>>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO SEATTLE UNIVERSITY'S
CONVERSATIONS PROGRAM. TONIGHT
WE PRESENT A MAYORAL DEBATE. A
DISCUSSION BETWEEN SEATTLE MAYOR
BRUCE HARRELL, NOW SEEKING A
SECOND TERM, AND KATIE WILSON,
CHALLENGER, RUNNING FOR PUBLIC
OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME. I
WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE. REALLY
APPRECIATE THE TIME. A LOT OF
THESE KINDS OF EVENTS. SO THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> [ APPLAUSE ] I AM JONI
BALTER, PROFESSIONAL AND
RESIDENT HERE AT SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND NONPROFIT
LEADERSHIP.
>> HI, EVERYBODY. I AM CHRIS
DANIELS FROM KOMO TV. WE ARE
GOING TO GO FOR A MORE RELAXED
SETTING TONIGHT BUT ALSO KEEP
THE CANDIDATES ON SOMETIME
RESTRICTIONS AS WE TRIED TO PLOW
THROUGH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
SUBJECTS RANGING FROM HOUSING TO
AFFORDABILITY TO PUBLIC SAFETY
AND PRESIDENT TRUMP . WE WILL
GIVE YOU THE STANDARD 60 SECONDS
TO ANSWER A QUESTION, BUT THERE
WILL BE A SIMILAR QUESTION TO
THE OTHER CANDIDATE AND YOU WILL
HAVE 60 SECONDS. IF YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND
TO YOUR OPPONENT, THIS IS KEY,
WIGGLE YOUR PEN, WIGGLE YOUR
FINGER, AND WE WILL GIVE YOU
ANOTHER 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND TO
WHAT THE CANDIDATE JUST HAD TO
SAY. LATER ON WE WILL HAVE A FEW
INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS , AND THE
SAME RULES WILL APPLY. ONE THING
WE WOULD LIKE TO LAY THE
GROUNDWORK ON NOW. THE RULE IS
TO PLEASE AVOID ACRONYMS WHEN
YOU ARE DISCUSSING CERTAIN
THINGS, FOR INSTANCE, LICKING
COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY. PLEASE REFER TO IT AS
SUCH.
>> THE STUDENT NEXT TO ME IS
DIEGO BORROMEO, SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY'S SENIOR MAJOR IN
PUBLIC AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES, AND INTERNATIONAL
STUDIES.
>> [ APPLAUSE ] HE JOINS US IN
THE QUESTIONING TONIGHT . AND
SINCE WE ARE COMING TO YOU FROM
THE SEATTLE U CAMPUS, DIEGO
BRINGING A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE ,
LEADS US OFF . TAKE IT AWAY, DAY
AGO.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT LOVELY
INTRODUCTION, JONI. I'M EXCITED
TO START US OFF. MAYOR HARRELL,
AS A SEATTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENT
AT WASHINGTON NATIVE, I HAVE
SEEN THE FENTANYL CRISIS EVOLVE
INTO WHAT IT IS NOW. WE HAVE
DRUG AREAS BARRING REPEAT
OFFENDERS FROM ENTERING CERTAIN
PARTS OF THE CITY AND WE ALSO
HAVE THE CARE TEAM COMPRISED OF
CIVILIAN CRISIS RESPONDERS WHO
GO OUT ON CERTAIN JOB CALLS.
HOWEVER, PEOPLE ARE STILL OPENLY
USING DRUGS ON SEATTLE STREETS
AND ON OUR CAMPUS. WHAT WOULD OR
EVEN COULD YOU DO -- COULD YOUR
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION DO TO
ADDRESS THE PUBLIC DRUG USE
FURTHER?
>> FIRST, DIEGO -- THANK
EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS
A HEALTH CRISIS. WE HAVE THE
INTERSECTION NOW BETWEEN A
HEALTH CRISIS AND PUBLIC SAFETY
APPROACH. THE FIRST THING WE
HAVE TO THINK IS SAFE. IF THEY
ARE HARMING THEMSELVES AND
KILLING THEMSELVES, AND OUR
FIRST COURSE WILL ALWAYS BE TO
TREAT THEM. IN OUR
ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE TRIPLED
OUR INVESTMENTS IN THIS SPACE
AND REDUCE RETINAL DEATH BY
NEARLY 30%. THAT IS WHY WE
CREATED THE C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT.
I'M SORRY. THE COMMUNITY
ASSISTANCE RESPONSE AND
ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE NOT DOING A
MILITARIZED APPROACH BUT WE ARE
TREATING THEM. SO WE'RE THE
FIRST CITY IN THE COUNTRY TO
ALLOW OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO
ADMINISTER AS AN EXAMPLE. AT THE
SAME TIME, I WANT ALL STUDENTS
TO BE SAFE. MANY PEOPLE COMMIT
CRIMES, SO WE DO HAVE TO BE
TOUGH IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY
APPROACH AS WELL. THAT IS THE
INTERSECTION AUDI THAT OUR
MINISTRATION HAS DONE. FENTANYL
-- BEST PRACTICES WHEN WE
ACTUALLY DRAFT IT TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE DOING IT IN A STRONG WAY
BUT AN EFFECTIVE AND
COMPASSIONATE WAY.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR HARRELL. MS.
WILSON, WHY SHOULD VOTERS PICK
YOU TO HANDLE THIS CRISIS ? IN
OTHER WORDS, IF YOU ARE ELECTED
AS MAYOR, WOULD YOU WANT TO
CONTINUE ? IF SO, WHAT WOULD YOU
REPLACE THEM WITH ?
>> THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION. THE
FIRST THING I WILL SAY, I'M A
BIG SUPPORTER OF THE C.A.R.E.
TEAM. HOPEFULLY I CAN USE
ACRONYMS SINCE WE HAVE USED IT
ONCE. ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TEAM.
I WAS REALLY DISTURBED IN THE
SEATTLE TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
HAS NOT BEEN BASICALLY ALLOWING
THE C.A.R.E. TEAM TO EXERCISE
FULL JURISDICTION. HAS NOT BEEN
CALLING THEM IN WHERE THEY ARE
APPROPRIATE RESPONDERS. THIS IS
VERY DISTURBING . AND AS MAYOR,
I WILL ABSOLUTELY BE WORKING
WITH SPD TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
ALLOWING THE C.A.R.E. TEAM FOR
LATITUDE RESPONSE AND MAKE SURE
THE C.A.R.E. TEAM CAN RESPOND
WITHOUT POLICE WHEN APPROPRIATE
SO POLICE CAN FOCUS ON POLICING.
I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE FENTANYL
CRISIS, FENTANYL IS VERY
DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DRUGS .
AND, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO
TREATMENT , WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT TO THE EXTENT THIS
OVERLAPS WITH THE HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO OFTEN
UNSHELTERED THAT WE ACTUALLY
HAVE EMERGENCY HOUSING AND
SHELTER TO GO INTO BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY TREAT SOMEONE WHO
IS ADDICTED UNLESS THEY HAVE
THAT STABILITY. AND THAT IS
ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE ARE SORELY
LACKING IN -- UNFORTUNATELY THE
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS
FAILED TO EXPAND EMERGENCY
HOUSING SHELTER IN A WAY THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO COMBAT
THE DRUG CRISIS AS WELL.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I THINK WHAT MY OPPONENT IS
REFERRING TO IS CHIEF BARTON,
WHO IS HEAD OF THE C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT, AND CHIEF BARNES,
WHO IS HEAD OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. BOTH OF THEM HAVE
THE SAME BOSS. MANAGING FORMER
U.S. ATTORNEY AND CITY ATTORNEY
AND PROSECUTOR. WHAT WE HAVE
TRIED TO DEMONSTRATE IN OUR
ADMINISTRATION -- WE ARE OPEN
AND TRANSPARENT WHEN WE HAVE
ISSUES. REMEMBER, MODERN
POLICING AS WE SAY HAS BEEN
GOING ON FOR DECADES AND
DECADES. WE STARTED THE C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT FROM SCRATCH.
NATURALLY THERE'S GOING TO BE
SOME TENSION IN THESE GROUPS. I
ENCOURAGE THEM TO OPENLY TALK
ABOUT THEM. PUT THEM ALL IN A
ROOM. WORK OUT THE DETAILS. I
HAVE TO REMIND FOLKS THAT A LOT
OF THE CONDITIONS THAT C.A.R.E.
IS DOING IS NEGOTIATED LABOR
CONDITION. YOU JUST CAN'T TAKE
IT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I
THINK WE WILL BE PLEASED TO KNOW
THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE
GONE SUCCESSFULLY. C.A.R.E. WILL
EXPAND. WE WILL AT A MINIMUM
DOUBLE C.A.R.E.. AND THOSE TWO
CHIEFS ARE ACTUALLY WORKING WELL
TOGETHER. BUT WE WANT TO BE OPEN
AND TRANSPARENT WITH SOME OF
THESE ISSUES. I THINK THE PUBLIC
AT THE END OF THE DAY
APPRECIATES THAT KIND OF
TRANSPARENCY.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON. THE
QUESTION IS FOR YOU, KATIE. PART
OF THE JOB OF MAYOR IS TO BE
RECRUITER IN CHIEF . TO BRING
JOBS TO THE CITY. I HAVE HEARD
YOU TELL PEOPLE YOU WANT TO FIND
MORE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE, WHICH
IS ALSO CODE FOR BRINGING IN NEW
TAXES INTO THE CITY. IF YOU ARE
TELLING PEOPLE THEY ARE GOING TO
BE TAXED OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN , ISN'T THERE AN
INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE AND SMALL
BUSINESSES TO JUST PICK UP --
TAKE THEIR BUSINESS ?
>> GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THE
FIRST THING TO POINT OUT IS IN
WASHINGTON STATE WE HAVE THE
SECOND MOST REGRESSIVE TAX
SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. THAT
MEANS -- WE DON'T CLAP FOR THAT
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> AND THAT MEANS LOWER AND
MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ARE
PAYING FAR MORE OF THEIR INCOME
AND STATE AND LOCAL TAXES THAN
THE WEALTHIEST HOUSEHOLDS. SO WE
HAVE SOME REBOUNDS TO DO. THIS
IS WHY WE TALK ABOUT PROGRESSIVE
TAX. WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP
TAXES ON WORKING FOLKS WHO ARE
ALREADY PAYING TOO MUCH. THAT IS
WHY I'M PROUD TO HAVE LEAD IN
DESIGNING AND STARTING THE
JUMPSTART TAX ACT. IT HAS
ALLOWED OUR CURRENT MAYOR TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR THE LAST
FOUR YEARS. AND AT THE SAME
TIME, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT WE
WANT JOBS IN SEATTLE. WE WANT
WORLD-CLASS COMPANIES TO LOCATE
HERE IN ORDER TO HAVE A THRIVING
CITY. WE NEED GREAT JOBS. AND
THERE IS A DANGER IN HAVING A
TAX ENVIRONMENT IN SEATTLE THAT
IS RADICALLY DIFFERENT FROM
NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS.
IDEALLY WE WOULD BE DOING A LOT
MORE AGGRESSIVE TAXATION AT THE
STATE LEVEL. WE NEED A BALANCED
APPROACH BUT WE ALSO NEED
REVENUE TO FUND THE GOODS AND
SERVICES WE DEPEND ON,
ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF
THREADING CUTS TO HUD FUNDING,
WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT
NEEDS MORE DISCUSSION.
>> HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT.
>> THANK YOU. THREATENING TO
PUSH MORE PEOPLE INTO
HOMELESSNESS. SO I DO SUPPORT
NEW PROGRESSIVE TAXES. I SUPPORT
A LOCAL CAPITAL GAINS TAX. AND I
THINK THERE ARE SOME OTHER
OPTIONS THE CITY CAN WORK ON.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT AND
IT NEEDS A LOT OF ATTENTION
FOCUSED ON IT SO WE CAN DO THIS
IN AN INTELLIGENT WAY.
>> AND I WILL FLIP THAT AROUND
TO YOU, MAYOR, AS WE ARE ASKING
THE REDIRECTS ON THE SAME
SUBJECT MATTER AS WE TALK ABOUT
JOBS MOVING TO THE OTHER SIDE.
>> REDIRECTS SOUND SO OFFICIAL
LIKE A LAWYER.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD
ACKNOWLEDGE HAS STARTED -- IT IS
NICE AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND IT
STARTED WELL BEFORE YOU WERE
MAYOR. UNION CONSTRUCTION HAS
BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING. SO THE
QUESTION IS, WHY HAVEN'T YOU
BEEN ABLE TO GET PEOPLE BACK
INTO THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN INTO
THE RETAIL CORE AND BACK INTO
OFFICE SPACE ?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THE DATA WOULD
SUGGEST IN TERMS OF FOOT TRAFFIC
WE ARE ALMOST AT 2019 LEVELS --
PRE-COVID. IN TERMS OF TOURISM
FOOT TRAFFIC , HOTEL OCCUPANCY,
WE ARE OFF THE CHARTS AND
TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT IS BUSINESSES.
>> THE RETAIL CORE.
>> SURE. I HAVE TO WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT SUGGEST TO MY OPPONENT
THAT WE ARE ALL IN FOR
PROGRESSIVE TAXES IF YOU LOOK AT
THE TAX WE PROPOSED. WE ARE
TAXING BIG CORPORATIONS AND WE
ARE GETTING 90% SMALL BUSINESSES
A TAX BREAK. THE FACT IS
RESPONSIBILITIES TO MAKE SURE
YOU ALL HAVE JOBS. AND WHETHER
YOU ARE IN ARTS OR CULTURE OR
HIGH-TECH OR BIOTECH OR MARITIME
AND LOOK AT THE FACT THAT
BECAUSE OF TAX POLICY WE LOST
10,000 JOBS. AND IN THAT SECTOR,
WHICH IS 40% OF OUR SECTOR IN
HIGH-TECH, THERE WERE 46,000
LAYOFFS . SO WHAT WE'RE DOING
IS REINVENTING DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE
TO HAVE EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITY.
MUSIC, DOG PARKS, DAY CARE,
BUSKERS , ARTS, CULTURE. WE HAVE
TO MAKE IT AN EXPERIENTIAL
ACTIVITY BECAUSE THE NEW
DOWNTOWN BECAUSE OF e-COMMERCE
IS GOING TO BE A NEW DOWNTOWN.
AND THAT IS WHAT OUR PLANS -- IF
WE GO DOWN TO TRIPLE DOOR, IT IS
A BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANT. IF WE
ARE GOING TO BUILD HOUSING ON
TOP, THAT IS WHERE THE NEW
DOWNTOWN WILL GO. CAN I DO THAT
IN 3 1/2 YEARS? OF COURSE NOT. I
HAD TO MODIFY THE ZONING
SCHEMES.
>> THE CONFERENCE A PLAN .
>> COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WE HAVE
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CUTTING
THROUGH RED TAPE. THAT IS WHAT
OUR NEW DOWNTOWN WILL BE. IF YOU
LOOK AT THE PIKE PLACE MARKET,
THE WATERFRONT, WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE THE BEST PEDESTRIAN
EXPERIENCE IN THE COUNTRY IN
TERMS OF DOWNTOWN AND TYING IT
INTO OUR MARKET.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> YOU ARE JUST MENTIONING
OCCUPATION TAXES. YOU HAVE TRIED
TO REWRITE THE CODE AND PRESENT
IT FOR THE FALL. I KNOW THAT ,
KATIE, YOU DID NOT GIVE HIM
CREDIT FOR WRITING THAT
LEGISLATION WITH THE
COUNCILMEMBERS. IS THAT A GOOD
IDEA WITH WHAT HE IS TALKING
ABOUT WITH THE TAXES?
>> I DO SUPPORT THAT PROPOSAL.
THIS IS IN 2023 I SERVED ON THE
SEATTLE REVENUE STABILIZATION
GROUP, WHICH WAS BASICALLY
TASKED LOOKING AT WHAT THE
CITY'S REVENUE OPTIONS ARE, AND
I AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
TRANSIT DID A TON OF RESEARCH
AND PUBLISHED OUR OWN REPORT
ALONGSIDE THE FINAL WORKGROUP.
IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE
OPTIONS WE DETAILED IN THAT
REPORT. SO , IMPERFECT TOOL, BUT
I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THAT AND AM
GRATEFUL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
ALEXIS MERCEDES TOOK THE LEAD ON
THAT LEGISLATION. AND ALSO
REGARDING DOWNTOWN, I THINK THAT
HOMELESSNESS AND THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES ARE ANOTHER BIG
PART OF REVITALIZING THE ISSUES
WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND AGAIN
COMING BACK TO THE DESPERATE
NEED FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING AND
SHELTER SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO
ADDRESS THEM.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> DON'T CLAP AFTER EVERY
ANSWER, WE WILL GET TO WAY MORE
QUESTIONS. JUST A THOUGHT. MAYOR
HARRELL, ON THE SURFACE, THINGS
ARE GOING WELL IN SEATTLE. CRIME
IS DOWN. THE NEW WATERFRONT HAS
OPENED. PEOPLE SEEM TO REALLY
LIKE THE WATERFRONT. THE
POPULATION IS GROWING. YOU ARE
THE UNDERDOG IN THIS RACE. SO I
WANT TO ASK YOU WHY. WHY ARE
VOTERS SO DISSATISFIED ?
>> NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE A MANIAC
AS OUR PRESIDENT, NUMBER ONE.
AND WE SHOULD RIGHTFULLY WANT
CHANGE. WE SHOULD RIGHTFULLY
WANT TO FIGHT. WE SHOULD
RIGHTFULLY WANT TO PROTECT
IMMIGRANT REFUGEES AND LGBTQ
PLUS NEIGHBORS AND EVERYONE
CONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES OF
BEING A LOVING COMMUNITY. AND I
HAVE BEEN ELECTED FOUR TIMES IN
THE CITY. AND I RECOGNIZE I WAS
A CHAMPION ON THE COUNCIL FOR
THE RACIAL PROFILING AND ALL THE
LEGISLATION. I CAN GO DOWN THE
LIST OF CLIMATE CHANGE
LEGISLATION, WHICH WAS
GROUNDBREAKING. BUT PEOPLE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A CHANGE
AGENT. AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT MY
MOTHER BEING INCARCERATED IN A
CONCENTRATION CAMP BECAUSE WE
HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE
ORDER -- YOU DON'T THINK --
THAT WAS MY MOTHER. YOU DON'T
THINK I MOTIVATED TO FIGHT THIS
TYRANNICAL PERSON IN OFFICE?
WHEN MY FATHER CAME FROM THE
SEGREGATED RACIST JIM CROW SOUTH
TO COME TO SEATTLE -- AND I JUST
LIVE SIX BLOCKS FROM HERE. YOU
DON'T THINK I MOTIVATED TO
PROTECT EVERYONE IN THE CITY? I
GET UP EVERY DAY THINKING ABOUT
THIS FIGHT . BUT PEOPLE WANT TO
BE CONVINCED THAT THIS PERSON
WHO HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR 16
YEARS IS NOT SIDING WITH THE
CORPORATIONS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT
MY BACKGROUND, I'VE BEEN
FIGHTING THE CORPORATIONS MY
ENTIRE LIFE. I LET A
CLASS-ACTION FOR ALL OF THE
WOMEN AGAINST THE BOEING
COMPANY. I LET A CLASS-ACTION
FOR ALL OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICANS
AGAINST THE BOEING COMPANY. I
SUED THE CITY OF SEATTLE . I
HAVE SUED THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR EMPLOYMENT AS COMMISSION.
THAT IS MY LIFE STORY. PEOPLE
WANT TO BE ASSURED THEY HAVE
THAT KIND OF FIGHTER IN THE
EXECUTIVE. NOT SOMEONE WHO
PRETENDS TO BE. AND I'M NOT
SUGGESTING THAT IS MY OPPONENT,
BUT THEY WANT TO KNOW THEY HAVE
THE REAL DEAL. THAT IS WHY I
HAVE BEEN ELECTED FOUR TIMES AND
WHY I HOPE TO GET A SECOND TERM
TO KEEP THIS FIGHT GOING.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MS. WILSON, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE EMPLOYS NEARLY 14,000
PEOPLE ACROSS ROUGHLY 40
DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES, AND
COMMISSIONS. WHAT IN YOUR
BACKGROUND PREPARES YOU TO
MANAGE A CITY OF THIS SIZE AND
COMPLEXITY?
>> GREAT QUESTION. AM I ALLOWED
TO REBUT WHAT HE SAID?
>> REBUT MY LIFE STORY?
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> I'M ALL EARS.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO
NOTE THAT THOSE CORPORATIONS ARE
SPENDING AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY
TRYING TO GET YOU RE-ELECTED. SO
THEY MUST BE SEEING SOMETHING
THAT THEY LIKE.
>> WE REALLY DO AIM FOR
RESPECTFUL DISCUSSION HERE. IF
YOU ARE CLAPPING EACH TIME THEY
SPEAK, IT CUTS OFF OUR TIME TO
GET TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING .
PLEASE.
>> I WILL KEEP THIS SHORT. YOU
ASKED WHY CONVERSELY I DID SO
WELL IN THE PRIMARY. THE MAYOR
TALKED ABOUT TRUMP. OF COURSE
THAT IS A FACTOR. BUT I THINK
THERE IS A REASON A LOT OF
VOTERS PERCEIVE OUR MAYOR IS OUT
OF TOUCH BECAUSE WHAT YOU
DIDN'T MENTION IS THAT THINGS
ARE NOT OKAY. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT
CRIME STATISTICS, BUT THE FACT
IS THAT WE ARE FACING AN
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS . WE ARE
FACING AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS
AND A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS THAT
IS WORSE THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN
BEFORE. MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED
OUTSIDE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS
AND IN ANY TERM PREVIOUS AND
SCARCITY'S HISTORY. NOT JUST
FOR PEOPLE BUT MIDDLE INCOME
PEOPLE, MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE.
FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING TO
SURVIVE IN THE CITY. FAMILIES
LIKE MINE ARE MOVING OUT BECAUSE
THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
THAT IS WHY PEOPLE ARE INSPIRED
BY MY CAMPAIGN BECAUSE I TALK
ABOUT ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEM
EVERY DAY. SORRY.
>> FASCINATING QUESTION OF A FEW
MINUTES AGO ABOUT YOUR
EXPERIENCE TO MANAGE A COMPLEX
CITY .
>> ABSOLUTELY. A FEW THINGS TO
SAY HERE. FIRST, A LITTLE LEVEL
SETTING. PEOPLE COME INTO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FROM ALL
DIRECTIONS . SEATTLE HAD A
THREE-TIME MAYOR ONCE. HE WAS A
NEWS REPORTER BEFORE HE STEPPED
INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. OUR
CURRENT MAYOR, OTHER MAYORS
BEFORE HIM HAVE COME FROM
COUNCIL OFFICES MANAGING A FEW
PEOPLE. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT
EXPERIENCE IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF
EXPERIENCES RELEVANT TO THE
POSITION. THE EXPERIENCE THAT I
HAVE , 14 YEARS BUILDING AND
MANAGING LARGE MULTI-PARTNER
COALITIONS THAT BENEFIT PEOPLE
ACROSS OUR REGION EVERY SINGLE
DAY. THAT IS RELEVANT
EXPERIENCE. AND ALSO I KNOW THAT
I DON'T HAVE ALL THE
EXPERIENCE. AND IT IS ABOUT
ASSEMBLING THAT TEAM. AND SO I
WILL BE BRINGING WITH ME INTO
CITY HALL PEOPLE WITH DEEP
EXPERIENCE IN THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH. MAYBE YOU WILL EVEN SEE
A COUPLE PEOPLE FROM MAYOR
HARRELL'S OFFICE. I DON'T
KNOW. AND PEOPLE WITH DEEP
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE. SO IT IS
ABOUT ASSEMBLING THAT TEAM. AND
I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE AND I'M
VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE
CITY WHO ARE PASSIONATE,
COMPETENT, AND HAVE THAT DEEP
EXPERIENCE. AND TOGETHER IT IS
ABOUT KEEPING EVERYONE ORIENTED
TOWARD A COMMON VISION AND
MOTIVATED AND ASSEMBLING TEAMS
AND KEEPING THEM MOTIVATED AND
ORIENTED TOWARD A COMMON VISION
IS EXACTLY WHAT I SPENT MY
CAREER DOING.
>> ALL RIGHT. MS. WILSON,
EARLIER TODAY WE HEARD MAYOR
HARRELL OUTLINE HIS EXECUTIVE
ORDERS FOR DOING POSSIBLE
ARRIVAL OF FEDERAL AGENTS IN
SEATTLE. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR
DEALING WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IF THE PRESIDENT
SENDS THE NATIONAL GUARD INTO
THE CITY?
>> YEAH. THIS IS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT QUESTION. I KNOW THERE
IS A LOT OF ANXIETY ABOUT THIS
RIGHT NOW WITH EVERYONE. BUT
ESPECIALLY IN IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES. AND I FULLY SUPPORT
THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS . THIS IS
REALLY ABOUT BEING UNIFIED. PICS
ON THE WEEK. THE MORE THAT WE
CAN SHOW WE ARE UNIFIED, THE
CITY, STATE, COUNTY AND ALSO
WITH ALL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
IN SEATTLE . SO THAT IF HE DOES
SEND PEOPLE IN, WE ARE SHOWING
THAT WE ARE STRONG. AND IDEALLY
IT DOES NOT GET THAT FAR. WE
FIGHT IN THE COURTS. THE OTHER
THING I WILL SAY IS THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO BE PREPARED AND
HAVE OUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER. I
WAS DISTURBED TO SEE THE
SURVEILLANCE LEGISLATION THE
MAYOR PROPOSED AND THE COUNCIL
PASSED, WHICH WAS OPPOSED FOR
GOOD REASONS BECAUSE THEY KNOW
THAT THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS NOT
BEEN SHOWN TO BE MEANINGFULLY
SECURED. AND THAT DATA IS NOT AT
CITY HALL IN A SERVER. IT IS IN
THE CLOUD IN OTHER STATES THAT
DON'T HAVE THE PROTECTIONS WE
HAVE HERE. AND THERE WAS A
RECENT REPORT IN THE LAST COUPLE
DAYS THAT SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN FULFILLING
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS FROM
I.C.E.. I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE
TO SPELL THAT ACRONYM OUT. MUCH
FASTER THAN IT HAS BEEN FILLING
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS FROM
JOURNALISTS. THAT IS A PROBLEM.
WHY IS THAT HAPPENING?
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MAYOR HARRELL, FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T KNOW , WHAT EXACTLY
ARE YOUR EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN IF POSSIBLE
USE OF FEDERAL AGENTS IS COMING
TO OUR CITY?
>> THERE'S A FEW MISLEADING
FACTS IN MY OPPONENT'S
STATEMENT. I WILL JUST ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION. NUMBER ONE, WHERE
THE FIRST CITY TO ACTUALLY BAN
MASKS . INSIGNIA WHERE PEOPLE
ARE NOT BRANDED DOING ARRESTS.
WE ARE TAKING A CHANCE TO PUSH
THIS LAW BECAUSE WE THINK,
NUMBER ONE, DUE PROCESS IS
VIOLATED, AND , NUMBER TWO, IT
IS VERY FRIGHTENING TO FOR
SOMEONE TO SEE SOMEONE UNMARKED
AND WITH A MASK DOING THIS.
NUMBER TWO, WE ARE PROHIBITING
ANY TYPE OF I.C.E. RAIDS AND
STAGING FOR I.C.E. RAIDS. NUMBER
THREE, WE ARE MAKING IT VERY
CLEAR TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT
TO REMOVE AMBIGUITY AS TO WHAT
WILL OCCUR FROM OUR OFFICERS.
WILL NOT COOPERATE UNDER THE
KEEP WATCHING AND WORKING ACT
MAKING IT CRYSTAL CLEAR WHAT
THEY SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO. WE
ALSO WANT YOU TO BE LOUD. WE
WANT YOU TO BE ORGANIZED . WE
WANT YOU TO BE SAFE. AND SO WE
ARE ALSO WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO
MAKE SURE HOW WE CAN USE OUR
VOICE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO
FALL FOR THE BAIT. I DON'T WANT
ANY OF YOU INJURED WHEN USING
YOUR VOICE. PART OF THE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS MAKING SURE
PROTESTING THE FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS THE RIGHT WAY AND STRONG
WAY. WE ALSO WILL CONTINUE TO DO
FOIA REQUESTS OR FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS AND
STATE DISCLOSURE REQUEST TO FIND
OUT FROM TRUMP, WHAT ARE THEY
DOING? WHERE ARE THEY PLAYING
CHESS? ONE THING TRUMP DOES IS
HE TRIES TO KEEP YOU ON YOUR
HEEL. LEGAL SERVICES MONEY.
INCREASE THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT
REFUGEE AFFAIRS. I DO IT AFTER.
THEY ARE BUDGETED BY 70% MAKING
SURE LEGAL FUNDS FOR THE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
MOST EFFECTIVE. TOGETHER -- AND
I HAVE BOB FERGUSON WHO ENDORSES
MY RE-ELECTION. SENATOR AND
OTHERS. WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
WE ARE JOINED TO FIGHT FOR OUR
VALUES. THE LETTER I WROTE TO
THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, PAM
BONDI. WE KNOW THE LAW HERE. I
AM A TRAINED ATTORNEY. WE KNOW
THE LAW HERE. WE KNOW OUR VALUES
HERE. UNITED. WE HAVE A PLAN.
I'M SHARING THIS WITH OTHER
MAYORS IN DIFFERENT CITIES AS
WELL SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE
DOING HERE.
>> FOLLOW-UP ?
>> I'M VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT
THE CITY IS FILING FOIA
REQUESTS. THAT IS SOMETHING I
HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR IN DEBATE
AFTER DEBATE. THIS IS THE FIRST
I HAVE HEARD THE CITY IS DOING
IT. I'M REALLY GLAD. SINCE I
HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH THE MAYOR
RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING TO PROPOSE
ANOTHER SUGGESTION, WHICH IS
THAT SEATTLE SHOULD CANCEL ITS
JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE WITH
THE FBI. A FEW CITIES HAVE DONE
THAT. BECAUSE THAT CAN BE WEAPON
NICE TOGETHER INFORMATION. THIS
IS SOMETHING I JUST READ ABOUT
IN THE PAST WEEK OR SO. ANOTHER
THING TO LOOK INTO.
>> OKAY. MS. WILSON, LET'S SAY
AN EARTHQUAKE STRIKES THE
REGION. YOU ARE THE NEW MAYOR.
WHAT THREE SPECIFIC STEPS WOULD
YOU TAKE UPON FEELING THE
SHAKING? THE FIRST SHAKING.
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. I
WOULD PROBABLY MAKE SOME PHONE
CALLS.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> SO I KNOW WE HAVE REALLY
STRONG EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CALLS IN SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY. SO I WOULD PROBABLY CALL
THE PERSON WHO WAS HEAD OF THOSE
EFFORTS . PROBABLY BE GOOD TO
CALL THE GOVERNOR . AND PROBABLY
BE GOOD TO CALL THE POLICE
CHIEF. YEAH.
>> MAYOR HARRELL, SAME QUESTION.
FIRST OF ALL, IS SEATTLE
PREPARED FOR AN EARTHQUAKE ?
WHAT THREE STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE
UPON THE FIRST ?
>> FIRST THING, YOU SHOULD NOT
MAKE CALLS BECAUSE YOU REALIZE
WIRELESS SERVICE MAY BE DOWN AS
WELL DURING A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE PROTOCOLS
OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT. WE PRACTICE THIS ALL
THE TIME NOT JUST FOR AN
EARTHQUAKE BUT FOR A FIRE. THERE
ARE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE AND WE
ACTUALLY PRACTICE THIS IN TERMS
OF WHERE EVEN I AM SUPPOSED TO
BE BECAUSE I MAY BE IN MY HOME.
THERE ARE STRICT PROTOCOLS IN
PLACE. WE PRACTICE IT ALL THE
TIME. OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR IS VERY GOOD
AT DOING THIS. WE HAVE AN
EMERGENCY TEAM. WE HAVE A
COMMAND CENTER. WE BRING THE
FIRE CHIEF, POLICE CHIEF,
DIRECTOR. WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. I WOULD
TYPICALLY GO TO THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. I WILL BE
THERE PHYSICALLY. QUITE FRANKLY,
THAT IS WHERE EXPERIENCE
MATTERS. THIS IS NOT A LEARNING
CURVE STUFF WE ARE DEALING WITH,
MY FRIENDS. EVEN WITH THE
NATIONAL GUARD COMING HERE.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS. THIS IS NOT
LEARNING. MAKING CALLS OR
GUESSING WHAT YOU DO.
>> QUICKLY, IS SEATTLE PREPARED
FOR AN EARTHQUAKE?
>> YES. BY THE WAY, THE FIRES
DOWN IN LOS ANGELES THAT
OCCURRED , ONE OF THE FIRST
THINGS WE DID IS MAKE SURE EVEN
FOR DREADED FIRES, ARE WE
RESILIENT IN TERMS OF BIG FIRES
? WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE
SAME VULNERABILITIES THERE, BUT
WE WENT THROUGH A PROTOCOL -- A
TRAINING SESSION FOR FIRES,
FLOODS, EARTHQUAKES , OTHER
TYPES OF NATURAL DISASTERS.
>> JUST VERY BRIEFLY, I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT I'M NOT
ENTIRELY SURE THAT WE ARE
PREPARED FOR AN EARTHQUAKE. AS A
RENTER, I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF
UNREINFORCED BRICK MASONRY
BUILDINGS STILL IN THE CITY.
THERE IS A BIG LIST. I HAVE
LOOKED AT MY APARTMENT BUILDING
ON THAT LIST, WHICH ARE NOT
EARTHQUAKE SAFE. A LOT OF
BUILDINGS IN THE CITY IN DANGER
OF BECOMING RUBBLE. THAT IS AN
INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM, BUT THAT
IS THE KIND OF THING WE DO NEED
TO BE LOOKING AHEAD AND FIGURING
OUT HOW TO SOLVE.
>> OKAY. MAYOR HARRELL, I HAVE A
HOMELESSNESS QUESTION FOR YOU.
DURING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ALL-STAR GAME, WE SAW ENCAMPMENT
SWEEPS AND OTHER SHORT-TERM
FIXES THAT MADE SOTO LOOK
CLEANER FOR VISITORS. SHORTLY
AFTER, THE SAME ISSUES
REAPPEARED. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT
FROM FIFA NEXT YEAR IF YOU
REMAIN MAYOR? HOW WILL YOUR
ADMINISTRATION ENSURE THAT
CHANGES AREN'T JUST SHORT-TERM
AND COSMETIC ? HOW WOULD YOU
MEASURE SUCCESS?
>> JUST TO CORRECT THE RECORD,
ALL OF THE ENCAMPMENT REMOVALS
AND WORK WE DID BEFORE THE GAME
WERE ALREADY SCHEDULED. IT WAS
NOT LIKE, LET'S CLEANUP WHEN
PEOPLE COME HERE. LET'S MAKE
THAT VERY CLEAR. NUMBER TWO , WE
HAVE TO REALIZE HOW SERIOUS THE
HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM IS. I MEAN,
PEOPLE CAN GIGGLE IF THEY WANT.
18% OF AMERICANS ARE HOMELESS.
HOMELESSNESS HAS GONE UP IN THE
COUNTRY AND THE STATE AND THE
COUNTY AND THE CITY. THIS IS A
CRISIS. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS,
AGAIN, REMEMBER THE MODEL I
INHERITED IS THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY.
SO NOW I WILL SAY KCRHA. WE PAY
INTO IT. 120 MILLION. WE NEED
REGIONAL SUPPORT BECAUSE 70% OF
THE PEOPLE RETREATING IN SEATTLE
DID NOT BECOME UN-HOUSED IN
SEATTLE. THEY ARE COMING FROM
OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND THEY
PUT NO MONEY INTO THE OPERATING
ACCOUNT FOR THIS. 80% OF TINY
HOMES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY ARE
IN SEATTLE. 63% OF EMERGENCY
SHELTERS IN THE COUNTY ARE IN
SEATTLE. SO THE ANSWER HAS TO BE
A FIRM REGIONAL APPROACH. YOU
SEE THE EMOTION IN FRONT OF
KCRHA TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
REGIONALIZED. IF THEY DON'T
REGIONALIZED, I WILL TERMINATE
THAT AGREEMENT BECAUSE WE ARE
COMMITTED TO SHELTERING EVERYONE
THE SHELTER. I DON'T WANT
ANYONE TO DIE IN A TENT OR TINY
HOME. THE BEST PRACTICE IS
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
>> AND WE NEED TO CUT IT OFF.
>> THAT IS OUR APPROACH. WE
THINK THAT IS THE HUMANE AND
BEST PRACTICE APPROACH.
>> SAME QUESTION.
>> MS. WILSON, HOW WOULD YOU
HANDLE CLEANING THE CITY FOR THE
WORLD CUP WHILE AVOIDING
TEMPORARY CLEANUPS ?
>> WITH RESPECT, PEOPLE ARE
DYING RIGHT NOW, AND THEY ARE
DYING WITHOUT EVEN A TENT. THIS
IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
QUESTION. AND, YOU KNOW, I HEARD
THE MAYOR BASICALLY TRY TO PASS
THE BUCK AND TALK ABOUT HOW
NATIONALLY , HOMELESSNESS RATES
ARE HIGH AND WE NEED A REGIONAL
SOLUTION AND OTHER CITIES NEED
TO DO MORE. THE FACT IS THAT
THERE ARE RATES OF UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS HERE IN SEATTLE.
THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED A NATIONAL
OUTLIER BY THE INSTITUTION. WE
HAVE MORE PEOPLE UNSHELTERED IN
THE SEATTLE AREA THAN IN NEW
YORK CITY. THAT IS FAILURE. THE
MAYOR CAME INTO OFFICE PROMISING
TO BUILD UNITS OF EMERGENCY
HOUSING AND SHELTER THIS FIRST
YEAR. WE HAVE LOST SHELTER
CAPACITY EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT
HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE AND WE
HAVE THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE
SLEEPING OUTSIDE TODAY THAN WE
DID 14 YEARS AGO. THAT IS
FAILURE. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY
IMPORTANT IN THE FIRST SIX
MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE WORLD
CUP GAMES THAT WE ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS IN DOWNTOWN AND
ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS, IN A WAY
THAT DOES NOT PUSH PEOPLE OUT.
THAT MEANS OPENING SHELTER
RAPIDLY. THAT MEANS TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES. MICRO MODULAR SHELTER.
EXPLORING WAYS WE CAN GET INTO
SOME OF THE VACANT UNITS ACROSS
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SECTOR.
WE NEED TO BE CREATIVE ABOUT IT.
WE NEED TO PARTNER WITH DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION. NEED TO
PARTNER WITH NONPROFITS, FAITH
LEADERS. AND I BELIEVE WE CAN DO
THAT. I BELIEVE WE CAN GET
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
CURRENTLY SLEEPING OUTSIDE
DOWNTOWN INTO SHELTER WITH
SERVICES THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL THERE SO THAT WE ARE
NOT MERELY PUSHING THE PROBLEM,
PUSHING HUMAN BEINGS INTO THE
SHADOWS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO IF I COULD JUST QUICKLY
REFUTE SOME OF THE UNTRUE FACTS
MY OPPONENT SAID. NUMBER ONE,
LOOKED DOWN AT LOS ANGELES.
47,000 PEOPLE UNSHELTERED. LOOK
DOWN AT PORTLAND. THEY HAVE
6300. ONE THING I DON'T DO IS
PASS THE BUCK. BUT THE OTHER
THING I DON'T DO IS BLAME OTHER
PEOPLE. MY WIFE, WHO IS HERE,
WHO BY THE WAY IS ONE OF YOUR
TRUSTEES AT UNIVERSITY. WE HAVE
BEEN -- SHE USED TO BE THE CEO
OF UNITED WAY. WE WOULD DO
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. THE FACT OF
THE MATTER IS PEOPLE ARE
SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS.
LOOK AT OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY.
WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE RIGHT
THING. THAT IS WHY WE PASSED A
BILLION-DOLLAR HOUSING LEVY TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PRODUCING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING , WHICH
INCLUDES 9000 PEOPLE STAYING IN
THEIR HOMES SO THEY DON'T
BECOME HOMELESS. SO WE HAVE
SMART STRATEGIES AND COMPASSION
STRATEGIES AND WILL CONTINUE TO
DO SO. BUT WE DON'T BLAME OTHER
PEOPLE. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS
WORK. MY OPPONENT HAS ZERO
HOUSING EXPERIENCE. THAT IS JUST
THE TRUTH. SHE HAS DONE NO WORK
IN THE SECTOR. IT IS OFFENSIVE
TO THE PEOPLE THAT SPENT DECADES
TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE AT THE
HALFWAY MARK. CALL IT HALFTIME
OF THIS DEBATE. WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THE ROOM
WHO CARE ABOUT COST. KATIE, YOU
TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IN
THIS RACE. YOU HAD AN
ADVERTISEMENT THAT REALLY GOT
SOME BUZZ FOR YOU IN THE PRIMARY
ABOUT THE COST OF A SLICE OF
PIZZA AND HOW THAT IS CONNECTED
TO HOUSING. BUT COULDN'T ONE
MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT IT IS
ALSO CONNECTED TO SEATTLE'S
LEADING EFFORTS TO RAISE THE
MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH IS A
CAMPAIGN THAT YOU ARE PART OF.
>> FIRST I WANT TO CLARIFY SINCE
THE MAYOR HAS SEVERAL TIMES SET
I'M TAKING CREDIT FOR MINIMUM
WAGE CAMPAIGN I DID NOT LEAD. I
DID NOT LEAD THE SEATTLE MINIMUM
WAGE CAMPAIGN. I HELPED TO LEAD
CAMPAIGNS IN UNINCORPORATED KING
COUNTY TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE
TO THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY. I
WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THE SEATTLE
MINIMUM WAGE CAMPAIGN. YES. I
THINK THE PIZZA VIDEO YOU ARE
REFERRING TO, WHICH I SUGGEST
EVERYONE WATCH IF YOU HAVEN'T
ALREADY -- IT MAKES THE ARGUMENT
THAT HOUSING COSTS ARE A BIG
DRIVER OF THE SLICE OF PIZZA.
BUT PART OF THAT IS THROUGH THE
MINIMUM WAGE. WE HAVE ONE OF THE
HIGHEST MINIMUM WAGES IN THE
COUNTRY. EVERY YEAR IT GOES UP
WITH THE COST OF LIVING, WHICH
IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE LOW-WAGE
WORKERS IN OUR CITY CAN IDEALLY
AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. EVEN WITH
OUR HIGH MINIMUM WAGE, MOST
PEOPLE CAN'T ACTUALLY AFFORD TO
LIVE HERE. SO THEY ARE COMMUTING
A LONG WAY JUST WORK AT A PIZZA
SHOP, PERHAPS . THE ARGUMENT I
WAS MAKING IN THAT VIDEO IS THAT
HOUSING COSTS CONTRIBUTE TO
THOSE INCREASES IN THE MINIMUM
WAGE BECAUSE IT IS A
COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE. SO AS A
RENTS GO UP, OUR REGIONAL COST
OF LIVING GOES UP AND THAT BUMPS
UP MINIMUM WAGE. REGARDLESS OF
WHAT MINIMUM WAGE IS, EMPLOYERS
HAVE TO PAY MORE USUALLY THAN
THE MINIMUM WAGE JUST TO HIRE
AND RETAIN STAFF. THAT IS
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO
LIVE HERE BECAUSE OF THE HIGH
HOUSING COSTS. THEY ARE HAVING
TO COME IN . AND IT IS HARD TO
HIRE AND RETAIN PEOPLE AND THAT
IS THE CASE. BASICALLY THE
ARGUMENT HERE IS THAT HOUSING
COSTS CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH LABOR
COSTS IN DIRECT AND INDIRECT
WAYS.
>> MAYOR, DO YOU AGREE WITH
THAT, WHY IS THE COST OF PIZZA
SO HIGH? DOESN'T THAT ALSO
FACTOR IN WITH BUSINESS
OCCUPATION TAXES? THE TYPE OF
THING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
CHANGING AND PUTTING ON BIGGER
EMPLOYERS?
>> IT DOES. AND THAT PIZZA DEAL
WAS SORT OF IRONIC. I WAS ONE OF
THE LEADING NEGOTIATORS OF
MINIMUM WAGE. I STAND BEHIND
MINIMUM WAGE. I ALSO RECOGNIZE
THAT IS EXACTLY WHY IT NOT ONLY
DID WE PROPOSE THE MOST
PROGRESSIVE TAX TO MAKE SURE
THAT 90% OF THESE RESTAURANTS
FOR EXAMPLE ARE GETTING A BREAK,
WE WILL PROPOSE LEGISLATION IN
OLYMPIA SUCH THAT THIS RESTORES,
FOR EXAMPLE, SHOULD BE EXEMPT
FROM CERTAIN TAXES AND OTHER
TYPES OF TAXES THAT HURT
COUNTRIES WITH SMALL MARGINS. WE
ALSO HAVE THE PROGRAM WHERE 700
BUSINESSES ARE GETTING MONEY --
SEVERAL RESTAURANTS ARE GETTING
MONEY AND WE ALSO PUT MANY
RESTAURANTS IN A RESTAURANT ,
FOR EXAMPLE, IN AN OWNERSHIP
POSITION CALLED THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP FUND. WE
HAVE DELIVERY PROJECT WHERE WE
ARE USING YOUR STUDENTS ,
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY, HELPING
SMALL BUSINESSES WITH STRATEGIC
PLANNING. ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AT
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AS
WELL. WE DOING EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT THESE
RESTAURANTS. WE ARE NOT MAKING
FUN OF IT. WE ARE PUTTING IN
HARD WORK TO MAKE SURE THESE
BUSINESSES CAN SURVIVE BECAUSE
THEY HAVE THIN MARGINS.
>> MS. WILSON, THE SEATTLE TIMES
SAYS WE HAVE NOW EFFECTIVELY AN
OVERSUPPLY OF PUBLICLY FUNDED,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UNITS THAT
SOMETIMES WE HAVE BEEN READING
ABOUT CANNOT COMPETE WITH MARKET
RATE SPACES. HOW CAN WE AVOID
BUILDING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF
HOUSING BUT ALSO OVERBUILDING
WHEN CURRENT PRACTICES ARE
LEAVING MANY PUBLIC AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS ?
>> I THINK THIS IS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT QUESTION. THIS IS A
CRISIS WE HAVE ACTUALLY KNOWN
WAS COMING FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WITH BETTER
LEADERSHIP FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED
THIS POINT NOW WHERE WE HAVE
WIDESPREAD VACANCIES AND
ACTUALLY HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS THAT ARE SELLING OFF
BUILDINGS. WE'VE LOST ABOUT
1300 UNITS. THAT IS A PERMANENT
LOSS TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
STAFF , AND IT IS SO EXPENSIVE
TO BUILD RIGHT NOW. OVER HALF $1
MILLION PER UNIT. WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IN ORDER TO REPLACE UNITS
THAT HAVE BEEN LOST, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT $500 MILLION THAT
WE JUST BASICALLY LOST BECAUSE
OF THIS CRISIS. PART OF THIS IS
MAKING SURE THAT AS WE ARE
FUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE
ARE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO
THE TYPE OF UNITS THAT ARE
NEEDED AND WHO NEEDS THEM.
RIGHT? AND I THINK THERE HAS
BEEN THIS EMPHASIS ON JUST
MAXIMIZING NUMBER OF UNITS THAT
WE ARE BUILDING. WHAT THAT HAS
LED TO HIS FOCUSING OUR EFFORT
ON BUILDING VERY SMALL STUDIO
APARTMENTS.
>> BOTH OF YOU STRESS THE NUMBER
OF UNITS YOUR PROPOSALS WOULD
BRING.
>> I'M NOT STRESSED THE NUMBER
OF UNITS ON HOUSING. I'VE
TALKED ABOUT SHELTER BECAUSE
WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY
PEOPLE ARE UNSHELTERED AND TO BE
BROUGHT INTO EMERGENCY HOUSING
AND SHELTER. WE ARE TALKING NOW
ABOUT PERMANENT HOUSING.
SOMETIMES WORKFORCE HOUSING . IN
TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD, GUESS
WHAT I WILL SAY IS WE NEED TO
EMPHASIZE -- WE NEED TO BUILD
MORE FAMILY SIZED HOUSING, WHICH
IS CHALLENGING FOR THE
FINANCING, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY
NEED TO DO THAT. NOW THAT WE
HAVE THESE VACANCIES, WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT, IS THERE A WAY THE
CITY CAN HELP PROVIDE RENTS AND
PROVIDE SERVICES SO WE CAN PLACE
HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THESE UNITS.
IT IS COMPLICATED. NOT GOING TO
GET INTO THE DETAILS, BUT I
THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE
SHOULD DEFINITELY BE LOOKING AT.
I THINK THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL I
HEARD FROM HIS OFFICE IS
BASICALLY, WELL, LET'S JUST
WAIT UNTIL RENT IN THE PRIVATE
MARKET GO UP AGAIN.
>> I HAVE A DIFFERENT QUESTION
FOR YOU.
>> MY OPPONENT IS ALL OVER THE
MAP ON HOUSING POLICY. SHE JUST
SAID AT THE OTHER FORUM THAT THE
PROBLEM IS THE PRODUCTION OF
HOUSING DID NOT KEEP UP WITH THE
DEMAND. I WOULD ACTUALLY AGREE
WITH THAT. UNDER OUR
ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE ACTUALLY
BUILT 50,000 UNITS . NO MAYOR IN
OUR HISTORY HAS BEEN ABLE TO
ACHIEVE THAT. THE LEVY THAT YOU
ALL HELPED ME PASS -- OR AT
LEAST MAYBE YOUR MOMS AND DADS
DID -- WE WILL BUILD ANOTHER
3100. IN MY CURRENT BUDGET WE
HAVE $350 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. I NEED TO BUILD A
SEATTLE WHERE YOU CAN LIVE, AND
OUR COMP PLAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE
THE INVENTORY FOR YOU.
>> MAYOR HARRELL, YOU HAVE SAID
THAT THE NUMBER OF TENTS IN OUR
CITY HAS DECLINED 80% SINCE HE
TOOK OFFICE. CERTAINLY NOTICED
THAT IN SOME PLACES. BUT WE ALSO
LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT THE
NUMBER OF REPORTS OF ENCAMPMENTS
IS WAY UP THIS YEAR. WHICH IS
IT? HOW DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?
>> FIRST OF ALL , I WAS A
TECHNOLOGY LAWYER. ONE REASON WE
ARE GENERATING ALL OF THESE
REPORTS IS BECAUSE WE WANT YOU
TO SEE IT. WE AUDIT OURSELVES.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT
ONE FACT WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD
OF IS THE PEOPLE LEAVING SHELTER
-- 50% OF THEM ARE GETTING
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THAT IS A BEST PRACTICE. WE HAVE
19 TINY HOME VILLAGES. THE TWO
SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS. WE WILL
PAY FOR PEOPLE IN TUKWILA TO
ADOPT A MODEL WHERE WE WOULD
EVEN HAVE PEOPLE THERE IF THEY
PUT PEOPLE THERE IF THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO SERVICE, ACCESS TO
TRANSIT. THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH
THAT AREA. THIS IS A SOLUTION
FOR EVERYONE. SO WE HAVE REMOVED
ENCAMPMENTS TO THE TUNE OF 80%.
THAT IS THE DATA. BUT YOU LOOK
AT THE ENCAMPMENTS. YOU LOOK AT
SHOTS FIRED. CRIME IS DOWN. THE
FACT IS THAT 2204 PEOPLE IN 2023
HAD ACCEPTED REFERRAL. AROUND A
SIMILAR NUMBER THE NEXT YEAR. SO
WE DOING A BEST PRACTICE TO PUT
PEOPLE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSES WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES,
WHICH IS MUCH BETTER THAN JUST
STICKING SOMEONE IN A TENT AND
HOPING FOR THE BEST OR THAT IS
NOT A BEST PRACTICE. AND OUR
ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT OPERATE
THAT WAY.
>> MAYOR HARRELL, AS A GRADUATE
OF GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, ARE YOU
IN FAVOR FOR REINSTATING A
SECURITY OFFICER ON ITS CAMPUS?
AND DO YOU THINK IT IS A GOOD
IDEA?
>> ON CAMPUS INSIDE THE
BUILDING? ARE YOU FEEL -- FROM
GARFIELD?
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT GARFIELD.
>> OKAY. SO IF THE STUDENTS WANT
IT -- AND I BELIEVE 70% OF THE
STUDENTS WANTED. IF THE
PRINCIPAL ONCE IT -- I KNOW HE
WANTS IT -- THEN WE THINK THIS
WOULD BE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP .
SO, YES. HOWEVER, I'M WILLING
TO GO -- CERTAINLY NOT A GUN AND
BADGE. UNARMED RESPONSE. THESE
LOCKDOWNS ARE ABSURD. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING WHAT THE
COMMUNITY WANTS. I'VE TALKED TO
THE PARENTS. I TALKED TO
MURPHY'S DAD AND MOM. I TALKED
TO THE MOTHER OF THE YOUNG GIRL
SHOT AT THE BUS STOP. I HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
SAFE. I'M HOPING THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT -- IT IS THEIR DECISION
-- WILL LET US TRY A PILOT TO
MAKE SURE I HAVE OFFICERS THAT
PEOPLE TRUST. I WENT TO GARFIELD
AND WE HAD AN OFFICER INSIDE THE
BUILDING. IT WAS A MENTOR OF
MINE AND A FRIEND. I THINK THERE
ARE CERTAIN OFFICERS THAT HAVE
THAT SKILL SET. I THINK IT IS A
WIN-WIN BECAUSE AT THE END OF
THE DAY I DON'T WANT ANY OF OUR
KIDS HARMED
>> ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF PUTTING
IN A SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT OFFICER?
>> THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING FROM TALKING WITH
GUN VIOLENCE EXPERTS AND FOLKS
AT THE ALLIANCE FOR GUN
RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT THE
RESEARCH DOES NOT SUPPORT THE
NOTION THAT ARMED OFFICERS IN
SCHOOLS LEAD TO INCREASED SAFETY
AND THAT IT MAY ACTUALLY BE
HARMFUL, ESPECIALLY FOR MINORITY
STUDENTS. SO THAT GIVES ME
PAUSE. AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT . WHAT STUDENTS
FEEL, PARENTS FEEL, WHAT
ADMINISTRATORS FEEL. I THINK
THERE NEEDS TO BE AND I
UNDERSTAND THERE IS A
CONVERSATION GOING ON ABOUT
THAT. THAT CONVERSATION I THINK
IS NOT JUST ABOUT SURVEYING
PEOPLE AND SEEING WHAT THEY
THINK BECAUSE WE WILL COME IN IF
YOU'RE AFRAID. THERE IS A GUT
REACTION. I WANT SOMEONE THERE
TO PROTECT ME. I THINK THERE
NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION THAT
ALSO IS A LEARNING CONVERSATION
WHERE WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE'S
CONCERNS AND ALSO TRYING TO MAKE
KNOWN WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY
. SO, YEAH. I'M SKEPTICAL OF
THE IDEA BUT ALSO OPEN TO IT IF
THAT CONVERSATION LEADS TO THAT
BEING THE BEST. AND IT IS NOT
ALL OR NOTHING. AS THE CHRIS
DANIELS SAID, IT IS NOT
NECESSARILY -- IT HAS TO BE AN
ARMED COP AND MAYBE THERE'S
SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE WHERE
YOU ARE GETTING THE OFFICIAL
PRESENCE AND SENSE OF SAFETY
WITHOUT THE HARM.
>> SPEAKING -- GO AHEAD.
>> I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT
ANSWER. AM I THE ONLY ONE?
>> I DO.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I SUPPORT THE OFFICERS. I
HAVE A MINORITY KID THAT WENT TO
GARFIELD. I HAVE A MINORITY KID
THAT WENT TO CLEVELAND. THEY
SUPPORT IT. I'M TALKING TO THE
STUDENTS. THEY SUPPORT IT. SO IT
IS MY JOB TO MAKE SURE I LISTEN
TO THE STUDENTS. AND SO I
SUPPORT IT. THE EXECUTIVE HAS TO
BE CLEAR IN YOUR DECISION. YOU
DESERVE THAT . AND THIS ELECTION
IS LESS THAN 30 DAYS AWAY. THAT
IS WHY I SAID I DON'T
UNDERSTAND IF MY OPPONENT IS FOR
OR AGAINST IT. THAT IS WHY I TRY
TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS. I AM
A LOT OF THINGS BUT I'M NOT
DISINGENUOUS. I WILL GIVE YOU A
STRAIGHT ANSWER. I WILL GIVE YOU
A STRAIGHT ANSWER , YES OR NO,
ON SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS. I
THINK THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT.
YES OR NO.
>> OKAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT
POLICING. CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY
GRANTED AUTHORITY FOR POLICE TO
USE LESS LETHAL FORCE FOR CROWD
CONTROL, WHICH WAS NEEDED TO END
THE DISSENT CREWS DECREE. THE
MAYOR WOULD NEED TO DECLARE HIS
CIVIL EMERGENCY. THIS QUESTION
IS FOR YOU, MAYOR. THIS WAS
HEAVILY DEBATED AS A LOT OF
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM KNOW IN THE
SUMMER OF 2020 . THE QUESTION,
MAYOR , IS, CAN YOU DEFINE WHAT
A SITUATION LOOKS LIKE WHERE YOU
WOULD DECLARE THE AUTHORIZATION
OF LESS LETHAL FORCE?
>> WHERE I WOULD DECLARE THE
AUTHORIZATION OF LESS LETHAL
FORCE. YES. DANGEROUS . GUNS IN
PLAY. VIOLENCE. PEOPLE'S LIVES
ARE IN JEOPARDY. THAT WOULD
TRIGGER A RESPONSE. BUT I HAVE
TO STAY IN MY LANE. I HAVE TO
DEFER TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE,
WHO HOLDS A PHD. AND HE HAS
ANOTHER PHD WHO IS A
CRIMINOLOGIST. I HAVE TO RELY ON
THEIR DECISION. I'M NOT A
POLICE OFFICER. I KNOW WHAT
CHAOS LOOKS LIKE. I HAVE TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH THEM AND TO SOME
EXTENT THAT IS WHY I PUSH BACK
ON LEGISLATION WHERE I HAVE TO
MAKE CERTAIN DECISIONS BECAUSE I
HAVE TO DEFER OFTEN TO THE
CRIMINOLOGIST AND THE POLICE
COMMAND STAFF. BUT I KNOW WHAT
VIOLENCE LOOKS LIKE. SO THAT
WOULD SORT OF TRIGGER THAT KIND
OF RESPONSE.
>> I MEAN, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT
MAYBE THE MAYOR NEEDS TO START
PAYING CLOSER ATTENTION TO THE
DECISIONS HIS POLICE CHIEF IS
MAKING. WE JUST GOT THE NEWS
THIS WEEK THAT MIKE TEIJIN HAS
BEEN PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN ,
LEADER OF THE EAST PRECINCT.
THIS IS SOMEONE WHO HAS MULTIPLE
TROUBLING INCIDENTS ON HIS
RECORD, INCLUDING INCIDENTS --
LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE LGBTQ
PLUS COMMUNITY. SOMEONE WHO
PERHAPS SHOULD NOT EVEN BE A
SWORN OFFICER, LET ALONE A
CAPTAIN, LET ALONE IN CHARGE OF
THE EAST PRECINCT. SO I THINK
THAT WE NEED A LITTLE MORE
OVERSIGHT OF THE DECISIONS OUR
POLICE CHIEF IS MAKING.
>> I WENT A LITTLE BIT OFF THE
FORMAT WE HAVE HERE BECAUSE I DO
HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT POLICING
FOR YOU. AND IT IS SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT FUNDING. YOU TOLD PUBLIC
NOVEMBER 2nd OF 2020 IN
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE POLICE
BUDGET AND WHAT WAS CALLED THE
SOLITARY BUDGET -- AND I'M
QUOTING -- WE WANT TO MOVE
TOWARD A FUTURE ENTIRELY WITHOUT
SPD. WE WANT TO FOCUS ENERGY
ELSEWHERE. IS THERE STILL A
FUTURE IN THE CITY WITHOUT SPD ?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT. AT LEAST NOT
IN ANY FORESEEABLE TIMEFRAME. MY
OPPONENT HAS BEEN IN DEBATE
AFTER DEBATE TALKING ABOUT HOW I
WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE. I
WANT TO MAKE VERY CLEAR -- I
KNOW THAT MY OPPONENT
DESPERATELY WISHES HE WAS
RUNNING AGAINST SOMEONE WHO
WANTS TO DEFUND THE POLICE. BUT
THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I BELIEVE
THAT WE NEED A POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT IS ADEQUATELY STAFFED, THAT
IS RESPONSIVE, AND THAT IS
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITIES
IT SERVES. AS MAYOR, I WILL
CONTINUE TO HIRE OFFICERS AND I
WILL ALSO PUSH AGGRESSIVELY TO
CIVILIAN EYES RULES THAT POLICE
DO NOT NEED TO BE PERFORMING SO
THAT WE CAN USE OUR POLICE
RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY AND OUR
POLICE CAN FOCUS ON POLICING AND
INVESTIGATING SERIOUS CRIMES.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> KATIE, YOU HAVE SAID MANY
TIMES YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT AND A
SOCIALIST BUT NOT SOCIALIST IN
THE WAY OF FORMER SEATTLE CITY
COUNCILMEMBER. ALL OF THE TERMS
CAN BE A LITTLE DIZZYING. CAN
YOU HELP FOLKS THIS EVENING
DETERMINE THE KIND OF POLITICIAN
YOU ARE BY ANSWERING A FEW QUICK
YES NO? AND I MEAN YES NO. YES
OR NO, DO YOU FAVOR
DECRIMINALIZATION OF
PROSTITUTION?
>> I CANNOT QUALIFY THAT? YES,
WITH QUALIFICATIONS. I THINK
THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE QUESTION
OF POLITICAL --
>> WORK WITH ME HERE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> JUST WORK WITH ME HERE. JUST
RUNNING THROUGH A FEW ISSUES.
>> OKAY.
>> DO YOU FAVOR DECRIMINALIZING
PROSTITUTION?
>> YES, WITH QUALIFICATIONS.
>> OKAY. DO YOU FAVOR A 30
MINUTE DOLLAR MINIMUM WAGE
WITHIN FIVE YEARS ?
>> WITHIN FIVE YEARS
>> PROBABLY NOT. THAT IS NOT
SOMETHING I HAVE ANNOUNCED AS
PART OF MY PLATFORM.
>> DO YOU FAVOR A RENT FREEZE?
>> NOT A RENT FREEZE. NO.
>> IS THERE ANOTHER WORD FOR IT?
>> I SUPPORT RENT STABILIZATION
AND THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS
IN HOW WE DESIGN A POLICY LIKE
THAT AND WE ARE ACTUALLY NOT
ALLOWED TO IN SEATTLE ACCORDING
TO STATE LAW, BUT I CERTAINLY
SUPPORT IF WE COULD DO IT
LOCALLY AND STATEWIDE RENT
STABILIZATION POLICY AND THERE
IS LOTS OF DETAILS ABOUT HOW YOU
WOULD DO THAT. BUT YEAH.
>> I'M GOING TO BREAK FORMAT
HERE A LITTLE BIT. MAYOR
HARRELL, THE SAME LIST. DO YOU
SUPPORT, YES NO, DECRIMINALIZING
PROSTITUTION?
>> NOT BY LAW. VICTIMS MOST OF
THE TIME. WE ARE NOT ENFORCING
AGAINST THEM. BUT IN TERMS OF
DECRIMINALIZING IT, I DON'T
THINK THE STATE OR THE CITY IS
DOING THAT.
>> DO YOU SUPPORT A $30 MINIMUM
WAGE WITHIN FIVE YEARS?
>> IS THAT WHERE IT WOULD GO
NATURALLY?
>> NO.
>> NOT IN FIVE YEARS.
>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT 20.76.
>> I WOULD SAY BASED ON WHAT I
KNOW , NO. I WOULD STICK WITH
WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THIS POINT.
>> OKAY. WHAT ABOUT FREEZING
RENTS?
>> NO. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE
THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT, BY THE
WAY.
>> OKAY. MAYOR HARRELL. THERE
WAS JUST A VOTE YESTERDAY
APPROVING THE DECISION TO LOCATE
A NEW CRISIS CARE CENTER DOWN
THE STREET AT FROM SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY AT THE POLYCLINIC. DO
YOU PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD AS
PROPOSED, AND IF SO, WHAT
SPECIFIC MEASURES OR
REINFORCEMENTS WILL THE CITY PUT
IN PLACE TO REINFORCE IT?
>> NUMBER ONE, IT IS A COUNTY
DECISION, AND THE CONDITIONS I
PLACED ON SUPPORTING IT FROM THE
MAYOR STANDPOINT WERE VERY
CLEAR. IF THOSE CONDITIONS WERE
MET, I WOULD SUPPORT IT. NUMBER
ONE, IT HAS TO BE SAFE FOR
EVERYONE. FOR PEOPLE -- WE ARE
TRYING TO REBUILD FROM ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. SO WE DON'T WANT
INCREASED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY . WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
WHAT WE CALL A GOOD NEIGHBOR
AGREEMENT SO THEY ACTUALLY KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT CLEANLINESS IN
TERMS OF TRASH AND PICK UP AND
EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS LIKE IN
THAT AREA. SO WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYTHING IN THIS
CRISIS CARE CENTER, WHICH BY THE
WAY WE HAVE TO HAVE BECAUSE WE
HAVE TO GET PEOPLE TREATMENT, SO
YES. THIS IS A GOOD THING JUST
LIKE -- WE ARE INVESTING IN. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
SCHOOLS CLOSE BY. SMALL
BUSINESSES STRUGGLING. WITH THE
RIGHT SECURITY, YES, WE WILL
MOVE FORWARD.
>> MS. WILSON, YOU HAVE TALKED
ABOUT SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN
CRISIS. THIS NEW FACILITY WILL
SERVE INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING
WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION.
IT IS LOCATED RIGHT ACROSS THE
STREET FROM A BREWERY, HOTEL,
AND SEATTLE UNIVERSITY. AS
MAYOR, HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE THE
SECURITY AND SAFETY OF THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY WHILE
STILL SUPPORTING THOSE IN NEED?
>> YEAH. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT
THE CENTER. I DO THINK THE
PROCESS OF PUBLIC OUTREACH
LEADING UP TO ITS ANNOUNCEMENT
WAS LACKING. I THINK THAT IS
PART OF WHY THERE'S BEEN
INTENSE PUSHBACK FROM SOME OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THERE
WAS IN THE PROCESS THAT KIND OF
BROUGHT PEOPLE ALONG. AND WITH
DUE RESPECT, I THINK THE
CONDITIONS THE MAYOR HAS PUT ON
IT ARE NOT ENTIRELY RESPONSIVE
TO THE CONCERNS I HAVE HEARD
FROM FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DID A WALK AROUND CAPITOL HILL
WITH SOME NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
LEADERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS. I
HAVE TALKED WITH FOLKS WHO WORK
AT SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THERE.
SO THE CONCERNS I HAVE HEARD,
NUMBER ONE, IS ABOUT THE KIND OF
ENVIRONMENT WE WOULD BE
DISCHARGING PEOPLE OUT INTO FROM
THAT CENTER. AND WE HAVE SOME
SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES ON
CAPITOL HILL AND DRUG ISSUES .
AND ALSO WITH THE FOLLOW-UP.
WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR THEM IN THE
WAY OF LONGER-TERM CASE
MANAGEMENT CARE SHELTER HOUSING.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS I HAVE
HEARD. I'M NOT SURE THAT THOSE
HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED.
I THINK WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT,
BUT ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THE
CENTER.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TALK ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION. KATIE, THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR
WHEELHOUSE AS THE FOUNDER OF
TRANSIT RIDERS FOUNDATION. THAT
USED TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE IN THE CITY. RAPID TRANSIT
LINE THAT GOES RIGHT HERE DOWN
MADISON PAST SEATTLE UNIVERSITY.
PEOPLE TAKE DIRECTLY DOWNTOWN.
BUT YOU WOULD ALSO HOLD A SEAT .
AND THAT IS A BIG ISSUE FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL FOR AN ALTERATION OF
THE WEST SEATTLE OR BALLARD
LINES. THERE IS A MASSIVE
SHORTFALL. HOW DO YOU FIX IT?
>> THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION AND
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD IF
I'M SUCCESSFUL IN THIS RACE ON
SERVING ON THE TRANSIT BOARD AND
ALSO BEING ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING
I CAN FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
TO EXPEDITE SOUND TRANSIT
PROJECTS TO REALLY HAVE THE CITY
BE A LEADER IN THE PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT . AND WE HAVE A $40
BILLION SHORTFALL. THAT IS A
HUGE SHORTFALL. IT'S GOING TO
FORCE SOME REALLY TOUGH
DECISIONS. I DO THINK THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY THAT WE GO FOR MORE
FUNDING WHETHER IT IS AT THE
STATE LEVEL. WE ALSO HAVE A
MONORAIL TAX AUTHORITY IN
SEATTLE THAT WITH STATE
LEGISLATURE PERMISSION COULD
POTENTIALLY BE REPURPOSED. BUT
AS IT IS, THERE ARE TOUGH
DECISIONS IN THE WORKS ABOUT
WHETHER WE CAN COMPLETE BOTH OF
THOSE LINES TO THEIR FULL
EXTENT. I KNOW THERE HAS ALSO
BEEN A PROPOSAL ABOUT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER ABOUT WHETHER WE
ACTUALLY NEED A SECOND DOWNTOWN
TUNNEL. A LITTLE CAUTIOUS ABOUT
THAT BECAUSE I DO THINK WE NEED
THAT CAPACITY IF WE ARE GOING TO
BUILD THE SYSTEM OUT TO ITS FULL
EXTENT. THIS IS NOT GOING TO
SAVE US BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT
THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT CAN BE
DONE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO
IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF TRANSIT
PROJECTS. WE HAVE NOT GONE
NEARLY AS FAR AS WE COULD AS FAR
AS PERMITTING THAT PROCESS.
USING THE CITY'S RIGHT-OF-WAY
INSTEAD OF TRYING TO COBBLE
TOGETHER PRIVATE PROPERTY, WHICH
ENDS UP TAKING MUCH, MUCH
LONGER. THERE'S A LOT I WOULD
LIKE TO TRY TO DO TO HELP. IT IS
A SHORTFALL AND A BIG CHALLENGE
AHEAD.
>> A LOT OF OVERRUNS, MAYOR. HOW
DO YOU FIX IT?
>> NUMBER ONE, I HAVE BEEN A
VOCAL ADVOCATE AND LEADER THE
SPINE FROM EVERETT TO DO, WILL
BE INTACT. BUT WITH SEATTLE AND
BALLARD, THE VOTERS VOTED FOR
THEM TO HAVE THEIR LIGHT RAIL,
AND WE SHOULD HAVE IT. I FIRST
REORGANIZED THE CITY TO BE ABLE
TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THE
PROJECT ITSELF AND SOUND TRANSIT
EFFICIENTLY. WE TOOK 15 OF THE
SMARTEST ENGINEER TYPES AND PUT
THEM TOGETHER IN A CIVICS
PROJECT GROUP TO MAKE SURE THAT
PERMITS ARE EXPEDITED. WE LOOK
AT LAND-USE THAT WE ARE DOING IN
THE BEST WAY. WE WILL SHOW THE
OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES HOW A
CITY -- THE LARGEST CITY CAN DO
IT SMARTLY. THAT WILL SAVE US
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
. WE WILL GO ABOUT DOING THAT,
NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, YOU'RE
GOING TO SEE ME EVEN TOMORROW AT
THE MEETING IN ADVANCE SOME
DISCUSSION ON LOOKING AT WEST
SEATTLE. AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT,
FOR EXAMPLE, I AM STUDYING THE
AVALON STATION AS AN EXAMPLE TO
SEE , ARE THERE SOME SAVINGS
THAT COULD BE DONE THERE? I WILL
DIRECT STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SAVING MONEY. MAKE NO MISTAKE
ABOUT THIS. WE DESERVE A LIGHT
RAIL. THESE COSTS. WE'RE GOING
TO TRY TO GET STATE HELP. THIS
IS THE LARGEST LIGHT RAIL
PROJECT IN THE COUNTRY. WE DOING
EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE. THE
SMARTEST ENGINEERS TO MAKE SURE
WE SAVE THIS MONEY. I THINK MY
COLLEAGUES ON MY LEFT AND RIGHT,
NORTH AND SOUTH UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO ASK
YOU A QUESTION ABOUT LEADERSHIP
BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN RAISED BY
BOTH OF YOU IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
KATIE, I WANT TO ASK YOU
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE
BROUGHT UP THE HIRING OF THE
FORMER POLICE CHIEF, ADRIAN
DIAZ. I THINK IT RAISES
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO YOU MAY HIRE
AT CITY HALL. FORMER CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER TAMMY MORALES HAS
BEEN BACKING YOU AT YOUR
CAMPAIGN EVENTS. FORMER MAYORAL
CANDIDATE AS ENDORSED YOU AND
THERE'S A LOT OF TALK BEHIND
THE SCENES AT CITY HALL THAT YOU
ARE PREPARED TO HIRE FORMER CITY
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LORENA
GONZALEZ, WHO IS ALSO A FORMER
MAYORAL CANDIDATE. I CAN TELL BY
YOUR REACTION YOU MAY DISAGREE
WITH THAT. CAN YOU SAY TONIGHT
WHETHER YOU ARE PREPARED TO HIRE
THEM AS DEPUTY MAYOR?
>> I CAN SAY NONE OF THOSE
THINGS. AND I ACTUALLY HAD NO
CLUE THAT RUMORS WERE GOING ON
ABOUT ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE AS
POTENTIAL HIRES. SO, YEAH. I'M
NOT GOING TO SAY VERY MUCH ABOUT
MY TRANSITION PROCESS BECAUSE
SOME THINGS ARE GOING ON BEHIND
THE SCENES NOW THAT I'M NOT AT
LIBERTY TO DISCLOSE. I WILL SAY
THAT SINCE I DID SO WELL IN THE
PRIMARY AND GOT 51% OF THE VOTE
-- SINCE THAT DAY, WE HAVE BEGUN
A PRE-TRANSITION PLANNING
PROCESS AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING A
LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS
WHO HAVE DEEP EXPERIENCE AT CITY
HALL THAT HAVE WORKED FOR
MULTIPLE MAYORAL
ADMINISTRATIONS, OTHER
GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE,
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE. AND I'M
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE
PROSPECTS OF ASSEMBLING A TEAM.
I'M NOT PREPARED TO NAME
INDIVIDUALS YET. ACTUALLY
STARTING TO THAT SOME CANDIDATES
FOR A FEW OF THOSE TOP POSITIONS
READ BUT YEAH. I CERTAINLY HAVE
NOT COMMITTED TO HIRING ANY OF
THE PEOPLE YOU NAMED AND HAVE
NOT COMMITTED TO HIRING ANY
PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS YET,
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF
EXCITING NAMES ON THE LIST.
>> MAYOR, THIS IS AN ISSUE AGAIN
BECAUSE OF YOUR HAND-PICKED
POLICE CHIEF, ADRIAN DIAZ, WHO
YOU HIRED AND HAVE SINCE FIRED.
AND IT HAS PROMPTED LAWSUITS AND
LEGAL FILINGS. YOU HAVE DEPUTY
MAYOR ACCUSING YOU OF EARNING A
BOYS CLUB. HOW WILL THE NEXT
FOUR YEARS BE ANY DIFFERENT?
>> LET'S LEVEL SAID. NUMBER
ONE, CHIEF DIAZ, WHO HAD TO
TERMINATE FOR DISHONESTY -- HE
WAS THE CHIEF WHEN I WAS MAYOR.
BECAME MAYOR. HE WAS PRODUCED TO
ME ON A NATIONAL SEARCH. I
DON'T THINK MAYOR IN RECENT
HISTORY HAS HAD TO TERMINATE A
POLICE CHIEF, SO THAT DECISION
WAS NOT MADE LIGHTLY, BUT IT IS
ONE THAT I OWN. MY OPPONENT I
DON'T THINK HAS EVER HIRED
ANYONE. WHEN YOU GET INTO A
HIRING SITUATION, YOU MAKE TOUGH
DECISIONS. THE SENIOR DEPUTY
MAYOR WAS MY NIECE. HER FATHER,
MY BROTHER, DIED OF CANCER A FEW
YEARS AGO. AND WE LISTENED TO
HER FEEDBACK. PERHAPS THAT WAS
HERS PERSPECTIVE. THE FACT IS I
HAVE HAD THE LOWEST TURNOVER ON
MY EXECUTIVE TEAM IN THE LAST 30
YEARS. I HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE
EXECUTIVE TEAM. MORE WOMEN AND
MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR ON AN
EXECUTIVE TEAM. YOU CAN LOOK AT
THE SAME WAY MY CABINET THAT WE
HIRED VERY AGGRESSIVELY. WHEN WE
STARTED THE CARE DEPARTMENT I
WAS VERY INTENTIONAL THAT WE HAD
CHIEF AMY BARTON HEADING THAT.
SO I THINK WE MODEL PRACTICING
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
>> WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
WE WENT TO GET IN ONE MORE
QUESTION FROM DIEGO . TAKE IT
AWAY BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING OUT
OF TIME .
>> MS. WILSON, THE IDEA
GOVERNMENT OWNED GROCERY STORES
. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU SUPPORT
AND HOW EXACTLY DO THEY WORK?
>> YEAH. THIS IS A GREAT
QUESTION AND THIS HAS COME UP IN
THE CONTEXT ESPECIALLY OF THE
LAKE CITY FRED MEYER CLOSURE AND
THE GROCERY DESERT AND PHARMACY
DESERT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AS A
RESULT. I WAS JUST IN LAKE CITY
A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND TALKING
WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS,
TALKING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD
LEADERS. FOLKS AT THE NORTH
SEATTLE UP THERE WHO ARE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE FOOD DESERT.
I WILL SAY THERE IS A SENSE OF
OUTRAGE AT KROGER LEAVING
BECAUSE IT IS DEFINITELY A PLACE
THAT CAN ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT A
GROCERY STORE. IT'S A VERY BUSY
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THERE'S ALSO
KEEN INTEREST IN WHAT THE CITY
COULD POTENTIALLY DO THERE. AND
NOT JUST THAT SPOT. THERE IS
ALSO A BARTEL'S THAT IS NOW
VACANT. THERE IS A LOT OF
INTEREST IN THE IDEA OF THE CITY
PURCHASING OR LEASING THAT
PROPERTY AND SETTING UP SOME
KIND OF AMERICANO OR MARKET. AND
I THINK PUBLICLY OWNED GROCERY
STORE OPTION GROCERY STORE,
WHICH CAN BE A PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP -- THIS IS NOT SOME
KIND OF OFF-THE-WALL IDEA.
ATLANTA JUST OPENED ONE. EVERY
MILITARY BASE IN THE COUNTRY HAS
ONE. ST. PAUL HAS ONE. SO
THERE'S A LOT OF PRECEDENT FOR
THIS. AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY
INTERESTING IDEA. YOU HAVE CW
3000, THE LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR
UNION IN THE STATE, WHICH
REPRESENTS GROCERY WORKERS, IS
ALSO INTERESTED IN THEIR
EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE
GROCERY INDUSTRY MAKES THIS EVEN
MORE FEASIBLE. I THINK IT IS
WORTH CONSIDERING FOR THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD AND POTENTIALLY
OTHERS. I ALSO SUPPORT THE
THINGS THAT MAYOR HAS ANNOUNCED
IN TERMS OF EXPANSIONS OF BOX IN
THE MARKET THERE. I UNDERSTAND
THE FUNDING IS ONE TIME. SETTING
UP A FISCAL CLIFF FOR THE NEXT
MAYOR IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
>> MAYOR HARRELL, DO YOU THINK
THAT IS A GOOD IDEA? AND HOW DO
YOU PLAN ON DEALING WITH
SEATTLE'S FOOD DESERTS ?
>> WE HAVE INVESTED OVER $40
MILLION IN FOOD INSECURITY. WE
AMENDED OUR CONFERENCE A PLAN TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE
AND INCENTIVIZE AND PAY FOR
SMALL GROCERS TO BE ON CORNERS.
MUNICIPALLY OWNED GROCERY STORE
HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS.
CHICAGO STARTED AND THOUGHT
ABOUT IT IN 2022 AND BACKED OUT.
IT DOESN'T WORK VERY WELL. WE
DON'T HAVE THE SUPPLY CHAIN
POWER TO BUY. WE CANNOT COMPETE
AGAINST SOME OF THE PRIVATE
MARKETS. THAT IS WHY CITIES BACK
OUT. NOT A BAD IDEA. IT IS JUST
UNPROVEN AND SOMETIMES IT LOSES.
SO WE THINK THE SMARTER APPROACH
ARE TO GET AS MANY CORNER STORES
INVOLVED . AND ALSO IF YOU LOOK
AT THE FOOD INSECURITY, WE ARE
LEADING THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF
HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING FOOD
INSECURITY. 4000 PEOPLE ON THE
LIST . NOW WE TAKE THEM OFF THE
WAITING LIST. 16,000 PEOPLE GET
FOOD BENEFITS. SO WE ARE DOING
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS
FOOD INSECURITY.
>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE
IT RIGHT THERE. THAT IS ALL WE
HAVE TIME FOR. BIG THANKS TO
MAYOR HARRELL. BIG THANKS TO
YOU, MS. WILSON. THANKS TO OUR
AUDIENCE. WELL BEHAVED. WELL
BEHAVED.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND THANKS TO THE TV
AUDIENCE, AND GOOD NIGHT.
THANKS.
>> [ MUSIC ]