1 00:00:11,019 --> 00:00:12,278 Good morning, everyone. 2 00:00:12,278 --> 00:00:12,880 Good morning. 3 00:00:13,939 --> 00:00:17,789 I always say there is no better way to start a week than signing 4 00:00:17,789 --> 00:00:20,800 first in the nation consumer protections legislation. 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:22,620 So here we are. 6 00:00:22,620 --> 00:00:24,300 Thank you all for being here today. 7 00:00:25,579 --> 00:00:28,545 Thank you also to Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, 8 00:00:28,545 --> 00:00:31,079 who championed and shepherded this legislation 9 00:00:31,079 --> 00:00:34,179 through council, and to Councilmembers Dionne Foster and 10 00:00:34,179 --> 00:00:37,384 Rob Saka, who co-sponsored it, and to City Attorney Erika 11 00:00:37,384 --> 00:00:40,618 Evans for your partnership and leadership on enforcing it. 12 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,200 Everything is getting more expensive, from 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:46,740 gas to housing to food. 14 00:00:46,740 --> 00:00:50,143 And while the price of groceries keeps going up and up, some 15 00:00:50,143 --> 00:00:52,899 corporations are finding new ways to profit. 16 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,688 Today, large grocers collect as many as 2,000 17 00:00:56,688 --> 00:00:57,978 data points about us. 18 00:00:57,978 --> 00:01:01,426 They buy and sell our personal information from our race 19 00:01:01,426 --> 00:01:03,820 and gender to where we live and what Google 20 00:01:03,820 --> 00:01:04,900 searches we perform. 21 00:01:07,140 --> 00:01:11,355 This new technological capabilities they want to use to 22 00:01:11,355 --> 00:01:15,331 identify and charge the maximum price they believe each 23 00:01:15,331 --> 00:01:16,959 person is willing to pay. 24 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,640 And this isn't a secret. 25 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:20,765 Companies are telling their own investors that this is 26 00:01:20,765 --> 00:01:21,920 the direction they're headed 27 00:01:23,159 --> 00:01:26,170 Gather personal data, use complex algorithms to 28 00:01:26,170 --> 00:01:29,180 analyze that data, and then use that information 29 00:01:29,180 --> 00:01:32,260 to price max every customer. 30 00:01:32,260 --> 00:01:34,879 Well, today we say, not in Seattle. 31 00:01:36,180 --> 00:01:39,840 Seattle is a leader, and I'm proud that we are the first city 32 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,959 to ban algorithmic price discrimination in groceries. 33 00:01:44,438 --> 00:01:46,980 Seattle is a city that embraces technology, 34 00:01:46,980 --> 00:01:48,540 but we know that leading on technology 35 00:01:49,799 --> 00:01:52,159 also means leading on reasonable guardrails 36 00:01:52,159 --> 00:01:54,500 to protect our residents. 37 00:01:54,500 --> 00:01:56,659 A few shout outs are in order. 38 00:01:56,659 --> 00:01:59,706 Thank you to my team that has worked for months to 39 00:01:59,706 --> 00:02:01,459 develop this legislation. 40 00:02:01,459 --> 00:02:05,078 And thank you to Councilmember Rinck and her team, Tim Lennon, 41 00:02:05,078 --> 00:02:08,157 Kenny Tran, Rachel Alder, and Kayden Cook. 42 00:02:08,157 --> 00:02:10,627 And thank you to the coalition that made this 43 00:02:10,627 --> 00:02:11,960 legislation possible. 44 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:16,792 UFCW 3000, Washington People's Privacy, the Working Families 45 00:02:16,792 --> 00:02:21,532 Party, Consumer Reports, AI Now, MLK Labor, Amazon Employees 46 00:02:21,532 --> 00:02:25,907 for Climate Justice, the Transit Riders Union, American 47 00:02:25,907 --> 00:02:30,193 Economic Liberties Project, Tech Equity, Faith Action 48 00:02:30,193 --> 00:02:32,199 Network, and so many more. 49 00:02:32,199 --> 00:02:33,639 I see ACLU. 50 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:34,699 I see Working Washington. 