FOCUS.
AND THAT INCLUDES CORPORATIONS
ARE NO LONGER SETTING DIVERSITY
TARGETS, FOR MANAGERIAL
POSITIONS, WHICH MEANS IT IS
MUCH HARDER FOR FOLKS TO GET A
LEADERSHIP POSITION. IT ALSO
INCLUDES MEETING THE STATE
SPONSORS OF WHEN THEY ARE TAKING
AWAY. AND THEY COULD LEAD TO
PEOPLE FEELING UNSAFE TO REPORT
THE WORKPLACE ISSUES AND CAN
MAKE THE BAD ACTORS FEEL
EMPOWEREDDED TO ACT ON THEIR
PREJUDICES. AND THAT FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES ARE BEING ENCOURAGED
TO REPORT ANY PRO DEI OR, YOU
KNOW, SUPPORTIVE ACTIONS THAT
ARE BEING TAKEN BY THOSE
DEPARTMENTS. AND SO THIS LOSS OF
DIVERSITY GOALS COULD ALSO
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF QUEER
PEOPLE, WHICH WILL IMPACT HOW
SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE THE
COMMUNITY IS TO CONSUMERS. AND
THEY ALSO HAVE IMPACTS OUTSIDE
THE BUSINESSES. WHEN PEOPLE NO
LONGER SEE PRIDE FLAGS IN
STORES, WHEN THEY NO LONGER SEE
COMPANIES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED
THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY CONTINUING
THAT SUPPORT. THAT MEANS THEY
FEEL LESS SAFE GOING TOWARDS
THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS, AND THEY
FEEL LESS SAFE BEING AN OPEN
LIQUOR LGBTQ PERSON IN PUBLIC
AND IN GENERAL WHEN THAT SUPPORT
AT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS BEING
TAKEN B AWAY. AND SECONDLY, WE
ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING HATE.
SPECIFIC ATTACKS AGAINST THE
TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES WILL
RESULT IN INCREASED HATE AND
BIAS INCIDENTS AGAINST SMALL
BUSINESSESSEATTLE IS KNOWN AS
AN OVERALL WELCOMING CITY WITH
MANY SPECIFIC ENCLAVES THAT ARE
FREQUENTED BY THE QUEER
COMMUNITY. THIS MAKES IT
UNFORTUNATELY EASY FOR BAD
ACTORS TO TARGET QUEER OWNED
BUSINESSES AND PLACES THAT CATER
TO OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN THESE
INCIDENTS INCREASE, PEOPLE ARE
LESS FREQUENTLY THESE PREVIOUSLY
SAFE AREAS. AND BASICALLY IT IS
HARDER TO BE AN OUT LGBT PERSON
ATTENDING A HISTORICALLY LGBT
SPACE BECAUSE OF THOSE FEARS OF
POTENTIAL BIAS INCIDENTS. AND
THIS ALSO HURTS THE ECONOMY AS
THOSE BUSINESSES ARE IMPACTED BY
A LACK OF OUTREACH. AS FOLKS,
AGAIN, ARE MORE PRONE TO
SPENDING THEIR MONEY LOCALLY,
NOT THOSE BUSINESSES. AND THEN
FINALLY WE WILL SEE A LOT OF
FEDERAL SUPPORT AT THE
DEPARTMENT LEVEL. UNFORTUNATELY
IN A STATUS QUO, THE BUSINESSES
ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE APPROVED
FOR BUSINESS LOANS THAN THEIR
NONCOUNTERPARTS. IN 2023, 80% OF
THE QUEER OWNED BUSINESSES WERE
NOT APPROVED FOR A LOAN COMPARED
TO 48%. IN FACT, 33% OF THE
BUSINESSES WERE TOLD LENDERS DID
NOT APPROVE BUSINESSES FOR
FUNDING LIKE THEIRS. THE FEDERAL
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES GET LOANS
BY REDUCING, BY SETTING
GUIDELINES FOR LOANS AND
REDUCING LENDER RISKS WITH LOAN
GUARANTEES. ESSENTIALLY THIS
WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR LGBTQ
AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES TO
RECEIVE LOANS THROUGH THE SMALL
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. THEY
ALSO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND
SUPPORTING FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS LIKE BANKS TO
DERISK MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES
AND ALSO PROVIDE THEIR OWN LOANS
WITH HIGHER INTEREST RATES. THEY
PROVIDE AN AWESOME LOAN THAT HAS
HELPED SEVERAL LOCAL BUSINESSES.
LAST YEAR THEY DISPERSED A TOTAL
OF $384,000 TO 28 SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS. IN LOANS SECURING 100%
BIKE GRANTS AT A FIXED RATE OF
4%. BUT GET THIS, ONCE THE LOAN
HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL, THE
GRANTS SECURING THESE LOANS
WOULD THEN BE RELEASED BACK TO
THE SMALL BUSINESS GIVING THAT
SMALL BUSINESS EXTRA CAPITAL TO
BE USED AT THEIR DISCRETION IN
ORDER TO FACILITATE THEIR
BUSINESS. SO NOT ONLY DO THEY
GET A LOAN, BUT THEN THEY GET
THAT AMOUNT BACK AS A GRANT
AFTERWARDS WITH ADDITIONAL
FUNDING. AND THAT MEANS A LOT OF
SUPPORT THAT THE ORGANIZATION
WILL PROVIDE TO OUR BUSINESSES
WILL NO LONGER GO AWAY, WHICH
WILL, YOU KNOW, NEGATIVELY
IMPACT LGBTQ OWNED BUSINESSES,
MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES THAT
RELY ON THOSE MINORITY FOCUSED
GRANTS, AS WELL AS THE SMALL
BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN GENERAL AS
THEY RELY ON THE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, THE LOAN FUNDING,
THE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
SO GOING FORWARD, WHAT CAN THE
CITY DO? THE CITY CAN HELP
PROVIDE, CAN HELP A BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AT LARGE BY PROVIDING
GUIDANCE ON HOW BUSINESSES CAN
RESPOND TO THE DEI, THE THREATS
AT THE DEL. THIS ARE A LOT
OF CONFUSIONS AND A LOT OF
UNKNOWNS IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY
CAN OR CANNOT SAY THAT HAS
UNFORTUNATELY RESULTED IN LESS
INVESTMENT S OF BUSINESSES THAT
WANT TO CONTINUE THEIR DEI
SUPPORT. AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE
COULD HELP CONTINUE PROVIDING
PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO
LGBTQ OWNED BUSINESSES AND ENB
COURAGE THE STATE AND LOCAL
SUPPLIER PROCUREMENT OFFICES
THAT YOU WORK WITH AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU, NEXT,
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT THE WORK OF OUR OFFICE AND
THE CONTEXT OF WORKER AND LABOR
RIGHTS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS EVER A
MOMENT, WHICH ACTUALLY
DEMONSTRATED THE WISDOM OF
CREATING A SEPARATE LOCAL OFFICE
TO PROTECT WORKERS AND SET LABOR
STANDARDS, IT IS RIGHT NOW. AT A
TIME OF RETREAT AND HOSTILITY
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TOWARDS WORKERS. AT A TIME WHEN
WE SEE CHANGES FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. CHANGES TO
THE LEGAL AUTHORITY AND
INTERPRETATION OF FEDERAL LABOR
LAW. AND THE INTERSECTION OF
THESE ISSUES WITH THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT TODAY. IT IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT WE WILL
HAVE A LOCAL OFFICE HERE FUNDED
BY AND SUPPORTED BY THE CITY TO
UPHOLD WORKER RIGHTS AND TO
EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY BOTH
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS ABOUT
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO UPHOLD
THE CITY'S LABOR STANDARDS. AND
SO I AM PLEASED TO LEAD AN
OFFICE THAT HAS BEEN WORKING ON
THIS NOW FOR A TEN-YEAR PERIOD
SINCE THE BEGINNING WHEN WE
BECAME A PART OF THE OFFICE FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS. THE WISDOM OF THE
COUNCIL, PRIOR COUNCILS AND
MAJORS TO ESTABLISH BOTH THE
LABOR STANDARDS PROTECTIONS THAT
WILL CREATE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND
WAGE THEFT LAWS THAT ARE
CELEBRATING THEIR TEN YEAR
ANNIVERSARIES THIS YEAR. AND
ALSO DEMONSTRATING HOW THE CITY
OF SEATTLE HAS A HISTORY OF
GOING ON ITS OWN WHEN IT NEEDS
TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED IN THIS
CITY AND OUR OFFICES, THE
TESTIMONY TO THAT. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THIS IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE WORKERS WHO ARE
BEING IMPACTED BY THE CURRENT
ENVIRONMENT AND THE WORKERS WHO
WE RELY ON WHO ARE THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE MAKING OUR CITY FUNCTION
AND WHO OUR LABOR STANDARDS
PROTECT. WE'RE A CERTIFYING
AGENCY FOR YOU AS I SIGN SIX
AFFIDAVITS THIS MORNING TO
SUPPORT THE APPLICATIONS OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKERS AND WE
HAVE BEEN A CERTIFYING AGENCY
FOR A LONG TIME. THAT'S BECAUSE
AS THE LABOR STANDARDS AGENCIES,
THESE WORKERS ARE COMING FORWARD
TO SECURE OUR RIGHTS AND OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THEY WILL
HELP THEM AS THEY WILL NEED TO
SUPPORT THEIR STATUS. IN LIGHT
OF FEDERAL POLICY CHANGES, WE
HAVE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY
PARTNERS ABOUT CONCERNS THE
IMMIGRANT WORKERS ARE
INCREASINGLY AFRAID OF REPORTING
LABOR STANDARDS TO GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES. AND WE HAVE HAD A LONG
HISTORY. IT IS IN OUR ORDINANCE
THAT CREATED BOTH BUSINESS
OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH
FUNDED PROGRAMS, WHERE WE WOULD
WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
ORGANIZATIONS, THAT ARE EMBEDDED
IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO WILL HAVE
RELATIONSHIPS DIRECTLY WITH THE
WORKERS MOST IMPACTED BY THE
LABOR LAWS. THAT MEANS WE HAVE A
GOOD WAY TO PARTNER WITH THE
COMMUNITIES IN OUR OUTREACH AND
ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS TO OPEN B
SURE THE LABOR PROTECTIONS TO
THE IMMIGRANT WORKERS AND
WORKERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS ARE
SAFEGUARDED. IN THAT CONTEXT, I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC
ISSUES OR INFORMATION THAT MIGHT
BE HELPFUL FOR YOU TO KNOW. A
REMINDER THAT OUR LABOR
STANDARDS AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WILL APPLY REGARDLESS OF
IMMIGRATION STATUS. IF I COULD
SAY ONE THING ON THE ENDLESS
LOOP, I WOULD DO THAT BECAUSE IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW
THAT OUR LAWS WILL APPLY
REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION
STATUS. AND THAT WE WILL BE HERE
TO ENSURE AND SUPPORT THOSE THAT
WE WILL INTERSECT WITH AND THE
INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS AND OUR
PROCESS ALLIANCE WITH BOTH THE
MUNICIPAL CODE. THAT WE'RE
PLEASED TO HAVE THOSE PROCESSES
THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN
PLACE SINCE THE PRIOR TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION AND EARLIER. AND
IN OUR INVESTIGATIONS AND IN OUR
OUTREACH AND ENFORCEMENT WORK,
WE NEVER ASK ABOUT OR DOCUMENT
IMMIGRATION STATUS. WE DON'T
WANT TO KNOW. PLEASE DON'T HAVE
US. AND TO ENSURE THAT WE WILL
INFORM THEM THAT WE DON'T NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT IMMIGRATION STATUS
AND THEIR CONTEXT OF WHERE THEY
WILL COME FORWARD WITH A
CONCERN. FINALLY I THINK THAT IT
IS IMPORTANT TO HOLD UP. AND THE
ACCESS PROGRAMS FOR THE CITY
AGENCY AND AMONG THE LABOR
STANDARDS NATIONALLY. AND THE
COMMITMENT, IT IS A PART OF
MAKING OUR WORK ACCESSIBLE TO
THE WORKERS WHO ARE MOST
DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY OUR LAWS.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT
AND YOU CAN LOOK AMONG THE 19 OR
20 LANGUAGES ON OUR WEBSITE TO
KNOW THAT COMMITMENT IS HERE TO
STAY AND IT IS A PART OF WHAT WE
WILL DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND
REFUGEE AFFAIRS AND OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, YOU
KNOW, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE
EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS. WHAT I
WILL TALK ABOUT IS THAT WE ARE
ONLY SIX WEEKS INTO THE CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION. AND THAT THERE
ARE SOME DECLINES IN
PARTICIPATION AND IN-PERSON
TRAININGS. SOME HESITATION AND
INTERACTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS, AND A STRONG
AVOIDANCE TO SIGNING UP FOR
TRAININGS OR SERVICES WITH THEIR
NAMES. A DESIRE NOT TO BE
IDENTIFIED AS BY NAME, A CONCERN
ABOUT WHERE THAT INFORMATION
WILL GO. YOU KNOW, IT IS TOO
EARLY TO SEE THESE CHANGES
NECESSARILY IN OUR COMPLAINT TO
THE INTAKE DATA. WE KNOW THAT IS
OUT THERE. WE ARE PAYING
ATTENTION TO IT, AND WE ARE
TRACKING TO SEE WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THAT REGARD. MANY
COMPLAINTS WILL COME TO OLS
THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
MY COLLEAGUE RIGHT NEXT TO ME
FROM THE FAIR WORKS CENTER IS A
CORE PART OF THAT WORK THAT WE
WILL DO IN COMMUNITY. AND SO
THEY WILL LEARN INFORMATION AND
BRING THAT INFORMATION TO OUR
ORGANIZATION. AND SO ANY IMPACTS
THAT ARE GOING ON, IF THEY WILL
SPILL OVER INTO THEIR INTAKE
WORK, AND THEY COULD TALK ABOUT
THAT. AND HOW THAT WILL HAPPEN
AS TIME WILL GO ON AND JUST
TRUST THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE
FRONTLINE FOLKS WHO ARE SEEING
THIS AND ADAPT ACCORDINGLY. SO
WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING TO,
YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO ADJUST OUR
OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL
ACTIVITIES. NOT ONLY TO WORKERS,
BUT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS
WELL BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW
CRITICAL IT IS TO HAVE ACCURATE
INFORMATION UPSTREAM TWO
BUSINESSES ABOUT LABOR
STANDARDS. AND SO WE ARE ALSO
TALKING ABOUT SUPPORTING
BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITIES
WHERE THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
BEING IMPACTED BY IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT ACTION. IT'S NOT
JUST THE WORKERS, BUT THE
BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL AND THE
WORKERS WHO WORK FOR THEM AND
MAKING SURE THAT SIMILARLY WE
ARE DOING IN-LANGUAGE CULTURALLY
RESPONSIVE WORK WITH THOSE
BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL. AND SO
SEATTLE'S LABOR STANDARDS, I
THINK THEY HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW,
THE RANGE OF THEM WE ENFORCE
HAVE BEEN ENFORCED FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS. SOME NEWER THAN OTHERS
AND SOME OLDER. I THINK WE ARE
WELL POSITIONED TO OPERATE IN
THIS ENVIRONMEN
STRATEGICALLY AS POSSIBLE, AS
ACTIVELY AS POSSIBLE GIVEN THE
LEVEL OF FEDERAL UNCERTAINTY. WE
ARE GOING TO LEAN HARD INTO OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS,
AND WE ARE GOINTO CONTINUE OUR
INCLUSIVE PRACTICES THAT WILL
MAKE SURE WORKERS AND BUSINESS
OWNERS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS
EXPECTED OF THEM IN TERMS OF
LABOR STANDARDS. AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON ANY FUTURE
ENDEAVORS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE
LABOR STANDARD AREA, SO THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE
MLK LABOR COUNCIL AND ROUNDING
OUT THE CENTER.
