COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:00 P.M.
I'M LORENA
GONZALEZ GONZALEZ.
PRESIDENT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL.
[ ROLL CALL ]
>> CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL FOR COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES ONE LAST TIME?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
WELCOME, EVERYBODY, TO THE FULL
CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR JULY
20TH, 2020.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DIG
INTO ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
FIRST UP IS PRESENTATIONS.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY
PRESENTATIONS.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF
THE MINUTES.
THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING OF JULY 13TH, 2020 HAVE
BEEN REVIEWED.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES WILL BE SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED.
AND I'D ASK THAT THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THOSE MINUTES.
ADOPTION OF THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
PROPOSED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS NOW ADOPTED.
MOVING ON TO APPROVAL OF THE
AGENDA.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
COLLEAGUES, WE ARE NOW GOING TO
BEGIN THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIODS FOR ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
AND THE COUNCIL'S 2020 WORK
PROGRAM.
THIS ADDED OPTION IS A NEW
APPROACH TO PUBLIC COMMENT TO
ALLOW ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO
PARTICIPATE AND SHARE THEIR
COMMENTS WITH THE COUNCIL.
I SPOKE ABOUT THESE AT COUNCIL
BRIEFING IN THE MORNING.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE
DIVIDING THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AT THESE
MEETINGS.
THE THOUGHT BETWEEN THE TWO
PUBLIC COMMENT OPTIONS IS TO
HELP CARVE OUT THE SPACE FOR
CONVERSATION ABOUT LEGISLATIONS
OR POLICIES THAT ARE OR MAY BE
INTRODUCE TODAY THE COUNCIL AND
ITEMS THAT ARE ON OUR DAY'S
AGENDA FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION
AND ACTION BY THE FULL CITY
COUNCIL.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE WELCOMING
COMMENTS ON ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA'S INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND THE COUNCIL'S 2020
WORK PROGRAM.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, ITEMS THAT
ARE NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA FOR
FINAL ACTION BY THE COUNCIL.
SO I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THAT
FIRST COMMENT PERIOD ON THE
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'D ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE BE
PATIENT AS WE CONTINUE TO LEARN
HOW TO OPERATE THIS SYSTEM IN
REAL TIME.
MY HOPE IS THAT THIS
BIFERCATION WILL HELP AND THIS
DOES INTEND TO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT REGULARLY INCLUDED ON
OUR PUBLIC AGENDAS.
HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL DOES
RESERVE THE RIGHT TO END OR
ELIMINATE OR MODIFY THESE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIODS AT ANY POINT IF
WE DEEM THE SYSTEM IS BEING
ABUSED OR IS NO LONGER SUITABLE
FOR OUR MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND IN A MANNER IN
WHICH WE CAN CONDUCT OFFICIAL
BUSINESS.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS 20
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL BE
GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I'LL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER TO
SPEAK.
IF YOU'VE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU CAN
SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF PUBLIC
COMMENT BY GOING TO THE WEBSITE.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS
LISTED ON TODAY'S PUBLISHED
AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED WILL BE THE
SPEAKER'S CUE THAT IT IS THEIR
TURN TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY STATING
YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM THAT
YOU'RE ADDRESSING.
AS A REMINDER, PUBLIC COMMENT
FOR THIS FIRST SESSION SHOULD
RELATE TO AN ITEM ON THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
OR THE CITY COUNCIL'S 2020 BROAD
WORK PROGRAM.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR
ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME, WE'D
ASK THAT YOU BEGIN TO WRAP UP
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT AND IF
SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU FINISH YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE ASK YOU PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE.
IF YOU WANT TO FINISH FOLLOWING
THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU
FOLLOW THE LINK ON THE PUBLIC
AGENDA.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS GOING TO BE
OPENED FOR MATTERS RELATED TO
THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND/OR THE COUNCIL'S
2020 WORK PROGRAM.
FIRST UP IS S. FOLLOWED BY
PETER.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS ESS.
I'M A VOTER.
I'M A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 5.
I'M A MEMBER OF DISTRICT 5
FOUNDATION ON SOCIAL JUSTICE.
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORAH JUAREZ
REPRESENTS ME.
I WOULD LIKE TO URGE THEM AND
THE CITY COUNCIL TO UNANIMOUSLY
COMMIT TO FUNDING THE RESOURCES
WE NEED AND FOLLOW THE LEAD OF
THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN
PRIORITIZING IN RESPONDING TO
THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE NEED SHORT AND LONG-TERM
MONEY FOR COVID RELIEF AND TO
ADDRESS STRUCTURAL ISSUES SUCH
AS HOMELESSNESS, GENTRIFICATION,
AND OVERALL NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
ONE WAY AHEAD IS TO CUT THE
EQUITY BUDGET BY 50% AND
ELIMINATE THE FUNDS AND
REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO
PROGRAMS.
THIS WILL ENSURE THAT WE CAN
MEET OUR BUDGETARY OBLIGATIONS.
MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE NEED OUR COUNCILMEMBERS TO
UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NOT ONLY
SOUTH SEATTLE OR PEOPLE SOUTH OF
THE SHIP CANAL WHO CARE ABOUT
THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN THE
NORTH.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS PETER FOLLOWED BY
CODY SCOTT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS PETER AND I
LIVE IN WALLING FORD.
AS IS EVIDENCED BY THE
EIGHT-PLUS YEARS TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS AND RECENT FAILURES
DURING PROTESTS, SEATTLE'S
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT CAPABLE
OF MEETING REFORM AND MUST BE
DEDISMANTLED.
I'M CALLING ON ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS AND ESPECIALLY
DISTRICT 4 REPRESENTATIVE ALEX
PEDERSEN TO SUPPORT DEFUNDING
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS WOULD REPLACE CURRENT 911
OPERATIONS WITH A CIVILIAN LED
SYSTEM.
FUND THE COMMUNITY TRADED
ROADMAP TO LIFE WITHOUT
POLICING.
AND INVEST IN HOUSING FOR ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS CODY FOLLOWED BY
AMBRA.
>> MY NAME IS CODY SCOTT.
I'VE BEEN HOUSED AT TENT CITY 3.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, TAX MONEY
HAS GONE TO CERTAIN
ORGANIZATIONS.
úWHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS A
LITTLE BIT OF THAT BE USED
TOWARD OUR ENCAMPMENTS.
SECTION 4, SECTIONS A, B, AND C.
I'M A TAXPAYER TOO BUT NO CITY
TAXES HAVE EVER HELPED TENT CITY
3.
IF WE HAD MORE SUPPORT, WE COULD
DO SOMETHING ABOUT SURVIVING THE
HEAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOGNITION
AND SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS AMBRA FOLLOWED
BY ELIZABETH.
>> I'M AMBRA AND I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 5 AND I'M A MEMBER OF
DISTRICT 5 FOR RACIAL AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE.
I CALL DEBORAH JUAREZ TO FOLLOW
UP ON HER PREVIOUS STATEMENT ON
TWITTER AND I CALL ALEX PEDERSEN
TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS
CONSTITUENTS AND VOTE WITH THE
OTHER SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL TO DEFUND SPD BY 50%.
I ALSO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO
COMMIT TO REALLOCATING RESOURCES
FROM POLICING TO ALTERNATIVE
PROGRAMS IN EDUCATION, SOCIAL
SERVICES, AND HOUSING THAT
ACTUALLY SERVES THE NEED FOR
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN
SEATTLE.
I ALSO ASK THAT YOU WORK WITH
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE
EVERYDAY, MARCH TO PUT TOGETHER
THESE PLANS AND MAKE SURE THEY
ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
I FURTHER ASK THAT YOU COMMIT TO
REDIRECT FUNDING AND REPURPOSE
THE YOUTH JAIL BUILDING IN A WAY
THAT DOESN'T ADD SUPPORT TO THE
SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH
HARRIS FOLLOWED BY MICAH.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS ELIZABETH HARRIS.
I'M A HOMEOWNER WHO LIVES IN
SEATTLE'S DISTRICT 4.
WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFORTS
TO REFORM THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAVE FAILED.
I BELIEVE DEFENDING BLACK LIVES
IN SEATTLE MEANS DEFUNDING SPD
AND REINVESTING IN COMMUNITIES.
TO STOP POLICE VIOLENCE, SPD
MUST BE REDUCED IN SIZE, IN
BUDGET, AND IN SCOPE.
AS YOU
REBALANCE THE BUDGET, I URGE
ALEX PEDERSEN AND THE WHOLE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TO DEFUND THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY AT
LEAST 50% AND REALLOCATE THOSE
FUNDS TO COMMUNITY-LED HEALTH
AND SAFETY SYSTEMS.
ADDITIONALLY, RELEASE POLICE
PROTESTERS ARRESTED DURING
RECENT UPRISINGS WITHOUT
CHARGES.
I CALL ON ALEX PEDERSEN AND
DEBORAH JUAREZ TO JOIN YOUR
COLLEAGUES IN PUBLICLY
SUPPORTING THESE DEMANDS AND ON
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO SHOW
IMMEDIATE PROGRESS TOWARD
MEETING THEM.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICAH
FOLLOWED BY JOAN.
>> HI THERE.
MY NAME IS MICAH, DISTRICT 3,
OCCUPIED DUWAMISH LAND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I'M HERE TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT THE
FUNDING OF SPD BY 50%.
IT'S EVIDENT OUR CURRENT POLICE
SYSTEM WAS ORIGINALLY
ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT THE
PRIVILEGES AND PROPERTY OF WHITE
PEOPLE AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE
THEN AND NOW AND IN ORDER TO
PREVENT FURTHER UNNECESSARY
DEATH AT THE HANDS OF POLICE, WE
HAVE TO GO TO THE ROOT OF THE
PROBLEM AND ABOLISH THE POLICE
SYSTEM.
THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE
REIMAGINED IN A WAY THAT VALUES
LIVES OVER PROPERTY.
MANY OF YOU HAVE PLEDGED YOUR
SUPPORT FOR DEFUNDING.
PLEASE FOLLOW THROUGH.
AND FURTHERMORE, LOOK INTO WHAT
TOTAL ABOLISHMENT AND WHAT THAT
CAN LOOK LIKE.
WE NEED COMMUNITY-BASED SYSTEMS
THAT ARE SUITED TOWARD CRIME
PREVENTION.
NOT AN OUTDATED, CORRUPT, RACIST
POLICE SYSTEM.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS JOAN FOLLOWED BY TOM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAMEIS JOAN.
I HAVE BEEN AT TENT CITY 3 FOR
TWO YEARS.
I AM SPEAKING TODAY ABOUT YOUR
WORK PLAN FOR 2020.
PLEASE FIND SOME PLACE IN YOUR
WORK PLAN TO MAKE SURE MY HOME,
TENT CITY 3, GETS WORK THROUGH
THE CITY BUDGET.
EVERY YEAR THE CITY COUNCIL
SPENDS MONEY ON HOMELESS SERVICE
THAT IS NOT GOOD -- WHERE PEOPLE
GET THE CORONAVIRUS, NONE OF US
AT TENT CITY 2.
PAY FOR SHELTER WHERE PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE PRIVACY, LIKE I DO
WITH MY TENT.
THE PRIVACY OF THE SHELTER IS
WHAT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT, BUT
IT'S NOT WHAT IMPORTANT TO HUMAN
SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
THE HUMAN DEPARTMENT GIVE MONEY
TO LARGE CORPORATION THAT DON'T
CHECK DATA THAT IS NOT TRUE.
YOUR WORK PLAN NEEDS TO HELP THE
WAY TO STOP YOUR GOOD IDEA FOR
BEING -- BY LEADERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS TOM FOLLOWED BY
ALICE.
>> HI.
I'M TOM CALLING IN FROM QUEEN
ANNE.
I'M SURE YOU'RE TIRED OF THESE.
I AM TOO, BUT WE STILL AREN'T
DOING ENOUGH.
WE NEED A 9-9-0 VOTE.
MAYOR DURKIN CLAIMS DEFUNDING
THE POLICE IS RECKLESS AND
ABSURD.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE TO
BACK IT UP.
FUNDS TO SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS THAT WOULD SEND TRAINED
PROFESSIONALS INSTEAD OF SOMEONE
WITH A GUN AND BARELY A WEEKEND
CLASS WOULD BENEFIT THE CITY AS
A WHOLE.
WE DESPERATELY NEED A MORE
EDUCATED POLICE FORCE.
LOCALLY THERE'S A VERY STRONG
CORRELATION BETWEEN POLICE
VIOLATION AND EDUCATION LEVEL.
WE SHOULD TAKE HEED.
IN ADDITION, COLORADO IS LEADING
THE WAY IN DEALING WITH
QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO FOLLOW IN THEIR
FOOTSTEPS.
PLEASE DON'T STOP PUSHING.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HERE IN
PORTLAND AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY
IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING AND YOU
ARE OUR DEFENSE.
LET'S CONTINUE TO LEAD THIS
COUNTRY AS WE HAVE BEEN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS ALICE.
>> HI.
I'M ALICE LOCKHART WITH 350
SEATTLE TO SPEAK ABOUT BUDGET
REBALANCING, AND SPECIFICALLY TO
ASK COUNCILMEMBERS TO READ THE
EMAIL WE SENT YOU LAST THURSDAY.
LATE LAST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WE
LEARNED ABOUT THE AMENDMENT AND
SCRAMBLED TO SEND AN EMAIL
THURSDAY MORNING TO ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS
WHO WORK ON TRANSPORTATION.
WE DID THAT BECAUSE THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET REBALANCING PACKAGE IS
UNFRIENDLY TO SAY THE LEAST.
THE SAME WEEK THE COUNCIL
SUPPORTED CLEAN ENERGY BY
FUNDING HOME ENERGY RETROFITS
AND JUMP START, THE MAYOR TOOK
IT AWAY BY DEFENDING MUNICIPAL
BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
THE MAYOR'S CUT TO THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WAS
DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGE
COMPARED TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS
WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE
COMING FROM MULTI-MODAL
TRANSPORTATION.
IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS OUR SKIES
HAVE BEEN LESS POLLUTED.
OUR CLIMATE POLLUTION HAS
DECREASED.
OUR STREETS HAVE BEEN LESS
CROWDED.
WHEN SEATTLE GOES BACK TO WORK,
SDOT ISN'T GOING TO HAVE THE
MONEY IT NEEDS TO HELP PEOPLE
GET BACK TO WORK WITHOUT GETTING
INTO THEIR CAR.
A SMART PLAN FOR TEMPORARY BIKE
LANES COULD FIX THIS IF THE
COUNCIL FIXES THE REBALANCING
PACKAGE.
POLICE LOOK IN YOUR EMAILS FOR
THOSE>> THANK YOU.
THAT IS THE LAST PERSON THAT I
HAVE ON MY PREREGISTERED LIST
FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT SIGNUP
PERIOD.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD ON ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND ON THE COUNCIL'S
2020 WORK PROGRAM.
THE COUNCIL WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
HEARING COMMENTS RELATING TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS DEDICATED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD LISTED FOR
FINAL CONSIDERATION WHICH ARE
SHOWN UNDER THE COMMITTEE REPORT
AND ADOPTION OF OTHER
RESOLUTIONS SECTIONS ON THE
ESTABLISHED AGENDA.
WE'LL BE ACCEPTING COMMENTS WILO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM YOU'RE ADDRESSING.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
THE DISCUSSION FOR TODAY.
WE WILL GO UNTIL 2:38 P.M.
THE
FIRST SPEAKER SIGNED UP IS MEGAN
MURPHY FOLLOWED BY HADDY RHODES.
>> HI.
I'M CALLING TO PLEASE FUND BLACK
LIVES MATTER, FULLY FUND THE $18
MILLION A YEAR.
COMMITMENT TO FUND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AS DEMANDED BY OUR MOVEMENT.
PLEASE, NO WATERING DOWN THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE VOTE.
AND PLEASE FULLY FUND THE
OVERALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING
COMMITMENT OF AT LEAST $133
MILLION A YEAR AND FULLY FUND
THE $20 MILLION A YEAR
COMMITMENT TO THE GREEN NEW
DEAL.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS HADDY RHODES FOLLOWED
BY LISA SANDERS.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS HADDY RHODES.
I USED TO LIVE AT THE GEORGETOWN
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE BEFORE
RECENTLY BECOMING HOUSED.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES SINCE THEY
ARE SUF A SAFE AND DIGNIFIED
OPTION FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
I KNOW THE NEED IS GREAT FOR
MORE OF THESE VILLAGES.
EVERY DAY PEOPLE IN DESPERATE
SITUATIONS ARE CALLED A VILLAGE
AND I WISH WE COULD SAY COME BE
APART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT THE OPENINGS IN THE VILLAGES
ARE FILLED IMMEDIATELY.
PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF
AMENDMENT 2 TO FUND MORE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES SO OTHERS MAY
HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO
REBUILD THEIR LIVES THAT I WAS
GIVEN.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER ON MY LIST IS
LISA SANDERS FOLLOWED BY
LACEY -- I'M SORRY.
I HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD THAT I
ACCIDENTALLY SKIPPED A FEW.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM
LISA SANDERS THEN I'M GOING TO
GO BACK UP TO THE TOP OF THE
LIST.
THAT'S MY MISTAKE.
LISA SANDERS, PLEASE.
>> HI.
LISA SANDERS, DISTRICT 1.
I HOPE EVERYONE CAN HEAR ME.
I'VE GOT MY EARBUD IN.
I'M CALLING TO ASK THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE FOR
AFFORDABLE CENTRAL DISTRICT
HOMES FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
FUNDING MUST BE SET ASIDE EACH
YEAR TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
YOU ARE ALSO YOUR BROTHER'S
KEEPER.
MERCER ISLAND IS FIVE MINUTES
AWAY FROM SEATTLE.
THE CITY COUNCIL, POLICE, CITY
ATTORNEY AND PROSECUTOR ARE
SUPPRESSING HATE CRIMES.
