LET'S GO AHEAD AND START THE MEETING.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THE JULY 27TH, 2020, COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
TIME IS 9:33 A.M..
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
?
APOLOGIES, COUNCILMEMBER.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
HERE.
MOSQUEDA HERE.
PEDERSEN?
HERE.
SAWANT?
HERE.
STRAUSS?
PRESENT.
HERBOLD?
HERE.
LEWIS?
PRESENT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
HERE.
EIGHT PRESENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE MINUTES OF JULY 20TH, 2020, WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT OUT THIS MORNING, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND JUMP INTO THE PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS, COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES.
I WILL CALL ON COUNCILMEMBERS AS ESTABLISHED BY THE ROTATED ROLL CALL FOR CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS.
THIS WEEK'S ROLL CALL ROTATION BEGINS WITH COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, MOSQUEDA, PEDDERSON,
SAWANT, STRAUSS, HERBOLD, LEWIS, AND THEN I WILL CONCLUDE TODAY'S AGENDA.
COLLEAGUE, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE AWARE I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ'S STAFF THAT UNFORTUNATELY SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE COUNCIL BRIEFING
TODAY OR FULL COUNCIL, SO WE WISH HER WELL AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE IS DOING WELL
AS SHE ISN'T ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY.
SO WE ALSO, I KNOW, HAVE A --WE ALSO HAVE CALVIN CHOU ON THE LINE.
CALVIN IS OF COURSE, FROM THE COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF, AVAILABLE TO US WHEN WE ADDRESS MATTERS
RELATED TO THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT LEVY ORDINANCE.
THAT CONVERSATION WILL HAPPEN UNDER COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S REPORT, SO I WOULD ASK THAT FOLKS
SAVE THEIR COMMENTS RELATED TO THE AMENDMENTS AND THE ORDINANCE UNTIL WE GET TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN WHO IS THIRD IN LINE AND WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT ALL STBD RELATED ISSUES
AT THE SAME TIME SO I KNOW SEVERAL OF US HAVE AMENDMENTS, AGAIN, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WAIT
UNTIL COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN INTRODUCES THE SUBJECT AS THE CHAIR OF THAT SELECT COMMITTEE
AND WE CAN HAVE THE POLICY CONVERSATION RELATED TO THOSE POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND THE UNDER
LYING ORDINANCE AT THAT TIME.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DIG IN.
SO I WILL CALL, FIRST, ON COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, I WILL START BY SAYING IT WAS A LATE NIGHT FOR ME AS IT WAS MY TURN
TO BE VISITED BY DEMONSTRATORS WHO ARE MAKING THE ROUNDS OF COUNCILMEMBER HOMES.
THEY CAME LATE AND THEY STAYED LATER.
I WILL SAY THAT I DID HAVE A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH A FEW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CROWD, MAYBE
100 PEOPLE IN THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOME, AND I APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN
TO WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.
MY DAUGHTER HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH THEM AS WELL.
SHE DECIDED SHE NEEDED TO GO OUT AND EXPRESS HER SUPPORT FOR THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT,
SO WE EXCHANGED NUMBERS AND WE WILL BE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THEM AT SOME POINT LATER
TODAY.
I KNOW THAT HASN'T BEEN THE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, AGAIN,
AS WE ALL KNOW, PEOPLE ARE DEMONSTRATING FOR LOTS OF DIFFERENT REASONS, NOT THE LEAST OF
WHICH IS THE LATEST PROTEST OF THE PRESENCE OF FEDERAL AGENTS IN OUR CITY OVER THE EXPRESS
OBJECTION OF OUR MAYOR.
THEY'RE DEMONSTRATING TO INSIST ON --IN PUBLIC INVESTMENT, AWAY FROM THE POLICE AND INTO
BLACK COMMUNITIES AND THEY'RE DEMONSTRATING BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF POLICE BEHAVIOR WE
HAVE SEEN OVER THE WEEKEND.
IT WAS REALLY DISTURBING TO SEE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AGAIN USING CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS
IN WAYS THAT WERE BLATANTLY INDISCRIMINATE.
IN THE VIDEO FOOTAGE I HAVE SEEN OVER THE WEEKEND IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT REPORTERS
ARE BEING TARGETED, LEGAL OBSERVERS ARE BEING TARGETED, BALLS ARE BEING THROWN OVERHEAD
INTO CROWDS INSTEAD OF THE WAY THEY'RE DIRECTED TO DO.
NURSES BEING SPRAYED DIRECTLY IN THE FACE AND AT CLOSE PROXIMITY.
WE HAVE HEARD REPORTS OF POLICE DROPPING FLASH BANGS BANGS AND CONCUSSION GRENADES FROM BUILDING
ROOFS AND THAT POLICE ARE SHOOTING PROTESTERS WITH RUBBER BULLETS.
THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN PRETTY CLEAR IN OUR INTEREST IN SEEING THE END OF THESE KINDS
OF TOOLS AND WEAPONS USED AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY AND IT DOESN'T BUILD TRUST WITH OUR COMMUNITY
TO PLAY, WHAT IN MY MIND ARE SEMANTIC GAMES AND PROMISE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU WON'T
USE TEAR GAS KNOWING FULL WELL THAT OFFICERS WILL BE GEARED UP WITH PEPPER SPRAY.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A CYNICAL ATTEMPT TO EVADE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTIONS THAT WE ARE
ASKING TO END AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND FRANKLY, THE COMMUNITY
SEES THROUGH THOSE WORD GAMES.
IT ALSO DOESN'T BUILD TRUST WITH COMMUNITY FOR US TO MAKE EMPTY PROMISES AND THIS IS
PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH FOLKS LAST NIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOME.
THIS COUNCIL KNOWS THAT SHIFTING SPD RESOURCES IN THE 2020 BUDGET IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING.
WE HAVE SHARED THAT WITH COMMUNITY AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE.
THEY INTEND TO KEEP PUSHING US TO DO IT ANYWAY AND THAT IS THEIR ROLE AS COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS
AND ADVOCATES FOR THE KIND OF CHANGE THAT THEY WANT TO SEE, SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND
I RESPECT THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THEY HAVE TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SO I EXPECT
THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND MY COMMITMENT IS TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SHIFTING RESOURCES IN A SIGNIFICANT AND MEANINGFUL WAY SO THAT
WE CAN INVEST IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.
TO THAT END, WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE ARE A BLUEPRINT WE RECEIVED FROM DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE WITH SEVERAL THINGS
THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WILL BE MOVING SOME THINGS.
I'M SURE SHE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY ITEMS THAT ARE NOT BEING MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD AND DO THAT IN CONVERSATION WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AS WELL.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF INVESTING IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY IN
THE PROCESS THAT THEY HOPE TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER SO THAT THAT PROCESS CAN INFORM THE KIND OF
CHANGES THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN THE 2021 BUDGET PROCESS.
NEXT WEEK WE HOPE TO PRODUCE THE DUNLAP GIBBONS LEGISLATION TO ASSURES THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS
TO COUNCIL ONCE THEY HAVE HAD THEIR MIRANDA RIGHTS READ TO THEM.
WE'LL BRING THAT FORWARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR A VOTE.
HOPEFULLY ON AUGUST 10TH.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY, TIMELY, THAT IT IS THE END OF JULY.
RENT IS DUE IN JUST A FEW DAYS, AND THIS IS THE NEXT CATASTROPHE HITTING THIS COUNTRY.
THOUSANDS OF SEATTLEITES WILL BE AFFECTED AND EXTENDING THE EVICTION MORATORIUM CONTINUES
TO BE A WORKABLE STOPGAP MEASURE BUT THE MORATORIUM ITSELF WILL EVENTUALLY END AND WE HAVE NO
GUARANTEE THAT AT THAT TIME PEOPLE WILL BE BACK TO WORK OR MAKING ANY SORT OF SUBSTANTIAL
INCOME.
THAT MEANS WE RISK SEEING EVEN GREATER INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
TENANTS AND SMALL LANDLORDS, TALKING ABOUT FOLKS RENTING A ROOM OR AN APARTMENT AND BACKYARD
COTTAGE WILL BE BURIED UNDER AN AVALANCHE OF DEBT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE REAL PROSPECT
OF A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
RENT ASSISTANCE NEEDS TO BE DRAMATICALLY SCALED UP BUT IT NEEDS TO BE STRUCTURED SO THAT TENANTS
DON'T SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF AN ADDITIONAL APPLICATION PROCESS ON TOP OF ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET ACCESS TO.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HAPPY TO WORK WITH FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THE BEST APPROACH TO THIS.
MAYBE LANDLORDS APPLY AND THE ASSISTANCE GOES STRAIGHT TO THEM.
MAYBE THEY AGREE TO LOWER RENT IN EXCHANGE FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE, FRANKLY, WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS.
MY OFFICE WILL BE TALKING TO FOLKS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK AND REALLY, BEYOND THAT,
AS I HAVE BEEN SAYING SINCE APRIL, THE BEST WAY TO AVOID THE RENT AND MORTGAGE DEBT IS
TO CANCEL HOUSING RELATED DEBT LIKE THESE PAYMENTS THAT RISK PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK,
RISK PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.
THAT IS WHY I HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE DEMANDS OF THE NO DEBT, NO EVICTION CAMPAIGN
THAT THE TENANTS ARE SPEAR HEADING THAT BE SEATTLE IS SPEAR HEADING THAT CALLS FOR US
TO ENACT A LONG-TERM MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS, FORECLOSURES AND SWEEPS.
CANCEL ALL RENT MORTGAGE LATE FEE AND HOUSING DEBT, PASS A STATEWIDE JUST CAUSE BECAUSE
THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A SEATTLE ISSUE AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR HOUSING JUSTICE REFORMS
LIKE RENT CONTROL, PUBLIC LAND AND COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP AND OPENING UP TENANT HOME OWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES.
IT IS REALLY CLEAR THAT SEATTLE IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY OURSELVES.
EVEN THE COUNTY ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
WE NEED OUR STATE LEADERS TO STEP UP, TO FIND STATE LEVEL SOLUTIONS, AND TO PRESSURE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP AS WELL AND I THINK WE ARE ALL INTERESTED IN CONTINUING
TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS.
I WILL HONOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ'S REQUEST THAT WE HOLD COMMENTS SO THAT IS ALL
I HAVE THIS MORNING AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR THAT REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH THE ROLL CALL.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ARE YOU READY TO GO NOW?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOUR TURN.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THERE, ARE NO ITEMS ON THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE HOUSING AND
FINANCE COMMITTEE OR THE SPECIAL BUDGET COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH.
LAST, I WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE AN UP COMING BUDGET COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK.
WE HEARD FROM CENTRAL STAFF THAT THEY'RE FACING THE CHALLENGES FOR THE 2020 REBALANCING BUDGET
DUE TO A LACK OF COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE AND TRANSPARENCY AND WE DISCUSSED THAT A LITTLE
BIT ON WEDNESDAY.
WE'LL BE WORKING WITH CENTRAL STAFF TO ENSURE COUNCILMEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE
ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR SEATTLE AS A WHOLE
BASED ON EVOLVING LANDSCAPE, WE HAVE A NEW DATE FOR THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE AS WE
HAVE ADDED AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO HOLD THE DATES THAT WILL BE FRIDAY AT 10:00 A.M. AND
THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY AT 10:00 A.M..
WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY SENT OUT A CALENDAR AND WE WILL BE DOING SO AGAIN THIS FRIDAY AT 10:00
A.M., WE WILL BE HOLDING TIME FOR THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE FOR A CONTINUED DISCUSSION
AND IF POSSIBLE, A VOTE ON AMENDMENTS INCLUDING SPD AMENDMENTS AND NONSPD AMENDMENTS.
IF WE GET THROUGH THE RELEVANT AMENDMENTS ON WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY, WE WILL CONTINUE
TO PLAN TO HAVE A MEETING ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, AUGUST THIRD, BEFORE FULL COUNCIL
AND AFTER COUNCIL BRIEFING.
THAT IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO.
SO THAT IS WHY WE'RE ASKING YOU TO ALSO HOLD THE WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING JUST IN CASE WE NEED
ADDITIONAL TIME AND WE WILL MAKE SURE TO SEND OUT INFORMATION MIDWEEK THIS WEEK SO YOU ALL
HAVE THE UPDATED CALENDAR AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.
I'LL SEND IN AN E-MAIL AROUND SO THIS IS PERFECTLY CLEAR.
SO, AGAIN, COLLEAGUES, THE E-MAIL YOU'LL SEE WILL BE ASKING YOU TO HOLD, IN ADDITION TO
FRIDAY AT 10:00 A.M., AUGUST 5TH, AND AUGUST 10TH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2020 REBALANCING PACKAGE AND I WANT TO THANK LISA
KAY FROM CENTRAL STAFF FOR ALL OF HER WORK COORDINATING THIS AND WE'LL SEND A FOLLOW
UP E-MAIL.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT?
OKAY.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I'LL CONTINUE IF THAT IS OKAY.
SECONDLY, DURING TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING, ACTUALLY, I'LL HOLD OFF ON THAT.
IT RELATES TO STPD IF I SHOULD HOLD THAT FOR COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AS WELL.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO CONDENSE EVERYTHING RELATED TO THAT DURING COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
REPORT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THAT SOUNDS FINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I'LL PLAN TO REFERENCE THE RESOLUTION WE'RE WORKING ON IN JUST A MINUTE THEN.
AND IN CLOSING, THERE IS A FEW COMMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE RELATED TO HEALTH AND SAFETY.
REMINDING US THAT THE REASON THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO TAKE TO THE STREET EVERY DAY IS BECAUSE
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF BLACK FOLKS ARE UNDER THREAT, UNDER THREAT DUE TO THE CURRENT STATUS
QUO OF POLICING IN THIS COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN SEATTLE WHERE UNARMED BLACK MEMBERS OF
OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO DIE.
REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH, THOSE PROTESTING SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF GEORGE
FLOYD'S DEATH, WE HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE CONTINUED USE OF GAS AND PROJECTILES FROM
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ON PROTESTERS.
I HAVE EXPRESSED THESE CONCERNS IN THE FRAME OF THE GLOBAL, DEADLY PANDEMIC THAT WE CURRENTLY
FACE.
PUBLIC HEALTH HAS SAID THAT USING GAS, TEAR GAS OR CS GAS IS BAD FOR THE LUNGS.
IT IS AN IRRITANT TO THE LUNGS AT A TIME WHEN THIS PANDEMIC IS AFFECTING THE LUNGS OF INDIVIDUALS,
INCREASING THE RISK OF ILLNESS AND DEATH.
SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE REPORTS THAT WE HAVE HEARD OVER THE WEEKEND.
I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE COURT'S RULING.
I THINK IT IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE AT BEST THAT TRUMP'S DOJ ULTIMATELY HAD THE SAME GOAL THAT
MAYOR DURKAN HAD, TO BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO USE GAS DURING THE TIME OF THE GLOBAL DEADLY
PANDEMIC.
THERE ARE OTHER STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN USE TO ADDRESS CROWD CONTROL.
IT IS CLEAR THAT FROM THE COURT RULING, THIS CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE CONTINUING
TO USE GAS AND WHETHER THAT CS GAS OR PEPPER SPRAY REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHEN PUBLIC HEALTH
HAS SAID BOTH ARE BAD FOR THE LUNGS.
YES, OF COURSE, I DO NOT SUPPORT PEOPLE SETTING FIRES, BREAKING WINDOWS, OR SMASHING CARS.
THAT IS NOT A JUSTIFICATION FOR INDISCRIMINATELY USING GAS, TEAR GAS ON CROWDS.
PEPPER SPRAY ON CROWDS WAS USED THIS WEEKEND.
IT IS THE SAME EFFECT, TEAR GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY.
PEOPLE WERE INDISCRIMINATELY SPRAYED FROM THE VIDEO WE SAW AND REPORTS WE SAW AND I
THINK THAT WE HAVE REALLY AN INCREDIBLE NEED TO STEP UP AND HAVE DIFFERENT POLICIES USED
BUT I'M IMPLORING PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO STOP USING IRRITANTS
TO THE LUNGS DURING A GLOBAL DEADLY PANDEMIC.
THAT IS BAD FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SECOND ITEM ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT WE
ARE SEEING ACROSS OUR CITY OR WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE HAVING THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY POTENTIALLY
THREATENED.
I BELIEVE IN FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND SUPPORT VARIOUS VIEW POINTS EVEN IF FOLKS I DISAGREE
WITH I HAVE BEEN AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN MANY PROTESTS.
IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE TACTICS USED BUT TO MAKE SURE
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY IS PROTECTED, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR COLLEAGUES AND OUR STAFF.
I KNOW THAT MANY ON OUR STAFF AND COUNCILMEMBERS, WE HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE THREATS, DEATH THREATS
AND OTHER TYPES OF THREATS, INCLUDING RAPE, E-MAILS ABOUT THAT FREQUENTLY, AND I THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR STAFF FEEL PROTECTED AND COLLEAGUES FEEL PROTECTED.
FOR THE COLLEAGUES THAT FELT THAT THEIR SAFETY AND FAMILY SAFETY HAS BEEN A THREAT, I STAND
WITH YOU.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT HEALTH AND SAFETY,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND THOSE WITH UNDER LYING HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE PROTECTED,
IT IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF WANTING TO HEAR FROM THOSE I WANT TO AGREE WITH I WANT TO
MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS PROTECTED FROM FOLKS I DISAGREE WITH
AS WELL.
I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS WE SEE THE GLOBAL DEADLY PANDEMIC CONTINUE THAT THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND STAFF IS PROTECTED, I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR FOLKS TO SPEAK UP AND NOT IN
A WAY THAT THREATENS THE FAMILY MEMBERS, KIDS OF THE COLLEAGUES AND INDIVIDUALS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, WHO RECEIVED SPRAY PAINTING IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE USING PROFANITIES AS WELL AS
THE PROFANITIES INCLUDED ON COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S WINDOWS.
WE WANT TO PROTECT EVERYONE'S HEALTH AND SAFETY AND WHEN WE'RE THIS CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, IT
IS IMPORTANT DURING A GLOBAL DEADLY PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE THAT SUPPORTS
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PROTESTERS AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING THEIR JOB ON BEHALF OF
CITY COUNCIL.
LASTLY, IN TERMS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY, I THINK IT IS ABHORRENT THAT OUR CITY CONTINUES TO
PUSH FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRESS TO HAND OVER VIDEO AND PHOTOS OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN
THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
IT IS NOT GOING TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS IF THIS PUSH FROM SPD
CONTINUES.
I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND ASK OUR CITY AS A WHOLE TO WITHDRAW, TO PULL BACK
FROM THE CONTINUED PRESSURE TO SHARE THEIR VIDEO AND SHARE THEIR PHOTOS OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING
THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT MEMBERS OF THE PRESS HAVE THE PROTECTION TO SAY THAT
THEY ARE NOT ACTORS OF THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY ARE NOT THERE ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE, AND WE ARE GOING TO PUT, AT RISK, THE LIVES
OF JOURNALISTS IF WE CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THIS AVENUE OF SAYING JOURNALISTS NEED TO HAND
OVER THE FOOTAGE.
THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
IT IS, I BELIEVE, A VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS AND I DON'T THINK IN THIS CITY
WE SHOULD BE PUSHING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK IT DOES PUT AT RISK THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THOSE JOURNALISTS AS WELL AND I'LL
BE ASKING FOLKS TO WORK WITH US AS WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT ALTERNATE STRATEGIES.
LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY, IN LIGHT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY STRATEGIES THAT I
JUST MENTIONED, WE ARE LOOKING AT PORTLAND, OREGON, AND WHAT THEY JUST PASSED LAST WEDNESDAY
TO PROTECT PROTESTERS, TO PROTECT COUNCIL STAFF AND TO PROTECT MEMBERS OF THE PRESS.
I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL THAT WE PROTECT THE LEGAL OBSERVERS THAT WE SAW
FOOTAGE OF LEGAL OBSERVERS GETTING INDISCRIMINATELY SPRAYED IN THE FACE AS WELL AND APPLIED PORTLAND,
OREGON FOR THEIR PROTECTION OF PROTESTERS, OF LEGAL OBSERVERS AND OF MEMBERS OF THE PRESS
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO REPLICATE THE RESOLUTIONS THAT THEY
PASSED LAST WEDNESDAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, FOR THAT REPORT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT REPORT?
OKAY.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE ON DOWN THE ROLL CALL.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR YOUR
WORDS AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ FOR YOUR WORDS EARLIER ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY OF EVERYBODY
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I SUPPORT YOUR CALL TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE JOURNALISTS
AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT.
TODAY, ON THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA, WFB A FEW ITEMS RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION, UTILITIES
AND TECHNOLOGY.
FIRST, THE INTERNET FOR ALL RESOLUTION.
WE'RE VOTING ON 31596.
I ANNOUNCED THAT AND DISTRIBUTED THE RESOLUTION IN MAY AND INTRODUCED IT ON JULY 6TH.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR THEIR COMMITMENT
AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS IMPORTANT SOCIAL JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXECUTIVES FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO PURSUE DIGITAL EQUITY
AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE OVER 25 MEETINGS OUR STAFF HAS HAD WITH INITIAL STAKE HOLDERS DURING
INITIAL OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.
THE PROCESS WILL CONTINUE FROM US, FROM ALSO THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
I WANT TO THANK LISA KAY ON THE CENTRAL STAFF AND CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE HELP WITH
THE RESOLUTION.
THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION TODAY, SIMPLY MAKES MINOR AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND
FLUSHES OUT OF A FEW OF THE SECTIONS THAT SUBSTITUTE VERSION HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED BY
MY STAFF AND PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA THE INTENT AND TIMELINE, THE PLAN, THE STEPS, NONE OF
THAT HAS CHANGED.
THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION.
I JUST WANT TO SET THE BIG PICTURE FRAMING HERE.
IT IS JUST A RESOLUTION, SO THE REAL WORK WILL BEGIN, THIS KICK STARTS THE, I WANT TO
SAY JUMP STARTS, BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT ANYMORE.
THIS KICK STARTS THE REAL WORK FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL PROVIDE
ITS FIRST REPORT TO US IN SEPTEMBER.
IN A CITY THAT PRIDES ITSELF IN LEADING THE WORLD IN TECHNOLOGY, THE COVID CRISIS HAS
LAID BARE THE INEQUITIES AND INJUSTICE OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
THIS RESOLUTION WILL START THE PROCESS TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AGAIN AND GET SOME STEPS FORWARD
TO FIX THIS.
REGARDING SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT, ON FRIDAY, JULY 17TH, THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT FUNDING UNANIMOUSLY PASSED COUNCIL BILL 119833
TO RENEW FUNDING FOR THE IMPORTANT TRANSIT MEASURE.
WE VOTED ON ALL SEVEN OF THE PUBLISHED AMENDMENTS AT THAT TIME.
WE WERE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THIS BENEFIT DISTRICT EXPIRING.
WE HAVE BEEN TALK BEING IT FOR AWHILE.
IT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS THE PAST SIX YEARS WHEN VOTERS APPROVED IT IN 2014.
WE HAD A BRIEFING BACK ON DECEMBER 12TH ABOUT THE BENEFIT DISTRICT AND AGAIN ON JANUARY
15TH ABOUT THE BENEFIT DISTRICT.
LAST WEEK, A KEY THEME OF THE COMMITTEE WAS TO PRIORITIZE TRANSIT SERVICE OVER ROADWORK,
SO WE DID SOME AMENDMENTS TO DO THAT.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT THE INITIATIVE 976, WHICH WAS REJECTED
BY A WHOPPING 76% OF SEATTLE VOTERS, UNFORTUNATELY THAT REMOVED HALF OF THE FUNDING SOURCE.
WE HOPE TO OVER TURN THE MEASURE IN THE COURTS.
WE KNOW THAT RIDER SHIP ON KING COUNTY METRO HAS PLUMMETED 72% IN THE LAST YEAR.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE UP BEAT ON THE FUTURE AND WE WANT TO RENEW THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS
BECAUSE TRANSIT WILL BE SO IMPORTANT AS AN ESSENTIAL, AFFORDABLE WAY TO GET AROUND OUR
CITY AS OUR ECONOMY RECOVERED.
THERE ARE FOUR ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY AT FULL COUNCIL AND I'LL JUST TOUCH
ON THESE BRIEFLY.
I KNOW EACH MEMBER MAY WANT TO ADDRESS THESE BUT TO GET IT OUT ON THE TABLE.
AN AMENDMENT FROM COUNCILMEMBER MORALES DISCUSSED LAST WEEK WOULD DOUBLE THE TRANSIT SALES TAX
.1 TO .2.
A COMPROMISE AMENDMENT FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE REVENUE
FOR TRANSIT AND THE PROPOSAL TRANSMITTED TO US WOULD INCREASE THE SALES TAX TO .15 INSTEAD
OF THE .1 OR .2.
THERE IS AN AMENDMENT FROM COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECONSIDER WHAT
WE HAD DISCUSSED AT COMMITTEE IN TERMS OF SHORTENING THE MEASURE FROM SIX YEARS TO FOUR
YEARS.
THAT AMENDMENT WOULD ENABLE US TO GO BACK TO SIX YEARS IF WE CHOOSE THAT.
THERE IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT AMENDMENT ABOUT ESSENTIAL WORKERS EVEN THOUGH TRANSIT RIDERSHIP
HAS GONE DOWN DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE ARE MANY ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT RELY ON THE TRANSIT
AND WILL RELY ON IT GOING FORWARD.
CALVIN CHOU FROM THE CENTRAL STAFF IS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
TO THE EXTEND YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH HOW TO VOTE ON ANY OF THE AMENDMENTS, ULTIMATELY,
WE'RE RELYING ON THE WISDOM OF THE VOTERS TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN NOVEMBER.
THE DEADLINE TO GET IT ONTO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT IS AUGUST 4TH, SO WE ARE AT THE END HERE SO
THERE IS ALSO A COMPANION RESOLUTION THAT COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WILL SPEAK TO.
I'M CO-SPONSORING THAT, BUT HER TEAM, SHE AND HER TEAM REALLY DID ALL OF THE WORK ON
THAT TO EMPHASIZE THE NEED TO REREGIONALIZE OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THOSE ARE ALL MY REMARKS.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM OTHERS OR ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, FOR THAT, SO COLLEAGUES, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL
AMENDMENTS AND THEN THERE IS THE RESOLUTION BEING CO-SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
I'LL PROPOSE WE PROCEED AS FOLLOWS IN ORDER TO MAKE TODAY'S CONVERSATION AS EFFICIENT
AS WE CAN MAKE IT.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT EITHER COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA OR COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
ADDRESS THE RESOLUTION, ASSERTIVE OVER ARCHING WORK THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE AND SEE
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN I'M GOING TO ASK
THAT CALVIN WALK US THROUGH --THAT CALVIN WALK US THROUGH THE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS.
WE'LL TAKE A PAUSE AFTER EACH AMENDMENT AND TO THE EXTEND THAT THEY ARE COMPETING AMENDMENTS
LIKE AMENDMENT 6 AND AMENDMENT 2, WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION TOGETHER.
WE'LL SORT OF TICK OFF THE RESOLUTION, TICK OFF THE RESOLUTION FROM THE TO DO LIST AT
THE TOP.
WE'LL TRANSITION OVER TO CALVIN, HAVE HIM TALK ABOUT EACH AMENDMENT.
WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT EACH AMENDMENT AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE DOWN THE LINE UNTIL
WE EXHAUST THE AMENDMENT, SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE, AS ROBUST AS A POLICY
CONVERSATION THAT WE CAN HERE BECAUSE SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS ARE PRETTY SUBSTANTIVE SO
THAT WE CAN HAVE A CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT WE MIGHT BE WANTING TO DO THIS AFTERNOON AT 2:00.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO VET SOME OF THE IMPORTANT POLICY QUESTIONS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, DID YOU WANT TO LEAD THE CONVERSATION ON THE
RESOLUTION?
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN FOR HIS CO-SPONSORSHIP.
I'M EXCITED TO BRING FORTH THIS RESOLUTION TODAY AFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY JURISDICTIONAL PARTNERS COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND TRANSIT ADVOCATES
TO RE-REGIONALIZE TRANSIT SPENDING AND PLAN FOR A FUTURE, COUNTY-WIDE FUNDING MEASURE.
THIS RESOLUTION ALSO WORKS TOWARD REPLACING REGRESSIVE SALES TAX AND USES TAXES TO FUND
TRANSIT SERVICES IN SEATTLE WITH OTHER PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SOURCES.
COLLEAGUES, I KNOW ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING THINGS ABOUT US IS THE FEW TOOLS WE HAVE IN
THE TOOL BELT FOR RAISING REVENUE.
THIS FOLLOWS THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH KING COUNTY AND FOLLOWS A LETTER SENT
BY KING COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER SIGNED BEEN EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE.
AFFIRMING THEIR INTENTION TO REENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS FOR THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT CONVERSATION.
JUST VERY BRIEFLY FROM THE LETTER WHICH I BELIEVE YOU ALL RECEIVED IT SAYS TRANSIT PROVIDED
MUCH NEEDED MOBILITY OPTIONS FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND HELPED TO
ENSURE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT KING COUNTY HAVE HAD A WAY TO GET TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING
GROCERIES AND MEDICAL TREATMENT.
EVEN WITH TRANSIT SERVICES SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED IN RESPONSE TO COVID, THE NET WORTH HAS CONTINUED
TO FUNCTION, PROVIDING MORE THAN 125,000 TRIPS A DAY DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC
CLOSURE, FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE SEEN THAT ROUTES WITH LESS REDUCTION IN RIDER SHIP HAVE PRIMARILY
BEEN THOSE IN SOUTH SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY WITH THE LEAST REDUCTION IN RIDERSHIP AND
THAT THE SOUTH KING COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE OFTEN PEOPLE OF COLOR WITH LOWER INCOMES WHO CANNOT
WORK FROM HOME, WHO RELY ON TRANSIT TO MAKE ESSENTIAL TRIPS FOR WORK, FOR SHOPPING AND
OTHER NEEDS SO IT IS IMPORTANT FROM A RACIAL EQUITY LENS TO CONTINUE TO REENGAGE WITH THE
PARTNERS TO INCREASE THE FUNDING AND CREATE MORE STABILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR DIVERSE
COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT SEATTLE AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE SOUTH END.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, FOR WORKING ON THE CO-SPONSORSHIP.
WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE MAYOR.
I BELIEVE SHE WOULD CONCUR AS WELL AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLKS WHO WORKED ON THE
LEGISLATION INCLUDING BLAKE -- AND MLK LABOR AND PUGET SOUND.
HOPEFULLY HAVING YOUR SUPPORT THIS AFTERNOON AND I BELIEVE THE RESOLUTION WAS SENT LAST
FRIDAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
ANY COMMENTS FROM YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE RESOLUTION?
OKAY, HEARING NONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INTRODUCING THAT RESOLUTION, COUNCILMEMBERS
REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO HAVING THIS TRANSIT
CONVERSATION FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO SIGNAL THE INTENT WITH THAT IN MIND.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL HAND IT BACK OVER TO --I'LL HAND IT OVER TO CALVIN, SOCAL VEIN,
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, AND THEN IF YOU COULD BEGIN THE PROCESS OF WALKING
US THROUGH THEMES FOR CONSIDERATION THIS AFTERNOON, AGAIN, WE'LL TAKE EACH AMENDMENT INDIVIDUALLY
AND ALLOW FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS, SO OVER TO YOU, CALVIN.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS, CALVIN CHOU WITH CENTRAL STAFF.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND ANOTHER ITEM CIRCULATED I BELIEVE ON FRIDAY.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S.
IT WOULD EXTEND THE TERM OF THE PROPOSAL FROM FOUR YEARS TO SIX YEARS TO A TERM EXPIRING
IN 2026.
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS YOUR AMENDMENT BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS?
YES, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT, COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
AT OUR LAST COMMITTEE, I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS, THE COSTS AND
BENEFITS BETWEEN FOUR YEARS AND SIX YEARS.
I WAS ON THE PREVAILING SIDE OF INTRODUCING THE TERM FOR FOUR YEARS AND AFTER GIVING IT
MUCH THOUGHT, I AM AT A PLACE WHERE THE SIX YEAR DURATION IS ONE OF --THE MOST IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATION FOR ME IN THIS BILL AND SO I WILL BE BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD, RETURNING
IT TO SIX YEARS AND FOR ME, THE CONVERSATION ABOUT RATE IS SECONDARY TO THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT LONGEVITY BECAUSE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A VERY BLURRY VISION ABOUT WHAT THE
FUTURE WILL HOLD AT THIS TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
WE HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT WEEK.
THE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE SIX YEAR AUTHORIZATION IS THAT WE -- IT DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE COUNTY
FROM MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR OWN ABILITY TO RAISE THEIR OWN BENEFIT DISTRICT.
IT IS SOMETHING I HAVE NOTICED TO BE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT FOR SEATTLE TO BE ABLE TO GET
THE TRANSIT THAT IT NEEDS BECAUSE SEATTLE TRANSIT NEEDS DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE
COUNTY.
THE CITY HAS DOLLARS TO PUT INTO METRO SO THAT WE RETAIN LEVERAGE TO RECEIVE THE SERVICES
AND TRANSIT LEVELS THAT WE NEED.
EVEN WITH THE COUNTY PASSING A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT, THAT DOES NOT THEN MEAN
THAT SEATTLE WILL GET THE TRANSIT SERVICE THAT IT NEEDS.
SO I THINK THAT THE SIX YEAR AUTHORIZATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.
IT DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE COUNTY FROM MOVING FORWARD AND WHAT WE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN
WAS THAT 2020 WAS GOING TO BE THE YEAR FOR REGIONAL TRANSIT MEASURE.
WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND WE DID NOT SEE THAT COME TO FRUITION,
SO FOR ME, TODAY, THE CONVERSATION ABOUT RATE WILL COME SECOND TO MY FOCUS ON THE SIX YEAR
DURATION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WOULD ASK A QUESTION OF THE SPONSOR HERE.
IN OUR CONVERSATIONS LAST WEEK, WE DID TALK ABOUT DECREASING THE RATE FROM SIX YEARS TO
FOUR YEARS AND I THINK THAT WAS IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT THE TAX WAS NOT ASKING FOR
AS MUCH AS I THINK IT SHOULD OR COULD AND SO THAT IS WHY I WAS SUPPORTIVE OF DECREASING
IT TO FOUR YEARS, RECOGNIZING THAT WE NEEDED TO WORK THIS AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD TO REPLACE
IT WITH ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL OR PROGRESSIVE STRATEGIES IF POSSIBLE,
MY CONCERN IS IN ORDER FOR ME TO SUPPORT MOVING IT TO SIX YEARS AGAIN, I THINK IT WOULD MAKE
A LOT OF SENSE FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE RATES AND WHAT THOSE RATES WOULD
BE IF THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COMES IN AND HAVING
THAT FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD SUPPORT, SO BASICALLY, JUST WANTED TO FLAG FOR BOTH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND SPONSOR OF THE AMENDMENT.
I THINK IT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO GO BACK TO SIX YEARS, BUT IF THE RATE WERE INCREASED
I WOULD BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
IT MIGHT JUST BE A MATTER OF THE ORDER OF THE CONVERSATION.
THAT IS MY CONCERN WITH THE CURRENT SEQUENCING OF THE DISCUSSIONS FOR THAT AFTERNOON AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU AND I SHARE VERY SIMILAR CONCERNS.
I WAS OKAY BRINGING THE DURATION DOWN TO FOUR YEARS BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO SEE US SEVER
THE TRANSIT SERVICE TO THE DEGREE THAT THE .1% DOES FOR SIX YEARS.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT INCREASING THE RATE.
I NEED TO SEE THE SIX YEAR DURATION OCCUR.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS?
IF NOT I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS HERE.
OKAY.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'M --I WOULD AGREE THAT THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE RATE OF
TAXATION AND FOR HOW LONG ARE RELATED, BUT PERHAPS NOT INTERDEPENDANT.
I AM CONCERNED THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE PERHAPS WHY WE WERE SKEWING TO FOUR YEARS
WAS BECAUSE THE FUTURE IS SO UNCERTAIN AND SO BLURRY, AND COMMITTING OURSELVES AND ASKING
THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO COMMIT US TO A SIX YEAR STRUCTURE, EVEN IN LIGHT
OF THE RESOLUTION ABOUT REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP SEEMS CONTRADICTORY TO ME.
I THINK THE REALITY IS THAT NO MATTER WHERE THE RATE IS AT, WHETHER IT IS .1, .15, .2,
YOU KNOW, PICK YOUR ADVENTURE, THE REALITY IS THAT WE'RE STILL ASKING VOTERS TO CONSIDER
A SALES TAX THAT IS CITY BASED ONLY IN THE CONTEXT OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WHAT WE NEED
IS A REGIONAL APPROACH.
I WORRY ABOUT HAVING A SIX YEAR PLAN THAT EFFECTIVELY CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE
ARE WAITING TOO LONG TO PULL TOGETHER WITH SOME LEVEL OF URGENCY, REGIONAL PARTNERS,
TO REALLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND TACKLE THIS ISSUE FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE, SO I CAN'T
SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT FOR THOSE REASONS IN LARGE PART BECAUSE I JUST THINK THAT THE MORE
TIME WE BUY THE PARTNERS IN THIS PHASE, THE LONGER IT WILL TAKE US TO GET TO WHAT I THINK
IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL, WHICH WOULD BE A REGIONAL PLAN AROUND THIS.
AND THAT IS COUPLED WITH THE LACK OF UNCERTAINTY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT LEADS ME TO SORT
OF BE A LITTLE SKIDDISH ABOUT COMMITTING FOR AN ENTIRE SIX YEARS AND INSTEAD SKEWING TOWARD
FOUR YEARS, WHICH IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT, MEANINGFUL AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT DOESN'T TIE
OUR HANDS SO SEVERELY AS I THINK A SIX YEAR PERIOD WOULD.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT IS VERY HELPFUL.
CALVIN, CAN YOU REMIND ME, WOULD THE COUNTY AND THE REGION BE ABLE TO MOVE OR I GUESS,
WOULD THE CITY OF SEATTLE BE ABLE TO REASSESS OUR TRANSIT BENEFIT DISTRICT IN A PERIOD OF
TIME BETWEEN NOW AND SIX YEARS TO INCREASE THE RATE SHOULD THE ENVIRONMENT CHANGE OR
DO WE NEED TO WAIT FOR THAT ENTIRE DURATION OF SIX YEARS?
I'M SORRY, UNDER THE SCENARIO THAT IS SIX YEARS AT .1% WERE TO GO FORWARD, COULD WE
REEVALUATE THE .1% WITHIN THE TERM OF THE SIX YEARS?
CORRECT.
WE COULD GO BACK TO VOTERS TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX UP TO THE MAXIMUM .2%.
GREAT.
THANK YOU, CAL.
SO I GUESS WHAT MY POINT, WHAT MY OVER ALL POINT IN THIS MEETING TODAY IS, WE SHOULD
AT THIS TIME AUTHORIZING FOR THE GREATEST DURATION POSSIBLE BECAUSE IN THE FUTURE, SHOULD
VARIABLES CHANGE, SHOULD THE ENVIRONMENT CHANGE, SHOULD THE ECONOMY CHANGE, SHOULD ANYTHING
CHANGE, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO BACK TO VOTERS.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THESE CHANGES WITH THE PUBLIC'S INPUT AND IN THE INTERIM,
WHAT WE CAN'T DO IS EXTEND AUTHORIZATION, AND I THINK AT THIS TIME, WITH THE AMOUNT
OF UNCERTAINTIES IN THE WORLD, THE GREATEST DURATION OF AUTHORIZATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
I'M SORRY, SO THE PROPOSAL IS GO FOR SIX YEARS AND IF WE WANT TO CHANGE OUR MIND, WE ASK
THE VOTERS, WE GO BACK TO THE BALLOT?
THAT IS THE PROPOSAL ON THIS?
TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE NEED TO REGIONALIZE OR
PUT PRESSURE ON THE REGION TO MAKE THESE MOVEMENTS, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO COOPERATE AND PARTICIPATE
AS PARTNERS, TO YOUR LAST POINT, IN THE INTERIM.
JUST BECAUSE WE AUTHORIZE FOR SIX YEARS DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN'T CHANGE CHANGES IN THE INTERIM.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
RIGHT.
JUST TO WEIGH IN ON THIS, I WAS A SUPPORTER OF THE FOUR YEARS.
I REMAIN A SUPPORTER OF THE FOUR YEARS JUST GIVEN A LOT OF OF THE REASONS THAT THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT STATED.
YOU KNOW, BE IT THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT, BE IT DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT PAY ROLL TAXES, BE IT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, I'M ALWAYS GOING TO ADVOCATE
FOR A REGIONAL SOLUTION.
I KNOW ALL OF THESE ISSUES IT IS INCREASINGLY SEATTLE THAT IS EXPECTED TO SHOULDER THE LEADERSHIP
IN TACKLING THESE PROBLEMS, BUT I DO THINK THAT PART OF THAT NEEDS TO BE REALLY SETTING
A LINE AND SAYING WE'RE GOING TO GET IT THIS FAR AND AT THAT POINT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO HAVE A REGIONAL CONVERSATION.
I THINK FOUR YEARS, BY FORCING THAT CONVERSATION IN FOUR YEARS, THAT THAT IS A BETTER APPROACH
INSTEAD OF HAVING SIX YEARS AND SIGNALLING TO OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS THAT THAT IS GOING
TO BE LOCKED IN FOR SIX YEARS AND I THINK WE CAN'T FORGET THAT A LOT OF THE REGIONAL
PARTNERS HAVE BENEFITTED FROM SEATTLE'S TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT.
WE BUY SERVICE HOURS THAT GO FAR OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR CITY.
SO WHAT IS TO SAY THAT THERE WILL BE LESS INCENTIVE FOR A REGIONAL SOLUTION IF WE LOCK
IN A SIX YEAR SEATTLE ONLY ONE?
I LIKE THE IDEA OF SAYING, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, GIVEN THAT 2020 IS A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR FOR
LOTS OF DIFFERENT REASONS, WE ARE GOING TO RENEW, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO, AND THE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF OUR POLICY INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE'RE ONLY GOING
TO DO IT FOR FOUR YEARS AND RESUME THE CONVERSATION WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS YEAR TO HAVE THE REGIONAL
TRANSIT BENEFIT DISTRICT, HOPEFULLY WITH MORE TOOLS BY THEN, TOO, BE IT FROM THE LEGISLATURE,
BE IT FROM SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATION AND APPEALING THE INITIATIVE.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I GUESS I'M JUST SIGNALLING, I CONTINUE TO THINK THE FOUR YEAR MODEL IS
BETTER.
I THINK IT GETS US WHERE WE NEED TO GO AND THAT IS WHAT I WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
CALVIN, YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO --
YES, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I WANT TO HELP CLARIFY THAT WHAT WE'RE PUTTING ON THE BALLOT IS ASKING THE VOTERS FOR PERMISSION
TO PUT UP 2.1% SALES TAX TO BE IMPOSED.
FUTURE COUNCILS COULD CHOOSE TO CHANGE THAT I BELIEVE AFTER TWO YEARS.
NO, ACTUALLY IT IS UNDER THAT AUTHORIZATION, WE COULD CHANGE IT AT ANY TIME, SO YOU COULD
IMAGINE IN SOME PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE COUNTY HAD A PROPOSAL COMING FORWARD, COUNCIL MAY
DECIDE TO NOT IMPOSE THE TAX IF THE COUNTY TAX WERE TO MOVE FORWARD AND COULD POTENTIALLY
TAKE A LEGISLATIVE ACTION, AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS IF THE COUNTY MEASURE PASSED WE WOULD
NO LONGER COLLECT.
THERE ARE TIMES TO MARRY UP AND COMBINE OUR MEASURE, SUPPLEMENTED BY A COUNTY MEASURE.
I THINK IT IS A QUESTION OF HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO FORCE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY
ON THAT TIMEFRAME AND SORT OF WHAT POSITION DO YOU WANT THE CITY TO BE IN FOR THAT CONVERSATION.
>> CALVIN, ON THAT LAST POINT THAT YOU JUST MADE, WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED IN TERMS OF CITY POSITION AND LEVERAGE IN WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE IMPENDING CONVERSATIONS
RELATED TO A REGIONAL APPROACH AS OPPOSED TO A CITY ONLY APPROACH?
I THINK IT IS USEFUL TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THIS YEAR BEFORE COVID HAPPENED, THERE
WAS A BROAD EFFORT TO TRY TO GET A REGIONAL PACKAGE TOGETHER FOR REASONS THAT WEREN'T
ANYBODY THAT ANYONE COULD HAVE FORESEEN.
THE COUNTY WAS NOT ABLE TO -- DECIDED NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AND IT LEFT US SOME
WHAT SCRAMBLING TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE TO CONTINUE SERVICE.
BECAUSE OF THAT, IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET A PROPOSAL APPROVED BY VOTERS, WE WILL ACTUALLY MISS
ABOUT THREE MONTHS OF COLLECTIONS BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE WILL STOP AT THE
END OF THIS YEAR AND OUR NEW MEASURE, IF IT PASSES, WON'T BE PUT INTO EFFECT BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF REVENUE FOR ABOUT APRIL 1ST IN TERMS OF WHEN WE START COLLECTING THE SALES TAX.
THAT IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE, SORT OF, ISSUE BUT IT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF HOW, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE
OUR MEASURE ENDS NOW AND WE ARE ONLY PLANNING FOR THE EXTENSION ASKING VOTERS FOR AN EXTENSION
IN NOVEMBER, SO ISSUES LIKE, SO THERE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES LIKE THAT.
I THINK HAVING A CITY MEASURE IN PLACE MEANS THAT THE CITY KNOWS WHAT FUNDING --WE WILL
HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT THE FUNDING NEEDS ARE AND HOW WE WOULD FUND IT AND WE COULD
BETTER EXPLAIN TO THE COUNTY WHAT WE NEED TO SEE IN A REGIONAL PACKAGE AND HAVE SOME
CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT.
I THINK THAT THAT ON THE FLIP SIDE, IF WE DON'T HAVE IT IN PLACE, IT JUST MEANS THAT
WE HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE STRUCTURED AND MUCH MORE FOCUSED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY
ABOUT HOW TO ROLL OUT AND WHAT THE TIMING OF THAT IS.
WE WOULD HAVE TO SCRAMBLE AGAIN FOR BACK UP IF THE MEASURE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL.
IF THE REGIONAL MEASURE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL?
IF THE REGIONAL MEASURE IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN FOUR YEARS.
YEAH.
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR BRINGING BACK THIS AMENDMENT.
I KNOW IT IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO TO BRING BACK AN AMENDMENT LIKE THIS.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, FOR DOING THAT, AND HAVING THE FORTITUDE
TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE RATE AND THE LENGTH OF THE MEASURE GO TOGETHER SO WE CAN HAVE
THE DEBATE TOGETHER TODAY.
I THINK THAT IS BETTER FOR THE ULTIMATE POLICY IN WHATEVER WE DECIDE.
I DID FAVOR THE SIX YEARS.
I THINK WE CONTINUE TO FAVOR THE SIX YEARS ESPECIALLY BASED ON WHAT CALVIN JUST TOLD
US, IN YEARS FIVE AND SIX, WE DON'T HAVE TO COLLECT THE TAX IF A REGIONAL MEASURE IS SUCCESSFUL.
I'M COMMITTED TO THE REGIONAL MEASURE, HENCE CO-SPONSORING THE RESOLUTION WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING WORKED WITH THE COUNTY IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY EARLIER
THIS YEAR, THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE WHERE IT FELT LIKE WE WERE REACHING A CLIFF.
THERE WILL BE A BIGGER CLIFF FOUR YEARS FROM NOW BECAUSE THE SEATTLE LEVY IS EXPIRING AT
THE SAME TIME.
TO THE EXTENT WE'LL NEED TO PUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FORWARD FOR BOTH MOVE SEATTLE TYPE
OF IMPROVEMENTS WELL AS TRANSIT, I WOULD THINK KING COUNTY LEADERS WOULD WANT THE MEASURE
ON A BALLOT BECAUSE IT IS A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR WHERE YOU'LL HAVE THE MAXIMUM VOTER TURN OUT
AND THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE THE MOST BENEFICIAL TO A KING COUNTY-WIDE MEASURE FOR SUCCESS,
SO THIS ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS JUST GIVES US SOME CUSHION, GIVES US BETTER LEVERAGE AS
A CITY WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PARTNERS AT KING COUNTY TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE EXTRA
TWO YEARS IF WE NEED IT.
IF A REGIONAL MEASURE PASSES, BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING CALVIN SAY IS WE DON'T NEED TO
COLLECT THE SALES TAX IN YEARS FIVE AND SIX.
THAT MOVES IT, FOR ME, THAT MOVES IT MORE IN FAVOR OF THE SIX YEAR, JUST HAVING THE
NEW INFORMATION CLARIFIED BY CALVIN.
THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AGAIN, JUST TO SPEAK ABOUT CALVIN'S COMMENTS ABOUT CONTINUITY.
THIS IS A REASON WHY THE SIX YEAR AMENDMENT IS IMPORTANT TO ME IS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
A CONTINUITY OF SERVICE TO ENSURE WE'RE NOT BREAKING DOWN ON OUR RESERVES AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE COLLECTING AND PROVIDING TRANSIT SERVICE WITHOUT A BREAK BECAUSE WE CAN'T NECESSARILY
WAIT FOR IT.
WE HAVE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT REGIONAL APPROACHES ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES
BEFORE US AND WHAT I HAD HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS THAT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY WAIT FOR
THE REGION AND WE KNOW WE HAVE THE SOLUTIONS BEFORE US.
THIS, AGAIN, IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE SITUATIONS WHERE IF WE CREATE A FOUR YEAR TERM AND THE
REGION DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD IN FOUR YEARS, WE'RE STUCK AND I'LL PAUSE THIS FORWARD WHICH
IS EVEN IF THE REGIONAL TRANSIT BENEFIT IS SUCCESSFUL IN FOUR YEARS, THAT MEANS THAT
SEATTLE LOSES THE LEVERAGE TO REQUEST THE SERVICE THAT WE NEEDS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND WITH THE DENSEST
POPULATION IN THE COUNTY HERE IN THE CITY, WE HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS THAN THE NEIGHBORING
CITIES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE JUST A MADE UP LINE.
TUKWILA, YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TUKWILA AND SEATTLE AND SEATTLE HAS
MUCH DIFFERENT NEEDS WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING AND PROVIDING PUBLIC TRANSIT AND SO THAT,
AGAIN, EVEN WITH A REGIONAL MEASURE, I THINK WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE FIRST START UP TIME
THAT SEATTLE STILL RETAINS ITS ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE WHERE THE TRANSIT NEEDS ARE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS TO MAKE.
YEAH.
THANK YOU.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
SAID WHICH IS THAT WE REALLY NEED OUR PARTNERS TO COME TOGETHER SOONER THAN SIX YEARS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, ESPECIALLY IF WE DON'T ADOPT EITHER OF THE AMENDMENTS
TO INCREASE THE RATE, WHAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD IS ALREADY GOING TO BE A DRASTICALLY REDUCED
SERVICE PACKAGE AND WE KNOW THAT THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A REALLY, AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE.
A DRACONIAN AFFECT ON THOSE WHO RELY ON TRAFFIC THAT CAN'T DRIVE, NEED IT TO GET INTO WORK,
INTO THE COMMUNITIES.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE REALLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THIS ISN'T THE KIND OF MEASURE WE
WOULD PREFER AND SO WHY WE WOULD EXTEND IT FOR SIX YEARS IS A QUESTION.
I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF MEASURE WE'RE HAVING TO CONSIDER TODAY, THAT WE SHOULD
MAKE IT AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN REALLY WORK WITH OUR REGIONAL, WITH OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, WITH THE KING COUNTY, TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE FOUR YEARS, WE
HAVE SOMETHING MUCH MORE EQUITABLE IN PLACE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NONE.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THAT CHANGE OF HEART, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, BUT I CONTINUE
TO THINK THAT FOUR YEARS IS THE BEST ROUTE FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF OUR BARGAINING POSITION
WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS.
WE WERE VERY CLOSE AT THE END OF THE SIX YEAR CYCLE, UNFORTUNATELY, COVID HAPPENED, AND
THAT PUT US ALL IN A VERY DIFFERENT SCENARIO.
I THINK IF COVID HAD NOT HAPPENED, WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT A REGIONAL APPROACH RIGHT
NOW AS OPPOSED TO A CITY ONLY APPROACH.
IN MY CONVERSATIONS AND MY OFFICE'S CONVERSATIONS WITH TRANSIT ADVOCATES AND FOLKS WHO WORK
IN THIS SPACE, THEY TRULY WANT TO SEE AT LAST, A REGIONAL APPROACH TO HOW WE STRUCTURE THIS
PROPOSAL IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK GOING FROM FOUR TO SIX YEARS LOSES THE URGENCY OF NOW.
I THINK THAT WHILE IT IS TECHNICALLY ACCURATE TO SAY THAT WE COULD CHOOSE TO NOT TAX FOR
A PERIOD OF TIME OR TO MODIFY THE TAX, I THINK THAT THOSE THINGS ARE EASIER SAID THAN DONE
AND SO I DON'T SEE THEM AS ACTUAL, VIABLE TOOLS THAT WOULD SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.
I SEE THEM AS TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITIES BUT ONES THAT ARE UNLIKELY TO COME TO FRUITION
IF THERE IS THE NEED TO DO SO.
I JUST THINK IT IS A LOT HARDER TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO NOW SUDDENLY REVISE A PREVIOUSLY
APPROVED LEVY MID-SWING IN ORDER TO SHIFT OR CORRECT COURSE.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS AS EASY AS ONE MIGHT THINK IT TO BE.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS A REASONABLE OR VIABLE OPTION IN THAT SPACE.
I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO CREATE INCENTIVES, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE PRESSURE
UP ON US AND OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS TO GET TO THE TABLE AND HAVE REALISTIC CONVERSATIONS
IN PLANNING AROUND THE REGIONAL APPROACH, WE NEED TO SKEW ON THE SIDE OF KEEPING THIS
AT FOUR YEARS, SO I APPRECIATE THE INTENT IN WHICH THE AMENDMENT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD.
I THINK I HAVE THE DISAGREEMENT WITH THE EFFECT OF THE AMENDMENT SHOULD IT PASS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WE'RE VIEWING THE SAME ISSUE WITH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT LENSES WHERE I THINK CONTINUITY
OF COLLECTION AND PROVIDING SERVICES ARE IMPORTANT AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE REGIONAL AND TRANSIT
PARTNERS COULD PUT FORWARD WITH A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF URGENCY IN FOUR YEARS WITH OR WITHOUT
FOUR YEARS ON OUR OWN TRANSIT BENEFIT DISTRICT.
I'LL LET THIS CONVERSATION EXPIRE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I SUPPOSE I'M JUST A LITTLE LESS RISK ADVERSE AS YOU ARE.
TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION HAVE BEEN THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE STAFFED FOR NEARLY A DECADE NOW.
MANY OF US COME TO DIFFERENT ISSUES WITH DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE.
TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION IS AN AREA WHERE I BRING THE EXPERTISE.
I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE WE COULD BUILD THE LIGHT RAIL TUNNEL.
UTILITIES, I MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE LEARNING TO DO IN LOOKING AT UTILITY RATES.
I JUST BRING TO YOU THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT I HAVE STUDIED FOR MANY YEARS AND IS THIS
SOMETHING I SEE A WARD FORWARD FOR US.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EXPLANATION OF YOUR EXPERTISE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS AMENDMENT?
OKAY.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ALONG TO THE NEXT SET OF AMENDMENTS.
CALVIN, PLEASE.
THERE ARE TWO MORE AMENDMENTS THAT SPEAKS OR THREE MORE AMENDMENTS, TWO OF THEM SPEAK
TO THE RATE, SO I WILL TALK ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE.
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
IT WOULD DOUBLE THE RATE FROM 0.1.
ONE TENTH OF 1% TO TWO TENTHS OF 1% SALES TAX AND AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX IS SPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ, EXTENDING THE RATE TO 0.15%.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 6 WOULD RAISE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SPENDING THAT COULD BE SPENT IN
THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THE LOW INCOME SUB SUDDENIZED, IT WOULD RAISE THE CAP FROM 10 MILLION TO
23 MILLION, WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY MAKE ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE INCREASED
RATE BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT PROGRAM.
THANK YOU, CALVIN.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST?
SURE.
GO FOR IT.
OKAY.
SO, LET'S SEE, WHERE TO BEGIN?
WELL, SO, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THIS CONVERSATION.
LAST WEEK WE BEGAN THIS CONVERSATION AND AS I SAID THEN, I REALLY AM LOOKING TO RESTORE
ABOUT 150,000 TRANSIT SERVICE HOURS TO OUR NEIGHBORS, EVEN AS WE STRUGGLE WITH THE FACT
THAT THIS IS AN INCREASE TO SALES TAX.
I WILL APOLOGIZE FOR MY POOR SPEECH TODAY, AS I SAID IT WAS A LATE NIGHT.
SO LAST WEEK I DID WITHDRAW THE AMENDMENT AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, SO THAT WE COULD ALLOW
MORE TIME TO HEAR.
AFTER DOZENS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH KING COUNTY METRO, WITH COUNTY COUNCILMEMBERS, WITH LABOR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE WORKERS, LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES,
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, I DECIDED TO BRING THE AMENDMENT BACK FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE STAKE HOLDERS UNDERSTAND WHAT IS AT RISK.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING OVER THE LAST WEEK.
[ INAUDIBLE ] I WANT TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF FOLKS --BUT.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
I WORKED WITH PUGET SOUND --
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
DID I GO OUT?
YEAH.
WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU.
YOU'RE BREAKING UP QUITE A BIT.
I KNEW IT WASN'T ME BECAUSE USUALLY I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO IS HAVING INTERNET CONNECTIONS
AND I SAW OTHER PEOPLE'S FACES STRUGGLING TO --
OKAY.
CAN I CALL IN?
YOU SEEM TO BE COMING IN OKAY RIGHT NOW, SO MAYBE --
OKAY.
MAYBE YOU CAN GO.
I WILL GO SLOWLY, PERHAPS.
SO I WORKED WITH TRANSPORTATION CHOICES COALITION AND PUGET SOUND SAGE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
TO SURVEY HUNDREDS OF LOW INCOME TRANSIT RIDERS AND REALLY GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE VARIATION
IN TRAVEL PATTERNS FOR THEM.
THIS IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN JUST COMMUTING INTO DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AN INITIATIVE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE REALLY HEAVY
RELIANCE ON TRANSIT FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, FOR FAMILIES WHO RELY ON TRANSIT TO ACCESS
GROCERY STORES AND MEDICAL SERVICES AND FOR THOSE WHO JUST CAN'T DRIVE.
SO WE KNOW THAT S-DOT AND THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL, AS REFERENCED BY SOMEONE, WE RECEIVED
A LETTER FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLAUDIA BALDUCCI, THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO MAKING DECISIONS WITH
THE RACIAL EQUITY LENS TO RECOGNIZING TRAVEL PATTERNS OF THE FAMILIES.
WE ARE ABOUT TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OURSELVES THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE NEED A REGIONAL
APPROACH, SO THESE COMMITMENTS ARE REALLY ONLY MEANINGFUL IF WE RETAIN AS MUCH SERVICE
AS POSSIBLE.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD RAISE AN ADDITIONAL 55 MILLION A YEAR OR SO TO SUPPORT ANOTHER 200,000
-- TO SUPPORT ABOUT 200,000 SERVICE HOURS.
IT IS THREE TIMES THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AND IT REALLY HELPS US TO MAINTAIN THE ROBUST
TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE ALREADY BUILT AND KEEPS PEOPLE MOVING AS WE INCH TOWARD
A COVID RECOVERY.
I REALLY THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THESE INVESTMENTS SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE THE
NETWORK THAT WE HAVE BUILT UP OVERTIME AND THAT IS REALLY ROBUST, EVEN IN LIGHT OF THE
REDUCED RIDERSHIP THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW, WHEN THE RIDERSHIP COMES BACK, WE NEED
THE SERVICES AND THOSE SYSTEMS TO BE IN PLACE.
I AM ADVOCATING FOR THE .2 INCREASE, THE .2 RATE SO WE CAN ENSURE THE SYSTEMS WE HAVE
IN PLACE CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS.
DID YOU HEAR ME?
YEAH, WE GOT YOU.
SORRY, JUST TOOK ME A MINUTE TO FIND MY MUTE BUTTON.
I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO HAVE AN AWKWARD TRANSITION THERE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I'M GOING TO ADDRESS MY AMENDMENT REALLY QUICKLY.
BEFORE I DO THAT, I RECOGNIZE THAT HAVING AMENDMENT SIX AND AMENDMENT TO YOUR AMENDMENT,
BEING CONSIDERATE AT THE SAME TIME MAY SEEM OPPOSITIONAL BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO COME OFF
AS OPPOSITIONAL.
I DON'T SEE IT AS OPPOSITIONAL.
I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AS A COUNCIL, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MECHANISM BY WHICH WE
CAN INCREASE THE AMENDMENT OF ANTICIPATED REVENUE FROM A RENEWAL OF THIS LEVY AS COMPARED
TO WHAT THE MAYOR ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, WHICH IS A .1% TAXATION RATE.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
OKAY.
EVERYBODY FROZE ON ME SO I THOUGHT IT WAS MY INTERNET AGAIN.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE TO YOU ALL COLLEAGUES AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
THAT I THINK THE FACT THAT THE COUNCIL IS HAVING A CONVERSATION AROUND WHERE TO MOVE
THE DIAL TO, THAT IS HIGHER THAN .1% IS IN MY MIND, A GOOD THING AND I WELCOME THAT CONVERSATION
AND SO THE QUESTION IS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO WE WANT TO SET THAT DIAL BASED ON
BOTH POLICY CONSIDERATIONS AND THE OVER ARCHING CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER WE THINK THAT THE
VOTERS OF SEATTLE WOULD FIND A SALES TAX INCREASE OF .2 OR .15 MORE OR LESS PALATABLE TO THEM
SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE LEVY WILL ULTIMATELY BE PASSED AND THAT WE WON'T LOSE ALL OF THE
EXISTING SERVICE HOURS BECAUSE THE LEVY FAILED.
I JUST WANTED TO SORT OF GIVE INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT TO BEGIN WITH.
I AM BRINGING FORWARD A .15%, WHICH IS A .05 INCREASE FROM THE PROPOSAL OF .1.
AND IS EXACTLY 50% LESS THAN WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS PROPOSING.
THE INTENT HERE IS TO, AGAIN, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE WE CAN GET FROM THE LEVY
AT .15%.
WE WOULD RAISE ABOUT $39.3 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE FROM THE MAYOR'S ORIGINAL PROPOSAL,
WHICH IS 26.25.
AND AT $39,375,000 ACCORDING TO THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO PURCHASE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 150,000 TO 200,000 SERVICE HOURS AT A .15% RATE.
SO HE, ACCORDING TO THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THEY ESTIMATE THAT GIVEN
THE REALITIES, EXCUSE ME, IF YOU AVERAGE THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF DATA AND RIDERSHIP, THAT
THEY EXPECT THAT WE WILL NEED A TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS OF 195,000 FOR THE 2022/2024 YEARS
AND AGAIN, THIS IS ALL ASSUMING THAT THIS IS A FOUR YEAR LEVY AND NOT A SIX YEAR LEVY.
AND SO PART --THOSE ARE THE JUST THE DATA POINTS LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT .15 STILL
GETS US THE REVENUE THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO INCREASE TRANSIT SERVICE AND TO MITIGATE
AGAINST THE DEEP CUTS TO TRANSIT SERVICE.
I SEE THIS AS SORT OF COUPLED ALSO WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT NEXT, AMENDMENT
THREE THAT REALLY TALKS ABOUT THE NEED TO PRIORITY --TO ALLOW ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO ALSO
BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THE LOW INCOME PROGRAMS AS PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE
HIGH USERS OF THE SYSTEM AND SO I THINK THAT THE .15 IS VIABLE NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT GETS
US WITHIN THE RANGE OF 150,000 TO 200,000 TOTAL SERVICE HOURS, BUT ALSO ALLOWS US TO
HAVE A, I GUESS, MITIGATED SENSE OF THE POTENTIAL RISK OF THIS BEING REJECTED AT A .2% SALES
TAX AT THE BALLOT BOX, WHICH I WORRY ABOUT.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT WE GO TO THE BALLOT BOX IN A PERIOD OF A MASSIVE ECONOMIC
CRISIS RELATED TO COVID AND I DO WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION WILL BE IN
THAT CONTEXT WHERE WE'RE ASKING FOLKS TO TAX THEMSELVES VIA SALES TAX WHICH, YOU KNOW,
IS FELT MOST DEEPLY BY LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND BY THOSE WHO CONSUME PRODUCTS THROUGHOUT
OUR CITY, WHETHER THEY LIVE THERE OR NOT AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE ARE ASKING
FOLKS TO CONSIDER INCREASING OR MAINTAINING THE SALES TAX THAT WE'RE IN THE BEST POSITION
TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT ISSUE, SO I WILL LEAVE IT THERE.
HAPPY TO SORT OF ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I ALSO GOT A VERY LONG E-MAIL JUST RECENTLY FROM S-DOT, SORT OF DESCRIBING WHAT ELSE WE
CAN PURCHASE WITH A .15 THAT I'M SURE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE .2 ANALYSIS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAS SHARED WITH US, JUST SO FOLKS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF SCALE.
I'M HAPPY TO FORWARD THAT E-MAIL TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION BEFORE THIS
AFTERNOON.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CALVIN?
ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU WANT US TO THINK ABOUT IN THIS?
I THINK I WOULD JUST ADD, JUST AS A FRAME OF REFERENCE, IN 2019, BEFORE COVID, THE EXISTING
MEASURE, WHICH IS .1% SALES TAX AND THE $60 VEHICLE LICENSE FEE GENERATED ABOUT $56 MILLION,
SO, YOU KNOW, DOUBLING THE RATE TO .2% WOULDN'T QUITE GET THERE, BUT APPROACHES THE LEVEL
OF FUNDING, SO JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR PAST FUNDING STREAM IS, WE LOST HALF OF IT IN THE
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE AND THAT IS ONE WAY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE WEIGHTED OPTIONS ARE
IN FRONT OF YOU.
THANKS, CALVIN.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WANTS TO WAIT, SO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, ARE YOU READY?
YES.
THANK YOU.
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR CALVIN AS WELL.
CALVIN, UNDER THE BEST CASE SCENARIO THAT ALL OF US ARE HOPING FOR WHERE WE GET THE
CAR TAX BACK, POTENTIALLY AS SOON AS THIS FALL, MAYBE LATER, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE TIMING
IS OF THE FINAL DECISION, WOULD THE UNBLOCKING OF THE CAR TAX, WE'RE ACCUMULATING THEM, AND
THAT MONEY WOULD JUST BE UNLOCKED, PUT RIGHT BACK INTO SERVICE IF WE PREVAIL IN LITIGATION,
DOES THAT GET US BACK TO THE PRECOVID LEVELS OR, I MEAN, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY, THE PREINITIATIVE
LEVELS, OR WOULD THERE STILL NEED TO BE SOME SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE IN THE BENEFITTED DISTRICT
TO MAINTAIN THAT SERVICE?
SURE.
SO JUST AS A REMINDER, THERE ARE TWO VEHICLE LICENSE FEE CHARGES THAT WE CURRENTLY CHARGE.
THERE WAS A $20 VEHICLE LICENSE FEE WHICH TRADITIONALLY HAD BEEN USED FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE
AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION MAINTENANCE FUNDING.
THERE WAS THE $60 VOTER APPROVED VEHICLE LICENSE FEE WHICH WENT TO TRANSIT.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE RECEIVED A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION THAT ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE COLLECTING BOTH
OF THE REVENUE SOURCES, SO KNWE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN OVER TURNING I-976, THE FUNDING WOULD BE
AVAILABLE FOR US TO SPEND.
CURRENTLY IT IS BEING HELD ASIDE IN CASE WE HAVE TO PAY IT BACK.
THE $60 VEHICLE LICENSE FEE WOULD EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, SO WE WOULD HAVE SOME
PORTION OF MONEY THAT COULD HELP TRANSITION US INTO THE NEXT PHASE, BUT BASICALLY, WE
WOULD HAVE THE 2020 REVENUES TO HELP AS A RESERVE TO HELP BUTTRESS OUR SERVICE BUT WE
WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO VOTERS FOR CONTINUED AUTHORIZATION OF THE $60 VEHICLE LICENSE FEE
FOR THAT TO CONTINUE.
THE $20 COUNCIL VEHICLE LICENSE FEE, COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO EXTEND THAT APPROVAL BY
$40 IMMEDIATELY AND THEN COULD EXTEND THAT TO $50 TOTAL AFTER YEARS.
AND CALVIN, JUST ONE QUICK FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
COULD WE DO THE COUNCIL-MATIC UP TO 50 AND THEN ALSO GO TO THE VOTERS TO RAISE THE CAR
TAB PORTION EVEN HIGHER POTENTIALLY?
THERE IS A TOTAL MAX.
I BELIEVE THE TOTAL MAX IS $100 VEHICLE LICENSE FEE TOTAL AND UNLIKE SALES TAX, WHICH WE DON'T
OVERLAP WITH THE COUNTY, THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE, IF YOU PAY TABS, THE CAP IS ON THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF VEHICLE LICENSE FEE YOU PAY.
IF KING COUNTY WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MEASURE, THEY WOULD ONLY PAY UP TO $100 TO
THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.
SO THERE IS A PRACTICAL LIMIT TO HOW HIGH WE CAN GO.
IF WE DID A REGIONAL MEASURE, THAT WOULDN'T REALLY MATTER SO MUCH.
IF IT WAS LIKE A KING COUNTY WIDE?
CORRECT.
BUT IF THE KING COUNTY IMPOSED A VEHICLE LICENSE FEE, DID WE, ANY INDIVIDUAL SEATTLE TABS PAYER
WOULD ONLY PAY UP TO $100.
RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT NOW PIVOTING AWAY FROM JUST CLARIFYING QUESTIONS WITH CENTRAL
STAFF, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WHERE I WAS GETTING WITH CLARIFYING THAT LINE OF QUESTIONING
WITH CALVIN IS MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE, I DO SEE THE MERITS TO A POTENTIAL SALES TAX INCREASE
TO STAVE OFF THE WORST OF THE CUTS, BUT I SEE THAT AS IS A SCENARIO THAT IS MORE HEDGING
AGAINST NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL IN OUR LITIGATION OVER THE CAR TABS AS A MECHANISM TO SUPPORT
OUR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING GOALS.
I GUESS WHAT I WANTED TO ASK, TOO, HERE, IS IF WE DID COMMIT TO BE AT THE .15 OR THE .1,
CALVIN, AS A LAST QUESTION, COULD WE SUBSEQUENTLY COUNCILHATICALLY APPROVE IT.
IN A SCENARIO WHERE THE VOTERS APPROVE THE INCREASE, BUT WE'RE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR LITIGATION,
WE GET THAT CAR TAB MONEY, COULD WE THEN TURN AROUND AND REPEAL THE SALES TAX INCREASE BECAUSE
WE HAVE THE CAR TAB MONEY NOW?
YES, YOU'RE ASKING THE VOTERS TO PERMISSION TO IMPOSE UP TO CURRENTLY A .1% SALES TAX.
YOU COULD CHOOSE TO IMPOSE A LESSER AMOUNT UNDER THAT AUTHORIZATION.
INCLUDING JUST PUTTING IT BACK DOWN TO THE .1?
I MEAN, THE CURRENT .1?
DEPENDING ON WHICH EVER THE BALLOT MEASURE --WHATEVER THE VOTERS AUTHORIZE US TO IMPOSE,
A FUTURE COUNCIL, AT ANY STATE, COULD CHOOSE TO IMPOSE A LESSER AMOUNT.
OKAY.
GREAT.
THANKS.
SO I GUESS JUST TO KIND OF MAKE IT CLEAR WHERE I'M STANDING ON THIS NOW, I THINK IT WOULD
MAKE SENSE POTENTIALLY TO PURSUE A SALES TAX INCREASE, ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, MY HOPE IS THAT
IT WOULD NEVER BE REALIZED.
WHAT I HOPE IS THAT WE CAN ALSO PACKAGE SIMILAR INTENT AS A COUNCIL TO ELIMINATE THAT SALES
TAX INCREASE IN THE EVENT WE DO GET THE CAR TAB MONEY BACK AND IF WE COULD INCLUDE THAT
IN THE RECITAL OR AS, LIKE, A JUAREZ CLAUSE IN THE LEGISLATION TO SIGNAL THAT IS OUR INTENT
IS SOMETHING I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN.
I DON'T WANT A SCENARIO WHERE WE DOUBLE THE SALES TAX, GET THE CAR TAB MONEY AND ARE IN
A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE IMPOSED ANOTHER AGGRESSIVE TAX.
I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER COUNCIL SALES TAX AUTHORITIES OUT THERE THAT KING COUNTY AND THE CITY ARE
POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT.
YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SEEN THE ANALYSIS FROM ADVOCATES THAT THE
.1% YOU KNOW, IN AND OF ITSELF, LIKE A .1% IS NOT A BIG, ADDITIONAL HIT TO A LOT OF HOUSEHOLDS
BUT THE AGGREGATE OF THE AGGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM CATCHES UP TO THE MOST VULNERABLE AND THE
POOREST PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, ONE TAX HERE ISN'T GOING TO MAYBE
BE THE STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMEL'S, THE IMPACT IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
I WANT TO THINK ABOUT THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE CAR TAB LITIGATION
WHICH I'M INCLINED TO THINK WE WOULD BE, BUT YOU NEVER, WE WOULD REPEAL THIS BACK TO THE
STATUS QUO INSTEAD OF HAVING AN INCREASE IN THE SALES TAX.
THAT IS WHERE I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS.
I'M OPEN TO POTENTIALLY SUPPORTING THE .05 OR THE .1 LATER TODAY, BUT IT IS MOSTLY BECAUSE
I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GETTING THE CAR TABS BACK AND IN THE EVENT THAT WE DID, I WOULD
HOPE THAT WE WOULD REPEAL WHATEVER INCREASE WE PUT ON THE TAXPAYERS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, DID YOU STILL HAVE A QUESTION?
YES.
THANK YOU.
ACTUALLY, ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION ON THE LINE OF QUESTIONING AND THEN ANOTHER STATEMENT
IF I MIGHT, MADAM PRESIDENT.
JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR CALVIN IN RESPONSE TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'S LINE OF THINKING.
I THOUGHT WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY IS THAT IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES, FOR EXAMPLE, TO PASS
A TAX AT .2 OR .15, THE COUNCIL STILL HAS THE OPTION TO NOT IMPOSE THE TAX AT THAT FULL
AMOUNT.
WE WOULDN'T NEL HAVE TO REPEAL IT, CORRECT?
WE COULD JUST CHOOSE TO IMPOSE A LESSER AMOUNT.
THAT'S CORRECT.
WE'RE ASKING THE VOTERS FOR PERMISSION.
WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A SEPARATE ACTION ONCE WE HAVE THE VOTER'S PERMISSION TO ASK THE
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO IMPOSE A TAX OF UP TO THAT AMOUNT.
OKAY.
I THINK THAT IS HELPFUL CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE LINE OF QUESTIONING AND THE
THINKING THAT COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WAS JUST ARCTICULATING.
I WANT TO CAUTION US FROM USING THE TERM IMMEDIATE REPEAL.
I THINK THAT IS A VERY, VERY BIG ACTION ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL.
WHETHER OR NOT IT IS AN INCREASE OF .1 OR .05, WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO ACT TO
REPEAL.
WE WOULD JUST CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT A LESSER RATE.
I SEE HEADS NODDING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE NOT ABLE TO SEE ALL OF US.
I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT POINT.
AND THEN MADAM PRESIDENT, JUST TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION HERE, I APPRECIATE BOTH WHAT YOU
HAVE PUT FORWARD AND WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS PUT FORWARD TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF
FUNDING THAT COULD GO INTO THESE CRITICAL TRANSIT SERVICES.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE HAVE HEARD FROM FOLKS IS THAT THERE IS A DEEP NEED
RIGHT NOW FOR SERVICES AND FREQUENCY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE TYPE OF WORKERS THAT
ARE BEING ASKED TO LEAVE THEIR HOME AND CONTINUE THE ESSENTIAL WORK.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE GETTING OFF WORK AT 2:00 A.M.
FROM A SHIFT AT THE GROCERY STORE OR FROM THE HOSPITAL AND SO THE FREQUENCY AND THE
SERVICES IS SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN, WHETHER EITHER
ONE OF THESE GO FORWARD AND I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF ANY EFFORT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT, SO I'M
LOOKING FORWARD --I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU ALL, AS SOON AS I GET THE CHANCE, SOME POSSIBLE
CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS THE SPONSOR OF THE AMENDMENTS, JUST TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE CLARIFYING OR ADDING TO THE LIST OF OPTIONS THAT WE CAN USE THESE DOLLARS FOR
SO THAT FREQUENCY AND INCREASED SERVICES ARE REALLY EMBEDDED INTO THE CORE FUNCTIONS THAT
WE WILL BE FUNDING WITH THESE DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
OKAY, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
AND I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT ANY OF THESE PROPOSALS, WHETHER IT IS .1, .15 OR .2, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO MAINTAIN CURRENT STATUS OF SERVICE AND FREQUENCY.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE FACING CUTS TO THE SYSTEM NO MATTER WHAT.
NONE OF THESE PROPOSALS PREVENT CUTS AND SO THE QUESTION IS HERE IS I THINK, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND I ARE INTERESTED IN ADVANCING SOMETHING THAT WILL BE BOTH VIABLE AT THE
BALLOT BOX BUT ALSO THAT IT IS A PROPOSAL THAT WILL HELP TO MITIGATE THE ANTICIPATED
CUTS SO I'M JUST, I THINK THAT CLARIFICATION IS IMPORTANT.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA YOU MENTIONED MAINTAINING SERVICE HOURS AND FREQUENCY AND I DON'T WANT
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BELIEVE THAT THE .15 OR .2 MEANS THAT WE'LL SEE 0% CHANGE IN
THE SYSTEM BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WILL BE SOME IMPACT EVEN WITH THE PASSAGE
OF THIS LEVY.
CALVIN, I SAW THAT YOU RAISED YOUR HAND.
ADD TO THAT, CORRECT ME, TAKE IT AWAY.
I THINK THAT IS CORRECT.
I JUST REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT WITH OUR PREVIOUS BALLOT MEASURE, WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE
TO BE ADDITIVE TO THE KING COUNTY SERVICE.
KING COUNTY WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE OWN RESTRUCTURING PROCESS THIS FALL.
WE EXPECT THEM TO MAKE CUTS.
EVEN IF WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETELY RESTORE OUR FUNDING, THE SERVICE ON THE STREET, THE
SERVICE THAT PEOPLE WOULD SEE WOULD LIKELY STILL SEE SOME CUTS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
THANK YOU.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE BEEN HAVING OVER THE LAST WEEK, THIS
IS THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE, RIGHT?
WE KNOW THERE WILL BE CUTS.
WE KNOW THAT FOLKS WHO ARE MOST RELIANT ON TRANSIT ARE THE ONES MOST AT RISK OF THE CUTS,
AND SO THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE FROM COUNCILMEMBER,
COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER BALDUCCI ABOUT THE USE OF THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOL AS WE'RE LOOKING
AT THIS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET AROUND THE COMMUNITIES AND THE REASON I MENTION THE
STUDY THAT WE DID, THE SURVEY THAT WE DID, IS BECAUSE WE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE TRAVEL
PATTERNS OF FOLKS WHO, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE USING TRANSIT
TO GET AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
HERE IN MY DISTRICT, PEOPLE USE THE 7 NOT ONLY TO GO TO WORK DOWNTOWN.
THEY GO TO GET THE GROCERY STORE, THE DOCTOR, DROP THEIR KID OFF AT DAYCARE, WHEN WE HAD
DAYCARE, AND SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT AS WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT SERVICE, AS WE
HAVE SOME RESOURCE AVAILABLE, THAT WE FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, THE GROCERY STORE WORKERS WHO
ARE TRYING TO GET OFF THEIR SHIFT AT 11:00 AT NIGHT AND GET HOME.
SO THAT IS WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BOTH ENSURE THAT WE CAN RESTORE
SOME HOURS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE WHO ARE MOST DEPENDANT ON TRANSIT HAVE THE ABILITY
TO DO THAT.
THE FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT, WE ARE TRANSIT ADVOCATES AND WE MAILED TO COLLEAGUES LAST WEEK AND
WE SPOKE TO THE AGENT COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICE AND THE REFUGEE WOMEN'S ALLIANCE AND
THE SEATTLE CHINATOWN CVAA AND THE KING COUNTY LABOR COUNCIL AND THE TEAMSTERS 117 AND BEACON
HILL SAFE STREETS, ROOTED IN RIGHTS.
THESE ARE ORGANIZATIONS IN MY DISTRICT THAT REALLY FOCUS ON SERVING THEIR CONSTITUENTS
AND THEY ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITIES IN COLOR COLOR AND THEY WILL BE
MOST IMPACTED BY THIS AND THEY ARE SUPPORTING IT.
THAT IS MY PITCH AND I WILL LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID , WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE .2 AND
I'M NERVOUS WE CAN GET THAT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON THAT BUT I THINK THE POINT AROUND THE EFFECT OF
THEIR TRANSIT SYSTEM AND WHAT THAT WILL BE, EITHER UNDER .2 OR .15 IS IMPORTANT AND THE
POINT TO MAKE.
IT MERITS THIS WHOLE POLICY CONVERSATION WITH INCREASING IT FROM .1% TO BEGIN WITH.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS IN THE QUEUE AND HAS COMMENTS SHE LIKE TO MAKE BUT
I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY MAKE A CLARIFICATION ON MY OWN AMENDMENT.
THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE IN SUBSECTION C WITH INCREASING THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE FROM THIS
LEVY, SHOULD IT PASS FROM 10 MILLION DOLLARS TO GET 23 MILLION DOLLARS THAT COULD BE USED
TO SUPPORT LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, SENIORS, YOUTH, THE OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM PROVIDING FREE
TRANSIT OR TRANSIT PASSES TO SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12, AS WELL AS
SEATTLE PROMISE FOLKS AND I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT A MANDATE THAT
23 MILLION DOLLARS BE SPENT ON THAT, BUT THAT IT INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS AVAILABLE
TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE MOST DEPENDENT AND RELIANT ON ACCESSING TRANSIT SERVICES.
THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE CUTS AND IMPACTS TO SERVICE
AND FREQUENCY BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY KING COUNTY METRO, IN TERMS OF THEIR NEED
TO REORGANIZE AS A RESULT OF LOWER RIDERSHIP THROUGH THE SYSTEM . FOR ME, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED ACCESS THE MOST
IN THIS SYSTEM, AS IT TRANSFORMS TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE SIGNALING TO SDOT THAT WE HAD AN INTEREST TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE WERE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THOSE POPULATIONS.
WE ARE HAVING FLEXIBILITY INTACT TO ALLOW FOR POLICY DECISIONS TO UNFOLD AROUND INCREASE
IN TRANSIT SERVICES AND FREQUENCY, PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THESE LATE-NIGHT ROUTES THAT ARE
NEEDED, WHERE WE KNOW THAT ESSENTIAL WORKERS TRAVEL THROUGH FREQUENTLY IN OUR CITIES.
WE APPRECIATE AND JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE CLARITY AROUND MY MANDATORY LANGUAGE . COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, YOU ARE UP.
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO BRIEFLY SAY THAT I APPRECIATE LEARNING THAT THE TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD HAS CONTACTED
US TO LET US KNOW THEY CONTINUE SUPPORTING THIS SIX-YEAR TERM AND THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE
OF THE .2% FOR THE MEASURE.
I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, STATE -- AS I DID DURING THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION OF THIS --THAT WITHOUT
A SIX-YEAR TERM, IF THE KING COUNTY MEASURE DIDN'T SUCCEED IN 2024, THE CITY WOULD BE
IN THE POSITION OF NEEDING TO HOLD A BALLOT MEASURE IN EARLY 2025, AS WE DID IN 2015 AND
WE RUN THE RISK OF LOSING SERVICE IN THE MEANTIME.
I APPRECIATE THAT THIS HAS BEEN MENTIONED THIS MORNING BY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT I WAS A COUNCILMEMBER REPRESENTING THE CITY ON THE
REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMITTEE AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE WITNESSED THIS HAPPENING IN THE PAST
. BECAUSE OF THAT , I'M CONCERNED THAT IF FOUR YEARS IS THE DECISION OF THE COUNCIL,
I REALLY URGE THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE OPPOSING THAT TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COUNCIL
TO SET A SCHEDULE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT , AND BEING A SEATTLE CITY COUNCILMEMBER ON RTC, BEING SUPPORTIVE
OF THE REGIONAL TRANSIT EFFORT AND SEEING THE DIFFICULTY AND COMPLEXITY OF THAT IN THE
PAST.
ALSO, A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.
JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT BOTH AS IT RELATES TO THE INCREASE OF 1%, AND THE INCREASE OF
WHETHER OR NOT IT'S OVER .1%, AND WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING AT 1.5% OR .2%, I'M INTERESTED
AND ALSO, AS IT RELATES TO THE TERM.
THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO COLLECT THE TAX IN 2025 AND 2026 AND I'M WONDERING IF THE LEGISLATION
SAYS SO AND PERHAPS WE DON'T INTEND TO COLLECT THE TAX WITH EITHER OF THE REGIONAL MOTHER'S
PASSING OR IF WE WIN OUR LAWSUIT REGARDING CAR TABS.
FINALLY, IF THE RATE IS INCREASED 2.15% OR .2%, I'M WONDERING IF IT'S WORTH EXAMINING
THE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS INCLUDED IN THE EMERGING NEEDS FUNDING BUCKET . AS THE REPRESENTATIVE
FOR WEST SEATTLE AND SOUTH PARK, I'M KEENLY AWARE THAT THE CITY HAS A MODE SHIP PLAN IN
LIGHT OF THE REMOVAL OF THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE FROM THE PLACES WHERE WE CAN GET OFF THE ISLAND,
AS THEY SAY. AND, THE SHIFT IS FROM 17% OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE PRE-COVID USING TRANSIT
TO 30% AND THERE'S JUST NO WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT 30% GOAL UNDER
THE CURRENT FUNDING PROPOSAL, CONSIDERING THAT WE ARE HAVING CUTS EVEN WITH THE EMERGING
NEEDS IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED PACKAGE . THE INVESTMENTS NECESSARY TO GET TO THAT 30% MODE
SHIFT ARE NOT VERY, I HAVE TO SAY, REALISTIC.
I'M WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT EITHER ONE OF THE PROPOSALS OF THE .2% OR THE 1.5% , THE
.1% INCLUDES AN INCREASE IN THE EMERGING NEEDS FUNDING BUCKET.
THANK YOU.
TWO QUESTIONS AND THERE.
SORRY.
TWO QUESTIONS.
WHAT DO THE MEASURES AND AMENDMENTS SAY ABOUT NOT COLLECTING THE REVENUE IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL
WITH THE REGIONAL MEASURE OR SUCCESSFUL WITH THE CAR TABS AND SECONDLY, WHAT TO THE AMENDMENTS
SAY ABOUT THE EMERGING NEEDS FUNDING BUCKETS?
THANK YOU.
I CAN TAKE A SHOT AT TRYING TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
THE LEGISLATION THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU , CURRENTLY ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO IMPOSE UP TO A .1%
SALES TAX BUT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, ITSELF, ABOUT REDUCING THAT
IF OUR 976 WERE TO BE OVERTURNED OR ANY OF THOSE SPECIFICS.
I WOULD SAY THAT OUR CHALLENGES OF DESCRIBING THAT IN A CONCISE AND LEGAL WAY ON THE BALLOT
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 75 WORD COUNT AND THE LIKE, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO DO THAT IN TIME
TO GET THIS TO THE COUNTY NEXT WEEK ON THE TIME FROM THAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY GET THIS
CONSIDERED.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF WHEREAS CLAUSES THAT THEY ADDED IN THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING TO
HIGHLIGHT A NUMBER OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS AND TO TALK ABOUT THAT POTENTIAL AND WHETHER
IT'S ON I-976 BEING OVERTURNED OR OTHER SOURCES OF PROGRESSIVE REVENUE THAT THE COUNCIL IS
LOOKING AT.
THAT IS TALKED ABOUT IN THE RESOLUTION THAT IS BEING OFFERED UP, AS WELL.
THAT IDEA HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED A LOT.
COUNCILMEMBER, SORRY, I FORGOT YOUR SECOND QUESTION.
THE EMERGING NEEDS BUCKET AND WHETHER THERE IS AN INCREASE POTENTIAL FOR THAT BUCKET TO
BE FUNDED WITH EITHER THE .2% OR THE POINT 15 % OPTION.
NEITHER OF THE AMENDMENTS OFFERED CHANGE THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPENDING FOR THE EMERGENCY.
CAN I ASK THE SPONSORS WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE OPEN TO DOING SO?
BY SOME PROPORTIONAL AMOUNT?
>> I THINK I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH AN EMERGING NEEDS ISSUE.
I THINK THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL HAS UP TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS AND I'M TRYING TO FIND THE
ACTUAL LANGUAGE, CALVIN.
WHICH SECTION IS THAT IN?
YOU ARE STILL ON MUTE, CALVIN, SORRY.
>> SORRY, IT'S ITEM B, I BELIEVE.
SORRY, ITEM C, UP TO 10 MILLION DOLLARS OF THE PROPOSITION 1 REVENUE MAY BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT
THE PROGRAM . I'M SORRY.
I THINK IT IS D.
THERE WE GO, SORRY.
SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
CURRENTLY, IT'S SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
UP TO 60 MILLION DOLLARS OF THE PROPOSITION 1 REVENUES CAN BE USED TO SUBMIT THE NEEDS
AND --
WE CAN TAKE THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE MATH OFF-LINE.
I WAS INTERESTED TO GET A TEMPERATURE READ WHETHER FOLKS WERE OPEN TO THAT.
MAY I?
GO AHEAD.
I WOULD BE --IT DEPENDS -- [ LAUGHTER ] THAT'S MY SHORT ANSWER.
I DO THINK THAT AROUND THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURES, IT'S OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT.
I DO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO SUPPORT THE FIRST MILE, LAST MILE --YOU KNOW --THAT SHUTTLE
ROUTE FROM THE LIGHT RAIL'S DURATION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALL DOWN THE LINE IN SOUTH
SEATTLE.
IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT TOOL OR OPTION, PARTICULARLY FOR SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT SAID, I'M ALSO REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT INVESTING MORE IN PRIVATIZATION OF WHAT SHOULD BE A
PUBLIC SERVICE OPTION AND I WOULD RATHER SEE US INVESTING MORE SERVICE AROUND THERE.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW WE SLICE IT AND AM HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU MORE AFTER THE MEETING.
THANK YOU.
OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
SO, I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT THAT WE DO NOT WANT
TO OVERPROMISE OR MISREPRESENT WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO
REMIND FOLKS THAT IN THIS TIME WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT INCREASING FREQUENCY AND SERVICES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CORRECTION.
LOOKING AT THE PROPOSALS IN FRONT OF US, WHEN I'M WONDERING OR TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS INCREASING
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THROUGH EITHER PROPOSAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING AS DIRECTED
AS POSSIBLE TO INCREASING FREQUENCY AND SERVICES.
CALVIN, COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO THE PROPOSALS IN FRONT OF US AND HOW THE SPENDING SIDE OF
IT EITHER COMPARES OR ADDRESSES FREQUENCY AND SERVICES, IF YOU COULD?
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO MISREPRESENT THAT THIS WILL DEFINITELY STILL RESULT IN CUTS
NO MATTER WHICH WAY WE GO.
SURE.
ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THE VALID MEASURE IS FOR SPENDING ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN SPENDING
BUCKETS.
FOR THE BUDGET BASIS, AND FOR THE PROPOSAL THAT THE MAYOR HAS SENT, SDOT HAS FOCUSED
ON THIS WITH THE OWN DAY SERVICE AS WHERE WE SPEND THE BULK OF OUR TRANSIT DOLLARS.
IN THE PAST WE EXPECT A LOT OF IT ON OVERCROWDING, FRANKLY, FOR COMMUTING HOURS BECAUSE WE HAVE
PEOPLE WAITING FOR BUSES AND ADDITIONAL SERVICE WE NEED.
THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY WHAT WE NEED TODAY AND IT HASN'T NECESSARILY BEEN THE DEMAND
TODAY.
THE SDOT PROPOSAL, WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS BALLOT MEASURE BUT IS FOCUSING ON THE
ALL DAY SERVICE, THE NETWORK SERVICE THAT PROVIDES THE BASIC TRANSIT FOR THE 24/7 SERVICE.
>> >> THANK YOU, CALVIN.
THIS ISSUE KEEPS COMING UP AROUND PRIORITIES OF FUNDING, LAID OUT IN SECTION TWO , AT LEAST
THE SECTION IS A THROUGH E. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT REGARDLESS WHERE WE END UP
ON THE TAXATION RATE, THAT WE ARE AWARE OF A BIT OF A CAUTIONARY NOTE THAT FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION, THEY HAD SENT TO MY OFFICE, WHICH SAYS --AND I'M JUST GOING TO READ FROM
IT, IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT THEY WANT TO CAUTION ABOUT FOCUSING TOO INTENTLY ON SERVICE HOURS
AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT CAN IMPLY A LEVEL OF PLANNING THAT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE CERTAINTY
AROUND, AT THIS TIME.
THEY ARE REFERRING TO THE FACT THAT --AND CALVIN CAN HELP TO CLARIFY THIS IF FOLKS HAVE
MORE QUESTIONS, BUT PART OF WHAT WE DO IS THE TRANSIT PURCHASING, TRANSIT SERVICE PURCHASING,
IT'S DEPENDENT ON WHAT THE COUNTRY METRO HAS FOUR PLANNING FOR THAT YEAR.
WE GET THE PURCHASING CHOICES MADE WITHIN THE CONSTRUCT OF POLICY DECISIONS THAT AREN'T
NECESSARILY IN OUR CONTROL, IN TERMS OF HOW KING COUNTY METRO WILL STRUCTURE THE AIR SERVICE
PLAN.
WHAT HAS DRIVEN OUR CHOICES AT THE CITY, IN TERMS OF HOW WE PURCHASE TRANSIT SERVICES
ARE INFLUENCED BY THE KING COUNTY METRO PLANNING EFFORTS.
ACCORDING TO SDOT, THEY SAY THIS IS WHY WE'VE TENDED TO FOCUS ON SAYING WE WILL USE OUR
RESOURCES TO MAKE THE BEST INVESTMENTS POSSIBLE IN THE FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK AND IN COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE MOST TRANSIT DEPENDENT.
I GUESS TO FOLLOW UP ON THE LINE OF QUESTIONING FROM COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, IS THE LANGUAGE
IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, EITHER IN THE RECITALS OR THE BASE LEGISLATION, THAT INDICATES THAT
THAT IS, IN ESSENCE, THE CITY'S PHILOSOPHY ON HOW TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS AROUND WHERE
TO INVEST, I.E.
FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORKS AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE TRANSIT DEPENDENT.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE CLAUSES THAT SPEAK TO THAT.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SPELLED OUT IN THE BALLOT TITLE, ITSELF.
THE BALLOT TITLE IS MORE BROAD.
AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT BUDGET DECISIONS THE CITY WILL WANT TO CONSIDER, AS WE START
TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE COUNTY HAS SPENT ITS MONEY.
THERE IS THAT IMPLIED FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO THE SEARCH PLAN THE COUNTY COMES UP WITH
IN FALL AND IN FUTURE YEARS.
THAT'S HELPFUL.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER FOLLOW-UP TO CALVIN?
OKAY.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
OKAY.
NEXT AMENDMENT.
THE LAST AMENDMENT IS AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE, IT'S AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ADD CENTRAL WORKERS
TO THE BUCKET OF LOW INCOME AND PAST PROGRAMS TO MAKE THEM ELIGIBLE FOR THAT SPENDING.
PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY.
IS A STANDALONE AMENDMENT AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT POLICY CHOICES THE COUNCIL MAKES, SIX
YEARS OR .2% OR NOT, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD BE CONSIDERED ON ITS OWN AND WOULD ALLOW FUNDS
FOR THE PASSAGE OF THIS LOBBY, SHOULD IT PASS, TO PROVIDE TRANSIT PASSES FOR LOW INCOME MEDICAL
WORKERS, PHARMACY WORKERS, GROCERY STORE WORKERS AND OTHERS DEEMED ESSENTIAL BY ANY STATE ORDER
ORDER, SUCH AS THE ONE WE SAW IN THE COVID-19 CIVIL EMERGENCY.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I THINK WE LOOK FORWARD TO FOLKS GIVING THEIR SUPPORT.
OKAY.
NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT.
I THINK THAT CONCLUDES ANY OTHER COMMENTS AND BEFORE ASKED FOR COMMENTS, ANY QUESTIONS
FOR CALVIN ON THE AS TBD ORDINANCE BEFORE WE LET HIM GO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK OVER THE WEEKEND AND OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS ON THIS ISSUE
DURING A VERY BUSY BUDGET SEASON AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TIME.
THANKS, CALVIN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ISSUE OR ON ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN LIFTED UP?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, WE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN THE ROLL CALL AND NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS RIGHTS
COMMITTEE.
THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE THIS TUESDAY HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO THE
SUMMER BUDGET SEASON.
JUST OVER A MONTH AGO, THE JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT WON A HISTORIC VICTORY WHEN
THE CITY COUNCIL IN SEATTLE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY ON THE ORDINANCE FROM MY OFFICE AND FROM OUR
MOVEMENT TO BAN POLICE USE AND PURCHASE OF MILITARIZED WEAPONS SUCH AS TEAR GAS, FLASH
BANGS AND OTHERS.
LAST FRIDAY, THE JUDGE SHAMEFULLY RULED THAT THESE WEAPONS CAN CONTINUE TO BE USED BY SEATTLE
POLICE.
A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION, WE UNDERSTAND IT'S A SERIOUS THREAT AND IT WAS PARTICULARLY CHILLING
THAT THIS CAME IN TANDEM WITH TRUMP'S DECISION TO SEND BORDER PATROL AGENTS LIKE THE OCCUPYING
ARMY TO SEATTLE.
I ISSUED A STATEMENT SATURDAY MORNING WARNING THAT THIS RULING WAS BEING EXPLICITLY USED
TO ALLOW THE SEATTLE POLICE AND FEDERAL OFFICERS TO READY THEIR FULL ALL STERNAL OF WEAPONS
TO ATTEMPT TO VIOLENTLY SUPPRESSED DEMONSTRATIONS AND THAT WAS, UNFORTUNATELY, EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED LATER THAT EVENING.
THE CROCODILE TEARS THAT MAYOR DURKAN HAS CRIED ABOUT TRUMP SENDING VIOLENT FEDERAL
AGENTS ARE FRANKLY ABSURD WHEN HER OWN POLICE OFFICERS ARE DOING THE EXACT SAME EXACT SAME
THING.
THE CONSENT DEGREE HEARINGS ARE FARCICAL WHEN DONALD TRUMP'S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND JENNY
DURKAN'S SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE SUPERFICIALLY THE TWO SIDES OF THE COLD CASE BUT IN TOTAL
AGREEMENT ON OPPRESSION PROTESTING ON BOTH WANT TO CONTINUE THE USE OF WEAPONS WITH IMPUNITY.
BOTH FILED MOTIONS FOR THE INJUNCTION AGAINST THE BAN PAST DUE NON-IS MOSTLY BY THE CITY
COUNCIL ON THE MILITARIZED POLICE WEAPONS.
WE DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE TACTICS BY A MINORITY OF THE PROTESTERS AND WE BELIEVE
WE NEED A DEBATE IN OUR MOVEMENT ABOUT THE KIND OF TACTICS THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND WHAT
ARE NOT.
IT IS CLEAR THAT TRUMP'S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, SEATTLE MAYOR DURKAN, SEATTLE POLICE AND THE
CODES OF THE CAPITOL STATE ARE IN TOTAL AGREEMENT ON OPPRESSION OF PROTESTS.
IT WAS WITH THE WEAPONS BAN WON BY OUR MOVEMENT AND CHAMPIONED BY THE POLICE CHIEF AND ALLOWED
BY MAYOR DURKAN ON THE FEDERAL JUDGE, PREDICTABLY HORRIFIC AND INDISCRIMINATE.
THERE IS VIDEO THAT SHOWS A NURSE IN SCRUBS BEING DIRECTLY MACED IN THE FACE BY POLICE
AT THE EXACT MOMENT WHEN SHE WAS HELPING AN INJURED PROTESTER.
THERE WERE REPORTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF OFFICERS ENTERING PEOPLE'S HOMES TO RAIN MUNITIONS
DOWN ON THE PROTEST FROM THE ROOF.
THE SEATTLE CHAPTER OF THE LAWYERS GUILD ISSUED A STATEMENT CONDEMNING WHAT THEY DESCRIBED
AS, QUOTE, THE VIOLENT TARGETING OF THE VOLUNTEER LEGAL OBSERVERS BY THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
TO QUOTE A SECTION OF THEIR STATEMENT, IN ADDITION TO SPD'S HAPHAZARD AND ARBITRARY
DEPLOYMENT OF FORCE, OFFICERS HAVE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED THE SEATTLE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD
WITH LEGAL OBSERVERS AND THEY CONCEAL BADGE NUMBERS.
THESE INCLUDE DELIBERATELY SPRAYING PEPPER SPRAY INTO A LEGAL OBSERVERS FACE AT CLOSE
RANGE AND THE VIDEO IS AVAILABLE BY REQUEST.
TOSSING FLASH BANG GRENADES DIRECTLY AT OBSERVERS AND NEEDLESSLY GRABBING AND SHOVING LEGAL
OBSERVERS AND PURPOSELY HITTING LEGAL OBSERVERS WITH THEIR BICYCLES.
THE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 1968 AND THEY ARE WELL KNOWN TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZABLE BUY THEIR BRIGHT GREEN HATS THAT'S A NATIONAL
LAWYERS GUILD LEGAL OBSERVER.
LEGAL OBSERVERS FULFILL THE CRUCIAL FUNCTION OF MONITORING DEMONSTRATIONS TO ENSURE THAT
PROTESTERS HAVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS THAT ARE RESPECTED AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT BULWARKS
AGAINST POLICE MISCONDUCT.
SEATTLE LEGAL OBSERVERS ARE LAWYERS, LAW STUDENTS OR LEGAL WORKERS TRAINED IN PROFESSIONALISM
AND NOT PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROTEST THEY OBSERVE OR TO INTERFERE WITH POLICE ACTIONS.
THE RIGHTS OF LEGAL OBSERVERS ARE CODIFIED IN SEATTLE LAW, SPECIFICALLY PERMITTING THE
OBSERVATION AND RECORDING OF POLICE OFFICERS AND PROHIBITS OFFICERS FROM RETALIATING AGAINST
OBSERVERS.
THIS IS AN EXTRACT FROM THE PRESS RELEASE FROM THE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD.
ON THE BUDGET, ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 9:00 THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, MY OFFICE AND THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET MOVEMENT WILL HOST A COMMUNITY MEETING OVER ZOOM TO PREPARE FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETINGS AND WE WILL DISCUSS THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RELATED AMENDMENTS.
THIS WILL BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFUND THE POLICE BY 50%, AS HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY DEMANDED
BY THE JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT.
OUR MOVEMENT BRINGS FORWARD ALLIED AMENDMENTS THAT GO ALONGSIDE DEFUNDING THE POLICE, WHICH
IS FUNDING AND CONTINUING TO FUND RENTER EVICTION DEFENSE.
WE KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH THE EVICTION MORATORIUM HAS BEEN EXTENDED, STATEWIDE, THE CRISIS IS
ONLY POSTPONED.
WHAT WE NEED IS RENT AND MORTGAGE PAYMENTS FOR WORKING- CLASS AND MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE
TO BE CANCELED AND FOR THIS TO BECOME A REALITY, IT WON'T HAPPEN THROUGH LOBBYING POLITICIANS
AT THE STATE OR THE CITY.
IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN RENTERS GET ORGANIZED FOR A REAL RENT STRIKE AND THAT WILL NEED
TO BE ORGANIZED BUILDING BY BUILDING, CITY-BY-CITY AND STATE-BY- STATE.
WE NEED TO STOP THE SWEEPS OF HOMELESS NEIGHBORS AND I WILL BRING AN AMENDMENT TO THAT EFFECT.
MY OFFICE WILL LIVESTREAM THE COMMUNITY MEETING TO OUR FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND TWITTER ACCOUNT.
I WANT TO SAY THAT MY OFFICE HAS ADMITTED BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO SUPPORT THE JUSTICE FOR
GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT'S DEMAND TO DEFUND THE POLICE BY 50% AND ALSO, THE MOVEMENT BY COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND COALITIONS TO SUPPORT OTHER MOVEMENTS.
AS I SAID, WE WILL BRING FORWARD THE FIGHT TO STOP THE SWEEPS , AND THE BUDGET OF THE
POLICE WILL BE STOPPED BY 50% AND ALSO, ALSO, RACE-SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE 911
CALL CENTER OF THE SPD AND CUTTING $80,000 FROM THE BUDGET TO RESTORE FUNDING TO THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD AND CUTTING THREE MILLION DOLLARS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS
AND 147 MILLION DOLLARS PATROL OPERATIONS BUDGET LINE TO USE THOSE FUNDS TO SUPPORT
THE COMMUNITY RESEARCH AND ORGANIZING ALTERNATIVES TO REPRESSIVE POLICING AND SO ON.
ALSO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIGHT TO ALSO KEPT THE SEATTLE POLICE SALARIES AT $150,000.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT REPORT?
SEEING NONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ TO READ HER NOTES.
I JUST LOST THEM.
HERE THEY ARE AGAIN.
IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU, I WILL READ THE NOTES.
GO AHEAD.
GREAT.
I WAS HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, BUT THERE WE ARE.
THE REPORT FROM COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WITH ASSETS IN THE COMMUNITY, NO ITEMS FROM THE
PUBLIC ASSETS COMMUNITY ON THE AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC ASSETS IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE WILL BE CANCELED.
UNDER HER PARK'S JURISDICTION, THE OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WILL EMAIL THE WEEKLY
COVID-19 UPDATES.
AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES, OUR PARK SYSTEM IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR CITY'S MENTAL
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, BOLSTERING OUR RESILIENCY WITH THE HIGHEST VISITOR COUNTS
OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE GARDENS, GREEN LAKE AND SEWARD PARK'S.
THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH PHYSICAL DISTANCING'S AND WAS LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS WEEKS AND
THE LEVELS OF PARK USE WAS HIGHER THAN USUAL.
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT CROWDED PARKS LEAD TO CLOSED PARKS.
SINCE JUNE 20, THE BOAT RAMPS HAVE BEEN OPEN AND FIVE HAVE BEEN OPENED AROUND SEATTLE WITH
A TOTAL OF 3667 BOAT LAUNCH PERMITS.
UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO PERSISTENT OVERCROWDING AROUND THE BOAT RAMP AREAS, THE RAMP NEAR
GENESEE PARK WAS CLOSED EFFECTIVE LAST SUNDAY.
EMERGENCY FOOD IS DISTRIBUTED WITH PARKS AND RECREATION PARTNERING WITH THE FOOD LIFELINE
TO DISTRIBUTE EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES ON WEDNESDAY.
FOOD LIFELINE DISTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF BOXES AT FOUR LOCATIONS AROUND SEATTLE AND BELLEVUE
CONTAINING FRESH PRODUCE AND ASSORTED DAIRY ITEMS.
THEY CELEBRATE THE SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE ORGANIZING
A CARE EVENT LAST WEDNESDAY TO VISIT 10 WORK LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY.
THE CARAVAN DELIVERED T-SHIRTS, TREATS AND HEAPS OF GRATITUDE TO PARKS IN CENTRAL WORKERS
FOR THE SAFE PHYSICAL DISTANCE AND IT OCCURRED DURING THE PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH, DURING
JULY, IN HONOR OF PARK STAFF.
MAYOR DURKAN CLAIMED WEDNESDAY JULY 22 AS PARKS AND RECREATION EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION
DAY.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, THE FERRIS WHEEL ON THE WATERFRONT WAS LIT UP IN HONOR OF OUR PARKS
AND RECREATION STAFF.
IN THE LIBRARIES, NINE LIBRARY BRANCHES IN THE CITY ARE ACCEPTING RETURNS WITH BOOK DROPS
TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY FROM NOON UNTIL 6:00 P.M.
THE DATES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH AUGUST 15.
SEATTLE PARKS PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING CURBSIDE PICK-UP SERVICES FOR
CHECKOUT AT SOME LIBRARY LOCATIONS AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT AND IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE
IN EARLY AUGUST, AND SOUND TRANSIT IS WORKING ON A PASSENGER COMPETENCE PLAN TO MAKE SURE
THEY MAKE TRAINS AND BUSES AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH THE GOALS INCLUDING
100% FACE COVERING COMPLIANCE AND INCREASING CLEANING PROTOCOL, AIRFLOW AND FILTRATION.
SOUND TRANSIT IS GRAPPLING WITH THE PLANNING FOR REVENUE RESTRICTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
IN OTHER NEWS, CALTRANS IT WAS FEATURED ON THE
DISCOVERY SCIENCE CHANNEL AND A POSSIBLE ENGINEERING SHOW AIRING WORLDWIDE WITH THE ACHIEVEMENT
FOR BEING THE FIRST TO BUILD LIGHT RAIL ACROSS A BRIDGE.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR THAT REPORT.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE LAND USE ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CALENDAR AND THERE ARE
FIVE ITEMS FOR THIS AGENDA.
THE RESOLUTIONS 3158 AND 31959, WHICH BOTH APPROVED MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING FOR
SOUTH PACIFIC UNIVERSITY AND SEATTLE COLLEGE TO ESTABLISH CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEES AS
THEY PREPARE FOR A NEW MAJOR INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN.
THESE ITEMS ARE HEADING TOWARD PROJECT JUDICIAL.
CAN YOU REMIND THE BODY OF THE RULES AND CONSIDERATIONS TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE CONSIDER THIS?
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
BOTH THE SEATTLE CENTRAL COLLEGE AND THE SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY'S MAJOR INSTITUTION MASTER
PLAN ARE CURRENTLY PENDING UNDER THE JUDICIAL RULES IN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD REFRAIN
FROM DISCUSSING THE MERITS OF THOSE PLANS OR THE MERITS OF FUTURE GROWTH ON THE CAMPUSES.
YOU ARE FREE TO DISCUSS THE CONTENT OF THE TWO RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF
YOU THIS AFTERNOON RELATED TO SETTING UP COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
FEEL FREE TO TALK ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THOSE COMMITTEES . YOU SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT THE
MASTER PLANS THOSE COMMITTEES WILL BE PROVIDING ADVICE ON IN THE FUTURE TO THE COUNCIL.
ANY QUESTIONS?
ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR REMINDER WAS WELL RECEIVED AND UNDERSTOOD.
THANK YOU.
BACK THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THE OTHER TWO ASPECTS ON THE AGENDA FROM THE LAND USE COMMITTEE ARE THE APPOINTMENTS TO
THE SEATTLE APPOINTMENT COMMISSION, THE APPOINTMENT OF MANZEZULU MALABA, AND KATHERINE IDZIOREK
AND LAUREN SQUIRES.
THOSE ARE THE FIVE ITEMS ON THE FULL COUNCIL, TODAY, FROM THE LAND USE COMMITTEE.
LAST WEDNESDAY, THE LAND USE COMMITTEE MET TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE CHILDCARE ORDINANCE
AND THE OMNIBUS BILL AND AN UPDATE ON TREE WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION.
THE NEXT MEETING IS AUGUST 12th AT 9:30 a.m. AND THE PRE-AGENDA ITEMS IS TO VOTE ON THE
CHILDCARE KNEW YOU, VOTE ON THE LAND USE AND THE PUBLIC HEARING ON REZONING FOR DEVELOPMENT
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT IS MY REPORT FROM COMMITTEE AND REGARDING OUR CONTINUED BUDGET REBALANCE, I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED AND WORKED WITH ME ON AMENDMENTS LAST WEEK AND IN ADDITION
TO THE AMENDMENTS ARE BROUGHT LAST WEEK, I WAS LOOKING WITH A DETAILED EYE AND NOTICED
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, MOVING FORWARD.
THE AMENDMENTS TO THE SDOT BUDGET, THEY WOULD HAVE FUNDS WITH UNRESERVED BALANCE TOWARD
CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
I HAVE BEEN CLEAR WITH THIS CDO THAT THE NEED TO ATTAIN THESE ITEMS ITEMS, THESE LINE ITEMS,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE DOLLARS MIGHT NOT BE SPENT THIS YEAR.
IT'S FOR THE THOMAS STREET REDESIGN, THE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS AND THE COLSON SQUARE REDEVELOPMENT
AND EACH OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE RECEIVED AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS
AND IT'S THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY MAY BE CUT IN FUTURE BUDGETS.
THE TIMING IS IMPORTANT AND FINALLY, AN AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE A FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS WITH TAX
RELIEF OF SMALL BUSINESSES BEING PUT FORWARD AND I'M WORKING ON THE EXACT NUMBERS.
ALSO, I WAS HAPPY TO WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WITH A RECONCILED VERSION OF OUR
COMPETING AMENDMENTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT AND I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROTESTS
OVER THE WEEKEND.
I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE CITY'S RESPONSE OVER THE WEEKEND.
THE LEGAL OBSERVERS AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA ARE NOT HAVING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
PROTECTED.
HOW CAN WE BE SURE OUR RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS RIGHTS ARE BEING OBSERVED?
WE HAVE A CHOICE IN HOW WE RESPOND.
WE CONTINUE TO CHOOSE THE MOST AGGRESSIVE RESPONSE AVAILABLE.
OVER THE LAST DECADE, WHY DOES OUR RESPONSE LOOK LIKE EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE NATION?
WE KNOW AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WE ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
WITH THE INDISCRIMINATE USE OF FORCE, THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THAT IN THE CITY.
OUR POLICE SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME HIGHER STANDARDS AND AGGRESSIVE USE OF FORCE PERPETRATED
BY OUR GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY AND WE CANNOT RATIONALIZE THIS AWAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES TO UNDERSTAND TO MOVE FORWARD IN WAYS WE CAN
BETTER RESPOND TO PROTESTS OCCURRING IN OUR CITIES.
IN OTHER NEWS, THIS IS THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT AND YESTERDAY,
JULY 26, THAT WAS THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT.
THIS HISTORIC LEGISLATION WAS PASSED IN 1990 AND IS A CIVIL RIGHTS LAW PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION
OR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE AND IT ENSURES PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS
AND OPPORTUNITIES AS EVERYONE ELSE AND TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC
SPACES AND BUILDINGS.
I CONSISTENTLY AND CONSTANTLY LOOK THROUGH THE POLICY OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES AND I
KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT WITH CONSTRUCTING THIS IN OUR BILL.
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT IN OUR CITIES, AND THE ENGAGEMENT WITH
US, OUR CITY ARCHIVIST HAS MADE AN AMAZING EXHIBIT AT SEATTLE.GOV/ARCHIVES UNDER THE
EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONS SECTION WITH THE DIGITAL DOCUMENTS LIBRARY.
THANK YOU TO OUR ARCHIVISTS AND THANK YOU TO THE HISTORY OF LOOKING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
CAN NAVIGATE OUR ENVIRONMENT WITH THE HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
IN DISTRICT 6, FOLKS ARE INVITED TO HELP DESIGN THE NEW COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
IS HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE, AN ONLINE OPEN HOUSE FROM JULY 22 THROUGH AUGUST 20.
YOU ARE INVITED TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THESE THREE CONCEPTS AND PROGRAMMING PREFERENCES
WITH AN ONLINE PUBLIC HEARING ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, AT NOON.
TO JOIN THIS OPEN HOUSE OR TO REGISTER FOR THE MEETING, YOU CAN VISIT G EL- SISI.INFO.COMMUNITY.ORG.
DURING MY REGULARLY SCHEDULED DISTRICT 6 MEETINGS LAST WEEK, I SPOKE TO THE RESIDENTS ABOUT
RACE RELATIONS AND PLANS TO MOVE FORWARD.
THERE IS A HOST OF TOPICS.
MY OFFICE ADVISES WITH PRESSURE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
THEY'RE LEVERAGING THE EXTENSION OF THE WASHINGTON STATE EVICTIONS MORATORIUM AND TO ADVISE HOW
TO RESTART OPERATIONS IN PHASE THREE AND POSSIBLY SHIFT THE BUSINESS MODEL TO MAXIMIZE OPERATIONS.
I WAS RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT THE CAF� STREET PROPOSAL NOW HAS A PERMITTING PATHWAY AND
I LOOK FORWARD FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF ANYTHING WITH THESE STREETS, REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE
AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP.
I HELD THE DISTRICT 6 TOWN HALL WITH OVER 1000 PEOPLE TUNING IN AND 200 QUESTIONS SUBMITTED.
THE CONVERSATIONS NEEDED TO BE EXTENDED AND WE WENT 30 MINUTES OVER OUR TYPICALLY ALLOTTED
TIME AND TOOK UP THE TIME THAT I WAS SCHEDULED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE WILL BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS VIA NEWSLETTERS THIS WEEK.
I RECEIVED THE REPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO ENGAGE THE CITY TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT ENRICH OUR DISTRICT.
I HELD THE FIRST COMMUNITY RACE RELATION MEETING ON DISTRICT 6 AND THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS
IMPORTANT AND TIMELY CONVERSATION.
BEING BORN AND RAISED IN BALLARD, IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AT THIS SCALE.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP AND I PLAN TO HAVE THE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE ARE
NOT FINISHED AND THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE NEED TO PUSH FURTHER.
THE WORK OF UNDOING SYSTEMIC RACISM ISN'T FINISHED AND WE HAVE A LOT TO DO.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES IN THE TRIANGLE
AND TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT THE 200 QUESTIONS SUBMITTED FOR THE TOWN HALL AND WE WILL HOST
OUR REGULAR DISTRICT 6 MEETINGS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING TO EVERYONE FROM DISTRICT
6.
THANK YOU.
THAT IS MY REPORT.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE DOWN THE LIST TO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, WHO IS NEXT.
A QUICK REMINDER THAT WE STILL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AFTER THIS.
WE DO HAVE A HARD STOP FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 1:00 P.M.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THROUGH THESE LAST COUPLE OF REPORTS SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE OUR EXECUTIVE
SESSION TIME.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU ARE UP.
THANK YOU.
I WILL BE BRIEF.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ON EITHER THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR OR THE COUNCIL AGENDA, THIS WEEK.
AS MENTIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, NEXT WEEK THE YOUTH ORDINANCE WILL BE ON THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CATTLE DOOR AND I APPRECIATED WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ON THIS LEGISLATION
AND MANY SIGNALED SUPPORT IN THIS BILL AND AS YOU MAY KNOW, THERE IS A SIMILAR VERSION
WORK INTO THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL, SPONSORED BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AS MANY OF YOU HAVE DONE , I EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE WORK BEING DONE IN THE COMMUNITY,
AS IT RELATES TO OUR BUDGET EFFORTS, PARTICULARLY TO DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND THE KING COUNTY
EQUITY, NOW.
WE APPRECIATED RECEIVING THE IDEAS WITH THE PROPOSALS TO MAKE WELL CONSIDERED CUTS TO
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET AND INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY SAFETY THAT BEGIN THE PROCESS
OF RESHAPING COMMUNITY SAFETY NOW.
IT SETS US UP TO CONTINUE THAT WORK AND THE REINVESTMENTS NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND.
I'M WORKING ON A PACKAGE OF AMENDMENTS INCLUDING SOME SURGICAL CUTS TO THE SPD BUDGET, TRANSFERS
OF FUNCTIONS TO OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND INVESTMENTS THAT CAN PLAY A LARGER ROLE IN
COMMUNITY LED SAFETY INITIATIVES AND SOME OF THE REQUESTED STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT, BUDGET PROVISOS REQUESTED BY DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY EQUITY, NOW, AS WELL
AS RESOLUTION THAT IDENTIFIED SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL
SHARE FOR OUR ONGOING WORK IN THIS AREA.
AS RELATES TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE, GOVERNOR INSLEE AND SECRETARY OF HEALTH WISEMAN ANNOUNCED
LAST WEEK FOR THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE SAFE START PHASE REOPENING IN WASHINGTON AND THESE
RESTRICTIONS COME AFTER AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES ACROSS THE STATE.
WE NOW HAVE OVER 50,000 CASES AND 1500 DEATHS AND 5000 HOSPITALIZATIONS DUE TO THE VIRUS.
IN SEATTLE, THE VIRUS IS SURGING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR.
IN SEATTLE, WE HAVE FREE TESTING FACILITIES IN SOTO AND AURORA AREAS.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ADMINISTERED A TOTAL OF NEARLY 75,000 TESTS TO TRY TO STYMIE THE
INCREASE, THE GOVERNOR HAS CHANGED REGULATIONS FOR BARS, FITNESS CENTERS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS
AND EXPANDED THE REQUIREMENTS TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS IN ALL COMMON SPACES INCLUDING ELEVATORS,
HALLWAYS AND SHARED SPACES AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS, UNIVERSITIES, HOTELS AND CONGREGATE SETTINGS
LIKE NURSING HOMES.
IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE THAT WE DOUBLE DOWN ON SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WEARING
A MASK IN PUBLIC AREAS AND STAYING HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO SAVE LIVES.
I WAS SORRY TO SEE THIS WEEKEND , AS REPORTED BY SEATTLE POLICE, THAT 59 OFFICERS WERE INJURED
AND ONE OF THEM BEING HOSPITALIZED WITH INJURIES RANGING FROM ABRASIONS AND BRUISING TO BURNS
AND A TORN MENISCUS.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN INJURED BUT MY TWITTER FEED IS FULL OF PICTURES
WITH INJURIES.
I ALSO REGRET THE UNNECESSARY PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT HAS OCCURRED OVER THE WEEK.
PROPERTY DAMAGE IS NOT JUST AN ABSTRACT AND THEY'RE NOT ONLY IMPACTS TO THOSE WHO OWN
PROPERTY, BUT ALSO, TO PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THOSE BUSINESSES.
THERE ARE RISKS OF PHYSICAL INJURY INHERENT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS
RESPONDING TO INTENTIONALLY SET FIRES.
I WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS I HAVE, WITH PEACEFUL PROTESTS.
AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE MOST FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING THE ACTIONS
OF PUBLIC AGENCIES.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AS A REMINDER, THE JUNE 12 TEMPORARY RESTRAINING
ORDER INCLUDES CHEMICAL IRRITANTS LIKE TEARGASSED , SPRAYS AND PROJECTILES TO INCLUDE FLASH
BANGS , PEPPER BALLS, BLAST BALLS, RUBBER BULLETS AND FOAM TO PROJECTILES.
THE TRO SPECIFICALLY SAID THEY SHALL NOT BE DEPLOYED INDISCRIMINATELY INTO A CROWD AND
THEY SHOULD BE TARGETED AT THE SPECIFIC IMMINENT THREAT OF PHYSICAL HARM OR IDENTIFIABLE TO
OTHERS OR TO RESPOND TO SPECIFIC ACTS OF VIOLENCE OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
I WATCHED IN LIVE FEED'S THIS WEEKEND, THE TARGETING OF REPORTERS REPORTERS.
IN ADDITION, I SAW LEGAL ADVISERS --THOSE IN THE GREEN HATS --AND NURSES, SPECIFICALLY
TARGETED.
IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THE USE OF THESE MUNITIONS WAS DONE IN A WAY THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH
OUR EXPECTATIONS AT THE CITY, NOR WITH THE SPECIFIC TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER.
IN ADDITION, ON SUNDAY, I HEARD BUT HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THAT OFFICERS DROVE THE PERIMETER
OF PROTESTERS AT SEATTLE CENTRAL COLLEGE, VERBALLY TAUNTING PROTESTERS AND PLAYING BAD
BOYS ON THEIR POLICE RADIOS.
I SAW VIDEO OF AN OFFICER DEFIANTLY RIPPING OFF HER NAME TAG.
THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF PROFESSIONAL DEMEANOR WE EXPECT FROM OFFICERS, EVEN IN THESE TRYING
CIRCUMSTANCES.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THE JULY 10th LETTER THAT I SENT TO THE MAYOR AND CHIEF
REGARDING THE TREATMENT OF THE NUMBERS OF THE MEDIA, IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE CITY'S
MALL, AS WELL AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICIES AROUND ORDERS TO DISPERSE, AND THAT MEMBERS
OF THE MEDIA ARE EXEMPT FROM ORDERS TO DISPERSE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE TO THAT LETTER.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR WORDS OF CONCERN ABOUT THE PURSUIT OF
THE GENERALIST RECORDS.
I FEEL THAT THE CITY'S LEGAL POSITION PUTS THE MEDIA AT GREAT RISK AND HAS AN UNACCEPTABLE
AND CHILLING EFFECT ON THEIR EFFORTS TO HOLD GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.
THE MEDIA IS NOT AN EXTENSION OF GOVERNMENT, PERIOD.
LASTLY, FOR DISTRICT 1, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT I HAVE OFFICE HOURS SCHEDULED THIS FRIDAY
BETWEEN 2:00 AND 6:00 P.M.
I DO NOTE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC THAT THERE MAY BE A NEED ON A LAST-MINUTE BASIS, TO RESCHEDULE
THE OFFICE HOURS BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL NEED FOR A FRIDAY BUDGET MEETING.
LASTLY, AS FAR AS THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE SERVICE THAT I DO, LAST THURSDAY, THE REGIONAL LAW,
SAFETY AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE MET AND I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR ABOUT THE CITY'S EFFORTS REGARDING
COMPLIANCE OF THE I- 940 CITIZENS INITIATIVE AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME PRESIDENT.
I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A VERY LARGE EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE HORIZON.
THERE IS NOTHING FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS.
I'M ON THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR.
I'M EXCITED TO SAY THAT TOMORROW MORNING I WILL BE JOINING THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A RIDE ALONG BUT FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR, THE CRISIS RESPONSE
TEAM IS A COMBINED UNIT OF PERSONNEL AND DES SEE, DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SERVICE CENTER, MENTAL
HEALTH WORKERS THAT RESPOND TO FOLKS IN CRISIS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT EXPERIENCE
AND LEARNING ABOUT THAT PUBLIC ASSET AND HOW IT MAY INFORM OUR FUTURE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
WHAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM WILL LOOK LIKE.
ADDITIONALLY, I'M HAVING A TOWN HALL TOMORROW FROM 3:30 UNTIL 5:00 p.m. ON A NUMBER OF TOPICS
FROM THE BUDGET TO PUBLIC SAFETY, TO THE ONGOING HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE.
I WILL BE JOINED BY CHIEF SCOGGINS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SERVICE
CENTER'S DAN MALONE, SHARON LEE FROM THE LOW INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE AND A FEW MORE FOLKS,
SOON TO BE CONFIRMED.
DEFINITELY, I INVITE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO JOIN ME FOR THE TOWN HALL TO ASK QUESTIONS
AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK INTO THE FINAL LEG OF OUR SUMMER SESSION.
I ALSO WANT TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES TODAY.
I HEARD COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, AND I'VE SEEN COMMENTS FROM OTHERS
REGARDING THE ONGOING CITY LITIGATION TO COMPEL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS TO PRODUCE IMAGES AND INFORMATION
PERTINENT TO ONGOING POLICE INVESTIGATIONS.
I STAND WITH MY COLLEAGUES BROADLY AND STRONGLY TO CONDEMN THIS.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE PRESS IN THE U.S. IS SACROSANCT AND TRUST BETWEEN THE PRESS
AND THE CITIZENRY IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF EVERYONE
ARE UPHELD AND THAT THE PRESS AS A TRUSTED INSTITUTION, NOT HELD IN SUSPICION BY THE
PUBLIC AND NOT, AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD STATED, AN APPENDAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT TO COMPEL THE PRESS TO APPEAR AS WITNESSES
AGAINST THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.
THAT IS, ESSENTIALLY, WHAT THIS ORDER WOULD DO, WERE IT TO BE CARRIED OUT.
I WILL BE BLUNT.
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO HAS THE POWER TO DROP THIS CASE, PETE HOLMES, DROP THIS CASE.
THIS CASE IS A THREAT TO THE FOUNDATION OF THE INDEPENDENT PRESS AND WE NEED TO TAKE
THAT SERIOUSLY.
I'M PROUD TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES TO SPEAK OUT STRONGLY ON THAT.
FINALLY, IN A SIMILAR THREAD , I DO WANT TO CONDEMN THE VANDALISM AND THE HARASSMENT THAT
SOME MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO BY FOLKS WHO HOLD DIFFERENT VIEWS ON MATTERS
OF PUBLIC POLICY THAN THEY DO.
I DO NOT, PERSONALLY, THINK, AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, THAT I'M ENTITLED, IN ANY WAY, FOR PEOPLE
TO BE CIVIL TO ME.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS BLUNTLY AND I'VE CERTAINLY BEEN YELLED
AT BY CONSTITUENTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT AS PART OF THE GIVE-AND-TAKE OF DEMOCRACY.
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I THINK THAT SOME OF THE MESSAGES THAT HAVE
BEEN CONVEYED HAVE GONE BEYOND THAT AND SOME OF THE ACTIONS HAVE GONE BEYOND THAT.
IN SOME CASES, THEY ARE CRIMINAL OR ADJACENT TO CRIMINAL.
NEED TO BEAR IN MIND THAT WE HOLD A CERTAIN OBLIGATION TO EACH OTHER, TO NOT CROSS CERTAIN
LINES.
SOME OF THE REMARKS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED TO THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF THEY WERE DONE
BY SAVE SEATTLE, WOULD BE BROADLY CONDEMNED BY THE PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY, IN SOME CASES,
AS MISOGYNISTIC.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT RECALL THOSE MESSAGES OUT FOR WHAT THEY ARE AND THAT WE
ALL AGREE WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO CHANGE A LOT OF THE WAYS THAT THE
CITY DOES PUBLIC SAFETY AND A NUMBER OF THIS ON THE COUNCIL ARE COMMITTED TO IT.
WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT JEOPARDIZE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
I DID WANT TO JOIN IN CONDEMNING THOSE ACTS AND STANDING WITH FELLOW MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL.
WITH THAT, I HAVE NO FURTHER UPDATES AND WILL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, FOR THAT REPORT.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO REPORT OR ANYTHING FROM MY COMMITTEE ON THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA AND
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO TAKE OFF WHERE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ENDED.
I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR, AGAIN, FOR THE THIRD TIME, AND THE FIRST TIME IN A PRESS
RELEASE, THE SECOND TIME AT THE END OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST WEEK AND NOW, FOR A
THIRD TIME.
I'M GOING TO REITERATE, ONCE AGAIN, THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT DEMONSTRATION TACTICS THAT
RISE TO THE LEVEL OF INTIMIDATION AND IN CREATING FEAR AT THE HOMES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS WHERE
THEY LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILY, INCLUDING SMALL CHILDREN.
I CANNOT STATE THAT MORE CLEARLY OR MORE DIRECTLY THAN I HAVE BEFORE.
I HAVE APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ONE-ON- ONE.
IT'S IN TERMS OF THE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE AT HIS HOME . A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE
PROGRESSIVE SIDE HAVE INDICATED THAT POST-IT NOTES DON'T HURT ANYONE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY MIGHT NOT HURT FOLKS, BUT THERE WERE MESSAGES THAT WERE MARKED WITH
MARKERS ON TO HIS HOME AND WITH PROFANITY AND WITH WHAT ONE COULD CONCLUDE OUR THREATS
OF PHYSICAL OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY IF HE'D DID NOT VOTE IN A PARTICULAR WAY.
TO THE POINT OF COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THAT'S WHEN WE CROSS THE LINE FROM HAVING A DISCOURSE
AROUND POLICY AND A DISCOURSE IN WHICH WE MIGHT DISAGREE.
IT CROSSES THE LINE INTO ACTUALLY CREATING A REASONABLE FEAR FOR YOUR SAFETY IF YOU ARE
RECEIVING THREATS OF POTENTIAL BODILY HARM AND DEATH.
I THINK THE WORD USED WAS , YOU KNOW, DEFUND SPD OR BE DONE.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE USED IN THESE DEMONSTRATIONS.
AGAIN, I FULLY SUPPORT THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND IT'S NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE.
OVER THE WEEKEND, I RECEIVED SOME PICTURES FROM COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ OF WORDS AND PHRASES
SPRAYED ON HER STREET THAT WERE DIRECTED TO HER IN FRONT OF HER NEIGHBORHOOD AND I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT I ALSO DON'T SUPPORT THAT LANGUAGE AND I THINK THAT LANGUAGE IS COMPLETELY
INAPPROPRIATE.
I WILL BE REALLY CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.
THE LANGUAGE USED BY SOME OF THESE PROTESTERS IS MISOGYNISTIC.
IT'S SEXIST, AT ITS CORE.
FOR THOSE PEOPLE COMPLETELY FLABBERGASTED AND ON THE SIDE OF CONGRESSWOMAN ALEXANDRIA
OCASIO-CORTEZ AFTER SHE WAS SUBJECT TO THAT PHRASE, YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE WHETHER IT'S
APPROPRIATE TO USE THAT LOCALLY AGAINST ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S INAPPROPRIATE AND I USE THESE WORDS BECAUSE THESE ARE QUOTES, THE WORDS BEING DIRECTED
TO ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN STAY COMMITTED TO
THE CAUSE OF TRANSFORMING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS AND TRANSFORMING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE FIND IT ACCEPTABLE
TO ENGAGE IN MISOGYNISTIC AND SEXIST TACTICS . I CANNOT AND WILL NOT SUPPORT THAT.
I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO ENGAGE IN FOLKS WHO DISAGREE.
IT'S ALLOWING FOLKS TO BELIEVE THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO USE TERMS LIKE THAT TOWARD AN ELECTED OFFICIAL
THAT ARE CLEARLY MISOGYNISTIC AND SEXIST AND HURTFUL . IT'S PROBLEMATIC.
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE PERSONALLY SPOKEN ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE . NOT A LOT OF
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
WE ALL MAKE OUR OWN PERSONAL CHOICES.
THAT'S WHY WE SPEAK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND NOT ABOUT OTHERS.
BUT, I WANT TO SAY THESE ARE THE SAME THINGS, A LOT OF THE FEELINGS THAT I KNOW ARE BEING
EVOKED HERE FOR COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ , HARKENING BACK TO SOME OF THE BEHAVIOR THAT THE WOMEN
ON THE CITY COUNCIL WERE SUBJECTED TO WHEN WE VOTED ON NOT ALLOWING THE VACATION OF A
STREET IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARENA.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND TO SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM
EFFORT OF ACHIEVING A MORE JUST SOCIETY BY VIRTUE OF FOCUSING OURSELVES ON THE POLICY
CONVERSATIONS AND BY BEING WILLING TO HAVE A CIVIL DISCOURSE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ARE GOING TO AGREE 100% OF THE TIME.
WE SHOULDN'T AGREE 100% OF THE TIME.
IT DOES MEAN, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CALL OUT OPPRESSIVE LANGUAGE
WHEN OPPRESSIVE LANGUAGE IS BEING USED.
I'VE ATTEMPTED TO DO THAT AND I HAVE DEFUNDED MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AT LOTS OF DIFFERENT
POINTS OF TIME.
I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN MY UTMOST RESPECT FOR EACH OF YOU AND MY UTMOST RESPECT FOR
THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL.
THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO REPORT ON.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF ORDER BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION?
OKAY.
IT LOOKS LIKE -- COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY SAY THAT --
AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE, MYSELF, WHO HAS REJECTED THE FRAMING OF ELECTORAL POLITICS
BY THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT THAT IS CONVENIENT TO BIG BUSINESS, PRO-BIG BUSINESS AND POLITICS,
WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS LEGISLATING AND LEAVING THE ACTIVISM TO SOMEONE ELSE, THE SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE, AS WE'VE DEMONSTRATED FOR SIX YEARS, WE DON'T AGREE WITH THAT APPROACH AND
WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY USED OUR COUNCIL OFFICE AS A PLATFORM FOR THE WIDER MOVEMENT.
I REMAIN, AS PART OF THAT WIDER MOVEMENT, THAT'S THE ONLY BASIS ON WHICH WE HAVE WON
AND OF THE VICTORIES WE HAVE WON, WHETHER THE AMAZON TAX OR THE VICTORIES FOR THE RENTERS
AND OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS.
IT'S ON THE BASIS OF USING OUR OFFICE AS A MOVEMENT BUILDING APPROACH.
WE DO HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT TACTICS BECAUSE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND SUCCESS OF MOVEMENTS,
DEPENDS, OF COURSE, ALAN OUR UNITY AND SOLIDARITY AROUND THE VISION FOR SOCIETY AND THE BROAD
DEMAND AND WITH TACTICS.
THE SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE, AS I SAID EARLIER, WE DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE TACTICS BY A
MINORITY OF THE PROTESTERS AND WE BELIEVE WE NEED A REAL DEBATE IN THE MOVEMENT ABOUT
WHAT KIND OF TACTICS ARE EFFECTIVE AND WHAT ARE NOT.
I WILL SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT AMONG THE TACTICS I DISAGREE WITH IS USING GRAFFITI, ESPECIALLY
THAT IS SEXIST OR RACIST.
IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE AND NOT EFFECTIVE TO BUILDING THE MOVEMENT.
I DISAGREE WITH CALLING ANY COUNCILMEMBER THAT KIND OF TERMINOLOGY.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT IN THE OVER SIX YEARS I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, IN MY OFFICE, I PERSONALLY
EXPERIENCED COUNTLESS SUCH ATTACKS . I'VE TRULY LOST COUNT OF SUCH ATTACKS.
TO GIVE A SENSE OF THE KINDS OF ATTACKS THAT OUR OFFICES UNDER CONSTANTLY AND HAS BEEN
FOR YEARS, QUOTE, YOU ARE A DISGRACE AND A TERRORIST.
GO LIVE IN YOUR THIRD WORLD HOLE YOU CAME FROM . I DID RECEIVE THESE MESSAGES FOR YEARS
AND WE DON'T LIGHTLY SHARE THEM BECAUSE WE WANT TO FOCUS ON BUILDING A POSITIVE MOVEMENT.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A CONTEXT IN WHICH THEY SHOULD BE SHARED AND THIS APPROACH IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
THE RIGHT WING AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REACTIONARIES USE THIS APPROACH AND WE HAVE
TO AIM FOR OUR MOVEMENT THAT HAS A VISION FOR A BETTER SOCIETY TO USE TACTICS THAT WILL
BE EFFECTIVE IN BUILDING SOLIDARITY NECK, NOT CREATING THIS ATMOSPHERE WHETHER YOU ARE
EMPOWERING THE RIGHT WING AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR MY OFFICE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND IT'S
ALSO IMPORTANT FOR ME TO NOTE PUBLICLY -- AND I HAVE COMMUNICATED THIS TO COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE COMING UP AND I WANTED TO CLARIFY THIS PUBLICLY, THAT WE HAVE
NOT, IN ANY WAY, ORGANIZED THESE PROTESTS.
ON THE 110, THE ESTABLISHMENT LIKES TO CLAIM THAT MY OFFICE AND OUR MOVEMENT HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH THE POSITIVE POLICIES LIKE THE AMAZON TAX.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY ASCRIBED SUPERNATURAL POWERS TO ME AND TO MY OFFICE.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE HAVE NOT ORGANIZED THESE PROTESTS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, MANY ORGANIZATIONS ARE ORGANIZING THESE PROTESTS GOING ON, A PARTICULAR
STRENGTH.
THE GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT IS NOT ONE ORGANIZATION, BUT MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES
ORGANIZING THESE PROTESTS.
THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE AND I WANT TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ONCE AND FOR ALL,
MY OFFICE OR I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HAVING ORGANIZED THESE PROTESTS.
I DO WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT AS FAR AS THE GOAL , THE OBJECTIVES BEING STATED BY
ALL THE PROTEST ACTIONS, WHICH IS TO DEFUND THE POLICE BY A FEW% OR DEMAND AN END TO POLICE
VIOLENCE AND DEMAND AN END TO RAY TRYSTS GENTRIFICATION FOR SEATTLE BECOMING AN AFFORDABLE CITY FOR
EVERYBODY AND FOR AN AND TO ALL KINDS OF OPPRESSION LIKE RACISM AND ALL OF THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY
THE GOALS WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR.
I STAND AS A SOCIALIST WITH EVERYBODY FIGHTING FOR THAT BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION
ON TACTICS AND I ALSO FEEL THE REASON THE PROTESTERS ARE ANIMATED ABOUT CERTAIN COUNCIL
MEMBERS IS BECAUSE THEY'VE NOT BEEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY . THEY HAVE NOT --THEY
VOTED AGAINST COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND THEY VOTED AGAINST THE AMAZON TAX.
POLITICALLY SPEAKING, THE PROTEST MOVEMENT AS A WHOLE IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE POLITICIANS WHO OPPOSE THE PROGRESSIVE MEASURES ARE ON THE WRONG
SIDE OF HISTORY AND AT THE SAME TIME, TO REDIRECT IT, TACTICS MATTER AND I BELIEVE THERE IS
NO BLANKET SITUATION, BLANKET IDEA IN MY VIEW.
FOR THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA AND THE FAMILIES WHOSE HEAD LOVED ONES KILLED
AT THE HANDS OF POLICE WHEN THEY ORGANIZED A PROTEST AND WENT NEAR MAYOR DURKAN'S HOUSE
, AND I WAS INVITED AS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS, I DID NOT ORGANIZE THAT PROTESTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MAYOR DURKAN MIGHT WANT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I
DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS A WRONG ACTION.
IT WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND LED BY FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONES AND FAMILY MEMBERS
WERE KILLED AT THE HANDS OF THE POLICE.
WHAT MAYOR DURKAN IS DOING BY CONTINUING TO OVER AMPLIFY THE FACT THAT THIS PROTEST WAS
OUTSIDE HER HOUSE IS TO NEGATE THE REAL QUESTIONS THAT SHE HAS FAILED TO ANSWER.
WHY, UNDER HER WATCH, HAVE PEOPLE CONTINUED TO DIE AT THE HANDS OF POLICE, ESPECIALLY
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WHITE POLICE VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO HAPPEN UNDER
HER WATCH.
THE ISSUES THAT ARE OF IMPORTANCE ARE THOSE POLITICAL QUESTIONS THAT MAYOR DURKAN HAS
BEEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY ON.
I URGE EVERYBODY IN THE MOVEMENT TO BUILD SOLIDARITY, GREATER SOLIDARITY AND LET'S WIN
DEFUND THE POLICE BY 50% AND HOLD ALL POLITICAL OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS THAT YOU HAD IN YOUR OPENING COMMENTS AND I ECHO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT RAYS.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BRIEFING, I RAISED SOME OF THESE SAME CONCERNS ABOUT MEMBERS
OF OUR STAFF AND INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO PERCEIVED THREATS OR MISOGYNISTIC MESSAGES
SENT TO THEM.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC KNOW AND THAT THERE IS NO AMBIGUITY
AROUND THIS.
I'M NOT CONFLATING THE MESSAGES THAT I'VE RECEIVED ABOUT DEATH THREATS OR RAPE THREATS
WITH THOSE WHO I THINK ARE GOING TO THE HOMES OF OUR COLLEAGUES.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, AS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT DID, TO CALL OUT THAT LANGUAGE.
WHETHER PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH ME BECAUSE I WANT TO DEFUND SPD BY 50%, OR BY PEOPLE WHO
AGREE WITH ME ON REDUCING THE SPD BUDGET, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR POLITICAL POSITION IS
OR YOUR POLICY GOALS, WE ARE ALL SAYING THAT THAT TYPE OF LANGUAGE, VIOLENT AND MISOGYNISTIC,
IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
ALL OF US ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING DEEP CHANGES, FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.
THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM MY CONCERN WITH THE TYPE OF LANGUAGE USED AGAINST OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS, NOR DO I THINK WE ARE ABOVE THAT, NECESSARILY, IN TERMS OF HOLDING THESE OFFICES.
WE SHOULD CALL IT OUT WHEN IT HAPPENS, WHETHER FROM PEOPLE WE AGREE WITH OR DISAGREE WITH,
AS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAID.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY COMMENTS AREN'T BEING MISUNDERSTOOD FROM THE FLOOR.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT CAMPS SENDING MESSAGES TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND NO MATTER WHAT
CAMP YOU COME FROM, WHEN YOU USE MISOGYNISTIC LANGUAGE, THAT IMPUGNS A SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CALL THAT OUT.
I WANT TO BE SUPER CLEAR THAT I WAS NOT CONFLATING WHAT WAS BEING SENT TO ME AND OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS VIA EMAIL AND WITH OTHER MESSAGES BEING WRITTEN DOWN.
THAT'S IMPORTANT.
I APPRECIATE THE WORDS THAT WERE SHARED AND I CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT SENTIMENTS, AS
WELL.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
IF YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE A PERSON OF COLOR OR A WOMAN OR,
IN MY INSTANCE, BOTH, IT IS NOT NEW TO BE SUBJECTED TO MISOGYNY, SEXISM AND RACISM AND
XENOPHOBIA.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY.
IT SHOULDN'T. BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOES.
I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT IN MY POSITION THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS NOT APPROPRIATE, AS HIS OUTWARD
INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT.
THE DIFFERENCE OF GETTING AN EMAIL REMOTELY IN YOUR INBOX OR A VOICEMAIL IS VERY DIFFERENT
THAN, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVING THAT SAME EXPERIENCE OR THAT SAME SENTIMENT COMMUNICATED TO YOU
ON YOUR FRONT LAWN.
IN COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S CASE, HAVING COMMENTS MADE ON HIS FRONT PORCH.
I WANT TO REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S ALL BAD AND THE TACTIC OF BRINGING IT TO YOUR
HOME IS TOUGH.
I KNOW THAT THE PROTESTERS ARE MAKING THE ROUNDS AND I KNOW FOLKS ARE HAVING DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO COLLECTIVELY , AS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT MENTIONED, TO BELIEVE
IN MOVEMENT BUILDING AND IN THE POWER OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO REJECT THE BAKING IN OF
MISOGYNY, RACISM AND INTIMIDATION INTO OUR TACTICS.
I THINK WE ARE BETTER SERVED AND THE PEOPLE WERE SEEKING TO LIFT UP AND HELP ARE BETTER
SERVED BY DOING SO.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY.
SEEING NONE, WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE OUT THE OPEN SESSION OF THE COUNCIL BRIEFING AND I'M
GOING TO MOVE US TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AS A PRESIDING OFFICER, THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND
THE PURPOSE IS TO DISCUSS PENDING, POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL NEGOTIATIONS AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL MATTERS WITH CITY ATTORNEYS, AS AUTHORIZED
BY LAW.
ILLEGAL MONITOR FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY OFFICES ALWAYS PRESENT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE QUESTIONS
OF POLICY AND OPEN SESSIONS.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE OVER BY 1:00 p.m. IF IT EXTENDS BEYOND THAT TIME, I WILL
ANNOUNCE AN EXTENSION AND THE EXPECTED DURATION.