>> AND MY NAME IS RICO VALDEZ,
AND I COORDINATE MLK LABOR. THEY
WILL REPRESENT 150 UNIONS AND
150,000 WORKERS IN OUR REGION.
THE IMPACTS OF THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION THAT ARE BEING
FELT DEEPLY BY WORKERS IN OUR
MOVEMENT. SUPPORTING LAID OFF
WORKERS, THAT THEY MENTIONED IN
THE LETTER THAT ARE UNION
MEMBERS. AND SO WE ARE
SUPPORTING THOSE MEMBERS HERE IN
SEATTLE. AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
HOW FUNDING MEDICAID WILL IMPACT
UNION MEMBERS IN HEALTHCARE,
CHILDCARE, AND ELDER CARE. OUR
MEMBERS LITERALLY MAKE KING
COUNTY FUNCTION ACROSS EVERY
INDUSTRY. AS A LABOR COUNCIL, WE
ARE WORKING TO MITIGATE THE
IMPACTS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION
ON AFFECTED UNION MEMBERS. WE
NEED LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO WORK IN
LOCK STEP WITH US TO ADDRESS THE
GAPS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE ARE
WORKING WITH LOCAL UNIONS TO
CAPACITATE THEM ON HOW THEY CAN
PREEMPTIVELY PROTECT ALL
IMMIGRANT UNION MEMBERS. AND
THEY HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO
ABRUPTLY END SEVERAL PROGRAMS
THAT HAVE PROVIDED TEMPORARY
PROTECTION FROM DEPORTATION FOR
THOUSANDS OF UNION MEMBERS. AND
THEY'RE AT SERIOUS RISK AS THEY
ARE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION THAT
THEY COULD TRUST. AND THEY HAVE
ALREADY HELD TRAININGS WITH MORE
THAN 40 AFFILIATES TO
PROACTIVELY SAFEGUARD SEATTLE
AND KING COUNTY WORKERS. WE HAVE
PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE THE FAIR WORK CENTER AND
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE NEED A
STRONG LABOR COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS THIS
CRISIS. WE HAVE A LEGAL
OBLIGATION TO PROTECT AND DEFEND
OUR MEMBERS. BUT AS THE KING
COUNTY LABOR MOVEMENT, WE
BELIEVE WE HAVE A MORAL DUTY TO
STAND UP FOR ALL WORKERS.
REGARDLESS OF THE INDUSTRY AND
RACE AND REGARDLESS OF LEGAL
STATUS . WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE
IS IMPACTING THE WILLINGNESS TO
COME FORWARD WITH THEIR LABOR
RIGHTS WHEN THEIR LABOR RIGHTS
ARE BEING GROSSLY VIOLATED.
WORKERS ARE EXPERIENCING
IMMIGRATION BASE INTIMIDATION
AND BAD ACTORS ARE MORE
EMBOLDENED THAN EVER TO USE THE
THREAT OF DEPORTATION AS A
TACTIC TO STOP WORKER
ORGANIZING. IN A RECENT CAMPAIGN
IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, THE
COMPANY USES THE THREAT OF
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TO SCARE
WORKERS AWAY FROM FORMING THEIR
UNION. AND THE COMPANY WAS
WILLING TO DECIMATE THEIR OWN
WORK FORCE TO CONTINUE
SUPPRESSING LABOR RIGHTS.
KNOWING THEY WILL FACE THE
REPERCUSSIONS THAT THEY WILL
FACE FROM THIS FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. THEY WILL START
DOING THE SAME, TRAINING WORKERS
WHO WILL CREATE THEIR WEALTH
WITH THEIR LABOR. AND IT IS
THEIR POSITION THAT WILL BE
STRENGTHENING PROTECTIONS FOR
ALL WORKERS IS THE UPMOST
IMPORTANCE. WE SHOULD BE, AND
THEY SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE
AGENDA, WHERE THEY ARE AT THE
WORKERS RIGHTS NATIONALLY, WHERE
I HEARD THEM SAY THAT THREE
TIMES TODAY AND THAT TESTING AND
PROVIDING PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR
THE COUNTRIES FOR THE WHOLE
COUNTRY THAT A MINIMUM WAGE WAS
NOT TOO HIGH THAT THEY COULD
HAVE A UNION WITHOUT THE ECONOMY
COLLAPSING. AND NOW IS NOT THE
TIME TO ABANDON THOSE VALUES
THEY'RE COMMITTED TO WORKING
WITH YOU TO ENSURE THAT SEATTLE
WILL REMAIN A NATIONAL LABOR
LEADER IN UPHOLDING STRONG LABOR
STANDARDS FOR ALL WORKERS. WE
ASK THEM NOT TO COMPLY IN
ADVANCEMENT OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL
EXECUTIVE ORDERS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. AND OUR LAST
SPEAKER WILL BE THE FAIR WORK
CENTER.
>> I THINK THE TECHNICAL TERM IS
BATTING CLEAN UP. HI, EVERYBODY,
DANIELLE ALVARADO, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT FAIR WORK CENTER. AS
A WORKERS' RIGHTS ORGANIZATION,
WE SPENT THE LAST DECADE DOING
BOTH COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND KNOW
YOUR RIGHTS WORK AND
REPRESENTING WORKERS WHERE IT IS
THE ONLY PROGRAM OF THEIR KIND
IN THIS STATE THAT DOES
EMPLOYMENT LAW. SO I HOPE MY
COMMENTS TODAY COULD ILLUSTRATE
WHAT IS HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, IN
TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND ON
THE GROUND. WORKERS WE WORK
WITH, THAT MANY FOLKS, THEY HAVE
CAPTURED IN THEIR COMMENTS AND
THE WORKERS THAT ARE LIKELY TO
BE TARGETED BY SOME OF THE
FEDERAL DIRECTIVES THAT I KNOW
WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT, AND
WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THOSE
ALARMING IMPACTS OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN THE NATIONAL LEVEL
AND HERE IN SEATTLE. SOME OF THE
WAYS WE COULD THINK ABOUT IN THE
FEDERAL AND LOCAL AND IN TERMS
OF WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY
ARE ENFORCED. AND THEY COULD
UNDERSTAND THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT THERE IS
A LOT OF TALK AND PARTICULARLY
AS IMMIGRANTS, WHERE IT IS NOT
CLEAR TO PEOPLE AND SOMETHING
THAT THEY ARE DOING OR THE STATE
AGENCY OR LOCAL AGENCIES, THAT
THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW THERE ARE
THREE AGENCIES. AND WHAT WE'RE
SEEING IS A LOT OF CONFUSION AND
TO COME FORWARD OR CONTINUE WITH
CASES THAT PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED
IN, AND SO THAT IS THE WORK TO
DIRECT PEOPLE TO OLS OR OTHER
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, WHERE WE
PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES. AND
IN THOSE CASES THAT ARE ONGOING,
WE HAVE SEEN OUR CLIENTS BE
WILLING TO SIGN THEIR NAME TO
DECLARATIONS AND TO COME TO
COURT. AND WHETHER OR NOT THEIR
FORMAL RIGHTS HAVE CHANGED AND A
LEVEL OF APPREHENSION, AND THAT
WE HAVE A CASE RIGHT NOW WHERE
WE ARE SEEING IN SOME CASES,
DEFENDANTS ARE TARGETING PEOPLE
BECAUSE THEY KNOW IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT, IMMIGRANT CLIENTS
WILL HAVE OTHER CONCERNS IN
ADDITION TO FORCING THEIR
RIGHTS, SO WE WOULD HAVE A RACE
RIGHT NOW THAT WILL INVOLVE THE
SEATTLE BUSINESS. AND IN THAT
COURSE, WE HAVE HAD REPORTS THAT
THE SPANISH SPEAKING WORKERS
SPECIFICALLY AND ONLY HAVE BEEN
ASKED TO SIGN ENGLISH THAT IS HG
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ONGOING
CASE, WHERE THAT KIND OF THING
IS A THING THAT WE'RE
CONSIDERED ABOUT AND BECOMING
NORMALIZED. NOT BECAUSE EVERY
BUSINESS WILL TAKE THAT
ORIENTATION, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE
OPERATING IN A NATIONAL CLIMATE,
WHERE THAT TYPE OF SENTIMENT IS
BECOMING NORMALIZED. AND THE
ISSUE WITH CONFUSION IS NOT JUST
ABOUT THE IMPACT FOR THEM, BUT
WE COULD UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE
ARE NOT CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THEIR
RIGHTS ARE, AND THAT WILL BE A
MUCH BIGGER OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE NOT TO RAISE CONCERNS.
