>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES,
THE JUNE 30th, 2026 MEETING OF
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME
TO ORDER, IT IS FOR: 04 P.M., MY
NAME IS JOY HOLLINGSWORTH, CITY
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WILL THE CITY
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THERE ARE NO PRESENTATIONS
FOR TODAY, OR NO PROCLAMATIONS
FOR PRESENTATIONS SO WE WILL
JUMP RIGHT INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME, WE
WILL OPEN UP THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. A PUBLIC COMMENT
IS LIMITED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA AND THE INTRODUCTION OF
THE REFERRAL CALENDAR AND THE
COUNCIL WORK PROGRAM. COUNCIL
CANNOT ACCEPT COMMENTS ON
QUASIJUDICIAL ITEMS, OR ANY
CAMPAIGN RELATED MATTERS. CLERK,
HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE 10 REMOTE, AND 14 IN
PERSON.
>> SO, THAT IS 24, IF MY MATH IS
CORRECT, SO THAT MEANS THAT
BECAUSE WE HAVE FEWER THAN 30,
EVERYONE IS GOING TO GET TWO
MINUTES TODAY. CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MATTER, SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY ARE REGISTERED, SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN THERE IS
10 SECONDS LEFT IN THE TIME,
SPEAKERS MICS WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY DO NOT FINISH THEIR
COMMENTS IN TIME TO ALLOW FOR
THE NEXT SPEAKER. WE WILL NOW
BEGIN WITH OUR LIST.
>> THANK YOU. IF YOU ARE ONLINE,
WE WILL COME TO YOU AFTER WE
FINISH OUR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS
AND LET YOU KNOW THAT IN PERSON
SPEAKERS, WE HAVE 14, SO, WE
WILL BE HERE FOR AT LEAST 28
MINUTES FOR IN PERSON, AND THEN
-- OH, ABOUT 30 MINUTES -- AND
THEN WE WILL TRANSITION TO
ONLINE, AND I WILL KEEP YOU
UPDATED ABOUT HOW MANY SPEAKERS
BEFORE WE SWITCH ONLINE. SO, I
WILL CALL THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE MS. EVENT DINESH,
VICTORIA PALMER, RUTH, WE HAVE
CLIVE, AND ALISHA RUIZ. SO, IF
YOU ALL START GETTING READY ON
DECK? MC. YVETTE DINESH,
WELCOME, FOLLOWED BY VICTORIA
PALMER, RUTH, AND CLYDE,
WELCOME. ANY MICROPHONE YOU WANT
TO USE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE
FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR
WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION,
UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. I
WANT TO GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT, I
READ YOUR EMAIL, REGARDING THE
CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA COMMUNITY
FUND. THAT WAS PRETTY
INTERESTING. I HOPE PEOPLE WILL
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. AND
ALSO, WHEN THE MAYOR DECIDED TO
CLOSE OFF THE BOULEVARD FOR THE
WHOLE WEEKEND, WERE YOU NOTIFIED
AHEAD OF TIME AT ALL? OR, YOU --
I'M SORRY?
>> HE WILL TALK TO YOU AFTER,
THIS IS FOR YOUR --
>> OH, YEAH!
>> GO AHEAD.
>> BECAUSE FOR THIS COMMUNITY,
THERE WILL BE PUSHBACK. ALSO, I
NOTICED IN RECENT MEETINGS, THAT
WHEN A PARTICULAR GROUP HAS AN
ISSUE, THEY SHOW UP EN MASSE TO
GIVE THEIR OPINION, WHICH IS A
GOOD THING, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC
AT LARGE, TWO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
CONTESTS SHOWING UP AT REGULAR
COUNCIL MEETINGS AND ALSO AT
OTHER EVENTS, OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY,
ARE SHOWING UP ON THE REGULAR.
IN PERSON, OR REMOTE. AND I
THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO STAY
ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY. OH,
AND THEN, LASTLY, THERE IS A
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR HIM -- FORUM
TONIGHT, I DON'T KNOW -- I KNOW
IT IS TONIGHT, BUT I FORGOT
WHERE IT IS, SO IF YOU COULD
JUST KIND OF LET ME KNOW,
BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO GO. AND
THANK YOU, FOR BEING A COUNCIL
AGAIN AND WELCOME BACK, AMELIA,
AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE, THANK
YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU, MS.
YVETTE. NEXT, WE HAVE VICTORIA,
CLIVE, AND IF YOU ASK QUESTIONS,
THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR YOU,
ALL, AND SOMETIMES, AFTERWARDS,
COUNCILMEMBERS CAN STAY ENGAGED,
SO JUST A REMINDER THAT WE
WON'T ANSWER YOU, BUT AT THE
END -- THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL, MY NAME IS
VICTORIA PALMER AND I AM AN
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER OF THE
KING COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY
LEADERS FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO
MAKE SEATTLE A FABULOUS HOST
READY FOR THE WORLD CUP, AND HOW
FABULOUS IT IS TO SEE SEATTLE
SHINE WITH THE WORLD WATCHING.
TODAY, I AM HERE TO SHARE
COMMENTS ON THE TRANS ENTRANT 26
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM, IDT,
FORMED BY THE MAYOR TO ESTABLISH
A STRUCTURED, PERMANENT PRIMARK
FOR SUPPORTING TRANSGENDER AND
QUEER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
RELOCATED TO SEATTLE TO ESCAPE
HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS IN OTHER
STATES. THE CLEAR INTENT OF THE
IDT IS TO REDIRECT PUBLIC FUNDS
TO PAY FOR HOUSING, FOOD, AND
ELECTIVE AND COSMETIC MEDICAL
PROCEDURES FOR TRANS
INDIVIDUALS. WE OPPOSED THE USE
OF TAXPAYER MONEY FOR THESE
PURPOSES. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE
APPEAL MADE TO THE MAYOR TO
DECLARE AN EMERGENCY OF TRANS
REFUGEES WAS BASED ON HIGHLY
INFLATED NUMBERS, AND THAT NO
SUCH EMERGENCY EXISTS. I AM
CALLING ON THE COUNCIL TO TAKE
ACTION TO DISBAND THE IDT, AND I
WILL BRING MORE PUBLIC ATTENTION
TO THIS ISSUE TO HELP FACILITATE
THIS. IT IS IRONIC, TO CLAIM
THERE IS A GENOCIDE ON THE TRANS
COMMUNITY, WHEN THE TRUTH IS,
THE TRANS MOVEMENT IS THE
GENOCIDE UPON OUR PEOPLE.
>> BOO!
>> IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO
PERSUADE A CHILD TO DAMAGE OR
DESTROY THEIR REPRODUCTIVE
ORGANS BEFORE THEY HAVE EVEN
REACHED THE AGE OF CONSENT. THE
AYE. FIVE MOVEMENT IS A
GLAMORIZED MOVEMENT OF
POPULATION CONTROL PUSHED BY
LEFTIST IDEOLOGY.
>> BOO!
>> SO, YES, TRANS INDIVIDUALS
HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED, BUT NOT BY
REPUBLICAN POLICY. IN FACT,
SEATTLE REPUBLICANS CAN BE A
PART OF WELCOMING THEM, SEEING
THEM AS EQUALS UNDER THE LAW,
AND RECOGNIZING THEM AS
CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, RUTH. NEXT, WE
HAVE RUTH, FOLLOWED BY CLIVE AND
ALISHA. WELCOME, RUTH.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> OKAY, GREAT. MY NAME IS RUTH
ERICA.
>> WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE TIME.
>> OH, SORRY.
>> WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE YOUR
TIME, WE HAVE A LITTLE
DISRUPTION IN THE BACKGROUND.
MR. DIAZ? MR. DIAZ? NO WORRIES,
WE ARE GOOD. ALL RIGHT, LET'S
-- WE ARE GOOD. WE ARE ALL GOOD.
ALL RIGHT. GIVE US ONE SECOND.
MR. DIAZ? YOU ARE GOOD? ALL
RIGHT. NO, NO, NO. YOU ARE GOOD,
WE ARE GOOD, BENNETT. ALL RIGHT,
GO RIGHT AHEAD. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, HI, AGAIN, MY NAME
IS RISPERDAL, I LIVE IN BALLARD,
BY SUNSET HILL, LOYAL HEIGHTS,
SO MY STATEMENT IS, THE CITY IS
SPENDING VALUABLE TIME AND
TAXPAYER RESOURCES SETTING THE
CREATION OF A TRANSGENDER
SANCTUARY. BEFORE DOING SO, I
ASKED CLIVE SIMPLE QUESTIONS,
WHAT DOCUMENTED HARM IS THE
SANCTUARY INTENDED TO ADDRESS?
IS THERE EVIDENCE THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, THIS LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, CAN REDUCE THAT
HARM? WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE, TO
BE IN THIS SANCTUARY? AND IF THE
ELIGIBILITY IS RESTRICTED, WHAT
IS THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THAT
RESTRICTION? SINCE WE ARE GIVING
MONEY TO THE PUBLIC AND
RESTRICTING IT TO ONLY CERTAIN
PEOPLE. THE LAST QUESTION IS,
WHY -- AND I AM NOT EXPECTING
YOU TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, I
HEARD WHAT YOU SAID -- WHY
SHOULD SEATTLE TAXPAYERS FUND
IT? SORT OF RHETORICAL. SEATTLE
FACES A SERIOUS BUDGET SHORTFALL
AND OUR RESIDENTS STRUGGLE EVERY
DAY WITH PUBLIC SAFETY,
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND THE
DECLINING QUALITY OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. LONGTIME
TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO KNOW WHY
CITY RESOURCES ARE BEING
DIRECTED TOWARD A NEW SANCTUARY
PROPOSAL, INSTEAD OF THESE
URGENT, LOCAL NEEDS. THIS
PROPOSAL IS PRESENTED LARGELY AS
A RESPONSE TO FEDERAL POLICIES.
YET, THE PEOPLE BEING ASKED TO
BEAR THE COST ARE SEATTLE
RESIDENTS, MANY OF WHOM OPPOSE
THESE POLICIES. THE RECENT
MEDICAID CHANGES AFFECTED MANY
VULNERABLE PEOPLE, INCLUDING
FAMILIES CARING FOR AUTISTIC
CHILDREN, PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON
MEDICAID FOR BASIC HEALTHCARE,
AND WORKERS WHOSE JOBS WERE
AFFECTED. THESE NEEDS ARE REAL
AND IMMEDIATE. IF SEATTLE IS
CONSIDERING CREATING
SANCTUARIES, THEN I URGE YOU TO
CREATE A SANCTUARY FOR
BIOLOGICAL WOMEN. WOMEN ALONE
BEAR THE BURDENS OF PREGNANCY,
CHILDBIRTH, REPRODUCTIVE
DISEASE, AND MANY OTHER
SEX-SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. WOMEN
ALSO EXPERIENCE THE OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE,
STALKING, INTIMATE PARTNER
VIOLENCE, AND PERSISTENT SEXUAL
HARASSMENT. THESE ARE HARMS THAT
AFFECT MILLIONS OF WOMEN. THIS
PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES A
DISCUSSION OF A TRANSGENDER --
>> THANK YOU, RUTH. IS THE --
YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. YOU CAN BE
MORE THAN HAPPY TO PUT YOUR
COMMENTS IN THE BUCKET. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. CLIVE? IN THE
BUCKET, TO YOUR LEFT, MY RIGHT.
CLIVE, AND THEN ALISHA. THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
CLIVE HAYWARD, I PERFORM SAFETY
ON THE SEATTLE WATERFRONT FOR 11
YEARS. ON JUNE 12th, THE
SECURITY ISSUED ME A ONE DAY
EXCLUSION WHILE I WAS ENGAGED IN
STREET PERFORMANCE ACTIVITY. THE
NOTICE THREATENED CRIMINAL
TRESPASS IF I RETURNED. THERE
WAS NO VIOLENCE, OBSTRUCTION,
PROPERTY DAMAGE, EMERGENCY
ACCESS, OR CROWD CONTROL
INCIDENT. THE ISSUE IS THAT IT
WAS I WAS OUTSIDE OF A
DESIGNATED EXPRESSION LOCATION.
AFTER SEATTLE POLICE ARRIVED, I
SAID I WOULD MOVE, IF EXCLUSION
WAS BEING THREATENED, ESU
EXCLUDED ME ANYWAY. I ASKED THE
WATERFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TO
RESCIND OR CORRECT THE NOTICE,
PROVIDE MUTUAL REVIEW, OR STATE
REFUSAL, THEY RESPONDED THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION REVIEW IS
AVAILABLE, ONLY FOR EXCLUSIONS
OF SEVEN DAYS OR MORE. THAT
EXCLUSION COST ME REAL INCOME,
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT
BURDENED MY FIRST AMENDMENT
PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES.
EXCLUSION IS NOT HARMLESS, WHEN
IT STOPS PROTECTED EXPRESSION,
AND CARRIES CRIMINAL TRESPASS
CONSEQUENCES. BUT, THE CITY IS
TAKING A POSITION THAT IT GETS
NO MEANINGFUL REVIEW BECAUSE IT
IS SHORT. THIS MATCHES A BROADER
PROBLEM. I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE
COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEATTLE CENTER
STAFF AND THEY ALL END UP IN A
BLACK HOLE. THESE COMPLAINTS ARE
BACKED BY VIDEO EVIDENCE,
WRITTEN REPORTS, AND HAVE
RECEIVED NO MEANINGFUL RESPONSE.
HR DISCUSSED THAT THERE WAS NO
NEED TO RESPOND TO MY
COMPLAINTS, BECAUSE ETHICS AND
CITY RECORDS WERE COPIED,
HOWEVER RECORDS CONTAIN NO
FOLLOW-UP. PLEASE IDENTIFY WHO
HAS THE AUTHORITY --
>> THANK YOU, CLIVE. NEXT, WE
HAVE ALISHA, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT,
AND IVANA, KEITH, PAUL, AND THEN
GLENN. WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ALICIA
RUIZ, ACTIVATED POLICY MANAGER
AT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SEATTLE
AND KING COUNTIES. OUR MISSION
IS A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE --
EVERYONE -- HAS A SAFE, DECENT,
AFFORDABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME
AND SEATTLE'S OFFICE OF HOUSING
IS ONE OF OUR STRONGEST PARTNERS
IN MAKING THAT MISSION POSSIBLE.
WE ARE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
THREE ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA.
