IS IT OKAY IF WE START?
GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
MY NAME IS COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT.
THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF
THE HUMAN SERVICES EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT AND RENTERS RIGHTS
COMMITTEE OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL.
THE TIME IS 6:15 P.M.
WE ARE MEETING HERE AT THE
MILLER COMMUNITY CENTER?
DISTRICT 36789 I APOLOGIZE
PROFUSELY FOR THE DELAY.
I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE FAMILIES
AND LIVES TO GET BACK TO.
I WAS WAITING FOR MY STAFF
MEMBER, OUR POLICY ANALYST TO
GET HERE.
UNFORTUNATELY HE JUST INFORMED
ME THAT HE WAS IN A BIKE CRASH
AND HE IS RIGHT NOW IN THE
AMBULANCE HEADING TO THE
HOSPITAL.
AND HE TELLS US HE IS OKAY, BUT
OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN IMAGINE WE
ARE EXTREMELY ANXIOUS TO HEAR
ABOUT HIS WELFARE.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
PROCEED WITHOUT HIM AT THIS
MOMENT.
I WANTED TO BEGIN BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE ON
THE LAND, AND I WANTED TO HONOR
ALL OF THE RIGHTS FROM HERE.
I THANK ALL THE STAFF OF THE
MILLER COMMUNITY CENTER FOR
MAKING THIS TIME AND SPACE
AVAILABLE FOR US.
THANK YOU TO SEATTLE CHANNEL
STAFF AND ALSO THE CONTRACT
WORKERS WHO ARE HERE HELPING US
WITH AUDIO/VISUAL TECHNOLOGY.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, CHILDCARE HAS
BEEN PROVIDED THANKS TO THE
CHILDCARE PROVIDER CHARTRICE
YOUNG WHO IS JUST UP THE
STAIRS.
SO IF YOU NEED CHILDCARE, JUST
GO UP THE STAIRS.
AND OF COURSE LAST BUT NOT
LEAST I THANK EVERYBODY HERE
WHO IS FOR THIS COMMITTEE
MEETING AND HERE TO TESTIFY.
WE HAVE JUST ONE ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE MAYORAL NOMINATION AND THE
SUBSEQUENT COUNCIL CONFIRMATION
OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
AND ASSISTING ME IN THIS
MEETING TODAY IS JONATHAN
ROSENBLOOM FROM MY OFFICE.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO
HIM.
HE WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU.
JUST TO EXPLAIN THE STRUCTURE
OF TODAY'S MEETING, THIS IS NOT
GOING TO BE A MEETING WHERE
CITY STAFF AND ELECTED
OFFICIALS ARE GOING TO TAKE UP
MUCH TIME.
IT IS -- IT HAS BEEN SET UP BY
ME AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
PRECISELY TO HAVE A LISTENING
SESSION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WHO WILL IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
BE IMPACTED BY THE HUMAN
SERVICES DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT.
I AM SORRY TO INFORM YOU THAT
THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMITTEE, DEBORA JUAREZ AND
BRUCE HARRELL WILL NOT BE
JOINING US HERE TODAY.
THEY WEREN'T AT THE COMMITTEE
MEETING LAST FRIDAY EITHER
WHERE WE HEARD FROM THE HALCYON
RESIDENTS THE SENIOR CITIZENS
WHO ARE, IF WE DON'T TAKE
ACTION, GOING TO LOSE THEIR
AFFORDABLE HOMES IN NORTH
SEATTLE.
SO, ALL OF THIS MEETING WILL BE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO I REALLY URGE THOSE OF YOU
WHO HAVEN'T SIGNED UP ALREADY
TO SIGN UP.
I WILL BE HERE TO LISTEN TO
EVERY PERSON WHO SPEAKS BECAUSE
I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
WORKERS AND THE SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO WILL BE INFLUENCED
BY THIS DECISION.
BUT ALSO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
JUST CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO
HUMAN SERVICES.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE HERE
BECAUSE YOU CARE.
NOW, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT
THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SERVES AS
THE EXECUTIVE OF ANY CITY
DEPARTMENT ULTIMATELY DOES NOT,
YOU KNOW, THE BUCK DOESN'T STOP
WITH THEM, THE BUCK STOPS WITH
THE POLITICIANS, THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS, THE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND THE CITY COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
HOWEVER, WHOEVER IS APPOINTED
TO -- ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE HUMAN
SERVICES AS THE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION HAS CALLED THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS A HIGH-
IMPACT DEPARTMENT.
SO AS YOU ALL HAVE TOLD MY
OFFICE REPEATEDLY WHO IS
APPOINTED AND WHAT PROCESS IS
USED FOR THE APPOINTMENT, WHICH
IS I THINK THE REAL MAIN
CONCERN YOU ARE GOING TO BRING
OUT TODAY IS CRITICAL AND SINCE
I SEE MY DUTY AS REPRESENTING
YOU, I WANTED TO MAKE THIS TIME
AVAILABLE FOR YOU ALL TO SPEAK
ON THE RECORD, YOU KNOW, WE
WILL HAVE THIS WHOLE MEETING
AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY TO WATCH
LATER.
THAT IS THE VALUE OF IT.
THAT IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
SINCE THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
LEFT HER POSITION, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS SERVICE PROVIDERS, MANY
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING MY
OFFICE WHEN THE MAYOR WOULD
START A SEARCH PROCESS FOR THE
NEXT DIRECTOR.
AND MANY HAVE REQUESTED WAYS TO
GIVE INPUT.
EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES THIS IS AN
ECONOMIC JUSTICE QUESTION, A
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE QUESTION RELATED TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, MY
OFFICE HAS ALSO, FOR MANY WEEKS
IF NOT MONTHS, BEEN REACHING
OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ASKING DO YOU INTEND TO START A
PROCESS.
WE DIDN'T GET ANY CONCRETE
ANSWER.
SO WE WERE ALL COLLECTIVELY
SURPRISED WHEN THE MAYOR
ANNOUNCED THE NOMINATION
WITHOUT HAVING CONDUCTED A
SEARCH PROCESS AT ALL UNLIKE
THE SEARCH PROCESS THAT HAS
BEEN CONDUCTED FOR OTHER
DIRECTOR POSITIONS IN THE CITY.
AGAIN, JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR,
IT'S MY DUTY TO REPRESENT YOUR
NEEDS AND WISHES ON THIS.
IF YOU ASK MY COMMITTEE TO SEND
THIS NOMINATION BACK TO THE
MAYOR TO CONDUCT AN INCLUSIVE
SEARCH PROCESS BEFORE THE
COUNCIL TAKES ACTION ON A
CONFIRMATION, THEN I WILL USE
ALL MY POWERS AS THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE TO HELP MAKE THAT
HAPPEN.
IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, AFTER
TESTIFYING, YOU PREFER THAT THE
COUNCIL PROCEEDS WITH THE
APPOINTMENT AS THE MAYOR HAS
NOMINATED, THEN I WILL INSTRUCT
THE COMMITTEE TO DO THAT.
I HAVE CALLED THIS MEETING TO
HEAR FROM WORKERS, PROVIDERS,
CLIENTS, AND CONCERNED
COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECAUSE WE
WERE CONTACTED BY MANY
ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
WHO WERE TROUBLED AND EVEN
OUTRAGED IN SOME CASES THAT
THERE WAS NO INCLUSIVE PROCESS
FOR THIS NOMINATION.
IN PARTICULAR, MY OFFICE
EXTENSIVELY TO WORKERS AND TO
THE HUMAN SERVICES COALITION.
THE COALITION IS MADE UP OF 180
NON-PROFIT HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS IN SEATTLE WHO
RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE HSD
FROM THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THESE ARE TAXPAYER FUNDS.
THEY WERE INFORMED -- SORRY,
THEY WERE FORMED SEVERAL YEARS
AGO WHEN THEY FOUND THAT THEY
WERE UNABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR
NEEDED HUMAN SERVICE POLICIES
BECAUSE THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT HAD THE POWER TO
WITHHOLD THEIR FUNDING IF THEY
SPOKE OUT.
BY FORMING A COALITION, THEY
ARE ABLE TO SPEAK WITHOUT
PUTTING AN INDIVIDUAL OR AN
ORGANIZATION AT RISK.
WE HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SHARE AND
NICKELSVILLE ABOUT THEIR
CONCERNS ABOUT A LACK OF
PROCESS.
WE HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM WORKERS
AS I SAID THROUGH THEIR UNION
17 WHICH REPRESENTS THEM TO
MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE HERE
TODAY.
I WILL LET YOU SPEAK FOR
YOURSELVES, AND I ALSO WANTED
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE
IN SPEAKING OUT ON AN ISSUE
THAT WILL IMPACT YOU AND YOUR
CO-WORKERS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
IS NOT EASY IN ANY WAY AT ALL.
BUT OUR BEST PROJECTION IS TO
BE OPEN AND HAVE -- PROTECTION
AND HAVE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR
OURSELVES.
SO I WILL BE OPENING THE
LISTENING SESSION IN A MINUTE
OR TWO.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE TIME YOU
NEED TO MAKE YOUR POIN.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A
CLOCK FROM THE CITY OF SEATTLE
BECAUSE MY STAFF MEMBER WAS
GOING TO BRING THAT, BUT --
WHERE IS IT?
YOU DON'T NEED TO RUN THE
COMMITTEE.
I WILL.
SO WE WILL DO OUR BEST IN THE
SITUATION.
BUT I WANTED TO ALSO SHARE ONE
OTHER THING WITH YOU, IMPORTANT
THING.
THE COMMITTEE DIDN'T JUST
INVITE PEOPLE WITH ONE OPINION.
WE INVITED EVERYBODY WHO HAS AN
OPINION ON THIS ISSUE.
SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR
OPINION IS.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SUGGEST
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND WITHOUT ANY
FEARS.
THE COMMITTEE IS HERE TO LISTEN
TO YOU REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR
OPINION IS AND THEN DECIDE WHAT
DO WE DO, WHAT IS THE BEST
COURSE OF ACTION.
SO I HOPE THAT IS VERY CLEAR>>
AND, IN FACT, MY OFFICE
SPECIFICALLY REACHED OUT TO THE
PEOPLE FROM PLYMOUTH HOUSING
WHO HAD WRITTEN A LETTER OF
SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR'S PROCESS
TO GIVE THEM TIME TO SPEAK.
THEY DECLINED THE INVITATION,
BUT WHOEVER IS HERE TO SPEAK IN
FAVOR OF THE PROCESS, PLEASE GO
AHEAD AND DO THAT.
OH, NO, DON'T WORRY.
THANK YOU.
WE ALSO URGED THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO HAVE DEPUTY MAYOR
MOSELEY JOIN US AT THE TABLE TO
PARTICIPATE AND ALSO TO OFFER
YOU ALL AN EXPLANATION FOR THE
MAYOR'S DECISION TO SKIP
INCLUDING ANYONE IN THE SEARCH
PROCESS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DECLINED
THAT INVITATION AS WELL.
AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
THOSE LETTERS AS A MATTER OF
PUBLIC RECORD.
SO IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN
LOOKING AT THAT, PLEASE ASK
JONATHAN, AND WE WILL MAKE THAT
AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
WE WERE MEANT TO HAVE PRINT-
OUTS HERE, BUT A LOT OF THAT IS
NOW SITTING IN THE AMBULANCE
WITH MY STAFF MEMBER.
SO LET'S START THE LISTENING
SESSION.
WHAT I WILL DO IS CALL SEVERAL
NAMES AT ONCE AND IF YOU CAN
LINE UP HERE, SO ONE MINUTE?
OH, STAND HERE BECAUSE THE
PEOPLE WILL BE FACING THIS WAY.
SO, MELISSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HELPING US FROM PROJECT 17.
SHE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU
SHOULD WRAP UP SO THAT WE CAN
RESPECT EVERYBODY'S RIGHT TO
SPEAK.
SO I WILL CALL SEVERAL NAMES AS
I SAID IN ADVANCE.
SO PLEASE LINE UP WHEN YOU HEAR
YOUR NAME IN ORDER SO THAT WE
DON'T WASTE TOO MUCH TIME WITH
PEOPLE TRYING TO GET UP FROM
THEIR SEAT, AND SO ON.
SO, WE HAVE ALEX ZIMMERMAN,
PATRICIA DAWSON, IANNE MUSAY,
JAMES WILLIAMS, SEAN SMITH,
ANITA FREEMAN.
>> OH, SOMEBODY SUPPOSED TO
HELP ME.
>> SORRY?
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
YEAH, HE IS, HE WAS THE FIRST
ONE.
>> I AM SO SORRY.
I AM NUMBER ONE.
I AM SO SORRY.
THE CRY, MY FUHRER, A PURE ANTI-
SEMITE.
MY NAME ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
SO WE TALKING ABOUT WITH
MANAGEMENT.
AND I THINK SOMEONE WHEN FIRST
TIME TALKING ABOUT A THOUSAND
DOLLARS, IT NEVER HAPPENED.
RIGHT NOW SHE HAS ALREADY MORE
THAN ALMOST $40,000, HOUSE FOR
1 MILLION.
SHE TOTALLY CHANGE.
ABOUT MANAGEMENT, IT'S VERY
INTERESTING BECAUSE RIGHT NOW
MANAGEMENT WHAT DOES SHE
SUPPORT FOR 3 HUNDRED $350,000.
ALL RIGHT.
A MANAGEMENT FOR 3 $350,000.
WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS
MANAGEMENT?
I AM CONFUSED.
DID SOMEBODY LISTEN TO ME?
I GOT YOUR CONSULT EVERY DAY
FOR THE LAST TEN YEAR, MORE
THAN 2,000 TIME I SPEAK IN WHAT
HAS HAPPENED IS MY VOICE, IS
EXACTLY WHAT IS I PUT MY VOICE.
IT'S MY VOICE.
EVERYBODY LISTEN TO THIS.
IT'S MY VOICE.
IF SOMEBODY LISTEN TO YOU FOR
THE LAST FIVE YEARS YOU NEVER
STOP.
THIS COST US A BILLION AND
BILLION DOLLARS FOR ANOTHER FEW
YEARS WE PAY ANOTHER FEW
BILLION DOLLARS.
THIS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WILL BE
HAPPENED WHEN WE DON'T CHANGE
THIS TOTALLY.
SOME PEOPLE WILL FIGHT FOR US,
NOT FOR CORPORATIONS.
YOU NEVER TALK ABOUT STOPPING
AMAZON.
TAXES, TAXES, TAXES.
SIMPLE, STOP AMAZON FOR 10,000
PEOPLE AND ALL MARKET WILL BE
STABILIZED.
WE START PAYING LIKE BEFORE.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS
HAPPENED.
GUYS, BEFORE WE DON'T CHANGE
THIS, CROOKS, ALL NINE CROOKS
WHAT IS WE HAVE IN COUNCIL,
NOBODY TO LISTEN TO MY VOICE!
YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT YOUR
TALKING, IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
WHAT'S HAPPENED FOR THE LAST
FIVE YEARS HERE IN SEATTLE.
I LIVED HERE FOR ALMOST FIVE
YEARS.
SO STAND UP, AMERICA.
CLEAR THIS DIRTY CHAMBER AND
GIVE BACK US MONEY!
WHAT IS WE SPEND?
ALL TIMES GONE.
EVERYBODY HEAR MY VOICE.
[ INDISTINCT CHATTERING ] ]
>> GO AHEAD.
I AM LISA.
EVERY SPEAKER SHOULD STATE
THEIR NAME BEFORE THEY SPEAK.
>> MY NAME IS PATTY DAWSON.
I WORK FOR THE CITY IN SEATTLE
AND DISABILITIES.
I HAVE A GREAT JOB THERE GOING
INTO SEATTLE AUTHORITY
BUILDINGS, WORKING WITH
SENIORS, LOW-INCOME, HELPING
WITH CAREGIVERS AND WITH ALL
KINDS OF SOISHL SERVICES.
I WAS RECENTLY -- SOCIAL
SERVICES.
I WAS RECENTLY LAST YEAR, MY
CONTINUING ED WAS WHEN I WAS
SENT BY THE MANDATED RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE TRAINING TO THE
PEOPLE'S INSTITUTE WHERE A LOT
OF LAYERS OF EDUCATION ABOUT
RACISM AND FAIRNESS AND
PROCESS, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED A
FAIR PROCESS, HIRING PROCESS
FOR A NEW HUMAN SERVICE
DIRECTOR.
WHEN YOU APPOINT SOMEBODY, IT'S
NOT A PROCESS.
IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
AND WE WERE MANDATED TO BE
EDUCATED ABOUT FAIR PROCESSES
IN TERMS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.
.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THERE WAS IANNE AND JAMES
WILLIAMS BEFORE SEAN SMITH.
DO WE HAVE EITHER OF THEM HERE?
>> MY NAME IS SEAN SMITH.
I AM A RESIDENT AT
NICKELSVILLE.
I AM HERE TONIGHT SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF ALL THE NICKELODEONS.
>> CAN YOU SPEAK CLOSER TO THE
MICROPHONE?
>> THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN
SERVICES DEALS WITH PEOPLE IN
THE DARKEST MOMENTS OF THEIR
LIFE.
IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME THAT
THERE IS NO COMMUNITY BASIS IN
THIS APPOINTMENT.
SINCE AUGUST THE VILLAGE HAS
BEEN ASKING ABOUT PROCESS, A
SEAT AT THE TABLE REGARDING THE
RENEWAL OF OUR SITE.
OUR PERMIT IS UP IN MARCH, AND
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS
IS MOVING FORWARD.
WE'VE ASKED TO BE AT THE TABLE
WHEN MAKING POLICY DECISIONS
REGARDING THE ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED.
THIS NEEDS TO BE REDIRECTED
BACK TO THE MAYOR AND SAY GO
AND FIND SOMEONE WHO IS MORE
COMMUNITY-MINDED, WHO IS
WILLING TO COME TO THE DOOR AND
TALK TO PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS IANNE.
I AM ACTUALLY REALLY SADDENED
THAT IT'S ONLY YOU.
IT FEELS LIKE THE CHOIR IS ALL
I AM SPEAKING TO.
AND TO BE HONEST, I AM
EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT
YOUR PARTNERS DIDN'T SHOW UP.
SO I WILL START THERE.
IT'S ALSO REALLY TRULY
DISHEARTENING THAT WE'RE EVEN
GOTTEN THIS FAR, AND WE AS A
COMMUNITY ARE ASKING LET'S STEP
BACK AND HAVE A PROCESS BECAUSE
THERE IS A PROCESS FOR
EVERYTHING.
BUT APPARENTLY WHEN WE WANT TO
APPOINT PEOPLE, WE CAN DO IT,
AND IT ISN'T THE FIRST TIME
THAT THIS MAYOR HAS TAKEN THE
TIME TO DO IT.
BUT AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO
NOT ONLY BE OUT AND LOUD ABOUT
IT, BUT SHE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND
THAT FOLKS VOTED FOR HER.
AND WHETHER YOU VOTED OR NOT
FOR HER, SHE IS NOW OUR MAYOR.
SO I RESPECT THE TIME SO I AM
GOING TO ACTUALLY STRAIGHT UP
TELL YOU PLEASE TAKE MY MESSAGE
BACK.
I HAVE BEEN IN SOCIAL SERVICES
FOR OVER 20 YEARS AT THIS
POINT.
IT IS NOT CUTE WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN HSD NEEDS SOMEBODY
THAT SPEAKS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT CANNOT HAPPEN IF WE DO NOT
HAVE AN HONEST PROCESS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> SORRY.
BEFORE YOU START LET ME CALL
OUT A FEW NAMES.
AND OF COURSE JAMES WILLIAMS IS
HERE NOW, SO YOU SHOULD SPEAK
AFTER ANITA BECAUSE YOU WERE
THERE.
AND THEN WE HAVE ROTH
NICKELSON, AARON BRYANT, JAMIE
HELGERSON.
I AM SORRY IF I AM NOT SAYING
YOUR NAMES RIGHT.
SEANY JONES AND SYDNEY THOMAS.
GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
MY NAME IS ANITA FREEMAN.
AND, YEAH, THIS IS SEATTLE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO SEATTLE
PROCESS?
[ LAUGHTER ] WHAT CHER AND
WILL NEED AND WHAT EVERYONE IN
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THIS
POSITION IS SOMEONE WHO WORKS
WITH ALL PEOPLE COLLEGIATELY
WITH RESPECT REGARDLESS OF
SOCIAL STATUS OR ECONOMIC
CONDITION.
AND THIS IS NOT CHER AND WILL'S
EXPERIENCE WITH JASON JOHNSON.
HE WON'T TALK TO US.
WE NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE
REALITY OF SERVICES ON THE
GROUND, AND THIS IS NOT OUR
EXPERIENCE WITH JASON JOHNSON.
HE HAS NEVER VISITED ONE OF OUR
SHELTERS OR ONE OF OUR
ENCAMMENTS.
SOME OF HIS STAFF MEMBERS HAVE.
AND, YET, EVEN HIS STAFF
MEMBERS HAVE DEMONSTRATED NOT
KNOWING THE REALITY OF A SOCIAL
SERVICE PROGRAM BEFORE THEY CUT
IT.
WE NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE
REALITY OF HOMELESSNESS, THAT
IT'S DRIVEN BY HOUSING COSTS,
NOT BY SOCIAL SERVICES NOT
DOING THEIR JOB.
IT WILL NOT BE SOLVED BY
PUNISHING SHELTERS FOR NOT
GETTING ENOUGH PEOPLE INTO
MYSTERIOUSLY INVISIBLE HOUTION.
HOUSING.
J.J.
-- I'M SORRY, JASON JOHNSON
CONTINUES TO BASE FUNDING
DECISIONS ON IDEOLOGY, NOT ON
FACTS.
WE NEED SOMEONE WHO BRINGS
EVERYONE TO THE TABLE AS
EQUALS.
THIS APPROACH HAS BEEN DONE
BEFORE IN SEATTLE WITH GREAT
SUCCESS BUT NOT UNDER CATHERINE
LESTER OR JASON JOHNSON.
WE CAN DO BETTER.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> PLEASE COME CLOSE TO THE
MICROPHONE IF YOUR NAME HAS
BEEN CALLED SO THAT WE CAN
QUICKLY DO IT.
ANYBODY ELSE WHOSE NAMES WERE
CALLED?
ROTH NICHOLSON, SHAWNNY JONES,
SYDNEY THOMAS, PLEASE LINE UP-
CLOSER.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JAMES WILLIAMS.
I THINK I AM HERE, I AGREE WITH
A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE
BEEN SAID BY SPEAKERS WHO CAME
BEFORE ME.
I THINK THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS
THAT THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE
SLOWED DOWN.
THERE IS A LOT OF WISDOM, AND
THERE IS GUIDANCE THAT SHOULD
BE TAKEN BY THE COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE
SERVICES THAT ARE FUNDED AND
PROVIDED, YOU KNOW, THROUGH
HSD.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF TALK
IN SEATTLE ABOUT BEING A
PROGRESSIVE CITY AND THINKING
ABOUT RACE AND THINKING ABOUT
EQUITY AND WE HAVE THESE
BEAUTIFUL INITIATIVES AND
EVERYTHING, BUT I SAY THEY
DON'T AMOUNT TO MUCH IF WE
DON'T FOLLOW THOSE PROCESSES
WHEN IMPORTANT DECISIONS ARE
MADE SUCH AS THIS.
