.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE AUGUST 10, 2020 MEETING OF
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL
BEGIN.
IT IS 2:01 P.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
[ CALLING ROLL ]
.
>> THANK YOU.
AS I MENTIONED IN THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE WE WILL NEED
TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME
BEFORE WE BEGIN TODAY'S MEETING
IN ORDER TO PROVIDE OUR CLERK
STAFF, OTHER STAFF AND OUR
COUNCIL STAFF THE TIME
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO PROCESS
ALL OF THE AMENDATORY WORK THAT
JUST FINISHED UP AND CONCLUDED
CLOSE TO 1:30 P.M.
SO THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT
MORE TIME TO BE ABLE TO PUSH
THINGS OUT INTO OUR SYSTEM, THE
SYSTEM THAT DOCUMENTS AND
RECORDS ALL THE LEGISLATURE
ACTIONS WE TAKE.
SO I APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC'S
AND COLLEAGUE'S PATIENCE IN
ALLOWING STAFF AND OUR
LEGISLATIVE CLERK STAFF AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCESS WORK
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE BILLS WE ARE VOTING ON
THIS AFTERNOON ARE REFLECTIVE
OF THE ACTIONS THAT WE JUST
TOOK IN OUR SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE SO THEY HAVE ASKED
FOR A NEED FOR 45 MINUTES TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT WORK SO IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THIS
MEETING WILL BE IN RECESS FOR
45 MINUTES.
OKAY.
COLLEAGUES HEARING NO
OBJECTION.
THIS MEETING IS IN RECESS UNTIL
2:45 P.M.
AT THAT TIME I ASK THAT ALL OF
YOU LOG BACK IN AT LEAST 5
MINUTES BEFORE SO WE COULD GET
THE MEETING STARTED AT 2:45
P.M.
WE ARE IN RECESS.
THANK YOU.
.
>>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THE
MEETING STARTED.
WE ARE NOW RECORDING.
THE AUGUST 10, 2020, MEETING OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL
COME BACK TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:45 P.M.
WE WILL DO ROLE CALL ONE MORE
TIME.
I WILL ASK THE CLERK, PLEASE,
CALL THE ROLE.
[ CALLING ROLE ]
.
>> PRESENTATIONS, I AM NOT
AWARE OF PRESENTATIONS.
WE WILL MOVE TO APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES.
THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS OF JULY 27 AND AUGUST
3, 2020, HAVE BEEN
REVIEWED.
NO OBJECTION, THE MINUTES ARE
BEING SIGNED.
I WOULD ASK THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES.
ADOPTION OF THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
THERE WILL BE AN AMENDMENT SO
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH
PROCESS OF PUTTING THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
BEFORE US.
I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT THE
PROPOSED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
THANK YOU.
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS YOU HAVE AN
AMENDMENT, I WILL RIGHT YOU IN
ORDER TO ALLOW YOU TO MOVE THE
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVE THAT WE AMENDMENT THE
REFERRAL CALENDAR BY
INTRODUCING RESOLUTION,
POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY,
ESTABLISHING THE INTENT TO
CREATE A CIVILIAN LEAD
COMMUNITY AND VIOLENCE
PREVENTION.
IDENTIFYING ACTIONS IN 2020 TO
REMOVE CERTAIN FUNCTIONS FROM
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A
COMMUNITY LED PROCESS.
REQUESTING MODIFICATIONS TO THE
POLICING PRACTICES, REQUESTING
REPORTING TO THE COUNCIL,
PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON LAYOFF
DECISIONS AND ESTABLISHING A
WORK PROGRAM AND TIME LINE FOR
CREATING A NEW DEPARTMENT AND
BY REFERRING IT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL, IN ADDITION I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE CO-SPONSORS OF THE
RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMENDMENT THE
REFERRAL CALENDAR TO INTRODUCE
311962.
AFTER AGENDA ITEM 11.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR?
>> HEARING NONE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
[ CALLING ROLE ]
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR ARE AMENDED.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE I WOULD ASK THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON
THE AMENDED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
[ CALLING ROLE ]
>> 8 IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF
THE AGENDA.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION.
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
WE WILL OPEN UP THE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
AND THE 2020 WORK PROGRAM.
I THANK YOU FOR PATIENCE AS WE
CONTINUE TO LEARN TO OPERATE
THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CHANGES
MADE BY THE PLATFORM IN REAL
TIME AND IN -- THEIR
UNDERSTANDING IN OUR NEED TO
NAVIGATE THROUGH THE GROWING
PANGS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE
ONGOING CHANGES.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FINE
TUNE THIS REMOTE PROCESS.
IT REMAINS THE INTENT TO HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MEETING
AGENDAS HOWEVER, THE CITY
COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
END THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IF THE SYSTEM BEING ABUSED OR
NO LONGER SUITABLE.
AND IN A MANNER IN WHICH WE ARE
ABLE TO CONDUCT OUR NECESSARY
BUSINESS.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR TODAY.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS MEETING WAS SCHEDULED TO
BE 20 MINUTES.
WE HAVE QUITE A BIT MORE PUBLIC
SPEAKERS THAN THAT.
SO I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
EXTEND THE PUBLIC MEETING IN
ADVANCE.
WE HAVE ABOUT -- I WOULD SAY 40
OR SO SPEAKERS SO I THINK WE
CAN GET THROUGH OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN ABOUT AN HOUR
BUT I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
SAY THAT WE WILL HEAR PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR UP TO 75 MINUTES TO
ALLOW FOR TRANSITION TIME
BETWEEN EACH SPEAKER.
I WILL CALL EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN 60
SECONDS OR ONE MINUTE TO
PROVIDE US WITH THEIR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO YOU CAN
SIGN UP BY GOING TO THE CITY
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
THE LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND YOU
WILL HEAR A TUNE THAT SAYS YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
EACH CALLER, THIS IS NEW, I
NEED THOSE WHO REGISTERED TO
PAY ATTENTION TO THIS
DIRECTION, IF YOU ARE GETTING
THE CUE YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED
YOU NEED PRESS STAR 6 TO
CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED WHEN YOUR NAME IS
CALLED.
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU,
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU
UNTIL YOU HIT STAR 6 ON YOUR
END.
I WILL REMIND FOLKS
PERIODICALLY AS WE GO THROUGH
PUBLIC COMMENT SO THAT FOLKS
UNDERSTAND A LOT TO DO ONCE
THEIR NAME IS BEING CALLED.
THAT IS A CHANGE BY THE ZOOM
PLATFORM.
NOT INSTITUTED BY US.
OKAY.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE YOU HEAR THAT CHIME WRAP
UP YOUR COMMENTS.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED PERIOD OF TIME, ONE
MINUTE, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED TO GO TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU COMPLETED YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, DISCONNECT FROM THE
LINE AND IF YOU PLAN TO
CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE MEETING
PLEASE DO SO VIA THE OPTIONS
LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON TODAY'S
LIST IS ABBEY, FOLLOWED BY
JOANNA.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO HIT STAR 6.
>> GOOD MORNING.
DISTRICT 4. I AM ENCOURAGING
YOU TO DEFUND THE POLICE
THROUGH THE MOTIONS PRESENTED
TODAY.
THE ARGUMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
PLEASE PASS THE AMENDMENTS TO
DEFUND THE POLICE FOR THE SAKE
OF OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS
YOUR OWN HIGHEST CONSCIOUS.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS JOANNA FOLLOWED BY
ANDREA.
>> HI.
I AM FROM DISTRICT 7. I AM
ASKING ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF
HISTORY BY DEFUNDING THE POLICE
AND COMMIT TO FIRING THE 100
OFFICERS WITH THE MOST EXCESS
IVE USE OF FORCE CASES.
I AM ASKING YOU TO COMMIT TO
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BY 50% AND
NOT 41%.
I BELIEVE IN YOUR ABILITIES TO
FIND LOOPHOLES IN THE CONTRACT
TO MEET OUR DEMANDS.
IF BLACK LIVES MATTER PROVE IT.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP ANDREA FOLLOWED BY
BRIAN.
>> THANK YOU.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4. I URGE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DEFUND
THE POLICE BY 50%.
IN ORDER TO COMBAT CRIME WE
MUST COMMIT TO A LONG-TERM
INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITIES, NOT
IN THE POLICE.
AS THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY HAS
BEEN DEMANDING FOR MONTHS NOW.
YOU REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF
SEATTLE AND THIS IS WHAT WE ARE
ASKING FOR.
PLEASE DEFUND THE POLICE BY 50%
AND INVEST THE REMAINDER OF THE
BUDGET TO COMMUNITY.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
DEFUNDING, NOT DEMILITARIZING
THE POLICE BY 50%.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP BRIAN FOLLOWED BY
CHARLOTTE.
>> HELLO.
I LIVE IN D6.
I AM CALLING FOR EXPRESS
SUPPORT FOR DEFUNDING THE
POLICE.
I AM DISAPPOINTED TODAY'S VOTE
ISN'T A MORE AGGRESSIVE FIRST
CUT.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WALKED BACK
SOME OF THE SALARY CUTS THIS
MORNING.
SHE TEAR GASSED NEIGHBORHOODS,
BRUTALIZING THE COMMUNITY.
YET YOU HESITATE TO CUT HER
SALARY.
ORGANIZERS HAVE BEEN GOING TO
THE TROUBLE OF VISITING
NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU ARE
TAKING CUES FROM COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
P I SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS
AND EXPECT YOU WILL FOLLOW
THROUGH ON YOUR COMMIT TO THEIR
DEMANDS.
DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST 50% AND
RELEASE ALL PROTESTERS.
BLACK LIVES MATTER THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS CHARLOTTE.
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> I LIVE IN THE SOUTH
PRECINCT.
ONE NIGHT FOUR YEARS AGO
BULLETS HIT MY HOUSE, MISSING
MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER BY A
FEW FEET.
A YEAR LATER I WITNESSED A
MURDER OF A MOM SHOT TO DEATH
IN FRONT OF HER HOME BY A
MUGGER WHO WANTED HER PURSE.
63% OF THE SHOTS FIRED, WE HAVE
HALF THE BUDGET OF THE NORTH
PRECINCT.
OUR PRECINCT NEED MORE POLICE
FUNDING.
NOT LESS.
I URGE YOU TO ADOPT A PROGRAM
CALLED CURE VIOLENCE.
THIS PROGRAM REDUCED GUN
VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO BY 80% AND
COULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR NEW
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SAFETY
FOR LESS THAN 1% OF THE SPD
BUDGET.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
FIRST, I WANTED TO POINT OUT
LAST TIME I CALLED IN YOU SAID
YOU WOULD GET UP WITH ME AND
YOU NEVER DID AND YOU ALSO
MISGENDERED ME.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
MEANING OF 50% AT LEAST.
AND JUST BLESS YOUR HEARTS.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY..
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6.
I WORK ALSOLID GROUND AND I AM
A BOARD MEMBER OF HUNGER
INTERVENTION PROGRAM.
I AM CALLING TO DEFUND SPD.
KEEP THE SHIFT OF POLICE
EXECUTIVE PAY CUTS TOWARD
COMMUNITY SERVICES.
AS I AM SEEING IT IS ESSENTIAL
WE START ACTING NOW.
IN APRIL WE SAW THE ONLINE
APPLICATION FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE HAD TO BE CLOSED
WITHIN 2 HOURS OF OPENING
BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND.
WE ARE SEEING DEMAND FOR FOOD
SUPPORT WITH SCHOOL CLOSURES
AND NOW WE ARE COMING UP ON THE
UNEMPLOYMENT BOOST, NOW MORE
THAN EVER OUR CITY AND OUR
COMMUNITIES NEED RESOURCES AND
SUPPORT AND NOT POLICING.
I HOPE YOU PUT YOUR PLEDGES TO
ACTION IN THE 2020 BUDGET.
THIS IS OUR FIRST STEP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS JOE FOLLOWED BY
KATIE.
>> THANK YOU.
A COUPLE SUBJECTS TODAY.
THE RESOLUTION TO PROTECT
JOURNALISTS.
I AM ON FRIENDLY TERMS WITH THE
INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS THAT
SIGNED THE LETTER TO YOUR
OFFICE TODAY, TO DROP MEDIA
SUBPOENAS AIMED AT PUNISHING
PROTESTERS.
I CALL UPON YOU TO DEMAND CHIEF
-- DROP THAT SUBPOENA, PLEASE.
WHAT IS GOING ON IN BALLARD?
THIS IS HURTING ALL OF US.
REALLY BAD.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE COPS.
YOU CAN SUPPORT JOURNALISTS AND
YOU CAN SUPPORT COPS.
I THINK THERE SHOULD BE ANY
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWOS.
JOURNALISTS KEEP COPS
ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING
TODAY.
>> NEXT UP IS KATIE FOLLOWED BY
KELSEY.
>> I AM CALLING FROM DISTRICT 6
DEMON SPD BY 50% AND UPHOLD THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE DECISION.
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE
COUNTING ON YOU TO LISTEN TO
THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITY GROUPS SHOULD BE
AT THE TABLE FOR FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS.
WE ARE A MODERN FOR THE COUNTRY
AND RIGHT NOW WE NEED BOLD
LEADERS.
THANK YOU.
>> Reporter: YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP KELSEY FOLLOWED BY
ASHLEY.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE
DISTRICT 2. THANK YOU FOR
PASSING AMENDMENT 47 TO HOLD
SPD ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOLLARS
SPENT.
THIS AMENDMENT IS A FIRST STEP
TOWARD ACCOUNTABILITY AND
FISCAL TRANSPARENCY.
ESPECIALLY AROUND THE USE OF
OVERTIME HOURS AND EQUIPMENT
PURCHASES IN 2020.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO HOLD SPD
ACCOUNTABLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD
IN SEPTEMBER WITH THE 2021
BUDGET PLAN.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ASHLEY FOLLOWED BY
THOMAS.
>> I AM CALLING TO DEMAND CITY
COUNCIL NOT DEFUND SPD BY 50%.
ONLY 32% SUPPORT YOUR RECKLESS
PLAN.
HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU ARE ACTING
IN THE INTEREST OF THE MAJORITY
IF THE POLLS SHOW OTHERWISE.
ALL SEATTLE WORKERS AND
RESIDENTS SHOULD FEEL SAFE.
YOU ARE PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK.
CUTTING OUR POLICE OFFICERS
GETS RID OF OUR MOST DIVERSED
AND BEST TRAINED OFFICERS.
THE CHIEF IS TRUSTED BY YOUR
RESIDENTS, RESPECTED BY YOUR
OFFICERS AND MAYOR.
PLEASE INCLUDE HER IN YOUR
MEETINGS, NOT JUST HER BOYS.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS THOMAS, FOLLOWED
BY GINA. THOMAS?
ARE YOU ON?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> I AM IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
RESOLUTION 31962 INTRODUCED AND
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
I AM PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF
SEATTLE.
REINVENTING PUBLIC SAFETY IS A
DAUNTING TASK IT WILL REQUIRE
RESEARCH, DATA AND CREATIVE
APPROACHES.
SENSIBLE STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO
REDUCE RACIAL DISPARITIES.
THE 2020 BUDGET REVISIONS ARE A
MAJOR STEP FORD TOWARD IMPROVED
SAFETY FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS GINA, FOLLOWED BY
LAUREN..
>> I AM A BALLARD RESIDENT,
DISTRICT 6. WITH REGARD TO THE
BUDGET FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY IN
SPD, I AM NOT INTERESTED IN A
LOGAN, OR A NUMBER.
I AM HEARTENED BY YOUR STEPS
BUT WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR
COMMUNITY SAFETY, HEALTH AND
VIBRANCY.
WHAT DOES MEAN TO BE SAFE,
HEALTHY AND VIBRANT?
WHAT IS THE TIME LINE?
WHAT IS THE MEASURES?
FOR PROGRESS.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS AND
MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR THE
PLAN?
WHO IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR DECISION-MAKING?
AND HOWEVER WELL MEANING STEPS
ISN'T THE PLAN.
COLLABORATE WITH THE MAYOR, THE
POLICE CHIEF, THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS LAUREN, FOLLOWED
BY TOBIN.
>> HELLO.
I LIVED IN THE SEATTLE AREA MY
ENTIRE LIFE.
DUE TO THE ABUSE OF THE
COMMUNITIES I DEMAND THE CITY
COUNCIL DEFUND SPD BY 50% BY
THE 2020 AND 2021 BUDGET.
ALL PROTESTERS ARE LEASED
WITHOUT CHARGES.
THE IMMEDIATE SHUT DOWN OF THE
YOUTH JAIL AND MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN AND POLICE CHIEF RESIGN
AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR USING
ILLEGAL WAR TACTICS.
BLACK LIVES MATTER, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP TOBIN FOLLOWED BY SARAH.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
3. I AM CALLING THE CITY
COUNSEL TO DEFUND SPD BY 50%.
THANK YOU FOR QUANTUM KSHAMA
SAWANT FOR LISTENING.
TO INVEST THE MONEY IN BLACK
AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
DROP THE LAWSUITS AND DROP ALL
CHARGES AGAINST PROTESTERS.
ABOLISH SPD.
CUT TIES WITH THE ISRAELI
MILITARY, AND HOLD THE CHIEF
ACCOUNTABLE FOR SPREADING LIES
AND FEAR.
HER LIES AND PROPAGANDA
RESULTED IN DRAWING NATIONAL
ATTENTION.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS SARAH, FOLLOWED BY
HOWARD.
>> I LIV IN DISTRICT 3, I
BELIEVE DEFUNDING SPD AND
REINVESTING IN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IS NECESSARY BECAUSE
THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE HAVE
SEEN A PATTERN OF POLICE
BRUTALITY AND NEGLIGENCE FROM
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND THE SHIRKING OF
RESPONSIBILITY.
SO PLEASE, MEET THE DEMANDS TO
DEFUND SPD BY 50% BY VOTING TO
REINVEST IN COMMUNITY BASED
SOLUTIONS AND TRANSFER
FUNCTIONS AND REDUCE THE BUDGET
ACROSS THE BOARD.
RELEASE ALL THE PROTESTERS.
NO NEW YOUTH JAIL.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP IS HOWARD, FOLLOWED BY
KATHERINE.
>> THIS IS HOWARD FROM LOWER
QUEEN ANNE, DISTRICT 7,
SPEAKING ON DEFUNDING THE SPD.
THE SEATTLE TIMES REPORTED ON A
PROTESTERS SUBJECTED TO ABUSE
BY THE SEATTLE POLICE.
INCLUDING HER BEING DENIED HER
MEDICATION WHILE SUFFERING
SEIZURES.
I COUNTED AT LEAST 13 POLICE
OFFICERS WHO PARTICIPATED OR
ITNESSED IN THIS ABUSE, ALL OF
WHOM SHOULD, OF COURSE, BE
FIRED.
THIS FURTHER HIGHLIGHTS THE
FAILURE OF SEVEN YEARS OF
POLICE REFORM.
SO YES, WE NEED TO DEFUND SPD
BY 50% BUT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE
THE FAILURE OF OUR POLICE
COMMISSION, ALONG WITH THE
POLICE OF OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERATION.
WE NEED TO CREATE A REAL SYSTEM
FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABLE FOR
POLICE.
WE NEED A PUBLIC ACCOUNTABLE
SYSTEM.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS UP KATHERINE,
FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
6. I AM COMMENTING IN
SUPPORTING DEFUNDING SPD.
AT LEAST 50%.
THE PROPOSAL IS NOT A
SUGGESTION BUT AN EVIDENT
BACKED PLAN.
POLICE REFORMS FAIL TO PROTECT
BLACK LIVES MATTER AS EVIDENCED
HERE IN SEATTLE.
THE CURRENT PROPOSAL DISCUSSED
AND THE WALK BACKS BY MANY OF
THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS -- THE
TIME IS NOW TO STREET DEFUND
SPD BY AT LEAST 50%.
TO REALLOCATE THE FUNDS TO
COMMUNITY SYSTEMS AND RELEASE
PROTESTERS ARRESTED DURING THE
UPRISES WITHOUT CHARGES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP CHRISTINA, FOLLOWED BY
KATHERINE.
>> I AM WITH THE WORKING FAMILY
PARTY IN KING COUNTY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PROGRESS SO FAR BUT WE NEED YOU
TO GO FURTHER, INCLUDING MOVING
FORWARD WITH EXECUTIVE PAY
CUTS.
PEOPLE ARE CHANTING HER NAME
WEARING GOGGLES AND USING
UMBRELLAS AS SHIELDS.
SOME CARING AK-47S OPENLY.
WHEN SEATTLE RESIDENTS CALL FOR
HELP, WE NEED TO FIND BETTER
WAYS TO HELP THEM.
NOT SPD.
THEY ARE NOT REFORMABLE.
PLEASE FOLLOW THE LEAD OF KING
COUNTY AND IMPLEMENT A PUBLIC
SAFETY MODEL.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING.
NEXT UP IS KATHERINE, FOLLOWED
BY CASSANDRA.
>> DISTRICT 3 RENTER CALLING TO
SUPPORT DEFUNDING SPD BY 50%.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING TO CAP
EXECUTIVE POLICE PAY.
WE NEED YOU TO FIGHT.
THE DEFUND AMENDMENT DO NOT
MEET THE MOVEMENT'S DEMAND.
LAST WEEK MANY OF YOU BACK
TRACK TRACKED.
WE NEED ACTIONS, NOT WORDS.
DEFUND THE POLICE BY 50%.
NO NEW YOUTH JAIL.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS CASSANDRA,
FOLLOWED BY DEVETA.
>> CALLING FROM DISTRICT 6.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
SOMEONE STATED IF YOU DON'T
VOTE FOR THE BUDGET, I DON'T
KNOW WHO YOU ARE REPRESENTING.
HOLD THEM TO A HIGHER STANDARD
OF ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY ARE
EXPECTED TO PROTECT AND SERVE
THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY.
THE VOTE ISN'T ABOUT MONEY, IT
IS ABOUT PEOPLE POLICY LIVES
AND SEATTLE DOESN'T HAVE A
HEALTHY FUTURE AHEAD IF SPD
CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE WAY IT
DOES.
CUT THE BUDGET BY AT LEAST 50%,
INVEST IN THE COMMUNITIES AND
DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST THE
PROTESTERS.
>> NEXT UP IS DEVETA, FOLLOWED
BY JOSHUA.
>> NO ONE IN THIS CITY HAS BEEN
HARMED IN THIS CITY BY SPD MORE
THAN ME.
SINCE MY BROTHER'S DEATH I
WORKED TO HOLD OFFICERS
ACCOUNTABLE AND IMPROVE POLICE
COMMUNITY DYNAMICS.
I AM A MOTHER THAT IS CONCERNED
ABOUT POLICE VIOLENCE AND I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT BLACK CHILDREN
BEING GUNNED DOWN IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
I AGREE THEY COMMITTED HISTORIC
HARMS AGAINST BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES AND FOR ME THEY
HAVE BEEN AN OPPRESSOR AND A
PROTECTOR.
I WAS STRANGLED AND RAPED BY
MY OWN HUSBAND.
DATA FROM KING COUNTY REPORTS
44% OF CHILD TRAFFICKING
VICTIMS ARE BLACK GIRLS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
JOSHUA, FOLLOWED BY SEAN.
