1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,636 Nicole Vallestero Soper, Director of Affordability 2 00:00:07,636 --> 00:00:12,012 with the Mayor's Office: My name is Nicole 3 00:00:12,012 --> 00:00:13,708 Vallestero Soper. I'm the Director of 4 00:00:13,708 --> 00:00:15,339 Affordability with the Mayor's Office. 5 00:00:15,339 --> 00:00:17,934 And without further ado, I'd like to introduce you 6 00:00:17,934 --> 00:00:20,219 to the Mayor of Seattle, Mayor Katie Wilson. 7 00:00:22,199 --> 00:00:24,320 Katie Wilson: Hi, thank you, Nicole. 8 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,859 Thank you all for joining us today. 9 00:00:27,859 --> 00:00:31,140 It is my great pleasure to be here to talk about housing. 10 00:00:32,380 --> 00:00:36,307 I want to give a special thank you to Estela Ortega, El Centro 11 00:00:36,307 --> 00:00:38,929 de la Raza, and all of the residents here at Four 12 00:00:38,929 --> 00:00:40,859 Amigos for providing us with space today. 13 00:00:45,859 --> 00:00:50,304 I also want to remind everyone that nap time for the kids at 14 00:00:50,304 --> 00:00:54,143 Jose Marti Child Development Center starts at noon, so 15 00:00:54,143 --> 00:00:57,118 we will have to be very quiet as we exit here today. 16 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:00,798 Nap time's important, I know this. 17 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,528 Four Amigos is one of the many jewels across our city that 18 00:01:05,528 --> 00:01:09,319 shows what is possible when we listen to communities. 19 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,500 Here we have easy access to transit, childcare, 20 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:15,578 and small businesses, all while offering families 21 00:01:15,578 --> 00:01:17,480 homes that they can grow in. 22 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,780 It's an example of what we can build when communities lead 23 00:01:20,780 --> 00:01:24,319 and how we respond with city investments. 24 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,799 And it is a reminder of the principled community organizing 25 00:01:27,799 --> 00:01:31,140 of Bernie Whitebear, Bob Santos, Roberto Maestas, 26 00:01:31,140 --> 00:01:32,718 and Larry Gossett. 27 00:01:32,718 --> 00:01:37,433 The gang of four, or four amigos, fought relentlessly 28 00:01:37,433 --> 00:01:42,566 for a vision of Seattle where indigenous, black, and brown 29 00:01:42,566 --> 00:01:48,120 people and working people of all races could live with dignity. 30 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,438 I'm humbled to announce today's executive order to help 31 00:01:51,438 --> 00:01:54,614 us produce the affordable, abundant housing our city 32 00:01:54,614 --> 00:01:57,578 needs in a space that bears their collective name. 33 00:01:57,578 --> 00:02:01,111 When housing costs climb, working-class Seattleites 34 00:02:01,111 --> 00:02:02,799 feel it first and hardest. 35 00:02:02,799 --> 00:02:05,503 Rising rents stretch working families to the breaking 36 00:02:05,503 --> 00:02:08,324 point and push our most vulnerable neighbors toward 37 00:02:08,324 --> 00:02:11,598 homelessness. To keep building this city, your city, and 38 00:02:11,598 --> 00:02:15,383 to respond to our growing needs, we need abundant housing 39 00:02:15,383 --> 00:02:16,252 of all kinds. 40 00:02:16,252 --> 00:02:18,370 Affordable and abundant housing helps 41 00:02:18,370 --> 00:02:20,740 residents stay in the city they call home and also 42 00:02:20,740 --> 00:02:23,407 allows us to welcome new neighbors who continue 43 00:02:23,407 --> 00:02:26,818 to move here for opportunity, safety and community. 44 00:02:26,818 --> 00:02:30,276 We want families to put down roots so that parents, children 45 00:02:30,276 --> 00:02:33,366 and chosen families can build a multi-generational city 46 00:02:33,366 --> 00:02:36,419 that honors our diverse cultures and carries our histories 47 00:02:36,419 --> 00:02:38,580 forward. And we want housing 48 00:02:38,580 --> 00:02:41,000 opportunities across every neighborhood in our 49 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,586 city so the size of your paycheck doesn't determine 50 00:02:43,586 --> 00:02:46,460 your zip code, your access to healthy air or the safety of 51 00:02:46,460 --> 00:02:47,562 your streets. 52 00:02:47,562 --> 00:02:50,872 That means more market rate housing to keep 53 00:02:50,872 --> 00:02:53,080 pace with our city's growth. 54 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,108 It means affordable housing that people working every kind of 55 00:02:56,108 --> 00:02:59,502 job can afford, with homes large enough for every kind of family. 56 00:02:59,502 --> 00:03:02,538 And it means housing for our retirees and for those who 57 00:03:02,538 --> 00:03:04,669 can no longer or are unable to work. 58 00:03:04,669 --> 00:03:07,020 It means social housing that provides 59 00:03:07,020 --> 00:03:10,127 a stable, affordable, mixed-income place to live as 60 00:03:10,127 --> 00:03:11,906 a household's income changes. 61 00:03:11,906 --> 00:03:15,495 And it means supportive housing, paired with services, so we can 62 00:03:15,495 --> 00:03:17,104 get people the care they need. 63 00:03:17,104 --> 00:03:20,282 And it means shelter that moves people off the streets 64 00:03:20,282 --> 00:03:22,186 and toward permanent homes. 65 00:03:22,186 --> 00:03:23,294 We need all of it. 66 00:03:23,294 --> 00:03:26,078 Many forces are putting pressure on housing 67 00:03:26,078 --> 00:03:27,413 production right now. 68 00:03:27,413 --> 00:03:31,080 Interest rates, supply chain challenges, inflation-driven 69 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:33,793 cost increases, federal policies and 70 00:03:33,793 --> 00:03:35,699 disinvestment all play a role. 71 00:03:35,699 --> 00:03:39,437 We can't control every one of these forces, but we must take 72 00:03:39,437 --> 00:03:43,508 action wherever we can, because housing that people can afford 73 00:03:43,508 --> 00:03:45,437 is critical to a healthy city. 74 00:03:45,437 --> 00:03:49,294 So today, I'm issuing an executive order to help us build 75 00:03:49,294 --> 00:03:52,030 a city where the people who lay our building 76 00:03:52,030 --> 00:03:54,949 foundations, who own our neighborhood businesses, 77 00:03:54,949 --> 00:03:57,657 who teach our children, and who serve our coffee 78 00:03:57,657 --> 00:03:59,800 can afford to live here and grow here. 79 00:04:01,217 --> 00:04:05,109 First, we are taking more aggressive and coordinated 80 00:04:05,109 --> 00:04:08,479 action to make permitting faster and clearer. 81 00:04:08,479 --> 00:04:11,866 That begins with looking closely at our own regulatory 82 00:04:11,866 --> 00:04:13,560 and permitting processes. 83 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,379 Building on work begun during the previous administration 84 00:04:16,379 --> 00:04:19,187 and championed by advocates, developers, council 85 00:04:19,187 --> 00:04:21,790 members, and city staff, We are launching a new 86 00:04:21,790 --> 00:04:24,660 residential permitting interdepartmental team 87 00:04:24,660 --> 00:04:27,052 to make permit timelines shorter and more 88 00:04:27,052 --> 00:04:28,759 predictable across the city. 89 00:04:29,778 --> 00:04:32,627 As the developers gathered here today know too well, 90 00:04:32,627 --> 00:04:35,992 delayed permitting, utility hookups, and street use permits 91 00:04:35,992 --> 00:04:38,711 can cost a single project hundreds of thousands of 92 00:04:38,711 --> 00:04:40,199 dollars per month of delay. 93 00:04:41,838 --> 00:04:45,954 By streamlining permitting, we can help make more projects 94 00:04:45,954 --> 00:04:47,600 pencil across the city. 95 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:53,156 Second, I am proposing funding for an affordable housing ombuds 96 00:04:53,156 --> 00:04:56,680 in the 2027-2028 budget, a request made by numerous 97 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:58,660 affordable housing developers to help 98 00:04:58,660 --> 00:05:02,235 low-income housing providers and especially community-led 99 00:05:02,235 --> 00:05:05,800 developers save time in navigating our city agencies. 100 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,526 The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections 101 00:05:08,526 --> 00:05:11,482 will support this position, and Seattle City Light, the Seattle 102 00:05:11,482 --> 00:05:14,220 Department of Transportation, the Seattle Fire Department, 103 00:05:14,220 --> 00:05:17,086 and the Seattle Public Utilities will each name a point of 104 00:05:17,086 --> 00:05:20,319 contact to quickly resolve permitting issues. 105 00:05:20,319 --> 00:05:22,769 The policies we set, the way we review proposals, 106 00:05:22,769 --> 00:05:25,459 and the efficiency of our approvals and inspections, 107 00:05:25,459 --> 00:05:28,675 All of these shape how quickly and effectively 108 00:05:28,675 --> 00:05:32,220 new housing can move from concept to construction. 109 00:05:32,220 --> 00:05:34,879 So these two actions emphasize city departments 110 00:05:34,879 --> 00:05:37,800 working together instead of in silos to make sure that 111 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,720 we build housing faster without unnecessary delays. 112 00:05:41,879 --> 00:05:44,038 Development delays lead to increased costs from 113 00:05:44,038 --> 00:05:46,461 permitting to construction to getting people in those 114 00:05:46,461 --> 00:05:48,620 homes and it's a cost that we can no longer afford. 115 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,086 Third, we are establishing a housing production 116 00:05:53,086 --> 00:05:56,278 task force that brings together labor, affordable 117 00:05:56,278 --> 00:05:59,196 housing providers, community organizations, and 118 00:05:59,196 --> 00:06:00,620 market rate developers. 119 00:06:00,620 --> 00:06:03,266 This group will find shared solutions to speed 120 00:06:03,266 --> 00:06:05,980 up housing production, support community-led 121 00:06:05,980 --> 00:06:08,427 development, strengthen our affordable housing 122 00:06:08,427 --> 00:06:10,759 infrastructure, and prevent displacement for 123 00:06:10,759 --> 00:06:14,107 households with low incomes and black, indigenous, 124 00:06:14,107 --> 00:06:15,778 and communities of color. 125 00:06:15,778 --> 00:06:18,286 Supported through the Seattle's Office of Planning and 126 00:06:18,286 --> 00:06:21,442 Community Development, the task force will tackle many 127 00:06:21,442 --> 00:06:24,591 key issues: strategies to grow housing for 128 00:06:24,591 --> 00:06:27,927 households below 50% of the area median income and 129 00:06:27,927 --> 00:06:31,175 larger family-sized homes, reforms to our mandatory 130 00:06:31,175 --> 00:06:34,326 housing affordability program, the future of 131 00:06:34,326 --> 00:06:38,278 design review, preserving and expanding permanent 132 00:06:38,278 --> 00:06:41,675 supportive housing in a challenging federal landscape, 133 00:06:41,675 --> 00:06:44,781 expanding affordable homeownership, strengthening 134 00:06:44,781 --> 00:06:47,000 our anti-displacement strategies, and 135 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,264 stabilizing and preserving the affordable housing 136 00:06:50,264 --> 00:06:51,302 we already have. 137 00:06:51,302 --> 00:06:53,257 This task force will provide 138 00:06:53,257 --> 00:06:56,778 a status update with initial recommendations by February of 139 00:06:56,778 --> 00:07:01,418 2027 so that we can take action on items next year, and final 140 00:07:01,418 --> 00:07:04,879 recommendations by September of 2027. 141 00:07:06,620 --> 00:07:09,689 This work moves forward alongside many efforts that are 142 00:07:09,689 --> 00:07:12,992 already underway across our city departments, including 143 00:07:12,992 --> 00:07:15,797 our comprehensive plan, zoning, the equitable 144 00:07:15,797 --> 00:07:18,737 development initiative, our displacement data 145 00:07:18,737 --> 00:07:21,309 and mapping tools, office to residential 146 00:07:21,309 --> 00:07:24,021 conversions, and new state laws that advance 147 00:07:24,021 --> 00:07:27,019 middle housing and transit-oriented development. 148 00:07:27,019 --> 00:07:29,540 And we will build on our partnerships with King County 149 00:07:29,540 --> 00:07:32,064 and statewide efforts like the Washington Accelerator for 150 00:07:32,064 --> 00:07:33,040 Residential Production. 151 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,338 This agenda is ambitious because the need across 152 00:07:37,338 --> 00:07:39,079 our neighborhoods is real. 153 00:07:39,079 --> 00:07:41,732 But Seattle has the skills, the partnerships, 154 00:07:41,732 --> 00:07:44,180 and the determination to meet this moment. 155 00:07:44,180 --> 00:07:46,564 So I want to thank all of you, our community 156 00:07:46,564 --> 00:07:50,040 organizations, our housing providers, our labor partners, 157 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,733 city staff, and residents for showing up, for 158 00:07:52,733 --> 00:07:56,759 collaborating, and for believing in what we can build together. 159 00:07:56,759 --> 00:07:59,584 I also want to acknowledge all the partners standing here 160 00:07:59,584 --> 00:08:01,814 with me today who are going to be helping to 161 00:08:01,814 --> 00:08:02,819 drive this work. 162 00:08:02,819 --> 00:08:04,934 Their leadership and their commitment are 163 00:08:04,934 --> 00:08:07,399 essential to delivering the housing that Seattle 164 00:08:07,399 --> 00:08:08,800 families need. 165 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:10,934 I also want to thank the City Council for their 166 00:08:10,934 --> 00:08:13,180 shared commitment to accelerating permitting 167 00:08:13,180 --> 00:08:17,220 times and ensuring that we have abundant housing of all kinds. 168 00:08:17,220 --> 00:08:19,949 with that councilmember Lin will be sharing his 169 00:08:19,949 --> 00:08:23,182 perspective next after all of our housing production 170 00:08:23,182 --> 00:08:26,278 task force co-chairs have spoken I will return to 171 00:08:26,278 --> 00:08:26,838 answer some questions 172 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,023 Thank you, Mayor. 173 00:08:35,023 --> 00:08:37,298 We'll keep this brief so that 174 00:08:37,298 --> 00:08:41,000 we can make sure we are respecting the nap time. 175 00:08:42,220 --> 00:08:46,839 Super excited to be here and to see so many familiar faces 176 00:08:46,839 --> 00:08:50,850 and just the deep expertise and experience and knowledge 177 00:08:50,850 --> 00:08:54,500 that we're going to be working together as part of this housing 178 00:08:54,500 --> 00:08:56,080 production task force. 179 00:08:57,759 --> 00:09:00,826 Also just super excited about the executive order on how to 180 00:09:00,826 --> 00:09:03,340 address and expedite permitting timelines. 181 00:09:03,340 --> 00:09:06,638 You know, my background was as a city attorney working with 182 00:09:06,638 --> 00:09:09,937 the Office of Housing and funding affordable housing like 183 00:09:09,937 --> 00:09:11,620 this wonderful project here. 184 00:09:11,620 --> 00:09:15,514 And just seeing how those delays and timelines were really 185 00:09:15,514 --> 00:09:17,658 adding just significant costs. 186 00:09:17,658 --> 00:09:20,769 So significant costs that, you know, those were city 187 00:09:20,769 --> 00:09:23,600 dollars and just seeing those continue to rise. 188 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,552 And, you know, if that was true for our affordable 189 00:09:26,552 --> 00:09:29,797 housing partners, it was clear that that was also true 190 00:09:29,797 --> 00:09:33,038 for everyone else along all of our housing producers. 191 00:09:33,038 --> 00:09:36,301 And so we know that it's essential not just for those 192 00:09:36,301 --> 00:09:39,485 searching for a safe and affordable place to live, 193 00:09:39,485 --> 00:09:43,051 but also for our businesses, for city government trying 194 00:09:43,051 --> 00:09:46,538 to attract and make sure that our workers can live in the 195 00:09:46,538 --> 00:09:48,360 community where they serve. 196 00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:53,475 So super excited to get to work to make sure that we 197 00:09:53,475 --> 00:09:57,840 are breaking down barriers across city departments. 198 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,250 You know, it's understandable why we have different 199 00:10:00,250 --> 00:10:02,500 city departments focused on their core mission. 200 00:10:02,500 --> 00:10:05,230 You know, we have utilities focused on making sure we 201 00:10:05,230 --> 00:10:07,899 have reliable, you know, electricity or, you know, 202 00:10:07,899 --> 00:10:11,700 Seattle Public Utilities or SDOT focused on transportation. 