>>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR EDDIE LIN?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ
HAS BEEN EXCUSED. IF THERE IS NO
AGENDA THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
IT IS ADOPTED. THANK YOU SO MUCH
TO THE PUBLIC AND OUR PANELISTS
FOR JOINING IN TODAY'S SPECIAL
MEETING ON UNWANTED SOLICITATION
OF HOMEOWNERS IN OUR CITY. OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE
HEARD REPEATEDLY FROM
CONSTITUENTS AROUND THE CITY
WILL HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED
AND OFTEN TIME HARASSING
SOLICITATIONS TO PURCHASE THEIR
HOMES. AS WE ALL KNOW,
HOMEOWNERSHIP IS AN IMPORTANT
TOOL FOR FAMILIES TO BUILD
GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND CREATE
DEEP AND LASTING BONDS IN
COMMUNITY. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
DECADES WE HAVE SEEN ONGOING
DISPLACEMENTS OF BLACK,
INDIGENOUS, LATINO AMERICAN
RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY. A NUMBER
OF FACTORS THAT - - ON FIXED
INCOMES, INCLUDING SENIORS AND
DISABLED PERSONS IS ONE FACTOR,
ONE WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
DISCUSSING AND ADDRESSING. AS
THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW, WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES ARE
ABLE TO DO SO. THAT MEANS LOTS
OF THINGS BUT ONE OF THEM IS TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTING
PEOPLE AND THEIR PRIVACY AROUND
THE CITY. TODAY, THE MEETING IS
AN OPPORTUNITY - - AFFECTED BY
UNWANTED REAL ESTATE
SOLICITATIONS AND INTRODUCE
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HELP
DISRUPT THIS SOLICITATION. THANK
YOU TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
HAVE TAKEN TIME TO SHARE STORIES
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
FROM FOLKS LATER ON AT THE
TABLE. WE WILL NOW OPEN UP
HYBRID COMMENTS. CLEAR, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> THERE ARE CURRENTLY 17
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
>> OKAY, FANTASTIC. ARE THEY IN
PERSON?
>> THERE ARE 11 IN PERSON AND
SEVEN REMOTE.
>> WE WILL START WITH OUR
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST. CAN
YOU PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT STRUCTURES.
>> THIS IS UP TO 60 MINUTES AND
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT. SPEAKERS
MICS WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO
NOT - - FIRST SPEAKER ON THE
LIST. YOU CAN COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE APPEAR.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM ON A
SENIOR TAX STRUCTURE WHICH,
THROUGH THE COUNTY, WHICH GIVES
YOU A LOWER TAX RATE. FOR THE
FIRST FOUR YEARS I WAS ON, IT
WAS KIND OF MESSED UP SO THEY
WERE PUTTING THE ORIGINAL VALUE
IN A BOX ON PARTS OF YOUR - -
PARCEL VIEWER. IT WAS SAYING THE
ORIGINAL VALUE THEN THEY GOT IT
STRAIGHTENED OUT TO THE NEW
TAXABLE VALUE. ON THE TAXABLE
SIDE FOR NORMAL PEOPLE, IT SHOWS
THE FULL AMOUNT BUT PEOPLE ON
THIS PROGRAM IT SHOWS THE NEW
TAX. I STARTED GETTING THESE
PEOPLE WANTING TO BUY MY HOME AT
THE TAXABLE AMOUNT, NOT THE
ASSESSED VALUE. I THINK, IF YOU
COULD ADD THE SENIORS ON THAT
PROGRAM FOR THE COUNTY, IF THEY
CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OR SOMETHING
TO ADD THOSE INTO THIS
LEGISLATION, THAT IS WHAT I CAME
TO TALK ABOUT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> USE THIS ONE AND SPEAK INTO
THE MICROPHONE.
>> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE
FIRST TIME I'VE EVER DONE
ANYTHING LIKE THIS I HOPE I DO
NOT GO TO JAIL. I DIDN'T REALLY
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT, THE
REASON I AM UP HERE IS BECAUSE I
GET A LOT OF THOSE CALLS. THEY
ASKED ME ARE YOU LARRY DEAN, ARE
YOU THE HOMEOWNER? I SAY YES.
THEY SAID WE ARE INTERESTED IN
BUYING YOUR HOUSE. I SAID IS
YOUR HOUSE FOR SALE? I ASK THEM,
ARE YOU SELLING YOUR HOUSE? MY
HOUSE IS NOT FOR SALE. THEN THEY
SAID, WE CAN GIVE YOU THIS. I
SAID, YOU HAVE $10 MILLION? I AM
NOT A FOOL. I DO NOT KNOW, IN MY
AREA, THERE ARE ONLY THREE BLACK
FAMILIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. MY
PARENTS, THAT WAS MY PARENTS'
HOME. IT WAS LIKE I WAS THE
MINORITY. LOOKING AROUND SAYING
WHERE DID YOU PEOPLE COME FROM,
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE LONGEST
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THINGS WANT
TO CHANGE. THEN THEY WILL SEND
ME LETTERS THEY SENT ME A LETTER
SAID YOU DON'T NEED TO LIVE
THERE MY DAUGHTER NEEDS TO LIVE
THERE I TOLD MY FATHER WHAT KIND
OF MESS IS THIS? I DO NOT WANT
TO BE ON A LIST. I WANT TO BE ON
THE NO CALL LIST I THINK IT IS
IGNORANT. I DO NOT WANT TO GET
INTO NO OTHER SPECIFICS, THAT IS
ALL I WANT TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A MEMBER
OF THE BLACK LEGACY HOMEOWNERS
GROUP. I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR
SUPPORT TO ENFORCE THE AVOIDANCE
OF FOLKS CALLING TO SOLICIT YOUR
HOME. I HAVE BEEN A SEATTLE
HOMEOWNER FOR OVER 45 YEARS. MY
HUSBAND AND I EXPERIENCED THIS
QUITE A BIT WHEN WE WERE IN THE
CENTRAL AREA. WE SOLD OUR HOME
THERE AND BOUGHT A SMALLER HOME
IN RAYNER BEACH. WE HAVE BEEN
THERE NINE YEARS AND WE KEEP
GETTING PHONE CALLS ASKING US IF
WE ARE INTERESTED IN SELLING OUR
HOME. WE ARE NOT, WE ARE BOTH
USING CELL PHONES WE ARE ON THE
DO NOT CALL LIST AND THESE
PEOPLE CONTINUALLY CALL. I WANT
SUPPORT FOR THE RULES TO BE
ENFORCED SO THE SOLICITATIONS
STOP. IT IS NOT FAIR AND NOT
REQUESTED. IF WE WANT TO SELL
OUR HOME WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN DO SOMETHING
TO SUPPORT US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING, I AM HERE
REPRESENTING THE BLACK HOMES
LEGACY. I HAVE BEEN A HOMEOWNER
FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
>> WE ARE GOING TO RESTART YOUR
TIME SPEAK RIGHT INTO THE
MICROPHONE. THERE WE GO, THANK
YOU.
>> STARTING MY TIME OVER, GREAT.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL
AREA HERE REPRESENTING THE BLACK
HOMEOWNERS LEGACY. I HAVE BEEN A
HOMEOWNER FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
WHEN I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT MY HOME
IT WAS TOTALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN
FAMILIES AND ALL MIXTURE OF
FAMILIES. NOW, I AM THE ONLY ONE
ON MY BLOCK. THE ONLY PERSON.
ALL KINDS OF THINGS ARE
HAPPENING BUT THE DO NOT CALL
LIST, I AM A SOCIAL WORKER I
WANT TO SAY THAT FIRST. IN MY
STUDIES AND HAS BEEN RESEARCH
HOW YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS
AFFECTED BY THESE PHONE CALLS
COMING TO YOUR HOME. HOW IT
AFFECTS YOU, GENTRIFICATION HAS
CREATED A PROBLEM THAT CREATES
TENSION, BLOOD PRESSURE,
DIABETES, ALL THESE THINGS
PEOPLE OF COLOR SUFFER FROM IN
TERMS OF MEDICAL STAFF. I HAVE
RECEIVED SO MANY CALLS, I GET SO
UPSET WHEN PEOPLE CALL ME I TELL
THEM HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU
GOING TO GIVE ME? THEY TELL ME I
AM BEING MEAN ASKING FOR IT AND
I HANG UP THE PHONE. I GET
STRESSED OUT. I GET LETTERS
AHEAD SOMEBODY SAY I'M GOING TO
GIVE YOU TWO NICKELS. IT IS
AGGRAVATING ON AND ON CALLS,
TEXT MESSAGES. I AM BLOCKING
CALLS CONSTANTLY FOR PEOPLE
AGGRAVATING ME ABOUT IT. ONE OF
THE THINGS I DID FIND OUT BEING
THAT I'M THE ONLY AFRICAN
AMERICAN ON MY BLOCK, MY OTHER
NEIGHBORS ARE GETTING THEM AS
WELL. ALL PEOPLE BEING AFFECTED
BY THIS AND IT NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED. I REALLY HOPE YOU
GUYS CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
TO MAKE SURE THE DEVELOPERS AND
REAL ESTATE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES
THAT CONTAIN THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A RETIRED
ATTORNEY, I WORKED IN THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THIS
BUILDING AND THE PREDECESSOR
BUILDING FOR 18 YEARS. I HAVE
BEEN A HOMEOWNER IN SEATTLE
SINCE 1988. YES, I HAVE RECEIVED
MANY SOLICITATIONS NOT TOO MANY
IN PERSON BUT SOME ON THE PHONE
AND LETTERS ARE CONSTANT. PEOPLE
SENDING CHECKS AND DOING ALL
SORTS OF THINGS FOR UMPTEEN
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS. I UNDERSTAND GIVEN HOW
PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THAT KIND OF
MONEY COMING IN AND HOW TEMPTING
THAT CAN BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN
SOMEBODY FOLLOWS IT UP WITH AN
IN PERSON VISIT AND TELLS YOU
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A
REALTOR JUST ACCEPT THIS OFFER
WHICH MAY BE SEVERAL HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS BELOW MARKET
VALUE, YOU WILL GET YOUR MONEY
AND YOU CAN MOVE ON. IT IS SCARY
STUFF. I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE
FAIRLY WELL EDUCATED AND
SOMEWHAT SOPHISTICATED SO THIS
DOES NOT BOTHER ME TOO MUCH BUT
I HAVE MET PEOPLE WHO FELT THEY
HAVE BEEN TREATED BADLY AND SOME
WHO HAVE EVEN SOLD THEIR
PROPERTY. I KNOW WE HAVE SIMILAR
ORDINANCES IN PHILADELPHIA AND
NEW YORK CITY, I SPENT TIME
LOOKING AT THOSE ORDINANCES. I
FOUND A VERY APROPOS STATEMENT
FROM THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
REFERRING TO PREDATORY BUYERS
BROKERS AND BUYERS. THEY
CONCLUDED THAT THESE AGGRESSIVE
TACTICS CAN CAUSE HOMEOWNERS TO
SELL THEIR PROPERTY AT PRICES
THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THEN
MARKET VALUE. I KNOW THAT IS
HAPPENING HERE WITH THE AMOUNT
OF BUILDING WE HAVE HERE, THE
AMOUNT OF HOUSES BEING REPLACED
BY MUCH LARGER HOUSES. I
APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATION AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU. I AM
A REAL ESTATE AGENT IN THE
GREATER SEATTLE AREA. I WANT TO
START BY SAYING I BELIEVE IN THE
SPIRIT OF THIS ORDINANCE AND
UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS IS COMING
FROM. MY 98-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER
WHO I'M STILL LUCKY ENOUGH TO
HAVE WITH ME BELIEVES $1 MILLION
IS A LOT OF MONEY. I KNOW WHAT
HE SETS ON HIS WORK A LOT MORE
THAN THAT. WITHOUT THE
PROTECTION OF A LICENSED REAL
ESTATE AGENT TO EXPLAIN THE
DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHOLESALING
AND LICENSING - - WHOLESALERS I
BELIEVE THE ORDINANCES IS
INTENDED TO GO AFTER ARE THE
UNLICENSED REAL ESTATE
PRACTITIONERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS OUTSIDE OF
COURT, RIGHT? LICENSED REAL
ESTATE AGENTS HAVE TO ABIDE BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING
GUIDELINES AS WELL AS A
PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT.
THERE ARE LEVELS OF DISCIPLINARY
ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST
LICENSED PRACTITIONERS VERSUS
WHOLESALERS WHO ARE NOT.
WHOLESALERS ARE INCENTIVIZED TO
GET THE LOWEST PROPERTY PRICE SO
THEY CAN RESALE THE TERMS OF THE
CONTRACT. THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY
IN THE MARGINS, IS LICENSED
AGENTS ARE INCENTIVIZED BY
GETTING THE PROPERTY OWNER THE
HIGHEST POSSIBLE AMOUNT. I AM
ASKING YOU CONSIDER EXEMPTING
LICENSED AGENTS FROM THIS AS WE
ARE A SAFEGUARD FOR THE
COMMUNITY. I WANT TO END BY
SAYING I KNOW THERE ARE
NEFARIOUS PRACTITIONERS IN OUR
INDUSTRY AND I SUPPORT THE
ORDINANCE IN TRYING TO WEED OUT
THOSE PRACTITIONERS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO. I AM A LICENSED AGENT
HERE IN SEATTLE FOR THE LAST 23
YEARS. I ALSO SPECIALIZE IN LOSS
MITIGATION. I WANTED TO SHARE A
CONCERN I HAVE BEING IN THE LOSS
MITIGATION BEING A REALTOR WE
GET THE PHONE CALLS, I'VE GOT
MY PHONE CALLS MYSELF FROM
EVERYBODY DAILY. MY CONCERN IS
THOSE WHO GET THE PHONE CALLS DO
NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ON THE
OTHER SIDE, NO ONE IS EXPLAINING
TO THEM WHAT THEIR HOUSE VALUE
IS WORTH. MY CONCERN IS THEY DO
NOT HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCE FROM
A REAL ESTATE AGENT THAT WILL
HELP THEM. FOR INSTANCE, I HAD A
CLIENT SOME YEARS AGO THAT WAS
THERE I THINK IN THE - - SHE
KNEW LITTLE ABOUT ZONING. SHE
HAD A WHOLE SELLER TRYING TO BUY
HER HOUSE FOR A LITTLE OVER
$400,000. SHE CALLED ME AND
ASKED ME TO COME AND LOOK AT IT
AND LO AND BEHOLD THE HOUSE WAS
WORTH ALMOST DOUBLE. THE HOUSE
NEEDED ROOFING AND OTHER WORK
THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. I'M
GLAD SHE REACHED OUT BECAUSE SHE
WOULD'VE SOLD HER HOUSE FOR
$400,000 LESS THAN WHAT SHE
WOULD HAVE BECAUSE THE WHOLE
SELLER WAS KIND OF TRYING TO
PULL OUT A CHUNK AND RESELL IT
TO SOMEBODY ELSE. WE WERE ABLE
TO GET THE HOMEOWNER TOP DOLLAR
FOR HER PROPERTY. MY CONCERN, IF
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS PASSED
ALONG TO REAL ESTATE AGENTS, THE
HOMEOWNERS WILL NOT HAVE THE
PROTECTIONS. I HAVE COUNTLESS
STORIES WORKING IN LOSS
MITIGATION THAT SUPPORT THIS
SAME STORY AND OTHER STORIES
THAT HAVE HAPPENED. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A LICENSED
- - MY INTENTION IS TO SPEAK TO
EDUCATING AND PROMOTING OR
ADVOCATING TO THE CONSUMER THE
PROS AND CONS OF THE REASON WHY
THESE THINGS HAPPEN. HAS
LICENSED AGENTS WE HAVE A LOT OF
FIDUCIARY COMPLIANCE STANDARDS
THAT WE MEET ALONG WITH OUR
ASSOCIATIONS. AS SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED, THE
INTENTION TO PROTECT THE
CONSUMER TO STOP THESE LICENSE -
- ONE OF THE OTHER GUESTS SPOKE
ABOUT WHEN THEY ARE READY TO DO
THAT SITUATION THEY WILL BE 82
REACH OUT AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE
TO BE THAT ALL OF BRANCH AS FAR
AS A LICENSED AGENT. THERE IS A
SEPARATION BETWEEN AGENTS AND
NONLICENSED FOLKS. OUR GOAL IS
TO ALWAYS PROVIDE MAXIMUM, NOT
JUST MAXIMUM PROCEEDS BUT ALSO
TO MEET ANY OF THE CONSUMER'S
GOALS AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
THE INTENTION OF THIS, WE ALIGN
WITH THAT BUT WE ARE ASKING FOR
EXEMPTIONS FOR LICENSED AGENTS
THAT ARE ABLE TO PROMOTE TO THE
CONSUMER. ALONGSIDE WITH THAT WE
HAVE STORIES YOUR FOLKS IN OUR
COMMUNITY REACHED OUT WHERE THEY
FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BEING - -
WITH GUIDANCE AND HELP THEY CAN
HELP THEM PREVENT THEIR
PROPERTIES FROM BEING TAKEN FROM
THEM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE KING COUNTY ASSOCIATION
OF REALTORS. WE CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT STOPPING PREDATORY
HOMEBUYING PRACTICES AND WE
WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU TO
MAKE SURE HOMEOWNERS ARE
PROTECTED. OUR MEMBERS, ARE
LICENSED BY THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON AND SUPERVISED BY
DESIGNATED BROKERS WHO HOLD
THEIR LICENSE. STATE LAW
REQUIRES WORKERS TO ACT HONESTLY
WITH FULL DISCLOSURE IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THEIR CLIENTS. THAT
ALREADY DRAWS A CLEAR LINE
BETWEEN LEGITIMATE REAL ESTATE
COMMUNICATION AND PREDATORY
CONDUCT. THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE
DEFINED SOLICITATIONS ARE
BROADLY IT CAPTURES ROUTINE,
NONCOERCIVE COMMUNICATION
INCLUDING GENERAL ADVERTISING,
MARKETING UPDATES AND INQUIRIES
MADE ON BEHALF OF LEGITIMATE
BUYERS. THAT RISKS - - REDUCING
HOMEOWNER ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
WHEN HOMEOWNERS HAVE LESS
INFORMATION, TRANSPARENCY AND
COMPETITION DECLINE AND THEIR
OPTIONS ARE. OUR MEMBERS'
BUSINESS MODEL RELIES ON REPEAT
CLIENTS AND REFERRALS BUILT OVER
YEARS. THOSE RELATIONSHIPS DO
NOT HAPPENING, LEGITIMATE
BROKERS ARE NOT THE PROGRAM.
LAST YEAR WE WERE PLEASED TO
SUPPORT THE PREDATORY HOMEBUYING
ORDINANCE YOU PASSED BECAUSE IT
TARGETED HARM AND OFFERED CLEAR
DISCLOSURES BEFORE A PURCHASE
WAS SIGNED, MEANINGFUL
CANCELLATION WINDOW FOR SELLERS
AND STRONG ENFORCEMENT AND
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION. THAT
FOCUSES ON PREDATORY BEHAVIOR.
WE BELIEVE SHARPENING THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE TODAY SO IT
PROTECTS HOMEOWNERS FROM
PREDATORY CONDUCT WITHOUT
RESTRICTING LEGITIMATE
INFORMATIONAL MUNICATION THAT
HELPS HOMEOWNERS UNDERSTAND
THEIR OPTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE AND
SPEAK. I STILL ON MY BIRTH HOME
AND I HAD ANOTHER HOME BUILT.
ALWAYS HAVE GOTTEN CALLS, TEXTS,
EMAILS. FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN MY
MOTHER PASSED AWAY I HAD TO DO
SOME TRANSACTIONS AND PLACE SOME
HOMES INTO THE NAMES OF MY
SIBLINGS. WITHIN THREE BUSINESS
DAYS I WAS GETTING CALLS, EVEN
MORE. NOW WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT
YOU WANT TO DO THE HOUSE. MY MOM
HADN'T EVEN BEEN TAKEN CARE OF
PROPERLY AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT TO DO WITH THE HOUSE. I
WENT THROUGH THAT AND AM STILL
GETTING THEM. I GOT A TEXT LAST
MONTH MY MOTHER. I INFORMED THEM
MY MOTHER HAS BEEN DECEASED WENT
ON TO SAY YOU OWN A HOME AND
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT?
I RESPONDED, WHERE IS YOUR
COMPANY? I AM NOT INTERESTED. I
AM TIRED I WISH WE COULD MAKE IT
GO AWAY. WE KNOW WHERE TO GO IF
WE WERE INTERESTED IN SELLING
OUR HOMES AND YES WE WOULD TURN
TO A LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENT.
TO BE INUNDATED WITH THE CALLS
COMING IN UNSOLICITED IS NOT
GOOD PRACTICE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANITA AND
THEN WE WILL REMOVE TO REMOTE
COMMENT.
>> GOOD MORNING. ANITA ADAMS
REPRESENTING A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS. BLACK HOMEOWNERS
POLICY COUNSEL AS WELL AS BLACK
LEGACY HOMEOWNERS WERE I SHARE
MEMBERSHIP IN BOTH
ORGANIZATIONS. OBVIOUSLY, WE
HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE HARM
CAUSED BECAUSE OF THESE
SOLICITATIONS. IT IS A DIFFICULT
THING TO GET A LETTER IN THE
MAIL THAT SAYS, WE WANT TO LIVE
OUR DREAMS IN YOUR HOUSE SO YOU
SHOULD JUST LEAVE. THOSE ARE
IMPORTANT, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY PROTECTS
AGAINST THE HARMS THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING AND THAT IS WHY WE
ARE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING OUR
COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION AS WELL AS CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH YOU AROUND NEW
WAYS, I HEAR SOME OF THE AGENTS
TALKING ABOUT OTHER PROTECTIONS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION AS
YOU CONTINUE TO PUT FORTH
LEGISLATION LIKE THIS, WE
APPRECIATE THE FACT YOU HAVE
EVEN STARTED THE CONVERSATION
AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US TO
IMPROVE IT. PLEASE CALL ON US,
WE DO SUPPORT PASSING THIS
LEGISLATION. PLEASE CALL ON US
TO REFINE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE
IT THE BEST LEGISLATION IT CAN
BE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM CALLING IN
TO ASK, TO THANK YOU FOR THIS
TIME TO SPEAK. I WOULD SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION. MY HUSBAND AND
I OWN OUR HOUSE WE WORK IN THE
NONPROFIT ARTS SECTOR AND
RECEIVE MULTIPLE CALLS REGULARLY
TO PURCHASE OUR HOME ON BEACON
HILL ON ALL OF OUR NUMBERS
INCLUDING THE LANDLINE NUMBER
WHICH IS WHAT I USE WHEN I WORK
AT HOME. I GET THESE CALL
SOMETIME STARTING AS EARLY AS
6:00 A.M. WE ALSO HAVE MULTIPLE
CALLS COMING IN FOR PROPERTIES
IN FLORIDA THAT WE DO NOT OWN.
FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS WE WERE
GETTING FIVE OR SIX CALLS PER
WEEK FOR HOMES WE DIDN'T EVEN
OWN IN FLORIDA. IT IS REALLY
ANNOYING TO HAVE PEOPLE CALL. IT
IS INSULTING, IF I WANTED TO
SELL MY HOME I KNOW REAL ESTATE
AGENTS AND I WOULD GO THROUGH A
REAL ESTATE AGENT. THIS HAS TO
STOP IT IS TOO FRUSTRATING TO
HAVE THESE CALLS COMING IN ALL
THE TIME. THE OTHER ISSUE WHICH
I ALSO HIS PREDATORY PRACTICE
HAS TO DO WITH THE TAXATION OF
OUR LAND VALUE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
A NEIGHBORHOOD GETS UP ZONED TO
MULTIPLE STORIES IS THAT THE
TAXES SHOOT THROUGH THE ROOF. WE
ARE NOT ZONED ON CURRENT USE WE
ARE ZONED ON FUTURE BEST USE. IF
YOU JUST LIVE IN A HOUSE AND
SUDDENLY YOU CAN PUT AN
APARTMENT BUILDING THEY ARE YOUR
TAXES WILL GO UP. THIS IS KIND
OF A NEW COLONIALISM WHERE
PEOPLE SAY WE CAN TAKE OVER YOUR
LAND, WE CAN PAY MORE. THAT IS
WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHERE PEOPLE
GOT PUSHED OUT BECAUSE THEY
COULD NOT AFFORD TAXES. THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO. THIS BILL WILL GIVE US
PEACE OF MIND HOWEVER THE
PREDATORS ARE NOT GOING AWAY AND
THEY WILL BECOME TRICKIER AND
SNEAKIER BEHIND THE SCENES. I
FIND IT INTERESTING
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER IS HELPING
TO PROTECT THIS WHILE AT THE
SAME TIME TRYING TO GET A
CANDIDATE - - ELECTED WHO WILL
DO THE BIDDING OF THE REAL
ESTATE OLIGARCHS AND TAX SEATTLE
HOMEOWNERS OUT OF OUR HOMES. BE
WARY, HOMEOWNERS. FOSTER'S
NEFARIOUS PLANS TO STEAL OUR
LOTS - - PTSD FROM THE LAST
ADMINISTRATION USING UP ZONING
TO STEAL LOTS FROM THE WORKING
CLASS AND BUILDING
MILLION-DOLLAR TOWNHOMES ON
THEM. THIS LETTER DOES NOT
INCLUDE REAL ESTATE OLIGARCHS,
INVESTORS OR CORPORATE LANDLORDS
WHO ARE THE REAL THIEVES. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO THE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
I AM ADDRESSING - - MY HUSBAND
AND I OWN OUR HOME. OUR HOME'S
WAS MY HUSBAND'S LONG-LOST
AND'S HOME FOR 13 YEARS. MY
HUSBAND AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY
KNOWLEDGE THE HOME WE WERE
PURCHASING WAS A HOME PREVIOUSLY
OWNED IN THE FAMILY. MY HUSBAND
AND I ARE CONTACTED NEARLY DAILY
TO SELL OUR HOME. WE RECEIVE
TEXT MESSAGES, LETTERS,
POSTCARDS AND PHONE CALLS.
PEOPLE HAVE COME TO OUR HOMES ON
SUNDAY CALLS ON SUNDAY. EVERY
TIME I BLOCK A COLLAR, I GET
CONTACTED BY SOMEONE ELSE FROM A
NEW LINE. I TRULY SUPPORT THE DO
NOT CALL LIST FOR HOMEOWNERS. IT
IS STRESSFUL AND OFTEN TIME TO
BE BOMBARDED BY SOLICITORS
PRESSURING US TO SELL OUR HOME.
THIS HOME IS WHERE OUR CHILDREN
RAISED AND LITTLE TO OUR
KNOWING, WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR
HOME WHERE MY HUSBANDS COUSINS
WERE RAISED. WE INTEND TO HAVE
THIS HOME BEWARE OUR CHILDREN
CHILDREN ARE RAISED. WE WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE PEACE IN KNOWING WE
WILL NOT HAVE TO ENDURE
>>> FOR MANY LONG-TIME
HOMEOWNERS AND ELDERS OF THE
FAMILY WHO HAVE BEEN EXTENDED
TRAUMA OF DISPLACEMENT OR WATCH
THE NEIGHBORHOODS RAPIDLY CHANGE
AROUND THEM, THESE -- PRESSURE.
IT IS IN THE MESSAGES THAT THEIR
HOMES ARE MORE VALUABLE AS
INVESTMENTS. PLACES WHERE
FAMILIES COULD BUILD
GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND
COMMUNITY. LEGACY HOMEOWNERS
DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AGE
IN PLACE, PRESERVE THEIR FAMILY
LEGACY, AND PASS THEIR HOMES ON
GENERATIONS WITHOUT BEING
RELENTLESSLY TARGETED BY
INVESTORS. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT
TO THE LEGISLATION AS A
MEANINGFUL STEP FOR PROTECTING
SEATTLE'S LEGACY HOMEOWNERS,
AND PRESERVING THE COMMUNITY'S
HISTORY AND CULTURE THAT THEY
SPENT GENERATIONS BUILDING.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR FINAL SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR
HEARING US OUT. I'M IN SUPPORT
OF THE DO NOT -- AT THE
HOMEOWNERS BILL. IT FEELS LIKE A
SERIOUS INVASION OF PRIVACY. HOW
DO THEY EVEN GET OUR INFORMATION
TO KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT US? AND
WHERE DOES IT END? TO QUELL SOME
OF THE INVASION OF PRIVACY THAT
IS UNSOLICITED. IT'S ANOTHER
FORM OF PREDATORY -- TO CONTINUE
THIS TRANSFER OF WEALTH FROM THE
WORKING CLASS IN THE SEATTLE
AREA. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
MORE INFORMATION ON AT LEAST HOW
WE CAN INVEST IN SEATTLE,
INSTEAD OF PEOPLE JUST COMING
HERE TO TAKE THE WEALTH, AND
TRANSFER THE WEALTH AWAY FROM
PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE AND
HAVE BEEN PROVIDED HERE FOR SO
LONG. WHAT CAN WE DO TO ACTUALLY
OWN THIS UPGRADE OURSELVES,
INSTEAD OF THEM JUST HAVING THIS
PREDATORY AVENUE FOR US? IT IS
SAD TO SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITIES
HAVE BECOME. THIS IS JUST
ANOTHER AVENUE FOR THEM TO
CONTINUE TO TAKE FROM US.
THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. IN
THE FUTURE, I HOPE WE CAN DO
MORE TO HAVE MORE RIGHTS TO
PRIVACY, MORE RIGHTS TO
INVESTING IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T
HAVE THAT. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE
THE RIGHT TO TELL THEM NO, STOP
CALLING US, THEN WHAT DO WE HAVE
AT ALL? I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR GIVING US THE CHANCE TO
SPEAK ON THIS TODAY, AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. I SAW THAT, PAULA,
YOU JOINED VIRTUALLY, BUT ALSO
NOT SEEING YOU ANYMORE. WE
DON'T HAVE YOU ON, BUT WE
WELCOME ANY WRITTEN COMMENT, IF
YOU WANT TO SUBMIT THAT WAY.
THERE ARE NO MR. SPEAKERS.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
CLERK. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK
YOU TO ALL OF OUR PUBLIC
COMMENTERS. WE ARE GOING TO NOW
MOVE ONTO OUR FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, HOMEOWNER
PRIVACY PROTECTION LEGISLATION.
>> I WANT TO WELCOME JENNIFER
LABRECQUE. BEFORE SHE BEGINS
TODAY, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK
AND SAY, ACTUALLY IT WAS
APPROPRIATE WE ENDED ON THAT
COMMENTER AROUND PRIVACY BECAUSE
I THINK SO MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY STEMS FOR
THE RIGHT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE
PRIVACY IN THEIR HOMES, AND TO
HAVE THE LONGEVITY THAT WE HEARD
SO MANY OF OUR COMMENTERS SPEAK
TO. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO EXPRESS
MY APPRECIATION FOR OUR
COMMENTERS WHO GAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME
TODAY. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S REALLY SPECIAL. THANK YOU
FOR COMING DOWN TO CITY HALL TO
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR
TESTIMONY WITH US. I ALSO WANT
TO SHARE MY OFFICE CREATED A
SURVEY FOR RESIDENTS TO SHARE
HOW THEY ARE IMPACTED BY
UNWANTED SOLICITATION. WE HAVE
HEARD FROM RESPONDENTS IN ALL
SEVEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS ACROSS
THE CITY, AND MANY PEOPLE
REPORTED MORE THAN 20 TIMES
RECEIVING SOLICITATION OVER THE
LAST TWO YEARS. I WANT TO READ A
LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE HEARD. ONE
RESIDENT IN NORTH SEATTLE SHARED
IT FEELS LIKE I'M BEING HUNTED,
AND IT FEELS I'M BEING
ENCOURAGED TO GIVE UP MY
FINANCIAL ANCHOR. I WOULD LIKE
THEIR BEHAVIOR TO STOP. SEVERAL
OTHER FOLKS RESPONDED AND SHARED
THEY FELT THEY WERE, "BEING
HUNTED," OR BEING "CIRCLED BY
VULTURES." OUR OFFICE WILL
CONTINUE TO COLLECT RESPONSES TO
THE SURVEY UNTIL THE END OF THE
WEEK. SO IF THERE ARE THOSE WHO
HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO
COMPLETE THAT YET, I INVITE YOU
TO. SO WITH THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE
JEN IS SET UP AT THE TABLE, SO I
WILL HAND IT OVER TO HER TO DO
AN OVERVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE,
AND TO WALK US THROUGH ITS
IMPACTS. JEN?
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MY
NAME IS JENNIFER LABRECQUE. I'M
A CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYST, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO
WALK YOU THROUGH THE DO NOT
SOLICIT ORDINANCE. THIS
ORDINANCE WOULD ESTABLISH A NEW
UNFAIR HOUSING PRACTICE,
PROHIBITING UNWANTED
SOLICITATION OF RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY
WHAT ALSO ESTABLISHED A DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST, WHICH HOMEOWNERS
COULD OPT TO ADD THEMSELVES TO.
AND ONCE ADDED, IT WOULD PROTECT
A HOMEOWNER FROM UNWANTED
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
SOLICITATIONS. THE ORDINANCE
INCLUDING ADMINISTRATION OF THE
DO NOT SOLICIT LIST WOULD BE
ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS. NEXT SLIDE. AS WE
JUST HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT,
RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY REPORT
RECEIVING FREQUENT AND UNWANTED
SOLICITATIONS TO SELL THEIR
HOMES. THESE PRACTICES MAY
RESULT IN HOMEOWNERS SELLING
THEIR HOMES, ESPECIALLY AT BELOW
MARKET VALUE. SUCH PRACTICES CAN
TARGET COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC
DISPARITIES, DISPLACEMENT, AND A
VERSION OF GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
WHILE ALSO REINFORCING
HISTORICAL PATTERN OF
RESEGREGATION. WITH THE ADOPTION
OF THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN, WE MAY SEE AN INCREASE IN
UNSOLICITED AND POTENTIAL
LIPREAD TEAR OUTREACH AS THERE
ARE MORE ZONES THAT ARE
CURRENTLY ZONED SINGLE FAMILY
THAT WILL EXPERIENCE UPZONES.
NEXT SLIDE. THERE ARE SEVERAL
OTHER JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY THAT ALREADY HAVE
IMPLEMENTED SIMILAR POLICIES
THAT PROHIBIT UNWANTED
SOLICITATION OF UNWANTED
PROPERTIES, INCLUDING THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST. NEW YORK HAS
ESTABLISHED TARGETED AREAS. I
SHOULD SAY NEW YORK STATE HAS
ESTABLISHED TARGETED AREAS, IN
WHICH SOLICITATION IS PROHIBITED
FOR FIVE-YEAR TERMS THAT ARE
RENEWABLE. NEW YORK CURRENTLY
HAS ONE DESIGNATED AREA WITH
OVER 400 PEOPLE ON THEIR DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST. THE CITY OF
PHILADELPHIA HAS TAKEN A
DIFFERENT APPROACH BY
ESTABLISHING A PERMITTED CITY
WIDE POLICY, SO NOT TARGETED TO
SPECIFIC ZONES, BUT CITY WIDE.
THERE ARE 4,000 ENTRIES WITH
PHILADELPHIA ZIP CODES ON THE
CITY WIDE DO NOT SOLICIT LIST.
NEITHER NEW YORK NOR
PHILADELPHIA HAVE ANY DATA AT
THIS TIME ON THE IMPACT OF
IMPLEMENTING THESE POLICIES. SO
NOW I'M GOING TO WALK EVERYONE
THROUGH SOME OF THE SPECIFIC
PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE.
THE LEGISLATION WOULD ESTABLISH
A NEW UNFAIR HOUSING PRACTICE
THAT WOULD PROHIBIT ANY PERSON,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO
ANY REAL ESTATE BROKER OR REAL
ESTATE AGENT, SALESPERSON, OR
EMPLOYEE FROM SOLICITING THE
SALE OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
WHEN THE OWNER HAS INDICATED
THAT THEY DO NOT WISH TO SELL OR
BE CONTACTED ABOUT A SALE.
SOLICITATION CAN OCCUR THROUGH
ANY FORM OF COMMUNICATION,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO
MAIL, ORAL COMMUNICATION, OR
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION.
SOLICITATION MEANS ATTEMPTING TO
PURCHASE, ACQUIRE ANY INTEREST
OR CONVEY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
EXAMPLES OF SOLICITATION
INCLUDES ADVERTISING THE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR ABILITIES OF
A BUYER OR BUYER'S
REPRESENTATIVE. REQUESTING THAT
A HOMEOWNER LIST THEIR PROPERTY
FOR SALE OR INQUIRING THE
HOMEOWNER IS INTERESTED IN
LISTING THEIR PROPERTY FOR SALE,
OFFERING, OR ACQUIRING AN
INTEREST FOR OFFER ON THE
SOLICITOR'S BEHALF OR
ANOTHER'S BEHALF TO PURCHASE AN
INTEREST IN THE HOMEOWNERS
PROPERTY, AND TO PROVIDE OR
OFFER TO PROVIDE ANY TYPE OF
SERVICE OR ASSISTANCE TO HELP A
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER MAKE
A DECISION ABOUT SELLING A
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. I DO WANT
TO CLARIFY THAT IN THE DRAFT
ORDINANCE, JUST SIMPLY HAVING A
COMMUNICATION TO A HOMEOWNER
THAT HAS THE MARKET VALUE OF THE
HOME IS NOT CONSIDERED A
SOLICITATION. RESPONSIBLE FOR
CREATING AND MAINTAINING A
PUBLIC DO NOT SOLICIT LIST OF
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS WHO
HAVE OPTED OUT OF RECEIVING
SOLICITATIONS, AND THEY WOULD
ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENFORCING THE ORDINANCE. ANY
REAL PROPERTY OWNER WHO HAS BEEN
SOLICITED TO SELL THEIR
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, AND DO NOT
DESIRE TO BE SOLICITED MAY
REQUEST TO HAVE THEIR NAME OR
ADDRESS PUT ON THE DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST. IT GOES WITHOUT
SAYING, BUT TO BE SUPER CLEAR,
IF THE HOMEOWNER DOES NOT OPT TO
BE ON THE DO NOT SOLICIT LIST,
THEY COULD CONTINUE TO BE
SOLICITED. SO YOU HAVE TO
ACTIVELY OPT INTO THE LIST, AND
YOU HAVE TO HAVE ACTIVELY
RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE
SOLICITATION IN ORDER TO BE ABLE
TO OPT INTO THE LIST. INCLUSION
ON THE DO NOT SOLICIT LIST,
LEGALLY SIGNIFIES BOTH THE
DESIRE NOT TO SELL, AND THE
DESIRE NOT TO BE SOLICITED. THE
LEGISLATION DOES ESTABLISH
ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS INCLUDING
MONETARY PENALTIES IN A PRIVATE
RATE OF ACTION. PENALTIES
INCLUDE $11,000 FOR FIRST
VIOLATIONS, AND $2,000 FOR
SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS WITHIN 12
MONTHS. IN THAT MID YEAR 2027,
EFFECTIVE DATE IS TO ALLOW OCR
THE FIRST SIX MONTHS TO
ESTABLISH THE PROCESS, THE
SYSTEMS, AND THE MATERIALS, SO
THAT THEY CAN ESSENTIALLY BE
READY TO GO ON JUNE 1 AND OPEN
UP THE DO NOT SOLICIT LIST OR
OPEN IT UP FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE
THEIR NAMES ADDED. ALL RIGHT,
IMPLEMENTATION COSTS ARE
ESTIMATED TO BE $200,000 IN
2027, AND $375,000 IN 2028.
IMPLEMENTATION COSTS ARE LARGELY
LABOR TO STAFF POSITIONS AT OCR
NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE
ORDINANCE. 2027 COSTS INCLUDES
ONE FULL-TIME ENGAGEMENT
SPECIALIST, AND SOME MINOR
PROGRAM LAUNCH COST IN 2028 COST
INCLUDE BOTH THE ONGOING
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST POSITION,
PLUS A NEW POSITION FOR SENIOR
CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR, AND
OF COURSE, ONGOING PROGRAM
COSTS. I DON'T HAVE A SLIDE FOR
THIS, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT TIMELINE
AND NEXT STEPS. THIS LEGISLATION
IS CURRENTLY ON THE AGENDA AS AN
INFORMATIONAL ITEM ONLY, SO IT
HAS NOT YET BEEN INTRODUCED. IT
IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO BE
INTRODUCED AND DISCUSSED BY
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK,
NEXT WEDNESDAY, WITH THE
POTENTIAL POSSIBILITY FOR A
VOTE. IF FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO --
IF COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
DISCUSS AMENDMENTS, THEN THE
AMENDMENT CONCEPT DESIGN IS END
OF DAY ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 1.
THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT,
JEN. I APPRECIATE THAT. I FORGOT
TO SAY BEFORE YOU WERE
PRESENTING. LEAGUES, FOR YOUR
AWARENESS, PROCESS WISE. WE'RE
HEARING FROM JEN, AND THERE IS
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO ASK
QUESTIONS OF CENTRAL STAFF. AND
THEN WE'LL HAVE A PANEL OF SOME
OF THE FANTASTIC FOLKS WHO HAVE
ENGAGED IN OUR OFFICE TO SHARE
MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS
AROUND THE IMPACTS FOR
THEMSELVES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP AT
THIS TIME FOR QUESTIONS TO
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. IT IS
IMPERATIVE WE TAKE THIS UP, SO
WE COULD STOP FRANKLY THE
HARASSMENT OUR RESIDENTS ARE
EXPERIENCING, SO I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN BRINGING
THIS BEFORE COMMITTEE. I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS COME OUT
TODAY TO SHARE PUBLIC COMMENT
AND SHARE YOUR STORY. TRULY
THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TO
CITY HALL. I THINK IT'S WORTH
UPLIFTING PARTICULARLY FROM
PUBLIC COMMENT JUST THE
PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM THAT THESE
SOLICITATIONS HAVE HAD ON
RESIDENTS, AND WE NEED TO TAKE
STEPS TO CURTAIL THIS PRACTICE.
AND SO I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO
GET MORE INTO SOME OF THOSE
EXPERIENCES DURING THE PANEL
DISCUSSION, AND FOR THE STAFF
PRESENTATION TODAY, I JUST HAVE
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOCUSED ON
IMPLEMENTATION AND THE MECHANICS
OF THE BILL. BUT I WANTED TO
START ON THAT NOTE AND THANK
EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. I'M
WONDERING IF WE COULD SPEAK TO
QUICKLY ABOUT HOW WE, THE CITY,
THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS MIGHT
GO ABOUT PUBLICIZING THE OPT-IN
PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE
HAVING MAXIMUM UTILIZATION WHERE
POSSIBLE. HOW ARE WE THINKING
ABOUT PARTNERING WITH
ORGANIZATIONS OR PARTNERING WITH
COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE FOLKS
KNOW ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED WHEN WE
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE CITY
LIKE THE SENIOR PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION THROUGH THE COUNTY.
WE'VE SEEN SOME
UNDERUTILIZATION OF THAT. SO HOW
ARE WE THINKING ABOUT MAXIMIZING
UTILIZATION, AND HOW FOLKS COULD
REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM?
>> THANK YOU. I WILL SAY I THINK
THIS IS A REASON OCR FEELS A
FULL-TIME ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
IS NEEDED BECAUSE THEY DO --
THEY ARE COMMITTED TO REACHING
OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT
HOMEOWNERS KNOW BROADLY ALL
ACROSS, SINCE IT IS A CITY WIDE
POLICY THAT THEY KNOW ACROSS THE
CITY THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE
OPPORTUNITY. I DO KNOW THEY'VE
BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
ABOUT MAYBE PARTNERING, AND ALSO
WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING WHO
DOES HAVE SOME CONTRACTS WITH
HOMEOWNER STABILIZATION,
ORGANIZATIONS. I DON'T HAVE A
REPORT BACK YET ON THOSE
CONVERSATIONS, BUT I THINK THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT
THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT. OF
COURSE, I WOULD JUST ALSO SAY
THERE IS BOTH OUTREACH TO
HOMEOWNERS, THEN OUTREACH ON THE
OTHER SIDE, WHICH IS TO -- THOSE
WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE
ORDINANCE IN TERMS OF AGENTS OR
BUSINESSES, AND MAKING SURE
THEY'RE FULLY AWARE OF IT TOO
WITH THE IDEA THAT IT IS BETTER
TO LET FOLKS KNOW UPFRONT RATHER
THAN TRYING TO GET THEM THROUGH
ENFORCEMENT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
AND AS A CLARIFYING QUESTION.
THE FINAL AMOUNT IN THE BILL FOR
A VIOLATION IS $1,000 FOR THE
FIRST VIOLATION, THEN $2,000 FOR
THE SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION. BUT
WITHIN THE 12-MONTH PERIOD. SO
CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME CLARITY ON
IF THE $2,000 FINE IS FOR ALL
VIOLATIONS AFTER JUST THE
INITIAL ONE OR JUST WITHIN THE
12 MONTHS OF THE FIRST VIOLATION
PERIOD OR IF THERE IS A
DIFFERENT FINAL AMOUNT?
>> CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE
TIME?
>> RIGHT. SO THE LANGUAGE WITHIN
THE BILL TALKS ABOUT HOW THE
SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION -- SO AFTER
THERE'S A FIRST VIOLATION WITH
THE $1,000 FINE, THERE'S A FINE
OF $2,000 FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT
VIOLATION. BUT WITHIN A 12-MONTH
PERIOD, SO I'M WONDERING IF THE
INTENT IS JUST TO KEEP IT REALLY
FOCUSED WITHIN THAT 12-MONTH
PERIOD OR IF WE ARE REALLY
LOOKING AT ANY SUBSEQUENT
VIOLATION, REGARDLESS OF TIME
PERIOD?
>> HAS THE CLOCK RESET AFTER 12
MONTHS? I THINK I'M GOING TO
HAVE TO READ THIS CAREFULLY, AND
PROBABLY TALK WITH THE
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO JUST MAKE
SURE I'M ANSWERING THAT
QUESTION ACCURATELY.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. AND THEN I
THINK I JUST HAD AN ADDITIONAL
CLARIFYING QUESTION AROUND THE
TERMS SOLICITATION, IF THE WORD
SOLICIT IS DEFINED RIGHT NOW IN
CODE BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO
THE BILL'S DEFINITION TO
SOLICIT, IS THIS DEFINITION
IMPLIED ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF
THIS BILL OR BROADLY ACROSS CITY
CODE?
>> SO WE ADDED THIS AS A
DEFINITION TO SECTION 14.08.020
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE,
WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE FAIR
HOUSING. IT HAS BEEN ADDED AS A
DEFINITION TO THAT PART OF THE
CODE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEN. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
I'LL SHARE QUICKLY, OUR INTENT
REGARDING THE FINE WAS TO ENSURE
WE ARE HAVING SOMETHING THAT IS
ENFORCEABLE AND ACTS AS A
DETERRENT, BUT ALSO NOT HAVING A
FINE THAT WAS SO LARGE IN NATURE
THAT WE MIGHT CATCH UP FOLKS WHO
ARE MAKING ERRORS. SO EXCITED TO
ENGAGE WITH YOUR OFFICE MORE AND
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR
FOSTER, EVERYONE COMING HERE
TODAY. CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT
NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, BOTH IN
TERMS OF SORT OF THE CONSTANT
ANXIETY, MENTAL HEALTH, BUT ALSO
THE REAL POTENTIAL FOR LOST
WEALTH THAT CAN OCCUR WHEN THESE
SOLICITATIONS ARE ABLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF SOMEONE WHO MIGHT
NOT BE AWARE OF THE TRUE VALUE
OF THEIR PROPERTY. JUST IN TERMS
OF JUST TRYING TO IMAGINE SORT
OF, WE CERTAINLY HAVE A REAL
PROBLEM, SORT OF THE BEST WAY TO
ATTACK IT. TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE
THESE WHOLESALERS ARE PROBABLY
THE ROOT OF THE BULK OF THESE
SOLICITATIONS. MAILERS,
WHATEVER, AND THEN SOMEHOW ARE
RESELLING THEM TO WHETHER
THERE'S DEVELOPERS OR OTHER
SORT OF BUYERS. AND DO YOU KNOW,
IN YOUR RESEARCH, SORT OF --
HAVE THERE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO SORT
OF REGULATE THIS WHOLESALER
ACTIVITY, EITHER AT THE STATE
LEVEL OR IN ANY OTHER PARTS OF
THE NATION?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
I'LL BE HONEST, I JUST TOOK
OVER THIS POLICY FROM MY
COLLEAGUE. SHE MAY HAVE MORE
BACKGROUND ON SORT OF WHAT OTHER
EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO
REGULATE WHOLESALERS. OBVIOUSLY
WE HAVE THE EXAMPLE FROM THE TWO
JURISDICTIONS WHO HAVE THE DO
NOT SOLICIT LIST, BUT I'M HAPPY
TO CONFER WITH HER AND SEE IF
THERE ARE OTHER BROADER EXAMPLES
BESIDES THE DO NOT SOLICIT LIST
THAT WE COULD SHARE WITH YOU.
>> YEAH. A PART OF IT IS I'M
TRYING TO THINK OF HOW DO WE
SORT OF -- I THINK THERE IS A
LOT OF BENEFITS TO HAVING THIS
DO NOT SORT OF CONTACT ME
REGISTRY, AND I'M ALSO JUST A
LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT SORT OF
THE EFFORT IT'LL TAKE TO GET
THE WORD OUT, TO GET PEOPLE ONTO
THE LIST. IF THERE IS A WAY TO
JUST PROHIBIT WHOLESALE ACTIVITY
IN GENERAL. WHETHER THAT MIGHT
BE ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOL
BELT, AND WHETHER, YOU KNOW, YOU
MIGHT NEED SOME STATE
LEGISLATURE TO HELP US. I ALSO
JUST WONDER ABOUT ENFORCEMENT.
IT SEEMS LIKE IF IT IS
WHOLESALERS THAT THERE IS
PROBABLY JUST A RELATIVELY SMALL
NUMBER OF THEM, SO HOPEFULLY,
YOU KNOW. I KNOW THAT IT IS
REALLY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU DO
THESE DO NOT CALL LISTS, AND YOU
TELL PEOPLE NOT TO CALL YOU, AND
IT NEVER SEEMS TO WORK. PEOPLE
JUST KEEP CALLING YOU. I'M
HOPEFUL THAT SOMEHOW BECAUSE IT
IS PROBABLY A RELATIVELY SMALL
NUMBER OF FOLKS, AND THEY ARE
PROBABLY LOCAL THAT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO PUT SOME REAL TEETH
BEHIND THIS. BUT ANY SORT OF
THOUGHTS ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO
ACTUALLY ENFORCE THIS AND GO
AFTER THESE FOLKS WHO ARE
ENGAGED IN THIS ACTIVITY?
>> I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING OCR
IS CONCERNED ABOUT AS WELL AS
THE DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING. I
THINK THIS IS WHY THEY FEEL A
FULL-TIME SENIOR ENFORCEMENT
SPECIALIST POSITION IS NEEDED.
THEY'VE ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT IT
COULD BE, YOU KNOW, IT COMES IN
FROM A GENERAL PHONE NUMBER.
IT'S NOT THAT IT IS EASILY
IDENTIFIABLE. SO THEY RECOGNIZE
THAT PART OF THE WORK THAT WILL
BE IDENTIFYING WHO THE
WHOLESALERS ARE. AND SO I THINK
THAT THE BEST RESPONSE I HAVE AT
THIS POINT IS THAT AS THE
DEPARTMENT, OCR FEELS THEY NEED
THAT POSITION IN ORDER TO BE
PREPARED TO ENFORCE WHAT COULD
BE A TRICKY ORDINANCE TO
ENFORCE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND ONE
SORT OF LAST COMMENT QUESTION.
ONE, I THINK THIS IS REALLY
EXCITING TOO. I THINK IT MIGHT
NEED TO BE SORT OF A PROCESS. WE
MIGHT NEED TO COME UP WITH AS WE
SORT OF EXPLORE THIS. FIND
BETTER WAYS TO TARGET THIS
ACTIVITY OR AGAIN, MAYBE WORK
WITH THE STATE TO, YOU KNOW,
ADDRESS THIS MORE SORT OF
COMPREHENSIVELY ACROSS THE STATE
OR POTENTIALLY WORK WITH TITLE
COMPANIES WHO ARE USUALLY GOING
TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERY REAL
ESTATE TRANSACTIONS. BUT I DO
ALSO WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT
NOT PROHIBITING SORT OF OTHER
TYPES OF ACTIVITY THAT MIGHT BE
PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE. SO ONE
THING I DON'T WANT TO PROHIBIT
SORT OF THE GOVERNMENT FROM
REACHING OUT TO HOMEOWNERS. THE
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO REACH OUT
AND THE WORD SOLICITED IS SO
BROAD. IT DOESN'T, AS I SORT OF
INTERPRET IT, IT IS NOT JUST
SALES. IT'S ANY INTEREST AND
ANY INTEREST COULD BE PRETTY
BROADLY MISCONSTRUED. SO I WANT
TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT SORT OF OUR
LANGUAGE IN TERMS OF NOT BEING
OVERLY BROAD. I'M WORRIED ABOUT
WHETHER THIS COULD PROHIBIT
LENDERS FROM POTENTIALLY
REACHING OUT TO HOMEOWNERS FOR
SORT OF REFINANCING. I'M NOT
SURE IF THAT IS THE FOCUS OF
THIS. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE
MAIN FOCUS. BUT AGAIN, THE WORD
SOLICIT AND ANY INTEREST IN THE
PROPERTY IS SO BROAD. I WANT TO
TARGET THE LEGISLATION FOR THE
MAIN ISSUE HERE, SO WE COULD BE
MOST EFFECTIVE, BUT NOT SORT OF
ACCIDENTALLY BRING IN OTHER
TYPES OF ACTIVITIES. THAT'S ALL
MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW. BUT AGAIN,
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY
EXCITING -- AND I THINK WE HAVE
A REAL POTENTIAL TO PUT AN END
TO SOME REAL HARMFUL ACTIVITY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. WE'LL MAKE
SURE TO HAVE TRACI, WHO IS
WORKING ON THIS FOR THE MAJORITY
OF THE TIME FOLLOW UP WITH YOU
TO DO A BRIEFING. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR FOSTER.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
THIS FORWARD, AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO LOOKING OVER IT.
IT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED RIGHT
NOW, WHICH IS GREAT. THE ONLY
QUESTION I HAD, I HAD SOME OTHER
QUESTIONS THAT MY COLLEAGUES
HAD, SO I'LL BE FOLLOWING UP ON
THOSE. BUT THE ONLY QUESTION I
HAD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS
IS IN OUR CODE. BUT THE MONEY
THAT COMES POTENTIALLY, MONEYS
THAT COMES IN FROM FINES. I KNOW
THAT PROBABLY HASN'T BEEN
DECIDED, BUT I'M ASSUMING IT
GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND OR
FEES COLLECTED BY A DEPARTMENT.
BUT IN SOMEHOW IF THOSE COULD BE
POTENTIALLY LOOKED INTO,
EARMARKED, THINGS OR EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT OR SOMETHING OF THAT
NATION THAT GOES BACK TO HELPING
FOLKS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER
THAT NOW. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS
IN A CERTAIN CHART OR WHERE
THINGS CAN'T BE EARMARKED FOR
FINES OR WHATNOT, BUT JUST
WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT TO YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THAT UNLESS
OTHERWISE DIRECTED, FUNDS WOULD
PROBABLY GO TO THE GENERAL FUND,
AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOUR
OFFICE ABOUT OTHER OPTIONS FOR
THAT. COUNCIL SORT OF CAN'T BUY
INTO THE FUTURE OF DECISIONS OF
FUTURE COUNCILS, BUT I THINK
THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS THAT I
WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM YOU? OH,
YOUR HAND IS DOWN.
>> MY BAD.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THOSE QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND IT
IS FANTASTIC TO BOTH HEAR YOUR
INTEREST AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO
THIS WORK, AS WELL AS
OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO
EXPLORE, WHETHER THAT IS IN THE
SPACE OF AN INVESTMENT WITH THE
FINES OR TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
FOLLOW-UP AND CLARITY ON THE
IMPACT AND THE SCOPE OF THE
ORDINANCE, SO I APPRECIATE THOSE
QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES. WITH THAT
UNLESS THERE ARE ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL STAFF, I
AM GOING TO MOVE US INTO OUR
PANEL PRESENTATION. OKAY. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, JEN. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU. AND I'M GOING
TO GET US STARTED WITH WELCOMING
OUR -- OH ACTUALLY, SORRY ABOUT
THAT. I NEED TO READ ITEM TWO
INTO THE RECORD. SO CLERK, CAN
YOU PLEASE READ ITEM TWO INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, PANEL
DISCUSSION ON UNWANTED HOMEOWNER
SOLICITATION FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY, AND WITH THAT, I WOULD
LIKE TO INVITE UP TO THE TABLE
HERE CHUKUNDI SALISBURY WITH
BLACK LEGACY HOMEOWNERS. GREGORY
DAVIS WITH RAINIER BEACH ACTION
COALITION, AND BEACON HILL
COMMUNITY LEADER, MARIA
BATAYOLA. AS OUR PANELISTS ARE
COMING UP, GRABBING A SEAT AT
THE TABLE, I WANT TO USE THIS AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EACH ONE
OF THEM FOR WORKING WITH OUR
OFFICE ON THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. BUT BEYOND THAT AS
YOU'LL HEAR ON THE PANEL TODAY,
EACH OF THESE LEADERS HAVE A
HISTORY OF COMMUNITY WORK AND
ORGANIZING FOR HOMEOWNER
PROTECTIONS THAT STARTED LONG
BEFORE WE STARTED TO DISCUSS
THIS LEGISLATION. I ALSO WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE
RANGE OF COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO
HAVE MET WITH MY OFFICE TO
DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF UNWANTED
SOLICITATION IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING THOSE
OF US ON THE PANEL, AND AS WELL
AS MICHAEL BROWN, AND YOUNG
BLACK HOMEOWNERS AND MANY OTHER
FOLKS WHO HAVE ENGAGED WITH US.
WITH THAT, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
MAKE SURE PANELIST, WE'VE GOT
YOUR MICS ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE TODAY WITH US. WE
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. IF YOU
COULD FIRST PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF WITH YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION, AND PERSONAL
HISTORY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
AND THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU LIVE
IN. AND WE CAN START WITH YOU,
CHUKUNDI.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
CHUKUNDI SALISBURY SR., AND I
REPRESENT THE BLACK LEGACY
HOMEOWNERS, WHICH IS A PROGRAM
OF SERVICES OF LIFESTYLE. AND I
CURRENTLY LIVE IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE, WHERE I'VE OWNED MY
HOME FOR THE LAST 29 YEARS, THIS
YEAR. AND I GREW UP IN THE
CENTRAL AREA.
