>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING. THE
FEBRUARY 18, 2025 MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:34 A.M. I
AM ROB SAKA, CHAIR OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE
>> HERE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
>> PRESENT
>> VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH
>> CHAIR SAKA
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU AND I NOTICED THAT
VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH IS
EXCUSED UNTIL SHE ARRIVES.
COLLEAGUES, IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTIONS, THE AGENDA IS HEREBY
ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, GUESTS, FOR JOINING
US TODAY ON TWO CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT TOPICS BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE THIS MORNING. OUR VERY
FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS A
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON
REGIONAL TRANSIT SECURITY . IN A
MOMENT, WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR
GUESTS FROM KING COUNTY SOUND
TRANSIT, THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS
WELL AS ATU LOCAL 587 IN THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION
REGARDING TRANSIT SECURITY. I
WANT TO THANK THEM FOR TAKING
TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES
TO JOIN US TODAY TO ATTEND THIS
CRUCIAL ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION.
WHILE WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO
HAVE EVEN MORE STAKEHOLDERS JOIN
US AT TODAY'S DISCUSSION TABLE
WE ARE OF COURSE VERY LIMITED IN
TIME AND SPACE HOWEVER, TODAY'S
GUESTS ARE CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS
AS WE LOOK TO STRENGTHEN OUR
EFFORTS TO CONTINUE TO
PROACTIVELY MOVE FORWARD AS A
CITY AND REGION TO BETTER
ADDRESS OUR TRANSIT SECURITY
NEEDS. SINCE TAKING OFFICE LAST
YEAR, TRANSIT SECURITY HAS BEEN
A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR ME,
PERSONALLY, AND I KNOW MANY OF
MY COLLEAGUES, AS WELL. AND I
HAVE BEEN ADAMANT THAT WE NEED
TO DO WANT TO MAKE BOTH RIDERS
AND DRIVERS FEEL SAFE . AS A
REGULAR TRANSIT RIDER MYSELF, I
TOOK THE BUS TO CITY HALL THIS
MORNING. TAKING IT HOME LATER
TODAY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO TAKE TRANSIT. IT IS
A GREAT SYSTEM. DOES NOT MEAN WE
CAN'T DO BETTER BUT AS A
REGULAR TRANSIT WRITER MYSELF, I
HAVE SEEN UNSAFE -- PERSONALLY
WITNESSED UNSAFE AND UNLAWFUL
BEHAVIOR WHILE WRITING OUR
REGION'S TRANSIT SYSTEM
INCLUDING WITNESSING PEOPLE
FREELY AND OPENLY SMOKING
SENTINEL -- FENTANYL AND
BRAZENLY STRIPPING COPPER WIRE
WHICH IS STOLEN. THIS KIND OF
BEHAVIOR DOES NOT ENGENDER THE
CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN THE
AVERAGE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC
THAT WE NEED TO BETTER ENSURE
THERE TRANSIT SYSTEM NOT ONLY IS
SAFE, BUT FEEL SAFE, AS WELL.
TRANSIT OPERATORS THEMSELVES
WILL HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE
STORIES TO SHARE . THIS BEHAVIOR
HAS GOTTEN TOTALLY OUT OF HAND,
AND IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE .
SADLY, IN THE EARLY HOURS OF
DECEMBER 18, OUR TRANSIT
INSECURITY CAME TO A HEAD WHEN
KING COUNTY METRO BUS DRIVER
SEAN YOUNG WAS MURDERED IN THE
COURSE OF DOING HIS JOB IN THE
UNION DISTRICT HERE IN SEATTLE.
OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO MOURN
THE LOSS OF MR. YOON, OPERATOR
21882. THIS IS FOR SEAN. IN THE
AFTERMATH OF SEAN'S KILLING, I
ATTENDED THE PRESS CONFERENCE
AUTHORIZED BY HIS UNION ATU 587.
I ALSO ATTENDED A CANDLELIGHT
VIGIL IN SEAN'S HONOR ALONG
WITH THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR
THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC JOIN TO MOURN HIS TRAGIC
LOSS. AS PART OF THIS I WAS ABLE
TO WITNESS AND OBSERVE
FIRST-HAND THE ANGUISH, THE PAIN
, TRAUMA AND SENSE OF LOSS FELT
LIGHT SHONE'S FELLOW UNION
MEMBERS 587 ALONG WITH MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC TO WRITE OUR
TRANSIT SYSTEM ALL OF WHOM ARE
COUNTING ON US, ALL OF US TO
COME TOGETHER AND STEP UP OUR
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS AS A REGION
TO IMPROVE TRANSIT SECURITY AND
SAFETY FOR ALL. EVERY DRIVER,
EVERY PASSENGER DESERVES TO FEEL
SAFE ON OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM AND
BE SAFE AS WELL . I BELIEVE THAT
A KEY PART OF THE SOLUTION IS TO
ALIGN ON A REGIONAL APPROACH TO
TRANSIT SECURITY, ONE THAT
ALLOWS US IN THE VERY NEAR TERM
TO COLLECTIVELY RESET ON
EXPECTATIONS FOR ACCEPTABLE
BEHAVIOR AND APPROPRIATE CONDUCT
ON OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM. THIS
INCLUDES AN IMMEDIATE SURGE IN
CARE AND PRESENCE BY TRAINED
PERSONNEL . WE NEED TO RESET
EXPECTATIONS, RESTORE ORDER AND
DECENCY . HERE IN SEATTLE, I
THINK EFFORTS TO DO THINGS LIKE
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT OUR OWN
DOWNTOWN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN,
SUPPORT WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS AS
THEY NAVIGATE NEW RETURN TO
OFFICE MANDATES AND ENSURE A
SUCCESSFUL, SAFE AND VIBRANT
WORLD CUP, ALL THREE OF THOSE
THINGS AND MORE HINGE ON OUR
ABILITY TO BOOST TRANSIT
SECURITY . IN MY VIEW, THESE
THINGS ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED
AM TIED TOGETHER. THAT SAID, WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW IN THIS
MOMENT TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE
A DIFFERENCE AS A CITY AND A
REGION , TO LEVEL SET THE STATE
OF TRANSIT SECURITY IN OUR
REGION AND REALLY DISCUSS HOW WE
CAN BEST WORK TOGETHER TO
IMPROVE SECURITY FOR ALL. NOW,
MAKE NO MISTAKE. THIS IS A
HIGHLY COMPLEX MULTIFACETED AND
CROSS JURISDICTIONAL PROBLEM.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US
COMING TOGETHER, WORKING
TOGETHER TO MEANINGFULLY ADDRESS
IT. AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND
EVERYONE , IN MY VIEW, IT IS
VERY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO POINT
FINGERS AND ATTEMPT TO ASSIGN OR
ASCRIBE BLAME TO A SINGLE
TRANSIT AGENCY OR A SINGLE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. THE UNDERLYING
CHALLENGES ACROSS TRANSIT
AGENCIES AND JURISDICTIONAL
BORDERS. AS A COUNSEL WE HAVE
TAKEN CRUCIAL EARLY STEPS AND
THEY WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE AND
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS FOR THE
PARTNERSHIP ON MANY OF THESE
ITEMS. IN THE LEVY IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR WE
ALLOCATED OVER $9 MILLION OVER
THE COURSE OF EIGHT YEARS TO
HELP INCREASE TRANSIT SAFETY
INCLUDING INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC
SAFETY PERSONNEL . IN OUR MOST
RECENTLY ADOPTED BUDGET LAST
FALL LED BY BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS
, WE INVESTED $1 MILLION IN 2024
AND ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS IN
2025 TO IS WORKING COUNTY'S
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM AND THE
COUNTY'S NEW INNOVATIVE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM PLUS AN
ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION
SPECIFICALLY FOR MORE TRANSIT
SECURITY PERSONNEL AND POLICE
PRESENCE ON KEY BUS ROUTES AND
AT KEY HOTSPOTS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY. ALSO AS PART OF THE
BUDGET, WE HAD A COUNSEL-LED
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
FOR SDOT TO PRODUCE A REPORT TO
PUT INTO PLACE TRANSIT SECURITY
IMPROVEMENTS. THIS SLI ALSO
CALLS FOR TRANSIT SECURITY ON
TRANSIT SAFETY INCIDENTS WHICH
WILL SHED THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF
TRANSPARENCY WITH THE ANGLE TO
ILLUMINATE THE BRIGHT SCOPE OF
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE BEFORE US,
SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR GUEST
AND TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR
DEEP ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP
ON THIS TOPIC. IT IS SOME OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT WORK OF OUR
COMMITTEE AND OF OUR COUNSEL.
OUR SECOND AGENDA ITEM TODAY IS
SDOT'S PROPOSED LEVY DELIVERY
PLAN, ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.
FIRST I WANT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL
CONGRATULATIONS TO INTERIM
DIRECTOR EMERY. I'VE REALLY
ENJOYED WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU IN
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED
ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP AS
YOU STEP INTO THIS NEW ROLE. IT
IS A GREAT STORY. AS I
UNDERSTAND IT YOU WERE A FORMER
INTERN AT SDOT AND ROSE TO
ULTIMATELY LEAD I THINK THE
TRANSIT OPERATION CENTER BEFORE
TAKING A ROLE IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND NOW YOU ARE AT THE
HELM OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOST
STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT
DEPARTMENTS IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
IT IS A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT FOR YOU
AND THE CITY , LET INTERNS
ACROSS THE CITY REALIZE THEY CAN
GO ON TO ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS.
SO NOW WE GOT SOME BUSINESS TO
DO, LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
MORE ABOUT SOME OF YOUR PLANS
RELATING TO BOTH THESE TOPICS
BUT ON THE SECOND TOPIC WHEN
VOTERS PASSED THE LEVY IN
NOVEMBER THEY APPROVED NOT ONLY
THE LARGEST BUT MOST ACCOUNTABLE
LEVY IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.
PART OF THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS
ENSURING THAT SDOT PROVIDES
YEARLY SPENDING PLANS, PROPOSALS
TO BRING BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
THIS DETAILED SPENDING PLAN IS A
DEPARTURE FROM PAST PRACTICES
WHICH IN MY VIEW SHOWS A
DEDICATION TO DETAIL,
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND
THOUGHTFUL COLLABORATION AND
ENGAGEMENT. I WANT TO THANK SDOT
FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND
RESPONSIVENESS NOT JUST ON THE
DELIVERY PLAN, BUT DURING THE
LEVY PROCESS. YOU HAVE BEEN
TERRIFIC PARTNERS. THIS IS A NEW
ERA FOR THE CITY AND OUR
DISTRICT-BASED SYSTEM. AS
COUNCILMEMBERS WE ARE MORE
CONNECTED THAN EVER TO OUR OWN
DISTRICTS. WITH THAT COMES
CLOSER DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH
CITY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING
CRITICAL ONES LIKE SDOT. SO
THANK YOU AGAIN, SDOT, FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT TO WORKING WITH OUR
COUNSEL NOW AND ON A GOING
FORWARD BASIS. LET'S DO THIS
WORK TOGETHER. ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S IT FOR REMARKS. WE WILL
NOW MOVE TO THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEM'S ON
TODAY'S AGENDA AND WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE.
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE 10 IN
PERSON SPEAKERS AND THREE
REMOTE.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE A VERY PACKED
10 IN PERSON, THREE REMOTE. WE
HAVE A VERY PACKED AGENDA TODAY,
A NUMBER OF THINGS HAPPENING
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS
COMMITTEE. EVERY SPEAKER WILL
HAVE 90 SECONDS AND WE WILL GO
THROUGH ONE 20-MINUTE SESSION,
WHICH I THINK WE SHOULD GET ALL
OF THOSE IN THAT PERIOD AND WE
WON'T EXTEND THAT, IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME , TODAY. BUT,
LET US MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENT. AGAIN, EACH SPEAKER
WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY 90
SECONDS. A MINUTE AND A HALF. WE
WILL START WITH IN PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. CLARK, CAN YOU
PLEASE READ PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS ?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 20
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL ALTER
BETWEEN SETS OF IN-PERSON AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS ENDED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR
TIME. MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED
IF YOU DO NOT INJURE COMMENTS IN
THE ALLOTTED TIME. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND
WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. AND, THAT
IS JANICE STAMM. FOLLOWED BY
RYAN DAVIS AND JANET EASTMAN.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
JANICE STAMM AND I AM LEGALLY
BLIND. I AM CO-CHAIR OF THE
MISSING LINK TASK FORCE. I
DON'T WANT TO SEE THE NEXT
SEATTLE TIMES HEADLINE THAT SAYS
THAT AN 83-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER
HAS BEEN'S -- BEEN HIT IN FRONT
OF HER HOME. I KNOW SAFETY IS A
PRIMARY ISSUE FOR YOU AND THE
MAYOR AND THE 20-YEAR SEATTLE
PLAN, SO IF SAFETY IS YOUR MAIN
ISSUE THEN I URGE YOU TO LOOK
FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE BIKE
TRAIL ON LEARY AVENUE.
>> THIS IS A PICTURE OF OUR
RESIDENT'S BOARDING THE BUS. IN
THE ORIGINAL PLAN THEY WOULD BE
STANDING IN THE BIKE TRAIL. THIS
IS A PICTURE OF CONGESTION AS IT
IS NOW. THERE ARE TWO AMBULANCES
AND A FIRE TRUCK HERE. THAT HAS
CAUSED TRAFFIC AND THIS CAR TO
CROSS OVER AND BE DRIVING IN THE
LANE TOWARD ONGOING TRAFFIC.
THIS KIND OF CONGESTION JUST
CAN'T HAPPEN, AND THIS IS
BEFORE THE BIKE TRAIL WAS EVEN
PUT IN, SO I URGE YOU TO FIND AN
ALTERNATIVE TO THE TRAIL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>> NEXT UP IS RYAN DAVIS
FOLLOWED BY JANET EASTMAN AND
MEGAN DEUTSCH.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM RYAN DAVIS
AND I AM A RESIDENT OF BALLARD
>>. RECENTLY I STEPPED OUT OUR
FRONT DOOR . SUDDENLY, SOMEONE
ON A SCOOTER APPEARED OUT OF
NOWHERE, SPED BY ME AND
DISAPPEARED INTO THE DARK. I
STEPPED BACKWARD AND AVOIDED AN
ACCIDENT BUT IT WAS FRIGHTENING.
IT REMINDED ME HOW IMPORTANT
SAFETY IS, ESPECIALLY FOR
SENIORS. OUR AVERAGE RESIDENT IS
83 AND DOES NOT DRIVE. MANY ARE
FRAIL OR DISABLED AND VULNERABLE
TO INJURY. OUR BUILDING HAS ONE
FRONT ENTRANCE AND 150 SOME
RESIDENTS. LEARY IS CHANGING
FROM FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC TO
TWO. ADDING A MULTI-USE BIKE
TRAIL WOULD NOT MAKE SAFETY
FIRST ON LEARY BUT IT WOULD ADD
MORE CONGESTION. I DON'T SEE
WHERE INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF
TRAFFIC AND TYPES OF VEHICLES ON
LEARY IS EITHER SAFE OR WISE. WE
PREFER THE [ INAUDIBLE ] OPTION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS JANET
EASTMAN FOLLOWED BY MEGAN
DEUTSCH AND MAXINE SCHIFFMAN.
>> HI. MY NAME IS JANET EASTMAN
AND I LIVE AT BALLARD LANDMARK.
AS ELECTED OFFICIALS , YOU TRY
TO USE TAXPAYER'S MONEY WISELY.
I AM ASKING TO CONSIDER
COMPLETING THE BURKE GILMAN BIKE
TRAIL ON SHE'LL SHOW AVENUE.
IT'S WIDE. THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL
SIDEWALKS TO DO. LEARY AVENUE
HAS BEAUTIFUL MATURE TREES AND
SIDEWALKS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE
REMOVED AND THEN REPLACED.
RECENTLY, A BUS LINE WAS ADDED
NARROWING THE SPACE FOR CARS AND
THE BIKE TRAIL. I INVITE YOU TO
VISIT BALLARD ON THE SUNDAY WHEN
THE FARMERS MARKET IS OPEN. LOOK
AT SHILSHOLE AVENUE AND LEARY
AVENUE, COMPARE THEM. WHICH
STREET WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE
BIKE TRAIL AND COST THE CITY OF
SEATTLE MUCH LESS MONEY ?
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT UP IS
MEGAN, FOLLOWED BY MAXINE
SCHIFFMAN AND Mary JEAN JONES.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MEGAN DEUTSCH
AND I AM PART OF THE
CO-OWNERSHIP OF BALLARD LANDMARK
AND WE ALSO HAVE OTHER
BUSINESSES IN BALLARD. THANKS
FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. THE
MISSING LINK ON MARKET AND LEARY
THREATENS BALLARD BUSINESSES
INCLUDING BALLARD LANDMARK AND
OTHER SMALL RESTAURANTS AND
RETAIL SHOPS BY DISRUPTING OUR
PARKING, ACCESSIBILITY AND
OPERATIONS AS WELL AS DAMAGING
THE PARK -LIKE APPEAL OF BALLARD
BY DESTROYING OUR VITAL CANOPY
OF MATURE TREES. THIS INCLUDES
192 TREES DESTROYED OVER 1.4
MILES. BUSINESSES WILL SUFFER
FROM DESTRUCTION DUE TO
CONSTRUCTION AND CONGESTION AND
HAVE HIGHER INSURANCE COSTS DUE
TO SAFETY ISSUES IMPOSED BY THE
BIKE LANE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF
PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS BEING
HIT. BUSINESSES WITH HIGH
TRAFFIC LIKE CARTER SUBARU, AND
FREQUENT DELIVERIES LIKE BALLARD
CONSIGNMENT, WILL HAVE
DIFFICULTY OPERATING BECAUSE
THERE WILL BE SO MANY BIKES
CROSSING THEIR EXITS. MARKET
STREET AND LEARY ARE ALREADY
EXTREMELY CONGESTED [ INAUDIBLE
] AND AGGREGATING -- AGGRAVATING
BALLARD RESIDENTS. INTRODUCING
BIKE LANES AND REDUCING LINES
FROM FOUR TO TWO WILL INCREASE
CONGESTION. PARKING IS ESSENTIAL
FOR BUSINESSES. PARKING WILL BE
REDUCED FROM TWO TO ONLY ONE
LINE.
>> THANK YOU, MEGAN. AND JUST A
FRIENDLY REMINDER, WHEN YOU HEAR
THE CHIME YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE MAXINE
SCHIFFMAN FOLLOWED BY Mary JEAN
JONES.
>> MA'AM, CAN YOU PULL THE MIC
DOWN AND SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO IT?
THANK YOU.
>> MICROPHONES ARE TURNED OFF.
>> COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE BURKE GILMAN TRAIL ON
SHILSHOLE. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.
IN JULY OF 2024 CITY COUNCIL
VOTED $20 MILLION FROM
TRANSPORTATION LEVY TO STREET
REPAIRS TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE MISSING LINK OF LARRY AND
MARKET. CYCLISTS HAVE USED
SHILSHOLE FOR 30+ YEARS BECAUSE
THEY NOTICE SHORT , FLAT, SAFE
ROUTE. IT'S TIME TO RESOLVE ALL
OUTSTANDING BLOCKS, BUILD THE
MISSING LINK WHERE IT BELONGS
AND MAKE THE BEST USE OF OUR TAX
DOLLARS.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>> OKAY, NEXT IS Mary JEAN
JONES, STEVE GILBERT, AND CLARA
CANTOR.
>> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS Mary JEAN
JONES AND I LIVE AT THE BALLARD
LANDMARK RETIREMENT COMMUNITY. I
GREW UP NEAR GREEN LAKE AND
WOODLAND PARK. I HAVE KNOWN THE
BEAUTY OF SEATTLE FOR MANY
YEARS, ENJOYING THE TREES,
LAKES, AND PARKS. I ALSO ENJOY
THE LIGHTED TREES DOWN THE
STREETS DURING THE WINTER
MONTHS. THE PROPOSED BURKE
GILMAN TRAIL ALONG MARKET AND
LEARY WILL TAKE OUT
APPROXIMATELY 192 MATURE TREES
BUT THE PREFERRED ROUTE ALONG
SHILSHOLE HAS ONLY ABOUT 17
TREES TO BE REMOVED. THESE
MATURE TREES ABSORB LARGE
AMOUNTS OF CARBON DIOXIDE .
MATURE TREES PLAY A SUBSTANTIAL
ROLE IN IMPROVING AIR QUALITY ,
MANAGING STORM RUNOFF AND
PROVIDING HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE.
PLEASE DON'T DO THE
BURKE-GILMAN TRAIL ALONG LEARY.
>> NEXT UP, STEVE GUILD, CLARA
CANTOR AND TYLER RESKOSE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M STEPHEN
CHILD, CO-CHAIR OF THE MISSING
LINK TASK FORCE, A BALLARD
LANDMARK, AND RESIDENT OF
BALLARD LANDMARK. I SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF THE 160 RESIDENTS
ABOUT THE MISSING LINK OF THE
BURKE-GILMAN TRAIL ON LEARY
AVENUE. MISSING, IT IS, FOR
SURE. MISSING ANY CONSIDERATION
ON THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS AND
CYCLISTS. MISSING ANY THOUGHT OF
THE DANGER DESCRIBED BY RYAN
DAVIS WHEN SHE WAS ALMOST STRUCK
BY A PASSING SCOOTER, MISSING
CONSTRUCTION COST, MISSING ANY
CONSIDERATION OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ONE AMATEUR
CANOPY OF TREES IS REMOVED. I
URGENTLY REQUEST THAT YOU,
ELECTED OFFICIALS, STOP THIS
UNSAFE, COSTLY AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING PROJECT
AND FOCUS TIME, EFFORT, AND
FUNDS ON OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> OUR LAST SET OF IN PERSON
SPEAKERS CLARA CANTOR, TYLER
VASQUEZ, AND GORDON PETTIFORD.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
CLARA COMFORT AND I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 IN
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER OF SEATTLE
GREENWAYS. IN 2015, OUR CITY
COMMITTED TO VISION ZERO, WHICH
IS THE GOAL OF HAVING ZERO
TRAFFIC DEATHS OR SERIOUS
INJURIES BY 2030. WE ARE NOW
FIVE YEARS FROM THAT GOAL AND
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED ON
OUR STREETS IS AS HIGH AS EVER.
WE AVERAGE ABOUT 25 TO 35 PEOPLE
WHO ARE KILLED EVERY YEAR AND
BETWEEN 150 AND 250 PEOPLE WHO
HAVE SERIOUS OR LIFE ALTERING
INJURIES EVERY YEAR. THOSE
INJURIES AND DEATHS
OVERWHELMINGLY HAPPEN ON
HIGH-SPEED ARTERIALS IN SEATTLE
FOR THE MOST CRASHES AND
FATALITIES OCCUR THERE, OUTDATED
AND DESIGNED FOR SPEED RATHER
THAN SAFETY. I AM THRILLED TO
SEE IN THIS SDOT PLAN KEY SAFETY
UPGRADES PLANNED FOR SEATTLE'S
MOST DANGEROUS STREETS INCLUDING
AURORA AVENUE, RAINIER AVENUE
SOUTH AND NRK. THOSE PROJECTS,
IF THEY ARE DONE WELL AND THEN
TO REDUCE SPEEDING ON THE
STREETS, WILL SAVE LIVES AND
VICTIMS FROM TRAFFIC VIOLENCE
ARE OVERWHELMINGLY PEOPLE WHO
ARE WALKING AND BIKING . THOSE
PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS.
EACH OF THOSE DEATHS OR INJURIES
HAVE RIPPLING EFFECT IN OUR
COMMUNITIES . I LIVE IN THE
SOUTH END. ACROSS BOTH OF THOSE
STREETS EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH MY
KID ON THE BACK OF MY BIKE AND
SO THIS MATTERS FOR ME
PERSONALLY AS WELL AS
PROFESSIONALLY. PLEASE SUPPORT
SDOT.
>> THANKS. TYLER VASQUEZ
FOLLOWED BY GORDON PADDLED FOR.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TYLER VASQUEZ AND
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF SEATTLE
BICYCLE CLUB TO URGE THE CITY TO
START BUILDING THE ICICLES
SAFETY PROGRAM. WE APPRECIATE
SDOT'S TRANSPARENCY IN THE 2025
PROJECTS LIST BUT NOW IT'S TIME
TO SHIFT FROM TALKING TO
PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION AND TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE BUDGET
PROVIDES ARE -- PROVISO DOES NOT
HOLD THIS UP. EVERY DELAY MEANS
MORE PEOPLE BIKING ON AND SAFE
STREETS. ONE PROJECT THAT DID
NOT MAKE THE PROJECT LIST WAS
THE STEVE PAULSON BIKE LANE IN
WEST SEATTLE. WE WOULD LIKE TO
START THE CONVERSATION AND
DISCOVER WHAT THIS TYPE OF
PROTECTED BICYCLE LANE LOOKS
LIKE. BUILDING ON THE BIKE LANE,
WE ALSO NEED TO ACCELERATE
VISION ZERO INVESTMENTS BECAUSE
PEOPLE BIKING AND WALKING ARE
STILL BEING KILLED ON SEATTLE
STREETS. SEATTLE CHICKS BICYCLE
NETWORK DEPENDS ON SAFE SITE
WALKS TO MAKE MULTI-MODAL TRIPS
POSSIBLE . WE SUPPORT THE PLAN
TO DOUBLE THE RATE OF SIDEWALK
CONSTRUCTION BY 2029. WITH THIS
GOAL, THERE MUST BE -- WE MUST
NEED TO START BUILDING NOW.
PEOPLE WHO RELY ON WALKING AND
BIKING ALSO RELY ON SIDEWALKS .
A CONNECTED BICYCLE NETWORK
MAKES SEATTLE A SAFER AND
HEALTHIER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE
CITY. WE URGE COUNSEL AND SDOT
TO TAKE ACTION AND GET THESE
PROJECTS BUILT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TYLER.
>> LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER,
GORDON PADDLEFORD.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EXECUTIVE
GREENWAYS AND AM HERE TO TALK
ABOUT SIDEWALKS. FOR SMALL I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THIS
COUNSEL FOR YOUR HISTORIC
INVESTMENT IN SIDEWALKS. IT IS
TRULY GOING TO SET US UP FOR
SUCCESS. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT IT. WE ARE GOING TO SEE A
TON OF SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION OUT
THERE. A WORD OF CAUTION,
SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WONDER IS WE
ARE SEATTLE'S WALKING AND
BIKING ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.
WHY ARE WE SEEING A LIST OF
SIDEWALKS AND GREENWAYS. IT IS
REALLY INTENTIONAL. WE DON'T
PROPOSE SPECIFIC SIDEWALKS
BECAUSE WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT
SDOT HAS A GOOD EQUITY, SAFETY ,
YOU KNOW, MOBILITY FILTERS. THEY
LOOK AT WHERE SCHOOLS ARE, PARKS
ARE, THEY LOOK AT WHERE TRANSIT
IS SO WHILE THERE IS OPPORTUNITY
FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WE BELIEVE
SDOT HAS GOOD ANALYSIS ABOUT
WHERE THE SIDEWALKS NEED TO GO
SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE NOT COMING
TO YOU WITH SPECIFIC PROJECTS
AND WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO
BE CAREFUL TO LET SDOT IMPLEMENT
THE SIDEWALK EXPANSION WITHOUT
TYING THEM UP TOO MUCH . LASTLY,
I THINK THERE IS A REALLY BIG
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SIDEWALK
FUNDING TASK FORCE. WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU
FOR THAT IDEA AND PUTTING IT IN
THE LEVY. THAT'S GOING TO GET
US TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF SIDEWALK
CONSTRUCTION SO WE LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU ON SETTING
THAT TASK FORCE UP AND FINDING
NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE TO DEAL
WITH THE MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR
BACKLOG. THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL NOW PIVOT TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. FIRST UP WILL BE JOE .
WHEN I ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK,
REMEMBER TO HIT STAR SIX.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA AND
COMMITTEE. GOOD SPEECH THIS
MORNING. I WRITE TRANSIT TO GET
AROUND AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
CARE AND CONCERN FOR TRANSIT
RIDERS. WHAT HAPPENED TO SHAWN
YIM WAS INEXCUSABLE AND SHOWS
HOW BEING SOFT ON CRIME RESULTS
IN DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO RESTORE SOME
LAW AND ORDER THROUGHOUT SEATTLE
AND WHETHER OR NOT IT IS DRIVERS
SPEEDING OR RECKLESS DRIVING ,
WE HAVE A LOT MORE FATALITIES
FROM DRIVING THAN TRANSIT. EVERY
LIFE IS PRECIOUS. WE NEED TO
ADDRESS THAT. WE NEED TO CLEAN
OUT THE HOMELESS DRUG TRADE
SUBSET AND ALL AND YOU KNOW,
LOCKUP GUYS WHERE THEY DEAL OR
ALEX ZIMMERMAN BECAUSE HIS
BEHAVIOR CREATES A THREATENING
ENVIRONMENT AT PUBLIC MEETINGS.
MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD THAT FROM
ME BEFORE AND ARE TRANSIT
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LUCKY IN
BANNING THE NAZI, BUT I WANT TO
THANK YOU TODAY FOR MAKING SURE
THE RULES ARE ENFORCED. THANK
YOU.
>> OKAY, DAVID HAYNES, REMEMBER
TO HIT STAR SIX WHEN YOU ARE
ALLOWED TO TALK.
>> THANK YOU. DAVID HAYNES. I
THINK IT'S FREE TO SAY WE NEED
A MORE CONCERTED EFFORT BETWEEN
THE METRO POLICE AND THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO KEEP
ARGUING THAT THE OTHER AGENCY IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR IN AND AROUND
THE BUS STOPS. WE NEED A LAW
THAT THE CITY POLICE AND METRO
POLICE START -- STOP ARGUING
ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
POLICING INSIDE THE BUS STOP AND
LAWS THAT SAY COPS HAVE TO PRESS
PASS THESE JUNKIE FEES AND FORCE
THEM TO BE -- I MEAN JUST PUT
THEM IN THE JAILHOUSE OR THE
POLICE STATION FOR A MINUTE AND
HAVE THEM BE QUESTION. FIND OUT
WHERE THEY KEEP GETTING THEIR
DRUGS AND HAVE SOME SORT OF
COURT ORDER THAT SAYS OKAY, YOU
HAVE TO GO TO BEHAVIORAL CRISIS
OR MENTAL CRISIS OR A
COMBINATION THEREOF BUT WE STILL
HAVE NOT IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF POLICE
BEING TRAINED PROPERLY BECAUSE I
HATE TO SAY IT BUT DEMOCRATS
HAVE SABOTAGEITY OF
POFORE MINUTES NOT ONLY
ABOUT BUS DRIVERS BEING SAFE
BEHIND THE PLASTIC PARTITION WHO
[ INAUDIBLE ] UP AND DOWN THE
BUS I'LL . WE NEED A LEGITIMATE
EFFORT FOR SAFETY NOT TO
PERSECUTE THE POOR PEOPLE . I
WANT TO POINT OUT THAT $1
MILLION FROM THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY IS LIKE
PENNIES AND ALSO JUST BALLARD
AVENUE IS THE BEST BIKE ROUTE.
IF YOU TAKE SHILSHOLE THE
CONCRETE DUST BOWL FROM THE
CONCRETE FACTORY .
>> THANK YOU, DAVID. THAT WAS
TIME. LAST SPEAKER , JOHN
DETROIT. JOHN, CURRENTLY YOU'RE
NOT PRESENT. I WILL GIVE YOU A
FEW SECONDS. GOING ONCE -- GOING
TWICE. THAT IS THE END OF OUR --
>> THANK YOU. CHAIR, VICE CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH HAS JOINED US
REMOTELY.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH. WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE REGIONAL
TRANSIT SECURITY ROUNDTABLE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. BIG
GROUP TODAY. I THINK WE SHOULD
HAVE ENOUGH CHAIRS. WELCOME,
EVERYONE. WILL OUR PRESENTERS
PLEASE JOIN US AT THE TABLE AND
SHARE YOUR PRESENTATIONS. ONCE
READY, FIRST OFF PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND THEN
MAKE A FEW REMARKS AND WE WILL
GET STARTED.
>>
>> Adam: SDOT
>> MICHELLE ALLISON, KING COUNTY
NETWORK.
>> MOISES GUTIERREZ, DEPUTY
AGENT FOR OVERSIGHT.
>> TODD MORRELL CHIEF OF METRO
TRANSIT POLICE.
>> ANDERSON CHIEF OF PUBLIC
SAFETY FOR MAYOR HAROLD.
>> CAN PRICE, 587 VICE
PRESIDENT.
>> JEFF STAMBAUGH, ATU 587 VICE
PRESIDENT.
>> NEIL CROSIER, KING COUNTY
METRO.
>> JON SCHOLES, DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION.
>> AWESOME. WELCOME. REALLY
EXCITED FOR YOU TO JOIN US TODAY
AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS. A LOT
ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC. A LOT
HAS HAPPENED . AS WE KNOW OVER
THE LAST FEW MONTHS IN
PARTICULAR THERE HAS BEEN A LOT
OF ACTION AND CONSTRUCTIVE
MOMENTUM IN MY VIEW AND WE NEED
TO CONTINUE THAT AND CAPTURE
THAT MOMENTUM AND REALIZE THE
BENEFITS OF IT. AND SO, WHICH IS
IN PART WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY SO
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS INTENDED TO
BE A DISCUSSION. I HAVE ASKED
THAT THE THREE GOVERNMENTS THAT
ARE REPRESENTED HERE, KING
COUNTY , WE HAVE CEO ALLISON
FROM KING COUNTY METRO, ALSO THE
KING COUNTY METRO POLICE CHIEF
SO BUT THEY ARE COLLECTIVELY
REPRESENTING KING COUNTY
GOVERNMENT'S PERSPECTIVE. WE
ALSO HAVE SOUND TRANSIT.
WELCOME. AND THEN, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, AS WELL. I HAVE ASKED
THREE GOVERNMENTS TO GIVE VERY
SHORT , YOU KNOW, FIVE TO EIGHT
MINUTE PRESENTATIONS, OVERVIEWS
ON THE STATE OF TRANSIT
SECURITY, CURRENT EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE THE SITUATION AND
IMPLEMENT SOME NEW REFORMS AND
INVESTMENTS AND THEN WE HAVE A
FEW FOLKS , ATU AND THE DSA
HERE. WELCOME, FOR ADDITIONAL
PERSPECTIVE SO I WOULD LIKE THE
THREE TO GO FIRST, THE THREE
GOVERNMENTS TO GO FIRST STARTING
WITH KING COUNTY METRO THAN
SOUND TRANSIT IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. WITH RESPECT TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, CALVIN IS
REPRESENTING CENTRAL STAFF
PERSPECTIVE. WHEN IT IS OUR TURN
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST GOING
FIRST FOR THE CITY, TEEING UP, I
THINK YOU HAVE THE SHORTEST
PERSON ANYWAY BUT TEEING UP FOR
CHIEF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER
NATALIE WALTON-ANDERSON AND ALL
THESE TITLES. INTERIM DIRECTOR
EMERY FROM SDOT CAN KICK IT OFF
FROM THERE BUT BEFORE WE GET
THERE I THINK THE PEOPLE AT THE
TABLE CURRTHE MOST
DIRECTLY THE
SUCCESSES AND FAILURES AND
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF
OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM ARE THE
BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND MEMBERS
OF ATU LOCAL 587 SO REALLY WOULD
LOVE TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY
TO PROVIDE A FEW OPENING REMARKS
AND JUST SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
AND THEN WE WILL ALLOW KING
COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO GO AHEAD.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS GOING TO BE
A THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION,
HOPEFULLY, AND IN THE INTEREST
OF TIME, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF
STAKEHOLDERS, THE VOLUME OF
MATERIAL THAT IS HERE TO GO
OVER, I WOULD ASK THAT WE HOLD
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS UNTIL
AFTER THE LAST SPEAKER HAS BEEN
GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
IN THIS CASE IT WILL BE JOHN
FROM DSA, SO THAT SAID ,
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS? NO? I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
NOT A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE
BUT A CHAMPION AND ADVOCATE OF
IMPROVING TRANSIT SECURITY FOR
ALL, SO WELCOME. WE WILL LET ATU
LOCAL 587 GIVE SOME OPENING
REMARKS.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THANK
YOU TO THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE AND COUNCILMEMBER
SOCCER -- SAKA . I APPRECIATE
YOUR RESTORING ORDER ON TRANSIT
AND YOUR APPRECIATION THAT WE
ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER ON
THAT IN THE FUNDING THE COUNSEL
IS PROVIDED FOR TRANSIT SAFETY.
YESTERDAY AS WE ALL KNOW, TWO
MORE PASSENGERS WERE SHOT ON THE
F-LINE INCLUDING A 15-YEAR-OLD
WHO WAS SHOT THREE TIMES LEAVING
THAT 15-YEAR-OLD IN CRITICAL
CONDITION. OUR THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS ARE WITH THOSE VICTIMS
AND OPERATOR AND OTHER TRANSIT
EMPLOYEES AND POLICE WHO HAD TO
ASSIST IN THIS TRAGEDY. PUBLIC
TRANSIT IS AT A TIPPING POINT
AND AT A CROSSROADS . THE CITY
AND COUNTY NEED PUBLIC TRANSIT.
IT IS VITAL FOR OUR ECONOMY AND
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. WE HAVE
COLLECTIVELY INVESTED BILLIONS
TO GET OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM TO
THIS POINT AND WE HAVE SPENT
BILLIONS. WE WILL SPEND BILLIONS
MORE IN THE NEXT DECADES
EXPANDING IT. ALL THAT
INVESTMENT IS PLACED IN JEOPARDY
OF PASSENGERS DON'T FEEL SAFE
USING PUBLIC TRANSIT OR
EMPLOYEES DON'T FEEL SAFE
OPERATING AND MAINTAINING IT. WE
HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO
MAKE WHATEVER CHANGES AND
INVESTMENTS ARE NEEDED TO
RESTORE ORDER AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ON AND AROUND PUBLIC TRANSIT.
EVERY MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBER,
POLICE CHIEF, PROSECUTOR,
COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL
POLITICIAN SHOULD COMMIT TO
HELPING MAKE TRANSIT SAFER FOR
THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO USE AND
OPERATE. WE NEED TO END THE
FINGER-POINTING AND START
WORKING TOGETHER. UP UNTIL A FEW
YEARS AGO IF YOU CREATED A
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE ON PUBLIC
TRANSIT , TRANSIT EMPLOYEE COULD
STOP, CALL, AND THE POLICE WOULD
SHOW UP AND REMOVE YOU AND
POSSIBLY TAKE YOU TO JAIL. SAME
IF YOU ARE CREATING A PUBLIC
ISSUE AT A BUS OWNER TRANSIT
CENTER. SOMEHOW WE STARTED TO
ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO ANYTHING ON
AND AROUND TRANSIT WITHOUT ANY
CONSEQUENCES OR ACCOUNTABILITY.
