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>> GREETINGS AND WELCOME TO A
JOINT COMMITTEE OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS UTILITIES ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND ARTS COMMITTEE,
TOGETHER WITH THE GENDER EQUITY
SPACE COMMITTEES NOW AMERICAN
AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
THIS IS
A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING.
A LUNCH
AND LEARN.
AND IT IS WEDNESDAY,
MAY DWEKD.
MAY 22ND.
AND IT IS
NOW 12:36 PM.
I AM LISA HERBOLD.
I AM ONE OF THE CHAIR WAS THIS
COMMITTEE.
AND REPRESENTING WEST
SEATTLE AND SOUTH PARK DISTRICT
1. THANKS EVERYBODY FOR JOINING
US.
WE'LL MOVE INTO
INTRODUCTIONS IN JUST A MOMENT.
THANK YOU AS WELL TO COUNCIL
MEMBER PACHECO FOR BEING HERE
WITH US TODAY.
AND I KNOW
COUNCIL MEMBER LORETTA GONZCEZ
WILL BE HERE MOMENTARILY.
I
APPRECIATE FOLKS COMING
TOGETHER.
AND SPECIFICALLY THE
FACT THAT THE PEOPLE WITH US
TODAY REPRESENT SEVERAL BUSINESS
ASSOCIATIONS WHO WORKED TO
COMMISSION THE REPORT THAT WE'LL
HEAR ABOUT.
AND I MET IN EARLY
APRIL WITH DIRECTORS OF EACH OF
THESE BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS.
THAT WERE INVOLVED.
SODO BIA,
THE BALLARD ALLIANCE, THE WEST
SEATTLE JUNCTION ASSOCIATION,
THE ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE,
THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION.
AS WELL AS SEATTLE.
AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER WITH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVERSIGHT
ISSUES, I SEE HOW CRITICAL IT IS
THAT WE PARTNER WITH THE
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS THAT
REPRESENT SCORES OF SMALL
BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
THESE GROUPS HAVE WORKED
TOGETHER TO GIVE VOICE TO THE
CHALLENGES THAT THEY EXPERIENCE
IN THEIR EFFORTS TO RUN
BUSINESSES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
BUT ALSO THEY'VE GIVEN VOICE TO
THE FACT THAT OUR INABILITY TO
PROVIDE LONG-TERM HOUSING
OPTIONS FOR THE POPULATION
REFERENCED IN THE REPORT, AND
OUR INABILITY TO SUPPORT
LONG-TERM COORDINATION BETWEEN
PROSECUTORS, OFFICERS,
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, CASE
MANAGERS.
AND TO DO SO IN A WAY
THAT ENSURES THAT WE'RE MAKING
GOOD INDIVIDUALLY-BASED
DECISIONS WHEN KNOWN INDIVIDUALS
ENGAGE IN ONGOING PROBLEMATIC
BEHAVIOR.
AND THEY'VE GIVEN
VOICE NOT JUST TO THE IMPACTS ON
THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
BUT IMPACTS
TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY, BOTH
THE COMMUNITY OF FOLKS WHO LIVED
HOUSED IN OUR CITY AS WELL AS TO
THE FOLKS WHO ARE RUNNING
BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITIES.
I
WANT TO SPEAK AS I HAVE SPOKEN
BEFORE WITH SPECIFIC THANKS TO
THE COMPASSIONATE TONE THAT
THEY'VE SET IN HAVING THIS
DISCUSSION.
AND I THINK IT'S
SPECIFICALLY THAT THEY HAVE
WORKED SO HARD TO START OFF WITH
HELPING US DEFINE THE PROBLEM
WITHOUT NECESSARILY IDENTIFYING
SOLUTIONS.
AND I THINK THAT IS
REALLY THE RIGHT WAY TO BEGIN A
CONVERSATION LIKE THIS.
AND IT
CAN HELP US NOT ONLY FACILITATE
A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THOSE
SOLUTIONS MIGHT BE BUT HOW WE
CAN MOVE FORWARD IN ENACTING
THEM.
SO WITH THAT, BEFORE WE
START OFF WITH INTRODUCTIONS, I
WANT TO GIVE THE COCHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE SOME OPENING REMARKS, IF
SHE HAS THEM.
>> SURE, THANK YOU CHAIR,
COCHAIR HERBOLD.
SHIFT IN
MENTALITY THERE.
I REALLY JUST
WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL YOUR
WILLNESS TO COME AND JOIN US IN
CHAMBERS TODAY TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW OUR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN BE
RESPONSIVE AND ACTUALLY DO THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORK, AS
OPPOSED TO THE SEPARATION THEY
BELIEVE IS NEEDED IN TERMS OF
DEALING WITH UPSTREAM PRODUCTION
CONCERNS THAT I THINK WE ALL
SHARE AND AGREE ON.
SO I THINK
MY HOPE IS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO
HAVE A CONVERSATION HERE THAT IS
AN INITIAL CONVERSATION THAT
WILL ALLOW BOTH THESE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS TO REALLY
BLEND WITH SOME OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING FOR QUITE SOMETIME.
AND REALLY BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
IDENTIFYING WHAT IS APPROPRIATE
IN TERMS OF A PUBLIC SAFETY
RESPONSE, VERSUS WHAT IS
APPROPRIATE FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, AND
REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
BEING CONSCIENTIOUS OF NOT
CONFLATING ISSUES OR BRUSHING
BROAD STROKES TO CHARACTERIZE
ANYBODY WHO IS HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION ONE WAY OR THE
ANOTHER.
SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT
BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS FIRST
JOINT CONVERSATION.
AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO, AS THE CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE,
SHEPHERDING THROUGH PUBLIC
POLICY SOLUTIONS RELATED TO
PUBLIC SAFETY IN PARTICULAR.
>> THANK YOU.
LET'S KICK IT OFF
WITH SOME INTRODUCTIONS, PLEASE.
>> AARON GIBMAN, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE SODO PERSONNEL.
>> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
BALLARD ALLIANCE.
>> LISA HOWARD, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE ALLIANCE FOR
PIONEER SQUARE.
>> CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
>> AND LISA DUVARD WITH THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER ASSOCIATION.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAD
SO MANY LEASEACE OR VERSIONS OF
LISAS AT THE TABLE AT ONE POINT.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET US
GOING?
>> I WILL GO AHEAD AND KICK IT
OFF.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE THE BRIEFING.
AND I ALSO
WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS
HERBOLD AND GONZCEZ AS WELL FOR
BEING PART OF OUR CONVERSATION
THAT WE HELD IN BALLARD LAST
WEEK, I GUESS.
IT FEELS LONGER
THAN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
BUT
IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK.
AND THAT
WAS A PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM THAT
WAS DONE IN CONJUNCTION, BROUGHT
TO YOU BY SEVERAL OF THE
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS ACROSS THE
CITY.
AND I THINK I'LL SORT OF
PRESS REWIND JUST A LITTLE BIT
AND GIVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN
OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE ALL ARE.
WE
HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES AND NEEDS
THAT WE FULFILL FOR OUR
MEMBERSHIP AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
AND IN THE CASE OF BALLARD,
RESIDENTIAL MEMBERS AS WELL.
AND
ALSO VERY DIVERGENT AS WELL.
SO
WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN
COLLABORATING TOGETHER ON A
NUMBER OF ISSUES FOR SEVERAL
YEARS.
AND REALLY STARTED
TALKING A LOT MORE ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
TOGETHER IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP
WE HELD OUR FIRST PUBLIC SAFETY
FORUM IN SODO LAST OCTOBER.
AND
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WHAT WE
STARTED TO REALIZE IS THAT FOR
OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, THINGS WERE
CHANGING A LOT.
IT'S MORE
DIFFICULT TO RUN A BUSINESS THIS
YEAR, LAST YEAR THAN IT WAS FOUR
YEARS OR FIVE YEARS AGO.
AND IT
REALLY HAD A LOT TO DO WITH
SAFETY ISSUES.
AND I THINK AT
PROHIBIT, BUSINESS OWNERS, AT
PRESENT, BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE
REAL CONCERNS FOR THE GENUINE
SAFETY OF THEMSELVES, THEIR
EMPLOYEE, AND ALSO FOR THEIR
CUSTOMERS AS WELL.
THEY'RE
DEALING WITH A NUMBER OF ISSUES
WLSHG IT'S PROPERTY CRIME,
ASSAULT ISSUES OR EVEN HAVING TO
TAKE GREATER STEPS TO DO THINGS
LIKE DEESCALATION TRAINING FOR
STAFF AND EMPLOYEES.
ALL THINGS
THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE DONE
YEARS AGO BUT NOW HAVE BECOME
SORT OF THE NORM.
AND THAT SORT
OF -- IT'S A STATEMENT OF WHERE
WE ARE, I THINK, AS A COMMUNITY.
BUT IT'S ALSO THEY REALITY THAT
KINDA CHIPS AWAY AT THE ABILITY
FOR THESE BUSINESSES TO RUN.
AN
EFFECTIVE BUSINESS IN A SAFE
MANNER THAT PRESERVES THE SAFETY
FOR THEMSELVES.
CUSTOMERS AND
EMPLOYEES.
WE STARTED TALKING,
AND WE HAD THIS NOTION THAT IT
FEELS LIKE MANY OF THE INSTANCES
OR THE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR THAT
HAPPENS SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM
MANY OF THE SAME PEOPLE.
SO AN
INDIVIDUAL MIGHT COMMIT A CRIME
IN A BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT ONE
DAY, AND THE NEXT WEEK THEY'RE
BACK AGAIN.
AND IT'S SORT OF A
REPEAT.
THAT'S WHAT WAS SORT OF
THE GENESIS OF THIS REPORT.
WE
PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER.
AND I'M
GONNA LET AARON GO INTO THE
DETAILS ABOUT IT.
BUT WE WANTED
úTO DO A BIT OF A STUDY ON THE
DATA.
JUST THE DATA.
SORTA
A LITTLE BIT OF THE EMOTION OUT
OF IT.
AND LET'S FIND OUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING AROUND OUR
COMMUNITIES, THE CIT OF
SEATTLE.
WE ESTABLISHED
THAT THERE IS A GROUP OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
PURPETTUATING THESE,
PERPETUATING THESE CRIMES OVER
AND OVER AGAIN IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
CAUSING A STRAIN.
AND IT'S REALLY A STATEMENT
ABOUT CLEARLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS
AREN'T GETTING THE SERVICES THAT
THEY NEED.
IT IS NOT DOING THEM
ANY BENEFIT.
AND IT'S CERTAINLY
NOT BENEFITING THE BUSINESS
OWNERS AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE
VARIOUS DISTRICTS.
IN BALLARD, A
BUSINESS IS NOT ON THAT LIST BUT
IS SOON TO BE ON A SIMILAR LIST.
JUST TO ARTICULATE THIS SORT OF
CRIME AND THIS FRUSTRATION.
THIS
PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL, I'LL JUST
OUTLINE THE TWO MOST RECENT
OFFENSES THAT HAPPENED.
THERE
WAS AN ASSAULT NEAR THE BALLARD
PUBLIC LIBRARY ON APRIL 21ST.
THEY WERE RELEASED THE NEXT DAY.
AND AT LEAST AS OF LAST WEEK,
CHARGING DOCUMENTS HAD NOT BEEN
FILED.
ON MAY 8th, THAT SAME
INDIVIDUAL WAS ON MARKET STREET.