FIRST, CB 121218, UPDATING THE
HOUSE HE LEVY, ADMINISTERED OF
IN FINANCIAL PLAN WHICH
STRENGTHENS THE SUBSIDY TOOLS WE
RELY ON TO SERVE WORKING
FAMILIES. SECOND, COUNCIL BILL
12137, THE MONTLAKE HOMES SITE.
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A GREAT
NEED FOR AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP. IT IS TRANSIT
RICH AND IS ADJACENT TO
ESSENTIAL WORKER JOB CENTERS.
THIS LEGISLATION MOVES US
TOWARDS 50 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES,
THERE. THIRD, COUNCIL BILL
121238, TWO PARCELS IN THE
CENTRAL AREA. THIS IS A
NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE BLACK
COMMUNITY HAS FALLEN FROM NEARLY
75% IN THE 1970s, TO AROUND 15%
TODAY, AND WHERE BLACK
HOMEOWNERSHIP HAS ESPECIALLY
BEEN HIT HARD. SECURING THIS
SITE FOR AFFORDABLE, FOR SALE
HOUSING, IS A MEANINGFUL STEP
TOWARD REIMBURSING THAT
DISPLACEMENT. WE ARE URGING
SWIFT PASSAGE OF ALL THREE AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED
PARTNERSHIP AND CONTINUE
BUILDING TOWARD HABITAT VISION
FOR SEATTLE WHERE EVERYONE HAS A
PLACE TO CALL HOME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ALISHA. NEXT, WE
HAVE SCOTT FOLLOWED BY IVANA,
KEITH, PAUL, GLENN. IS SCOTT
HERE? SCOTT? ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE
NAMED SCOTT HERE? OKAY, I WILL
COME BACK. IVANA, IS IVANA HERE?
IS THERE AN IVANA HERE? NO?
OKAY. NEXT, WE HAVE KEITH
CARPENTER. HEY, KEITH. WELCOME.
>> HI, THERE, I'M KEITH
CARPENTER, I'M THE PASTOR OF
EVERGLADES CHURCH IN NORTH
SEATTLE, AND COUNCIL, I JUST
WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR TAKING
SOME ACTION IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
AT 105th AND AURORA, AND THE
AURORA TRAGEDY THAT WE HAVE
GOING ON UP THERE. THERE HAS
BEEN A LOT OF YEARS OF THIS, AND
THANK YOU FOR CURBING SOME OF
IT, WITH THE BARRIERS AND
WHATNOT. I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE
YOU -- ON A COUPLE THINGS. NOT
TO FORGET, WE HAVE JUST PUT A
BAND-AID ON THE PROBLEM AND IT
IS NOT SOLVED. AND WOULDN'T IT
BE GREAT, IF SEATTLE COULD SOLVE
A BIGGER PROBLEM? THERE IS REAL
VICTIMS, WHO ARE YOUNG GIRLS,
MOSTLY, YOUNG BOYS, AS WELL, ON
THE STREET, AND THEY ARE BEING
VICTIMIZED AND ABUSED, AND THERE
NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING MORE THAN
JUST A BAND-AID. AND I REALLY
WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEAN
INTO IT EVEN FURTHER. WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THERE IS
SOME MOMENTUM, AND I THINK IF WE
GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER,
WE COULD REALLY CAUSE SOME
REALLY IMPORTANT POLICY, AND
PROBABLY, CHANGE IN THIS CITY.
THIS CITY IS SUPPOSEDLY KNOWN
FOR PROSTITUTION -- NOT A GOOD
THING TO BE KNOWN FOR. THEY SAY,
AROUND THE WORLD, AURORA AVENUE,
AND IN SEATTLE, PEOPLE KNOW. I
TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME THAT I
HAVE A BUSINESS AND I AM A
PASTOR ON AURORA, THEY GO, "
OOF." ARGO, "I KNOW, BUT THE
HUMAN TRAGEDY IS WORTH IT,"
IT'S NOW SITTING THERE FOR 18
YEARS IN THIS SPACE, AND I WANT
TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE
ROT OF A SOCIETY THAT ALLOWS ITS
MOST VULNERABLE TO BE
CONTINUALLY USED, OVER AND OVER.
IT IS HORRIFIC. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PASTOR KEITH.
NEXT, WE HAVE PAUL, FOLLOWED BY
GLENN.
>> HI, I'M PAUL TOMLINSON, AND
WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE, TALKED
ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAVE ALSO
WORKED WITH KEITH IN HIS AREA,
CLEANING UP GRAFFITI, WALKING
THE STREETS, KIND OF SAFE LOCKS
WITH PEOPLE. SO, I WANT TO BACK
UP WHAT HE IS SAYING. THIS PAST
SATURDAY, WE DID A CLEANUP IN
WASHINGTON PARK AND I WANT TO
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR
PRESIDENT JOY, WHO WAS JARED
THERE, WITH ABOUT 50 OTHER
PEOPLE, WHO, AS A RESULT OF TWO
NEIGHBORS, ONE BUSINESSPERSON
AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER,
CIRCULATING 130 HANDOUTS,
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME AND
ACTUALLY CAME, WALKED UP THE
HILL, CLEANED UP WHERE THE
ENCAMPMENTS WERE, AND I BELIEVE
WE HAD ABOUT 50 PEOPLE THERE. I
AM TALKING TO ALL OF YOU ABOUT
NEIGHBORHOODS WORKING TOGETHER,
AND WE HOPE, MORE AND MORE, THAT
WE CAN GET YOU OUT AND COME TO
SOME OF THESE CLEANUPS. PEOPLE
ARE BEGINNING TO SEE WHAT THE
PROBLEM IS, BUT THEY CAN ALSO BE
A PART OF THAT, SO WE JUST
WANTED TO THANK YOU. WE KNOW YOU
ARE ADDRESSING THAT, AND WHAT
KEITH IS DOING, AND WHAT SOME OF
THE CHURCHES THAT ARE WORKING
WITH HIM, THEY ARE DOING AN
AMAZING JOB OF PULLING PEOPLE
TOGETHER AND WE CAN DO THAT. THE
WORLD CUP IS SHOWING THAT WE CAN
DO A LOT OF THINGS, AND
PRESIDENT JOY, I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT, AND YOU
ACTUALLY DID QUITE A BIT OF WORK
OUT THERE THAT DAY. I WAS VERY
IMPRESSED. SO, ANYWAY, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. PAUL.
GLENN, DON'T MIND GETTING MY
HANDS DIRTY, OKAY? DIRTY HANDS,
CLEAN MONEY. IS GLENN HERE?
GLENN? GLENN? HEY, MR. GLENN.
WELCOME. AND AFTER GLENN, WE
HAVE MAX, THEN GABRIEL, THEN
HOWARD, THEN BENNETT.
>> MY NAME IS GLENN STOCKWELL, I
AM A CHAIRMAN OF WASHINGTON
STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT
IS A NONPROFIT ENTITY. AND I AM
COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK
YOU TWO QUESTIONS. AND I WOULD
LIKE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH PATTY
MURRAY FOR A PERIOD OF ONE
MONTH, AND ONE MONTH, I PUT
TOGETHER A LARGE ESTATE PROJECT
BEFORE, WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER.
OKAY? WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO --
THERE IS OVER $5 BILLION SITTING
ON THE FEDERAL TABLE, THAT
PRESIDENT BIDEN PUT THERE ON
NOVEMBER 15th, 2021. AND NOBODY
HAS GONE OUT TO GET IT. I HAVE
KNOWN PATTY FOR MANY YEARS. WE
GET ALONG WELL. AND WHAT I WOULD
LIKE TO DO, IS GIFT ONE MONTH OF
MY TIME TO GO BACK TO
WASHINGTON, D.C., AND IN ONE
MONTH -- I KNOW THIS SOUNDS
STRANGE BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT
AND ALL OF THAT -- WE HAVE
STARTED THE INITIATION PROCESS
TO GET THE $5 BILLION, AND THE
PROJECT I AM TALKING ABOUT IS
THE COLUMBIA BASIN PROJECT, THE
COMPLETION OF IT WAS BROUGHT TO
WASHINGTON STATE IN THE '30s BY
THE WASHINGTON STATE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY, AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN
COMPLETED. IT IS ONLY HALF
COMPLETED. THE PARTY GOES ALL
THE WAY FROM GRANDAM ALL THE WAY
TO WALLA WALLA. AND WHAT I WOULD
LIKE YOU TO DO, WOULD YOU HELP
SENATOR MURRAY, GOVERNOR
FERGUSON, AND MAYOR KATIE WILSON
BRING THE LARGEST ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND JOB PROJECT IN
U.S. HISTORY TO WASHINGTON
STATE? YOU HAVE A LOT OF
POLITICAL POWER. WOULDN'T YOU
BE WILLING TO HELP GOVERNOR
FERGUSON, BY USING YOUR TO
LEVERAGE INCOME TAX? THERE IS A
LATE WAY OUT OF THIS. YOU KNOW,
HE WAS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD, WHEN
--
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OH, THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY NICE
OF YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE MAX,
GABRIEL, HOWARD, AND BENNETT,
THEN WE WILL SWITCH TO THE
ONLINE, WE HAVE FOUR MORE
SPEAKERS IN PERSON, THEN WE WILL
GO ONLINE. WELCOME, MAX. OH, ONE
SECOND. YOU CAN START. SOMEBODY
ELSE'S MONITORING THE TIME. GO,
GO RIGHT AHEAD. GO RIGHT AHEAD,
MAX.
>> OH, HELLO, COUNCIL, I AM HERE
TO COMMENT ON THE AGENDA ITEM
AUTHORIZING STREET CLOSURES TO
ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS PAST
FRIDAY, I ATTENDED A MEMORIAL
RIDE FOR TWO CYCLISTS RECENTLY
KILLED ON CITY STREETS, MARY AND
CHRISTIAN. I HAVE RIDDEN ON
MEMORIAL RIDES FOR OTHER
NEIGHBORS, AND CONSTANTLY RIDE
PAST SPIKES INCLUDING ONE FOR
MARVIN MILLER, KILLED BY A
DRIVER WHO RAN OFF THE ROAD ON
MARGINAL WAY. I HAVE WAITED WITH
INJURED CYCLISTS FOR AMBULANCES
WHO HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY DRIVERS
ON DEL RIDGEWAY AND SPOKANE
STREET. WE ARE SURELY IN A
MOMENT OF CRISIS. LAST YEAR, I
GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE
TRAFFIC AGAIN FOR THE GREENWAYS,
MEASURES THAT ARE MEANT TO SAVE
LIVES. HE RESPONDED BY RECASTING
MY CONCERN OF WORSENING FOOD
DESERT THAT I LIVE IN. THOSE
TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES WAS A
POSITION HE CHAMPIONED AND WOULD
KEEP CHAMPIONING. AT THE
MEMORIAL LAST WEEK, THAT SAME
CHAIR SAID HE WOULDN'T MEDDLE
IN THAT SAME PROCESS EVEN THOUGH
HE EARMARKED HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO EXPEDITE
A PROJECT WHERE DRIVERS CAN
CONVENE ON DEL RIDGEWAY NOT TOO
LONG AGO. EVEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE
TELLING YOU EXACTLY WHAT WOULD
KEEP THEM SAFE, WE GRIND THROUGH
A SLOW PROCESS. IT HAS BEEN TWO
WEEKS SINCE MARY WAS KILLED. IN
THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME, THE
CITY WAS ABLE TO INSTALL
PROTECTED BY SWAINS ON ANDOVER
STREET SIMPLY TO DISPERSE A
HOMELESS AND KEVIN. IT SHOULD BE
AS FAST IF NOT FASTER WHEN
SOMEONE DIES IN THE STREET. I
HAVE WORKED AND LIVED IN WEST
SEATTLE FOR 15 YEARS, STRUCTURES
ALL AROUND THE PENINSULA HAVE
IMPROVED SOMEWHAT, BUT GETTING
INTO NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE NOT. WE
ARE DANGLED THE SAME PROMISES ON
A LOOP. THE MONTEREY BOULEVARD
TRAFFIC BOTH PROPOSED OVER A
DECADE AGO AND THEN CANCELED.
YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY RIGHT IN
FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT TO CLOSE
THE STREET FOR SAFETY. YOU
SHOULD USE THAT SAME EMERGENCY
FOR STREETS WHEN PEOPLE ARE
DYING USING THE STREET ITSELF.
IF THE MEMORIAL MARY'S DAUGHTER
SAID, AND PARAPHRASING, THAT
THIS IS BULL CRAP. SHE IS RIGHT.
WE NEED TO DO FAR, FAR BETTER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MAX. NEXT, WE HAVE
GABRIEL, FOLLOWED BY HOWARD, AND
BENNETT. WELCOME, GABRIEL.
>> MY NAME IS GABRIEL DIAZ AND I
AM HERE TODAY TO SPOKE TO CAL
ANDERSON PROTEST AND THE
RESPONSE TO IT. FIRSTLY TOWER
AYE. FIVE BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
HAPPY PRIDE, ALL OF THAT NOISE
FROM EARLIER, HATEFUL BS HAS NO
PLACE IN SEATTLE AND IT IS NO
WONDER THE BS REPUBLICAN PARTY
IS WHERE IT IS OUT WITH THEM AT
THE HELM, WE CAN'T LOCATE
INCLUDING CALLING OF BLATANT
HATE AND DETERMINATION ONCE
THEIR LET LAST TIME I SPOKE I
MENTIONED MY CLOSE FRIEND WHO
AFTER BEING ARRESTED SWORE AT A
COP AND IN RESPONSE THAT COP
WRENCHED HIS ARM INTO HIS
SHOULDER WHILE HE WAS RESTRAINED
AS A PUNISHMENT FOR SWEARING AT
THE COP. ORIGINALLY, OPA RULED
THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN, YET CLEAR,
CONVINCING VIDEO EVIDENCE, THEY
SAID IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL.
