THE TIME IS 9:32 A.M..
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> SHE IS ON MUTE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRISON GONZALEZ.
>> HERE.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THE.
TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING
REMOTELY, I'LL MOVE TO SUSPEND
THE COUNCIL RULES FROM JULY 7TH,
2020, TO ALLOW THE MEETING TO
OCCUR WHILE PARTICIPATING
THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS.
THE EXTENSION, JUST SO YOU ALL
KNOW IS LISTED HERE BECAUSE
THERE HAS BEEN AN EXTENSION FOR
THE PROCLAMATION 20-28 THROUGH
JULY 7TH.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY SET TO EXPIRE
ON JULY 1ST.
THAT IS WHY WE'RE GOING THROUGH
THE RULE SUSPENSION PROCESS AT
THIS POINT.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC
PARTICIPATION AT COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETINGS THROUGH
JULY 7TH, 2020.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND
COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETINGS WILL
BE HELD WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS
PARTICIPATING ELECTRONICALLY
THROUGH JULY 7TH, 2020.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES OF JUNE 29TH, 2020, WILL
BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT, I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO REPORT ON BEHALF OF
THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, SO WE'LL
JUST GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO A
PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS.
COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES.
THIS IS THE PORTION OF THE
AGENDA WE PREVIEWED THE COUNCIL
ACTIONS, COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES.
I'LL CALL ON EACH DESIGNATED
WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT BEING
CALLED LAST.
THE ROTATION BEGINS WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, JUAREZ,
LEWIS, MORALES, MOSQUEDA,
PEDERSEN, SAWANT, STRAUSS, AND
THEN I WILL CONCLUDE THIS AGENDA
DISCUSSION FOR TODAY.
SO BEFORE I HAND IT OVER, I JUST
WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE
WAS A TRAGIC EVENT THAT OCCURRED
IN OUR CITY OVER THE WEEKEND
WHERE TWO PROTESTERS WERE HIT BY
A VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE.
OF COURSE, OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH
SUMMER'S FAMILY AND CONTINUE TO
BE WITH, WHO UNFORTUNATELY
PASSED AWAY OVER THE WEEKEND, AS
A RESULT OF THE INJURIES THAT
THEY SUSTAINED, ALSO WANT TO
SEND OUR THOUGHTS TO THE FAMILY
OF DIAZ.
THEY ARE STILL IN THE HOSPITAL
AND WE'RE HOPING FOR A SPEEDY
RECOVERY, BUT OF COURSE, OUR
HEARTS ARE HEAVY THIS MORNING
AND OVER THE WEEKEND WITH THE
NEWS OF THIS TRAGIC LOSS AND
THIS HORRIFIC INCIDENT THAT
OCCURRED IN OUR CITY OVER THE
WEEKEND.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU WILL TOUCH
ON THIS PARTICULAR EVENT, BUT
CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT WE BEGIN THE DAY'S
CONVERSATION IN THE CONTEXT OF
JUST A HORRIFIC ACT THAT
RESULTED IN ONE DEATH SO FAR AND
ANOTHER PERSON STILL IN CRITICAL
CONDITION, SO WITH THAT BEING
SAID, I'LL GO AHEAD AND HAND IT
OVER NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT
AND GOOD MORNING.
YES, IT IS ANOTHER MONDAY AND WE
HAVE MORE TO MOURN, SPECIFICALLY
A DEATH.
SUMMER TAYLOR AND DIAZ LOVE NOW.
IN THE WEEK BEFORE IT WAS
LORENZO ANDERSON AND LAST WEEK,
A 16-YEAR-OLD, ANTONIO MAYS JR..
THE MAYOR SAYS NO ONE SHOULD
RISK THEIR LIVES FOR THIS
MOVEMENT AND SIMILARLY, BUT
DIFFERENT, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT
PROTESTERS SHOULD NOT TAKE ON
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LIVES
1,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK, AND
VISIT IN THE AREA KNOWN AS THE
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS THAT NO ONE
SHOULD RISK THEIR LIVES FOR THIS
MOVEMENT, I REFER TO
SPECIFICALLY THE PEOPLE WHO PUT
THEIR OWN LIVES AS RISKS AS
PEOPLE HAVE DONE FOR GENERATIONS
FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
THE SEATTLE TIMES REPORTED THE
WORDS OF DIAZ LOVE AS IT RELATES
TO THE DECISION TO PUT HER OWN
LIFE AT RISK.
SHE WROTE, IN THE DAYS LEADING
UP TO THE FATAL JULY 4TH
COLLISION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT
THEY WERE SCARED AND ANXIOUS
ABOUT THREATS TO PROTESTERS.
SHE WROTE, TO SAY I'M SCARED, TO
BE GOING OUT AND PROTESTING THIS
WEEKEND, IS AN UNDER STATEMENT.
STILL, WE NEED TO PROTECT BLACK
WOMEN SO I THINK I'LL GET IN THE
STREETS TO LIVE STREAM TONIGHT.
ONE AND A HALF HOURS BEFORE LOVE
AND TAYLOR WERE HIT, LOVE
STREAMED VIDEO OF AN OFF DUTY
POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER WHO
DROVE HER VEHICLE THROUGH THE
DEMONSTRATION.
THIS INCIDENT IS BEING
INVESTIGATED BY THE OPA AND I
THINK IT SPEAKS TO SOME OF THE
RISKS THAT PROTESTERS KNOWINGLY
ARE ENTERING IN THIS EFFORT █TO
STAND FOR BLACK LIVES.
AS IT RELATES TO SPECIFICALLY
THE ACTION TAKEN LAST WEEK,
RELATED TO HOW TO ADDRESS THE
CONDITIONS IN THE CHOP, WE ALL
KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS
EXTRAORDINARY POWERS UNDER AN
EMERGENCY ORDER, AND WE HAVE
SEEN LATE LAST WEEK AND THIS
WEEKEND THAT HER POWERS UNDER
EXECUTIVE ORDER ARE
EXTRAORDINARY AS WELL.
WITHOUT THE ABILITY UNDER AN
EMERGENCY ORDER FOR THE COUNCIL
TO MODIFY THE ORDER TO ENSURE IT
IS PROPORTIONATE TO THE
SITUATION, THE COUNCIL'S ABILITY
IS LIMITED TO QUESTIONING THE
EXECUTION RATHER THAN LIMITING
THE SCOPE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT FOLLOWS HERE IS
CONCERNS I HAVE RELATED TO THE
APPLICATION OF THE MAYOR'S
EXECUTIVE ORDER SINCE THE
EXECUTION.
I HAVE HEARD REPORTS OF SPD
CLEARING CAL ANDERSON PARK USING
PEPPER SPRAY TO WAKE PEOPLE
SLEEPING THERE IN THE MORNING
BEFORE CLEARING OUT THE PARK.
WE ALL FOCUS A LOT ON WHETHER OR
NOT THERE IS AVAILABLE
ALTERNATES TO SHELTER BEFORE
ENCAMPMENTS ARE REMOVED SEATTLE
TIMES REPORTED AS OF TUESDAY, 17
VOUCHERS WERE ISSUED FOR CAL
PARK RESIDENTS BUT I RECEIVE
REPORTS FROM ADVOCATES THAT AS
OF THE TIME OF THE WEDNESDAY
MORNING ENCAMPMENTS THERE WERE
NO MORE HOTEL VOUCHERS
AVAILABLE.
I SAW VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE
ARREST OF A BLACK MAN AFTER HE
WAS ASSAULTED BY AN APPARENT
WHITE NATIONALIST AS HE WENT TO
POLICE FOR HELP.
IN THE SAME CONFRONTATION, I SAW
THE POLICE DEPARTMET'S STANCE,
FACING AWAY FROM THE ARMED GROUP
OF APPARENT WHITE NATIONALISTS,
WHILE COMMITTING TO A STANCE OF
POLICING AN APPARENTLY UNARMED
GROUP.
THE CHIEF REPORTED TO ME ON
SUNDAY THAT THE STREETS AND THE
SIDEWALKS ARE OPEN WITH THE
EXCEPTION BEING THAT ONLY THE
SIDEWALK STREET NOT OPEN IS ON
11th AVENUE, EAST, ON THE
EASTSIDE OF CAL ANDERSON PARK
DUE TO THE PARK'S CLEAR FOR
REMEDIATION.
SHE TOLD ME, WE HAVE TOLD
OFFICERS NOT TO ASK ANYONE FOR
ID ANY LONGER.
THIS IS ON SUNDAY.
TWO HOURS EARLIER, THERE WAS AN
INCIDENT OF A MAN VISITING
LORENZO ANDERSON'S MEMORIAL,
BEING ARRESTED THAT AFTERNOON.
THEN, OF COURSE, NOT THE LEAST
OF THESE CONCERNS ARE THE USE OF
CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS, DESPITE A
COURT ORDER TO NOT USE THEM.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
THAT THEY DEPLOYED 40-MILLIMETER
SPONGE ROUNDS AND GLASS BALLS.
ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE
PLAINTIFFS SAY INDISCRIMINATE
USE OR USE AGAINST PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS OF THE DANGEROUS
WEAPONS WOULD VIOLATE THE
COURT'S ORDER.
WE HAVE WITNESSED 38 DAYS OF
CONFLICT VIOLENCE, INJURY AND
DEATH.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED
THEM.
I UNDERSTAND FROM REPORTS FROM
THOSE IN THE FRONT LINE THAT THE
NEED FOR TRAUMA INFORMED CARE IS
GREAT, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE
CITY MUST PROVIDE SUPPORT AND
RESOURCES TO MEET THESE NEEDS,
WHETHER FOR PROTESTERS OR FOR
CHOP RESIDENTS THAT COULDN'T GET
EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE WHEN THEY
NEEDED IT.
SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED
BY THE EVENTS OF THE LAST
38 DAYS CAN START TO HEAL AND
HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THEIR
GOVERNMENT IN HEALING.
SOME ADDITIONAL REPORTS, ONE
FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, THE SUMMER FOOD
SERVICE PROGRAM BEGINS TODAY,
RUNS THROUGH AUGUST 21st.
THERE WILL BE FREE BREAKFASTS,
LUNCHES, AND AFTERNOON SNACKS
FOR CHILDREN AGES 1 THROUGH 18.
MANY SITES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC SO THAT ANY CHILD 18 AND
UNDER CAN COME AND RECEIVE A
FREE MEAL.
THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
SITES WILL OPERATE WITH
PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE TO MINIMIZE
RISK WHILE SERVING MEALS TO THE
COMMUNITY.
SANITATION AND DISTANCING
PRACTICES WILL BE FOLLOWED IN
ACCORDIONS WITH THE CDC AND
LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
GUIDELINES.
IN DISTRICT ONE, MEAL SITES
INCLUDE SOUTH PARK COMMUNITY
CENTER, HIGHLAND PARK
PLAYGROUND, HIGH POINT COMMUNITY
CENTER, AND THE CASCADE MILL
SCHOOL.
TO FIND THE MEAL SITE CLOSEST TO
YOUR HOUSE, VISIT WWW POINT
UWKC.ORG/FREE-SUMMER-MEALS OR
GOOGLE UNITED WAY KING COUNTY,
FREE SUMMER MEALS.
>> LAST ITEMS TO MENTION, THERE
WAS A REGIONAL WATER QUALITY
COMMITTEE MEETING I WAS UNABLE
TO ATTEND BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
SIMILARLY, THIS WEEK THERE IS A
REGIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE
MEETING COMING UP WEDNESDAY THAT
I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND BECAUSE OF
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
THEN THERE WILL ALSO BE A WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE COMMUNITY TASK
FORCE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.
S-DOT WILL PRESENT NEIGHBORHOOD
MOBILITY PLANS FOR FOUR AREAS,
INCLUDING HIGHLAND PARK,
RIVERVIEW, SOUTH RIDGE, ONE AREA
THAT WILL RECEIVE ITS OWN
RECOMMENDED NEIGHBORHOOD
MOBILITY PLAN.