ONE OF MY RATE PAYERS WHO IS A
PROPERTY MANAGER FOR A
COMMERCIAL BUILDING, SAW THIS
INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS EXPOSING
HIMSELF IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS
AND ON THE STREET.
WHEN
CONFRONTED WITH THAT, MY RATE
PAYER WAS ASSAULTED.
THE
INDIVIDUAL WAS ARRESTED ON MAY
10th, RELEASED ON MAY 13TH ON
PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE AND NOW AT
LARGE.
SO THAT'S JUST TWO
INSTANCES THAT HAVE HAPPENED
REALLY RECENTLY.
THERE ARE
OTHERS PROCEEDINGS THAT HAPPENED
IN 2018 AS WELL.
BUT I JUST USE
THAT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT I
PERADVICIVE TO A DEGREE.
AND
PERVASIVE TO A DEGREE.
AND THIS
LIST OF A HUNDRED IS NOT AN
EXCLUSIONARY LIST.
THIS IS NOT
THE TOP 100.
THIS IS NOT THE
ONLY 100.
I SHARED THE STORY TO
DEMONSTRATE THE FACT THAT IT'S
REALLY A SAMPLE SIZE AND PAY
POINT IN TIME COUNT.
WE'RE
OBVIOUSLY HERE TODAY TO TALK
ABOUT THAT.
THEY'RE TRYING TO
IDENTIFY HOW LARGE OR PERVASIVE
THIS IS.
>> I BROUGHT A COUPLE OF OTHER
COPIES.
I KNOW YOU'VE ALL
RECEIVED THEM.
OKAY.
GREAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US TODAY.
OVER THE
PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE
INCREASINGLY HEARD FROM OUR RATE
PAYERS ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF
RAMPANT CRIME AND STREET
DISORDER ARE HAVING ON THEIR
BUSINESSES AND CUSTOMERS.
WE
CONTRACTED FORMER PUBLIC SAFETY
ADVISOR SCOTT LINDSEY TO STUDY
THE ISSUE.
MENTAL HEALTH AND
HOUSING STATUS.
IT TOOK LESS
THAN TWO MONTHS TO REACH THE
SAMPLE SET OF THE 100 PROLIFIC
OFFENDERS THAT ARE PRESENTED IN
THE REPORT.
AND AS MIKE SAID,
THIS IS NOT A TOP 100 LIST OR AN
EXHAUSTIVE LIST.
>> MA'AM?
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZCEZ MIGHT HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS ABOUT METHODOLOGY AND
I HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION.
>> SURE.
>> WHEN YOU SAY FOUR OR MORE
BOOKED IN THE PROCEEDING 12
MONTH INTOES KING COUNTY JAIL,
ARE THESE EXCLUSIVELY FOLKS WHO
HAVE GONE TO SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT AS OPPOSED TO KING COUNTY
COURT?
>> NO, THERE'S A MIXTURE.
THIS
IS A BLENDING BOTH OF KING
COUNTY AND ALSO SOME COMING FROM
SPD AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION
THESE WERE ONLY SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT.
>> PART OF THE REASON WE CALLED
IT SYSTEM FAILURE IS WE WEREN'T
POINTING THIS AT ANY ONE LARGER
PART OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
>> THANK YOU.
AS A FOLLOW-UP TO
THAT LINE OF QUESTIONING, ONE OF
THE THINGS THEY NOTICED, AND
THIS IS ON PAGE 7 AND 8 OF THE
DOCUMENT THAT YOU JUST HANDED
OUT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS
UNCLEAR TO ME MR. LINDSEY REFERS
TO IN THE GENERIC SENSE PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE POLICE REPORTS AND
RECORD FAIRS CRIMINAL CASES AND
SAYS THAT IS MEANS GENERALLY
WITHIN THE BAST TWO TO THREE
YEARS.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT SPECIFIC
COURT RECORDS HE EVALUATED THAT
SORT OF INFLUENCED THE
METHODOLOGY OR DECISION TO PLACE
SOMEBODY WITHIN THE SAMPLE BASE
OF 100?
>> RIGHT.
I KNOW FROM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE HAVING BEEN THROUGH
THE WEBSITE, WHEN YOU LOOK UP AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE IN KING
COUNTY JAIL, YOU CAN LOOK
THROUGH AND SEE ALL OF THE
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
LOOKING BACK TWO TO THREE YEARS
BASED ON WHAT IS STILL IN THE
SYSTEM.
BUT RIGHT NOW FOR
ANYBODY, THERE'S LITERALLY A
BUTTON YOU CAN PUSH ON THE
WEBSITE THAT SAYS WHO WAS
ARRESTED TODAY.
AND THEN YOU CAN
LOOK THROUGH THE DIFFERENT FILES
THAT HAVE BEEN UPLOADED TO THEIR
CASE.
>> RIGHT.
SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF
SNAPSHOTS, I'D SAY, THROUGHOUT
THE REPORT THAT SORT OF RELATE
SOME OF THE RECORDS THAT HAVE IT
APPEARS THEY REVIEWED THAT LED
TO HIS DETERMINATION THAT THESE
INDIVIDUALS MERITED PLACEMENT ON
THIS LIST WITHIN IN SAMPLE
GROUP.
AND I NOTICED THAT IT'S
PRETTY LIMITED TO GO REPORTS, OR
GENERAL OFFENSE REPORTS, WHICH
ARE GENERATED FROM THE POLICE
OFFICER'S PERSPECTIVE.
AND
AREN'T NECESSARILY THE PLACE
WHERE THE DEFENDANT OR THE
PERSON WHO'S ABOUT TO BE CHARGED
IS AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON
WHAT HAPPENED OR DIDN'T HAPPEN.
AND I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE
OTHER COUPLES THAT ARE LISTED
HERE ARE GENERALLY AND I'M NOT
REALLY SEEING ANY OTHER TYPES OF
INFORMATION HERE WITH THE
OCCASIONAL USE OF AN ASSESSMENT
BASED TO A CHEMICAL USE
DISORDER.
>> THAT WAS ON PURPOSE.
WE
WANTED THE REPORT TO BE
REPLICABLE BY ANYONE.
SO A LOT
OF THE DOCUMENTS ONCE YOU GET
DEEPER INTO THE SYSTEM ARE LESS
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
BUT HE
SPECIFICALLY REFERS TO THE FACT
THAT THIS IS THE START-OUT.
AND
SOME OF THESE FOLKS COULD HAVE
GONE THROUGH THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM AND BEEN FOUND
INNOCENT.
THIS IS SIMPLY A
SNAPSHOT ON BOOKING AND BASED ON
THE INFORMATION THAT WAS
PROVIDED TO BOOK THE INDIVIDUAL.
AND HE CLEARLY STATES THIS HAS
NOTHING THAT DOES NOT SAY HOW
THE CASE WAS ULTIMATELY JUDE
INDICATED.
SO THE PERSPECTIVE IS
ONLY FROM THE ARREST PROCESS.
NOT FOLLOWING THESE INDIVIDUALS
THROUGH THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.
>> RIGHT.
SO I THINK WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THIS REPORT FROM A
SYSTEM FAILURE PERSPECTIVE, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
IT'S ACTUALLY JUST A SLIVER OF
THAT SYSTEM, AND IT'S THE FRONT
END ARREST AND CHARGE
PERSPECTIVE, AS OPPOSED TO AS
YOU JUST SAID FOLLOWING THE
PERSON THROUGH THE ENTIRE
SYSTEM.
MEANING FROM THE POINT
OF THE INCIDENT, THE POINT OF
THE 9-1-1 CALL, THE POINT OF THE
ARREST, THE POINT OF THE
BOOKING, THE POINT OF THE
G.OFFED REPORT COMPLETION,
REFERRING THAT TO THE
APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY FOR
CHARGING PURPOSES.
G.O.
REPORT COMPLETION, REFERRING
THAT TO THE APPROPRIATE
AUTHORITY FOR CHARGING PURPOSES.
THAT POINT THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT IS THAT POINT OF
ENTRY.
AND I DON'T WANT US OR
THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ASSUME
THAT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IS A
COMPLETE EVALUATION FROM
BEGINNING TO END.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE ENTRY, WE
ALSO LOOK AT SOME OF THE
OUTCOMES THAT HAPPEN DEFENDANT
SENTENCES AND COMPLIANCE WITH
COURT ORDERED CONDITINS.
SO
THIS WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A
COMPLETE OVERVIEW.
WE ARE
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS.
WE
ARE EXPERTS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE'RE NOT
CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERTS.
>> YEAH.
>> OUR HOPE WITH THIS REPORT WAS
TO PUT IT FORWARD SO THAT THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE COULD USE IT AS
A STARTING POINT TO HAVE THAT
MORE COMHENCIVE EVALUATION.
>> YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S THE
INTENT AND SOURCE OF MY
QUESTIONS AROUND THE METHODOLOGY
AND EXACTLY WHAT PART OF THE
SYSTEM WE'RE EVALUATING.
THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS ONE
THAT IS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX.
AND
NUANCED.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
PARTS OF THE SYSTEM THIS IS
ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT VERSUS
THE WORK THAT STILL NEEDS
DONE FOR PURPOSES OF EVALUATING
SOLUTIONS THAT ARE
EVIDENCE-BASED THAT COULD HELP
TO ADDRESS THE REALITIES OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTINUE TO COME
INTO FREQUENT CONTACT WITH OUR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT
MAYBE SHOULDN'T
>> THE GREATEST SPOERGZ
COMMITTED BY PROLIFIC OFFENDERS
WHO ARE WELL-KNOWN TO POLICE.
THE SAMPLE GROUP HAD CONSISTENT
PATTERNS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR,
COMMITTING THE SAME CRIMES IN
THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS OVER A
PERIOD OF MONTHS OR YEARS.
ONE
INDIVIDUAL IN OUR SAMPLE IS
SIMPLY TERRORIZING THE BALLARD
BUSINESS DISTRICT.
MOST OF HIS
CASES INCLUDE DAYTIME THREATS,
FOLLOWED BY THEFT, HARASSMENT,
AND ASSAULTS ON EMPLOYEES THAT
INTERVENE.
IN A SINGLE DAY, HE
SHOPLIFTED FROM FIVE STORES IN A
TWO-HOUR PERIOD, BRAZENLY
PUSHING A SHOPPING CART FULL OF
THE STOLEN ITEMS FROM STORE TO
STORE.
POLICE REPORTS FREQUENTLY
REFER TO THESE SUSPECTS AS
WELL-KNOWN TO POLICE AND OFTEN
INCLUDE REQUESTS FOR THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR THE
COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE
IMPACTING.
WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS,
HOWEVER, THESE PROLIFIC
OFFENDERS ARE BACK ON THE
STREETS COMMITTING THE SAME
CRIMES WITHIN A FEW DAYS OR
WEEKS.
THE HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS
IN OUR SAMPLE HAD A COMBINED 636
JAIL BOOKINGS IN THE PROCEEDING
12 MONTHS AND REPRESENTED A
COMBINED HISTORY OF OVER 3,500
CRIMINAL CASES IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
AND WE FOUND THAT 100%
HAD INDICATORS OF SUBSTANCE
ABUSE DISORDER, AND MANY OF THE
CRIMES INCLUDED THEFT TO PAY FOR
DRUGS UTILIZING AN ORGANIZED
CRIME NETWORK CENTERED NEAR 3rd
AND PIKE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
THE POLICE REPORTS OFTEN
PROVIDED DIRECT LINKS BETWEEN
DRUGS AND THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
EITHER BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUAL
WAS CAUGHT WITH DRUGS AND STOLEN
MERCHANDISE OR AS IN THE CASE OF
AN INDIVIDUAL WITH 27 CRIMINAL
CASES IN TWO YEARS WHO WHEN
BEING ARRESTED FOR BURGLARY
OPENLY TOLD OFFICERS "I AM A
HEAVY DRUG USER AND FEEL THAT I
HAVE TO STEAL TO SUPPORT MY
USING."