THE ISSUE IS, THAT AFTER OPA
MAKES A RULING, THERE IS NO
PROCESS TO APPEAL THAT. SO,
AFTER A BLATANT VIDEO WHERE WE
CAN SEE THE VIDEO AND THEY HAVE
BEEN CLEARLY JUST TALKING ABOUT
IN THE RESPONSE TO WAS CLEARLY
TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT TIME,
NOW, WHAT DO WE DO? HOWEVER,
BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE WAS SO
CLEAR AND CONVINCING, I ALONG
WITH MANY OTHER VOCAL CITIZENS
ASKED TO READ REVIEW. WE WERE
ALL MET WITH THE SAME EMAIL
ESSENTIALLY SAYING, SORRY,
ALREADY REVIEWED IT, NOTHING WE
CAN DO. HOWEVER, AFTER HUNDREDS
AND HUNDREDS OF EMAILS, THE MAIN
PERSON MADE A REPORT AN EMAIL
GOING, "SORRY, WE SCREWED UP, WE
WILL INVESTIGATE," THEY MISSED A
VERY CLEAR VIOLATION, THEY HAD
TO WATCH 30 MINUTES OF BODY CAM
FOOTAGE AND THEY MISSED A VERY
BLATANT VIOLATION THAT WAS VERY,
VERY CLEAR. IT TOOK LITERALLY
HUNDREDS OF EMAILS FOR OPA TO
EVEN CONSIDER CATCHING A VERY
OBVIOUS MISTAKE IN TRYING TO
CORRECT IT. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO
REAL WAY TO DO THIS, IT IS
ACTUALLY AGAINST THE POLICY FOR
THEM TO REVIEW IT, SO WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, OR
HOW THAT PROCESS HAPPENS AND I
WONDER, IF THEY MISSED SOMETHING
THAT OBVIOUS, HOW MUCH ELSE IS
BEING MISSED? HOW MUCH ELSE IS
BEING COVERED UP? OPA HAS BEEN
CONSISTENTLY SHOWING THEY ARE
INCAPABLE OF HANDLING MASS USES
OF POLICE VIOLENCE, AND HOLDING
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AFTER. SPD
HAS DISABLED MULTIPLE PEOPLE,
INCLUDING MYSELF. YOU, AS THE
CITY COUNCIL, OH IT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY GET JUSTICE FOR WHAT
HAPPENED, AND MAKE SURE THAT OPA
-- AND MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT
THIS WAS WRONG. OPA CANNOT AND
WILL NOT DO THAT, AND I ONCE
AGAIN CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATION INTO THE COW
ANDERSON PROTEST IN THE FIRING
OF OFFICERS --
>> THANK YOU, GABRIEL. NEXT, WE
HAVE HOWARD GALE, FOLLOWED BY
BENNETT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. LAST WEEK, I
NOTED THAT THE JUNE 18th, 19th
ANNIVERSARY OF CHARLENA LILES
MURDER BY SPD PASSED UNMENTIONED
AND SEEMINGLY UNNOTICED BY CITY
COUNCIL OR ELECTEDS. JULY WILL
BRING US THE 11th ANNIVERSARY OF
SAM SMITH MURDERED BY SPD AND
THE 12th ANNIVERSARY OF LARRY
AND DREW FLYNN'S MURDER BY SPD.
ALL THREE OF THESE PEOPLE WERE
IN CRISIS HOLDING AN EDGE TO
OBJECT WHEN KILLED BY SPD. IF
THEY HAD LIVED IN THE UK OR
JAPAN, THEY WOULD STILL BE
ALIVE. 13 DAYS AGO, KING COUNTY
SPLIT ITS FINDINGS ON THE 2020
SPD MURDER OF SEAN FERN, SHOT IN
THE HEAD WHILE HOLDING HIS
INFANT SON AND NO WEAPON. ONLY 3
OF 6 JURORS FOUND HIS KILLING
AUTHORIZED USE OF DEADLY FORCE
AND NOT CRIMINAL. DESPITE ALL
ASPECTS OF OUR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM DEEMING
THIS KILLING LAWFUL AND PROPER.
LAWFUL AND PROPER IS NOT MY
WORDS, IT IS NOT RHETORIC, IT IS
THE ACTUAL WORDS PUT IN EVERY
DOCUMENT. THE SHOOTING OF
SOMEONE IN THE HEAD, THE BLACK
MAN IN THE HEAD WITH A BABY,
WILLFUL AND PROPER. IN 13 DAYS,
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER KING
COUNTY QUESTION TO THE MURDER
ALSO DEEMED LAWFUL AND PROPER OF
BRIAN SMITH IN 2019, AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN IN SEVERE
CRISIS HOLDING A KNIFE. I
BELIEVE THE JURY'S VERDICT IN
THIS CASE WILL BE FAR CLEARER AS
TO THE UNNECESSARY AND CRIMINAL
NATURE OF THIS KILLING. I HEAR
THE WORD "ACCOUNTABLE TO" THROWN
AROUND A LOT BY THIS COUNCIL.
THERE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN NO
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THESE
MURDERS, BUT I KNOW YOU ARE FAR
MORE CONCERNED WITH FINANCIAL
ACCOUNT ABILITY. GIVEN THAT AN
REPEATED INQUEST VERDICT
INDICATING THAT OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IS DOING
SOMETHING VERY WRONG, I WOULD
ASK, WHY HAS THERE NEVER BEEN AN
INDEPENDENT AUDIT, AS REQUESTED
BY THE CITY AUDITOR IN 2017, OF
OUR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM, GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE
SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN THE LAST NINE YEARS?
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS!
AND THE REPEATED SCANDALS,
INVOLVING FOLKS THAT HEAD UP THE
SYSTEM. LASTLY, I WILL JUST
NOTE, A LOT WAS SAID LAST WEEK
OF GUN VIOLENCE. IT'S NOT ME,
MLK NOTED THIS IN THE '60s. YOU
CAN'T PERPETRATE -- VIOLENCE
ABROAD AND AT HOME, VIA POLICE
--
>> THANK YOU, MR. GAIL. THANK
YOU, MR. GAIL. NEXT, WE HAVE
BENNETT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE IS MORE FOLKS? NO? IS THAT
IT? ALL RIGHT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. SO,
UPDATES ON VIOLENCE AND THE
PROTESTING. REMEMBER, LAST TIME?
I SHOWED YOU A SCREENSHOT OF A
WOMAN SAYING, "BEAT BENNETT TO
DEATH LIKE A MAN WHO RAPED A
5-YEAR-OLD CHILD." AND BY THE
WAY, THIS IS THE MAN RUNNING THE
MEMORIAL FOR GEORGE FLOYD A FEW
WEEKS AGO, SO NOT EVERYONE
AGREES WITH THIS STUFF BUT THEY
ARE STILL PUTTING HER IN CHARGE
OF THINGS WHICH IS WEIRD AND I
WAS IN COW ANDERSON PARK LAST
THURSDAY AND IT HAPPENED, A
BUNCH OF PEOPLE RECOGNIZED ME,
THEY GOT ON THE PHONE TO CALL
MORE PEOPLE. WHEN THEY HAD
ENOUGH OF THEM, THEY CAME UP TO
ME AND TACKLED ME TO THE GROUND,
PEPPER SPRAYED ME IN THE FACE,
PUT ME IN A HEADLOCK, PUNCHED ME
A COUPLE TIMES IN THE FACE, AND
STOLE MY PHONE. THIS -- ALL
RIGHT. THAT IS A PICTURE OF HOW
I LOOKED A COUPLE HOURS LATER,
THE REDNESS FADED A LITTLE BIT,
YOU CAN STILL SEE THE BRUISES.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? LIKE I SAID
LAST TIME, 90% OF THE VIOLENCE
IN SEATTLE PROTESTS IS CAUSED BY
THE SAME THING, BEFORE THE
EVENT, SOMEBODY GOES OVER THE
LINE AND SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT
THE JEWS OR WHATEVER, AND I WANT
TO BE CLEAR, MEN SAY THIS TOO
BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENS IF WOMEN
SEE IT AND A GUYS LIKE ME SAY
THAT IS THAT AND WOMEN CALL IT
SLIDING INTO DM'S OR SEXUAL
HARASSMENT AND THAT GIVES THE
GUYS AN EXCUSE TO GET VIOLENT.
IT IS NOT THE PROUD BOYS SHOWING
UP AND STARTING FIGHTS AT THESE
THINGS. IT'S ALWAYS THIS. THIS
IS AN EXAMPLE, THIS IS A WOMAN
WHO POSTED SOMETHING ABOUT THE
JEWS, SLAVEHOLDERS -- I AM NOT
GOING TO -- THIS IS JUST A
SCREEN GRAB -- THIS IS ME GOING,
"HEY, NO, WHO, ME?" SHE IS OUT
THERE RIGHT NOW CALLING THIS
SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND "SLIDING
INTO DM'S." BECAUSE THEY LIVE
IN THE FACTORY ENVIRONMENT, THIS
HAS ESCALATED RECENTLY INTO
CALLING IT "RAPE" -- I WILL CALL
YOU SOMETHING FROM THE BODY,
PROTESTED SAYING THE WORD,
"RAPIST."
>> YOU ARE A RAPIST, YOU ARE
LETTING HER GO HOME!
>> WHEN YOU USE WORDS LIKE
"RAPIST" TO DESCRIBE A MAN
SAYING, "STOP TALKING SHIT ABOUT
THE JEWS," THAT IS THIS
VIOLENCE, THAT IS HOW IT
HAPPENS.
>> THANK YOU, BENNETT. SO, WE
ARE GOING TO TRANSITION ONLINE,
AS WELL, SO WE HAVE GABRIEL
NEWMAN, FOLLOWED BY JEN CARL,
COLIN, AND THEN PETER OR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL. OH, SORRY.
>> NO, NO, YOU ARE GOOD,
GABRIEL. HOLD ON. I'M GOING TO
RESTART YOUR TIME. OKAY,
PERFECT. OKAY, START WHEN YOU
ARE READY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL, MY NAME IS GABRIEL
NEWMAN, I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
POLICY AND ADVOCACY AT TSCA. [
INAUDIBLE - MUFFLED ] CALLING IN
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE
LEGISLATION FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION -- THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ESSENTIAL TO
SUPPORT. [ INAUDIBLE - MUFFLED ]
PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT FACTORS IN INFLUENCING
WHETHER -- [ INAUDIBLE - MUFFLED
] AND WHETHER ENTREPRENEURS ARE
WILLING TO INVEST IN SEATTLE. [
INAUDIBLE - MUFFLED ] TRAGIC GUN
VIOLENCE IN NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR
AURORA AVENUE. [ INAUDIBLE -
MUFFLED ] BEYOND THESE
LOCATIONS. AND THESE ENCLOSURES
ARE RECOMMENDED BY PUBLIC SAFETY
PROFESSIONALS TO PREVENT
VIOLENCE -- [ INAUDIBLE -
MUFFLED ] NEIGHBORHOODS
EXPERIENCING EXTRAORDINARY
SAFETY CHALLENGES. [ INAUDIBLE -
MUFFLED ] WE KNOW THAT MANY OF
OUR MEMBERS, [ INAUDIBLE -
MUFFLED ] EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE.
[ INAUDIBLE - MUFFLED ]
ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. [
INAUDIBLE - MUFFLED ] WE ALSO
APPRECIATE THIS LEGISLATION IS
NARROWLY TAILORED AND DOES NOT
CREATE SO MANY RESTRICTIONS.
INSTEAD, IT CAN ACT AS AN
AUTHORITY FOR A DEMONSTRATE OF
PUBLIC SAFETY NEED, AND ALLOW --
[ INAUDIBLE - MUFFLED ] THAT
LIVE AND WORK IN THE AFFECTED
AREA. [ INAUDIBLE - MUFFLED ]
ALONGSIDE INVESTMENTS IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES, AND LONG-TERM
COMMUNITY SAFETY STRATEGIES.
HOWEVER, WHEN LIVES ARE AT RISK,
THE CITY SHOULD HAVE EVERY
REASONABLE TOOL TO RESPOND
QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THIS
LEGISLATION. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU, GABRIEL.
NEXT, WE HAVE JEN CARL, FOLLOWED
BY KAHELIN, MORGAN CROSS. STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. WELCOME,
JEN.
>> IT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL, I AM
JEN CARL I USE SHE/HER PRONOUNS
AND I AND THE SAFETY COORDINATOR
FOR CAPITOL HILL THROUGH THE
TSCA IN PROUD SUPPORT OF
SEATTLE'S LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
AND BUSINESS OWNERS. I WOULD
LIKE TO ECHO THE TESTIMONY
AROUND A FEW OF THE RESOURCES
PROVIDED BY MY COLLEAGUE,
GABRIEL, WITH THE ADDED
CONSIDERATION OF AWARENESS FOR
VEHICULAR ATTACKS. IN ADDITION
TO THAT, I'M ALSO TESTIFYING IN
SUPPORT OF THE LEASE INSULATION
TO THE COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE
TEAM. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THIS
LEGISLATION WILL NOT HAVE DIRECT
IMPACT ON THE VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS IT SERVES, WE
BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF
SOLIDIFYING THE EXISTING,
EXPANDED ROLL OF CARE WITHIN THE
MC. WE AND MYSELF AS AN
INDIVIDUAL APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO SO THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR REPRESENTING OUR
CITY.
>> THANK YOU, JEN. NEXT, WE HAVE
COLIN, FOLLOWED BY PETER. COLIN,
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOUR SELF.
WELCOME.
>> IT AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME
IS COLIN MORGAN CROSS, I AM THE
VICE PRESIDENT OF REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPER TO MERCY HOUSING
NORTHWEST AND I'M HERE TO
COMMENT ON CONSTABLE 121236,
REGARDING THE GROUND BASE OF
PROPERTY AT 2929 27th AVENUE
SOUTH. MERCY HOUSING NORTHWEST
IS HEADQUARTERED A FEW MILES
SOUTH FROM THE PROPERTY IN
RAINIER VALLEY AND WE ARE PROUD
OF OUR TRACK RECORD AND
COMMITMENT TO SERVING SEATTLE'S
FAMILIES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND SERVICES FOR THE LAST
DECADE. WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO BE
PARTNERS WITH [ INAUDIBLE -
MUFFLED ] IN THIS EXCITING,
INNOVATIVE, AND IMPACTFUL
PROJECTS. THE VISION FOR OUR
DEVELOPMENT IS BASED ON KEY
THINGS DERIVED FROM PUBLIC
INPUT. WE AIM TO CREATE A
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS WELCOMING,
SAFE, DIVERSE, ACCEPTABLE, AND
COMMUNITY CENTERED. KEY ELEMENTS
OF THE NEW COMMUNITY WILL
INCLUDE 241 UNITS OF NEW,
AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR WORKING
FAMILIES, PRIMARILY MADE UP OF
TWO, THREE, AND FOUR BEDROOM
APARTMENTS, A NEW RAINIER VALLEY
EARLY LEARNING CAMPUS FOR
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, WITH A
35,000 SQUARE FEET FOR CHILDCARE
AND UNIVERSITY TEACHING SPACE,
COMMUNITIES SERVING COMMERCIAL
FOR LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES AND
PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND, AT
THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY, A
LARGE, PUBLIC OPEN SPACE THAT IS
AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS AND THE
WIDER COMMUNITY FOR OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES AND GATHERINGS. WE
HAVE COLLABORATED WITH MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY, THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING, MULTIPLE OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS, AND OUR STELLAR
DESIGN TEAM TO RE-ENVISION THE
MOUNT BAKER STATION AREA AND TO
CREATE A NEW, VIBRANT, AND
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE
MADE IT A PRIORITY TO START
CONSTRUCTION LATER THIS YEAR SO
WE CAN OPEN THE NEW COMMUNITY AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU TODAY IS
AN ESSENTIAL MILESTONE THAT WILL
ALLOW US TO DO JUST THAT, AND I
ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT IT BY
VOTING YES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, COLIN. NEXT, WE
HAVE PETER, FOLLOWED BY PAUL.