AND WHETHER IT IS THROUGH
ADDRESSING CONCERNS IN THE
WORKPLACE, WHERE WE WILL HAVE A
POSSIBILITY OF ISSUES THAT COULD
BE ADDRESSED OR ISSUES THAT ARE
HAPPENING THAT WE DON'T KNOW
ABOUT AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE
IT BEFORE THEY CONTINUE TO WITH
RIGHTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO
THEM. AGAIN, THEY WILL CREATE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND THAT
THERE IS AN ON SLOT OF THE
UPDATES, AND IT IS WITHDRAWN.
AND THAT AMOUNT OF CONFUSION IS
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GETTING A
LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT. AS OTHER
FOLKS HAVE SAID, THAT LACK OF
CLARITY AND THE KINDS OF PEOPLE
THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, THAT
IT IS WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE
DONE ANYTHING WITH IT UNLESS
THEY ARE BRIDGING THAT GAP. WE
KNOW IN THE CONTEXT OF LABOR
ENFORCEMENT THAT I WANT TO
UPLIFT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT
THE LABOR WORK WE DO IS NOT ONLY
THINKING ABOUT WORKERS, BUT
THINKING ABOUT BUSINESSES THAT
ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR
WORKERS, TO BE A PART OF OUR
LOCAL ECONOMY AND TO BE
SUBJECTED BY HAVING OTHER PEOPLE
WHO ARE GETTING AWAY WITH
VIOLATING THE LAW AND THAT THEY
REALLY HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON
BUSINESSES THAT WE WANT TO HAVE
TO SUPPORT AND THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND THAT
UNFORTUNATELY, WHERE SHE NOT YET
SEEN ALL OF THE ACTION THAT WE
WILL SEE IN THAT FEDERAL LEVEL
ON B A RANGE OF ISSUES. THAT WE
CAN EXPECT ADDITIONAL WEAKENING
OF THE WORK THAT WILL HAPPEN IN
THEIR RELATIONS BOARD AND SOME
OF THE FEDERAL LABOR STANDARDS.
SO WE DON'T KNOW YET BOTH ON
THE SUBSTANTIVE AND IN TERMS OF
PUBLIC PERCEPTION WHAT THE
IMPLICATIONS OF THAT ARE GOING
TO BE. AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF
WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING
AND THAT OTHER FOLKS HERE ARE
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE
WORKING CLOSELY WITH AND IT IS A
LOCAL RIGHTS WHERE WE SPENT A
LOT OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL TIME
AND FOCUS, WHERE THAT IS A
DEEPENED PRIORITY FOR US NOW.
AND SO NATURALLY THE WORK HAS TO
SHIFT TO TALK TO PEOPLE TO
CLARIFY. THE HERE ARE THE RIGHTS
THAT YOU STILL DO HAVE AND THAT
WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF
CONVERSATION. BECAUSE IF WE
DON'T ADDRESS THEIR SAFETY AND
WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THEY GET TO
THE TRAINING. AND ABOUT WITH A
THEIR RIGHTS ARE IN THE
WORKPLACE. AND MAKING SURE WE DO
OUR PARTS TO ENSURE I CITY WILL
BE THE CITY WE ALL DESERVE AND
WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO. AND TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE SHOWING THE
THINGS WE'RE DOING RIGHT THAT
WE NEED TO CONTINUE. I STRONGLY
WANT TO UNDERSCORE HOW GOOD IT
IS AND WE HAVE AN OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS, AND IT IS VERY
POSSIBLE. PROBABLY ALL OF US
HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE
THIS SOUNDS HYPERBOLIC OR WE
COULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION.
AND IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE
ONLY AGENCY THAT THEY CAN
ACCESS. AND THAT I THINK IT
SHOULD BE SOMETHING WE ARE AWARE
OF HAVING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE
AND SOMETHING WE'LL NEED TO
RELY ON IN DIFFERENT WAYS
POTENTIALLY. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND SOMETHING ELSE
THAT I THINK IS A PRACTICE THAT
WE COLLECTIVELY BRING TO THIS
MOMENT IS THE PRIOR EXPERIENCE
THAT WE WOULD HAVE WITH THE
GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS. AND WE
KNOW ALL OVER THE CITY. AND THAT
THEY WILL BE INTENTIONALLY
GENERATED BY OTHER PARTS OF THE
GOVERNMENT. AND SO I JUST THINK
WE BRING THEM ON THE COMMUNITY
SIDE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT
WE HAVE PRACTICE IN HOW TO DO
THAT IN A WAY THAT WILL GET
PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP
TAPPING INTO THAT. AND THAT IT
IS HOW COMMITTED WE ARE TO THE
KIND OF CITY THAT WE WANT TO
HAVE AND THAT I ECHO WHAT THEY
ASK AROUND BEING VOCAL. AND ALSO
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PEOPLE TO SEE. AND I'M NOT JUST
TALKING ABOUT MY ORGANIZATION
WHEN I SAY THAT. AND THERE ARE
SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE
CITY WHO CAN HELP CONNECT THE
CITY. AND I SEE HOW YOU UPLIFT
PEOPLE WORKING IN THE DISTRICT.
AND THAT THEY ARE BEING
DISCOURAGED TO CONNECTING
RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE FOR
THEM. I'LL CLOSE IT BY SAYING
THAT THAT LEADERSHIP IS SENDING
STRONG MESSAGES, AND THE WORK
THAT SEATTLE HAS DONE ON SO MANY
ISSUES ARE THERE ON THIS MOMENT.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE THAT. AND TO THINK
ABOUT HOW TO LEAD AND NOT JUST
ON ONE SPECIFIC ISSUE AND NOT
JUST THINKING NATIONALLY, BUT
EVEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
STATE, PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING
TO SEATTLE. AND THAT AS WE
CHARTER OUR WAYS FORWARD.
THANKS.
