[MUSIC]
-- HEY. GOOD AFTERNOON. THE JULY
14th MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. IT
IS 2:04 P.M.. I'M JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
-- COUNCILMEMBER? RINCK. PRESENT
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. HERE. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- HERE
-- EIGHT PRESENT.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS EXCUSED.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME. WE
WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT IS
LIMITED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR IN THE
COUNCIL'S WORK PROGRAM. THE
COUNCIL CANNOT ACCEPT COMMENTS
ON QUASI JUDICIAL ITEMS OR
CAMPAIGN RELATED MATTERS. CLERK
HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
-- WE HAVE 16 IN PERSON AND FOUR
REMOTE.
-- AWESOME. THAT'S A TOTAL OF
20. SO EVERYONE'S GOING TO GET
TWO MINUTES. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR
THE PUBLIC COMMENT?
-- SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS MICS
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT
ENTER COMMENTS WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
-- AWESOME. WE'LL START IN
GROUPS OF THREE. WE HAVE MARI
SHULER, FOLLOWED BY MISS CAROLYN
MALONE AND MARY RAO.
-- HI. COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. MY NAME IS MARY MOORE
SHULER. I'M USUALLY HERE ABOUT
SMALL HOUSEBOATS, BUT THAT'S NOT
WHY I'M HERE TODAY. I'M HERE
ABOUT APPOINTMENTS. THERE IS AN
IMPORTANT BOARD FOR SEATTLE
CALLED THE CONVENTION CENTER
BOARD. THE MAYOR HAS
APPOINTMENTS TO MAKE. NOT YOU
ALL. BUT YOU HAVE A CHANCE RIGHT
NOW TO INFLUENCE WHO SHE
APPOINTS. I'M SURE IT'S NOT ON
HER RADAR. I'VE TALKED TO THE
GOVERNOR AND I'VE TALKED TO THE
COUNTY EXECUTIVE, BOTH OF WHOM
ALSO HAVE APPOINTMENTS. THERE
ARE FIVE POSITIONS UP FOR
APPOINTMENT ON THE BOARD RIGHT
NOW. WHILE I THINK IT'S IN YOUR
DISTRICT, BOB, BUT EVERYBODY
OUGHT TO HAVE A SAY ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE THE CONVENTION CENTER IS
RIGHT NOW DOING ITS MASTER PLAN,
WHICH WILL LOCK ALL OF US IN
FOREVER TO WHATEVER THEY DECIDE
TO DO. SO I BEG YOU TO PLEASE
PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD AND
FIND PEOPLE WHO YOU THINK WOULD
BE GREAT BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE
CONVENTION CENTER WHO DO NOT
HAVE A FINANCIAL VESTED
INTEREST, I.E. A HOTEL OWNER,
FOR EXAMPLE. WE HAVE HAD ONLY
TWO EXECUTIVES FOR THE
CONVENTION BOARD IN 50 YEARS.
JIM ELLIS WAS THE FOUNDER AND
WAS THERE FOR 20 ODD YEARS.
FRANK FINNEGAN HAS BEEN THERE
FOR 20 ODD YEARS. I BELIEVE HIS
POSITION IS ALSO UP FOR
APPOINTMENT, BUT IT'S JUST SUPER
IMPORTANT. THE SEATTLE TIMES
SAID THEIR FUNDING WAS FRAGILE.
SO WHO IN THE END IS GOING TO
PAY FOR THIS? THEY HAVE A
BALLOON PAYMENT COMING UP OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND AS FAR
AS I CAN TELL, NO PLAN. BUT WHAT
I'VE SUBMITTED IN MY WRITTEN
COMMENTS IS A WEBSITE. ONE
REPORTER HAS BEEN VERY DOGGED IN
HIS REPORTING ABOUT THIS, AND HE
ACTUALLY HAS A PIECE ON HIS
WEBSITE ABOUT WHO WOULD MAKE A
GOOD BOARD MEMBER FOR THE
CONVENTION CENTER. SO I BEG YOU
TO READ HIS WORK. AT LEAST ASK A
STAFF MEMBER TO TO READ IT AND
SEE IF YOU CAN COME UP WITH SOME
GREAT NAMES, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT
MINE.
-- THANK YOU. MARI. NEXT WE HAVE
MISS CAROLYN. WELCOME.
AND FOR THE RECORD,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS WITH US
IN PERSON. PRESENT.
-- THANK YOU.
-- I'M CAROLYN MALONEY, STILL
HAVING THE HOUSING ISSUES THAT I
HAVE CURRENTLY. RENOVATION,
EXTENSIVE RENOVATION IS GOING ON
IN MY SENIOR HOUSING AT 910
MARION STREET. THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION SHOULD BE OVERSEEING
AND MAKE SURE THERE IS NO
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, WHICH I THINK
THERE IS. AND THERE'S
ABSOLUTELY NO COMMUNICATION FROM
THE DIRECTORS AND THE MANAGERS.
EVEN WHEN I ASKED, NOTHING
WRITTEN, ALL I HEAR ARE
JACKHAMMERS, POWER DRILLS, BUZZ
SAWS AND HAMMERS, AND I HAVE TO
LEAVE EACH DAY. THESE ARE THINGS
GOING ON OUTSIDE, AND I DO
BELIEVE THERE ARE LAWS AGAINST
THAT. THE VIBRATION I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT IN THE BUILDING.
IS 13 STORIES, 84 UNITS, AND
IT'S JUST NO COMMUNICATION TO
SENIORS ABOUT THE STATUS. IT'S
NOTHING ABOUT THE RENT BEING
INCREASED. I'VE ASKED BECAUSE
USUALLY WHEN RENOVATIONS OCCUR,
RENT IS INCREASED. ARE YOU GOING
TO TRANSFORM IT? NOTHING LIKE
THAT. AND THE OTHER ISSUE I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT, WHERE ARE THE
SEATTLE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
MEMBERS, THE DIRECTORS NO LONGER
THERE. MY COMPLAINT IS STAGNANT.
I DON'T HEAR FROM ANYONE. SO
ARE THEY STILL IN BUSINESS OR
DEFUNCT NOW? SO I THINK SOMEONE
SHOULD CONTACT ME, VISIT MY
RESIDENTS AT 910. MARION. NOT
HARD TO FIND. FIRST HILL
DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM
SAINT JAMES CATHEDRAL, NORTH
SIDE. I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO
COME. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MISS MALONE. AND
WE HAVE NEXT MAYOR DR. RAO FROM
MOUNT BAKER. DID I GET THAT
CORRECT? I SAY YOUR LAST NAME.
RIGHT. AWESOME. WELCOME, DOCTOR.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARY
RAO AND I LIVE IN MOUNT BAKER.
I'M A MEMBER OF FOUR SEATTLE.
I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT FOR THE UTILITIES
DISCOUNT PROGRAM BILL, AND THANK
YOU TO THE GOVERNMENT GOVERNANCE
AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE FOR
MOVING IT FORWARD. AND I WANT TO
SHARE SOME COMMENTS. AGAIN, I'M
A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN AND
MANY OF MY PATIENTS ARE LIVING
ON FIXED INCOMES. AND I SEE
EVERY DAY HOW RISING UTILITY
COSTS AFFECT THEIR HEALTH. LAST
WINTER, ONE OF MY PATIENTS, A
DISABLED VETERAN, TOLD ME THAT
HE'D BEEN RATIONING HIS
MEDICATIONS SO HE AND HIS WIFE
COULD KEEP THE HEAT ON FOR HIS
NEWBORN. WE CONNECTED HIM TO
HELP HE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR, BUT
NOT BEFORE HE'D BEEN MAKING THIS
IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE FOR MONTHS,
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY
DON'T KNOW. AND I HEAR AGAIN
AND AGAIN FROM MY PATIENTS THAT
THE STRESS OF NAVIGATING
COMPLICATED BENEFIT PROGRAMS IS
A DOUBLE OR TRIPLE BURDEN ON TOP
OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND HEALTH
CHALLENGES, PEOPLE GIVE UP AND
THEY SUFFER A RESPONSIBLY
EXECUTED PUBLIC PROGRAM HAS TO
MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE IT'S MEANT
FOR KNOW ABOUT IT AND CAN EASILY
ENROLL. SO I ESPECIALLY
APPRECIATE THAT THIS BILL WILL
WORK TO MAKE SIGNING UP FOR THE
UTILITIES DISCOUNT PROGRAM
SIMPLER. I APPRECIATE THE
AMENDMENT AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR ENROLLMENT, AND THE CITY HAS
ALREADY SET ASIDE FUNDING, SO
LET'S MAKE SURE IT ACTUALLY
GETS TO FAMILIES IN NEED. I HOPE
YOU'LL MOVE THIS FORWARD. AND
THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU, DR. RAO.
NEXT WE HAVE HOWARD GAIL
FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL AND THEN
MARTA. WELCOME MR. GAIL.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JUST ON
A BREAK FROM THE KING COUNTY
INQUEST INTO THE 2009 BY SPD OF
OF RYAN RYAN SMITH. HE WAS
KILLED IN 2019 IN CRISIS HOLDING
A 2.4IN KNIFE. AND HE WAS SHOT
TEN TIMES POINT BLANK WITH HIGH
CALIBER DUM DUM BULLETS. NOW
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO IN THE
TESTIMONY FROM YOUR POLICE THAT
YOU PAY AND YOU OVERSEE WHEN
I'M LISTENING TO, IS THE REASON
THEY HAD TO SHOOT HIM IS BECAUSE
HE SHIFTED HIS BODY WEIGHT. HIS
EYES WERE LARGE AND UNBLINKING.
HE HAD THE THOUSAND YARD STARE.
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE WITH 3 OR 4
GUNSHOTS STILL BE A THREAT,
WHICH IS WHY HE HAD TO BE SHOT
TEN TIMES. HE WAS. HIS FACE WAS
EXTREMELY ALARMING. HE HAD
GLASSY EYES. HE HAD THE PREFIGHT
INDICATORS. HE HAD A FIGHTING
STANCE. SUICIDAL PEOPLE ARE THE
MOST DANGEROUS, NOT THE MOST IN
NEED OF CARE, BUT THE MOST
DANGEROUS. THIS IS WHAT YOUR
POLICE OFFICERS ARE TESTIFYING
TO IN FRONT OF A JURY. NOW, I
KNOW THE JURY WILL NOT BUY THIS,
AND I KNOW IT WILL BE A
RESOUNDING VERDICT BY THE END OF
THE WEEK. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT
ARE YOU GUYS DOING? AS SOMEONE
WHO IS JEWISH, BROUGHT UP IN A
VERY JEWISH HOUSEHOLD,
POST-HOLOCAUST, I GET IT.
TURNING A BLIND EYE IS A WAY OF
BEING ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT
KIND OF CONFLICT. BUT YOUR
POLICE HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY, AS
THEY DID LAST YEAR, KILLED
PEOPLE IN CRISIS AS THEY DID
URBAN SAKA IN WEST SEATTLE JUST
LAST YEAR, HOLDING ONLY A KNIFE
WHEN THEY'RE IN CRISIS. IT
DOESN'T HAPPEN IN JAPAN. IT
DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE UNITED
KINGDOM. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A
LOT OF OTHER FREE COUNTRIES. AND
YET WHAT WE'RE TOLD HERE, WHAT
I'M LISTENING TO DAY AFTER DAY
IS NOTHING ELSE WE COULD DO.
THEY HAD THE THOUSAND YARD
STARE. THEY HAD TO BE PUT DOWN.
SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO? THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MR. GILL. NEXT WE
HAVE MICHAEL, FOLLOWED BY MARTA.
AND WE HAVE BOB. KENDRA, IVANA
AND MISS YVETTE. WELCOME.
-- HELLO. I'LL KEEP MY PUBLIC
COMMENT EXTREMELY SHORT. I'M
MICHAEL, I'M A PHINNEY RIDGE
RESIDENT. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT
MAKING THE UTILITY DISCOUNT
PROGRAM MORE EFFECTIVE AND
PUSHING FOR HIGHER ENROLLMENT
AMONG THOSE WHO NEED IT THE
MOST. I BELIEVE THAT THE
AMENDMENT. THE AMENDMENT TO
CREATE A REPORTING REQUIREMENT
WILL BE EFFECTIVE. I ALSO
SUPPORT SLIGHTLY TALLER
MICROPHONES FOR THE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
-- THANK YOU
-- THANK YOU MICHAEL. NEXT WE
HAVE MARTA, FOLLOWED BY BOB,
KENDRA, IVANA AND YVETTE.
-- HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME
IS MARTIN. I'M HERE WITH FOUR
SEATTLE. I CAME HERE LAST WEEK
TO SUPPORT THE UTILITY DISCOUNT
PROGRAM EXPANSION, AND I'M HERE
AGAIN. WANT TO GIVE A QUICK
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH AND
THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNANCE
AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE FOR
PASSING THIS LEGISLATION OUT OF
COMMITTEE. LAST WEEK.
ADDITIONALLY, THANK YOU FOR
INCLUDING THE AMENDMENT TO
CREATE AN ANNUAL ROLLMENT REPORT
REQUIREMENT NEXT YEAR. WE ARE
EXPECTING LARGE UTILITY
INCREASES AND I THINK NOW IS A
GREAT TIME TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
MAKING DECISIONS TO. EXCUSE ME.
MAKE SURE THIS PREEXISTING
PROGRAM GETS EFFECTIVELY
DELIVERED. EXPANDING WHO
QUALIFIES IS A GREAT CHANCE TO
REACH MORE INDIVIDUALS AND
ACTUALLY DELIVER THE DOLLARS.
BUT I ALSO DO BELIEVE IT'S JUST
A START. I'VE SPENT MANY, MANY
HOURS TALKING TO FAMILIES,
WORKERS, AND SENIORS ACROSS THE
CITY. AND I THINK ONE THEME IS
VERY COMMON, WHICH IS IT'S
BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT
TO LIVE AND AGE IN THIS CITY.
THIS PROGRAM IS A MUCH NEEDED
STEP TO BRING RELIEF TO THESE
INDIVIDUALS. AND I'M EXCITED TO
SAY THAT FOR SEATTLE REALLY
WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART IN
MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS A
SUCCESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
-- THANK YOU MARTA. NEXT WE HAVE
BOB, FOLLOWED BY KENDRA, IVANA,
AND MISS YVETTE
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR
GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME
AND SPEAK MY PIECE ON REGARDING
THE UDP, WHICH I HOPE THAT YOU
GUYS WILL CONSIDER PASSING
TODAY. IT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU
KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE ALL AGREE
THAT THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM AT
A TIME THAT'S MORE IN NEED THAN
EVER. AND NOW TODAY WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO FINE TUNE IT, TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO, TO
HAVE GOOD GOVERNMENT SHOW UP.
AND I THINK WE ALL WOULD AGREE
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MORE AND
MORE EXAMPLES OF GOOD GOVERNMENT
TO SUPPORT OTHER EFFORTS THAT WE
HAVE COMING DOWN THE PIKE. SO
THAT IS A SECONDARY REASON. IN
ADDITION TO THE PRIMARY REASON
OF THE GOOD THAT THIS BILL HAS
ALREADY PROPOSED TO BE DONE, AND
I URGE YOU TO PASS IT TODAY. AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND
ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
GOOD DAY.
-- THANK YOU, BOB. NEXT WE HAVE
KENDRA. WELCOME, FOLLOWED BY
IVANA AND YVETTE.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS KENT. I AM A CANDIDATE
MEMBER WITH THE AMERICAN PARTY
OF LABOR. LAST WEEK, A RALLY WAS
HELD OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING
DEMANDING THAT THE CAMERAS BE
TAKEN DOWN, NOT JUST TURNED OFF,
BUT DOWN. AFTER THAT RALLY, I
CAME IN HERE AND I ASKED EVERY
PRESENT COUNCILMEMBER IF THEY
WERE WILLING TO COMMIT TO TAKING
THE CAMERAS DOWN. I DIDN'T GET A
YES. I DIDN'T EVEN GET A NOD.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK YOU PUT OUT
A STATEMENT CONGRATULATING THE
THE PROTESTORS OUTSIDE AND
FLUFFING THEM, AND YOU BRAGGED
ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE
SAFETY OF THIS COMMUNITY. BUT
YOU, LIKE EVERY SINGLE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBER HERE, HAVE NOT
PRESENTED ANY ACTUAL OUTLINE FOR
TAKING THE CAMERAS DOWN, FOR
MITIGATING THE FACT THAT FLOCK
IS IN OUR CITIES, PEOPLE FROM
ALL OVER THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM,
CONSERVATIVES, LIBERALS,
SOCIALISTS, COMMUNISTS LIKE
MYSELF ARE DEMANDING THAT THESE
CAMERAS COME DOWN. NOW. THEY ARE
NOTHING BUT SURVEILLANCE TOOLS.
NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE
GENERAL PUBLIC HERE. I WOULD
LIKE TO REMIND THEM THAT IT IS
SUPER, SUPER ILLEGAL TO GET VERY
HIGH POWERED LASER AND POINT
THEM AT THE CAMERA LENSES. SUPER
ILLEGAL. DON'T DO THAT. ALSO
SHOOTING THE PAINTBALLS,
SHOOTING PAINTBALLS AT CAMERAS
TO TAKE THE LENSES OUT. DON'T DO
THAT SUPER DUPER ILLEGAL. AND
FINALLY, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND
VISITING DF.LOC .ORG, WHICH HAS
BEEN AN OPEN SOURCE MAP OF
LICENSE PLATE READERS AND
CAMERAS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND
FURTHER, DON'T CROSS-REFERENCE
THAT MAP WITH THE MAP OF
DISTRICTS, SPECIFICALLY CITY
COUNCIL DISTRICTS. SO YOU KNOW
WHICH COUNCILMEMBER TO EMAIL
ABOUT THE FLOCK CAMERAS IN YOUR
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. KENDRA. NEXT WE
HAVE IVANA, FOLLOWED BY YVETTE.
WELCOME
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS IVANA JOVANOVIC. I AM
THE DIVISION SECRETARY OF THE
DIVISION OF THE AMERICAN PARTY
OF LABOR. TODAY, I AM HERE TO
ASK YOU AGAIN, WHY HAS THE CIVIL
STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR TRANS D
TRANS REFUGEE CRISIS TO SEATTLE
NOT BEEN PASSED? DEAD SILENCE AS
USUAL. IS IT BECAUSE TRANS
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROWING
OURSELVES BEHIND EVERY
RESISTANCE MOVEMENT THAT THIS
COUNTRY HAS SEEN SINCE STONEWALL
PALESTINE PRO ROE ANTI RO
REPEAL. NOTHING. LAST WEEK WHEN
I WAS HERE, I ALSO PROMISED THAT
THIS COMMUNITY, THIS TRANS
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE, WHERE
EVERY THIRD PERSON IS A REFUGEE
TO THIS CITY, NEEDS TO BE
DEFENDED. IF YOU ARE GOING TO
FAIL TO DO THAT. THE AMERICAN
PARTY OF LABOR WILL BE THE ONE
TO DO THAT. THESE ARE ATF FORM
4473 OF EVERYBODY WHO I HAVE
ACQUIRED A FIREARM FOR TO DEFEND
THIS COMMUNITY IN THE PAST WEEK.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, IVANA. NEXT, WE
HAVE MISS YVETTE. WELCOME. AND
AFTER MISS YVETTE, WE HAVE ALEX
LOFTON FROM THE C D DAVID LONG,
PAUL CLIVE BENNETT, EDITOR
-- 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. AND
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. I WANT TO
APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING ABLE.