PETER, PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL, MY
NAME IS PETER ORR. I AM A 16
YEAR RESIDENT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND I AM JUST
CALLING IN TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE
AND SUPPORT FOR THE BILL 121233,
THE BARRIERS THAT THE MAYOR AND
SDOT ESSENTIALLY DID PUT UP,
DEFINITELY PROVIDING A QUIETER
ENVIRONMENT AND I THINK THAT
HAVING THE ABILITY TO ENABLE THE
CHIEF OF POLICE TO INITIATE
THESE IS BRILLIANT. THANK YOU,
SPECIFICALLY TO COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, KETTLE, SAKA, AND LIN,
FOR YOUR VOCAL SUPPORT OF THIS
AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO ECHO
WHAT KEITH CARPENTER MENTIONED,
THAT THIS IS JUST ONE SMALL STEP
TOWARD ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THE
PROBLEM, AND SO FAR, I HAVE SEEN
FROM THIS COUNCIL, MORE
DETERMINATION THAN ANY OTHER
BRANCH OF OUR CURRENT GOVERNMENT
IN ADDRESSING THIS SITUATION, SO
I APPLAUD YOUR MEASURES AND I
ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED
CREATIVITY IN PROVIDING TOOLS TO
THE PROSECUTOR AND THEIR TO TAKE
THE CRIMES ON AURORA AS
SERIOUSLY AS THEY DESERVE. THANK
YOU FOR MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, PETER. NEXT, WE
HAVE PAUL SAID EUNICE FOLLOWED
BY AARON, WELCOME, PAULA.
>> IT AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL, PAULA, COO OF PUBLIC
STRATEGIES IN THE WBB A CALLING
IN TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR
MEMBERS WHO ARE VERY PREVALENT
IN THE SEATTLE AREA TO COMMENT
ON A PROPOSED REDUCTION THE
COUNCIL WILL BE CONSIDERING.
WHILE WE ALL AGREE SEATTLE NEEDS
MORE HOUSING, THE QUESTION IS
WHETHER REDUCING BY 80% FOR
MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS IS THE
RIGHT DECISION. BASED ON THE
INFORMATION PRESENTED TO DATE,
WE DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS. YOU
HAVE SEEN INCREDIBLE EVIDENCE
DEMONSTRATING THAT THESE ARE THE
PRIMARY BARRIER -- ARE THE
PRIMARY BARRIER PREVENTIONS THAT
ALLOWS AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO GO
FORWARD. IF THE CITY IS BEING
ASKED TO FORGO UP TO $20 MILLION
IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING REVENUES,
THE BURDENS SHOULD BE ON THOSE
REQUESTING THIS REDUCTION, NOT
ON THE BACKS OF BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST
COST-EFFECTIVE TOOLS FOR
ENSURING THE CITY GROWS AND AS
IT GROWS, AFFORDABILITY GROWS
WITH IT. WE CANNOT USE THAT TOOL
WITHOUT MEASURABLE
ACCOUNTABILITY, IT WILL SHIFT
THAT AND CAUSE MORE HARM. THE
PROPOSAL ALSO RAISES
SIGNIFICANT, LONG-TERM CONCERN,
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO RETURN TO TODAY'S
CURRENT LEVELS. THE CITY WAS
PERMANENTLY LEAKING ONE OF ITS
STRONGEST, MOST AFFORDABLE
MECHANISMS WITHOUT ANY
ASSURANCES THAT ADDITIONAL
HOUSING PRODUCTION WILL ACTUALLY
OCCUR. [ INAUDIBLE - MUFFLED ]
WE WELCOME THAT DATA-DRIVEN
CONVERSATION, SHOWING THE
ANALYSIS, THE PROJECT SPECIFIC
INFORMATION, THE TRANSPARENT
EVIDENCE. A PUBLIC POLICY SHOULD
BE DRIVEN BY FACTS, OUTCOMES,
AND ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT BY
ASSUMPTIONS, SO ON BEHALF OF THE
WBBA MEMBERS IN SEATTLE, WE
RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO
CONSIDER NOT TAKING UP THIS
PROPOSAL, BUT INSTEAD TO
PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF NHA,
TO HAVE REASONABLE CONVERSATIONS
WERE BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS
ARE NOT JUST PARTICIPANTS IN THE
CONVERSATIONS, BUT WE OWNED
THOSE SEATS AT THE TABLE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PAULA. NEXT, WE
HAVE AARON, FOLLOWED BY ROSE,
AND THEN JOE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS
AARON, LEGISLATIVE AIDE WITH S&S
GLOBAL STRATEGIES AND I AM
TESTIFYING TODAY ON BEHALF OF
SMS GLOBAL STRATEGIES AND THE
WBBA IN OPPOSITION TO REDUCING
THE MHA FEE. MANY OF OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS,
COMMUNITY DEVELOPED
ORGANIZATIONS, AND HOUSING
ADVOCATES, OR MEMBERS OF THE
AYE. SEVEN. WE RECOGNIZE THE
URGENT NEED TO BUILD MORE
HOUSING ACROSS SEATTLE. THE
QUESTION BEFORE US IS NOT
WHETHER WE SHOULD INCREASE
HOUSING PRODUCTION -- IT'S
WHETHER WE SHOULD WEAKEN ONE OF
THE CITY'S PRIMARY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING TOOLS WITHOUT EVIDENCE
THAT DOING SO WILL PRODUCE THE
INTENDED RESULTS. THIS PROPOSAL
WILL REDUCE MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY FEES BY 80%,
RESULTING IN A COMMITTED LOSS OF
$10 MILLION-$20 MILLION IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS. YET,
TODAY, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT
DATA DEMONSTRATING THE REASONS
THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT MOVING
FORWARD. PROJECTS MAY BE STALLED
BUT THAT ALONE DOES NOT
ESTABLISH THAT NHA IS THE
BARRIER. AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP
IN THE CD, I HAVE WITNESSED THE
EFFECTS OF THIS PLACEMENT
FIRSTHAND. BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES HAVE ALREADY PAID A
DISPROPORTIONATE PRICE FOR
SEATTLE HOUSING CRISIS. THIS IS
AN EVEN GREATER BARRIER, BURDEN,
BY REDUCING THE RESOURCES MADE
AVAILABLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BY PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT FEES,
REDUCING THE MARKET RATE
DEVELOPMENT. WE BELIEVE THESE
PROJECTS ARE FINANCIALLY
FEASIBLE, WE WELCOME A
TRANSPARENT, DATA-DRIVEN
DISCUSSION SUPPORTED BY PROJECT
SPECIFIC DATA INFORMATION AND
PUBLIC POLICY SHOULD BE BASED ON
EVIDENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT
ASSUMPTIONS COULD ON BEHALF OF
SMS AND WBBA, WE RESPECTFULLY
URGE THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS
PROPOSAL AND USE AFFORDABILITY
FOR A CRITICAL TOOL OF EXPANDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
PROTECTING COMMUNITIES MOST
IMPACTED BY THE DISPLACEMENT. I
THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME AND THIS
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, AARON. NEXT, WE
HAVE ROSE, FOLLOWED BY JOE, AND
THAT WILL BE THE END OF OUR
ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENTERS. ROSE,
AND THEN JOE. SO, STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOUR SELF, ROSE. WE SEE
YOU ONLINE. STAR SIX. THERE, WE
GO.
>> THERE, I GO. DIFFERENT THAN
POUND SIX. TODAY, THIS IS THE
LAST DAY OF PRIDE MONTH. IT IS
ALSO HORRIFICALLY ONE OF THE
MOST TERRIBLE DAYS WE HAVE HAD
IN TRANSGENDER LEGAL HISTORY.
THE SUPREME COURT HANDED DOWN
DECISIONS TODAY SAYING THAT, NOT
ONLY DO THEY BELIEVE THAT TRANS
PEOPLE ARE NOT ENTITLED TO BE AS
IMPORTANT AS ANYONE ELSE IS, BUT
ALSO, THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY
RECOURSE UNDER THE 14th
AMENDMENT. LET ME SAY THAT
AGAIN. THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES HAS INDICATED THAT
THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TRANS
PEOPLE SHOULD BE PROTECTED UNDER
THE 14th AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED
STATES UNDER THE EQUAL
PROTECTION CLAUSE. THEY ARE
SETTING THE STAGE FOR DENYING
TRANS PEOPLE ANY SORT OF
PROTECTIONS FOR BEING OURSELVES,
FOR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE
ONGOING AND INCREASING EARLY
STAGES OF GENOCIDE, THIS IS WHAT
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THEM TRYING TO
PULL PATH SUPPORTS, WHILE THEY
ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT SO THAT
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COME HERE
TO THE U.S. ARE NOT ABLE TO HAVE
THE RECOGNIZED -- BE RECOGNIZED
FOR BEING TRANS, OR CIS, OR ANY
OTHER MARGINALIZATION OR
TARGETING THAT IS HAPPENING.
THIS IS GETTING WORSE AND THIS
IS JUST THE BEGINNING. THIS IS
WHY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
VIOLENCE THAT IS HAPPENING TO
OUR COMMUNITIES, ALSO BY THE
EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS
NECESSARY. TOMORROW, GOES INTO
EFFECT, THE IDAHO TRANSGENDER
BATHROOM BILL AND WE ARE GOING
TO SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
COMING HERE, AND THIS WAS ONLY
GOING TO GET WORSE AS THE YEAR
PROGRESSES AND THAT IS NOT EVEN
ALL THAT IS GOING ON, HERE. WE
HAVE SPD THAT TARGETED PEOPLE AT
CAL ANDERSON LAST WEEKEND
KIDNAPPED PEOPLE AND DID NOT LET
US KNOW WHERE THEY WENT FOR
DAYS. FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
AND WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE IN
THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR
SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE WE NEED THAT
RIGHT NOW MORE THAN EVER.
>> THANK YOU, ROSE. NEXT, WE
HAVE JOE. WELCOME, JOE.
>> THANK YOU. JOE KESSLER, HERE.
I WANT TO CALL IN ABOUT SOME
THINGS AND I WROTE IT OUT FOR
TWO MINUTES TODAY. THE FIRST
THING IS, I ATTEMPTED TO CALL
INTO KCHRA AND WAS RUDELY
INTERRUPTED BY AN INEXPERIENCED
CHAIR. WHAT I WAS TRYING TO
SHOW, THE FACT THAT THIS MAYOR
PROMISED TINY HOMES IN TIME FOR
THE WORLD CUP AND WASN'T ABLE
TO DELIVER, AND I WONDER, HOW
MUCH OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF
KCHRA'S PROMINENCE? I HOPE THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DEMAND
ANSWERS, AS IT CONSIDERS WHETHER
OR NOT TO SHUT DOWN KCHRA AND I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO SERIOUSLY
CONSIDER THIS. WHAT IS NEEDED,
IS TO HAVE POSTERS ALL AROUND
SEATTLE, SAYING, "YOU CAN'T BE
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON DRUGS,
YOU CAN'T PLAY FOR THE SEATTLE
STORM ON DRUGS, YOU CAN'T PLAY
FOR THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS ON
DRUGS." I MEAN, YOU KIND OF GET
THE PICTURE. AND YOU CERTAINLY
CAN'T BE COUNCILMEMBER DAN
STRAUSS ON DRUGS. HE'S ALSO A
GREAT SUPPORT MEMBER, BY THE
WAY. MOVING ALONG, YOU KNOW, I
ALSO WANTED TO CALL IN TODAY,
AND I DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE
BACK AND FORTH WITH THE PREVIOUS
COLOR, BUT I THINK IT IS
GENERALLY UNSAFE TO HAVE TRANS
PERSONS PLAYING WITH NATURAL
GIRLS. NOW, ADULT WOMEN WANT TO
MAKE THAT CHOICE OF INCLUSION,
THAT IS A CHOICE ADULT WOMEN
SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE. I JUST
DON'T WANT ANY BOYS IN THAT TO
PROTECT NATURAL GIRLS BECAUSE
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF INJURY
AND ALL. SO, I THINK WE SHOULD
KEEP POLITICIANS AWAY FROM
MEDICAL DECISIONS. MOVING ON, I
DO ALSO WANT TO COMMENT ON
SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS TROUBLING
ME, WHICH IS THE LACK OF
CAUSATION OF ANTI-SEMITISM, I
THINK MORE COULD BE DONE TO
PROTECT THE JEWS IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT WE ALL CONDEMN
ANTI-SEMITISM. AND FINALLY, I
WANT TO CONCLUDE ON THE SPOT,
VERY HAPPY WITH THE WAY SEATTLE
IS BEING MATCHED, RUN, IN THE
TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT. GO,
STORM. GO, SEATTLE TRANSIT. AND
GO, USA. THANK YOU FOR BOOKING
SERVICE.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, JOE.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
FOLKS THAT SIGNED UP? IF THERE
ARE ANY MORE FOLKS SIGNED UP
WHETHER YOU WILL SIGN UP ONLINE
OR FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY AND
AS ALWAYS, TO THE PEOPLE THAT
SEND US EMAILS AND CONNECT WITH
US ON THE BUS OR AT THE GROCERY
STORE, WHEREVER IT MAY HAVE YOU,
YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE US PUBLIC
COMMENTS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. OR,
AT THE PARK, ON A SATURDAY, IN
THE MORNING, AT 10:00 A.M.,
WHILE WE ARE PICKING UP LITTER.