PEOPLE LEARNED THAT THEY COULD
ACT OUT, USE DRUGS, AND THREATEN
OPERATORS, TRANSIT WORKERS AND
PASSENGERS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.
THAT PENDULUM TOWARD TOTAL
LENIENCY IS NOW STARTING TO
SWING BACK THE OTHER WAY,
THANKFULLY, BUT WE NEED EVERY
CITY TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE CITIZEN S ' RIGHT TO
USE PUBLIC TRANSIT. IF IT IS
UNSAFE FOR A SENIOR CITIZEN TO
USE THE BUS STOP NEAR THE HOME,
THE PRESENT -- PROBLEM SHOULD
NOT FALL ON POLICE OFFICERS TO
SOLVE. IF SOMEONE IS THREATENING
PUBLIC TRANSIT OR VIOLENT --
VIOLENCE BREAKS OUT THERE
SHOULDN'T BE A 15 MINUTE OR
LONGER WAIT TO RECEIVE HELP. WE
SHOULD ALL WORK
RESTORE ORDER, SAFETY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT
AND IN TRANSIT JONES. ALL POLICE
JURISDICTIONAL AGREEMENTS,
DISPUTES AND LAWS WHETHER IT IS
IN A BUS ZONE OR AWAY FROM IT ,
SHOULD NOT ABSOLVE ANYONE
DEALING WITH A SAFETY ISSUE. WE
SHOULD ALL WORK TOGETHER ON
TOUGHER LAWS AND PENALTIES FOR
VIOLENCE COMMITTED AGAINST
TRANSIT EMPLOYEES AND TRANSIT
PASSENGERS. WE SHOULD ALL WORK
TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE AND FIGHT
FOR MORE STATE AND FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR TRANSIT SAFETY AND
PUBLIC SAFETY IN GENERAL. THESE
SOCIETAL ISSUES ARE NOT EASILY
SOLVABLE BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
NOT MAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT SAFER.
BILLIONS OF TRANSIT DOLLARS
INVESTED , AND OUR QUALITY OF
LIFE ARE LITERALLY AT STAKE.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE UP UNTIL NOW
IS NOT WORKING, AND IN ACTION IS
NOT AN OPTION. ATU LOCAL 587 AND
ITS THOUSANDS OF UNION MEMBERS
OFTEN FEEL LIKE WE ARE THE ONLY
ONES ADVOCATING FOR THE SAFETY
OF CITIZENS WHO NEED AND USE
PUBLIC TRANSIT. WE ARE HERE
TODAY TO ASK THE CITY OF SEATTLE
TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COUNTY
TO HELP PROVIDE A SAFER TRANSIT
EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR CITIZENS AND
THEIR CONSTITUENTS. OUR UNION
WILL ASK THE SAME OF EVERY CITY
AND KING COUNTY NEXT MONTH AT A
COUNTY-WIDE TASK FORCE ON
TRANSIT SAFETY THAT ARE UNION
DEMANDED AND HAS HELPED
ORGANIZE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
ORGANIZING THIS ROUNDTABLE AND
ALLOWING OUR UNION TO HAVE A
VOICE IN THIS IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY, AND
THANK YOU , TRANSIT COMMITTEE
FOR HAVING AND HOSTING THIS
ROUNDTABLE AND BRINGING THIS
GROUP OF LEADERS TOGETHER TO
BEGIN THAT DISCUSSION TO BE ABLE
TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS.
PRESIDENT WOODFILL IS CORRECT.
IT'S OUR COMMUNITY. ELDERLY
COMMUTERS NEED TO FEEL SAFE.
THEY HAVE PAID THE MOST INTO THE
SYSTEM. WE NEED OUR CHILDREN TO
BE ABLE TO RIDE THE BUSES. I
RODE THE BUSES IN 1971 TO SCHOOL
. IT WAS SCARY THEN AND IT'S A
LOT SCARIER NOW. THESE SAFETY
ISSUES ARE CAUSING US NOT TO
HAVE SERVICE . IT IS CAUSING US
NOT TO HAVE RIDERSHIP . IT USED
TO BE WE WOULD GO BY SENIOR
CENTERS AND PICK THEM UP. THEY
KNEW THE BUS WAS RIGHT THERE.
NOW, IT IS NOT THE SAFEST TO GO
DOWN THE STREET AND INTO THE
ZONE BUT I BELIEVE AND I THANK
EVERYONE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS THIS, TO REALLY REACH
OUT TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES --
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, THE CITY OF
KENT. EVERYONE HAS TO PROTECT
THEIR TAXPAYERS THAT LIVE IN
THEIR CITY , GIVE THEM THE RIGHT
TO GET ON THE BUS AND USE THIS
GREAT TRANSIT SYSTEM WE GOT. WE
HAVE THE WORLD CUP COMING HERE.
THIS IS JUST THE PRACTICE THAT
WE HAVE TO HIT THAT GOAL . TO
OUR TRANSIT AMBASSADORS I WANT
TO THANK CITY OF SEATTLE. KING
COUNTY METRO [ INAUDIBLE ] SO
THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO
MORE CONVERSATIONS.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY. GREG WOODFILL AND KEN
PRICE ALREADY TOUCHED ON ALMOST
ALL OF THIS. I WOULD JUST LIKE
TO REITERATE THE FACT THIS IS
NOT JUST A TRANSIT OPERATOR OR
TRANSIT RIDER PROBLEM. THIS IS A
SOCIETAL PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE
NEEDS TO WORK ON TOGETHER. THIS
AFFECTS TRANSIT OPERATORS,
WRITERS, MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES
AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE
EMPLOYEES. OUR FACILITY
MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES ARE TRYING
TO CLEAN THE ZONES, TRYING TO
MAKE TRANSIT SAFER AND MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND THEY ARE
CONFRONTED WITH FOLKS WITH GUNS
AND KNIVES TELLING THEM THAT
THIS IS THEIR HOME AND THIS IS
THEIR PLACE AND THEY DON'T
BELONG HERE. THIS NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED AS A REGIONAL ISSUE,
AS A SOCIETAL ISSUE, NOT AS A
TRANSIT PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ATU. REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE HERE
AND I NOTE THAT VICE PRESIDENT
KEN PRICE IS THE IMMEDIATE PAST
PRESIDENT OF ATU BEFORE
PRESIDENT GREG WOODFILL TOOK
OVER SO THANK YOU, ATU. KING
COUNTY , WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR
THOUGHTS AND PERSPECTIVE. FEEL
FREE TO GO AHEAD AND START
SHARING YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AGAIN, I
AM MICHELLE ALLISON, GENERAL
MANAGER OF KING COUNTY METRO AND
MY COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO JOIN
ME IN THIS PRESENTATION SO THANK
YOU FOR INVITING US AND THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DISCUSS WHAT WE ARE DOING TO
HELP INVEST IN A SAFE, CLEAN AND
RELIABLE SYSTEM, WHICH IS
CERTAINLY AN INVESTMENT THE CITY
HAS BEEN PART OF, AS WELL. AS
YOU NOTED, COUNCILMEMBER , WE
DID TRAGICALLY LOSE OPERATOR
SHAWN YIM AT THE END OF DECEMBER
IN THAT ACT OF VIOLENCE . IT WAS
INCREDIBLY DISRUPTIVE FOR OUR
ORGANIZATION AND FOR THE CITY
AND FOR THE REGION THAT WE SERVE
AND SO WE WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE
AND RECOGNIZE OPERATOR SHAWN YIM
AND APPRECIATE HIS SERVICE AND
ALSO WE WILL CONTINUE TO
REMEMBER HIM IN YEARS TO COME
AND WE WILL USE THIS MOMENT TO
CERTAINLY MAKE CHANGE. TODAY
I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT METRO IS DOING WHEN
IT COMES TO OUR MODEL OF CARE
AND PRESENCE. METRO HAS
HISTORICALLY HAD A TRADITIONAL
PUBLIC SAFETY MODEL THAT
PRIMARILY RELIED ON METRO
TRANSIT POLICE OR TRANSIT
SECURITY OFFICERS ON FIRST-LINE
SUPERVISORS AND ALTHOUGH THOSE
COMPONENTS REMAIN IMPORTANT FOR
US WE NEED TO ENHANCE THE WAY WE
ARE DOING BUSINESS TO PROVIDE
MORE WAYS TO HAVE PRESENCE AND
CARE. ALTHOUGH WE ARE GOING TO
ALWAYS HAVE TRANSIT SECURITY OR
METRO TRANSIT POLICE AS PART OF
THIS DISCUSSION IN 2020, WE
LAUNCHED SAFETY, SECURITY AND
FAIR ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE.
THIS REFORM INITIATIVE CENTERED
BIPOC VOICES AND THOSE THAT
INTERSECT WITH MARGINALIZED AND
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE
GOAL IS TO EXPAND THE PRESENCE
AND SECURITY FUNCTIONS ON METRO
SO YOU WILL SEE HERE WE ADDED
SOME IMPORTANT COMPONENTS,
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT TEAMS
AND SAFE AMBASSADORS AND WE ARE
GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW THESE
FUNCTIONS TIME TOGETHER ON THE
SYSTEM TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES AND
WRITERS. FOLLOWING THE SAFE
REFORM INITIATIVE METRO EXPANDED
BEYOND THE PUBLIC SAFETY MODEL
WHICH WE NOW CALL OUR CARE AND
PRESENCE MODEL. IN ADDITION,
METRO STOOD UP THESE TWO
PROGRAMS THAT I NOTICED WHICH
ARE NEW FOR US SO WE HAVE LOTS
OF LEARNINGS AND ADJUSTMENTS WE
ARE GOING TO MAKE A LONG WAY BUT
THEY ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
COMPONENT OF HOW WE SHOW UP TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR FOLKS. WE
KNOW AS METRO TRANSIT CONTINUES,
WE NEED ALL THE TOOLS AVAILABLE
FOR US TO MATCH THE MOMENT AND
SOMETIMES THE MOMENT IS
PROVIDING A PAIR OF SOCKS OR
GRANOLA BAR OR INVITING SOMEONE
TO GO SEEK SHELTER SOMEWHERE
ALSO WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO
IS EXPAND THE TOOLS AVAILABLE
FOR US. NEXT SLIDE. A LITTLE BIT
OF CONTEXT ON WHERE WE ARE TODAY
AS WE NOTED, METRO IS [
INAUDIBLE ] SAFETY INCIDENTS AND
THEY HAPPEN ON A SYSTEM BUT THEY
ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. WHEN INCIDENTS OCCUR
EMPLOYEES CALL OUR TRANSIT
CENTER AND THIS CREATES A
COORDINATOR SERVICE RECORD.
THESE CSR S MIGHT NOT AFFECT
EVERY INCIDENT THAT OCCURS ON
THE SINCE SYSTEM BUT THEY ARE
ABLE TO HELP US SHOW TREND LINES
AND WHERE WE NEED TO INVEST
RESOURCES. ON THIS GRAPH YOU CAN
SEE CSR'S ARE PERMANENTLY IN
BOARDINGS. THERE MEASURED INTO
BENCH INCIDENT TRENDS BASED ON
RIDERSHIP LEVELS. METRO USES
THIS DATA TO REALLY LOCATE THE
TIMES OF DAY, THE REGIONS AROUND
OUR JURISDICTION TO DEPLOY OUR
RESOURCES, BOTH SECURITY AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT ACCORDINGLY. WITH
THIS APPROACH WE HAVE REDUCED
THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS FROM 243
FOR 1 MILLION BOARDING DURING
THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE
RATIO OF BOARDINGS TO WRITERS
WAS VERY DIFFERENT TO 71 IN
DECEMBER OF 2024 WHILE THIS
TREND LINE IS STABILIZING TO
PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS DUE TO
EFFORTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY, OUR
GOAL IS ZERO INCIDENTS, AND THAT
WILL REMAIN OUR GOAL. WE ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO REVIEW
TRENDS AND ADJUST DEPLOYMENT TO
RIGHT SIZE OUR RESOURCE AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR
PARTNERS INCLUDING YOU AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE ON THIS EFFORT.
AS YOU RIGHTLY NOTED,
COUNCILMEMBER, ONE OF THE
ASPECTS OF OUR SYSTEM IS WE NEED
TO ELEVATE AND REQUEST BETTER
BEHAVIOR, AND ENFORCE BEHAVIOR
THAT IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
OUR TRANSIT CODE OF CONDUCT AND
BE CLEAR TO OUR RIDERS ABOUT
WHAT WE WILL TOLERATE THEM BUT
WE WILL NOT HONOR SYSTEM IN ONE
OF THE WAYS WE ARE DOING THIS IS
RESETTING RIDER EXPECTATIONS. WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
STRENGTHENING SHARED
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT IS AND
IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ON TRANSIT.
WHILE OUR STANDARDS HAVE
REMAINED THE SAME WE HAVE
PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITIES TO
UNDERSTAND HOW TO BETTER
COMMUNICATE OUR CODE OF CONDUCT.
BEFORE, IT WAS VERY WORDY. IT
WAS HARD TO UNDERSTAND AND NOT
NECESSARILY PRESENTED
PROMINENTLY ON OUR SYSTEM SO THE
CHANGES WE MADE SIMPLIFY OUR
MESSAGE AND ENSURE THAT OUR CODE
OF CONDUCT AND PRIORITIES ARE
CLEAR. PAY THE RIGHT FAIR, BE
RESPECTFUL, DON'T HARASS THE
DRIVER OR THE RIDERS AND DON'T
SMOKE ANYTHING OF ANY KIND. DO
NOT DO DRUGS AND DO NOT DRINK
ALCOHOL. WE WILL ALL BE SEEING
THIS REVAMPED RIGHT RIGHT
CAMPAIGN OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS AND WE WILL BE
RELAUNCHING FAIR ENFORCEMENT. WE
ARE GOING TO START FARE
ENFORCEMENT WITH INSPECTIONS AND
AT THE END OF MAY WE WILL MOVE
TO FULL ENFORCEMENT. WHAT IS
METRO DOING FOR OUR OPERATORS?
WE EXPECT THE RIGHT RIGHT
CAMPAIGN WILL HELP IMPROVE
CONVERSATION AND EXPECTATIONS OF
OUR WRITERS BUT WE KNOW THAT IS
ONLY ONE PART OF OUR SOLUTION.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR BUS
OPERATORS AND LABOR PARTNERS
HERE TODAY ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED
TO IMPROVE THEIR SAFETY AND WE
ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM TO
ACCOMPLISH THOSE NEEDS. WE HAVE
HEARD THERE IS A NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL TRANSIT SECURITY IN
LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE
INVESTED IN TRANSIT SECURITY
OFFICERS, INCREASING THE NUMBER
FROM 70 IN 2022 TO 170 IN 2025
AND WE ARE INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF METRO TRANSIT POLICE DEPUTIES
FROM 79 TO 89 IN 2025. WE ARE
FINALIZING NEGOTIATIONS WITH
SDOT TO EXPAND THE ONE
MILLION-DOLLAR LEVY ENHANCEMENT
FOR TRANSIT SECURITY OFFICERS AS
WAS NOTED AND ONCE THAT
AGREEMENT IS FINALIZED WE CAN
DEPLOY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES OF DAY
WHEN WE NEEDED THE MOST, WHICH
IS OFTEN AT NIGHT, WHEN THERE
ARE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF
RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM THE
COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE
PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE ALSO HEARD
THAT OPERATORS WANT MORE SECURE
BARRIERS. WE ARE EXPEDITING A
PARTNERSHIP WIING NEW SaFE PART
THAT WILL BE LARGER AND
STRONGER, WITH BETTER MATERIALS
TO HELP ENSURE OUR DRIVER
SAFETY. WE'VE ALSO HEARD THAT
OPERATORS WANT ADDITIONAL
TRAINING TO BETTER EQUIP THE
DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT THEY ARE
WORKING AND SO WE HAVE REVAMPED
OUR EXISTING TRAINING PROGRAM
AND WE ARE ADDING TWO MORE
MODULES TO HELP ENSURE THAT OUR
OPERATORS AND OUR FRONT-LINE
WORKFORCE HAVE THE TOOLS NEEDED
FOR THE SERVICE THAT THEY ARE
DELIVERING. WE ARE OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THESE
EFFORTS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR
OPERATORS AND LABOR PARTNERS AND
WE KNOW THERE IS STILL A LOT OF
WORK UNDERWAY SO WE ARE ALSO
GOING TO KEEP COMING BACK TO
THIS QUESTION. ARE OUR
INVESTMENTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE?
WHAT CAN WE GIVE IT TO ENSURE A
STRONGER, MORE SUSTAINABLE
MOVEMENT FOR OUR SaFE, CLEAN AND
RELIABLE SYSTEM. TO THAT END
I'M GOING TO INVITE MAJOR TODD
MORRELL TO DESCRIBE MORE ABOUT
OUR IMPROVEMENTS AND HOW THAT
WORKS ON OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM.
>> THANKS, MICHELLE. AGAIN, TODD
MORRELL, CHIEF OF METRO TRANSIT
POLICE. I HAVE BEEN CHIEF OF
METRO TRANSIT POLICE SINCE 2023
COMING UP ON TWO YEARS NOW AND
IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME ON MY WAY
TO THIS MEETING THAT I AM THE
FIRST CHIEF TO HAVE OPERATIONAL
EXPERIENCE. I SERVED AS A BIKE
SURGEON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
WITH METRO TRANSIT POLICE. I
THINK IT GIVES ME A UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN
BOTH SIDES SO LET'S TALK ABOUT
OPERATION SaFE TRANSIT BUT
BEFORE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT WE
NEED TO GO BACK IN THE TIME
MACHINE. WE NEED TO GO BACK TO
2020. WHY DO WE NEED OPERATION
SaFE TRANSIT? SO, WE LOOK BACK
AND WE HAD A LOT OF THINGS GOING
ON. WE HAD THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, A LOT OF
THINGS GOING ON. WHAT THAT DID
FOR YOUR DEPUTIES AT THE METRO
TRANSIT POLICE IS ESSENTIALLY
ELIMINATED BOOKING AS AN OPTION
FOR ALL MISDEMEANORS AND THAT
HAS ENCOMPASSED THE UNLAWFUL
TRANSIT CONDUCT. BASICALLY
EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE MOST
EGREGIOUS FELONIES WERE NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR BOOKING. CHAIR SAKA
BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF HIS
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WHILE
WRITING TRANSIT AND I THANK YOU
FOR SHARING THOSE. PRIOR TO SaFE
TRANSIT AS ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER I WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD
AN OPTION FOR THAT PERSON.
OBVIOUSLY AS THE CHIEF THAT IS
CREATING A LOT OF FRUSTRATION.
IT'S CREATING FRUSTRATION FOR
OUR COLLEAGUES, FRUSTRATION FOR
OUR RIDERSHIP, FRUSTRATION FOR
DEPUTIES BECAUSE AT THE END OF
THE DAY WE ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS
AND HIRED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
THROUGH A MYRIAD OF WAYS.
