I'M COUNCILMEMBER ALEXIS
MERCEDES RINCK, CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK
PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>>
HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>>
HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON.
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR
RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT
THAT COUNCILMEMBERS NELSON,
MOORE, AND RIVERA ARE EXCUSED
FOR
TODAY.
IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE MAY
MEETING OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND
POLICY CHANGE.
WHILE I WISH THIS COMMITTEE
WAS NOT NEEDED, I AM EXCITED
TO STILL SPEAK WITH YOU ALL
THIS MORNING AND TO OUR
PRESENTERS, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING COUNCIL
TODAY.
FOR THESE CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS.
WE ONCE AGAIN APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME, ATTENTION, AND
CONTINUED CONVERSATION AND
EXPERTISE
DURING THESE INCREDIBLY
UNCERTAIN TIMES.
TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE SEE AND
HEAR YOU.
WE ARE HERE TO HAVE
YOUR BACKS. I'M HERE TO HAVE
YOUR BACK TO
THE BEST OF MY ABILITY WHILE
I'M ON THIS DAIS, ESPECIALLY AS
EACH DAY FEELS HARDER FOR SO
MANY
ACROSS OUR CITY.
THESE ARE NOT NORMAL TIMES.
AND I THINK ANYONE IN
OUR
LEADERSHIP POSITION HAS A DUTY
TO KEEP SAYING THIS.
AND ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WE WILL
HAVE A BRIEFING FROM THE OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS TO
GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHERE THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE REGION
ARE AFTER AN EXHAUSTING FIRST
100
DAYS OF THE TRUMP --
SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
I KNOW.
I'M STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH
ALL OF THE BACK-AND-
FORTH CHANGES AND CONSTANTLY
CHANGING
INFORMATION, WHICH IS
AN INTENTIONAL TACTIC OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION TO CONFUSE,
EXHAUST, AND DEMORALIZE
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, AND I'M SO
THANKFUL TO THE OIR TEAM WHO
ARE GOING TO HELP GIVE US AN
IDEA OF
WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY.
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
A DISCUSSION AND A VOTE ON THE
WELCOMING CITY
RESOLUTION BRIEFED DURING THE
APRIL COMMITTEE MEETING TO
SUPPORT
OUR LOCAL IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES IN THE WAKE OF THE
TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION'S DISTURBING AND
CRUEL MASS DEPORTATION AGENDA.
AS MENTIONED IN OUR
PREVIOUS TWO MEETINGS ON THIS
MATTER, WE
ARE IN EMERGENCY.
THIS HAS BEEN STATED IN
COMMITTEE PREVIOUSLY, BUT WE
ARE SEEING AN INCREASED
NEED FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND ORGANIZATIONS AS FEDERAL
FUNDS ARE SLASHED FROM
AN ADMINISTRATION THAT WANTS
TO TRAUMATIZE THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC.
AND THIS INCLUDES LEGAL
SERVICES FOR UNACCOMPANIED
MINORS OF
PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN
DETAINED OR ARE FACING
DEPORTATION
PROCEEDINGS.
AND THESE ARE SOME OF
SEATTLE'S MOST VULNERABLE KIDS.
I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE
WHOSE HEARTBREAKS AT THE THOUGHT
OF A 4-YEAR- OLD APPEARING
BEFORE A JUDGE TO DEFEND
THEMSELVES IN
IMMIGRATION COURT.
WE KNOW WE MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO MAKE UP EVERY FINANCIAL GAP,
BUT WE MUST
DO OUR BEST TO DO RIGHT BY THEM,
WHICH IS ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT THIS RESOLUTION
CAN DO.
AND SIMPLY PUT, COLLEAGUES,
THE SOLUTIONS TO OUR CHALLENGES
HAVE NEVER BEEN SIMPLE, AND THEY
GROW MORE COMPLEX EACH DAY,
BUT THAT'S WHY WE SIGNED UP FOR
THIS JOB, TO FIX HARD PROBLEMS
AND MEET THIS MOMENT.
AND IT WILL TAKE ALL OF
US, EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY
AND EVERY LEADER IN THIS
COMMUNITY, EVERY RESIDENT OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, TO WORK TOGETHER
TO CARVE A PATH FORWARD
TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS AND
CREATE A FUTURE WE ALL WANT TO
LIVE IN.
THIS COMMITTEE IS JUST PART
OF THAT WORK.
SO, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO
IS PARTICIPATING OR LISTENING
IN
TODAY. AND WITH THAT, WE WILL
NOW
OPEN UP THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENTS
SHOULD RELATE
TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR
WITHIN PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
FOR TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ONE REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES,
AND WE WILL START WITH OUR ONE
REMOTE SPEAKER.
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 60 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED.
SPEAKERS WILL ALTERNATE
BETWEEN IN-PERSON SETS AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE
COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF
THEIR TIME.
SPEAKERS' MICS WILL BE MUTED
IF THEY DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED
TIME
TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN,
AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
AND
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAYNES.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 WHEN
YOU HEAR THE PROMPT OF "YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED. "
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
DAVID HAYNES.
I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO SEEK
MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE
WITH YOUR TRUMP DERANGEMENT
SYNDROME BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
BEING TRULY
FORTHRIGHT, DILIGENT AND HONEST
IN YOUR EFFORTS TO CREATE
BETTER POLICIES TO HELP IMPROVE
OUR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD JUSTIFY
TO
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT
SEATTLE FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT
AND THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO
INVEST IN ASSISTING WITH PUBLIC
SAFETY, WHICH YOU ALL ARE SOME
OF
THE WORST AT, AND HOUSING CRISIS
AND
HOMELESS CRISIS.
THAT YOU ALL REFUSE TO
IMPROVE POLICIES STILL DOUBLING
DOWN
ON THE SAME RACIST, WOKE,
BOTTOM OF THE BARREL POLICY
PRIORITIES THAT EXACERBATE
PUBLIC
SAFETY, THE HOMELESS CRISIS AND
THE HOUSING CRISIS WHERE THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING IS TAINTED IN
RACIST, UNTRUSTWORTHY LEADERS
WHO LOOK
LIKE THEY HAVE A SERIOUS
DRINKING PROBLEM BECAUSE
THEIR RACIST AGENDA BOTHERS THE
CONSCIENCE.
THAT SEATTLE CONTINUES MOVING
OVER THE CLIFF, WHILE COUNCIL
TREASONOUSLY IS SELF- DEALING
WITH CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
THAT DON'T HAVE THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AT
HEART,
BACK- STABBING A MULTITUDE
OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS' FUTURE.
SOME ON COUNCIL SEEM
TO CARE MORE FOR CRIMINALS THAN
INNOCENTS BECAUSE YOU ALL
BASE JUDGMENT ON SKIN COLOR,
NOT CONTENT OF CHARACTER,
FURTHER
MISJUDGING, PROVING YOU ALL
AT CITY HALL, INCLUDING YOUR
MEAN- SPIRITED COMMUNIST
STAFF, DON'T HAVE THE BEST
INTEREST
OF COMMUNITY AT HEART AND ARE
NOT TRUSTWORTHY WITH OTHER
PEOPLE'S
MONEY. YOU'RE ALWAYS RACE-
BAITING
AND SCARING PEOPLE, STILL
RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR AND
ACCEPTING EVIL REPEAT OFFENDING
CRIMINALS
FROM JAIL WHO GET PRIORITIZED
FOR HOUSING AND SERVICES
FIRST BEFORE INNOCENT WHITE
CITIZENS
THAT ARE SUBHUMAN MISTREATED AND
RACISTLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
WHILE EVIL CRIMINALS ARE
CONDUCTING AN UNCIVIL WAR
ON COMMUNITY WHILE YOU RACISTIC
PRAY THE HATE WHITE PEOPLE TO
BUTTON- PUSH A BUNCH OF --
PERVERTED VOTING BLOCS WHO
IGNORANTLY MISCONSTRUE WHAT
A CRIMINAL
IS, PROVING PROGRESSIVES HAVE
TWISTED IDEAS.
>> THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO OUR
ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL MOVE TO OUR FIRST
ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM ONE.
UPDATE ON POTENTIAL
FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION IMPACTS TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
AND WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY OUR
OIR STAFF.
WHEN YOU GET SETTLED IN, IF YOU
CAN TAKE A MOMENT TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF BY STATING
YOUR
FULL
NAME INTO THE MICROPHONE FOR THE
RECORD. THANK YOU.
>> PERFECT.
YEAH. WORKING.
AWESOME.
I THINK WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
>> SHARE THE SCREEN.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THEN, I THINK -- YEP.
>> AWESOME.
WELL, GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THANK
YOU, CHAIR RINCK, FOR HAVING US
TODAY. I'M ANNE MAHER, AND I'M
A FEDERAL AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR AT THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND
I'M JOINED
WITH OUR FEDERAL LOBBYIST,
LESLIE
POLLNER, WHO'S TUNING IN FROM
D.C. CAN YOU HEAR US
ALL RIGHT?
>>
I CAN. CAN YOU HEAR ME AS WELL?
>> WE CAN.
GOOD MORNING,
OR AFTERNOON THERE.
I WILL HOP RIGHT IN.
WE'RE GOING TO KICK IT OFF
WITH HIGHLIGHTING WHAT WE'VE
SEEN
SINCE INAUGURATION, DISCUSS SOME
OF THE INS AND OUT OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN CONGRESS RIGHT
NOW, INCLUDING BUDGET
RECONCILIATION AND THEN I'LL
TALKTALK
LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE
ONGOING
ISSUES WE'RE TRACKING IN
COORDINATION
WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS, AND
WE WILL TRY TO KEEP
THE PRESENTATION
SOMEWHAT SHORT TO LEAVE ENOUGH
TIME FOR Q&A.
LESLIE, DO YOU WANT TO
KICK US
OFF WITH THE FIRST 100 DAYS
HERE?
>> WILL DO.
WELL, IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU
HERE TODAY, AND I WISH I WAS
COMING UNDER BETTER
CIRCUMSTANCES TO STATE THE
OBVIOUS.
IT HAS BEEN A REALLY
CHALLENGING TIME HERE IN
WASHINGTON,
PARTICULARLY WITH THE FIRST
HUNDRED DAYS.
AS YOU WELL
KNOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SIGNED
OVER
100 EXECUTIVE ORDERS SINCE
BEGINNING
HIS SECOND TERM.
JUST A COUPLE OF
THE HIGHLIGHTS -- OBVIOUSLY,
THERE
ARE FAR TOO MANY TO
NOTE AT THIS POINT, BUT JUST A
COUPLE
TO HIGHLIGHT FOR US.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE
UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY
EXECUTIVE
ORDER THAT REQUIRED A
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF GRANT
PROGRAMS AND
AWARDS MADE UNDER PRESIDENT
BIDEN'S ADMINISTRATION.
AND FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS
USED THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESCIND
UNOBLIGATED GRANT DOLLARS AND TO
CHANGE THE TERMS
AND SUBSTANCE OF SOME EXISTING
GRANT AWARDS,
PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT
WERE FOCUSED AROUND
ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE AND EQUITY, WHICH, OF
COURSE, HAVE BEEN A
CENTRAL THEME FOR THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION. AND THEN, OF
COURSE, AGAIN,
ON SANCTUARY CITIES, ONE OF
THE FIRST EXECUTIVE ORDERS
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED WAS
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO
UNDERTAKE "ANY LAWFUL
ACTIONS" TO ENSURE THAT
SO-CALLED SANCTUARY
JURISDICTIONS DO
NOT RECEIVE ACCESS TO FEDERAL
FUNDS.
