YEAR IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION
PLAN WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS
9:3 A.M.
I AM MARITZA RIVERA.
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>>
HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> GOOD MORNING, HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> HERE.
>> VICE- CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH?
CHAIR RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
PLEASE NOTE FOR THE
RECORD COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING,
AND COUNCILMEMBERS STRAUSS
AND VICE-CHAIR AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH ARE
EXCUSED UNTIL
THEY JOIN US.
TODAY WE'LL
BE LEARNING ABOUT AND VOTING ON
THE
SUBSTITUTE BILL FOR THE FEPP,
FAMILIES,
EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL, PROMISE
LEVIES IMPLEMENTATION
AND EVALUATION PLAN.
WE WILL HAVE JASMINE MARWAHA AND
TRACI RATZLIFF ON THE BILL
AS IT WAS SUBMITTED AND THEN
ADDITIONAL EVALUATION
LANGUAGE THAT WERE MADE TO
THE TRANSMITTED PROPOSAL.
WE'LL GET BRIEFED ON
THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
SUBMITTED.
AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO TODAY,
COLLEAGUES, WE'RE GOING TO
VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE BILL AND
THEN
WE'RE GOING TO JUST GET BRIEFED
ON THE AMENDMENTS, AND
THEN WE WILL AT THE NEXT
MEETING VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS
AND VOTE THE
BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE.
ALL RIGHT.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS
SHOULD RELATE TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> THERE ARE 13 IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS AND 8 REMOTE
MAKING
FOR A TOTAL OF 21 PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THEN EVERYONE WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ
THE PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD WILL BE MODERATED
IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
UP TO 60 MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED.
WE WILL START WITH IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST, THEN
REMOTE
SPEAKERS, UNTIL THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR
TIME. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS
NOW OPEN.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE
LIST.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
AND LET THE RECORD
REFLECT COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
VICE-
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH HAS JOINED
US.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL THE MICS ARE AVAILABLE,
SO IF I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU CAN
STEP UP TO ANY OF THE MICS.
THAT WILL MAKE THE PROCESS GO A
LITTLE SMOOTHER.
WE HAVE MADELINE -- AND
I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE IF I
MISPRONOUNCE ANYONE'S NAME,
SO PLEASE CORRECT ME.
MADELINE VISTEKA, OLIVER MISHKA.
GO AHEAD, MADELINE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> HI, EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS MADELINE, AND
I ADDRESS CHILDHOOD HUNGER AT
KINGWAY COUNTY.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE FOR RECOGNIZING
THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING
FOOD
INSECURITY FOR SEATTLE KIDS AND
FAMILIES AND FOR
PRIORITIZING THAT THROUGH THIS
PROCESS.
I DO ULTIMATELY WANT TO
EXPRESSEXPRESS SUPPORT
FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THE
PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION OF
UNIVERSAL MEALS ON THE ORIGINAL
TIME LINE
BEGINNING IN THE 2026- '27
SCHOOL
YEAR.
WE KNOW THAT SCHOOL MEALS ARE
ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS
THAT WE HAVE TO ENSURE
STUDENTS ARE WELL NOURISHED AND
READY
TO LEARN AND TO GROW.
THEY ARE IN PLACE AND POISED
TO SCALE AND MEET THE NEED AT
SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT OUR
COMMUNITY. DURING THE YEARS WHEN
MEALS WERE
AVAILABLE AT NO COST
THROUGH
FEDERAL WAIVERS, PARTICIPATION
INCREASED ACROSS THE BOARD
INCLUDING AMONG LOW-
INCOME STUDENTS WHO PREVIOUSLY
FACED STIGMA AND LOGISTICAL
BARRIERS
TO ACCESSING MEALS.
AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW THAT
THE CURRENT FEDERAL INCOME
LIMIT FOR SCHOOL MEALS
QUALIFYING
FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS DOES NOT
REFLECT WHAT IT ACTUALLY COSTS
TO RAISE A FAMILY IN SEATTLE.
TODAY A FAMILY OF FOUR MUST
EARN LESS THAN $60,000 A YEAR
TO QUALIFY FOR THIS SUPPORT, AND
WE
KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY
FAMILIES EARNING JUST ABOVE
THAT THRESHOLD WHO ARE
STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS
MEET.
WE HEAR FROM PARENTS LIKE
MARISSA WHO WORKS FULL
TIME, EARNS ABOUT $65,000 A
YEAR,
AND DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR SCHOOL
--
FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR HER
KIDS BUT STILL REGULARLY
WORRIES ABOUT HOW SHE WILL
AFFORD GROCERIES TO PUT DINNER
ON THE
TABLE, SERVE BREAKFAST, AND
PACK LUNCHES EVERY DAY FOR HER
TEENS.
OR PARENTS LIKE DIANA, WHO
WAS EXCITED TO MOVE HER FAMILY
TO
A NEW HOME ONLY TO LEARN THAT
MEALS WEREN'T FREE-FOR-
ALL STUDENTS AT HER KIDS' NEW
SCHOOL AND THEY EXPERIENCED
STIGMA
AS ONLY A HANDFUL OF FREE AND
REDUCED MEALS.
>> THANK YOU, MADELINE.
PRETHIVA AND OLIVER
MISHKA FOLLOWED BY CALEB.
WELCOME.
>> HELLO.
I'M PRETHIVA AND I LIVE
IN DISTRICT THREE.
I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN WHO
ATTEND SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT
AND
MANY OF THEIR CLASSMATES WERE
FROM
LOW- INCOME FAMILIES.
I HAVE A Ph.D. IN FOOD SCIENCE.
I'M A RETIRED REGISTERED
DIETICIAN, AND I WORK FOR THE
BATON ROUGE PUBLIC SCHOOL FOOD
PROGRAM BEFORE JOINING
THE FACULTY AT LOUISIANA STATE
UNIVERSITY.
>> GO TIGERS!
>> I OPPOSE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH'S AMENDMENT TO
DEFUND UNIVERSAL FREE MEALS
FOR SEATTLE STUDENTS.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN
THAT NUTRITIOUS MEALS ARE VITAL
FOR
STUDENTS' SUCCESS IN SCHOOL.
MEANS TESTING COSTS MONEY.
DIETICIANS IN PROGRAMS THAT
ARE MEANS TESTED SPEND A LARGE
PROPORTION OF THEIR TIME
EVALUATING APPLICATIONS FOR
FREE AND REDUCED MEALS.
IF FUTURE FUNDING IS A
PROBLEM, MAYBE SEATTLE'S TAXES
COULD BE
MADE FAIRER SO THAT VITAL
PROGRAMS LIKE UNIVERSAL
FREE MEALS DO NOT HAVE TO BE CUT
TO KEEP TAXES LOW FOR
WEALTHY
INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OLIVER -- OH, LET THE
RECORD REFLECT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS JOINED US REMOTELY.
WE HAVE OLIVER MISHKA
FOLLOWED BY CALEB FOLLOWED BY
HANNAN.
>> GOOD MORNING, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, STAFF, AND
ALL THOSE JOINING TODAY.
MY NAME IS OLIVER MISHKA,
FORWARD THE RECORD,
HERE TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF
CANDIDATE FOR STATE REP, JALEN
SCOTT, WHO I SERVE AS
CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR.
JALEN WANTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE DEEP COMMITMENT TO
ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY FOR
YOUTH
AND FAMILIES IN THE 37th
LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT.
WE ARE TESTIFYING IN OPPOSITION
TO AMENDMENT NUMBER 6 TODAY.
WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE
STANDING ON BUSINESS BY
STANDING UP TO BIG BUSINESS.
NINE STATES HAVE UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS.
WASHINGTON PASSED THE
HISTORIC MILLIONAIRES TAX THIS
LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND
THAT'S A HUGE DEAL, BUT WE
STAND HERE
TODAY WITH UNIVERSAL SCHOOL
MEAL PROGRAMS AT RISK
BECAUSE LAWMAKERS ARE BEING
EXTORTED AND
THREATENED BY BIG BUSINESS
AND MEGA MILLIONAIRES WHO
ARE THROWING MILLIONS INTO
REPEALING THIS LEGISLATION.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT PUTS
SEATTLE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION
BUT IT IS NO EXCUSE FOR US TO
BACK
DOWN FROM THE PROMISES MADE BY
OUR
ELECTED TO ENSURE EVERY
STUDENT HAS A MEAL AT SCHOOL
BECAUSE
THEY NEED NUTRITION TO LEARN.
IT'S PROVEN.
WE ALREADY HAVE GREAT
PROGRAMS SERVING MANY OF OUR
LOW- INCOME
STUDENTS.
RIGHT NOW THOSE FAMILIES FILL
OUT PAPERWORK TO ENSURE
ELIGIBILITY, SINKING
LIMITED FUNDS INTO GATE KEEPING
WHAT
SEEMS LIKE BASIC NEEDS FOR OUR
STUDENTS.
WE DON'T NEED FAMILIES TO
JUMP THROUGH HOOPS.
WE NEED TO SHOW OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS ARE UNIVERSAL AND
FOR EVERYONE.
DELAYING THIS PROGRAM BREAKS A
PROMISE NO MATTER HOW WE SPIN
THIS AMENDMENT.
WE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL AND HOPE YOU MOVE
BOLDLY, NOT
OUT OF FEAR, TRUSTING THAT
VOTERS THIS NOVEMBER WILL
NOT LISTEN TO CORPORATE
PROPAGANDA AND WILL NOT REPEAL
THE MILLIONAIRES TAX.
PLEASE VOTE NO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE CALEB, HANNAN
FOLLOWED BY
SEBO. SO SORRY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
MY NAME IS CALEB.
I AM AN EDUCATOR IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE.
I'M ALSO RUNNING FOR STATE
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE
37th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT.
AND I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT FROM AN EDUCATOR'S
PERSPECTIVE AND ALSO AS A FORMER
FREE
AND REDUCED LUNCH KID.
I WAS PART OF THAT PROGRAM AS A
KID
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND I
CARRIED THAT STIGMA GROWING UP
HERE IN SEATTLE DEALING
WITH HOUSING INSTABILITY,
DEALING WITH FOOD INSECURITY,
AND
IT SHOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT
A KID HAS TO CARRY WITH THEM,
THAT STIGMA OF HAVING TO BE THAT
ODD ONE OUT.
UNIVERSAL MEALS SOLVE THAT.
GROWING UP -- OR THINKING ABOUT
THIS AMENDMENT, I'M
DISAPPOINTED NOT ONLY AS THAT
FORMER FREE AND
REDUCED LUNCH KID, BUT ALSO AS
AN EDUCATOR WHO SEES KIDS
THAT SHOW UP NOT BEING FED.
YOU SEE IT SHOW UP WITH THEIR
ENGAGEMENT. YOU SEE IT SHOW UP
IN HOW
THEY WALK IN LETHARGIC.
WE SHOULD BE FEEDING ALL OF OUR
KIDS.
THIS WAS A PROMISE THAT WE
MADE WITH THE FEPP LEVY AND
SHOULD
BE A PROMISE THAT WE KEEP.
I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT BEHIND
THIS AMENDMENT BUT THE
ADDED HOOPS AND PUTTING
UNIVERSAL MEALS AT RISK IS NOT
WORTH IT.
AND I BELIEVE WE SHARE THE SAME
CONCERNS ABOUT FOOD ACCESS
AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS BUT
ACCESS
MATTERS.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS
REACH EVERY STUDENT
AUTOMATICALLY WITH
NO APPLICATION OR EXTRA
STEPS FOR FAMILIES AND A VOUCHER
MODEL
WOULD REQUIRE FAMILIES TO
APPLY, QUALIFY AND REDEEM
BENEFITS
THROUGH A LIMITED NUMBER
OF PARTICIPATING VENDORS
CREATING ADDITIONAL BARRIERS FOR
THE
VARIOUS FAMILIES WE'RE TRYING
TO
SUPPORT. I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO
ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CALEB.
ONE SECOND, COMMENTERS.
OKAY.
OKAY. THANK YOU.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE -- THE
DING IS DISTRACTING TO PEOPLE.
THEY THINK IT'S PUBLIC COMMENT
IS OVER BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT
DING.
THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
WE HAVE HANNAN FOLLOWED BY SEBO
AND THEN RAMEN.
I'M SO SORRY, FOLKS.
HANNAN, WELCOME.
>> I AM A STAFF MEMBER AT ONE
OF THE SEATTLE- BASED
NONPROFITS THAT USE HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT
ORGANIZERS IN EFFORTS TO
PROVIDE FOOD JUSTICE AND MENTAL
HEALTH IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
I'M SPEAKING TO OPPOSE NUMBER 6
TO THE FEPP LEVY.
YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE AT
THE CENTER OF DECISION MAKING
ABOUT ISSUES THEY FACE, SO I'LL
BE QUOTING WRITTEN COMMENT
FROM YOUNG PEOPLE WHO AREN'T
HERE TODAY AS WELL AS
SHARING SENTIMENTS INFORMING
YOUNG PEOPLE I'VE WORKED WITH
OVER
THE PAST TWO YEARS.
THIS AMENDMENT NOT ONLY
DELAYS UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS,
ONE
THAT SEATTLE FAMILIES CELEBRATE
AND WERE DEPENDING ON FOR THIS
UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR AND
LEAVES THEM AT RISK FOR THE
FOLLOWING FIVE YEARS.
MAINTAINING THE CURRENT FREE
AND REDUCED LUNCH MODEL
WOULD REQUIRE THAT, AGAIN,
PARENTS AND
FAMILIES APPLY FOR THE
PROGRAM, WHICH IS A BARRIER TO
USE,
EVEN IF ALL STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY
WERE
TO APPLY AND USE THE PROGRAM,
A FAMILY OF FOUR WHERE TWO
ADULTS
ARE WORKING FULL TIME
MAKING JUST MINIMUM WAGE WOULD
NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED
LUNCH. IN THE WORDS OF
KAITLYN, THERE WILL STILL BE
FREE AND
REDUCED LUNCH FOR THOSE WHO NEED
IT.
I ASK, WHAT ABOUT ME?
MY FAMILY ISN'T BELOW
THE POVERTY LINE.
WE CAN STILL GO GROCERY
SHOPPING.
QUOTE, MONEY GETS TIGHT
FAST, ESPECIALLY IN EXPENSIVE
AREAS
LIKE SEATTLE, END QUOTE.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL LUNCH WOULD
UNBURDEN MANY FAMILIES WHO
DON'T QUALIFY BUT ARE STILL
STRUGGLING
IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE.
THE ONLY PLACE THEY ARE GETTING
THROUGH THE SCHOOL, SHAYLA
SHARED, QUOTE, UNFORTUNATELY
I HAVEN'T HAD THE BEST ACCESS
TO FOOD AT HOME AND
DESCRIBED SCHOOL AS, QUOTE, MY
MAIN SOURCE
OF FOOD THROUGHOUT THE DAY, END
QUOTE.
WHEN I WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
TO ENVISION THE FUTURE OF
FOOD ACCESS AT THEIR SCHOOLS,
DREAMS ARE BEYOND JUST FREE
MEALS.
THEY DISCUSS
INTENTIONAL SOURCING FROM
LOCAL FARMS. MEALS THAT REFLECT
THE
CULTURAL FOOD STAPLES ACROSS OUR
DIVERSE STUDENT BODY, NUTRITIOUS
MEALS, LESS PROCESSED FOOD, MORE
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND FOOD
AT
SNACK TIMES JUST TO NAME A FEW.
UNIVERSAL MEALS IN THE 2026-
2027
SCHOOL YEAR IS ALREADY A DELAY
IN MEETING STUDENT NEEDS.
WE CANNOT PUSH THIS ANOTHER
YEAR.
I WILL END WITH WORDS FROM A
STUDENT, QUOTE, NO
STUDENT SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT
BEING HUNGRY WHILE TRYING TO
LEARN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SEBO, WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING.
COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS SEBO AND I'M
A PROGRAM MANAGER AT
IMMIGRANT GUIDE AND I ALSO WORK
IN
SEATTLE.
TODAY I WANT TO URGE THE
CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT THE
AMENDMENTS TO THE FAMILY
EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE
LEVY IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION
PLAN.
SEATTLE VOTERS APPROVE THE
FEPP LEVY WITH THE EXPECTATION
THAT
THE CITY WOULD IMPLEMENT
INVESTMENTS AS THEY
WERE PROMISED INCLUDING THE
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD HONOR THAT
COMMITMENT WITHOUT CHANGING THE
PROGRAM'S FOCUS OR
IMPLEMENTATION.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS ARE ONE
OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS
TO REDUCE CHILDHOOD HUNGER
BECAUSE EVERY STUDENT HAS EQUAL
ACCESS WITHOUT
APPLICATIONS, ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS, OR
FEAR OF BEING SINGLED OUT.
THEY ELIMINATE STIGMA
AND PROTECT STUDENTS' DIGNITY
AND
ENSURE THAT NO CHILD IS
TREATED DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF
THE
FAMILY'S FINANCIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES. WHILE ADDRESSING
FOOD
INSECURITY OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL IS
AN IMPORTANT GOAL, REPLACING
OR SUPPLEMENTING UNIVERSAL
MEALS WITH THE GROCERY VOUCHER
PROGRAM IS NOT THE RIGHT
APPROACH.
VOUCHERS- BASED PROGRAMS CAN
CREATE BARRIERS TO
PARTICIPATION, REQUIRE
FAMILIES TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES
AS
NEEDING ASSISTANCE, AND MAY
UNINTENTIONALLY INCREASE STIGMA.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS PROVIDE
SUPPORT IN A WAY THAT IS
EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE
AND SEAMLESS FOR EVERY STUDENT.
I ALSO POSE DELAYING OR
RESTRUCTURING OF VOTER APPROVED
PROGRAM BASED ON
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT FUTURE
REVENUES.
THE CITY SHOULD IMPLEMENT
THE LEVY AS APPROVED BY VOTERS
AND ADDRESS ANY FUTURE
BUDGET CHALLENGES THROUGH THE
NORMAL BUDGET PROCESS IF THEY
ARISE.
PLEASE REJECT THE AMENDMENT
FIVE AND SIX.
SEATTLE STUDENTS DESERVE A
PROGRAM THAT IS
UNIVERSAL, DIGNIFIED AND
IMPLEMENTED
WITHOUT DELAY OR UNNECESSARY
CHANGES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE RAMEN FOLLOWED BY
TATIANA BROWN FOLLOWED BY LAK
TRAN.
>> HELLO.
I'M THE FOOD ACCESS
COORDINATOR AT FEAST.
EXACTLY ONE MONTH AGO I
STOOD RIGHT HERE AND SHARED
THE SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT
OF UNIVERSAL FREE LUNCH FOR ALL
SPS SCHOOLS.
MY TESTIMONY CARRIES THE
SAME MESSAGE WITH MORE WEIGHT
BECAUSE YOU ALL MADE A
COMMITMENT.
OUR STUDENTS NEED AND
DESERVE FREE BREAKFAST AND
LUNCH WHEN THEY ARE AT SCHOOL,
NOT NEXT
YEAR, NOT IF
THE MILLIONAIRES TAX PASSES,
NOW, FOR THIS FEPP
LEVY, FOR THE UPCOMING 2026- '27
SCHOOL YEAR AND FOR THE NEXT
FALL.
OUR COMMITMENTS ARE TOO OFTEN
OVERPROMISED AND
UNDERSERVED, AND THIS PATTERN
DEGRADES TRUST
IN OUR SYSTEM.
THIS SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE
WE ARE NOT PRIORITIZED.
OVER A DECADE AGO STUDENT
ORGANIZERS NAMED SOMETHING
THAT SHOULD FEEL OBVIOUS THAT
HASN'T
ALWAYS BEEN TREATED THAT WAY.
STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EAT
FRESH, FREE, AND
CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD AT
SCHOOL WITHOUT
BARRIERS, WITHOUT STIGMA,
AND WITHOUT HAVING TO PROVE
THAT THEY DESERVE IT.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, FREE
SCHOOL LUNCHES FELT LIKE A BIG
WIN
NOT ONLY FOR FOOD JUSTICE BUT
FOR OUR MOVEMENT AS WELL.
AND YESTERDAY WE RECEIVED
DISAPPOINTING NEWS.
THERE WOULD BE NO FREE LUNCH.
SO TODAY WE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP
TO FIGHT ON SOMETHING THAT
YOU SAID WAS SECURED.
YOU CANNOT KEEP PUSHING THE
CAN FARTHER AND FARTHER DOWN THE
ROAD. THIS AMENDMENT IS A BAND-
AID SOLUTION TO A DEEPER
GASH, PUSHING THIS BASS DOES
NOT CENTER THE WELLNESS OF OUR
YOUTH.
IF WE CANNOT PRIORITIZE RIGHT
NOW WHILE WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT HAS BEEN
PUBLICLY COMMITTED TO AND WIDELY
CELEBRATED, YOU MIGHT VIEW IT AS
A PRIORITY LATER ON
ESPECIALLY WHEN CONDITIONS
BECOME HARDER.
WE HAVEN'T SHOWN OUR
STUDENTS THE FEPP LEVY IS WHAT
IT
CAN LOOK LIKE IN SCHOOL, HOW BIG
OF
A WIN THIS IS AND WHEN
THE VOICES IN THIS ROOM ARE
HEARD
TODAY, WE WILL SHOW OUR
STUDENTS THIS AS AN EXAMPLE OF
THE
IMPACT OF ORGANIZING.
BUT PASS THIS AMENDMENT AND
OUR STUDENTS WILL WILL FIRSTHAND
HOW THEIR VOICES HAVE BEEN
IGNORED AND THEY WILL AGAIN
WITNESS
THE FAILURES OF OVERPROMISING
AND
UNDERDELIVERING. WE NEED FREE
SCHOOL MEALS
FOR ALL STUDENTS THIS YEAR ALL
YEAR
LONG.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE TATIANA
BROWN FOLLOWED BY LAC TRAN AND
JACOB.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
MY NAME IS TATIANA BROWN AND I
AM HERE FOR A CANDIDATE IN THE
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT AND AM
TRAINED IN EQUITABLE POLICY
DESIGN.
