1 00:00:09,618 --> 00:00:09,919 Hello. 2 00:00:11,300 --> 00:00:12,560 Clap once if you can hear me. 3 00:00:14,259 --> 00:00:16,539 Clap twice if you can hear me. 4 00:00:16,539 --> 00:00:18,140 Clap three times if you can hear me. 5 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:21,739 Never fails. 6 00:00:23,899 --> 00:00:24,600 on devotion. 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,379 White folks do land acknowledgements 8 00:00:28,379 --> 00:00:30,039 in historically black neighborhoods. 9 00:00:31,399 --> 00:00:31,980 It is funny. 10 00:00:33,719 --> 00:00:36,158 The international district always has been Asian, 11 00:00:36,158 --> 00:00:38,978 but perhaps because Hispanics, insofar as these are 12 00:00:38,978 --> 00:00:42,840 coherent categories moved in next door, it changed. 13 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,520 So now both live where once was a Hooverville tent city 14 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,060 mayored by a weird woman with a broom. 15 00:00:48,060 --> 00:00:50,984 In my neighborhood, I'm new to the turn of the till 16 00:00:50,984 --> 00:00:52,340 on this patch of earth. 17 00:00:52,340 --> 00:00:55,579 The morning plenary of baubles in the bamboo. 18 00:00:55,579 --> 00:00:56,658 The bamboo. 19 00:00:56,658 --> 00:00:58,700 The blue jays' flight path omen. 20 00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:01,798 Important, there are here smaller and fewer trees. 21 00:01:01,798 --> 00:01:04,040 So a different constellation of birds. 22 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,799 Small gods for which I do not yet know how to pray. 23 00:01:06,799 --> 00:01:09,799 What bone to pick or burn, flit. 24 00:01:09,799 --> 00:01:12,019 I have never had a yard in the city. 25 00:01:12,019 --> 00:01:14,575 If the line is a plow pulled one end to another, 26 00:01:14,575 --> 00:01:15,920 readying dirt for seed. 27 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,280 My sentences are the patch. 28 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,938 The syntax of my garden make no sense some seasons, 29 00:01:21,938 --> 00:01:24,022 as in what floats above them shape them more than 30 00:01:24,022 --> 00:01:24,959 I would like to admit. 31 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,938 Of course, there is what we say, and then there is devotion, 32 00:01:28,938 --> 00:01:31,852 balance of faith and action, for which there is a version 33 00:01:31,852 --> 00:01:34,766 that makes us believe in the certainty of solitude 34 00:01:34,766 --> 00:01:36,120 so hideously mortal. 35 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:41,328 But listen, reader, beloved, Even here, there is no 36 00:01:41,328 --> 00:01:43,280 deep-peopled substitute. 37 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,584 Even in our glass sphere, city cannot self-serve at a corner 38 00:01:46,584 --> 00:01:48,040 store or deliver by drone. 39 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,018 Devotion is the till, the tool, the towel that 40 00:01:51,018 --> 00:01:54,754 stinks even after the wash, the air that breathes you knows 41 00:01:54,754 --> 00:01:58,400 all manner of lungs and furnaces and shivers in the leaves, 42 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,780 the trees, the trees, the trees, equanimity weathers. 43 00:02:02,780 --> 00:02:05,364 Feel so much like bravery and its interest in truth 44 00:02:05,364 --> 00:02:07,640 are what it is as opposed to what I want it to be 45 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,179 Pain is not disorientation Disorientation attends pain 46 00:02:12,179 --> 00:02:14,997 when we are not ready to be with hurt to believe we can 47 00:02:14,997 --> 00:02:17,913 withstand what comes next We must expand what we 48 00:02:17,913 --> 00:02:21,114 know can grieve scroll skip tap urban planners 49 00:02:21,114 --> 00:02:24,729 have historically planted I learned on some app male 50 00:02:24,729 --> 00:02:28,443 trees because less mess and because private property 51 00:02:28,443 --> 00:02:32,240 is inherently theft and because patriarchy and and and 52 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,687 allergies a History of displacement 53 00:02:35,687 --> 00:02:38,241 is basically invasion But later I read trees are 54 00:02:38,241 --> 00:02:41,262 in fact very queer most species possessing both male 55 00:02:41,262 --> 00:02:44,419 and female flowers either that or every flower has both 56 00:02:44,419 --> 00:02:46,157 pollen and ovaries. 57 00:02:46,157 --> 00:02:49,318 I watched a play today, and I don't know if I want to 58 00:02:49,318 --> 00:02:51,139 be the main character or do her. 59 00:02:51,139 --> 00:02:53,620 Today, a play watched me torn. 60 00:02:53,620 --> 00:02:55,919 It is a gift to be the object, to be in touch, 61 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:57,860 to be with another, asking to be owed, 62 00:02:57,860 --> 00:03:00,680 owing what devotion to desire. 63 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,620 At all times, I am learning. 64 00:03:02,620 --> 00:03:04,597 We are all prompted, being inducted into 65 00:03:04,597 --> 00:03:05,758 the grammar of animacy. 66 00:03:05,758 --> 00:03:08,060 When I say we, I mean the poppies, too. 67 00:03:09,098 --> 00:03:11,680 The mimosa tree before and after it blooms. 68 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,127 The 200-year-old cedar, the biggest in the city, 69 00:03:14,127 --> 00:03:15,500 cedaring in our front yard. 70 00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:17,937 The coyotes frequent less on the high hill. 71 00:03:17,937 --> 00:03:19,639 The hummingbirds sweet water. 72 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,657 The rabbits, the rabbits, the rabbits, all verbs. 73 00:03:22,657 --> 00:03:25,060 My grief is a relational dialect. 74 00:03:25,060 --> 00:03:27,102 When I divorce my pain, the arrangement 75 00:03:27,102 --> 00:03:28,340 flattens, falls apart. 76 00:03:28,340 --> 00:03:29,180 Everywhere is home. 77 00:03:29,180 --> 00:03:30,818 My preferred language is listening. 78 00:03:32,900 --> 00:03:36,520 so I assume thanks and please which can easily be mistaken for 79 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,217 impoliteness a kind of savagery projected onto me by a social 80 00:03:40,217 --> 00:03:44,000 positionality stunned by the fear of knowledge how it came to 81 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,651 be the only major American city named after an indigenous person 82 00:03:47,651 --> 00:03:51,163 whose defining characteristic was friendliness to settlers is 83 00:03:51,163 --> 00:03:54,280 now the seat of a county named after a civil rights leader who 84 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,680 warned against the recruitment of his memory in the service of 85 00:03:57,680 --> 00:03:59,377 empire as a kind of devotion too 86 00:04:01,020 --> 00:04:04,252 people have rabbit nature I'm telling you my lover told me 87 00:04:04,252 --> 00:04:07,395 this and it is bi-directional in every orientation in the 88 00:04:07,395 --> 00:04:10,120 history of making it make sense as a kind of conquest 89 00:04:11,377 --> 00:04:14,913 hammer straight the bright line of progress it is so inevitable 90 00:04:14,913 --> 00:04:18,300 to lose people without attending to what we've done to lose them. 91 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,420 Imagine what we've done with the earth, the place, 92 00:04:22,420 --> 00:04:24,911 arounds and homes us, nasturtiums sprout 93 00:04:24,911 --> 00:04:26,620 overnight when no one looks. 