SHORTLY AFTER ITS RELEASE,
THE ORDER WAS SUBJECT TO A
NATIONWIDE INJUNCTION AS
THE COURTS
ARE CONTINUING TO DETERMINE ITS
LEGALITY.
WE SAW A FOLLOW- UP
EXECUTIVE ORDER ON APRIL 28th.
PRESIDENT TRUMP DIRECTED
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PUBLISH
A
LIST OF JURISDICTIONS THAT
OBSTRUCT THE ENFORCEMENT
OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
LAWS, AND THE ORDER ALSO
REQUIRES
FEDERAL DOCUMENTS TO INVESTIGATE
FEDERAL RESOURCES THAT CAN BE
RESTRICTED FOR SANCTUARY
JURISDICTIONS.
WE'LL NOTE THAT ON MAY 9th, A
FEDERAL JUDGE RULED THAT
THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO
WITHHOLD FUNDING
FOR 16 "SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS"
IS
LIKELY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
AND THE JUDGE INDICATED THAT IF
TRUMP'S LATEST ORDER WAS USED
TOTO FUNDS UNRELATED
TO SANCTUARY POLICIES, IT WOULD
LIKELY VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION.
WE'RE EXPECTING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO COME OUT
WITH ITS LIST OF, AGAIN, SO-
CALLED
SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS BEFORE
THE END OF MAY.
SO, WE'RE WATCHING
CAREFULLY FOR THAT.
LET ME TURN IT OVER TO ANNIE TO
TALK THROUGH FY26
APPROPRIATIONS.
ANNIE?
>> THANK YOU.
SO, YES, AS MENTIONED,
WE'RE IN THE HEART OF FISCAL
YEAR 2026
APPROPRIATIONS, SO EARLIER THIS
MONTH, THE PRESIDENT DID
RELEASE HIS SKINNY BUDGET.
SO, THIS DID, YOU KNOW,
HAVE SOME HIGH- LEVEL CONCERNS
INCLUDING CUTTING CBDG HOME,
YOU KNOW, WITH THE RELEASE OF
THIS
BUDGET, THE CABINET
SECRETARIES DO BEGIN APPEARING
BEFORE
CONGRESS.
THAT HAS STARTED HAPPENING
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
I WILL SAY, WE DO TAKE THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET WITH A
GRAIN OF SALT.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
LEGISLATORS HAVE LARGELY
DISMISSED A LOT
OF THESE CONCERNS, AND SO WE
WILL SEE AS THEY'RE
DEBATING CURRENTLY OVER THE NEXT
FEW MONTHS A LOT OF VARYING
OPINIONS, EVEN ACROSS
REPUBLICANS, AND SO THIS
COULD EVEN COMPLICATE THE
PATH TO A FINAL FUNDING BILL.
AND AS YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER,
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, IN
THE PAST, FISCAL YEAR '25 ALSO
HAD COMPLICATIONS,
AND SOME OF THAT WAS INCLUDING
OUR
EARMARKS, WHICH IS SORT OF MORE
TECHNICALLY TITLED OUR
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING ON THE
HOUSE SIDE AND
CONGRESSIONALLY
DIRECTED SPENDING REQUESTS ON
THE SENATE SIDE.
SO, JUST WANTED TO TOUCH
ON SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT
SEATTLE
SUBMITTED THIS CYCLE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE '25
EARMARKS WERE REMOVED
AMONGST APPROPRIATIONS LAST
YEAR,
SO THAT MEANS OUR PROJECTS DID
NOT RECEIVE THOSE FUNDING.
SO, LARGELY, THESE PROJECTS ARE
THE ONES WE SUBMITTED
LAST CYCLE, BUT JUST WANTED TO
TOUCH
ON THEM SO YOU'RE AWARE.
WE SUBMITTED THROUGH SDOT,
REVITALIZATION. ANOTHER BIG
PRIORITY FOR
THE CITY IS THE POST-
OVERDOSE RESPONSE TEAM
EXPANSION.
THAT'S BEEN A BIG
PRIORITY OF THE MAYOR'S, SO IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH SFD, WE
SUBMITTED THAT
REQUEST AGAIN.
THAT ONE IS ALSO PRIORITY FOR
THE DELEGATION, AND SO THERE
WAS A DECENT AMOUNT OF INTEREST,
AGAIN, THIS YEAR.
SIMILARLY, ON THE
SEATTLE WATERFRONT SIDE, WE
SUBMITTED
A PROPOSAL FOR $3 MILLION FOR
THE ELLIOT BAY SEAWALL AND THAT
IS THE SECOND PHASE OF
IMPROVEMENTS
ALONG THAT SEAWALL.
ALONG WITH THAT, THE LAKE
CITY COMMUNITY CENTER AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
REDEVELOPMENT, SO A
PARTNERSHIP TO RENOVATE THE
COMMUNITY CENTER AND ADD
SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
REALLY EXCITING PROJECT FOR
OFFICE
OF HOUSING AND IT'S REMAINED A
BIG
PRIORITY, SO WE WANTED TO
ENSURE THAT THAT FUNDING DOES
COME
THROUGH. THE LAST ONE WE DID
RESUBMIT
WAS THE COLUMBIA CITY BRANCH
SEISMIC RETROFIT, AND THAT'S
AROUND $5 MILLION, AND THAT
IS THROUGH THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY.
AND CONGRESSMAN SMITH, AGAIN,
WANTED TO SEE THAT ONE.
WE DID SUBMIT TWO ADDITIONAL
PROJECTS, JUST DUE TO INTEREST
FROM OUR DELEGATION ALONG
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
COUNCIL OF REDEVELOPMENT HAS
COME THROUGH AS A PRIORITY, SO
WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT
CURRENTLY WITH OUR DELEGATION.
THEY'VE SENT SOME FOLLOW-
UP QUESTIONS AND WE'LL BE
TRACKING WHERE WE LAND WITH FORT
LAWTON.
SO, I'LL PAUSE THERE ON
APPROPRIATIONS, AND I
THINK WE CAN
DIVE INTO SOME OF THE INS AND
OUTS OF BUDGET
RECONCILIATION HERE, AND I WILL
PASS IT BACK TO
LESLIE.
>> GREAT. THANKS, ANNIE.
SO, JUST, YOU KNOW, AS YOU'LL
RECALL, BUDGET RECONCILIATION
IS A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
THAT ALLOWS CONGRESS TO PASS
CERTAIN SPENDING BILLS WITH A
SIMPLE
MAJORITY IN THE SENATE AND THE
HOUSE. AND BUDGET
RECONCILIATION HAS BEEN USED IN
THE PAST.
IT'S BEEN USED BY DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS. IT WAS USED TO
PASS,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE INFLATION
REDUCTION ACT DURING THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
AND, OF COURSE, REPUBLICANS ARE
TRYING TO USE IT NOW TO
REAUTHORIZE THE TAX CUTS AND
JOBS ACT OF 2017.
THEY'RE ALSO USING IT
TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING AND
THEN, OF COURSE, TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
IMMIGRATION AND
BORDER SECURITY.
IT HAS TAKEN UP THE MAJORITY OF
CONGRESS'S BANDWIDTH OVER THE
PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, AND SO THIS
WEEK, WAYS AND MEANS,
AGRICULTURE, AND ENERGY AND
COMMERCE COMMITTEES ALL
DID THEIR MARK- UPS, AND THEY
WERE MARKING UP SOME OF THE
MOST CONTROVERSIAL PIECES OF THE
BILL, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT
IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, JUST GOING THROUGH, YOU
KNOW, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OR
LOW LIGHTS, I SHOULD SAY,
BUT THE HOUSE EDUCATION AND
WORKFORCE WOULD
SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE PELL
GRANT
PROGRAM, REQUIRING STUDENTS TO
TAKE AT LEAST 15 CREDITS PER
SEMESTER RATHER THAN THE CURRENT
12, MAKING IT MORE CHALLENGING
FOR STUDENTS WHO
ARE ATTENDING PART-TIME TO
ACCESS PELL.
ON THE HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY
BILL, THERE IS
SIGNIFICANT FUNDING ALLOCATED
FOR BORDER
SECURITY AND FOR
ADDITIONAL BORDER PERSONNEL.
I'LL ALSO NOTE,
HOWEVER, THAT THE HOUSE HOMELAND
SECURITY BILL
DOES INCLUDE $625 MILLION
OF GOING TO THE 11 FIFA
HOST COMMITTEES FOR SECURITY
NEEDS
FOR FIFA AS WELL. SO, NEXT
SLIDE.
MOVING ON, HOUSE
FINANCIAL SERVICES RESCINDED
UNOBLIGATED
FUNDS FOR THE GREEN
AND RESILIENT RETROFIT PROGRAM.
HOUSE JUDICIARY IS
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING
ALSO FOR
IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT, $45 BILLION FOR
I.C.E.
DETENTION, $14 BILLION FOR
I.C.E. TRANSPORTATION.
THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION
AND INFRASTRUCTURE
COMMITTEE INTRODUCED A NEW $250
FEE
FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND $100
FEE
FOR HYBRID VEHICLES.
YOU ALSO SAW UNOBLIGATED
FUNDING RESCINDED FOR THE D.O.T.
NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS AND
EQUITY GRANT PROGRAM.
NEXT SLIDE.
AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED,
JUST THIS WEEK, WE HAD MARK- UPS
OF WAYS AND MEANS, AGRICULTURE,
AND
ENERGY AND COMMERCE.
ON THE WAYS AND MEANS SIDE,
I'LL NOTE THERE HAD BEEN REAL
CONCERN THAT WE WERE GOING TO
SEE EITHER
THE ELIMINATION OR REDUCTION OF
THE TAX- EXEMPT STATUS
OF INTEREST ON MUNICIPAL BONDS.
WAYS AND MEANS ENDED UP NOT
TOUCHING THE TAX EXEMPT
STATUS OF MUNICIPAL BONDS.
WE ALSO SAW IT, JUST IN
THE GOOD NEWS CATEGORY, AN
EXPANSION OF THE LOW-
INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT
PROGRAM INCLUDED AS PART
OF THE WAYS AND MEANS MARK-UP.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING THE RENEWAL
OF
THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE PROGRAM AS
WELL. I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT THEY
ARE MAKING EXPIRING TAX BRACKETS
FOR
THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS
ACT PERMANENT.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF
CONTROVERSY, AS YOU'VE PROBABLY
SEEN IN THE NEWS, AROUND THE
STATE AND LOCAL TAX S.A.L.T.
DEDUCTION.
THAT'S CONTROVERSIAL FOR
A NUMBER OF FOLKS, LIKE
CALIFORNIA, AND THAT CONTINUES,
ACTUALLY, TO BE A STICKING POINT
THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE
THROUGH. THEY'RE ALSO MAKING
THE
EXPIRING CHILD TAX CREDIT
PERMANENT AND
TEMPORARILY INCREASING
THE MAXIMUM CREDIT TO $2,500 AND
THEY ARE REPEALING THE
MAJORITY OF THE CLEAN ENERGY TAX
CREDITS THAT WERE CREATED
THROUGH
THE INFLATION AND REDUCTION ACT.
THE ENERGY AND
COMMERCE COMMITTEE HAS MADE
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE
MEDICAID PROGRAM.
AND IN FACT, THE CHANGES
THAT THEY ARE MAKING WOULD BE
THE LARGEST CUTS TO THE
MEDICAID PROGRAM IN HISTORY BY
BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS.
AND THEY ARE
INSTITUTING INCREASED WORK
REQUIREMENTS,
INCREASED
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, IMPOSING
A NEW
MANDATORY FEDERAL MINIMUM OUT OF
POCKET COST ON MEDICAID
ENROLLEES, AND A NUMBER OF
OTHER
CHANGES. IN ADDITION, THEY'VE
BEEN RESCINDING A NUMBER OF
UNOBLIGATED
INFLATION REDUCTION ACT FUNDING,
INCLUDING
FUNDING FOR THE EPA GREENHOUSE
GAS REDUCTION FUND AS WELL AS
ALL
THE TAX CREDITS FROM IRS,
I.R.A. DIRECT PAY.
AND FINALLY, THE
HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE IS
ALSO MAKING VERY,
VERY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WITH
INCREASED
WORK REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.
IT'S CONSIDERED THE
LARGEST S.N.A.P. CUT IN HISTORY.
THEY'RE ALSO ATTEMPTING TO
SHIFT A NUMBER OF THE S.N.A.P.
COSTS TO STATES AND
SIGNIFICANTLY
CHANGING BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS
UNDER THE THRIFTY FOOD
PLAN, WHICH WOULD ENABLE
S.N.A.P. --
IT WOULD ENABLE THE VALUE
OF S.N.A.P. TO BE ERODED OVER
TIME.
I'LL NOTE THAT JUST,
ACTUALLY, JUST A FEW MOMENTS
AGO,
THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE,
WHICH IS
SORT OF THE LAST STOP BEFORE
THE PACKAGE GOES TO THE FLOOR,
WAS
UNABLE TO PASS THE BILL OUT OF
COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES FROM SOME OF THE FISCAL
HAWKS
THAT THEY ARE NOT CUTTING
ENOUGH.
SOME OF THEM WANT MEDICAID
WORK REQUIREMENTS TO START
EARLIER.
I THINK THEY'RE SLATED TO START
FOR 2029.
THEY WANT THEM TO START IN 2027.
I THINK MOST OF THESE -- I THINK
THERE WILL BE
SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE FROM THE
WHITE HOUSE ON
THESE MEMBERS, AND SO I DO
THINK THAT THEY WILL GET
SOMETHING
PASSED. IT MAY BE A SLIGHTLY
SLOWER TRACK.
THE GOAL HAS BEEN TO HAVE
THIS BILL ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
BEFORE MEMORIAL
DAY, AND SO I THINK LEADERSHIP
REMAINS VERY, VERY
COMMITTED TO THAT TIME FRAME.
I'LL NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT
THIS BILL WILL THEN GO TO THE
SENATE, AND SEVERAL SENATORS
HAVE ALREADY INDICATED DEEP
DISCOMFORT WITH THE
CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE TO
MEDICAID
AND I MEAN SENATORS ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE, AS WELL AS
THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING
MADE TO THE S.N.A.P. PROGRAM.
SO, WE'RE NOT THROUGH IT YET.
THIS BILL STILL HAS A VERY
LONG ROAD TO GO.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, LOTS COMING OUR
WAY.
SO, I'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> YEAH, SO, ON THAT FRONT,
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS,
IMPORTANT ISSUES CIRCLING AT
THE MOMENT RIGHT NOW, AND
THAT'S NOT
TO OVERWHELM YOU, BUT WE
DID JUST WANT TO PUT THESE
THINGS
ON YOUR RADAR, AND I DID JUST
WANT TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THE
ISSUES THAT OIR HAS BEEN
TRACKING
IN COORDINATION WITH
OUR DEPARTMENTS OVER THE COURSE
OF
THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
AND JUST UPCOMING IMPORTANT
ITEMS AS WELL.
SO, ON THE TRANSPORTATION FRONT,
THE SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION
IS COMING UP
IN 2026, SO SDOT HAS BEEN
WORKING WITH OUR DELEGATION ON
SENDING
FEEDBACK AND PROGRAM PRIORITIES
TO THE DELEGATION SO WE
WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A PULSE
ON SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION HEADING INTO
2026.
OBVIOUSLY, HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS REMAINS A
HUGE
PRIORITY. AS LESLIE MENTIONED,
HOME AND
CDBG ARE HUGE PRIORITIES FOR THE
CITY, ALONG WITH P.R.O.
, ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT
DID INCLUDE ZEROING THAT OUT IN
HIS
BUDGET.
IT'S REALLY UNLIKELY
THAT LEGISLATORS LAND THERE.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
O.H. ON TRACKING THEIR P.R.O.
GRANT DOLLARS AND RIGHT NOW,
IT'S LOOKING LIKE AT
LEAST 2025'S ARE GOING TO
REMAIN SAFE.
ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT
PROGRAM FOR CITY LIGHT IS THE
LOW-
INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM, WHICH WE SHORT- TERM AS
LIHEAP.
AS MENTIONED ON COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE'S COMMITTEE A FEW WEEKS
AGO, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT
LIHEAP, BUT IT
DOES LOOK LIKE CURRENTLY THAT
FUNDING IS
STILL IN PLACE, BUT WE WILL
CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR THAT AS
IT
REMAINS A PRIORITY TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS TO RECEIVE THAT
ASSISTANCE.
I WON'T ELABORATE TOO
MUCH MORE ON S.N.A.P., BUT AS
MENTIONED, HUGE CUTS TO S.N.A.P.
AND WE HAVE BEEN IN COORDINATION
WITH
HSD AND OSE ON THOSE
DOLLARS, AND WE WILL
SEE WHERE REPUBLICANS LAND
THERE.
ON THE GRANT FRONT, OEM
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DO
RECEIVE A BRICK GRANT, BUILDING,
RESILIENCE,
INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES
GRANT, AND THAT
MONEY WAS RESCINDED, AND
SO WE
ARE TRACKING THOSE GRANTS AS
WELL.
AND THEN, ALSO, JUST
UPCOMING, SOME MORE
REAUTHORIZATION, SO
WORK FIRST INNOVATION
OPPORTUNITY, WIOA. OED IS
TRACKING THOSE CHANGES IN
COORDINATION WITH U.S.
CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AND ALSO
THE EPA CLEAN AND DRINKING WATER
PROGRAMS.
AND I THINK HERE WE'LL
LEAVE IT FOR QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME ITEMS
WE DIDN'T TOUCH ON, BUT AGAIN,
THERE'S QUITE A FEW THINGS
CIRCLING, AND OF COURSE,
WE'RE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP
IN SEPARATE
CONVERSATIONS IN A LITTLE MORE
DETAIL.
AND LESLIE, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD
BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO THE
COUNCILMEMBERS?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK WE COVERED IT.
>> AWESOME.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS INFORMATION TODAY.
COLLEAGUES, WHAT
KIND OF
QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR
TODAY'S PRESENTERS?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
RINCK. I WAS LOOKING FOR MY
HAND.
I DON'T HAVE ANY
PARTICULAR
QUESTIONS. JUST THANK YOU ALL
FOR THE
UPDATE. THIS IS, LIKE, SUPER
HELPFUL
TO HAVE THE BREAKDOWN OF
WHAT'S GOING ON, WHERE WE
STARTED AT.
WE KNOW A LOT OF STUFF IS COMING
OUT
OF D.C. AND IT'S HARD TO KEEP
TRACK OF ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT ARE SAID AND THEN
WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
AND THEN, WHAT IS THE IMPACT
OF
THAT? AND USUALLY, A LOT OF THE
IMPACT OF THAT IS SOMETHING IS
SAID, AND THEN THERE'S A LOT
OF EMOTIONS THAT ARE AROUND THAT
BECAUSE THAT IS STILL AN
IMPACT, AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE
THAT
AS WELL IN WHAT IS TO COME.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
THE ONE THING I'LL BE
WATCHING IS THE FOOD CUTS AND
WHAT
THAT DOES TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE
IMPACT, AND I'VE ALREADY
HEARD FROM FOLKS AROUND THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT THAT IMPACT AND
HOW THAT IS TRICKLING DOWN,
WHETHER IT'S
THROUGH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM
OR THROUGH THE S.N.A.P. BENEFITS
OR, YOU KNOW, THE
DIFFERENT ACCESSES FOR OUR MEAL
PROGRAMS AND THE FOOD PROVIDERS
IN
SEATTLE. SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT
I'LL BE CAREFULLY LOOKING
AT. SO, THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> COLLEAGUES,
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BEFORE
I CHIME IN WITH
A COUPLE MYSELF?
THANK YOU.
BUILDING ON THE POINT
THAT COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
MADE, I MEAN, I WANT TO NOTE
THE POINT THAT SHE MADE THAT
THIS IS
CONSIDERED THE LARGEST CUT
TO S.N.A.P. IN OUR HISTORY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS
OF
PEOPLE? I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A
DOLLAR
FIGURE, BUT HAS ANY ANALYSIS
BEEN DONE ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT COULD
BE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED CUT?
>> YEAH, I THINK THE S.N.A.P.
CUTS WILL BE FAR- REACHING,
UNFORTUNATELY. AND I THINK
ANOTHER FACTOR
TO CONSIDER IS ON TOP OF JUST
S.N.A.P., THERE'S OTHER
BENEFITS THAT ARE BEING CUT, AND
SO ON
TOP OF LOSING
POTENTIAL DOLLARS FOR YOUR
HOUSING AND FOOD AND
UTILITIES, YOU'RE GOING TO
BE AFFECTED IN A LOT OF
DIFFERENT
WAYS.
I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OFF THE
TOP OF MY HEAD, AND
LESLIE, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE
SPECIFIC
DETAILS ON THAT.
BUT I DO IMAGINE THAT OUR
COMMUNITY WILL BE FEELING
IT QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY, AND OF
COURSE, THESE CHANGES WILL
BE ROLLED OUT OVER TIME.
NOT EVERYTHING WILL HAPPEN
TOMORROW, BUT S.N.A.P. IS
ONE OF THE ONES THAT WILL BE
COMING QUICKER THAN MOST.
>> THANK
YOU.
>> I'LL JUST NOTE A
COUPLE ADDITIONAL PIECES ON
THAT.
SO, THEY'RE TALKING
ABOUT CUTTING ABOUT $290
BILLION FROM THE PROGRAM.
IT'S BASICALLY A 30% CUT, SO
AS ANNIE NOTED, IT'S DRAMATIC,
AND IT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT.
THE ONLY PIECE I WANT TO NOTE
HERE IS THAT IT DOES NOT
SEEM, AT THIS MOMENT, THAT
REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE ARE
NECESSARILY
ON BOARD WITH ALL OF
THESE CHANGES. AND SO, AGAIN,
WE'RE
MONITORING THIS VERY, VERY
CLOSELY,
BUT THERE COULD BE
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THIS AS
WELL.
SO, WE'RE NOT AT THE
FINISH LINE YET.
>>
I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU, LESLIE.
I SEE A HAND FROM COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RINCK.
FIRST, THANK YOU FOR
THE
PRESENTATION. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING
THERE. I HAVE A SICK CHILD HERE
AT
OUR HOUSE.
MY QUESTION, I LOOK AT
THIS, OBVIOUSLY, I'M LOOKING AT
THINGS
A LOT OF TIMES WITH A
PUBLIC SAFETY EYE, AND SO I
WORRY
ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH
FEMA
AND DIFFERENT PIECES LIKE THAT.
IT'S OF GREAT CONCERN.
AND OBVIOUSLY, I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT THE VARIOUS
PIECES,
LIKE, WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT
MEDICAID AND HOW THAT IMPACTS
OUR CITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I'M WONDERING ABOUT IS -- AND
WE
CAN RAISE THE ALARM, AND WE NEED
TO
RAISE THE ALARM.
WE NEED TO PUSH BACK AND
ALL OF THE ABOVE, BUT AT THE
SAME
TIME, YOU KNOW, WE ARE A WEST
COAST
BLUE CITY, AND I WONDER --
SO, THIS IS AN OIR QUESTION
MORE BROADLY.
ARE WE REACHING OUT TO OUR
COLLEAGUES IN, LIKE,
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON CITIES
WAY,
AND FROM A WASHINGTON CITIES
WAY,
WHICH HAS CITIES BOTH ON THE --
IN THE PUGET SOUND BUT
ALSO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
MOUNTAINS,
ON THE EAST SIDE, THAT HIGHLIGHT
THESE THINGS.
DANNY IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES HAS BEEN HITTING
THIS POINT. REPRESENTATIVE
NEWHOUSE'S DISTRICT IS THE ONE
THAT'S
GOING TO BE HURT IF MEDICAID
GETS
HIT, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE
MORE POWERFUL IF WE HAD A
PURPLE, BLUE AND RED, CITIES,
COUNTIES, REPRESENTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THOSE
PIECES,
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
AS WE KNOW, BLUE
STATES CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAN THEY
TAKE.
RED STATES CONTRIBUTE LESS
THAN
THEY TAKE. AND SO, ALL THESE
MASSIVE
CUTS AND SO FORTH ARE GOING TO
HAVE
MAJOR IMPACTS ON RED STATES AND
RED COUNTIES.
AND I THINK IF WE WERE
TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES AND CITIES, YOU KNOW,
EVEN ALL JURISDICTIONS IN
RED COUNTY, WASHINGTON, TO
HIGHLIGHT THESE THINGS, BECAUSE
IT
REALLY HAS AN IMPACT DIRECTLY ON
THEM.
AND YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THOSE FOLKS IN THOSE
COUNTIES, THEY WANT TO
RAISE THEIR CHILDREN, SO IT'S
THE SCHOOL PIECES.
OR THEY'RE -- THEY HAVE
ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ARE RELYING
ON
ELDER CARE.
THEY'RE RELIANT THEMSELVES ON
MEDICAID AND ALL THE LIKE.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY
HAVE BEEN BASICALLY SOLD, CAN I
SAY, A BILL OF GOODS, AND
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS QUITE
THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY
EXPECTED, AND I THINK IF WE WERE
TO HIGHLIGHT WORK WITH THOSE
COMMUNITIES, THOSE
JURISDICTIONS, TO
HIGHLIGHT THESE PIECES AND TO
HIGHLIGHT IN
A WAY THAT DANNY
IS TALKING ABOUT WITH RESPECT
TO REPRESENTATIVE
NEWHOUSE'S DISTRICT ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF
THE MOUNTAINS, THAT THAT
COULD BE MORE POWERFUL AND
REALLY
KIND OF HIGHLIGHT TO
OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER
SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS BUT
PARTICULARLY IN CONGRESS THAT
YES, REFORM
IS NEEDED.
YEAH, WE COULD DO SOMETHING
LIKE REINVENTING GOVERNMENT THE
WAY PRESIDENT CLINTON
AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE DID BACK
IN THE
DAY, BUT WHAT'S GOING ON NOW
IS IN ITSELF WASTE, FRAUD,
AND ABUSE, AND PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO
GET HURT FOR THE MOST PART.
THERE'S GOING TO BE US HERE IN
SEATTLE, BUT REALLY,
IT'S GOING TO BE THOSE
INDIVIDUALS IN RED
COUNTY, RED
STATE, AMERICA. AND SO, THAT'S
MY QUESTION FOR
OIR.
WHAT ARE WE DOING IN TERMS
OF POTENTIALLY REACHING ACROSS
THE MOUNTAINS
AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO
COLLABORATE?
>> YEAH, THANK
YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER. SO, OIR IS DOING
A LOT OF THAT
WORK CURRENTLY BEHIND THE
SCENES.
WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH
A LOT OF OUR PARTNERING
CITIES, ALSO IN THE SOUND COUNTY
ACROSS THE STATE, ALONG WITH
THE LEGISLATORS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE STATE.
SO, WE ARE DOING OUTREACH
TO SPECIFICALLY REPRESENTATIVE
NEWHOUSE, ACTUALLY, JUST
GIVEN HIS POSITION ON THE
AGRICULTURE
COMMITTEE, SO WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING THROUGH THAT, AND
WE
DO HAVE A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS
WORKING IN THEIR
NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND
ORGANIZATIONS, SO DEPARTMENTS
LIKE CITY LIGHT
AND SBU ARE WORKING ACROSS THE
STATE AND EVEN NATIONALLY, AND
A LOT OF THAT
OUTREACH IS
BIPARTISAN, AND SO THEY HAVE
BEEN CONNECTING WITH THEIR
COUNTERPARTS AND
SPECIFICALLY TARGETING SOME OF
THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY. WE, OF
COURSE, ARE VERY
GRATEFUL FOR OUR DELEGATION
SUPPORT,
BUT PART OF THAT COMES WITH
BEINGBEING IN
THE IS A LITTLE LESS
OF THAT POWER, AND SO A LOT OF
OUR WORK HAS BEEN STRATEGIC IN
TERMS
OF WORKING THROUGH OUR NATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS, BUT HAPPY TO
DISCUSS SOME STRATEGY MORE
ON HOW WE CAN FURTHER ELEVATE
SOME
OF THAT WORK.
>> THANK
YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, FOR THAT QUESTION.
I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN LETTERS
AND ADVOCACY RELATED
TO WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING
ABOUT.
I'M THE BUDGET CHAIR, KEEPING
MY BUDGET HAT ON HERE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO
ME THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY LAID
OUT, I DON'T NEED TO
GO THROUGH AND REHASH IT, ARE
ABOUT THE
GRANTS AND THE CONGRESSIONALLY
DIRECTED
FUNDING, AS WELL AS THE
ECONOMY, BECAUSE THE ECONOMY
DOING
WELL WILL GIVE US GOOD
FORECASTS, WILL GIVE US A BETTER
SITUATION WITH OUR REVENUE
COLLECTION. AND SO, THE ASK HERE
TODAY
IS IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE TO KEEP
ME
UP TO DATE AND JESSE IN MY
OFFICE
JUST AS, YOU KNOW, IN REALTIME,
HOW ARE GOINGS GOING?
GOING WELL, GOING BAD,
OUR EFFORTS BEING SUCCESSFUL OR
NOT?
GENERALLY HERE, WHAT DO I NEED
TO BE LOOKING FOR?
WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE
LOOKING FOR IN REGARDS TO THAT
CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED
FUNDING, THE GRANTS OR
THE GENERAL ECONOMY FROM THE
ACTIONS WITHIN CONGRESS OR
THE WHITE HOUSE?
>> YEAH, I THINK WHAT WILL
BE REALLY IMPORTANT IS TRACKING
THE PASS-THROUGH DOLLARS THAT
ARE COMING FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. I KNOW THAT CBO HAS
BEEN DOING
A LOT OF WORK ON THAT, AND
SO THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN
WORKING WITH
OUR DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT
THEY KNOW WHICH GRANTS ARE AT
RISK.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO
TRACK THE FORMULA FUNDING TO OUR
BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND SEE HOW
THAT
TRICKLES DOWN.
BUT I DO THINK GIVEN WHERE
THE STATE IS AND THEIR BUDGET
AND AS
THESE CUTS DO COME
THROUGH, ESPECIALLY AS ARE
MISALIGNED WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION, THAT THOSE
CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING
TO NEED TO BE HAD IN TERMS
OF HOW WE'RE FILLING IN, BUT I
THINK,
SPECIFICALLY, ON THE
HOUSING FRONT AND THE FOOD FRONT
WILL BE TWO
AREAS THAT I SEE AS PRIORITY.
LESLIE, DO YOU WANT TO
ADD
THERE?
>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK, YOU
KNOW, A COUPLE OF THINGS.
WE'RE AT KIND OF A
REALLY INTERESTING
INFLECTION POINT RIGHT NOW.
I THINK YOU'RE SEEING A
COUPLE OF THINGS.
WE'RE ALL WAITING ON THE IMPACT
OF TARIFFS AND WHAT THAT
WILL HAVE FOR THE GENERAL
ECONOMY.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S --
IT CHANGES DAY BY DAY, SEEMS
LIKE,
ACCORDING TO THE
PRESIDENT'S
MOOD. THE OTHER PIECE, I'LL JUST
NOTE, IS THAT, YOU KNOW,
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE PAYING
A LOT
OF ATTENTION TO RIGHT NOW
IS SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
REAUTHORIZATION, BECAUSE, OF
COURSE, THAT WAS THE VEHICLE FOR
THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE
LAW, WHICH PROVIDED SUCH A HUGE
INFUSION OF COMPETITIVE
GRANT FUNDING AND, OF COURSE,
THE CITY
WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN
GETTING SOME OF
THOSE DOLLARS. AND SO, LAYING
THE
GROUNDWORK NOW SO THAT THOSE
GRANT
PROGRAMS CAN LIVE ON IN THE
FUTURE IS
AN AREA THAT WE'RE ALSO VERY,
VERY FOCUSED ON.
THERE'S A LOT OF -- IT MAY
FEEL LIKE NOT A LOT WILL GET
DONE
THIS YEAR.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A LOT
OF GROUNDWORK THAT'S BEEN
LAID ON THIS FRONT.
SO, THAT'S JUST ANOTHER AREA
THAT WE'RE PAYING A LOT
OF ATTENTION TO.
>> AND I WOULD JUST ADD,
COUNCILMEMBER, ANOTHER
THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON
IS ON THE LEGAL FRONT.
SO, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
ENSURING WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN
TO PROTECT OUR DOLLARS AS
WELL, AND I THINK, AS YOU'VE
SEEN,
THERE'S BEEN LAWSUITS THAT THE
CITY'S
JOINED, ALONG WITH THE
COUNTY AND NEIGHBORING
JURISDICTIONS, AND SO THAT'S
ANOTHER MEANS
OF PROTECTING OUR FUNDING AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT'S VERY HELPFUL, AND A BIT
TO LESLIE'S POINT ABOUT THE
VOLATILITY OF THE MARKET AND
THE ECONOMY AND ALL THE CHANGES.
COLLEAGUES, I'LL JUST BRING
US BACK TO THE LAST FORECAST --
THE
REVENUE FORECAST MEETING WHERE
WE ADOPTED A PESSIMISTIC
OUTLOOK, AND THAT WAS RIGHT IN
THE EYE OF THE STORM OF A
LOT OF THE TARIFF -- THE INITIAL
WAVE OF TARIFF CHANGES AND THE
TARIFF WAR GOING ON.
ONE MONTH LATER, THE ECONOMY IS
IN A MORE STABLE, ALTHOUGH
THE VOLATILITY INDEXES ARE
STILL VERY HIGH.
WE'RE IN A MORE STABLE
POSITION, AND I WONDER ALOUD IF
WE HAD
RUN THE FORECAST TODAY, IF IT
WOULD
BE DIFFERENT THAN IF IT HAD
BEEN A MONTH AGO.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS
THAT WE'VE GOT TWO MORE
LATER THIS YEAR.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE
THEM LESS VOLATILE AND MORE
STABLE
ECONOMY AT THAT TIME.
THANK YOU, ANNIE.
THANK YOU, LESLIE. BACK TO YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
I KNOW I'LL BE VERY CURIOUS TO
SEE WHAT OUR AUGUST
FORECAST INDICATES
FOR US. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RINCK.
AND I WANT TO START OFF
BY THANKING EVERYONE FOR JOINING
US TODAY AND SHARING YOUR
INSIGHTS.
VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
I'LL TELL YOU, FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, AS CHAIR OF OUR
CITY'S TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE, I'M PARTICULARLY
INTERESTED
IN THE IMPACTS ON
TRANSPORTATION AND CHAIR RINCK
AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING THE
DEPARTMENT, OUR
DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF
TRANSPORTATION, AMONGST
OTHERS, AT A
LATER DATE. IN ANY EVENT, I KNOW
ON THE
TRANSPORTATION FRONT, IN COUNTY,
A PARTNER, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
HERE, HAS RECENTLY SUED
THE ADMINISTRATION OVER ITS
RECENT
MANDATES AND EDICTS TO ELIMINATE
DEI PROGRAMS, SERVICES, CLIMATE
INITIATIVES, AMONG OTHER --
REQUIRED ELIMINATING
PROPOSALS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN
FEDERAL FUNDS
FOR TRANSIT.
AND SO -- WHICH IS DEEPLY
DISTURBING.
I THINK KING COUNTY
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN WIDELY
REPORTED --
RELIES ON ABOUT $400 MILLION
IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPLEMENT
ITS BUDGET, AND COLLEAGUES,
AS WE KNOW, SEATTLE PURCHASES
EXTRA
SERVICE DIRECTLY FROM
KING COUNTY METRO, AND THEY
OPERATE SOME OF OUR OWN TRANSIT
LINES,
INCLUDING MONORAIL,
OTHERS, AND THE STREETCARS.
SO, IN ALL THESE THINGS PUT
TOGETHER, THERE'S
DEPENDENCIES, IF KING COUNTY, AS
WE
KNOW, RELIES ON $400 MILLION
OF FEDERAL FUNDS IN ORDER
TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE LEVELS
THAT IT PROVIDES TODAY, WHAT
HAPPENS IF SOME OF THOSE ARE AT
RISK?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
JUST SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US TO
CONSIDER, BECAUSE THERE
ARE DEPENDENCIES AND RELIANCES
ON THESE CRITICALLY NEEDED
DOLLARS
AS WE CONSIDER THE SCOPE
OF THESE CHALLENGES
WHOLISTICALLY, CERTAINLY IN THE
TRANSPORTATION CONTEXT.
SO, IN ANY EVENT,
MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS AT
THIS POINT, BUT
JUST SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US, I
THINK, TO TRACK
AND MONITOR. BECAUSE THIS IS
IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
LOOKING FORWARD TO
YOUR PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHAPE UP
A
FUTURE MEETING FOCUSED
SPECIFICALLY ON
TRANSPORTATION AND THESE
IMPORTANT PROJECTS
AHEAD OF US.
COLLEAGUES, ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BEFORE I
WRAP UP
AND LEAVE THESE FOLKS TO
ENGAGE WITH
AND FOLLOW ALONG CONGRESS MORE
TODAY?
IF NOT, I'LL CLOSE WITH ONE
FINAL QUESTION PERTAINING TO
LIHEAP.
YOU ALL NOTED THAT IT LOOKS
LIKE THE FUNDING IS CURRENTLY
IN PLACE IN LIHEAP, BUT MY
WORKING
UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN THERE
HAVE BEEN MASS LAYOFFS OF THE
PROGRAM THAT ADMINISTERS LIHEAP.
WHILE THE FUNDING MAY BE IN
PLACE, THE ADMINISTRATORS THAT
CAN GET DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR
ARE NO LONGER THERE.
SO, WONDERING ABOUT YOUR
WORKING UNDERSTANDING OF THE
THERE'S STILL ENOUGH REMAINING
STAFF
TO STILL GET THE FUNDING OUT
THE DOOR AND HOW PREVALENT ARE
WE SEEING THIS AS AN APPROACH?
>> YES, I DO BELIEVE THERE
HAS BEEN AN INJUNCTION TO
RESTORE THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.
I'M NOT SURE THAT IT WILL BE
THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
FIRED.
LESLIE, DO YOU WANT TO
ADD ANYTHING ON LIHEAP?
I DON'T KNOW THE LATEST
UPDATE JUST BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A
LOT
OF CHANGES
HERE.
>> IT HAS.
IT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN
CIRCLE BACK ON, THOUGH.
IT DOES, YOU KNOW,
OUR UNDERSTANDING
IS THINGS SEEM TO BE SLOWLY
RESUMING
BUT WE'RE
HAPPY TO CIRCLE BACK ON THAT.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APOLOGIES IF I WAS NOT CLEAR.
I THINK I'M JUST TRYING
TO HAVE A WORKING UNDERSTANDING
ACROSS THE BOARD WITH ALL OF
THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WHILE
DOLLARS MAY REMAIN IN A PROGRAM
IF
WE DON'T HAVE THE FEDERAL
WORKFORCE TO HELP GET DOLLARS
OUT THE
DOOR TO PROGRAMS.
I THINK THAT'S JUST AN
IMPORTANT DYNAMIC
TO UNDERSTAND. AND SO, WOULD
LOVE TO
CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION AS
YOU ALL
COME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
THAT KIND OF DYNAMIC AS THE TIME
GOES
ON.
>> OF COURSE.
WELL, THANK YOU, CHAIR RINCK,
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WE
WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
OUR SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
TWO INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM TWO, WELCOMING
CITY
RESOLUTION FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION, AND VOTE.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU. AND SO, AT THIS TIME,
I'M
GOING TO INVITE SOME OF OUR
PANELISTS UP TO THE DAIS, UP TO,
PARDON
ME, THE TABLE, AND BEFORE
WE BEGIN WITH OUR PRESENTERS AND
TO
GIVE THEM A MOMENT TO SETTLE
IN, I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES,
PARTICULARLY COUNCILMEMBERS
KETTLE AND STRAUSS, AND THEIR
STAFF, WHO HAVE BEEN
ENGAGING WITH ME AND MY
TEAM ON DEVELOPING AND
NEGOTIATING THIS
LEGISLATION, ESPECIALLY AS
WE GET A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF
THE
CITY'S CURRENT BUDGET
SITUATION.
WE UNDERSTAND THE
INCREDIBLE STRESS THAT CITY
FINANCES ARE
IN, WHICH HAVE ONLY GOTTEN
WORSE SINCE THIS LEGISLATION
WAS ORIGINALLY FIRST DRAFTED.
HOWEVER, WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT
THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH REFLECTS
THIS BUDGET REALITY AND AIMS TO
MINIMIZE HARM AND ADVERSE
IMPACTS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE
THAT PROTECTING
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES,
ENSURING THAT
WE SUPPORT ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT INVESTMENTS AND
STRATEGIES,
AND
STAYING WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF
WASHINGTON STATE LAW ON
IMMIGRATION IS VITAL TO THE WORK
WE DO ON THIS DAIS.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS LEGISLATION
STATES THAT THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL CONTINUE
TO COMPLY
WITH THE COURT OPEN TO ALL
ACT AND THAT COUNCIL REQUESTS
THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE FURTHER DEVELOP
SPECIALIZED CAPACITY AND SUBJECT
EXPERTISE
AND IMMIGRATION LAW AND
PROCEDURES. COUNCIL REQUESTS
ALSO THAT
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
ESTABLISH
A TEAM THAT MONITOR
FEDERAL ACTION THAT CAN TARGET
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES,
AND COUNCIL COMMITS TO BALANCING
THE CITY'S BUDGET AND
MINIMIZING ADVERSE IMPACTS TO
HARM TO
CITY AGENCIES THAT SUPPORT THIS
WORK.
NAMELY, THE WORK OF THE
OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS AND THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS.
AND WITH THAT, WELCOME TO
OUR PRESENTERS TODAY.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
BY STATING YOUR FULL NAME AND
ORGANIZATION INTO THE MICROPHONE
FOR THE RECORD.
>>
GOOD MORNING. JESSICA
CASTELLANOS,
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF KIND
SEATTLE OFFICE.
>> TIM WARDEN- HERTZ,
DIRECTING ATTORNEY AT THE
NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS PROJECT.
>>
CINDY.
>> PULL
THE MICROPHONE CLOSER AND DO
THAT ONE MORE TIME.
WE COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
>> YOU WANT ME TO SAY IT
ONE MORE TIME?
>> I'M STILL HAVING
TROUBLE.
>> I'M CINDY FROM KIDS IN
NEED OF
DEFENSE.
>> IS THAT MICROPHONE WORKING
OR
NOT?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
>> WE'RE JUST GOING TO --
>> OH.
HI, I'M CINDY FROM KIDS IN NEED
OF DEFENSE.
>> THANK YOU.
AND AS WE GET STARTED, I WANT
TO THANK JESSICA AND CINDY FOR
YOUR
WORK WITH KIDS IN NEED OF
DEFENSE. IT IS DISHEARTENING
THAT
THE WORK OF K.I.N.D. WILL BE
ENDING
THIS MONTH, AND I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE FOR THE
ORGANIZATION AND FOR BEING HERE
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I HAVE SOME PREPARED
STATEMENTS AND UPDATES IF
THAT'S POSSIBLE.
>> THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC TO
SHARE WITH THE COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU.
>> OKAY.
GOOD MORNING,
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
INVITATION TO
SPEAK TO YOU ALL AGAIN TODAY.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
AS I MENTIONED, MY NAME IS
JESSICA CASTELLANOS AND I'M
THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF KIDS
IN NEED OF DEFENSE'S
SEATTLE OFFICE.
I'M GOING TO PROVIDE SOME
UPDATES, AND AFFIRM
THE IMPORTANCE OF PASSING
THIS RESOLUTION AND HOW IT WILL
SUPPORT THE URGENT NEEDS OF
UNACCOMPANIED IMMIGRANT CHILDREN
IN SEATTLE.
AGAIN, AS A RECAP,
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN MIGRATE
AND ENTER
THE UNITED STATES' FEDERAL
CUSTODY BECAUSE THEY ARE ALONE.
UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AND
WITHOUT A LEGAL GUARDIAN OR
PARENT AT
THE TIME OF ENTRY INTO
THE
UNITED STATES. MOST
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ARE
RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY
HERE IN SEATTLE TO ADULT
CAREGIVERS, WHILE THEIR
IMMIGRATION
REMOVAL OR ALSO KNOWN AS
DEPORTATION CASES PEND FOR
SEVERAL YEARS.
THESE ARE NOT JUST CHILDREN
AT THE BORDER.
THEY ARE CHILDREN WHO LIVE
IN SEATTLE.
THEY GO TO SCHOOL
HERE. THEY HAVE FRIENDS HERE.
THEY ARE PART OF OUR SEATTLE
COMMUNITY. THEY ARE ROOTED IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN HAVE
BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF
ATTACKS BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
AS I MENTIONED LAST TIME,
THE FIRST THING THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID WAS ISSUE
A
NEAR- TOTAL TERMINATION OF
THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN'S
PROGRAM'S LEGAL
SERVICES IMPACTING CHILDREN
ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
AND THAT INCLUDES MANY
CHILDREN HERE IN SEATTLE AND
ACROSS
WASHINGTON STATE.
K.I.N.D. SEATTLE OFFICE,
DESPITE BEING ONE OF THE
ORIGINAL
MODELS THAT HAS
SERVED UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN
SINCE
APPROXIMATELY 2004, IN THE WAKE
OF THE LOSS
OF THIS
MAIN SOURCE OF FUNDING, HAS LAID
OFF MOST OF ITS STAFF.
THIS IS INTENTIONAL.
DATA SHOWS THAT
IMMIGRATION JUDGES ARE ALMOST
100 TIMES
MORE LIKELY TO GRANT LEGAL
RELIEF
FOR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN
WITH LEGAL COUNSEL THAN THOSE
WITHOUT.
BUT WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY BY
THEIR SIDE, CHILDREN MUST GO TO
COURT ALONE AND FIGHT AGAINST
A TRAINED GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY.
THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE.
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WITH
ONLY A FEW STAFF LEFT BY MY
SIDE, I HAVE BEEN TRIAGING,
FILING,
AND MAKING DOZENS OF APPEARANCES
IN
COURT. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
MAYOR'S
OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS,
NERP
AND OTHER PARTNERS, EVEN WITH
ALL
HANDS ON DECK, WE NEED MORE
SUPPORT AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME.
SINCE I LAST ADDRESSED THIS
COMMITTEE IN EARLY
APRIL, LITIGATION HAS PROVIDED A
BRIEF
REPRIEVE TO BUY US A LITTLE
TIME UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF THIS
YEAR.
HOWEVER, THE ONLY CERTAINTY IS
THAT FEDERAL FUNDING WILL
REMAIN IN EXTREMELY UNCERTAIN,
UNSTABLE, AND UNRELIABLE WAY
TO MAINTAIN LEGAL SERVICES.
ASIDE FROM THE UNACCOMPANIED
CHILDREN WE HAVE
ALREADY IDENTIFIED IN SEATTLE
WHO
REQUIRE LEGAL COUNSEL, WE HAVE
BEEN TOLD THAT MORE THAN
1,800 CHILDREN HAVE PENDING
CASES BEFORE THE
SEATTLE IMMIGRATION COURT DOWN
THE STREET, AND
THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE
UNREPRESENTED.
THEY ARE FORCED TO MAKE
APPEARANCES ALONE IN COURT IF
THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THERE
WITH NO LEGAL COUNSEL.
MORE ATTACKS FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOCUSING ON
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ARE
STILL HAPPENING.
FIRST, THEY ARE NOW
WEAPONIZING INFORMATION GATHERED
ON UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN
FOR IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES
TO CONDUCT SO- CALLED
WELLNESS CHECKS IN WHICH THERE
HAVE ALSO BEEN ARRESTS ON
PARENTS
AND CHILDREN.
IN APRIL, WE SAW
IMMIGRATION AGENTS CONDUCT THESE
CHECKS
AT TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN LOS
ANGELES WHERE WE ALSO HAVE AN
OFFICE.
WE HAVE ALSO
RECEIVED CONFIRMATION OF
IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT OUTSIDE OF
OUR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
OTHER
FORMERLY PROTECTED AREAS.
HAVING AN ATTORNEY BY THEIR
SIDE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
EVER.
WHILE WE CANNOT CONTROL WHAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL DO, WE
WILL LIKELY SEE RAPID
CHANGES IN LAWS AND POLICIES
DESIGNED
TO UNDERMINE CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
AND
PROTECTIONS.
TAKING ACTION ON LEGAL CASES
AT THIS VERY MOMENT IS CRITICAL
TO PRESERVING
THE RIGHTS OF UNACCOMPANIED
CHILDREN.
MOST OF OUR CLIENTS ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR IMMIGRATION RELIEF
BECAUSE THEY WERE ABUSED,
ABANDONED, NEGLECTED, OR
TRAFFICKED
FOR LABOR OR SEX OR BOTH.
THEY HAVE UNDERGONE HORRENDOUS
THINGS.
WE CANNOT, AT THIS
MOMENT, ABANDON THE VERY
CHILDREN WHO ARE SEEKING SAFETY
AND
SECURITY FROM US.
PLEASE CONSIDER PASSING THIS
RESOLUTION TO DEMONSTRATE
OUR VALUES AS A WELCOMING
CITY. AS EXPERTS WORKING
WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH, WE KNOW
THAT
CONTINUITY IS KEY.
IF WE DO NOT CONTINUE LEGAL
SERVICES SMOOTHLY, CHILDREN
AND YOUTH WILL LOSE TRUST
AND CONTACT WITH TRUSTED ADULTS
AND
BE VULNERABLE TO
DANGEROUS SITUATIONS SUCH AS
EXPLOITATION AND HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I
HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE
RANGE
OF RESPONSES FROM CLIENTS
RECEIVING NEWS OF OUR OFFICE
CLOSURE.
CLIENTS' DEFENSES COME UP RIGHT
AWAY.
WE ARE JUST ANOTHER STRING
OF ADULTS WHO HAVE DISAPPOINTED
THEM, WHO HAVE ABANDONED THEM.
THEY DISTANCE THEMSELVES.
SOME CRY.
OTHERS SEND EMOJIS
WITH PEOPLE CRYING.
OTHERS RUSH TO OUR OFFICE FOR
A FINAL FAREWELL.
WE CANNOT LET THEM BE
SCARED INTO THE SHADOWS,
SUBJECTED
TO REPEATED HARMS AND MISS THEIR
CHANCE IN OBTAINING LIFELONG
STABILITY THROUGH
PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS.
I WANT TO SHARE, BRIEFLY, A
BIT ABOUT ONE OF OUR CLIENTS WHO
IS CURRENTLY FUNDED BY THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
HER NAME IS TERESA.
SHE'S 17 YEARS OLD, AND SHE HAS
A PENDING ASYLUM
APPLICATION AND A U-VISA
APPLICATION BASED ON
SEXUAL ASSAULT SHE
EXPERIENCED IN HER HOME COUNTRY.
SHE HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT
INROADS IN HER LEGAL CASE,
INCLUDING CURRENTLY HAVING
WORK AUTHORIZATION AND DEFERRED
ACTION FROM REMOVAL.
ONE OF OUR SOCIAL WORKERS ALSO
SUPPORTED TERESA WITH THINGS
SHE NEEDS TO CONTINUE
HER HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION WHILE
RAISING HER 2-YEAR- OLD CHILD.
SUCH AS OBTAINING CHILD
SUPPORT, GETTING A LIBRARY CARD,
AMONG MANY OTHER BASIC
NECESSITIES.
WHEN TERESA'S ATTORNEY
SHARED THE NEWS ABOUT K.I.N.D.
'S
OFFICE CLOSURE, TERESA
EXPRESSED FEELING SAD ABOUT
LOSING
THE SUPPORT OF HER LEGAL AND
SOCIAL SERVICES TEAM AT K.I.N.D.
ANXIETY OVER FINDING
AND AFFORDING A NEW
ATTORNEY. TERESA IS ONE OF THE
55
CASES THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS
OF
TRANSFERRING TO NERP
BECAUSE THEY ARE RECEIVING CITY
OF
SEATTLE FUNDING.
HEARING THAT HER CASE WILL
BE TRANSFERRED TO NERP FOR
CONTINUED PRO BONO
LEGAL REPRESENTATION BROUGHT
TERESA
A DEEP SENSE OF RELIEF.
NOW, SHE CAN CONTINUE TO
FOCUS ON CARING FOR HER YOUNG
CHILD AND PURSUING HER
EDUCATION.
SHE IS ONE OF THE 55
CHILDREN WE HAVE NOT HAD TO
ACTUALLY
WITHDRAW FROM BECAUSE OF CITY
OF SEATTLE FUNDING.
THIS COMMITTEE, TODAY, CAN
ENSURE, WITH ITS VOTE, AND
SEND A CHEER MESSAGE THAT IT
VALUES DESERVE PROTECTION, AT A
MINIMUM.
THEY DESERVE SO MUCH MORE
THAN
THAT. THEY DESERVE TO THRIVE.
THE MOST IMPACTFUL THING THAT
SEATTLE CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS
TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION,
INCLUDING THE MINIMUM OF
$300,000
IN EMERGENCY FUNDING TO
SUPPORT IMMIGRANT CHILDREN AND
YOUTH.
WITHOUT THIS IMMEDIATE
EMERGENCY
FUNDING, CHILDREN IN SEATTLE
WILL BE LOSING
THEIR INCREASINGLY SHORTENED
WINDOW
AND OPPORTUNITY FOR SAFETY AND
PROTECTION IN THE SPAN OF
THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, JESSICA.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO BUILD A
LITTLE BIT ON THAT AS TO SORT
OF WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
RIGHT
NOW. AS YOU HEARD, THERE ARE
HUNDREDS
AND HUNDREDS OF
UNACCOMPANIED KIDS WHO ARE GOING
IN
FRONT OF THE SEATTLE IMMIGRATION
COURT
BY
THEMSELVES. YOU KNOW, OUR
ORGANIZATION ALSO
LOST THAT FUNDING,
OVER $2 MILLION IN FUNDING, AND
WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO TRY
TO CONTINUE THE WORK AND SORT
OF COBBLE TOGETHER WHAT WE CAN
TO
KEEP REPRESENTING OUR
CLIENTS AND THEN TO TRY TO DO
WHAT WE CAN TO TAKE ON CLIENTS
WHO HAVE
LOST REPRESENTATION.
AND WE TALKED LAST TIME
ABOUT -- AND I THINK THERE WAS
SOME SKEPTICISM ABOUT SORT OF
WALKING THROUGH THE BUDGET
PROCESS THROUGH A RESOLUTION AND
SORT OF
THAT THIS WOULD BE -- SORT
OF IS NOT THE NORMAL PROCESS FOR
A
BUDGET, AND I THINK THESE
ARE NOT NORMAL TIMES.
THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE
HAVING ADDITIONAL CERTAINTY
ABOUT THE
CITY'S COMMITMENT TO ABANDONED,
ABUSED, AND NEGLECTED
CHILDREN AND MAKING SURE THAT
THE CITY
IS READY TO STAND WITH THEM IS
SO
IMPORTANT. AND SO, I KNOW THAT
THIS IS A
PROCESS AND A HARD BUDGET TIMES.
HOPEFULLY, AS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS SUGGESTED,
MAYBE PREDICTIONS WILL IMPROVE,
BUT THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE THESE
ARE KIDS WHO DESPERATELY NEED
THIS
SUPPORT, AND I WOULD STRONGLY
URGE THAT THE CITY STEP UP
AND
SHOW ITS VALUES AND SUPPORT THIS
RESOLUTION.
THANKS.
>> I DON'T HAVE TOO
MANY OTHER COMMENTS BESIDES WHAT
MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, OTHER
THAN, THIS IS REALLY AN
ATTEMPT TO OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND TO TEAR OUR
COMMUNITY APART.
THEY ARE STARTING
WITH IMMIGRANTS AND
IMMIGRANT CHILDREN BECAUSE
THEY'RE THE
EASIEST TARGET AND THE
VULNERABLE TARGETS.
BUT IT'S REALLY JUST
THE BEGINNING POINT OF AN
EROSION
OF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS AS A WHOLE,
AND
THEY START HERE, AND THEY
WON'T END THERE.
SO, THAT'S WHY THE HARD STOP
ALSO AND THE PUSHBACK NEEDS
TO START IN THE BEGINNING, NOW.
I THINK THAT THIS IS, I
THINK, THAT MOMENT IN TIME
TO STAND TOGETHER STRONGLY AS A
COMMUNITY, TO NOT LET THEM
TEAR US APART FROM ONE ANOTHER
AND
TO TURN ON
ONE ANOTHER. AND WE THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR
YOUR REMARKS TODAY, FOR
YOUR WORK WITH MY OFFICE ON
THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE US.
AND I THINK IT LIKELY
GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT
WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPENING IN
THISTHIS
IS THERE'S NO OTHER WAY
TO DESCRIBE IT THAN JUST
CRUELTY.
AND WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, I
AM EAGER TO HEAR IF THERE
ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOLKS HAVE,
COMMENTS OR THINGS TO ADD.
HAPPY
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
RESOLUTION BEFORE US.
COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANKS, COLLEAGUES, AND I
SEEM TO ALWAYS BE THE NEXT ONE
TO TALK.
HOPE EVERYONE'S HAD THEIR
COFFEE THIS MORNING.
WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU
DO.
IT'S IMPORTANT WORK ON
EHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE
UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, AND
YOUYOU A SAFETY NET WHERE
OTHERS DON'T.
AND THIS FEDERAL
FUNDING THAT HAS DRIED UP FROM
YOU, WE NEED
TO DO OUR BEST TO HELP YOU OUT.
ALSO, THANK YOU FOR
MENTIONING MY BUDGET CONTEXT.
THE OTHER -- I'M JUST GOING
TO PILE ON WITH SOME MORE BAD
NEWS, I'M SORRY.
THE OTHER BAD NEWS IS THE LAST
TIME PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS IN
THE WHITE HOUSE, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WAS IN AN ECONOMIC BOOM.
WE WERE YEAR SIX OR
SEVEN OF ABOUT 10 TO 12 YEARS
OF BEING THE FASTEST- GROWING
CITY IN THE
NATION.
THAT WAS THE SALES TAX
FROM CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS
THE
ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX THAT WE
WERE RECEIVING YEAR OVER YEAR.
AS I CAME INTO CITY HALL
TODAY, I NOTICED ONLY FOUR
CRANES.
TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN ON
PAUSE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND IN 2016, '17, AND '18,
WE HAD MORE CRANES THAN NEW
YORK
CITY. AND SO, JUST BEYOND THAT
ADDITIONAL BUDGET CONTEXT IS --
THAT I SHARED ABOUT THE FORECAST
A FEW MINUTES AGO, THE
UNDERLYING BUDGET SITUATION
IS NOT IN THE SAME PLACE AS IT
WAS IN THE 2016, '17, AND
'18, WHICH IS TOUGH.
SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID ALSO IS
THAT WE HAVE TO BE READY TO
BE THERE FOR THE FIRST PEOPLE
THAT
ARE UNDER ATTACK.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
I WOULD JUST --
COLLEAGUES, I WOULD HAVE TROUBLE
SIGNING ON
TO THIS RESOLUTION TODAY IF NOT
FOR THAT FACT.
WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT WE'RE
HEREHERE READY, BUT I ALSO
CAUTION US
THAT WITHOUT THE FUTURE
REVENUE FORECASTS MAKING
BUDGET DECISIONS THROUGH
RESOLUTION
ANDAND THROUGH BUDGET BILLS
AND EARLY ON THERE ARE -- WE
HAVE
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OWN CITY
IS
ABLE TO SERVE BECAUSE WE
ARE ALSO THE LAST LINE OF
DEMOCRACY.
OUR CIVIL AND OUR ABILITY
TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR
RESIDENTS AND TO FUNCTION AS
A DEMOCRACY HERE AT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, I HAVE NO QUESTION
THAT WE WILL CONTINUE THIS WORK.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE
DEMOCRACY BURNS BRIGHT
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
FOR OUR
RESIDENTS÷÷ AND I JUST WANT TO
--
AS THE BUDGET
CHAIR, UNFORTUNATELY, I'M PUT
IN
THAT TOUGH SITUATION,
AND MY NORTH STAR HERE IS TO
ENSURE THAT,
AS MORE TROUBLES COME DOWN THE
ROAD, THAT OUR DEMOCRACY
WILL FLOURISH HERE IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND THAT WE WILL BE
HERE AS EVERY LINE OF DEFENSE
FOR EVERY RESIDENT.
A LITTLE OFF-TOPIC.
SORRY, CHAIR.
BUT JUST REALLY, I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
WE'RE GOING TO DO AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE. I
JUST ALSO HAVE TO SHARE THAT
OTHER BAD NEWS TOO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
AND I UNDERSTAND WE DON'T
HAVE CENTRAL STAFF AT THE TABLE
TODAY, SO I'LL SPEAK TO
A LITTLE BIT FROM
A FACT BASIS. ONE OF THE CORE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE
RESOLUTION
THIS COMMITTEE WAS BRIEFED ON
AND WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY,
ONE
OF THOSE BEING
THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE
RESOLUTION
INCLUDED COUNCIL HAVING A STATED
COMMITMENT TO THE $300,000 THAT
WAS NAMED IN THE RESOLUTION.
THIS VERSION, RATHER, HAS
US COMMITTING TO HAVING
A DISCUSSION COME BUDGET RELATED
TO THE $300,000, AND SO I
JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT
DISTINCTION FOR THE PUBLIC.
WE UNDERSTAND WE DON'T WANT
TO MOVE ON BUDGET IN A
RESOLUTION
PROCESS OUT OF A BUDGET
CYCLE, BUT WANTED TO FIND THAT
LINE BETWEEN BALANCING THE NEED
TO KEEP THIS CONVERSATION GOING,
TO SUPPORT IN OUR BUDGET
DELIBERATION, SO WE HAVE
THAT CLARITY COME TIME, AND ALSO
NOT WANTING TO LEGISLATE VIA
RESOLUTION. SO, TRIED TO FIND
THAT LINE
HERE IN WHAT'S BEFORE US TODAY.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HAS A
HAND.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RINCK.
I'LL LOWER MY HAND NOW BEFORE
I FORGET IT.
I JUST WANTED TO -- WELL, TWO
THINGS. ONE, THANK THE PANEL FOR
YOUR
WORK AND COMING HERE TODAY
AND
REPRESENTING. I APPRECIATE
IT. AND YES, IT'S IMPORTANT IN
TERMS OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION
AND THE
RULE OF LAW AND THE LIKE, AND
AS I KNOW FROM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE, YOU MARRY A CIVIL
RIGHTS
ATTORNEY, PARTICULARLY ONE
WHO FIGHTS FOR WHO CAN'T
NECESSARILY FIGHT FOR
THEMSELVES, I
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN
TERMS OF
PROVIDING REPRESENTATION TO
THOSE, PARTICULARLY TO CHILDREN
OR
YOUNG ADULTS, AND
THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY FIND
THEMSELVES IN. IT'S
INTERESTING, AND I DO
SAY THIS TO MY WIFE ON A
PERIODIC
BASIS.
I SAY, THANK YOU FOR
FIGHTING FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND
THE AMERICAN WAY, AND SO I WAS
THINKING, AS I SAT HERE,
THAT I SHOULD THANK YOU TOO
FOR FIGHTING FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE,
AND
THE AMERICAN WAY.
SO, THANK YOU.
FOR CHAIR RINCK AND IT'S AA
LITTLE DIFFICULT NOT BEING THERE
ON THE DAIS, BUT RELATED TO
THE WELCOMING CITY RESOLUTION,
OBVIOUSLY, WHEN I READ IT, I
HAD SOME CONCERNS.
NOTED THERE WAS A LOT OF
RECITALS, A LOT OF RECITALS, BUT
YES, I HAD SOME
CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY RELATED
TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, AND SOME OF THOSE
PIECES. BUT THE TEAM HAS BEEN
WORKING.
MY TEAM'S BEEN WORKING WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEYS AND OTHERS ON
THIS, INCLUDING YOUR STAFF,
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT
COORDINATION, AND I THINK THE
RESOLUTION AS
IT READS NOW IS MUCH BETTER ON
THAT
FRONT. AND TO THE POINT THAT YOU
JUST
MADE, I NOTICED THE OTHER
EDITS AND CHANGES THAT WERE
DONE.
I THINK THAT IS -- ALSO
MAKES THE RESOLUTION MUCH
BETTER,
AS YOU
NOTED, BUDGET, BUT THE OTHER
PIECES AS WELL, SO THANK YOU
FOR TAKING IN THAT INPUT THAT
CAME,
NOT JUST FROM MY OFFICE BUT FROM
OTHER OFFICES AS WELL,
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
RESOLUTION, BECAUSE WE'RE
STATING, YOU KNOW, OUR
POSITION, AND I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAND UP.
I WAS JUST RECENTLY --
I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS
WITH REPRESENTATIVE SMITH, AND I
JUST
LISTENED TO HIM YESTERDAY, AND
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
JURISDICTIONS
SUCH AS OURS TO MAKE A
STATEMENT, AND I THINK
THIS RESOLUTION DOES,
PARTICULARLY
AS IT READS NOW.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
COLLEAGUES, ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS ON THE
RESOLUTION OR
QUESTIONS FOR TODAY'S
PRESENTERS?
>>
CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> I'M GOING TO END THIS WITH A
LITTLE BIT HAPPIER
NEWS, WHICH IS THAT IT DOES SEEM
THAT OUR
CONSTITUTION IS STANDING STRONG.
YOUR WORK, WHILE TROUBLED RIGHT
NOW, CONTINUES ON.
WE WILL DO THIS TOGETHER.
WE WILL STAY STRONG TOGETHER.
I NOTE THAT TOMORROW
IS NORWEGIAN CONSTITUTION DAY.
NORWAY'S CONSTITUTION IS
THE SECOND OLDEST IN THE WORLD,
ONLY
BEHIND OURS, AND SO
TOMORROW, WE'RE GOING TO BE
CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY.
SO, I WANT TO START
THAT CELEBRATION EARLIER,
BECAUSE AS
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
MENTIONED, YOU ARE OUR DEFENDERS
OF
DEMOCRACY.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. WE'RE
RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MAY I ADD A COMMENT?
I JUST -- I DID WANT TO
REITERATE THAT SECTION 8 OF
THE REVISED RESOLUTION DOES -- I
DO APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS A
SPECIAL SORT OF OUTSIDE OF
THE BOUNDS PROCESS IN
RELATION TO THE BUDGET, BUT IT
IS
DRAFTING AND CONSIDERATION OF AN
AMENDMENT, AND SO JUST TO GET
US TO THAT NEXT STEP.
I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE VERY
IMPORTANT, AND JUST SOMETHING
TO NOTE FOR FOLKS THINKING ABOUT
THIS AS THEY CONSIDER THEIR
VOTE, AND THEN THE OTHER
PIECE IS JUST REITERATING THAT
THE REAL IMPACT HERE AND THE
REASON FOR THIS SPECIAL ASK IS
WE'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED OVER
50 CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT
CURRENTLY
FUNDED BY THE CITY WHO COULD BE
FUNDED, WHO COULD CONTINUE
LEGAL
REPRESENTATION. IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPACTFUL,
AND SO EVEN GETTING TO THE NEXT
STEP OF CONSIDERATION OF
THAT $300,000 IS INCREDIBLY
CRITICAL AT THIS MOMENT.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> IF I MAY FOLLOW UP ON A POINT
YOU RAISED DURING YOUR OPENING
REMARKS.
YOU STATED THAT THERE ARE 1,800
CHILDREN WITH PENDING CASES AT
THE COURTHOUSE DOWN THE STREET.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S THE LATEST
NUMBER THAT I WAS ABLE TO ACCESS
FROM
THE IMMIGRATION COURT.
THAT WAS AS OF JULY OF LAST
YEAR. I'M ASSUMING THAT NUMBER
HAS NOT
DECREASED, AND IT'S OVER 1,800
CHILDREN.
THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE
UNREPRESENTED.
>> IT'S A STARTLING NUMBER.
AND DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF
THESE CASES OF UNACCOMPANIED
CHILDREN HAVE RESULTED IN THE
DEPORTATION OF THESE KIDDOS
SINCE
THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
HAS
TAKEN OFFICE?
PARTICULARLY HERE IN
SEATTLE METRO AREA?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER.
BUT WE CAN CIRCLE BACK AND
PROVIDE SOME DATA ON THAT
FOR
YOU. HAPPY TO DO
THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, I KNOW WE'VE SPENT
A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION
THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS BUT I
WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
CHAMPION
A LITTLE BIT OF THE
OTHER COMPONENTS OF THIS
LEGISLATION AS THEY BROADLY
RELATE TO OUR
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY
AND TELL A SMALL STORY ABOUT
AN AFTERNOON THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AND I HAD
AT
THE ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY CENTER A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
THIS RESOLUTION INCLUDES A
LOT OF LANGUAGE RELATING TO THE
CITY MAINTAINING ITS
WORK, AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT SEATTLE HAS BEEN A
LEADER IN SO MANY WAYS IN
STANDING BYBY
OUR IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMUNITY OVER THE
YEARS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF
CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE
SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH,
AND
IN THAT VEIN, ALSO CREATING
EXPANDED LANGUAGE ACCESS.
SO, MUCH OF THE CONTENT WITHIN
THE RESOLUTION HAS US HAVE A
WRITTEN COMMITMENT
TO MAINTAINING THAT WORK FROM
THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS TO
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TO THE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS THAT WE'RE
GOING TO KEEP UP OUR LANGUAGE
ACCESS
PROGRAMS, OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS
TO÷÷ IMMIGRANT-OWNED BUSINESSES
IN CONNECTION TO SOCIAL
SERVICES, PAIRED WITH THE
ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE RELATED TO
THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. AND I BRING THAT UP
BECAUSE,
AGAIN, WHILE MUCH OF THIS
MORNING, WE HAVE HAD A FOCUS
ON THE DIRE SITUATION FACING
UNACOMPANIED MINORS, WE
KNOW THERE ARE FOLKS ACROSS THE
BOARD, ADULTS WHO ARE
ALSO AT RISK.
I JOINED COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
WE HAPPENED TO BE GOING TO THE
ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY OF
SEATTLE'S
MONTHLY LUNCH, WHICH IS
FABULOUS, BY THE WAY, AND I
WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO
DROP BY FOR DELICIOUS FOOD AND
CONVERSATION, AND WE JUST
SO HAPPENED TO GET PULLED INTO A
SURPRISE PANEL AS A NUMBER
OF THE FOLKS THERE WANTED TO
HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM US.
AND WE WERE LUCKY THAT
WE HAPPENED TO HAVE SOMEONE IN
THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE AS
AN INTERPRETER FOR
THAT CONVERSATION.
AND THERE WERE A NUMBER
OF QUESTIONS THAT CAME
UP AND A LOT
OF THEM HAD TO DO WITH
IMMIGRATION.
AND QUESTIONS ABOUT, WELL,
SEATTLE IS A SANCTUARY CITY.
WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN?
I KNOW SOMEONE WHO'S
CURRENTLY DETAINED.
THAT CONVERSATION WAS ONLY
MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE SOMEONE IN
THE AUDIENCE SERVED AS
A HAPPENSTANCE INTERPRETER TO
HELP US HAVE THAT CONVERSATION
AND HAVE COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON
AND
I DELIVER ANSWERS ABOUT, WHAT IS
THE WORK THE CITY IS DOING?
WHAT IS WITHIN OUR POWER,
AND WHAT'S NOT WITHIN OUR POWER
AT
THIS TIME?
AND DELIVER THAT MESSAGE
ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME TO
YOUR RIGHTS TRAININGS AND JUST
GET VERY CLEAR ON WHAT CAN THE
CITY, AND WHAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE
CITY'S
CONTROL? AND SO, I WANTED TO
SHARE
THAT BRIEF STORY TO SAY THERE
ARE
MANY ACROSS OUR CITY THAT
ARE CONCERNED AND COULD USE
THE SIGNAL AND THE
REAFFIRMATION THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE
IS GOING TO UPHOLD THIS WORK,
AND WE ARE GOING TO
STAND UP. AND SO, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT ON TODAY'S RESOLUTION SO
WE CAN
MEET THIS MOMENT.
AND WITH THAT, I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND ADOPTION
OF
RESOLUTION 32168. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION. ARE THERE ANY FINAL
COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT, WILL THE
COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>>
YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR
RINCK.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE IN
FAVOR.
>> INCREDIBLE.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU TO OUR
PANELISTS
FOR YOUR WORK, AND
WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK
ALONGSIDE YOU AND CHAMPIONING
OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I DIDN'T READ THE
RIGHT THING.
SORRY.
THE MOTION CARRIES.
AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE RESOLUTION WILL BE
ADOPTED WILL BE SENT TO THE
MAY 27th
FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THANK
YOU, COLLEAGUES.
AND WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S AGENDA.
IS THERE ANYTHING FOLKS HAVE TO
SHARE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER?
>> CHAIR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> CHAIR, I JUST WANTED TO ADD
ONE THING, AND IT'S INTERESTING.
WE TALKED WITH THE LAWYERS.
WE JUST MENTIONED THE LEGAL
PIECE, AND WE CAN COME FROM THAT
ANGLE. MY BACKGROUND IS MORE OF
AN
INTERNATIONALIST.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS,
AROUND THE WORLD, BEEN EXPOSED
TO DIFFERENT LANDS, CULTURES,
PEOPLES, LANGUAGES, AND THAT
DRIVES A LOT ABOUT WHERE I COME
FROM, WHICH ENDS UP BEING IN
THE SAME PLACE AS OTHERS WHO
MAY COME FROM A LEGAL
PERSPECTIVE
AND THE LIKE.
AND
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TODAY, BECAUSE
I READ
SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS REALLY
GERMANE TO THIS, AND
IT CAME FROM A SPEECH BY CONAN
O'BRIEN, WHO, LIKE ME, MARRIED
A LOCAL GIRL.
I THINK WE SHARED THE
SAME WEDDING
PHOTOGRAPHER, BY THE
WAY. AND YOU KNOW, HE'S A GOOD
IRISH CATHOLIC BOY, GREW UP ON
THE EAST COAST.
SO, WE HAVE
SOME THINGS IN COMMON.
BUT ONE AREA THAT WE DEFINITELY,
BASED ON HIS SPEECH AND
MY BACKGROUND AND MY
POSITION, THERE'S OVERLAP IN
HIS
SPEECH WHEN HE RECEIVED THE MARK
TWAIN AWARD RECENTLY
BACK IN MARCH. AND IT'S JUST
COME OUT NOW.
BUT IT WAS IN MARCH.
AND I JUST WANTED TO READ
A LITTLE BIT OF HIS SPEECH.
HE SAID HIS THANK YOUS.
AND THEN, HE SAID HE
COULDN'T REALLY BELIEVE HE WAS
RECEIVING THE MARK TWAIN AWARD
AND
RECEIVING IT FROM DAVID
LETTERMAN, FOR EXAMPLE.
BUT THEN, HE GOES, "ONE
CANNOT INVOKE TWAIN
WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHO HE WAS
AND
WHAT HE STOOD FOR.
NOW, DON'T BE DISTRACTED BY
THE WHITE SUIT AND THE CIGAR AND
THE
RIVERBOAT.
TWAIN IS ALIVE, VIBRANT,
AND
VITALLY RELEVANT TODAY. YES, HE
IS AMERICA'S
GREATEST HUMORIST BUT ALSO
ENDURING
POWER SPRINGS FROM HIS CORE
PRINCIPLES, PRINCIPLES THAT
SHAPED HIS COMEDY AND MADE
HIM ONE OF OUR GREATEST
AMERICANS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, TWAIN HATED
BULLIES. HE POPULATED HIS WORK
WITH
ABUSERS SUCH AS HUCK
N'S ALCOHOLIC FATHER, AND HE
MADE HIS READERS
PASSIONATELY HATE THOSE
CHARACTERS.
HE PUNCHED UP, NOT DOWN.
AND HE DEEPLY, DEEPLY
EMPATHIZED WITH THE WEAK.
TWAIN WAS ALLERGIC TO
HYPOCRISY AND LOATHED RACISM.
TWAIN WROTE, THERE ARE
MANY HUMOROUS THINGS IN THE
WORLD.
AMONG THEM, THE WHITE
MAN'S NOTION THAT HE IS LESS
SAVAGE
THAN THE OTHER SAVAGES.
TWAIN EMPATHIZED WITH THE
POWERLESS IN AMERICA,
FORMER SLAVES STRUGGLING UNDER
RECONSTRUCTION, IMMIGRANT
CHINESE LABORERS IN
CALIFORNIA, AND EUROPEAN JEWS
FLEEING
ANTI-SEMITISM. TWAIN'S REMEDY
FOR
IGNORANCE ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND
US WAS
TO TRAVEL AT A TIME WHEN TRAVEL
WAS VERY LONG AND VERY
DIFFICULT.
TWAIN CIRCLED THE GLOBE, AND HE
WROTE, TRAVEL IS FATAL TO
PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND
NARROW- MINDEDNESS, AND MANY
OF OUR PEOPLE NEED IT SORELY ON
THESE ACCOUNTS.
TWAIN WAS SUSPICIOUS OF
POPULISM, JINGOISM, AND
MONEY- OBSESSED MANIA OF
THE GILDED AGE, AND ANY
EXPRESSION
OF MINDLESS AMERICAN MIGHT OR
SELF-IMPORTANCE.
ABOVE ALL, TWAIN WAS A
PATRIOT IN THE BEST SENSE OF THE
WORD.
HE LOVED AMERICA BUT KNEW IT
WAS DEEPLY FLAWED.
TWAIN WROTE, PATRIOTISM
IS SUPPORTING YOUR COUNTRY ALL
THE
TIME, ALL OF THE
TIME, AND YOUR GOVERNMENT WHEN
IT SERVES IT.
I THINK " I THINK THAT'S
AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
SPEECH THAT'S WORTH REFLECTING
ON, PARTICULARLY IN OUR WORK
HERE ON
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
AND I JUST THOUGHT
IT APPROPRIATE TO END
TODAY'S MEETING WITH IT.
SO, THANK
YOU FOR THE
INDULGENCE, CHAIR, AND
COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU
FOR SHARING THOSE WORDS,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
IT'S A GOOD NOTE TO END ON.
SO, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR
YOUR
WORDS, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT,
AND LET'S CONTINUE THIS WORK
TOGETHER.
AND WITH THAT, HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE
ARE ADJOURNED. IT IS 10:47 A.M.
THANK YOU.