>> EXCUSE ME.
LISA.
CAN YOU PLEASE STOP THE TIMER.
PLEASE STOP THE TIMER.
LISA, WE'RE ONLY TAKING COMMENT
ON ITEMS RELATED TO THE CITY
COUNCIL'S AGENDA.
SO I NEED YOU TO DIRECT YOUR
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND NOT
ISSUES RELATED TO MERCER ISLAND.
PLEASE.
>> SO CAN I RESPOND TO THAT?
OR YOU ONLY WANT ME TO SPEAK ON
THE AGENDA ITEMS?
>> THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT
RELATED TO SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
BUSINESS THAT IS CURRENTLY
LISTED ON THE AGENDA FOR FINAL
ACTION.
SO THIS IS COUNCIL BILLS.
IF YOU DON'T SPEAK TO THOSE
ITEMS, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO END
YOUR COMMENT UNFORTUNATELY.
GO AHEAD.
>> WELL, I ALREADY KNOW THAT --
I ALREADY HOPE THAT YOU GUYS ARE
GOING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL SO I'M
GOING TO LEAVE IT AT MY COMMENT
THERE BUT I DO HOPE YOU GUYS
WILL HELP PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF
SEATTLE BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE
BEING SUPPRESSED THAT LIVE
OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE WHO ARE BLACK
AND NEED THAT SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, MS. SANDERS.
NEXT UP, AND I APOLOGIZE TO THE
FOLKS THAT I ACCIDENTALLY
SKIPPED OVER.
THAT WAS AN ERROR OF MY CURSOR.
SO I APOLOGIZE TO THOSE FOLKS
THAT I ACCIDENTALLY SKIPPED
OVER.
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE
TOP OF THE LIST.
THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE
REBECCA FOLLOWED BY JOSH.
>> HELLO.
I'M REBECCA.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS
MORALES, LEWIS, JUAREZ, HERBOLD,
AND SAWANT, FUNDING FOR
FORTIFYING VILLAGES THIS YEAR
AND BRINGING THE AMENDMENT TO
FULL COUNCIL.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, GONZALEZ,
MOSQUEDA, AND PEDERSEN, PLEASE
PROVE YOUR COMMITMENT TO
REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF ALL
SEATTLE AND VOTE YES FOR TINY
HOUSES TODAY.
WE CAN ENSURE SHELTER AND
COMMUNITY FOR HUNDREDS OF
UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
WE ARE PREPARED AND THRILLED TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY
OUT SUCH VALUABLE WORK.
THERE ARE EVEN FAMILIES SPENDING
THEIR TIME IN QUARANTINE
BUILDING THEIR TINY HOUSES IN
DRIVEWAYS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS JOSH FOLLOWED BY
JULIA.
>> HI.
I'M JOSH WITH LEHIGH.
I'M A LIFE-LONG RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE.
I GREW UP IN DISTRICT 4 IN
RAVENNA WHERE MY PARENTS AND
OTHER FAMILY LIVE.
AND I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 5 IN GREENWOOD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
UNANIMOUS VOTE LAST WEEK FOR 18
MILLION PER YEAR FOR AFFORDABLE
HOMES IN THE CENTRAL AREA.
THIS WILL HELP TO REPAIR SOME OF
THE INJUSTICES OF DECADES OF
RACIST GENTRIFICATION AND
DISPLACEMENT OF BLACK FAMILIES
FROM THE CENTRAL AREA.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO VOTED FOR
AMENDMENT 2 AND TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES LAST WEEK WITH A
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY OWN
COUNCILMEMBER, DEBORAH JUAREZ,
AND COUNCILMEMBER MORALES,
LEWIS, HERBOLD, AND SAWANT.
THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING AS
WELL, AND COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I'D URGE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
MOSQUEDA, GONZALEZ, AND PEDERSEN
TO PLEASE VOTE YES.
THERE ARE MANY POTENTIAL SITES
IDENTIFIED IN ORDER TO DO SO.
THE RECENT RESPONSE TO THE COVID
EMERGENCY, OUR STAFF BUILT AN
OPEN THREE SITES IN FOUR WEEKS,
CREATING 95 NEW SHELTER BEDS FOR
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET THESE
UP QUICKLY AND COST EFFECTIVELY.
AND IN A FRACTION OF THE COST OF
HOTELS.
THE VILLAGES CAN BE A KEY PART
OF THE SOLUTION WHEN
TRANSITIONING PEOPLE OUT OF
HOTELS AND CORRECT CONGREGANT
SPACES CAN
BE SET UP QUICKLY AND
COST-EFFECTIVELY.
NOBODY HAS TO RETURN TO UNSAFE
CONGREGANT SHELTER.
VILLAGES AND TINY HOUSES ARE
PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE IN
KEEPING PEOPLE PROTECTED FROM
COVID.
ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO HAVE THEIR
OWN PRIVACY AND NOT SHARE
PHYSICAL SPACE OR AIR WITH
OTHERS.
SERVIES AND MEALS ARE PROVIDED
ONSITE ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO
STAY IN PLACE AND NOT HAVE TO
LEAVE.
THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO
TRANSITION 52% OF RESIDENTS WHO
EXITED IN LONG-TERM HOUSING
WHICH HAVE BEEN MORE --
>> JOSH, THANK YOU FOR CALLING
IN.
NEXT UP IS JULIA FOLLOWED BY
JESSICA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JULIA.
I WORK WITH PUGET SOUND.
WE STRONGLY RESORT TO JUMP START
REVENUE PLAN AS AMENDED LAST
WEDNESDAY.
YOU HAVE RESPONDED TO THIS
UNIQUE AND POLITICAL MOMENT.
IN THE NEAR-TERM, INVESTMENT ON
JUMP START WILL MEET THE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR RESIDENTS
FACING THE TRIPLE IMPACTS OF THE
GLOBAL PANDEMIC, STRUCTURAL
RACISM, AND ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.
AT THE SAME TIME IN THE
LONG-TERM, WE'RE BUILDING TOWARD
COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION AND
LAND AND HOUSING THROUGH THE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
AND ALSO THROUGH THE HOUSING.
AS WELL AS ADVANCING AN
EQUITABLE CLIMATE FUTURE BY
BUILDING ON EXISTING EFFORTS FOR
A SEATTLE GREEN NEW DEAL.
THE SPENDING PLAN WILL HELP MOVE
OUR CITY TOWARD OUR GOAL OF
KEEPING COMMUNITIES ROOTED IN
PLACE AGAINST DISPLACEMENT AND
CLIMATE CHANGE.
YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF THIS
WORK.
WE CERTAINLY ARE AND WANT YOU TO
KNOW WE'LL BE HERE TO SUPPORT
THIS VISIONARY WORK COME TO
FRUITION.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS JESSICA FOLLOWED BY
CHARLES.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS JESSICA.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3.
AND I AM CALLING TO ENCOURAGE
THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE GOOD ON
THE VOTES THAT CAME OUT OF THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST WEDNESDAY.
FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE
HIGHEST DEGREE.
SPECIFICALLY COMMIT TO THE $18
MILLION THAT YOU VOTED ON TO
FULLY FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT FIRST AND
FOREMOST.
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST RACIST
GENTRIFICATION .
AND I THINK $18 MILLION IS NOT
ENOUGH.
IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE
HIGHER.
PLEASE MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT GOING
ANY LOWER THAN $18 MILLION.
AND THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS CHARLES PAUL FOLLOWED
BY HASSAN KHAN.
>> I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
THE JUMP START PLAN.
FIRST OF ALL I'D LIKE TO THANK
THE COUNCIL.
USING THIS MONEY TOWARD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EXTENDING
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM ARE TWO
KEY STEPS TO PREVENT IT FROM
GETTING WORK.
MAYOR DURKIN IS CLEARLY
UNDERMINING THE PROPOSED
SPENDING PLAN AS MENTIONED
EARLIER AND THE TEARGAS BAN IN
COURT.
THE MAYOR NEEDS TO BE IMPEACHED
AND REMOVED FOR THE GOOD OF THE
CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS HASSAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM SUPPORTER OF COALITION OF
SEATTLE INDIAN-AMERICANS.
OUR GROUP FOLLOWS THE LEADERSHIP
OF KING COUNTY AND DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE.
MY ASK TO THE COUNCIL TODAY IS
TO DEFUND THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BY AT LEAST 50%,
REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO
COMMUNITY-LED HELP AND SAFETY
SYSTEMS AND ENSURE THE RELEASE
OF PROTESTERS ARRESTED DURING
THE UPRISING WITHOUT ANY
CHARGES, AND FINALLY, NO MORE
SPD TRAINING IN ISRAEL.
THANK YOU.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM A SUPPORTER AND VOLUNTEER
WITH THE COALITION OF SEATTLE
INDIAN-AMERICANS.
OUR GROUP FOLLOWS THE LEADERSHIP
OF KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW AND
DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE.
IN ADDITION TO DEFUNDING SPD BY
AT LEAST 50%, I ASK THAT THE
COUNCIL ACCEPT EXISTING
PROPOSALS FROM BLACK-LED
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO
MAXIMIZE UNDER UTILIZED PUBLIC
LAND.
ESTABLISH A $1 BILLION
ANTI-GENTRIFICATION LAND
ACQUISITION FUND TO HELP THE
BLACK COMMUNITY ACQUIRE PROPERTY
IN THE CENTRAL AREA AND SUPPORT
BLACK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
REDISTRIBUTE $180 MILLION FROM
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
BUDGET AND INVEST AT LEAST $50
MILLION FROM THE SPD BUDGET
DIRECTLY INTO THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS LACEY FOLLOWED BY
JANETTE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LACEY SCOTT.
I LIVE AT TENT CITY 3.
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, OUR
TENT MOVED TO CAPITOL HILL.
EAST AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO
VISIT.
WE SUPPORT COUNCIL-PERSON
MORALES' PROPOSAL TO MAKE SURE
THAT AT LEAST $3.6 MILLION GOES
TO TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AT TENT
CITY 3.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT
MY HOME IS THE BEST KIND OF
PLACE FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO
LIVE DURING THE CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC.
NO ONE HERE HAS TESTED POSITIVE
FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.
HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN FOUND
POSITIVE IN OTHER PROGRAMS AND
SHELTERS.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS NEVER
SUPPORTED US.
WE ARE HERE AND WE NEED YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS JANETTE.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS JANETTE.
AND I'M THE SITE MANAGER WITH
THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGE IN
BALLARD.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, FOR BEING A SUPPORTER
OF THE TINY VILLAGE PROGRAM.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES TO
SUPPORT FORTIFY VILLAGES.
I WANT TO SHARE EXAMPLES OF WHY
THESE TINY HOUSE COMMUNITIES ARE
SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I FINISHED DOING AN INTAKE WITH
A VILLAGEER WHO TRIED WHEN SHE
SAW HER TINY HOUSE.
SHE SAID NOW SHE HAS A HOME SHE
CAN FINALLY FEEL SAFE AGAIN AND
START WORKING ON GETTING THE
HELP SHE DESPERATELY NEED.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A VILLAGER
WHO HAS BEEN IN OUR PROGRAM
APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS AND
JUST MOVED INTO PERMANENT
SUPPORTING HOUSING AND LOVES HER
NEW APARTMENT.
WHITTIER HOUSE SAFELY SHELTERS
WOMEN COMING OUT OF SITUATIONS
WHO NEED A SAFE PLACE TO START
REBUILDING THEIR LIVES AGAIN.
SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2020, OF OUR
15 VILLAGERS, .
800 HAVE MOVED TO PERMANENT
HOUSING.
I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE
SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
MORE VILLAGES WHO PROVIDE
SHELTER TO SO MANY VILLAGERS WHO
DO NOT HAVE A SAFE HAVEN WHERE
THEY CAN FEEL PROTECTED AND
RECEIVE THE ASSISTANCE AND
SERVICES THEY SO DESPERATELY
NEED.
THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP IS THERESA FOLLOWED BY
TYLER.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS THERESA AND, LIKE
JANETTE, AM SO PROUD TO WORK
WITH LEHIGH.
I ONCE MANAGED TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE IN BALLARD BEFORE
JANETTE TOOK OVER AND I LOVED
IT.
WHEN I WAS THERE, A VILLAGER
WROTE A POEM THAT INCLUDED THIS
LINE.
WITH THE THREAT OF RAPE ON THE
FLAP OF MY TENT, THERE WAS NO
SLEEP.
I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT LINE.
SORRY.
SHE WAS COMMENTING ON WHAT IT
MEANT TO HER TO NOW HAVE A
LOCKING DOOR.
TODAY I'M PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE
VILLAGES.
PLEASE KNOW I BRING INTEGRITY
AND MY WHOLE SELF TO THIS
POSITION.
SINCE TAKING THIS JOB IN
JANUARY, I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH
THE VILLAGERS AND WITH THE
MANAGERS REGULARLY.
IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, I'VE MET
WITH 15 VILLAGERS TO HEAR THEIR
THOUGHTS ON HOW WE DO THINGS.
I LOVE THAT LEHIGH TAKES SAFETY
SO SERIOUSLY AND HAS ZERO
TOLERANCE FOR RACISM.
I SAY TO MY MANAGERS A LOT, I
WANT THE VILLAGERS TO FEEL
RELAXED WHEN THEY COME THROUGH
THEIR DOOR AS I DO WHEN I STEP
THROUGH MY OWN AT THE END OF THE
DAY.
TODAY I LIVE PART-TIME IN
SEATTLE BUT I'VE LIVED HERE A
LONG TIME, MANY YEARS.
I URGE YOU TO FUND MORE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES SO PEOPLE CAN
CONTINUE TO SHELTER SAFELY WHILE
WAITING FOR HOUSING.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS TYLER.
FOLLOWED BY ERIC.
>> HI, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TYLER MERRILL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF QUEEN ANNE.
I'M CALLING TODAY TO ASK YOU
FULLY FUND THE $18 MILLION PER
YEAR PLAN TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF THE
RACIST RED LINING POLICIES THAT
PROVIDED WHITE FAMILIES IN MY
GRANDPARENTS' GENERATION --
THEY'RE IN THEIR 80s NOW --
ACCESS TO HOME LOANS WHILE
DENYING FAMILIES OF COLOR AT THE
SAME TIME.
THESE POLICIES WERE OBVIOUSLY
WRONG AND REPARATION SHOULD BE
MADE.
THE $18 MILLION A YEAR
INVESTMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IS A START.
IT REALLY SHOULD BE MUCH GREATER
IN ORDER TO MEET THE REAL AND
IMMEDIATE NEED.
I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE
COUNCIL TO FUND THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING COMMITMENT.
$133 MILLION A YEAR AND THE $20
MILLION ANNUAL COMMITMENT TO THE
GREEN NEW DEAL.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS ERIC.
FOLLOWED BY DAVID.
>> HI, CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ERIC DAVIS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE AT THE
CAMP SECOND CHANCE.
ALSO FOUNDER AND SITE SPECIAL
PROJECTS MANAGER FOR LEHIGH.
I REALLY WANTED TO THANK LISA
HERBOLD FOR ALL THE SUPPORT
SHE'S GIVEN US AND THE VOTE LAST
WEEK ON YES FOR MORE TINY
HOUSES.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS YOU HEARD
MANY MEMBERS SAY ALONG THE WAY
HERE THAT SAFETY, THERE'S NO
PRICE YOU CAN PUT ON IT.
NONE AT IT.
REALLY, REALLY STRESS THIS
IMPORTANCE TO HAVE THAT SAFETY
AND ABILITY TO LOCK YOUR DOOR AT
NIGHT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, PIECE OF
HUMANITY WE ALL NEED TO HAVE
RIGHT AT THIS TIME.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING I CAN JUST
TAKE FOR GRANTED EITHER.
BUT AS I SEE US MOVING FORWARD,
I KNOW YOU GUYS CAN SEE IT
POPPING UP ON THE HIGHWAY.
WHAT YOU DON'T SEE IS THE CRIES
AT NIGHT AND THE TEARS OF PEOPLE
WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET.
ANYWAY.
WHEN WE BUILD TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES, IF YOU WERE TO WALK
THROUGH THEM AND SEE THE JOY AND
THE CHANGE AND THE TURNAROUND,
YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR
BROTHERS AND OUR SISTERS.
SO PLEASE, I STRONGLY URGE YOU,
DON'T EVER STOP BUILDING TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
YOU NEED THEM MORE THAN OFTEN.
YOU NEED THEM EVERY NIGHT.
I SAY THAT WITH PEACE IN MY MIND
AND PEACE TO YOU.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING.
NEXT UP IS DAVID FOLLOWED BY
KATHLEEN.
>> HI.
I'M A RESIDENT OF CAMP SECOND
CHANCE AND ERIC DAVIS IS MY
DIRECTOR.
HE'S THE ONE WHO INVITED ME HERE
WHEN I BECAME HOMELESS AND I
NEEDED HEART SURGERY.
CAN'T HELP BUT REITERATE
EVERYTHING HE SAID.
I'M SAFE.
I'M PROTECTED.
AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF PEOPLE
IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS TO MINE
WHO NEEDED EVERY BIT OF HELP
THAT THIS CAMP AND SOCIAL
SERVICES OF THE CITY COULD OFFER
THEM.
FOLKS LIKE LISA HERBOLD AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAD THEIR
TOES ON THE LINE THE WHOLE TIME
I'VE LIVED HERE DOING EVERYTHING
THEY COULD TO SUPPORT AND HELP
THE PEOPLE WHO FIND THEMSELVES
UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO HAVE A
ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND A DOOR
THEY CAN LOCK AND A PLACE TO
TAKE A SHOWER AND GET SOMETHING
TO EAT.
AND I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU TO THE
SYSTEM ENOUGH BECAUSE I'M 69.
I'M LOW INCOME.
I HAVE MULTIPLE OVERLAPPING
COMORBIDITIES.