I THINK WE SHARE THE GOALS
OF HOW TO GET THE STUDENTS WHO
NEED
FOOD AND HOW TO CREATE THE
CONDITIONS FOR STUDENTS
TO THRIVE IN SCHOOLS.
WHEN FEPP,
THE FAMILIES, EDUCATION,
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE
LEVY WAS ANNOUNCED TWO
MONTHS AGO TO EXPAND FOOD ACCESS
53 MORE SCHOOLS THIS UPCOMING
YEAR, OUR COMMUNITY AND CITY WAS
ECSTATIC. NOT ONLY WAS THIS
BUILDING ON
A LEGACY OF EXPANDING ACCESS IN
2022- 2023 WHEN LUNCH WAS
BROUGHT UP FROM 6 SCHOOLS TO 40
SCHOOLS BUT IT HOPED TO BE BOLD
AND
BRING FREE MEALS FROM THE 53
TO NOW 104 SCHOOLS IN OUR
SYSTEM.
IT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF BUILDING
EQUITABLY AND BOLDLY.
53 SCHOOLS ALREADY RECEIVE FREE
IN- SCHOOL LUNCH.
BASED ON DATA WE ESTIMATE
IT SAVES $1,200 PER CHILD PER
FAMILY.
WHERE ALL 26 OF OUR SCHOOLS
ALREADY HAVE UNIVERSAL FREE
LUNCH, YOU MIGHT ASK WHY
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT
EXPANDING THIS PROGRAM.
WHEN OUR STUDENTS ARE
ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE
POLICY IS WORKING WELL AND
WE'RE REACHING THE MOST
DISADVANTAGED.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE A GENUINELY
GOOD POLICY THAT
HAS DEMONSTRATED IT HAS
REACHED THOSE THAT NEED IT,
AND THOSE SCHOOLS WITH THE
HIGHEST
PROPORTION OF STUDENTS ON
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH.
BECAUSE OF THAT EVERYONE ELSE
IN THE SCHOOL GETS TO GAIN AND
IT HAS CREATED A BASE WHERE WE
HAVE
GROWN ACCESS TO FREE FRUIT AND
VEGETABLES.
I BELIEVE OUR DISTRICT CAN
LEAD AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOLUTIONS
THAT MEET OUR NEEDS, AND THAT WE
WILL
BE A FORCE TO BRING THE
BENEFIT TO OTHERS WE BUILD FROM
THERE.
WE KNOW MAKING MEALS IS A
UNIVERSAL BENEFIT DIRECTLY
INCREASES THE NUMBER OF
STUDENTS CONSIDERING NUTRITIOUS
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH EACH DAY,
BUT
IF WE WILL INCLUDE 6,800 MORE
STUDENTS INTO THIS PROGRAM AND
WE KNOW
WE CAN EXPAND THE SERVICE,
I IMPLORE YOU ALL TO NOT DEFER.
STUDENTS IN OUR REGION AND
OUR STATE DESERVE
UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.
WE HAVE SEEN THE MANY
BENEFITS IN THEIR LIVES AND
EDUCATIONAL
OUTCOMES.
LET'S INVEST IN IT AND WE ARE
INVESTING
IN OUR FUTURE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE LAC TRAN FOLLOWED BY
JACOB AND THEN NAZ.
LAC, WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS LAC TRAN,
A STUDENT IN SEATTLE WHO
GRADUATED-TO-GRADUATED TWO WEEKS
AGO.
I WANT TO VOICE MY
OPPOSITION TO AMENDMENT 6.
WE KNOW THAT WHEN STUDENTS
ARE FED AND THEIR BASIC NEEDS
ARE
MET, THEY'RE ABLE TO SHOW UP
AS THEIR BEST SEL -- SELVES.
FAMILIES IN THE MIDDLE SO
OFTEN GET LEFT
OUT BECAUSE FOOD INSECURITY DOES
NOT ONLY
AFFECT FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY FOR
FOOD
ASSISTANCE BUT IT ALSO AFFECTS
EVERYONE.
A VOUCHER PROGRAM WILL CREATE
BARRIERS FOR
THE FAMILIES THAT WE ARE
TRYINGTRYING
SUPPORT.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL LUNCHES WILL
CLOSE THE FOOD ACCESS --
WILL CLOSE THE FOOD ACCESS GAP
FOR
6,800 SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS AND SAVE
FAMILIES
$1,200 PER CHILD.
WE MUST NOT CREATE A
SYSTEM WHERE STUDENTS NEED TO
PROVE THAT THEY ARE HUNGRY
BEFORE
THEY CAN EAT.
I URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF
FREE SCHOOL LUNCHES AND A NO
VOTE
ON THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LAC.
WE HAVE JACOB FOLLOWED BY NAJMA
AND NAJIBA.
JACOB?
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR RIVERA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, VICE-
CHAIR RINCK AND MEMBERS OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS JACOB AND I AM
THE PUBLIC POLICY AND
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST AT VOICE
OF
TOMORROW, AND I WANT TO START BY
SENDING OUR GRATITUDE TO THE
MEMBERS
WHO STEPPED UP TO SPONSOR
CRITICAL
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER ALEXIS MERCEDES
RINCK AND YOUR
STAFF FOR THE INCREDIBLE SPEED
AND RESPONSE TO AMENDMENT NUMBER
2 WHICH ENSURES WE ARE
ACTIVELY STUDYING AND CLOSING
OPPORTUNITY GAPS BEFORE
KINDERGARTEN.
WE WANT TO WARMLY THANK
COUNCILMEMBER EDDIE LIN
FOR AMENDMENT NUMBER 3 BRINGING
REAL
FAMILY CHILD CARE IS A HUGE
WIN, AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT EVENTUALLY
SECURING PERMANENT VOTING SPOTS
FOR ACTIVE PROVIDERS AND HUBS.
AS A POLICY TEAM WE KNOW
THAT GETTING THE LANGUAGE RIGHT
TAKES
TIME AND WE CANNOT LEAVE
THE SAFETY OF OUR PROGRAMS TO
WAIT TO CHANCE OR WAIT TO SORT
OUT OPERATIONAL DETAILS DOWN THE
LINE.
THAT IS WHY WE THINK IT IS
INCREDIBLY SMART TO LOOK AT
THE TIME LINE BETWEEN NOW AND
THE JULY 22nd HEARING AS A GIFT,
AS
A BEAUTIFUL WINDOW TO SLOW
DOWN AND TRULY WORKSHOP
THESE AMENDMENTS WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE
OUR COMPETITIVE -- AND WE
ADVOCATE FOR VITAL PROGRAMS TO
MATCH THE
LANGUAGE OF THE CHILD
CARE WORKFORCE PROGRAM.
THE FAMILY CHILD CARE
MENTORSHIP AND THE HOMELESS
CHILD CARE
AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THESE PROGRAMS ARE ALL MISSIONS
AS
COMMUNITY-ROOTED HUBS LIKE
VOICE OF TOMORROW TO BRING
UNIQUE
EXPERTISE AND CULTURE TO
RUN THESE PROGRAMS SUCCESSFULLY.
FINALLY, AMENDMENT NUMBER 4, WE
SEE A BEAUTIFUL PATH FORWARD TO
SOLVE TWO URGENT NEEDS AT ONCE.
WE WANT TO MEET IN THE
MIDDLE AND COMMEND THE EFFORT TO
WANT TO PROPOSE DEDICATING
CERTAIN FUNDS TO KEEP LOW-
INCOME
KIDS FED WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT BUT
ALSO WE WANT TO HAVE THE
ORIGINAL FUNDS TO HELP FUND A
STARTER
PRESCHOOL VOUCHER PILOT.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXTEND
THAT PERIOD OF AMENDMENTS AND
CONTINUE A WORKSHOP PEOPLE TO
ENSURE CHILDREN ARE FED
AND SUPPORTED AND OUR POLICIES
ARE
TRULY EQUITABLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME AND
YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, JACOB.
WE'VE GOT NAJMA.
AND THEN WE'LL GO DOWN THE
LINE.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS.
I'M WITH VOICES OF
TOMORROW WHERE I SERVE AS THE
COMMUNITY
ADVOCATE SPECIALIST.
I WOULD LIKE TO START
BY THANKING COUNCILMEMBER LIN
FOR SPONSORING AMENDMENT 3
AND COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
FOR SPONSORING AMENDMENT 2 TO
CLOSE PERSISTENT OPPORTUNITY
GAPS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO
STRONGLY SUPPORT EXPANDING
REPRESENTATION FOR CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS ON THE
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROVIDERS
ARE THE BACKBONE OF
SEATTLE'S CHILD CARE SYSTEM YET
FOR FAR TOO LONG
THE POLICIES THAT DIRECTLY
IMPACT THE WORK HAVE BEEN
SHAPED WITHOUT THEM HAVING A
PERMANENT
SEAT AT THE TABLE.
IN MY ROLE I WORK CLOSELY
WITH FAMILY CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS EVERY DAY.
I HEAR FIRSTHAND ABOUT HOW
THE CHALLENGES THEY NAVIGATE,
THE BARRIERS THEY FACE AND
THE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES
AND EXPERTISE AND VOICES ARE
INVALUABLE.
THEY HAVE YOU HAD NOT SIMPLY
BE CONSULTED AFTER DECISIONS ARE
MADE. THEY SHOULD BE PART OF
MAKING THE DECISIONS.
IF WE WANT THIS LEVY TO BE
SUCCESSFUL WE NEED
COMMUNITY- BASED
INTERMEDIARY HUBS ON THE
OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. THESE PROVIDERS
UNDERSTAND THE
REALITIES OF IMPLEMENTING THESE
POLICIES BECAUSE THEY LIVE
THEM EVERY DAY AND HAVE EARNED
MORE
THAN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
FEEDBACK AND A REAL VOICE IN
THE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS ARE
GOVERNED.
WE ASK THE COUNCIL USE THESE
WEEKS LEADING UP TO THETHE
22nd HEARING TO CONTINUE
ENGAGING PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS SO THESE POLICIES CAN
BE STRENGTHENED BEFORE THE FINAL
VOTE BY ENSURING THERE IS
MEANINGFUL REPRESENTATION
TO REFLECT THE NEEDS OF
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IT
SERVES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, NAJMA.
MENZABA FOLLOWED BY SARAH
AND THEN WE'LL GO ONLINE.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR.
>> YOU HAVE TO SPEAK INTO THE
MIC, SORRY.
LET'S START THE TIME AGAIN,
JACOB.
>> SORRY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME
OKAY?
>> YES.
>> EXCELLENT.
AGAIN, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US,
VICE- CHAIR, CHAIR, AND ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TESTIFY TODAY AND FOR
YOUR CONTINUED WILLINGNESS TO
HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE
COMMUNITIES
WHO WILL
ULTIMATELY EXPERIENCE THE
DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE
HERE.
I SERVE AS THE PUBLIC POLICY AND
STRATEGIC PLANNING MANAGER
OF VOICES OF TOMORROW, BORN AND
RAISED HERE IN SEATTLE.
I'VE LIST MOST OF MY ADULT
LIFE IN AFRICA WHERE I STARTED
MY
FAMILY.
DURING MY TIME THERE, I
LEARNED SOMETHING PROFOUND THAT
REMAINS IN MY PARADIGM, I LIVE
WITH IT,
I WALK
WITH IT.
[ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO
CROSS THE RIVER, ASK THE PEOPLE
WHO
DO IT EVERY DAY.
IN MANY PLACES AROUND THE
WORLD WHERE TRADITIONAL CULTURE
AND
HUMANS
ARE VALUED, WISDOM ISN'T
MEASURED BY PROXIMITY TO POWER.
IT'S MEASURED BY THE MASTERY
OF LIVED EXPERIENCE.
MY JOURNEY THROUGH ACTIVISM AND
MOTHERHOOD HAS TAUGHT ME THAT
PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE
CHALLENGE OFTEN HAVE THE
CLEAREST UNDERSTANDING --
[ NO AUDIO ]
I HEAR SOME REFLECTED IN
SEVERAL OF THE AMENDMENTS BEFORE
YOU
TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER ALEXIS
MERCEDES
RINCK, CHAMPIONING
OPPORTUNITYOPPORTUNITY PRE- K,
AND EDDIE LIN
FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE
OF
FAMILY CHILD CARE VOICES
AND LEVY OVERSIGHT.
THOSE AMENDMENTS REFLECT
A WILLINGNESS TO LEARN FROM THE
PEOPLE DOING THIS WORK EVERY
DAY.
AS YOU CONTINUE REFINING THE
PRESCHOOL VOUCHER PILOT, I
ASK YOU ALSO PROTECT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THROUGH
IMPLEMENTATION.
A SMALLER PILOT THAT MOVES FROM
PLANNING INTO PRACTICE
WHILE CONTINUING TO CONSULT WITH
THE EXPERTISE OF COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, MANY OF US WHO FILL
THIS
ROOM TODAY, WILL REVEAL FOR US
FAR MORE THAN ONE MORE YEAR OF
JUST THEORY ALONE.
IMPLEMENTATION IS WHERE
FAMILIES EXPERIENCE YOUR
DECISIONS.
IT IS WHERE TRUST IS BUILT
OR
LOST. IF WE TRULY WANT EQUITABLE
OUTCOMES, WE MUST INVITE THE
PEOPLE WHO CROSS THE RIVER
EVERY DAY TO HELP GUIDE THE
WAY FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE SARAH AND THEN WE'LL GO
ONLINE.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR RIVERA
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS SARAH GASPARD.
I LIVE ON CAPITOL HILL AND
BASIC NEEDS AND ALSO AMENDMENT
4.
GROWING UP BELOW
THE POVERTY LINE I LIFIED FOR
FREE LUNCH
AND SOME NIGHTS I WAS UNSURE IF
THERE WOULD BE DINNER AT HOME.
I KNOW HOW VITAL SCHOOL
PROGRAMS ARE BUT STUDENTS'
BASIC NEEDS DON'T END WHEN THE
SCHOOL
DAY FINISHES.
THIS IS PERSONAL AND IN
2021 I WAS WORKING IN THE
NATIONAL
DISTRICT, CAME ACROSS A
19-YEAR- OLD HOMELESS
YOUTH STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE
USE ADDICTION.
SHE WAS A RECENT SPS GRADUATE.
ONCE SHE HAD --
I SUPPORT THE LEVY.
AMENDMENT 4 ADDS WEEKEND AND
ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS A GOOD
STEP. STAYS AT A MINIMUM THAT IS
90
STUDENTS. FOOD SUPPORT DOES NOT
EQUAL HOUSING FOR STUDENTS.
IT IS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WE
WEREN'T DOING MORE TO
PREVENT OUR SPS GRADUATES FROM
FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS BUT,
AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR STILL PROVIDING
FOOD SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
WHO NEED IT BECAUSE FOOD IS A
RIGHT FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SARAH.
WE'LL GO TO OUR
ONLINE COMMENTERS NOW.
PLEASE REMEMBER STAR 6 TO BEGIN.
WE HAVE AIDAN
CARROLL FOLLOWED BY ANISSA AND
THEN SUWIDA.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AND YOU MAY
BEGIN.
>> DID IT WORK?
>> IT WORKED.
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> I AM SPEAKING
TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO MEANS
TESTING
OF FOOD PROGRAMS AND OF OTHER
PROGRAMS.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT HOW MUCH THE
BUREAUCRACY TAKES OUT WHEN
YOU END UP TRYING TO PUT ON
THOSE THAT AREN'T TERRIBLY
EXPENSIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I WOULD NOTE WE'VE HAD THIS
SAME DISCUSSION FROM THE BUSES
AND
TRAINS FOR YEARS, YOU KNOW,
IN NEW YORK CITY WE'RE SEEING
THAT
EFFORT BEING PUT TO MAKE THE
BUSES FREE, AND THE FIRST TIME
I CAME TO SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WAS TEN YEARS AGO, I THINK
KATIE WILSON WAS THERE, BUT I
REMEMBER SPEAKING ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF
MAKING -- BECAUSE TWO
YEARS EARLIER THERE WAS A MAN
KILLED BY POLICE AT SO DO
STATION.
WE KNOW HOW IT IMPACTS PEOPLE
WHEN YOU END UP HAVING TO NOT
ONLY STIGMATIZE THEM AND
CREATE EXTRA WORK BECAUSE THE
SYSTEM
HAS TO SPEND ITS MONEY ON
BUT ALSO WHAT IT DOES TO HAVE
TO MAKE EVERYONE ELSE BE ABOVE A
THRESHOLD AND PAY EXACTLY
THE SAME NO MATTER WHETHER
THEY'RE
EXTREMELY WEALTHY OR BARELY
MIDDLE CLASS.
IF YOU HAD TO DO SOMETHING LIKE
THIS, YOU WOULD WANT TO DO
IT IT THROUGH SOMETHING
GRADUATED LIKE THE SOCIAL
HOUSING
WHERE EVERYONE IS PAYING A THIRD
OF THEIR INCOME.
NO ONE IS TURNED
AWAY FOR LACK OF THAT RATIO.
FINALLY, I UNDERSTAND
YOU'RE UNDER PRESSURE -- YOU
THINK YOU ARE -- FROM PEOPLE AND
THE
MILLIONAIRES TAX.
WHEN YOU'RE STANDING BETWEEN
A LINE OF POLICE, YOU
DON'T TURN AND SAY IT'S NOT
WORTH IT.
YOU TURN TO THE POLICE.
YOU TELL THE POLICE, IT'S
NOT WORTH IT.
THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE LIZ FOLLOWED BY
ANISSA AND THEN SUWEDA.
LIZ, PRESS STAR 6 AND YOU MAY
BEGIN.
>> LIZ, PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE AND THEN YOU
MAY BEGIN.
>> LIZ, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
THE
NEXT SPEAKER, BUT WE'LL COME
BACK TO YOU.
ANISSA, IF YOU'RE
HERE, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AND
YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>>
YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. GOOD
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ANISSA AND I'M
HERE REPRESENTING MY MOTHER AND
OUR FAMILY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM IN
COLUMBIA CITY.
I HAVE GROWN UP
WORKING ALONGSIDE HER AND FOR
THE
LAST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN
PROUD PARTNERS WITH THE SEATTLE
PROGRAM. WE SERVE FAMILIES FROM
MANY
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS INCLUDING
FIRST-TIME PARENTS, THOSE
WHO SPEAK LANGUAGES OTHER
THAN ENGLISH AT HOME, AND
PARENTS
WHO WORK LONG HOURS.
WE HOSTED KATIE WILSON ON THESE
CRITICAL MOMENTS.
BECAUSE OF THAT EXPERIENCE
I WANT TO THANK ALEXISALEXIS LIN
FOR UNDERTAKING AMENDMENTS 2 AND
3 TO ENSURE THE LEVY AND
FILING OPPORTUNITY GAPS AROUND
THE CHILDHOOD SECTOR.
HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
THE PROPOSAL IN AMENDMENT 4 TO
DELAY THE SPP AND $1
MILLION AWAY FROM EARLY
LEARNING.
WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR
FOOD SECURITY FOR OUR CHILDREN,
BUT WE BELIEVE THIS IS A
DIFFICULT CHOICE BETWEEN TWO
ESSENTIAL
NEEDS.
RATHER THAN DELAYING THE PILOT
REPORT, I URGE THE COUNCIL
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A SMALLER
TEST VERSION THIS YEAR.
I BELIEVE EARLY LEARNING
DOLLARS SHOULD REMAIN IN EARLY
LEARNING. WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY
UNDERFUNDED AND
OVEREXTENDED OVER THE YEARS AND
WE ARE READY
TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT
THESE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
I ASK THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT
THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY
VOICES
OF TOMORROW WHICH WOULD ENSURE
THE
NEIGHBORHOOD- BASED PROVIDERS
ARE INCLUDED
AS PARTNERS IN THIS EFFORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
LIZ HUSAR, BACK TO YOU AND
SEE IF YOU PRESS STAR 6 TO
UNMUTE.
THERE YOU ARE.
I CAN SEE YOU DID THAT.
WELCOME.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY
BUT GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LIZ AND I AM
ONCE AGAIN REPRESENTING THE
SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE EDUCATION COALITION.
FIRST, I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL
AND DEAL IN PARTICULAR FOR
ALL THE VARIOUS LEVIES.
WE WERE PROUD TO BE A PART
OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE
THEY REFLECTED A SHARED BELIEF
THE BEST EDUCATION POLICY IS
CREATED WITH COMMUNITY AND NOT
JUST NOR
THEM.
THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO SPEAK
NOT ONLY ABOUT THE
AMENDMENTS THEMSELVES BUT ABOUT
THE
PROCESS.
OVERALL WE SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS THAT STRENGTHEN
ACCOUNTABILITY,
IMPROVE COORDINATION ACROSS
CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
REINFORCE CLOSING OPPORTUNITY
GAPS.
WE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE
EFFORTS TO APPROVE TRANSPARENCY
THROUGH
DEAGGREGATED DATA,
STRENGTHEN RESTORATIVE
APPROACHES AND HAVE
ESSENTIAL PARTNERS
IMPLEMENTATION.
AT THE SAME TIME
THESE AMENDMENTS WERE RELEASED
ONLY YESTERDAY AFTER MONTHS
OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THIS
STAGE
OF THE PROCESS
FEELS DISCONNECTED FROM
THE COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
THAT BROUGHT US HERE.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE OURS MEAN MEANINGFUL TIME
TO
REVIEW, PROPOSE CHANGES, TALK
WITH FAMILIES AND UNDERSTAND
HOW THESE DECISIONS REFLECT
THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE
HEARD THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DOESN'T
END WHEN LISTENING SESSIONS ARE
OVER.
IT CONTINUES THROUGH
IMPLEMENTATION,
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE DECISIONS
MADE ALONG THE
WAY. AS WE CONTINUE THIS
PROCESS, WE
ASK THAT YOU PRESERVE NOT
ONLY THE INVESTMENTS THIS LEVY
MAKES
BUT ALSO THE PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT
HELPED SHAPE IT.
THAT PARTNERSHIP IS WHAT
WILL ULTIMATELY DETERMINE
WHETHER THESE INVESTMENTS
DELIVER
THE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES WE ALL
WANT FOR SEATTLE CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES.
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY
LEARN ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS
AND NOT JUST REACT TO THEM, SO
THIS TIME LINE CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LISTENING
AND LEADERSHIP DURING THIS
PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, LIZ.
WE HAVE SUWIDA FOLLOWED BY
LILLIAN AND THEN --
LILLIAN, PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE AND YOU MAY
BEGIN.
>> SUWIDA, YOU ARE UNMUTED.
YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> APOLOGIES.
YOU MAY BEGIN.
YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SUWIDA AND I SERVE
AS THE HEALTH COORDINATOR WITH
VOICES OF TOMORROW.
MY ROLE IS TO BRIDGE THE
GAP BETWEEN FAMILIES AND THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND I SPEND
MY DAY MONITORING HEALTH
SCREENINGS,
TRACKING REFERRALS
AND COORDINATING TO ENSURE
THAT CHILDREN WHO NEED EXTRA
SUPPORT AREN'T LEFT BEHIND.
I AM HERE TO URGE THE ADOPTION
OF AN AMENDMENT REGARDING THE
DEVELOPMENT.
PART OF MY MANDATE IS TO
ENSURE THAT CHILDREN WITH
SUSPECTED
DELAYS GET CONNECTED TO QUALITY
EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES.
RIGHT NOW THE DEVELOPMENTAL
BRIDGE, LANGUAGE, IS TOO
RESTRICTIVE.
IT LIMITS SERVICE DELIVERY
TO NARROW SET OF EXISTING
AGENCIES, WHICH CREATES A
BARRIER FOR THE
FAMILIES I SERVE WHO ARE
ALREADY STRUGGLING TO NAVIGATE
COMPLEX HEALTH SYSTEMS.
AS SOMEONE RESPONSIBLE
FOR MAINTAINING OUR PROGRAM'S
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLIANCE, I
SEE
THE VALUE IN EXPANDING
THESE SERVICES TO QUALIFIED
COMMUNITY- BASED HUBS.
THESE HUBS ARE TRUSTED
PARTNERS WHO ALREADY SPEAK OUR
FAMILY'S LANGUAGES AND HOLD
DEEP ROOTS IN
THE COMMUNITY.
ALLOWING THEM TO DELIVER
THESE SERVICES UNDER THE SAME
RIGOROUS
STANDARDS I HELP MAINTAIN
WILL DRASTICALLY INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE
EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND FOLLOW-
UP
CARE.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT
TO ENSURE THAT HEALTH RESOURCES
ARE ACCEPTABLE,
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND
EFFECTIVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUWIDA.
WE HAVE LILLIAN FOLLOWED BY
FERDINE AND THEN ALBERTO
ALVAREZ.
LILLIAN, YOU MAY BEGIN.
PRESS STAR 6.
>> GOOD MORNING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING TO THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LILLIAN, AND I'M
A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE AND
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
LATINO COMMUNITY OF WASHINGTON.
IN OUR
WORK WE SUPPORT STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES HERE IN
SEATTLE, INCLUDING SUPPORTING
FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO
ACCESS
FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
WE PROVIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE TO
LOW- INCOME FAMILIES BUT CAUTION
VOUCHERS AS A REPLACEMENT FOR
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.
WE SEE THAT WHEN BARRIERS
ARE SET UP, FAMILIES SUFFER.
WHEN FAMILIES
FACE ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS,
THEY
DO NOT ACCESS THE FOOD AND
RESOURCES THEY NEED,
AND STUDENTS DO NOT THRIVE.
UNIVERSAL ACCESS REMAINS THE
STRONGEST EQUITY APPROACH WE
SEE BECAUSE IT REACHES ALL THE
STUDENTS. IT
REDUCES ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS
AND AVOIDS
STIGMATIZING FAMILIES WHO NEED
SUPPORT.
WE ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL
TODAY TO BALANCE IMMEDIATE NEEDS
WITH THE LONG- TERM GOAL OF A
SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE
FOOD ACCESS SYSTEM FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE
AND FULFILL THE PROMISE
FOR UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS AND
ALSO TO CONTINUE KEEPING THIS
PROCESS INCLUSIVE OF FAMILY
VOICE
BY ALLOWING TIME FOR FAMILIES
AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS TO REVIEW THESE
AMENDMENTS AND BRING VOICE
TO WHAT FAMILIES AND STUDENTS
NEED
HERE IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LILLIAN.
WE'VE GOT FERDINE.
PLEASE
PRESS STAR 6 AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> GOOD MORNING. WE CAN HEAR
YOU.
>> OKAY, AWESOME.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS FERDINE.
I'M AN ORGANIZER AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
JUST GRADUATED A FEW WEEKS
AGO, AND I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK
ABOUT AMENDMENT 6 AND HERE TO
SPEAK AGAINST IT.
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO
LEARN THAT THIS COUNCIL MAY
CONSIDER MEANS TESTING UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL
MEALS, WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY
GUT THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT
WOULDN'T BE UNIVERSAL ANYMORE.
ANY LESSON WE OUGHT TO LEARN
NOW, MEANS TESTING DOES NOT
MAKE A PROGRAM MORE EFFICIENT
NOR
DOES IT HELP EVERYONE WHO
MAY NEED IT.
IT'S AN EXPENSIVE SCAM,
ESSENTIALLY.
FORCING STUDENTS TO APPLY
INCOME ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS, ALL OF THESE
THINGS, PLACES AN
UNNECESSARY
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON THE
GOVERNMENT NOR
WHO QUALIFIES FOR A PROGRAM.
ALL OF THAT COSTS MONEY.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE
ASKING THE CITY TO SPEND
TAXPAYER
MONEY TO COVER LESS PEOPLE.
SEATTLE VOTERS EXPECTED THERE
TO BE TORE CHILDREN SO GIVE
THEIR
CHILDREN FOOD AS YOU PROMISED.
A $3 MILLION CUT TO
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS WOULD BE
A
DISASTER AND RENEGING ON THE
PROMISE
MADE BY THIS COUNCIL FOR THE
WORKING FAMILIAR
LIMBS OF SEATTLE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, FERDINE.
WE HAVE ALBERTO ALVAREZ.
ALBERTO,
YOU CAN PRESS STAR 6 AND YOU MAY
BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU.
I BELIEVE IT IS A GOD
GIVEN MANDATE THAT NO CHILD, NO
MATTER THEIR FAMILY INCOME,
SHOULD
EVER SPEND A DAY HUNGRY.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH, YOU'RE
ASSESSMENTS FOR DELAYING THE
UNIVERSAL MEAL PROGRAM STATES A
ONE- YEAR DELAY IN
IMPLEMENTING THE UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL
MEALS PROGRAM PROVIDES PROVIDES
TO SEE
IF THE LONG-
TERM VIABILITY OF THIS PROGRAM
IS AT RISK.
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS
WEALTHY MEN ARE USING THE LEGAL
SYSTEM AND OUR OWN DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS
TO CREATE AA -- IT IS
A POLITICAL GAME TO THEM.
IN THIS CASE, YOU HAVE TO
PLAY THE GAME RIGHT.
WHEN FAMILIES HAVE A TANGIBLE
BENEFIT, THEY CAN SEE WHAT THEY
STAND TO LOSE.
BY DELAYING MEALS TO OUR
CHILDREN, YOU ARE DOING
EXACTLY
WHAT WEALTHY MEN WANTED YOU TO
DO.
GRANTING MIDDLE- INCOME FAMILIES
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, IT
WILL BE MORE LIKELY THEY VOTE TO
KEEP THE MILLIONAIRES TAX.
THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A GOOD
DAY.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AND
YOU MAY BEGIN, MAYA.
>> HELLO?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS MAYA McKAY AND I'M A
TEACHER AT DEARBORN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
I REALLY WANT TO SPEAK STRONGLY
AGAINST AMENDMENT 6,
HOLLINGSWORTH AND
FOSTER, TO DELAY THE UNIVERSAL
FOOD
PROGRAM.
AS A TEACHER, I SEE THESE KIDS
AND IT'S LIKE THE BEST
THING THAT'S HAPPENED FOR OUR
SCHOOL.
WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM AND
I REMEMBER THE DAYS OF HAVING TO
TRY TO TEACH KIDS WHO ARE
HUNGRY AND HAVING TO BUY THEM
FOOD.
I WOULD GO TO COSTCO
BUYING SNACKS, BUYING FOOD.
PUSHING A BURDEN AND HAVE TO TRY
TO SUPPORT THEM, WHO GO OUT
OF THEIR WAY TO TRY TO
HELP FAMILIES WHO ARE
STRUGGLING.
AS A STUDENT, I ALSO WAS
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH KID.
I DIDN'T QUALIFY OR I DIDN'T
GET THE PAPERWORK AND I'LL
NEVER
UNDERSTAND, BUT I REMEMBER
IN HIGH SCHOOL NOT HAVING
ACCESS AND NOT EATING ALL DAY
AND ASKING MY FRIENDS FOR SCHOOL
AND NOT REALIZING THAT WAS
A RIGHT I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE
AND I
JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT.
HAVING TEACHERS ASK ME IF I
HAVE AN EATING DISORDER BECAUSE
THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE
IDEA PEOPLE HONESTLY DON'T
HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD AND IT
ISN'T A
UNIVERSAL RIGHT, AND I THINK THE
PEOPLE WHO WROTE THIS
AMENDMENT HAVEN'T HAD THOSE
EXPERIENCES.
THEY DON'T SEE THE KIDS WHO
NEED THIS FOOD.
THEY DON'T SEE THE MIDDLE-
CLASS FAMILIES LIKE
MYSELF, NOW THAT I'M A TEACHER
AND I HAVE TWO
KIDS, TRYING TO GET TO
WORK SUPER EARLY IN THE MORNING
IN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH FOOD
AND ALL THE THINGS YOUR KIDS
NEED AND HOW MUCH THIS
REALLY HELPS EVERY SINGLE FAMILY
IN
OUR SCHOOL KNOW THAT THEIR KIDS
ARE GOING TO HAVE AT LEAST FOOD
THAT
DAY.
AND I THINK ALL THE OTHER
THINGS ON THAT LIST THAT YOU'RE
FUNDING
ARE GREAT, BUT FEED THE KIDS
FIRST.
AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE SHOULD
BE --
>> THANK YOU, MAYA.
WE ARE -- SEGAL IS NEXT AND
THEN WE'LL GO TO THREE MORE IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS.
SEGAL, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AND
YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> MY NAME IS SEGAL.
I AM THE SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM MANAGER AT
VOICES OF
TOMORROW.
MY WORK FOCUSES ON EXPANDING
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS,
HELPING YOUTH CLASSROOMS OPEN,
MAKING SURE FAMILIES WHO NEED
THESE
SERVICES ACTUALLY ACCESS THEM.
BECAUSE I WORK ON IT EVERY
DAY, I KNOW LASTING GROWTH
DEPENDS
ON USING THE TALENT AND
EXPERTISE
ALREADY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S WHY WE SUPPORT
OPENING PROGRAMS LIKE FAMILY
CHILD CARE
MENTORSHIP,
HOMELESSNESS CHILD CARE AND THE
DEVELOPMENTAL REACH
THROUGH AN OPEN, COMPETITIVE
RFP PROCESS.
COMMUNITIES ROOTED
ORGANIZATION AND EXPERIENCE
PROVIDERS SHOULD
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING THIS EXPERTISE TO THIS
PROGRAM.
THESE ARE SMALL IMPLEMENTATION
DETAILS.
TRYING TO PLAN FOR THE
FUTURE, CERTAINTY MATTERS.
THAT'S WHY THESE
COMPETITIVE GUIDELINES SHOULD BE
WRITTEN INTO THE LEVY LANGUAGE
NOT --
[ INAUDIBLE ]
NOT LEFT TO FUTURE DECISIONS.
I SUPPORT USING THIS TIME
TO STRENGTHEN THE LEVY AND MAKE
IT THE BEST IT CAN BE.
I SUPPORT THE 4th
AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT OFFERS A
BALANCED
SOLUTION.
WE ARE ALSO UNCHING A
PILOT FOR FAMILIES.
WE CAN FEED CHILDREN TODAY WHILE
CREATING MORE PEACEFUL
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TOMORROW.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SEGAL.
WE ARE GOING BACK TO IN- PERSON
SPEAKERS.
LEO, BAGMONTE, FOLLOWED
BY MILES AND THEN REAGAN.
WELCOME.
>> I'M A DISTRICT 4 RESIDENT,
A JUNIOR
IN HIGH SCHOOL. I SERVE AS
PRESIDENT TO
THE SEATTLE STUDENT UNION AND
WAS APPOINTED TO MAYOR
WILSON'S TRANSITION TEAM.
AS PART OF MAYOR
WILSON'S TRANSITION TEAM, WE
HAD LISTENING SESSIONS
ACROSS SEATTLE 4 TO 24 REACHING
MOREMORE -- ONE THING WE HEARD
WAS THE NEED FOR FREE SCHOOL
MEALS.
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TOLD
US THAT EVEN IF THEY DO NOT
QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED
PRICE
LUNCH THE COST EVERY DAY IS
STILL A
BURDEN. EVEN AMONG THOSE WHO DO
QUALIFY, IMMIGRANT FAMILIES TOLD
US
THEY DO NOT APPLY BECAUSE THEY
FEAR
AND MANY DO NOT APPLY BECAUSE
OF SHAME AND THE PROCESS IS
DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE.
PROVIDING UNIVERSAL FREE
MEALS WILL BENEFIT ALL STUDENTS.
STUDENTS CANNOT LEARN WHEN
THEY'RE HUNGRY.
BELIEVE ME, I KNOW.
I'M A STUDENT WHO CAN GET VERY
HUNGRY.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS WILL
HELP STUDENTS LEARN,
IMPROVE WELL- BEING AND KEEP
STUDENTS SAFE AND WELL FED.
I URGE YOU NOT TO ROLL THIS BACK
WITH AMENDMENT 6.
WHEN INSIDE THE SCHOOLS,
WHICH AMENDMENT 6 WILL TAKE IT
OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLS, THERE ARE
LESS BARRIERS TO GET FOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LEO.
WE HAVE MILES FOLLOWED BY
REAGAN.
MILES?
WELCOME.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS
MILES. I GO TO FRANKLIN.
I'M ALSO A SEATTLE STUDENT
UNION.
I WANT TO SPEAK ALSO IN
SUPPORT OF FREE LUNCH FOR ALL
STUDENTS AND UNIVERSAL LUNCH.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A CRIME
TO DENY CHILDREN FOOD AT SCHOOL.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IF
YOUR CHILD WAS HUNGRY YOU COULD
ASK FOR ANY PAPERWORK BEFORE
GIVING
YOUR CHILD FOOD.
IN THE RICHEST CITY, I
THINK IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY
CRIMINAL
TOTO ANY CHILD FOOD.
I THINK THAT'S A RIGHT THAT
WEWE DESERVE TO HAVE NO MATTER
INCOME OR ANYTHING.
I JUST KNOW LIKE SO
MANY STUDENTS AT MY SCHOOL RELY
ON
THAT EVEN IF THEY AREN'T
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH.
MANY STUDENTS STILL DON'T
HAVE MONEY TO EAT OUT BECAUSE
SEATTLE IS RIDICULOUSLY
EXPENSIVE, AND
I JUST THINK IF YOUR CHILD WAS
IN THE SAME POSITION YOU WOULD
NOT
WANT THAT, AND I DON'T SEE
HOW ANY OF YOU COULD SLEEP AT
NIGHT KNOWING THERE'S KIDS IN
THE
RICHEST CITY THAT NEED FOOD AND
AREN'T GETTING IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MILES.
WE'VE GOT REAGAN.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS REAGAN AND I'M HERE
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
STATE SENATE CAMPAIGN AND WE ARE
IN SUPPORT OF THE FREE AND
REDUCED SCHOOLS PROGRAM INCLUDED
IN
THIS LEVY.
PROVIDING FREE SCHOOL MEALS
TO EVERY STUDENT IN EVERY
SCHOOL GUARANTEES BETTER
LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTS FOR BOTH KIDS AND
TEACHERS.
THIS MEALS PROGRAM WOULD BE A
CONCRETE STEP TO BECOME THE
BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES WHERE
WE
DELIVER ON PROMISES TO BE
A CITY --
TO BECOME A CITY WHERE FAMILIES
CAN FLOURISH.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE
TO CLOSE THE FOOD ACCESS GAP
FOR ABOUT 6,800 STUDENTS IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHO
FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING
FEDERALLY
FUNDED MEALS
DESPITE EXPERIENCING FOOD
INSECURITY
DUE TO LOW FEDERAL ELIGIBILITY
THRESHOLDS.
WE CAN SERVE THOUSANDS
OF FAMILIES ESTIMATED TO SAVE
$1,200 PER
YEAR, MANY LIVE AND WORK IN THE
THIRD DISTRICT.
MAKING BASIC NUTRITION FREE
IS COMMON SENSE ECONOMIC
AND EDUCATION POLICY.
WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND URGE
YOU
TO MAINTAIN IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, REAGAN.
I SHOULD SAY, AND I DIDN'T
STOP ANY PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY,
BUT
WE CAN'T TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT
FROM
CAMPAIGN- RELATED MATTERS.
SO WE CAN TAKE PUBLIC
COMMENT FROM FOLKS AS YOURSELF,
SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND
FOR FUTURE -- NO, NO, IT WASN'T
JUST YOU, ACTUALLY.
I SHOULD HAVE SAID IT
EARLIER, BUT I HATE TO CUT
PEOPLE
OFF WHEN THEY'RE GIVING
PUBLIC COMMENT ON SOMETHING
SO IMPORTANT TO FOLKS, BUT IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
THIS IS NOT CAMPAIGN, IT IS NOT
A POLITICAL EVENT, SO YOU NEED
TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO YOU,
YOURSELF, WHICH I THINK CAN
HAPPEN, SO I JUST WANTED TO
LET YOU KNOW FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE AND FOR FUTURE
COMMENTERS BECAUSE I KNOW WE
HAVE AT
LEAST ONE MORE, I THINK, ONLINE.
SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR
COMMENTS, THOUGH, TODAY.
LET'S SEE.
ANTHONY, I SEE YOUR NAME BUT IT
SAYS YOU'RE NOT PRESENT.
NO? ALL RIGHT.
ANY OTHER?
>> NO, CHAIR, THAT WAS THE
LAST REGISTERED SPEAKER.
>> OKAY, SORRY, ANTHONY.
YOU LOOKED TO BE ON THE LIST
BUT NOT PRESENT, SO WE WILL MOVE
ON.
PLEASE, IF SOMEHOW YOU CAN HEAR
US, BUT IT SAYS YOU'RE NOT
PRESENT, GO AHEAD AND SEND
YOUR COMMENT ONLINE AND ANYONE
CAN
DO THAT AS WELL.
SEND US YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS
ONLINE.
ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES.
I BELIEVE WE'VE REACHED THE END
OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE WILL MOVE ON -- SORRY.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW CLOSED OFFICIALLY.
WE'LL NOW PROCEED TO OUR
ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 1 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE 2025
FAMILIES,
EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE
LEVY, APROVING AN IMPLEMENTATION
AND EVALUATION PLAN
AS REQUIRED BY ORDINANCE 127238,
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN
PRIOR
ACTS.
FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
COLLEAGUES, AS I SAID
EARLIER, TODAY WE'RE GOING TO
BE
DOING TWO THINGS.
WE'LL BE HEARING AND VOTING ON
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL, AND
THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING
AND DISCUSSING THE 11
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
BROUGHT.
WE'LL BE VOTING ON THE
AMENDMENTS AT THE JULY 22nd
MEETING.
WE'RE JOINED BY OUR CENTRAL
STAFF, JASMINE MARWAHA,
AND TRACI RATZLIFF.
YOU'RE AT THE TABLE NOW.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR
NAME FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU
CAN BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THIS IS JASMINE MARWAHA ON
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> AND TRACI RATZLIFF ON COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I BELIEVE YOU CAN TALK, SPEAK
TO THE UNDERLYING --
SORRY. WE HAVE TO CONSULT WITH
THE
CLERK BECAUSE I WAS TOLD TWO
DIFFERENT THINGS.
OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE BILL
AND THEN YOU CAN SPEAK TO IT.
I MOVE TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF BILL 121240.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE
SUBSTITUTE. NOW WE'LL GO TO
TRACI AND
JASMINE.
THANK YOU FOR THE GRACE,
EVERYONE, IN CHAMBERS,
COLLEAGUES, AND ONLINE.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU HAVE
IN FRONT OF YOU A SUBSTITUTE
FOR THE INTRODUCED VERSION OF
121240.
THIS SUBSTITUTE MAKES
REALLY JUST TWO SUBSTANTIVE
CHANGES,
AND IT CORRECTS, FRANKLY,
ERRORS THAT CENTRAL STAFF MADE
IN TERMS
OF MAKING THE TRANSITION
FROM THE TRANSMITTED VERSION TO
THE DESIRED SUBSTITUTE IN FRONT
OF THE COUNCIL.
THE FIRST CHANGE WOULD BE
TO CORRECT THE DATE FOR THE
SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE VOUCHER --
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, VOUCHER PILOT
IMPLEMENTATION DATE TO 2026- 202
SCHOOL YEAR.
WE ERRONEOUSLY PUT THE
2028 SCHOOL YEAR IN THE
INTRODUCED
VERSION.
THE SECOND CHANGE WOULD BE
TO ADD IN FREQUENCY OF SERVICE,
AND THIS WOULD BE FOUND IN EACH
ONE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION
STANDARD TABLES ABOUT THE
FREQUENCY A
PROGRAM WOULD BE PROVIDED TO
THE TARGETED POPULATION, AND SO
WE ERRONEOUSLY HAD DELETED
THAT FROM THE VERSION THAT THE
COUNCILMEMBER WANTED
TO HAVE INCLUDED AND THAT THE
EXECUTIVEEXECUTIVE AND WE JUST
RE- ENTERED
THOSE FREQUENCY LINES IN
THE IMPLEMENTATION STANDARDS.
THE REST OF THE CHANGES,
AND THERE ARE A FEW HERE AND
THERE, ARE PURELY TECHNICAL
CHANGES, ING NUMBERINGS OF
TABLES
AND THAT IS THE SUBSTANCE
OF THOSE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, TRACI, AND
APOLOGIES. I THINK I SAID YOUR
LAST NAME.
IT'S RATZLIFF NOT RADCLIFFE.
DO COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TAKE THE
VOTE?
WAIT.
WAIT A SECOND.
APOLOGIES.
NOW I HAVE TO MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 121240
BY SUBSTITUTING ATTACHMENT
ONE VERSION TWO FOR ATTACHMENT
ONE VERSION THREE WHICH IS THE
VERSION THAT I BELIEVE
TRACI JUST SPOKE ABOUT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> NOW WE'LL GO TO ANY
QUESTIONS? OH, WAIT.
I NEED A SECOND.
WOW.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO SUBSTITUTE THE
ATTACHMENT.
ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE
TAKE THE
VOTE?
ALL RIGHT.
BEFORE WE TAKE THE VOTE, I'M
JUST GOING TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR THE PATIENCE THIS MORNING
WITH THE BACK AND FORTH.
THERE WERE DIFFERENT VERSIONS
AND WE WERE TRYING TO GET
THE RIGHT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS,
AND
SO MY APOLOGIES.
THROUGH FOR STICKING WITH ME ON
THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S TAKE THE VOTE, CLERK,
PLEASE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> VICE- CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE EIGHT IN
FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND
SUBSTITUTE ATTACHMENT
ONE VERSION THREE IS ADOPTED.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW THAT WE'VE VOTED ON
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL, CENTRAL
STAFF WILL INTRODUCE THE
AMENDMENTS
ONE BY ONE AND I'LL
RECOGNIZE THE SPONSOR TO ADDRESS
THEIR
AMENDMENT. I'LL TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS AND
THEN WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT
AMENDMENT, AND WE WILL BE TAKING
A VOTE,
COLLEAGUES, NEXT WEEK ON
ALL THESE AMENDMENTS, SO THIS IS
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION
TODAY
ON THE AMENDMENTS.
I WILL SAY IT IS MY INTENT TO
MOVE A CHAIR'S PACKAGE WITH THE
BULK, AS MANY OF THESE AS
I THINK THERE'S BROAD SUPPORT
FOR, AND THEN -- SO WE'LL
MOVE THAT AS A CHAIR'S PACKAGE,
AND
THEN ANY THAT, YOU KNOW -- ANY
THAT
SHOULD NOT BE IN THE CHAIR'S
PACKAGE, WE'LL TAKE
INDIVIDUALLY NEXT TIME.
BUT I THINK THAT WILL
STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AS WELL.
BACK UP TO, TRACI AND JASMINE.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, MOVING TO
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1, THE
SPONSOR IS COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
AND THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DIRECT
THE FORMATION OF
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM THAT
INCLUDES
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND EARLY LEARNING.
AND THE OTHER KEY
DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES
FUNDED BY THE FAMILIES,
EDUCATION AND PROMISE LEVY, THE
INTENT IS JUST TO ENSURE
AN ALIGNMENT WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE LEVY AND
THAT ALL OF
THE DEPARTMENTS ARE
COORDINATING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FUNDED
BY
THE FEPP LEVY.
>> THANK YOU, TRACI.
I'LL ADDRESS THIS,
COLLEAGUES, SINCE IT'S THE
AMENDMENT I'M BRINGING FORWARD.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN
THE LEVY THAT WE'VE HAD
INVESTMENTS IN THE LEVY THAT ARE
USUALLY AND
ARE CARRIED OUT BY OTHER
DEPARTMENTS LIKE HSD AND
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND OSC,
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS TO ENSURE A
FORMAL
PROCESS BY WHICH DEPARTMENTS ARE
GOING TO COLLABORATE AS THEY
IMPLEMENT THESE PROGRAMS
UNDER THE FEPP LEVY THAT THEY
CONFORM
TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE LEVY AND
DO WHAT THE VOTERS SAID
WE'RE GOING TO DO AND ALSO TO
ENSURE
THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE WORKING
TOGETHER ON ANY CROSS
POLLINATION.
ACROSS ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, SO
IT'S REALLY TO ENSURE THAT
WE ARE COORDINATED AND EVERYONE
IS WORKING TOGETHER AND WE ARE
EACH
DEPARTMENT HAS INSIGHT
AND WEIGHS INTO EACH OTHER'S
INVESTMENTS SO WE'RE
NOT DUPLICATING EFFORTS THAT ARE
NOT
COORDINATED. AND THIS IS REALLY
IN THE
BEST INTERESTS OF ALL THE KIDS
AND FAMILIES THAT ARE BEING
SERVED
BY THE LEVY.
THAT IS THE POINT OF THIS IDT.
IT'S NOT JUST TO ENSURE THAT
IT CONFORMS TO THE LEVY BUT THAT
THEY'RE ALSO REALLY
WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT
WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING EFFORTS,
AND THAT ALL THE INVESTMENTS
ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED IN THE
BEST
WAY POSSIBLE WITH
THAT COORDINATION PIECE TOGETHER
IN
MIND.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES.
IF NOT, WE'LL GO TO AMENDMENT
2.
SO LET ME SEE HERE, I DON'T
SEE ANY HANDS RAISED, SO WHY
DON'T
WE GO TO AMENDMENT 2.
>> AMENDMENT 2, TO ADD
STRATEGY GOALS TO CLOSE
OPPORTUNITY GAPS.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ADD
STRATEGY GOALS OF EACH OF THE
THREE DOMAINS TO REFLECT
THE GOAL TO CLOSE OPPORTUNITY
GAPS FOR POPULATIONS IN EACH
STRATEGY.
THE FEPP LEVY ORDINANCE
STATES THAT AN IMPLEMENTATION IS
TO ACHIEVE
EDUCATIONAL EQUITY. THE
EVALUATION FRAMEWORK IN
THE PLAN FURTHER INCLUDES
THE QUESTION TO WHAT EXTENT AND
IN
WHAT WAYS DO FEPP INVESTMENTS
IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY,
CLOSE OPPORTUNITY GAPS, AND
BUILD A BETTER ECONOMIC
FUTURE FOR SEATTLE, CHILDREN AND
YOUTH.
THE IED PLAN PROVIDES FOR
ROBUST PROCESS TO ENSURE
CONTINUOUS
QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS OF
INVESTMENTS WITH
REPORTING INDICATORS BY
DEMOGRAPHIC
CHARACTERISTICS.
SO THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
REFLECT THE DESIRE TO MEASURE
THE SUCCESS OF THE LEVY IN PART
BY CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS FOR
THOSE FURTHEST FROM LEVY
GOALS, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH
THE FEPP LEVY ORDINANCE AND
OTHER AREAS OF THE PLAN.
>> THANK YOU, JASMINE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK IS THE
SPONSOR.
I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU TO ADDRESS
YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR
RIVERA.
COLLEAGUES, THE OPPORTUNITY
GAP IS THE WAY THAT
UNCONTROLLABLE LIFE FACTORS SUCH
AS RACE,
LANGUAGE, ECONOMIC POSITION AND
FAMILY
SITUATIONS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
LOWER RATES, CAREER PROSPECTS
OR OTHER LIFE ASPIRATIONS.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US
TO EXPLICITLY STATE THAT
CLOSING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP IS
ONE
OF OUR STRATEGY GOALS AND
SOMETHINGSOMETHING
WE'RE GOING TO
EVALUATE LEVY SUCCESS ON.
SO AS CENTRAL STAFF
IDENTIFIED IN THEIR MEMO IN THE
PRESENTATION OF OUR LAST
MEETING THIS AMENDMENT REFLECTS
THE
DESIRE FOR THE INE PLAN
TO PROVIDE CLEAR CONSISTENCY
WITH
THE FEPP LEVY ORDINANCE AND
TO FRAME THE CLOSING OF
THE OPPORTUNITY GAP AS A MEASURE
OF SUCCESS FOR THIS LEVY.
SO YOU CAN ALSO SEE
THAT REFLECTED IN THE TABLES
IN AMENDMENT 2 THAT THIS WOULD
ADD OPPORTUNITY GAPS ARE CLOSED
FOR POPULATIONS FURTHEST FROM
GOALS AS A PART OF THE FEPP
LEVY STRATEGY GOALS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
COAL COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
I DON'T SEE ANY RAISED HANDS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, BECAUSE
I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
THIS, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, THERE
IS
LANGUAGE WITHIN THE BODY
INE THAT TALKS ABOUT CLOSING OF
GAPS FOR KIDS.
I APPRECIATE YOU WANT TO PUT
IT ON THE TABLE THAT IT IS
SO IMPORTANT TO ADD IT TO AS
MANY PLACES AS POSSIBLE.
I ALSO KNOW THE
DEPARTMENT WORKED SO HARD ON
THIS ISSUE
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE IT
UNSAID
THERE ARE VARIOUS PARTS IN THE
I&E ITSELF THAT TALKS ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF
CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS AND,
IN GENERAL, IT TALKS ABOUT
ASSISTING THE KIDS THAT
ARE FURTHEST FROM EDUCATIONAL
GOALS, ET CETERA.
SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT AS
WELL.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
AND THANK YOU, JASMINE AND
TRACI.
WE'LL GO TO AMENDMENT 3.
>> AMENDMENT 3
WOULD REQUEST DEEL TO REPORT TO
THE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON
THE SEATTLE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAMS, MIXED DELIVERY RATES,
ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE
OR
PROVIDERS, PROVIDER
DEMOGRAPHICS, ADMINISTRATIVE
BARRIERS, IDENTIFIED BY
PARTICIPATING FCC INCLUSION AND
SPP.
THE FEPP LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
HAVING EXPERIENCE IN CHILD CARE
SHOULD
INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO EXPERIENCE IN FAMILY CHILD
CARE.
THE INTENT OF THIS AMENDMENT
IS TO PROVIDE GREATER OVERSIGHT
ON INCLUSION AND FEPP LEVY
INVESTMENTS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO
YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CARE.
AND COLLEAGUE S, I JUST WANT TO
UPLIFT THE INCREDIBLE
IMPORTANCE OF OUR FAMILY CHILD
CARE
PROVIDERS.
THEY ARE OUR OFTEN ABLE TO
PROVIDE CULTURALLY RELEVANT
SERVICES TO OUR
DIVERSE COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY
IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE.
THEY ARE OFTEN ABLE TO PROVIDE
IN LANGUAGE CHILD CARE, AND
I'M THANKFUL FOR DEEL FOR
ALREADY
PROVIDING A MIXED DELIVERY
MODEL FOR OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.
IT'S GREAT TO PROVIDE OPTIONS
TO OUR FAMILIES, YOU KNOW,
WHETHER THAT IS IN SEATTLE
SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT IS IN SOME
OF
OUR LARGER PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS,
BUT
I JUST WANT YOU TO CONTINUE
TO EXPLORE AND ENCOURAGE
OUR PLACEMENT OF OUR PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM WITH OUR FAMILY CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS, AGAIN, TO GIVE
FAMILIES OPTIONS AND
FLEXIBILITY TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
AND
SO, WITH THAT, I WOULD LOVE YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LIN, FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS
AMENDMENT. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I'LL JUST SHARE THAT THIS
ISSUE IS DEEPLY PERSONAL FOR
MEME
MY FAMILY, AND MANY OF MY
NEIGHBORS IN THE DELRIDGE
COMMUNITY IN
WEST SEATTLE WHERE I LIVE.
WHEN MY OWN CHILDREN WERE
YOUNGER, THEY ATTENDED
A CHILD CARE PROGRAM RUN BY
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE PROVIDERS
WHERE
I SAW FIRSTHAND THE INCREDIBLE
CARE, CULTURAL CONNECTION, AND
STABILITY FAMILY CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS OFFER TO SEATTLE
FAMILIES.
MY OFFICE HAS SPENTSPENT TIME, A
LOT OF TIME, MEETING WITH
FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS,
INCLUDING
VOICES OF AMERICA -- OR
VOICES OF TOMORROW.
SHOUTOUT TO MENZIBA,
WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER, TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BARRIERS
THAT THEY AND OTHER IMMIGRANT
AND
REFUGEE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
FACE AND PARTICIPATING IN THE
SEATTLE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.
ONE MESSAGE CAME THROUGH
LOUD AND CLEAR IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS.
FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
WANT TO BE PARTNERS IN
DELIVERING
HIGH- QUALITY, EARLY LEARNING
SERVICES.
THEY ALSO WANT TRANSPARENCY AND
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF
WHERE THEY'RE SUCCEEDING AND
WHERE BARRIERS STILL EXIST.
THIS AMENDMENT RESPONDS
DIRECTLY TO THAT FEEDBACK.
I BELIEVE BY REQUIRING
ANNUAL REPORTING ON MIXED
DELIVERY
PLACEMENT RATES, RECRUITMENT
OF FAMILY CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS, PROVIDING -- PROVIDER
DEMOGRAPHICS, RATHER,
THE ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS
AND PROGRESS TOWARD GREATER
INCLUSION, THIS
AMENDMENT CREATES THE KIND OF
ACCOUNTABILITY THAT
COMPLEMENTS OUR BROADER EARLY
LEARNING
SYSTEM.
SO LOVE THE AMENDMENT.
FRANKLY, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
FOR THOSE REASONS I ACTUALLY
ASK TO CO- SPONSOR THIS
AMENDMENT
ALONGSIDE COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR
COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE
AND PROUD TO SUPPORT IT
ALONGSIDE OF HIM.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN, ARE YOU
FINE WITH A COSIGNER?
>> WELL SAID, BETTER SAID THAN
I
DID. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS
AN OPPORTUNITY IF YOU WANT TO
CO- SPONSOR ANY AMENDMENTS TO
LET OUR CENTRAL STAFF KNOW,
SINCE WE
ARE IN A PUBLIC FORUM AND WE'RE
NOT TAKING VOTES TODAY, WE CAN
HAVE, I BELIEVE, UP TO FOUR
CO- SPONSORS PER AMENDMENT.
AS WAS DELINEATED YESTERDAY
OR THE DAY BEFORE WHEN WE
WERE DOING THE TRANSIT MEASURE.
SO IF YOU WANT TO CO-
SPONSOR, PLEASE DO SAY SO.
LET'S SEE, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, I SEE YOUR HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA.
I JUST HAVE A BRIEF COMMENT
ON THIS AMENDMENT AND THEN
A QUESTION FOR YOU JUST IN
TERMS OF PROCESS.
BUT TO START WITH MY COMMENT ON
THIS AMENDMENT, I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER LIN FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND
REITERATING
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILD CARE
SERVING
IMMIGRANT REFUGEE
AND MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITIES
SERVED
BY FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.
THIS REPORT ON INCLUSION ON
SPP AND UNDERSTANDING
ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS IS SO
CRUCIAL.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
A QUESTION TO THE CHAIR JUST
RELATED TO PROCESS.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS
YOU JUST MADE RELATED TO, YOU
KNOW,
THIS BEING AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR SPONSORSHIP --
CO-SPONSORSHIP.
A QUESTION, SINCE YOU
MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THIS
MEETING, YOU'LL BE DEVELOPING A
CHAIR'S PACKAGE AND INCLUDING
THINGS
IN THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE THAT
HAVE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT.
ARE YOU BASING THAT
SUPPORT BASED ON
CO-SPONSORSHIPS?
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
HOW TO ENGAGE IN TODAY'S
MEETING TO HELP INFORM THE
CHAIR'S
PACKAGE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
NO, IT'S NOT DEPENDENT
ON EVERYONE HAVING TO CO-
SPONSOR TODAY SINCE ONLY FOUR
PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO CO-
SPONSOR
ANYWAY, BUT MORE CENTRAL STAFF
WILL CHECK IN WITH ME AND
WE'LL FIGURE OUT BETWEEN ALL OF
US WHAT THINGS WE THINK HAVE
THE MOST SUPPORT AND THAT
MAKES SENSE TO PUT IN A CHAIR'S
PACKAGE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT
POINT.
I WILL ASK TO BE A CO-SPONSOR ON
THIS AND WOULD ASK
THE SPONSOR IF HE IS WILLING TO
ACCEPT THE
CO-SPONSORSHIP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
>> OF COURSE, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, IS THAT
A NEW HAND OR AN OLD HAND?
>> A STALE HAND.
THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE?
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER HANDS UP.
COLLEAGUES, I'LL JUST SAY,
LIKE THE LAST AMENDMENT, I
APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER
LIN'S AMENDMENT TO RAISE UP THE
VOICE. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT
THE DEPARTMENT ALREADY WORKS
WITH
FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND
THEY ARE PART OF THE SPP
PROGRAM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF IT AND WANTING TO
UPLIFT THE VOICES AND ALSO
TO GET MORE INFORMATION.
I CERTAINLY SUPPORT REPORTS
AND MORE INFORMATION AND DATA
BY WHICH TO MAKE FUTURE
DECISIONS, SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE
YOU BRINGING
THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD AS WELL,
AND I WOULD LIKE TO
CO-SPONSOR THIS.
I'LL JUST SAY IT OUT LOUD.
I'M THE CHAIR, BUT I JUST
WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I
REALLY SUPPORT THIS.
SO, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LIN.
CENTRAL STAFF, AMENDMENT NUMBER
4.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER 4.
THIS IS CO- SPONSORED, I SHOULD
HAVE MENTIONED THE SPONSORS
EARLIER.
SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS FOSTER AND
HOLLINGSWORTH.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE
THAT PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE SPP WAIT
LIST VOUCHER PROGRAM THE DEEL
EXAMINING
SPP WAITLESS TRENDS DESCRIBING
HOW THE SPP VOUCHER
WAITLESS PRIORITIZATION ADVANCES
LEVY GOALS TO CLOSE THE
OPPORTUNITY GAP FOR THOSE
FURTHEST
FROM KINDERGARTEN READINESS
AND REFLECTING ENGAGEMENT
OF STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS
FAMILIES, INSTITUTIONAL
PROVIDERS AND
FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.
AFTER DEVELOPMENT IN THE YEAR
2026- 2027, ACCORDING TO THIS
AMENDMENT, THE PROGRAM WOULD BE
IMPLEMENTED IN THE '27- 28
SCHOOL
YEAR.
THE $927,710 THAT WAS
PROPOSED TO BE SPENT FOR THE
VOUCHER PILOT TOWARDS FUNDING
INSTEAD FOOD ASSISTANCE TO LOW-
INCOME
K- 12 STUDENTS OVER WEEKENDS
AND SCHOOL BREAKS EXCLUDING
SUMMER.
>> THANK YOU, JASMINE.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER IS THE
SPONSOR.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR,
AND THANK YOU, CENTRAL STAFF.
I'LL SPEAK TO THE INTENT OF
THIS
AMENDMENT NOW AND THEN THE
FUNDING COMPONENT.
I'LL SPEAK TO A LITTLE BIT
LATER
WHEN WE DISCUSS AMENDMENT 6.
SO WITH THIS AMENDMENT IN
PARTICULAR THIS IS IN
RESPONSE TO A DESIRE TO ENSURE
AS WE
EMBARK ON THIS NEW SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM WAIT
LIST VOUCHER PILOT THAT WE'RE
DOING
SO IN A WAY THAT IS GOING TO
BE EQUITABLE IN REACHING
THE FAMILIES WHO NEED IT THE
MOST OVER THE TELL RM OF
THE LEVY. IT WAS WRITTEN TO
PRIORITIZE
COUNCIL DISTRICTS
WHERE THERE ARE MORE THAN TEN
SEATTLESEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROVIDERS WITH
DEEL- MANAGED WAIT LISTS TO
BE THE PRIORITY FOR INVESTMENTS.
AND SO THIS AMENDMENT IN
TERMS OF ITS CHANGE HERE IS
SAYING THAT THIS MAY INCLUDE BUT
MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO THAT.
TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ENSURE THAT AS THE SPP
VOUCHER WAIT LIST PROGRAM IS
IMPLEMENTED
THAT WE ARE TAKING AN
APPROACH THAT ENSURES WE ARE
PRIORITIZING EQUITY AND THE
DELIVERY
AND INCLUDING OTHER
DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS THAT WE
THINK ABOUT WHO
HAS ACCESS TO THE SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.
SO THAT IS THE INTENT
BEHIND THIS AMENDMENT, AND
GIVING
THE DEPARTMENT ANOTHER YEAR TO
PUT TOGETHER THE PROGRAM IN SUCH
A WAY WE CAN FEEL CERTAIN THAT
OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE
PROGRAM WE'LL BE SERVING THE
FAMILIES WHO NEED ACCESS TO IT
MOST.
THE SECOND COMPONENT OF
THIS AMENDMENT IS THE FUNDING
INVESTMENT, AND I'LL HOLD MY
COMMENTS ON THAT
UNTIL WE GET TO
AMENDMENT 6. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES?
I DON'T ANY.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
QUESTION FOR CENTRAL STAFF HERE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW AMENDMENT
4 WILL CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION
TIME LINE FOR THE SPP WAIT
LIST VOUCHER PILOT COMPARED TO
THE
UNDERLYING IMPLEMENTATION
PLANPLAN SPECIFICALLY WHETHER
IT CREATES ANY NEW
ADMINISTRATIVE
PREREQUISITES
OR ADMINISTRATIVE
BURDEN BEFORE FUNDS CAN BE
DISTRIBUTED?
>> ONE COULD ARGUE THAT
THIS CREATES SOME ADMINISTRATIVE
--
SOME ADMINISTRATION FOR
THE DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP THE
REPORTREPORT REQUIRED IN THIS
PLAN.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS
LIMITED ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN
AS CONCEIVED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE
IT
ESSENTIALLY WILL ALLOW
FOR FAMILIES TO CHOOSE
CCAP PROVIDERS IF THEY QUALIFY
FOR THIS VOUCHER PROGRAM, AND
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM DEEL IS
THAT THEY HAD INTENTIONALLY
DESIGNED THE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO
BE
LESS ADMINISTRATIVELY
BURDENSOME.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
FOLLOW-UP
HERE. DOES THE IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN ALREADY INCLUDE REPORTING
OR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
RELATED
TO THE VOUCHER PILOT?
AND, IF SO, WHAT
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION WOULD THIS AMENDMENT
REQUIRE?
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY
SPECIFIC
ENGAGEMENT REGARDING THE
VOUCHER PILOT.
I BELIEVE THERE IS A SUMMARY
OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT THAT
IS ATTACHED TO THE ORDINANCE,
WHICH I HAVE NOT COMMITTED TO
MEMORY, SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE.
I CAN LOOK THAT UP AND GET BACK
TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK THE
AMENDMENT SPONSORS FOR
PUTTING THIS FORWARD.
I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
PURPORT TO REDIRECT VITAL KEY
VOUCHER PILOT FUNDING AND ONE
COMMUNITY PRIORITY.
I'M CONCERNED IT RISKS
PITTING ONE IMPORTANT COMMUNITY
PRIORITY AGAINST ANOTHER, AND --
BUT I
APPRECIATE THE INTENT HERE.
AND I'LL RESERVE OTHER COMMENTS
FOR NOW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR, AND
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
I JUST WANT TO ASK CENTRAL
STAFF, AGAIN, IF WE
COULD REITERATE THIS COMPONENT
OF
THE VOUCHER WAIT LIST
PILOT PROGRAM AS SORT OF A
SEPARATE INDEPENDENT PROJECT.
CAN WE SPEAK TO WHY IT WAS
THAT COUNCIL DISTRICTS
WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE PRIMARY
WAY
TO -- AS WRITTEN WITHOUT THE
AMENDMENT, THE SOLE WAY TO
MAKE THIS DESIGNATION AND
WHAT INFORMATION WE HAVE ABOUT
WHAT THAT WILL MEAN FOR EQUITY
AND
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE PILOT
PROGRAM DOLLARS?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING FROM DEEL IS
THAT, AGAIN, DISTRICT
LEVEL PRIORITIZATION WAS CHOSEN
FOR EASE OF ADMINISTRATION.
THEY HAD CONSIDERED SMALLER
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS OR OTHER
WAYS, BUT ULTIMATELY
DECIDED ON THE COUNCIL DISTRICT
PRIORITIZATION. I'M NOT SURE --
THEY
DIDN'T NECESSARILY -- I'M NOT
SURE
WHAT CONSIDERATION OF EQUITY
WAS CONSIDERED IN
THE
PRIORITIZATION. I JUST CAN'T
SPEAK TO THAT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
FEATURE IN PARTICULAR I
ABSOLUTELY
LOVE, AND IF THE AMENDMENT
JUST INCLUDED THAT FEATURE MORE
SPECIFICALLY ON PAGE 2 OF THE
FIVE- PAGER OF THIS AMENDMENT,
THAT SORT OF THIRD FULL
PARAGRAPH, RED
LINE VERSION BEGINNING WITH
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE SPP WAIT LIST VOUCHER
PROGRAM
MAY INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO
-- IF IT WAS JUST
THAT CLARIFICATION LANGUAGE,
100% WOULD SUPPORT, WOULD NOT
HAVE
ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
BUT I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS
FOR THE OTHER SUBSTANTIVE
CHANGES.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE, AGAIN, THE
INTENT BEHIND THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
I'D LIKE TO SAY A
COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THIS
JUST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH THE
DEPARTMENT FOR SO MANY YEARS,
AND I
KNOW THEIR SPP PROGRAM IS AN
AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM AND
THEY WORK SO HARD ON THIS
PROGRAM. SO WHEN THEY WERE GIVEN
THIS TASK TO DO WHAT THEY
NORMALLY
DON'T DO, WHICH IS THIS VOUCHER
PROGRAM, I KNOW THAT THEY
WERE VERY THOUGHTFUL WITH HOW
THEY WOULD IMPLEMENT THAT, THIS
PROGRAM, AND THEY WANTED
TO IMPLEMENT IT THIS YEAR
BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE IS A
NEED, THERE IS A WAIT LIST IN
SOME
DISTRICTS MORE THAN OTHERS FOR
THE SPP
PROGRAM.
SO THAT IS TO SAY
SOMETIMES PEOPLE WANT A
PRESCHOOL
NEAR WHERE THEY LIVE AND OTHERS
WHERE
THEY WORK, DEPENDING ON
LOCATION, LIKE
WHAT'S ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEIR
FAMILIES.
SO THERE'S SOME WAIT LISTS
IN SOME AREAS OF THE CITY AND
NOT
OTHERS.
AND THIS PROGRAM IS A LITTLE
BIT UNIVERSAL IN ITS INTENT
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE
SPOTS AVAILABLE AND NO ONE IS
USING
THEM, THEN WE OFFER THEM
TO FOLKS ON A SLIDING SCALE.
SO SOME PEOPLE ARE PAYING
MORE THAN OTHERS FOR THE PROGRAM
IF SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE.
SO I KNOW ALL OF THAT WENT
INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THE
DEPARTMENT DEVELOPED THEIR
INITIAL PROPOSAL WHICH, OF
COURSE, AS IT STATES IN THE
I&E, THEY'RE GOING TO DEVELOP
THE
PROPOSAL THIS YEAR.
THEY'RE PROBABLY DOING THAT
AS WE SPEAK IN PREPARATION FOR
THE
FALL SO THEY CAN START IT ON
THE FALL.
SO I DON'T THINK THE COUNCIL
DISTRICT CONVERSATION WAS TO
UPLIFT ANY ONE COUNCIL
DISTRICT OR ANOTHER.
THEY WERE LOOKING AT WHERE ARE
THERE WAIT LISTS AND
WHERE AREN'T THERE WAIT LISTS
AND WHICH COUNCIL DISTRICTS
ARE AREAS OF THE CITY.
IT'S MORE AREAS OF THE
CITY WHERE THERE MIGHT BE --
THERE ISN'T REALLY A NEED
BECAUSE
THERE ARE EMPTY SPOTS THAT
THEY'RE OFFERING TO, YOU
KNOW, THE PUBLIC AT LARGE VERSUS
THEIR PRIORITY IS THEY
PRIORITIZE
FAMILIES WHO NEED THIS THE MOST.
THAT IS HOW THEY PRIORITIZE
THE PROGRAM IN GENERAL.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY ALL THAT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR
FOCUS, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, BUT
I --
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT YOU
ALL HAVE THE
INFORMATION, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
WORKING
WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR SO LONG,
I HAVE SOME INFORMATION MAYBE
YOU
HAVE, MAYBE YOU DON'T.
I DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST
YOU'RE NOT WELL INFORMED, BUT I
DO KNOW
THAT WITH THIS PARTICULAR
PROGRAM, I KNOW ALL
THESE ASPECTS BECAUSE I'VE HAD
SIMILAR QUESTIONS OVER THE
YEARS,
SO THAT'S WHY I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD
AND HAVING THE CONVERSATION,
IF NOTHING ELSE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, FOR ALLOWING US THAT
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THEN IT
GIVES
THE PUBLIC THE INFORMATION, TOO,
THEY
MAY NOT HAVE AND THEY MAY NOT
KNOW ASPECTS OF THE SPP BECAUSE
WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THE FINE
DETAILS OF THESE PROGRAMS.
SO THANK YOU.
BACK TO YOU, AMENDMENT 5.
>> MOVING TO AMENDMENT
5 SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DIRECT
THE DEPARTMENT -- THE DIRECTOR
OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY
LEARNING AND EDUCATION AND
LEARNING
TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK FROM
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE
LEADERSHIP
OF SEATTLE CHARTER
SCHOOLS REGARDING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF
THE K-12 INVESTMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, TRACI.
THIS JUST UPLIFTS IN THE
WAY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS,
YOU BROUGHT YOUR AMENDMENTS TO
UPLIFT THINGS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT, AS THE K- 12
INVESTMENTS
ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED, WE HAVE
FEEDBACK FROM THE
SUPERINTENDENT AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND THE CHARTER SCHOOLS BECAUSE
WE MAKE INVESTMENTS AT THE
CHARTER
SCHOOLS, TOO, SO THE
LEADERSHIP AT THOSE PUBLIC
CHARTER
SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
ALL
ALIGNED, MORE CONVERSATION
AMONGST US IS IMPORTANT.
OF COURSE THESE ARE
INVESTMENTS NOT TO SUPPLANT
ANYTHING THE
DISTRICT IS DOING AND THEY
DON'T GET THE FINAL SAY,
OBVIOUSLY, BUT THERE SHOULD BE
FEEDBACK BEING CONSIDERED SINCE
WE
SERVE THE SAME EXACT KIDS.
WE REALLY SHOULD STAY CONNECTED
AND FOCUSED AND ALIGNED, AND
THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO
UPLIFT BY THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA,
AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
AMENDMENT FORWARD.
I'M ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF
IMPROVED COLLABORATION BETWEEN
DIFFERENT
INSTITUTIONS, PARTICULARLY
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SHARED
GOALS OF
SUPPORTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. MY QUESTION IS MORE
JUST A POINT
OF CURIOSITY JUST AROUND
OUR CURRENT PRACTICES
AROUND ENGAGEMENT WITH CHARTER
SCHOOLS.
I KNOW WE AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT
HAVE A NUMBER OF TOUCH
POINTS WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS,
BUT I'M WONDERING WHETHER
YOU, CENTRAL STAFF, OR MAYBE
THIS IS
A QUESTION FOR DEEL ABOUT
OUR CURRENT CADENCE OF
ENGAGEMENT WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS.
>> WE DON'T -- I DON'T HAVE
THAT
INFORMATION, BUT I CAN
DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP WITH
THE DEPARTMENT AND GET BACK TO
YOU.
>> AND I CAN -- THANK YOU,
JASMINE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, IT'S
MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
THE DEPARTMENT STAYS IN TOUCH
WITH ALL OF THESE ENTITIES.
THIS IS REALLY MORE TO CODIFY
AND UPLIFT SOMETHING THAT
THE DEPARTMENT ALREADY DOES
BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE PUBLIC
DOESN'T ALWAYS
KNOW HOW -- THE PUBLIC
DOESN'T READILY KNOW HOW THE
DEPARTMENT
ENGAGES WITH THESE AGENCIES.
THEY WORK WITH THE
LEADERSHIP AND THE SPS
SUPERINTENDENT
AND PRINCIPALS AND THIS WAS MORE
TO
UPLIFT AND CODIFY SOMETHING
THEY
DO. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT
ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
WE CAN GET YOU MORE
INFORMATION IF IT DOESN'T.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO AMENDMENT 6.
>> AMENDMENT 6 SPONSORED
BY HOLLINGSWORTH AND FOSTER.
THIS WOULD ADD $500,000 FOR A
TOTAL OF $3 MILLION OVER THE
SIX- YEAR LEVY PERIOD TO
PROVIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE TO LOW-
INCOME STUDENTS WEEKENDS AND
SCHOOL BREAKS EXCLUDING SUMMER.
THIS ASSISTANCE COULD
BE PROVIDED THROUGH
VOUCHERS DISTRIBUTED BY SCHOOL
PERSONNEL TO FAMILIES IDENTIFIED
IN NEED
OF
SUCH ASSISTANCE. THIS PROGRAM
WOULD BE FUNDED BY
DELAYING THE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL
PROGRAM, MEALS PROGRAM, UNTIL
THE '27- 28 SCHOOL YEAR
FREEING UP THE $3 MILLION TO
SUPPORT
THE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THIS WOULD LEAVE $4. 7 MILLION
TO
BE USED TO FUND THE SCHOOL MEALS
PROGRAM IN THE '27- 28 SCHOOL
YEAR.
CURRENTLY THERE IS A LEGAL
CHALLENGE AND POTENTIAL
BALLOT MEASURE THAT THREATENS
THE
MILLIONAIRE'S TAX, THE
ONGOING FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS
PROPOSED PROGRAM AFTER THE
IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE CITY'S
FUNDS.
A ONE- YEAR DELAY IN
IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM
PROVIDES TIME TO
SEE IF THE LONG- TERM
VIABILITY OF ITS FUNDING SOURCE
IS AT
RISK.
>> THANK YOU, TRACI.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE-
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU, CHAIR
RIVERA.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK
THE PEOPLE -- I KNOW A LOT OF
THEM LEFT -- BUT THANK YOU
TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO ADVOCATE
FOR UNIVERSAL MEALS ACROSS THE
CITY.
WE ARE COMPLETELY ALIGN,
LIKE THEY SAY ON THE STREET, TEN
TOES DOWN ALIGNMENT.
I WANT TO KIND OF GROUND US A
LITTLE BIT BECAUSE
UNDERSTANDING, AND I THINK
SOME COMMENTERS SPOKE ABOUT
PEOPLE ON
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH AND
HAVING WEEKEND MEALS AND
BREAK MEALS IN SUMMER AND HOW
THEY REALLY RELIED ON
THAT. MY MOTHER WORKED AT THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A SUB FOR 10
TO
12 YEARS AND HER JOB
SPECIFICALLY WAS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE
KIDSKIDS NEEDED FOOD OVER
THE WEEKEND HAD THAT BAG OF
GROCERIES TO TAKE HOME.
THAT WAS HER
THING.
AND IF A CHILD NEEDED IT, SHE
WOULD COME OUT OF HER
POCKET ALL THE TIME TO MAKE SURE
THEY WERE
FED, SO THAT WAS -- THAT
WAS ALL
THE TIME. THAT'S THE TYPE OF
FOOD
ACCESS THAT I KNOW, AND THEN,
ALSO, EXPERIENCE WORKING AT
DIFFERENT FOOD DISTRIBUTORS
THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC, JUMPING ON FORK LIFTS,
GOING AT
5:00 A.M. TO PICK UP FOOD AROUND
THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAD
FOOD
ACCESS.
SO I KNOW THAT THIS IS A
LITTLE SPICY AND I'M GOING TO
GO
AHEAD AND WALK THROUGH THIS SO
PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHERE THE INTENTION
IS AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO LISTEN
TO PEOPLE ENGAGE.
I DON'T WANT TO -- I JUST WANT
TO SAY FOOD ACCESS WAS
MY NUMBER- ONE PRIRTD ORITY ON
COUNCIL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT.
THE QUESTION BEFORE US ISN'T --
IT'S HOW WE GET
THAT STRATEGICALLY AND A
UNIVERSAL MEAL PROGRAM PAIRED
WITH
A PROGRAM THAT CAN SUPPLEMENT
FOOD INSECURITY FOR
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FOR WINTER,
MID
WINTER AND SPRING BREAKS
AND POTENTIALLY WEEKEND MEALS,
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE THE
PROGRAMPROGRAM START --
UNIVERSAL MEAL
PROGRAM TO START IN 2027-2028.
THAT FUNDING BUDGETED FROM THE
BUDGET THAT CAME FROM THE
2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR WOULD
NOT GO BACK INTO THE RESERVE.
IT WOULD BE REDIRECTED TO
CLOSE THE GAP FOR WEEKEND AND
SCHOOL
BREAK MEALS.
18,000 KIDS QUALIFY FOR FREE
AND REDUCED LUNCH SCHOOL MEALS
EVERY DAY.
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE HAS 26. 5%
FOOD INSECURITY RATE, ROUGHLY
ONE
IN FOUR HOUSEHOLD STRUGGLES
TO CONSISTENTLY ACCESS FOOD.
THREE OUT OF EVERY FOUR
SCHOOLS CURRENTLY PROVIDING
UNIVERSAL MEALS RIGHT NOW, WHICH
I
KNOW SOME OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS TALKED ABOUT FROM THE
SCHOOLS
WHETHER IT WAS FRANKLIN, HEARD
A LOT OF THOSE, ARE IN SOUTH
SEATTLE, SOUTHEAST SEATTLE,
CENTRAL DISTRICT,
DELRIDGE, SOUTH PARK AND PARTS
OF
WEST SEATTLE.
FOOD INSECURITY IS LINKED TO
GUN
VIOLENCE. THE OTHELLO SAFEWAY
HAS
THE HIGHEST REDEMPTION FOR
S.N.A.P.
BENEFITS AND FRESH BUCKS IN THE
ENTIRE STATE OF WASHINGTON
THAT IS RIGHT HERE IN THE 91181
ZIP
CODE. THE FOOD PROGRAM AND
PANTRY
IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE, THE ONLY
FOOD BANK THAT CAN RECEIVE
TFAP DOLLARS FOR FEDERAL FUNDING
IN THE ZIP CODE.
THAT FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTES 25%
OF ALL FOOD BANK VISITS IN THE
ENTIRE CITY, THAT ONE FOOD BANK.
SEATTLE SERVES
CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER
WITHOUT REQUIRING REGISTRATION,
I.D.
I UNDERSTAND THE ACCESS DURING
THE PANDEMIC.
FOOD BANKS WERE REQUIRING A
PROOF OF ADDRESS, AND THAT WAS A
BARRIER, AND THAT GOT RID
OF THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC
WHERE PEOPLE JUST SAID, ZIP CODE
AND HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE
HOUSEHOLD TO GET FOOD.
AND SOME OF THOSE PROVISIONS
ARE NOT THERE ANYMORE.
I UNDERSTAND ABOUT
BARRIERS FILLING OUT PAPERWORK,
MAKING
SURE THAT PEOPLE, SOME OF
THOSE LARGE CLIFFS PEOPLE HAVE
AND THE
STIGMA, OKAY, WHEN PEOPLE --
WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
FOOD BANKS AND STANDING OUTSIDE
AND
NOT WANTING PEOPLE TO SEE THEM
STANDING IN LINE TO RECEIVE
FOOD.
I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND I THINK MANY OF THE
HIGHEST NEED SCHOOLS ARE RIGHT
NOW RECEIVING UNIVERSAL
MEALS BECAUSE THEY QUALIFY UNDER
A COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY
PROVISION,
CEP, THAT IF YOU ARE 40%, IF
YOUR SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHIC IS 40%
OR HIGHER OF THE STUDENTS
WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED
LUNCH, EVERYONE GETS LUNCH.
WE KNOW THAT MODEL WORKS AND
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND
IT.
THOSE ARE HIGH POVERTY RATES,
HIGH RATES OF HOMELESSNESS,
MORE STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE,
GREATER FOOD AND S.N.A.P.
WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THIS
AMENDMENT AND
UNDERSTANDING WHAT RIGHT NOW
WE'RE TRYING TO DO
WAS, NUMBER ONE, CLOSE
THE WEEKEND FOOD GAP.
LOOKING AT THIS THROUGH
AN EQUITY LENS.
MOST KIDS WITHIN THESE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS -- WITHIN
THESE SCHOOLS AND THE HIGH- NEED
ZIP
CODES DO NOT HAVE
WEEKEND MEALS AND THE BIGGEST
TIME
THEY'RE SUFFERING IS MID-WINTER
BREAK,
WINTER BREAK AND SPRING BREAK.
WANTING TO MAXIMIZE THE
SUN BUCKS PROGRAM AND
OTHER NUTRITION PROGRAMS, SUN
BUCKS GIVES $120 TO A KID'S
FAMILY
FOR OVER THE SUMMER.
IT'S NOT
A LOT, BUT PEOPLE -- ANYTHING
HELPS AS THEY STRETCH
THEIR DOLLARS.
AND THIS ENSURES SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS TIME TO BUILD
A SUSTAINABLE
PROGRAM TO MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT.
BELIEVING, I WANTED TO PUT THIS
OUT FOR CONVERSATION FOR US
TO HAVE A REALLY, REALLY
INTENTIONAL CONVERSATION
ABOUT EQUITY WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT
UNIVERSAL.
I UNDERSTAND THE PIECE FOR
UNIVERSAL.
I'M ALL ABOUT IT.
I ALSO WANTED TO BRING IN THE
THE
CONVERSATION OF EQUITY
COMPONENT AS WELL TO THIS
BECAUSE
ANYTHING SOUTH -- MIND YOU, THIS
IS
NOT EVEN MY DISTRICT.
IT'S COUNCILMEMBER
LIN'S DISTRICT -- SOUTH OF I-
90,
DISTRICT 2.
ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR DISTRICT
2.
DOES HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST
NEEDS IN OUR CITY FOR FOOD
ACCESS AS WELL.
AND SO WHAT DO WE CURRENTLY
HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT SOME OF
THESE
FUNDINGS CAN GO TOWARDS?
WE HAVE THE BACKPACK BRIGADE IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THAT'S WHERE CHILDREN GET
MEALS OVER THE WEEKEND, ABOUT
5,000,
ON THE EAST SIDE.
THEY'RE CALLED THREE SQUARE
MEALS.
PEOPLE GET THREE
SQUARES. THEY'RE PACKAGED AT A
WAREHOUSE, AND THE TEACHERS PUT
THEM IN
KIDS' BACKPACKS SO THEY TAKE
THEM HOME FROM SCHOOL.
BELLEVUE DOES A PRIME MINISTER
FOR MID WINTER, WINTER
BREAKS AND SPRING BREAKS RIGHT
NOW
WHERE THEY GET VOUCHERS TO GO
TO A GROCERY STORE SO
THE CULTURALLY -- I DON'T LIKE
USING RELEVANT FOODS, BUT THEY
GET WHAT THEIR FAMILIES WANT
AND WHAT THEY THINK IS
CULTURALLY
FOR THEM.
ALSO THE SUN BUCKS PROGRAM,
WHICH I MENTIONED AS WELL.
AND SO IN ADDITION TO
THIS, THE OTHER PART OF THIS
FUNDING
WOULD COME FROM THE AMENDMENT 4
WITH THE POTENTIAL DELAY OF THE
PRESCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM TO GET
REDIRECTED TO THIS AS WELL,
SO IT WOULD ADD A LITTLE BIT
MORE IF THAT PASSED.
BUT IT HAS TWO SOURCES
OF FUNDING POTENTIALLY
FROM AMENDMENT 4 AND THEN ALSO
FROM THE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL
MEALS PROGRAM WHICH WOULD START
IN
2027. SO I'LL STOP THERE TO
ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL
FROM COLLEAGUES OR HEAR ANY
FEEDBACK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND VICE- CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, AS THE
CO-SPONSOR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED
TO SPEAK TO THE AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO
MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
AND I WANT TO START OFF WITH
APPRECIATION FOR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
AND WILL
ASK CENTRAL STAFF A
COUPLE QUESTIONS AND MAKE MORE
COMMENTS, JUST SO CENTRAL
STAFF IS READY FOR THAT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WANT
TO APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS
FORWARD AND HELPING US HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION IN PUBLIC
AROUND WHAT WE'RE THINKING
ABOUT
WITH THE DOLLARS FROM THE FEPP
LEVY AND THE I&E PLAN.
WE HEARD A LOT OF
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY AND I'M
EXTREMELY
GRATEFUL TO THE FOLKS WHO CAME
AND
SHARED PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I
KNOW
SO MUCH OF THAT WAS AROUND
CONCERNS FROM THIS AMENDMENT,
AND I
THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SAY, AND
I'LL JUST
SAY FOR MYSELF, WE -- I AM
SO COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE
THAT OUR KIDS, OUR BABIES, OUR
STUDENTS, AREN'T GOING HUNGRY
IN OUR CITY.
AND I THINK WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO PUT FORWARD IN THIS
AMENDMENT IS A QUESTION AND A
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS THE
RIGHT WAY
TO APPROACH THAT?
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CONCEPT
OF GUTTING UNIVERSAL FREE
SCHOOLS.
IT'S ABOUT WE HAVE LOW- INCOME
KIDS, KIDS WHO ARE QUALIFIED
FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, AS
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUST
TALKED
ABOUT, WHO ARE ALSO GOING
HUNGRY DURING SCHOOL BREAKS,
DURING
WEEKENDS. WE HAVE LOTS OF KIDS
WHO HAVE
NEED, AND I THINK THIS
AMENDMENT, AS PUT FORWARD,
GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
IMPLEMENT THE UNIVERSAL
SCHOOLS PROGRAM STILL STILL A
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
FROM WHAT WAS INITIALLY
PROPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE AS
WELL
AS HAVING ANOTHER PROGRAM
THAT PROVIDES THESE VOUCHERS
AN ADDITIONAL ACCESS TO KIDS,
SO THAT'S HOW I AM LOOKING AT
THIS.
I WILL SAY I AM EXCITED TO HAVE
CONTINUED ENGAGEMENTENGAGEMENT
MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE
WHO GAVE COMMENT.
THAT WAS IMPORTANT AND
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING
RESPONSIVE, AND I WILL SAY
A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO I LOVE
AND DEEPLY RESPECT.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, FOR THAT AND FOR THE
OUTLINE
AND THE WALKTHROUGH OF
THE APPROACH
HERE. I WANT TO ASK CENTRAL
STUFF
A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
I'M HOPING PEOPLE ARE STILL
WATCHING. I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS
LEFT.
I WANT TO ASK STAFF A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS JUST TO CLARIFY A
FEW THINGS THAT I HEARD EARLIER.
I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE HEARD EARLIER WAS A CONCERN
AROUND CHANGING THE FEPP LEVY
ASAS IT PRESENTED TO VOTERS.
WAS THE UNIVERSAL
PROGRAM INCLUDED IN THE FEPP
LIVY WHEN
IT WAS SENT TO VOTERS?
>> NO, IT WAS NOT.
I THINK COUNCIL HAD ADDED IN
ITS DELIBERATIONS THE POTENTIAL
FOR FOOD ASSISTANCEASSISTANCE TO
BE PROVIDED BY THE FEPP LEVY
BUT DID NOT SPECIFY UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL MEALS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO GO TO -- I WANT
TO MAKE SURE -- AND THIS IS JUST
TO GET IT IN CLARITY.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS
IN PREVIOUS COMMITTEES.
I'M GOING TO REPEAT
QUESTIONS I'VE ASKED BEFORE,
BUT I THINK
WE HAVE THIS AMENDMENT PUT
FORTH.
SO CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO
THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDING FOR
THE
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM?
>> SURELY, REALLOCATING THOSE IN
THE COST AND RISK
RESERVE FUNDS --
WHOOPS.
-- DOMAINS.
THAT'S HOW THEY HAD COME UP
WITH THE 3 MILLION IN THE FIRST
YEAR
AND THE 4. 1 MILLION IN THE
SECOND YEAR.
>> TRACI, I APOLOGIZE.
THERE WAS A MIC BLIP.
>> I'M SO SORRY.
THE FUNDING FOR THE
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM
CAME FROM
THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS
THAT HAD BEEN IN THE COST AND
RISK
RESERVE FUNDS IN THE FEPP LEVY.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO -- I BELIEVE,
AGAIN, I KNOW WE TALKED
ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT CAN YOU
SPEAK TO THE IMPACT OF THE
REALLOCATION ON THE RISK AND
RESERVE FUNDS?
>> YOU ARE GOING TO TAX MY
MEMORY.
IT REDUCES --
WELL, HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.
>> SO I BELIEVE WHAT
WAS PRESENTED IN THE ADOPTED
BUDGET LAST YEAR AS SORT OF A
COST
ESTIMATE, IT WASN'T THE FINAL
PLAN, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THE
COST ESTIMATE HAD THE RISK
RESERVE BEING AT 2.5%.
AND THIS WOULD REDUCE
THAT INITIAL ESTIMATE TO LESS
THAN
1%, I BELIEVE, 0. 38 OR 0.32%.
AND SO THAT ESSENTIALLY
MEANS THAT THERE'S LESS CUSHION
TO
ACCOUNT FOR HIGHER
INFLATION THAN EXPECTED OR COST
OVERRUNS FOR OTHER PROGRAMS THAN
EXPECTED. THERE'S LESS OF A
CUSHION
TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY UNINTENDED OR
UNANTICIPATED COSTS.
>> SO THAT ONE I DID
REMEMBER THE ANSWER TO BEFORE I
ASKED
YOU, BUT THIS ONE I DON'T
REMEMBER.
CAN YOU REMIND US -- I HAD 0.
35%
IN MY MEMORY.
>> THAT WAS PROBABLY IT.
>> CAN YOU REMIND US --
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> NICE.
>> EVERY NOW AND AGAIN.
CAN YOU REMIND US, THOUGH,
IS THAT -- DOES THAT GO DOWN TO
0. 35 FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS
AS WRITTEN OR ACROSS THE
LIFETIME?
JUST THE FIRST TWO YEARS.
GOT IT.
AND, AGAIN, TO ME IT'S
IMPORTANT JUST TO HAVE THIS IN
THE PUBLIC
CONVERSATION.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE END OF
THE FIRST TWO YEARS THE GOAL
IS THAT THE STATE WOULD COME IN,
AS THE STATE HAS ALREADY MADE A
COMMITMENT TO FUND
UNIVERSAL
FREE SCHOOL LUNCH STATEWIDE
THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX WITH
YOU OUR OPTIONS AT THE END OF
THAT TWO YEARS IF, FOR SOME
REASON, THAT WAS NOT TO HAPPEN,
CAN
YOU SPEAK TO WHAT OUR OPTIONS
WOULD BE AT THAT POINT IN TIME?
>> WELL, THE OPTIONS WOULD BE TO
REALLOCATE FROM OTHER
PROGRAMS OR TO CONTINUE TO EAT
INTO THE
RESERVES, I BELIEVE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
AS AMENDED WE ARE STILL
USING THE DOLLARS FROM THE COST
AND RISK RESERVE AND PUTTING
THOSE INTO FUNDING FOR KIDS AND
LOW- INCOME FAMILIES AS WRITTEN.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S
CLEAR
IN THE RECORD AS WE TALK
ABOUT WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE
COMING FROM AND HOW THE
AMENDMENT
FUNCTIONS.
WE WOULD STAY THAT 0.35%.
WE WOULD HAVE THIS
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED OVER THE
COURSE
OF THE LEVY USING THOSE
RESOURCES, AND IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING
THAT BECAUSE THIS IS ESSENTIALLY
SORT OF A SMALLER POPULATION AND
A
DIFFERENT DESIGN ON THE
PROGRAM THAT WE'RE ABLE TO THEN
HAVE
THIS GO FOR THE SIX YEARS OF
THE LEVY WITH THOSE DOLLARS, IS
THAT CORRECT?
>> UNIVERSAL MEALS PROGRAM OR
FOOD ASSISTANCE? FOOD
ASSISTANCE.
>> BECAUSE IT'S SPREAD OUT,
THERE'S
THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMAIN
FLEXIBLE IF WE NEED
TO DIP INTO MORE COST RESERVES
LATER ON.
I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT
ANOTHER OPTION, IF WE DO NEED
TO CONTINUE FUNDING
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS WOULD BE
POTENTIAL
UNDERSPEND.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, CENTRAL
STAFF. FOR ME IT'S IMPORTANT TO
JUST SORT OF HIGHLIGHT THAT AND
TO
HAVE THAT CLARITY AS WE BEGIN
TO ENGAGE IN THE
PUBLIC CONVERSATION AROUND THIS
AMENDMENT, BUT FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, THE GOAL HERE IS,
AGAIN, WE WOULD STILL BE ABLE
TO IMPLEMENT THE UNIVERSAL
FREE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM ONE
YEAR
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE BASED ON
THE STATE TIME LINE AND AT THE
SAME
TIME WE WOULD BE ABLE
TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM THAT I
THINK COMPLEMENTS IT WELL
DIRECTING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO
OUR LOWEST
INCOME FAMILIES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND
PROUD TO
CO- SPONSOR THIS WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU HAVE
A HAND UP.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS, FIRST
FOR CENTRAL STAFF AND THEN
I'LL SHARE A FEW INITIAL SELF-
SELF- SELF-REFLECTIONS.
FIRST OFF, IF YOU ALL
WOULDN'T MIND PROVIDING A
LITTLE
CLARITY ON THE FOLLOWING, FROM
AN
IMPLEMENTATION PERSPECTIVE, WHAT
OPERATIONAL CHANGES WOULD
SCHOOLS DEEL NEED TO MAKE IF
THE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,
RATHER, WERE ADDED?
>> THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN
CLARIFY WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE WAY
THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS PROPOSED
NOW IS THAT EXISTING SPS
PERSONNEL WHO WORK WITH A LOT OF
THESE
LOW- INCOME POPULATIONS, YOU
KNOW, WOULD BE ABLE
TO DISTRIBUTE THE VOUCHERS.
THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDED TO
ESTABLISH THE PROGRAM OR
IF THERE IS ANY
FURTHER ADMINISTRATION I THINK
WE
NEED TO CHECK WITH THE
DEPARTMENT
ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NEXT QUESTION PERTAINS TO
PRECISE DATA INCLUDING DOLLAR
AMOUNTS.
THE TIME LINE AS ORIGINALLY
PLANNED, HOW MANY FAMILIES
WOULD BE SERVED ACROSS SPS,
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WOULD BE
SERVED
UNDER THE ORIGINAL TIME LINE AND
THEN WHAT IS THE AVERAGE
COST SAVINGS TO THE AVERAGE
STUDENT
AND/OR FAMILY AS A DIRECT
RESULT OF THE ORIGINAL TIME
LINE IMPLEMENTATION BY SEATTLE.
CURIOUS TO HEAR OFFLINE.
AFFORDABILITY IS A BIG
CONCERN RIGHT RIGHT IN CRISES
AND, FIRST
OFF, LET ME START BY SAYING
THIS.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
AND COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BRINGING
THIS FORWARD, YOU IN
PARTICULAR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
APPRECIATE HOW YOU FRAME YOUR
APPROACH AND
YOUR OWN PERSONAL, UNIQUE
FAMILY
AND COMMUNITY REAL-LIFE, LIVED
EXPERIENCES.
SHARING THEIR OWN KIND
OF PERSONAL FIRSTHAND
EXPERIENCES
WITH FREE MEALS AND WHY IT'S SO
IMPORTANT.
I HAVE BEEN PUBLIC ABOUT MY
OWN AS WELL.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ON FREE
OR REDUCED LUNCH DEPENDING ON
THE YEAR AND THE APPLICATION.
IT WAS EITHER FREE
LUNCH OR REDUCED MEALS.
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
INADVERTENTLY MISS A SCHOOL
LUNCH BECAUSE OF THE SHAME AND
EMBARRASSMENT AND WORRY
THAT I HAD ABOUT GOING TO THE
LUNCH LINE AND PAYING THE LADY
THREE
QUARTERS, 75 INSTEAD OF THE FULL
$1. 50 OR WHATEVER IT WAS AT THE
TIME.
STIGMA IS REAL.
AND SO IS THE STIGMA ON
FAMILIES AND FOOD BANKS AND
ACCESS ING
AND I THINK THIS HIGHLIGHTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRSTHAND
REAL-WORLD LIVED EXPERIENCES.
AS RELATED BUT NOT
IDENTICAL AMENDMENT FOR -- I DO
HAVE CONCERNS WITH THIS INITIAL
CONCERNS WITH THIS AS WELL FOR
SIMILAR
REASONS, BUT HERE IS WHAT I
KNOW.
THEY HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONS OF FOOD
ACCESS AND SECURITY.
I THINK WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO
DO HERE IS EXPAND THE PIE.
THE NET RESULT OF WHICH WOULD
DELAY, BUT THEY ARE -- I
KNOW THEIR MOTIVES, INTENTS ARE
PURE.
I LOVE THE ANALYTICAL
FRAMEWORK APPROACH THAT WAS JUST
DESCRIBED.
I JUST TEND TO DISAGREE
RIGHT NOW ON, YOU KNOW, THE
RESULTS
AND REASONABLE MINDS DO
DISAGREE.
ONE THING I'VE LEARNED
SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE A
LITTLE
OVER TWO AND A HALF YEARS IN
THIS ROLE, WHO IS COUNTING,
BUT IT'S BEEN AN
INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR
TO SERVE
SO FAR.
AS SOMEONE WHO CAME FROM
TEN YEARS OF THE PRIVATE
SECTOR BEFORE THIS WORKING IN
BIG LAW,
IN BIG TECH, WORKING
STARTUPS, ONE THING THAT -- ONE
LEARNING THAT I'VE HAD IS THAT
GOVERNMENT IS WOEFULLY SLOW.
IT TAKES TIME TO PASS BOLD
INVESTMENTS, IMPLEMENT THEM AND
ACTUALLY SEE THE COMMUNITY
IMPACT AND REALIZE
THAT COMMUNITY GAIN TAKES TIME.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO IS
JUST NATURALLY A HARD CHARGER, I
GO HARD IN THE PAINT, AND I
KNOW ALL OF MY
COUNCILMEMBER COLLEAGUES DO,
TOO,
GOVERNMENT TAKES TIME.
AND I REMEMBER THAT.
THE VERY FIRST JANUARY
AND FEBRUARY '24 JUST AFTER
TAKING
OFFICE SITTING HERE AT THIS
DAIS AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE
AND HOW WE CAN AS A CITY RALLY
TO GET THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TO PASS UNIVERSAL
FREE SCHOOL MEALS
FOR ALL.
WE COULDN'T GET IT DONE AND
WE BROUGHT IT UP AGAIN AND IT IS
ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT THIS WAS
NOT AN EXPRESS OR EXPLICIT
COMMITMENT
TO VOTERS WHEN IT WAS ON THE
BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
WHAT ALSO WAS ABSOLUTELY
TRUE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE,
ALTHOUGH
IT WASN'T EXPRESS OR EXPLICITLY
NAMED, IT WAS 100% CONTEMPLATED
BY CITY LEADERS, BY THIS
BODY, BY THIS DAIS, UPSTAIRS,
THE SEVENTH FLOOR.
THAT WAS ALWAYS THE LONGER TERM
GOAL.
NOW WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE WHO IS
EQUALLY OR MAYBE MORE
EXCITED THAN MANY OF US
DOWNSTAIRS
ABOUT GETTING THIS DONE BECAUSE
OF THE
AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS THAT I
ALLUDED TO EARLIER AND
BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA, REDUCING
THE
STIGMA.
IMPLEMENTATION TAKES TIME.
I THINK WE'VE PASSED
LEGISLATION AND CHALLENGED
DEPARTMENTS
WHERE APPLICABLE TO SPEED THINGS
UP,
EXPEDITE, STREAMLINE.
IT STILL TAKES TIME.
I DON'T WANT TO WAIT
ANOTHER YEAR PLUS FOR THIS.
IT'S A REAL- LIFE READY
OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT.
SO I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT, YOU
KNOW, THE AMENDMENT 6, THE DELAY
OF UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS
TO CREATE A LARGER SIX- YEAR
FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RISKS
DELAYING THE MOMENTUM AND
ENERGY AND DAY ONE
IMPLEMENTATION
READINESS WE HAVE TODAY.
AND SIMILAR TO THE OTHER
AMENDMENT, IT ALSO PURPORTS
TO PIT VERY VITAL COMMUNITY
NEEDS, YOU KNOW, AGAINST EACH
OTHER.
I WOULD LOVE -- MY INITIAL
REACTION, JUST LET'S LAUNCH
THIS.
LET'S GET THIS RIGHT.
FIRST. WE HAVE ALL THE TOOLS
AVAILABLE.
LET'S GO.
BUT LET'S FIND WAYS TO
EXPAND, BUT I'M JUST CONCERNED
ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL DELAY AND WHAT
THAT PORTENDS FOR AFFORDABILITY,
WHAT THAT PORTENDS FOR STIGMA,
SOCIAL STIGMA FOR STUDENTS, WHAT
THAT PORTENDS FOR THE LONG TERM.
EDUCATIONAL READINESS OF OUR
FUTURE WORKFORCE.
BUT I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, AND
EACH OF THESE SPONSORS HAVE
SHOWN THEMSELVES TO BE CHAMPIONS
OF
THIS ISSUE, AND THEY'RE NOT --
I HEARD THEM SAY THEY LOVE --
THEY STRONGLY SUPPORT UNIVERSAL
FREE SCHOOL MEALS.
THEY'RE NOT OPPOSED --
THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO EXPAND
THE
PIE, WHICH I APPRECIATE.
I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, WE
NEED TO GO WITH THIS APPROACH
NOW AND
THEN LET'S HAVE THOSE
OTHER CONVERSATIONS LATER.
THAT IS ALL BUT I APPRECIATE THE
AMENDMENT,
SPONSORS, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE-
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH, YOUR HAND
IS UP.
IS THAT A NEW HAND?
>> THAT WAS TO CLOSE, BUT
I WON'T -- BUT I DON'T WANT
TO MESS UP THE MEETING.
I APOLOGIZE.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
NO, YOU CAN CLOSE.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW IF
THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS.
>> I HAVE SOME BUT I CAN SAY
IT AFTER YOUR --
>> FIRST, THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I FIRST WANTED TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AS
WELL
FOR HER PARTNERSHIP ON THIS, AND
THE
INTENTIONALITY BEHIND IT
AND TALKING ABOUT THE
COMPLEMENTING
OF THE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS
PROGRAM. THIS IS A COMPLEMENT.
AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, I'M GLAD THAT YOU TALK
ABOUT
INESS BECAUSE CALEB PUT OUT A
VIDEO ABOUT 51% OF BLACK
CHILDREN
ARE NOT READING AT THEIR GRADE
LEVEL.
AND THAT IS A PROBLEM.
THE AVERAGE INCOME HOUSEHOLD IS
$55,000 AND HATCH OF THE
MURDER VICTIMS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE,
GUNFIRE VICTIMS, ARE BLACK MALES
AND THEY ONLY ACCOUNT FOR 4%
OF THE POPULATION ANDAND COULD
ARGUE THAT IS BECAUSE OF FOOD
INSECURITY AND RESOURCES.
THERE'S STUDIES AND
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, AND
THAT'S WHY I
GO SO HARD FOR THE SOUTH END
AND FOR SOUTHEAST SEATTLE AND
FOR PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDE
UNDERREPRESENTED AND
UNDERFUNDED AND FOOD CAN REALLY
HEAL
COMMUNITIES. SO THAT'S WHY I GO
SO HARD
FOR THIS AND THAT'S WHY
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS
AMENDMENT.
NOW THE OTHER PIECE I WILL
CLOSE WITH AS WELL IS THAT I
WILL
LISTEN TO A LOT OF THE GROUPS.
I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF THE
GROUPS THAT GAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT
AND I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH
THEM, HEAR THEM OUT, TRY TO
FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION BECAUSE I
DO FEEL LIKE A COMPLEMENT TO THE
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS
PROGRAM, AS WE ARE CENTERING
FOOD
ACCESS, WHICH WAS AN AMENDMENT
THAT
WE ALL SUPPORTED, TO PUT IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR FOOD
FOR THIS PLAN, WILL WORK WITH
THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I DO FEEL
LIKE
THIS IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR US AND
CONTINUE TO
IMPLEMENT FOR WINTER BREAKS,
MID-WINTER BREAKS AND SPRING
BREAKS.
THOSE ARE THE TIMES KIDS
ARE GOING VERY HUNGRY AND OVER
WEEKENDS POTENTIALLY.
SO THANK YOU ALL AND I'LL
HAVE NUMBERS FOR YOU ABOUT THE
IMPACT AND
SAVINGS AS WELL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I APOLOGIZE FOR MAKING A
COMMENT AFTER YOUR CLOSING, BUT
I
WANTED TO SHARE PART OF AN EMAIL
THAT
I GOT YESTERDAY
JUST TO INTRODUCE IT INTO THIS
CONVERSATION AND
SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ FROM
THIS REALLY QUICKLY BECAUSE I
THINK -- I WASN'T GOING TO
SHARE IT AND THEN YOU MADE YOUR
POINT AROUND THE IMPACT OF
READINESS
AND THE IMPACT ESPECIALLY ON
BLACK STUDENTS.
AND SO THIS PERSON WHO
EMAILED SAID -- WHO ACTUALLY WAS
OPPOSED TO THE MONEY BEING USED
FOR SCHOOL MEALS AT ALL.
THEY SAID, I'M WRITING TO
ASK YOU TO REJECT THE ALLOCATION
FOR THE NEW SCHOOL MEALS LINE
ITEM AND TO REDIRECT THE FUNDS
TO STRATEGIES THAT EXPLICITLY
FOCUSFOCUS CLOSING OPPORTUNITY
GAPS.
IT COULD DO MORE FOR
STUDENT LEARNING AND SAFETY,
SUMMER SCHOOL OR TARGETED
ACADEMIC
SUPPORT, SUPPORTS FOR
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES,
INVESTMENTS
THAT REACH STUDENTS THE LEVY WAS
TO SERVE.
THE STRATEGY IS ONLY FUNDED
FOR TWO YEARS, INTRODUCING
A UNIVERSAL PROGRAM AND THEN
POTENTIALLY PULLING IT AFTER
TWO YEARS SETS AN EXPECTATION
WITH FAMILIES AND SCHOOL STAFF
THAT THE CITY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
SUSTAIN, WHICH RISKS
ERODING COMMUNITY TRUST RATHER
THAN
BUILDING IT.
AND THIS IS A FORMER MEMBER OF
THE FEPP LEVY.
I DIDN'T INTEND TO READ IT
UNTIL YOU MADE THAT POINT.
I WANT TO BRING THAT BACK
INTO CONSIDERATION AND, AGAIN,
UNDERSCORE PART OF THE
REASON THAT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF
THIS
AMENDMENT IS BECAUSE I
BELIEVE IT ALLOWS US THE
OPPORTUNITY
TO TARGET DOLLARS TO OUR
MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS
AND MAINTAIN A PORTION OF THIS
COMMITMENT TO
GO CITYWIDE EARLIER THAN
INTENDED BY THE STATES.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT DELAY
IN THE PROCESS BUT I JUST FELT
LIKE I NEEDED TO SPEAK TO THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
I WILL THANK BOTH
SPONSORS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER
FOR HELPING US ENGAGE IN
THIS CONVERSATION
CONVERSATION.
I KNOW THE DEEP COMMITMENT
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS TO
FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD ACCESS.
SHE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT
IT SINCE SHE GOT HERE
TWO AND A HALF YEARS
AGO. SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON IT
WAY BEFORE THEN.
SO I DID WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
WE EVER SAID PUBLICLY, ALL
NINE OF US, HOW MUCH WE CARE
ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES, FOOD
ACCESS
AND PARTICULARLY OUR KIDS
HAVING ACCESS TO FOOD.
THIS IS A CONVERSATION
ABOUT MAKING HARD CHOICES.
LIKE MANY THINGS WE AGREE ON THE
OUTCOME WE WANT TO SEE.
WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH HOW WE
GET
THERE. THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS
HAPPENING
HERE, AND THAT IS REAL.
SO I DON'T WANT IT UNSAID
THAT WE DO NOT SUPPORT FOOD
ACCESS
PARTICULARLY FOR KIDS.
WE DO.
I WAS A FREE LUNCH KID
GROWING UP AND I'M SO GRATEFUL
THAT
I HAD THAT.
I STOOD ON LINES FOR FREE
CHEESE IN THE BRONX WITH MY MOM.
LOVED THE BIG BLOCK OF FREE
CHEESE, GOVERNMENT CHEESE.
SO I UNDERSTAND.
AND, REALLY, I'M NOT ALONE.
I'M NOT GOING TO OUT ANYONE.
THEY KNOW I'M NOT ALONE ON THIS
DAIS BUT I WILL SHARE MY OWN
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE BECAUSE
I CAN DO THAT FOR MYSELF.
BUT, SO, REALLY JUST TO SAY
WE ALL CARE ABOUT FOOD ACCESS
AND FOOD INSECURITY PARTICULARLY
AS INVOLVING KIDS AND
WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH WHAT TO
DO.
IT IS TRUE THAT THE
MILLIONAIRE'S TAX, WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I APPRECIATE THAT THE
MAYOR WANTED TO FILL A GAP,
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN -- IF --
THE
MILLIONAIRE'S TAX FAILS AND
THEN WE DON'T HAVE THE
CONTINUED --
IT IS TRUE THAT, AS YOU
INDICATED, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WHAT
HAPPENS? WE ELIMINATE THE
PROGRAM?
HOW WILL WE GET FUNDING
TO SUSTAIN -- ALL THESE ARE
ISSUES WE NEED
TO GRAPPLE WITH, AND I WANTED TO
SAY IT'S
TRUE, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, THAT
YOU
KNOW THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION BEING
ABLE
TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL MEALS AND
REDUCING THE STIGMA AND ACCESS
TO EVERYONE.
AND I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THERE
ARE FAMILIES ON THE CUSP THAT
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FREE AND
REDUCED
MEALS LIKE BARELY AND SO I THINK
THIS IS WHY I UNDERSTAND
THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS WHO CAME
TO TALK ABOUT THAT, ALL OF
THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE, AND I
JUST
HOPE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT
WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE CARE
WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH THIS
AMENDMENT
AND WITH THE UNIVERSAL PROGRAM
THAT WE ALL ARE GRAPPLING WITH
THAT, BUT WE ALL CARE ABOUT THIS
ISSUE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY
ABOUT THAT.
LET'S GO TO AMENDMENT 7.
COLLEAGUES, IT'S 11:30.
I'M MINDFUL OF TIME.
I CAN BE HEREHERE AS LONG --
I DON'T HAVE A TIME PRESSURE,
BUT I KNOW OTHERS DO, AND SO
I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET US
RUNNING
THROUGH. I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE
US TO
RUN THROUGH A LITTLE FASTER.
BUT THERE MIGHT BE ONE
OTHER AMENDMENT I THINK THAT
MIGHT
HAVE MORE ROBUST
CONVERSATION, BUT LET'S SEE HOW
QUICKLY WE CAN
GET THROUGH SOME OF THESE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE'LL MOVE ON TO
AMENDMENT NUMBER 7 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
ALLOW ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL COORDINATORS TO BE PART
TIME.
THE EXISTING
LANGUAGE REQUIRES THAT
SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES FOR
THE RESTORATIVE SERVICES MUST BE
ONE POINT.
THIS ALLOWS FOR ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS THAT MAY HAVE
A LESSER NEED TO BE A PART-TIME
POSITION.
>> THANK YOU, TRACI.
COUNCILMEMBER, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA.
THANK YOU FOR THE OVERVIEW,
TRACI.
COLLEAGUES, I HAD THE JOY
AND PLEASURE OF JOINING SOME OF
OUR
RESTORATIVE PRACTITIONERS AT
THE FREEDOM SCHOOL SUMMER
PROGRAM.
GOT THE CHANCE TO READ ALOUD
A BOOK TO STUDENTS, A BOOK THAT
CELEBRATES MULTILINGUAL
FAMILIES BUT ALSO DEMONSTRATES
HOW
LOVE DOESN'T HAVE LANGUAGE
BARRIERS.
AND SO I MENTION THIS BECAUSE
I WANT TO
DAYLIGHT HOW BEAUTIFUL AND
IMPORTANT THE WORK THAT
IS HAPPENING FROM OUR
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
PRACTITIONERS REALLY
IS AND HOW IT'S HAPPENING ALL
THE
WAY DOWN TO OUR ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL LEVEL AND WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE.
THE FREEDOM SCHOOL
SUMMER PROGRAM IS JUST ONE
PARTICIPATE
OF WHAT WILD BLOCK DOES ON
TOP OF THEIR RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE PROGRAM AND THIS
AMENDMENT
WOULD ALLOW THE RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE TEAM TO MAINTAIN
THEIR FLEXIBILITY IN
COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOL
COUNSELORS AND
SOCIAL WORKERS TO SUPPORT
KEEPING THESE PRACTITIONERS
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
I KNOW WE ALL SEE THE VALUE IN
RESTORATIVE TO MAKE
SURE THERE ARE TRUST ED PEOPLE
TO
EQUIP YOUNG PEOPLE
WITH IMPORTANT SKILLS AND DATA
DOES
DEMONSTRATE THAT USING
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
KEEPS STUDENTS IN SCHOOL,
IMPROVES STUDENT
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND
REDUCES SUSPENSION RATES AND
DISPARITIES AND MENTAL HEALTH.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
>> NO QUESTIONS.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT
AMENDMENT. WOULD I ASK TO BE
ADDED AS A
CO-SPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, I ASSUME YOU'RE OKAY
WITH THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> SHE SAYS YES.
PERFECT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND CENTRAL
STAFF, I'M JUST CONFIRMING THIS
AMENDMENT, WE ALREADY
HAVE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN
THE
I&E.
THIS IS JUST BECAUSE IT
CALLS OUT ONE FTE THERE'S A 0.
5 OR
LESS, HOWEVER IT SHAKES OUT.
>> THAT IS CORRECTION.
>> THAT IS DEEL'S INTENT.
I APPRECIATE YOU WANTING TO
UPLIFT THAT VOICE AND MAKE THAT
CLARIFICATION.
GREAT. AMENDMENT 8.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AMENDMENT 8 SPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WOULD
REQUIRE DEEL TO SUBMIT A
REPORT TO COUNCIL DESCRIBING
PLANNED
SYSTEMS OF COORDINATION FOR THE
TOTALITY OF SCHOOL SAFETY
INVESTMENTS AND A
COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK FOR SUCH
INVESTMENTS.
THIS IS DUE TO COUNCIL AFTER
SCHOOL YEAR 2026- '27
AND ANY PLANNED FUNDING
PROCESSES
OR CONTRACT RENEWALS FOR THE
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES,
OPPORTUNITY- BASED MENTORING
AND SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAMS.
AND AS
A CONDITION OF FURTHER FUNDING
FOR FUTURE YEARS.
>> THANK YOU, JASMINE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA.
COLLEAGUES, THIS AMENDMENT IS A
REFLECTION OF WHAT
COUNCIL OFFICES HAVE HEARD.
I WOULD SAY ACROSS THE CITY
FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
ORGANIZATIONS.
IN MANY WAYS RIGHT NOW OUR
CITY'S STRATEGY AND
INVESTMENTS INTO COMMUNITY AND
SCHOOL SAFETY
IN PARTICULAR IS A BIT
DISPARATE AND THIS REQUESTS A
REPORT FROM
DEEL AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS ABOUT
THEIR SYSTEMS LEVEL
COORDINATION AND DEVELOPING THAT
COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK
FOR THESE INVESTMENTS.
MANY OF US OR OUR STAFF
WERE IS HE SYMPOSIUM LED BY THE
NATIONAL
NETWORK FOR SAFE CITIES,
AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS
ARE
WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR
COMMUNITY TO
ADDRESS THE LARGER ISSUE
OF COMMUNITY AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE'VE SEEN A CITYWIDE
APPROACH WORK IN CITIES LIKE
PHILADELPHIA
AND BALTIMORE, AND I'M
HOPEFUL WITH THIS AMENDMENT THAT
WE
CAN REALLY SHEPHERD AND BRING
TOGETHER CITY DEPARTMENTS
TO HAVE A UNIFIED APPROACH
IN MOVING TOWARDS THE WORK.
I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
COUNCILMEMBER LIN
FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN
DEVELOPING THIS AMENDMENT AND
HAPPY TO
ALSO TURN IT OVER TO THEM TO
SHARE
ANY OF THEIR REMARKS ON THIS
WORK. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I JUST WANTED TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
HER TEAM
FOR ENGAGING WITH ME AND MY
TEAM ON THIS ISSUE, AND IT GOES
TO SOME OF THE BROADER EFFORTS
THAT WE'RE DOING RELATED TO
COMMUNITY
SAFETY, SCHOOL SAFETY, AND ALSO,
AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES
BEFORE, THAT SCENE BETWEEN
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY, AS
MENTIONED
HERE, HUMAN SERVICES AND THE
LIKE.
I THINK HAVING THIS KIND OF
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
AS WELL. IN TERMS OF CO-
SPONSORSHIPS,
ADMITTEDLY, THESE GENERALLY
ACROSS BOARD ARE NEW.
FOR THIS ONE I WANT TO GO AS A
CO-SPONSOR AND LOOK TO DO IT ON
OTHERS AFTER THE FACT LATER.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
A FEW QUESTIONS FOR
CENTRAL STAFF ON THIS ONE IN
PARTICULAR.
FIRST OFF, CAN YOU
PLEASE CLARIFY THE PRACTICAL
EFFECT OF
MAKING THIS REPORT A,
QUOTE, CONDITION OF FURTHER
FUNDING FOR
FUTURE YEARS?
AND WOULD THAT CREATE ANY RISK
OF DELAYING, INTERRUPTING OR
FREEZING FUNDING FOR RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES, OPPORTUNITY-
BASED MENTORING OR HSD SCHOOL-
BASED SAFETY IF THE REPORT ISIS
LATE,
INCOMPLETE, OR STILL UNDER
REVIEW?
>> YES.
THIS LANGUAGE
ESSENTIALLY FUNCTIONS AS A
PROVISO FOR NEXT
YEAR.
AND SO IT WOULD REQUIRE THE
REPORT TO BE SUBMITTED
TO COUNCIL AS A CONDITION
OF RELEASING THE FUNDING.
>> FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME
CONFUSING, ADMITTEDLY, LANGUAGE
ABOUT --
THAT KIND OF
CONTEMPLATES COMPETITIVE BIDDING
PROCESSES, AND SO WOULD THIS NEW
REPORT
OR EFFECTIVELY PROVISO, AS
YOU TERMED IT, BE TRIGGERED
ANYTIME
THE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO
UNDERTAKE ANY NEW COMPETITIVE
BIDDING PROCESS, RFP,
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS WORK IN
SUBSEQUENT YEARS?
>> IT WOULD BE AFTER YEAR ONE OF
THE LEVY AFTER SCHOOL YEAR
'26- 27 AND IT WOULD JUST BE
THAT POINT IN TIME PRIOR THAT
BETWEEN ESSENTIALLY YEAR ONE AND
YEAR
TWO OF THE LEVY.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
UNDERLYING PLAN ALREADY
REQUIRES ANNUAL REPORTING,
QUARTERLY
DASHBOARDS, QUARTERLY
MEMOS DIRECTLY TO THE LEVY
OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, AND QUARTERLY STATUS
UPDATES TO THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR.
CAN CENTRAL STAFF PLEASE
EXPLAIN WHAT THE NEW OVERSIGHT
MECHANISM
THIS NEW AMENDMENT ADDS
THAT IS NOT ALREADY AVAILABLE IN
THOSE REPORTING STRUCTURES?
>> THOSE REPORTING STRUCTURES
WOULD REPORT ON LEVY
IMPACT RELATED TO THE GOALS AND
THOSE
INCLUDED IN THE PLAN AND THIS
REPORT WOULD REQUIRE THE SORT
OF FRAMEWORK AND COORDINATION,
SO IT'S SOMEWHAT SEPARATE IN
THE
SENSE OF, LIKE, THE REPORTING
INDICATORS DON'T
NECESSARILY SPEAK TO THE
COORDINATION PIECE.
>> INTERESTING.
THANK YOU.
>> SORRY.
I'M GOING TO TAKE CHAIR'S
PRIVILEGE HERE TO SAY THE
LEVY IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE
DEPARTMENTS, THE DEEL
DIRECTOR WILL WORK WITH THE
OTHER DEPARTMENTS ON THE LEVY
INVESTMENTS AT LARGE SO THAT IS
BAKED INTO THE LEVY IT SEVEN.
THE LEVY LANGUAGE.
SO IT DOES GO TO YOUR
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, SO
I
WANTED TO ADDRESS IT AT THIS
JUNK CTURE.
>> THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH MY
UNDERSTANDING AS WELL.
THE AMENDMENT STATES THEY
ARE LIKELY TO HAVE OVERLAP.
NOW IS CENTRAL STAFF AWARE
OF ANY PARTICULAR ANALYSIS IN
THE
RECORD, SPECIFICALLY QUANTIFYING
THAT OVERLAP OR WOULD COUNCIL BE
EFFECTIVELY ADDING A FUNDING
CONDITION BASED ON AN
ASSUMPTION THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN
SUBSTANTIATED?
SOME OF THE SPONSORS CAN SPEAK
TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S
MORE ANECDOTAL THAT MANY OF THE
PROGRAMS THAT THE SCHOOLS WOULD
BE FUNDING, FUNDS MAY OVERLAP
WITH THEIR RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES AS WELL AS THE
POTENTIAL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR MENTORING
BECAUSE THEY TARGET THE SAME
POPULATIONS, AND
MY UNDERSTANDING THERE ALREADY
IS
A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT TARGET
SIMILAR POPULATIONS AND
THERE IS AN ISSUE -- THERE IS AN
ISSUE
WITH COORDINATION.
>> MADAM CHAIR, THE AMENDMENT
SPONSOR, IF SHE HAS ANY
OTHER THOUGHTS ON THIS.
>> YES, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
I WILL SAY THAT AT LEAST ONE
OF THESE PROGRAMS LISTED AS NEW
AND THE DEPARTMENT AS PER THE
LEVY WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO
US ONCE THEY FIGURE OUTOUT
TO IMPLEMENT IT TO ASK FOR
OUR APPROVAL TO IMPLEMENT
THE PROGRAM AND THEN ALSO,
AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENTS ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE COORDINATING THE
AMENDMENT
I PUT IN TO ENSURE THAT
HAPPENED, JUST TO ADDRESS YOUR
QUESTION ABOUT THE COORDINATION
PIECE
ALREADY BEING BAKED IN.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOU'RE THE
SPONSOR, SO I'LL GO BACK TO
YOU IF YOU HAVE
ANY ANSWERS TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> I WANTED TO SPEAK IN
MY CAPACITY AS CHAIR OVER HUMAN
SERVICES, I WANT TO UPLIFT
THAT THIS YEAR HSD DID RELEASE
THE
RFP ON COMMUNITY SAFETY
INVESTMENTS AND SO THAT BEING
AN AREA IN PARTICULAR WHERE WE
WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE
--
WE UNDERSTAND CONCEPTUALLY
AND GIVEN THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH THAT
RFP, THERE IS A LOT OF
OVERLAP THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE
TO
UNPACK THAT MORE.
I WANT TO UPLIFT THAT THE
CITY HAS CONTRACTED SERVICES
WITH
CONSULTANTS THAT ARE TRYING TO
UNPACK AND UNDERSTAND ON A
DEEPER LEVEL WHERE THERE IS
OVERLAP IN THE EFFORTS.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT
THE SPIRIT AND
ATTEMPTATTEMPT BRINGING THIS
FORWARD IS
TRYING TO GET ALL OF THE VARIOUS
CITY
ACTORS AND DEPARTMENTS
TOGETHER TO REALLY
BE INTENTIONAL ON COORDINATING
THESE EFFORTS.
TRYING TO UNPACK SOME OF
THIS WORK AND WANT TO EMPHASIZE
GETTING THE PRIMARY
CITY DEPARTMENTS DEPARTMENTS AT
TABLE
TO ACTUALLY COORDINATE AND
SETTING A BROADER CITYWIDE
STRATEGY AS,
AGAIN, IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED
THAT WE NEED A UNIFIED CITY
STRATEGY IN ADDRESSING COMMUNITY
SAFETY
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR BRINGING
THIS
FORWARD AND THE ADDED CLARITY
THERE
ON THE QUESTION.
I GUESS I'LL ASK A FOLLOW-
UP QUESTION DIRECTLY TO YOU AS
THE
SPONSOR. SO THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT
MAKES AND SPEAKS TO THE INITIAL
CONCERN THAT I HAVE IT
YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT MAKES
FUTURE
FUNDING CONDITIONAL REPORT.
ABSOLUTELY WORTHWHILE GOAL OF
ENSURING COORDINATION.
IF THE GOAL -- THE POLICY GOAL
RATIONALE AND JUSTIFICATION
FOR THIS AMENDMENT IS
COORDINATION,
JUST CURIOUS WHY IS A
FUNDING CONDITION NECESSARY
INSTEAD OF
A MERE REPORTING REQUIREMENT
ALONE
ESPECIALLY FOR PROGRAMS
FOR STUDENTS MOST IMPACTED BY
GUN VIOLENCE AND SCHOOL
DISCONNECTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA.
I WANT TO JUST UPLIFT A SPOINT
I DIDN'T SPEAK AROUND
THE FACT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
WE'VE HAD HSD INVESTMENTS OF
THIS SCALE TO
THE LEVY AND MAKING SURE
WE'RE TYING FROM HSD
WITH SCHOOL SAFETY GOALS AND
OUTCOMES AND
DEEL. I MISSED THAT POINT
EARLIER.
I THINK WE WANTED TO
DEMONSTRATE WE WANT TO TAKE THE
PROJECT
OF COORDINATING OUR
CITY DEPARTMENTS AROUND THIS
WORK
AS AN IMPORTANT ONE.
I'M HAPPY TO ENGAGE WITH
YOU FURTHER DISCUSSION ON HOW
WE CAME TO SOME OF THESE
POINTS, BUT I THINK WE ARE
TRYING TO,
IN ESSENCE, BRING FOLKS TOGETHER
AROUND THIS COORDINATION.
THIS IS REFLECTIVE OF WHAT WE'VE
HEARD ACROSS COMMUNITY ABOUT
A REAL DESIRE TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE
COORDINATION AND SO THAT --
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUT
REAL EFFORT BEHIND THIS MATTER
AND
SO HAPPY TO ENGAGE IN FURTHER
DISCUSSION, TOO, ON
THIS, BUT THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO
SHARE
FOR
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK --
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
BACK TO YOU.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION, MAYBE
THIS WILL BE TO CENTRAL STAFF IF
THE SPONSOR DOESN'T WANT TO
ENGAGE
FURTHER, BUT THE
OPPORTUNITY- BASED MENTORING IS
ALREADY A NEW PROGRAM BEING
DESIGNED IN '26- 27 WITH
PROGRAM
DETAILS COMING BACK TO
COUNCIL BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION IN
'27-28.
SO WHAT SPECIFIC PROBLEM
DOES THIS AMENDMENT SOLVE
THAT COUNCIL COULD NOTNOT
ADDRESS THROUGH THAT APPROVAL
PROCESS?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS
WOULD BRING IN THE
OTHER PROGRAMS
MENTIONED, SHORTER PRACTICES,
BODY OF WORK IN THE
HSD SCHOOLS AND BE
INCORPORATED AND COORDINATED
WITH THE DESIGN
OF THE MENTORING PROGRAM SO
THAT THEY'RE NOT
OVERLAPPING AND DUPLICATING
SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU.
YEAH, INITIAL CONCERNS ON THE
CONDITIONAL FUNDING.
I THINK THE STAKES ARE TOO
HIGH. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
UNDERLYING SUBJECT MATTER
OF STUDENT SAFETY, GUN VIOLENCE,
ET CETERA, A REPORT ALONE WOULD
BE APPROPRIATE BUT I HAVE
INITIAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE
CONDITIONAL
FUNDING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND WHEN PAIRED IN
THE BROADER CONTEXT OF
OTHER AMENDMENTS WE HAVE
INCLUDING YOURS AS CHAIR.
ANYWAY, THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE
SPONSOR FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION
AND DEBATE HERE.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
JUST A FEW SORT OF POINTS HERE.
ONE, I THINK WE ALL CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT AND HAVE BEEN
IMPACTED
SO MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS
AND FAMILIES AND GUNS HAVE BEEN
DEVASTATING.
ONE, I'M THANKFUL THAT FOR
THE FIRST TIME THE FEPP LEVY
INCLUDED SCHOOL SAFETY SO
THAT WE HAVE A DEDICATED FUND
SOURCE TO ADDRESS THIS CRITICAL
ISSUE
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S A
NEW, SORT OF, BODY OF WORK
FOR DEEL TO TAKE ON.
I DO THINK JUST IN TERMS OF
OVERSHEPHERDING THIS LEVEL OF
INVESTMENT IN SCHOOL SAFETY.
AND I ALSO THINK THE ONE
THING I HAVE HEARD, WE HAVE BEEN
ASKING
WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH SPD,
WITH PRINCIPALS IN RAINIER
BEACH, WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH
OUR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION GROUPS AND THE ONE
THING I
HAVE HEARD THAT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT
IS FOR US TO BREAK DOWN
SILOS AND TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
COORDINATING OUR STRATEGIES, OUR
INVESTMENTS, AND SO WHETHER
IT'S
THROUGH THIS AMENDMENT OR
SOME OTHER BODY OF WORK,
I THINK IT IS CRITICAL FOR US TO
LEAN INTO
THIS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
A SOLID STRATEGY GOING
FORWARD, THAT WE ARE WORKING
ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS, THAT WE ARE
WORKING WITH OUR -- WITH SPS,
WITH -- AND SO I THINK THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TOTO
TO
WORK ON IN THE NEXT YEAR AND,
AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH
THIS AMENDMENT OR SOME
OTHER MECHANISM TO, YOU KNOW,
WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ON
MAKING SURE THAT OUR INVESTMENTS
AROUND SCHOOL SAFETY ARE WELL
COORDINATED AND THAT WE
ARE BREAKING DOWN THOSE SILOS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE --
MY VICE- CHAIR AND THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE AND THOSE FROM
HUMAN
SERVICES, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
THIS IS A NEW AREA AND, AS WE
KNOW, IN WORKING
PUBLIC SAFETY AND MY POINTS
ABOUT US BEING A
CITY OF TWO MINDS.
WE ALWAYS END UP GOING SIDEWAYS.
WE END UP HAVING THESE COMPETING
ELEMENTS THAT BASICALLY END
UP GOING NOWHERE.
AND NOW WE'RE SEEING
THAT THE CONDITIONS -- IT'S
ABOUT PROVIDING FOCUS AND
LEADERSHIP.
AND I'M WILLING TO PARTNER,
BECAUSE THIS IS THE SCENE --
THIS IS NOT EASY AND IT'S
COMPLICATED AND THERE'S A
BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS TO
THIS.
AND WE DO NEED TO
FOCUS. WE ZOO DO NEED TO STEP
FORWARD,
TALKING ABOUT SILOS.
WE NEED TO PRESS FORWARD.
WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL
SAFETY, WE CAN'T BE OF TWO
MINDS, ONE
INITIATIVE THAT GOES SIDEWAYS.
AS YOU CAN TELL, THAT'S A
GREAT FRUSTRATION OF MINE ACROSS
MANY
AREAS. BUT WITH SCHOOL SAFETY
AND
PUBLIC SAFETY MORE
GENERALLY, PARTICULARLY IN THE
AREA THAT IS
IN THAT SEAM THAT HAS ALL
THESE DIFFERENT PIECES THAT ARE
NOT TRADITIONALLY PART OF PUBLIC
SAFETY, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT FOCUS AND
SOME OF THE PIECES.
I RECOGNIZE THE POINTS MADE.
I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, WITH CHAIR
RIVERA, WITH YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, AND COUNCILMEMBER
LIN, BECAUSE HIS DISTRICT IS
FACING
A LOT OF THIS, THESE
CHALLENGES, SO TO ENSURE THAT WE
ARE
ON THE SAME PAGE AND THAT WE'RE
IN
A GOOD PLACE.
AGAIN, THIS IS AN AREA WE
CAN'T BE OF TWO MIND AS A CITY
AND
WE NEED TO PRESS FORWARD AND
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT IN OUR SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA.
I'LL BE BRIEF WITH MY COMMENTS
HERE.
I APPRECIATE THIS
AMENDMENT COMING FORWARD AND IT
GIVES
US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE
THAT,
ONE, WE CAN COMMUNICATE
THAT, GETTING THOSE INVESTMENTS
UP
FRONT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE
ANOTHER LOOK.
THAT'S A GOOD PRACTICE, THAT
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING AN
INVESTMENT AND MAKING A
DECISION BEFORE THAT NEXT ROUND
OF
FUNDING SO AS I READ AND
INTERPRET THIS THAT IS A
HELP FOR US AND FOR THE
DEPARTMENT
SO THEY CAN PROVIDE THAT CLARITY
TO ANY PARTNERS UP FRONT.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS AMENDMENT
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE
THAT SECOND LOOK AND REVIEW
THOSE
OUTCOMES WILL GIVE US
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE OUR
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS ARE GOING
TO BE STABLE AND
INVESTMENTS WE HAVE CONFIDENCE
WILL GET US
TO THE OUTCOMES THAT WE ALL
WANT BECAUSE SCHOOL- BASED
SAFETY, I
WON'T REPEAT BECAUSE SO
MANY HAVE SAID IT, IS JUST
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I JUST APPRECIATE -- WE'RE
DOING A LOT OF COMPLEXITY AND
NUANCE
IN A FEW OF THESE
AMENDMENTS TODAY AND I
APPRECIATE
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, FOR
MOVING THIS FORWARD.
I WOULD ASK MY NAME BE ADDED AS
CO-SPONSOR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS,
SO I'M GOING TO ADDRESS
THIS AMENDMENT BEFORE WE GO TO
THE NEXT ONE.
I ALWAYS APPRECIATE --
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, I WILL
LET YOU GO NEXT.
I JUST SAW YOUR HAND GO UP
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO OFFER
SOME FINAL REMARKS ON THIS, AND
THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, FOR THE DISCUSSION
ON THIS TOPIC.
HAPPY TO ENGAGE FURTHER
TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS
RIGHT, BECAUSE THE SPIRIT OF
THIS AMENDMENT
IS TO REALLY DEMONSTRATE OUR
FOCUS FOCUS BUILD TOWARDS A
UNIFIED CITY
APPROACH FOR ADDRESSING THIS.
I WANTED TO ALSO
UPLIFT, BECAUSE I DIDN'T SAY
THIS
EARLIER, FUTURE RFPs WOULD BE
INFORMED
BY THIS RAPPORT THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO BUILD AND IDENTIFY
WHICH COMMUNITY ORGS WOULD BE
LEAD IN
PARTICULAR AREAS IN A BROADER
STRATEGY
AND WHAT THEY MIGHT NEED MORE
FUNDING FOR .
AND SO LOOKING FORWARD
TO CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT TO
MAKE SURE WE GET THIS RIGHT, AND
THANK YOU TO FOLKS WHO SIGNED
ON AS CO- SPONSORS
TODAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. THANK YOU.
OKAY. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE
RESPONSOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD,
PARTICULARLY IT
GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
THESE
CONVERSATIONS.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL SAY
SOMETHING ELSE, RELEASING
CONFIDENTIALITY WHEN YOU'RE
CRAFTING
AMENDMENTS IS REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE I
IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, THE --
MY INITIAL AMENDMENT TO CROSS
ACROSS THOSE NAMED IN THE
LEVY, SPEAKS TO EXACTLY WHAT
THIS AMENDMENT IS SPEAKING TO IN
A
BROADER WAY BECAUSE THE
PROGRAMS FROM HSD THAT ARE IN
THE
LEVY ARE NOT SOLELY ABOUT SCHOOL
SAFETY.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER
INVESTMENTS
AS WELL.
AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE
ACROSS THE BOARD ALL THE
INVESTMENTS ARE BEING
COORDINATED WITH ALL
THE DEPARTMENTS AND ACROSS ALL
THE DEPARTMENTS SO WE HAVE A
STRATEGIC, COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN FOR ALL THE INVESTMENTS
THAT
ARE BEING TOUCHED BY THIS LEVY.
AND THAT WAS THE POINT OF
DOING A FORMAL IDT TO DO THIS
WORK.
I DIDN'T KNOW THIS AMENDMENT
WAS COMING FORWARD, AND MAYBE NO
ONE HAD SEEN THE IDT AMENDMENT,
BUT
THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO COORDINATE BECAUSE
I THINK IT
SERVES EVERYBODY BEST WHEN WE'RE
COORDINATING THESE EFFORTS.
TO ME, WHEN I READ THIS
AMENDMENT, I WILL ADMIT,
I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT,
THE
LANGUAGE, WAS A LITTLE BIT
LEFT ME POSITING WHAT WE WERE
GETTING TO.
IF IT'S A COORDINATION ON THE
SAFETY, THAT IS IMPORTANT.
THAT WAS CONTEMPLATED BY
THE AMENDMENT I BROUGHT ON THE
IDT,
BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE MANY
PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES
THAT WE WILL HAVE TO COORDINATE
ACROSS ALL THE DEPARTMENTS FOR
THIS
LEVY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD
TO SINGLE ONE OUT BECAUSE THERE
ARE
MANY INVESTMENTS, SO I'LL
SAY THAT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT.
I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, MAKING
SURE THAT THE I&E IS CLEAR,
THAT ALL THE COORDINATION ON ALL
THE PROGRAMS ALSO INCLUDES
THISTHIS
WORK. I WILL SAY I APPRECIATE
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
FOR BRINGING UP THE SYMPOSIUM
THAT
I PUT TOGETHER A FEW WEEKS AGO
TO TALK ABOUT THE GUN SAFETY
STRATEGIES.
OUR COLLEAGUES, I INVITED
FOLKS FROM AND WORKED WITH
THETHE NATIONAL NETWORK TO BRING
FOLKS FROM PHILLY AND HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH
BALTIMORE ABOUT THEIR GUN SAFETY
APPROACHES.
THAT IS NOT EXACTLY WHAT
THIS AMENDMENT SPEAKS TO
ENTIRELY.
IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
THE COMMUNITY ASPECT IS
ONE ASPECT OF THE APPROACH BUT
NOT THE FULL APPROACH, AND I
THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO JUST ONE
ASPECT
OF THE APPROACH IF WE'RE GOING
TO ENGAGE IN COMPREHENSIVE
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK IN
THE
CITY. IT INVOLVES A LOT OFOF AND
COUNTY AND STATE DEPARTMENTS
AND AGENCIES AND EFFORTS AND
ALSO
INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY SAFETY
WORK.
SO I FELT THAT WAS IMPORTANT
TO SAY BECAUSE THIS IS A
STRATEGY THAT IS A FORMAL
STRATEGY BY
AN ORGANIZATION OUT OF THE JON
JAY
COLLEGE. I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS
BEFORE,
COLLEAGUES, BUT I DON'T WANT
TO -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT THAT STRATEGY
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL
THE COMPREHENSIVE PIECES TO
THAT STRATEGY BECAUSE OTHERWISE,
IT'S NOT A COMPLETE PICTURE AND
WE
LOSE SOMETHING IN THAT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND SAY
THAT.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, FOR THIS.
HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU
AND COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ON
BEST STEPS FORWARD.
AND LET'S MOVE ON TO AMENDMENT
NUMBER 9.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER -- NO,
WAIT.
CENTRAL STAFFERS.
>> AMENDMENT 9 SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
ADD EXPOSURE TO COLLEGE AND
CAREER READINESS ACTIVITIES
LISTED IN
THE ENRICHMENT SUPPORT
FOR EXPANDED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES. THE AMENDMENT
WILL
CLARIFY COLLEGE AND CAREER
READINESS ACTIVITIES INCLUDE
ACTIVITIES
EX POED KIDS K-12 TO COLLEGE AND
CAREER CHOICES.
>> THANK YOU, JASMINE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH, YOU ARE WELCOME
TO SPEAK TO YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
AND I'LL
BE QUICK. THANK YOU, CENTRAL
STAFF, JASMINE AND TRACI, FOR
YOUR
HELP
ON THIS. WE'RE ADDING A
SIMPLE WORD, EXPOSURE, TO THIS
LINE.
I KNOW IT MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE A
BIG DEAL, BUT IT IS WHEN
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COLLEGE
READINESS PROGRAMS AND THE
EXPOSURE
RESOURCES, EXPOSURE
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH, AND THAT
POSSIBILITY AS WELL FOR IT IT
WOULD
BE SUPPORTED BY DEEL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND VICE- CHAIR RINCK.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT, LOVE
IT. ONE WORD.
WORDS MATTER.
I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY,
IF IT PLEASE THE AMENDMENT
SPONSOR,
TO BE LISTED AS A CO- SPONSOR
AND IF IT PLEASE THE
CHAIR.
>> THE SPONSOR SAYS YES.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
I, TOO, WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE-
CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR CLARITY
AND
WORDS MATTER. I AGREE AND I
SUPPORT THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
AMENDMENT 10, BACK TO CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND IT
WOULD DIRECT THE CAREER EXPOSURE
AND EXPLORATION EVENTS FOR
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE
CONNECTED TO THE PATH TO
TRADES PROGRAMS WOULD BE
CULTURALLY
RELEVANT.
>> THANK YOU, TRACI.
COUNCILMEMBER -- COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, VICE-
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH BACK TO YOU
TO TALK ABOUT YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, AND THIS IS TO
COMPLEMENT YOUR PATHWAYS TO THE
TRADES, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, WORKING THAT INTO
THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND
HAVING
A CULTURALLY, LIKE, RESPONSIVE
OUTREACH.
WE SEE THAT SIMILAR WITH HIP-
HOP IS GREEN TO GET PEOPLE INTO
FARMING. THEY USE MUSIC.
THEY USE WELLNESS.
THEY USE FOOD ACCESS AS WELL.
AND SO HAVING CULTURALLY
RESPONSIVE OUTREACH TO THE
SCHOOLS TO GET PATHWAY INTO THE
TRADES, PIPE FITTING, DIRTY
HANDS, CLEAN MONEY, I THINK,
IS A REALLY GREAT WAY TO GET
MORE KIDS IN THESE
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> WORDS MATTER, PRECISION
MATTERS. A FEW SHORT WORDS BUT,
AGAIN, ALONG THE SAME LINES AS
THE
OTHER ONE, A SEEMINGLY SIMPLE
OR MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD
AMENDMENT HAS THE TREMENDOUS
POTENTIAL
FOR CAN A TON OF IMPACT IN
PEOPLE'S
EVERYDAY LIVES.
FOR THOSE REASONS, IF
IT PLEASE THE SPONSOR, I WOULD
LOVE TO BE
LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> IT PLEASES ME.
>> GREAT.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA.
I, TOO, WOULD LIKE TO ASK TO
BE SIGNED ON AS A CO- SPONSOR
FOR
THIS AMENDMENT.
I THINK IS GREAT AND THANK
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AGREED?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU.
AGREED. IT PLEASES ME.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS --
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> IS THERE SPACE FOR ONE MORE
ON THIS?
>> GREAT.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO CO-SPONSOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK -- I MEAN
FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS
SAKA, RINCK AND FOSTER AS
CO-SPONSORED.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER HANDS.
I SUPPORT THIS VERY MUCH AS
WELL. I KNOW THAT THE TRADE --
PATH
TO TRADES WHEN THE COLLEGES
ARE DOING THEIR OUTREACH EFFORTS
IN
THE SCHOOLS, THEY
TALK ABOUT PATH TO TRADES.
THEY ALSO TALK ABOUT THIS,
SO, TO ME, IT'S CODIFYING WHAT
THE COLLEGES DO, BUT THAT'S
IMPORTANT.
AND ALSO I WANT TO
UPLIFT COLLEAGUES WITH THIS
LEVY THEY'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO DO -- THE COLLEGES ARE
GOING TO
BE ABLE TO DO THAT OUTREACH
IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, SO IT'S
NOW EXPANDING THE OUTREACH INTO
THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS WITH THIS NEW
LEVY, SO THAT'S REALLY GREAT.
ALL RIGHT.
AMENDMENT 11.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
JASMINE?
>> YES.
AMENDMENT 11 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WOULD ADD A
PRIORITIZATION FOR SERVICES
IN THE SEATTLE PROMISE
PATHWAY PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT
HIGH- DEMAND,
PREAPPRENTICESHIP
AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
LEADING TO CITY OF SEATTLE
CAREERS.
>> THANK YOU,
JASMINE. COUNCIL MEN MEMBER
RINCK?
>> AS CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, ONE
OF THE THINGS I REALLY
APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT WORKING
WITH OUR
CITY'S OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS THEIR
FOCUS
ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THIS AMENDMENT ADDS IN
LANGUAGE AND PATHWAY
EXPANSION FOR SEATTLE COLLEGES
TO INCLUDE
HIGH-DEMAND,
PREAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND
THOSE THAT LEAD TO
CAREERS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE
CRITICAL WAYS
TO ENTER APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS, NETWORKS
AND BUILD
PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS WHICH
ARE SO VITAL FOR WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
I SUPPORT
THIS. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF
GREAT
APPRENTICESHIPS AT CITY LIGHT,
FOR INSTANCE, AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
SUPPORTING THE PATH TO TRADES.
WE'RE ALSO KEEPING OUR CITY IN
MIND.
SO I SUPPORT THIS.
SO, GREAT.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES, THAT IS THE
END OF THE AMENDMENTS.
I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR YOUR -- OH,
COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, YOUR HAND IS UP.
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> BRIEF REMARKS AFTER I
TAKE THE AUDIO BACK ON.
AT THE CONCLUSION
OF THESE AMENDMENTS AND THE
MEETING
OVERALL TO INCLUDE PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND IT'S REVEALING IN
A SENSE, AND IT GOES TO
MY DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO THE
STM
THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE AFFORDABILITY
CHALLENGES THAT THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE FACE,
THEY'RE REAL AND THEY CUT ACROSS
THE BOARD.
IT SHOWS UP SO MUCH HERE,
AND ALSO GOOD GOVERNANCE PIECES.
I'VE SEEN IN SOME OF THESE
AMENDMENTS THAT GOOD GOVERNANCE
PIECE, MAKING SURE WE GET THINGS
DONE RIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT IN
TERMS OF HAVING DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY AND THE
POINTS MADE BY PUBLIC
COMMENTERS,
FROM OUR COLLEAGUES DURING THE
COURSE
OF THIS MEETING,
REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE CHALLENGES
THAT
WE FACE IN OUR CITY AND WE
SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF ALL THE
DIFFERENT
IMPACTS AND THE CAUSE
AND EFFECTS AND THE RIPPLE
EFFECTS THAT COME OUT OF THIS
AREA, SO
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO NOTE THAT, AND SO I
APPRECIATE
THAT, CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
ALL RIGHT.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE COME TO THE
END OF OUR AMENDMENTS, THE
END OF OUR MEETING.
THE BILL BEFORE US WAS
MOVED, SECONDED AND AMENDED AND
NOW WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE OUR
DISCUSSION AND FINAL VOTES UNTIL
JULY 22nd.
ON JULY 22nd, WE WILL VOTE
ON ALL THESE AMENDMENTS AND ON
THE
UNDERLYING BILL AND GET
THIS MOVING FORWARD SO THE
DEPARTMENT CAN DO ITS WORK.
I WANT TO SHOUTOUT JACOB, WHO
IS STILL WITH US IN THE
AUDIENCE.
THANKS FOR STICKING WITH
US, PUBLIC COMMENTER.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
COUNCIL BILL 121240 POSTPONED TO
THE
JULY 22nd MEETING.
THE BILL IS POSTPONED TO
THE JULY 22nd MEETING.
SEEING NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, THIS CONCLUDES THE
JULY
8th SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE
FAMILIES, EDUCATION,
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE LEVY SIX-
YEAR IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION
PLAN.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, THIS MEETING WILL
ADJOURN.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, IT
IS 1 : -- 12:08 AND THIS MEETING
IS ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
WE MADE IT.