>> I AM A SEATTLE RESIDENT IN
DISTRICT 6. ICOURAGE YOU TO
MOVE FORWARD IN THE DIRECTION
OF DEFUNDING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BY 50%.
I AM AWARE 2020 HAS CHALLENGES
BUT THE COUNCIL SHOULD COME AS
CLOSE TO THE 50% MARK AS
POSSIBLE THIS YEAR.
IN 2020 I EXPECT THE CITY
COUNCIL TO DEFUND SPD BY 50%.
ALL THOSE FUNDS NEED BE
ALLOCATED TO SERVE COMMUNITIES
THROUGH EDUCATION, HOUSING AND
HEALTH SERVICES.
I THINK THERE DIRECTION OF
DEFUNDING THE NAVIGATION TEAM
AND CAPPING SALARIES ARE A GOOD
START BUT THE AVERAGE TEACHER'S
SALARY IS $64,000 AND REQUIRES
A MASTERS DEGREE.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS SEAN.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS SEAN.
I AM A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 4.
I BELIEVE THAT PASSING THE PLAN
PROVIDED BY KING COUNTY IS ONLY
THE BEGINNING.
THE WORLD, THE NATION, OUR CITY
ARE FACING CRISIS IN TERMS OF
PUBLIC HEALTH, OUR ECONOMY AND
PAYING FOR THAT, THE MONEY HAS
TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
THE CITY CAN DECIDE NOW WHETHER
OR NOT THEY WILL ANSWER THESE
PROBLEMS WITH AN OPEN HAND OR
CLOSED FIST.
CONTINUE THE WORK OF DEFUNDING
THE POLICE SO THAT WE CAN
CREATE A CIVILIZED, LIVABLE
CITY AND COUNTRY FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU.
.
>> REMEMBER TO HIT STAR 6.
HIT STAR 6 ON YOUR PHONE AND
THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR
YOU.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 2
AND A MEMBER OF THE 37th
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT DEMOCRATS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY
DEFUND SPD BY 50% BECAUSE, I
MEAN, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND THE CITY
WITH CHEMICAL WEAPONS SOUNDS
LIKE A PUBLIC SAFETY -- BUT I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE INVEST
THAT MONEY IN COMMUNITY.
PLEASE, PLEASE FOLLOW THROUGH
ON IMPLEMENTING THE DECRIMMIZED
CRIMINAL IZED PLAN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ERIC FOLLOWED BY
STAR.
>> I AM A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT
7 AND I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO
DEFUND THE SPD.
A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT OVERSIGHT AND
ACCOUNTABLE.
I CALLED THE PUBLIC INFORMATION
OFFICE AND ASKED WHAT HAPPENED
TO HE OFFICER WHO PEPPER
SPRAYED A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD.
THE OFFICER WHO PEPPER SPRAYED
SOMEONE SPRAYED SOMEONE NEAR
THE CHILD AND THE CHILD HAD A
NEGATIVE REACTION TO THE PEPPER
SPRAY IN THE AIR.
AS A RESULT THE OFFICER WOULD
NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
IF THIS IS THE LOGIC THEY USE,
IT WILL BE HARD TO HOLD ANY
POLICE OFFICER ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THEIR ACTIONS AGAINST
JOURNALISTS, PROTESTERS OR
RESIDENTS IN THEIR OWN HOMES.
IF THE SYSTEMS WE SET UP WON'T
HOLD POLICE OFFICERS
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONSIC
I AM ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
STEP UP AND DEFUND THE POLICE.
THEY NEED OWN THE CONSEQUENCES
OF THEIR ACTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS STAR, FOLLOWED BY
JAZZ.
>> HELLO.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 7. I AM
CALLING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BY 50% IN
2020 AND 2021.
AND IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET MOVEMENT.
PLEASE REINVEST THE MONEY INTO
BLACK COMMUNITIES AND FOLLOW
THE PLAN.
THE SAFEST COMMUNITY DON'T HAVE
THE MOST COPS, THEY HAVE THE
MOST RESOURCES.
>> NEXT UP IS JAZZ, FOLLOWED BY
KELSEY.. HIT STAR 6, UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU.
I AM CALLING TO DEMAND THAT SPD
BE DEFUNDED BY 50% AND THAT
EVERYBODY GETS BEHIND THIS
VOTE.
WE NEED THIS AS A COMMUNITY.
I AM TIRED OF US BEING
TERRORIZED BY ESSENTIALLY A
MILITARIZED FORCE USING
CONCEALED WEAPONS ON US.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
DEFUND.
>> NEXT UP IS KELSEY, FOLLOWED
BY SALLY.
>> I AM KELSEY.
RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. THESE
WATERED DOWN ATOMS ARE AN
INSULT TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN BRUTALIZED, BEATEN AND
WRONGFULLY ARRESTED BY SPD.
NEIGHBORHOODS AND FAMILIES HAVE
BEEN TORN APART BY SPD.
NOT BECAUSE OF BAD APPLES BUT
BECAUSE THE POLICE FUNCTION AS
THEY WERE INTENDED.
PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN TO THE
STREETS DEMANDING -- THOUSANDS
HAVE BEEN BRUTALIZED IN THE
PROCESS.
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THE TEAR
GAS?
DRAGGED PEOPLE ACROSS GRAVEL
AND PUT THEIR KNEES ON PEOPLE'S
NECK.
YOU ARE SAYING THERE IS NOTHING
YOU CAN DO.
I AM HORRIFIED BY YOUR LACK OF
POLITICAL WILL.
IF BUS DRIVERS CAN BE LET GO,
THE POLICE OFFICERS CAN ALSO BE
LAID OFF.
DEFUND SPD BY 50%.
INVEST IN COMMUNITIES.
>> NEXT UP IS SALLY, FOLLOWED
BY JAMES.
>> I HAVE HEARD WHEN I TUNED IN
TO THE CITY COUNCIL, DEFUND THE
POLICE, SWEEP IT OVER TO BLACK
PROGRAMS.
THAT IS ALL I AM HEARING.
I WANTED TO LEND MY VOICE TO
THE OTHER SIDE.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY GOING ON DURING THE
PROTESTS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
THERE WAS MORE CRIME LAST
NIGHT?
STARBUCKS WAS HIT AGAIN.
AMAZON WAS HIT AGAIN.
I -- DID YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU
DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE FACT
THAT YOU -- THAT POLICE HAVE
LITTLE POWER AS IT IS AND YOU
WANT TO TAKE MORE POWER AWAY,
THERE WILL BE MORE LAWLESSNESS.
YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO
THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IN
SEATTLE.
THE REALITY IS THE FACT OUR
CITY IS BOARDED UP.
LOOKS LIKE ARMAGEDDON.
I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY BUT IT
IS TOO FRUSTRATING TO CRAM IT
IN 45 SECONDS.
THERE IS A BIGGER MAJORITY THAT
I HOPE --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS TO THE
CITY COUNCIL AT COUNCIL @SEATTLE
@SEATTLE.GOV.
>> I AM A LONG-TIME SEATTLE
RESIDENT, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, WHO
LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR 40 YEARS.
I AM AGAINST DEFUNDING THE
POLICE.
I THINK THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT
WE ARE HAVING PERTAINING TO THE
FRUSTRATIONS AND THE EMOTIONS
OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE GEORGE
FLOYD MURDER, WHICH WAS
UNJUSTIFIED ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT
IT, BUT BY DEFUNDING THE POLICE
WE ARE GIVING A LICENSE TO THE
BAD ELEMENTS OF SOCIETY AND
COMMUNITIES TO MOVE IN AND
STAKE OUT PORTIONS OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THEY WILL TRY TO
CONTROL.
GANGS WILL EMERGE AND MOVE IN
WHERE THE POLICE ARE NOT
PRESENT.
I THINK IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE
WE WILL GET ON AND PEOPLE WILL
TAKE HANDLING -- TAKING THINGS
INTO THEIR OWN HANDS AT THAT
POINT.
SEATTLE NEEDS MORE POLICE
OFFICERS, NOT LESS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS SARAH.
FOLLOWED BY ROBERT.
>> I AM FROM DISTRICT 7. I AM
ASKING YOU TO COMMIT TO
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BY 50%.
AT THE LEAST BY 2021.
THE CHIEF AND MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN'S PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN
UNACCEPTABLE.
DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND
INVESTING THE COMMUNITY IS THE
FIRST STEP TOWARD DISMANTLING A
RACIST SYSTEM.
WHEN YOU BEGIN LAYOFFS FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS YOU DO SO
ON THEIR PERFORMANCE AND
REPUTATION AND NOT BY THEIR
SENIORITY.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE
TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES
AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND
WE NEED ENSURE THE OFFICERS
THAT ARE LEFT ARE COMMUNITY
ALLIES.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF KING
COUNTY EQUITY NOW, KSHAMA
SAWANT AND DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ROBERT, FOLLOWED BY
MARK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
PLEASE LET THE VOTERS OF
SEATTLE MAKE THESE CRITICAL
DECISIONS REGARDING PUBLIC
SAFETY.
THE CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE A VOTE
ON HOW THEY ARE PROTECTED AND
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS SHOULD
NOT FORCE THE CHANGES BY
PUTTING PRESSURE ON YOU TO MEET
THEIR DEMANDS.
PLEASE TAKE MORE TIME AND
DESIGN SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR
CHANGE AND PRESENT THEM TO THE
PUBLIC FOR A VOTE.
YOU WILL THEN HAVE THE TRUE
REPUTATION OF WHAT THE CITIZENS
WANT.
BE RATIONAL AND NOT
IRRESPONSIBLE, THANK YOU.
BLACK LIVES MATTER AND GO
HAWKS.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS MARK, FOLLOWED BY
SUSAN.
>> I AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND
EDITOR FOR PRESS FREEDOM FOR
DEMOCRACY.
I APPLAUD THE DECISION OF THE
CITY TO ABIDE BY THE COURT
ORDER PROHIBITING THE USE OF
CROWD CONTROL MUNITIONS.
I WITNESSED BRUTAL ARRESTS ON
CAPITOL HILL JULY 25.
I SUFFERED FROM THE BLAST AND
CHEMICAL AGENTS USED.
THE U.S. IS RANKED 45th IN THE
WORLD IN TERMS OF -- I
WITNESSED A POLICE FORCE AND A
MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF -- WE
HAVE TO STOP THIS TO ENSURE
PUBLIC SAFETY, FREE PRESS.
HEAVILY ARMED MILITARIZED
POLICE USED TO FACE-OFF WITH
UNARMED PROTESTERS HAS TO STOP.
PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS UP SUSAN.
>> HELLO.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM AGAINST THE DEFUNDING OF
THE POLICE.
I WANT TO START WITH WHAT YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT, THE
DISMANTLING OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE PROPOSAL IN
SEATTLE.
WHERE I AM A RESIDENT.
IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN
POLITICALIZATION OF CURRENT
SOCIAL EVENTS.
YOU ARE GIVING IN TO MOB RULE.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
>> THAT IS OUR LAST SPEAKER
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I AM LOOKING THROUGH THE LIST
ONE LAST TIME TO CONFIRM THAT.
THAT IS OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR
TODAY.
SO I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD.
OKAY.
GIVE ME MINUTE, FOLKS.
PAYMENT OF THE BILLS.
WILL THE CLERK READ THE TITLE
INTO THE RECORD.
[ READING ]
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVE TO PASS.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
HEARING NONE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
[ CALLING ROLE ]
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
FIRST UP THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE PLEASE READ
AGENDA ITEM 1 INTO THE RECORD.
[ READING ]
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
OKAY.
I AM GOING TO RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AS CHAIR
OF THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE
COMMITTEE REPORT.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MAY I MAKE A QUICK STATEMENT TO
ENCOMPASS ALL THE BILLS IN
FRONT OF US REGARDING THE
BUDGET?
>> WE HAVE ONLY READ THE FIRST
AGENDA ITEM INTO THE RECORD,
RELATED TO THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, SO WE
WOULD NEED TO READ ALL OF THE
BUDGET --
>> I WILL HOLD IT.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT WAS NOT REFLECTED IN MY
SCRIP SO I WOULD PREFER IF WE
GO THROUGH IT BILL BY BILL.
AND THE FIRST ONE IS RELATED TO
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
BUDGET ACTIONS FOR 2020.
>> THANK YOU.
I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THIS.
JUST TO SAY THIS IS ONE OF MANY
BILLS TO REBALANCE OUR 2020
BUDGET SO THAT WE ARE
RECOGNIZING THE RESTRICTIVE
RESERVES IN OUR HANDS AND TO DO
SO WITH THE VALUES THIS COUNCIL
PUT FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR THE COMMENTS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE FIRST
BILL WHICH IS 119818 RELATED TO
THE 2020 BUDGET INCLUDING THE
2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL
VOTES THE CITY COUNCIL WILL
TAKE TODAY TO ADOPT THE CITY'S
NEW BUDGET AS A WHOLE.
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET, MY OFFICE,
AND THE HUNDREDS OF BLACK LIVES
MATTER ACTIVISTS WHO MARCHED ON
THE STREETS AND BRAVED POLICE
VIOLENCE HAVE FOUGHT FOR AND
WON MANY OF THE PROGRESSIVE
AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING A SMALL
REDUCTION TO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND I WILL SPEAK TO
THAT MORE ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
10.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS A WHOLE, THE
CITY BUDGET DOES NOT MEET THE
NEEDS OF WORKING CLASS PEOPLE
OR THE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED THE VIOLENCE FROM
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UNBALANCED BUDGET CUTS, TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS -- UNARMED
BLACK MAN CREASE THE AMAZON
TASK IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE
NEED FOR AUSTERITY.
IN FACT, IT INCLUDES $3 MILLION
IN INCREASES TO THE POLICE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY.
I WILL RESERVE MOST OF MY
COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR
AGENDA ITEM 10.
BEFORE THAT I WILL VOTE YES ON
THE BUDGET -- I WILL BE VOTING
NO ON THIS BILL AND SEVERAL
OTHER BILLS COMING UP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE THAT THIS
BILL INCLUDES ATTACHMENT B, IT
IS THE CREATION OF A NEW
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PAGE FOR
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE RESPONSE.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME AND
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
IT WILL BE USEFUL TO US AS WE
DISCUSS THE LOAN THAT IS
PROPOSED FOR THE 2021 AND 2020
COSTS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE THAT WE WILL BE HEARING
IN COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
COMMITTEE AND AS WELL AS OUR
SEPTEMBER THROUGH NOVEMBER
BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFICACY
RELATED TO THE IMPORTANT
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT FOR
DISTRICT 1 AND THE REGION,
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
COLLEAGUES, ANYONE ELSE HAVE
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THE BILL?
LOOKS LIKE NO ONE ELSE DOES.
I WILL LET COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AS THE SPONSOR AND THE
CHAIR HAVE THE LAST WORD HERE
AND THEN WE WILL CALL THE ROLE
ON THE FIRST BILL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I RECOGNIZE IT IS A LONG DAY SO
I WILL SAVE MY COMMENTS FOR THE
LAST BILL AS WELL.
I WANT TO SET THE RECORD
STRAIGHT, WE HAVE COME TOGETHER
AS A COLLECTIVE TO IDENTIFY
WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN PUT OUR
PRIORITIES, VALUES FORWARD IN A
WAY THAT LIFTS UP OUR
COMMITMENT IN HOW WE ARE
RESPONDING TO COVID, CARING FOR
THE MOST VULNERABLE AND OUR
COMMITMENT TO RAISE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE.
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH
THIS ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL COMING
TOGETHER.
IT HAS BEEN A MARATHON, IT HAS
BEEN A LONG FEW MONTHS AS WE
WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY WAYS
THAT WE COULD REFLECT COMMUNITY
PRIORITIES FROM SPEAR HEADING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NEW TAXES
AND STRATEGIES SO THANK YOU, TO
TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL
FUNDING, MAKING SURE THERE IS
ECONOMIC RECOVERY FOR
BUSINESSES.
TO ENSURING -- THANK YOU FOR
HELPING TO LEAD AND GET PHENE
PAPER ON THE AMENDMENTS AND WE
TRANSFERRED THE DOLLARS TO THE
RIGHT PLACES.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS BEEN
HELPING TO ENSURE WE HAVE BEEN
FOLLOWING THROUGH ON WHERE THE
DOLLARS ARE GOING TO MAKING
SURE WE ARE TAKING OUR TIME.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HAS BEEN
CRITICAL IN LIFTING UP THE
VOICE AND GUIDING US EVERY STEP
OF THE WAY.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED OFTEN
OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES TO
COME TOGETHER FOR A MIDYEAR
2020 REBALANCING PACKAGE AND WE
TRIED TO PULL IN YOUR IDEAS TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE REFLECTING
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND
RECOGNIZING IN JUST SEVEN WEEKS
OUR FALL BUDGET APROCESS
STARTS.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR ALL
THE WORK WE HAVE DONE.
THERE IS A SERIES OF AMENDMENTS
IN FRONT OF US.
WE ROLLED UP OUR SLEEVES ON
BALANCE, WE BE DONE HARD WORK
AND WE ARE COMMITTING TO ACTION
HERE TODAY.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL
ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
[ CALLING ROLE ]
>> THANK YOU.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
I WOULD ASK THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION.
OKAY.
ITEM NUMBER TWO.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT ITEM OF AGENDA ITEM 2
INTO THE RECORD.
[ READING ]
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AS
SPONSOR OF THE BILL AND CHAIR
OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOTHING MUCH TO ADD EXCEPT THE
CONVERSATIONS WE HAD DURING THE
COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THE
ANALYSIS OF WHERE WE COULD
IDENTIFY EACH AND EVERY DOLLAR
TO HELP IN THIS MOMENT OF
CRISIS BOTH THROUGH THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS AND THE ECONOMIC
CRISIS.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THEY
HAVE PUT INTO IT IN ADDITION TO
ALL OUR COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS
BILL?
HEARING NONE.
I ASK THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE PASSAGER OF THE
BILL.
[ CALLING ROLE ].
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
I ASK THE CLERK POLICE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
ITEM THREE, WOULD THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM THREE
INTO THE RECORD.
[ READING.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
AGENDA ITEM 3.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS ANOTHER ATTEMPT FOR US
TO LOOK AT THE 2019 CARRY
FORWARD ORDINANCE AND
APPROPRIATE.
THIS IS PRUDEFRONT US PRUDENT
FOR US TO DO.
>> SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
HEARING NONE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
[ CALLING ROLE ]
.
>> THANK YOU.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.I ASK THE CLERK
POLICE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
ITEM NUMBER 4, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM FOUR
INTO THE RECORD.
[ READING ]
.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA SPONSOR
OF THE BILL AND CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS THIS BILL.
>> THANK YOU.
NOTHING TO ADD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> [ CALLING ROLE ]
.
>> THANK YOU.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.I ASK THE CLERK
POLICE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
ITEM NUMBER 5, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 5 INTO
THE RECORD.
[ READING ]
.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU.
NOTHING ELSE TO ADD TO THIS
ONE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY OR COMMENTS ON
THE RESOLUTION?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE.
>> THIS IS AGENDA ITEM 5. THIS
ONE AND THE NEXT ONE, AGENDA
ITEM 6 LIFT THE LEGALLY
REQUIRED MINIMUM INVESTMENT IN
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
IF THIS WAS BEING DONE AS AN
ACCOUNTIC MEASURE TO SWAPT
FUNDS IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE
CITY TO FUND THE BEST
PRIORITIES, OF COURSE, I WOULD
BE SUPPORTING THIS, HOWEVER,
THAT IS NOT THE REALITY.
THE REALITY IS THIS YEAR THE
MAYOR HAS CHOSEN TO CUT PARKS
AND ROADS RATHER THAN
SUPPORTING THE AMAZON TAX, LET
ALONE URGING THE AMAZON TAX BE
INCREASED.
WHEN WE WERE VOTE THONG AMAZON
TAX EARLIER THIS MONTH MY
OFFICE PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO
INCREASE THOSE BIG BUSINESS
TAXES IN A SMALL WAY TO COVER
ALL BUDGET SHORT FALLS.
NO OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
SUPPORTED THE AMENDMENTAL AND
AS A RESULT WE ARE FACED WITH
THIS BUDGET, INCLUDING THE
RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE LEGALLY
REQUIRED TO INVEST LITTLE INTO
ROADS AND PARKS.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS
RESOLUTION AND THE NEXT CITY
COUNCIL BILL.
IF THE MAJORITY OF -- I WOULD
BE HAPPY TO BRING THAT FORWARD
AT ANY TIME.
AT THIS MOMENT I WILL VOTE NO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
RESOLUTION 31951, AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER 5.
>> HEARING AND SEEING NONE.
I ASK THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
[
>> [ CALLING ROLE ]
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.I ASK
THE CLERK POLICE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
OKAY.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 6. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 6
INTO THE RECORD.
>> [ READING ]
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
SPONSOR OF THE BILL AND CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 6.
>> THANK YOU.
NO COMMENT.
NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS COLLEAGUES
ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, PLEASE.
>> FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
VIEWING PUBLIC, WE TALKED ABOUT
THEM AT LENGTH THIS MORNING,
LAST WEDNESDAY, AND SO I JUST
WANT TO COMMEND OUR BUDGET
CHAIR TERESA MOSQUEDA FOR HER
LEADERSHIP.
THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK FROM
LOTS OF PEOPLE IN CITY
GOVERNMENT, THE EXECUTIVE, CITY
BUDGET OFFICE, AND I -- SEEMS
LIKE WE ARE MOVING FAST BUT
LOTS OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE.
IF FOLKS WANT TO SEE PRIOR
STATEMENTS THEY COULD LOOK BACK
TO WEDNESDAY OR THIS MORNING.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
THANK YOU.
>> I ASSURE THE VIEWING PUBLIC
THERE WILL BE MANY WORDS SHARED
BY PROBABLY EVERY SINGLE CITY
COUNCILMEMBER TOWARD THE END OF
THE COMMITTEE HEARING.
WE ARE SAVING UP OUR ENERGY FOR
THE FINAL BIG VOTE.
THESE ARE NOT --
NONCONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT WE
HAVE HAD ALMOST 60 DAYS WORTH
OF CONVERSATION ABOUT IN THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
OKAY.
SO WE ARE NOW ON AGENDA ITEM 6.
AND SEEING NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES, I
WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE
ROLE ON THE PASSAGE.
>> [ CALLING ROLE ]
.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE BILL PASSES.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.I ASK
THE CLERK POLICE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
OKAY.
AGENDA ITEM 7, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 7 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> [ READING ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AS THE
SPONSOR OF THE BILL AND CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS THE
ITEM IF NECESSARY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NOTHING TO ADD AT THIS POINT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS
BILL?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE I ASK
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> [ CALLING ROLE ]
.
>> THANK YOU.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.I ASK THE CLERK TO
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
OKAY.
AGENDA ITEM 8. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 8 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> [ READING ]
.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA SPONSOR
OF THE RES LOGS AND CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> I MADE DEFER TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THAT IS ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO LIFT UP
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ELEMENT
RELATED TO THE WEST SEATTLE
RIDGE OF OUR BUDGET ACTIONS
TODAY.
SPECIFICALLY IN THE RESOLUTION.
THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION,
ADOPTS POLICIES FOR THE REAL
ESTATE EXCISE TAX AND SPECIFIES
THAT IT COULD BE USED TO FUND
THAT, ASSOCIATED WITH REPAIR OR
REPLACING THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE RESOLUTION?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE I ASK
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> [ CALLING ROLE ]
>> THANK YOU.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND
WHICH CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.I ASK
THE CLERK TO PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
AGENDA ITEM 9, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 9 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> [ READING ]
.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU.
AGAIN, I WILL BE BRIEF DUE TO
THE TIME.
I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF AND
OUR COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO
MAKE SURE THE FEDERAL DOLLARS
WERE GOING APPROPRIATELY TO
CARE FOR THOSE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS
WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDS.
WE TRIED TO RESPOND AND PROVIDE
NOT JUST GOOD GOVERNANCE BUT
PROACTIVE AND ADDRESS THE
CRISIS, HELPING PREVENT FOLKS
FROM FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS
DUE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND MAKING
SURE PEOPLE HAVE THE HOUSING
AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES.
APPRECIATE OUR DELEGATION FOR
ALL OF THEIR ADVOCACY TO MAKE
FEDERAL DOLLARS AVAILABLE.
MUCH MORE IS NEEDED.
THAT IS WHY WE STEPPED UP AT
THE CITY LEVEL AND TRYING TO
OFFER RELIEF FOR COVID BUT
APPRECIATE THE DOLLARS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE,
TRYING TO STRETCH THOSE AS FAR
AS POSSIBLE AND OUR COLLEAGUES,
THESE DOLLARS WILL MAKE A
TREMENDOUS IMPACT SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS
SEEING AND HEARING NONE, WILL
YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> PEDERSON?
>> AYE
>> HERBOLD.
>> AYE .
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> YES.
>> 8 IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> CLERK, THE BILL PASSES,
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION PICK AGENDA
ITEM 10, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ AGENDA ITEM 10 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 10, COUNCIL BILL
119825 AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO
THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THE 2020
COVID-19 CRISIS, AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126000, WHICH ADOPTED
THE 2020 BUDGET.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
THIS IS PASSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA AS THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, TO
ADDRESS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE BILL IN FRONT OF US IS
MULTIDIMENSIONAL AND THAT WE
HAVE ATTEMPTED IN MANY PLACES
TO TRY TO PROVIDE INVESTMENT
INTO COMMUNITY PRIORITIES.
SUCH AS MAKING SURE THAT THOSE
WHO ARE LIVING UNSHELTERED HOW
THE HOUSING AND SUPPORT THEY
NEED, MAKING SURE THAT FEWER
PEOPLE FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS
AND THAT THERE IS TRULY SUPPORT
FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND OUR
MOST VULNERABLE IN THE CITY.
AND ALSO, THAT WE TAKE A
SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD TO TRY
TO ADDRESS THE CALL FROM
COMMUNITIES TO THE VEST IN OUR
POLICING SYSTEM AND TO REINVEST
IN THE COMMUNITY.
I WILL JUST SAY A FEW COMMENTS
HERE AND THEN I WILL SAVE SOME
COMMENTS FOR THE CLOSING
PORTION.
I WANT TO THANK FOLKS FOR ALL
OF THEIR TREMENDOUS WORK,
ESPECIALLY OUR CENTRAL STAFF
AND TEAMS ON EACH OF OUR
OFFICES.
IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG BUDGET
SESSION AND IT IS ONLY AUGUST.
I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS IN
I.T.
AND CLERKS FOR HELPING MAKE
SURE WE CAN GET TO THESE
MEETINGS AND WE HAVE ROBUST
PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUR I.T.
FOLKS.
WE WANT TO THANK OUR COLLEAGUES
FOR THEIR STAFF AND TREMENDOUS
HOURS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT MANY OF YOU, LIKE THE
ORGANIZERS, HAVE BEEN PULLED
FROM YOUR FAMILIES, HAVE HAD TO
SPEND LONG HOURS DAY AND NIGHT
WORKING AS WE HAVE TRIED TO
DELIBERATELY ADDRESS THE CALL
FOR ACTION IN THIS CIVIL RIGHTS
UPRISING.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS EVERYTHING,
BUT WE HAVE SET THE PATH
FORWARD FOR THE TREMENDOUS WORK
IN FRONT OF US AS A COUNCIL AND
CITY AND I THINK ALL OF THAT
WORK SHOULD BE REALLY CALLED
OUT, AND APPRECIATED BECAUSE A
LOT OF THIS WORK IS HAPPENING
AROUND THE CLOCK, AND THAT IS
TRUE, AGAIN, FOR THE FOLKS ON
THE STREET AND THE FOLKS WHO
HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE
CLOCK TO PROVIDE THE BUDGET
DOCUMENTS IN FRONT OF US,
TODAY.
WE STARTED THE SPD BUDGET IN
THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE, AND
HAVE HAD TWO SESSIONS A WEEK,
SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONE SESSION
EACH WEEK.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE CENTRAL
STAFF, POLICE DEPARTMENT,
ELECTED LEADERS IN OTHER CITIES
AND NATIONAL RESEARCH ENTITIES,
AND IMPORTANTLY WE HAVE HEARD
FROM COMMUNITY COALITIONS WHO
HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR CHANGE
AND WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THE
RESEARCH IN THIS AREA FOR
YEARS.
THIS INQUEST PROCESS HAS BEEN
HELPFUL IN US FINALLY
ACKNOWLEDGING AND RECOGNIZING
THAT THERE IS MASSIVE CHANGES
THAT ARE NEEDED, STRUCTURAL
CHANGES, AND CONTINUED
INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITIES FOR
US TO REALIZE THE CHANGES THAT
ARE BEING CALLED FOR, FROM
COMMUNITIES.
THIS PROCESS AND OUR DEEP
ANALYSIS FOCUS ON A RACIAL
JUSTICE LENGTH, CENTERING OUR
WORK BY LIFTING UP AND
INCLUDING THE VOICE OF FOLKS
WHO HAVE BEEN MOST AFFECTED, IS
HOW WE AIM TO MAKE POLICY
DECISIONS.
WE AIM TO CENTER POLICY
DECISIONS BASED ON THOSE WHO
HAVE HAD THE LIVED EXPERIENCE.
THAT HAS BEEN EXACTLY WHAT WE
HAVE DONE IN THIS SPD BUDGET
INQUEST.
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND
HONESTLY OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN AWARE THAT
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR
STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND TODAY, WE
úARE BEGINNING TO PUT OURSELVES
ON THE PATH TO WRITING THOSE
WRONGS.
STRUCTURAL CHANGES,
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES, ARE
REALLY THE ONLY OPTION AS WE
LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
BEEN KILLED YEAR AFTER YEAR,
MONTH AFTER MONTH, UNARMED
INDIVIDUALS, BLACK AND BROAD,
WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED AT THE
HANDS OF THE START OF THE
CURRENT STATUS QUO.
WE CAN MAKE CHANGES TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE SHOWING
UP ARE THOSE WHO ARE ADEQUATELY
TRAINED, WHO ARE FROM OUR
COMMUNITY TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS
AND WHO ARE NOT SHOWING UP WITH
ARMS.
THAT IS THE CONVERSATION WE
HAVE SET OURSELVES ON, THE PATH
THAT WE ARE CHARTING, FOR THIS
CONVERSATION THAT IS COMING UP.
WE ARE TAKING IMPORTANT
CRITICAL FIRST STEPS TODAY.
I WILL SAVE THE REST OF MY
COMMENTS FOR CLOSING COMMENTS,
BUT JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE HAVE
CENTERED THE POLICY CHANGES AND
THE BUDGET DECISIONS THAT ARE
INCLUDED IN THIS BILL, NOT JUST
ON SPD BUT ALSO AS IT RELATES
TO CARING FOR ARM
OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY
CENTERS BASED ON WHAT THE
COMMUNITY HAS TOLD US THEY
WANT.
GOD IS A CRITICAL CHANGE THAT
WE THINK ABOUT, WITH INCLUSIVE
BUDGETING AND POLICYMAKING.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS
MADE THIS PROCESS POSSIBLE, AND
I WILL SAVE SOME COMMENTS FOR
LATER.
MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR THOSE INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS.
I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL
ON COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN SPEAKING ON THIS
BILL BEFORE WE PASS UP.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
HAS HER HAND UP AND AS OTHERS
BECOME INSPIRED TO ALSO SPEAK
ON THIS COUNCIL BILL I WOULD
ASK THAT YOU RAISE YOUR HAND
ACCORDINGLY AND I WILL JOT YOU
DOWN IN THE ORDER THAT YOU
RAISE YOUR HAND, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD, PLEASE?
>> WHOEVER IS PLAYING BINGO
PROBABLY JUST GOT A SQUARE
BECAUSE I REMINDED HER SHE WAS
ON MUTE.
>> SO BEFORE I MOVE TO THE SPD
RELATED TO AMENDMENTS I DO WANT
TO JUST FLAG MY APPRECIATION
FOR SOME OTHER IMPORTANT
ELEMENTS IN THIS NEXT BILL, THE
PILOT PROJECT FUNDING, THE STATE
STAYING CONNECTED PROGRAM FOR
SENIORS IS INCLUDED IN HERE,
THE PROVISO TO REMOVE THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A
GATEKEEPER FOR CO-LEAD REFERRALS
IS INCLUDED IN HERE.
THE FUNDING FOR THE RACE IN
EQUITY TOOLKIT ON EXPANSION OF
CHOOSE 180, TO BEGIN TO SERVE,
DEFENDANTS OVER THE AGE OF 24,
THE PREFILING DIVERSION PROGRAM
IS INCLUDED IN HERE, AND I AM
SORRY, THIS IS SOMEBODY ELSE'S,
SOMEBODY ELSE LEAD ON THIS BUT
I FEEL LIKE IT WAS MAYBE
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, AND I
DON'T WANT TO MISS A, THE
RESTORATION OF FUNDS AND THE
AIDS MEMORIAL PATHWAYS.
THAT IS IN HERE'S WHAT PICK
THIS PACKAGE OF COURSE INCLUDES
MUCH OF THE WORK THAT THIS
COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING SINCE
JUNE.
IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET INQUEST, LED
BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA, THE
PACKAGE OF AMENDMENTS THAT WE
WORKED TOGETHER ON, AND CAME TO
A UNANIMOUS COUNCIL DECISION
ON, INCLUDES 38 FULL-TIME
EMPLOYMENT REDUCTIONS STARTING
IN NOVEMBER, WITH SUGGESTIONS
FROM SPECIFIC UNITS INCLUDING
MOUNTED PATROL, SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICERS, THE NAVIGATION TEAM,
HARBOR PATROL, PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
AND A S.W.A.T.
TEAM.
IT INCLUDES CAPTURING THE
SAVINGS FROM AN ADDITIONAL 30
FTE'S FROM EXPECTED ATTRITION
THROUGH OFFICES VOLUNTARILY
LEAVING OR RETIRING FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT ALSO INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL
32 FTE'S SUGGESTED GENERAL
REDUCTION IN SWORN OFFICERS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT ULTIMATELY CHIEF BEST
HOLDS THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE
DECISIONS ABOUT HOW AND WHERE
THESE REDUCTIONS MAY OCCUR, THE
COUNCIL MAY DETERMINE THE
OVERALL APPROPRIATE SIZE OF THE
POLICE FORCE AND SUGGEST
SPECIFIC SPECIALTY UNITS.
WHERE LAYOFFS MAY BE MADE, IT
IS THE CHIEF OF POLICE THAT
WILL MAKE THE DETERMINATION AS
TO WHERE LAYOFFS OCCUR.
IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE
REDUCTIONS TAKE A VERY SPECIFIC
FORMAT.
IN ORDER TO SET THE CITY UP FOR
THE MOST POSITIVE LABOR
BARGAINING OUTCOMES.
INSTEAD OF MAKING CUTS ON
POSITIONS, THE AND AMENDMENTS
FOR PROVISO ON TWO MONTHS WORTH
OF SALARY FOR EACH POSITION
THAT IS TARGETED FOR REDUCTION.
WE HAVE RECEIVED EXPERT ADVICE
THAT IT MAY TAKE BETWEEN TWO
AND FOUR MONTHS FOR EACH
REDUCTION TO BE BARGAINED.
IF IT TAKES LONGER THAN THAT,
OFFICERS, SO THAT OFFICERS CAN
CONTINUE TO BE PAID AT THE
BARGAINING FINISH, BUT THE
PROVISO FORMAT MEANS THE CITY
WILL HAVE THOSE DOLLARS ON HAND
JUST IN CASE THEY ARE NEEDED.
THE ACTIONS, IF APPROVED BY THE
COUNCIL, AND BARGAINED AS
DESCRIBED BELOW WILL RESULT IN
A REDUCTION OF SPD'S POLICE
FORCE BY ABOUT 100 OFFICERS
FROM THE CURRENT LEVEL OF ABOUT
1400 OFFICERS.
THAT IS ABOUT A 7% REDUCTION IN
THE SWORN FORCE.
AND, ALSO A RESULT IN SAVINGS
OF ABOUT $2.9 MILLION.
THE PACKAGE INCLUDES MODEST
CUTS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
PLUS TRAVEL, TRAINING, AND
RECRUITMENT BUDGETS.
WHICH SEEMED APPROPRIATE GIVEN
THE CURRENT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
AND THE MAYOR'S HIRING FREEZE.
THOSE CUTS TOTAL LESS THAN $1
MILLION.
FINALLY, THE BUDGET ACTIONS
WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT LATER,
IN THE RESOLUTION, COMMITS TO A
NUMBER OF TRANSFERS OF
FUNCTIONS OUT OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THE OTHER POINT I THINK IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE AS WE
ARE ABOUT TO TAKE THIS VOTE IS
THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE
AS A COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ARE IN A REALLY UNIQUE
POSITION TO SEIZE UPON A MOMENT
IN THIS CITY AND IN THIS
COUNTRY, AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT
WE ARE MORE ALIGNED IN OUR
DESIRE TO DO THAT, THEN HAS
APPEARED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
THE MAYOR HAS BEEN SAYING THAT
WE SHOULD BE REALISTIC.
AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN
IRRESPONSIBLE FOR COMMITTING TO
A GOAL BEFORE WE HAVE THE
DETAILS.
AND, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT BIG
CHANGE LIKE THIS, SHAKING
THINGS UP, ACCOMPLISHED BY
LIMITING ACTION TO WHAT SEEMS
REALISTIC HAS NEVER BEEN
REALIZED.
WE ALWAYS HAVE TO THINK BEYOND
WHAT IS NORMALLY CONSIDERED
REALISTIC AND POSSIBLE.
WE -- THROUGH AGREEING TO TRY
TO WORK TOWARDS A 50%
REDUCTION, I HOPE WE HAVE BEGUN
A PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY
THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS
PLACE WHERE WE ARE AT NOW.
AN OUNCE HAS CREATED A PATHWAY
AND A PLAN FOR 2021 REDUCTIONS.
OVER THE WEEKEND, THERE WAS AN
EDITORIAL THAT WE TOOK A SWING
AND WE MISSED AND I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK AND
LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE NEXT FOUR
AND A HALF MONTHS OF THE
BUDGET.
AND UNDERSTAND THAT IS OUR
STARTING POINT FOR
DELIBERATIONS FOR A WHOLE YEAR
WORTH OF BUDGET, SO IT IS
IMPORTANT TO ANNUALIZE THE
VALUE OF THESE FOUR MONTHS OF
COSTS.
AND I THINK WHEN YOU DO THAT
AND YOU TAKE PAPER AND PENCIL UP
TO DO THAT MATH, OUR ACTIONS,
NOW, ARE SIGNIFICANT AND
NOTEWORTHY AND ALSO, EXPRESS A
COMMITMENT TO NOT DISREGARD
PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT PUBLIC SAFETY MEANS PUBLIC
SAFETY FOUR FOR EVERYONE IN THE
COMMUNITY PICK PUBLIC SAFETY
MUST RECOGNIZE THAT BY ASKING
POLICE OFFICERS TO DO TOO MUCH,
THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT GO
WRONG.
ONE, YOU SEND AN ARMED RESPONSE
IN SOME CASES, TO A SITUATION
THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE AN ARMED
RESPONSE, WHICH IS AN UNSAFE
SITUATION.
AND TWO, YOU ARE REDUCING THE
CAPACITY FOR OFFICERS TO RESPOND
TO LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS.
SO, I AM REALLY ENCOURAGED BY
THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AND
I AM REALLY HOPEFUL FOR OUR
EFFORTS AND IMPLEMENTING THE
COUNCIL'S INTEREST IN WORKING
TOGETHER WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AND THE CHIEF TO
REALIZE THIS PATHWAY FOR
REIMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY FOR
OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD PICK I APPRECIATE
HEARING FROM YOU AS OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY CHAIR ON THIS ISSUE.
COLLEAGUES, I APOLOGIZE TO
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ AND TO
ALL OF YOU, I DID NOT REALIZE
THAT I HAD AN UPDATED SCRIPT IN
MY INBOX, REFLECTING TWO
ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT ARE
BEING BROUGHT FORWARD BY
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, AND SO
HAD INADVERTENTLY OPENED IT UP
FOR GENERAL DEBATE BEFORE WE
CONSIDERED THOSE AMENDMENTS.
SO I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT
OVERSIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, I DID
NOT MEAN TO BYPASS YOUR
AMENDMENT.
SO, AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ HAS TWO
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THIS
BILL THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY
DISCUSSING.
THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED AFTER
12:00, NOON, IN ORDER FOR THE
COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER
THESE AMENDMENTS THE RULES
WILL NEED TO BE SUSPENDED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULE RELATING TO
CIRCULATION OF AMENDMENTS BY
ú12:00 NOON WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO ALLOW CONSIDERATION OF TWO
AMENDMENTS.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULE IS SUSPENDED AND
THE COUNCIL WILL PROCEED WITH
CONSIDERATION OF THESE TWO
AMENDMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED , WITH VERSION 2 OF
AMENDMENT 59.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND, NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE,
THERE WAS A LOT HAPPENING THIS
MORNING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LETTING
ME BRING THESE AND MAKE YOUR
INTELLIGENCE INDULGENCE.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF IMPROVISES
READY TO GO LAST WEEK, WE
LEARNED UNDER THE WE CAN WE HAD
TO CHANGE THEM OVER THE WEEK.
WE WERE WAITING TO HEAR BACK
FROM THEM.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE NEW
VERSIONS IN YOUR INBOX,
AMENDMENTS 59 AND 60.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON
SAID, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
WORK HAPPENING OVER SEVERAL
WEEKS, NOW, AND THESE REFLECT
THE INTENT OF AMENDMENTS 33 AND
34, THAT WE PASSED LAST WEEK.
AND, THOSE AMENDMENTS WERE
COMMITTING US TO INVESTING IN
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE -- THE
INTENT OF THEM IS TO COMMIT US
TO INVEST IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ARE LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR, FOR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. FOR
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TO
IMPROVE COMMUNITY SAFETY
THROUGH RESTORATIVE JUSTICE,
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS,
YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAMS, THESE
ARE THE KINDS OF ORGANIZATIONS
WE WANT TO INVEST IN.
SO THAT AS WE BUILD UP
COMMUNITY SAFETY
INFRASTRUCTURE, WE CAN DO THAT
WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO DISMANTLE
OUR OVERRELIANCE ON POLICING.
THE PROVISOS THAT WE HAVE
TODAY, ARE INTENDED TO HSD TO
THAT STANDARD, IN A WAY THAT
GOES AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO
THE PREFERENCE FOR
ORGANIZATIONS, AND AS I SAID
EARLIER, THE ISSUE IS THAT
BECAUSE OF I-200 WE CANNOT
DIRECTLY EXPRESS INTENT TO
CONTRACT WITH BLACK
COMMUNITIES.
WE CANNOT -- THAT DOES NOT MEAN
WE CANNOT EXPRESS OUR INTENT TO
OUR DEPARTMENT THAT ARE
CONTRACTING DEPARTMENT COULD BE
MORE INCLUSIVE.
THIS AMENDMENT, AMENDMENT 59,
AMENDS THE $4 MILLION
INVESTMENT AND CLARIFIES THAT
RECEIVING ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD
HAVE CULTURALLY RELEVANT
EXPERIENCE, SAFETY EFFORTS, AND
THE AMENDMENT REFLECTS THAT THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY THAT
OVERSEES CIVIL RIGHTS RECEIVES
A REPORT IDENTIFYING THE
SELECTED ORGANIZATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON A PROPOSED
AMENDMENT, 59?
OKAY, HEARING NONE, I AM GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND ACTUALLY, I
THINK, I AM NOT SURE WE HAVE
HAD A FORMAL MOTION AND SECOND?
CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND MOVE IT
AND THEN WE WILL SEE IF THERE
IS A SECOND?
>> YES, I MOVE AMENDMENT 59.
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY, IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT VERSION 2 OF
AMENDMENT 59.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ HAS
ALREADY ADDRESSED THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT, ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS ON THE AMENDMENT?
HEARING NONE, I WILL ASK THE
CLERK PLEASE TO CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ADOPTION OF VERSION 2 OF
AMENDMENT 59.
>> PEDERSON .
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES .
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> .
>> 8 A IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ YOU HAVE
A SECOND AMENDMENT SO I'M GOING
TO RECOGNIZE YOU TO MOVE
VERSION 2 OF AMENDMENT 60.
>> I MOVE VERSION TWO OF
AMENDMENT 60.
>> EXCELLENT.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT VERSION 2 OF
AMENDMENT 60.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS TO DESCRIBE
THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT,
JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU, I WILL BE BRIEF,
THIS AMENDMENT PLACES A PROVISO
ON THE $10 MILLION INVESTMENTS
THAT WE MADE LAST WEEK TO
REQUIRE THAT HSD SUBMIT A
SPENDING PLAN TO THE COMMITTEE
OVERSEEING CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES
AND THAT THE PLAN BE APPROVED
BY ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
SCRIPTION, AND ANY OTHER
COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT 60, I
WILL ASK AT THE CLERK CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF VERSION
2.
>> PEDERSON.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT, HERBOLD , LEWIS ,
MORALES , MOSQUEDA , PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ ?
>> YES.
8 IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT CONCLUDES
ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT I AM
AWARE OF.
SO, I WILL NOW OPEN IT BACK UP
TO GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE
BILL AS AMENDED.
SO, COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS ON THE COUNCIL BILL AS
AMENDED?
THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST SHOT TO
TALK ABOUT THIS BILL.
OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
AND COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT,
LEWIS, PEDERSON.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AS WE ALL KNOW THERE IS MUCH
MORE WORK TO BE DONE REGARDING
IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT
WORKS FOR EVERYONE IN SET UP.
SO THAT WHEN YOU CALL 911 YOU
GET THE RIGHT RESPONSE, RIGHT
AWAY.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT 56% OF US
HAVE NONCRIMINAL COST IS A
PARKING VIOLATION, NON-UNTIL
HEALTH CRISIS IS AND WELFARE
CHECKS BEFORE THESE TYPES OF
CALLS WE DON'T NEED A POLICE
OFFICER TO RESPOND.
AND, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THE
APPROPRIATE FIRST RESPONDER TO
RESPOND QUICKLY WITH THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL.