94 00:04:26,620 --> 00:04:29,699 Community is a word that works even when no one knows it. 95 00:04:29,699 --> 00:04:33,300 The only pronoun confusion that matters is that which determines 96 00:04:33,300 --> 00:04:36,800 who is alive to decide how we, or they, live. 97 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,019 Good afternoon, everybody. 98 00:05:04,019 --> 00:05:10,834 And first, thank you to our wonderful civic poet, 99 00:05:10,834 --> 00:05:17,980 Dujie Tahat, for reminding us of the power of words. 100 00:05:19,379 --> 00:05:26,814 When you have been blessed to live as long as I have, and I 101 00:05:26,814 --> 00:05:35,060 am 81 years young, you learn something about people in power. 102 00:05:36,399 --> 00:05:40,879 Words matter, but choices matter more. 103 00:05:41,980 --> 00:05:47,406 So don't just listen to what people promise 104 00:05:47,406 --> 00:05:50,120 when the road is easy. 105 00:05:51,338 --> 00:05:57,040 Watch who they stand with when the road gets hard. 106 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:04,459 Because hard times have a way of revealing what we truly value 107 00:06:05,740 --> 00:06:09,879 and who we believe is worth fighting for. 108 00:06:11,980 --> 00:06:16,639 This summer, during one of our city's more difficult moments, 109 00:06:16,639 --> 00:06:21,319 I sent our mayor some words from Maya Angelou. 110 00:06:22,660 --> 00:06:29,980 We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. 111 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:35,620 Because leadership isn't about never meeting a storm. 112 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:41,550 It is about deciding who you will be and what you 113 00:06:41,550 --> 00:06:46,180 will refuse to surrender when the storm comes. 114 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:54,879 And I have watched this mayor keep showing up through 115 00:06:54,879 --> 00:07:01,459 opposition for renters with the rental junk fee ban, for 116 00:07:01,459 --> 00:07:07,759 children with a universal free food program for all K 117 00:07:07,759 --> 00:07:15,180 through 12 students, for our unhoused neighbors with shelter. 118 00:07:17,699 --> 00:07:23,319 My friends, a budget can be a number on a page, or 119 00:07:23,319 --> 00:07:26,199 it can be a school lunch. 120 00:07:27,459 --> 00:07:33,146 It can be child care, mental health care, safety for 121 00:07:33,146 --> 00:07:38,966 communities, a pathway to a good job, a roof somebody 122 00:07:38,966 --> 00:07:42,139 gets to keep over their head. 123 00:07:43,220 --> 00:07:48,778 A budget tells us who we see and who we are 124 00:07:48,778 --> 00:07:52,819 willing to leave invisible. 125 00:07:54,838 --> 00:07:58,259 Katie Wilson believes the purpose of government is not 126 00:07:58,259 --> 00:08:01,680 to make the climb easier for those already near the top. 127 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:09,377 It is to raise the floor beneath those still struggling to stand 128 00:08:09,377 --> 00:08:15,660 and make sure everyone has a solid ground with which to rise. 129 00:08:17,060 --> 00:08:20,935 Today she will tell you how she intends to 130 00:08:20,935 --> 00:08:23,100 keep showing up for us. 131 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:29,500 Please, with me, welcome my friend, champion for 132 00:08:29,500 --> 00:08:34,557 Seattle's working people and the 58th mayor of this 133 00:08:34,557 --> 00:08:36,557 great city, Katie B. 134 00:08:36,557 --> 00:08:37,379 Wilson. 135 00:08:59,677 --> 00:09:05,220 Good afternoon. 136 00:09:08,658 --> 00:09:11,057 A little delay there, but we got it. 137 00:09:11,057 --> 00:09:14,778 Good. Good afternoon and thank you so much for joining 138 00:09:14,778 --> 00:09:16,134 me here today. 139 00:09:16,134 --> 00:09:19,980 Thank you to Dujie Tahat for sharing your 140 00:09:19,980 --> 00:09:24,778 poetic gifts with us and my deep appreciation to Cynthia 141 00:09:24,778 --> 00:09:27,519 Green for that moving introduction. 142 00:09:27,519 --> 00:09:30,701 We are here at the Seattle Central Library. 143 00:09:30,701 --> 00:09:34,677 The people of Seattle looked at this block and decided 144 00:09:34,677 --> 00:09:38,619 together to build something that belongs to everyone. 145 00:09:38,619 --> 00:09:42,748 A place that is free to enter, free to use, open 146 00:09:42,748 --> 00:09:48,158 to anyone who walks through the door, to read, to learn, 147 00:09:48,158 --> 00:09:52,254 to organize, to rest, to look up through blue cross beams 148 00:09:52,254 --> 00:09:54,259 put there by union workers. 149 00:09:55,740 --> 00:09:58,894 This library is the physical expression of a belief that 150 00:09:58,894 --> 00:10:02,908 Seattle has affirmed again and again that the public realm 151 00:10:02,908 --> 00:10:06,658 and our shared future are worth investing in. 152 00:10:07,860 --> 00:10:11,620 This is your library and this is your city. 153 00:10:18,940 --> 00:10:22,379 I want to begin by recognizing the people who make 154 00:10:22,379 --> 00:10:23,471 your city work. 155 00:10:23,471 --> 00:10:25,759 To every one of the nearly 14,000 156 00:10:25,759 --> 00:10:29,418 city employees who do the work every day to keep this 157 00:10:29,418 --> 00:10:30,345 city running. 158 00:10:30,345 --> 00:10:32,658 You show up for our residents when it 159 00:10:32,658 --> 00:10:33,585 matters most. 160 00:10:33,585 --> 00:10:34,278 Thank you. 161 00:10:40,798 --> 00:10:43,248 And to the unions that represent those workers, 162 00:10:43,248 --> 00:10:46,485 thank you for your partnership in making the city of Seattle 163 00:10:46,485 --> 00:10:47,720 a great place to work. 164 00:10:53,879 --> 00:10:57,177 To my cabinet and everyone in the mayor's office, 165 00:10:57,177 --> 00:10:59,940 you are my closest partners in building a government 166 00:10:59,940 --> 00:11:02,278 that genuinely delivers for everyone, 167 00:11:02,278 --> 00:11:04,240 especially those who need us most. 168 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:04,557 Thank you. 169 00:11:10,620 --> 00:11:19,710 And special thanks to my budget director, Ali Panucci, and 170 00:11:19,710 --> 00:11:24,720 her excellent team of analysts. 171 00:11:30,139 --> 00:11:32,677 Who have worked so hard to give us the clearest 172 00:11:32,677 --> 00:11:35,620 possible picture of where we stand and what we can do. 173 00:11:36,798 --> 00:11:39,105 The issues that we face as a city do not stop 174 00:11:39,105 --> 00:11:41,147 at our city limits, and I also want to thank 175 00:11:41,147 --> 00:11:43,277 the elected officials from across the region who 176 00:11:43,277 --> 00:11:44,418 have joined us here today. 