>>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
THE VERY CHILLY FEBRUARY 4,
2019 CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS
GOING TO ORDER.
IT IS 2 PM.
I AM BRUCE HARRELL.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
[ROLL CALL]
>> SIX ARE PRESENT.
>> LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA
IS HERE.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, LISA
HERBOLD WILL BE EXCUSED FROM
TODAY'S MEETING.
LISA HERBOLD IS EXCUSED.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I WOULD
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU THAT
COULD MAKE IT HERE FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT TO BE HERE.
WE REALIZE THIS IS A HUGE
INCONVENIENCE FOR BOTH STAFF,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WE CHOSE
TO KEEP THE MEETING MOVING
BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A QUORUM
AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN MORE
DIFFICULT FOR SOME THAN OTHERS
TO GET HERE AND SO I APPRECIATE
EVERYONE THAT IS HERE.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S INTRODUCTION ON THE
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HERE NO OBJECTIVE OBJECTION, IT
IS ADOPTED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
>>> PRESENTATIONS, I DON'T
BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY THIS
AFTERNOON.
SO WE WILL PROCEED WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA OR OUR
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
OR WORK PROGRAM, GENERALLY
PUBLIC COMMENT IS EXTENDED FOR
20 MINUTES ACCORDING TO OUR
RULES AND SO WE WILL TRY TO
STICK WITH THAT.
WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE SIGNED UP
HERE.
WE ASK YOU SPEAK FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I WILL CALL TWO MINUTES.
AND USE THIS MICROPHONE.
WE WILL START WITH ALEX FINCH,
FOLLOWED BY ALEX WILL BE MISS
MIKE ILITCH.
PLEASE PROCEED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SORRY.
>> MY NAME IS ALEX FINCH AND
I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS AND ALSO LIVE --
REPRESENTING MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS AND SHARE SHELTER
NETWORK WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND
DUE TO THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF
SNOW.
I MEAN, REALLY.
OUR HISTORY WITH THE MAYOR'S
NOMINEE TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
JASON JOHNSON, HE HAS MADE OUR
WORK SHELTERING PEOPLE,
EMPOWERING THEM AND KEEPING
THEM ALIVE MUCH HARDER THAN IT
NEEDS TO BE.
IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, MR.
JOHNSON HAS SOUGHT TO DEFINE
OUR ORGANIZATION NOT ONCE, BUT
TWICE.
HE HAS TRIED TO PUT UNQUALIFIED
ORGANIZATIONS WITH NO
ENCAMPMENT OPERATION EXPERIENCE
IN CHARGE OF TWO OF THE CITY'S
AUTHORIZED ENCAMPMENTS THAT WE
RAN WELL.
OUR ORGANIZATION HAS REPEATEDLY
REACHED OUT TO HST AND MR.
JOHNSON FOR HELP DURING OUR
HARD TIMES AND INSTEAD OF HELP,
WE HAVE HEARD SILENCE.
THEN EXPERIENCED IS
UNDERCUTTING OUR CABIN
OPERATIONS EVEN AFTER IT WAS
MADE KNOWN THAT SERIOUS SAFETY
ISSUES WERE AT STAKE.
DO WE AS A COMMUNITY REALLY
WANT TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO
REFUSES TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH
WITH GROUPS OF PRACTICALLY
WROTE THE BOOK ON SURVIVING
HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE?
THIS DIRECTOR POSITION REQUIRES
COMPASSION AND WILLINGNESS TO
WORK WITH PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF
WHO THEY ARE OR THEIR HONEST
CRITICISMS.
PLEASE PASS THE RESOLUTION TO
SEND THIS NOMINATION BACK TO
THE MAYOR SO WE CAN START OVER
AND HAVE AN OPEN TRANSPARENT,
HONEST, REAL SEARCH FOR THE
RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS POSITION.
HOMELESS PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS
AND HST STAFF SHOULD HAVE TO
SAY WHO GETS NOMINATED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT ON THE MIDDLE MIC.
>> MY NAME IS SONJA MIKOVITCH.
WE ARE HERE TO URGE THE COUNCIL,
I SAY WE, BUT I MEAN I.
EVERYONE ELSE IS STUCK IN THE
SNOW.
WE WANT TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO
PASS THE EVICTION REFORM
RESOLUTION. MOST OF THE COUNTRY
HAS LONGER NOTICE PERIOD'S THEN
WASHINGTON.
ELECTIONS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE
OF HOMELESSNESS, AND THERE ARE
MULTIPLE RESEARCHES THAT SHOW
THIS.
THIS IS NOT LIKE UNIQUE TO
WASHINGTON BUT ACROSS THE
STATE.
IN DECEMBER, I WAS WATCHING
EVICTIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND
A JUDGE GAVE A TENANT ONE MONTH
TO FIND AN ATTORNEY BECAUSE SHE
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.
HER FAMILY HAD BEEN THERE.
HE DID NOT GO THROUGH THE
EVICTION.
IF THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
HERE, JUST ACROSS THE STREET,
THAT PERSON WHO WAS
HOSPITALIZED WOULD'VE BEEN
EVICTED.
LIKE THAT.
THAT DAY.
NOT ONLY THAT BUT THEY WOULD'VE
HAD ATTORNEYS FEES AND COURT
COSTS PUT ON THEM WITH A
JUDGMENT AT 12% INTEREST POINT
IF IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT DOES
NOT HAPPEN, IF IN TENNESSEE
THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, I'M NOT
SURE WHY IT HAPPENS IN
WASHINGTON.
SO I URGE YOU ALL TO PASS THIS
RESOLUTION SO WE CAN START
TAKING CONCRETE STEPS TO REFORM
OUR EVICTION PROCESS TO STOP
PEOPLE FROM FALLING INTO
HOMELESSNESS IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
THAT IS IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LET ME CALL THE NEXT PERSON,
IF I MAY.
CODY RUNDERBURCH.
>> YOU CAN TAKE THIS MICROPHONE.
>> OKAY, I HAD YOU SIGNED UP.
WOULD YOU LIKE -- OKAY, GOT IT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE THAT
MISTAKE.
SN FINKLESTEIN WILL BE NEXT.
>> MANIPULATED THE DATA IN THE
MEDIA ABOUT LAST YEAR'S
HOMELESS COUNT BY WAREHOUSING
PEOPLE IN SHELTERS WITH NO FOOD
, NO SHOWER, NO LAUNDRY, NO BUS
TICKETS.
NOWHERE TO GO, NO HOT MEAL, AND
NO HOUSING OUTREACH EVER SHOWS
UP AT THE CITY HALL OR THE
MINISTRY TO BUILDING FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE CENTER AREA.
WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION OF THE
SIX-FIGURE SALARIES IN THE
NONPROFIT SOCIAL WELFARE
INDUSTRY THAT ARE POLITICALLY
CONNECTED AND PAYING PEOPLE TO
SHOW UP TO PLAY THE RACE CARD,
THE CLASS CARD, AND BE TRADING
THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THESE
SOCIAL WELFARE INDUSTRY
HYPOCRITES AND SUBHUMAN WELFARE
MISSED READERS INSTEAD OF
ACTING LIKE WE NEED TO BLAME
WHITE PEOPLE AND PLAY THE RACE
CARD CONTINUOUSLY WITH CERTAIN
COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE TRADING
THEIR POLITICAL PLACARDS DO NOT
HOLD THE SOCIAL WELFARE
INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE
THEY WANT TO PROMOTE CERTAIN
REELECTION CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE
FAILING TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THE
SIX-FIGURE SALARIES. YOU'VE GOT
TO GET RID OF SOME GUY WANTS TO
CONTINUALLY OFFER SHELTERS THAT
ARE WAREHOUSING PEOPLE WITH
SUBHUMAN OFFERINGS.
THERE IS NO OFFERING AT CITY
HALL EXCEPT STINK.
>> FOLLOWED BY MARY FLOWERS.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS NAOMI
FINKELSTEIN AND I'M HERE TO
SPEAK -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT, THE
NONTRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT THE
HST NOMINEE WAS PUT FORWARD
WITH AND MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
WASN'T EVEN AN OPEN JOB SEARCH.
THEY JUST PUT THIS PERSON UP
FOR NOMINATION. AND THE
DISABILITY RIGHTS COMMUNITY, WE
HAVE A SAYING, NOTHING ABOUT US
WITHOUT US.
YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY BE HONESTLY
THINKING WERE GIVING THE OKAY
TO A PROSPECT WHERE THE
COMMUNITIES INVOLVED IN THIS
PERSON'S PURVIEW DO NOT GET A
SAY IN WHETHER THIS PERSON IS A
GOOD CANDIDATE OR NOT.
I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE
MAYOR TO HAVE THE BEST INTEREST
OF DISABLED PEOPLE, POOR
PEOPLE, HOMELESS PEOPLE. I
DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE IS UNDER
THE PURVIEW OF THE HSD
DEPARTMENT BUT AT LEAST THOSE
PEOPLE, NO CONFIDENCE
WHATSOEVER.
TIME AND AGAIN SHE HAS THROWN
US UNDER THE BUS, SO I AM ASKING
THAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND
SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION THAT
THIS GO BACK AND THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES, THE COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY
THIS, THE MOST VULNERABLE AND
MARGINALIZED OF THE CITY HAVE A
SAY. BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT WILL
WORK FOR US.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT WE KNOW
THAT, RIGHT?
IN THIS PROCESS.
SO THANK YOU.
I ALSO THINK THAT THIS CANDIDATE
IS ENORMOUSLY -- WELL, IS JUST
NOT THE RIGHT PERSON.
THEY HAVE TIME AND AGAIN SHOWN
US THEY ARE NOT THE RIGHT
PERSON.
SO THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING MARY FLOWERS WILL
BE JAMIE ALLISON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS MARY FLOWERS AND I AM
AN EMPLOYEE AT THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR MANY
YEARS.
I AM HERE TODAY TO REQUEST THAT
WE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A PROCESS
FOR SELECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR. WE ARE WELL AWARE
THAT THE MAYOR IS WELL WITHIN
HER RIGHTS AND WITHIN HER
DUTIES TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT,
BUT I THINK WE ARE ALSO THOSE
OF US WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
RACIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE, WE ARE WELL WITHIN OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO CALL FOR A
PROCESS. WE KNOW THAT HSD IS
MOVING THE HOMELESS PORTION IS
MOVING TO A MODEL OF GOVERNANCE
WHICH MANY OF US WHO ARE
EMPLOYEES, VERY EXCITED,
PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO WORK IN
HOMELESSNESS, THE PROSPECT OF
DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT,
SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.
WHEN WE HAVE HEARD THE
RECOMMENDATIONS, WE HEARD THAT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS
CRITICAL.
IF WE PROCEED AT THIS JUNCTURE
WITH THE APPOINTMENT, KIND OF
BUSINESS AS USUAL AS HAS BEEN
DONE BEFORE AT THIS CRITICAL
TIME, DON'T MAKE EVERY EFFORT
TO REALLY ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY
IN THIS PROCESS, IT REALLY
SPEAKS TO HOW THE PROCESS WILL
GO FORWARD IN TERMS OF
GOVERNANCE.
A PROCESS ENABLES PEOPLE FROM
THE COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY ASK
THE QUESTIONS, LOOK IN THE FACE
OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING
CONSIDERED, AND ESTABLISH A
DIFFERENT KIND OF ENGAGEMENT
AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT JUST
COMING FROM THE PERSON WHO
APPOINTS, BUT THE STAKEHOLDERS,
PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE WHO
WILL BE SERVED BY US, REALLY
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WELL-
INFORMED, TO BE ABLE TO ASK THE
QUESTIONS, AND TO BE ABLE TO
CALL FOR DIFFERENT KIND OF
ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE
WHO IS SELECTED.
IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT RACIAL
JUSTICE, RACIAL EQUITY, WE HAVE
TO HAVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF
PROCESSES.
AND SO I LOVE WORKING FOR HSD.
SOMETIMES I DON'T LIKE WORKING
FOR HSD . THIS ISSUE IN THE WAY
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT IS
DIVISIVE FOR US.
SOME ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
MAYOR'S DECISION AND SO WE DON'T
WANT IT TO SPLIT OUR DEPARTMENT
BECAUSE WE HAVE VERY DEDICATED
PEOPLE THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE LAST THING, PLEASE
CONSIDER A PROCESS THAT IS
EQUITABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, JAMIE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY EMERSON JOHNSON.
>> HELLO CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME
IS JAMIE HELGESON.
I WORK WITH AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES.
I'M ALSO HERE TO ASK THAT YOU
THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LISTEN
TO THE VOICES THAT ARE CALLING
FOR AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT
PROCESS FOR THE NOMINATION OF
HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. ALSO I
WOULD URGE YOU ALL IF YOU HAVE
NOT ALREADY TO WATCH THE
TESTIMONY THAT WAS FROM THE
OTHER NIGHT ON THURSDAY NIGHT
OR FRIDAY NIGHT FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING WERE ABOUT 40
DIFFERENT PEOPLE TESTIFIED AS
TO THE KIND OF COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT THEY WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE.
SO THIS IS -- I AM JUST ASKING
FOR YOU ALL TO LISTEN AND TO
CONSIDER THE WORDS OF YOUR
CONSTITUENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT GOT ME INVOLVED IN THIS
PERSONALLY, WAS HAVING DIFFERENT
PEOPLE IN MY DEPARTMENT HAVING
LOW MORALE ABOUT HIRING
PRACTICES FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND WE BROUGHT SOME OF THOSE
CONCERNS FORWARD AND EXECUTIVE
TEAM MEETINGS WITH JASON JOHNSON
, AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN HE
HAD CHOSEN TO NOT LISTEN TO
THOSE OF US WHO HAD CONCERNS
AND EVEN WALKED OUT OF AT LEAST
TWO MEETINGS SAYING HE WAS
CURRENT AND DID NOT DISPLAY ANY
CURIOSITY ABOUT WHAT HIS
EMPLOYEES WERE GOING THROUGH.
I WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO
CONSIDER THAT BEHAVIOR, AS
WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS EMERSON JOHNSON.
I'M A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE AND LIFELONG
RESIDENT.
I AM HERE TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE HSD
EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WERE CALLING FOR DEMOCRATIC AND
TRANSPARENT APPOINTMENT PROCESS
TO THE DIRECTOR OF HSD.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER --
SOLIDARITY WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND PUTTING FOR THIS
RESOLUTION.
I WANT TO THANK THE BRAVE HSD
WORKERS WHO SPOKE OUT AGAINST
THE APPOINTED PROCESS AND WHO
HELPED BRING TO LIGHT THE LACK
OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE
NOMINATION.
WE ARE ALL DEEPLY AWARE OF THE
HOUSING CRISIS WE CURRENTLY
FACE IN SEATTLE AND HAVE TIME
AGAIN HEARD PLATITUDES FROM
MAYOR DURKIN AND MANY ON THE
COUNCIL ABOUT HOW THEY'RE
WORKING TIRELESSLY TO RESOLVE
THIS ISSUE, SO IT IS INCREDIBLY
SURPRISING TO ME THAT WHEN THE
APPOINTMENT CAME THAT AHEAD OF
HSD , THERE WAS NO SERIOUS
SEARCH THAT WAS CONDUCTED. I
THINK THIS IS VERY ILLUSTRATIVE
OF THE FAILED APPROACH THE CITY
HAS TAKEN COUNTLESS TIMES IN
THE PAST TOWARDS THE HOUSING
CRISIS TO IGNORE THE OUTCRY AND
SOLUTIONS PRESENTED ARE THOSE
FACING THE CRISIS AND TO
INSTEAD PUSH FORWARD THEIR OWN
AGENDA WHICH IS ULTIMATELY
FAILED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION.
JENNY DURKAN'S FAILED APPROACH
TO HOUSING IN SEATTLE DOES NOT
GIVE ME FAITH IN HER NOMINATION.
WE NEED AN HONEST AND
TRANSPARENT SEARCH FOR THIS
POSITION, BUT WE ALSO NEED A
DIRECTOR WHO WILL BOLDLY FIGHT
TO TAX BIG BUSINESS TO BUILD
MORE HOUSING.
WHO WILL ACTIVELY WORK WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ACTUALLY
WORK TO FULLY FUND THE SERVICES
THAT HOMELESS RESIDENTS NEED.
PLEASE PLEASE SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION TO SEND THE
APPOINTMENT BACK TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND FIND US IN HSD
DIRECTOR WHO WILL ACTUALLY WORK
SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS.
