>>> GREETINGS AND WELCOME TO
THE DECEMBER 11th, 9:30 A.M.
PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS UTILITIES ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND ARTS COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS LISA HERBALD.
I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE.
AND I AM THE COUNCILMEMBER
REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1 AND
SEATTLE SOUTH PARK.
IT IS 9:36 A.M.
AND JUST TO GO OVER TODAY'S
BUSINESS, WE WILL HAVE A NUMBER
OF APPOINTMENTS TO WILL HI --
-- THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
AS WELL AS -- IT'S THE ONLY
COMMISSION WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS
TO TODAY.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM
THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE,
REGARDING A FEASIBILITY STUDY
AND RACIAL TOOLKIT ANALYSIS
ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS AROUND
CREATING A CULTURAL SPACE
PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM LINKS AND
HUGHES WITH AN UPDATE OF THEIR
EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT
WE'LL HEAR FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, 1, ACCEPTING
EASEMENTS AND THE OTHER IS
DECLARING REAL PROPERTY RIGHTS,
RELATING TO SEWER AND STORM
DRAIN EASEMENTS AS BEING
SURPLUS TO CITY UTILITY NEEDS.
AND WE ARE JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MIKE O'BRIEN.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
WITH THAT, WE CAN KICK OFF
PUBLIC COMMENT.
ZEE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNED
-- WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE YOU, ZIMMERMAN,
FOLLOWED BY MEGAN MURPHY.
WE'LL BE KEEPING TIME.
STEP UP TO THE MIKE.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MY LOVELY COUNCIL -- MY
NAME, ZIMMERMAN.
GUYS, I SPOKE ABOUT HUMAN RIGHT
COMMISSION FOR MANY YEARS.
AND MANY TIMES, I HAVE BEEN
GOING TO THIS COMMITTEE FOR
MANY YEARS.
NO ONE FROM THIS COMMISSION FOR
MANY YEARS NEVER GIVE ME ONE
QUESTION.
IT'S A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION,
WHAT IT HAS BECOME.
WHAT IS APPLE NOT FAR AWAY FROM
TREE, IT IS EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED.
AND I APPLIED FIVE TIMES AND
NEVER ACCEPT ME.
AND I AM CANDIDATE FOR U.S.
SENATOR TWICE.
I AM BRINGING CLASS ACTION
AGAINST GOVERNMENT.
ONE FROM BIGGEST CLASS ACTION
IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
I'M STAYING IN POLITICAL FOR
ALL MY LIFE.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S
GOING ON.
RIGHT NOW,
WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION.
HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE.
FOR 10 YEARS, I COME TO THIS
COMMISSION AND NOBODY GIVE ME
ONE QUESTION WHEN I TALK FOR MY
TWO MINUTES.
COUNCIL DON'T GIVE ME I
UNDERSTAND.
IT'S NO SECRET.
BUT THIS, ALMOST TWO DOZEN
YOUNG PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM, YOU
KNOW WHAT IT IS MEAN.
ALL WORK FOR GOVERNMENT AND ALL
QUIET.
WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS
COMMITTEE FOR SO LONG?
AND WHY IS THIS HAPPENING, WHEN
WE WILL BE CHANGES, WHEN WE
WILL BE OPEN TO EVERYBODY, NOT
TO ALL, ONLY TO NAZI SOCIAL
DEMOCRATIC MAFIA.
WHEN PEOPLE LIKE ME OR ANOTHER
PEOPLE LIKE MARGARET RICHER,
WHO YOU TRESPASS, AND YOU GIVE
ME TRESPASSES FOR 930 DAYS CAN
WE SPEAK ABOUT OPENLY.
WHEN YOU STOP ACTING LIKE A
NAZI, LIKE A GESTAPO, LIKE A
MENTAL PSYCHOPATH, STAND UP.
-- STAND UP, SEATTLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AND NEXT, WE HAVE MEGAN
MURPHY.
>> WELL, I HEARD SUNDAY THAT
AMINNA AHMED HAD PASSED AWAY IN
A CAR ACCIDENT.
AND IT SEEMED -- I WAS JUST
REALLY STARTLED.
BECAUSE THEN I STARTED TO
LEARN, SHE WAS REALLY GOOD AT
ORGANIZING, AND HER MEMORIAL, I
THINK, IS GOING TO BE ON
DECEMBER 21st.
AND ANYWAYS, I JUST THOUGHT I'D
READ A QUOTE FROM HER.
DIVERSITY IS AN ACTION,
INCLUSIVITY IS CULTURAL AND
BELONGING IS A FEELING.
CHANGE DOESN'T START FROM TOP
DOWN LEADERSHIP.
IT HAPPENS AT EVERY LEVEL.
WE CAN ALL BE LEADERS IF WE
CHOOSE TO BE.
AND THEY CALL THEMSELVES WHOLE
LEADERSHIP TITLES IN OUR STATE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING SURE
ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR FEEL
COMFORTABLE TO LEAD.
WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE BELONG
SOMEWHERE, WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR
FULL POTENTIAL AND GIVE BACK TO
OUR COMMUNITIES, MENTOR OUR
YOUTH, BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE
WASHINGTON IS OUR STATE, TOO.
AND OLYMPIA IS NOT ONLY A PLACE
FOR WHITE MALE AND WOMEN.
BUT ALSO A PLACE WHERE YOUNG
AND OLD, PEOPLE OF COLOR, CAN
PLAY A BIG PART IN DECISION-
MAKING, AND OVERALL, MAKING
SURE OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR,
VOICES, ARE REPRESENTED.
WE -- OR SO-CALLED LEADERS IN
OUR STATES, EVERGREEN STATE,
SHOULD PRIORITIZE, DIVERSITY,
AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE OF COLOR,
MEN AND WOMEN, WHO STAND UP TO
DIVERSIFY OUR STATE AND SHOULD
VOTE, PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOUNG
MEN AND WOMEN.
TWO REPRESENTATIVES, BOTH
LOCALLY AND IN THE CAPITOL.
SO WE, WASHINGTONIANS, WITH
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, CAN
BRING OUR UNIQUE STRENGTHS TO
THE TABLE.
THAT WAS ON NOVEMBER 4th.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT
QUOTE FROM COUNCILMEMBER AHMED.
AND THANK YOU.
FOR TAKING THE TIME TO OBSERVE
THE LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION.
AND WE CAN READ ITEMS 1 THROUGH
7, INTO THE RECORD TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> APPOINTMENT 1 -- OR ITEM 1,
APPOINTMENT 110, APPOINTMENT OF
TYRONE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION,
JULY 2nd, 2919 -- 2019.
ITEM 2, IT FOR A TERM JANUARY
SECOND.
APPOINTMENT OF DERRICK STEVEN
LOMES.
FOR A TERM JULY 22nd, 2019.
NUMBER 4, APPOINTMENT OF ERICA,
FOR TERM TO JULY 22, 2020.
APPOINTMENT 5 IS 1192, JUDITH
H. HOWARD AS MEMBER.
TO JULY 22, 2020.
ITEM 6 IS APPOINTMENT 1193,
REAPPOINTMENT OF SLECEM
COMMENDY, JUNE 22, 2020.
>> I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THE OTHER WAS
A WOMAN'S COMMISSIONER.
LET'S JUST DO 1 THROUGH 6 FOR
NOW, THANK YOU.
FOLKS CAN JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
AND LOOKS LIKE FIVE OF THE
APPOINTMENTS ARE NEW
APPOINTMENTS.
IS THAT CORRECT?
AND ONE IS A REAPPOINTMENT?
>> ARE WE ALL JOINING YOU?
>> YES.
I THINK EVERYBODY -- ALL OF THE
NEW APPOINTMENTS SHOULD JOIN US
AT THE TABLE.
THANK YOU.
AND AS SOON AS WE'RE ALL
SEATED, WE'LL DO A ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS.
GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> HI.
GOOD MORNING I'M RITI RONE
GRANDISON, DIRECTOR OF THE DATA
INSTITUTE.
-- THE A NONPROFIT, HOLDS HUGE
DATA CHECK AND SOLVING CRITICAL
PROBLEMS.
AND TO MY INTEREST IN
COMMISSION GOES BACK TO MY
PREVIOUS WORK WITH THE WHITE
HOUSE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE ON INCOME AND QUALITY,
AND INCLUDING COMMUNITIES.
THANKS.
>> HEY THERE.
MY NAME IS DEREK LUM.
AND MY WORK GOES BACK INTO
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND SOCIAL
SERVICES, WORKING WITH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND
ORGANIZING THE ASIAN COMMUNITY.
I AM CURRENTLY IN GRAD SCHOOL,
SEEKING A GRADUATE DEGREE IN
SOCIAL WORK WITH CONCENTRATION
IN ADMINISTRATION POLICY.
AND I AM CURRENTLY -- I HAVE
INTERNSHIP AT THE WASHINGTON
LOW-INCOME HOUSING ALLIANCE.
SO I WORK ON HOUSING POLICY AND
ORGANIZING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS SARAH HILLMAN.
I'M AN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY
GENERAL WITH THE WASHINGTON
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE.
I REPRESENT SOCIAL WORKERS WHO
WORK WITH ABUSED AND NEGLECTED
CHILDREN.
AND BEEN INTERESTED IN HUMAN
RIGHTS ISSUES, AND CONTRIBUTING
TO THE WORK OF THE CITY FOR A
WHILE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M INTERESTED
IN THIS ROLE.
THANKS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ERICA CHEN.
I CURRENTLY WORK AT RAINIER
SCHOLARS AS THE EVENT AND
VOLUNTEER MANAGER.
I ALSO VOLUNTEER WITH
ADVANCEMENT NORTHWEST, I'M THE
COCHAIR OF THE DIVERSITY EQUITY
INCLUSION AND ACTS COMMITTEE.
AND I ORGANIZE WITH SOCIAL
JUSTICE FUND, DONORS OF COLOR
IN SEATTLE.
AND I'M VERY INTERESTED IN
HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE,
AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE HAVE
ANYBODY HERE FROM THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS TO PRESENT THE
MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS.
BUT THAT'S OKAY.
WE CAN WING IT.
USUALLY WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM
THE DEPARTMENT COME AND TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR INTEREST
IN PUTTING FORWARD THE MAYORAL
APPOINTMENTS.
SO WE HAVE A MIX HERE, BOTH OF
MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS AND I
BELIEVE YOU ARE COUNCIL
APPOINTMENTS.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
>> DO YOU JUST WANT TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR INTEREST
IN SERVING ON THE COMMISSION
AND WHAT IT IS YOU HOPE TO
ACCOMPLISH?
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.
JUST --
>> I CAN GO FIRST.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO THE REASON WHY I WANT TO
START ON THE COMMISSION IS
BECAUSE AS SOMEONE FROM THE
A.P.I.
COMMUNITY, I LOOK UP TO MY
COMMUNITY ELDERS, WHEN LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO ORGANIZE FOR A
CHANGE.
AND TO MAKE THE CITY.
AND SPECIFICALLY, UNCLE BOB
SANTOS WAS SOMEONE WHOSE
MEMOIRS I READ.
WHO I IDOLIZE, AND WHO I WANT
TO WORK IN A WAY SIMILAR TO
HIM.
SO I'VE LEARNED THAT HE WAS ON
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
BACK IN LIKE THE 70s OR 80s OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AN I WENT OH, THAT'S COOL.
AND THE NEXT DAY, I GOT AN E-
MAIL THAT WAS LIKE, HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION HAS
APPOINTMENTS.
AND I WAS LIKE, OH, I SHOULD
APPLY FOR THAT.
>> MEANT TO BE, HUH?
>> YES.
>> AND SO YEAH.
WHAT I WANTED TO DO ON THE
COMMISSION IS, FIRST OF ALL,
GATHER EXCELLENT COLLEAGUES
LIKE THE PEOPLE HERE.
LEARN FROM FOLKS WHO HAVE WAY
MORE EXPERIENCE THAN ME.
WORK ON SOME HUMAN RIGHTS
ISSUES AND SPECIFICALLY
SUCCESSES, RACIAL EQUITY,
ECONOMIC JUSTICE ARE OF UTMOST
IMPORTANCE TO ME.
MY INTEREST IS IN HOMELESSNESS
AND RACE AND EQUITY.
I'M FOCUSED ON FIGURING OUT HOW
ON TO HELP THE CITY FIGURE OUT
WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS THEY CAN
IMPLEMENT, USING DATA,
ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES AND NOT
NECESSARILY PUTTING A BAND AID
ON THE ISSUE ITSELF.
I'VE DONE THE WORK AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL BEFORE.
BUT IT JUST DIDN'T TRANSLATE
WELL WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO LOCAL
COUNTIES AND CITIES.
SO I'M HOPING THAT I CAN
IMPLEMENT IT AT THIS LEVEL AND
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED,
USING DATA TO ADDRESS THE ROOT
CAUSES OF SOME VERY DIFFICULT
SOCIAL CHALLENGES?
>> I'VE LEARNED THAT RESOURCES
SPENT IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
AND FIGURING OUT LIKE HOW DO
YOU ENABLE KIDS OF A PARTICULAR
BACKGROUND, LIKE THAT HAS A
HIGHER MULTIPLY EFFECT THAN
ACTUALLY SAYING, BUILDING MORE
BEDS, RIGHT?
BUT YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY DO TWO
THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT
CRISIS.
BUT ALSO FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU,
FOR THE FUTURE, REDUCE IT BACK
TO THE PROBLEM ITSELF.
SO THAT'S THE NUMBER 1 TAKE
AWAY.
YOU HAVE TO WALK AND KIND OF
SWIM AT THE SAME TIME.
>> RIGHT.
RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
>> I CAN GO NEXT.
>> WELL, LIKE I SAID.
I HAVE A PASSION FOR SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
AND I DO ALREADY A LOT OF OTHER
VOLUNTEER WORK THAT IS MORE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING RELATED.
BUT I DO HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE
FOR THE EVANS SCHOOL OF POLICY
AND GOVERNANCE.
SO I WANTED TO USE MY DEGREE
AND REALLY LOOK AT POLICY AND
HIGHER LEVEL ADVOCACY WORK.
SO WHAT I WAS LOOKING TO GET
OUT OF THE COMMISSION WAS
HAVING A VOICE HERE, AND YOU
KNOW, ACTUALLY, HAVING A
POSITION WHERE CITY COUNCIL,
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WOULD
LISTEN TO THE OPINIONS OF
SOMEONE LIKE ME.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YES.
I HAVE A FAIRLY LONG CAREER IN
PUBLIC SERVICE AT THE STATE
LEVEL.
AND I'M INTERESTED IN -- EXCUSE
ME, BRINGING THAT MORE TO THE
CITY LEVEL AND IN PARTICULAR,
ADDRESSING A LOT OF THE
INEQUITIES I'VE SEEN,
PARTICULARLY WITH CHILD
WELFARE.
AND AT OUR STATE LEVEL.
AND TRYING TO CONNECT WITH
OTHER LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE.
TO TRY TO HAVE SOME POSITIVE
IMPACT HERE AT THE CITY LEVEL,
WITH HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.
>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
THIS IS A FANTASTIC COMMISSION.
THEY DO REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
AND ARE ENGAGED IN ISSUES THAT
I KNOW ARE REALLY CRITICAL TO
THE VISION THAT THIS COUNCIL
HAS TO MAKE THE CITY A MORE
JUST PLACE FOR FOLKS WHO LIVE
HERE.
SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
APPRECIATE YOUR DIGGING IN.
I THINK I'VE SEEN SOME OF YOU
ALREADY AT COMMISSION EVENTS
RECENTLY.
SO THANK YOU FOR DIPPING YOUR
TOE IN.
AND PUSHING YOUR SLEEVES UP.
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN?
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU.
IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THE VARIETY
OF BACKGROUNDS HERE AND THE
PASSION FOR THIS WORK.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IS
A COMMISSION THAT HAS A LONG
HISTORY HERE.
AND REALLY ELEVATING PRIORITIES
FOR THE COMMUNITY, BOTH BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
AND YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES, IT'S
ELEVATING THINGS WE WANT TO DO.
SOMETIMES IT'S BRINGING
ATTENTION TO THINGS WE'RE
MISSING.
IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE TO
PLAY.
I WANT TO INVITE YOU ALL TO BE
BOLD AND AMBITIOUS IN YOUR WORK
ON THE COMMISSION.
AND I HOPE YOU'RE NOT SHY ABOUT
HOLDING ELECTED OFFICIALS
ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THERE'S A HIGH EXPECTATION
IN THE CITY AT THIS POINT IN
TIME IN OUR PLANET'S HISTORY
AND HUMAN EXISTENCE.
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE HAVE FOLKS LIKE YOU ALL,
BEING REALLY DEDICATED TO
THINKING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO
BE, YOU KNOW, HOW TO BE A JUST
CITY AND A JUST PLANET.
AND WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY BE
HEARING THOSE GOOD THINGS THAT
WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON.
SO, I ALSO KNOW IT'S A BIG
COMMITMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF BIG SHOES TO
FILL THERE.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
DEDICATION TO THAT WORK AS A
VOLT TEAR ON THE COMMISSION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY
LOVE TO SEE IS WHEN THE FOUR
COMMISSIONS FIND TOPICS TO WORK
ON TOGETHER.
IT REALLY JUST AMPLIFIES YOUR
POWER.
AND ALSO AMPLIFIES, I THINK,
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISSUE
THAT YOU DECIDE TO WORK ON.
SO I KNOW THERE'S OFTEN A
PROJECT THAT IS SELECTED AT THE
BEGINNING.
YEAR.
I HAVE A FEELING IT MIGHT BE AN
EXTENSION OF THE PROJECT THAT
WAS SELECTED LAST YEAR, WHICH
WAS ADDRESSING THE CITY'S
RESPONSE TO UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS.
BUT JUST KNOW THAT WHATEVER YOU
WORK ON.
I -- FOLKS IN THIS COMMITTEE
ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO
BRINGING FORTH YOUR
RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO THANKS AGAIN.
>> WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE
APPOINTMENT 01189, APPOINTMENT
01190, APPOINTMENT 01191.
AND APPOINTMENT 01193.
>> I THINK WE MISSED --
>> I MISSED YOU.
I WILL ALSO MOVE OVER
APPOINTMENT 01107.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, JUDITH HOWARD
IS A NEW APPOINTMENT.
BUT NOT HERE?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
I DID NOT MOVE HER APPOINTMENT.
SO WE'LL GIVE HER ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK.
>> I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU READ
FIVE.
>> I ALSO INCLUDE THE
REAPPOINTMENT WHO IS ALSO NOT
HERE.
BUT THAT IS OKAY.
>> OKAY, AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER 1
THROUGH 4 AND 6?
>> CORRECT.
>> I WILL SECOND THOSE.
>> APPRECIATE IT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE?
>> AYE.
>> AND THL THESE WILL ALL MOVE
TO FULL COUNCIL MONDAY.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, ALL.
>>> AGENDA ITEM 7 IS
APPOINTMENT 1173.
APPOINTMENT OF DIA CONAS MEMBER
FOR A TERM JULY 12020.
-- JULY 1, 2020.
>>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> DO YOU CARE TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELF?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED
FOR THIS POSITION.
IT'S TRULY AN HONOR.
MY NAME IS DIA.
AND TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT MYSELF, I WAS BORN IN
SINGAPORE.
AND I WAS RAISED IN TORONTO.
AND I'VE LIVED IN BERLIN, BACK
IN SINGAPORE, AND ALSO IN
TOKYO.
AND THE REASON I MENTIONED
THESE PLACES IS BECAUSE THEY
HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MY
IDENTITY AND IN ALL THESE
PLACES I'VE WORKED WITH WOMEN,
BOTH FORMALLY AND INFORMALLY.
AND I'VE REALIZED THAT THERE IS
A TREMENDOUS POWER AND
RESILIENCE IN WOMEN ACROSS THE
WORLD.
AND WONDERFUL, TAPPED AND
UNTAPPED SKILLS AND TALENTS.
AND NOW COMING TO SEATTLE, AND
MAKING THIS PLACE MY HOME, I'VE
REALIZED THAT THERE IS ALSO A
GREAT SYNERGY THAT IS HAPPENING
HERE BETWEEN WOMEN THAT ALREADY
LIVE HERE AND WOMEN THAT ARE
COMING INTO THE CITY, AND I
THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL AND VERY
EXCITING TIME TO BE A PART OF
THE COMMISSION THAT -- THAT
CONSISTS OF EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN
DOING WONDERFUL WORK AND FOR
SPACES TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
TO WORK WITH PUBLIC OFFICE TO
REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF WOMEN.
I'M A JOURNALIST.
AND I AM ALSO DOING A NUMBER OF
PROJECT IN DIVERSITY EQUITY AND
INCLUSION HERE IN SEATTLE.
BUT ALSO IN CANADA.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE MY
INTERESTS LIE.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
INTEREST.
>>> AND SO YOUR BACKGROUND IS
IN JOURNALISM?
>> YES.
CORRECT.
>> AND ARE YOU WORKING AS A
JOURNALIST HERE IN SEATTLE NOW?
>> YES.
I'M WITH THE SEATTLE TIMES.
>> OH.
FANTASTIC.
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE
YOUR NAME.
SHAME ON ME.
THIS IS FANTASTIC.
YOU HAVE VERY, VERY RICH
BACKGROUND AND BREADTH OF
EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS DEPTH.
AND BOTH ON INTERNATIONAL
úISSUES, AS WELL AS SPECIFICALL
WOMEN'S ISSUES.
REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU.
AND YOU ARE, I BELIEVE YOU ARE
AN APPOINTMENT THAT THE -- THE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION IS PUTTING
FORWARD.
SO THE COMMISSION ITSELF IS THE
APPOINTING AUTHORITY.
AND HAVE YOU BEEN ATTENDING ANY
OF THEIR MEETINGS?
>> YES.
I'VE BEEN TO A FEW OF THEIR
MEETINGS AND A FEW OF THEIR
EVENTS.
THEY HAD -- I DON'T REMEMBER
THE NAME OF IT.
BUT IT WAS AN EVENT THAT WAS
HELD FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE.
FANTASTIC EVENTS.
SO IT WAS A GREAT CHANCE TO NOT
ONLY MEET FURTHER WITH THE
COMMISSIONERS, BUT ALSO WITH
THE WONDERFUL WOMEN THAT WERE
SPEAKING UP AT THE EVENT VERY
BRAVELY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN AND I
HAVE BEEN WORKING TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT A RECENT WOMEN'S
COMMISSION REPORT HAS
IDENTIFIED, RELATED
SPECIFICALLY TO RENTERS ISSUES.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T YET TAKEN A
LOOK AT THAT REPORT, I THINK
IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE COUNCIL'S
WORK, COMING UP NEXT YEAR.
BUT SPECIFICALLY, IT WAS
FOCUSED ON THE IMPACT OF
EVICTIONS, ON WOMEN.
AND PARTICULARLY WOMEN WITH
CHILDREN.
AND IDENTIFIED A LOT OF THE
SORT OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WILL
LEAD UP TO AN EVICTION AND SOME
REALLY GREAT POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I'M
EXCITED ABOUT TAKING A LOOK AT.
SO --
>> I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU.
YOU BRING A FASCINATING
BACKGROUND TO THE COMMISSION
AND AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
MENTIONED, THIS THAT IS AN
EXAMPLE OF THE TIME OF -- TYPE
OF WORK THAT COMMISSION DOES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO SERVICE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
FROM YOU.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE TO
APPOINTMENT 00173.
ALL IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE.
>> AYE.
>> OPPOSE INSTEAD NONE
OBSTAINING THIS WILL MOVE TO
FULL COUNCIL MONDAY.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NUMBER 8 ON THE AGENDA.
CAN YOU READ IT TO THE RECORD
PLEASE?
>> AGENDA ITEM 8 IS A
FEASIBILITY STUDY AND RACIAL
EQUITY TOOLKIT ANALYSIS,
REGARDING THE CREATION OF A
CULTURAL SPACE PUBLIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>>> THANK YOU IF ALL FOR
JOINING -- ALL FOR JOINING US.
>> THINK YOU WILL FOR JOINING
US.
>> MY NAME IS CASSIE CHIN.
I AM ON THE SEATTLE ARTS
COMMISSION AND I'M THE COCHAIR
OF THE CRABLE DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE AND I'M ALSO ON THE
INTERACTIVE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE ADVISORY BOARD.
>> MATTHEW RICK WITH THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
>> I AM REPRESENTING THE BLACK
AND TAN HALL, LIBERTY --
COLLABORATION ARTS AND
MUSICIANS EVERYWHERE.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE OUR
PRESENTATION.
>> I WILL TRY TO SET THIS UP.
IT'S A SYMPHONY IN TWO PARTS.
MATTHEW WILL WALK US THROUGH A
YEAR OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
WE DID ON THE CONCEPT OF A
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL SPACE
AND CREATION OF CULTURAL SPACE
IN RESPONSE TO THE
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
WITH THE RISK FOR -- WITH THE
SUPPORT OF CASSIE AND BEN WE
WILL TALK THROUGH THE RACIAL
EQUITY PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH
TO COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE AND
WE HAVE A SET OF NEXT STEPS AND
RECOGNITION -- AND
RECOMMENDATIONS GOING FORWARD.
>> THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO AN
INITIAL BRIEFING THAT WE HAD IN
AUGUST?
>> YES.
THERE WAS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT AS PART OF
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WHICH ASKED
US TO COME FORWARD WITH THE
RESULTS OF THIS ANALYSIS.
WE GAVE YOU AN UPDATE AND
AUGUSTINE UP THE RESEARCH WE
HAD DONE BEFORE WE HAD GONE
INTO THE TOOLKIT PROCESS.
THIS IS IS COMING OUT THE OTHER
SIDE WITH MORE INFORMATION.
FOR FIVE YEARS, THE RIGHTS
OFFICE HAS FOUGHT FOR THE
AFFORDABILITY OF CREATIVE SPACE
BECAUSE WE FOUND IT TO FIGHT
CULTURAL DISPLACEMENT WHICH IS
THE DEFINITION OF
GENTRIFICATION.
WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING WITH THE
CULTURAL COMMUNITY AND THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE DEVELOPED COORDINATED
STRATEGIES AROUND CULTURAL
AFFORDABILITY.
THE BUILDING ON AN IDEA BORN
OUT OF THE CUP REPORT.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
COLLEAGUES AROUND THE CITY AND
COMMUNITY TO EXPLORE THE
STRUCTURE TO ALLOW FOR THE
PURCHASE, LEASE AND DEVELOPMENT
OF REAL ESTATE ON BEHALF OF
CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND BUILD
COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP IN THAT
COMMUNITY WHILE WE'RE AT IT.
THERE HAS BEEN FOCUS ON PUBLIC
DEVELOPMENT OR A SINGLE
GOVERNING STRUCTURE ALLOWING
THE CITY TO LEVERAGE BOTH
MUNICIPAL SUPPORT,
PHILANTHROPIC INTEREST AND
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT.
BUILDING ON AN IDEA GENERATED
THROUGH THE CAP REPORT AND ALSO
SUPPORTED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WE BEGAN A STUDY OF
VISIBILITY ON THE CREATION OF
THE NEW ENTITY.
WE HAVE ENGAGED CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITIES.
WE PERFORMED A NATIONAL SKIN
AND WORKED WITH COLLEAGUES FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH SPACE WORKS
NEW YORK IN NEW YORK CITY.
WE MET WITH PHILANTHROPISTS,
ARTISTS, INVESTORS, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS, ATTORNEYS, BUSINESS
OWNERS AND CULTURE MAKERS.
WITH THE COLLABORATION OF
FRAMEWORK, THE SAME CULTURAL
CONSULTANCY WE WORKED WITH TO
CREATE THE CAP REPORT IN THE
FIRST PLACE WE DRAFTED A
PRELIMINARY REPORT AND BEGAN A
SIGNIFICANT RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT PROCESS TO VET THE
IDEAS INTO THE REPORT WITH
CULTURAL COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WHAT THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT
REPORT HAS RECOMMENDED ISN'T
THE CREATION OF ONE MONOLITHIC
ENTITY.
IT'S A CONSTELLATION OF VARIOUS
KINDS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT
WE'VE BEEN CALLING COLLECTIVELY
THE CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY.
DAILY, WE ARE USING THE WORD
AGENCY AND PLAYING WITH SEVERAL
MEETINGS.
BUT PRIMARY FOR US HAS BEEN THE
IDEA THIS PROJECT HAS TO BUILD
A SENSE OF AGENCY AND CONTROL.
NOT JUST A SENSE OF, BUT ACTUAL
CONTROL FOR THE CULTURAL
PARTNERS WE ARE WORKING WITH.
THAT IS ABOUT COMMUNITY
OWNERSHIP AND CULTURAL CONTROL.
WHAT WE ARE DESCRIBING HERE IS
ESSENTIALLY IN THE MIDDLE YOU
SEE TWO PRIMARY COMPONENTS TO
THIS MODEL.
ONE IS THE PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY AND ONE IS A
501(C)(3) NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
TOGETHER, THEY WILL SHARE BOARD
MEMBERS, STAFF, AND SPACE FROM
THE OUTSIDE.
THE DIVISIONS BETWEEN THEM WILL
BE LARGELY INVISIBLE.
ONE WILL PRIMARILY FACED THE
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT WORLD, THE PARTNER
PROPERTIES.
ONE WILL PRIMARILY FACE THE
CULTURAL WORLD, THE ARTS AND
CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, SMALL
BUSINESSES WE ARE SUPPORTING AND
THE COMMUNITY WE ARE RESPONDING
TO.
SUBSIDIARY TO THE PUBLIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS A
SERIES OF LLCS OR LIMITED
LIABILITY CORPORATIONS,
THE CONTROL MECHANISM, THE
GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS FOR EACH
OF THESE INCLUDE MECHANISMS TO
RESPOND BACK TO THE AUTHORIZING
ENVIRONMENTS, ESSENTIALLY.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WHETHER
IT'S AN OFFICIAL
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM OR NOT,
AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL GROUP
WOULD HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF
SEATS ON THE PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY, AND THE NONPROFIT
WOULD BE A MEMBERSHIP
NONPROFIT, WHICH WOULD MEAN THE
COMMUNITY WOULD DIRECTLY ELECT
THE LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
OF THAT, AND THERE WOULD BE
AGAIN SHARED SEATS BETWEEN THE
TWO SO THE COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE
THE REMAINDER OF THE SEATS ON
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES BOARD AS
WELL.
>> THE NONPROFIT MEMBERS, SOME
OF THEM WOULD HAVE SEATS ON THE
PDA BOARD.
>> CORRECT.
AGAIN IN A PRELIMINARY DRAFT
REPORT TO BE VETTED BY THE
COMMUNITY WAS THE IDEA THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
NONPROFIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WOULD HAVE THOSE FOUR SEATS
OVER ON THE PDA BOARD, AS WELL.
AND ABOVE IT ALL, WE HAD
DESCRIBED SOMETHING WE
TENTATIVELY CALLED THE EQUITY
AUTHORIZING COUNSEL BUT THAT IS
BASICALLY A STAND-IN FOR THE
IDEA THAT COORDINATING THE
EFFORTS OF ALL OF THESE VARIOUS
INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS
IS SOME RESPONSIVE COMMUNITY
PANEL THAT CENTERS ON THE
EQUITY MEANS THAT THE CITY AND
COMMUNITY HAVE IN MOVING THIS
BODY OF WORK FORWARD.
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE REMAINS TO
BE SEEN.
WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS PROPOSED
STRUCTURE TO THE CULTURAL
COMMUNITY FOR VETTING, WE DID
SO THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE CALLED
THE BASE COHORT, THE BUILD ARTS
EQUITABLY COHORT.
THIS IS ANOTHER MANIFESTATION
OF A CAP REPORT AROUND
CERTIFYING PEOPLE IN BOTH
CULTURE AND REAL ESTATE.
THE IDEA WAS TO CERTIFY REAL
ESTATE PEOPLE IN CULTURAL
ORGANIZING AND CERTIFY CULTURE
MAKERS IN THE WAYS OF
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT.
THE BASE COHORT IS A 30 PERSON
COHORT MADE UP ROUGHLY EQUALLY
OF FOLKS FROM THE REAL ESTATE
SECTOR AND FOLKS FROM THE
CULTURAL SECTOR.
IT'S ENTIRELY PEOPLE OF COLOR
WHO HAVE BEEN MEETING AND
LEARNING FOR THE PAST YEAR IN
THIS PILOT VERSION OF THE
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, WHICH
IDEALLY WILL CONTINUE BEYOND
THE FIRST LAUNCH.
WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE
GROUP TODAY.
IT'S A 30 PERSON COHORT THAT
HAS BEEN MOVING THROUGH THIS
REPORT, VETTING AND RESPONDING
TO IT.
WE HAVE CASSIE CHIN, WHO WE DID
INTRODUCTIONS AT THE BEGINNING
BUT SHE IS THE DIRECTOR AT THE
ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, THE
CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE ARTS
COMMISSION FACILITIES AND
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
AND SHE SITS ON THE INTERIM EDI
ADVISORY BOARD.
REESE TANIMURA IS THE MANAGING
DIRECTOR OF THE NORTHWEST
FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL IN NUMBER
DIRECTOR OF ROC CITY CAMP FOR
GIRLS, CHAIR OF THE CITY MUSIC
COMMISSION.
BENJAMIN HUNTER IS COFOUNDER OF
THE BLACK AND TAN HALL AND
COFOUNDER OF THE HELEN CITY
COLLABORATIVE.
HE IS A SUCCESSFUL TOURING
MUSICIAN.
SO TOGETHER, WE WILL WALK YOU
THROUGH THREE SLIDES THAT
DESCRIBE THE PROCESS TO DATE.
>> IF WE COULD TAKE A QUICK
PAUSE.
>> ON THE LAST SAW -- ON THE
LAST SLIDE, THE TWO ARROWS, IS
ONE ESSENTIALLY LANDLORDS AND
ONE TENANTS BUT IT'S MORE
COMPLEX THAN THAT?
>> THAT IS A GREAT DISTILLATION
OF IT.
>> I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO
CREATE AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAN
BE RESPONSIVE TO BOTH
RECOGNIZING DISCRETE NEEDS
AROUND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT,
REAL ESTATE, AND THEN THE
DISCRETE NEEDS OF CULTURAL
COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZING.
WHEN WE BEGAN THE PROCESS, THE
IDEA WAS RAISED THAT WE NEED TO
START BY CENTERING IT IN AN
EXPRESSION OF VALUES WE WANT
WRITTEN INTO THE STRUCTURE.
WE TALKED ABOUT IMAGINING A
FUTURE POINT AT WHICH LITERALLY
ON THE WALL OF THE BOARD ROOM,
WE WOULD HAVE THESE VALUES
WRITTEN UP TO MAKE SURE THE
ORGANIZATIONS STAY TRUE TO
THEM.
SO THEY WERE GENERATED BY THE
FOLKS WE HAVE AT THE TABLE, AND
OTHERS.
FOLKS WHO WANT TO RESPOND OR
PICK ANY OF THOSE OUT TO
DISCUSS, I WILL TURN IT OVER.
>> I CAN START OFF.
I WAS
-- IT WAS GREAT THAT THE OFFICE
RESPONDED TO THE REQUEST FROM
THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE TIME TO
BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THESE
VALUES.
WE WANTED TO LAY THE VALUES IN
THE FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS, SO
WE KNOW AS DECISIONS MOVE
FORWARD, YOU WOULD ALWAYS HAVE
THOSE VALUES TO REFER BACK TO
AS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE.
AS I LOOK AT THE VALUES, THEY
KEEP RACE IN THE ROOM AND THERE
IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO
CENTER LEADERSHIP FROM
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FROM THE
GET GO AND TO ENSURE THAT THEIR
DECISION-MAKING ROLE WAS CLEAR
AND INTEGRATED.
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROPOSED
AGENCY.
THE OTHER ELEMENTS, RECOGNIZING
ASSETS ARE NOT ALWAYS FINANCIAL.
WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING WITHIN
THE BASE COHORT ON CAPITAL.
A WHOLE RANGE OF CAPITAL.
CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL
CAPITAL.
AND HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO LEVERAGE
THE RICH SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
CAPITAL THAT EXISTS WITHIN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO
TRANSLATE THAT INTO FINANCIAL
CAPITAL, AND HOW ARE YOU ABLE
TO BUILD FINANCIAL CAPITAL THEN
WITHIN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THIS WAS VIEWED BOTH AS A WAY
TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THOSE
DIFFERENT FORMS OF CAPITAL THAT
CURRENTLY EXIST WITHIN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND
WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE WERE
ELEVATING IT ALL THROUGH THE
WORK.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT IS THE
CITY'S LEGACY AROUND THESE
ISSUES.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VALUES, I
THINK WE ARE VERY EXPLICITLY
SAYING IT IS IMPORTANT TO
DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS, TO
CREATE A SENSE OF TRUST BETWEEN
THE COMMUNITIES WE ARE TRYING
TO SERVE AND WITHIN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GOING TO
BE DOING THIS WORK.
AND SO, A LOT OF THIS
EXPRESSION OF VALUES AND A LOT
OF THESE BULLET POINTS ARE
RALLY TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE
LEVERAGE THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT
HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPING IN
THESE COMMUNITIES AND TRUST
THAT THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR
THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO
RECOGNIZING THAT THE CITY, AND
THIS INSTITUTION THAT WE ARE
DOING THIS THROUGH HAS AN
ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO THE PAST.
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE RECTIFY
SOME OF THOSE WRONGS THAT HAVE
HAPPENED IN THE CITY THAT HAVE
LED US TO THIS PROBLEM.
>> I THINK THERE'S ALSO A
SYSTEMIC PIECE WHERE YOU KNOW,
WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT LEARNING
ABOUT DEVELOPMENT, AND REAL
ESTATE IN TERMS OF THE SYSTEM
THAT IS PLAYING THE GAME SO TO
SPEAK, THAT EXISTS, AND I THINK
THROUGH THE'S COHORT AND
THROUGH THIS DIALOGUE WE WANT
TO CHANGE THE DIALOGUE TO
UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF
UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT LAND OWNERSHIP, SPACE
SHARING AND SPACE BUILDING
THROUGH COMMUNITIES THAT IT
DOES NOT FIT INTO THE TYPICAL
WESTERN, WHITE STRUCTURE OF YOU
KNOW WHAT WE DO IN REAL ESTATE,
AND REALIZING THAT'S A REALITY
BUT ALSO THAT IF WE TALK ABOUT
RACIAL EQUITY, WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE THERE ARE WAY
DIFFERENT WAYS OF TALKING ABOUT
AND NAVIGATING OR BUILDING
SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE CAN NAVIGATE
IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT
SPACE IS HELD FOR CULTURAL
PRACTICE.
>> CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF
USING COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL
CAPITAL TO LEVERAGE FINANCIAL
CAPITAL AND WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE?
>> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING
THAT IT DOVETAILS ON BENJAMIN'S
COMMENT ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.
WE KNOW THERE IS AN EMBEDDED
AND DEEP RELATIONSHIP NETWORK
WITHIN COMMUNITIES, OFTEN TIMES
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE CALLED
ON FOR THEIR COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PIECE OR ASKED TO
VOLUNTEER THEIR SERVICES, BUT
THAT REPRESENTS SOCIAL CAPITAL
THAT EXISTS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITIES, SO HOW DO WE TAKE
THAT MODEL A STEP FURTHER.
INSTEAD OF ALWAYS JUST HAVING
THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SAY --
STAY ISOLATED WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE, HOW
DO YOU EXTEND THAT AND SAY THAT
CAN TRANSLATE INTO DIRECT
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, INTO
FINANCIAL CAPITAL GAMES, AS
WELL?
SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE SOCIAL
CAPITAL IS THERE AND BE ABLE TO
EXPAND IT.
I KNOW AND I AM THINKING AS
WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE
BASE PROGRAM WE HAVE BEEN
RECOGNIZING HOW OUR DEVELOPMENT
DEALS ARE MADE, THEY ARE MADE
BY RELATIONSHIPS THAT PEOPLE
HAVE WITHIN THEIR SOCIAL
NETWORKS.
OFTENTIMES, COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM
THOSE SOCIAL NETWORKS, WHERE
THOSE DEALS HAPPEN.
CAN WE EMBED A PLACE AND A WAY
FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO BE
INCLUDED AND AT THE TABLE, AS
IT COMES DOWN TO PROPERTY
DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE SPACE
AGENCY?
>> I THINK THERE'S AN
UNDERLYING ASSUMPTION THAT WE
ARE WORKING WITH, THAT IS THE
IDEA OF BELONGING AND CULTURAL
EXPRESSION UNTO THEMSELVES.
AND THAT THE LOSS OF CULTURAL
REPRESENTATION, THE LOSS OF A
SENSE OF BELONGING IN A
COMMUNITY CARRIES A CONSEQUENCE
SO HOW CAN WE EMBED CULTURE AND
IDENTITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS
WE EXPERIENCE REALLY INTENSE
CHANGE.
WE KNOW THE CITY WILL KEEP
CHANGING.
THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE IS TO
GUIDE HOW THAT CHANGE HAPPENS
AND TRY TO CENTER THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE VALUE IN
HOW THAT CHANGE OCCURS.
I THINK THAT IS AT THE CORE OF
WHAT WE ARE HOPING THIS IDEA
CAN SUPPORT.
>> I THINK WE ARE ALSO TALKING
ABOUT KNOWLEDGE AND THE
DIFFERENT FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE
THAT EXIST, WHICH IS WHAT REESE
WAS TALKING ABOUT, I THINK.
WITHIN THESE CULTURAL, WITHIN
THESE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND
VARIETIES OF BACKGROUNDS THAT
EXIST IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS OF
SEATTLE, THERE ARE A LOT OF
DIFFERENT FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE
AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS
WE DON'T CONSIDER IN A WESTERN
POLITY THAT COULD WORK IN A
DYNAMIC NEIGHBORHOOD AND
COMMUNITY.
SO MAKING SURE THAT WE EXPLORE
THAT KNOWLEDGE, BUT ALSO
FUNDAMENTALLY AS ARTISTS, IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT
THE INTERDISCIPLINARY WAYS WE
CAN WORK TOGETHER.
THE INTERGENERATIONAL WAYS WE
CAN WORK TOGETHER.
THAT ALL I THINK HAS ROUTED IN
HOW WE VALUE THE SYSTEMS WE ARE
CREATING, WHO WERE INCLUDING
NOT JUST RACIALLY OR
ETHNICALLY, BUT
THE VARIETY OF DYNAMICS AND
INTERDISCIPLINARY WAYS WE CAN
TALK TO EACH OTHER, AND SHARE
KNOWLEDGE THAT WE FIND PROBABLY
HAS A LOT OF PARALLELS, BUT ONE
OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT
HAPPENED WITH DIFFERENCES OF
THAT KNOWLEDGE.
>> I THINK THERE'S ALSO JUST A
VERY TANGIBLE PIECE THAT
COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN
CULTIVATING THE SPACES THEY ARE
IN AND THE SHOPS THEY HOLD, THE
LAND THAT IS THERE.
AND THEN SUDDENLY, DEVELOPERS
PAY ATTENTION.
SUDDENLY, THERE IS A NEED FOR
SPACE AND THERE'S SUDDENLY
ATTENTION ON COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE BEEN CULTIVATING THAT
SPACE FOR A LONG TIME AND THEN
IT HAS SUDDENLY TURNED INTO
SOMEBODY ELSE'S CPITAL.
INSTEAD OF RETAINING WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY, THAT IT HAS BEEN
MAKING SURE THAT SPACE IS
RETAINED FOR COMMUNITY PRACTICE
DURING THAT TIME.
>> CLEARLY EVERYONE WANTS TO
JUMP IN TO ANSWER THAT, BUT
IT'S BECAUSE YOU'VE IDENTIFIED
THE CORE QUESTION THIS
ORGANIZATION WILL BE WRESTLING
WITH.
ABOUT WHAT IS -- WHAT DOES THAT
ALCHEMY LOOK LIKE?
WHAT DID THAT MOMENT LOOK LIKE
FOR YOU TURN ONE TYPE OF
CAPITAL INTO ANOTHER?
BENJAMIN HAS BEEN PLAYING
MODELS AT BLACK AND TAN.
EQUINOX STUDIOS HAD THEIR BIG
ANNUAL FESTIVAL AND HAS BEEN
PLAYING WITH COMMUNITY
OWNERSHIP MODELS.
THERE ARE ANSWERS OUT THERE WE
LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING IN
2019.
THESE ARE ROUGHLY THE QUESTIONS
THAT WE ASKED THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT GROUP TO RESPOND TO
BROKEN OUT INTO THREE ROUGH
CATEGORIES AROUND ENGAGEMENT,
POLICY, AND PROGRAM DESIGN.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SPEAK TO
THIS AS THE DIVING BOARD, THE
LAUNCHING POINT INTO THIS, WE
CAN PAUSE HERE, AND WE CAN MOVE
TO RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> HOW WERE THESE QUESTIONS
SELECTED?
>> WE CREATED AN INTERNAL
WORKING GROUP WITHIN THE ARTS
OFFICE IN COLLABORATION WITH
THE FACILITIES AND EQUITABLE
EVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WHICH
CASSIE CHAIRS, SO IT WAS BOTH
STAFF AND COMMUNITY
REPRESENTATIVES.
>> AND BEN WITHIN THE BASE
PROGRAM, THERE IS ALSO A
GUIDING CURRICULUM GROUP, A
SMALLER GROUP THAT ALSO HAD A
CHANCE TO DISCUSS THE AGENCY,
DEVELOP MORE QUESTIONS AND THAT
WAS BROUGHT TO THE BROADER
GROUP.
>> WE CAN GO BACK.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE SPENT A LONG
TIME ON THIS AND THERE'S STILL
A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED
TO SOLIDIFY, AND ANSWER FOR
OURSELVES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK
ABOUT ALONG WITH THE VALUES AND
SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF
ENGAGEMENT AND POLICY.
THIS SHOULDN'T BE A POLITICAL
THING.
THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING ROUTED
IN COMMON VALUES WE SHARE FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY .
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I AM
WORRIED ABOUT AND I'VE TALKED
WITH OTHER FOLKS ON THE COHORT
ABOUT, IN TERMS OF POLICY, IS
HOW DO WE ACCOUNT FOR THE
SHIFTING POLITICS THAT HAPPEN?
THAT'S JUST A CONCERN,
SOMETHING I WANT TO BRING UP AS
SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT AND I
WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE THE
COUNCIL TO BE AWARE OF.
HOW DO WE PUT SOMETHING IN
PLACE THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE IS
VALUABLE TO THE CITY AND ISN'T
GOING TO BE TAINTED BY
POLITICS?
>> TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
THAT.
THAT'S THE ELEPHANT IN THE
ROOM.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY TAINTED BY
POLITICS?
>> POLITICS IS A SWINGING DATE.
I THINK WE ALL ARE GOING TOWARD
THE SAME PLACE, BUT THE WAYS IN
WHICH WE GET THERE ARE
DIFFERENT, AND WHAT WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE PUT INTO PLACE
HERE IS SOMETHING THAT
WITHSTANDS THE TIDES.
>> DO IT RIGHT, NOT JUST CHECK
A BOX.
>> I DON'T WANT TO DO IT FOR
POLITICAL REASONS.
I WANT TO DO IT BECAUSE IT
MAKES SENSE FOR THE CITY AND
REFLECTS THE VALUES WE WANT TO
ASPIRE TO.
>> SO FOR THESE THREE AREAS OF
INQUIRY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
PROCESS OF ASKING AND ANSWERING
THESE QUESTIONS HAS HELPED LEAD
TO YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT IS
THERE A PLACE WHERE THE ANSWERS
TO THESE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN
SORT OF MEMORIALIZED?
ARE THEY QUESTIONS YOU ASK WITH
CHANGING ANSWERS?
>> THERE IS TWO ANSWERS.
YEAH, WE DID DOCUMENT AND TAKE
EXTENSIVE NOTES.
WE HAD SEVERAL MULTI-OUR
MEETINGS IN COMMUNITY.
WE BROUGHT THESE QUESTIONS AND
THE RESPONSES TO THEM TO THE
ENTIRE BASE COHORT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
COMMISSION AND STAFF FOR MONTHS
ON THESE ISSUES.
AND I THINK THE RECOMMENDATION
SITE COMES UP NEXT, WHICH IS
REALLY OUR ATTEMPT TO DISTILL
WHAT WE HEARD AS THEMES, AND
HOW THE FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY
WILL INFLUENCE ULTIMATELY WHAT
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS LOOK LIKE
GOING FORWARD.
WE KNOW THAT REALLY
RESPONSIBLE, AND RESPONSIVE
RACIAL EQUITY WORK IS AN
ONGOING PRACTICE.
WE HAVE BEEN CLEAR WITH THE
FOLKS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO
THIS, THAT THIS IS NOT A ONE
AND DONE ENTERPRISE.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND TRY TO
REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
GOVERNANCE MODEL CAN AND SHOULD
LOOK LIKE, HOW THIS CAN BE
RESILIENT ACROSS POLITICAL
CHANGE OVER TIME, HOW THIS CAN
MEET THE NEEDS OF A CHANGING
CITY, THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT
WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET THE
BEST ANSWERS TO NOW AND WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO
INTERROGATE OVER TIME BECAUSE
IT'S A PRACTICE, MORE THAN A
TACTIC.
>> I WOULD ALSO JUST ECHO THE
IDEA THAT
SOME OF THIS EMERGES TO
DRAMATIC CHANGES THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN THE CITY RIGHT
NOW, WANTING TO BE RESPONSIVE
TO THAT.
BUT ALSO, WITH I THINK -- AND
PERHAPS EVEN BIGGER, IT'S A
GENERATIONAL VIEWPOINT.
FOR MYSELF BEING FOURTH-
GENERATION HERE IN SEATTLE,
HAVING WORKED IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT FOR OVER
25 YEARS, THAT COMES, RIGHT WITH
THE PERSPECTIVE TOWARDS WHAT WE
DO NOW.
YES, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
IMMEDIATE IMPACTS BECAUSE THE
TIMES ARE DIRE.
BUT WE ALSO WANT TO CREATE A
ROBUST STRUCTURE THAT CAN
WITHSTAND AND BE SOMETHING THAT
THE NEXT GENERATION CAN CARRY
ON AND USE.
>> AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO NOTE THAT YOU KNOW, THESE
QUESTIONS ARE CONTINUOUSLY
ASKED, AND HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR
WE COULD SAY 10 YEARS, BUT I
HAVE BEEN WORKING AT NONPROFIT
AND ARTS FOR MANY YEARS IN MANY
COMMUNITIES AND THESE QUESTIONS
ARE CONSTANTLY ASKED OF THE
COMMUNITY.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
WHAT ARE WE FACING?
IT HAS JUST GOTTEN TO A POINT,
AND YOU KNOW MORE RECENTLY,
THAT THIS DISPLACEMENT IS MORE
RAPID, THE GROWING DISPARITY IS
WIDENING.
SO I THINK IT'S GETTING TO A
POINT WHERE, IF WE DON'T ACT,
AND ACTUALLY TRY TO ANSWER SOME
OF THESE QUESTIONS WERE PUT
SOMETHING IN PLACE TO ADDRESS
THIS, WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO
LOSE PIECES OF OUR CULTURE AND
COMMUNITY COMPLETELY OUT OF THE
CITY.
BUT I THINK TO SAY THIS IS A
BODY OF WORK THAT COMES OUT OF
-- THE OFFICE IS RESPONDING TO
WORK THAT HAS BEEN LIKE ASKED
AND CONSTANTLY TOLD ON
COMMUNITIES FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS.
I THINK THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE
ACKNOWLEDGED.
WE SEE THIS ATTENTION, YOU
KNOW?
I WILL JUST SAY IT.
THE SHOWBOX BROUGHT A LOT OF
ATTENTION TO CULTURAL SPACE.
WIDELY, AMONGST THE CITY.
TO COMMUNITIES THAT I DON'T KNOW
IF THEY WERE PAYING AS MUCH
ATTENTION TO THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, OR THE I.D., OR THE
SOUTH BEND, RIGHT?
THERE ARE SPACES THAT ARE JUST
AS HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT, AND
ACTUALLY, MAYBE AND SOMETIMES
MORE SO BECAUSE THEY ARE THE
LAST LEGACY OF THINGS OF
POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES.
BUT THE CONVERSATION DID NOT
GET TO THE LEVEL OF FULL CITY
COUNCIL DISCUSSION, AND
INTERVENTION WAS IMMEDIATE
UNTIL IT WAS SOMETHING BIGGER
THAT MORE WIDESPREAD YOU KNOW
FOLKS COULD PAY ATTENTION TO.
THERE WERE SOME CELEBRITIES
INVOLVED.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE SHOULDN'T
LOOK AT BOTH.
IT'S JUST TO SAY THAT WE NEED
TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE
VOICES THAT HAVE BEEN ALSO
TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG
TIME AND SEEING WHAT HAS BEEN
COMING FOR A LONG TIME.
SO, JUST TO KNOW THAT THIS IS
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THAT WORK,
BUT IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE
FACT THAT THESE QUESTIONS HAVE
BEEN ASKED FOR A LONG TIME.
>> I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE
AND IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE.
THIS IS WORK FROM THE ARTS
OFFICE ENGAGED WITH COMMUNITY,
IN RESPONSE TO THE PLEAS OF
COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS IN
THOSE COMMUNITIES FOR A LONG
TIME.
YOU ARE RIGHT IN THAT THE
IMPACTS OF LOSING A CULTURAL
INSTITUTION WHEN MOST OF THE
FOLKS WHO LIVED IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD ARE GONE, IS
REALLY A STARK LOSS BECAUSE
THOSE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ARE
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE
COME BACK AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN
DISPLACED.
SO WHEN YOU LOSE THOSE PLACES,
IT'S REALLY A TRAGIC
ERADICATION OF HISTORY, AND
CULTURE.
WELL SAID.
>> IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO
MENTION THAT IN THESE
CONVERSATIONS THERE IS PEOPLE
THAT HAVE EXPLICITLY SAID I
DON'T LIVE IN THE PLACE I GREW
UP ANYMORE BUT I STILL COME
BACK TO WORK FOR IT AND
ADVOCATE FOR IT.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF ENERGY AND
PASSION INVOLVED IN THIS.
I HOPE IT IS PAIRED WITH
EQUALLY BOLD ACTION.
COUNCILMEMBER CARR YOU HAD
ASKED WHERE AND HOW SOME OF THE
ANSWERS WE FOUND ARE BEING
CODIFIED.
HERE ARE SOME OF THEM.
THEY ARE FAIRLY SPECIFIC AND IN
THE WEEDS.
I AM HAPPY TO GO INTO THEM.
I LOVE THE WEEDS.
I LIVE IN THE WEEDS.
>> LET'S GO OVER THEM.
>> OKAY.
I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THEM,
WHETHER THEY USE THE WORD
LEVERAGE OR NOT ARE ABOUT
LEVERAGING ONE INVESTMENT TO
DRAW OR ENCOURAGE ANOTHER.
>> I FEEL LIKE IT'S WORTH
NAMING ONE REALLY SPECIFIC
POLICY CHOICE TO BE MADE IN
THIS CONSIDERATION IS AROUND
THE IDEA OF BONDING AGAINST
FUTURE TAX REVENUE IN ORDER TO
CAPITALIZE.
-- CAPITALIZE A PDA OR
ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL IN THE
SHORT TERM SO THAT IT HAD THE
MONEY TO PLAY AGGRESSIVELY OR
MORE AGGRESSIVELY, OR MORE
NIMBLY IN REAL ESTATE
ENVIRONMENT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A
RIGHT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
IS IT BETTER TO HAVE 10 YEARS,
20 YEARS, $5000 AND $10,000
GRANTS OR IS IT WORTH TRYING TO
BORROW AGAINST THAT TO MEET THE
URGENCY OF THE MOMENT?
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THAT
QUESTION WITH STAFF, THE
COMMISSION, THE BASE COHORT AND
THE TOOLKIT PROCESS.
I THINK WHAT WE HEARD WAS A
CAUTIOUS YES, THAT THERE IS A
WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER DOING
THAT.
WE'VE GOT TO ENSURE THAT WE GET
THE GOVERNANCE MODEL RIGHT.
THE PROJECT SELECTION STRUCTURE
RIGHT.
THERE IS A LOT TO FIGURE OUT,
BUT GENERALLY, THAT WAS A BIG
QUESTION WE PUT TO THE
COMMUNITY TO ASK AND WE DID I
THINK GET STRONG SUPPORT FOR
THAT IDEA.
TO BENJAMIN'S POINT ABOUT
NEEDING MORE BOLD TOOLS, WE
HAVE BEEN USING THE TOOLS THAT
WE HAVE AS THOUGHTFULLY AS WE
CAN, AND IT MAY BE TIME AS
MATTHEW SAID TO LEVERAGE MORE
AMBITIOUS TOOLS.
AND THAT INCLUDES BOTH BONDING
AGAINST FUTURE CAPITALIZATION,
BUT ALSO USING THAT AS A WAY TO
GO BACK TO PRIVATE
PHILANTHROPY, TO GO TO OTHER
PARTNERS AND SAY JOIN US IN
THIS WORK.
WE ARE WILLING TO PUT THIS
MONEY ON THE TABLE.
ARE YOU WILLING TO MEET US
THERE?
AND DO YOU SEE WHAT RECENT
VALUES OF THESE COMMUNITIES AND
THE URGENCY OF THE MOMENT?
>> I APPRECIATE RANDY
HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
I AGREE THAT'S A BIG DISCUSSION
AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
YOU ALL HAVE DONE TO HAVE A
COMMUNITY-BASED RESPONSE TO
THAT.
I AM CURIOUS WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT
DECISION BETWEEN ONGOING
SMALLER INVESTMENTS OR BONDING
FUTURE REVENUES FOR SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENTS, FOR ME, I CAN
EASILY IMAGINE THAT THE
EXISTING MODEL OF PROVIDING THE
TYPE OF SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED
ON AN ONGOING BASIS FOR A BUNCH
OF ORGANIZATIONS ALLOWS US TO
TOUCH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS
TRUE OR NOT, BUT I CAN SEE THE
BONDING FUTURE REVENUES WOULD
ALLOW FOR A COUPLE, ONE OR TWO
SIGNATURE TYPE PROJECTS.
BUT SUCH A PROJECT OR PROJECTS
YOU KNOW, WE WOULD PICK A
GEOGRAPHY TO DO THIS IN.
WE WOULD PICK A TYPE OF
COMMUNITY WE WOULD BE SERVING
WITH.
AND HOPEFULLY, THAT WOULD BE A
PRIORITY BUT THAT IS SO MUCH
AMAZING WORK.
IT WOULD BE AT LEAST NOT UP IN
THIS ROUND.
THIS ROUND COULD BE THE FIRST
FIVE YEARS.
SO, WHEN FOLKS COME TOGETHER
AND SAY WE ARE TENTATIVELY
SUPPORTIVE OF IT, I AM CURIOUS
IF THERE IS A SENSE OF I AM
SUPPORTIVE AS LONG AS IT
TOUCHES THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I CARE MOST
ABOUT, OR IS IT LIKE WE
RECOGNIZE COLLECTIVELY WE HAVE
TO DO SOMETHING BIG AND SOME OF
US ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE
SHORT-TERM SACRIFICES TO GET
THAT AND OUR TURN WILL COME
AROUND LATER.
>> ONE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
CULTURAL FACILITIES FUND AS THE
SOURCE OF THE DEBT BOND SERVICE
AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HALF
OF THAT FUN SO WE WOULD
CONTINUE TO MAKE A HALF-MILLION
DOLLAR INVESTMENT EACH YEAR.
IT'S NOT ALL OR NOTHING.
A LOT OF THAT SUPPORT TO A LOT
OF ORGANIZATIONS WOULD
CONTINUE.
AND I THINK THAT WHILE THERE
WOULD BE A COUPLE OF LARGE
SIGNATURE PROJECTS I WOULD
HOPE, THE PDA WOULD GET
INVOLVED IN FOR THE FIRST
COUPLE OF YEARS, I THINK PAIRED
WITH THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A
WHOLE SUITE OF SMALLER
PROJECTS, AS WELL BUILT INTO
THE DESIGN OF THE PROGRAM.
THERE IS EVERYTHING FROM SINGLE
STOREFRONTS AND MANAGEMENT FOR
V ALL THE WAY TO DEVELOPMENT OF
BASEMENT TO ROOF PROJECTS.
>> I THINK THIS IDEA IS ONLY AS
SUCCESSFUL AS ITS ABILITY TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS WE CAN'T
CURRENTLY SOLVE.
ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT IS RIGHT
NOW, IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL
PROJECT THAT YOU WANT TO DO,
YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE RIGHT
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO AVAIL
ITSELF, AND THEN BE PREPARED IN
THE MOMENT WITH THAT TIMING TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND
WRITE A GRANT OR PURSUE THAT
LOAN.
WHAT THIS HOPEFULLY WOULD ALLOW
FOR HIS AN ONGOING ENTERPRISE
THAT COULD SUPPORT PROJECTS AT
VARYING PLACES ALONG THEIR
LIFECYCLE AND BE ABLE TO ACCEPT
AND RAISE MONEY FROM PEOPLE WHO
WANTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM
BUT COULDN'T PICK ONE
PARTICULAR PROJECT OUT OF THE
AIR THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT, SO IF YOU WANTED TO
SUPPORT YOU KNOW A CULTURAL
CENTER THAT WAS EMERGING IN THE
SOUTH PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR
EXAMPLE, UNLESS THAT PROJECT
WAS WRITING A GRANT AT THE
MOMENT WHERE THERE WAS AN OPEN
CYCLE, YOU WOULD HAVE NO WAY TO
SUPPORT THAT PROJECT, BUT IF
YOU COULD SUPPORT THE PDA AND
IT WAS WORKING WITH COMMUNITY,
LIKE THE EDI HAS FASHIONED ITS
ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, IT CAN
PROVIDE CAPACITY AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, THAT ALSO GETS TO
ONE OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS,
WHICH IS AROUND LEVERAGING
OTHER CITY PARTNERSHIPS AND
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE EDI,
WITH THE HOUSING OFFICE.
ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE ARE
HAVING IS CAN WE GET FAR ENOUGH
UPSTREAM WITH AN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO TALK
ABOUT THE GROUND-FLOOR RECENT
-- -- GROUND-FLOOR RETAIL SPACE?
THEY TRADITIONALLY DON'T DO
GROUND-FLOOR RETAIL AS THEIR
WILL HOUSE.
THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS
WHERE IF THIS CAN UNLOCK
ADDITIONAL CAPACITY INSTEAD OF
JUST SORT OF SPREAD THE BUTTER
MORE THINLY ON THE TOAST,
THAT'S WHERE I THINK IT ADDS
VALUE AND CREATES POTENTIAL.
>> I WOULD ALSO ECHO COMING
FROM WORKING WITH BOTH THE BASE
CORE COHORT AND THROUGH THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT THAT THE
IDEA OF THINKING ABOUT
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SPACE,
DIFFERENT ENTRY POINTS INTO THE
WHOLE SPECTRUM OF PROPERTY AND
SPACE, AND SPACE SECURITY HAS
BEEN IMPORTANT.
SO ALL THE WAY FROM THE
INDEPENDENT ARTIST POP UP TO
SAY A LARGE QUARTER BLOCK
DEVELOPMENT, WHAT HAVE YOU, ALL
THROUGHOUT THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT
WAS BROUGHT UP THROUGH THE
TOOLKIT PROCESS WAS THE IDEA OF
PERHAPS THE MEASUREMENT OF
SUCCESS FOR THE PDA WAS NOT
ULTIMATELY HOW BIG ITS OWN
BALANCE SHEET WAS, BUT HOW DID
IT SPUR OTHER COMMUNITIES,
OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
TO LIFT THEIR OWN OWNERSHIP AND
BALANCE SHEET.
WAS VERY WAY TO OVER TIME
TRANSFER A PROPERTY, OWNERSHIP
TO THOSE SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE MODEL OF THE CULTURAL
PARTNERS, THE LLCS, ARE THEY
ALSO ABLE TO RISE UP AND LIFT
THEIR BOATS, WHICH I THINK IS A
DIFFERENT MODEL FROM SOME OF
THE EXISTING PDAS NOW AS WE
THINK ABOUT WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS
LIKE FOR THEM.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I
WOULD ADD, WHICH WE HAVE SEEN
THROUGH THE BASE COHORT, WHICH
I THINK IS ALSO ECHOED INTO THE
RACE AND SOCIAL EQUITY TASK
FORCE IS WHEN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR COME TOGETHER, WE ARE
SEEING THOSE CONNECTIONS AND WE
ARE SEEING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
TO NOT COMPETE AGAINST ONE
ANOTHER, BUT TO WORK IN CONCERT
WITH ONE ANOTHER.
THAT IS DEFINITELY EMBEDDED IN
THIS, AS WELL.
>> THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE THAT
YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT YOU ALL
DO IN THE COMMUNITY AND
FRANKLY, I THINK THE STRONG SPOT
IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY STARTS
AROUND THIS WORK IS REALLY --
IS REALLY HELPFUL.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME
NOT TO THINK OF THIS AS A ZERO-
SUM GAME.
THERE IS A DISTINCTION WITH
EDI, WHERE THAT WAS NEW
RESOURCES, WHEREAS THIS WILL BE
YOU KNOW AT LEAST THE CURRENT
ITERATION WILL BE REALLOCATING
EXISTING RESOURCES, BUT I ALSO
REALLY APPRECIATE HELPING ME
GET THE VISION AROUND IT, THAT
IT'S NOT JUST A COUPLE OF
SIGNATURE PROJECTS, BUT THERE
MAY BE LOTS OF SMALLER PROJECTS
TO INVEST IN, WHICH MAKES A LOT
OF SENSE.
IS IT'S -- IT'S ESSENTIALLY
TAKING THE WORK WE'RE DOING NOW
BUT SAYING YOU WANT AN
OWNERSHIP STAKE AS OPPOSED TO
AN ONGOING TENANCY FACING THE
CHALLENGES WE FACE.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I
HEAR YOU SAYING IS THROUGH THIS
COLLABORATION WE COME OUT OF
THE PROCESS STRONGER THAN WE
WERE BEFORE.
YOU DON'T JUST TAKE THE DOLL
AND SPEND IT HERE OR THERE.
THERE IS NETWORKING EFFECTS
THAT HAPPEN FOR THE WORK.
AND LEVERAGING I THINK IS
ANOTHER PIECE.
THE ABILITY TO LEVERAGE
RESOURCES BEYOND THE CITY THAT
MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN OUR
CURRENT MODEL.
>> I THINK ALSO GOING BACK TO
THE IDEA THAT IT'S NOT ONLY
DOLLARS BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT
WE ALREADY HAVE A COUPLE OF
DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE YOU KNOW,
DONE SOME CREATIVE MODELS WITH
BUILDINGS THAT ARE WAITING FOR
PERMITS, THINKING ABOUT HOW TO
TURN
-- TURN THEIR GROUND FLOOR INTO
SOMETHING THAT IS MORE ACTIVE,
THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE AN
ENHANCEMENT TO THE RESIDENTIAL
COMMUNITIES ABOVE THEM AND SORT
OF MAY BE AN INCENTIVE FOR
THOSE PEOPLE TO COME IN AND SAY
YOU WILL HAVE CONCERTS
DOWNSTAIRS OR STUDIOS
DOWNSTAIRS.
WHAT IS THAT?
I THINK THERE IS A DISTINCT
OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT HOW
WE INCENTIVIZE.
HOW WE PUSH DEVELOPERS THINK
ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENGAGE
WITH THE COMMUNITY BEYOND THE
SORT OF LIKE GET OUR PERMIT,
BUILD THIS TYPICAL MODEL, WE
HAVE LOTS OF RESIDENTIAL THAT
YOU KNOW SORT OF REALLY
BALANCES THE BOOKS, BUT THE
BOTTOM FLOOR IS JUST OKAY, WE
ARE GOING TO LEASE IT OUT
COMMERCIALLY AND IT JUST SITS.
WE SEE THAT ALL OVER THE CITY.
THERE'S A LOT OF GROUND-FLOOR
PLACES I'VE SEEN SIT FOR YEARS
THAT JUST SAY LEASE.
THAT'S A LOSS, AND A MISSED
OPPORTUNITY, SO HOW IS IT THAT
WE LEVERAGE THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES, AND I JUST
WANTED TO ADDRESS REALLY
QUICKLY, TO THE OTHER END ON
PHILANTHROPY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES TO
MIND IS YES, I THINK THE
COMMUNITY IS OFTENTIMES LOOKING
FOR THE CUES OF WHERE TO MAKE
LARGER INVESTMENTS, AND MAKE
MORE SUSTAINABLE OR IMPACTFUL,
LONG-LASTING INVESTMENTS FOR
COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
I THINK THE OTHER PART OF THAT
IS TO BE ABLE TO, WITH SOME OF
THE NETWORKS THAT ARE IN PLACE
THROUGH THE CITY AND THROUGH
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND EVEN
DEVELOPERS, IS TO HAVE THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT SWINGING THE
PENDULUM TOO FAR LIKE WE HAVE
SEEN WHEN EVERYTHING GOES
TOWARDS HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS, AND GOES AWAY
FROM ARTS INVESTMENT.
SO WE HAVE SEEN THESE KIND OF I
DON'T WANT TO SAY WILD BUT
DRASTIC FUNDING FOCUS CHANGES
THAT DO SEVERELY IMPACT THE
SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR
ABILITY TO SORT OF DO THE DAY
TODAY.
TO ALSO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN
INFLUENCE IN THAT CONVERSATION
TO TALK ABOUT IT'S NOT AN
EITHER OR CONVERSATION.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT BOTH ES
SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENTS AND HOW
DO YOU INVEST DIRECTLY ALSO TO
CONTINUE TO ADDRESS CULTURAL
WORKERS IN A DIRECT WAY THAT
WILL HELP SUSTAIN THEM UNTIL
YOU CAN GET TO THE LARGER, MORE
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.
>> BECAUSE THOSE INVESTMENTS
ARE SUPPORTING -- INVESTMENTS
ARE SUPPORTING ARTISTS WHO NEED
TO MAKE A LIVABLE WAGE IN THE
CITY . SO, THAT ALL SORT OF
TIES INTO THAT WHOLE ECOSYSTEM,
AND STRUCTURE OF AFFORDABILITY
FOR A CITY.
I GET WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
THE FRUSTRATION THAT THE
PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY MIGHT
NOT BE MAKING AS MANY OF THOSE
ARTS RELATED INVESTMENTS, AND
SEEING THAT LINKAGE TO THE
AFFORDABILITY ISSUE FOR THE
CITY.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE WE
MOVE ON ABOUT THE REFERENCE TO
EXPLORING THE IMPENDING
CREATION OF OPPORTUNITY ZONES.
I THOUGHT THE CHOICE OF WORDS
WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU
HAVE BOTH EXPLORING AND
IMPENDING.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS ABOUT
TO HAPPEN OR IS THIS SOMETHING
THAT IS BEING EXPLORED?
AND HOW DOES THAT OPPORTUNITY
ZONE RELATE TO THE SORT OF
GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS THAT FOR
INSTANCE, EDI IS USING AROUND
AREAS AT HIGH RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT?
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT LEVERAGING OTHER PROBLEMS
-- PROGRAMS, IT MIGHT BE
IMPORTANT TO HAVE SIMILAR WAYS
OF IDENTIFYING THE AREAS THAT
YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON.
>> I THINK WE CALLED THAT OUT.
I WILL JUST SAY OPPORTUNITY
ZONES ARE COMPLICATED.
AND THE STRUCTURE AND
GUIDELINES ARE STILL WINDING
THEIR WAY FROM FEDERAL TO
STATE, TO LOCAL CONTROL.
I DON'T IMAGINE MAYOR'S OFFICE
FOR THE PDA WOULD BE DRIVING
THAT CONVERSATION, BUT WE DO
RECOGNIZE HIS OPPORTUNITIES ARE
A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN LOW
INCOME TRACK NEIGHBORHOODS.
OFTEN, THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS
WE TALK ABOUT BEING AT RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT AND CULTURAL
GENTRIFICATION.
IF THE PDA CAN BE CAPITALIZED
AS SUCH THAT IT CAN BE A MARKET
PLAYER IN THE OPPORTUNITY
CONVERSATION AND CAN BE PART OF
DIRECTING THE KINDS OF PROJECTS
THAT STRENGTHEN CULTURAL
COMMUNITY VERSUS PUT THEM AT
GREATER RISK OF DISPLACEMENT, I
THINK THAT IS WHAT OUR GOAL IS.
IT'S REALLY EARLY IN THE
OPPORTUNITY ZONE CONVERSATIONS.
BUT IT'S ALSO VERY LATE IN THAT
GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INTERESTS
ARE PUTTING CAPITAL STACKS
TOGETHER IN PREPARATION FOR
WHAT COMES, SO I DON'T THINK I
HAVE ENOUGH OR ANY OF US HAVE
ENOUGH EXPERTISE TO NAME WHERE
AND HOW WE WOULD INTERFACE WITH
THAT, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT
THIS PDA IDEA COULD OPERATE IN
THAT SPACE IN A WAY CITY
GOVERNMENT CAN'T AND MOST
NONPROFITS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF.
>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
THINGS ABOUT THE NEW ENTITY IS
ITS ABILITY TO FUNCTION WITHIN
THE SUPERCHARGED REAL ESTATE
MARKET AND BE IMMUNE TO PROFIT
DRIVEN MOTIVES THAT ACCOMMODATE
MARKET SAVVY, AN ORGANIZATION
THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS
OF HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES AND UNDO
DISCRIMINATORY AND INEQUITABLE
CULTURAL SPACE BUILDING WHILE
OPERATING AS A WELL-CAPITALIZED
MARKET SAVVY PARTNER FOR THESE
NEW INVESTMENTS COULD BE A
SIGNIFICANT REPARATIVE FORCE
INTO THE CITY AND A GAME
CHANGER.
THIS IS WHERE WE ARE NOW.
I WILL SAY THAT THE MOST
HUMBLING PART OF THIS PROCESS
HAS BEEN FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, TO COUNSEL, TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, TO ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS MENTIONED IN THE
LAST BULLET.
THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH SUPPORT
AND INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT.
THE FIRST TWO BULLETS ARE JUST
ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO
CONTINUING TO TRY TO GET IT
RIGHT.
THERE IS A LOT WE STILL NEED TO
FIGURE OUT AROUND HOW THIS
THING WOULD BE ESTABLISHED, AND
GOVERNED, AROUND TESTING OUR
ASSUMPTIONS, AROUND DEBT
FINANCING, PROJECT TYPOLOGY,
AROUND GOVERNANCE AND
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.
BUT, WE INTEND TO DRILL DOWN
AND MAKE THIS A PRIORITY FOR
2019 AND BEYOND.
BOTH IN OUR OFFICE WITH IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMISSION
AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AT
THE TABLE, AND ALSO WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE IF THIS CAN
BE SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY
MEETS THE STATED GOALS OF THE
HOUSING OFFICE, AND THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE,
AND THE GOALS AT SDCI AND EDI,
I THINK WE HAVE REALLY FOUND
SOMETHING USEFUL.
OUR HOPE IS WE ARE GOING TO
KEEP EXPLORING THIS AND KEEP
REFINING THE MODEL.
AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE
BEST WAY FORWARD IS, TO KEEP IT
MOVING.
>> ONE OF THE TASKS ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS WORK WAS NOT ONLY THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT ANALYSIS,
BUT ALSO A FEASIBILITY
ANALYSIS, AND I SEE A LOT OF
GOOD THINGS THAT WOULD COME
FROM THE CREATION OF A PDA, BUT
I HAVE NOT SEEN WHERE YOU LOOK
INTO THAT SORT OF FEASIBILITY
QUESTION.
AND MAYBE, I AM JUST THINKING
ABOUT FEASIBILITY IN TOO MUCH
OF A BUREAUCRATIC SENSE.
>> THERE WILL BE A REPORT.
>> OKAY.
>> THE DRAFT REPORT WILL BE 50
OR 60 PAGES.
THE BASE COHORT IS RESPONDING
TO IT AS PART OF THE RET
PROCESS.
OUR GOAL IS TO TAKE THE
RESPONSES WE HAVE HEARD THROUGH
THE RET, TAKE THE PARALLEL
DRAFT, AND SYNTHESIZE THAT INTO
A FINAL FEASIBILITY REPORT.
THIS ADMITTEDLY HAS MOVED
FASTER THAN I THINK WE
ANTICIPATED IN TERMS OF IT'S A
BIG, COMPLEX IDEA INVOLVING A
LOT OF DEPARTMENTS AND PARTNERS.
BUT THE IDEA IS THIS DRAFT
REPORT, THE 60-PAGE FRAMEWORK
IT'S HELPING US PUT TOGETHER
INTEGRATES WHAT WE HEARD FROM
COMMUNITIES AND THE FINAL
REPORT IS PUBLISHED IN Q1 AS OF
NEXT YEAR.
>> I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS
STILL A NUMBER OF DECISIONS,
AND THINGS CAN HAPPEN, SO THIS
IS STILL A THOUGHT PROCESS, BUT
IF THINGS CONTINUE TO GO IN A
POSITIVE DIRECTION, IS THE
CREATION OF -- IS THE CREATION
OF A PDA IN 2019 POSSIBLE?
>> A LOT OF THAT IS ME WATER
WHICH AND WHAT'S ACTUALLY
POSSIBLE FOR ALL OF US DOING
THAT BUT IT WOULDN'T BE
ESTABLISHED IN 2019.
I THINK AT THE EARLIEST 2020.
IF WE WENT THROUGH OUR PACES
AND CONTINUED TO REFINE AND
LAND ON A PLACE THAT EVERYBODY
STILL FELT BAD ABOUT IT.
FRANKLY, IT'S GOING TO BE A
LARGE AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL
EFFORT BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT
FALL, NEXT WINTER.
>> I WOULD ALSO JUST ECHO THE
DESIRE OF THE ARTS COMMISSION
TO BE THOUGHTFUL.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THE
FEASIBILITY STUDY AND TO KNOW
THAT THERE IS STILL A NUMBER OF
THINGS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE
DETERMINED
SAYING WHAT THE ORNAMENTS
LOOKED LIKE AND HOW THAT GOT
TRANSLATED, SO WE WANTED TO
HAVE THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO GET
GOOD, FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS
GOING FORWARD.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THIS IS
A GREAT START BECAUSE YOU'VE
BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A WHILE,
BUT I THINK THIS IS A REALLY
GOOD SORT OF MIDPOINT TO THE
START OF WHAT I THINK IS LIKELY
TO BE A VERY COMPLEX AND
IMPACTFUL PROJECT MOVING
FORWARD.
I AM HAPPY TO DO WHATEVER I CAN
TO HELP YOU THINK THROUGH THE
PROCESS MOVING FORWARD, BUT YOU
HAVE THE RIGHT FOLKS AT THE
TABLE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE EFFORT SO FAR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AGENDA ITEM 9 LANGSTON
HUGHES PERFORMING ARTS
INSTITUTE UPDATE.
>> HELLO, AGAIN.
>> GREETINGS.
CAN WE DO A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS?
>> I AM SANDRA BOAS-DUPREE,
MANAGER AT LANGSTON HUGHES
PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTE,
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
>> STILL RANDY ENGSTROM WITH
THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
>> KELLY DAVIDSON FINANCE
MANAGER OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE.
>> THANK YOU.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO KICK US OFF?
>> I WILL GET US STARTED.
WE ARE HERE TO SORT OF PUT A
BOW ON WHAT HAS BEEN A FIVE OR
SIX YEAR JOURNEY TO SUPPORT THE
IMPORTANT, HISTORIC MISSION OF
LANGSTON HUGHES PERFORMING ARTS
INSTITUTE.
AND I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A
NUMBER OF STEPS ALONG THE
JOURNEY, BUT THE BALANCE OF
WHAT WE WANT TO HERE TODAY IS
THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
LANGSTON HUGHES FUTURE VISION
FOR THE ORGANIZATION, BUILDING
ON ALL OF THE THOUGHTFUL WORK
THAT HAS COME BEFORE.
SO I AM JUST GOING TO SET THE
TABLE AND SAY HOW DID WE GET TO
THIS POINT?
TIM CAN WALK US THROUGH SORT OF
THE VISION AND THE WORK OF
LANGSTON MOVING FORWARD, AND
THEN ALL OF US ARE HERE TO
ANSWER ANY OF THE VARIOUS
QUESTIONS FROM THE CURRENT CITY
FACILITY RUN -- AWNINGS TO THE
FINANCES, TO WHATEVER YOU WANT
TO TALK ABOUT.
AT THE END OF 2012, AS PART OF
THE 13-14 BUDGET, THE DECISION
WAS MADE TO MOVE THE PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER INTO THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE AS THE
LANGSTON HUGHES ARTS INSTITUTE.
A STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT ULTIMATELY SAID THE CITY
NEEDS TO FIND A MORE
SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR LANGSTON
HUGHES GOING FORWARD, BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT IT PRESERVE THE
HISTORIC MISSION.
IT HAS TO ON A THE HISTORIC
MISSION OF THE FACILITY.
ALONG WITH MY PARTNER IN CRIME
AT THE TIME, ROYAL ALLIE
BARNES, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF LANGSTON HUGHES, AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AT THE TIME, WE
SEE DID WHAT WE CALLED AN
ACTION COMMITTEE BECAUSE THERE
HAD BEEN TOO MANY TASK FORCES.
THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF REPORTS
AND CONSULTATIONS.
IT WAS TIME TO TAKE ACTION AND
DO SOMETHING.
ULTIMATELY, WE WALKED THROUGH
WHAT ALL THE PREVIOUS REPORTS
HAD SAID OVER TIME AND WE WERE
LEFT WITH A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
AT THE END, THROUGH THE ACTION
COMMITTEE PROCESS.
THEY WERE: SHOULD THERE BE A
NONPROFIT ESTABLISHED, AND WHAT
IS THE CITY'S ONGOING ROLE IN
THE FACILITY?
SO IN 2015, WE CAME BACK AND DID
AN INITIAL SLY RESPONSE BASED ON
THE ACTION COMMITTEE'S
RECOMMENDATIONS IN 2013 SORRY,
AND IT SAID WE SHOULD BIFURCATE
THE PROGRAM AND WORK IN THE
FACILITY FROM THE OPERATIONS
AND COMMUNITY ACCESS NEEDS OF
THE FACILITY.
AND OVER TIME ESTABLISH A
NONPROFIT THAT WOULD CARRY
FORWARD THOSE HISTORIC
PROGRAMS.
IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THAT WE
WOULD SUNSET THE THREE
POSITIONS AT LANGSTON HUGHES
THAT HAD HISTORICALLY DONE MORE
NONPROFIT ACTIVITIES.
EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC
DIRECTOR, AND THE EDUCATION
DIRECTOR.
THE ACTION COMMITTEE AT THE
TIME SAID YOU WILL DO THIS IN
TWO YEARS AND SUPPORT THE
NONPROFIT FOR THREE YEARS.
IN 2015, WE USED A TRANSITION
TEAM.
WE COMMITTED TO A ROAD TO
CREATE A NONPROFIT.
WE DID A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AT THE TIME.
A WHOLE BUNCH OF FOCUS GROUPS
AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
AND THEN TOOK THE FEEDBACK WE
GOT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND RAN
AN ANALYSIS.
IT DID TWO THINGS.
IT EXTENDED THE TRANSITION
TIMELINE.
THERE WAS A CONSENSUS THAT
THREE YEARS WASN'T ENOUGH TIME
FOR A NEW NONPROFIT TO GET ON
ITS FEET.
AND ALSO NAMED A FEW OTHER
ELEMENTS, ONE NAMED HERE WHICH
IS EXPLORING THE CULTURAL
DISTRICT THAT COULD HONOR THE
HISTORIC AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTS
AND CULTURE COMMUNITY.
AND ANOTHER WAS ALSO TO SORT OF
BECOME AN INTRACTABLE PART OF
THE EXISTENCE OF LANGSTON
HUGHES IN THAT COMMUNITY.
THE CONTEXT OF GENTRIFICATION
IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT THE
FACILITY EXISTS IN, AND HOW
IMPORTANT THAT BUILDING IS AS
AN INGROWTH BLACK ARTS AND
CULTURE IN SEATTLE.
IT'S REALLY A TREASURED
ENTERPRISE AND IT WAS IMPORTANT
TO CENTER THE CONVERSATIONS IN
THAT CONTEXT.
IN 2016, WE DID ALL THOSE
THINGS.
WE SUNSET THE THREE POSITIONS,
SEATED INITIAL BOARDS OF
DIRECTORS OF NINE PEOPLE, AN
OUTGROWTH OF THE 28 MEMBER
TRANSITION TEAM THAT WORKS TO
SET UP THE SORT OF MISSION AND
VISION OF WHAT THE NONPROFIT
WOULD DO AND BECOME.
I HAVE A TYPO BECAUSE I AM
TERRIBLE AT POWERPOINT.
LANGSTON NONPROFIT ESTABLISHED,
APOLOGIES FOR THAT, AND AFTER A
LONG AND THOUGHTFUL SEARCH,
LANGSTON HIRED AN EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR IN THE FORM OF ONE TIM
LENNON WHO JOINED THE
ORGANIZATION COMING FROM THE
VERA PROJECT BY WAY OF LOTS OF
OTHER PLACES, WHICH I'M SURE HE
CAN TELL YOU ALL ABOUT, BUT I
WAS MOSTLY JUST GOING TO SET
THAT UP AND THEN HANDED OVER TO
MY COLLEAGUE.
>> BEFORE WE DO THAT,
THE INTENT OF SUPPORTING THE
NONPROFIT FOR A PERIOD OF 10
YEARS, THAT IS IN REFERENCE TO
THE NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT OF THE
FACILITY, NOT THE PHYSICAL
MANAGEMENT?
>> YES.
SANDRA RUNS THE BUILDING AND
THE STAFF IN THE BUILDING.
SO WE STILL HOLD DOWN THE CEDAR
-- THATER TECH AND MAINTENANCE
OF THE FACILITY, RENTALS, EVENT
BOOKINGS.
SO IT IS STILL CITY-OWNED AND
CITY OPERATED.
THAT WAS ANOTHER THING THAT
CAME OUT OF THAT.
AND IT WILL BE PASSED THE 10
YEARS.
THAT BECAME CLEAR THROUGH ALL
OF THE OUTREACH.
THE CITY NEEDS TO RETAIN
OWNERSHIP OF THIS BUILDING AND
PUBLIC INTEREST.
THE PROGRAMMING, WHICH FRANKLY,
A NONPROFIT IS BETTER SITUATED
TO DO THAN A CITY GOVERNMENT,
AND ALSO THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE
SELF-DETERMINATION, YOU KNOW.
THAT SAME POLITICAL PRESSURE
THAT WAS REFERENCED CAN SHOW UP
IN PROGRAMMATIC DECISIONS, SO
WE WANTED TO GIVE A LEVEL OF
AUTONOMY TO THE MISSION, THE
PROGRAMMING, AND THE FACILITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NICE CHOREOGRAPHING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS
FOR THIS TIME.
ONE, JUST AS A BRIDGE FROM THE
LAST AGENDA ITEM, I JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT I THOROUGHLY SUPPORT
THE CONVERSATION THAT THE ARTS
HAS BEEN LEADING AND THE
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DRIVING
AROUND THE CULTURAL SPACE PDA
OR WHATEVER STRUCTURE IS
CREATED ABOUT THIS.
I THINK IT WILL BE
TRANSFORMATION --
TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR THE WHOLE
CITY.
COMING BACK TO THIS ONE, AND
KIND OF COMING FULL CIRCLE,
RANDY MENTIONED THE ACTION TEAM
THAT WAS FORMED IN 2013.
AT THE TIME, I WAS A STAFF
MEMBER AT THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE AND STAFFED A LOT
OF THOSE INITIAL MEETINGS.
IT'S REALLY AN HONOR AND A
PRIVILEGE TO BE ON THE OTHER
END OF THE PROCESS TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE NEW NONPROFIT, AND
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING
GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
>> HELPING BRING IT FULL
CIRCLE.
>> EXACTLY, YEAH.
AS I MENTIONED IN 2016, THE
NONPROFIT INDEPENDENT
INSTITUTION WAS CREATED AND
INCORPORATED.
THE BOARD SET UP ETC.
IN 2017 SPEAKING OPERATIONALLY,
THE BOARD CONTRACTED A SORT OF
PART-TIME PROGRAM MANAGER TO
STEWARD SOME EXISTING PROGRAMS
AND PILOT A FEW NEW PROGRAMS
FOR THE NONPROFIT, WHILE THE
BOARD AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
WERE ENGAGED IN THE EDI SEARCH
PROCESS.
SO AS WE WILL SEE LATER THERE
WAS SOME PROGRAMMING AND SOME
REALLY GREAT PROGRAMMING
HAPPENED IN 2017 THE 2018 WAS
THE YEAR THINGS TOOK OFF.
THIS YEAR, WE HIRED OUR FIRST
PERMANENT STAFF, MYSELF
INCLUDED.
WE HAD A FULL EXPANSION OF
PROGRAMMING.
WE DID A LOT OF WORK ON SEVERAL
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND
WE REALLY HAD A PRIORITY ON
REACTIVATING THE SPACE AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE, EXPERIMENTING WITH
MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF
PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIP
MODELS.
ALL WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING
THE COMMUNITY RE-ACCUSTOMED TO
AND EXCITED ABOUT, AND WORKING
WITH LANGSTON AND -- IN VARIOUS
WAYS.
OUR MISSION, VISION AND VALUES
ARE HERE.
THOSE EMERGED FROM THE YEARS
LONG STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS THAT RANDY REFERENCED.
IT REPRESENTS THE COLLECTIVE
VISION OF WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE
NEW ITERATION OF LANGSTON
HUGHES.
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT HAS REALLY
CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE.
NEW APPROACHES ARE REALLY
NEEDED TO SERVE OUR BEST
COMMUNITY, ORIENTING OUR
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES AND
PROGRAMMING TO THESE STRUCTURES
WILL ENABLE US TO DO SO.
REALLY, WE WANT TO GIVE FORMER
RESIDENTS A REASON TO COME BACK
REGULARLY TO THE OLD
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE WANT TO INSPIRE NEW
RESIDENTS TO SEE LANGSTON AND
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT MORE
BROADLY, AS THE HOME FOR BLACK
CULTURAL LIFE, AND WE WANT TO
CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO
BUILD OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN AND
AMONGST THE HISTORIC BLACK
COMMUNITY, AND MORE RECENTLY
ARRIVED TO DIASPORA COMMUNITIES
AND LOCAL, AND REGIONAL
NATIONAL COMMUNITIES.
REALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK TO OUR
VISION OF CULTIVATING BLACK
BRILLIANCE, THAT IS A VERY
BROAD AND EXPANSIVE, AND
INCLUSIVE VISION, AND IT IS
REALLY ALL IN SERVICE TO
STRENGTHENING AND ADVANCING OUR
COMMUNITY THROUGH BLACK ARTS
AND CULTURE, WHICH IS WHAT WE
DO.
HOW DO WE DO THAT?
SHOOT.
I APOLOGIZE.
MY SLED WAS FULL OF MAYBE 20
DIFFERENT LITTLE IMAGES HERE.
THE NEXT ONE HAS BEEN FORMATTED
PROPERLY.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OTHER
PROGRAMS I WAS GOING TO
HIGHLIGHT HERE, WHICH I WILL DO
VERBALLY.
IT ALL STARTS WITH PROGRAMMING.
AS I MENTIONED, INTENTIONALLY
FOCUSED ON CREATING AS MANY
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROGRAMMING
OFFERINGS AS POSSIBLE, BOTH AS
A MEANS OF TESTING OUT
DIFFERENT MODELS TO USE THE
SPACE AND GETTING AS MANY
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE BACK
IN THE BUILDING REGULARLY.
BLACK ARTISTS.
SEEING DIFFERENT CULTURAL
EXPRESSIONS, DIFFERENT
COMMUNITY GROUPS BACK IN THE
BUILDING.
WE WANT FOLKS TO SEE LANGSTON
MORE BROADLY AS A RESOURCE, AND
AS A HOME FOR MORE CULTURAL
EXPERIENCES ROOTED IN THE BLACK
DIASPORA AND WE ACCOMPLISHED
THIS THROUGH OUR ORIGINAL
PROGRAMMING.
WE HAD EXAMPLES THAT YOU CAN
SEE HERE INCLUDED A --
INCLUDING BEAUTIFUL POWERFUL
LOVE, WHICH INFUSED AFRICAN,
AFRO CARIBBEAN, BRAZILIAN,
HEALING, DANCE, MUSIC, FOOD
INTO A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS AND
PERFORMANCES.
THE PARTICIPATION OF LANGSTON,
THE NORTHWEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MUSEUM, AND CENTRAL DISTRICT
FORUM IN THE JUNETEENTH EVENT,
OUR PHONE FESTIVAL WHICH YOU
CAN SEE IS YOUNG PHIL KNIGHT --
YOUNG FILMMAKERS.
EVENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
LOCAL LUMINARIES.
WE ALSO DID QUITE A BIT OF WORK
WITH AFRICAN ARTISTS INCLUDING
SONY, A LOCAL CHOREOGRAPHER,
PARTNERSHIPS AROUND LOW HIGH
ETC.
BUT ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING THAT
ALSO FOCUSED ON UNDERSERVED
BLACK COMMUNITIES.
I AM THINKING PARTICULARLY LGBTQ
IMMUNITIES.
WE DID AN AMAZING DANCE
PERFORMANCE, MULTIMEDIA AND
DANCE PERFORMANCE CALLED TAIL
FEATHER.
A ONE PERSON SHOW, MEMOIRS OF A
WELL-DRESSED BLOCKADES ACTIVIST.
AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT
HIGHLIGHT THAT ASPECT OF IT.
WE ALSO DEVELOPED AND
STRENGTHENED A LOT OF
RELATIONSHIPS WITH EXTERNAL
PARTNERS AND HERE IS JUST A
BUNCH OF THEM.
>> THESE PARTNERS, THESE FOLKS
THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH ON
PARTICULAR PROGRAMS, THROUGHOUT
THE COURSE OF THE YEAR?
>> WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH ALL
THESE FOLKS AND MORE OVER THE
YEAR ON PERFORMANCES, LECTURES,
COMMUNITY MEETINGS, COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT WORK.
YOUTH PROGRAMS, THE WHOLE NINE
YARDS.
THAT INCLUDES ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE BLACK LEAD, SERVE
PREDOMINATELY BLACK AND PSA
COMMUNITIES, NONBLACK
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE AS PART
OF THEIR WORK OR MISSION TO
CREATE CONNECTIONS WITH BLACK
CULTURE AND COMMUNITIES.
IT HAS REALLY ENABLED US TO
GREATLY INCREASE THE PROGRAM
OFFERING AND POSITIONED US AS
THE GO TO PARTNER FOR OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS ENDEAVORING TO
BRING BLACK CULTURAL OFFERINGS
TO BLACK AUDIENCES.
FROM A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE,
THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF
PROGRAMS THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS HAS RESTORED THE
REPRESENTATION OF LANGSTON AS
AN ACTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE PLACE
WHERE NEW, RELEVANT, AND
ENGAGING EXPERIENCES CAN BE HAD
ALMOST EVERY WEEK.
>> ON YOUR NEXT SLIDE, BY THE
NUMBERS, YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE
THAT.
>> A LITTLE BIT ON IMPACT.
WE SPENT A LOT OF 2017 BUILDING
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUT
STILL MANAGED TO DO QUITE A BIT
ON THE PROGRAMMATIC FRONT.
SEVERAL COMMUNITY LED WORKSHOPS
AND WORK SESSIONS, SEVERAL
PERFORMANCES.
GOOD NUMBERS IN TERMS OF
AUDIENCES REACHED, AND
PARTICIPANTS SERVED.
2018 YOU CAN SEE A MASSIVE
INCREASE IN THOSE METRICS.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THE WORK
WE DO, IT'S NOT JUST THE NUMBER
OF SHOWS BUT THE NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, THE NUMBER
OF CULTURE WORKERS AND
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS, AND OTHER
FOLKS ENGAGED IN SORT OF
BUILDING BLACK COMMUNITY AND
PRESERVING WHAT WE HAVE, AND
EXPANDING UPON IT.
THAT'S REALLY VERY IMPORTANT TO
US.
YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS SERVED.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT BEYOND JUST
THE ARTISTS THAT ARE WORKING,
WHICH THE CREATIVE ECONOMY IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
THERE IS A SLEW OF SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT WE ARE ALSO
SUPPORTING.
EVERY EVENT THAT WE ARE
CATERING, EVERY PRINTER WE ARE
DESIGNING AND PRINTING, THOSE
ARE PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO THE
LOCAL ECONOMY AND WORKING VERY
INTENTIONALLY WITH SMALL, LOCAL
BUSINESSES, WHENEVER AND
WHEREVER POSSIBLE, BLACK OWNED
SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO THAT HAS BEEN A REALLY GOOD
BOOST TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AS
WELL.
>> THESE NUMBERS ARE REALLY
IMPRESSIVE.
I REMEMBER SOME OF THE CONCERN
IN THE PAST WAS JUST THAT THE
PHYSICAL SPACE WAS NOT BEING AS
WELL USED AS THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITY, AND THE EXPECTATIONS
REALLY OF THE COMMUNITY, GIVEN
THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT
BUILDING.
HISTORICALLY.
SO YOU ARE MAKING STRIDES.
FOR SURE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GREAT
SEGUE TO MY NEXT SLIDE.
I WILL JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS NOT JUST
ABOUT LANGSTON, THE INDEPENDENT
NONPROFIT, BUT THERE IS A WHOLE
BUNCH OF US WORKING TO PULL OFF
THIS GREAT SUCCESS.
THIS HAS BEEN A PARTNERSHIP WITH
LANGSTON, WITH THE STAFF AT THE
LANGSTON HUGHES PERFORMING ARTS
INSTITUTE, THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE, RESIDENT
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE BUILDING,
THE HISTORIC CENTRAL AREA, THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT FORUM FOR ARTS
AND IDEAS, AND WITH A LOT OF
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND NON-
CITY ENTITIES UTILIZING THE
FACILITY MORE AND MORE.
, THE PROGRAMS WERE GENERATED
BY THE FACILITY GRANT PROCESS
CENTRAL DISTRICT FORUM. AND
THROUGH PRIVATE RENTALS, THE
WORKSHOPS ARE HOUSED DURING THE
DAY.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS A
MULTIPLIER EFFECT WHERE THERE
IS A GREAT CROSS POLLINATION
BETWEEN FOLKS COMING IN FOR A
WORKSHOP AND REALIZING THIS
PLACE WOULD BE GREAT FOR MY
OTHER ARTISTIC CREATION.
FOLKS ARE COMING IN FOR AN EVENT
RENTED BY TOWN HALL SEATTLE OR
YOUTH THEATER NORTHWEST.
BRINGING BACK YOUR CREATIVE
ENDEAVORS TO THE BUILDING FOR
EVENTS, SO EVERYTHING HAS
SNOWBALLED FROM THERE.
IT'S BEEN AN AWESOME CHANGEOVER
YEARS PAST.
>> A GOOD CHALLENGE.
WHAT ABOUT THE CAPITAL NEEDS?
HOW ABOUT -- HOW CAN THAT
INVESTMENT IN THE IMPROVEMENT
OF THE FACILITY -- HOW CAN WE
USE THAT AS A WAY TO LEVERAGE
MORE USE OF THE BUILDING?
ARE THEIR NEEDS THAT WE SHOULD
BE AWARE OF THE PHYSICAL SPACE?
>> I WOULD SAY DEFINITELY YES
AND I THINK BOTH TIM AND I HAVE
TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN ENHANCE
THE BUILDING SO THAT THERE IS
MORE VERSATILITY AND MORE
ACCESS TO THE BUILDING, BETTER
USE.
THEY ARE REALLY BIG PROJECTS.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HAD A
BLACK BOX.
THAT WOULD TAKE SOME DOING.
I HAVE TALKED TO THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT, THE FACILITIES
DEPARTMENT ABOUT IT, AND TRIED
TO FIND OUT WHAT DIFFERENT
POSSIBILITIES WOULD BE AND THEY
ARE BIG PROJECTS.
>> SO GIVEN THAT THIS IS NO
LONGER A PARKS DEPARTMENT
FACILITY AND --
>> IT IS.
>> THE PARKS DOES STILL OWN IT.
>> THEY OWN THE FACILITY.
>> OKAY.
>> THEY OWN THE FACILITY BUT
BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER
MANAGING THE FACILITY, OUR
RELATIONSHIP HAS CHANGED A
LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF WE ARE
MORE A RENTER IN THE SPACE.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARKS
BECOMES MORE OF A CORE AND SHELL
COMPARTMENT.
SO WHEN THINGS SUCH AS THE
THEATER SEATS NEED TO BE
REPLACED, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT
ARE NOW ON US.
THERE ARE MORE PIECES OF IT
THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE -- THAT
ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITY VERSUS
PARKS MAINTAINING IT.
SO WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN
START BUILDING FUNDING FOR OUR
FACILITY NEEDS SO WE'RE MAKING
SURE WE MEET ALL THE NEEDS TO
MAINTAIN IT.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS
POTENTIALLY A CHALLENGE, RIGHT?
AS FAR AS THIS ISN'T THE KIND
OF FACILITY THAT WOULD APPLY
FOR FUNDING.
TO ADDRESS A PHYSICAL NEED
BECAUSE THOSE ARE DOLLARS THAT
WE USED TO ADDRESS CAPITAL
NEEDS OF NON-CITY FACILITIES.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A
SITUATION WHERE THE FACILITY IS
SORT OF A REDHEADED STEPCHILD
AND --
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
>> UNDER SANDRA'S LEADERSHIP
WE'VE SEEN IN ADDITION TO
LANGSTON, WE HAVE SEEN A
DRAMATIC UPTICK IN THE ACTIVITY
IN THE BUILDING, WHICH COMES
WITH ATTENDANT CHALLENGES
AROUND THE WEAR AND TEAR, AND
NEEDS OF THE BUILDING.
I THINK HAVING KELLY IN HER
CAPACITY AS FINANCE MANAGER
WORKING WITH SANDRA, I THINK WE
ARE PLANNING FOR THOSE FUTURE
IMPROVEMENTS WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO MAKE AND DOING
SOMETHING LIKE TRANSFORMING THE
SPACE INTO A BLACK BOX MIGHT BE
AN ASK TO AN OUTSIDE FUNDER.
I THINK AS WE NAPOUT WHERE THE
USE WILL BE IN AND WHAT THE
NEEDS ARE, WE HAVE TO CREATE A
PLAN TO MEET THAT.
>> DO YOU HAVE A REALLY CLEAR,
WRITTEN CLARIFICATION BETWEEN
THE ARTS OFFICE AND?
-- BETWEEN THE ARTS OFFICE AND
PARKS ON WHAT THOSE
EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR THOSE
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS?
DO YOU ADDRESS THEM AS THEY GO?
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS MIGHT BE
SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T ALREADY
HAVE AN MOU OR MOMA.
>> ONE OF THE PRIME THINGS I'VE
BEEN WORKING ON THIS YEAR IS
OUR LEASE AGREEMENT WITH SDOT
TO GET US INTO THE KING STREET
STATION SPACE.
I HAVE DONE A LOT OF LEASING,
SPACE THINGS IN THE PAST
THROUGH THE CITY.
THE ONLY THING WE HAVE RIGHT
NOW WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
IS THE IN THE WAY THAT
BASICALLY OUTLINED WHAT THE
DIVIDE WOULD BE.
THAT HAS ABOUT THREE BULLET
POINTS AS TO WHAT PARKS IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR AND WHAT ARTS
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.
IT JUST OUTLINES THE BIG
PICTURE.
GOING THROUGH OUR AGREEMENT FOR
KING STREET AND SDOT IN A MUCH
MORE DETAILED FASHION, USING AN
FAS TEMPLATE FOR CITY TO CITY
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO
PRIORITIZE NEXT AFTER THE KING
STREET ONE SIGNED OFF MORE INTO
AN UPDATE WITH PARKS BECAUSE I
FEEL LIKE HAVING A DETAILED
LEASE LIKE THAT WILL BENEFIT
BOTH OF US.
IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO START
THE PRIORITY LIST AND HAVE THE
CLEAR DISTINCTIONS OF WHAT ARE
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.
AND PARKS HAS BEEN FABULOUS
WORKING WITH US.
SANDRA AND I HAVE BOTH SPENT
TIME THIS YEAR WITH INCREASED
ACTIVITY IN THE BUILDING.
ONE THING WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED
THIS YEAR IS INSTALLING A KEY
CARD SYSTEM.
UNTIL NOW IT WAS A HARD KEY,
WHICH MAKES IT REALLY
CHALLENGING WHEN YOU HAVE THIS
MANY MORE PEOPLE COMING AND
GOING FROM THE FACILITY AND
PARKS HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT
WORKING WITH US ON THAT.
I THINK THAT WILL BE A REALLY
GOOD NEXT STEP TO HELP US LEAD
UP TO THAT.
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE ARE
HOPING TO PRIORITIZE THAT
SANDRA AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING
A LOT ABOUT LATELY IS OUR
GENERAL SAFETY AND EMERGENCY
PROCEDURES, AS WELL.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THAT,
WHETHER IT'S OPERATIONAL OR
WITH REGARDS TO LARGER CAPITAL
PROJECTS, I CAN SPEND A LOT OF
TIME DAYDREAMING ABOUT THOSE,
BUT I THINK THAT WE NEEDED TO
GET THROUGH THESE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS TO REALLY IDENTIFY
WITH THE HIGHEST AND BES USE
OF THIS SPACE WILL BE AND HOW
WE CAN BEST SERVE THE PUBLIC
OVERALL.
SO I THINK THE TIMING IS
PERFECT.
THE EXPERIENCE ARTS HAS HAD
WITH KING STREET OVER THE LAST
YEAR OR TWO COUPLED WITH THE
EXPERIENCE STAFF HAS HAD
WITNESSING AND PARTICIPATING
THIS MASSIVE UPTICK IN OUR
BUILDING, GIVING ALL DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL
PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN
ACTIVELY UTILIZING THAT SPACE I
THINK WE WILL HAVE A MUCH MORE
INFORMED PICTURE OF SUBTENANTS,
I DON'T KNOW, AS RESIDENT
ORGANIZATIONS OF THE BUILDING
NEED, WHAT THE FOLKS WE SERVE
AND THAT A PIE SERVES NEEDS.
>> AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD
WHEN I DO TALK TO THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT, IT'S ABOUT
FEASIBILITY YOUR ESTIMATED
COSTS.
SO THEN I TAKE THAT INS FOR --
I TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND I
TALKED TO RANDY, TIM AND KELLY.
>> FACILITIES MANAGEMENT OF OUR
OWN FACILITIES IS A WHOLE NEW
PROGRAM AREA FOR OUR OFFICE,
AND SO AS WE HAVE BEEN GOING
THROUGH THIS PROCESS LEADING TO
THE OTHER ONE, WE HAVE BEEN
REALLY TRYING TO LOOK FOR WAYS
OF WHERE DO WE HAVE
CONSISTENCIES.
HOW DO WE DRAW ON THE EXPERTISE
OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
RUNNING THE LANGSTON BUILDING
FOR A LONG TIME.
HOW DO WE BUILD THEIR LEARNED
KNOWLEDGE INTO HOW WE ARE DOING
KING STREET AND HOW CAN WE WORK
COLLABORATIVELY TO SHARE
RESOURCES AS NEEDED, AND ALSO
UNDERSTAND WHERE THERE ARE
DIFFERENT NEEDS FOR BOTH
FACILITIES BECAUSE THEY DO
DIFFERENT WORK.
>> AND LIKEWISE, PART OF WHY WE
ARE SORT OF A LITTLE BIT MORE
VAGUE ABOUT THE ULTIMATE
GOVERNING MODEL.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PDA, IS ALL
THE THINGS WE LEARNED IN
ESTABLISHING THIS NONPROFIT.
IT TOOK A LOT LONGER THAN I
THINK WE ANTICIPATED.
WE WERE LIKE WE WILL JUST MOVE
PROGRAMMING OVER.
THE TRUTH IS THAT'S HARDER TO
DO AND IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET
YOUR LEGS WHEN YOU'RE
INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN ORDER AND
THEN YOU HAVE THE NEW
OPPORTUNITY IS TRIAGING NEEDS
AND TRYING TO ENSURE YOU CAN
STAFF APPROPRIATELY.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE
BORROWING ON THE LESSONS OF THE
LANGSTON TRANSITION FOR
ANYTHING WIND UP DOING WITH THE
PDA.
THERE IS SIMILARITIES.
>> I WANTED TO ADD ALSO THAT
TIM'S NUMBERS THEY ARE GREAT,
THE NUMBERS HE PROVIDED, BUT HE
REALLY COULD HAVE I THINK I
WOULD ADD MORE BECAUSE THE
TRAFFIC IN THE BUILDING WITH
COMMUNITY COMING IN AND TALKING
TO US, TALKING TO LANGSTON, AND
LANGSTON HUGHES STAFF, HAVING
MEETINGS WITH THEM AND JUST THE
COMMUNITY ATMOSPHERE IS BIGGER.
>> AND THESE NUMBERS DON'T
INCLUDE REHEARSALS, AND
PLANNING MEETINGS, AND ALL THE
REST OF THE WORK THAT GOES INTO
SOME OF THESE EVENTS WE HAVE
PULLED OFF.
>> THAT'S GREAT TO SEE.
I LOVE THAT AFTER ALL OF THE
PLANS, PLANNING AND STUDYING,
AND CONSULTANT REPORTS THAT WE
HAVE LANDED ON A ROADMAP THAT
SEEMS TO BE WORKING.
>> JUST WRAPPING IT UP, WE ARE
LOOKING TO BUILD ON THE
SUCCESSES OF 2018, GOING
FORWARD, TRYING TO EXPAND AND
STRENGTHEN THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE
CITY WHETHER IT'S ARTS OR
PARKS, OR THE REST TO REALLY
MAXIMIZE THE USE OF SPACE, TO
SET UP THE ORGANIZATION FOR
LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
IT'S HARD TO BE DOING THIS
WORK, AND IT'S GREAT HAVING
THESE AMAZING PARTNERS ON
BOARD.
I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO A
BRILLIANT FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU FOR STEPPING INTO
IT.
>> MY PLEASURE, HONESTLY.
>> ANYTHING ELSE?
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO FIND
SOME TIME TO DIG IN.
SO NOW WE HAVE TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION BOTH RELATED TO
SPU.
THAT'S WHY ALEX IS JOINING US
AT THE TABLE.
ARE THEY RELATED?
>> YES.
>> THEY ARE.
WHY DON'T WE READ THEM?
>> ONE REQUIRES A PUBLIC
HEARING.
THAT'S ITEM 11.
WE WILL GET TO THAT SECOND.
ITEM 10 COUNSEL BILL 119412.
ORDINANCE RELATING PUBLIC
UTILITIES ACCEPTING EASEMENTS
GRANTED TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF HYDRANTS, WATER
MAINS, DOMESTIC WATER VAULTS,
FIRE SERVICE METERS, AND
APERTURE MEN'S -- APPURTENANCES
-- UPPER ATTENDANCES NECESSARY
FOR WATER UTILITY PURPOSES AT
VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN SEATTLE:
PLACING THE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND
INTERESTS CONVEYED BY THE
EASEMENTS UNDER THE
JURISDICTION OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
>> MY NAME IS CAROLYN JOHNSON.
I AM A SENIOR PROPERTY AGENT
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES,
IN THE REAL PROPERTY SERVICES
SECTION.
>> TOM FOSTER, ACTING MANAGER
FOR FACILITIES AND PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT SPU.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> BRIAN, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE
US BACKGROUND?
>> FROM TIME TO TIME, IN ORDER
TO PROPERLY INSTALL AND
MAINTAIN FACILITIES, SPU
REQUESTS THE ACCEPTANCE OR
RELINQUISHMENT OF EASEMENTS.
THE FIRST ONE DEALS WITH THE
WATER SYSTEM AND THE SECOND
WITH THE DRAINAGE AND WATER
LEASE SYSTEM.
>> AND ONE REQUIRES A PUBLIC
HEARING, THE SECOND.
>> RELINQUISHMENTS REQUIRE
PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPTANCES
DO NOT CORRECT.
>> WE HAVE A PRESENTATION.
>> THIS IS OUR WATER
PRESENTATION FROM OUR WATERLINE
OF BUSINESS AND IT'S QUITE
CLEAR, AND DIRECT.
WE HAVE SEVEN EASEMENTS THAT WE
ARE ACCEPTING WATER EASEMENTS
FOR HYDRANTS.
>> CAN YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO
THE MICROPHONE.
>> WATER MAIN EXTENSIONS.
THANK YOU.
YEAH, SO TODAY THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE HERE TO DO.
WE ARE DOING IT THROUGH OUR
STREAMLINE PROCESS OF APPROVAL,
WHICH WE CALL
S.E.E.P..
WE HAVE SEVEN IN RELATION TO
TODAY'S WATERLINE BUSINESS.
>> SO THEY ARE RELATED IN THAT
THESE ARE ALL ACCEPTANCE OF
EASEMENTS, BUT THEY ARE NOT
NECESSARILY RELATED TO ANY
PARTICULAR PROJECT?
JUST THAT WE CONSOLIDATE THOSE
EASEMENTS AS A WAY OF MOVING
THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS MORE
QUICKLY.
>> THESE PARTICULAR ONES ARE
ALL ON A SEPARATE PROPERTY.
SEPARATE OWNERSHIP.
THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ALL THE
SAME IS THAT THEY ARE FOR WATER
LINES OF BUSINESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR BENEFIT OF COURSE IS
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PRESENT
THIS TO YOU IN A PACKAGE.
THAT'S A BENEFIT TO US.
AS SEATTLE PUBLIC REAL PROPERTY
SERVICES, AND TO THE
RATEPAYERS.
THESE ARE OUR FIVE LOCATIONS,
OUR SEVEN LOCATIONS EXCUSE ME.
THESE ARE THE SEVEN LOCATIONS
OF THE EASEMENTS THAT WE ARE
ACCEPTING TODAY.
>> IS THERE A COST TO THE CITY
FOR THESE EASEMENTS?
>> NO.
>> ZERO.
OKAY.
>> THESE DEVELOPMENTS REQUIRE
THE PROPERTY OWNER TO DELIVER
THESE SERVICES OR HAVE US
DELIVER SERVICES, SO THAT'S WHY
THERE IS NO COST.
THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS.
>> YES.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> WE ARE RECOMMENDING THESE BE
APPROVED.
>> OKAY.
>> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM ME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, AND WILL MOVE
PASSAGE OF COUNSEL BILL 1194
12.
>> SECOND.
>> ON FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING
AYE.
NONE OPPOSED, NONE ABSTAINED.
THIS WILL GO TO FULL COUNCIL ON
MONDAY AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO
ITEM 11.
>> COUNSEL BILL 119419 AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES DECLARING
CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
RELATED TO SEWER AND DRAIN
EASEMENTS IN SEATTLE AS SURPLUS
TO THE CITY UTILITY NEEDS
AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES TO REQUIRE
SUCH EASEMENT RIGHTS AND EXCEPT
EASEMENTS PLACING REAL PROPERTY
RIGHTS AND INTERESTS CONVEYED
BY THE EASEMENTS UNDER THE
JURISDICTION OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN ACTS.
>> WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YOU HAVE REALLY SUMMED UP WHAT
I WOULD ADD IS THAT
THESE ARE FIVE SITES THAT WE
HAVE TWO WILL BE
RELINQUISHMENTS ONLY.
WE HAVE ONE WILL BE A
RELINQUISHMENT AND ACCEPTING A
NEW EASEMENT.
AND THEN WE HAVE ONE WHICH WILL
RECEIVE NEW EASEMENT RIGHTS
ONLY.
>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT SOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT WOULD LEAD THE CITY TO
RELINQUISH AN EASEMENT?
>> YES.
MANY TIMES, THE DEVELOPER IS
REMODELING ON THE SITE DOING
NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THE SITE.
AND THEY HAVE EXISTING
FACILITIES, EXISTING RIGHTS ON
THE SITE AND THEY MAY JUST BE
CHANGING THE LOCATION, OR WE
MAY HAVE ASKED THEM TO CHANGE
THE LOCATION, SO IN CONJUNCTION
WITH OUR REQUESTS, AND IN
INJECTION WITH THEIR
SUGGESTIONS, YOU HAVE SOMETIMES
A DUAL SITUATION WHERE WE ARE
REALLY PUSHING THE RIGHTS, AND
THEN WE ARE GETTING NEW RIGHTS,
WHICH IS ACCEPTING A NEW
EASEMENT.
>> I AM GOING TO OPEN THIS UP
TO THE REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS SPECIFICALLY A PUBLIC
HEARING TO COMMENT ON THE
RELINQUISHMENTS OF THIS
EASEMENT.
HOW WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED
UP.
THAT IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
>> DO YOU WANT TO KEEP TIME?
PLEASE.
ALEX WILL BE YOUR TIMEKEEPER.
>> MY LOVELY CONSORT, MY NAZI
GARBAGE RATS.
MY NAME IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
I ONCE SPOKE ABOUT THIS
UTILITY.
I'M TOTALLY CONFUSED.
MAYBE I AM AN IDIOT.
MAYBE MY EXPERIENCE FOR 7+
YEARS IS NOTHING.
MAYBE MY EXPERIENCE LIVING IN
THE CITY FOR 30+ YEARS IS
NOTHING.
WHY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS YOU
TOTALLY DESTROY CITY WITH
DISASTER?
NOT ONLY TO CITY, NOT ONLY TO
KING AND COUNTRY, TO ALL STATE.
WHAT IS MOTIVATION?
WHAT IS THE REASON WITH THIS
NIGHTMARE?
TO EVERYBODY, SHOW ME ONE HAPPY
MAN IN SEATTLE RIGHT NOW.
JEFF BAZOS, YES.
HE IS HAPPY.
HE IS OUR VICE PRESIDENT.
TRUMP BAZOS.
TWO BOSSES, WE HAVE.
ONE PURE IDIOT.
AND CROOK, WHY DO YOU SUPPORT
THIS FOR FIVE LAST YEAR'S?
I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS MANY
TIMES.
NO ONE ON COUNSEL FOR THE LAST
FIVE YEARS MENTIONED AMAZON WHO
DESTROYED CITY, WHO DESTROYED
CAULKING, COUNTRY AND ALL STATE.
WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THIS?
IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BUSINESS
COMMON SENSE.
SO A DOZEN BILLIONAIRES HAVE A
PROFIT AND ALMOST 7 MILLION
PEOPLE LOSE EVERYTHING.
50% IS TOTALLY POOR.
I ASK YOU A VERY SIMPLE
QUESTION.
WHY YOU DID THIS.
WHY?
WHAT IS THE REASON?
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT
700,000 PEOPLE.
WHO DO YOU REPRESENT?
A DOZEN BILLIONAIRES WHO MAKE
MONEY?
A BUILDER WHO MAKES MONEY?
WE ARE ALL IN DISASTER RIGHT
NOW, NIGHTMARE.
SO RIGHT NOW I SPEAK TO
EVERYBODY.
STAND UP, STAND UP.
CLEANSE THIS DIRTY CHAMBER FROM
THIS CRIMINAL EMPIRE WHO SITS
IN THIS CHAMBER.
>> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ALTHOUGH I
DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING RELATED TO
THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE
RELINQUISHMENT.
NEVERTHELESS, WE WILL MOVE ON.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, I WILL MOVE PASSAGE
OF COUNSEL BILL 1194 19.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.
>> SECOND.
>> AYE
>> NONE OPPOSED.
NONE ABSTAINING.
THIS WILL ALSO MOVE ON TO FULL
COUNCIL ON MONDAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND
FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> ADJOURNED.