>>> WELL, GOOD EVENING,
EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS
EVENING.
THE FEBRUARY 6th, 2020 MEETING
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 5:06 P.M.
I'M TAMMY MORALES.
JOINING ME ARE COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AND LEWIS.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONEFOR
BEING HERE TONIGHT.
THIS COMMITTEE MEETING, WE WILL
BE HEARING FROM COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND FROM SMALL
BUSINESSES WHO ARE IMPACTED BY
PROGRAMS AND POLICIES OF THE
CITY.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE AM BE
LEARNING WHAT WE'RE DOING
RIGHT, IN SERVING COMMUNITY
WELL.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER TO
SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE INCREASING THE PROSPERITY
OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY
HERE, WE WANT TO HAVE THIS IN
THE EVENING TIME HOURS SO OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL BE HERE.
I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE, IF YOU
HAVE SPECIFIC POLICY
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FOLKS WHO
WILL BE AT THE TABLE, WE WANT
TO HEAR THEM.
BUT IT'S NOT REQUIRED.
WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU IS YOUR EXPERIENCE,
WORKING WITH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
AND POLICIES IN THE CITY.
AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHAT WAS HELPFUL.
WHAT IS GETTING IN THE WAY OF
THE THINGS YOU'RE TRYING TO DO
FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK
WOULD WORK BETTER, AND OF
COURSE, IF THERE ARE PARTICULAR
TOOLS THAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD
CONSIDER TO DO YOUR WORK
BETTER.
WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.
SO THAT WE CAN REALLY TRY TO
BUILD COMMUNITY WELL.
THIS IS OUR SECOND MEETING OF
THIS COMMITTEE.
THE FIRST COMMITTEE WE HEARD
FROM THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE, THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS.
AND THE ECONOMIC INITIATIVE
FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THOSE ARE THE DEPARTMENTS THAT
FALL WITHIN THIS CITY.
AND THE REAL THEME FOR THE YEAR
FOR THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO
BE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO
BUILD COMMUNITY WEALTH, SO THAT
FOLKS STOP GETTING PUSHED OUT
OF THE CITY.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR
RESIDENTS AND OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
SO THAT'S, TO GIVE YOU SOME
CONTEXT OF WHAT WE'RE REALLY
HOPING TO DO.
THROUGH THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE
HAVING IN THIS COMMITTEE.
>>> SO I WILL NOW OPEN THE
FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU'VE SIGNED IN, THEN YOU
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
WE'LL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
20 MINUTES.
AND SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO BEGIN
THEIR COMMENTS BY IDENTIFYING
THEMSELVES.
I'LL CALL UP A FEW NAMES AT A
TIME.
AND YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
SO THE FIRST NAME WE HAVE,
YVETTE DINNISH.
DID I SAY THAT RIGHT?
>> ALONG WITH CURTIS AND
SOLOMON.
>> EVET WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ANDRICK COSANE.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBER.
WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT
HOMELESSNESS.
HOWEVER, I'M WITH RANDY BEACH
AGAIN.
AND I'M WITH THE COMMUNITY
OWNED DEVELOPMENT.
WHICH IS ABOUT COMMUNITY LAND
TRUST, COMMUNITY BANKING,
COMMUNITY OWNING PROPERTY IN
WHICH THEY WILL NOT BE
DISPLACED.
I'M NOT GOING TO EXPOUND UPON
THAT, BECAUSE THE BRAIN CHILD
BEHIND THIS IS CURTISS BROWN
RIGHT BEHIND ME.
ALSO SOLOMON, WHO OWNS CAFE
AVOLE, WHERE WE HOLD MOST OF
OUR MEETINGS.
SO COME ON UP, CURTIS.
COME ON UP, SOLOMON.
>> DID YOU GUYS SIGN UP AS
WELL?
>> ANDREA, IS THAT OKAY IF
SOLOMON GOES BEFORE YOU?
>> YEAH.
>> YOU WILL BE JOINING US AT
THE TABLE SOON ANYWAY.
>> SO YEAH.
WE STARTED A COALITION, A
LITTLE GROUP A FEW MONTHS BACK
WITH LEADERSHIP OF CURTIS BROWN
AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
HOW WE CAN COMBAT GENTIFICATION
IN SOUTH SEATTLE.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AND WE
DON'T WANT TO BE LEFT BEHIND.
SO WE PUT TOGETHER THIS
ORGANIZATION TO HELP PUT THE
AWARENESS OUT THERE TO PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW TO
INVEST THEIR MONEY.
AND ALSO, COLLABORATING WITH
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
ALREADY IN THAT COMMUNITY,
WORKING ON DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS
ARBACK.
AND A FEW OTHERS.
SO OUR WHOLE AGENDA IS TO
AGAIN, SPREAD THE AWARENESS.
WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A FRAME WORK
THAT SURROUNDS SOME OF THE KEY
TOPICS, COMBATTING
GENTIFICATION.
AND ALSO ALLOWING PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY TO OWN THE COMMUNITY
AND MAKE THEIR, THEIR, YOU
KNOW, THEIR COMMUNITY THEIR
HOME.
AND ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS BY
ACCESSING TO CAPITAL.
SO WE PUT TOGETHER A PLAN, AND
WE'RE HOPING TO PRESENT THAT TO
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WITHIN
THE COMING MONTHS.
AND ALSO HOPE THAT WE CAN GET
SOME SUPPORT WITH THE CITY ON
HOW TO DEPLOY THAT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
>> OKAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> SO NEXT WE HAVE ANDREW
COPAIN, FOLLOWED BY MELISSA
PURCELL.
>> THANK YOU COMMITTEE CHAIR.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR
ELEVATING THIS ISSUE ON BEHALF
OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO BIRD BAR PLACE IS A
COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION
IN THE CD THAT HELPS TO SUPPORT
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AM BUT
WE'RE ALSO PART OF THIS
COMMUNITY WORK IN THAT WE BUILD
SMALLER BASED COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH WE
CONSIDER CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS
WHO ARE HELPING TO BUILD
COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
AND ACCESSING THE SYSTEM.
SHIFTING SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO
BUILD COMMUNITY WEALTH.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE DISCOVERED AS A COALITION
IS THAT IT CAN BE QUITE
CHALLENGING, WHEN WE INTERACT
WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS SEVERAL
AT A TIME, TO DO THIS WORK.
TO UNDERSTAND PERSPECTIVES ON
HOW EACH DEPARTMENT INTERPRETS
RULES AND POLICIES.
AND SO FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE
DEALING WITH O.H.
O.E.D., D.C.I.
AND OPCD.
AND WHILE IT'S INCREDIBLE TO BE
INTERACTING WITH THEM
INDIVIDUALLY.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS IN
THIS THEY'RE INTERRUPTING
POLICIES.
AND IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR OUR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IF THEY
WERE TO DO AN EXAMINATION OF
THOSE POLICIES AND GET IN
ALIGNMENT.
IT WOULD BE LESS COSTLY FOR US
IN TIME AND MONEY FROM THE
COMMUNITY SIDE, ESPECIALLY AS
AN EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN LOOKING AT IS HOW DO WE
FORTIFY OUR COMMUNITIES IN
ORDER TO BUILD COLLECTIVE, HAVE
COLLECTIVE OWNERSHIPS.
SO OUR COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES.
BUT ALSO SMALL BUSINESSES.
ONE OF THE SUCCESSES WE HAD IN
OUR COMMUNITY IS EARL'S SHOP.
RIGHT?
HE'S BEEN AROUND FOR 28 YEARS.
HE, ON THE SURFACE, YES, HE'S A
BARBER SHOP.
HE'S AN INSTITUTION IN OUR
BLACK COMMUNITY.
HE -- THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF,
HIS BUSINESS HAS FORMED A
FABRIC IN OUR BLACK COMMUNITY.
AND WE WERE CREATIVE WITH
O.E.D.
IN OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
IN HELPING TO HAVE THAT
BUSINESS THRIVE.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN,
AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, WITH THOSE FOUR
DEPARTMENTS, TO TALK ABOUT THE
SUCCESSES WE'RE SEEING IN
COMMUNITY ANDSHARING THAT AND
HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
WHAT MECHANISMS CAN WE USE LIKE
E.D.I.
AND WORKING ACROSS COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR
NEIGHBORS IN THE CRESCENT
COLLABORATIVE TO MAKE THAT GO.
AND WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE ON WORK
WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO DO
THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> NEXT IS MELISSA PURCELL,
FOLLOWED BY DAVID SABLE.
>> HELLO.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY.
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS.
I AM -- MY NAME IS MELISSA
PURCELL.
I AM THE BUSINESS AGENT FOR
IATSE, LOCAL 48.
WE ARE THE FILM CREWS THAT DO
COMMERCIALS AND WEB CONTENT AND
FILMS AND TV, ET CETERA.
I'M ALSO PART OF THE FILM
MEUSKS COALITION.
WE WERE IN HERE EARLIER LAST
YEAR FOR BUDGETING.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A
REORGANIZATION OF THE OFFICE OF
FILM AND MUSIC WITHIN THE
O.E.D.
AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT IN THAT REORGANIZATION,
THAT WE ARE COMMUNICATED WITH.
WE HAVE BEEN IN MEETINGS.
WE ARE BEING FOLDED INTO THE
PROCESS NOW.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US IS
THAT THE JOBS OF OUR INDUSTRY,
THE FILM JOBS AND ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY HAVE BEEN WANING IN
RECENT YEARS.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE
STABILIZE THOSE THINGS AND WE
SUPPORT THOSE THINGS, SO THAT
AS WE START PARTNERING WITH
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, AND
BRINGING IN MORE STAKEHOLDERS,
THAT WE ARE CERTAIN EVERYBODY
IS GETTING A LIVING WAGE JOB
FROM THOSE INDUSTRIES, AS WELL
AS THAT IN THE WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT THAT IS BEING
PINNED.
WHICH IS A FANTASTIC THING.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S AN
INDUSTRY FOR THEM TO GET INTO.
SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST TRAINING
FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO LEAVE
TO PORTLAND OR LOS ANGELES.
SO I JUST LOOK TO FIND OUT MORE
INFORMATION FROM ARTS AND
O.E.D.
TOGETHER.
AND HOW THOSE TWO ARE WORKING
TOGETHER.
BECAUSE IT'S STILL NOT REAL
CLEAR HOW ARTS IS WORKING IN
THAT REORGANIZATION.
WE THINK OF IT STRICTLY AS AN
ECONOMIC O.E.D.
SITUATION.
A SORT OF FOR-PROFIT AND
NONPROFIT ENTITIES.
AND WHERE THOSE VARIOUS SECTORS
MASH TOGETHER.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> DAVID WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
CURTISS BROWN.
AND -- CURTIS BROWN.
AND THEN.
JAGUNA?
DID I SAY THAT RIGHT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY NAME IS DAVID SABEE.
I HAVE THREE HATS THAT I WEAR.
I AM A LABOR ORGANIZER FROM THE
GUILD OF SYMPHONY OPERA AND
BALLET MUSICIANS, WHICH IS A
SEATTLE-FOUNDED UNION.
IT'S 25 YEARS OLD.
FOUNDED HERE.
IT'S THRIVING.
IT'S A WONDERFUL THING.
I'M ALSO A SMALL EMPLOYER.
AND HAVE A COMPANY CALLED
SEATTLE MUSIC THAT HAS
BASICALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
RECORDING OF 200 FILM SCORES IN
SEATTLE.
I'M HERE AS MELISSA'S
COUNTERPART ON THE MUSIC SIDE.
I WAS PART OF THE INITIAL
FOUNDING OF THE MUSIC
COMMISSION AND THE DOCUMENT
THAT WAS GENERATED IN 2004 WITH
JAMES KEBLIS.
AND OTHERS.
AND ALSO, AFTER THAT, ON THE
ARTS COMMISSION FOR SIX YEARS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT I THINK THAT
THE VITALITY OF THE SECTOR CAN
BEST BE SERVED WITH A VITAL
MUSIC COMMISSION THAT IS
DEFINITELY IN THE O.E.D.
SIDE, THAT IS IN THE FOR-PROFIT
SIDE.
AND THE ARTS SIDE, WHICH I
VALUE TREMENDOUSLY IN MY LIFE
IN THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY.
AND SEATTLE OPERA, IS -- IT'S A
VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
MAINTAIN THE DICHOTOMY.
BECAUSE THE FOCUSES ARE TOTALLY
DIFFERENT.
AND I THINK THAT'S MY MAIN
POINT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT
ACROSS.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> SORRY.
I KEEP DEALING WITH THE
GLASSES.
CURTIS.
AND THEN JAGUNA?
>> HI.
I'M CURTIS BROWN.
>> SORRY.
CURTIS.
IF I COULD REMIND YOU TO SPEAK
INTO THE MIKE SO THAT SEATTLE
CHANNEL CAN CAPTURE THIS.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE
DONE THIS, EVEN THOUGH I'M A 54-
YEAR SEATTLE RESIDENT.
I'M JUST HERE TODAY, ALONG WITH
OUR GROUP, IS JUST TO LET YOU
KNOW ABOUT COMMUNITY-OWNED REAL
ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE TAKING A DIFFERENT
APPROACH.
THE NONPROFITS HAVE DONE A
GREAT JOB.
THEY'VE DONE SUCH A GREAT
JOBTHAT THEIR BALANCE SHEETS
ARE EXCEPTIONAL.
YOU KNOW I RUN A NONPROFIT AND
MY BALANCE SHEET IS WONDERFUL.
BUT THE BALANCE SHEET OF OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS NOT.
OUR GOAL IS TO POOL THE
RESOURCES OF OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND START TO BUY UP
REAL ESTATE IN THE AREA.
THE ONLY WAY TO STOP GENT
RIIFICATION IS TO BUY UP THE
REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOP IT.
THE PROBLEM IS, THE RESIDENTS
IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE NOT
THE RICHEST OF PEOPLE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT TWO
INITIATIVES.
ONE, WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A
LEVERAGED FUND.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS, PEOPLE
DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN
ACTUALLY GO OUT AND BORROW
MONEY TO INVEST.
WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A
LEVERAGE FUND, WHERE FAMILIES
CAN BORROW UP TO 10 TIMES THE
AMOUNT THEY INVEST.
AND THEN BE ABLE TO INVEST THAT
BACK INTO REAL ESTATE PROJECTS
IN SOUTH SEATTLE.
THE SECOND ASPECT OF THE
INITIATIVE IS THE GUARANTEES.
AND THE GUARANTEES IS A PART
WHERE THIS CITY CAN PLAY A HUGE
ROLE.
IF WE CAN CREATE GUARANTEES FOR
PEOPLE'S INVESTMENTS, THEN
THEY'RE NO LONGER INVESTMENTS.
AND YOU CAN HELP US REDUCE THE
SECURITY LAW ISSUES.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS AS CITY
COUNCIL, I REALLY WANT YOU TO
FOCUS ON HOW YOU CAN CREATE
GUARANTEES TO OUR INVESTORS,
BECAUSE THEY'RE NO LONGER
INVESTORS, AND WE CAN REDUCE
OUR OVERHEAD AND COST FOR
CAPITAL.
SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS
WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.
AND WE'RE SURVEYING THE
COMMUNITY NOW.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY PLANNING
HAVE HAVING THEM START SAVING
INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS AS EARLY AS
MAY AND JUNE.
AND I'M WORKING REALLY HARD NOW
ON RAISING THE MONEY FOR THE
LEVERAGE FUND.
SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY BORROW
FROM IT.
AND AGAIN, WHAT I'M HOPING TO
WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU ON
CREATING SOME GUARANTEES FROM
THE CITY, SO THEY'RE NOT
ACTUALLY CALLED INVESTMENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, CURTIS.
>>> GIGUNA.
AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY --
SOLOMON, YOU'VE ALREADY GONE.
SO QUINN AND THEN JAMIL.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JAGUNNA GENCHERO.
I'M WITH THE AFRICAN SOUTHWEST.
ONE OF THE MISSION SYSTEM TO
PROMOTE THE IMMIGRATION OF
LOCAL AFRICAN COMMUNITIES
PRIMARILY THROUGH SMALL
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE VERY AWARE OF THE
CHALLENGES FACING AFRICAN-OWNED
BUSINESSES IN SOUTH SEATTLE.
A LOT OF MY WORK IS IN
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE, WITH AFRICAN-
OWNED BUSINESSES THAT DEAL WITH
STRUGGLES RELATED TO ACCESS TO
CAPITAL, CAPACITY BUILDING AND
FORCES OF DISPLACEMENT.
WE FIND THERE ARE A LOT OF
PROGRAMS IN SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A CHALLENGE
GETTING THE KNOWLEDGE TO THE
OWNERS IN OUR BUSINESS
COMMUNITY TO TAILORING THE
PROGRAMS SO THEY CAN
PARTICIPATE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THOSE PROGRAMS.
AND THEN TO WALK THEM THROUGH
THAT PROCESS.
SO WE FIND THAT THERE IS
INCREASING NEED FOR PROGRAMS
THAT ARE INNOVATIVE IN GETTING
ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THERE'S INCREASING NEED FOR THE
FUNDING TO SUPPORT THOSE IN THE
COMMUNITY WHO ARE GIVING THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND
BUILDING CAPACITY FOR THE
COMMUNITY, WHO ARE FROM THE
COMMUNITY, SO THAT THESE
INITIATIVES THAT ARE OF GREAT
MOTIVATION CAN ACTUALLY BE
IMPLEMENTED.
NEED A LOT OF IMPLEMENTATION ON
THE GROUND.
PARTICULARLY IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE.
ONE OF THE PROJECTS I'M
INVOLVED WITH IS THE
MULTICULTURAL COALITION
COMMUNITY OPERATIONS CENTER.
THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO
THIS PROGRAM.
BUT THE ORGANIZATIONS STILL DO
NEED TO SUPPORT THE CAPACITY TO
TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO
WORK TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING,
AND ALSO THE STUDY OF THE NEEDS
AND THE BARRIERS FACING OUR
COMMUNITIES.
BECAUSE OFTEN, THERE'S A GAP IN
TERMS OF THE DATA.
AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE
BARRIERS AND WHAT IT TAKES TO
OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS SO THAT
THESE PROGRAMS ARE, INDEED,
AFFECTED.
BUT I THINK THE ASSETS ARE IN
THE COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, THE PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY DOING THE WORK NEED
TO BE SUPPORTED AND RESOURCED.
SO THEY CAN DO THAT WORK
EFFECTIVELY.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> QUINN FUM.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS QUIN FAM.
I'M WITH THE FRIENDS OF LITTLE
SAIGON.
I'M ALSO ON THE EDI ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
I'M HERE TO JUST REALLY TALK
ABOUT HOW E.D.I.
HAS BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM.
AND THE LITTLE SAIGON PROJECT.
A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, MIXED USE
COMMUNITY PROJECT IS SUPPORTED
THROUGH THAT.
ALTHOUGH IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM,
THE CURRENT AMOUNT OF FUNDING
IS NOT ENOUGH.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FUND CURRENT
PROJECTS.
AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FUND
FUTURE PROJECTS.
SO I URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT
OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THAT
SOURCE SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE
SUPPORT FOR FUTURE PROJECTS,
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS
FULFILL PROJECTS THAT ARE IN
THE PIPELINE.
$5 MILLION RIGHT NOW.
THAT CAN HARDLY FUND ONE
PROJECT.
SO HAVING OVER 20 PROJECTS ON
THE E.D.I.
PIPELINE.
IT RIGHT NOW LOOKS SOMEWHAT
IMPOSSIBLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO
FULFILL ANY OF THE DREAMS WE
HAVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WE
WANT TO SUPPORT.
>>> AND IN ADDITION.
THIS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
THERE SHOULD BE BETTER
COLLABORATION AMONGST DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS.
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON A MIXED-
OUS PROJECT.
WORKING WITH OFFICE OF HOUSING.
E.D.I., OPCD.
OPCD, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
TOO MANY ACRONYMS.
I'M GOING TO SKIP THEM ALL.
BUT SDCI PARTICULARLY AS WELL.
THERE IS A LOT OF PROCESS.
AND A LOT OF STRENUOUS TIME
THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE
INVESTING IN.
AND THAT TAKES AWAY FROM WHAT
THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING WITHIN
THEIR OWN PROGRAMS.
AND TO FULFILL THEIR PROJECTS.
SO NOT ONLY DO WE ASK FOR
BETTER COLLABORATION AMONGST
THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT BETTER
STREAMLINE OF PROCESSES.
SO THAT OUR PROJECTS ARE
PRIORITIZED AND PUT THROUGH THE
PIPELINE MUCH MORE QUICKLY.
OVER MAYBE LIKE A PRIVATE
PROJECT.
OR A PROJECT THAT IS NOT
COMMUNITY DRIVEN.
AND LASTLY.
THESE PROJECTS COMBINED BOTH
HOUSING, COMMERCIAL AND
COMMUNITY USES.
AND SO THERE SHOULD BE
OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER
SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
OWNERSHIP WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
SUCH AS LEASE TO OWN MODELS, OR
COMMERCIAL CONDOS.
OR MASTER LEASES BY NONPROFITS
THAT HAVE A MISSION TO FULFILL
COMMUNITY VISIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>>> AND JAMIL SULEMAN?
IS GOING TO BE OUR LAST
SPEAKER, UNLESS THERE'S ANYBODY
ELSE WHO WANTS TO SIGN UP.
OH.
CAN YOU -- LAKEISHA, CAN YOU
HELP THEM PLEASE?
THANKS.
GO AHEAD, JAMIL.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE END
PANEL ABOUT FILM.
BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY.
SO MY NAME IS JAMIL SULEMAN.
I'M A FILMMAKER, PERFORMER,
WRITER HERE IN WASHINGTON.
I'M BASED IN SOUTH SEATTLE.
AND I OWN A FILM COMPANY CALLED
INDY GENIUS MEDIA.
AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF CONTENT
FOR THE CITY, FOR THE MAYOR,
MAYOR'S OFFICE, SEATTLE MUSIC
COMMISSION, SOUTH SEATTLE
EMERALD, LOCAL PUBLICATIONS,
NONPROFITS, GALAS, AND THINGS
OF THAN NATURE.
WE'RE A YOUNG FILM COMPANY IN
SEATTLE.
WE KNOW A LOT OF YOUNG
FILMMAKERS IN SOUTH SEATTLE,
MOSTLY FILMMAKERS OF COLOR, WHO
ARE NOT ATTACHED TO ANY KIND OF
UNION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND DON'T HAVE ANY CONNECTION
TO THESE INDUSTRY JOBS THAT ARE
KIND OF BEING SPOKEN ABOUT
EARLIER.
SO WHAT I'M REALLY HERE TO DO,
AS KIND OF A NEW PERSON IN THAT
INDUSTRY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR
VOICE, TO BE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF
PUT UP FRONT IN A LOT OF WAYS.
WE HOLD THOSE NARRATIVES THAT
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP CHANGE
THE NARRATIVE.
BUT IF WE'RE NOT HEARD, WE
WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO THERE IS MONEY COMING IN FOR
FILM AND MUSIC.
AND FOR FILM AND TELEVISION IN
THIS CITY.
AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE THE
SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, PARTICULARLY IN OUR
VOICES AND OUR NARRATIVES.
AND MY COMPANY IS ONE OF THE
VERY FEW OMWBE CERTIFIED
BUSINESSES MAKING US A MINORITY
BUSINESS.
SO WHEN OTHER BUSINESSES CAN
SUBCONTRACT OUT, WE CHECK A BOX
FOR THEM.
SO THEY'RE ABLE TO KIND OF GET
THAT QUOTA FILLED.
A LOT OF YOUNG FILMMAKERS OF
COLOR DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
WE NEED SOME KIND OF STRUCTURE
TO HELP FOLKS BRIDGE THE GAP,
GET INTO THE INDUSTRY, AND TO
SUPPORT FILMMAKING,
PARTICULARLY IN SOUTH SEATTLE.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
>>> OKAY.
WE HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS.
PATRICIA ALLEN AND MARK JONES.
>> HI.
GOOD EVENING.
I'M PATRICIA ALLEN.
I WORK SEATTLE CLUB.
AND I OVERSEE THE NATIONAL
COALITION TO END URBAN
INDIGINOUS HOMELESSNESS, WHICH
WE'RE LAUNCHING THIS WEEK,
WHICH I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
I ALSO WORK WITH THE NATIVE
WORKS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A
MICROENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM
AND TWO SEATTLE CLUBS
ORGANIZATION.
I'D SAY SOMETHING THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US IS THAT
INTERSECTIONALITY BETWEEN
SOVEREIGNTY AND IDENTITY.
AND SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE
DIFFICULT FOR A LOT.
úGRASS ROOTS ORGANIZERS AND
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IS
UNDERSTANDING, HAVING A VERY
CLEAR DEFINITION OF
SOVEREIGNTY.
IN TERMS OF WHAT LAND WE'RE ON.
BUT ALSO WHO ARE THE RIGHT
ADVOCATES TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHEN WE HAVE ART TAKING
PLACE IN PUBLIC PLACES, AS WELL
AS WE HAVE GROUND BLESSINGS OR
ANY TYPES OF EVENTS WHERE WE'RE
INVITING TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
SOMETIMES WE END UP GETTING
VERY TOKENNIZED.
LIKE OH, THIS PERSON IS THE
SPEAKER OF ALL TRIBES OR OF ALL
NATIONS AND REGION.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE
ACCOUNTABILITY TO CHECK IN, NOT
JUST WITH TRIBAL LEADERS BUT
ELDERS AND COMMUNITY THAT WE
TRUST.
BECAUSE MANY TIMES PEOPLE ARE
REALLY EXERCISED BEYOND THEIR
CAPACITY.
AS WELL AS SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE SPEAKING MIGHT NOT
NECESSARILY HAVE THAT CONSENT
FROM THE WHOLE COMUNITY.
FOR US, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO EMPOWER THEM, AS WELL AS
REALLY BE ABLE TO VALUE THE
WORTH OF THE ARTIST THAT ARE
PUTTING A LOT OF DEDICATION AND
ART.
AND REALLY,
MICROENTREPRENEURSHIP IS
SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING REALLY
DILIGENTLY ON.
SO ACKNOWLEDGING KIND OF THOSE
LITTLE COMPLEX LAYERS WITHIN
OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR IDENTITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND MARK JONES IS THE LAST
SPEAKER WE HAVE.
>> HI.
I'M MARK JONES.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SOME OF
THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
OBVIOUSLY, I SAT BY CURTIS.
SO THAT'S A HINT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN
PAYING ATTENTION TO FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS AND
PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON THE
LAST FEW.
IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF
TECHNICAL HELP.
TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS.
AND I'LL USE REVEREND MARTIN
LUTHER KING'S TERM.
WHAT WE DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY
PRESENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS
BELOVED COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW.
SO HE TALKS ABOUT IN THE
AFTERMATH OF.
RIGHT?
THE VIOLENCE.
RIGHT?
SO THE THING THAT I'VE BEEN
PAYING ATTENTION TO IN OUR WORK
TOGETHER IS WHAT ARE THE
PRINCIPLES?
WHAT ARE THE BEHAVIORS?
WHAT IS THE EDUCATION, THE
TRAINING, THE AWARENESS, THAT
ALLOWS US TO LIVE WELL
TOGETHER.
AND THEREFORE, WE CAN BEGIN TO
THRIVE?
SO I LOOK AT SOME OF THE --
SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THINGS WE'VE DONE.
THE -- IT HASN'T NECESSARILY
SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
AND THE CAPACITY FOR PEOPLE TO
ACTUALLY THRIVE HAS NOT
INCREASED.
AND MY RESEARCH AND MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT PEOPLE
THRIVE WHEN THEY UNDERSTAND HOW
TO BE TOGETHER.
>> UH-HUH.
>> SO, THERE'S -- I HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO FIND IN THE CITY
YET A PLACE THAT IS LIKE "I GET
IT."
RIGHT?
SO THIS IS LIKE MY FIRST OUTING
TO YOU, TO SAY IF WE CAN WORK
THE RELATIONAL AND CULTURAL
WITH THESE TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS,
WE WILL SUCCEED.
SO THAT'S IT.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>>> AND THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO
CAME UP TO SPEAK.
SORRY.
LET ME GET TO MY SCRIPT.
WHAT'S NEXT?
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
SO I WILL CONCLUDE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
AND WE WILL NOW MOVE ONTO OUR
ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT,
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM, AS I
SAID, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
SMALL BUSINESSES IN THREE
DIFFERENT ROUND TABLES.
SO FIRST, WE'LL HEAR FROM FOLKS
WHO ARE PARTICIPATING OR TRYING
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
FOLLOWED BY SMALL BUSINESSES,
FOLLOWED BY ARTS AND FILM.
SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO CALL
UP THE FIRST GROUP OF FOLKS.
WYKING GARRETT, DEREK LUM.
LAKEISHA, WILL YOU PLEASE READ
ITEM 1 INTO THE RECORD?
>> KAREN, DO YOU WANT TO COME
UP FOR THIS?
OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT
THE BUSINESS -- OKAY.
GREAT.
>> COME ON UP.
>> EIT QUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
ROUND TABLE ON BUILDING
COMMUNITY WEALTH.
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> GREAT.
HELLO, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO START, IF
EVERYONE COULD JUST INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES, THE ORGANIZATION
YOU'RE WITH.
AND TO BEGIN THE DISCUSSION, IF
WE -- IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND
SHARING ONE THING THAT HAS
WORKED WITH THE CITY, ONE
SUCCESS, SOMETHING THAT YOU
THINK HAS WORKED WELL.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW -- WHAT
ELSE WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING.
>> SHALL I BEGIN?
>> SURE.
>> I'M DR. PERKINS.
AND I'M REPRESENTING THE
DUWAMISH TRIBE ON CECILLE
HANSON.
THE DUWAMISH TRIBAL SERVICES.
AND DUWAMISH CULTURAL CENTER.
WE RECENTLY RECEIVED THE E.D.I.
GRANT.
WHICH WAS A BLESSING TO
PURCHASE THE ADJOINING
PROPERTY, IN ORDER TO EXPAND
THE PARKING LOT AND MAKE THE
SAFE STREET SAFER.
BUT I ALSO LIKE TO SAY BEFORE I
BEGIN THAT, TO YOUR COMMENT.
YOU ALL REALLY ARE DOING A
GREAT JOB.
THE CITY, COUNCIL PEOPLE IN
úSEATTLE, MAYOR JENNY DURKAN.
YOU'RE DEALING WITH A COMPLEX
VARIABLE.
IT'S CALLED HUMAN BEHAVIOR.
THAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT
BEHAVIOR TO CHANGE.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY, THE CITY HAS
STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE.
AND YOU ALL SHOULD BE APPLAUDED
FOR THE EFFORTS THAT YOU HAVE
SUCCEEDED.
THE EQUITY DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE THAT STARTED ABOUT
TWO YEARS AGO, IS A SUCCESS.
IT HAS MADE THE VISIONS OF
DREAMERS LIKE MR. WYKING COME
TRUE.
HE HAS BELIEVED IN HIS VISION
FOR YEARS.
AND I APPLAUD HIM AND HIS
STEADFASTNESS TO MAKE IT COME
TRUE.
I THINK THE CITY CAN CONTINUE
THESE INITIATIVES WITH ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS A GROWTH AREA.
IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE
THAT WAY WITH THE VIADUCT BEING
TORN DOWN.
IT HAS TO BE NEW GROWTH AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN WEST
SEATTLE.
AND ALL OTHER CITIES.
THERE MUST BE INCLUSION.
SO WITH HAVING SAID THAT, AND
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GREAT
WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.
WE RECEIVED THAT GRANT
POPURCHASE THE PROPERTY NEXT
DOOR.
AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF
SECURING IT TO TEAR DOWN THE
HOUSE AND EXPAND THE PARKING
LOT.
IT'S A SAFE STREET INITIATIVE
TO MAKE WEST SEATTLE, WEST
MARGINAL WAY, A SAFER HIGHWAY.
IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS HIGHWAY
TO TRY AND CROSS.
THROUGH OUR CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LINE ITEM
IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET.
IN ORDER TO GET -DOT TO START
THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
AND -DOT IS WORKING ON IT.
S-DOT HAS ALREADY MADE
TREMENDOUS CHANGES BY MERGING
THE LANES INTO TWO.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING
BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN THERE.
NOW, IT'S GETTING SAFER.
SO IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.
AND I APPRECIATE THE CITY FOR
SETTING UP THE E.D.I.
INITIATIVE.
AND I KNOW THERE'S MANY GOOD
THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO COME
AS WE ALL CONTINUE TO WORK
TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YES, MA'AM.
>>> GOOD EVENING, K. WIKING
GARRETT.
PRESIDENT OF AFRICATOWN LAND
TRUST.
THIRD GENERATION COMMUNITY
BUILDER IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO
COME AND CONTINUE TO ADD TO
THIS CONVERSATION AROUND HOW
SEATTLE CAN BE A PLACE WHERE
THE RHETORIC IS MADE REALITY.
YOU KNOW.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT SHARE
PROSPERITY.
RAISING SOCIAL JUSTICE.
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT.
AND YOU KNOW, BY THE NUMBERS,
WE SEE A LOT OF THINGS STILL
GOING IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION.
WITH THAT SAID, I THINK THAT
THE CITY PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL
ROLE IN MAKING THE LIBERTY BANK
PROJECT HAPPEN AS ONE THAT
SHOWED THAT ANOTHER PATH IS
POSSIBLE.
BRINGING PEOPLE BACK, AND
KEEPING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT WE'RE VULNERABLE TO
DISPLACEMENT, DUE TO THE HIGH
COST OF RENT AND ALSO FOR THE
BUSINESSES THAT WERE MENTIONED
EARLIER.