THANK YOU FOR ALL Y'ALL
COMMENTS. FOR TODAY, THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED, WE
WILL TRANSITION RIGHT INTO OUR
MEETINGS AND IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED AND IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL
BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW CONSIDER
THE CONSENT CALENDAR, ITEMS ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDE
MINUTES OF JUNE 23rd, JUNE 26th,
AND COUNCIL BILL 121239, PAYMENT
OF THE BILLS. ARE THERE ANY
ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE
TO REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR? HEARING NONE. I MOVED
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR,
WILL SOMEONE KINDLY GIVE ME A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, THERE IS A SECOND.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> AWESOME. THE CONSENT CALENDAR
IS ADOPTED, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES AND THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF? NOW, WE WILL JUMPED
RIGHT INTO THE MEAT OF THE
MEETING. OR, THE TOFU OF THE
MEETING. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> A REPORT ON PUBLIC SAFETY,
COUNCIL BILL 121239, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO CLOSING
PUBLIC STREETS TO MAINTAIN OR
ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY,
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF
TRANSPORTATION TO CLOSE STREETS,
AMENDING SECTION 11.16.125 OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE,
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY, AND
ESTABLISHING AN IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE, ALL BY A 3/4
VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS.
>> AWESOME. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO
PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COMMITTEE
REPORT, I WILL DEFER TO OUR
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
FOR THE FIRST AND LAST WORD ON
THIS BILL, GIVEN THAT SHE IS THE
PRIME SPONSOR.
>> AWESOME. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR CATTLE, AND
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I
JUST WANT TO COMMENT BEFORE I GO
INTO SOME OF THE COMMENTS I MADE
DURING COMMITTEE, THAT COUNCIL
BILL 121233 IS A MANIFESTATION
THAT HAS A LONG HISTORY BEYOND
THE LAST SIX MONTHS THAT WE HAVE
SEEN, PARTICULARLY IN MY TIME ON
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, GOING ON
NINE, 9 1/2 YEARS IN AURORA AND
ITS HISTORY. THAT BEING SAID, I
WANT TO GET TO MY COMMENTS AND
AND I WILL RESPOND AND I ALSO
WANT TO THANK MY COSPONSOR,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, THEN I WILL
DO A FEW MORE THANK YOU'S, AS
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WOULD LIKE
ME TO CLOSE THIS OUT. THIS
ORDINANCE ALLOWS SDOT, SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
AND SPD, TO CLOSE PUBLIC STREETS
BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE CHIEF OF POLICE, "IN ORDER
TO PREVENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY,"
AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE GUN
VIOLENCE, TRAFFICKING,
PROSTITUTION, ET CETERA, THE
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION WAS DRAFTED
BY FORMER MAYOR HARRELL. AND I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
AGAIN, WHEN HE WAS IN THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, THANK YOU, AS
I SHARED EARLIER, THIS IS A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF SHARED
LEADERSHIP FOR BRINGING THIS
LEGISLATION TO MY ATTENTION INTO
MY OFFICE AND WORKING WITH US. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK, QUICKLY --
AND I AM DOING SOME THINGS UP
FRONT, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE
PEOPLE THAT HELPED US WORK
THROUGH SOME OF THE LANGUAGE,
BESIDES COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
WORKING WITH CITY ATTORNEY
EVANS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND MR.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, WHO IS THE
CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, I WANT
TO BRIEFLY GO THROUGH THE
COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND EVENTS
TIMELINE. WHAT WE SAW, OUR
NEIGHBORS SAW AN 8% INCREASE OF
GUN VIOLENCE IN THE MONTH OF
MAY. RECENT SHOOTINGS HAVE TAKEN
PLACE FURTHER INTO NEIGHBORHOODS
ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF
AURORA. AS CRIME RELATED
VEHICLES PARK AND WAIT IN
NEIGHBORHOODS, RATHER THAN NEAR
AURORA, ITSELF. NEIGHBORS HELD
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETINGS, AND HAVE
CALLED FOR THE STREETS TO BE
SHUT DOWN. NEIGHBORS BLOCKED THE
STREETS WITH PLANTERS, MAY 24th
TO MAY 28th, AND THEN WE DID SEE
A REDUCTION IN SOME ACTIVITY AND
SHOOTINGS ON THOSE STREETS
DURING THE STREET BLOCKAGE, THAT
THE NEIGHBORS DID THEMSELVES. ON
MAY 28th AND 29th, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE REMOVED THE PLANTERS AND
INSTALLED SLOWDOWNS, THEN OF
COURSE, THE SHOOTINGS RETURNED
MAY 30th TO JUNE 1st. ON JUNE
11th, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAD A
PRESS CONFERENCE WITH COMMUNITY
AND AGAIN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
CITY ATTORNEY EVANS, KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR LISA BANYAN, COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR AND
INTERIM SDOT DIRECTOR MADE THE
ANNOUNCEMENT TO CLOSE THE ROADS
FROM 95th TO 102nd, AND ALSO
INCREASE THE POLICE PRESENCE.
AND AS I SHARED BEFORE, YOU CAN
GO ON AURORA, YOU CAN GO FROM
ABOUT 85th TO 130th, AND YOU CAN
SEE THE ACTIVITY AND IT HAS
GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEARS, AND
I WAS -- AS I HAD SHARED BEFORE,
IT HAS GOTTEN MORE VIOLENT, MORE
PREDATORY, AND MORE GUN
VIOLENCE. THIS LEGISLATION IS
MEANT AS A TEMPORARY TOOL WHEN
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES ARISE IN
CONCENTRATED AREAS, PROVIDING
THE CITY THE ABILITY TO ACT
QUICKLY IN SO DOING CRIME, WHICH
ALLOWS TIME TO ASSESS LONG-TERM
NEEDS AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS
FOR THESE AREAS, AND THAT IS
WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, SDOT, AND HOW WE
CAN HAVE -- AS FOLKS HEAD TODAY
IN PUBLIC COMMENT -- MORE THAN A
BAND-AID. FOR FOLKS LIVING IN
THIS AREA, SDOT IS LOOKING FOR
DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM YOU. THEY
HAVE AN ONLINE FORM WHERE YOU
CAN SUBMIT FEEDBACK THROUGH THE
SUMMER, AND IF YOU REACH OUT TO
OUR OFFICE, WE CAN SEND YOU THE
LINK, AS WELL, AND MEET WITH
YOU, AS WELL. I WANT TO BE
CLEAR, AGAIN, THAT SDOT AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE HAVE ALWAYS HAD
THE CITY AUTHORITY UNDER OUR
CITY CHARTER, ARTICLE FOUR,
SPECIFICALLY, AND ARTICLE FIVE,
TO DIRECT SUCH ACTIONS. THE
CHARTER IS, AS WE ALL KNOW, TO
PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE HEALTH,
SAFETY, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF
THE PEOPLE. I WILL MAKE A
CORRECTION. ARTICLE FOUR IS A
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, ARTICLE FIVE
IS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. WE
KNOW, AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCED,
AND WE HAVE WATCHED SDOT CLOSE
STREETS FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY,
SPEED LIMIT, TRAFFIC CALMING,
SAFE STREETS, HEALTHY STREETS,
SPEED BUMPS, ROUNDABOUTS,
PARKING RESTRICTIONS, STREET
VACATION, STREET RACING,
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, AND FOR BIKE
LANES. WE ALSO, AS YOU KNOW, WE
CAN CLOSE STREETS FOR
PEDESTRIANS, BIKES, HEAVY FOOT
TRAFFIC FOR SPORTING EVENTS, ET
CETERA, AS CERTAINLY WE SAW FOR
FIFA. SDOT, IN THE PAST, HAS
CLOSED STREETS SUCH AS GOLDEN
GARDENS FOR SAFE STREETS, ALKI
FOR HEALTHY STREETS, PIKE PLACE
MARKET, 2025 THROUGH A PILOT
PROJECT, TWO 2026 FOR THE SIP
AND SAVOR. AND I SHOULD ADD THAT
DURING COVID, WE CLOSED MANY
STREETS, FOR SAFETY, AND HEALTH
PURPOSES. AND ALSO, WE HAVE
HEARD, AND WE HAVE WATCHED, AND
EXPERIENCED, AND I THINK THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS SPOKEN TO
THIS, LAKE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD
HAS BEEN CLOSED MANY TIMES, FOR
THE WEEKEND, FOR BIKES AND
PEDESTRIANS. I JUST WANT TO
SHARE THAT WHILE WE APPRECIATE
TRANSIT, AND WE APPRECIATE THOSE
THAT USE TRANSIT, AND I JUST
WANT TO ALSO ADD THAT WE ALSO
HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED THEIR
CARS, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T
ALWAYS WALK, AND WE ARE NOT JUST
A TRANSIT ORIENTED CITY. WITH
THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO ADD
THAT, COUNCILMEMBER -- OR, I'M
SORRY, CITY ATTORNEY EVANS,
ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, IN OUR
COMBINED EFFORTS TO WORK WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN A
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET REQUEST FOR
A VICE PROSECUTOR POSITION THAT
WILL BE CROSS DEPUTIZED WITH
KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, TO ADDRESS
AND PROSECUTE THOSE INVOLVED IN
SEX TRAFFICKING, SOLICITATION,
AND ALL THE ACTIVITY AND
PROSTITUTION THAT WE SEE GOING
ON, ON AURORA, AND HAS GOTTEN,
AS I SAID, WORSE. WE CAN, AND
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SHUT DOWN
A STREET FOR BULLETS FLYING AND
ENDANGERING THE VERY LIVES OF
THOSE THAT LIVE THERE. GUNSHOTS
THAT WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.
PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK
SAFELY, TAKE THE BUS, WALK THEIR
CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, WORSHIP, GO
TO CHURCH, USE TRANSPORTATION,
WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING SHOT
AT OR BEING INVOLVED IN CROSS
GUNFIRE. LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK
THOSE FOLKS THAT CAME DOWN TO
PUBLIC COMMENT THAT CALLED OUR
OFFICES, THAT REACHED OUT TO OUR
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, WHO CAME
IN, AND SHOWED UP IN COMMUNITY,
ATTENDED THE WALKS ON AURORA,
FOR THOSE TO SEE THAT THIS IS
REAL, AND THE VIOLENCE IS REAL.
AND AGAIN, AS I SHARED BEFORE,
YOUR COURAGE IS, INDEED,
CONTAGIOUS AND IT FAR OUTWEIGHS
FEAR. JUST QUICKLY, I MADE SOME
NOTES AND I WASN'T GOING TO
SHARE -- WELL, I WAS GOING TO
SHARE THIS, BUT ONCE WE HEARD
THE PUBLIC COMMENT, IT'S
SOMETHING WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN,
THAT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM ON
AURORA IS THE SEX TRAFFICKING,
IS THE PROSTITUTION, IS THE DRUG
ACTIVITY. AND THAT, TODAY, I
AGREE, IT IS A BAND-AID. AND
HOPEFULLY, WITH SDOT AND THEIR
ENGINEERS, THEY CAN LOOK AT
SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT TO MAKE
AURORA SAFE. AND IF THE ROOT OF
THE PROBLEM IS THIS TYPE OF
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, THEN AS YOU
KNOW, WHAT COMES OF IT IS GUN
VIOLENCE, IS CRIME, IS
PROSTITUTION, SOLICITATION, SEX
TRAFFICKING, DRUG ACTIVITY. YOU
CAN LOOK AT THOSE BUS STOPS. ALL
OF THEM ARE USED AND YOU CAN SEE
PEOPLE ON FENTANYL ALL THE TIME.
THERE IS A TIME WHEN, IN THE
LAST SEVEN YEARS THAT I, BELIEVE
IT OR NOT, WOULD GO ON AURORA
AND I WOULD COUNT HOW MANY PIMPS
AND PROSTITUTES, AND SOMETIMES,
THERE WOULD BE UP TO 40, FROM
85th, ALL THE WAY UP TO WHERE
THE ULTA, FORMER AMAZON PARKING
LOT IS, AND THAT IS REAL AND I
THINK SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SAY,
"OH, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF
WE LEGALIZE PROSTITUTION, IT
WOULD MAKE IT BETTER." NO.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT, HERE. SO, I WANT TO THANK
THOSE OF YOU FROM THE
FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, I
WANT TO THANK AURORA COMMENTS,
THEY HAVE BEEN A PARTNER WITH
US. MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE SAT
HERE, WE WORKED ON THE BUDGET,
WE HELPED THEM EXPAND THEIR
SERVICES WITH HARVEY VIEW, AND
UW NOT ONLY FOR SERVICES, FOR
MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THOSE
TRYING TO ESCAPE SEX
TRAFFICKING, BUT ALSO TO OFFER
SERVICES. AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO DO THAT. AND LASTLY, I WANT
TO THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR BEING
SO SUPPORTIVE ON THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH, AND WORKING WITH NOT
ONLY MYSELF, BUT ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER AND CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, AND CITY
ATTORNEY EVANS WHO, WHATEVER
CRITICISMS YOU HAVE ABOUT CITY
ATTORNEY EVANS, I WILL SAY THIS,
SHE SHOWED UP IN JANUARY, AND I
HAVE MET WITH HER MANY TIMES,
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY -- WELL,
NOT MORE IMPORTANTLY, JUST AS
IMPORTANTLY -- CHIEF OF POLICE
TORRENTS, I HAVE MET WITH HIM
MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES, AND I
APPRECIATE THAT THIS CHIEF OF
POLICE, LIKE THE LAST THREE I
WORKED WITH, CALL ME DIRECTLY,
INCLUDING WHEN WE THOUGHT WE HAD
I.C.E. RAIDS UP ON AURORA, AND
THAT IS WHAT DISTRICT
REPRESENTATION IS SUPPOSED TO DO
FOR US. IS THAT WE HAVE FOLKS
WHO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, WHO
UNDERSTAND THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
THAT WE HONOR THE NEEDS OF OUR
DISTRICT, BUT WE REPRESENT THE
WHOLE CITY. AND SO, I AM GLAD
THAT WE ARE SHINING A LIGHT ON
AURORA, THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE
THAT IT ISN'T JUST A FEW PIMPS,
BUT THERE IS ACTUALLY GUNFIRE,
AND IT SADDENS ME -- THOUGH,
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS -- THAT
THE NEIGHBORS HAD TO, ON THEIR
OWN, GO UP AND PUT UP BARRIERS.
WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS,
PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS ACROSS THE CITY,
AT LEAST IN MY DISTRICT, I HAVE
SEEN IT, THEY JUST HAVE BEEN
QUITE ABOUT IT. THEY PUT OUT
PLANTERS TO DISCOURAGE RVs FROM
PARKING IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES.
