[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
-- YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
-- ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. THE
JULY 13th, 2026 SELECT COMMITTEE
ON THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT WILL COME BACK
TO ORDER. IT IS 503. I AM ROB
SAKA, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER. LIN.
-- HERE WAIT, WAS THAT LIN
APOLOGIES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- LET'S READ THE LAST
COUNCILMEMBER.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. LIN
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. PRESENT
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- PRESENT.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. HERE.
CHAIR. SAKA. HERE. CHAIR. THERE
ARE SIX MEMBERS PRESENT.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THE
REST OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
EXCUSED UNTIL THEY ARRIVE. GOOD
EVENING. COLLEAGUES. MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC, WELCOME FOR. AND
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THE CHANCE
TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL DIRECTLY AS
WE CONSIDER THIS PROPOSED
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE AND THE
VARIOUS AMENDMENTS THAT EACH
COMMITTEE MEMBER HAS OFFERED, IT
IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
PUBLIC INPUT ISN'T JUST ABOUT
CHECKING THE BOX, BUT RATHER
IT'S A FOUNDATION FOR EFFECTIVE,
ACCOUNTABLE POLICYMAKING. WHEN
RESIDENTS HAVE A VOICE IN
SHAPING PROJECTS, PROGRAMS, AND
SERVICES, WE BUILD PUBLIC TRUST
AND WE ALSO HELP CREATE
SOLUTIONS THAT ARE MORE
EQUITABLE, MORE DURABLE, AND
MORE BROADLY SUPPORTED. I WANT
TO THANK ALL MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE
YOUR PERSPECTIVES DIRECTLY WITH
US TODAY. YOUR INSIGHTS
STRENGTHEN OUR DECISIONS AND
YOUR ENGAGEMENT HELPS US BUILD A
TRANSPORTATION FUTURE THAT TRULY
WORKS FOR EVERYONE AS A FRIENDLY
REMINDER, AN ADMINISTRATIVE
NOTE, FRIENDLY REMINDER TO ALL
MY COUNCILMEMBER COLLEAGUES THAT
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN SETTING UP.
QUICK ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS
WITH EACH OF YOU TO DISCUSS THE
PROPOSED SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE, RENEWAL AND YOUR
RESPECTIVE PRIORITIES. PLEASE
PRIORITIZE THESE QUICK HUDDLE
CONVERSATIONS OVER THE NEXT FEW.
REALLY BY TOMORROW, SO WE CAN
MAKE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE USE
OF OUR VERY LIMITED AND FLEETING
TIME TOGETHER DURING COMMITTEE.
SO IF YOU DO NOT ALREADY HAVE A
MEETING WITH ME ON THE CALENDAR,
PLEASE HAVE YOUR STAFF WORK WITH
MY STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE GET
THIS CRITICAL CONVERSATION
SCHEDULED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE IN-PERSON
PUBLIC HEARING COMPONENT. WE HAD
A EARLIER AM REMOTE TESTIMONY
OPPORTUNITY. I WANT TO JUST KIND
OF LEVEL SET, REMIND FOLKS ABOUT
THE THE PROCESS. WE WILL OPEN
WITH SESSION TWO, WHICH IS WHY
WE'RE HERE TODAY OF THIS
HEARING, WHERE WE WILL ACCEPT
IN-PERSON COMMENTS. WE HAVE
SCHEDULED THIS EVENING SESSION
IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN OPTION
FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS
MORNING'S VIRTUAL SESSION.
REGISTRATION FOR IN-PERSON
COMMENTS BEGAN PROMPTLY AT 4:30
P.M. TONIGHT. RATHER, AND WILL
CONTINUE UNTIL WE HAVE HEARD ALL
REGISTERED SPEAKERS. IF WE HAVE
MORE SPEAKERS THAN TIME ALLOTTED
WE'LL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
FROM THERE. BUT EVERYONE, I
THINK TODAY WILL LIKELY GET TWO
MINUTES AT THURSDAY'S SELECT
COMMITTEE MEETING. THAT WILL BE
AT 930 IN THE MORNING. WE WILL
BE ACCEPTING WRITTEN PUBLIC
COMMENTS ONLY. THIS IS TO ALLOW
FOR PLENTY OF TIME TO
DELIBERATE, DISCUSS AND VOTE ON
THE AMENDMENTS AND THE FINAL
PACKAGE AND ALLOW US TO APPROVE
A FINAL PACKAGE TO SUBMIT TO THE
FULL COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION,
WHICH THE ANTICIPATED FINAL VOTE
FOR THAT AT FULL COUNCIL IS NEXT
TUESDAY. NEXT TUESDAY, A WEEK
FROM TOMORROW. SO THE GOAL OF
THURSDAY'S MEETING. WELL, MY
GOAL IS SHARE THAT MEETING IS TO
IDEALLY TAKE GET FOLKS OUT OF
HERE NO LATER THAN NOON. AND I
KNOW THAT A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE OTHER REGIONAL COMMITTEES
THAT START EARLIER IN THE
AFTERNOON, BUT MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC ARE ENCOURAGED AND
WELCOME TO SUBMIT THEIR THEIR
COMMENTS TO THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE VIA EMAIL. IF YOU WANT
TO SEND THEM ALL TO EVERYONE AT
COUNCIL. COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV, OF
COURSE, ENSURES EVERYONE GETS
IT. GOOD OLD FASHIONED SNAIL
MAIL, POSTAL MAIL. DROPPING THEM
OFF HERE ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
VERBALLY HERE TONIGHT AND
VERBALLY TO OUR RESPECTIVE
OFFICES BETWEEN NOW AND THURSDAY
BY CALLING OR CONTACTING OUR
RESPECTIVE OFFICES. SO WITH
THAT, THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES
ASIDE, LET US CONTINUE TO THE
REASON WHY WE'RE HERE. IT'S
YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO
THE RECORD.
-- AGENDA ITEM ONE BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL BILL ONE,
TWO, 1226. 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.
-- THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON
TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNCIL
BILL ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO, TWO
SIX. PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
RELATE SOLELY TO COUNCIL BILL
121226 RELATING TO THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. CLERK. HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP THIS
EVENING?
-- CHAIR WE CURRENTLY HAVE 47
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
-- AWESOME. EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES.
AND CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ
THE PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE WE GET THERE? I NOTE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AND WHO
ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER I THINK
RIVERA WAS VIRTUAL, HAS JOINED
US IN PERSON.
-- I WAS.
-- HERE.
-- AND BEFORE WE READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS, ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES WANTS TO MAKE A QUICK
NOTE. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU CHAIR. JUST LIKE I
SAID THIS MORNING, I WILL BE
PULLING AMENDMENT EIGHT
REGARDING CONTRACTED TRANSIT
SHUTTLES AS I'VE BEEN REASSURED
THAT OUR EXISTING HOPELINK
CONTRACT WILL CONTINUE TO BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE GREAT SERVICE
SUCH AS THE GOLDEN GARDENS
DIRECT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
-- NOW, CLERK, CAN 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, ONE,
226. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST,
CECILIA BLACK. AFTER CECILIA,
WE'LL HEAR FROM DENNIS SILLS.
-- WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE HEARING.
-- DID YOU NEED THE.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- HAVING TROUBLE HEARING ME?
OKAY, OKAY.
-- IS THIS BETTER.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- FOR. AT EASE. FOR JUST A
MOMENT. WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING
TO. SO HEARD A GREAT SOME GREAT
FEEDBACK FROM THE AUDIENCE.
HAVING TROUBLE HEARING OUR CLERK
SPEAKING. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING
TO DO IS HOPEFULLY ADJUST THE
VOLUME OF THE MICROPHONE. AND
THEN CLERK, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO REREAD THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS. AND AGAIN,
EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TWO
MINUTES.
-- IS THIS BETTER?
-- YES.
-- THIS IS BETTER. THANK YOU.
OKAY. 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, ONE,
TWO TWO, SIX. WE'LL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST,
CECILIA BLACK. AFTER CECILIA,
WE'LL HEAR FROM DENNIS SILLS.
-- HI, MY NAME IS CECILIA BLACK.
I AM A WHEELCHAIR USER AND
ADVOCATE WITH NON-DRIVERS
ALLIANCE AND WE WORK WITH
NON-DRIVERS ACROSS THE STATE TO
BUILD A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
THAT WORKS FOR US. AND THAT
MEANS FREQUENT AND RELIABLE
TRANSIT IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS,
NOT JUST DOWNTOWN, BUT THE AREAS
WHERE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS LOUD AND
CLEAR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
DEPEND ON TRANSIT. IT IS OUR
LIFELINE, AND IT IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST BARRIERS WE FACE IS
TRANSPORTATION AND SO I AM SO
EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS WE ARE
WE ARE LOOKING AT A TRANSIT
MEASURE THAT CAN SERIOUSLY
EXPAND FREQUENT TRANSIT FOR
EVERYBODY IN SEATTLE. ALMOST
EVERYONE IN SEATTLE, AND REALLY
MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE
ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR CITY. SO
UNLIKE CAPITAL PROJECTS, STM IS
OUR ONE FUNDING TOOL FOR
EXPANDED TRANSIT HOURS. SO
PLEASE SUPPORT AMENDMENT 24 AND
KEEP THIS MEASURE FOCUSED ON
TRANSIT. ALSO, I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND THAT IT
IS REALLY CHALLENGING TO FUND
ALL THE SERVICES WE HAVE WITH
VERY LIMITED FUNDING TOOLS. AND,
AND SALES TAX IS NOT IDEAL, BUT
CARS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE, ONE
OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE EXPENSES
THAT PEOPLE HAVE. AND, AND THIS,
THIS MEASURE IS, WOULD WOULD GO
SUCH A LONG WAY TO MAKING SURE
THAT PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO OWN A
CAR, DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR GAS.
AND SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
REJECT AMENDMENT 133 AND FOUR.
AND ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING THE
SERVICES THAT WE NEED, WE REALLY
THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT
REGRESSIVE TAXES. BUT EVERY DAY,
NON DRIVERS AND PEOPLE THAT
DON'T RELY ON OUR CAR SYSTEM,
WE HELP FUND A VERY REGRESSIVE
SYSTEM THAT'S FOCUSED ON CARS.
AND SO PLEASE REALLY THINK ABOUT
WHAT THIS FUNDING, NOT JUST THE
TAX AND PASS THIS TRANSIT
MEASURE TO ITS FULLEST. THANKS.
-- THANK YOU, MISS BLACK
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
DENNIS SILLS AFTER DENNIS WILL
HEAR FROM FLETCHER KROHN
-- GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DENNIS
SILLS. I WORK AT THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION AT THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION.
WE'VE LONG BELIEVED THAT
INVESTING IN TRANSIT IS
INVESTING DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN IS
THE REGION'S LARGEST EMPLOYMENT
CENTER AND HOME TO THOUSANDS OF
BUSINESSES. MAJOR EMPLOYERS,
ARTS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS,
SPORTS VENUES, HOTELS,
RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS. WHEN
PEOPLE CAN GET DOWNTOWN SAFELY,
RELIABLY, CONVENIENTLY BUILD
BUSINESSES THRIVE. EMPLOYERS CAN
ATTRACT TALENT AND VISITORS
EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF SEATTLE.
WE SAW THAT FIRSTHAND DURING THE
FIFA WORLD CUP TRANSIT ENABLED
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
TO COME DOWNTOWN, SUPPORTING
BUSINESSES, CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS AND HOTELS AND
RESTAURANTS, METRO AND SOUND
TRANSIT CARRIED MORE THAN 1.1
MILLION RIDERS DURING THE FIRST
TWO FIFA WORLD CUP MATCHES,
WHILE LYNX SET NEW DAILY
RIDERSHIP RECORDS. THAT SIMPLY
WASN'T A TRANSPORTATION
SUCCESS. IT WAS AN ECONOMIC
SUCCESS. WE APPRECIATE THE
COUNCIL'S WORK TO STRENGTHEN
THIS PROPOSAL, ESPECIALLY THE
LEADERSHIP OF CHAIR SAKA.
SEVERAL AMENDMENTS REPRESENT
MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN ADVANCE.
MANY OF DSA'S PRIORITIES. WE
ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE
STRONGER FOCUS ON
ACCOUNTABILITY, PERFORMANCE,
REPORTING, TRANSIT SAFETY,
STRONGER CONNECTIONS DOWNTOWN, A
GREATER EMPHASIS ON TRANSIT
SERVICE, AND A SHORTER
AUTHORIZATION PERIOD. THESE
CHANGES MAKE THE MEASURE
STRONGER AND PROVIDE GREATER
CONFIDENCE TO DELIVER RESULTS.
AS MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE,
THERE'S STILL AN IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY BEFORE YOU OVER THE
NEXT DECADE, DOWNTOWN WILL
EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE AS
SOUND TRANSIT BUILDS THE NEXT
GENERATION OF REGIONAL TRANSIT
SYSTEM. THIS MEASURE SHOULD HELP
US NAVIGATE THAT TRANSITION BY
ENSURING THAT DOWNTOWN REMAINS
ACCESSIBLE THROUGH CONSTRUCTION,
NOT SIMPLY AFTER IT IS COMPLETE.
WE ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO
PAIR THESE INVESTMENTS WITH THE
DOWNTOWN MOBILITY STRATEGY.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS,
AND WE HOPE WE SEND OUR FULL
COMMENTS. IN A LETTER EARLIER.
APPRECIATE IT.
-- THANK YOU, MR. SILLS.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
FLETCHER CRONE AFTER FLETCHER
WILL HEAR FROM KATIE RICCIUTO.
-- HI THERE. MY NAME IS
FLETCHER. I'M 23 YEARS OLD AND
LIKE MANY PEOPLE MY AGE, I CARE
A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE CLIMATE.
SO I WANTED TO REMIND US ALL
ABOUT WHAT THESE AMENDMENTS
WOULD MEAN FOR THE CLIMATE, NOT
JUST FOR THE FUTURE, BUT ALSO
FOR RIGHT NOW WELL FUNDED AND
WELL FUNCTIONING. PUBLIC TRANSIT
HAS BEEN CLEARLY, CLEARLY
DEMONSTRATED TO REDUCE
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,
ESPECIALLY HERE IN SEATTLE. WE
HAVE A BIG OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THAT BECAUSE TRANSPORTATION
EMISSIONS ARE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST
SOURCES OF GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS. SO WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT KEEPING THE STATUS QUO OF
SPOTTY TRANSIT SERVICE, THAT IS
NOT RELIABLE THROUGH LATE HOURS
OF THE NIGHT, AND THINK ABOUT
THE AMENDMENTS SUCH AS AMENDMENT
13, WHICH WOULD CONTINUE THAT
STATUS QUO. WHAT DOES THAT
ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE IN THE
FUTURE? IT LOOKS LIKE CONTINUED
CLIMATE CHANGE. IT LOOKS LIKE
IRREGULAR WEATHER. IT LOOKS LIKE
WILDFIRES, FLOODS, AND ALL OF
THE COSTS THAT THE CITY WOULD
HAVE TO BEAR BECAUSE OF THOSE
WEATHER EVENTS. SO I ENCOURAGE
YOU ALL TO VOTE NO ON AMENDMENTS
13, FOUR, THREE AND FIVE, WHICH
WOULD CONTINUE THAT DANGEROUS
STATUS QUO AND FUND THIS MEASURE
TO ITS FULLEST EXTENT. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU, FLETCHER.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
KATIE RICCIUTO. FOLLOWING KATIE
WILL HAVE KATHLEEN BARRY
JOHNSON.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR SAKA
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS KATIE RAKUDO, AND I'M
HERE ON BEHALF OF TRANSPORTATION
CHOICES COALITION. I'M A PROUD
DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT AND A
DAILY TRANSIT RIDER. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORK SO FAR ON THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE. FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW OUR LOCAL
AND BELOVED SEATTLE TO PORTLAND
BIKE RIDE, I'VE DONE IT A FEW
TIMES. I FEEL LIKE WE'RE AT THE
POINT IN THE RIDE WHERE WE'RE
LIKE CROSSING THE LONGVIEW
BRIDGE INTO OREGON AND YOU KNOW
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT, BUT
YOU'RE NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT'S
GOING TO HURT TO GET TO THE
FINISH LINE. SO MY COMMENTS ARE
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. WE ASK
YOU TO REJECT AS THEY ARE
AMENDMENTS THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND
13 AND KEEP STRONG INVESTMENTS
IN SERVICE FOR RIDERS WITHOUT
ANY EXTRA STEPS. FRANKLY, PUT
ASKING SEATTLE VOTERS TO RAISE
THEIR SALES TAX FOR THE SAME BUS
SERVICE THEY HAVE TODAY IS NOT A
WINNING MESSAGE. IF WE'RE ASKING
VOTERS TO PAY MORE, WE SHOULD BE
DELIVERING MORE. THERE ARE
PLENTY OF GOOD AMENDMENTS, AND I
WANT TO CALL OUT SPECIFIC
SUPPORT FOR AMENDMENTS. TEN, 11,
17, 26, 27 AND 29, WHICH EXPAND
TRANSIT ACCESS PASSES, CONNECT
REGIONAL CENTERS, GUARANTEE A
75% MINIMUM SPEND ON BUS
SERVICE, AND LOOK TOWARD
PROGRESSIVE FUNDING SOURCES.
AGAIN, I KNOW YOU'RE ALL
WORKING REALLY HARD ON THIS, SO
LET'S GET OVER THE FINISH LINE.
FEELING GOOD? SEND US A STRONG
MEASURE AND LET THE VOTERS
DECIDE. THANK YOU AGAIN.
-- THANK YOU KATIE.
-- NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM
KATHLEEN BARRY JOHNSON. THEN
GREG WOODINVILLE
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
KATHLEEN BARRY JOHNSON. I COME
FROM HISTORIC SOUTH TOWN, WHICH
IS A STATE CREATED ORGANIZATION
THAT EXISTS TO ELEVATE THE
VOICES OF PIONEER SQUARE AND
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL THE
DEVELOPMENT THAT GOES DOWN THERE
AND IN LAND USE DECISIONS. AND
IT IS A HIGHLY TRANSIT DEPENDENT
COMMUNITY WITH THE ELDERS AND
YOUNG CHILDREN AND PEOPLE
WANTING TO HAVE MORE AND MORE
RELIABLE TRANSIT. I'M HERE TO TO
SAY THAT THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE IS NOT BROKEN. IT DOES
NEED MORE FUNDING. AND WE DO
NEED TO BE ATTENTIVE TO IT. BUT
IT HAS MADE SEATTLE, AND THIS IS
WHAT I SAW IN MY FEED TODAY.
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP TRANSIT CITY.
DON'T PULL OUR PUNCH RIGHT NOW.
OKAY? IT IS. AND THE TRANSIT
MEASURE HAS PROVEN THAT
SEATTLEITES AND THOSE VISITING
HERE WILL RIDE AND LOVE TRANSIT.
AND THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
IS AFFORDABILITY. THESE ARE THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TELLING YOU
THAT IT IS AN AFFORDABILITY
ISSUE. BECAUSE WE KNOW IT,
BECAUSE WE RIDE IT EVERY DAY.
PLEASE DO NOT CUT SERVICES.
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE FUNDING MORE
UNCERTAIN OR AND PLEASE ADOPT
THE MAYOR'S PLAN. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
-- THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. I WANT TO THANK EVERY
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE FOR, YOU
KNOW, TO THE EXTENT YOU'RE MOVED
BY PARTICULAR COMMENTS, JUST
SNAPPING ALONG THAT THAT SHOWS
US YOU'RE ROCKING WITH IT AND
YOU AGREE AND YOU CAN SHARE YOUR
FEEDBACK DIRECTLY WITH US WHEN
IT'S YOUR TURN. REALLY
APPRECIATE IT THOUGH. THANK YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GREG
WOODFILL, FOLLOWED BY VERONICA
WHITE.
-- GOOD EVENING, CHAIR SAKA AND
DISTINGUISHED COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M GREG WOODFIELD, PRESIDENT
OF 8587, REPRESENTING AROUND
5000 TRANSIT WORKERS WITH LIVING
FAMILY WAGE JOBS WHO LITERALLY
MOVE THIS CITY. OUR MEMBERS
COUNT AND DEPEND ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO HELP SUPPORT THE
PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT YOU THAT
YOUR RESIDENTS USE VALUE AND
CLAMOR FOR. AS YOU ALWAYS HAVE
IN THE PAST, SEATTLE VOTERS WILL
SUPPORT EXTENDING THE STM. WE
KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE CURRENT
MEASURE GOT AN 80% YES VOTE AND
THE PUBLIC IS CLAMORING FOR EVEN
MORE SAFE, RELIABLE TRANSIT. THE
QUESTION IS, WILL THE COUNCIL
PUT FORWARD A BOLD ENOUGH
MEASURE THAT TRULY PROTECTS AND
EXPANDS PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE
AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS ACCESS TO
IT, OR JUST PUSH THE PROTECTION
AND EXPANSION OF TRANSIT SERVICE
WELL DOWN THE ROAD? EVERY TAX
DOLLAR AND EVERY TAX DOLLAR
INVESTED INTO PUBLIC TRANSIT IS
BY DEFINITION, PROGRESSIVE, NOT
REGRESSIVE. FUNDING. WE
RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT THE CITY
COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY,
RESPONSIBILITY AND GOOD INTENT
ON ALL OF YOUR PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS, SOME OF WHICH WE
SUPPORT. OUR UNION IMPLORES YOU
TO ULTIMATELY ADVANCE THIS
PROPOSAL WITH THE FULL POINT
THREE TAX FOR THE FULL TEN YEARS
WITHOUT ANNUAL APPROVAL
REQUIREMENTS OR WITHOUT AN
ANNUAL REDIRECTING OF UNUSED
SERVICE DOLLARS. ON THE LAST TWO
ITEMS, WE ACKNOWLEDGE METRO'S
DIFFICULTY IN THE PAST TO
DELIVER SERVICE, BUT MY
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERIENCE IS THAT METRO HAS
GONE A LONG WAY TO FIX THAT
PROBLEM, AND YOU HAVE THIS
UNION'S ASSURANCES THAT WE ARE
WORKING WITH METRO AND CURRENT
NEGOTIATIONS TO ELIMINATE THIS
PROBLEM. THIS THIS STM DIRECTLY
AFFECTS OUR MEMBERS LIVELIHOOD.
HOW YOU VOTE COULD AFFECT THEIR
ENDORSEMENT DECISIONS GOING
FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
-- THANK YOU.
-- LOCAL 587 PRESIDENT WOODFILL
-- WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM I
BELIEVE IT'S PRONOUNCED
VERONICA. PLEASE CORRECT ME IF
PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I HAVE IT
WRONG. NEXT WILL BE VICTORIA
KELLOGG.
-- VERONICA, ARE.
-- THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
VERONICA ARISTEGUIETA. I'M A
MEMBER OF DISTRICT FIVE IN
GREENWOOD, AND I WANT TO SEE
STRONGER BUS SERVICE EVERYWHERE.
I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY FOR THE
PAST APPROXIMATELY TEN YEARS,
AND THE BUSSES HAVE BEEN HOW
I'VE GOTTEN AROUND EVERYWHERE.
THEY'VE BEEN MY LIFE AND MY
LIVELIHOOD. THEY HAVE HELPED ME
GET TO HIGH SCHOOL AND FINISH
HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN I WAS DOING
THAT BEFORE COVID, THEY'VE
HELPED ME GET AROUND AND SEE
FRIENDS AND FAMILY DURING AFTER
I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN I
WAS COMING BACK FROM COLLEGE IN
ANOTHER STATE, THEY HAVE HELPED
ME GO TO COLLEGE HERE. THE
BUSSES SUPPORT EVERYONE.
EVERYONE IN THE CITY'S
LIVELIHOOD AND WITHOUT THEM WE
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A
LIVABLE, AFFORDABLE CITY, WHICH
IS WHAT EVERYONE WANTS
ADDITIONALLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT AMENDMENTS
13, FIVE, THREE AND FOUR, WHICH
WOULD CUT AND REDUCE AND PUT PIT
NEIGHBORHOODS AGAINST EACH
OTHER, WEAKEN THE MEASURES IN
SIGNIFICANT WAYS. DO NOT SUPPORT
THOSE. I WANT TO SEE AMENDMENTS
11, 17, TEN, 29 SUPPORTED
FINALLY PAYING FOR TRANSIT OUT
OF TAX DOLLARS IS LITERALLY
PENNIES IN COMPARISON TO OWNING
A CAR, OWNING A CAR IS $12,000 A
YEAR. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. VERONICA. AND
FRIENDLY REMINDER WHEN YOU HEAR
THAT CHIME, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE
10 SECONDS LEFT. SO THANK YOU.
-- NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM
VICTORIA KELLOGG, FOLLOWED BY
KELLY REEFER.
-- HI THERE. MY NAME IS
VICTORIA. I'M A RESIDENT OF
LITTLE SAIGON IN DISTRICT TWO.
I'M MAINLY A BICYCLIST, BUT I
DO TAKE TRANSIT FREQUENTLY.
TRANSIT IS HOW I GET HOME
SAFELY. AFTER A NIGHT OUT ON THE
TOWN AND HOW I GO TO THE GROCERY
STORE, AND HOW I ACCESS MEDICAL
CARE. MANY PEOPLE, LIKE ME, RELY
ON THE BUS TO GET AROUND. KING
COUNTY METRO IS AN OBVIOUS
PUBLIC GOOD. FAILING TO DELIVER
THE FULL SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
OR TYING UP FUNDS IN THE RED
TAPE OF THE SEATTLE PROCESS
WOULD BE A BETRAYAL OF YOUR MANY
CONSTITUENTS WHO USE TRANSIT AS
THEIR PRIMARY MODE OF TRAVEL, AS
WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO
WOULD SEE WORSE TRAFFIC AS
TRANSIT SERVICES REDUCED IN
ADDITION, I JUST KIND OF WANT TO
ADD, LET'S NOT LET PERFECT BE
THE ENEMY OF GOOD WHEN IT COMES
TO DELIVERING THINGS LIKE THIS.
WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING OUR
CITY, BECAUSE WORRYING ABOUT.
THE IMMEDIATE PATH YOU CAN TAKE
RATHER THAN STRESSING ABOUT
HYPOTHETICAL OPTIONS IN THE
FUTURE, IS THE BEST THING WE CAN
DO. WE CAN ONLY KIND OF PUT ONE
FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER I
SPECIFICALLY WOULD LIKE TO ASK
THAT THE COUNCIL REJECT
AMENDMENTS THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND
13 AND SUPPORT AMENDMENTS TEN,
11, 17 AND 29. TRANSIT IS THE
FUTURE OF OUR CITY AND THE ONLY
REALISTIC PATH TO VISION ZERO.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- VICTORIA.
-- WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM KELLY
REIFER FOLLOWED BY NICK SEATTLE.
-- HELLO, CHAIR SAKA MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KELLY
REIFER. I'M A DISTRICT FOUR
RESIDENT AND ONE OF THE 20% OF
SEATTLE HOUSEHOLDS THAT IS CAR
FREE FOR MY FAMILY. TRANSIT IS A
LIFELINE. IT'S HOW WE GET WHERE
WE NEED TO GO, WHERE WE WANT TO
GO. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS
THE BOLDEST MEASURE THAT WE CAN
POSSIBLY PUSH FORWARD. I WANT TO
ALSO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO I RODE PUBLIC TRANSIT
THROUGHOUT THE DEEP, DARK DEPTHS
OF THE PANDEMIC, AND I HAVE BEEN
ON SOME MOMENTS WHERE PUBLIC
TRANSIT HASN'T FELT THAT SAFE.
AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT MAKES
PUBLIC TRANSIT SAFE, FREQUENT,
RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT. WHEN
THE BUS IS COMING IN FIVE
MINUTES, SEVEN MINUTES, THEN
I'M NOT SITTING HERE IN THE
DARK, RAINY NOVEMBER NIGHT
WONDERING WHEN MY BUS IS GOING
TO COME. I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING
TO ARRIVE, AND I CAN HOP ON THE
BUS WHERE I HAVE A WONDERFUL BUS
DRIVER TO MAKE SURE THAT I FEEL
SAFE AND SECURE. WHEN WE'RE
LOOKING AT WHAT MAKES OUR
TRANSIT MORE ACCESSIBLE, IT'S
GETTING MORE RIDERS ON THE BUS
EVERY DAY. WHEN WE INVEST IN
TRANSIT SERVICE, THAT IS THE
INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT SAFETY.
THAT IS WHERE WE WANT TO SEE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE MEASURE
DOLLARS GOING. AND I'M REALLY
EXCITED TO SAY THAT THIS IS FOR
$29 A YEAR. THAT'S A REALLY
GOOD AND AFFORDABLE USE OF OUR
TAX DOLLARS. THAT'S JUST LIKE
NINE AND A HALF TAPS ON THE BUS
FOR REGULAR TRANSIT RIDERS.
THAT'S TAPPING TO WORK TO AND
FROM WORK EVERY DAY. THIS IS A
WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT FOR OUR
CITY, AND FREQUENT TRANSIT IS
SAFE TRANSIT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, KELLY.
-- WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM NICK
SEATTLE, FOLLOWED BY JASON LEE.
-- HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME
IS NICK. I HELP CO-LEAD FIX THE
LIGHT AND WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON
GETTING BUS LANES ON DENNY WAY A
REALLY BIG PROBLEM FOR TRANSIT
FOR THE WHOLE CITY IS GETTING
MORE TRANSIT SERVICE AND MAKING
SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T WAITING
AS LONG AT BUS STOPS. MAKE SURE
WE HAVE FREQUENT TRANSIT
NETWORK. AND THERE ARE SO MANY
REASONS FOR THIS. ONE THAT WE'VE
HEARD IS ON AFFORDABILITY. YOU
KNOW, THIS MEASURE WILL COST THE
AVERAGE SEATTLEITE $29 A YEAR OR
$2.50 A MONTH. THAT IS ABOUT TWO
QUARTS OF GASOLINE. AND THE
ALTERNATIVE IS DRIVING A CAR,
WHICH IS $1,000 A MONTH. AND,
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE HEARD
TODAY AND WE SEE AROUND THE CITY
THAT BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN
AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION OPTION
IS WHAT MAKES SEATTLE AN AMAZING
PLACE TO LIVE. YOU KNOW, HAVING
A WAY TO GET AROUND WITHOUT
HAVING TO PAY FOR INSURANCE, PAY
FOR GAS, PAY FOR A CAR PAYMENT,
ALL MONEY THAT LEAVES THE REGION
AND GOES TO AUTOMAKERS IN
DETROIT OR INSURANCE COMPANIES
IN NEW YORK OR, YOU KNOW, OIL
PRODUCING COUNTRIES IN THE
MIDDLE EAST, YOU KNOW, PAYING
FOR THE BUS AND PAYING FOR OUR
SALES TAX IS MONEY THAT STAYS IN
SEATTLE AND HELPS OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
HAVING A BETTER TRANSIT SYSTEM
IS WHAT MAKES THE CITY MORE
LIVABLE. YOU KNOW, THE JOKE THAT
I HEARD AT PUBLIC COMMENT THIS
MORNING IS THAT IN CAPITOL HILL
WE SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOUR
FRIENDS MOVE TO BALLARD, YOU
MIGHT AS WELL SAY GOODBYE
BECAUSE THEY'RE SO FAR AWAY
AND, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING A
FREQUENT FAST TRANSIT OPTION TO
GET FROM CAPITOL HILL, FROM
DOWNTOWN, FROM NORTHGATE TO
BALLARD MEANS THAT WE ALL KIND
OF LIVE IN OUR OWN LITTLE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND OWN LITTLE
CITIES WITHIN THE GREATER
PICTURE AND HAVING BETTER
TRANSIT THAT'S FASTER,
FREQUENT, AND MORE RELIABLE
MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
A WAY TO GET AROUND TO EACH
OTHER AND SEE EACH OTHER. AND,
YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT UNITY AND
CONNECTION ACROSS THE DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS MEANS THAT WE CAN
HAVE A MORE UNIFIED SEATTLE. AND
ALSO HAVING MORE TRANSIT IS GOOD
FOR BUSINESS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
THIS CRISIS DOWNTOWN OF OFFICE
VACANCY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO HAVE MORE WORKERS
DOWNTOWN WITH LESS TRANSIT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MORE
WORKERS ANYWHERE WITH LESS
TRANSIT. AND IT'S GOING TO BE A
LOT HARDER TO RUN A BUSINESS IF
IT'S HARDER TO GET AROUND. AND
IT'S HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO COME
TO YOUR PLACE AND FREQUENT IT.
SO FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, ASKING
YOU TO VOTE NO ON AMENDMENTS
THREE, FOUR, FIVE, AND 15,
PRIORITIZE TRANSIT RIDERS,
PLEASE PASS THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE TO ITS FULLEST. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- NICK.
-- IT'S TIME TO HEAR FROM JASON
LEE, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
DAVID HILL.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
-- MY NAME IS JASON LEE. I
CO-LEAD FIXED LATE WITH NICK WHO
JUST SPOKE, AND I LIVE IN
CAPITOL HILL. I SPOKE TO YOU
COUNTLESS TIMES NOW ABOUT HOW
MANY DRIVERS WERE ADDING TO OUR
ROADS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. 13,000.
I REALLY WANT TO DRILL THAT INTO
YOUR MIND. BY THE END OF THESE
TEN YEARS, WE WOULD HAVE FILLED
LUMEN FIELD TO CAPACITY TWICE,
AND THE TRAFFIC THAT WE
EXPERIENCED DURING THE WORLD CUP
WILL BE BEGGING FOR THAT AGAIN,
BECAUSE IT WILL BE SO MUCH WORSE
THAN TEN YEARS. UNLESS WE DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, ABOUT OUR
TRAFFIC AND GET PEOPLE ON
TRANSIT. AND IT'S NOT JUST
HYPOTHETICAL FOR ME ANYMORE.
IT'S ACTUALLY BECOME PERSONAL
BECAUSE MY MOM IS VISITING ME
FROM DALLAS. SHE'S ACTUALLY IN
THE CROWD RIGHT NOW, AND
YESTERDAY WE TRIED TO GO. WE
TRIED TO GO TO BALLARD, WHICH,
YOU KNOW, LIKE NICK SAID IS AN
ORDEAL. WE GOT OFF THE TRAIN AT
U DISTRICT AND THE NEXT 44 WAS
NOT COMING FOR 36 MINUTES. THE
44 WAS NOT EVEN ON THE DEPARTURE
BOARD. WE WENT TO FROM U
DISTRICT TO BALLARD THROUGH
FREMONT. WE DID NOT GET TO SPEND
TIME AT THE BALLARD MARKET. WE
DID NOT GET TO BUY FOOD AT THE
SEAFOOD FEST BECAUSE OF THIS. IF
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY, SURE, I SAVED
MONEY, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE I
DIDN'T GET TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL
BUSINESSES THAT I WANT TO
SUPPORT. I ALSO LOOKED AT HOW
LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO GET AN
UBER THERE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
MORE THAN $30. THAT'S MORE THAN
THE COST INCREASE OF THE OF THIS
TRANSIT MEASURE. AFTER WE
VISITED THE LOCKS, THEN WE GOT A
LITTLE LUCKY. THERE WAS A 33
RIGHT ON TIME TO BRING US DOWN
TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND SEATTLE
CENTER. BUT THEN AFTER THAT, WE
WANTED TO GO TO CAREY PARK.
THERE WAS NOT ANOTHER BUS FOR
AGAIN, 20 MINUTES. WE DID END UP
TAKING AN UBER AT THAT TIME
BECAUSE MY MOM HIKED ALREADY ON
SATURDAY. SHE TOLD ME SHE DID
NOT WANT TO HIKE ON SUNDAY, SO I
WAS NOT GOING TO SEND HER UP
QUEEN ANNE TO GET TO CAREY PARK.
THAT COST ME $10. THAT AGAIN, IS
A THIRD OF THE ANNUAL COST OF
THIS PRICE INCREASE FOR A TWO
PERSON HOUSEHOLD. PLEASE REJECT
AMENDMENTS THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND
13. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MR. LEE, AND
WELCOME TO SEATTLE, TO YOUR TO
YOUR MOM.
-- IT'S TIME TO HEAR FROM DAVID
HILL AFTER DAVID WILL BE DAVE
SCHULTE HEY Y'ALL.
-- IT'S ME, DAVID HILL FOR LIKE
THE FOURTH TIME IN THESE STM
HEARINGS. I THINK, YOU KNOW BY
NOW, 15 YEAR CAR FREE RESIDENT
OF ROOSEVELT MEMBER OF THE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION. I LOVE TO
FUND PUBLIC TRANSIT TO THE MAX.
I'M BACK TO REMIND YOU THAT WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO PLAY IT SAFE
WITH THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE. WE DON'T WANT A WATERED
DOWN PACKAGE THAT JUST MAINTAINS
THE STATUS QUO OR KEEPS US
RUNNING IN PLACE. WHAT WE
ACTUALLY NEED IS A REAL
INVESTMENT THAT EXPANDS SERVICE
HOURS, FREES UP OUR STREETS, AND
CONNECTS PEOPLE TO THE AMENITIES
AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
SEATTLE HAS TO OFFER. WHEN WE
FULLY FUND OUR BUSSES, IT
RIPPLES OUT TO HELP EVERYONE,
EVEN PEOPLE WHO ONLY DRIVE BY
REDUCING GRIDLOCK AND KEEPING
THE CITY MOVING, YOU HAVE THE
CHANCE TO PASS A VISIONARY
MEASURE THAT MEETS THE ACTUAL
SCALE OF SEATTLE'S GROWTH.
LET'S PASS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
HONESTLY BE PROUD OF, AND THAT
WE KNOW SEATTLE VOTERS WILL
APPROVE IN DROVES, AS THEY DID
IN 2020. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, DAVID
-- NEXT UP, WE HAVE DAVE
SCHULTZ, FOLLOWED BY JJ BISHOP
BURROWS.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS DAVE SCHULTZ. AND THANK
YOU FOR HOLDING A HEARING AT A
MORE REASONABLE HOUR. FOR THOSE
OF US THAT WORK DURING THE DAY I
CANNOT DRIVE, AND I AM, AND WHEN
I'M NOT CYCLING, I'M COMPLETELY
DEPENDENT ON THE BUSSES. THEY
GET ME TO WHERE I'M GOING WHEN
I NEED TO BE THERE, HOPEFULLY.
AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE LATE FOR
ANY DATES THAT I GO ON BECAUSE I
DON'T GO ON VERY MANY, SO I
WANT THEM TO COUNT. THANK YOU.
AND TO REALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
TAX THE RICH.
-- THANK YOU, MR. SCHULTZ.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JJ
BISHOP, FOLLOWED BY PATRICK
WHITE.
-- HI, EVERYONE.
-- MY NAME IS JJ AND I'M A
RESIDENT OF D3. I'M HERE TODAY
TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S PLAN TO
INCREASE FUNDING SPECIFICALLY
FOR MORE SERVICE HOURS. I WORK
FROM HOME IN MADISON VALLEY, SO
DON'T COMMUTE TO WORK AND
INSTEAD RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT
NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS. THE OPENING
OF THE RAPID RIDE G WAS LIFE
CHANGING FOR ME. IT'S FREQUENCY
AND RELIABILITY OUTSIDE OF RUSH
HOUR ALLOWS ME TO GET TO MY GYM
AND GROCERY STORES, AND TO GET
HOME SAFELY FROM THE CLUBS. THE
SAME IS NOT TRUE OF OTHER
SUPPOSEDLY FREQUENT BUSSES LIKE
THE EIGHT AND 48. GETTING TO MY
SISTER'S HOUSE IN RAVENNA BY
BUS IS A NIGHTMARE, SINCE
NEITHER BUS ALONG THAT ROUTE IS
FREQUENT OR RELIABLE ON NIGHTS
OR WEEKENDS, MAKING TRANSFERS
LONG AND UNPREDICTABLE. PLEASE
VOTE FOR AMENDMENT 29 TO
INCREASE THE GUARANTEED SHARE OF
FUNDING FOR SERVICE TO 75%, AND
AGAINST AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD
SHIFT FUNDING AWAY FROM SERVICE.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, JJ.
-- WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM PATRICK
WHITE, FOLLOWED BY JASON WEIL.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
PATRICK WHITE. I LIVE ON FIRST
HILL IN DISTRICT TWO AND I'M
REGULAR TRANSIT RIDER. I DO NOT
OWN A CAR. THE POINT OF THE STM
IS TO INCREASE TRANSIT SERVICE.
SO THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD FOCUS
ON. SENDING AS MUCH FUNDING AS
POSSIBLE TOWARDS SERVICE. WE
HAVE OTHER FUNDING POOLS FOR
OTHER PRIORITIES SUCH AS BUS
LANES AND STOP UPGRADES. AND
YES, WE DO NEED AN INCREASE.
THERE ARE STILL LOTS OF GAPS IN
OUR NETWORK, PARTICULARLY ON
NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS. WE STILL
HAVE ROUTES THAT RUN ONCE AN
HOUR ON WEEKENDS AND SOME THAT
DON'T RUN AT ALL. EVEN ON
WEEKDAYS. SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
SERVED HOURLY OR PEAK ONLY, OR
NO BUS AT ALL. AND ON SUNDAYS,
THE FIRST HILL STREETCAR, ONE OF
OUR FLAGSHIP ROUTES, DOES NOT
HAVE ANY DEFINITION OF FREQUENT
SERVICE, AND IT'S WAY TOO
EARLY. IN FACT, THAT'S A VERY
COMMON PROBLEM THROUGHOUT OUR
NETWORK. BUS IS ENDING TOO EARLY
OR STARTING TOO LATE. THIS IS
PARTICULARLY BAD FOR PEOPLE WHO
WORK ODD HOURS, AND THOSE JOBS
TEND TO BE PAID LESS THAN
AVERAGE. AND SO THAT IS A
REGRESSIVE TAX. FORCING THEM TO
OWN A CAR. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AND WE NEED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
TO GO TO SERVICE IN ORDER TO FIX
THESE GAPS. AND WE ABSOLUTELY DO
NOT NEED A THIRD OF THE MEASURE
COMPLETELY REMOVED. THERE ARE
SEVERAL AMENDMENTS THAT ASK FOR
A REPORT ON THIS STUDY ON THAT.
JUST A LOAD OF RED TAPE THAT
BOGS DOWN METRO STAFF. WE DON'T
NEED ANY OF THAT. AND REQUIRING
COUNCIL TO APPROVE EVERY LITTLE
DETAIL OF SERVICE EVERY YEAR.
I'M MORE CONFUSED THAN ANYTHING
ELSE. I GET THE AMENDMENT
NUMBERS JUMBLED UP, SO I'LL KEEP
IT SIMPLE. SAY NO TO
MICROMANAGEMENT AND SAY NO TO
SERVICE CUTS. GIVE VOTERS A
STRONG MEASURE THAT RUNS THE
MOST SERVICE POSSIBLE. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU, PATRICK.
-- NEXT UP, WE HAVE JASON WEIL,
FOLLOWED BY SUPERIOR MORGAN.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
JASON. WHILE I AM A DISTRICT SIX
RESIDENT FOR 17 OF THE 20 YEARS
THAT I'VE LIVED IN SEATTLE, I
DIDN'T OWN A CAR. SO LIKE ONE
FIFTH OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS, I
RELIED PRIMARILY ON TRANSIT TO
GET AROUND. TRANSIT IS A VITAL
PUBLIC SERVICE FOR ALL OF OUR
RESIDENTS, COMMUTERS AND
VISITORS, AND NEEDS AS MUCH
FUNDING AND ATTENTION AS WE CAN
GIVE IT. WITH OUR CITY'S GROWTH,
WE NEED TO PLAN FOR A FUTURE
WITH MORE PEOPLE RIDING, MORE
BUSSES AND TRAINS TO GET AROUND
THE CITY DEMANDS AND NEEDS MORE
TRANSIT, NOT THE SAME LEVEL AND
NOT LESS. SO I'M URGING YOU TO
SUPPORT AMENDMENTS EIGHT, TEN,
11, 17 AND 29 AND TO OPPOSE
AMENDMENTS THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND
13. THE CITY NEEDS FAIR AND
PROGRESSIVE TAXATION TO BENEFIT
EVERYONE. OWNING A CAR IS VERY
EXPENSIVE, BUT THIS MEASURE ONLY
COSTS THE AVERAGE TWO PERSON
HOUSEHOLD ABOUT $29 PER PERSON
PER YEAR. THAT'S A VERY
REASONABLE COST FOR A VITAL
SERVICE THAT'S GOING TO SERVE
OUR CITY WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, JASON.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
SUPERIOR MORGAN, FOLLOWED BY
PAULINE VAN SENATE.
-- IT'S SUPER LIVE. MORGAN.
-- THANK YOU.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. IT'S GOOD TO
SEE A LOT OF YOU. I AM A SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY TENANT RENTER
LIVING IN A SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY BUILDING ON CAPITOL
HILL DISTRICT THREE. I RELY ON
THE TRANSIT METRO, THE TRAINS,
AND I USE THE FREE ORCA CARDS
THROUGH THE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS
US. SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
TENANTS TO USE THOSE FREE ORCA
CARDS. AND THAT IS LITERALLY
WHAT IS SAVING ME AND SOME OF
YOU WANT TO CUT AND LIMIT THAT
PROGRAM. I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
AFFORD. IF YOU DO THAT. SO
REJECT THAT AMENDMENT AND ANY
AMENDMENTS LIKE THAT AND FULLY
SUPPORT FULL MEASURE OF THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE SUPPORT
THE FULL VERSION OF IT.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-- WE'LL HEAR FROM PAULINE
VINCENNES, FOLLOWED BY JANE ROSE
O'NEILL.
-- HI, MY NAME IS PAULINE. HI,
MY NAME IS PAULINE AND I'M YOUR
FAVORITE TRANSIT BERRY, AS WELL
AS A MEMBER OF THE TRANSFER
WRITERS UNION. I LONG AGO METRO
OPERATOR DESCRIBED HIS BUS THIS
WAY. HE REFERRED TO IT AS THE
PEOPLE'S LIMOUSINE. THE
PEOPLE'S LIMO. I DO A LOT OF
CLEANUP AND HAVE BEEN WORKING
FOR YEARS TO ENCOURAGE TRANSIT
BY CLEANING BUS STOPS AND MAKING
PEOPLE MORE COMFORTABLE AND
WANTING TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS
AND TRY TRANSIT. BUT I HAVE COME
TO THINK MORE HOLISTICALLY.
ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS, ENTIRE
CORRIDORS, AND HOPEFULLY
SUPPORTING THE BUSINESSES
BECAUSE OF THE BUSINESSES ARE
COMFORTABLE AND GET MORE
BUSINESS. THERE WILL BE MORE TAX
REVENUE WHICH WILL SUPPORT
MEASURES LIKE THIS, AND ALSO IT
SUPPORTS EVERYTHING ELSE THAT I
CARE ABOUT, INCLUDING AND IT'S
GOOD FOR PEOPLE. IT'S GOOD FOR
THE SOCKEYE SALMON THAT FINALLY
DECIDED TO COME IN IT'S BALLARD
BOX JUST RECENTLY, SO I DON'T
SEE ANY DOWNSIDE. AND I
ENCOURAGE SEATTLE TO THINK WORLD
CLASS IN ALL WAYS. WORLD CLASS
TRANSIT, WORLD CLASS,
EVERYTHING. SO PLEASE SUPPORT
THIS MEASURE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU PAULINE.
-- WE'LL HEAR FROM JANE ROSE
O'NEILL, FOLLOWED BY ELLEN
GREEN.
-- AND THE LAST NAME IS ONE L
FOR JANE O'NEILL.
-- THANK YOU.
-- I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE,
CAPITOL HILL. I AM ALSO
TRANSIENT. I USE THE TRANSIT A
LOT BUT CUTTING OR REJECTING 13,
FIVE, THREE AND FOUR AND
SUPPORTING 11, 17, TEN AND 29
WOULD HELP MYSELF GET AROUND
EASIER, MEANING BUSSES ARE MORE
FREQUENT AND MORE RELIABLE AND
MORE SAFER. RIGHT NOW I'VE BEEN
ATTACKED IN ALLEYS AND OR ON THE
STREETS TRYING TO WAIT FOR
BUSSES, OR TRYING TO GET AWAY
FROM A PERSON. AND THIS IS ALSO
HOW OUR BUS DRIVERS ARE ALSO
BECOMING UNSAFE BECAUSE WE DO
NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
SUPPORT EVEN THE DRIVERS BY
CUTTING, IT ACTUALLY MAKES
PEOPLE THAT RELY ON THE BUSSES
AND ALSO FOR THOSE THAT DRIVE
THE BUSSES. IT MAKES IT SO MUCH
HARDER. PLEASE RESPECT WHAT
WE'RE ASKING AND COME UP WITH A
BILL THAT WILL SUPPORT EVERYBODY
AND HELP MAKE THE STREETS A LOT
LESS CROWDED BY THE CARS AND
MAKE IT SAFER. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-- NEXT UP IS ELLEN GREEN,
FOLLOWED BY BILL ROACH.
-- THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU
TODAY. MY NAME IS ELLEN GREEN
AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE HILL IMPROVEMENT
ASSOCIATION. WE SUPPORT MAYOR
WILSON'S PROPOSED SEATTLE
SEATTLE. SORRY. SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE AND STRONGLY URGE YOU TO
REJECT AMENDMENTS 13, FIVE, FOUR
AND THREE FIRST HILL IS A CLEAR
EXAMPLE OF WHY FULL INVESTMENT
IN SERVICE IS ESSENTIAL. WE'RE A
DENSE URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD WITH
HEALTH CARE WORKERS, PATIENTS,
STUDENTS, AND RESIDENTS WHO
DEPEND ON TRANSIT AS A DAILY
LIFELINE. WE DON'T HAVE A LIGHT
RAIL STATION AND RELY HEAVILY ON
BUSSES AND THE FIRST HILL
STREETCAR, AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE
BURGEONING GROWTH. THIS INCLUDES
RESIDENTIAL HIGH RISES IN
ADDITION TO HARBOR VIEWS AND
ANTICIPATED NEW TOWER, AS WELL
AS SWEDISH'S NEW MEDICAL TOWER.
WITH THESE, WE EXPECT AN INFLUX
OF CRITICAL HOSPITAL CARE
WORKERS AND PATIENTS SEEKING
NEEDED CARE IN THE NEAR FUTURE,
ESPECIALLY FOR OUR MEDICAL
WORKFORCE AND VISITING PATIENTS.
RELIABLE, FREQUENT ALL DAY AND
OVERNIGHT SERVICE IS NOT A
CONVENIENCE. IT IS A CRITICAL
PIECE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
THOSE THAT SERVES AND THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND FOR PROTECTING A TRANSIT
SYSTEM THAT TRULY SERVES
SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU ELLEN.
-- BILL ROACH WILL NOW SPEAK,
FOLLOWED BY ROSALIND BURROUGHS.
-- I'M BILL ROACH AND I LIVE ON
FIRST HILL IN HORIZON HOUSE, AND
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN DISTRICT
THREE. AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF ALL SENIORS WHO ARE
TRANSIT DEPENDENT, WHICH IS MANY
OF US. WE NEED THIS. THE
INCREASE IN TRANSIT TO ASSURE
OUR MOBILITY AS WE AS WE AGE AND
GIVE US, ALLOWS US TO THRIVE. I
SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL.
PLEASE DO NOT ADOPT THE
AMENDMENTS. THREE, FOUR, FIVE
AND 13. HELP US THRIVE. GIVE THE
VOTERS A CHANCE TO ADOPT THE
FULL MEASURE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MR. ROCHE
-- WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM ROSALIND
BURROUGHS, FOLLOWED BY BRITTANI
BROST
-- HI. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US
TODAY. I'M ROSALIND BURROUGHS
AND I'M IN DISTRICT THREE, AND
I LOVE TO RIDE TRANSIT. I DO
HAVE A CAR FOR THE TIMES WHEN
TRANSIT IS NOT OPERATING AS WELL
AS I WOULD NEED. I'M A NEW
RESIDENT TO HORIZON HOUSE AND I
WOULD LOVE TO GIVE UP MY CAR AND
RIDE TRANSIT. IT REALLY IS OUR
MOBILITY IN HORIZON HOUSE AND
FOR MANY PEOPLE, IT'S OUR
LIFELINE TO GET AROUND. I ALSO
SUPPORT TRANSIT BECAUSE I WAS
BORN AND RAISED IN DETROIT. I
REALLY HATED BEING CAR
DEPENDENT. I DON'T LIKE THE
TRAFFIC. I WANT TO HELP WITH
CLIMATE AND ALL THE OTHER
RESOURCES THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MISS BURROWS.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRITTANY
BROST, FOLLOWED BY ANDREW
LINDSTROM.
-- GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME
IS BRITTANY BROST. I'M A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN. I
HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE
RECENTLY. DWELL DID ACCIDENTALLY
SEND ME A DRIVER'S LICENSE
INSTEAD OF A STATE ID. I FOUND
THAT ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS. SO
APPARENTLY I CAN NOW DRIVE. JUST
KIDDING, THEY HAVE NOT
PERFECTED. BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY
YET. IF YOU'RE YOUNG, ASK THE
OLD PERSON OR THE NERD IN THE
ROOM. TRANSIT IS NOT OPTIONAL
FOR MANY REASONS. FOR MANY
PEOPLE. I'M NOT GOING TO LIST
THEM HERE. YOU'VE HEARD MANY OF
THEM TONIGHT. TRANSIT IS
PERSONAL FOR ME. I'VE BEEN
WRITING TRANSIT BEFORE I WAS
BORN WITH MY MOTHER, WHO ALSO
HAD THE SAME GENETIC CONDITION I
HAVE AND COULD ALSO NOT DRIVE. I
HAVE DIRECTIVES THAT WHEN I DIE,
MY ASHES ARE TO RIDE THE BUS TO
WHERE I'M TO BE DUMPED, BECAUSE
THAT IS HOW COMMITTED I AM TO
TRANSIT. THIS MEASURE SHOULD BE
THE FULL TIME TEN YEARS FOR THE
FULL AMOUNT. TRANSIT HELPS ME
GET AROUND IT, MAKES SURE THAT I
HAVE A JOB AND CAN BE A
PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY. IT
GETS ME TO MY DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENTS. IT GETS ME TO THE
GROCERY STORE. IT MEANS I CAN
LIVE ALONE. IT MEANS I DON'T
HAVE TO TAKE EXPENSIVE UBERS AND
LYFTS EVERYWHERE, BECAUSE MY
BANK ACCOUNT SAYS NO, MA'AM,
YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE THAT $60
UBER, BUT THE BUS IS $3. YOU'RE
TAKING THE BUS AND QUITE
FRANKLY, IT MAKES SURE THAT I
CAN HAVE FRIENDS. NOW, SOMETIMES
I GOT TO GO. IT'S REALLY LATE AT
NIGHT. CAN ONE OF YOU GIVE ME A
RIDE HOME? BECAUSE THE BUS
DOESN'T RUN THAT LATE, OR I'M
GONNA HAVE TO TAKE THREE BUSSES
AND THAT'S 90 MINUTES. AND IF
ONE BUS DOESN'T SHOW UP, THEN I
CAN'T GET THE NEXT BUS BECAUSE
THE BUS STOPS RUNNING. AND THEN
I WANT TO BE WALKING HOME FOR
LIKE, EVER IN A DAY. SO LATE
NIGHT BUS SERVICE WOULD BE
EXPANSION IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA
BECAUSE I MAY BE OLD, BUT I LIKE
TO PARTY STILL. SO, YOU KNOW.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- IT'D BE GREAT IF I COULD GET
MY PARTY ON A LITTLE LATER AT
NIGHT, BECAUSE ENDING AT LIKE 11
IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE MAYBE WHEN
I'M 60. THANK YOU.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
BRITTANY.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREW
LINDSTROM, FOLLOWED BY NORA
SANDLER.
-- HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS ANDREW AND I'M A BEACON
HILL RESIDENT AND TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION MEMBER HERE TO TESTIFY IN
FAVOR OF MORE BUS SERVICE. I
RECENTLY HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO
HELP WRITE A REPORT ON TRANSIT
COMMUTE USAGE FOR TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION AND THE NUMBER ONE BARRIER
PREVENTING TRANSIT USAGE IS LACK
OF BUS SERVICE. THIS MEASURE
NEEDS TO REFLECT THIS CLEAR NEED
AND NOT THE PAROCHIAL INTERESTS
OF INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS. TO
THIS END, I SUPPORT AMENDMENTS
TO THE MEASURE THAT INCREASE BUS
SERVICE, PARTICULARLY NUMBER 16
AND 29. AND TO THIS END, I'M
TESTIFYING IN OPPOSITION TO ALL
THE TICKY TACKY AMENDMENTS
MICROMANAGE METRO. THESE ALL ADD
COSTS AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
BUSSES THAT THIS MEASURE CAN
PROVIDE. WE DON'T NEED REPORTS
ON SMALLER BUSSES. WE NEED MORE
BUSSES. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO
REPLY TO EACH AMENDMENT IN TURN,
BUT I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE FOR
AMENDMENTS THAT REFLECT TRANSIT
RIDERS ACTUAL NEED FOR MORE BUS
SERVICE, NOT THE NEEDS THAT YOU
PROJECT ONTO US. I'M FORTUNATE
ENOUGH TO LIVE ON THE NUMBER 36,
WHICH GETS SERVICED EVERY TEN
MINUTES MOST OF THE DAY, AND 24
HOUR SERVICE. IT'S INCREDIBLE
AND ALL SEATTLEITES DESERVE THE
FREEDOM THAT THIS HAS AFFORDED
ME. THIS MEASURE CAN GET US
CLOSER TO THAT, BUT ONLY WITH
THE FULL 0.3% AMOUNT, AND ONLY
IF WE DIRECT THE FUNDS TOWARDS
WHAT RIDERS NEED MOST. MORE
BUSSES. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU ANDREW.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NORA
SANDLER, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL
PHAM.
-- HI, MY NAME IS NORA SANDLER.
I LIVE ON CAPITOL HILL AND I
RELY ON TRANSIT TO GET AROUND. I
SUPPORT THE PROPOSED SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE AND URGE THE
CITY COUNCIL NOT TO CUT THE
LEVEL OF FUNDING OR DIVERT
FUNDING AWAY FROM SERVICE HOURS.
I'M LUCKY TO LIVE IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE TRANSIT
USUALLY WORKS VERY WELL, BUT IT
DEPENDS. OH, YOU GOT TO START
THE TIMER, GUYS.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- SORRY.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- OKAY, I HAVE A LOT TO SAY. SO
THIS IS GREAT.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- SO I'M LUCKY TO LIVE IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE TRANSIT
USUALLY WORKS VERY WELL, BUT IT
DEPENDS ON WHERE I'M GOING AND
WHAT TIME OF DAY IT IS.
INCREASED BUS SERVICE, FREQUENT,
RELIABLE BUS SERVICE WOULD MEAN
THAT WHEN I HAVE A DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENT IN SOUTH LAKE UNION,
GETTING THERE AND BACK DOESN'T
TAKE LONGER THAN THE APPOINTMENT
ITSELF. IT WOULD MEAN THAT I
DON'T HAVE TO RACE OUT OF A
PARTY AT 10 P.M. TO CATCH THE
BUS, BECAUSE THE NEXT ONE ISN'T
COMING FOR HALF AN HOUR. IT
WOULD MEAN THAT I COULD GO TO
DISCOVERY PARK OR BALLARD
WITHOUT DEVOTING AN ENTIRE
SATURDAY TO GETTING THERE AND
BACK. SEATTLEITES, WHO OWN CARS,
ALSO NEED BETTER BUS SERVICE.
THAT WOULD. MORE BUS SERVICE
MEANS THE OPTION TO VISIT ANY
NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT PAYING AN
ARM AND A LEG FOR PARKING. IT
MEANS THE OPTION TO COMMUTE BY
TRANSIT INSTEAD OF BY CAR, EVEN
IF YOU DON'T WORK A 9 TO 5
SCHEDULE. AND IT MEANS THE
OPTION TO MAYBE ONLY HAVE ONE
FAMILY CAR INSTEAD OF TWO. MORE.
BUS SERVICE MAKES ALL OF THAT
POSSIBLE. IT HELPS ALL
SEATTLEITES KEEP MORE MONEY IN
THEIR POCKETS, GET MORE TIME
BACK, AND EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING
THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER. AND
IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY THAT WE
INVEST IN IT. THANK YOU
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU, NORA.
-- NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM
MICHAEL PHAM, FOLLOWED BY ERIC
HAMMARLUND.
-- COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MICHAEL AND I'M HERE TO
ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO VOTE
AGAINST AMENDMENT 13 AND ANY
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD SHORTEN
THE TIME FRAME OF THE STM OR
JUST IN GENERAL, TAKE AWAY FROM
TRANSIT SERVICE. AS SOMEONE WHO
RELIES ON THE H LINE FOR ALMOST
ALL ASPECTS OF MY LIFE, FROM
GOING TO WORK, VISITING FRIENDS
AND FAMILY, AND GOING OUT TO
EVENTS AROUND TOWN, MORE TRANSIT
SERVICE WOULD IMPROVE MY LIFE
AND WELL-BEING, AS WELL AS MANY
OTHERS OUT IN SEATTLE. WHEN I
FIRST CAME TO SEATTLE IN 2019
WITHOUT A CAR, I HAD TREMENDOUS
INDEPENDENCE WHEN IT CAME TO
TRAVELING AROUND SEATTLE AFTER
WORK, BECAUSE I KNEW THAT MOST
ROUTES WOULD COME AT LEAST EVERY
15 MINUTES. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH
COVID AND INCREASED OPERATIONAL
EXPENSES, SEATTLE TRANSIT
SERVICES NOT TO THE LEVELS THAT
IT WAS IN 2019 WITH THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL FOR THE STM, WE CAN GET
BACK TO THAT POINT. WE'VE SEEN
AND HEARD FROM THE WORLD CUP
THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE TRANSIT
TO EXPERIENCE THE FUN THAT
SEATTLE HAS TO OFFER. A LOT OF
NEWS AGENCIES AND ARTICLES EVEN
PUT SEATTLE NEAR THE TOP IN THE
RANKINGS FOR JUST BEING A GREAT
PLACE IN THE WORLD CUP IN
GENERAL. I ASKED THAT THE
COUNCIL VOTE FOR MORE SEATTLE
FOR MORE TRANSIT SERVICE AND
CONTINUE THAT FUND IN SEATTLE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE LOOK TOWARDS
POSSIBLY HOSTING THE WOMEN'S
WORLD CUP IN 2031 AND HOPEFULLY
GETTING THAT FIFTH STAR. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MICHAEL, AND LET
THE RECORD REFLECT.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN HAS JOINED US
REMOTELY EARLIER. I THINK RIGHT
BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT OFFICIALLY
STARTED. SO THANK YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIC
HAMMARLUND, FOLLOWED BY GREG
CANNON.
-- GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ERIC HAMMARLUND, AND
I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT FIVE. AND THIS IS MY
FIRST TIME EVER SPEAKING IN
FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL. AFTER
THREE DECADES, I DECIDED TO
FINALLY COME OUT BECAUSE THIS
MEASURE IS SO IMPORTANT. WE HAVE
TO SUPPORT THIS MEASURE AS
ROBUSTLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. SO
I'M A NON-DRIVER. I CANNOT
DRIVE FOR MEDICAL REASONS. AS OF
A FEW YEARS AGO, AND MAYBE,
MAYBE NAIVELY, ONCE I STOPPED
DRIVING, I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED,
OH MY GOODNESS, THIS CITY IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE BY BUS
AND WALKING EXCLUSIVELY,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE OUT IN
THE CITY LIMITS. IN DISTRICT
FIVE, THERE ARE SO MANY
NEIGHBORHOODS WE KEEP NAME
DROPPING BALLARD, BUT THERE ARE
SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE
CITY THAT I JUST HAVE NO REAL
ACCESS TO. AND ERRANDS THAT
WOULD TAKE ME IN A CAR. TEN
MINUTES TO RUN. NOW TAKE AT
LEAST AN HOUR, IF NOT LONGER.
IT'S JUST A REALLY RIDICULOUS
WAY TO LIVE, AND IT'S NOT A WAY
TO LIVE THAT A CITY THAT IS
PRETENDING LIKE WE ARE THIS
AMAZING DESTINATION ON THE WORLD
STAGE, RIGHT? WE THRIVED DURING
THE WORLD CUP. EVERYBODY LOVES
US. EVERYBODY'S HEARING ABOUT
US. WE CAN'T HAVE THIS KIND OF
PUBLIC TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT JUST DOES NOT HOLD UP. AND
PEOPLE VISITING AND PEOPLE
MOVING HERE, THAT'S THE FIRST
THING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO
NOTICE. SO AS A LIFELONG
RESIDENT, AS A LIFELONG RESIDENT
OF THIS CITY AND SOMEBODY WHO
LOVES IT DEARLY, I WANT TO SEE
US INVEST IN THIS PUBLIC TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT I KNOW THAT
VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE ARE
GOING TO REALLY, REALLY LOVE. SO
LET'S REJECT AMENDMENTS THREE,
FOUR, FIVE AND 13. LET'S PLEASE
SUPPORT AMENDMENTS TEN, 11, 17,
AND 29. LET'S MAKE THIS THING
AS POWERFUL AS WE CAN POSSIBLY
MAKE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- ERIC.
-- AND WELCOME. IT'S YOUR FIRST
TIME HERE. THANK YOU
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GREG
CANNON, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
SOLA SCHUMACHER.
-- HELLO, CITY COUNCIL.
-- MY NAME IS GREG CANNON AND I
LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN. I WANT
TO MAKE THE CASE FOR WHY A FULLY
FUNDED STM IS NEEDED FOR
EVERYONE, AND NOT JUST TRANSIT
RIDERS. FIRST OF ALL, I'LL POINT
OUT THAT MY HOME DISTRICT
INCLUDES LARGE CHUNKS OF
DOWNTOWN SLOUGH AND BELLTOWN,
WHICH HAS A DENSE CORE AND MANY
CAR FREE RESIDENTS. AND AS
YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, WE HAVE SO
MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHO ARE
PASSIONATE ABOUT TRANSIT AND
RELY ON TRANSIT. BUT I ALSO WANT
TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THERE
MAY ALSO BE VOICES IN YOUR EAR
FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK
ABOUT TRANSIT AND DON'T RIDE
TRANSIT. PEOPLE WHO HAVE A
LARGE, SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN
MAGNOLIA AND QUEEN ANNE, WHO
DRIVE THEIR KIDS EVERYWHERE AND
HEAR THE WORDS SALES TAX
INCREASE AND THEIR BRAIN JUST
SHUTS DOWN. BUT EVEN FOR THEM, I
TRULY BELIEVE THAT A FULLY
FUNDED STM IS IN THEIR BENEFIT.
EVERY PERSON THAT TAKES THE BUS
IS SOMEONE THAT'S NOT HONKING AT
THEM IN TRAFFIC. AND IF WE CAN
MOVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
OUT OF CARS AND ONTO TRANSIT,
IT'LL REDUCE TRAFFIC FOR
EVERYONE, SAVE LIVES, AND CLEAN
UP THE AIR WE BREATHE. I'M
REALLY PERSONALLY PASSIONATE
ABOUT THIS. THERE'S MORE AND
MORE RESEARCH COMING OUT EVERY
YEAR THAT LIVING NEAR ARTERIALS
AND HIGHWAYS IS KILLING US.
IT'S CAUSING CARDIOVASCULAR
DISEASE, LUNG PROBLEMS, AND MANY
OTHER ISSUES. CAR DEPENDENT
CITIES LITERALLY KILL US AND
TRANSIT IS THE ONLY ANSWER. BUT
BACK TO MY BACK TO WHAT I WAS
TALKING ABOUT. MORE FREQUENT AND
SAFER BUS ROUTES ADDITIONALLY
MEAN THAT PARENTS CAN LET THEIR
TEENS TAKE THE BUS INSTEAD OF
HAVING TO DRIVE THEM EVERYWHERE.
MY MOM HATED HAVING TO DRIVE ME
EVERYWHERE IN MY CAR DEPENDENT
HOMETOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND
SHE WOULD LOVE IF I COULD HAVE
TAKEN THE. FOR ALL MY RANDOM
NEEDS AND THE ANNUAL COST OF
THIS MEASURE IS SO SMALL FOR
THESE FAMILIES THAT MAY NOT
THINK ABOUT TRANSIT AND THE
BENEFITS WILL OUTWEIGH THE COSTS
EVEN FOR THEM, EVEN IF THEY
NEVER TAKE ONE BUS, EVEN IF THEY
NEVER STEP ON THE LIGHT RAIL.
AND EVEN IF THIS IS NOT A BIG
ISSUE FOR THEM. SO I BELIEVE WE
SHOULD REJECT AMENDMENT 13 AND
THE OTHER AMENDMENTS PEOPLE HAVE
CALLED OUT THAT GOT THIS
MEASURE, PROPOSE A FULL STM.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, GREG.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SOLA
SCHUMACHER, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY LESLIE DANIELS.
-- HIGH CHAIR.
-- AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
I AM SOLA, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR PLYMOUTH
HOUSING, WHICH IS A PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDER HERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. AND I'M
HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSIT
MEASURE AND THE ADDED BENEFIT OF
THE TRANSPORTATION OR SORRY, THE
TRANSIT ACCESS PROGRAM, WHICH IS
A HUGE BENEFIT TO OUR LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS AND PARTICULARLY OUR
RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
HOMELESSNESS IN THE PAST. WE
WOULD SUPPORT A REPORT IF
THAT'S NECESSARY, BUT BELIEVE
THAT A REPORT WOULD DEMONSTRATE
THAT THIS PROGRAM IS CRITICAL
FOR OUR LOW INCOME NEIGHBOR
NEIGHBORS, AND PARTICULARLY
THOSE WHO'VE EXPERIENCED
HOMELESSNESS. WE WE DO SUPPORT
ACCESS INCREASED ACCESS TO ORCA
PASSES, AND WOULD HOPE THAT WE
CAN FURTHER ENABLE RESIDENTS
ABILITY TO TRAVEL TO NECESSARY
APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, ZOLA. ZOLA, GOOD
TO SEE YOU AGAIN AND BELATED
CONGRATS ON YOUR I THINK NEW
NEWER ROLE.
-- IT'S TIME TO HEAR FROM
LESLIE DANIELS FOLLOWED BY
MATTHEW CRANE.
IS LESLIE DANIELS STILL WITH US?
WE'LL MOVE ON TO MATTHEW CRANE,
FOLLOWED BY LAM HO.
-- HELLO, MY NAME IS MATTHEW
CRANE AND I LIVE IN THE UPTOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD. DISTRICT SEVEN.
ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I CHOSE
TO LIVE IN UPTOWN IS BECAUSE
THERE ARE MULTIPLE FREQUENT BUS
ROUTES, SUCH AS THE EIGHT AND
THE D LINE THAT GET ME WHERE I
NEED TO GO WHEN I WANT TO.
WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO MY JOB,
MEETING FRIENDS FOR DINNER IN
BALLARD OR CAPITOL HILL, GOING
HOME FROM A FUN NIGHT IN CAPITOL
HILL, OR SIMPLY EXPLORING OTHER
PARTS OF MY CITY. FREQUENT ALL
DAY BUS SERVICE THAT IS FUNDED
THROUGH THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE HAS MADE THESE KIND OF
TRIPS EASY FOR ME, AND SO THAT I
DON'T NEED TO HAVE THE
FINANCIAL BURDEN OF OWNING AND
MAINTAINING MY OWN CAR. IT HELPS
ME AFFORD TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AND
FULLY ENJOY WHAT MY CITY HAS TO
OFFER. AS THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS
THE RENEWAL OF THE STM FOR THIS
YEAR'S BALLOT, I ASK THAT THE
MEASURE PUT TO THE VOTERS
MAXIMIZE THE INVESTMENT MADE
TOWARDS MORE AND BETTER BUS
SERVICE FOR SEATTLE. THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE HAVE CLEARLY AND
CONSISTENTLY SHOWN THAT WE WANT
OUR CITY TO MAKE THIS INVESTMENT
BOLDLY. SO PLEASE LISTEN TO
THOSE VOICES AND DO NOT SCALE
BACK THIS RENEWAL. IMPOSE
UNNECESSARY BUREAUCRATIC
HURDLES, OR USE THIS MEASURE TO
MICROMANAGE TRANSIT SERVICE.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MATTHEW.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAM HO,
FOLLOWED BY SIMON THORNTON.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS LAM HO AND I'M THE
GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE TRANSIT
RIDERS UNION. I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT SEVEN. I'M ALSO A
LIFELONG TRANSIT WRITER, SO NOT
MY PROUDEST MOMENT, BUT I
-- I PASSED THE BAR EXAM, BUT I
CAN'T PASS THE DRIVING TEST SO
I, AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, AS
A COMMUNITY LAWYER, I LITERALLY
TAKE THE BUS OR THE TRAIN FROM
SEATTLE, ALSO OUT THROUGHOUT
KING COUNTY, ON ALL THE WORK
THAT WE'RE DOING THERE. SO
BEING ABLE TO TAKE TRANSIT,
ESPECIALLY LATE NIGHTS, IS
REALLY CRITICAL FOR ME. BUT
TODAY I'M ACTUALLY HERE
SPEAKING NOT ON BEHALF OF THE
DESPERATE NEED THAT I HAVE,
BECAUSE I CAN'T DRIVE, BUT
INSTEAD, ON BEHALF OF THE MASS
COALITION, WHICH IS THE MOVE ALL
SEATTLE SUSTAINABLY COALITION.
IT'S AN ALLIANCE OF 14 DIVERSE
ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN VARIOUS
SECTORS, BUT ARE COMMITTED TO
WORKING TOGETHER TO CONNECT OUR
DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS, REDUCE
DEPENDANCE ON PRIVATE VEHICLES,
ACHIEVE VISION ZERO, AND MAKE
SEATTLE CARBON NEUTRAL, AND ALSO
ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR
TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL PEOPLE.
THAT MISSION IS EXACTLY WHY I'M
HERE. ON BEHALF OF THE
COALITION, TO STRONGLY SUPPORT
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE AT A
FULLY FUNDED LEVEL OF 0.3%, AND
FOR A TEN YEAR TERM FOR MASS
TRANSIT, IS NOT JUST ABOUT
MOVING PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT
PROTECTING OUR CLIMATE,
STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES,
AND ENSURING THAT EVERY
RESIDENT, REGARDLESS OF INCOME
OR ABILITY, CAN NAVIGATE THE
CITY WITH DIGNITY. OUR COALITION
WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF
MOBILITY, ACCESSIBILITY,
LIVABILITY, AND CLIMATE, AND WE
SEE FIRSTHAND HOW FREQUENT,
RELIABLE TRANSIT UNLOCKS SAFER
STREETS, CLEANER AIR, AND MORE
CONNECTED NEIGHBORHOODS. AS A
RESULT, WE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE AT
3% AND TEN YEARS, AND PLEASE
REJECT AMENDMENTS THREE, FOUR,
FIVE AND 13. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, AND
CONGRATULATIONS ON PASSING THE
BAR EXAM.
-- THAT WAS A LONG, LONG TIME
AGO.
-- OH, OKAY. OKAY. ALL GOOD, ALL
GOOD. YOU KNOW WHAT I HEAR? 20
YEARS. I HEAR THE STATE BAR
ASSOCIATION IS LIKE WAVING THE
THE BAR, LIKE TAKING RETIREMENT
OR SOMETHING. CAN YOU IMAGINE
MALPRACTICE WAITING TO HAPPEN?
BUT ANYWAYS, THANK YOU
-- REDUCING THE DRIVING
REQUIREMENT.
-- THANK YOU,
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- THANK.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- YOU
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GOING TO
BE SIMON THORNTON, FOLLOWED BY
MICHAEL THORNTON.
-- HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS.
-- MY NAME IS SIMON THORNTON,
CO-FOUNDER OF ART STATION MOUNT
BAKER. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO
EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE AND TO SHARE MY
EXPERIENCE AS A RESIDENT OF THE
MOUNT BAKER NEIGHBORHOOD IN PART
KETTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION'S COMMUNITY
MOBILITY HUBS PROGRAM, WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO CREATE A NOTICEABLE
IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH
PAID PUBLIC ART OPPORTUNITIES
AND TARGETED PUBLIC SPACE
ACTIVATIONS SURROUNDING THE
TRANSIT HUB. IN ONE YEAR.
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE
OFFERED 21 PAID PUBLIC ART
OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING
TRANSIT, SHELTER, MURALS, SIGNAL
BOX AND LITTER BIN, VINYL
UPGRADES, AND INTERACTIVE
TEMPORARY INSTALLATIONS. THIS
PROGRAM HAS CREATED LOW BARRIER
AND HIGH IMPACT OPPORTUNITIES
FOR HYPER LOCAL AND EMERGING
ARTISTS, INCLUDING NEARBY
STUDENTS AT FRANKLIN HIGH
SCHOOL, WHILE CREATING A WELCOME
SENSE OF CITY INVESTMENT IN THE
RAINIER CORRIDOR, IT IS FLEXED
THE MUSCLES OF INTERDEPARTMENTAL
CROSS-AGENCY COLLABORATION, AND
PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAS
MADE THE MOUNT BAKER TRANSIT HUB
SAFER, MORE WELCOMING AND MORE
COMFORTABLE TO TRAVEL TO, FROM
AND THROUGH. ALL OF THIS IS TO
SAY, AS YOU CONSIDER THIS
MEASURE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
CONSIDER THE IMPACT THAT PUBLIC
TRANSIT HAS BEYOND THE
BOUNDARIES OF THE RAILWAYS AND
STREETS TO MAXIMIZE THE POSITIVE
IMPACT OF TRANSIT HUBS, AND TO
CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE KIND OF
BROAD BASED COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
THAT PROGRAMS LIKE COMMUNITY AND
MOBILITY HUBS PROVIDES TO
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE OURS. THANK
YOU.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU, SIMON
-- NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM MICHAEL
THORNTON, FOLLOWED BY MELANIE
GUTMAN.
-- HELLO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME
IS MICHAEL THORNTON. I LIVE AT
THE MOUNT BAKER TRANSIT STATION
AND I LEAD ART STATION, MOUNT
BAKER. I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR
RECOGNIZING THAT TRANSIT
STATIONS CAN BE MORE THAN PLACES
PEOPLE PASS THROUGH, THROUGH THE
COMMUNITY AND MOBILITY HUBS
PROGRAM. THEY CAN BECOME PLACES
WHERE COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER.
AT MOUNT BAKER, WE'VE SEEN WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN THE CITY TREATS A
STATION AS PART OF A
NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE COMMUNITY HUB
ACTIVATION BROUGHT TOGETHER SDOT
SPD SOUND TRANSIT, CASEY METRO,
LOCAL STUDENTS, ARTISTS AND
NEIGHBORS FOR A DAY OF ART,
CHEST AND COMMUNITY GATHERING.
THAT PARTNERSHIP HAS SINCE GROWN
TO 21 PAID PUBLIC ART STATIONS
ACROSS THE MOUNT BAKER ARTS
CORRIDOR. THIS IS NOT
DECORATION. ART IS A SAFETY
TOOL. IT CREATES STEWARDSHIP. IT
BRINGS POSITIVE ACTIVITY INTO
PUBLIC SPACES AND HELPS PEOPLE
FEEL THAT THEY BELONG THERE.
THAT'S WHAT COMMUNITY AND
MOBILITY HUBS INVEST IN, NOT
JUST INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THE
PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY
PRESENCE THAT MAKES
INFRASTRUCTURE SUCCEED. PLEASE
CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE
COMMUNITY AND MOBILITY HUBS
PROGRAM PROGRAM THROUGH SEATTLE
THROUGH THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE. MOUNT BAKER IS PROOF
THAT WHEN WE INVEST IN
COMMUNITY, TRANSIT BECOMES SAFER
AND MORE WELCOMING FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
MELANIE GUTMAN, FOLLOWED BY
HARPER NALLEY.
-- GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME
IS MELANIE. I LIVE IN DISTRICT
THREE AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME
EVER GIVING PUBLIC COMMENT. I
STRONGLY SUPPORT A TRANSIT
MEASURE THAT INCREASES BUS
SERVICE. MY HOUSEHOLD DOESN'T
HAVE A CAR FOR SO MANY REASONS.
THE COST, THE CLIMATE, NOT
HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE HASSLE
OF CAR OWNERSHIP. BUT MOST OF
ALL, I FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVE
THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT IS THE BEST
WAY TO MOVE. LOTS OF PEOPLE
EFFICIENTLY THROUGH OUR DENSE
CITY. I WANT THE CHOICE TO TAKE
TRANSIT TO BE EASY FOR ALL
SEATTLE RESIDENTS, WHICH MEANS
FAST, FREQUENT, RELIABLE
SERVICE. WITH THAT IN MIND, I
ASK THAT YOU REJECT THE
AMENDMENTS THAT REDUCE OR
REDIRECT FUNDING AWAY FROM THESE
GOALS. SPECIFICALLY, THREE AND
13. AND ADDITIONALLY, KING
COUNTY METRO DESERVES A STABLE
FUNDING SOURCE. SO DITTO FOR
AMENDMENTS FOUR AND FIVE. I
THINK OUR REGION HAS A LOT OF
APPETITE AND ENTHUSIASM FOR
PUBLIC TRANSIT. OUR LIGHT RAIL
IS NOW THE NATION'S MOST
RIDDEN. AND I THINK THAT IF MORE
BUS ROUTES WERE LIKE RAPIDRIDE
G. MY BELOVED, THE BUS WOULD
BECOME A NO BRAINER FOR SO MANY
MORE PEOPLE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MELANIE. AND AGAIN
TO YOU, WELCOME AS WELL. FOR
YOUR FIRST TIME HERE.
-- WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM HARPER
NALLEY FOLLOWED BY ASHWIN.
-- HI, I'M HARPER, I'M FROM
DISTRICT THREE AND I'M A STUDENT
AND TRANSIT IS A SILVER BULLET
FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.
AFFORDABILITY, NOISE POLLUTION,
LIGHT POLLUTION, TRAFFIC
CONGESTION AND TRAFFIC
FATALITIES. IT BOOSTS OUR
ECONOMY, MAKES OUR CITY MORE
LIVABLE, AND MAKES OUR CITIES
MORE HEALTHY. THIS IS NOT MERELY
AN OPINION. THIS IS NOT A
DEBATE. THESE ARE WELL
DOCUMENTED FACTS SUPPORTED BY
MOUNTAINS OF SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE. GIVEN THESE FACTS, IT
IS A NO BRAINER TO FUND THIS
MEASURE AT A POINT 3%. I AM A
STUDENT AT SEATTLE CENTRAL ON A
VERY TIGHT BUDGET. EVEN WITH
THIS REGRESSIVE SALES TAX THE
FIRST TIME, I DON'T HAVE TO
SPEND $7 FOR A LIME OR AN UBER
THANKS TO THE EXPANDED NIGHT
SERVICE. THIS WILL. THIS
INCREASE WILL PAY FOR. I WILL
ALREADY BE SAVING MONEY, MONEY
THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO INTO
THE POCKETS OF THE CEOS OF UBER
OR LYFT IS MONEY THAT CAN
RECIRCULATE IN OUR ECONOMY,
MONEY THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO
OIL AND GAS COMPANIES OR CAR
COMPANIES IS MONEY THAT THAT CAN
RECIRCULATE IN OUR ECONOMY, AND
MONEY THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO
TREATING THE INCREASED RATES OF
HEALTH PROBLEMS CAUSED BY CARS
IS MONEY THAT CAN GO INTO OUR
POCKETS. IF YOU USE TRANSIT TO
GET TO DOWNTOWN, OR ONLY USE
TRANSIT TO GET TO DOWNTOWN
DURING THE DAY. YOU MAY THINK
THAT OUR TRANSIT IS GOOD ENOUGH,
BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT
ALL THOSE TRIPS YOU USE WITH
YOUR CAR BECAUSE YOUR. USE YOUR
CAR FOR BECAUSE TRANSIT ISN'T
GOOD ENOUGH. PUT YOURSELF IN THE
SHOES OF THE SEATTLEITES BE 20%
OF SEATTLEITES WHO DON'T HAVE A
CAR TO FALL BACK ON. REJECT
AMENDMENTS THREE, FOUR, FIVE,
AND 13 BECAUSE A WORLD CLASS
CITY IS ONE WHERE TRANSIT RIDERS
ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT. I AM
NOT JUST LIKE NIGHT SERVICE IS
SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I AM
THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, ANIMAL
AND PHOTOGRAPHER FOR MY BEST
FRIEND WHO'S A DJ, OUT AT 2
A.M. A LOT, AND I'M LUCKY ENOUGH
TO LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL NEAR THE
49. BUT MOST SEATTLEITES ARE NOT
BECAUSE OUR. OUR NIGHT SERVICE
JUST IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. FUN.
THIS MORE
-- [APPLAUSE]. [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU HARPER.
-- WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM ASHWIN
FOLLOWED BY AIDEN CLEGG.
-- HELLO COUNCIL.
-- MY NAME IS ASHWIN. I'M ONE OF
THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD. I WAS HERE
BEFORE YOU ALONG WITH MY
CO-CHAIR, ZACK, A FEW WEEKS AGO,
WHERE WE EXPRESSED THE TAB,
WHICH IS AN OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR
THE USE OF STM FUNDS. WE
EXPRESSED THE TAB'S POSITION ON
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL. AND, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE BEFORE ME TODAY
HAVE SPOKEN MORE ELOQUENTLY AND
INTERESTINGLY AND TO WHY WE WANT
TO FUND TRANSIT TAB FEELS THE
SAME WAY. THIS MORNING WE SENT
OUT A LETTER TO ALL OF YOUR
OFFICES EXPRESSING OUR POSITION
ON VARIOUS AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN PROPOSED. SO I'LL TAKE THIS
TIME TO KIND OF RELAY TABS
THOUGHTS HERE IN THIS FORUM AS
WELL. LIKE MANY HERE, WE URGE
YOU TO VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 13,
REGARDLESS OF ITS IF IT STAYS
0.2% OR 0.223%, YOU CANNOT ASK
PEOPLE TO PAY MORE FOR EITHER
LESS SERVICE OR THE SAME AMOUNT
OF SERVICE. THAT IS EXPLICITLY
AGAINST WHAT SEATTLE VOTERS HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THROUGH THEIR VOTES
AND THROUGH THEIR TIME, AGAIN
AND AGAIN ON AMENDMENT FOUR,
WHICH WOULD REQUIRE AN ANNUAL
SIGN OFF BY COUNCIL FOR TRANSIT
SERVICE. WE ALSO URGE YOU TO
VOTE NO. THE TAB ACTUALLY HAD A
PART IN DEVELOPING THE EQUITY
PRIORITY FRAMEWORK THAT SDOT
USES TO DETERMINE WHERE TRANSIT
INVESTMENTS ARE MADE. WE SEE
EVERY YEAR HOW THESE TRANSIT
INVESTMENTS ARE MADE. THEY ARE
NOT MADE ARBITRARILY. THEY ARE
MADE THROUGH A RIGOROUS
METHODOLOGY THAT WORKS, AND WE
DON'T WANT TO REPLACE THAT WITH
FURTHER PROCESS. THAT WOULD GUM
UP THE WORKS AND, YOU KNOW, SLOW
THE DELIVERY OF TRANSIT TO OTHER
FOLKS. I SEE THAT I'M RUNNING
OUT OF TIME. SO I'LL JUST SAY
WE ALSO OPPOSE AMENDMENTS FIVE
AND AMENDMENTS THREE. AND WE
SUPPORT AMENDMENTS 1117, WHICH
BOTH STATE INTENT TO ADVOCATE
FOR NEW SOURCES OF PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE. AMENDMENT 16, WHICH
WOULD ENSURE ELIGIBILITY FOR
FUNDING A NIGHT SERVICE, AND
AMENDMENT 24, WHICH WOULD
INCREASE MINIMUM SPENDING ON
TRANSIT AND ENSURE THAT PROJECTS
SUCH AS GRAHAM STREET COULD
POTENTIALLY GO THROUGH. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND
PLEASE SAY YES TO TRANSIT. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU ASHWIN.
-- NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM AIDEN
CLEGG FOLLOWED BY BRANDON
BLATTER
-- GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AIDEN CLEGG. I'M AN
UNDERGRADUATE CIVIL ENGINEERING
STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, AND THIS IS ALSO MY
FIRST TIME GIVING PUBLIC
COMMENT, PROVIDING FREQUENT AND
RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING THAT
SEATTLE IS A CITY THAT CONTINUES
TO GROW AND THRIVE IN THE COMING
DECADES, REDUCING CAR DEPENDENCY
AND MEETING OUR CLIMATE CHANGE
GOALS. AS A UW STUDENT, I KNOW
FIRSTHAND HOW EXPENSIVE IT HAS
BECOME TO LIVE IN SEATTLE.
HOWEVER, THIS PROPOSED INCREASE
TO THE TAX RATE IS MINIMAL ONLY
ABOUT $30 PER YEAR FOR THE
AVERAGE RESIDENT, AND IT IS BY
FAR A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT FOR
OUR CITY. PREVIOUS SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURES PASSED WITH
OVER 60% SUPPORT IN 2014 AND
OVER 80% SUPPORT IN 2020. I
WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REJECT
AMENDMENTS THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND
13, WHICH WOULD LIMIT THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS MEASURE
AND APPROVE AMENDMENTS TEN, 11,
17 AND 29. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, AIDEN, AND AGAIN,
WELCOME. THERE'S A THERE'S A
HANDFUL OF FIRST TIMERS TODAY.
WELCOME. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO
HAVE YOU SO.
-- WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM BRANDON,
FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH BOLTON.
-- WELCOME, BRANDON.
-- HELLO. MY NAME IS BRANDON
BUTCHER.
-- MOTOR VEHICLES ARE THE
LARGEST SINGLE SOURCE OF.
-- POLLUTION IN SEATTLE. THEY
RANK NEXT TO MURDERS IN TERMS OF
HOW MANY SEATTLEITES THEY KILL.
WE NEED TO FIX THIS. ONE OF THE
MOST POWERFUL TOOLS WE HAVE IS
EXPANDING TRANSIT AND MAKING IT
BETTER. SO I HAVE A VOTING GUIDE
FOR THE CITY COUNCIL ON
AMENDMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. REJECT
AMENDMENT THREE. THIS IS A
TRANSIT MEASURE. THE FUNDS
SHOULD BE USED FOR TRANSIT.
REJECT AMENDMENT FOUR. THIS JUST
ADDS UNNECESSARY BUREAUCRACY AND
SEATTLE PROCESS TO FUNDING
TRANSIT. REJECT AMENDMENT FIVE
TRANSIT MEASURE RENEWAL UNDER A
SPECIAL ELECTION MEANS MORE
EXPENSE TO THE COUNTY AND LOWER
TURNOUT, ESPECIALLY LOWER
TURNOUT OF LESS WELL-OFF VOTERS
WHO FIND IT HARDER TO COME TO
THE POLLS, HARDER TO TAKE OFF
WORK, TO VOTE, ALL THAT SORT OF
THING. SUPPORT AMENDMENTS TEN
AND 29. THE DENSE REGIONAL
CENTERS DESERVE MORE TRANSIT
DOLLARS. SUPPORT AMENDMENTS 11
AND 17. REMEMBER, REMEMBER HOW
EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT HOW
REGRESSIVE SALES TAX IS? THIS IS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX IT. AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY, REJECT
AMENDMENT 13. THIS AMENDMENT,
THIS MEASURE IS MEANT TO FUND
TRANSIT. WE CANNOT EXPAND
TRANSIT ON NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS. THE
COST TO. IN ANY INDIVIDUAL OF A
YEAR OF SALES TAX IS COMPARABLE
TO A SINGLE UBER OR LYFT RIDE.
IF THE BUS DOESN'T COME LATE IN
THE NIGHT WHEN YOU NEED IT, OR
AS FREQUENTLY AS YOU NEED IT. IF
YOU NEED TO GET SOMEWHERE
URGENTLY, THERE'S JUST NO
EXCUSE TO BE MADE ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY HERE. IF YOU
REALLY ARE STRONG SUPPORTERS AND
BELIEVERS IN PUBLIC TRANSIT, YOU
WILL FUND IT AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE. YOU PROBABLY ALSO
WRITE IT INSTEAD OF DRIVING, BUT
THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT. I'LL
END BY SAYING, IF ANYONE WISHES
THEY HAD MY SHIRT. YOU DON'T
HAVE TO KEEP TELLING ME YOU WISH
YOU HAD ONE. YOU CAN JUST BUY
IT.
-- [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
BRANDON AND SIZE XL. IF YOU WANT
TO DROP ONE OFF THE NEXT TIME
YOU'RE HERE.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
JOSEPH BOLDEN, FOLLOWED BY
RACHEL BROWN.
-- GOOD EVENING, I'M JOEY
BOLDEN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
THE SEATTLE BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL, ON
BEHALF OF OVER 20,000
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES ACROSS THE REGION AND
19 AFFILIATE UNIONS IN SEATTLE.
KING COUNTY BUILDING TRADES. WE
WANT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION
AND SUPPORT FOR MOVING FORWARD
WITH THE RENEW OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. THIS PROPOSAL
INVESTS AN IMPORTANT TRANSIT
SERVICES, ACCESS TO TRANSIT AND
TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS
STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND CURB
RAMPS FOR RIDERS, AS WELL AS BUS
LANE UPGRADES. THESE
IMPROVEMENTS TO MOVE MORE PEOPLE
IN AND AROUND SEATTLE ARE
CRUCIAL. OF COURSE, THE BUILDING
TRADES WANT TO BUILD, SO WE'RE
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN
CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS IN THE
PACKAGE, AND WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS SUCH AS AMENDMENT
THREE THAT PRIORITIZE
INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS THE
REPAIR AND EXPANSION OF
SIDEWALKS. WE ALSO OPPOSE
AMENDMENTS SUCH AS 24 THAT
REDUCE CAPITAL SPENDING, CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS IN THIS PACKAGE WILL
IMPROVE TRANSIT EFFICIENCY,
RELIABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND
SAFETY. AND OF COURSE, THAT WILL
CREATE JOBS DURING A CRITICAL
ECONOMIC MOMENT WHEN WE NEED
GOOD JOBS OR EXCUSE ME, WE ALL
KNOW THAT THE LIST OF
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN THIS
CITY IS LONG. THE INVESTMENTS IN
THIS LEVY MEASURE IMPROVE
TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION. IN
SEATTLE, YOUR CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS CREATE GOOD FAMILY
WAGE UNION CONSTRUCTION JOBS FOR
SKILLED CRAFT PEOPLE. THEY WILL
BRING NEW ENTRANTS TO THE
CONSTRUCTION FIELD THROUGH
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND
TRAINING, AND THEY WILL CREATE
PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY INTO
CONSTRUCTION WITH THOSE WAGES
FOR WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR,
VETERANS AND THOSE WHO ARE
DISADVANTAGED IN AND AROUND KING
COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP, CHAIR. SAKA, AND SO
MANY OF YOU WHO ARE WORKING HARD
TO GET THIS DONE. THANK YOU
AGAIN.
-- THANK. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
JOSEPH.
-- WE'RE DOWN TO OUR FINAL TEN
REGISTERED SPEAKERS. WE'LL NOW
HEAR FROM RACHEL BROWN, FOLLOWED
BY SCOTT NELSON.
-- HI. COUNCILMEMBERS, SOUNDS
LIKE I'M IN A GREAT GROUP OF
FIRST TIME FOLKS GIVING PUBLIC
COMMENT. I LIVE IN DISTRICT
THREE AND I'M A RENTER. AND AS
AN ADULT, I LOST MY ABILITY TO
DRIVE. SO I AM AGAIN IN A GREAT
GROUP OF TRANSIT DEPENDENT FOLKS
HERE IN THIS ROOM, SHARING ABOUT
OUR EXPERIENCES. I WAS ALREADY A
TRANSIT RIDER WHEN THIS
HAPPENED, BUT I WAS VERY
GRATEFUL THAT WE HAD A SYSTEM
THAT COULD CATCH ME AND MEET ALL
OF MY NEEDS, BUT I HAPPEN TO
LIVE IN AN AREA WITH GOOD
TRANSIT SERVICE, AND I HAPPEN TO
BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN AN
AREA WITH SOME OF THE MOST
FREQUENT TRANSIT SERVICE IN OUR
CITY, AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT
THE CASE FOR EVERYBODY. SO
COMING HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO
REJECT AMENDMENTS THREE, FOUR,
FIVE AND 13 AND EXPRESS MY
SPECIFIC SUPPORT FOR AMENDMENTS
11, 17, TEN AND 29. I
SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO SPEAK TO
AMENDMENT FIVE, TALKING ABOUT
THE TERM OF THE TRANSIT MEASURE
FROM. I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO
VOTE TO MAINTAIN IT AT TEN YEARS
SO THAT WE CAN GIVE METRO AND
THIS MEASURE THE STABILITY IT
NEEDS TO ACTUALLY DEMONSTRATE
SUCCESS. AS YOU ALL KNOW,
PLANNING AND GOVERNMENT
DECISIONS TAKE A LONG TIME, AND
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE
DECISIONS TO, TO ABOUT HOW TO
ALLOCATE SERVICE HAVE ENOUGH
TIME WITHOUT HAVING TO OPERATE
IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF
UNCERTAINTY. AND SPEAKING
SPECIFICALLY TO AMENDMENT 13, AS
OTHERS HAVE SAID, I WOULD REALLY
LIKE A TRANSIT MEASURE FOR
TRANSIT SERVICE TO FUND TRANSIT
SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR HOLDING
THIS HEARING AND APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME.
-- RACHEL. THANK
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
SCOTT NELSON, FOLLOWED BY RICH
VOGLER.
-- HEY EVERYONE. THIS MAY
REFLECT SOME PAROCHIAL OR TICKY
TACKY SENTIMENTS, BUT DISABILITY
SUPPORT, I HOPE, TRANSCENDS THE
TENSION BETWEEN THE OBVIOUS
BENEFITS OF UNIVERSALITY AND THE
REACTIONARY CUP AND BALL GAME
THAT CAN BE PLAYED WITH HYPER
SPECIFICITY. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS
SCOTT NELSON AND I AM A KARLIS
LICENSED RENTER FROM CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND
DISTRICT TWO, AS WELL AS
CO-CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION. I'M HERE
TO COMMENT TODAY ON AMENDMENTS
20 AND FOUR. I PRETTY MUCH FULLY
AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM
SDOT, MASS AND TAB, BUT I'M A
FOOL FOR NUANCE. AMENDMENT 20
GIVES LANGUAGE IN THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE THAT PRIORITIZES
AND PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO
ACCESS TRANSIT SERVICES AND
INFRASTRUCTURE. THE WORLD
HISTORICALLY IS BUILT TO
ACCOMMODATE THE ABLE BODIED, THE
NEUROTYPICAL, AND THE HEALTHY
FOLKS WHO HAVE PHYSICAL OR
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OR
THOSE WHO ARE INFIRMED, WILL
THEN EXPERIENCE AN INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF FRICTION, COMPOUNDING
NATURAL DIFFICULTY WITH
ADDITIONAL BARRIERS IMPOSED BY
BUILT ENVIRONMENTS. AMENDMENT 20
NAMES THAT AND DOES TWO CRUCIAL
THINGS. IT AFFIRMS THE USE OF
FUNDS TOWARDS THE SUPPORT OF
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH
RAISES THE FLOOR SO THAT EVERY
PERSON IN SOCIETY CAN LIVE A
DIGNIFIED LIFE. IT ALSO REFRAMES
WHAT MONEY IS SPENT ON CAPITAL
EXPENDITURE. IT'S NO LONGER JUST
ROADS, SIDEWALKS AND CURB CUTS,
WHICH ARE ALL NECESSARY,
IMPORTANT AND VALUED
ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES. BUT AS
MY COLLEAGUES AND DISABILITY
ADVOCACY HAVE NOTED HERE TODAY,
THERE ARE EXTANT FUNDING
MECHANISMS FOR SIDEWALKS AND
ROADS, MANY OF THEM FAR MORE
PROGRESSIVE THAN RELYING ON
SALES TAX THAT DISPROPORTIONATEL
Y IMPACTS LOWER INCOME
RESIDENTS. AMENDMENT 20 IS A
BULWARK AGAINST CYNICAL ATTEMPTS
TO PIT NEIGHBORHOODS AND
DISTRICTS AGAINST EACH OTHER. BY
DIVERTING CAPITAL FUNDS FROM
PROJECTS THAT PRIORITIZE
SPECIFIC DISTRICTS TOWARDS
PROJECTS THAT SERVE THE CITY AS
A WHOLE, SUCH AS WAYFINDING
PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE ACCESS TO
TRANSPORT FOR FOLKS WITH
COGNITIVE OR DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES, AND TRANSIT SPEED
AND RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENTS. AS
SUCH, AMENDMENT FOUR CAN BE USED
TO BOLSTER OR SUPPORT THE I'M
OUT OF TIME. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
-- FINISH YOUR TRAIN OF THOUGHT
IF YOU WANT.
-- OKAY?
-- YEAH.
-- YOUR SENTENCE. YEAH.
-- I THINK I LOST IT NOW.
-- ALL GOOD.
-- TAKE A BREATH.
-- THANK YOU. FEEL FREE TO. IF
YOU. IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN
COMMENTS, FEEL FREE TO SEND
THOSE IN AS WELL. YEAH, YEAH.
AWESOME. BUT SCOTT, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RICH
VOGEL, FOLLOWED BY KALU DAVIS.
-- I WANT TO MAKE A CASE FOR
CLIMATE CHANGE OVERVIEW FOR
SUPPORTING TRANSIT EXPANSION
BECAUSE IT TAKES CARS OFF THE
ROAD. CLIMATE CHANGE IS DRIVEN
BY PHYSICS. IT'S NOT DRIVEN BY
THE SEATTLE BUDGET. AND I THINK
THAT YOU CAN CUT THE TRANSIT
FUNDING TO SAVE SOME MONEY IN
THE SHORT RUN IS REALLY GOING TO
BE MORE EXPENSIVE IN THE LONG
RUN, BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE
DOESN'T SIT STILL SAYING, OH,
OKAY, I'LL WAIT FOR YOU TO GET
AROUND TO WORKING ON ME AT A
LATER DATE. IT'LL JUST GET
WORSE. AND I'M SO OLD, I CAN
REMEMBER THE OLD BARDAHL OIL
FILTER, BLACK AND WHITE TV AD
THAT SAID PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME
LATER. AND IT MAKES NO SENSE TO
POSTPONE. JIMINY CRICKET SAID,
LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR
GUIDE. I'D LIKE YOU TO REWRITE
THAT SO THAT CLIMATE CHANGE WILL
BE YOUR GUIDE. PUT IT ON A
POST-IT THAT WHATEVER YOU'RE
ABOUT TO WORK ON, ASK, IS IT
GOING TO INCREASE CLIMATE
CHANGE? YES OR NO? IF IT'S A
YES, YOU GOT TO OPPOSE IT SO
WITH THE TRANSIT IT'S PRETTY CUT
AND DRY THAT IT'S GOING TO
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CARS ON THE
ROAD. SO OPPOSE AMENDMENTS
THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND 13.
-- THANK YOU RICH.
-- IT'S TIME TO HEAR FROM CARL
DAVIS FOLLOWED BY DANIEL
HEPPNER.
-- GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL.
GOOD EVENING.
-- GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS KALU DAVIS. I'M GOING
TO PROVIDE A PERSONAL TESTIMONY
AS TO THE REASON WHY STM NEEDS
TO BE FULLY FUNDED. FIRST AND
FOREMOST, I AM A RETIRED KING
COUNTY METRO OPERATOR. SECOND,
AS AN OPERATOR, I PERSONALLY
WITNESSED CITIZENS THROUGHOUT
THE PUGET SOUND BE STRANDED BY
BUS SERVICE THAT COULD NOT BE
PROVIDED AT 1230 IN THE MORNING.
MY BOSS CALLED ME OFF THE ROAD
DURING SNOW AND ICE AND I HAD
REACHED A 16 HOUR WORK DAY AND I
BEGGED TO KEEP GOING BECAUSE
THERE WAS 35 PEOPLE OUTSIDE MY
DOOR AND I COULDN'T OPEN IT UP
BECAUSE MY BOSS TOLD ME, I WILL
CALL THE STATE POLICE BECAUSE I
VIOLATED THOSE. THE LAW. IF I GO
16 HOURS, I WAS AT 15 HOURS AND
32 MINUTES WITH ENOUGH TIME TO
GET BACK TO THE BASE. HAVING
SAID THAT, A FULLY FUNDED STM
WOULD PROVIDE THE SERVICE NEEDED
ROUND THE CLOCK HOURS AS WELL AS
DURING SNOW AND ICE, WHICH IS
IMPORTANT. AND FURTHERMORE, IF
YOU TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER, LOOK
AT ALL THE DUIS THAT ARE ISSUED
THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND
THROUGHOUT THE NATION. A BETTER
FUNDED TRANSIT BILL WOULD ALLOW
BARTENDERS AND BAR OWNERS TO
REACH OUT TO THOSE TRANSIT
AGENCIES TO BE ABLE TO GUIDE AND
INSTRUCT THEIR PATRONS ONTO
BUSSES THAT ARE EASILY AVAILABLE
THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AND CUT
DOWN ON DUIS AND TRAFFIC
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- ACCIDENTS.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, MR.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- DAVIS.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- NEXT UP IS DANIEL HEPPNER,
FOLLOWED BY CLINTON ATTAWAY.
-- HELLO.
-- I LIVE IN.
-- CAPITOL HILL IN DISTRICT
THREE AND DANIEL HEPPNER. IN
2019, WHEN I MOVED TO SEATTLE, I
MADE THE DECISION WITH MY
GIRLFRIEND. WE BOTH SOLD OUR
CARS AND EVERY DAY THAT DECISION
SAVES ME MORE MONEY THAN THE
SALES TAX WOULD COST ME IN A
YEAR. IT COST US IN A YEAR THAT
SAID, 2019 WAS ONE OF THE BEST
YEARS FOR SEATTLE'S BUS NETWORK.
AT LEAST IN THE TIME THAT I'VE
LIVED HERE, BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER
THAT COVID HIT AND THE BUS
NETWORK WAS SLASHED BACK THEN, A
FREQUENT A FREQUENT ROUTE WAS
ONE THAT CAME EVERY TEN MINUTES,
NOT EVERY 15 MINUTES LIKE TODAY.
AND YEAH, OUR BUS NETWORK HAS A
LONG WAY TO GO TO FULLY RECOVER
TO WHERE IT WAS. NOW, SIX YEARS
LATER, WE NEED TO BE TAKING THE
PATH OF BOOSTING TRANSIT SERVICE
AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO
THE CITY'S FREQUENT TRANSIT
NETWORK. GOAL. ANOTHER PERSONAL
EXAMPLE HERE FROM JUST A MONTH
AGO, WHEN I NEEDED TO GET TO THE
AIRPORT AT 5 A.M., THANKS TO
SOUND TRANSIT'S NEW NIGHT BUS
SERVICE FROM DOWNTOWN, I WAS
ABLE TO SAVE $60 ON AN UBER TO
THE AIRPORT, BUT I STILL HAD TO
GET A $15 UBER JUST TO GET
DOWNTOWN FROM CAPITOL HILL
BECAUSE THE CITY'S LOCAL NIGHT
BUS SERVICE IS UNDERFUNDED AND
WOULD HAVE FORCED ME TO WAIT
DOWNTOWN FOR 30 MINUTES.
AMENDMENTS 13, FIVE, THREE AND
FOUR WOULD ALL MOVE US FURTHER
FROM THAT FREQUENT TRANSIT
NETWORK GOAL, REDUCING THE SALES
TAX RATE WITH AMENDMENT 13 SAVES
EACH MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC A TINY
AMOUNT OF MONEY EACH YEAR, BUT
RESULTS IN HUGE AND NOTICEABLE
REDUCTIONS IN SERVICE. THAT WILL
LEAVE MORE PEOPLE HAVING TO TAKE
UBERS TO GET DOWNTOWN. I ALSO
WANT TO CALL IT AMENDMENT FOUR
IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE I'M JUST
TIRED OF THE GOVERNMENT MAKING
THINGS THAT SHOULD BE MANAGED BY
PROFESSIONALS LIKE TRANSIT
SERVICE CHOICES INTO CLINICAL
QUESTIONS. LET THE METRO SERVICE
PLANNERS DO THEIR JOB. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- WE'LL HEAR NEXT FROM CLINTON
ATTAWAY, FOLLOWED BY TANISHA
SEPULVEDA.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
NATALIE. LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
SHOUT OUT TO COUNCILMEMBER LIN
AND CHAIR SAKA. THANK YOU FOR
HOSTING THIS. WE BEGAN THIS
MEETING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING
THAT WE'RE HOSTING FOR PUBLIC
INPUT, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO
BUILD PUBLIC TRUST. AND I'VE
BEEN KEEPING A TALLY OF THE
PUBLIC INPUT, AND IT IS SHORT OF
UNIVERSAL AGAINST THREE, FOUR,
FIVE AND 13. THERE ARE NO
ADVOCATES HERE FOR 13 OR 4 OR
FIVE. AND WE HEARD ONE FOR
THREE. SO IF THAT PUBLIC INPUT
IS THEN IMMEDIATELY REJECTED, IF
THAT CAN'T MOVE THE DIAL IN ANY
WAY, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S
GOING TO LEAD US TO AN INCREASE
IN PUBLIC TRUST. I THINK THAT'S
ONLY GOING TO FURTHER US FROM
THAT OBJECTIVE. SO THANK YOU
-- [APPLAUSE].
-- THANK YOU. CLINTON.
-- WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM TANISHA
SEPULVEDA, FOLLOWED BY AVERY
-- CAN YOU. OKAY. HEY, EVERYONE.
AND COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
TANISHA SEPULVEDA AND I AM HERE
IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE STM
MEASURE. ALSO JOINING THOSE IN
REJECTING AMENDMENTS THREE,
FOUR, FIVE AND 13 AS A PERSON
WITH A DISABILITY, I HEAVILY
RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT. AS MANY
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DO.
HAVING A PRIVATE VEHICLE, AND
ESPECIALLY ONE THAT'S WHEELCHAIR
ACCESSIBLE, IS EXTREMELY COSTLY.
NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO
TRANSIT DOES PUSH US OUT OF THE
CITY AND AWAY FROM RESOURCES
THAT ARE VITAL TO PEOPLE'S
EVERYDAY NEEDS. ALSO, AS A
PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, YOU
KNOW THAT I WILL BE ONE OF THE
FIRST PEOPLE TO BE IN FULL
SUPPORT OF SIDEWALKS. HOWEVER,
THIS IS NOT THE TIME OR MONEY TO
DO THAT WITH. WE CAN DO THAT
SEPARATELY. WE DEFINITELY NEED
MORE PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE IN WEST
SEATTLE, AND IT TAKES ABOUT AN
HOUR FOR ME IN HIGHLAND PARK TO
GET TO ALKI BEACH, WHICH IS ALSO
IN WEST SEATTLE. IT TAKES THE
SAME AMOUNT OF TIME FOR ME TO
GET TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, WHICH IS TWICE THE
DISTANCE. AND NOT TO MENTION
ALSO THAT FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, THERE IS ACCESS,
PARATRANSIT SERVICE. HOWEVER,
THAT SERVICE AREA IS DICTATED BY
THE METRO SERVICE AREA, SO IT
WILL ONLY SERVE CUSTOMERS WITHIN
THREE QUARTER MILES OF THE BUS
LINES. SO EXPANDING THE BUS
LINES AND EXPANDING SERVICE ALSO
HELPS IN THOSE WAYS THAT YOU MAY
NOT BE AWARE OF. SO BY DOING
THIS, YOU ARE FULLY SUPPORTING
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND
THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS
CANNOT AFFORD OR CHOOSE NOT TO
DRIVE.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- TANISHA.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM AVERY,
FOLLOWED BY JASMINE SMITH.
-- HI. COUNCILMEMBERS. I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT LAST THURSDAY WHEN
THE TRAIN BROKE. I THINK WE ALL
KNOW THE TRAIN BROKE FROM
ROUGHLY CAPITOL HILL TO
NORTHGATE. AND WHEN THAT
HAPPENED, I WENT OUT NOT NEEDING
TO RIDE THE TRAIN VERY LUCKILY.
BUT THERE WAS A LINE FOR MORE
THAN 20 MINUTES TO GET ON THE
SHUTTLE BUS TO GO NORTH FROM
CAPITOL HILL. THE LINE WENT FROM
THE BUS STOP, THE EIGHT BUS STOP
THAT'S NORMALLY GOING EASTBOUND
FROM THERE, ALL THE WAY AROUND
THE ENTIRE BLOCK. PEOPLE WERE
LINED UP, SITTING IN THE HOT
SUN, UNHAPPY AND GRUMPY BECAUSE
THEY SHOWED UP EXPECTING FOUR
MINUTE SERVICE, AND THEY GOT A
25 MINUTE TRANSFER IN THE MIDDLE
OF THEIR RIDE, AND EVEN SLOWER
SERVICE. ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE
NOT HERE, BUT THEY ARE TAKING
TRANSIT EVERY DAY. AND THOSE ARE
THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THIS ON
BEHALF OF ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE,
WE WANT A MORE FREQUENT, FAST
AND REGIONWIDE TRANSPORTATION
NETWORK. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I
AM SPOILED BY THAT SAME FOUR
MINUTE FREQUENCY WHEN I TAKE THE
BUS, WHETHER THAT'S THE D OR
THE G OR EVEN THE H, I'M
DREADING THE WAIT. IT'S 5 OR 10
OR 15 MINUTES. AND ESPECIALLY
THE COMPLETE LACK OF NIGHT
FREQUENCY, I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING
TO BE THE SAME AS THE TRAIN IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, BUT I
SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET HOME IN A
REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THIS
IS THE RIGHT USE FOR A SALES TAX
TO FUND LOCAL SERVICES FUNDING.
THE STATE'S GENERAL FUND IS THE
CAUSE OF OUR ULTRA HIGH SALES
TAX, NOT INCREASING SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. I HOPE YOU'LL
GO BIG AND MAKE THIS. MAKE THIS,
MAKE THIS. CREATE LOTS OF
SERVICE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. AVERY
-- NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM JASMINE
SMITH AFTER JASMINE. IF LESLIE
DANIELS HAS RETURNED, IT WILL BE
HER OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
-- HI, MY NAME IS JASMINE SMITH
AND I LIVE IN LOWER QUEEN ANNE
AND I WAS ABLE TO FALL IN LOVE
WITH MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT
HAS ROBUST TRANSIT ACCESS
WHENEVER I MOVE, WHICH I HAVE TO
DO IN OCTOBER, OR CHANGE JOBS
LIKE I DID TWO YEARS AGO, THE
FIRST THING I LOOK AT IS TRANSIT
ACCESS. AND IF I CAN KEEP A
FREQUENT AND RELIABLE RIDE,
FREQUENT, RELIABLE SERVICE IS
THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR CITY AND
HOW PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE
HERE, BUT ALSO HOW PEOPLE CAN
ENJOY EVERY CORNER OF OUR
BEAUTIFUL CITY AND COME
TOGETHER, OR GET HOME WITHOUT
CLOCKING IN A LOT OF MILES WITH
2 A.M. WALKS FROM THE HILL. WE
DO HAVE A REGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM
AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT. BUT
WHAT'S MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN
RAISING THE SALES TAX IS A
LITTLE BIT IS CUTTING OUR BUS
SERVICES. WHEN I MOVE, I DON'T
WANT TO HAVE TO LEAVE MY
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IF I DO HAVE
TO LEAVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD BE AN OPTION
WITH MORE TRANSIT ACCESS, NOT
LESS. FULLY FUND OUR PEOPLE'S
LIMO. A SAFE, VIBRANT AND
AFFORDABLE, WORLD CLASS CITY
DEPENDS ON IT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU,
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- JASMINE.
-- AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE
TO CHECK TO SEE IF LESLIE
DANIELS, WHO WE PREVIOUSLY
PREVIOUSLY WASN'T AVAILABLE WHEN
HER NAME WAS CALLED, HAS
RETURNED TO THE BUILDING. CHAIR,
IT DOESN'T APPEAR MISS DANIELS
IS HERE. THEREFORE, WE ARE DONE
WITH THE LIST.
-- THANK YOU. JUST TO CONFIRM,
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS NOT
YET SPOKEN WHO WANTS THE
OPPORTUNITY? LOOKS LIKE THERE'S
A GENTLEMAN HERE IN THE FRONT.
RED SHIRT. LET'S GET HIM TO
SIGN IN. AND AND. CAN HAVE SOME
TIME.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
KEITH HAUBRICH. AFTER KEITH. WE
DO HAVE ANOTHER GENTLEMAN
SIGNING IN
-- WELL, KEITH.
-- HI.
-- IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.
-- I DON'T KNOW WHY TWO OF YOU
ARE MISSING. SO I WOULD SUGGEST
EVERYBODY EMAIL THESE TO AND
TELL THEM ABOUT ALL THE NUMBERS,
THE SAME NUMBERS THAT YOU'VE
BEEN HEARING OVER AND OVER AGAIN
WITH THE AMENDMENTS. MY
SITUATION IS AYE.
-- I'M AFRAID.
-- TO DRIVE. IT JUST SCARES ME
MOST. I'M I'M, I COULD GET IN
AN ACCIDENT IF I BLINK, YOU
KNOW, AND IF MY ATTENTION IS
DIVERTED. BUT MOST OF ALL, THE
ROAD RANGERS.
-- NOT WORKING HERE. OKAY. YEAH.
OKAY.
-- SO
-- I HAPPEN TO KNOW.
-- THE GUY THAT WORKED AT THE
NORTH BROADWAY QFC THAT WAS
KILLED BY A ROAD RANGER. ABOUT
MAYBE TEN YEARS AGO. AND ALSO
I'VE BEEN IN SEATTLE LONG
ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE THE GUY
THAT SHOT THE BUS DRIVER GOING
OVER ONE OF THE OVERPASSES IN
FREMONT. AND I PERSONALLY KNOW I
HAD A COWORKER WHO GOT SHOT IN
THE BACK OF A BUS IN, IN
SEATTLE, GOING FROM HIS SECOND
JOB TO HIS THIRD JOB. AND WE CAN
DO BETTER THAN THIS. WE WE ARE A
RICH CITY, A WORLD CLASS CITY.
AND I'M THINKING OF OUR OTHER
WORLD CLASS CITIES LIKE IN
EUROPE, LUXEMBOURG HAS FREE
BUSSES AND CLEAN BUSSES AND
RELIABLE BUSSES THAT GO
STRAIGHT. TWO OF THEM GO
STRAIGHT FROM THE AIRPORT INTO
THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY. WE CAN
DO THAT TOO, IF WE'RE AMBITIOUS
ENOUGH. SO YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE
NUMBERS, THE AMENDMENTS TO
REJECT AND TO TO ADOPT. AND I
THINK YOU SHOULD BE CONVINCED BY
NOW. SO THAT'S THAT'S THAT FOR
NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND BY THE WAY, I LIVE IN
DISTRICT THREE AND TOMORROW I'M
GOING TO WILD WAVES. IT'S GOING
TO TAKE ME AN HOUR AND 45
MINUTES TO GET FROM CAPITOL HILL
TO WILD WAVES. SO THERE'S
SOMETHING ELSE
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- TO WORK ON.
-- [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU KEITH.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
RILEY BAUER.
-- HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. I WAS
NOT INITIALLY PLANNING TO SPEAK
ON THIS, SO I'LL DO MY BEST TO
KEEP THIS COHERENT. A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY OUTLINED
REALLY GOOD REASONS TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THIS MEASURE. FULLY
FUNDED REASONS MORE IMPORTANT
AND CRITICAL THAN MY OWN. BUT I
WANTED TO JUST SAY AS AS A CAR
OWNER, AS A HOMEOWNER IN THE
ROOSEVELT NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT I
DON'T HAVE TO RIDE THE BUS ALL
THE TIME, I DON'T HAVE TO RIDE
THE LIGHT RAIL. BUT I REALLY
LIKE TO, I PREFER TO, I WANT TO
DO THAT WHENEVER I CAN. I DON'T
WANT TO DRIVE. AND THE NUMBER
ONE CONSIDERATION FOR ME
PERSONALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO
WHETHER OR NOT TO DRIVE OR TO
TAKE TRANSIT, IS FREQUENCY OF
SERVICE. SO INCREASING SERVICE
IS JUST AN EASY WAY TO GET ME
OUT OF MY CAR. AND I THINK THERE
ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT
WOULD PREFER TO DO THAT AS MUCH
AS WE CAN, AND I'M HAPPY TO PAY
THE SMALL INCREASE IN SALES TAX
THAT THIS MIGHT COST. BUT YEAH,
SO PLEASE MOVE FORWARD WITH
THIS. THANK YOU. EVERYONE WHO
HAS SPOKEN ALREADY. AND THANK
YOU TO COUNCILMEMBERS AS WELL.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- SHARING YOUR FEEDBACK.
-- WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ANY
MORE REGISTERED SPEAKERS, BUT
WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ANYONE ELSE IN
CHAMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK. WE JUST ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE SIGN UP AND WE WILL HEAR
YOU.
-- WHO HASN'T YET SPOKEN ANY
FINAL. ANYONE ELSE NO. NO ONE
INSPIRED BY OUR LAST PUBLIC
COMMENTER WHO DIDN'T COME IN
HERE INTENDING TO SPEAK, BUT BUT
NEVERTHELESS CHOSE TO, WHICH WE
APPRECIATE. ALL RIGHT. WELL,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THEN IF
THERE ARE NO MORE REGISTERED
PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
-- ONE MORE 000.
-- ONE MORE, ONE MORE, ONE MORE,
ONE
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- MORE.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU. LET'S GET THEM TO
SIGN. SIGN UP AND WE'D LOVE TO
HAVE YOU SHARE YOUR
PERSPECTIVES.
-- ENCAPSULATED WHERE?
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
WILLIAM LAIRD.
-- WELCOME, WILLIAM.
-- WE MOVED HERE.
-- TO SEATTLE IN 1988 FROM
WASHINGTON, D.C. AND WHEN WE
MOVED IN, WE LIVED IN WEST
SEATTLE, ABOVE ALKI. WE USED TO
CATCH, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE ROOM
NUMBER, BUT CAME EVERY 30
MINUTES AND PRETTY SOON THEY
DOWNLOAD IT NOW WHERE THEY HAVE
A ROUTE 57 THAT COMES FOUR TIMES
IN THE MORNING, FIVE TIMES IN
THE EVENING GOING BACK INTO
TOWN. SO WE LOST THAT SERVICE
AND NOW WE HAVE TO WALK UP A
STEEP HILL TO GET UP ONTO
CALIFORNIA AVENUE. BUT WHAT I
WANTED TO COMMENT IS I'VE BEEN
SEEING THE TRANSIT FROM THAT
TIME TO TODAY, AND THEY'VE GONE
SO FAR AND THEY'VE DONE SO MUCH
THAT I HATE TO SEE PROGRESS STOP
AT THIS POINT. IT'S KIND OF
LIKE STARTING ON A HOUSE AND
THEN STOP. IT'LL START TO DECAY
A LITTLE BIT. THEN WHEN YOU
DECIDE YOU WANT TO MAKE IT
BETTER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
GO BACK AND REDO WHAT YOU
ALREADY HAD. AND MY PRO IS FOR
THE PAY, THE EXTRA TAX FOR THE
TRANSIT. IT'S YOU'VE GOT,
YOU'VE GOT A CITY THAT YOU CAN
PROVIDE WORK FOR DRIVERS,
TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE THAT
CAN'T DRIVE AND FILL THE BILL
FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.
-- [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- THANK YOU SIR. I
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- THINK THAT'S IT. THERE ARE
NO MORE ADDITIONAL REGISTERED
SPEAKERS. JUST WANT TO CONFIRM
WITH OUR CLERK. NO, NO MORE
SIGNUPS. THAT WAS IT, MR.
WILLIAM, THERE. OKAY, COOL.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC
FEEDBACK HERE. THE ENGAGEMENT.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S IN-PERSON PUBLIC
HEARING. AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN
FOR SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE SO
DIRECTLY WITH US, HELPING TO
ENRICH THE BROADER DIALOG AND
CONVERSATION. I APPRECIATE
EVERYONE WHO'S CONTRIBUTED TO A
THOUGHTFUL AND PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSION TODAY. WE WILL
RECONVENE FOR THE FINAL MEETING
OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT ON THURSDAY, JULY 16th,
2026 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 A
WEEK FROM TOMORROW. SO NEXT
TUESDAY FOR POSSIBLE APPROVAL
AGAIN AT THE JULY 21st, TUESDAY,
JULY 21st CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TO GET THIS ON THE BALLOT AND
LET VOTERS TAKE IT FROM THERE.
COLLEAGUES, IS THERE ANY FINAL
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE BEFORE WE ADJOURN
TODAY? HEARING AND SEEING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE
ADJOURNED. IT IS 6:44 P.M..