PEOPLE SHOULD ALSO COME OUT OF
EVERY 12 AT 6 PM OR
COUNCILMEMBER -- MEETING WHERE
THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE
DISCUSSED.
>> RICHTER CAN AND -- RICK AND
GRETCHEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
RICK DURKSIN. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 3 AND I'M HERE AS A
PERSON OF FAITH. I AM INVOLVED
IN A PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND AM
AN ORDAINED MINISTER IN THE
MENNONITE TRADITION AND AM
COMMITTED TO DOING WORK ACROSS
FAITH BOUNDARIES.
I'M ALSO HERE IS A PARENT AND
GRANDPARENT.
I MOVED TO SEATTLE ALMOST EIGHT
YEARS AGO AND I CAN REMEMBER
VERY CLEARLY MOVING HERE AND
FEELING SOME PRIDE ABOUT MOVING
TO A CITY THAT HAD SOMETHING
CALLED A RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVE.
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED SINCE THEN
IS THAT THE CITIES COMMITMENT
TO RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE HAS
BEEN SOMEWHAT SPOTTY.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE
SEEM TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND
TIMES THEY DON'T SEEM TO TAKE
IT SERIOUSLY.
TODAY I WANT TO HONOR THE MORAL
COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP OF THE
CHANGE TEAM AT THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE AS A CITY ARE FORTUNATE TO
HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THAT CHANGE
TEAM AS PART OF OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO
BE A PART OF THE CITY.
I MOVED HERE PARTLY BECAUSE OF
WHAT OUR CITIES -- WHAT OUR
CITY STOOD FOR.
I WANT TO BE A PART OF THE CITY
THAT IS TRULY COMMITTED IN
CONCRETE WAYS TO RACIAL JUSTICE
AND EQUITY, TO ANTIRACIST WORK,
IN THE CITY AND BEYOND.
SO I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
REQUEST OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT CHANGE TEAM FOR AN
ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT
PROCESS AND I REALLY HOPE THAT
THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE THIS
SERIOUSLY AND WILL LISTEN TO
PEOPLE LIKE THE CHANGE TEAM WHO
ARE HOLDING THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE
TO THE COMMITMENTS WE HAVE
ALREADY SAID WE ARE
REPRESENTING US.
>> THANK YOU.
GRETCHEN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ELLEN ANDERSON.
>> MY NAME IS GRETCHEN AND I AM
A CITIZEN OF SEATTLE AND AN
EMPLOYEE OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
I ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO CALL
ATTENTION TO AN EMAIL THAT
MAYOR DURKIN SENT OUT ON
TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 REGARDING
OUR CITY VALUES.
THIS IS AN EMAIL WE WOULD
ASSUME IN CITYWIDE TO ALL
EMPLOYEES.
HIGHLIGHTS, OUR CITY VALUES
START WITH RACIAL EQUITY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE.
TO HELP BREAK DOWN THE SYSTEMIC
BARRIERS CITY EMPLOYEES
PRIORITIZE RACIAL EQUITY WHEN
CREATING POLICIES, MAKING
DECISIONS, AND IN OUR DAILY
WORK.
AND INTERACTIONS.
IN ADDITION TO LEADING WITH
RACIAL EQUITY, CITY EMPLOYEES
RECOGNIZE INEQUITIES BASED ON
GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
ABILITY, AGE, CITIZENSHIP
STATUS, AND OTHER WAYS PEOPLE
ARE MARGINALIZED POINT WE
ACKNOWLEDGE HISTORICAL TRUTHS
THAT HAVE LED TO UNEQUAL
OUTCOMES FOR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
WE INVOLVE INDIVIDUALS AND
COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY
RACIAL AND SOCIAL INEQUITY IN
THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES AND
PRACTICES, BOTH WITHIN OUR
HORSE AND THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
THESE ARE THE MAYOR'S WORDS TO
HER EMPLOYEES.
INCLUSION IS ANOTHER VALUE THAT
IS LISTED. LEARNING,
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND STEWARDSHIP.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY
COUNCIL HOLD THE MAYOR
ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT SHE HAS
PROFESSED OUR OUR CITY VALUES.
ENGAGE IN THE RESOLUTION,
FORWARD, LOOK AT IT AND
CONSIDER IT AND UNDERSTAND THAT
HSD IS ASKING FOR SOMETHING
THAT IS A FAIR, OPEN, AND EQUAL
PROCESS.
SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN
THE CITY BEFORE.
>> MEGAN MURPHY.
>> I JUST WANT TO START OUT BY
THANKING -- BY BRINGING FORCE
THIS RESOLUTION.
MORE THAN EVER, TODAY, THE
WEATHER OUTSIDE SHOWS THAT THE
HOUSING CRISIS IN SEATTLE IS
BECOMING MORE URGENT THAN EVER.
IT IS TERRIFYINGLY COLD OUTSIDE
AND IT IS PUTTING A LOT OF OUR
NEIGHBORS IN DANGER AND AT
SERIOUS RISK.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM SO MANY
SERVICE COMMUNITIES AND
EMPLOYEES OF HSD THAT THE
CURRENT PROPOSED DIRECTOR IS
JUST NOT GOING TO BE AN
EFFECTIVE FIT FOR THIS ROLE.
NOT JUST THAT BUT THE PROCESS.
I THINK THAT MANY EXPECTED MORE
THOUGHT AND CONSIDERATION FOR
THIS ROLE OF HUMAN SERVICES
DIRECTOR.
THIS POSITION WILL HAVE A
MASSIVE IMPACT ON THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF SEATTLE'S
ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE
HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE FACE.
THAT WE HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN
THAT THE CITY, THE MAYOR, IS
ACTIVELY TRYING TO WORK ON AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND YOU SEE
THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE OPEN
CONSIDERATION ABOUT THIS ROLE
SEEMS LIKE A DISPROVING OF THAT
-- THOSE STATEMENTS.
WITHOUT AN OPEN JOB SEARCH, IT
ALSO REALLY FEELS WE ARE
GETTING MORE OF THE SAME, AND
WE HAVE SEEN THAT THAT IS NOT
EFFECTIVE.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST
IS NOT WORKED OTHERWISE THERE
WOULD NOT BE THIS MANY PEOPLE
IN THIS ROOM TRYING TO FIGHT
FOR HOUSING SERVICES.
WE NEED TO CHANGE FROM BUSINESS
AS USUAL TO A SERIOUS CHANGE AS
MUCH OF A NEED THAT WE SEE IN
THE CITY.
I THINK HAVING THE INPUT OF
MANY ORGANIZERS AND SERVICE
PROVIDERS ABOUT WHAT IS
ACTUALLY NEEDED AND GETTING
THEIR INPUT INTO WHO THEY THINK
WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR
THAT ROLE IS FUNDAMENTAL FOR
MAKING OUR CITY AFFORDABLE AND
AVAILABLE TO ALL.
> THANK YOU.
BEFORE YOU START, LET ME MAKE A
BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE ARE A LITTLE SHORTSTAFFED
TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK
SANCHEZ, SENIOR DEPUTY CLERK
FOR STEPPING IN.
THERE ARE SOME DOCUMENTS THAT I
NEED FOR THE MINUTES AND I'M
HOPING, WE HAVE THREE MORE
SPEAKERS.
CAN YOU PUT IT ON SIX MINUTES?
WE WILL TRY TO SELF REGULATE
HERE IF WE CAN AND THAT WILL
GIVE YOU TIME TO GET THE
ADDITIONAL MINUTES SO WE CAN
SIGN IN ON THE RECORD.
WOULD THAT WORK?
OKAY, SO PUT IT AT SIX POINT
MISS MURPHY, WHEN HE GOES DOWN
TO FOUR, AND IT WILL BE TOO FOR
YOU.
IT WILL BE A LITTLE SLOPPY.
WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN.
>> THANK YOU MR. HARRELL.
>> JUST ONE SECOND.
SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
OKAY, MISS MURPHY, THE FLOOR IS
ALL YOURS.
>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
SPEAK.