THIS MEANS GREAT OF GREATER
RESPONSE ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE HAVE PROGRAMS IN PLACE THAT
WE CAN SCALE UP TO MEET THESE
NEEDS SUCH AS MOBILE CHRISTMAS
CRISIS UNIT, THESE ARE THE SAME
MODELS THAT ARE ALREADY IN
PLACE, THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THIS AND OUR PROGRAM IS
THAT IT IS HARDWIRED WITH 911,
RESPONDING TO 20 % OF 911 CALLS.
PATROL OFFICERS WOULD HAVE MORE
TIME TO RESPOND TO A COMPLETE
TRADITIONAL POLICE WORK. THE
RESULT OF THIS HISTORIC
TRANSITION THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT
NOW, WILL ENABLE US TO DEPLOY
THE PROPER PROFESSIONALS TO
RESPOND QUICKLY WITH THE
APPROPRIATE RESOURCES NEEDED
WHETHER IT BE CRISIS
INTERVENTION, SPECIAL VICTIMS
ASSISTANT, MEDICAL CARE, SOCIAL
SERVICES, OR WITH AN ARMED
RESPONSE WHEN NECESSARY.
THROUGH THIS TRANSITION YOU
WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO CALL 911
AND RECEIVE A RESPONSE.
AND AT THE END OF THIS
TRANSITION IF YOU HAVE TO CALL
911, YOU WILL GET THE RIGHT
RESPONSE, RIGHT AWAY.
EVERY DAY OF THIS WORKWEEK WE
HAVE FOUND ADDITIONAL WAYS THAT
WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
POLICE BUDGET AND HOW WE
DELIVER PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE DELIVERING
THE PRIORITIES IN AN EFFICIENT
MANNER.
AND THIS 2020 REBALANCE IS JUST
THE FIRST STEP IN THIS WORK.
I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING
REAL-TIME SPD REPORTS ABOUT
THEIR SPENDING EVERY OTHER
WEEK, AND THE ROBUST REPORTING
AHEAD OF CREATING THE 2021
BUDGET.
IN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS WE WILL
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS, TO
MAKE MEANINGFUL AND LASTING
CHANGE AND AGAIN, THROUGHOUT
THIS TRANSITION, YOU WILL
ALWAYS BE ABLE TO CALL 911 AND
RECEIVE A RESPONSE.
AS IT CONCLUDES, IF YOU HAVE TO
CALL 911, AND GET THE RIGHT
RESPONSE, RIGHT AWAY.
IF YOU'RE CALLING IN RESPONSE
TO AN ARMED OFFICER YOU WILL
RECEIVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR
EVERY OTHER CALL YOU WILL
RECEIVE THE RIGHT FIRST
RESPONDER WHO WILL RESPOND
RIGHT AWAY.
THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE SAID
ABOUT THIS, COUNCIL BILL, AND I
KNOW THAT I WANTED TO FOCUS MY
COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY ON THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
ASPECTS AND I WILL RESERVE
COMMENTS FOR ANOTHER TIME ON
THE LIST.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS PICK NEXT UP IS COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT AND THEN AFTER ,
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS THE VOTE TODAY TO ADOPT
THE CITY'S NEW BUDGET AS A
WHOLE.
IT IS EUPHEMISTICALLY CALLED
BALANCING PACKAGE, BUT THAT IS
ONLY BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT THAT DOES NOT
WANT TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS,
THERE IS NOTHING BALANCED ABOUT
THIS BUDGET.
IT COMPLETELY FAILS TO DEFUND
THE POLICE BY 50% AS 6 OF THE 8
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD
PROMISED TO SUPPORT.
IT CARRIES OUT A MAJOR
AUSTERITY PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF
BIG BUSINESS, CUTTING TENS OF
MILLIONS FROM THE ESSENTIAL
WORK OF THE CITY ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS LIKE PARKS, ROADS,
AND LIBRARIES.
IT IS MY MIND-BOGGLING TO ME.
WHERE IS THE BALANCE WHEN
AMAZON REPORTED PROFITS IN 2020
OF OVER $5 BILLION,DOUBLE
THEIR PROFITS FROM A YEAR
EARLIER.
SINCE JANUARY 1st OF THIS YEAR,
JEFF BEZOS'S NET WORTH HAS GONE
UP.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR
JOBS AND INCOMES AND ARE
STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE.
WHERE IS THE BALANCE FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO
CONTINUES TO BE FUNDED MORE OF
THE FUNDS THAN ANY OTHER
DEPARTMENT.
MY OFFICE FULLY SUPPORT AND
VOTED YES ON AND IN FACT THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET CAMPAIGN AND
BLACK LIVES MATTER ACTIVIST AND
SOCIALIST -- WON BY OUR
MOVEMENT.
WE WON THE FUNDING FROM THE
GREEN NEW DEAL FUNDING.
WE WANT THE FUNDING FROM THE
NAVIGATION TEAM WHICH CARRIES
OUT THE HUMANE AND INEFFECTIVE
SWEEPS OF HOMELESS.
I WILL CAUTION THERE OTHER WAYS
THAT MAYOR DURKAN COULD ALLOW
SWEEPS AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE
ORGANIZING TO COMPLETELY END
THEM.
WE WANT A SMALL REDUCTIO IN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE WANT
MILLIONS IN FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, FUNDING
RESEARCH INTO ALTERNATIVES TO
OPPRESSIVE POLICING, YOUTH
PROGRAMMING AND RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE.
OUR MOVEMENT SUCCEEDED IN
REDUCING THE SELLERS OF MOST OF
THE TOP EXECUTIVES IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMEN WHO TEAR
GASSED PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AND
THEN LIED ABOUT IT SAYING THAT
THE PROTEST WERE RIOTS.
WE WANT A PROVISO TO END THE
HIRING FREEZE IN THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS, WE WANT A
PROVISO TO PROTECT THE HILLS
VILLAGE FROM BEING SWEPT THIS
YEAR.
I SAID, UNBALANCED THIS BUDGET,
IT DOES NOT PRIORITIZE OR MEET
THE NEEDS OF NORMAL PEOPLE.
IT IS NOT A MORAL DOCUMENT.
SEATTLE TIMES CONSERVATIVE
COLUMNIST DENNY WEST NEED IS AS
OPPOSED TO MY SOCIALIST
POLITICS AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.
HE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE ACTION LAST WEEK AND
CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE
DID, QUOTE, FOR ALL THE HEATED
RHETORIC ABOUT SEATTLE
DEFUNDING THE POLICE, BOTH FROM
ACTIVISTS DEMANDING IT, AND
DEMANDING IT, SEATTLE IS NOT
DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
NOT BY HALF, NOT BY A QUARTER,
NOT EVEN CLEAR WHETHER THIS
FIRST PHASE OF CUTS WOULD
REDUCE THE CORRECT NUMBER OF
OFFICERS OUT ON THE STREET AT
ALL.
THAT IS THE HEADLINE PICK THE
CITY IS NOT DEFUNDING THE
POLICE.
A MONTH AGO THE CITY COUNCIL
VOTED ON THE AMAZON TAX, A
HISTORIC VICTORY FOR WORKING
PEOPLE AND THE OPPRESSED.
AND A VICTORY FOR THE BLACK
LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.
AT THAT TIME, MY OFFICE
PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO
INCREASE THE AMAZON TAX BY $293
MILLION PER YEAR TO ELIMINATE
THE NEED FOR AUSTERITY WHICH NO
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER SUPPORTED.
NOW, THE POLICE -- POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT INSULTS THE
INTELLIGENCE OF WORKING PEOPLE
AND ACTING LIKE THERE IS AN
ALTERNATIVE OF BUDGET CUTS AS
IF OUR MEMORY CANNOT STRETCH
BACK A FEW WEEKS.
CITY COUNCIL DEMOCRATS HAD AN
ALTERNATIVE, THEY HAD A CHOICE
AND THEY DECIDED TO SIDE WITH
JEFF BEZOS.
MANY ACTIVISTS IN THE MOVEMENT
WILL BE OUTRAGED BY COUNCIL
MEMBERS FAILING TO DEFUND THE
POLICE BY 50% AND THE SHOULD
BE.
THIS VOTE IS GOING TO REDUCE
THE POLICE BUDGET BY LESS THAN
2%, THAT IS NOT A DEFUNDING.
LESS THAN $3 MILLION OUT OF
$170 MILLION REMAINING IN THE
SPD BUDGET THIS YEAR, INSTEAD
OF THE 50% DEMANDED BY THE
MOVEMENT AND PROMISED BY SIX OF
THE EIGHT DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
IT REPRESENTS A TOTAL
ABDICATION OF RESPONSIBILITY,
AN ABDICATION OF SPOTS ABILITY
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HISTORIC
MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES, THE
BRUTAL ATTACKS ON PROTESTERS,
THE SEATTLE POLICE LAST LONG
RECORD OF RACIST AND VIOLENT
POLICING, AND 80 YEARS OF
FAILED ATTEMPT AT POLICE REFORM
. OUR PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT
GAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH
ON THEIR PROMISES.
WE PROPOSE TO DEFUNDING THE
POLICE BY 50%, NOW, BUT EVERY
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER VOTED NO,
FALSELY CLAIMING THE BUDGET
CUTS COULD NOT BE DONE UNTIL
NOVEMBER.
IN RESPONSE TO THAT, ON
WEDNESDAY, MY OFFICE PROPOSED
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BY 50%
STARTING IN NOVEMBER FIRST EVEN
THOUGH I DON'T ACCEPT THAT
LOGIC . NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER
WOULD EVEN SECOND PROPOSAL.
WE JUST RECEIVED A POWERFUL
LETTER SIGNED BY 25 RANK-AND-
FILE LEADERS OF UAW 41, A UNION
OF STUDENT EMPLOYEES AND
POSTDOCS.
THEY WROTE, WE ARE DEEPLY
DISAPPOINTED THAT MANY OF THE
SAME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TRIED
TO DELAY THE 50% DEFUNDING BY
CLAIMING IT WOULD INTERFERE
WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE OFFICER
GUILT CONTRACT.
AS A PUBLIC SECTOR UNION WE
RECOGNIZE THIS TACTIC FOR WHAT
IT IS, MANAGEMENT, GRASPING FOR
JUSTIFICATION TO MAINTAIN THE
STATUS QUO.
THESE ISSUES ARE NOT NEW AND WE
HAVE TOO LONG SEEN BOTH THE
CITY AND POLICE OFFICERS GUILTY
IS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AS
POLITICAL COVER TO EVADE
RESPONSIBILITY RATHER THAN AS
IT SHOULD BE, WE KNOW THAT
DEFUNDING SPD AS POSSIBLE,
POSSIBLE NOW, AND WE REJECT ANY
ATTEMPT TO PROP UP COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AS A POLITICAL WAY
TO EVADE RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS HOLLOW EXCUSE IS AN INSULT
TO THE LABOR MOVEMENT AS OUR
UNION WIELDS OUR POSITION AT
THE BARGAINING TABLE TO PROTECT
WORKERS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR,
NOT OUR OPPRESSORS.
WE URGE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO VOTE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT'S CUTS TO SPD.
THAT IS JUST AN EXTRACT OF THE
LETTER.
IF OUR MOVEMENT IS NOT
DEFUNDING THE POLICE THIS
SUMMER, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT
WE CANNOT WIN.
IT MEANS WE NEED TO LEARN THE
LESSONS OF THE STRUGGLE,
RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT WE WIN IS A
FUNCTION OF THE STRENGTH OF OUR
MOVEMENT, AND THE BALANCE OF
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL FORCES, WE
WILL CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE AND
FIGHT FOR DEFUNDING AND
DEMILITARIZATION OF THE POLICE.
WE SHOULD LEARN THE LESSONS
FROM THE AMAZON TAX FIGHT,
WHERE IN 2018 WE SAW THE REPEAL
OF THE TAX, AND BETRAYAL BY
DEMOCRATS ON THE COUNCIL.
WE LEARNED THAT WE CAN WIN IF
WE BUILD A STRONGER MOVEMENT
AND NEVER GIVE UP.
WE LEARNED THAT OUR MOVEMENT
NEEDED TO BE DEMOCRATICALLY
ORGANIZED, BY THE HUNDREDS WHO
ATTENDED EACH OF THE TAX AMAZON
ACTION CONFERENCES, MADE KEY
DECISIONS, DEMOCRATICALLY AFTER
PUBLIC DEBATE AND THAT THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE MOVEMENT WAS
NOT GOING TO MAKE ALLIANCES
WITH DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENTS
BUT INSTEAD, RELIED ON
INDEPENDENTLY ORGANIZING
ORDINARY PEOPLE, CONCLUDING
THAT THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS
WHO EAGERLY SIGNED OUR PETITIONS
OF THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS.
HOW WOULD TODAY'S BUDGET
COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS BE
DIFFERENT IF THERE WAS A
CREDIBLE BALLOT INITIATIVE TO
CUT 100 MILLION OR $200 MILLION
OR $300 MILLION FROM THE POLICE
BUDGET.
THAT IS A QUESTION I WISH WE
COULD ASK OURSELVES.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, PROGRESSIVE
CHANGE HAS COME FROM MASS
MOVEMENTS, NOT FROM THE
POLITICIANS IN THE A POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT.
IT SHOWS ONCE AGAIN, WORKING
PEOPLE NEED OUR OWN PARTY, NOT
ONE WE HOLD ONTO BIG BUSINESS.
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE AND I
CELEBRATE THE VICTORIES WE HAVE
WON BUT STAND AGAINST THIS
AUSTERITY BUDGET AND FAILURE TO
ADDRESS THE ONGOING EPIDEMIC OF
RACIST AND VIOLENT POLICING.
WITH MY NO VOTE TODAY, I AFFIRM
OUR MOVEMENT UNCHANGING
DEMANDS, DEFINE POLICE BY AT
LEAST 50%, TAX BIG BUSINESS AND
THE RICH, AND NOT HAVE
AUSTERITY AND WORKING PEOPLE
BECAUSE WE CAN'T PAY AND WE
WON'T PAY FOR THIS CRISIS.
THIS CRISIS OF THE RACIST AND
BANKRUPT SYSTEM OF CAPITALISM.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT . NEXT UP IS COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS AND THEN WE WILL
HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, PLEASE?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WILL BE BRIEF GIVEN ALL THE
OTHER COMMENTS THAT I HAVE
MADE THROUGHOUT THIS MORNING,
AND THROUGHOUT OUR BROADER
PROCESS.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU
KNOW, I DID NOT KNOW WHEN WE
WERE STARTING THIS OUT EXACTLY
WHAT TYPE OF THING WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO CREATE AND TO FINALLY
START TAKING SHAPE AND TO LAY
THE GROUNDWORK FOR MUCH BIGGER
THINGS COMING UP THIS FALL IN
2021, WHERE WE GET TO -- FOR THE
2021 BUDGET WHERE WE ARE REALLY
GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE FINAL
DECISIONS ON A LOT OF THE THINGS
WE ARE LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
FOR, RIGHT NOW, GIVEN THE
LIMITATIONS OF THE SUMMER
BUDGET SESSION
AND, I JUST REALLY THINK IT
STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO THE
LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD, AND YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT , IN ASSEMBLING A
PACKAGE THAT IS UNITED, A LOT
OF FACTIONS ON THIS COUNCIL
FROM THE FAR LEFT TO THE FAR
CENTERED LEFT.
I THINK WE HAVE REALLY BEEN
ABLE TO REACH A PRETTY GOOD
INITIAL PACKAGE AT LEAST, THAT
LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR MUCH
BIGGER TRANSFER MADE OF CHANGE
TO COME IN SHORT ORDER.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS
COUNTS AS AN OBSCURE METAPHOR
OR AN ANALOGY BUT I WILL THROW
IT OUT THERE.
AND HOPEFULLY THE JUDGES IN THE
COMPETITION WILL LET IT RIDE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO
GO FAST, GO OLYMPIC IF YOU WANT
TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER.
I THINK THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER
HERE, THROUGH A PROCESS, NOT
JUST WITH THIS BUDGET BUT OF
THE ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION
LATER TO MAKE THESE FINAL
REFORMS AND TRANSFORMATIVE
CHANGES.
THAT COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
ALLUDED TO TOO IN THE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIRST
RESPONSE.
I REMAIN A VERY BIG ADVOCATE OF
BUILDING A COMMUNITY BASED FIRST
RESPONSE MODELED BASED ON
HELPING OUT ASSISTANCE ON THE
STREET, FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF
OTHER CITIES, FROM DENVER TO
OAKLAND, TO PORTLAND, WHO HAVE
BEEN DOING THE SAME THING AND
ENGAGING IN THE SAME PROCESS.
WE ARE NOT ALONE AS A
PROGRESSIVE CITY, AND I KNOW
MANY OTHERS WILL JOIN BASED ON
THESE EXAMPLES.
SO, I WON'T TAKE UP ANY MORE OF
OUR TIME, HERE, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO VOTING FOR THIS
PACKAGE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS, FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
NEXT UP IS COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSON FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER --.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
IN THE MIDDLE OF A PERSISTENT
PANDEMIC AND BALLOONING BUDGET
DEFICIT AND EVEN THE CRACKING
OF OUR WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE,
STRANDING 100,000 OF OUR
RESIDENTS, IN THE MIDDLE OF
THESE CRISES YOUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS ARE STRIVING TO SEIZE
THIS HISTORIC MOMENT IN THE
WAKE OF THE BRUTAL AND WRONGFUL
KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD, AND
COUNTLESS OTHER BLACK
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR, SO WE ADDRESS
SYSTEMIC RACISM BY RETHINKING
POLICING AND REVITALIZING
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY.
IT IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS, IT
IS MESSY, IT IS DIFFICULT,
UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT IT IS
NECESSARY.
EVEN AS I SPEAK NOW, I AM
GETTING EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS
FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO WANT US
TO DO MORE, NOW.
AND OTHER CONSTITUENTS WHO WANT
US TO SLOW DOWN AND THINK IT
THROUGH, MORE.
FIRST, WE WERE ELECTED NOT ONLY
TO SYNTHESIZE THESE POINTS AND
ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS, BUT ALSO TO CRAFT
THOUGHTFUL PLANS ON HOW TO DO
THINGS BETTER.
WE NEED TO APPLY OUR OWN
CRITICAL THINKING AND PLAN
AHEAD, RATHER THAN JUST
REACTING.
I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT
THE LEGISLATION TODAY IS A
PRUDENT MIX OF ALL OF THESE
GOALS.
IT LEVERAGES THE FEW TOOLS IN
THE TOOLBELT OF THIS CITY
COUNCIL, TO MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT
TOWARDS A BIGGER, BROADER
DISCUSSION, BIGGER, BOLDER
CHANGES AS PART OF A LONG, MORE
THOUGHTFUL FALL BUDGET PROCESS.
I THINK MY COLLEAGUES, INC.
MY COMMENTS EARLIER TODAY.
WITH MY INITIAL COMMENTS
APPROVED TODAY, WHAT WILL THE
IMPACT BE ON THE GROUND IN
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD?
HOW WILL THE CHIEF OF POLICE
CHOOSE TO TO REDEPLOY THE
RESOURCES AND WHAT WILL BE
IMPACTED ON RESPONSE TIMES.
29% OF THE TIME IS SPENT ON
NONPRIORITY CALLS.
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE
FOR COMMUNITY LED SOLUTIONS.
THESE REPORTS WILL ALSO MAKE
SURE WE DO NOT JETTISON THE
GOOD WORK DONE BY OUR HARBOR
PATROL . THE REPORTS WE ARE
ASKING FOR AS PART OF THIS
LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE CAN BE
COMBINED WITH THE PLANNING
EFFORTS OF OUR MAYOR AND POLICE
CHIEF AS THEY CRAFT THEIR
BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR NEXT YEAR.
THESE REPORTS AND PLANNING
DOCUMENTS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY, A
SECOND CHANCE FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL TO WORK AUTHENTICALLY
AND PROACTIVELY WITH OUR MAYOR
AND OUR CHIEF OF POLICE TO
RETHINK AND REVAMP PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HEALTHY COMMUNITES.
WITH THE REDUCTIONS WE ARE
MAKING FOR 2020 THAT WILL
LIKELY CARRY ON INTO 2021, I
BELIEVE ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE
SO THAT RESPONSE TIMES DO NOT
GET WORSE.
AS I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER
TODAY, THE REMAINING OFFICERS
COULD RESPOND TO FEWER TYPES OF
CRIMINAL CALLS.
FEWER TYPES OF NONCRIMINAL
CALLS.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS DETAILED
THIS THOROUGHLY, EARLIER.
WE ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE WE
CANNOT DO IT ALL THROUGH THE
BUDGET.
WE NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT HAS NOT
BEEN DISCUSSED ENOUGH, AND THAT
IS THE NEED TO REDO THE POLICE
UNION CONTRACT.
THIS COMPLEX CONTRACT NEEDS TO
BE REDONE TO ENCOURAGE THE GOOD
POLICE OFFICERS TO STAY IN
SEATTLE, TO REDUCE EXCESSIVE
SALARIES AND COSTS, TO FIX
DISCIPLINARY SYSTEMS SO THAT
THEY NO LONGER IMPEDE JUSTICE.
WE NEED A GOOD CONTRACT, MORE
THAN GOOD SLOGANS.
EVEN AS THE CITY COUNCIL
PARTIALLY DEFINES OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT, WE STILL HAVE A
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE STILL
HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT AS
PART OF A BROADER PUBLIC SAFETY
STRATEGY THAT INVOLVES MORE
COMMUNITY LED SOLUTIONS.
THE POLICE REFORMS ARE NOT
ENOUGH, REFORMS ARE NOT ENOUGH
WHEN THEY ARE SYSTEMIC AND
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IS ABOUND.
SHOULD WAIT WE TOSS ASIDE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, THE
OFFICES OF INSPECTOR GENERAL?
WE NEED BOTH REAL REFORMS, AND
REINVESTMENT.
AS WE INVEST TENS OF MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS, WE NEED MORE BLACK
LED ORGANIZATIONS AT THE TABLE
FROM THE EVERY DAY MARCHERS TO
URBAN LEAGUE, THEY DESERVE A
SEAT AT THE TABLE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE
INVESTMENTS ARE SMART AND
EFFECTIVE AND WE MEASURE
RESULTS TO SHOW THE GENERAL
PUBLIC WHETHER WE ARE ACHIEVING
THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES WE ALL
WANT.
TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE IS
NOT PERFECT.
I DO NOT SUPPORT ENDING THE
NAVIGATION TEAM.
THAT WAS A TEAM CREATED THAT
HAD COORDINATED RESPONSES, A
TEAM OF DEDICATED CITY
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, PUBLIC
SERVANTS FROM OUR HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND PARKS
DEPARTMENT, WHO HAVE BEEN
ENGAGING THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, AND WHO WORK FOR
THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF ALL CITY
RESIDENTS BY A NARROW 5-4 VOTE
THE MAJORITY OF THIS COUNCILOR
TOOK WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A
HASTY ACTION WITHOUT A FULL
REPLACEMENT PLAN.
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS
ACROSS THE CITY THAT REPRESENT
HUNDREDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES,
THAT IS WHY THOUSANDS OF
RESIDENTS ARE DISAPPOINTED AND
CONCERNED.
EVEN IF THE NAVIGATION TEAM
GOES AWAY, THE CHALLENGES OF
HOMELESSNESS WILL NOT.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH OUR CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
ON HOMELESS STRATEGIES TO WORK
TOGETHER TO PIECE TOGETHER A
STRATEGY.
I DO NOT SUPPORT SUDDENLY AND
WITH LITTLE TO NO ANALYSIS,
CUTTING THE SALARY OF THE FIRST
BLACK POLICE CHIEF IN THE
CITY'S HISTORY AND THE
DIVERSITY THAT SHE HAND-PICKED.
YES, WE SHOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK
AT EXCESS PAY THROUGHOUT OUR
CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT I BELIEVE
IT SHOULD BE MORE THOUGHTFUL
AND METHODICAL.
BUT, WE ARE HERE TODAY, FACING
A MASSIVE DEFICIT, WE MUST
REBALANCE THE BUDGET, WE ARE
REQUIRED BY LAW TO DO THIS,
JUST LIKE ALL APPROPRIATION
BILLS AND ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT, THERE ARE ITEMS IN
THE BILL THAT EACH OF US MIGHT
NOT PREFER.
BUT, THE BIG PICTURE IS WE NEED
TO ROW TOGETHER, BOTH THE
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE
BRANCHES, TO GIVE THE GENERAL
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN
FUNCTION AND MOVE FORWARD FOR
THEIR BENEFIT.
LET'S APPROVE THE BUDGET
PACKAGE TODAY, AND RESOLVE THE
WORK, COLLABORATED WITH OUR
MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEFS TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND MAKE
PROGRESS FOR SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSON FOR THE SUMMER EXPECT
NEXT UP IS COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
WHO I THINK IS STILL WITH US?
IF SHE IS.
>> I AM, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WILL BE BRIEF, I REALLY JUST
WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
THANK A FEW FOLKS.
I WANT TO START WITH THE
CENTRAL STUFF WHO, AS WE ALL
KNOW, HAVE RESPONDED
TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THEY HAVE
RESPONDED WITH GRACE AND WISDOM
TO EVERY SINGLE INQUIRY COMING
FROM THIS FRESHMAN OFFICE AND
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THEM.
SO, I WANT TO THANK KIERSTEN
AND BEN, EACH OF YOUR MEMBERS,
FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ADVOCATES
FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY, FOUR
BLACK LIVES, FOR OUR HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS, YOUNG PEOPLE,
IMMIGRANTS, AND WORKERS.
YOU KNOW, AND I WANT TO THANK
MY STAFF, LAKISHA FARMER LED AN
EFFORT WITH KING COUNTY EQUITY
NOW AND ALL OF THE OTHER
COMMUNITY SAFETY ADVOCATES THAT
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
DEVON SILVERMAN WHO WORKED
CLOSELY WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS,
AND ALEXIS, WHO KNOWS HOW TO
ASK THE RIGHT BUDGET QUESTIONS
TO GET GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN
THE INFORMATION THAT WE GET,
PARTICULARLY THE WAY IT IS
TRANSMITTED FROM THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH.
THIS TEAM HAS WORKED COUNTLESS
HOURS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF
DISTRICT 2, AND THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, AND I AM VERY THANKFUL
TO HAVE THEM ON.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES FOR THOSE COMMENTS,
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY FOLKS, SO I THINK WE ARE
COMING CLOSE TO AN END, I WILL
JUST QUICKLY, BEFORE I GIVE THE
LAST WORD OVER TO THE CHAIR OF
OUR SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE,
JUST SAY THAT I ALSO, LIKE
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR ALL
OF THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
STAFF, CENTRAL STAFF,
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT, I.T.
, AND CLERKS OFFICE AND OF
COURSE, EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF
OUR INDIVIDUAL OFFICES, STAFF,
WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING
TIRELESSLY ON STAFFING ALL OF
US ON THESE REALLY IMPORTANT
ISSUES AND ENGAGING IN
THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF COMMUNITY
, ENGAGEMENT AND CONVERSATIONS
ACROSS THE CITY AS WE LOOK AT
HOW TO RISE TO THE OCCASION OF
THIS HISTORIC MOMENT THAT
REALLY CALLS UPON US TO TAKE A
HARD LOOK AT HOW WE CAN RE-
EVALUATE HOW WE CAN DELIVER
PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES.
AND, OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW,
FEW MONTHS, MANY OF US HAVE HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN
CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THE
SPECTRUM.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON
DID A FINE JOB OF DESCRIBING
WHERE THAT SPECTRUM IS,
OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO
BELIEVE, AND WE HEARD IT IN
PUBLIC TESTIMONY EVEN TODAY,
WHO BELIEVE FUNDAMENTALLY THAT
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND
AND GROW LAW ENFORCEMENT, ARMED
LAW ENFORCEMENT, APPROACHES.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE
OPPOSITE END OF THE SPECTRUM
WHO BELIEVE WE NEED TO ABOLISH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AS COW MEMBERS
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I BELIEVE IT
IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN
TO A VARIETY OF OPINIONS IN
THIS SPACE AND TO WEIGH IN ON
WHAT THE BALANCE APPROACH MIGHT
BE MOVING FORWARD.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROPOSAL
THAT WE ARE VOTING ON TODAY IS
NOT PERFECT BUT IT DOES PUT US
ON A PATHWAY TOWARDS HAVING
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN
TRULY CAPTURE SAVINGS AND
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS THAT WE
CAN ALLOCATE TOWARDS
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED BY OVER POLICING AND
CRIMINALIZATION AND IN OUR CITY.
I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
ENDEAVOR FOR US TO UNDERTAKE.
I THINK IT IS GOING TO BECOME
HARDER BEFORE IT BECOMES EASIER
. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT FOLKS
WHO ARE NERVOUS ABOUT HAVING
THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY
UNDERGO THIS EFFORT ARE MANY OF
THOSE FOLKS, I THINK, ARE
WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IMPACT THIS
WILL HAVE ON THEIR PUBLIC
SAFETY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
OF COURSE THERE ARE ALSO
INDIVIDUALS WHO BELIEVE THAT
CONTINUING TO INVEST IN LAW-
ENFORCEMENT ALSO CARRIES WITH
IT DANGEROUS TERMS FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY, IN TERMS OF POLICE
VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN
PARTICULAR.
AND SO, OUR JOB HERE TODAY IS TO
, AND ALWAYS, IS TO TAKE AS
MUCH INPUT AS WE CAN TO
SYNTHESIZE THAT INFORMATION,
INTO EVALUATING STRATEGIES AND
OPTIONS THAT LAY BEFORE US,
THAT WE FEEL REPRESENT THE
BROADER ROLE OF THE PEOPLE THAT
WE REPRESENT.
AND I GUESS WHAT FOLKS ARE
SAYING NOW IS THERE IS
DEMOCRACY AT WORK.
I HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO IN
THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS,
CONTINUE TO ENGAGE EACH OTHER
IN THESE IMPORTANT
CONVERSATIONS, AND THAT WE ARE
ABLE TO REALLY DEVELOP A BROAD
TABLE OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO WILL
COME TOGETHER TO HELP US
IDENTIFY CLEAR SOLUTIONS AND
STRATEGIES FOR HOW TO MEET THE
PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS OF THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE WITHOUT THE
NEED TO RESORT, ALWAYS THE NEED
TO RESORT FIRST TO AN ARMED
RESPONSE WITH A GUN.
EVEN IN THOSE -- EVEN IN THOSE
INSTANCES IN WHICH THE ACTIVITY
THAT IS AT HAND IS A NONVIOLENT
, NONCRIMINAL OFFENSE.
SO, I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL
BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION.
I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE
POSITIVELY WITH PEOPLE ACROSS
THE CITY, AND WITH THE CHIEF
AND WITH MAYOR DURKAN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT
WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH ALL
OF YOU COLLEAGUES, IN THIS
REALLY IMPORTANT MOMENT IN TIME
, IN OUR HISTORY.
SO, I WILL GO AHEAD AND LEAVE
IT THERE AND JUST SAY THANK YOU
TO MY OWN STUFF, RIHANNA THOMAS,
AND TO ALL OF THE STAFF AND ALL
OF YOUR OFFICES, AS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT WE GET TO SERVE IN
THE UNIQUE ROLE OF HAVING TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ENGAGE WITH EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOUR OFFICES.
I HAVE APPRECIATED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN WITH YOU
AND WILL WORK WITH EACH OF YOU.
I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
RESPECT FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF,
WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY
HARD AT SERVING THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, THEY DO THAT IN THE
BACKGROUND, AND THEY DO IT
EXTRAORDINARILY WELL. AND I
JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM,
ESPECIALLY MY STAFF, FOR ALL OF
THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.
TO HELP ME BALANCE HOME LIFE
WITH THE WORKLIFE.
SO, WITH THAT, BEING SAID, I AM
GOING TO CONCLUDE MY REMARKS
AND I'M GOING TO HANDED OVER TO
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA TO
CLOSE DEBATE OUT ON THIS BILL,
AND THEN WE WILL TAKE A VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT, THANK TO ALL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES FOR ALL OF YOUR
COMMENTS.
THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE SOMETHING
TRULY EXTRAORDINARY, SOMETHING
THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE, AT
LEAST IN RECENT MEMORY.
WE HAVE PASSED AND WE ARE ON
THE VERGE OF PASSING A MIDYEAR
BUDGET REVISION, WHILE WORKING
REMOTELY, DURING OVERLAPPING
HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS AND
HOUSING CRISES.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR US
TO INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH THIS
ROBUST PROCESS THAT WE ENGAGED
IN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER
FOR US TO JUST RUBBERSTAMP THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND CONVERSELY, IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN EASY TO VOTE NO AND NOT DO
THE WORK.
BUT INSTEAD, WE ARE ROLLINGUP
OUR SLEEVES, WE HAVE COMMITTED
TO DOING THE HARD WORK AND WE
HAVE PUT FORWARD A
COMPREHENSIVE AND ROBUST
PROPOSAL.
WE DID NOT DO THIS OVER THE
SERIES OF A FEW HOURS OR A FEW
MEETINGS, INSTEAD WE WORKED
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS ON
SEVERAL BUDGET MEASURES THAT
CENTERED EQUITY, ANTI-
AUSTERITY, TRANSPARENCY AND
COLLABORATION AT THE HEART OF
WHAT WE HAVE PUT FORWARD AS A
COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE TO
ADDRESS THE CRISES THAT ARE IN
FRONT OF THIS.
AND IT STARTED WITH PASSING
JUST SEATTLE.
$214 MILLION A YEAR IN PAYROLL
TAX, COMING IN THE FORM OF
IMMEDIATE RELIEF FOR COVID, AND
LONG-TERM ECONOMIC STABILITY.
WE ARE REPLENISHING THE RAINY
DAY AND EMERGENCY FUNDS WITH A
PAYROLL TAX ON OUR LARGEST
COMPANIES IN THE HIGHEST
INCOME.
WE ARE DOING THIS WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A SMART
FISCAL POLICY, PREVENT
FLATLINING LOCAL ECONOMY AND TO
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND
FAMILY MEMBERS.
THIS IS HOW WE HELP STAND UP
AND RESPOND TO THE CRISIS IN
FRONT OF YOU.
THIS WEEK WE ARE DIRECTING $14
MILLION IN COMMUNITY
INVESTMENTS INCLUDING YOUTH
FOCUSED PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC
SAFETY PROGRAMS.
WE WILL BE ALLOCATING $3
MILLION FOR OUR PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING PROCESS SO THAT
COMMUNITY CAN BETTER ENGAGE
WITH THE CITY.
SPECIFICALLY THE BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITY CAN ENGAGE WITH
THE CITY IN A DIRECTED WAY, TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR FUTURE
EFFORTS WILL CRAFT THE 2021,
2022 BUDGET, INVESTMENTS, AND
INVESTMENT.
WE HAVE DONE THIS ON THE HEELS
OF ADDING TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TO THE BENEFIT PACKAGE
TO FOCUS ON FREQUENCY AND
TRANSIT TRIPS, RECOGNIZING THAT
WE WANT ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO BE
ABLE TO GET TO THEIR JOBS AND
THAT WE PROVIDE ESSENTIAL
SERVICES ACROSS OUR CITY.
WE HAVE DONE ALL OF THESE
THINGS IN A WAY TO HELP CENTER
OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLING
IN AND ASKING US FOR AN ANTI-
AUSTERITY APPROACH BUT WE HAVE
BEEN TRYING TO INVEST BACK INTO
THE COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO
THIS CRISIS.
THE BE VERY CLEAR, ALL OF THE
STEPS WE HAVE TAKEN HAVE BEEN
IN ALIGNMENT WITH, COMMUNITY,
AND NO ONE IS SIDING WITH JEFF
BEZOS.
WE ARE RECOGNIZING THAT WE WILL
DO MUCH, MUCH MORE WHEN
JUMPSTART PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
COMES INTO PLAY IN JUST TWO
YEARS.
AT THIS MOMENT, WE WILL NOT
ALLOW PROGRAMS TO BE PITTED
AGAINST EACH OTHER.
WE CRAFTED A BUDGET THAT
ADDRESSES THE COVID CRISIS, WE
HAVE MADE NEW INVESTMENTS IN
HOMELESS SERVICES AND COVID
REALLY FOR FAMILIES.
WE HAVE MADE MEANINGFUL
DOWNPAYMENTS, SO FOLLOWING
COMMUNITIES CALLS TO DEFUND SBD
BY RAISING INVESTMENTS IN
COMMUNITY SAFETY PROGRAMS AND
SCALING DOWN OUR CURRENT SBD
BUDGET.
WE PUT RESIDENTS VALUES AT THE
FOREFRONT OF THE DISCUSSION, WE
CRAFTED A MIDYEAR BUDGET THAT
LIFTS UP ANTI-AUSTERITY EFFORTS
AS WE RESPOND TO COVID.
AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS,
THE SPD INQUEST THAT WE STARTED
IN JUNE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
IN FINALLY RECKONING THAT WE
HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO TO
INVEST IN COMMUNITY AND D VEST
FROM AN OVER INVESTED AND
EXPANDED POLICE BUDGET.
THIS PROCESS AND OUR DEEP
ANALYSIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN
CENTERED ON THE FACT THAT WE
CANNOT DO IT ALL IN A SUMMER
BUDGETING PROCESS.
WE HAVE CALLS FOR ACTION IN
ORDER TO BE PUT THAT INTO
PLACE, TO LIFT UP BIPARTISAN
COMMUNITIES.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE
CONTINUED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE
DISPROPORTIONATE INVESTMENTS OF
POLICE, JAILS, COURTS, PRISONS,
AND THAT IS WHAT THE STATUS QUO
HAS ALWAYS BEEN.
THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT
IS NOT NEW, BUT WHAT IS NEW IS
THE WAY IN WHICH WE ARE
RESPONDING TO THEIR CALLS FOR
ACTION.
THIS IS OUR BEGINNING, THIS IS
OUR EFFORT TO SHOW THAT WE ARE
TAKING FIRST AND IMPORTANT
STEPS YOU WRITE HISTORIC WRONGS
TO BEGIN THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND
TO MAKE IT CLEAR TODAY IS THE
FIRST STEP.
WE HAVE TO BE REAL ABOUT WHAT
IS POSSIBLE. WE WANT TO DO
WHATEVER IS POSSIBLE THE CYCLE,
ENTITY IT UP FOR WHAT IS COMING
UP IN THE UPCOMING YEARS.
THIS IS ONE STEP OF A LARGER
PLAN THAT ENCOMPASSES THE 2021
BUDGET CYCLE, WHICH STARTS
AGAIN IN JUST A FEW WEEKS WE
ARE ENSURING THAT FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IS
ACTUALLY BEING ALLOCATED.
DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR SO THAT
ORGANIZATIONS CAN SCALE UP AND
ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS AND
COMMUNITY LED RESEARCH PROJECTS
THAT WE KNOW WE NEED IN ORDER
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY
REMAINS SAFE AND THAT
ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES ARE SAFER WHEN WE
DE-MILITARIZE AND REDUCE THE
POLICE PRESENCE IN COMMUNITY --
ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
AROUND SEATTLE.
WE NEED TIME TO SCALE UP TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE LARGER
VOLUMES OF WORK THAT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS ARE GOING TO TAKE
ON OCCURS, AND THIS IS OUR
PROCESS, THIS IS OUR COMMITMENT
TO SCALING UP, BY INVESTING THE
MONEY THAT WILL GO ON MONDAY,
IT IS AN EFFORT TO SCALE UP
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE AT THE
FOREFRONT OF RESPONDING TO WHAT
COMMUNITIES NEED TO BE SAFE.
THAT IS HOUSING, FOOD
ASSISTANCE, CHILD CARE SYSTEMS,
AND OTHER STRATEGIES THAT HAVE
BEEN LED BY BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES THAT ACTUALLY
INVEST IN SAFETY.
SO TODAY AGAIN IS ONE STEP IN
THE PROCESS, IT SETS US UP FOR
THE CONTINUATION IN THE 2021
PROCESS WHICH STARTS IN JUST A
FEW WEEKS.
AND WE WILL TRULY BE LED BY THE
COMMUNITY LED RESEARCH PROJECT
TO HELP UNDO CENTURIES OF HARM,
HARMFUL SYSTEMS THAT HAVE
CONTINUED TO BE FUNDED OVER THE
YEARS, AND WILL TAKE TIME FOR
US TO GET THERE BUT WE ARE
ACTING WITH URGENCY TODAY, AND
SETTING US ON THE RIGHT PATH TO
CORRECT THESE HISTORIC WRONGS.
I HOPE FOLKS CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH US AS WE ARE INTENTIONAL
IN OUR EFFORTS TO BUILD TRUST,
TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT IS
POSSIBLE HERE TODAY, AND TO
BUILD THAT PROCESS FOR TRULY WE
ENVISION COMMUNITY SAFETY
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES GOING
FORWARD.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TODAY IS THAT
WE HAVE NOT JUST SAID NO, WHAT
IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WE HAVE
SAID WE WILL WALK WITH YOU, WE
WILL WALK WITH YOU AND
COMMUNITY TO RE-CREATE A TRULY
COMMUNITY LED PUBLIC SAFETY
MODEL.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WE
HAVE NOT JUST STOOD IN THE WAY
WERE BLOCKED THE ROAD.
THEY ARE WALKING WITH
COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE
IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TOGETHER,
WE ARE POINTING TO THOSE
BARRIERS OR BLOCKADES AND
COLLECTIVELY PUTTING THE BOX
TOGETHER TO GET AROUND THEM, TO
GET AROUND WHAT HAS PREVIOUSLY
BEEN INSURMOUNTABLE, BY WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH COMMUNITY
AND WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY.
ON WEDNESDAY, YOU WILL SEE US
TAKE ACTION ON SOME FINAL
VOTES, INCLUDING A LOAN BILL,
AMENDING EFFORTS TO GET OUT THE
$3 MILLION TO COMMUNITY LED
RESEARCH PROJECTS, TO
DISAGGREGATE SPD PRECINCT 4
TROLL OPERATIONS, TO
PASS THE COVID RELIEF BILL THAT
IS JUMP STARTED, AND TO AMEND
OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THERE
IS COMMUNITY RELIEF THAT IS
BEING PROVIDED, AND NOT JUST A
VETO THAT STANDS IN THE WAY.
THAT WILL HAPPEN ON WEDNESDAY.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST
STEP IN A VERY LONG PROCESS,
THAT HAS BEEN LONG OVERDUE.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US, TO
REALLY COME UP WITH THE
STRATEGIES AND THE INDIVIDUALS,
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW, AND
DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE, EVERYDAY
MARCH BUT I WANT TO CALL OUT
SPECIFIC NAMES.
SEAN, ISAAC, AKITA, ANDREA
RITCHIE, FROM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER
JEREMIAH ELIASSON, MINNEAPOLIS,
NEW YORK COUNCIL MEMBER, AUSTIN
CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE FOLKS
FROM SAN FRANCISCO, WHO
PROVIDED US WITH IDEAS AND
STRATEGIES, SUPERVISORS, WE
HAVE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE
CITY THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING TO
LIFT UP HOW WE CAN IDENTIFY NON%
SWORN INDIVIDUALS AND REALLY
INVEST IN MAKING SURE THAT
COMMUNITY AND THE CITY SERVANTS
HAVE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED
THAT ARE NOT EMBEDDED WITHIN
SPD, SO I WANT TO THANK
INDIVIDUALS LIKE ALLISON, FLOYD
GAIL, AND LISA, WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH US ON HOW TO D
POLICE OR DEMILITARIZED OUR
HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE NICOLE GRANT FROM MLK
LABOR ALONG WITH SEAN AND
PENNY, WHO WORK WITH THE
INTERCITY UNIONS WHO CONSTANTLY
SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING
TO HELP THINK THROUGH THE NEXT
STEPS AND HAVE PROVIDED
TREMENDOUS FEEDBACK.
ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE
FOLKS A LOT OF OUR COLLEAGUES
HAVE ALREADY COMMENTED ON THIS.
THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN WORKING DAY AND NIGHT,
SHOULDERING THE WORK AND I MEAN
PHYSICALLY THEIR SHOULDERS
PROBABLY HURT FROM THE AMOUNT
OF WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
CENTRAL STUFF, THE CLERK'S
OFFICE, WE APPRECIATE THE
CENTRAL STAFF TEAM SO.
ALLIE,
PATTY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR DAN AND
KIERSTEN, WE APPRECIATE YOU.
WE KNOW THIS IS A TON OF WORK
AND I WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD
TO HEARING YOUR FEEDBACK ALONG
WITH ALL OF OUR COUNSEL ABOUT
HOW WE CAN CONTINUALLY IMPROVE
OUR PROCESS GOING INTO THE FALL
BUT AND WITH THAT, JUST A HUGE
AMOUNT OF APPRECIATION FOR OUR
TEAMS.
SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY
MENTIONED, BUT I WANT TO SAY
THANKS OF YOU THANKS TO YOU
HAVE REACHED OUT. NOT JUST TO
MY STEP IT DIRECTLY TO ME.
THANKS TO CODY AROUND.
LAKISHA AND ALEXIS AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S OFFICE.
JONATHAN COUNCILMEMBER, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT.
WAS ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF
PULLING TOGETHER THE ANALYSES
AND FEEDBACK IN QUEUE.
WHO LET OUR COMMITTEE
DISCUSSIONS AND IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO BE SHEPHERDING US
THROUGH THE SELECT AGENT EFFORTS
FOR YOUR ONGOING FEEDBACK AND
HELPFUL ENGAGEMENT ESPECIALLY
AS IT RELATES TO THE FEDERAL
DOLLARS. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE
ALL OF YOUR WORK.
ALL OF OUR COUNSEL OFFICES,
EVEN THE FOLK THAT I DID NOT
NAME, I WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I
DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOU.
AND WE HAVE SET A BUDGET, SENT
A PACKAGE WAS IT IN FRONT OF US
THAT TRULY REFLECTS OUR COUNSEL
VALUES CENTERED ON PURITY AND
COLLABORATION.
I JUST WANTED TO GET THOSE LAST
NIKES IN AND I WILL BE SHORT
GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, I
PROMISE THE PUBLIC THAT THERE
WOULD BE MANY MANY WORDS AND
THOUGHTS SHARED WITH THEM
PUBLICLY.
AND I HAVE FULFILLED THAT
PROMISE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANT
TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
ONGOING PATIENCE.
AND ENGAGEMENT ON THESE
IMPORTANT ISSUES.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
THE COUNCIL IS MOVING FORWARD
IN A UNIFIED FASHION ON THIS
ISSUE.
I THINK THIS GIVES US A GOOD
PLACE TO START THE
CONVERSATION.
AND OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
MONTHS AND REALLY DO APPRECIATE
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE UNIFIED.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP.
ON THE ISSUES FACING US TO THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE.
WE WILL BE BACK AT IT IN ABOUT
SEVEN WEEKS.
SO HERE WE GO.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S GO
AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT THE DEBATE ON THIS
PARTICULAR BILL.
SO I AM NOT GOING TO ASK THAT
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
OF THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL AS
AMENDED.
PETERSON. A LOT.
STRAUSS. YES.
HER BOLT YES. LEWIS.
YES.
MORALE IS, YES. MOSQUERA YES.
PRESIDENT GONZALES, YES.
WHAT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU THE BILL PASSES AS
AMENDED AND THAT YOU WILL FIND.
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
OKAY, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
AGENDA ITEM 11 INTO THE RECORD.
>> RESOLUTION 31954 RELATING TO
THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET
PROCESS STATING INTENT THAT THE
CITY WILL CONSIDER ONE YEAR
BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR 2021 ONLY
RESOLUTION 28885 TO THE EXTENT
INCONSISTENT.
COMMANDS THE ASSISTED HIM BE
ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
>> YOU ARE THE SPONSOR OF THIS
RESOLUTION AND ARE RECOGNIZED
TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
WAS TAKING MANNER PRESIDENT.
THIS MOVES US TOWARD THE GOAL
THAT I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
SINCE BECOMING BUDGET CHAIR.
I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE LOOK AT THE DETAILS IN
THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS SENT OUT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HERBAL FOR FLAGGING THIS IN OUR
EARLIER CONVERSATIONS AS WELL.
ONE IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU
WILL SEE IS THEM IS THAT WE
HAVE MADE TO RESOLUTION 31954.
EACH YEAR THE COUNCIL GOES
THROUGH BUDGET PROCESS IN EVEN
YEARS LIKE THIS WHEN WE ENDORSE
A BUDGET FOR THE AUDIO.
THIS PROVIDES SOME GUIDANCE,
BUT NO CONCRETE STABILITY TO
DEPARTMENTS.
I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE
CONCRETE TRANSPARENT
ACCOUNTABLE INFORMATION THAT
CAN GO BETWEEN BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT AND CAN BE SHARED
WITH THE PUBLIC TO FLUSH OUT A
PROCESS IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS
HERE THAT I AM HOPEFUL FOR LONG-
TERM PLANNING AND LONG-TERM
SPIRIT STABILITY AS WE SEEK
GREATER OUT YOUR FORECASTING TO
ALLOW FOR THE COUNCIL TO
DELIBERATE ON ITEMS IN FRONT OF
US SO THAT WE COULD MAKE SOUND
FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
IN PARTICULAR, DURING THIS
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN THAT WE ARE
IN.
MOVING TOWARD THE SHORTER
BUDGETING PROCESS MAKES SENSE.
TO BE ABLE TO DO A TRULY
REFLECTIVE, TO TRULY REFLECT
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
BUT WE ALSO MUST CONTINUE TO
HAVE BIANNUAL BUDGETS AND SEEK
FURTHER ANALYSIS FOR OUT YEAR
CONVERSATIONS OUR BUDGETING TO
ENSURE STABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PUBLIC.
THOSE OF THE MEMBERS THAT WE
INCLUDED TODAY I APPRECIATE ALL
YOUR SUPPORT ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS
WE FINALIZE DETAILS OF WHAT THE
PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE.
WE WITH BECKY SO MUCH, FOR THAT
DESCRIPTION OF THIS PARTICULAR
RESOLUTION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE RESOLUTION?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBAL PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE CHAIR
MOSQUEDA FOR BRINGING FORWARD
THE AMENDMENT.
THIS AMENDMENT JUST MY CONCERNS
ABOUT DIVERSION PROPOSED BY THE
MILTON NOT JUST ESTABLISH A ONE-
YEAR PROCESS FOR 2021, BUT ALSO
REPEAL THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS
ADOPTED BACK IN 1994.
TO ESTABLISH A TWO-YEAR BUDGET
PROCESS.
A TWO-YEAR BUDGET PROCESS
PROVIDES COUNSEL AND THE PUBLIC
GREATER TRANSPARENCY.
AS WELL AS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY
TO PLAN FOR OUT YEARS.
SO KEEPING THAT AS THE DEFAULT
PROCESS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS I'M
SORRY INCREASING THE
TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT
TO SICHEL STAFFER MIKE SOUL.
I KNOW HE WROTE A BUDGET ISSUE
PAPER ON THIS.
AND I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT
ANALYSIS THAT HE DID THEN MEET
ME TWICE ABOUT THE MAYORS
RESOLUTION.
I LOST TRACK OF THE GOOD WORK
IN THAT BUDGET ISSUE PAPER.
AND AGAIN, I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE CHAIR BRINGING IT BACK
BEFORE US.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
ON THE RESOLUTION?
ALL RIGHT HEARING THAT WE WILL
LOOK FOR, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
PETERSON, SAWANT, STRAUSS, HER
BOLT, LEWIS, MORALE IS, YES.
MOSQUEDA, PRESIDENT GONZALES.
IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
THANK YOU THE MAYORS RESOLUTION
IS ADOPTED.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE NOW
WITH NEW ITEM 12.
SO I WILL I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT
RESOLUTION 31962.
IS THERE A SECOND?
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 31962.
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS YOU ARE THE
PRIME SPONSOR AND ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
HAVING DISCUSSED THIS
EXTENSIVELY DURING BRIEFING AND
A LITTLE BIT DURING THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETING, I WILL JUST
SAY THAT THIS IS A CRITICAL PART
OF THE NEXT ACTION THIS COUNSEL
WILL TAKE ON THE EDITED PORTION
OF OUR PROCESS OF RIGHTSIZING
OUR FIRST RESPONSE.
THIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY WHICH IS ENVISIONED TO
BE CREATED BY THIS RESOLUTION
AND A LOT OF THE OTHER TENDER
PARTS OF THIS RESOLUTION ARE
CRITICAL TO REALLY LAYING OUT A
ROADMAP TO SHOW WHAT A
SUCCESSOR SYSTEM CAN LOOK LIKE.
AND HOW WE CAN PUT SOME OF
THESE THINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
DONE BY SWORN OFFICERS INTO THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF FIRST RESPONDERS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THIS WORK NEXT YEAR.
AND GETTING A DEPARTMENT LIKE
THIS UNDERWAY.
I REALLY THINK IT IS AT THE
CRUX OF SHOWING TO THE PEOPLE
OF THE CITY WHO WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS, REALLY WHAT THE FUTURE
COULD LOOK LIKE AND REALLY
CHALLENGE THE IMAGINATION OF
PEOPLE IN THE CITY TO THINK
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE
SUCCESSOR SYSTEM.
I WANT TO THANK CAMILLA BROWN
IN MY OFFICE FOR ALL THE WORK
THAT SHE HAS DONE IN PUTTING
THIS TOGETHER.
I WANT TO THANK CENTRAL STAFF
FOR REALLY DOING A LOT OF WORK
COBBLING THIS TOGETHER FOR THE
LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
PARTICULARLY OVER THE WEEKEND
WHERE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF
LAST-MINUTE CHANGES.
ONE THINK COUNCILMEMBER I WANT
THANK COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLDT
AND COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR A
LOT OF THE CONTENT.
FOR THAT I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT
THERE.
>> ACTUALLY BEFORE WE MOVE ON,
I JUST REALIZED I DID NOT HAVE
CLERK READ THE NUGENT ITEM INTO
THE RECORD.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK THE CLERK
TO READ ITEM 12 INTO THE RECORD
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE
COMMENTS.
>>> POLICING A PUBLIC SAFETY TO
CREATE THE CIVILIAN LED
DEPARTMENT OF -- -- TO REMOVE
CERTAIN FUNCTIONS FROM THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
ROVIDE FUNDING FOR A COMMUNITY
LED PROCESS TO INFORM THE
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE
NEW DEPARTMENT REQUESTING
MODIFICATIONS TO POLICING
PRACTICES.
REQUESTING REPORTING TO THE
COUNCIL.
PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON LAYOFF
DECISIONS AND ESTABLISHING A
WORK PROGRAM AND A TIMELINE FOR
CREATING A NEW DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.
APOLOGIZE FOR THE PROCEDURAL
OVERSIGHT.
OKAY, SO THIS MOTION HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED.
THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED.
AND IT IS NOW SUBJECT TO
ADDITIONAL DEBATE.
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR DOING THE INITIAL
COMMENTS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
COLLEAGUES ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLDT.
>> THANK YOU.
SO WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT
THIS RESOLUTION OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS IS
LEADERSHIP.
AND POPOSING IT.
HIS WILLINGNESS TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY ON CRAFTING A
RESOLUTION THAT EXPRESSES
COUNSEL'S INTENT AROUND
REBUILDING COMMUNITY SAFETY.
AND ALSO APPRECIATE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS BY COUNCILMEMBERS
OR AS WARRIORS. JUAREZ.
WE HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF NOTES ON
THE 2020 BUDGET IN THE LAST
WEEK OR SO.
WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
PASSING OF IMPORTANT DETAILS
WITH THE HELP OF OUR CENTRAL
STAFF AND OUR LEGISLATIVE STAFF.
SOMETIMES IT IS EASY TO LOSE
THE FOREST FOR THE TREES.
WHICH IS WHY THIS RESOLUTION IS
SO IMPORTANT.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO
BEGIN TO LAY OUT COUNSEL'S
VISION FOR WHAT TRUE COMMUNITY
SAFETY CAN LOOK LIKE IN
SEATTLE.
WITH THIS RESOLUTION. COUNSEL
IS STARTING TO DEFINE OUR IDEAS
INFORMED BY OUR CONSTITUENTS.
BY ADVOCATES COMMUNITY AND
ACTIVIST AND YES EVEN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS RESOLUTION ITSELF, DOES
NOT TRANSFER SERVICES TO A
CIVILIAN LED DEPARTMENT.
BUT IT SAYS IT IS OUR GOAL AND
THAT REALLY MATTERS.
THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS A WAY
TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THEIR CONTINUED PROGRESS THAT
THEY ARE INSISTING ON.
AND IF I SAY EXECUTIVE INTO FOR
THE CONVERSATION WITH THE
COUNCIL ON THE PATH FORWARD TO
REALIZE THIS VISION.
THE RESOLUTION CONTAINS
SPECIFIC ACTIONABLE CHANGES.
WE HAVE TALKED TWICE ABOUT THE
CONTENT OF THOSE CHANGES
ALREADY TODAY.
I AM NOT GOING TO GO OVER THE
BEGAN.
BUT I AM GOING TO SAY THAT THEY
ARE PROFOUND CHANGES.
THAT IS NOT ABOUT
CONGRATULATING OURSELVES THAT
WE HAVE ENCOMPASSED A MISSION.
THAT IS STILL WAY FAR OFF.
AND THERE ARE MANY VOTES AHEAD
OF US.
TO MARK THE MOMENT AT WHICH THE
COUNCIL BEGINS THE JOURNEY.
A POLL THAT WAS TAKEN BETWEEN
JULY 22 AND JULY 27 FOUND THAT
53% OF LIKELY VOTERS SUPPORTED
THE GENERAL IDEA OF A PLAN THAT
WILL PERMANENTLY CUT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET BY 50% AND
SHIFT THAT MONEY TO SOCIAL
SERVICES AND COMMUNITY-BASED
PROGRAMS.
32% EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR WHAT
WAS DESCRIBED AS THE COUNCIL'S
APPROACH. OSTENSIBLY MADE AN
IMMEDIATE 50% CUT. 43%
EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR WHAT WAS
DESCRIBED AS THE MAYOR'S
APPROACH WHICH WAS A CUT WITH A
PLAN.
WE HAVE BEFORE US A DAY, A
BUDGET OF THE RESOLUTION, THAT
WHEN SP BECAUSE OUR ANNUALIZED
AND TRANSFERS ACCOMPLISHED IN
2021, REPRESENTS A PLAN FORWARD.
FOR OUR FUTURE DECISIONS, FOR A
GOAL THAT A MAJORITY OF THE
OTHER RESIDENTS SUPPORT.
AGAIN, THIS IS A STARTING
POINT.
AND OF COURSE THERE IS MUCH
MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO REALIZE
HIS VISION.
STARTING IN JUST A HANDFUL OF
WEEKS WHEN THE COUNCIL BEGINS
IT'S ALL BUDGET PROCESS,
LOOKING AT THE 2021 BUDGET.
OUR WORK IS FAR FROM NINE.
WITH OUR VOTE TODAY WE START
THE JOURNEY.
I WANT TO THANK THE INCREDIBLY
DETAILED AND THOUGHTFUL WORK OF
DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND KING
CAGLE KING COUNTY EQUITY NOT
WHOSE IDEAS HAVE INFORMED THIS
RESOLUTION.
MUCH OF MY WORK ON THE 2020
BUDGET REBALANCING.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
WRITTEN HIM A CALL, PROVIDED
COMMENT AND MARCHED TIRELESSLY
AND AT TIMES A GREAT PERSONAL
RISK TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON
US.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLDT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE RESOLUTION?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
>> THANK YOU AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER TODAY I WILL BE VOTING
YES ON THIS RESOLUTION STATING
THE COUNCIL'S INTENT AND HOPES
TO DEFEND THE POLICE IN THE
FUTURE.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR
THAT A NONBINDING RESOLUTION
STATING THE INTENT TO HOPE TO
STUDY THE DEFUNDING OF THE
POLICE IN THE FUTURE IS SIMPLY
NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ACTUALLY
DEFENDING THE POLICE.
OUR MOVEMENT IS CLEARLY
EXPECTED TO ACCEPT THESE MICE
WAS ABOUT THE FUTURE INTENTIONS
AS ACCOMPLISHED.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I BELIEVE
THAT THERE WILL BE A SERIES
MISTAKE AS WE HAVE SEEN OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY LED CITY COUNCIL PROMISED
TO CHANGE THE CITY CHARTER
CHARTER AND TOTALLY REORGANIZE
THE LEASE DEPARTMENT.
AS THEY PREDICTED RATHER THAN
TAKING ACTION AS THE CITY'S
HIGHEST LEGISLATIVE BODY, THE
MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL
PARTICULAR QUESTION TO THE
CHARTER COMMISSION.
AGAIN THE CHARTER COMMISSION
HAS SAID THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE.
SO AFTER ALL THE POMP AND
CIRCUMSTANCE OF DEFUNDING
PROMISES, THE MINNEAPOLIS
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT DEFUNDING THE
POLICE.
HERE IN SEATTLE, THREE WEEKS
AGO, AFTER MY OFFICE AND
PLEDGED TO FIGHT TO DEFEND THE
POLICE BY AT LEAST 50%, SIX
DEMOCRATS ON THE COUNCIL ALSO
PROMISED 2% DEFUNDING TODAY THEY
VOTED TO REDUCE IT BY LESS THAN
$3 MILLION AND THEN ADDED $3
MILLION TO THE POLICE BUDGET
THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.
LASTLY THE PROPOSED DEFUNDING
THE POLICE BY 50% NOW.
EVERY OTHER COUNCILMEMBER VOTED
NO.
SAYING THE BUDGET CUTS CANNOT
BE DONE UNTIL NOVEMBER.
AND THEN I PROPOSED DEFUNDING
THE POLICE BY 50% STARTING
NOVEMBER 1. NO OTHER COUNCILMAN
WOULD EVEN SECOND THE PROPOSAL.
TO BE CLEAR, DEFUNDING THE
POLICE CANNOT BE AN ACCOUNTING
TRICK.
MOVING TRAFFIC AND PARKING
ENFORCEMENT OUT OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT KEEP THE KEEPING IT
UNCHANGED IS NOT WITH THE
MOVEMENT MADE BY DEFUNDING THE
POLICE.
BY DEFUNDING THE POLICE WE NEED
TO IN THE PERSON OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE
RESOLUTION STATES, SECTION 7
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT
SUPPORT ANY BUDGET AMENDMENTS
TO INCREASE THE BUDGET TO
OFFSET OVERTIME, EXPENDITURES
ABOVE THE FUNDS BUDGETED IN
2020 OR 2021.
BUT IN PRACTICE, THE SAME DAY
THIS COUNSEL IS MAKING THIS
PROMISE TO THIS RESOLUTION, THE
MAJORITY WHICH IS SEVEN OF THE
EIGHT COUNCILMEMBER'S PRESENCE
ALSO VOTED TO PASS AGENDA ITEMS
NUMBER ONE.
THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE
BUDGET WAS AT 1.11, $1.3
MILLION TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT FOR AMONG OTHER
THINGS OVERTIME.
THIS IS A SMALL THING IN A LARGE
BILL THAT INCLUDES MANY OF THE
BUDGET CHANGES THAT ARE NOT
OBJECTIONABLE.
BUT IT IS OFTEN THE ONLY WAY
THESE BINDERS CAN BE VIOLATED.
AND I RAISE THIS EXAMPLE TO
ILLUSTRATE THE POINT THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL IS TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY
ACTUALLY DO.
NOT FOR THE PROMISES THEY MAKE.
AND TODAY WITH THE COUNCIL HAS
DONE IS FAIL TO DEFINE THE
POLICE.
AGAIN AS I SAID, I WILL VOTE
YES BECAUSE I FULLY SUPPORT THE
INTENTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
GENERALLY DEFUNDING THE POLICE
AND THE POLICE TO HIM INTO
BUCKLEY'S VIOLENT THAT IS
INDEPENDENTLY ORGANIZED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, EXCUSE ME
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
RESOLUTION?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
PETERSON YES.
SO WHAT, YES.
STRAUSS, YES.
HERBOLDT, YES.
LEWIS, YES.
MORALE IS, YES.
MOSQUEDA, YES. PRESIDENT
GONZALES, YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
THANK YOU MADAME CLERK.
>>> RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND I
ASKED THAT THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY DESK.
OKAY COLLIES WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE ALONG TO OTHER ITEMS OF
BUSINESS HERE.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO TAKE UP
ITEM NUMBER I THINK IT'S ITEM
NUMBER 13. I'M SORRY YOU ARE
CORRECT THANK YOU MADAME CLERK.
THE PREVIOUS ITEM WAS NO ITEM
12.
WE ARE NOW AN OLD ITEM 12.
THE WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 12 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 12 119 EIGHT 39
RELATED TO APPROPRIATIONS FOR
THE OFFCE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
AMENDED ORDINANCE 126000 WHICH
ADOPTS THE 2020 BUDGET AND
FILLING LIFTING DEVICES.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
T CAST THE BILL COUNCILMEMBER
ALICE AS THE SPONSOR OF THIS
BILL YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS ITEM.
>> THIS BILL IS LIFTING EVERY
VISA PROVISO FOR 175,000 TO THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOR WORK
THAT IS BEING DONE AROUND THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
THE IDEA IS THAT WE NEED MUCH
BETTER FORMATION AND ALIGNMENT
OF EFFORTS ACROSS VARIOUS
WORKGROUPS AND INITIATIVES. AND
DIFFERENT STRUCTURES THAT HAVE
BEEN SET UP OVER TIME BY THE
CITY.
AS I MENTIONED THIS MORNING,
THE GOAL HERE IS TO ELIMINATE
SOME OF THE DEPOSIT OF WORK
THAT IS HAPPENING AS THE
DIFFERENT INITIATIVES SEEK TO
ENGAGE COMMUNITY. TO GET INPUT
FROM COMMUNITY.
THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF
INTEREST FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND PARTICIPATING IN ENGAGEMENT
IN SURVEYS AND SHARING THEIR
EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
WHAT COMMUNITY WANTS IS A
RELATES TO HOW OUR LEGAL SYSTEM
WORKS OR DOESN'T WORK.
BUT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING, IT
IS REALLY BURDENSOME ON
COMMUNITY TO BE ASKED TO
REPEATEDLY PARTICIPATE IN THESE.
SO THAT IS PART OF THE GOAL.
IS TO ENSURE THAT THESE
MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR
ENGAGEMENT AND SURVEY ARE
BETTER ALIGNED AND BETTER
COORDINATED.
AND JUST TO MOVE THE WORK
FORWARD IN A MUCH MORE
COORDINATED WAY AS WE THINK
ABOUT HOW TO MAKE INVESTMENTS
IN OUR CITY AND IN THE WORK THAT
THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS ON
THE PARTS OF THE CITY ARE DOING
FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS ON ITEM 12.
>> THANK YOU.
SO THIS IS A BODY OF WORK THAT
HAVE BEEN HOSTED IN MY FORMER
COMMITTEE LAST YEAR.
RELATED TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS WORK
IN MY COMMITTEE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS
ALLOWED MY COSPONSORSHIP.
IN THE 2020 BUDGET THE COUNCIL
VOTED TO ALLOCATE $170,000 FROM
A PROPOSED PROBATION PILOT
PROGRAM FOR HIGH BARRIER
INDIVIDUALS.
AND TO USE THOSE FUNDS
DIFFERENTLY.
THE PROPOSAL WAS TO USE 140,000
FOR PARTNERSHIP, OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT RELATED TO THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
AND 30,000 FOR COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS RELATED TO
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
REALIGNMENT.
AND I WANT TO LEFT OF THE
HISTORY AROUND THIS.
BECAUSE ON OUR WEEKLY CALL,
THAT I AND SOME OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER'S HAVE HAD WITH
DECRIMINALIZED SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY EQUITY NOW, THE QUESTION
CAME UP.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE FUNDS
THAT WE WORKED TO GET CUT FROM
THE PROBATION PILOT PROGRAM?
AND SERENDIPITOUSLY WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT RELEASING THEM TO
THE COMMUNITY NOW.
GIVEN THE HEIGHTENED ATTENTION
úTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
AND THE CONTEXT OF COVID,
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS IS
PROPOSING THIS USE OF THE
$170,000 WHICH CENTRAL STAFF
HAS ASSIST TO MEET PROVISO
LANGUAGE.
THE GOAL IS $60 MILLION FOR
COMMUNITY MITIGATION OF COVID-
19 IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE PART OF THE POPULATION
IDENTIFIED BY THE HIGH BARRIER
WORKGROUP.
$80,000 IS FOR EXTENDING
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR
FORMERLY INCARCERATED
COMMUNITIES WORKING GROUP IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND $30,000 WILL BE FOR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH
REGARDS TO COVID-19 RELATED
CHANGES IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM.
DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THIS PLAN, AS OCR IS REQUESTING
THAT COUNSEL WITH THE PROVISO.
THAT'S WHAT THIS LEGISLATION
DOES.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE
BEGINNING OF BRINGING COMMUNITY
IN TO LEAD US AS POLICYMAKERS.
AROUND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.
IN THE CREATION OF A HIGH
BARRIER WORKING GROUP.
TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE VOICES
ARE CENTERED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLDT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THIS ITEM?
HEARING THAT I WILL ASK THE
CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE.
>> PETERSON, YES.
SAWANT, YES.
STRAUSS, YES.
HERBOLDT, YES.
LEWIS, YES.
MORALE IS, YES.
MOSQUEDA, YES.
AND PRESIDENT GONZALES, YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU MADAME CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT AND I ASKED THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
FOR THE LEGISLATION.
ITEM NUMBER 13
AGENDA ITEM 13 INTO THE RECORD.
RELATING TO GEEK WORKERS IN
SEATTLE ESTABLISHING LABOR
STANDARDS REQUIREMENTS FOR
PREMIUM PAY FOR GIG WORKERS IN
SEATTLE.
100.0 15.027 AND .200 ORDINANCE
126094 TO MAKE TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY AND ESTABLISHING AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE ALL BY
THREE FOURTHS VOTE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU MADAME CLERK.
BILL 19841, IS THERE A SECOND.
>> IS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO PASS THE BILL COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLDT I BELIEVE YOU ARE
GOING TO SPEAK TO THIS BILL.
SO IF THAT IS THE CASE UNCLE
HEADED OVER TO YOU TO ADJUST.
>> THEN HANDED OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS SO MUCH,
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE TO ADD QUITE HONESTLY.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
GIVEN HOW LATE IT IS.
I HONESTLY JUST WANT TO REST ON
MY EARLIER COMMENT IF THAT'S
OKAY.
>> THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND
COUNSEL BRIEFINGS.
SO I TOTALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
OKAY HEARING AND SEEING THAT I
ASKED THAT THE CLERK CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> PETERSON, YES.
SAWANT, YES.
STRAUSS, YES.
HERBOLDT, YES.
LEWIS, YES.
MORALE IS, YES.
MOSQUEDA, YES.
PRESIDENT GONZALES, YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU MADAME CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
I ASKED THAT THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 14 PR.
COUNSEL BILL 119 842
ESTABLISHNG LABOR STANDARDS
FOR PAID SICK AND PAID STATE
FOR GIG WORKERS WORKING IN
SEATTLE AND AMENDING SECTIONS
100.015 AND .0 80 OH ORDINANCE
1260 AND I WANT TO MAKE
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU MADAME CLERK.
I MOVED TO CAL PAST COUNSEL
BILL 119842.
IS THERE A SECOND?
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECOND.
AND TO PASS THE BILL
COUNCILMEMBER SKATE I BELIEVE
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE LEAD
ON SPEAKING ON THIS BILL.
SO I AM GOING TO HANDED OVER TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU MADAME PRESIDENT.
THIS IS A TECHNICAL MEMO THAT
CLARIFIES THAT THIS ORDINANCE
ONLY APPLIES TO INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS.
AND THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
ALREADY COVERED BY SEATTLE'S
PAID SICK AND SAVE TIME
ORDINANCE. THIS SHOULD BE
PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY BUT WE
WERE TOLD BY OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS THAT WE HAD TO HAVE
THIS IN CODE SO THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE DOING TODAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE WITH
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> PETERSON, YES.
SAWANT, YES.
STRAUSS, YES.
HERBOLDT, YES.
LEWIS, YES.
MORALE IS, YES.
MOSQUEDA, YES.
PRESIDENT GONZALES, YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH OF THE
BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT.
I ASKED THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION.
OKAY AGENDA ITEM 15.
WILL THE CLERK IS READ AGENDA
ITEM 15 INTO THE RECORD.
RESOLUTION 31961 AFFIRMING THE
RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF THE PRESS,
LEGAL OBSERVERS AND MEDICAL
PERSONNEL COVERING A PROTEST
AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY.
>> THANK YOU MADAME CLERK.
I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
319 61.
IS THERE A SECOND.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A
SUBSTITUTE VERSION SO I WOULD
LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT BEFORE WE
MAKE GENERAL COMMENTS, THAT WE
GET THE SUBSTITUTE BEFORE US
AND THEN WE CAN OPEN UP, OF THE
SUBSTITUTE VERSION OF
RESOLUTION 31961.
>> THANK YOU MADAME PRESIDENT.
I MOVED TO AMEND RESOLUTION
31961 BY SUBSTITUTING VERSION
44 VERSION 2 A. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED THANK YOU.
TO SUBSTITUTE THE RESOLUTION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WOULD
YOU LIKE US TO JUST GO AHEAD
AND TAKE A VOTE ON THE
SUBSTITUTE.
THEN WE CAN MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT
THE SUBSTITUTE VERSION?
UNLESS OUR COLLEAGUES, WE DID
HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT,
THE CONTENT OF WHAT IS IN THE
SUBSTITUTE VERSION.
IS THERE ANY NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION BY THE
PRIME SPONSOR ABOUT WHAT IS IN
THE SUBSTITUTE?
>> HEARING THE WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND ASKED THE CLERK TO CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
SUBSTITUTE.
>> PETERSON, YES.
SAWANT, YES.
STRAUSS, YES.
HERBOLDT, YES.
LEWIS, YES. MORALE OF, YES.
MOSQUEDA, YES.
PRESIDENT GONZALES, YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU THE MOTION
CARRIES.
THE SUBSTITUTION IS ADOPTED AND
VERSION 3 OF THE RESOLUTION IS
BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
I AM GOING TO HAVE IT BACK OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA TO
PROVIDE US WITH A ROOM REMARKS
ABOUT THE RESOLUTION AS
AMENDED.
AND THAT I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR
GENERAL COMMENT AND DEBATE AND
WE WILL THEN TAKE A FINAL ROLL
CALL ON IT.
>> THANK YOU MADAME PRESIDENT.
FOR THE RECORD, I BELIEVE WE
HAVE VERSION 4 IN FRONT OF US.
GIVEN THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS
CIRCULATED.
JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT
THAT IS WHAT WE VOTED ON.
WAS CORRECT IT WAS AN ERROR ON
MY PART.
I APOLOGIZE.
>> THANK YOU I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE SURE.
IT IS BEEN A LONG DAY.
SO I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD CHIME
IN THERE.
COUNSEL COLLIES, THE RESOLUTION
IN FRONT OF US AFFIRMS THAT THE
FREE PRESS HAVE THE RIGHT TO
COVER PROTESTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT DURING THE LAST
FEW MONTHS OF THE PROTESTS THAT
WE HAVE SEEN SEATTLE AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, JOURNALISTS HAVE
BEEN SUBJECT TO TACTICS THAT
SERVE TO INTIMIDATE OR
DISCOURAGE REPORTERS FROM
PERFORMING THEIR JOBS.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES TO OBSERVE
THESE EVENTS AND REPORTED TO
THE PUBLIC.
LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE SAID
THE RULING THAT WE HAVE SEEN
FROM THE LOCAL COURT THAT WILL
REQUIRE THEM TO TURN OVER
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS TAKEN A
PROTEST THREATENS JOURNALISTS
ROLES.
AND PREVENTS THEM FROM BEING
SEEN AS NEUTRAL OBSERVERS.
COULD FURTHER ERODE TRUST
BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE
LOCAL MEDIA.
THIS IS A CONCERN THAT WE ON
CITY COUNCIL WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ADDRESS AND ON.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
WHO ARE REPORTING IN OUR STREETS
ARE FREE FROM INTIMIDATION WITH
COVERING PROTESTS.
INCREASINGLY, AS WE SAW COVERED
IN CROSSCUT RECENTLY,
JOURNALISTS HAVE REASON TO FEAR
FOR THEIR PHYSICAL SAFETY. I
POURING FROM CROSS CUT RIGHT
NOW THEY SAY THE COVERING
EVENTS LIKE PROTESTS,
JOURNALISTS HAVE GIVEN, I'M
SORRY WHEN COVERING EVENTS LIKE
PROTESTS JOURNALISTS HAVE
REASON TO FEAR FOR THEIR
PHYSICAL SAFETY.
FORCING JOURNALISTS TO GIVE
THEIR WORK TO POLICE WOULD MAKE
THEM LESS WELCOME AND INCREASE
THOSE RISKS.
PROTESTS HAVE CONSTANTLY BEEN
SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ON
THE SITE JOBS FOR JOURNALISTS
WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IT HAS INCREASED OVER THE
PAST THREE YEARS.
SAYING MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE,
I'M SORRY MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE
FROM POLICE COMMITTING ACTS OF
VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALIST
PEOPLE SOMETIMES PROTESTERS
ALSO MESS OUT.
THIS AMENDMENT ADDRESSES THESE
ISSUES.
NO MATTER WHAT OUR POLITICAL
OPINIONS ARE, IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT JOURNALISTS HAVE THE
ABILITY TO COVER PROTESTS
SAFELY.
TO BE SAFE, TO FEEL SAFE AND
THAT THE RIGHT TO GO TO THE
PROTEST IS PROTECTED.
AND THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR POLICE
FORCE.
THESE ARE MEMBERS WHO WORK FOR
THE CITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
WHO ARE COVERING THESE PROTESTS
ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE ISSUES
THAT WE HAVE SEEN REPEATEDLY
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WHERE REPORTERS HAVE BEEN HIT
WITH FLASH BANGS, EXPERIENCED
TEAR GAS, AND HAVE ALSO BEEN
ARRESTED IN OUR CITY AND
INCARCERATED FOR HOURS. AS THEY
AWAITED RELEASE.
THIS RESOLUTION ALSO APPLIES TO
LEGAL OBSERVERS AND MEDICS WHO
ARE AT A PROTEST TO ENSURE THAT
THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS AND THEIR
SAFETY IS ALSO PROTECTED AT
PROTESTS.
THESE LEGAL OBSERVERS AND
MEDICS HAVE ALSO BEEN SUBJECT
TO GASSING, ARRESTS AND
INTIMIDATION.
REPORTS FROM THE PAST MONTH
INCLUDE LEGAL OBSERVERS WHO
HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY THE
POLICE.
AND MEDICS WHO HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO A PROTEST IS BEING SPRAYED
AND HIT IN THE FACE AND ALSO
EXPERIENCE FLASH BANGS HITTING
THEIR BODIES.
IT IS EMBARRASSING THAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS HIGHLIGHTED
IN A MORE RECENT AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL REPORT.
THE REPORT IS ENTITLED OF THE
WORLD IS WATCHING.
MASS VIOLATIONS BY U.S. POLICE
A BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTERS
. IT COVERS ATROCITIES
COMMITTED RIGHT HERE IN SEATTLE
IN THE CHAPTER IS TITLED HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE
POLICING OF PROTESTS.
AND SEATTLE IS THE FIRST WAY
THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS
REPORT ON PAGE 22.
AND IF I MIGHT BRIEFLY CALL
YOUR ATTENTION TO ONE OF THE
STORIES THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED,
MANY OF YOU KNOW THE STORY OF
ADRIANA A 26-YEAR-OLD STUDENT
WAS STRUCK IN THE CHEST AS SHE
WAS KNEELING DOWN APPROXIMATELY
20 FEET IN FRONT OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE LINE.
SHE AND HER FRIENDS HAVE BEEN
STRIPPING FOOD THAT EVENING AT
PROTESTS.
SHE MOVED TO THE FRONT TO TALK
WITH POLICE TO DE-ESCALATE
ATTENTION.
SHORTLY AFTER TALKING WITH
OFFICERS, SHE WAS HIT WITH A
FLASH GRENADE.
AN INTENSIVE CARE NURSE WHO WAS
STANDING AT THE A STATION
BEHIND THE PROTESTERS SAID THAT
SHE COULD SMELL THE PEPPER
SPRAY AND HEAR WHAT THE FOUND
IT LIKE WHEN THE BOMBS EXPLODED
EVERYWHERE AS PEOPLE STARTED
RUSHING TOWARDS THE A STATION.
SHE WAS TREATING FOUR DIFFERENT
PEOPLE AT THE TIME.
BRUSHING CHEMICAL IRRITANTS
FROM THEIR EYES AND TREATING
WELTS ON THEIR ARMS AND LEGS
BEING HIT WITH FLASH GRENADES.
AS SHE WAS TREATING THEM, SO WE
STARTED SCREAMING SHE'S BEEN
HIT IN THE CHEST.
SHE'S BEEN HIT IN THE CHEST.
YET EVEN AS THE MEDIC AND OTHER
MEDICS SCRAMBLED TO TREAT HER,
PLEASE CONTINUE TO FIRE TEAR
GAS.
LAST GRENADES AND RUBBER
BULLETS AT THEM. AND A STATION.
POLICE THEN ADVANCED ON THE
EIGHT STATION FIRING LAST
GRENADES AND PEPPER BALLS
INSIDE.
THE STATION WAS CLEARLY MARKED
WITH IDENTIFYING SIGNS AND RED
CROSSES AND FILLED WITH TABLES
STUCK WITH WATER BOTTLES AND
FIRST-AID SUPPLIES.
THIS IS WHY THIS RESOLUTION IS
IMPORTANT.
FOUR OF THE PRESS, FOR LEGAL
OBSERVERS WHO WE HAVE SEEN ON
CAMERA REPEATEDLY BEING SPRAYED
WITH PEPPER SPRAY, AND FOR
MEDICS WHO ARE TRYING TO CARE
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
THIS TYPE OF TRAUMA IN OUR
STREETS.
WE DO HAVE THE POSITIVE NEWS
THIS MORNING.
AND THAT IS WHY THE RESOLUTION
IS AMENDED IN FRONT OF YOU.
TO INCLUDE A NEW SECTION 5.
POSITIVE NEWS IS THAT ACCORDING
TO A STIPULATED INJECTION FROM
THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF
WASHINGTON SPD WILL BE ENJOINED
OR PROJECTILES AGAINST CERTAIN
PROTESTERS.
AND THE RULING SAYS THE FEDERAL
JUDGE IN OREGON ALSO STATED
THAT ALTHOUGH THE FIRST
AMENDMENT DOES NOT ENUMERATE
SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR OBSERVING
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, THE
SUPREME COURT HAS RECOGNIZED
THAT NEWSGATHERING IS AN
ACTIVITY PROTECTED BY THE FIRST
AMENDMENT.
WITHOUT SOME PROTECTION FOR
SPEAKING OUT, THE NEWS, FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS COULD BE
EVISCERATED.
THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
THAT THESE DECISIONS WERE MADE
TODAY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
NOT ONLY SEPARATE MEMBERS OF
THE PRESS FOR BEING SEEN AS AN
ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT OR AN
EXTENSION OF THE POLICE, BUT
THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY THINKING
ABOUT HOW WE PROTECT THEM IN
THE MOMENTS OF THE COVERING.
FOLKS EXPRESSING THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN ADDITION TO
MAKING SURE THAT LEGAL
OBSERVERS AND MEDICS ARE
PROTECTED AS WELL.
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK
COUNSEL COLLEAGUES AS WE RAISE
AT THIS RESOLUTION IS
RECOGNIZED AS THAT THIS FOLLOWS
ON THE HEELS OF UNANIMOUS VOTES
THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TO PREVENT
THESE TYPES OF WEAPONS FROM
BEING USED IN OUR STREETS.
OBVIOUSLY MORE WORKS TO BE DONE
AND I KNOW THIS COUNCIL IS
COMMITTED TO THAT THAT I THINK
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN
RECONFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO
PROTECTING THE PRESS, LEGAL
OBSERVERS AND THE MEDICS AT
THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE REMARKS.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A COUPLE
MORE FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED
IN SPEAKING.
SO I'M GOING TO HEAD OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON IS ONE
OF THE COSPONSORS.
AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLDT.
>> THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING
RESOLUTION 31961 WELCOMING ME
AS A COSPONSOR.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME
BECAUSE I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT
THE CRUCIAL ROLE THAT A FREE
PLACE PRESS PLAYS ANOTHER
DEMOCRACY.
WE MUST ALWAYS PROTECT
JOURNALISTS INCLUDING THOSE WHO
COVER PROTESTS AND
DEMONSTRATIONS SO THEY CAN
SHINE A LIGHT ON THE TRUE
PROVIDING ACCURATE AND
INDEPENDENT REPORTS.
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS IN
GOVERNMENT ISSUE REPORTS ARE
NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS.
AS A HIGHLY RESPECTED JOURNALIST
WALTER CRONKITE SAID FREEDOM OF
THE PRESS IS NOT JUST IMPORTANT
TO DEMOCRACY, IT IS DEMOCRACY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLDT.
>> THANK YOU I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD BACK ON
JULY 10.
I GUESS THAT IS A MONTH AGO
TODAY.
I WROTE TO THE MAYOR IN CHIEF
REGARDING THE ARREST OF A
JOURNALIST ANDREW OF THE
DEFENDANT.
AND THE THREAT OF ARREST ABOUT
A JOURNALIST.
I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A REPLY
. AND AS A REMINDER, IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THE MUNICIPAL CODE IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY AS
IT RELATES TO ORDERS TO DISPERSE
. SPECIFICALLY JOURNALIST.
NEVER THE LESS, SINCE THEN
JOURNALISTS ARE STILL REPORTING
HAVING CHEMICAL IRRITANTS OR
PROJECTILES USED ON THEM.
AND NOT JUST REPORTING IT, I
VIEWED IT ON LIVE STREAM.
INCLUDING SALSBERRY OF
CONVERGENT MEDIA.
AND HIS THREAT OF ARREST WAS
FOR THE LETTER EARLIER.
USING THESE DEVICES ON
JOURNALISTS HAS IN EFFECT THE
SAME IMPACT AS THAT OF ARREST.
IT RESULTS IN JOURNALIST BEING
UNABLE TO COVER THE EVENTS THAT
THEY ARE THERE TO REPORT ON.
AND THEREBY INFORM THE PUBLIC.
THE OPERATION OF THE FREE PRESS
IS A LINCHPIN OF AMERICAN
DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF
THIS RESOLUTION.
OPPOSING POLICE OFFICERS
TARGETING JOURNALISTS,
ARRESTING AND ABUSING THE AND
DEMANDING THAT THEY TURNOVER
THE VIDEO.
OF COURSE THE SAME GOES FOR
LEGAL LEGAL OBSERVERS AND
MEDICS.
I WOULD ADD THAT THIS IS A
RESOLUTION THAT MEANS THAT IT
DOES NOT HAVE THE FORCE OF THE
LAW.
EVEN IF IT WERE IN ORDERS FOR
THE FORCE OF THE LAW, WE HAVE
SEEN WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT ESPECIALLY
UNDER MAYOR DURKAN'S AUTHORITY.
WE WOULD NEED TO REMEMBER THE
LAWS OF SEATTLE HAVE ALREADY
PROHIBITED POLICE OFFICER FROM
TARGETING JOURNALISTS BUT IT
STILL GOES ON.
WHICH MEANS THE RESOLUTION WILL
BE INSUFFICIENT TO DEMAND TO
DEFEND THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
IN SEATTLE.
BUT IT IS STILL IMPORTANT FOR
THE COUNCIL TO PASS THIS
RESOLUTION.
AND BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FINAL
POLICE DEPARTMENT RELATED ITEM,
I WANTED TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
THEIR HELP IN PREPARING THE
BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
FROM MY OFFICE.
AS I MENTIONED WITH THIS BUT
COMMITTEE MEETING, CITY COUNCIL
AND STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
THAT AGENDA ITEMS ALMOST AROUND
THE CLOCK THAT THEY THEY WERE
WORKING UNTIL JUST BEFORE
MIDNIGHT AT LEAST.
AND THAT WAS FAR FROM THE FIRST
TIME IT HAPPENED WITH THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE.
IT WAS THE CASE BEFORE.
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND SO ON.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL
OTHER EXAMPLES. I WANTED TO
PARTICULARLY THE PEEKABOO WORK
TO MIMIC OFFICE.
OF COURSE, STAFF DIRECTOR
KIERSTEN HARRISON.
MY GRATITUDE TO EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF THEM.
THERE THEY WORKED INCREDIBLY
LONG HOURS IN THE BUDGET IN
GENERAL AND OUR MOVEMENT HAS
DEPENDED ON THEM TO WRITE MANY
VERSIONS OF THE REMEMBER AND
RESPOND TO EVERY CRITICISM OF
THE AMENDMENT THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES ME.
I KNOW THAT OTHERS IN THE
MOVEMENT ALSO APPRECIATE THEIR
WORK.
I ALSO WANTED TO QUICKLY
PUBLICLY THANK ALL SOCIALIST
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS IN MY
OFFICE.
JONATHAN ROSENBLUM, SASHA
SOMMER, NICK JONES AND ADAMS
AND KOLSKY WHO HAVE DONE
EXEMPLARY AND SELF-SACRIFICING
WORK AND NEEDLESS TO SAY,
THANKS TO THE HUNDREDS IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
GIVEN OF THEMSELVES IN THIS
FIGHT. THE FIGHT WILL GO ON.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
EVERYONE TO THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET
CAMPAIGN IN AUTUMN.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENT
RESOLUTION?
LET'S LIKE NO OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN SO MAD.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA YOU HAVE
THE LAST WORD IF YOU COULD
CLOSE OUT THE DEBATE THAT WILL
BE GREAT.
>>THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON FOR HIS COSPONSORSHIP
OF THIS RESOLUTION.
ALSO WANT TO THANK AISHA AND
ALLIE FROM CENTRAL STAFF WHO
WERE WORKING ON THIS RESOLUTION.
COUNCILMEMBERS OUT OF PORTLAND
OREGON THREE WEEKS AGO
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A SIMILAR
RESOLUTION. SO THAT WE COULD
REALLY BUILD ON THAT ACROSS HIS
REGION.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SEEN VERY
SIMILAR TACTICS USED IN OTHER
CITIES AS WELL.
ONE ELEMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE
TO LIFT UP FROM RULING TODAY,
SAYS DESCRIBED BY THE NINTH
CIRCUIT, WHEN WRONGDOING IS
UNDERWAY, OFFICIALS HAVE A
GREAT INCENTIVE TO BE
BLINDFOLDED, TO BLINDFOLD THOUGH
WATCHFUL EYES OF THE FOURTH
ESTATE.
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES
IT IS EXCLUDING THE PRESS FOR
REASONS SUCH AS ADMINISTRATIVE
COMMITTEES, PRESERVATION OF
EVIDENCE, OR PROTECTION OF
REPORTER SAFETY, IT IS ITS REAL
MOTIVE MAY BE TO PREVENT THE
GATHERING OF INFORMATION ON
GOVERNMENT ABUSES OR
INCOMPETENCE.
THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME THAT WE
ARE IN.
THIS IS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY I
THINK OUR CITY DEMANDS IN TERMS
OF THE IMAGES, LIVE STREAMING,
VIDEOS THAT WE HAVE SEEN.
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH COUNSEL
FOR TAKING THIS STEP TODAY TO
PASS THIS RESOLUTION.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE
MORE TO COME.
TWO PROVIDE SAFE EVIDENCE FOR
PROTESTERS AND JOURNALISTS AND
MEDICS IN THE PRICE.
THANK YOU META-PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLOSING OUT
THE DEBATE ON THE RESOLUTION.
I AM GOING TO ASK THE CLERK TO
CALL THE ROLL.
PETERSON, YES.
SAWANT, YES.
STRESS, YES.
HERBOLDT, YES.
LEWIS, YES.
MORALE IS, YES.
MOSQUEDA, YES.
PRESIDENT GONZALES, YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU MADAM THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AS
AMENDED AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT.
I ASKED THE CLERK TO FIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
OKAY COLLEAGUES IS THAT ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL?
OKAY SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
COLLEAGUES THIS CONCLUDES THE
ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY AUGUST
17 2020 AT 2 P.M.
AGAIN THAT GOES OUR MEETING FOR
TODAY.
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A
WONDERFUL EVENING.
AND WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU EVERYONE.
98, IS THER
>> IS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO PASS THE BILL COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLDT I BELIEVE YOU ARE
GOING TO SPEAK TO THIS BILL.
SO IF THAT IS THE CASE UNCLE
HEADED OVER TO YOU TO ADJUST.
>> THEN HANDED OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS SO MUCH,
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE TO ADD QUITE HONESTLY.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
GIVEN HOW LATE IT IS.
I HONESTLY JUST WANT TO REST ON
MY EARLIER COMMENT IF THAT'S
OKAY.
>> THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND
COUNSEL BRIEFINGS.
SO I TOTALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
OKAY HEARING AND SEEING THAT I
ASKED THAT THE CLERK CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> PETERSON, YES.
SAWANT, YES.
STRAUSS, YES.
HERBOLDT, YES.
LEWIS, YES.
MORALE IS, YES.
MOSQUEDA, YES.
PRESIDENT GONZALES, YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU MADAME CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
I ASKED THAT THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 14 PR.
COUNSEL BILL 119 842
ESTABLISHNG LABOR STANDARDS
FOR PAID SICK AND PAID STATE
FOR GIG WORKERS WORKING IN
SEATTLE AND AMENDING SECTIONS
100.015 AND .0 80 OH ORDINANCE
1260 AND I WANT TO MAKE
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU MADAME CLERK.
I MOVED TO CAL PAST COUNSEL
BILL 119842.
IS THERE A SECOND?
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECOND.
AND TO PASS THE BILL
COUNCILMEMBER SKATE I BELIEVE
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE LEAD
ON SPEAKING ON THIS BILL.
SO I AM GOING TO HANDED OVER TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU MADAME PRESIDENT.
THIS IS A TECHNICAL MEMO THAT
CLARIFIES THAT THIS ORDINANCE
ONLY APPLIES TO INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS.
AND THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
ALREADY COVERED BY SEATTLE'S
PAID SICK AND SAVE TIME
ORDINANCE. THIS SHOULD BE
PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY BUT WE
WERE TOLD BY OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS THAT WE HAD TO HAVE
THIS IN CODE SO THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE DOING TODAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE WITH
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> PETERSON, YES.
SAWANT, YES.
STRAUSS, YES.
HERBOLDT, YES.
LEWIS, YES.
MORALE IS, YES.
MOSQUEDA, YES.
PRESIDENT GONZALES, YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH OF THE
BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT.
I ASKED THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION.
OKAY AGENDA ITEM 15.
WILL THE CLERK IS READ AGENDA
ITEM 15 INTO THE RECORD.
RESOLUTION 31961 AFFIRMING THE
RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF THE PRESS,
LEGAL OBSERVERS AND MEDICAL
PERSONNEL COVERING A PROTEST
AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY.
>> THANK YOU MADAME CLERK.
I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
319 61.
IS THERE A SECOND.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A
SUBSTITUTE VERSION SO I WOULD
LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT BEFORE WE
MAKE GENERAL COMMENTS, THAT WE
GET THE SUBSTITUTE BEFORE US
AND THEN WE CAN OPEN UP, OF THE
SUBSTITUTE VERSION OF
RESOLUTION 31961.
>> THANK YOU MADAME PRESIDENT.
I MOVED TO AMEND RESOLUTION
31961 BY SUBSTITUTING VERSION
44 VERSION 2 A. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED THANK YOU.
TO SUBSTITUTE THE RESOLUTION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WOULD
YOU LIKE US TO JUST GO AHEAD
AND TAKE A VOTE ON THE
SUBSTITUTE.
THEN WE CAN MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT
THE SUBSTITUTE VERSION?
UNLESS OUR COLLEAGUES, WE DID
HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT,
THE CONTENT OF WHAT IS IN THE
SUBSTITUTE VERSION.
IS THERE ANY NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION BY THE
PRIME SPONSOR ABOUT WHAT IS IN
THE SUBSTITUTE?
>> HEARING THE WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND ASKED THE CLERK TO CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
SUBSTITUTE.
>> PETERSON, YES.
SAWANT, YES.
STRAUSS, YES.
HERBOLDT, YES.
LEWIS, YES. MORALE OF, YES.
MOSQUEDA, YES.
PRESIDENT GONZALES, YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU THE MOTION
CARRIES.
THE SUBSTITUTION IS ADOPTED AND
VERSION 3 OF THE RESOLUTION IS
BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
I AM GOING TO HAVE IT BACK OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA TO
PROVIDE US WITH A ROOM REMARKS
ABOUT THE RESOLUTION AS
AMENDED.
AND THAT I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR
GENERAL COMMENT AND DEBATE AND
WE WILL THEN TAKE A FINAL ROLL
CALL ON IT.
>> THANK YOU MADAME PRESIDENT.
FOR THE RECORD, I BELIEVE WE
HAVE VERSION 4 IN FRONT OF US.
GIVEN THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS
CIRCULATED.
JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT
THAT IS WHAT WE VOTED ON.
WAS CORRECT IT WAS AN ERROR ON
MY PART.
I APOLOGIZE.
>> THANK YOU I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE SURE.
IT IS BEEN A LONG DAY.
SO I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD CHIME
IN THERE.
COUNSEL COLLIES, THE RESOLUTION
IN FRONT OF US AFFIRMS THAT THE
FREE PRESS HAVE THE RIGHT TO
COVER PROTESTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT DURING THE LAST
FEW MONTHS OF THE PROTESTS THAT
WE HAVE SEEN SEATTLE AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, JOURNALISTS HAVE
BEEN SUBJECT TO TACTICS THAT
SERVE TO INTIMIDATE OR
DISCOURAGE REPORTERS FROM
PERFORMING THEIR JOBS.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES TO OBSERVE
THESE EVENTS AND REPORTED TO
THE PUBLIC.
LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE SAID
THE RULING THAT WE HAVE SEEN
FROM THE LOCAL COURT THAT WILL
REQUIRE THEM TO TURN OVER
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS TAKEN A
PROTEST THREATENS JOURNALISTS
ROLES.
AND PREVENTS THEM FROM BEING
SEEN AS NEUTRAL OBSERVERS.
COULD FURTHER ERODE TRUST
BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE
LOCAL MEDIA.
THIS IS A CONCERN THAT WE ON
CITY COUNCIL WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ADDRESS AND ON.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
WHO ARE REPORTING IN OUR STREETS
ARE FREE FROM INTIMIDATION WITH
COVERING PROTESTS.
INCREASINGLY, AS WE SAW COVERED
IN CROSSCUT RECENTLY,
JOURNALISTS HAVE REASON TO FEAR
FOR THEIR PHYSICAL SAFETY. I
POURING FROM CROSS CUT RIGHT
NOW THEY SAY THE COVERING
EVENTS LIKE PROTESTS,
JOURNALISTS HAVE GIVEN, I'M
SORRY WHEN COVERING EVENTS LIKE
PROTESTS JOURNALISTS HAVE
REASON TO FEAR FOR THEIR
PHYSICAL SAFETY.
FORCING JOURNALISTS TO GIVE
THEIR WORK TO POLICE WOULD MAKE
THEM LESS WELCOME AND INCREASE
THOSE RISKS.
PROTESTS HAVE CONSTANTLY BEEN
SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ON
THE SITE JOBS FOR JOURNALISTS
WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IT HAS INCREASED OVER THE
PAST THREE YEARS.
SAYING MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE,
I'M SORRY MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE
FROM POLICE COMMITTING ACTS OF
VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALIST
PEOPLE SOMETIMES PROTESTERS
ALSO MESS OUT.
THIS AMENDMENT ADDRESSES THESE
ISSUES.
NO MATTER WHAT OUR POLITICAL
OPINIONS ARE, IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT JOURNALISTS HAVE THE
ABILITY TO COVER PROTESTS
SAFELY.
TO BE SAFE, TO FEEL SAFE AND
THAT THE RIGHT TO GO TO THE
PROTEST IS PROTECTED.
AND THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR POLICE
FORCE.
THESE ARE MEMBERS WHO WORK FOR
THE CITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
WHO ARE COVERING THESE PROTESTS
ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE ISSUES
THAT WE HAVE SEEN REPEATEDLY
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WHERE REPORTERS HAVE BEEN HIT
WITH FLASH BANGS, EXPERIENCED
TEAR GAS, AND HAVE ALSO BEEN
ARRESTED IN OUR CITY AND
INCARCERATED FOR HOURS. AS THEY
AWAITED RELEASE.
THIS RESOLUTION ALSO APPLIES TO
LEGAL OBSERVERS AND MEDICS WHO
ARE AT A PROTEST TO ENSURE THAT
THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS AND THEIR
SAFETY IS ALSO PROTECTED AT
PROTESTS.
THESE LEGAL OBSERVERS AND
MEDICS HAVE ALSO BEEN SUBJECT
TO GASSING, ARRESTS AND
INTIMIDATION.
REPORTS FROM THE PAST MONTH
INCLUDE LEGAL OBSERVERS WHO
HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY THE
POLICE.
AND MEDICS WHO HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO A PROTEST IS BEING SPRAYED
AND HIT IN THE FACE AND ALSO
EXPERIENCE FLASH BANGS HITTING
THEIR BODIES.
IT IS EMBARRASSING THAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS HIGHLIGHTED
IN A MORE RECENT AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL REPORT.
THE REPORT IS ENTITLED OF THE
WORLD IS WATCHING.
MASS VIOLATIONS BY U.S. POLICE
A BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTERS
. IT COVERS ATROCITIES
COMMITTED RIGHT HERE IN SEATTLE
IN THE CHAPTER IS TITLED HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE
POLICING OF PROTESTS.
AND SEATTLE IS THE FIRST WAY
THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS
REPORT ON PAGE 22.
AND IF I MIGHT BRIEFLY CALL
YOUR ATTENTION TO ONE OF THE
STORIES THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED,
MANY OF YOU KNOW THE STORY OF
ADRIANA A 26-YEAR-OLD STUDENT
WAS STRUCK IN THE CHEST AS SHE
WAS KNEELING DOWN APPROXIMATELY
20 FEET IN FRONT OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE LINE.
SHE AND HER FRIENDS HAVE BEEN
STRIPPING FOOD THAT EVENING AT
PROTESTS.
SHE MOVED TO THE FRONT TO TALK
WITH POLICE TO DE-ESCALATE
ATTENTION.
SHORTLY AFTER TALKING WITH
OFFICERS, SHE WAS HIT WITH A
FLASH GRENADE.
AN INTENSIVE CARE NURSE WHO WAS
STANDING AT THE A STATION
BEHIND THE PROTESTERS SAID THAT
SHE COULD SMELL THE PEPPER
SPRAY AND HEAR WHAT THE FOUND
IT LIKE WHEN THE BOMBS EXPLODED
EVERYWHERE AS PEOPLE STARTED
RUSHING TOWARDS THE A STATION.
SHE WAS TREATING FOUR DIFFERENT
PEOPLE AT THE TIME.
BRUSHING CHEMICAL IRRITANTS
FROM THEIR EYES AND TREATING
WELTS ON THEIR ARMS AND LEGS
BEING HIT WITH FLASH GRENADES.
AS SHE WAS TREATING THEM, SO WE
STARTED SCREAMING SHE'S BEEN
HIT IN THE CHEST.
SHE'S BEEN HIT IN THE CHEST.
YET EVEN AS THE MEDIC AND OTHER
MEDICS SCRAMBLED TO TREAT HER,
PLEASE CONTINUE TO FIRE TEAR
GAS.
LAST GRENADES AND RUBBER
BULLETS AT THEM. AND A STATION.
POLICE THEN ADVANCED ON THE
EIGHT STATION FIRING LAST
GRENADES AND PEPPER BALLS
INSIDE.
THE STATION WAS CLEARLY MARKED
WITH IDENTIFYING SIGNS AND RED
CROSSES AND FILLED WITH TABLES
STUCK WITH WATER BOTTLES AND
FIRST-AID SUPPLIES.
THIS IS WHY THIS RESOLUTION IS
IMPORTANT.
FOUR OF THE PRESS, FOR LEGAL
OBSERVERS WHO WE HAVE SEEN ON
CAMERA REPEATEDLY BEING SPRAYED
WITH PEPPER SPRAY, AND FOR
MEDICS WHO ARE TRYING TO CARE
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
THIS TYPE OF TRAUMA IN OUR
STREETS.
WE DO HAVE THE POSITIVE NEWS
THIS MORNING.
AND THAT IS WHY THE RESOLUTION
IS AMENDED IN FRONT OF YOU.
TO INCLUDE A NEW SECTION 5.
POSITIVE NEWS IS THAT ACCORDING
TO A STIPULATED INJECTION FROM
THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF
WASHINGTON SPD WILL BE ENJOINED
OR PROJECTILES AGAINST CERTAIN
PROTESTERS.
AND THE RULING SAYS THE FEDERAL
JUDGE IN OREGON ALSO STATED
THAT ALTHOUGH THE FIRST
AMENDMENT DOES NOT ENUMERATE
SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR OBSERVING
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, THE
SUPREME COURT HAS RECOGNIZED
THAT NEWSGATHERING IS AN
ACTIVITY PROTECTED BY THE FIRST
AMENDMENT.
WITHOUT SOME PROTECTION FOR
SPEAKING OUT, THE NEWS, FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS COULD BE
EVISCERATED.
THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
THAT THESE DECISIONS WERE MADE
TODAY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
NOT ONLY SEPARATE MEMBERS OF
THE PRESS FOR BEING SEEN AS AN
ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT OR AN
EXTENSION OF THE POLICE, BUT
THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY THINKING
ABOUT HOW WE PROTECT THEM IN
THE MOMENTS OF THE COVERING.
FOLKS EXPRESSING THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN ADDITION TO
MAKING SURE THAT LEGAL
OBSERVERS AND MEDICS ARE
PROTECTED AS WELL.
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK
COUNSEL COLLEAGUES AS WE RAISE
AT THIS RESOLUTION IS
RECOGNIZED AS THAT THIS FOLLOWS
ON THE HEELS OF UNANIMOUS VOTES
THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TO PREVENT
THESE TYPES OF WEAPONS FROM
BEING USED IN OUR STREETS.
OBVIOUSLY MORE WORKS TO BE DONE
AND I KNOW THIS COUNCIL IS
COMMITTED TO THAT THAT I THINK
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN
RECONFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO
PROTECTING THE PRESS, LEGAL
OBSERVERS AND THE MEDICS AT
THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE REMARKS.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A COUPLE
MORE FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED
IN SPEAKING.
SO I'M GOING TO HEAD OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON IS ONE
OF THE COSPONSORS.
AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLDT.
>> THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING
RESOLUTION 31961 WELCOMING ME
AS A COSPONSOR.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME
BECAUSE I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT
THE CRUCIAL ROLE THAT A FREE
PLACE PRESS PLAYS ANOTHER
DEMOCRACY.
WE MUST ALWAYS PROTECT
JOURNALISTS INCLUDING THOSE WHO
COVER PROTESTS AND
DEMONSTRATIONS SO THEY CAN
SHINE A LIGHT ON THE TRUE
PROVIDING ACCURATE AND
INDEPENDENT REPORTS.
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS IN
GOVERNMENT ISSUE REPORTS ARE
NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS.
AS A HIGHLY RESPECTED JOURNALIST
WALTER CRONKITE SAID FREEDOM OF
THE PRESS IS NOT JUST IMPORTANT
TO DEMOCRACY, IT IS DEMOCRACY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLDT.
>> THANK YOU I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD BACK ON
JULY 10.
I GUESS THAT IS A MONTH AGO
TODAY.
I WROTE TO THE MAYOR IN CHIEF
REGARDING THE ARREST OF A
JOURNALIST ANDREW OF THE
DEFENDANT.
AND THE THREAT OF ARREST ABOUT
A JOURNALIST.
I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A REPLY
. AND AS A REMINDER, IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THE MUNICIPAL CODE IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY AS
IT RELATES TO ORDERS TO DISPERSE
. SPECIFICALLY JOURNALIST.
NEVER THE LESS, SINCE THEN
JOURNALISTS ARE STILL REPORTING
HAVING CHEMICAL IRRITANTS OR
PROJECTILES USED ON THEM.
AND NOT JUST REPORTING IT, I
VIEWED IT ON LIVE STREAM.
INCLUDING SALSBERRY OF
CONVERGENT MEDIA.
AND HIS THREAT OF ARREST WAS
FOR THE LETTER EARLIER.
USING THESE DEVICES ON
JOURNALISTS HAS IN EFFECT THE
SAME IMPACT AS THAT OF ARREST.
IT RESULTS IN JOURNALIST BEING
UNABLE TO COVER THE EVENTS THAT
THEY ARE THERE TO REPORT ON.
AND THEREBY INFORM THE PUBLIC.
THE OPERATION OF THE FREE PRESS
IS A LINCHPIN OF AMERICAN
DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF
THIS RESOLUTION.
OPPOSING POLICE OFFICERS
TARGETING JOURNALISTS,
ARRESTING AND ABUSING THE AND
DEMANDING THAT THEY TURNOVER
THE VIDEO.
OF COURSE THE SAME GOES FOR
LEGAL LEGAL OBSERVERS AND
MEDICS.
I WOULD ADD THAT THIS IS A
RESOLUTION THAT MEANS THAT IT
DOES NOT HAVE THE FORCE OF THE
LAW.
EVEN IF IT WERE IN ORDERS FOR
THE FORCE OF THE LAW, WE HAVE
SEEN WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT ESPECIALLY
UNDER MAYOR DURKAN'S AUTHORITY.
WE WOULD NEED TO REMEMBER THE
LAWS OF SEATTLE HAVE ALREADY
PROHIBITED POLICE OFFICER FROM
TARGETING JOURNALISTS BUT IT
STILL GOES ON.
WHICH MEANS THE RESOLUTION WILL
BE INSUFFICIENT TO DEMAND TO
DEFEND THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
IN SEATTLE.
BUT IT IS STILL IMPORTANT FOR
THE COUNCIL TO PASS THIS
RESOLUTION.
AND BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FINAL
POLICE DEPARTMENT RELATED ITEM,
I WANTED TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
THEIR HELP IN PREPARING THE
BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
FROM MY OFFICE.
AS I MENTIONED WITH THIS BUT
COMMITTEE MEETING, CITY COUNCIL
AND STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
THAT AGENDA ITEMS ALMOST AROUND
THE CLOCK THAT THEY THEY WERE
WORKING UNTIL JUST BEFORE
MIDNIGHT AT LEAST.
AND THAT WAS FAR FROM THE FIRST
TIME IT HAPPENED WITH THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE.
IT WAS THE CASE BEFORE.
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND SO ON.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL
OTHER EXAMPLES. I WANTED TO
PARTICULARLY THE PEEKABOO WORK
TO MIMIC OFFICE.
OF COURSE, STAFF DIRECTOR
KIERSTEN HARRISON.
MY GRATITUDE TO EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF THEM.
THERE THEY WORKED INCREDIBLY
LONG HOURS IN THE BUDGET IN
GENERAL AND OUR MOVEMENT HAS
DEPENDED ON THEM TO WRITE MANY
VERSIONS OF THE REMEMBER AND
RESPOND TO EVERY CRITICISM OF
THE AMENDMENT THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES ME.
I KNOW THAT OTHERS IN THE
MOVEMENT ALSO APPRECIATE THEIR
WORK.
I ALSO WANTED TO QUICKLY
PUBLICLY THANK ALL SOCIALIST
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS IN MY
OFFICE.
JONATHAN ROSENBLUM, SASHA
SOMMER, NICK JONES AND ADAMS
AND KOLSKY WHO HAVE DONE
EXEMPLARY AND SELF-SACRIFICING
WORK AND NEEDLESS TO SAY,
THANKS TO THE HUNDREDS IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
GIVEN OF THEMSELVES IN THIS
FIGHT. THE FIGHT WILL GO ON.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
EVERYONE TO THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET
CAMPAIGN IN AUTUMN.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENT
RESOLUTION?
LET'S LIKE NO OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN SO MAD.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA YOU HAVE
THE LAST WORD IF YOU COULD
CLOSE OUT THE DEBATE THAT WILL
BE GREAT.
>>THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON FOR HIS COSPONSORSHIP
OF THIS RESOLUTION.
ALSO WANT TO THANK AISHA AND
ALLIE FROM CENTRAL STAFF WHO
WERE WORKING ON THIS RESOLUTION.
COUNCILMEMBERS OUT OF PORTLAND
OREGON THREE WEEKS AGO
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A SIMILAR
RESOLUTION. SO THAT WE COULD
REALLY BUILD ON THAT ACROSS HIS
REGION.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SEEN VERY
SIMILAR TACTICS USED IN OTHER
CITIES AS WELL.
ONE ELEMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE
TO LIFT UP FROM RULING TODAY,
SAYS DESCRIBED BY THE NINTH
CIRCUIT, WHEN WRONGDOING IS
UNDERWAY, OFFICIALS HAVE A
GREAT INCENTIVE TO BE
BLINDFOLDED, TO BLINDFOLD THOUGH
WATCHFUL EYES OF THE FOURTH
ESTATE.
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES
IT IS EXCLUDING THE PRESS FOR
REASONS SUCH AS ADMINISTRATIVE
COMMITTEES, PRESERVATION OF
EVIDENCE, OR PROTECTION OF
REPORTER SAFETY, IT IS ITS REAL
MOTIVE MAY BE TO PREVENT THE
GATHERING OF INFORMATION ON
GOVERNMENT ABUSES OR
INCOMPETENCE.
THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME THAT WE
ARE IN.
THIS IS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY I
THINK OUR CITY DEMANDS IN TERMS
OF THE IMAGES, LIVE STREAMING,
VIDEOS THAT WE HAVE SEEN.
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH COUNSEL
FOR TAKING THIS STEP TODAY TO
PASS THIS RESOLUTION.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE
MORE TO COME.
TWO PROVIDE SAFE EVIDENCE FOR
PROTESTERS AND JOURNALISTS AND
MEDICS IN THE PRICE.
THANK YOU META-PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLOSING OUT
THE DEBATE ON THE RESOLUTION.
I AM GOING TO ASK THE CLERK TO
CALL THE ROLL.
PETERSON, YES.
SAWANT, YES.
STRESS, YES.
HERBOLDT, YES.
LEWIS, YES.
MORALE IS, YES.
MOSQUEDA, YES.
PRESIDENT GONZALES, YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU MADAM THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AS
AMENDED AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT.
I ASKED THE CLERK TO FIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
OKAY COLLEAGUES IS THAT ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL?
OKAY SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
COLLEAGUES THIS CONCLUDES THE
ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY AUGUST
17 2020 AT 2 P.M.
AGAIN THAT GOES OUR MEETING FOR
TODAY.
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A
WONDERFUL EVENING.
AND WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU EVERYONE.