IS WHY I WON'T TO TAKE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD OUT OF
ORDER TO ALLOW HER AS A PUBLIC
SAFETY CHAIR TO SHARE REMARKS
WITH US.
AND THEN VERY IMPORTANTLY I
WANT TO HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA WHO IS THE CHAIR OF
OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE, WHO IS
GOING TO AGAIN SHARE WITH US
ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT WHAT
WE CAN EXPECT TO BE OUR HERE ON
THE CITY COUNCIL AS IT RELATES
TO BEING TRANSFORMATIONAL IN
THIS SPACE AS IS BEING DEMANDED
BY THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS ON
OUR STREETS.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS
MORNING'S CONVERSATION AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO THE HARD WORK
THAT LAYS BEFORE US OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AND SEVERAL
MONTHS.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M
GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
SO MY OPENING REMARKS ARE GOING
TO BE PRETTY BRIEF.
I'M GOING TO SPEND MOST OF MY
TIME TALKING ABOUT THE
COUNCIL'S ACTIONS THAT WE HAVE
ALL BEEN WORKING ON TOGETHER
AND THAT I THINK WE ARE GOING
TO SEE A LOT OF MOVEMENT
FORWARD ON A NUMBER OF THESE
ACTIONS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
DAYS, AND I WILL GO THROUGH
THOSE, BUT FIRST I DO WANT TO
ECHO COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALES' REMARKS ABOUT OUR
FRUSTRATION AND DISMAY OF THE
EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING NIGHT
AFTER NIGHT.
YOU KNOW, ACKNOWLEDGING THERE
WAS A SHORT BREAK BUT THAT
CONTINUED TO HAPPEN ON CAPITOL
HILL AT THE EAST PRECINCT.
HAVING ATTENDED A PROTEST IN
THE JUNCTION, ATTENDED BY AT
LEAST A COUPLE THOUSAND PEOPLE
ON SATURDAY.
ON SUNDAY ATTENDING THE EVENT
DOWN AT OTHELLO PLAYFIELD, THAT
MARCHERS MARCHED TO THE SAFEWAY
PARKING LOTS.
THOSE EVENTS WERE NOT -- THERE
WAS NO ELEMENT OF
CONFRONTATION, NO ELEMENT OF
MILITARIZATION, AND TO
JUXTAPOSE THOSE EVENTS AGAINST
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE EAST
PRECINCT REALLY BRINGS TO MIND
MY QUESTIONS THAT I THINK WE
HAVE ALL BEEN ASKING, BUT HAVE
NOT RECEIVED SATISFACTORY
RESPONSES FOR WHY -- WHY THIS
CONFRONTATION IS HAPPENING IN
THE EAST PRECINCT.
THE CHIEF AND THE MAYOR IN
THEIR PRESS CONFERENCE ON
SUNDAY EVENING, AS WELL AS IN A
TELEPHONE CONVERSATION THAT
MYSELF, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AND COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAD WITH THE CHIEF ON
SUNDAY MORNING, REFERRED TO A
CREDIBLE THREAT FROM THE FBI
AND SUGGESTED THAT THAT
CREDIBLE THREAT IS COMING FROM
SOMEBODY INTENT ON DOING DAMAGE
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS WELL
AS OTHER CITIES'
INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S UNCLEAR AS TO WHETHER THIS
IS A GENERALIZED CREDIBLE
THREAT THAT THE FBI HAS ISSUED
TO ALL CITIES THAT HAVE A PROUD
HISTORY OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
OR WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S
SPECIFIC INTELLIGENCE RELATED
TO A CREDIBLE THREAT AMONG
PEOPLE PROTESTING THE DEATH OF
GEORGE FLOYD, BUT WHAT WE SAW
HAPPEN LAST NIGHT, I DON'T
THINK REFLECTS ANYBODY'S
INTELLIGENCE OF WHAT KIND OF
VIOLENCE COULD HAPPEN OUT AT
THE EAST PRECINCT AS IT RELATED
TO THE ATTEMPT OF AN INDIVIDUAL
WHO DID NOT APPEAR AND DOES NOT
SEEM TO BE IN ANY WAY
AFFILIATED WITH THE MOVEMENT
AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY, BUT
THE ACTIONS OF THAT PERSON TO
DRIVE INTO THE CROWD, ACTIONS
THAT THE CROWD AND PROTESTERS
WERE MOST EFFECTIVE IN
ADDRESSING AND MITIGATING.
IT WAS PROTESTERS WHO, AS HAS
BEEN REPORTED TO ME, THAT TOOK
A PIECE OF THE HARD BARRIER
WALL THAT WAS NOT SECURELY
FASHIONED AND USED A PIECE OF
THE HARD BARRIER WALL TO
BASICALLY STOP THE CAR AND AS
FAR AS I CAN TELL, THERE WAS
NO ATTEMPT ON THE BEHALF OF
POLICE OFFICERS TO DETAIN THIS
PERSON AND SO THAT ALSO BRINGS
INTO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR
NOT THERE WAS AN INVERSE
PROPORTIONALITY, DIS
PROPORTIONALITY AS IT RELATED
TO APPREHENDING THIS INDIVIDUAL
WHO CLEARLY HAD A REALTIME
THREAT INTENDED AGAINST
PROTESTERS, NOT AGAINST THE
EAST PRECINCT.
AND THE CHIEF AND MAYOR SPOKE
QUITE A BIT ON SUNDAY EVENING
ABOUT THEIR EFFORTS TO BE MORE
PROPORTIONAL IN THEIR RESPONSES
TO PROTESTERS' ACTIONS.
I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AN
EXAMPLE WHERE THERE WAS AN
INVERSE IMPROPORTIONALITY, THAT
I DID NOT SEE IN ANY WAY WHICH
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONDED
TO THAT VERY REAL, ON-THE-
GROUND THREAT, AND SO I RAISED
THAT, AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S A
QUESTION THAT I AM HEARING FROM
THE PUBLIC IN THAT IT REALLY
UNDERSCORES THE INJUSTICE OF
THE RESPONSE THAT PROTESTERS
ARE RECEIVING THE BRUNT OF AS
IT RELATES TO THE DEPARTMENT'S
RESPONSE TO ACTIVITIES THAT THE
DEPARTMENT ITSELF IDENTIFIES AS
SHINING GREEN LASERS IN
OFFICERS' EYES AND THROWING
PROJECTILES.
I REALLY STRONGLY QUESTION
WHETHER THOSE TYPES OF ACTIONS
NECESSITATE RESUMPTION OF THE
USE OF PEPPER SPRAY, WHICH, AS
WE LEARNED LAST WEEK, WITH THE
MAYOR'S AND CHIEF'S ORDER TO
STOP USING -- I'M SORRY, THE
CHIEF'S ORDER TO STOP USING
TEAR GAS, WE NOW KNOW THAT THE
EXCEPTION TO THAT BAN, THAT 30-
DAY BAN IS WITH THE ORDER OF
THE CHIEF.
I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT LAST
NIGHT THE USE OF TEAR GAS WAS
AT THE ORDER OF THE CHIEF.
I'M GOING TO MOVE INTO REMARKS
RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO COUNCIL
ACTIONS THIS WEEK.
FOR WALK-ON, FOR INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL ON THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL COUNCIL
TODAY AT FULL COUNCIL, I AM
GOING TO BE WALKING ON AN
ORDINANCE REQUIRING THAT
CERTAIN UNIFORMED POLICE
OFFICERS DO NOT COVER WITH A
MORNING BAND THE SERIAL NUMBER
ENGRAVED ON THEIR BADGE.
THE FISCAL NOTE ITSELF NOTES
THAT PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED
IN THE RECENT RALLIES AND
DEMONSTRATIONS PROTESTING THE
KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD AND
THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY
SOMETIMES HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO
IDENTIFY OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY
COULD NOT SEE A NAME TAG AND
THAT THE OFFICER'S BADGE,
SERIAL NUMBER WAS COVERED BY A
MOURNING BAND.
IT WOULD DISALLOW THE -- THIS
NOTE ASSUMES THAT OFFICERS
WOULD CONTINUE TO USE THE
BADGES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
ISSUED BY SPD BUT WOULD SIMPLY
MOVE THE MOURNING BAND AWAY
FROM THE SERIAL NUMBER.
EARLY LAST WEEK I ANNOUNCED MY
INTENT TO INTRODUCE THIS
LEGISLATION.
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT THE POLICE
CHIEF ORDERED OFFICERS TO
DISPLAY BADGE NUMBERS.
THE MAYOR STATED YESTERDAY THAT
THEY ARE STILL RECEIVING
REPORTS OF OFFICERS COVERING
THEIR BADGE NUMBERS AND THAT
THOSE WILL BE TREATED AS
COMPLAINTS TO THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
INVESTIGATED AS VIOLATION OF
POLICY.
I DO APPRECIATE THE POLICE
CHIEF'S ORDER, BUT WANT TO
ENSHRINE IT INTO CITY LAW SO IT
DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE POLICY
OF THIS CHIEF OR ANY FUTURE
CHIEFS.
THIS BILL ITSELF IS AMENDING
LEGISLATION ADOPTED IN 2000
AFTER THE WTO PROTESTS WHICH
WIRED DISPLAY OF NAMES ON
UNIFORMS AND THIS LEGISLATION
WAS SPONSORED BY FORMER CITY
COUNCILMEMBER PETER
STEINBRUECK AND THIS IS AN
APPROPRIATE ROLE FOR THE
COUNCIL.
A VOTE COULD BE HELD NEXT
MONDAY AT FULL COUNCIL.
LET'S SEE HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE -- LET ME SCROLL
DOWN TO THE SAFETY-RELATED
ITEMS HERE.
WE HAVE A COMMITTEE MEETING
TOMORROW MORNING.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE.
WE WILL BE HEARING TWO
BRIEFINGS DELAYED BY THE COVID-
19 PANDEMIC AND THOSE ARE THE
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL, THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSIONER WAS INVITED BUT
THEY HAVE A VERY HEAVY WORKLOAD
SO THIS WILL NEED TO BE
PRESENTED LATER.
I INVITE ANY COUNCILMEMBER NOT
ON THE COMMITTEE TO ATTEND IF
THEY'D LIKE TO DO SO.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE STATED FOR
PURPOSES OF ADDRESSING THE FACT
THAT THERE IS -- THERE ARE
ANNUAL REPORTS THAT THE COUNCIL
NEEDS TO HEAR, WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE OPA AND IOG TOUCH ON THOSE
ISSUES AND GIVE A QUICK
OVERVIEW OF THE CONTENT OF
THOSE ANNUAL REPORTS, BUT I AM
ALLOWING THEM TO PIVOT THE
DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE TO
REALLY FOCUS ON THE ACTIVITY
AND ENGAGEMENT THAT THEY ARE
DOING RIGHT NOW, AND I KNOW
THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SETS OF
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR
AND THE COUNCIL AND SO THIS
WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIFT
THOSE THINGS UP.
IN ADDITION, FOR LETTERS AND
PROCLAMATIONS TO SIGN TODAY,
COUNCILMEMBERS VERY LIKELY
HEARD ABOUT A LOCAL LEADERS
LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THE
MAYOR AND CHIEF BEST YESTERDAY
AND SO THE LETTER ITSELF
FOCUSES ON A FEW DIFFERENT
THEMES.
ONE, AN EXPECTATION THAT SPD
CHANGES TACTICS AND TAKES A
DEMILITARIZED STANCE, THAT WE
FURTHER RESTRICT THE USE OF
EXCESSIVE OR DEADLY FORCE BY
POLICE, THAT WE INCREASE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
IN POLICE UNION CONTRACTS, AND
THAT WE GIVE SUBPOENA POWER AND
OTHER INVESTIGATIVE POWERS TO
THE INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT
PARTNERS, AND THAT WE WORK TO
REDIRECT DEPARTMENT FUNDING TO
COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES.
THE -- MANY FOLKS,
COUNCILMEMBERS, REACHED OUT
OVER THE WEEKEND TO INQUIRE
ABOUT THIS LETTER.
I THINK MOST OF YOU HAVE READ
THAT THE REASON WHY IT WAS
RESTRICTED TO ONLY FOUR
COUNCILMEMBERS IS BECAUSE OF
OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT
RESTRICTIONS AROUND
COORDINATING MAJORITY OF
COUNCILMEMBERS' SIGNATURES.
IT IS NOT ONLY A LETTER FROM
THE FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS THAT
SIGNED IT.
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
INVITED TO SIGN AND I INTEND TO
DO A ROLE CALL REQUEST AT FULL
COUNCIL TODAY.
AND IN JOINING THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE SIGNED
IT, MYSELF, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES YOU WILL BE JOINING
OTHER LOCAL ELECTIVES ACROSS
JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING THE
KING COUNTY COUNCIL AND OUR
STATE LEGISLATURE.
THE SECOND LETTER THAT ON
CIRCULATED LAST WEEK -- OR
ACTUALLY, I GUESS IT WAS OVER
THE WEEKEND, IS A LETTER
REQUESTED THAT THE CITY
ATTORNEY WITHDRAW THE CITY OF
SEATTLE'S LITIGATION SEEKING TO
BLOCK INQUEST REFORMS INITIATED
BY THE KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE
CONSTANTINE SPOKE OVER THE
WEEKEND AT THE WEST SEATTLE
JUNCTION RALLY.
IN HIS COMMENTS HE -- HE CALLED
ON CITIES NOT ONLY SEATTLE, TO
WITHDRAW LAWSUITS AGAINST KING
COUNTY INQUEST REFORMS THAT
WERE DEVELOPED OVER, I BELIEVE,
ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS WITH THE
FAMILIES OF TOMMY LEE, CHAY
TAYLOR, JOHN T. WILLIAMS AND
CHARLEENA LYLES AS WELL AS
OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS AND
EXPERT LEGAL ADVISERS, THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION WAS
ONE COMMUNITY GROUP THAT
ENDORSED THESE CHANGES AND THE
REFORMED INQUEST PROCESS WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE PUT IN PLACE IN
2019.
IN JANUARY 2018 EXECUTIVE
CONSTANTINE PUT ALL INQUESTS ON
HOLD PENDING THE REVIEW
PROCESS.
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, HAS
TAKEN A NUMBER OF STANCES IN
SUPPORT OF INQUEST REFORMS,
INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN
INQUEST PROCESS REVIEW
COMMITTEE AND A STATEMENT OF
SUPPORT FOR THE REFORMS.
THE LETTER, AS DRAFTED, NOTES
THAT THE MAYOR MENTIONED DURING
A MEETING OF THE CPC LAST WEEK
THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE OF THE
LEGISLATION AND THE CPC
INDICATED THAT THEY HAD NO
ADVANCED NOTICE OF A CITY
FILING CHALLENGING THESE
REFORMS.
FOR MANY YEARS THE INQUEST
SYSTEM OPERATED FUNCTIONALLY TO
LEGITIMIZE AND IMMUNIZE ALL
DEATHS IN POLICE CUSTODY
BECAUSE OF THE NARROW FOCUS ON
THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT
POLICE OFFICERS HAD FELT THAT
THEIR SAFETY WAS IN DANGER.
THE KING COUNTY EXECUTIVES
DISTINGUISH AND BALANCED PANEL
LED TO A COMMUNITYWIDE
CONVERSATION ABOUT POSSIBLE
REFORM TO THE INQUEST PROCESS,
AND I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR SIGNING
THIS LETTER.
LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE HERE IS
PRESSING AS IT RELATED TO THE
ISSUES RELATED TO POLICING.
MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE ARE
GOING TO BE PUTTING FORWARD A
BILL RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO
SUBPOENA POWER AND WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR A NUMBER
OF MONTHS BEFORE THE COVID-19
EMERGENCY BEGAN.
THE EXECUTIVE HAS ALSO BEEN
ENGAGED.
THERE WERE A COUPLE DIFFERENT
APPROACHES FOR HOW WE MIGHT
ADDRESS THE LEGISLATION RELATED
TO SUBPOENA POWER AND THE
EVENTS OF THE DAY REALLY POINT
TO THE NEED FOR A SUBPOENA
POWER ORDINANCE THAT CLARIFIES
THE PROCESS FOR USING SUBPOENA
POWER BY OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS, SPECIFICALLY THE OPA
AND THE OIG.
AND SO I WANTED TO FLAG FOR
FOLKS THAT THERE IS A BILL, WE
ARE NOT QUITE READY TO WALK IT
ON.
IT IS DRAFTED AND IT HAS HAD
THE ENGAGEMENT OF BOTH THE LAW
DEPARTMENT, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, THE ACLU AND SOME OTHER
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
I THINK THAT COVERS -- I'M
SCROLLING HERE.
I THINK THAT COVERS THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO
REPORT UPON.
JUST FOR PURPOSES OF FINISHING
UP MY REPORT RELATED TO OTHER
ITEMS, THERE'S PREMIUM PAY
LEGISLATION ON THE FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA TODAY.
I AM GOING TO DEFER TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS TO SPEAK TO
THAT AS THE PRIME SPONSOR OF
THAT LEGISLATION.
AND WE HAVE HAD ENGAGEMENT WITH
THE LABOR STAKEHOLDERS AROUND
THE STEPS THAT WE ARE GOING TO
BE TAKING MOVING FORWARD, BUT,
AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, I AM GOING
TO DEFER TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
TO ADDRESS THOSE.
I ADDRESSED MY COMMITTEE
MEETING ITEMS FOR TOMORROW.
JUST AS FAR AS AN UPDATE FROM
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS EXTENDED
PLACEMENTS WITH FOOD LIFELINE
TO SUPPORT FOOD DISTRIBUTION
EFFORTS TO THE END OF JUNE.
THE EXTENSION WILL BE REDUCED
LEVEL OF STAFFING FROM PREVIOUS
MONTHS.
AND THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN
REACHING OUT TO EACH FOOD AND
MEAL PROGRAM AND WORKING WITH
THEM AND THE EOC TO FIND
VOLUNTEER REPLACEMENTS AS THEY
RAMP DOWN.
92 SITES APPLIED TO THE SUMMER
FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM TODAY.
52 OF WHICH ARE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SITES, HSD, THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS NOW
DEVELOPING SAFETY GUIDELINES
AND HIRING CRITICAL SUMMER
STAFF.
THIS WEEK, ON WEDNESDAY, WE ARE
GOING TO BE HAVING THE FIRST
MEETING OF THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE,
THAT WILL BE CO-CHAIRED BY
FORMER CITY OF SEATTLE MAYOR
GREG NICKELS AND COMMUNITY
ACTIVIST ADVOCATE
EXTRAORDINAIRE FROM SOUTH PARK,
PAULINA LOPEZ.
AND THIS WEEK THURSDAY, COMING
UP, WE ARE ALSO HAVING THE LEAD
POLICY COORDINATING GROUPS'
QUARTERLY MEETING.
THERE CONTINUES TO BE CONCERNS
AROUND THE REFERRALS TO THE NEW
CO-LEAD PROGRAM.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE
EXECUTIVE HAS WORKED THROUGH
THE CONTRACTING ISSUES.
NOW, THERE ARE CHALLENGING
ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH CO-LEAD
RECEIVING REFERRALS FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE CHALLENGING AND
UNDERSTANDABLE GIVEN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S FOCUS RIGHT NOW.
BUT THEY ARE CHALLENGES THAT I
THINK ARE CHALLENGES THAT CAN
BE ADDRESSED WITH OTHER WAYS OF
GETTING CO-LEAD REFERRALS TO
LEAD AND FEEL FREE TO ASK ME
MORE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR
TODAY.
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> YOU IT, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, FOR THAT REPORT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA I SEE
YOUR HAND UP.
PLEASE.
>> WERE YOU GIVEN ANY
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT
THE ESCALATION LAST NIGHT AND I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, I KNOW YOU WERE OUT IN
THE STREETS AS WELL.
A LOT OF FOLKS WERE MENTIONING
YOUR LIVE STREAM VIDEO AND THAT
YOU ALSO EXPERIENCED GETTING
GAS.
I WANT TO KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, DID YOU GET ANY SORT
OF CLARIFICATION FROM THE CHIEF
OR THE MAYOR ABOUT WHAT LED TO
THAT ESCALATION OFFICIALLY?
>> I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT
THE-I DID NOT PERSONALLY BUT I
DID READ THAT THE POSITION OF
THE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE OF THE
STATEMENTS THAT WERE GOING OUT,
THE POSITION OF THE DEPARTMENT
WAS THAT THE ESCALATION
HAPPENED BECAUSE OF
PROJECTILES, INCLUDING WHAT
THEY SAID WERE INCENDIARY
DEVICES, THEY BELIEVE THEY WERE
CANDLES.
I DON'T KNOW.
BUT AGAIN, THE ESCALATION TO
THE LEVEL THAT WE SAW DID SEEM,
AGAIN, TO BE VERY
DISPROPORTIONATE TO WHAT
OFFICERS -- OR WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT WAS REPORTING WAS
OCCURRING.
THERE WAS A REPORT OF INJURIES
OF SIX OFFICERS, INCLUDING TWO
THAT REPORTEDLY ALSO WENT TO
THE HOSPITAL.
I DON'T HAVE INDEPENDENT
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
I WAS MONITORING SPD'S LIVE
TWITTER FEED IN THEIR REALTIME
EXPLANATION FOR WHY, FROM THEIR
PERSPECTIVE, THE ACTIONS WERE
CALLED FOR.
BUT, AGAIN, THERE'S THE
QUESTION OF DIS PROPORTIONALITY
THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING TO.
THE REASONS NOT CONVEYED TO ME
PERSONALLY BUT THE REASONS THAT
THE DEPARTMENT GAVE PUBLICLY
TO -- FOR US ALL TO READ FOR
WHY THEY WERE -- WHY THE CHIEF
APPARENTLY AUTHORIZED OC SPRAY
AND WHY THEY PROCEEDED WITH
FLASH BANGS AND PEPPER SPRAY.
>> I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THIS
DIRECTLY BECAUSE I WAS THERE
MYSELF.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
I SAW YOU PUT -- PULL -- PUT
YOUR HAND UP, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, INTENDING TO CALL ON
YOU NEXT.
SO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND
AGAIN IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO
MAKE A COMMENT OR HAVE
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, YOU NEED TO RAISE YOUR
HANDS IF YOU'RE ON VIDEO OR YOU
CAN USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND
FEATURE ON ZOOM BY CLICKING ON
PARTICIPANTS AND THEN RAISING
YOUR HAND THAT WAY.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE OTHER COMMENTS TO MAKE,
OBVIOUSLY, BUT JUST TO RESPOND
TO THIS QUESTION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ASKED
ABOUT WHAT WAS THE PROVOCATION.
THERE WAS NO PROVOCATION AND
THE REASON I AM ABLE TO TESTIFY
TO THIS IS BECAUSE I WAS ON THE
FRONT LINE, LITERALLY ON THE
FRONT LINE, JUST A FEW FEET
AWAY FROM THE FIRST LINE OF THE
POLICE FORCE.
AND THERE WERE NO PROJECTILES,
NO INCENDIARY DEVICES, NOTHING
HARMFUL, AND AS I WILL EXPLAIN
LATER, THIS IS ABSOLUTE GAS
LIGHTING BECAUSE THESE ARE
POLICE THAT WERE DONNED IN TOP
TO BOTTOM RIOT GEAR AND THEY
WERE FACED WITH ORDINARY PEOPLE
WITH NOTHING OTHER THAN SOME OF
THEM HAVING, YOU KNOW, HOMEMADE
FACE SHIELDS FROM CUTOUT
PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES.
THAT IS ALL THAT PEOPLE HAD FOR
THEIR PROTECTION AND ALL THE
WEAPONRY WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE
POLICE FORCE, AND THERE IS
ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION THAT THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
CHIEF BEST AND MAYOR DURKAN ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR WANTON AND
VICIOUS VIOLENCE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, FOR THAT ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD OR JUST ABOUT THAT
POLICING SUBJECT?
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE RAISE
THEIR HAND.
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I DO HAVE COMMENTS TO MAKE BUT
I CAN HOLD THEM FOR MY OWN
SECTION IF PREFERRED.
>> NO.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS.
I THINK, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE
COMMENTS ABOUT THE POLICE
RESPONSE, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME
TO DO THAT.
YOU WILL ALSO HAVE ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENT
RELATED TO THE POLICE RESPONSE
AFTER COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
REPORT.
SO PERHAPS THAT MIGHT BE A
BETTER OPPORTUNITY AND WE WILL
HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BOTH A
PUBLIC AND US HAVING SORT OF
THE FULL CONTEXT OF SOME OF THE
THINKING AND WORK THAT I THINK
THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO
HAVE BEFORE US IN THE COMING
WEEKS.
WHY DON'T WE PLAN ON DOING
THAT, IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> YES, THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
OKAY.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID,
COLLEAGUES, I AM GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND YIELD OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WHO IS
NEXT UP ON THE ROLE CALL LIST.
THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO ROUND OUT THE
CONVERSATION AROUND MANY OF
THESE POLICING ISSUES.
I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT WE
REALLY NEED TO PUSH OURSELVES
TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO THINK IN
A TRANSFORMATIONAL WAY AS IT
RELATES TO FUNDING OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND OF DELIVERY OF
PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND WHEN WE ARE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION, I OFTENTIMES
THINK TO MYSELF, WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, WE DON'T
TALK ABOUT FOR WHOM PUBLIC
SAFETY IS DESIGNED IN THE CITY.
AND IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT WHAT
WE ARE HEARING FROM PROTESTERS
AND FROM MEMBERS OF THE BLACK
COMMUNITY HERE AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY IS THAT THE WAY THAT
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY MODELS ARE
CURRENTLY DESIGNED, DO NOT
SERVE THE PURPOSE OF MAKING OUR
BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS FEEL
SAFE, AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CUE UP A
CONVERSATION ABOUT.
IT IS A BASIC FUNCTION OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO DELIVER
PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES.
AND WE GET TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION BOTH FROM A POLICY
PERSPECTIVE AND FROM A FISCAL
PERSPECTIVE ABOUT WHAT WE WANT
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY MODEL TO LOOK
LIKE -- IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT
WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE BUT WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHIFT
AND PIVOT ABOUT WHAT WE WANT
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY MODEL TO LOOK
LIKE AND REALLY BEGIN TO DEFINE
WHO IT IS WE WANT THIS PUBLIC
SAFETY MODEL TO TRULY,
MEANINGFULLY SERVE, SO I AM
EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND I
THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION.
IT WILL COME WITH ITS
CHALLENGES, BUT I THINK THESE
ARE CHALLENGES THAT ARE WORTH
TAKING ON AND I AM -- I AM GLAD
AND HONORED THAT I HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT WITH
THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THIS
CURRENT CITY COUNCIL.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M
GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND OUR
BUDGET CHAIR.
PLEASE, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
THANK YOU, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES,
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I THINK WHAT WE HAVE HEARD OVER
THE LAST FEW WEEKS HERE IN
SEATTLE AND FRANKLY CALLS HAVE
GONE UNANSWERED IN YEARS AND
DECADES PRIOR.
WE HAVE DONE MANY THINGS IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO REFORM OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS AND I
WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS,
INCLUDING COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ WHO REALLY HELPED TO
LEAD ON THESE ISSUES.
WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM
COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW IS THAT OUR
RESIDENTS DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN
OUR OWN CITY FROM OUR POLICE.
TODAY I AM USING MY PRIVILEGE
TO CHANGE THIS.
AS BUDGET CHAIR TODAY I'M
ANNOUNCING WE WILL BE LAUNCHING
AN IQUEST INTO SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
UNLIKE PAST PRACTICES, WE ARE
NOT GOING TO NIBBLE AROUND THE
EDGES OF THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET.
WE WILL NOW MAKE A STATEMENT
THAT THIS YEAR WE ARE NOT GOING
TO PASS THE MAYOR'S 2020
REVISED BUDGET UNTIL WE AS A
COUNCIL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET A
FULL, THOROUGH AND SIMULTANEOUS
TRANSPARENT DEEP DIVE INTO THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC -- SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FUNDING.
WE WANT THIS TO BE PART OF THIS
MONTH'S CONVERSATION AROUND OUR
BUDGET AS A CITY COUNCIL.
I EXPECT THE FULL COOPERATION
OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS WHO CAN
OFTEN ONLY SHARE WITH US WHAT
THE EXECUTIVE HAS ALLOWED THEM
TO SHARE.
AND I AM COMMITTED TO DEFUNDING
THE POLICE, TO USING MOST OF
THAT MONEY, 50%, IDEALLY TO
INVEST BACK INTO COMMUNITIES
THAT WE FAILED CREATING AN
ANTIRACIST, LOW BARRIER HOUSING
OPTION, INVESTING EQUITABLE
TRANSIT, PROVIDING PERMANENT
SUPPORT OF HOUSING, PROVIDING
HOUSING OPTIONS OF SURVIVORS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SHELTER
FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN
OUR STREET WHO ARE UNSHELTERED.
MANY OF US HAVE ALREADY ASKED
WHAT OUR CURRENT BUDGET IS AND
MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
FRUSTRATED BY THE BLACK BOX
THAT IS THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT BUDGET.
WE KNOW WE HAVE OVER $400
MILLION IN THAT BUCKET AND WE
WANT TO KNOW AS MANY COUNCILS
HAVE ASKED, WHAT IS THE CURRENT
COST GOING TO?
SPECIFICALLY WHAT HAS THE COST
BEEN OVER THE LAST WEEK AND A
HALF?
HOW MUCH HAS THIS ESCALATION
COST US?
HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT ON TEAR
GAS, RUBBER BULLETS, JAILING
PEOPLE, LIKE THE YOUNG MAN WHO
RECORDED THE 9-YEAR-OLD GETTING
TEAR GASSED.
HE WAS ARRESTED AND REMAINS IN
JAIL TODAY.
MANY OF US HAVE ASKED WHAT THE
COST IS OF CONTINUING TO TRAIN
FOLKS TO TRAVEL TO LEARN FROM
OTHER AREAS OF THE WORLD ABOUT
ESCALATION STRATEGIES.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHY WE HAVEN'T
APPLIED THE LESSONS OF THE WTO.
THERE WAS AN INQUEST DONE,
THERE WERE STRATEGIES LEARNED,
THERE WAS COSTS AND ANALYSIS OF
WHTHER OR NOT IT WAS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO AND FROM JUST A
FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE
PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS THE WRONG
THING TO DO WHEN YOU LOOK AT
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE PAID OUT
BECAUSE THE CITY WAS IN THE
WRONG.
THAT WAS DURING THE WTO.
THERE WAS A REASON THAT THEY
STOPPED USING CS GAS.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THOSE
LESSONS LEARNED WERE AND WHY WE
HAVE NOT APPLIED THOSE
MECHANISMS TO THE CURRENT
BUDGET.
WE WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY
INDIVIDUALS HAVE EXPERIENCED, I
GUESS, HARDSHIP AND WILL BE
FILING OR HAVE ALREADY FILED
GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE POLICE
AND WHAT WE EXPECT THAT COST TO
BE.
BUT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT
DEFUNDING THE POLICE IS NOT THE
END OF THE PROBLEM.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST
IN BLACK-LED ORGANIZERS, BLACK-
LED ORGANIZATIONS.
ORGANIZERSORGANIZERS WHO ARE
LOOKING AT COMMUNITY-OWNED
PROPERTY TO CREATE COMMUNITY-
OWNED HOUSING.
THEY HAVE PLACES READY TO GO IF
THEY JUST HAD ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR HOUSING, COULD
HOUSE MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
I AM COMMITTED TO DOING THIS
WITH ALL OF YOU AND BY DOING
SO, JULY 17th OF THIS YEAR, SO
THAT WE CAN WORK WITH SEATTLE
RESIDENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE
2021 AND 2022 BUDGET FULLY
REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
I'M CALLING ON OUR COMMUNITY TO
WORK WITH US AS THE CITY
COUNCIL LAUNCHES THIS
SIMULTANEOUS TRANSPARENT DEEP
DIVE INTO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S POLICIES, FUNDING
AND PROCEDURES SO THAT WE CAN
BEGIN THIS CONVERSATION IN JUNE
WITH SUGGESTED CHANGES BY JULY.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SERIOUS
CRISIS IN OUR STREET RIGHT NOW
AND WE ARE CALLING ON THE MAYOR
AND SPD TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE
THE USE OF WEAPONS AGAINST OUR
RESIDENTS OR ANYONE WHO CHOOSES
TO PROTEST IN THE CITY.
IT SEEMS -- IN THIS SEEMS
DRASTIC TO YOU, LET ME TELL YOU
WHY WE NEED IT.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS WE
HAVE SEEN LAST NIGHT AND THE
NIGHT BEFORE AND THE NIGHT
BEFORE THAT, IS USING WEAPONS
OF WAR ON OUR OWN RESIDENTS.
I HEARD REPORTS LAST NIGHT OF
PEOPLE BEING THREE STORIES UP
AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BREATHE
BECAUSE OF THE GAS.
LAST WEEK WE HEARD A STORY OF
THE 3-MONTH-OLD BABY WHO WAS
FOAMING AT THE MOUTH.
WE HEARD OTHER STORIES
SUBSEQUENTLY REPORTED IN THE
"SEATTLE TIMES" OF 6-MONTH-OLD
BABIES SITTING IN HALLWAYS WITH
THEIR PARENTS TRYING TO SEEK
REFUGE FOR FRESH AIR BECAUSE
THEIR APARTMENTS WERE FILLED
WITH GAS.
THIS IS A CRISIS THAT WE MUST
RESPOND TO AND WE ALSO HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A BUDGET
THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO MAINTAIN
CONTROLS OVER THESE EFFORTS.
I ALSO WANT TO KNOW THAT I
SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION THAT'S
BEING PUT FORWARD TODAY BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO BAN
THESE MATERIALS SO THESE CAN
GET OUT OF OUR HANDS BUT AS A
BUDGETARY ITEM WE ALSO HAVE
CONTROL OVER IDENTIFYING WHERE
OUR DOLLARS GO TO MAKE SURE IT
BETTER ALIGNS WITH OUR VALUES.
ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN SANCTIONED
BY THE EXECUTIVE.
JUST ONE DAY AFTER WE COMMIT TO
NO TEAR GAS, PROTESTERS IN THE
STREET EXPERIENCED PEPPER
SPRAY.
YESTERDAY THE EXECUTIVE SAID
SHE AND THE CHIEF WERE GOING TO
DE-ESCALATE AND LAST NIGHT'S
HEADLINES READ THIS IS THE MOST
AGGRESSIVE FORM OF TACTICS USED
IN THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF.
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING FOR A CHANGE AND HERE
IN SEATTLE WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR TRUE
PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE HEADED IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTOR TODAY.
THERE'S OTHER HEADLINES SAYING
THAT AS OTHER CITIES HAVE
DEESCALATED AND PULLED BACK
THEIR FORCE, SEATTLE IS GOING
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
INSTEAD OF WORKING ON THE
SYSTEMS THAT CREATE INEQUITY
AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS ONE
OF THOSE SYSTEMS, WE INSTEAD
ARE TURNING -- WE INSTEAD TURN
OUR BACKS ON OUR OWN RESIDENTS.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL IS PROTECTING
OUR RESIDENTS.
IT'S NOT TEAR GASSING THEM.
IT'S NOT PEPPER SPRAYING THEM.
IT'S NOT DEPLOYING RUBBER
BULLETS ON THEM.
YES, I WAS OUT ON CAPITOL HILL
ON SATURDAY AND I WANT TO THANK
ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WERE
OUT THERE AND THE STATE,
SENATORS AND STATE
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE KING
COUNTY COUNCILMEMBERS.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE OUT
THERE TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM
GETTING SPRAYED.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WAS OUT
THERE YESTERDAY AND SHE
EXPERIENCED SPRAY HERSELF.
WHEN IS THIS GOING TO STOP?
THAT'S THE EMAIL THAT I HAVE
BEEN RECEIVING.
THOSE ARE THE CALLS AND THE
TEXT MESSAGES I HAVE BEEN
RECEIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT.
PEOPLE JUST WANT THIS TO STOP.
I MADE A DECISION TO LEAVE MY
INFANT SLEEPING, MY BABY
SLEEPING IN HER CRIB BECAUSE I
WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT
INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS EXPERIENCING
THE TYPE OF TEAR GAS WITH THEIR
OWN KIDDO SLEEPING IN THEIR
CRIB.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE COMMUNITY
RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN RIDING
US OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS
TALKING ABOUT, MAYBE IT'S TIME
FOR ADDITIONAL REFORMS AND THEN
IT WENT TO, IT IS TIME TO
DEFUND THE POLICE.
THEN IT WENT TO, WE HAVE GOT TO
HAVE MAJOR RADICAL CHANGE FROM
THE LEADERSHIP BECAUSE THIS IS
NOT WORKING AND THERE NEEDS TO
BE CHANGE NOW.
I HEARD FOLKS OUT ON SATURDAY
NIGHT THAT SAID THAT THEY WERE
HAPPY THAT THERE WERE
COUNCILMEMBERS THERE BECAUSE
THEY BELIEVED THAT IT STOPPED
THE SITUATION FROM ESCALATING.
BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TRY TO
PUT OURSELVES BETWEEN BLACK AND
BROWN BODIES EVERY NIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TRIED THAT
LAST NIGHT AND THERE WAS STILL
GAS.
COLLEAGUES IN MINNEAPOLIS, THEY
HAVE SAID THAT THEY USED TO
BELIEVE THAT REFORM WAS NEEDED
AND NOW THEY HAVE COMPLETELY
DISMANTLED.
THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS TO
COMPLETELY DISMANTLE THEIR
POLICE SYSTEM.
THEY ARE WORKING WITH BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
START FROM THE GROUND UP.
WE HAVE SEEN MINNEAPOLIS DO
SIMILAR STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN
THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
THEIR COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS
CONTINUED TO SAY THAT THEY KNEW
THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO MORE AND
THEY ARE TAKING THIS EFFORT TO
RADICALLY CHANGE WHAT POLICING
LOOKS LIKE AND TO REINVEST THE
COMMUNITY.
WEDNESDAY DURING OUR BUDGET
COMMITTEE BEGINS THAT PROCESS.
WEDNESDAY DURING THAT BUDGET
PROCESS WE WILL GET TO THE
BLACK BOX THAT IS THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND
WE CAN BEGIN OUR PROCESS HERE
IN SEATTLE TO REPLICATE WHAT
MINNEAPOLIS IS DOING.
I DISAGREE WITH THE MAYOR'S
STATEMENT YESTERDAY.
SHE SAID THAT SHE THOUGHT WE
HAD THE FOUNDATION TO MAKE
CHANGES ON OUR EXISTING SYSTEM
AND THAT IT DID NOT NEED TO BE
DISMANTLED AND BUILT FROM THE
GROUND UP.
I DISAGREE.
I THINK WE NEED TO REPLICATE
WHAT MINNEAPOLIS HAS DONE AND I
THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT AS A
COHORT TOGETHER.
IT BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY BY
LOOKING AT THE INVESTMENTS THAT
WE HAVE ALREADY PUT FORWARD IN
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET IDENTIFYING HOW
INDIVIDUALS CAN BE MORE FOCUSED
ON SOCIAL SERVICES, RETRAINING
TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES.
MINNEAPOLIS IS LEADING THE WAY
IN MANY WAYS, BY SPURRING US TO
TAKE TO THE STREETS AND NOW
THROUGH THIS POLICY ACTION LED
BY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
TO RADICALLY REFORM THEIR
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE CANNOT WAIT FOR OTHERS TO
LEAD.
WHEN TAXPAYERS HAVE USED THEIR
-- HAVE HAD THEIR TAX DOLLARS
USED AGAINST THEM IN THE FORM
OF POLICE VIOLENCE, WHEN
RESIDENTS ARE TOLD THAT THEY
CANNOT BE ON THE STREETS THEY
VOTED FOR AND PAID FOR, WE ARE
DISCONNECTED FROM SEATTLE IF WE
THINK WE CAN'T HAVE RADICAL
CHANGE RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS A VACUUM OF TRUE
LEADERSHIP AND DOING HARD
THINGS, COLLEAGUES, LET'S FILL
THAT VOID.
LET'S BE THE LEADERS THAT THIS
MOMENT CALLS FOR.
BUT AS COMMUNITY OF COLOR LED
ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS FROM
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE TOLD
US, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE LAST
24 HOURS, A CHANGE IN OFFICE OR
A CHANGE IN A FIGUREHEAD
WITHOUT RADICAL CHANGE TO THE
INSTITUTION THAT IS POLICING IS
NOT TRANSFORMATIONAL.
THAT'S WHY I AM OFFERING
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT WE
FOCUS OVER THE NEXT SIX WEEKS
ON REPLICATING BOTH WHAT
MINNEAPOLIS HAS DONE,
TRANSFORMING OUR POLICE SYSTEM,
AND ADDRESSING WHAT WILL BE
COMING DOWN TO US AS AN
AUSTERITY BUDGET FOR US TO HAVE
A CHANCE TO TRULY PROVIDE
LEADERSHIP IN RESPONDING TO
COVID AND PROVIDING PUBLIC
SAFETY AND PROVIDING PUBLIC
HEALTH AND TRANSFORMING OUR
SYSTEM.
THE DEMANDSTHAT HAVE BEEN MADE
FROM THE COMMUNITY HAVE GONE
UNMET.
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT
THOSE DEMANDS WERE INCLUDED IN
THAT LETTER THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD REFERENCED.
A NUMBER OF CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
CONTINUE TO SIGN ONTO THAT
LETTER, INCLUDING STATE
LEGISLATORS FROM THE ENTIRE
REGION AND OUR KING COUNTY
PARTNERS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SIGN-ON
LETTER FROM ALMOST EVERY
ELECTED OFFICIAL IN OUR REGION
WHO IS ASKING OUR CITY TO DE-
ESCALATE.
DEMANDS THAT ARE BOTH NEAR TERM
AND LONG TERM.
LET ME FOCUS ON THE NEAR-TERM
DEMANDS THAT HAVE GONE UNMET.
THE COMMON SENSE SHORT-TERM
REQUEST OR TO DE-ESCALATE, THEY
WERE ONLY MET WITH GREATER
ESCALATION LAST NIGHT.
PROMISES HAVE BEEN BROKEN.
THESE INCLUDE DO NOT USE
RESPIRATORY IRRITANTS DURING A
DEADLY PUBLIC HEALTH PANDEMIC.
DURING A DEADLY HEALTH PANDEMIC
THAT AFFECTS THE LUNGS, DO NOT
USE ANY IRRITANTS TO THE LUNGS,
PEPPER SPRAY IS INCLUDED IN
THAT.
WE SAW FLASH BANGS USED LAST
NIGHT.
WE SAW TEAR GAS USED, WE HEARD
REPORTS OF RUBBER BULLETS.
THESE ARE PART OF THE DEMANDS
THAT THE LETTER INCLUDED FROM
THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS ACROSS
THE REGION.
AND FOR GOODNESS SAKES, STOP
HUNTING DOWN AND ARRESTING
PEOPLE DAYS AFTER THEY
PARTICIPATED IN A PROTEST AND
PUTTING THEM IN JAIL DURING A
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
WE HEARD STORIES OF AN
INDIVIDUAL BEING DRAGGED OUT OF
HER CAR IN FRONT OF HER CHILD
AND ARRESTED FOR PARTICIPATING.
WE HAVE HEARD THE STORY OF THE
REPORTER -- OR I'M SORRY, THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO RECORDED THE 9-
YEAR-OLD GETTING MACED LAST
SATURDAY NOW BEING ARRESTED AND
HE'S STILL IN JAIL WAITING FOR
THE 230 HEARING TO HAPPEN.
THESE ARE JUST THE SHORT-TERM
DEMANDS THAT HAVE GONE UNMET
AND HAD PROMISES BROKEN.
THE LONGER-TERM DEMANDS, AGAIN,
COME DIRECTLY FROM BLACK-LED
ORGANIZATIONS AND I THINK IT
BEARS REPEATING, DEFUND THE
SEATTLE CITY POLICE, REINVEST
IN HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES AND DO NOT
PROSECUTE PROTESTERS.
THE LIST OF DEMANDS THAT WE
HAVE SEEN POSTED FROM COMMUNITY
BLACK LED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
COMMUNITY SAY TO STOP THE
VIOLENCE, THE POLICE MUST BE
REDUCED IN SIZE, BUDGET AND
SCOPE.
THE POLICE ARE ROOTED IN
VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE.
IN ORDER TO PROTECT BLACK
LIVES, THIS MOVEMENT CALLS FOR
INVESTING IN AND EXPANDING OUR
SAFETY NET AND WELL-BEING
BEYOND POLICING.
THAT'S WHY A NUMBER OF ELECTED
LEADERS SIGNED ONTO THAT LETTER
WITH THE HOPES THAT THERE WOULD
BE DE-ESCALATION.
THERE WASN'T.
THERE WAS JUST MORE ESCALATION
LAST NIGHT.
SO I ASKED, HOW MANY PEOPLE
NEED TO WRITE IN ABOUT BEING
GASSED IN THEIR OWN HOMES?
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE
SPRAYED IN THE STREET EVERY
NIGHT OR EXPERIENCED GETTING
HIT WITH FLASH BOMBS OR RUBBER
BULLETS.
HOW MANY POLICE HAVE TO CALL
FOR THE POLICE TO BE DEFUNDED
FOR YOU TO CONSIDER RESIGNING
OR FOR THE MAYOR TO EMBRACE
RADICAL CHANGE?
I THINK THE MAYOR SHOULD ASSESS
IN THIS MOMENT, ASK HERSELF IF
SHE IS THE RIDE LEADER AND
RESIGN.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SHE DOES
THAT, REGARDLESS OF THE
SPECIFIC TACTICS, IT'S CLEAR WE
NEED TO ELEVATE THE URGENCY AND
THE SCALE OF THE CHANGE THAT IS
NEEDED.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE WEAPONS
THAT THE POLICE ARE USING ARE
NOT ILLEGAL NECESSARILY.
THE TACTICS THEY HAVE BEEN
TRAINED ON, THE RIOT GEAR HAS
BEEN PAID FOR BY US.
WE HAVE ALLOWED THEM AS A CITY
TO GROW INTO THE ENTITY THAT
THEY ARE.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO INVEST IN
THE VERY SYSTEM THAT IS NOW
BEING CRITICIZED, AND WE HAVE
CONTINUED TO -- SO I THINK THAT
IS THE QUESTION IN FRONT OF US.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO TAKE
OWNERSHIP OVER THE BUDGET?
LET'S DO THAT BEGINNING ON
WEDNESDAY.
LET'S LOOK AT THE CHANGES WE
NEED.
LET'S WORK WITH BLACK AND
BROWN-LED COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO RECOGNIZE THAT
WE CANNOT WAIT FOR ACTION.
WE ARE DONE ASKING FOR THINGS.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE BOLD
ACTION INTO OUR OWN HANDS,
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY OF COLOR
LED ORGANIZATION DEMANDS.
WE WILL FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE TO
REINVEST IN THE HEALTH,
STABILITY AND SAFETY OF OUR
RESIDENTS.
WE WILL CHANGE MATERIAL
CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE LIVES.
WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN THAT
PROCESS ON WEDNESDAY OF
DEFUNDING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND
EXAMINING AND REASSESSING THE
OVERALL PROPOSED BUDGET THAT
WILL BEGIN TO ALLOW FOR US TO
CORRECT ANY AUSTERITY CUTS.
SEATTLE, IF YOU WATCHED OVER
THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THEN AN
OUTRAGE ABOUT BABIES BEING
SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS AT
THE BORDER, AND THANKFUL THAT
WE WERE UP HERE IN PROGRESSIVE
SEATTLE.
IF YOU HAVE WEPT AT DEPORTATION
HEARINGS, SEEING CHILDREN BEING
REMOVED FROM THEIR PARENTS OR
BEING PROSECUTED AS A STAND-
ALONE CHILD AND THOUGHT, I'M
GLAD THINGS ARE DIFFERENT HERE,
THIS IS YOUR MOMENT.
WE ARE NOW IN A SITUATION WHERE
IN SEATTLE -- DAYS OF BEING
EXPOSED TO TEAR GAS AND
CHILDREN ARE BEING PEPPER
SPRAYED IN THE FACE.
PARENTS ARE HAVING TO POUR MILK
OVER THEIR CHILD'S EYES TO
SOLVE FOR THE VIOLATION OF
EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO CALL
FOR CHANGE.
CHILDREN ARE BEING WITNESS TO
THEIR PARENTS GETTING PULLED
FROM THEIR CARS AND ARRESTED IN
FRONT OF THEM FOR PARTICIPATING
IN PROTESTS.
AS WE REASSESS OUR SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET AND
OVERALL INVESTMENTS FOR THE
CITY, I HOPE THAT WE CAN DO
THIS BY BEING LED BY BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS'
COMMANDS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN
THAT LETTER AND THAT WE TAKE
THIS AS A REAL MOMENT THAT IT
IS, TO BE TRULY
TRANSFORMATIONAL IN HOW WE
INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WE PRIORITIZE.
YOU SAW FROM ME ON FRIDAY A
MEMO THAT SUMMARIZES THE
PROCESS.
BE PREPARED FOR AN OVERVIEW OF
WHAT'S IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET
COMING DOWN TOMORROW, AND
WEDNESDAY WILL BE OUR FIRST
CHANCE TO GET INTO IT.
WE HAVE RESERVED EVERY
WEDNESDAY FROM NOW UNTIL MID-
JULY FOR US TO HAVE THE BUDGET
DISCUSSION AND REVENUE
DISCUSSIONS AND IT'S BEEN
INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS THAT WE
NEED TO CARVE OUT TIME DURING
THAT AGENDA TO SPECIFICALLY
IDENTIFY THE SPENDING -- THE
SPENDING PROPOSALS IN THE SPD
BUDGET FROM THE PAST SO WE CAN
MAKE CHANGES FOR THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR THOSE POWERFUL
WORDS AND YOUR OWN TESTIMONY ON
THE CURRENT EVENTS HAPPENING IN
OUR CITY RIGHT NOW AND I THINK
IT IS POWERFUL FOR US TO
REMEMBER THAT THE SAME CHEMICAL
AGENTS THAT ARE BEING USED IN
OUR CITY WERE THE CHEMICAL
AGENTS AND THE TACTICS THAT
WERE BEING DECRIED BY SO MANY
SEATTLEITES AND THIS
ADMINISTRATION THAT WERE BEING
USED AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER
WHEN FAMILIES WERE BEING
SEPARATED AND CHILDREN WERE
BEING PUT IN CAGES.
THAT TEAR GAS THAT WAS USED BY
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON THE
U.S./MEXICO BORDER IS THE SAME
TEAR GAS WE ARE USING IN
CAPITOL HILL.
SO WHO ARE WE AS A CITY?
WHO DO WE WANT TO BE?
WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?
THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I
THINK ARE BEFORE US AND WE HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER THOSE
QUESTIONS CLEARLY AND BE ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY IN THIS
MOMENT.
AND I AM JUST MAD THAT WE
CANNOT SEEM TO APPRECIATE THE
FACT THAT THIS ISN'T OTHER
PEOPLE'S PROBLEM.
THIS IS OUR PROBLEM, RACISM
EXISTS IN SEATTLE.
AND IF YOU DON'T THINK RACISM
EXISTS IN SEATTLE, YOU ARE JUST
WRONG.
THESE TACTICS THAT ARE BEING
USED IN CAPITOL HILL ARE
TACTICS THAT ARE PROHIBITED IN
OTHER COUNTRIES.
THEY ARE ALSO TACTICS THAT ARE
USED BY THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION THAT CONTINUES
TO BE DECRIED BY EVERY SINGLE
PROGRESSIVE LIVING IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND EVERY RE-ELECTED
OFFICIAL IN THIS CITY.
THIS IS THE MOMENT, THIS IS A
MOMENT FOR US TO RISE TO THE
OCCASION AND SAY, NO MORE.
WE ARE DONE.
AND I AM TIRED OF NEGOTIATING
WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T SEEM
INCLINED TO NEGOTIATE, WHO
DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO THE
CRIES OF DOZENS OF ELECTED
OFFICIALS WHO HAVE NOW ASKED
PUBLICLY THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION NOT JUST ACT
PROPORTIONATELY TO WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN THE STREETS, BUT
ACTUALLY STAND DOWN.
OTHER CITIES ARE STANDING DOWN.
WE, INSTEAD, ARE SENDING IN
MORE TROOPS AND DOUBLING DOWN
ON TACTICS THAT ARE CLEARLY
ROOTED IN VIOLENCE AND DESIGNED
TO OPPRESS PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO
DEMAND THAT POLICE VIOLENCE
AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE END HERE
AT HOME AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I WANT TO FULLY ENDORSE AS THE
PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNCIL, BUT
ALSO, MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS A
RESIDENT, A LONGTIME RESIDENT
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AS AN
AMERICAN AND AS A WOMAN OF
COLOR, I WANT TO ENDORSE THIS
PROCESS.
IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
WE WILL EXPERIENCE AN
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF CHALLENGE,
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE
SENTIMENT AND THE WILL OF THE
PEOPLE BEHIND US.
AND AS PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL
INDEPENDENT ELECTED, SOME IN
DISTRICTS AND SOME CITYWIDE, WE
HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO RESPOND
TO THOSE CALLS FOR SWIFT,
IMMEDIATE AND TRANSFORMATIONAL
ACTION.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT REFORM ANYMORE.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT REFORM ANYMORE.
AND AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY,
AS SOMEBODY WHO COMES TO THIS
POSITION AS A CIVIL RIGHTS
ATTORNEY, AS SOMEBODY WHO SPENT
OVER A DECADE SUING POLICE
AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE,
INCLUDING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, I HAVE SPENT MY
ENTIRE LIFE TRYING TO CORRECT
INJUSTICES, TRYING TO FIND AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT VIOLENCE
AGAINST BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS
ACROSS THE STATE WHO WERE
SUBJECTED TO POLICE VIOLENCE.
I HAVE NONETHELESS BEEN
COMMITTED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS TO REFORM, TO THINKING
THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN
FIX.
AND I HAVE NOW COME TO A PLACE
TO BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN'T FIX
WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN,
WHAT APPEARS TO BE
FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN.
AND SO I STAND WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
I WANT TO STAND WITH, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, IN SOLIDARITY WITH
BLACK LED ORGANIZATIONS AND
MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY,
BOTH IN OUR CITY AND ACROSS THE
STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN
THIS CALL TO TRANSFORM POLICING
AS WE KNOW IT IN AMERICA AND AS
WE KNOW IT HERE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
SO THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR LAYING OUT THE
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WILL HAVE
BEFORE US AND I WILL NOW OPEN
UP THE FLOOR TO COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS FROM ANY OTHER OF MY
COLLEAGUES.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> VERY BRIEFLY, I WANT TO SAY
AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR OF
THE CITY COUNCIL I TOO AM
SUPPORTIVE AND STAND WITH
BUDGET CHAIR TERESA MOSQUEDA IN
HER CALL FOR AN INQUEST ON THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET AND
OUR EFFORTS OVER THE NEXT SIX
WEEKS TO NOT REFORM, BUT
REIMAGINE AND REINVENT WHAT
PUBLIC SAFETY LOOKS LIKE IN OUR
CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. APOLOGIES FOR ME NEEDING A
MOMENT TO COLLECT MYSELF.
>> NO APOLOGIES NECESSARY.
>> I AM THANKFUL FOR THE
OVERSIGHT PROCESS WE HAVE IN
OUR CITY BECAUSE IT WILL BE PUT
TO THE STRESS TEST AT THIS
TIME.
I SHOWED UP WITH OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS TO DE-ESCALATE
THE SITUATION AT 11th AND PINE
ON SATURDAY NIGHT BECAUSE I
BELIEVED WE HAD RECEIVED
ASSURANCES THAT THE GAS WOULD
NOT BE USED AGAINST RESIDENTS.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO USE
DISPROPORTIONATE FORCE OF GAS
AND GRENADES AGAINST RESIDENTS
PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLING AND
EXERCISING THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
I WAS TOLD TEAR GAS WOULD NOT
BE USED YET WHAT I SAW WAS A
FOG IN THE STREETS THAT
ATTACKED AND IRRITATED PEOPLE'S
EYES, THROATS AND RESPIRATORY
SYSTEMS.
IF YOU WANT TO SPLIT HAIRS WITH
ME AND TELL ME THAT THE SERIAL
NUMBER ON THE DEVICE THAT YOU
USED IS NOT THE DEVICE YOU
STATED THAT WOULD NOT BE USED,
YET YOU ACHIEVED THE SAME
OUTCOMES.
YOU'RE NOT FOOLING ME.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO USE GAS
GRENADES AND SPRAY ON THE
RESIDENTS IN THE FACE OF
PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY.
COMMITMENTS ARE HOLLOW AND
TRUST IS BROKEN IF THE ACTIONS
ARE NOT ALIGNED WITH -- IF THE
ACTIONS AT NIGHT ARE NOT
ALIGNED WITH THE WORDS SAID IN
THE DAY.
YOU MIGHT FEEL A BIT OF TENSION
FROM ME THIS MORNING BECAUSE I
WAS UP UNTIL 4:00 A.M.
WATCHING WHAT OCCURRED LAST
NIGHT.
I GOT TO SPEND MOST OF SUNDAY
MARCHING WITH BLACK COMMUNITY
FROM THE NFL PLAYFIELD.
IT WAS PEACEFUL, JOYFUL.
I DIDN'T SAY MUCH, DIDN'T POST
ANYTHING.
I WAS THERE TO LISTEN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL NEVER
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO
BE BLACK IN AMERICA.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE A
LOT TO LEARN.
MY EARS ARE OPEN AND I AM READY
TO TAKE THE DIRECTION OF OUR
COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT WE
HAVE A BETTER SEATTLE TOMORROW.
BETTER SEATTLE TODAY.
WE WILL BE FUNDING COMMUNITY-
BASED SOLUTIONS THAT OUR
COMMUNITY IS REQUESTING.
THE ORGANIZING I WITNESSED IN
OTHELLO WAS AND IS SEPARATE
FROM WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON
CAPITOL HILL.
IT IS SEPARATED BY TIME, SPACE,
PEOPLE ORGANIZING, DESIRES FOR
OUTCOMES AND SO MUCH MORE.
I WAS HEARTENED WHEN I RETURNED
FROM OTHELLO TO WATCH THE
MAYOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE LAST
NIGHT AND BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD
HAVE A PEACEFUL NIGHT.
INSTEAD, I WAS WATCHING LIVE
STREAMS UNTIL 4:00 IN THE
MORNING.
I AM HERE TO STATE THAT, AGAIN,
IF WE AS -- I AM HERE TO STATE
THAT WE AS ELECTEDS ARE GOING
TO SHOW UP AT THE POLICE
BARRICADES, WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE SOLE MISSION IS
DE-ESCALATING THE TENSION.
IF SPD DOES BELIEVE IT CAN WAIT
UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
TO USE FORCE, BE REMINDED THAT
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING AND
THAT INCLUDES CITY COUNCIL.
WHILE I'M NOT GOOD WITH SOCIAL
MEDIA, I AM SMART ENOUGH TO
TURN ON MULTIPLE LIVE STREAMS
TO GET MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES ON
A SITUATION WITH MULTIPLE
SCREENS.
I DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE EOC
TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING
ON OUR STREETS.
WHAT I SAW WAS A TENSE AND
PEACEFUL ENCROACHMENT OF THE
POLICE LINE.
THERE WERE STILL DE-ESCALATION
TACTICS AVAILABLE TO SPD.
IT IS AS SIMPLE AS TAKING A
KNEE TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE
HEARING THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE
FACING OFF WITH.
THE WORDS I HAVE TO EXPRESS THE
REACTION TO WHAT I WITNESSED
ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS
MEETING.
THE RESPONSE I SAW WAS NEARLY 2
1/2, POSSIBLY 3 HOURS OF GAS
GRENADES SPRAYED AND RUBBER
BULLETS USED AGAINST RESIDENTS.
I WATCHED AS MULTIPLE
INDIVIDUALS WERE STRUCK
DIRECTLY BY FLASH GRENADES.
TO BE DRAGGED OFF TO SAFETY BY
OTHERS.
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR
OFFICERS TO FEEL SAFE.
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO
REESTABLISH A POLICE LINE.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE USE OF
FORCE IN THE FACE OF PEACEFUL
BEHAVIOR.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW 2 1/2
HOURS OF AGGRESSIVE AND VIOLENT
BEHAVIOR IS PROPORTIONATE TO A
PEACEFUL ENCROACHMENT OF A
POLICE LINE.
WE WILL BE RELYING HEAVILY ON
OUR OVERSIGHT BODIES TO
UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT
OCCURRED AND IT SEEMS THAT WE
CANNOT WAIT FOR OVERSIGHT --
FOR REVIEW BECAUSE MILITARY
GRADE WEAPONS CONTINUE TO BE
USED NIGHT AFTER NIGHT IN OUR
CITY, AFTER ASSURANCES ARE MADE
THAT THESE WEAPONS WILL NOT BE
USED.
I WON'T SUPPORT BUDGET ITEMS
THAT MILITARIZE OUR POLICE
FORCE TO ANY DEGREE.
I WILL SUPPORT THE BUDGET ITEMS
THAT THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFIES
AS NECESSARY TO CREATE A MORE
WHOLE, SAFE COMMUNITY.
WHAT I WILL CLOSE WITH IS AGAIN
STATEMENT THAT I UNDERSTAND
THAT I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE BLACK IN
AMERICA.
WHEN I DISCUSSED DEMILITARIZING
THE POLICE WITH PEOPLE, PEOPLE
TELL ME, TEACH ME AND REMIND
THAT THEY ARE NOT AS WORRIED
ABOUT FACING OFF WITH MILITARY
GRADE WEAPONS USED AGAINST
THEM, AS THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT
MEETING A LONE OFFICER IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OR BY
THEMSELVES IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
THIS IS WHY OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
FRAMEWORK IS SO IMPORTANT, AND
IT ALSO BRINGS INTO FOCUS FOR
ME THAT WE HAVE TWO TRACKS OF
WHAT TO ACCOMPLISH, INSURING
THAT EVERY RESIDENT IN OUR CITY
IS SAFE WHEN INTERACTING WITH
THE POLICE AND THAT WE MUST
DEMILITARIZE OUR POLICE FORCE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR SHARING THOSE
WORDS.
ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES, ANYONE
ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND THIS REPORT?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> AM I ON?
OKAY.
>> YEAH, YOU ARE.
>> OKAY.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR LAYING OUT THE
CONVERSATION THAT WE WILL BE
HAVING BEGINNING THIS WEEK,
AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE BEGIN TO
DISCUSS THIS NEED TO REBALANCE
THE BUDGET FOR 2020, I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
CONSIDER WHAT GUIDING
PRINCIPLES WE WILL USE.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE A FISCAL, A
FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET AND THIS IS
GOING TO BE A HARD DISCUSSION
THAT WE BEGIN THIS WEEK.
BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I
WILL BE USING A RACIAL EQUITY
LENS TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR ARE NOT ACCOUNT
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
THE CUTS.
ESPECIALLY FOR RIGHT NOW IS TO
BEGIN WHO BENEFITS.
WHO WILL BE BETTER OFF AS A
RESULT OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE
MAKE?
BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT BUDGET CUTS,
SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BENEFIT.
OTHERWISE THE CUTS WOULDN'T BE
NECESSARY.
SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHO
WILL BE BURDENED AND WHO IS
GOING TO BE HARMED AND IS THERE
GOING TO BE A WAY TO REDUCE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
DEGREE OF HARM IS NOT, AGAIN,
DISPROPORTIONATELY LEFT ON
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WHO IS MISSING, HOW THE
CONSEQUENCES OF A PARTICULAR
GROUP -- OR HOW A PARTICULAR
GROUP WILL BE IMPACTED, WHO HAS
BEEN UNREPRESENTED OR LEFT OUT
IN THE DECISION MAKING ABOUT
WHAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS, AND WE
NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE DATA
SAYS.
ARE THERE GAPS IN OUR
KNOWLEDGE?
IS THE DATA THAT WE ARE USING
TO INFORM OUR CUTS BEING
TRACKED THROUGH EXISTING
PROGRAMS, EXISTING PERFORMANCE
DATA?
DO WE KNOW HOW OUR COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR HAVE BEEN SERVED OR
NOT SERVED BY THE PROGRAMS AND
INITIATIVES THAT WE ARE LOOKING
AT?
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S NOT A DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACT ON THE FOLKS IN OUR
COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN
MARGINALIZED AND WHO ARE MOST
VULNERABLE AND CERTAINLY NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR AREN'T
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
THIS.
WE DO THAT BY BUILDING BLACK
COMMUNITY WEALTH.
SO GIVEN OUR CURRENT BUDGET IT
MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO TRANSFER
POWER, WE HAVE TO SHIFT THE
BURDEN OF WHO PAYS FOR CITY
SERVICES AND THAT'S WHY I AM
EXCITED THAT WE WILL ALSO BE
DISCUSSING THE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE LEGISLATION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND I HAVE
BROUGHT FORWARD AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT -- ADVANCING
THAT LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE IS ADDITIONAL
REVENUE COMING IN SO WE HAVE AN
ABILITY TO LESSEN THE IMPACT
SOMEWHAT AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT
YEAR OR TWO.
I WILL HAVE MORE COMMENTS ABOUT
THE POLICE QUESTION IN
PARTICULAR BUT I WILL WAIT
UNTIL IT'S MY TURN IN THE
ROTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
REPORT?
>> YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THIS
IS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
MAY YOU HAVE A FEW MOMENTS,
PLEASE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANKYOU.
I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE.
LET ME START WITH, I AGREE WITH
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ AND
THE WORK YOU HAD DONE ON THE
REFORM AND THE ENERGY IT'S
GOING TO TAKE TO BALANCE THE
CHANGE IN POLITICAL NEEDS AND
THE NEED FOR POLICE.
I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA SHARED WHERE I THINK
THERE'S THE DISCUSSION THAT HAS
TO HAPPEN IN THE SPECTRUM OF --
THERE IS A SPECTRUM OF WHAT
THEY CALL DEFUNDING.
WHEN COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
TALKS ABOUT DEFUNDING THE
POLICE AT 50%, I CAN'T AGREE
WITH THAT UNTIL I KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, WHAT IS
50%.
SO FOR ME, AS SOME OF YOU ARE
FAMILIAR WITH THE THEORY OF THE
OVERTON WINDOW THEORY, IT'S A
POLITICAL SITUATION THAT MAYBE
TEN YEARS AGO WAS UNTHINKABLE,
BUT NOW IT'S MORE THAN POSSIBLE
AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT WITH A
LOT OF PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES.
TEN YEARS AGO NOBODY WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT OF DISBANDING OR
DEFUNDING POLICE.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE
CLEAR THAT THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY
COUNCIL INTENDS TO DISBAND THE
CITY POLICE FORCE ENTIRELY,
WHICH I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WAS
SAYING.
SHE IS TALKING ABOUT DEFUNDING.
BUT FOR ME THE ARGUMENT AND THE
DISCUSSION AND THE DEBATE AND
WHICH I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS
HEARD, IS THAT IT'S A SPECTRUM.
YOU GO FROM WHERE WE ARE AT
RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS FULL
FUNDING, TO THE COMPLETE OTHER
SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM, WHICH IS
NO FUNDING, DISBANDING AND I
DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE
SAYING HERE.
I DO AGREE AND EVIDENCE DOES
SHOW THAT LESS POLICING SHOWS
LESS VIOLENCE.
AND IT'S CLEAR, AND I HAVE
ALWAYS STATED THIS AND BEEN A
PROPONENT OF THIS, THAT I
BELIEVE IN THE POLITICS OF
PROTEST.
I DON'T BELIEVE POLITICAL
PROTESTS AUTOMATICALLY EQUAL
THREATS TO THE PUBLIC.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER AREA WHERE
WE HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED A, IF
YOU WILL, THE RECEIPTS FROM THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON
THE THINGS THEY SPEND TO HURT
PEOPLE.
FLASH BANGS, RUBBER BULLETS,
TEAR GAS, MILITARIZED
EQUIPMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT
PICTURE AND PULL THOSE THINGS
OUT.
I THINK WHAT TROUBLES ME MOST
IS THAT WE CAN'T ALLOW THIS
CHAOS OR ALLOW THIS CHAOS TO
TURN US INTO TURNING ON EACH
OTHER AND NOT LISTENING.
OVER THE WEEKEND I GOT OVER A
DOZEN CALLS FROM SMALL
BUSINESSES ON CAPITOL HILL WHO
ARE HEART BROKEN, HEART BROKEN,
MANY OF THEM BUSINESSES, THAT
THEIR BUSINESSES WERE
DESTROYED.
AND I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE
QUESTION AND PART OF THE
EQUATION AND PART OF THE
SPECTRUM.
WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THERE'S
A FEW BAD APPLES AND AS
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ TALKED
ABOUT HER CAREER, YOU KNOW, I
HAD BEEN A LAWYER FOR WELL OVER
30 YEARS, AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER,
LEGAL SERVICES, I WAS A KING
COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.
I PUT PEOPLE IN PRISON.
I ALSO WENT FROM A GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE TO WALL STREET.
I HAVE SOME LIVED EXPERIENCE
AND I HAVE SOME PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE AND AS I TELL
PEOPLE, I AM NOT REALLY THAT
SMART.
I JUST HAVE LIVED LONGER.
AND WHAT I'M SEEING NOW, AND I
HOPE WHAT WE SEE IN THIS
COUNCIL FOR ONCE IS THE REAL
GOAL AND LEADERSHIP TO MOVE
TOGETHER.
WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THERE'S
A FEW BAD APPLES ON THE POLICE
FORCE, I ADAMANTLY DISAGREE
WITH THAT.
IT'S JUST NOT A HEALTHY TREE.
WE NEED TO PLANT A NEW TREE.
AND AS THE PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
SAID, WE HAVE TO COMPLETELY
REIMAGINE, REENVISION WHAT
COMMUNITY POLICING IS.
I DO AGREE WITH THE PRINCIPLE
ON DEFUNDING THAT WE HAVE TO
TAKE OUT SOME OF THAT MONEY AND
PUT IT IN PLACES FOR OUR BLACK
AND BROWN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
AND I HAD BEEN WATCHING THAT MY
WHOLE LIFE.
I HAD BEEN READING THIS BOOK
CALLED THE END OF POLICING.
AND IT'S VERY PROVOCATIVE ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU -- ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT TAKING AWAY THE
POLICE?
YOU FLIP THE SWITCH AND ALL OF
A SUDDEN THERE ARE NO POLICE.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THERE'S A
MURDER?
WHAT DO YOU DO YOU WHEN THERE'S
A CRIME?
THERE'S REALLY GOOD RESPONSES
TO THAT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT PEOPLE ARE
SAYING.
THEY ARE SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T
USE VIOLENCE AS A PRIMARY TOOL
TO CONTROL PEOPLE WHO HAVE A
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO TELL
THE WORLD THAT THEY ARE BEING
VIOLATED.
AND WE KNOW RIOTS ARE THE VOICE
OF THE UNHEARD.
SO I DON'T WANT TO JUMP INTO,
LET'S RECALL THE MAYOR, LET'S
GET RID OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I AM NOT ABOUT THAT AND YOU ALL
KIND OF KNOW THAT ABOUT ME.
SO I AM HOPING, LISTENING TO
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND HER
LEADERSHIP, THAT WE ACTUALLY
HAVE FUNDAMENTAL AND HONEST AND
RESPECTFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
HOW WE GO FROM LOOKING AT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, FULL FUNDING
TO WHAT WE DEFUND AND WHERE
THAT MONEY GOES.
AND WE DON'T FALL INTO THIS
TRAP OF FINGER POINTING OR IF
YOU'RE NOT WITH ME, YOU'RE
AGAINST ME.
I AM TIRED OF BEING CALLED AN
ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRAT BECAUSE
SOMETIMES I WANT TO INSERT A
LITTLE COMMON SENSE.
I WAS AT ONE OF THE PROTESTS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND I
WERE AT THE UNIVERSITY VILLAGE
ONE AND THE LAKE CITY ONE.
AND I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT
BECAUSE A LONG TIME AGO WHEN WE
THOUGHT THAT THE NORTH END
NEEDED A POLICE STATION, THAT
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ AND I
WEREN'T THE MASTERMINDS BEHIND
$160 MILLION POLICE STATION.
WE JUST WEREN'T.
THERE WERE 12 VOTES THAT SAID
YES BEFORE WE GOT THERE AND
THEN PEOPLE SAID NO.
AND WE LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ AND I
SAT DOWN WITH THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER FOLKS BACK THEN AND WE
TALKED TO THEM.
AND I COMMEND THIS MAYOR FOR
TALKING DIRECTLY TO BLACK LIVES
MATTER, THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSIONER, THE IG, OPA AND
NIKKITA OLIVER.
I MAY NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING
SHE SAYS BUT I RESPECT HER
RIGHT TO SAY IT AND A LOT OF IT
IS THE TRUTH.
IN ORDER FOR US TO BE REAL
LEADERS, WE CAN'T BE REACTIVE.
YES, WE CAN CARRY OUR PERSONAL
EXPERIENCES AND SINCE I'M OLDER
THAN ALL OF YOU, I GET TO SAY
THIS, I AM THINK I'M ALMOST
ELDER STATUS RIGHT NOW, I HAVE
BEEN THROUGH A LOT MORE RACISM
AND VIOLENCE THAN YOU.
I JUST HAVE.
SO HAS MY FAMILY.
THE OTHER SIDE THAT BREAKS MY
HEART IS I HAVE TWO NEPHEWS,
ONE ON THE RESERVATION AND ONE
IN BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.
BOTH OF THEM ARE POLICE
OFFICERS AND I HEAR WHAT THEY
SAY.
SO I TRY TO COME AT THIS FROM
NOT ONLY A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE
AND LIVED EXPERIENCE BUT
LOOKING TO THE LEADERSHIP AND
THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE OF
PEOPLE LIKE PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS
STUFF.
AND WHEN WE DID THE
ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE ANGRY
ABOUT THE CONTRACT.
BUT I KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT WERE
ON THE LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
DID A REALLY GOOD JOB AND THE
BEST JOB THEY FELT WE COULD DO
TO MOVE FORWARD.
ARE WE ALWAYS GOING TO GET IT
RIGHT AND PERFECT EVERY
FRICKING TIME?
NO.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN.
YOU KNOW WHY SYSTEMS ARE
SCREWED UP?
BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PERFECT.
HUMANS MAKE THOSE SYSTEMS.
WE HAVE SHORTCOMINGS.
WHAT I HOPE TO SEE FROM THIS
COUNCIL AND I HOPE WHAT WE
INSTILL IN OUR GREAT CITY IS WE
GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE SOME ROOM TO SPEAK, TO
HAVE SOME GRACE, TO HAVE SOME
HUMANITY, TO UNDERSTAND AND
HEAR THE CRIES OF THE PEOPLE
THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED AND
NOT JUST BE REACTIVE IN AN
ANGER FORCE BECAUSE THAT
DOESN'T MAKE US ANY BETTER THAN
THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE POINTING
OUR FINGERS AT.
SO WITH THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THIS COUNCIL AND
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND HER
EXPERIENCE AND MOVING NOT ONLY
THIS CONVERSATION FORWARD, BUT
REAL LEGISLATION THAT CHANGES
OUR CITY AND CHANGES US.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
CHAIRMAN -- I'M SORRY,
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ FOR THOSE WORDS.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SHARING
YOUR PERSPECTIVE WITH US AND,
AGAIN, I THINK YOUR POINT
AROUND NOT, YOU KNOW, NEEDING
TO TEAR EACH OTHER DOWN IN
ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE CHANGE
THAT WE NEED TO EFFECTUATE IS A
POINT WELL MADE, AND, YOU KNOW,
I HAVE -- I WILL MAKE A
PERSONAL COMMITMENT THAT -- TO
STAY FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES AND
THE DEMANDS OF COMMUNITY THAT
ARE BEING MADE BY BLACK LED
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE MOST NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED BY POLICING AND
VIOLENCE AT THE HANDS OF THE
POLICE AND I MAKE THAT
COMMITMENT TO YOU AND TO ALL OF
MY COLLEAGUES TO, YOU KNOW,
ENGAGE IN THIS CONVERSATION IN
A WAY THAT IS GOING TO STAY
FOCUSED ON THE SUBSTANTIVE
ISSUES, AND THAT I BELIEVE CAN
BE DONE WITHOUT TEARING EACH
OTHER DOWN IN THE PROCESS.
SO, COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR HER
WORDS AND I WANT TO AGAIN
REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE OF US
HAVING THE LIST OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF BLACK LED
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR LED
ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN
ASKING FOR SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES
IN THE WAY WE INVEST AND
REDIRECT FUNDING.
INVESTMENTS BEING REDIRECTED
UPSTREAM INSTEAD OF DOWNSTREAM
AND TOWARDS PLEASE TACTICS, HOW
DO WE INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES
UPSTREAM INCLUDING HOUSING AND
SELF-DISCRIMINATION STRATEGIES,
OPPORTUNITIES, ALL OF THOSE
THINGS ARE REALLY CRITICAL AND
I REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ CALLING
OUT WHERE ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS SHOULD GO AND WE
HAVE LISTS AND EXAMPLES FROM
COMMUNICATES HERE AS WELL AS I
THINK OTHER CITIES, NEW YORK
AND LOS ANGELES HAVE SOME
REALLY GREAT EXAMPLES OF HOW
THEY ARE REDIRECTING FUNDING AS
WELL.
BUT THIS WILL BE A PROCESS THAT
WILL BE REALLY ABOUT
REINVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES,
NOT JUST DEINVESTING AND
REALLY RE-PRIORITIZING WHERE
WE PUT THOSE DOLLARS.
AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS BEING
THE FIRST MONDAY BEFORE -- I'M
SORRY, THE FIRST MONDAY AFTER
THE CITY HAS BEGUN TO REOPEN
SOME OF ITS SMALL BUSINESSES,
WE HAVE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
BUSINESSES WHO ARE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING AND THE FACT THAT
THEY COULDN'T OPEN THEIR DOORS
OR THEY HAVE HAD PATRONS WHO
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING GAS AND
OTHER FORMS OF ARRESTS IN FRONT
OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS AND I
THINK THERE IS COMMON GROUND
THERE WITH SOME OF OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES WHO HAVE BEEN
REACHING OUT TO SAY WE HAVE TO
FIND ANOTHER STRATEGY.
SO I THANK YOU FOR RAISING UP
THE QUESTION ABOUT SMALL
BUSINESSES AS WELL BECAUSE I
THINK THERE'S ANOTHER VOICE
THAT'S CALLING ON US FOR
TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE FROM
THAT PERSPECTIVE AND I DID NOT
MENTION THAT BEFORE.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES WHO
HAVE REACHED OUT AND ASKED FOR
A DIFFERENT STRATEGY AS WELL.
WE WILL ALSO BE INCLUDING THOSE
VOICES, ESPECIALLY AS WE THINK
ABOUT WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED
BUSINESSES AND HOW IMPORTANT IT
IS FOR THEM TO GET UP AND
RUNNING AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE WE ARE
GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ROLE
CALL.
SO NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> HELLO, COLLEAGUES.
I WANT TO SUPPORT THE COMMENTS
OF COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ AND
HERBOLD REGARDING POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DEEP
DIVE ON THE BUDGET LED BY
BUDGET CHAIR MOSQUEDA WITH THE
ATTENTION TO DETAILS
ARTICULATED BY COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
WHILE I PARTICIPATED IN SOME OF
THE MANY POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
DEMONSTRATIONS IN MY DISTRICT,
I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE
ONES IN CAPITOL HILL, BUT I
WATCHED AND WAS SICKENED BY THE
DISTURBING VIDEO FEEDS,
UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSES BY MANY
POLICE OFFICERS IN THAT
PRECINCT.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY WRONG FOR A
GOVERNMENT TO USE VIOLENT
TACTICS AGAINST THEIR PEOPLE.
THE ACTIONS THAT PROMPTED THESE
PROTESTS THIS PAST WEEK, THE
MURDER BY POLICE IN MINNEAPOLIS
OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE LONG
HISTORY OF RACISM AND OTHER
INJUSTICES AGAINST BLACK AND
BROWN LIVES.
PEOPLE ARE FED UP AND THEY HAVE
A RIGHT TO PROTEST THIS
INJUSTICE WITHOUT SUFFERING
FURTHER BRUTALITY FROM THOSE
WHO HAVE PLEDGED TO SERVE AND
PROTECT THEM.
OVER THIS HISTORIC WEEK TRUST
HAS ERODED BETWEEN MANY OF MY
CONSTITUENTS AND A POLICE
DEPARTMENT FUNDED TO PROTECT
THEM.
I BELIEVE MOST OF OUR POLICE
OFFICERS ARE GOOD PEOPLE BUT
THEY ARE WORKING WITHIN A
TAINTED INSTITUTION.
WE NEED TO BOLDLY RETHINK AND
CHANGE THINGS.
AS WE CONFRONT A BUDGET DEFICIT
OF OVER $300 MILLION, I WANT TO
SIGNAL TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT I
AM OPEN TO REALLOCATING
SUBSTANTIAL DOLLARS TO WE
CLEARLY AND BOLDLY DEMILITARIZE
AND FULLY FIX OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THE FUNDS FROM MILITARY-STYLE
WEAPONS WERE APPROVED BY
PREVIOUS CITY COUNCILS AND THIS
CITY COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY
TO DEFUND THEM.
I HAVE A STRONG TRACK RECORD OF
FUNDING UPSTREAM SOLUTIONS
INCLUDING HIGH QUALITY
PRESCHOOL AND TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF UNITS OF LOW INCOME HOUSING.
AFTER CONSULTING WITH AND
HEARING FROM HUNDREDS OF MY
CONSTITUENTS OVER THE WEEKEND
AND CONFERRING WITH THE KING
COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER WHOSE
DISTRICT OVERLAPS DISTRICT
FOUR, WHO CAREFULLY CRAFTED A
PLEDGE FROM COMMUNITY INPUT, I
HAVE SIGNED THIS PLEDGE AND
JOINING MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
TO SIGN THE LETTER WHICH HAS A
SIMILAR PLEDGE.
DEMILITARIZE OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT, RESTRICT THE USE OF
EXCESSIVE FORCE.
INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY IN POLICE UNION
CONTRACTS.
OFFICIAL POWER TO OUR
INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT BOARDS.
REDISTRICT POLICE FUNDING TO
EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY-BASED
ALTERNATIVES.
WITH THE USE OF TEAR GAS ON
PROTESTERS IN CAPITOL HILL OVER
THE WEEKEND, DESPITE THE
MAYOR'S EARLIER DIRECTIVE NOT
TO USE TEAR GAS, I ALSO BELIEVE
LEGISLATIVE FIXES ARE WARRANTED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO TAKE
STRONGER ACTION THIS WEEK.
I SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD'S LEGISLATION TO REFORM
HOW MOURNING BADGES ARE USED BY
OFFICERS.
I ALSO SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT TO ELIMINATE CHOKEHOLDS
AND CHEMICAL AGENTS AGAINST THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. SO I KNOW
IT'S TRADITIONAL FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS AT THE MORNING
BRIEFING TO REPORT ON
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS WE ARE
SPONSORING OR COMING OUT OF OUR
COMMITTEES SO I WILL TRANSITION
TO THAT NOW.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
NOT FROM MY COMMITTEE BUT
IMPACTING MY DISTRICT TODAY'S
THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER
ADOPTING COUNCIL BILL 119179.
WHICH REAUTHORIZES THE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA FOR THE
GROWING UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE BILL
CIRCULATED BY OUR CITY COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF WITH YOLANDA H0
WITH TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND
A NONCONTROVERSIAL CHANGE TO
CLARIFY THE COMPOSITION OF THE
BIA BOARD.
REGARDING THE MORE CHALLENGING
AMENDMENTS TO REDUCE THE TERM
OF THE BIA AND TO SPEED UP THE
COMPETITIVE PROCESS, I
SIMPLIFIED THAT AND
CONSOLIDATED THAT INTO A SINGLE
AMENDMENT TO MAKE IT EASIER
TODAY AT FULL COUNCIL, THE
PURPOSE OF THAT AMENDMENT IS TO
MAKE SURE WE ENHANCE OUR GOAL
OF GIVING SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESSES A GREATER VOICE AND
MAKING SURE WE QUICKLY HAVE A
COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR
AWARDING WHAT'S ESSENTIALLY A
$1 MILLION CONTRACT TO THE
PROGRAM MANAGER THAT
ADMINISTRATORS THE BIA.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR LEADING THIS
THROUGH HER COMMITTEE AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MEETINGS IN A PUBLIC HEARING.
PEOPLE CAN EMAIL THEIR COMMENTS
STILL TO U DISTRICT BIA AT
SEATTLE.GOV.
PLEASE CONTACT ME OR CENTRAL
STAFF WITH ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
REAUTHORIZING THE BIA IN
DISTRICT FOUR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, FOR THOSE REMARKS.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO JUST LET
YOU KNOW THAT I AM EXPERIENCING
SOME INTERNET ISSUES IN MY
HOME, SO IF THERE'S AN AWKWARD
DELAY FROM ME IN THE
TRANSITION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT AND
IF I GET KICKED OFF OF THE
LINE, I'LL -- I PROMISE YOU I
WILL BE BACK.
SO I THINK I'M GOING TO SEND
THE ROLE CALL LIST TO -- IN THE
EVENT I CONTINUE TO HAVE
TECHNOLOGY ISSUES ON MY END BUT
WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M
HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH MY
INTERNET THIS MORNING.
OKAY.
LET'S -- ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN ON HIS REPORT?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
BEFORE I DO THAT, I DO WANT TO
NOTE THAT WE HAVE YOLANDA H0
FROM COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF ON
THE MEETING TODAY AT THE
REQUEST OF COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN IN ORDER TO PRESENT
HIS AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL BILL
109779 RELATED TO THE U
DISTRICT BIA.
I DO WANT TO PROVIDE YOLANDA A
QUICK OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS
THOSE AMENDMENTS AND TO BE ABLE
TO EACH OF YOU COLLEAGUES IN
TERMS OF ANY QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
ABOUT THOSE AMENDMENTS, AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN AS IT
RELATES TO THE AMENDMENTS BEING
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
SO IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU,
COLLEAGUES, LET'S GO AHEAD AND
-- WE HAVE ASKED YOLANDA TO BE
ON THE CALL TODAY SO I FEEL
LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT SHE HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WALK US THROUGH
THESE AMENDMENTS, SO, YOLANDA
I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
YOU, HAVE YOU WALK US THROUGH
THE AMENDMENTS.
WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS
AND COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND CLOSE OUT THIS
REPORT.
I WOULD NOTE THAT WE HAVE
INCLUDED SOME ADDITIONAL
FINDINGS REGARDING THE COVID-19
EMERGENCY RECOMMENDED BY THE
LAW DEPARTMENT.
WE CLARIFIED SOME TERMINOLOGY
USED TO CALCULATE THE
ASSESSMENTS.
AND WE CHANGE THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTRACTING
WITH THE PROGRAM MANAGER FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AS PER HOUR ADOPTED POLICIES
REGARDING EIAS.
AND ALSO CONSOLIDATED THE -- BY
BUSINESS TENANTS SO THAT THERE
ARE A TOTAL OF THREE SEATS, TO
WHICH OUR BUSINESS TENANTS
SUBJECT TO TRIPLE NET LEASE.
THIS AMENDMENT ONE WOULD ALSO
LIMIT THE NUMBER OF SEATS HELD
BY UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON ON
THE BIA ADVISORY BOARD TO 35%
OF THE BOARD FOR A MAXIMUM OF
FIVE SEATS, WHICHEVER IS LOWER.
I WOULD NOTE THAT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
CURRENTLY HOLDS FIVE SEATS ON
THE BIA CURRENT ADVISORY BOARD
AND AS DRAFTED WITHOUT THIS
AMENDMENT, THE LEGISLATION WOULD
ALLOW THE UW TO HOLD SEVEN
SEATS IF IT WAS LIMITED TO THE
CURRENT CAT THAT IS IN THE
LEGISLATION.
THAT IS AMENDMENT ONE.
AMENDMENT TWO, THE TERM AND
PROGRAM MANAGER CHANGES WOULD
REDUCE THE DURATION OF THE
DISTRICT BIA FROM PROPOSED 12
YEARS TO 10 YEARS.
IT WOULD ALSO LIMIT THE
CONTRACT TERM OF THE INITIAL
PROGRAM MANAGER WHICH IS
CURRENTLY THE DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP TO ONE YEAR BEFORE
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE REQUIRED
TO CONDUCT A REQUEST FOR
QUALIFICATION PROCESS.
FOR THE BIA PROGRAM MANAGER,
WHICH WOULD THEN HAVE A FIVE-
YEAR CONTRACT.
FOR THE END OF THIS CONTRACT,
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT THEN CONDUCTS A
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS TO
SELECT THE BIA'S PROGRAM
MANAGER FOR THE REMAINING 4
YEARS OF THE BIA.
THE INTENT IS THAT THE RFQ --
THERE IS AN RFQ PROCESS AND RFP
PROCESS.
THE RFQ PROCESS IS INTENDED TO
BE SIMPLER AND LESS
ADMINISTRATIVELY BURDENSOME FOR
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ACKNOWLEDGING THE
SHORTENED TERM OF THE INTERIM
PROGRAM MANAGER. AS DRAFTED THE
PROGRAM MANAGER WOULD HAVE 5
YEARS BEFORE MEETING TWO RUN
THE RFP PROCESS.
IF THE BIA IS REAUTHORIZED, THE
ORGANIZATION SERVING AS PROGRAM
MANAGER AT THAT TIME WOULD BE
ALLOWED TO SERVE AS THE INTERIM
PROGRAMMING MANAGER FOR ONE
YEAR.
THE INTENDED EFFECT IS TO
ESSENTIALLY CREATE TWO FIVE-
YEAR TERMS FOR THE PROGRAM
MANAGER.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> OKAY.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS FOR
YOLANDA?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ALICE,
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
>> YES.
I WOULD SAY FROM MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS AND
LOOKING THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS
AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE PROPONENTS AND FOLKS WHO
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS
WORKS, I THINK THE FIRST
AMENDMENT IS AS YOLANDA SET A
TECHNICAL CORRECTION, SHIFTING
THE RFP PROCESS TO THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
IN ADDITION, THE UW LIMITATION
ON THE ABILITY TO -- THE SEATS
ON THE BIA.
THAT IS FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
AND THE UW HAS CONSULTED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON. BUT I
THINK THERE IS FULL SUPPORT FOR
THAT.
I THINK THE AMENDMENT IS A
LITTLE MORE -- IT HAS MORE
CONTENTION TO IT.
SO I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT
DURING THE CONVERSATION THIS
AFTERNOON.
BUT I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT
SHORTENING THE PROGRAM SO MUCH.
WHEN THERE IS ALREADY A PROCESS
IN PLACE FOR ANY OTHER
ORGANIZATION WHO MIGHT BE
INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING AND
APPLY TO BECOME A PROGRAM
MANAGER.
THERE IS NOTHING PREVENTING
THAT FROM HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
SO I THINK THAT THERE IS A
POTENTIAL FOR CREATING SOME
DISRUPTION WHEN THERE IS NOT A
NEED FOR THE PROCESS AT THIS
TIME.
AND THE FIVE YEARLY TIME WOULD
GIVE ANOTHER ORGANIZATION TIME
TO SORT OF RAMP UP CAPACITY AND
APPLIED TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE
WHEN THEY ARE PREPARED.
SOME HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS. I'M SURE
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON IS
PREPARED TO ANSWER SOME
QUESTIONS TOO AND WE CAN DO
THAT NOW OR WE CAN DO IT LATER
IN FULL COUNSEL, WHATEVER THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT PREFERS.
>> IF THERE ARE SOME ONGOING
QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE
AMENDMENTS, MY PREFERENCE WOULD
BE THOSE ADDRESSED HERE BECAUSE
WE HAVE YOLANDA HERE AND SHE
CAN BE AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
OR PROVIDE CLARIFICATION.
SHE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO US
AT 2:00 THIS AFTERNOON.
SO AGAIN, IF THERE ARE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS
IN THE UNDERLYING BILL THAT WE
NEED YOLANDA ASSISTANCE IN
NAVIGATING THROUGH, NOW IS THE
TIME TO POST THOSE QUESTIONS
AND MAKE THOSE INQUIRIES.
OBVIOUSLY AT 2:00 WE WILL
ENGAGE IN DEBATE AND THAT IS
MUCH MORE ABOUT PERSUASION THAN
ANYTHING ELSE.
AND YOU KNOW WE CAN RESERVE
PERSUASION FOR 2:00 IN TERMS OF
THE ACTUAL AMENDMENTS.
BUT IF THERE IS -- ARE THERE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AROUND THE
UNDERLYING BILL OR THE
AMENDMENTS AS PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
YOUR OPENING COMMENTS.
THAT WAS HELPFUL TO HEAR.
BUT THE PROCESS YOU HAVE BEEN
ENGAGED IN AND THE PROCESS YOU
HOPE TO SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS ON THE BUDGET AND POLICE
BUDGET SPECIFICALLY.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
I DID WANT TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE ALICE, TO EXPLAIN A
LITTLE BIT MORE, SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS YOU FOR SEE.
I WANT TO DEFER TO YOU TO SEE
IF THEY ARE THE SAME THING AND
IF NOT, MAYBE WE CAN ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMENDMENT.
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> QUESTIONS AROUND THE PROCESS
ITSELF.
THE ADVISORY BOARD TYPICALLY
MANAGES THE CONTRACTING PROCESS.
AND IF THEY ARE DISSATISFIED,
WHAT IS THE PROCESS NOW?
SO THEY WANT A DIFFERENT
PROGRAM MANAGER, THEY WANT TO
FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY IS NOT
INVOLVED OR SERVING THE BIA
APPROPRIATELY, THEN A DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATION CAN APPROACH THE
ADVISORY BOARD TO PARTICIPATE
AND TAKE OVER THAT ROLE AND TO
PUT IN A BID FOR THE PROCESS.
SO THERE IS NOTHING PRECLUDING
AN ORGANIZATION FROM DOING THAT
RIGHT NOW.
WHICH FOR ME, IT RAISES THE
QUESTION TOO ABOUT WHY WE NEED
A NEW PROCESS.
SO THERE WAS QUESTIONS ABOUT
SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TO MANAGE THE RFP PROCESS AND
WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR THE
CAPACITY OF OED IS THERE ARE
OTHER NINE BIAS WE HAVE IN THE
CITY, ALSO WANT TO MOVE TOWARD
THIS RFP PROCESS AND WHETHER
THERE IS CAPACITY FOR OED TO DO
THAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY
ARE ACCEPTING THE LEGISLATION
AS TRANSMITTED. BUT WOULD STILL
BE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE ACTUAL DECISION-MAKING ABOUT
WHO MIGHT WIN A BID TO BE THE
PROGRAM MANAGER WOULD FALL BACK
TO THE ADVISORY BOARD ITSELF.
RATHER THAN HAVING THE CITY
DESIGNATE TO THAT IS.
IT IS INTENDED TO BE A DRIVEN
PROCESS.
SO THAT WAS SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP ABOUT
WHO GETS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.
>> EXCELLENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
COUNSELOR PEDERSEN?
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
>> I REALLY WANT TO THANK
LAKISHA FARMER ON COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES' STAFF.
I WANT TO THANK MY
COUNCILMEMBER STAFF FOR HER
WORK ON THIS.
THE CITY ATTORNEY WORKED ON IT
TOO AND SO DID THE OED.
IT WAS A GROUP EFFORT AND I
WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ON THIS PARTICULAR
COMPONENT?
OKAY, SEEING AND HEARING THEN I
WILL THANK YOU LETTER FOR
JOINING US THIS MORNING.
AND SITTING TIGHT WITH US FOR A
COUPLE OF HOURS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND
OF COURSE YOU ARE WELCOME TO GO
BACK TO OTHER PRIORITIES THAT
I'M SURE YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US
AGAIN.
AS A MEMBER PEDERSEN, IF YOU
ARE DONE WITH THE REPORT I
WOULD LIKE TO SHIFT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
FOLLOWING YET ANOTHER NIGHT OF
POLICE VIOLENCE, I'M
INTRODUCING LEGISLATION BANNING
ALL POLICE USE OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS AND OTHER SO-CALLED
CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS, AS WELL
AS LEGISLATION BANNING
>> Reporter: COLDS.
SEATTLE POLICE MACED AND GASSED
HUNDREDS OF US ON CAPITOL HILL
LAST NIGHT.
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE
FIGHTING AGAINST RACISM AND
POLICE TOTALITY, I FIND IT
UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS
MILITARIZED POLICE FORCE IS
VICIOUSLY TARGETING A PEACEFUL
PROTEST MOVEMENT.
SEATTLE HAS SEEN DAILY PROTESTS
SINCE SATURDAY, MAY 30 AND
SEATTLE POLICE HAVE DAILY USED
SIGNING AND DISCRIMINATE
VIOLENCE AGAINST ORDINARY PEOPLE
IN THE PROTEST MOVEMENT THAT
HAS RISEN UP IN THE WAKE OF
GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER AT THE
HANDS OF MINNEAPOLIS POLICE.
SEATTLE POLICE ARE ATTRACTING
PEACEFUL PROTESTERS DAILY FROM
YOUNG CHILDREN TO THE ELDERLY
WITH CHEMICAL WEAPONS THAT ARE
INTERNATIONALLY BANNED IN
WARFARE.
THEY HAVE USED CHOKEHOLD ON
PROTESTERS INCLUDING THE SAME
KIND OF CHOKEHOLD THAT KILLED
GEORGE FLOYD.
ON FRIDAY NIGHT, A MOTHER AND
HER CHILD WERE PEPPER SPRAYED
BY THE SEATTLE POLICE WHILE
THEY WERE SITTING IN THEIR CAR.
SATURDAY NIGHT, WAS ANOTHER
NIGHT OF POLICE BRUTALITY
AGAINST OVERWHELMINGLY PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS ON CAPITOL HILL AS
MANY OF YOU WERE THERE TO
WITNESS.
POLICE AGGRESSIVELY ATTACKED
ORDINARY PEOPLE WITH TEAR GAS,
PEPPER SPRAY, BLAST BALLS AND
ARRESTS.
YESTERDAY -- THE RALLY WHICH
MARCHED TO THE RAINIER SAFEWAY
AND WHEN I JOINED OTHER
SPEAKERS AT THE RALLY AND LAST
NIGHT I WAS PART OF THE GROUP OF
HUNDREDS OF MULTIRACIAL
ACTIVISTS, MANY YOUNG PEOPLE,
PROTESTING PEACEFULLY AT 11th
AND PINE.
WE WERE MACED AND GASPAR'S
LITTLE SEATTLE POLICE WITH NO
PROVOCATION.
ALL OF THE MOVEMENT DEMANDING
WAS LET US MARCH BECAUSE THESE
ARE OUR STREETS.
AND WE WERE CHANTING, WHOSE
STREETS?
OUR STREETS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE
WATCHING THIS AND CAN GO TO MY
COUNSEL OFFICE WEBSITE FOR THE
LIVE STREAM VIDEO OF MY ADDRESS
TO THE MOVEMENT, STANDING A
COUPLE OF FEET AWAY FROM THE
POLICE LINES AND WHEN THEY
SPRAYED MAZE AND EXPLODED TEAR
GAS GRENADES.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE, AMONG MANY
OTHER THINGS THAT I DON'T HAVE
TIME TO RECORD RIGHT NOW, IN
THIS BRIEFING, THE POLICE
LOUDSPEAKER WITH A DISEMBODIED
VOICE THAT I NEVER SAW AND WAS
NEVER ABLE TO SEE THE COMMANDER
WHO WAS ISSUING THESE ORDERS,
SAYING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR
INTENTIONS ARE BUT YOUR
UMBRELLA STATION THIS IS GAS
LIGHTING BY MILITARIZED POLICE
FORCE.
THESE ARE OFFICERS, MANY OF
THEM FULLY DONNED IN RIOT GEAR.
PASS PROTECTING SHOULDERS,
ARMS, CALVES, SHINS, HAVING
BULLETPROOF VESTS, FACE
SHIELDS, BODY SHIELDS, GAS
MASKS, BATONS, RIFLES, CHEMICAL
WEAPONS, RUBBER BULLETS.
ALL OF THIS IS PAID THROUGH
PICK TAXPAYER MONEY.
THROUGH THE MOST AGGRESSIVE TAX
SYSTEM IN THE NATION.
I DO NOT APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS REMARK
SAYING QUOTE THE SOLE PURPOSE
OF A COUNCILMEMBER TO BE AT THE
FRONT LINE IS TO DE-ESCALATE.
INSINUATING THAT I MIGHT'VE
PLAYED SOME ROLE IN PROVOKING
VIOLENCE FROM THE POLICE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO
INTERPRET THIS OTHER THAN THE
DISCUSSING INSINUATION AND AN
ATTEMPT TO OR ESTABLISHMENT
POINTS AGAINST ME WHO'S IN
OPENLY ANTIESTABLISHMENT
SOCIALIST AND WHO STANDS WITH
THE MOVEMENT.
THESE MINOR MARKS, I'M SORRY TO
SAY ARE OMINOUSLY REMINISCENT
OF BLAMING THE VICTIM.
THIS IS WHY BLACK PEOPLE AND
THOSE FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL
JUSTICE ARE TOLD THAT YOU
MUST'VE DONE SOMETHING TO
PROVOKE IT.
TO QUOTE BROTHER JOE MIZRAHI,
LEADER OF THE U.S. CW LOCAL 21,
QUOTE, THE CONCLUSION IS CLEAR.
WE ARE SEEING CLINICALLY
MOTVATED POLICE BRUTALITY.
PEOPLE WHO SPEAK OUT AND FIGHT
BACK ARE AT RISK.
INCREMENTAL REFORM CANNOT FIX
THIS.
THESE WERE FROM TWEETS IN
RESPONSE TO YOUR REMARKS.
IF COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO BE
UNITED AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE
AND I REALLY WELCOME THAT AND I
WANT THAT, AND IF YOU CLAIM YOU
ARE AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE,
MAKING THESE REMARKS IS NOT THE
BASIS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
I HOPE YOU WILL CLARIFY YOUR
REMARKS.
ARE PROTEST MOVEMENT COMPLETELY
UNARMED, EXCEPT FOR OUR CELL
PHONES, OUR UMBRELLAS, AND OUR
MULTIRACIAL WORKING CLASS
SOLIDARITY STOOD AND
COURAGEOUSLY FACED AND ARMED TO
THE TEETH POLICE FORCE.
THE POLICE AND NATIONAL GUARD
CAME PREPARED TO INFLICT
VIOLENCE.
THERE WAS NO PROVOCATION.
AND THIS MILITARIZATION OF THE
POLICE FORCE STANDS AT THE
DOORSTEP OF THE CITY DEMOCRATIC
PARTY ESTABLISHMENT.
LAST WEEK, MY OFFICE
DISTRIBUTED TWO DRAFT BILLS I
INTEND TO WALK ONTO
INTRODUCTION ON THE CALENDAR
THIS AFTERNOON TO BE VOTED ON
AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING NEXT
WEEK.
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED
THAT AND I WANTED TO GO OVER
THAT A LITTLE BIT.
BOTH BILLS ARE SHARPENED TO THE
POINT SO THEY SHOULD NOT TAKE
LONG TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF
WITH.
IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO
ALREADY.
THE FIRST BILL BANS THE CITY
FROM OWNING AND THE POLICE FROM
USING SO-CALLED CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS.
LIKE TEARGAS, MACE, BLAST
BALLS, FLASH BANGS, PLASTIC
BULLETS AND OTHER BULLETS USED
INDISCRIMINATELY ON GATHERINGS
OF PROTESTERS AND PROTEST
MOVEMENTS.
SOME OF THESE LIKE TEARGAS ARE
BANNED FROM USE IN MORE BY THE
GENEVA CONVENTION.
THE MAYOR, MAYOR DURKAN HAS SAID
SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT WE
NEED TO STUDY THESE CHEMICAL
WEAPONS.
YOU DON'T NEED TO STUDY
ANYTHING.
STAND ON THE FRONT LINE LIKE ME
AND YOU WILL KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
MAYBE YOU WANT TO GOOGLE MAYOR
DURKAN, MAYBE YOU WANT TO GOOGLE
GENEVA CONVENTION TO KNOW WHAT
TEARGAS IS ALL ABOUT.
SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
WITNESSED THIS.
AND COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT
HAVE CERTAINLY HEARD THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY OF HUNDREDS, IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS
OR YOU HAVE WATCHED VIDEOS.
THIS VIOLENCE AND BRUTALITY HAS
UNBELIEVABLY CONTINUED DESPITE
THE WIDESPREAD ANGER AND
OUTRAGE IN OUR CITY SINCE
SATURDAY, MAY 30.
MAYOR DURKAN'S ANNOUNCEMENT
THAT THERE WOULD BE A 30 DAY SO-
CALLED BAN IN THE USE OF TEARGAS
SHOWS THE PRESSURE OF THE
MOVEMENT.
HOWEVER SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED
NIGHT AFTER NIGHT THAT HER
PRESS CONFERENCE PLEDGES WERE
EMPTY PR GESTURES THAT BORE NO
RELATIONSHIP TO THE REALITY ON
THE STREET.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THE MAYORS TO
HOW DID QUOTE UNQUOTE BAN WAS
NOT ABANDONED IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
AND IT IS INACCURATE FOR THE
MEDIA AND OTHERS TO
CHARACTERIZE THE MAYOR'S ACTION
AS A BAN OR EVEN A PAUSE.
IT IS ACTUALLY NOT.
EMERGENCY ORDER ISSUED BY THE
CHIEF RESTRICTS NON-S.W.A.T.
OFFICERS FROM USING CS GAS.
SPECIFICALLY IT NOTES THAT
MEMBERS CONTINUE TO HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO HAVE CHEMICAL
WEAPONS TO INCLUDE THE USE OF
CS GAS, CONTINUING THIS IDEA
THAT WE DON'T ACCEPT THAT
SOMEHOW WITH APPROPRIATE
TRAINING IT IS OKAY FOR THE
POLICE TO INFLICT THIS
VIOLENCE.
IT IS NOT ABOUT TRAINING, IT IS
ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SOCIETY AND
CITY WE WANT TO BE.
EXPERIENCED ALL OF THIS
FIRSTHAND LAST NIGHT, OF COURSE
ALONGSIDE HUNDREDS OF VERY
COURAGEOUS YOUNG PROTESTERS.
AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO TELL
THE MOVEMENT THAT THIS WAS
TECHNICALLY NOT TEARGAS OR
SOMETHING ELSE.
IT IS A CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF
SOMETHING ELSE AND IS OKAY AND
NOT A BREAKING OF THE PROMISE
FOR 30 DAY PAUSE.
MYSELF AND HUNDREDS EXPERIENCE
LAST NIGHT WAS A GUEST THAT
OPERATED EXACTLY LIKE TEARGAS
IN ITS EFFECT ON OUR EYES,
ABILITY TO BREATHE, THE BURNING
SENSATION IN OUR MOUTH AND
THROAT AND THE IMPACT ON THE
LENS.
ALL CHEMICAL WEAPONS NEEDED TO
BE BANNED.
HERE IN SEATTLE AND AROUND THE
COUNTRY DEMONSTRATORS
DEMONSTRATORS HAVE BEEN
GRIEVOUSLY INJURED BY THESE
WEAPONS.
AN OPEN LETTER SIGNED BY OVER
1000 MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AS
EXPLAINED THAT WEAPONS LIKE
TEARGAS AND MACE SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASE THE DANGER OF COVID.
THE PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
IS TO PREVENT, THE LEGISLATION
FOR MY OFFICE TO PREVENT THE
POLICE FROM LEADING PROTEST
WITH VIOLENCE.
IF SEATTLE POLICE INSTEAD SHOW
UP WITH EVEN MORE LETHAL
WEAPONRY, THEN OF COURSE WE
HAVE TO BAN THAT AS WELL BUT
THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO NOT
BAN CHEMICAL WHERE TENS AND
RUBBER BULLETS AND OTHER SO-
CALLED CROWD CONTROL DEVICES.
IF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
PASSES THIS LEGISLATION IT WILL
BE HISTORIC AND IT WILL BE AN
INSPIRATION FOR WHAT MOVEMENTS
AROUND THE COUNTRY CAN WIN.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBERS --
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
PEDERSEN.
I HOPE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
WILL JOIN ME IN THIS AND PASS
IT AT THE MEETING NEXT WEEK
WITHOUT ORDERING IT ON.
THE SECOND BILL, I'M WALKING ON
TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE
CALENDAR TODAY, FOR A VOTE NEXT
WEEK IS A BILL TO BAN THE USE
OF CHOKE HOLDS BY THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS LARGELY SELF-
EXPLANATORY AND I WILL NOT GO
INTO DETAIL HERE BUT FROM ERIC
GARNER TO MANUAL ELLIS TO
GEORGE FLOYD WE HAVE ALL SEEN
THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF
CHOKE HOLDS.
SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN
PUT IN PLACE BY OTHER CITIES,
MOST RECENTLY MINNEAPOLIS.
ABSOLUTELY, WE NEED TO KEEP IN
MIND A SOBERING WORD OF CAUTION.
BANNING THESE WEAPONS, BANNING
CHOKE HOLDS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH
LEGALLY TO GROW OUR MOVEMENT,
ESCALATE OUR PEACEFUL MOVEMENT,
PEACEFUL CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
BECAUSE PASSING LAWS, AS HARD
AS THEY WILL BE REQUIRE
PRESSURE FROM THE MOVEMENT AND
WILL NOT BE ENOUGH.
SHOW COLDS WERE BANNED IN NEW
YORK CITY WHEN ERIC GARNER WAS
KILLED.
AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT LAW WAS
INSUFFICIENT, TO SAVE HIS LIFE.
LEGISLATION LIKE THIS IS
CRITICAL IF WE WIN THESE TWO
BILLS.
AS I SAID IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF
THE POWER OF THE MOVEMENT,
OVERCOMING THE OPPOSITION OF
THE ENTRENCHED ESTABLISHMENT.
BUT WE NEED THE LEGISLATION TO
BE PAIRED WITH MORE STRUCTURAL
CHANGES IN SOCIETY.
WE NEED REAL POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES LIKE
ELECTED COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT
WITH THE REAL POWERS OF THE
POLICE INCLUDING HIRING, FIRING
AND SUBPOENA POWERS.
WE NEED STRONG MEASURES TO
REDUCE POVERTY AND INEQUALITY.
WE NEED IMMEDIATE COVID RELIEF
AND WE NEED HOUSING.
AGAIN, WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
PEDERSEN FOR SUPPORTING THESE
BILLS.
I WANT TO THANK GREG AND AMY
FROM THE CENTRAL STAFF ARE
WORKING SO HARD AND GIVING UP
THEIR TIME WITH HER FAMILY OVER
THE LAST FEW DAYS, TO GET THIS
LEGISLATION PREPARED AND TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE REVIEW
INTEND TO BE INTRODUCED TODAY.
I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE AS WELL.
IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR MOVEMENT
AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM,
BEING SO AVAILABLE.
TUESDAY, WHICH IS TOMORROW,
JUNE 9 AT 6:00 P.M.
AT ANDERSON PARK ON CAPITOL
HILL I WILL BE ALONGSIDE BLACK
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND MEMBERS,
HOSTING A PEOPLE'S TOWN HALL AT
THE PARK.
AND ALSO ALONGSIDE RANK AND
FILE WORKERS OF THE LABOR
MOVEMENT.
WE ARE DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE
RELEASE OF ALL OF THOSE
ARRESTED AT SEATTLE PROTESTS.
A BAN OF THE USE OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS BY SEATTLE POLICE,
BANJO COLDS, THE SEATTLE POLICE
BUDGET CUT IN HALF AND FUND
SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS.
AND ELECTED COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT
BOARD.
NO CORONAVIRUS EVICTIONS.
WE ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING
BUDGET, AS THE CITY COUNCIL.
AS I ANNOUNCED MIDWEEK LAST
WEEK, I INTEND TO BRING FORWARD
LEGISLATION IN SUPPORT OF THE
DEMAND OF THE JUSTICE FOR
GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT.
TO THE FUND POLICE AND CUT THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET BY 50% TO INSTEAD FUND
GRASSROOTS PROGRAMS FOR
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND OTHER
SOCIALLY NECESSARY PROGRAMS.
LIKE HOUSING.
THIS CAN BE DONE AMONG OTHER
NEEDS BY ENDING THE PURCHASE OF
THE SO-CALLED CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS, AS WE DISCUSSED AND
ENDING THE POLICE VIOLENCE
AGAINST DEMONSTRATIONS.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR
COUNCILMEMBER -- COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAS JOINED THE
COMMUNITY AND ME THAT WE NEED
TO CUT THE BUDGET I HAVE HALF
AND I WELCOME THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, THE IDEA FOR THE
BUDGET THAT IS CUTTING THE
FUNDS OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS,
THAT DO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES,
IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
THE COVID-19 CRISIS IS CREATING
AN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND HAS
RESULTED IN A RECESSION THAT IS
ALMOST AS BAD AND PROBABLY WILL
GET WORSE THAN THE GREAT
DEPRESSION, LEAVING MILLIONS
UNEMPLOYED IN THE STATE, TENS
OF MILLIONS THROUGHOUT THE
NATION.
AND TENS OF THOUSANDS PROBABLY,
OVER 100,000 NOW IN SEATTLE
WITH EITHER LOST JOBS OR
REDUCED HOURS.
WE CANNOT HAVE POLITICIANS
SAYING THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER
AND THEN TURN AROUND AND
REPRESENT BIG BUSINESS AND THE
WEALTHY.
AND OPPOSE THE AMAZON TAX OR
SOME OTHER MEASURE FOR
SUBSTANTIAL, SUBSTANTIAL
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OF TAXES ON THE LARGEST
CORPORATIONS SO THAT WE CAN
FUND OUR NEEDS.
THE AMAZON TAX, HAS COME
FORWARD BY AS A MEMBER MORE
ALLISON MEEHAN BEHALF OF THE
MOMENT IS A MODEST TAX ON BIG
BUSINESS TO EXPAND PUBLICLY
OWNED, RENT-CONTROLLED, SOCIAL
HOUSING SO WE CAN BEGIN TO
STRIKE A BLOW AGAINST RACIST
GENTRIFICATION AGAINST WORKING-
CLASS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND
CREATE DECENT JOBS WITH
PRIORITY HIRING AND PROGRAMS.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THE GREATER
THE INEQUALITY IN A SOCIETY THE
MORE MILITARIZED ITS POLICING
NEEDS TO BE FROM THE RULING
CLASS TO PERPETUATE AND DEFEND
THOSE INEQUITIES.
SOCIAL LOGICALLY SPEAKING, WE
CAN PREDICT THAT IN THE COMING
YEARS SEATTLE AND THE NATION
AND GLOBALLY, WE WILL EITHER
MAKE MASSIVE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS
IN JOBS, SOCIAL HOUSING AND
OTHER POLICIES, REGULAR WORKING-
CLASS PEOPLE NEED OR WE WILL
SEE MORE AND MORE VIOLENT
POLICING.
THAT IS THE LOGIC OF THE
CAPITALIST SYSTEM.
I WANT TO REMIND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC THAT MY SOCIALIST OFFICE
ALONG THE PEOPLE BUDGET
MOVEMENT HAS FOR YEARS, FOR
YEARS PROPOSE CUTTING THE
POLICE BUDGET TO FUND HOUSING,
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AND
STOPPING --.
MOST COUNCILMEMBERS THROUGHOUT
VARIOUS COUNCILS HAVE VOTED NO
ON THESE MEASURES.
AND EVERYONE, EXCEPT ME AT THAT
COUNCIL VOTED YES ON THE POLICE
CONTRACT THAT DREW BACK
CREDIBILITY.
AND HAVE VOTED AGAINST STOPPING
THE SWEEPS.
I AM GLAD, SO GLAD THAT IT IS A
MASS MOVEMENT NOW.
THE BEGINNINGS OF A MASS
MOVEMENT.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BUT
THE BEGINNINGS OF A REAL
UPRISING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE
ESTABLISHMENT POLITICIANS.
AND I WELCOME ALL THE WORDS
THAT HAVE BEEN HEARD BY
COUNCILMEMBERS AND AMONG
OTHERS, THE WORDS THAT WE WILL
REIMAGINE AND REINVENT WHAT
POLICE, PUBLIC SAFETY AUTHORITY
LOOKS LIKE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO A YES VOTE ON
CONCRETE ACTION TO BAN CHEMICAL
WEAPONS, OTHER WEAPONS, CHOKE
HOLDS, THE FUND POLICE BY 50%
AND FUND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FOR
TAX AMAZON AND OTHER BIG
BUSINESS TO HOUSE THE
COMMUNITY, AND WORK WITH YOU ON
THIS.
I SUPPORT THE GROWING NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED A
PETITION, CALLING ON MAYOR
DURKAN TO RESIGN OR BE
IMPEACHED FOR GUESSING HER OWN
PEOPLE.
THE CHANGE.ORG POSITION HAS NOW
OVER 21,000, 300 SIGNATURES.
I RELEASED A STATEMENT ON
SATURDAY, CALLING ON DURKIN TO
RESIGN AND IF SHE DOES NOT I
WILL, ON BEHALF OF THE MOVEMENT
BRING ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
JOINING THE COMMUNITY AND ME
CALLING ON DURKIN TO RESIGN.
I WILL NOW READ MY STATEMENT
FROM SATURDAY TO SHARE WITH THE
PUBLIC.
JENNY DURKIN HAS FAILED THE
PEOPLE, THE WORKING PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE SINCE DAY ONE OF THE
ADMINISTRATION.
THE BRUTAL MURDER OF GEORGE
FLOYD AT THE HANDS OF
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE HAS LED A
SPARK OF NATIONAL AND GLOBAL
PROTEST BY YOUTH AND WORKING
PEOPLE, FED UP WITH RACIST,
VIOLENT AND DEEPLY UNEQUAL
SOCIETY UNDER CAPITALISM.
IN SEATTLE THOUSANDS UPON
THOUSANDS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
HAVE COME OUT, COURAGEOUSLY IN
THE DAILY PROTEST TO DEMAND
JUSTICE FOR POLICE KILLING AND
SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
IT HAS BEEN TRAGICALLY IRONIC
THIS GROWING MOVEMENT AGAINST
POLICE VIOLENCE AND BRUTALITY
HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY MET WITH
MORE VIOLENCE AND BRUTALITY.
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS
VICIOUS TARGETING OF THESE
OVERWHELMINGLY PEACEFUL PROTESTS
IN SEATTLE LIES WITH MAYOR
JENNY DURKAN.
DURKIN AND THE CITY'S
DEMOCRATIC PARTY ESTABLISHMENT
HAVE UTTERLY FAILED ORDINARY
PEOPLE.
SINCE THE FIRST PROTEST ON
SATURDAY, MAY 30, DURKIN HAS
REPEATEDLY UNLEASHED SEATTLE
POLICE TO USE EVER ESCALATING
VIOLENCE AGAINST ORDINARY
PEOPLE, PROTESTING THE POLICE
MURDERS OF GEORGE FLOYD,
BREONNA TAYLOR AND SO MANY
OTHER BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.
UNDER DURKIN'S DIRECTION, THE
POLICE HAVE INFLICTED TEARGAS,
MACE, RUBBER BULLETS, FLASH
BANG GRENADES, CURFEWS, ARRESTS
AND OTHER OPPRESSIVE TACTICS ON
SEATTLE ACTIVISTS AND
RESIDENTS, INCLUDING CHILDREN
IN ATTEMPT TO BULLY AND SILENCE
THE PROTEST MOVEMENT.
THE POLICE, UNDER DURKIN'S
LEADERSHIP HAVE DEPLOYED
MILITARISTIC TEST SIX IN FULL
RIGHT CARE TO SPREAD FEAR AMONG
ORDINARY PEOPLE.
VIDEO REVEALS THE POLICE COME
PREPARED WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND
EQUIPMENT TO ORCHESTRATE
VIOLENCE.
THAT IS WHY, AS A SOCIALIST
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE WORKING
PEOPLE IT IS MY DUTY TO JOIN
WITH THE RAPIDLY GROWING CAUSE
OF THE COMMUNITY FOR JENNY
DURKIN TO STEP DOWN.
EVEN BEFORE THE EVENTS OF THIS
PAST WEEK, DURKIN WAS FAILING
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
SHE ALIGNED WITH THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLICE
IN SEEKING TO GET THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT OUT FROM UNDER THE
FEDERAL OVERSIGHT OF THE
CONSENT DEGREE, EVEN AS
BRUTALITY TOWARD AND KILLINGS
OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, POOR
AND HOMELESS NEIGHBORS AND
THOSE FACING MENTAL ILLNESS
CONTINUE UNABATED.
ADMINISTRATION HAS IGNORED
REPEATED COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO
CALL FOR A SWEEP -- HUMANE AND
INEFFECTIVE HOMELESS SWEEPS OF
ENCAMPMENTS AND HAS DOUBLE DOWN
ON THE SWEEPS' POLICY.
THE SWEEPS HAVE CONTINUED
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
DESPITE CRISIS OUTRAGE THAT THE
COMMUNITY.
SINCE BEING ELECTED WITH THE
HELP OF POLITICAL DONATIONS BY
AMAZON, DURKIN HAS DOGGEDLY
FOUGHT TO MAINTAIN THE TAX EVEN
THE AMAZON AND OTHER BIG
BUSINESSES ENJOY AND FOUGHT
AGAINST PROGRESSIVE TAXATION.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS HAVE LOST JOBS AND
INCOME IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
COUNTLESS ARE ON THE VERGE OF
HOMELESSNESS AND ARE STRUGGLING
TO GET FOOD AND BASIC
NECESSITIES, AND YET EVEN NOW,
DURKIN INSISTS ON PROTECTING
AMAZON AND OTHER PANDEMIC
PROFITEERS FROM TAXATION TO
FUND URGENT HUMAN NEEDS.
WORSE, SHE HAS POISED TO UNVEIL
A NEW BUDGET THAT WOULD
BRUTALLY/HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN FUNDS FOR ALREADY
UNDERFUNDED SOCIAL PROGRAMS,
FURTHER RISKING THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF WORKING PEOPLE.
ON APRIL 23, AS WORKING PEOPLE
HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO -- FROM
THAT RECESSION DURKIN FLATLY
REJECTED THE AMAZON TAX, SAYING,
YEAH, THAT IS NEVER GOING TO
HAPPEN.
I THINK IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR
ANYONE TO SAY THAT IS EVEN
POSSIBLE.
THAT IS A QUOTE.
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE AND I
HAVE NO ILLUSIONS THAT PUTTING
A LIBERAL POLITICIAN IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IS GOING TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS.
AND WORKING PEOPLE AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FACE IN
THIS DEEPLY UNEQUAL CITY.
NOTWITHSTANDING THAT, THERE ARE
úMANY HONEST AND PROGRESSIVE
RANK AND FILE ACTIVISTS IN
LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
ORGANIZATIONS WHO DO IMPORTANT
WORK IN THE MOVEMENT AND ON
WHOM WE ARE PROUD TO WORK
ASIDE.
THE INITIAL CALL FOR THE
RESIGNATION HAS BEEN IN FACT
LED BY MANY OF THE GRASSROOTS
DEMOCRATIC PARTY ACTIVISTS.
I URGE ALONGSIDE MYSELF AND
COUNCILMEMBER -- COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS JOIN US IN
CALLING FOR MAYOR DURKAN TO
RESIGN.
OUR MOVEMENT WAS RECOGNIZING
THE LONG-STANDING TRUTH THAT
FUNDAMENTALLY THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IS
BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY WALL
STREET AND SERVES CORPORATE
INTERESTS AND OUR MOVEMENT
NEEDS TO BUILD INDEPENDENT
POLITICAL POWER AND A NEW PARTY
FOR WORKING PEOPLE THAT TAKES
NO MONEY AND IS ACCOUNTABLE TO
MOVEMENTS.
MAYOR DURKAN HAS FAILED THE
PEOPLE FROM SEATTLE FROM DAY
ONE.
SHE HAS ABUSED HER POWER AND
HARM THOUSANDS OF ORDINARY
PEOPLE ON THE STREETS CALL --
PIECES AMENDED NEPALI.
THIS PAST WEEK, HAS BEEN THE
FINAL STRAW.
IT IS TIME FOR JENNY DURKIN TO
FINALLY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. IT
IS TIME FOR YOU TO GO.
IF MAYOR DURKAN REFUSES TO STEP
ASIDE, IT WILL BE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY
COUNCIL TO REMOVE HER BY
INTRODUCING ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR THE REMARKS.
COLLINS, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THAT REPORT?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK
COMMENT AS IT RELATES TO
SPECIFICALLY TO THE LEGISLATION
SHE'S WORKING ON TODAY.
RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO THE USE
OF CHEMICAL AGENTS.
MYSELF AND PRESIDENT GONZALES
JUST RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE
CPC WITH A NUMBER OF ISSUES
THAT THEY ARE RAISING, PROBABLY
ABOUT 13 DIFFERENT ISSUES.
NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE
PARTICULAR BILL BUT THERE IS
THE FIRST ITEM THAT THEY
REFERENCE, IT IS RELATED TO
THEIR ROLE AS A CONSULTING
PARTY TO THE COUNCIL.
AND TO THE MAYOR AS IT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO THE ENACTMENT
OR THE PROPOSAL OF POLICY ISSUES
, AS RECOGNIZED UNDER THE
CONSENT DECREE AND THE 2017
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE.
SOME GOING TO READ DIRECTLY
FROM THIS ONE VERY SMALL
SECTION.
WE LEARNED YESTERDAY THAT CHIEF
BEST ISSUED A MEMORANDUM ON MAY
31, 2020 AUTHORIZING CONTROL
OFFICERS TO USE CS GAS CANISTERS
AND 40 MILLIMETER LAUNCHERS
DURING THE ONGOING PROTESTS.
WE ARE DISMAYED THAT SPD DID
NOT ALERT THE CPC OF THESE
CHANGES.
AND THAT THEY WERE NOT
MENTIONED BY CHIEF BEST OR
MAYOR DURKAN.
WHEN THEY ATTENDED LAST WEEK'S
CDC MEETING.
WE WERE LEFT WONDERING WHAT
OTHER POLICY CHANGES ARE
OCCURRING WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE
OR THE COMMUNITY'S KNOWLEDGE.
THE CDC RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER
THE CONSENT DECREE AND 2017
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
INCLUDE THE REVIEW OF SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICIES AND
WE CANNOT DO THIS JOB WITHOUT
THIS INFORMATION.
PLEASE IMMEDIATELY SEND US CALL
COPIES OF POLICY CHANGES AND
RELATED MEMORANDA THAT HAVE
OCCURRED TO DATE AND ALL POLICY
CHANGES AND MEMORANDA THAT ARE
GOING FORWARD, AS THEY OCCUR.
IN THE SPIRIT OF THIS REQUEST,
WHICH WAS MORE DIRECTED TO
CHIEF BEST AND THE EXECUTIVE
REGARDING THE RECENT ORDER
ABOUT CS GAS, I THINK THAT PLEA
FOR US TO HONOR THE ROLE
GRANTED TO THE CPC IN THE 2017
ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION AS
WELL AS IN THE CONSENT DECREE,
KEEP IN MIND THAT THE CPC WAS
THE FIRST COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION TO
BE GRANTED AMICUS STATUS AND A
CONSENT DECREE.
SO IN THAT SPIRIT I HAVE SHARED
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S BILL
WITH THE CPC AND THEN I
UNDERSTAND THEY ARE MEETING
TODAY.
THEY UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A QUICK
TURNAROUND AND I'M SEEKING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS AS IT RELATES TO
THEIR ROLE.
AND ANY AMENDMENTS THAT THEY
MIGHT PROPOSE.
I HAVE ALERTED COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT OF THIS A COUPLE OF DAYS
AGO.
AND I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
LEGISLATION.
BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE HONORING OUR
OBLIGATION TO CONSULT WITH THE
CPC ON POLICY, WITHIN THEIR
JURISDICTION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I THINK THOSE ARE EXCELLENT
POINTS.
AND I THINK THAT ALL THREE
ACCOUNTABILITY ENTITIES ARE
POINTING OUT, SORT OF A FLAW IN
APPROACH THAT THEY ARE SEEING
FROM THE EXECUTIVE SIDE.
AND I THINK IT IS PRUDENT FOR
US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT
REPLICATING THAT.
AND I DON'T MEAN THAT AS A
SLIGHT TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
THINGS ARE MOVING VERY FAST AND
I APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT WITH
WHICH YOU ARE PROPOSING THE
LEGISLATION, WHICH I ALSO
SUPPORT.
I THINK THAT WE CAN JUST BENEFIT
FROM MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
ADVANCING THE BILL AND NOT
THROUGH THE PROCESS,
INADVERTENTLY YOU KNOW
MINIMIZING THE ROLE AND
SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY ENTITIES AS
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE FULL
CITY COUNCIL.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I SUSPECT, ALTHOUGH I DON'T
KNOW, I SUSPECT THEY WILL BE
BEARABLE TO YOUR LEGISLATION.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
LEADERSHIP AND HOPEFULLY WITH
YOUR COOPERATION,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ARE MAKING
SURE WE GET THE REPRESENTATION
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER
BECAUSE AS HE POINTED OUT,
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.
THESE ARE SHORT-TERM, SHORT-
TERM IMPACTS AND SEVERE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS WE NEED TO ACT
SWIFTLY ON.
CERTAINLY WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE
UNDUE DELAY IN GETTING THIS
BILL BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
AND CONSIDERED SO WE CAN BEGIN
THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I IMAGINE
THAT YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING
HERE.
I WANT TO HAND IT OVER TO YOU
SO YOU CAN DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
I OF COURSE WANT TO SAY I'M
HAPPY FOR THE COMMUNITY POLICE
POSITION TO GIVE THEIR
THOUGHTS.
AND MY STAFF OF COURSE WERE
PLANNING TO BE IN TOUCH WITH
THEM THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK
BECAUSE THE BILL WILL NOT BE
VOTED ON THIS WEEK.
IT WILL BE VOTED ON NEXT MONDAY.
AND I WELCOME, AS I SAID I
WELCOME THEIR SUGGESTIONS.
AND THEIR IDEAS.
BUT I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, SEATTLE
WORKING PEOPLE AND ORDINARY
PEOPLE AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE
PROTEST MOVEMENT AND OUR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE NOT
ASKING FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHAT THEY ARE DEMANDING IS A
LAW TO PROHIBIT PEOPLE FROM
GETTING GASSED BY THE SEATTLE
POLICE.
AND SO IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
LEADERSHIP, I AGREE, LET'S SHOW
LEADERSHIP.
LEADERSHIP MEANS DOING WHAT WE
WERE ELECTED TO DO.
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION,
THE COMMISSION'S WORK IS
EXTREMELY APPRECIATED AND
HONORED BUT AT THE END OF THE
DAY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE
HIGHEST LEGISLATIVE BODY AND WE
ARE ELECTED, THEY ARE NOT.
WE HAVE A DUTY AS ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES TO DEFEND THE
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
CONSTITUENTS WERE DAILY BEING
GASSED AND HARMED BY THE SPD.
IN REALITY, A POWERFUL STUDY IN
RESPONSE TO WHATEVER THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE COMES UP WITH
ABOUT STUDY THIS AND STUDY
THAT, A POWERFUL STUDY HAS BEEN
CONDUCTED BY THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN THE LABORATORY OF
STRUGGLE ON THE STREETS OF
SEATTLE.
AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IF
NOT MILLIONS ON THE STREETS OF
OTHER CITIES OVER THE PAST
WEEK.
THE RESULTS FROM THAT
LABORATORY ANALYSIS ARE THAT
CHEMICAL WEAPONS SHOULD BE
BANNED.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL
REMARKS.
AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THERE'S
ANY DISAGREEMENTS.
I HOPE THAT YOU DON'T TAKE AT
LEAST MY COMMENTS AS SORT OF AN
TOKEN AND STICK TO WHAT YOU'RE
TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, I
ABSOLUTELY AGREE IT IS UP TO US
TO PASS THIS LAW.
AND I THINK THAT THE LAW YOU
HAVE PROPOSED WELL ONLY BE
STRENGTHENED AND BENEFITED BY
HAVING THE ACCOUNTABILITY
ENTITIES WEIGH IN FORMALLY ON
IT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR STATE
OF INTENT TO DO THAT ENGAGEMENT
THIS WEEK.
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE BENEFIT
-- OF THEIR PERSPECTIVE BEFORE
WE VOTE ON THIS ON MONDAY.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE THREE
ENTITIES THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY
ARTICULATED THEIR OPPOSITION TO
THE USE OF TEARGAS.
AND CROWD MANAGEMENT TACTICS.
AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO
HEARING MORE OF WHAT THEY HAVE
TO SAY AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING
THAT MY OFFICE CAN DO TO HELP
FACILITATE THE CONNECTION
THERE, AND I'M SURE
COUNCILMEMBER -- COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD , WE COULD SHARE THE
LETTER WE RECEIVED WITH ALL THE
COUNSEL, BUT CERTAINLY WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AS THE
PRIME SPONSOR OF THE SPELL TO
MAKE SURE THAT HER STAFF AND
THAT SHE HAVE THE FULL BENEFIT
OF THE INFORMATION AND THAT
SORT OF APPROACH BEING
SUGGESTED BY THE CPC AND
OTHERS.
SO LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT, ONGOING
CONVERSATION THERE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ON
HER REPORT?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, ANY
PARTING WORDS BEFORE WE GO
AHEAD AND MOVE ON?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NO.
>> THANK YOU.
SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR ADVOCATING FOR THOSE
PARTICULAR BILLS, I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.
THE NEXT PERSON IS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
LAND-USE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE
ON THE AGENDA OR TRADITION FOR
THE FULL CALENDAR.
THE MEETING WILL BE VIRTUALLY
AT 9:30 AM TO HOLD A PUBLIC
MEETING ON COUNSEL BILL 119769
EMERGENCY PERMITTING
LEGISLATION WE ADOPTED LAST
APRIL.
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE INVITED
TO ATTEND.
AND WE WILL MEET FOR AT LEAST
THREE TO CONSIDER THE
LEGISLATION DIRECTLY, AS THE
LEGISLATION IS CONSIDERED
DIRECTLY A FULL COUNCIL.
I PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED THE
SCHEDULED JUNE 24 MEETING,
WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
REGARDING THE OMNIBUS BILL AND
CHILDCARE NEAR YOU.
THIS MEETING WILL BE CANCELED
DUE TO THE BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE
CHILDCARE LEGISLATION AND
OMNIBUS BILL WILL BE
RESCHEDULED FOR JULY 22.
LAST WEEK I JOINED THE BICYCLE
ADVISORY BOARD TO DISCUSS THE
OMNIBUS BILL.
I HELD DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS
OVER THE PHONE, WHICH I HEARD
AND WHICH I DISCUSSED WITH
RESIDENTS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS,
DEDICATED BUS LINES IN MORE.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE CAFE
STREET PROPOSAL AND WE HAVE THE
CITY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
DEPARTMENT SEEM TO BE POISED TO
ROLL OUT THIS PROGRAM.
MY OFFICE IS CORRELATING WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WISHING TO
SEND THANK YOU POSTCARDS TO THE
FRONT-LINE WORKERS.
AND MY OFFICE CONTINUES TO WORK
WITH SMALL BUSINESSES, AS THEY
MOVE INTO MODIFIED PHASE 1. IN
PARTICULAR, ADVISING THEM ON
HOW TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW WAYS
OF OPERATING AND CONTINUE TO
HELP SMALL BUSINESSES
STRUGGLING WITH ISSUES FROM
LEASES TO WHICH RESOURCES ARE
BEST FOR THEM.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER --
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR YOUR
COMMENTS AND WHAT YOU SHARED,
NOT WHAT I WAS INSINUATING.
I WAS NOT WATCHING YOUR THREAD
LAST NIGHT SO I DO NOT KNOW
WHAT YOUR ACTIONS WERE ON THE
FRONT LINES.
AND I DO NOT PRETEND TO THINK I
DO KNOW WHAT YOU WERE UP TO
SINCE I WASN'T WATCHING YOUR
THREAD.
I WAS SPEAKING TO THE ROLE OF
ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBERS WHEN WE
AS COUNCILMEMBERS APPROACH THE
FRONT LINES AND APPROACH POLICE
LINES.
I'VE ALSO, SINCE MY EARLIER
COMMENTS RECEIVED REPORTS THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL HIT WITH A FLASH
BANG HAD AT TIMES LOST THEIR
PULSE. WHILE THIS IS NOT AN
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION AND I
WILL WAIT FOR OFFICIAL REVIEW
TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON
THOSE ACTIONS, I WILL REITERATE
THAT EVEN WHEN I'M NOT PRESENT
IN PERSON, I AM WATCHING THE
ACTIONS AND BEHAVIORS ON THE
FRONT LINES. I AM REITERATING
THIS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TO
ALL SEATTLE RESIDENTS COME INTO
THE MAYOR, TO THE CHIEF OF
POLICE AND ALL OFFICERS ON THE
LINE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
OKAY, HEARING AND SEEING THEN
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
PUBLIC ASSET COMMUNITY -- FOR
THIS AGENDA.
I WILL GO TO THE PARK'S UPDATE.
THE COVID-19 PROGRAMMATIC UPDATE
, PARK USAGE WILL BE EMAILED TO
YOU FOR MY OFFICE, AS I DO
EVERY WEEK.'S ON FRIDAY, JUNE
5, KING COUNTY ANNOUNCED THE
START OF A MODIFIED PHASE 1 OF
REOPENING ALLOWING REOPENING OF
BUSINESSES UNDER CERTAIN
CONDITIONS.
THE VARIOUS PHASES OF REOPENING
ARE DESCRIBED AS THE GOVERNOR
DATE PLAN WHICH WE ARE
MONITORING.
WE SHOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION
AND DETAILS THIS WEEK ON WHAT
THAT MEANS FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND FOR SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND
FACILITIES.
IT IS BEEN OVER A WEEK, AS WE
KNOW SINCE WE WITNESSED AND
PARTICIPATED IN THE MASS OF AN
IMPORTANT BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTESTS.
16 PARK AND REC STAFF MEMBERS
FROM THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT
DIVISION AND 18 FROM THE
FACILITY DIVISION HAVE
RESPONDED TO REQUESTS FROM THE
EMERGENCY OPERATING CENTER, EOC
TO HELP CLEAN UP IN AND AROUND
WESTLAKE PARK AND CAL ANDERSON
PARK.
WORK INCLUDES REMOVING DEFEATED,
PICKING UP BROKEN GLASS,
PICKING UP LITTER AND BOARDING
UP WINDOWS OF MORE -- OVER 40
DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.
THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT CREW ALSO
HELPED WITH PERIODIC STREET
CLOSURES AND LAST WEEKEND,
PARKS AND REC STAFF DISTRIBUTED
MASKS TO PROTESTERS ON THE
STREET.
TUTTLE PARK AND REX EMERGENCY
MANAGER, JOHN JENGA HAS BEEN
WORKING AT COC EVERY DAY THIS
WEEK.
THANK YOU PARKS ARE MAKING IT
SAFER AND CLEANER FOR OUR
PEACEFUL PROTESTERS TO CONTINUE
TO MARCH ON.
THE SHELTER PROGRAM, THE INDOOR
SHOWER PROGRAM, THE EMERGENCY
CHILDCARE PROGRAM ARE
CONTINUING AND HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL.
AGAIN YOU WILL RECEIVE MORE
DETAIL ON IT BY THE END OF THE
DAY AND THE REPORT ON WHERE WE
ARE AT IN THE NUMBERS OF EACH
PROGRAM.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE BOARD
OF PARK COMMISSIONERS WILL BE
HELD THURSDAY, JUNE 11.
AND A LITTLE GOOD NEWS.
I HAVE OVERDUE AND EXCELLENT
NEWS TO SHARE.
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS BEEN
NAMED LIBRARY OF THE YEAR IN
THE COUNTRY.
SO I THINK THEY'RE OVER -- I
DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY
LIBRARIES HE SAID, OVER 1000
AND SEATTLE WAS CHOSEN NUMBER
1. THIS WAS AN HONOR FOR THE
CITY AND IS SOMETHING TO
CELEBRATE.
WE WILL REGRET HOW TO
THOUGHTFULLY SHARE THIS ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
GIVEN THE SPACE THAT THE CITY
IS IN RIGHT NOW.
AT THE VERY LEAST I WILL TAKE
THE TIME OF CHAIR OF COMMITTEE
TO SHARE A FEW REASONS THAT
SEATTLE WON THIS PRESTIGIOUS
AWARD.
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FIRST
OPENED AS A READING ROOM 130
YEARS AGO AND SINCE THEN THE
LIBRARY HAS EXPANDED TO 26
LOCATIONS.
FOCUS ON PROGRAMMING,
AUTHENTICALLY SERVING OUR
DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.
THE SYSTEM SERVES MORE THAN
BOOKS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART
PROGRAMS.
THANK YOU LARGELY TO THE
SUPPORT OF SEATTLE VOTERS.
IN RECENT YEARS, SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY HAS TURNED HIS
ATTENTION OUTWARD, LISTENING TO
COMMUNITY NEEDS AND
TRANSFORMING ITS WORK TO MAKE
EQUITY A TOP PRIORITY.
DURING THE 2020 LIBRARY OF THE
YEAR AWARD.
I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY, MARSALIS
TURNER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT IS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH
YOU.
SO AS FAR AS THE LIBRARY AWARD,
WE ALSO HAVE THE ISSUE OF THE
RESTROOM ACCESS.
IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH SINCE
THE LIBRARY OPENED FACILITIES
FOR COVID-19 RESTROOMS FOR
SUPPORT.
AT THAT TIME MORE THAN 1200
PATRONS VISITS HAVE BEEN MADE
TO THE LIBRARY RESTROOMS.
EXCEPT FOR A FEW ISOLATED
ISSUES, THE VAST MAJORITY OF
RESTROOM VISITS HAVE OCCURRED
WITHOUT INCIDENT.
PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF
THE OPEN RESTROOM INCLUDING
HOMELESS PATRONS, SENIORS OUT
FOR A WALK AND FAMILIES
VISITING THE FOOD BANK IN THE U
DISTRICT.
AS FAR AS THE LIBRARY LINK, YOU
ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, ALL K-
12 SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FULL
DIGITAL COLLECTION OF BOOKS AND
RESOURCES WITH THE LIBRARY LINK
PROGRAM.
WE DO NOT NEED A LIBRARY CARD,
INSTEAD THEY CAN USE THEIR
STUDENT OR STAFF ID NUMBER TO
GET ACCESS.
PREVIOUSLY THIS PROGRAM SERVES
GRADES SIX THROUGH 12 BUT DUE
TO COVERED SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES HAVE
EXTENDED THE PROGRAM FOR REMOTE
LEARNING.
IN REGARDS TO DISTRICT 5, LAST
WEEK MAYOR DURKAN ANNOUNCED THE
LAUNCH OF TWO FREE COVID-19
TESTING LOCATIONS IN SEATTLE
WHICH WILL EXPAND, EXCUSE ME,
TESTING CAPACITY IN THE CITY BY
MORE THAN 1600 TESTS PER DAY.
THE FACILITIES ARE IN NORTH
SEATTLE, 12040 AURORA AVENUE.
AND SOTO.
382-0670 SOUTH.
THE LOCATIONS OPERATE MONDAY
THROUGH SATURDAY FROM 10:00 TO
3:00 AND ACCOMMODATE DRIVE-
THROUGH CLIENTS. YOU CAN BOOK
AHEAD TO THE WEBSITE.
THE SITES ARE DESIGNED AND
INTENDED FOR DRIVE-UP TESTING.
RESIDENTS NEED TO WALK UP --
WHO NEED WALK-UP TESTING WITH
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS WILL HAVE
MANY OPTIONS FOR FREE COVER
TESTING, MORE INFORMATION CAN
BE FOUND BY VISITING PUBLIC
HEALTH ON KING COUNTY'S WEBSITE.
CLIENTS OF THE TESTING
FACILITIES WILL NOT BE CHARGED
FOR TESTING AND WILL NOT
RECEIVE A BILL REGARDLESS OF
HEALTH INSURANCE STATUS.
ON-SITE TESTING WILL BE
CORRELATED BY TRAIN DEPARTMENT
PERSONNEL.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES
THAT PRE-RESTORATION -- TAKES
FEWER THAN 10 MINUTES PROTESTS.
FRIDAY, JUNE 5 WAS THE FIRST
DAY OF TESTING AT THE SOTO SITE
AND MONDAY, JUNE 8 WILL BE THE
FIRST TEST ON THE AURORA SITE.
LASTLY, GOOD NEWS AGAIN FROM
THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
I'M HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU
THAT WASHINGTON, D.C. VIA THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HUD, RELEASED
A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR
10 TRIBES.
SIX OF THE TRIBES ARE IN
WASHINGTON STATE AND OUR LOCAL.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE --
I'M GOING TO RATTLE OFF THE
TRIBES AND TELL YOU WHAT THEY
ARE FOR.
THE CHEHALIS TRIBE, COFFIELD
TRIBE, LET ME NATION, -- AND
SPOKANE TRIBE.
THEY ARE DEDICATED TO CONSTRUCT
BUILDING AND BUILDING HOUSING
UNITS TO TRANSITION FOLKS FROM
HOMELESSNESS INTO PERMANENT
HOUSING.
CITIES ARE TO BUILD HOMES FOR
NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AS
WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES.
AND 21 HOME DIVISIONS -- WE
HAVE A TOTAL OF SIX TRIBES THAT
WILL RECEIVE ABOUT $750,000 A
PIECE TO BUILD HOUSING ON
RESERVATIONS WORK A LOW INCOME
AND THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
THOSE COMING OUT OF TREATMENT,
THOSE COMING OUT OF
INCARCERATION.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW
WHEN WE RECOGNIZE AND
UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE ALL
CONNECTED AND HOW WE WORK
TOGETHER TO BUILD AND DO THINGS
THAT MAKE ALL OF US GREATER AND
SAFER.
WITH THAT, THAT IS THE END OF
MY REPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ FOR THAT REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
OKAY, SEEING AND HEARING ON,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING
THE NEWS ABOUT OUR SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CHIEF
LIBRARIAN TURNER AND TO ALL OF
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHO MAKE IT
POSSIBLE FOR THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY TO BE CONSIDERED IN
SUCH HIGH REGARD BOTH HERE AT
HOME AND NATIONALLY.
I WANT TO EXTEND MY NOTE OF
GRATITUDE TO MT AND TO HIS
ENTIRE MIGHTY TEAM OF FOLKS WHO
CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT
ROLE THROUGH OUR SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY SYSTEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR
SHARING WITH US A BIT OF GOOD
NEWS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP -- OF COURSE -- NEXT
UP IS COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM
PRESIDENT.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO UNPACK THIS
WEEK.
I'M GOING TO JUMP RIGHT INTO IT.
THERE'S NO MATTERS FROM THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS, TRAGEDIES AND
INVESTMENTS FOR REFERRAL AND
TODAY'S AFTERNOON.
I DID LAST WEEK INTRODUCE AND
CIRCULATOR RESOLUTION
CONDEMNING THE THREATS MADE BY
PRESIDENT TRUMP LAST MONDAY, A
WEEK AGO WHICH SEEMS LIKE A
LIFETIME AGO, JUNE 1 TO USE 18
-- ACTIVITY SEND MILITARY
FORCES TO AMERICAN CITIES TO
BRING ORDER TO THE CITIES.
SADDLE PROBABLY BEING INCLUDED
ON THIS LIST.
WILL COME BACK TO THE
RESOLUTION LATER.
AFTER COVERING A FEW OTHER
MATTERS OF BUSINESS.
I WANT TO STATES THAT I WAS
PROUD LAST WEEK TO JOIN MY
NEIGHBORS AND A NUMBER OF
COLLEAGUES HERE AT SEVERAL
DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE
SYSTEMIC RACIAL INJUSTICES IN
AMERICAN POLICING ON HYUNDAI
JUNE 1, TUESDAY, JUNE 2,
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, WHICH WENT
INTO THE MORNING OF SUNDAY,
JUNE 7. AGAIN SUNDAY, JUNE 7 AT
OTELLO PARK, WHERE I KNOW A
NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES WERE AS
WELL. I WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO
SEE THAT SEVERAL
DEMONSTRATIONS, PARTICULRLY ON
JUNE 1 AND SECOND ULTIMATELY
ENDED AFTER BEING MET WITH
DISPROPORTIONATE FORCE BY
SEATTLE POLICE.
I JOIN COLLEAGUES HERE IN
CONDEMNING THE USE OF WEAPONS
OF WAR IN OUR STREETS AND I
AGREE WE MUST ON THEM ENTIRELY.
I BELIEVE LEGISLATION IS
NECESSARY GIVEN THAT WE SAW
WHAT LOOKED LIKE MORE TEARGAS
THAN IN ANY PREVIOUS INSTANCE
LAST NIGHT.
AND THAT WAS ONLY A FEW DAYS
INTO WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A
30 DAY BAN.
LET'S JUST BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS
CONVERSATION.
IN THE MOST PROGRESSIVE CITY IN
THIS COUNTRY.
SHOULD WE EVEN BE HAVING DEBATE
OR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE WISDOM
OF DEPLOYING TEARGAS?
AND THAT ESSENCE RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE ENTIRE
STATE.
YOU I'M ECHOING WHAT HAS BEEN
SAID MANY TIMES BY MY
COLLEAGUES ARE READY.
AND I ENJOY SEVERAL COLLEAGUES
AND STATING THAT I'M PREPARED
AND READY FOR VOTE FOR
LEGISLATION TO BAN THIS WEAPON
AND HAVE BEEN SINCE LAST WEEK.
AND HAVE BEEN TWEETING ABOUT
IT, SENDING EMAILS ABOUT IT.
THIS IS A WEAPON THAT OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT
SELL TO HONG KONG BECAUSE THEY
ARE CONCERNED THAT HONG KONG
WILL USE IT FOR THE EXACT SAME
PURPOSE, WE ARE USING IT RIGHT
NOW.
AND DEMONSTRATIONS.
I COMPLETELY FAVOR BANNING THIS
WEAPON.
I WILL, ONCE AND FOR ALL.
I FURTHER SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, THE ROADMAP THAT YOU
LAID OUT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
AROUND DEMILITARIZATION AND
REDUCTIONS AND FUNDING TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK OF
DEMILITARIZATION. I FULLY AGREE
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING
MORE THAN REFORM AROUND THE
EDGES. REFORM AROUND THE EDGES
IS NOT GOOD.
NOT A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT
WILL REQUIRE SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
I HAVE MANY OTHER PROPOSALS.
TO ADDRESS INEQUITY AND
INJUSTICE FROM A LEGAL SYSTEM
AND I WILL PURSUE THOSE IN THE
COMING WEEKS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU TO MAKE THEM A
REALITY.
AND HAVING A SIMILAR THOUGHT
THAT I DID LAST WEEK, REQUESTS
AN ITEMIZED BUDGET OF SBD TO
TRY TO GET A HEAD START ON THAT
WORK.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU AND OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES ON
DELVING INTO THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT
BEFORE MOVING ON FROM THE
DEMONSTRATIONS.
TO CAMILLE BROWN IN MY OFFICE,
WHO HELPED ORGANIZE THE MARCH
TO END VIOLENCE IN A FELLOW
PARK YESTERDAY.
SHE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE YOU
KNOW TENTATIVELY, CAUTIOUSLY
EXPECTING 500 FOLKS TO SHOW UP.
BOY, IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING TO
SEE THE PRESENCE OF THOUSANDS
OF MY NEIGHBORS.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
WAS THERE AS WELL.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET UP
BECAUSE IT WAS SO CROWDED WE
CANNOT FIND EACH OTHER.
BUT I WAS REALLY PROUD TO STAND
ALONGSIDE THEM AS WELL AS MY
STAFF, JACOB THORPE, CATHERINE
SENDS IN ADDITION TO CAMILLA,
WHO WERE THERE.
AND IT WAS A GREAT JOB, VERY
POWERFUL EVENT.
AND I SALUTE EVERYONE THAT PUT
WORK INTO THAT MASSIVE PEACEFUL
DEMONSTRATION YESTERDAY
AFTERNOON.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND I
DID RUSH TO THE BARRIER AT 11
BEN PINE SATURDAY EVENING AT
THE URGING OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
TO HELP DE-ESCALATE ANOTHER
POTENTIAL USE OF FORCE.
I PARTICULARLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, WHO I
BELIEVE JUST BASED ON WHAT I
WITNESSED WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL
IN HELPING NEGOTIATE SBD TO
MOVE THEIR LINE BACK 10 FEET,
TO DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION
AND PREVENT ANOTHER USE OF
FORCE.
I WAS PROUD TO STAND SHOULDER
TO SHOULDER WITH ALL OF YOU, IN
ADDITION TO SENATOR JOE WHEN,
REPRESENTATIVE MATT CURRY AND
COUNTY -- COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER
--. I THINK OUR PRESENCE DID A
LOT OF GOOD.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOUR
EXPERIENCE LAST NIGHT
UNFORTUNATELY DOES SHOW THAT
OUR PRESENCE ALONE IS NOT
ENOUGH.
TO ALWAYS DE-ESCALATE THE
SITUATION.
WHEN I SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU
LAST NIGHT, I WAS EXTREMELY
SADDENED, TO SEE THAT JUST OUR
PRESENCE ALONE, AS ELECTED
OFFICIALS IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
I'M NOT BRINGING UP THE
EXPERIENCE OF OUR NATION AND
MYSELF AND COLLEAGUES ON
SATURDAY NIGHT TO IN ANY WAY
IMPLY THAT YOUR PRESENCE WOULD
NOT HAVE A DE-ESCALATING
EFFECT.
BUT I'M BRINGING UP THE FACT
THAT IT DOES SHOW UNFORTUNATELY
THAT OUR PRESENCE ALONE IS NOT
ALWAYS GOING TO BE ENOUGH.
THAT'S MORE EVIDENCE THAT WE
NEED TO BE PURSUING ACTION
THROUGH LEGISLATIVE POWERS TO
PROVIDE THAT SAFER GUARANTEE TO
PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS.
YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN
OUT THERE TO PUT THEMSELVES IN
BETWEEN THE POLICE LINE AND
DEMONSTRATORS, HAS MY UTMOST
RESPECT.
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR
PRESENCE LAST NIGHT.
I WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE
LETTER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS
BEING DISTRIBUTED, CALLING FOR
CHANGES ON FUNDING TACTICS AND
MAKEUP OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I AM DEFINITELY PREPARED TO
SIGN THAT LETTER.
I ACTUALLY DISTRIBUTED IT TO
EVERYONE NOT REALIZING THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WAS GOING
TO DO THE SAME THING.
I WILL DESCRIBE MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LETTER THROW ROLL CALL VOTE
THIS AFTERNOON.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY
SAY THAT I STRONGLY AND
UNCRITICALLY SUPPOSED
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S LETTER
TO URGE THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO
WITHDRAW THE TOP POSITION TO
THE REQUEST BEFORE.
IT IS A VERY NECESSARY STEP AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO SIGNING THAT
LETTER AS WELL.
THIS BRINGS ME BACK TO THE
RESOLUTION THAT I SUBMITTED. I
THINK ALL OF US AGREE THAT THE
LAST THING WE NEED IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IS A PRESENCE OF THE
UNITED STATES MILITARY.
TO MANAGE ONGOING PEACEFUL
DEMONSTRATIONS.
THIS RESOLUTION IS DRAFTED TO
SYMBOL IN VARIOUS STRONG TERMS
TO THE TRUMPET ADMINISTRATION
THAT THERE IS NO CHANCE
WHATSOEVER THAT THEY WILL
RECEIVE THE NECESSARY MAJORITY
VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO
ALLOW FEDERAL TROOPS IN OUR
CITY UNDER THE TERMS OF THE
INSURRECTION ACT OF 1807.
IN FACT THE RESOLUTION WILL
PREEMPTIVELY REVIEW ANY SUCH
ATTEMPT TO DEPLOY FEDERAL TO
TRI-CITY.
IS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT
DEPENDING ON THE LONGEVITY OF
DEMONSTRATIONS THAT THE THREAT
WAS MADE BY THE PRESIDENT LAST
WEEK AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE
PURSUED BY THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION.
AND I THINK THE EARLIEST AND
MOST UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT WE CAN
SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF THIS
COUNSEL WILL NOT ASSENT TO IT,
WHICH WOULD BE A LEGAL
REQUIREMENT TO INVOKE THE 1807
INSURRECTION ACT.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO
MAKE CLEAR, TO PREVENT
UNCONSTITUTIONAL ASSUMPTION OF
FORCE OF OUR UNITED STATES
MILITARY IN THE STREETS BEING
USED AGAINST AMERICAN CIVILIANS.
FINALLY, COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL
AND I ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS
REGARDING PREMIUM PAY FOR GIG
WORKERS.
WE HAVE DECIDED TO DELAY THAT
VOTE FOR MORE DAYS ONE MORE WEEK
BASED ON DISCUSSIONS AND TALKS.
WE WILL NOT BE -- I'M BRINGING
IT UP FOR A VOTE THIS
AFTERNOON.
WITH THAT, I HAVE NO FURTHER
UPDATES.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH ALL OF
YOU THIS WEEK AND BEYOND.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN THESE DIFFICULT
TIMES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND MOVE OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON NOW EVERYONE.
I WANT TO FIRST THANK MY
COLLEAGUES, WHO WERE OUT THIS
WEEKEND.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOW
UP AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE
NOT ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THE
IMPACTS THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
NECESSARY.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE THERE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES WHO DID COME OUT AND
JOINED US IN DISTRICT 2
YESTERDAY.
I ATTENDED THOUGH WE WANT TO
LIVE RALLY HERE IN MY DISTRICT.
ESTIMATES ARE THAT THEY WERE
5000 NEIGHBORS HERE WHO
PEACEFULLY MARCHED WITHOUT A
SINGLE POLICE OFFICER IN SIGHT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IN PART THEY
WERE PRESENT HERE BECAUSE THE
SELF PROTECTION OF THEIR OWN
RESOURCES IS WHAT IS AT STAKE
IN CAPITOL HILL.
.
>> NOT GOING TO TOLERATE RACIAL
INEQUALITY IN THE COUNTRY ANY
LONGER.
IT'S CLEAR WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC
SAFETY WITHOUT CENSURING THE
POLICE.
AND IT'S TIME TO ASK
OURSELF WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.
INSTEAD OF SPENDING HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON POLICE
OVERTIME AND CROWD CONTROL
TACTICS THAT HARM THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, WE HAVE TO INVEST IN
BLACK LIVES.
WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE
ANSWERS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO
DISMANTLE A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO ASKING
REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
WHAT DOES A WORLD WITH NO POLICE
LOOK LIKE?
HOW DO WE REDEFINE SAFETY TO
FOCUS ON THE WELL-BEING OF OUR
NEIGHBORS?
AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO INVEST
IN BLACK LIVES?
WE'RE HEARING FROM THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE.
MY INBOX IS UP TO 6,000 SINCE
SATURDAY.
WE'RE HEARING FROM PEOPLE ABOUT
THE CHANGES THEY WANT TO SEE IN
FUNDING, STRUCTURE, SYSTEMS, AND
CERTAINLY IN LEADERSHIP.
WHEN THE MAYOR SAYS WE
DON'T NEED POLICE ESCALATION AND
HOURS LATER, THE DEPARTMENT
RELEASES A FOG OF GAS IN A DENSE
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, WHEN
SHE PROPOSES A NEW COMMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF POLICE
BRUTALITY, THE TONE DEAFNESS OF
THE RESPONSE REALLY MEANS AS THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, PERHAPS
IT'S TIME FOR HER TO CONSIDER
RESIGNING.
I DO WANT TO SAY, THOUGH, NOW
MORE THAN EVER, IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE CENTER BLACK VOICES IN
OUR DELIBERATIONS ABOUT HOW TO
PROCEED.
AND I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IS NOT MONOLITHIC.
THERE ARE MANY WHO REPRESENT THE
COMMUNITY.
SOME REPRESENT MORE RADICAL
PERSPECTIVES.
AND ALL OF THAT IS OKAY.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT WE'RE
TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHO WE'RE
WORKING WITH.
AT THE RALLY IN MY DISTRICT
YESTERDAY, HERE'S WHAT I HEARD
FROM BLACK COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO
SPOKE, INCLUDING GARRETT AND
OLIVER.
INVEST IN BLACK LAND OWNERSHIP.
INVEST IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
INVEST IN HEALTHY COMMUNITIES,
AND THAT MEANS HOUSING THAT'S
AFFORDABLE, WELL PAYING GREEN
JOB OPPORTUNITIES, HIGH QUALITY
EDUCATION, DIGITAL EQUITY,
ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, CLEAN
WATER, PLACES TO PLACE AND REST.
I ALSO DID HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR
THAT WE NEED TO CUT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET IN HALF.
FOR FAR TOO LONG THE DEPARTMENT
UNDER THE SHIELD OF PUBLIC
SAFETY HAS NOT SUPPORTED
WORKERS, HAS EXPLOITED LABOR
LAWS AND RESISTED ACCOUNTABILITY
MEASURES THAT DO NOT SERVE OUR
NEIGHBORS.
ALL WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
I HEARD YESTERDAY THAT THE
CHANGES THAT WE NEED ARE
STRUCTURAL.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THE
INSTITUTION OF POLICING.
TRANSFORMING THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO REIMAGINE
THE WAY THAT WE PROVIDE
COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES, THIS IS GOING TO BE A
HEAVY LIFT.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
AND IT WILL REQUIRE OUR FOCUS.
BUT I THINK WE'RE UP TO THE
TASK, AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR SO
MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMITTED
TO THE WORK.
AND THERE'S MANY CALLING FOR THE
EIGHT CAN'T WAIT ACTIONS
SUPPORTED BY CAMPAIGN ZERO.
THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE MANY OF
THE POLICIES IN PLACE IN SEATTLE
THAT THEY'RE CALLING FOR.
AND WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
POLICE BRUTALITY.
WE HAVE DEESCALATION STRATEGIES
IN PLACE.
WE HAVE A USE OF FORCE CONTINUE
ALREADY.
BUT NONE OF THESE MATTERS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BY 50%.
AND INSTEAD, INVESTING IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
BECAUSE OUR PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO
LEGISLATE A MORE JUST POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN MET WITH
RESISTANCE FAR TOO LONG.
AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO
SAY, I WANT TO MENTION A LETTER
SENT BY THE RAISING SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVE COLEADS FROM
ACROSS THE CITY, THESE ARE THE
STAFF MEMBERS IN DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS CHARGED WITH HELPING
IMPLEMENT AND PUT INTO PLACE
RAISING SOCIAL JUSTICE
PRINCIPLES IN THE CITY.
PART OF THAT WE HAVE SAID IN
THIS HISTORIC MOMENT, MANY OF
THE COLEADS WHO ARE COLLECTIVES
OF RACIAL JUSTICE ADD VO CATS
AND OTHER LEADERS IN THE CITY
SENT THE LETTER TO THE MAYOR.
AND THE LETTER CALLS ON HER TO
RESPOND TO COMMUNITY DEMANDS TO
DEFUND AND DEMILITARYIZE THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY CALL ON HER TO FUND
COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH AND SAFE
PROGRAMS AND INCREASE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE LETTER DOES
IDENTIFY SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO
HELP MAKE THE DEMANDS FOR
SYSTEMIC CHANGE A REALITY.
I WANT TO READ THROUGH SOME OF
THOSE DEMANDS.
A LONG-TERM HIRING AND
RECRUITMENT FREEZE FOR POLICE
OFFICERS AS PART OF THE
DEFUNDING THE BUDGET BY 50 % OR
MORE.
A COMMUNITY-LED RACIAL EQUITY
ANALYSIS OF S.P.D.'S BUDGET THAT
IDENTIFIES SPECIFIC CITY
INVESTMENTS AND ALTERNATIVES TO
POLICING THAT ADVANCE PUBLIC
HEALTH AND SAFETY GOALS.
CREATING AND ENFORCING
DEESCALATION PROTOCOLS SPECIFIC
TO PROTESTS AND ELIMINATING THE
USE OF SO CALLED LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS THAT CREATES AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT ENGENDERS
VIOLENT CONFRONTTION.
RENEGOTIATING THE UNION
CONTRACT.
AND A CALL FOR THE
MAYOR TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER OWN
WHITENESS AND COMPLICITY IN
SYSTEMIC RACISM AND TO TAKE
PRINCIPLES, CONSISTENT, AND
ACCOUNTABLE ACTIONS FOR RACIAL
JUSTICE.
THE DEMANDS IN THE LETTER ARE
INTENDED TO SERVE AS A STARTING
POINT FOR ONGOING AND
TRANSFORMATIONAL ACTIONS BY THE
MAYOR AND ALL CITY STAFF THAT
SUPPORT THE CALL TO ACTION FROM
BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE OF
COLOR IN OUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED
BY STRUCTURAL RACISM.
I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH MY
COLLEAGUES TO CHANGE THE
OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BLACK AND
BROWN NEIGHBORS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK
WE'RE ABOUT TO BEGIN.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES FOR THE WORDS AND
READING FROM THE LETTER.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT, COLLEAGUES?
OKAY.
SEEING AND HEARING NONE, WE WILL
GO AHEAD AND CONCLUDE TODAY'S
REPORT.
ACTUALLY, BEFORE I GO, I GOT A
NOTE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA THAT SHE FORGOT TO
MENTION SOMETHING ON HER REPORT.
IF YOU'RE STILL WITH US, NOW
COULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT.
I'M NOT SEEING YOUR VIDEO FEED.
I'M SHIFTING TO COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD WHO RAISED HER HAND.
>> THANK YOU.
I GOT LATE-BREAKING NEWS ABOUT
THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING THAT I
REFERENCED EARLIER IN THE
MEETING.
THE O.P.A.
AND O.I.G.
REQUESTED
THAT WE POSTPONE AND RESCHEDULE
THEIR APPEARANCE BECAUSE OF
THE -- THEIR CAPACITY
LIMITATIONS GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF
WORK THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
I AM UNDERSTANDING OF THAT
REQUEST.
AND I AM UNDERSTANDING OF THE
NEED FOR THEM TO PRIORITIZE THAT
WORK AND FOR THAT REASON, WE ARE
GOING TO BE ACTUALLY CANCELLING
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT NOTICE.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUTTON UP YOUR
REPORT?
THERE YOU ARE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I AM LOOKING FOR MY NOTES.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, WE DO HAVE
ONE ITEM ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA I FORGOT TO MENTION A
MOMENT AGO.
BEAR WITH ME QUICKLY AND I WILL
PULL THAT UP.
ON TODAY'S FUN
COUNCIL AGENDA, WE HAVE COUNCIL
BILL 119802.
THIS IS A TRANSFER OF THE UW
LAUNDRY FACILITIES TO THE CITY.
THIS AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO
ACCEPT AT NO COST THE TRANSFER
OF PROPERTY AT THE LAUNDRY SITE
FOR THE LAUNDRY SITE NEAR MOUNT
BAKER LIGHT RAIL STATION FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOR
THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPMENT OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALONG WITH
OTHER POTENTIAL EDUCATIONAL
RESEARCH AND CLINICAL USES,
INCLUDING AN EARLY LEARNING
FACILITY.
THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH
OTHER AMENITIES AND SERVICES.
THE LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TODAY
IS ROUTINE LEGISLATION THAT
ACCEPTS THE PROPERTY.
THEY WILL INFORM THE PLAN FOR
THE PROJECT.
THERE IS A TIME LINE FOR THE
CITY TO ACT ON THE LEGISLATION
TO ALINE WITH THE TRANSFER OF
THE PROPERTY TO THE CITY BY JUNE
30TH.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE ON SECURING
TIME ON MONDAY, JUNE 15th --
MONDAY, JUNE 16TH, FOR COUNCIL
BRIEFING FROM THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND F.A.
S. TO PRESENT
ON THE LEGISLATION AND HOPING
FOR A VOTE ON JUNE 22nd.
LET ME CORRECT THE STATEMENT.
IT'S NOT ON THE FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA, IT'S ON THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL TODAY.
I WANTED TO FLAG THE DOCUMENT
FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION?
OKAY.
GREAT.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL CONCLUDE
TODAY'S COUNCIL BRIEFING BY
GIVING A QUICK REPORT FROM ME.
THERE IS AN ITEM OF ACTION FROM
MY OFFICE ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
AGENDA.
I CIRCULATED THIS LAST WEEK
ON THURSDAY.
SO IT INCLUDED A MEMORANDUM
EXPLAINING PROPOSED RESOLUTION
31947, WHICH WOULD AMEND OUR
STANDING COMMITTEE SCHEDULE TO
SUSPEND REGULAR COMMITTEE
MEETINGS BETWEEN JUNE 15th AND
JULY 17TH.
THIS ACTION I BELIEVE IS
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE
COUNCIL AND OUR COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF TO FOCUS ON EFFORTS -- TO
FOCUS ALL OF OUR EFFORTS AND
RESOURCES ON THE CHALLENGING
DECISIONS BEFORE US REGARDING
CHANGES TO THE 2020 ADOPTED
BUDGET, WHICH WE HAVE HAD MUCH
CONVERSATION ABOUT AND BUDGET
CHAIRMAN WALKED US THROUGH THE
ROAD MAP OF WHAT TO EXPECT IN
THIS CONVERSATIONS.
AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT A
CONTINUED SUSPENSION OF THE
REGULAR COMMITTEE SCHEDULE,
WHICH HAS BEEN EFFECTIVELY ON
HOLD SINCE EARLY MARCH HAS AN
IMPACT ON YOUR WORK PLANS AND
YOUR COMMITTEES' WORK FLOW.
AND WHILE REGULAR MEETINGS WILL
BE SUSPENDED, IT'S NOT THE CASE
THAT ALL NONBUDGET COUNCIL
BUSINESS NEEDS TO END.
THE CITY STILL FACES CRITICAL
AND TIME SENSITIVE MATTERS THAT
REQUIRE OUR ATTENTION AND WE
WILL DO OUR BEST TO ALLOW THE
COUNCIL TO TAKE UP THE MATTERS
DURING FULL COUNCIL.
I WOULD ASK YOU PLEASE ALERT ME
AND CENTRAL STAFF TO ITEMS THAT
YOU BELIEVE REQUIRE COUNCIL
ACTION IN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS SO
THAT WE CAN MAKE A DETERMINATION
AS TO THE BEST PATH FORWARD FOR
ADDRESSING THOSE PARTICULAR
POLICIES, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH
THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS OR THROUGH THE
SCHEDULING OF THE SPECIAL
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
I DON'T WANT TO BE COMPLETELY
INFLEXIBLE, BUT AS I MENTIONED
LAST WEEK, ORDINARILY WHEN WE
UNDERGO THE BUDGET PROCESS,
THERE IS A PRACTICE ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO SUSPEND REGULAR
COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN ORDER TO
ALLOW US ALL TO FOCUS ON THE
BUDGET PROCESS.
I THINK THIS IS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY AT THIS TIME.
AND THIS IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT
AND FACILITATE BUDGET CHAIR'S
EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE ALL HANDS ON DECK AND ALL
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO PLOW
THROUGH THE MANY QUESTIONS AND
CONVERSATIONS WHAT WE'LL BE
FACING IN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
SUPPORT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE EFFECTIVELY ABLE TO SHEPARD
OUR LIMITED RESOURCES AND PEOPLE
POWER IN THIS WAY TO SUPPORT THE
BUDGET WORK THAT NEEDS TO OCCUR
OVER THE NEXT SIX WEEKS.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE RESOLUTION OR ANY
ASPECTS OF THE MEMO THAT I
CIRCULATED?
OKAY.
GREAT.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE
TO REPORT AT THIS TIME.
SO IF THERE IS NOT ANYTHING
ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER,
WE CAN CONCLUDE.
ANYTHING ELSE, COLLEAGUES?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE.
COLLEAGUES, THAT CONCLUDES
OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS FOR THIS
MORNING.
WE WILL NOW BE ADJOURNED.
AND I WILL SEE ALL OF YOU AT
2:00 P.M.
THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC.
PLEASE BE AWARE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN.
IT
OPENED AT NOON TODAY.
GO TO SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL AND
LOOK FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PREREGISTER FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU CANNOT GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY, YOU ARE ALWAYS
WELCOME TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT
TO US VIA E-MAIL AT COUNCIL
@SEATTLE.GOV.
THAT GOES TO ALL NINE OF US.
FSHZ AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN CALL
US.
ALTHOUGH, I KNOW FOR MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND MYSELF, OUR VOICE
MAIL IS COMPLETELY FULL AFTER
THIS WEEKEND.
AND WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD
TO CLEAR OUT THE BACKLOG OF THE
VOICE MAILS.
E-MAIL IS A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE
WAY OF GETTING AHOLD OF US AND
GETTINGS YOUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
AGAIN, YOU MUST PREREGISTER FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT IF YOU INTEND TO
GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT THIS
AFTERNOON.
THE PREREGISTRATION OPPORTUNITY
IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
AND YOU CAN FIND THE LINK ON OUR
AGENDA.
WITH THAT SAID, COLLEAGUES, WE
ARE ADJOURNED.
I WILL SEE YOU ALL AT 2:00.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.