>> AMAZING. THANK YOU, ALL. AND
WE JUST HEARD A LOT HERE AND
THAT I WANT TO QUICKLY STATE FOR
THE RECORD. I JUST WANTED TO
STATE THAT FOR THE RECORD. NOW
I'D LOVE TO OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS FOR OUR AMAZING PANEL.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE PANELIST
FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO SAY
THAT I HAVE TO RUN TO MEET A
CONSTITUENT BACK IN THE
DISTRICT, AND I HAVE TO GET
THERE. BUT I REALLY WANT TO GIVE
A STRONG UPDATE TO OUR DIRECTOR
WHO IS HOLDING DOWN THE FRONT.
SHE AND I ARE IF CLOSE CONTACT
AND ON OUR MONDAY BRIEFINGS, WE
SHARE BACK WHAT SHE SHARES WITH
ME ABOUT THE WORK THEY'RE
DOING, WHICH IS A LOT. I WILL
SAY THAT I'M SO APPRECIATIVE
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN FUNDING
THINGS LIKE THE LEGAL DEFENSE
NETWORK FOR A LONG TIME, AS WELL
AS, YOU KNOW, THE WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT WORK OUT OF ELVIRA.
AND ALL OF THAT WILL CONTINUE. I
KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
DIRECTOR MOHAMED AND HER TEAM
ARE PRIORITIZING. I ALSO KNOW
THAT THE CITY VIA DIRECTOR
MOHAMED IS ENGAGED WITH THE
GOVERNOR AND SITTING ON THOSE AS
PART OF THIS, YOU KNOW,
COLLABORATION AND COALITION, AND
LOCAL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. WE HAVE TO
LET OUR COUNTY AND STATE
PARTNERS TO DO THIS WORK
TOGETHER. AND I ALSO WANT TO
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THOSE WHO
CREATED A RAPID RESPONSE TEAM.
AND DIRECTOR MOHAMED HAS BEEN
PLUGGED INTO THE STATE LEVEL.
AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND ALSO
JOINED THAT COALITION OF
MUNICIPALITIES. AND RELATED TO
THE CITY POLICIES, WHERE THERE
IS A LOT OF LIVE IN A CITY THAT
SUPPORTIVE OF OUR IMMIGRATION
POPULATIONS. WITH OUR COUNTY
PARTNERS. AND TO ADDRESS THE
WORK. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR
CONTINUED COLLABORATION ON THIS
WORK. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE. I'M SO SORRY I HAVE TO
RUN OFF, BUT I WANTED TO SAY
THOSE THINGS. LIKE I SAID, I
REALLY WANT TO UPLIFT THE
ORGANIZATION AND THE DEPARTMENT
IN OUR CITY WHO IS DOING THE
HEAVY LIFTING ON THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE. AND SO THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR MOHAMED AND YOUR TEAM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COLLEAGUES? QUESTIONS
FOR PANELISTS? COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RINCK. THANK
YOU EVEN FOR BEING HERE,
DIRECTOR, EVERYBODY REPRESENTING
THE ORGANIZATIONS, IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS
REPRESENTATION. AND I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE AS THE SON OF
IMMIGRANTS, I KNOW THE
IMPORTANCE OF OUR IMGRANT
COMMUNITIES, AND THEIR LABOR TO
OUR NATION. SOMETHING THAT IS
CEMENTED BY IMMIGRANTS HERE IN
SEATTLE. AND I KNOW THE ACTIONS
OF SOME IMMIGRANT INDIVIDUALS
ARE SEIZED UPON. AND THE ENTIRE
IMMIGRANT SET AS A WHOLE. THIS
IS WRONG. THIS SHOULD NOT BE
DONE. YES, INDIVIDUAL CASES,
THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT
THE NARRATIVE THAT AMERICA IS
MADE BETTER BY IMMIGRATION AND
THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE
IMMIGRANTS. AGAIN, THEIR LABOR,
THEY WOULD HELP FORM A PERFECT
UNION THAT WILL NEED TO BE
REAFFIRMED. I THINK OF MY FATHER
WHO CAME TO AMERICA ON OCTOBER
4, 1964. MY MOTHER CAME THREE
MONTHS LATER JANUARY 24, 1965.
THEIR DREAMS AND THE DREAMS OF
THE IMMIGRANTS HERE IN SEATTLE
ARE SOMETHING TO BE EMBRACED FOR
THEY HELP BUILD OUR AMERICAN
DREAMS. I THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS.
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING
HERE TODAY. I APPRECIATE HEARING
THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I'M, IN MY BRAIN, TRYING TO
PROBLEM SOLVE HOW WE INSULATE
OURSELVES FROM THE MADNESS
COMING AT US FROM THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE COUNTRY. HOW DO WE
PROTECT OUR PEOPLE? HOW DO I
PROTECT MY STAFF, MY FAMILY WHO
ARE LGBTQ, OKAY. HOW DO I
SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN
OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE JUST
TRYING TO MAKE IT. THEY ARE
UNDER THREAT BECAUSE OF THEIR
LAST NAME OR THEIR NATIONAL
ORIGIN OR EVEN THOSE OF US WHO
ARE CITIZENS WHO HAVE LEGAL
STATUS, BUT STILL BEING
TARGETED. BECAUSE THEY DON'T
LOOK
AND I RECENTLY HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH OUR EMPLOYERS.
AND SOME OF WHOM WERE WORKING
BACK THERE AT DEI INITIATIVES.
AND IT IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS. I
WISH THE MORE EMPLOYERS WOULD
HAVE THAT MOXIE AND SAY YOU KNOW
WHAT, NO. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP
DOING THIS BECAUSE IT IS GOOD
FOR BUSINESS, OKAY. IT MAKES US
STRONGER. WHEN I HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE WITH
THE COMMEMORATION OF THE CHINESE
EXPULSION. AND RELAYING TO THE
CROWD THERE THAT NEVER AGAIN IS
NOW, OKAY. I REALLY MEAN THAT.
AND THIS BODY, THIS ROOM IS WHAT
DEI LOOKS LIKE. AND TO HAVE
SOMEBODY ATTACK THAT AND NOT
UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS, YOU
KNOW, IT MEANS WOMEN IN THE
WORKPLACE AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE MOBILITY IMPAIRED. THAT
IS DEI. SO GET THAT OUT OF YOUR
VOCABULARY. ALL RIGHT, I'M
SORRY, GETTING HEATED. AND HOW
WE CAN WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE
SURE YOUR EFFORTS ARE SUPPORTED.
THAT WE PUSH BACK ON THE HATRED
THAT IS COMING AT US. THAT'S
PUSHING BACK ON THE TARGETS ON
THE BACKS OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
REALIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR
FUNDING IS IN JEOPARDY. LET'S BE
REAL. AND HOW DO WE INSULATE OUR
FUNDING INTO THAT? AND TO ENSURE
OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS CAN
THRIVE, YOU KNOW. HOW DO WE
ENSURE THAT OUR WORKERS CAN
CONTRIBUTE REGARDLESS OF THEIR
LEGAL STATUS. I'M GOING TO
PARTNER WITH YOU. I DON'T
NORMALLY DO A WHOLE LOT OF
VIRTUAL SIGNALING OR FROM THE
PLATFORM, BUT THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME AND IT IS ALSO
VERY PERSONAL TO ME. I JUST
WANTED TO GET THAT OUT. ALSO I
WANTED TO MENTION AT ONE POINT,
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE GSBA.
SHOUT OUT TO HER. ANY WAY,
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON. ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES OR
QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO BE
PARTNERED WITH YOU. AND FOR ALL
OF US DOING THIS WORK AND
TOGETHER TO CREATE THIS SOCIETY
THAT WE WANT TO SEE. THANK YOU.