AND I HONESTLY NEEDED THE HELP
WHEN I CAME HERE.
WITH THAT, I'LL SAY THANKS, LISA
HERBOLD.
AND I WILL YIELD THE REST OF MY
TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN.
COLLEAGUES, WE'RE ACTUALLY NOW
AT 20 MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC
ALLOTTED PERIOD.
WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 10 MINUTES'
WORTH OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD, IF THERE'S
NO OBJECTION, EXTEND THE SECOND
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BY 10
MINUTES, TAKING US TO ABOUT
2:49.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT?
HEARING NO OBJECTION, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND EXTEND THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD BY 10 MINUTES AND
PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL HEAR NEXT FROM KATHLEEN
FOLLOWED BY MAUREEN.
>> MY NAME IS KATHLEEN MEYERS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 AND HAVE
FOR 30 YEARS IN NORTH BEACON
HILL.
PLEASE INCLUDE -- AND I'M
ADDRESSING THE DESIGNATED FUND
FOR CENTRAL AREA HOUSING.
PLEASE INCLUDE THE FULL $18
MILLION A YEAR ALLOCATED ON
WEDNESDAY TO CENTRAL AREA MODEST
HOUSING TO WELCOME A NEEDED DOWN
PAYMENT ON THE RESTORATION OF
HOUSING FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY
IN THE DISTRICT ASSOCIATED WITH
THAT DESERVING COMMUNITY FOR SO
LONG.
PUBLICLY CONTROLLED AND
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE.
IT'S A MODEL WE CAN LOOK TO ON A
MUCH, MUCH LARGER SCALE IN THE
FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS MAUREEN FOLLOWED BY
ALISA.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS MAUREEN.
I'M CALLING IN ON AMENDMENT 2.
I'M A HOMEOWNER AND A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER LIVING IN
BALLARD.
DAN STRAUSS IS MY COUNCILMEMBER.
HELLO, DAN.
I SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY FOR
WHITTIER COMMUNITY TINY HOUSES
FOR WOMEN AND THE TASK FORCE FOR
HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT
OF TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AS WE SAW
IN YOUR VOTES EARLIER.
AND I WANT TO URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS STRAUSS, MY VERY
OWN, AND GONZALEZ, PEDERSEN, AND
MOSQUEDA TO PLEASE SUPPORT
AMENDMENT 2 TO FUND THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THESE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, FROM GETTING
TO KNOW THE RESIDENTS, STAFF,
NEIGHBORS, AND SPONSORS AT
WHITTIER HEIGHTS VILLAGE, I'M SO
IMPRESSED AND MOVED BY WHAT A
DIFFERENCE THIS PLACE HAS MADE
IN SO MANY LIVES.
TOP OF THAT LIST IS HOW THE
VILLAGE PROVIDES A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN TO BE ABLE
TO BE SAFE, HOUSED, AND HAVE
ACCESS TO CASE MANAGERS SO THEY
CAN GET THROUGH ALL THE
PAPERWORK NEEDED TO COMPLETE
APPLICATIONS FOR PERMANENT
HOUSING.
ONE OF THE RESIDENTS I'VE MET
SEVERAL TIMES LIVED IN HER CAR
FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE COMING TO
THE VILLAGE.
THE STAFF AT THE VILLAGE
INCLUDING THERESA WHO SPOKE
EARLIER ARE AMAZING, DEDICATED
WORKERS.
WITH THEIR EFFORTS, THE VILLAGE
HAS HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN MOVING
WOMEN FROM THE VILLAGE TO
APPROPRIATE HOUSING.
THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGE CREATES
BENEFITS TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY
AS WELL.
WHITTIER HOUSE IS CONSTRUCTED
ENTIRELY BY WOMEN IN THE TRADE.
THEY'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
THE BANK NEXT DOOR IS INVOLVED
IN THE VILLAGE FROM THE START.
A NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH IS THE
SPONSOR AND HOSTS MEETINGS OF
THE CAC.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS INVOLVED, WE
VOLUNTEER, RAISE MONEY, DECORATE
FOR THE HOLIDAYS, HAVE HOSTING
AND SEWING AND BAKING EVENTS.
LEHIGH HAS HALF A DOZEN PARCELS
OF LAND COMPLETE WITH COMMUNITY
SPONSORS AND SUPPORT FROM THE
CHURCHES READY AND WILLING,
EAGER TO CREATE MORE SAFE HOMES
FOR PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING ON
THE STREET --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ALISA FOLLOWED BY
JACQUELINE.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS ALISA.
I'M A RESIDENT AND CAMP
LEADERSHIP OF CAMP SECOND
CHANCE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK LISA
HERBOLD AND THE OTHERS WHO HAVE
VOTED FOR AMENDMENT 2 AND URGE
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS TO DO THE
SAME TODAY.
CAMP SECOND CHANCE HAS BEEN A
PHENOMENAL PLACE FOR ME TO FEEL
SAFE, ME AND MY PARTNER WHO IS
TRANS AND HAVE TROUBLE WITH
TRADITIONAL SHELTERS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY CAMP SECOND
CHANCE IS AN EXCELLENT PLACE.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PRACTICE
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND PERSONAL
HYGIENE AND HAVE NOT HAD A
SINGLE MEMBER OF THE CAMP TEST
POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS.
SO IT IS A SAFE AND HEALTHY
PLACE FOR US TO BE.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS JACQUELINE
FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH.
>> THIS IS JACKIE.
I WAS GOING TO MAKE COMMENT ON
DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
ARE YOU STILL ACCEPTING COMMENTS
ON THAT TOPIC?
>> THAT WAS LIMITED TO THE
FIRST SESSION.
BUT GO AHEAD, JACKIE, AND MAKE
YOUR COMMENTS HERE.
WE'RE TESTING OUT THIS NEW
SYSTEM SO I UNDERSTAND THERE'S
CONFUSION.
LET'S RESTART HER TIME, PLEASE.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JACKIE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4.
I'M A CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSOR
AT SEATTLE UNIVERSITY.
I SERVE ON THE SEATTLE POLICE
CRISIS INTERVENTION COMMITTEE
AND I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR
CONDUCTING THE ANNUAL SEATTLE
PUBLIC SAFETY SURVEY.
I SUPPORT MUCH OF WHAT THE
DEFENDING PROPONENTS ARE CALLING
FOR.
HOWEVER, I DO NOT SUPPORT
DEFUNDING SPD BY 50%.
I'M CONCERNED DEFUNDING SPD
WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF REFORMS PUT
IN PLACE UNDER THE DESCENT
DECREE WILL HAVE DISASTROUS
CONSEQUENCES THAT WILL SET
SEATTLE BACK IN WAYS THAT NO ONE
ON ANY SIDE OF THE ISSUE WILL
WANT TO SEE.
I HAVE TWO CONCERNS.
THE FIRST IS THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SURVEY FINDINGS SHOW DELAYED
RESPONSE TO 911, INADEQUATE
POLICE STAFFING, LACK OF POLICE
FOLLOWUP, TOO FEW POLICE IN
NEIGHBORHOODS HAS BEEN ONE OF
THE TOP TWO COMMUNITY CONCERNS
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
SEATTLE RESIDENTS WANT MORE, NOT
FEWER POLICE.
DEFUNDING SPD WILL RESULT IN
INCREASED CRIME AND REDUCED
QUALITY OF LIFE ACROSS SEATTLE.
SECOND, SPD HAS A CRISIS
INTERVENTION PROGRAM.
THAT'S A MODEL FOR THE NATION
WITH DEMONSTRATED REDUCTION AND
USE OF FORCE INCLUDING OFFICER
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE
TEAMS IN PLACE SINCE 2010 AND
CONCERN THAT DEFUNDING WILL
DISRUPT THESE EVIDENCE BISED
DATA DRIVEN REFORMS, LEAVING US
AS GROUND ZERO, WIPING OUT YEARS
OF WORK.
I ASK THAT THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL RECOGNIZE DATA-DRIVEN,
EVIDENCE-BASED REFORM
IMPLEMENTED IN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE
DESCENT DECREE AND BEFORE, AND
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE DISRUPTION
THE DEFUNDING WILL HAVE ON THESE
REFORMS.
CRISIS CALLS NEED POLICE AND
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO
WORK TOGETHER, NOT SEPARATELY.
THIS HAS BEEN DONE FOR MANY
YEARS THROUGH SPD CRISIS
INTERVENTION.
I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PUBLIC
SAFETY IN SEATTLE IF THE SEATTLE
POLICE IS DEFUNDED.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS JOSEPH.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JOSEPH.
I'M A SENIOR PLANNER WITH THE
PORT OF SEATTLE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT ON COUNCIL BILL 119832.
THIS ORDINANCE DISAPPOINTMENTS
INTERIM REGULATIONS WHILE FINAL
REGULATIONS ARE DEVELOPED AND
FORMALLY SUPERSEDES THE MAPS
ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED IN 1995.
THE PORT OF SEATTLE APPRECIATES
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS
MAINTAINING COMPLIANCE WITH THE
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM.
FOR CLARIFYING THE USE OF MORE
RECENT NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
RATE MAPS.
THE PORT OF SEATTLE SUPPORTS
ADOPTION OF THE INTERIM
REGULATIONS BUT REMAINS
CONCERNED ABOUT THE APPLICATION
OF REVISED FLOOD PLANE POLICIES.
THE INTERIM REGULATIONS APPLY
FLOOD PLANE DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS TO MORE PROPERTIES
THAN BEFORE.
THE PORT OF SEATTLE MANAGES MANY
OF THESE PROPERTIES AND DOES NOT
OPPOSE FLOOD PLANE DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS, HOWEVER, THE PORT
DOES INTEND TO CLARIFY THE
STANDARDS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE
PROVIDING WRAURT FRONT
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE PORT OF SEATTLE LOOKS
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS AS
FINAL REGULATIONS ARE DEVELOPED.
WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THIS
BILL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT IS THE LAST SPEAKER I HAVE
SIGNED UP FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC
COMMENT SESSION THAT APPEARS TO
BE PRESENT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT THE PERIOD OF PUBLIC
COMMENT AND MOVE INTO ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
THEIR PATIENCE AS WE DID A
LITTLE TEST RUN THERE ON HOW
THAT WOULD WORK.
AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND DIG INTO
PAYMENT OF THE BILLS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119834.
APPROPRIATING MONEY TO PAY
CERTAIN AUDITED CLAIMS FOR THE
WEEK OF JULY 6, 2020 THROUGH
JULY 10, 2020 AND ORDERING
PAYMENT THERE OF.
>> I MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
119834.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN SECONDED.
THE BILL PASSED.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> AYE.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> AYE.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, ADAM CLERK.
I ASK THAT THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATURE ON MY BEHALF.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
FIRST UP IS THE REPORT FOR THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE.
WOULD THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM 1
INTO THE RECORD.
>> SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM 1.
AMENDING ORDINANCE 126000, WHICH
DISAPPOINTMENTS THE 2020 BUDGET,
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
EMERGENCY FUND FOR PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE DURING THE COVID-19
CIVIL EMERGENCY.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
OKAY.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND DIG INTO
THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, DID YOU WANT
ITEMS 1 AND 2 TOGETHER OR ITEM 1
AS A STANDALONE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.
MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE ALSO
READ ITEM NUMBER 2 INTO THE
RECORD TO ALLOW FOR DEBATE ON
BOTH?
BUT WE'LL TAKE VOTES SEPARATELY
ON BOTH ISSUES.
JUST TO ALLOW FOR DISCUSSION OF
BOTH.
I'D APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD ALSO
READ IN AGENDA ITEM 2.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2.
RESOLUTION 31957.
ESTABLISHING SPENDING DETAILS BY
YEAR AND PROGRAM AREA FOR THE
SPENDING PLAN ADOPTED BY THE
ORDINANCE INTRODUCED AS COUNCIL
BILL 119811 THAT ESTABLISHED THE
AUTHORIZED USE OF THE PROCEEDS
GENERATED FROM THE PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX AUTHORIZED BY THE
ORDINANCE INTRODUCED AS COUNCIL
BILL 119810.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED AS AMENDED
BY MOSQUEDA, HERBOLD, GONZALEZ,
JUAREZ, LEWIS, MORALES, SAWANT,
AND STRAUSS IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER
TO READ BOTH INTO THE RECORD.
APPRECIATE THAT.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND HAND IT OVER
TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, SO
YOU CAN ADDRESS BOTH ITEMS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE AMENDMENTS, A
FEW MOMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION.
WE'LL TAKE THOSE UP AFTER YOU DO
A GENERAL INTRODUCTION OF BOTH
THE COUNCIL BILL AND RESOLUTION.
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES.
TOGETHER THESE MAKE UP THE
JUMPSTART REVENUE SPEND PLAN
BOTH FOR IMMEDIATE COVID RELIEF
AND ONGOING SUPPORT FOR MALL
BUSINESSES, WORKING FAMILIES,
SENIORS, OUR MOST VULNERABLE,
AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WE
CREATE A MORE RESILIENT ECONOMY
AS WE RECOVER FROM COVID.
I'LL SPEAK TO BOTH ITEMS REAL
QUICKLY IN ORDER TO TEE UP OUR
FUTURE CONVERSATIONS FOR BOTH
THE BILLS AND AMENDMENTS.
JUST BY AGAIN, REITERATING, MY
TREMENDOUS APPRECIATION FOR ALL
OF YOU, YOUR OFFICES, OUR
CENTRAL STAFF, THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE, AND MY OFFICE.
MY OFFICE SPENDS HUNDREDS OF
HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORKING
THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THE JUMP
START SPEND PLAN AND THE
PREVIOUS PROPOSAL TO RAISE
REVENUE.
THIS WAS BUILT OFF OF TREMENDOUS
ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING EFFORTS
AND COMMUNITY AND AMONG
ORGANIZATIONS CALLING FOR A MORE
PROGRESSIVE PROPOSAL TO BE IN
FRONT OF US SO WE CAN ADDRESS
THE IMMEDIATE CRISIS THAT'S
PRESENTING ITSELF BECAUSE OF
COVID AND THE ONGOING NEED FOR
US TO INVEST IN HOUSING AND
SUPPORT SERVICES TO CREATE A
MORE EQUITABLE ECONOMY.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK
WE'VE PUT TOGETHER HERE.
AS A COUNCIL, AS A FULL COUNCIL
WE HAVE COME TOGETHER AND WE
PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO EACH OTHER
AND INCORPORATED INFORMATION
THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM
COMMUNITIES INCLUDING FROM
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE LED BY
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
INCLUDING FROM FEEDBACK FROM
LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
INCLUDING FEEDBACK FROM LABOR
UNIONS AND IMMIGRANT RIGHT
ORGANIZATIONS, HOUSING
ADVOCATES, AND HOMELESS
ADVOCATES.
TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JSTICE ADVOCATES.
AS YOU LOOK AT THIS FINAL
PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US, WITH A
DETAILED SPEND PLAN AND
EMERGENCY COVID RELIEF, IT HAS
THE INPUT FROM A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS WHO DELIBERATELY
WORED WITH TO CREATE THE SPEND
PLAN AND THE COVID RELIEF.
IT INVESTS IN PROMOTING HEALTH,
IN CREATING JOBS, IN REIGNITING
OUR ECONOMY IN A MORE EQUITABLE
WAY.
IT INCLUDES SMALL BUSINESSES AND
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ADVOCATES AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
THOSE ARE FOLKS WHO GET CREDIT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
FOLKS WHO HAVE PUT PRESSURE ON
FROM THE OUTSIDE TAX AMAZON
ORGANIZERS AND ACTIVISTS,
INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY WHO
FOR YEARS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR
PROGRESSIVE, YOU ALL GET CREDIT.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, YOU GET
CREDIT.
WE GOT THIS OVER THE LINE.
WE WORKED TREMENDOUSLY HARD AND
IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY TO MAKE
HISTORY.
WE'RE PUSHING FORWARD A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR
OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
AND REINVESTING IN OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE
DATA SAYS TO DO.
AND ALL CUTS BUDGET OR AUSTERITY
APPROACHES IN THE TIME OF A
RECESSION ONLY PROLONG PAIN FOR
BOTH LOCAL ECONOMIES AND OUR
MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
SO THE DETAILED SPEND PACKAGE,
THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU FOR
IMMEDIATE COVID RELIEF WILL HELP
SUPPORT FAMILIES, SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND OUR MOST
VULNERABLE BECAUS YOU ALL CAME
TOGETHER AND WE PUSHED THIS
PROPOSAL FORWARD WITH TREMENDOUS
FEEDBACK AND INPUT.
I ACTUALLY THINK HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS VIA
ZOOM AND CALLING IN OPTIONS
CREATED MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO CALL IN
BETWEEN SHIFTS.
PEOPLE WHO WERE HOME TAKING CARE
OF LOVED ONES WERE ABLE TO
ENGAGE IN THIS PUBLIC POLICY
PROCESS.
IN ADDITION TO OUR TRADITIONAL
AVENUES THAT WE'VE OFFERED WHEN
WE'RE MEETING IN NON-COVID
TIMES.
THE PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS HAS
BEEN TREMENDOUS.
AND WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR YOUR INPUT TO THE COVID
RELIEF PROPOSAL, TO THE
LONG-TERM SPENDING PROPOSAL, AND
TO THE JUMP START TAX PACKAGE.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO
LIFT UP THE VOICES OF THOSE SHUT
OUT BY ESTABLISHMENT POLITICS OF
THE PAST WHO LISTEN TO WHAT
COMMUNITY NEEDS, WHO FIND WAYS
TO GET TO YES.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE
HAVE FOLKS IN OFFICE WHO DON'T
ACCEPT THE WAY THINGS HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN, WHO AREN'T GOING TO
JUST GIVE LIP SERVICE VOID OF
ACTION.
WHO ARE SMART, COLLABORATIVE,
PROGRESSIVE, AND FRANKLY, THIS
COUNCIL, WE'RE TIRED AS WELL.