51 00:02:34,699 --> 00:02:36,900 I'm afraid I'm forgetting people. 52 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:40,900 And a special shout out to Dustin Lambro, Maya Morales, 53 00:02:40,900 --> 00:02:43,943 Gabriela Quintana, John Marshall, Lam Ho, 54 00:02:43,943 --> 00:02:45,377 and Margaret Carey. 55 00:02:47,419 --> 00:02:55,699 Because of you, big grocery chains will no longer be able 56 00:02:55,699 --> 00:02:58,900 to manipulate prices based on who is buying. 57 00:02:58,900 --> 00:03:02,038 The price will be based on the product, not the person. 58 00:03:02,038 --> 00:03:02,764 You did that. 59 00:03:02,764 --> 00:03:04,610 And with that, I'm going to pass it 60 00:03:04,610 --> 00:03:06,060 on to Councilmember Rinck. 61 00:03:06,060 --> 00:03:08,449 Thank you again for your incredible leadership 62 00:03:08,449 --> 00:03:10,419 and partnership on this legislation. 63 00:03:15,199 --> 00:03:16,318 Hi, everybody. 64 00:03:16,318 --> 00:03:19,842 Thank you, Mayor Wilson, Councilmember Foster, 65 00:03:19,842 --> 00:03:24,399 Councilmember Saka, UFCW 3000, Washington People's Privacy, 66 00:03:24,399 --> 00:03:28,437 and the entire coalition that has brought us here today. 67 00:03:28,437 --> 00:03:31,579 I could not be more excited and proud to be here. 68 00:03:31,579 --> 00:03:33,508 Too often, our conversation 69 00:03:33,508 --> 00:03:37,008 on the affordability crisis starts and ends at the 70 00:03:37,008 --> 00:03:41,360 cost of essential goods, whether it be the price of rent or the 71 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,961 cost of putting food on the table. 72 00:03:43,961 --> 00:03:46,562 And too often, we fail to directly 73 00:03:46,562 --> 00:03:50,413 address what is fueling the affordability crisis. 74 00:03:50,413 --> 00:03:51,716 Corporate greed. 75 00:03:51,716 --> 00:03:53,625 And today, Seattle takes a 76 00:03:53,625 --> 00:03:56,895 step at tackling corporate greed by preventing 77 00:03:56,895 --> 00:04:00,348 AI-assisted price gouging aimed at maximizing profit 78 00:04:00,348 --> 00:04:03,323 margins for corporations at the expense of our 79 00:04:03,323 --> 00:04:06,592 neighbors, simply trying to feed their families. 80 00:04:06,592 --> 00:04:09,704 Today, Seattle leads the way in regulating the practice 81 00:04:09,704 --> 00:04:12,574 of surveillance pricing while protecting the 82 00:04:12,574 --> 00:04:14,598 integrity of a discount. 83 00:04:14,598 --> 00:04:16,500 Seattleites should have the peace of mind 84 00:04:16,500 --> 00:04:19,980 that whether they shop at Red Apple or QFC, 85 00:04:19,980 --> 00:04:24,319 Grocery Outlet or Uwajimaya, Fred Meyer or Central Co-op, 86 00:04:24,319 --> 00:04:26,399 that technology, this technology, 87 00:04:26,399 --> 00:04:28,800 will not be used against them. 88 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,300 So today, Seattle stands with working families 89 00:04:31,300 --> 00:04:34,480 in our fight for a more affordable city. 90 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:35,139 Onwards together. 91 00:04:35,139 --> 00:04:35,879 Thank you, everyone. 92 00:04:41,420 --> 00:04:42,699 Thank you, Council Member Rinck. 93 00:04:44,459 --> 00:04:46,511 Council Member Foster, thank you so much for 94 00:04:46,511 --> 00:04:49,004 your partnership on this legislation and on consumer 95 00:04:49,004 --> 00:04:50,278 protections more broadly. 96 00:04:53,060 --> 00:04:58,579 Fantastic. I'm a little bit taller than Council Member Rinck. 97 00:04:58,579 --> 00:04:59,651 Good afternoon. 98 00:04:59,651 --> 00:05:00,569 Good morning. 99 00:05:00,569 --> 00:05:03,016 I'm so excited to be here with everyone 100 00:05:03,016 --> 00:05:05,886 today. And I will also just echo my appreciation to the 101 00:05:05,886 --> 00:05:08,620 mayor, to Council Member Rinck, to Council Member Saka, and City 102 00:05:08,620 --> 00:05:10,798 Attorney Evans, as well as all of the community-based 103 00:05:10,798 --> 00:05:12,300 organizations that are here for your 104 00:05:12,300 --> 00:05:15,309 leadership, your organizing, and your vision, as 105 00:05:15,309 --> 00:05:17,959 well as our belief that Seattle can be a place 106 00:05:17,959 --> 00:05:21,177 where everyone can thrive while we take care of our 107 00:05:21,177 --> 00:05:24,619 residents. Today I think is fundamentally about consumer 108 00:05:24,619 --> 00:05:26,103 protections and fairness. 109 00:05:26,103 --> 00:05:28,685 People are already being squeezed by costs for 110 00:05:28,685 --> 00:05:31,338 everyday essentials and city government has a 111 00:05:31,338 --> 00:05:33,906 responsibility to ensure that people aren't taking 112 00:05:33,906 --> 00:05:35,747 advantage of in the marketplace. 113 00:05:35,747 --> 00:05:38,012 Very simply put, the price of an item 114 00:05:38,012 --> 00:05:41,250 should not be based on how valuable any one 115 00:05:41,250 --> 00:05:43,019 person's data is. 116 00:05:43,019 --> 00:05:45,771 The principle behind this legislation is simple: 117 00:05:45,771 --> 00:05:48,000 fair pricing, not a price that's based on 118 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,420 what an algorithm believes that you or I can afford. 119 00:05:51,420 --> 00:05:53,692 The price of milk shouldn't depend on what 120 00:05:53,692 --> 00:05:55,120 a company knows about you. 121 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,274 The price of diapers shouldn't change because 122 00:05:57,274 --> 00:05:59,540 an algorithm believes that you could pay another 123 00:05:59,540 --> 00:06:00,278 dollar right now. 124 00:06:01,420 --> 00:06:04,420 It's not just about what we know for what's for sale. 125 00:06:04,420 --> 00:06:07,533 It's about regulating companies and making sure that consumer 126 00:06:07,533 --> 00:06:09,180 protections are protected here. 127 00:06:09,180 --> 00:06:12,689 When others fail to act, it's incumbent upon cities to 128 00:06:12,689 --> 00:06:14,560 step up to the plate and lead. 129 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,199 And that's what this legislation does. 130 00:06:17,439 --> 00:06:19,860 Consumers deserve transparency in order to 131 00:06:19,860 --> 00:06:21,300 make informed decisions. 132 00:06:21,300 --> 00:06:23,848 And we also want to make sure that as this legislation 133 00:06:23,848 --> 00:06:26,278 moves forward, Seattle continues to lead the way. 134 00:06:26,278 --> 00:06:28,744 I'm so pleased to be here to watch the mayor sign this 135 00:06:28,744 --> 00:06:30,120 legislation into law today. 136 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:30,420 Thank you. 137 00:06:32,699 --> 00:06:37,040 Thank you, Council Member Foster. 138 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,399 And, you know, this legislation is about protecting consumers. 139 00:06:39,399 --> 00:06:41,848 It's also about creating a level playing field for our 140 00:06:41,848 --> 00:06:44,680 small independent grocers in neighborhoods around our city. 141 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,500 Now, Council Member Saka, you've been a strong 142 00:06:48,500 --> 00:06:50,000 champion for labor this year. 143 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:51,800 Thank you for co-sponsoring this legislation. 