MY AUNT IN IOWA FLEW TO GERMANY
AND ISRAEL ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO
BECAUSE SHE IS FROM SIOUX CITY,
IOWA, AND SHE TAUGHT CLASSES
ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AND MY
GRANDMOTHER WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS
ACTIVIST IN THE SMALL IOWA TOWN
. I WAS ERUPTED WITH SHOCK WHEN
I READ IN THE NEW YORK TIMES. I
HEARD STEPHEN KING WAS BAD, IN
OUR DISTRICT, I READ HE WAS
MEETING -- HE WAS ALSO FLYING
OVER TO GERMANY AND HE IS A
PUBLIC SERVANT AND HE WAS
MEETING WITH NEO-NAZI GROUPS
AND THAT IS WHO TRUMP HAS
MODELED HIS POLICIES AFTER.
NOBODY IN MY TOWN IS CALLING
FOR HIM TO RESIGN AND EVEN THE
GOVERNOR REYNOLDS IS NOT
CALLING FOR HIM TO RESIGN AND
IT JUST REALLY FLOORED ME
BECAUSE I HAD A HARD TIME
MAKING FRIENDSHIPS IN THAT TOWN
AND SO I CAME TO SEATTLE AND AM
SO GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY I
FOUND HERE.
I'M JUST TAKING IT AND RUNNING
BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE I'M WITH
MY GRANDMOTER EVEN THOUGH SHE
PASSED AWAY.
THIS JOHNSON PROCESS, IT IS NOT
QUITE AS SEVERE AS STEPHEN KING
AND BY WHAT I WOULD ORGANIZE
PEOPLE HERE TO URGE KING TO
RESIGN.
I AM LEFT IS A PERSON WHO RELIES
ON HELP FROM THE COMMUNITY --
FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO SURVIVE.
I THINK PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
AND ELDERLY PEOPLE ACTUALLY
úKNOW A LOT MORE AND ARE VERY
COGNIZANT OF WHO TREATS THEM
GOOD AND WHO TREATS THEM BAD
AND I THINK THE PROCESS OF
JOHNSON NEEDS TO BE
RECONSIDERED BECAUSE THERE ARE
TOO MANY COMPLAINTS. I KNOW
CARMEN BEST WAS NOT EVEN RUNNER
UP AND THEN THE COMMUNITY SPOKE
OUT AND EVERYBODY WAS SO HAPPY
BECAUSE SHE IS RIGHT HERE WITH
US.
I CALL IT HER EAR TO THE
GROUND, SHE IS RIGHT AMONG US
AT THE TABLE WERE SOME PEOPLE
SEEM A LITTLE SEPARATED BY US.
BY SOME SORT OF -- THEY SAY BIG
BUSINESS BUT THE ONLY WAY WE
CAN GET BIG BUSINESS TO WORK
WITH US AS IF WE MAKE THEM MAD
THEN THEY WILL SIT AT THE
TABLE.
MAYBE THEY LIKE THAT
EXCITEMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AUDREY YOU TRAIN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY MIKE.
>> THANK YOU, I'M IN A SEATTLE
RESIDENT OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
IN THOSE TWO ROLES, I CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE AND THE EMPLOYEES OF
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WHEN THE MAYOR POINTED JASON
JOHNSON, OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP
TEAM SENT AN EMAIL TO THE MAYOR
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT ON
THE PUBLIC RECORD TODAY.
WE SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT AND
OUR VOICES SHOULD MATTER TO YOU
BECAUSE WE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO
KNOW JASON BEST IN THE
WORKPLACE.
WE WORK WITH HIM AND FOR HIM
EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE BELIEVE
IN THE VISION THAT HE HAS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE
ARE REQUESTING AN OPEN
TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE
PROCESS FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF
THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
FOR ME, THAT IS WITH THE LAST
EIGHT MONTHS HAVE BEEN.
I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE
THOROUGH INTERVIEW PROCESS THE
ONE IN WHICH SOMEONE GOT TO THE
ACTUAL POSITION IN THE PUBLIC
EYE FOR EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE
GETTING THE JOB.
UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP WE HAVE
PUT MORE MONEY THAN EVER TO
ORGANIZATIONS WHO SERVE PEOPLE
OF COLOR.
WE HAVE SHIFTED TO BE MORE
CUSTOMER FOCUSED, WHETHER THAT
MEANS PAYING MORE PROVIDER ON
TIME, MAKING IT EASIER TO GET
FUNDING OR GETTING BETTER
OUTCOMES FOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE.
I PERSONALLY HAVE SEEN THE DATA
THAT SUPPORTS THIS AND I KNOW
SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF
THAT DATA, TWO POINT MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE APPOINTMENT
NEEDS STABILITY FOR AN
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN IN
CONSTANT CRISIS MODE BECAUSE OF
THE GROWING NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
JASON HAS PUSHED US TO THINK
MORE UPSTREAM SO WE WON'T BE
HAVING THE SAME TIRE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE SAME OLD
ISSUES IN FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I URGE YOU TO
MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY WITH THE
CONFIRMATION OF JASON JOHNSON.
WE CANNOT SPEND ANOTHER MINUTE
AND TRANSITION IN UNCERTAINTY.
IT IS FRACTURING OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE NEED TO DO BETTER FOR OUR
PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU.
MIKE McQUAID WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY CATHY KNIGHT.
>> MY NAME IS MIKE McQUAID.
I AM THE -- FOURTH-GENERATION
SATELLITE.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT -- DOWNTOWN
STREET GRID.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THE SUPPORT
AND THE TRANSPORTATION --
COUNSEL.
THIS ORDINANCE IS A CULMINATION
OF THE SIX YEAR-LONG COMMUNITY
EFFORT LED BY OUR COLLEAGUE --
JOHN FORESAW THAT TODAY'S
OPENING OF THE SR 99 TUNNEL
WOULD DRIVE HIGHWAY 99 TRAFFIC
ESSENTIALLY INTO THE TUNNEL AND
THE SEGMENT OF HIGHWAY.
RENAMING THE SEGMENT TO SEVENTH
AVENUE NORTH RELIANCE THE
ORIGINAL DOWNTOWN STREET GRID
PRIOR TO BUILDING UP THE NEW
DOWNTOWN TUNNEL, OR PRIOR TO --
THE RESTORATION OF THE NAME
SEVENTH AVENUE NORTH WAS
SUPPORTED UNANIMOUSLY. IT IS A
WONDERFUL EXAMPLE -- ELECTED
OFFICIALS WORK HAND-IN-HAND TO
APPROVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS UNANIMOUS
RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE
AND PLEASE VOTE YES ON CB 199
TODAY.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS CATHY
KNIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS CATHY
KNIGHT.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE AGING
AND DISABILITY SERVICES DIVISION
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HERMAN
SERVICES.
I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
OF OUR ROLE AS THE AREA AGENCY
ON AGING FOR SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY.
I BRING WITH ME A LETTER OF
SUPPORT FROM OUR ADVISORY
COUNCIL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF
JASON JOHNSON.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FEW
COMMENTS ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT
OUR WORK IS AND HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO HAVE A CHAMPION FOR
THE WORK WE DO.
I DON'T THINK WE ALWAYS WANT TO
GIVE THE ATTENTION TO OLDER
ADULTS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE. IN FACT, TODAY WE
HAVE EXAMPLES OF THE IMPORTANT
WORK WE DO. WE HAVE FOLKS WERE
HOMEBOUND AND WE SERVE ABOUT
11,000 PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTY
. THERE'S A PERSON WHO CANNOT
GET TO THEIR APPOINTMENT TODAY
FOR THEIR DIALYSIS BECAUSE THE
VEHICLE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO
PICK THEM UP CANNOT GET THERE.
BECAUSE OF OUR WORK AND OUR
NETWORK OF PROVIDERS, THAT
PERSON WAS ABLE TO GET TO THAT
APPOINTMENT.
WE ARE CURRENTLY CHECKING IN ON
ALMOST 100 OF OUR FOLKS WERE
HOMEBOUND WITHOUT POWER, WHO
ARE ON OUR HIGH RISK LIST TO
MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING OKAY.
IT IS IMPORTANT WORK AND IT IS
IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN ALLY AND
SUPPORTER AND JASON HAS ALWAYS
SUPPORTED THE WORK AND
UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANT WORK
THAT WE DO AS THE AREA AGENCY
ON AGING AND IS THE AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES DIVISION SO
I'M HERE TO BRING THIS LETTER
OF SUPPORT AND ASK YOU PUT IT
IN THE PUBLIC RECORD.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
THAT WILL CONCLUDE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 22
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS HAVE BEEN
REVIEWED AND IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS THEY WILL BE SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING QUICK FEET.
PAYMENT OF BILLS, PLEASE READ
THE TITLE.
>> I MOVED TO PASS COUNSEL BILL
119458. IT HAS BEEN MOVED, ANY
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
[ROLL CALL]
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
>> I WILL SLOW MY PACE DOWN, I
KNOW YOU'RE DOING IT BY
YOURSELF.
WHEN YOU'RE READY CALL THE
FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
>> THE REPORT OF THE CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM CB 119453
TO CORRECT A CLERICAL ERROR --
MASTER PLAN.
>> JOHNSON.
>> LAST DECEMBER WE PASSED
ORDINANCE ORDINANCE 125733
WHICH GRANTED APPROVAL TO THE
MASTER PLAN.
THE ORDINANCE INCLUDED TWO
DIFFERENT SETS OF LANGUAGE
AMENDING THE SAME CONDITION IN
THE MASTER PLAN RELATED TO
PARKING BUT ONE SET INCLUDED
ALL OF COUNSEL'S INTENDED
AMENDMENTS AND ONE INCLUDED
ONLY ONE INTENDED AMENDMENT.
THIS STRIKES THE LANGUAGE THAT
ONLY INCLUDED ONE AMENDMENT TO
REMOVE THAT CONTRADICTION AND
REFLECT THE INTENT OF THE
COUNCIL.
THIS IS STILL QUASIJUDICIAL
PROCESS AND UPON ACTION TODAY
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
TENDS TO TAKE UP THIS MATTER
SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY WHICH
WOULD THEN BE NEARLY THE END OF
THE PROCESS BECAUSE AT THAT
POINT WE WOULD THEN ENTER INTO
THE -- PROCESS AND IDEALLY THEN
THAT MATTER IS RESOLVED AND WE
CAN ALL START TALKING TO PEOPLE
ABOUT IT AGAIN.
FOR THE TIME BEING, THIS
REMAINS A QUASIJUDICIAL PROCESS
AND A SMALL TECHNICAL FIX THIS
AFTERNOON THAT I HOPE I CAN
COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT FOUR
POINT
>> THANK YOU, ANY COMMENTS?
>> I WILL MOVE TO PASS CB
119453.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSING OF THE BILL.
>> AYE, AYE, AYE, AYE, AYE,
AYE, AYE, EIGHT IN FAVOR, NOT
OPPOSED.
>> IT WILL BE SIGNED.
>> THE REPORT OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS UTILITY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND ARTS --
RECOGNIZING THE HARM SET OF
ACTIONS FROM HOUSING HAVE ON
TENANTS AND MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES AND DESCRIBING THE
CITY COUNCILS PLANT UP A BOY TO
MITIGATE THOSE HARMS.
THE RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION BE
ADOPTED.
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER LISA
HERBOLD'S ABSENCE, O'BRIEN HAS
THE FLOOR.
>> I WILL WORK WALK THROUGH THE
BACKGROUND.
WHAT COMES NEXT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
LISA HERBOLD FOR HER LEADERSHIP
AND WORKING THROUGH THIS.
BACK IN SEPTEMBER, WE HEARD
REPORT FROM THE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION ENTITLED LOSING HOME.
FOLKS ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR
WITH IT AND IT HAS BEEN
REPORTED ON NUMEROUS TIMES.
REPORT INCLUDED A REVIEW OF ALL
1218 EVICTIONS RESIDENTIAL
AFFECTION ACTIONS VINYL IN
SEATTLE IN THE YEAR 2017.
IN ADDITION, THEY DID SOME
STUDIES AND SURVEYED AND
INTERVIEWED TENANTS AND HOMELESS
PREVENTION PROVIDERS AND CROSS-
REFERENCED WITH MEDICAL
EXAMINER RECORDS AND ALSO CROSS-
REFERENCED WITH HOUSING CODE
VIOLATIONS.
THERE WERE NUMBER OF FINDINGS
IN THIS REPORT AND I WANT TO
TOUCH ON JUST A FEW OF THOSE
FINDINGS.
ONE OF THEM WAS THAT SINGLE
TENANT HOUSEHOLDS THAT FACED
EVICTION FOR $100 OR LESS IN
BACK RENT, OF THOSE 81% OF THE
SINGLE HOUSEHOLD WERE WOMEN.
IF YOU ARE BLACK, THERE WAS A
4.5%, SORRY, 4.5 TIMES
LIKELIHOOD YOU WOULD FACE
EVICTION THAN IF YOU WERE WHITE.
PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE MORE
LIKELY TO BE EVICTED FOR
SMALLER AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAN
WHITE HOUSEHOLDS.
OF THE OVER 1000 EVICTIONS, 86
WERE FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT, 52%
OF THOSE WERE FOR LESS THAN ONE
MONTH'S WORTH OF RENT.
ATTORNEYS FEES WERE CHARGED TO
TENANTS AND 90% OF THE CASES
AND COURT COSTS WERE CHARGED
OVER 92% OF THE CASES.
THOSE CHARGES AVERAGED OVER
$400 FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES AND
JUST UNDER $400 FOR COURT COSTS.
A FEDERAL RESERVE REPORT FOUND
THAT 40% OF AMERICANS COULD NOT
COME UP WITH $400 IN THE EVENT
OF AN EMERGENCY.
WHEN YOU LIST JUST THESE FACTS
IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE
THAT THE BURDEN OF EVICTIONS
OFTEN FOR VERY SMALL AMOUNTS,
AND WE DID NOT EVEN GO INTO
DETAILS OF THE REASONS, AND THE
FINANCIAL REALITY THAT SO MANY
FOLKS FACE, THAT IT IS CLEAR
THAT THE EVICTION PROCESS IN
OUR CITY IS BROKEN AND IT LEADS
TO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
FOLKS WHO GO THROUGH EVICTION
FACING HOMELESSNESS.
POST EVICTION, ONLY 12.5% OF
EVICTED RESPONDENTS FOUND
ANOTHER RENTAL.
OVER 37% WERE COMPLETELY UN-
SHELTERED, 25% WERE LIVING IN A
SHELTER OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING,
AND 25% ENDED UP STAYING WITH
FAMILY OR FRIENDS.
IF WE WANT TO ADDRESS OUR
HOMELESS CRISIS, THERE IS
REALLY NO WAY WE CAN DO THAT
WITHOUT ALSO ADDRESSING THE
EVICTION CRISIS WE ARE FACING.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT
THIS COUNSEL HAS TAKEN UP
ISSUES AROUND EVICTION.
I WANT TO TOUCH ON A FEW OF
THOSE.
THERE WAS A NUMBER OF STATEMENT
AND LEGISLATIVE ATTEMPT GREEN
SHEETS THAT WE PASSED IN THE
PAST FEW YEARS.
EXAMPLES, PREVENTING EVICTIONS
FROM SUBSTANDARD PROPERTIES AND
CRATING A LEGAL PATH FOR
TENANTS TO ENFORCE THEIR RIGHTS
IN COURT.
WE PASSED GREEN SHEETS
INCREASING OR NEEDED FUNDS FOR
LEGAL DEFENSE AND TENANT
OUTREACH FUNDS, RECOMMENDING
PROCESSES FOR CENTRALIZING AND
OBTAINING ASSISTANCE IN ONE
PLACE, BUT WITHOUT FUNDAMENTAL
REFORM TO THE EVICTION PROCESS,
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE SOME OF
THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING.
THIS RESOLUTION ALONE IS NOT
GOING TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS, BUT
IT LAYS OUT A PATH AND FRAMEWORK
FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE COMMISSION REPORT THAT THE
CITY CAN TAKE IF WE WANT TO
REDUCE THIS CRISIS.
I WILL TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THE
NEXT STEPS THAT WE BELIEVE WE
CAN ACCOMPLISH IN THE
RELATIVELY NEAR TERM AND THIS
RESOLUTION LAYS OUT THE
GROUNDWORK FOR US TO MOVE
FORWARD.
ONE IS TO ADDRESS FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP FOR TENANTS
EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
WHO OFTEN ARE HELD LIABLE FOR
DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE
PERPETRATOR.
IT CAN ADDRESS THE LACK OF
FLEXIBILITY TO AVOID EVICTION
WHEN FACED WITH THE EMERGENCE
THESE.
WE HOPE TO ADDRESS HIGH DEFAULT
RATES FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING THE
EVICTION PROCESS OR MUTUAL
TERMINATION AGREEMENTS WHICH
ARE OFTEN ENTERED INTO AN ONE-
SIDED NATURE WHERE TENANT DOES
NOT UNDERSTAND THE RATES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHAT
RESOURCES MAY BE AVAILABLE TO
AVOID EVICTION.
HARDSHIP FOR PAYING RENT IS AN
ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON TOP OF
PAYMENTS FOR RENT WERE LATE
FEES, COURT COSTS, AND ATTORNEY
FEES COMPOUND TO MAKE IT THE
MOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR MANY FOLKS
TO RECOVER FROM THE PAYMENT.
ALSO, THE COURTS GENERALLY HAVE
NOT HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO
EXERCISE JUDICIAL DISCRETION TO
PREVENT EVICTIONS.
WE HEARD A PUBLIC TESTIMONY
TODAY OF A WOMAN, I BELIEVE
SOUTH CAROLINA, WHO WAS IN THE
HOSPITAL AND WAS UNABLE TO MAKE
PAYMENT. IN OUR STATE SHE WOULD
HAVE THREE DAYS TO PAY OR
VACATE AND THE REALITY IS THAT
SOMEONE WHO WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
CAN RESPOND TO THAT IN A
MEANINGFUL WAY IS ALMOST NIL.
IT RESULTS, LIKELY RESULTING IN
OUR SYSTEM, AND EVICTION.
IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS THERE IS
AT LEAST A PATH WERE FAMILY
MEMBERS OR ADVOCATES CAN SHOW
UP IN COURT, EXPLAIN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES TO A JUDGE, THE
JUDGE CAN SAY UNDER THE
CIRCUMSTANCES, I'M NOT GOING TO
PROCEED WITH THIS.
RARELY DO WE SEE THAT
FLEXIBILITY IN OUR SYSTEM.
I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS
RESOLUTION.
I WANT TO THANK THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION FOR THEIR
WORK ON MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
BRINGING IT FORWARD AND
HIGHLIGHTING THIS AND
RECOGNIZING THERE IS A LOT OF
WORK IN FRONT OF US AND I WANT
TO THINK FOLKS IN OLYMPIA WERE
ALSO TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY IN
LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE WORK
THAT THE COMMISSION DID TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE FACE.
THIS IS NOT JUST IN SEATTLE BUT
THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
I BELIEVE PIERCE, KING,
SNOHOMISH COUNTY ACCOUNT FOR
HALF OF THE EVICTIONS IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS
JUST IN THE CENTRAL PUGET SOUND
REGION IT WOULD GO A LONG WAYS
TO HELPING PEOPLE OF THE ENTIRE
STATE.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SALLY BAGSHAW.
>> I SUPPORT YOUR WORK HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOU AND
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD AND
-- CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN YOU ARE
WORKING WITH OLYMPIA, WHAT
ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN X
LEGISLATION THAT IS INTRODUCED?
WERE THE SPONSORS?
>> THERE ARE MULTIPLE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT ARE IN PLAY IN
OLYMPIA RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
SPEAK AT LENGTH TO THE DETAILS.
THE CURRENT STATE LAW HAS A
THREE DAY PAY OR VACATE NOTICE
AND THERE ARE BILLS THAT WOULD
ALLOW 14 OR 21 DAYS. I BELIEVE
REPRESENTATIVE MACKEY IS
SUPPORTING DISTILLATION THAT
WOULD EXTEND IT TO 21 DAYS BUT
THERE IS A REPUBLICAN SPONSORED
BILL THAT WOULD EXTEND TO 14
DAYS.
I SUGGEST OUR NEXT BRIEFING,
THEY SPEAK TO THE VARIETY OF
BILLS THAT WOULD BE DOWN HERE.
WORKING ON A SERIES OF BILLS.
WHAT I WILL SAY AT THE HIGH
LEVEL COUNCILMEMBER SALLY
BAGSHAW IS THERE IS HIGH LEVEL
BY BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO ADDRESS
THE CRISIS AROUND EVICTIONS SO
REGARDLESS OF THE COMMUNITY
PEOPLE ARE SAYING THIS IS A
REAL PROBLEM.
I KNOW ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS.
IT APPEARS THERE IS A HIGHER
LIKELIHOOD THE SESSION WE MIGHT
SEE TRACTION.
THAT DOES NOT RELIEVE THE CITY
FROM DOING SOME WORK BECAUSE
THERE IS A ROLE FOR US TO PLAY
IN THE LEGISLATION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD HAS
LED ON HELPS LAY OUT THOSE
NEXT STEPS, TOO.
>> THANK YOU VERY GOOD.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, I WANT TO THANK
LISA HERBOLD AND O'BRIEN.
EVERYONE WHO HAS HAD A HAND.
WE ARE EMBARRASSINGLY BEHIND
WERE OTHER CITIES AND STATES
ARE IN TERMS OF THE EVICTION
POLICY.
I WANT TO TAKE A QUICK SECOND
TO THANK THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION, HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT FOR ALL THE WORK THEY
PUT INTO THE LOSING HOME REPORT.
THE EVICTION PROCESS AND THE
LANDLORD-TENANT LAW HERE IS AT
BEST COMPLEX AND I THINK AS WE
HAVE HEARD TODAY IT IS TRULY
UNJUST.
IN TERMS OF CLARITY, WE LACK
CLARITY FOR LANDLORDS AND ALSO
FOR TENANTS.
HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CLARIFY THIS AND CREATE A MORE
JUST SYSTEM, TO WORK WITH
TENANTS AND ADVOCATES IN THE
COURTS AND FIND A PATH FORWARD
NT ONLY IS THE PROCESS THE
RESULTS FOR BETTER
CLARIFICATION FOR ALL PARTIES
BUT WILL HELP US CONTINUE THE
WORK OF WHAT WE HEARD JUST TWO
WEEKS AGO IN THE SELECT
COMMITTEE THAT WE NEED TO DO A
MUCH BETTER JOB TO PROVIDE
EASIER AND QUICKER ASSISTANCE
TO PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM
BEING AFFECTED.
IF THEY CALL AND SAY THEY NEED
$200 AND THEY NEED $400, JUST
TO GET THROUGH THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS, DON'T MAKE THEM GO
THROUGH A RIGOROUS PROCESS.
JUST ALLOW THEM TO BE THE BEST
MANAGERS OF THEIR SITUATION AND
HELP THEM GET THROUGH THAT
TOUGH PERIOD SO THEY DON'T GET
EVICTED.
THIS IS WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE
TELLING US FROM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND IT IS WHAT THE
EXPERTS ON THE GROUND LEVEL
HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR SO LONG.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WORK ON
THIS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IN
CONJUNCTION WITH ADDITIONAL
TENANT PROTECTIONS AND BUILDING
HOUSING IS REALLY THE SOLUTION
THAT GOES HAND-IN-HAND. WE KNOW
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND RISK
OF ADDICTION INCREASES WHEN
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, WHEN THERE IS LOW
VACANCIES, AND WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH AFFORDABLE UNITS FOR
THOSE IN NEED.
AS WE WORK TO BUILD ADDITIONAL
HOUSING, I'M REALLY EXCITED
THAT WE CAN BEGIN THE PROCESS
OF LEGISLATING THIS WORK AROUND
PROTECTING OUR TENANTS.
> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SO WANTS.
>> I WOULD URGE THOSE OF US WHO
HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT
IT YET TO WATCH THE REALLY
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY THAT WAS
GIVEN LAST WEEK WHEN WE VOTED
THIS RESOLUTION OUT OF THE
COMMITTEE.
I REALLY HOPE EVERYBODY WILL BE
VOTING YES ON THIS RESOLUTION
AND PREPARATION FOR THE
ORDINANCES THAT COME FOLLOWING
THIS.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE READ THE
STUDY BY THE WOMEN SEATTLE
COMMISSION -- NETWORK AND OF
COURSE MOST IMPORTANTLY HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT.
I DON'T OFTEN RECOMMEND THAT
PEOPLE READ BIG READINGS BUT
THIS IS ACTUALLY VERY USEFUL
BECAUSE IT HAS STATISTICAL
INFORMATION ON HOW BAD THE
CRISIS IS AND IT IS NOT A SMALL
THING.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS
HAPPENING CITYWIDE.
WE KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO
ARE EVICTED IN SEATTLE DID NOT
EVEN HAVE A LAWYER PRESENT AND
IN FACT THESE NUMBERS ARE BASED
ON PEOPLE WHO WENT TO COURT.
THERE ARE LOT MORE WHO DID NOT
GO TO WORK COURTS BECAUSE I
DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR THE
TIME OR SUPPORT OR SOCIAL
SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO GO A
CHALLENGE THIS IN COURT.
CLEARLY THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I'M REALLY
HAPPY THAT THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET
MOVEMENT LAST YEAR WAS ABLE TO
WIN CITY FUNDING FOR THE FIRST-
EVER CITY FUNDING FOR EVICTION
ATTORNEYS TO HELP WITH RENTERS
WHO ARE FACING EVICTION, BUT
THAT IS FAR FROM ENOUGH.
WE NEED MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
WE KNOW ALSO THE TERRIBLE
IMPACTS OF EVICTIONS AND
RENTERS AND THIS IS WHERE THAT
REPORT IS USEFUL, NOT ONLY DO
EVICTIONS AFFECT PEOPLE'S
HEALTH, STRESS, PEOPLE HAVE
REALLY COMPELLING STORIES OF
HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR LIFELONG
HEALTH BECAUSE OF THE STRESS
THAT THEY GO THROUGH, HOW IT
AFFECTS THEIR CHILDREN, AND
THEIR FUTURE HOUSING PROSPECTS
BECAUSE IT FOLLOWS YOU
EVERYWHERE.
WE ALSO KNOW THE DEADLY
CONNECTION NOW THAT IS BEEN
ESTABLISHED BETWEEN EVICTIONS
AND HOMELESSNESS AND EVEN DEATH
IN SOME CASES.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, CONNECTION
BETWEEN RACE AND OTHER ISSUES
THAT PEOPLE FACE, OTHER
OPPRESSIONS THAT THEY FACE IN
THE LIKELIHOOD OF BEING ACTED
AND BASIC HOMELESSNESS.
JUST TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ON
AVERAGE IN THIS STUDY SHOWS US
THIS, 2017 THERE WERE ALMOST 3
EVICTIONS EVERY DAY IN SEATTLE
AND IN DISTRICT 3 WHICH HAS
CAPITOL HILL AND THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, MANY WORKING PEOPLE
LIVING IN THE DISTRICT,
EVICTIONS HAPPENED MORE THAN
ONCE EVERY TWO DAYS.
THESE ARE JUST STARK NUMBERS WE
ARE LOOKING AT FOR CITY LIKE
SEATTLE.
AS WAS STATED BY OTHER RENTERS
IN OTHER STATES, ACTUALLY THEY
HAVE MORE RIGHTS IN THE
EVICTION CODE OF WASHINGTON
STATE IS LAGGING FAR BEHIND.
OBVIOUSLY I WILL BE SUPPORTING
THIS RESOLUTION BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY I THINK RENTERS
NEED TO CONTINUE TO GET
ORGANIZED TO MAKE SURE THE
ORDINANCES THAT ARE DEVELOPED
FOLLOWING THE RESOLUTION ALSO
GET PAST AND AS PART OF
ORGANIZING I WOULD REALLY URGE
EVERYBODY WATCHING THIS TO JOIN
MY OFFICE, THE SEATTLE AND
TENETS OF WASHINGTON STATE AND
THE NUMBER OF BOOT CAMPS
RENTERS RIGHTS BOOT CAMPS WERE
HAVING JUST THIS PAST SATURDAY
WE HAD A BOOT CAMP AT
VERMILLION ON CAPITOL HILL AND
WE HAD A NUMBER OF RENTERS COME
THERE NATALIE TO LEARN ABOUT
THEIR RIGHTS AND THE SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS THEY HAD AND HAD SOME
HORROR STORIES WITH CORPORATE
LANDLORDS, BUT ALSO HOW TO GET
ORGANIZED.
THERE WAS A POINT WHERE ONE OF
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ATTENDING
SAID WHEN ARE WE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT ORGANIZING WHICH IS VERY
VERY -- IS THIS REALLY
GRATIFYING TO SEE THE RENTERS
ARE REALIZING THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING THEY NEED TO GET
ORGANIZED ON.
I WANT TO SAY THAT IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT WE WILL BE
HAVING ANOTHER RENTERS RIGHTS
BOOT CAMP ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY
7, SIX 30 AT THE GARFIELD
COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE ARE HAVING TO RENTERS RIGHTS
BOOT CAMPS AT THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT, ONE OF THE GREAT
NIGHT WHICH IS A SATURDAY AT 10
AM AND ON FEBRUARY 13, ON 6 PM.
THAT IS A WEEKDAY AND YOU CAN
FIND ALL THIS INFORMATION BY
CONTACTING MY OFFICE AND WE ARE
ALSO HOSTING A SPECIAL RENTERS
RIGHTS BOOT CAMP THAT WILL
FOCUS ON ALGAE BBQ RENTERS CAN
GET ORGANIZED.
THAT WILL BE ON CAPITOL HILL.
THAT WILL BE ON MARCH 6 I
THINK, I MIGHT BE GETTING THAT
DATE WRONG.
IT'LL BE AT WILD ROSE ON
CAPITOL HILL.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
OKAY LET'S TAKE IT TO A VOTE.
>> THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING
THE RESOLUTION?
>> AYE
>> OPPOSED -- A CARIES AND IT
IS ADOPTED AND IT WILL BE
SIGNED.
>> LISA HERBOLD, IF YOU ARE
WATCHING, THAT APPLAUSE IS FOR
YOU, TOO.
PARTICULARLY FOR YOU.
PLEASE READ THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM.
>> CB 119455, CHANGING THE NAME
OF THE PORTION OF AURORA AVENUE
NORTH BETWEEN ANYWAY AND
HARRISON STREET TO SEVENTH
AVENUE NORTH AND CHANGING THE
NAME OF THE PORTION OF AURORA
AVENUE BETWEEN BATTERY STREET
AND ANYWAY TO BOREALIS AVENUE
AND SUPERSEDING PRIOR
ORDINANCES TO THE EXTENT
INCONSISTENT.
>> THIS IS AN EXCITING STEP FOR
FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND
THE NEW TUNNEL OPENING.
PROBABLY MORE EXCITING THAN THE
TUNNEL, IN FACT WE GET TO RENAME
THESE FOUR BLOCKS.
PRETTY EXCITING.
BETWEEN THOSE THREE BLOCKS
BETWEEN HARRISON AND DENNY.
IS YOUR HEADING SOUTHBOUND ON
AURORA, IT IS THREE BLOCKS AS
YOU ARE EXITING AROUND THE
BATTERY STREET TUNNEL, WHICH IS
TO BE DECOMMISSIONED, THAT WILL
BE RENAMED AS SEVENTH AVENUE,
WHICH WILL THEN CONTINUE ON A
DIAGONAL ONCE ACROSS HIS DENNY.
IT IS BETWEEN WHERE SOME OF
AMAZON'S CONSTRUCTION IS
HAPPENING.
THERE IS ANOTHER BLOCK OF
AURORA AVENUE THAT EXTENDS ON
THE SOUTH SIDE OF DENNY AND
THAT IS THE BLOCK THAT GOES
BETWEEN TWO TRIBAL PARCELS WHERE
THE PEAK ELEPHANT CARWASH IS
AND THERE IS A MAJOR BUS STOP
THERE.
IF WE WERE TO RENAME THAT ALSO
SEVENTH AVENUE, THAT WOULD
PROVIDE SOME CONFUSION BECAUSE
THERE WOULD BE 2/7 AVENUE IS
NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND SO THIS
PROPOSAL WOULD RENAME THAT
BOREALIS.
WE HEARD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS AND
ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS ARE
SUPPORTIVE.
THEY ALSO HAVE A DESIRE TO DO
THIS IN ADVANCE OF WHAT IS
EXPECTED TO BE SOME
REDEVELOPMENT HAPPENING IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SO THAT FOLKS
MOVING IN WILL INHERIT THE NEW
ADDRESS AS OPPOSED TO GO
THROUGH AN ADDRESS CHANGE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY
BAGSHAW.
>> THANK YOU TO YOU AND THE
SOUTH LAKE UNION COMMUNITY
COUNCIL.
EVERYONE HAS BEEN WORKING ON
THIS FOR YEARS AND I KNOW IT IS
A SMALL THING BUT THE NAME RORY
ELLIS IS FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE
IT.
BUT SECONDLY, TERRIFYING FOR
PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE GOING
AFTER THE TUNNEL OPENING, I
APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
>> VERY GOOD, FURTHER
QUESTIONS?
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> JOHNSON AYE , AYE, AYE,
AYE, AYE, AYE, AYE,
>> THE BILL PASSES.
PLEASE READ THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM.
>> AGENDA ITEM FOUR.
CB 119456, GRANTING NATIONAL
RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION
PERMISSION TO CONSTRUCT,
MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE BELOW
GRADE UTILITY LINES UNDER AND
ACROSS SOUTH HOLGATE STREET,
EAST OF OCCIDENTAL AVENUE SOUTH
AND WEST OF THIRD AVENUE SOUTH,
SPECIFYING THE CONDITIONS UNDER
WHICH THIS PERMIT IS GRANTED,
AND PROVIDING FOR THE
ACCEPTANCE OF THE PERMIT AND
CONDITIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT ORGANIZATION IS ALSO KNOWN
AS AMTRAK AND THEY ARE GOING TO
HAVE THREE CONDUITS THE PASS
UNDER WHOLE GATE.
THIS IS FOR BOTH STORM WATER,
SEWER, AND ELECTRICAL.
IT WILL ALLOW THEIR FACILITY
THERE TO USE MORE ELECTRIC POWER
FOR THE ENGINES WHEN THEY ARE
IDLING AS OPPOSED TO USING
THEIR DIESEL ENGINES AND ALSO
BETTER TREATMENT OF STORM WATER
AND WASTEWATER OFF OF THE SITE.
THE COUNCIL PASSED A CONCEPTUAL
APPROVAL OF THIS A FEW MONTHS
AGO AND IT HAS NOW BEEN THROUGH
MORE THOROUGH REVIEW WITH THE
DEPARTMENTS AND THERE ARE NO
ONFLICTS SO THEY ARE BACK WITH
THIS FINAL ACTION.
THE PERMIT FEE, IT WILL BE
ANNUAL, ABOUT $1000.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN.
ANY QUESTIONS?
HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> AYE, AYE, AYE, AYE, AYE,
AYE, AYE, PRESIDENT HARRELL?
AYE.
8 IN FAVOR, NOT OPPOSE.
>> PASSED AND SIGNED.
ANY FURTHER BUSINESS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA AND SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE SOME HANDOUTS. I WOULD
LIKE TO PASS -- I KNOW THIS IS
A LITTLE UNUSUAL BUT I WANTED
TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAD ON
THE RECORD AND IN HAND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE
100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE
SEATTLE GENERAL STRIKE.
WE HAVE ALSO OUR ARCHIVIST FROM
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
LEDGER'S DEPARTMENT HAS BROUGHT
DOWN THE ARCHIVE MATERIALS THAT
ARE OUTSIDE IN THE LOBBY HERE
FOR FOLKS TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
THIS IS CELEBRATING THIS WEEK
100 YEARS AGO BEGAN THE SEATTLE
GENERAL STRIKE.
MULTIPLE DAYS PEOPLE CAME
TOGETHER ACROSS SECTORS AND
ACROSS INDUSTRIES TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUITY THIS
WEEK TO HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY
LABOR HISTORY BUT EVERYTHING
THAT LABOR CONTINUES TO DO TO
STAND UP FOR WORKING FAMILIES
TO ORGANIZE NEW UNIONS AND NEW
SECTORS AND TO MAKE SURE MORE
WORKING FAMILIES HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PROVIDE FOR
THEIR FAMILIES EVEN IF THEY ARE
NOT IN UNION JOBS AND THE
UNIONS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR
PAID FAMILY LEAVE, PAID SICK
LEAVE, RAISING THE MANAGEMENT
WAGE, DOING THINGS THAT SUPPORT
NOT JUST UNION WORKERS BUT
WORKERS AT LARGE.
AS WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR AND
100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION OF THE SEATTLE
GENERAL STRIKE, I WANT TO MAKE
SURE FOLKS NEW IN OUR COMMITTEE
THIS THURSDAY WE WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON LABOR
PROFESSORS AND A REPORT ON THE
STATE OF LABOR FROM THE NEW
WASHINGTON STATE LABOR COUNCIL
AFL PRESIDENT BROWN AND
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FROM THE
MARTIN LUTHER KING COUNTY
CENTRAL WEBER COUNTY NICOLE
GRANT.
THIS CONTINUES THE TRADITION OF
HAVING A STATE AND LABOR
PRESENTATION AT THE BEGINNING
OF EVERY MONTH TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO COME IF THEY CAN ON
THURSDAY, 9:30 AND THE COMMITTEE
ENERGY WORKERS RIGHTS.
I HAVE MAILED TO THE COUNCIL
WILL MAKE AVAILABLE ONLINE THE
FULL LIST OF ACTIVITIES
HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE WEEK,
FOR EXAMPLE THERE IS A
PRESENTATION TONIGHT ON THE
SEATTLE GENERAL STRIKE FROM
JAMES GREGORY WHO PROVIDED
LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE STRIKE
. TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY THE
SIXTH, THERE IS EIGHT 1919
DISCUSSION GROUP AND WE WILL
ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY ON
THURSDAY, NOT ONLY MY COMMITTEE
BUT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
WITNESSED REVOLUTION THE STORY
OF ANNA LUIS STRONG, A FILM
THAT PRESENTS AT 6 PM AT THE
MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND INDUSTRY
AND LASTLY THERE WILL BE A
SEATTLE GENERAL STRIKE BUS TOUR
THAT I WILL BE ON AND WOULD
LOVE TO SEE ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES OR FRIENDS OF THE
COMMUNITY THERE.
THAT BEGINS AT THE SEATTLE
LABOR TEMPLE AT 9:30 AND WILL
TAKE US AROUND THE COMMUNITY
AND WILL END WITH IT AN EVENT
IN CELEBRATION. ADDITIONAL
HISTORY AND MORE INFORMATION,
AS WE THINK ABOUT ORGANIZING
FOR THE FUTURE ON SATURDAY AT 1
PM AT THE SEATTLE LABOR TEMPLE
ON FIRST AVENUE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS HAVE
THAT AND MR. PRESIDENT, I'M
SORRY, I WOULD'VE SHARED THAT
THIS MORNING.
WE WERE ON OUR WAY INTO WORK
DUE TO THE SNOW AND IT WAS AN
EXCITING WEEK AND I WANT TO
THANK THE ARCHIVIST AND MONICA
STEAM WHO BROUGHT DOWN THE
MATERIALS FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK
AT.
PLEASE DO CHECK IT OUT WHEN YOU
HAVE THE CHANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I JUST REMEMBERED, HAVE TO
BE EXCUSED FOR THIS COMING
MONDAY.
FEBRUARY 11th.
>> BEFORE I DO THAT, WERE THERE
ANY COMMENTS ON COUNCILMEMBER
TERESA MOSQUEDA'S INFORMATION?
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ HAS
MOVED TO BE EXCUSED FOR
FEBRUARY 11.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> AYE.
THE AYE'S HAVE IT.
>> I HAVE TWO THINGS TO BRING
UP.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES -- COMMITTEE WILL BE
HELD ON TUESDAY, 6 PM.
FEBRUARY 12.
THAT IS THE MEETING AT WHICH WE
WILL TAKE UP THE RESOLUTION
THAT IS RECOMMENDING AN
INCLUSIVE AND TRANSPARENT
APPROACH FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF
THE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SO THAT IS
TUESDAY AT THE VERY 12 AT 6 PM.
>> THAT IS A SPECIAL MEETING?
>> YES, IT WAS THE REGULAR DAY
BUT WE ARE MOVING THE TIME
BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THE
AFTER-HOURS --
>> GOT IT.
>> TO THE NEXT ITEM, WOULD LIKE
TO BE EXCUSED FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 18.
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECOND.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WILL BE
EXCUSED ON THE 18th.
>> IT WILL BE THE 19th?
>> THEN I DO NOT NEED TO BE
EXCUSED.
>> OKAY, SO THE 18th IS GOOD.
ANY FURTHER BUSINESS FOR THE
COUNCIL?
IF NOT, WE STAND ADJOURNED.
EVERYONE TRY TO HAVE A GREAT
REST OF THE AFTERNOON.