WE WORK WITH SDOT TO RECONFIGURE
PARKING SPACES SO WE DON'T HAVE
-- AT ONE TIME, I THINK I
COUNTED 17 RVs BEHIND SAFEWAY ON
17th. I KNOW D5 LIKE THE BACK OF
MY HAND, SO I CAN TELL YOU EVERY
HOTSPOT. ALBERT DAVIS, VIRTUAL
FLAM, LAKE CITY WAY, THE PARK. I
MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU. AND WHEN
WE ARE HERE TODAY -- AND AGAIN,
THIS IS FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES
-- WE CARE ABOUT THIS CITY. AND
WE CARE WHEN THERE IS GUNSHOTS,
AND WE PARTICULARLY CARE WHEN
PEOPLE WHO AREN'T EVEN DOING
ANYTHING, JUST THE GENTLEMAN
THAT WE HAD COME AND TALK ABOUT
HIS CHILD AND THE GUNSHOTS THAT,
YOU KNOW, WENT THROUGH HIS
HOUSE, AND HE HAS AN INFANT. SO,
WITH THAT, I AM HOPING,
COLLEAGUES, THAT YOU WILL ALL
VOTE FOR AND SUPPORT THIS BILL,
AND WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK TO
THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY --
OR, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO,
FIRST, THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND ALL OF
THOSE THAT SHE THANKED, AS WELL,
ESPECIALLY THE NORTH AURORA
NEIGHBORHOOD. COLLEAGUES, WE
NEED A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH IN
NORTH AURORA. WE NEED TO HAVE
BALANCE AND FOCUS WITH OUR
NEIGHBORS IN CRISIS AND A FOCUS,
AS WELL, WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN
CRISIS, LIKE NORTH AURORA. WE
NEED LEADERSHIP THAT IS
SUSTAINED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT
OF FOLLOW-UP AND FOLLOW-THROUGH.
THIS IS NOT JUST A SUMMER ISSUE.
THIS GOES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE NEED IMPLEMENTATIONS OF
ORDINANCES PASSED INTO LAW. WE
NEED ACCOUNTABILITY TO MATCH THE
COMPASSION IN OUR EFFORTS, AND
WE NEED THE INTEGRATION, ON ONE
HAND, OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
TRADITION OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WITH
PUBLIC HEALTH, HOUSING, AND
HUMAN SERVICES ON THE OTHER
HAND. AND SO, I ASK THAT, YOU
KNOW, ACTUALLY, TO MOVE FORWARD,
THAT WE ADDRESS THE CRISIS IN
NORTH AURORA BY ACHIEVING OUR
GOALS RELATED TO SPD STAFFING.
THE MORE OFFICERS WE BRING ON
BOARD, THE MORE WE CAN PULL OFF
PATROL, AND PUT BACK INTO THE
SPECIALTY UNITS, INTO TACTICS,
THAT ARE DESIGNED TO, YOU KNOW,
WORK THIS PROBLEM SET. THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE GREAT FORCE MULTIPLIER THAT
IS THE REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER.
IT'S A CCTV PROGRAM AND AS IT
RELATES TO THIS, THE AUTOMATIC
LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM,
WHICH WOULD BE SO KEY ON AURORA.
AGAIN, IMPLEMENT OUR ORDINANCES.
AS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ POINTED
OUT, WE NEED THE PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN KING COUNTY ATTORNEY AND
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THEY NEED THAT ASSISTANCE. THEY
NEED THAT PERSON, THAT
PROSECUTOR, TO TACKLE THE LEGAL
SIDES OF THESE THINGS. WE NEED
SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT RELATE TO
COMMERCIAL SEXPLOITATION TO BE
THERE AT SECOND AND THIRD WASH.
I HAVE BEEN UP AT THE NORTH
PRECINCT. THEY DON'T ALL SHOW
UP AT SECOND AND THIRD WATCH. IN
FACT, IT'S VERY FEW. AND HERE
IS THE ISSUE, WE CAN'T WAIT
UNTIL 9:00 THE NEXT MORNING, SO
WE NEED TO ENGAGE ON THE HUMAN
SERVICES SIDE OF THINGS TO MAKE
SURE THEY ARE THERE WHEN NEEDED,
AND THEY CAN PARTNER WITH THE
NORTH PRECINCT. AGAIN, THIS IS
THE SEAM, DIVINE, THE SCENE
BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC
HOUSING, HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES. AND I WOULD ADD TO THE
MORE GENERAL POINT THAT WAS
RAISED, WE NEED A UNIFIED CARE
TEAM, WHICH ENGAGES WITH
COMMUNITY. AND IT IS NOT WHAT IT
HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED TO BE BY
OTHERS. WE NEED TO HAVE THIS
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH. BUT,
TODAY, AND RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE
NEED -- AND COLLEAGUES, I ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT -- IS PASSING
COUNCIL BUT 121233. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, FOR THESE
OPENING COMMENTS. COLLEAGUES, I
WANT TO OPEN THE FLOOR UP, IF
THERE IS ANY MORE COMMENTS
REGARDING THE BILL, REGARDING
COUNTABLE 121233. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
I WILL BE BRIEF, I JUST WANT TO
SAY I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF
WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ WHEN SHE WAS HERE BEFORE
AND NO MOMENTUM LOST IN THE
TRANSITION TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, AND NO MOMENTUM LOST WITH
THE TRANSITION BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. THAT'S
VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN YOU
LOSE MOMENTUM IN A SPACE AND A
PLACE LIKE AURORA, THINGS
UNRAVELED VERY QUICKLY AND, YOU
KNOW, I KNOW THE CHAIR SAID THIS
AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE A FEW
WEEKS AGO, BUT I LIVED ON MOTOR
PLACE IN AURORA, IN MY EARLY
TEENS JUST BEFORE THE
THUNDERBIRD MOTEL WAS CLOSED BUT
STILL STANDING AND THROUGHOUT MY
LIFE, THE ISSUES THAT ARE
OCCURRING ON AURORA HAVE
EXTENDED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE
SHIP CANAL, AND WHEN I TOOK
OFFICE, THEY WERE DOWN TO 83rd
AND AURORA, AND WHAT I HAVE
ALWAYS REALLY APPRECIATED ABOUT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, IS THAT --
AND I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF
YOUR WORK. WE WORK A LOT BEHIND
THE SCENES, BECAUSE DISTRICT
LINES ARE MADE UP AND WHAT IS
NOT MADE UP, IS MY DEDICATION TO
THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 6 AND
DISTRICT 5, ALL OF THE DISTRICT,
BUT REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY.
YOU KNOW, WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS
THAT WHILE THE ISSUES HAVE -- WE
CLOSED DOWN SOME HOTELS ON 83rd,
WE CLOSED DOWN SOME HOTELS ON
87th, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES,
BUT WE ARE NOT DONE. THIS
LEGISLATION IS IMPORTANT, IT IS
NOT THE END-ALL SOLUTION. AND
WHAT I STRIVE TO DO, IN THE
LEGACY OF COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
BECAUSE I WATCH YOU DO THIS ALL
THE TIME -- IS TO BOTH SUPPORT
THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAMS
LIKE AURORA COMMENTS, AND
PROTECT THE COMMUNITY BY
ENSURING THAT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
IS NOT OCCURRING ON THE STREETS
WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO RAISE
THEIR FAMILIES. AND WHAT I HEARD
VERY LET OUT LOUD AND CLEAR AT
THE PRESS CONFERENCE YEARS AGO,
THAT THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL,
THE MAYOR, THE PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY, THE KING COUNTY
ATTORNEY, ALL, AND POLICE CHIEF
SHAWN BARNES AND ASSISTANT CHIEF
NICOLE -- AND CHIEF BARDEN, AND
THE CHIEF MESSAGE WAS CLEAR, IF
YOU WANT TO ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL
ACTIVITIES ON STREETS WHERE
PEOPLE ARE RAISING THEIR FAMILY,
YOU WILL BE ARRESTED, YOU WILL
BE PROSECUTED, THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF OUR MUNICIPAL COURT
SYSTEMS. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. WE
HAVE TO BOTH SUPPORT OUR
COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE
AURORA COMMENTS, AND PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITIES ON THE STREETS THAT
ARE RAISING FAMILIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING
THIS LEGISLATION FORWARD. YOU
KNOW, AS SHE MENTIONED, AND AS
WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST
PRESS CONFERENCE, WE DON'T NEED
TO BRING EMERGENCY LEGISLATION.
WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO,
BUT WE ARE UNDER A SITUATION
WHERE THIS IS HOW SERIOUSLY WE
ARE TAKING THIS, THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ BROUGHT
FORWARD THIS EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION, SO WE COULD DO
SOMETHING RIGHT AWAY. AND I AM
REALLY NOT JUST ADMIRING, BUT
APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP, WHICH
IS WHY I JOINED HER AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. I
DID NOT VOTE ON THIS LEGISLATION
LAST WEEK, BECAUSE I HAD A
CONFLICTING MEETING AND THE VOTE
TOOK PLACE RIGHT AFTER I HAD TO
LEAVE, BUT I INDICATED THEN, AS
I AM GOING TO NOW, THAT I
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION. AS WAS MENTIONED
EARLIER, I REPRESENT BEFORE, BUT
I ALSO WORK ON ISSUES RELATED TO
EVERY CONSTITUENT ACROSS THE
CITY. WE ARE DISTRICT SPECIFIC,
BUT WE ARE HERE TO ALSO PARTNER
TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER
TOWARD THE ENTIRE CITY, NOT JUST
THE DISTRICT WE REPRESENT, AND
THAT WAY, WE ARE SUPPORTING EACH
OTHER WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO HELP
OUR CONSTITUENTS. THIS, I AGREE,
THIS IS NOT THE SOLVE ALL. WE
WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK,
TO FIGURE OUT THE ATROCITIES
THAT ARE HAPPENING IN AURORA.
THERE ARE GIRLS AND WOMEN BEING
TRAFFICKED, AND ABUSED, AND
USED, AND WE NEED TO DO MORE AS
A CITY, COLLECTIVELY, WORKING
WITH ALL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
TO TAKE SOME SERIOUS ACTION AND
YOU ALL KNOW THAT I VERY MUCH
CARE ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, THAT IS
WHY I AM SITTING HERE TODAY,
THAT I HOSTED A GUN VIOLENCE
SYMPOSIUM. WHERE I AM WORKING ON
NEXT STEPS FOR THAT, AND IT
INVOLVES EVERYONE WORKING
TOGETHER TOWARD THIS COMMON GOAL
AND SOLUTION BECAUSE WE NEED TO
TAKE THESE THINGS, OBVIOUSLY,
VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE CAN'T
JUST GIVE LIP SERVICE TO IT, WE
ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
AND TO THAT END, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, WITH OUR CHAIR'S
SUPPORT, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
AND ALL OF US ARE DOING TODAY,
IS ACTUALLY TAKING A STEP TOWARD
ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING, AND
NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT IT, SO I
AM SAYING THAT BECAUSE I WANT
EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE
ABOUT TAKING ACTION, AND THAT
SOMETIMES, UNFORTUNATELY, ACTION
TAKES LONGER TO HAPPEN, BUT THAT
WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT IT, AND
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING
TOWARD. AND YOU HAVE MY
COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING TO TAKE
ACTION, TO DEAL WITH NOT JUST
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON AURORA, BUT
ACROSS THE CITY RELATED TO GUN
VIOLENCE. SO, THANK YOU, AGAIN,
TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. ARE THERE
ANY MORE COMMENTS ABOUT
COUNTABLE 121133 BEFORE WE TURN
IT BACK OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ? I WILL SAY THIS, BEFORE
YOU HAVE THE LAST WORDS, REALLY,
I WILL ADD TO THE THANK YOU'S,
BUT REALLY, I WILL JUST SAY, I
APPRECIATE -- I APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP AROUND THIS, BECAUSE
AS THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN
ABOUT THE GUN VIOLENCE, THE
STREET CLOSURES, THE PIMPS, THE
JOHNS, I KNOW WE ALL CARE ABOUT
THOSE LITTLE GIRLS THAT ARE OUT
ON AURORA, AND CONTINUING TO
BRING THAT BACK TO THE
CONVERSATION OF THE 12, 13, 14,
15, 16-YEAR-OLDS THAT ARE OUT
THERE ON AURORA. AND, YOU KNOW,
I HAVE A COUSIN WHO IS A SOCIAL
WORKER, AND I TALKED ABOUT
OFTEN, AT McKINNEY VENTO. AND TO
HEAR THE STORIES THEY HAVE TO
DEAL WITH ABOUT THE AFTERCARE
FOR SOME OF THESE YOUNG GIRLS, I
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION. WE ALL
KNOW IT IS A FIRST STEP, BUT
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFICACY
ON THIS, AND USING YOUR
LEGISLATIVE ROLL AND POWERS
WITHIN THIS DEPARTMENT TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THE
OUTCOMES THAT I KNOW THE CITY
ATTORNEY WANTS. I KNOW THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE WANTS. I KNOW
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE AURORA IS SAFE. SO, I
WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THAT, AND GETTING US ALL TO
UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF THIS
ISSUE, SO, THANK YOU, AND THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU, I JUST WANT TO ADD
ON TWO NOTES, FIRST OF ALL, I
WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE FOLKS
OF AURORA EAST AND WEST, THAT IT
TOOK US SO LONG TO HAVE A
LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE, EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION, WHEN YOU ARE
EXPERIENCING GUN VIOLENCE AND WE
HAVE SEEN IT ALL OVER THE CITY.