177 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,783 And last but not least, I want to recognize my nine colleagues 178 00:11:53,783 --> 00:11:56,423 on the City Council, some of whom are here in the room 179 00:11:56,423 --> 00:11:59,019 today and others who are off serving in other ways and we'll 180 00:11:59,019 --> 00:11:59,677 see this later. 181 00:12:00,798 --> 00:12:03,964 We haven't always agreed, and of course it is the conflicts 182 00:12:03,964 --> 00:12:05,320 that make the headlines. 183 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,340 But when I look back at the last nine months, it is clear that 184 00:12:08,340 --> 00:12:11,220 we have accomplished a great deal together. 185 00:12:11,220 --> 00:12:13,076 And it's a lot, so please hold your applause till 186 00:12:13,076 --> 00:12:13,820 the end on this one. 187 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,220 We're going to be here all afternoon. 188 00:12:17,220 --> 00:12:20,927 Council President Hollingsworth, the 93 bills my office 189 00:12:20,927 --> 00:12:25,019 transmitted to council this year reflect an ambitious agenda. 190 00:12:25,019 --> 00:12:28,105 And as council president, your leadership to steward 191 00:12:28,105 --> 00:12:31,538 an effective and transparent legislative process enabled 192 00:12:31,538 --> 00:12:34,557 us to move significant policy for the city together. 193 00:12:34,557 --> 00:12:36,903 Thank you for your organizational 194 00:12:36,903 --> 00:12:38,440 leadership this year. 195 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,296 Councilmember Strauss, thank you for your ongoing 196 00:12:41,296 --> 00:12:44,019 collaboration as chair of our budget committee. 197 00:12:44,019 --> 00:12:46,870 Your leadership will help the council and the public 198 00:12:46,870 --> 00:12:48,620 deliberate on these proposals. 199 00:12:48,620 --> 00:12:51,639 And thank you also for your resolve and partnership 200 00:12:51,639 --> 00:12:54,658 fighting to get Light Rail to Ballard back on track. 201 00:12:54,658 --> 00:12:58,168 Your leadership in expanding our utility discount program and 202 00:12:58,168 --> 00:13:01,480 your foresight in establishing the Jumpstart Fund Reserve 203 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:04,177 that is critical to stabilizing our city budget. 204 00:13:05,798 --> 00:13:08,519 Thank you to Councilmember Saka for your dedication 205 00:13:08,519 --> 00:13:12,264 to revitalizing Seattle Center, as we chart a path to fund 206 00:13:12,264 --> 00:13:15,740 long overdue renovations so this iconic campus 207 00:13:15,740 --> 00:13:18,893 remains a world-class gathering space for 208 00:13:18,893 --> 00:13:20,220 generations to come. 209 00:13:20,220 --> 00:13:23,200 And thank you for advocating for a teen late night program 210 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,399 at High Point last year that we are making permanent 211 00:13:25,399 --> 00:13:26,652 in this budget. 212 00:13:26,652 --> 00:13:29,831 Councilmember Lin, you have been a true 213 00:13:29,831 --> 00:13:31,374 partner this year. 214 00:13:31,374 --> 00:13:32,846 From the SEPA legislation 215 00:13:32,846 --> 00:13:35,379 that clears the path for more housing, to fighting 216 00:13:35,379 --> 00:13:38,028 alongside us for Graham Street Station, to 217 00:13:38,028 --> 00:13:40,908 staying focused on what residents in the CID, Little 218 00:13:40,908 --> 00:13:43,440 Saigon, and Rainier Beach need to feel safe in their 219 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:44,937 own neighborhoods. 220 00:13:44,937 --> 00:13:45,730 Thank you. 221 00:13:45,730 --> 00:13:48,820 Councilmember Rivera, thank you for your 222 00:13:48,820 --> 00:13:51,657 partnership developing a successful library levy 223 00:13:51,657 --> 00:13:54,557 proposal, stewarding the FEPP levy implementation 224 00:13:54,557 --> 00:13:57,604 plan, and expanding programs for immigrants and refugees 225 00:13:57,604 --> 00:13:59,903 in partnership with our Office of Immigrant and 226 00:13:59,903 --> 00:14:00,639 Refugee Affairs. 227 00:14:01,899 --> 00:14:04,873 Council Member Juarez, thank you for your partnership to 228 00:14:04,873 --> 00:14:07,859 reduce violence and make our neighbors near Aurora 229 00:14:07,859 --> 00:14:09,200 Avenue North safer. 230 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,899 And I am so looking forward to the opening of Pinehurst 231 00:14:11,899 --> 00:14:15,168 Station next week, which would not have happened without 232 00:14:15,168 --> 00:14:16,177 your advocacy. 233 00:14:16,177 --> 00:14:18,899 Councilmember Kettle, thank you for your 234 00:14:18,899 --> 00:14:21,884 leadership in continuing to empower the CARE Department 235 00:14:21,884 --> 00:14:24,806 as the core of our diversified public safety response. 236 00:14:24,806 --> 00:14:26,562 I look forward to continuing our 237 00:14:26,562 --> 00:14:30,076 work together as we recruit a permanent police chief and 238 00:14:30,076 --> 00:14:32,846 keep communities across our city safe. 239 00:14:32,846 --> 00:14:34,360 Councilmember Rinck, 240 00:14:35,519 --> 00:14:38,596 Thank you for your partnership to stand up for our queer and 241 00:14:38,596 --> 00:14:41,798 trans communities and expand domestic worker protections. 242 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,875 And thank you for being a champion for public transit 243 00:14:46,875 --> 00:14:48,379 and the newly great Route 8. 244 00:14:48,379 --> 00:14:51,389 And thank you for standing with us as the prime sponsor to 245 00:14:51,389 --> 00:14:54,335 make sure that no one in our city pays more for groceries 246 00:14:54,335 --> 00:14:55,677 because of an algorithm. 247 00:14:55,677 --> 00:14:57,200 And you get a lot of thanks. 248 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,644 Thank you also for encouraging us all to take a moment to 249 00:15:00,644 --> 00:15:03,940 stop and celebrate Seattle's newest icon, Jimothy. 250 00:15:06,399 --> 00:15:10,143 Council Member Foster, thank you for your strong collaboration 251 00:15:10,143 --> 00:15:13,609 in banning rental junk fees to make Seattle's rental market 252 00:15:13,609 --> 00:15:15,620 more transparent and affordable. 253 00:15:15,620 --> 00:15:18,923 And thank you for championing legislation to ban predatory 254 00:15:18,923 --> 00:15:22,181 real estate solicitation in partnership with Black Legacy 255 00:15:22,181 --> 00:15:25,139 homeowners, which I am proud to support in this budget. 256 00:15:25,139 --> 00:15:27,418 All of this is just a small part of what we 257 00:15:27,418 --> 00:15:28,798 have taken on this year. 258 00:15:28,798 --> 00:15:31,403 Thank you all for your partnership and for your work 259 00:15:31,403 --> 00:15:32,979 on behalf of our constituents. 260 00:15:44,918 --> 00:15:48,317 Earlier this summer, the world came to Seattle 261 00:15:48,317 --> 00:15:50,057 and loved what they saw. 262 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:54,158 But what struck me most was not what visitors found here. 263 00:15:54,158 --> 00:15:57,038 It was what residents rediscovered. 264 00:15:57,038 --> 00:16:00,379 People fell in love with their city all over again. 