EVERY INDIVIDUAL
EXAMINED FOR THIS REPORT ALSO
HAD MULTIPLE INDICATORS THAT
THEY SUFFERED FROM CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS.
WHILE THE
INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCE AND
STORY DIFFERED, IT IS
SIGNIFICANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT
CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS IS NEAR
UNIVERSAL FOR THOSE IN
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THIS IS ALSO
IMPORTANT.
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM PROVIDES LITTLE SUPPORT
IN ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING
ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS.
FURTHER
WE FOUND THAT CRIMINAL COUNTY
RECORDS SHOW THAT CHRONIC
OFFENDERS STRUGGLING WITH
HOMELESSNESS ARE ROUTINELY
RELEASED FROM JAIL AT MIDNIGHT
WITH NO ACCESS TO SHELTER OR
TRANSIT.
THIS CAN HAVE
SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES FOR THE
SAFETY OF THE INDIVIDUAL AN
SURGED NEIGHBORHOOD.
AT LEAST 38
HAVE BEEN EVALUATED BY THE COURT
FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
AND
THE REPORT FOUND THAT
INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES WERE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO
ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE.
ISSUES.
AND THE REPORT FOUND
THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES WERE MUCH MORE
LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE.
ONE PROLIFIC OFFENDERS ON THE
LIST MOVED FROM CHICAGO TO
SEATTLE IN 2015.
PUBLIC RECORDS
FROM CHICAGO SHOW A SIGNIFICANT
HISTORY OF CRIMINAL CASES FOR
VIOLENT OFFENSES.
AND THAT SAME
BEHAVIOR CONTINUED UPON HIS
ARRIVAL IN SEATTLE.
IN A LITTLE
OVER THREE YEARS, HE HAS
ACCUMULATED OVER 50 CRIMINAL
CASES.
ALMOST ALL ON THE UDUB
CAMPUS OR THE U-DISTRICT.
IN THE
PAST YEAR, HE HAS BEEN BOOKED
INTO KING COUNTY JAIL 16 TIMES
FOR TRESPASS, ASSAULT,
HARASSMENT, MALICIOUS MISCHIEF,
DISTURBANCE, PROPERTY
DESTRUCTION, ILLEGAL USE OF
WEAPON AND THEFT.
HE HAS BEEN
BOOKED ON NINE OCCASIONS IN 2015
AND HAS NEVER BEEN HELD LONGER
THAN 12 DAYS.
WE FOUND IN CASES
WHERE INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL
ISSUES DEEMED MENTALLY
INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL, THEY
WERE SIMPLY RELEASED BACK ON THE
STREETS TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
WHILE MOST HAVE UNDERGONE PRIOR
COURT ORDERED MENTAL HEALTH
EVALUATIONS.
AND DESPITE THE
THREATS POSED BY INDIVIDUALS IN
THIS SMALL GROUP, THERE WAS
LITTLE EVIDENCE THAT PROSECUTORS
HAD SOUGHT RECENT INVOLUNTARY
COMMITMENT.
WE RECENTLY FOUND
CASES WHERE THE COURTS DECIDED
THAT TREATMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICES WOULD BETTER SERVE THEM
AS OPPOSED TO INCARCERATION.
THERE WAS ZERO FOLLOW-UP.
>> JUST PAUSE ON THAT.
IT
LOOKS LIKE 41% OF THE BOOKINGS
IN THIS REPORT WERE ACTUALLY FOR
NONCOMPLIANCE WITH COURT ORDERED
CONDITIONS.
>> FOR PREVIOUS OTHER TYPES OF
ASSAULTS.
AND WE'LL GET INTO THE
NONCOMPLIANCE BENCH WARRANTS,
ACTUALLY.
RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY.
ALL 100 FAILED TO APPEAR AT
COURT HEARINGS AND FAILED TO
COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS OF
PRETRIAL RELEASE AND FAILED TO
COMPLY WITH CONDITION OF THEIR
SUSPENDED SENTENCES.
AND
VIRTUALLY EVERY CASE, MULTIPLE
BENCH WARRANTS WERE ISSUED,
RESULTING IN CASES THAT DRAGGED
OUT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR REPORT FOUND THAT THESE
INDIVIDUALS ROUTINELY MANIPULATE
THE SYSTEM BY FAKING MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES TO AVOID BEING
BOOKED INTO JAIL, AND OFTEN
RETURN TO THE STREET THE SAME
DAY.
KING COUNTY JAIL HAS STRICT
RULES ON BOOKING INDIVIDUALS
WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
PROLIFIC OFFENDERS ARE AWARE OF
THESE RULES AND EVADE BOOKINGS
BY OFTEN CLAIMING TO HAVE
SWALLOWED HEROIN OR PILLS.
THIS
CAUSES THE JAIL STAFF TO DECLINE
BOOKING UNTIL THE INDIVIDUAL HAS
BEEN SCREENED AT HARBORVIEW.
A
PROCESS THAT CAN TAKE SEVERAL
HOURS.
IF LAW ENFORCEMENT WANTS
TO BOOK THE INDIVIDUAL, THEY
MUST FIRST TRANSPORT THEM TO
HARBORVIEW, GUARD THEM IT'S THE
HOSPITAL FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THEN
RETRANSPORT TO THE JAIL.
A
úPROCESS THAT REQUIRES TWO OR
MORE OFFICERS BEING OFF THE
STREET FOR AN EXTENDED PORTION
OF THEIR SHIFT.
THE REALITIES OF
AN UNDERSTAFFED POLICE
DEPARTMENT MEAN THAT SUSPECTS
ARE OFTEN RELEASED TO THE
HOSPITAL WITH CHARGES BEING
FILED MONTHS LATER.
SIGNIFICANT
FILING DELAYS WERE ALSO FOUND IN
THE RETAIL THEFT PROGRAM,
MEANING THAT A PROLIFIC OFFENDER
WHO HAS DOZENS OF PRIOR THEFT
CONVICTIONS AND STEALS FROM THE
SAME STORES EVERY DAY FACES VERY
LITTLE LIKELIHOOD OF SHORT-TERM
CONSEQUENCES.
THE RETAIL THEFT
PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO ALLOW
MAJOR RETAILERS TO DIRECTLY
REPORT SHOPLIFTING INCIDENTS
WITHOUT REQUIRING POLICE
OFFICERS TO SHOW UP FOR EVERY
OCCURRENCE.
CHARGES IN THESE
CASES ARE NOT FILED FOR AN
AVERAGE OF SIX MONTHS AFTER THE
INCIDENT.
ONE OF THE
CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DELAY IS
EVIDENT WHEN A PROLIFIC OFFENDER
HAS ACCUMULATED A LARGE NUMBER
OF PRETRIAL OR POST-COURT
ORDERED TRIAL OBLIGATIONS.
THE
COURT ALLOWED RELEASE ON THE
CONDITION THAT THE INDIVIDUAL
DOES NOT COMMIT ANY NEW LAW
VIOLATION.
WHEN A DEFENDANT
COMMITS A NEW OFFENSE, THE
CHARGES ARE IN THE FILED FOR
MONTHS.
THE COURT HAS NO WAY OF
ENFORCING ITS ORDERS.
IN ONE
EXAMPLE, AN INDIVIDUAL PLED
GUILTY TO 15 COUNT WAS CRIMINAL
TRESPASS, FOLLOWING OVER 30
SEPARATE INCIDENTS AT PIKE PLACE
MARKET.
HE WAS SENTENCED TO 364
DAYS SUSPENDED SENTENCE,
CONDITIONED ON NO NEW LAW
VIOLATIONS.
FIVE MONTHS AFTER
RECEIVING HIS SUSPENDED
SENTENCE, HE WAS CAUGHT
SHOPLIFTING.
THE NEW VIOLATION
WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THROUGH THE
RETAIL THEFT PROGRAM.
BUT
CHARGES WERE NOT FILED UNTIL A
YEAR LATER.
BY ANY MEASURE OF
EFFECTIVENESS, PROTECTION OF
PUBLIC SAFETY, REDUCING
RECIDIVISM, FAIR TREATMENT OF
DEFENDANTS, ADDRESSING
UNDERLYING ROOT CAUSES OF
PROBLEM BEHAVIOR.
TIMELY
RESOLUTION OF CASES.
REDUCING
INCARCERATION OR EFFICIENT
STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC DOLLARS,
OUR SYSTEM IS BROKEN.
WE
PRESENTED THIS REPORT IN
FEBRUARY ASKING CITY AND COUNTY
LEADERS TO TAKE STEPS TO ADDRESS
THESE ISSUES.
AND THE PROLIFIC
OFFENDERS IN THIS SAMPLE, WHERE
ARE THEY NOW?
FOUR OF THE
ORIGINAL HUNDRED ARE STILL IN
JAIL FROM THE ORIGINAL BOOKING.
73 OF THE REMAINING 96 HAVE BEEN
REARRESTED 117 TIMES IN
FEBRUARY.
11 HAVE BEEN ARRESTED
THREE TIMES.
AND THREE HAVE BEEN
ARRESTED FOUR TIMES IN THREE
MONTHS.
40 OF THOSE 117 BOOKINGS
HAVE BEEN FOR CRIMES AGAINST
PEOPLE.
WE CALLED THIS REPORT
SYSTEM FAILURE BECAUSE QUITE
SIMPLY OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM IS FAILING TO MEET ITS
OBLIGATION TO PROTECT PUBLIC
SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT
IS ALSO FAILING TO SERVE THE
NEEDS OF THESE PROLIFIC
OFFENDERS BY PROVIDING
MEANINGFUL ALTERNATIVES TO
INCARCERATION TO TREAT THE ROOT
CAUSES OF CRIMINAL RECIDI
QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THE POINTS THAT YOU MADE,
WHICH APPEARS IN THE REPORT ON
BOTH PAGES 3 AND 4, AND ON PAGE
4 IT'S LISTED AS KEY FINDING NO.
3. WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE FACT
THAT PROLIFIC OFFENDERS WITH
SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO PUBLIC
SAFETY.
IN THAT CONTEXT, IT
TALKS ABOUT HOW 38% OF THE
SAMPLE OFFENDER POPULATION IN
THIS REPORT SHOWS CLEAR SIGNS OF
SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS BASED ON COURT AND
POLICE RECORDS.
YOU MENTIONED IN
YOUR REMARKS THAT THIS
DETERMINATION WAS BASED ON
EVALUATION BY THE COURTS IN
PARTICULAR.
AND I JUST WANTED TO
GET AN UNDERSTANDING FROM YOU,
IN TERMS OF THAT 38%, HOW MANY
OF THOSE EVALUATIONS WERE DONE
BY THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT
AS OPPOSED TO THE KING COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT?
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THIS
REPORT, YOU HEARD ME USE THE
TERM INDICATORS.
WE DON'T HAVE
THEIR FULL MEDICAL RECORDS.
WE
DON'T HAVE A STRONG
UNDERSTANDING.