AND SECOND, I DO WANT TO THANK
AND HIGHLIGHT OUR AT-LARGE
REPRESENTATIVES, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER AND COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
WHO HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY
ACCESSIBLE, AND ALSO ADMIRE
THEIR YOUTH AND INTUITIVE STATUS
OF UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE AND
MOVING THINGS FORWARD, AND
REALLY CARING ABOUT THIS. I AM
KIND OF LAUGHING TO MYSELF, AS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS MADE A
COMMENT I TALKED ABOUT YEARS
AGO, WE HONOR THE NEEDS OF OUR
DISTRICT, BUT WE REPRESENT THE
CITY. AND WHAT I ALWAYS USED TO
TELL HIM AFTER THAT, WHICH HE
DOESN'T SAY, WAS THAT I
ACTUALLY STOLE THAT LINE FROM
OTHER "STAR TREK" OR "DEEP SPACE
9." ONE OF THEM. [ LAUGHTER ]
SO, I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW,
BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND
RINCK AREN'T IN A DISTINCT,
OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE REPRESENTING
CITYWIDE, BUT THEY LISTEN TO US,
AND THEY TALK TO US, AND THEY
COME IN OUR OFFICES AND SAY,
"WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR
DISTRICT?" AND I CAN TELL YOU
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE HAD THEIR
UNDIVIDED ATTENTION IN THIS
LEGISLATION, NOT JUST IN D5, BUT
OTHER AREAS, AS WELL, AND I DID
NOT WANT TO HAVE THAT GO UNSAID.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
COMMENTS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 121233?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES, THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX THE SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL
RIGHT, CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
READ ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO,
COUNTABLE 121232 -- AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO THE OPERATIONS OF
THE COMMUNITY ASSISTED RESPONSE
AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT,
DESCRIBING THE DUTIES OF THE
COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONDER TEAM,
AMENDING SECTION 3.15.060 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE, AND
ADDING A NEW SECTION 3.15.064 TO
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO GIVE A COMMITTEE
REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THIS BILL KIND OF GOES WITH WHAT
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, IT
HAS BEEN PROVIDING, YOU KNOW,
WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON OUR
STREETS, PROVIDING THAT
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, YOU KNOW,
BRINGING THAT TO THE TABLE. AND
THIS BILL FOCUSES ON A FEW
THINGS, ONE IS TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CARE CRISIS
RESPONDERS ARE OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS IN CLINICAL HEALTH
CRISIS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS, AND IT'S ALSO ABOUT
DIVERSION, IT'S ABOUT BRINGING
THAT PIECE INTO WHAT WE ARE
DOING AND TO DO IT BETTER AND TO
BRING IT WITH THE CARE
DEPARTMENT, WITH PURPOSE, AND
DIGNITY, AND ACTION, AND THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION
THAT WE HAVE, TO HELP THOSE WHO
ARE IN ADDICTION, SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER, AND THEN, THE THIRD
PIECE IS PUBLIC HEALTH, TO TRULY
BRING PUBLIC HEALTH, AGAIN, TO
THE SCENE, BRING PUBLIC HEALTH
PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC SAFETY
AND THE WAY WE DO THIS, GIVEN
THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY HAS
PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSIBILITIES,
IS TO IDENTIFY WITHIN THE PUBLIC
SAFETY SPACE, THAT CONNECTION,
THAT LEAD PARTNER, IN TERMS OF
THIS SORT OF ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE PIECE, THIS AREA WE ARE
SEEING ON OUR STREETS, AND THIS
IS WHAT THIS BILL DOES, IT
BRINGS THAT INTO PLACE. AND IT
IS ALSO IN KEEPING WITH WHAT WE
DO WITH OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
PLAN, FOREVER SAY FOR SEATTLE.
WE HAVE SIX PILLARS TO THE PLAN,
AND WORKING BACKWARDS, PILLAR
FIVE, ADDRESSING THE SCENE
BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC
HEALTH, HOUSING, AND HUMAN
SERVICES. THIS IS WHERE CARE
DEPARTMENT RESIDES, RIGHT IN
THIS SCENE, THIS IS WHERE
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE IS, RIGHT
IN THIS SCENE, AND WE HAVE TO
BUILD THIS UP AND THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. PILLAR
THREE, THE GUN VIOLENCE PIECE
THAT COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA WAS
SPEAKING TO, BUT IT ALSO HAS
COMMUNITY SAFETY, YOU KNOW?
BRINGING THAT PIECE INTO, YOU
KNOW, THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE
WITH THIS ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE
SPACE. NOT THE GOVERNMENT PIECE,
BUT THE COMMUNITY PIECE, TO
BRING THAT INTO PLAY, AND THAT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND THEN,
THE LAST ONE, BEING PILLAR TWO,
FURTHERING A FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM. IT IS SO
IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE ALL
THOSE PIECES THAT WE HAVE THE
HICCUPS ON, THAT THERE IS A
SPEED BUMPS, THESE MISMATCHES,
WHATEVER IT IS, WE HAVE TO HAVE
A FURTHER AND PROPER CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THIS INCLUDES
BRINGING IN DIVERSION, THIS
INCLUDES WORKING WITH THOSE WHO
ARE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS
OR CLINICAL HEALTH CRISIS SEES.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS IN SYNC
WITH THE OVERALL PLAN TO BRING
THIS FORWARD IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
ARE SEEING ON OUR STREETS, AND
AGAIN SINCE WE HAVE MANY FROM
NORTH AURORA, WHAT WE ARE SEEING
FROM NORTH AURORA, BECAUSE IT IS
NOT JUST WHAT WE WERE JUST
TALKING ABOUT. IT IS ACROSS THE
BOARD. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY
-- AND THIS IS HOW I APPROACH
THINGS AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES
DO, AS WELL, WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT WAYS TO SET UP
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS UP
FOR SUCCESS. YOU KNOW? THE CARE
ENABLING ORDINANCE, WE HAVE GONE
THROUGH THESE ITERATIONS AND THE
GOAL SHOULD ALWAYS BE TO SET UP
THE ORGANIZATION FOR SUCCESS,
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IF CARE IS SUCCESSFUL IN THIS
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE PIECE, THAT
MEANS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
GOING TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL, AND
IMPORTANTLY, OUR NEIGHBORS THAT
ARE IN CRISIS, THAT THEY ARE
BEING HELPED AND SET UP FOR
SUCCESS. SO, COLLEAGUES, WITH
THAT, I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT
REGARDING COUNCIL BILL 121232.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS REGARDING THE BILL
BEFORE US, COUNCIL BILL 121232?
OKAY. SEEING NONE. CLERK, WILL
YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES, CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT, WELL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF? GOOD JOB,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER
THREE INTO THE RECORD?
>> HOUSING AND CIVIL RIGHTS
COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
THREE -- COUNCIL BILL 121218 --
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO HOUSING
FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS,
ADOPTING THE 2023 SEATTLE
HOUSING LEVY ADMINISTRATIVE AND
FINANCIAL PLAN FOR PROGRAM YEARS
2026-2028, ADOPTING HOUSING
FUNDING POLICIES FOR PROGRAM
YEARS 2026-2028 AND FOR THE 2023
SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY AND OTHER
FUND SOURCES, AUTHORIZING
ACTIONS BY THE DIRECTOR OF
HOUSING REGARDING PAST AND
FUTURE HOUSING LOANS AND
CONTRACTS. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS, AS
AMENDED.
>> AWESOME. CHAIR FOSTER, AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO GIVE US THE
REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
EXCITED TO BRING THIS FORWARD
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS AN
UPDATE TO THE HOUSING FUNDING
POLICIES THAT THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING DOES EVERY TWO YEARS. AS
A REMINDER -- AND COLLEAGUES,
YOU KNOW -- THAT O.H. DID A MORE
SUBSTANTIAL UPDATE A FEW YEARS
AGO, THIS UPDATE WAS TECHNICAL
IN NATURE, ALTHOUGH I WILL JUST
HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU, OUR OFFICE
DID WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE TO THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
FOR THIS UPDATE, WE DID WORK ON
SOME CHANGES TO UPDATE AND
CLARIFY LANGUAGE, REGARDING
DETAILS ON DEBT RESTRUCTURING
AND STABILIZATION LOANS. AS WE
KNOW, OFFICE OF HOUSING MADE
THOSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2025
AS PART OF THEIR NOTICE OF
FUNDING AVAILABILITY AWARDS. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FHP
POLICIES PROVIDED CLEAR GUIDANCE
ON THAT. WE ALSO WORKED WITH
O.H. TO CLARIFY CHANGES FOR
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS
TO FACILITATE FINANCE CLOSING,
OR CONVERSION FROM CONSTRUCTION
TO PERMANENT FINANCING. AGAIN,
THIS IS A PRACTICE THAT THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING ALREADY HAD IN
PLACE AND WAS ALREADY AUTHORIZED
TO DO, WE JUST ADDED SOME
ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE TO PROVIDE
GUIDANCE IN THE HFP POLICIES
AROUND THAT. SO, OVERALL, THIS
IS A REALLY GOOD PACKAGE OF
UPDATES THAT JUST ENSURES THAT
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IMPLEMENTING
OUR HOUSING FUNDING, INCLUDING
P.E.T., MHA, AND MONEY FROM THE
HOUSING FUNDING THAT WE HAVE
CLEAR AND STRONG OVERSIGHT. WITH
THAT, THIS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
OUT OF COMMITTEE AND COLLEAGUES,
I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THE BILL
BEFORE US? OKAY, AWESOME. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES, CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF? WILL THE CLERK
READ ITEM NUMBER FOUR INTO THE
RECORD?
>> REGINA AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
FOUR, HOUSING, ARTS, -- COUNCIL
BILL 121236 -- AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING, GRANTING A GROUND LEASE
OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2929
27th AVE SOUTH, AUTHORIZING THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING TO GRANT A LEASE OF THE
REAL PROPERTY TO MBTOD PHASE ONE
LLLP, AN AFFILIATE OF MERCY
HOUSING NORTHWEST AND EL CENTRO
DE LA RAZA, AND AUTHORIZING
RELATED AGREEMENTS AND ACTIONS
TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
COMMERCIAL SPACE INTENDED TO BE
USED FOR EARLY LEARNING,
CHILDCARE CENTER, AND ASSOCIATED
USES. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
THE BILL PASS.
>> AWESOME, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, WE ARE GOING BACK TO YOU
FOR THE NEXT ITEMS, FOUR, FIVE,
AND SIX, THEY ARE ALL YOU.
>> IT IS A REAL HOUSING PARTY
OVER HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AND I WILL, I
WILL SHARE A FEW WORDS AND THEN
JUST TO GIVE HIM A HEADS UP, IF
COUNCILMEMBER LIN WANTS TO SPEAK
ON THIS, I WILL ALSO GIVE THEM
THE OPPORTUNITY, PROVIDED YOU
WANT TO DO THAT. THIS IS A
REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY,
COLLEAGUES. WE HEARD SOME PUBLIC
COMMENT ABOUT THIS PROJECT HERE
TODAY IN THE COLLABORATION
BETWEEN MERCY HOUSING, AND EL
CENTRO DE LA RAZA, THIS IS A
PROJECT TAKING PLACE RIGHT OUT
THE LIGHT RAIL BAKER STATION AS
FOLKS KNOW AS THE FORMER UW
LAUNDRY SITE AND THIS PUTS US ON
TRACK TO BUILD 241 UNITS, TOTAL,
239 OF THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO
BE AFFORDABLE UNITS, AND WHAT IS
REALLY, REALLY EXCITING ABOUT
THAT, IS THE NUMBER OF TWO,
THREE, AND FOUR BEDROOM UNITS
THAT WILL BE AT THIS SITE, SO
THIS WILL BE A REALLY IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BUILD
FAMILY SIZED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
HERE IN OUR CITY AT A MOMENT
WHERE MANY FAMILIES ARE
STRUGGLING WITH THE HIGH COST OF
LIVING, AND IN PARTICULAR, BEING
RENT BURDENED. THIS PROJECT IS
ALREADY FENCED OFF, AND THEY
ARE, LIKE, READY TO BREAK GROUND
THIS FALL, AND THIS IS THE FINAL
PIECE OF THE PIE, THROUGH
PASSING THIS LEGISLATION. SO, I
WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION
TO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THIS, AND I
BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER LIN WILL
SPEAK TO THIS, AS WELL, BUT, YOU
KNOW, THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
GETTING HOUSING AND CHILD CARE
AT THIS SITE INCLUDING OUR
PARTNERS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE, SO I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION. THIS IS
A LONG TIME COMING. AND
COLLEAGUES, I AM EXCITED TO ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YEAH, SURE.
>> I KNOW YOU DIDN'T RAISE YOUR
HAND, BUT --
>> YES, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, AND THIS
IS A SUPER EXCITING DEVELOPMENT,
RIGHT, AT THE MOUNT BAKER LIGHT
RAIL STATION, AND JUST A LITTLE
BACKGROUND, I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS WHEN
I WAS IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS. BUT,
THE FORMER SPEAKER, WHEN HE WAS
IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW,
THIS WAS OWNED BY UW, COLLEAGUES
WHO WERE ON COUNCIL BEFORE HAD
BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE PROBABLY
RECALL THAT WE ACCEPTED THIS
PROPERTY VIA TRANSFER FROM UW AT
NO COST, AND THAT WAS, AGAIN,
THANKS, IN LARGE PART, THE
FORMER SPEAKER JOB. IT IS
EXCITING, THERE ARE MANY FIRSTS
HERE INCLUDING A UW EARLY
LEARNING FACILITY WHICH IS SUPER
EXCITING, THERE IS A COMMUNITY
WORKFORCE AGREEMENT WHICH IS
ONLY THE SECOND ONE WE HAVE DONE
WITH OFFICE OF HOUSING FUNDS,
SO, THAT IS ALSO AN EXCITING
DEVELOPMENT. AND I CAN'T WAIT
TO SEE THEM BREAK GROUND. SO,
THANKS TO ALL THE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO
CELEBRATING SOON.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. IS THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING THE
BILL BEFORE US? REALLY HAPPY FOR
THIS PROJECT. I THINK IT IS
RIGHT BEHIND THE LIGHT RAIL, AND
THERE IS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY
ALONG RAINIER WITH THE LIGHT
RAIL, YOU HAVE MOUNT BAKER
TRANSFER STATION, YOU HAVE THE
QFC, THE GROCERY STORE.
HOPEFULLY, WE GET ANOTHER THING
NEXT TO YOU IN THAT PARKING LOT,
WHERE YOU HAVE A GROCERY STORE
AND THEN, ALSO SOMETHING ELSE,
LIKE WHATEVER IT IS, BUT I KNOW
IT USED TO BE A DRUGSTORE. BUT,
WHAT I LEARNED AND WHAT WAS
INTERESTING BECAUSE WE TALKED
ABOUT ALL OF THESE SURFACE
PARKING LOT AND PUTTING
BUILDINGS ON THERE, THERE IS A
MASSIVE WATER MAIN THAT RUNS
THROUGH THAT PARKING LOT SO THAT
IS WHY YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO HAVE
CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT IN THAT
AREA, SO IT WILL CONTINUE TO
STAY WHAT IT IS, BUT LOOKING
FORWARD TO THIS LEGISLATION.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY MORE
COMMENTS? IS THERE A -- DID YOU
SAY SOMETHING? OH, THERE IS AN
AMENDMENT. EXCUSE ME. I'M
SORRY. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, OKAY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
TO YOUR AMENDMENT, AMMENDMENT
"A".
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I MOVED
AMMENDMENT "A" -- SORRY, I -- I
NEED TO -- I BELIEVE THIS IS
COMING FROM COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
SO I -- I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
AMMENDMENT "A" IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> AWESOME, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL
BILL 121236 AS PRESENTED ON
AMMENDMENT "A" -- COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, AS A SPONSOR, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS THE
AMENDMENT .
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS AND I WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER LIN FOR
HIS EAGLE EYE AND THE FACT THAT
HE WAS WORKING ON THIS AS A
LAWYER FOR SIX YEARS AND TAUGHT
THE TECHNICAL CHANGE IN THE
LANGUAGE THAT NEEDED TO BE
UPDATED TO ENSURE THAT THE
LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE IS
REFLECTING WHAT IT NEEDS TO, TO
ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS UNDER THE
LAW, SO THIS IS JUST A FRIENDLY,
TECHNICAL INVESTMENT WE ARE
ADVANCING, AND COLLEAGUES, I ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, I
WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING LESS
FROM COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND HIS
EAGLE EYE. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ABOUT AMMENDMENT "A"?
SEEING NONE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMMENDMENT "A"?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE AMENDMENT CARRIES, ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
BILL AS AMENDED? ANY OTHER
CLOSING REMARKS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER OR
COUNCILMEMBER LIN? NO? ALL
RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT, WILL
THE CHAIR PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
THEIR BEHALF? WELL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM FIVE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE,
COUNCIL BILL 121237 -- AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
SEATTLE OFFICE OF HOUSING, O.H.,
PLACING ACQUIRED REAL PROPERTY
IN THE MONTLAKE NEIGHBORHOOD
UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF O.H.,
AUTHORIZING O.H. TO ISSUE A
COMPETITIVE REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS FOR SELECTION OF A
PREFERRED DEVELOPER AND TO
EXECUTE AND DELIVER A CONTRACT
FOR TRANSFER OF LAND, DEED, AND
RELATED DOCUMENTS TO THE
SELECTED DEVELOPER, THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS.
>> AWESOME, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, HOUSE PARTY, BACK TO
YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES,
ANOTHER REALLY EXCITING
OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US,
WHERE THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION
WE JUST PAST IS GETTING US INTO
THE LEASE THAT WE NEED TO DO TO
ENSURE THE DEVELOPMENT MOVES
FORWARD, THIS IS HELPING US SET
UP OUR PIPELINE AGAIN FOR
CONTINUING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN THE CITY. SO, I WILL
START, ALSO, WITHIN APPRECIATION
AGAINST TOWER FOLKS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE WHO APPROPRIATED
RESOURCES FOR THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING SO THAT WE COULD
PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY, THIS
PIECE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY FROM
WSDOT. WHAT IS EXCITING HERE,
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD,
AGAIN, MY FAVORITE WORDS, FAMILY
SIZE HOUSING, AND THIS GIVES US
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, IN WHAT
IS A HIGH OPPORTUNITY
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOES NOT
ACTUALLY HAVE SUBSIDIZED,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN IT, YET.
SO, FOLKS WILL REMEMBER THIS
LOCATION AS THE SITE OF THE
FORMER GAS STATION, AND
CONVENIENCE STORE THAT WSDOT
ACQUIRED IN ORDER TO DO THE WORK
AROUND THE 520 AND NOW THIS IS
SURPLUS PROPERTY THAT THE CITY
WILL BE ACQUIRING WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP AND BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP, HERE.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME WORK
THAT WE DID, AGAIN, AND EXPRESS
MY APPRECIATION FOR THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING, WORK THAT WE DID
WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING IN
THE PRE-INTRODUCTION EDIT, TO
ENSURE THAT THERE IS A PROVISION
WHERE THE SELECTED PROPOSAL MUST
ADDRESSED BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY AND
FINANCIAL IMPACTS GIVEN THE
SITE'S PROXIMITY TO THE 520 AND
THE ARTERIALS, AND ALSO TO
ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT WILL
PROPOSE -- EXCUSE ME -- THAT THE
PROJECT WILL PRIORITIZE
PROPOSALS THAT PROVIDE A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FAMILY
SIZE UNITS, SO EXCITED TO BRING
THIS FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT WE
HAVE PROPERTY THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP FOR
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP IN OUR
PIPELINE, AND WITH THAT,
COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. AND I KNOW
I WAS NOT AT THAT MEETING, BUT
TOTALLY SUPPORT THIS, THIS IS IN
DISTRICT 3, MONTLAKE, AND VERY
EXCITED FOR THIS PROJECT, HAD
HEARD ABOUT IT ONLINE FOR A LONG
TIME COMING OVER, AND JUST
APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION TO
DETAIL THAT YOU PUT IN ABOUT THE
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, AND ALSO THE
PRIORITIZING FAMILY OWNED
HOUSING, AS WELL. SO, THANK YOU
FOR THAT. COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE
ANY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE BILL
BEFORE US FOR COUNCIL BILL
121237? OKAY, AWESOME. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DO
YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING COMMENTS,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> I WILL JUST ADD ONE OTHER
PIECE THAT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT
IN THE RFP BUT BECAUSE I
MENTIONED THE SITE USED TO BE A
GAS STATION AND CONVENIENCE
STORE, THERE IS ALSO AN
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR GROUND FLOOR
COMMERCIAL BECAUSE WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING WHAT WE
CAN TO BRING BACK THAT GROCERY
-- IT WASN'T A FULL GROCERY,
BUT THAT ACCESS TO FOOD IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU FOR
THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS A FAMILY
OWNED GROCERY, YOU KNOW,
COMMUNITY STORE, AND THOSE ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE BECAUSE
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY MISS THAT,
SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, AS
WELL. WE WANT MORE OF THOSE IN
OUR CITY. ALL RIGHT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES, CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT, WELL THE CHAIR PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF? WILL YOU PLEASE
READ ITEM SIX INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM SIX -- COUNCIL
BILL 121238 -- RELATING TO THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING, AUTHORIZING
THE ACQUISITION OF TWO PARCELS
IN THE CENTRAL AREA FOR THE
PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS, PLACING THE
PROPERTY UNDER THE JURISDICTION
OF THE OFFICE OF HOUSING,
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING OR THE
DIRECTOR'S DESIGNEE TO ISSUE A
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND TO
SELECT A DEVELOPER AND
THEREAFTER TO EXECUTE AND
DELIVER A CONTRACT FOR TRANSFER
OF LAND, DEED, AND RELATED
DOCUMENTS, THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, BACK TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. AND WE ARE STILL IN
YOUR DISTRICT, SO WE WILL GO
BACK TO YOU IN JUST A SECOND
HERE, I THINK. COLLEAGUES,
REALLY EXCITED. AGAIN, THIS IS
ANOTHER ACQUISITION THAT ALLOWS
US TO SET UP OUR PIPELINE, THIS,
AGAIN, FOR AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND THIS TIME,
RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT, SO THIS IS A
BUILDING THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY --
OR, UNTIL WE PASSED THIS --
OPERATED AND OWNED BY THE
CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION,
IT OPERATED AS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS
AND THE OFFICE OF HOUSING WORKED
CLOSELY WITH CATER TO BRING
FORWARD THIS LEGISLATION TO
BRING A BUILDING THAT WAS
PREVIOUSLY AFFORDABLE RENTAL AS
WELL AS A PARCEL THAT IS
DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR, BOTH OF
WHICH WERE UNDER THE OWNERSHIP
AND OPERATION OF KETA AND WHAT I
WILL HIGHLIGHT HERE, I AM
EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY,
WE WORKED WITH THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING ON SOME PRE-INTRODUCTION
EDIT , AND SO THAT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS LOCATION
WILL UTILIZE COMMUNITY
PREFERENCE AND COMMUNITY
PREFERENCE IS A POLICY THAT WE
HAVE HERE THAT ALLOWS US TO
AFFIRMATIVELY MARKET AND
PRIORITIZE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
HISTORIC TIES TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITY
AND I CAN'T THINK OF A LOCATION
IN OUR CITY WHERE THAT IS MORE
IMPORTANT IN ITS APPLICATION
DOWN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, SO I
AM REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP RIGHT
IN THE HEART OF THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, AND I WILL --
COLLEAGUES, I WILL ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT AND TURN IT BACK TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF SHE WANTS
TO COMMENT ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. FULLY SUPPORT IT, AND
ALSO SUPPORT THE INTENTIONALITY
BE HAND -- BEHIND WHAT WE ARE
BUILDING IN OUR AREAS THAT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN REDLINED -- WELL, NOT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN -- THAT ARE
REDLINED AND INTENTIONAL ABOUT
THE ARCHITECTS, THE BUILDERS,
THE DEVELOPERS, THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE DEVELOPING THESE PROPERTIES,
AS WELL, AND THEN THE
HOMEOWNERSHIP PIECE, HOW
IMPORTANT THAT IS, SO REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO
DETAIL ON THAT, AS WELL, AND
REALLY SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE --
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, MADAM?
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION
OF COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, SHE GOT
BY ME TOO QUICK. WHAT WAS THE
TERM THAT YOU USED FOR --
>> "COMMUNITY PREFERENCE," IS
THAT THE ONE YOU ARE ASKING
ABOUT?
>> IN THE ACTUAL DISTRICT?
>> YES, "COMMUNITY PREFERENCE,"
YES.
>> WONDERFUL, BECAUSE WE HAVE A
DIFFERENT TERM FOR THAT IN
INDIAN COUNTRY AND MAYBE THAT IS
WHAT WE CAN DO AND MAYBE, IF YOU
WANT, I CAN DRAFT UP A LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. [ LAUGHTER
] I WILL SAY, I THINK THAT
SETTING THE TERM ASIDE, I THINK
THE IMPACT OF THIS WILL BE FELT,
BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN IT USED
WITH RENTAL HOUSING, PREVIOUSLY,
HERE IN THIS CITY, AND WE HAVE
SEEN THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE
ABILITY OF SOME OF OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING RENTAL
OPERATORS TO ALLOW FOLKS WHO
HAVE BEEN DISPLACED, TO RETURN
TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY HAVE
BEEN DISPLACED FROM. SO, I TAKE
YOUR COMMENT BUT I DO WANT TO
SHARE, WE HAVE TANGIBLE IMPACT
FROM THIS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> BECAUSE WE KNOW, SHE WANTS
THE LAND BACK. THE LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT? COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ SAYS, "IF YOU ARE GIVING
LABOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, WHAT'S
UP?" LIKE, JUST DON'T
ACKNOWLEDGE THE LABOR. [
LAUGHTER ] JUST SAYING! OKAY,
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY MORE
-- [ LAUGHTER ] SORRY. IS THERE
ANY MORE -- IS THERE ANY FINAL
THOUGHTS, REGARDING THIS LAND
COMMUNITY PREFERENCE PEACE?
OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL 121238?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES, THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? THERE
WERE NO ITEMS. GOOD JOB,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. IT WAS A
HOUSING PARTY. HOUSE PARTY
NUMBER FIVE. WHAT WILL THE
SEQUEL, HOUSE PARTY FIVE?
MEMBER, KID IN PLAY?
>> YES, I DO.
>> MAYBE I AM TOO OLD.
>> NOPE.
>> DID YOU WATCH THAT MOVIE,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? HE SAYS,
"YES." THERE -- COME ON. THERE
WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR AND THERE IS
NOT A RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTION
TODAY. COLLEAGUES, IS THERE ANY
MORE TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL,
BEFORE WE ADJOURN? COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, WHO WAS ELOQUENTLY
WRAPPED IN BLACK WITH THE GOLD
EARRINGS AND THE RED LIPSTICK,
AND THE FRESH HAIRCUT, I JUST
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, WITH THE
BLUSH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I
DID WATCH "HOUSE PARTY 5," SO I
GOT YOU THERE, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I AM REQUESTING TO BE
EXCUSED FROM THE JULY 7th, 2026,
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
>> YES, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION
REGARDING COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
REQUESTING TO BE EXCUSED,
HEARING ON, YOU ARE EXCUSED.
>> AND I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, THE
FLOOR IS STILL YOURS.
>> OH, THAT'S IT, RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> OKAY, I'M GOOD.
>> OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE
I REQUESTED TO BE EXCUSED FOR
JULY 7th, AS WELL, I HAVE
ANOTHER MEETING I HAVE TO ATTEND
IN DISTRICT.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS BEING ABSENT FROM THE
JULY 7th MEETING -- HEARING ON
-- YOU ARE EXCUSED, MY FRIEND.
>> WONDERFUL. SEEMS LIKE DOUBLY
SO.
>> IT WAS DOUBLE, I THINK WE
ALREADY -- YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU
ASKED TWICE, SO YOU GET TO BE
DOUBLE EXCUSED. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER ITEMS TO COME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL BEFORE WE ADJOURN,
COLLEAGUES? I WILL LOOK LEFT AND
RIGHT. OKAY, AWESOME. WELL,
GUESS WHAT? THANK YOU, ALL, FOR
A GREAT MEETING. THERE IS NO
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, SO WE
HAVE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
AGENDA. I WILL TAKE PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME MY NEW
NIECE INTO THE WORLD, HER NAME
IS RAIN HOLLINGSWORTH, AND SHE
IS A WEEK OLD, AND I JUST WANT
TO THANK HER FOR COMING INTO THE
WORLD.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, OKAY? SO, SHE WILL
SEE THIS AND SO WILL MY NEPHEW,
IVY. AND THEY WERE BORN AT A
SWEDISH HOSPITAL, AND IF PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW, SWEDISH HOSPITAL,
AS I ALWAYS SAY, IT'S DISTRICT
THREE, PRODUCES THE MOST BABIES
IN THE STATE, SO THEY HAVE THE
MOST BIRTHS IN ABOUT 6000 OR
7000 BIRTHS EVERY YEAR, THEY ARE
COMING, THEY ARE PUMPING OUT OF
FIRST BILL. OKAY? SO, THEY ARE
COMING. AND I HAVE -- AND MY
FAMILY HAS ADDED TO TWO OF THOSE
IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, SO I
JUST WANT TO SAY, WELCOME, RAIN,
TO THE FAMILY, YOU DON'T HIT
THE LOTTERY, BABY. OKAY, LOVE
YOU, ALL. OKAY, WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF TODAY'S AGENDA, THE
NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL
BE JULY 7th AT 2: