>>> CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> HERE.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES OF JUNE 8th, 2020 WILL
BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
I'LL DO THIS REALLY QUICKLY
BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A FULL
AGENDA.
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT
YOU SHOULD BE EXPECTING IN YOUR
IN BOXES AN UPDATE FROM ME
ABOUT TELEWORK PROTOCOLS FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, AND
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING
THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF ASKING EACH OF OUR
DIVISION DIRECTORS TO ENGAGE
WITH THEIR STAFF AROUND WHAT
THEY HOPE TO SEE IN TERMS OF
OUR WORK MODEL MOVING FORWARD,
AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO
GETTING OUT A MEMO TO ALL OF
YOU THAT REFLECTS WHAT I THINK
WILL BE A POLICY THAT REALLY
DOES ENTER THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF OUR WORKERS AND ALL
OF OUR WORKFORCE, AND MAKES
SURE THAT WE ARE STILL
CONTINUING TO FOLLOW PUBLIC
HEALTH POLICIES, PARTICULARLY
AROUND THE CDC'S
RECOMMENDATIONS OF OFFICE WORK
OR AN IN-OFFICE WORK OPTION.
SO BE AWARE THERE WILL BE A
DIRECTIVE, THE DIRECTIVE WILL
INDICATE THAT IN THE INTEREST
OF THE ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH OF
OUR EMPLOYEES, WE WILL CONTINUE
TO TELECOMMUTE THROUGH THE END
OF THIS YEAR, AND ALL OF OUR
COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL MEETINGS
WILL CONTINUE TO BE HELD
REMOTELY AS WELL.
THAT IS, AGAIN, CONSISTENT WITH
A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WE
ARE SEEING COMING OUT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES
THAT REALLY TALK ABOUT HOW IF
YOU CAN DO TELEWORK, YOU SHOULD
CONTINUE TO HAVE TELEWORK
MODELS IN YOUR OFFICE SPACE,
AND SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES
HERE ARE CENTERED ON THOSE
ISSUES YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THAT
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ISSUED A
DIRECTIVE TO HER EXECUTIVE
AGENCIES EXTENDING THE TELEWORK
POLICY UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
I THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR US TO
EXTEND IT THROUGH THE END OF
THE YEAR, INCLUDING HAVING
REMOTE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND WORKING
CLOSELY STILL WITH FAS AND
MONICA IN OUR CLERK'S OFFICE TO
PROVIDE AN IN-PERSON VIEWING
OPTION SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE
TO COMPLY WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC
MEETINGS SHOULD THE
PROCLAMATION THAT APPLIES TO
THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT IS
NOT -- IF IT'S NOT EXTENDED,
THEN WE WILL HAVE HOPEFULLY A
SAFE ALTERNATIVE FOR FOLKS TO
DO IN-PERSON VIEWING THAT
ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO MEET
REMOTELY.
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THAT.
ALSO HAPPY TO CONNECT WITH YOU
ALL AFTER YOU SEE THE MEMO AND
HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE GRANULAR
DETAIL AROUND THOSE POLICIES.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
COLLEAGUES?
GREAT.
MOVE ONTO AGENDA ITEM 3, WHICH
IS A PRESENTATION ON COUNCIL
BILL.
THIS IS RELATED TO AN
ACCEPTANCE OF A PROPERTY
TRANSFER FOR THE PURPOSES OF
DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIPLE
HOUSING.
ALWAYS EXCITED TO SEE
DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ON OUR AGENDA.
WE HAVE UNTIL 9:50 A.M.
TO HAVE BOTH THE BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PRESENTERS,
EMILY ALVARADO, ALSO HAVE STEVE
SHAIN FROM THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING.
TRACY ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE
LINE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, DID YOU
HAVE INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ON
THIS ITEM AS THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR
HOUSING?
AND IF SO, I WILL HAPPY TO
YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU.
>> VERY BRIEFLY.
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE FOLKS
WHO ARE LINED UP TO PRESENT
TODAY AND FOR YOUR OFFICE'S
FACILITATION TO GET THEM THERE.
THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING
OPPORTUNITY AND I KNOW THAT
MANY PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ANY
PROPERTY THAT WE CAN TO HELP
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE WE
REDUCED THE COST OF OVERALL
HOUSING.
THIS HAS BEEN A PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE SO
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING ANY
OF THE CONVERSATION AND THEN
WITH THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT,
MOVING AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN TO
GET THESE HOUSING UNITS BUILT
AS WE TRANSFER THE PROPERTY, AS
THIS FIRST STEP.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
WHO IS GOING TO KICK US OFF
FIRST?
IS IT GOING TO BE OFFICE OF
HOUSING, OR TRACY, YOU WANT TO
GO FIRST?
>> WE ARE GOING TO GO TO STEVEN
SHAIN AND TO EMILY ALVARADO FOR
THE PRESENTATION.
>> EXCELLENT.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> SORRY FOR LOGISTICS.
DO I NEED TO SHARE SOMETHING OR
THERE IS A POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION?
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
>> IT'S USUALLY WHOEVER IS
PRESENTING USUALLY SHARES THEIR
SCREEN SO --
>> I CAN DO THAT.
IF YOU GIVE ME ONE SECOND.
SORRY.
>> NO.
THAT'S OKAY.
>> THE HOST HAS DISABLED MY
SCREEN SHARING.
>> I.T.
CAN WORK ON THAT AND GIVE YOU
PERMISSION TO SHARE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> YES.
>> SINCE WE HAVE A MOMENT,
MAYBE I CAN ADD A LITTLE
CONTEXT AS WE WAIT FOR THAT TO
GET SHARED.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE SHE NOW HAS
THE AUTHORITY TO SHARE, SO ALL
RIGHT.
THERE WE GO.
I APPRECIATE THE OFFER TO
FILIBUSTER, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> OKAY.
AND I WILL -- I'M TRYING TO
MOVE THIS.
SO THE -- THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TODAY.
AS WE -- AS WAS MENTIONED, THIS
IS REALLY LEGISLATION,
STRAIGHTFORWARD LEGISLATION TO
ACCEPT PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
LAUNDRY SITE, WHICH IS IN THE
MT. BAKER NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND PREVIOUSLY THIS SITE WAS
OWNED -- WAS USED BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AS
CONSOLIDATED LAUNDRY SERVICES.
AND AS YOU MAY RECALL AND AS
MENTIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA IN THE 2019 STATE
CAPITOL BUDGET, THE STATE
LEGISLATURE DIRECTED THE
PROPERTY TO BE TAKEN FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND THERE WAS A HARD
TRANSFER DATE OF JUNE 30th,
2020.
AND THE SITE WILL BE USED PER
THE CITY -- THE CAPITOL BUDGET
PROVISO FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND OTHER KINDS OF BENEFITS,
LIKE RESEARCH AND CLINICAL USES
INCLUDING EARLY LEARNING.
SO THIS IS AN EXCITING
OPPORTUNITY, BUT TODAY IS JUST
THE FIRST STEP IN AVAILING THAT
OPPORTUNITY BY ACCEPTING THE
PROPERTY.
BECAUSE THE CITY CHARTER
REQUIRES COUNCIL ACTION AND
LEGISLATION IN ORDER TO ACCEPT
PROPERTY.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, GOOD
MORNING, THIS IS STEVEN SHAIN.
JUST WANTED TO IDENTIFY THAT
THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL PIECE OF
PROPERTY IN THE MT. BAKER AREA.
A LITTLE SHY OF FOUR ACRES AND
AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED IT'S
REALLY TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE
HOUSING GROUND FLOOR EARLY
LEARNING AND OPEN SPACE.
AS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LITTLE
PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT SITS UP
ON THE NORTH HERE THAT SAYS --
THAT'S A LITTLE PIECE THAT SITS
UNDERNEATH THE MT. BAKER LIGHT
RAIL THAT HAS LIMITED HEIGHTS
CAPACITY, BUT ALL THE PROPERTY
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
OWNS IN MT. BAKER IS GOING TO
BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THE LAUNDRY SITE, KINGS HALL
AND THEN THERE'S A PARKING LOT
ON THE BOTTOM.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- THIS
IS A FAIRLY, IF YOU WILL -- AT
NO COST TO THE CITY, THAT
AUTHORIZES O.H.
TO -- UNDER THE PROPERTY OWNER,
THEIR JURISDICTION AND FAS WILL
GO AHEAD AND MANAGE THE
PROPERTY WITH A LIMITED CAUSE
FROM OFFICE -- A COUPLE OF KEY
ISSUES TO CONSIDER ON THE
PROPERTY.
THE LEGISLATURE SAID THAT THE
CITY WOULD TAKE THE PROPERTY
WITH ALL LIABILITIES, WILL
TRANSFER THE PROPERTY.
WE WENT AHEAD AND DID
SUBSTANTIAL DUE DILIGENCE PRIOR
TO ACCEPTING -- BEFORE WE
ACCEPTED THE PROPERTY, WE DID
AN ENVIRONMENTAL PHASE ONE AND
PHASE TWO.
THERE IS LIMITED EXPOSURE.
JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, IT
WAS A LAUNDRY SITE, NOT A DRY-
CLEANER.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSUME THAT
BECAUSE IT WAS A LAUNDRY,
THERE'S GROUNDWATER
CONTAMINATION FROM THAT.
THERE IS SOME SOIL
CONTAMINATION THAT OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER HAS
SUGGESTED THROUGH A SOIL
MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT THAT CAN
BE TAKEN CARE OF.
ONE OF THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE
NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON AND IT'S AN UP
FRONT REVERSIONARY INTEREST
THAT PROVIDES THE UNIVERSITY
THAT THE CITY HAS TEN YEARS TO
GO AHEAD AND DEVELOP THE
PROPERTY AND WITHIN THAT TEN-
YEAR PERIOD OF TIME IF WE
DON'T, THOSE PORTIONS THAT
COULD BE -- REVERT BACK TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
PARCEL C ON THE NORTH IS NOT
SUBJECT TO THAT REVERSIONARY
INTEREST.
THE OTHER PART OF THE
REVERSIONARY INTEREST IS ONCE
WE GET 200 UNITS IN
CONSTRUCTION ALL THE
REVERSIONARY INTEREST BURNS
OFF.
>> SO ONE ADDITIONAL PIECE THAT
IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS
LEGISLATION IS TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT THE CAPITAL BUDGET PROVISO
DOESN'T ADDRESS ALL THE DETAILS
OF THE PROPERTY TRANSFER AND
THEREFORE WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A
TERM SHEET THAT WILL BE
EXECUTED BETWEEN ME AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
IT'S A NONBINDING AGREEMENT.
IT SPELLS OUT OUR INTENT, BUT
IT DOES COVER A FEW ISSUES THAT
I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL.
ONE IS IT PUTS FORWARD THAT THE
úOFFICE OF HOUSING WILL GO AHEA
AND RELEASE OUR FIRST RFQ
RELATED TO POTENTIALLY A PHASED
REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE BY
JUNE 30th, 2021.
ALSO, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE SITE, NAMELY, ON THE GROUND
FLOOR SPACES, THE TERM SHEET
HELPS SPELL OUT SPECIFIC
DEADLINES THAT WOULD NEED TO BE
ABLE TO BE MET BY THE
UNIVERSITY TO MEET THAT -- TO
MEET OUR RFQ DEADLINE.
IN ADDITION, THE CAPITAL BUDGET
PROVISO EXPLICITLY STATES THAT
UNITS ON THE SITE SHALL COUNT
TOWARDS THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON'S MASTER PLAN
OBLIGATION FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THE TERM SHEET ALSO CARRIES
FORWARD THAT CAPITAL BUDGET
LANGUAGE, BUT SAYING THAT ONLY
UNITS THAT ARE ACTUALLY
CONSTRUCTED WILL COUNT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT
IN ORDER TO COUNT, THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON WILL
BE REPORTING PROGRESS ON THEIR
OBLIGATIONS AS PART OF THEIR
ANNUAL REPORTING TO SDCI.
SO THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT THE
TERM SHEET INCLUDES.
THAT HAS BEEN EXECUTED BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
PENDING MY SIGNATURE.
SO THE NEXT STEPS ON THIS SITE,
YOU SEE WE WERE OPTIMISTIC
THERE, APOLOGIES FOR THE ERROR.
WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS WITH YOU
TODAY ON JUNE 15th, IN
ANTICIPATION OF A FULL COUNCIL
VOTE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO
NOTICE ON THIS TIMELINE IS THAT
JUNE 30th, 2020, IS THE DATE BY
WHICH THE CAPITAL BUDGET
DIRECTS TRANSFER OF THIS
PROPERTY.
SO OUR ACTION IS -- AND YOUR
ACTION IS IN ANTICIPATION OF
WHAT THE CAPITAL BUDGET SAYS
WILL NEED TO HAPPEN.
AND THEN WE WILL BE MOVING
FORWARD SUBJECT TO MORE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
COLLABORATION AND COLLECTIVE
VISIONING AROUND HOW WE RELEASE
AN RFQ FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF
REDEVELOPMENT FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND OTHER PUBLIC
BENEFITS.
AND I'LL STOP THERE.
>> THANK YOU, EMILY.
COLLEAGUES, WE MAY BE HAVING A
LITTLE BIT OF A TECHNOLOGY
ISSUE, AND I.T., I'M GOING TO
ASK THAT YOU ALL GIVE US A
SENSE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO
NEXT, IF ZOOM IS GIVING US A
WARNING THAT WE ONLY HAVE THREE
MINUTES LEFT.
>> THE ISSUE SHOULD RESOLVE
SHORTLY HERE.
IF IT DOESN'T, WE WILL
RECONVENE RIGHT AWAY.
USUALLY THIS GETS A LITTLE TOO
CLOSE -- YEAH.
>> SO IF -- SO THIS MEETING
ABRUPTLY ENDS, THEN
COUNCILMEMBERS AND PRESENTERS
WILL NEED TO CALL BACK IN.
IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING YOU
SAY?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GO AS
LONG AS WE CAN, HOPE THAT -- I
FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN OUR VERY
OWN EPISODE OF 24 HOURS NOW,
AND SO WE WILL HOPEFULLY NOT
SEE AN EXPIRATION OF THE TIME
HERE AND THAT WILL GET
RESOLVED.
TRACY, ANYTHING TO ADD BEFORE I
OPEN THIS UP FOR QUESTIONS?
>> NOPE.
HAVE REVIEWED THE LEGISLATION,
REVIEWED THE PHASE ONE, PHASE
TWO ENVIRONMENTAL.
TALKED TO LAW AS FAR AS WE ARE
CONCERNED THE LEGISLATION IS
READY TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> OKAY.
ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> ONLY THAT MASTER PLANS
REQUIREMENT FOR 450 AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS, 150 OF WHICH ARE
60% OF AMI, AREA TO MEDIAN
INCOME.
>> I'M SORRY.
ONLY 150 ARE BELOW -- ARE 60%
OR LESS AREA MEDIAN INCOME?
>> YES.
AND THE REMAINDER ARE 80% OR
BELOW AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
>> GOT IT.
THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT
QUESTION.
I DIDN'T SEE THIS IN THE
PRESENTATION AND IT COULD BE
THAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE
TIME KEEPER HERE.
HOW MANY HAVE FAMILY SIZED
UNITS VERSUS ONE BEDROOMS, ET
CETERA?
>> FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OR
UNDER THE MASTER PLAN?
FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT, I WILL
SAY WE ARE NOT THERE YET.
WHAT THE CAPITAL BUDGET PROVISO
SAYS AND WHAT WE HAVE SAID AS
PART OF THE TERM SHEET IS WE
ARE GOING TO REDEVELOP THE SITE
WITH AN EYE -- FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE AT THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING, THAT MEANS WE
TYPICALLY DO A MIX OF UNITS TO
ACCOMMODATE FAMILIES AND SINGLE
INDIVIDUAL WORKING PEOPLE.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO
IDENTIFYING THAT MIX AS PART OF
THE REDEVELOPMENT RFQ AND
WELCOME YOUR INPUT AND FEEDBACK
AS WE DO SO.
>> GREAT.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF HOW WE
WOULD PROVIDE FEEDBACK, WHAT'S
THE STRUCTURE FOR THAT, FOR
COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR
PRIORITIES REFLECTED IN TERMS
OF THAT REDEVELOPMENT PLAN?
>> I WELCOME YOUR THOUGHTS ON
HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE.
CERTAINLY ONE THING WE ARE ABLE
TO DO AS WE HAVE DONE ON OTHER
PUBLICLY OWNED SITES, INCLUDING
SOME HOMEOWNERSHIP SITES, IS WE
HAVE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL A
PROPOSAL FOR THE RFQ AND I
WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT IN
THIS CASE.
IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF
PROPERTY AND I KNOW IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE CITY AS T.O.D.
AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> GREAT.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES.
I AM HAPPY TO OPEN THIS UP FOR
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ALREADY
INDICATED TO ME EARLY ON SHE
HAS SOME COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS, PERHAPS SOME
QUESTIONS THAT SHE WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE IN THIS PHASE SO IF FOR
ANY OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED
IN ALSO MAKING SOME COMMENTS OR
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF OR OFFICE OF HOUSING
STAFF, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO
THAT.
SO I AM --
[ NO AUDIO ]
>>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT AS
THIS PROJECT DEVELOPS, WE NEED
TO STEWARD OUR CITY RESOURCES
AND MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING
THE NEED FOR GOOD JOBS AS THIS
PROJECTS DEVELOPS, PARTICULARLY
FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
THIS PARCEL IS A BLOCK AWAY
FROM THE MT. BAKER LIGHT RAIL
STATION AND A BLOCK AWAY FROM
THE INTERSECTION OF MLK AND
RAINIER AVENUE.
SO A LOT OF COMMUNITY PLANNING
ALREADY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, PEOPLE
LOOKING FOR SAFER SPACE.
FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL IS THERE
AND SO THE STUDENTS NEED THAT
AREA TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND
A SAFER PLACE FOR THEM TO BACK
AND FORTH.
THERE'S CONVERSATION HAPPENING
ABOUT MOVING THE METRO BUS
DEPOT, SO THAT THERE IS LESS
PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AS PEOPLE
TRY TO GET AROUND THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I JUST WANT TO LET
COUNCILMEMBERS KNOW THAT ONCE
THIS PROJECT TRANSFERS AND
ESPECIALLY ONCE THE LAUNDRY
FACILITY AND THE KINGS HALL ARE
DEMOLISHED, IT'S GOING TO LEAVE
A HUGE HOLE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TEN
YEARS POTENTIALLY BEFORE
ANYTHING DEVELOPS THERE, WE
JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THIS IS REALLY THOUGHTFUL AND
REALLY INTENTIONAL IN NOT
LEAVING A GIANT HOLE IN THE
GATEWAY INTO THE RAINIER
VALLEY.
YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKING TO A
CONSTITUENT YESTERDAY WHO SAID
THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY,
SEVEN ACRES ALTOGETHER OF
DEVELOPABLE LAND, REALLY CLOSE
TO DOWNTOWN, SO WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE DO HERE
IS VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT
PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY,
CENTERING WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE
IN THESE PROJECTS, AND MAKING
SURE THAT THIS IS ALSO
CENTERING EQUITY AS WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO DIRECTOR, YOU AND I HAVE --
THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY
ARE REFLECTED FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING IN THE KIND OF
DEVELOPER THAT IS SOUGHT AS
THIS PROJECT BEGINS.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING IN
VERY CLOSE CONTACT WITH YOU AS
THIS CONTINUES.
THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
COLLABORATION, SORRY, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I WILL SAY ONE THING, OUR HOPE
IS THERE IS DEVELOPMENT ON THIS
SITE BEFORE TEN YEARS, JUST TO
POINT OUT THAT THE TEN YEARS IS
REALLY RELATED TO A
REVERSIONARY INTEREST THAT THE
UNIVERSITY WOULD GET IN THE
EVENT THAT NO PROGRESS IS MADE.
BUT WE DO INTEND TO MOVE
FORWARD NEXT YEAR WITH AN RFQ
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE SOME
MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THIS SITE
THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH
COMMUNITY VISION FOR BEFORE
THEN.
>> I THINK I APPRECIATE THAT
CLARIFICATION AND THAT SORT OF
THREADING OF THE NEEDLE THERE.
I THINK WE HAVE SEEN IN THE
PAST THAT SOMETIMES THE CITY
HAS GOOD INTENTIONS AROUND
DEVELOPMENT AND MOVING FORWARD
WITH DEVELOPMENT AND THEN ONE
THING HAPPENS AND THEN ANOTHER
THING HAPPENS AND ANOTHER THING
HAPPENS AND THE NEXT THING WE
KNOW WE ARE IN YEAR TEN AND
STILL HAVEN'T DEVELOPED THINGS
AND THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM OF
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING.
THAT'S MORE OF A CRITICISM OF
THE FULL ECOSYSTEM IN WHICH WE
AS A CITY -- [ NO AUDIO ]
>> THAT THIS IS GOING TO
ADVANCE AND MAKING SURE THERE'S
CONTINGENCY PLANNING IN THE
EVENT THAT SOMETHING FALLS
THROUGH, WE WANT TO HAVE GOOD
CONTINGENCY PLANNING TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CAN SORT OF PIVOT
IN AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS
PRESENTED BY THIS POTENTIAL
PROJECT.
I THINK I SAW COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S HAND GO UP.
ANY OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE
MAKE SURE TO RAISE YOUR HAND.
COUNCILMEMBER -- [ NO AUDIO ]
>> SHOULD I GO AHEAD?
>> YES, PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, OF COURSE
STRONGLY SUPPORTS BILINGUAL
CITY HOUSING.
I WANTED TO -- THE CONTEXT OF
HOW THIS CAME ABOUT OR IS
COMING BACK.
I UNDERSTAND THESE ARE THE
FIRST STEPS.
IT'S A REAL SHAME THAT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CLOSED
THE LAUNDRY DESPITE WORKERS AND
THEIR UNIONS SAYING IT WAS NOT
THE RIGHT KIND OF STEP BECAUSE
IT HAS ENDED UP LAYING SOME OF
OUR MOST MARGINALIZED WORKERS
OFF.
THEY WERE ALREADY NOT BEING
PAID ENOUGH FOR THEIR LABOR BUT
AT THE SAME TIME MANY OF THE
EMPLOYEES WERE IMMIGRANT AND --
FROM IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND
MANY OF THEM WERE WOMEN AND SO
WHILE ABSOLUTELY WE WOULD
WELCOME AND CELEBRATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT IS ALSO
A REMINDER THAT WE DON'T WANT A
SITUATION WHERE SOMETHING THAT
IS SOCIALLY BENEFICIAL IS TAKEN
AWAY AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE
THAT'S SOCIALLY BENEFICIAL
WOULD IN PLACE WE WANT BOTH, WE
WANT THE JOBS, PUBLIC SECTOR,
UNIONIZED JOBS AND WE WANT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE ONLY
WAY WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT IS
IN ADDITION TO PROJECTS LIKE
THIS, TO HAVE A MAJOR EXPANSION
OF PROGRESSIVE REVENUES BY
TAXING BIG BUSINESS SO THAT WE
HAVE BOTH JOBS AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
>> WELL SAID.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS, EITHER FOR -- [
AUDIO DIFFICULTY ]
>> OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
OF COURSE, THIS ITEM WILL BE ON
THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA FOR OUR
CONSIDERATION AND WE HOPE TO BE
ABLE TO HEAR MORE DIALOGUE
ABOUT IT AT THIS AFTERNOON'S
FULL COUNCIL.
BUT THIS CONCLUDES THIS
PRESENTATION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU I
THINK ARE THE PRIME SPONSOR OF
THE LEGISLATION SO IF YOU WANT
TO CLOSE THIS DISCUSSION OUT,
NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO
THAT.
AND THEN WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
MOVE INTO REPORTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
AND THANKS AS WELL TO MY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR
REMINDING US OF THE HISTORY OF
THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY AND I
THINK WITH THAT HISTORY, THE
STATE LEGISLATURE AND OUR CITY
WANTED TO ACT WITH URGENCY, BUT
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE WORKERS
ON THAT SITE AND THE UNIONS
THAT THEY WORK WITH THAT
REPRESENT THEM AND THE
COMMUNITY OUTCRY TO MAKE SURE
THIS WAS A PIECE OF PROPERTY
THAT WENT BACK TO PUBLIC USE,
IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PROPERTY
THAT SLIPPED OUT OF THE CITY'S
HANDS.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE
COMMUNITY CONTINUING TO RAISE
THE CONCERNS AND STRONGLY ECHO
THE MESSAGE FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO SAID THIS NEEDS TO BE
REINVESTMENT INTO OUR COMMUNITY
WHERE THERE WAS GOOD LIVING
WAGE JOBS BEFORE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION FROM EMILY AND HER
TEAM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, STEVEN.
YOU GUYS HAVE RAISED THE FLAG
FOR US TO SAY THIS NEEDS TO
HAPPEN BEFORE JUNE 30th SO WE
REALLY APPRECIATE THE URGENCY
IN WHICH YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER
THIS PRESENTATION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT OUR HOPE WAS
ACTUALLY TO HAVE A VOTE ON
JUNE 22nd.
SO IT GIVES A BIT OF TIME TO
HAVE LITTLE BIT MORE QUESTIONS
ANSWERED FROM FOLKS.
IF THAT SOUNDS OKAY WITH YOU, I
LOVE THE URGENCY, BUT I SEE YOU
NODDING.
IF THAT'S OKAY, WE WILL HAVE
ANOTHER WEEK TO --
>> YEAH.
>> NO.
THAT'S GREAT.
>> YEAH.
>> OH, SORRY.
ZOOM IS SILLY.
IT KEEPS FREEZING UP.
[ AUDIO DIFFICULTY ]
>> PERFECT.
PERFECT.
AND THEN JUST TO END, I WANT TO
LIFT UP A FEW OF THE PIECES AS
WE CENTER THE NEXT STEPS
AROUND, AS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES DESCRIBED AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TOO, TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT PHASE
IS DRIVEN BY THE COMMUNITY WHO
HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME RE-
ENVISIONING WHAT THAT AREA OF
OUR CITY LOOKS LIKE AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE ROOTS THAT HAVE
BEEN PUT DOWN THERE LONG AGO
CONTINUE TO REMAIN IN PLACE AND
FOR THOSE WHO MAYBE HAVE BEEN
DISPLACED TO OFFER MORE PLACES
FOR PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO, I
THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND AS WE LOOK AT JUST THE
BASICS ON THE PIECE OF PAPER OR
THE PROPOSAL THAT HAD BEEN
WORKED BY THE CITY AND BY THE
STATE LEGISLATURE, LIFTING UP A
FEW PIECES HAS ALREADY BEEN
DESCRIBED, THIS IS NEXT TO
LIGHT RAIL.
WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, THIS HAS
CHILD CARE INCLUDED.
LIKE WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, THIS
IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
INFUSE COMMUNITY DRIVEN
PRIORITIES AND SERVICES AND
AMENITIES TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP
WITH LABOR IN DOING SO AND I
THINK THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S POINT ABOUT LONG-TERM
GOOD LIVING WAGE JOBS IS ALSO A
GREAT REMINDER.
THIS IS REALLY ANOTHER WAY FOR
US TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
WHEN WE BUILD ON PUBLICLY OWNED
LAND.
WE SAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
MONEY IN PRODUCTION.
SO FOR ANYBODY WHO IS WATCHING
OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THE
MESSAGES AROUND BUILD HOUSING,
BUILD IT WITH COMMUNITY
ORIENTED AMENITIES AND DO IT ON
PUBLIC PROPERTY TO MAINTAIN
PUBLIC CONTROL, THIS IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE AND I THINK, AS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES SAYS,
CONTINUING TO ASK AS A
COMMUNITY VOICE BEING CENTERED
IS IMPORTANT.
WITH THAT I AM HOPING TO HEAR
QUESTIONS FROM YOU ALL IN THE
NEXT WEEK AND LOOK FORWARD TO A
VOTE ON THE 22nd.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND MY
APOLOGIES FOR CREATING A LITTLE
BIT OF CONFUSION IS NOT ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA.
IT IS ON NEXT WEEK'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA.
AND OFFICE OF HOUSING FOLKS ARE
AVAILABLE TO YOU ALL, AS ARE
TRACI AND LISH FOR ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF
CLARIFICATION OR MANDATORY WORK
THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO ON
THESE BILLS.
OKAY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE
GOING TO THANK OUR PRESENTERS,
EMILY AND STEVE, FOR BEING WITH
US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
WITH US THIS MORNING AND YOU
ARE FREE TO DISCONNECT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HAVE A GREAT DAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
BYE-BYE.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES, WE ARE GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE QUICKLY
INTO THE PREVIEW OF TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS.
COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND DO THE
ORDINARY ROLE CALL ROTATION,
WHICH THIS WEEK BEGINS WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, THEN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, STRAUSS,
HERBOLD, LEWIS, MORALES,
MOSQUEDA AND I WILL CONCLUDE
THIS AGENDA DISCUSSION ITEM.
WE HAVE UNTIL 11:00 A.M.
TO DO OUR REPORTS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE UP THE
WHOLE HOUR, HOWEVER.
BUT WE HAVE UNTIL 11:00 A.M.
AND THEN WE WILL TRANSITION
INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE
END OF AGENDA ITEM 4. SO LET'S
GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS I HAVE
SORTED THROUGH 22,000
PASSIONATE EMAILS ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY INCLUDING 1,000 FROM
DISTRICT FOUR CONSTITUENTS AND
I WANT TO THANK MY CONSTITUENTS
FOR SHARING THEIR VIEWS AND
IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO REIMAGINE
PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS PAST WEEK I PARTICIPATED
IN TWO MORE DEMONSTRATIONS FOR
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
ONE IN THE WALLINGFORD
NEIGHBORHOOD OF DISTRICT FOUR
ON WEDNESDAY, AND THEN ON
FRIDAY I JOINED 60,000 OTHER
SEATTLEITES IN A HISTORIC
SILENT MARCH FROM JUDKINS PARK
TO JEFFERSON PARK.
POWERFUL DEMANDS FOR CHANGE.
WE KNOW THERE'S MUCH WORK TO DO
TO FULFILL OUR PLEDGE TO
DEMILITARIZE OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT, RESTRICT THE USE OF
EXCESSIVE FORCE, INCREASE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
AND POLICE UNION CONTRACTS,
GIVE SUBPOENA POWER TO OUR
OFFICIAL INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT
BOARDS AND REDIRECT MEANINGFUL
FUNDING TOWARD EFFECTIVE
COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES.
VERY SOON I LOOK FORWARD TO
VOTING IN FAVOR OF LEGISLATION
TO BAN CHOKEHOLDS, TO BAN
CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND TO UNCOVER
BADGES.
ON TODAY'S INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR I AM CO-
SPONSORING COUNCIL BILL 119808
WITH COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
THIS WOULD BE -- THIS IS
AMENDING OR REPEALING,
ACTUALLY, SECTION 12A.10.010 OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
THIS SUPPORTS THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE SEATTLE
RE-ENTRY WORK GROUP TO REPEAL
THE PROSTITUTION LOITERING LAW
TO ELIMINATE A SOURCE OF
DISPROPORTIONATE HARM TO PEOPLE
OF COLOR -- I WANT TO THANK
BUDGET CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND PUBLIC SAFETY
CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
THE -- SO WE CAN START TO
LEVERAGE THE BUDGET MAKING
AUTHORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I AGREE WE MUST REIMAGINE TRUE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND STRATEGIC AND
SUSTAINABLE WAYS THAT ARE
ANTIRACIST AND GROUNDED IN THE
VOICES, THE NEEDS AND THE HOPES
OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES SO
WE CAN PREVENT HARM AND ACHIEVE
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ON THAT
REPORT.
SEEING AND HEARING NONE.
WE WILL MOVE TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
THANK YOU.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
GONZALES.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THE MOVEMENT FOR LGBT RIGHTS
HAS JUST WON A HISTORIC
VICTORY.
SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT AN
EMPLOYER VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW
WHEN THEY FIRE SOMEONE FOR
BEING GAY OR TRANSGENDER.
THIS IS TRULY HISTORIC AND IT'S
NOT AS IF THE COURT OF THE
ESTABLISHMENT HAVE LED ON THIS,
IT'S DECADES OF ACTIVISM,
COURAGEOUS WORK ON THE STREETS
AND IN THE WORKPLACES BY LGBTQ
RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND BY
EVERYBODY WHO SUPPORTS HAVING
SOCIETY FREE OF OPPRESSION SO
CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WHO
HAVE FOUGHT FOR THIS OVER A
DECADE, MANY WHO ARE NOT WITH
US ANY LONGER, BUT IT'S SO
IMPORTANT THAT THE MOVEMENT HAS
WON THIS VICTORY AND THE --
ALONGSIDE THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
AND THIS REALLY IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF HOW WHEN WE GET
ORGANIZED AND FIGHT, WE CAN
WIN.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
SUSTAIN ABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THRE ARE TWO BILLS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM MY
OFFICE RELATED TO THE JUSTICE
FOR GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT.
THE FIRST BILL BANS THE CITY
FROM OWNING AND THE POLICE FROM
USING CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS
LIKE TEAR GAS, MACE, FLASH
BANGS, PLASTIC BULLETS AND
OTHER WEAPONS THAT ARE
TYPICALLY USED INDISCRIMINATELY
ON GATHERINGS OF PEACEFUL
PROTESTS.
SOME OF THESE WEAPONS LIKE TEAR
GAS ARE BANNED FROM YOU AND --
GENEVA CONVENTION HAVE BEEN FOR
DECADES AND YET MAYOR DURKAN
úAND THE SEATTLE POLICE UNDER
HER CONTROL HAVE REPEATEDLY ON
A DAILY BASIS USED THEM IN THE
RECENT PROTESTS AGAINST THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
AS WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK,
SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
WITNESSED THIS AND THOSE WHO
HAVE NOT HAVE HEARD PUBLIC
TESTIMONY FOR DAYS SEATTLE
POLICE USED THESE WEAPONS ON
THE STREETS OF CAPITOL HILL.
THEY FALSELY CLAIMED THAT
PROTESTERS WERE BEING VIOLENT
OR RIOTING OR THROWING
PROJECTILES.
CHIEF BEST HAS DOUBLED DOWN ON
THIS ACCUSATION, THE PROTEST
MOVEMENT WAS THROWING
PROJECTILES AND THAT THESE
WEAPONS WERE NEEDED TO BE
UNLEASHED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN
SAFETY OF POLICE.
THIS IS ABSOLUTE GAS LIGHTING.
THE POLICE WERE THERE ARMED TO
THE TEETH AND THE -- AGAINST
AND TOTALLY UNARMED PROTEST
MOVEMENT AND WE NOW HAVE PROOF
THAT THE POLICE WERE --
VIOLENCE BECAUSE WHEN MOUNTING
PUBLIC OUTRAGE EVENTUALLY
FORCED MAYOR DURKAN TO PULL THE
POLICE BACK OUT OF THE STREETS
OF CAPITOL HILL, THE VIOLENCE
HAS LEFT WITH THEM AND NOW, AS
YOU KNOW, THE CAPITOL HILL
AUTONOMOUS ZONE OR CAPITOL HILL
ORGANIZED PROTEST, KNOWN BY
DIFFERENT TERMINOLOGY HAS NOW
BECOME SOMETHING THAT HAS
ATTRACTED GLOBAL MEDIA
ATTENTION FOR POWERFUL EXAMPLE
OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE BUT, OF
COURSE, THIS IS ONLY THE
BEGINNING.
WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
BUT SO TODAY'S BILLS STAND IN
THAT POWERFUL CONTEXT OF WHAT
HAS HAPPENED, NOT ONLY THERE ON
CAPITOL HILL, BUT AROUND THE
NATION, DEMONSTRATORS HAVE BEEN
INJURED BY THESE WEAPONS AND AS
I MENTIONED EARLIER AN OPEN
LETTER SIGNED BY OVER 1,000
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS EXPLAIN
WEAPONS LIKE TEAR GAS AND MACE
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE
DANGER OF COVID AS WELL.
WE NEED TO BAN THESE WEAPONS
AND IT CANNOT BE A MATTER OF
RECOMMEND -- MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE POLICE
AND THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT
THAT THESE WEAPONS NOT BE USED
BECAUSE CLEARLY, CLEARLY THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SIMPLY NOT
WORKING SO THESE BANS, IN MY
VIEW, ARE THE BARE MINIMUM THAT
WE SHOULD BE DOING AS A CITY
COUNCIL.
IF SEATTLE PASSES THE
LEGISLATION BANNING CHEMICAL
WEAPONS AND OTHER SO-CALLED
CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS, IT WILL
BE HISTORIC.
IT'S NOT UNPRECEDENTED.
IN MINNEAPOLIS THE CITY
COUNCIL, I BELIEVE, HAS PASSED
SUCH A BAN.
THIS IS BEING DISCUSSED
THROUGHOUT THE NATION IN CITIES
AND STATES THROUGHOUT THE
NATION.
YET IT WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST
CITIES THAT DOES IT IF SEATTLE
DOES THIS, THIS AFTERNOON, AND
úTHIS WILL BE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE
POSSIBLE.
AND BILLS LIKE THIS BY
THEMSELVES WILL NOT BE ENOUGH.
BUT THEY WILL HAVE A TANGIBLE
IMPACT IN REDUCING POLICE
VIOLENCE.
I WILL BE BRINGING TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL BASED
ON CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
MY STAFF MEMBERS HAVE
DISTRIBUTED THEM TO ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS BY EMAIL.
I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS OR
CLARIFICATIONS THAT MAYBE
NEEDED.
THE AMENDMENTS REPHRASE TWO
RECITALS AND CLARIFY THE
DEFINITION OF CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS.
THEY DO NOT MAKE ANY
SBSTANTIVE POLICY CHANGE.
ON THE AGENDA, THERE'S ALSO A
BILL 42 MY OFFICE BANNING THE
USE OF CHOKEHOLD FROM ERIC
GARNER TO MANUEL ELLIS TO
GEORGE FLOYD, WE HAVE ALL SEEN
THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF
CHOKEHOLDS BEING USED AS THE
POLICE AND, AS I MENTIONED LAST
WEEK, SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS PUT
IN PLACE BY OTHER CITIES, MOST
RECENTLY IN MINNEAPOLIS.
OF COURSE WE NEED TO BE SOBER.
CHOKEHOLDS -- BANNING
CHOKEHOLDS BY THEMSELVES IS NOT
ENOUGH.
IT IS A NECESSARY FIRST STEP
AND IT IS A STATEMENT, BUT IF
BOTH THESE BILLS ARE PASSED
WITHOUT WATERING DOWN BY THE
CITY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE
MAKING AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT
THAT THIS IS THE KIND OF CITY
WE WANT TO LIVE IN.
WE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A
SOCIETY WHERE CHOKEHOLDS ARE
HARMFUL WEAPONS, ARE A QUESTION
OF POLICE OPINION WHETHER THEY
USE THEM OR NOT.
WE WANT TO LIVE IN A SOCIETY
WHERE THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED AND
THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERED
ABHORRENT.
I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN POINT.
IN ADDITION TO ACTUALLY PASSING
THE LAW BUT WE NEED TO BE
SOBER.
THAT WON'T BE ENOUGH.
CHOKEHOLDS WERE BANNED IN NEW
YORK CITY WHEN ERIC GARNER WAS
KILLED AND THAT OBVIOUSLY THE
LAW WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SAVE
HIM.
IN ADDITION TO CRITICAL
LEGISLATION LIKE THESE BILLS,
IT WILL ALSO BE IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE TO BUILD THE MOVEMENT
THAT IS ACTUALLY THE REASON WE
ARE EVEN HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION.
BUT BEYOND THAT, WE NEED REAL
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES,
LIKE INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED
POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD WITH
FULL POWERS OVER THE POLICE
INCLUDING HIRING, FIRING AND
SUBPOENA POWERS.
WE NEED TO END THE SYSTEM OF
IMPUNITY, WHICH IS WHY THE
POLICE MURDERS OF BLACK, BROWN,
POOR, HOMELESS PEOPLE, PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, IT
CONTINUES UNABATED JUST IN THE
-- IN THE MIDST OF THIS
UPRISING, WE SAW ATLANTA POLICE
MURDER THE RAYSHARD BROOKS ON
SATURDAY AFTER HE CELEBRATED AN
88-YEAR-OLD BIRTHDAY.
THESE BILLS TODAY ARE AN
IMPORTANT BUT ONLY VERY SMALL
COMPONENT OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE
NEEDED.
THEY ARE THE BARE MINIMUM SO I
LOOK FORWARD TO THE CITY
COUNCIL VOTING "YES" WITHOUT
WEAKENING THE BILLS OR DELAYING
BECAUSE THEM BECAUSE THAT WILL
BE FIRST STEP TO TRULY PUTTING
ACTION TO THE WORDS BLACK LIVES
MATTER.
WE DO NEED AN INDEPENDENTLY
SELECTIVE BOARD, WE NEED TO
DEFUND THE POLICE 50% AND STEPS
LIKE WHAT SAN FRANCISCO HAS
TAKEN WHICH IS THE NEED TO GO
TOWARDS COMMUNITY, ORGANIZERS,
COMMUNITY WORKERS AS OPPOSED TO
POLICE RESPONDING TO
NONCRIMINAL EMERGENCY CALLS.
THOSE ARE IMPORTANT PARTS OF
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BY 50%.
AND SO WE ARE GOING TO BE
DISCUSSING THAT SOON.
JUST LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I
WANTED TO SAY -- SHARE WITH THE
PUBLIC THAT WE SHOULD ALL STAND
WITH THE WORKERS AT TRADER
JOE'S ON CAPITOL HILL IN
SEATTLE.
SO PLEASE SIGN THEIR PETITION.
WE WILL BE SHARING -- SHARING
THE LINK TO THE PETITION ON OUR
SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE WILL BE POSTING IT ON OUR
COUNCIL OFFICE BLOG AS WELL.
BUT AS MANY OF YOU MAY ALREADY
KNOW THE STORE -- ON CAPITOL
HILL ON MADISON WAS ABRUPTLY
CLOSED ON THE DAY THAT DOZENS
EMPLOYEES TOOK ACTION IN
SUPPORT OF THE MOVEMENT FOR
BLACK LIVES.
IN THE PETITION THE WORKERS SAY
THAT THEY BELIEVE THE STORE HAS
BEEN CLOSED BY THE EXECUTIVES
TO WARD OFF A SO-CALLED HOT
SPOT FOR WORKER ORGANIZING.
TO QUOTE THE WORKERS, TRADER
JOE'S CORPORATE HAS
AGGRESSIVELY SQUASHED WORKERS
ORGANIZING FOR YEARS AND HAS A
LONG RECORD OF RETALIATION.
THIS IS THE MOST DRAMATIC
RETALIATION ANY TRADER JOE'S
STORE HAS SEEN TO DATE BUT IT
IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
ORGANIZING TO SECURE A LIVING
WAGE, HEALTH INSURANCE FOR ALL
WORKERS AND BASIC PROTECTIONS
AGAINST COVID-19, THE LARGE
MAJORITY OF US WERE ALREADY
LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND
MANY OF US WERE WORKING WITHOUT
HEALTH INSURANCE WHILE RISKING
STEADY EXPOSURE TO THE PUBLIC
IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.
WE ARE SADDENED BY THE STORE
CLOSURE FOR EACH OF US IT MEANS
BOTH A LOSS OF COMMUNITY AND A
LOT OF FINANCIAL SECURITY IN
THE MIDST OF AN ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN.
WE RECOGNIZE IT'S A LOSS FOR
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AND WE
HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US IN
DEMANDING THAT TRADER JOE'S
OPENS STORE NUMBER 130 AND
RESTORE OUR JOBS IMMEDIATELY,
UNQUOTE.
SO JUST WANTED TO LET THE
WORKERS AT TRADER JOE'S KNOW
THAT MY OFFICE AND SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE STAND IN FULL
SOLIDARITY WITH THEM AND WITH
THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT
AND THAT IF THE TRADER JOE'S
WORKERS ARE WATCHING, PLEASE
CONTACT MY OFFICE AND ALSO IF
TRADER JOE'S WORKERS FROM
OUTSIDE SEATTLE ARE ALSO
WATCHING, PLEASE CONTACT US AS
WELL.
AS THE WORKERS POINT OUT,
WORKERS IN TRADER JOE'S
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY HAVE
BEEN ORGANIZING AND THIS
FIGHTING TO OPEN THE STORE BACK
AGAIN IS PART OF THE NATIONWIDE
ORGANIZING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE,
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO AGAIN THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
BRINGING FORWARD THE TWO BILLS
RELATED TO BANNING CHOKEHOLDS
IN SEATTLE AS WELL AS BANNING
THE USE OF CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS.
I THINK FOLKS RECEIVED LAST
WEEK A PRELIMINARY MEMO FROM
THE OPA AND THE OIG WHERE THEY
LET US KNOW THAT THINK
RESEARCHED WHETHER OR NOT THERE
ARE RESOURCES OUT THERE THAT
ADVOCATE A BLANKET BAN OF WHAT
THE BILL BEFORE US CALLS CROWD
CONTROL DEVICES.
THEY ALSO SAY THAT THEIR
SUMMARY IS A PRELIMINARY REPORT
AND COMMIT TO CONTINUING TO
GATHER AND SYNTHESIZE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE USE OF
CROWD MANAGEMENT TOOLS BY SPD,
AND MAKE NOTE THAT THE ANALYSIS
OF THE SUFFICIENCY AND
APPROPRIATENESS OF SPD POLICY
AND TRAINING RELATED TO CROWD
MANAGEMENT WOULD BE A
FORTHCOMING PRODUCT.
WE HEARD FROM THE OPA AND THE
OIG YESTERDAY THAT THEY HAVE
NOT HAD TIME TO COMPLETE THIS
PRODUCT.
AND THEY ARE REQUESTING
ADDITIONAL TIME AS IT RELATES
NOT TO THE CHOKEHOLD
LEGISLATION BUT TO THE
LEGISLATION ABOUT THE BAN ON
CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS.
WE KNOW THAT FRIDAY THE COURT
HAS ISSUED A TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THE
CITY OF SEATTLE FOR THE USE OF
THESE WEAPONS FOR THE NEXT TWO
WEEKS.
AND ALSO THE CPC HAS BEEN
UNABLE TO MEET TO DECLARE THIS
LEGISLATION DUE TO THE
COMPRESSED TIMELINE.
I THINK THEY HAVE A MEETING
SCHEDULED ON THE 17th, AND I
THINK I HAVE SHARED WITH MOST
PEOPLE, CORRESPONDENCE THAT WE
HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE CDC OVER
THE WEEKEND.
WE RECEIVED A MEMO FROM THE LAW
DEPARTMENT WHICH WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING MORE LATER AND WE
WILL ALSO BE HEARING FROM THE
-- WE WILL BE JOINED BY THE APA
DIRECTOR, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
AND THE CPC CO-CHAIRS.
JUST WANT TO SORT OF FLAG THAT
AS IT RELATES TO THE CHOKEHOLD
BILL, IF THE COUNCIL DOES
DECIDE THEY WANT TO MOVE
FORWARD THERE ARE SOME
AMENDMENTS THAT IF I HAVE NOT
ALREADY SHARED WITH YOU, I
WILL DO SO VERY SOON AND AS IT
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE
TEAR GAS LEGISLATION OR THE
CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS
LEGISLATION, THE AMENDMENTS DO
THINGS LIKE CLARIFY THE
LEGISLATION RESTRICTS CROWD
CONTROL WEAPONS IN SCENARIOS OF
CROWD DISPERSAL AND MANAGEMENT.
IT RECOGNIZES THE AUTHORITY OF
OUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS TO
ADVISE IN THESE MATTERS UNDER
THE 2017 ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE AS APPROVED BY THE
COUNCIL.
THEY HAVE A STATUTORY AUTHORITY
TO ADVISE US IN THESE MATTERS
AND THE AMENDMENT REQUESTS A
RECOMMENDATION FROM THEM BY MID-
AUGUST BUT DOES NOT HOLD UP THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
RECOMMENDATION. ING ANY
THE AMENDMENT ALSO REQUIRES THE
CITY ATTORNEY TO NOTIFY THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE
COURT MONITOR AND THE COURT
ITSELF USED THE FORCES ALT THE
HEART OF THE CONSENT DECREE AND
CHANGES TO CITY POLICIES HAVE
TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE COURT.
IT EXPRESSES AN INTENT FOR CITY
COUNCIL TO, IF NECESSARY,
ENGAGE WITH LABOR RELATIONS ON
IMPLEMENTATION, AND IT
CLARIFIES THAT ADDITIONAL
DAMAGES ARE POSSIBLE UNDER
FEDERAL AND STATE LAW TO EXCEED
THE 10,000 LIMIT IN THE
ORIGINAL BILL.
AND THEN IT ALSO CLARIFIES THAT
THE LEGISLATION APPLIES TO THE
ALLEGED CONDUCT THAT OCCURS
AFTER ENACTMENT OF THE
LEGISLATION.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER SMALL
CHANGES, BUT THEY ARE MOSTLY
TECHNICAL.
AGAIN, INTEND TO, IF I HAVEN'T
SENT YOU A COPY OF THOSE
AMENDMENTS, WE WILL DO SO
SHORTLY WELL BEFORE THE NOON
DEADLINE.
AND THEN ALSO AS IT RELATES TO
THE CHOKEHOLD LEGISLATION, A
COUPLE OF SMALL AMENDMENTS
THERE TOO.
AGAIN, CLARIFYING THAT THE
LEGISLATION APPLIES TO ALLEGED
CONDUCT AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF
LEGISLATION.
ALSO, LIKE THE OTHER BILL,
REQUIRES THE CITY TO NOTIFY THE
DOJ, THE MONITOR AND THE COURT,
AND THEN FINALLY EXPRESSES AN
INTENT, IF NECESSARY, FOR THE
COUNCIL TO ENGAGE WITH LABOR
RELATIONS ON IMPLEMENTATION.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE IN
RESPONSE TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S REPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT ASPECT?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I AM NOT SURE, I AM SO SORRY
ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE
EVERYBODY WHO IS ON THE ZOOM
RIGHT NOW SO I'M NOT SURE IF
YOU HAVE CENTRAL STAFF ON THE
LINE TO TALK ABOUT THE
AMENDMENTS, BUT I GUESS MY BIG
QUESTION IS, OKAY, PERHAPS FOR
THE SPONSOR OR THE SPONSOR OF
THE AMENDMENTS, MY BIG QUESTION
IS, IS THERE A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AS THE PRIME SPONSOR IS
PLANNING TO BRING FORWARD, AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD THE
AMENDMENTS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
THAT?
I ASK THAT SO WE CAN BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHETHER THERE'S
HARMONY IN THE ONES
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS
BRINGING FORWARD AND ALSO VERY
BRIEFLY WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE
URGENCY OF PASSING THE
LEGISLATION BECAUSE I THINK
THAT WHILE THE TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER WAS PUT IN
PLACE ON FRIDAY, EVEN MEMBERS
OF THAT LEGAL TEAM HAVE BEEN
REACHING OUT SAYING, PLEASE
MAKE THIS PERMANENT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL
MAKING THIS PERMANENT.
SO JUST WANTED TO ASK THAT SORT
OF TECHNICAL QUESTION ABOUT THE
AMENDMENTS, IF YOU WILL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT OF
HAVING ANYONE FROM COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF ON THE LINE WITH
US TODAY.
THIS ALL SORT OF REVOLVED VERY
QUICKLY.
BUT I WOULD OPEN IT UP TO
EITHER COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD OR
SAWANT TO -- [ AUDIO DIFFICULTY
]
>> PERHAPS REACT TO THAT
QUESTION POSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> I DON'T THINK THEY COVER THE
SAME TECHNICAL ISSUES, BUT I
DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
CONFLICT BETWEEN OUR
AMENDMENTS.
I HAVE ONLY GLANCED AT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENTS AND I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS ONLY
HAD THE BENEFIT OF HEARING ME
DESCRIBE MY AMENDMENTS.
I DON'T THINK SHE HAS RECEIVED
THEM YET.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> MY OFFICE HASN'T SEEN THE
AMENDMENTS.
ALL I HEARD WAS WHAT SHE
DESCRIBED JUST NOW.
SO WE WILL, OF COURSE, BE
LOOKING AT THE AMENDMENTS, BUT
I WILL ASSURE THE PUBLIC RIGHT
NOW THAT IF ANY OF THE
AMENDMENTS ARE FULFILLED WITH
LOOPHOLES, I WILL BE OPPOSING
THEM.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
CERTAINLY WELCOME THE TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER BUT I DON'T
THINK THAT IT IS ENOUGH AND, IN
FACT, I DON'T -- I AM ACTUALLY
AT A LOSS TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THE -- HOW ANY COUNCILMEMBER
CAN PLAY A ROLE IN DELAYING THE
PASSAGE OF WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY
BARE MINIMUM LEGISLATION TO
ADDRESS THE HORRIFIC VIOLENCE
THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR
SOCIETY AND THAT THE MAYOR OF
THIS CITY HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE
FOR, SO I JUST -- I JUST FAIL
TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF
TRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE REALLY
WANT TO LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE
IT IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE
POLICE OR THE ESTABLISHMENT
WHETHER OR NOT TO USE HORRIFIC
WEAPONS ON THEIR OWN
CONSTITUENTS.
NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
IT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
I WANT TO LIVE IN A SOCIETY
WHERE THOSE WEAPONS ARE NOT
USED AT ALL AND, FURTHERMORE,
FOR DECADES A GENEVA CONVENTION
HAS HAD AN EFFECT ON THESE --
THESE QUESTIONS ARE BEING
ASKED.
AS FAR AS THE OIG IS CONCERNED,
THE DID THE OIG ASK THE FEDERAL
COURT NOT TO ISSUE A TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO COME UP
WITH AN OPINION?
WHY IS IT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT
THIS.
MOST IMPORTANT THE OIG HAS
SIMPLY NOT EARNED THE
CREDIBILITY ASKED FOR THIS
DELAY BECAUSE THIS HASN'T
WORKED.
THE OIG HAS BEEN AWARE OF
POLICE ABUSE FOR YEARS.
ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN DEMANDING
NATION.
NOW WE HAVE A NATIONWIDE AND
GLOBAL UPRISING AND THERE IS
PRESSURE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT
TO DO SOMETHING.
SO IT'S EXACTLY THE WRONG WAY
TO GO TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO
DELAY THE LEGISLATION -- THE
POSSIBLE LEGISLATION BECAUSE AN
ENTITY THAT HAS BEEN AWARE OF
POLICE ABUSE AND DONE NOTHING
TO ADDRESS IT IS SAYING, WE
NEED TO DELAY BECAUSE THEY NEED
TO EXAMPLE IT.
ON WHAT BASIS HAVE THEY EARNED
ANY RIGHT TO EXAMINE IT.
WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE, IF NOT MORE.
I HAVEN'T SEEN A FORMAL POLL
BUT I CAN TELL THE SOCIETY IN
SEATTLE IS COMPLETELY OUTRAGED
AT THE USE OF THESE WEAPONS.
PEOPLE ARE SAYING, THIS IS
SEATTLE IN THE 21st CENTURY.
THIS IS HAPPENING, THIS IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION
HAS NOT MET TO DISCUSS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WITH
LEGISLATION EITHER AND I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY THEY SHOULD BE
HELD UP BY ANY MEANS.
THE POLICE COMMISSION HAS
POINTED OUT THE -- THEY HAVE
MADE THOSE POINTS ABOUT
CHEMICAL WEAPONS AS WELL.
AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE
ACTIVISTS AND THESE LEGISLATION
ARE DOING WHAT THE OIG AND THE
SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO DO FOR
YEARS, WHICH IS STOP POLICE
ABUSE.
>> OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU MADE
A COMMENT ABOUT HOW --
[ AUDIO DIFFICULTY ]
>> FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS, SO I
HAVE A HARD TIME RECONCILING
HOW THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT
POLICE, QUOTE, YEARS, UNQUOTE,
WHEN THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN AROUND
FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS.
SO, AGAIN --
[ AUDIO DIFFICULTY ]
>> THE INTEGRITY OF THESE
AGENCIES THAT ARE PART OF OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT THE
ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL IN FAVOR OF
PUTTING INTO -- [ AUDIO
DIFFICULTY ]
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU'RE
CUTTING OUT.
>> SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> YEAH.
COUNCIL --
>> I'M SORRY.
[ AUDIO DIFFICULTY ]
>> YEAH, YOU'RE CUTTING OUT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
CAN YOU HEAR ME, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
I WAS GOING TO --
>> I CAN HEAR YOU.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
SPEAKING.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, I SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IN
CONTINUING THIS FOR ONE WEEK IN
LIGHT OF JUDGE JONES ISSUING
THE TRO.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHARED, THAT
WE ARE -- THE OIG JUST CAME
INTO EXISTENCE IN THE LAST 18
MONTHS, BUT JUST THE POINT THAT
MAKES COMMON SENSE TO ME IS THE
OPA, THE OIG AND THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION ARE ASKING
FOR MORE TIME AND THEY WERE
CREATED FOR THIS REASON.
THEY HAVE THE SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTISE AND WE ARE ALSO GOING
TO HAVE A BRIEFING BY LEGAL AND
WE WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT.
NOBODY IS SAYING THAT IT'S OKAY
TO DO THIS.
RIGHT NOW N█OTHING IS GOING TO
HAPPEN, HOPEFULLY, NOW THAT WE
HAVE THE TRO IN PLACE AND THE
PROTESTERS DID HAVE STANDING SO
WE WILL MOVE FORWARD IN ONE
WEEK.
SO I WANT TO SHARE THAT I
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
IN MOVING THIS OVER ONE WEEK SO
WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION AND WE
CAN MAKE THIS SOLID AND WE CAN
MAKE IT STAY AND WE CAN BE
LEGALLY UPHELD.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
COLLEAGUES, I AM CONTINUE TO
HAVE SOME INTERNET DIFFICULTY
SO I MAY HAVE TO CALL INTO THE
MEETING TO SORT OF AVOID THE
SKIPPING AROUND IN THE FEED.
BUT I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT HAS ANOTHER COMMENT TO
MAKE SO I'M GOING TO HAND IT
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
AND THEN I REALLY WANT TO WRAP
UP TODAY'S CONVERSATION.
AGAIN, IT'S 10:30 A.M.
WE HAVE UNTIL 11:00 A.M.
FOR THIS BEFORE WE HAVE TO
TRANSITION INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION.
SO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I AM
GOING TO LET HAVE YOU LAST WORD
ON THIS AND THEN MOVE ON.
IF YOU ALL LOSE ME DUE TO
TECHNOLOGY, SHE HAS THE LIST OF
ROLE CALL AND IS AT THE READY
TO CALL ON THE NEXT
COUNCILMEMBER.
SO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU
HAVE THE LAST WORD.
>> THANK YOU.
IT IS ACCURATE TO SAY THAT THE
OIG ITSELF AS AN ENTITY, AS AN
OFFICE HAS NOT BEEN IN
EXISTENCE FOR YEARS.
HOWEVER, I THINK THE IMPORT OF
MY COMMENTS WAS VERY CLEAR THAT
THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN PLACE
FOR YEARS, DECADES, THE OIG
ITSELF MAY NOT HAVE BEEN BUT
THE OIG IS SIMPLY THE LATEST
INCARNATION INSIDE A SYSTEM
THAT HAS NOT WORKED AND I DO
NOT ACCEPT THAT THE SO-CALLED
INTEGRITY OF AGENCIES THAT HAVE
COMPLETELY LET DOWN AND
BETRAYED BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALLOWED
POLICE VIOLENCE AND RACISM TO
CONTINUE, VIOLENCE AGAINST --
VIOLENCE AND BRUTALITY AGAINST
PEACEFUL PROTEST MOVEMENTS TO
CONTINUE.
I DON'T THINK INTEGRITY IS THE
WORD TO USE IN RELATION TO THE
AGENCY THAT HAVE COMPLETELY
FAILED ORDINARY PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY OUR MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES.
I THINK THE QUESTION IS WILL
THE COUNCIL UPHOLD THE
INTEGRITY IN THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN BRUTALIZED AT THE HANDS OF
THE POLICE AND I HOPE THAT THAT
QUESTION WILL BE TAKEN INTO
CONSIDERATION WHEN THE CITY
COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON VOTES --
I THINK, IT SEEMS LIKE,
SHAMEFULLY, TO DELAY THE
LEGISLATION.
JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT KIND
OF ROLE THE OIG IS PLAYING.
SAID WHAT ABOUT AN LARGE SCALE
RESPONSE TO AN ACTIVE SHOOTER
OR TERRORIST REQUIRES OUTSIDE
ASSISTANCE WHERE THESE WEAPONS
MIGHT BE NECESSARY?
THE THREAT OF TERRORISM HAS
ALWAYS BEEN USED ESPECIALLY BY
THE RIGHT WING TO CURTAIL CIVIL
LIBERTIES AND OIG IS TRYING TO
RAISE THAT NOW.
THAT WAS RAISED IN VERY BAD
PROCEEDINGS THAT HAPPENED AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL, INCLUDING
THE PATRIOT ACT AND I DON'T
THINK THAT IN SEATTLE WE SHOULD
ALLOW THAT KIND OF SPECTER TO
BE RAISED IN ORDER TO PREVENT
SUCH A BARE MINIMUM LEGISLATION
FROM PASSING AND I WILL
MAINTAIN ONCE AGAIN IN CLOSING
THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE ARE
GOING TO LEARN IN ANOTHER WEEK
THAT WE DON'T ALREADY KNOW,
HUNDREDS OF US THAT GOT TEAR
GASSED AND MACED, WE KNOW THESE
LEGISLATIONS NEED TO PASS TODAY
WITHOUT WATERING DOWN.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
THERE'S A LOT THAT I CAN
RESPOND TO IF WE UNPACK WHAT
YOU JUST SAID, BUT I THINK WE
ARE GOING TO SORT OF JUST LEAVE
IT THERE BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED
TO MOVE ALONG AND I APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION, AND LET'S GO
AHEAD AND MOVE THROUGH THE
REPORTS.
SO NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE ON TODD'S FULL AGENDA
OR INTRODUCTION OF THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
NEIGHBORS COMMITTEE IS ON JULY
22nd, ALSO BIRTHDAY OF ONE OF
OUR DEAR FRIENDS.
AT FULL COUNCIL TODAY I WILL BE
DISTRIBUTING A PROCLAMATION
HONORING THOMAS WHITMORE.
HE IS A 19-YEAR VETERAN OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND
HE'S RETIRING THIS WEEK.
AS YOU WILL HEAR THIS
AFTERNOON, HIS LIFE INCLUDES
TALES FROM WORKING ALL OVER THE
GLOBE AND ONCE ALMOST GETTING
HIS HAIRCUT BY JANE GOODELL.
I WILL BE EXCITED TO SHARE WITH
YOU -- THAT'S JUST A PREVIEW
FOR THIS AFTERNOON.
THE PROCLAMATION WAS
DISTRIBUTED TO YOUR OFFICES
LAST FRIDAY AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO YOU SIGNING ON.
LOOKING OVER LAST WEEK, AFTER
LAST MONDAY, WE SAW WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN WE MEET NONVIOLENT
DEMONSTRATION WITH FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS WITH PEACE.
THE REACTION IS PEACE.
WE HAD HEARD ACTIONS LEADING UP
TO LAST MONDAY'S -- UP TO LAST
MONDAY IN CAPITOL HILL AND
AROUND THE EAST PRECINCT WAS
DUE TO A THREAT OF ARSON ON THE
EAST PRECINCT.
WE DID EVENTUALLY SEE AN
INDIVIDUAL ATTEMPT TO LIGHT THE
EAST PRECINCT ON FIRE AND
INDEED, THE PEACEFUL RESIDENTS
EXERCISING THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS CAUGHT THE
FIRE IMMEDIATELY.
I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT THE MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE THERE WERE THERE TO BE
PEACEFUL.
WE ARE SEEING HISTORY IN THE
MAKING.
PUBLIC OPINION ON WHAT IS AND
WHAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE PUBLIC
POLICY IS CHANGING BEFORE OUR
EYES.
EVEN IN THE LAST MONTH.
THIS IS BOTH A -- WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT SEEDS THAT
WILL GROW FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME.
SOMETIMES ALL IT TAKES IT A BAG
OF DIRT, A SHOVEL AND A BAG OF
SEEDS.
THIS IS BOTH A METAPHOR AND OUR
REALITY.
I AM GLAD THAT WE HAVE
SEATTLE'S NEWEST COMMUNITY
GARDEN ADDED TO OUR CITY'S LAND
AND IF THE CREATORS WANT IT TO
BE A PERMANENT INSTALLATION,
MAYBE IT COULD EVEN BECOME A
PATCH.
THE FUTURE IS LEFT TO SEE THOSE
ANSWERS PROVIDED TO US.
IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
TAKE THIS MOMENT TO CREATE
MEANINGFUL POLICY TO REFLECT
THE CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION
AND CREATE PUBLIC POLICY THAT
WILL LAST FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME.
ADDITIONALLY LAST WEEK, LAST
WEDNESDAY, THE LAND USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE HELD A
POST ADOPTION HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL 119769, THE
EMERGENCY PERMITTING
LEGISLATION WE ADOPTED IN
APRIL.
WE STILL EXPECT A REPORT BACK
ON THE ABILITY FROM SDCI TO
HAVE VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
BY JUNE 26th.
AS WE EXPERIENCE AND CONTINUE
TO EXPERIENCE THIS MORNING, IT
IS CLEAR THAT THERE ARE
CONTINUING DIFFICULTIES WITH
MEETING REMOTELY, EVEN THOUGH
ZOOM DOES WORK MOST OF THE
TIME, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FROM
TIME TO TIME.
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, MY TEAM
ATTENDED THE MAYORS INDUSTRIAL
MARITIME STRATEGY MEETING TO
HEAR FROM STANDARD
STAKEHOLDERS AND DISCUSS HOW
THE PROCESS CAN MOVE FORWARD
GIVEN THE CHANGED LANDSCAPE WE
ARE IN.
LAST THURSDAY I JOINED THE
PLANNING COMMISSION TO DISCUSS
MY CHILD CARE NEAR YOU PROPOSAL
WHICH WILL BE MOVING FORWARD
AFTER OUR SUMMER BUDGET SEASON.
I ALSO HELD MY WEEKLY DISTRICT
OFFICE HOURS FOR RESIDENTS.
WE SPOKE ABOUT TRANSIT,
HOMELESSNESS, BLACK LIVES
MATTER, THE POLICE BUDGET AND
CAFE STREETS.
I AM EXCITED TO HEAR LAST WEEK
THAT THERE IS MOVEMENT ON THE
CAFE STREETS PROPOSAL AND IF
THAT ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT
ALREADY BEEN MADE, I LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT ANNOUNCEMENT
BEING MADE THIS WEEK.
THIS COMING WEEK I WILL BE
ATTENDING ASSOCIATION OF
WASHINGTON CITY MEETINGS,
REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMITTEE
MEETINGS AND MORE MEETINGS WITH
DISTRICT SIX RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK ON
THAT REPORT?
>> HEARING AND SEEING NONE, WE
WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
I WANT TO AGAIN THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
REFERENCING SOME OF THE
ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING OUT OF SAN
FRANCISCO, SPECIFICALLY MAYOR
LONDON BREED ANNOUNCED THAT
CALLS ON HELP RELATED TO
NONCRIMINAL MATTERS INVOLVING
MENTAL HEALTH, THE HOMELESS
RESPONSE, SCHOOL DISCIPLINE AND
NEIGHBOR DISPUTES, POLICE
OFFICERS WILL BE REPLACED WITH
TRAINED, UNARMED PROFESSIONALS
TO RESPOND TO CALLS FOR HELP.
THIS IS A REALLY, I THINK,
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW CITIES
ARE SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER, AS
WE REIMAGINE POLICING SERVICES
TO INSTEAD BE PUBLIC SAFETY
SERVICES THAT AREN'T DEPENDENT
ON POLICING.
JUST SORT OF TYING THE
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM SAN FRANCISCO
TO THE WORK THAT WE BEGAN LAST
WEEK IN COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETING, JUST REMINDING FOLKS
THAT WE HAVE ASKED CENTRAL
STAFF FOR A BREAKDOWN OF THE
CALLS TO 911 THAT THE CITY
RECEIVES IN ORDER TO BREAK OUT
BY TYPE OF ACTIVITY IN ORDER TO
HELP US DETERMINE WHAT A MORE
USEFUL AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSE
WOULD BE TO THOSE TYPES OF
CALLS.
ALSO THE CITY AUDITOR HAS BEGUN
DOING RESEARCH ON OTHER
JURISDICTIONS THAT DON'T HAVE
POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THAT
INSTEAD HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY
DEPARTMENTS, THAT HAVE MERGED
THE ROLES OF POLICE OFFICERS
WITH FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS
RESPONDERS AS WELL AS OTHER
IMPORTANT PROFESSIONALS WHO
HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE
AND CAN DELIVER MORE -- A
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES THAT DO NOT NEED A
POLICE RESPONSE.
SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE IN
SEATTLE HAVE DONE ALREADY AS IT
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
REESTABLISHING THE CSO PROGRAM
IS ANOTHER STEP IN THAT
DIRECTION AND I'M REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THE COUNCIL ON THIS AREA OF
ABUSING THE BUDGET REALIGNMENT
PROCESS TO NOT ONLY MAKE NEAR
TIME CUTS TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO TO BEGIN
THIS LARGER DISCUSSION OF WHAT
A PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT CAN
LOOK LIKE FOR OUR CITY.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE BEFORE US
TODAY A BILL, COUNCIL BILL
119803, WHICH REQUIRES OFFICERS
TO DISPLAY THEIR BADGE NUMBERS
WHILE ALLOWING MOURNING BANDS
TO OBSERVE THE DEATH OF
OFFICERS BUT ON A DIFFERENT
PART OF THE BADGE, NOT
OBSCURING THE NUMBERS.
CONTACTED THE COUNCIL ABOUT
BADGE NUMBERS NOT BEING
VISIBLE.
AFTER I ANNOUNCED I WAS
DRAFTING LEGISLATION, WE KNOW
THAT CHIEF BEST ISSUED A
DIRECTIVE TO ALL OFFICERS TO
DISPLAY THEIR BADGE NUMBERS
WHILE WEARING MOURNING BANDS.
AND I APPRECIATE HER ORDER BUT
NEVERTHELESS THIS REQUIREMENT
MUST BE ADOPTED INTO LAW.
THE LEGISLATION ITSELF AMENDS
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
3.28.130, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY
CREATED AFTER THE 1999WTO
PROTEST IN SEATTLE WHEN PEOPLE
NOTED THEY COULD NOT VIEW THE
NAME TAGS OF OFFICERS.
SO FORMER COUNCILMEMBER
STEINBRUECK SPONSORED
LEGISLATION TO CREATE A NEW
SECTION OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE
TO REQUIRE DISPLAY OF NAME
TAGS.
THIS LEGISLATION AMENDS THAT
AND IS EMERGENCY LEGISLATION
AND WOULD GO INTO EFFECT
IMMEDIATELY UPON SIGNATURE BY
THE MAYOR.
AND IT ALSO REQUESTS THAT THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT WORK
WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES WHOSE PEACE OFFICERS
ARE REASONABLY, MAYBE
ANTICIPATED TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC
OR CRIMINAL LAWS IN SEATTLE TO
DEVELOP POLICY THAT REQUIRED
THOSE PEACE OFFICERS WHEN
ENFORCING THE LAWS IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE TO CONFORM WITH
REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING BADGES.
SO THAT WILL BE BEFORE US TODAY
ON THE FULL COUNCIL PIVOTING
OVER TO THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, JUST WANT TO NOTE
THAT HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
PLANNING CONTINUES IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE
ENVIRONMENT TO ASSESS NEED AND
ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO FOOD,
TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION
AND PROVISION OF EMERGENCY
MEALS AT PERMANENT SUPPORTED
HOUSING LOCATIONS.
AND HSD REPORTS THAT ONE OF THE
MOST PRESSING CONCERNS FOR THE
AGING AND DISABILITIES SERVICES
DECISION AND ITS SERVICE
PROVIDERS IS RECOVERY AND
PREPARING TO GO BACK TO OFFICE
AND IN-PERSON SERVICES.
AGENCIES ARE EXPLORING A
STAGGERED RETURN TO IN-PERSON
SERVICES BASED ON URGENCY.
FOR EXAMPLE, AGENCIES SERVING
DEAF, HARD OF HEARING ON ARE ON
A QUICKER TIMELINE TO REOPEN
DUE TO THE CHALLENGES
EXPERIENCED FOR THAT COMMUNITY
WITH REMOTE COMMUNICATION.
AS IT RELATES TO ACTIVITIES
FROM LAST WEEK, ALONG WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I
PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY
TASK FORCE.
THE MEETING FOCUSED ON
INTRODUCTIONS AND A HIGH LEVEL
BRIEFING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AT THE MEETING SDOT RELEASED A
DECISION TREE ABOUT THE PATH
FOR RESOLVING THE CLOSURE OF
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
THE STARTING POINT IS A
DECISION DURING THE SUMMER
ABOUT WHETHER A REPAIR IS
FEASIBLE BASED ON BRIDGE
STRUCTURAL TESTING THAT IS
ONGOING.
ONE PATH IN THE CHART LEADS TO
REPAIR WITH AN OPENING AS SOON
AS 2022, WITH THE LIFESPAN OF
THAT REPAIR OF UP TO TEN YEARS.
IN THIS PATH THE BRIDGE STILL
WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED
AROUND 2032.
THE SECOND PATH LEADS TO
REPLACEMENT WITH CONTROLLED
DEMOLITION.
SDOT ESTIMATES ROUGHLY THAT A
NEW BRIDGE COULD TAKE ABOUT
FOUR TO SIX YEARS, OPENING
APPROXIMATELY IN THE 2024, 2026
TIMELINE, DEPENDING ON THE
TYPE, SIZE AND LOCATION OF THE
REPLACEMENT.
SO THE DECISION TREE NOTES
THAT, AGAIN, THAT WE ARE POISED
TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT A PATH
THIS SUMMER AND ESTIMATES I
HAVE HEARD HAVE BEEN AROUND
FOUR WEEKS.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT NEXT STEPS FOR
PROGRESS ON THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE.
I ALSO LAST WEEK ATTENDED THE
LEAD POLICY COORDINATING BOARD
MEETING AND HEARD ABOUT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CO-LEAD
MODEL AND DISCUSSED CONCERNS
THAT DESPITE THE CLEAR NEED IN
OUR CITY, CO-LEAD IS NOT
RECEIVING REFERRALS FROM SPD
RIGHT NOW AND THERE IS A
DISCUSSION OF GREAT CONCERN
ABOUT THAT.
UNDERSTANDING THAT POLICE
OFFICERS MAY HAVE THEIR FOCUS
ON OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE
CITY, IT IS A FRUSTRATION OF
THE MODEL FOR CO-LEAD AND FOR
THE UNDERLYING PROGRAM LEAD
THAT THEY RELY ON REFERRALS
FROM OR IF NOT ALWAYS
REFERRALS, EVEN FOR THE SOCIAL
CONTACTS APPROVAL OF CLIENTS
FOR LEAD.
AND SO THE MEETING WAS REALLY
FOCUSED ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE
COULD BE A WORKAROUND WITHIN
THE CURRENT CONTRACT TO THIS
PROBLEM OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE
UNABLE TO GET APPROVAL OF
REFERRALS RIGHT NOW AND WE
TALKED ABOUT HAVING THE CITY
ATTORNEY PLAY THAT ROLE.
BECAUSE BASICALLY AS IT RELATES
TO SOCIAL CONTACTS, THE ROLE OF
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TO
CONFIRM THE PRIOR CRIMINAL
HISTORY OF THE POTENTIAL
CLIENT.
WE DID NOT COME TO ANY
SOLUTIONS IN THIS MEETING.
THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF
FRUSTRATION IN THE ROOM
BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE NEED FOR
THESE SERVICES IS GREAT IN THE
MEETING, YOU KNOW, FOLKS
INVOLVED IN THE DELIVERY OF CO-
LEAD SERVICES WERE LOOKING OUT
THEIR WINDOW.
THEY CAN SEE PEOPLE IN DISTRESS
OUT THEIR WINDOW RIGHT THEN
DURING THE MEETING AND I FOUND
THAT AT BEST.
THE PROBLEM WITH REFERRALS AT
BEST IS BUREAUCRACY AT ITS WORST
WORST.
THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE SEEN AS
REALLY HAVING A VERY CRUEL
IMPACT ON PEOPLE WHO CAN USE
THESE SERVICES.
THERE ARE EMPTY HOTEL ROOMS
THAT CO-LEAD HAS ACCESS TO
WHERE PEOPLE COULD BE COMING
INSIDE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING
THIS MORE WITH COUNCILMEMBERS
AND SEEING HOW WE CAN ASSIST
CO-LEAD IN DELIVERING THESE
SERVICES.
I WANT TO REFERENCE, OF COURSE,
THAT FRIDAY IS JUNETEENTH.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT SINCE
2013 THERE HAS BEEN A BILL
BEFORE CONGRESS OBSERVING THE
JUNETEENTH INDEPENDENCE DAY AND
I WANT TO THROW OUT THERE THAT
WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER AS A
CITY OBSERVING THIS IMPORTANT
RECOGNITION OF BLACK
INDEPENDENCE IN OUR COUNTRY AND
TO DO SO FOR OUR CITY.
BUT THERE ARE BOTH OBSERVED
CITY HOLIDAYS AS WELL AS CITY
HOLIDAYS THAT ARE NOT FORMALLY
OBSERVED WITH TIME OFF, AND
CITIES ENACT THEIR OWN
HOLIDAYS.
I HAVE NOT FOUND A LOT OF
CITIES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN
UNIQUE OBSERVED HOLIDAYS WITH
TIME OFF.
I SPENT SOME TIME OVER THE
WEEKEND LOOKING THAT UP.
BERKELEY DOES HAVE A MALCOLM X
DAY WHERE THEY CLOSE GOVERNMENT
FUNCTIONS AND SCHOOLS AND OF
COURSE WE HAVE OUR OWN
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY BUT WE
ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS THAT DAY.
I WANT TO THROW OUT THERE THAT
GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE HAS
BEEN AN EFFORT BEFORE CONGRESS
SINCE 2013. ONE OF THE EVENTS
GOING ON IS A RALLY AT 1:00
P.M.
AT JUDKINS PARK.
THE GOAL IS TO EDUCATE THE
PUBLIC ON THE THINGS THAT OUR
CITY, STATE AND COUNTY CAN DO
TO ADDRESS THE IMPEDIMENTS TO
JUSTICE, POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND EQUALITY.
MAKE SURE WE HAVE
REPRESENTATIONS FROM ALL LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENT TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE THE
GAPS LIE.
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS EVENT AT
WWW.NOTTHISTIME.GLOBAL.
I AM GOING TO BE SPEAKING AT
THE NEXT STEPS EVENT ABOUT THE
COUNCIL'S EFFORTS REGARDING THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET AND SOME OF THE SPEAKERS
THUS FAR INCLUDE FAMILIES
IMPACTED BY POLICE USE OF
DEADLY FORCE, LEADERS, CONGRESS
PEOPLE, ADAM SMITH AND PRAMILA
JAYAPAL.
MICHELLE MERIWEATHER OF THE
URBAN LEAGUE, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE URBAN LEAGUE.
LISA DUGARD, DOW CONSTANTINE,
MONIQUE CHERYL OF EQUAL RIGHTS
WASHINGTON.
MAYOR DURKAN, THE PUYALLUP
TRIBE WILL BE REPRESENTED.
WE WILL HEAR FROM DOMINIQUE
DAVIS OF PASSAGE-WAY, PASTOR
JAHMAL COLE OF THE GREATER
GOSPEL TEMPLE.
TYSEN OF THE GOODWILL
MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH,
ANDREA COPAN OF BIRD BAR PLACE,
CEO OF BIRD BAR PLACE.
WILL YARD JIMMERSON OF UNITED
BETTER THINKING AND STATE
SENATOR.
THAT'S THE RUNNING LIST.
AND I CONTACTED EVERYBODY OVER
THE WEEKEND ABOUT THIS EVENT.
ANDRA TELLER IS VERY INTERESTED
IN HAVING AS MUCH
REPRESENTATION FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL AS POSSIBLE AND IS
TRYING TO DO IN ADVANCE OF THE
DAY HEADCOUNT.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY,
PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW WHETHER
OR NOT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
ATTEND AND TO THOSE OF YOU WHO
HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN BACK TO ME,
THANK YOU.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENT FOR
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
HEARING AND SEEING NOTHING,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I HAVE
ONE POINT OF FEEDBACK FOR YOU.
I RECEIVED A RATHER DISTURBING
MESSAGE FROM A CONSTITUENT WHO
IS A LAWYER, WHO PRIMARILY
WORKS WITH VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND HAS A LONGTIME
CAREER AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND
SHE INDICATED THAT SHE HAS BEEN
TRYING TO GET PROTECTION ORDERS
SERVED BY THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE TOLD HER
THAT THEY ARE ONE TO TWO WEEKS
BEHIND IN SERVING PROTECTION
ORDERS, SPECIFICALLY FROM THE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE UNIT,
AND THAT THE REASON THAT HAS
BEEN PROVIDED TO HER IS BECAUSE
OFFICERS HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE
UNIT TO DO CROWD CONTROL IN THE
DEMONSTRATIONS AND WHAT NOT.
AND SO THIS IS JUST SOMETHING
THAT SHE RECEIVED AS OF LAST
THURSDAY IN TERMS OF RESPONSE
FROM THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S OF SIGNIFICANT
OPERATIONAL CONCERN AND JUST
IMPACT CONCERN IF WE ARE SEEING
THE SITUATION IN WHICH DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PROTECTION ORDERS ARE
BEING DELAYED BY ONE TO TWO
WEEKS IN TERMS OF SERVICE.
SO WANTED TO FLAG THAT FOR YOU
AS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR IN
HOPES THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO
HOPEFULLY DIG INTO THAT A
LITTLE BIT AND PROVIDE US AND
THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH SOME
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT
THAT ASPECT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP ON
THAT.
YOU'RE GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY
ALSO TO REFERENCE THE FACT THAT
I DID NOT MENTION IN MY REMARKS
THE FACT THAT I HAVE INQUIRED
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO FIND
OUT WHY IT IS THAT CHIEF BEST
IS TELLING THE PUBLIC THAT
RESPONSES TO 911 CALLS IN THE
EAST PRECINCT WILL TAKE THREE
TIMES AS LONG AS THEY WOULD
UNDER ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE
HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT
IS TELLING US THAT POLICING
RESPONSES IN THIS CASE, THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER DD
ORDERS, AS WELL AS THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND TO
911 CALLS, AS WELL AS THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO APPROVE CO-
LEAD REFERRALS, JUST HAVE A LOT
OF CONCERN ABOUT THE RESPONSE
FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO DO THE
WORK THAT WE DEPEND ON THEM TO
DO IN THIS TIME AND OUR CITING
THE NEED FOR CROWD CONTROL AS
THE REASON FOR THAT.
I WILL ABSOLUTELY ADD THIS TO
THE OTHER TWO ISSUES I
MENTIONED EARLIER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
AND I THINK, COLLEAGUES,
FRANKLY, THAT THIS KIND OF
RESPONSE OR REACTION TO THE
CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE HAVING
RIGHT NOW ABOUT DEFUNDING THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY, I
CERTAINLY THINK THESE EXAMPLES
RELATED TO REFERRALS AND
CERTIFICATION OF WHO GETS INTO
THE CO-LEAD PROGRAM, SERVICE OF
PROTECTION ORDERS RELATED TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WHO KNOWS
WHAT OTHER ISSUES ARE NOT
GETTING ATTENTION RIGHT NOW.
CERTAINLY MAKES THE CASE FOR ME
AS TO WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE
TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION
AROUND RIGHT SIZING THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN A WAY THAT IS
CONSISTENT WITH OUR
EXPECTATIONS AND THE
EXPECTATIONS OF THE PUBLIC.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SORT OF
LOOK AT THE LINES OF SERVICE,
IF YOU WILL, THAT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS ENGAGING IN RIGHT
NOW, AND RIGHT SIZING
ACCORDINGLY TO MAKE SURE THAT
THIS TYPE OF WORK, IF IT'S NOT
BEING PRIORITIZED BY THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, WHICH APPARENTLY IT
SEEMS NOT TO BE, THAT, AGAIN,
THAT MAKES THE CASE AS TO WHY
IT IS EVEN THAT MUCH MORE
IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE TAKING THESE FACTS
INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE
CONVERSATION AND THE DEBATE
AROUND WHAT WE WANT PUBLIC
SAFETY, POLICING AND EMERGENCY
SERVICES TO LOOK LIKE AT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IN THE LONG
TERM.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE SHORT-TERM
NEEDS RIGHT NOW RELATED TO
THESE IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES AND IN THE SHORT TERM,
WHILE WE WERE DOING THIS LONG-
TERM WORK, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
US TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE
SERVICES IN A MANNER THAT IS
RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS,
AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR ONGOING
CONVERSATION IN THAT SPACE AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD YOUR
LEADERSHIP AS WE MOVE FORWARD
IN THAT CONVERSATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
HER REPORT?
OKAY, HEARING AND SEEING NONE.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ONTO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
LET'S SEE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
PUBLIC ASSET AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE THIS
AFTERNOON AGENDA.
DO A QUICK OVERVIEW HERE.
I SHOULD NOTE, THOUGH, THAT I'M
VERY PLEASED AND HAPPY THAT THE
CHIEF LIBRARIAN MARCELLUS
TURNER, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF
PARKS, JESUS AGUIRRE, ARE IN
WEEKLY CONTACT WITH ME WHICH I
APPRECIATE.
SO WE ARE MONITORING PUBLIC
PROJECTS AND CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS AND RELATED
LEGISLATION THAT HOPEFULLY WE
CAN TEE UP SOON.
UPDATE ON PARKS, AGAIN, YOU
WILL GET A WEEKLY UPDATE EMAIL
FROM OUR OFFICE REGARDING PARK
USAGE AND NOW, IF WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE MODIFIED
PHASE ONE UNDER KING COUNTY'S
MODIFIED PHASE ONE, A NUMBER OF
SEATTLE PARK AND REC AND
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL RESUME
WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING
RESTRICTIONS, AS ALWAYS, THAT
WOULD INCLUDE AND WE ARE MOVING
FORWARD WITH OUTDOOR TENNIS
AND BASKETBALL COURTS, DISK
GOLF, COMMUNITY GARDENS AND
SKATE PARKS ARE NOW OPEN FOR
PUBLIC USE.
BOAT RAMPS WILL BE OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC BY JUNE 20th.
ELECTED SWIMMING WILL REOPEN
WITH LIFEGUARDS PRESENT DAILY
STARTING JULY 1st.
AND SEATTLE PARKS AND REC WILL
BE TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR
ATHLETIC FIELD PRACTICES
STARTING JUNE 17th FOR SELECTED
FIELDS WITH PERMITTED PRACTICES
HOPEFULLY STARTING JULY 1st.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE
HONOR TO GIVE THE COMMENCEMENT
SPEECH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON EVANS SCHOOL ALONG
WITH CONGRESSWOMAN JAYAPAL.
I WANT TO THANK AND
CONGRATULATE DEAN AL SOP IN OUR
OFFICE, OUR NEW DISTRICT
DIRECTOR AND MURPHY BUSH, BOTH
OF THEM GRADUATED WITH THEIR
MPAs AND WE GOT TO WATCH THE
GRADUATION AT 4:00 THURSDAY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO TWO OF
OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
THIS WEEK I PLAN TO PARTICIPATE
AND ATTEND THE SCHEDULED BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS.
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU GUYS.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ONTO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, PLEASE,
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND
INVESTMENTS ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
AGENDA.
I PERSONALLY DO HAVE TWO BILLS
ON FOR INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL TODAY.
COUNCIL BILL 119807 REPEALING
THE DRUG TRAFFIC LOITERING
ORDINANCE WHICH I'M INTRUSION
WITH COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AS
CO-EXPERIENCE.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
AND COUNSEL BILL 119808
REPEALING THE PROSTITUTION,
LOITERING ORDINANCE WHICH HAS
BEEN CO-SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS PEDERSEN AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
ESSENTIALLY CRIMINALIZED
STEREOTYPES AND THE ACTIVE
HANGING OUT AND LOOKING LIKE
THE STEREOTYPE OF A DRUG DEALER
OR SEX WORKER.
I STRESS THAT POINT BECAUSE IN
SCENARIOS WHERE ACTUAL
ENFORCEMENT OF THE UNDERLYING
ISSUE, SO DRUG DEALING OR THE
ACT OF EXCHANGING SEX FOR
MONEY, THERE ARE DIFFERENT
STATUTES CRIMINALIZING THOSE
ACTIVITY, POSSESSION WITH
INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE AND
PROSTITUTION.
SO FOR THAT REASON, THE
STATUTES HAVE REALLY ONLY HAD
THE EFFECT OF CRIMINALIZING
CIRCUMSTANTIAL AND COMPLETELY
INNOCENT BEHAVIOR BECAUSE IF
THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE,
THERE'S OTHER STATUTES THAT
PEOPLE WOULD BE PROSECUTED
UNDER.
SO CITY ATTORNEY HOLMES
SUPPORTS BOTH OF THESE REPEALS
AND INDEED HAS HAD AN OFFICE
POLICY AGAINST CHARGING THESE
CRIMES FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS,
BUT THE ELECTION OF A NEW CITY
ATTORNEY COULD CHANGE THAT AND
FOR THAT REASON, WE SHOULD JUST
GO AHEAD AND MAKE IT PERMANENT,
INDEED, A PERMANENT REPEAL WAS
RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY'S RE-
ENTRY OF POLICY REPORT.
>>> WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL
ACCOMMODATE THE POLICY GOAL OF
MAKING SURE THAT WORKERS IN OUR
GIG ECONOMY WILL MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED
FOR TIME, AND TIME SPENT ON
ACQUIRING PPE AND DISINFECTANT,
AND THAT IS COMPENSATED AND
THAT THEY ARE GETTING SOME DUE
CONSIDERATION FOR THAT, AND THE
ESSENTIAL WORK THAT THEY ARE
DOING.
WE THINK THAT THIS BILL IS
IMPORTANT AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO ITS CONSIDERATION AT FULL
COUNCIL THAT AFTERNOON.
LIKE A NUMBER OF US HERE, AT
THE COUNCIL, I DID HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY OVER THE WEEKEND TO
VISIT THE CHOP FORMERLY KNOWN
AS THE CHAZ, AND WE WITNESSED
PEACEFUL PROTEST.
I WILL ECHO OTHER OBSERVATIONS,
I WITNESSED PEOPLE DANCING,
COLLABORATING ON PUBLIC HEALTH
REGARDING PROJECTS, HOLDING
MEETINGS ON RACE AND I DID SEE
THAT THE PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN
NEGOTIATING ALTHOUGH I DID NOT
WITNESS THIS MYSELF, BUT
NEGOTIATING WITH THE CHIEF AND
OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEIR INGRESS AND
EGRESS FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES
-- EVERYTHING THAT I SAW
CONSISTENT WITH THE OCCUPATION
OF ACADEMIC BUILDINGS IN THE
1960S OR THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT,
OF 10 YEARS AGO, I RESPECT THE
FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE CHOP, FOR
MAKING PEACEFUL PROTEST.
I WAS APPALLED BUT NOT
SURPRISED TO SEE DEPICTIONS OF
THE CHOP DEPICTED DIFFERENT.
I HATE TO SAY THIS BUT I THINK
IT IS FAR MORE LIKELY THAT THE
CHOP WILL BECOME A BRANCH
CAMPUS OF THE COLLEGE THEN IN
THE CON USED COMMUNIST STATE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THEM AS TRAITORS IN THE CHOP TO
MAKE PROGRESS ON A LOT OF THESE
ISSUES, THAT WE HAVE HAD AROUND
OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN
AMERICAN POLICING.
WITH THAT, I HAVE NO FURTHER
UPDATE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER WEEK
OF WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU FOR
THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
OKAY, SEEING AND HEARING THEN
WE WILL GO MOVE ALONG.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO BEGIN BY
THANKING COUNCIL NUMBER HERBOLD
FOR ACKNOWLEDGING JUNETEENTH.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT
KNOW IT IS COMMEMORATING JUNE
19, WHICH WAS THE DATE THAT
SLAVES IN TEXAS WERE ACTUALLY
MADE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT
THEY HAD BEEN FREED TWO YEARS
BEFORE.
SO AS A NATIVE TEXAN, IT IS AN
IMPORTANT TIME TO COMMEMORATE
WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
CELEBRATED MUCH SOONER.
I ALREADY MADE COMMENTS ABOUT
THE FACILITY SO I DO INTEND TO
WATCH THAT CLOSELY AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT AS I SAID
BEFORE WE ARE CENTERING EQUITY
IN THAT COMMUNITY IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD AS THE PROJECT
CONTINUES.
SO, THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA
BECAUSE WE KNOW WE ARE ALL NOW
IN A BUDGET PROCESS, THAT WILL
INCLUDE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
BOTH AGGRESSIVE REVENUE, AND
THE CALL THAT WE ARE HEARING
FROM OUR COMMUNITY NOW, TO
DEFUND THE POLICE.
SO, I WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE OF
MINUTES TO ZOOM OUT, AND ALLOW
THIS BODY A CHANCE TO REFLECT
ON WHAT THAT MEANS, FOR US.
WE HAVE A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
COPPER 2020.
WE ARE IN A HOLE THAT WE HAVE
TO FILL MAKING SIGNIFICANT
CUTS.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE
SIGNIFICANT NEW REVENUE, I
TAXING THE LARGEST CORPORATIONS
IN THE CITY.
AND WE WILL REQUIRE THEM TO
INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN A
WAY THAT THEY HAVE NOT DONE
BEFORE.
WE HAVE TO FROM OUR NEIGHBORS
TO CUT THE BUDGET TO SPD AND
INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO, AS WE BEGIN TO WEIGH OUR
CHOICES, I WANT TO BE CLEAR
THAT MY NORTH STAR FOR THESE
DISCUSSIONS WILL BE ABOUT
DISRUPTING AND DISMANTLING WHAT
SUPREMACY.
EVERYTHING ABOUT HOW THESE
INSTITUTIONS WORK WILL BE
QUESTIONED, NEED TO BE QUESTIONS
IF WE ARE REALLY GOING TO BE
INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT
CENTRALS AROUND RACIAL EQUITY.
SO, AS WE DISCUSSED WHAT
DEFINING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
REALLY MEANS, BECAUSE LET'S BE
HONEST, WE HAVEN'T ASKED
OURSELVES THESE QUESTIONS YET,
WE SHOULD ASK WHAT DO THE
POLICE DO ALL DAY?
AND, IF WHAT THEY DO IS RESPOND
TO PEOPLE DEALING WITH MENTAL
ILLNESS, TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, TO YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO ARE HANGING OUT, THEN WE
HAVE A PROBLEM.
THE POLICE SHOULDN'T BE
RESPONDING TO THOSE CALLS.
IT IS NOT THEIR JOB.
THEY ARE NOT TRAINED SOCIAL
WORKERS.
THESE THINGS ARE NOT CRIMES.
SO, WE REALLY TO BUILD
COMMUNITY SAFETY IN A WAY THAT
DOES NOT CENTER POLICE, AND
WHEN WE SAY DEFUND THE POLICE,
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE MEAN IS
SHRINK THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND
SHRINK THEIR FUNDING.
IN ORGANIZING SPACES THAT
REALLY FOCUS ON DISRUPTION, AND
I WILL SAY MANY OF THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS COME FROM MY
DISTRICT, SO YOU KNOW, THERE IS
AN IMPORTANT GUIDING PRINCIPLE
TO THAT WORK, WHICH IS THAT WE
SPEND ABOUT 20% OF OUR TIME
DISMANTLING THE CURRENT SYSTEM,
BUT WE REALLY SPEND 80% OF OUR
TIME BUILDING COMMUNITY
ALTERNATIVES.
AND, I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR
WE ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF THESE
ALTERNATIVES IN PLACE.
WE HAVE THE CORNER GREETER
PROGRAM, WE HAVE COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS, WE HAVE THE REACH
PROGRAM THAT SERVES IN THE
STREET OUTREACH TO OUR HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS, SO WE HAVE THE
COLONEL OF WHAT WE NEED, AND
THAT IS HOW WE ACHIEVE THE KIND
OF TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE THAT
PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR.
AS A CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE TO
BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE
SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES THAT HELP
SCALE THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
ALREADY DOING THIS HARD WORK,
ON THE FRONT LINES.
YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL
FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS A COUPLE OF
WEEKS AGO, SAYING WE HAVE TO
CREATE A BUDGET FOR BLACK
LIVES.
AND, THAT MEANS THAT WE INVEST
IN DIVERSION, AND HOMELESSNESS
OUT REACH, NOT IN NAVIGATION
TEAMS.
WE INVEST IN LIBRARIES AND
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, NOT
IN JAILS.
WE INVEST IN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE, JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS,
NOT IN EPHESUS PATROL.
WE INVEST IN COMMUNITY LED
DEVELOPMENT, THAT INCLUDES
RESOURCES FOR LAND ACQUISITION
AND SITE CONTROL.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE INVEST IN
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOP,
THAT IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, THAT IS HOW
WE ARE GOING TO DEMONSTRATE OUR
COMMITMENT TO BLACK LIVES BY
INVESTING IN BLACK COMMUNITIES
AND THE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE
THAT WE NEED REALLY MEANS THAT
WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN, TO CLOSE THE WEALTH GAP
THAT HAS EXISTED BETWEEN OUR
BLACK-AND-WHITE NEIGHBORS, FOR
HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
SO, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
THESE CONVERSATIONS, THEY ARE
úNOT GOING TO BE EASY, WE HAVE
LOT OF DIFFERENT BALLS IN THE
AIR, BUT I THINK THEY ARE ALL
CHANNELING US, TO THINK ABOUT
HOW WE TRANSFORM THE WAY WE
INVEST, THE WAY WE COMMIT
RESOURCES, AT THE CITY AND THE
WAY WE ASK MORE FROM OUR
CORPORATE NEIGHBORS, TO HELP
ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE
IN THE CITY, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU TO
DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
OKAY, HEARING AND SEEING NONE,
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE OVER
NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
PLEASE?
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING
EVERYBODY, THERE ARE NO ITEMS
FROM THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA.
LAST WEEK WE BEGAN OUR
CONVERSATION ABOUT SEATTLE
CITIES OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND
TO THE COVERED CRISIS.
TO REDIRECT PRIORITIES AND
AMONG THAT OUR INQUEST INTO THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
BUDGET.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU
ESPECIALLY COUNCIL NUMBER
HERBOLD, WHO COLLECTED
QUESTIONS, ALL OF YOU WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THE OVER FOUR
HOUR MEETING.
IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF US
HAVING A BASELINE UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT IS IN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
WE DO HOPE THAT DURING THIS
TIME WE WILL RECEIVE THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED 2020 REVISED
BUDGET, AND WE HAVE HELD TIME
ON OUR CALENDAR FOR THIS
UPCOMING WEEK, IN THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, AS
A REMINDER, THE CALENDAR WENT
OUT TO YOU TWO WEEKS AGO, AND
IT INCLUDED A SUMMARY OF
CONVERSATIONS WE WILL BE HAVING
EACH WEDNESDAY.
AT THE BEGINNING WE WILL HAVE A
10:00 MEETING ON SESSION 1 AND
IN THE AFTERNOON STARTING AT
2:00 P.M.
WILL BE THE SECOND SESSION.
YOU WILL SEE THAT ON THE
CALENDAR, WE WILL SEND OUT
AROUND.
IN THE FIRST SESSION WE WILL
DISCUSS REVENUE AND WE, THIS
WEEK, OR I AM SORRY WE WILL
CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS AROUND
THE PROPOSAL AND PUBLIC COMMENT
OPENS AT 8:00 A.M.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT IN THE AFTERNOON AT
2:00 P.M.
FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COMMENT
PUBLICLY, WE WILL ASK FOR THEM
TO COMMENT AT ONE OR THE OTHER,
IDEALLY, WE WILL TEST THIS OUT
WITH AN OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT
START AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING.
THE INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO
YOU IN CASE YOU WANT TO SEND IT
OUT THROUGH DISTRIBUTION
NETWORKS ARE POSTED ON SOCIAL
MEDIA.
THIS WEEK WE WILL HAVE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE PROPOSED OR THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED 2020 BUDGET, IF IT
COMES OUT.
AND, IF IT DOES NOT COME DOWN
WE WILL LET YOU KNOW, AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A
PLACEHOLDER NEXT WEEK.
THIS WILL BE FOR AN OVERVIEW OF
THE MAYORS PROPOSED 2020
REVISED INJURED.
IMPORTANTLY, CONTINUING OUR
CONVERSATION AROUND THE INQUEST
IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, WE WILL
HEAR FROM VARIOUS CITIES ON HOW
THEY ARE RESPONDING TO THE CALL
FOR DEFUNDING AND RESTRUCTURING
AND INVESTING INTO BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES, FOLLOWING
THE GUIDANCE AND LEAD OF BLACK
LIVES ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE A TENTATIVE HOLD THIS
WEEK TO HEAR FROM CITIES SUCH
AS AUSTIN, MINNEAPOLIS, NEW
YORK CITY, LOS ANGELES,
PORTLAND, AND SAN FRANCISCO.
WE ARE ANALYZING OUR PANELISTS,
SO WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED,
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE
MEETINGS AT 10:00 A.M.
AND 2:00 P.M., THIS WEEK.
I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO LIFT
UP SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN SHARED INCLUDING OUR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT INCLUDING
LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM GOALS.
COUNSEL COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED
ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN
THIS MOMENT AND I THINK THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO
CONTINUE TO UNDERSCORE IS THAT
AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OUR JOB IS
TO PROTECT RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY
NOW TO PROTECT FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.
THE MESSAGE THAT WAS SENT OUT
LAST WEEK I WAS TO IMMEDIATELY
HALT THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE
AGAINST COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I WANT TO LIFT UP SOME OF THE
COMMENTS FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THE COMMUNITY, AND
WITHIN OUR OWN CITY DEPARTMENT,
FROM THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS, THEIR LETTER HAS BEEN
REFERENCED.
HARMONIOUSLY THIS DEMANDS THAT
AS A FIRST STEP, AS THE BARE
MINIMUM WE CEASED THE USE OF
FLASH GRENADES, RUBBER BULLETS,
TEAR GAS, INDISCRIMINATE
AGAINST COMMUNITY PROCESSORS IN
ORDER TO DE-ESCALATE THE
SITUATION.
AND, STOP THE USE OF MILITARY
FORCE AGAINST CIVILIAN
DEMONSTRATORS AS IT FURTHER
ESCALATES TENSION.
AND, STOP DEMONIZING PROTESTERS
TRYING TO CREATE A FALSE
NARRATIVE AROUND GOOD OR BAD,
NIGHT AFTER NIGHT WE ARE SEEING
OUR PEOPLE COME TO THE STREET
WHO ARE PROTESTING THE VERY USE
OF FORCE, FROM THE NIGHT PRIOR.
AND, YES, THAT HAS HAPPENED
OVER THE LAST SEVEN DAYS, AND I
APPRECIATE THE TONE, THE TONE
HAS CHANGED ABOUT PROTESTERS,
AND THE TECH THIS TACTICS HAVE
CHANGED.
HOWEVER, THOSE MESSAGES, AS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
MENTIONED, WERE UNDERMINED BY
THE CHIEF AND WE NEED MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THOSE
POTENTIAL THREATS ARE COMING
FROM.
AND, BEYOND TONE, WE NEED
STRUCTURAL CHANGE, WE
ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LET THE END
GOAL, THE LONG-TERM GOAL BE
SORT OF PUSHED TO THE SIDE OR
PUT ON THE TO DO LIST FOR
LATER, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE BEING
DEMANDED THAT WE TAKE ACTION ON
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, TO
REDIRECT THE BUDGET, PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS IS A
CRISIS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND
INACTION.
AND NOW WE HAVE A CHANCE TO
CHANGE THAT, BY MAKING THE
NECESSARY CHANGES TO THE
BUDGET, AND AS OUR COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES TALKED ABOUT,
ESPECIALLY THE SAFETY CHAIR,
TRUE POLICY CHANGES ABOUT WHAT
WE EXPECT OF OUR POLICE FORCE,
IF THERE IS TO BE REDIRECTION
TO FUNDS, THAT WE MUST DO THIS
THROUGH COMMUNITY LED
PRIORITIES.
THIS MOMENT DEMANDS ACTION TO
ADDRESS INSTITUTIONALIZED
RACISM, TO DEFUND THE POLICE,
AND TO REDIRECT INVESTMENTS
INTO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AND, ACTIONABLE LEADERSHIP IN
THE LONG-TERM, THERE HAS BEEN A
NUMBER OF THINGS LISTED BUT I
WANT TO LIFT UP SOME OF THE
THINGS FROM THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS LETTER, RELEASE AND DO
NOT PROSECUTE THEM IN
STREETERS, THAT IS AN
ACTIONABLE LEADERSHIP AND I
THINK WE CAN ALL WORK TOWARD
THAT BECAUSE WE ARE EXERCISING
THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.
REPORTED TIES THE CITY'S BUDGET
TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITIES AND
DECREASE FUNDING BY THE
PERCENT.
INCREASE ALTERNATIVES TO, AND
REPAIR HARM CAUSED BY THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
USED HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES, STRENGTHEN HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES.
MAKE MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT INTO
COMMUNITY WEALTH MODELS AND
LAND OWNERSHIP.
STOP USING THE POLICE TO MOVE
THOSE WHO ARE HOUSE LIST, AS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD SPOKE
ABOUT.
AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR
USING EXCESSIVE FORCE.
GET THOSE WHO ARE BEING
INVESTIGATED OFF THE STREET
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A LONG LIST
FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
ABOUT THE TYPE OF INVESTIGATION
THEY ARE CONDUCTING, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FOLKS WHO
ARE BEING INVESTIGATED ARE NOT
CURRENTLY ON OUR STREET, AND
THAT WE HAVE TAKEN ACTION.
TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE IN THIS
MOMENT.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT
IS BEING ASKED OF US, WE ARE
NOT BEING ASKED TO FIND A POT
OF MONEY IN THE BUDGET WHICH WE
KNOW WOULD START AN ALREADY
UNDERFUNDED DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE BEING ASKED TO REDUCE
THE POLICE BUDGET SPECIFICALLY
INTO REINVESTED PROGRAMS THAT
ARE IN DEMAND THROUGH OUR
COMMUNITY.
THE RESPONSE IS THE FIRST APP
WE NEED TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE
TO ADDRESS THE HARM CAUSED OVER
CENTURIES.
WE NEED ACTIONABLE COMMITMENT
TO MOVE AWAY FROM HARMFUL
POLICIES AND PATTERS THAT HAVE
BEEN KILLING BLACK COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
AND, TODAY, I THINK THAT THE
BILL THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED
AS PART OF THAT, I THINK AGAIN
THESE ARE FIRST STEP MEASURES
AS WE LOOK AT THE INSTITUTIONAL
CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED, I WANT
TO LIFT UP SOME OF THE COMMENTS
THAT WERE SUMMARIZED VERY WELL,
BY FCC, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE, THEY WERE
LISTED IN THE SUMMARY FRIDAY,
BUT THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING
ORDER ON THE USE OF NONLETHAL
WEAPONS.
THEY SUMMARIZE IT BY SAYING THE
PLAINTIFFS WERE LIKELY TO
SUCCEED ON THEIR CLAIMS THAT
THE CITY VIOLATED FIRST
AMENDMENT AND FOR THE MINUTE
RIGHTS, WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING
QUOTE THE RECORD IS LIMITED, AT
THIS STAGE,".
HE NEVERTHELESS DETERMINED THAT
ON SOME OCCASIONS SPD HAS IN
FACT USED LESS LETHAL WEAPONS
THIS PROPORTIONATELY, AND
WITHOUT PROVOCATION.
SPD'S ACTIONS, THE JUDGE
CONCLUDED, WOULD SHOW A PERSON
OF ORDINARY FIRMNESS FROM
CONTINUING TO PROTEST, THE LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS HAVE BEEN USED,
POINT OF HAVE ESTABLISHED A
THREAT OF IMMEDIATE IRREPARABLE
HARM, IN THE ABSENCE OF A
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER.
PLAINTIFFS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE
PROTESTS WERE A SUBSTANTIAL OR
MOTIVATING FACTOR IN SPD'S
CONDUCT.
IN ORDER TO SEE THEY WERE
DEMONSTRATING POLICE BRUTALITY
MOTIVATED HIM TO RESPOND THE
WAY THEY DID.
THOSE ARE THE JUDGE'S WORDS.
SO, I WANT TO THANK DAVID
PEREZ, ONE OF THE LEAD
ATTORNEYS IN FILING THIS
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
REQUEST, AND IN DOING THAT ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WAS
HARMED BY THE RESPONSE, AND I
KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO US PUTTING THAT
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
INTO PERMANENT ACTION, I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION, ON
THE BILLS TODAY AND TAKING
PERMANENT ACTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
THOUGHTFULNESS, COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES, AS WE CONTINUE TO
LIFT UP THE RIGHT FOR FREE
SPEECH AND PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT THIS TIME.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE LONG-
TERM GOALS THAT THEY
COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT
ARTICULATED, THOSE LONG-TERM
GOALS HELP US GET AT THE CRISIS
OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND SHOW TRUE
ACTION, WHERE THERE HAS BEEN
PASSED INACTION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU,
FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU DID AND
FOR THE FOUR STEPS THAT I WILL
PUT INTO PLACE, SO MUCH WORK IS
TO DO, AHEAD OF US, AS WE
RESPOND TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY
IS DEMANDING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND FOR YOUR ONGOING
WORK AS IT RELATES TO THE
BUDGET.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR
ONGOING ATTENTION.
TO THOSE ISSUES.
OKAY, FOLKS, I AM LAST, IN
TERMS OF REPORTS.
I AM GOING TO MAKE THIS BRIEF,
BECAUSE WE ARE 20 MINUTES
BEHIND, IN TERMS OF OUR AGENDA
FOR THIS MORNING.
AND, I ANTICIPATE WE WILL HAVE
A LONG EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO, FROM THE GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING WE
HAVE NOTHING ON IT THIS
AFTERNOON, FOR FULL COUNCIL,
AND, FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE
FULL COUNCIL, WE DO NOT HAVE
ANY SCHEDULED COMMITTEE
MEETINGS THIS WEEK.
AND, I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING
ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK
THROUGH THE ISSUES THAT I
REPORTED ON AT THE TOP OF
TODAY'S MEETING REPORT,
ENGAGING WITH YOU ALL AS I ROLL
OUT THE NEW MEMORANDUM RELATING
TO TELEWORK AND POTENTIAL IN
PERSON WORK OPTIONS.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE
ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND WRAP
UP NOW, THE SECTION RELATED TO
THE COUNSEL ACTIONS AND I AM
GOING TO MOVE US INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION.
SO, AS RESIDING OFFICER I AM
ANNOUNCING THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL NOW CONVENE AN
EXEUTIVE SESSION, THE PURPOSE
OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO
DISCUSS POTENTIAL PENDING OR
ACTUAL LITIGATION, THE COUNCILS
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ARE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO
DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL
MATTERS WITH CITY ATTORNEYS, AS
AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
THE LEGAL MONITOR FOR THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OF FACILITIES
PRESENT TO ENSURE THE MEMBERS
OBSERVED COUNSEL QUESTIONS. I
EXPECT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION
WILL END IN NO MORE THAN 120
MINUTES.
SO, I AM BEING A LITTLE
CONSERVATIVE HERE IN ORDER TO
AVOID THE TECHNOLOGY DANCE THAT
WE HAVE TO DO TO EXTEND
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, I WILL
ANNOUNCE THAT WE EXPECT THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION TO GO FROM 11
AT: 20 -- 11:20 TO NO LONGER
THAN 1:20. IF WE DO GO LONGER I
WILL COME ON HERE TO ANNOUNCE.
SO THAT BEING SAID, COLLEAGUES,
WE WILL NEED TO LEAVE THE ZOO
MEETING NOW, AND THAT YOU HAVE
CREDENTIALS RELATED TO THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION VIA SKYPE,
THE SKYPE PLATFORM.
SO, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN
THIS PORTION OF IT, HAVE US GO
TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, TO DO
THAT YOU WILL NEED TO LEAVE THE
ZOOM MEETING AT THIS POINT,
OKAY?
I WILL HEAR FROM YOU ALL
SHORTLY.