>>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
FOR JOINING US TODAY AND BRING
WITH US AS WE START ANOTHER
VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE.
MY MASK OF THE DAY IS OLD AND
THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENT.
PLEASE VOTE AND GET THOSE
BALLOTS IN THE MAIL.
MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE
THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO VOTE
BY MAIL.
LET'S SHOW THEM HOW IT IS DONE.
VOTING IS VERY IMPORTANT.
IN JUNE, I TRANSMITTED MY
REBALANCE BUDGET FOR 2020.
IT HAS BEEN A YEAR OF
REMARKABLE CHALLENGES INCLUDING
A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND ECONOMIC
DOWNTURNS AND THE CLOSURE OF
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE SEEN A
NATIONWIDE AND CITY RECKONING
ON CIVIL RIGHTS.
THE 2020 PROPOSAL AND REBALANCE
BUDGET WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF
THESE EMERGENCIES WITH THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE CITY
GETS IN REVENUES DROP AND WE
HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
OUR 2020 PROPOSAL INCLUDED $20
MILLION IN CUTS TO THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET THIS
YEAR WHICH REPRESENTS 10% OF
THE BUDGET FOR THE REMAINING OF
THE YEAR.
THESE CUTS WERE DRIVEN BY THE
FULL INVOLVEMENT OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS THE
RIGHT WAY TO GO ABOUT
TRANSFORMING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THE CITY CHARTER, THE
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT,
SINCE WE TRANSMITTED OUR
BOUNCING PACKAGE, THE CHIEF AND
I HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT THOSE
CUTS WERE ALL THAT WERE
FEASIBLE THIS YEAR IN ORDER TO
ACCOMMODATE THE PROCESS OF
MOVING THINGS OUT OF THE
DEPARTMENT AS WELL IS MAKING
SURE THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN A
LEVEL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
ANYTHING BEYOND THAT 20
MILLION, WE KNEW AND WERE
ADVISED THAT IT WOULD BE
TANGLED UP IN VARIOUS LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS.
THE CHIEF DID AN ADMIRABLE JOB
AND WAS VERY HARD WITH HER
DEPARTMENT TO FIND SAVINGS THIS
YEAR TO SHOW THAT THE
DEPARTMENT COULD REFORM ITSELF
AND COULD LOOK OUT WHAT THE
NECESSARY FUNCTIONS WERE.
$20 MILLION WHICH WAS 10% OF
THEIR MEANING AS PRETTY BUDGET.
UNDERSTANDING THAT 2020 IS NOT
THE BEST PLAYING FIELD TO
DISCUSS FURTHER REDUCTIONS, A
MONTH AGO, THE CHIEF AND I
OUTLINED OUR PLAN TO BEGIN
CHANGES NOW THAT COULD BE
ACCOMPLISHED AS PART OF NEXT
YEAR'S BUDGET WHICH WE WILL
START LATE THIS SUMMER AND HAVE
TO FINISH BY NOVEMBER.
UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY
EXPECTED US TO TAKE A HARDER
LOOK AT THE BUDGET FOR NEXT
YEAR, A MONTH AGO, WE OUTLINED
THINGS WE COULD DO ON THAT
FRONT AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN
BUILD A COMMUNITY SAFETY MODEL
WHERE NOT EVERY NUMBER ONE CALL
RESULTS IN AN ARMED OFFICER
RESPONDING.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE
GET THE HELP THEY NEED.
IT COULD BE A MEDIC, SOCIAL
WORKER, COUNSELOR AND SOMETIMES
IT ABSOLUTELY HAS TO BE A
POLICE OFFICER.
WHEN THEY NEED THEM, THEY NEED
THEM NOW.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE
SPECIALTY UNITS AND DETERMINE
WHO IS SERVING THE COMMUNITY'S
BEST AND PARTICULARLY
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WE WANT TO FURTHER INVEST IN
PROGRAMS LIKE HEALTH ONE WHERE
PEOPLE GET A PUBLIC HEALTH
RESPONSE THAT THEY NEED.
WE IDENTIFIED $76 MILLION IN
INITIAL BUDGET REDUCTIONS FOR
NEXT YEAR.
20 MILLION OF WHICH ARE CUTS
AND 56 MILLION ACCOMPLISHED BY
TRANSFERRING FUNCTIONS THAT DO
NOT NEED TO BE CONDUCTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.
WE HAVE MADE CLEAR THROUGHOUT
THE SUMMER AND INTO THE FALL
THAT WE WILL ENGAGE WITH
COMMUNITY ON AN ONGOING BASIS
TO ANALYZE EVERY FUNCTION AND
THE 911 DISPATCH AND RESPONSE
AND NETWORK LED BY THE CHIEF IS
UNDERWAY NOW.
IT WILL INFORM OUR 2021 BUDGET
TRANSMITTAL.
I'VE GOT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE
SOME PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND
THAT THE CHIEF AND I SHARE THE
GOAL OF MUCH OF SEATTLE.
WE WANT TO LEAD THE NATION IN
REIMAGINING POLICING.
WE KNOW WE CAN DO THAT AND
STILL PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE WHERE
PEOPLE GET THE HELP THEY NEED
24/7 AND EVERY PART OF THE
CITY.
AGAIN, NEARLY A MONTH AGO, THE
CHIEF AND I EXPRESSED SERIOUS
CONCERNS ABOUT CUTTING THE 2020
BUDGET FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BY AN ARBITRARY 50%.
WE WANT TO BE HONEST WITH
INDIVIDUALS ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES AND CONSEQUENCES
THAT WE UNDERSTOOD AT THE TIME
AND NOW.
AGAIN, YOU WILL HEAR IT
STRAIGHT FROM US.
WE WILL TELL YOU WHEN WE THINK
WE CAN DO SOMETHING AND WE WILL
GO ABOUT AND TRY TO DO IT.
WE WILL LISTEN TO COMMUNITY AND
REALLY LISTEN AND TRY TO DO
MORE.
AGAINST THAT BACKDROP, SEVEN OF
NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS ANNOUNCED
THAT THEY SUPPORTED A 50% CUT
THIS YEAR.
AT FIRST IT WAS UNCLEAR WHETHER
THEY MET 50% OF THE WHOLE
BUDGET WHICH WOULD HAVE ZEROED
IT OUT FOR ALL OF THIS YEAR AND
THAT WAS CLARIFIED TO BE 50%
FOR WHAT IS LEFT.
NOW, MOST OF THE SEVEN
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT MADE THAT
PLEDGE NOW ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A
50% CUT IS NOT ONLY ILL-ADVISED
BUT SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE.
SOME OF THE PROPOSALS OF THE
COUNCIL PUT FORWARD ON
REDUCTION THE SPECIALTY UNITS
ARE BEING EVALUATED BY THE
CHIEF IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THINGS LIKE
MOUNTED PATROL AND HARBOR
PATROL AND RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION AND TRANSFERRING
VICTIM ADVOCATES.
THE CHIEF WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK
AT HER DEPARTMENT AND REALLY
THINK ABOUT HOW WE REIMAGINE
POLICING BUT NEITHER SHE OR I
WILL EVER SACRIFICE PUBLIC
SAFETY IN ANY PART OF THE CITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF
SOMEONE CALLS 911, THE RESPONSE
TIME TO HELP THEM IN EMERGENCY
IS AS QUICK AS CAN BE.
WE THINK THE COUNCIL IS LOOKING
IN THE RIGHT PLACES BUT IN THE
WRONG YEAR.
COUNSEL HAS MADE
RECOMMENDATIONS NOW IN THEIR
NEW BOUNCING PACKAGE WHERE THEY
BASICALLY ADMITTED THAT THE
CHIEF AND I WERE RIGHT.
YOU CAN'T CUT BY 50% THIS YEAR
AND NOW THEY WANT TO REDUCE THE
FORCE BY 100 OFFICERS IN 2020.
THERE IS ALMOST NO WAY TO CUT
THOSE OFFICERS IN THE WAY THAT
COUNSEL HAS REQUESTED.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT BY
NOVEMBER OF 2020.
LOOK, COUNSEL, THE CHIEF AND I
ALL AGREE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO
LAY OFF OUR NEWEST RECRUITS AND
NEWEST OFFICERS.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
JOINED THE FORCE KNOWING THAT
WE WERE UNDER FEDERAL
OVERSIGHT.
THEY ARE THE MOST DIVERSE CLASS
EVER WITH 39% OF THEM PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
THEY ARE SO COMMITTED TO REFORM
AND COMMUNITY POLICING.
THESE ARE EXACTLY THE OFFICERS
THAT WE WANT TO STAY AND BUILD
THE FUTURE OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BY LABOR RULES THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL KNOWS, LAYOFFS MUST BE
CONDUCTED BY SENIORITY MEANING
THAT THEY YOUNGEST AND MOST
DIVERSE OFFICERS WOULD BE THE
FIRST TO GO.
THOSE 100 LAYOFFS THE COUNCIL
WANTS TO DO THIS YEAR WOULD GOT
THE NEW CLASS AND THE NEW
RECRUITS.
TO AVOID LAYING OFF OFFICERS,
COUNSEL SUGGESTED THE CHIEF CAN
GO OUT OF ORDER.
THEY KNOW THAT IS SIMPLY NOT
POSSIBLE AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO DO IT BY NOVEMBER 2020.
THAT PROCESS GOING OUT OF ORDER
CAN SOMETIMES BE USED FOR ONE
OR TWO AND HAS HISTORICALLY
BEEN DONE SO BUT IT IS A TIME-
CONSUMING, DRAWN OUT PROCESS
FOR THE CHIEF WOULD HAVE TO
JUSTIFY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE
DECISIONS TO GO OUT OF PROCESS.
EVERY OFFICER WHO WAS LAID OFF
AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HAS
RIGHTS THAT HAVE TO BE
LITIGATED.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE
COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGES THIS.
LAYOFFS ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO
BARGAINING.
WE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED
DEMANDS TO BARGAIN FROM NEARLY
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE UNIONS
REPRESENTED BY SPD.
SUGGESTING THAT YOU WOULD NOT
LOSE THE DIVERSE CLASS IS
REALLY NOT BEING WHOLLY HONEST
WITH THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
THE CITY COUNCIL KNOWS THAT WE
ARE HAMSTRUNG BY STATE LAW AND
LABOR RULES AND THE FIRST 100
OFFICERS TO GO WOULD BE SOME OF
THOSE THAT WE WANT TO KEEP THE
MOST.
IN 2020, IF COUNCIL REALLY
WANTS TO REDUCE THE FORCE OF
OFFICERS BY 100, LET'S
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT MEANS YOU
WILL LAY OFF THE MOST DIVERSE
RECRUITS AND NEW STUDENT
OFFICERS.
THAT IS THE REALITY OF IT.
THE CHIEF AND I DO NOT BELIEVE
THAT IS WORTH THE TRADE-OFF OF
$1.6 MILLION.
IT TAKES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND POLICING IN OUR CITY AND IT
TAKES US IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION.
INSTEAD, THE CHIEF AND I HAVE
OUTLINED A PLAN IN 21 TO
EVALUATE SPECIALTY DEPARTMENTS
AND WE WILL BARGAIN WHEN
NECESSARY.
WE ARE READY TO GO BACK TO THE
TABLE AND HAVE TOLD COMMUNITY
WE WANT THEM AT THE TABLE.
WE WANT A CONTRACT THAT
REFLECTS THE VALUES OF SEATTLE.
WE CANNOT JUST LAY OFF 100
OFFICERS.
NEXT YEAR'S PLAN WOULD PERHAPS
BE ANOTHER 100 OR 200.
THAT WOULD BE A REDUCTION OF
ALMOST 200 OFFICERS IN A 14
MONTH PERIOD.
I ALSO AND THE CHIEF ALSO
OPPOSED THE TRANSITIONING OF
THE DATA DRIVEN POLICING AND
THE ILLICIT HIGHEST TRAINING.
REALLY CONCERNING TO ME IS THE
DATA DRIVEN POLICING.
WE WANT MORE OF THAT AND WE
WANT TO UNDERSTAND NOT JUST
WHERE CRIME IS HAPPENING BUT
WHAT DIPLOMATS ARE HAPPENING
AND WHAT CRIME STRATEGIES ARE
WORKING.
WHERE DO WE SEE CRIME GOING UP
AND WHAT TYPES OF CRIMES SO
THAT WE CAN WORK FOR THE PUBLIC
AND COMMUNITY SAFETY OF EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD IN SEATTLE.
ALL OF THAT WOULD BE
TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE
DEPARTMENT UNDER COUNCIL'S
PLAN.
THEY ALSO IRONICALLY WOULD
ELIMINATE IMPLICIT BIAS
TRAINING.
MOST CONCERNING TO ME IS
COUNCIL'S CURRENT PROPOSAL
WOULD COMPLETELY DRAIN THE
RAINY DAY FUND AND THE CHIEF
WILL BE LEADING EXTENSIVE
COMMUNITY BASED ENGAGEMENT
BECAUSE WE THINK IT IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO.
WE WANT TO GO AND TALK MORE TO
COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT ARE THOSE
THINGS THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE
DOING TODAY THAT THEY AGREE WE
NEED TO BE DOING IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT
PERHAPS SOMEONE ELSE CAN
RESPOND AND HOW DO WE BUILD UP
THE CAPABILITY?
THAT CAN HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
DURING THE RAINY DAY FUND TO
ZERO IS THE WRONG WAY TO GO
ABOUT BUDGETING FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
LOOK, 2020 HAS BEEN AN AWFUL
YEAR.
WE ARE FACING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
AND A HUGE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
AND CIVIL RIGHTS UPRISING.
THE BUDGET OF OUR CITY HAS BEEN
HIT PROPORTIONALLY MORE THAN IT
HAS EVER BEEN HIP OF WAR.
ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAD THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE AND
FAILURE.
I'M NOT CONFIDENT THAT IN 2020
AND 2021 THAT THERE WILL BE
MORE EMERGENCIES.
WE KNOW THAT TO DEFER SOME OF
THE RAINY DAY FUND, THAT'S THE
ONLY CASH WE HAVE IN THE BANK.
WITH THIS PROPOSAL ON TOP OF
THE COUNCILS RECENTLY PASSED
SPENDING PLAN, THEY ARE ZEROING
OUT THE RAINY DAY FUNDS AND
EMERGENCY FUNDS.
LOOK, WE ARE IN EMERGENCY.
WE HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE
TO BE IN EMERGENCY FOR SOME
TIME.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THAT THE
NUMBERS ARE INCREASING AND WE
HAVE DOUBLE DOWN IN SEATTLE TO
BRING THE NUMBERS DOWN AND HAVE
SET UP MORE TESTING THAN
ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE.
UNLESS WE CHANGE COURSE, WE
WILL HAVE ZERO DOLLARS AS A
FINANCIAL CUSHION IN THE MIDST
OF THE THREE BIGGEST CHALLENGES
OUR CITY HAD IN THE HISTORY OF
THE CITY.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I AM ABSOLUTELY WILLING TO WORK
WITH COUNCIL AND ANY COUNCIL
MEMBER ON SOLVING ANY OF THE
PROBLEMS WE HAVE BEFORE US.
I THINK WE HAVE SHARED GOALS
AND WE CAN FIND A WAY FORWARD.
I THINK THE PROCESS OF
POLARIZATION IS NOT GOOD FOR
THE CITY.
I WAS PLEASED TO TALK TO THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, LORENA
GONZALEZ TODAY WHO AGREES THAT
WE WANT TO FIND A WAY IN THE
NEXT BUDGET CYCLE TO HAVE A
BETTER WAY TO COLLABORATE.
I WILL SAY THIS.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO REIMAGINE
POLICING IN THIS CITY AND WE
WANT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO
DELIVER PUBLIC SAFETY, THERE IS
NO PERSON BETTER SITUATED TO
HELP GUIDE US IN THAT THAN THE
CHIEF.
SHE HAS GIVEN THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE HIS
DEPARTMENT BY OUR CITY CHARTER.
THAT IS HOW IMPORTANT THE ROLE
IS.
SHE ALSO HAS 30 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT
AND CAME ON AS A PATROL
OFFICER.
SHE KNOWS EVERY ONE OF THE
SPECIALTY UNITS AND HOW THEY
OPERATE AND FUNCTION AND HOW WE
MIGHT RETHINK WHAT WE DO IN
POLICING.
I HAVE TO SAY I AM DISAPPOINTED
AND I WILL SAY A BIT SURPRISED
THAT TO DATE, COUNCIL HAS NEVER
úREACHED OUT TO SIT DOWN WITH
THE CHIEF TO HEAR HER THOUGHTS
ON HOW THIS DEPARTMENT COULD BE
REIMAGINED AND HOW WE CAN MAKE
SURE THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
CAN SERVE THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE.
NONE OF US HAS ALL OF THE
ANSWERS.
NEW DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY
HAS ALL OF THE ANSWERS.
NO POLICE DEPARTMENT ANYWHERE
IN THE COUNTRY OR IN THE GLOBE
HAS IT ALL RIGHT BUT SEATTLE
CAN LEAD.
TO LEAVE, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CITY
NEEDS TO HAVE POLICING BUT WE
CAN REIMAGINE WHAT THAT IS.
WE HAVE A NATIONAL LEADER AT
THE HELM OF OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I AM HONORED TO WORK WITH HER
AND I LISTEN TO HER ADVICE AND
COUNCIL AND I THINK COUNCIL
SHOULD DO THAT ALSO.
WHILE UNDERTAKING THE DEFUNDING
OF THE POLICE APARTMENT IN THE
MIDST OF ONE OF THE MOST
CONSEQUENTIAL TIMES IN OUR
HISTORY, I WOULD URGE COUNCIL
AGAIN TO TAKE SOME TIME.
TAKE TIME TO GET THIS RIGHT.
I THINK IT IS A STEP FORWARD
THAT YOU HAVE ADMITTED YOU WERE
WRONG.
YOU COULDN'T CUT THE DEPARTMENT
BY 50% THIS YEAR.
NEXT YEAR, LET'S WORK TOGETHER
TO SEE HOW WE CAN REIMAGINE
POLICING AND ENGAGE COMMUNITIES
IN EVERY PART OF THE CITY.
LET'S TAP INTO THE CHIEF.
SHE IS BEST POSITIONED TO HELP
TRANSFORM THE DEPARTMENT.
THE CHIEF HAS SAID SHE IS
WILLING TO DO IT.
WHEN THEY SAY GO FORWARD IN THE
PLANS, THE ONLY WAY SHE CAN GET
A VOICE AND NOW, THEY DON'T
CONSULT THAT IS NOT THE WAY TO
DO THIS BUDGETING ONE OF THE
MOST AND SOMETIMES IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE THIS MOMENT IN TIME TO
GET IT RIGHT AND WILL ONLY GET
IT RIGHT IF WE WERE TOGETHER
AND LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY
TOGETHER.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED ON
POLICE REFORM FOR OVER 35
YEARS, I GET THAT NO ONE WANTS
TO HEAR ABOUT THE ROADBLOCKS TO
PROGRESS.
I GET THAT THERE IS A SENSE OF
URGENCY LIKE THERE HAS NEVER
BEEN BEFORE.
I KNOW THAT WHEN I SAID I DID
NOT BELIEVE WE COULD CUT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BY 50% THIS
YEAR, IT WAS VERY UNPOPULAR IN
MANY PLACES.
I HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS MAYOR
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
WE HAVE SHOWN THAT WE CAN
TACKLE BIG PROBLEMS AND TAKE
THEM HEAD ON AND WE MET THE
PANDEMIC HEAD ON AND FLATTENED
THE CURVE.
OUR CITY HAS MORE FREE TESTING
THAN ANY PLACE IN THE STATE.
WE HAVE PROVIDED THE COMMUNITY
WITH $230 MILLION IN RELIEF
SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.
IN JUST A MATTER OF MONTHS, THE
CITY HAS MOBILIZED $230 MILLION
IN DIRECT RELIEF.
MY JOB AS MAYOR IS TO LEVEL
WITH THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE
CLEAR WHAT I THINK THE CITY CAN
DO TO GO TO WORK TO DO IT AND
NOT BE AFRAID OF TACKLING
THINGS JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE
HARD.
I PLEDGE I WILL CONTINUE TO DO
THAT WHEN IT COMES TO POLICING
AND CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE CITY.
I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT
PROTESTERS HAVE A FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PROTEST AND
THAT THE PROCESS IS GOOD FOR
THE CITY AND THE STATE AND
NATION.
WE WERE BORN OF PROTEST AND
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS MAKE US
STRONGER.
THE THING THAT CAN REALLY
IMPEDE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE
IS IF VICIOUS EVOLVES TO A
POLITICAL PARTISAN BATTLE.
WE SHOULD NOT MAKE HASTY
DECISIONS.
WE SHOULD MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN SLOW.
IT JUST MEANS.
THERE IS A RIGHT WAY TO RIGHT
SIZE POLICING.
ANYONE WHO THINKS IT CAN HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT REALLY IS LOOKING AT
THE FACTS.
WE HAVE PUT MORE MONEY THAN
BEFORE FOR COMMUNITY-BASED
PROGRAMS LIKE COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS AND CHOOSE 180.
WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF PROGRAMS
TO GO UPSTREAM AND HELP PEOPLE
NOT GET INVOLVED IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE KNOW THOSE WORKING WE HAVE
TO SCALE THEM UP BUT IF SOMEONE
CALLS 911 AT MIDNIGHT IN THE
VALLEY OR IN LAUREL HERS,
SOMEONE HAS TO RESPOND RIGHT
AWAY.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY
RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT
CAPABILITY.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO SAY THE
CHIEF AND I ARE ABSOLUTELY
COMMITTED.
COMMITTED TO RE-MENTIONING HOW
POLICING WORKS IN THE CITY AND
TO HAVING A BETTER COMMUNITY-
BASED RESPONSE TO HAVE A PUBLIC
HEALTH AND HARM REDUCTION
PHASED RESPONSE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT POLICING IS
COMPLICATED AND THAT SOMETIMES
YOU NEED A POLICE OFFICER TO
RESPOND.
JUST IN THE LAST MONTHS, WE
HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS
IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY
AND WHEN THAT KIND OF VIOLENT
CRIME HAPPENS AND PEOPLE DIAL
911, THEY EXPECT A POLICE
OFFICER TO SHOW UP AND THEY
HAVE TO SHOW UP.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE ISN'T
OTHER TYPES OF HELP THAT CAN'T
RESPOND BUT IT MEANS FOR RIGHT
NOW IN OUR CITY, WE HAVE TO BE
TRUTHFUL AND HONEST AND
REALISTIC WITH ONE ANOTHER.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO THE CHIEF.
>> A ME JUST SAY THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR STEADFAST
SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN
SEATTLE.
I AND THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT
HAVE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THE
DEMANDS OF SO MANY IN THE
COMMUNITY.
EACH OF US UNDERSTANDS WHAT
GIVES VOICE TO THESE DEMANDS.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE HISTORY OF
POLICING AND WE COMMIT TO
GROWING AND IMPROVING POLICING.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION
THAT WE WILL DO BETTER.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
IS A NATIONAL MODEL BECAUSE OF
OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUSLY
IMPROVING.
WE HAVE MET AND EXCEEDED EVERY
COMPONENT OF THE DECREE AND
CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE
ARE COMMITTED TO INNOVATION.
WE HAVE EMBRACED TRANSPARENCY
AND OVERSIGHT AND HAVE ONE OF
THE MOST ROBUST CIVILIAN
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS IN THE
COUNTRY WITH AN OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE
COMMITTEE POLICE COMMISSION.
WE LAUNCHED THE FIRST OF ITS
KIND IN THE COUNTRY WITH POLICE
COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS OF
DISPARITY AND ENFORCEMENT IN
THESE ACTIONS.
WE HAVE MORE PLANS.
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE SYSTEMS
IN PLACE.
TO INVESTIGATE THEM AND HOLD
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND TO MAKE
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES WHEN THEY
ARE WARRANTED.
I SAY ALL THIS TO YOU THAT YOUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE IS YOU
AND I HEAR YOU.
THE ENTIRETY OF THE SPD HAS
BEEN ENGAGED THESE TYPES OF
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS FOR
YEARS.
WE REMAIN STEADY AND
IMPORTANTLY THOUGH, A LESSON
LEARNED IS WE CANNOT TELL
COMMUNITY WHAT WE ALWAYS KNOW
IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW WE CAN FUNCTION BETTER
AND MORE EFFICIENTLY AND
EQUITABLY.
WE ALSO KNOW THE COMMUNITY HAS
GREAT IDEAS.
SO, WE WILL NOT MAKE ALL OF
THESE DECISIONS ALONE.
THEY NEED TO BE COMMUNITY LED.
WE ARE ALREADY PLANNING THE
WORK AND AND WILL CONTINUE TO
PUT THE WORK IN.
TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
DEPARTMENT AND WE EXPECT YOU
AND IMPLORE YOU TO HOLD US
ACCOUNTABLE.
WE KNOW WE IMPRISONING
COMMUNITY SAFETY WILL INCLUDE
CHANGES TO THE BUDGET AND THAT
IS A GIVEN.
SOME OF WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL
IS ALREADY PROPOSING.
I WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT
SOME OF THOSE PROPOSALS THAT
ARE WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT
IMPACTS THEY MAY HAVE ON
COMMUNITY SAFETY.
OVERALL, THERE ARE GOOD
APPROACHES IN THE PROPOSALS AND
SOME OF THE IDEAS AS FOR THE
ALREADY HAD AND HAS RAISED
FOUR.
WHAT IS PROBLEMATIC IS THESE
ARE APPROACHES WITHOUT ANY
CLARITY ON HOW THEY WILL BECOME
REALITY.
WHAT IS THE PLAN?
THE PUSH FROM COUNCIL AT SOME
OF THE COMMUNITY IS TO DO THE
LARGE-SCALE CHANGES IN 2020
WITH NO PRACTICAL PLAN FOR
COMMUNITY SAFETY.
I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT
IT IS COMPLETELY RECKLESS.
COUNCIL HAS DIRECTED ME TO LAY
OFF 70 OR MORE OFFICERS
BASICALLY OVERNIGHT.
I CANNOT DO THAT IN GOOD FAITH
KNOWING THERE ARE NO SYSTEMS IN
PLACE TO BRIDGE THE GAP.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL
HAPPEN.
THERE WILL BE A GAP IN
SERVICES.
AS THE MERE MENTION, AT
MIDNIGHT WHEN YOU ARE CALLING
FOR SOMEONE TO ASSIST YOU FOR A
ROBBERY OR OTHER KIND OF
CONDITION, THERE NEEDS TO BE A
RESPONSE AND PEOPLE EXPECT
THAT.
MY CHARTER RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
RUN AND MANAGE THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY.
IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THE
COUNCIL TO TELL ME WHAT TO HAVE
MY OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS DO IN
THE GRANULAR WAY THAT THEY HAVE
TRIED TO MANAGE.
REGARDLESS OF HOW ANYONE
SUPPOSES A LAYOFF OFFICE WOULD
WORK, I KNOW WE CANNOT DO THAT
LEVEL OF LAYOFFS OUT OF ORDER.
IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL AND
APPROPRIATE TO DO SO AND EVEN
IF I COULD DO IT, IT WOULD BE
CUTTING OFF AND LAYING OFF OUR
STUDENTS AND RECRUITS AND SOME
OF THE PROBATIONARY OFFICERS.
THOSE THAT WE HIRED IN RECENT
YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN A RECORD-
BREAKING COHORT OF DIVERSE
HIRES INEXPERIENCE AND RACE,
ETHNICITY AND GENDER.
I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM WE
WORKED REALLY HARD TO HAVE A
PLACE THAT REFLECTS THE
COMMUNITY WE SERVE.
TO UNDERCUT THAT AND UNDERMINE
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
THE COUNCIL SUGGESTS THAT THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD
BE BETTER OFF IF WE DO NOT USE
DATA.
REALLY?
I FIND THIS PARTICULARLY
CONFUSING GIVEN THAT MANY OF
THE SAME COUNCIL MEMBERS CALL
FOR A CITY AUDITOR TO ANALYZE
OUR DATA ANALYTICS AND
RECOMMEND THROUGH THE AUDIT TO
MAKE IT MORE ROBUST AND NOT
CUTTING IT.
BEST PRACTICES IS ALMOST IN
EVERY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR
ALONG WITH PROVEN RESEARCH
PRACTICES AND POLICING TO
DEMAND THAT ORGANIZATIONS
MEASURE WHAT WORKS AND MEASURE
WHAT MATTERS.
THEY ARE GUIDED BY DATA AND
EVIDENCE.
THE COUNCIL ALSO SUGGESTS THAT
THE PUBLIC WOULD BE BETTER
SERVED IF WE DID NOT HAVE A
PUBLIC AFFAIRSUNIT.
POLICE DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ARE OFTEN THE BUSIEST
IN TERMS OF THE MEDIA REQUEST
THAT COMES IN.
THE INFORMATION REQUESTS THAT
ARE MADE DAILY AND HOURLY AND
ALMOST TO THE MINUTE WITH ALL
THE POLICE AGENCIES.
IF THIS UNIT WAS DISBANDED, ALL
THOSE REQUESTS WOULD GO THROUGH
A PUBLIC DISCLOSURE PROJECT
WHICH IS MUCH MORE ONEROUS AND
ALREADY OVERWORKED AND
OVERSTAFFED.
SLOWING DOWN THE PROCESS OF
GETTING INFORMATION TO THE
PUBLIC IS SIMPLY NOT IN LINE
WITH INCREASING THE
TRANSPARENCY.
I WILL GO INTO ALL THE LEGAL
ISSUES AROUND HOW SO MANY OF
THESE ACTIONS WOULD BRING THE
CITY DIRECTLY IN CONFLICT WITH
THE CONSENT DECREE AND THE
OVERSIGHT THAT BY THE WAY THE
COUNCIL RECENTLY CALLED ON FOR
THE CITY TO MAKE SURE WE
CONTINUE.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
MET EVERY ONE OF THE
REQUIREMENTS AND CONTINUES TO
WORK THROUGH EVERY ISSUE
IDENTIFIED.
REMAINING IN COMPLIANCE IS NOW
A MATTER OF A CITY ISSUE AND
REDUCING TRAINING, ANALYTICS,
TRANSPARENCY AND ESPECIALLY
STAFFING IS NOT HOW THE CITY
WILL MEET THE COURTS
EXPECTATIONS.
TOGETHER, ASIDE FROM THE
DRASTIC STAFFING CUTS AND THE
EFFECT THEY WOULD HAVE ON
PUBLIC SAFETY, I AM
WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISMAYED AT THE
APPARENT ATTEMPTS TO DIRECT THE
DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS
THE CONCERTED EFFORT TO
DISMANTLE ALMOST EVERY
COMPONENT OF IMPROVEMENT AND
INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION.
IT IS ALMOST AS IF SOME OF
THESE FOLKS ARE CONCERNED THAT
TOO MANY PEOPLE SUPPORT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WANT TO
SEE PUBLIC SAFETY SURVIVE IN
THE CITY.
MY COMMITMENT TO YOU TODAY AND
EVERYDAY IS THAT THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS READY TO
SERVE THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE
TOGETHER AND MY COMMAND TEAM
HAS COMMITTED AN ASSESSMENT AT
EVERY FUNCTION OF THE
DEPARTMENT WITH AN EYE TOWARDS
THE ONES AT THE DEPARTMENT FEEL
SHOULD FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY.
WE WILL EQUALLY CONSIDER
SUGGESTIONS FROM EVERY MEMBER
OF THE DEPARTMENT AND WE NEED
TO HEAR FROM EVERY MEMBER OF
THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH
TIME TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND
GROUNDED IN RESEARCH AND TO
LEAD THE NATION AND CONTINUE TO
LEAVE THE NATION ON THE JOURNEY
TO A NEW MODEL OF COMMUNITY
SAFETY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE
CONSENT DECREE AND I REALLY AND
TRULY WANT THAT.
THE DEPARTMENT WANTS THAT.
IF WE HAVE UNDERCUT THE WORK
WHILE TRYING TO REBALANCE THE
2020 BUDGET, I'M DEEPLY
CONCERNED THAT WE WILL LOSE THE
OPPORTUNITY.
IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT WORK FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
WE ARE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY
AND NOT APART FROM THE
COMMUNITY.
THIS IS ALL OF US WORKING
TOGETHER FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY
AND I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT
RE-ENVISIONING THE FUTURE OF
OUR COMMUNITY AND SAFETY WITH
INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, WE ARE ALL IN THIS
TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> PATRICK, THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> MY QUESTION IS WORD TREY
LOWE.
THE MAYOR OUTLINED SOME CUTS
AND THAT IS A DEFINING PLAN OF
19%.
I JUST TALKED WITH THE COUNCIL
OR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR
CUTS STARTING TOMORROW ARE UP
FOR VOTE BUT THE LEADING INTO
NEXT YEAR ARE PLANNING FOR 41
OR 42% THE FUNDING PLAN FOR
2021.
HOW DOES THAT NUMBER CHALLENGE
YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC
SAFETY?
>> THANK YOU, PATRICK.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE WILL NEVER BE
ANYTHING THAT IS MORE
IMPORTANT TO ME THAN MAKING
SURE THAT WE HAVE EFFICIENT
PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE FORTUNATE
TO HAVE HAD THAT CONVERSATION
WITH COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY
CERTAINLY HAVE NOT BEEN TALKING
TO ME.
WE WILL WORK THROUGH ALL THE
CHALLENGES AND WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT
HOW WE REVISION POLICING AND WE
WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL THAT WE
HAVE THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN
SEATTLE.
>> PATRICK, THIS IS JENNY AND
I WILL FOLLOW UP BRIEFLY.
I'M NOT SURE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBER YOU SPOKE WITH
BUT I HAVE REVIEWED THE
RESOLUTION AND IT DOES NOT CALL
FOR CUTS OF THAT MAGNITUDE.
I THINK WE ARE RIGHT BACK WHERE
WE WERE A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN
YOU HAD ALL THESE
COUNCILMEMBERS SAYING THEY
WOULD CUT IT BY 50% BECAUSE
THAT IS WHAT THE ACTIVISTS WERE
DEMANDING OF THEM.
THEY HAD NO PLAN AND THEN ONCE
THEY LOOKED AT THE DETAILS,
THEY REALIZED THEY COULD NOT DO
IT.
IN CONTRAST TO THAT, THE CHIEF
AND I STOOD BEFORE EVERYONE AND
IT WAS UNPOPULAR IN MANY
QUARTERS TO SAY WE CAN'T MAKE
THOSE CUTS THIS YEAR.
YOU HAVE OUR SAME WORD THAT WE
WILL LOOK NEXT YEAR TO SEE WHAT
WE CAN CUT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
WHAT CAN WE GROW.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE CUT
BUT HOW DO WE GROW A DIFFERENT
CAPACITY IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND COMMUNITY SO THAT THERE IS
MORE RESILIENCE AND MORE
WELLNESS.
I THINK IT IS JUST A FALSE
PRETEXT TO THROW A NUMBER OUT
THERE AND SAY THAT IS WHAT THEY
ARE FOR.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR AND CHIEF.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL BE FROM
CAROLYN BECK FOLLOWED BY DANIEL
BEEKMAN.
CAROLYN?
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> I'M SORRY, I THINK PATRICK
ACTUALLY DIDN'T GET A FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION UNLESS I MISSED IT.
>> TWO TO TIME CONSTRAINTS, WE
WILL FOLLOW UP OR MOVE ALONG
WITHOUT FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.
>> OKAY, GOT IT.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR AND CHIEF, I WANTED TO
TAKE THIS TIME TO ASK OF
ALLEGATIONS ABOUT HOW STD
TREATED PROTESTERS ON THE 25th
SINCE ONLY LIMITED PRESS WAS
INVITED TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE
LAST WEEK.
THERE ARE SEVERAL VIDEOS OF AS
FOR THE OFFICERS ONCE AGAIN
USING EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST
PROTESTERS THAT APPEAR TO BE
DOING NOTHING WRONG AND THE
ALLEGATIONS ARE NUMEROUS AND
INCLUDE CORROBORATING REPORTS
FROM MULTIPLE PEOPLE ABOUT
OFFICERS TAUNTING AND MOCKING A
YOUNG WOMAN THAT REPEATEDLY
PLEADED FOR HER SEIZURE
EDUCATION AND SUFFERED MULTIPLE
SEIZURES.
WHEN I ASKED SPD FOR A
RESPONSE, THE ONLY RESPONSE I
GOT WAS THAT PROTESTERS SHOULD
FILE COMPLAINTS WITH THE OPA.
SPD MEDIA DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO
ASK WHAT THE ALLEGATIONS WERE
SO I WANT TO ASK TODAY HOW WILL
YOU ADDRESS THESE ALLEGATIONS
AND HOLD THE OFFICERS
ACCOUNTABLE?
IT SEEMS THAT TELLING
PROTESTERS TO FILE COMPLAINTS
WITH THE OPA PUTS IT SOLELY ON
THE PROTESTERS AND THE REST OF
THE PUBLIC WHEN OFFICERS ARE
OUT IN THE FIELD PERSONALLY
ACTING UNDER ORDERS OF SPD.
>> I WILL LET THE CHIEF RESPOND
TO THAT.
I APOLOGIZE YOU DON'T GET
FOLLOW-UPS ON THIS.
FIRST, I THINK YOU SAW THAT THE
CITY FILED IN COURT IT'S BRIEF
IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF
ALLEGATIONS AND VIDEO CLIPS
THAT SEEM TO SHOW THAT THERE
WAS UNAUTHORIZED USE OF FORCE
BUT THE VIDEO CLIP ITSELF WAS
INCOMPLETE AND THEY SHOWED THAT
TO THE JUDGE.
I WANT TO SAY THAT IF THERE IS
ANY POLICE OFFICER THAT DOES
USE WORDS INAPPROPRIATELY, THE
CHIEF AND I ARE UNITED WITHOUT
ANY HESITATION TO SAY THAT
OFFICER WILL BE INVESTIGATED
AND THIS CHIEF OF POLICE WILL
HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
WE ALSO KNOW LAST WEEK AND THAT
THERE WAS A SERIES OF EVENTS
THAT WERE CHALLENGING FOR THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT INCLUDING AN
ARSON THAT BURNED SEVERAL
TRAILERS AND ATTEMPTED ARSON AT
A BUSINESS THAT WAS BROKEN INTO
THE HEAD RESIDENTIAL THINGS
ABOUT IT.
THERE WERE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT
WERE ASSAULTED AND THE POLICE
PRECINCT ITSELF WAS SUBJECT TO
ATTACK.
IT WAS A VERY FLUID SITUATION
AND THE VALUES OF US ARE WE
WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE VERY
ROBUST INDEPENDENT CIVILIAN LED
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WORKS AND
HAS THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO
WORK.
IF THERE'S ANY INDIVIDUAL
OFFICER WHO HAS BROKEN THE
RULES, THEY WILL BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE AND IF THE
DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE HAS
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT
NEED TO BE REVIEWED AND CHANGED
BECAUSE OF THE CONDUCT, WE NOW
HAVE TWO FEDERAL JUDGES AND THE
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
LOOKING AT THOSE AND THE CHIEF
WILL TAKE ALL THAT SERIOUSLY.
CHIEF?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY
LENGTHY QUESTION AND I AGREE
WITH THAT MAYOR.
SHECOVERED A LOT OF IT BUT
ABSOLUTELY.
THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED OVER
THE COURSE OF THESE MANY
DEMONSTRATIONS AND MANY OF THEM
ENUMERATED JUST BY THE MAYOR.
THE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE
AND THE DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN
FILED IN COURT.
I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN OUR
JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND PROCESSES
THAT THEY WILL GET TO THE
TRUTH.
THAT IS ALL WE WANT IS THE
TRUTH OF WHAT OCCURRED AND IF
THEY WERE VIOLATIONS, I CAN
ASSURE YOU THAT PEOPLE WILL BE
HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND I
PERSONALLY WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND
AS AN ORGANIZATION
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE
FIRST AMENDMENT FREE-SPEECH BUT
ALLEGATIONS OF EXCESSIVE FORCE
AND DEALING WITH THE VOLATILE
SITUATION THAT YOU ARE OR THAT
WE ARE ADDRESSING WILL
ABSOLUTELY BE REVIEWED AND WE
WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE FACTS
LEAD US TO THE TRUTH.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD TWO OTHER
THINGS.
I HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE WOMAN
WITH SEIZURES AND I DON'T KNOW
IF THE POLICE SHE DID BUT THEY
WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT TO SEE
WHAT IT IS.
SECOND IS WE ARE NOT LEAVING
JUST FOR PROTESTERS TO FILE
COMPLAINTS.
THE OPA ITSELF HAS INITIATED A
NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE
CHIEF OF POLICE HAS INITIATED
COMPLAINTS AND I MYSELF THE
NIGHT AFTER THE PINK UMBRELLA
VIDEO MET WITH OPA AND OIG AND
LATER WITH CPC AND ASKED THEM
TO REVIEW OUR POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES AND OTHER ISSUES
RELATED TO CROWD CONTROL.
WE ARE NOT JUST WAITING FOR
PEOPLE TO STEP UP AND MAKE
COMPLAINTS.
WE ALSO WILL DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO HOLD THE DEPARTMENT
ACCOUNTABLE.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR IN CHIEF.
NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM
DANIEL BEEKMAN OF SEATTLE TIMES
FOLLOWED BY HANNAH SCOTT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS A QUESTION FOR, I
SUPPOSE THE CHEAPER THE MAYOR
IF SHE CARES TO RESPOND AS WELL
ABOUT THE POTENTIAL 100 OFFICER
REDUCTION IN 2020.
WITH REGARDS TO THE POTENTIAL
PROPOSED LAYOFFS, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU
SAID BEFORE ABOUT TRYING TO GO
OUT OF ORDER AND SAYING IT
WOULD BE A DIFFICULT PROCESS.
WOULD YOU SEEK TO GO OUT OF
ORDER WITH THESE PROPOSED CUTS
IF THEY WERE PASSED BY THE
COUNCIL?
ALSO, WITH THE POST 30 OFFICER,
DO YOU THINK THAT PREDICTION
THAT 30 MORE OFFICERS WOULD
RESIGN?
DO YOU THINK THAT IS A
REALISTIC PREDICTION?
>> FOR YOUR FIRST QUESTION, ALL
THE GUIDELINES ABOUT LAYOFFS
AND THE ORDER OF LAYOFFS WILL
BE HANDLED BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND
THE LABOR RELATIONS SO THERE IS
A LOT OF COMPLEXITY INVOLVED
AND HOW THE PROCESS CAN MOVE
FORWARD FOR LAYOFFS AND MY
UNDERSTANDING IS VERY COMPLEX
AND COMPLETE AND A LOT OF
NUANCE TO HOW THAT MIGHT BE
DONE.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IN
TERMS OF LAYING OFF PEOPLE BY
RACE, THAT IS SIMPLY ILLEGAL SO
THAT SUGGESTED IN MY VIEW IS
OFF THE TABLE.
AGAIN, A LOT OF THAT WILL BE
DETERMINED BY LABOR LAW AND
NEGOTIATIONS AND LABOR
RELATIONS AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
YOUR SECOND QUESTION, I BELIEVE
THAT WAS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF THE
END OF THE YEAR.
THERE IS A LOT OF SPECULATION
ABOUT WHAT MIGHT OCCUR TOWARDS
YOUR END AND WE WILL HAVE TO
REALLY GET TO THAT POINT TO SEE
IF THAT MANY PEOPLE EITHER
RETIRE OR RESIGN.
WE EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE
SOME BUT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT THE NUMBER WILL BE.
>> I WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT
LITTLE BIT.
THE QUESTION OF WILL SHE FOLLOW
IT PRESUMES WHAT WILL PASS.
WE HOPE THEY RETHINK IT JUST AS
THEY RETHOUGHT THE PREVIOUS
POSITION BUT SECOND, IT WAS
SMOKE IN MIRRORS.
I CANNOT HAPPEN AND IF THE
CHIEF SAID SHE YOU I WILL GO
OUT OF ORDER, THAT WOULD'VE
PROBABLY BEEN AN UNFAVORABLE
LABOR PRACTICE TO OPEN THE CITY
TO FOR THE CHALLENGES.
I JUST HAVE TO EMPHASIZE THAT
THE 100 OFFICERS WE WANT TO CUT
AND THEY TRY TO PICK OUT THE
ONES THEY THINK THE PUBLIC
WOULD SUPPORT CUTTING, THAT IS
NOT HOW IT WILL WORK.
IT WILL BE THE 100 OFFICERS WHO
WERE THE MOST DIVERSE RECRUITS
AND THE PEOPLE HE BROUGHT IN
THE DEPARTMENT TO BE THAT NEW
VISION OF THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR AND CHIEF.
AND ESPECIALLY WILL COME FROM
HANNAH SCOTT FOLLOWED BY DAVID
COLEMAN.
HANNAH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> HI, THIS IS BOTH FOR MAYOR
AND CHIEF BEST.
MUCH HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT YOUR
ADDRESS , CHIEF.
I'M WONDERING IF WOULD BE
BETTER IN BUILDING TRUST AND
UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITIES
BETTER FOR THE POLICE CHIEF TO
LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE
DEPARTMENT WHERE SHE WORKS.
>> THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP
BEFORE AND I HAVE HAD
RESIDENTS HERE IN SEATTLE.
THERE ARE SOME PERSONAL
SITUATIONS WHERE NEED TO BE BACK
AT THE HOME ADDRESSES FOR SOME
TIME.
I AGREE AND I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THE CHIEF HAD
RESIDENTS HERE IN SEATTLE.
THAT DOESN'T LEAVE ME ANY LESS
CONNECTED TO THE CITY OR THE
PEOPLE IN IT.
THIS IS A TEMPORARY SITUATION.
ABSOLUTELY, I WOULD AGREE WITH
YOU AND I DON'T WANT THAT IN
ANY WAY TO BE REPORTS ON MY
LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO THE MEN
AND WOMEN OF THE ORGANIZATION
AND CERTAINLY TO THE PUBLIC WHO
LIVES AND WORKS AND VISITS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WHICH I ALSO
LOVE AND BELIEVE IN SO THANK
YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION
AND SEEKING CLARIFICATION.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM
DAVID, FOLLOWED BY NATALIE
SWEETMAN.
>> THIS IS FROM THE MAYOR.
YOU HAD SPOKEN A LOT ABOUT
REVENGE AND THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND AS PART OF THAT,
DO YOU EVER SEE THAT IT WOULD
BE PROPER TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND IF NOT, HOW DO YOU PAY FOR
REIMAGINING THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT?
>> GREAT QUESTION AND THE
SHORT ANSWER IS I DO THINK THAT
YOU CAN REIMAGINE POLICING SO
THAT YOU REDUCE THE FOOTPRINT
OF THE POLICE OFFICERS AND
INCREASE THE PUBLIC HEALTH BASE
RESPONSES.
TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE
THAT RESOURCE IN PLACE AND IT
HAS ADEQUATE TRAINING SO THAT
WHEN THEY RESPOND FROM A 911
CALL TO COME TO THE COMMUNITY
THAT THEY HAVE CONSISTENT
TRAINING AND THEY KNOW HOW TO
DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS OR EVEN
ARMED RESPONSE AND THEY NEED TO
HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND
24/7 ANY TO HAVE RESOURCES.
HELP ONE IS GREAT BUT IT
WOULDN'T BE THE RIGHT RESPONSE
EVERY DAY SO YOU NEED A WHOLE
RANGE AND I THINK THERE WILL BE
A PERIOD OF TIME WE HAVE
DEVELOPED THE CAPACITY FIRST
BEFORE YOU CAN DRIVE DOWN IN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WHEN
THIS ALL HAPPENED, YOU ASKED IF
CAN BE NEW JERSEY COULD BE A
MODEL AND A NUMBER OF COUNCIL
MEMBERS USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE.
IF YOU LOOK AT CANON, THE
REASON IT WAS DISMANTLED IS
BECAUSE OF A POLITICAL FIGHT BY
THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR THAT
CREATED A NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT BY EVERYONE'S ESTIMATION
DID NOT WORK AND DID NOT SERVE
COMMUNITY WELL.
THEY HAD TO RESTRUCTURE AND
REFORM THAT DEPARTMENT AND THEY
ENDED UP WITH MORE POLICE
OFFICERS THAN WHEN THEY STARTED
TO DECONSTRUCT IT.
I THINK AGAIN, WE SHOULD NOT
JUST BE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
OF HOW MANY POLICE WE HAVE BUT
LOOKING AT HOW WE INVEST IN
COMMUNITY SO THAT EVERY KID IN
SEATTLE GROWS UP IN THE
SITUATION WHERE THEY AND THEIR
FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND GOOD
EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY AND HEALTHCARE.
MAKE IT SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO
CALL 911 AS MANY TIMES AND THEN
WHEN THEY DO, WE CAN GET THEM
THE HELP THEY NEED AND
SOMETIMES THAT WILL BE THE
TRADITIONAL POLICE OFFICER AND
SOMETIMES IT WON'T.
I THINK IN THE FUTURE IF WE GET
THAT ALL RIGHT THAT YOU CAN
HAVE A REDUCED NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THAT HAD TO HAVE THE
TRADITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS BUT
IT IS NOT A NUMBERS GAME.
IT'S AN OUTCOME THAT YOU WANT
TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE AND
RESILIENT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IT APPEARS THAT NATALIE IS NO
LONGER ON THE CALL SO WE WILL
GO TO PAUL KEEPER FOLLOWED BY
NATALIE GRAHAM.
PAUL, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> ALL RIGHT, HELLO.
I MIGHT CASE OF WHICH YOU CLAIM
THAT EVERYONE IN THE LAYOFFS
WOULD BE SUITED TO LITIGATION
AND WHAT HAS BEEN USEFUL IN
COMING UP WITH THAT
DETERMINATION?
>> HEY, PAUL.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW JOB
AND WELCOME TO THE PRESS
CONFERENCE.
YOU WILL JUST SEE IT AS CASELAW
BUT IT IS A VERY COLLOCATED
AREA OF LAW BUT EVERY
INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS LAID OFF HAS
TO BE TAKEN CASE-BY-CASE.
YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE 100 AND SAY
THESE 100.
ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT SHOULDN'T
BE LAID OFF UNDER THE
TRADITIONAL RULES HAS A RIGHT
TO CHALLENGE THAT.
THAT TAKES A PERIOD OF TIME.
IT CAN TAKE MONTHS AND MANY
MANY MONTHS.
THERE IS A WHOLE SYSTEM BOTH
STATE LAW AND CONTRACT IN PLACE
THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO
CIRCUMVENT THE SYSTEM AND I
WANT TO ECHO SOMETHING THE
CHIEF SAID.
I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THIS
NEW RECRUIT CLASS IS EXACTLY
WHAT WE WANT FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S MORE DIVERSE AND THEY HAVE
MORE BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE AND
MANY SPEAK MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM.
TO TAKE A ROUGH CUT OF 100
OFFICERS, THAT IS EXACTLY WHO
WE WILL LOSE.
I THINK IT'S FRANKLY WITH THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO NOT PRETEND
TO BE ABLE BE THAT RESULT JUST
LIKE IT WAS ON THIS FOR PEOPLE
TO SAY WE WILL CUT IT 50% THIS
YEAR AND THEN ONCE THEY LOOKED
AT THE FACTS, THEY REALIZE WE
COULD NOT ACCOMPLISH THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM
NATALIE GRAHAM . NATALIE, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> HI, THANKS . I HAVE A
QUESTION FOR THE MAYOR.
YOU SAID THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY
WILLING TO WORK WITH THE
COUNCIL ON ANY OF THE PROBLEMS
BEFORE US.
WHY DID YOU VETO THE JUMPSTART
SEATTLE SPENDING PLAN?
>> NATALIE, I'M SO GLAD YOU
ASKED THAT.
IT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
BEFORE THEY PASSED THAT PLAN, I
TALKED TO COUNCILMAN MOSQUEDA
TO WALK HER THROUGH MY DEEP
CONCERNS ABOUT SPENDING SO MUCH
OF OUR RAINY DAY AND EMERGENCY
FUNDS.
WE WERE THEN NOT HALFWAY
THROUGH THE YEAR AND LOOKING AT
GREATER BUDGET DEFICITS NEXT
YEAR THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT IN 2020 THAT
WE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER
OF EMERGENCIES STARTING WITH
COVID-19 RELIEF WHERE WE HURT
TURNED THE MONEY TO DO DIRECT
AID WHERE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH ERIC ON TOPIC PARTNERS TO
RAISE MORE MONEY AND THEY HAVE
RAISED TENS OF MILLION DOLLARS
AND THEN WE THEN FACED ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN AND HAVE HAD TO TRY TO
GIVE HER SOMETHING SO SMALL
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS AND WORK
WITH THE GOVERNOR TO SEE WHAT
WE COULD DO TO HELP
UNEMPLOYMENT GET THERE QUICKER
AND THEN WE HAVE THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE WHICH WILL BE A
CHALLENGE AND CRISIS FOR THE
PEOPLE OF WEST SEATTLE AND ON
TOP OF THAT, WE HAD A CIVIL
RIGHTS RECKONING THAT HAS PUT
THE CITY TO CHANGE THE WAY IT
DOES BUSINESS IN SO MANY WAYS.
I TALKED TO COUNCILMAN MOSQUEDA
AND SAID I AGREE 100% THAT WE
WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
HELP PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS.
ALL OF THOSE AREAS ARE PROGRAMS
THAT I AND MY ADMINISTRATION
SET UP IN THE FIRST MONTH OF
THE PANDEMIC BUT I ALSO KNOW
THAT IN TWO WEEKS WE WILL GET A
NEW FORECAST AND THAT FORECAST
WILL TELL US HOW BIG OF A
BUDGET WILL WE HAVE NEXT YEAR.
WE ALSO KNEW THAT FULL EMPATHY
WAS GETTING TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO
SERVE THOSE NEEDS.
I WANTED TO TALK TO OUR
DEPARTMENTS TO SEE WHERE WAS
THE NEED THE MOST AND HOW
QUICKLY WE CAN GET THE DOLLARS
OUT THE DOOR.
NONE OF THOSE THINGS WERE DONE.
I ASKED FOR A PAUSE JUST TO SEE
THAT WE COULD DO THIS SMARTLY
BECAUSE WE ARE IN A CRISIS FOR
A WHILE AND THE ONLY QUESTION
WE HAVE IS OUR RAINY DAY FUND
AND EMERGENCY FUND.
THAT IS IT.
THAT IS WHAT WILL GET US
THROUGH THE WHOLE NEXT YEAR.
OTHERWISE, WE WILL HAVE MASSIVE
LAYOFFS AT THE CITY AND HAVE TO
CUT SERVICES TO THE VERY PEOPLE
WE WANT TO HELP THE MOST.
I WILL WORK WITH COUNCIL AND
I'M HOPING WE CAN WORK IN THE
NEXT WEEK TO SEE IF THERE IS A
DIFFERENT APPROACH AND PLAN
TALKING TO PHIL EMPATHY TO SEE
WHERE THE HOLES ARE FILLED AND
WE HAVE A BIG NEED WITH
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS.
UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE THAT CAN'T
QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL AID.
LET'S GO TO WORK TOGETHER TO
SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS RATHER
THAN TALK TO SOMEONE OR LISTEN
OR HAVE THEM CONSIDER IT AND
THEN THEY DECIDE TO NOT WORK
TOGETHER.
I AM THERE TO WORK WITH THEM.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THAT INCLUDES SECURITY PORTION
OF TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE SO
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FINISH UP
WITH ANY CLOSING THOUGHTS?
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN
AND I THINK THE LAST QUESTION
IS THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE IN
THESE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES ARE
GOING TO BE BEST SERVED BY US
WORKING TOGETHER TO SOLVE THESE
PROBLEMS.
WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
POLICING IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, I HAVE WORKED ON
REFORM FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND
MOST OF THE SIGNIFICANT REFORMS
IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT I WAS PART OF EITHER
ON OVERSIGHT GROUP THAT
RECOMMENDED THEM LIKE THE OPA
OR U. S. ATTORNEY THAT LED THE
INVESTIGATION INTO THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT SIGNED
THE DISSENT DECREE AND I AM
100% COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO
REFORM AND IMPROVE THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AS IS CHIEF
BEST AND WE ARE ALSO 100%
COMMITTED TO HOW THE POLICE
BETTER AND MAKE THE VOICES ON
THE STREETS TO SAY TO US TOO
MANY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE
HAVE SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF
POLICE AND TOO MANY MEN HAVE
BEEN KILLED BY POLICE.
I WANT TO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES
WITH YOU.
I THINK COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR
COULD JOIN TOGETHER WITH HIS
CHIEF OF POLICE AND MAKE
SEATTLE THE LEADER IN THE
NATION.
IF PEOPLE DO NOT CONSULT WITH
THE CHIEF AND ARE NOT REALISTIC
ABOUT WHAT WE NEED OR WHAT WE
CAN DO, SEATTLE WON'T LEAVE.
WE WILL FALL FURTHER BEHIND AND
SOME OF THE BEST RECRUITS.
PEOPLE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD
WILL FEEL IT.
NO ONE IN SEATTLE WANTS TO CALL
911 AND HELP SHOW UP 15 OR 20
MINUTES LATER.
THAT IS NOT HELPED.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND AS
MAYOR I WILL WORK WITH YOU BUT
BLUNT CUTS OF 100 OFFICERS
BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE
YEAR IS REALLY NOT THE WAY TO
PROCEED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.