265 00:16:00,379 --> 00:16:03,778 And that enthusiasm was not just about our mountain views 266 00:16:03,778 --> 00:16:07,038 and our long summer days or our unique taste in hot dogs. 267 00:16:07,038 --> 00:16:09,820 It was about what we have built over generations. 268 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:13,902 Infrastructure and public spaces that let us find 269 00:16:13,902 --> 00:16:17,221 and build community in a city that chooses to invest 270 00:16:17,221 --> 00:16:17,950 in itself. 271 00:16:17,950 --> 00:16:20,538 I want every person in this city to feel 272 00:16:20,538 --> 00:16:24,653 that every single day in every single neighborhood. 273 00:16:24,653 --> 00:16:27,350 That pride in this beautiful city we share 274 00:16:27,350 --> 00:16:28,509 and create together. 275 00:16:28,509 --> 00:16:30,057 And one of the most important 276 00:16:30,057 --> 00:16:32,724 One of the most important ways we achieve this is 277 00:16:32,724 --> 00:16:35,653 through our budget, where we choose to put our money, 278 00:16:35,653 --> 00:16:38,519 and how that shapes our city now and into the future. 279 00:16:38,519 --> 00:16:42,134 And this year, we are budgeting under conditions that are 280 00:16:42,134 --> 00:16:44,019 about as difficult as it gets. 281 00:16:45,038 --> 00:16:46,918 So let's talk about what we're up against. 282 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,692 The damage that President Trump is doing to our economy, rising 283 00:16:51,692 --> 00:16:55,147 costs, devastating cuts to our social services, is not the 284 00:16:55,147 --> 00:16:56,980 worst of the harm he is causing. 285 00:16:56,980 --> 00:16:59,658 But it is a real and present factor in this budget. 286 00:17:00,820 --> 00:17:03,940 We are watching seismic shifts in the tech sector, 287 00:17:03,940 --> 00:17:07,356 which anchors so much of our regional economy. 288 00:17:07,356 --> 00:17:11,038 State-imposed property tax caps are squeezing us too, 289 00:17:11,038 --> 00:17:14,817 creating deficits in cities and counties across Washington, 290 00:17:14,817 --> 00:17:17,380 exactly when people need us most. 291 00:17:17,380 --> 00:17:20,038 These pressures are not unique to Seattle, 292 00:17:20,038 --> 00:17:22,140 but they all show up in our city budget. 293 00:17:23,460 --> 00:17:26,817 When I took this office, I inherited a general fund 294 00:17:26,817 --> 00:17:30,259 deficit that was estimated at around $175 million. 295 00:17:31,519 --> 00:17:35,125 That gap had been growing since the pandemic began, through 296 00:17:35,125 --> 00:17:38,084 years of high inflation, as the needs in our city 297 00:17:38,084 --> 00:17:41,199 rose while funding to meet them did not keep pace. 298 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,463 For years, that deficit was papered over, rather 299 00:17:44,463 --> 00:17:45,817 than faced head-on. 300 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:48,278 That ends today. 301 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:55,701 We cannot keep lurching from shortfall to 302 00:17:55,701 --> 00:17:59,999 shortfall, year after year. 303 00:18:01,019 --> 00:18:04,317 We cannot keep kicking the can down the road because 304 00:18:04,317 --> 00:18:05,700 there is no more road. 305 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,440 After nearly nine months in City Hall, it is clear to me that 306 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,790 the moment we are in demands comprehensive action 307 00:18:14,790 --> 00:18:17,856 to ensure our city's long-term fiscal health. 308 00:18:17,857 --> 00:18:21,278 And that work goes far beyond balancing next year's budget. 309 00:18:21,278 --> 00:18:23,617 It has three pillars. 310 00:18:23,617 --> 00:18:26,500 The first is righting the ship. 311 00:18:26,500 --> 00:18:30,375 With the budget I am proposing today, we take a major step 312 00:18:30,375 --> 00:18:32,440 towards structural balance. 313 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,798 This year, for the first time since before the pandemic, 314 00:18:35,798 --> 00:18:38,942 I am transmitting a budget that shows no general fund 315 00:18:38,942 --> 00:18:42,298 deficit not just next year, but all the way through 2030. 316 00:18:50,759 --> 00:18:53,616 I love the enthusiasm for fiscal responsibility. 317 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,000 The second pillar is effective government. 318 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:02,173 Seattle residents believe in what government can do, and we 319 00:19:02,173 --> 00:19:05,596 put our money where our values are, repeatedly voting to fund 320 00:19:05,596 --> 00:19:09,700 parks, libraries, transit, early childhood education, affordable 321 00:19:09,700 --> 00:19:11,720 housing, and more. 322 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,885 That trust deserves a government that uses every dollar 323 00:19:15,885 --> 00:19:17,837 with discipline and care. 324 00:19:17,837 --> 00:19:21,001 Last week, I signed an executive order to strengthen the 325 00:19:21,001 --> 00:19:24,182 city's internal operations and build the administrative 326 00:19:24,182 --> 00:19:27,440 foundation that makes delivering excellent public services 327 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:28,876 possible and sustainable. 328 00:19:30,220 --> 00:19:33,960 The third pillar is growing a resilient economy, 329 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:36,951 also the subject of an executive order I signed 330 00:19:36,951 --> 00:19:38,259 earlier this month. 331 00:19:38,259 --> 00:19:40,978 The city will lead, in partnership with our 332 00:19:40,978 --> 00:19:44,910 private sector and labor, to diversify our economy, 333 00:19:44,910 --> 00:19:48,740 revitalize our downtown, support the growth of small 334 00:19:48,740 --> 00:19:51,307 and mid-sized businesses, and create pathways 335 00:19:51,307 --> 00:19:53,380 for entrepreneurs, artists, and workers 336 00:19:53,380 --> 00:19:56,396 from every background to succeed in Seattle. 337 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:01,000 A thriving economy means great jobs for our residents, and 338 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:05,700 it's also the essential tax base for a robust public sector. 339 00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:08,117 So let's talk about this budget. 340 00:20:08,117 --> 00:20:11,778 A large deficit forces a choice, new revenue 341 00:20:11,778 --> 00:20:13,557 or reduced spending. 342 00:20:14,798 --> 00:20:18,442 I have made the difficult decision to transmit a budget 343 00:20:18,442 --> 00:20:22,220 without major new revenue, and I want to talk frankly about why. 344 00:20:24,038 --> 00:20:28,306 We have done real work since 2020 to begin to rebalance a 345 00:20:28,306 --> 00:20:32,161 tax code that has long asked working families to pay 346 00:20:32,161 --> 00:20:36,380 more than their share: the Jumpstart Payroll Expense Tax. 347 00:20:36,380 --> 00:20:38,192 And I want to thank Councilmember Teresa 348 00:20:38,192 --> 00:20:40,057 Mosqueda for her tireless work to make that 349 00:20:40,057 --> 00:20:40,740 a reality. 350 00:20:47,057 --> 00:20:47,640 There we are. 351 00:20:48,837 --> 00:20:53,365 The social housing tax, the Seattle Shield initiative, all 352 00:20:53,365 --> 00:20:56,882 of these measures have asked the large businesses that 353 00:20:56,882 --> 00:20:59,319 benefit from everything our city and workforce 354 00:20:59,319 --> 00:21:01,307 have to offer to give back more. 355 00:21:01,307 --> 00:21:04,356 We can be proud of what that revenue 356 00:21:04,356 --> 00:21:05,832 makes possible. 357 00:21:05,832 --> 00:21:08,130 Jumpstart sustained city services 358 00:21:08,130 --> 00:21:10,959 through the pandemic and makes major investments in 359 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,788 affordable housing, climate resilience, equitable 360 00:21:13,788 --> 00:21:17,721 development, and support for small businesses. 361 00:21:17,721 --> 00:21:21,413 Our social housing developer 362 00:21:21,413 --> 00:21:25,557 acquired its first building this year. 363 00:21:25,557 --> 00:21:28,144 And Seattle Shield supports food assistance, 364 00:21:28,144 --> 00:21:32,077 rental assistance, and shelter in the face of federal cuts. 365 00:21:32,077 --> 00:21:34,592 We can be proud of this progress. 366 00:21:34,592 --> 00:21:38,652 But right now, we don't have good options to raise more 367 00:21:38,652 --> 00:21:43,057 progressive revenue that don't also come with great risks. 368 00:21:43,057 --> 00:21:47,180 Our economy, and especially our downtown, are fragile. 369 00:21:47,180 --> 00:21:50,342 In that context, raising additional revenue through 370 00:21:50,342 --> 00:21:52,239 Jumpstart is not the right move. 371 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:56,480 A local capital gains tax is worth building toward, 372 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:58,578 and I want to thank Councilmember Foster for 373 00:21:58,578 --> 00:22:00,740 her leadership pushing that option forward. 374 00:22:06,337 --> 00:22:09,000 Yet the complexity of standing that up with the state means 375 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,220 that it would not bring in revenue for some years. 376 00:22:12,220 --> 00:22:15,325 Other progressive revenue options need more work, or 377 00:22:15,325 --> 00:22:17,117 state authorization, or both. 378 00:22:17,117 --> 00:22:20,643 I will keep pushing on this, but it doesn't help us 379 00:22:20,643 --> 00:22:22,617 with this budget right now. 380 00:22:22,617 --> 00:22:24,742 And that leaves us balancing largely through 381 00:22:24,742 --> 00:22:26,200 reductions and efficiencies. 382 00:22:27,278 --> 00:22:30,296 I am proposing nearly $50 million in annual 383 00:22:30,296 --> 00:22:32,140 general fund reductions. 384 00:22:32,140 --> 00:22:35,097 Most departments will manage reductions between 1% and 8%. 385 00:22:36,376 --> 00:22:39,768 I have worked hard to keep cuts away from the services 386 00:22:39,768 --> 00:22:41,538 that people actually feel. 387 00:22:41,538 --> 00:22:44,284 We have aligned department budgets to actual 388 00:22:44,284 --> 00:22:47,097 spending, eliminated long vacant positions, 389 00:22:47,097 --> 00:22:50,044 and we've been honest that programs funded with one-time 390 00:22:50,044 --> 00:22:53,305 money by prior administrations cannot simply be carried forward 391 00:22:53,305 --> 00:22:54,739 as if that money still exists. 392 00:22:56,077 --> 00:22:59,366 I am continuing to direct Jumpstart dollars beyond 393 00:22:59,366 --> 00:23:02,200 the programs it was originally intended for 394 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,313 in order to preserve the essential services that 395 00:23:05,313 --> 00:23:06,679 people rely on daily. 396 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:11,999 In this budget, over 30% of annual Jumpstart revenue 397 00:23:11,999 --> 00:23:14,919 continues to be dedicated to affordable housing, 398 00:23:14,919 --> 00:23:18,336 and it is my goal to grow that share in the budgets ahead. 399 00:23:20,116 --> 00:23:22,857 The same factors that have stressed our general fund 400 00:23:22,857 --> 00:23:25,078 also hit other revenue sources that support our 401 00:23:25,078 --> 00:23:26,577 Department of Transportation. 402 00:23:27,597 --> 00:23:31,106 We are bringing a projected $110 million three-year 403 00:23:31,106 --> 00:23:34,460 deficit in our transportation fund into balance, 404 00:23:34,460 --> 00:23:37,519 and I will not pretend that that is painless. 405 00:23:37,519 --> 00:23:40,259 Some maintenance projects will experience delays, 406 00:23:40,259 --> 00:23:43,528 and my office will be working closely with SDOT to right-size 407 00:23:43,528 --> 00:23:46,510 projects to current resources and streamline effective 408 00:23:46,510 --> 00:23:49,019 delivery of these complicated capital programs. 409 00:23:50,577 --> 00:23:54,258 Across our city departments, my budget eliminates 410 00:23:54,258 --> 00:23:56,136 128 full-time positions. 411 00:23:57,180 --> 00:24:00,044 Most of those positions are vacant, but 15 412 00:24:00,044 --> 00:24:01,597 are currently filled. 413 00:24:02,597 --> 00:24:05,230 I do not say that number lightly, as the people in 414 00:24:05,230 --> 00:24:07,597 those filled positions, each with a family 415 00:24:07,597 --> 00:24:10,259 budget of their own, navigate their options. 416 00:24:12,159 --> 00:24:14,440 I am not touching this city's reserves. 417 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:15,352 We live in Seattle. 418 00:24:15,352 --> 00:24:17,116 There is always rain in the forecast. 419 00:24:19,298 --> 00:24:20,876 That is the discipline. 420 00:24:20,876 --> 00:24:23,960 Now let me tell you what my budget makes possible. 421 00:24:25,038 --> 00:24:27,971 Our residents depend on the city to take care of 422 00:24:27,971 --> 00:24:31,192 the basics with competence, to respond to crises 423 00:24:31,192 --> 00:24:33,924 quickly and effectively, and to lift up the 424 00:24:33,924 --> 00:24:34,896 most vulnerable. 425 00:24:35,999 --> 00:24:38,700 I'm proud to have built a budget that achieves this. 426 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,923 My budget prioritizes shelter and human services, 427 00:24:43,923 --> 00:24:47,480 community safety, investments in our youth, and 428 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:49,557 defending the rights of all. 429 00:24:49,557 --> 00:24:51,159 I'm going to start with homelessness. 430 00:24:52,376 --> 00:24:55,692 This budget takes on the crisis of unsheltered homelessness 431 00:24:55,692 --> 00:24:58,357 that has escalated in our city for far too long. 432 00:24:59,396 --> 00:25:02,393 Last week I announced a shelter accelerator plan that will 433 00:25:02,393 --> 00:25:05,708 add nearly 1,000 shelter beds by the end of next year, 434 00:25:05,708 --> 00:25:09,376 serving an estimated 1,750 people every year. 435 00:25:16,778 --> 00:25:18,739 This work is already well underway. 436 00:25:18,739 --> 00:25:22,096 Our first major new site, Bayside Shelter, opened in June 437 00:25:22,096 --> 00:25:25,159 with 73 units for people with complex needs. 438 00:25:25,159 --> 00:25:27,584 Cloverleaf Shelter, with 90 units, will 439 00:25:27,584 --> 00:25:28,939 open later this month. 440 00:25:28,939 --> 00:25:31,269 Over half of the units in my plan are already 441 00:25:31,269 --> 00:25:33,538 well in development, so this budget funds 442 00:25:33,538 --> 00:25:35,778 and sustains that work. 443 00:25:35,778 --> 00:25:38,967 And these new investments are paired with stronger oversight 444 00:25:38,967 --> 00:25:40,499 of our homelessness dollars. 445 00:25:40,499 --> 00:25:43,989 This summer, County Executive Girmay Zahilay and I announced 446 00:25:43,989 --> 00:25:46,726 a regional reset, moving the city's share of KCRHA 447 00:25:46,726 --> 00:25:49,479 contracts back into our Human Services Department. 448 00:25:50,596 --> 00:25:54,769 In this budget, I am dedicating $183 million to addressing 449 00:25:54,769 --> 00:25:58,230 homelessness, including $37 million for this 450 00:25:58,230 --> 00:26:01,069 new shelter capacity, paired with the services that 451 00:26:01,069 --> 00:26:03,586 actually help someone rebuild a life, not just 452 00:26:03,586 --> 00:26:04,778 survive a night. 453 00:26:12,896 --> 00:26:17,356 What makes a city exciting and alive 454 00:26:17,356 --> 00:26:20,219 is the magic that happens in our shared spaces, 455 00:26:20,219 --> 00:26:23,884 The conversation on the bus, the soccer game in the park, 456 00:26:23,884 --> 00:26:27,576 the meal from a food truck at a neighborhood festival. 457 00:26:27,576 --> 00:26:31,817 But that magic only happens on a foundation of safety. 458 00:26:31,817 --> 00:26:34,856 A city cannot thrive if people are scared to enjoy it. 459 00:26:35,896 --> 00:26:40,086 This budget affirms that public safety is about the essential 460 00:26:40,086 --> 00:26:42,096 work of our first responders. 461 00:26:42,096 --> 00:26:45,173 And it's also about prevention, intervention, 462 00:26:45,173 --> 00:26:48,709 and upstream investments so that fewer moments become 463 00:26:48,709 --> 00:26:50,396 crises in the first place. 464 00:26:50,396 --> 00:26:56,846 I am proposing to fully fund the current SPD hiring plan 465 00:26:56,846 --> 00:27:03,711 to reach and sustain 1,250 Seattle police officers, which 466 00:27:03,711 --> 00:27:10,576 is 66 more officers than were funded in this year's budget. 467 00:27:10,576 --> 00:27:13,509 At the same time, we are continuing more than $100 468 00:27:13,509 --> 00:27:17,226 million in community safety, violence prevention, survivor 469 00:27:17,226 --> 00:27:20,367 services, and diversified response, including new 470 00:27:20,367 --> 00:27:23,872 positions in the city attorney's office to tackle extreme 471 00:27:23,872 --> 00:27:27,159 risk protection orders and felony human trafficking. 472 00:27:27,159 --> 00:27:28,596 And I'm, yep, you can clap for that. 473 00:27:31,999 --> 00:27:34,911 And I am grateful to City Attorney Evans 474 00:27:34,911 --> 00:27:36,499 for her partnership. 475 00:27:37,679 --> 00:27:40,641 Seattle believes in putting the right responder on the scene 476 00:27:40,641 --> 00:27:43,615 when someone is in crisis, and our CARE Department 477 00:27:43,615 --> 00:27:45,479 is central to that vision. 478 00:27:45,479 --> 00:27:48,770 Chief Barden and Interim Chief Sayles together have increased 479 00:27:48,770 --> 00:27:51,679 the utilization of our community crisis responders. 480 00:27:51,679 --> 00:27:55,748 I am maintaining these responders' newly expanded 481 00:27:55,748 --> 00:27:57,355 hours from 6:30 a.m. 482 00:27:57,355 --> 00:27:58,019 to 1 a.m. 483 00:27:58,019 --> 00:28:01,693 and will continue to work with CARE, our community service 484 00:28:01,693 --> 00:28:05,221 officers, SPD, and FIRE to maximize their use so that our 485 00:28:05,221 --> 00:28:07,096 police can focus on policing. 486 00:28:07,096 --> 00:28:09,372 And at the same time, CARE will be the new command 487 00:28:09,372 --> 00:28:11,815 center for the violence reduction work I announced 488 00:28:11,815 --> 00:28:14,429 in my gun violence plan last week, with new investments 489 00:28:14,429 --> 00:28:15,679 to support that function. 490 00:28:16,719 --> 00:28:19,999 In these departments, we are also trimming spending 491 00:28:19,999 --> 00:28:24,096 modestly, while staying tightly focused on delivering results. 492 00:28:24,096 --> 00:28:27,192 My budget continues to hold vacant 14 unfilled 493 00:28:27,192 --> 00:28:31,170 community crisis responder positions and eight 911 494 00:28:31,170 --> 00:28:33,653 dispatch positions at CARE. 495 00:28:33,653 --> 00:28:37,400 An SPD whose budget is seeing a net increase 496 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:41,576 of 13% due to increased contract costs also has a 497 00:28:41,576 --> 00:28:44,365 reduction of approximately 2% to civilian positions, 498 00:28:44,365 --> 00:28:47,519 hiring incentives, and marketing. 499 00:28:47,519 --> 00:28:50,625 The fire department budget maintains core fire 500 00:28:50,625 --> 00:28:53,576 and emergency response services and reduces 501 00:28:53,576 --> 00:28:56,538 overtime equivalent to 2% of their total budget. 502 00:28:57,538 --> 00:28:59,933 This will be managed through advanced staff planning that 503 00:28:59,933 --> 00:29:02,376 ensures coverage of a service area when positions are 504 00:29:02,376 --> 00:29:03,660 vacant or staff are sick. 505 00:29:04,876 --> 00:29:07,825 I am also sustaining the recent expansion of our Office of 506 00:29:07,825 --> 00:29:10,923 Emergency Management, which is key to the executive order I 507 00:29:10,923 --> 00:29:14,240 signed last week to enhance our emergency management systems, 508 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:17,211 reduce vulnerabilities, and better prepare our communities 509 00:29:17,211 --> 00:29:18,239 for any eventuality. 510 00:29:20,979 --> 00:29:23,159 Let's talk about our youth. 511 00:29:23,159 --> 00:29:25,690 This year I have heard from so many young people across 512 00:29:25,690 --> 00:29:29,459 our city about what they need to feel safe and supported. 513 00:29:29,459 --> 00:29:32,553 In a recent conversation in Rainier Beach, we envisioned 514 00:29:32,553 --> 00:29:34,097 a world with no gun violence. 515 00:29:35,159 --> 00:29:38,087 Again and again, I've heard that what's needed to 516 00:29:38,087 --> 00:29:41,019 make that world possible are positive pathways. 517 00:29:42,116 --> 00:29:45,103 Every young person in this city deserves a chance to 518 00:29:45,103 --> 00:29:47,948 grow up with places to be, things to do, adults who 519 00:29:47,948 --> 00:29:51,278 believe in them, and a future that they are excited about. 520 00:29:52,616 --> 00:29:55,586 That is why I am proposing ongoing funding to continue 521 00:29:55,586 --> 00:29:58,817 the Teen Late Night Pilot this year in High Point, bringing 522 00:29:58,817 --> 00:30:01,719 us to nine Teen Late Night Pilots programs citywide. 523 00:30:01,719 --> 00:30:04,077 I'm funding a new community learning center 524 00:30:04,077 --> 00:30:07,209 after-school pilot at Rainier Beach High School and I'm 525 00:30:07,209 --> 00:30:10,076 expanding support for peer mentorships and teen 526 00:30:10,076 --> 00:30:16,703 programs and I'm also maintaining 527 00:30:16,703 --> 00:30:23,159 funding for paid internships through the Seattle 528 00:30:23,159 --> 00:30:25,814 youth employment program because a young person 529 00:30:25,814 --> 00:30:28,076 who has a mentor, a job, and somewhere to be 530 00:30:28,076 --> 00:30:31,538 is a young person building the bright future they deserve. 531 00:30:39,239 --> 00:30:43,028 No one should have to wonder if they can afford to eat, so this 532 00:30:43,028 --> 00:30:44,999 budget invests in food access. 533 00:30:44,999 --> 00:30:48,778 This is a responsibility that we have taken on as a community. 534 00:30:48,778 --> 00:30:51,807 As grocery prices climb and Trump and his allies gut food 535 00:30:51,807 --> 00:30:55,739 assistance from Washington, D.C., we are not retreating. 536 00:30:56,817 --> 00:31:00,594 Last year's budget directed over $10 million in one-time 537 00:31:00,594 --> 00:31:04,150 funds to expand Fresh Bucks to 5,000 more households and to 538 00:31:04,150 --> 00:31:07,199 support food banks and meal delivery, setting up those 539 00:31:07,199 --> 00:31:10,116 programs to stop abruptly in January. 540 00:31:10,116 --> 00:31:13,636 In this budget, I am making those investments ongoing. 541 00:31:20,719 --> 00:31:25,288 And starting this month, every child in Seattle Public Schools 542 00:31:25,288 --> 00:31:29,298 has access to free breakfast and lunch every day at school. 543 00:31:36,239 --> 00:31:39,106 Every child deserves nutritious food and hungry 544 00:31:39,106 --> 00:31:40,439 kids don't learn well. 545 00:31:40,439 --> 00:31:43,326 And I'm so proud to have worked with council and alongside so 546 00:31:43,326 --> 00:31:46,219 many parents, students, and educators to make that happen. 547 00:31:48,356 --> 00:31:51,939 Housing is at the heart of our affordability crisis. 548 00:31:51,939 --> 00:31:55,401 As a renter and as a mom raising a family in an apartment, I 549 00:31:55,401 --> 00:31:58,713 know what it's like to cram too many people into too few 550 00:31:58,713 --> 00:32:02,028 rooms, to wonder what big number you're going to see on 551 00:32:02,028 --> 00:32:04,019 your next rent increase notice. 552 00:32:04,019 --> 00:32:07,659 You don't need a dishwasher or a washer and dryer of your 553 00:32:07,659 --> 00:32:11,298 own to live a good life, but you do need basic stability. 554 00:32:11,298 --> 00:32:14,959 Seattle deserves affordable and abundant housing. 555 00:32:14,959 --> 00:32:17,346 I signed an executive order last month to accelerate 556 00:32:17,346 --> 00:32:20,718 housing production, streamlining permitting and launching a 557 00:32:20,718 --> 00:32:22,759 housing production task force. 558 00:32:22,759 --> 00:32:25,335 This budget creates the affordable housing 559 00:32:25,335 --> 00:32:27,979 ombud position promised in that order so that 560 00:32:27,979 --> 00:32:30,125 community-led developers can navigate our 561 00:32:30,125 --> 00:32:31,519 permitting systems faster. 562 00:32:32,557 --> 00:32:36,461 In this budget, I am preserving, with no reductions, rental 563 00:32:36,461 --> 00:32:40,519 assistance and tenant services to keep people in their homes. 564 00:32:48,136 --> 00:32:50,923 And I am proposing a fee to fund enforcement of the 565 00:32:50,923 --> 00:32:54,317 legislation I just signed last week to ban rental junk fees. 566 00:33:00,116 --> 00:33:02,818 Renters deserve to know what their monthly rent is 567 00:33:02,818 --> 00:33:05,459 going to be so they can find a home they can afford. 568 00:33:05,459 --> 00:33:08,951 And in this budget, I have also worked hard to sustain the 569 00:33:08,951 --> 00:33:12,319 Equitable Development Initiative so that the communities 570 00:33:12,319 --> 00:33:14,778 pushed to the margins of this city's growth have the 571 00:33:14,778 --> 00:33:16,396 means to stay anchored in it. 572 00:33:23,219 --> 00:33:26,432 Participation in everything that our city has to offer 573 00:33:26,432 --> 00:33:28,959 requires being able to travel around it. 574 00:33:28,959 --> 00:33:31,679 Transportation is not a convenience, it 575 00:33:31,679 --> 00:33:34,982 is access to our economy, our culture, and our civic 576 00:33:34,982 --> 00:33:38,162 life. The transportation fund deficit I mentioned 577 00:33:38,162 --> 00:33:41,386 earlier does not impact funding for our voter-approved 578 00:33:41,386 --> 00:33:43,853 transportation levy projects, and we remain 579 00:33:43,853 --> 00:33:45,019 focused on delivery. 580 00:33:46,096 --> 00:33:50,279 Every serious injury or death on our streets is one too many, 581 00:33:50,279 --> 00:33:53,957 and last month I signed an executive order to accelerate 582 00:33:53,957 --> 00:33:55,284 our Vision Zero work. 583 00:33:55,284 --> 00:33:57,939 My budget prioritizes those investments. 584 00:33:57,939 --> 00:34:00,673 We are also protecting transit speed and reliability 585 00:34:00,673 --> 00:34:04,201 improvements, neighborhood-level traffic calming and pedestrian 586 00:34:04,201 --> 00:34:06,939 safety projects, and upgrades to Aurora and Rainier. 587 00:34:15,878 --> 00:34:18,534 Seattle's values are under attack, and we will 588 00:34:18,534 --> 00:34:19,759 not be quiet about it. 589 00:34:19,759 --> 00:34:22,661 Seattle welcomes people fleeing oppression wherever 590 00:34:22,661 --> 00:34:25,500 they are from, including other parts of this country. 591 00:34:25,500 --> 00:34:29,255 I am proud to invest $500,000 ongoing to support queer and 592 00:34:29,255 --> 00:34:33,248 trans communities, and I thank the LGBTQ Plus Commission for 593 00:34:33,248 --> 00:34:35,360 their advocacy and leadership. 594 00:34:42,039 --> 00:34:45,038 We are also sustaining $4 million in ongoing 595 00:34:45,038 --> 00:34:48,280 support for immigrant and refugee communities 596 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:51,371 for legal services, rapid response, support for immigrant 597 00:34:51,371 --> 00:34:53,039 workers, and small businesses. 598 00:34:57,358 --> 00:35:01,623 And I am proud that this budget funds implementation 599 00:35:01,623 --> 00:35:05,500 of our new fair and transparent pricing policy. 600 00:35:05,500 --> 00:35:08,375 Council's vote later today will make Seattle the 601 00:35:08,375 --> 00:35:11,179 first city in the country to take on algorithmic 602 00:35:11,179 --> 00:35:12,938 price discrimination for groceries. 603 00:35:15,619 --> 00:35:21,032 The same product in the same store should cost the same 604 00:35:21,032 --> 00:35:25,018 no matter who is pushing the cart. 605 00:35:25,018 --> 00:35:28,936 And last month, our Office of Labor Standards recovered 606 00:35:28,936 --> 00:35:32,518 $4.4 million owed to over 14,000 Uber Eats drivers, 607 00:35:32,518 --> 00:35:34,733 which is what it looks like when a city keeps its 608 00:35:34,733 --> 00:35:37,059 word to the people who hold its economy together. 609 00:35:41,978 --> 00:35:46,349 In this budget, I am proud to have prioritized this office's 610 00:35:46,349 --> 00:35:49,530 vital role fighting for the rights and well-being 611 00:35:49,530 --> 00:35:50,699 of Seattle's workers. 612 00:35:56,277 --> 00:35:59,146 This budget invests in a thriving economy for every 613 00:35:59,146 --> 00:36:00,478 Seattle neighborhood. 614 00:36:00,478 --> 00:36:04,056 It continues support for small businesses through programs 615 00:36:04,056 --> 00:36:07,286 like capital access, tenant improvements, technical 616 00:36:07,286 --> 00:36:10,445 assistance, the Business Community Ownership Fund, 617 00:36:10,445 --> 00:36:11,918 and the Liberty Project. 618 00:36:11,918 --> 00:36:15,320 We will build on these programs as we execute my Building a 619 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,510 Resilient Economy executive order and make it easier 620 00:36:18,510 --> 00:36:21,699 to open, operate, and grow a business here in Seattle. 621 00:36:21,699 --> 00:36:24,373 We are also maintaining Jumpstart funding for our 622 00:36:24,373 --> 00:36:27,239 Green New Deal programs across several departments. 623 00:36:27,239 --> 00:36:30,666 That includes decarbonizing buildings and supporting 624 00:36:30,666 --> 00:36:31,759 our urban forest. 625 00:36:31,759 --> 00:36:34,001 We are helping to grow green jobs through clean 626 00:36:34,001 --> 00:36:36,817 energy apprenticeships and developing youth leadership 627 00:36:36,817 --> 00:36:39,518 and job skills through the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps. 628 00:36:39,518 --> 00:36:41,947 This work supports our climate and our economy 629 00:36:41,947 --> 00:36:42,818 at the same time. 630 00:36:50,998 --> 00:36:54,891 Living in an expensive city like Seattle, many of us don't 631 00:36:54,891 --> 00:36:56,838 have a ton of personal space. 632 00:36:56,838 --> 00:37:00,478 That's what makes the public spaces we all share so vital. 633 00:37:00,478 --> 00:37:03,505 The city becomes your living room and the parks 634 00:37:03,505 --> 00:37:04,978 become your backyard. 635 00:37:04,978 --> 00:37:08,719 And that means that, like any good living room or backyard, 636 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:11,998 they need to be safe and welcoming and, 637 00:37:11,998 --> 00:37:14,012 speaking as the mother of a young child, not 638 00:37:14,012 --> 00:37:15,018 too far from a toilet. 639 00:37:16,958 --> 00:37:19,978 My budget includes 1.4 million dollars 640 00:37:19,978 --> 00:37:22,797 for 10 public restrooms across the city. 641 00:37:30,539 --> 00:37:34,579 I am also funding two new bathrooms in our parks, 642 00:37:34,579 --> 00:37:37,099 one at Cheryl Chow Park in South Seattle 643 00:37:37,099 --> 00:37:39,159 and one in Northeast Seattle. 644 00:37:39,159 --> 00:37:41,498 So that is a dozen new public restrooms 645 00:37:41,498 --> 00:37:44,318 so that everyone can explore our beautiful city 646 00:37:44,318 --> 00:37:45,699 with comfort and confidence. 647 00:37:51,239 --> 00:37:53,099 Our community centers and our parks 648 00:37:53,099 --> 00:37:56,699 are a priceless asset for families and people of all ages. 649 00:37:56,699 --> 00:38:00,480 My budget nearly doubles Seattle Parks and Recreation's 650 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:03,110 scholarship budget to serve 1,400 more 651 00:38:03,110 --> 00:38:04,679 people every year. 652 00:38:04,679 --> 00:38:07,059 We offer amazing classes like pottery, 653 00:38:07,059 --> 00:38:09,739 dance and martial arts, environmental learning programs, 654 00:38:09,739 --> 00:38:13,119 and youth athletics, and a price tag should not limit 655 00:38:13,119 --> 00:38:14,579 who gets to enjoy them. 656 00:38:19,858 --> 00:38:23,324 If any one place can be called our city's living 657 00:38:23,324 --> 00:38:25,367 room, it is Seattle Center. 658 00:38:25,367 --> 00:38:28,744 This is our hub for culture, sports, and families 659 00:38:28,744 --> 00:38:31,574 playing in the fountain on a hot summer day. 660 00:38:31,574 --> 00:38:34,175 And it needs significant investment to 661 00:38:34,175 --> 00:38:35,753 extend its useful life. 662 00:38:35,753 --> 00:38:38,199 This budget includes over $3 million 663 00:38:38,199 --> 00:38:42,170 to study and plan for a 2027 Seattle Center bond issuance 664 00:38:42,170 --> 00:38:43,608 for redevelopment. 665 00:38:43,608 --> 00:38:45,416 This is a great opportunity for 666 00:38:45,416 --> 00:38:48,746 partnership between government, arts, business, and labor. 667 00:38:48,746 --> 00:38:50,896 I am also allocating $500,000 668 00:38:50,896 --> 00:38:54,719 to enhance safety and security at Seattle Center so 669 00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:57,175 we can continue welcoming the public to all the 670 00:38:57,175 --> 00:38:58,498 wonderful events there. 671 00:39:05,338 --> 00:39:08,003 Together we will revitalize Seattle Center and support 672 00:39:08,003 --> 00:39:10,199 the many institutions that call it home. 673 00:39:12,599 --> 00:39:15,759 Every budget is a set of choices. 674 00:39:15,759 --> 00:39:17,458 About revenue. 675 00:39:17,458 --> 00:39:18,958 About spending. 676 00:39:18,958 --> 00:39:22,052 But underneath all of that, it is a choice about 677 00:39:22,052 --> 00:39:23,480 who we believe we are. 678 00:39:24,838 --> 00:39:27,568 I am choosing a budget that tells the truth 679 00:39:27,568 --> 00:39:29,967 about where we are and still dares to point 680 00:39:29,967 --> 00:39:31,318 toward where we are going. 681 00:39:32,418 --> 00:39:36,117 We will run this government the way the people of Seattle 682 00:39:36,117 --> 00:39:40,617 deserve, with honesty instead of obfuscation, with care instead 683 00:39:40,617 --> 00:39:44,958 of convenience, and with the discipline to make hard choices 684 00:39:44,958 --> 00:39:47,456 without losing sight of who those choices 685 00:39:47,456 --> 00:39:48,599 are meant to serve. 686 00:39:48,599 --> 00:39:52,440 And then, we will do more than steady the ship. 687 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:56,478 we will set a course toward a Seattle where stability 688 00:39:56,478 --> 00:39:59,420 is not the ceiling of our ambition but the 689 00:39:59,420 --> 00:40:00,719 ground beneath it. 690 00:40:09,119 --> 00:40:12,737 Where a balanced budget gives us the strength to 691 00:40:12,737 --> 00:40:15,878 build, to repair, to protect, and to imagine. 692 00:40:17,139 --> 00:40:18,838 Where the measure of a thriving city 693 00:40:18,838 --> 00:40:22,478 is not what we show the world for one extraordinary summer, 694 00:40:22,478 --> 00:40:25,159 but what a child sees from their window, 695 00:40:25,159 --> 00:40:27,818 what a family feels on their block, 696 00:40:27,818 --> 00:40:31,418 and what every person believes is possible for their life here. 697 00:40:32,659 --> 00:40:34,378 This is your city. 698 00:40:34,378 --> 00:40:36,498 It always has been. 699 00:40:36,498 --> 00:40:39,878 And my promise is that we will spend every day 700 00:40:39,878 --> 00:40:42,297 working to make those words meaningful. 701 00:40:42,297 --> 00:40:44,719 Until belonging is not merely something 702 00:40:44,719 --> 00:40:47,402 we say, but something you can feel. 703 00:40:47,402 --> 00:40:50,639 Until progress is not merely something we 704 00:40:50,639 --> 00:40:53,338 announce, but something you can see. 705 00:40:53,338 --> 00:40:56,559 Until the promise of this city reaches every 706 00:40:56,559 --> 00:41:01,061 neighborhood, every block, every person who calls 707 00:41:01,061 --> 00:41:02,317 Seattle home. 708 00:41:02,317 --> 00:41:03,259 Thank you.