>> THANK YOU. MARIA?
>> MY NAME IS MARIA BATAYOLA.
I'M A COMMUNITY LEADER AT
BEACON HILL, SPECIFICALLY
CHAIRING BEACON HILL COUNCIL.
I'M A FILIPINO IMMIGRANT, AND I
HAVE OWNED MY HOME IN BEACON
HILL FOR 37 YEARS.
>> MR. DAVIS?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD TO SEE
YOU, AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU
AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER LIN. IT'S
GOOD TO SAY AGAIN, BECAUSE
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE SEE
YOU. ALSO HOLLINGSWORTH,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
THANK YOU, CHAIR FOSTER. MY NAME
IS GREGORY DAVIS. I'M WITH THE
RAINIER BEACH ACTION COALITION.
WE RESTORE THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN. WE HIRE PEOPLE FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO IMPLEMENT
STRATEGIES IN THAT PLAN.
PRIORITY HIRE, FREE ORCA CARDS
FOR ALL, EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE, SWEETENED BEVERAGE
TAX. SOME OF THE POLICIES ARE
BACK, HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE WITH
WITH MANY OTHERS TO PUT IN PLACE
FOR THE CITY. MY PERSONAL
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STARTED IN
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING BACK IN
THE NORMAN RICE ADMINISTRATION.
LEADING FOR SIX YEARS, LEADING
TO SIX YEARS, SERVING ON THE
PLANNING COMMISSION. PRESENTLY I
SERVE ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR
THE BLACK HOME INITIATIVE BOARD
MEMBER WITH THE INITIATIVE. AND
IN ORDER TO HELP BLACK CHURCHES
DEVELOP THEIR LAND FOR HOUSING
AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE RACE
AND SOCIAL EQUITY TASK FORCE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PANELISTS.
COLLEAGUES, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR
A FEW QUESTIONS FOR OUR
PANELISTS TO GIVE THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE, AND THEN
WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. SO I'LL START US OFF
WITH A BROAD QUESTION, WHICH IS
AS COMMUNITY, AS COMMUNITY
LEADERS, HOW HAVE YOU SEEN
UNWANTED SOLICITATION, TARGETED
TOWARDS HOMEOWNERS, IMPACT
FAMILIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY? AND
CAN YOU JUST SHARE HOW YOU AND
OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
TRIED TO RESPOND TO THOSE
AGGRESSIVE TACTICS? WE'LL JUST
START IN THE SAME ORDER. WE'LL
START WITH CHUKUNDI AND GO DOWN
THE LINE.
>> AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME AND ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, ALONG WITH
REPRESENTING OUR MEMBERS AT
LEGACY BLACK HOMEOWNERS. I MOST
CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN THE
DETRIMENTAL AFFECTS OF THESE
AGGRESSIVE TACTICS. ONE OF THE
REASONS I EVEN STARTED IN HELP
COFOUND THIS ORGANIZATION IS
BECAUSE OF THESE PREDATORY
TACTICS WHERE WE'VE SEEN, I'VE
SEEN MY NEIGHBORS BEING
IMPACTED, NOT ONLY BY THE CALLS,
BUT THE OBSESSIVE VISITS AND THE
LIKE. AND SOME FOLKS MAYBE
REMEMBER, SO EVEN PRIOR TO THE
BLACK LEGACY HOMEOWNERS, WE HAD
A CAMPAIGN CALLED THIS HOUSE IS
NOT FOR SALE. AND IN 2019 AND
2020. SO THIS WORK HAS BEEN AN
ONGOING EFFORT. IT IS NOT BRAND
NEW, EVEN THOUGH COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, THIS IS WORK MYSELF
PERSONALLY, AND MY COMMUNITY HAS
BEEN WORKING ON FOR MANY YEARS.
AND I'M ACTUALLY PROUD TO SAY I
STOOD WITH THE REALTORS
ORGANIZATION DURING THAT
CAMPAIGN BECAUSE WE WANTED FOLKS
TO GET PROPER REPRESENTATION,
RIGHT? AND WE HAD THESE SIGNS
THAT WE PUT IN PEOPLES WINDOWS,
SAYING THIS HOUSE IS NOT FOR
SALE. SO I GUESS I SAY THAT TO
REMIND FOLKS AND REMIND MY
COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS -- THIS
IS WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING, AND
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE
TO MOVE THIS EFFORT FORWARD. IT
IS ONGOING. AND THE WORK, I HAVE
MANY REALTOR FRIENDS AND
ASSOCIATES, AND QUITE FRANKLY,
THE CALLS HAVE GONE FROM THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD REALTOR THAT YOU
WOULD SEE AT THE COFFEE SHOP.
AND THEM CALLING NEIGHBORS IN
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS HAS
TURNED INTO CALL CENTERS THAT WE
HAVE, YOU KNOW, MANY OF OUR
MEMBERS HAVE REPORTED TO ME
THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET THE
CALL, IF YOU WILL. YOU COULD
TELL THAT IT IS A CALL CENTER.
SOMEBODY, MANY PEOPLES, NOT EVEN
IN THIS COUNTRY, AND IT IS A
CALL CENTER, A MEAL OF CALLS
GOING OUT, THOUSANDS A DAY. SO
WE'VE RECOGNIZED WE HAD A.I.
CALLS NOW. IF YOU LISTEN
CLOSELY, IT'S NOT EVEN A
PERSON, RIGHT? SO THIS HAS GONE
TOO FAR. WE MOST CERTAINLY,
REMEMBER, I LIKE HAVING
NEIGHBORHOOD REALTORS THAT WE
ALL KNEW THAT ARE A PART OF OUR
COMMUNITY, AND WE CELEBRATE
FOLKS, AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL
BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THIS
ORDINANCE AND FIND NEW CREATIVE
WAYS TO STILL BE IN COMMUNITY.
BUT OUR MEMBERS SPECIFICALLY
HAVE COME TO US. WE HAVE HEARD
TODAY THROUGH TESTIMONY, THE
ANXIETY. OFTENTIMES WE'VE SEEN
MEMBERS BEING TARGETED AT THEIR
LOWEST TIME, AND WE REFUSE TO
BELIEVE IT IS JUST COINCIDENCE
THAT WE'RE GETTING CALLS AFTER
A FAMILY MEMBER HAS PASSED AWAY,
RIGHT? OR SOME KIND OF TRAUMATIC
THING HAS HAPPENED IN THIS
HOUSEHOLD, RIGHT? OR RECENTLY AS
WE SEE, YOU KNOW, OTHER
DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
HAPPEN. SO AS ONE OF THE CALLERS
SAID ON THE PHONE, OUR MEMBERS,
INCLUDING MYSELF, WE FEEL
HUNDREDTHED. AND SO THOSE ARE
JUST SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE
BEEN DOING TO WORK ON BEHALF OF
THIS, ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS
TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THIS EQUATION. AND SO I
MOST CERTAINLY RESPECT THE
REALTORS, AND I RESPECT THE GOOD
ACTORS IN THE SPACE, BUT THIS IS
ALSO A GONE TOO FAR, WHERE IT IS
ACTUALLY CAUSING HARM. AND
DURING THIS TIME FOR US TO TALK
ABOUT. HOW HE ALERTS IN
TECHNOLOGY AND SCREAMS HAVE BEEN
AFFECTING OUR MENTAL HEALTH.
THIS IS JUST ONE MORE ALERT THAT
WE DO NOT NEED. I'LL SAY THIS
TO SAY WE ARE INTERESTED, AND
I'M INTEREST TODAY IN SHIFTING
THE BURDEN FROM US AS
HOMEOWNERS. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE
TO BE BURDENED WITH THE CALLS
AND PUTTING EACH ONE OF THOSE
CALLS IN THE SPAN, RIGHT? WE
WANT TO SHIFT THE BURDEN TO THE
GOOD ACTORS WHO, IN FACT, THERE
ARE GOOD ACTORS OUT THERE, BUT
SHIFT THE BURDEN TO THEM TO
DETERMINE IF, IN FACT, I'M A
PERSON WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE
CONTACTED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT,
MR. SALISBURY. AND BEFORE I TURN
TO MS. BATAYOLA. I WANT TO ASK
WHEN WE MET, YOU SHARED SOME
STORIES WITH ME AROUND THE
IMPACT OF SOME OF THE OUTREACH.
AND I WONDER IF I COULD ASK YOU
TO SHARE ANY STORIES IN
COMMITTEE TODAY.
>> WELL, YEAH. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT MOST CERTAINLY HAD A START
WITH THE CAMPAIGN. THIS HOUSE IS
NOT FOR SALE. I TALKED TO YOU
BRIEFLY ABOUT MY NEIGHBOR WHO
WAS CALLED BY AN AGGRESSIVE
PERSON. AND THEN EVENTUALLY
VISITED, AND THE PERSON LEFT
CANDY ON THEIR -- BECAUSE THEY
KNEW THEY HAD TWO YOUNG
CHILDREN, AND LEFT A NOTE. HEY,
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SELL, YOU
KNOW, WHAT CAN BE ASSOCIATED
WITH IT. OF COURSE, MY NEIGHBOR
THREW THE CANDY AWAY. MY KID HAD
A MELTDOWN. WHY IS THIS PERSON
CONTINUING TO BOTHER ME, RIGHT?
AND SO WE HAVE ADDRESSED SOME OF
THOSE THINGS WITH SOME OF THE,
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OTHER
LEGISLATION, BUT SPECIFICALLY
BEING ABLE TO TELL SOMEBODY TO
NOT SOLICIT TO ME ANYMORE AND
HAVE THAT MEAN SOMETHING IS
INCREDIBLE. THE OTHER PIECE, THE
STORY I RELATE TO. WE HAD A
NEIGHBOR, RIGHT, THAT IN THE
INTERIM OF TRYING TO GET THE
RIGHT INFORMATION. THE ISSUE
HERE IS THESE CALLS COME ALL THE
TIME. LONG STORY SHORT, THIS
PERSON ENDED UP DOING A SHORT
SALE TO AN AGGRESSIVE
PROSPECTOR. WHEN WE WERE TRYING
TO GET INFORMATION AROUND
CLOSURE. SO THERE ARE MANY CALLS
LIKE THIS. MANY OF THESE
AGGRESSIVE FOLKS. AND I'M SURE
MY REALTOR FRIENDS WOULD SAY
THEY'RE BAD ACTORS, IF YOU
WILL. BUT FROM WHERE WE SIT,
THEY'RE ALL IN THE REAL ESTATE
SPACE, AND WE MOST CERTAINLY
LIKE TO SEE THE REAL ESTATE
SPACE TO PROTECT OUR MENTAL
HEALTH AND KEEP US IN OUR HOMES.
>> THANK YOU. MS. BATAYOLA. I'LL
ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION. WHAT
YOU'VE EXPERIENCED OR SEEN IN
YOUR COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO
UNWANTED SOLICITATIONS?
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER LIN, OF
COURSE, OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH. I AM US. FURTHER
STIMULATED BY THE STORIES OF OUR
AFRICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND I'M
THINKING ABOUT OUR BEACON HILL
POPULATION. EVERY TIME I COME
BEFORE YOU, I TALK ABOUT THE
40,000 RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE.
THE 70% PEOPLE OF COLOR, THE 40%
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, AND I
WANT TO SHOW WHAT'S HAPPENING
TO US RIGHT NOW. WITH THIS
CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL
ADMINISTRATION, OUR POPULATION,
SPECIFICALLY OUR IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES ARE AFRAID OF ANY
CONTACT FROM GOVERNMENTS BECAUSE
I.C.E. HAS NO DISTINCTION ON WHO
IT GOES AFTER. SO PICKING UP A
PHONE CALL. LOOKING AT A NUMBER
YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE IS VERY
SCARY. THE DOWNSIDE OF THAT, YOU
DON'T GET INFORMATION FROM OUR
LOCAL FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO
HELP PEOPLE. THE OTHER PIECE IS
OUR COMMUNITY. AND OF COURSE, AS
PEOPLE O COLOR, ALL OF THESE
POLICIES SEEM TO DISMISS US, AND
WE ARE VERY, VERY SCARED. I'M
GOING TO TELL YOU THREE STORIES.
ONE, I'LL BE FINE, AN
IMMIGRANT, BUSINESS OWNER WILL
NOT DO THEIR CALLS. SO THEY'RE
DOING BAT SIGNAL. THEY'RE DOING
TEXT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
TRUSTED. HOW DO YOU DO YOUR
BUSINESS? SECOND, JAPANESE
AMERICAN WHO USED THE PHRASE,
HORRIBLE. THIS IS HORRIBLE. EVEN
BEFORE WE HAD A CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE IS.
IT WAS PTSD. I DON'T HAVE
ANOTHER WORD OTHER THAN YOU'RE
SCARED. EVEN BEFORE YOU GO WHEN
YOU LOOK AT YOUR PHONE. AND IF
THERE IS, I'LL TELL YOU MY
EXPERIENCE. I'M A FIRST
GENERATION IMMIGRANT. AND WHEN I
GET THESE PHONE CALLS, A PART OF
MY JOB IS TO SERVE COMMUNITY, SO
THERE ARE MANY PHONE NUMBERS I
DON'T KNOW. SO I WILL PICK UP
THAT CALL, AND I KNOW WHEN THERE
IS A PAUSE BECAUSE I GO RIGHT
AWAY, HELLO, MY NAME IS MARIA.
YOU KNOW IT'S FROM A ROBOCALL.
THE NEXT THING I HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT IS IF I'M GOING TO ANSWER
THAT, SO I CAN SAY TAKE MY NAME
OFF YOUR LIST. I HAVE NO ACCENT
BECAUSE IT WAS BEATEN OUT OF ME
WHEN I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON. SO NOW I PICK UP THE
CALL, AND I GET A FRIENDLY, HI,
MARIA. SO HI, MARIA. OH, I MUST
KNOW THIS PERSON, SO NOW I'M
DOUBTING MY MEMORY. AND THEN YOU
GET THE CALL, AND THEY ARE
TALKING AS FAST AS I CAN, AND I
CANNOT INTERRUPT. SO I HAVE TO
YELL. I HAVE TO BE A PERSON I
DON'T WANT TO BE TO STOP
SOMETHING THAT'S COMING INTO MY
SPACE, INTO MY HOME. THOSE
LETTERS, THEY LOOK OFFICIAL.
LIKE I'M SUPPOSE TO DO
SOMETHING TO RESPOND TO THEM,
OTHERWISE I LOSE OUT. THAT'S
KIND OF SCARY. SO WITH A LOT OF
GRATEFULNESS, THANK YOU FOR
INTRODUCING THIS BECAUSE THE
TRUTH OF IT IS THAT OUR GOAL IN
BEACON HILL IS TO STAY IN PLACE.
TO STAY IN PLACE BECAUSE PEOPLE
ARE HAVING A HARD TIME,
PARTICULARLY NOW, WITH INCREASED
COST OF LIVING, HOUSING, OF
BEING ABLE TO JUST CONTINUE TO
STAY IN PLACE. AND YES, WHAT WAS
SAID VERY EARLY ON ABOUT TAXES
WHEN THERE IS NO DEVELOPMENT, IT
CHANGES THE TAX CONFIGURATION.
THE ASSESSORS OFFICE, BECAUSE I
CALLED AND SAID HOW COME OUR
TAXES ARE SO HIGH? NEXT CITY.
IT'S NOT. WELL, WE HAVE LEVIES
AND SO FORTH. SO OUR GOAL IS TO
STAY IN PLACE. AND THE LAST
PIECE IS AN ENHANCEMENT FOR THE
ORDINANCE. YOU NEED TO REACH OUT
IN MULTI-LINGUAL WAYS. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT THERE ARE
SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING
CARE OF THEIR KIDS, GOING TO
SCHOOL, WORKING, WORKING TWO OR
THREE JOBS, THAT CAN PROBABLY
COME AND TELL YOU THEIR STORY IF
THIS IS AT NIGHT OR ON THE
WEEKEND. AND EVEN AT THAT, WE
HAVE A HARD TIME PULLING PEOPLE
IN. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS
IS MUCH NEEDED. THOSE ROBOCALLS,
AND REALLY JUST ASKING
PARTICULARLY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
JOY HOLLINGSWORTH'S THOUGHT OF
WHATEVER FINES GET GATHERED
TOGETHER. I WOULD RECOMMEND
STRONGLY THAT IT WILL BE GIVEN
TO COMMUNITY TO DO THEIR
EDUCATION AND THEIR ADVOCACY
BECAUSE THEY'RE CLOSEST TO THE
PEOPLE, AND THEY WILL DO A VERY
GOOD JOB. AGAIN, OUR MANTRA,
OURS IS STAND IN PLACE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MR. DAVIS,
SAME QUESTION TO YOU, IF YOU CAN
SHARE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.
PLEASE SPEAK TO THE REPORT. I
THINK YOU MAYBE BROUGHT A COPY
OF IT AS WELL? SO THANK YOU.
>> I FAILED TO SAY I'M ALSO A
HOMEOWNER. BEEN ON BEACON HILLS
SINCE 1984. SAME HOME. OF
COURSE, WE RECEIVED THE
SOLICITATION, AND IT IS LIKELY
IF YOU GOT A VIEW, YOU'LL
PROBABLY GET TWICE AS MANY. IT
SEEMS TO BE OUR EXPERIENCE. I DO
HAVE A COUPLE OF STORIES. ONE IS
OUR ORGANIZATION. FORTUNATELY WE
WERE RECIPIENTS OF THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANT
THAT ALLOWED US TO PURCHASE
PROPERTY IN RAINIER BEACH,
ACTUALLY RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE
RAINIER BEACH LIGHT RAIL
STATIONS. THERE'S TWO HOMES ON
THAT PROPERTY. WE HAD A P.O.
BOX, AND WE WERE GETTING
SOLICITATIONS THROUGH THE P.O.
BOX. WHAT WAS INTERESTING, THEY
WERE CAMOUFLAGED AS DIRECT MALE
SOLICITATION, BUT THE SUBJECT OF
THE DIRECT MALE SOLICITATION WAS
WANTING TO BUY OUR PROPERTY. SO
THE SOPHISTICATION EXISTS IN THE
INDUSTRY TO DO IT IN A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT WAYS. THEY WERE
ELDERLY AND WERE APPROACHED.
THEY ACTUALLY TOOK UP THE OFFER
OF SELLING THEIR HOME, I'M
PRETTY SURE THEY DIDN'T GET FOR
VALUE OF IT. BUT THE OTHER OFFER
WAS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE
HOME FOR FREE, FOR A YEAR UNTIL
THEY TOOK IT UP. WHOEVER THE
PARTY WAS THAT PURCHASED THE
PROPERTY PUT FOUR MORE TOWNHOMES
ON THAT PROPERTY. SO IMAGINE IF
THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THE
FAMILY COULD HAVE HAD, AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF. THEY WOULD NOT ONLY BE IN
PLACE, BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO INCREASE THEIR GENERATIONAL
WEALTH AS A RESULT OF IT, BUT
DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO
EXPERIENCE THAT. SO IN TERMS OF
THE POLICY BRIEFING, YOU KNOW,
REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO
TALK ABOUT IT. THIS IS THE FIFTH
YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DEVELOPING
THE POLICY BRIEF. WE CALLED IT
DISASTER, GENTRIFICATION IN KING
COUNTY, HOW TO STOP IT FROM
HAPPENING AGAIN. WE KNEW THROUGH
CERTAIN EXPERIENCES,
PARTICULARLY THE SUB PRIME
MORTGAGE LOAN SITUATION THAT
DURING DISASTERS, THERE ARE
PEOPLE OUT THERE READY TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE. TO PUT THIS
TOGETHER, THE POLICY BRIEF
TOGETHER, FIVE YEARS AGO, THAT I
HAVE TO SAY ARE VERY IMPORTANT
GROUP OF TALENTED PEOPLE. I JUST
WANT TO GIVE THEM SOME PROPS
BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THIS
CITY, IN OUR CITY, AND THEY WERE
INVOLVED IN THIS WORK. THE
MULTI-CULTURAL COMMUNITY
COALITION, PUGET SOUND SAGE,
HOWARD GRINCH, RESPECTFULLY.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW HOWARD AND
HIS WONDERFUL RESEARCH ADVOCACY
ABILITY. SO THEY WERE ASSISTED.
THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR
ORGANIZATION HAVE ASSISTED THIS
CITY IN OBTAINING, ACTUALLY A
NATIONAL REPUTATION FOR BEING AN
EQUITABLE BASE MUNICIPALITY.
WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZING SINCE
2010, WHERE WE WORKED ON THE
AFRO MENTION PROJECTS WE SHARED,
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, PRIORITY
HIRES, THE SWEET BEVERAGE TAX.
ONE CONSTANT WITHIN THIS GROUP
WAS RECOGNIZING THAT THE MOST
VULNERABLE, NOT ONLY HELPS THE
MOST VULNERABLE. HELPING THE
MOST VULNERABLE NOT ONLY HELPS
THEM, BUT IT ALSO HELPS OTHERS
WHO ARE NOT SO VULNERABLE. ONE
OF THE THINGS WE ALSO DO IS TO
SEEK THROUGH OUR POLICY MAKE,
NOT ONLY LOCAL IMPACT, BUT
REGIONAL IMPACTS. SO IF YOU'RE
FOLLOWING EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT,
YOU KNOW IT'S HAPPENING IN KING
COUNTY, IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE
CARD FOR ALL. WE KNOW THAT AS OF
LATE LAST YEAR, IT GOT ACCEPTED
IN OHIO STATE. ANYBODY UNDER THE
AGE OF 18 COULD RIDE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION FOR FREE, EVEN
THE WASHINGTON FERRIES. SO THIS
POLICY IS COUCHED IN A COMMUNITY
POLICY BRIEF, THIS POLICY OF NO
SOLICITATION. THERE ARE ACTUALLY
OTHER POLICIES BESIDES THE NO
SOLICITATION. PRESERVING
AFFORDABILITY AND CREATING A
PATH FOR INTENDED OWNERSHIP AND
A COMMUNITY FOR PURCHASE ACT.
ANOTHER POLICY THAT WAS IN THIS
POLICY BRIEF WAS STOPPING
HARASSMENT OF VULNERABLE
HOMEOWNERS BY CREATING A NO
SOLICITATION, THE ASSIST ZONE.
THE LAST ONE IN THE BRIEF IS
DISCOURAGING FLIPPING FOR PROFIT
THROUGH A TAX ON CERTAIN REAL
ESTATE TRANSACTIONS. ONE OF THE
OTHER THINGS WE GET TO THAT
WE'RE NOW WORKING ON IS VACANCY
SOLICITATION TAX BECAUSE THERE
ARE MANY PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE
CITY WHO OWN PROPERTY THAT ARE
NOT, THAT ARE JUST HOLDING IT,
AND CREATING BLIGHT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THE POINT IS
THIS POLICY BRIEF WAS ABLE TO
SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES. ONE OF THE
THINGS WE DID HERE FROM CENTRAL
STAFF WAS THE REFERENCE TO
POLICIES IN NEW YORK, AND IN
PHILADELPHIA. IT'S TO LONG-TERM
RESIDENTS. ESSENTIALLY THEY
SUBMITTED THEIR ADDRESSES TO THE
CITY'S CLERK, AND THE REAL
ESTATE AGENTS ARE REQUIRED TO
OBTAIN THE LIST, AND BYPASS ANY
HOMES THERE TO THE REGISTRY.
THEY ALSO HAVE A $1,250 FINE FOR
FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY -- AND ADDED
A REQUIRED COMPLETION OF 90 DAYS
OF COMMUNITY SERVICE ON BEHALF
OF THE PERSON OR TO HAVE THEIR
LICENSE REVOKED. SO THE OTHER
CITY IN NEW JERSEY WOULD FOLLOW
THIS TOO. IT IS INTERESTING THE
IDEA OF THE COST AND WHAT
HAPPENS WITH THE FEES, WHILE I
CAN'T ARGUE WITH MARIA'S
PERSPECTIVE. HOW ABOUT THAT
COVERS THE COST OF THE WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REGULATE
THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. SO THAT
IS OUR SHARE FOR THE POLICY
BRIEF. YOU CAN GO TO THE BUDGET
SOUND SAGE WEBSITE, ENTER
DISASTER GENTRIFICATION BRIEF
AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT
AND READ IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
AND I REALLY WANT TO SEND MY
APPRECIATION TO ALL MY PANELISTS
FOR BEING HERE TODAY. BUT AGAIN,
NOT JUST FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I
THINK MR. SALISBURY, YOU SAID IT
SO WELL. NO ONE ON THIS PANEL IS
NEW TO THIS. WHILE I FEEL
HONORED BEING NEW HERE, PICKING
UP THE ENGAGEMENT. IT'S REALLY
THE WORK YOU ALL HAVE DONE FOR
THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES THAT
LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THE
CONVERSATION TODAY. SO I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY THANKS. I THINK IT'S
ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT WE GOT A
CHANCE TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE ON
THE PANEL TODAY, SO MUCH AROUND,
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TO
PROTECT HERE, RIGHT? WHICH IS
PEOPLE'S PEACE OF MINDS, BUT
PEOPLE'S EXISTING WEALTH, AS
WELL AS PEOPLE'S OPPORTUNITY TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT THEY
ALREADY OWN, AND TO BUILD THERE
AND TO GROW THAT OPPORTUNITY. I
THINK YOU ALL SPOKE TO SO MANY
OF THE THINGS THAT AS THE AUTHOR
OF THIS LEGISLATION, I'M REALLY
TRYING TO GET AT, SO I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I'M
GOING TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
I'M COGNIZANT OF THE TIME, SO I
WANT TO TURN TO MY COLLEAGUES
FOR THE QUESTIONS FOR OUR PANEL
NOW. SO COLLEAGUES, WHAT
QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE, AND EVERYTHING YOU ALL
HAVE TALKED ABOUT COMPLETELY
HEARD THE SAME THINGS. AND ONE,
JUST QUICK COMMENT TO WHICH THIS
IS UNDERSTANDING WHY THIS IS
IMPORTANT. I HAVE, YOU KNOW,
ELDERLY PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY. AND
MY MOM HAS BEEN TARGETED FOR,
YOU KNOW, SCAMS ON HER BANK
ACCOUNT. I HAVE AN AUNT WHOSE
SOLE CAR INSURANCE HAS NEVER
OWNED A CAR, BUT HAS BEEN PAYING
IT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
OUR BIGGEST ASSETS IN TRYING TO
PROTECT THAT PIECE, WHICH ARE
PEOPLES HOMES. SO I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATION. YES,
THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DOING
THIS, AND I THINK IT SHOWS ALSO
THE SERIOUSNESS THAT THE CITY
HAS IN THE COMMITMENT WITH
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, PEOPLE TRYING TO
FIND SOME LEGISLATIVE LEGAL
PATHWAYS FOR PROTECTION. AND ONE
OF THE THINGS I HAD, LITERALLY
WHILE YOU WERE TALKING, I WAS
LOOKING AT ALL THE LETTERS THAT
MY FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED,
AS FAR AS SOMEONE KNOCKING ON
THE DOOR AND LEAVING A SIGNED
SEALED AGREEMENT ON THE FRONT
PORCH WITH THEIR SIGNATURE AND
OFFER IN AN ENVELOPE THAT WOULD
HAVE THE HOUSE DEED, YOU KNOW,
THE WHOLE NINE. THESE TACTICS
THAT PEOPLE DO. ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS I HAVE IS WHAT ARE,
BESIDES THE LEGISLATION, WHAT
ARE SOME WAYS YOU ALL HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO SAVE
PEOPLE HOMES BECAUSE USUALLY
PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO
SELL OR SUBJECT TO SELL OR WHAT
HAVE YOU. AND BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE RESOURCES FOR SOME
IMPROVEMENTS THEY NEED TO MAKE.
THE TAXES ARE HIGH, THEY DID A
REVERSE MORTGAGE AND THEIR KIDS
FOUND OUT AFTER THEY DIED. AND
ALL THESE THINGS. HOW TO PUT A
HOME IN A PERSON'S TRUST, WHEN
SOMEONE DIES AND IT'S
TRANSFERRED. ANYONE WOULD BE
ABLE TO INHERIT THAT PROPERTY
WITHOUT CERTAIN TAXES AND SO
FORTH. WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU
HAVE ALL DONE THAT HAVE WORKED
WHEREAS THE CITY MISSING WOULD
PROBABLY NEED TO RESOURCE BETTER
TO HELP CURB SOME OF THESE
ISSUES GOING ON? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR THAT QUESTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE,
WHILE WE STARTED OUR ENTIRE
ORGANIZATION, IS TO REMIND
PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE.
OFTENTIMES THESE DECISIONS ARE
MADE AT OUR LOWEST MOMENT WHERE
WE HAD A TRAUMATIC FAMILY EVENT.
SUCH AS THE DEATH OF THE SPOUSE
OR THE DEATH OF THE MATRIARCH OR
PATRIARCH OF THE LIKE. AND SO WE
REMINDED FOLKS, DO OUR OUTREACH
AND ENGAGEMENT AND JUST
FELLOWSHIP TO HOLD OUR HAND. AND
WHAT WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
SHARE THIS INFORMATION, DON'T
LET PRIDE GET YOU GENTRIFIED AS
ONE OF OUR TAG LINES. AND TO
CONNECT THEM REQUEST THE
RESOURCES. RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY
THE FORECLOSURE ASSISTANCE IS
NOT WHERE IT WAS. SOME PROGRAMS
HAVE BEGUN TO DECLINE. HOWEVER,
THERE'S BEEN MANY PROGRAMS
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST WITH,
AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING,
AND FOR TRANSPARENCY, WE HAVE
RECEIVED SOME RESOURCES AND
FUNDING. TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT
PEOPLE. TO BE ABLE TO SCALE THAT
WORK, IF YOU WILL, INTEGRATE THE
EXAMPLE OF THAT. MEMBERS WHO
THOUGHT THEY HAD TO SELL THEIR
HOME BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T
AFFORD TO GET THE ROOF DONE. AND
KNEW THEY DID NOT PARTICULARLY
QUALIFY FOR A PROGRAM, BUT WE
WERE ABLE TO HELP THEM FILL OUT
THE APPLICATION FOR THE LOW COST
GRANT, IF YOU WILL. THE LOW COST
LOAN FOR THEM TO GET THOSE
REPAIRS MADE. SIGNED ONE OF
THOSE AGREEMENTS YOU TALKED
ABOUT, WHERE THEY HAD LEFT IT,
ACTUALLY THE GRANDSON HAD THE
GRANDPA SIGN THIS AGREEMENT. AND
LONG STORY SHORT. DEVELOPER, THE
PERSON, THE PREDATORY PERSON
THAT GOT ON THEIR DEED, AND WE
WERE ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH
SOME LEGAL HELP THROUGH OUR
FRIENDS AT THE URBAN LEAGUE, MS.
LINDA TAYLOR CONNECTED US WITH
SOME LAWYERS, AND EVENTUALLY WE
WERE ABLE TO GET THAT PERSON
BACK THEIR PROPERTY, AND THEY
GOT THEIR MONEY BACK. SO THERE
IS RELIEF OUT HERE THROUGH
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURSELVES,
WHO ARE CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH
THESE RESOURCES. SO IN ADDITION
TO HAVING THIS TYPE OF
LEGISLATION, WE ARE HONORING
OURSELVES WITH THE FACT THAT
ALMOST EVERYTHING WE NEED IS
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, IF WE
COULD JUST TURN TO ONE ANOTHER.
WE STILL WANT LEGISLATION LIKE
THIS, BUT WE KNOW THAT EVEN
WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE
LAWYERS, WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION
PEOPLE, WE HAVE FOLKS WHO KNOW,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MORTGAGE
FOLKS, SO THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN DOING, AND WHAT WE HAVE ON
THE GROUND AND AMONGST OURSELVES
TO BE ABLE TO BRING GOVERNMENT
TO BEAR TO HELP US OUT, TO BE
ABLE TO SHIFT THE BURDEN. THOSE
ARE A FEW OF THE THINGS WE'LL
DO WITH OUR ORGANIZATION, AND OF
COURSE, OUR SUGGESTION IS TO BE
ABLE TO HELP US SCALE TO REACH
MANY MORE HOMEOWNERS. AND FOLKS
ON THE EDGE, WE WANT TO BE ON
THE OPPOSITE. AND WE ARE THE
PERSON IN GROUPS THAT SAY YOU DO
NOT HAVE TO MOVE. WE WOULD LOVE
FOR YOU TO STAY, AND WE WANT TO
HELP YOU. SO WE KNOW THERE ARE
OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DOING
THE SAME WORK, AND THERE ARE
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE
DOING THE SAME WORK. WHEN I TOLD
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING ONE TIME,
AND I'M GOING TO FINISH UP. BUT
WHAT I TOLD THEM ONE TIME IS
THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.
WHEN YOU HAVE FOUR, FIVE, 10,
100 PREDATORY FOLKS CALLING TO
TRY TO TRICK YOU OUT OF YOUR
PROPERTY, IT IS OKAY TO HAVE
THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN,
EIGHT REDUNDANT ORGANIZATIONS,
IF YOU WILL. IF I'M CALLING
SOMEBODY OR TALKING TO SOMEBODY
IN RAINIER BEACH ABOUT SAVING
THEIR HOUSE AND TALKING TO THE
SAME WAY, THAT IS OKAY. AND WE
TELL THEM THE OPERATION.
OFTENTIMES THE MESSENGER IS JUST
AS IMPORTANT AS THE MESSAGE. SO
I GUESS THAT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS I WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO
MOVE AWAY FROM THIS KIND OF, WE
GOT THAT ONE SERVICE PROVIDER,
THAT ONE COMMUNITY GROUP THAT
DOES THAT, AND WE HAVE PUT ALL
OF OUR EGGS IN THAT BASKET. AND
THERE ARE WAY MORE THAN ONE
PERSON CALLING US, RIGHT? AND
THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF
MICATIONS, IF YOU WILL, AND THE
THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING AT
BLACK LEGACY HOMEOWNERS, SEEING
OUR OTHER, I GUESS I WOULD CALL
PEER ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY
AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
IF THERE IS ANYTHING ANYONE
WOULD LIKE TO ADD, I WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR THAT. THEN I'LL BE
TURNING TO COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
FOR HER QUESTIONS NEXT.
>> I'M KIND OF HESITANT BECAUSE
WHAT I REALIZE IS -- I'M GOING
TO DO IT FAST. IT'S GOOD.
YOU'RE GOOD. THE IMPORTANT
THING IS WE NEED TO STEP UP AND
LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE BECAUSE
FOR ME, THESE ROBOCALLS ARE THE
VULTURES THAT'S COMING IN AND
PICKING ON OUR COMMUNITY. THE
BIGGER PICTURE FOR US IN BEACON
HILL AND TO STAY IN PLACE ARE
TWO STRATEGIES. ONE IS HOW CAN
WE HELP MANAGE THE COST OF
LIVING IN BEACON HILL? SO THERE
ARE MANY PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY
HAS IN TERMS OF REDUCED UTILITY
COST. THERE IS WEATHERIZATION
THAT BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH
HEALTH ISSUES. BY THE WAY, THIS
IS THE PARANOIA AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH ISSUE ALSO.
WE'RE DOING THAT. AND THROUGH
TIME BECAUSE WE'RE FRAMING OUR
ISSUES AS ENVIRONMENTAL
INJUSTICE IN TERMS OF
DISPLACEMENT, HEALTH OVER THE
POLLUTION FROM AIR, LAND, AND
INDOOR POLLUTION. YOU KNOW, THE
CONVERSION OF OIL, TO ELECTRIC.
THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS, THE
ASSESSORS, SENIOR REDUCED
TAXATION, PROPERTY TAX RATE. I
THINK AT SOME POINT, WE ARE JUST
RUNNING HERE AND THERE, AND THIS
BUNDLING NEEDS TO OCCUR. SO A
PART OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
DUOTO OUR COUNCILMEMBER LIN IS
TO SAY WE NEED A PLAN FOR BEACON
HILL. BECAUSE WHEN YOU ZOOM OUT,
RIGHT? THIS IS THE CONTINUING
LEGACY OF RED LINING. RED LINE
IN, RED LINE OUT. AND SO THAT IS
A PART OF THE STRATEGY OF WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO. THE OTHER
THING IS THAT WE NEED YOU TO
REALLY TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE
COMP PLAN. OUR HOPE IS OUR
CHILDREN AND THE FRIENDS OF OUR
CHILDREN AND THOSE FOLKS CAN
STAY IN BEACON HILL, AND WE ARE
LOOKING TO HELP DEVELOP OUR
PROPERTY IN THE FAMILY, IN THE
FAMILY, FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE
FAMILY. AND ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WE MADE IS DEFER
THAT CONSTRUCTION PERMIT,
$60,000 TO $70,000 UNTIL POINT
OF SALE. WE HAVE SURVEYS WE HAVE
DONE AT RED APPLE THROUGH OUR
PARTNER COALITIONS FOR
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEE, CICS AND
SO FORTH. TO GET THAT IN FULL
TRANSPARENCY, WE ARE SIX TO
EIGHT VOLUNTEERS IN BEACON HILL
COUNCIL. WE WERE ASKED TO BECOME
A NON-PROFIT MANY YEARS AGO, TO
BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH A CITY
BECAUSE THEY ARE GIVING GRANTS.
BUT WE CHOSE NOT TO BECAUSE WE
WANT TO BE AS PURE ADVOCATES AS
WE CAN BE. AND THERE IS STILL
THAT NEED. SO I LOVE THAT THIS
IS SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT CAN
BE DONE, THAT IS NOW. AND WE
NEED TO LOOK AT THIS DIAGNOSTIC
PIECES, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO
LOOK AT WHAT IS DRIVING THIS,
AND WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THAT
RACISM IN THE GET GO.
>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY TWO THINGS.
ONE IS WE HAVE A COPY OF THE
COMMUNITY POLICY BRIEF AT OUR
OFFICE, PARTICULARLY PAGE 33,
34. SO WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS THEY
WOULD GET A SOLICITATION, WE'LL
GIVE THEM A COPY, AND WE WILL
ACTUALLY MAIL IT TO THE PARTY
THAT SENT THEM THE INQUIRY. WE
WILL PAY IT FOR THE STAMP TO
SEND THAT. SO THE PARTY WILL GET
THIS POLICY BRIEF DOCUMENT.
WHILE THIS MIGHT, I MENTIONED I
WAS PART OF THE BLACK HOME
INITIATIVE, THE CORE TEAM, AND
I'M GLAD THAT MICHAEL BROWN'S
NAME GOT MENTIONED IN THIS WORK
HOW ABOUT HELPING MORE BLACK
FOLKS BE FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS?
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEY ARE
GOING TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE
PREDATORS OUT THERE IN THIS
CURRENT STATE. THE IDEA OF MORE
HOMEOWNERS INTO THE SYSTEM AND
WILL HELP SPREAD THE ABILITY TO
COUNTERACT THESE PREDATORS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT,
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT FANTASTIC
QUESTION, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I
APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR FOSTER. I
WANT TO FOREMOST RECOGNIZE THIS
IS AN INCREDIBLE PANEL. THANK
YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO
FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES. YOU ALL ARE GREAT
LEADERS IN YOUR OWN RIGHT. I'M
REALLY GRATEFUL YOU ARE BEFORE
COMMITTEE TODAY. MY QUESTION FOR
YOU ALL BUILDS ON THE QUESTION
THAT I HAD FOR THE STAFF
PRESENTATION JUST AROUND
IMPLEMENTATION AND UTILIZATION.
SO I'M WONDERING IF EACH OF YOU
CAN SPEAK TO, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING
PASSAGE OF THIS IN MOVING
FORWARD. HOW DO YOU SEE
YOURSELVES WORKING WITH THIS
PARTICULAR, WITH THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS? WE TALKED A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT HOW THERE WILL BE A
FUNDED ENFORCEMENT PART OF THIS.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM
THAT STAFF PERSON WITHIN OCR?
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THEM
INTERACTING WITH YOU IN
COMMUNITIES TO REALLY MAKE SURE
FOLKS, WE ARE TAKING FULL
ADVANTAGE OF THE UTILIZATION AND
UTILIZING THIS TO THE MAXIMUM
EXTENT POSSIBLE?
>> YEAH, SO MOST CERTAINLY.
ASSUMING THE PASSAGE OF THIS. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS IS GIVEN THE ACTUAL
TOOLS AND NOT JUST THE FTE THAT
I SAW IN THE BRIEF OR IN THE
SLIDE. IT TALKED ABOUT THE FTE
AND THE STAFF PERSON, BUT THE
STAFF PERSON WITHOUT THE BUDGET
OR THE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO
MOVE EFFECTIVELY IS GOING TO
HAVE ONE HAND BEHIND YOUR BACK.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE TOOLS,
OFTENTIMES WHAT WE WOULD LIKE,
WHAT WILL LEAVE ME PERSONALLY,
AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
OUR ORGANIZATION RIGHT NOW. WHEN
I SAY THAT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THE EFFECTIVE MARKETING
TECHNIQUES, RIGHT? WHERE WE
COULD NOT HAVE SOME QR CODE AND
ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, RIGHT?
WE WANT TO SEE AGGRESSIVE ACTION
OUT IN COMMUNITY, WHEREVER THAT
FTE, THE PERSON THAT IS HIRED.
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
AUTHENTIC PARTNERSHIPS IN
COMMUNICATIONS WITH ESTABLISHED
COMMUNITY GROUPS, RIGHT? SO
OFTENTIMES WE'LL SEE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE NO TIE TO THAT, THAT
COMMUNITY. AND THE MESSENGER IS
JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE
MESSAGE. SO WHOEVER IS WORKING
WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
TO IMPLEMENT THIS. ONE, THEY
HAVE THE ABILITY TO PARTNER AND
SOMETIMES THAT MEANS
SUBCONTRACT, RIGHT? AND ALSO
PARTNER AND HAVE THE TOOLS, IF
YOU WILL. THE LANGUAGE TOOLS,
THE TRANSLATION TOOLS, AND NOT
ONLY THE OLD SCHOOL, THE PDF,
RIGHT? BUT THE REAL DIGITAL
TOOLS, VIDEO, THINGS LIKE THAT
TO BE ABLE TO GET THE MESSAGE
ACROSS TO HOMEOWNERS, SO THEY
COULD SEE IT IN A MULTI-PLATFORM
APPROACH, RIGHT? AND IT IS NOT
JUST E-MAILS. BUT WE NEED TO BE
ABLE TO BE JUST AS AGGRESSIVE AS
THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND
HOW DO YOU DO THAT? WELL, ONE
PERSON, I MEAN, IT'S A START,
BUT MOST CERTAINLY, THROUGH THE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO SCALE
THEIR EFFORTS.
>> AS A RETIRED BUREAUCRAT,
IT'S -- WHO -- I RETIRED AS
DIVERSITY MANAGER FOR KING
COUNTY, SO CROSS-CULTURAL
COMMUNICATIONS IS REALLY
CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT. I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AND ALL OF
YOU WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET
THE FUNDING FROM THIS, BUT IT IS
JUST NOT ENOUGH, OKAY? EVEN WHEN
I THINK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOOD, TRUSTING THE
COMMUNITY FOLKS WHO CAN DO
LANGUAGE TRANSLATION AND
INTERPRETATION. HOW CAN YOU
PARTNER? THERE ARE THREE THINGS
THAT COME UP WITH ME, AND YOU
GUYS NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE
MONEY. THE FIRST THING IS YOU
HAVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
THAT SUPPORT YOU. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO
EDITORIALS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR
IN THE NEWSPAPERS. THAT'S ONE.
SECOND IS LOOK AT PARTNERING
WITH THE KING COUNTY ASSESSOR TO
HAVE A MULTI- LINGUAL MAILER GO
OUT OR SOONER. AGAIN, KEEP
LOOKING AT THE SYSTEMS YOU HAVE.
THE LOW INCOME NOTICES THAT ARE
PUT OUT BY UTILITIES, TO
HOMEOWNERS, I MEAN THAT'S A WAY
TO GET THE WORD OUT TO ALL
HOMEOWNERS WHO GET BILLS. SO
KEEP LOOKING AT THAT. AND I DO
THINK THAT THIS QR CODE THING IS
JUST KILLING OUR COMMUNITIES
BECAUSE ONCE YOU DO THE QR CODE
ARE PROBABLY NOT NECESSARILY
ALWAYS PROPERTY OWNERS, SO YOU
HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY -- I
THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
HAVE SOME ADVISERS TO PULL THIS
THING TOGETHER. BUT THE OTHER
THING IS THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SO
GOOD AT SOCIAL MEDIA. AND HOW DO
WE TAKE SOMETHING THAT IS SO
POWERFUL AND IMPORTANT TO BE PUT
OUT TOGETHER? BECAUSE OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE, SOMETIMES WHEN THEY SAY
YOUNG, IT IS PROBABLY 60 AND
BELOW. THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO GET
THE WORD TO US. BECAUSE FRANKLY
PEOPLE JUST SHUT DOWN WHEN YOU
EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF
HARASSMENT AND ABUSE. YOU JUST
SHUT DOWN. SOME OF THE FINES
COULD COME BACK TO THE ONGOING
COMMUNICATION FOR THE FIRST
YEAR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
AS MUCH. AND THAT IS WHERE
YOU'LL GET A LOT MORE. AND MY
GUESS IS THAT THE SOLICITORS
WILL FIND AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO
GET TO MORE PEOPLE, AND THEN YOU
NEED TO UP YOUR GAMES IN TERMS
OF THE ORDINANCE, THANK YOU.
>> WELL, WE ARE ORGANIZERS AT
HEART, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE IN
THIS URBAN PLANNING SPACE. WHAT
WE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO TO
HELP THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
CONNECT WITH THE LICENSED REAL
ESTATE AGENTS. LET'S TEST THEIR
RESOLVE, LIKE THIS IS THE
INDUSTRY, AND IF -- ESPECIALLY
IF THEY ARE ASKING FOR AN
EXEMPTION. IF THEY ARE
CONCERNED. HAVE THEM CONTRIBUTE
TO THE POT TO SUPPORT THE COST.
THE ASSOCIATIONS THAT EXIST, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WELL
HOW DO WE AFFORD THIS? TEST THE
RESOLVE OF THE INDUSTRY, AND
HAVE THEM ORGANIZE THEMSELVES TO
CONTRIBUTE TO SUPPORTING THIS TO
GO AFTER THOSE WHOLESALERS THAT
SEE THIS ARENA. SO HAVE THEM
KIND OF HELP PAY WHAT THEY ARE
SINCERE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WITH
THEIR CONCERNS.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO
CONCRETE TOO ON EXACT WAYS THAT
WE CAN BE PROVIDING REALLY
MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THIS
RIGHT IN A WAY THAT IS MEETING
THE NEED OR TRYING TO GET THE
WORD OUT. I THINK THAT IS REALLY
VALUABLE FOR US TO BRING TO OCR.
AND I THINK US MOVING FORWARD
TOO. YOU KNOW, THIS IS
COUNCILMEMBER LIN MENTIONED THIS
EARLIER IN COMMITTEE, BUT THE
WORK WILL LIKELY BE ITERATIVE AS
IT WAS JUST SAID. THEY WILL
PROBABLY REFINE THEIR GAME TO
TRY TO KEEP UP THIS PRACTICE.
AND SO I THINK THAT REALLY
DEMANDS US TO BE MAKING SURE WE
ARE EVALUATING ALSO THIS
PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION,
SO I HOPE NEXT YEAR WE CAN HAVE
KIND OF A CHECK IN ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORK TO
REALLY KEEP IT UP AND REEVALUATE
ON HOW WE CAN BRING ONLINE MORE
STRATEGIES TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE. AND I WANTED TO CLOSE
WITH RENAMING THE DISCUSSION
TODAY BECAUSE THE NATURE OF THIS
LEGISLATION REALLY FOCUSES ON
ADDRESSING. AND I HEARD A NUMBER
OF THINGS THROUGHOUT TESTIMONY
TODAY THAT CERTAINLY NEEDS
ADDRESSING TOO. I HEARD IT
MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE THESE
FOLKS USING PERSONAL INFORMATION
LIKE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY TO
TRY TO TARGET PEOPLE. THAT NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSED. I HEARD A WIDE
RANGE OF DECEIVING PRACTICES,
OFFICIAL LOOKING DOCUMENTS,
CANDY. THAT IS SO WILD TO ME. A
SIGNED SEAL AGREEMENT THAT IS,
I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER
DECEIVING AND MANIPULATIVE
TACTICS THAT ALSO NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED. THEN THE USE OF A.I.,
WHATEVER ALL OF THAT MEANS, AND
THE EMERGENTS OF A.I. IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. SO IN MY MIND,
THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO DO
HERE, SO A HUMBLE ASK AS WE MOVE
FORWARD, WE MAKE SURE WE'RE
PICKING THIS UP IN COMMITTEE
NEXT YEAR TO EVALUATE AND FIND
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO REITERATE
ON THE WORK. THANK YOU, CHAIR
FOR BRINGING THIS ALL TODAY.
THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. OVER TO
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL
PANEL FOR THE YEARS OF WORK. ALL
OF YOU HAVE BEEN DOING TO
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. ONE
QUESTION. JUST TRYING TO THINK
LOGISTICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IF
YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT YOUR NAME
ON THIS LIST, BUT I THINK AS YOU
WERE MENTIONING, CHUKUNDI,
OFTENTIMES PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST
VULNERABLE ARE ALSO, YOU KNOW,
DEALING WITH SOMETHING ELSE.
MAYBE IT'S A DEATH IN THE
FAMILY. MAYBE IT'S TAXES. MAYBE
IT'S OTHER COSTS. AND SO I JUST
WANT TO BE MINDFUL THAT WE
AREN'T PROHIBITING SOMEHOW
PEOPLE FROM GETTING THE HELP
THAT THEY NEED. AND SO
DISTINGUISHING, AGAIN, JUST
WANTING TO BE CAREFUL WITH OUR
LANGUAGE ABOUT SOLICIT THAT
WE'RE NOT PROHIBITING THE GOOD
WORK THAT YOU DO, FOR EXAMPLE,
TO GO OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE WHO
ARE MAYBE VULNERABLE TO MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS
TO POTENTIALLY SORT OF A BROKER
THAT WILL HELP THEM GET THE FULL
VALUE. THERE ARE TIMES, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE MIGHT NEED TO SELL
THEIR HOME. SO THEY MIGHT PUT
THEIR NAME ON THE LIST. BUT THEN
CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT CHANGE, AND
THEY MIGHT NEED TO SELL THEIR
HOMES, SO HOW DO WE MAKE SURE
THIS DOESN'T PROHIBIT THEM,
SOMEBODY FROM BEING ON THE LIST
TO PRECLUDE ALL THE UNSOLICITED
CALLS TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL
HAVE FULL ABILITY TO GO OUT AND,
YOU KNOW, GET A BROKER TO SELL
THEIR HOME IF THEY NEED TO, OR
TO GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY
NEED. SO THAT IS JUST SOMETHING
I WANT TO BE MINDFUL. I DON'T
KNOW IF IT IS A QUESTION, BUT
JUST SORT OF -- I'M ASSUMING IF
YOU'RE ON THE LIST, JUST FOR
OUR PANEL, THAT THAT SHOULD NOT
SORT OF PROHIBIT SOMEBODY FROM
BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW,
PROACTIVELY SEEK A BROKER, TO
SELL THEIR HOME IF THEY WANT TO,
OR, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE -- IF
THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT IT
SHOULD NOT PROHIBIT GROUPS LIKE
BLACK HOMEOWNERS FROM REACHING
OUT SAYING HEY, HERE'S THE
RESOURCES. I JUST WANT TO
CLARIFY THAT'S NOT THE INTENT.
IF NEEDED, WE SHOULD CLARIFY THE
LANGUAGE.
>> YEAH, MOST CERTAINLY,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. COULD I HOP
IN? I'M SORRY.
>> I WAS GOING TO GO TO YOU ANY
WAY.
>> I WAS ON THE EDGE HERE. I WAS
ON THE EDGE. AND I GUESS WHAT I
WOULD SAY IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE
BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN, IT SAYS
UNWANTED, RIGHT? WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT THIS UNWANTED
SOLICITATION, WHERE PEOPLE ARE
CONTACTING YOU OUT OF THE BLUE,
RIGHT? AS WE KNOW FROM ALL OF US
IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE, WE DON'T
NECESSARILY SEE THEM IN
NORTHEAST SEATTLE. BUT OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALREADY
INUNDATED WITH SIGNS ON EVERY
TELEPHONE POLE THAT SAYS WE BUY
HOMES FOR CASH, RIGHT? SO THESE
-- THESE NUMBERS, THERE IS NO
LACK OF PHONE NUMBERS TO CALL IN
OUR COMMUNITY, IF, IN FACT, YOU
ARE DISTRESSED AT THIS POINT,
RIGHT? THERE IS NO LACK OF GOOD
ACTORS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS, AT
EVERY GROCERY STORE. THEY'RE ON
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CARTS AND
EVERYTHING ELSE. REAL ESTATE
AGENTS ARE MOST CERTAINLY
ADVERTISING AS THEY CAN AS GOOD
ACTORS. I WOULD SAY SOME OF THE
PREDATORY PEOPLE ARE MOST
CERTAINLY ADVERTISING AS WELL ON
EVERY TELEPHONE POLE, RIGHT? SO
THE INFORMATION IS AROUND US,
CONTINUALLY. SO FOLKS THAT DO
WANT VERSES UNWANTED, IF THEY DO
WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN
WHATEVER EDGE OF THAT COMMERCE
THEY WOULD WANT TO ENGAGE IN.
THERE IS NO LACK OF THAT
INFORMATION IN COMMUNITY, RIGHT?
AND I'M NOT THE LEGAL PERSON. I
DO WANT TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL
LEGISLATION OR AGAIN HAVE
SOMEONE IN OUR COMMUNITY LIKE
MARTIN AND THOSE FOLKS. I'M
MORE OF THE TALKING HEAD. BUT WE
HAVE PEOPLE THAT WILL GO AND
LOOK IN THERE. BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THIS DOESN'T
PRECLUDE US FROM BEING ABLE TO
GO AND OFFER RESOURCES, RIGHT,
TO PEOPLE. AND WE'RE SAYING TO
PEOPLE, DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS
PROGRAM OR THAT PROGRAM? THAT IS
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE WORK
THAT WE DO IN TERMS OF OFFERING
THE LIKE OF THESE -- LETTING
PEOPLE KNOW IS THEN ASKING YOU
TO ENGAGE IN A TRANSACTION OR DO
YOU WANT TO SELL? AND SO I'LL
LET THE LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE
FOLKS. THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ALL
ON THE COUNCIL. BUT THE PERSON
IN ME, THE ORGANIZER AS GREGORY
HAS SAID, SEES A CLEAR
DIFFERENCE FROM A PERSON GOING
OUT AND OFFERING RESOURCES TO
PEOPLE AROUND HOW THEY CAN STAY
IN THEIR HOME IS CLEARLY
DIFFERENT FROM AN UNWANTED
SOLICITATION TO SELL YOUR HOME.
>> I THINK THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER
LIN, I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION,
AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT
FOLLOW-UP ON THE QUESTIONS YOU
ASKED EARLIER. I JUST WANTED TO
SHARE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF
DRAFTING IT. THAT'S PART OF THE
REASON WHY WE TOOK THE APPROACH
OF CREATING THE OPT-IN, DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST AS OPPOSED TO THE
ZONE, WHICH YOU HEARD FOLKS
SPEAK TO, THAT SOME OTHER CITIES
DID. THAT'S PART OF HOW NEW
YORK DID THEIRS. I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE, AND I REMEMBER WHEN
MR. SALISBURY AND I MET, AND YOU
TALKED ABOUT THIS. SOMETHING TO
THE EFFECT OF, WELL, IF SOMEBODY
WANTS TO SELL THEIR HOUSE, THEY
CAN. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SELL
THEIR HOUSE AND THEY'RE ON THE
LIST. THE INTENT OF THIS
LEGISLATION IS NOT TO PROHIBIT
SOMEBODY FROM PUTTING THEIR
HOUSE FOR SALE. IT IS JUST TO
STOP THE UNWANTED OFFERS COMING
IN. BUT COUNCILMEMBER LIN, I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION
ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE THIS
LANGUAGE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, SO
WE'RE NOT PRECLUDING ANY OF THE
GOOD WORK OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ARE DOING. AND I KNOW ONE OF THE
BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE OF
COUNCILMEMBER LIN BEING ON
COUNCIL IS NOT ONLY IS HE A
GREAT LAWYER, EXCUSE ME, A GREAT
REPRESENTATIVE, BUT ALSO A
LAWYER, AND SO HE'S BRINGING
HIS EAGLE EYE. SO I LOOK FORWARD
TO MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUR
OFFICE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF
WEEKS ON THIS. COUNCILMEMBER
LIN, DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? I THINK I SAW YOUR
HAND GO DOWN?
>> NO, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
THAT, AND I'D LOVE TO WORK WITH
YOUR OFFICE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE IF SOMEBODY GETS ON THAT DO
NOT SOLICIT LIST THAT THAT
DOESN'T PRECLUDE SOME OF OUR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FROM
WORKING WITH THAT HOMEOWNER.
THAT THERE IS SORT OF A CARVEOUT
OR THEY ARE NOT INADVERTENTLY
WRAPPED INTO THE DEFINITION OF
SOLICITATION. SO THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S
FANTASTIC. AND AGAIN, I THINK IT
GOES WELL WITH WHAT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT ASKED EARLIER IN TERMS
OF THOSE EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT
WE KNOW WORK SO WELL, AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN STILL
ALLOW THE OUTREACH COMING FROM
THOSE PROGRAMS, LIKE
WEATHERIZATION AND OTHERS.
COLLEAGUES, NOT SEEING ANY
FURTHER HANDS THEN. I WANTED TO
TURN TO OUR PANEL, AND SAY THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY
AND FOR SHARING YOUR WEALTH OF
KNOWLEDGE AND HISTORY AND
CONTEXT WITH US. THIS IS
INCREDIBLY HELPFUL AS WE BEGIN
CONSIDERING THE LEGISLATION FOR
COUNCIL. SO I WILL CLOSE US OUT
HERE AND SAY AS WE HEARD AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, THIS
ITEM IS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY AS
AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM. WE PLAN
TO HAVE THIS ORDINANCE ON THE
AGENDA FOR OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION
AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING ON
JULY 8. AND WE WILL BE ENGAGING
WITH COUNCIL OFFICES TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE
TIMELINE FOR AMENDMENT CONCEPTS.
WITH THAT, IS THERE ANY FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
COMMITTEE? OKAY. FANTASTIC. THIS
CONCLUDES THE JUNE 29, 2026
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HOUSING,
ARTS, AND CIVIL RIGHTS
COMMITTEE. OUR NEXT SCHEDULED
MEETING IS ON JULY 8. THANK YOU
FOR ATTENDING. IT IS 11:33 A.M.,
AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.