AGAIN, THAT'S A LOT OF WORK TO
STILL BE DONE AROUND ACTUALLY
GETTING OWNERSHIP INTO THE
COMMUNITY OF IT.
BY COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS.
AND I THINK THAT THE E.D.I.
IS ALSO A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, AS WAS SAID EARLIER.
THE POOL IS NOT AT A SIZE TO
MEET THE NEED.
BUT THERE'S A MOTTO THERE THAT
CAN BE SCALED OUT.
SO I THINK THAT A CITY HAS BEEN
PLAYED A ROLE IN ESTABLISHING
SOME MODELS THAT WE NOW NEED TO
SCALE TO MEET THE DEMAND IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
DEREK?
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS DEREK LUM, INTERIM
CDA POLICY ANALYST.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE BEING
INVITED HERE TODAY TO TALK
ABOUT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND
SO ONE THING THAT HAS GONE WELL
IS THAT NONE OF OUR HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED WITHOUT THE CITY'S
SUPPORT.
AND SO WE DO APPRECIATE THE
CITY FOR SUPPORTING US BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE
EXISTENCE OF THE E.D.I.
FUND.
IT'S VERY GOOD FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES.
HOWEVER, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID,
LIKE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TO GO
AROUND AND MEET THE TRUE NEED
IN THE COMMUNITIES.
BUT WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
CITY DOES.
AND WE HOPE TO SEE IT EXPANDED
AND CONTINUED.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS REALLY INTENDED TO BE
AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT
YOU FEEL IS WORKING AND WHAT WE
COULD BE DOING BETTER.
SO I'LL JUST ASK A COUPLE OF
OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS.
I'LL START BY BYING WHAT
CHALLENGE DO YOU THINK THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS TRYING
TO SOLVE?
IS IT WORKING?
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES
COMING UP?
CLEARLY THE LACK OF FUNDING TO
MEET THE NEED IS ONE ISSUE BUT
YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO
SOLVE WITH THIS PROGRAM?
AND WHAT ELSE CAN THE CITY DO
TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE TRYING TO
OWN THEIR OWN LAND, WHO ARE
TRYING TO HAVE OVER THIS
CAPACITY.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL TALKING ABOUT
THE NEED.
AND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKESURE
THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
THE CAPACITY TO DO THIS WORK
WELL?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON A
REALITY THAT JUST RECENTLY
OCCURRED.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
AS I WAS PURSUING THE RESEARCH
IN WEST SEATTLE, ONE OF THE
HUGE GAPS THAT I NOTICED WAS
LACK OF TRANSPORTATION.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO THE
DUWAMISH CULTURAL CENTER.
SAFE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS NONE.
WE DID -- WE CAPTURED NEAR
ACCIDENTS.
FROM PEOPLE TRYING TO WALK FROM
A MILE AND A HALF ONE WAY.
AND A MILE AND A HALF IN THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
WHETHER FROM HIGHLAND AVENUE OR
UNDER THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
IT'S DANGEROUS.
MAYOR JENNY DURKAN HAS SET UP
THE RAD 2 PILOT PROGRAM.
AND IT WAS DISCONTINUED
RECENTLY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS
DOING REALLY WELL.
SO RIGHT NOW, IT'S BACK TO THE
STATUS QUO, THAT THERE'S NO
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, NO SAY
WAY TO GET TO THE DUWAMISH
HOUSE.
AND AS LONG AS THERE IS NO
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THE
TRIBE CANNOT COMPETE OR
PARTICIPATE, THEY ARE NOT
PARTICIPATING IN THE ECONOMIC
BOOM THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE
WITH THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.
THE RAD 2 VAN, YOU COULD CATCH
THE WATER TAXI.
WHICH I DEMONSTRATED IT SEVERAL
TIMES.
BUT OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL.
FROM COLEMAN DOCK TO SECREST
PARK.
THEN RAD 2 WAS THERE.
YOU CAN CALL AND RESERVE IT.
IT TOOK PEOPLE TO THEIR HOMES.
TO THE LONE HOUSE.
AT THE SAME COST OF THE METRO
FAIR.
THERE'S ANOTHER BUS THAT IS
RUNNING, THE WATERFRONT BUS
THAT IS BASICALLY FUNDED BY
WESTDOT.
IT'S A STATE-FUNDED ENTITY.
BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE
DUWAMISH LOAN HOUSE.
WHICH IS ALSO A MISMATCH.
A GAP IN TERMS OF EQUITY.
IN TERMS OF PEOPLE GETTING
THERE TO SPEND THEIR MONEY,
LIKE THEY DO WITH OTHERS AROUND
THE CITY.
YOU CAN GET ON ANY BUS.
OR SOMETIMES WALKING SEATTLE.
ONE TO THE OTHER.
BUT WITHOUT PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM,
SAFE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, IT
CREATES AN ECONOMIC DISPARAGE
BETWEEN THE NATIVES IN SEATTLE.
WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH THE
ARCHITECT.
WE DID A TOUR.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY GLACIAL
ERRATIC ROCKS.
STUFF THAT HE POINTED OUT,
EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
HERE FOR OVER 10,000 YEARS.
THE T107 PROJECT PROVED IT.
BUT IT'S DANGEROUS TRYING TO
CROSS THAT STREET FROM ONE SIDE
TO THE OTHER.
WE JUST HAD A DRONE MADE ON THE
WEBSITE.
THE DUWAMISH TRIBE.ORG.
LOOK UNDER SUPPORT.
AND THEN GO DOWN TO ADVOCACY.
YOU'LL SEE TWO DRONES.
ONE IS A BEFORE.
S-DOT GOT ENVELOPE
INVOLVED IN THE OTHERS.
AND THE OTHER IS PROGRESS THAT
IS BEING MADE.
IT IS A PROGRESS THAT MUST
CONTINUE.
IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL
SAFE.
S-DOT HAS MERGED A LANE WHERE
NOT EVEN A SCHOOL BUZZ CAN PARK
IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
IT'S A GOOD START.
NOBODY IS PUTTING NOBODY DOWN.
BUT WE HAVE TO LOCK AT THE NEED
FOR TRANSPORTATION AND GET THAT
VAN SERVICE BACK.
OR GET THE WATERFRONT, WEST DOT
FUNDED STATE PROJECT INVOLVED
IN GETTING INVOLVED LIKE IT
GOES TO EVERY OTHER PLACE IN
SEATTLE.
AND THAT WILL HELP TO CLOSE THE
GAP.
>> THANK YOU.
YEAH.
THAT'S IMPORTANT.
JUST MAKING SURE ALL OF THESE
SYSTEMS ARE CONNECTED.
AND AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW
WE BUILD UP A NEIGHBOR,
HOOD.
MAKING SURE PEOPLE CAN GET TO
TE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO BE
A CRITICAL BART OF THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> YES, MA'AM.
>> EITHER OF YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK E.D.I.
IS INTENDED TO SOLVE -- WHAT'S
THE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE.
AND IS IT HOW IT HELPED YOU GET
THROUGH THAT CHALLENGE?
>> AS A MEMBER OF THE RACIAL
SOCIAL EQUITY TASK FORCE.
WHICH IS A COLLECTION BETWEEN
MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES, ESSENTIAL
DISTRICT, CHINATOWN, IN
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE.
E.D.I.
WAS INITIALLY INTENDED TO
ADDRESS THE EFFECTS,
COMPOUNDING EFFECTS, RESIDUAL
EFFECTS OF PAST GOVERNMENT AND
PRIVATE SECTOR POLICIES AND
PRACTICES THAT DISENFRANCHISE
CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND
POPULATIONS.
SO DEFINITELY THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, RED-LINING AND THE
BLACK COMMUNITY WAS A PART OF
THAT.
HB1918 RECENTLY.
THAT WAS THE LAST SESSION IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
IDENTIFIED.
AND DOCUMENTED THAT CAPITAL
PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT
CAPITAL PROJECTS HAVE
NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, YOU KNOW,
OUR COMMUNITIES AND THIS IS A
NATIONAL PHENOMENON.
ONE OF -- A COUPLE OF ISSUES.
SO THAT'S WHAT IT WAS INTENDED
TO DO.
I THINK THAT'S TO HELP WITH
ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY, TO
ADDRESS THE COMMERCIAL SPACE
BUILDOUT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT
SUPPORTED BY THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING FUNDS.
I THINK THAT IS BEING LEVERAGED
FOR BOTH OF THOSE USES IN THE
FINITE AMOUNT THAT IT CAN.
A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT HAVE
BEEN CHALLENGES WITH THE CITY.
ONE IS THAT THE CITY IS --
SOMEONE SPOKE TO IT EARLIER.
FRAGMENTED IN ITS DEPARTMENTAL
APPROACHES AND PRESENCE IN THE
COMMUNITY, WHICH CAUSES PEOPLE
A LOT OF PROBLEMS
THE CITY, WHEN THE CITY STEPS
IN TO RESPOND TO A COMMUNITY-
BASED ISSUE OR RAISED ISSUE OR
INITIATIVE, THEN IT BEGINS TO
TAKE ON A TOP-DOWN APPROACH
THAT IS DISCONNECTED, SOMETIMES
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS JUST A
MEETING, I THINK, IMPACT 2020.
AT LANGSTON HUGHES THAT WAS
ORGANIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND
NEIGHBORHOOD, TO LOOK AT THE
IMPACTS, I GUESS OF
DISPLACEMENT AND THINGS OF THAT
NATURE.
TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT
IT.
THIS STARTED A LONG TIME AGO.
AND WE'RE ALREADY IN THE ACTION
PHASE.
SO NOW IS THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS TAKING THE LEAD
ON DRESS
ADDRESSING THESE?
AND THERE WAS THREE OTHER
EVENTS HAPPENING THE SAME DAY.
SO THAT IS ONE ISSUE.
DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM.
BETWEEN O.E.D.
NEIGHBORHOODS, ARTSES AND
CULTURE.
AND WHOEVER ELSE.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT BROKE
UP.
BUT AGAIN, THAT BECOMES A
PROBLEM FOR THE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE IT JUST BREAKS UP.
AND THEY START PUTTING FUNDING
IN CERTAIN PLACES.
AND IT DISORGANIZES CERTAIN
INITIATIVES.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S
INTENTIONAL OR NOT.
BUT THAT'S BEEN PROBLEMATIC.
ALSO, THE PASSING OF THE
UPZONING, WITHOUT A ROBUST
MITIGATION STRATEGY.
SO NOW, OUR COMMUNITY WITH
HISTORICALLY A VERY HIGH
OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY.
AND NOW IT'S BEING REPLACED
WITH, YOU KNOW, STRICTLY JUST
RENTALS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
LIKE LIBERTY BANK.
AND PEOPLE THAT OWN PROPERTY
ARE BEING -- ARE HAVING TAXES
RAISED AND AS THE ZONING VALUE,
YOU KNOW, THE UPZONE INCREASED
THE VALUE OF PROPERTY.
AND THEY'RE ON FIXED INCOMES.
NOT ONLY THAT.
THERE IS STILL REDLINING IN THE
COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT
ALLOWED ACCESS TO CAPITAL
TOACTUALLY REDEVELOP.
THE ONLY ONE IS THROUGH SELLING
IT.
RIGHT?
AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE ACTUALLY
COMES IN AND CAPTURES MORE
VALUE BY PUTTING, YOU KNOW, 4
OR 5 OF THE NEW UNITS THAT SELL
AT $800,000, WHERE THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN'T AFFORD.
SO THE ONLY WAY THE COMMUNITIES
ALLOWED TO COME BACK, PEOPLE
WITH ROOTS, PRIMARILY IS
THROUGH SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
SO THAT'S AN EQUITY ISSUE.
SO THE DISPARITY.
THE WEALTH GAP IS CONTINUING.
SO WHATEVER BLACK POPULATION
YOU MAY HAVE IN 10 YEARS AT
THIS TRANSACTORY, WOULD --
TRAJECTORY, WOULD ALL BE
LIMITED TO AFFORDABLE
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PROJECTS.
I THINK ANOTHER THING IS THE
MFT AND HOLLER, FOR THE
MULTIFAMILY TAX EXEMPTION.
AND THE HOLLER AFFORDABLE UNITS
ARE REALLY NOT AFFORDABLE TO
MOST PEOPLE.
SO THAT NEEDS TO BE I THINK
CHANGED BECAUSE YOU HAVE
PROJECTS LIKE THE VULCAN
PROJECT ON 23rd AND JACKSON.
AT $1200 FOR A STUDIO.
AND $2400 FOR LIKE A TWO OR
THREE BEDROOM, WHICH IS NOT
AFFORDABLE ON MOST PEOPLE.
>> FOR SOMEBODY MAKING $15 AN
HOUR.
>> EXACTLY.
SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE KEY
ISSUES THAT I THINK NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED AND CAN BE ADDRESSED
AT THE POLICY LEVEL.
SO MORE ROBUST MITIGATION
STRATEGY FOR EXISTING PROPERTY
OWNERS TO HAVE ACCESS TO
REDEVELOPING OR KEEPING THEIR
PROPERTY.
STRONGER ON MFT OR HOLLER.
WHICH IS INCENTIVIZING PRIVATE
DEVELOPERS TO BUILD WHAT IS
STILL NOT AFFORDABLE TO A LOT
OF PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE I GO TO YOU, DEREK, I
DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS HERE.
THANK YOU.
SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP OF LAND.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD
OVER AND OVER AGAIN ALREADY.
SO GO AHEAD, DEREK.
>> YEAH.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO
SIMILAR POINTS TO YOU, WYKING.
SO A MAJOR ISSUE THAT INTERIM
AND OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR PEOPLE
FACE IS WE TRY TO BUY LAND.
AND THEN WE GET OUTBID.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE CAPITAL
TO CHALLENGE A PRIVATE
DEVELOPER WHO CAN PUT, YOU
KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE $5 MILLION,
THEY HAVE $10 MILLION.
>> YEP.
>> AND THEN A LOT OF TIMES,
LIKE WE CAN'T DO IT.
AND SO WE NEED HELP TO BE ABLE
TO PURCHASE AND COMPETE WITH
THESE GUYS.
ANOTHER BIG ISSUE IS ALONG THE
LINES THAT WYKING BROUGHT UP.
THERE WERE TWO UNJUST EPISODES
IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
IN 2012 AND IN 2017.
AND THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT
MITIGATION PLANNED.
THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF
MITIGATION.
BUT IT WAS NOWHERE NEAR
SUFFICIENT AND SLATED THE STAGE
FOR WHAT WE SEE TODAY, WHICH IS
THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE AMOUNTS
OF PROPERTY TO BE BOUGHT UP BY
DEVELOPERS.
AND THEN BUILT ON AND A LARGE
FLOOD OF PEOPLE ALL WITH UPPER-
END INCOMES COME INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE SAME TIME.
WHICH UPSETTINGS, YOU KNOW,
DRIVES UP RENT.
AND DOES NOT GIVE PEOPLE TIME
TO, YOU KNOW, ADJUST TO THINGS.
AND SO THAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AT
THE CITY POLICY LEVEL.
>> ONE OTHER HUGE OPPORTUNITY
THAT HAS BEEN MISSED THAT WE
WOULD LIKE TO NOT MISS GOING
FORWARD IS THAT EACH ONE OF
THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS IS, YOU
KNOW, 30, 40, 50 MILLION
DOLLARS.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF WEALTH AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO
ACTUALLY CLOSE WEALTH GAPS, ET
CETERA, ET CETERA.
BUT WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THERE
ISN'T SUFFICIENT SYSTEMS,
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN PLACE
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
CONTRACTOR, WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM THE LEGAL
TRANSACTIONS TO THE
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, TO THE
CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS,
AND WORKERS, A LOT OF THAT
MONEY IS LEAVING THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT MONEY SHOULD STAY IN
THE IMPACTED COMMUNITY TO
ACTUALLY CREATE THE ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE
SPEAKING ABOUT, BECAUSE AGAIN,
THE LARGE MAJORITY OF IT IS
NOT.
AND SO ONCE AGAIN, IT'S PUTTING
OUR COMMUNITY IN A POSITION OF
SOMEWHAT OF AN EXPLOITED
RESOURCE.
MEANING SOMEONE ELSE IS
BENEFITING ECONOMICALLY THE
MOST, OFF OF OUR
MARGINALIZATION.
AND EVEN THE ATTEMPT TO FIX THE
MARGINALIZATION.
BUT IT PERPETUATES THROUGH THE
PROCESS.
WE NEED SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES
PUT IN PLACE TO HAVE CULTURALLY
RESPONSIVE BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT TO ACCESS
TO CAPITAL FOR CONTRACTORS.
AND AGAIN, WE FOUND THE SAME
ISSUES THAT WE GET TO THESE
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WANTED TO
GO INTO THE SPACES THAT AGAIN
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE
CAPITAL.
AND NEW CONSTRUCTION PRESENTS
GREATER CHALLENGES FOR
MICROENTREPRENEURS AND SMALLER
BUSINESSES WITH TENANT
IMPROVEMENTS AND THINGS OF THAT
NATURE.
SO I THINK WE NEED SOME VERY
FOCUSED RESOURCES FOR THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO DEAL
WITH THAT.
THE SITUATION WITH THE FLOWER
SHOP, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO
JUST HELP RALLY AND SAVE.
BUT SHE WAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED
BY THE CONSTRUCTION ON 23rd.
AND SO AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE
THOSE -- THAT RESOURCE CAPACITY
IN THE COMMUNITY TO WE'RE JUST
KIND OF RUNNING IT ON FUMES AND
DOING IT ON THE LOVE.
AND THEN WHEN RESOURCES ARE
ALLOCATED, THEY GO TO LARGE
INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE NOT IN
THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT?
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BUILD
PROGRAMS AROUND BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT.
AGAIN THESE THINGS SHOULD BE
ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE LED BY,
YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVED.
>> CAN I PIGGYBACK OFF OF SOME
OF THE THINGS HE JUST SAID?
AND THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE -- PROBLEMS HERE.
THESE PROBLEMS ARE SYSTEMATIC.
NATIONWIDE.
IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S SLUM AND
BLIGHT.
LOSS OF MANUFACTURING JOBS.
BUT THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
WORKING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY.
I JUST SAW ON 60 MINUTES, A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WHERE THEY
HAD A SIMILAR PROGRAM DEALING
WITH TENANTS.
AND PEOPLE WERE GETTING LAND
AND PROPERTY AND AFFORDABLE
PROPERTY AND HOUSING AND
MORTGAGES AND CHASE SET UP SOME
KIND OF PROGRAM.
SO THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO ADD
TO MS. MORALES' AGENDA.
CAN THE CITY WITH THIS NEW
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE, ALSO LOOK AT SOME
BEST PRACTICES AROUND THE
COUNTRY THAT CAN BE ADAPTED TO
THE SEATTLE MODEL THAT IS
DEALING WITH MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE TO KEEP THEM IN THEIR
HOMEOSS THEIR LAND AND GET THEM
LAND AND PROPERTY.
I KNOW THERE'S WORKING PROJECTS
OUT THERE.
AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD
BENEFIT THE CITY TO LOOK AT
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING
ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS, INSTEAD
OF TRYING TO BE A LONE, YOU
KNOW, PERSON THAT GOING TO FIX
IT ALL, WITHOUT CONSIDERING
WHAT CAN WORK AND BE ADAPTED TO
THE SEATTLE AREA.
THIS -- THEY HAD IN THE
"SEATTLE TIMES" THE OTHER DAY,
IT SHOWED KING COUNTY IS ONE OF
THE BIGGEST PLACES OF
MULTICULTURALISM RIGHT NOW, IN
SEATTLE.
AND THIS IS THROUGH RICHNESS.
IT WOULD BE NICE, I THINK, IF
THE CITY CONSIDERED GETTING
LINKED UP WITH ACADEMIA, AND
PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHES AND
DOING A NATIONWIDE BEST
PRACTICES.
OR LOOKING OVERSEAS TO SEE WHAT
OTHER COUNTRIES WITH SIMILAR
POPULATION AND ISSUES ARE
DEALING WITH, WITH SO MANY
INFLUX OF NEWNESS INTO THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
>> GREAT.
>> DOVETAILING OFF THESE OTHER
COMMENTS.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE
NOTICED THAT THE CITY SOMETIMES
HAS A HARD TIME DISTINGUISHING
BETWEEN LIKE YOUR NORMAL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDER.
AND A LIKE, COMMUNITY-BASED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
PROVIDERS.
SO WE HAVE SEEN MONEY AND LIKE
RESOURCES GO TO, YOU KNOW,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS,
NOT FROM OUR COMMUNITY, TO
BUILD PROJECTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
AND WE THINK THAT MONEY WOULD
BE BETTER PLACED WITH COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS US,
FRIENDS OF LITTLE SAIGON, OTHER
PEOPLE.
IT HAPPENS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND EVEN GOES SOMETIMES,
HOUSING MONEY GOES TO PRIVATE
DEVELOPERS WHO ARE DOING
AFFORDABLE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW.
60% A.M.I.
BARE MINIMUM STUFF.
AND SO WE ARE A LOT MORE
ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
AND WE CAN BE, THE MONEY SHOULD
BE ROUTED TO COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE FROM
AND SERVE AND ARE ACCOUNTABLE
TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
>> AND DO YOU THINK THOSE SORTS
OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE
OF FAMILIARITY?
BECAUSE OF PERCEIVED CAPACITY
DIFFERENCES?
OR WHAT?
DO YOU HAVE A THEORY THERE?
>> SO I HAD BEEN TOLD BEFORE IN
SOME CASES, IT'S LIKE A COST
PER UNIT THING.
LIKE BECAUSE THEY'RE, WHAT'S
CALLED VERTICALLY INTEGRATED.
THEY -- THEIR COST PREMIUM IS
PRETTY LOW.
AND I THINK ALSO, THERE IS A
FAMILIARITY THING GOING ON,
TOO.
>> I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THE
INSTITUTIONALIZED PIECE OF
THIS.
IF, IN FACT, THEIR WEALTH AND
OUR CAPITAL WAS MAL DISTRIBUTED
FOR, YOU KNOW, 300 TO 400
YEARS.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE THE SAME BALANCE SHEET
AS THE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW,
BENEFITED AND RECEIVED WHAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE HARD CAPITAL AND
WEALTH.
SO THERE HAS TO BE BOLD,
SIGNIFICANT FOCUSED
INTERVENTIONS TO DISRUPT THE
STATUS QUO, WHICH KEEPS US IN A
MARGINALIZED POSITION.
SO THAT HAS TO BE RAISED.
OTHERWISE, YOU'LL JUST KEEP
PERPETUATING THE SAME PROBLEM.
IF YOU SAY, WELL, THIS GROUP
HAS MORE CAPACITY TO DO X, Y,
Z. BUT IN ACTUALITY, THEY DON'T
HAVE THE CAPACITY AND THE
COMPETENCIES TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY IN THE WAYS THAT IT
NEEDS.
BECAUSE MANY OF THESE ENTITIES
HAVE BEEN GROWING THE WHOLE
TIME OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
DETERIORATING.
>> CAN I SAY ANOTHER THING, MS.
MORALES, BASED ON WHAT BOTH OF
THEM JUST SAID.
ONE OF THE MISSING VARIABLES IS
THE ABILITY FOR WHEN THESE
THINGS ARE DONE, POOR PEOPLE
WILL SPEND MONEY IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
THEREFORE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THOSE
DOLLARS, BY STAYING IN THE
COMMUNITY, ARE GOING TO
CIRCULATE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEREFORE, IT'S GOING TO CREATE
MORE JOBS.
AND MORE MONEY WILL COME BACK
TO THE COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS A PRIVATE DEVELOPER
TAKE IT ALL, GET THEIR MONEY,
THEY GONE.
>> SURE.
>> SO I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER
VARIABLE THAT THE E.D.I.
SHOULD LOOK AT.
THE PROPENSITY TO GENERATE
INCOME FROM THE PEOPLE
THEMSELVES, INTERNALLY.
AND THAT MONEY WOULD THEREFORE
CIRCULATE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS WHEN
THERE WAS SEGREGATION.
AND RED-LINING OF PEOPLE OF
COLOR INTO THEIR OWN
COMMUNITIES.
THE DOLLAR STAYED IN THEIR
COMMUNITY.
THEY WERE ABLE TO SET UP SMALL
SHOPS IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
A LOT OF THEM FLOURISHED.
RESTAURANTS, NIGHTCLUBS, ACROSS
THE BOARD.
EVEN SOCIAL FRATERNITIES AND
CHURCH GROUPS.
SO THESE ARE SOME THINGS SINCE
THIS IS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
THERE IS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR
JOB DEVELOPMENT, WITH THESE TWO
INITIATIVES, FOR THE MONEY TO
STAY IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND
CIRCULATE IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BENEFIT
THE CITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS
AS WELL.
>>> WELL, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH
YOU MORE.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE
HOPING TO HELP RAISE IN THIS
COMMITTEE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
IS THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE THE
PURCHASING POWER WE NEED TO
MAKE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE OF
OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND THE
CAPACITY, THE EXPERTISE, THE
KNOWLEDGE, THE UNDERSTANDING OF
HOW TO MAKE THINGS SUCCESSFUL.
WE JUST NEED TO SHIFT THE WAY
WE'RE DOING THINGS A LITTLE
BIT.
SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT
THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT
HAPPENS.
>> AND IN TURN.
ONE MORE POINT, SINCE WE
MENTIONED ABOUT CIRCULATING
DOLLARS.
WE GET THAT TRANSPORTATION
RIGHT TO WEST SEATTLE.
ALONG WEST MARGINAL WAY, THAT
PEOPLE CAN COME WITH THESE LUCRA
TIVE TOURISM INDUSTRY THAT
DROPS OFF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN SEATTLE.
AS LONG AS THERE IS NO
TRANSPORTATION TO THE DUWAMISH
CENTER.
THOSE NATIVES ARE GOING TO BE
LEFT OUT OF THIS ECONOMIC BOOM.
BUT IF TRANSPORTATION WAS
AVAILABLE, THEY COULD BUILD
THEIR OWN TOURISM INDUSTRY LIKE
ALL OF THE OTHER SHOPES AND
MUSEUMS AND DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
AND THEREFORE, THAT WOULD BE
MORE MONEY MAKE THEM
LESSDEPENDENT ON DONORS AND
úOTHERS IN THE LONG TERM.
SO I THINK TRANSPORTATION IS A
MAJOR VARIABLE FOR MARGINALIZED
GROUPS OR SPACES IN SEATTLE
THAT ARE NOT IN THE IMMEDIATE
DOWNTOWN ZONE, WITH A NEW
DEVELOPMENT ON THE WATERFRONT
THAT WON'T BE A REALITY.
THE CONVENTION CENTER ALONE,
WILL BE EMPLOYING ABOUT 6,000
PEOPLE AS SOON AS IT IS BUILT.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY I SIGNED
OFF WITH THE DEVELOPERS FOR THE
CONVENTION CENTER BECAUSE OF
THE JOBS.
THEY'RE ALREADY TRAINING PEOPLE
FOR THE HOSPITALITY JOBS.
WE HAVE TO LOOK LONG TERM
INTERMS OF WHAT THESE CAN
PRODUCE.
IN TERMS OF GETTING PEOPLE WITH
JOBS.
AND ECONOMIC WEALTH BEING
RECIRCULATED IN THESE
COMMUNITIES.
AND THAT WILL START SEATTLE
INTO THE 21st CENTURY.
>> TO THAT POINT.
I JUST WANT TO -- THOSE JOBS
HAVE TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO
ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE CITY AS
WELL.
AND IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
BUILD WEALTH, THEY'RE GOING TO
BE LOOKING TOWARD
HOMEOWNERSHIP.
I JUST WANT TO LIFT UP THE NEED
TO FOCUS MORE ON ALSO EXPANDING
THE POOL OF RESOURCES FOR
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY
AND IN THE CITY.
AND LASTLY, AS FAR AS BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT, RESOURCES, ET
CETERA, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO
MAKE THE FIRE STATION TO ACCESS
THE FORMER FIRE STATION 6 ON
23rd AND YESLER AS INNOVATION
HUB AND BUSINESS CENTER, AND
THAT HAS BEEN MOVING VERY SLOW.
IT'S ONE OF THE ORIGINAL E.D.I.
PROJECTS.
AND THEY'RE STILL METER-MAID
THAT PRODUCE NO ECONOMIC, NO
CULTURAL, NO VALUE THAT IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE CENTRAL
AREA COMMERCIAL REALIZATION.
COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION PLAN
OR ANY OTHER IN THE PREVIOUS
CENTRAL AREA PLANS.
SO THAT'S REALLY A BLIGHT.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO REMOVE
AND ACTIVATE THAT SPACE FOR A
HIGHER AND BETTER USE.
ASAP.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SINCE I LEARNED OF THIS
RELATIVELY NEW MODEL SIX MONTHS
AGO, I'VE JUST BEEN TAKING
EVERY OPPORTUNITY I CAN TO TALK
ABOUT IT.
YOU MAY ALREADY BE AWARE.
BUT BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN THE
FEDERAL TAX CODE, I THINK IN
2017, THERE IS THIS NEW
INVESTMENT PRODUCT CALLED THE
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TRUST,
THAT MERCY CORPS HAS CREATED TO
BE REPICABLE IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS.
AND BASICALLY, IT'S PROPRIETARY
INVESTMENT PRODUCT, OWNED BY
MERCY CORPS BUT SPECIFICALLY
BUILT FOR APPLICATION BY OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS.
IT IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE
NEEDS AND DESIRES OF LOW-
TOMODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES.
THE FIRST IS IN PORTLAND.
IT WOULD PROVIDE 300.
IT'S BASICALLY A WAY TO CROWD-
SOURCE FUND REAL ESTATE.
SO YOU CAN PULL TOGETHER
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN YOUR
COMMUNITY TO MAKE A 10 TO $100
CONTRIBUTION PER MONTH.
LOW DOLLAR INVESTMENTS, $10 TO
$100 PER MONTH.
AND IT HAS SHORT AND LONG-TERM
RESULTS FROM THOSE INVESTORS IN
THE COMMUNITY THROUGH AN ANNUAL
DIVIDEND.
AND THE FIRST PROJECT RIGHT NOW
IS THEY'RE IN EAST PORTLAND.
THEY'RE PROVIDING 300 TO 500
FAMILIES WITH LONG-TERM
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY IN A
COMMERCIAL RETAIL BUILDING IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THIS WAS -- THIS PROJECT
WAS TAKEN ON UNDER THREAT OF
REDEVELOPMENT OF A SMALL SORT
OF COMMERCIAL MALL THAT FOLKS
WANTED TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE
LOCAL BUSINESSES IN PLACE WHEN
THERE WAS APPARENT INTEREST IN
SELLING THE PROPERTY TO AN
INVESTOR.
OVER TIME, THE $450,000 IN
INITIATE EQUITY PROVIDED AS
DEBT TO IMPROVE TO IMPACT
INVESTORS.
THEY WILL TRACK OUTCOMES AND
IMPACT ON THREE
MULTIREENFORCING LEVELS.
INDIVIDUAL FAMILY LEVEL.
THE PROPERTY TENANT LEVEL AND
THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
AND THE GOAL IS TO BE A
POWERFUL TOOL TO INSPIRE AND
ENABLE PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THEIR
OWN FINANCIAL WELL BEING AS
WELL AS THEIR COMMUNITY'S
HEALTH AND PROSPERITY.
IN ADDITION TO THE LOW-DOLLAR
INVESTMENTS AND SHORT AND LONG-
TERM RESULTS FOR THE COMMUNITY
INVESTORS THROUGH AN ANNUAL
DIVIDEND, THERE IS GUARANTEED
PROTECTION FROM LOSS FOR
INVESTORS, THROUGH A DIRECT PAY
LETTER FROM A BANK.
AND THEN THERE'S THE CAPACITY
BUILDING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT
EARLIER.
THEY PROVIDE A CURRICULUM FOR
MOVING FROM OWNING TO OWNING,
OFFERED IN FIVE LANGUAGES,
COVERING BUDGETING, GOAL
SETTING AND RISK AND RETURN.
SO I'M GOING TO PASS -- EYE
KEEP SHARING THIS WITH FOLKS.
I KNOW THERE ARE FOLKS IN THE
EXECUTIVE WHO ARE AWARE OF THIS
MODEL.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A
REALLY FANTASTIC THING TO WORK
WITH THE E.D.I.
PROGRAM TO SEE IF WE COULD MAKE
SOMETHING LIKE THIS A COMPONENT
OF THAT PROGRAM, SO THAT WE
ACTUALLY HAVE PROPERTY AND
COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WELL, I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT
OUR TIME FOR THIS PIECE OF THE
EVENING IS WRAPPED UP.
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
I'VE TAKEN LOTS OF NOTES.
SO I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BE FMG
FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU TO SEE.
I THINK FINAL COMMENTS.
>> MY 90 COMMENT, WE WOULD LIKE
TO MEET WITH THE DIRECTOR COME
TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND REALLY THE OPCD STAFF HAS
BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD.
THEY HAVE BEEN HELPFUL.
AND I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN
TRANSITIONS WITH O.E.D.
AND I THINK IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW
THEY'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT AND
INVEST IN RAY STRATEGY THAT
PRODUCES VITALITY FOR OUR
COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND PROBABLY
OTHER PLACES AS WELL.
>> OKAY.
>> BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
-- WE NEED A REAL PLAN THAT IS
WORKING WITH O.E.D.
>> GREAT.
HAPPY TO HELP FACILITATE THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> MY FINAL COMMENT IS JUSTTHAT
WE NEED TO ADEQUATELY, AND MORE
THAN ADEQUATELY MITIGATE
DISPLACEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE NEED TO DO THIS FOR
RESIDENTS.
WE NEED TO DO IT TO HELP
STRUGGLING BUSINESSES.
AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO MAKE IT SO THAT OUR
COMMUNITY IS NOT DISPLACED.
AND OUR COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM
THE GIANT WEALTH OF THIS CITY.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MY FINAL COMMENTS WOULD BE,
AS I SAID EARLIER.
THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM.
AND IT HAS ROOM FOR
IMPROVEMENT.
AND I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR
SETTING IT UP AND TO KEEP IT
GOING AND FOR SEEING WHAT THE
COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY.
AND FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
OUT THERE IN THE TRENCHES.
NOT SITTING IN AN OFFICE.
SO SOMEWHERE.
WE'RE IN THE BOX.
WE'RE NOT OUTSIDE THE BOX.
REAL CHANGE AGENTS ARE IN THE
BOX.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE
PROBLEMS ARE.
AND HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
YOU TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE
TO SAY AND WHERE THESE GAPS
ARE.
AND THIS PROGRAM HAS GREAT
POTENTIAL TO FILL THOSE GAPS.
AND WE'RE APPRECIATED VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU ALL ARE ENCOURAGED BY
THE NEW COUNCIL FORMATION.
WE THINK THE TIME IS NOW.
WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBERS.
AND LET'S GO.
>> RIGHT ON.
>> LET'S GO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OKAY.
SO WE'LL MOVE TO THE SECOND
ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
I'D LIKE TO CALL UP OUR SECOND
GROUP OF FOLKS.
KAREN TOERING.
SOLOMON DUBE ERIC ADAMS WAS NOT
ABLE TO MAKE IT AFTER ALL.
DID SOMEBODY ELSE COME?
>> TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE
OPPORTUNITY.
>> OH, TAM NGUYEN.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
HAVE A SEAT.
>> SO AS I SAID.
OH.
DO YOU NEED TO READ THE ITEM
INTO THE RECORD.
>> SMALL BUSINESS ROUND TABLE
ON BUILDING COMMUNITY WEALTH.
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, LAKEISHA.
IF WE COULD DO SOME QUICK
INTRODUCTIONS.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF, WHAT
ORGANIZATION OR PROJECT YOU'RE
REPRESENTING.
AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
>> HI.
I AM KAREN TOERING.
REPRESENTING THE BLACK AND TAN
HALL, WHICH IS A CULTURAL
SPACE.
A PRIVATE BUSINESS CREATED FOR
THE PURPOSE OF CREATING A
CONTAINER FOR COMMUNITY SPACE,
WHERE ART CAN HAPPEN AND GOOD
FOOD AND GOOD JOBS.
>> MY NAME IS SOLOMON DUBE, I
AM THE OWNER OF CAFE AVOLE DOWN
IN SOUTH SEATTLE ON RAINIER AND
HOLLY.
IT IS MUCH MORE OF A COMMUNITY
SPACE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
WE HAVE SEEN SO MUCH DIVERSITY
IN THAT COMMUNITY, SO MUCH
CHANGE IN THAT COMMUNITY, TAMMY
HERSELF HAS FREQUENTED A LOT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT
SOMEONE AS YOUNG AS MYSELF.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE SOMEBODY YOUNG LIKE MYSELF
AT THE TABLE TO VOICE MY
OPINION AND MY CONCERNS THAT I
CAN -- YEAH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS TAM NGUYEN.
AND I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
FOR RESTAURANT IN LITTLE SAIGON
DISTRICT.
SO I'M HERE, JUST WANT TO SHARE
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND I
THINK THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE
CAN HELP SMALL BUSINESS TO TRY
TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND, YOU KNOW,
TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO I'M LOOKING AT MY
QUESTIONS.
AND REALIZING THAT I SEEM TO
HAVE A BIAS IN MY QUESTIONING
AROUND OWNERSHIP.
SO I'M GOING TO START WITH
THOSE.
AND THEN, PLEASE, IF THERE ARE
OTHER ISSUES YOU THINK WE NEED
TO BE TALKING ABOUT.
LET US KNOW.
SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS, HOW
DID YOU, OR HOW DO OTHER
BUSINESSES FIND THEIR SPACE?
AND HOW CAN THE CITY HELP WITH
AFFORDABILITY OF THEIR SPACE?
>> OH.
I FOUND MY SPACE IN 2014.
AND IT WAS JUST WITH THE
AMBITION TO START A BUSINESS.
THE FAMILY THAT OWNED THAT
SPACE WAS OF AN IMMIGRANT
DESCENT.
AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR WAYS
OUT OF THE BUSINESS BECAUSE IT
WASN'T WORKING FOR THEMSELVES.
AND SO, WITH MY AMBITION, I
WALKED UP THERE, WITH LITTLE
MONEY, NO MONEY AT ALL.
REALLY JUST STARTED THE
CONVERSATION.
AND CONVINCED THEM TO SELL ME
THE BUSINESS.
AND THAT TRANSITION IN GETTING
INTO THAT SPACE AND
TRANSITIONING INTO -- IT WAS AT
THAT POINT, A GROCERY STORE.
AND --
>> I USED TO GO TO THAT GROCERY
STORE.
>> IT WAS RIGHT UP THE STREET.
>> AND HE WOULD SAY, IT'S GOING
TO BE A CAFE SOMEDAY.
AND I WOULD BE LIKE, UH-HUH.
YEAH.
>> BUT SERIOUSLY.
I HAD THAT AMBITION TO TURN
THAT SPACE INTO A COFFEE SHOP.
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW.
IT WASN'T UNTIL MAYBE MY THIRD
YEAR OF ENGAGING WITH FOLKS IN
THE COMMUNITY, FOLKS LIKE
KAREN, TELLING MY DREAM AND MY
IDEA THAT I WAS ABLE TO CROWD
SOURCE AT THAT TIME.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, RIGHT AFTER
COLLEGE, I DIDN'T HAVE THE BEST
OF CREDIT.
BUT JUST A DREAM AND THE IDEA
OF WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
AND SO I CROWD -- WE DID A
CROWD-FUNDING CAMPAIGN, RAISED
FUNDS AND PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY WERE REALLY ON IT.
AND WE USED THOSE FUNDS TO
TRANSITION INTO THE COFFEE
SHOP.
I LITERALLY HAMMERED ALL THE
NAILS AND PAINTED THE WALLS AND
DID WHATEVER IT TOOK TO REALLY
TURN THAT PLACE AROUND.
>> WOW.
>> AND NOW IT'S A BUSTLING
LITTLE CORNER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> YES, IT IS.
>> VERY NICE.
>> YEAH.
SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT TODAY.
>> ANYBODY ELSE?
>> WELL, FOR THE BLACK AND TAN
WAS FOUNDED BY THREE LONG-TIME
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.
AND ARTISTS.
BEN HUNTER, RODNEY HARRELL AND
TAREC CHEF, TAREC ABDULLAH.
AND THEY HAD A VISION FOR A
SPACE WHERE EQUITY WAS REAL.
WHICH IS WHY WE'RE NOT A
NONPROFIT.
BECAUSE EQUITY IS OWNERSHIP.
SO WE WANTED TO CREATE A
BUSINESS THAT REALLY WAS, YOU
KNOW, THAT HELD OUR VALUES AS
PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE
SOUTH END FOR A REALLY LONG
TIME, THAT PROVIDED CULTURAL
SPACE, WHERE PEOPLE FEEL
WELCOME, AS A LONG-TIME
RESIDENT OF THE SOUTH END,
THERE ARE LITERALLY PLACES
ALONG THE RAINIER CORRIDOR,
WHERE I JUST DON'T FEEL
WELCOME, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER
HOW INVITING OR HOW WELL LIT OR
WHAT THEY HAVE GOING ON THERE,
THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT
THOSE SPACES THAT YOU KNOW, SAY
IN VERY UNSPOKEN WAYS, YOU
KNOW, MAYBE NOT YOU.
RIGHT?
AND SO OUR PARTNERSHIP.
AND IT'S ROUGHLY 27 ACTIVE
PARTNERS, MOST OF WHICH WHO
LIVE SOMEWHERE WITHIN A TWO-
MILE RADIUS OF THE SPACE THAT
WE WERE TRYING TO OPEN, WHO
FELT THE SAME WAY, THAT THIS,
BECAUSE OF DISPLACEMENT,
BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT WE WANTED TO
CREATE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE
THAT LOOK LIKE US, THAT, YOU
KNOW, HAD OUR VALUES, YOU KNOW,
FELT WELCOME AND ENGAGED.
AND OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
YOU KNOW, THE PARTNERSHIP HAS
BEEN WORKING TO CREATE THAT
SPACE.
CREATE THAT VISION.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> SO OUR FAMILY RESTAURANT, WE
STARTED IN 2004.
THE REASON I WANT TO SET IT UP.
BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAVE A
PLACE THAT WE CAN CALL HOME, TO
COME IN AND ENJOY OUR FOOD.
OUR CULTURE.
AND CREATE A SPACE THAT YOU
KNOW, WE CAN GIVE THE EMPLOYEES
TO HAVE A HEALTHCARE.
TO HAVE A GOOD WAGE AND TO HAVE
A PLACE THAT IS SAFE FROM THE
WORK.
AND TO BE WORKING IN THIS
INDUSTRY.
AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT
SINCE 2004.
AND WE DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY.
WE JUST BEEN RENTING IT.
AND SINCE THEN, WE WANTED TO
FIND A WAY, HOW DO WE AS A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, TO
CREATE.
WE HAVE BEEN CREATING THIS
INSTITUTION FOR THE COMMUNITY,
FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME IN
AND ENJOY.
HOW DO WE SUSTAIN?
HOW DO WE BE ABLE TO BE THERE,
NOT BEING TAKEN OUT BY
DEVELOPERS, WHO ARE GOING TO
COME IN AND SNAP THE PROPERTY?
BECAUSE WE ARE HELP FOR TO
COME.
IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
BUT FOR MY FAMILY PERSONALLY,
THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BE
KICK OUT BY THE LANDLORD
BECAUSE DEVELOPERS BUYING AND
THINKING OF BUYING.
AND I THINK THEY PUT ON SALE
FOR THAT PROPERTY RIGHT NOW.
SO A LOT OF CUSTOMER COME AND
TALK TO US.
AND WE HAVE NO ANSWER.
WE SAY, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN
WE'LL BE OUT.
SO IT IS A THREAT TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
AS A WHOLE FOR OUR FAMILY AS
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M -- I'M VERY
GLAD THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS
CREATED THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO SHARE SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES
AND FIND A SOLUTION.
HOW DO WE DO IT?
AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF
SOLUTIONS THAT I WANT TO SHARE
WITH YOU LATER ON.
>> GREAT.
>> WHEN IT'S COME TO THAT TIME.
>> WELL, I WILL ASK THAT NEXT.
BUT I WANT TO ASK FIRST.
DO YOU OWN EITHER THE LAND OR
THE BUILDING?
YOU'RE BOTH RENTING AS WELL?
>> BOTH RENTING.
>> AND OUR MOTTO IS AN ANTI-
GENT RISKS MODEL.
IT IS PROINTING AT THE
PLACEMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS LIKE US.
I'M IMAGINING WHEN YOU
MENTIONED, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE
YOU'RE GOING TO GO.
PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE IN THE
CITY.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT
EVERYBODY IS HOLDING ONTO THAT
DOESN'T OWN THEIR PROPERTY.
IS THAT YOUR NEXT MOVE IS GOING
TO BE OUT OF TOWN.
YOU KNOW?
THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE WHERE YOU
CAN HAVE THAT KIND OF
AFFORDABILITY.
AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ALL OVER
TOWN ARE HOLDING THEIR BREATH.
BECAUSE OF PROPERTY OWNERS WHO
ARE SEEING YOU KNOW, THEIR
PROPERTY VALUES INCREASE.
AND YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SELL, YOU KNOW, FROM A
DEVELOPER THAT LIKE THE
PREVIOUS PANELIST SAID, CAN
OUTBID THEM.
YOU KNOW, 2-1.
SO EVEN IF YOU CAN SCRAPE UP
THE MONEY, THERE'S ALWAYS THE
CHANCE THAT YOU KNOW, SOMEONE
ELSE WITH MORE MONEY IS GOING
TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND TAKE
YOUR DREAM AWAY.
>> RIGHT.
>> TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF OUR
BIGGEST CHALLENGES.
LIKE I CANNOT CONTINUE TO
INVEST INTO MY SPACE.
AND I NEED TO INVEST IN MY
SPACE TO EXPAND EXAMPLE BUT THE
SECOND I DECIDE TO PUT MONEY
INTO IT.
THE LANDLORD SAYS, CH-CHING.
AND NOW, HIS VALUE OF HIS
PROPERTY RISES AND MY VALUE AS
A TENANT JUST IS OUT THE
WINDOW.
SO A FIVE-YEAR LEASE DOESN'T
WORK IF I PUT ALL OF MY MONEY
INTO IT.
SOMETHING LIKE AN OWNERSHIP
MODEL, AND MAYBE EVEN A
PARTNERSHIP MODEL, WOULD BE
MORE BENEFICIAL.
BECAUSE THEN I CAN INVEST MONEY
INTO MY PROPERTY OR INTOMY
SPACE.
AND THEN YOU KNOW IN THE NEXT
10 OR 15 YEARS THAT I'M STILL
GOING TO BE THERE.
I'M STILL GOING TO BE
SUSTAINABLE AND GONE FROM JUST
SURVIVING TO THRIVING.
>> EXACTLY.
>> AND A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS FACE
THE SAME CHALLENGE.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COLOR
FACE THE SAME CHALLENGE.
EVERY DAY.
AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
POUR A ALL OF THEIR MONEY INTO
A SPACE.
AND LIKE YOU SAID, NEXT DAY,
DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING
TO BE.
>> YOU DON'T KNOW.
AND THE REASON THAT WE ARE NO
LONGER TENANTS IN 5608 RAINIER
WAS BECAUSE OF THAT VERY SAME
THING.
IT'S LIKE, WE WERE BLESSED TO
ALSO BE, YOU KNOW, PART OF AN
E.D.I.
COHORT, SHOUT OUT TO THE E.D.I.
INITIATIVE.
IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.
I HOPE WE GET A CHANCE TO SING
THEIR PRAISES A LITTLE MORE OF
THE STAFF.
BUT THE PARTNERS BASICALLY
DECIDED, YOU KNOW, THAT BECAUSE
WE HAVE THIS MONEY, FROM THE
CITY, WE CONSIDER OURSELVES
STEWARDS OF THAT MONEY.
AND YOU KNOW, AS STEWARDS OF,
YOU KNOW, THESE RESOURCES.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S ALL OF
OUR MONEY.
WE HAVE TO BE SMART ABOUT IT.
AND WE CAN'T MAKE TENANT
IMPROVEMENTS ON A BUILDING
THEY'RE GOING TO AWAY FROM US.
THAT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST NOT
GOOD BUSINESS.
>> SO YOU MENTIONED A
PARTNERSHIP.
I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT OTHER
TOOLS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE SOME
IDEAS.
YOU KNOW, WE KNOW ABOUT LONG-
TERM LEASES.
ABOUT REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
COOPERATIVES, WHICH I THINK
MIGHT BE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT, WITH CURTIS?
>> UH-HUH.
>> PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITIES THAT COULD OWN THE
ASSETS TO BEHALF THE CITY AND
SORT OF MASTER-LEASE TO
COMMUNITY, FOR AT LEAST
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
COMMERCIAL SPACE.
SO I'D JUST BE CURIOUS TO HEAR
IF WHAT YOU THINK OF ANY OF
THESE TOOLS OR IF THERE ARE
OTHER TOOLS THAT YOU ARE
THINKING TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO OWN THE
PROPERTIES FOR RENT.
>> WHEN WE START OUR BUSINESS
BACK IN 2004.
THAT'S BEFORE THE UPZONE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WHEN THE CITY UPZONED, THEY
DIDN'T HAVE THE MITIGATION
PLANNING TO FORESEE ALL OF THE
PROBLEM.
AND WE INFORMED THE CITY, WHEN
YOU UPZONE, NAY WILL BE KICKING
úOUT.
THEY WILL BE KICKING US OUT.
ONCE THE UPZONE IS APPROVED.
AND WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE
MITIGATION IS, THE CITY DIDN'T
HAVE IT.
AND IT'S STILL NOW THEY DON'T
HAVE IT.
AND BEFORE THE CITY WANT TO,
YOU KNOW.
I THINK THAT POLICY NEEDS TO
HAVE AN ENDING.
SO WHEN THEY DO THAT, WE KNOW
THAT WILL BE KICKING OUT AT ANY
TIME.
AND ONCE THE ZONING UPZONE, WE
GOT -- WE GOT DIFFERENT FOLKS
COMING IN, TELLING US, HEY.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
THEY GOING TO BUY OUT THIS
SPACE.
SO WE WORK WITH DIFFERENT
COMMUNITY, DIFFERENT
DEVELOPERS, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE TRIED TO ENGAGE WITH THEM,
TO INFORM THEM, HEY.
WHEN YOU WENT INTO DEVELOPMENT
IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT ARE THE
THING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO
TO INCLUDE THE SMALL
BUSINESSES?
TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE RENT OR
HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN THE FABRIC
OF OUR COMMUNITY?
BECAUSE ONE ONCE WE ARE OUT.
YOU HAVE BROKEN THE FABRIC OF
THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE
BEEN BUILDING.
AND SO THEY -- THEY ENGAGE
--THEY KEEP TALKING TALKING.
AND THEN ONCE IT DEVELOP.
THEY NO LONGER TALKING TO US.
AND THE RENT ON THOSE
DEVELOPMENT IS JUST LIKE MARKET
RATE.
SO THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE TALK
ABOUT GENTRIIFICATION.
AND FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS,
WGENTIFY.
THIS DEVELOPER RECEIVES FUNDING
FROM THE CITY.
THIS DEVELOPER RECEIVED THE
MONEY FROM THE KING COUNTY.
AND SOME OF THEM, THEY ARE NOT
FAR FROM SEATTLE.
AND I CAN NAME YOU THEM.
THOSE NAMES.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW.
BUT THEY -- THEY ARE NOT FROM
HERE.
AND AS WYKING POINTED OUT.
THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT
GRABBED THE MONEY, TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY,
AND THEY LEAVE TOWN AND LEAVE
IT FOR US TO DEAL WITH THE
PROBLEM.
>> BUT THEY PUT OUR BROWN FACES
ON THE BROCHURES.
>> UH-HUH.
>> AND YOU KNOW, THE SLIDE
DECKS AND THE PRESENTATIONS.
>> SO MY PROPOSAL, ONE PROPOSAL
THAT I THINK IS A BENEFIT FOR
THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE
LIST TO OWN.
-- LEASE TO OWN.
SINCE THE CITY IS FUNDING THE
RESOURCES TO HELP THE SMALL
BUSINESS TO BE THRIVING, TO
SUSTAIN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IF
YOU ALREADY GIVE THE FUNDING TO
THE DEVELOPER, ASK THEM.
FIGURE OUT YOUR FINANCIAL
SITUATION SO THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO ECONOMIZE THIS RETAIL FOR
THE SMALL BUSINESS TO GO IN AND
LEASE TO OWN.
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FRONT
MONEY TO BUY IT.
BUT WE CAN PAY OVER TIME AND
BECOME OWNER.
ONCE WE BECOME OWNER, YOU KNOW
WE WORK HARD.
AND ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS
RIGHT HERE.
WE WORK HARD.
AND WE NEVER GIVE UP.
AND SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU
WANT TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO
MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNITY WILL
BE THRIVING, I THINK THAT'S A
KEY, KEY THING IS TO LET THEM
LEASE TO OWN SO THAT THEY CAN
OWN THE PROPERTY.
THEY'RE GOING TO PROTECT THEIR
PROPERTY.
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THE
PROPERTY IS SAFE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WITHOUT THAT POLICY.
WHEN YOU DEVELOP THERE IS A LOT
OF LOOP HOLE.
BUT WHEN WE ENGAGE WITH THE
COMMUNITY, WE CAN POINT OUT THE
LOOPHOLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LEASE TO OWN.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO ARTIS,
THE DEVELOPER.
HE SAYS, WELL, OUR HAND IS TIED
BECAUSE THERE'S A RESTRICTION
THAT WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING WITH
A RETAIL SPACE.
I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, RETAIL
SPACE IS UNDERGROUND.
DON'T YOU HAVE A FOUNDATION TO
BUILD?
DON'T YOU HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THAT
FOUNDATION FOR THAT GROUND
FLOOR TO BE A WORKABLE SPACE?
SO IT'S REBUILD.
WHY CAN'T WE GO IN WITH
AFFORDABLE BRAND OR LEASE TO
OWN OPPORTUNITY?
THEY SAID THEIR HANDS ARE TIED.
SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER
POLICY YOU GUYS CAN LOOK AT TO
SAY, HEY, YOU ARE GOING TO DO
IT.
YOU GUYS NEED TO FIGURE OUT
YOUR FINANCIAL STRATEGY, HOW DO
YOU INCLUDE THIS LEASE TO OWN
POLICY INTO OUR COMMUNITY?
ESPECIALLY THAT YOU RECEIVING
THE FUNDING FROM US.
>> FROM THE CITY.
YEAH.
>> OH.
NO.
I WAS GOING TO PIGGYBACK OFF
THAT.
YOU KNOW, HIM AND I WERE BOTH
ON THAT ADVISORY COUNCIL YEARS
BACK FOR COMMERCIAL
AFFORDABILITY.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT
THAT AND MAYBE DESIGNATE
SOMEBODY IN O.E.D.
OR SOMEBODY THAT CAN GO IN AND
ADVOCATE FOR THOSE THAT SPEAK A
DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND
THE SYSTEM.
AND BE ABLE TO HELP NAVIGATE
HOW TO NEGOTIATE THESE DEALS OR
SET UP SOME SORT OF STRUCTURE
SO THAT BUSINESSES CAN GO INTO
RETAIL SPACE AND WITH FULL
CONFIDENCE THAT THEY ARE -- YOU
KNOW, THAT THEY'RE PROTECTED.
AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER
ISSUE.
AND WE'VE TALKED ON ABOUT SOME
OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE FACED
THROUGH TENANT IMPROVEMENT.
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
CONFUSION WHEN IT COMES TO HOW
THAT PROCESS WORKS.
I KNOW SOME FOLKS UNDERSTAND
IT.
AND THAT'S GREAT.
BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
OUT THERE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND
IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE
SUPPORT IS NEEDED.
>> OR EVEN JUST HAVING ONE OF
THE THINGS I'VE HEARD A LOT IS
HAVING MAYBE A TEMPLATE AT
LEAST AGREEMENT THAT CAN BE
TRANSLATED INTO OTHER LANGUAGES
SO THAT SOME FOLKS CAN HAVE
DOCUMENT IN LANGUAGES THEY
UNDERSTAND.
WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF
THE COMMUNITIES WHOSE FIRST
LANGUAGE ISN'T ENGLISH IS AT
LEAST DOCUMENT A CONTRACT.
ALL OF THE LENDING DOCUMENTS
ARE HARD TO NAVIGATE IF YOU
DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
>> AND YOU CAN GET BULLIED FROM
LANDLORDS.
I'VE GOTTEN BULLIED FROM MY
LANDLORD.
>> WE'VE GOTTEN BULLIED FROM
OUR LANDLORD.
>> WE HAD AN AGREEMENT BEFORE I
MOVED IN, BEFORE I TURNED THAT
SPACE INTO THE COFFEE SHOP.
AND YOU KNOW, HE JUST NOW IS
TALKING ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
NEVER OFFERED TO SELL YOU THE
SPACE.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S
FRUSTRATING FOR ME.
BECAUSE HERE I WAS WITH A
LITTLE BIT OF MONEY THAT I HAD.
AND I TURNED AROUND THAT SPACE.
AND SURE ENOUGH, MAYBE MY
MISUNDERSTANDING AS WELL.
OF HOW TO PROPERLY PUT TOGETHER
THAT PROPOSAL, BUT NOT HAVING
SOMEBODY ON MY SIDE TO PROTECT
ME, WAS VERY, VERY UPSETTING.
>> GREAT.
AND SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER
THE CITY AS YOU KNOW, ACTING AS
A GUARANTEE TO INVESTORS.
PARTICULARLY WHERE CITY DOLLARS
ARE INVESTED FOR EXAMPLE, THE
E.D.I.
FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVED.
AND THERE IS A LOT MORE, JUST
MUSCLE THAT THE CITY CAN
PROVIDE, WHEN, YOU KNOW,
COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE AT
STAKE.
AND HELP US SORT OF EITHER PUT
THESE DEVELOPERS AND LANDLORDS
AT EASE.
THERE'S SOME BACKING OF
SOMEBODY BIGGER THAN US.
>> RIGHT.
>> AS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
THAT'S ONE WAY THE CITY CAN
HELP IN SUPPORT.
AND WE'VE SEEN THAT JUST
WORKING WITH THE E.D.I.
STAFF: I CANNOT BELIEVE THE
ORIGAMI CELTIC KNOTS THAT
THEY'VE TWISTED THEMSELVES INTO
TO COME UP WITH THIS CREATIVE
THINKING TO HELP US GET OUR
BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND IN A
STABLE WAY.
IT'S BEEN REALLY -- THERE HAVE
BEEN TIMES I HAVE HUNG UP THE
PHONE CAN STAFF AND JUST WENT,
WHOA, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT OUT OF
THE BOX THINKING WAS THINGS WE
COULD NEVER IMAGINE.
BUT YOU HAVE THOSE RESOURCES
AND THAT KNOWLEDGE AND THE
STAFFING, YOU KNOW, TO DO THAT
EXPLORATORY STUFF.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUNNING OUR
BUSINESSES.
AND IN THE CASE OF BLACK AND
TAN, YOU KNOW, 85% OF US HAVE
FULL-TIME JOBS WHILE WE'RE
TRYING TO LAUNCH THIS BUSINESS.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO WE NEED THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THEIR
RESEARCH.
TO LOOK AT THE TRENDS.
TO LOOK AT MODELS, TO DO THE
STUDIES.
SO THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
SOMETHING.
SOME GROUND TO STAND ON.
>> ONE THING I WANTED TO
ADADWAS, YOU KNOW, I DRIVE UP
AND DOWN RAINIER EVERY DAY.
FROM HOME TO WORK.
AND I ALWAYS NOTICE THAT
THERE'S SMALL LITTLE
MICROBUSINESS DISTRICTS THAT
RARELY GET LOOKED AT.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE
PEOPLE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANTS
THAT ARE IN THOSE SPACES THAT
DON'T KNOW HOW TO LEVERAGE THE
CITY SUPPORT.
AND SO LIKE I WANT TO SEE HOW
WE CAN SUPPORT THEM, YOU KNOW,
FROM HERE ON OUT.
AND SAY, LIKE HOW CAN WE
INCUBATE THOSE AREAS?
SOONER OR LATER, THERE ARE
SPACES THAT DEVELOPERS ARE
LOOKING AT.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT AND SAY,
OH, YOU KNOW, THIS PLACE IS
BEING UNDERUTILIZED.
BUT IN FACT, IT'S NOT BEING
UNDERUTILIZED.
IT'S BEING UTILIZED BY THE
COMMUNITY.
BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO BUILD THAT AND
BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE THEY
NEED SO THEY CAN BE IN A NEW
ESTABLISHMENT AND BUILDING AND
THUS COMPETE WITH OTHERS FROM
DOWN THE STREET THAT ARE
DEVELOPING AND SUCH.
BECAUSE THEY WILL BE AFFECTED
AND THEY ARE BEING AFFECTED.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO
DO, CLEARLY.
AND I AM DEFINITELY INTERESTED
IN TALKING TO YOU ALL MORE
ABOUT DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP
MODELS AND WHAT WE MIEBL ABLE
TO DO TO FACILITATE SOMETHING A
LITTLE MORE ROBUST FOR FOLKS.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY FINAL
COMMENTS BEFORE WE BRING THE
NEXT GROUP UP?
COUNCIL MEMBERS?
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCIL.
>> OH, NO.
THANK YOU.
.
>> I THINK, WELL, AGAIN, I WANT
TO THANK YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL,
TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO COME
AND SHARE THE CHALLENGES.
BUT I THINK ONE MORE THING WE
CAN DO FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IS,
I HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND
THAT EVEN NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS REQUIRE SMALL
BUSINESSES WITH NUMBER OF
CERTIFICATES THAT UNREASONABLE
CERTIFICATE FOR US TO DO
BUSINESS.
I GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE IS WE
NEED TO CLEAN THE HOOD OF OUR
RESTAURANT.
AND WE RENTING THIS SPACE FROM
A NONPROFIT GROUP.
THEY REQUIRE THIS SMALL
BUSINESS -- BECAUSE I PREFER TO
WORK WITH A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER.
TO DO THE JOB.
YOU KNOW, TO MAINTAIN OUR
RESTAURANT.
BUT SMALL BUSINESS OWNER DIDN'T
ASK TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT KIND
OF CERTIFICATE, DIFFERENT KIND
OF INSURANCE, DIFFERENT KIND OF
COMMERCIAL BONDS THAT SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, THEY DON'T EVEN
HAVE.
AND THEY SAID, THEY'VE NEVER
HEARD OF THIS BEFORE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE SCHEDULED
THESE PEOPLE TO SHOW UP.
THEY SAID, OH, YOU CANNOT GO
INTO THE BUILDING.
BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A FALL
PREVENTION CERTIFICATE.
NO ONE HAS THAT.
I MEAN, ASKING AROUND.
UNTIL THERE ARE BIG COMPANY WHO
HAS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, THIS
BECK COMPANY.
THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A
LONG TIME.
AND THEY ARE NOT MINORITY-
OWNED.
THEY ARE NOT SMALL BUSINESSES.
THEY HAVE ALL KIND OF
CERTIFICATES.
SO EVEN THIS NONPROFIT THAT I'M
WORKING WITH.
THAT I'M RENTING FROM.
THEY PREVENT THE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER TO GO IN AND TAKE THE
BUSINESS THAT I WANT TO SHARE.
>> SURE.
YEAH.
>> SO TO ME, THAT IS A DILEMMA.
AND SO VERY FRUSTRATING THAT
EVEN RIGHT NOW, I'M TRYING TO
GET A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER TO
COME IN TO GET A BID.
THEY MAKE IT SO HARD FOR ME TO
BRING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER TO
GO IN.
BECAUSE I SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE
THE CERTIFICATE.
YOU ARE NOT BONDED TO DO THIS.
AND TO DO THAT.
AND IT BECOMES -- I FEEL LIKE
OKAY.
I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I WANT TO SUPPORT OTHER SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS.
BUT THEY -- THIS NONPROFIT,
SUPPOSED TO WORK WITH ME.
BUT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING ME TO
DO THIS.
>> I MEAN, THAT SPEAKS TO THE
SORT OF STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THAT
WE HAVE HERE, RIGHT?
THERE'S ALL OF THESE LAYERS
THAT GET INSERTED FOR, I'M SURE
VERY GOOD REASONS.
BUT IF IT'S KEEPING OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES FROM BEING
SUCCESSFUL, THEN WE NEED TO
MAYBE UNWIND SOME OF THAT AND
MAYBE SEE IF THERE IS A
DIFFERENT WAY TO DO IT.
>> YEAH.
>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE POLICY RED
LINING.
>> YEAH.
>> BUT I HAD LIKE A WHOLE PAGE
OF STUFF THAT I WANTED TO SAY.
BUT I'LL KEEP IT TO THIS.
I WANT TO SUPPORT THE POLICY
ALIGNMENT AND INTERPRET A
COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE
EARLIER.
YEAH, IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU'RE
TALKING TO AND WHICH OFFICE
THAT DAY.
BECAUSE SALLY DON'T WORK ON
WEDNESDAYS AND JOE IS THERE
FRIDAYS.
AND YOU KNOW, THE CROSS
DEPARTMENTAL CHATTER.
SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO
MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND HAVE
THEM COME TO US, INSTEAD OF US
HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, COME
DOWNTOWN.
THE -- YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES
TO PARTICIPATE IN LARGE HEALTH
INSURANCE.
YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS,
WE WANT TO PROVIDE.
LIVING WAGE JOBS.
THAT'S MORE LOOKING LIKE 60.
$60,000 A YEAR.
THN YOU GOTTA PAY INSURANCE.
HEALTH INSURANCE.
THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO
PARTICIPATE IN LARGER GROUPS.
WHICH BRINGS THE COST DOWN.
AND JUST SAFETY WITHOUT
MILITARIZATION.
RIGHT?
I WANT THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO
THE BLACK AND TAN TO FEEL SAFE.
BUT I DO NOT WANT TO BE
OVERMILITARIZED YOU KNOW, UNDER
THE GUISE OF SAFETY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> VERY GOOD.
>> YEAH.
SO FOR MYSELF.
AS I MENTIONED FROM THE
BEGINNING, IT'S A GREAT DEAL
FOR ME, BEING A PERSON OF COLOR
TO BE AT THIS TABLE AND MAIN
OTHER TABLES THAT I'VE HAD THE
CHANCE TO BE AT.
AND I THINK IT'S INTERTWINED
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN THE YOUTH.
AND I THINK THE KIDS ARE BEING
UNDERVALUED.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE SOCIAL
ISSUES THAT KIDS ARE FACING AND
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BECAUSE SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF CAN
GET TOLD I WILL NEVER GRADUATE.
OR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF, CAN GET
TOLD I WON'T GO TO COLLEGE.
YET I'M HERE TODAY.
I THINK THERE IS ANOTHER ASPECT
TO THIS THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED.
>> DEFINITELY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> CAN I JUST INJECT JUST ONE
LAST THING?
PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY
IS SO HORRIBLE THAT PREVENT
BUSINESSES TO THRIVE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF
DIFFERENT AGENCY BROUGHT
DIFFERENT SERVICES IN OUR
COMMUNITY WITHOUT MITIGATION.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEM
WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
OUR BUSINESSES, OUR COMMUNITY
BUSINESSES GOT BROKE IN MANY
TIMES.
AND WE BRING THIS UP MANY TIMES
FROM THE BEGINNING BEFORE THEY
BRING THESE SERVICES TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE INFORMED THEM.
WE ASKED THEM FOR THE PLAN, THE
MITIGATION.
BUT IT HAS NO PLAN.
AND WE ARE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW,
WITH THE COMMUNITY ARE AFRAID
TO COME TO -- YOU KNOW, TO GO
TO THOSE BUSINESSES.
>> THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT THAT IS AN ISSUE
THAT WE NEED TO KEEP
ADDRESSING.
>> WE NEED TO WRAP IN TABLE UP.
>> JUST REAL QUICKLY?
>> YEAH.
WE GOT 20 MINUTES FOR THE LAST
GROUP.
SO --
>> YEAH.
I JUST WANT TO FLAG MY
INTEREST, AS IT RELATES TO
KAREN'S POINT ABOUT DIFFERENT
ANSWERS FROM DIFFERENT CONTACTS
WITH THE CITY.
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CREATED A CITY WIDE
ADVISORY TEAM SPECIFICALLY
SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH THAT
ISSUE.
SO IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ACROSS
ALL DEPARTMENTS.
SO WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT IS
WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING
WITH THAT.
AND TO THE POINT, UM, RELATED
TO, UM, DAMAGES TO, UM,
BUSINESSES ASSOCIATED WITH
CRIME, WE HEARD ABOUT, UM, UM,
IMPACTS TO BUSINESS ASSOCIATED
WITH CITY FINANCE CONSTRUCTION.
AGAIN, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT HAS -- IS PILOTING
A BUSINESS STABILIZATION FUND
THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HELP
BUSINESSES DEAL WITH THOSE
UNANTICIPATED IMPACTS.
I THINK WE REALLY -- I WANT TO
FIND OUT, UM, WHAT'S WORKING
AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING, UM,
WITH THAT INTERVENTION AS WELL.
BECAUSE IT IS INTENDED TO DO
THAT IF MAYBE AN INSTANCE OF
DOESN'T HAVE SUFFICIENT
RESOURCES.
BUT WE SHOULD FIND OUT MORE.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
>>> SO I'M GOING TO CALL UP THE
NEXT GROUP.
SO THE LAST GROUP OF FOLKS ARE
BETH TAKEKAWA, LADY SCRIBE,
JAMIL SULEMAN AND KAMAL PATEL.
>> OUR IN FILM ROUND TABLE ON
BUILDING COMMUNITY WELT.
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
I AM GOING TO ASK US TO GO
AROUND AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
YOUR ORGANIZATION OR THE WORK
YOU DO.
SO WE CAN GET STARTED AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONVERSATION.
>> I'M BETH TAKEKAWA.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE WING LUKE MUSEUM.
WE ARE A CULTURAL ANCHOR AND
ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW
MINUTES.
BUT I THOUGHT YOUR QUESTION WAS
REALLY GOOD TO ASK ABOUT WHAT
IS AN EXAMPLE HAS WORKED WITH
THE CITY.
AND I TOO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT
OUT TO THE WHOLE E.D.I.
INITIATIVE.
AND MAYBE, STARTING BEFORE THE
FORMATION OF E.D.I., ON THE
POLICY LEVEL, I APPRECIATE THAT
THE RACE AND SOCIAL EQUITY TAK
FORCE, THAT THE CITY INVESTED
IN WORKING WITH 3 DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES SO I DON'T KNOW
THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO IT WAS THE DPD AT THE TIME
AND THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
THAT.
AND SO WE WORKED ON THE COMP
PLAN.
WE DIDN'T HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH
DOING THAT.
EVEN THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED
IN THE COMP PLAN.
THEN IT LED TO THE FORMATION OF
E.D.I.
THAT IS ONE THING.
THE OTHER THING I REALLY LIKE
IS THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE.
THE BUILDING ARTS SPACES
EQUITABLY.
WHICH A LOT OF MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY ARE INVOLVED IN AND
THE GOAL TO TRY TO DEVELOP AN
ARMY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
PROFESSIONALS AT THE
INTERSECTION OF ARTS.
AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IS
VERY BOLD.
AND AGAIN, SOMEBODY ACTUALLY
DIDN'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT BUT
INVESTED IN IT.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, THE ARMY
IS READY.
WE NEED EXPERIENCE AND WITHOUT
OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN'T GET.
THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE JUST DOING INTROS,
RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> I HAD A LITTLE PRESENTATION,
TOO.
SO SHOULD I JUST SAY WHO I AM?
>> YEAH.
JUST ARE FOR NOW.
>> MY NAME IS KAMAL.
I'M A DESIGNER.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AS WELL.
I WORK AT THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
KING COUNTY, VARIOUS
CORPORATIONS AS WELL.
>> I'M LADY SCRIBE.
I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE SEATTLE
SOUND MUSIC AWARDS.
AND I AM THE DAUGHTER OF
CHARRINGA, WHO OWNED THE FIRST
BLACK MODELING AGENCY IN THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ON THE CORNER
OF 23rd AND JACKSON FOR OVER 30
YEARS.
SO WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE ABLE
TO BE HEARD TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JAMIL SULEMAN.
I AM A FILMMAKER, PERFORMER AND
YOUTH WORKER FROM SOUTH
SEATTLE.
AND I AM THE CO-OWNER OF INDY
GENIUS MEDIA.
>> THANK YOU.
AGAIN, I HAVE A COUPLE OF OPEN-
ENDED QUESTIONS.
AND I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING
FROM ALL OF YOU, ABOUT YOUR
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE
CITY.
OR FOR YOUR INDUSTRY, WHAT WE
NEED TO BE DOING TO HELP
SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
SO THAT'S THE QUESTION.
THE FIRST QUESTION.
HOW CAN WE SUPPORT ARTISTS AND
FILMMAKERS TO STAY IN THE CITY?
I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS A
LITTLE BIT.
JUST THE INDUSTRY KIND OF
LEAVING THE CITY OF SEATTLE
OVER THE LAST 20, 30 YEARS.
AND WHAT DOES A THRIVING
ECONOMY LOOK LIKE?
FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES AND
FILMMAKERS?
AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE PROVIDING THE SORT OF
INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPORT SO
THAT THOSE FOLKS CAN CONTINUE
TO STAY IN THE CITY.
>> JUST TO ECHO WHAT A LOT OF
OTHER FOLKS SAID UP TO THIS
POINT.
WE'RE DEALING WITH ESSENTIALLY
THE SAME KIND OF ISSUE, WHICH
IS DISPLACEMENT.
AS A FILMMAKER IN SOUTH
SEATTLE.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY EVERY STORY
THAT I'M COVERING, WHETHER IT
BE FOR THE CITY.
AND WHETHER IT BE FOR A
NONPROFIT.
IT'S ALWAYS DISPLACEMENT AND
THE LACK OF JOBS.
SO THAT'S THE STORY THAT IS
BEING TOLD.
THAT'S THE STORY WE'RE COVERING
AS FILMMAKERS.
NOW, I'M HEARING THAT THERE'S A
LOT OF MONEY NOW, HOPEFULLY
COMING INTO THE CREATIVE
CIRCLES OF SEATTLE.
AND THE DISCONNECT FROM MY
EXPERIENCE, AND AGAIN, I WORKED
WITH THE CITY.
I WORKED FOR THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE.
I WORKED FOR THE SEATTLE MUSIC
COMMISSION.
THERE'S SO MUCH BUREAUCRACY.
AND THERE'S -- SIMILAR TO WHAT
WYKING SAID EARLIER.
TOP DOWN DISCONNECTION.
THAT ANYTHING REALLY EFFECTIVE
GETS WASHED OUT.
AND IT LOOKS JUST REALLY
INEFFECTIVE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUT IT
OTHER THAN THAT.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE
PARTICULARLY OFFENSIVE.
IT'S JUST THAT I WORK FOR THE
CITY.
AND I'M LIKE, I HAVE CLIENTS
WHO ARE A SMALL BUSINESS WHO
ARE MORE RESPONSIVE THAN THE
CITY.
THAN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, EVEN.
AND YOU'RE PAYING ME MONEY TO
MAKE YOUR CONTENT TO PUT IT OUT
THERE.
AND IT DOESN'T EVEN GO OUT.
YOU JUST WASTED TAXPAYERS MONEY
TO MAKE CONTENT.
WE'LL MAKE IT FOR YOU BUT IT'S
UNFAIR TO US AND TO YOU GUYS
AND THE TAXPAYER.
THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT
OF ISSUES WITH THESE
ORGANIZATIONS.
AND I KNOW THEY'RE UNDERFUNDED
AND PEOPLE ARE MAXED OUT.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANOTHER
MIXER.
THOSE ARE GREAT.
I WILL SAY THIS.
WE'RE SUPER SHORT ON TIME.
I WILL SAY THAT A LOT OF THE
YOUTH OF COLOR THAT I'VE WORKED
WITH AS A WORKER IN SOUTH
SEATTLE, CREATE VIDEO, CREATE
FILM.
THEY CREATE THE MOST INNOVATIVE
FILM TO COME OUT OF SEATTLE.
THEY'RE GETTING THE MOST VIEWS.
GETTING THE MOST ATTENTION.
GETTING PULLED TO LOS ANGELES.
GETTING PULLED EVERYWHERE ELSE.
THEY'RE NOT BEING INVESTED INTO
HERE, IN THEIR OWN REGION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO
SEE.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL START TO SEE
REAL PROGRAMS, GETTING YOUNG
PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE UNION.
GETTING THEM IN THE UNION AT A
YOUNG AGE, IN HIGH SCHOOLS AT A
JOB THAT THEY CAN COME OUT AND
GET INTO.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
WE LOST FILM.
YEARS AGO.
TO PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER.
AND WE CHOSE UP ON TECH.
AND THAT KIND OF ALLOWED OTHER
CITIES TO KIND OF TAKE THE LEAD
ON THAT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
HAVE BIG TECH TO INVEST IN.
SO BUT NOW EVERYBODY WANTS TO
COME BACK TO SEATTLE.
SO IT'S SIMULTANEOUSLY EXCITING
AND EXHAUSTING.
AT THE SAME TIME, JUST TRYING
TO BALANCE IT ALL.
AND WE'VE WORKED ALONGSIDE A
LOT OF YOU FOLKS.
>> YEAH.
>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT ENSURING
THAT VOICES PUT FORWARD.
AND THAT THE RESOURCES ARE
THERE.
CONSISTENT.
IT'S NOT JUST A PLAYICATION.
A LOT OF TIMES IT TURPS OUT
LIKE COME TO THE MEETING, TALK
A FEW MINUTES AND I'LL SEE YOU
IN A YEAR.
AND NOTHING REALLY TANGIBLE
GETS DONE.
SO I'M HOPING WE CAN REALLY,
YOU KNOW, FIGURE THAT OUT AND
GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE
GRASS LEVELS.
>> I'M TRYING TO COMBINE THIS.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT
OUTSIDE OF THE AWARDS THAT I AM
JUST A SEATTLE RESIDENT.
WE WERE PUSHED OUT MY MOTHER
LOST HER HOME.
I WAS RAISED IN MOUNT BAKER.
SHE WAS ALSO PRICED OUT OF HER
BUSINESS AT 2214 SOUTH JACKSON.
SHE DIDN'T EVEN GO IN THAT AREA
ANYMORE.
I REMEMBER CONDUCTING THE
DEVELOPMENT AND ASKING IF THEY
WOULD BE WILLING TO DO SOME
LEGACY SPACE.
SO WE CAN JUST OCCUPY SOMETHING
THERE.
THEN ONCE THEY HEARD WHAT WE
WANTED, THEY JUST DISCONNECTED
AND STOPPED RETURNING ANY CALLS
AND E-MAILS.
YOU GUYS DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO
OCCUPY SOUTHEAST SEATTLE.
AND THAT'S DEFINITELY WHAT WE
WANT IS A CREATIVE SPACE TO BE
ABLE TO YOU KNOW, CREATE.
WE ARE ALWAYS IN DIFFERENT
CLUBBINGS.
THIS IS OUR 7th YEAR.
PRODUCING A RED CARPET, L.A.
AWARDS LEVEL.
BUT WE ARE MAKING OTHER CLUBS
THAT HAVE NO INTEREST IN
DEALING WITH BLACK PEOPLE.
OR ANY MINORITIES AT ALL.
THEY JUST WANT THE LIQUOR,
RIGHT?
AND THE SALES TO KEEP IT OPEN.
SO WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT.
WE HAVE TO COME INTO THESE
SPACES.
PRODUCE OUR SHOW.
AND BE TREATED A CERTAIN KIND
OF WAY.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SUCCUMBED
TO AND ARE USED TO IN SEATTLE.
AS FAR AS RESOURCES.
I WAS THINKING.
LIKE I SAID, I'M JUST A
RESIDENT.
I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THESEEDGES
AGENCIES AND ALL OF THAT.
SO I'M LIKE, HOW DO I GET
PLUGGED IN?
IF I'M BLACK SEATTLE AND I'M
NOT PART OF AFRICATOWN.
LIKE HEY, WYKING.
I KNOW HIM.
BUT MY NEIGHBOR DOESN'T.
I WAS JUST BACK TO DISTRICT 2.
I WAS FORCED OUT.
AND JUST ABLE TO COME BACK
HOME.
AND JUST TO SEE HOW MY CITY IS
CHANGED.
AND THE DYNAMIC IS HURTFUL.
AND NOT EVEN TO HAVE A BLACK
VOICE ON THE COUNCIL MEETING.
YOU TALKED.
I MET YOU.
AND I SAID OUT LOUD AND PUT IT
ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT I REALLY DOBL THAT YOU DO
HAVE OUR BEST INTEREST IN
VOICING WHAT BLACK OWNERS,
WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS OWNERS OR
HOMEOWNERS.
BECAUSE WE ARE LITERALLY IN
FEAR OF BEING ERASED.
SERIOUSLY.
AND OUR YOUTH ARE, TOO.
SO THE SEATTLETOWN MUSIC AWARDS
WAS NOT SEATTLE HIP-HOP AWARDS
ON PURPOSE.
BECAUSE I COME FROM GRUNGE.
I LOVE HEART AND DEF LEPPARD.
BUT I REALIZED MY KIDS LISTEN
TO HIP-HOP.
AND ALL OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE
DOING R&B.
AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, Y'ALL.
WE COULD PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER
TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU.
BUT WE WERE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED IN
THE SEATTLE SOUND, WHAT IS
KNOWN GLOBALLY.
AND I WANT THAT DO CHANGE.
I WANT SEATTLE SOUND TO REGLECT
URBAN MUSIC MAKERS, RIGHT?
IN OUR PLATFORMS.
WE ENCOMPASS EVERYONE.
BUT THEY'RE ALL URBAN MUSIC
MAKERS WHO GET NO LOVE IN ANY
OF THE NIGHTCLUB.
YOU KNOW, NOTHING.
ANY NIGHTCLUBS TO KEEP IN MIND.
THAT PLAY HIP-HOP AND R&B ARE
BEING SANCTIONED WITH FEES.
INSURANCE RATES GO UP.
SO A LOT OF THE OWNERS --
>> WAIT.
SAY THAT AGAIN?
THEIR INSURANCE?
>> YEAH.
THEIR INSURANCE RATE GOES UP IF
THEY'RE PLAYING R&B AND HIP-
HOP.
THEIR LICENSE FOR LIQUOR GETS
PATROLLED.
LIKE WHY ARE YOU PLAYING THIS
MUSIC?
TO THE POINT THAT THEY DETER US
FROM EVEN BOOKING WITH THEM.
WE'RE LIKE, SORRY, WE CAN'T.
BECAUSE IT'S HIP-HOP.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED.
AND THEN JUST THE SHORT AND
SWEET OF IT, I WAS THINKING,
WHEN A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, A LINE OF BUSINESS
CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND
ARTISTS AND ENTREPRENEURS,
DESPITE THEIR PAST PERSONAL
CREDIT RIGHT?
IF THE CITY CAN HELP US GET
FUNDING, RIGHT?
AND GET US IN A POSITION TO
FUND OUR PROJECTS WITH A LINE
OF BUSINESS CREDIT, THEN WE CAN
ALSO MOVE ON WITH THAT, WITH
WORKSHOPS AND TANGIBLE
RESOURCES THAT ARE TRENDING ON
CREDIT RESTORATION.
RIGHT?
SO NOW YOU GUYS SAY, WE'RE NOT
LOOKING AT YOUR PAST PERSONAL.
WE'RE GOING TO -- LIKE YOU
SAID.
THE CITY HAS ALREADY LOST MONEY
DOING STUFF.
WHY NOT TAKE A CHANCE ON, YOU
KNOW, US.
AND GIVE US THAT LINE OF
CREDIT.
ALONG WITH THE SUPPORT TO WALK
US THROUGH HOW TO RESTORE
CREDIT.
KEEP TRACKING SO YOU CAN SEE
THE GROWTH OF OUR CREDIT,
RIGHT?
AND THEN BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE
HOW TO PURCHASE, YOU KNOW, REAL
ESTATE.
WE DON'T KNOW THE FUNDING
AVAILABLE.
WE DON'T KNOW THE STEPS.
BUT WHY DON'T YOU GUYS OPEN AN
OFFICE IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE IN
WHERE YOU CAN HOLD THESE TYPES
OF MEETING CLOSE TO US.
IF I WOULD HAVE MISSED AN
EMAIL, I WOULD HAVE MISSED
THIS, RIGHT?
HOW ARE WE GETTING OUR VOICES
OUT?
WE'RE NOT EVEN ADVERTISING TO
THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS FOR.
>> UH-HUH.
>> IF THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN,
THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE.
I PROMISE.
IT'S JUST HOW DO WE -- I'M SO
EMOTIONAL.
HOW DO WE TALK TO THE LACK OF
SEATTLE THAT IS THERE, BLACK
SEATTLE THAT IS STRUGGLING.
IT IS HARD.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU.
AND WE WILL DEFINITELY DO A
BETTER JOB NEXT TIME OF.
WE ARE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT
TRYING TO HAVE THESE SORTS
OFMEETINGS IN THE DISTRICT.
SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO
TRY TO COME DOWNTOWN AT 5:00 TO
TRY TO TALK TO THEIR CITY
COUNCILMEMBER.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS.
SO I'M GOING TO TALK AS A
DESIGNER IN THE TECHNOLOGY
WORLD.
A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS FACING US
IS THAT WE'RE MOSTLY FACED WITH
EXTRACTIVE BUSINESS MODELS AS A
DESIGNER.
SO THE THINGS WE'RE BUILDING
AND DESIGNING ARE EXTRACTING
WEALTH FROM THE COMMUNITIES
WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT.
SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO -- WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS DESIGNERS
IN GENERAL IS ORGANIZE AROUND A
MORE REGENERATIVE BUSINESS
MODELS, ONES THAT DON'T JUST
THROW THINGS IN THE GARBAGE,
LIKE A LINEAR ECONOMY.
BUT THAT KIND OF THINK OF WASTE
AS A RESOURCE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
AND SO I WANT TO NAME TWO,
THREE MAIN PROJECTS WITH TWO
STRATEGIES.
ONE IS PROCUREMENT AS A WAY TO
BUILD WEALTH AND COMMUNITIES.
SO LARGE INSTITUTIONS LIKE
HOSPITALS AND UNIVERSITIES AND
LARGE BUSINESSES BUYING FROM
BUSINESSES OF COLOR AND HELPING
BUILD WEALTH THERE.
AND THAT'S A PROJECT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE THAT I'LL EXPLAIN IN
A SECOND.
AND THE SECOND IS MOVING FROM A
LINEAR ECONOMY TO A
REGENERATIVE ONE.
WITH A JUST TRANSITION
FRAMEWORK.
SO THAT THOSE RESOURCE WEALTH
GOES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT
IT'S FROM.
SO THE FIRST PROJECT WITH THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IS WHAT I'M A DESIGNER ON.
WITH A STORY, TOO.
A COMMUNITY, COOPERATIVELY
OWNED P.O.C.-OWNED DESIGN
AGENCY IN SEATTLE, WORKING WITH
BOBBY LEE AT THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE ARE BUILDING SOMETHING
CONNECTIVE.
AND LOCATION WAS THERE.
AFRICATOWN.
AVOLE.
AND WE BASICALLY ARE DOING A
CODESIGNED METHODOLOGY TO
DESIGN A PROCUREMENT TOOL TO
HELP LARGE INSTITUTIONS BUY
FROM THESE SMALL BUSINESSES OF
COLOR.
BUT THAT PROCUREMENT PIECE IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE IT'S AN ANCHOR
STRATEGY.
IT'S USING COMMUNITY WEALTH TO
BUILD COMMUNITY WEALTH.
A MODEL THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING
AT, THIS IS A SEPARATE PROJECT,
IS CALLED THE BOSTON IJIMMA
PROJECT.
AND THEY BASICALLY ARE USING
COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP TO CREATE
AN ENTIRE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
AROUND FOOD FROM THE COMPOST
SYSTEM TO THE FARMS TO THE
GROWERS TO THE RESTAURANTS AND
THEN BACK TO THE WASTE AND THEN
BACK TO THE FARM.
U-J-I-M-A. SO WE'RE USING THAT
MODEL ON VASHON ISLAND RIGHT
NOW.
AND PHYSICALLY BUILDING A
DIGESTER THAT IS GOING TO BE
COMMUNITY-OWNED BY THE VASHON
FARMERS.
IT DIGESTS FOOD WASTE, TURNS IT
INTO COMPOST WATER AND BIOGAS
THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
CHARGING A TRUCK THAT THE MOVE
THE WATER TO A COMMUNITY-OWNED
LAND TRUST FARM CALLED LIKE
PSEUDOFARMS ON VASHON.
AND THEN THAT WILL GO TO A
SCHOOL, WHICH WILL BUY THE
FOOD, AND THEN THAT WASTE WILL
GO BACK TO THE DIGESTER.
AND YOU HAVE A COMPLETE CIRCLE.
WHAT I'M PROPOSING IS THAT WE
BASICALLY DO THE SAME MODELS IN
RAINIER VALLEY.
AND THEY HAVE THE LARGEST FARM
IN SEATTLE.
THEY HAVE THE RAINIER FOOD
DISTRICT GOING ON.
OBVIOUSLY ARBACK.
SO HOW DO WE REPLICATE THOSE
MODELS?
AND WE'RE ALREADY DOING IT
THROUGH KING COUNTY'S HELP AND
SEATTLE.
SO THANK YOU.
>> I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T.
YEAH.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THOSE GRAPHICS,
TOO.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> APOLOGIES.
I DIDN'T --
>> NO, THAT'S GREAT.
>> MY E-MAIL IS ON THERE AS
WELL.
>> TERRIFIC.
THANK YOU.
>> AND REMEMBER, PROCUREMENT IS
A KEY PIECE OF THAT WHOLE
PUZZLE.
>> YEAH.
>>> BETH, DID YOU WANT TO CHIME
IN?
>> WELL, I DID WANT TO SAY WHAT
A THRIVING ECONOMY WOULD LOOK
LIKE.
FIRST OF ALL, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT ARTISTS AND THE
ARTS IS THAT THIS TABLE.
AND THE TOPIC OF BUILDING
COMMUNITY WEALTH.
ONE THING WE KNOW IS ALL THE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WE'VE
KIND OF BANDED TOGETHER.
WE'RE WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE OF
RED LINING.
AND NOW THAT WE'VE BUILT OUR
COMMUNITIES, NOW WE'RE THE ONES
MOST IN DANGER OF GETTING
PUSHED OUT.
AND ONE THING IS, THERE ARE
HISTORIC CULTURAL ASSETS IN
EVERY ONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND -- I MEAN, AREN'T ASSETS
THAT WE HAVE TO HARNESS.
THE THING ABOUT THE ARTS IS
THAT OFTENTIMES, OUR ARTISTS
AND ARTS ARE NOT LOOKED AT AS
ARTS.
IT'S LOOKED AT AS DIVERSITY.
SO THE ARTS HAS TO BE
REDEFINED.
BECAUSE A LOT OF THE ARTISTS
FROM OUR COMMUNITIES ARE THE
ONES ON THE CUTTING EDGE.
AND SO WHAT IS ARTISTIC
EXCELLENCE?
WHAT IS THE ARTS?
THAT A LOT OF CHANGE HAS TO
TAKE PLACE.
>> SO YOU'VE ALL MENTIONED, YOU
KNOW, THE NEED FOR RESOURCES,
THE NEED FOR TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, FOR LINES OF
CREDIT.
I WONDER IF THERE ARE OTHER
--JAMIL, YOU TALKED ABOUT
NEEDING TO INVEST IN YOUNG
PEOPLE.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE POPULAR
ABOUT WHAT YOU MEAN WHEN YOU
SAY RESOURCES AND WHAT THAT
WOULD LOOK LIKE?
>> YEAH.
I THINK THERE ARE THREE REAL
TANGIBLE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
LIKE RIGHT AWAY, AND THE CITY
CAN GET ACTING ON.
ONE IS, -- ONE IS GETTING UNION
TRAINING FOR YOUTH OF COLOR IN
HIGH SCHOOL.
IN FILM.
SO WHETHER IT BE THEIR S.A.G.
CARD, IF THEY WANT TO BE AN
ACTOR.
WHETHER IT BE A PRODUCTION KIND
OF UNION.
A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR
LOVE TO CREATE CONTENT.
BUT THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT
IT IN A WAY TO SUSTAIN A CAREER
PATH.
THEY'RE JUST HOPING TO GO
VIRAL.
>> WHAT MY 12-YEAR-OLD SON
SAYS.
>> EXACTLY.
UNTIL THEN THEY WORKING AT
McDONALD'S.
WE WANT TO GIVE THEM ASSETS TO
BUILD THEIR CAREER PATH.
HAVING UNION TRAINING ASSETS
WOULD BE GREAT.
ESPECIALLY YOUNG.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE P.A.s
GETTING -- YOUTH OF COLORS
BEING P.A.S ON FILM SET.
THAT'S ONE THING.
THE SECOND THING IS, IF YOU ARE
A FILMMAKER OR CREATIVE OF
COLOR IN SOUTH SEATTLE OR
SEATTLE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A
BUSINESS LICENSE.
IF YOU DO, YOU PROBABLY ARE NOT
O.M.W.B.E.
CERTIFIED, WHICH ALLOWS YOU OR
GRANTS YOU ACCESS TO A LESS,
WHERE BUSINESSES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFITS CAN
THEN SOURCE YOU AND SAY, OKAY,
YEAH, WE CAN ACTUALLY, BECAUSE
THERE IS SOME QUOTA INVOLVED IN
SOME OF THIS STUFF.
SO IF WE CAN GET THESE
PRODUCTION COMPANYLESS AND
INDIVIDUAL FREELANCERS TO GET
THEMSELVES OMWB CERTIFIED.
THAT WOULD ASSIST THEM A LOT AS
WELL.
AND THEN FINALLY, WITH A BUNCH
OF CREATIVE COMING INTO
SEATTLE, THERE'S A LOT OF
PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR ALREADY
IN THE INDUSTRY.
BUT WE'RE SCATTERED ALL OVER
THE PLACE.
AND A LOT OF TIMES, IT MIGHT BE
REQUIRED FOR A PRODUCTION TO
HIRE PEOPLE OF COLOR OR WOMEN
ON BOARD OR ON SET.
SO WHAT WE NEED IS A ROSTER, TO
SOME EXTENT, A STRUCTURED ONE,
THAT MAYBE EVEN IS FACILITATED
BY OR PARTNERED WITH THE CITY,
OF THESE CREATIVES OF COLOR WHO
ARE, YOU KNOW, GAFFING,
LIGHTING, SOUND DESIGN.
YOU KNOW, SO PEOPLE CAN GO TO
THEM.
LIKE IF RAY BIG STUDIO WANTS TO
WORK WITH MORE WOMEN, BEHIND
THE GLASS, SO TO SPEAK, SO
DIRECTORS AND WRITERS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE A
ROSTER THAT THEY CAN ACCESS
LOCALLY.
SO THOSE THREE THINGS WOULD BE
HUGE.
IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF WORK AND
A LOT OF ORGANIZING.
BUT YOU GUYS ARE SO GOOD AT
THAT.
>> WELL, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, HAVING A BUSINESS
LICENSE BUT NOT KNOWING THE
NEXT STEP MIGHT BE TO GET THIS
CERTIFICATION.
WHICH I THINK IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT POINT.
AND YOU KNOW, MY EXPERIENCE
KNOWING A COUPLE OF DJs WHO ARE
BECOMING POPULAR BUT ARE STILL
GIVING AWAY THEIR CDs INSTEAD
OF CHARGING FOR THEM.
JUST THE UNDERSTANDING OF,
YOU'RE TRYING TO RUN A
BUSINESS.
LIKE YOU'RE AN ARTIST.
BUT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO
ACTUALLY MAKE A LIVING OUT OF
THIS, THEN THERE'S SOME THINGS
YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW TO
RUN A BUSINESS AND PROVIDING
THAT KIND OF TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AS WELL.
>> RIGHT.
ADVENTURES DOES THAT.
IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT DOES IT
VERY WELL.
BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT BY
THEMSELVES.
AND THEY KIND OF TAKE A LOT OF
WEIGHT.
SO GIVING THEM ASSISTANCE.
YEAH, I THINK ANOTHER THING,
TOO, IS ASSISTING PROGRAMS THAT
ALREADY EXIST.
I WOULD HATE TO RECREATE THE
WHEEL AND KIND OF ROB THE
PEOPLE OF THE WORK THAT THEY
HAVE BEEN DOING.
SO MAYBE DOING SOME RESEARCH
AND FINDING OUT WHO IS ALREADY
DOING THIS STUFF.
GIVE THEM MORE INCENTIVES AND
FUNDING.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, THE
POINT OF RUNNING THE BUSINESS.
THAT IS WHERE I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT I EXPLAINED IT WELL,
THAT THE LINE OF BUSINESS
CREDIT, NOT A GRANT.
THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE WE
NEED THIS BUSINESS CREDIT, IN
ORDER TO DO THE THINGS MOVING
FORWARD.
WE NEED OUR PERSONAL CREDIT TO
BE -- YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO
MOVE FORWARD.
THAT HINDERS A LOT OF US.
AND WE DON'T HAVE.
WE'RE TRYING TO SELF DIAGNOSE.
LEARN HOW TO -- YOU KNOW, WE
DON'T HAVE THAT AND RUN THE
BUSINESS AND, YOU KNOW,
APPLYING FOR ALL OF THESE
RESOURCES.
HURTING YOUR CREDIT.
YOU KNOW.
BUT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES HERE
TO LEND.
YOU KNOW, AND TRAIN.
SO THEREFORE, YOU KNOW, OUR
KIDS.
THEY NEED TO BE JUST LIKE YOU
SAID IN HIGH SCHOOL.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS.
THOSE ARE THE AGES.
EVEN AS YOUNGUNS MIDDLE SCHOOL,
WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING CARE OF
YOUR CREDIT, AND WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE.
EVEN FARM TO TABLE.
I TELL MY KIDS ALL THE TIME, I
DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU CAN GROW
ANYTHING IF IT WAS AN ACTUAL
DISASTER.
YOU WOULD STILL BE LOOKING FOR
WIFI.
LIKE FOR REALS.
>> OR FLAVORED HOT CHEETOS.
>> RIGHT.
SO IT'S LIKE, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT IT.
BUT WE'RE NOT GIVING THOSE
TANGIBLE RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE
THIS IS IT. , OKAY.
YOU CAN DIRECT A PERSON TO A
WEBSITE.
OR YOU CAN HAVE A FORM.
BUT NO ONE IS REALLY GOING BACK
TO THAT AND TRAINING
THEMSELVES.
BUT IF WE CAN COME TO A PLACE
THAT IS ORGANIZED AND SAYS,
EVEN IF WE COME IN AND PICK UP
THE PAMPHLET, RIGHT?
OR COME IN AND ASK THE
QUESTION.
AND FIGURE OUT AND TALK TO
SOMEONE WHO IS DESIGNATED TO
US.
AND SAY THE BUSINESS.
OR CREDIT.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
THAT WOULD GIVE SO MUCH
EMPOWERMENT, TOO.
INSTEAD OF FEELING VOICELESS.
WE CAN'T DO THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A GRANT
WRITER.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACCESS
THESE FUNDS.
BUT I THINK THAT IS JUST SO
IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE IT'S LIKE SURE.
YOU WANT MONEY?
HERE.
LET'S GIVE YOU THIS.
BUT YOU'RE NOT TELLING ME AND
HELPING ME GROW MY BUSINESS
CREDIT OR PERSONAL CREDIT.
>> YEAH.
>> WE WANT TO BUY HOMES HERE.
WE WANT TO LIVE HERE.
YOU KNOW?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME.
I'M SURE WE COULD CARRY THIS ON
FOR A LONG TIME.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING, FOR
STAYING LATE, FOR SHARING YOUR
EXPERIENCES AND YOUR STORIES
AND YOUR EXPERTISE.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A
CONVERSATION.
SO AS I SAID BEFORE, MY HOPE IS
THAT WE USE THIS COMMITTEE AS A
PLATFORM FOR HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS AND SHARING
INFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING
BETTER WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS STOP GETTING
PUSHED OUT AND ARE ABLE TO STAY
AND THRIVE.
>> BRING FOOD NEXT TIME.
>> I WILL SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> IF THERE ARE NO MORE
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.
THIS COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.