SO WHERE WE WOULD
USE THAT WAS WHERE THE COURT HAD
ORDERED.
I DON'T HAVE THE
SPECIFIC BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE
TWO COURTS.
BUT WE ACTUALLY
BELIEVE THAT THE SAMPLE, THAT
THIS PERCENTAGE IS LOW.
THAT
JUST BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T LISTED
IN THIS CASE OF HAVING A COURT
ORDERED COMPETENCE HEARING, WE
THINK THAT MANY OTHERS ARE
PROBABLY SUFFERING FROM
SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES.
>> AND I THINK MY QUESTION IS
LESS ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF THE
DIAGNOSIS OR THE METHODOLOGY OF
THE DIAGNOSIS.
BUT REALLY ABOUT
WHO IS DOING THAT.
>> I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION FOR
YOU.
>> AS WE'RE HAVING THIS
DISCUSSION, I DON'T CONTROL THE
KING COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT.
THEY
ARE OUT OF MY JURISDICTION.
SO
I'M HERE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY
SOLUTIONS THAT ARE WITHIN THE
JURISDICTION AND THE ABILITY OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO BE ABLE
TO IMPACT.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN
WE'RE NOT PARTNERS WITH KING
COUNTY.
IT DOES MEAN THAT THERE
ARE LIMITATIONS TO WHAT WE CAN
DO IN TERMS OF THE LEVERS WE CAN
PULL IN KING COUNTY.
HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER TO CLINICAL INFORMATION
ON THE ENTIRE POPULATION.
AND
NOT SPEAKING FOR THEM.
BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY HAVE
REVIEWED THIS LIST AND FOUND
THAT COMPETENCE HAS BEEN RAISED
IN WELL OVER 40% OF THIS GROUP
OF HUNDRED PEOPLE.
IT'S JUST A
SAMPLE.
THE GROUP OF PEOPLE IS A
HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO HAVE
IDENTIFIED BEHAVIOR OR CRIME
ISSUES IN SEATTLE.
AND HAVE
KNOWN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
SO
IT'S NOT THAT EACH AND EVERY
TIME THAT AROSE, IT AROSE IN
MUNICIPAL COURT.
IT'S THAT
PEOPLE THAT HAVE ACTIVITY IN
SEATTLE THAT HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED AS CRIMINAL, AND A
VERY LARGE NUMBER HAVE
OBJECTIVELY IDENTIFIED MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES THAT HAVE ARISEN
IN SOME COURT JURISDICTION
WITHIN A REASONABLY RECENT
PERIOD OF TIME.
SO KING COUNTY I
THINK IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE
ILLUMINATING LENS ON THE
VALIDITY OF THIS IMPRESSION.
>> TO GET TO COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZCEZ'S POINT, IF WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT NEEDING TO DESIGN
INTERVENTIONS THAT MAY OR MAY
NOT EXIST, AND THERE IS SUCH AN
INTERVENTION FOR THOSE WHO ARE
DECLARED TO BE INCOMPETENT TO
STAND TRIAL IN KING COUNTY, I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
KNOW OF THIS 40% THAT WERE
DECLARED INCOMPETENCE TO STAND
TRIAL, IN WHOSE COURT? IT'LL
POINT TO THE NEED TO REPLICATE
SOMETHING THAT KING COUNTY HAS
FOR THAT POPULATION, OR IT'LL
POINT TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS
-- THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE BEING
DECLARED UNABLE TO STAND TRIAL
BECAUSE OF COMPETENCE ISSUES IN
BOTH.
AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT
EITHER A DIFFERENT INTERVENTION
THAN KING COUNTY IS CURRENTLY
USING.
OR SOME OTHER FIX.
YOU'RE
SHAKING YOUR HEAD, SO GO FOR IT.
>> WE DID NOT INTEND FOR THIS TO
BE THE DOCUMENT THAT SET
EVERYTHING UP.
THOSE QUESTIONS
THAT YOU'RE ASKING ARE EXTREMELY
VALID.
AND WE BROUGHT THIS TO
CITY LEADERS TO START ASKING
THOSE QUESTIONS.
WE DIDN'T
ANTICIPATE ANSWERING THEM
OURSELVES.
SO I THINK THE
QUESTIONS ARE VALID.
BUT I THINK
THAT'S THE NEXT STEP THAT WE'RE
LOOKING FOR, COUNCIL, IN OUR
CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS TO TAKE.
>> AND I JUST WANT TO CHIME IN.
AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
THE REPORT.
AND I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE FRUSTRATION OF
THE BUSINESS OWNERS IN OUR CITY
WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THESE
ISSUES EVERY DAY.
THAT THESE
INDIVIDUALS ARE COMING UP WITH.
THE TOP 100, I THINK YOU SENT ME
A REPORT, THEY'RE INDICATORS
THAT ALL 100 HAVE SUBSTANCE
ABUSE DISORDERS.
AND THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A
VERY BLUNT TOOL TO DEAL WITH
THOSE ISSUES.
AND I APPRECIATE
THE BALANCED APPROACH THAT
YOU'RE PRESENTING BECAUSE I'M
NOT HEARING THE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREAS SAY LOCK
EVERYONE UP, THAT'S THE
SOLUTION.
INSTEAD WHAT I'M
HEARING IS WHAT ARE THE THINGS
THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW?
LET'S
HAVE A CONVERSATION.
AND THE
MAYOR, I WANT TO GIVE HER PROPS
AND GREAT THANKS FOR PUTTING
TOGETHER A WORK GROUP THAT IS
LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES AND
ASKING THESE VERY HARD QUESTIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED TODAY.
TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS
THAT ARE WORKING THAT WE SHOULD
REPLICATE?
ALL OF OUR
ALTERNATIVES, THEY'RE AT
CAPACITY.
AND I DON'T THINK
THAT'S A SURPRISE TO ANYONE.
WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR
COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED
TREATMENT.
THAT'S THE
CONVERSATION THAT I HEAR THAT
YOU'VE WANTED TO LAUNCH.
AND I
JUST WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE TAKING
PLACE.
AND THERE'S DEFINITELY A
SENSE OF URGENCY ON THE PART OF
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND
THAT'S A SENSE OF URGENCY WITHIN
GOVERNMENT TOO.
AND I THINK THAT
GETS LOST JUST IN THE SHUFFLE
AND IN THE MANY CONVERSATIONS
THAT WE HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> AND PERHAPS THIS MIGHT BE A
GOOD CHANCE FOR YOU TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT KING COUNTY'S
PROGRAM.
>> YEAH.
>> BEFORE WE DO THAT THOUGH, I
REALLY FEEL LIKE I NEED TO
CLARIFY THE RECORD.
AROUND
MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS WITHIN THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEM.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SUITE OF
SPECIALIZED COURT SYSTEMS WITHIN
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT, AND
ONE OF THEM IS A MENTAL HEALTH
COURT.
SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME
WORK TO DO TO EVALUATE EXACTLY
THE IMPACT AND THE CAPACITY OF
THAT PROGRAM.
SEATTLE MUNI COURT
HAS A SYSTEM THAT ENSURES WE ARE
CONNECTING DEFENDANTS.
A PR
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
CONNECTING COURT-INVOLVED
INDIVIDUALS WITH ACCESS TO
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT,
INCLUDING HOUSING AND
SPECIALIZED TREATMENT.
I JUST
WANTED TO REALLY LIFT THAT UP.
TO HEN METAL COURT IN THOSE
CASES WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN
DECLARED INCOMPETENT TO STAND
TRIAL?
>> WELL, I HAVE THE -- IT HAS TO
BE VOLUNTARY.
SO I'M NOT SURE
HOW THE COURT EVALUATES THAT
COMPONENT OF VOLUNTARY.
IF THE
PERSON HAS BEEN DECLARED
INCOMPETENT.
>> OKAY.
>> I'M GONNA RUN THROUGH THESE
RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
I DON'T
THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF
THE CONVERSATION TODAY.
AFTER
SEEING THE REPORT, AND YOU'LL
NOTICE THERE'S NO
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE FROM
THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
AND THAT
WAS ON PURPOSE.
BUT WE DID GET
ASKED A NUMBER OF TIMES WHAT
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
SO WE DID
BRAINSTORM A LIST OF THINGS THAT
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED
OR EXPLORED IN THE SHORT-TERM
úAND THE LONG-TERM.
SO I'M GONNA
RUN DOWN THOSE QUICK.
WE DO
FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT NO SINGLE
ACTION IS GOING TO FIX THIS
PROBLEM THAT WE SEE ON OUR
STREETS EVERY DAY.
IT'S A
COMBINATION OF THINGS FROM A
COMBINATION OF PLAYERS.
AND WE
REALLY DO WANT THESE
CONVERSATIONS TO GO DEEPER PAST
THIS REPORT WITH MORE
EXPLORATION THAN WE WERE ABLE TO
DO IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE
PUT OUT THERE, THE FIRST ONE IS
NEAR-TERM METIGATION OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT.
SO FIGURING
OUT HOW CAN WE HAVE SOME
PRESSURE-RELIEF ON OUR STREETS
TODAY?
THE SECOND WON'T, A
FULL-SCOPE EXCLUSION OF THE
SEATTLE PROLIFIC OFFENDERS
POPULATION.
THIS REPORT WAS A
GOOD BEGINNING TO THE
CONVERSATION.
BUT THERE'S
DEFINITELY MORE DATA OUT THERE.
THIS IS A SMALL SAMPLE BUT IT
DOESN'T GIVE US THE FULL SCOPE
OF THE PROBLEM OR THE DATA THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I THINK IT
COULD BE MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN
ANYONE FROM THE OUTSIDE TRYING
TO PUSH IT IN.
DEDICATED PUBLIC
SAFETY ADVISOR IN THE MAYOR'
OFFICE, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY AN
ACTION THAT WAS RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE.
THE CHRONIC SAFETY
ISSUES, PROLIFIC OFFENDERS TASK
FORCE, WHICH LISA HAS INDICATED
THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH.
NEW
RELEASE PROTOCOLS. SO HOMELESS
PROLIFIC OFFENDERS ARE NOT
RELEASED AT MIDNIGHT.
OR SHARE
INFORMATION IF THAT'S A
MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE
INTERPRETATION.
WHAT IS THE CORE
PROBLEM THERE?
AND HOW DO WE
STOP HAVING THAT CONVERSATION?
THAT'S ONE THAT WE'VE HEARD OVER
TIME FOR A REALLY LONG TIME THAT
REALLY JUST KEEPS POPPING UP.
A
GREATER SUSTAINED POLICE
PRESENCE.
AND PROACTIVE DETER
CRIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND
THE LAST ONE, LOOK INTO VICTIMS
ADVOCATES FOR IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES.
I THINK BOTH ERIN
AND MIKE HAD SOME GOOD STORIES
ABOUT EVEN BEING ABLE TO FILE A
POLICE REPORT, IT CAN BE CLUNKY
AND DIFFICULT.
IT TAKES A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO
HOW DO WE SUPPORT VICTIMS TO BE
ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR LEGAL
OPTIONS AND FOLLOW UP ON THE
OFFENDERS WHO HAVE OUTSIDE
IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY'S USE
OF SEATTLE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE?
NO, OKAY.
>> SO, YEAH.
DO WE WANT TO TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- ONE OF THE
REASONS I HAD INVITED YOU FOLKS,
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE,
LISA, IS TO TALK ABOUT THE
PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE THAT IS
SORT OF A BY-NAME LIST APPROACH.
WANTED TO HEAR ABOUT THE
INTERVENTIONS THAT YOU USE.
AND
WHETHER THERE ARE SPECIFIC SWER
VENTIONS WITH SPECIFIC PROMISE.
THAT MIGHT BRING US UP MORE TO
THE POPULATION THAT NOT ONLY
INCLUDES FOLKS MOVING THROUGH
KING COUNTY COURT BUT ALSO
THROUGH THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT.
>> CERTAINLY.
I'M HAPPY TO DO
THAT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
WHILE OUR OFFICE IS INVOLVED IN
A LOT OF INTERVENTIONS AND
THERAPEUTIC COURT, WE ARE NOT BY
ANY MEANS THE SOLE PARTY.
AND WE
HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIP, NOT JUST
WITH COUNTY PARTNERS BUT ALSO
WITH THE CITY.
AND I DON'T WANT
TO TAKE ALL OF THAT TIME SO I'LL
HIT SOME OF THE HIGH-LEVEL ONES
THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.
THE
PROGRAM WE HAVE FOR COMPETENCE
ISSUES IS KIND OF A SHORT-TERM
PROSECUTORIAL DIVERSION PROGRAM
THAT WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO
HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES.
AND THEY'RE CHARGED WITH
MISDEMEANOR, LOW-LEVEL FELONY
CRIMES.
AND THEY HAVE A HISTORY
OF LEGAL COMPETENCE.
IN ORDER TO
OOPT INTO THINGS LIKE MENTAL
HEALTH COURT, YOU HAVE TO BE
COMPETENT.
OUTREACH CASE
MANAGEMENT.
PARTICIPANTS HAVE
ACCESS TO HOUSING.
CASE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
PSYCHIATRIC
PROVIDERS AND MEDICATION
MANAGEMENT.
OUR CURRENT CAPACITY
IS ABOUT 75 INDIVIDUALS.
AND IN
ANY GIVEN TIME, WE RUN AT ABOUT
70, 75.
SO THAT PROGRAM IS FULL.
VITAL IS A PROGRAM.
IT IS PART
OF OUR FAMILIAR BASIS INITIATIVE
IN KING COUNTY.
THIS IS KIND OF
A HYBRID OF DIVERSION, ALL THE
WAY THROUGH PENDING CASE THROUGH
REENTRY.
IT'S CASE MANAGEMENT,
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.
SOME
LEGAL COORDINATION FOR ADULTS
WHO ARE EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CHALLENGES AND CONTINUE
TO APPEAR IN OUR COURT SYSTEMS.
CURRENTLY OUR CAPACITY IS AT 60.
AND WE ARE AT 60.
SO THESE
PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE.
THERE
ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING HELP.
I SHARED THIS AT LAST TUESDAY'S
EVENING EVENT.
THERE IS A VITAL
PARTICIPANT WHO WAS PRESENTED TO
OUR OFFICE.
SHE WAS ARRESTED
THEE TIMES FROM OCTOBER OF 2018
THROUGH JANUARY OF 2019, ALL
POSSESSION CASES.
ONE WITH A
FELONY LEVEL 3 GRAMS OF METH.
ANOTHER ONE WAS LESS THAN 1 GRAM
OF A SUBSTANCE.
AND ONE WAS
EXACTLY AT 1 GRAM.
AND I DON'T
REMEMBER WHAT THE DRUG WAS.
PRIOR TO OUR OFFICE FILING THE
FELONY CHARGE AGAINST HER, SHE
CONNECTED WITH VITAL.
BEFORE WE
FILED HER CASE, SHE WORKED WITH
VITAL CASE MANAGERS.
SHE STARTED
TO DO SOME JOB TRAINING, GOT
CONNECTED WITH A JOB.
AND SHE'S
DOING SO WELL THAT WE FILED THE
FELONY CHARGE AGAINST HER.
SHE'S
GETTING SOME SUPER VISION, SHE
MAY OPT INTO DRUG COURT FOR THAT
DAYS.
BUT WE DECLINED TO FILE
THE 1 GRAM CASE BECAUSE WE WANT
HER TO CONTINUE BEING INVOLVED
IN THIS PROGRAM.
BECAUSE SHE IS
TURNING HER LIFE AROUND.
IT'S
EFFECTIVE.
BUT IT'S AT CAPACITY.
AND SO I THINK THE CONVERSATION
THAT YOU'VE INITIATED IS THE
CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING NOW
BELOW WHAT ARE THE EFFECTIVE
PROGRAMS, HOW DO WE INVEST IN
THEM TO EXPAND?
AND WHAT ARE THE
PROGRAMS THAT DON'T EXIST BUT
SHOULD EXIST TO CATCH PEOPLE AT
THE FRONT END?
AND I KNOW I HAD
A CONVERSATION WITH EACH OF YOU
AT THE START OF THIS MEETING.
IF
WE HAD A MAGIC WAND, WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE COMMON GROUND
PRINCIPLES THAT WE WANT?
REALITY
ULTIMATELY, WE WANT THE BEHAVIOR
TO STOP.
AND BUSINESS OWNERS
WANT THEIR BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE
TO FUNCTION WITHOUT DISRUPTION.
AND I THINK MANY OF YOU HAVE
SAID THAT WHEN YOU PICK UP THE
PHONE AND YOU CALL FOR HELP, IT
COULD BE A POLICE OFFICER.
BUT
IT COULD BE A CASE MANAGER.
ULTIMATELY, IF WE NAVIGATE FOLKS
TO SERVES, YOU WANT THEM TO BE
EFFECTIVE, TIMELY, YOU WANT THEM
TO BE QUICK.
AND YOU DON'T WANT
TO SEE THE INDIVIDUAL SHOW UP
AGAIN THE NEXT DAY.
AND I THINK
THOSE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ALL OF US AROUND THE TABLE.
>> THANK YOU.
AS IT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO THE PROGRAMS
THAT OPERATE THROUGH KING
COUNTY, DO YOU HAVE NUMBERS OR
DATA ABOUT THEIR EFFECTIVENESS
AS IT RELATES TO REDUCING
RECIDIVISM?
>> WE DO.
WE HAVE AN EVALUATION.
AND I CAN LET LISA SPEAK TO
THAT.
SHE CARRIES THE NUMBERS IN
HER HEAD.
WE ALSO HAD A REALLY
ROBUST STORY IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES ABOUT VITAL AND ITS
EFFECTIVENESS.
AND I THINK THE
EVALUATION IS AT THE EARLY
STAGES.
BUT EVERYTHING SEEMS
VERY PROMISING.
THEN OF COURSE
EVALUATIONS OF ADULT DRUG COURT,
WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY
LONG TIME.
REGIONAL MENTAL
HEALTH COURT, VETERANS COURT.
SO
YES, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE
EFFECTIVE.
AND THERE'S NOT ANY
ONE PROGRAM THAT'S A PANACEA
THAT SERVES ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO
PRESENT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
COLLECTIVELY THEY'RE
PART OF THE SOLUTION.
THEY'RE
NOT THE ENTIRE SOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU.
SO THIS SEEMS LIKE
A GOOD SEGUE.
THANK YOU, LISA.
I
THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL, I KNOW
PEOPLE HAVE DESCRIBED -- WE TALK
ABOUT LEAVING VITAL IN THE SAME
BREATH.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING
TO ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY
INTERSECT.
>> FIRST I WANT TO START BY
THANKING THE BUSINESS LEADERS
WHO HAVE BROUGHT US HERE.
WE ARE
REALLY FORTUNATE AS A CITY TO
HAVE ENLIGHTENED NEIGHBORHOOD
AND BUSINESS LEADERS WHO ARE
OUTCOME-DRIVEN.
NONIDEOLOGICAL,
AND INCREDIBLY PERSISTENT ABOUT
GETTING THINGS RIGHT.
MY OFFICE
IS IN PIONEER SQUARE, AND I AM A
RATE PAYER.
AND I APPRECIATE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED LEADERSHIP.
I
DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY BASIS
FOR EMPIRICAL DISAGREEMENT ABOUT
THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM.
AND
THE QUESTION REALLY IS WHAT
WORKS.
LEAD WAS LAUNCHED A LONG
TIME AGO NOW IN PUBLIC POLICY
YEARS.
EIGHT YEARS AGO.
AND WAS
IN THE PLANNING STAGES FOR A FEW
YEARS BEFORE THAT.
IT IS A
PROLIFIC OFFENDERS PROGRAM.
THAT
IS EXACTLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WE GET
REFERRED PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO
PRIOR INTERSECTION WITH THESE
SYSTEMS.
BUT THAT'S RARE.
NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS USE IT FOR
THAT.
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
CHRONICALLY ENGAGED IN BEHAVIOR
THAT IS PROBLEMATIC AND VIOLATES
THE LAW.
IT'S ABOUT CRIME.
IT'S
NOT ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FOCUS ON
LAW VIOLATION, CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR, THAT THE PUBLIC IS
ENTITLED TO EXPECT A RESPONSE.
NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND
OFFICERS WILL BE, LIKE, LOOK,
THERE'S THIS GUY AND HE'S
PROBLEMATIC.
AND THE CRIME HE'S
COMMITTING IS PEDESTRIAN
INTERFERING ON THE SIDEWALK.
THAT'S NOT A DIVERTIBLE CRIME.
ALSO I DON'T KNOW IF HE USES
DRUGS OR DEALS DRUGS.
BUT I DO
KNOW THESE SUPER PROBLEMATIC FOR
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE COULDN'T
TAKE HIM INTO LEAD.
HE COULDN'T
GET THROUGH THIS NARROW EYE OF
THE NEEDLE.
SO AS IT BECAME
CLEAR THIS WAS NOT FULLY
RESPONSIVE TO NEIGHBORHOOD
EXPERIENCES, IT BECAME CLEAR
THAT OFFICERS WERE FRUSTRATED
THAT SOMEBODY WHO CLEARLY NEEDED
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RELATED CARE,
AND THEY KNEW THAT THEY MIGHT
NOT HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE TO MAKE
AN ARREST RIGHT NOW OR EVEN IF
THEY DID, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES
WAS THIS PERSON GONNA BE REMOVED
FROM THE COMMUNITY FOREVER BY
VIRTUE OF THAT ARREST.
THEY
NEEDED A SOLUTION.
AND LEAD
COULDN'T BE ACCESSED.
SO AND
THEN THE TRUE BLOOD CASE
HAPPENED, WHICH WAS LITIGATION
SURROUNDING THE FACT THAT PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL HEALTH COMPETENCE
CHALLENGES OTHER THANKING
WAREHOUSED IN OUR JAILS.
AND
NOTHING WAS HAPPENING THAT WAS
CONSTRUCTIVE.
THEY WERE NOT HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM BECAUSE COMPETENCE
PRECLUDED THAT.
PEOPLE WHO
COMMIT MISDEMEANORS GENERALLY
CANNOT BE RESTORED TO COMPETENCE
BEYOND THE DUE PROCESS CLAUSE.
THAT IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE
MAYORAL PRINCIPLE.
NOR SHOULD IT
BE CHANGED IT'S A BALANCING
PRINCIPLE.
WHEN THE STATE USES
ITS COERCIVE POWER, WHAT IS THE
LIMIT OF WHEN WE SHOULD DO THAT?
AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE JUST
FURTHER CONSTRUCTED WHEN
COMPETENCE LEGISLATION IS GOING
TO BE ON THE TABLE SLIGHTLY.
SO
THAT'S JUST NOT A ROAD THAT'S
AVAILABLE FOR A LOT OF THE
BEHAVIORS AND PEOPLE THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE.
>> JUST BEFORE YOU GO ON, I
THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT
POINT.
AND WHILE I RECOGNIZE AND
APPRECIATE IN THIS PARTICULAR
REPORT, THERE IS A SENTENCE
INDICATED TO WHAT HAPPENS TO
FOLKS WHO ARE FOUND TO BE
MENTALLY INCOMPETENCE.
INCOMPETENT.
I THINK IT DOESN'T
DO SERVICE TO THE COMPLEXITIES
OF WHAT OUR CONSTITUTION AND
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE AS IT
RELATES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
DECLARED INCOMPETENCE, TO BE
ABLE TO STAND TRIAL.
WE
CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO MOVE TO
A MODEL, AND I DON'T THINK
YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT WE DO,
MOVE TOWARD A MODEL WHERE WE
TAKE PUNITIVE ACTIONS THROUGH
OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
AGAINST THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
AND
FOR ME IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
SORT OF MAKE REALLY CLEAR THAT
THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE GONNA
MEET THAT VERY HIGH THRESHOLD
AND BAR OF NEVER BEING ABLE TO
GO THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM BECAUSE OF MENTAL
INCOMPETENCE.
IT CANNOT BE
RESTORED IN THE WAY THAT YOU
HAVE DESCRIBED.
BUT THEN THERE'S
A WHOLE HOST AND LAYER OF OTHER
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT MENTALLY
INCOMPETENT, DO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACTS OF THEIR BEHAVIOR, AND
WE KNOW THERE ARE ROOT CAUSES
FOR THOSE BEHAVIORS THAT ARE
LEADING TO VIOLENCE AND OTHER
THINGS.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE
AREA WHERE WE'RE BEST SERVED
FOCUSING, ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS
THAT WE CAN STILL MEANINGFULLY
ENGAGE.
ALBEIT IN A VOLUNTARY
CAPACITY TO, ENGAGE WITH MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES.
>> TO BE HONEST.
MY ONLY BEEF
WITH THE REPORT IS THAT IT'S
MISSING ONE LETTER ON THE COVER.
WHICH IS AN F ON SYSTEM.
IT'S
REALLY NOT A MATTER OF JUST THE
CRIMINAL JUST SYSTEM FAILING.
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR
MANY PEOPLE IS NOT THE PERFECT
MATCH.
IT DOES NOT AND WILL NOT
HAVE THE NECESSARY TOOLS.
IT'S
ALSO NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE THERE
ARE OTHER MORE IMMEDIATELY
ACCESSIBLE RESPONSE FIST WE PUT
THEM AT THE DISPOSAL, RESPONSES
IF WE PUT THEM AT THE DISPOSAL
OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE'RE NOT.
SO THIS IS TO ME LIKE THE
HOUSING SYSTEM AND THE WAY IN
WHICH WE MAKE ACCESS TO THAT
AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO POSE
ISSUES FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT
SYSTEM IS BROKEN.
MEDICAID AND
THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT'S GONE INTO MEDICAID
EXPANSION IN THE STATE AND HOW
IT'S NOT BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO
THE HIGHLY MARGINALIZED LARGELY
HOMELESS POPULATION THAT SUFFERS
FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER,
AND MENTAL ILLNESS, THAT SYSTEM
IS BROKEN.
THESE ARE FIXABLE.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE COULD
DO BETTER.
SO JUST ONE MORE
LETTER, IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER
REISSUING WITH ONE MORE LETTER.
BIMOVING BACK TO LEAD, THIS WAS
-- I WAS RAISING TRUE BLOOD JUST
TO SAY THAT.
SO THAT LITIGATION
WAS SUCCESSFUL.
AND JUDGE
PECKMAN FOUND THE STATE IN
CONTEMPT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MOVING
PEOPLE INTO WESTERN STATES.
AND
A POOL OF $83 MILLION WAS
AMASSED.
AND THAT HAS BEEN SPENT
TO FUND DIVERSION SYSTEMS,
INCLUDING THE LINK PROGRAM.
ALL
THE LEASES HAVE TO HAVE LAST
NAMES.
LISA MANNION MENTIONED
BECAUSE NONE OF THOSE OTHER
STAGES OF INTERVENTION WERE
PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE IN
REDUCING THE POOL OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE BEING WAREHOUSED WHO ARE
INCOMPETENCE, THE COURT MONITOR
WHO WAS DRIVING THOSE
INVESTMENTS PUSHED UPSTREAM AND
SAID WE NEED POLICE DIVERSION.
WELL, LEAD IS THE POLICE
DIVERSION MODEL THAT IS
DOWNSTAIRS FOR PEOPLE -- THERE
IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE
THEY COMMIT CRIME.
THE POLICE
UNQUESTIONABLY HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO TAKE THEM INTO
CUSTODY.
AND THERE'S A PUBLIC
EXPECTATION THAT THAT HAPPENS.
AND THEY NEED SOMETHING TO BE
ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT PERSON
THAT IS GONNA BE EFFECTIVE.
SO
LEAD WAS PROPOSED AND AFFORDED
TRUE BLOOD FUNDING.
THAT MONEY
HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO LEAD
TO ADD SIX CASE MANAGERS IN THE
LAST YEAR.
AND ADDITIONALLY, THE
DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SERVICE
CENTER AND COMMUNITY HOUSE,
WORKING THROUGH KING COUNTY
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND REC
DIVISION, HAD AN ADJUNCT
PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND
A VITAL LIGHT TEAM OF CARE THAT
INCLUDED A PRESCRIBER AND NURSE,
NOW ATTACHED TO A DIVERSION
STRATEGY.
AS A RESULT, THERE'S
ONLY CAPACITY FOR 150 PEOPLE
WITH THAT FUNDING.
WE HAVE
WELL-KNOWN LEAD CAPACITY
PROBLEMS.
BUT THAT SUITE OF
SERVICES HAS CAUSED SPD TO START
ADMITTING DIFFERENT PEOPLE INTO
LEAD THAN WERE BEING ACCEPTED
BEFORE.
PEOPLE WITH HIGHER
ACUITY ISSUES AND PROBABLY
POSING EVEN MORE SERIOUS ISSUES
IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
ONE OF THE
PEOPLE IS UNDER THE ALLIANCE FOR
PIONEER SQUARE IDENTIFIED.
AND
HE IS RECEIVING THOSE SERVICES.
AND HE WAS A HUGE ISSUE FOR THE
PIONEER SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND
THAT SET OF ISSUES HAS BEEN
ENORMOUSLY MITIGATED BY THE
POLICE, CASE MANAGEMENT AND
MULTISERVICE PROVIDER
COLLABORATION THAT OCCURRED
THERE.
I SAY THIS TO SAY THAT
LEAD HAS INVOLVED IN RESPONSE TO
THE ORIGINAL WAY THAT IT WAS
FRAMED UP OF COURSE WAS NOT
FULLY RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF THE
DYNAMICS.
THAT SAID, THE SCOPE
OF THIS PROBLEM, THIS WAS A
HUNDRED-PERSON SAMPLE.
THE GROUP
OF PEOPLE TO WHOM THAT IS ALL
TYPICAL IS IN THE 3,000 OR MORE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S FACES,
CALCULATION, BIGGER, BIGGER.
SO
NOTHING WE ARE CURRENTLY
DEPLOYING IN THE FIELD -- IT'S
ALL GONNA LOOK LIKE IT FAILS
BECAUSE IT'S NOT -- IT'S LIKE
SPRINKLING A LITTLE BIT OF SALT
OVER A GIANT BOWL OF SOUP, AND
YOU'RE LIKE OH, SALT DOESN'T
WORK.
THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM.
BUT WE ARE NOT RIGHT-SIZING THE
THINGS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE.
WE DO
BEST WHEN NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE
PEOPLE TO CALL, SOMETHING
HAPPENS AS A RESULT.
INFORMATION
FLOWS BACK TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
POLICE CAN EXCHANGE INFORMATION
WITH CASE MANAGERS.
MANAGERS
TRUST IF THEY GIVE INFORMATION
TO POLICE AND PROSECUTORS, THAT
WILL BE USED WELL THE
INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED HAVE A GOOD
EXPERIENCE AND WANT TO CONTINUE
TO ENGAGE.
ALL THAT IS POSSIBLE.
IT DOES NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE.
THERE'S ONE PERSON ON THE LIST
WHO HAS BEEN IN LEAD FOR FIVE
YEARS AND NOTHING HAS GOTTEN
BETTER.
LEAD ISN'T JUST
DIVERSION.
IT'S PROTRACTED
ENGAGEMENT.
AFTER DIVERSION.
THAT OFTEN INCLUDES BEING
ARRESTED, GOING TO JAIL, GOING
TO PRISON.
THIS PERSON WAS
DIVERTED, GOT SERVICES, WAS THEN
NOT DIVERTED, WENT TO JAIL.
WAS
THEN SENT TO PRISON.
HAD A DRUG
OFFENDER SENTENCING ALTERNATIVE.
THAT WAS REVOKED.
WENT TO
PRISON.
NOTHING THAT WE
PRESENTLY HAVE IN OUR ARSENAL
WORKS FOR THIS PERSON.
SO I
THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT WE KNOW
WHAT TO DO FOR 75% TO 80% OF
THIS POPULATION.
AND WE NEED
THEM TO PUT ALL OF OUR HEADS
TOGETHER AROUND THE REMAINING
20% TO 25% AND LOOK AT NEW
SOLUTIONS.
HOPEFULLY, WHICH WERE
FUNDED BY THE LEGISLATIVE
CHANGES ON MENTAL HEALTH AND THE
FUNDING THAT'S ABOUT TO FLOW AS
A RESULT OF THE TRUE BLOOD
SETTLEMENT.
>> SO BACK TO MY EARLIER
QUESTION, IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN VITAL AND LEAD A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
POPULATION SERVED?
OR IS IT A
DIFFERENCE OF HOW -- WHEN
INTERVENTION COMES?
LEAD IS THE
DIVERSION PROGRAM.
VITAL IS NOT
NECESSARILY A DIVERSION PROGRAM.
IT'S MORE --
>> VITAL RUNS THE GAMUT.
IT CAN
BE AT ANY PART OF THE SYSTEM.
>> ANY PART.
>> AND LEAD IS THE DIVERSION
PROGRAM.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD,
THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME PEOPLE
WITHIN THE POPULATION OF FOLKS
IDENTIFIED IN THE SYSTEMS
FAILURE REPORT THAT LEAD WOULD
NOT BE A GOOD FIT FOR.
I THINK
YOU'VE HEARD YOU SAY THAT LEAD
DOESN'T CURRENTLY SERVE FOLKS
WHO HAVE VIOLENT OFFENSES AS
PART OF THEIR CRIMINAL
BACKGROUND.
>> THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
PEOPLE
CANNOT BE DIVERTED WHO ARE UNDER
ARREST, CANNOT BE DIVERTED IF
THEY HAVE RECENT CONVICTION
HISTORY FOR CERTAIN VIOLENT
CRIMES.
>> NOT THE HISTORY BUT SOMETHING
RECENT.
>> BUT PEOPLE CAN BE REFERRED AS
SOCIAL CONTACT REFERRALS.
THAT'S
CRIME PREVENNING.
THE PEOPLE
WITH THAT HISTORY ARE OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WHAT'S THE PLAN,
RIGHT?
SO TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH
THOSE INDIVIDUALS DOESN'T MAKE
THEM MORE DANGEROUS.
IT IS
REACHING INTO THAT SITUATION
THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING
LEFT TO HANDLE NOW.
SO THEY'RE
NOT BARRED FROM REFERRALS
BECAUSE THERE IS PAST VIOLENT
HISTORY.
THERE ARE OFFICERS WHO
ARE THE GATE KEEPERS FOR LEAD.
AND THEY HAVE A KIND OF
AMENABLITY, AND DO WE HAVE A
BETTER PLAN?
IF THEY THINK
THERE'S A BETTER PLAN, THEY DO
REFER PEOPLE WHO HAVE
SIGNIFICANT VIOLENT HISTORY WHEN
THERE'S REASON TO BELIEVE THAT
THE INTERVENTION AND THE
METHODOLOGY THAT WE'RE USING
WILL MAKE THE BEHAVIOR BETTER.
SO VERY NUANCED, INDIVIDUALLY
DRIVEN.
>> AND GIVEN THAT THE POLICE
OFFICERS ARE THE GATEKEEPERS TO
THE PROGRAM, I'VE HEARD YOU
MENTION THAT FOLKS IN THE
COMMUNITY, BUSINESS OWNERS, HAVE
TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO.
WHERE DOES THAT INTERSECTION
HAPPEN?
LEAD HAS BEEN SINCE ITS
INCEPTION REALLY GOOD AT HAVING
THOSE KIND OF CONNECTIONS WITH
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, BOTH IN
THE DESIGN OF WHAT INTERVENTIONS
YOU ARE CREATING, AND THE
PROBLEMS YOU'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.
BIAS IT RELATES TO, BUT AS IT
RELATES TO THE BUSINESS OWNER
WHO HAS SOMEBODY WHO IS ON THEIR
DOORSTEP, ON A RECURRING BASIS,
HOW DOES THAT CONNECTION HAPPEN?
>> I GO TO NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS
TO ASK WHO THEIR PRIORITY PEOPLE
ARE.
AND WE TAKE THEM IF WE CAN.
AND AT THIS POINT WE'RE, LIKE,
OKAY, YOU CAN HAVE THREE.
THAT'S
NOT RIGHT-SIZED TO THE
DIMENSIONS OF THE PROBLEM.
BUT
THOSE CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION
ARE OPEN.
I THINK THE PROBLEM IS
THAT WHEN EVERYONE IS TELLING
OUR ACCIDENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD
PARTNERS NO, THEN THAT'S NOT
OKAY.
AND THAT IS THE SITUATION
THAT HAS BEEN -- THE CASE.
>> I ALSO WANT TO CLARIFY, THE
CASE LEASE OFFICE TALKING ABOUT
EARLIER WITH THE INDIVIDUAL,
THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS NEAR CITY
HALL PARK.
SO THEY WERE
IMPACTING AN ADJACENT SERVICE
MORE SO THAN AN INDIVIDUAL
BASIS.
WHEN WE HAD DONE OUTREACH
TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY
EXISTING SERVICES, BECAUSE WE
WEREN'T QUITE SURE IF HE WAS A
GOOD FIT, HE HAD HAD A LOT OF
INTERACTIONS WITH BOTH SPD AND
OTHER PROGRAMS. WE WENT DOWN THE
PATH OF PUSHING, LIKE, THIS IS A
PERSON THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE
ANY OTHER PATH.
SO WHAT CAN WE
DO TO ADJUST THE PROGRAMS TO BE
ABLE TO ANSWER THAT?
>> SURE.
>> SO THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH
DEMENTIA, IT TURNS OUT.
AND IT
BECAME CLEAR THAT HIS
THREATENING BEHAVIOR WAS RELATED
TO HIS VICTIMIZATION.
IT ALL
MADE SENSE.
BUT SOMEBODY HAD TO
GO UNDER THE FRONT TO UNDERSTAND
AND UNRAVEL.
AND NOW HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH POLICE IS
TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
IT'S A WHOLE
DIFFERENT BALL GAME.
BUT UNTIL
TRUE BLOOD SERVES HAD COME
ONLINE WITH LEAD, THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF GETTING THIS
PUSHBACK.
NOT A FIT, NOT A FIT,
NOT A FIT.
>> AND IT WAS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT
HAD BEEN LIVING ON THE SIDEWALK
FOR -- I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT
THREE-PLUS YEARS.
ON EITHER SIDE
OF THE STREET.
>> AND AGAIN, IT'S BECAUSE THE
TRUE BLOOD DOLLARS ALLOWED FOR
ADDITIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICES THAT DIDN'T EXIST
BEFORE.
>> AND A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF
CARE THAT'S VERY MUCH LIKE
VITAL.
THAT CARE PACKAGE WAS
MODELED ON VITAL.
SO THE TRUE
BLOOD LEAD VERSION, 2.0, IS VERY
MUCH A VITAL MARRIED TO LEAD AND
WITH BROADER CAPACITY.
SO THE
LESSONS ARE BEING LEARNED AND
MOVED FORWARD IN PROGRAM DESIGN.
>> I THINK I WOULD JUST CLOSE
WITH THE FACT THAT TO THANK LISA
MANNION FOR SAVING THE REAL
BASIS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
IS TO GET THE BEHAVIORS TO STOP.
AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
CRIMES LIKE ASSAULT, THERE'S EYE
VICTIM.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT 117
NEW CASES, WE'LL TAKE ASIDE ANY
OF THEIR STATUS OFFENSES.
BUT
THOSE 40 THAT WERE CRIMES
AGAINST PERSON, THERE'S A VICTIM
THERE.
SO TAKING THAT
PERSPECTIVE.
AND WE WORK CLOSELY
WITH LEAD.
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND ARE VERY EXCITED.
BUT IT'S A
TOOL IN A TOOLBOX, AND THERE IS
STILL A PORTION THAT WE DON'T
HAVE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THAT ARE
HAVING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND
CREATING MORE VICTIMS.
>> IF I COULD ADD ONTO THAT TOO,
JUST SORT OF TAKING A SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT DIRECTION, AT THE
GROUND FLOOR LEVEL,
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS, WE ARE
SET UP PRIMARILY TO WORK ON
THINGS LIKE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT.
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING AND
TOURISM.
ALL THESE THINGS THAT
ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR BUSINESS
DISTRICT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND STAFFING
RESOURCES, WE'RE CONSTRAINED,
RIGHT?
AND ERIN HAS SAID, WE'RE
NOT EXPERTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORM NOR DO WE ENTERTAIN A
GREAT DESIRE TO BE.
>> NOR DO YOU PLAY PLAYONE ON
TV.
>> BUT I JUST SAY THAT TO MAKE
THE POINT ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
THIS ISSUE IS TO US.
AND TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
AND THEN ALSO TO
EXPRESS THAT WE ARE LIMITED IN
TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE
TO WORK ON THESE ISSUES TIME IN
AND TIME OUT.
AND IT IS A
STRAIN.
IT'S A DRAIN ON OUR
STAFF.
I KNOW SPEAKING FOR
MYSELF, I HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE THAT
PROBABLY SPENDS 35% OF THEIR
TIME ON THESE KINDS OF ISSUES.
SO THAT IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE OF
THIS.
>> AND FOR FOLKS IN THE VIEWING
PUBLIC WHO ARE UNAWARE, THE
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS
AGREED TO TAX THEMSELVES,
BASICALLY, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
SERVICES THAT THE CITY IS UNABLE
TO FULFILL.
IN SOME CASES, THAT
INCLUDES USING THOSE FUNDS THAT
THEY TAX THEMSELVES TO HIRE CASE
MANAGEMENT AND OUTREACH SERVICES
IN COMMUNITIES.
SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN
DOING THAT VERY, VERY NECESSARY
WORK.
AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY
A CONVERSATION THAT IS ABOUT HOW
CAN WE BRING TO SCALE WHAT WE
KNOW WORKS, AND HOW CAN WE
DESIGN INTERVENTIONS FOR THE
GAPS?
WHERE WE HAVE NO TOOLS
RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE
ISSUES THAT YOU HELPED US TO
IDENTIFY.
I THINK IF NO
OTHER COMMENTS ARE NECESSARY AT
THIS TIME, I WANT TO JUST CHECK
WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE FOLKS
SIGNED UP FOR COMMENT.
WE DO
HAVE THREE SPEAKERS.
>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.
>> IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER
CLOSING REMARKS?
>> I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THANKS
AND GRATITUDE.
I THINK IT'S A
VERY DIVERSE TABLE THAT WE HAVE
SET HERE.
FOR TODAY IN TERMS OF
ROLES AS IT RELATES TO THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
LESS
FRUSTRATING OF AN EXPERIENCE FOR
BOTH THE PERSON WHO NEEDS ACCESS
TO CASE MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES
BUT ALSO TO THE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS IN THE DISTRICT.
I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH YOU
GUYS AS TO RELATES TO THAT BODY
OF WORK, AND THOSE SETS OF
INVESTMENTS AS AN EXAMPLE OF YET
ANOTHER TOOL THAT IS AVAILABLE
TO US TO MEANINGFULLY MEET THE
NEEDS OF THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK,
AND PLAY IN BUSINESS DISTRICTS
WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING THE
CONCERNS OF A BETTER PRODUCTION
APPROACH OF THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WITHIN THE SAME
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.
APPRECIATE AND
WELCOME THAT CLSHGZ.
COLLABORATION.
OLLABORATION.
COLLABORATION.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA MOVE
INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> AND Y'ALL DON'T HAVE TO SIT
HERE.
>> WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE SIGNED
UP.
DAVID HANE, FOLLOWED BY
MARGUERITE RESHARD.
AND WE
WILL BE KEEPING TRACK.
TWO
MINUTES FOR EACH SPEAKER,
PLEASE.
>> THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEEDS
TO REALIZE THE LIES AND THE
REASONS WHY THE MAYOR JENNIFER
JERKIN IS THE NO.
1 REASON WE
HAVE A SOCIETAL IMPLOSION.
WHILE
AN ATTORNEY GENERAL, AN OBAMA
APPOINTEE, SHE SABOTAGED THE
SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
POLICE BY UNCONSTITUTIONALLY
SNEAKING AN EVIL TREASONOUS
SENTENCE OF LITERALLY EXEMPTING
THE LOW-LEVEL DRUG CULTURES.
MEANING ONLY TOO POOR TO
CONFISCATE ANY SUBSTANTIAL MONEY
AND MATERIAL POSSESSIONS FOR COP
BONUSES.
NOW PROLIFIC OFFENDERS
HAVE TWO THINGS IN COMMON.
THEIR
DRUG PUSHERS ARE EXEMPTED FROM
JAIL, AND MALT LIQUOR IS CHEAPER
THAN WATER, WITH TAXES PAYS
COPS' OVERTIME WHO ALLOWED AN
OPEN CONTAINER POLICY TO ENSURE
COUNCIL MALFUNCTION.
CREATE A
MINIMUM SECURITY FEMA TENT TYPE
INSTANT JAIL USED SIMPLY TO
BREAK THE SELF-DESTRUCTIVE HABIT
OF JUNKIE THIEVES.
IT'S NOT AS
RIDICULOUS AS ALLOWING THE MOST
PROLIFIC OFFENDERS TO GET
PRIORITY HOUSING AND EXEMPTIONS
FOR STEALING EVERYTHING IN
SIGHT, AND RUINING BUSINESSES.
IF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY REALLY
WANTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THEY
HAVE TO OVERTHROW THE MAYOR AND
SUE THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICE REFORM
THAT EXEMPTED THE LOW-LEVEL DRUG
PUSHERS WHO AIN'T A FRIEND TO
ANYBODY, BUT AN ENEMY EMBRACED
BY NONPROFITS STEMMING A PAID
PLAN ON SOCIETAL IMPLOSION WHILE
SOBER DRUG-FREE HOUSES ARE
FORSAKEN.
CONTINUING TO EXEMPT
DRUG PUSHERS GO TO THE HEART AND
THE ROOT CAUSE OF SEATTLE'S
PROBLEM.
DID YOU SEE THE PRESS
RELEASE ABOUT THE ILLEGAL ALIENS
LIVING IN AN APARTMENT, HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENT WITH DRUGS?
THERE ARE
SIX OR SEVEN EVIL WHITE BOYS WHO
DO THE SAME THING, USING THEIR
HOUSE TO RAPE WOMEN WHO DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY WHAT
THEY MAKE IN THEIR APARTMENT.
REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
ANYWAY.
>> NEXT WE HAVE MARGUERITE
RESHARD, FOLLOWED BY THE
HONORABLE MICHAEL ABOUT.
FULLER.
>> YES, GOOD DAY, EVERYONE.
IT'S
INTERESTING THAT I'M HOLDING A
PICTURE OF A PERSON BY THE NAME
OF VERNON GRAY.
AND WHEN YOU'RE
DISCUSSING PROLIFIC OFFENDERS,
YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL OF WHETHER OR NOT HE
WAS EVEN CONSIDERED ONE BECAUSE
OF THE NATURE OF IT.
HE WAS
HOMELESS AT ONE POINT UNTIL
SOMEONE FINALLY BROUGHT A CASE
FORWARD.
AND HE'S BLACK, LIVING
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, BORN
AND RAISED OVER THERE, I
BELIEVE.
SO I'M WONDERING HOW
MUCH THESE PROGRAMS ARE BEING
EFFECTIVE.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO
SAY IS THAT I HEARD NOTHING
ABOUT RACE BEING BROUGHT UP IN
THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER.
AND I THINK EVERYONE IS CENTERED
AROUND RACE.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT
WE CAN GET OUT OF IT.
THEY'RE
SHOOTING AND KILLING US AND
DOING THE MOST HEINOUS THINGS IN
HISTORY THAT YOU WOULD EVEN WANT
TO THINK OF.
SO WHEN YOU SAY A
PERSON IS REPEATEDLY DOING
SOMETHING, WHAT ARE YOU
REPEATEDLY DOING TO PEOPLE THAT
MIGHT BE HAVING BRAIN DAMAGE,
DEMENTIA, UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM,
THEY ENDED UP OUT IN THE STREET.
HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE.
DIDN'T
HAVE NOTHING, NO INSURANCE.
NOTHING LIKE THAT.
AND I'M
KINDA, LIKE, SICK AND TIRED OF
BEING SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING
STUFF LIKE THAT THAT'S GOING ON.
AND THESE PEOPLE LIKE THIS THAT
DSHS HAD TO PAY $8 MILLION.
WHERE WERE THEY WHEN HE WAS
SUFFERING?
AND CONSIDERED A
VULNERABLE -- BUT DON'T SAY THAT
AROUND TRUMP.
HE DON'T LIKE THAT
WORD, VULNERABLE -- ADULT.
AND
WE STILL HAVE THEM IN SOCIETY.
BUT I DON'T SEE ANYTHING GOING
ON UP IN HERE, POSITIVE THAT
REFLECTS WHAT IS BEING DONE.
AND
THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE TO SAY
UNTIL NEXT TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HONORABLE MICHAEL ABOUT.
FULLER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES
MULOSS.
>> I'MA READ WHAT I GAVE YOU
ALL.
Y'ALL DON'T LIKE TO GIVE
RESPONSES.
AND I'M FULLY AWARE
OF MY TICKET.
SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS, AUGUST 25TH,
WILL BE 400 YEARS ENSLAVEMENT BY
EUROPEAN SETTLERS.
NOW IN A
SOUTHERN AREA.
THESE ABUSES,
BIAS, RACIAL BIAS, BREECH OF
CONTRACT, BREECH OF TRUST FOR
FRAUD INTENDED.
18 USC 1973.
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, TITLE 18
USC, 2318 TREASON.
TITLE 18, AND 2383
, REBELLION AND
INSURRECTION.
TITLE 18 USC 2384.
TITLE 18 USC
2385 ADVOCATING TO OVERTHROW
NATIVE LAND.
HR303, NO SANCTUARY
FOR CRIMINAL ACTS.
HR304, CASE
LAW.
ENFORCEMENT OF SANCTUARY
CITY ACT.
VIOLATION AGAINST
UNITED STATES VERSUS THE 1882,
MEANING NO MAN IN THIS COUNTRY
IS SO HIGH THAT HE'S ABOVE THE
LAW.
RACIAL BIAS, 19 --
CONSPIRACY.
EXCLUSION ACT OF
1882.
INDIA AND INDONESIA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUNE OF 1960.
>> HONORABLE FULLER?
THANK
YOU.
YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> YOU GOTTA REALIZE --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THERE'S ANOTHER SPEAKER.
AFTER YOU.
>> THAT'S WHY YOU GOTTA TWIST
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M GONNA SEE YOU IN COURT.
FEDERAL COURT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU GOT IT TWISTED.
>> JAMES LAW IS THE NEXT SPEAKER
FOLLOWED BY LARRY WYATT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
IN MY 40 YEARS OF LIVING OUT
HERE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,
THIS CITY COUNCIL WILL NEVER END
HOMELESSNESS AS LONG AS WE STOP
THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF
THOSE THAT HAVE TO PAY TACKS,
WAKE UP EVERY DAY, GO TO WORK
AND DO EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO DO
TO PAY OUR RENT, WATER AND
UTILITIES.
AND THE CONTACT THAT
RECEIVES AND EVERY YEAR THAT WE
OWE THEM.
THIS IS NO GREAT BIG
SURPRISE.
I AM BROKE, I'M
DESTITUTE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY
MONEY TO RIDE A BUS.
LAST JUNE,
MY SDRUK WAS DESTROYED BY A
DRUNK DRIVER.
AND YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT HAVING A SYSTEM FAILURE.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A
SYSTEM FAILURE WITH ALL THE TAX
MONEY WE KEEP PAYING AND PAYING
AND PAYING TO YOU PEOPLE OUT
HERE.
YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND
úTHAT PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING HALF
TO DATE NOT JUST BECAUSE OF
HOMELESSNESS AND DRUGS.
BECAUSE
WE'RE TAXED OUT.
WE HAVE NO MORE
MONEY.
I'M PAYING FOR THIS
PROBINGEN SYSTEM TO BE HAD.
AND
IT'S UNCALLED FOR.
IT'S UNCALLED
FOR IN THE MOST POWERFULEST
NATION ON THE FACE OF THIS ARTY.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A BROKEN
SILENCE WHILE PEOPLE HAVE TO GO
BROKE, WHILE PEOPLE HAVE TO GO
HUNGRY.
AND I'M PAYING AND
PAYING AND PAYING.
I'M RUNNING
OUT OF MONEY BY PAYING THE
SYSTEM.
I'M BROKE NOT BECAUSE I
DO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.
BUT
BECAUSE I PAID MY RENT LAST
MONTH, AND I AM BROKE.
I'M
RUNNING OUT OF MONEY FASTER THAN
I CAN BE HELD AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
WILL YOU PLEASE, PEOPLE, CHANGE
THE SYSTEM SO PEOPLE WHO PAY
TACKS OR EVEN $1 A MONTH TOWARD
THEIR PARKING TICKETS TO GET
SOME KIND OF A BONIFIED RELIEF
TO THE SYSTEM SO WE'RE NOT
STARVING TO DATE OUT HERE?
CAN
YOU DO SOMETHING?
CAN YOU PEOPLE
WHO SIT IN SUITS AND TIES
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE
OUT HERE WHO HAVE TO WORK HARD
EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AND SWEAT
THEIR BROW JUST BECAUSE THEY
HAVE TO PAY TAXES AND TAXES AND
TAXES?
PLEASE PEOPLE, I BEG, DO
I HAVE TO EAT POOP OFF THE
GROUND IN ORDER FOR YOU PEOPLE
TO UNDERSTAND HOW HARD -- COME
ON.
DO YOU DIG OUT OF A DUMPSTER
TO SURVIVE?
YOU DON'T KNOW
ANYTHIN ABOUT DIGGING OUT OF A
DUMPSTER, YOU PEOPLE SHOULD
START FINDING OUT.
IT IS A ROUGH
LIFE.
NOT TAKING VIDEOS OF
HOMELESSNESS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING AND
SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES.
I'M
SORRY.
LAST SPEAKER IS
LARRY WYATT.
>> I WASN'T GOING TO SAY
ANYTHING TODAY.
BUT INCOMPETENCE
CAME UP, I HAVE TO SPEAK.
I HAVE
TO SAY SOMETHING.
YOU'RE LOOKING
AT IT IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
THIS IS COMING FROM A BROKEN
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
IT'S
NOT ONLY BROKEN.
IT'S CORRUPTED.
AND I WAS FOUND INCOMPETENT OVER
THREE YEARS AGO TO STAND TRIAL.
ALL THIS DID WAS TAKE AWAY MY
RIGHT TO STAND TRIAL.
AND FOR ME
TO TELL MY STORY.
THAT'S ALL IT
DID.
AND IT WAS USED BY THE
COURTS AND BY THE POLICE TO GET
RID OF THAT FOR ME.
IT'S
UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
THEY SHOULD
GET RID OF THE WHOLE THICK.
FORGET THIS INCOMPETENCE THING.
LET THEM STAND TRIAL.
AND
THE POLICE ARE STILL AFTER ME
REGARDING THIS.
I HAD TO FILE A
COMPLAINT WITH THE SEATTLE
ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.
ON MAY
DAY.
BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL
HARASSING ME OVER THIS.
AND I'M
A COMPLETELY INNOCENT PERSON.
THIS INCOMPETENCE CATCHES YOU
UP.
WHAT IT DOES, THEY TOOK
$20,000 OF MY SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS AWAY FROM ME.
SOCIAL
SECURITY DID.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE
FOUND INCOMPETENT, THEY CONSIDER
IT THE SAME AS BEING FOUND
GUILTY.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG
ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
AND
THEN THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
SIGNED A BILL JUST THE OTHER DAY
TO WHERE YOU CAN NEVER BUY A
FIREARM IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN
FOUND INCOMPETENT TO STAND
TRIAL.
WHAT?
I CAN NEVER DEFEND
MYSELF AGAINST THE POLICE AGAIN.
THAT'S THE REASON OF THE SECOND
AMENDMENT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS
DOING.
MY ORIGINAL ARREST THAT
PUT ME THROUGH ALL THIS WAS
FIRST DEGREE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND 15 COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE
ASSAULT AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS.
AND THEY SET MY BAIL AT $1,000.
THEY WANTED ME BACK OUT ON THE
STREET.
I COULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT
FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
BUT THERE
WAS NO WAY TO POST IT.
AND
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> WITH THAT, IT'S 1:59, AND THE
MEETING IS ADJOURNED.