144 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:52,959 Would you like to say a few words? 145 00:06:52,959 --> 00:06:53,959 Sure, thanks. 146 00:06:53,959 --> 00:06:54,519 Thank you, Madam Mayor. 147 00:06:55,519 --> 00:06:56,959 Thank you, Madam Mayor. 148 00:06:56,959 --> 00:06:58,160 And good morning, everyone. 149 00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:01,300 Top of the morning to you all. 150 00:07:01,300 --> 00:07:04,552 It is Monday, first thing, first meeting in 151 00:07:04,552 --> 00:07:06,360 the morning at 1030 a.m. 152 00:07:07,439 --> 00:07:10,786 I couldn't imagine a better place that I would rather 153 00:07:10,786 --> 00:07:14,362 be than signing first in the nation consumer protection 154 00:07:14,362 --> 00:07:16,338 worker friendly legislation. 155 00:07:17,699 --> 00:07:20,091 And so I want to thank the mayor again for 156 00:07:20,091 --> 00:07:21,540 her strong leadership. 157 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,519 Of course, my council member, my distinguished council member 158 00:07:26,519 --> 00:07:30,107 colleagues, council members Rink and Foster, along with 159 00:07:30,107 --> 00:07:33,620 our illustrative, distinguished city attorney Evans. 160 00:07:33,620 --> 00:07:35,459 Thank you for your partnership in this as well. 161 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:42,093 This legislation has received strong support from unions 162 00:07:42,093 --> 00:07:43,480 across our city. 163 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,451 It's not just UFCW, but that support 164 00:07:46,451 --> 00:07:47,540 does matter. 165 00:07:47,540 --> 00:07:50,809 It matters because workers understand 166 00:07:50,809 --> 00:07:54,968 firsthand what happens when pricing systems lack 167 00:07:54,968 --> 00:07:57,939 transparency and accountability. 168 00:07:57,939 --> 00:08:01,968 Frontline grocery store workers in particular are among the most 169 00:08:01,968 --> 00:08:04,019 directly impacted and affected. 170 00:08:04,019 --> 00:08:06,824 And I'll share that I'm proud to have wore many hats 171 00:08:06,824 --> 00:08:08,360 professionally in my life. 172 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,800 I've flipped burgers, tended bar, bus tables. 173 00:08:13,259 --> 00:08:17,994 And amongst the many things that I've done in my life, I was a 174 00:08:17,994 --> 00:08:20,699 frontline grocery store worker. 175 00:08:20,699 --> 00:08:25,084 And bless you and this is for the many frontline 176 00:08:25,084 --> 00:08:29,579 grocery store workers in our great city but it's 177 00:08:29,579 --> 00:08:33,451 not just for them it's for everyone but our frontline 178 00:08:33,451 --> 00:08:37,840 workers are the ones who engage directly with customers 179 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:42,340 every day, they see the confusion and frustration and 180 00:08:42,340 --> 00:08:46,677 concern that can arise when an algorithm shapes the 181 00:08:46,677 --> 00:08:49,200 price of a particular product 182 00:08:50,519 --> 00:08:52,918 rather than the free market. 183 00:08:52,918 --> 00:08:57,019 That's unpredictable, it's confusing, and it's 184 00:08:57,019 --> 00:09:00,855 wrong. These workers want a stable, fair environment, 185 00:09:00,855 --> 00:09:03,940 both for themselves and for the communities 186 00:09:03,940 --> 00:09:05,259 that they serve. 187 00:09:05,259 --> 00:09:07,427 And we want to support them. 188 00:09:07,427 --> 00:09:10,918 Our frontline blue-collar workforce plays 189 00:09:10,918 --> 00:09:13,552 a foundational role in our economy. 190 00:09:13,552 --> 00:09:15,750 They keep our stores running. 191 00:09:15,750 --> 00:09:19,570 They keep our families supplied, and they keep 192 00:09:19,570 --> 00:09:23,115 our neighborhoods strong and vibrant. 193 00:09:23,115 --> 00:09:26,019 So by standing with our workers, 194 00:09:26,019 --> 00:09:31,384 we strengthen the entire ecosystem, the entire economy, 195 00:09:31,384 --> 00:09:36,567 one where fairness, dignity, and transparency truly 196 00:09:36,567 --> 00:09:38,480 benefit everyone. 197 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:38,778 Thank you. 198 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,340 Let's continue this great work together. 199 00:09:46,460 --> 00:09:47,899 Thank you, Council Member. 200 00:09:47,899 --> 00:09:48,340 Well said. 201 00:09:49,340 --> 00:09:51,538 Next up, City Attorney Evans. 202 00:09:51,538 --> 00:09:53,960 You and your team have worked so closely with us 203 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:56,120 to figure out creative ways to ensure 204 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,038 that we have robust consumer protections 205 00:09:58,038 --> 00:10:00,120 in our changing AI landscape. 206 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:07,658 Good morning, everyone. 207 00:10:07,658 --> 00:10:11,109 I'm Erika Evans, your elected Seattle city attorney, and I'm 208 00:10:11,109 --> 00:10:14,168 excited this morning because this is some historic 209 00:10:14,168 --> 00:10:17,139 legislation that we have done here in Seattle. 210 00:10:17,139 --> 00:10:20,657 And it sends a clear message to folks in our city that we have 211 00:10:20,657 --> 00:10:23,442 leaders right now in Seattle that are going to stand 212 00:10:23,442 --> 00:10:24,339 up and fight for us. 213 00:10:24,340 --> 00:10:27,004 And that is what this legislation is about. 214 00:10:27,004 --> 00:10:30,119 It's about transparency and it's about fairness. 215 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,375 I just want to thank Mayor Wilson, Council Member 216 00:10:32,375 --> 00:10:34,740 Rinck, Council Member Foster, Council Member Saka, 217 00:10:34,740 --> 00:10:37,927 and the whole coalition of folks here today that 218 00:10:37,927 --> 00:10:39,759 push for this legislation. 219 00:10:39,759 --> 00:10:42,071 You know, when I think about this ordinance and 220 00:10:42,071 --> 00:10:44,619 this new law coming into place, it's really simple. 221 00:10:44,620 --> 00:10:48,860 It's the idea that my mom should not be having to pay more 222 00:10:48,860 --> 00:10:50,980 for eggs than her neighbor. 223 00:10:50,980 --> 00:10:51,798 That simple. 224 00:10:51,798 --> 00:10:52,759 That's what it's about. 225 00:10:52,759 --> 00:10:55,639 And it should not be AI determining that or thinking 226 00:10:55,639 --> 00:10:57,379 that she should be paying more. 227 00:10:57,379 --> 00:10:58,340 That is unacceptable. 228 00:10:59,557 --> 00:11:02,105 I want to talk two things about what this new law 229 00:11:02,105 --> 00:11:04,519 does for legislation in the city attorney's 230 00:11:04,519 --> 00:11:06,754 office. It gives the city attorney's 231 00:11:06,754 --> 00:11:09,500 office a new enforcement tool where we can subpoena records 232 00:11:09,500 --> 00:11:12,846 and hold folks that want to violate this 233 00:11:12,846 --> 00:11:14,019 new law to court. 234 00:11:14,019 --> 00:11:16,278 Second, it gives a private right 235 00:11:16,278 --> 00:11:19,793 of action for individual people to bring forth 236 00:11:19,793 --> 00:11:23,399 a case and a lawsuit against bad businesses that 237 00:11:23,399 --> 00:11:24,798 are violating this law. 238 00:11:24,798 --> 00:11:26,759 I want to address one other thing. 239 00:11:26,759 --> 00:11:28,860 There has been some fear-mongering 240 00:11:28,860 --> 00:11:31,721 a bit that this is going after coupons. 241 00:11:31,721 --> 00:11:34,139 And this morning as I was getting 242 00:11:34,139 --> 00:11:36,955 ready, I thought of the song, you know, don't 243 00:11:36,955 --> 00:11:39,557 believe the hype, by Public Enemy, you know, don't 244 00:11:39,557 --> 00:11:42,673 believe the hype because what was clearly put into this 245 00:11:42,673 --> 00:11:46,153 legislation is an exception that carves out for coupons. 246 00:11:46,153 --> 00:11:48,379 So coupons are protected here. 247 00:11:49,658 --> 00:11:53,115 As the cost of food continues to rise, it is so important 248 00:11:53,115 --> 00:11:57,163 that we are doing everything we can with transparency and 249 00:11:57,163 --> 00:12:01,839 fairness and not letting artificial intelligence dictate 250 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:02,940 what we pay. 251 00:12:02,940 --> 00:12:04,139 Thank you all so much. 252 00:12:09,658 --> 00:12:12,360 Thank you so much, City Attorney Evans. 253 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,610 Next up, we have Maya Morales from Washington 254 00:12:15,610 --> 00:12:16,980 People's Privacy. 255 00:12:16,980 --> 00:12:19,668 Thank you for your constant work and expertise alongside 256 00:12:19,668 --> 00:12:21,177 TRU and Working Families Party. 257 00:12:21,177 --> 00:12:23,547 You helped us think through the strongest protections 258 00:12:23,547 --> 00:12:24,677 around this legislation. 259 00:12:28,677 --> 00:12:33,918 Thank you, everyone. 260 00:12:33,918 --> 00:12:36,139 I want to thank the many people who engaged, 261 00:12:36,139 --> 00:12:39,080 the organizers, the workers, the advocates 262 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:42,460 who really showed up in support of this ordinance. 263 00:12:42,460 --> 00:12:46,860 Privacy, sorry, participatory democracy 264 00:12:46,860 --> 00:12:49,120 is why I founded Washington People's Privacy 265 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:54,139 because privacy deeply underpins our rights and our futures. 266 00:12:54,139 --> 00:12:57,038 Privacy isn't about having something to hide. 267 00:12:57,038 --> 00:12:58,440 That's called secrecy. 268 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,057 Privacy is actually about power. 269 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,340 And it's a power that the people must have 270 00:13:03,340 --> 00:13:05,700 in order to build an equitable, inclusive, 271 00:13:05,700 --> 00:13:09,298 people-centered social democracy that values our human future 272 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:13,517 over a robot dystopia where the price of bread 273 00:13:13,517 --> 00:13:14,879 depends on who's asking. 274 00:13:16,580 --> 00:13:20,259 This win belongs to all of us and I'm so proud of the many 275 00:13:20,259 --> 00:13:24,599 wonderful people who poured love and time into this ordinance. 276 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,316 When the recipe is solidarity, there's learning, there's 277 00:13:27,316 --> 00:13:30,144 mistakes, there's collaboration, and even brilliance, but 278 00:13:30,144 --> 00:13:32,639 there is no such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen. 279 00:13:34,057 --> 00:13:37,538 Thanks to Mayor Wilson and your amazing team. 280 00:13:37,538 --> 00:13:39,947 Thanks to Council Member Rinck, her strong stewardship 281 00:13:39,947 --> 00:13:42,024 through committee, and for standing on 282 00:13:42,024 --> 00:13:45,278 business and voting no on all weakening amendments. 283 00:13:45,278 --> 00:13:47,821 It's been truly a joy to help craft our strongest 284 00:13:47,821 --> 00:13:50,552 prohibition on algorithmic price discrimination 285 00:13:50,552 --> 00:13:51,759 in the nation thus far. 286 00:13:52,918 --> 00:13:56,677 We've achieved a limited privacy win on pricing in Seattle, 287 00:13:56,677 --> 00:13:58,600 and we have so much more work to do 288 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:00,677 to prohibit invasive and dragnet surveillance 289 00:14:00,677 --> 00:14:03,840 for a privacy win at the grocery store and beyond. 290 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,206 Surveillance is dangerous, but economic, 291 00:14:06,206 --> 00:14:08,961 housing, food, labor, and immigrant justice 292 00:14:08,961 --> 00:14:10,019 create safety. 293 00:14:10,019 --> 00:14:11,658 And I know we're going to keep working towards that. 294 00:14:11,658 --> 00:14:12,700 I appreciate you all. 295 00:14:12,700 --> 00:14:13,278 Thank you so much. 296 00:14:14,899 --> 00:14:20,158 Thank you, Maya. 297 00:14:20,158 --> 00:14:23,546 Okay, and to close this out, It is my honor to welcome Sean 298 00:14:23,546 --> 00:14:27,100 Embley, Secretary-Treasurer from UFCW 3000. 299 00:14:27,100 --> 00:14:29,917 The entire team at UFCW has led the way from the 300 00:14:29,917 --> 00:14:33,028 state to the first in the nation city surveillance 301 00:14:33,028 --> 00:14:34,437 pricing legislation. 302 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,100 Thank you for your leadership and partnership, UFCW. 303 00:14:45,220 --> 00:14:49,764 Today is a historic day for grocery workers, for working 304 00:14:49,764 --> 00:14:54,196 families, and for everyone who believes that the price 305 00:14:54,196 --> 00:14:58,315 you pay for food cannot depend on what corporations 306 00:14:58,315 --> 00:15:00,038 think you should pay. 307 00:15:00,038 --> 00:15:03,211 Tens of thousands of our members work in grocery 308 00:15:03,211 --> 00:15:04,879 stores every single day. 309 00:15:04,879 --> 00:15:08,080 They see firsthand what the cost of food means to people. 310 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:11,091 They see customers standing in the aisle 311 00:15:11,091 --> 00:15:13,038 doing math in their heads. 312 00:15:13,038 --> 00:15:15,966 They see parents putting something back because 313 00:15:15,966 --> 00:15:18,177 the grocery bill is already too high. 314 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:22,115 They see seniors making hard choices who 315 00:15:22,115 --> 00:15:23,658 are on fixed incomes. 316 00:15:23,658 --> 00:15:26,724 And they see working people, many of them earning 317 00:15:26,724 --> 00:15:29,639 low wages themselves, trying to stretch every 318 00:15:29,639 --> 00:15:32,916 dollar far enough to feed their families. 319 00:15:32,916 --> 00:15:36,658 Our members understand something very simple. 320 00:15:36,658 --> 00:15:38,878 Groceries are not a luxury. 321 00:15:38,878 --> 00:15:40,421 People have to eat. 322 00:15:40,421 --> 00:15:43,697 And at a moment when families are already 323 00:15:43,700 --> 00:15:46,913 struggling with the high cost of food, the answer cannot 324 00:15:46,913 --> 00:15:50,532 be to give corporations even more power to decide 325 00:15:50,532 --> 00:15:53,750 how much each person can be charged. 326 00:15:53,750 --> 00:15:57,230 Seattle is saying today that two people shopping 327 00:15:57,230 --> 00:15:59,899 for the same groceries should not be charged 328 00:15:59,899 --> 00:16:03,019 differently because an algorithm has analyzed 329 00:16:03,019 --> 00:16:04,423 their personal data. 330 00:16:04,423 --> 00:16:06,590 The principle at the heart 331 00:16:06,590 --> 00:16:08,519 of this law is very simple. 332 00:16:08,519 --> 00:16:12,720 Same item, same store, same price. 333 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,245 But today is also important because of how 334 00:16:15,245 --> 00:16:16,620 Seattle got this done. 335 00:16:16,620 --> 00:16:20,220 There was enormous pressure to weaken this legislation. 336 00:16:20,220 --> 00:16:23,759 Proposals that would have created loopholes for loyalty 337 00:16:23,759 --> 00:16:27,571 programs, weakened enforcement, narrowed protections, and 338 00:16:27,571 --> 00:16:31,057 allowed the very practices this law was intended to stop. 339 00:16:31,057 --> 00:16:34,508 The city council rejected those loopholes, and because it did, 340 00:16:34,508 --> 00:16:37,822 Seattle has created something much bigger than 341 00:16:37,822 --> 00:16:39,677 a local ordinance. 342 00:16:39,677 --> 00:16:42,340 Cities and states across the country are wrestling 343 00:16:42,340 --> 00:16:45,000 with what AI and massive corporate data collection 344 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,182 means to consumers and what the impacts of 345 00:16:48,182 --> 00:16:50,639 personalized pricing could be. 346 00:16:50,639 --> 00:16:54,580 Today, Seattle is showing them a path forward. 347 00:16:54,580 --> 00:16:57,721 You can allow legitimate discounts without permitting 348 00:16:57,721 --> 00:16:59,658 individualized discrimination. 349 00:16:59,658 --> 00:17:03,235 You can write strong consumer protections without 350 00:17:03,235 --> 00:17:06,980 handing corporations an escape hatch from the rules. 351 00:17:06,980 --> 00:17:11,240 This victory will reverberate well beyond Seattle. 352 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:15,394 On behalf of UFCW 3000 and the grocery workers we represent, 353 00:17:15,394 --> 00:17:19,462 I want to thank Mayor Wilson and her staff, council members 354 00:17:19,462 --> 00:17:23,616 Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Dionne Foster and Rob Saka, the members 355 00:17:23,616 --> 00:17:27,855 of City Council who stood with working people, our community 356 00:17:27,855 --> 00:17:32,009 and consumer partners, and everyone here who fought to make 357 00:17:32,009 --> 00:17:33,837 this law as strong as it is. 358 00:17:33,837 --> 00:17:36,663 Most of all, I want to thank workers and community 359 00:17:36,663 --> 00:17:39,278 members who spoke up about the rising grocery 360 00:17:39,278 --> 00:17:42,019 prices and how that impacts their lives. 361 00:17:42,019 --> 00:17:44,636 Today Seattle is drawing a line. 362 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,992 The technology may change, but working people still deserve 363 00:17:47,992 --> 00:17:50,880 fairness, transparency, and dignity. 364 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:52,588 And we hope the rest of the country will 365 00:17:52,588 --> 00:17:53,660 follow Seattle's lead. 366 00:18:01,778 --> 00:18:03,817 Okay, thank you so much, Sean. 367 00:18:03,817 --> 00:18:05,901 Yeah, this is one of the most exciting things about 368 00:18:05,901 --> 00:18:07,239 passing legislation like this. 369 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,910 We know that people in cities and states around the 370 00:18:09,910 --> 00:18:11,500 country are watching, right? 371 00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:13,459 And they're facing the same issues in their 372 00:18:13,459 --> 00:18:14,817 communities that we are here. 373 00:18:14,817 --> 00:18:17,582 And we have this chance to set a standard that can 374 00:18:17,582 --> 00:18:20,617 help other communities protect themselves as well. 375 00:18:20,617 --> 00:18:25,136 So with that, it is my great honor to sign this legislation. 376 00:18:25,140 --> 00:18:25,759 So here we go. 377 00:18:27,700 --> 00:18:28,357 Okay, I'm going to sign. 378 00:18:28,357 --> 00:18:29,357 Thank you. 379 00:18:31,700 --> 00:18:43,116 Thank you. 380 00:18:47,357 --> 00:18:48,019 - Woo! 381 00:18:48,019 --> 00:18:48,997 - Woo-hoo! 382 00:18:48,997 --> 00:18:49,538 - Woo! 383 00:18:55,460 --> 00:18:56,097 Thank you.