OH, CRAP. BEING A MEETING LAST
WEEK, THE LINK CAME TO THE LAST
MINUTE AND I WASN'T ABLE TO
ATTEND. PLUS, EXCUSE MY PHONE,
STUPID PEOPLE PROBABLY SPAM CALL
AND I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE
ATTENDED. HOWEVER, I DID A.
-- CAN WE. WE'LL PAUSE YOUR TIME
WHILE YOUR PHONE WILL PAUSE IT
-- OKAY.
-- THANK YOU. OKAY.
-- OKAY.
-- AND IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO
UNDERSTAND YOU WITH YOUR MASK.
IF YOU FEEL OPEN TO TAKING IT
OFF. I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU IF
THAT'S OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
-- ALSO, I DID AN INFORMAL POLL
ON NEXTDOOR AND FACEBOOK, AND IN
36 HOURS REGARDING THE LAKE
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD CLOSURE AND
36 HOURS, I GOT OVER 3000
RESPONSES OPPOSED TO THE WEEKEND
LAWN CLOSURES. SO I THOUGHT I'D
LET YOU KNOW THAT. AND ALSO, I
TAKE THE NUMBER SEVEN BUS TO GET
HERE, AND AT THE 2020 12th AND
JACKSON WAS A HOT MESS, BUT
IT'S BEEN CLEANED UP. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. WHOEVER MADE THAT
POSSIBLE. AND PLEASE KEEP IT UP.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
THE THE PLETHORA OF FREE SUMMER
EVENTS GOING ON, GOING ON ACROSS
THE CITY. I ATTENDED A COUPLE
LAST WEEK AND THEY'RE FREE.
SOMETIMES THEY HAVE FOOD AND
IT'S A LOT OF FUN. I APPRECIATE
OUR TAX DOLLARS WELL SPENT. AND
THEN ALSO I ALSO AM IN SUPPORT
OF THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM.
AND I'M ALSO SUPPORTED, AT
LEAST IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, OF
KEEPING THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
GOING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
-- THANK YOU, MISS YVETTE. NEXT
WE HAVE ALEX LOFTON, FOLLOWED BY
DAVID LONG, PAUL CLIVE BENNETT,
EDITOR. I KNOW WE HAVE MORE
PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP. AND IF
YOU'RE ONLINE, WE HAVE ABOUT
SEVEN MORE SPEAKERS.
-- HI COUNCILMEMBERS. GOOD TO
SEE YOU AGAIN. ALEX LOFTON FROM
THE CD DISTRICT THREE WITH FOUR
SEATTLE. TODAY I'M HERE TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR BRINGING TO
FORTH THE UDP LEGISLATION, AND
I'M 100% FOR IT. AND I'M COME
UP HERE PRETTY JAZZED RIGHT NOW
JUST BECAUSE I MEAN, WE SHOULD
BE REALLY PROUD AS OF AS A CITY
WITH FIFA JUST HAVING PASSED
PASSED THROUGH OUR TOWN, HAVING
SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS THERE. AND
I'M JAZZED BECAUSE UDP IS ON
THE ALREADY KIND OF MADE THE
DECISION TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
WE GOT THE FUNDING AND NOW WE
JUST GOT TO FIGURE OUT THE
LOGISTICS TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD
AND OPERATIONS MOVING THINGS
FORWARD. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL
ABOUT, EXPANDING IT TO MORE
PEOPLE, MORE OF MY NEIGHBORS
THAT MAKE ME PROUD TO LIVE HERE.
SO I THINK THIS IS A MOMENT TO
BE TO BE PROUD AS A CITY, AND
WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS.
STEPS TO MOVE FORWARD. I LIKE
THE LEGISLATION A LOT. I THINK
I'M AM GOING TO ADVOCATE TO
CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR AS MUCH
DATA AS WE CAN GET IN REAL, AS
CLOSE TO REAL TIME AS POSSIBLE,
NOT TO POINT FINGERS AND BLAME.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF US IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT JUST WANT TO HELP
IF WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN
BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT YEAR, MAYBE
THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE DONE,
EITHER COMMUNITY GROUPS TO HELP
WITH OUTREACH OR, YOU KNOW, IF
THERE'S IDEAS IN THE COMMUNITY
ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE OPERATIONS
WORK BETTER, LET'S TRY TO DO IT
INCREMENTALLY RATHER THAN WAIT A
YEAR AND THEN POINT FINGERS AT
EACH OTHER AS TO WHY THINGS
AREN'T WORKING. SO COUNT US IN
TO HELP OUT. AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
-- THANK YOU. ALEX. NEXT WE HAVE
DAVID LONG, FOLLOWED BY PAUL,
CLIVE BENNETT, ED
-- HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS.
-- MY NAME IS DAVID LONG. I COME
OFTEN SPEAK VERY SELDOMLY. MY
NONPROFIT IS CALLED TESTIMONY
PRAISERS OF GATHERINGS. WE HELP
YOUTH THAT ARE BATTLING FENTANYL
AND HOMELESSNESS. AS FAR AS THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS
CONCERNED, ONE THING THAT I
REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE I POINT
OUT, I WAS SPEAKING TO SOME
BUSINESS OWNERS DOWN THE PIONEER
SQUARE AREA AND OTHER AREAS, AND
THERE IS A FEAR AND A WORRY
ABOUT HOW BUSINESSES ARE GETTING
AFFECTED BY THE HELP THAT'S
BEING BROUGHT TO COMMUNITIES.
ONE OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS SENT
ME A VERY LONG TEXT. I'LL JUST
READ A LITTLE BIT OF IT. SEATTLE
HAS BEEN LACKING IN
ENTERTAINMENT AND FAMILY
FRIENDLY ATTRACTION FOR A LONG
TIME. IT OFTEN FEELS LIKE THE
CITY HAS BECOME ANTI-FUN, WITH
MANY OF THE PLACES AND EVENTS
THAT ONCE BROUGHT PEOPLE
TOGETHER, DISAPPEARING OVER THE
YEARS. INSTEAD OF CREATING AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE LOCAL
BUSINESSES AND MAJOR COMPANIES
WANT TO INVEST, WE'VE MADE IT
HARDER FOR THEM TO SUCCEED
THROUGH HIGHER TAXES,
COMPLICATED REGULATIONS, AND
POLICIES THAT DISCOURAGE GROWTH.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, AND I SUPPORT
PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SERVICES
TO THOSE WHO NEED IT, BUT HAVING
THEM BE IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT AS
BUSINESS FRIENDLY. BASICALLY, WE
WERE DISCUSSING HOW THERE IS A
FACILITY BEING BROUGHT NEXT TO
HIS BUSINESS AND PIONEER SQUARE
THAT'S GOING TO BE MADE TO HELP
THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED. HOWEVER,
THE CITY PAID CLOSE TO $7
MILLION FOR THIS BUILDING AND
THERE'S BUILDINGS VERY SIMILAR
DOWN IN THE SOTO AREA THAT WOULD
BE LESS EXPENSIVE, A LITTLE BIT
AWAY FROM THE BUSINESS AREAS,
AND STILL ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME
OF THE SIMILAR RESOURCES. SO MY
REQUEST IS THAT AS WE CONTINUE
TO GROW, AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK
FOR MORE WAYS TO HELP THOSE IN
NEED, THAT WE LOOK AT AREAS
MAYBE NOT SO CLOSE TO THE
BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
AND OTHER AREAS, NOT NECESSARILY
PUSHING PEOPLE OUT, BUT GIVING
US PLACES THAT STILL ALLOW
BUSINESSES TO GROW AND STILL
HELP PEOPLE.
-- THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU DAVID. NEXT WE HAVE
MR. PAUL, WHO'S EVERYWHERE
AROUND THE CITY. CLIVE BENNETT
AND ED, WHAT'S GOING ON? MR..
PAUL?
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, AND A
PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY. MY
NAME IS PAUL TOMLINSON, AND I
WANT TO SEND A LITTLE BIT OF
ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE COUNCIL.
LAST WEEK I WAS WITH COUNCILMAN
LIN. WE DID A LITTLE CLEANUP ON
CAPITOL HILL. TODAY. WE WERE
DOWN IN THE SAME AREA DOING
ANOTHER PROGRAM WITH WE ARE
SEATTLE. AND AS WE BEGIN TO
BRING SOME BUSINESS PEOPLE AND
CHURCHES TOGETHER, WE'RE
BEGINNING TO SEE THAT YOU'RE
REALLY HELPING US WITH WHAT
WE'RE DOING. IN YOUR APPROACH
TO TRYING TO GET RID OF THIS
PROBLEM OF HAVING SO MANY PEOPLE
THAT ARE HOMELESS OR ADDICTED,
AND WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE A
HAPPENING OF PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING
AND LISTENING TO WHAT THE REAL
CAUSES ARE. AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE
MAKING A REAL EFFORT. WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S EVEN
SOME MORE WORK COMING DOWN THE
ROAD THAT YOU'VE ASKED TO HAVE
MORE PEOPLE PUT INTO TREATMENT,
TO SEE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN
TENTS NOW THAT IS THERE
SOMETHING MORE WE CAN DO, AND WE
REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN A FORCE BEHIND THAT, AND WE
WANT TO ENCOURAGE THAT. WE'RE
BEGINNING TO EDUCATE BUSINESS
PEOPLE AND THE CHURCHES A LITTLE
BIT OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS,
BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALLY
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND
WE'RE HOPING THAT AS WE WORK
TOGETHER, WE CAN SUPPORT YOU.
AND WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU
AS A COUNCIL IN THE NEXT TWO
YEARS, WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE
CREDIT FOR AN AWFUL LOT OF
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN
THIS CITY TO CORRECT, BECAUSE WE
ALREADY SEE IT STARTING TO
HAPPEN. SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THAT SO MUCH.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR.
PAUL. NEXT WE HAVE CLIVE,
FOLLOWED BY BENNETT ED, AND THEN
NATHAN WALL. WELCOME, CLIVE
-- CLIVE HAYWARD I HAVE SAFELY
PERFORMED ON THE SEATTLE
WATERFRONT FOR 11 YEARS. FOR THE
LAST YEAR, I HAVE FILED PUBLIC
RECORDS REQUESTS, DOCUMENTED
POLICY VIOLATIONS BY CITY
EMPLOYEES, AND FOR ALMOST TWO
MONTHS, I'VE SPOKEN HERE EVERY
WEEK. I HAVE FILED MULTIPLE
COMPLAINTS AND CLAIMS, INCLUDING
A MAY 28th, 2025 ASSAULT AND
HANDCUFF THREAT REMOVAL
INCIDENT. JUNE 12th, 2026
WATERFRONT PARK EXCLUSION CLAIM
260763 ISSUED WITH A CRIMINAL
TRESPASS WARNING DESPITE NO
CROWD, NO OBSTRUCTION AND NO
OFFER TO MOVE IF EXCLUSION WAS
THREATENED. SO FAR, I'VE
RECEIVED NO SUBSTANTIVE
RESPONSE. NONE THIS DOES NOT
AFFECT ME. I'M AWARE OF AT
LEAST SIX PERFORMERS WHO HAVE
BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE
WATERFRONT, AND MANY OTHERS
DESCRIBE BEING HARASSED BY CITY
EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THERE IS NO
MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH
PERFORMERS, CITY EMPLOYEES
ENFORCE THESE RULES ARE UNAWARE
OF THE REAL SAFETY AND
WORKABILITY ISSUES. ISSUES ON
THE WATERFRONT. MY DIRECT
EXPERIENCE IS THAT WATERFRONT
RULES MAKE THINGS LESS SAFE FOR
ME. I AM FORCED INTO A
DESIGNATED SPOT I CANNOT SAFELY
RELOCATE AWAY FROM BAD CONDUCT
WITHOUT RISKING A CRIMINAL
TRESPASS CHARGE OR LOSS OF
INCOME. SEATTLE ALREADY
LITIGATED STREET PERFORMER
RESTRICTIONS IN BERGER VERSUS
CITY OF SEATTLE. COUNCIL SHOULD
DIRECT THE MAYOR, SEATTLE CENTER
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
IDENTIFY A REAL REVIEW PATH FOR
ISSUE ENFORCEMENT AGAINST
PROTECTED FREE SPEECH.
-- THANK YOU CLIVE. NEXT WE HAVE
BENNETT, FOLLOWED BY ED AND THEN
NATHAN WALL. WELCOME, BENNETT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. IT'S GOOD TO
SEE EVERYBODY. ESPECIALLY GOOD
TO SEE ME. WE WON'T STOP. START.
WE SHOULD GET YOU YOUR OWN
SHARING PLATFORM BECAUSE YOU'VE
GOTTEN GOOD AT THIS.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL. SO I
HAVE ANOTHER VIDEO FROM A
PROTEST. I'VE TALKED IN THE
PAST ABOUT THE FACT THAT 90% OF
VIOLENCE AT SEATTLE PROTESTS IS
CAUSED BY THE SAME THING. A MAN
CRITICIZES A WOMAN FOR SAYING
SOMETHING WILDLY OVER THE LINE.
THE WOMAN RETALIATES BY CALLING
IT HARASSMENT. AND YES, I CAN
SEE YOU, SARAH. I CAN SEE THAT
SCREEN OVER THERE. AND YOU KNOW,
THAT CREATES THE PERMISSION FOR
OTHER PEOPLE TO COMMIT VIOLENCE.
I'M GOING TO PLAY YOU A VIDEO
FROM ONE OF THE PROTESTERS
RECORDED FROM MY BODY CAM
REMINDER, OF COURSE. OCTOBER
7th, 2023, WAS THE DAY THAT
HAMAS TERRORISTS KILLED ABOUT
1000 PEOPLE IN ISRAEL. JUST KEEP
THAT IN MIND BEFORE I'M PLAYING
THIS.
-- WHEN I TELL YOU THAT OCTOBER
7th, THE DAY OF THE FLOOD IN
2023 WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY
LIFE, I KNOW. JESUS CHRIST.
-- GUYS, REALLY?
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- AND NOBODY'S GOING TO SAY
ANYTHING. COME ON.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT
EMPATHY IS CAPABLE OF DOING.
-- NOW HOW AWFUL IT. OCTOBER
17th. GUYS, JESUS CHRIST,
WHAT'S NEXT? LONG LIVE 9/11.
GOOD LUCK.
-- OCTOBER 7th.
-- NOBODY LISTENS TO ME. ALL
RIGHT.
-- SO. STOP TALKING TO ME. STOP
YEAH. HANG ON
-- SO THAT IS WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T
THINK THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON
HAS ANY IDEA HOW DERANGED SOME
OF THE PEOPLE LEADING SOME OF
THESE CROWDS ARE SAYING THINGS
LIKE LONG LIVE OCTOBER 7th. AND
IF THE MAN CRITICIZES FOR THEM,
THEY RETALIATE BY CALLING IT
HARASSMENT. A MAN CRITICIZING A
WOMAN IS NOT HARASSMENT. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU. BENNETT. NEXT, WE
HAVE ED, FOLLOWED BY NATHAN
WALL. ED, ED SON. HEY, WELCOME
HEY.
-- AFTERNOON, Y'ALL. FIRST OFF,
I'D LIKE TO SAY REALLY
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING OR
TRYING TO DO BY PUTTING THE FREE
TOILETS BY PIONEER SQUARE I JUST
HAVE TO BE WALKING BY AND, YOU
KNOW. DID RELIEVE SOME PRESSURE.
TRY TO USE ONE PROBLEM IS THEY
DON'T WORK WITH GOOGLE LENS.
THE QR CODE, I SCANNED IT, IT
SHOWS THE URL I JUST KIND OF
FIGURE IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE
GOING TO USE A QR CODE OPERATED
TOILET, IT SHOULD WORK WITH THE
QR SCANNER APPS THAT MOST PEOPLE
HAVE, BE IT APPLE OR GOOGLE.
NOW. I ALSO NOTICED THAT ON THE
MACHINE, IT WANTED YOU TO
DOWNLOAD A SPECIFIC QR SCANNER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT COMPANY OR
HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, BUT BEING THAT
PEOPLE ARE ALL WORKED UP ABOUT
THE FLOCK CAMERAS, THE FACIAL
RECOGNITION THAT IS ANOTHER
INFORMATION SECURITY THREAT OF
LEAKING PEOPLE'S PERSONAL DATA.
IF YOU'RE MAKING THEM DOWNLOAD
AND YOU HAVEN'T VETTED THE APPS
INFORMATION SECURITY PRACTICES
MIGHT WANT TO LOOK INTO THAT.
THANKS FOR THE TOILETS AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
-- THANK YOU. ED. NEXT WE HAVE
NATHAN WALL. AND IF YOU'RE
ONLINE, THIS IS THE LAST
IN-PERSON SPEAKER AND WE WILL GO
ONLINE.
-- ALL RIGHT. SO I WAS GOING TO
COME HERE TODAY TO UPDATE YOU ON
THE TWO ICE KILLINGS THAT HAVE
TAKEN PLACE IN THE MONTH OF
JULY. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT
INFORMATION IS NO LONGER
ACCURATE BECAUSE IN THE TIME
THAT I CAME HERE, ANOTHER PERSON
WAS KILLED BY ICE IN FLORIDA. WE
DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE
PERSON WHO WAS KILLED. WE DON'T
KNOW THE NAME OF THE PERSON WHO
KILLED LORENZO. WE DON'T KNOW
THE NAME OF THE PERSON WHO
KILLED JOHN SEBASTIAN GUERRERO.
WHAT I DO KNOW, THOUGH, IS THAT
JUST TODAY, ICE HAS BEEN SPOTTED
IN SEATTLE FIVE TIMES, ONE IN
LAKE CITY. ONCE IN NEAR LAKE,
TWICE IN WEST SEATTLE, ONE IN
DELRIDGE, ONE ON ALKI. AND THEN
THEY WERE ALSO SPOTTED ON
HIGHWAY 99 NEAR THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE IN SOTO. I JUST WONDER AT
WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO DEFEND OURSELVES AGAINST
THIS? AT WHAT POINT ARE THEY OR
ARE WE JUST GOING TO BE A
DICTATORSHIP? AND THAT'S WHAT
WE HAVE A CHOICE THAT WE HAVE TO
MAKE. THEY'RE CALLING PEOPLE
TERRORISTS FOR SAYING 86, 47, A
REASONABLE, NON-THREATENING, AND
PERFECTLY LEGAL THING TO SAY.
THEY ARE THREATENING PEOPLE WITH
ARREST IF THEY'RE PART OF
ANTIFA. WHAT EVEN DOES IT MEAN
TO BE PART OF ANTIFA? I PROMISE
YOU THAT EVERYBODY ON THIS
COUNCIL FROM ALEXIS MERCEDES
RINCK TO MARITZA RIVERA AND
EVERYBODY IN BETWEEN, THEY
CONSIDER YOU TERRORISTS. IT
DOESN'T MATTER THAT YOU DON'T
AGREE ON EVERYTHING. THEY STILL
CONSIDER YOU COMMUNIST, MARXIST,
SEDITIOUS TERRORISTS. SO WHAT DO
WE DO? WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT?
AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN'T COME
TO OUR CITY AND KILL PEOPLE
HERE? BECAUSE IT'S IT'S
UNACCEPTABLE THAT IT'S HAPPENING
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY,
AND IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE. ICE.
THANK YOU.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU. NATHAN. NOW WE'RE
GOING TO GO ONLINE. PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. WE
HAVE BEN MITCHELL FOLLOWED BY
ANDREW LIN. SO BEN STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF
-- HELLO. HI. THANK YOU CHAIR.
HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS BEN MITCHELL. I'M FROM
SOUTH BEACON HILL, DISTRICT TWO,
AND I'M WITH THE ORGANIZATION
FOR SEATTLE. I'M TESTIFYING
TODAY WITH MY FRIENDS FROM FORT
SEATTLE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
EXPANSION, AND TO URGE PASSAGE
OF THE LEGISLATION TO EXPAND AND
STRENGTHEN THE PROGRAM. AS
OTHERS HAVE SAID. I ALSO URGE
YOU TO NOT REST WHEN THIS BILL
PASSES AND TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON
IMPLEMENTATION. I'VE WORKED ON A
SIMILAR CHALLENGE LIKE WHAT WE
HAVE WITH THE UDP UPTAKE AT THE
STATE LEVEL AROUND NEED BASED
COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID. IN THAT
CASE, THE STATE DRAMATICALLY
EXPANDED FINANCIAL AID AHEAD OF
THEMSELVES ON THE BACK, AND THEN
WATCHED UPTAKE REMAIN FLAT OR
DECREASE. I WORKED ON THAT ISSUE
FOR YEARS, AND WE'VE SEEN SOLID
IMPROVEMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL,
AND I THINK THERE'S LESSONS FOR
IMPLEMENTING UDP THAT A GOAL FOR
ENROLLMENT IN UDP FIND FUNDING
IN THE NEXT CITY BUDGET FOR
BENEFIT NAVIGATORS TO HELP
PEOPLE SIGN UP AND USE YOUR
PLATFORMS AS COUNCILMEMBERS TO
PROMOTE THE PROGRAM AND PROMOTE
SHARED MESSAGING. I HOPE YOU'LL
MOVE THE BILL FORWARD, BUT ALSO
REMEMBER THAT IT'LL ONLY MATTER
IF IT ACTUALLY GETS IMPLEMENTED
WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
BEHALF OF ALL RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE.
-- THANK YOU BEN. NEXT WE HAVE
ANDREW LIN FOLLOWED BY ROSE. AND
YOU'RE GOING TO PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF
-- ALL RIGHT, I THINK I GOT IT.
NOW.
-- WE CAN HEAR.
-- YOU AS A GOOD AFTERNOON.
COUNCILMEMBERS YAY. OKAY. MY
NAME IS ANGELA GERARDO. I SAY IT
CORRECTLY, JUST FYI, FOR THE
EFFORT I'M FROM PIERCE COUNTY
DISTRICT TWO. I'M A HUMAN
RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AND TODAY MY
PUBLIC COMMENTS IS ON ORDINANCE
CB 121207. IT'S ABOUT THE
FORENSIC DIGITAL EVIDENCE
CLASSIFICATION. SO DURING THE
TIME FRAME, WHEN THIS
CLASSIFICATION TITLE CAME OUT
2019 TO 2024, I WAS SEEKING MORE
WAYS TO REPORT SEXUAL ASSAULTS
ALONG WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING
WHILE COMPLETING SEXUAL ASSAULT
EXAMINATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
SEXUALLY EXPLOITED THROUGHOUT
THE DARK WEB FOR YEARS.
REVEALING MY NAKED BODY AND HOW
EACH NURSE AND DOCTOR CONDUCTED
THE EXAM. IF THEY DID
THOROUGHLY, AND ALSO THE BOX UP
EXAMS WITH MY SOILED CLOTHING
EVIDENCE STOLEN, OR THE TRACKING
NUMBERS TO THEM WHILE THESE
UNFORTUNATE EVENTS CAN LEAD TO
CASES BEING LOST OR STAYING
INCOMPLETE, I WAS FORTUNATE TO
HAVE SOME FINISHED ONCE I FOUND
THE RIGHT PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF ALL
LEADING TO HOPELESSNESS, I AM
GRATEFUL FOR THE LISTED
CLASSIFICATION TITLE BECAUSE IT
SHOWS ME THAT THERE WILL BE MORE
DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS ABLE TO
ASSESS FORENSIC EVIDENCE INSTEAD
OF TURNING AWAY VICTIMS DUE TO
SHORT STAFFING, RESORTING TO
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND
MORE. WITH INSUFFICIENT
INSUFFICIENT DESCRIPTIONS. I'M
HOPING THAT THIS GAP GETS FILLED
AND MORE IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS
FIELD OF EXPERTISE GET PUT INTO
PRACTICE. I SUPPORT THE PASSING
OF COUNCIL BILL ONE, TWO, ONE,
TWO, ZERO SEVEN AND CATCHING UP
WITH WAGES IN ORDER TO HELP
CLOSE MORE CASES WITH THOROUGH
FORENSIC EVIDENCE ANALYSIS AND
TIMELINESS TO CORRECTLY IDENTIFY
ALL SUSPECTS OF SEX CRIMES AND
HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT, WE
HAVE ROSE AND BEFORE ROSE THAT
YOU START, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE SIGNED UP THAT ARE NOT
PRESENT. WE HAVE CHRIS, WE HAVE
DAVID HAYNES, WE HAVE ARIEL LUNG
YOUNG, EXCUSE ME. AND JAVA AND
JAYA VASANTH AS WELL ROSE STAR
SIX.
-- HELLO. MY NAME IS ROSE. YES,
I AM HERE ON SUNDAY. MYSELF AND
MANY OTHER PEOPLE, ALONG WITH
MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMISSION
AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, GOT
TOGETHER TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT
AN OFFICE OF TRANS LGBT AFFAIRS
WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THE
NEEDS WERE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
MANY THINGS THAT WERE TALKED
ABOUT, MANY THINGS WERE
DISCUSSED. ONE OF THE MOST
COMMON THREADS WAS THAT THERE IS
IMMENSE NEED RIGHT NOW, AND
THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT'S BEING
DONE ABOUT IT. OUR COMMUNITY IS
IN DISARRAY. WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS
THAT ARE IN DESPERATE SITUATIONS
ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, AND IT'S
ALSO LEADING TO SITUATIONS WHERE
INDIVIDUALS ARE NOW GETTING ALL
SORTS OF BAD BEHAVIOR. TO BE
HONEST, WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT
ARE BEING ASSAULTED IN CAL
ANDERSON ABOUT EVERY SINGLE DAY
OF THE WEEK. NOW, WE HAVE
INDIVIDUALS THAT BECAUSE THE
COPS DO NOT SHOW UP FOR QUEER
PEOPLE, WE HAVE GROUPS OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE GOING AND THROWING
ROCKS AND SLURS AND THREATENING
TO BRANDISH. BRANDISH AND SHOOT
PEOPLE IN CAL ANDERSON AND THIS
IS HAPPENING WITH REGULARITY.
NOW WE NEED TO HAVE LIKE ACTUAL
INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND
SHOW THAT QUEER PEOPLE ARE NOT
JUST PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE
LEFT OFF THE MAP. BECAUSE RIGHT
NOW, THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE
SAYING. WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT
IF THIS LED CONTINUE WITH THE
ASSAULTS THAT ARE HAPPENING,
WITH THE DESPERATION THAT'S
HAPPENING, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
START GETTING KILLED. AND THIS
IS JUST THE REALITY. AND EVERY
DAY THAT WE WAIT, WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE KILLED. THIS IS THE
REALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE
NEED TO START. WE NEED THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY. WE NEED TO START
INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE
NEED TO START ACTUALLY TAKING
REAL LOOKS ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS
LIKE TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY
IS SAFE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. AND HAVING
GANG MEMBERS SHOW UP IN MASS. I
DON'T WANT ANYBODY GETTING
HURT, BUT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS
THAT, WHETHER THEY ARE TRANS OR
WHETHER THEY ARE NOT, THAT ARE
GOING TO KEEP ESCALATING THINGS
UNTIL THINGS ARE RESOLVED, WE
NEED YOU TO DO BETTER AND WE
NEED THIS NOW.
-- THANK YOU. ROSE. NEXT WE HAVE
DAVID HAINES, STAR SIX. TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
-- HI. THANK YOU. DAVID HAINES.
IT'S NOTED THAT CITY COUNCIL
HAS CREATED AN EASIER THREE AND
FOUR DAY WEEKEND GUARANTEE WHERE
THEIR WORKLOAD IS GOING TO LIKE
CANCEL THE COUNCIL BRIEFINGS,
THAT THEY NEVER GO INTO TOO MUCH
DETAIL ABOUT WHILE VIRTUE
SIGNALING ABOUT WHERE THEY WENT
ELSEWHERE. YET THE WHOLE TIME
OUR SOCIETY IS STILL IMPLODING
AND GEORGE SOROS IS USING
SEATTLE AS A PILOT PROJECT TO
TRY AND DESTROY THE UNITED
STATES FROM WITHIN. AND WE HAVE
A CAPACITY CRISIS. AND THE
MISINTERPRETATION OF POLICY
WHERE LISA DUGARD, WHO HAS BEEN
FINANCED BY THE VERA INSTITUTE
OF GEORGE SOROS PILOT PROJECT
FINANCIER AND GUARANTOR THAT HAS
INFILTRATED THE INTERPRETATION
OF WHAT CONSTITUTES POLICE
REFORM AND HAS BEEN ASSISTED BY
THE SOCIAL WORKER AMY BARTON TO
SHIFT THE PARADIGM AWAY FROM
IMPROVING THE WAR ON DRUG
PUSHERS AND PIMPS, AND CREATE A
OTHER WORLD DYNAMIC AND
REIMAGINE WHAT CONSTITUTES A
CRIMINAL. AND WE HAVE ALL THESE
BIPOC REPEAT OFFENDERS THAT ARE
CONNECTED TO THE CRIMINAL
UNDERWORLD THAT ARE CONDUCTING
CRIME, COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST
HUMANITY, AND CONDUCTING AN
UNCIVIL WAR. AND THEY'RE GETTING
WRONGLY LISTED AS NONVIOLENT,
LOW LEVEL POVERTY CRIME. AND WE
HAVE ALL THESE SERVICE PROVIDERS
WHO ARE STEPPING UP TO INTERCEPT
ALL THESE PEOPLE IN NEED, WHO
KEEP GETTING BRAIN DAMAGED FROM
ALL THE TIMES THEY ENCOURAGINGLY
FAIL TO BREAK THEIR ADDICTION
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING OF THE
PROPER INTERPRETATION OF SERVICE
PROVIDED IN BETWEEN THEIR
EFFORTS, OTHER THAN SOME CRAPPY
HOUSING THAT THEY RUINED URG PAD
THE COST SO THEY CAN GOUGE
MEDICAID WHILE INTIMIDATING THE
CITY COUNCIL TO GO ALONG, TO GET
ALONG AND WATER DOWN THE
INTEGRITY OF THE OVERSIGHT OF
THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO WERE
NEVER KEPT HONEST WITH THE KING
COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESS
AUTHORITY. BUT NOW THE COUNCIL
WANTS A POLITICALLY CONNECTED
GUARANTEE WHERE WE NEED TO STILL
IMPROVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS
RESPONSE AND NOT ALLOW HUMAN
SERVICES TO UNDERMINE PUBLIC
SAFETY BY RUNNING INTERFERENCE.
-- THANK YOU, MR. HAINES. SO I
DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY MORE
REGISTERED SPEAKERS. THAT IS THE
END OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. AND JUST VERY GRATEFUL
FOR ALL THE FOLKS THAT CAME OUT,
ESPECIALLY IN PERSON, WHO WAITED
ONLINE TO COME AND GIVE YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT. WE OBVIOUSLY
BELIEVE IN FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, AND WE
WILL ALWAYS UPHOLD THAT HERE IN
OUR CHAMBERS. SO REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN BEFORE
WE GET INTO OUR MEETING REALLY
QUICK, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME
SORRY, WHEN THE CLERK GOES LIKE
THIS, IF YOU ARE EVER GIVEN
PUBLIC COMMENT, THAT MEANS GET
REALLY CLOSE TO THE MIC. WE HAVE
SOME SPECIAL STUDENTS TODAY. I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND I
JOINED THEM TODAY, BUT I'LL
PASS IT OFF TO COUNCILMEMBER LIN
TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I'M NOT
TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AND YEAH, SO
JOINING US TODAY, WE HAVE
STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE REGION
FROM HERE IN SEATTLE DOWN TO
TACOMA AND MANY PLACES IN
BETWEEN FROM THE EVERGREEN
GOODWILL YOUTH MARITIME PROGRAM.
SO THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH
US AND HAD A LOT OF GOOD
QUESTIONS. AND A NUMBER OF THEM
GOT TO COME SIT UP HERE AND ARE
GOING TO BE FUTURE CITY COUNCIL
OR FUTURE PRESIDENTS. SO IT WAS
FUN TO ENGAGE WITH YOU ALL. AND
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. STAY
ENGAGED.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. AND I KNOW
THE STUDENTS HAD ASKED LIKE,
HEY, HOW SOON CAN I BE A CITY
COUNCILMEMBER? AND I WAS LIKE,
LOOK, I'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN
TODAY. SO WHATEVER. SERIOUSLY,
SO WHATEVER, WHATEVER YOU NEED,
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST PLAYING.
I'M ACTUALLY NOT, BUT. BUT
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. IT WAS
FUN TO HEAR FROM THE STUDENTS. I
DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS
THOUGH. WE ASKED COUNCILMEMBER
LIN ASKED THEM ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION, AND WE'RE GOING
THROUGH OUR SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION MEASURE, AND WE
ASKED THE PEOPLE LIKE, HEY, WHAT
ARE SOME OF THE BARRIERS YOU
HAVE WHEN USING THE BUS OR
TRANSPORTATION AROUND SEATTLE?
AND PEOPLE SAID, SOMETIMES IT'S
OVERCROWDED, SO IT'S HARD TO
GET, YOU KNOW, ON THE BUS OR THE
TRAIN. WE HEARD THAT PEOPLE
WANTED MORE FREQUENT. THEY SAID,
HEY, IF YOU MISS IT BY 1 OR 2
MINUTES, IT'S HARD FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO GET ON ON THE BUS AS
WELL. WHAT ELSE? THERE WAS ONE
MORE. THERE WAS FREQUENCY. THERE
WAS ALSO RELIABILITY.
-- TOO HOT.
-- TOO HOT. THAT WAS A THAT WAS
SOMEONE WAS LIKE, IT'S JUST HOT
ON THE BUS. OKAY. I REMEMBER
THAT. SO THAT WAS GOOD BECAUSE I
WAS WE WERE TELLING THEM THAT WE
WERE WORKING ON OUR SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR BABIES, OUR
KIDS, THEY ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
SO WE CALL THEM OUR BABIES, MAKE
SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
TRANSPORTATION. AND SO THAT'S,
THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE LISTEN
TO. AND SO THAT WAS EXCELLENT,
EXCELLENT FEEDBACK. AND THAT WAS
STRAIGHT FROM THEIR MOUTH. AND
THEY DO NOT WANT ENGLAND TO WIN
THE WORLD CUP. THAT WAS RIGHT. I
GOT YOU.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- HEY OKAY. I'M SORRY.
-- YEAH. GO ARGENTINA.
-- SORRY. OKAY. OPEN THAT UP.
OKAY. WE'LL JUMP INTO THE
AGENDA. THEY SAID ANYBODY BUT
ENGLAND.
-- YEAH. ANYONE BUT ENGLAND.
-- I JUST WANT TO SAY HE HAS AN
ENGLISH FLAG UP IN HIS OFFICE.
OKAY, SO IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE INTRODUCTION, REFERRAL
REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. WE'LL NOW CONSIDER THE
PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
ON TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR ARE
THE MINUTES OF JULY 7th COUNCIL
BILL ONE, TWO, 1251 PAYMENT OF
THE BILLS. ONE APPOINTMENT FROM
THE GOVERNANCE AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE. AND WE ALSO HAVE FOUR
APPOINTMENTS FROM THE HUMAN
SERVICES, LABOR AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. ARE THERE
ANY ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD
LIKE TO REMOVE FROM TODAY'S
CONSENT CALENDAR? HEARING NONE,
I MOVE TO ADOPT. THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA THERE 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 RINCK.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. JUAREZ.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- NINE IN FAVOR. NONE OPPOSED.
-- CONSENT. CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE FIX MY
SIGNATURE 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 OF THE GOVERNANCE
AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE. AGENDA
ITEM ONE. COUNCIL BILL 121222
RELATING TO UTILITIES DISCOUNT
PROGRAM AMENDING THE INCOME
THRESHOLD FOR UTILITY DISCOUNT
PROGRAM FOR WATER WASTEWATER
DRAINAGE, SOLID WASTE AND
ELECTRIC UTILITY SERVICES. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A BILL PASS
AS AMENDED.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU. SO AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, I'M
GOING TO REFER DEFER TO THE
SPONSOR OF THE BILL TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- THANK YOU TO THE CO-SPONSOR,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH,
OF THIS IMPORTANT BILL. UTILITY
COSTS, OUR HOUSING COSTS,
UTILITY COSTS IMPACT THE
AFFORDABILITY OF LIVING IN OUR
COMMUNITY. AND TODAY IS THE
CULMINATION OF NINE YEARS WORTH
OF WORK TO MAKE SEATTLE MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYDAY
FAMILIES. AND SO, COLLEAGUES, AS
WE EXPERIENCED PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY, THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS
THAT COME OUT AND TESTIFY ON
BEHALF OF UTILITY DISCOUNT
PROGRAM. YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE
HAD A LOT FEWER PARTICIPANTS
SPEAKING ABOUT THIS THAN SOME OF
THE MAYBE HIGHER PROFILE ISSUES
THAT MIGHT HAVE A MORE MARGINAL
IMPACT ON PEOPLE. I'LL KIND OF
KEEP THAT AT A HIGH LEVEL JUST
TO SAY THIS IS INCREDIBLY
IMPACTFUL WORK THAT PEOPLE THAT
IS NOT ATTENTION GRABBING AND
ATTENTION SEEKING. IT'S JUST THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL DOING
IMPORTANT WORK TO MAKE SEATTLE
MORE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYDAY
FAMILIES. IN COUNCIL BRIEFING,
I'LL BRING I'LL TALK ABOUT.
YEAH, WELL, IN COUNCIL BRIEFING,
WE HAD A REALLY IMPORTANT
PRESENTATION A FEW WEEKS AGO
SHOWING.
-- LOOK AT SOME OF TODAY'S TOP
STORIES.
-- YOU'RE OFF.
-- MUTE, YOU'RE OFF MUTE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. THERE YOU
GO AND COUNCIL BRIEFING. WE HAD
A REALLY IMPORTANT PRESENTATION
THAT SHOWED THE K SHAPED INCOME
BANDS IN SEATTLE AND THE HISTORY
OF IT, WHERE WE WENT FROM A PORT
CITY, THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA,
INTO A TECH HUB LEADING THE
WORLD IN SOFTWARE AND
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS,
AFFORDABILITY HAS CHANGED HERE,
AND EVEN THE FAMILY THAT I GREW
UP IN WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BUY
INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I
GREW UP IN. TODAY. SO EVEN
THOUGH I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF
FUTURE COUNCILMEMBERS OUT HERE
IN THE CROWD, THE SITUATION THAT
I SIT IN IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT I GREW UP IN HERE IN THIS
CITY IS OUT OF REACH FOR THE
FAMILY THAT I GREW UP IN. AND
THAT'S PART OF WHAT THIS
LEGISLATION TAKES HEAD ON,
BECAUSE ANYONE IN ANY OF THOSE
INCOME BANDS THAT WE SAW IN THE
K SHAPED ECONOMY CAN FALL ON
HARD TIMES AND NEED THE
ASSISTANCE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING
THROUGH THE UTILITY DISCOUNT
PROGRAM. BY PASSING THIS
LEGISLATION, WE WILL BE REDUCING
THE AMOUNT SOME FAMILIES ARE
PAYING FOR THEIR HOUSEHOLD FOR
THEIR HOUSING BY MORE THAN
$1,000 PER YEAR, DEPENDING ON
THEIR USAGE. THIS IS ABOUT
MAKING LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR
WORKING FAMILIES FAST, BECAUSE
THESE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
CHANGES TAKE SEATTLE'S
AFFORDABILITY AFFORDABILITY
ISSUES HEAD ON. YES, THERE ARE
MANY OTHER TOOLS THAT WE NEED TO
IMPLEMENT. THERE ARE MANY OTHER
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT,
AND THIS IS ONE THAT IS DIRECTLY
WITHIN OUR CONTROL AND SOMETHING
THAT WE ARE MOVING QUICKLY RIGHT
NOW. THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE JUST
ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE ARE PAYING
THE SAME HOME UTILITY RATES AS A
MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HEDGE FUND
MANAGER. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE RELIEF. AND THAT BRINGS
US TO WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY IN
SINCE 1975, WHEN THE PROGRAM WAS
INTRODUCED, WE HAVE BEEN USING
THE STATE MEDIAN INCOME INSTEAD
OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. NOT
ONLY DOES THIS LIMIT ELIGIBILITY
BECAUSE THE HOUSING COSTS AND
PASCO ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE
HOUSING COSTS ANYWHERE HERE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. RIGHT. AND
SO IF WE ARE USING A STATE
MEDIAN INCOME, WE'RE NOT
CAPTURING ALL OF THE PEOPLE
CORRECTLY. THERE IS A CLIFF OF
ELIGIBILITY. SO IF YOU MAKE A
DOLLAR MORE THAN THE
ELIGIBILITY, YOU CAN'T BENEFIT
AT ALL. THIS LEGISLATION SETS
OUT THE SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT
YEAR TO UNDERSTAND HOW DO WE
SERVE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE 70
AND UP TO 80% OF OUR AREA MEDIAN
INCOME, NOT JUST 60%? HOW DO WE
CREATE THAT STEP DOWN, PRORATED
DISCOUNT SO THAT YOU'RE NOT LEFT
OUT IN THE COLD? IF YOU MAKE A
DOLLAR MORE THAN THE ELIGIBILITY
ALLOWS, AND IMPORTANTLY, BY
CHANGING FROM STATE MEDIAN
INCOME TO AREA MEDIAN INCOME,
WE. THIS SAID ANOTHER WAY MOST
SOCIAL PROGRAMS HERE IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE ARE SET AT 60%. AREA
MEDIAN INCOME. BECAUSE THE
UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM HAS
BEEN SET AT 60%. STATE MEDIAN
INCOME. IT IS NOT PART OF THE
PACKET OF RESOURCES THAT FOLKS
CAN GET AT ONE STOP TO
UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT
THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR IN ONE
PLACE. TO PUBLIC COMMENTERS
PRONUNCIATION PRONOUNCEMENT THAT
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO DO BETTER
WITH ENROLLMENT. YES WE DO. WITH
THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. AND
THIS CHANGE WILL HELP THAT HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY
INCREASED ENROLLMENT BY 2%, 4%,
TWO YEARS. THIS HAS BEEN BECAUSE
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR
MANY YEARS, AND ENROLLMENT IS
THE EASIEST AND MOST IMPORTANT
THING THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER
RIGHT NOW. THESE CHANGES MAKE
SURE THAT OUR WORKING FAMILIES,
OUR SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES,
THE PARENTS OF THE KIDS THAT I
GREW UP WITH WHO ARE PAYING MORE
IN PROPERTY TAX THAN THEIR
ORIGINAL MORTGAGE, ARE TAKEN
CARE OF FOR THE FAMILY, FOR THE
PEOPLE AND THE FAMILIES WHO JUST
NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP. THIS
PROVIDES A NEEDED RELIEF IN
MOMENTS THAT MATTER MOST. FOR
TOO LONG, OUR THRESHOLDS HAVE
BEEN TOO LOW. AS I SAID, WE
HAVEN'T PRORATED THE STEP DOWN
BENEFITS AND THIS HAS LEFT
FAMILIES IN THE COLD. OR, AS WE
HEARD AT PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY,
RATIONING MEDICATION TO KEEP THE
HEAD THE HEAT ON THIS. WHAT
WE'RE ABOUT TO DO TODAY DID NOT
GET A LOT OF FANFARE, BUT IT'S
GOING TO MAKE A REALLY BIG
IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S DAILY LIVES.
THIS LEGISLATION MAKES REAL THE
WORK THAT SO MANY CITY EMPLOYEES
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIX FOR OVER
NINE YEARS. ON NINE YEARS, ON MY
CLOCK, SORRY, MANY LONGER FOR
MANY OTHER CIVIL SERVANTS WHO'VE
WORKED FOR OUR MUNICIPALITY FOR
LONGER, THIS LEGISLATION WILL
PUT MONEY BACK INTO THE POCKETS
OF WORKING PEOPLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING WITH THE
AFFORDABILITY OF OUR CITY. WE
HAVE CHANGED THE EFFECTIVE DATE
SO THAT IT IS ALIGNED WITH THE
NEXT UTILITY RATE INCREASE.
WE'VE ALSO MADE REPORTING
METRICS STRONGER. AND YES, I
WOULD LOVE TO GET TO REAL TIME
INFORMATION. AND IT'S NO SECRET
THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS STRUGGLED
WITH THAT ENROLLMENT IN THE
PAST. AND THAT'S WHY THESE
REPORTING MECHANISMS ARE
IMPORTANT, SO THAT WE'RE NOT
BECAUSE BEFORE THIS LEGISLATION,
IT WAS CHECKING IN ONCE EVERY
TWO YEARS AT BEST. AND SO AS WE
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, AS WE
CONTINUE TO ITERATE, THAT'S THE
DIRECTION WE'RE GOING. SO WE
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ENROLLING EVERYONE THAT IS
ELIGIBLE. I'LL JUST END WITH
WITH A COUPLE FACTS HERE THAT
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD MAKE
AROUND 31,000 NEW HOUSEHOLDS
ELIGIBLE FOR THE UTILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAM, 31,000 NEW
HOUSEHOLDS. IT'S ESTIMATED THAT
ABOUT 8800 OF THOSE ARE SENIOR
HOUSEHOLDS, MANY OF WHOM ARE ON
A FIXED INCOME. AND AS WE
CONTINUE TO WALK THROUGH THE
SCHEDULE THAT THIS LEGISLATION
OUTLINES SO THAT WE CAN START
TAKING 70, 60 TO 70 AND 70 TO
80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME FAMILIES
INTO ACCOUNT, THAT NUMBER OF
HOUSEHOLDS WILL GROW SO THAT WE
ARE SERVING MORE SEATTLEITES
THAN WE ARE TODAY. I'VE GOT ONE
FINAL COMMENT AT THE VERY END.
BUT THAT'S THAT'S MY REPORT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. I WAS LISTENING TO THE
SEAGULLS CELEBRATE THIS MOMENT
WITH YOU.
-- I DID, BUT THE TIMES TODAY
SAID THAT BECAUSE WE'RE AT
ELLIOTT BAY THERE, BAGELS.
-- THE BAGELS, THAT WAS A THAT
WAS A GOOD ONE. BUT REALLY, I'M
GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO COMMENTS.
THAT WAS A GOOD DAD JOKE. I'LL
OPEN IT UP TO COMMENTS BEFORE I
MAKE MY REMARKS, TO SEE IF ANY
COUNCILMEMBER WANTS TO OFFER
ANYTHING COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. BUT ALSO
YOU AS CHAIR OF GOVERNANCE FOR
BRINGING THIS THROUGH. VERY
IMPORTANT. SEAGULL STOPPED. BUT
ALSO TO HIGHLIGHT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THE POINTS YOU MADE
ABOUT THE STATE AND SO FORTH.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT A LOT RECENTLY IS
AFFORDABILITY AND THE, THE LACK
OF COORDINATION BETWEEN CITY,
COUNTY, AND STATE AND WHAT WE DO
OR DON'T DO AND HOW IT IMPACTS
AFFORDABILITY. AND, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS JUST YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE
THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COORDINATION
AND THE GETTING IN SYNC, YOU
KNOW, BEING NESTED WITH THE
HIGHER LEVEL IS SO IMPORTANT TO
ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING ALL
THAT WE CAN, BECAUSE
AFFORDABILITY IS ONLY GOING TO
GET WORSE. THERE'S REPORTS
REGARDING INFLATION, WHICH JUST
COMPOUNDS IT. AND, AND GIVEN THE
PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS IN THE
MIDDLE EAST AND THE STRAIT OF
HORMUZ, IT'S JUST GOING TO
ACTUALLY EVEN GET WORSE THAN
THAT. AND THESE THINGS COMBINED
WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS
DIFFERENT FRONTS FROM FROM
GOVERNMENT, HAVE THAT REALLY BIG
IMPACT ON AFFORDABILITY. SO I
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
FOR YOUR WORK OVER THE YEARS,
AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THAT, YOU
KNOW, INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEED
BASICALLY. SO THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND JUST WANT TO
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. AND TO
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR
WORKING ON THIS. YOU KNOW, I WAS
ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO
WORKED ON THIS TEN YEARS AGO
WHEN I WORKED IN SPU. AND, AND I
SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO GET
TO SEE THIS COME ACROSS THE
FINISH LINE. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. AND, AND I JUST
COULDN'T AGREE WITH THIS POLICY
CHANGE ANY MORE. AND I ALSO
THINK IT, I AGREE WITH YOU AND I
KNOW THAT WE'LL GET TO CONTINUE
WORKING ON LIKE CONTINUING TO
PUSH THIS DOWN THE ROAD AND
CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS MORE
ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE UTILITIES ARE
SUCH A SIGNIFICANT COST FOR
FAMILIES. AND THE ONLY THING
I'LL JUST ADD IS I DON'T THINK
IT CAN BE UNDERSTATED. THE
IMPACT OF THIS WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT ACTUALLY HOMELESSNESS AS
WELL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST
WANT TO BRING INTO THE
CONVERSATION, AS I'VE TALKED TO
PROVIDERS, I KNOW THAT ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT THEY REPORT TO
US IS THE HIGH COST OF UTILITIES
BEING ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
REALLY DESTABILIZES FAMILIES AND
CAN LEAD TO FAMILIES LOSING
THEIR HOUSING. SO I THINK THIS
IS JUST A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION FOR AFFORDABILITY
AND ALSO TO TARGETING THAT
TOWARDS THE FOLKS WHO I THINK
ARE GOING TO REALLY BENEFIT FROM
THIS DISCOUNT. AND I THINK THAT
WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT IN A
NUMBER OF PLACES. SO I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP, AND I'M EXCITED TO
VOTE FOR THIS TODAY. THANK YOU
-- AWESOME. AND BEFORE BEFORE I
MAKE MY COMMENTS, APPARENTLY
I'M NOT LISTED AS CO-SPONSOR.
SO I WILL OFFICIALLY REQUEST, IF
I CAN BE.
-- LISTED.
-- I JUST NOTICED.
-- THAT YES, THAT WAS INTENDED
FROM JUMP.
-- OKAY, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND,
AND I DO WANT TO JUST SAY A FEW
QUICK WORDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
ON THIS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE
THOUGHTFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF IT,
THE UNDERSTANDING, THE HOW, THE
THRESHOLD NEEDED TO INCREASE,
AND ALSO A LOT OF THE, THE
INTENTIONALITY BEHIND INCREASING
THE PROGRAM, RIGHT? AS RATES ARE
INCREASING WITH, WITH THE PATH.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND AS COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER SAID, AS WE'RE ALWAYS
TALKING TO FAMILIES, UTILITIES
IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PIECES AND BURDEN TO FOLKS. AND
SO WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY CAN BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE
IN THIS PROGRAM AND ITS
EXPANSION. AND I THINK IT'S A
BIG DEAL. 31000 HOUSEHOLDS. THAT
IS A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND SO THIS
IS SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY, LIKE
ALEX LOFTON SAID FROM THE CD, WE
SHOULD BE CELEBRATING BECAUSE
THIS IS A REALLY GREAT DAY. SO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FINAL
WORDS.
-- THANK YOU. AND I LOOKED UP
THE NUMBERS. IT'S 31000 WITH
THIS AMENDMENT OR THIS BILL
TODAY, AND UP TO 81,000
FAMILIES, IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET
UP TO 80%, WHICH WE WILL, AND
WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE THAT
TIME TO FIGURE OUT AND KIND OF
TO COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER POINT, I
HAVE KNOWN SO MANY CITY
EMPLOYEES ACROSS MY TIME HERE
THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE UTILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAM AND WE SAY THE
ELIGIBILITY CLIFF, THE STATE
MEDIAN INCOME, THESE ARE THINGS
THAT JUMP OFF THE PAGE TO MANY
OF US. AND IT NO MATTER WHERE WE
ARE AND WHAT ROLES WE ARE IN, IT
CAN BE CHALLENGING TO MAKE SUCH
A LARGE STRUCTURAL CHANGE. YOU
MAY REMEMBER THAT EVEN JUST LAST
YEAR, I HAD A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT TO KEEP THIS
WORK MOVING FORWARD. AND SO FOR
ALL OF THOSE MUNICIPAL
EMPLOYEES, I JUST FROM THE
BOTTOM OF MY HEART, GRATITUDE,
I'M GOING TO LIST THEM ALL OFF
IN JUST A SECOND. BUT I WILL
JUST SAY THAT THIS BILL IS FOR
OUR WORKING FAMILIES, FOR OUR
ELDERS WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES,
FOR THOSE WHO SUDDENLY FOUND
THEMSELVES ON HARD TIMES. FOR
THOSE WHO HAVEN'T MOVED OR
CHANGED JOBS, BUT FOR WHO? OUR
CITY HAS CHANGED AROUND THEM.
AND TODAY WE ARE TAKING THAT
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TO MAKE
SEATTLE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR
81,000 FAMILIES. BECAUSE OF THE
HARD WORK OF SAROJA READY OUR
INGER, CHRISTY PARKER, KATIE
SOUDER, DYLAN KING, JESSICA
KENYON, CHRIS RUFFINI, KARSTEN
CROFT, MICHAEL HAMILTON,
KATHERINE ARNSBERG, MELISSA
BOOKWALTER, MARCUS JACKSON, LUCY
MOORE, BRUEGGER ROB SANTOS. DAWN
LINDELL, MIKE. HAYNES, CRAIG.
SMITH, LESLIE. BRINSON, WAYNE
LIU, PAUL HANNAH, BOB. HENNESSY,
ANDREW LEE DIONNE FOSTER. JEN
SCHWALBACH, KATIE. CLEMENS, AMY.
HOLLAND HANNAH. THORNTON,
CHENEY. KILPATRICK, ROB BUENO,
ALISON MCLEAN, RIGHT. SHU SHUKRI
OLOW, MAGGIE. THOMPSON TANYA
KIM. COUNCILMEMBER. SALLY
BAGSHAW. COUNCILMEMBER. DEBORA.
JUAREZ COUNCIL PRESIDENT. JOY.
HOLLINGSWORTH. ANTHONY
RODRIGUEZ. JESSIE FRANZ. ERIC
MCCONAUGHY. BRIAN GOODNIGHT,
MARCO LO AND ALL OF OUR
ADVOCATES AT FOUR SEATTLE. THANK
YOU FOR MAKING SEATTLE A LITTLE
BIT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR 81,000
FAMILIES TODAY.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND I KNOW
WE ARE READY TO VOTE ON THIS. SO
WILL THE CLERK. EXCUSE ME, ARE
THERE ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS
BEFORE WE CALL ON THE ROLL? THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL. WELL,
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. RINCK.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- NINE IN FAVOR. NONE OPPOSED.
-- CONGRATULATIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. THE BILL
PASSES. CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- AM I OFF MIKE?
-- THOSE ARE THE CLAPS WE LIKE
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER TWO
INTO THE RECORD.
-- THE REPORT OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES, LABOR AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. AGENDA
ITEM TWO. COUNCIL BILL 121207
RELATING TO CITY EMPLOYMENT.
ESTABLISHING THE FORENSIC
DIGITAL EVIDENCE CLASSIFICATION
TITLE SERIES AND CORRESPONDING
RATES OF PAY IN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS.
-- OUR STUDENTS ARE LEAVING. WE
WERE JUST ABOUT TO VOTE TO GIVE
EVERYONE $100 WHO STAYED IN
CHAMBER THROUGH THE END OF THE
MEETING.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- I'M JUST PLAYING. JUST
PLAYING. CAN I COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND COLLEAGUES UNDER THE CITY
CHARTER, ARTICLE 17, SECTION
ONE, SOME SD HR CLASSIFICATION
AND COMPENSATION
RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE
RELATED TO THE CREATION OF NEW
CLASSIFICATIONS WITH
CORRESPONDING RATES OF PAY,
REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL BY
ORDINANCE. COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF
THIS LEGISLATION BEFORE US WOULD
AUTHORIZE A FORENSIC DIGITAL
EVIDENCE CLASSIFICATION SERIES
TO SUPPORT SPD INVESTIGATIONS.
THE NEW CLASSIFICATION SERIES IS
INTENDED TO ACCURATELY REFLECT
THE BODY OF WORK CURRENTLY
PERFORMED BY VIDEO SPECIALISTS
AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES ERS
SERVICES POSITIONS IN THE CRIME
SCENE INVESTIGATION UNIT. THE
COMMITTEE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 121207, AND I STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE A YES VOTE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK COLLEAGUES,
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING
COUNCIL BILL ONE, 21207? OKAY.
AWESOME. WELL, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR ALL YOUR
WORK ON THIS AND ALWAYS MAKING
SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE COMPENSATED
WELL FOR THEIR WORK. SO THANK
YOU. OKAY, WE'LL JUMP RIGHT INTO
THE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- NINE IN FAVOR. NONE. OPPOSED.
-- AWESOME. BILL PASSES. THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF
AND I'LL CLAP FOR YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. BECAUSE
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- EVERYONE THERE.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- YES
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- THERE. THERE WERE NO ITEMS
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. THERE'S NOT A
RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION OR
ADOPTION TODAY ARE THERE ANY
OTHER ITEMS TO COME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL? SEEING NONE AND HEARING
NONE, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S AGENDA, AND THE NEXT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS GOING TO
BE JULY 21st AT 2 P.M.. SO JULY
21st AT 2 P.M. AND HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS. AND NO, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO VOTE ON GIVING
EVERYONE A $100, BUT APPRECIATE
Y'ALL STAYING ALL THE WAY TO
THE END.