[ APPLAUSE ] I AM HAPPY TO SEE
YOU HERE.
I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT A LOT OF
YOUR COUNTERPARTS -- I HOPE
PEOPLE FIND A WAY TO SLOW DOWN
THE PROCESS AND HOPE THAT
ELECTED OFFICIALS UNDERSTAND
THAT IF THEY DON'T, I THINK
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
COME TOGETHER, PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT, AND
PEOPLE WILL BE HEARD.
WE WILL HAVE MORE OF A PROCESS.
SO I AM GLAD PEOPLE ARE HERE.
I HOPE THAT -- AND THERE WILL
BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
AFFECTED BY THE DECISION THAT'S
MADE AND HOW IT'S MADE AND
LET'S SLOW DOWN AND GET IT
RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HI.
MY NAME IS RALPH NICKELSON.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF SHARE
WHEEL.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT
ONE PREREQUISITE FOR THE
POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF HUMAN
SERVICES SHOULD BE UNBIASED AND
UNFETTERED RESPONSE TO THE VERY
REAL CONCERNS OF THE CITIZENS
OF SEATTLE.
IT IS MY CONTINGENT THAT JASON
JOHNSON LET HIS PERSONAL
ANIMOSITY TOWARDS CHER AND ITS
SELF-MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE CLOUD
HIS DECISION-MAKING.
DECISIONS THAT HAVE AFFECTED
HUNDREDS OF DISPLACED MEN AND
WOMEN.
ONE CASE IN POINT INVOLVES HIS
DECISION TO ALLOW LEHI TO
OVERRULE THE BASIC TENANT OF
CHER, SAFETY OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND PEOPLE WHO
RESIDE IN CITY-AUTHORIZED
CAMPS.
IN CASE SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT
AWARE, IT CENTERS ON A MAN WHO
WAS BLIND DRUNK AND THREATENED
NOT ONLY THE MAGNOLIA RESIDENTS
WITH A 9-MILLIMETER PISTOL BUT
THE ENCAMPMENT ITSELF.
WHEN THE CAMP LEADERSHIP FAILED
TO RESPOND TO THIS DANGEROUS
SITUATION, THEY WERE BARRED
FROM THE CAMP.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY NOT ONLY MAKES
THE SELF-MANAGEMENT MODEL WORK
BUT IS INSTRUMENTAL FIRST STEP
IN THE RESOCIALIZATION OF MANY
HOMELESS PEOPLE.
JASON JOHNSON WAS MADE AWARE OF
THIS DOCUMENTED SITUATION NOT
ONLY BY SHARE BUT BY THE
MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY AND ECUMENI
CONSIDER OF COURSE AL ADVISORS.
HIS RESPONSE WAS NO REPLY
WHATSOEVER.
INSTEAD HE ALLOWED THE CAMP TO
BAR SHARE AND SUBSEQUENTLY
TURNED OVER TOTAL MANAGEMENT TO
LEHI WHO IN TURN ALLOWED THE
OFFENDING LEADERSHIP OF THE
CAMP TO NOT ONLY RETURN BUT TO
RESUME CONTROL OVER DAY-TO-DAY
OPERATIONS TO CONFIRM MR.
JOHNSON WITHOUT AN
INVESTIGATION OF THIS INCIDENT
AND TO NOT INTERVIEW OTHER
POTENTIALLY BETTER QUALIFIED
CANDIDATES FOR THIS POSITION
WOULD BE A GROSS DISSERVICE TO
THE CITIZENS AND HOMELESS
POPULATION OF SEATTLE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS SYDNEY THOMAS, AND I
WILL BE RECITING MY POEM CALLED
"I AM THE BLACK CHILD," I AM
SPECIAL, RIDICULE CANNOT SWAY
ME.
I AM STRONG.
OBSTACLES CANNOT STOP ME.
I HOLD MY HEAD HI, PROUDLY
PROCLAIMING MY UNIQUENESS.
I HOLD MY PAGE CONTINUING
FORWARD THROUGH ADVERSITY.
I AM PROUD OF MY CULTURE AND MY
HERITAGE.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT I CAN
ACHIEVE MY EVERY GO.
>> I AM BECOMING ALL THAT I CAN
BE.
I AM THE BLACK CHILD.
I AM A CHILD OF GOD.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [
CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
.
>> THANK YOU.
UH-OH, DID I MESS IT UP?
THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
THAT WAS MY SON.
THAT IS MY SON SYDNEY.
AND I WANTED HIM TO RECITE HIS
POEM TO BRING HUMANITY INTO
THIS SPACE AND TO BRING
HUMANITY TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT
I WORK IN, THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS ERIN BRYANT
AND I AM A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND
A CITY OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEE.
I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WITH
A STRONG DESIRE TO EXPRESS MY
DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE HSD DIRECTOR
POSITION.
THE RACIST SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE IS THE CITY'S
COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVE RACIAL
EQUITY IN SEATTLE.
I BELIEVE IN THE PRINCIPLES OF
RACE -- OF THE RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVE AND THE
STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED SUCH AS TO ENSURE
RACIAL EQUITY IN CITY PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES TO MAKE TANGIBLE
úDIFFERENCES IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
WE NEED TO HAVE A THOUGHTFUL
AND DELIBERATE APPROACH TO
SELECTING DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
THE APPOINTMENT OR -- THE
APPOINTMENT OR SEARCH SHOULD
NOT VARY.
ALTHOUGH YOU MAY HAVE CONFIRMED
OTHER DEPARTMENT DIRECT ARE
YOS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU
HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHIFT THE CULTURE OF THE CITY
AS A WHOLE.
THIS APPOINTMENT ENFORCES WHITE
SUPREMACY NO MATTER THE RACE OF
THE PERSON YOU APPOINT.
IT IS CRITICAL TO ENGAGE IN A
PROCESS IN CENTER AND ENGAGE
COMMUNITY.
ALLOW US TO PARTNER WITH YOU.
WE ARE HERE.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HI.
MY NAME IS -- IS IT?
HI.
MY NAME IS JAMIE ANGER SOAR.
I WORK WITH AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES.
I AM A MEMBER OF PROTEC.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS
MEETING FOR ME IS ABOUT JASON
JOHNSON.
THIS MEETING IS NOT ABOUT JASON
JOHNSON.
I THINK IT IS REALLY BOTH FOR
ME.
A COMMON THEME THAT I AM
STARTING TO SEE IN MY
DISAPPOINTMENT IN NOT SEEING
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS SHOW UP TO
LISTEN IS THE LACK OF LISTENING
BY JUST APPOINTING SOMEBODY TO
THE POSITION WITHOUT ASKING THE
COMMUNITY TO WEIGH IN WITHOUT
GIVING YOURSELF AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LISTEN TO BEAUTIFUL POETRY
BY A YOUNG BOFRJS WITHOUT
GIVING YOURSELF THE OPPORTUNITY
TO LISTEN TO ALL THE
STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS ROOM AND
ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT
MIGHT'VE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO
SPEAK THEIR TRUTH ABOUT THIS
PROCESS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I
AS A WHITE PERSON HAVE SUFFERED
FROM THE NOTION THAT I THINK I
KNOW HOW TO FIX EVERYTHING.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
HAVE LEARNED IN RSJI IS THAT I
NEED TO LISTEN AND I NEED TO
LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE'S
STORIES.
AND WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED OF
JASON ONE TIME IN MEETINGS
WHERE CONCERNS WERE BEING
BROUGHT UP IS THAT IN THE
MIDDLE OF VOICING OUR CONCERNS
AND ASKING HIM TO BE MORE
INVOLVED, HE SIMPLY SAID "I AM
COMPLETE" AND WALKED OUT OF THE
ROOM.
THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL OTHER
TIMES.
WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING WITH THE
COUNCIL OR THE MAYOR JUST
APPOINTING SOMEBODY IS THE SAME
THING IS WE ARE COMPLETE, WE
ARE MOVING FORWARD, WE ARE NOT
GOING TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE.
SO IT IS ABOUT JASON, IT ISN'T
ABOUT JASON.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
SHAWNNY?
BEFORE YOU GO ON, LET ME JUST
READ A FEW MORE NAMES SO PEOPLE
CAN LINE UP HERE.
JENNIFER A., CINDY PEARCE, MARY
FLOWERS, NUTHRINEA., AMY.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS SHAWNNY JONES, AND I
AM HERE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER
TODAY BUT I DO WORK FOR THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS HSD
HAS A LONG HISTORY WITH RACIAL
EQUITY WORK.
AND AS THE WATCHDOG -- CAN YOU
HEAR ME?
AND AS WATCHDOG'S RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK, I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TRUTH
TO POWER.
AND WE WERE GIVEN A PROMISE
THAT WE WOULD BE GIVEN A
TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
NOT ONLY DO YOU OWE IT TO THE
MANY RACIAL EQUITY LEADERS
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT YOU
ALSO OWE IT TO COMMUNITY TO
FULFILL THE PROMISE THAT WAS
MADE TO HSD EMPLOYEES.
AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO
TRUST THE APPOINTMENT.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD
EXAMPLE OF HOW WHITE SUPREMACY
PLAYS OUT JUST TO APPOINT A
PERSON AS A LEADER OF THE
DEPARTMENT THAT SERVES A
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY WITHOUT
INPUT FROM THE FOLKS THAT ARE
IMPACTED, THE MOST IS HIGHLY
DISRESPECTFUL.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HI.
MY NAME IS'S JENNIFER ASPLUND.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
WHILE I RARELY AGREE WITH THIS
COUNCIL, TODAY IS AN EXCEPTION.
REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF
JASON JOHNSON FROM INTERIM
DIRECTOR FOR THE SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICES TO THE DIRECTOR IS A
CONCERN.
AS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, JASON JOHNSON
OVERSEAS NEARLY $130 MILLION IN
ANNUAL INVESTMENTS TO MORE THAN
180 COMMUNITY-BASED HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT SUPPORT
THE CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE EACH
YEAR.
THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF
TRANSPARENCY.
THE PUBLIC HAS LOST FAITH THAT
OUR TAXPAYERS ARE BEING SPENT
IN A MANNER THAT RESULTS IN
POSITIVE-BASED OUTCOMES.
IF MR. JOHNSON'S JOB IS TO
OVERSEE THESE FUNDS, HE HAS
DONE A POOR JOB, AND IT IS
EVIDENT BY THE HUMAN SUFFERING
IN OUR CITY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> I HAVE ATTENDED MANY
MEETINGS WHERE MR. JOHNSON WAS
ASKED FOR INFORMATION, AND HE
DID NOT HAVE IT OR HE WAS
SCHEDULED TO ATTEND A MEETING
IN WHICH HE WAS A NO-SHOW
ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION.
AS A TAX PAYING CITIZEN, I
EXPECT MORE OUT OF AN EMPLOYEE
BRINGING IN A 6-FIGURE SALARY.
I AM REQUESTING THIS COUNCIL TO
DECLINE TO AFFIRM THIS
APPOINTMENT AND INSTEAD REACH
OUT WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR THIS
POSITION.
IF THERE ARE NO QUALIFIED
APPLICANTS, THEN YOU ADVERTISE
THIS POSITION TO THE PUBLIC.
WE CAN AND SHOULD DO BETTER.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CINDY PEARCE.
AND I AM WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
SAFETY ALLIANCE AND I AM HERE
TONIGHT TO ASK THE COUNCIL, AND
I WISH THEY WERE HERE TOO, TO
REJECT THE MAYOR'S
RECOMMENDATION FOR DIRECTOR OF
HUMAN SERVICES AND LOOK BEYOND
SEATTLE FOR A NEW DIRECTOR.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR HER
HONEST AND BOLD COMMENTS TO GET
THIS AT THE TABLE.
AND I LISTENED TO YOU, IT WAS
MONDAY WHEN YOU BROUGHT THIS
UP.
AND I HAD TO CALL YOUR OFFICE
RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I WAS GOING
"SHE GETS IT, SHE KNOWS, SHE
GETS IT, SHE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING
ON HERE."
AND ONE OF THE KEY DIRECTIVES
OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT IS FINDING THE
SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS.
AND IT'S A HUGE PART OF THE
BUDGET.
AND WHAT I HAVE OBSERVED OVER
THE LAST FOUR YEARS IS MORE
VERBAL THAN WRITTEN LANGUAGE
AND VERY LITTLE ACTION FROM
HUMAN SERVICES.
I RECALL THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR
IN COMMITTEE MEETINGS USING A
LOT OF HOW TO TALK POLITICS IN
SEATTLE.
YOUR CURRENT INTERIM DIRECTOR
SEEMS TO BE DOING THE SAME
THING.
HE SITS AT COUNCIL MEETINGS.
HE'S BEEN ASKED QUESTIONS AND
HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DELIVER AS
THE COUNCIL HAS ASKED.
HE NEVER SEEMS PREPARED AND IS
UNABLE TO ADDRESS MANY
QUESTIONS ASKED.
SINCE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS
TAKEN OVER THE COMMITTEE, SHE
HAS -- SHE HAS HAD TO POSTPONE
MEETINGS DUE TO THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR NOT BEING PREPARED.
ON THE HSD WEBSITE, THERE IS A
STATEMENT READING THE CAUSES OF
HOMELESSNESS, AND THERE ARE SIX
STATEMENTS, NOT ONE OF THOSE
MENTIONS DRUGS AND ADDICTION,
WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THIS CITY.
AND WE WILL NEED A DIRECTOR
THAT WILL TELL US ALL THE
TRUTH.
MAYBE THE CURRENT DIRECTOR DOES
EXACTLY WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTS
AND IT WORKS FOR THEM, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT WORKING
FOR US, THE PEOPLE.
IF THE DIRECTOR DOES THEIR JOB,
ALL THESE SUBCOMMITTEES AND
CONSULTANTS THAT YOU'VE HIRED
END UP COSTING US MILLION WOULD
BE ELIMINATED AND WE COULD HAVE
A CONCRETE PLAN THAT MAY NOT BE
TO THE COUNCIL'S LIKING BUT WE
WILL BE GETTING THESE PEOPLE
OFF OF THE STREETS.
AND HISTORY HAS SHOWN HUMAN
SERVICES HAS BEEN UNABLE TO
PERFORM THE REQUIRED TASK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS
SESSION ON.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS AMY HIGOPIAN.
I AM A FACULTY MEMBER IN THE
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SPEAKING FOR
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
I LIVE IN THIS DISTRICT, AND I
AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE MY
CITY COUNCIL PERSON, AND I AM
SORRY THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK BY
YOURSELF TONIGHT.
THE REASON I AM TESTIFYING IS
BECAUSE I OFTEN HAVE MY
STUDENTS DO PROJECTS WITH THE
ORGANIZATION'S SHARE AND
NICHOLSVILLE SINCE THE 1990s.
SO I HAVE COME TO KNOW THESE
TWO REMARKABLE ORGANIZATIONS,
WHICH BRING SELF-GOVERNANCE,
AGENCY, AND EMPOWER HOMELESS
PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES
THROUGH DEMOCRACY.
AND I FIND IT A REMARKABLE
MODEL FOR MY STUDENTS.
LAST WINTER MY STUDENTS
EVALUATED THE LICTEN SPRINGS
VILLAGE ON AURORA.
THEY FOUND A LOT OF REALLY
INTERESTING POSITIVE THINGS
ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE AND ABOUT
THE VILLAGE AS IT WAS SET UP.
WHEN THERE WAS A CONFLICT AND
SOME DIFFICULTY THERE, I WROTE
A CAREFUL 3-PAGE MEMO TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
EXPLAINING WHERE I THOUGHT SOME
OF THE FRICTIONS WERE AND SOME
SOLUTIONS THAT MIGHT BE BROUGHT
TO THE TABLE.
I GOT BACK A CANNED LETTER THAT
CLEARLY IS SENT TO ANYBODY WHO
EVER WRITES ANY SORT OF LETTER
TO HIM, AND I AM GLAD TO GIVE
YOU THAT NOW.
I AGREE WITH WHAT PEOPLE HAVE
SAID THAT WE CLEARLY NEED A
PROCESS, BUT WE ALSO NEED A
PERSON WHO BRINGS A POSITIVE
ATTITUDE TO THIS JOB, SOMEBODY
WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND
PEOPLE, SOMEONE WHO VALUES THE
SELF-GOVERNANCE MODEL THAT
SEATTLE UNIQUELY BRINGS TO THIS
CITY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS MARY FLOWERS AND I
WORK FOR THE SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND I AM THANKFULTHAT MY
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE
HERE TODAY, WHICH IS A
BLESSING.
I WALKED INTO THIS ROOM AND I
SAW SIX MICROPHONES LINED UP
AND WAS EXPECTING TO SEE AT
LEAST 6 COUNCIL PEOPLE HERE,
AND THEN THE MICROPHONES GOT
MOVED AND NOW THERE IS TWO UP
THERE AND STILL ONE IS EMPTY.
I SAT IN MY SEAT AND I WAS,
LIKE, KIND OF DOWNHEARTED THAT
IT TOOK A LOT FOR PEOPLE TO
LEAVE THOSE -- THOSE FORTUNATE
TO HAVE A JOB, TO LEAVE, GET
THEIR CHILDREN AND COME HERE,
THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE A JOB ARE
TIRED OF TRYING TO FIND A JOB
AND MAKE ENDS MEET.
IT STRUCK ME THAT AS I WAS
STANDING THERE AND LOOKED AT
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THIS
ROOM, THE POWER IS REALLY HERE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT ABOUT WHO
THE COUNCIL -- WHO THE MAYOR,
WHO THE DIRECTOR IS, IT IS
ABOUT THE POWER IS IN THE
PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW FOLKS
GET ELECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND WE GOT TO GET THAT CRAZY
THINKING OUT OF OUR MINDS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE ARE
THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT
NOW.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE
A PROCESS.
WE WORK 58 FLOORS ABOVE THE
GROUND THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IT IS ISOLATED UP THERE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BADGE TO GET
IN.
THE MAYOR WALKS AROUND WITH AN
ENT-RAJ.
DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT 3
OR 4 SECURITY PEOPLE.
EVEN WHEN THEY CAME TO THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THEY
WERE SWEEPING THE FLOOR.
THAT IS NOT THE REALITY THAT
THE AVERAGE PERSON LIVES WITH.
AND SO THAT IS WHY A PROCESS IS
VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE
WHO ARE WIELDING MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS AT THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THEY
BASICALLY CAN BUY WHOEVER COMES
IN HERE BECAUSE THERE IS A
POWER DYNAMIC WHEN YOU ARE A
FUNDER.
THERE IS A POWER DYNAMIC.
AND THAT IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE
ACCOUNTABILITY IN A REAL WAY.
YOU HAVE TO AT 5:00 BE ABLE TO
COME IN THE ROOM AND LOOK AT
THE PEOPLE AND SEE THAT THIS IS
MY PEOPLE.
I SAT LAST WEEK ONE WEEK AGO I
SAT AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FOR
MLK AND I HEARD THE SPEECH OF
THE MAYOR WHO LEFT RIGHT AFTER
HER SPEECH.
I SAW COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT WERE
APPLAUDING AND INTRODUCING HER
AS THE CHAMPION OF JUSTICE.
I HEARD HER QUOTE DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, AND THIS IS WHAT I
SEE.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TALK A GOOD
GAME, BUT YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK
MUCH LOUDER.
AND THIS IS REALLY -- THIS
REALLY DEMONSTRATES A LACK OF
PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S A LACK OF
RESPECT WHEN YOU CAN NOT EVEN
SHOW UP.
SO FEEL THAT RESPECT.
WE NEED TO FEEL THAT DISRESPECT
AND, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE GOING TO
COME BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING
AND TO WHEREVER THE MAYOR IS
AND THE POWERFUL THING IS THAT
THERE IS A BUNCH OF CITY
EMPLOYEES RIGHT IN HERE, SOME
OF THE STILL ON PROBATION,
SOME OF THEM JUST GOT THEIR
JOBS OUT OF CLASS AND THEY ARE
HERE TONIGHT.
THIS IS WHO YOU HAVE WORKING AT
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND WE DESERVE BETTER.
AND EVEN AT THAT, WE ARE MUCH
BETTER OFF THAN THE PEOPLE THAT
WE ARE FUNDED TO SERVE, WHETHER
THEY ARE FAMILIES, WHETHER THEY
ARE YOUTH, WHETHER THEY ARE
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
AND IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO
SAY I AM A PERSON OF LIVED
EXPERIENCE, I WAS HOMELESS 20
YEARS AGO.
BECAUSE IF YOU WERE REALLY
FEELING THAT, YOU WOULD BE IN
THIS ROOM TONIGHT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> SO, IS NUTHRINE A. IN THE
ROOM?
[ INAUDIBLE RESPONSE]
>> I'M SORRY, ARE YOU AN
EMPLOYEE AT HSD?
OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THEN THERE IS OWEN, I CAN'T
READ YOUR LAST NAME, I'M SORRY.
[ LAUGHTER ] AS LONG AS I HAVE
TWO OWENS WHO SIGNED UP.
LESLIE BOWLING.
JERREL DAVIS.
LISA FRIZINE.
PLEASE COME UP IF YOU HEARD
YOUR NAME CALLED UP.
.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS OWEN.
I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
FACT THAT THIS DECISION TO PUSH
FORWARD AN APPOINTMENT WITH
FALSE URGENCY AND WITHOUT
PROCESS BY WIELDING
HIERARCHICAL POWER, IT IS
EVIDENT THAT OUR MAYOR IS
FOLLOWING THE WHITE DOMINANT
CULTURE THAT FORMS OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT AND IS NOT STANDING
UP FOR THE RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVE THAT SHE
PROCLAIMS THAT SHE FOLLOWS.
[ APPLAUSE ] I URGE YOU AND
YOUR FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS IF
YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN THE RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
TO PUSH BACK AND DEMAND A
PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT
COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED AND THE
VOICES OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE IS
MEANT TO SERVE ARE HEARD.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> BEFORE THE NEXT SPEAKER
GOES, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE
AN HONEST REQUEST.
I KNOW AS THE MINUTES TICK BY,
YOU WILL FEEL MORE OF AN
URGENCY TO GO BACK TO YOUR
HOMES AND FAMILIES.
BUT THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ABLE
TO STAY, PLEASE STAY BECAUSE I
WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT
STEPS SHOULD BE BASED ON WHAT I
HAVE HEARD.
AND I WANT TO GET SOME SORT OF
RESPONSE FROM YOU ABOUT WHETHER
YOU THINK IT IS ON THE RIGHT
TRACK OR NOT.
OKAY?
?
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS LESLIE BOWLING.
[ PAUSE ] THERE ARE TWO WORDS
THAT ARE COMING TO MY MIND
RIGHT NOW.
ONE IS COMMITMENT AND ONE IS
ACTION.
OFTEN TIMES I FEEL LIKE
COMMITMENTS CAN BE SOMETHING
THAT WE WRITE DOWN, THAT WE CAN
MAYBE SAY THAT WE DID ON A
CHECKBOX, AND I THINK THAT IS
INSUFFICIENT WHEN IT COMES TO
OUR ACTIONS SPEAKING LOUDER
THAN OUR WORDS.
I REALLY HAVE TWO DEMANDS OF
COUNCIL.
ONE IS WE ARE JUST ASKING FOR A
TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT.
[ APPLAUSE ] COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, I WILL REMIND YOU OF A
TIME IN 2017 WHEN MAYBE WE HAD
FOUR MAYORS AND, LIKE IN LIKE
LESS THAN 6 MONTHS.
AND COUNCIL FELT THE PRESSURE
FROM COMMUNITY TO HAVE AN OPEN
TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR THAT
NINTH POSITION.
AND YOU ALL LISTENED AND YOU
HAD A TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
AND THAT LED TO A VERY
DIFFERENT OUTCOME THAN AN
APPOINTMENT BY COUNCIL.
I AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND AS
AN HSD EMPLOYEE, AM ASKING FOR
THE SAME THING.
DEMANDING THE SAME THING.
AND I AM ALSO DEMANDING THAT
CITY COUNCIL ACTUALLY TAKE A
LOOK AT HOW THE APPOINTMENT
PROCESS ACTUALLY PERPETUATES
WHITE SUPREMACY WITHIN THE
STRUCTURE OF MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT.
AND TAKE THIS AS A LEARNING
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOME
LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE THE
APPOINTMENT PROCESS IN GENERAL.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY
IS TO DO THE SAME THING
REPEATEDLY, EXPECTING DIFFERENT
RESULTS.
I TOLD YOU, YOU ALL DIDN'T HAVE
TO VOTE FOR HER.
[ LAUGHTER ] YOU RAN A
CAMPAIGN GRASSROOTS, BLACK
WOMAN, BUT, NAH, PEOPLE DIDN'T
WANT TO VOTE FOR NAKITA.
I AM BORN AND RAISED IN SEATTLE
SINCE '92.
AND I ACTUALLY DROVE FROM THE
SOUTH END TO GET OVER HERE.
SO I GOT TO SEE THE CITY ON MY
WAY TO THIS VERY SPACE.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE
INSANITY OF NOT JUST SEATTLE'S
GOVERNMENT BUT KING COUNTY,
WASHINGTON STATE, THE UNITED
STATES AS AN IMPERIALIST
COLONIAL, ALL OF THESE ISMs
THAT MANIFEST IN OUR COMMUNITY,
I SEE SOME COWARDS.
I SEE SOME COWARDS ON THE
COUNCIL BECAUSE IN 2015, THEY
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY FOR A ZERO
YOUTH DETENTION.
HOWEVER, EARLIER THIS MONTH, WE
LEARNED THAT KING COUNTY MADE A
DECISION TO CONTINUE FUNNELING
$210 MILLION INTO A YOUTH
PRISON THAT IS IN THIS
JURISDICTION.
THOSE ARE INCONSISTENCIES.
AS WE LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE FROM THE
'70s, '80s, '90s 2000S, 2010S
TO NOW, THE INSTANTE IS EVIDENT
BECAUSE AS BUSINESSES DEVELOP,
AS ENTERPRISE DEVELOPS, AS MORE
WHITE FOLK COME INTO BLACK
NEIGHBORHOODS, THE HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT HAS DWINDLED AND
DEPRECIATED.
SO AS MUCH AS WE ARE INVESTING
IN THESE ENTERPRISES, WE NEED
TO BE INVESTING THAT INTO
PEOPLE.
AND TO MY BELIEF, MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF
THOSE PLACES THAT MANUFACTURES
THAT.
AND I AM ACTUALLY, LIKE -- I
WOULD BE EMBARRASSED IF I WAS
THESE GUYS.
WHEN WE GOT EMPLOYEES THAT ARE
PRESENT THAT GOT FAMILIES AND
THEY'RE ABLE TO BE HERE.
AT THIS POINT I AM NOT
SURPRISED, IT IS CONSISTENT
WITH WHAT SEATTLE HAS BEEN
DOING FOR GENERATIONS.
AND AS BROTHER MALCOLM SAID,
CHICKENS WILL COME TO ROOST.
SO, YOU ALL BETTER WATCH YOUR
BACK.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> ARE YOU LISA?
JUST LET ME READ A FEW MORE
NAMES.
KAREN, TAYLOR, AND JANET
PRESTON.
JANE KLINE, GRETCHEN WARSHKE, I
THINK, PEGGY HOATES, DOUG OR
ALICE QUINTON, SOMETHING LIKE
THAT.
SO IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAMES,
PLEASE COME FORWARD SO THAT YOU
CAN SPEAK AFTER THE SPEAKER WHO
IS BEFORE YOU.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS LISA.
I AM A CITY MROECHLT I AM A
MEMBER OF SEATTLE SILENCE
BREAKERS AND I AM REPRESENTING
OUR GROUP HERE TO SUPPORT THE
EMPLOYEES OF HSD.
OUR GROUP SEATTLE SILENCE
BREAKERS WROTE A LETTER TO CITY
COUNCIL SOMETIME THIS WEEK, AND
I AM JUST GOING TO READ A
LITTLE BIT OF THAT LETTER.
SEATTLE SILENCE BREAKERS
RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT THE PLAN
FOR MAYOR DIRKIN TO APPOINT THE
HSC DIRECTOR TO THE PERMANENT
POSITION.
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED AND
DISAGREE WITH THIS AS IT
REMOVES THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE
PROCESS AND THE ABILITY FOR
EMPLOYEES AND THE COMMUNITY TO
REMOVE IN.
WE AGREE WITH AND SUPPORT THE
MEMBERS OF THE HSD CHANGE TEAM
AND CAUCUSES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED
THIS SENTIMENTS AS WELL.
IT'S ESPECIALLY TROUBLING THAT
THE MAYOR HAD PREVIOUSLY
PROMISED AN OPEN AND INCLUSIVE
PROCESS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
APPOINTMENT HEADS.
IT APPEARS NOW THAT THE MAYOR
IS NOT KEEPING THAT PROCESS.
THEY MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
PUBLIC.
THEREFORE THE IMPACT OF
COMMUNITY AND EMPLOYEES MUST BE
GIVEN THE CHANCE TO HAVE A SAY
IN WHO WILL LEAD IN THE BEST
WAY FORWARD.
COUNCIL, WE URGE YOU TO USE
YOUR POSITION TO POSTPONE THE
CONFIRMATION OF THE DIRECTOR
AND ALLOW FOR A TRANSPARENT
PROCESS TO OCCUR.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MY NAME IS GRETCHEN WASKE.
I AM A CITY OF SEATTLE
RESIDENT.
I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF SEATTLE --
CITY OF SEATTLE'S HSD
DEPARTMENT AND I AM ALSO A
UNION STEWARD WITH PROTEC 17.
I AM HERE TO PRESENT A PETITION
THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED WITH 130
SIGNATURES AS OF 1:15 P.M.
THERE ARE MORE SIGNATURES TO
COME.
IT STATES "DEAR MAYOR JENNY
DURKIN AND CITY OF SEATTLE, OR
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, WOW.
WE THE UNDERSIGNED PROTEY,
FORMERLY WHO WORK IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HSD, THE
CITY OF SEATTLE ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENT
HIRING PROCESS FOR THE HSD
DIRECTOR.
THE RECENT HIRING PROCESS THAT
WAS USED FOR THE DIRECTOR
POSITIONS AT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
AND SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION SHOULD BE
APPLIED TO THE HIRING OF A
DIRECTOR FOR HSD.
THEREFORE, WE DEMAND THAT THE
MAYOR PROVIDE OUR DEPARTMENT
WITH THE SAME TRANSPARENT
HIRING PROCESSES THAT WAS
PROVIDED TO SDOT AND SCO.
I HAVE 12 COPIES FOR YOU.
>> ACTUALLY, I HAVE COPIES.
WHY DON'T WE HAND THEM OUT SO
SPEECH WILL HAVE THEM.
AND JONATHAN HAS MORE COPIES AS
WELL.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE
OF INPUT, PUBLIC INPUT FROM THE
EMPLOYEES OF HSD.
SO PEOPLE SHOULD SEE IT.
THANK YOU, GRETCHEN.
THAT'S FINE.
IT'S THE UNION'S PREROGATIVE TO
NOT SHARE IT.
GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS PEGGY.
AND I HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING
WITH SHARE WHEEL AND
NICHOLSVILLE FOR OVER A DECADE.
I HAVE LONG BEEN CONCERNED
ABOUT MR. JOHNSON HOLING THE
POSITION DIRECTOR OF HSD.
IN 2015, MR. JOHNSON DEMANDED
AN OUT OF SEQUENCE AUDIT
CLAIMING IT WAS TRIGGERED BY A
LATE AUDIT IN 2013.
HE DISCOVERED THROUGH A FOYER
REQUEST THAT A DOZEN SHELTERS
HAD ALSO LAID AUDITS, BUT NO
AUDIT WAS TRIGGERED FOR THEM.
HE SHREDDED THE CITY COUNCIL'S
GREEN SHEET WHICH WAS MEANT TO
PAY SHARE'S HONEY BUCKET BILLS.
JIESON JOHNSON WAS ASKED
DIRECTLY BY THREE HUMAN
SERVICES -- HUMAN SERVICES
DIRECTOR IF SHARE WERE IN THE
BUDGET AND HE SAID YES.
IT TURNS OUT THAT THEY WEREN'T
IN THE BUDGET.
THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT DE-
FUNDING SHELTERS HOLDING 250
BEDS AND A LOW BARRIER WOMENS'
SHELTER RUN BY WHEEL.
GETTING TO NICHOLSVILLE.
NICHOLSVILLE HAD NO SOURCE OF
REGULAR INCOME FOR THE FIRST
SIX YEARS.
WE DID THE BEST WE COULD WITH
HOMELESS PEOPLE HOLDING THEIR
OWN FUNDRAISERS LIKE CARWASH
AND PANCAKE FEEDS.
BUT EVENTUALLY OUR GARBAGE
SERVICE WAS SUSPENDED.
AT THAT POINT WE MADE AN
AGREEMENT WITH SHARE THAT IF
THEY WOULD RENT A TRUCK AND PAY
A DUMP FEE, WE WOULD REIMBURSE
THEM.
BUT JASON JOHNSON REFUSED TO
GIVE US THAT MONEY CLAIMING THE
CITY DIDN'T REIMBURSE THIRD
PARTY VENDORS.
IN 2017, MR. JOHNSON IGNORED
THE CITY'S OWN ENCAMPMENT
ORDINANCE AND ITS REQUIRED
MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ABSENT ANY
SEMBLANCE AT ALL OF DUE PROCESS
ALLOWED LEHI TO TAKE OVER TENT
CITY 5. PRECIPITATED BY THE
EVENT SPOKEN ABOUT EARLIER WITH
THE DRUNK MAN AND THE GUN.
HE HAS ALLOWED FOR MAXIMUM TWO-
YEAR STAYS IN ONE LOCATION TO
BE THROWN OUT THE WINDOW.
WHILE WE PROMISE HOUSED
NEIGHBORS AND PUBLIC MEETINGS
THAT WILL FOLLOW THE ORDINANCE,
THE CITY PICKS AND CHOOSES
WHICH PARTS THEIR STICK TO.
WORST OF ALL IN MY OPINION IS
JOHNSON'S OBVIOUS DISDAIN FOR
THESE GRASSROOTS DEMOCRATICALLY
ORGANIZED HOMELESS PEOPLE.
UNDER JOHNSON SHARE WILL AND
NICHOLSVILLE HOMELESS
PARTICIPANT ARE DELIBERATELY
FROZEN OUT OF IMPORTANT
MEETINGS AFFECTING THE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE THAT THEY
THEMSELVES OPERATE WHILE THE
BIG SHOTS FROM THE CITY AND THE
MEGA-SIZED FISCAL SPONSORS MEET
TO MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW A DIRECTOR OF
HUMAN SERVICES COULD
DEMONSTRATE MORE DISRESPECT AND
DISINTEREST IN THE PEOPLE HE IS
HIRED TO SERVE THAN TO LEAVE
THEM OUT OF DECISIONS DIRECTLY
AFFECTING HIM LIKE MR. JOHNSON
HAS DONE.
THERE MUST BE A BROAD, SINCERE
SEARCH FOR A DIRECTOR WHO HAS
EXPERIENCED AN EDUCATION ALONG
WITH INTEGRITY AND RESPECT FOR
ALL PEOPLE WORKING WITH THEM AS
EQUALS.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MY NAME IS ALICE OF ALICE,
QIANTANCE.
I DON'T KNOW JASON JOHNSON
PERSONALLY, BUT OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS I HAVE HEARD FROM
PEOPLE THAT I GREATLY RESPECT,
BOTH AT SHARE WHEEL.
I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM MARY
FLOWERS BEFORE, BUT I GREATLY
RESPECT HER.
AND ALSO FROM PEOPLE AT CCS AND
PEOPLE AT DESC WHO HAVE ALL
EXPRESSED GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
JASON JOHNSON.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK
MORE CAREFULLY AT HIS
APPOINTMENT.
>> AND I WOULD ONLY ADD THAT I
THINK THAT HAVING RESPECT FOR
THE COMMUNITIES OF HOMELESS
PEOPLE, BE THEY ORGANIZED
COMMUNITIES LIKE SHARE, WHEEL,
NICHOLSVILLE, BUT ALSO MANY OF
THE ENCAMPMENTS THAT WE SEE ARE
IN THEIR OWN WAYS IF YOU SEE A
SMALL GROUCH TENTS TOGETHER,
THOSE FOLKS ARE GETTING ALONG
SOME WAY, THEY ARE COMMUNITIES.
JUST THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO
HAVE A GOOD PROCESS TO FIND
SOMEONE WHO CAN APPROACH THIS
VERY DIFFICULT COMPLEX PROBLEM,
YOU KNOW, WITH THE KIND OF
ENERGY AND ATTENTION AND
CONCERN THAT IT REALLY
DESERVES.
AND LORD KNOWS THERE ARE NOT
GOING TO BE ANY EASY ANSWERS TO
IT.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> DO WE HAVE JANE KLINE?
>> HI.
JAMS JANE KLINE.
I THINK I MIGHT BE THE ONLY
PERSON HERE THIS MORNING
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS
APPOINTMENT FOR JASON.
SO I AM GOING TO TAKE A DEEP
BREATH.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK AT THIS MEETING.
YOU HAVE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE
THIS EVENING WHO HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT THE MAYOR MAKING THIS
DIRECT APPOINTMENT.
THERE ARE ALSO MANY, MANY
EMPLOYEES FROM H IS OF COURSE D
WHO FULLY SUPPORT THIS
NOMINATION.
AND I AM HERE TO JOIN THEM IN
MY PUBLIC SUPPORT OF HIS
APPOINTMENT.
I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE WORK
WEEKEND HIM FOR OVER FOUR YEARS
THE CITY.
AND IN MY 15 PLUS YEAR AS AN
ASSISTANT I CAN SAY WITHOUT
HESITATION THAT HE IS THE BEST
BOSS I HAVE EVER HAD.
JASON HAS DEDICATED HIS ENTIRE
CAREER TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
HIS CREDENTIALS AND HIS
LEADERSHIP SKILLS ARE UNIQUELY
QUALIFIED FOR THIS ROLE.
HE'S BEEN AT HSD FOR FIVE YEARS
AND HE'S WORN A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT HATS.
REGARDLESS OF ROLE, JASON IS
ALWAYS THE FIRST ONE IN THE
OFFICE AND THE LAST ONE TO
LEAVE.
JASON WORKS OVER WEEKENDS SO
THAT HIS TEAM DOESN'T HAVE TO.
JASON IS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR I AM OOH WEAR OF WHO
OCCASIONALLY STAFFS OUR FRONT
DESK AT THE OUR OFFICE.
HE HELPS OUR MANY CONSTITUENTS
NAVIGATE THE OFFICE.
BUT HE ISN'T JUST A GREAT BOSS.
HE HAS HAD REAL POSITIVE IMPACT
ON HSD'S RESULTS WHICH MEANS
HE'S HAD REAL POSITIVE IMPACT
ON THE PROVIDERS AND CUSTOMERS.
DO YOU KNOW THAT JUST LAST YEAR
WHILE HE WAS SERVING AS INTERIM
DIRECTOR THAT ALL HAD RACIAL
EQUITY PERFORMANCE MEASURES
EMBEDDED IN THEM THAT HSD WHO
CHANGED THEIR HIRING PRACTICE.
THAT OVER 200 STAFF ATTENDED
RSJ OR UIR TRAINING, THAT OVER
200 STAFF WERE TRAINED IN
RESULT SPACE LEADERSHIP.
DO YOU KNOW THAT HSD EXECUTED
THREE TIMES AS MANY CONTRACTS
ON TIME THAN IN THE PREVIOUS
YEAR?
THAT WE HAD ZERO AUDIT
FINDINGS, THAT HSD LAUNCHED A
GRANT MANAGEMENT ROLE TO
MAXIMIZE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES
THAT WE HAVE PUT ALL OF OUR
POLICIES ONLINE.
WE ALSO LAUNCHED AN OPERATIONS
DASH BOARD STAFF THAT MAKES OUR
BUDGET, DEMOGRAPHICS AND OTHER
OPERATION FUNCTIONS FULLY
TRANSPARENT.
ALL OF THAT WORK WAS UNDER
JASON'S INTERIM DIRECTOR
LEADERSHIP.
HE HAS MADE HSD BETTER WHICH
MEANS WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB TO
SUPPORT CUSTOMERS.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE TO
CONFIRM HIM AS HSD DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM JANET JONES PRESTON.
I AM A SEATTLE ITE AND I AM
RETIRED.
[ LAUGHTER ] I JUST WANT TO
SAY THIS IS A MISSED
OPPORTUNITY FOR JASON JOHNSON
BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO BE HERE SO
HE CAN HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE
THINKING AND FEELING SO IF IN
FACT HE GETS THE JOB HE KNOWS
HOW TO BE A BETTER EMPLOYEE AND
A BETTER PROVIDER FOR PEOPLE.
I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE ON
HE CITY COUNCIL.
I THINK OUR MAYOR SHOULD TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY AND ADMIT THAT
SHE MADE A RUSH TO JUDGMENT.
SHE SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK AND
HAVE A REGULAR PROCESS THE WAY
SHE'S DONE, AND IT'S BEEN DONE
WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MY NAME IS KAREN TAYLOR,
BORN AND RAISED HERE IN
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, 1964.
NOT PROUD TO BE A SEATTLEITE.
DISGUSTED AND ASHAMED WAITING
FOR US TO DIE, SWEEPING US OUT
THE DOORWAYS, MOVING US OUT,
INTELLIGENTIFYING, TAKING MY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I AM DISGUSTED, DISGUSTED.
AND THEN FOR THEM TO NOT EVEN
SHOW UP TO HEAR US, THEY DON'T
HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH US.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US OR HOW
WE FEEL OR WHAT WE WANT OR OUR
CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
I AM DISGUSTED.
I AM NOT GOING TO DIE.
I AM GOING TO KEEP RISING EVERY
MORNING.
I AM GOING TO KEEP LIVING FOR
MY PEOPLE.
I AM GOING TO KEEP DOING ALL
THAT I CAN DO TO BE ALL I CAN
BE WHILE I'M HERE.
AND I THINK THAT IF I HAVE TO
FOLLOW THE RULES YOU ALL SHOULD
FOLLOW THE RULES TOO.
IF THERE IS A PROCESS YOU ALL
SHOULD FOLLOW THE PROCESS TOO.
IN THIS DAY AND AGE WITH DONALD
TRUMP IN OFFICE PEOPLE THINK
THEY CAN JUST DO WHAT THEY WANT
TO DO WITH NO CONSEQUENCE OR NO
REGARD FOR THE REST OF US THAT
ARE HERE THAT ARE SUFFERING.
IT'S DISGUSTING.
[ APPLAUSE ]
[ APPLAUSE ] WE HAVE REVEREND
WALDEN QUEEN B, FIOR, CLAIRE
WEST, I CAN'T READ THE LAST
NAME, AND ALEX ROTH.
CAN ALL THE SPEAKERS COME UP
HERE STARTING WITH REVEREND
WLDEN AND QUEEN B AND HUMDEE?
AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE
LIST.
AND THERE IS ONE MORE NAME I
WANT TO CALL, BUT IF THERE IS
ANYBODY WHO DIDN'T SIGN UP ON
THE SIGN-UP SHEET BUT WANTS TO
SPEAK, YOU ARE WELCOME TO.
JUST COME UP HERE TO THE
MICROPHONE AND THEN SIGN UP ON
THE SHEET BECAUSE WE NEED IT
FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS HARRIET WALDEN.
I AM THE FOUNDER OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND I AM
SPEAKING WITHIN THAT ROLE
TODAY.
I AM ALSO CO CHAIR OF THE
POLICE COMMUNITY.
I AM WEARING MOTHER'S HAT, THIS
HAT.
BEEN WEARING IT FOR 29 YEARS.
I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
PROCESS.
IT IS THE SAME FLAWED PROCESS
THAT THEY USE WHEN THEY
ELIMINATED CARMEN BESS AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS A PROBLEM
WITH PROCESS.
AND WE THE COMMUNITY HAD TO
STAND UP TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT,
WE KNOW THAT YOUR PROCESS WAS
FLAWED.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANTED
TO HIDE, THE POLICE CHIEF THAT
HAD BEEN IN PITTSBURGH.
SHE STILL HIRED HIM IN HER
DEPARTMENT AS A WHITE OVERSEER.
SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND I CALL
HIM THE WHITE OVERSEER.
SO, HEY, AND I SAY THAT AND WE
NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS
ABOUT.
I CALL SEATTLE A PROGRESSIVE
RACIST TOWN, A PROGRESSIVE -- A
PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL RACIST
TOWN, HAVE NOT DEALT WITH
RACISM.
AND THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
LIKE 45, WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW
THAT.
THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE
HIM WHO DON'T WANT PROCESS AND
IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHOUT
COMPASSION.
IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN
AMERICA WITHOUT COMPASSION.
IF YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE, FEDERAL
WORKERS, OUT THERE IN THE FOOD
LINE, WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD I
HAD TO TAKE AMERICANISM VERSUS
COMMUNISM IN ORDER TO GRADUATE
IN FLORIDA BECAUSE OF THE BAY
PIGS.
WHAT THEY TAUGHT US AT THAT
CLASS, THEY SAID TO THE
AMERICANS DIDN'T NEVER HAVE TO
STAND IN LINE.
AMERICANS WAS EXCEPTIONAL THAT
WE ALWAYS HAD A LOT OF FOOD AND
THEY HAD A LOT OF JOBS AND THAT
WHAT YOU SEE AMERICANS THEY ALL
HAD EVERYTHING THEY NEED AND
THEN WHEN YOU SAW RUSSIANS,
THAT THEY WERE IN LINE, THEY
HAD NOT ENOUGH FOOD, THEY HAD
NO JOBS AND WHAT TOO WE SEE IN
AMERICA TODAY?
WE SEE AMERICAN WORKERS IN FOOD
LINES.
SHAME ON THESE PEOPLE.
SHAME ON THEM AND SHAME ON THE
PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR THEM.
AND SHAME ON THE PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE WHO DON'T WANT PROCESS.
I MEAN, I WANT TO AVOID IT
BECAUSE IT'S LIKE WHAT IS GOING
ON HERE?
SEATTLE IS A PROCESS CITY.
AND THEN WHEN THEY DON'T WANT
TO HAVE PROCESS, THEN THEY DO
WHAT THEY WANT TO.
BUT WE HAVE TO HOLD THIS MAYOR
ACCOUNTABLE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
WE HAVE TO HOLD HER
ACCOUNTABLE.
THE FIRST WOMAN IN 90 YEARS AND
THE FIRST THING SHE DID, SHE
QUESTIONED A BLACK WOMAN WHEN
SHE GOT THERE.
WE PRAISE GOD FOR CARMEN AND WE
ARE GOING TO HELP HER DO A GOOD
JOB.
WHEN WITH WE NEED TO STAND UP,
WHEN SHE'S DOING A GOOD JOB, WE
SAY, CHIEF, YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
BUT LET'S BE CLEAR.
ALL WOMEN DON'T STAND FOR US.
[ APPLAUSE ] LET'S BE CLEAR.
LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
AND IF SOMETHING IS HAPPENING
ON THE 7th FLOOR, PREVIOUS,
PREVIOUS, PREVIOUS, IF
SOMETHING HAPPENS WHEN THEY GET
TO BE ELECTED AND THAT IS WHY
WE THE PEOPLE, THAT IS WHY THEY
SAY WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO STAND
UP AND BE COUNTED AND LET THE
MAYOR KNOW, DON'T -- THAT DON'T
APPROVE HER PROCESS ON THIS
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN THEY APPROVED THE PROCESS
AND VOTED FOR THE POLICE GUILD
FOR THE CONTRACT.
YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH
THAT, AND IT IS ALL IN THE
NEWSPAPER SO I WON'T KEEP
TALKING ABOUT IT.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I'M QUEEN B KING RIOS.
I AM A MEMBER OF SHARE AND
WILL, ALSO WILL HAS THE ONLY
WOMENS LOW BARRIER SHELTER IN
THE CITY.
AND THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FUNDS FOR
THESE SHELTERS.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR
WOULD CUT FUNDING TO A SHELTER
THAT PROVIDES A SAFE, WARM
PLACE TO SLEEP FOR A WOMAN AT
ANY TIME OF NIGHT AT ANY TIME
OF CONDITION.
WHAT KIND OF HUMAN SERVICE
DIRECTOR IS THAT?
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE
HOMELESS AND WONDER ABOUT WHERE
YOU'RE GOING TO SLEEP IN THE
RICHEST CITY IN THE WORLD.
[ APPLAUSE ] OUR VOICES NEED
TO BE HEARD, AND THIS WAS THE
BEST THING I COULD HAVE SAW
WHEN I WALKED IN HERE, OUR
VOICES MATTER.
I DON'T WORK, BUT MY JOB NOW IS
TO BE A VOICE FOR PEOPLE WHO
DON'T MAKE A CHOICE.
BUT I AM GOING TO BE THAT VOICE
FOR THEM.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS ALEX.
I AM APE SEEM RESIDENT -- I AM
A SEATTLE RESIDENT.
AND I AM UP HERE, I HAVE SEEN
FIRST HAND WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT
HAVING A SAY IN THE DECISIONS
FOR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT
IMPACT THEIR LIVES AND ARE
PLACED UPON THEM BY PEOPLE IN
POWERFUL POSITIONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF JAMES
WERE THE BEST NUMBER ONE
QUALIFIED CANDIDATE FOR THIS
POSITION, THE FACT THAT THERE
HAS NOT BEEN A PROCESS AROUND
THIS IS CANNOTING THE WHITE
SUPREMACY THAT IS EVIDENT
THROUGHOUT CITY GOVERNMENT AND
THROUGHOUT CITIZENS OF POWER
ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AT
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
AND SO ALL WE ARE ASKING IS FOR
A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE
PROCESS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
IMPACTED BY THESE SERVICES WHO
ARE LIVING DAY IN AND DAY OUT
AT THE WHIMS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
MAKING THESE FUNDING DECISIONS,
MAKE SURE THEY CAN HAVE A
VOICE, MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN
HAVE A SAY IN WHO RUNS THE HOOM
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] UMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CLAIRE WEST.
I SELL VEGETABLES ON THE SIDE
OF THE ROAD.
I RUN A NON-PROFIT PRODUCE FARM
STAND.
AND MY VEGGIE HOUSEHOLD IS
FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED BY THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE MATERIAL RECIPIENTS OF
THOSE FUNDS AND ARE SORT OF
BENEFACTORS OF THAT STRUCTURE.
BUT I THINK MAYBE EVEN MORE
IMPORTANTLY I PERSONALLY AM A
BENEFACTOR OF SOME OF THE
LEADERSHIP IN THE ANALYSIS AND
THE REALLY IMPORTANT DEEP WORK
THAT HAS GONE ON OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF DECADES IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO BUILD AN
ANALYSIS IN SYSTEMS AND
STRUCTURES AROUND RACISM AND TO
REALLY EMBODY THOSE PRINCIPLES
IN THE WORK THAT THAT
DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS AS I THINK
REVEREND WALDEN PUT IT, I AM A
WHITE OVERSEER OF A NON-PROFIT
OGANIZATION.
THE COMMUNITIES THAT I WORK
WITH AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE
MOST AFFECTED BY SORT OF THE
FOOD SECURITY GAP IN THE CITY
ARE BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
AND I KNOW AS A WHITE PERSON
HOW EASY IT IS TO THINK THAT I
HAVE THE BEST SOLUTIONS AND HOW
REALLY THE LEADERSHIP THAT I SO
RESPECT AND THE GUIDANCE THAT I
LOOK UP TO, BOTH FROM MY
COMMUNITY CONSTITUENTS AND FROM
LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S A REALLY
IMPORTANT SORT OF CHECK ON MY
POWER TO KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK
THAT WE ARE DOING AS AN
ORGANIZATION IS ACCOUNTABLE TO
THE COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED.
AND I THINK THAT WE CAN ASK NO
LESS OF THE PERSON WHO HOLDS
THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THIS TOWN
AND ALSO THE FOLKS WHO ARE
ELECTED TO REPRESENT US.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, MY
REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE HARRELL IS
NOT HERE.
I GUESS IF YOU'RE NOT RUNNING
FOR RE-ELECTION IT DOESN'T
MATTER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOW
UP TO STUFF LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
SO THAT IS DISAPPOINTING BUT
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO
HEAR THESE COMMENTS.
THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP IN
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU TO MY CONSTITUENTS
AND PLEASE JUST I JUST ASK YOU
TO HALT THIS CONFIRMATION UNTIL
WE CAN HAVE AN ACCOUNTABLE
PROCESS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> IS HUMDEE ABDULE HERE?
FIOR?
?
>> MY NAME IS, AND I AM A
UNION, UM, EMPLOYEE, WITH THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
I WORK IN THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE TODAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
ALSO, IF YOU CAN SHARE WITH THE
OTHER CITY COUNCILS THAT ARE
NOT HERE BUT ALSO WITH THE
MEMBERS TO COME OUT WITH SOME
TYPE OF ORDINANCE THAT CAN HAVE
CONSISTENCY AND CONTINUITY IN
THE HIRING PROCESSES FOR
DEPARTMENT HEADS.
NOT JUST FOR THE HSD BUT IT
SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS MAYOR IS
USING DIFFERENT TYPE OF
PROCESSES FOR DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY
APPROPRIATE TO HAVE CONSISTENCY
AND CONTINUITY MOVING FORWARD.
BUT ALSO WHAT WE ARE ASKING
FOR, AND I PERSONALLY ASKING
FOR IS FOR TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
A POOL OF CANDIDATES THAT
INCLUDE A VOICE OF COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR.
AND ALSO BECAUSE THE HSD
RECEIVES FUNDING FROM THE
FEDERAL AND THE STATE AND
DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES.
SO I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THEY
ALSO NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF
ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE WE NEED
TO RESPECT WHY AND HOW THE
MONEY FILTERS INTO OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS GERALD
HANKERSON.
BUT AS I SAID, PLEASE DON'T
LEAVE.
I JUST WANT TO SPEAK FOR A FEW
MINUTES BEFORE WE CLOSE THE
MEETING.
>> FIRST OF ALL MY NAME IS
GERALD.
I AM THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY NAACP.
BUT I AM ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF
THE NAACP FOR ALASKA AND
OREGON.
I AM JUST SICK AND TIRED OF
SEATTLE LEADERS DISMISSING OUR
COMMUNITY LIKE WE ARE CRAP AND
MAKING DECISIONS BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS TO PUT SOME WHITE MAN IN
POWER TO MAKE DECISIONS ON THE
BACKS OF OUR PEOPLE SINCE WE
HAVE BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY LET
ALONE IN THIS CITY.
I RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT OUR
WHOLE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW IS ON A
SHUTDOWN OVER A WALL WHERE WE
SEEM TO HAVE A WALL BETWEEN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
[ APPLAUSE ] THIS LADY ELECTED
AS MAYOR RAN ON BEHALF OF THE
GAY COMMUNITY, THE BLACK
COMMUNITY, EVERY OTHER
COMMUNITY.
BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE HER COME
DOWN TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
AND I AM TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I AM TALKING ABOUT BLACK
PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE.
EVERY DAY I LOOK UP, I SEE ALL
THESE PROMISES ON THE NEWS IN
THE PAPER WE ARE WE GOING TO
BUILD TINY HOUSES AND GARAGE
HOUSES AND ALL THESE OTHER
HOUSES WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN
AFFORD TO LIVE IN SEATTLE AND
NOW THEY CAN'T LIVE IN SEATTLE
YOU GETTING THESE BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS SO YOU WANT TO PUT A
PUPPET IN POSITION TO MAKE
DECISIONS ON THE BACKS OF US.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO COMPLIMENT
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO
BRINGING THIS TO THE COMMUNITY
RATHER THAN YOU MEETING
DOWNTOWN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THIS IS AN
ELECTION YEAR, AND ULTIMATELY
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
EVERYBODY GOING TO BE COMING ON
KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR ASKING
FOR A VOTE.
WE JUST CAN'T QUIT AFTER THE
ELECTION JUST WALK AWAY BACK TO
OUR REGULAR LIVES.
BLACK FOLKS HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO DO THAT FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.
BUT I AM SICK OF A PERSON THAT
IS IN THE OFFICE JUST SHOVING
PEOPLE DOWN.
THEY SHOVED THE POLICE CONTRACT
DOWN OUR THROAT.
THEN THEY TRY TO SHOVE AND
EVERYBODY ELSE DOWN OUR THROAT.
NOW YOU ARE TRYING TO SHOVE
MARIKIA LOCKHEART DOWN OUR
THROAT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS PERSON
WHO YOU TALKING ABOUT THIS NAME
OTHER THAN JASON JOHNSON.
AND THAT IS PROOF RIGHT THERE
THE FACT IN THE COMMUNITY DON'T
KNOW WHO HE IS AND HE IS PURELY
NOT QUALIFIED.
[ APPLAUSE ] SO I AM SERIOUS
WHEN I SAY THAT DOING THIS
CIVIL RIGHTS WORK BECAUSE I
WOULD LOVE TO WORK OURSELF OUT
OF A JOB.
AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT
TO THE CITY WORKERS TO COME
DOWN HERE AND CONFRONT YOUR
PEOPLE.
BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES I
DON'T CARE IF SHE SEND YOU ANY
NAME.
IF THAT NAME IS NOT RECOGNIZED
IN OUR COMMUNITY AS BEST
QUALIFIED TO BE IN THIS
POSITION, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
THEM SHOULD BE REJECTED.
AND THE LAST PIECE, I WANT TO
POINT OUT JUST FOR THE RECORD,
WHAT HAPPENED TO RSJI?
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RACIST
SOCIAL JUSTICE.
DID ANYBODY STOP TO SEE WHAT
IMPACT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ON
OUR COMMUNITY?
BUT ALSO KNOW JUST GAVE
STARBUCKS 500 MILLION.
I KNOW THAT'S BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
WHILE OUR PEOPLE LIVING IN
THESE OUTHOUSES RIGHT ALONG THE
STREET.
NO MORE, SEATTLE.
AND WE ARE GOING TO COME SHOW
UP AT CITY HALL.
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU GOT ON
THE AGENDA TO MAKE OUR VOICES
HEARD.
WE WILL BE THERE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>> SO I AM REALLY EXTREMELY
GRATEFUL TO EVERYBODY WHO
SPOKE, EVERYBODY WHO CAME, AND
IT ALSO WARMS MY HEART TAT YOU
ALL FELT THIS, EVEN THOUGH IT
IS A COMMITTEE MEETING, THAT IT
WAS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU
FELT FREE ENOUGH TO BRING YOUR
FAMILY MEMBERS, YOUR CHILDREN,
EVEN INFANTS HERE.
THAT REALLY MAKES ME, YOU KNOW,
THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO OPEN THAT SPACE
UP.
AND I THINK THE CITY COUNCIL
SHOULD BE DOING THAT MUCH, MUCH
MORE OFTEN.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND I APPRECIATE
EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE A FEW
SPEAKERS SPOKE WHO SAID THAT
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
THE PROCESS THAT THEY WERE
HAPPY WITH MR. JOHNSON.
BUT IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE
OVERWHELMING BALANCE OF THE
TESTIMONY WAS THAT WE NEED A
TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE
PROCESS.
THAT IS WHAT I HEARD TODAY IN A
VERY DIVISIVE WAY, NOT IN AN
IFFY OR AMBIGUOUS WAY, BUT
VERY, VERY DIVISIVELY, PEOPLE
WHO USE THE SERVICES, PEOPLE
WHO CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IN SOME
WAYS I THINK THE HSD EMPLOYEES
HAVE SPOKEN VERY CLEARLY.
I WANT TO -- GERALD JUST SAID
THAT THE EMPLOYEES HAVE SHOWN
THE MOST COURAGE OF ALL.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE AND SPEAKING UP.
[ APPLAUSE ] SO, AS I HAD
PROMISED WHEN WE STARTED THE
MEETING THAT WHAT THE NEXT STEP
SHOULD BE WOULD BE TO DETERMINE
BASED ON WHAT WE HEARD TODAY
AND I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU THAT
ENOUGH NUMBERS OF YOU CAME HERE
SO THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY GET A
SENSE OF WHERE THE COMMUNITY
STANDS.
AND IT IS CLEAR THAT THE
COMMUNITY STANDS WITH THE
POSITION THAT IT IS NOT GOING
TO BE OKAY FOR THIS COMMITTEE
TO APPROVE THE NOMINATION AS IT
HAS BEEN MADE.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND SO WE NEED
SOME SORT OF ALTERNATIVE STEP
FORWARD.
MY POLICY ANALYST AND I, TED,
WHO UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF YOU
WHO CAME LASHGHTS I JUST WANTED
TO LET YOU KNOW, TED FROM MY
OFFICE GOT INTO A BIKE CRASH ON
HIS WAY TO THIS MEETING AND HE
IS IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.
SO, PLEASE FORGIVE ME IS I'M A
LITTLE BIT PREOCCUPIED AND
ANXIOUS, BECAUSE JONATHAN AND
I, WE ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED
FOR HIS WELFARE.
BUT SOMETHING THAT TED AND I
DISCUSSED BEFORE WE CAME TO
THIS MEETING WAS THE
POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A CITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION AND WE DON'T
HAVE IT IN A READY FORM YET, SO
I CAN JUST TELL YOU IN GENERAL
WHAT THE THINKING WAS TO SEE IF
THAT SOUNDS RIGHT TO YOU ALL.
THE RESOLUTION WOULD SAY
SOMETHING LIKE WE THE COMMUNITY
HAS BEEN DEMANDING A
TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE
PROCESS SO THAT THEREFORE THIS
NOMINATION CANNOT BE TURNED
INTO AN APPOINTMENT BY THE
COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE DOESN'T FEEL THAT
THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THE RESOLUTION IN OUR
MINDS, LIKE I SAID I DON'T HAVE
A CONCRETE FORM TO SHOW YOU,
BUT IN OUR MINDS THE RESOLUTION
SHOULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT
THE PROCESS SHOULD BE, MEANING
HOW WILL THAT TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY BE ATTAINED AND
I WOULD LIKE, AND MY OFFICE
WOULD LIKE THAT RESOLUTION TO
GIVE SOME GUIDELINES ON HOW
THAT ACCOUNTABILITY CAN BE
ATTAINED.
IN OTHER WORDS, THERE SHOULD BE
SOMETHING IN THE RESOLUTION
THAT SAYS WE NEED A SEARCH
COMMITTEE THAT IS COMPOSED OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HSD
EMPLOYEES, HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS, AND PERHAPS MOST
IMPORTANTLY OF ALL, THE PEOPLE
WHO USE THE SERVICES LIKE REAL
CHANGE VENDORS, OTHER PEOPLE
WHO HAVE FACED HOMELESSNESS,
AND SO ON.
AND CITY OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEES
WHO ARE LEADING ON THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE,
THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF
COMMITTEE THAT IS COMPOSED OF
SOME OF THESE ENTITIES.
AND I AM SEEING NODS.
SO WE WILL -- SO MY OFFICE WILL
GET TO WORK ON THAT.
HOWEVER, WE WILL NEED YOUR
ONGOING INPUT ON THAT.
VERY, VERY FEW OF YOU HAVE
ACTUALLY GIVEN ME YOUR CONTACT
INFORMATION ON THESE SIGN-UP
SHEETS.
I JUST HAVE YOUR NAMES.
OF COURSE MY OFFICE IS IN TOUCH
WITH A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE.
BUT IF YOU ARE -- I MEAN, AS AN
INDIVIDUAL, INTERESTED IN
GIVING US INPUT ON THE
RESOLUTION NO MATTER WHO YOU
ARE, IF THE UNION WANTS TO GIVE
US INPUT WHICH THE UNION SHOULD
HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
PROJECT 17 SHOULD HAVE A SEAT
AT THE TABLE IN THE SEARCH
PROCESS.
BUT IF YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED
IN PARTICIPATING IN THE
DRAFTING OF THE RESOLUTION
WHICH YOU WILL NEED TO DO
FAIRLY SOON, COULD YOU PLEASE
SIGN UP WITH JONATHAN JUST ON
HIS NOTE PAD JUST SO THAT WE
HAVE SOME WAY OF CONNECTING
WITH YOU, AND FOR EVERYBODY I
WOULD SAY PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR
SOME SORT OF ANNOUNCEMENT FROM
MY OFFICE AND IF YOU ARE NOT
ALREADY ON MY OFFICE'S EMAILING
LIST, PLEASE GIVE ME, GIVE
JONATHAN YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.
SO YOU WILL GET CONSTANT
NOTIFICATIONS OF WHAT WE ARE
DOING.
AND SO AS A MATTER OF COURSE,
YOU WILL GET A NOTIFICATION
WHEN THIS RESOLUTION WOULD BE
READY.
IT SHOULD BE IN THE NEXT WEEK
OR TWO.
[ INAUDIBLE COMMENT]
>> WE COULD POTENTIALLY DO
THAT.
WE COULD POTENTIALLY DO THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE PROMISES
OFFHAND BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
HOW COMPLICATED THAT RESOLUTION
WILL BE, IF IT CAN BE DONE, IF
THERE IS AGREEMENT IN THE
COMMUNITY, IF WE CAN GET
AGREEMENT ON THE COUNCIL ON
SOMETHING BROADER THAN JUST
HSD, WE COULD DO THAT.
I AM OPEN TO THAT IN PRINCIPLE,
BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT FORM THE
RESOLUTION TAKES.
AND IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED,
WE COULD HAVE COMMUNITY
DISCUSSION WHEN WE HAVE A DRAFT
OF THE RESOLUTION.
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU,
ANYTHING -- WE CAN MAKE
ANYTHING HAPPEN, BUT I ALONE
CAN MAKE NOTHING HAPPEN.
YOU ALL HAVE TO BE PART OF IT.
SO IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF
IT, PLEASE GET ON MY MAILING
LIST.
PLEASE BE IN TOUCH WITH ME.
AND WE CAN GO FORWARD BASED ON
THAT.
AND WE ALSO SHOULD BE AWARE
BASED ON THE COMMUNICATION THAT
WE HAVE HAD FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, BASED ON EVERYTHING WE
ARE HEARING, THAT -- I MEAN,
LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.
I WOULD BE DELIGHTED AND I
WOULD WELCOME IF TOMORROW I
HEARD FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
SAYING THAT THEY WATCHED THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL VIDEO OF MY
COMMITTEE AND THAT THEY WERE
EXTREMELY MOVED BY THE
TESTIMONY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> HEAR ME OUT.
THAT THEY WERE EXTREMELY MOVED
BY THE TESTIMONY AND THAT THEY
DO WANT TO CARRY OUT A
TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE
PROCESS AND IF THEY INVITE THE
COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF THAT
PROCESS.
IF THEY SAID THAT, I WOULD BE
MORE DELIGHTED THAN ANYBODY.
HOWEVER, I DON'T EXPECT THAT
THAT WILL HAPPEN.
WE HAVE TO LIVE IN THE REAL
WORLD, NOT IN DREAM LAND.
AND AT THIS MOMENT, I DON'T
EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN.
I WELCOME THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO
SURPRISE ME AND THE REST OF US.
BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, PLEASE
LET'S BE AWARE THAT IN ORDER TO
MAKE THIS RESOLUTION POSSIBLE,
IN ORDER TO GET A TRANSPARENT
AND ACCOUNTABLE PROCESS, WE
WILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THAT,
WHICH MEANS YOU AND I TOGETHER
WILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THAT,
WHICH MEANS JUST LIKE GERALD
SAID, YOU WILL HAVE TO COME TO
CITY HALL, WE WILL NEED BIGGER
NUMBERS THAN WE HAD TODAY IN
CITY HALL.
AS I SAID, I AM WILLING TO DO
ANYTHING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS
DEMANDING.
BUT I NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN.
SO AS LONG AS THAT IS CLEAR
BETWEEN US, THAT WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THIS, THEN
LET'S MARCH FORWARD.
OKAY?
[ APPLAUSE ] SO, PLEASE LET'S
GET ORGANIZED.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SHARE YOUR
INFORMATION WITH JONATHAN
THERE.
PLEASE DON'T GO WITHOUT DOING
THAT.
SO LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH.
YES?
[ INAUDIBLE COMMENT ]
]
>> YES.
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
I HOPE -- NOT ONLY THE MAYOR.
I HOPE THE REST OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS, I HOPE THE
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE WHO
DIDN'T SHOW UP TODAY, WHO
DIDN'T SHOW UP ON FRIDAY, WILL
ALSO WATCHING.
BUT AGAIN I WANT TO REITERATE,
AGAIN I PREFER TO LIVE IN THE
REAL WORLD.
I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.
SO WE WILL NEED TO GET
ORGANIZED.
REVEREND WALDEN AND GERALD
HANKERSON MENTIONED THE POLICE
CONTRACT VOTE.
I WAS THE ONLY COUNCILMEMBER
WHO VOTED NO ON IT.
EVERY OTHER COUNCILMEMBER VOTED
YES FOR IT EVEN THOUGH THERE
WAS AN OUTCRY FROM THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION AND
FROM THE BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES THAT THAT POLICE
CONTRACT WAS NOT GOOD BECAUSE
IT DROVE BACK POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
I BRING THAT EXAMPLE UP ONLY
BECAUSE, ONLY AS A REMINDER
THAT THAT IS WHAT WE ARE UP
AGAINST.
SO LET'S NOT UNDERAT THE SAME
TIME WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST.
SO LET'S GET ORGANIZED AND
FIGHT.
[ APPLAUSE ] PLEASE DON'T
FORGET TO SIGN UP.