WE ARE TIRED OF BEING IN A
DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FOR
YEAR AFTER YEAR AND NOT SEEING
MORE MONEY GO INTO HOUSING.
IN FACT, THIS WAS THE THIRD YEAR
IN A ROW WHERE THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET REDUCED THE
CITY'S INPUT ON HOUSING.
WE'RE TIRED OF BEING IN A STATE
OF EMERGENC OF HOMELESSNESS AND
SEEING THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS
FOLKS GROW YEAR AFTER YEAR,
ESPECIALLY IN A COVID SETTING,
TO BE IN NON-CONGREGANT SETTINGS
LIKE THE CDC DEMANDS.
WE'RE TIRED OF BEING ONE OF THE
MOST PROSPEROUS CITIES IN THE
NATION WHILE ONE IN FOUR
CHILDREN GO WITHOUT THE NEEDED
FOOD THEY NEED BECAUSE OF FOOD
INSECURITY.
AND WE'RE TIRED OF THE SAME OLD
RHETORIC ABOUT THE NEED FOR
AUSTERITY AND CUTS BEING DRUMMED
UP ON THE CUSP OF A DEPRESSION
WHEN WE KNOW CUTS ONLY PROLONG
RECESSIONS AND THE TAX CUTS
WE'VE SEEN IMPOSED IN OUR STATE
AND REGION IN THE PAST TIME OF A
RECESSION ONLY HURT FAMILIES AND
BUSINESSES.
WE NEED ALTERNATIVES.
AND THIS PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
PROPOSAL AND THE SPEND PLAN
COVID RELIEF OFFERS CREATE A
SOLUTION.
WE'RE TIRED OF DOING EVERYTHING
RIGHT BUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GET
AHEAD.
NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP A ROOF
OVER THEIR HEAD OR FOOD ON THEIR
TABLE.
IN DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT, THEY
STILL SEE AN ECONOMY THAT
PRIORITIZES THE FEW WHILE
LEAVING THE MANY BEHIND.
SO THIS IS OUR WAY TO PUSH BACK.
THIS IS OUR PUSHBACK AGAINST
STATUS QUO POLITICS IN THE
MIDDLE OF A DEADLY GLOBAL
PANDEMIC WITH THE HIGHEST RATES
OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS
CLOSURES EVER.
WE'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S
BEEN PROVEN TO INVEST IN OUR
MOST VULNERABLE.
SPUR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND
CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE ECONOMY.
BY PASSING JUMP START REVENUE
PLAN, WE'RE OFFERING RELIEF.
RELIEF TO FAMILIES THAT THEY'LL
BE ABLE TO PAY RENT.
RELIEF TO INDIVIDUALS THAT
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON
THE TABLE.
RELIEF TO SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
THEY'LL HAVE FLEXIBLE DOLLARS
THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR TO PAY
úFOR WHAT THEY NEED TO OPEN
BUSINESSES AGAIN AND PUT PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK.
BY PASSING JUMP START, WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED THE RESOURCES NEEDED
TO PROVIDE COVID RELIEF IN THIS
YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE'S
URGENT NEEDS ARE MET DUE TO
COVID.
NEXT YEAR WE'RE INVESTING IN
CORE GOVERNMENT SERVICES TO KEEP
PARKS OPEN, TO KEEP LIBRARIES
OPEN, TO MAKE SURE CHILD CARES
CAN FUNCTION.
TO MAKE SURE THE BASIC SERVICES
WE RELY ON EVERY DAY DON'T HAVE
A CLIFF.
IN THE OUT YEARS, WE'RE
INVESTING IN BUILDING HOUSING,
HOUSING THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS,
AND INVESTING IN SMALL BUSINESS
SUPPORTS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW
WE'VE DONE THIS IN A THOUGHTFUL
AND CREATIVE AND DELIBERATE
MATTER.
WE ARE OFFERING RELIEF
ASSISTANCE, SECURITY AND
STABILITY.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR DOING
ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE
SURE IN 2020 WE HAVE URGENT
NEEDS MET.
IN 2021 WE MAINTAIN ESSENTIAL
SERVICES LIKE PARKS AND SAFE
STREETS AND LIBRARIES.
AND IN 2022 WE INVEST DEEPLY IN
SUPPORTING A DIVERT BUSINESS AND
LOCAL ECONOMY AND HOUSING THOSE
WHO NEED HELP NOW.
WE PUT FORWARD A SMART PROPOSAL.
WE ARE REBUILDING OUR ECONOMY IN
THE OUT YEARS AND WE'RE
INVESTING IN THOSE AND I'LL HAVE
CLOSING COMMENTS IN A BIT.
JUST SO PROUD TO WORK WITH ALL
OF YOU AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
WHO HELPED MAKE JUMP START AND
THIS SPEND PLAN AND RELIEF
PACKAGE A REALITY TODAY.
>> WELL SAID, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
MAKES ME ALL EXCITED ABOUT
CALLING THIS TO A VOTE SOON.
OKAY, FOLKS.
WE DO WANT TO HEAR COMMENTS FROM
FOLKS ABOUT THE BILL AND THE
RESOLUTION.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF
AMENDMENTS THAT WE'VE GOT TO
WORK THROUGH.
I'LL TAKE THOSE SEPARATELY.
BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP AS WE
TRADITIONALLY AND TYPICALLY DO
TO HEAR COMMENTS ABOUT THE BILL,
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS TO ADDRESS
AMENDMENT 1 AS PUBLISHED ON THE
AGENDA.
SO I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS TO WALK US
THROUGH HIS I BELIEVE TWO
AMENDMENTS.
THEN WE WILL CONSIDER THAT
AMENDMENT AND CALL THE BILL --
EXCUSE ME.
THEN WE'LL CONSIDER AMENDMENT TO
THE RESOLUTION.
THEN WE'LL HAVE TWO AMENDED
VERSIONS OF LEGISLATURE BEFORE
US AND OPEN IT UP TO GENERAL
COMMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU'RE UP
FIRST.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HAND
I OVER TO YOU TO MOVE YOUR
AMENDMENT 1 AND TO OPEN UP
DEBATE FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
JUST DOUBLE CHECKING
TO HEAR WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD.
YOU'D LIKE ME TO MOVE THE
úAMENDMENT.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES.
YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO.
BUT IT IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
MOVE YOUR AMENDMENT IF YOU WISH.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
819112 AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
1 ON THIS AGENDA.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT AMENDMENT 1.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THE AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
AMENDMENT 1 WOULD
INCREASE THE SMALL BUSINESS
STABILIZATION FUND, GRANT FUND
ELIGIBILITY TO 25FTEs.
LAST WEEK I SPOKE TO MY
COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT
THE NEED TO CHANGE THE
REQUIREMENTS FROM FIXED
EMPLOYEES TO FTEs, FULL-TIME
EQUIVALENTS, TO ALLOW FOR
PART-TIME WORKER TO ALSO HAVE
THE CONSIDERATION FOR PART-TIME
WORKERS.
WHAT I'VE HEARD IN THE INTERIM
IS THE NEED TO INCREASE THAT
THRESHOLD TO 25 IS THERE AND IS
IN OUR CITY.
THIS AMENDMENT INCREASES
ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SMALL
BUSINESS STABILIZATION GRANTS
FUNDED BY THE BILL TO INCLUDE
NONPROFITS AND BUSINESSES WITH
UP TO 25 FTEs AS AN INCREASE
FROM 10.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERN
ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF COVID ON
RESTAURANTS SPECIFICALLY AND THE
ANTICIPATED WAVE OF POTENTIAL
CLOSURES THAT COULD BE COMING
SOON.
RESIDENT RESTAURANTEURS FROM
DISTRICT 6 AND ACROSS THE CITY
HAVE TOLD ME 10 FTEs IS NOT HIGH
ENOUGH FOR THEM TO CAPTURE THE
SUPPORT.
WHILE RESTAURANTS ARE A LABOR
INTENSIVE INDUSTRY, IT OFTEN
EXCEEDS 10 FTEs AND RESTAURANTS
OFTENTIMES SURVIVE ON THE
NARROWEST OF MARGINS.
IN ADDITION TO RAISING THE CAP
ON FTEs, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
ALSO ADD LANGUAGE ENSURING THAT
BUSINESSES WHO HAVE ALREADY
RECEIVED A GRANT THROUGH PRIOR
FUNDING ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A
SECOND GRANT IN ADDING A
GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY AS A
CONSIDERATION IN THE
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GRANT.
THE REASON THAT THE COMING
AROUND FOR THE SECOND GRANT IS
BEING PUT IN IN THIS AMENDMENT
IS BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY IN OUR FUNDS TO EVEN SERVE
ALL OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
HAVE APPLIED.
SO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RECEIVE FUNDS BEFORE PEOPLE
COME.
PRESIDENT.MY COMMENTS, COUNCIL
I APPRECIATE THE
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, FOR THAT DESCRIPTION OF
AMENDMENT 1.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN
IT UP FOR DEBATE.
I'VE ALREADY RECEIVED ONE
MESSAGE.
AND THAT IS FROM COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
COMMENT.
IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE COMMENT, PLEASE SIGNAL BY
RAISING YOUR HAND OR SENDING ME
A MESSAGE IN THE CHAT BOX.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU.
I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS
AMENDMENT AS WITH COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT
FROM SMALL BUSINESSES CITYWIDE,
NOT JUST DISTRICT 5.
IN PARTICULAR ALSO FROM THE
QUEER COMMUNITY ON CAPITOL HILL
AND THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT WORK AND
ESPECIALLY WIPE MANY OF THEM OUT
IF WE DID NOT DO AN INCREASE
FROM 10 FTE TO 25.
AND I THINK I DON'T NEED TO GO
INTO ALL THE DETAIL, WHERE WE'RE
AT WITH THIS RECESSION, SMALL
BUSINESSES AND COVID.
BUT MY POINT IS IN ORDER TO AT
LEAST TO SOME DEGREE KEEP SOME
OF THESE BUSINESSES OPEN WHO ARE
BARELY HANGING ON, I'LL BE
SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I WILL SAY THAT I AM
STRUGGLING WITH THIS AMENDMENT.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE -- WE JUST
INCLUDED LANGUAGE IN OUR GREEN
NEW DEAL AND OUR EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT, LANGUAGE IN THE
EARLIER PART OF THE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE PACKAGE THAT REALLY
HIGHLIGHTS THE GREATER
DISPARITIES THAT WE HAVE IN SOME
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE FUNDED EDI BECAUSE OF THE
HISTORY OF RED LINING THAT'S
LEFT GREATER DISPARITIES AMONG
SOUTH END NEIGHBORHOODS.
STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE
I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE NEED
TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES
ACROSS THE CITY AND I KNOW WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD -- THAT THE
BUSINESSES IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT GET ACCESS
TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND
OPERATIONAL SUPPORT THAT CAN
HELP THEM.
SO I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT AS A
FORMER RESTAURANT WORKER MYSELF,
THAT MANY BUSINESSES HAVE LOTS
OF PART-TIME EMPLOYEES.
SO I UNDERSTAND INCREASING TO 25
FTEs.
I GUESS WHAT I WOULD SAY IS IF
WE WANT TO ADJUST THE CRISIS SO
EMORE BUSINESSES ARE ELIGIBLE,
THAT'S ONE CONVERSATION.
BUT WE KNOW THAT BUSINESSES WHO
RECEIVE FUNDING ALREADY IN THE
FIRST ROUND WERE PREDOMINANTLY
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD ELIMINATE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE FUNDING
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OWNED BY
IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND JUST SORT OF PERPETUATING
THE GENERATIONAL WEALTH GAP.
SO I AM NOT GOING TO SUPPORT
THIS AMENDMENT, AND I WILL SAY I
FULLY SUPPORT AMENDMENT 2 BEING
OFFERED BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT AMENDMENT 1.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I'M OFF MUTE.
I HAVE A QUESTION.
I HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OED
WHEN THEY STARTED THIS SMALL
BUSINESS STABILIZATION FUND THAT
THEIR NARROWING OF THE
ELIGIBILITY TO FIVE EMPLOYEES
WAS THEIR BEST WAY OF ENSURING
THAT ELIGIBILITY WAS NARROWLY
FOCUSED ON USING AN EQUITY LENS,
FOCUSED ON LOW AND MODERATE
INCOME, BUSINESS OWNERS IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
IN THAT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES FOR BUSINESSES, IT
MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR OED TO MAKE
DECISIONS WITH THAT KIND OF
EQUITY LENS.
AND WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO
INCREASE THE ELIGIBILITY FROM
FIVE TO TEN EMPLOYEES FOR
ELIGIBILITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO SEE IF THE
SPONSOR, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
HAS ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO
SPECIFICALLY THE NUMBER OF
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES WITH THIS
INCREASE TO 25.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS OED RECEIVED
5,500 ELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS FOR
THE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING WHICH
WAS ONLY AVAILABLE AT THAT POINT
TO BUSINESSES WITH FIVE OR FEWER
EMPLOYEES AND EVEN THOUGH 5,500
ELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS WERE
RECEIVED, THEY WERE ONLY ABLE TO
MAKE 250 GRANTS.
I'M JUST WONDERING, DO WE HAVE
ESTIMATES OF THE NUMBER OF
BUSINESSES THAT WOULD BE
ELIGIBLE?
AND THE NUMBER OF GRANTS THAT
WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE WITH
THESE NEW FUNDS IF WE INCREASE
THE ELIGIBILITY TO 25.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
I DON'T HAVE IT AT THE TIP OF MY
FINGERTIPS.
LET ME SEE IF I CAN'T FIND IT
AND SEND YOU AN EMAIL RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW YOU'RE CORRECT THIS WOULD
ENLARGE THE POOL OF ELIGIBLE
BUSINESSES TO A GREAT DEGREE.
WHICH IS ALSO WHY I BROUGHT THE
OTHER TWO ELEMENTS TO THIS
AMENDMENT ABOUT NOT BEING FUNDED
A SECOND TIME AND A DISTRIBUTION
ACROSS THE CITY.
I WILL RAISE THERE'S EVEN WITH
THAT DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE
CITY, THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE
A FOCUS ON EQUITY VERSUS JUST
SPREADING PEANUT BUTTER ACROSS A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT BUSINESSES.
SO LET ME TRY AND FIND THAT
EMAIL ABOUT THE LEVEL OF NUMBER
OF BUSINESSES WOULD BE ABLE TO
RECEIVE THIS FUNDING.
>> COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT 1?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
COLLEAGUES, I, LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, AM ALSO
STRUGGLING WITH THIS AMENDMENT.
I DID OPPOSE IT IN A VERSION OF
IT IN COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
MY POSITION HAS NOT CHANGED.
I THINK THAT THE QUESTIONS BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ARE MY
PRIMARY CONCERN ABOUT INCREASING
THE FTE AMOUNT.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US -- AND I
WORKED WITH COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS ON INCREASING IT FROM 5
TO 10.
THAT WAS WORTH IT, WE DID A
PARTNERSHIP TO MODULATE WHERE
WE'RE SETTING THE LINE FOR THE
SIZE OF THE SMALL BUSINESS.
I THOUGHT FIVE WAS PROBABLY TOO
SMALL.
10 SEEMED A LITTLE MORE
APPROPRIATE TO REALLY TARGET IN
ON THE MOM AND POP MAINSTREAM
SHOPS THAT WE REALLY ARE HOPING
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
TO.
MY CONCERN WITH OPENING IT TO UP
TO 25 FTEs IS IT SEEMS TO BE A
PRETTY AGGRESSIVE PENDULUM SWING
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
AND 25FTEs COULD BE UP TO 50
EMPLOYEES OR MAYBE EVEN MORE AND
I WORRY THAT WHEN WE START
GETTING INTO THAT NUMBER, THAT
VOLUME OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE'RE
NO LONGER TALKING ABOUT A SMALL
BUSINESS IN THE WAY WE INTEND.
SO FOR THAT REASON I'M GOING TO
CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THIS
PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.
CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT
AND INTENT WITH WHICH IT WAS
BROUGHT FORWARD.
BUT THOSE ISSUES HAVE
UNFORTUNATELY NOT BEEN RESOLVED
FOR ME FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND
THE FEEDBACK I'VE HEARD FROM
SOME SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS,
PARTICULARLY THOSE SMALL
BUSINESSES WHO ARE OWNED BY
FOLKS OF COLOR AND/OR IMMIGRANTS
AND REFUGEES.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT
SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE READY TO TAKE
A VOTE HERE.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK -- OH, I'M
SORRY.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE.
>> JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT --
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WE DID
WORK IN PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE THE
INITIAL CHANGE AND I APPRECIATED
BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU ON
THAT.
JUST SAYING THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
I ALWAYS APPRECIATE WORKING WITH
YOU AS WELL.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET'S GO
AHEAD AND HAVE THE CLERK RECALL
THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
AMENDMENT 1.
>> LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> AYE.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> NAY.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> NO.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
FOUR OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES.
AMENDMENT 1 IS ADOPTED.
ARE THERE ANY -- I'M SORRY.
BEFORE I OPEN IT UP FOR GENERAL
DEBATE, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A
SECOND AMENDMENT ALSO BROUGHT
FORWARD BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, IN ORDER
FOR YOU TO MOVE AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
SORRY.
I'M HAVING SOME TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES WITH THESE SCREENS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION,
COLLEAGUES, ON MY AMENDMENTS.
I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
819112 AS PRESENTED ON THE
AGENDA.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I'M GOING
TO RECOGNIZE YOU IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS AMENDMENT 2.
>> COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ, IF
YOU DON'T MIND, THERE'S A
RECENTLY DISTRIBUTED VERSION 2
OF AMENDMENT 2 THAT I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE WAS IN FRONT OF THE
CITY COUNCIL BEFORE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ADDRESSED
AMENDMENT 2.
>> YOU'RE SAYING I NEED TO
SUSPEND THE RULES?
>> IT'S ONLY A CORRECTION.
IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE EFFECT OF
THE AMENDMENT, IT JUST CORRECTS
SOME TECHNICAL NUMBERS IN THE
AMENDMENT SO IT'S ALL ALIGNED.
AND 2ND BASE STRAUSS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, IF YOU
WOULDN'T MIND.
>> SO WE DON'T NEED TO AMEND
THE MOTION LANGUAGE THAT WAS
JUST MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, YOU JUST NEED HIM TO
FOR THE RECORD ADDRESS WHAT THE
CHANGES ARE TO THE MOST RECENTLY
DISTRIBUTED VERSION OF AMENDMENT
2?
>> CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
SO THE BILL -- EXCUSE ME, THE
AMENDMENT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
SO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AGAIN,
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO ADDRESS
AMENDMENT 2 AS IT WAS RECENTLY
CIRCULATED.
IN DOING SO, IF YOU COULD
EXPLAIN FOR THE RECORD WHAT THE
DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN THE
PUBLISHED VERSION OF AMENDMENT 2
AND THE RECENTLY CIRCULATED
VERSION OF AMENDMENT 2 THAT
WOULD BE REQUIRED PER OUR CITY
CLERK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THE CHANGES BETWEEN
WHAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA
AND WHAT WAS DISTRIBUTED IS
SIMPLY -- THE UPDATED AMENDMENT
IS SIMPLY AN OMISSION TO OED'S
FUNDING INCREASE IN SECTION 4 AS
REFLECTED IN THE TABLE AND
COLLECTS THE TABLE LINE NUMBER
TO THE COLUMN TO REFLECT THE
ADDED OED FUNDING INCREASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY OTHER
REMARKS OR COMMENTS ABOUT
AMENDMENT 2?
>> YES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ADD $4.7
MILLION TO THE FUNDING FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES SUPPORT.
I CAME TO THIS NUMBER BECAUSE IT
WOULD BRING THE TOTAL FUNDING
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES SUPPORT TO
25% OF THE 2020 JUMP START
EXPENDITURES, A REQUEST I'VE
HEARD FROM SMALL BUSINESSES, AND
DESPITE WHAT SOME HAVE SAID
TODAY, THIS DOES NOT RUN DOWN
OUR RAINY DAY OR EMERGENCY FUNDS
TO COMPLETE.
450 MORE SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES WILL RECEIVE GRANTS.
THAT MAY BE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WEATHERING THIS PANDEMIC
OR CLOSING DOWN FOR GOOD.
I RECOGNIZE THERE'S A CONCERN
WITH SPENDING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS
OTOF THE REVENUE STABILIZATION
FUND WHICH IS WHY THIS AMENDMENT
IS ABOUT HALF THE SIZE OF THE
PREVIOUS AMENDMENT THAT I
BROUGHT LAST WEEK.
AS WITH THE OTHER 2020
EXPENDITURES, IF THIS AMENDMENT
PASSES, I'LL BE BRINGING AN
AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION 31957 TO
REPLENISH THE FUND IN 2021.
WE KNOW WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES
STAY OPEN AND KEEP EMPLOYEES,
MORE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SPEND
MONEY IN OUR ECONOMY.
THIS IS EXACTLY HOW THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
WHEN THE MIDDLE CLASS HAS THE
DOLLARS TO SPEND IN THE ECONOMY,
IT KEEPS ACTIVITY MOVING.
MORE TAXES ARE COLLECTED AS
THESE BUSINESSES STAY OPEN.
ALLOW US TO SCALE OUR RESPONSE
TO THE STIMULUS PACKAGE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AS I DID LAST WEEK.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO FOR
THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE
STRUGGLING THROUGHOUT THE CRISIS
AND REALLY TRYING TO MAKE ENDS
MEET UNDER REALLY UNIQUE AND
EXTREME PRESSURES.
I THINK GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF
BORROWING THAT WE'RE DOING FROM
OUR EMERGENCY RESERVES, I'M NOT
IN A POSITION WHERE I'M GOING TO
VOTE TO DIG EVEN DEEPER INTO THE
REMAINING AMOUNT OF SLACK WE'VE
KEPT INTO THESE RESERVE FUNDS
JUST GIVEN ALL OF THE OTHER
SPENDING THAT WE'RE COMMITTING
TO AND KNOWING THAT NEXT YEAR WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RELY ON
THESE RESERVES FOR A POTENTIAL
ADDITIONAL ROUND OF BALANCING
AND THAT PRESERVING WHAT SLACK
WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE IN HERE IS
SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN A
COMMITMENT TO AND NOT DIG ANY
DEEPER.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SITE IS
IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE ARE GOING
TO GET ANOTHER ROUND OF
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT MONEY IN THE NEAR TERM OR
AT LEAST THE EXECUTIVE SEEMS TO
BE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'RE GOING
TO GET ANOTHER ROUND OF
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT MONEY.
THOSE FUNDS HAVE FORMED THE CORE
OF OUR DIRECT RELIEF TO SMALL
BUSINESSES.
SO WE HAVE THAT POTENTIALLY TO
LOOK FORWARD TO TO COME INTO
THIS SPACE.
I DO THINK THAT PART OF OUR FALL
PROJECT IN LOOKING AT THE 2021
BUDGET SHOULD INCLUDE SOME
DISCUSSION AROUND SOME KIND OF
TAX RELIEF.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS
BEEN A LEADER ON THAT.
I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE
THINGS THAT I WOULD PREFER TO
FOCUS ON RATHER THAN CONTINUING
TO DRAW DOWN FROM OUR RESERVE
FUNDS.
SO I'M GOING TO RESPECTFULLY
VOTE AGAINST IT.
IT'S HARD TO VOTE AGAINST IT.
BUT I DO THINK BASED ON HOW MUCH
WE ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING,
BORROWING TO BE MORE ACCURATE
FROM OUR RESERVE FUNDS,
MAINTAINING THE SMALL AMOUNT OF
SLACK THAT WE DO HAVE IS AN
IMPORTANT PRIORITY.
SO FOR THAT REASON I'LL BE
VOTING NO.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, FOR
ADVANCING THIS.
I WAS HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE
PREVIOUS AMENDMENT.
I DO HAVE CONCERNS WITH THIS.
WE DID RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE
FROM DEPUTY MAYOR MIKE FONG
NOTICING THE EXECUTIVE'S CONCERN
WITH SPENDING MORE OF THE
REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND AND
ZEROING OUT THE EMERGENCY FUND.
I DO SUPPORT THE BILL AS A WHOLE
AND INTEND TO VOTE FOR THE BILL
AS A WHOLE BUT TO DO MORE AT
THIS TIME, I HAVE CONCERS.
SO JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
I DID SUPPORT THE PREVIOUS
AMENDMENT.
I AM NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING
THIS ONE.
I WANT TO PUSH BACK ON THE FALSE
NARRATIVE OUT THERE THAT SOMEHOW
WE'RE MOVING ALL OF THE
EMERGENCY RESERVES, WHICH IS NOT
TRUE IN THE UNDERLYING BILL.
AND IN FACT, IT WOULDN'T BE TRUE
WITH YOUR AMENDMENT EVEN IF IT
WERE TO HANG, THERE WOULD STILL
BE RESERVES THERE.
IN LINE WITH THE INITIAL
CRAFTING OF THE BILL AND WHAT
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE SAID,
I THINK WE'RE INTENTIONALLY
LEAVING A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF
FUNDING IN THE EMERGENCY FUNDS
FOR THE NEXT YEAR IF NEEDED.
I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.
I DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT
FORWARD.
I HOPE THIS OFFERS CLARIFICATION
ON THE MISINFORMATION PUT OUT
ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RESERVES.
ALSO MORE ABOUT THIS LATER BUT I
THINK THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION
REALLY UNDERSCORES THE
IMPORTANCE OF US HAVING THESE
RAINY DAY FUNDS AND EMERGENCY
RESERVES.
IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME TO USE
THEM, IT IS NOW.
SO I THINK WE HAVE DONE THAT IN
A RESPONSIBLE WAY.
WITH THE UNDERLYING BILL.
I APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE COMING
FROM.
SADLY, I'LL BE A NO ON THIS
TODAY BUT REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
WORK ON THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU TO SUPPORT
SMALL BUSINESSES AS WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF
GETTING THESE DOLLARS OUT THE
DOOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
COMMENTS.
AS USUAL, THE SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT WILL HAVE THE LAST
WORD.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
AMENDMENT 2?
OH, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY MY
EARLIER COMMENTS.
SO THERE WOULD BE THE TWO FUNDS,
EMERGENCY FUND AND REVENUE
STABILIZATION FUND.
AND I GUESS THERE IS MONEY LEFT
OVER FROM THE COMBINED FUNDS.
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
TECHNICALLY I THINK WE ARE
DRAINING DOWN THE EMERGENCY FUND
BUT THE REVENUE STABILIZATION
WILL HAVE SOME MONEY LEFT OVER.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT I WAS
SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE
ONE FUND.
THERE'S THE OTHER FUND THAT WILL
HAVE MONEY LEFT OVER WHETHER WE
PASS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S
AMENDMENT OR NOT.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME CLARIFY
THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
ON AMENDMENT 2?
I'M SORT OF SCANNING.
LOOK LIKE NO OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE A COMMENT
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU HAVE
THE FINAL WORD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
JUST AGAIN, RESTATING TO COMBAT
THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT'S OUT
THERE.
WITH OR WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT
WE WOULD NOT BE SPENDING ALL THE
RAINY DAY FUNDS WHICH HAS BEEN
DESCRIBED BY SOME AT THE CITY
GOVERNMENT OVER THE LAST COUPLE
HOURS.
WITH OR WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT,
CITY COUNCIL IS NOT FULLY
UTILLIZING ALL OF OUR CAPACITY
TO FIGHT A PANDEMIC AND AN
ECONOMIC RECESSION WITH DOLLARS
THAT HAVE BEEN SAVED OVER PAST
YEARS TO FIGHT SUCH RECESSIONS
IN UNFORESEEN EMERGENCIES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
APPRECIATE THAT.
COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT DEBATE ON
AMENDMENT 2.
I'D ASK THAT THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT 2 AS RECENTLY
CIRCULATED.
>> LEWIS.
>> NO.
>> MORALES.
>> AYE.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> NO.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> NO.
>> SAWANT.
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
HERBOLD.
>> NAY.
>> JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> MAY I GET MORALES' VOTE?
MORALES?
>> AYE.
>> THANK YOU.
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> NO.
>> THREE IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE MOTION FAILS.
AMENDMENT 2 IS NOT ADOPTED.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER
COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, DID YOU
WANT TO HAVE THE FINAL WORD OR
DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK NOW?
>> SURE.
CLARIFICATION MAYBE FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC ON A POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT I WAS THINKING ABOUT
AND NOT GOING TO WALK ON RELATED
TO TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, IF NOW
IS A GOOD TIME TO CLARIFY THAT,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> THAT'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE
COUNCIL BILL AS OPPOSED TO THE
RESOLUTION?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
LET ME GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE
YOU IN ORDER TO ADDRESS WHAT
COULD HAVE BEEN AN AMENDMENT BUT
ISN'T AN AMENDMENT AND THEN
WE'LL TAKE COMMENTS ON THE BILL
AS A WHOLE AS AMENDED FROM OTHER
COLLEAGUES.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> WONDERFUL.
THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION LAST
WEDNESDAY ABOUT THE AMENDMENT
RELATED TO TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
AND NONCONGREGANT SETTINGS.
WHILE I VOTED TO RETAIN THE
FLEXIBILITY WITH REGARDS TO
NONCONGREGANT SPENDING SO IT
COULD BE USED FOR HOTELS AND
MOTELS.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT OFFERING
CLARIFYING LANGUAGE BECAUSE WE
KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR ALL
NONCONGREGANT SETTINGS TO HAVE
THE SUPPORT THEY NEED FOR
ADDRESSING THE CURRENT COVID
CRISIS LIKE ADDRESSING THE
ONGOING SHARED BATHROOMS AND
FOOD AREAS OR EATING SPACES.
I'M REALLY CONSCIOUS THOUGH OF
THE FACT THAT TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES ALONG WITH HOTELS AND
MOTELS ARE A MUCH BETTER
ALTERNATIVE TO EXISTING
CONGREGANT SETTINGS.
WE WERE THINKING ABOUT BRINGING
FORWARD AN AMENDMENT TO CLARIFY
THOSE PIECES FOR THE VIEWING
AUDIENCE AND FOLKS WHO DID
TESTIFY TODAY.
SO THE $3.6 MILLION IS
SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED FOR TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
I THINK TO THE DEGREE WE CAN GET
THOSE VILLAGES STOOD UP IN QUICK
TIME AND THAT OFFERS RELIEF TO
FOLKS CURRENTY IN CONGREGANT
SETTINGS OR OUTSIDE IN THE
ELEMENTS TO HAVE A ROOM, A ROOF,
AND A SECURE PLACE TO LIVE.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A MUCH BETTER
LOCATION.
WE REALLY WANT THE MAYOR, THE
EXECUTIVE TEAM TO SPEND THOSE
DOLLARS.
I'M SURE WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP
WITH ALL THE ADVOCATES FROM THE
HOUSING ADVOCATES TO MAKE SURE
THE MONEY GETS OUT THE DOOR.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE BRINGING
FORWARD A CLARIFYING AMENDMENT
TODAY AND THE AMENDMENT STAYS
WITHIN THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
BILL AS AMENDED?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
PLEASE.
THEN COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> SO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME
CLOSING COMMENTS ON THIS REALLY
CRITICAL ACTION THAT WE'RE ABOUT
TO TAKE.
THIS IS NECESSARY AND CRUCIAL
SUPPORT TO LIMIT THE DAMAGE
BEING DONE BY THIS PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY AND ENSURE THEY HAVE
THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SURVIVE
RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE PAST THAT
ENGAGING IN AUSTERITY BUDGETING
AND SLASHING PROGRAMS ONLY LEADS
TO A PROLONGED STRUGGLE TO
RECOVER.
BOTH FOR INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES,
AND INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS.
AND FOR OUR ECONOMY AS A WHOLE.
THIS FOR ME IS THE LESSON OF THE
GREAT RECESSION.
THE LEGISLATION TAKES TO HEART
AND MAKES TARGETED INVESTMENTS
WHERE THEY CAN DO THE MOST GOOD,
FOCUSING ON SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS THAT MAKE OUR CITY A
SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE AND ARE
OPERATING UNDER SIGNIFICANT
UNCERTAINTY IN PROVIDING JOBS TO
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND
NONPROFITS THAT ARE WORKING
TIRELESSLY TO CARE FOR THE
PEOPLE MOST IMPACTED BY COVID
AND ALSO PROVIDING ESSENTIAL
JOBS.
IN IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE SHUT OUT BY
OTHER FORMS OF RELIEF, AND FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY
THEIR RENT AND THOSE WHO ARE
ATTEMPTING TO SURVIVE
UNSHELTERED, AS WELL AS FOR
THOSE WHO RELY ON RENT TO PAY
THEIR BILLS.
FINALLY, AS IT RELATES TO VERY,
VERY CRITICAL FOOD RELIEF, THIS
BILL PUTS A PREMIUM ON HELPING
HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO
PUT ENOUGH FOOD ON THE TABLE AND
WHOSE MEAL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN
OTHERWISE SHUT DOWN.
AGAIN, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
THIS HAS BEEN SO TARGETED FOR
OUR INVESTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE
END OF 2020 AND APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVILEGE TO
WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBERS AS WELL
AS THE BROADER SPENDING PLAN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HER
BOLD FOR THOSE REMARKS.
WE'LL HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU.
TODAY'S VOTE BY THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL ALONG WITH THE HISTORIC
AMAZON TAX VICTORY EARLIER THIS
MONTH REPRESENTS THE CULMINATION
OF THREE YEARS OF DETERMINED
GRASSROOTS RANK AND FILE
ORGANIZING.
OUR MOVEMENT HAS FORCED THE CITY
ESTABLISHMENT TO DEDICATE AT
LEAST $18 MILLION PER YEAR FROM
THE AMAZON TAX REVENUES FOR
PUBLICLY OWNED, PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR BLACK
WORKING CLASS AND POOR FAMILIES
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, AND HAS
DEDICATED FUNDS FOR THE GREEN
NEW DEAL AND TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
OUR MOVEMENT HAS WON BECAUSE WE
OVERCAME THE OPPOSITION OF BIG
ESTABLISHMENT WHO HAVE FOUGHT US
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
THE AMAZON TAX AND TODAY'S FUND
FOR BLACK COMMUNITY HOUSING IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT ARE NOT THE
RESULT OF POLITICAL
QUOTE/UNQUOTE COLLABORATION WITH
BIG BUSINESS BUT RATHER A
PRODUCT OF A WORKING CLASS
MOVEMENT LED BY SOCIALISTS, BY
WORKERS, BY UNIONS, AND BY BLM
ACTIVISTS, ACTIVISTS BECAUSE OF
WHO WON THE BAN ON CHEMICAL
WEAPONS BY POLICE, AND WE NOW
SEE MAYOR DURKIN ATTEMPTING TO
UNDERMINE THAT LEGISLATION AND
ALSO DOUBLING DOWN ON HER LAWYER
REPRESENTATION OF BIG BUSINESS
INTEREST BY REFUSING TO SIGN THE
AMAZON TAX THAT HAS BEEN
APPROVED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE
COUNCIL.
HUNDREDS OF VOTERS, VOLUNTEERS
HAVE JOINED THIS TRULY
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT.
WE HELD FOUR ACTION CONFERENCES.
WE ORGANIZE PROTESTS.
WE ORGANIZED A CAR CARAVAN WITH
SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
WE MARCHED IN OLYMPIA WHEN THEY
ATTEMPTED TO PASS LEGISLATURE
BANNING OUR CITY FROM TAXING BIG
BUSINESS.
PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND WE MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE
LAUNCHED A TAX AMAZON BALLOT
INITIATIVE TO REPRESENT CONCRETE
AND MATERIAL THREAT TO BIG
BUSINESS WHICH WAS OPERATING IN
THE BACK ROOMS TO UNDERMINE THE
AMAZON TAX LEGISLATION IN THE
CITY COUNCIL.
AND IN FACT, ON THE STREETS AS
PART OF THE JUSTICE FOR GEORGE
FLOYD MOVEMENT, WE GATHERED
30,000 SIGNATURES.
THE FIRST 20,000 IN JUST THE
FIRST 20 DAYS OF THE PROTESTS.
BIG BUSINESSES THEMSELVES HAVE
ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE FORCED
TO CONCEDE TO THE TAX AMAZON AND
BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.
AS STEVE HOOPER OF A COMPANY
THAT VICIOUSLY OPPOSED THE
AMAZON TAX AND $15 MINIMUM WAGE
SAID, QUOTE, OUR INDUSTRY WOULD
HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY
HAMMERED BY THE SAWANT-MORALES
PROPOSAL.
I WAS TRYING TO PROTECT OUR
INDUSTRY FOR SURE FROM THE
COMPLETE PROPOSAL I THOUGHT WAS
INCREDIBLY HARMFUL.
UNQUOTE.
THESE QUOTES AND THE QUOTE BY
FORMER MAYOR ED MURRAY IN WHICH
HE ADMITTED THAT IT WAS THE 15
NOW BALLOT INITIATIVE AND HE
SAID IT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF
PASSING, INCREDIBLY DETRIMENTAL
TO OUR RESTAURANTS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES.
UNQUOTE.
THESE ARE QUOTES FROM BIG
BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES AND
THEY REMIND US THAT THE INTEREST
OF THE SUPER WEALTHY AND WORKING
PEOPLE AND THE POOR ARE
DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO EACH
OTHER.
THE BIG BUSINESS AND WEALTHY
INTEREST CONSIDER IT HARMFUL TO
THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE
MASSIVE CASH RESERVES AND THE
OVERWHELMING WEALTH OF OUR
SOCIETY.
EVEN THOSE, THE MAJORITY THAT
GOES TO WORK AND CREATES THAT
WEALTH.
THAT'S WHY IT REQUIRES A
POLITICAL STRUGGLE TO WIN
VICTORIES FOR THE MAJORITY.
THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT,
CORPORATE MEDIA, AND OTHERS ARE
FIGHTING TO MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE
THAT THE PROGRESSIVE CHANGE,
CHANGES LIKE AMAZON TAX, COME
FROM SITTING DOWN AT A TABLE
WITH SOMEONE LIKE STEVE HOOPER
TO COME TO A HAPPY COMPROMISE
BUT IN REAL LIFE, THE
COMPROMISES WE SEE ARE A
REFLECTION OF THE BALANCE OF
POWER IN SOCIETY.
SO IF WORKING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
THIS IS ABOUT POWER, THEN WE CAN
WIN GREATER GAINS IN THE FUTURE
BECAUSE WE WILL FOCUS THE
STRATEGY OF OUR MOVEMENT ON
BUILDING WORKER POWER AND
EMPOWER THE MARGINALIZED AND THE
OPPRESSED.
NOT TO MENTION THE RENTERS WHO
ARE NOW GOING TO BE FACING A
TSUNAMI OF EVICTIONS AS SOON AS
MORATORIUMS ARE LIFTED.
IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE
ESTABLISHMENT SEEDS IN
CONVINCING PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR
FAITH IN COLLABORATION WITH BIG
BUSINESS, IT WILL END UP
BUILDING THE POLITICAL POWER OF
BIG BUSINESS EVEN FURTHER AND
MAKE FUTURE VICTORIES FOR
WORKING PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR FAR LESS LIKELY.
I'M THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO VOTE
YES TODAY ON THE ORDINANCE AND
THE RESOLUTION IN ORDER TO MAKE
AVAILABLE TENS OF MILLIONS TO
FUND EMERGENCY COVID RELIEF FOR
OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE
POTENTIAL TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND OTHER PARTS OF THE
CITY AND FUNDING THE GREEN NEW
DEAL AND IMMEDIATELY
ESTABLISHING FIVE NEW TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN HARD FOUGHT
AND HARD WON.
WE WILL NEED SIMILARLY
EMBOLDENED MOVEMENT TO WIN IN
THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.
IT WILL BE ON THE BUDGET FOR THE
REMAINDER OF 2020.
FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE
PARTICIPATED WITH THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET CAMPAIGN EVERY YEAR, THE
LAST YEARS, WE'LL BE VOTING ON
THE FALL BUDGET IN THE FALL OF
2020 FOR THE BUDGET OF NEXT
YEAR.
SO LET'S MAKE SURE WE
IMMEDIATELY GEAR UP FOR WINNING
THE VICTORIES WE WANT TO WIN IN
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET SUMMER 2020
CAMPAIGN.
WE'RE DEMANDING THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BE DEFUNDED BY AT
LEAST 50% WHICH MEANS DEFUNDING
THEM BY AT LEAST $85 MILLION FOR
THE REST OF THIS YEAR AND
DEMAENGD THAT THOSE FUNDS BE
TRANSFERRED INTO SOCIALLY
CONSTRUCTIVE CAUSES IN THE BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITY.
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY
STOPS DOING INEFFECTIVE SWEEPS
OF HOMELESS NEIGHBORS AND TO
FUND RENTER ORGANIZING.
SO I INVITE EVERYBODY WHO'S
WATCHING THIS TO THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET SUMMER 2020 RALLY AND
MARCH ON TUESDAY, JULY 28TH, AT
6:00 P.M.
AT SEATTLE CENTRAL
COLLEGE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I'LL BE BRIEF SO WE CAN GET TO
THE FINAL QUESTION HERE ON
VOTING ON THIS TODAY.
BUT I DID JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY
SAY THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT
WE'RE TAKING THIS BIG MOVE AS A
COUNCIL TO REALLY MAKE STRONG,
NOTICEABLE, AND MEANINGFUL
PROGRESS ON WHAT WAS OUR
ORIGINAL STATE OF EMERGENCY THIS
YEAR, THE MASSIVE CRISIS OF SO
MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS LIVING ON
THE STREETS IN A STATE OF
HOMELESSNESS, SLEEPING IN
VEHICLES, SLEEPING IN TENTS, AND
MAKING SURE WE AS A CITY ARE
ACTING WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY
THAT THAT DEMANDS AND MAKING
SURE THAT THERE'S MEANINGFUL
PROGRESS, THAT ALL OF US IN
SEATTLE WANT TO SEE REGARDLESS
OF OUR POSITION.
WE ALL HAVE THAT SAME INTEREST
WHICH IS TO GET FOLKS WHO ARE
LIVING UNSHELTERED INSIDE WHERE
THEY CAN LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND
HAVE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
THERE ARE SEVERAL MEASURES IN
THIS PLAN THAT WE'RE PASSING
TODAY THAT WILL PROVIDE THAT
IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND PARTNERSHIP
WITH PROVIDERS AND WITH OUR
NEIGHBORS IN HOW WE SHAPED THIS
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
REALLY PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH
THE SPONSORS AND OTHER MEMBERS
OF THIS COUNCIL AND WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ON THE
AMENDMENT REGARDING THE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES AND AMONG OTHER
INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE.
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN MAKING SURE THIS
WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR
MIND IN DRAFTING THIS RELIEF TO
REALLY RESPOND TO THE MASSIVE
AMOUNT OF TENTS ON OUR STREET
WITH FOLKS IN THEM WITH NOWHERE
TO GO.
HONESTLY WITHOUT HAVING THOSE
OUTPUTS FROM DOING OUTREACH, NOT
MAKING MEANINGFUL PROGRESS
THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AND EARLY
SUMMER.
I'M GLAD WE'RE FINALLY DOING
THAT.
I'M GLAD WE CAN GO BACK TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND SAY WE'RE
TAKING ACTION URGENTLY TO HAVE
MOVEMENT ON THIS IN 2020 AND
HOPEFULLY THE BEGINNING OF EVEN
MORE TO COME THROUGHOUT THE REST
OF THE PLAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM OTHER
COLLEAGUES.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND HER
STAFF FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU
ALL HAVE DONE TO GET US TO THIS
POINT.
OBVIOUSLY LAST WEEK WAS A
MOMENTOUS OCCASION OR COUPLE
WEEKS AGO WAS A MOMENTOUS
OCCASION.
THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO, AGAIN, PRIORITIZE THOSE
AREAS OF FUNDING THAT WE THINK
ARE CRITICAL IN THE CITY'S
EFFORT TO RECOVER FROM THE
ECONOMIC CRISIS CAUSED BY THIS
PANDEMIC AND APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BE
SUPPORTIVE OF TAKING LOCAL
ACTION WHERE WE HAVE NOT SEEN
ACTION FROM OUR STATE
LEGISLATURE OR FROM OUR REGION
IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE
PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF OUR TAX
SYSTEM.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR ONGOING
EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE
WEALTHIEST CORPORATIONS TO PAY
THEIR FAIR SHARE AND TO GIVE THE
COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CLEARLY ARTICULATE WHERE IT IS
WE WANT TO SEE PRIORITIZATION OF
EXPENEDTURES.
IT'S MY HOPE THE EXECUTIVE WILL
SPEND THESE DOLLARS.
WE CANNOT FORCE THE EXECUTIVE,
THE MAYOR, TO ACTUALLY SPEND ANY
DOLLARS AT ALL.
BUT IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE'LL
CHOOSE TO SPEND THE DOLLARS AS
OPPOSED TO ALLOWING FOLKS TO NOT
REAP THE BENEFITS OF THE
APPROPRIATION CHOICES THE CITY
COUNCIL IS ABOUT TO MAKE TODAY
BY PASSAGE OF BOTH THIS COUNCIL
BILL AND THE UPCOMING
RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS.
I KNOW THERE'S MUCH MORE TO COME
THROUGH OUR ONGOING BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO HAND IT
OVER TO YOU TO CLOSE OUT DEBATE
ON THIS COUNCIL BILL AND THE
RESOLUTION SO WE CAN TAKE A
FINAL VOTE AND CONSIDER THE LAST
PIECES OF THE RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND THANKS ALSO FOR
YOUR STEWARDSHIP AS WE HELPED
PUT TOGETHER THE TIMELINE AND
FRAMEWORK TO GET THIS BILL OVER
THE FINISH LINE.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, IT'S BEEN
THROUGH HUNDREDS OF
CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESSES,
IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS GROUPS,
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HOUSING GROUPS
WITH LABOR AND BUSINESSES THAT
JUMP START CAME TOGETHER.
AND EVERYONE SAID THESE TWO
THINGS.
RESIDENTS IN SEATTLE WANT
SOLUTIONS AND THEY WANT
LEADERSHIP.
JUMP START SEATTLE OFFERS
SOLUTIONS AND THE LEADERSHIP
NEEDED TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE
COVID RELIEF AND SUPPORT IN THE
OUT YEARS TO WEATHER THIS
CRISIS.
THIS PROPOSAL THAT IS IN FRONT
OF US, BOTH THE REVENUE WE
PASSED TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE
DETAILED SPEND PLAN AND COVID
ASSISTANCE HERE WAS THOUGHTFUL,
INCLUSIVE, STRATEGIC, SMART, AND
CAREFULLY CRAFTED.
WE WELCOMED ANYONE TO THE TABLE
WHO WANTED TO ADVANCE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE IN SEATTLE.
AS THE PRIME SPONSOR OF JUMP
START, YOU CAN ACCUSE ME OF A
LOT OF THINGS.
BUT EVERYONE KNOWS I'M
INCLUSIVE, DELIBERATEIVE, AND
DATA DRIVEN.
WE PULLED EXPERTS FROM AROUND
THE COUNTRY, ECONOMISTS WHO SAID
THE SAME THING FROM ECONOMIC
POLICY INSTITUTE, FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS,
FROM FRONT AND CENTER, FROM
BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER.
TOGETHER THEY SAID PAST
RECESSIONS HAVE PROVEN WHEN
GOVERNMENTS INVEST IN SMALL
BUSINESS, INSTEAD OF CUTS ON
AUSTERITY, LOCAL ECONOMIES CAN
WEATHER CRISES IN A MORE
EQUITABLE WAY AND LOCAL
ECONOMIES REBOUND FASTER.
THERE'S A PROVEN RETURN ON
INVESTMENT IN THE STRATEGIES
THAT WE'RE VAPSING TODAY.
WE HAVE SHOWN WHEN WE INVEST IN
OUR COMMUNITY AND MOST
VULNERABLE, THERE'S A
MULTI-PLAYER EFFECT AND WE ALL
BENEFIT.
IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON WE
HAVE CHOSEN IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO USE ONE OF THE TOOLS
THAT IS A PROGRESSIVE TOOL TO
RAISE REVENUE IN THIS VITAL
TIME.
AND THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US
IS ON SOLID LEGAL GROUND.
THE SAME ATTORNEYS THAT THE
MAYOR RELIES UPON FOR HER LEGAL
ADVICE, HELPS ADVISE US ON
CRAFTING THIS POLICY.
IT'S A KNOWN FACT THAT PAYROLL
TAXES ARE A COMMONLY USED TOOL,
ONE THAT'S A PROGRESSIVE TOOL
THAT CITIES CAN RELY ON TO RAISE
REVENUE.
WE INTENTIONALLY BUILT OFF OF
THE LEGALLY SOUND STRATEGY THAT
BUSINESS AND LABOR AND COMMUNITY
GROUPS WERE NEGOTIATING IN
OLYMPIA.
AND I WANT TO THANK
LEADERSHIP IN OLYMPIA AND
ONGOING INPUT ON THE JUMP START
PROPOSAL.
WHEN THE BILL STALLED IN
OLYMPIA, WE IMMEDIATELY
REENGAGED WITH SOME OF THE SAME
FOLKS WHO ARE ENGAGING IN
OLYMPIA TO ASSESS HOW WE CAN
MOVE FORWARD IN SEATTLE TO ACT
AS A GOOD PARTNER WITH OUR STATE
AND REGIONAL EFFORTS, TO NOT
JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR
THE NEXT YEAR BUT TO TRULY
ENGAGE AND STEP IN WHEN THE
STATE AND REGION WAS NOT ABLE TO
ADVANCE SO WE COULD PROVIDE
IMMEDIATE COVID RELIEF AND OUT
YEAR SUPPORT.
SO YES, OF COURSE, THERE'S OTHER
PROGRESSIVE TOOLS I'VE BEEN AN
ADVOCATE FOR FOR OVER A DECADE.
AND THAT INCLUDES INCOME TAX.
THAT INCLUDES CAPITAL GAINS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
FOR ADVANCING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS.
THAT INCLUDES CORPORATE INCOME
TAX.
UNTIL WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE
TOOLS THAT WE CAN ADVANCE, WE
NEED TO PROVIDE RELIEF.
WE ARE GOING TO DO SO IN A
RESPONSIBLE WAY HERE WITH THE
PAYROLL TAXES IN FRONT OF US.
AND OF COURSE I WOULD SUPPORT AN
INCOME TAX AS WE KNOW, THE MAYOR
WANTS THAT AND SO MANY OTHERS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AN INCOME TAX
BUT WE CANNOT IN A RESPONSIBLE
WAY IMPLEMENT A FLAT RATE INCOME
TAX WITHOUT A REBATE.
IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE
HAD WITH THE MAYOR, I'VE BEEN
VERY CLEAR.
IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US
TO IMPOSE A FLAT RATE INCOME TAX
WITHOUT A REBATE FOR OUR LOWEST
WAGE WORKERS.
AND NO, THEY CAN'T AFFORD $500
OR $600 BACK TO THE CITY IN A
TIME WHEN THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO
PAY RENT OR PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE.
THESE JUMP START PROGRESSIVE
PAYROLL TAX BILL IS THE MOST
RESPONSIBLE AND THE MOST
PROGRESSIVE TAX PROPOSAL WE
COULD PUT IN FRONT OF US TO ACT
IN GOOD FAITH WITH STATE AND
COUNTY ACTORS AS WE ADVANCE
OTHER PROGRESSIVE STRATEGIES.
I WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO
WORKING ON PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
JUST AS I HAVE OVER THE LAST
DECADE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR MORE
RELIEF FOR OUR LOWEST WAGE
WORKERS, FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO
RIGHTSIDE UP OUR UPSIDE DOWN TAX
CODE.
ABSOLUTELY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO
HAPPEN.
AND IN FACT, WE'RE SO COMMITTED
TO IT, WE WROTE A PREDICTABILITY
CLAUSE INTO THE LEGISLATURE SO
IF ACTION WERE TO HAPPEN AT THE
STATE OR LOCAL LEVEL, WE'D ALSO
ACCOMMODATE THAT IN OUR STATUTE.
WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.
THAT SUPPORT IS NOT COMING IN
THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
AND JUMP START PROPOSAL OFFERS
THAT RELIEF THAT WE NEED FOR
COMMUNITIES, FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND FOR OUR MOST
VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO ECHO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS.
WHILE THE BILL ITSELF WAS NOT
VETOED, THE MAYOR HAS NOT
COMMITTED TO GETTING THE FUNDING
FOR COVID RELIEF OUT THE DOOR
WHICH IS CRITICAL.
THE CRITICAL EFFORT FOR US ALL
IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MAYOR
ALLOCATES THE COVID RELIEF
DOLLARS AS SPECIFIED IN THIS LAW
AFTER TODAY'S VOTE BECAUSE ANY
DELAY WOULD MEAN THE
CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR CITY'S
HEALTH AND RECOVERY WOULD BE
DIRE.
IT WOULD BE A DERELICTION OF
DUTIES NOT TO GET THIS OUT.
DERELICTION OF DUTIES MEANS A
SHAMEFUL FAILURE TO PROVIDE
ONE'S OBLIGATION.
IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO MAKE
SURE IMMIGRANTS GET THE SUPPORT
THEY NEED.
IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO HELP
INSTALL BUSINESSES OPEN UP SO
THEY CAN HIRE MORE PEOPLE WHEN
THEY GET THE GREEN LIGHT TO OPEN
UP.
IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE
MORE PEOPLE CAN KEEP A ROOF OVER
THEIR HEAD AND FOOD ON THE TABLE
SO THEY CAN BE HEALTHY, SUSTAIN
THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY AND
WEATHER THIS CRISIS THAT IS
COVID.
THIS IS NOT A THEORET ICAL
EXERCISE IN CRAFTING PROGRESSIVE
PRAULS.
WE'RE DOING THIS IN THE MIDST OF
A PUBLIC CRISIS.
WHERE HOUSING AND FOOD
INSECURITY IS NOT JUST A MORAL
CRISIS.
IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A CIVIL
RIGHTS UPRISING WHERE BLACK AND
BROWN FOLKS ARE GETTING HIT WITH
HIGHER RATES OF COVID-19.
HIGHER RATES OF HOSPITALIZATIONS
AND HIGHER DEATH RATES.
AND CORONAVIRUS IS LEADING TO
MORE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
GETTING LAID OFF, BEING ON
UNEMPLOYMENT OR WITHOUT THE
NECESSARY SUPPORTS THAT THEY
NEED FROM STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
WHERE 9 IN 10 BLACK OWNED
BUSINESSES WHO APPLIED FOR
FEDERAL SUPPORT THROUGH PPP
DIDN'T GET IT BECAUSE OF THE
LONG HISTORY OF RACIST LENDING
PRACTICES.
SO WE ARE DOING THIS AGAIN AS A
GOOD PARTNER, STEPPING UP AND
OFFERING PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
STEPPING IN WHERE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO.
AND WHERE THE STATE GOVERNMENT
HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONVENE
YET.
WE'RE DOING THIS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'VE DONE IT IN A SMART
WAY TO OFFER RELIEF AND MAKE
SURE THAT THESE DOLLARS GET OUT
IMMEDIATELY.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU, TO WORKING WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE FOLKS CAN
REALIZE THE ASSISTANCE THAT'S
BEEN OFFERED IN THE COVID RELIEF
BILL AND THE OUT YEARS IN THE
JUMP START SPENDING PLAN THAT'S
NOW DETAILED.
IN HOUSING, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR
THAT THERE'S GREATER NEED FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES AND RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND THE PROPOSAL IN
FRONT OF US DELIBERATELY FOCUSES
ON UNDOING HISTORIC INJUSTICES
AND BUILDING RESILIENCE AND
PROSPERITY FOR BLACK,
INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
RESIDENTS.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS
PROPOSAL AND A FEW I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT.
I'M EXCITED IN HOW THIS WILL
INVEST IN THE WORK OF CREATIVE
JUSTICE AND IT REALLY FOCUSES ON
GREAT PROGRAMS LIKE THE ONE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ LIFTED UP
TODAY FOR EFFORTS LIKE THE YOUTH
ACHIEVEMENT CENTER THAT WILL BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE MULTI-PURPOSE
BUILDINGS FOR WRAP AROUND
SERVICES.
COUPLING HOUSING AND SOCIAL
SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ASSETS
TOGETHER ESPECIALLY IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN
HARDEST HIT BY RED LINING.
FOR THE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
POPULATION, WE KNOW THERE'S
THOUSANDS OF UNDOCUMENTED
FAMILIES IN SEATTLE WHO WERE
LAID OFF AND INTENTIONALLY
EXCLUDED FROM THE CARES ACT AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO WE'VE INCLUDED $18 MILLION IN
DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE IN
SUPPORT.
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE, WE'VE HEARD
FROM SMALL BUSINESSES THAT THEY
JUST NEED FLEXIBLE DOLLARS.
GIVE THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO
HIRE PEOPLE BACK, TO CHANGE THE
STRUCTURE OF THEIR BUSINESS, TO
CREATE MORE PROTECTION FOR THEIR
EMPLOYEES AND THEIR PATRONS.
AND WE'VE OFFERED FLEXIBLE
DOLLARS.
IN RESPONSE TO WHAT THOSE SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE SAID THEY NEEDED
TO THE TUNE OF $18 MILLION.
AND THAT INCLUDES CHILDCARE
SUPPORT BECAUSE MANY SMALL
BUSINESSES TOLD US THEY CAN'T
OPEN UP WITHOUT ADDITIONAL CHILD
SUPPORT FOR THEIR KIDDOS OR FOR
THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THEY NEED CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE.
AND WE'VE PLANNED FOR THE
FUTURE.
IN THE SPEND PLAN PROPOSAL THAT
IS IN FRONT OF US IN JUST A
MINUTE, WE'VE WORKED WITH
BUSINESS AND LABOR AND COMMUNITY
ACTIVISTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE FOLKS.
ALEC FROM 350 SEATTLE CONVENED A
GROUP OF 33 LEADERS PLUS THEM
TWO REPRESENTING LABOR, CLIMATE,
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING GROUPS.
AND THEY PUT TOGETHER THE
PROPOSAL THAT WE SAW IN THE
AMENDED VERSION WHICH FOCUSES ON
GREEN NEW DEAL.
MATT REMLEY SAID THIS RESOLUTION
SMULTANEOUSLY ADDRESSES CLIMATE
CRISIS BY SEEKING THE REDUCTION
IN SEATTLE'S GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS, THE LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, JOB TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GREEN
ECONOMY, AND ADDRESSES THE HOUSE
DISPARITIES IN SEATTLE'S
NEIGHBORHOODS DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY POLLUTION.
THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT THE GOALS
OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL ARE.
HE SAYS HE'S HONORED TO HAVE
WORKED ALONGSIDE OUR OFFICE AND
MEMBERS OF LABOR, HOUSING,
CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
COMMUNITIES WITH THE FIND
AMENDED VERSION IN FRONT OF US.
THE MAYOR HAD A QUOTE IN THE
MAYOR'S LAUNCH ON GREEN AND JUST
COVID-19 RECOVERY PLANS, SAYING
COVID HAD LAID BARE THE SAME
INEQUITIES THAT ARE EXACERBATED
BY CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE BY
ADDRESSING LONG-TERM WEALTH
CREATION THAT'S ADVANCED THE
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF BLACK
AND BROWN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
AND NOT JUST FOCUS ON EXCLUDING
THOSE FOLKS AFTER THE FACT BUT
MUST PURSUE SOLUTIONS THAT
ADDRESS SHORT-TERM IMPACTS AND
LONG-TERM.
WE AGREE AND THIS PROPOSAL DOES
JUST THAT.
IT INVESTS IN MAKING SURE THAT
WE'RE ACTING ON GREEN NEW DEAL
ISSUES, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE
INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES HARDEST
HIT IN BOTH FRONT LINE AND FENCE
LINE COMMUNITIES, THAT WE'VE
INVESTED IN CREATING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BECAUSE WE KNOW AS MORE
PEOPLE GET PUSHED OUT OF THE
CITY, THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IS CAR
POLLUTION AND ALLOWING US TO
MAKE SURE THERE'S MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY
THAT PEOPLE LIVE AND WANT TO
WORK AND STAY MAKES US ON THE
PATH TOWARD A GREENER ECONOMY.
THESE ARE THE ISSUES WE'RE
ADDRESSING WHEN WE CAME TOGETHER
AND PUT TOGETHER THE JUMP START
PROEMS IN FRONT OF US.
THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE
RESPONDNG TO THE CITY'S CALL
FOR LEADERSHIP AND ACTION.
TOGETHER WE HAVE COME UP WITH
THE SOLUTION.
I WANT TO THANK AGAIN THE
COMMUNITY, ALL MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES, ALL THE ACTIVISTS,
ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE
INVOLVED WITH PUSHING FOR MORE
AND COMING TOGETHER CREATING
THESE SOLUTIONS.
IN FRONT OF US WE HAVE THE
BLUEPRINT TO CREATE A MORE
RESILIENT ECONOMY, HOUSE MORE OF
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FEED
THOSE DEALING WITH FOOD
INSECURITY AND MAKE SURE OUR
SMALL BUSINESSVISE THE
RESILIENCE THEY NEED.
FINALLY I WANT TO THANK MY
OFFICE.
IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE FOLKS
ON CENTRAL STAFF.
AND THE COMMUNICATIONS STAFF WHO
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US TO GET
THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE
COMMUNITY AND TO INCORPORATE ALL
OF YOUR AMENDMENTS IN THE FINAL
PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US.
WE COULD NOT DO THIS WORK
WITHOUT YOU AND THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MAKING HISTORY.
BUT WE GOT TO GET THESE DOLLARS
OUT THE DOOR.
THAT WILL COME NEXT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, FOR THOSE FINAL
REMARKS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT DEBATE ON THIS COUNCIL
BILL.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE CLERK TO
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL AS AMENDED.
COLLEAGUES, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR OUR CITY CLERK'S
OFFICE TO COUNT YOUR VOTES IN
THE PROPER COLUMN, THERE IS A
REQUEST THAT YOU VOTE EITHER AYE
FOR YES OR NO FOR NO BECAUSE AYE
AND NAY SOUND VERY, VERY
SIMILAR.
SO IF YOU INTEND TO VOTE NO,
MAKE SURE IT'S A NO AS OPPOSED
TO NAY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL
MAKE SURE TO OCCASIONALLY REMIND
US ABOUT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE A CLEARER RECORD FOR THE
CLERKS.
SO THAT BEING SAID, I ASK THAT
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL AS
AMENDED.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR.
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
CLERK, I HOPE THAT HELPED.
THE BILL PASSES AMENDED AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
I'D ASK THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATURE
ON MY BEHALF.
OKAY, FOLKS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE
TO AGENDA ITEM 2.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN READ INTO THE
RECORD.
AND IT HAS BEEN DEBATED IN TERMS
OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE
RESOLUTION.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
MOVE US INTO DISCUSSION OF
AMENDMENT 1.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I'M GOING
TO RECOGNIZE YOU IN ORDER TO
MOVE YOUR AMENDMENT TO
RESOLUTION 31957.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
AS THE AMENDMENT THAT
IS CONNECTED TO THIS IN THE LAST
BILL WAS NOT PASSED, I'LL BE
WITHDRAWING THIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CREATING THAT RECORD.
COLLEAGUES, AMENDMENT 1 IS
WITHDRAWN.
SO WE'LL NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENTS TO CONSIDER TO THE
RESOLUTION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE RESOLUTION BEFORE WE CALL IT
TO A VOTE?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
APOLOGIZE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
FOR SENDING YOU A FRANTIC TEXT.
I DID WANT A CHANCE TO COMMENT
BEFORE WE TAKE THE FINAL VOTE.
I DO WANT TO START BY THANKING
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, FOR
ALL THE WORK YOU AND YOUR OFFICE
HAVE DUP HERE.
IN 2017, I WAS PART OF THE
CAMPAIGN.
IT HELPED PASS A CITYWIDE INCOME
TAX.
I ORGANIZED THE D2 AND I WAS
VERY EXCITED WHEN IT PASSED.
AS WE KNOW, THAT IS AS IT WAS
PASSED IS NOT AN OPTION FOR US
RIGHT NOW.
IN 2018, THE EMPLOYEE HOURS TAX
PASSED AND THEN WAS REPEALED.
AND THIS YEAR, WE'VE HEARD THE
HAND RINGING ABOUT WHY WE SHOULD
WAIT FOR THE STATE OR COUNTY TO
PASS REVENUE.
I'LL SAY MANY OF THE SAME
ELECTIVES HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE
FOR FIVE, 10, 20 YEARS AND HAVE
NOT TAKEN ACTION THEMSELVES ON
PASSING PROGRESSIVE REVENUE FOR
THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON.
HERE WE ARE IN 2020, FINALLY
PASSING A PROGRESSIVE SPENDING
PLAN KNOWING WE'VE ALREADY
PASSED THE TAX AND THANKS TO OUR
VETO-PROOF MAJORITY, THAT'S
ABOUT TO BECOME LAW.
TODAY IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
TODAY WE'RE LETTING THEM KNOW
WE'LL SHIFT THE BURDEN OF PAYING
FOR SERVICES FROM THOSE WHO ARE
THE POOREST IN OUR CITY TO THOSE
WHO ARE THE MOST PRIVILEGED.
FROM INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS TO
THE LARGEST CORPORATIONS IN THE
CITY.
WE DO THAT TO ADDRESS OUR
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, THE COVID
RELIEF WE JUST PASSED, AND
THROUGH THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AND GREEN
NEW DEAL ALLOCATIONS, WE COMMIT
TO INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR TO REVERSE THE PATTERN OF
DISPLACEMENT AND VENTRIFICATION
WE'VE SEEN IN THIS CITY FOR
GENERATIONS.
I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF,
ESPECIALLY LAKEISHA FARMER,
WHO'S BEEN LEADING THIS WORK IN
OUR OFFICE.
I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF
DISTRICT 2 WHO CONTACTED MY
OFFICE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
MONTHS.
ALSO TO THANK THE ADVOCATES WHO
ORGANIZED TO LET THIS COUNCIL
KNOW THAT NOT ONLY THAT
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE IS A
PRIORITY FOR EQUITABLE FINANCING
OF PUBLIC SERVICES BUT ALSO FOR
COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION.
PUGET SOUND AND SOUTH CORE HAVE
BEEN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AND
WILL CONTINUE
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES
FOR SUPPORTING A PLAN THAT WILL
BENEFIT SEATTLEITES IN THE NEAR-
TERM THROUGH AN ECONOMIC
RECOVERY.
WHICH WE HOPE WILL BEGIN VERY
SOON AND INTO THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING BOLD AND
DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR
CITY MY APOLOGIES WERE LESS.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
COLLEAGUES IN THE OTHER
COMMENTS ABOUT THE COUNSEL BILL
THE RESOLUTION WE WILL TAKE
ACTION ON?
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE
CLERK CALL THE ROLE ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES .
>> PEDERSEN ?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT ?
>> YES
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES
>> JUAREZ ?
>> YES
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> 9 IN FAVOR IN UNOPPOSED.
OFF THE RESOLUTION IS
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN AND WILL CLERK AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF?
CONGRATULATIONS, COLLEAGUES,
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PEOPLE
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE WHO HAVE
BEEN FIGHTING THIS GOOD FIGHT.
FOR MANY YEARS.
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR
ONGOING WORK IN COLLABORATION
TO GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH
LINE.
THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY RIGHT HERE.
AND I AM REALLY EXCITED WE ARE
CHOOSING TO TAKE BOLD ACTION AS
OPPOSED TO KICKING THE CAN DOWN
THE ROAD IN THE HYPOTHETICAL
HOPES THAT SOME OTHER ELECTED
BODY WILL SHOW UP TO RESCUE US.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IS LIKELY
TO OCCUR.
THE URGENCY NOW DEMANDS WE TAKE
ACTION NOW.
AS OPPOSED TO WAITING ANOTHER
CYCLE TO SEE IF SOMEONE ELSE
COMES TO OUR RESCUE THANK YOU
EVERYONE FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND
YOUR ENGAGEMENTS.
AND FOR YOUR STEADFAST
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE
THAT WE ARE CALLED UPON TO
DUTIFULLY REPRESENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY FOLKS, MOVING ON TO AGENDA
ITEM 3 I ASKED THE CLERK TO
READ THE SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 3
INTO THE RECORD.
>> PART OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NUMBER ITEM 3, CAPITAL 119828
RELATING TO BATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL
MANAGER/CEO OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES ARE DESIGNED MEANS TO
ACQUIRE BY NEGOTIATION OR
EMINENT DOMAIN FOUR SEPARATE
PARCELS OF LAND IN ALL THE
NECESSARY PROPERTY RIGHTS OWNED
BY JSO LEGACY PROPERTIES, LLC.
>> I WILL MOVE TO PASS COUNSEL
TO 119828.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AS
BOUNCER OF THE BILL.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS
THIS ITEM.
>> THIS IS LESS EXCITING THAN
WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
I WILL READ THE SAME REMARKS I
READ FROM COUNSEL BRIEFING FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE VIEWING
PUBLIC TODAY.
MY COLLEAGUES SORT OF TUNE OUT
A LITTLE BIT I WILL NOT BE
OFFENDED.
AS WE KNOW OUR CITY IS
FORTUNATE TO OWN AND OPERATE
ITS OWN UTILITY ENTERPRISES.
WE HAVE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
DELIVERING ELECTRICITY TO
EVERYONE.
WITH OUR SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES NOT ONLY HANDLING
TRASH AND SEWAGE BUT ALSO
PROTECTING AND DELIVERING CLEAN
WATER.
YOU TURN ON THE LIGHT . MOST
CITIES DO NOT OWN THEIR OWN
UTILITIES.
OWNERSHIP COMES WITH ADDITIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES AND
LEGISLATION.
LIKE THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US
NOW.
IT WOULD AUTHORIZE OUR SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES GENERAL
MANAGER TO PURCHASE FOUR
INDUSTRIAL PARCELS CONSOLIDATED
TO CREATE A SINGLE IMPORTANT
HAVE FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
MAINTENANCE MATERIALS.
SPU CALLS AT THE SOUTH SPOILS
YARD.
SPOILS ARE THE DIRT AND DEBRIS
AFTER COMPLETING VITAL UTILITY
REPAIR INSTALLATION WORK.
THE PARCELS ARE IN AN
INDUSTRIAL AREA NEAR AIRPORT
WAY SOUTH AND SOUTH SPOKANE
STREET.
SOUTHEAST OF I-5 SPOKANE STREET
úINTERCHANGE.
THE SPOILS YARD WILL PROVIDE A
PLACE FOR CREWS TO STORE
EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL NEEDED
TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN AND
REPAIR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN
SEATTLE.
IN SOUTH SEATTLE.
PIPELINE, RUPTURES AND OTHER
EMERGENCIES ARE DISRUPTIVE AND
DAMAGING TO PUBLIC STREET RIGHT
AWAY AND SIDEWALKS.
BACKFILL MATERIALS MUST BE
AVAILABLE TO CREWS AT ALL
HOURS.
THIS WOULD REPLACE YARD AT
SOUTH MEADE STREET AND FIRST
AVENUE SOUTH.
WHICH SPU HAS BEEN LEASING FOR
OVER 14 YEARS.
THERE'S A SIMILAR HUB IN SOUTH
SEATTLE.
UTILITY HAS BEEN A GOOD PART OF
THAT TIME LOOKING FOR SUITABLE
PROPERTY TO BUY THAT IS IN AN
INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
AND CLOSE TO THE SPU OPERATION
CONTROL CENTER IN SOTO.
THE LOCATION OF PARCELS TO BE
INQUIRED MINIMIZES OPERATIONAL
IMPACTS TO THE PUBLIC WHEN DUST
NOISE IN ORDER THE LARGE
VEHICLE MOVEMENTS.
THE PROJECT IS IN SPU'S 2016-21
STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN, AND
FUNDING FOR THE ACQUISITION IS
IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET.
WE HAVE A PURCHASE AND SALE
AGREEMENT FOR THE PROPERTIES
THAT EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS
MONTH.
THE PURCHASES ARE FROM WHEELING
SELLERS THANK YOU FOR MOVING.
IT HAS BEEN SECONDED.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE
BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU.
I KNOW THE FISCAL NOTE
REFERENCES THE FACT THAT THE
PROVISION RELATED TO
CONDEMNATION HAS BEEN INCLUDED
IN THE BILL AT THE REQUEST OF
THE SELLERS FOR TAX PURPOSES.
WE HAVE A PURCHASE AND SALE
AGREEMENT FOR THE PROPERTIES.
I AM JUST CURIOUS UNDER WHAT
CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD THE SELLERS
USE THE CONDITIONS ON
CONDEMNATION FOR TAX PURPOSES
IF THERE WILL NOT BE A
CONDEMNATION?
>> THIS LEGISLATION FROM
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES HAD
THAT PROVISION IN THEIR.
BRIAN GOODNIGHT FROM CENTRAL
STAFF WAS AVAILABLE TODAY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I AM SORRY THAT WAS NOT
ANSWERED EARLIER FOR YOU.
IT IS JUST, IT WAS PUT IN AS
ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY.
MOVING AT THE SAME TIME THE
LEGISLATION IS MOVING.
IT'S THERE FOR THE ADDITIONAL
TAXABILITY.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE BILL?
HEARING NONE I WOULD ASK THE
CLERK DAYS:ROLE ON THE PASSAGE
OF THE BILL?
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN ?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT ? BUT YES.
>> STRAUSS?
BUT YES.
>> HERBOLD ? BUT YES.
>> JUAREZ ? BUT YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
BUT THE BILL PASSES IN THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
MOVING ALONG TO AGENDA ITEM FOR
I ASKED THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM FOR INTO THE RECORD.
>> 119829 RELATING TO
COMMERCIAL TENDENCIES,
TEMPORARILY PROHIBITING THE
ENFORCEMENT OF PERSONAL
LIABILITY PROVISIONS IN
COMMERCIAL LEASES OR OTHER
RENTAL AGREEMENT, DECLARED AN
EMERGENCY, AND ESTABLISHING AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE, ALL
BUT THE THREE FORCES OUT OF THE
CITY COUNCIL.
>> I WILL MOVE TO PALACE PASS
COUNSEL BILL 119829?
úIS THERE A SECOND?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS YOU ARE THE
PRIME SPONSOR OF THIS BILL.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THE MEN
IS HERE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I BELIEVE THE FIRST ONE IS
MINE.
I WOULD MOVE THAT WE CONSIDER
AMENDMENT 1 TO THE PREVIOUS
STATED COUNSEL BILL BEFORE US
FOR DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT NUMBER ONE
NECK.
>> THIS AMENDMENT JUST CLOSES A
POTENTIAL OVERSIGHT IN THE
INITIAL DRAFTING OF THIS SOME
OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
AND LEASEHOLDERS WHO
UNFORTUNATELY HAVE MADE THE
DECISION TO CLOSE UP.
AND POTENTIALLY WALK AWAY FROM
A LEASE.
MIGHT BEEN COVERED.
THIS AMENDMENT HELPS TO MAKE
SURE THEY ARE COVERED.
IF YOUR BUSINESS DID GO OUT OF
BUSINESS DURING COVID YOU COULD
STILL BENEFIT FROM THE RELIEF
THAT THIS REGULATORY CHANGE
COULD INVITE.
WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT IT WOULD
NOT BE POSSIBLE.
THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR A LOT OF
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO
UNFORTUNATELY HAVE BEEN
COMPLETELY SLAMMED BY THE COVID
RECESSION.
AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO THROW
TOGETHER A PACKAGE OF RELIEF.
AND GET THROUGH TO THE OTHER
SIDE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
STILL ABLE TO BENEFIT AND TO
NOT SUFFER FURTHER LOSS BY
POTENTIALLY LOSING THEIR HOME,
OR POTENTIALLY LOSING THEIR
LIFE SAVINGS.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD EXTEND THE
COVERAGE TO HELP THEM AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON AMENDMENT ONE?
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ALL NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT ONE.
I WOULD ASK THE CLERK:ROLE ON
THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES .
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES
>> SAWANT ?
>> YES .
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES
>> JUAREZ ?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
9 IN FAVOR IN AN OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU IN THE AMENDMENT
GOES.
I BELIEVE THERE IS ANOTHER
AMENDMENT.
THIS ONE IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD IN ORDER TO MAKE THE
MOTION TO PRESENT AMENDMENT
TWO.
>> I MOVED TO AMEND COUNSEL
ILL 1198 29.
IS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT TO ON
THE AGENDA.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND ADOPTED.
I WILL HAND IT BACK OVER TO YOU
TO ADDRESS THE AMENDMENT.
>> AS I MENTIONED THIS MORNING
AND COUNSEL BRIEFINGS MEETING I
BELIEVE SMALL BUSINESSES AND
NONPROFITS WILL NEED A PERIOD
OF TIME AFTER THE STATE OF
EMERGENCY IS LIFTED.
N ORDER TO REGAIN THEIR
FINANCIAL FOOTING.
THIS AMENDMENT GIVES THEM A
MODEST GRACE PERIOD TO DO THAT.
I BELIEVE IT IS CONSIDERED A
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
THE TIMELINE OF THIS AMENDMENT
IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE APPROACH
WE TOOK WITH LEGISLATION THAT
THE COUNSEL PASSED EARLIER THIS
YEAR.
REQUIRES LANDLORDS OF
COMMERCIAL TENANTS TO NEGOTIATE
A REASONABLE PAYMENT PLAN.
FOR RENT OWING DURING THIS DAY
OF EMERGENCY.
AND ALLOWING THAT OBLIGATION TO
NEGOTIATE A REASONABLE PAYMENT
PLAN TO EXTEND SIX MONTHS
FOLLOWING THE STATE OF
EMERGENCY.
WITH THIS PROPOSED EXTENSION
THESE BILLS SHOULD WORK
TOGETHER TO GIVE LANDLORDS AND
TENANTS TIME TO NEGOTIATE THE
PAYMENT PLAN, AND BUILD TRUST.
HOPEFULLY LEADING FEWER
LANDLORDS TO EVER PURSUE
PERSONAL LIABILITY PROVISIONS.
THIS AMENDMENT WAS CIRCULATED
BY CENTRAL STAFF YESTERDAY.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
MY STAFF PERSON.
FOR SUGGESTING THIS REALLY
STRONG ALIGNMENT WITH THE
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION REGARDING
PAYMENT PLANS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT TWO?
>> I WANT TO CONFIRM THIS IS
THE FINAL AMENDMENT?
>> RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT
CONFIRMATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
ON AMENDMENT TWO?
SEEING AND HEARING NINE, I
ASKED THE COURT PLEASE CALL
ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT TWO?
>> LEWIS?
>> YES
>> MORALES?
BUT YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES
>> SAWANT ?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES
>> SUAREZ JUAREZ ?
>> IT IS.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN
AMENDMENT TWO IS ADOPT.
I WILL NOW GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT
UP FOR GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE
BILL AS AMENDED.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
I DID NOT SEE ANYONE RAISING
THEIR HAND.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS DO YOU HAVE
ANY CLOSING REMARKS BEFORE WE
CALL THIS TO A BOAT?
>> I I WOULD JUST SAY SINCE WE
STILL HAVE A FEW AGENDA ITEMS
AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT
LENGTH BEFORE, OBVIOUSLY URGE
EVERYONE TO ADOPT THIS.
I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT
EMERGENCY PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
I WOULD REMIND EVERYONE THAT
DOES MEAN, IT'S BEEN A WHILE
SINCE WE HAD ONE OF THESE.
REQUIRE SEVEN VOTES.
IT WAS SENT FROM THE MAYOR.
I REALLY HOPE TO PASS THIS
THROUGH AND PROVIDE THE
CERTAINTY THAT WOULD COME WITH
THIS KIND OF PROTECTION TO OUR
SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERS.
I WOULD ADD AS WELL, I KNOW
THAT THERE IS SOME FOLKS
WATCHING THAT HAVE BEEN PINING
ABOUT THE POSSIBLE LEGALITY OF
THE ORDINANCE.
I WOULD DIRECT ANY COLLEAGUES
OR QUESTION ABOUT THAT TO THE
GREAT MEMO.
TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS WHICH
WAS CIRCULATED LATE LAST WEEK.
WHICH MAKES ME CONFIDENT IN
VOTING FOR THE ORDINANCE
ADDRESS THAT THE FLEET AND NO I
DID DISTRIBUTE THEIR ASSESSMENT
OF THE ANALYSIS OF THE STRONG
MERITS OF THE ORDINANCE.
OTHERWISE I DO NOT HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD FROM MY
COMMENTS IN THE BRIEFING THIS
MORNING.
WE URGE FOLKS TO VOTE YES.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
HEARING AND SEEING THEN I ASKED
THE CLERK:ROLE ON THE PASSAGE
OF THE BILL AS AMENDED.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT ?
>> YES
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES
>> HERBOLD?
BUT YES.
>> JUAREZ ?
>> YES
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> THE BILL PASSES HERE WILL
SIGN IT.
ELATION ON MY BEHALF.
GETTING CLOSE TO THE FINISH
LINE.
AGENDA ITEM 5 I ASKED THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 5 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> 119832, RELATED TO FLOOD
PLANS ADOPTING INTERIM
REGULATIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENT REGULATIONS, ADOPTED
UPDATED NATIONAL FLOOD
INSURANCE RATE MAPS TO ALLOW
INDIVIDUALS TO CONTINUE TO
OBTAIN FLOOD INSURANCE THROUGH
FEMA'S LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM,
AND AMENDING CHAPTER 25 POINT
06 AND SECTION 25.0 9.030 OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.
AND MOVED TO PASS COUNSEL BILL
NUMBER 119832.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> IT IS BEEN SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THIS ITEM
>> IT IS LEGISLATIONS THAT ARE
REQUIRED BY FEMA IN ORDER FOR
THE CITY TO CONTINUE
PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL
FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.
FEBRUARY FEMA PUBLISHED AN
UPDATED FLOOD INSURANCE RATE
úMAPS.
A NEW FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY FOR
KING COUNTY.
THIS REQUIRES ALL KANE COUNTY
JURISDICTIONS TO UPDATE THEIR
FLOOD PLAN REGULATIONS TO
COMPLY FOR THE NATIONAL LIFE
INSURANCE PROGRAM.
THIS WITH ADOPT THE FEMA
RECOMMENDED CHANGES ON AN
INTERIM BASIS THIS.
IN ORDER TO MEET THE FEDERAL
DEADLINE OF AUGUST 19th.
AS THEY PREPARE THE PERMANENT
RECORD.
RECOMMENDATIONS ON PERMANENT
REGULATIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN
THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
AS THIS IS IN AN TERM MEASURE
THAT IS FEDERALLY REQUIRED TO
KEEP US IN COMPLIANCE.
WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
THANK YOU COUNSEL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE REMARKS.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> I WANT TO SAY A FEW
COMMENTS.
BECAUSE OF THE 185 PROPERTIES
THAT ARE BEING ADDED WITH THIS
UPDATE.
131 OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE IN
DISTRICT 1. 44 OF THEM ARE
SINGLE-FAMILY PROPERTIES AND
ATE OUR LOW RISE.
THE REST ARE COMMERCIAL OR
INDUSTRIAL ALTHOUGH THIS
LEGISLATION DOES MAKE IT
POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO APPLY
FOR NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
UNDER THE NATIONAL FLOOD
INSURANCE RATE, AND THE
INSURANCE VARIES FROM PROPERTY
TO PROPERTY.
THE AVERAGE IN WASHINGTON IS
$100 A YEAR WITHOUT BEING ON
THE FLOOD MAP YOU CANNOT TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF GETTING FLOOD
INSURANCE THIS LEGISLATION ALSO
REQUIRES PROPERTIES TO GET
FLOOD INSURANCE.
WE HAVE CONTACTED SDCI TO FIND
OUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS
FLOOD INSURANCE FOR LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS WHOSE PROPERTY IS
DEEMED TO BE IN THE FLOOD ZONE.
AT THIS POINT THERE IS NO SUCH
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
I JUST WANT TO FLAG FOR THE
INTEREST, IN THE INTEREST OF
TRANSPARENCY.
THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A LOT
OF IMPACTS TO PROPERTY OWNERS
IN DISTRICT 1 AND ALTHOUGH
THERE IS A BENEFIT FROM THIS
LEGISLATION AND THAT PROPERTY
OWNERS IN THE FLOOD ZONE ON THE
MAP CAN APPLY FOR FLOOD
INSURANCE.
WE YOU CAN'T IF YOU ARE NOT ON
THE MAP.
THE DOWNSIDE IS IT REQUIRES YOU
TO APPLY FOR FLOOD INSURANCE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IS A
DIFFICULT DECISION FOR SOME
FOLKS.
I AM INTERESTED IN CONTINUING
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR
LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INCREASED
INSURANCE.
THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THE BILL?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE I WOULD
ASKED THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT ?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD CLASS
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ ?
>> YES, I GUESS.
>> RESIDENT GONZALES?
>> I THINK I GUESS COUNTS AS A
YES MADAM CLERK.
>> YES.
>> THAT IS BETTER, THANK YOU.
YOU GET TO BINARY OPTIONS, YES
OR NO.
MINE IS YES.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES IN THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
I ASKED THE CLERK OF FIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
WE HAVE REACHED THE PART OF OUR
AGENDA FOR OTHER BUSINESS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> I DID JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY
RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE STAFF
FOR ALL THE WORK ON THE
COMMERCIAL LEASE LEGISLATION.
I FORGOT, MY CLOSING REMARKS TO
SAY THAT IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
THE STAFF MEMBERS ON THE SECOND
FLOOR WHO ARE CRITICAL TO THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR INDULGING THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING A
MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE STAFF.
ALWAYS AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO
IF WE WANT TO SEE THINGS
CONTINUE TO GET DONE.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I YOU HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB
WITH THIS.
AND CONVENING WEEKLY, AND
HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS
REMOTELY.
WE KNOW IT IS HARD OUT THERE
WITH STRESS HAPPENING WITH BOTH
COVID RELATED HEALTH CONCERNS
AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS AND
INCREASING DEMANDS FOR CALLS
FOR US TO RESPOND TO CIVIL
RIGHTS DEMANDS UPON OUR ENTIRE
NATION.
I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I
APPRECIATE EVERYONE IN THE
STRESSFUL TIMES.
WE'VE SEEN REPORTS ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO TAKE CARE OF
YOURSELF AND BE KIND AND
RESPECTFUL AND CONTINUE TO PUSH
FOR CHANGE.
BUT TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER
AND ONE ANOTHER.
WE DO NOT HEAR THAT ENOUGH.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE MESSAGES
YOU HAVE SENT ABOUT SUPPORTING
ONE ANOTHER IN IN KIND AND
RESPECTFUL IN THIS TIME.
WHEN WE ARE IN VERY STRESSFUL
CONDITIONS.
THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO
RESPOND TO MANY OTHER PRESSING
ISSUES HERE.
I WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU, AND TO
OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE, THANK
YOU FOR CONTINUING TO TAKE CARE
OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND A REMINDER
TO BE KIND AND NICE
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
I WANT TO ECHO THOSE
SENTIMENTS.
LAST WEEK I SENT OUT A COUPLE
OF MESSAGES TO OUR LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT.
ON WAS TO REMIND FOLKS TO
ENGAGE IN SELF-CARE.
THIS IS STRONG WORK WE ARE
ENGAGING IN.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.
WE MAY HAVE POLICY
DISAGREEMENTS, BUT AT THE END
OF THE DAY I DEEPLY AND
PROFOUNDLY RESPECT EACH ONE OF
YOU AS MY COLLEAGUES AND AS
RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK WITH ALL OF YOU ON SOME OF
THE TOUGHEST ISSUES FACING OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
REMEMBER TO ALSO ENGAGE IN SELF-
CARE AND TO REMIND YOUR STAFF
TO ENGAGE IN SELF-CARE AS WELL.
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU ON THE
ISSUES THAT WILL BE BARRELING
OUR WAY OVER THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID COLLEAGUES
THIS CONCLUDES THE ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 27, 2020
AT 2 P.M.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL
AFTERNOON, AND A GOOD REST OF
YOUR WEEK.
WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY AND STAFF.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY.