-- THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. THE
JULY 13th, 2026 COMMITTEE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
PUBLIC HEARING WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT IS 9:33 A.M.. I AM ROB
SAKA, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
-- HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- HERE
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCILMEMBER. RINCK.
-- HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. PRESENT
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS CHAIR.
SAKA HERE.
-- CHAIR. THERE ARE SEVEN
PRESENT.
-- THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. GOOD MORNING
COLLEAGUES. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC VIRTUALLY. THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE. AS WE REVIEW THE
PROPOSED SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
RENEWAL AND CONSIDER PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS PUT FORWARD BY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. IT'S WORTH
REMEMBERING THAT PUBLIC INPUT IS
IN A PROCEDURAL FORMALITY. IT'S
THE BACKBONE OF RESPONSIVENESS
AND TRANSPARENT POLICY MAKING.
PUBLIC FEEDBACK CENTERS AND THE
BROADER LANDSCAPE, AND ENSURES
WE HEAR FROM SENIORS, WORKERS,
STUDENTS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND FAMILIES. IT
ALLOWS US TO IDENTIFY GAPS,
ANTICIPATE CONSEQUENCES, AND
DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT ALIGNS WITH
THE PRIORITIES AND VALUES OF THE
WHOLE COMMUNITY. AND
IMPORTANTLY, WHEN RESIDENTS HELP
GUIDE THESE DECISIONS, WE
STRENGTHEN PUBLIC TRUST. WE
CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE MORE
EQUITABLE, MORE DURABLE, AND
MORE WIDELY SUPPORTED. OVER
TIME. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
WHO HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO SHARE
YOUR PERSPECTIVE WITH US SO FAR,
AND WHO WILL DO SO WITH US
TODAY. THIS MORNING. YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS HELP SHAPE BETTER
DECISIONS AND GUIDE US TOWARDS A
TRANSPORTATION FUTURE THAT TRULY
SERVES OUR ENTIRE CITY. BEFORE
WE OFFICIALLY BEGIN PUBLIC
HEARING, I WANT TO PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS. THIS
MORNING, SESSION ONE IS ONLY FOR
REMOTE SPEAKERS. REGISTERED
SPEAKERS WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN
THE ORDER THEY REGISTERED. THE
ONLINE REGISTRATION PERIOD
STARTED THIS MORNING AT 8:30
A.M. AND WILL CLOSE AT 10:30
A.M.. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
PROVIDE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT,
PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE 10:30
A.M. AT 5 P.M. TODAY. WE WILL
OPEN SESSION TWO OF THIS HEARING
WHERE WE WILL BE ACCEPTING
IN-PERSON COMMENTS AND ANY
REMAINING REMOTE SPEAKERS.
REGISTRATION FOR IN-PERSON
COMMENTS BEGINS AT 4:30 P.M. AND
WILL CONTINUE UNTIL WE HAVE
HEARD ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
IF WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS THAN
TIME ALLOTTED, WE MAY NEED TO
REDUCE THE TIME PER SPEAKER TO
HELP US TRY TO HEAR FROM
EVERYONE TONIGHT. WITH THAT,
LET'S OPEN THE HEARING. AND
BEFORE WE BEGIN, ACTUALLY, ONE
OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE A BRIEF NOTE. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU CHAIR. SAKA JUST
LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT I
WILL BE PULLING AMENDMENT EIGHT
REGARDING CONTRACTED TRANSIT
SHUTTLES, AS I'VE BEEN
REASSURED THAT THE HOPELINK
TRANSIT SHUTTLES THAT ARE BEING
USED TODAY CAN CONTINUE TO BE
USED IN THE FUTURE. SO THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD?
-- AGENDA ITEM ONE BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL BILL
121226. AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
A SALES AND USE TAX PROVIDING
FOR THE SUBMISSION TO QUALIFIED
ELECTORS OF THE CITY AT AN
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER
3rd, 2026. A PROPOSITION TO
COLLECT A SALES AND USE TAX TO
FUND TRANSIT AND RELATED
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS IN
SEATTLE AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE WILL
NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO,
TWO SIX. PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
RELATE ONLY TO COUNCIL BILL ONE
21226 RELATING TO THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. CLERK HOW MANY
REMOTE SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
-- CHAIR WE CURRENTLY HAVE 15
REMOTE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
-- ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. EACH
SPEAKER WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY
TWO MINUTES. CLERK COULD YOU
PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS?
-- THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE
LEFT OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS
MICS WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO
NOT END THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN
THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
COMMENTS ARE ONLY BEING ACCEPTED
ON COUNCIL BILL ONE, TWO, 1226.
WITH THAT, WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
GET A SECOND TO SHARE THIS
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST IS
OWEN BEGLEY COLLIER, FOLLOWING
OWEN WILL BE ALICE LOCKHEART.
OWEN, PLEASE HIT STAR SIX.
-- HELLO, MY NAME IS OWEN BEGLEY
COLLIER AND I'M FROM BALLARD.
PUBLIC TRANSIT IS MY MAIN MODE
OF TRANSPORT. I'M LUCKY TO LIVE
IN A CITY THAT IS ACTIVELY
EXPANDING TRANSIT AS OPPOSED TO
CUTTING IT. EXPANSIONS LIKE THE
CROSS LAKE CONNECTION, THE
PAINTING OF BUS LANES ON DENNY
WAY, AND THE NEW BUS TO GOLDEN
GARDENS, SEATTLE IS GROWING. IF
WE WANT OUR CITY TO BE
AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND TO
MEET ITS CLIMATE GOALS, WE MUST
NOT HALT THIS PROGRESS BY
CUTTING TRANSIT. AS OUR CITY
GROWS, WE WILL NEED MORE
TRANSIT, PRIORITY FREQUENCY AND
COVERAGE. THAT'S WHY I URGE THE
COUNCIL TO NOT CUT BACK ON THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
EXPANSION. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO
VOTE NO ON AMENDMENTS 13, FIVE
AND FOUR SO WE CAN EXPAND
SEATTLE TRANSIT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- SPEAKER. ALICE LOCKHART
FOLLOWING ALICE WILL BE JAMES
WIDENER. ALICE, PLEASE HIT STAR
SIX.
-- GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. I'M
ALICE LOCKHART WITH 350 SEATTLE
AND SEATTLE CAN'T REACH OUR
CLIMATE GOALS WITHOUT CUTTING
EMISSIONS FROM CAR TRIPS. THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE BY
PAYING FOR THE SERVICE SEATTLE
NEEDS HAS BEEN AND NEEDS TO
REMAIN KEY TO REDUCING
TRANSPORTATION CLIMATE
EMISSIONS. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU
TO PASS THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE
TRANSIT MEASURE WITHOUT ANY
WEAKENING AMENDMENTS. THE BEST
AND MOST PROVEN WAY TO GET
PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS IS
FULLY FUNDED, AND FREQUENT
TRANSIT THAT SERVES THE ROUTES.
PEOPLE NEED. THE ROUTES AND
TIMES PEOPLE NEED TO GET TO
WORK. PLEASE REJECT WEAKENING
AMENDMENTS THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND
13. AMENDMENT 13 WOULD CUT
FUNDING FOR TRANSIT. TRANSIT
FUNDING FOR BUS SERVICE THAT WE
NEED. AMENDMENT THREE STEALS BUS
SERVICE FUNDS FOR OTHER NEEDS,
WHICH MAY BE REAL, BUT WE
REALLY, REALLY NEED THE TRANSIT
MEASURE TO PAY FOR BUS SERVICE.
AMENDMENT FOUR MOVES TRANSIT,
TRANSIT MEASURE RENEWAL TO A
SPECIAL ELECTION WHEN IT IS LESS
LIKELY TO PASS. PLEASE AGAIN.
OH, AND AMENDMENT FIVE ADDS
EXPENSE AND BUREAUCRATIC DELAY
TO A SYSTEM THAT'S FUNCTIONING
JUST FINE. AGAIN, PLEASE REJECT
THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND 13. BY
CONTRAST, PLEASE SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS TEN, 11, 17 AND 29.
THESE ALL HELP MAKE TRANSIT
FUNDING MORE EQUITABLE AND
DIRECT FUNDING TO THE ROOTS AND
COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST
AGAIN, PLEASE REJECT WEAKENING
AMENDMENTS THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND
13 FOR THE SAKE OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND FOR THE SAKE OF
OUR CLIMATE GOALS. AND PLEASE
SUPPORT AMENDMENTS TEN, 11, 17
AND 21 FOR A TRULY GREAT TRANSIT
SYSTEM. THANK YOU
-- THANK YOU ALICE.
-- OUR NEXT CALLER IS JAMES
WEIDNER. FOLLOWING JAMES WILL BE
RILEY AVRON. JAMES, PLEASE HIT
STAR SIX.
-- CONSIDERING THE BENEFITS TO
THE ECONOMY, COST OF LIVING AND
THE ENVIRONMENT, FROM LETTING
WORKING PEOPLE MOVE AROUND THE
CITY WITHOUT NEEDING A CAR I
STRONGLY SUPPORT EXPANDING THE
TRANSIT MEASURE AND OPPOSE
CUTTING IT, AND I OPPOSE
SHORTENING THE DURATION OF THE
FUNDING OR REQUIRING ANNUAL
APPROVAL THAT WOULD CUT IN TO
THE CITY COUNCIL'S VALUABLE
TIME FOR ADDRESSING OTHER
PROBLEMS AND.
I ALSO SUPPORT. REQUIRING A MORE
PROGRESSIVE FUNDING FOR THE
MEASURE AND OPPOSE REDIRECTING
FUNDS TO OTHER PROJECTS. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
RILEY AVRON, AFTER RILEY WILL
HEAR FROM JUNE FREEMAN RILEY,
PLEASE HIT STAR SIX.
-- GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
RILEY FROM WEST SEATTLE IN
DISTRICT. I WANT TO FIRST
RECOGNIZE THAT THIS FORM OF
PUBLIC COMMENT IS PROFOUNDLY
UNREPRESENTATIVE AND BIASED
TOWARDS PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO ARE
ABLE TO SPEND THEIR WEEKDAY
MORNING ON THIS CALL. IN
PARTICULAR, THE PEOPLE MOST
LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM THIS
MEASURE ARE LEAST LIKELY TO BE
ABLE TO BE ON THIS CALL, IN PART
BECAUSE OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM CAN
BE SO TIME CONSUMING. THAT SAID,
I URGE YOU TO PASS THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE AND TO REJECT
THE AMENDMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS, KETTLE AND SAKA,
WEAKENING THAT MEASURE. LIKE
MANY RESIDENTS, I RELY ON PUBLIC
TRANSIT TO GET AROUND, BUT MANY
ROUTES ARE INFREQUENT OR
NON-EXISTENT. WHILE THIS MEASURE
WILL COST ME ABOUT $29 EACH YEAR
IN SALES TAX, IF IT SAVES ME
EVEN ONE EXPENSIVE TAXI OR
RIDESHARE TRIP EACH YEAR, IT'S
WELL WORTH IT. PLEASE REJECT THE
AMENDMENTS FOUR AND FIVE FROM MY
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. MOST
CRITICALLY, PLEASE REJECT
AMENDMENT 13 FROM COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, WHICH WOULD CUT THE
PURCHASE BUS SERVICE BY HALF. IN
CONTRAST, PLEASE SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS TEN, 11, 17 AND 29,
WHICH WOULD TOGETHER STRENGTHEN
THE FINAL MEASURE THIS. THIS
MEASURE INCREASES CONNECTIVITY,
REDUCES EMISSIONS AND IMPROVES
EQUITY. PLEASE PASS IT RATHER
THAN UNDERMINE IT. THANK YOU
-- THANK YOU.
-- OUR NEXT CALLER WILL BE JUNE
FREEMAN. AFTER JUNE, WE'LL HEAR
FROM JOE KUNZLER
JUNE, PLEASE HIT STAR SIX.
-- HI, THIS IS JUNE FROM CAPITOL
HILL. I AM ON THE TRAIN BECAUSE
I HAVE TO GO TO WORK. AND I
AGREE WITH KILEY THAT THIS
METHOD OF PUBLIC COMMENT IS
EXTREMELY UNREPRESENTATIVE.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO
MAKE THIS. IN ANY CASE, I WORK
ABOUT $0.20 OVER MINIMUM WAGE
AND THIS WOULD COST ME $6 ABOUT
IN AN ENTIRE YEAR. THE PROPOSED
INCREASE, AND I THINK THAT, YOU
KNOW, THE SINGLE LINE BIKE RIDE
OR UBER THAT I WILL HAVE TO CALL
BECAUSE OF BOB KETTLE
DISGRACEFUL AMENDMENT WOULD COST
ME MORE THAN WHAT I WILL PAY FOR
THIS INCREASE SERVICE IN A YEAR.
THE ONLY REASON THAT I CAN
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY IS
BECAUSE OF THE TRANSIT ACCESS. I
DON'T OWN A CAR. THE MEDIAN
COST OF A CAR IS ABOUT $1,000 A
MONTH, WHICH IS ALMOST AS MUCH
AS MY RENT. AND IF I HAD TO RELY
ON ONE, LIKE I SAID, I COULDN'T
LIVE HERE. SO I STRONGLY URGE
YOU TO REJECT AMENDMENT 13, FIVE
AND FOUR. AND YOU KNOW, I REALLY
THINK THAT ALL OF THE POSTURING
AROUND AFFORDABILITY IS
COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS WHEN IT
COMES TO CUTTING OR LIMITING
FUNDING FOR TRANSIT SERVICE. I
UNDERSTAND THIS IS A REGRESSIVE
TAX, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
YOU KNOW, THE BENEFIT REALLY
OUTWEIGHS THE AMOUNT THAT PRETTY
MUCH ANYONE WHO IS MAKING WHAT I
MAKE WOULD PAY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, JUNE.
-- OUR NEXT CALLER IS JOE
KUNSTLER. AFTER JOE, WE HAVE
BILLY HETHERINGTON. JOE, PLEASE
HIT STAR SIX.
-- THANK YOU. IF YOU WERE HERE,
COULD YOU HEAR YOUR VOICE CHAIR?
SAKA. I REALLY APPRECIATE AGAIN
WHAT YOU DID WITH DISABILITY
PRIDE MONTH. BUT ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE
STRESSED TO YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES, RESPECTFULLY, IS
THAT, AS THE PREVIOUS CALLER
MENTIONED, FOR DISABLED FOLKS,
PUBLIC TRANSIT IS VITAL. IT IS
NECESSARY WE'RE DIFFERENTLY
ABLED. MANY OF US DON'T DRIVE A
CAR. AND SO WE NEED A ROBUST
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
THAT WORKS I REALLY DON'T
APPRECIATE SOUNDS DURING MY
PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT I WILL SAY
HOPEFULLY, RESPECTFULLY, THAT
KING COUNTY METRO IS ABOUT TO
ENTER A FINANCIAL CRISIS. AS
REPORTED ON BY ERICA BARNETT AND
AND OTHERS. AND AND I WOULD
HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP
THAT IN MIND BEFORE CUTTING IN
ANY WAY. MAYOR WILSON'S PROPOSAL
I THINK IT'S FAIR JUST TO MAKE
THE INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC TRANSIT
REALIZE THAT MANY TRYING TO SAVE
12 BUCKS A YEAR IN SALES TAX IS
GOING TO COST THE MOST
VULNERABLE. A LOT MORE THAN 12 A
MONTH MAIKO WINKLER-CHIN SEATTLE
PROHIBITIVE. I ASK YOU, PLEASE
SUPPORT THE FULL SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL
OF YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
-- THANK YOU, MR. COUNCILOR.
-- OUR NEXT NEXT WE'LL HEAR
FROM BILLY HEATHERINGTON AFTER
BILLY MARK BRUNSON. BILLY,
PLEASE HIT STAR SIX.
-- GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS BILLY
HEATHERINGTON. I FIRST WANT TO
TALK ABOUT WHILE I'M. I AM IN
SUPPORT OF THE TRANSIT MEASURE
SENT DOWN FROM THE. FROM MAYOR
WILSON'S OFFICE. I AM EXTREMELY
CONCERNED THAT DOUBLING THE
MEASURE AND ACTUALLY REDUCING
THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT
FOR ADA AND ACCESSIBILITY
MEASURES IS VERY, VERY
CONCERNING. AND THAT'S WHY I
WANT TO SUPPORT AMENDMENTS THREE
AND 20 TODAY. YOU KNOW, A
QUARTER OF SEATTLEITES ARE
RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES AS DISABLED
AND UNDER THE 2017 CONSENT
DECREE, THE SEATTLE IS IS
CURRENTLY UNDER FOR THE NEXT 18
YEARS. THEY'RE REQUIRED TO
REPLACE OR REPAIR OVER 22,000
CURB RAMPS AND MAINTAIN
CURRENTLY, OVER 2000 MILES OF
SIDEWALKS. AND IF WE'RE REDUCING
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THIS
MEASURE IS SPENDING WHILE
RECOGNIZING THAT THE SECONDARY
SOURCE OF MONEY TO THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY, BUT STILL A
REDUCTION IN THIS AMOUNT, IS NOT
GOING TO ALLOW THE CITY TO LIVE
UP TO THAT CONSENT DECREE THAT
THEY'RE CURRENTLY HALFWAY
THROUGH, AND THIS MEASURE WILL
TAKE THEM COMPLETELY THROUGH. SO
NOT ONLY THE ACCESSIBILITY AND
EVERYTHING THAT THAT MONEY
CREATES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE, BUT ALSO THE
APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY WAGE
CAREERS THAT THESE PROJECTS
ALLOW. SEATTLEITES THROUGH
PRIORITY HIRE AND THE REST OF
THE, THE MEASURES THAT SEATTLE
HAS PUT IN PLACE. SO AGAIN, I
WOULD JUST URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS THREE AND 20. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU, BILLY.
-- OUR NEXT CALLER IS MARK
BRUNSON. AFTER MARK WILL HEAR
FROM CHRIS MCKAY. MARK, PLEASE
HIT STAR SIX.
-- GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARK
BRUNSON. I'M A RESIDENT OF
CAPITOL HILL AND HAVE BEEN
WRITING TRANSIT AROUND OUR CITY
SINCE BEFORE THE FIRST LOCAL
FUNDING MEASURE. EVEN THOUGH I
LIVE BETWEEN THE G LINE AND THE
LIGHT RAIL STATION, I STILL NEED
A FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES
TO GO THAT ARE NOT NEAR THESE
LINES. A CHOICE RIDER IS USUALLY
THOUGHT OF AS SOMEONE WHO
CHOOSES TO USE TRANSIT OVER A
CAR FOR A PARTICULAR TRIP. I'D
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER
CHOICE PEOPLE MAKE WHETHER TO
TAKE THE TRIP AT ALL. WHEN I
HEAR ABOUT A LOCAL RESTAURANT
THAT I WANT TO TRY, I OFTEN FIND
THAT IT'S BETTER, IS INFREQUENT
AND DECIDE IT ISN'T WORTH
STANDING ALONG A DANGEROUS ROAD
FOR 30 MINUTES AFTER DINNER.
SOMETIMES THE CHOICE IS HOW
OFTEN YOU SEE A FRIEND ACROSS
THE CITY. WHEN SOMEONE MOVES TO
BALLARD, THE JOKE IS THAT YOU'LL
NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN. HOW TRUE
THAT IS MIGHT DEPEND ON THE
FRIEND, BUT OUR TRANSIT NETWORK
SHOULD NOT BE LIMITING PEOPLE'S
MOBILITY. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
GET AROUND OUR CITY BOTH FOR
THINGS WE NEED AND FOR THINGS WE
WANT. THE UPDATED SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE WILL GET US MOST
OF THE WAY TO A FREQUENT TRANSIT
NETWORK THAT ENHANCES
EVERYONE'S MOBILITY. IT WILL
ADD FREQUENCY ALL OVER THE CITY
AND WILL ADD IT DURING MIDDAY,
EVENING AND NIGHT HOURS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY LACKING. PEOPLE DON'T
ALWAYS WORK 9 TO 5. THEY NEED TO
GET GROCERIES, SEE THEIR FRIENDS
AND TRY NEW DINNER SLOTS. TO
THAT END, PLEASE REJECT
AMENDMENT 13 THAT WILL PREVENT
US FROM ACHIEVING OUR FREQUENT
TRANSIT NETWORK. PLEASE REJECT
AMENDMENTS THREE AND FOUR SO
THAT METRO AND SEATTLE RESIDENTS
CAN MAKE LONG TERM DECISIONS
ABOUT OUR MOBILITY AND DEPEND ON
THE FUNDING APPROVED BY VOTERS.
PLEASE REJECT AMENDMENT FIVE SO
THAT WE DON'T PUT A RENEWAL ON
A COSTLY SPECIAL ELECTION
BALLOT. PLEASE SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS THAT ENHANCE OUR
TRANSIT SERVICE AND SEEK A
FUTURE PROGRESSIVE FUNDING
SOURCE. THESE INCLUDE AMENDMENTS
TEN, 11, 17 AND 29. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
-- THANK YOU. MARK.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS
MCKAY. AFTER CHRIS, WE HAVE
KATHY ALBERT. CHRIS, PLEASE HIT
STAR SIX.
CHRIS, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE
MUTED.
CHRIS MCKAY, ARE YOU ON THE
LINE?
-- CHRIS, PLEASE HIT STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
-- WE'LL COME BACK TO CHRIS.
THERE MAY BE A TECHNICAL ISSUES.
OUR NEXT CALLER WE'RE GOING TO
HEAR FROM IS KATHY ALBERT. AND
THEN ANNA ZIEBART. KATHY ALBERT,
PLEASE HIT STAR SIX.
-- HI THERE. I AM KATHY ALBERT.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE NORTHGATE
NEIGHBORHOOD. I LIVE AT
NORTHGATE SENIOR HOUSING OR
NORTH HAVEN SENIOR HOUSING.
EXCUSE ME. AND WITHIN A ONE
BLOCK RANGE IN MY BLOCK IN
NORTHGATE, THERE ARE THREE
SENIOR RESIDENCES. MANY OF US,
MANY OF US, RELY UPON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO
APPOINTMENTS, INCLUDING
DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS TO SHOP,
TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING, TO GO TO
OUR. FAITH TRADITION GATHERINGS,
AS WELL AS AS AS VISITING
FRIENDS, GOING TO EVENTS. AND
FOR ME AND OTHERS GOING TO WORK.
I WORK AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
AND I WORK ALMOST FULL TIME IN
THAT CAPACITY, AND I MAKE LESS
THAN $36,000 A YEAR. AND I DO
NOT COLLECT SOCIAL SECURITY YET.
SO I RELY A GREAT DEAL. I RELY
COMPLETELY ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. I HAD TO GIVE UP
DRIVING ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO
WHEN MY INSURANCE RATES
SKYROCKETED SO I URGE YOU, WITH
ALL ALL URGENCY TO SUPPORT
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN TOTAL.
AND TO CUT AMENDMENTS THREE,
FOUR, FIVE AND 13. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU, KATHY.
-- NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR
FROM ANNA ZAVALA AFTER ANNA
AYAAN MUHAMMAD ANNA, PLEASE HIT
STAR SIX.
ANNA, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE STILL
MUTED PERHAPS WE'LL GO ON TO OUR
NEXT CALLER AND GET BACK TO ANNA
AS WELL AS CHRIS MCKAY TOWARD
THE END, WE'LL TRY IRON
MUHAMMAD. AFTER IRON, ZACH
HOWELL. AYAAN, PLEASE HIT STAR
SIX TO SPEAK
-- IRON STAR SIX, PLEASE UNMUTE
YOURSELF. YES. THERE YOU ARE.
-- HELLO
-- GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MOHAMMED AND I AM A MEMBER OF
THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY WORK
GROUP, AND I REPRESENT THE
REFUGEE WOMEN'S ALLIANCE. WE
STRONGLY SUPPORT THE 3% PROPOSED
TAX TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
ACCESSIBILITY TO UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES, WHICH INCLUDES
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AMENDMENT
TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND EXPAND
SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDE THE
TRANSIT ACCESS PROGRAM. THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
AND RINCK. AMENDMENT 11 AND 17,
SPONSORED BY LIN AND RINCK,
ALIGN WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION
FOR EXPLORING AND CREATING
PROGRESSIVE FUNDING. AMENDMENT
26 AND 27 EXPANDS ELIGIBILITY
FOR THE TAP PROGRAM. WE DO NOT
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
REDUCTION IN THE THREE TAX
PROPOSALS TO 0.2%. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU IAN.
-- OUR NEXT CALLER WILL BE ZACH
HOWELL. AFTER WE HEAR FROM ZACH,
WE'RE GOING TO REVISIT CHRIS
MCKAY AND ANNA OF ARTS ZACH
PLEASE HIT STAR SIX TO SPEAK.
-- GOOD MORNING. COUNCILMEMBERS.
I LIVE IN GREEN LAKE. I USED TO
LIVE IN COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
DISTRICT IN QUEEN ANNE. I
CURRENTLY TAKE THE BUS HOME FROM
SOUTH LAKE UNION EVERY DAY BUT
ALSO OWN A CAR AND CARPOOL WITH
MY WIFE IN THE MORNING AND TAKE
THE BUS HOME. BUSSES RUNNING
FAST HOWEVER, IS GOOD FOR
EVERYBODY, EVEN FOR DRIVERS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY WAYS TO
ACTUALLY REDUCE TRAFFIC AND
CONGESTION. IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR
THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE TIRE WASTE
IS ONE OF THE WORST POLLUTANTS
FOR SALMON RUNOFF. SO THAT'S HOW
WE FOCUS LESS ON DECREASING
DRIVING AND MORE ON SAVING TREES
OR SOMETHING IN HOUSING, ZONING
LAWS. PLEASE PASS THE POINT 3%
TAX IN FULL WITHOUT ANY DILUTING
AMENDMENTS. LIKE MOST TAX
INCREASES IN SEATTLE, I FULLY
EXPECT THIS TO PASS ON THE
BALLOT AND DON'T REALLY SEE WHY
THERE'S ANY POINT IN TRYING TO
DECREASE IT, OR HAVE RANDOM
ARTICLES THAT TALK ABOUT HOW
IT'S A REGRESSIVE TAX. LOOK
FORWARD TO HAVING MORE FREQUENT
BUS ROUTES ACROSS THE CITY.
THANK YOU
-- THANK YOU.
-- WE'RE GOING TO TRY CHRIS
MCKAY AGAIN AFTER CHRIS. WE'LL
HEAR FROM ANNA ZEEVAART CHRIS,
PLEASE HIT STAR SIX TO SPEAK.
-- HI. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS CHRIS
MCKAY. I SERVE ON THE SEATTLE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD. I'M
HERE TODAY TO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS
TO PLACE THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE RENEWAL ON THE NOVEMBER
BALLOT. YOU KNOW, ONE THING WE
OFTEN FORGET IS THAT EVERY
TRANSIT RIDER IS ALSO A
PEDESTRIAN, AND EVERY SINGLE
TRIP BEGINS AND ENDS WITH
SOMEONE WALKING. AND THAT'S WHY
INVESTING IN TRANSIT ISN'T JUST
ABOUT BUS. IT'S ABOUT MAKING IT
SAFE AND EASY FOR PEOPLE TO GET
TO AND FROM THOSE SERVICES. THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL RECOGNIZES THAT
BY FUNDING IMPROVEMENTS THAT
MAKE TRANSIT MORE ACCESSIBLE,
ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN THOSE
INVESTMENTS, ADVANCE EQUITY,
IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY, AND HELP
THE CITY MEET ITS ADA
COMMITMENTS. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE
THE COUNCIL TO CONTINUE MOVING
FORWARD ON SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION
AND REPAIR, BECAUSE ACCESS TO
TRANSIT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS
TRANSIT ITSELF. SO ON BEHALF OF
THE SEATTLE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY
BOARD, URGE YOU TO SEND THE
TRANSIT MEASURE RENEWAL TO THE
VOTERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ALL YOUR HARD WORK
-- THANK YOU. CHRIS.
-- NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR
FROM ANNA ZIEBART. AFTER ANNA
WILL HAVE WILL OBERST
-- HELLO, THIS IS ANNA. CAN YOU
HEAR ME NOW?
-- YEAH.
-- THANK YOU.
-- YAY! WONDERFUL. OKAY, THIS IS
ANNA. I'M WITH THE NON-DRIVERS
ALLIANCE, OR AN ADVOCACY GROUP
OF FOLKS WHO CAN'T DRIVE OR
CAN'T AFFORD TO DRIVE
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. I AM JOINED TODAY BY
A YOUNG NON-DRIVER. MY KIDDO,
WHO'S GOING TO INTRODUCE
HIMSELF AND TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHY HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE FUND TRANSIT SERVICE TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, SO
THAT WE CAN GET PLACES QUICKLY
AND EASILY. AND IT DOESN'T TAKE
2 OR 3 TIMES LONGER TO TAKE
TRANSIT THAN DRIVING. SO DO YOU
WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF?
OKAY. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? AND HOW
OLD ARE YOU?
-- NINE.
-- AND WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO GO
ON THE BUS YOU DON'T KNOW. WHAT
BUSSES WOULD YOU LIKE TO RUN
MORE FREQUENTLY?
-- THE 50 AND THE 106.
-- AND WHERE DOES THE 50 GO?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET TO ALKI
MORE FREQUENTLY?
-- YES.
-- YES, WE ALL LIKE TO GET TO
THE BEACH IN THE SUMMER, AND IT
WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HAD MORE
FREQUENT AND MORE RELIABLE
TRANSIT SERVICE JUST TO TOUCH
BASE QUICKLY ON THE AMENDMENTS.
NON-DRIVERS ALLIANCE ENCOURAGES
THE COUNCIL TO REJECT AMENDMENT
13, FIVE, THREE AND FOUR,
SUPPORT 11 AND 17, AS WELL AS
TEN AND 29. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE WITH OUR TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES TODAY.
-- THANK YOU ANNA.
-- OUR NEXT CALLER WILL BE WILL
OBERST AFTER. WILL WE HAVE
CONRAD PARKER? WILL PLEASE HIT
STAR SIX.
-- HI, EVERYONE. THIS IS WILL
OBERST, YOUR DIRECTOR OF DRINKS
AND DEMOCRACY AND ALSO GREAT
WORK. ANNA. THAT WAS JUST AN
AMAZING PRESENTATION. I LIVE AND
WORK IN D3. I'M A UFW 3000
MEMBER GROCERY STORE WORKER AND
A RESTAURANT WORKER. AND A
FORMER RECIPIENT OF THE ORCA
LIFT CARD, WHICH I'M A BIG FAN
OF. SPREADING OUT TO MULTIPLE AS
MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN TO MAKE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION EASIER IN
THE CITY. CURRENTLY, IT'S SET AT
ABOUT 20%. AM I TO RECEIVE THAT?
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE A FEW OF OUR
AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING 17, 26 AND
27, TO INCREASE THAT LIMIT SO
THAT 60% AND LOWER AM, I CAN
RECEIVE THAT SO THAT WE CAN GET
MORE PEOPLE ON BUSSES AND PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION ALL AROUND THE
CITY. AND THAT'S WHAT I CAME TO
SAY. ALL RIGHT. THANKS VERY MUCH
AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. ALL
CHEERS.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-- OUR NEXT CALLER IS CONRAD
PARKER. AFTER CONRAD, WE'LL HEAR
FROM ALBERTO ALVAREZ CONRAD,
PLEASE HIT STAR SIX.
-- HI, I'M CONRAD. I LIVE IN
MADISON VALLEY IN DISTRICT
THREE. I JUST FINISHED THE
SEATTLE PORTLAND BIKE RIDE
YESTERDAY, AND I'D REALLY LIKE
TO BE RELAXING RIGHT NOW, BUT I
FEEL THE NEED TO CALL IN AND ASK
YOU TO PLEASE REJECT AMENDMENTS
FOUR, FIVE AND 13 TO THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. SO THE MEDIAN
SEATTLE HOUSEHOLD. THE FULL
INCREASE THAT IS PROPOSED WILL
COST $29 PER YEAR. THAT'S LESS
THAN ONE DAY OF PARKING IN
DOWNTOWN FOR WORK. ONE UBER TO
WEST SEATTLE OR FIVE GALLONS OF
GAS IN A CITY WHERE 30% OF
COMMUTE TRIPS ARE TAKEN ON
PUBLIC TRANSIT AND WERE 20% OF
HOUSEHOLDS DON'T EVEN OWN A CAR.
MAXIMIZING TRANSIT FUNDING, EVEN
WITH A SALES TAX, IS AN ABSOLUTE
SLAM DUNK. PLEASE TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT
FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY.
REJECT AMENDMENTS FOUR, FIVE AND
13 AND DON'T WANT TO SOUND.
-- THANK YOU.
-- WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO MORE
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP. WE HAVE
ALBERTO ALVAREZ, WHO WE'LL HEAR
FROM NEXT. AFTER ALBERTO, WE
WILL HEAR FROM PETER BRIGGS.
LOOKING FOR. ALBERTO, PLEASE HIT
STAR SIX.
-- THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING WE
NEED TO INCREASE TAXES TO CAR
USAGE AND PARKING. I SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENTS THAT LOWER THE TAX
HIKE AND THE ONES ABOUT LOOKING
FORWARD TO PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
RESPONSIBLE FUNDING TO ADDRESS
ALL OF THESE THINGS IT'S NOT
JUST ABOUT BUILDING IT. AND THEY
WILL COME. RIDERSHIP WILL REMAIN
LOW BECAUSE THE COST OF DRIVING
A CAR IS BETTER THAN TAKING TWO
BUS ROUTES TO THE PLACES PEOPLE
MUST TRAVEL TO.
-- WE'VE GOT A BIG WORKLOAD
TODAY, SO JUST TRY AND GET IT
ALL DONE.
-- THAT'S NOT ME. I JUST I
THINK THE LINES ARE CROSSED.
-- IT'S JUST
-- I THINK THE LINES ARE
CROSSED.
-- WE CAN STILL HEAR YOU.
-- OKAY. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
BUILDING IT. AND THEY WILL COME.
RIDERSHIP WILL REMAIN LOW
BECAUSE THE COST OF DRIVING A
CAR IS BETTER THAN TAKING TWO
BUS ROUTES TO THE PLACES PEOPLE
NEED TO TRAVEL TO PAY TAX AND
CAR USAGE ITSELF WOULD BE A MORE
EQUITABLE WAY TO FUND A TRANSIT
SYSTEM. WEALTHY HOUSEHOLDS OWN
MULTIPLE CARS, DRIVERS FROM THE
SUBURBS CAN BE TAXED WHEN
PARKING ON OUR STREETS AND IN
COMMERCIAL LOTS. THERE ARE
BETTER WAYS TO TACKLE THE ISSUES
OF LOW RIDERSHIP AND UNRELIABLE
BUS SERVICE. WE ARE STUCK WITH
REGRESSIVE TAXES. MASKING THE
WIDE NET OF A SALES TAX FOR
LIMITED IMPROVEMENTS TO BUS
ROUTES. THEN THIS BILL TO VOTERS
AND IMMEDIATELY AND IMMEDIATELY
AFTER, COUNCIL SHOULD PASS TAXES
ON CARS AND PARKING FUND
IMPROVEMENTS FOR TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
-- ALBERTO, THANK YOU FOR
PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENTS.
APOLOGIES FOR THE TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT. THE LINES WERE CROSSED
THERE FOR ABOUT 30 40s. WE'LL
GIVE YOU ABOUT 45 SECONDS IF YOU
WANT TO SHARE ANY ANY OTHER SORT
OF FINAL FINAL THOUGHTS OR
REMARKS. I KNOW YOU'RE RUSHED.
-- THROUGH.
-- A LITTLE BIT TOWARDS THE END
-- THANK YOU. YEAH. JUST TO WRAP
UP, SET UP PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
BY TAXING CAR USAGE AND PARKING.
THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE GOAL TO
ME, THE AMENDMENTS THAT LOWERS
THE TAX HIKE IS IDEAL, BUT YOU
KNOW, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. WE CAN'T
JUST KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
-- THANK YOU ALBERTO.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PETER
BRIGGS PETER, PLEASE HIT STAR
SIX.
-- GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M PETER BRIGGS. I'M A HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT WHO LIVES IN
RAINIER VALLEY. MY SCHOOLING HAS
BEEN RELATIVELY UNIQUE, BUT FOR
SOME CLASSES I ATTEND A SCHOOL
ON THE EAST SIDE, GETTING TO THE
EAST SIDE HAS BEEN
REVOLUTIONIZED BY THE OPENING OF
THE LIGHT RAIL CROSS LIGHT
CONNECTION. IN MARCH. HOWEVER,
THE LIGHT RAIL CONNECTION ISN'T
EVERYTHING. WHEN I USE TRANSIT
TO GET TO SCHOOL, A MAJOR PART
OF MY JOURNEY IS JUST GETTING TO
JUDKINS PARK STATION TO BOARD
THE TRAIN. FORTUNATELY, THERE
ARE BUS ROUTES THAT RUN NEAR MY
HOUSE TO THE STATION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS LAST MILE
CONNECTION IS INFREQUENT AND
OFTEN FEELS UNSAFE TO ME AS A
YOUTH. FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE WOULD
ALLOW ME TO GET TO SCHOOL,
CHURCH AND OTHER IMPORTANT
DESTINATIONS MORE EASILY. OTHERS
HAVE STRESSED CLIMATE AND EQUITY
CONCERNS, AND I'D LIKE TO ADD MY
SAFETY CONCERNS. WITHOUT STRONG
TRANSIT, MY PEERS AND I ARE
FORCED TO DRIVE ALMOST
EVERYWHERE. I TRUST MY DRIVING
SKILLS, BUT IT FEELS LIKE AN
UNNECESSARY RISK AND A WASTE OF
TIME FOR 16 YEAR OLDS TO BE
PILOTING INDIVIDUAL MOTOR
VEHICLES EVERYWHERE THEY GO.
PLEASE REJECT ALL AMENDMENTS
THAT WOULD CUT THE FUNDING
BENEFITS OFFERED BY SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, PETER
-- CHAIR, WE CURRENTLY DO NOT
HAVE ANYONE ELSE REGISTERED
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AT THIS
TIME, GIVEN THAT THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS
AND REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 10:30
A.M., WE WILL BE IN A BRIEF
RECESS. SO, COLLEAGUES, IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 10:30
A.M.. IT IS 1011 CURRENTLY. SO
10:30 A.M. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL
10:30 A.M. TODAY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
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-- IN 2026. SELECT COMMITTEE IN
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT PUBLIC HEARING
WILL COME BACK TO ORDER. IT IS
10:30 A.M.. I'M ROB SAKA, CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL THE
COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- PRESENT.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER. LIN.
-- HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. RINCK.
-- HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. RIVERA.
-- PRESENT.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. STRAUSS.
CHAIR. SAKA. HERE
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. LET
THE RECORD REFLECT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS HERE.
-- CHAIR. THERE ARE NINE MEMBERS
PRESENT.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE WILL
CONTINUE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING
ON THE PROPOSED SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE. CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS
THIS MORNING?
-- CHAIR WE HAVE TWO MORE
REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
-- ALL RIGHT EACH MEMBER WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES IN LINE WITH
EARLIER.
-- OUR FIRST REGISTERED SPEAKER
IS. WE'LL HEAR FROM MONTE
ANDERSEN AFTER MONTY WILL. WE'LL
HEAR FROM JEREMY FOUNTAIN.
MONTY, PLEASE HIT STAR SIX TO
BEGIN SPEAKING.
MONTY, ARE YOU THERE
-- MONTY. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
-- CORRECT.
-- THERE WE GO. WE HEAR YOU.
MONTY. WE HEARD YOU. MONTY STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
-- MONTY. WE'RE SHOWING YOU AS
A MUTE.
WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR MONTY,
OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS JEREMY
FOUNTAIN. JEREMY HAS REGISTERED,
BUT IS NOT HAS NOT CALLED IN
YET. SO, JEREMY, IF YOU COULD
PLEASE CALL IN. WE'LL BE HAPPY
TO HEAR FROM YOU
AT THE MOMENT, IT'S STILL.
IT'S STILL MONTY. MONTY, PLEASE
HIT STAR SIX.
-- MONTY. WE SEE WE SEE YOU ON
THE LINE HERE. AND I THINK WE
HEARD YOU A MOMENT AGO. CAN YOU.
ARE YOU ABLE TO COME BACK OFF?
MUTE STAR SIX COMES OFF MUTE.
-- DOES IT SAY I'M OFF MUTE
NOW?
-- MONTY CAN'T HEAR YOU.
-- OH.
-- YOU JUST WENT BACK ON MUTE.
-- WENT BACK ON MUTE. MONTY.
-- OH MY.
-- GOD.
-- THERE IS. OKAY. AM I UNMUTED
NOW?
-- THERE WE GO, MONTY. GOOD
MORNING. WELCOME.
-- GOOD. GOOD MORNING. AND I'M
SORRY. YES, I'M EMBARRASSED
ABOUT MY MY AUDIO SKILLS HERE.
THANK YOU. VERY. THANK YOU FOR
BEING PATIENT WITH ME. GOOD
MORNING EVERYBODY. IT'S MONTY
ANDERSEN WITH THE SEATTLE
BUILDING TRADES ON BEHALF OF THE
20,000 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES ACROSS THE
REGION. WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR
APPRECIATION FIRST AND SUPPORT
FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THE
RENEWAL OF THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MISSION. AND IT'S IMPORTANT, AS
WE ALL KNOW, AND IN TRANSIT AND
INFRASTRUCTURE AND STREETS AND
SIDEWALKS AND RAMPS AND AND BUS
LANES. SORRY, AM I ON MUTE STILL
NOW?
-- NO. WE CAN HEAR YOU. PERFECT.
-- THANK YOU. HEAR ME? OH,
THAT'S MY HUBBY COMING IN TO
HELP ME. SO IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE'RE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED
IN THE CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS OF
THE PACKAGE, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING.
YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW, EVERY PART
OF THESE PROJECTS HAS A, YOU
KNOW, THEIR OWN SPACE. AND FOR
CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S MINE. I
WOULD LIKE TO STRONGLY SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS SUCH AS AMENDMENT
THREE THAT PRIORITIZE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND REPAIR AND
EXPANSION OF SIDEWALKS. AND
WE'RE NOT A FAN OF AMENDMENT
24, EVEN THOUGH I UNDERSTAND
THEIR INTENTIONS, BUT IT JUST
REDUCES CAPITAL SPENDING. AND
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IF YOU
DON'T TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU
HAVE, IT FALLS APART. AND IT'S
MORE EXPENSIVE TO FIX LATER. SO
I WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW
THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS HELP
WITH RELIABILITY AND
ACCESSIBILITY. WE NEED GOOD
JOBS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP, CHAIR. SAKA, AND
MANY OF US WHO ARE WORKING
TOGETHER TO GET THIS DONE. AND
WE'RE GOING TO BUILD SOME
BETTER LIVES OUT THERE AND DO IT
ALL TOGETHER. AND I APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MR. ANDERSON
-- OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS JEREMY
FOUNTAIN. JEREMY IS NOT
CURRENTLY ON THE LINE. SO,
JEREMY, IF YOU'RE LISTENING,
PLEASE CALL IN.
-- HE'S NOT. DID HE JOIN US?
HE'S. HE JOINED US? NO. OKAY.
JUST MENTION THAT NO MORE
-- MR. FOUNTAIN IS NOT CALLED IN
AT THIS POINT. THERE ARE NO MORE
REGISTERED SPEAKERS
-- ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE
REMOTE PUBLIC HEARING SESSION.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO
CONTRIBUTED TO A THOUGHTFUL AND
PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION THIS
MORNING. LATER TODAY AT 5 P.M.,
WE WILL HOST AN IN-PERSON PUBLIC
HEARING. CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATION THERE. OVERFLOW
SEATING FOR THE IN-PERSON PUBLIC
HEARING WILL BE AVAILABLE
DOWNSTAIRS IN THE BERTHA KNIGHT
LANDES ROOM IF NEEDED. ALL ARE
WELCOME AND STRONGLY ENCOURAGED
TO PARTICIPATE. THEIR FEEDBACK
ON THE PROPOSED SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE AND THE. WE WILL
RECONVENE THE FINAL MEETING OF
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT ON THURSDAY, JULY 16th.
LATER THIS WEEK AT 9:30 A.M.. AT
THIS MEETING, WE WILL VOTE ON
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND THE
LEGISLATION ITSELF, WHICH WILL
ALLOW US TO SUBMIT A FINAL
PACKAGE TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR
POSSIBLE APPROVAL AT NEXT
WEEK'S JULY 21st CITY COUNCIL
MEETING, AND TIME TO GET THIS ON
THE BALLOT. SO FRIENDLY REMINDER
GOOD LEGISLATION IS STRENGTHENED
BY THOUGHTFUL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT,
COMMENT AND PUBLIC DELIBERATION.
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS
VITAL WORK TOGETHER. JUST ONE
FINAL CHECK FOR IF THAT LAST
CALLER HAS JOINED US.
-- HE HAS NOT.
-- OKAY, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THEN THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 5 P.M.
TODAY HEARING. SEEING NO
OBJECTION, THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT IS IN RECESS
UNTIL 5 P.M. TODAY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK