>>> THE MARCH 3 -- THE MEETING
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS 2:02 P.M.,
I'M JOY HOLLINGSWORTH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> THERE'S NINE PRESENT.
>> AWESOME, SO WE'RE GOING TO
KICK OFF TODAY WITH SOME
EXCITING STUFF. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK WILL PRESENT A
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MARCH
2026 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS THE
PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HELLO, EVERYONE. TODAY, THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL PROUDLY
RECOGNIZES MARCH AS WOMEN'S
HISTORY MONTH AND CELEBRATES ALL
THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS
AND SACRIFICES MADE BY SO MANY
WOMEN LEADERS IN OUR CITY. AND
WHILE SOCIETY AND CITY
GOVERNMENT HAS YET TO REACH FULL
GENDER EQUITY, I DO THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO APPRECIATE OUR
PROGRESS. RIGHT NOW IN CITY
LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE A WOMEN
MAJORITY ON COUNCIL WITH FIVE OF
NINE MEMBERS ON SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL BEING WOMEN. OUR MAYOR
AND CITY ATTORNEY, BOTH WOMEN.
THREE OF US OPENLY LGBTQ. SIX OF
US, WOMEN OF COLOR. I THINK
THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE
ACHIEVEMENT IN TERMS OF MOVING
THE NEEDLE ON REPRESENTATION.
AND TODAY, WE ARE ALSO
RECOGNIZING SOME INCREDIBLE
WOMEN AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN
THEIR PLACE IN HISTORY, EXCITED
TO HEAR THEIR VOICES SHORTLY AS
WE PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION. YOU
KNOW, TOO OFTEN IN HISTORY,
WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN
ERASED, OUR STRUGGLES MINIMIZED,
OUR VOICES SILENCED. SO AS WE
TAKE TIME TO REFLECT AND
CELEBRATE OUR EXCELLENCE, I HOPE
WE WILL TAKE A MOMENT OF
REFLECTION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
WOMEN WHOSE NAMES WE DON'T
KNOW. THE WOMAN WHO FORGED
NETWORKS TO GUIDE PEOPLE TO
FREEDOM. THE WOMAN WHO CROSSED
BORDERS FOR A BETTER LIFE. WOMAN
WHO FOUGHT TO DEFEND THEIR
ANCESTRAL LANDS. THE WOMAN WHO
HOUSED PEOPLE AND BREATHED LIFE
INTO SOCIAL MOVEMENTS BECAUSE
THEY TOO ARE OUR PAST AND OUR
PRESENT. SO WOMEN'S HISTORY
MONTH IS NOT ABOUT GIRL BOSSING.
IT'S ABOUT CLAIMING OUR PLACE
IN HISTORY BOOKS, IN A WORLD
THAT FOR TOO LONG SAID OUR
STORIES, OUR WORK, OUR
CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT WORTHY OF
THE INK. AND WITH THIS
PROCLAMATION, WE REAFFIRM THE
CITY OF SEATTLE'S COMMITMENT TO
FOSTERING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
WHERE EVERY WOMAN AND GIRL CAN
THRIVE. AND WITH THOSE OPENING
REMARKS, I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY
READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR TODAY,
AND THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR
YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THIS. WHEREAS THE MONTH OF MARCH
HAS BEEN HERALDED SINCE 1987 AS
THE UNITE -- IN THE UNITED
STATES AS WOMEN'S HISTORY
MONTH, AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION
THAT HONORS THE EXTENSIVE TO
WOMEN IN HISTORY, CULTURE,
SOCIETY. WHEREAS INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATED GLOBALLY
ON MARCH 8 EACH YEAR IS A
SIGNIFICANT DAY THAT APPLAUDS
THE ECONOMIC POLITICAL AND
SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN
AROUND THE WORLD. AND WHEREAS
THE MONTH OF MARCH IS A
MOMENTOUS PERIOD, NOT JUST FOR
CELEBRATING THE STRIDES WOMEN
HAVE MADE, BUT ALSO A TIME FOR
PUSHING FOR FURTHER PROGRESS,
HONORING ACTS OF COURAGE AND
DETERMINATION BY WOMEN WHO HAVE
MADE A REMARKABLE IMPACT IN
THEIR COUNTRIES AND COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SEATTLE
ACKNOWLEDGES AND VALUES THE
IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN
TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR ECONOMY,
AND SOCIETY AT LARGE. AND
WHEREAS THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION ESTABLISHED IN 1973
HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING
THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY
WOMEN OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, ECONOMIC
EMPOWERMENT, HEALTHCARE ACCESS,
AND REPRESENTATION IN LEADERSHIP
ROLES, TIRELESSLY AMPLIFYING THE
VOICES OF WOMEN AND CHAMPIONING
GENDER EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS WHILE WOMEN
CONSTITUTE HALF OF U.S.
POPULATION AND HOLD SIGNIFICANT
ROLES ACROSS SECTORS SUCH AS
BUSINESS GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION,
HEALTHCARE, AND MORE, THEY STILL
REPRESENT LESS THAN 30% OF THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
THE SENATE, FORTUNE 500 CEOs AND
GOVERNORS NATIONWIDE, AND ARE
OVERREPRESENTED IN ESSENTIAL,
YET UNDERVALUED ROLES,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO
DOMESTIC WORK, CHILDCARE, HUMAN
AND SOCIAL SERVICES, AND
EDUCATION. AND WHEREAS IT
REMAINS EVIDENT THAT OUR CITY
HAS YET TO FULLY ACHIEVE THROUGH
GENDER EQUITY. IT IS CRUCIAL TO
APPRECIATE THE PROGRESS THUS
FAR, NOTABLY THE MAJORITY, FIVE
OF NINE MEMBERS OF SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL. FIVE OF WHICH IDENTIFY
WOMEN OF COLOR. THREE OF WHICH
IDENTIFIES OPENLY LGBTQ, OUR
CITY ATTORNEY, AND THE MAYOR OF
SEATTLE, ALL ARE WOMEN
SIGNIFYING A NOTEWORTHY
ADVANCEMENT IN REPRESENTATION
AND LEADERSHIP. AND WHEREAS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE HAS SERVED AS A
HOME BASE TO THE INCREDIBLE
LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL
TALENTS, BOTH LIVING AND PASSED
ON. SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
THE FIRST FEMALE MAYOR OF A
MAJOR AMERICAN CITY.
AWARD-WINNING WRITER. RUBY CHOW,
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, RESTAURANT
AND SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE.
CHAMPION FOR INDIGENOUS
HEALTHCARE. MARY E., 2025 WINNER
OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN
PHYSIOLOGY AND MEDICINE. REAL
WOMEN AND BLACK TIRELESS
ADVOCATES FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE
SEATTLE TORRENT, THE NEW
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY
LEAGUE ESTABLISHED IN 2025. JODY
ALLEN, OWNER OF THE NATIONAL
FOOTBALL LEAGUE'S SUPER BOWL LX
CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING SEATTLE
SEAHAWKS. WHEREAS SEATTLE HOLDS
STEADFAST IN ITS COMMITMENT TO
PROMOTING AND FOSTERING A
SOCIETY THAT'S INCLUSIVE AND
EQUITABLE FOR ALL RESIDENTS
REGARDLESS OF THEIR GENDER
IDENTITY. AND WHEREAS WE
EQUIVOCALLY CONDEMN ALL FORMS OF
VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY ON WOMEN
AT HOME, ON THE STREETS,
WORKPLACES, OUR SCHOOLS,
COLLEGES, AND MEDIA, AND ON THE
INTERNET. WHEREAS REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS AND EQUAL ACCESS ON
HEALTHCARE ARE HALLMARKS OF AN
EQUITABLE SOCIETY. WHILE THESE
RIGHTS ARE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY
ROLLED BACK -- TO THE FULL
SPECTRUM OF REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING ABORTION.
WE'RE ALMOST THERE. AND WHEREAS
AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IS CRUCIAL
FOR THE FULL ECONOMIC
PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN NOTING
THAT CHILDCARE COSTS SURPASS
HOUSING EXPENSES, PARTICULARLY
IMPACTING LOW INCOME AND SINGLE
PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, AND IMPEDING
WOMEN'S CAREER ADVANCEMENT,
PERPETUATING WORK FORCE GENDER
DISPARITIES. WHEREAS IT IS
CRITICAL TO RECOGNIZE AND
ADDRESS THE DISTINCT CHALLENGES
FACED BY ALL WOMEN, PARTICULARLY
WOMEN OF COLOR, LGBTQ WOMEN,
INDIGENOUS WOMEN, IMMIGRANT
WOMEN, HOMELESS, AND HOUSING
INSECURE WOMEN, AND WOMEN WITH
DISABILITIES, AND TO WORK
RELENTLESSLY TOWARD ELIMINATING
BARRIERS, HINDERING THEIR FULL
PARTICIPATION AND SUCCESS. AND
WHEREAS WE CALL FOR THE
IMMEDIATE AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES
TO CLOSE FOR THE GENDER PAY GAP,
ENSURE WOMEN ARE PROVIDED WITH
THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO SUCCEED
IN THE WORK FORCE, AND ENSURE
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
AND EMPOWER WOMEN TO SHARE THEIR
VOICES IN OUR CITY, STATE,
COUNTRY, AND GLOBALLY. AND NOW
THEREFORE THE CITY OF SEATTLE
PROCLAIMS MARCH 2026 TO BE
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN
SEATTLE. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AWESOME AND THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR YOUR
WORK AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS IN
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'LL
PAUSE HERE TO SEE IF ANY OTHER
COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
ANY COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
FOR BRINGING THIS WOMEN'S
HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION
FORWARD. IT IS REALLY HUMBLING,
THE WOMEN YOU READ,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, INTO THE
RECORD, AND WE'RE BEING HONOR
TODAY. ALL MAKING SUCH AMAZING
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY AND TO
OUR COUNTRY. AND THEN I ALSO
WANT TO SAY JUST A MINOR. IT'S
2025 NOBEL PRIZE AND PHYSIOLOGY
ARE MEDICINE, NOT THE PEACE
PRIZE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, A
SIMILAR TYPE OF HONOR. AND IT IS
JUST SO AMAZING. I KNOW SOME OF
THE WOMEN ARE HERE TODAY, AND
I'M JUST SO GLAD TO HAVE FOLKS
IN CHAMBERS AND HAVE THIS MOMENT
TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THESE WOMEN,
INCREDIBLE WOMEN. THESE ARE NOT
THE ONLY WOMEN. WE'RE
RECOGNIZING A FEW WOMEN TODAY OF
THE MANY WOMEN WHO MAKE
CONTRIBUTIONS EVERY DAY, BIG AND
SMALL, ACROSS OUR CITY AND
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU
AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, FOR
BRINGING THIS TODAY. I LOOK
FORWARD TO AFFIXING MY SIGNATURE
TO IT. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE DO
OUR WONDERFUL PRESENTATION ON
THE PROCLAMATION? OKAY, AWESOME.
SO HEARING NO FURTHER COMMENTS,
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
RULES OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE
SUSPENDED TO ALLOW COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK TO PRESENT THE
PROCLAMATION TO OUR GUESTS, AND
TO ALLOW OUR GUEST TO PROVIDE
SOME COMMENTS. HEARING NO
OBJECTIONS, THE RULES ARE
SUSPENDED TO ALLOW COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK TO PRESENT THE
PROCLAMATION, AND ALLOW OUR
GUEST TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
AND SO NOW, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
WILL PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION.
I'LL CALL UP THE FOLKS WHO ARE
SPEAKING. AND THEN AFTER WE
FINISH SPEAKING, WE WILL THEN
TAKE A GROUP PHOTO AS WELL. SO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WILL PRESENT
THE PROCLAMATION TO THE GUEST.
AND HERE, I'LL READ OFF THE
GUEST AS SHE IS WALKING AND
DOING THAT. IT'S MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION, SO
IT'S EMILY ROSE BARR, TALLY
MILLS, CRYSTAL GUERRERO, MARTA,
AND ESTHER LUCERO WHO IS HERE AS
WELL. WE ALSO HAVE MARY WHO IS
HERE, WE HAVE MADDIE WHO IS FROM
THE DIRECTOR OF TEAM OPERATIONS
FROM OUR WONDERFUL SEATTLE
TORRENT. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE
ANITA FREEMAN FROM REAL WOMEN IN
BLACK. DID I SAY EVERYONE -- AND
ALL THE OTHER WOMEN THAT ARE
HERE AS WELL THAT I DID NOT SAY,
AS WELL. WE LOVE YOU ALL TOO.
AWESOME. AND SO NEXT, WE'LL
HAVE MEMBERS FROM THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION OR WHOEVER
-- I HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE
FOLKS THAT ARE SPEAKING. SO I
DON'T KNOW IF EMILY ROSE,
SOMEONE FROM THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION WANTS TO
SPEAK FIRST? FOLLOWED BY ESTHER,
THEN MARY. AWESOME. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS TALLY MILLS, CO-CHAIR OF
THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
RECOGNIZING WOMEN'S HISTORY
MONTH, AND FOR REAFFIRMING
SEATTLE'S COMMITMENT TO GENDER
EQUITY. THIS PROCLAMATION
REMINDS US THAT WOMEN'S HISTORY
IS NOT ONLY SOMETHING WE
CELEBRATE. IT IS SOMETHING WE
ARE CONTINUING TO WRITE EVERY
DAY THROUGH ADVOCACY,
LEADERSHIP, AND THROUGH
COMMUNITY ACTION. HONORED TO
WORK ALONGSIDE THE CITY TO
ELEVATE THE VOICES OF WOMEN
ACROSS SEATTLE, AND TO ADVANCE
POLICIES THAT ENSURE EVERY WOMAN
AND GIRL CAN THRIVE. WE
APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND
YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING
SEATTLE A PLACE WHERE WOMEN
BELONG IN EVERY SPACE WHERE
DECISIONS ARE MADE. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> HI, MY NAME IS CRYSTAL
GUERRERO. I AM ON THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION, FORMER
CO-CHAIR. I LIVE IN DISTRICT
FOUR. I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT
OF WOMEN AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU
DO TO UPLIFT WOMEN IN OUR
COMMUNITY. AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. WE FOCUS
ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE,
HOUSING STABILITY, AND WOMEN'S
HEALTH AND WELLNESS. SO IF THERE
IS ANYTHING WE COULD DO TO
COLLABORATE TO PUSH THOSE
INITIATIVES FORWARD, EVEN MORE
SO THIS YEAR, PLEASE REACH OUT.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AWESOME. THANK YOU. YOU'RE UP
NEXT. COME ON, GIRL.
>> PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, IT'S REALLY
GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL. I STAND
BEFORE YOU AS A WOMAN, AS A
MOTHER, AS A DAUGHTER, AS A
SISTER, AND STANDING BEFORE YOU
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF INCREDIBLE
ANCESTORS. FOLKS WHO COME FROM
THE AMERICAN INDIANA SERVICE
LEAGUES, YOU KNOW? ADELI NE
GARCIA. THOSE ARE FOLKS THAT
ACTUALLY GAVE BIRTH TO THE
ORGANIZATIONS. WE HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OUR PEOPLE
THROUGH TODAY. I FEEL REALLY
HUMBLED BY THAT. I WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT I ACTUALLY HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING WOMEN'S
COLLEGE. WE HAVE MILLS COLLEGE
FROM BOTH THE UNDERGRADUATE
DEGREES. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE 20% OF
OUR FEMALE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS
ALL WENT TO WOMEN'S COLLEGES.
30% OF THE RISING STARS WITHIN
THE BUSINESS WORLD ALSO WENT TO
WOMEN'S COLLEGES. THERE IS
VALUE IN PLACING HER STORY AT
THE CENTER OF HISTORY. THERE'S
VALUE IN THAT. THIS CITY HAS A
HISTORY AND LEGACY IN HONORING
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, AND ALSO WITH
RESPECT TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
MAKING SURE THAT WHETHER WE ARE
HERE OR REWITH NO LONGER HERE,
LIKE OUR MISSING OR MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN. NOW, THERE'S
A CHEYENNE PROVERB THAT SAYS OUR
NATION IS NOT ON THE GROUND
UNTIL THE HEARTS OF OUR WOMEN
ARE ON THE GROUND. AND I'LL
TELL YOU, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE
HERE. THIS NATION ISN'T ON THE
GROUND. AND IT'S NOT UNTIL
WOMEN TAKE THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE
IN LEADERSHIP AS WE'RE
BEGINNING TO SEE ON THIS COUNCIL
THAT WE'LL BEGIN TO HEAL, AND
WE WILL BEGIN TO THRIVE. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS
PROCLAMATION TODAY. IT'S AN
HONOR TO BE HERE. I WANT YOU TO
RECOGNIZE EVERY SINGLE FEMALE
INDIGENOUS LEADER IN THIS CITY
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT'S BECOME
A VORTEX OF POWER, AND THAT
COMES FROM BEING AN INDIGENOUS
WOMAN. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. NEXT, WE
HAVE MARY, IS MARY HERE? SHE IS?
YES. MARY? YES.
>> CAN I SPEAK AT THE TALLER
MICROPHONE?
>> ANYONE.
>> OKAY, I WASN'T PLANNING ON
SAYING MANY WORDS HERE. BUT AS A
REPRESENTATIVE FOR WOMEN IN LIFE
SCIENCE RESEARCH, I HAVE LOADS
OF GRATITUDE FOR THE WOMEN WHO
CAME BEFORE ME AND KIND OF
OPENED THE PATH TO ALLOW A LOT
MORE GIRLS AND WOMEN TO GO INTO
S.T.E.M. SUBJECTS AND THRIVE IN
RESEARCH. BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY
TO GO STILL TO REALLY REACH FULL
EQUALITY AND REALLY, YOU KNOW,
STRONGLY ENCOURAGING YOUNG GIRLS
AND WOMEN GOING INTO THESE
FIELDS. THERE'S A BIG
BOTTLENECK AT THE POINT WHERE
WOMEN MAKE IT INTO REAL
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THESE
FIELDS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE
REALLY NEED TO KEEP WORKING. BUT
I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE
RECOGNITION HERE, AND THE
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IS VERY
IMPORTANT CONCEPT STILL. THANK
YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU, MARY. [
APPLAUSE ] NEXT? WELCOME.
>> HELLO. AT A TIME WHEN BLACK
WOMEN ARE BEING ERASED FROM
NATIONAL JOB MARKETS, FROM OUR
PRESS, OUR MEDIA, SOME OF OUR
REPRESENTATION, AT A TIME WHEN
OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED
TO DROP BOMBS ON WOMEN AROUND
THE WORLD. I AM GRATEFUL FOR
THIS RECOGNITION, AND TO BE IN
SUCH ESTEEM COMPANY. AND I HOPE
WITH RECOGNITION COMES TRUE
INVESTMENT IN THE VALUES WE SAY
WE HAVE AS A CITY, IN PROTECTING
ALL WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR,
BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS WOMEN,
QUEER, TRANS, DISABLED WOMEN,
AND ALLOWING US TO NOT ONLY
SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE. AND SO I
HOPE WITH THIS RECOGNITION, WE
SEE IN FUTURE YEARS, RECREATION
OF THE FUTURE WE'RE CREATING
FOR MORE WOMEN TO STAND UP HERE
WITH TRUE INVESTMENT IN THE
WORK WE'RE DOING IN PROGRAMS
THAT CAN HELP US, AND TRULY
STANDING STRONG AGAINST NATIONAL
POLITICS THAT SEEK TO HARM US
AND HARM WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD.
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. NEXT , WE
HAVE MADDIE, FOLLOWED BY MS.
ANITA?
>> HELLO. I SAW SOME OF YOU LAST
WEEK AT OUR GOLD MEDAL PRESSER,
SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCILMEMBERS, HONORED GUESTS,
ON BEHALF OF THE SEATTLE
TORRENT, OUR PLAYERS, COACHES,
STAFF, AND FANS, THANK YOU FOR
THIS PROCLAMATION, AND FOR
RECOGNIZING WOMEN'S HISTORY
MONTH IN SUCH A MEANINGFUL WAY.
SEATTLE IS A CITY THAT SHOWS UP
FOR WOMEN. YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT
IN PACKED ARENAS IN RECORD
BREAKING MOMENTS, AND IN YOUR
UNWAVERING BELIEF THAT WOMEN
SPORTS MATTER. WHEN YOUNG GIRLS
WALK INTO OUR ARENA AND SEE
ELITE WOMEN COMPETING AT THE
HIGHEST LEVEL, THEY'RE NOT JUST
WATCHING A GAME, BUT THEY'RE
SEEING WHAT'S POSSIBLE. THIS
HONOR BELONGS TO THE WOMEN WHO
CAME BEFORE US, THE LEADERS WHO
FOUGHT FOR OPPORTUNITY,
VISIBILITY, AND EQUITY IN SPORTS
IN OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE OF
THEM, WE ARE HERE. WE ARE PROUD
TO REPRESENT SEATTLE ON THE ICE,
AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO
CONTINUING THIS WORK, EXPANDING
ACCESS, ELEVATING WOMEN IN
LEADERSHIP, AND BUILDING A
FRANCHISE THAT REFLECTS THE
STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY OF IT HAD
CITY. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN
WOMEN SPORTS, AND FOR HELPING US
WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER OF
HISTORY TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> WE HAVE MS. ANITA. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. ANITA FREEMAN
HERE.
>> I KEPT SAYING -- I'M SORRY,
I'M THINKING OF ANITA BAKER.
>> YOU'LL NEVER FORGET IT
AGAIN, RIGHT?
>> NO, NEVER.
>> SO I'M HERE WITH FRIENDS,
FROM WHEEL WOMEN IN BLACK. WE'RE
HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY IN SUCH
COMPANY. IN 2000, A GRASSROOTS
EFFORT OF HOMELESS WOMEN FOUNDED
SILENT WOMEN IN BLACK VIGILS FOR
HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO DIE IN KING
COUNTY. ALL ARE WELCOMED TO
JOIN. WOMEN AND MEN, HOUSED AND
HOMELESS. WE STOOD VIGIL FOR
MORE THAN 3,000 PEOPLE TO DATE,
INCLUDING CHILDREN. WE STAND
ONLY FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO
DIED OUTSIDE, IN PUBLIC OR BY
VIOLENCE. THESE DEATHS SHOULD
SHOCK OUR MORAL CONSCIENCE, YET
ARE OFTEN IGNORED OR TREATED
WITH VICTIM BLAMING CONTEMPT.
THE VIGILS ARE ONE SMALL WAY FOR
OUR COMMUNITY TO REMEMBER PEOPLE
IN DIGNITY, SINCE MANY HOMELESS
PEOPLE HAVE NO REMEMBRANCE AT
ALL. WE'VE NAMED EACH PERSON
WITH CAUSE AND AGE OF DEATH, 50
YEARS OLD ON AVERAGE. WE STAND
BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT EVERY
PERSON. WE STAND BECAUSE
SOMETIMES IT'S THE ONLY
REMEMBRANCE A PERSON WILL HAVE.
WE STAND BECAUSE EVERYONE HAD
MEANING AND LOVE IT MANY THEIR
LIVES THAT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED
AND HONORED. WE STAND EVERYONE
WHEN WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE
PERSON WHO DIED. WE STAND TO
REMEMBER WE ARE A COMMUNITY,
UNDIVIDED. WE NAME THE DEAD
BECAUSE IT'S THE VISIBILITY OF
HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT WE STAND
AGAINST. WE NAME THE DEAD
BECAUSE EVERY PERSON HAS SOMEONE
WHO WILL WANT TO KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED TO THEM. WE NAME THE
DEAD WITH CAUSE OF DEATH BECAUSE
THESE CAUSES UNTREATED MEDICAL
CONDITIONS, HYPOTHERMIA, MURDER,
OVERDOSE, AND OTHERS ARE A TOLL
OF THE BELL FOR A SOCIETY THAT
ABANDONED ITS OWN PEOPLE. WE
REMEMBER, THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE
]
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WERE REALLY MOVED BY
PEOPLE'S WORDS, AND YOU JUST
SEE THE DEPTH OF BREATH OF WOMEN
AND ALL THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND
EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL BRING TO
THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS WORLD,
AND IN THIS LAND, AND WE ARE SO
GRATEFUL. AND NOW, IF YOU ALL
WOULD ENTERTAIN US, WE'RE GOING
TO DO A GROUP PICTURE. WE'VE
NEVER DONE IT WITH THIS MANY
PEOPLE BEFORE, SO THIS SOUR
FIRST TIME. IT'S USUALLY ONE OR
TWO. SO WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE
STAND BELOW, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU CAN HAVE IT. YOU CAN TOTALLY
STAND IN FRONT IF YOU WANT TO DO
THAT, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
IDEALLY WE WERE GOING TO DO IT.
DO YOU WANT TO DO ONE BY
YOURSELF FIRST? NO? AWESOME.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE COME
ON THIS SIDE, SPLIT EACH SIDE OF
THESE DESKS, AND THE
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE GOING TO
STAND UP AND COME TO THE MIDDLE,
OKAY? IS THAT COOL? AWESOME. SO
WE'LL SEE IF THIS WORKS, IF THE
PICTURE IS THIS GOOD. SO WE WILL
HAVE EVERYONE COME STAND ON THIS
SIDE. YOU'LL BE FACING THIS WAY
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A
PHOTO. RAISE YOUR HAND. AWESOME.
SO YEAH. WOULDN'T THAT BE COOL?
YEAH, THEY WILL STAND AND THEN
WE'LL STAND BEHIND THEM. IF
THAT DOESN'T WORK, JUST LET ME
KNOW.
>> ALL RIGHT, AWESOME. MR.
TSIMERMAN, PLEASE SIT DOWN. NOT
TODAY. NOT TODAY. NOT TODAY. ALL
RIGHT, COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME,
WE WILL ON THE PART HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC
COMMENT IS LIMITED TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, AND THE COUNCIL'S
WORK. CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS
DO WE HAVE?
>> WE HAVE FOUR REMOTE AND SEVEN
IN PERSON.
>> OKAY. THAT IS UNDER 30. WE
HAVE 11 SPEAKERS. SO THAT MEANS
EVERYONE'S GOING TO GET TWO
MINUTES. IF WE HAD OVER 30, THAT
MEANS WE GO TO ONE MINUTE, SO
WE'RE SUPER EXCITED. WE HAVE
SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, ELEVEN
SPEAKERS, AND WE WILL BE TWO
MINUTES. WILL YOU PLEASE READ
THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT?
>> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT
OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS' MICS
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END
THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> AWESOME. FIRST UP, MR. ALEX
TSIMERMAN, FOLLOWED BY THE
FOLLOWING. MR. TSIMERMAN,
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. YEAH. YEAH, MY NAME IS
ALEX TSIMERMAN, AND I WANT TO
SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING. WHAT DO I
SPEAK FOR MANY YEARS. [
INAUDIBLE ] APPROXIMATELY
150,000 PEOPLE CAN DO IT. SO YOU
REPRESENT ONLY 10% PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE. SO YOU REPRESENT THE
PEOPLE BECAUSE 90% OF THE PEOPLE
MAKE A APPROXIMATE OF $60,000.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR
MANY YEARS, FOR MANY YEARS. NO
ONE CAN MOVE HERE FOR $60,000.
NO ONE COUNCIL WANTS TO
REPRESENT 90% OF THE PEOPLE,
WHY? CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME?
HUH? WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? HOW
IS THIS POSSIBLE? WHO ARE YOU?
HUH? SHAME ON YOU FOR DOING
THIS. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. AND
NUMBER TWO, WE HAVE NEW
BEAUTIFUL STUPID MAYOR. SHE
WANTS TO CUT THE SALARY FOR THE
EMPLOYEE FOR THE GOVERNMENT BY
5%, 10%. AND SHE'S APPOINTING
-- I DON'T REMEMBER HER NAME.
SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AND SHE
GAVE HER $250,000 OF A SALARY.
I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
FOR MANY YEARS. I DON'T
UNDERSTAND. WHERE DO YOU FIND
PEOPLE WHO MAKE $250,000? WHY IS
IT SO SMART? SHE NEVER HAD
EXPERIENCES WITH BUSINESSES.
WHERE DO YOU FIND THIS IDIOT? I
CAN DO THIS JOB FOR $50,000,
I'M A BUSINESSMAN, LIKE DONALD
TRUMP, FOR ALL MY LIFE. IT'S A
VERY IMPORTANT GUY. THIS GOES
FOR MANY YEARS, $250,000 FOR
PEOPLE WHO NEVER MAKE MONEY.
GIVE US TRUMP, THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION. STAND UP, HAPPY COW.
STOP ENACTING LIKE AN ANIMAL
FROM DIRTY GARBAGE RATS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE MS.
YVETTE, FOLLOWED BY DENNIS AND
CHARLOTTE, MORGAN, HOWARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I PLEDGE
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES, AND TO THE
REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION, UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL. AND IN HONOR OF
OUR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, I'M
GETTING A LITTLE PERSONAL. AS A
TESTAMENT TO THE DETERMINATION,
MY DAUGHTER DROPPED OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL AT 14. I WASN'T HAVING
IT. SO SHE WENT AND GOT HER GED,
WENT TO EVERGREEN, AND GOT A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE, AND
ULTIMATELY GOT HER Ph.D. IN
QUANTUM THEORETICAL CHEMISTRY,
WHICH I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT
IT'S ABOUT. BUT ANY WAY, RIGHT
NOW, SHE'S CURRENTLY THE HEAD
OF HER DEPARTMENT. THAT'S WHAT
DETERMINATION WILL GET YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND ALSO, I
WANT TO HAVE A COUPLE OF
HANDOUTS REGARDING, YOU KNOW, I
TAKE THE NEWSPAPERS, I'M STILL
OLD SCHOOL. BUT THERE'S A
COUPLE OF THINGS I FOUND
INTERESTING. ONE IS A GUY, A
LETTER TO THE EDITOR, ABOUT HOW
HE STRIVED TO GET THE ATTENTION
OF KING COUNTY, SEATTLE COUNTY
REGARDING HOMELESSNESS, AND HE
HAD SOLUTIONS. SO I GOT A COPY
OF THAT FOR YOU. AND ALSO BACK
TO A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WHERE WE
TALKED ABOUT THE CANVAS, CURIOUS
TO KNOW THAT LIKE I SEE MR.
MANNING HAS MENTIONED THAT
THERE'S SOME CAMERAS INSTALLED
AT THE BEACH, BUT ARE NOT
ACTIVATED. IS THIS SOMETHING WE
CAN GO THROUGH THE FIND IT, FIX
IT APP, TO GET THOSE ACTIVATED?
BECAUSE WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS IN THE
BEACH AREA, PARTICULARLY THE
YOUNG BOYS WHO GOT MURDERED A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WHICH HAVE
STILL NOT BEEN SOLVED. THIS IS A
HANDOUT THAT'S SHOWING THE
ARTICLE IN THE TIMES, INDICATING
QUITE ELOQUENTLY HOW SEATTLE
SAFETY CAMERAS HAVE PROVEN THE
WORSE. AND IN CLOSING, OH,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, SHE SENDS
HER REGARDS. SHE AND I
COLLABORATE TO FEED THE
HOMELESS. SHE WANTED TO LET YOU
KNOW, HELLO. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MS. YVETTE. NEXT,
WE HAVE DENNIS, FOLLOWED BY
CHARLOTTE, MORGAN, THEN PETER,
AND HOWARD GALE.
>> ON BEHALF OF THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION, WE WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR
RESOLUTION 32191, AND IT CLEAR
INTENT TO ADVANCE A BOLD
FORWARD-LOOKING VISION FOR ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CENTERS IN
OUR CITY. MY NAME IS DENNIS
SILLS, AND I WORK AT THE DSA.
THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES THE
MOMENT WE ARE IN AND THE
OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US TO
THOUGHTFULLY REVITALIZE WESTLAKE
PARK, AND SURROUNDINGS AS A
PLACE THAT REFLECTS SEATTLE'S
VALUES, SUPPORTS DOWNTOWN'S
GROWTH, AND POSITIONS WITH THE
HEART OF THE CITY TO SERVE
FUTURE GENERATIONS. WESTLAKE IS
MORE THAN THE PLACE ON THE MAP,
ANCHORED BY WESTLAKE CENTER AND
THE SEATTLE CENTER MONORAIL.
THIS AREA HAS SERVED FOR DECADES
AS SEATTLE'S CIVIC LIVING
ROOM, WHERE PEOPLE GATHER,
CELEBRATE, COMMUTE, SHOP, AND
EXPERIENCE THE SHARED ENERGY OF
THE CITY. THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
TRANSIT TUNNEL ONCE HOME TO
BUSES SERVE AS THE BACKBONE OF
THE REGION ADVANCING LIGHT RAIL
SECTION. JUST A FEW WEEKS, THE
TUNNEL WILL DIRECTLY CONNECT TO
THE HEART OF THE CITY, WITH
EASTSIDE COMMUNITIES,
STRENGTHENING REGIONAL ACCESS,
AND UNDERSCORING WESTLAKE'S
IMPORTANCE, NOT ONLY DOWNTOWN,
BUT TO THE ENTIRE PUGET SOUND
REGION. WE COMMEND THE CITY FOR
CONVENING THE WESTLAKE CIVIC
COMMUNITY AND FOR THIS
THOUGHTFUL FRAMEWORK. THIS
FRAMEWORK ENSURES WESTLAKE
REMAINS THE FRONT DOOR OF
SEATTLE, ONE THAT REFLECTS OUR
VALUES, SUPPORTS A THRIVING
DOWNTOWN, SERVES RESIDENTS,
WORKERS, VISITORS, COMMUTERS,
FOR DECADES TO COME. WE ALSO
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR
COLLABORATION WITH THE WILSON
ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
WHICH HAS WORKED ON THIS. AS WE
MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER IN
DEVELOPING A NEW VISION FOR
WESTLAKE CENTER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DENNIS. NEXT, WE
HAVE CHARLOTTE, FOLLOWED BY
MORGAN, FOLLOWED BY PETER,
FOLLOWED BY HOWARD. WELCOME,
CHARLOTTE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT
AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE,
SHOCKINGLY. MORE NUMBERS FOR
YOU. [ INAUDIBLE ] 244 DAYS
SINCE HOMELAND SECURITY OPENED.
[ INAUDIBLE ] [ INAUDIBLE ] [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU, CHARLOTTE. NEXT,
WE HAVE MORGAN MAY, FOLLOWED BY
PETER MANNING, AND THEN HOWARD
GALE. WELCOME, MORGAN. AND ANY
MICROPHONE WORKS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MORGAN MAY.
I'M WITH MUTUAL AID NETWORK FOR
TRANS AND INTERSEX INDIVIDUALS
IN SEATTLE, AND I'M A RESIDENT
OF DISTRICT THREE. I WANT TO
SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE
POLICING RESOLUTION THAT'S ON
THE AGENDA. THE AGENDA -- THE
RESOLUTION CONCERNS, THE
PROFESSIONALISM OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE
THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS TO THE
LACK OF TRUST BETWEEN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY THAT
SERVES, IF THERE WERE A TRUST,
THESE THINGS WOULD NOT NEED TO
BE SAID. AS THE REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IS
FREQUENTLY ON THE RECEIVING END
OF POLICE UNPROFESSIONALISM,
THIS IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME.
I BELIEVE THIS LACK OF TRUST
EXISTS BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE
BEING USED AS A BAND-AID TO
ADDRESS ISSUES THAT THEY ARE NOT
PREPARED TO ADDRESS, SUCH AS
HOMELESSNESS, NON-VIOLENT DRUG
USE, AND SEX WORK. AND
OVERPOLICING DIVERTS RESOURCES
FROM PROGRAMS THAT COULD
ACTUALLY MORE MEANINGFULLY
IMPACT THESE PROBLEMS, SUCH AS
INCREASED SHELTER SPACE, DRUG
TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. AS
LONG AS WE TRY TO USE POLICE AS
A BAND-AID FOR THESE PROBLEMS,
THEY ARE GOING TO BE DISPATCHED
TO SITUATIONS THAT THEY'RE ILL
EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS, AND THEY
WILL WASTE THE RESOURCES OF THE
CITY AND OF THE PEOPLE WHOSE
LIVES THEY'RE INTERFERING WITH,
SUCH AS UNHOUSED PEOPLE WHO ARE
MERELY TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, STAY
SHELTERED, STAY WARM. I WOULD
URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO DIVERT
RESOURCES FROM POLICING AND
TOWARDS SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU, MORGAN. NEXT,
WHERE SHE PETER MANNING FOLLOWED
BY HOWARD GALE. JUST A HEADS UP.
THE MIDDLE MICROPHONE IS THE ONE
WE HAVE TO USE. THIS ONE OVER
HERE, NO, ANYONE, BUT THE ONE
OVER HERE IS NOT WORKING. THANK
YOU, MR. MANNING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
PETER MANNING. YOU GUYS MAY KNOW
ME FOR PIONEERING THE PROGRAM
FOR WASHINGTON TO GIVE BACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE, INCLUDING IN THIS
INDUSTRY. MOST DEFINITELY
THERE'S A DISCONNECT AND AN
ISSUE WITH BLACK AND WHITE IN
THE STATE AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AS WELL. IN THE 1990s,
WHITES CALL FOR HARSH PENALTIES
FOR BLACK PEOPLE THAT DRUG
PROBLEMS. THE JAILS WERE
OVERCROWDED. WHITE PEOPLE ON THE
OTHER HAND IN THE 2000s, ARE
DOING DRUGS, AND NOW IT'S A
DRUG-FREE ZONE OR YOU COULD DO
DRUGS HERE. THERE IS NO PENALTY
FOR DRUG DOING. SO THE SHARP
CONTRAST, WHEN I HAVE KIDS DYING
IN THE SOUTH END AND THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT. THE BLACK COMMUNITIES
ARE ASKING FOR CAMERAS. I HAVE
WHITE PEOPLE STEPPING UP SAYING,
HEY, WE DON'T NEED CAMERAS.
HELL, THEY DON'T NEED CAMERAS,
LIKE WE DIDN'T NEED JAILS IN
THE 90s. WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR
CHILDREN. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY
ASK WHITE PEOPLE TO STAY IN
THEIR LANE. SERIOUSLY. WE HAVE
ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WANT
TO DEAL WITH. WE WANT CAMERAS?
WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR CAMERAS.
SECOND THING, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE STRIPPED ALL OPPORTUNITY
FOR BLACK-OWNED DISPENSARY
OWNERS. UNJUSTLY, ON SOME B.S.
BLACK PEOPLE GOT LICENSES, AND
NOW THEY'RE READY TO COME BACK
TO SEATTLE. THIS COUNCIL IS
MAKING NO MOVE TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU
GUYS WANT FROM US. YOU MAKE US
FIGHT FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE
WANT TO GET THAT WERE STOLEN
FROM US. WE GOT IT BACK, WE
FOUGHT FOR IT. NOBODY GAVE IT TO
US, WE FOUGHT, WE SUED IN
FEDERAL COURT, WE WON. NOW
WE'RE HERE, THIS CITY COUNCIL
NEEDS TO GIVE US OUR STORES
BACK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MANNING. NEXT,
WE HAVE MR. HOWARD GALE. AND
BEFORE YOU START, THE PEOPLE
ONLINE, WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH
TO YOU ALL ONLINE AFTER MR.
HOWARD GALE. SO IF YOU'RE NOT
PRESENT ONLINE, THIS IS YOUR
CALL TO BE PRESENT. MR. HOWARD
GALE?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, HOWARD, 36
DISTRICT. SO FOR SIX MONTHS NOW,
THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, PLUS
INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
REFUSED TO COMMENT ON THE 36
DISTRICT RESOLUTION TO PROTECT
ALL SEATTLES AND IMMIGRANTS. I
DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GO
THROUGH THE SEVEN BULLET POINTS
IN OUR RESOLUTION, BUT TWO OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT ARE ADVANCING
LEGISLATION, PROVIDING SEATTLE
POLICE A PRIVATE PROPERTY
OWNERS, AND PREVENTING
WARRANTLESS ACCESS TO THEIR
PROPERTY BY FEDERAL AGENTS. AND
ALSO NUMBER TWO, REQUIRING SPD
TO PRIORITIZE, TAKING LAW
ENFORCEMENT ACTION WHEN
NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS OR
DISOBEDIENCE IS OCCURRING IN THE
CONTENT OF TRYING TO PROTECT
PEOPLE FROM BEING TAKEN AND
ABUSED BY FEDERAL AGENTS. YOU
GUYS REMAINED SILENT ON THAT.
WHAT I HEARD IS TWO ARGUMENTS.
ONE, THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD DO
IT. DON'T BOTHER US. TO WHICH I
WOULD REFER YOU BACK TO GRADE
SCHOOL LESSONS YOU MIGHT HAVE
MISSED REGARDING HOW CO-EQUAL
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT ARE
SUPPOSE TO FUNCTION. THE SECOND
ARGUMENT I'VE HEARD REGARDS
LEGALITY, WHICH IS REALLY RICH
COMING FROM A COUNCIL WHERE JUST
IN SEPTEMBER 2024, THE MAJORITY
OF CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
VOTED OR ALLOWED THE COUNCIL TO
PLACE AN ALTERNATIVE TO HOUSING
ON THE BALLOT. YOU'LL BE
OVERTURNING THAT. JUST LAST
MARCH, ONE-THIRD OF YOU VOTED
FOR CLEARLY ILLEGAL LEGISLATION
TO PLACE HOUSING IN SODO. VOTING
AGAINST OVERWHELMING OBLIGATION
AGAINST PUBLIC INTEREST. AND
WITH BOTH SERVING LAWYERS ON
THIS COUNCIL VOTING FOR
SOMETHING THAT WAS ILLEGAL. NONE
OF THIS SHOULD SURPRISE US. WHEN
THIS AND PRIOR COUNCILS HAVE
IGNORED ILLEGAL ACTIONS BY
SEATTLE POLICE, THE KING COUNTY
JURIES ALONG WITH COUNTY AND
FEDERAL JURIES, HAVE DETERMINED
WERE CRIMINAL OR CONSTITUTIONAL
VIOLATIONS. SO HERE IT IS. THE
LAW IS NEVER REALLY IN QUESTION.
IT'S A FACADE AND AN EXCUSE.
THE QUESTION IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT
HOW DO YOU PRESERVE POWER IN THE
STATUS QUO? AND ARE YOU WILLING
TO FIGHT THAT AND PROTECT WHAT
IS GOING TO BE 200,000, 300,000
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. GALE. WE'RE
GOING TO SWITCH TO ONLINE.
YOU'RE FIRST. PRESS STAR SIX,
AND THEN YOU'LL GO AHEAD AND
GIVE US YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> HELLO, I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT SEVEN AND A GRADUATE
STUDENT STUDYING SOCIAL WORK AT
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TODAY. I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE
NORTH OF HOUSE BILL 2489 THAT
WOULD PROHIBIT CITIES AND
COUNTIES FROM CLEARING
UNAUTHORIZED HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENTS UNLESS THEY PROVIDE
ADEQUATE ALTERNATIVE SHELTER
OPTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE AFFECTED.
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. MANY
ARE FORCED TO SLEEP, EAT, REST,
AND PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR
PERSONAL PROPERTIES IN PUBLIC
SPACES, SIMPLY BECAUSE ADEQUATE
SHELTER IS INACCESSIBLE TO THEM.
CRIMINALIZING THOSE SURVIVAL
BEHAVIORS DOES NOT SOLVE
HOMELESSNESS. IT PUNISHES
PEOPLE, AND LONG-TERM HOUSING
STABILITY. HOUSE BILL 2489
PROMOTES A PUSH BY ENSURING
ENFORCEMENT OF ANTI-CAMPING
ORDINANCES ONLY OCCURS WHEN
APPROPRIATE SHELTER OPTIONS
TRULY EXIST. THIS ENCOURAGES
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO COORDINATE
WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND
PRIORITIZE DIGNITY AND HUMAN
RIGHTS IN THEIR RESPONSES TO
HOMELESSNESS. IT ALSO HELPS
REDUCE TRAUMA ASSOCIATED WITH
DISPLACEMENT, AND REPEATED LOSS
OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS. AS A
SOCIAL WORK STUDENT, ONE OF MY
CORE COMMITMENTS IS TO PROMOTE
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE DIGNITY
AND WORTH OF EVERY PERSON.
WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS IN
COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SETTINGS, AND HEARING THEIR
STORIES HAS ONLY REVEALED THE
ROOT CAUSES OF THESE ISSUES ARE
SYSTEMIC. MEANING IT COULD
HAPPEN TO MANY OF NEWS THERE
WERE TO BE A LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT
OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY. ENSURING
PEOPLE WITHOUT HOUSING HAVE
ACCESS TO ALTERNATIVE SHELTER
RESPECTS THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND
ALIGNS WITH THE HUMANISTIC
APPROACH THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR
INHERENT DIGNITY, EMPOWERING
THEM TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF
THEIR LIVES. I URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 2489 AND WORK
TOWARDS FUNDING AND RESOURCES
THAT MAKE ALTERNATIVES TO THE
ENCAMPMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. NEXT, WE
HAVE LADY.
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. OKAY. HELLO. MY NAME IS
LADY, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO
MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT FORGET
ABOUT BLACK SEATTLE. AS TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND OUR COUNCIL
MEMBERS. OUR YOUTH ARE AFRAID,
OUR SENIORS ARE AFRAID, OUR
VETERANS ARE AFRAID. THE WORKING
CLASS AND THE MIDDLE ARE SO BUSY
SURVIVING THAT THEY DON'T EVEN
FEEL SAFE ADMITTING THEIR FEAR.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN RAINIER
BEACH AND ACROSS SOUTH SEATTLE
ARE SCARED TO GET ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. EVEN OUR TRAINS
HAVE STOPPED RUNNING BECAUSE OF
COPPER THEFT. FEELING SAFE WHEN
BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE FAILS, IT
SEEMS TO BE A MESSAGE TO US THAT
WE ARE NOT PROTECTED. I WANT TO
THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR STAYING
CONNECTED TO RAINIER BEACH
YOUTH. THAT MATTERS. BUT THAT
CONNECTION MUST TURN INTO
PROTECTION AND PREPARATION. WE
ARE WATCHING GLOBAL UNREST. WE
ARE HEARING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
NEW IDENTIFICATION,
REQUIREMENTS, EVEN PASSPORTS
TIED TO BANKING ACCESS FOR
INDIGENOUS BLACK SEATTLITES,
THAT RAISES REAL CONCERNS. AND
THE FAA AIRPORT, JUST $45, MANY
FAMILIES DON'T HAVE IN THE
COMMENT OF RACISM THAT MAKES
SIMPLY IDENTIFYING YOURSELF FEEL
DANGEROUS. THESE ARE NEOTAB
TRACT FEARS, BUT LIVED
EXPERIENCES. AND THEN THE BIG
ONE, THE EARTHQUAKE WE KNOW IS
COMING. THE FLOODS WE'VE
ALREADY SEEN. THE EMERGENCIES WE
THINK CANNOT HAPPEN TO US UNTIL
THEY DO. BLACK SEATTLE IS NOT
PREPARED. WE DO NOT HAVE THE
BUNKERS. WE DO NOT HAVE THE
CLEAR EVACUATION PLANS. WE DO
NOT HAVE THE CULTURAL COMPETENCY
WHEN IT COMES TO EMERGENCY
TRAINING. WE DO NOT HAVE
ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES THAT
TEACHES US HOW TO PROTECT OUR
FAMILY. BUILDS CONFIDENCE,
REDUCES TRAUMA RIGHT NOW, WHAT
WE'RE EXPERIENCING, WHAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING IS COLLECTIVE BLACK
PTSD AND PREVENTION THROUGH
PREPARATION CAN CHANGE THAT. SO
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO FUND
LONG-TERM COMMITMENT AND
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
NON-PROFITS, SKIP THE RABBIT
HOLE AND THE RED TAPE. WHEN YOU
WALK INTO CITY HALL, YOU SEE
THERE IS --
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WHERE SHE
MICHAEL, FOLLOWED BY DAVID.
MICHAEL, WELCOME.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX,
MICHAEL. WE STILL SEE YOU ON
MUTE. AWESOME.
>> THERE WE GO. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MICHAEL. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
VISIT SEATTLE AND STRONG SUPPORT
OF THE RESOLUTION YOU ARE
CONSIDERING TODAY, WHICH
ESTABLISHES GUIDING PRINCIPLES
FOR THE WESTLAKE TRANSPORTATION
HUB. WESTLAKE IS NOT JUST A
TRANSIT STOP. IT'S THE FRONT
DOOR TO DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. FOR
MANY OF OUR 40 MILLION ANNUAL
VISITORS INCLUDING ATTENDEES,
CRUISE PASSENGERS, AND DAY
TRIPPERS, WESTLAKE IS THEIR
FIRST AND LASTING IMPRESSION OF
OUR CITY. THIS RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZES THE UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY CREATED BY THE
WESTLAKE PARK RENOVATION, THE
SOUND TRANSIT EXPANSION, AND
FUTURE MONORAIL UPGRADES.
TOGETHER, THESE INVESTMENTS WILL
SHAPE HOW RESIDENTS AND VISITORS
MOVE THROUGH AND EXPERIENCE THE
HEART OF DOWNTOWN. WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE FOCUS ON
FUNCTIONALITY, FOCUS, AND URBAN
COMPATIBILITY. A CLEAN, WELL
LIT, EASY-TO-NAVIGATE HUB WITH
STRONG WAY FINDING AND VISIBLE
TRANSIT PRESENCE IS ESSENTIAL TO
A POSITIVE VISITOR EXPERIENCE.
WHEN PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND
CONFIDENT MOVING THROUGH
DOWNTOWN, THEY STAY LONGER,
EXPLORE MORE, AND SUPPORT OUR
LOCAL BUSINESSES. CONTRIBUTING
SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE $839
MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL
TAXES, WHICH WILL HELP FUND
REGIONAL HOUSING,
TRANSPORTATION, ARTS AND
CULTURE, AND MENTAL HEALTH
PROGRAMMING EACH YEAR. WE ALSO
APPRECIATE THE EMPHASIS ON
CREATING ECONOMIC CATALYST FOR
THE RETAIL CORE AND A VIBRANT,
URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD. SEEMLESS
CONNECTION BETWEEN LIGHT RAIL,
MONORAIL, BUSES, THE MARKET,
CONVENTION CENTER, WATERFRONT,
AND THE HISTORIC THEATER
DISTRICT WILL STRENGTHEN
SEATTLE'S POSITION AS A WORLD
CLASS DESTINATION. THIS
RESOLUTION SETS THE RIGHT VISION
AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO ENSURE
THESE PROJECTS WORK TOGETHER TO
CREATE A WELCOMING GATEWAY TO
DOWNTOWN. URGING YOUR SUPPORT,
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS IMPORTANT
EFFORT.
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL. NEXT, WE
HAVE DAVID HAINES. STAR SIX, MR.
HAINES?
>> THANK YOU, DAVID HAINES. THE
RESOLUTION ABOUT THE WESTLAKE
TRANSPORTATION HUB IS A JOKE.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL PUT THAT PIECE
OF PAPER IN A PORTA-POTTY
BECAUSE IT'S COMPLETELY UNSAFE
DOWNTOWN BECAUSE OF THE FAILURES
OF POLICING AND THE
MISINTERPRETATION OF A CRIMINAL.
IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU COME OUT OF
THE WESTLAKE TUNNEL AND YOU TURN
LEFT, IT'S A LIVING HELL.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BUS STOP
THEY PAID $1 MILLION FOR TO BE
REPLACED. BUT YET NOW YOU WANT
TO ACT LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO
BRING LIGHT RAIL OR WHATEVER,
THE TRANSPORTATION HUB TO A
TOXIC PARK THAT'S GOT SOT ALL
OVER IT TO HAVE A CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT TO SWEEP OUT THE
CRIMINALITY. NOW THAT MONORAIL
IS A PIECE OF CRAP. IT IS SO GAY
AND STUPID. YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE
ANTIQUATED AND OUTDATED FROM A
1961, BUT PEOPLE ARE HOLDING ON,
LIKE THEY'VE GOT NOTHING ELSE
TO HOLD ON TO, BUT A BUNCH OF
COLD WAR CONCRETE UP IN THE
SEATTLE CENTER AREA. BUT THE
BUSINESSES CAN DO WITHOUT ALL
THE INFLATED PROPERTY TAXES THAT
THE GOVERNMENT SEEMS -- LIKE A
MONEY WORSHIP, ACTING LIKE FOR
PROFIT WHEN IT COMES TO TAXING
PEOPLE. IT'S LIKE THE PROPERTY
TAXES ARE DRIVING BUSINESSES OUT
OF SEATTLE BECAUSE YOU ALL THINK
IT'S ABOUT RAISING THE PROPERTY
TAXES TO FINANCE YOUR REELECTION
APPARATUSES, AND YET YOU'RE
DESTROYING A SMALL BUSINESS BY
MAKING THEM PAY THREE, FOUR,
FIVE, SIX TIMES THE ORIGINAL
MORTGAGE ON A CRAPPY PIECE OF
REAL ESTATE THAT FAILS THE
PURPOSE. BUT I STILL DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE FOURTH AVENUE.
BECAUSE IF YOU COMPARE IT TO THE
THIRD AVENUE, WHERE ALL THE
TRANSIT IS, THERE IS NO STOP
THERE. WATCH AS YOU PUT BACK THE
STOP ON THIRD AVENUE BEFORE YOU
WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON
FOURTH AVENUE FOR ANOTHER STUPID
BUS STOP THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF JUNKIES, WHO
YOU ALL CREATED BECAUSE YOU KEEP
PUSHING DRUGS FOR THE LGBTQ WHO
WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE
--
>> THANK YOU, MR. HAINES. I
ACTUALLY LIKE THE MONORAIL. I
THINK IT'S NICE. ALL RIGHT,
JUST FOR THE RECORD. OKAY, WE
HAD A DEAD MIC OVER HERE, AND
CHARLOTTE, WHEN YOU GAVE YOUR
COMMENTS, SO THE CLERK HAS ASKED
IF YOU COULD COME TO THE MIDDLE
TO REPEAT THEM OR WHATEVER YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SAY?
>> HI, I'M CHARLOTTE. I SPOKE
EARLIER ABOUT THE NEED TO ACT
ABOUT THE THREAT OF I.C.E. I AM
NOT DOING AN IMPROMPTU PUBLIC
COMMENT, VERSES I HAD TIME TO
PRACTICE THIS FOR THREE DAYS
BEFOREHAND. BUT IT WAS PLEASE DO
SOMETHING. IT'S BEEN 407 DAYS
SINCE THIS MAN TOOK OFFICE. THE
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION SELECT
COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE HAVE GOT TO FIGURE
SOMETHING OUT. IF WE HAVE TO
KEEP THIS TECHNOLOGY, IT'S
OBVIOUS CERTAIN MEMBERS OF
COMMUNITIES AND CERTAIN
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF THE CITY
WANT THESE CAMERAS. I PERSONALLY
DISAGREE WITH THAT. BUT I'M
GOING TO STAY IN MY LANE. IF
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE
CAMERAS, WE NEED TO HAVE, LIKE I
SAID, THE FIREWALLS OF
FIREWALLS. AND I'M SUPER
SERIOUS OF WHAT I SAID,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. IF YOU SAY
THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THAT
THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST
INTERFERENCE AND AGAINST
INTRUSION. IF YOUR WORD DOES NOT
END UP STICKING THROUGH A
FEDERAL ACTION, THERE NEEDS TO
BE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT AND
IT HAS TO BE THE PUBLIC FACING
FIGURES. YOU HAVE TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. IF YOU PUSH THIS
STUFF AND IT COMES CRASHING
DOWN. THERE ARE REAL PEOPLE AND
REAL HOUSES, ON REAL STREETS IN
REAL DANGER, AND WE NEED YOU TO
DO YOUR JOBS TO KEEP US SAFE.
609 DAYS UNTIL THE NEXT GENERAL
ELECTION, WHERE MOST OF YOU WILL
BE UP, AND WE HAVE LONG
MEMORIES. WE'LL REMEMBER WHAT
YOU HAVE DONE, NOT JUST BETWEEN
NOW AND THEN, BUT SINCE YOU WERE
FIRST ELECTED IN 23. PLEASE DO
SOMETHING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHARLOTTE.
>> SO THERE ARE NO MORE
REGISTERED SPEAKERS. I WANT TO
SCAN THE ROOM. IS THERE ANYONE
ELSE TO SPEAK? ANYONE? NOPE? ALL
RIGHT, AWESOME. I'M JUST TRYING
-- ONE MR. SPEAKER? OKAY. THIS
IS OUR LAST SPEAKER. YOU DON'T
LIKE HOW I CALLED YOU ALL OUT BY
NAME? ALL RIGHT, WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS QUINNTON, I'M A
RESIDENT OF CHINATOWN. I'M
RESPONDING DIRECTLY TO WHAT I'M
JUST READING.
>> COULD YOU USE THE MICROPHONE?
OR YOU CAN DO THIS ONE.
>> MY NAME IS QUINTON, I'M A
RESIDENT OF CHINATOWN,
RESPONDING DIRECTLY TO WHAT I'M
JUST READING NOW FROM ERIKA
BARNETT ABOUT THE -- KIND OF
SHIFTING SAND UNDER
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S PROPOSED
BAN ON DETENTION CENTERS AND
JAILS. PLEASE DON'T WEAKEN
THIS. THIS IS A STRONG FIRST
STEP, AND I REALLY -- THIS IS
WHERE WE SEE YOU TAKING ACTION.
WE DON'T NEED TO SEE YOU
STEPPING BACK. I HOPE ANY
COUNCILMEMBERS CONSIDERING GOING
AGAINST THE LEGISLATION BECAUSE
OF MY APPEARANCE THAT YOU'RE
BEING SOFT ON CRIME, WE KNOW YOU
WORK SO HARD ON CRIME. SO PLEASE
JUST LET THIS ONE GO. THANK YOU.
>> AND PLEASE SIGN YOUR NAME.
YEP. JUST SIGN YOUR NAME. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. SO WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF LIST OF REGISTERED
SPEAKERS, THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY, THE
PEOPLE THAT GAVE US COMMENTS
ONLINE, ON E-MAILS, WHILE WE'RE
IN PUBLIC, AND THE PEOPLE WE
HAVE MEETINGS WITH. THANK YOU
ALL FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS
TODAY. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA OR EXCUSE ME, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. WE'LL
CONSIDER THE CONSENT CALENDAR,
INCLUDING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY
24, 2026, AND COUNCIL BILL
121172. ANY COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM
TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDARS?
HEARING NONE, I MOVE TO ADOPT
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ARE
ADOPTED. WE WILL -- WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURES
TO THE MINUTES AND LEGISLATION
ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ON MY
BEHALF? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> THE REPORT THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE ON ITEM ONE,
RESOLUTION 32193, RELATING TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
PROFESSIONALISM AND STANDARDS,
REAFFIRMING SEATTLE VALUES
RELATED TO PROFESSIONAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT CONDUCT, CONDEMNING
RECENT ACTIONS OF FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENTS, ARTICULATING
EXPECTATIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
CONDUCT WITHIN SEATTLE, AND
DIRECTING SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT OFFICERS TO DOCUMENT
AND REPORT VIOLATIONS OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALISM
STANDARDS. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE RESOLUTION BE
ADOPTED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE THE
COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC HERE IN CHAMBERS AND
ACROSS SEATTLE CHANNEL. IN TIMES
OF CRISIS, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO HAVE CLARITY AND PURPOSE IN
MOVING FORWARD TO ADDRESS THE
CRISIS, TO ADDRESS THE
UNCERTAINTY. IN THE UNCERTAINTY,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR IN
ONE'S VALUES AND OUR VALUES AS
A CITY TO INCLUDE THAT YES, WE
ARE WELCOMING CITY. WITH IT THE
PROTECTION OF SAFETY, PRIVACY,
AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. WITH
RESPECT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALL
LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT IS CRUCIAL
TO SAY, TO STATE, OUR STANDARDS
AND OUR EXPECTATIONS. STANDARDS
AND EXPECTATIONS WE HOLD FOR OUR
VERY OWN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS
INCLUDES THE USE OF FACE
MASKING, IDENTIFICATION, AND
IDENTIFYING UNIFORMS, BUT ALSO
FOLLOWING DIRECT POLICIES IN THE
LAW. OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT BEING A GUARDIAN
MODEL AND NOT A WARRIOR MODEL.
IT IS CONCERNING TO ME AND THIS
NEW PERIOD OF WAR IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, TO SEE THE WARRIOR MODEL
AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR
I REMEMBER QUITE CLEARLY IN
ANOTHER PERIOD OF WAR, JUST OVER
TWO DECADES AGO. A PERIOD WHERE
EXCESS MILITARY EQUIPMENT WAS
SENT TO LOCAL COUNTY AND STATE
LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHERE LAW
ENFORCEMENT WENT FROM BLUE TO
BLACK. THIS CONCERN IS NOW
HEIGHTENED AS WE SEE THE
BUDGETARY RESOURCES GOING TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
DHS. THIS RESOLUTION MAKES CLEAR
OUR POSITION WITH RESPECT TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN THE
PROFESSIONALISM AND STANDARDS.
STATING IT ALLOWED A RESOLUTION
IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT. AT THE END
OF THE DAY, WE CANNOT HAVE
ILL-DISCIPLINED LAW ENFORCEMENT
OPERATIONS, WHERE DIRECTIVES AND
POLICIES WERE NOT FOLLOWED,
WHERE LEADERSHIP IS WEAK IN OUR
CITY AND OUR REGION. THIS
RESOLUTION MAKES OUR POSITION
CLEAR FOR, AGAIN, IN TIMES OF
CRISIS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE
CLARITY AND PURPOSE IN MOVING
FORWARD. SOY ASK COLLEAGUES FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION?
AWESOME. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE RESOLUTION?
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER TWO INTO THE
RECORD?
>> THE HUMAN SERVICES, LABOR,
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE. AGENDA ITEM TWO,
RESOLUTION 32191, IDENTIFYING
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION HUB
ADJACENT TO WESTLAKE PARK.
CREATING A VISION FOR HOW THIS
HUB WILL INTEGRATE WITH THE
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, AND
SETTING FORTH DIRECTIONS FOR
FUNCTIONALITY, SAFETY, AND URBAN
COMPATIBILITY, ALONG WITH THE
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE
PUBLIC PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THIS
AREA ADJACENT TO WESTLAKE PARK.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED.
>> COMMISSIONER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
BECAUSE I'D BE BRIEF BECAUSE I
WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BILL SPONSOR
TO SPEAK ON THIS AS WELL.
COLLEAGUES, AFFIRMING THE
DECISION TO A COORDINATED
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION HUB. IT
SETS GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO ALIGN
ANY FUTURE LIGHT RAIL, MONORAIL,
AND ANY OTHER TRANSIT
IMPROVEMENTS TO FUNCTION AS A
COHESIVE HUB, RATHER THAN
SEPARATE PROJECTS. THANK YOU TO
THE OFFICE SPEAKING OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS. THIS RESOLUTION PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES LABOR IN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND I
URGE ADOPTION BY FULL COUNCIL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND ALSO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR THE WORK
DONE ON THIS AND FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. AS WE'VE HEARD IN
PUBLIC COMMENT, THIS IS A FRONT
DOOR, A CRUCIAL AREA, A CRUCIAL
ELEMENT OF OUR CITY. IT IS THE
FRONT DOOR TO GO WITH THE FRONT
PORCH, IF YOU WILL, OF OUR
WATERFRONT. IT'S KEY TO HAVE
ALL THESE PIECES INCLUDED.
EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION HUB. SO
IMPORTANT, BRINGING INTERMODAL
OPERATIONS BETWEEN THE MONORAIL,
WHICH I LOVE TO -- CAN I ADD.
AND BUSES AND THE LIGHT RAIL. A
FUNCTIONAL URBAN DESTINATION,
YOU KNOW? THIS IS WHAT WE NEED
WITH SIDEWALKS, RETAIL SERVICES.
THOSE KINDS OF PIECES WE'VE
BEEN TRYING TO DO IN SO MANY
WAYS, BUT TO BRING IT TO
WESTLAKE EVEN MORE. OF COURSE,
THIS IS ALL NEEDED AND IT IS
NEEDED FOR A CITY RELATED TO
BECOMING AN ECONOMIC CATALYST
FOR US AND FOR THAT AREA. BUT
ULTIMATELY ALSO A UNIQUE VIBRANT
AND LIVABLE URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH AMENITIES THAT ENABLE
PEOPLE AND FAMILIES TO MEET
THEIR NEEDS AND THRIVE. IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE THAT
DOWNTOWN IS ALSO A RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD AREA. DENNY
TRIANGLE, GOING UP A BIT, SOUTH
LAKE UNION, UP HILL, ACROSS THE
HILL. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THIS IN OUR CENTER. AND SO, BY
THE WAY, I THANK THE DOWNTOWN
COMMUNITY COUNCIL, THE BELLTOWN
COMMUNITY COUNCIL, DENNY
TRIANGLE ASSOCIATION, FOR YOUR
THOUGHTS. THESE VOICES NEED TO
BE HEARD MOVING FORWARD AS WE
ENGAGE ON THE CHALLENGES THAT
MAY COME UP AS WE'RE PUTTING
THIS INTO PLACE. BUT THE LAST
THING I WANTED TO SAY, AND I
THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT. THIS
HAS COME UP IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
IN A LOT OF WAYS, OUR CITY HAS A
NORTH-SOUTH ORIENTATION WITH
I-5, WITH 99, AND THESE PIECES.
I THINK, AND I'VE SAID THIS
BEFORE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS
HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE. BUT WE
REALLY NEED TO WORK ON THOSE
EAST-WEST CONNECTIONS. THOSE
EAST-WEST CONNECTIONS -- GO OVER
THE CHALLENGES IN THE PAST THAT
CAME INTO THE DIVIDED
NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES.
THESE EAST-WEST CONNECTIONS
CREATE THE VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD
FEEL FOR OUR CITY. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT AREA TO DO THAT. YES,
IT IS A TRANSPORTATION HUB, BUT
IT IS ALSO THE KIND OF MIX IN
THE CENTER BETWEEN NOT JUST
NORTH AND SOUTH, BUT ALSO EAST
AND WEST. COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT ALONG WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR THIS,
FOR THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS ABOUT
THIS RESOLUTION? AWESOME. ALL
RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
THE RESOLUTION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED, AND
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
THERE WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. AND THERE
IS NOT A RESOLUTION FOR
INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION TODAY.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL? IS THAT
AN OLD HAND? COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE OR A NEW? THAT'S OLD.
OKAY. OLD HAND. OLD HAND, NO,
I'M JUST PLAYING. [ LAUGHTER ]
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
I DO -- OKAY, SO I DO WANT TO
SAY, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK FOR THE WOMEN'S
PROCLAMATION. I DIDN'T REALIZE
IT WAS THAT MANY FOLKS THAT WERE
COMING TO CHAMBERS TODAY, AND SO
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A LOT. THANK
YOU TO YOUR STAFF FOR THE
LOGISTICS ON THAT. THAT WAS
GREAT. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR BEING
PATIENT AS WE FIGURED OUT HOW
WE'RE TAKING GROUP PHOTOS WITH
THE PROCLAMATION. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT WE SHOW WE ARE ALWAYS,
ALL OF OUR SIGNATURES ARE ON
THAT, AND JUST MAKING SURE WE
ARE ALL CAPTURING THOSE MOMENTS
IN OUR TEAM. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
SO WE HAVE REACHED --
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> IN MY NORMAL ROLE OF
REMINDING US ON HOW THINGS HAVE
BEEN DONE, I HAVE TO SAY IN THE
PAST, IT HAS ONLY BEEN THE
SPONSOR THAT HAS TAKEN PHOTOS
WITH THE PROCLAMATION FOLKS. I
THINK IT IS REALLY POWERFUL, THE
CHANGE YOU'VE MADE WITH HAVING
US ALL UP THERE, SO I WANT TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY JUST
BECAUSE WE'VE DONE IT THE SAME
WAY, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE
RIGHT WAY. I LIKE THIS CHANGE.
THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR THAT.
AND WE KNOW WE CAN TAKE IT WITH
LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE NOW. WE
KNOW HOW THAT FLOW IS GOING TO
GO, SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. SO
WE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
AGENDA. THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING WILL BE MARCH 10 AT 2:00
P.M. HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, GUESS WHAT? IT'S THE
END OF THE MEETING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.