ANOTHER WILL BE SOUTH PARK, AND
SO ANOTHER GEORGETOWN AND
FINALLY SOTO.
IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE MOTO PLANS
SUCH FREIGHT AND BICYCLE.
I'M ASKING CONSTITUENTS TO SEND
THEIR COMMENTS IN RESPONSE TO
THE DRAFT PLANS TO ME, AND THE
PLANS WILL AGAIN, LIKE I SAY, BE
PRESENTED TO THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE TASK FORCE ON JULY 8TH
AND JULY 22nd.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, FOR THAT REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S REPORT?
OKAY, HEARING NONE, WE'LL GO
DOWN THE LINE.
OH, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AS THE CHAIR
OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR YOUR
OPENING COMMENTS THIS MORNING
AND ALSO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES
TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE FAMILY
OF SUMMER TAYLOR AND ALSO
REITERATE THAT WE'RE KEEPING
DIAZ LOVE IN OUR THOUGHTS AS
PROTESTS CONTINUE TO FLOOD THE
STREETS EVERY NIGHT, CONTINUING
TO DEMAND JUSTICE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I HAVE A
QUESTION, I'M WONDERING IF YOU
CAN ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE.
I HAD A CHANCE TO READ YOUR
PIECE FROM A STRANGER.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON ANYTHING
MORE YOU MAY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT
THE STATED THREAT TO THE EAST
PRECINCT BUT THE REALITY ONCE WE
LEARNED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
I THINK THAT HAS BEEN USED AS
JUSTIFICATION AS THE CONTINUED
POLICE PRESENCE, THAT THERE WAS
SOME SORT OF, YOU KNOW, THREAT
THAT WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE FBI
SPECIFIC TO THAT LOCATION.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT A
LITTLE BIT MORE FOR US?
>> YEAH, I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE
TO SAY THAN WHAT I WROTE IN THE
STRANGER PIECE.
MYSELF, YOU, AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ WERE BRIEFED
THE DAY BEFORE THE DECISION TO
LEAVE THE EAST PRECINCT.
WE WERE -- WE MET WITH THE CHIEF
TO DISCUSS THE DECISION TO
INSTALL HARD BARRIERS AND WERE
EXPRESSING OUR CONCERNS ABOUT
THAT DECISION AND WERE TOLD AT
THE TIME THAT THERE WERE FBI
THREATS CONSIDERED CREDIBLE
THREATS.
I WILL SAY I DON'T RECALL, AND I
HAVE LOOKED BACK AT MY NOTES,
AND I HAVE NOT DONE AN
EXHAUSTIVE MEDIA QUOTE SEARCH.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE
CHIEF HERSELF SPECIFICALLY SAID
THAT THE CREDIBLE THREAT WAS TO
THE EAST PRECINCT.
I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS BEEN QUOTED
SAYING THERE WAS A THREAT
SPECIFICALLY TO THE EAST
PRECINCT, BUT MY CONVERSATION
WITH CHIEF LAST WEEK, THE BOTTOM
LINE IS THAT THERE WAS NOT A
SPECIFIC THREAT TO THE EAST
PRECINCT, BUT THAT SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD RECEIVED A
DESCRIPTION OF THREATS TO
GOVERNMENT AND POLICE FACILITIES
IN THREE CITIES AND SEATTLE WAS
ONE OF THEM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, FOR THE FOLLOW UP AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR THE
ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION.
I WANT TO REITERATE SOME OF THE
POINTS OR CONFIRM, I GUESS, SOME
OF THE POINTS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAS JUST SHARED.
I, TOO, HAD CONCERNS ABOUT SOME
QUOTES GIVEN IN THE MEDIA ABOUT
THREATS AGAINST THE EAST
PRECINCT THAT WERE BEING
PORTRAYED AS LEGITIMATIZING OR
NEEDING IT TO MAKE NECESSARY IN
ORDER TO HAVE THE HARD BARRIERS
IN THE PROTEST AREA ON CAPITOL
HILL.
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT
COMMENTS WERE BEING MADE IN
PUBLIC.
I DID HAVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS
STAFF COMPILE VARIOUS QUOTES
RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE
BY EITHER THE CHIEF OR THE MAYOR
AND WE'LL HAVE TO DIG THOSE UP
TO SORT OF REFRESH MY MEMORY AS
TO THAT COMPILATION OF PUBLIC
COMMENTS RELATED TO THREATS
AROUND THE EAST PRECINCT.
I WILL SAY THAT I HAD SUBMITTED
A FORMAL REQUEST TO CHIEF BEST
AROUND CLARIFICATION OF FBI
INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM WHOM
EVER OVER AT THE FBI RELATED TO
THE EAST PRECINCT LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, ALSO HAD
A BRIEFING WHERE SIMILAR
INFORMATION WAS SHARED WITH ME
BY CHIEF, CONSISTENT WITH WHAT
WAS SHARED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I HEARD IT WAS GENERAL THREATS
TO ALL CITY FACILITIES, WHICH OF
COURSE, WOULD INCLUDE POLICE
PRECINCTS.
IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE CITY HALL,
SEWER TREATMENT FACILITIES, A
HOST OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE
OWNED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO KEEP
ME IN THE LOOP AND KEEP EACH
OTHER IN THE LOOP TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE BOTH GETTING THE SAME
INFORMATION AND I FEEL AT THIS
POINT WE HAVE BOTH GOTTEN THE
SAME INFORMATION, THESE WERE
GENERALIZED THREATS AS OPPOSED
TO SPECIFIC THREATS TO THE EAST
PRECINCT THAT WERE GARNERED AS A
RESULT OF A, WHAT SOUNDS LIKE, A
GENERAL BULLETIN RECEIVED BY
MOST POLICE CHIEFS IN MAJOR
CITIES, NOT JUST SEATTLE, SO
SPOKANE, PORTLAND, OTHER AREAS
IN THE REGION RECEIVED SIMILAR
COMMUNICATION THAT GAVE
GENERALIZED INFORMATION ABOUT
POTENTIAL THREAT TO CITY ASSETS.
APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THAT
MORE PUBLICLY AND I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU
MAKING NOTE OF THAT IN YOUR
PIECE LAST WEEK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ON HER
REPORT?
OKAY, HEARING NONE, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND MOVE DOWN THE ROLL
CALL.
NEXT IS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
THANK YOU.
>> THERE IS ONE ITEM LISTED FOR
THE INTERRUPTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, THAT IS RESOLUTION
31950 AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION
RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
PARKS AND RECREATION,
AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT
OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO ACT
AS THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
AGENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND TO LEGALLY BIND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WITH RESPECT TO
CERTAIN PROJECTS FOR WHICH THE
CITY'S GRANT FUNDING ASSISTANCE
IS MANAGED THROUGH THE
RECREATION CONSERVATION OFFICE,
THE RCO.
WE HAVE DONE THIS EVERY YEAR.
THIS IS ROUTINE LEGISLATION.
I WILL SPEAK MORE TO THIS NEXT
MONDAY DURING COUNCIL BRIEFING
ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR
JULY 13TH.
THE MONORAIL PLATFORM EXPANSION
LEGISLATION, COUNCIL BILL 11985
WILL ALSO BE ON THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA FOR A POSSIBLE VOTE NEXT
WEEK AS WELL.
IN REGARDS TO PARKS, AS USUAL,
MY OFFICE WILL GET IT TO YOU BY
CLOSE OF BUSINESS.
THE PARK'S WEEKLY COVID UPDATE
WITH AN UPDATE ON THE SHELTER
PROGRAM, THE EMERGENCY CHILD
CARE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND
DISTRIBUTION BY SEATTLE PARKS
AND REC BY PPE.
LET'S SEE.
GOOD NEWS, THE AQUARIUM AND ZOO
ARE BOTH OPEN.
THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM AND
WOODLAND PARK ZOO REOPENED TO
THE PUBLIC AT REDUCED CAPACITY.
THE AQUARIUM OPENED ON MONDAY,
JUNE 29TH, AND THE ZOO OPENED ON
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1ST.
SO WE HAVE SEVERAL PARKING LOTS
THAT HAVE REOPENED.
SEVERAL SEATTLE PARK AND REC
PARKING LOTS HAVE REOPENED AND
ARE SET TO REOPEN, INCLUDING A
BOAT RAMP PARKING LOT AND
SEVERAL LOTS AND WASHINGTON PARK
ARBORETUM.
THE PARKING LOTS NEAR SWIMMING
BEACHES WILL REOPEN IF AND WHEN
LIFEGUARD SWIMMING BEGINS, WE
WILL SEND A COMPLETE LIST TO YOU
THIS MORNING.
LET'S SEE.
THE WEEK AHEAD, APART FROM THE
BUDGET MEETING, I'LL ATTEND THE
TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD OF
THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL
TO REVIEW THE GRANT ALLOCATION
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FINAL
APPROVAL.
THOSE WERE THE ITEMS I DISCUSSED
WITH YOU LAST MONDAY IN THE
MONDAY MORNING BRIEFING, AND I
WILL ATTEND THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON
FRIDAY.
THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE'LL MOVE DOWN
THE ROLL CALL.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
GOOD TO BE HERE WITH EVERYBODY.
FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO
ADDRESS, THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR OR ON TODAY'S COUNCIL
AGENDA FROM THE MEET.
I WILL BE SEEKING TO WALK ON AN
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE THAT WAS
DISTRIBUTED BY CATHERINE SIMS ON
MY STAFF.
IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT,
PLEASE FLAG THAT AND I'LL MAKE
SURE THAT CATHERINE SENDS IT
ALONG, THAT I WILL BE SEEKING
THS AFTERNOON ON WALK ON
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL.
THE BILL WOULD CREATE AN
EMERGENCY REVISION TO THE
ENFORCEABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL
LIABILITY FOR LEASE VIOLATIONS
FOR COMMERCIAL TENANTS.
THAT IS A VERY COMPLICATED WAY
OF SAYING THAT IF YOU'RE A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER AND YOU'RE BEHIND
ON YOUR COMMERCIAL RENT, AND
YOUR COMMERCIAL LANDLORD IS NOW
COMING AFTER YOU FOR THAT RENT,
THEY WILL BE STOPPED DURING THE
PENDENCY OF COVID FROM GOING
AFTER YOUR PERSONAL ASSETS OR
THE ASSETS OF A THIRD G PARTY
GUARANTOR.
I HAVE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN MY
DISTRICT THAT THEIR COMMERCIAL
LANDLORDS ARE HINTING AND MAKING
THREATS ABOUT TAKING THAT KIND
OF ACTION, WHICH IS WHY I
BELIEVE THAT IT IS URGENT THAT
WE PASS AN EMERGENCY ORDER THAT
WOULD PREVENT AN ACTION LIKE
THIS FROM TAKING PLACE.
I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT
IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
AND YOU OPENED A SMALL BUSINESS,
THE ASSETS OF THAT BUSINESS
COULD POTENTIALLY BE FAIR GAME
TO YOUR CREDITOR OR TO YOUR
LANDLORD, BUT NO ONE SHOULD BE
COMING OUT OF COVID HAVING ALSO
LOST THEIR HOUSE, THEIR SAVINGS,
OTHER PERSONAL ASSETS THAT, YOU
KNOW, HAVING NO NOTICE THAT
THERE WOULD BE A MASSIVE COVID
EMERGENCY, ARE GOING TO PUT YOU
IN A HOLE FOR A LONG TIME.
IT IS BASED ON A SIMILAR
ORDINANCE RECENTLY PASSED IN NEW
YORK CITY THAT DOES A SIMILAR
THING, SO I WANT TO WALK THAT ON
SO WE CAN AT LEAST START THE
DISCUSSION AND GET IT KIND OF
QUE UP.
SO WE CAN CONSIDER IT.
I WANTED TO FLAG THAT NOW.
JUST GIVEN THAT THERE IS A SENSE
OF URGENCY AND I THINK THAT WE
COULD BE PREVENTING MASSIVE
INEQUITIES FROM OCCURRING.
MOVING FORWARD, I WANT TO
ADDRESS ANOTHER POLICY PROPOSAL
THAT I'LL BE SEEKING THROUGHOUT
OUR SUMMER BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE IT NOW, JUST
GIVEN THE ONGOING ACTIVE
DEMONSTRATIONS IN OUR STREETS,
DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM
THE POLICE, GIVEN CONTINUED,
HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE POLICE
ACTIONS AGAINST DEMONSTRATORS,
AND GIVEN THE NEED TO HAVE AN
ANSWER THAT, AS WE GO THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF DEFUNDING SPD,
WHICH I COMPLETELY SUPPORT, WE
DO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
IDENTIFYING PROGRAMS AND
STRATEGIES THAT CAN REPLACE THE
FIRST RESPONSE PROVIDED BY
POLICE.
I THINK IT IS CRITICAL THAT THAT
CONVERSATION BEGINS WITH A LOT
OF THE WELFARE CALLS WE HAVE
POLICE DOING THAT I THINK
UNIVERSALLY ON THIS COUNCIL, WE
ALL AGREE, COULD BE BETTER
HANDLED BY OTHER FOLKS.
AS A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE, 25%
OF ALL PEOPLE KILLED IN POLICE
SHOOTINGS HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITION.
BY THE MOST LIBERAL OF
ESTIMATES, IT IS AS HIGH AS 50%.
PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS ARE 16 TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO BE SHOT BY POLICE.
WE KNOW THAT OUR BLACK AND BROWN
NEIGHBORS ARE 2.5 TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO BE SHOT BY A POLICE
OFFICER THAN A WHITE PERSON.
I UNEQUIVOCALLY BELIEVE BLACK
LIVES MATTER AND MY FRIENDS WITH
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS SHOULD
NOT BE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY
ARE 16 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE
KILLED PURELY BASED ON THEIR
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION AND BY
THE FACT THAT WE, AS A CITY, ARE
CONSCIOUSLY SENDING TO SEND A
FIRST RESPONDER NOT EQUIPPED TO
PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE NEEDED
AND EXPOSING THEM TO EVEN FATAL
HARM AND THE JOURNEY TO CREATE A
NEW SYSTEM OF FIRST RESPONSE IS
GOING TO BEGIN HERE IN OUR
SUMMER BUDGET SESSION TO RESPOND
TO THE HISTORIC ILLS AND WE
CAN'T HAVE ANY DELAY IN DOING IT
SINCE EVERY DAY THAT WE DELAY
PUTS MORE OF OUR NEIGHBORS AT
RISK.
SO THAT IS WHY TODAY I'M
ANNOUNCING THAT I'M GOING TO BE
PUTTING FORWARD SOMETHING IN THE
SUMMER BUDGET REQUESTING THAT
THE EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT
QUICKLY SCALE UP A SEATTLE KING
COUNTY VERSION OF UGINE,
OREGON'S PROGRAM, CRISIS
ASSISTANCE HELPING OUT ON THE
STREETS OR CAHOOTS.
IT IS HARD WIRED INTO THEIR 911
DISPATCH, COMPLETELY SEPARATE
FROM THE POLICE.
THEY'RE TEAMING OF A MEDIC,
EITHER A NURSE OR AN EMT, AND A
CRISIS WORKER WITH A SPECIALTY
IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
THESE TEAMS ARE SENT DIRECTLY BY
911 DISPATCH TO PROVIDE
IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE
IN CRISIS ON THE STREETS.
CAHOOTS TEAMS PROVIDE WELFARE
CHECKS, COUNSELING, CONFLICT
RESOLUTION, TREATMENT REFERRALS
FOR SUBSTANCE A ADDITION,
IMMEDIATE TRANSPORT TO SERVICES,
REFERRALS TO HOUSING, AND A LOT
OF OTHER ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE IN A SITUATION
WHERE THEY NEED THAT KIND OF
ASSISTANCE AND THEY NEED IT
IMMEDIATELY RATHER THAN BEING
ABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN
48 HOURS FOR EXAMPLE.
CAHOOTS TEAMS RESPOND OVER 20%
OF ALL OF THE 911 CALLS IN
EUGENE, OREGON.
THE EUGENE METRO AREA, EUGENE
SPRINGFIELD, OREGON, IS A METRO
AREA THE SIZE OF TACOMA.
IT IS A SIZABLE CITY.
WHERE SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD
BE SCALEABLE IN A SITUATION LIKE
SEATTLE.
20% OF ALL 911 CALLS REPRESENTS
ABOUT 24,000 TOTAL CALLS.
CAHOOTS WORKERS ARE I SEPARATE
911 RESPONSE, NOT A PART OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE UNARMED.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO
MAKE ARRESTS, AND THEY HAVE THE
POWER TO REQUEST POLICE
ASSISTANCE IF THEY NEED POLICE
ASSISTANCE, BUT ONLY IF CAHOOTS
ITSELF INITIATIVES THE REQUEST
TO SUMMON THE POLICE TO HELP
THEM.
SO TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT, LAST
YEAR, CAHOOTS RESPONDED TO
24,000 CALLS THAT THEY WERE
DISPATCHED BY 911 TO CALL FOR.
THEY ELECTED TO INCLUDE POLICE
150 TIMES.
150 TIMES OUT OF 24,000 CALLS.
THEY HAVE BEEN AN ENORMOUS
SUCCESS IN EUGENE.
IT HAS BEEN TIME TESTED, BEEN
THERE SINCE 1989.
BY EVERY ESTIMATE, IT RESULTED
IN HUGE SAVINGS, A BUDGET OF
$2.1 MILLION.
THE ESTIMATE IS THAT IF THAT
SERVICES IT PROVIDES WERE
PROVIDED BY THE POLICE IT WOULD
COST 8.5 MILLION, A SIGNIFICANT
SAVINGS.
THE EUGENE EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES SAVE AN ESTIMATED 14
MILLION A YEAR BY NOT HAVING TO
SEND AMR OR OTHER EMERGENCY
RESPONSE, THAT IS MORE
EXPENSIVE, SO, IN A CITY THE
SIZE OF SEATTLE WHERE PEOPLE IN
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS REPRESENT A
MASSIVE AMOUNT OF THE CASE LOAD
OF SPD AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES, THE SAVINGS COULD BE
HIGHER, AND AS THE CHAIR OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS, I WANT TO NOTE
THAT 60% OF THE CASE LOAD OF
CAHOOTS ARE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
IS THIS A MUCH BETTER WAY TO
DEAL WITH LONG STANDING PUBLIC
HEALTH AND CRISIS OF POVERTY
THAN CURRENTLY DISPATCHING THE
POLICE.
WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD STARTING
POINT IN KING COUNTY, BECAUSE WE
HAVE A SIMILAR PROGRAM OPERATED
BY THE DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY
SERVICE CENTER CALLED THE MOBILE
CRISIS TEAM.
THE MOBILE CRISIS TEAM DOES
GREAT WORK BUT THEY'RE NOT HARD
WIRED INTO THE 911 DISPATCH.
THEY'RE BASICALLY A SCALED UP
PORTION OF THE TEAM HARD WIRED
INTO THE 911 DISPATCH AND MADE
BASICALLY A SEPARATE LEG OF THE
DISPATCH LIKE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, AMR, POLICE, AND
THEN CAHOOTS.
JUST TO CONCLUDE ON THIS, AND I
APPRECIATE THE INDULGENCE IN
LETTING ME GO ON THIS TO
INTRODUCE THIS IDEA, THE PREMISE
IS I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD BE
MAKING THE INVESTMENT IN
BUILDING OUT AND SCALING UP A
FIRST RESPONSE LIKE THIS AND
THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO FUND
IT BY DEFUNDING SPD AND CUTTING
SPD'S BUDGET IN ORDER TO DO IT
ADEQUATELY BASED ON WHAT THE
PROVISO COMES BACK AND TELLS US
WOULD BE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
NECESSARY TO ADEQUATELY SCALE
AND RESPOND TO THE CASE LOAD.
I THINK THAT IS ONLY APPROPRIATE
ON A LOT OF LEVELS GIVEN THE
MORE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO
THESE TYPES OF CALLS AND ALSO
GIVEN A SCALED UP CAHOOTS WILL
REDUCE THE SPD'S CASE LOAD.
IN EUGENE, OREGON, 20% OF ALL
911 DISPATCHES WERE CAHOOTS
WORKERS.
SO I'M GOING TO PUT A PROVISO
FORWARD TO LOOK AT THIS IN THIS
SESSION.
I WOULD HOPE WE CAN SCALE IT UP
AND POTENTIALLY USE THE MOBILE
CRISIS TEAM AS A STARTING POINT
AS SORT OF THE BONES OF A SIMPLE
LIKE THIS AND HOW WE COULD BUILD
IT OUT AND FLUSH IT OUT.
I THINK WE'RE STARTING FROM A
GOOD PLACE TO DO IT AND I THINK
THAT AS WE HAVE OUR
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEFUNDING,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALSO BE
HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT
KIND OF FIRST RESPONSE SYSTEMS
WE CAN PUT IN PLACE THAT CAN BE
A MORE ADEQUATE, EQUITABLE, AND
RESPONSIVE WAY OF DEALING WITH A
LOT OF THESE CALLS THAT WE KNOW
ARE RESULTING IN A LOT OF OUR
BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORS AND
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITION, DYING AT THE
HANDS OF POLICE.
WITH THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANY
OTHER UPDATES THIS MORNING,
MADAM PRESIDENT, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO ANOTHER WEEK OF WORK
HERE AT THE COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR
YOU, AS I SUSPECT YOU SHOULD
KEEP YOUR VIDEO FEED ON.
I SEE A LOT OF HANDS UP.
I SEE YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO MIGHT HAVE
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS' REPORT,
PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW BY RAISING
YOUR HAND OR SENDING ME A QUICK
MESSAGE.
WITH REGARD TO THE ORDINANCE
THAT YOU REFERRED TO THAT YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN WALKING ON FOR THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR THIS MORNING, CAN YOU
CONFIRM THAT YOUR OFFICE SENT
THAT TO ALL COUNCILMEMBERS.
I DIDN'T SEE IT UNTIL JUST A FEW
MOMENTS AGO WHEN I ASKED MY
STAFF TO FORWARD IT TO ME.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR STAFF SENT IT
TO STAFF, POTENTIALLY, BUT NOT
TO EACH COUNCILMEMBER.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR
OFFICE DISTRIBUTED THAT PROPOSED
ORDINANCE FOR THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR THIS MORNING.
>> LOOKING AT MY E-MAIL NOW, IT
DOES LOOK LIKE IT WAS JUST
DISTRIBUTED AT THE STAFF LEVEL.
I APOLOGIZE THAT IT WASN'T SENT
DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT
MISCOMMUNICATION ON MY END.
>> ALSO JUST NOTE, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS, IT WAS DONE ON FRIDAY,
WHICH WAS A HOLIDAY TECHNICALLY,
FOR MANY OF US, SO OFFICES, MOST
OFFICES, IF NOT ALL OFFICES,
WERE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, SO AS FAR
AS I CAN TELL, IT WENT OUT ON
FRIDAY.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT IT THURSDAY
MORNING, BUT I THOUGHT YOU SAY
IT WENT OUT ON FRIDAY.
MAYBE YOU MISSPOKE.
I'M CONCERNED THAT FOLKS MAY NOT
HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ACTUALLY SEE THE LEGISLATION YOU
WANT TO WALK ON TO HAVE US
CONSIDER FOR THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR TODAY, AND
SO I JUST WANT TO SORT OF FLAG
THAT AS A POTENTIAL CONCERN
THERE, AND THEN SECONDLY, ARE
YOU PROPOSING, THIS AFTERNOON,
IN YOUR PROPOSAL TO WALK IT ON
FOR -- TO WALK IT ON, IS IT JUST
FOR PLACEMENT ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR OR IS IT FOR PLACEMENT
ON THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND FOR ACTION THIS
AFTERNOON?
>> OH, NO MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WOULDN'T BE SEEKING TO HAVE
ACTION ON IT THIS AFTERNOON TO
GET IT FORMALLY IN THE TO SEE
THE PROCEDURE CAN POTENTIALLY
ACT ON IT NEXT WEEK IF THE
COUNCIL WANTED TO.
BUT I AM GETTING A TEXT -- I
DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT
ON THE E-MAIL BUT I'M GETTING A
TEXT FROM MY STAFF THAT
CATHERINE DID E-MAIL TO ALL CMs
ON THURSDAY BUT I CAN LOOK INTO
THAT LATER.
CERTAINLY DO UNDERSTAND THAT
SENDING IT ON FRIDAY WOULD HAVE
BEEN PROBLEMATIC.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
IF FOLKS WANT MORE TIME ON THIS
AND TO REFER IT, TO PUT IT ON
INTRODUCTIONS FOR REFERRAL NEXT
WEEK, I'M AMENABLE TO THAT NOW
THAT IT ALL OUT THERE.
I DID JUST, GIVEN THE URGENCY
THAT HAS BEEN RELAID TO ME, TO
AT LEAST GET IT OUT THERE.
I DO KNOW MY OFFICE HAD TALKED
TO FOLKS AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S
OFFICE LAST WEEK ABOUT POSSIBLY
CUEING IT UP, BUT I'M AMENABLE
TO PROCEDURELY PROCEEDING IN
WHATEVER WAY MADAM PRESIDENT,
YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.
>> YEAH, I'LL HAVE A FOLLOW UP
CONVERSATION WITH YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES SENSE TO
HAVE IT WALKED ON AS OPPOSED TO
JUST GOING THROUGH THE ORDINARY
PROCESS ESPECIALLY NOW THAT YOU
HAVE HAD A PUBLIC CONVERSATION
ABOUT IT BUT I WILL CERTAINLY
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AFTER TODAY'S
COUNCIL BRIEFING AND WE CAN TALK
ABOUT THE LOGISTICS IN TERMS OF
WHETHER WE SHOULD WALK ON TODAY
OR HOLD UNTIL THE REGULAR
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
FOR NEXT MONDAY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
>> COLLEAGUES, I KNOW I SAW
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD RAISE HER
HAND AND IF THERE IS ANYONE
ELSE, LET ME KNOW.
FOR NOW, I'LL GO AHEAD AND HAND
IS OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
WHO I BELIEVE HAS COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS.
>> YEAH, I JUST WANT TO FLAG THE
FACT THAT I, TOO, HAVE BEEN
ENTRUSTED IN LOOKING AT
DIFFERENT MODELS OF 911
RESPONSE.
WE HAVE NOW, WHAT IS NEARLY A
THREE WEEK REQUEST IN TO THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO AN
ANALYSIS OF OUR OWN 911 CALLS.
AGAIN, WE ASKED FOR THIS NEARLY
THREE WEEKS AGO.
I ALSO WANT TO FLAG THE FACT
THAT IN MY INTEREST IN THE
CAHOOTS MODEL, I RESPONDED TO, I
THINK, ALL OF US RECEIVED AN
E-MAIL FROM A COUPLE OF MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO WORKED
WITH OUR OWN CRISIS RESPONSE
TEAM AND THIS IS A CRISIS
RESPONSE TEAM THAT HAS GROWN IN
SIZE WITH THE COUNCIL'S FUNDING
OF MORE MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS TO BE ON THAT
TEAM.
I THINK LAST YEAR THE COUNCIL,
AND I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ WHO LED US ON
THIS, EXPANDED THE SIZE OF THE
CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM FROM ONE
PERSON TO FIVE, AND THAT CRISIS
RESPONSE TEAM DOES WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT IN MY
INTERACTIONS WITH THEM, I HAVE
LEARNED THAT THEY ARE LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO DO WORK THAT IS MORE
SIMILAR TO THE CAHOOTS MODEL,
SPECIFICALLY, THEY RECOGNIZE
THAT THEIR ONLY OPTION IS TO
RESPOND WITH POLICE AND THEIR
ENTIRE UNIT BELIEVES THIS IS
TIME THAT THIS IS UNNECESSARY.
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT CALLS FOR A
PERSON WHO IS DEPRESSED AND
LOOKING FOR HELP OR A PERSON
TALKING TO THEMSELVES IN THE
PARK OR DISPORTIONATE UTILIZER
OF 911 SERVICES, THESE ARE ALL
THINGS THAT THEY CAN WORK ON AS
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF POLICE
OFFICERS, SO I JUST WANT TO FLAG
MY INTEREST IN PURSUING THIS
MODEL, AND PURSUING A MODEL THAT
RECOGNIZES THAT A HUGE NUMBER OF
911 CALLS ARE CALLS FOR
NON-VIOLENT INCIDENTS THAT WE DO
ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE
DO HAVE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM OF
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT
I THINK WE NEED TO, IN THE
EFFORT TO TALK ABOUT CHANGING
THE MODEL, WE NEED TO ENGAGE
THOSE WORKERS THAT ARE DOING IT
NOW.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
HAND UP.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDEN.
THANK YOU FOR THE NOTIFICATION
ABOUT YOUR INTENT TO FILE THIS
LEGISLATION.
I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT ON
WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK, WE DO HAVE
A PANEL PRESENTATION FROM
COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HAVE BEEN
RESEARCHING ALTERNATES TO THE
911 SYSTEM.
THIS INCLUDES COMMUNITY EXPERTS
AND FOLKS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING WITH DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE WHO WILL BE COMING
FORWARD WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND
TALKING ABOUT LESSONS LEARNED
FROM THE CAHOOTS MODEL.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO HEAR
THE STRATEGIES THEY WOULD
RECOMMEND IF THEY WERE TO DO IT
ALL OVER AGAIN AS WE CONSIDER
WHAT TO DO IN SEATTLE.
I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT FOR
FOLKS.
JACKIE WILL BE PART OF THE PANEL
PRESENTATION WEDNESDAY MORNING
AS WE DISCUSS THE SPD BUDGET
ASKED THEM TO SPEAK TO THEY
CAHOOTS MODEL.
JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT FOR
FOLKS.
WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE LEAD FROM
FOLKS THINKING THROUGH WHAT THE
STRATEGY LOOKS LIKE TO DEFUND
AND REINVEST.
THAT CONVERSATION WILL BE
WEDNESDAY MORNING STARTING AT 10
A.M..
10:00 A.M..
CONSIDER.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS' REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I WOULD JUST SAY
ON THIS ISSUE AROUND HOW DO WE
ADDRESS AND WHAT MODEL DO WE
ADDRESS FOR 911, I APPRECIATE
THE INTEREST OF PURSUING
SOMETHING LIKE CAHOOTS.
I ALSO THINK IT, I LIKE TO SPEND
MORE TIME CONSIDERING THE FULL
SPECTRUM AND A MENU OF OPTIONS
TO FILL THE ROLE OF RESPONDING
TO NON-EMERGENT, NON-VIOLENT
CALLS.
THERE ARE ALSO MODELS OUT OF
DENVER, FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK
THEY CALL THEIRS STAR THERE ARE
A LOT OF MODELS THAT TAKE A HARM
REDUCTION APPROACH TO SOME OF
THE NEEDS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE
NEED TO BE MET BY A DIFFERENT
MODEL.
I THINK THIS THE CONVERSATION
MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN NOT GET
FIXATED ON JUST ONE PARTICULAR
MODEL, AS THE ANSWER, BUT REALLY
HAVE A THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHAT MODEL MIGHT BE BEST
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE AFTER WE
DO A SURVEY AND CONSIDERATION OF
WHAT KIND OF MODELS EXIST
CURRENTLY THAT ARE BEING DONE
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY BY OTHER
CITIES THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE
THAT OURS IS ONE THAT IS
INFORMED BY COMMUNITY,
PARTICULARLY, THOSE COMMUNITIES
WHO ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY
POLICING AND OVER POLICING, AND
SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN FRAME
UP A CONVERSATION THROUGH THE
SUMMER AND WELL INTO THE FALL TO
HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT
THOSE MODELS ARE GOING TO LOOK
LIKE FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
START HAVING THAT CONVERSATION
THIS SUMMER AND CONTINUE TO HAVE
THE CONVERSATION SO WE CAN MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE RISING TO THE
OCCASION IN TERMS OF THE CALLS
FOR DEFUNDING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND INVESTING IN THE
COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO OVER
POLICING COMMUNITY AND THAT
INHERENTLY MEANS WE HAVE TO DEAL
WITH HOW WE RESPOND TO 911 CALLS
IN THE WAY THAT WE DO NOW.
SO, LOOKS LIKE NO ONE ELSE HAS
ANY OTHER COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> JUST TO RESPOND BRIEFLY, I
THINK WHATEVER SUCCESSOR AGENCY
WE ULTIMATELY DO DEVELOP IS
GOING TO BE A WORLD INTO ITS
OWN.
IT WILL PICK FROM A LOT OF
DIFFERENT EXAMPLES NATIONALLY.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE DO A
CARBON TRANSPLANT OF THE CAHOOTS
MODEL.
I THINK THAT, IN RESPONSE TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S COMMENTS
EARLIER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH EVERYBODY ON THIS
GOING FORWARD, I THINK ONE OF
THE REALLY BIGGEST DIFFERENCES
WITH KIND OF WHAT WE'RE
CURRENTLY DOING WITH THE CRISIS
INTERVENTION TEAM AT SPD IS THAT
THIS IS A COMPLETELY INTEGRATED
UNIT WITHIN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT RATHER THAN A
SEPARATE, LIKE, ON ITS OWN LEG
911 RESPONSE SYSTEM, AND I THINK
IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT
GOING FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE MY PROVISO TO ASK
THEM TO DEVELOP SOMETHING
INSTEAD OF SPD.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT
THE MODEL, AND I THINK THE
DENVER MODEL MAY HAVE ALSO BEEN
BASED ON THE CAHOOTS EXPERIENCE
IS THAT IT IS A SEPARATE, A
COMPLETELY SEPARATE 911 RESPONSE
FROM THE POLICE.
I THINK AS LONG AS WE STAY
FOCUSED ON THAT RATHER THAN
BEING FOCUSED ON ANY PARTICULAR
MODEL, THAT IS THE WAY THAT I
WANT TO GO FORWARD ON THIS AND I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS LIKE
A DIFFERENT TEAM WITH A
DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY COMPLETELY
SEPARATE FROM THE POLICE
BUREAUCRACY.
WHAT THE FUTURE OF OUR PUBLICS
HEALTH INFORMED RESPONSE IS
GOING TO BE AND IT SEEMS LIKE
THE MODEL IS A GOOD ONE FOR
HAVING THAT KIND OF A SYSTEM, SO
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK WITH ALL OF YOU ON IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
I THINK SEVERAL OF US HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT, NOW, FOR A FEW
WEEKS ABOUT, I CERTAINLY HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW THERE ARE
MANY MENTAL HEALTH SOCIAL WORK
KIND OF PROGRAMS OR SERVICES
THAT HAVE BEEN BAKED INTO THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CERTAINLY THE CRISIS RESPONSE
TEAM IS ONE OF THEM.
SUPPORT TEAM, WHICH ADDRESSES
SPECIFICALLY THE ISSUES RELATED
TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SO I
THINK THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER
SOCIAL WORK, MENTAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS AND FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN
ENTANGLED WITH ARMED LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND I THINK BEEN
TALKING ALREADY FOR A COUPLE OF
WEEKS ABOUT TAKING A SERIOUS
LOOK AT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE
TO DISENTANGLE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
SOCIAL WORK MENTAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY TIED
TO AN ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT
MODEL.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
DIG INTO THOSE DETAILS, AND IN
FACT, I THINK IN THE LAST BUDGET
COMMITTEE HEARING, I SPENT QUITE
A BIT OF TIME TRYING TO CUE UP
QUESTIONS AROUND HOW DO WE BEGIN
THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING THESE
KINDS OF PROGRAMS THAT, FRANKLY,
SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN CONNECTED
WITH AND TIED TO ARMED LAW
ENFORCEMENT MODELS IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
CERTAINLY ONE BIG PIECE OF THIS
EXERCISE IS TO SEPARATE THOSE
TYPES OF WORK, BUT ALSO I JUST
REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS
WE'RE DOING THIS WORK THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE DOING IT IN A WAY
THAT IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND
FOCUSING ON CENTERING THE VOICES
OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY POLICING
AND OVER POLICING AND WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER MODEL WE
PURSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO, YOU
KNOW, NOT SIMPLY DIRECT IT, BUT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
OUTREACH NECESSARY IN ORDER TO
DEVELOP WHATEVER THE MODEL IS
GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE, FRANKLY, WILL BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND GET IT
RIGHT.
I'M INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE
THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS AND DOING IT IN A
WAY THAT IS HOLISTIC, I THINK IS
GOING TO BEST SERVE ALL OF US
AND THE CONSTITUENCIES WE'LL
SERVE DURING THIS WORK.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MANY,
MANY, MANY WEEKS OF
CONVERSATION, HOPEFULLY NOT TOO
MANY.
THE WEEKS OF CONVERSATION WE'LL
HAVE DIGGING INTO THIS BODY OF
WORK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
COLLEAGUES?
OKAY.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE DOWN THE
ROLL CALL.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ IS SAYING.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
REMEMBER WE NEED TO BE FOLLOWING
THE LEAD OF COMMUNITY.
THIS ONE, ESPECIALLY, I HAD
MENTIONED, MAYBE IT WAS LAST
WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE.
I'M LOSING TRACK, BUT
DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND THE
KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW
COALITIONS ARE LOOKING AT HOW TO
DO A BUDGETING PROCESS SO THAT
WE CAN HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE
COMMUNITY, SO THEY CAN HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM THE COMMUNITY
ABOUT HOW THE SHIFT IN SPENDING
FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
SHOULD HAPPEN, WHAT THE
PRIORITIES ARE FROM THE
COMMUNITY, ABOUT THE KIND OF
SERVICES THAT WE SHOULD BE
PROVIDING, SO I WANT TO REMIND
EVERYONE THAT THE PROCESS IS IN
THE PLANNING STAGES AND WE NEED
TO -- MAYBE LING THEM LEAD THE
PROCESS AND BE PREPARED TO
IMPLEMENT WHAT WE HEAR FROM THE
COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
HAS SAID FOR THE LAST MONTH, OUR
NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE
STREETS PROTESTING THE POLICE
BRUTALITY THAT OFTEN LEADS TO
PEOPLE DYING.
FRIDAY NIGHT I GOT A CALL FROM A
CONSTITUENT WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS
ARRESTED.
VIDEO HER FRIENDS TOOK SHOWED
SHE WAS REALLY DOING NOTHING
MORE THAN YELLING.
SHE WAS CHARGED WITH TWO
FELONIES.
SHE HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT
WOULD HAVE PUT HER IN SERIOUS
DANGER IF SHE HAD BEEN EXPOSED
TO CORONAVIRUS.
I'M STILL HOPEFUL IN THE TIME
SHE SPENT IN JAIL SHE WAS NOT
EXPOSED.
THANKFULLY SHE WAS RELEASED ON
SATURDAY THANKS TO THE WORK OF
BAIL ADVOCATES WHO WAITED HOURS
BEFORE BEING ALLOWED INTO THE
JAIL.
WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS
PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR
JUSTICE.
THEY RISK THAT BECAUSE OUR
GOVERNMENT IS NOT SERVING THEM
AND THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE
CASE, SO THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE
HAVING RIGHT NOW ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT AND I THINK IT IS,
FRANKLY, DISINGENUOUS FOR THE
MAYOR TO SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE
SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS WHEN IT
IS, IN FACT, THE ROLE OF
GOVRNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE ARE SERVED SO THAT THEY
DON'T HAVE TO PROTEST.
THE KIND OF POLICE INDUCED
CRISIS THAT HAPPENED THIS
WEEKEND LEADS TO POLICE VIOLENCE
AND IT IS LITERALLY KILLING
PEOPLE.
MY CONSTITUENT WAS LUCKY.
SUMMER TAYLOR HAD A TRAGICALLY
DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
I WANT TO ECHO THE CONDOLENCES
TO THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE BEEN IN A STATE OF CHAOS
FOR OVER A MONTH.
I FEEL IT IS, IN LARGE PART,
BECAUSE THE MAYOR IS SENDING
CONFLICTING MESSAGES AND DOESN'T
SEEM TO BE IN CONTROL OF HER
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE IS CONFLICTING MESSAGES
SAYING THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY AT
THE CHOP AND THEN SENDING POLICE
IN TO CLEAR IT AT 5:00 IN THE
MORNING, AUTHORIZING TEAR GAS,
WHEN JUDGE JONES ORDERED THAT
SPD HALT VIOLENT TACTICS,
SENDING IN POLICE TO CLEAR OUT
THE CHOP, KNOWING THAT PEOPLE
WOULD BE ARRESTED AND THEN
PROMISING NOT TO PRESS CHARGES
AFTER PEOPLE ARE ALREADY IN THE
CRIMINAL, LEAGUE SYSTEM AND
LEAVING IT TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY
TO TRY TO DEAL WITH PROCESSING
THEM QUICKLY AND DISMISSING
CASES AS HE CAN.
THE POLICE PROTECTING THOSE WHO
OPEN CARRY BUT TEAR GASSING
THOSE WHO HAVE AN UMBRELLA OR
CANDLE IN THEIR HANDS, ALLOWING
POLICE TO REQUIRE NEIGHBORS TO
SHOW THEIR ID OR RISK ARREST,
I'M REALLY QUESTIONING WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.
OUR NEIGHBORS ARE SUFFERING,
SOME ARE DYING, AND THE MAYOR
LETS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ACT
WITH IM PUNITY AS IF WE'RE IN A
POLICE STATE.
THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE DEMANDS
THAT THE COMMUNITY IS MAKING ON
THIS RIGHT NOW.
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BY 50%,
INVESTING IN BLACK COMMUNITIES,
AND RELEASING THE PROTESTERS.
I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS WORKING
ON THE FIRST TWO.
WE HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF
DESECTING THE POLICE -- IT IS AN
OBSCURE DOCUMENT.
OUR QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN MET WITH
EXISTENCE AND VERY LITTLE
CLARITY.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO A BUDGET
REDUCTION, INCLUDING STAFFING
REDUCTIONS AVAILABLE UNDER THE
GIVEN CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE
WITH THE CONTRACT.
WE'RE ALSO COMMITTED TO
INVESTING PUBLIC RESOURCES IN A
WAY THAT SERVES BLACK AND BROWN
NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT
THESE THINGS DON'T JUST HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT, BUT THEY WILL HAPPEN.
AS FOR RELEASING THE PROTESTERS,
THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS DISMISSED
MANY OF THE CASES STEMMING FROM
THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND I
THINK ALSO TO DISMISS FROM THIS
PAST WEEKEND THE FOLKS CHARGED
WITH MISDEMEANORS.
THOSE FACING FELONY CHARGES FALL
UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NO
JURISDICTION OVER THE COUNTY
PROSECUTOR, BUT I HAVE WRITTEN
TO HIM ONCE ALREADY AND EXPECT
TO MEET WITH HIM LATER THIS
WEEK.
MY PLAN IS TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE,
TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE THE PEOPLE
OF DISTRICT 2 AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, GIVEN THAT MANY OF THE
FOLKS ARE FROM MY DISTRICT.
THAT IS REALLY ALL I WANTED TO
SAY.
I WANT TO, AGAIN, EXPRESS MY
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND
FRIENDS OF SUMMER TAYLOR AND TO
LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE
HEAR YOUR DEMANDS, WE'RE WORKING
ON IT, AND WE'LL DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN TO
PROTECT OUR CITY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
TAKING THE TIME TO WALK THROUGH
ALL OF THOSE VARYING PIECES,
SUPER IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IT FEELS
LIKE THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE ARE
BARELY MOVING BUT I DO THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
CONSTITUENTS KNOW WE'RE WORKING
AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN WITH THE
THINGS WE CAN NOW WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT OBVIOUSLY THE
BUDGET IS ONE, JUST ONE,
FRANKLY, WAY THAT WE CAN MOVE
MANY OF THESE DEMANDS AND ISSUES
FORWARD AND OF COURSE, MANY OF
US HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS
SUMMER REBALANCING OPTION AS A
PHASE ONE, IF YOU WILL, TO LAY
THE FOUNDATION FOR THE HARDER,
DEEPER WORK THAT WILL OCCUR OVER
THE SUMMER AND, YOU KNOW, WE
APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE
BUT WE ALSO, AND I OFTEN SAY
THIS TO FOLKS WHEN I'M TALKING
TO THEM, OFF CAMERA, AND THAT IS
THAT WE NEED THE PRESSURE AND
THE MOVEMENT TO KEEP BUILDING
TOWARD EXECUTION OF THESE
DEMANDS AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE
TO SEE AND FEEL THAT THEY WANT
US TO PRIORITIZE THIS WORK AND
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS
FOR PEOPLE TO DO THAT IS TO TAKE
TO THE STREETS AND TO SING IN
ONE VOICE AND TO TELL US, LOUDLY
AND CLEARLY WHAT IT IS THEY
WANT.
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE BEING
ABLE TO BE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL
DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME WHEN
I'M IN A UNIQUE POSITION LIKE
ALL OF US TO HOPEFULLY ARISE TO
THE OCCASION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE
WORDS.
IREALLY APPRECIATE IT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
OKAY.
HEARING NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON THAT REPORT, WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND MOVE DOWN THE LINE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> WE HAVE A PRETTY EXCITING
AFTERNOON PLANNED HERE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS
AND FEED BACK SO FAR ON THE JUMP
START LEGISLATION.
I WILL FIRST START WITH ONE
OTHER ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
ITEM ONE IS 119814.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO
FUNDING FOR HOUSING COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, ADOPTING
SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE 2019 ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN.
THIS IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION
WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK AND HAD A
PUBLIC HEARING ON IT AS WELL.
THIS ALLOWS FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO A MEND THE 2019
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND TO
PROVIDE DETAIL ON HOW THE CITY
WILL SPEND APPROXIMATELY
8.9 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS
ALLOCATED TO THE CITY THROUGH
HUD FOR COVID-RELATED RESPONSE.
THE FUNDS WERE APPROPRIATED BY
THE COUNCIL THROUGH ORDINANCE
1260 PASSED IN MAY AND FUNDS
HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TO PREVENT, PREPARE,
AND RESPOND TO CORONAVIRUS.
THE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT EMERGENCY
RELATED ASSISTANCE, PAYMENTS TO
SMALL BUSINESSES AND MEALS FOR
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
IN ORDER TO ENTER INTO A GRANT
AGREEMENT WITH HUD AND RECEIVE
THE FUNDS, WE HAVE BEEN DIRECTED
TO A MEND OUR MOST CURRENT
ANNUAL ACTION PLANS TO REFLECT
THE APPROPRIATIONS.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, THAT IS WHAT
IS ON THE AFTERNOON AGENDA AS
ITEM NUMBER ONE.
EVEN AS WE DO THAT, WE KNOW THAT
THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE THAT WE
HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR HAS BEEN
INADEQUATE TO RESPOND TO EXACTLY
THOSE THREE ITEMS.
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND TO
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE
WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PAY
THE RENT FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ADVANCE
THE JUMP START LEGISLATION THIS
AFTERNOON.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS
ON TWO PARTS AS YOU HEARD FROM
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING, WE'LL
HAVE COUNCIL BILL 119810 AND
COUNCIL BILL 119811.
THIS IS THE JUMP START PAY ROLL
TAX AND THE CORRESPONDING HIGH
LEVEL JUMP START SEATTLE
SPENDING PLAN CONCEPT BILL.
WHILE THERE MAY BE A FEW
AMENDMENTS THAT FOLKS WOULD LIKE
TO FLAG, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO
SO, I WANT TO FLAG ONE THAT I
HAVE SHARED WITH YOU THIS
MORNING.
THE ONE AMENDMENT THAT I'M
SENDING AROUND WILL SPEAK TO
NON-PROFIT HEALTHCARE FOR A
PERIOD OF THREE YEARS FOR THOSE
WITH COMPENSATION BETWEEN
150,000 TO 400,000 FOR
NON-PROFIT HEALTHCARE ENTITIES.
I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE
HEARD US DISCUSS THIS LAST WEEK.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR YOUR INTEREST IN
THE SIMILAR VEIN.
WE ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE
THAT WE ARE RESPONDING TO THE
COVID CRISIS AND ALSO
RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE A
HANDFUL OF NON-PROFIT ENTITIES
WHO ARE RIGHT NOW RESPONDING TO
THIS CRISIS, GIVING THEM A
PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY THREE
YEARS TO SORT OF DEAL WITH THE
CRISIS.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN WELL
RECEIVED BY THE STAKE HOLDERS I
TALKED TO AND JUST FOR CONTEXT,
THERE IS A LOT OF NON-PROFIT
ENTITIES IN OUR AREA AND WHILE
NON-PROFIT HEALTHCARE ENTITIES
ARE CONSIDERED CHARITIES BY THE
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICES, MANY
OF THE NON-PROFIT SYSTEMS HAVE
ANNUAL REVENUES IN THE BILLIONS,
WITH CHIEF OPERATORS EARNING
SEVEN OR EIGHT FIGURE SALARIES.
IN MANY WAYS, THEY'RE LARGE
CORPORATIONS.
AN EQUITABLE SITUATION CAN NOT
FURTHER ASSIST THEM WHEN WE HAVE
TRUE CRISIS AND WANT TO
PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
INSTEAD, THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT
OF US HELPS US INVEST IN THE
SEATTLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND
ALSO MAKES SURE THAT WE'RE
ADDRESSING NON-PROFIT HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS ACCORDINGLY SO THAT
THERE IS SOME ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
THAT THERE IS A CRISIS, A PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS THAT THE ENTITIES
ARE RESPONDING TO.
WE'RE ASKING THOSE WHO ARE
GETTING PAID THE HIGHEST
SALARIES AT 400,000 TO CONTINUE
TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOLUTION
THAT JUMP STARTS THEM.
I WANT TO THANK SEATTLE
CHILDRENS, THE FOLKS AT FRED
HUTCH, THOSE AT THE HEALTHCARE
1199 NORTHWEST FOR THE FEED BACK
ON THE POSSIBLE AMENDMENT IN
FRONT OF US AND AGAIN, THAT IS
VERSION THREE THAT I SENT YOU.
I ALSO REALLY WANT TO THANK THE
FOLKS AT CENTRAL STAFF WHO HAVE
BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS.
I HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED
WORKING WITH ALL OF THE FOLKS ON
CENTRAL STAFF AND ALL OF OUR
OFFICES AS WELL.
YOU ALL HAVE YOUR FINGER PRINTS
ON THIS BILL AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU BECAUSE YOUR WORK ON THIS
LEGISLATION HAS MADE IT BETTER.
WITH THAT, JUST WANT TO SAY I'M
REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS
AFTERNOON.
I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THE MONTH GIVEN
OUR LIMIT AGENDA DUE TO THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE'LL HAVE ONE SESSION AT
10:00 A.M.
WHERE WE'LL HAVE A
PRESENTATION ON THE ROAD MAPS
THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER FROM
SEATTLE DECRIMINALIZATION AND
OTHER FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO
HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF
RESEARCH ON HOW TO, IN SEATTLE,
ALLOCATE FUNDING UP STREAM,
INVEST IN COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
BY REDUCING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET IDEALLY BY
50%.
YOU'LL HEAR PRESENTATIONS FROM
THEM AND GET A BRIEFING SOME OF
THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ELUDED TO
THIS AS WELL AND WE'LL HAVE AN
OVER VIEW OF NOT JUST THE NEXT
SIX MONTHS BUDGET BULLET A
PREVIEW OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE '21-'22 BUDGETING PROCESS AS
WE THINK ABOUT BUDGETING
STRATEGIES.
THEY WILL GO OVER SOME OF THE
PROPOSALS AS WELL.
WE'LL ALSO HAVE A PRESENTATION,
LONG AWAITED PRESENTATION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD MENTIONED
ON THE 911 ANALYSIS THAT WILL BE
PROVIDED TO US IN THE MORNING
SESSIONS AS WELL.
IN THE AFTERNOON, AT 2:00 P.M.,
WE PLAN TO HEAR FROM COUNCIL
BUDGET OFFICE.
THEY WILL BE WITH US WITH A
SAMPLE OF HIS CREW TO ANSWER
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS WE MAY HAVE
FROM THE FIRST SESSION THAT WE
REVIEWED.
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED 2020
REBALANCING BUDGET.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
HIM QUESTIONS OVER A TWO HOUR
PERIOD AND THEN FOR THOSE WHO
CAN JOIN US, WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC
HEARING STARTING AT 4:00 P.M..
WE WILL TAKE AS MANY PEOPLE AS
WE POSSIBLY CAN IN A TWO AND A
HALF HOUR WINDOW TO GET
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
WE FOCUS ON THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
2020 REBALANCING PACKAGE, HAPPY
TO GET YOUR FEED BACK AS WE
THINK ABOUT HOW THE COUNCIL
PLANS TO BALANCE THE PACKAGE.
THAT IS MY SUMMARY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I KNOW MANY OF US
ARE EXCITED TO TAKE THE FINAL
VOTE ON JUMP START SEATTLE,
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION THIS AFTERNOON.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> HELLO, COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AND MY OTHER COLLEAGUES
FOR YOUR OPENING REMARKS ABOUT
THE TRAGIC EVENTS OVER THE
WEEKEND.
ON TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA,
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE.
ON THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, HOWEVER, I DO HAVE A
FEW ITEMS FOR FUTURE COUNCIL
MEETINGS.
COUNCIL BILL 119826 WILL BE
ACCEPTING THE 3.5 MILLION FOR
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
THAT MONEY IS FROM THE FEDERAL
SERVICE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
AND IT IS GOING TO OUR SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
THANKS TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AND MAYOR DURKAN FOR
WORKING TOGETHER ON THE REGIONAL
COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE THOSE
FUNDS FOR WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
ALSO, ON THE ICC IS RESOLUTION
31956 WHICH WILL AFFIRM OUR GOAL
TO PURSUE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO
RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE INTERNET
FOR ALL.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ IS A
CO-SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ALSO, ON THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR, APPOINTMENT
01585 TO APPOINT DR. TYRONE
GRANDERSON TO THE COMMUNITY
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD.
THE TECHNOLOGY FALLS WITHIN THE
TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE.
REGARDING TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
MEETING, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT
THE AMENDMENT, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR YOUR
PATIENCE WORKING THROUGH THAT
AMENDMENT ABOUT NON-PROFIT
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND LATER
THIS WEEK, SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT,
SO WE WILL PRESENT THE PROPOSAL
TO RENEW THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ FOR ESTABLISHING A
TEMPORARY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
WITH THE SINGLE PURPOSE OF
CONSIDERING THE NOVEMBER BALLOT
MEASURE TO RENEW THE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT.
WE WILL MEET AS A COMMITTEE AT
LEAST TWICE.
THIS FRIDAY, JULY 10TH, AND ALSO
FRIDAY, JULY 17TH AT 10:00 A.M..
IDEALLY, THE FULL COUNCIL WILL
VOTE ON A FINAL MEASURE BY
MONDAY, JULY 27th, BECAUSE THE
DEADLINE IS AUGUST 4TH, TO PUT
IT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT FOR
VOTERS TO CONSIDER.
AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, I BELIEVE
WE MUST RENEW OUR SUCCESSFUL
SEATTLE DISTRICT BEFORE IT
EXPIRES.
IT IS ESSENTIAL, AFFORDABLE, AND
GREEN.
OUR ECONOMY, OUR WORKERS, AND
OUR ENVIRONMENT ARE COUNTING ON
US TO PRESERVE OUR BASIC TRANSIT
SERVICES.
CONTINUING THE SMALL TAX IS
NECESSARY AS OUR ECONOMY REOPENS
TO PRESERVE TRANSIT SUBSIDIES
FOR LOW INCOME NEIGHBORS AND
STUDENTS AND MAKE SURE BUSES GET
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE THEY NEED TO
GO, INCLUDING BOOSTING ACCESS TO
AND FROM WEST SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
I'M DONE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR FEED BACK.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU MAY BE
FROZEN.
HOW ABOUT NOW?
>> YES.
THAT WAS YOUR PLUG FOR INTERNET
FOR ALL, I THINK.
>> YES.
THIS IS MY COMMERCIAL FOR
INTERNET FOR ALL CAN YOU ALL
HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY, SO, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
OKAY, HEARING NONE, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND MOVE TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE, THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM
THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTER'S
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE VOTE TODAY
TO PASS THE AMAZON TAX WHICH OUR
MOVEMENT HAS FOUGHT SO HARD FOR.
WE HAD THE MAJORITY COMING OUT
OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST
WEEK AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO
REASON TO WATER THE BILL DOWN AS
IT WAS PASSED THROUGH COMMITTEE.
WE DO NOT NEED ANY MORE
LOOPHOLES.
WE DON'T NEED DELAYS AND WE DO
NOT NEED CAUSES.
I WILL RESERVE MY GENERAL
COMMENTS FOR THIS AFTERNOON, BUT
I WOULD URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO
NOT SUPPORT ANY AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD WEAKEN THE LEGISLATION IN
ANY WAY.
DEEPEST CONDOLENCES AND
SOLIDARITY TO THE FAMILY,
FRIENDS, AND FELLOW ACTIVISTS OF
SUMMER TAYLOR, WHO WAS RUN OVER
BY THE DRIVER OF A CAR THAT
PLOWED INTO A BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTEST MARCH ON SATURDAY.
WE ALSO SEND OUR BEST WISHES TO
DIAZ LOVE, WHO WAS SERIOUSLY
INJURED IN THE HORRIFIC ACT OF
VIOLENCE AGAINST THE MOVEMENT.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THIS
COURAGEOUS PROTEST MOVEMENT IS
BEING TARGETED BY POLICE AND
RIGHT WING VIGILANTES AND
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT HAS
COMPLETELY FAILED THOSE FIGHTING
FOR CHANGE.
OUR MOVEMENT NEEDS TO CONTINUE
TO BUILD TO WIN DEFUNDING POLICE
AND DROPPING ALL CHARGES AGAINST
THE HUNDREDS OF PROTESTERS THAT
HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.
LAST WEEK, WE SAW REPORTS THAT
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
CONTINUING TO VIOLATE SEATTLE
RIGHTS, DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO
PROTEST.
THERE IS HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS
VIDEOS OF POLICE VIOLENTLY
ARRESTING PROTESTERS WHO ARE
COMMITTING NO CRIMES AROUND
CAPITOL HILL.
CHILLINGLY, THERE WERE REPORTS
THAT THE POLICE ARE ATTEMPTING
TO SUBPOENA THE FOOTAGE.
THEY ARRESTED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
AND ARE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OR
TO, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE
MANUFACTURE EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY
THE ARRESTS.
IN THE BRUTAL JULY 1ST CLEARING
OF THE CAPITOL HILL ORGANIZED
PROTEST OR CHOP, THEY USED
PEPPER SPRAY AND RUBBER BULLETS
AGAINST UNARMED PROTESTERS.
SEATTLE POLICE ALSO PUT THEIR
KNEE ON THE NECK OF AT LEAST ONE
PROTESTER IN A DARK ECHO OF THE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD THAT
SPARKED THE PROTESTS IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
THERE ARE ALSO REPORTS OF 44
BEING ARRESTED WITH THE POLICE
THREATENING AND THE ATTACK ALSO
INVOLVED AN EGREGIOUS SWEEP OF
HOMELESS NEIGHBORS.
IT IS JUST STUNNING THAT MAYOR
DURKAN CONTINUED TO USE BRUTAL
POLICE VIOLENCE DESPITE THE
WIDESPREAD AND DECISIVE
OPPOSITION AND IN THE FACE OF
CAUSE FROM OVER 45,000 PEOPLE
NOW FOR HER TO RESIGN.
THE SHAMEFUL ACTIONS BY POLICE
UNDER DURKAN'S ORDERS ARE A
BRAZEN DEFIANCE AND REJECTION OF
THE HARD FOUGHT BANDS WON BY OUR
MOVEMENT AGAINST CHEMICAL AND
OTHER CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS AND
CHOKE-HOLDS WHICH WILL GO INTO
EFFECT JULY 26TH.
WE DON'T ACCEPT AN IDEA THAT THE
MAYOR IS NOT IN CONTROL OF
SEATTLE POLICE.
SHE IS THE MAYOR AND ALL OF THE
DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE SERVE AT HER BEHEAST.
SHE SHARES RESPONSIBILITY FOR
WHAT THE POLICE DO AND IF
THEY'RE ENGAGING IN VIOLENCE
THAT SHE DISAGREES WITH, THERE
IS NOTHING STOPPING HER FROM
JOINING THE MOVEMENT TO DEFUND
THE POLICE AND NOTHING STOPPED
HER FROM NOT USING THE POLICE
FORCE AGAINST THE PROTESTERS AND
HOMELESS NEIGHBORS AT THE CHOP.
I ALSO BELIEVE IT IS NO ACCIDENT
THAT MAYOR DURKAN GAVE HER ORDER
TO CARRY OUT ON THE CHOP DURING
THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT AND DAY
LONG CITY BUDGET COMMITTEE ON
THE AMAZON TAX, UNKNOWN AND
UNANNOUNCED TO THE COMMITTEE.
THE ATTACKS HAVE COME FROM THE
POLICE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT
THAT ALLOWS THE POLICE TO CARRY
OUT FROM THE VIOLENCE, NOT THE
PROTEST MOVEMENT AND WE NEED TO
REJECT THIS GAS LIGHTING
ENTIRELY.
WHILE THE MAYOR IS IN OBJECTION
TO TRUMP, WILLIAM BARR IS
PRAISING SEATTLE POLICE ACTIONS
UNDER DURKAN'S DIRECTION,
REITERATING TRUMP'S POLARIZING
AND DEEPLY RACIST SO CALLED --
RHETORIC.
SOCIALIST ALTERNATES AND I ARE
DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE VIOLENCE
AND LOSS OF LIFE OF LORENZO
ANDERSON AND MY HEART GOES TO
THE FAMILIES AND PROTESTERS THAT
WERE INJURED.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO BLAME THE
VIOLENCE ON THE MOVEMENT AND
THAT VIOLENCE HAS UNFORTUNATELY
BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEERPZ NEAR
THE EAST PRE.
AT THE SAME TIME, A PROTEST
OCCUPATION CAN'T DROWN OUT
THIS -- IT PRODUCES DEEP
INEQUALITY AND POVERTY FOR THE
MANY AND BRUTALLY ENFORCES THE
ORDER.
THIS IS STARKLY ON DISPLAY IN
MAYOR DURKAN'S 2020 BUDGET
PROPOSAL, CUTTING THE POLICE
BUDGET BY JUST 5% WHILE CUTTING
VITAL SOCIAL SERVICES BY NEARLY
$300 MILLION IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC.
OCCUPATIONS OF A CROWD HISTORY
AND MASS MOVEMENTS INCLUDING IN
LABOR AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
STRUGGLES AND OUR MOVEMENT NEEDS
TO MAKE SURE WE BUILD ON THE
OURAGEOUS WORK OF THE CHOP
ACTIVISTS AND OTHER LEADERS AND
ORGANIZERS IN THE MOVEMENT TO
CONTINUE GETTING ORGANIZED TO
WIN THE CONCRETE DEMANDS PUT
FORWARD BY VARIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS, RECOGNIZING THAT
WE CANNOT CREATE A UTOPIA IN A
FEW CITY BLOCKS UNDER THIS
BANKRUPT SYSTEM OF CAPITALISM.
WE DO KNOW THAT OCCUPATION IS AN
EFFECTIVE TACTIC.
WE SAW DEMANDS TO THE POLICE
BUDGET.
THEY HAVE PERSISTED TO DEMAND
MORE.
IT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE TACTICS
ARE A USEFUL AND NECESSARY PART
OF AN OVER ALL STRATEGY TO WIN
THE DEMANDS THE MOVEMENT HAS PUT
FORWARD, INCLUDING DEFUNDING THE
POLICE BY AT LEAST 50% AND
TURNING AWAY FROM VIOLENT POLICE
AND TOWARD SOCIAL SERVICES,
IMMEDIATELY RELEASING ALL
PROTESTERS AND DROPPING ALL
CHARGES AGAINST THEM,
TRANSFERRING THE EAST PRECINCT
TO COMMUNITY CONTROL TO A CITY
FUNDED COMMUNITY CENTER,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR COMMUNITY
DRIVEN INITIATIVE.
WE ALSO NEED TO ESTABLISH AN
INDEPENDENCE ELECTED COMMUNITY
OVER SIGHT BOARD WITH FULL
POWERS OVER THE POLICE,
INCLUDING HIRING, FIRING,
SUBPOENA, AND POLICY AND
PROCEDURE POWERS.
IMMEDIATELY INVESTING IN HOUSING
PUBLICLY OWNED AFFORDABLE HOMES
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT FOR THE
BLACK WORKING CLASS FAMILIES AND
EXPANSION OF PRIORITY HIRED JOBS
AND ENDING THE INHUMANE AND
INFECTIVE ARRESTS OF NEIGHBORS.
ONE LAST PIECE OF NEWS, A
FEDERAL JUDGE RULED TODAY THAT
THE OWNERS OF THE DAKOTA ACCESS
PIPELINE MUST ALTERNATIVE
OPERATIONS WHILE THE GOVERNMENT
CONDUCTS A FULL FLEDGED
ANALYSIS, EXAMINING THE RISK IT
STANDS TO THE STANDING ROCK
SIOUX TRIBE.
IT IS A HARD FOUGHT VICTORY FOR
THE INDIGGOUS COMMUNITIES
NATIONWIDE AND ON THIS ENTIRE
CONTINENT THAT HAVE STOOD IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE SIOUX TRIBE
INCLUDING THE ACTIVISTS IN
SEATTLE AND THE SEATTLE REGION
AND THE MOVEMENT NATIONWIDE THAT
HAS SUPPORTED THEM AND ENGAGED
IN A HIGH PROFILE STRUGGLE
AGAINST THE DAKOTA ACCESS
PIPELINE SINCE 2016.
TO QUOTE FROM CHAIRMAN MIKE
FAITH OF THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX
TRIBE, TODAY IS THE HISTORIC DAY
FOR THE TRIBE AND MANY PEOPLE
WHO SUPPORTED US IN THE FIGHT
AGAINST THE PIPELINE, IT SHOULD
NEVER HAVE BEEN BUILT HERE.
WE TOLD THEM THAT FROM THE
BEGINNING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, FOR THAT
REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND
MOVE DOWN THE ROLE CALL,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU'RE
NEXT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
OR FULL COUNCIL FROM THE LAND
USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE.
THE LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE WILL STILL MEET ON
JULY 22nd AT 9:30 A.M.
TO HOLD
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE CHILD
CARE NEAR YOU LEGISLATION.
THE ANNUAL LAND USE BILL AND AS
WELL TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM
SDCI ABOUT THEIR TREE PROTECTION
WORK.
I HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP TO ASSURE
THAT THE TREE PROTECTION
CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD EVEN
DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
JULY 22nd IS ALSO ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF THE YEAR
AND WE'RE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE
AN IMPORTANT BIRTHDAY DURING
COMMITTEE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
WISH MY LATE GRANDMOTHER, DR.
HELEN STRAUSS, A HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TODAY.
SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN 105 TODAY.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST 50
FEMALE OFFICERS IN THE UNITED
STATES NAVY AND SHE REMAINS ONE
OF MY NORTH STARS ON MY MORAL
CAMPUS.
DISTRICT 6 UPDATES, WE DID HAVE
A TOWN HALL SCHEDULED FOR
TOMORROW.
THAT TOWN HALL HAS BEEN
RESCHEDULED DUE TO VARIABLES
THAT WE ARE ALL PRESENT WITH.
WE ARE EXCITED TO GET A FINAL
DATE ON THE BOOKS AND SPEAK TO
EVERYONE IN DISTRICT 6.
WE DO CONTINUE TO HOLD DISTRICT
6 RESIDENT MEETINGS, AND THAT
REALLY HELPED US GET IN FRONT OF
SOME CHANGES WITH GARDENS WAY.
THANK YOU TO S-DOT FOR BEING
RESPONSIVE TO THE RESIDENTS IN
THE AREA, TO ASSURE THAT THE
STAY HEALTHY STREET IS OPERATING
AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
I HAVE RECEIVED MANY
COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT HOW WELL
THAT STREET IS WORKING.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR MAKING
THAT HAPPEN.
WE ALSO MET WITH A NUMBER OF
RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESS
GROUPS ABOUT THE JUMP START
SEATTLE PROPOSAL.
IF ANY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION,
FREMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
BALLARD ALLIANCE, BREWERY
DISTRICT, THE CONVERSATIONS
HELPED ME FORM THE AMENDMENTS
THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD LAST
WEEK AND JUST WANTED TO AGAIN,
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR BEING
ABLE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS
AND MOVING THIS WELL CRAFTED
LEGISLATION FORWARD.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
FOR SPEAKING ABOUT CAHOOTS.
I DID STUDY PUBLIC POLICY IN
EUGENE AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I
HAVE CALLED CAHOOT AND I'M IN
CAHOOTS WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.
WE HAVE A EUGENE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER WORKING FOR OUR CITY AND
I THINK WE HAVE A LOT TO BRING
FORWARD WITH THIS PROPOSAL.
THANKS FOR MENTIONING THAT.
LAST WEEK MY OFFICE ALSO
PARTICIPATED IN THE GREENWOOD
COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING WHICH
FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC NEEDS OF
SMALL BUSINESSES GOING FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT
AND PAUSE AND RESPOND TO THE
NEWS AND ACTIONS FROM THE LAST
WEEK.
TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR SUMMER
TAYLOR AND GIVE ENERGY TO DIAZ
LOVE CENTS.
I'M DISMAYED, SADDENS AND
HEARTBROKEN BY THE RESPONSE
NONVIOLENT PROTESTERS ARE
RECEIVING FROM OUR CITY.
INVESTIGATIONS TO OCCUR BEFORE
MAKING FINAL JUDGMENTS AND
STATEMENTS ABOUT WHAT HAS
HAPPENED OVER THE LAST WEEK,
WHAT I CAN SAY IS IF THERE IS
ONE IOTA OF TRUTH TO THE REPORTS
OF FORCE I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE
AND READ ABOUT IN THE TIMES, I
CAN SAY WITHOUT QUESTION WE ARE
OUT OF LINE WITH OUR MORAL COM
PASS.
WHEN I WAS TAUGHT ABOUT THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, OUR
CLASSES WERE CONSTANTLY DISMAYED
AN CONFUSED ON HOW PEACEFUL
PROTESTS COULD RECEIVE THE
RESPONSE OF FIRE HOSES,
BEATINGS, AND VIOLENCE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE
EXPERIENCING A FOG, LET ME BE
CLEAR, THIS IS HAPPENING AGAIN
TODAY.
OUR CHILDREN, WHO WILL LEARN
30 YEARS FROM NOW, ABOUT OUR
RESPONSES TODAY TO NON-VIOLENT
PROTESTS WILL QUESTION OUR MORAL
APTITUDE.
THEY WILL QUESTION WHY WE DID
NOT DO MORE TO STOP VIOLENT
RESPONSE TO NON-VIOLENT
PROTESTS.
THEY WILL COMPETENT WHY WE USE
MILITARYIZED RESPONSES
RESPONSES.
THE FOG OF WAR IS ALSO A
DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FORMER
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ROBERT
McNAMARA AND HIS REFLECTIONS OF
DECISION MAKING DURING THE
VIETNAM WAR AND HIS CIVIL
SERVICE.
HE CONFRONTS HIMSELF.
HIS PROCESSING AND DECISION
MAKING SOME 30 YEARS AFTER HIS
CIVIL SERVICE IN 2003.
HE WAS FRANK ABOUT WHAT A MORAL
DECISIONS WE AS A DECISION HAD
MADE DURING THAT TIME.
TO DISTRICT 6, TO MY COLLEAGUES,
TO ELECTED OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY, AND
WASHINGTON STATE, DO NOT LET
THIS BEAT US.
DO NOT LET A FOG OF WAR CLOUD
OUR DECISION MAKING BY
RATIONIZING IMMORAL BEHAVIOR.
THE ANSWERS ARE IN FRONT OF US
AND THE ANSWERS ARE CLEAR.
NOW, MAY WE BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO
ACCEPT THEM, STRONG ENOUGH TO
ENACT THEM AND SMART ENOUGH TO
STOP RATIONIZING AWAY THE RIGHT
THING TO DO.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THAT IS MY REPORT.
I WILL END BY SAYING I
UNDERSTAND THAT OUR BUDGET IS A
DEMONSTRATION OF OUR VALUES I
LOOK DEFUNDING WHAT IS NOT
WORKING AND FUNDING THE
SOLUTIONS THAT ARE CLEAR BEFORE
OUR EYES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THEN COUNCIL STRAUSS, I'LL
REMIND YOU TO PUT YOURSELF ON
MUTE, PLEASE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY.
SO WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
MOVE OVER TO MY REPORT.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THE
AGENDA FOR THIS AFTERNOON OR ON
THE INTRODUCTION OR REFERRAL
CALENDAR, OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS
ARE CANCELLED IN LIGHT OF THE
ONGOING SUMMER BUDGET SESSION.
FOLKS, I DID WANT TO SPEND A
LITTLE BIT OF TIME REMINDING
EACH OTHER AND THE GENERAL
PUBLIC ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE
ARE STILL LIVING AMIDST A GLOBAL
PANDEMIC.
COVID-19 IS STILL EVER SO
PRESENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE OUR
CONSTITUENS AND RESIDENTS AND
VISITORS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE FREE TESTING AVAILABLE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
PUSH OUT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS
POSSIBLE ABOUT THOSE FREE
TESTING, COVID-19 TESTING
OPPORTUNITIES.
THE INFORMATION COMING OUT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH IS ABSOLUTELY
DEVASTATING.
WE ARE SEEING NUMBERS OF
POSITIVE CASES BACK AT THE SAME
RATES THAT THEY WERE AND IN SOME
INSTANCES, WORSE THAN THE RATES
THEY WERE WHEN WE FIRST HAD THE
SHUT DOWN OF THE ENTIRE STATE.
IN FACT, ACCORDING TO THE
SEATTLE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH DAILY DASH BOARD, WE HAD
74 POSITIVE CASES RIGHT HERE IN
SEATTLE ON JUNE 30TH, 2020.
THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE PEAK
RATE OF CONFIRMED POSITIVE
COVID-19 CASES IN SEATTLE ON
MARCH 25TH AND ON APRIL 1ST.
ALTHOUGH I AM PROUD OF SEATTLE
FOR TESTING AT A HIGHER RATE AS
COMPARED TO KING COUNTY AS A
WHOLE, WE ARE STILL NOT SEEING
TRENDS THAT ARE GOING DOWNWARD.
WE'RE IN FACT, EXPERIENCING A
SPIKE HERE IN SEATTLE AND IN
KING COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT
WASHINGTON STATE.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
TO CONTINUE TO REMIND FOLKS THAT
PHYSICALLY DISTANCING YOURSELF
BY AT LEAST SIX FEET FROM FOLKS
WHO DO NOT LIVE IN YOUR
HOUSEHOLD IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT.
WEARING A FACE COVERING IN
AREAS, IN PUBLIC AREAS, IS
ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT.
IN FACT, THERE WERE RECENT
REPORTS THAT JUST CAME OUT
YESTERDAY AND TODAY THAT ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT
COVID-19 MAY HAVE A BIT OF AN
AEROSOL EFFECT, MEANING IT WILL
LINGER IN THE AIR AFTER SOMEBODY
WHO IS INFECTED HAS BEEN PRESENT
IN THAT SPACE.
FACE COVERINGS ARE IMPORTANT.
IT IS, UNFORTUNATELY, FACE
COVERINGS HAS BEEN POLITICIZED.
WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE
SCIENCE AND MAKE SURE FOLKS
UNDERSTAND THAT WEARING A FACE
COVERING WILL NOT JUST PROTECT
YOU, IT WILL PROTECT YOUR LOVED
ONES FROM CONTRACTING THE
DISEASE.
HERE IN SEATTLE IN KING COUNTY
AND ACROSS THE STATE, WE
CONTINUE TO SEE A
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON
PEOPLE OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY
THE LATIN COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF
THE INFECTION RATE.
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THE NEED
TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE PUBLIC
HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND
PHYSICAL DISTANCING, FACE
COVERINGS, AND ALSO ENHANCED
HYGIENE WHEN OUT IN PUBLIC.
A QUICK REMINDER, IN SEATTLE WE
HAVE TEN SITES WHERE PEOPLE CAN
GET TESTED ALL ACROSS THE CITY.
YOU CAN GO TO THE KING COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH WEBSITE TO FIND
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
OUR NORTH SEATTLE LOCATION AT
12040 AURORA AVENUE NORTH IS
AVAILABLE AND OPEN TO FOLKS.
THERE IS INTERPRETATION
AVAILABLE.
YOU CAN MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE
BEFORE YOU SHOW UP.
WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER RESERVATION
ONLINE FACILITY DOWN IN SOTO, IN
SOUTH SEATTLE AT 3820 6TH AVENUE
SOUTH.
THEY'RE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH
SATURDAY, 10:00 A.M.
TO
3:00 P.M..
THEY ALSO HAVE INTERPRETATION
AVAILABLE.
THERE ARE MANY LOCATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT DO NOT
REQUIRE AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE
YOU SHOW UP, INCLUDING THE
DOWNTOWN PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER.
SEVERAL NEIGHBOR CARE HEALTH
FACILITIES IN NORTH SEATTLE,
SOUTH SEATTLE, WEST SEATTLE, WE
ALSO HAVE TESTING AVAILABLE AT
THE SEAMAR COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
MOBILE CLINIC AT RAIN YEAR BEACH
HIGH SCHOOL AND ANOTHER AT THE
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE CAMPUS.
AGAIN, THAT INFORMATION IS
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE SEATTLE
KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
WEBSITE.
WE'LL ENDEAVOR TO PUSH THAT OUT
ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS.
AGAIN, FOLKS, SUPER IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER TO PROTECT OURSELVES
AND OUR LOVED ONES FROM THE
PANDEMIC THAT IS STILL GOING ON
AND WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING AN
UPTICK.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO MASK
UP AND TO PRACTICE GOOD PUBLIC
HEALTH HYGIENE AND ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING
OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT WILL
MAKE AND HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE
IN THE PAST.
THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO SPEND MY
TIME ON THIS MORNING.
IS THERE ANY -- ARE THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
BEFORE WE GO TO THE ORDER?
I THINK WE DID HAVE A COUNCIL OF
STAFFERS ON THE LINE.
I
>>> OKAY, WE DO HAVE TOM AND
ALLIE ON THE ZOOM CALL WITH US.
I BELIEVE THEY WERE INTENDING
TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY AMENDED
TONIGHT, TONIGHT?
THIS AFTERNOON.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN FOR THE
MORNING, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BRIEF US ON ANY POTENTIAL
ISSUES THAT MAY BE FORWARD THIS
AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU THIS PRESIDENT.
WE HOPE THAT YOU GOT A FULL
THREE DAY WEEKEND.
[ LAUGHTER ] AND WE KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY WORKING
ON THIS PROPOSAL OVER THE LAST
FEW MONTHS, SO THANK YOU.
WE HOPE THAT YOU GOT DOWNTIME.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT YOU ARE
RAMPING UP FOR THE DETAILED
PLAN RESOLUTION.
ALLIE, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN
HARD AT WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT
IS IN FRONT OF US WITH THE
PLANNED DETAILS TO BEGIN
WORKING WITH THOSE.
THAT DEADLINE IS THURSDAY THIS
WEEK, SO WE HAVE AMPLE TIME FOR
CENTRAL STAFF TO WORK UP ANY
POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS FOR NEXT
THURSDAY.
TODAY'S VOTE IS ON THE REVENUE
PROPOSAL AND THE HIGH LEVEL
PLAN ORDINATES, WHICH HAS
CATEGORIES OF POSSIBLE PLANS.
AND ALLIE, I AM NOT SURE IF YOU
BEEN HANGING ON THE LINE TO
GIVE US UPDATES ON THAT PIECE,
OR TOM.
BUT I DID NOT HEAR ANYONE ELSE
MENTION SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS
THEY ARE PLANNING TO BRING
FORWARD.
IF THERE ARE FOLKS THAT WANT TO
SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT
ANYTHING, YOU ARE OF COURSE
ABLE TO.
I SPOKE OF THE NONPROFIT ONE,
VERSE THREE, THAT I SENT AROUND
TODAY.
BUT IF YOU ARE HERE FOR
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS, THANK YOU
FOR HANGING ON AND WAITING.
IF I INTERRUPTED YOU, MY
APOLOGIES AS WELL.
WE WILL PAUSE IF THERE IS
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SHARE.
OKAY.
HEARING NOTHING FROM CENTRAL
STAFF.
I BELIEVE THEY ARE HERE TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
I AM SEEING A NOD FROM ALLIE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON POSSIBLE
AMENDMENTS? OKAY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
PAUSING AND NOT HEARING
ANYTHING.
HELLO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH CENTRAL
STUFF.
>> THANK YOU TO TOM AND ALLIE
FOR BEING ON THE LINE.
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT JUMP START OR
POTENTIAL AMENDMENT SLATED FOR
THIS AFTERNOON I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO REACH OUT TO ALLIE AND TOM.
>> IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OR
ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE
ORDER, WE ARE ADORNED, FOLKS.
WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN AT 2:00.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
♪ ♪