>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> AND CAN YOU TAKE THAT ROLL
CALL, CAN YOU REPEAT
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER'S ROLL
CALL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> HERE.
>> OKAY, EIGHT PRESENT.
>> LET THE RECORD REFLECT,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS EXCUSED
UNTIL SHE ARRIVES. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. THIS IS
OUR FIRST, NOT OUR FIRST MEETING
OF THE YEAR, BUT IT'S OUR FIRST
COUNCIL BRIEFING OF THE YEAR,
AND IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE YOU
ALL HERE TODAY. SO IF THERE'S
NO OBJECTIONS, THE MINUTES OF
THE DECEMBER 15, 2025 WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT ON THE
PRESIDENT -- WE HAVE NO
PRESENTATIONS OR PROCLAMATIONS
FOR SIGNATURES TODAY, BUT WE
WILL GO OVER THE PROCESS FOR
PROCLAMATIONS AND LETTERS
SHORTLY. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY
EXECUTIVE SESSION SCHEDULED AS
WELL. ON TOMORROW'S CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA, WE DO HAVE ONE
PIECE OF LEGISLATION FROM THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE, RELATING TO
THE FLOODPLAIN TENT EXTENSION.
AND THAT INFORMATION, I BELIEVE
YOU ALL ARE STARTING TO GET THAT
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
FLOODPLAIN. IT'S SOMETHING WE
PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE OF LAND
USE COMMITTEE. AND SO I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT THE SIGNING OF
LETTERS AND PROCLAMATIONS.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED, BUT I KNOW
WE HAVE SOME NEW STAFF AND NEW
COUNCILMEMBERS, SO I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THERE'S NO LETTER OF
PROCLAMATIONS. I WANT TO REMIND
EVERYONE, IF YOU RECEIVE A
LETTER OR PROCLAMATION FROM
OUTSIDE THE CITY, FROM THE
EXECUTIVE OR ANYONE ELSE, THAT
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASK IF ANYONE
ELSE HAS RECEIVED IT AND WHETHER
THE SENDER WANTS COLLECTIVE
ACTION BY COMMITTEE OR FULL
COUNCIL. GETTING A SIGNATURE
FROM FULL COUNCIL BODY CAN ONLY
HAPPEN IN A MEETING SESSION,
WHETHER IT'S THIS OPEN SESSION
OR THE COUNCIL MEETINGS AS WELL.
WE'RE GOING TO USE COUNCIL
BRIEFING TO TAKE UP LETTERS AND
PROCLAMATIONS YOU MAY HAVE
RECEIVED INDIVIDUALLY OR OFFER
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO
RAISE TOPICS. AND THEN WE CAN
DECIDE IN AN OPEN SESSION,
WHETHER WE WANT TO JOIN ON THE
LETTER OF THE PROCLAMATION WITH
OUR SIGNATURE. OUR OFFICE IS
GOING TO BE SENDING OUT A
CONFERENCE GUIDELINE FOR
PROCLAMATIONS AND LETTERS
INCLUDING INTERNAL DEADLINES.
YOU'LL GET THAT BY THE END OF
THE DAY. IT'S THE SAME AS LAST
YEAR, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE ELEVATING THAT TO YOU
ALL. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
PLEASE TALK TO THE DEPUTY CLERK
OR THE LEGISLATIVE LEGAL
COUNCIL. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER
QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICY OR
INFORMATION AS WELL. SO PREVIEW
OF CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS AND
REGIONAL COMMITTEES. WE'RE
GOING TO BEGIN OUR NEXT
DISCUSSION OF THE PREVIEW OF
CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS IN COUNCIL
REGIONAL COMMITTEES. THE ORDER
OF DISCUSSION IS ESTABLISHED BY
THE ROTATED ROLL CALL FOR CITY
COUNCIL MEETINGS, WHICH IS
DESIGNATED ALPHABETICALLY BY
LAST NAME. I KNOW LAST YEAR, WE
DID IT THROUGH ROLL CALL AND
SOMETIMES WE WERE POPCORNING IT
AROUND. WE'LL DO ROLL CALL
TODAY, BUT IT WILL BE EASIER
OFTENTIMES TO GO TO OUR LEFT, IF
ANYONE HAS ANY DISAGREEMENTS
WITH THAT. AWESOME. SO I'LL
START WITH MY LEFT TODAY, IF
THAT'S OKAY. WE'RE IN SEATTLE,
SO WE CAN GO TO THE LEFT, RIGHT?
NAH, I'M JUST PLAYING. BUT
TODAY, IF ANYONE HAS ANY
OBJECTIONS WITH THAT, IS THAT
OKAY THAT WE GO IN THAT ORDER
LIKE THAT? JUST TO MAKE IT
EASIER? AWESOME. NOW, ALSO,
YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE UPDATES
ABOUT YOUR COMMITTEE, IF THERE
ARE ANY UPDATES. ALSO PLEASE
TAKE THE TIME TO DISCUSS
ANYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED. I
KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT OUT
STATEMENTS LAST WEEK REGARDING
THE FEDERAL STUFF THAT'S GOING
ON. PLEASE TAKE THIS TIME IF YOU
WISH TO DISCUSS THOSE AS WELL
INDIVIDUALLY. SO I WILL GO AHEAD
AND PASS OFF TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
BACK TO THE WAY OF DOING
BUSINESS AT COUNCIL BRIEFING OF
THE OLDEN TIMES, WHERE WE WOULD
LITERALLY GO AROUND THIS TABLE.
SO WHOEVER SAT WHERE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WOULD GO
FIRST. IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING
TO SEE WHO WOULD CHOOSE TO SIT
OVER THERE OR OVER HERE. BUT I
KIND OF LIKE THIS. WE'RE GOING
TO PASS IT OFF TO EACH OTHER.
JUST THE ACTIONS WE SAW FROM
FEDERAL OVER THE LAST WEEK IS
COMPLETELY UN-AMERICAN IN MY
OPINION. I DON'T NEED TO SPEND
MUCH MORE TIME RIGHT NOW. I KNOW
THERE'S CONTINUING WORK WE'RE
DOING TO MAKE SURE OUR
MUNICIPALITY IS STRONG AND
WORKING FOR SEATTLE NO MATTER
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY. WE MADE A LOT OF
BUDGET INVESTMENTS LAST YEAR.
WE'LL SEE A LOT OF THOSE THINGS
IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR. THERE ARE
THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR CONTROL,
AND WE'RE DOING THE BEST OF OUR
ABILITY. BUT FOR THOSE THINGS WE
CAN'T CONTROL, I WILL JUST SAY
IT'S UN-AMERICAN IN MY OPINION.
THE FINANCE NATIVE COMMITTEE
WILL HAVE, WE MEET ON THE FIRST
AND THIRD TUESDAYS AT 9:30. OUR
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS NEXT
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20. THIS IS THE
DAY AFTER MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DAY, AND IT IS RIGHT BEFORE
ASSOCIATION OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS MEETING THAT STARTS AT
NOON. SO WE WILL HAVE A VERY
EFFICIENT MEETING, WHICH IS WHY
I WANT TO START TALKING ABOUT
THE ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT WE HAVE TODAY, SINCE WE
DON'T HAVE COUNCIL BRIEFING
NEXT WEEK. THE BACKGROUND IS
LAST YEAR, WELL, LET ME JUST
START WITH THE END AND THEN GO
BACK TO THE BEGINNING. THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING PROGRAM,
AUTHORITY, NEEDS TO HAVE A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IS THE ENTITY THAT
COLLECTS THE TAX REVENUE, AND
THE SOCIAL HOUSING AUTHORITY IS
THE ONE IMPLEMENTING THIS OR
TAKING THIS REVENUE. SO JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. THIS
IS -- THIS SAN AGREEMENT THAT
WAS FORMALIZED BETWEEN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER. THIS IS
SOMETHING I WAS TRACKING
THROUGHOUT THE MAYORAL
TRANSITION AS THE FINANCE
DIRECTOR REPORTS TO MY
COMMITTEE. THIS IS IN ADDITION
TO AND DIFFERENT THAN THE LOAN
WE PASSED LAST YEAR. AND SO WE,
AS THE CITY, WILL COLLECT THE
TAX REVENUE. WE HAVE TO HAVE A
LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT SAYS HOW
WE'LL PASS IT THROUGH. JUST AS
A REMINDER, PROP 1A WAS PASSED
BY VOTERS LAST FEBRUARY. AND SO
THAT MEANS TAX COLLECTIONS
STARTED ON JANUARY 1 OF THIS
YEAR. SORRY, NOW WE'RE ABLE TO
EXPAND THOSE DOLLARS. AND SO NO,
THEY BEGIN THIS MONTH. AND SO
THIS MONEY IS COLLECTED BY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, AND HOW AND
WHEN THE MONEY WILL BE
TRANSFERRED TO THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER. LAST YEAR, WE
PASSED A LOAN, A $2 MILLION LOAN
THAT I SPONSORED TO GET THE
SEATTLE HOUSING, SEATTLE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER UP AND
RUNNING. THAT BRIDGE LOAN HELPED
THEM HIT THE LOAN RUNNING, AND
THE LEGISLATION I'LL DISCUSSED
NEXT MONTH WILL ALLOW FOR THE
TAX REVENUE AS IT IS COLLECTED
TO BE DISPOSED OF TO SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER. THE REASON
THIS IS TIMELY -- SO TO GET TO
THIS AGREEMENT, LAWYERS FROM THE
CITY AND LAWYERS FROM THE
AUTHORITY ALL SAT DOWN TOGETHER
AND CAME UP WITH THIS AGREEMENT,
WHICH IS WHY THERE IS NOT AN
OPPORTUNITY TO AMENDMENT THIS
AGREEMENT, WHICH I STRONGLY
DISCOURAGE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE
ARE IN A VERY TIGHT WINDOW. THIS
IS WHY I STARTED WORKING ON THIS
LAST NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
BECAUSE WE SAW THIS TIGHT WINDOW
APPROACHING, WHICH IS WE'LL
HAVE THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY, ALL
THE RECEIPTS ARE COLLECTED BY
FEBRUARY 25, AND THEN OUR
SCHEDULE TO START PAYING OUT
FROM THE TAX REVENUE. SO IF WE
DO NOT HAVE THIS BILL NOT ONLY
PASS, BUT THEN ACTUALLY WITHIN
30 DAYS, THEN WE ARE LATE. AND
IT COULD CREATE UNNECESSARY
CHALLENGES. THAT IS WHY I'M
REQUESTING WE DO NOT TAKE
AMENDMENTS WITHOUT SPEAKING TO
LAWYERS. AND THIS IS A RARE
OPPORTUNITY, WHERE WE WILL ONLY
HAVE IT THIS BILL IN MY
COMMITTEE ONCE. USUALLY I HAVE A
BRIEFING AND THEN A VOTE. BUT
BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINESS THAT
WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION, WE'RE
JUST GOING TO TAKE A VOTE AND
SEND IT TO FULL COUNCIL FOR THE
FOLLOWING WEEK. THERE IS TIME
PRESSURE, AND THOSE NOTES. SO
I'M GOING TO PAUSE RIGHT THERE
AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS ON THAT BEFORE I GO
INTO MY OTHER STUFF. NOT SEEING
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. JENNIFER IS
THE ONE WORKING ON THIS. PLEASE
JUST LET ME KNOW. MY GOAL HERE
IS TO GET THIS THING DONE
QUICKLY TO BUILD THE HOUSING
THAT WE NEED. MY COMMITTEE DOES
NOT HAVE ANY LEGISLATION COMING
FULL COUNCIL TOMORROW. SPEAKING
ABOUT MY EXTERNAL COMMITTEE,
SOUND TRANSIT SYSTEM COMMITTEE
MET LAST WEEK, AUTHORIZING THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO
MODIFY THE CONTRACT FOR THE
SOUTH GRAHAM STREET AND SOUTH
BOEING ACCESS ROAD STATIONS. WE
ALSO ADDED WHAT WE HOPE TO BE
THE LAST AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GET
ACROSS LAKE WASHINGTON WITH A
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE'RE
GOING TO GET ACROSS THAT LAKE IN
Q2 OF NEXT YEAR. I'VE HEARD MAY
30 IS A SAFE DATE, AND I'M
HOPING IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE
SOONER. WE ARE IN PREREVENUE
SERVICE, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT
MILESTONE TO HIT BEFORE WE COULD
START RUNNING TRAINS IN FULL
REVENUE SERVICE. WE ALSO HAVE
THE PINEHURST STATION OPENING IN
QUARTER THREE NEXT YEAR ON 130th
STREET, AS WELL AS SOUND TRANSIT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BE
MEETING NEXT THURSDAY, JANUARY
22. FOR ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON
CITY OR COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND
I ARE BOTH BOARD CHAIRS. WE WILL
BE AT A BOARD MEETING, AND CITY
ACTION DAY IS NEXT WEEK. I
REALIZE I WAS TALKING TO
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER THIS
WEEKEND, WE HAVEN'T DONE THE
SAME PUSH WE DID LAST YEAR TO
GET COUNCILMEMBERS DOWN TO CITY
ACTION DAYS. IT'S HAPPENING A
LITTLE BIT SOONER THAN IT DID
LAST YEAR. IF ANY OF YOU ARE
ABLE TO MAKE IT, EVEN FOR A DAY
OR HALF A DAY NEXT WEEK, LAST
YEAR, CITY OF SEATTLE HAD THE
BEST AND HIGHEST PARTICIPATION
IN ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON
CITY'S ACTION DAYS IT IN OVER A
DECADE. AND SO LET'S KEEP IT
UP. COME ON DOWN FOR HALF A DAY,
QUARTER OF A DAY, FULL DAY.
IT'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO GET TO MEET OTHER ELECTIVES
IN OTHER CITIES. NO MATTER HOW
BIG OR SMALL OUR CITY IS, WE ALL
SHARE A LOT OF THE SAME
PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS IT'S OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO LOBBY OUR
LEGISLATURES, AND REMIND THEM
THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
PAYING FOR SERVICES THAT ARE A
RESPONSIBILITY. WITH THAT, WITH
THAT, BACK TO DISTRICT SIX. I
USUALLY TRY TO KEEP THIS SECTION
REALLY BRIEF BECAUSE I COULD
TALK ABOUT DISTRICT SIX ALL DAY.
ON THAT, ON SATURDAY, I ATTENDED
THE MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY CENTER
GRAND OPENING. THIS PROJECT HAS
BEEN A LONG TIME COMING WITH
PLANNING STARTING IN 2017. THE
PROJECT TOOK LONGER THAN
EXPECTED. AND IT WAS BECAUSE
HALFWAY THROUGH THE PROJECT,
EVERYONE MADE A GOOD SOUND
DECISION TO REPLACE THE
BASKETBALL FLOOR. IT WAS, AT
THAT TIME, THE OLDEST BASKETBALL
FLOOR IN OUR ENTIRE INVENTORY.
IF IT HAD NOT BEEN DONE AT THAT
TIME, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
DOWN UNTIL THE NEXT BUILDING
RENOVATION IN PROBABLY 20 PLUS
YEARS. SO IT TOOK LONGER, BUT
I'LL TELL YOU, GO CHECK IT OUT.
THAT'S A GREAT BASKETBALL
FLOOR. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, MAGNOLIA
IS A PENINSULA. IT HAS HAD ZERO
CITY BUILDINGS THAT ARE OPEN TO
THE PUBLIC SINCE THE VISITOR
CENTER AT DISCOVERY PARK
FLOODED. AND SO THIS IS NOW, WE
HAD A CITY BUILDING OPEN IN
MAGNOLIA, AND WHILE AT THE SAME
TIME, THAT VISITOR CENTER IT IN
DISCOVERY PARK, THE FLOOD THAT
TOOK OUT THE SYSTEM IS MORE
EXPENSIVE THAN ANTICIPATED
INITIALLY, SO THAT PROJECT IS
ALSO GOING TO TAKE LONGER THAN
EXPECTED. SO GLAD TO HAVE THAT
COMMUNITY CENTER BACK OPEN. I
WILL BEGIN HOSTING MY OFFICE
HOURS AGAIN ON A WEEKLY BASIS
THIS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, AS
WELL AS I'LL BE HOSTING A TOWN
HALL LATER THIS MONTH. I'M
EXCITED TO BE BACK, BACK IN THE
DISTRICT WITH EVERYONE ON A REAL
REGULAR BASIS. COLLEAGUES, THAT
IS MY REPORT. ANY QUESTIONS AT
THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, I'LL
PASS IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. SO I'LL START OFF
SAYING HAPPY TO BE HERE AND
THANK YOU, CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
MY COMMITTEE MEETING FOR NEXT
WEEK FOR HOUSING ARTS AND CIVIL
RIGHTS IS CANCELED, HOWEVER, OUR
OFFICE WILL BE WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ON THE
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR SOCIAL
HOUSING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
DOING SO, AND REALLY EXCITED TO
MAKE SURE THIS IMPORTANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD. I
APPRECIATE YOU TAKING IT UP IN
YOUR COMMITTEE AND WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH MY OFFICE
TO GET THAT DONE. I ALSO WILL
STAY ON THE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS TRAIN FOR A MOMENT HERE
AND SAY I JOINED COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS THIS WEEKEND AT THE
MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY CENTER GRAND
REOPENING. WHAT AN ABSOLUTE
PLEASURE IT WAS TO SEE SO MANY
FAMILIES WITH REALLY YOUNG
CHILDREN THERE FOR THE GRAND
OPENING, GETTING OUT THERE, THE
RIBBON CUTTING RATHER. GETTING
OUT THERE. SCUFFING UP THE
FLOOR. WE GOT TO SEE GIRLS
BASKETBALL GAME. IT WAS A GAME
OR PRACTICE ACTUALLY. BUT IT WAS
REALLY FANTASTIC. AND OUR PARKS
IN OUR COMMUNITY CENTER WILL
PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR
FAMILIES. IT WAS REALLY CLEAR
AND VERY ON DISPLAY THERE, SO I
WANT TO SEND MY APPRECIATION TO
THE STAFF AT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT WHO WORKED ON THAT,
AND REALLY COMMEND THEM FOR A
JOB WELL DONE AND FOR LEADING
WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE SAID WAS AN
INCLUSIVE PROCESS. AND ALSO
EXCITING TO SAY THEY'VE GOT LOTS
OF NEW WINDOWS ON THAT BUILDING
THAT WILL HELP MAKE IT A CLIMATE
HAD SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE IN THE
SUMMER, AND MAKE THAT COMMUNITY
REALLY ENJOYABLE, SO THAT WAS
FANTASTIC. YOU KNOW, ON THE MORE
SOMBER NOTE, THE OTHER THING I
DID OVER THE WEEKEND WAS ATTEND
YESTERDAY'S, EXCUSE ME, VIGIL
AND RALLY IN CAL ANDERSON WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS
WHO WERE GATHERING IN RESPONSE
TO THE I.C.E. SHOOTINGS THAT
TOOK PLACE OVER THE LAST WEEK. I
WANT TO APPRECIATION THE FOLKS
WHO ORGANIZED THAT AND PUT THAT
EVENT ON, AND ALSO SAY AS THEIR
OFFICES CONTINUE TO SAY, THIS
KIND OF, AS YOU SAID,
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITY TARGETING
OUR NEIGHBORS, REMOVING PEOPLE,
AND REALLY CREATING AN
ENVIRONMENT OF FEAR AND REALLY
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT
UNDERMINES PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OUR
RESIDENTS, AND CONTINUES TO PUT
SO MANY PEOPLE ON EDGE, AND
PREVENT PEOPLE FROM FULLY
ANTICIPATING IN CIVIC LIFE,
RIGHT? WE HEARD FROM FOLKS WHO
ARE NOT GOING TO FOOD BANKS OR
DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, OR OTHER
KINDS OF CRITICAL CARE AND
COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY
HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE
PARTICIPATING IN. SO I WANT TO
COMMEND THE COUNCIL AND COMMEND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR THE
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
THAT YOU PUT FORWARD. I'M SURE
YOU'LL SPEAK ABOUT THAT. AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
COLLEAGUES HERE ON ADDITIONAL
LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
KEEPING PEOPLE AS SAFE AS
POSSIBLE, ONCE WE GET THE REPORT
BACK, EXCUSE ME, ON THAT
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR MY
UPDATE. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOOD
AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES, AND FIRST
OFF, LET ME TAKE A MOMENT TO
REMARK AND COMMENT AND SAY I
LOVE SEEING IT. WE ARE JOINED AT
THE TABLE AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
ELUDED TO IN HER OPENING
REMARKS. NEW COMPOSITION, NEW
YEAR, NEW US, SO I WANT TO
EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS.
WELCOME TO OUR TWO NEWEST
COLLEAGUES. COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
AND LIN HERE. REALLY EXCITED TO
HAVE YOU AT THIS TABLE ON AN
INFORMAL BASIS AS WE GO THROUGH
OUR REGULAR COUNCIL BRIEFING
BUSINESS. SO LOVE SEEING YOU AND
WELCOME. ON THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE FRONT. COLLEAGUES, AS
WE KNOW, WE NOW HAVE A NEWLY
RESTRUCTURED, RECONFIGURED SET
OF COMMITTEES. NOT JUST
TRANSPORTATION, BUT THE NEW
TRANSPORTATION, THE OFFICIAL
FORMAL NAME IS, I THINK,
TRANSPORTATION, OFFICE OF
WATERFRONT, AND SEATTLE CENTER.
THAT IS THE OFFICIAL NAME. WE'LL
FIGURE OUT SOME FUN UNOFFICIAL
NAMES FOR IT DOWN THE ROAD. BUT
THAT IS THE OFFICIAL FORMAL
NAME. WHEN I SEE THESE CHANGES,
AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR WORK
IN OUR COMMITTEE. I THINK ABOUT
A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST AND
FOREMOST AS WE GO THROUGH THIS,
AS THEY WENT THROUGH THIS
PROCESS, RECONFIGURING, OUR
NEWEST PERSONNEL CHANGES. SO I
WANT TO WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK AS OUR FEW HAD VICE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE. AND THEN ALSO
OUR TWO NEWEST COLLEAGUES AS
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AS
WELL. AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER AND LIN. WHEN I THINK
ABOUT THE NEW COMMITTEE, WHICH
NOW IN ADDITION TO SDOT ALSO
INCLUDES OUR OFFICE OF
WATERFRONT AND SEATTLE CENTER.
AND TO THINK ABOUT HOW ALL THOSE
THINGS KIND OF TIE TOGETHER, AND
WHAT KIND OF CLEAR AND
CONSISTENT COHERENT STORY THOSE
MEAN FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE
AND OUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK. I THINK
ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST
AND FOREMOST, I THINK ABOUT
SAFETY. MORE SPECIFICALLY, NOT
JUST SAFETY AS IN PUBLIC SAFETY
OR COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE
MORE BROADLY. I'M THINKING MORE
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ROAD SAFETY,
TRAFFIC SAFETY. SO SAFETY IS
VERY TOP OF MIND FOR ME AS
COMMITTEE CHAIR. NEXT THING I
THINK ABOUT, OF COURSE, IS
TRANSPORTATION. THIS IS THE
NEWEST ITERATION OF OUR
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, SO I
THINK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION. I
ALSO THINK ABOUT TO TIE IN AND
PICK UP THE MISSION OF OUR
WATERFRONT, AND SOME OF THE
ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND
OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
SEATTLE CENTER. I THINK ABOUT
ENGINEERING PROJECTS. BECAUSE OF
THE SEATTLE CENTER, THE
WATERFRONT'S ROLE, PROMINENT
ROLE IN ENSURING WE HAVE A VERY
SUCCESSFUL, VIBRANT, SAFE, AND
WELCOMING WORLD CUP LATER THIS
YEAR. I THINK ABOUT SPORTS AND
EXPERIENCES. SPORTS AND
EXPERIENCES. SO TOGETHER THOSE
THINGS, I THINK AT A HIGH LEVEL,
THOSE CONSTRUCTS ARE GOING TO
BE, I ANTICIPATE THE CROOKS OF
THE COMMITTEE'S WORK, THE
COMING YEARS, AND THE BASIS FOR
US TO CONTINUE TO DO GREAT WORK
IN THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE THE
VERY FIRST THINGS I SAID, SAFETY
FIRST. BECAUSE OF THAT, WHICH IS
A GOOD SEGWAY INTO OUR COMMITTEE
AGENDA, WHICH IS STILL BEING
FINALIZED. I'LL TELL YOU,
SPOILER ALERT, WHAT IT IS,
BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR VERY FIRST
MEETING COMING UP OF THE YEAR ON
THURSDAY. THURSDAY MORNING
BECAUSE SAFETY FIRST, OUR FIRST
AGENDA ITEM. I'VE INVITED THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO COME IN AND
REPORT OUT ON THE CURRENT STATE
OF OUR SAFETY INITIATIVES ACROSS
THE CITY. TRAFFIC SAFETY
INITIATIVES. MORE SPECIFICALLY,
I ASKED THEM TO DISCUSS THREE
THINGS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, COME
IF AND REPORT OUT MORE BROADLY,
MORE FROM A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE
FROM THE OVERALL STATE OF OUR
TRAFFIC SAFETY EFFORTS. THE
SECOND THING I'VE ASKED THEM TO
DO IS COME AND TALK ABOUT OUR
CURRENT PROGRESS AGAINST OUR
VERY AMBITIOUS GOALS, WHICH YOU
ALL KNOW, OF COURSE, IS OUR
INITIATIVE TO -- TO ULTIMATELY
ACHIEVE ZERO DEATHS AND SERIOUS
INJURIES ON OUR ROADS BY 2030.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT PROGRESS
AGAINST OUR GOALS. THE THIRD AND
FINAL THING, PROBABLY THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING, IS TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPEDIMENTS OF
SUCCESS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
SYSTEMIC BARRIERS OR CHALLENGES
WE FACE AS A CITY, AS A REGION
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE
CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES
AND IMPEDIMENTS OF SUCCESS? SO
AGAINST THAT BACKDROP AND FOR
THE REASON I MENTIONED EARLIER,
THAT'S GOING TO BE AGENDA ITEM
ONE, INTENTIONALLY SO. THEN WE
HAVE SOME OTHER IMPORTANT
CARRYOVER ITEMS FROM, I BELIEVE,
DECEMBER. WE USED TO BE CALLED
OUR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MEETING, WHICH INCLUDE, I THINK,
A SKY BRIDGE PERMIT. MAYBE A
VACATION IN THERE AS WELL. BUT
BASICALLY THE CARRYOVER ITEMS
FROM THE VERY LAST FORMALLY
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. SO AN
IMPORTANT FIRST COMMITTEE WE
HAVE AHEAD, AND THAT'S COMING
AGAIN ON THURSDAY. REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. ON THE
REGIONAL COMMITTEE FRONT, I'VE
ALREADY HAD A NUMBER OF REGIONAL
COMMITTEES IN IT HAD VERY SHORT,
LESS THAN A WEEK SINCE WE PASSED
AND AUTHORIZED OUR NEW COMMITTEE
STRUCTURE, INTERNAL AND
EXTERNAL, BUT I'LL JUST FOCUS
FOR A MOMENT ON OUR LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. WE MOST
RECENTLY MET LAST TUESDAY. GREAT
MEETING AS A COMMITTEE. THE
COMMITTEE IS CURRENTLY FOCUSED
ON FORMATION AND GOVERNANCE, AND
MORE SPECIFICALLY, IT IS
FINALIZING ITS BYLAWS, HOW IT'S
GOING TO OPERATE. I ANTICIPATE
THAT WILL CARRY OVER INTO NEXT
MONTH'S MEETING AS WELL. SO
MORE EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS TO
COME. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FROM
AN INTERNAL COMMITTEE
PERSPECTIVE AND ALSO A REGIONAL
PERSPECTIVE AS WELL. YOU SHOULD
ALSO NOTE ON, YOU KNOW, FROM A
COMMUNITY FRONT, WE ALL DO A LOT
OF THINGS ALL THE TIME. WHAT
I'M ABOUT TO SAY IS AN
EXHAUSTED LIST BY SOME OF THE
THINGS WE'VE BEEN UP TO OR IN
THE HOPPER FOR INDUSTRY FOCUS.
BUT LAST FRIDAY NIGHT WAS A BIG
EVENT FOR DISTRICT ONE. SERIES
OF EVENTS IN DISTRICT ONE. I
WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
FOR JOINING ME. I WAS HONORED TO
PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TOGETHER
WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO HONOR
REGINA, WHO UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED
AWAY, BUT REGINA WAS AN
INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
LEGEND. HER JERSEY NUMBER, 34, I
THINK, WAS RETIRED BY THE SCHOOL
A COUPLE YEARS AGO. UDUB
BASKETBALL STAR. JUST A LOCAL
LEGEND. JUST SO ACTIVE IN OUR
COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS.
MOTHER, COUSIN, DAUGHTER. REGINA
ROGERS UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY
RECENTLY. IT WAS HONORED TO
HONOR HER LASTING LEGACY WITH
THE TEAM AND WITH THE COMMUNITY,
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HER
FAMILY, AT THAT EVENT. THANK YOU
AGAIN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. IT
MEANT A LOT TO MY CONSTITUENTS
AND ESPECIALLY MEANT A LOT TO
THE FAMILIES. THANK YOU FOR
JOINING ME. COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
THANK YOU AS WELL FOR JOINING
ME. LATER, WE WENT TO AN EVENT,
WHERE WE WATCHED THE DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES CAME TOGETHER TO
WATCH ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL EVENT.
IT WAS A STANDING ROOM ONLY. I
HAD A BLAST, MY SON'S HAD A
BLAST. COMMUNITY WAS EVERYWHERE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF -- THE NUMBER
ONE RANKED RECRUIT IN THE
COUNTRY HAD LIKE 20 POINTS,
REVERSE WINDMILL DUNKS ALONE.
BUT IT WAS A FUN CELEBRATION,
AND COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER.
IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE COUNCIL
MEMBERS COME TOGETHER AS WELL.
AND THE FINAL THING I'LL SAY,
LOOK, YOU DON'T SEE MY SOCIAL
MEDIA OR NEWSLETTER. I DON'T
WANT TO HIJACK THIS MEETING. BUT
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK IN
MINNEAPOLIS AND IN PORTLAND
AFTERWARDS IS SHOOTINGS,
KILLINGS, AT LEAST IN THE CASE
OF ONE OF THEM, I THINK, MURDER
BY I.C.E. TO COMMUNITY SHOWING
UP TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST. IT'S
OUTRAGEOUS, IT SHOCKS THE
CONSCIOUS. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS
HISTORIC, MAKE NO MISTAKE. IT'S
UNPRECEDENTED. I THINK -- I ALSO
THINK IT HAPPENS TO BE UNLAWFUL
AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT WE ARE
SEEING A WEAPONIZATION, AND A
DEPLOYMENT OF A MILITARIZATION,
INCLUDING MILITARY DEPLOYMENTS
IN OUR BLUE CITIES N OUR
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
AND AS WE KNOW, IT'S -- PEOPLE
ARE CONCERNED, PEOPLE ARE
SCARED, PEOPLE ARE TRAUMATIZED,
AND TERRIFIED OF WHAT'S COMING
NEXT. IT'S DOING MORE TO
CONTRAVENE AND UNDERMINE PUBLIC
SAFETY THAN ANYTHING THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD DO, AND
WE NEED TO DO BETTER. THAT'S
ALL I'LL SAY FOR NOW HERE. BUT
IN ANY EVENT, I WANT TO END ON
THAT SOMBER NOTE. AND THAT IS
ALL I HAVE, THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO START ON THE
SOMBER NOTE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S
FRONT OF MIND FOR SO MANY OF US
AT THIS TABLE AND SO MANY IN
COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, I
WOULD SAY I WANT TO REMARK ON
THE HORRIFYING EVENTS OF LAST
WEEK, BUT WHICH ONES? AND WHO
KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
BY THE TIME WE GET OUT OF THIS
MEETING AND I CHECK MY PHONE TO
SEE THE NEWS. THAT'S THE
REALITY WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS A
BODY FOR MONTHS NOW THAT THE
FLURRY OF ACTIVITY IS A PART OF
THE STRATEGY TO KEEP US BUSY AND
CONFUSED AND PARALYZED. AND I
THINK THAT IS JUST A VERY MUCH
FELT SENTIMENT RIGHT NOW. AND
IT'S, AGAIN, NOT LOST ON ME
WITHIN AN HOUR OF COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER AND I PUTTING OUT OUR
STATEMENT LAST WEEK, WE CAME TO
LEARN ABOUT THE SHOOTING THAT
HAPPENED IN PORTLAND. AND IT'S
ALSO NOT LOST ON ME THAT EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF US AT THIS TABLE
STOOD IN THESE CHAMBERS. WHEN WE
SWORE IN, WE SWORE TO UPHOLD THE
CONSTITUTION. SO IT'S A FRONT
TO ALL OF US, WHAT WE ARE SEEING
ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL. AND SO I
CAN'T SAY I HAVE THE PERFECT
WORDS TODAY, MY DISMAY, MY
DISGUST, MY ANGER OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING, BUT I DO KNOW ACTION
SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS. I'M
GOING TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON
ACTION. I KNOW OVER THE PAST
YEAR, WE'VE WORKED DILIGENTLY
AS A BODY, AND WE'LL WORK AS A
BODY TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS.
SO I'LL BE PUTTING OUT A
NEWSLETTER TODAY, JUST FOR ANY
OF THE PUBLIC LISTENING IN KIND
OF A RECAP OF WHAT WE WERE UP TO
LAST YEAR FROM OUR WORK IN
FEDERAL COMMITTEE TO THE
WELCOMING CITY AND RESOLUTION,
THE NEW FUNDING. THAT WILL
EXPAND SERVICES TO OUR IMMIGRANT
NEIGHBORS. AND AS WAS MENTIONED
EARLIER, WE HAVE THIS STATEMENT
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT, THAT
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR
SUPPORTING IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS. AND I HAVE BEGUN
DISCUSSION WITH CHAIR, PUBLIC
SAFETY CHAIR KETTLE ON
OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE WE CAN
HAVE THAT STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT FROM THE
COMMITTEE, SO WE COULD HAVE THAT
DIALOGUE. I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
ONE PIECE RELATED TO THE STATE
LEVEL IT IN TERMS OF ACTION THAT
I HOPE WE COULD ALL BE
MONITORING IN THIS STATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT IT
BEGAN TODAY, SO MY OFFICE IS
TRACKING TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION. THE FIRST IS SENATE
BILL 5855, 5855, WHICH WOULD
PROHIBIT LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS FROM WEARING MASKS AND
OTHER FACE COVERINGS WHILE
INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLIC,
UNLESS THE I.C.E. AGENT IS
UNDERCOVER OR USING PROTECTIVE
SAFETY GEAR. AND THEN ALSO
MONITORING SENATE BILL 5906,
WHICH WOULD REINFORCE EXISTING,
FEDERAL, AND STATE PRIVACY LAWS
WHILE RESTRICTING HOW
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CAN
OPERATE IT IN SCHOOLS,
HOSPITALS, CHILDCARE FACILITIES,
COLLEGES, AND ELECTION OFFICES.
BOTH BILLS ARE BEING HEARD IN
THE LEGISLATURE, ACTUALLY THIS
WEEK, SO WE'LL BE CLOSELY
MONITORING THOSE. AND I KNOW AS
WE HAVE NEW COLLEAGUES ON THIS
COUNCIL, WE HAVE A NEW CITY
ATTORNEY, A NEW MAYOR. WE'RE
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING ALONGSIDE THEM AND
CRAFTING SOLUTIONS TO DEAL WITH
THESE TREMENDOUSLY UNPRECEDENTED
TIMES. BUT I KNOW WE'RE GOING
TO BE FOCUSING ON ACTION, AND
COLLEAGUES WORKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU TO DO OUR PART
TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE. BY
WAY OF SOME COMMITTEE UPDATES,
WE'LL BE SENDING OUT A NOTICE
LATER TODAY, BUT WE WILL NOT BE
HOLDING OUR MEETING OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES LABOR AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
THIS WEEK. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS
OF DEVELOPING OUR ANNUAL WORK
PLAN AND WORKING WITH THE WILSON
ADMINISTRATION AND SHAPING THE
AGENDA FOR THE YEAR, ESPECIALLY
WITH NEW LEADERSHIP COMING INTO
THE DEPARTMENTS. I WILL BE
SERVING ON THE GOVERN COMMITTEE,
BY WAY OF REGIONAL COMMITTEES
FOR THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE
CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE COC
SITUATION. THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON THIS ISSUE.
WE KNOW THE CONTINUUM OF CARE
FUNDING IS TREMENDOUSLY
IMPORTANT FOR KEEPING FOLKS
HOUSED, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE UPDATES ON THAT. LASTLY,
I'LL CLOSE WITH JUST A COUPLE
OF COMMUNITY EVENTS. I ATTENDED
THE VIGIL AT THE WATERFRONT. I
KNOW THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
COMMUNITY EVENTS OVER THE PAST
WEEK. I ATTENDED THE VIGIL AT
THE WATERFRONT, THAT WAS
FOCUSED, REALLY, WE KNOW
THERE'S A RALLYING CRY AROUND
THE KILLING OF RENEE GOOD, BUT
ALSO A RECOGNITION OF THAT EVENT
IN A BROADER VIGIL FOR ALL OF
THE FOLKS WHO HAVE DIED IN
I.C.E. CUSTODY OR AT THE HANDS
OF DHS OFFICERS. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THERE'S
BEEN A NUMBER OF DOCS AND FOLKS
WHO HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNATELY
BRUTALIZED AND HARMED IN CUSTODY
THROUGHOUT THIS FEDERAL REGIME.
LASTLY, I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING
THIS WEEK, MY TEAM WILL BE
VISITING WITH THE SOMALI
COMMUNITY SERVICES OF SEATTLE,
AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT VISIT, STANDING
IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR SOMALI
NEIGHBORS, GIVEN THE RHETORIC
THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN FACING.
WITH THAT, THAT CLOSES MY
UPDATE. OH, I NEED TO DO THIS.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COULD I -- I
WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN EXCUSAL
FOR THE MONDAY BRIEFING.
>> ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS?
SEEING NONE, YOU ARE EXCUSED.
>> THOSE ARE ALL MY UPDATES.
>> ALL RIGHT, HELLO, COLLEAGUES.
THIS SOUNDS ESPECIALLY LOUD FOR
ME TODAY. FIRST OF ALL, THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR BRINGING UP,
GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DISCUSS AND REALLY ALLOW US TO
SHOW UNITY, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE
A UNITED FRONT AROUND THE
DISGUSTING AND UNCONSCIONABLE
CRUEL ACTIONS BY I.C.E., THE
KILLING OF RENEE GOOD IN
MINNEAPOLIS. THIS IS NOT THE
UNITED STATES WE DESERVE TO HAVE
BANS SNATCHING PEOPLE OFF THE
STREETS IS DEEPLY WRONG AND
SHAMEFUL. I, FOR ONE, REALLY
WANT TO DETERMINE WHAT IS
LEGALLY POSSIBLE FOR SEATTLE AND
THE STATE TO PREVENT THESE
ACTIONS AND TO KEEP ALL OF OUR
RESIDENTS SAFE FROM THESE
BARBARIC PRACTICES. I BELIEVE
ALSO THESE ACTIONS TO BE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ILLEGAL AS
OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA BROUGHT UP. I AM REACHING
OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
ALSO TO THE STATE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE TO SEE WHAT
NEXT STEPS CAN BE IN TERMS OF
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO HERE,
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE ALL
UNITED IN OUR OUTRAGE TO SAY THE
LEAST, AND ALSO I KNOW THERE ARE
LEGAL THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO
DO AND NOT DO UNFORTUNATELY, IN
TRYING TO PREVENT THESE I.C.E.
ACTIONS HERE IN SEATTLE, SO I
WANT TO EDUCATE MYSELF AND
REALLY REACH OUT TO SEE WHAT WE
CAN DO LEGALLY BECAUSE I DO
THINK THESE ACTIONS ARE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND I THINK,
YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE GOING TO
THINK ABOUT SUING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WE'VE ISSUED OVER
-- NOT ISSUED, BUT WE BROUGHT
THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
OUR ATTORNEY AS WELL BROUGHT
ACTIONS AGAINST THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION. IS THAT
SOMETHING WE CAN DO RELATED TO
THESE I.C.E. ACTIONS HERE IN
SEATTLE. I WANT TO KNOW, SO I
WILL BE REACHING OUT AND HOPING
TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU ONCE WE
DETERMINE WHAT IS ACTUALLY
ACTIONABLE BECAUSE THE LAST
THING I WANT TO DO IS, YOU KNOW,
WE CAN SAY HOW WE FEEL AND WE
SHOULD IN SUPPORTING OUR
CONSTITUENTS, AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE REALLY CLEAR ON
WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO., AND NOT
GIVE OUR RESIDENTS IN SEATTLE,
YOU KNOW, JUST FALSE HOPE ON
WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO. WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE ACTUALLY BRING
FORWARD SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
ABLE TO ACT UPON AND REALLY
ENFORCE, RATHER THAN JUST SAY WE
DON'T WANT I.C.E. HERE BECAUSE
WE ALL KNOW WE DON'T WANT
I.C.E. HERE. BUT IS THERE A WAY
WE CAN PREVENT I.C.E.'S CURRENT
ACTIONS FROM COMING HERE IN
SEATTLE AND DOING THE SAME AS
YOU DID IN MINNEAPOLIS AND IN
PORTLAND, FOR INSTANCE. ANY WAY,
MORE TO COME AS I LEARN MORE.
ALSO, I WANT TO GIVE ANOTHER
HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
NEW COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND A WARM
WELCOME TO OUR NEW COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. WELCOME
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. REALLY
EXCITED TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
MOVING FORWARD. COLLEAGUES, ALSO
I WANTED TO SAY I AM VERY
SADDENED AND REALLY DISMAYED TO
HEAR ABOUT THE ANTI-SEMITIC ACT
AND HATE ACT IN MISSISSIPPI AT
THE SYNAGOGUE THERE THAT IS
REAL, WHICH DESTROYED TWO
TORAHS. THAT IS A REALLY BIG
DEAL TO DESTROY A TORAH, LET
ALONE TWO. UM -- THIS IS HARD
FOR ME, AS YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY
IS JEWISH. WE PRACTICE HERE IN
SEATTLE. THIS IS NOT OKAY. I AM
SO DISMAYED ABOUT THE
ANTI-SEMITISM THAT WE'RE SEEING
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO WANTED TO
MENTION BETH ISRAEL IN
MISSISSIPPI AND HOLDING THEM IN
MY THOUGHTS. ON A DIFFERENT
NOTE, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
OVER MY PERSONAL VACATION TO
VISIT THE SISTER CITY THAT IS
ASSIGNED TO ME, WHICH IS IN
ISRAEL AND GOT TO MEET WITH A
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. IT WAS A
REALLY MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE. I
ALSO GOT TO SIT IN AND ATTEND A
CLIMATE CONFERENCE THAT THEY
WERE HAVING, WHICH WAS REALLY A
MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO
HEAR ABOUT HOW CLIMATE IS
IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITY, IT'S
IN THE SOUTH OF ISRAEL, SO CLOSE
TO THE DESERT. CLIMATE IS REALLY
IMPACTING THEIR ABILITY TO GROW
FOOD, AND ACTUALLY AN AWARD WAS
GIVEN TO A SCIENTIST AND ALSO
WHO IS ALSO A FARMER, WHO WAS
WORKING ON MITIGATING FOR THE
DESTRUCTION OF CROPS DUE TO
CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOME THINGS
HE WAS ABLE TO IMPLEMENT HAS
BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE
DESTRUCTION OF CROPS FROM 50% TO
5%, SO THAT WAS A BIG DEAL. SO
ALL THIS TO SAY, YOU KNOW,
CLIMATE IS SOMETHING THAT THE
WHOLE WORLD OBVIOUSLY IS
EXPERIENCING. IT'S REALLY
INTERESTING TO HEAR HOW OTHER
COUNTRIES ARE DEALING WITH
CLIMATE CHANGE, AND I THINK
THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN BE
DOING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES,
AND IT IN PARTICULAR, SEATTLE
AND WASHINGTON STATE, SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ON WHAT
WASHINGTON STATE IS DOING. I'M
A LITTLE DISMAY IN WASHINGTON
STATE. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE -- OUR
HEARTS ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION
STANDPOINT, WE COULD BE DOING A
LOT MORE. I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT BUDGET CUTS, I FEEL
THE CLIMATE EFFORTS OR THE
THINGS THAT TEND TO GO FIRST,
AND THAT IS OF CONCERN TO ME.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION
NOW, THIS IS, AS YOU ALL KNOW,
GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT
LONG-TERM IMPACTS. SO, YOU KNOW,
AS A MOTHER, I'M GOING TO LEAVE
THE PLANET IN A BETTER PLACE FOR
MY KIDS AND ALL OUR KIDS
COLLECTIVELY, SO THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN REALLY
THINKING ABOUT MORE RECENTLY AND
SOMETHING I'M GOING TO BE
LOOKING INTO IN TERMS OF, YOU
KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO HERE IN
SEATTLE AND IN WASHINGTON STATE
TO REALLY SUPPORT AND PUT OUR
MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS, IN
TERMS OF THESE CLIMATE IMPACTS.
ANY WAY, I JUST WANT TODAY SAY I
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT,
AND WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OUR SISTER
CITIES. OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE
FUNDING FOR THAT, AND I FEEL
REALLY PRIVILEGED TO HAVE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON A
PERSONAL NOTE. WHILE WAS THERE,
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO VISIT OUR
SISTER CITY, SO THAT WAS VERY
MEANINGFUL TO ME, AS I SAID
EARLIER. IN TERMS OF COMMITTEE
WORK, I HAVE MEETINGS SET UP
WITH, I'M SORRY, IN TERMS OF
THE COMMITTEE WORK, WE HAVE OUR
FIRST LIBRARIES, EDUCATION, AND
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE MEETING
THIS WEDNESDAY AT 9:30 A.M.
WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES COME
AND PRESENT OVERVIEW OF THE
LIBRARIES. WE HAD AN OVERVIEW A
COUPLE YEARS AGO. I CAN'T
BELIEVE IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF
YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, BUT
THIS IS GOING TO BE A REFRESH,
SINCE WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE
LEVY RENEWAL THIS YEAR. SO YOU
KNOW, I WELCOME ANYONE TO
PARTICIPATE TO COME, IF YOU WANT
TO HEAR JUST AN OVERVIEW OF THE
LIBRARIES AND PREPARATION FOR
THE WORK THAT'S TO COME,
SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS. I'M GOING
TO MAKE SURE TO HAVE SPECIFIC
PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE ACTUAL
LEVY AND THE -- THE PROGRAMS
THAT THE LEVY FUNDS AND DIGGING
INTO DATA AND OUTCOMES AS YOU
ALL KNOW, I'M VERY FOCUSED ON
IN PREPARATION FOR THAT LEVY
RENEWAL. SO WE'LL START WITH
THE OVERVIEW, WHICH WILL BE THIS
WEDNESDAY. AND I JUST WANT TO
SAY I ALSO -- IN WELCOMING NEW
FOLKS. I KNOW WE HAVE A NEW
MAYOR, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO MEETING WITH FOLKS IN
HER ADMINISTRATION. I'VE MET
WITH SOME FOLKS ALREADY. I FEEL
REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE WORKED IN
THE PAST WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS
SHE'S BROUGHT ON BOARD, AND SO
THAT IS VERY, ON A PERSONAL
NOTE, EXCITING FOR ME. AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER
ADMINISTRATION ON OUR SHARED
PARTIES. I KNOW THEY CARE ABOUT
A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ALSO,
THAT OUR PRIORITIES FOR US, NOT
THE LEAST OF WHICH, THE I.C.E.
ACTIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING. SO I
KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING
TOGETHER, AND I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT. SO WITH THAT,
OH, THE LAST THING I'LL SAY AS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS POINTED
OUT, WE'RE GOING TO BE
ATTENDING THE ASSOCIATION OF
WASHINGTON CITY'S BOARD MEETING
AND CITY ACTION DAYS. I'LL SAY
I KNOW IT IS HARD TO TAKE THE
TIME TO GO ALL THE WAY TO
OLYMPIA AND MEET WITH
LEGISLATORS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE
TO WAIT FOR JUST OR JUST TO DO
THAT ON CITY ACTION DAYS. YOU
CAN PICK UP THE PHONE, HAVE A
TEAMS CALL WITH LEGISLATORS IN
OLYMPIA. AND ALSO, YOU CAN
PARTICIPATE THROUGHOUT THIS
SESSION, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THEY
TAKE A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT
ONLINE, AND THAT IS AVAILABLE TO
US AS WELL. SO I WANTED TO
REMIND US WE COULD DO THAT AS
WELL BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S HARD
TO GET WITH DOWN THERE. SO --
JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT AS
ANOTHER OPTION AS WELL. SO WITH
THAT, UNLESS ANYONE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, I'M GOING TO TURN IT
OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
JUST WANT TO FOLLOW ON TO A FEW
OF THE THINGS. YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT, I WANT TO GIVE MY WORDS
OF SYMPATHY TO THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY IN
MISSISSIPPI, BUT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. BECAUSE WE KNOW THESE
ATTACKS, THIS HATE IS NOT
ISOLATED, AND I WAS READING
ABOUT SOME OF THE HISTORY OF
THAT SYNAGOGUE, AND I THINK
THERE HAD BEEN ATTACKS BACK IN
THE 60s, THE SAME SYNAGOGUE,
ATTACKS IN THE RABBI'S HOUSE
BECAUSE THE RABBI WAS STANDING
UP AGAINST SEGREGATION, STANDING
UP FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. I JUST -- I
THINK IT'S -- YOU KNOW, WE SEE
THIS HATRED IN DIVISION, AND I
THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AND YES,
THAT INCLUDES ACTIONS AND
RESOURCES. IT ALSO INCLUDES
WORDS AND US SHOWING UP IN
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES BECAUSE
WORDS DO MATTER. WE SEE THE
POWER OF THE HATEFUL RHETORIC
COMING FROM THE FEDS. WE HAVE TO
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PUSH
BACK AGAINST THAT WITH MORE
POSITIVE MESSAGES WITH WELCOMING
MESSAGES. I'M VERY THANKFUL TO
BE SURROUNDED BY COLLEAGUES, WHO
I KNOW HAVE THE SAME VALUES
AROUND SUPPORTING OUR DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES, OUR IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES. AND SO THANK YOU
ALL. I KNOW WE'VE SAID THINGS
IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT I KNOW
OUR VALUES ARE THE SAME AROUND
THAT. IN TERMS OF BEING OUT IN
THE COMMUNITY, MEETING WITH
EDUCATORS ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AND
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
DEVASTATING IMPACT. THERE WAS A
STORY ABOUT A FAMILY, A SOUTH
SEATTLE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, WHO
QUOTE ON QUOTE, SELF-DEPORTED.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT BETTER
LANGUAGE TO USE BECAUSE I THINK
THAT LANGUAGE IS A LITTLE BIT
MISLEADING BECAUSE IT IMPLIES
SOME SORT OF VOLUNTARINESS TO
IT. IT'S NOT REALLY VOLUNTARY
BECAUSE IT'S UNDER COERCION. IT
IS -- PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR SAFETY,
THEIR FAMILY SAFETY, GETTING,
YOU KNOW, WE KNOW AT THE
DETENTION CENTER, PEOPLE ARE NOT
GETTING BASIC HEALTHCARE. SO
THEY'RE HAVING TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN THEIR HEALTH AND
STANDING UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS.
THAT'S NOT REALLY A CHOICE. SO
-- BUT IT WASN'T JUST THAT
FAMILY, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE
MANY PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES THAT
ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THIS. KIDS
ARE, YOU KNOW, AFRAID TO GO TO
SCHOOL. KIDS ARE FACING
HARASSMENT AT SCHOOL. THERE'S
CERTAINLY A CALL FROM EDUCATORS
TO GET MORE SUPPORT AND BETTER
GUIDANCE FROM THE DISTRICT. I
BELIEVE WE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY
THERE AS WELL AND TO COLLABORATE
WITH THE DISTRICT TO SUPPORT OUR
FAMILIES. AND SIMILARLY,
ATTENDED BEACON HILL COMMUNITY
COUNCIL MEETING. AND THERE IS A
LOT OF TOPICS, BUT CERTAINLY
I.C.E. WAS FRONT OF MIND. THERE
WAS A LONG-TERM COMMUNITY MEMBER
WHO RAN A FOOD TRUCK FOR OVER A
DECADE AND WAS DEEPLY LOVED. AND
TO GET THE SUPPORT THAT HE
NEEDS. AND I WAS VERY HEARTENED
TO SEE ON SUNDAY, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND COLUMBIA CITY
STANDING WITH SIGNS. I DO THINK,
YOU KNOW, IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO
OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THAT
WE STAND WITH. I MEAN, I THINK
THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO
FEEL THAT SUPPORT. WE'VE HEARD
CALLS, I'VE HEARD CALLS FROM A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO AT A MEETING
WITH A SOMALI COMMUNITY LEADER
THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE US OUT
IN COMMUNITY. THEY WANTED TO BE
OUTSPOKEN, SUPPORTING THEM. SO I
JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT, AND
CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE TO
COLLABORATE WITH ANY AND EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, WHETHER IT
IS IN DISTRICT TWO OR ANYWHERE
IN THE CITY TO BE OUT THERE
SUPPORTING OUR IMMIGRANT AND
OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO ARE
PROTESTING IN DEFENSE OF OUR
COMMUNITY. IN TERMS OF
COMMITTEES, WE WILL HAVE A LAND
USE COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK. IT
WOULD LIKELY BE THE SEPA
EXEMPTION, LEGISLATION THAT HAS
GONE TO COMMITTEE BEFORE, BUT
THAT'LL BE LIKELY COMING BACK
ON THE REGULAR SCHEDULED
WEDNESDAY. HAVE NOT ATTENDED ANY
REGIONAL COMMITTEES YET, BUT
LOOK FORWARD TO REPORTING ABOUT
THOSE NEXT TIME. AND THANK YOU
FOR THE INVITE OVER TO WEST
SEATTLE FOR THE BASKETBALL GAME.
YOU KNOW, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW,
IT'S IMPORTANT WE WILL BE OUT
IF MANY THE COMMUNITY IN THESE
POSITIVE WAYS AS WELL. I DO
THINK SPORTS, AND I HEARD YOU
SPEAK ABOUT THIS A LOT ABOUT THE
POWER OF SPORTS TO BRING OUR
COMMUNITY TOGETHER, TO CROSS
CULTURAL BARRIERS, AND SO, YOU
KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO BE OUT
THERE TO SEE THE EXCITEMENT COME
TOGETHER IN A SAFE POSITIVE
ENVIRONMENT. SO ANYTHING WE
COULD DO TO FOSTER MORE OF
THOSE, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE
LATE NIGHT BASKETBALL FOR OUR --
IN OUR PARK CENTERS AND SO ON.
SO THANK YOU, AND THAT'S ALL I
HAVE FOR TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
FIRST, I WANT TO SAY
CONGRATULATES TO COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. CONGRATULATIONS
TO YOU, BUT ALSO TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, LIN,
FOSTER. I'M NOT YOUR ELECTION
VICTORIES. AND ALSO TO CITY
ATTORNEY, EVANS. BUT EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT -- CONGRATULATIONS. I
WANT TO WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA AND LIN TO THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. [ LAUGHTER ]
WHICH WILL BE KICKING OFF THIS
TERM OF THE COUNCIL TOMORROW. WE
HEARD THE SECOND AND FOURTH
TUESDAY OF THE MONTH. AND WE'RE
GOING TO START OFF WITH A
CONSULTING REPORT ON THE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. IT'S A
VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. IT'S A
GOOD ONE TO START OFF WITH. I'M
ENGAGED WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TWO-STEP
PROCESS WITH THE REPORT. AND
THEN LATER, QUARTER TWO, MOST
LIKELY, BUT LATER IN THE YEAR,
YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE
MAYOR'S TEAM AND OEM IN TERMS
OF NEXT STEPS, YOU KNOW,
IDENTIFYING, AND THEN MOVING
FORWARD. ALSO, WE HAVE AN UPDATE
TO THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
PLANNED FOR SAFER SEATTLE, WHICH
I HAVE IN MY HANDS, TWO PILLARS
THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED. THERE'S
BEEN SOME ADJUSTMENTS FROM THOSE
SIX PILLARS. BUT I WILL NOTE, IN
TERMS OF ENGAGING ON PUBLIC
SAFETY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS,
YOU START WORKING ON THE ISSUES.
AS YOU DIG DEEPER, YOU START
LEARNING NEW THINGS. AND THEN
IDENTIFYING AREAS TO WORK, WHICH
LED TO THE TWO NEW PILLARS. ONE
IS ADDRESSING THE SCENE BETWEEN
PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH
AND HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES,
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WHO CHAIR
THOSE COMMITTEES. VERY
IMPORTANT. WE'VE ALREADY BEEN
WORKING PARTLY WITH THE LEAD
PROGRAM. ALSO IMPORTANT, GUN
VIOLENCE REDUCTION, PREVENTION,
AND COMMUNITY SAFETY. ANOTHER
AREA OF OVERLAP THAT WE'RE
WORKING. AND THEN ALSO, WORKING
UP GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, THE PLAN
FOR THIS YEAR, FOR THE
COMMITTEE. ALREADY STARTED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, WHO WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE IN THE NEXT
MEETING, KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY JOIN US, RELATED TO SEX
TRAFFICKING AND THOSE PIECES, SO
WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ ON THAT. IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT TOPIC. AND ALSO
BECAUSE I DID PUT THIS OUT ON
SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE INSTAGRAM
AND FACEBOOK AND ELSEWHERE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
SHE LIKED AND SHARED. THE PUBLIC
DRUG USE AND POSSESSION. WE'RE
GOING TO TACKLE THAT TOPIC,
ALONG WITH ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE.
WHEN I SAY ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE,
WE DO A LOT. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT
TO SAY ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE
BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE ELEMENTS
WITHIN SPD, BUT ALSO THOSE
ELEMENTS WITHIN FIRE. I THINK WE
NEED TO KEEP THE BIG PICTURE
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE AS THEY
RELATE TO EACH OTHER. THERE'S
SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE THIS
HAPPENS, SO THE COMMITTEE IS
GOING TO ADDRESS THAT. PLUS
OTHER THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY
SAFETY. SO THAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, AGAIN, KICKING OFF
THE TERM OF THE COUNCIL TOMORROW
MORNING. FOR ME PERSONALLY IT IN
TERMS OF MEETINGS AND WITH
OUTSIDE GROUPS AND OTHERS, MET
TODAY WITH YOUTH CARE, NOW LED
BY MARTY HARTMAN AND KAREN
WALTERS. IT WAS A REALLY GOOD
MEETING. AND ALSO SEPARATELY,
SEPARATE MEETING, SPECIFIC
ENVIRONMENT, RELATED TO
BASICALLY OUR MARITIME
ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES THAT RESIDE WITHIN.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, I'LL HAVE
A CALL WITH OUR FEW
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TOMORROW. VERY IMPORTANT. AND
THEN ON WEDNESDAY, SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT PRESIDING JUDGE,
CRAWFORD WILLIS. AND THEN WE
HAVE A TURNOVER SEATTLE CENTER
IN DISTRICT, BUT I SERVE ON THE
COMMITTEE TOO, WITH OUTGOING
DIRECTOR, FOSTER, INTERIM
DIRECTOR, WINSTON, AND ALSO FOR
THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER, FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON IS NOW
WITH SEATTLE CENTER FOUNDATION,
VERY IMPORTANT. AND THEN I MET
WITH CITY ATTORNEY EVANS LAST
WEEK, BUT I'LL BE MEETING WITH
HER TEAM ALSO ON WEDNESDAY. AND
THEN, YOU KNOW, THURSDAY, OPCD,
RELATED TO DOWNTOWN REGIONAL
CENTER PLANS THAT OPCD IS
WORKING. NEXT WEEK, DIFFERENT
ISSUES LIKE MEETINGS ON ISSUES
LIKE VIOLENCE REDUCTION
PROGRAMS, HEALTH THROUGH HOUSING
INITIATIVES. AND THEN ALSO THE
PORT OF SEATTLE. SEPARATE FROM
THAT, REAL QUICKLY, I JUST WANT
TO NOTE, I'VE TAKEN MYSELF OUT
OF THE SIGNING OF LETTERS WORLD,
BUT I DO SUPPORT SOCIAL HOUSING,
SEEING WITH THE BRIDGE LOAN LAST
YEAR, BUT ALSO WITH THE
AMENDMENTS AND THE COMP PLANS,
AND OUR LETTERS TO OIR. I'LL BE
DOING A COMPANION PIECE TO SHOW
MY SUPPORT GENERALLY TO SOCIAL
HOUSING AS I SAID MANY TIMES. I
DO SUPPORT SOCIAL HOUSING. I DO
HAVE SUPPORT, AND I WOULD PREFER
A DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE FUNDING
MEASURE. BUT IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. THIS IS ONE REASON
WHY WE WOULD HAVE THE AMENDMENT
ON OUR SHIP. THE SEATTLE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN TO NOT JUST LOOK
AT OH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
AND ALSO LOOK AT PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ON ONE END,
AND ALSO SOCIAL HOUSING TO SEE
HOW THEY IMPACT, YOU KNOW, THE
STRATEGIES AND THE WAY OH DOES,
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND
ALSO WANT TO NOTE AS MY DISTRICT
ALSO UNCOVERS PARTS OF MAGNOLIA.
VERY EXCITED FOR THE MAGNOLIA
COMMUNITY CENTER. UP NEXT, QUEEN
ANNE COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH IS
ALSO NOW THE VERY OLDEST
COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE CITY, SO
I WILL BE WORKING WITH PARKS ON
THAT. AND YEAH, THIS IS AN
EXAMPLE WHERE PARTNERSHIP
WORKING THE ISSUES, RELATED TO
MAGNOLIA, THEY GET TWO COUNCIL
MEMBERS, NOT JUST ONE. I DON'T
THINK THAT'S REPLICATED
ANYWHERE ELSE, RIGHT?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THE OTHER AREA OF OUR CITY IS
IN SOUTH, AND I MIGHT EVEN GET
THIS WRONG, THE SOUTH CENTRAL
DISTRICT AROUND THE PARK.
GERRYMANDER OUR DISTRICTS IN
INAPPROPRIATE WAYS, CREATED A
LACK OF CONSISTENCY AS ALSO SEEN
HERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THANK
YOU.
>> WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE
NEXT CENSUS. THANK YOU. THREE,
BACK TO MORE SERIOUS. I JUST
WANT TO ECHO COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA'S REMARKS RELATED TO
BETH ISRAEL TEMPLE IN
MISSISSIPPI. THEY JUST ARRESTED
THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
TURNED IN BY HIS FATHER, AND FOR
A VERY GOOD REASON. IT WAS THE
SITE THAT WAS FOUND IN 1967 BY
THE KLU KLUX KLAN. VERY SUPPORT
TO STATE OUR SUPPORT, WHICH IS A
MEETING WITH, WHICH IS SOMETHING
I'VE BEEN DOING IN SEATTLE
HERE, THE ORGANIZATIONS. THE
LAST THING JUST TO CLOSE ON
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. I WANT
TO SAY FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND NATIONAL GUARD. I'LL BE
SPEAKING TO THIS TOMORROW
MORNING. I'LL QUICKLY NOTE ON
NATIONAL GUARD. THE SUPREME
COURT DECISION DOESN'T
NECESSARILY SETTLE THIS BECAUSE
IT WAS RELATED TO REGULAR
FORCES, WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION
WAS SAYING IT IS VARIOUS LAW
ENFORCEMENT. BUT THAT CAME OUT
TO REALLY MEAN ARMED FORCES, SO
OKAY, NATIONAL GUARD IS NOT, YOU
KNOW, AVAILABLE. BUT I WOULDN'T
HESITATE TO THINK THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION COULD SEE AND
COULD PLAN ON ACTIVE DUTY ARMED
FORCES INSTEAD. I THINK WE
SHOULD BE KEEPING OUR MIND ON
THAT AND THINKING ABOUT THAT
BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE, I BELIEVE,
JUST SAID OH, SUPREME COURT
DECISION, OKAY, WE'RE DONE WITH
THAT. NO, WE'RE NOT. I HAD MY
STATEMENT ON WHAT HAPPENED IN
MINNEAPOLIS. IT GOES TO SOME OF
THE PIECES THAT I HAVE BEEN
SPEAKING TO, TO INCLUDE FROM
LAST YEAR. AGAIN, I'LL SPEAK TO
THIS TOMORROW IN COMMITTEE. BUT
BUILDING ON THAT, YES, WORKING
WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM OUR
SELECT COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, TO
WORK AND FOLLOW UP ON THE SLIDE
RELATED TO THESE PIECES, WHICH
I'M ALREADY WORKING ON ALREADY.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK MOVING
FORWARD. I JUST WANTED TO CLOSE
BECAUSE THIS IS TO BE REMINDED
OF TOO. I WAS REVIEWING MY NOTES
FROM THE 12th OF AUGUST LAST
YEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT REALLY WANTS TO HELP
US PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF
PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY SHOULD
INTERCEPT THE FLOWS OF GUNS AND
DRUGS IN OUR CITY, PRIMARILY
ALONG I-5 AND ALSO I-90. THEY
SHOULD SUPPORT THE RECRUITMENT
OF SWEARING IN OUR OFFICERS LIKE
OUR WASHINGTON STATE PROGRAM
THAT WAS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
FERGUSON. SUPPORTING OUR
FIREFIGHTERS IT IN THEIR
STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS
THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT IT IN
DISASTERS ACROSS STATE LINES. WE
SAW THAT ONE. WE'VE HELPED OUT
IN CALIFORNIA LIKE THE L.A.
WILDFIRES, WHICH IN TURN, REALLY
SUPPORT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
BY ENSURING FEMA IS WELL
SUPPORTED AND NOT HOLLOWED OUT
AS IT'S BEEN DOING OVER THE
PAST YEAR. AND BE A PARTNER IN
CREATING ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE
CAPABILITIES TO SUPPORT PUBLIC
SAFETY, PARTICULARLY AS IT
CONNECTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH. THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REALLY WANTS
TO HELP. I RECOGNIZE OUR
PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATION, SADLY,
IS NOT REALLY WORKING THESE
PIECES BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR
OWN AGENDA. THIS IS HOW THEY
CAN. AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE
BEATING THE DRUM ON THESE PIECES
BECAUSE WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS FOR
THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY, OUR
COUNTY, STATE, COUNTRY TO
UNDERSTAND THESE ELEMENTS AND
THESE ARGUMENTS, AND SHOW WHAT
IS HAPPENING WITH THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS SIMPLY WRONG.
I DO HAVE EXPOSURE TO THE MAGA
WORLD AND THE REACTION BY SOME
WAS SURPRISINGLY STRONG IN TERMS
OF WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS.
THAT GIVES ME HOPE IN THE SENSE
OF THOSE THAT MIGHT BE MAGA
SUPPORTERS ARE RECONSIDERING
BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED IN
MINNEAPOLIS. SO WITH ALL THAT
SAID, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND OVER TO YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES FOR THOSE UPDATES.
I'LL JUMP INTO MINE SUPER
QUICK. GOVERNANCE, UTILITIES, I
ALMOST SAID TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE, BUT IT'S THE
GOVERNANCE AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE, WILL BE ON FEBRUARY
12 AT 9:30, THE SECOND THURSDAYS
OF EVERY MONTH. WE DO HAVE ANY
CURRENT AGENDA ITEM, BUT WE WILL
BE GOING OVER THOSE. WE HAD LAST
WEEK, THE REGIONAL WATER QUALITY
COMMITTEE, AND WE SET THE AGENDA
AND WORK PLAN. I DO WANT TO TAKE
THE TIME TO SEND A BIG THANK YOU
TO CHAIR WHO HAS BEEN SHEPARDING
THIS WORK, AND IS JUST
PHENOMENAL. THE WAY SHE RUNS THE
MEETINGS WILL MAKE IT
PALETTABLE. IT COULD BE SUPER
WONKY TALKING ABOUT WATER. I DID
NOT KNOW THAT, WATER QUALITY, SO
SHE HAS JUST MADE THE WORK FUN
AND ENGAGING AND EASY FOR US TO
UNDERSTAND. THE OTHER THING IN
THE COMMUNITY AND WANT TO SEND
MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO SAKA.
THAT WAS REALLY MEANINGFUL FOR
REGINA, WE CALL HER GIGI, REGINA
ROGERS. SHE DIED AT THE AGE OF
35 OF A HEART ATTACK, HAD A
YOUNG SON, PHENOMENAL BASKETBALL
PLAYER. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HOST HER WHEN SHE CAME TO
ARIZONA TO TRY TO GET HER TO
COME TO U OF A. SHE DID NOT
CHOOSE US, BUT WENT TO UCLA,
THEN TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, BUT IT
JUST MEANT A LOT TO HER FAMILY
AND FRIENDS, AND SHE WAS A
TOWERING SPIRIT AND JUST FULL OF
LIFE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT
INVITE AND TO JOIN YOU WAS A
TRUE HONOR. THE SECOND THING I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT JUST REAL
QUICK. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES FOR
ALL YOUR STATEMENTS. I AGREE A
THOUSAND PERCENT. I DID NOT PUT
OUT A STATEMENT LAST WEEK. THERE
IS A LOT -- EVERYTHING YOU ALL
SAID, I WOULD HAVE SAID, SO
RETWEETED IT, REPOSTED IT.
REALLY ELEVATED ON THOSE
PLATFORMS, JUST REALLY
APPRECIATE THE INTENTIONALITY
BEHIND THE COMMENTS THAT WERE
MADE BY YOU ALL, ALL THE
EMOTIONS. IT WAS REALLY
DIFFERENT. WE ALL SPOKE THE SAME
AS A COUNCIL. AND I JUST WANT TO
ALSO SAY AND JUST HUMANIZE THIS
MOMENT THAT WE ALL SAW THE
UNFORTUNATE SHOOTING OF RENEE
GOOD. SHE WAS A MOTHER OF THREE
AND HAD A 6-YEAR-OLD KID, WHO
LOST HER DAD TWO YEARS AGO, AND
NOW IS AN ORPHAN. THAT WAS THE
ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME.
BUT ALSO HOW HEARTBREAKING THIS
IS. I KNOW THERE IS AN
INVESTIGATION. I'M HOPING THIS
INVESTIGATION WILL DETERMINE AND
SEEK JUSTICE FOR HER LIFE. THIS
IS LIFE BEYOND THE STATEMENTS.
NOW I WANT TO SEE THE FOLLOW UP
ON THE INVESTIGATION AND WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT AFTER THAT. PEOPLE
WHO UNDERSTAND NO ONE IS ABOVE
THE LAW, EVEN PEOPLE THAT
ENFORCE THAT AS WELL. I KNOW THE
PEOPLE THAT SERVE IN OUR
MILITARY ARMED FORCES, YOU ALL
FOUGHT FOR THAT CONSTITUTION,
AND KNOW HOW YOU WOULD UPHOLD
THAT AND THE VALUES YOU WOULD
TALK ABOUT. SO BEYOND THE
STATEMENTS, FIRST OFF, PEOPLE, I
WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THEIR LIGHTS
AND OUR NEWSLETTERS. WE HAVE A
THING CALLED THE OTHER
WASHINGTON, WHICH THIS WEEK AND
ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR PEOPLE NOT
SIGNED UP TO MY NEWSLETTERS,
THEY WILL GET INFORMATION
REGARDING THEIR RIGHTS. I KNOW
COUNCIL HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF
BUDGET ACTIONS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THAT AND FOR
SPONSORING BILLS AND SHEPHERDING
THAT THROUGH TO FUND OUR OFFICE
OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS. DIRECTOR MOHAMMED HAS
BEEN PHENOMENAL WITH BOOTS ON
THE GROUND, CONNECTING WITH
COMMUNITIES, MAKING SURE PEOPLE
HAVE RESOURCES. SHE'S JUST BEEN
A TROOPER, YOU KNOW, TAKING ON A
LOT DURING THIS TUMULTUOUS TIME,
AS WE ARE NAVIGATING THESE
WATERS. JUST WANTING TO GIVE HER
A SHOUT OUT AND DEEP
APPRECIATION FOR WHAT SHE DOES
FOR THIS OFFICE. IT SHOWS A LOT
THAT WE ARE ONE OF A FEW CITIES.
DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT, THAT
WILL HAVE AN OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS THAT HAS
THAT RESOURCES, WHERE PEOPLE CAN
GO TO, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH ALL EXECUTIVE
LEVELS, EXECUTIVE, OUR MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO
SHOW THE LEGAL LEVERS THAT WE
HAVE ON THAT. AND ALSO LAST, BUT
NOT LEAST, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO JOIN SOME OF THE MEMBERS AT
GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, THIS
WEEKEND ON SATURDAY, CALLED
RECLAIMING THE VILLAGE. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO KNOW THERE'S BEEN
A TON OF GUN VIOLENCE,
ESPECIALLY IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND ALSO IN THE SOUTH
END, AND COUNCILMEMBER LIN'S
DISTRICT, SO WE'RE CLAIMING THE
VILLAGE WITH DR. HART, THE
PRESIDENT AT HARTFIELD, THERE IS
NOT ONE SCHOOL SHOOTING LAST
YEAR THAT HAPPENED. THAT THEY
WERE NOT HAPPENING. SO THAT
CONVERSATION, THOSE ARE GOING TO
BE HARD TO HAVE AND JUST TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT RESOURCES. I KNOW
YOU ALL SUPPORT A LOT OF THE GUN
VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK FOR
KIDS AND MAKING SURE OUR YOUTH
ARE RESOURCED. SO THANK YOU ALL.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE. YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I JUST SAW
THAT MINNESOTA AND ILLINOIS SUED
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER
THESE I.C.E. DEPLOYMENTS, THE
STATE AND CITY OFFICIALS OF
MINNESOTA AND ILLINOIS FILED
FEDERAL LAWSUITS AGAINST THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. TO MANY OF
THE MINNEAPOLIS AND CHICAGO
REGIONS VIOLATED THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION TO INFRINGE ON
STATE RIGHTS. SO THIS IS WHAT
I'M TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS THE
KIND OF ACTION I WANT TO SEE,
AND I WANT US AS WELL TO BE
ENGAGED IN, SO THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR LETTING ME
GIVE THIS UPDATE. I THINK IT WAS
IMPORTANT IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT
WE ALL DISCUSSED AND THIS IS
WHAT I THINK WE ARE ALL EYE
NIGHTED.
>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU FOR
THAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AS WELL. IT
IS GOOD TO HEAR PEOPLE ARE BEING
HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THAT IS
CONTINUE TO SAY, WE NEED TO SHOW
UP FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, MAKING
SURE THEY KNOW THEY'RE
SUPPORTED. I APPRECIATE ALL THE
PEACEFUL PROTESTS THAT HAVE
HAPPENED AROUND THIS CITY IN
SHOWING WE ARE UNIFIED TO HOLD
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, I WANTED TO
THROW OUT, YOU ALL HAVE A NEW
GYM AT MAGNOLIA, AND YOU SAID
OLD FLOOR. BEST GYM IN THE
COUNTRY THAT IS BEST TO PLAY AT,
BUT YOU ALL TORE IT DOWN, AND
OREGON WAS THE OLD COURT THAT
WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT TO GIVE
AND THE BEST RIMS OF THE
COUNTRY, THE BEST SHOOTING
NIGHTS, AND I HAD HOPS BECAUSE
THEY WOULD GIVE AND GIVE AND YOU
COULD JUMP REALLY HIGH. I JUST
WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE
AND THEN YOU TORE THAT DOWN AND
BUILT THE NEW ONE, AND THAT
FLOOR IS REALLY HARD NOW. I
DON'T KNOW WHAT OREGON IS
DOING.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
COULDN'T AGREE MORE. I HAD THE
BENEFIT OF BEING WAIT LISTED BY
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SO
I WENT TO A MORE SUPREME SCHOOL
TO THE SOUTH OF US. AND, YOU
KNOW, OUR FAMILY IS DIVIDED, OUR
FAMILY IS DIVIDED IN OUR HOUSE,
BUT WHAT YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH,
IT'S THE OLD STADIUM, SIMPLY
THE BEST. BUT THEY DON'T MAKE
COURTS LIKE THAT, BUT I'LL TELL
YOU, I WAS ON THE VOLUNTEER
CLEAN UP CREW THAT WENT THROUGH
THAT FIRST NIGHT AT THE LARGER
STADIUM, AND I'LL TELL YOU, NO
ONE ORDERED MORE VOLUNTEERS.
THEY CLEANED UP THE OLD STADIUM
AND THE NEW ONE, AND IT TOOK IT
FOUR TIMES AS LONG.
>> WOW.
>> I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AS
THEY TALKED ABOUT OLD GYM
FLOORS. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I
WANT TO QUICKLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE
GRATITUDE TO COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. THAT BETH ISRAEL SITE IN
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. LOOK,
TRUTH IS, THERE'S SO MUCH GOING
ON IN OUR OWN CITY. OBVIOUSLY
THE COUNTRY AND, YOU KNOW, WE
ARE ALL FOCUSED, LASER FOCUSED
ON ADDRESSING THE CITY'S
PROBLEMS. AND THINGS THAT GO ON
ELSEWHERE WILL IMPACT WHAT WE DO
HERE IN OUR PROBLEM SOLVING
APPROACH IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
ALL TO SAY, I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT --
RAISING THAT ISSUE, AND
IMPORTANTLY SHARING YOUR
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE AND
EXPERIENCES, AS IT DIRECTLY
IMPACTS THE PERSON. AND I STAND
WITH YOU IN OUR BROADER JEWISH
COMMUNITY, AND, YOU KNOW,
WILLING TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER
IN ANY WAY I CAN TO BE
SUPPORTIVE. AND I KNOW IT'S
PERSONAL YOU, BUT ALSO I THINK
YOU REPRESENT WEDGEWOOD AS WELL,
RIGHT? WHEN I LIVED IN WEDGEWOOD
DURING UNDERGRAD AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, I
LEARNED AT THE TIME, IT WAS
SEATTLE'S SINGLE LARGEST JEWISH
COMMUNITY. AND ALL I COULD SAY
IS I KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE, NOT
ONLY FOR YOU PERSONALLY, BUT FOR
THE COMMUNITIES YOU REPRESENT.
WE ALL REPRESENT PEOPLE WHO
PRACTICE THE JEWISH FAITH, AND I
KNOW RIGHT NOW, OUR MUSLIM
NEIGHBORS AND, YOU KNOW, OUR
NEIGHBORS FROM AFRICA,
ESPECIALLY EAST AFRICA RIGHT
NOW, ARE, YOU KNOW, THERE IN THE
BRUNT OF THE FEDERAL ACTIONS,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN, YOU
KNOW, OTHER COMMUNITIES,
INCLUDING THE JEWISH
COMMUNITIES, AREN'T SUFFERING
AS WELL, SO THANK YOU FOR
RAISING THAT. ON A LIGHTER NOTE,
I WANTEDDED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
SAY WELCOME TO COUNCILMEMBERS
LIN AND FOSTER, ONLY BECAUSE
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I THINK
YOU JOINED US AT THIS TABLE, AND
YOU'RE BRAND NEW HERE. THAT
DOESN'T MEAN -- ALSO WELCOME
OUR NEW MAYOR, AND OUR NEW CITY
ATTORNEY. YOU'RE WELCOMED BACK,
OF COURSE, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
I AM VERY, VERY, VERY DELIGHTED
TO SAY AND SEE, AND I'M REMISED
NOW THAT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH.
YOUR VERY FIRST COUNCIL
BRIEFING. I'LL SAY AS A
RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
SOMEONE WHO HAPPENS TO BE BLACK.
I AM VERY PERSONALLY PROUD TO
SEE YOU, OUR FIRST BLACK WOMAN
IN THIS ROLE FOR THE SQUARE
PERSON IN THIS ROLE. YOU'RE A
HISTORY MAKER AND A CHANGE
MAKER. WE RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE
NEW COMPOSITION, BUT WANT TO
RECOGNIZE YOU AND WHAT THIS
MEANS, NOT ONLY FOR YOU, BUT THE
CITY AS WELL, SO LOOKING FORWARD
TO WORKING TOGETHER.
>> I DON'T THINK I'M THE FIRST
QUEER, BUT THE FIRST BLACK
FEMALE. I CAN'T TAKE, YOU KNOW,
FOR THE GAYS. BUT THANK YOU.
I'LL SAY THIS REAL QUICKLY.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP
AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. WHAT
HAPPENS IN OTHER CITIES IMPACT
SEATTLE WHEN THE JEWISH
COMMITTEE IS TARGETED, THE FIRST
THING I HEAR IS FROM TEMPLE, AND
THE RABBI SENDING ME A MESSAGE
THAT HAPPENS IN MINNESOTA
IMPACTS US HERE AS WELL OR
I.C.E. AGENTS, IT IN CERTAIN
AREAS. IT IMPACTS US HERE AS
WELL. PEOPLE ALWAYS REQUEST,
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH
SEATTLE? PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED
HERE AS WELL, SO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THAT UP AND
HIGHLIGHTING THAT. IF THERE IS
NO FURTHER -- YES?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. I
ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER LIN BECAUSE I
THINK I HAVE THE MAJORITY OF
SYNAGOGUES, TEMPLES, IN THE
CITY, BUT COUNCILMEMBER LIN HAS
A NUMBER, AS YOU HAVE ONE AS
WELL, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT
BECAUSE THE JEWISH POPULATION IN
THE COUNTRY INCLUDING IN SEATTLE
IS FEELING VERY TARGETED. THERE
IS A LOT OF ANTI-SEMITISM. IT'S
ALWAYS BEEN THERE. THERE'S A
RESURGENCE OF IT. WE NEED TO
SHOW OUR SUPPORT BOTTOM LINE.
THERE'S NO ROOM FOR
ANTI-SEMITISM IN THIS COUNTRY,
PERIOD. AND WE ALL SUFFER THAT,
YES, MY CHILDREN SUFFER THAT,
BUT THEY SUFFER THAT AS JEWISH
AMERICANS. BUT WE ALL SUFFER
THAT AS A COMMUNITY, SO I
APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING THAT.
I'LL TELL YOU JEWISH FOLKS IN
THIS CITY ARE FEELING TARGETED
AS OUR JEWISH FOLKS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY WITH REASON BECAUSE OF
THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING,
SUCH AS THE -- IN MISSISSIPPI.
>> TOTALLY.
>> SO THAT'S NOT OKAY. AND WE
NEED TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.
WE NEED TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR
JEWISH IMMIGRANTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND ALL IMMIGRANTS
HERE IN OUR CITY, SO THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES FOR ACKNOWLEDGING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
AGENDA ITEMS? COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK?
>> SIMPLY WANT TO CHIME IN ON
THIS POINT. COLLEAGUES, I JUST
HEARD THE NEWS BEFORE I CAME OUT
HERE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. I FOUND
MYSELF COMPLETELY STUNNED. I
KNOW, SOME OF YOU KNOW, BUT
PERHAPS NOT ALL OF YOU KNOW I'M
JEWISH. PROUDLY SO. MY GRANDMA
IS THE FIRST ONE TO READ FROM
THE TORAH IN OUR TEMPLE, AND
I'M PROUD OF THAT. FOR THE
JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW IT
WILL MEAN A LOT TO OUR
RESIDENTS. BUT I'M FINDING
MYSELF IN FEELING PARTICULARLY
STUNNED BY THIS NEWS. I'M GLAD
SOME UPDATES HAVE COME ABOUT THE
PARTICULAR CASE. BUT NOW IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT TIME FOR US TO
USE OUR VOICES AND SIGNAL THAT
WE WILL BE A WELCOMING CITY,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND EVERYONE
WHO SHARED THEIR REMARKS IN
SUPPORT OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
>> AWESOME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU. I SAID ON COUNCIL
DURING PRETTY TOUGH TIMES, WHICH
AT THAT POINT, THEY WOULD GO
AROUND THE ROOM AND ALL SAY THE
SAME THING. OFTENTIMES YOU'LL
FIND ME NOT SPEAKING, EVEN
THOUGH I'M FEELING AND WORKING
AND ACTING, SO AS SOMEBODY THAT
WAS BORN AND RAISED JEWISH IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS.
ANTI-SEMITISM, ANYWHERE IN OUR
CITY AND IN OUR NATION IS
UNACCEPTABLE. JUST THE HISTORY
THAT YOU SHARED WITH THIS
PARTICULAR PLACE. STILL
HAPPENING. IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FOR
TODAY? AWESOME. WELL, THANK YOU.
WELL, THIS MEETING, IT'S 3:18,
AND THIS ME