OPERATION SaFE TRANSIT STARTED
AND WE LOOK THROUGH PAST DOES
THAT THROUGH A LAW ENFORCEMENT
END -- LENS IF WE COME UP AND
SAY FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT LENS
THAT DOESN'T RESONATE. IT'S
PRETTY MYOPIC SO IT WAS VERY
IMPORTANT TO US THAT THIS WAS AN
AGENCY-LED INITIATIVE MEANING
THAT SOUND TRANSIT AND METRO
NEEDED TO BE THE ONES TO
CHAMPION THIS AS OPPOSED TO
THEIR RESPECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICES SO WITH THE GENESIS OF
OPERATION SaFE TRANSIT BROUGHT
TOGETHER KING COUNTY METRO,
SOUND TRANSIT OBVIOUSLY THE
METRO TRANSIT POLICE FALLS UNDER
THE PURVIEW OF THE SHERIFF, THE
DEPARTMENT OF ADULT AND JUVENILE
DETENTION, KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND IT
BROUGHT US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE
AND TO BREAK IT DOWN WAS WE
UNDERSTAND. WE UNDERSTAND THE
PHILOSOPHY OF THE COUNTY. WE
UNDERSTAND METRO'S DRIVING
PHILOSOPHY. WHEN EVERYTHING HAS
FAILED, WHEN ATTEMPTS TO MODIFY
BEHAVIOR, TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE
PROVIDERS, TO OFFER RESOURCES,
WHEN ALL THAT HAS FAILED THERE
HAS TO BE A CRIMINAL JUSTICE
BACKSTOP. AT THE END OF THE DAY
WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A
CULTURE OF ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
AND WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THAT
CRIMINAL JUSTICE BACKSTOP , WHAT
WAS MANIFESTING '21 THROUGH '23
WAS WE WALKED AWAY. WE HAD NO
OTHER OPTIONS. WE HAVE EXHAUSTED
ALL OF THE RESOURCES. I HAVE NO
ABILITY TO TAKE YOU ANYWHERE SO
WITH THAT WE ALL GOT IN
AGREEMENT WITH THE AGENCIES
LISTED ABOVE THERE AND ON MAY
1st WE LAUNCHED IT. THIS WAS
INTENDED TO BE A BETA TEST FROM
MAY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 1 WE WOULD
TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF
THIS WAS A PROGRAM WORTH
ADOPTING. IT TOOK EXACTLY 30
DAYS BEFORE IT WAS ADOPTED IN
FULL. AN IMPORTANT NOTE IS THAT
OPERATION SaFE TRANSIT WAS
INITIALLY DESIGNED JUST FOR
THIRD AVENUE FOR THE DOWNTOWN
CORRIDOR. WITH THAT FULL
ADOPTION IN JUNE OF 2024, IT
EXPANDED SYSTEM-WIDE. THE INTENT
OF OPERATION SaFE TRANSIT IS TO
REINSTATE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
BACKSTOP. I'M NOT HERE TO
ADVOCATE THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO
GO TO JAIL FOR EVERYTHING ALL
THE TIME. WHAT I DO ADVOCATE FOR
US WHEN WE ARE UNABLE TO CHANGE
THAT BEHAVIOR AND EVERY OTHER
OPTION HAS FAILED , YOUR
DEPUTIES NEED THAT OPTION. THEY
NEED THE TOOL TO REMOVE THAT
BEHAVIOR FROM OUR SYSTEM. WE
WILL ALWAYS SEEK THE LOWEST
LEVEL OF POLICE INTERVENTION TO
RESOLVE THE SITUATION. WE ARE
THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AT
MOVING POPULATIONS. WE ARE
WELL-VERSED IN EDUCATION. WE
WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH COMMUNITY
SERVICE PROVIDERS. WE ARE FIRST
IN THOSE DISCIPLINES. WHEN ALL
ELSE HAS FAILED WE NEED TO GO
BACK TO THAT CONVENTIONAL
CRIMINAL JUSTICE METRIC. AGAIN
WE ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A
CULTURE OF ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
ON OUR SYSTEM. WHAT OPERATION
SaFE TRANSIT IS NOT IS ARRESTING
OUR WAY OUT OF THE PROBLEM.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO TAKE
EVERYONE TO JAIL FOR EVERYTHING
ALL OF THE TIME. THIS IS ABOUT
ADDRESSING THE MOST EGREGIOUS
BEHAVIOR WHEN WE HAVE NO
CONFIDENCE THAT THE BEHAVIOR
WILL CEASE OR MODIFY. WE ARE NOT
CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS. WE
ARE NOT CRIMINALIZING POVERTY.
MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, PEOPLE WHO ARE
SEEKING HELP AND WANT TO BE
CONNECTED WITH HELP YOUR
COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE
PROVIDERS 100%. WE ARE THERE TO
MAKE THAT CONNECTION. WHAT ARE
THE RESULTS OF THIS. SINCE
IMPLEMENTED, WE HAVE JUST
CROSSED THE THRESHOLD TODAY. 475
ARRESTS FOR CRIMES ON OUR
SYSTEM. 475 ARRESTS SOUNDS LIKE
A LOT WHEN YOU BALANCE AGAINST
THE QUARTER MILLION PEOPLE WE
WERE -- MOVE PER DAY IT BOUNCES
OUT TO 1.4 PER DAY. WHAT IS
PROACTIVE ACTIVITY? THAT IS YOUR
DEPUTIES BE EMPOWERED TO DO
THEIR JOB AND KNOWING THAT THEY
HAVE A MYRIAD OF OPTIONS BUT
WHEN EVERYTHING HAS FAILED, THEY
CAN STILL USE THAT CRIMINAL
JUSTICE BACKSTOP. A 400%
INCREASE IN TRANSIT RESOURCE
OFFICER UNIT, THOSE ARE SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERTS FOR DIVERSION,
FOR ALTERNATIVE RESOLUTIONS IN
CONNECTION WITH OUR
COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE
PROVIDERS.
>> CHIEF MAURO, -- MOREL , THIS
IS EXCELLENT INFORMATION. I'M
GOING TO ASK TO MOVE THIS ALONG.
WE HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE AND A LOT
OF SPEAKERS, LIMITED TIME. BUT,
YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS WELCOME AND
VALUED. IT IS WHITE YOUR HERE
BUT PLEASE MOVE THIS ALONG ON
THE KING COUNTY SIDE.
>> SURE. TOO CLOSE, WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION
THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THIS IS A
REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH
PARTNERS THAT EXTEND BEYOND
METRO AND BEYOND ATU SO WE ARE
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS OF THE
TASK FORCE THAT WILL BE MEETING
LATER NEXT MONTH AND ALSO AN
OPEN INVITATION TO ANY AND ALL
OF OUR PARTNERS TO CONTINUE TO
EXPLORE WAYS WE CAN COLLABORATE
TOGETHER TO MOVE THE NEEDLE AND
HELP SERVE THE PEOPLE OF OUR
REGION. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. SOUND
TRANSIT. GO AHEAD. PLEASE
REINTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SHARE
YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING AGAIN
, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MOISES GUTIERREZ AND I SERVE AS
DEPUTY CEO AND AGENCY OVERSIGHT
OPERATOR AT SOUND TRANSIT. I DO
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
INVITATION TO BE PART OF THIS
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TODAY. I
WOULD BEGIN BY NOTING THAT
THOUGH WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY
ONGOING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE
SAFETY ON BOARD OUR TRAINS AND
BUSES, WE KNOW THERE IS STILL A
LOT MORE WORK TO DO . THANK
EIGHT'S KILLING SO PAINFULLY
REMINDS US AS WELL AS THE
INCIDENTS FROM YESTERDAY. WHILE
I AM HERE PRIMARILY TO SHARE OUR
PROGRESS I'M ALSO VERY
COGNIZANT OF THIS DISCUSSION
OCCURRING IN THE WAKE OF ONGOING
CHALLENGES AND I WANT TO STATE
AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE THAT THE
SAFETY OF OUR PASSENGERS,
OPERATORS AND BROADER COMMUNITY
IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AT
SOUND TRANSIT. AND, WE ARE
APPROACHING THESE ISSUES ON TWO
PARALLEL TRACKS THAT BALANCE
FAST AND EFFECTIVE INCIDENT
RESPONSE ON THE ONE HAND AND
PREVENTION AND EDUCATION ON THE
OTHER. IN TERMS OF INCIDENT
RESPONSE, WE ARE SEEING STRONG
RESULTS FROM THE SIGNIFICANT
INCREASE OF SECURITY OFFICERS W
E
ONGOING CONCERNS ON BOARD THE
SYSTEM. FOR THOSE WATCHING, THE
NUMBER TO TEXT OR CALL IS 206
398-5268 . AGAIN, 206-398-5268.
AND, WE HAVE SET AN AMBITIOUS
GOAL THAT IF A PASSENGER
MESSAGES US LEAVING ONE TRAIN
STATION, A SECURITY GUARD WILL
BE ABLE TO BOARD AND ADDRESS THE
ISSUE BY THE TIME THIS TRAIN
REACHES THE FOLLOWING STATION.
WE ARE WORKING TO BUILD ON THE
SUCCESS IN THE COMING YEAR BY
ROLLING OUT AN EXPANDED
EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR
PASSENGERS TO UTILIZE THE TOOL
AND WE HAVE ALSO SEEN GENERAL
IMPROVEMENT IN SECURITY
INCIDENTS, THOUGH SOME OF THIS
COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO RIDERSHIP
GROWTH ITSELF, IMPROVING
SECURITY OUTCOMES, IS HAVING
MORE EYES ON BOARD HAS ITS OWN
WELL-KNOWN DETERRENT EFFECT.
LASTLY WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON
STATION ACTIVATION WHICH
INCLUDES INCREASED LIGHTING AND
CLEANLINESS, DE-ESCALATION
TRAINING, AS WELL AS
COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION WITH
OUR PARTNERS. I DO ALSO WANT TO
CREDIT SOME OF THIS IMPROVEMENT
TO OUR SUCCESSFUL IN GROWING
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WHICH
BALANCES COMPLIANCE WITH
PASSENGER EDUCATION AND FOCUSES
FIRST AND FOREMOST ON CUSTOMER
SERVICE AND DE-ESCALATION. WE
ARE ALSO PILOTING MOVING MANY OF
THESE AMBASSADORS FROM ONBOARD
THE TRAINS TO THE STATION
PLATFORMS AND THE ENTRANCE
POINTS OF THE STATIONS,
COORDINATING WITH OUR SECURITY
OFFICERS AND PARTNERS AT KING
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SO THAT
WE CAN ADDRESS POTENTIAL ISSUES
BEFORE THEY ENTER THE SYSTEM. I
WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT WE ARE
INVESTING STRONGLY IN
DATA-INFORMED RESOURCE
DEPLOYMENT SO THAT WE CAN BETTER
TARGET RESOURCES AND MITIGATION
TO SPECIFIC ISSUES AND CONCERNS
AT SPECIFIC FACILITIES OR
ROUTES. FINALLY, BEFORE GOING TO
THE NEXT SLIDE, IF WE CONTINUE
TO EXPAND THE SYSTEM SO TOO WILL
THE NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES WITH WHOM WE WILL
COORDINATE . PARTNERSHIPS WITH
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL
CONTINUE TO BE CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT FOR ADDRESSING AND
IMPROVING THE SECURITY
ENVIRONMENT OF TRANSIT SYSTEMS.
BUILDING FURTHER ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIPS, AND
I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF, AS AN
ORIGINAL AGENCY WE DO WORK
ACROSS MANY JURISDICTIONAL
BOUNDARIES , SAFETY AND BORDER
SYSTEM WILL REFLECT WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITIES WE
SERVE, AS WAS NOTED. WE ARE ALL
IN THIS TOGETHER AS WE ARE HERE
AT THE TABLE. IN COLLABORATION
WE CONTINUE TO BE CRITICAL TO
OUR SUCCESS. I WILL HIGHLIGHT A
COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. AS YOU WILL
KNOW , AS MANY KNOW, SOUND
TRANSIT CONTRACTS WITH KING
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN OUR FACILITIES.
OUR STAFF ALSO COORDINATE WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND KING
COUNTY TO REMOVE GRAFFITI. YOU
CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE IN THE
PRESENTATION. THE PICTURES TO
THE LEFT AND RIGHT ARE OF THE
STATION AREA NEAR THE PIONEER
SQUARE STATION AND RELATIVE TO
STATION ACTIVATION IN THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS, SOUND TRANSIT
HAS UPDATED ITS POLICY TO
INCLUDE THE DOWNTOWN TRANSIT
SEATTLE TUNNEL. AFTER A
SUCCESSFUL PILOT LAUNCHED WITH
SEATTLE PARKS IN 2023, THE SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD ADDED FUNDING TO
HAVE BUSKERS THIS YEAR AT
VARIOUS DOWNTOWN STATIONS. THIS
YEAR I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE PROVIDED AN
ADDITIONAL $500,000 FOR
ADDITIONAL STATION ACTIVATION
PARTNERSHIP. THE FOURTH ITEM,
SOUND TRANSIT IS PARTNERING WITH
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY METRO TO ACTIVATE THIRD
AVENUE AS PART OF THE MAYOR'S
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN AND WE
ARE ALSO PARTNERING WITH KING
COUNTY CHICKS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A PILOT
THIS STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO FOCUSED ON PASSENGERS
EXPERIENCING MENTAL DISTRESS.
BASED ON 2024 DATA, WE ARE
SEEING PROGRESS BEING MADE AS A
PROGRAM HAD OVER 8000 CONTACTS
AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT MANY
OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH
SERVICE PROVIDERS. I WILL FINISH
BY STATING THAT PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION ARE CENTRAL TO OUR
COLLECTIVE SUCCESS. WE
UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY IS A
COMMUNITY ENDEAVOR AND SOUND
TRANSIT IS COMMITTED TO BEING A
POSITIVE, THOUGHTFUL AND
COLLABORATIVE MEMBER OF THIS
COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE LIVE,
WORK, AND SERVE . I WILL CLOSE
BY RESTATING WHAT I SAID AT THE
START, THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR
PASSENGERS, OPERATORS AND
BROADER COMMUNITY IS OUR NUMBER
ONE PRIORITY. AGAIN, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART
OF THIS CONVERSATION AND THAT
CONCLUDES THIS PORTION OF THE
PRESENTATION.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU, SOUND
TRANSIT PARTNERS. NEXT UP IS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND I SHOULD
ALSO NOTE, VICE-CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH HAS JOINED US IN
PERSON. WELL, VICE-CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. CITY OF SEATTLE,
LET'S START OFF WITH CENTRAL
STAFF . THERE WAS AN UPDATED
VERSION OF THIS COLLEAGUES AND
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THERE IS
AN UPDATED VERSION OF THIS
PRESENTATION THAT WAS EMAILED TO
YOU, COLLEAGUES, THIS MORNING,
THAT WAS A LITTLE MORE UP TO
DATE, MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN
WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON
THE AGENDA A FEW DAYS AGO, SO
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS
VERSION AND AGAIN, YOU ALL
COLLEAGUES SHOULD HAVE COPIES OF
THIS THAT WERE CIRCULATED TO YOU
EARLIER VIA EMAIL. CAL , GO
AHEAD.
>> CALVIN CHOW, CENTRAL STAFF.
CHAIR, THANK YOU REQUESTED IT
HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE RECENT
SEATTLE LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
RELATED TO TRANSIT SAFETY
SECURITY THE FIRST IS IN PART OF
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY VOTERS
APPROVED LAST YEAR. YOU INCLUDED
$9 MILLION OVER EIGHT YEARS OF
THE LEVY TO SUPPORT TRANSIT AND
PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL SERVICES
FOR RIDER SAFETY AND SECURITY .
AS PART OF THE 2025 BUDGET YOU
INCLUDED $1 MILLION TO SUPPORT
KING COUNTY TRANSIT CENTER
AMBASSADORS PROGRAM AND KING
COUNTY CHICKS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
TEAM DEPLOYED ON TRANSIT POLICE
.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
CONVEYING US TO SPEAK ABOUT
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS
IMPORTANT TOPIC OF TRANSIT
OPERATOR SAFETY. WE REGULARLY
WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS
AT METRO AND SOUND TRANSIT TO
PROVIDE SaFE AND RELIABLE
EXPERIENCE ON TRANSIT. SDOT
LEADS WITH SAFETY IN ALL OUR
WORK. WE INVEST IN TRANSIT
PASSENGER SAFETY IN A VARIETY OF
WAYS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR
VISION THAT SEATTLE IS AN
EQUITABLE, VIBRANT AND DIVERSE
CITY WHERE MOVING AROUND IS
SaFE, FAIR, AND SUSTAINABLE. AS
A BASELINE, THERE ARE TWO
PRIMARY WAYS SDOT SUPPORTS
PASSENGER SAFETY. HER PRIMARY
AREA OF SERVICES MAKING PHYSICAL
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY. WE BUILD
SIDEWALKS, SaFE CROSSINGS NEAR
TRANSIT STOPS AND IMPROVE BUS
STOP SO PEOPLE WALKING OR
ROLLING CAN SAFELY CONNECT TO
TRANSIT. WE CONTRIBUTE TO
PASSENGER SAFETY THROUGH OUR
SERVICE THROUGH SADDLE TRANSIT
MEASURE. SEM FUNDS IMPROVEMENTS
FOR EMERGING NEEDS. A PORTION OF
AMOUNTS PAID GOES TOWARD METRO
TRANSIT SECURITY COSTS. STM ALSO
FUNDS SEATTLE'S STREETCAR AND
SECURITY EFFORTS . IN ADDITION
TO THIS EXPENSIVE BASELINE
INVESTMENT LEVELS, SDOT IS
INCREASING INVESTMENT LEVELS
THROUGH THE RECENT PASSING OF
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY WHICH
INCLUDES ANOTHER 9 MILLION FOR
TRANSIT PASSENGER SAFETY WITH 1
MILLION SET ASIDE TO IMPROVE
TRANSIT SECURITY AT HOTSPOTS.
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IS ALSO
COMING FROM STM TO EXPAND
METRO'S TRANSIT PROGRAM IN
SEATTLE. THIS INVESTMENT BEGAN
IN 2024 AND WILL CONTINUE WITH A
1 MILLION INVESTMENT THIS YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE. STM PURCHASES
ADDITIONAL TRANSIT SERVICE FROM
KING COUNTY METRO. THAT MEANS
PAYING FOR SECURITY AND SAFETY
COST ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE
INVESTMENTS INCLUDING THE
PORTION ALL CONTRIBUTIONS TO
METRO TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY PROGRAM COSTS. THROUGH
STM SDOT ALSO INVESTED TRANSIT
AMBASSADORS TO PROVIDE CARE AND
PRESENCE ON METRO COACHES AND
NEAR BUS STOPS. IN 2024 SDOT
INVESTED OVER 200,000 TO SERVE
LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL DISTRICT,
RAINIER AVENUE AND SEATTLE
CENTER DOWNTOWN. FOR 2025 SDOT
IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH TWO TO
THREE TRANSIT AMBASSADOR
LOCATIONS BY QUARTER TWO OF THIS
YEAR IN ADDITION TO THE THREE
AREAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2024. AS
NOTED PREVIOUSLY, THE 2024
TRANSPORTATION LEVY DEDICATED 9
MILLION TO PASSENGER SAFETY. THE
2025 BUDGET SETS ASIDE 1 MILLION
IN LEVY FUNDS DEDICATED TO
TRANSIT SECURITY INVESTMENTS BUT
PRIORITIZING, EXECUTING AN
AGREEMENT WITH METRO TO
IMPLEMENT THIS MILLION, WE ARE
WORKING VERY CLOSELY TO
DETERMINE POTENTIAL INVESTMENTS.
INVESTMENTS BEING CONSIDERED
WOULD EXPAND SECURITY OFFICER
PRESENCE IN PLACES LIKE THIRD
AVENUE JACKSON STREET CORRIDORS.
THIS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED SIX
WEEKS AFTER A CONTRACT HAS BEEN
SIGNED WHICH WE ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF FINALIZING. THE CITY
OF SEATTLE OWNS THE SEATTLE
STREETCAR, WHICH CONSISTS OF TWO
LINES, FIRST HILL AND SOUTH LAKE
UNION. METRO OPERATES AND
MAINTAINS THE SEATTLE STREETCAR
PER CONTRACT WITH SDOT. SINCE
2021, SDOT HAS WORKED WITH METRO
TO FUND AND TO PLAY PRIVATELY
CONTRACTED TRANSIT SECURITY
OFFICERS ON STREETCAR SERVICES
24 HOURS A DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
ACROSS BOTH LINES. THE TRANSIT
SECURITY OFFICERS AND STREETCAR
SUPERVISORS ENHANCAND SAFETY BY
SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE WITH THE
STREETCAR'S CODE OF CONDUCT,
WHICH IS THE SAME AS METRO'S.
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, SDOT
ELECTRICIANS HAVE BEEN
INSTALLING ENHANCED LIGHTING TO
STREETCAR SHELTERS SYSTEMWIDE TO
SUPPORT PASSENGER SAFETY AND
COMFORT. WE ANTICIPATE TO
FINALIZE THE EIGHT STREETCAR
SHELTERS WITH ENHANCEMENT THIS
YEAR. THE PRIMARY WAY SDOT
INVEST IN PASSENGER SAFETY IS BY
MAKING CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THAT
CREATE SAFER PASSENGER CROSSING,
WAITING AREAS AND STREETS NEAR
TRANSIT STOPS, MAKING IT SAFER
AND EASIER TO ACCESS TRANSIT.
WHILE THIS TYPE OF CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS ARE IMPLEMENTED FROM
A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, ONE
PROGRAM THAT IS SPECIFICALLY
AIMED TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS
IS THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY
FUNDED TRANSIT SPOT IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM. THE LEVY INCLUDES 27
MILLION FOR THIS PROGRAM WHICH
ALSO MAKES ROADWAY CHANGES TO
MAKE TRANSIT TRIPS SAFER AND
MORE RELIABLE. TRANSIT SPOT
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS INCLUDE
PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING , BUSES ON
EXPANSION , BUS BENCHES,
CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS. THIS
MAKES PASSENGER STOPS MORE
VIABLE AND PROMOTES A FEELING OF
SAFETY FOR RIDERS. THE NEXT
SLIDE I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE
OUR CHIEF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER
, NATALIE WALTON-ANDERSON, TO
SPEAK ABOUT THE EFFORT THAT IS
UNDERWAY.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
AGAIN, NATALIE WALTON-ANDERSON,
CHIEF OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS AND CHAIR
SAKA FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT YOU TODAY. AGAIN THE
PRIORITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY, SaFE
STREETS AND SaFE CITY FOR ALL.
THIS INCLUDES OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM
THAT RUNS THROUGH THE CORE OF
OUR CITY AND WE WANT TO ENSURE
THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION WITH KING COUNTY
METRO SOUND TRANSIT TO ADDRESS
SAFETY CONCERNS FOR NOT ONLY
TRANSIT EMPLOYEES AND OPERATORS
BUT ALL OF OUR RIDERS THAT THEY
HAVE SaFE ACCESS TO THE CITY TO
WORK, VISIT AND ENJOY ARTS AND
CULTURE. UNDER MAYOR HAROLD THE
PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM HAS BEEN
WORKING ON INITIATIVES TO
SUPPORT A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN TO
REVITALIZE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
WITH AN ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY ,
HOLISTIC, COORDINATED APPROACH
AND ALSO A PLACE-BASED APPROACH.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM IS WHOLLY
INVESTED IN COORDINATING ALL OF
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSES TO
SUPPORT INVESTMENTS THAT SDOT
HAS MADE TO INCREASE PRESENCE ON
TRANSIT WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING
AS DIRECTOR AND WE JUST SPOKE
ABOUT IN TERMS OF HIRING TRANSIT
AMBASSADORS AND METRO TRANSIT
SECURITY. THERE ARE SEVERAL
DIFFERENT SAFETY INITIATIVES THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS PUT FORWARD
AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEM IN
THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT. I THINK
FIRST OF ALL , IT'S GOING TO
TAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
RESPONSES AND RESOURCES TO
ADDRESS THIS MULTI-DIMENSIONAL
ISSUE WE ARE FACING IN NOT ONLY
OUR CITY BUT OUR COUNTY AND OUR
REGION. WE HAVE EXPANDED THE
HIRING OF OUR CARE CRISIS
RESPONDER TEAM . THAT EXPANSION
REALLY GETS TO THE HEART OF SOME
OF THE ISSUES THAT I KNOW A LOT
OF OUR OPERATORS AND DRIVERS
SEE, INDIVIDUALS WITH
SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH
CONCERNS AND THE CARE EXPANSION
REALLY DOES HELP TO ADDRESS SOME
OF THOSE ISSUES BEFORE THEY
REACH TRANSIT. IN ADDITION TO
THAT, WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK
ON HIRING WITH OUR NUMBERS
CURRENTLY. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE MORE
THAT INCREASES. IN ADDITION TO
THAT WE ARE ALSO HYPER FOCUSED
ON RETENTION OF OUR OFFICERS
THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE. SOME
OTHER CITY SAFETY INITIATIVES TO
SUPPORT AGAIN THE INVESTMENTS
SDOT HAS MADE IN TERMS OF
TRANSIT SECURITY AS OUR DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION TEAM. THIS IS A PILOT
WITHOUT AN END DATE BUT I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION TEAM IS DOING IN
TERMS OF SAFETY RESPONSES. FIRST
OF ALL IT IS A COMBINATION OF AT
LEAST 15 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
MAYOR HARRELL HAS SAID EVERY
CITY DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. IT IS ALL OF
OUR JOBS TO ENSURE THAT SO WE
ARE STARTING WITH A COORDINATED
APPROACH BETWEEN OR DEPARTMENTS
AND THAT INCLUDES AN ENFORCEMENT
STRATEGY. CHIEF TODD MORRELL
MENTIONED EARLIER OPERATION SaFE
TRANSIT. IN ADDITION TO THAT
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES
OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
AND ESPECIALLY IN TRANSIT
CORRIDORS TO ADDRESS DRUG
TRAFFICKING AND OTHER ISSUES
RELATED TO CRIME. OUR DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION TEAM , SPU IS ONE OF
OUR LEAD AGENCIES ALONG WITH
SDOT TO HELP US ADDRESS SOME OF
THE VISUAL DISORDER THAT CAUSES
THE PERCEPTION THAT WE ARE NOT
ADDRESSING CRIME AND DISORDER IN
OUR CITY. THAT TEAM HAS STARTED
OUT IN THE THIRD PIKE PINE AREA
WITH A PILOT THERE TO ADDRESS
THAT. AS WE ALL KNOW THIRD
AVENUE IS ONE OF OUR MAIN
TRANSIT CORRIDORS WITHIN THE
CITY. WE ACTIVATED IN THE LITTLE
SAIGON NEVER HEARD OF THE CID
NOVEMBER 1st WHICH IS AN
INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING AND
SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND SECURITY
AREA NOT ONLY FOR OPERATORS,
DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS BUT FOR
MANY OF THE RESIDENTS WERE
THERE. WE ACTIVATED THE SAME
APPROACH IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING
THE VISUAL DISORDER BUT WE KNOW
THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. SIMILAR TO
WHAT MISS ALLISON WAS SAYING
EARLIER WE NEED A COORDINATED
AND HOLISTIC RESPONSE. THE
MAYOR'S'S OFFICE PUBLIC SAFETY
TEAM IS BEEN WORKING WITH CITY
CONTRACT COMMUNITY SERVICE
PROVIDERS SUCH AS LEED, WE
DELIVER CARE, REACH FOR A
COORDINATED RESPONSE TO DELIVER
MORE OUTREACH IN AND AROUND
THIRD AVENUE , THE LITTLE SAIGON
AREA AND TO REALLY UNDERSTAND
WHO IS IN THAT AREA AND WHAT ARE
THE NEEDS THAT ARE THERE. WE
HAVE NOW DEDICATED PUBLIC SAFETY
TREATMENT BEDS IN VALLEY CITY
AND ONE OF OUR OTHER LEAD
AGENCIES, SEATTLE FIRE, HAS BEEN
HELPING US ADDRESS SOME OF THE
WAYS WE CAN GET INDIVIDUALS INTO
SERVICE. WE HAVE SEEN DRAMATIC
REDUCTIONS IN THE SHORT TIME WE
HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED IN TERMS OF
PRIORITY ONE CALLS FOR SERVICE
AND WE HOPE THAT WILL IMPROVE
BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO KEEP
LOOKING AT WHAT THE ISSUE IS
BECAUSE IT IS NOT SOLVED AND
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WHAT MORE WE
CAN DO. WE KNOW ONE OF THE KEY
IS TO ACTIVATE OUR
HEALTHY AND VIBRANT
NEIGHBORHOODS MEANING THAT WE
HAVE TO HAVE HOLD OF THAT SPACE,
RESET THE NORMS IN ORDER TO
BRING IN MORE RESOURCES SUCH AS
BUSINESSES, ARTS, CULTURE TO BE
ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT. OUR GOAL
IS A PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE
VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD ECONOMIC
RECOVERY WHICH IS ALSO KEY AND
COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, THAT
INCLUDES EVERYONE. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAR THAT THE
MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S PUBLIC
SAFETY TEAM ARE MAKING EFFORTS
EVERY DAY AND ARE COGNIZANT OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES
THAT FACE OUR CITY, COUNTY AND
STATE. IT IS A PRIORITY FOR THE
MAYOR AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS
HERE FOR SaFE STREETS AND
RIDERSHIP FOR ALL. I WANT TO SAY
ONE THING I WANT TO THANK THE
ATU LOCAL 587 . I HAVE TAKEN
TRANSIT AS HAS MY FAMILY AND MY
THREE BOYS FOR YEARS. I SEE YOUR
DRIVERS AND YOUR OPERATORS EVERY
DAY EXHIBITING TREMENDOUS ACT TO
OF KINDNESS AND SERVICE AND
SHARE FOR OUR RIDERSHIP. THEY
FORM CONNECTIONS AND THAT
EXTENDS TO OUR AGING POPULATION
AND OUR YOUTH SO IT IS AN
INVALUABLE AND IMPACTFUL PUBLIC
SERVICE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ON BEHALF OF MAYOR HAROLD, WHO
COMMITS TO PARTNERING WITH YOU,
OUR CITY , COUNTIES, PARTNER
REGIONS.
>> THANK YOU. TO BE HONEST, LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, JON SCHOLES FROM
THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION. TO BE HONEST, BUT
FOR THE ADVOCACY OF ATU, WE HAVE
HAD THESE VARIOUS FOCUSED AND
SUSTAINED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE
TRANSIT SECURITY AND SAFETY FOR
ALL INCLUDING AT THE CITY LEVEL.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THOSE ARE.
THERE ARE EFFORTS ON GOING TO
IMPLEMENT THOSE, BUT FOR THE
LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY OF ATU I
DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE
COLLECTIVELY ORGANIZED AND EVEN
BE IN THIS POSITION WHERE
EVERYONE IS AT THE TABLE TODAY
SO I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP
AND ADVOCACY OF ATU. IT'S GOING
TO TAKE ALL OF US AND WE NEED TO
ALL COME TOGETHER SO , WHICH IS
WHY WE ARE HERE, SO THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. TSA. LAST BUT NOT
LEAST.
>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, JON SCHOLES
WITH THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION. APPRECIATE THE
GREAT LEADERSHIP AT THIS TABLE
CLEARLY MAKING PROGRESS TO
ENSURE WE HAVE A SAFER, MORE
WELCOMING TRANSIT SYSTEM ACROSS
OUR CITY AND REGION AND WE HAVE
HAD IN RECENT YEARS. GREAT
CITIES RELY ON GREAT TRANSIT
SYSTEMS, CERTAINLY DOWNTOWNS DO.
AND TRANSIT SYSTEMS, GREAT ONES
ARE ONES WHERE THE OPERATORS AND
THE RIDERS FEEL SaFE TO BOARD
AND OPERATE THOSE VEHICLES. WE
REPRESENT ABOUT 200, 2000,
EXCUSE ME, PROPERTY OWNERS AND
ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR GREATER
DOWNTOWN THAT UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM
WE WANT TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO
SHAWN YIM, HIS FAMILY, HIS
FRIENDS AND TO HIS COLLEAGUES.
HE WAS JUST DOING HIS JOB AND WE
RELY ON HIM DOING HIS JOB. WE
EMPLOY ABOUT 200 FOLKS THAT ARE
SHOWING UP HERE 362 DAYS A YEAR
TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN PUBLIC
AREAS INCLUDING AROUND TRANSIT
STATIONS . 90+ PERCENT OF THEM
ARE GETTING TO WORK EVERY DAY ON
THE BUS OR THE TRAIN. MY KIDS
ARE DAILY RIDERS. I WAS JUST
TRACKING MY SON. HE WAS ON HIS
WAY TO JEFFERSON TO GO HIT BALLS
AT THE BILL RIGHT COMPLEX . SO
MY KIDS ARE RIDERS. I AM A RIDER
AND GREAT CITIES RELY ON GREAT
TRANSIT AND DOWNTOWNS DON'T
WORK IF WE DON'T HAVE GREAT
TRANSIT SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT
YOU HAVE ALL DONE AND THANKS TO
THIS COUNSEL, THE ACTIONS YOU
ALL HAVE TAKEN OVER THE PAST
YEAR TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND SECURITY . WE GOT OFF COURSE
THERE MANY YEARS AGO AND I THINK
WE FOUND OURSELVES UNABLE AS A
COMMUNITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
THOSE THAT WERE HURTING AND NEED
HELP, FROM THOSE THAT ARE OUT
HURTING OTHER PEOPLE AND NEED TO
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND WE IN
MANY CASES CHOSE NOT TO
INTERVENE IN EITHER CASE THEN WE
SAW THE RESULTS OF THAT. MORE
PEOPLE SUFFERING, MORE PEOPLE
GETTING HURT AND MORE INCIDENTS
ON OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM AND WE ARE
ON A MUCH BETTER PATH NOW WHAT I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND THANKS TO THE
FOLKS AT THIS TABLE FOR THEIR
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND
PARTNERSHIP ON THIS IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO OPEN
IT UP FOR COUNCILMEMBER
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. RIGHT
NOW GIVING VICE-CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH RIGHT OF FIRST
REFUSAL TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS BUT BEFORE I DO THAT,
JUST WANT TO NOTE TWO QUICK
POINTS. ONE, PRESIDENT GREG
WOODFILL APTLY NOTED IN HIS
OPENING REMARKS THAT THERE WAS
ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE TRAGIC
INCIDENT ON OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM
YESTERDAY, SHOOTING IN ONE OF
OUR SOUTH COUNTY CITIES ON BOARD
A BUS AND YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS
STUFF UP. ON THE EVE OF THIS
IMPORTANT REGIONAL ROUNDTABLE,
TWO PEOPLE WERE SHOT INCLUDING
IT SOUNDS LIKE A 15-YEAR-OLD KID
. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, TOTALLY
OUT OF HAND AND THAT IS WHY IT
IS INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US TO
COME TOGETHER TO DO THIS WORK
TOGETHER. GOVERNMENTS PLAY A
CENTRAL ROLE AND THE OTHER POINT
I WANT TO MAKE AS GOVERNMENTS
PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE
SOLUTION. KING COUNTY, THE CITY,
SOUND TRANSIT, OTHER
JURISDICTIONS OUTSIDE OF THE
CITY , WE PLAY A LEADING ROLE
BUT WE DON'T PLAY THE ONLY
ROLE, EITHER. WE ALSO NEED
COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO
STEP UP. YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY
SOMETHING. IT IS NEVER
ACCEPTABLE TO BRING A GUN AND
FEEL LIKE YOU CAN OPENLY SHOOT
AT SOMEONE ON A BUS. IT IS NEVER
ACCEPTABLE TO STRIP STOLEN
COPPER WIRE ON A BUS. WE ARE
GOING TO RESET. LET IT BE KNOWN.
LET IT BE KNOWN. THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND REGIONAL PARTNERS
HERE TODAY ARE NOT TOLERATING
THAT ANYMORE. THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS NOT A SaFE SPACE TO
COME DO YOUR DIRT WHETHER IT IS
ON OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM, BUSES AND
TRAINS OR ON THE STREETS. THERE
USED TO BE SHAME IN THE GAME.
NOT ANYMORE. WE ARE TIRED OF IT
AND WE ARE FED UP AND WE ARE
GOING TO DO BETTER. AS ATU NOTED
, PRE-COVID, AND I THINK THERE
ARE SOME VALID REASONS WHY WE
ARE IN THIS SITUATION . NOW WE
NEED A COURSE CORRECT, BUT
PRE-COVID , APPROPRIATE
INTERVENTIONS WERE IN PLACE THAT
YES, INCLUDED LAW ENFORCEMENT
INTERVENTIONS. NOT THE ONLY
THING, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT
COMPONENT OF THE SOLUTION. WE
NEED A FULL SPECTRUM OF RESPONSE
AND TO MEET THE NEED, WHATEVER
THE NEED IS, WHETHER IT IS A
PAIR OF SOCKS AS CEO ALSO NOTED
YES, WE WILL GIVE PEOPLE PAIRS
OF SOCKS, WHATEVER IT IS. AND AS
A LAST RESORT IF NEEDED , A PAIR
OF SHINY HANDCUFFS AND ESCORT TO
JAIL FACILITY IF THAT IS THE
BEST SOLUTION. BUT, IT IS NOT A
SaFE SPACE ANYMORE TO COME DO
YOUR DIRT. IN ANY EVENT,
COMMUNITIES, INDIVIDUALS ALSO
NEED TO STEP UP. VICE-CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL BE SUPER
BRIEF. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR
PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. IT'S
REALLY GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT THE
CITY, THE COUNTY, OR DOWNTOWN
ASSOCIATION, CITY TRANSIT, ARE
RIDERS ASSOCIATION AND OUR
EXECUTIVE COMING TOGETHER TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SaFE
RIDING TRANSIT. I RIDE THE G
LINE MOST OF THE WEEK AND THOSE
RIDERS ARE PHENOMENAL SAYING HI
TO US, TALKING TO US THERE IS A
VIDEO BEING RECORDED ON THE BUS
THAT MAKES YOU FEEL SaFE . I
WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT CHIEF
MORAL, HIS POINT WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT HEY, YOU KNOW, WE
CAN CONNECT PEOPLE TO SERVICES
BUT WE ALSO NEED THE ABILITY TO
HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND TO
ARREST PEOPLE, BUT PEOPLE THEN
HOPEFULLY OUR JUDGES DO THEIR
JOB AND IT GOES BACK TO WHAT
JOHN, YOU SAID ABOUT THERE ARE
PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP THAT ARE
HURTING BUT VERSUS THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY HURTING
OTHERS AS WELL AND DRAWING THAT
LINE UP THAT DIFFERENCE AND I
THINK THAT IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT AS WE ARE
TRANSITIONING, YOU KNOW, OUT OF
THIS PANDEMIC AND RESETTING WHAT
OUR SOCIETY LOOKS LIKE AND
HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE IS
HUGE. MY MOM, I NEVER WANTED TO
GET A SPANKING AND I KNEW THAT
WAS AT THE END IF I DID
SOMETHING THAT I WAS GOING TO
GET A NICE LITTLE FLIPPING AND
SO JUST HAVING THAT ACCOUNTABLE
-- ACCOUNTABILITY PIECES
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND WE NEED
TO DO A RESET ON OUR SOCIETY SO
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER. I APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK YOU ARE DOING FOR OUR CITY,
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. YEAH, WE DON'T
WANT SMOKE FROM MAMA OR MY
FATHER. WAS AFRAID OF THOSE BUT
IT IS A CONSEQUENCE, WHATEVER
THE CONSEQUENCES. WE DON'T WANT
THAT. I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT. ALL
RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA AND
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING
OUT AND AS A MEMBER OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE BUT
ALSO AS CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE I WANT TO TAKE
KING COUNTY FOR BEING HERE,
SOUND TRANSIT AND THE EXECUTIVE
FROM CITY OF SEATTLE PLUS OUR
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. I WANT TO
EXTEND THE THANKS FOR JON
SCHOLES JOINING US WITH HIS
PERSPECTIVE BUT ESPECIALLY ON
THE SIDE IN TERMS OF THE ATU
LOCAL 587 I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO MEET MR. WOODFILL BEFORE AND
THIS IS OUR TIME TO STEP UP AND
APPRECIATE THE WORK AND
DEDICATION AND THOSE WHO WORK
FOR ATU LOCAL 587. THREE QUICK
POINTS. ONE, TRANSIT SAFETY AS
PART OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE
TRANSIT SAFETY POSTURE RELIES ON
THE BROADER PUBLIC SAFETY
POSTURE AND WE ALL HAVE
RESPONSIBILITIES HERE, TO
INCLUDE US HERE ON THIS DAIS. IT
IS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK
EVOLUTION AND WE DO NEED TO HAVE
THAT. ONE OTHER THING THAT I
WANT TO STATE QUITE CLEARLY IS
THAT ON THE QUESTION OF
ARTICULABLE HARM, MR. CHOW KNOWS
WHAT THIS TERM IS FROM OUR
PUBLIC USE AND POSSESSION BILL
OF 2023 . IN THAT BILL IT TALKS
ABOUT THREAT OF HARM TO OTHERS .
IN MY MIND, OTHERS CAN BE
DEFINED AS OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT
SYSTEMS AND FOR OUR PUBLIC
TRANSIT EXPERIENCES, HARM ON A
REGULAR BASIS, ON A DAILY BASIS
AND WAS TRAGICALLY WITH THE
DEATH OF MR. SHAWN YIM SO IT IS
CLEAR THAT THREAT OF HARM EXISTS
. WHICH TRANSITS TO , NO PUN
INTENDED, TO THE POINTS THAT
CHIEF MORAL FROM KING COUNTY
METRO POLICE CHIEF NOTED . WE
NEED TO LEAD AS I OFTEN SAY IN
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, LEAD
WITH COMPASSION FOR THOSE WHO
ARE IN NEED, FOR THOSE IN CRISIS
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE WISDOM
AS I OFTEN SAY TO LOOK OUT FOR
COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
AND THAT INCLUDES OUR PUBLIC
TRANSIT COMMUNITIES AND SO THE
POINT YOU MADE ABOUT BUCKING
RESTRICTIONS IS 110% TRUE AND AS
THE CHAIR NOTED YES, THERE MAY
BE SOME REASONS INITIALLY BUT IT
TOOK WAY TOO LONG FOR THE CHANGE
IN BOOKINGS I STILL IMPACTED FOR
REASONS I WON'T GO INTO HERE
BUT MAYBE IN A PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING WHEN CHIEF,
YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THAT AS
WELL SO MAYBE LOOKING AT IT FROM
OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY POSTURE
BECAUSE IT HAS THIS IMPACT AND
WE NEED TO, AS YOU SAID, HAVE
THAT BACKSTOP AND THE WAY YOU
SAID IT IS SIMILAR TO ME.
BACKSTOP. LEAD WITH COMPASSION.
LEAD WITH THOSE WHO ARE IN
CRISIS AND LOOK TO DO WHAT WE
CAN FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS BUT AS
MR. SCHOLES NOTED THE IMPACTS
ARE HUGE IN OUR DOWNTOWN
COMMITTEE AND NOT JUST DOWNTOWN
. IT IS ACROSS OUR CITY. I HEAR
IT ALL THE TIME IN DISTRICT 4 IN
TERMS OF THE CHALLENGES THEY
FACE. I SAW IT YESTERDAY IN
BALLARD AS I WAS IN BALLARD
YESTERDAY IN DISTRICT SIX AND OF
COURSE IN THE OTHER DISTRICTS,
THREE AND BASICALLY ONE, TWO,
THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN
SO LET'S BE CLEAR. IT IS A
CITY-WIDE CHALLENGE SO I JUST
THANKED CHAIR FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE AT A
PLACE WHERE , YOU KNOW,
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY
ARE COMING TOGETHER AND I WANT
TO THANK EVERYONE FOR JOINING US
AND WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP AS
MR. SCHOLES NOTED. A LOT IS
HAPPENING IN TREND -- 2024 AND
WILL CONTINUE IN 2025.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE, I WAS
IN QUEEN ANNE YESTERDAY. WE
SHOULD SIGN EACH OTHER'S
PASSPORTS. A LITTLE JOE BEFORE
WE GET A LITTLE SERIOUS AND
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE,
ESPECIALLY DEPUTY CEO MOISES
GUTIERREZ FOR BEING HERE FOR
SOUND TRANSIT UPDATES. I START
WITH SOUND TRANSIT BECAUSE AS
THE SOUND TRANSIT BOARD MEMBER I
HAVE ASKED FOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR
SECURITY FOR SOUND TRANSIT
RIDERS. THEY OFTEN [ INAUDIBLE ]
CHECK-IN ON AND INCREASE SAFETY
FOR OUR RIDERS. I REGULARLY
DISCUSS THIS TOPIC WITH THE CEO
AND HAVE MADE THIS POINT ALREADY
IN INTERVIEWS FOR THE NEXT CEO
THAT RIDER EXPERIENCE IS
CRITICAL TO SUCCESS BECAUSE A
RIDER TAKES A LONG TIME TO USE
-- LEARN TO USE TRANSIT AND
QUICKLY FALLS OFF THE BUS.
SAFETY AND SECURITY IS AN
IMPORTANT TOPIC TO SOUND TRANSIT
BOARD MEMBERS. IT IS REGULARLY
BROUGHT UP AND WE RECEIVE
QUARTERLY UPDATES ABOUT THE
MEASURES THAT MEASURE THE
AGENCY'S PROGRESS. I WILL BE
SHARING THAT UPDATE THIS MONTH
OR NEXT AS I RECEIVE IT AND I
DON'T TAKE A SOUND TRANSIT
STAFF WORD FOR GRANTED. I AM A
SECRET SHOPPER. I USE TRANSIT
AND SOUND TRANSIT ALL THE TIME
AND NOT JUST LIGHT RAILS. I USE
THE BUSES, AS WELL. SAME WITH
METRO. I AM A LIFELONG METRO
RIDER. I CAN LIKELY TELL YOU
EVERY SINGLE ROUTE IN MY
DISTRICT OFF OF MEMORY . WE ARE
NOT GOING TO TEST THAT HERE
BECAUSE WE ARE TOO SHORT ON TIME
BUT I WILL ALSO ECHO PRESIDENT
WOODFILL'S NOTES AND MESSAGES.
YOU SAID WE ARE AT A TIPPING
POINT. I WOULD SAY WE HAVE BEEN
HERE FOR A WHILE. IT DOES FEEL
LIKE SOMETIMES THAT ATU ARE THE
ONLY ONES ADVOCATING FOR THE
SAFETY OF RIDERS. THIS HAS BEEN
MY EXPERIENCE BOTH AS AN ELECTED
MEMBER OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE
GOVERNMENT AND AS A TRANSIT
RIDER. TRANSIT MUST BE SAFE FOR
THE ELDERLY AND FOR KIDS, TOO.
THAT IS WHEN WE KNOW THAT WE
HAVE A SAFE COMMUNITY WHEN BOTH
THE OLD AND THE YOUNG FEEL SAFE
AND THIS WILL BE MY ONLY
QUESTION FOR THE DAY. I RECALL
YOU REQUESTING A PROTECTIVE
BARRIER SINCE BEFORE 2019. IS
THAT CORRECT? I AM SEEING A YES
HAD NOT AND I REMEMBER THIS
BECAUSE IN 2019 I THOUGHT IT
NEEDED TO BE DONE. BECAUSE WE
ARE ASKING OUR OPERATORS TO
ATTEND TO THE PERSON PLAYING THE
MUSIC LOUDLY, TO GRAB THAT
BOTTLE THAT IS BEEN ROLLING
AROUND IN THE BACK OF THE BUS
FOR THE LAST TWO MILES, TO GET
SOMEONE TO STOP USING DRUGS, TO
GIVE DIRECTIONS OR CONFIRM WHERE
THE BUSES GOING OR WHICH NUMBER,
WHICH ROUTE THAT BUSES RUNNING,
TO STOPPING HARASSING BEHAVIOR
AND TO BEING THAT SAFE PERSON ON
THE BUS FOR THE YOUNG AND THE
OLD AND FRANKLY FOR EVERYDAY
ADULTS TO KNOW WHO THAT PERSON
IS ALL THE WHILE KEEPING THE BUS
ON THE ROAD, KEEPING THE BUS ON
TIME, OPERATING THE BUS SAFELY
AND TOO OFTEN , ALL THE WHILE
BEING HARASSED THEMSELVES. I
THINK WHAT WAS REALLY POIGNANT
AND SHONE'S MEMORIAL SERVICES
ONE ALL OF THE OPERATORS WHO
HAVE BEEN HARASSED RAISED THEIR
HANDS AND I FORGOT IT WAS EVERY
SINGLE PERSON IN THAT ROOM. WE
NEED TRANSIT SECURITY THAT YOU
HAVE DISCUSSED. WE NEED ONE OF
THE AMBASSADORS THAT WE FUNDED
IN 2023 I WAS SURPRISED IT WAS
THROUGH, BUT THERE IS A
SCALABILITY ISSUE HERE. THIS
500,000 DOLLARS TWO YEARS AGO
WAS INITIALLY SUPPOSED TO BE THE
TEST OF SCOPE AND PROOF OF
CONCEPT AND SCALE OUT. I WAS
DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE AMOUNT
OF SPACE AND THE LIMITS. THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME WE ARE RECEIVING
A BRIEFING AND IT DOESN'T MEET
MY EXPECTATIONS SO THAT'S NOT
FARE FOR ANYONE. I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT YOU. I'M HERE TO NEED
SUPPORT FROM YOU. WE ARE ALL IN
THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER BUT WHAT
IS HARD FOR ME IS 15 MONTHS
AFTER AN INITIAL ACTION, WE GET
THE FIRST UPDATE AND IT IS NOT
QUITE MEETING EXPECTATIONS. THAT
MEANS I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE FOR
YOU. YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE FOR
ME. I HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE ON
THAT, TOO, RIGHT? AND THE
FRUSTRATION YOU ARE HEARING FROM
ME IS REGARDING THE URGENCY .
SAFETY WAS A PROBLEM IN 2019 AND
IT GOT WORSE, AS CHIEF MORAL
SPOKE ABOUT, AND SOLUTIONS WERE
DISCUSSED LIKE WE JUST WERE
TALKING ABOUT WHAT I'M MISSING
TODAY'S THE URGENCY. THE
URGENCY TO MOVE QUICKLY TO
IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS FOR
OPERATORS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
OUR PASSENGERS AND AT THE
MEMORIAL SERVICE YOU MENTIONED
THAT TRANSIT SECURITY IS ONLY AS
SAFE AS THE COMMUNITY PASTOR. I
WOULD AGREE WITH YOU ABSOLUTELY
AND ADD FOR CONTEXT, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAS TAKEN GREAT STRIDES
TO INCREASE SAFETY IN THE PUBLIC
REALM. PRE-PANDEMIC, I WILL TAKE
YOU BACK INTO A DREAMWORLD
BEFORE THERE WAS A PANDEMIC IT
WAS JANUARY 2020 AND THERE WAS A
HIGH-PROFILE SHOOTING ON THIRD
AND PIKE WHERE MULTIPLE CIVILIAN
RANDOM PEOPLE GOT SHOT . THAT
WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND
TODAY, THIRD AVENUE IS IN THE
BEST STATE I'VE SEEN IN OVER A
DECADE. I SHARE THIS STORY
BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN REPEATED
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND WE HAVE
MORE WORK TO DO. LIKE, WE KNOW
WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. I'M
CONFIDENT WE ARE GOING TO GET ON
IT BUT WHAT HAS BEEN HARD IS
THAT WE ARE TAKING GREAT STRIDES
ON THE SIDEWALKS AND IN THE
STREETS BUT IT FEELS LIKE OR
SOMEONE HAS TO DO IS JUMP ON A
BUS FOR THEM TO FIND A PLACE TO
HIDE THAT NO ONE WILL CHECK
THEIR BEHAVIOR NOT ENFORCE THOSE
COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, NOT BACKUP THE
OPERATORS WHEN THEY ARE CALLING
FOR HELP , AND I SAY THIS AS A
SECRET SHOPPER. I SAY THIS AS AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL, AND AS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS INCREASING
PUBLIC SAFETY ACROSS THE CITY,
WE ALSO NEED AND ARE PARTNERING
TO HELP KING COUNTY METRO DO
THEIR PART IN THEIR JURISDICTION
BECAUSE YOUR JURISDICTION IS THE
MOST UNIQUE JURISDICTION.
USUALLY IT IS A BUILDING THAT IS
NOT MOVING. THAT IS WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT JURISDICTIONAL
DIFFERENCES. THAT IS USUALLY
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND
YOU HAVE GOT THE HARDEST
JURISDICTION BECAUSE IT IS ON
WHEELS AND MOVING THROUGHOUT OUR
CITY. I WILL CLOSE, CHAIR, WITH
ANECDOTALLY, SINCE SHAWN YIM'S
PREVENTABLE MURDER I WAS ON A
BUS WHEN A MAN CAME DOWN AND
PRESENTED REALLY PROBLEMATIC
BEHAVIORS IN AN AISLE WHERE ,
EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT LEAVE UNTIL
SECURITY ARRIVED. MYSELF, IN MY
JOB I WAS GOING FROM HERE TO
CITY HALL TO GO TALK TO THE CUB
SCOUTS. DID MY BEST TO TALK THEM
INTO A BETTER PLACE. DID NOT
WORK. SECURITY CAME THROUGH AND
DID THEIR JOB AND -- BUT, WE HAD
TO GET OFF THE BUS AND FIND A
NEW BUS. AND LUCKILY, THERE WAS
ANOTHER BUS THAT DID NOT GO ON
THE SAME ROUTE WILL CLOSE ENOUGH
BECAUSE OF GOT THEM ALL
MEMORIZED AND SO WE JUMPED ON
THE BUS. THE POINT IS HERE WE
ARE 30 MINUTES LATE AND WHILE
CUB SCOUTS ARE SAD I WAS LAID IT
WASN'T THE END OF THE WORLD BUT
FOR SO MANY PEOPLE WHO RELY ON
TRANSIT TO GET TO WORK FOR OTHER
APPOINTMENTS, THEY COULD LOSE
THEIR JOB FOR BEING 30 MINUTES
LATE WHICH WOULD HAVE CASCADING
CONSEQUENCES ALL BECAUSE AN
INDIVIDUAL DECIDED THAT THEY
WOULD COME ONTO A BUS AND HAVE
PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR. I WILL END
THERE, CHAIR, AND JUST WITH A
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
EVERYONE ON THIS TEAM WORKING
TOGETHER TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY
. AGAIN, MY LARGEST FRUSTRATION
TODAY DOES THE URGENCY OF
IMPLEMENTATION AND TAKEN
SERIOUSLY WHAT OPERATORS HAVE
BEEN CONVEYING FOR YEARS , IN
PART BECAUSE ESPECIALLY AFTER I
SAW ALL THOSE HANDS RISE. I KNOW
THAT THEY KNOW MORE THAN MOST
BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE THE MOST
HARASSMENT OF US ALL. AND IT IS
NOT OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS. COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK
YOU ALL FOR COMING TOGETHER FOR
THIS PRESENTATION. IT IS REALLY
HEARTENING TO SEE DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS IN DIFFERENT
GOVERNMENTS WORKING TOGETHER TO
ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES WAS --
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT
THE TIME TO COME SPEAK WITH US.
SHAWN YIM'S DEATH IS A TRAGEDY
AND HAS. SO MANY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SAFETY ON
OUR TRANSIT SYSTEMS. I HAVE BEEN
CAR-FREE FOR MORE THAN FIVE
YEARS NOW AND LIKE SO MANY
SEATTLEITES, I QUITE LITERALLY
RELY ON OUR BUSES AND THE
WORKERS WHO SUPPORT OUR BUSES TO
GET WHERE WE NEED TO GO AND I
REALLY FEEL SO LUCKY THAT IN MY
FIVE YEARS OF BEING CAR-FREE I
HAVE ONLY WITNESSED TWO FIGHTS
ON TRANSIT , TWO ARGUMENTS,
LUCKILY NOTHING VIOLENT AND THEY
FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT HAS BEEN MY
EXPERIENCE THE TIME AND TIME
AGAIN, ON A REGULAR BASIS I
CONTINUE TO SEE FOLKS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON OUR
BUSES . IN SO MANY WAYS WE MAY
CALL THESE ARE NON-DESTINATION
ALL RIDERS BUT THE FACT OF THE
MATTER IS THEY DON'T HAVE A
DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO AND IN
SO MANY CASES, OUR BUSES ARE THE
PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GO WHERE IT
IS WARM AND WE ALL KNOW IT IS
VERY COLD OUTSIDE AND PAIRED
WITH THAT, I HAVE CHECKED ON SO
MANY FOLKS OVER THE YEARS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
BREATHING. AND THEN HAVING THOSE
FOLKS MAYBE COME TO AND BE
UNABLE TO DIRECT THEM TO A
RESOURCE TO SUPPORT THEM AND I
BRING THESE THINGS UP TO SAY ,
THAT IS NOT ON OUR DRIVERS TO
RESOLVE. THIS IS ON ELECTED
LEADERS TO BE WORKING ON
ADDRESSING OUR HOUSING CRISIS
AND WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY AND
STATE PARTNERS TO BE BUILDING A
ROBUST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM
TO GET FOLKS THE SUPPORT THEY
NEED. TO THAT END, I HAVE TWO
QUESTIONS TODAY FOR OUR
PRESENTERS. THE FIRST BEING,
SINCE WE ARE MAKING THESE
INVESTMENTS IN MORE TRANSIT
SECURITY OFFICERS, HOW ARE YOU
ALL DETERMINING THE DEPLOYMENT
AND LOCATION OF TRANSIT SECURITY
OFFICERS? WHAT FACTORS ARE
DRIVING SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
WE RECEIVE DATA FROM OUR
OPERATORS, OUR TRANSIT SECURITY
FOLKS OUT IN THE FIELD, AND
UNDERWRITERS AND TRANSIT
SECURITY POLICE. EVERY DAY WE
LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION AND
OVERLAID ON OUR SYSTEM IN THE
AREAS THAT CONTINUE TO SHOW UP
IN THAT DATA ARE THE AREAS WE
DEPLOY RESOURCES TOO, SO THERE
ARE SOME TRADITIONAL SPOTS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT WE
KNOW STRUGGLE A LITTLE MORE SO
WE TRY TO RAISE DEPLOYMENT TO
THOSE SPACES. WE ARE ALSO TRYING
TO CREATE SOME REAL-TIME ROVING
RESOURCES BOTH FROM A BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH PERSPECTIVE AND THE
CLEANLINESS WANT TO GET TO THE
CONVERSATION THAT WAS HAD TODAY
. SAFETY AND CLEANLINESS ARE
CLOSE COUSINS SO BEING ABLE TO
DEPLOY THOSE RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO ADDRESS
AN EMERGENT NEED QUICKLY IS
EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING BOTH
THROUGH OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
PILOT. WE THANK THE CITY FOR THE
SUPPORT AND THAT AS WELL AS A
NEW PILOT FOR 24/7 CLEANING SO
GREAT TEAMS THAT CAN GO RECEIVE
FEEDBACK FROM OUT IN THE FIELD
AND GO WORK ON THAT SO THERE IS
LONG-TERM DEPLOYMENT THEN THERE
IS THE IMMEDIATE WAY WE TRY TO
GET IN FRONT OF AN ISSUE AS SOON
AS WE HEAR ABOUT IT.
>> I WILL GO AHEAD AND CHIME IN,
AS WELL, SIMILAR TO KING COUNTY.
WE ARE DOING THE SAME AT SOUND
TRANSIT. I SPOKE ON THAT VERY
BRIEFLY, AND THIS IS BY LOOKING
AT FEDERAL DATA WHEN IT COMES TO
HOTSPOTS BUT ALSO BASED ON LOCAL
FEEDBACK SO WE CAN BE MUCH MORE
THOUGHTFUL AND STRATEGIC IN THE
DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES TO
DIFFERENT TRAIN STATIONS BUT
ALSO OTHER ROUTES, AND WE ARE
VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO
TRANSPARENCY SO WE WILL BE
BUILDING DASHBOARDS FOR
VISIBILITY AND ALSO TO GAIN
INSIGHTS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT IN
MY SECOND QUESTION JUST FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAY BE
LISTENING IN AS WELL AS FOR US,
COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH FROM A
DRIVER OR RIDER PERSPECTIVE,
WHAT YOU MAY DO OR CAN EXPECT TO
EXPERIENCE IF YOU ARE CALLING TO
AN EMERGENCY RESPONDER TRYING TO
REPORT AN ASSAULT THAT MAY BE
HAPPENING ON A VEHICLE, WHO CAN
YOU EXPECT TO ANSWER THAT: WHAT
KIND OF RESPONDER CAN YOU EXPECT
TO COME BY?
>> I WILL SPEAK AS A FORMER
TRANSIT OPERATOR AND ONE WHO IS
IN THE TRANSIT CONTROL SOME OF
THE LAST EIGHT YEARS DISPATCHING
THESE CALLS AND , YOU NEVER
KNOW. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS
GOING TO COME OR IF SOMEONE IS
GOING TO COME IN SO IT IS VERY
FRUSTRATING ON OUR END , AND
THAT IS WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR
TEAMWORK, MAYBE LOOK AT
JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES , ADDRESS
IT MORE AS A TEAM RATHER THAN A
FOOTBALL, WHO'S GOING TO GO AND
WHAT RESPONSIBILITY IS. ARE YOU
IN THE BUSES OWN OR ARE YOU
EIGHT FEET OUT OF THE BUS ZONE .
IT IS METRO TRANSIT POLICE CLOSE
ENOUGH OR DOES ANOTHER CITY HAVE
TO RESPOND? IT IS VERY
FRUSTRATING FOR OPERATORS, AND
THEY FEEL OFTEN THAT THEY ARE
OUT, THEY ARE ALONE ON AN ISLAND
AND HONESTLY THAT IS WHAT WE
HAVE TO TELL THEM, THAT OFTEN
THEY ARE.
>> CHAIR, IF I COULD RESPOND TO
THAT QUICKLY, THAT KIND OF
INCONSISTENCY IS TROUBLING TO ME
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME
CLEAR JURISDICTIONAL LINES
AROUND WHO IS THE RIGHT
RESPONDER. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN
COMMUNICATED TO ME THAT IF AN
INCIDENT IS HAPPENING ON A KING
COUNTY METRO BUS, KING COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS A
RESPONDER. THERE ARE A LOT OF
DELICATE FACTORS THAT GO INTO
THIS BY CREATING MORE
CONSISTENCY IN TERMS OF HER
RESPONDER SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE
ASPIRING TO FOR THE SAKE OF
DRIVERS AND RIDERS.
>> THANK YOU. IS THAT IT?
>> THOSE WERE MY QUESTIONS AND
THANK YOU. OUR OFFICE IS HERE
FOR YOU FOR ANYTHING YOU NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING ME TO ASK
QUESTIONS. I DON'T SIT ON THIS
COMMITTEE BUT YOU AND I HAVE HAD
MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY FOR RIDERS AND FOR BUS
DRIVERS AND FOR CONTEXT, I, AS A
RESIDENT OF THE CITY, MY KIDS,
MY SPOUSE AND I WILL TAKE PUBLIC
TRANSIT WHETHER IT IS METRO
BUSES OR LIGHT RAIL . I AM A
LIFELONG PUBLIC TRANSIT RIDER .
I DID NOT EVEN HAVE A DRIVER'S
LICENSE UNTIL I WAS 30 YEARS OLD
AND SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
ME, BOTH FOR TRANSIT RIDERS AS
WELL AS PEDESTRIANS BECAUSE WE
TALKED ABOUT THAT, TOO , THANK
YOU INTERIM DIRECTOR EMERY, AND
BUS DRIVERS AND SOUND TRANSIT
DRIVERS, AS WELL. I WANT TO
THANK ATU FOR BEING HERE, KING
COUNTY , KING COUNTY METRO,
SOUND TRANSIT, SDOT, MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND DSA FOR ALL BEING
HERE AND BEING PARTNERS TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I WILL SAY
THAT THE THING THAT IS CLEAR TO
ME IS THAT THE SENSE OF URGENCY
I'M HEARING THE MOST IS FROM ME
TO YOU, AND I REALLY WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR PRESSING ON THIS
ISSUE AND HOLDING EVERYBODY
ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN UNLESS WE HAVE
THIS SENSE OF URGENCY AND I'M
GOING TO SAY ALSO THAT WHILE I
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE
PARTNERS COMING TOGETHER TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, YOU KNOW, I
DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT IS THE
BUREAUCRACY. I WORKED IN
GOVERNMENT FOR A LONG TIME AND I
KNOW THE BUREAUCRACY IS REALLY
HARD TO PUSH THROUGH, BUT I'M
NOT HEARING THE SENSE OF URGENCY
ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT YOU
JUST ADDRESSED TODAY, BY WAY OF
SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM AND SO
I AM GOING TO ASK THESE
QUESTIONS. ONE IS, INSTALLING
OPERATOR SAFETY PARTITIONS. THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT CITIES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY HAVE ALREADY DONE ,
YOU KNOW, SHAWN YIM SADLY WAS
KILLED IN THE DISTRICT THAT I
REPRESENT. I WENT TO THE
MEMORIAL SERVICE AND YOU,
MICHELLE, TALK THEN ABOUT THESE
PARTITIONS. IT IS BASICALLY MID
TO THE END OF FEBRUARY AND YOU
TALKED ABOUT THESE PARTITIONS
GOING UP. WHEN CAN DRIVERS
EXPECT THESE PARTITIONS ARE
ACTUALLY GOING TO GET INSTALLED
ON THE BUSES? HOW MANY?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M
GOING TO GO BACK A LITTLE IN
HISTORY TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT
TO THE CONVERSATION. METRO HAD
INTRODUCED OPERATOR PARTITIONS
TO ATU ROUGHLY A DECADE AGO IS
SOMETHING THAT WE HAD WANTED TO
DO ON OUR SYSTEM. THIS WAS
STARTING TO ME, AN EMERGING
TREND IN THE INDUSTRY. IT WAS
NOT RECEIVED WELL. THERE WAS
DEFINITELY A 50-50 SPLIT IN THE
WORKFORCE SAYING THAT WOULD
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE WHAT I DO
AND I DON'T WANT TO WORK IN
THAT ENVIRONMENT. MY JOB IS
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I ENJOY
THAT ENGAGEMENT SO WE PAUSED.
METRO PAUSED THAT CONVERSATION
SO THAT MEMBERSHIP COULD HAVE A
DISCUSSION AMONGST THEMSELVES
ABOUT HOW THEY WANTED TO
PROCEED. WE THEN DID START THE
CONVERSATION BACK UP IN 2019
WITH ATU IN AN INCREDIBLY PHASED
APPROACH. WHILE THIS IS A
CONVERSATION IN THE INDUSTRY,
THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS.
EVERY ORGANIZATION IS DIFFERENT
WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THEIR
FLEET WHICH REQUIRES A DIFFERENT
CONVERSATION WITH THE
MANUFACTURER OF THOSE OPERATOR
PARTITIONS SO WE HAD A
DISCUSSION, A VERY PHASED
APPROACH TO OPERATOR BARRIERS
BECAUSE WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO DO
WORK WITH OUR OPERATORS TO ASK
THEM QUESTIONS, INVITE THEM TO
THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THEY
WERE COMFORTABLE WITH IT, THAN
COVID HAPPEN AND EVERYTHING
CHANGED AND WE PUT UP TEMPORARY
-- THEY ARE NOT OPERATOR
PARTITIONS. THEY WERE SERVING A
DIFFERENT PURPOSE WITH DIFFERENT
MATERIALS AND WE WERE STILL
HAVING THE DISCUSSION WITH
MANUFACTURERS ABOUT THE RIGHT
TYPE OF MATERIAL. YOU HAVE TO BE
VERY MINDFUL OF GLARE. YOU HAVE
TO BE MINDFUL OF REPETITION FOR
OPERATORS. STILL, THERE WAS SOME
DISAGREEMENT WITHIN OPERATOR
RANKS BUT WE WERE MOVING THROUGH
THIS PROCESS THEN WITH THE
OPERATOR LOSS OF LIFE WE
RECOGNIZED WE NEED TO TURN IT UP
AND MOVE THOSE PHASES FASTER. WE
MUTUALLY AGREED ON A DECISION OF
MARCH IS OUR TIMELINE. METRO HAS
AN OUTSTANDING ORDER FOR NEW
COACHES THAT ARE BEING
MANUFACTURED RIGHT NOW. GETTING
IN THE DESIGN SPEC FOR MARCH
WILL ALLOW US TIME TO HAVE THAT
PARTITION INSTALLED WITH THOSE
NEW COACHES. WHAT WE THEN NEED
TO DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ATU'S
WORK ON A RETROFIT PLAN SO WE
CAN DESIGN. WE HAVE 52 UNIQUE
COACHES THAT ALL REQUIRE A
LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT
ENGINEERING COMPONENT TO GET IO
DIFFERENT THT
RIGHT NOW THAT OPERATORS ARE
PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON. THIS IS
PART OF THE TIMELINE YOU BRING
UP, COUNCILMEMBER, SINCE WE
DISCUSSED IT TILL NOW WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH ATU, AVAILABLE
MANUFACTURERS AND OPERATORS TO
SEE WHAT WOULD WORK BEST IN AN
IMPERFECT MARKET SO WE ARE GOING
TO MAKE SOME CHOICES. WE ARE
GOING TO MAKE THEM IN TIME TO
GET THOSE NEW COACHES THEN
RETROFIT AND WORK WITH VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE FOLKS AND OPERATORS
TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS A
TRANSPARENT PLAN AND HAS THEIR
FEEDBACK BUT I JUST WANT TO BE
CLEAR, THERE IS URGENCY TO THESE
AND WE ARE -- WE WILL BE IN 1900
COACH AGENCY. IT TAKES A LITTLE
BIT OF TIME AND THE ONLY AGENCY
THAT IS 100% THERE RIGHT NOW IS
L.A. METRO. ALL OTHERS ARE IN
VERSIONS OF THE SAME
CONVERSATION. SOME MAY BE A
LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF US AND WE
ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH ATU
INTERNATIONAL IN TORONTO THAT IS
BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION
FOR A WHILE. THIS IS A REALLY
BIG DISCUSSION FOR OUR
WORKFORCE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, I REALLY
DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE
PAST TOO MUCH. THE PROBLEM IS
BEEN TRYING TO FIND OF BARRIER
YOU CAN SCALE UP TO GET THIS
MANY AND ONE THAT OPERATORS
APPROVE OF. IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE
. AFTER SHAWN YIM'S MURDER WE
ALL CAME TO AGREEMENT THAT THEY
THAT WE ARE GOING TO RETROFIT
THE WHOLE FLEET. WE HAVE METRO,
THE COUNTY COUNSEL AND COUNTY
EXECUTIVE. WE ARE CURRENTLY
TRYING TO TAKE THAT BARRIER OUT.
WE ARE DOING IT AS QUICK AS WE
CAN, AS SOON AS WE GET THAT
BARRIER, THE COUNTY AND METRO IS
COMMITTED TO PURCHASE THEM AND S
POSSIBLE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A
PERFECT SOLUTION AND THAT IS
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SPINNING OUR
WHEELS WITH. ATU INTERNATIONAL
IS REALLY FIGHTING FOR MORE OF
THE CONCEPT IN THE FUTURE FOR
YOU WALL OFF THE WHOLE COCKPIT.
METRO IS CURRENTLY BUYING A FEW
COACHES AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN
FORCE THE MANUFACTURERS TO
PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE. IT IS
HARD, TO GLASS UP THE OPERATORS
HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH TO SEE
THEIR MIRRORS AND DEAL WITH THE
GLARE BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY
OTHER CHOICE NOW. WE ARE GOING
TO ORDER BARRIERS AND THEY ARE
GOING TO BE INSTALLED.
>> THANK YOU. I REALLY
APPRECIATE HAVING THIS
BACKGROUND INFORMATION BECAUSE
WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE
BARRIERS AND WITHOUT THE CONTEXT
AND KNOWING THAT YOU ARE WORKING
TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE GIVEN ALL
THE CONSIDERATIONS. WE JUST SIT
HERE THINKING, WHY HAS THIS NOT
HAPPENED? WHY HASN'T IT GOTTEN
DONE AND SO ALL THAT TO SAY THAT
WHEN CAN YOU EXPECT THIS WILL
HAPPEN AFTER THIS ENGAGEMENT, DO
YOU HAVE A TIMELINE FOR WHEN YOU
CAN EXPECT THIS WILL BE
COMPLETED OR ARE YOU NOT AT THAT
STAGE YET?
>> WE ARE GOING TO PROBABLY SEE
THE MOST PRODUCTION ON OUR
RETROFIT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE
TO WAIT FOR THE ENTIRE COACH TO
GET BUILT WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED
FOR THE FIRST 89 ORDERED SO WE
ARE WORKING ON THAT PLAN RIGHT
NOW. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A
DATE THAT I'M HELD ACCOUNTABLE
TO LATER THAT IS NOT DONE IN
COORDINATION WITH ATU SO WE WILL
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SPOTTY
UPDATES ON THE RETROFIT CAN BE
INCREDIBLY STRATEGIC. WE CAN SAY
WE WANT THESE ROUTES BASED ON
THE DATA THAT WE ARE COLLECTING.
WE WANT TO DO THIS COACH LINE
1st. WE WANT TO DO RAPID RIDES.
WANT TO DO THIS GEOGRAPHIC
REGION, WE WANT TO DO THIS
SPACE. WE CAN HAVE THOSE
STRATEGIC CONVERSATIONS SO THIS
EXPERIENCE OF THE OPERATOR CAN
BE IMMEDIATELY IMPROVED BASED ON
THESE CHOICES AND WE WILL DO
THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE TEAM AS WELL
AS OUR OPERATORS, WHO WILL
CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED AS WE
MOVE THROUGH. I WOULD AGAIN SAY
YOU WILL SEE IT FIRST FROM A
RETROFIT PERSPECTIVE, AS IT
TAKES A WHILE LONGER TO GET
BRAND-NEW COACHES OFF THE LINE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THEN TO
THE AMBASSADORS ON THE BUSES
THAT CAN REALLY ENSURE THAT THEY
ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO
PASSENGERS AND THE DRIVER
SIMULTANEOUSLY , WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR A TIMELINE. YOU KNOW YOU
SAID IN 2025 YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE 10 ADDITIONAL --
>> WE ARE STARTING HIRING NOW SO
THAT IS SOMETHING BEING SCALED
AT THE MOMENT. THIS IS A
BRAND-NEW PROGRAM FOR US. WE DID
NOT HAVE THE CLASSIFICATION. WE
DID NOT HAVE THE SPECS OR THE
PROGRAMMATIC UNDERSTANDING. WE
LAUNCHED IT AND FOUND OURSELVES
IN A CONVERSATION WITH ATU ABOUT
WHAT IT SHOULD BE, WHAT IT WAS,
HOW WE NEEDED TO THINK ABOUT IT
MOVING FORWARD SO WE DID GET
SLOWED DOWN AND I APOLOGIZE FOR
THAT DELAY IN THE FRUSTRATION IT
CAUSED BUT WE NEEDED TO PLAN
WITH ATU ABOUT WHAT THIS WAS,
WHO IS DOING THAT WORK, HOW IT
FIT IN WITH THE OTHER WORK OF
ATU MEMBERS SO IT TOOK US A
MINUTE TO GET TO MOAA. WE ALSO
NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROGRAM
NEEDS THE FLEXIBILITY AND
STABILITY SO HIRING SOME
PERMANENT PEOPLE AND ALLOWING IT
TO STILL BE IN OPERATOR-SUPPORTE
D SERVICE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE
ONES WHO KNOW OR SYSTEM VERY
BEST AND ARE VERY GOOD AT THIS
PROGRAM AND NOW WE ARE READY TO
SCALE.
>> THANK YOU, MICHELLE, AND IF
IT IS OKAY, I WANT TO ASK ONE
MORE QUESTION TO SOUND TRANSIT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE CHIEF
MORRELL. -- MOISES GUTIERREZ. I
HAVE UTILIZE THE TEXT, YOU CAN
EXPERIENCE FROM ONE STATION TO
THE NEXT, SOMEONE COMING ON THE
TRAIN TO ONE OFFICE SUPPORT TO
SOMEONE HOW HAS NEEDED IT ON THE
TRAIN SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THAT SERVICE. I WILL SAY THAT
UNFORTUNATELY WHAT I HAVE SEEN
EVEN AS RECENTLY AS THE NIGHT
AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT
VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH HAD
HERE, I TOOK LIGHT RAIL HOME AND
THERE WERE PEOPLE SMOKING
SENTINEL ON THE TRAIN, WHICH WAS
AND THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE
DEALING WITH SO I WOULD LOVE TO
KNOW WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR MORE
AMBASSADORS ON THE TRAINS
BECAUSE WHILE IT IS GREAT TO
HAVE AMBASSADORS AT THE
PLATFORMS TO THERE IS ALSO A
PIECE ON THE TRAIN WHERE EVEN
THOUGH I CAN CALL IN OR TEXT IN
VERY QUICKLY AT A CERTAIN TIME
OF NIGHT YOU HAVE LESS FOLKS.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF FOLKS
SLEEPING ON THE TRAINS ET CETERA
SO WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR
ADDRESSING AMBASSADORS THAT CAN
BE ON THE TRAIN AND TOWARD THAT
-- NOT TOWARD THAT BUT A SECOND
PIECE IS, THE FARE. YOU ARE
SAYING SOMETIME IN MARCH OR MAY
YOU ARE GOING TO START WITH FARE
ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN
-- THIS IS ON -- SOUND TRANSIT
HAS A FARE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE AS
WELL BECAUSE I'VE SEEN A LOT OF
FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT PAID THEIR
FARES AND THESE ARE FOLKS WHO
APPEAR TO -- AND MAYBE THEY
CAN'T PAY THEIR FARE I DON'T
KNOW BUT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE
FOLKS JUST RIDING, NOT PAYING
THEIR FARES AND I THINK THAT IS
REALLY HURTING US BECAUSE IF WE
DON'T COLLECT THE FARE, WE
CAN'T BE ABLE TO ADDRESS ALL
THESE ISSUES SO WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR ABOUT THAT .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
MEMBER RIVERA. I WILL TAKE THAT
IS FEEDBACK WHICH WE APPRECIATE.
A COUPLE OF POINTS WHEN IT COMES
TO THE FARE AMBASSADORS RIGHT
NOW WE ARE ACTUALLY BUDGETED FOR
UP TO 80 AND WE ARE EXCITED THAT
BY 2026 WE SEE THAT GOING UP TO
ABOUT 140 SO OF COURSE YOU KNOW
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VACANCIES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THESE
HUMANS ARE TRAINED IN THOSE
ROLES AND OTHER THAN THAT OF
COURSE WE HAVE CONTRACTED
SECURITY AND TO YOUR POINT, IT
IS ABOUT THEM LOCATED AT THE
STATIONS BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE
SYSTEM AND WE ARE LOOKING TO
ENHANCE THAT OVER THE COMING
YEAR SO OUR RIDERS CAN EXPECT TO
SEE MORE OF THESE PERSONNEL AS
THEY RIDE THE SYSTEM. WHEN IT
COMES TO FARE ENGAGEMENT AND
ENFORCEMENT IT IS SOMETHING WE
ARE WORKING ON, AS WELL. IT IS I
THINK PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
IT HAS BEEN THAT SHIFT YOU KNOW
, FROM THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC
AND WE ARE VERY KEEN AND HOUSING
THAT, AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU AND I'M JUST GOING
TO ASK BECAUSE A LOT OF
CONSTITUENTS HAVE ASKED ME, WHY
DOESN'T SOUND TRANSIT HAVE A
SIMILAR SYSTEM FOR PAYING YOUR
FARE AS THERE ARE IN OTHER
CITIES WHERE THERE IS A BARRIER
AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO TALK TO
GET IN. OUR SYSTEM, ANYONE CAN
JUST WALK ON AND IF THERE IS NOT
A FARE AMBASSADOR THERE CHECKING
, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN JUST RIDE
FREELY SO ARE THERE PLANS TO
LOOK AT HOW THE SOUND TRANSIT
SYSTEM CURRENTLY STANDS?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT IS
ACTUALLY A VERY COMPLEX
QUESTION. THERE ARE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF SYSTEMS, AS YOU KNOW,
FOR EXAMPLE THE BAY AREA SOUND
TRANSIT SYSTEM IS MORE OF A
CLOSED SYSTEM. SOUND TRANSIT IS
BASICALLY AN HONOR CODE BUT
WE'VE ALSO BEEN DOING A LOT OF
WORK TO MAKE SURE THE ENTRANCE
POINTS AT THE STATIONS ARE MUCH
MORE VISIBLE AND ALSO WAS NOTED
FOR AMBASSADORS TO BE LOCATED AT
THE ENTRANCE POINTS TO ASSIST
CUSTOMERS WHEN IT COMES TO HOW
THEY SHOULD PAY FOR SECURE THEIR
PAST AND ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO
ENFORCEMENT, SO AS WE BUILD UP
OUR PERSONAL WE WILL BE DOING
THAT, AS WELL. WHEN IT COMES TO
WHAT TYPE OF SYSTEM THE AGENCY
HAS, AND I DON'T HAVE THE
DETAILS WITH ME BUT HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP ON THAT, THERE ARE
STUDIES THROUGH OUR SERVICE
DELIVERY THE DEPARTMENT LOOKING
AT THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT THE
SYSTEM COULD LOOK LIKE WHEN IT
COMES TO GAINS. I DON'T HAVE
THAT WITH ME BUT HAPPY TO
PROVIDE THAT DETAIL.
>> MORE PLACES TO TAP BECAUSE I
HAVE ALSO SEEN PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO PAY BUT IF YOU GET ON THE
TRAIN YOU CAN'T TAP. THERE ARE
MANY OTHER SYSTEMS THAT I'VE
TAKEN LIGHT RAIL ACROSS THE
WORLD ACTUALLY AND YOU CAN JUST
TAP ON THE TRAIN OR ON THE BUS
SO BEING ABLE TO OR ATTACHING IT
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A METRO BUS
TO YOUR CREDIT CARD WHERE YOU
CAN JUST TAP . THE POINT IS
MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE WHO
DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO PAY I
THINK IS IMPORTANT.
>> ABSOLUTELY AND THAT IS PART
OF THE PILOT THAT I NOTED WHEN
IT COMES TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR
RIDERS, ALL OF US BECAUSE THIS
OF HAPPENED TO ME, AS WELL, TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE OPTIONS
TO PAY THE FARE ALSO IS
IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA AND MOISES. I WANT TO
COMMEND YOU FOR A RESPONSE.
IT'S HARD BEEN UP HERE. IT'S
HARD BEING AT THE TABLE UP HERE
IN FRONT OF US BUT I REALLY
LOVED YOUR RESPONSE. YOU SAID I
TAKE THAT IS FEEDBACK, THEN YOU
PROVIDED APPROPRIATE EXPLANATORY
CONTEXT AND SHARED YOUR
PERSPECTIVE AND SAID I WILL HAVE
TO FOLLOW UP. THAT IS AN A+
ANSWER. EXCELLENT. WELL DONE.
SO, EVERYONE, I'M GOING TO CALL
AN AUDIBLE HERE. WE'RE NOT GOING
TO GO THROUGH AND DO THE SECOND
ITEM ON THE AGENDA . WE ARE
ACTUALLY GOING TO PUNT THAT IN
THE INTEREST OF TIME. IT IS AN
IMPORTANT DAY FOR OUR CITY, AND
THIS DISCUSSION IS A CENTRAL
PART OF THAT BUT WE ARE GOING TO
PUNT THE SECOND ITEM, THE
PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION LEVY
SPENDING PLAN TO THE NEXT
MEETING, WHICH WILL BE TWO WEEKS
FROM TODAY, TUESDAY, MARCH 4th
BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE A COUPLE
OTHER QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK.
HOPEFULLY THIS FIRST ONE IS
FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. THIS ONE
IS FOR THE TRANSIT AGENCIES SO
KING COUNTY METRO AND SOUND
TRANSIT. IF SOMEONE RIDING
TRANSIT IS ABLE TO SEIZE OR
OBSERVE THE WITNESSES UNLAWFUL
BEHAVIOR, HOW CAN THEY
SPECIFICALLY REPORTED THROUGH
EACH OF YOUR TRANSIT AGENCIES,
AND I HEARD MOISES GUTIERREZ
EARLIER SAY THERE IS A GENERAL
REPORTING LINE. IS THAT FOR YOU,
CAN YOU JUST WALK THROUGH THE
METHODS FOR UNDER WHICH RIDERS
CAN REPORT THIS KIND OF
BEHAVIOR?
>> I WILL BEGIN THEN SEE IF
MICHELLE HAS ANYTHING TO ADD.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOUND
TRANSIT SYSTEM , AS HE
RIGHTFULLY NOTED, WE DO HAVE A
PHONE NUMBER SO FOLKS COULD
ACTUALLY TEST -- TEXT IF THEY
DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE CALLING
OF COURSE DEPENDING ON THE
NATURE OF THE INCIDENT. THEY
COULD ALSO CALL 911. THIS IS A
LINE THAT GOES TO THE CENTRAL
COMMAND, IF YOU WILL, WITHIN
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL REACH OUT
TO THE SECURITY PERSONNEL FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPENDING ON THE
LOCATION . THERE IS SOME DETAIL
ON THE BACK END AND I WILL NOTE
WE HAVE RECEIVED GREAT FEEDBACK
FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE
TIMELINESS OF THAT RESPONSE SO
WE ARE LOOKING TO ENHANCE THAT,
AS WELL.
>> A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FOR
KING COUNTY METRO IS WE DON'T
HAVE THE FIXED NATURE OF OUR
SYSTEM BUT WE ARE LEARNING A LOT
FROM THEIR PROGRAMS ARE
CURRENTLY YOU CAN CALL OUR
CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE A 911 AND
ALSO ENGAGE THE OPERATOR. THOSE
ARE UNSATISFYING IS A SUITE OF
SERVICES SO WE DO WANT TO COME
WITH A RESOURCE SIMILAR TO WHAT
SOUND TRANSIT HAS BEEN TRYING ON
THEIR SYSTEM. THE CHALLENGES WE
NEED A RESPONSE MECHANISM BEHIND
IT. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A
TELEPHONE NUMBER TO CALL BUT IF
YOU'RE NOT SURE HOW YOU'RE
GOING TO TRIAGE THOSE PHONE
CALLS AND THAT INFORMATION, WITH
THE OPEN NATURE OF OUR SYSTEM
THAT WOULD ALSO BE VERY
FRUSTRATING FOR THE RIDER. THEY
HAVE AN ASSUMPTION THAT PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO COME RESPOND TO
THAT TEXT WITH THAT PHONE CALL
SO WE ARE EXPLORING THE BEST WAY
TO DO THAT WITH WHAT WE HAVE BUT
WE HAVE A CUSTOMER SERVICE
NUMBER ON OUR COACH AND ALSO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, IF YOU FEEL
LIKE THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE,
YOU SHOULD CALL 911.
>> THANK YOU BOTH. IF YOU WOULD
NOT MIND AFTER THIS MEETING JUST
FOLLOWING UP. I THINK ALL OF US,
ALL OF OUR OFFICES CAN BENEFIT
FROM THIS LIKE GESTURING OUT
WHATEVER THE RESOURCES ARE FOR
RIDERS TO REPORT THIS KIND OF
ACTIVITY AND BEHAVIOR. I WILL
PERSONALLY LOVE TO SHARE THAT
OUT IN MY NEWSLETTER YOU WILL
HAVE NEWSLETTERS AND WE CAN
CHOOSE IF IT IS A GOOD USE OF
OUR NEWSLETTER TIME BUT THIS IS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION SO THANK
YOU THERE. MY NEXT QUESTION IS ,
ON THE CITY SIDE FOR MY CITY
COLLEAGUES ON THE EXECUTIVE SIDE
IT LOOKS LIKE, SO WE HAVE
CURRENTLY WE HAVE DIRECTOR EMERY
HERE , SO AS WE KNOW WE TALKED
ABOUT -- YOU TALKED ABOUT MR.
CHOW FROM COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF
TALKED ABOUT I TALKED ABOUT
COUNSEL APPROPRIATE
APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION LAST
YEAR FOR SAFETY SERVICES AND
PERSONNEL AS PART OF THE 2025
ADOPTED BUDGET FROM OUR BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS LAST FALSE A 1
MILLION FOR TRANSIT SECURITY AND
POLICE AND THEN 1 MILLION FOR
AMBASSADORS AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH TEAMS RECOGNIZING THAT IT
IS STILL FAIRLY EARLY IN THE NEW
BUDGET YEAR, TWO MONTHS AND
ALMOST, MONTH AND A HALF. AGAIN,
RECOGNIZING IT IS STILL FAIRLY
EARLY IN THE NEW BUDGET YOUR CAN
YOU SHARE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE
ARE AT WITH SPENDING THESE
FUNDS?
>> CONTRACT NEGOTIATION IS
UNDERWAY. WE ANTICIPATE APRIL
ACTIVATION IS WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING FOR ON THIS IS REALLY A
STRONG COLLABORATION WITH KING
COUNTY. IT IS PRIMARILY LED BY
KING COUNTY DATA AND EVERYTHING,
ASSESSMENT, SO. I THINK BUILDING
THE STRUCTURE LAST YEAR HAS
HELPED US IN EXPEDITING NEXT
INVESTMENTS COMING DOWN THE
PIPELINE, SO WE ANTICIPATE EARLY
EXPENDITURE, EARLY PARTNERSHIP
AND EARLY INVESTMENT ON THE
GROUND LEVEL.
>> THANK YOU. AND, IS THAT FOR
TRANSIT SECURITY AND TRANSIT
POLICE?
>> THE SECURITY PIECE OF IT,
YEAH.
>> OKAY, SO THAT IS FOR THE $1
MILLION FOR AMBASSADORS AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. OKAY, THEN IS
IT THE SAME, DO YOU ALSO PLAN TO
EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR
ADDITIONAL -- AND AGAIN FOR
CLARITY WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IS ADDITIVE TO EXISTING
SECURITY PERSONNEL . IT IS NOT
TO SUPPLEMENT OR REPLACE WHAT IN
THIS CASE KING COUNTY METRO IS
ALREADY DOING PERSONAL WISE TO
MAINTAIN AND APPROPRIATE
SECURITY. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
EXTRA INVESTMENTS ON TOP OF --
NOT LETTING ANYONE OFF THE HOOK,
OURSELVES INCLUDED G ON TOP OF ,
DIRECTOR EMERY , IS THE SAME
SITUATION TRUE FOR TRANSIT
SECURITY AND TRANSIT POLICE?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU AND
COLLEAGUES, I HOPE IT IS CLEAR
TODAY WE REALLY JUST SCRATCHED
THE SURFACE OF THIS IMPORTANT
TOPIC . WE COULD NOT AT ALL DO A
DEEP DIVE ON ANY ONE OF THESE .
WE COULD HAVE PEELED THE LAYERS
BACK OF THE ONION AND BEEN HERE
ALL DAY, WEEKS, POTENTIALLY AS
COUNCILMEMBERS RINCK AND RIVERA
NOTED WE NEED TO BUILD UP
CAPABILITY WHICH IS WHY WE
FUNDED EXTRA MONEY OF EXISTING T
REPRESENTS REALLY THE FULL
SPECTRUM OF AVAILABLE RESPONSES
BUT TRUTH BE TOLD, AND WE
DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT
WITH RESPECT TO THE NEW
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM, IT IS A
PILOT RIGHT NOW AND SO THERE IS
A HANDFUL OF SOCIAL WORKERS THAT
ARE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK TODAY .
NO DIFFERENT THAN OUR OWN CRISIS
CARE DEPARTMENT TEAM OF SOCIAL
WORKERS THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY
WORKING HARD TO BUILD UP AND
SCALED BACK THEIR CAPABILITY TO
DO MORE TAKES YEARS TO DO THAT
SO OUR ABILITY TO SPEND EXTRA
MONEY ON TOP FOR THAT IS
SOMEWHAT FAIRLY LIMITED. OUR
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IS A LITTLE
MORE BUILT-UP THAN THAT BUT
STILL, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL
HAVE THE FULL ABILITY. MAYBE WE
WOULD, MAYBE WE WOULDN'T. I
DON'T KNOW BUT AND WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT AMBASSADORS, KIND OF
CONFUSING NOMENCLATURES.
AMBASSADORS. THERE ARE DIFFERENT
FUNCTIONS DEPENDING ON THE
AGENCIES. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT
THAT BUT WHAT IS I THINK THE
MOST SCALABLE OPTION AND
PROBABLY THE ONE THAT IS MOST
NEEDED BECAUSE THE CAPABILITY
ALREADY EXISTS AND YOU CAN
LITERALLY TURN IT UP WITH THE
DIAL IS HIGHER OR CONTRACTED
SECURITY PERSONNEL. THE
CAPABILITY ALREADY EXISTS TODAY
AND THEN KING COUNTY METRO
POLICE. A MATTER OF EXTRA
OVERTIME OR WHATEVER IT IS,
SUPPLEMENTED BY SEATTLE POLICE
FOR EXTRA EMPHASIS PATROLS. THAT
IS SOMETHING WE COULD -- IT IS A
CAPABILITY THAT ALREADY EXISTS.
WE COULD USE THAT MONEY TO SCALE
UP. SOME OF THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS
WORTHWHILE WE WILL CONTINUE TO
ACT WITH URGENCY TO BUILD AND
SCALE THOSE BUT WE ARE
LESS-WELL-POSITIONED TO START
SPENDING SOME OF THAT MONEY,
SOME OF THOSE FUNDS TODAY. IN
ANY EVENT I ALSO WANT TO NOTE
THAT AGAIN WE SCRATCHED THE
SURFACE TODAY. BE HERE ALL MONTH
TALKING ABOUT ALL THE NUANCE AND
ALL THE COMPLEXITY BUT ALSO JUST
WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE
SUBJECT MATTER COULD HAVE EASILY
BEEN DISCUSSED IN OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE , CHAIRED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE AND IN
FACT THERE MIGHT BE FOLLOW-UP
CONVERSATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE ALLUDED TO ONE WITH
RESPECT TO THE JAIL CAPACITY
ISSUE, WHICH IS ANOTHER
IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE BROADER
CHALLENGE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE
FUTURE, AND I WOULD SUPPORT AS
HIS VICE CHAIR ON PUBLIC SAFETY,
I WOULD SUPPORT FUTURE
CONVERSATIONS ON THIS TOPIC AT A
HIGH LEVEL OR WITH MORE SPECIFIC
FOCUS, BEING IN THAT COMMITTEE
BUT THERE IS SO MUCH
CROSS-POLLINATION, SO MUCH
OVERLAP. IN ANY EVENT I WILL
SHUT UP. I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU, EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU
ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF
YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES AND
CALENDARS. YOU COULD HAVE CHOSEN
TO BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
TODAY BUT YOU'RE HERE WITH US
AND I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT
SERIOUSLY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
TOPIC AND IT IS HARD AND YOU ALL
HAVE HANDLED YOURSELVES TODAY
WITH DIGNITY AND IT'S CLEAR TO
ME THAT YOU ARE ALL TAKING THIS
SERIOUSLY AND IT IS CLEAR TO ME
THAT WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DO MORE AND IT IS NOT JUST
ONE INDIVIDUAL, ONE GOVERNMENT,
WITHIN COMMUNITIES
AS WELL, SO IN ANY EVENT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY FINAL QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS? SHUT UP, ROB, GET OUT
OF HERE. COOL, ALL RIGHT. WELL,
ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT SAID , WE
HAVE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
MEETING AGENDA. OUR NEXT MEETING
IS ON MARCH 4th AT 9:30 A.M.
FINAL CALL FOR ANY FINAL
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE MEETING BEFORE WE
ADJOURN. HEARING NONE, SEEING
NONE, AND WE KNOW WHAT THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA WILL
BE, THE LEVY DELIVERY PLAN.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE WE ARE
ADJOURNED . IT IS 11:50 A.M.