203 00:10:11,700 --> 00:10:15,519 But we also need them to be focused on housing as well. 204 00:10:15,519 --> 00:10:18,557 That has to be part of that mission as well, 205 00:10:18,557 --> 00:10:23,057 to make sure that we are working in lockstep together. 206 00:10:23,057 --> 00:10:26,052 And so super excited about the executive order, super 207 00:10:26,052 --> 00:10:27,320 excited to get to work. 208 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:27,720 Thank you all. 209 00:10:32,259 --> 00:10:35,740 I'd like to introduce Carter Nelson from CREDA next. 210 00:10:41,100 --> 00:10:41,960 Thank you, Nicole. 211 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:42,677 Good morning. 212 00:10:42,677 --> 00:10:45,599 I'm Carter Nelson here on behalf of the Commercial Real 213 00:10:45,599 --> 00:10:47,440 Estate Development Association. 214 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:49,524 And I just want to start by saying I'm honored 215 00:10:49,524 --> 00:10:51,500 to be co-chairing this group and be part of 216 00:10:51,500 --> 00:10:53,399 the important work ahead of us. 217 00:10:53,399 --> 00:10:56,177 Our members are the workforce of architects, 218 00:10:56,177 --> 00:10:59,346 engineers, contractors, and developers who help deliver 219 00:10:59,346 --> 00:11:02,115 much of the multifamily housing Seattle needs. 220 00:11:02,115 --> 00:11:03,740 Our members want to be part 221 00:11:03,740 --> 00:11:07,043 of the solution by building more housing and creating 222 00:11:07,043 --> 00:11:10,177 more options for people who want to live in the city. 223 00:11:10,177 --> 00:11:12,455 We appreciate Mayor Wilson and her team's 224 00:11:12,455 --> 00:11:14,543 leadership in convening this group. 225 00:11:14,543 --> 00:11:17,937 Bringing together community leaders, nonprofits, 226 00:11:17,937 --> 00:11:21,013 housing advocates, and industry professionals 227 00:11:21,013 --> 00:11:23,860 is exactly the kind of collaboration we need to 228 00:11:23,860 --> 00:11:26,562 approach a challenge as complex as housing 229 00:11:26,562 --> 00:11:30,066 affordability. We're grateful to have a seat at the table 230 00:11:30,066 --> 00:11:32,720 and look forward to working with this group to 231 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,245 identify the key barriers that make housing more 232 00:11:35,245 --> 00:11:36,292 difficult to build. 233 00:11:36,292 --> 00:11:38,187 We're We're excited to help advance 234 00:11:38,187 --> 00:11:41,557 practical solutions that make it easier to deliver housing for 235 00:11:41,557 --> 00:11:43,480 current and future Seattleites. 236 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:44,740 Let's get to work. 237 00:11:49,820 --> 00:11:53,000 And as well, Joel Ing, principal from Edge Developers. 238 00:11:57,298 --> 00:11:58,778 Good morning, everyone. 239 00:11:58,778 --> 00:12:00,220 My name is Joel Ing. 240 00:12:00,220 --> 00:12:03,272 I am a principal at Edge Developers here in Seattle, 241 00:12:03,272 --> 00:12:06,182 and we focus on affordable housing and community 242 00:12:06,182 --> 00:12:09,519 projects throughout the city, mostly in South Seattle. 243 00:12:09,519 --> 00:12:13,080 So, number one, thank you, Estela, for hosting us here. 244 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:13,860 This feels like home. 245 00:12:13,860 --> 00:12:16,456 I was born and raised just in the next 246 00:12:16,456 --> 00:12:18,620 neighborhood in Mount Baker. 247 00:12:18,620 --> 00:12:21,956 So I too am very honored to be selected as one of 248 00:12:21,956 --> 00:12:25,825 the co-chairs, and I look forward to working with the 249 00:12:25,825 --> 00:12:30,129 dedicated community members and improving the review and 250 00:12:30,129 --> 00:12:34,346 funding requirements that will increase affordable and 251 00:12:34,346 --> 00:12:36,720 market rate housing in our city. 252 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,532 Following up on the efforts 10 years ago of the 253 00:12:39,532 --> 00:12:42,714 Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda Task 254 00:12:42,714 --> 00:12:46,340 Force to increase housing production, also known as HALA, 255 00:12:46,340 --> 00:12:50,187 now is the time to refine many of those strategies while 256 00:12:50,187 --> 00:12:52,278 developing new initiatives. 257 00:12:52,278 --> 00:12:56,831 The housing shortage continues to worsen in our city, as 258 00:12:56,831 --> 00:13:00,754 we all know, and the region, so the opportunity to improve 259 00:13:00,754 --> 00:13:04,147 many development requirements that prevent and challenge 260 00:13:04,147 --> 00:13:07,200 this housing production is both welcomed and needed. 261 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:11,466 As a native Seattleite, I have seen both the development and 262 00:13:11,466 --> 00:13:15,566 displacement of residents in many of our neighborhoods, 263 00:13:15,566 --> 00:13:19,221 including one we are in today, So I recognize the ongoing 264 00:13:19,221 --> 00:13:22,200 need for housing that matches the community needs. 265 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,576 I'm dedicated to continue developing housing and related 266 00:13:25,576 --> 00:13:28,899 community spaces in our city, and I'm confident the 267 00:13:28,899 --> 00:13:32,897 task force efforts will improve development timing, 268 00:13:32,897 --> 00:13:37,339 required funding, design and construction requirements, 269 00:13:37,339 --> 00:13:39,557 and overall project success. 270 00:13:39,557 --> 00:13:43,365 This is an opportunity to reduce the regulatory barriers that 271 00:13:43,365 --> 00:13:46,951 slow good projects down and make sure long-time residents 272 00:13:46,951 --> 00:13:49,807 who grew up in the community can afford to stay. 273 00:13:49,807 --> 00:13:50,320 Thanks. 274 00:13:55,418 --> 00:13:59,600 And our fourth co-chair, Tiffany Kelly-Gray, Director of 275 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,442 Strategic Initiatives from Byrd Barr Place, was not able to 276 00:14:03,442 --> 00:14:06,580 be here today, but is very excited about being our fourth 277 00:14:06,580 --> 00:14:09,197 co-chair. But instead, I'd like to 278 00:14:09,197 --> 00:14:13,620 introduce somebody you all know well, Patience Malaba, 279 00:14:13,620 --> 00:14:16,931 Executive Director of HDC, who's here to speak 280 00:14:16,931 --> 00:14:18,798 about the housing ombuds. 281 00:14:24,259 --> 00:14:25,220 Thank you. 282 00:14:25,220 --> 00:14:32,500 So I want to begin by thanking Mayor Wilson for your leadership 283 00:14:32,500 --> 00:14:39,220 in rolling out this work today and for acknowledging what 284 00:14:39,220 --> 00:14:42,720 is fundamentally important. 285 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:51,019 Everyone deserves a safe, healthy place to call home. 286 00:14:52,177 --> 00:14:57,009 And today, for too many people in Seattle, 287 00:14:57,009 --> 00:14:59,360 that is hard to find. 288 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:04,360 Many low-income families are making impossible choices. 289 00:15:06,278 --> 00:15:12,200 Workers are commuting further from the communities they serve. 290 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,980 Seniors are wondering if they can afford to 291 00:15:15,980 --> 00:15:20,080 stay in the neighborhoods that they call home. 292 00:15:21,798 --> 00:15:25,240 We need to build more affordable homes. 293 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,120 We need to build more housing. 294 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,442 And I want to thank Joel for stepping up. 295 00:15:31,442 --> 00:15:35,167 I want to thank Carter for stepping up to lead 296 00:15:35,167 --> 00:15:40,200 this work of bringing all of us together towards solutions. 297 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:45,475 I also want to underscore what's really important today in the 298 00:15:45,475 --> 00:15:51,056 mayor rolling out the changes on permitting and the ombudsperson 299 00:15:51,056 --> 00:15:55,519 role that is being funded with this executive order. 300 00:15:55,519 --> 00:16:00,576 But we know at HDC across our membership we've dedicated years 301 00:16:00,576 --> 00:16:04,618 of work so it's great to be hosted here by you Estela 302 00:16:04,618 --> 00:16:09,158 in this room and seeing this project come to life because you 303 00:16:09,158 --> 00:16:12,961 are the ones leading this community development work and 304 00:16:12,961 --> 00:16:16,580 within the removing barriers for affordable housing 305 00:16:16,580 --> 00:16:19,240 work group, I see Brian Lloyd is in the room, 306 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:21,759 I know Becky Bicknell is somewhere here. 307 00:16:21,759 --> 00:16:26,200 Folks have worked together to identify the barriers 308 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,960 that are complexly interconnected 309 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,200 in the permitting process. 310 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:36,360 The duplicative reviews, the departments working in silos, 311 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,278 and sometimes going back for another additional 312 00:16:39,278 --> 00:16:40,980 requirement for projects. 313 00:16:40,980 --> 00:16:45,158 All of that expanding timeline for projects and adding cost. 314 00:16:45,158 --> 00:16:49,942 And for affordable housing, when we cause any unduly delays, 315 00:16:49,942 --> 00:16:54,725 we are also complicating the funding process and the ability 316 00:16:54,725 --> 00:16:56,980 for us to bring homes online. 317 00:16:56,980 --> 00:17:00,168 And so to have this new dedicated role that's 318 00:17:00,168 --> 00:17:03,700 going to ensure that we have cross-departmental 319 00:17:03,700 --> 00:17:06,461 coordination supporting particularly community 320 00:17:06,461 --> 00:17:09,096 development, this is fundamentally important. 321 00:17:09,096 --> 00:17:10,672 And I want to talk a little bit about 322 00:17:10,672 --> 00:17:12,082 community-based developers. 323 00:17:12,082 --> 00:17:15,586 Community-based developers are working in direct connection 324 00:17:15,586 --> 00:17:17,096 with our communities. 325 00:17:17,096 --> 00:17:20,278 They understand the complex needs and it 326 00:17:20,278 --> 00:17:23,058 should not be the business of government 327 00:17:23,058 --> 00:17:24,778 to make that work harder. 328 00:17:24,778 --> 00:17:27,519 It's a commitment to address an urgent need 329 00:17:27,519 --> 00:17:30,720 for affordable housing, and with this investment 330 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:35,057 we're making it possible for us to bring homes online. 331 00:17:35,057 --> 00:17:38,480 And that's the commitment that we collectively have as HDC. 332 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,173 We've also worked at the state level to implement House Bill 333 00:17:42,173 --> 00:17:45,509 2418, which is another part of legislation that's being 334 00:17:45,509 --> 00:17:49,240 implemented with the investment in a dedicated permitting official 335 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:53,240 today. So we're looking forward to the work ahead. 336 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,992 We are ready to get to work collectively. 337 00:17:55,992 --> 00:17:57,796 I'm gonna close by underscoring this 338 00:17:57,796 --> 00:17:59,303 and challenging all of us. 339 00:17:59,303 --> 00:18:04,536 In order to address the housing crisis, we need 340 00:18:04,536 --> 00:18:09,221 an increase in supply in affordable housing where 341 00:18:09,221 --> 00:18:12,585 the market is not going to serve households. 342 00:18:12,585 --> 00:18:14,765 At the At the same time, we need a 343 00:18:14,765 --> 00:18:19,116 healthy private market sector that's going to produce housing 344 00:18:19,117 --> 00:18:21,837 at different market points. 345 00:18:21,837 --> 00:18:24,278 It's challenging to get the solutions right, but 346 00:18:24,278 --> 00:18:26,480 it is a responsibility that we collectively 347 00:18:27,557 --> 00:18:31,574 It is a responsibility that we hold for the next generations 348 00:18:31,574 --> 00:18:34,644 to be sure that Seattle can remain a city 349 00:18:34,644 --> 00:18:37,817 where everyone, no matter their income, 350 00:18:37,817 --> 00:18:41,857 no matter their race, has a place to call home, 351 00:18:41,857 --> 00:18:45,357 has a place to thrive, and a place to belong. 352 00:18:45,357 --> 00:18:46,440 Let's get to work. 353 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:47,278 Thank you. 354 00:18:51,660 --> 00:18:54,740 - Okay, thank you all. 355 00:18:54,740 --> 00:18:57,740 I'm gonna take some Q&A. 356 00:18:57,740 --> 00:19:00,038 - Mayor, how does forming a task force 357 00:19:00,038 --> 00:19:02,980 with recommendations that are due in September of 2027 358 00:19:02,980 --> 00:19:05,317 to actually build housing right now? 359 00:19:05,317 --> 00:19:09,298 - So as mentioned, we're taking two immediate actions. 360 00:19:09,298 --> 00:19:11,380 And so one of those is the interdepartmental team 361 00:19:11,380 --> 00:19:13,337 on permitting, which is gonna better coordinate 362 00:19:13,337 --> 00:19:15,720 our city departments to shorten permit timelines 363 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,636 and then proposing funding in the budget for next year 364 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:21,259 for the affordable housing ombuds 365 00:19:21,259 --> 00:19:24,460 that can help our developers navigate those processes. 366 00:19:24,460 --> 00:19:27,140 So those are two immediate actions that we're taking. 367 00:19:27,140 --> 00:19:28,813 This task force is going to be providing 368 00:19:28,813 --> 00:19:29,980 rolling recommendations. 369 00:19:29,980 --> 00:19:33,726 So as mentioned, there will be initial recommendations 370 00:19:33,726 --> 00:19:36,778 provided in February of 2027 that we will be able 371 00:19:36,778 --> 00:19:37,919 to act on next year. 372 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,942 I also want to emphasize that this is not instead 373 00:19:40,942 --> 00:19:44,045 of, this is in addition to the many other housing 374 00:19:44,045 --> 00:19:46,896 related processes and activities that our 375 00:19:46,896 --> 00:19:49,038 departments are already doing. 376 00:19:49,038 --> 00:19:50,891 Also just want to emphasize that we have not 377 00:19:50,891 --> 00:19:53,269 waited until this point to take action on housing 378 00:19:53,269 --> 00:19:56,419 affordability. The City Council just unanimously passed 379 00:19:56,420 --> 00:19:59,222 our ordinance banning rental junk fees which 380 00:19:59,222 --> 00:20:02,617 will improve stability and affordability for renters 381 00:20:02,617 --> 00:20:05,240 and we're also working on a larger scoping for 382 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:08,136 the next phase of the comprehensive plan so that we 383 00:20:08,140 --> 00:20:11,143 have more options for increasing housing production 384 00:20:11,143 --> 00:20:12,076 across our city. 385 00:20:12,076 --> 00:20:13,880 So this is additive and we are not 386 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,458 waiting for September 2027 to take action. 387 00:20:16,458 --> 00:20:18,317 And with respect to the housing 388 00:20:18,317 --> 00:20:20,319 community it's the first time that we've seen you in 389 00:20:20,319 --> 00:20:22,701 a couple of weeks to have a chance to ask you questions 390 00:20:22,701 --> 00:20:23,738 about other things. 391 00:20:23,738 --> 00:20:26,424 There's been a recall filed against you that you know 392 00:20:26,424 --> 00:20:27,404 has moved forward. 393 00:20:27,404 --> 00:20:28,939 This is your chance to respond 394 00:20:28,940 --> 00:20:29,864 to that recall. 395 00:20:29,864 --> 00:20:32,067 How do you respond to the allegations 396 00:20:32,067 --> 00:20:33,415 in that recall effort? 397 00:20:33,415 --> 00:20:34,838 So that is a legal process 398 00:20:34,838 --> 00:20:36,257 that will be playing out. 399 00:20:36,257 --> 00:20:38,709 I'm focused on leading the city and on making it an 400 00:20:38,709 --> 00:20:41,259 affordable place for people to live and that's the work that 401 00:20:41,259 --> 00:20:42,259 we're here to discuss today. 402 00:20:42,259 --> 00:20:43,500 Just a follow up on that. 403 00:20:43,500 --> 00:20:45,038 Are you planning to be at the hearing? 404 00:20:45,038 --> 00:20:46,097 The date has now been set. 405 00:20:46,097 --> 00:20:47,259 Do you plan to be there? 406 00:20:47,259 --> 00:20:48,519 I personally will not be there. 407 00:20:48,519 --> 00:20:49,837 I will be represented by council. 408 00:20:51,259 --> 00:20:54,154 As far as affordable housing is concerned, there's a bit 409 00:20:54,154 --> 00:20:57,865 of a red herring, particularly when it comes to 410 00:20:57,865 --> 00:21:02,077 renters, where there's programs for low income families to 411 00:21:02,077 --> 00:21:07,817 get into housing, yet at the same time their rents 412 00:21:07,817 --> 00:21:10,480 are increased yearly. 413 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,942 Is there any remedy to maintain for low income families that 414 00:21:14,942 --> 00:21:18,825 their rents are not pushing them out regardless of the 415 00:21:18,825 --> 00:21:22,557 efforts of affordability or the term affordability? 416 00:21:22,557 --> 00:21:23,837 Is there a remedy for that? 417 00:21:23,837 --> 00:21:25,480 - Yeah, I mean, I think there are a number of things 418 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:27,680 that we need to do to improve housing stability 419 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,480 for low-income renters once they get into housing. 420 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:31,900 Part of that is making sure that we have 421 00:21:31,900 --> 00:21:33,837 a robust affordable housing sector 422 00:21:33,837 --> 00:21:37,140 that includes our kind of affordable housing 423 00:21:37,140 --> 00:21:39,038 that we've developed for a long time, 424 00:21:39,038 --> 00:21:41,097 also our new social housing developer, right? 425 00:21:41,097 --> 00:21:43,680 These are non-market housing solutions 426 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:45,597 where we actually are able to make sure 427 00:21:45,597 --> 00:21:48,077 that rents are not just going up year after year. 428 00:21:48,077 --> 00:21:49,759 That's part of the solution. 429 00:21:49,759 --> 00:21:52,412 Rental assistance is another big part and that's 430 00:21:52,412 --> 00:21:55,221 something that you know the city has provided 431 00:21:55,221 --> 00:21:58,240 funds to community-based organizations to help 432 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,326 low-income families when they're 433 00:22:00,326 --> 00:22:03,048 facing hardship to make sure that they're not evicted 434 00:22:03,048 --> 00:22:05,396 due to non-payment of rent and that's a high 435 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,852 priority for me as we move into this budget cycle 436 00:22:07,852 --> 00:22:10,740 to make sure that the city is funding rental assistance. 437 00:22:10,740 --> 00:22:13,136 I think also a lot of our renter protections can 438 00:22:13,140 --> 00:22:15,009 can be helpful in this respect as well. 439 00:22:15,009 --> 00:22:16,528 And also we need partnership at 440 00:22:16,528 --> 00:22:17,700 the state level, right? 441 00:22:17,700 --> 00:22:20,461 There was recently a rent stabilization law 442 00:22:20,461 --> 00:22:23,519 passed, which at least limits rent increases to, 443 00:22:23,519 --> 00:22:25,400 I believe it's 7% plus inflation. 444 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,480 So that's still like a pretty big rent 445 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,163 increase, but it provides a little bit of stability 446 00:22:30,163 --> 00:22:30,798 for renters. 447 00:22:30,798 --> 00:22:32,288 Mayor, I have a question for you 448 00:22:32,288 --> 00:22:32,692 as well. 449 00:22:32,692 --> 00:22:34,739 I believe it was last week I talked with a 450 00:22:34,739 --> 00:22:37,401 woman. She lived in the Central District about 74 451 00:22:37,401 --> 00:22:38,700 years in the same house. 452 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:40,479 She's worried about losing that house. 453 00:22:40,479 --> 00:22:42,419 She's not a renter, so this is two-pronged. 454 00:22:42,420 --> 00:22:45,640 She supports a recall of you at this point. 455 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:47,019 She says she does. 456 00:22:47,019 --> 00:22:49,726 What is your message to her about homeownership and how 457 00:22:49,726 --> 00:22:51,076 you're working to help her? 458 00:22:51,077 --> 00:22:53,336 And then what is your message to people who are right 459 00:22:53,336 --> 00:22:54,439 now supporting a recall? 460 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,683 So I think there are a lot of actions that we're going to need 461 00:22:58,683 --> 00:23:02,087 to consider to better support lower income homeowners, 462 00:23:02,087 --> 00:23:03,459 people on fixed incomes. 463 00:23:03,460 --> 00:23:05,884 One of the big ones, I mean, property taxes can 464 00:23:05,884 --> 00:23:08,439 really be a burden for lower income homeowners. 465 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,651 We have homeowners who are lower income seniors, 466 00:23:12,651 --> 00:23:16,759 right, often qualify for lower property taxes, 467 00:23:16,759 --> 00:23:18,380 but a lot of people don't know about that. 468 00:23:18,380 --> 00:23:21,343 So one thing that the city can do and does, but can probably 469 00:23:21,343 --> 00:23:23,798 do more of, is partnering with our community-based 470 00:23:23,798 --> 00:23:26,278 organizations to make sure that every single homeowner 471 00:23:26,278 --> 00:23:29,034 who is eligible for that discount knows about it and 472 00:23:29,034 --> 00:23:29,931 is able to get it. 473 00:23:29,931 --> 00:23:31,500 There's also a lot of work to be 474 00:23:31,500 --> 00:23:34,000 done at the state level on property tax reform so 475 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,940 that we're actually hopefully able to get to a more 476 00:23:36,940 --> 00:23:39,795 progressive property tax structure that doesn't burden 477 00:23:39,795 --> 00:23:41,718 lower and middle-income homeowners as much. 478 00:23:41,718 --> 00:23:43,038 So those are a couple actions. 479 00:23:43,038 --> 00:23:46,396 There are more that I think that our task force can work on, 480 00:23:46,396 --> 00:23:48,159 but definitely an issue. 481 00:23:48,159 --> 00:23:50,220 - We've got time for two more, so over here. 482 00:23:50,220 --> 00:23:54,298 - As Patience mentioned, we have such a great diversity 483 00:23:54,298 --> 00:23:56,460 of developers in the city working on this problem. 484 00:23:56,460 --> 00:24:00,019 There's traditional big A affordable developers, 485 00:24:00,019 --> 00:24:01,699 many of whom get funding from Office of Housing, 486 00:24:01,700 --> 00:24:04,117 but there's also a lot of privately funded developers, 487 00:24:04,117 --> 00:24:06,759 including those that get funding from corporate partners 488 00:24:06,759 --> 00:24:07,720 like Amazon. 489 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,496 In your vision of affordable housing and in the ombuds budget 490 00:24:11,496 --> 00:24:15,009 and the interdepartmental thing that you're announcing, would 491 00:24:15,009 --> 00:24:17,380 that apply to the entire range of affordable developers 492 00:24:17,380 --> 00:24:20,837 or just to the Office of Housing cohort? 493 00:24:20,837 --> 00:24:22,817 That's a good question that I don't know the answer to. 494 00:24:22,817 --> 00:24:25,180 Does anyone here who's been involved in the weeds know 495 00:24:25,180 --> 00:24:26,440 what we're thinking on that? 496 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:26,837 Go ahead. 497 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:31,470 So as it relates to the residential permitting IDT, 498 00:24:31,470 --> 00:24:34,740 that is for all development, all developers, and so that's 499 00:24:34,740 --> 00:24:37,940 to streamline all of the systems that relate to slowing down 500 00:24:37,940 --> 00:24:42,047 permitting. As it relates to the housing ombuds, we're looking 501 00:24:42,047 --> 00:24:45,173 at more of the smaller community driven developers. 502 00:24:45,173 --> 00:24:47,361 So think about non-profit developers that 503 00:24:47,361 --> 00:24:51,075 are doing this for the first time or maybe the second time. 504 00:24:51,075 --> 00:24:55,519 And so really starting there with that resource where the 505 00:24:55,519 --> 00:24:58,315 highest need is and then seeing where the capacity 506 00:24:58,315 --> 00:24:59,577 of that individual is. 507 00:24:59,577 --> 00:25:01,357 And I think if we discover that that's 508 00:25:01,357 --> 00:25:02,920 a really successful intervention, 509 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:05,519 we can think about how to make that available to more 510 00:25:05,519 --> 00:25:05,940 developers. 511 00:25:06,999 --> 00:25:10,577 I'm sure village would welcome the streamlined 512 00:25:10,577 --> 00:25:12,900 permitting, but they're also worried about the cost 513 00:25:12,900 --> 00:25:14,116 that is associated with that. 514 00:25:14,116 --> 00:25:17,680 What about utilities or MHATs, anything else 515 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:19,259 that would add a cost? 516 00:25:19,259 --> 00:25:21,479 Anything updates on as far as that goes, 517 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:26,136 if that faster permit can also be a cheaper amount of cost 518 00:25:27,419 --> 00:25:30,019 Yeah, I think that's something that the task force 519 00:25:30,019 --> 00:25:31,259 will be able to discuss. 520 00:25:31,259 --> 00:25:33,239 Yeah. All right, one more. 521 00:25:33,239 --> 00:25:35,303 And Mayor, again, with all due respect to people in 522 00:25:35,303 --> 00:25:37,220 the room, we haven't seen you in a couple weeks. 523 00:25:37,220 --> 00:25:39,102 We have to ask these questions. 524 00:25:39,102 --> 00:25:41,707 Again, there's an active investigation of 525 00:25:41,707 --> 00:25:43,298 the Bite of Seattle murders. 526 00:25:43,298 --> 00:25:45,577 There's still not been a person arrested for that. 527 00:25:45,577 --> 00:25:48,048 There's been public polling to suggest that 528 00:25:48,048 --> 00:25:50,307 in the wake of that, people would like to have a 529 00:25:50,307 --> 00:25:53,116 closed circuit television camera system expanded that I know 530 00:25:53,116 --> 00:25:54,971 that you've opposed in the past. 531 00:25:54,971 --> 00:25:57,583 75% of the public says they want these things. 532 00:25:57,583 --> 00:26:00,105 The cameras that were on outside the Cowgirls 533 00:26:00,105 --> 00:26:02,749 Inc. that were on during the World Cup were turned 534 00:26:02,749 --> 00:26:05,701 off and there was an unsolved shooting there as well. 535 00:26:05,701 --> 00:26:08,999 Does all of this now change your perspective on that issue 536 00:26:08,999 --> 00:26:11,316 given those shootings and given the public polling 537 00:26:11,316 --> 00:26:13,577 suggesting that people want to have those cameras 538 00:26:13,577 --> 00:26:16,352 So we're continuing to follow the course that I laid out 539 00:26:16,352 --> 00:26:19,989 earlier this year, which is that as we speak, there is an audit 540 00:26:19,989 --> 00:26:24,259 being conducted of privacy, data security, storage sharing 541 00:26:24,259 --> 00:26:26,759 practices for our CCTV system. 542 00:26:26,759 --> 00:26:29,271 We expect the results of that audit to be coming 543 00:26:29,271 --> 00:26:31,659 out, I believe, around the end of September. 544 00:26:31,659 --> 00:26:34,122 So that will be a decision point where we can share those 545 00:26:34,122 --> 00:26:36,914 results publicly and make a decision about whether 546 00:26:36,914 --> 00:26:40,460 to move forward with the expansion of the CCTV cameras. 547 00:26:40,460 --> 00:26:41,337 Thanks everybody. 548 00:26:52,136 --> 00:26:52,959 It's been signed. 549 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:53,960 - Oh, whoo! 550 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:54,759 - I just did it.