>> VICE CHAIR MOORE?
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO
SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL
YOUR PRESENTATIONS HERE AND FOR
ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND I KNOW THAT I FEEL EXHAUSTED
AFTER LISTENING TO THE
PRESENTATION TODAY. I CAN'T
IMAGINE HOW YOU FEEL DAY IN AND
DAY OUT. AND SO I DO HOPE THAT
YOU ARE ABLE TO TAKE SOME TIME
TO DEAL WITH WHAT I'M SURE IS
SECONDARY TRAUMA THAT WILL COME
FROM THIS INCREDIBLE WORK THAT
YOU'RE DOING, AND I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THAT IS THE CASE.
AND JUST TO SAY THANK YOU SO
MUCH. WE ARE HERE. WE ARE NOT
GOING TO BACK DOWN. WE ARE NOT
GOING TO TAKE A KNEE. WE MAY NOT
ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT
WHAT WE DO AGREE ON IS THAT
EVERYBODY BELONGS IN THIS CITY,
AND WE WILL FIGHT FOR THAT IN
ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR MOORE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I
TAKE US? OKAY, I HAVE A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN
QUITE A MEETING, BUT I WANTED TO
ASK BECAUSE I REALLY APPRECIATED
HEARING FROM OUR OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS ABOUT LANGUAGE ACCESS.
I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW FROM A
LANGUAGE ACCESS PERSPECTIVE.
WHAT ARE SOME OF OUR HIGHEST
PRIORITY DEPARTMENTS THAT
IMMIGRANT REFUGEE PARTNERS ARE
UTILIZING AND INTERFACING WITH?
JUST THINKING ACROSS THE BOARD
IF THERE ARE AREAS FROM
IMPROVEMENT WITH THE ACCESSED
ANGLE?
>> I'M HAPPY TO TACKLE THAT. WE
WOULD HIKE TO SAY ALL OF OUR
CITIES, THE DEPARTMENTS ARE A
PRIORITY. BUT SOME OF THE
DEPARTMENTS WE WILL WORK VERY
CLOSELY WITH THAT ARE ALREADY
DOING GREAT WORK ADDS ALWAYS.
AND LESS IS A STRONG PARTNER,
AND THEY WORKED VERY CLOSELY
WITH US WHEN IT WILL COME CITY
WIDE AND DISPERSING INFORMATION
WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
TO MAKE SURE THINGS LIKE THE
PRESS RELEASES ARE TRANSLATED
AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A FOCUS,
AND YOU ARE ALL AWARE THAT
SEATTLE CENTER DOES BIG EVENTS,
LARGE EVENTS, SOMETIMES THOSE
EVENTS ARE HEALTHCARE EVENTS,
AND THAT WE WILL ENSURE THAT WE
WILL PARTNER WITH THEM AS WELL
AS TRANSLATING MATERIALS. AND WE
DO USE THE SMART CAT SYSTEM
TODAY AND ACROSS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. EACH DEPARTMENT WILL
HAVE ACCESS TO SMART CAT, WHICH
IS A TOOL WHERE THE DEPARTMENTS
CAN SUBMIT A DOCUMENT THAT THEY
WILL WANT TRANSLATED THAT WILL
COME DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE. WE
WILL THEN CONNECT IT TO OUR
TRANSLATORS, HAVE THEM TRANSLATE
THAT DEPARTMENT AND MANAGE THE
INVOICING SYSTEM. SO WE WILL
STREAMLINE HOW TRANSLATION WILL
HAPPEN, SO IT IS NOT, YOU KNOW,
ONE DEPARTMENT DOING IT ONE WAY
AND ANOTHER DEPARTMENT DOING IT
ANOTHER WAY. OUR GOAL IS TO
STREAMLINE TRANSLATIONS TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE CITY
WITH TOOLS THAT THEY COULD USE
TO HAVE THEIR DOCUMENTS
TRANSMITTED RIGHT NOW IN THE
MOMENTS THAT WE ARE IN AND IT IS
A PRIORITY DEPARTMENT FOR US IN
MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THEIR
MATERIALS TRANSLATED, ENSURING
THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL KNOW
THAT IF THEY ARE A VICTIM OF A
CRIME OR THEY SEE A CRIME
HAPPEN, THAT THEY ARE NOT
FEARING REPORTING THAT OR
LOOKING FOR PROTECTIONS FOR
THEMSELVES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> AND FOR THE OFFICES THAT ARE
HERE. YOU ARE ALL TAKING ON A
LOT OF WORK AT THIS TIME. JUST
FOR THE RECORD AGAIN, HOW BIG
ARE YOUR TEAMS?
>> OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS,
WE'RE ABOUT, WE ARE ABOUT 33,
34.
>> WE ARE HALF OF THAT. AND SO
YEAH, WE'RE ABOUT 15 TEAM
MEMBERS. AND AGAIN, OUR BIGGEST
FOCUS AS A SMALL TEAM IS TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO STREAMLINE THE
WORK WE'RE DOING, SO WE ARE NOT
FOCUSED ON THE INDIVIDUAL
DEPARTMENT AND THE INDIVIDUAL
SERVICES. BUT THAT WE WILL WORK
TO CREATE TOOLS THAT THE ENTIRE
CITY COULD AND IT IS VERY HARD
FOR US TO TRAIN EVERY SINGLE
PERSON IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT TOOLS LIKE
THE CORNER STONE, AND THAT WILL
ALLOW THEM TO ACCESS THAT TOOL
AND TO RECEIVE THE TRAINING. AND
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT JUST YET,
BUT THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF TOOLS
WE WOULD LOOK AT AND WHAT ARE
THE TOOLS THAT WE WOULD HAVE
AVAILABLE TO US IN ORDER TO
REACH THE CITY VERY QUICKLY, AND
VERY SMALL TEAM AND OUR BUDGET
IS ABOUT $6 MILLION.
>> I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THE
WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE DIRECTING
FOLKS TO YOU ALL AND JUST TRYING
TO GET A SENSE OF THE INCREASED
AMOUNT OF WORK THAT'S COMING
FROM ALL THESE CHANGES AND THE
SUPPORT FOR YOUR TEAM AND THAT
SAME THING. AND SO WONDERING
ABOUT NWIRP. I WOULD LOVE TO
KNOW MORE ABOUT NUMBERS IN CASE
OF HOW MANY CASES YOU ARE ALL
SUPPORTING ON, JUST HOW THAT HAS
CHANGED. I'M TRYING TO GET A
SENSE OF WHAT WE'RE COPING WITH
AS AN ORGANIZATION.
>> GREAT QUESTION. OFF THE TOP
OF MY HEAD, I DON'T KNOW THAT
ACTUAL CASE NUMBER. I COULD
SPEAK FOR MY UNIT, THE LARGEST.
AND WE HAVE ABOUT 17 FULL-TIME
STAFF MEMBERS. EACH OF OUR ADD
SEW THE CATS WILL CARRY A CASE
LOAD OF 150 CASES. SO WE ARE
WORKING ON THOUSANDS OF CASES
PER YEAR. WE ARE TURNING AWAY
FOLKS THAT WE CAN DO INTAKES FOR
AT A RATE I'M JUST TALKING
ABOUT THE ONES I SEE, WHICH WILL
BE BOWL ELIGIBLE AT MAYBE 12 TO
15 PEOPLE FROM THE FRONT DESK,
LIKE PEOPLE WE CAN'T GET TO
THEIR INTAKE BECAUSE WE'RE SO
SWAMPED WITH WORK. OVERALL,
NWIRP WILL HANDLE SEVERAL
THOUSAND CASES PER YEAR. IT
MEANS THEY ARE VERY LONG
LASTING. WHEN I TAKE ON THE
CASE, I'LL HAVE THAT CASE FOR
TEN YEARS. SOMETIMES IT'S A
LITTLE HARD TO SAY THE NUMBERS.
THAT'LL BE DIFFERENT FOR THE
FOLKS IN TACOMA THAT ARE DOING
THOSE DETENTION WORK THAT WILL
TURN OVER MUCH FASTER. I COULD
GET YOU MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION. OFF THE TOP OF MY
HEAD, THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW.
>> YEAH. TRYING TO GET A SENSE
OF THE SCOPE OF THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE'RE FACING TO MAKE AN
INFORMED JUDGMENT CALL ON HOW WE
RESPOND. AND I KNOW THERE IS SO
MUCH TO TALK ABOUT IN THIS
REALM, WHERE THERE IS SO MUCH TO
TALK ABOUT. WHERE THEY FALL
BELOW THE RADAR. IF ANY OF THE
PANELS ARE ABLE TO SPEAK, WE
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE.
>> I CAN TAKE THAT. DOMESTIC
WORKERS ARE LARGELY IMMIGRANT
WORKER IN THE WOMEN WORK FORCE.
A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE
BEEN CORE TO THE WORK THAT HAS
BEEN DONE BY OUR ORGANIZATION
AND OTHERS TO IMPROVE THAT
INDUSTRY AND TO MAKE IT ONE THAT
IS HIGH QUALITY JOBS, ALSO WHERE
THAT WORK FORCE CAN SHOW YOU ALL
THE NEEDS THAT ARE PRESENT FOR
FAMILIES. WE ARE WORKING RIGHT
NOW ON THE BILL AT THE STATE
LEVEL THAT JUST PASSED THE STATE
SENATE YESTERDAY AND THAT WILL
BUILDING THEM ON THE WORKER
ORDINANCE. AND SO A COUPLE OF
THINGS ABOUT THAT IS ONE, MAKING
SURE AMONG OTHER THINGS,
RETENTION OF THE PERSONAL
DOCUMENTS IS INCLUDED AS PART OF
THE RIGHTS. AND SO MANY PEOPLE
ARE HAVING THEIR PASSPORTS THAT
ARE WITHHELD BECAUSE OF THE
DEMOGRAPHICS OF THAT WORK FORCE.
WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT IN
ADDITION TO THINKING ABOUT
THINGS LIKE SICK TIME AND PAY,
THE PARTICULAR THINGS THAT COULD
PLAY OUT IN THAT INDUSTRY. THIS
SPEAKS TO SOMETHING THEY
MENTIONED, THE WORKERS, THEY'RE
CERTAINLY NOT ONLY IN SEATTLE,
WORKING ALL OVER THE STATE. AND
THEY HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED AROUND
THE DOMESTIC WORKER ORDINANCE,
CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER.
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN REALLY
INSPIRING IS SEEING THE
CONFIDENCE AND SENSE THAT THE
INDUSTRY CAN BE BETTER, AND THAT
BEING PUBLIC ABOUT WITH A YOU
NEED, EVEN IF YOU'RE AN
IMMIGRANT WOMAN, AN UNDOCUMENTED
PERSON, IT'S A PLACE TO
RECONNECT WITH THE POWERING
AGENCY THAT THEY HAVE AND THAT
IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
IT'S REALLY TRANSFORMED HOW
PEOPLE WILL SEE THEMSELVES IN
PART BECAUSE OF HOW WE HAVE
CHANGED AND HAD THEY RECOGNIZED
THE VALUE OF THE WORK. SEEING
THAT EXPAND IN THE STATE LEVEL
HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING. THE FACT
THAT OBVIOUSLY THE TIMELINES ARE
SUCH THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE
ACTUALLY ON JANUARY 20 AT
OLYMPIA FOR OUR FIRST HEARING ON
THIS BILL AND TO HAVE THOSE
WOMEN REALLY LEADING IN THAT
SPACE AND SAYING WE ARE IN
CONTROL OF ARTICULATING WHAT WE
NEED AND WHAT WILL MAKE SENSE IN
OUR COMMUNITY, AND DESPITE THE
CHALLENGES THAT WILL SPEAK TO
THE OPPORTUNITY AND MANDATE THAT
WE HAVE AND TO NOT FORGET THAT
THERE IS A LOT OF CLARITY. AND I
THINK WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY
TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THEIR LEAD.
>> WILL AND I WAS JUST GOING TO
ADD HAVING THAT RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE ORDINANCE AND SUPPORT
THE STANDARDS BOARD, WHICH IS
THE WORKER BOARD AND HIRING THE
ENTITY BOARD THAT THEY CREATED,
WHICH IS NOW IN EXISTENCE FOR
OVER FIVE YEARS. THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR WORKERS TO BE AT THE TABLE
TALKING ABOUT AND DEVELOPING
POLICY SOLUTIONS. MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE BASED
ON THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE. IT'S A
PART OF THE WORK WE HAVE IN
PLACE, WHERE IT IS EXCITING TO
SEE THAT GO STATEWIDE. AND I
THINK THAT WILL ALSO POINT OUT
TO THE KIND OF HISTORICAL
EXPERIENCE IN THIS WORK, WHICH
IS THAT WE PIONEER IN SEATTLE.
MANY OF THESE CONCEPTS FIRST. WE
WILL WORK THROUGH THE
IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES. THEN
WE'RE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT THE
LARGER STATEWIDE COMMUNITY THAT
WILL TAKE THIS FORWARD. IT HAS
HAPPENED WITH MINIMUM WAGE. IT
HAS HAPPENED WITH THE WAVE
STEPS, IT HAS HAPPENED WITH, YOU
KNOW, THE RIDESHARE WORKERS, THE
LAWS. I MEAN, THERE ARE MANY
INSTANCES. THIS IS A KEY PART OF
THAT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT HOW OUR
CITY IS A LEADER FOR TEST
DRIVING SOME OF THESE IDEAS. AND
OUR DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTS 19
DIFFERENT ORDINANCES. THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF CREATIVE THINKING
OVER THE YEARS. THEY'RE ALL
IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS FOR
WORKERS. AND SO WE ARE ALWAYS,
IN OUR WORK, KIND OF HELPING
WORKING IN COMBINATION WITH
OTHER LABOR AGENCIES OUTSIDE
SEATTLE AROUND THE COUNTRY, AS
WELL AS WITH PARTNERS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE TO HELP THEM OUT.
>> OKAY. AND WE KNOW MANY OF OUR
IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS, SEATTLE HAS
BECOME AN EXPENSIVE PLACE TO
LIVE IN. WE HAD MANY WORKERS
JUST DISPLACED FROM THE CITY.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE OUR
COUNCIL PARTNER WITH KING COUNTY
BROADLY TO END THIS WORK? OKAY,
WE ARE STILL THINKING OF IDEAS.
WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT. SEEMS
LIKE A SPACE OF CREATIVITY.
>> I THINK SO MANY FOLKS HAVE
RAISED HOW INNOVATIVE SEATTLE
HAS BEEN. I HAVE A COUPLE OF
THOUGHTS. HOW CAN YOU CONTINUE
TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES ON WHAT
IS POSSIBLE. AND BECAUSE I THINK
YOU'RE A LITTLE MORE NIMBLE,
WHERE YOU CAN LOOK AT WHAT WE
CAN DO WITH THE CITY, THAT CAN
THEN BE SCALED. I WAS AT THE
ORGANIZATION IN 2016. YOU WERE
ALL THE FIRST ONES TO ESTABLISH
THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. AND THE
COUNTY PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT.
SO I THINK REALLY THINKING ABOUT
WAYS YOU COULD INNOVATE AND PUSH
THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT'S
POSSIBLE. I THINK CLEAR
COMMUNICATION AND BEING IN THE
SAME ROOM AND FIGURING OUT HOW
THE CITY WILL PARTNER WITH THE
COUNTY. WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF
FUNDING THAT THE COUNTY CAN
REALLY BRING TO THE TABLE VERSES
THE CITY, VERSES THE STATE. AND
I THINK WE NEED A VERY --
ADVOCATES NEED A CLEAR PICTURE
OF THAT, BUT THEY NEED THAT
CLEAR PICTURE TOO. AND I MEAN,
THERE IS NO DENYING THAT BUDGETS
ARE GOING TO BE TIGHT. SO BEING
STRATEGIC ABOUT WHAT
JURISDICTIONS CAN FUND WHAT AND
THEN THE CONVERSATIONS, I THINK
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IN THE
RELATIONSHIPS. THE HOPEFULLY ONE
OF OUR HOPES AS ADVOCATES THAT
WE CAN START TO CONVENE A
REGULAR SPACE, A MONTHLY SPACE
WHERE THE COUNTY, THE PORT, AND
THE CITY HAS A CONVERSATION
ABOUT POSSIBILITIES AND HOW TO
COORDINATE IN OUR STRATEGIC
WAYS, SO THOSE ARE SOME OF MY
THOUGHTS.
>> WILL AND IF I COULD JUST
QUICKLY ADD. I MENTIONED THIS IN
MY TIME. WORKING WITH THE COUNTY
ENSURING THAT THEY CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT A PART OF DIVERSITY
ISSUES FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES,
BOTH AT THE CITY LEVEL AND THE
COUNTY LEVEL, AND, YOU KNOW,
WORKING IN TANDEM WITH, YOU
KNOW, CITY COUNTY PROJECTS TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE STILL
CHAMPIONING THOSE PROGRAMS AND
AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING
AND HIGHLIGHTING THE BUSINESSES
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT
AND IT IS IMPORTANT WORK, AND
ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES TO
CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS WELL AND
HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF
THAT.
>> AND ONE MORE QUESTION. I
PROMISE WE'LL GET OUT AT 5:00.
I PROMISE, EVERYBODY. I KNOW
IT'S BEEN A LONG MEETING, BUT
IT IS CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT
ONE. MY QUESTION IS EACH OF US
AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE OUR OWN
E-MAIL LIST. WE SENT OUT, YOU
KNOW, BIWEEKLY MESSAGES TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS. WHAT DO YOU THINK
ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
MESSAGES OR PIECES OF
INFORMATION TO GET OUT TO OUR
RESPECTIVE LISTERS?
>> I DEFINITELY THINK IT CAN'T
BE SAID ENOUGH REITERATING TO
PEOPLE WHAT SERVICES ARE
AVAILABLE TO ALL RESIDENTS. I
THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN
TAKE FOR GRANTED AS BEING
OBVIOUS OR ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU
HAVE HAD SOME LAWS THAT HAVE
BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR A LONG
TIME OR ONE WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH
A PARTICULAR ISSUE. BUT I WANT
TO UNDERSCORE ESPECIALLY IN AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE DISTRUST OF
GOVERNMENT AND ASSUMPTION THAT
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WORK AND
THEY ARE NOT THERE TO SERVE A
PUBLIC GOOD IS SUCH A STRONG
NARRATIVE THAT SEEING UPLIFTING
BOTH WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND HOW
TO ACCESS IT IS SOMETHING THAT I
REALLY THINK YOU ALL CAN PLAY A
HELPFUL ROLE IN, AND I THINK THE
NEWSLETTERS ARE WONDERFUL TO DO
THAT, BUT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO
EXPLORE, YOU KNOW, OTHER WAYS TO
CONNECT THOSE DOTS AND BECAUSE
AGAIN, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE
MAYBE NOT PAYING ATTENTION
BECAUSE THAT NEWS -- YOU KNOW,
WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS, AND THAT
THEY HAVE NOT HAPPENED TO THEM
YET, AND THEN THEY ARE GOING
BACK AND SAYING WAIT. WHAT DO
YOU DO ABOUT THIS NOW? AND I
THINK SOME OF THAT IS REALLY,
REALLY IMPORTANT. WE HAVE PEOPLE
ALL THE TIME WHO ARE COMING TO
US, ASKING US QUESTIONS ABOUT
ACCESSING SERVICES THAT ARE
PROVIDED BY THE CITY. AND IT IS
ACTUALLY SO WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE
TO SAY ACTUALLY YOU LIVE IN A
PLACE WHERE THAT IS A RESOURCE
THAT IS PROVIDED, YOU KNOW, IN A
LOT OF PLACES WHERE WE HAVE TO
SAY SORRY, THE CITY DOESN'T
HANDLE THAT. THAT IS A PRIORITY.
CONNECTING THAT IS ONE OPTION.
>> AND I THINK A LOT OF WHAT YOU
ALL JUST SAID IN FRONT OF US IS
REALLY IMPORTANT, LIKE WE'RE IN
AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING FOR HOPE. THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
B. AND SO SAYING THINGS LIKE
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BACK DOWN,
WE'VE JOINED THESE LAWSUITS,
WE'RE STANDING STRONG, BEING
VERY EXPLICIT ABOUT THE STEPS
THE CITY IS TAKE. AND THEN I
THINK TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN
DEBUNKING MYTHS. I MEAN, SO MUCH
OF THIS ADMINISTRATION STRATEGY
IS TO INVOKE FEAR AND TO SEND
PEOPLE INTO CHAOS. SO
THINGS THAT WERE SHARED TODAY
LIKE PLEASE DO NOT GO AND
REGISTER OR GO ON THIS REGISTRY
AND PUT YOUR INFORMATION IN. WE
ARE WAITING FOR RULE MAKING. ANY
WAY YOU COULD USE YOUR ACCESS TO
YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND YOUR LIST
TO DEBUNK. THERE IS SO MUCH
MISINFORMATION. I THINK THERE IS
A LOT OF TRUST IN YOU ALL AND IN
GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT.
>> YEAH. I WOULD JUST SAY ON THE
BUSINESS LEVEL, HAVING GUIDANCE
ON HOW THEY COULD CONTINUE THEIR
DEI WORK AND TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT THEIR EMPLOYEES AND
THEIR WORKERS. YOU KNOW,
REITERATING THOSE WORKERS AND
EMPLOYERS, WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE
AND WHAT THEIR CURRENT LAWS ARE.
AND THEY DO NOT CREATE LAWS OR
MAKE THEM GO AWAY. AND SO, YOU
KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO
DEMYSTIFY A LOT OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING FROM THE EXECUTIVE.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, WITH THAT, I
WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU DO. VICE CHAIR
MOORE PUT IT WELL. EVERY DAY
YOU'RE DOING WORK THAT IS
REMARKABLY CHALLENGING,
ESPECIALLY WITH A COMMUNITY THAT
IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF
VIOLENCE TOWARDS IT. SO I'M
JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL
TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO
ENGAGE WITH US ON THIS MATTER. I
HOPE YOU HEAR THAT THERE ARE
PARTNERS UP HERE THAT WANT TO BE
WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU ALL TO
PROBLEM SOLVE ON WHAT'S AHEAD.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT
YOU DO, AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD
TO OUR CONTINUED WORK TOGETHER
TO STAND BY OUR COMMUNITIES. AND
MAKE SURE SEATTLE WILL REMAIN A
LEADER IN THIS SPACE, SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> OKAY, COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
AGENDA. IS THERE ANYTHING FOR
THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? HEARING
NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE ARE
ADJOURNED. IT IS 5:03.