Ordinance Change to add Homelessness to the Seattle Malicious Harassment Ordinance

• Worked collaboratively with the stakeholders involved in addressing the condition of the homeless and homelessness.
• Participated in a hearing before the City Council on Dec. 4.
• Met with Council members Nick Licata, Jean Godden and Tom Rasmussen to inform and advocate for passage of the ordinance change.
• Met with Chief Metz of the Seattle Police Department and two detectives (one meeting) to inform them about the Ordinance Change and its effect on police activities.
• Established a separate webpage for the initiative and provided content.
• Conducted two forums with the community regarding the Ordinance change: Presentations by Commissioners before community organizations: Seattle King County Coalition to end Homelessness, University District, Service Providers, and community members. Secured three letters of support for the Ordinance change.
• Produced an information packet for use with legislators, stakeholders, and organizations.
• Interviewed by Real Change staff with subsequent publishing of an article on the Ordinance Change.
• Participated in an on-air interview with KOMO 1000 radio regarding the ordinance change.
• Coordinated with Seattle Office for Civil Rights regarding the Ordinance Change throughout the process.

• In early February, met with Sam Pailca, the outgoing Director of the Office of Professional Accountability Director, regarding the operations of OPA and presented the concerns of the SHRC.
• Also met with John Fowler, Deputy Director of the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) and OPA Police Officers and toured the OPA offices in the basement of Police Headquarters.
• Attended a Seattle City Council meeting regarding the OPA process at City Hall and spoke on behalf of the SHRC position.
• Met with Kathryn Olson, the new Director of OPA and shared the concerns of the SHRC regarding the OPA location and process.
• Organized and served as a member of a Panel of key stakeholders for the OPA community forum at the University Heights Community Center:
• Kathryn Olson, OPA Director
  
• Kate Pflaumer, OPA Auditor
  
• Peter Holmes, Chair of the OPA Review Board
  
• Nick Licata, President of the Seattle City Council
  
• Regina LaBelle, Legal Counsel for Mayor Greg Nickels
  
• Terry Carroll, Chair of the Mayor's Panel on OPA
  
• James Bible, Seattle King County NAACP President and
  
• Reverend Phyllis Beaumonte, Church Council of Greater Seattle.

In the fall of 2007, the Public Safety Task Force began planning a second Public Hearing regarding the OPA office.

• Addressed concerns regarding the impact of the new King County Voting Plan on the disabled.
• Developed a proposed public opinion survey to determine the readiness of identified sectors of the community to accommodate the disabled. Work on this strategy will continue into the 2008 workplan.

• Consulted with SPS staff and other stakeholders on the progress and status of the Racial Disproportionality initiative of SPS that was launched in 2005.
• Invited stakeholders to present to the SHRC meetings to educate the members about issues related to education such as disproportionality, school closures and WASL scores. Dr. Caprice Hollins, SPS Director of Race and Equity and Sally Soriano, SPS Board member.
• Prepared an inventory of community organizations and resources that are relevant to education.
• Met with the new Superintendent of Schools to discuss her vision for SPS and to express SHRC concerns.

• Participated in many meetings with SOCR to discuss the role of the Appeals Committee and to strategize ways of working together and improving to the current system.
• Developed and signed a Memorandum of Agreements with SOCR that will direct the working relationships for 9 months.
• Developed evaluation criteria with SOCR to measure the effectiveness of the processes outlined in the MOA.
• Participated in a comprehensive training session on investigations and appeals.

• Homelessness Task Force: Ordinance passed that added protection for people who are homeless under Seattle's Malicious Harassment law.
• Public Safety Task Force: Met with Sam Pailca, Director of the Office of Professional Accountability, regarding the operations of OPA and presented the concerns of the SHRC.
• Disability Task Force: Addressed concerns regarding the impact of the new King County Voting Plan on people with disabilities.
• Education Task Force: Consulted with SPS staff and other stakeholders on the progress and status of the Racial Disproportionality initiative of SPS that was launched in 2005. Met with the new Superintendent of Schools to discuss her vision for SPS and to express SHRC concerns.
• Appeals Committee: Participated in meetings with SOCR to discuss the role of the Appeals Committee and to strategize ways of working together and improvements to the current system.

• Homelessness Task Force: To continue to inform and educate the members of the SHRC and the community on homelessness in Seattle and bring proposals for action to the members for voting.
• Public Safety Task Force: To continue to research and analyze the current condition of community relations with the Police Department and identify best practices for the development of recommendations and proposals for change.
• Disability Task Force: Developing a proposed public opinion survey to determine the readiness of identified sectors of the community to accommodate people with disabilities.
• Education Task Force: To continue to have a positive impact on equality in education in the Seattle Public Schools.
• Appeals Committee: To continue to work with SOCR staff in providing excellent service to the citizens of Seattle.