OF THE SUSTAINABILITY AND
RENTERS' RIGHTS COUNCIL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE FOR THE COMMITTEE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALE US?
>> COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA?
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
COUNCILMEMBER WEISS?
ONE THE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS MEETING DOES NOT HAVE A
QUORUM OF THREE COUNCILMEMBERS
SPECIFIED BY THE COUNCIL RULES.
I WANT TO CLARIFY TWO MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC THAT THE COUNCIL
RULES ARE NOT A LAW.
FOLLOWING OR NOT FOLLOWING
THESE COUNCIL RULES OR
PROTOCOLS IS NOT A LEGAL
QUESTION.
FOR THE MOST PART, IN MY VIEW,
THESE ARE SET UP TO HELP THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT.
AS A COUNCILMEMBER, AS MANY OF
YOU MAY HAVE IS OBSERVED, I
GENERALLY FOLLOW THESE
PROTOCOLS AND CONVENTIONS, BUT
NOT WHEN THEY ARE USED BY THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT AS A
LEVER TO TRY TO HINDER ORDINARY
PEOPLE AND GRASSROOTS MOVEMENTS
AS THEY ARE IN THIS CASE WITH
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS BOYCOTTING
THIS COMMITTEE.
WE DO HAVE MORE THAN A QUORUM
OF WORKERS PREPARED TO SPEAK ON
THE AGENDA ITEMS.
TO ME, AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF
WORKING PEOPLE, AND NOT BE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT, THAT
IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT NOT
SURPRISING THAT THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT IS CHOOSING TO
BOYCOTT ANY AND ALL DISCUSSION
ABOUT TAXING BIG BUSINESS TO
ADDRESS THE TRIPLE EMERGENCY OF
COVID HOUSING AND CLIMATE
CHANGE.
HOWEVER, AS I SAID, THERE IS NO
LAW IN CONTINUING THIS
COMMITTEE MEETING WITHOUT OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT, SO WE
WILL NOT ALLOW THE BIG BUSINESS
LOYALTY BOYCOTT TO PREVENT THIS
DISCUSSION OF WORKERS, AND I AM
VERY EXCITED ABOUT TONIGHT'S
COMMITTEE AS THE NEXT STEP IN
OUR MOVEMENT, NOT ONLY FOR THE
AMAZON TAX, BUT ALSO TO BUILD
RENTER POWER TO FIGHT AGAINST
WHAT COULD BE A MASSIVE WAVE OF
EVICTIONS IN THE FACE OF THE
HISTORIC JOBLESSNESS IN OUR
SOCIETY.
SINCE 2017, WE HAVE BEEN LED BY
WORKING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING FOR THE AMAZON TAX TO
ADVANCE GREEN NEW DEAL
PROGRAMS.
WE ARE HERE TONIGHT, THANKS
ONLY TO THAT KIND OF MOVEMENT
AND THANKS TO ORDINARY PEOPLE,
WORKING PEOPLE, THE VULNERABLE
IN OUR SOCIETY, AND ALSO
PROGRESSIVE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AND LANDLORDS THROUGHOUT
OUR MOVEMENT.
WE ARE HERE SPECIFICALLY TO
EXTEND OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
TAX AMAZON LEGISLATION,
COSPONSORED BY ME AND BY TAMMY
MORALE US AND STRENGTHENING
RENTERS RIGHTS AND HOW WE CAN
SUPPORT GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING
FOR A FULL SUSPENSION WITHOUT
CONSEQUENCES OF RENT, MORTGAGE,
AND UTILITY PAYMENTS.
WE WILL HAVE TWO MEETINGS ON
THE LEGISLATION AND THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE ON APRIL 22
AND 29th.
BUT, BEFORE THE FIRST MEETING,
BEFORE THE CURRENT MEETING
SCHEDULED FOR MAY 13, THE
ESTABLISHMENT LED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS GONZALES AND
COLBERT SAID THAT TO FUND COVID
RELIEF GREEN NEW DEAL SOMEHOW
MYSTERIOUSLY WAS NOT EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION RESPONDING TO THE
COVID CRISIS.
IMAGINE THIS, AND EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH THE
EMERGENCY EMERGENCY RELATED,
YOU CANNOT MAKE THIS STUFF UP.
IN RESPONSE TO THIS,
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA
CANCELED THE COMMITTEE.
I APPRECIATE HER REPEATEDLY
DESERTINGÃRAISING REVENUES
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
CONTINUED SUPPORT EVEN THOUGH I
REALLY DISAGREE WITH HER
DECISION TO CANCEL THE
MEETINGS.
MY OFFICE, AND OUR MOVEMENT
TOTALL REJECT THE ALLEGEDLY GO
REASONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
GONZALES AND OTHERS IN THE
ESTABLISHMENT, IN DEMANDING
THAT COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ON
THE AMAZON TAX LEGISLATION BE
SHUTDOWN BECAUSE IT IS NOT MEET
THE CRITERIA IN THE GOVERNOR'S
PROCLAMATION OF NECESSARY
LEGISLATION TO RESPOND TO THE
COVID EMERGENCY.
I HELD A CONFERENCE WITH ONE OF
THE ATTORNEYS WHO WORKED
ALONGSIDE THE MOVEMENT FOR THE
SEATAC $15 MINIMUM WAGE TO
EXPLAIN WHY THERE IS NO
DEFENSIBLE LEGAL RATIONALE FOR
SHUTTING DOWN THE HEARINGS ON
TAX AMAZON.
LET'S BE VERY CLEAR HERE.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT IS TRYING TO USE
THE COVER OF LEGAL ARGUMENTS,
AND NOT VERY CONFIDENT ONES AT
THAT, TO TRY TO SQUASH THE
MOVEMENT AND A GROWING
MOVEMENT, AND PROTECT BIG
BUSINESS FROM TAXATION.
THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE NOT
JUST FOR COUNCILMEMBERS TO
LEARN ABOUT THE LEGISLATION,
THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WORKING PEOPLE TO CONTINUE
BUILDING OUR MOVEMENT.
THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO
LET THE ESTABLISHMENT STOP US
WITH OF THESE MANEUVERS.
AND AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON
FRIDAY, I ANNOUNCED THAT AS THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE WAS UNWILLING
TO ME TO CONTINUE DELIBERATIONS
ON THIS LEGISLATION, THEN I
WOULD DO SO AS CHAIR OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE, AND SO HERE
WE ARE TONIGHT, AND I WANT TO
WELCOME THE 70 OF YOU WHO ARE
ATTENDING ON VARIOUS CHANNELS
WE HAVE SET UP AND I'M SURE
MANY MORE WILL BE JOINING IN
THE MINUTES PRESENTLY, AND THAT
IS IN ADDITION TO THOSE OF YOU
WATCHING ON SEATTLE CHANNELS
AND LISTENING ON THE COUNCIL
LISTEN LINE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT, THE CLERK'S OFFICE,
AND THE COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT, AND THE SEATTLE
GENERAL STAFF FOR HELPING TO
FACILITATE TONIGHT'S ONLINE
MEETING, AND TO ENSURE THE
PUBLIC CAN FULLY ATTEND THIS
MEETING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR
WORK.
WE WILL HEAR AN IMPORTANT
REPORT TONIGHT FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL STAFF ON THE JOBS
BENEFITS OF TAX AMAZON AND WE
HAVE TWO EXCELLENT COMMUNITY
PANELS, BUT FIRST THE WORKERS
TO DISCUSS TAX AMAZON AND THE
SECOND, OF RENTERS, OR ALSO
WORKING PEOPLE, WHO SHARE WITH
US ALL OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING
TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST GREEDY
LANDLORDS.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO THE
AGENDA THAN IT WILL BE ADOPTED,
BUT THERE IS NO OTHER
COUNCILMEMBER, SO THE AGENDA IS
GOING TO BE ADOPTED.
BEFORE WE GO TO THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONIES, I WANT TO SHARE
WITH YOU ALL SOME NEWS ABOUT
IMOGENE WILLIAMS, WHO MANY OF
YOU MAY KNOW AS A LONG TIME
FIGHTER FOR WORKING PEOPLE, FOR
SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND WHO IS
OLDER THAN MOST OF US IN AGE,
YET HAS PUT MANY OF US YOUNGER
PEOPLE TO SHAME WITH HER
BOUNDLESS ENERGY AND COURAGE.
I AM DEEPLY SADDENED TO SHARE
FROM HER FAMILY THAT SHE HAS
SUFFERED A DEBILITATING
FRACTURE, BUT WE ARE THANKFUL
THAT SHE WILL BE SURROUNDED BY
HER LOVING FAMILY, AND HER
LOVED ONES.
IMOGENE HAS BEEN A FIERCE
PROPONENT ON THE AMAZON TAX.
WHEN SHE SPOKE AT CITY HALL
CHAMBERS AGAINST THE SHAMEFUL
REPEAL OF THE 2018 AMAZON
ATTACKS, SHE SENT FIRE COURSING
THROUGH MY VEINS.
WHEN THE SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE
GIVEN UP, GOT DEMORALIZED, OR
EVEN SOLD OUT IN THE FACE OF
THE OBSTACLES FROM THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT AND
THIS HOSTILE SYSTEM, IMAGING
HAS BEEN ONE OF THE RARE
LEADERS WHO HAS NEVER LOST HER
COURAGE OR HER INTEGRITY, HER
LOVE FOR HER FELLOW BEINGS HAVE
NEVER DULLED, AND SHE HAS NEVER
STOPPED FIGHTING.
AND, IN HER SPIRIT, DESPITE ALL
THE ADVERSITY FACING HER, SHE
IS WITH HER FAMILY AT HOME
RIGHT NOW WATCHING THIS
COMMITTEE.
OUR LOVE AND SOLIDARITY TO YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY HAS BEEN AN
HONOR TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE OF
YOU.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
FOR ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, OR
WITHIN THE COMMITTEE'S PURVIEW.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS
MEETING, I AM GOING TO HAVE IT
FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BECAUSE WE
HAVE A LONG AGENDA.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTER ON THE COUNCILS
WEBSITE.
IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK, BUT WOULD LIKE TO,
PLEASE SIGN UP.
IF WE HAVE TIME WE WILL INCLUDE
YOU.
AND, THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS
ALSO LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF FROM MY OFFICE WILL
UNMUTE THE APPROPRIATE
MICROPHONE AND AN AUTOMATIC
PROMPT OF YOU WILL BE A MUTED
IS THE SPEAKERS QUEUE THAT YOU
HAVE YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME, AND EVERY
SPEAKER WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
I'M REALLY SORRY, I OBSERVED
THAT IT SEEMS TO DISORIENTED
THE SPEAKERS, AND IT MAKES YOU
FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO START
SPEAKING AT THAT MOMENT, PLEASE
KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HEAR A
CHIME, YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT
STILL, SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO
START SPEAKING AT THAT SECOND,
BUT THAT IS WHEN YOU NEED TO
WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS
AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU FINISH
BEFORE YOUR 10 SECONDS ARE UP,
BECAUSE IF YOU DO NOT AND AT
THAT TIME, THE MICROPHONE WILL
BE AUTOMATICALLY MUTED TO ALLOW
US TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN, AND I WILL BE READING
THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING TO BE SPEAKING.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS EVA METZ.
>> HI, I AM A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 2, AND A MEMBER OF
SOCIAL ALTERNATIVE.
ON THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT
FOR USING BUREAUCRATIC AND THE
CRITIC ARGUMENTS TO END THE
MEETINGS ON TAX AMAZON.
I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS TERESA MOSQUEDA
AND COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES FAILED TO SHOW UP
TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING TAX
AMAZON ON THE AGENDA AND GIVING
AN EXAMPLE FOR THE KIND OF
POLITICS WE NEED IN THIS TIME.
I THINK THAT CAPITALISM IS
DEMONSTRATING ITSELF TO BE
COMPLETELY A FAILED SYSTEM, A
CRISES AND A RECESSION .2 BE
CLEAR, THE POLITICIANS WHO
REFUSE TO TAX THE WEALTHY ARE
NOT TAKING A NEUTRAL POSITION,
THERE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THE
COST OF THIS CRISIS WILL BE
PAID FOR BY ORDINARY PEOPLE --
AUSTERITY BUDGETS, AND THEY ARE
HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
SUPERRICH CONTINUE TO PROFIT
OFF THIS CRISIS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED A NEW
PARTY, WE NEED TO TAX AMAZON,
AND ULTIMATELY, WE NEED A
DIFFERENT KIND OF SOCIETY THAN
CAPITALISM, THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> IT EVENING, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, IT IS NICE TO CHAT WITH
YOU TONIGHT.
WHILE I'M ON THE PHONE WITH YOU
I'M LOOKING AT $.38.
I PUT $.38 ON THE CALENDAR TO
REMIND MYSELF THAT OUR CURRENT
DEFICIT IS $.38 PER PERSON PER
DAY.
SEATTLE HAS A BUDGET OF $6.5
BILLION, WE ARE ONLY SHORT $110
MILLION, THAT IS ONLY A
SHORTFALL OF 1.5%.
THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY, AND
ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR, WE
SHOULD NOT BE MEETING.
TOMORROW, BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU
TO DO AND OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
TO DO IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
SAVE $.38 FOR EVERY SINGLE
PERSON LIVING IN SEATTLE.
HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS.
MAYBE THE CITY DOESN'T NEED TO
PURCHASE HUNDREDS OF NEW CARS
AND TRUCKS FOR EMPLOYEES.
I NOTICED YOUR CARS AND TRUCKS
ARE ALL NEWER THAN MINE AND I
DRIVE A REALLY NICE CAR.
OUR BUDGET SHORTFALL IS NOT A
CRISIS.
THE CITY DOES NOT NEED ANOTHER
HAD TAX.
CREATING JOBS FOR THE
UNEMPLOYED IS A CRISIS.
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
RIGHT NOW IS THE EMERGENCY.
THE CITY RESALE BUSINESSES
CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
AND HELP THE INDUSTRY PRODUCE
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AFFORDABLE
PLACES TO LIVE AND HELP US
CREATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW
CONSTRUCTION JOBS.
PLEASE DON'T WASTE TAXPAYER
MONEY.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE ROSIE DANIELS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ROSIE DANIELS
I'M REGISTERED IN DISTRICT 3,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT DISTRICT
AND I AM A MEMBER OF SUCH
ALTERNATIVES AND MY THOUGHTS GO
OUT TO IMOGENE AND HER FAMILY
RIGHT NOW.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR
WITH THE PROCESS OF ARE, THE
TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT, WE CREATED
THREE DIFFERENT CONGRESS IS SO
FAR TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WIN
AND WE HAVE TO BE INDEPENDENT
BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THAT YOU
CANNOT DEPEND ON THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY ESTABLISHMENT TO ACT IN
OUR INTEREST, WHICH HAS BEEN
EXHIBITED OVER WHERE ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS REFUSED TO DO
THEIR JOBS AND SHOW FACE.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT
OURSELVES.
WITHOUT THE TAX INITIATIVE, WE
DESPERATELY NEED FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT IS REFUSING TO DO
THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD MAKE
DEMOCRACY POSSIBLE DURING THIS
PANDEMIC BY LEAVING US WITH NO
OTHER OPTION.
WE ARE GOING TO COLLECT
SIGNATURES IN A SOCIALLY
DISTANT AND SAFE WAY FROM NOW
THROUGH THE JULY DEADLINE AND
WE ARE RAMPING UP TO INVOLVE
HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS.
OUR MOVEMENT HAS -- WE DECIDED
TO DO IT, SO THE SATURDAY WE
ARE STARTING OFF, GO TO TAX
AMAZON/EVENTS TO GET INVOLVED.
THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAMELA
WOODRUFF.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YES.
>> HELLO, I AM PAMELA WOODRUFF,
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
I'M COMMENTING ON ITEM NUMBER
TWO ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
I AM A HOUSING PROVIDER OF ONE
BACKYARD COTTAGE IN NORTH
SEATTLE.
WE RECEIVED THE PERMIT IN 2009.
IS A SOCIAL WORKER WHO HAS
WORKED IN MEDICAL SETTINGS FOR
20 YEARS, I UNDERSTAND THE
SERIOUS RAMIFICATIONS OF
INCREASED HOMELESSNESS DURING A
PANDEMIC.
NONE OF US WANT TO EVICT
TENANTS, ESPECIALLY NOW.
HOWEVER, I AM DISMAYED THAT
SMALL HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE NOW
REQUIRED TO DEFER RENTAL INCOME
FOR SIX OR MORE MONTHS OF
INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS WHILE
STILL BEING EXPECTED TO PROVIDE
HOUSING ALONG WITH THE EXPENSES
OF REPAIRS, RENOVATIONS, LOANS,
MORTGAGES, UTILITIES, AND
TAXES.
AS A PERSON IN MY 60s, COVID,
MY ABILITY TO SUPPLEMENT MY
INCOME IS SEVERELY CURTAILED
FOR MONTHS TO COME.
I URGE THE COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL
RELIEF TO US SMALL HOUSING
PROVIDERS TO OFFSET THE LOSS OF
INCOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
LISTENING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BARBARA
FINNEY.
>> HI.THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
HOLDING THIS HEARING.
I HOPE ALL THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE WATCHING.
MY NAME IS BARBARA FINNEY, I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 5, AND I AM A
MEMBER OF THE TAX AMAZON
MOVEMENT.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF GROUPS
THAT I BELONG TO THAT SUPPORT
THE SAWANT TAMMY MORALES
LEGISLATION TO FUND COVID-19
REALLY FOR WORKERS , MASSIVE
EXPANSION OF GREEN JOBS AND
SOCIAL HOUSING.
THESE ARE THE 32nd LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT DEMOCRATS.
SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS
OF AMERICA, SEATTLE 350, A
PUGET SOUND ALLIANCE FOR
RETIREMENT ACTION, WHY IS THERE
SO MUCH MOMENTUM FOR TAX
AMAZON?
BECAUSE IT IS EITHER A CHOICE
BETWEEN WE ARE GOING TO GET
AUSTERITY OR PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
SO, WE NEED TO TAX, MAKE A
CORPORATE TAX, WHICH IS VERY
FAIR ON THE BIGGEST BUSINESSES
IN SEATTLE TO FUND PUBLIC
INVESTMENTS.
IT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED NOW.
THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS LUIS, CAN
YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6. I
SUPPORT THE PREMISE THAT
BUSINESSES THAT FEEL SEATTLE'S
VIABILITY AND ECONOMY SHOULD
ALSO FIND A WAY TO HELP SOLVE
THE PRESSING PROBLEMS IN THIS
PROPOSAL, THE COVID-19 IMPACT
ON CITIZENS, THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS, AND CARBON
REDUCTION.
I SUPPORT EFFORTS FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL, THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, TO COOPERATE AND
RESPOND TO THESE PRESSING
SOCIAL ISSUES AND URGE THE CITY
AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO
ENLIST THE HELP, PERHAPS EVEN
FURTHER IN THE COUNTY IN THE
REGION, TO CREATE FUNDS TO
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
I ASKED THAT MY CIVIC AND
BUSINESS LEADERS ENGAGE FOR THE
GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT
THEY HELP MAKE THE COMMUNITY
SUCCESSFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> LAST, WE HAVE KAREN TAYLOR.
>> MY NAME IS KAREN TAYLOR.
HELLO, MY NAME IS KAREN TAYLOR.
I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT SOMETHING WE DID WITH THE
TRANSIT WRITERS UNION BUT I'M
SPEAKING FRANKLY ON MY OWN
BEHALF.
I ORGANIZE THE TRANSIT WRITERS
UNION SOCIALLY DISTANCED IN
PERSON PROTEST ASKING FOR A BIG
BUSINESS TAX, AND I AND OTHERS
DARED TO PUT OUR FAMILY'S LIVES
AT RISK TO YET AGAIN SAY THAT
WE NEED THIS TAX.
AND AS OUR SPEAKER MENTIONED,
I, AT THE UNION'S REQUEST, WENT
AND CAMPAIGNED FOR HERBOLD EVEN
THOUGH THAT IS NOT MY DISTRICT,
I FOUGHT FOR HER AND I WISH SHE
WOULD FIGHT FOR ME.
WE TAKE RISKS ALL THE TIME.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE HER TO TAKE
A RISK AND DO THIS TAX.
I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY TIMES
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CALL AND
TALK ABOUT THIS.
I'M SPENDING ALL MY MONEY ON
AMAZON NOW FOR MY FOOD STAMPS
BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY PLACE
THAT DELIVERS AND TAKES THEM
THAT I KNOW OF.
I REALLY WISH THEY WOULD HELP
US OUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KSHAMA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH KAREN AND
EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE IN PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE
WILL GO ON TO THE REMAINING
PORTION OF OUR COMMITTEE.I
WANTED TO . A STATEMENT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA
HAS SENT TO ME TO . OUT
PUBLICLY.
THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT TO
MY OFFICE.
THEY NEED FOR REVENUE AND
RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE COVID-
19 IS GREAT.
THIS VIRUS HAS EXACERBATED
ALREADY EXISTING INEQUITIES FOR
MANY SEATTLE RESIDENTS,
INCLUDING WOMEN, PEOPLE OF
COLOR, IMMIGRANTS, LOW INCOME
WORKERS, WORKING FAMILIES,
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, MANY IN
THE LGBT COMMUNITY, AND FOR THE
ON THE HOUSE TO NEIGHBORS.
I SUPPORT ANY CONVERSATION THAT
BEGINS TO ADDRESS OUR
COMMUNITIES NEED DURING THE
CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY, AND
BEYOND.
THE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP CREATED AND
WORSENED BY COVID REQUIRES
PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS AND
STRONG MAINTENANCE OF THE
SAFETY NET.
THE PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS ARE
GREATLY APPRECIATED BUT
PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT COUPLED
WITH EXISTING GOVERNMENT
RESOURCES ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH
TO MEET THE MOUNTING COMMUNITY
NEEDS CAUSED BY, AND MADE WORSE
BY COVID.
THE REALITY IS THAT NOW IS A
CRUCIAL TIME TO PROVIDE
IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO OUR
COMMUNITY, INCLUDING WORKING
FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESSES,
FOOD SECURITY HOUSING
ASSISTANCE, CHILD CARE SUPPORT,
AND DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE, AND
IT IS CLEAR THE FUNDING
EMERGENCY CAUSED BY COVID
RESPONSE AND RELIEF.
THE EVOLVING LEGAL ANALYSIS
SAYS OTHERWISE, WHICH
FRUSTRATES ME, BUT I SUPPORT
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S
RECOMMENDATION TO BOTH ENSURE
WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY GOVERNOR
ENSLEY TO PUBLIC AGENCIES THAT
DIRECT ANY ACTION DURING THE
COVID-19 EMERGENCY, AND TO
PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND
ATTENDEES.
I REMAIN COMMITTED TO PASSING
SUSTAINABLE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
AT THE CITY LEVEL TO RESPOND TO
THE CRISIS, AND ITS LINGERING
EFFECTS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING IN
THAT PROCESS AS SOON AS WE GET
FURTHER NOTICE FROM OUR LAW
DEPARTMENT MOVING FORWARD.
IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE HELD
OTHER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
OPPORTUNITIES, TO ADJUST TO THE
ECONOMIC REALITIES OF COVID,
THE FORUM I HOSTED MAY 14 WHICH
INCLUDED NATIONAL AND LOCAL
LEADERS WHO DESCRIBE THE STARK
ECONOMIC REALITY IMPOSED UPON
US AND HOW TO BUILD AN ECONOMY
THAT CENTERS EQUITY, NOT
AUSTERITY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT
THE IMPORTANCE OF NEW REVENUE
PROPOSALS TO OVERCOME THIS
BUDGET CRISIS IN THE WEEKS
AHEAD, AND LOOK FORWARD TO
FUTURE COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS AS
SOON AS WE ARE ALLOWED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT,
AND STAY SAFE..
I REALLY APPRECIATE TERESA
MOSQUEDA SENDING THE STATEMENT
SO I COULD . IT.
I STRONGLY AGREE WITH HER THAT
THIS IS A CRUCIAL TIME TO
PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO OUR
COMMUNITY, AND TO CREATE JOBS,
AND THAT WE CANNOT DO THAT WITH
THE EXISTING PUBLIC REVENUES,
ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF
IMMEDIATE AUSTERITY THAT WE ARE
FACING, AND I WILL TALK ABOUT
THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
OF COURSE, AS I HAVE SAID TO
HER AND PUBLICLY, I DO NOT
AGREE WITH THE DECISION TO
CANCEL THE MEETINGS, AND I
DON'T ACCEPT AS CREDIBLE THIS
FEAR THAT AS ELECTED LEADERS WE
ARE GOING TO BE SUED FOR
HOLDING A MEETING ON AN
EMERGENCY DURING AN EMERGENCY.
BUT, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
THAT WE HAVE TERESA MOSQUEDA
AND HAVING SAID REPEATEDLY THAT
SHE REALLY, IT IS HER DESIRE TO
HAVE PROGRESSIVE REVENUES.
I ALSO AGREE WITH KAREN, WHO
SPOKE IN PUBLIC COMMENT JUST
NOW AND SAID THAT, YOU KNOW,
ORDINARY PEOPLE, THEY FIGHT ON
THE FRONT LINES TO GET THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED.
AND, AS KAREN SAID, SHE HAS
FOUGHT, SHE WANTS HER ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVE TO FIGHT FOR
HER.
AND, THAT IS THE KIND OF
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE NEED
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO TAKE
SERIOUSLY, THAT ONCE WE GET
ELECTED, THIS IS NOT OUR
POSITION PERSONALLY, IT IS THE
POSITION THAT BELONGS TO THE
PEOPLE, AND I THINK THAT I TAKE
THAT RESPONSE ABILITY
SERIOUSLY, THAT IS WHY WE ARE
HOLDING THE COMMITTEE TONIGHT,
I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR ALL THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOINED US.
WHAT WAS TALKED ABOUT
EXTENSIVELY IN THE PREVIOUS TWO
MEETINGS WAS A CENTRAL ASPECT
OF THE CRISIS WE ARE FACING,
THIS RECESSION THAT IS NOW
ALREADY IN MANY ASPECTS WORSE
THAN THE GREAT DEPRESSION,
IMAGINE THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO BE LIVING
THROUGH A CRISIS THAT IN MANY
RESPECTS IS GOING TO BE WORSE
THAN THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE CENTRAL
COMPONENT OF THIS CRISIS IS THE
MASSIVE JOBLESSNESS.
AND, THE CENTRAL COMPONENT OF
OUR LEGISLATION IS JOBS
CREATION.
AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN TALKED
ABOUT HARDLY AT ALL IN THE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE
HAD SO FAR, AND SO THIS
COMMITTEE IS GOING TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF SOME NUMBERS THAT
WE HAVE RECEIVED, AND WE HAVE
STAFF HERE TO HELP US WITH IT.
BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND, THE UNEMPLOYMENT
NUMBERS RIGHT NOW ARE
ABSOLUTELY STAGGERING.
NEARLY 40 MILLION WORKERS
THROUGHOUT AMERICA HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS IN NINE WEEKS.
OVER 150,000 OF SEATTLE'S
WORKERS ARE PART OF THOSE
TERRIFYING STATISTICS.
IT IS TERRIFYING, BECAUSE WHEN
PEOPLE ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK, WHEN YOU LITERALLY DO
NOT HAVE A PITCH, WHAT ARE YOU
SUPPOSED TO DO?
WE KNOW THESE NUMBERS ARE
UNDERESTIMATING BECAUSE THEY
EXCLUDE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE
GIG ECONOMY LIKE UBER DRIVERS,
WORKERS IN THE INFORMAL
ECONOMY, AND PEOPLE WHO HAD THE
HOURS REDUCED.
BUT, NOT COMPLETELY ELIMINATED.
THE NEW JOBS DATA FOR THE
AMAZON TAX, WHICH OUR CITY
COUNCIL WILL PRESENT IN VIDEO
SHORTLY DETAIL WHAT THIS FIGHT
IS REALLY ABOUT.
WE HAVE 2 CHOICES, SEATTLE'S
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT CAN
CHOOSE TO SIDE WITH WORKING
PEOPLE, AND SAVE LIVES AND
REBUILD OUR COMMUNITY, IN THE
WAKE OF COVID BY INVESTING IN
JOBS, HOUSING, AND A GREEN NEW
DEAL, AND THEN, BY TAXING BIG
BUSINESS AND THE WEALTHY, OR,
THEY CAN DOUBLE DOWN ON THE
MISERY WITH SAVAGE AUSTERITY
POLICIES THAT ARE OPENLY BEING
ADVOCATED BY THE CORPORATE
ELITE, THE MAYOR, AND THE
SEATTLE EDITORIAL BOARD.
IN THE 9 WEEKS SINCE THE COVID
SHUTDOWN BEGAN, NEARLY 1.2
MILLION WASHINGTON STATE
WORKERS HAVE FILED FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING OVER
350,000 IN KING COUNTY, THAT IS
ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR WORKERS
IN WASHINGTON STATE, ONE OUT OF
EVERY FOUR WORKERS IS JUST
ABSOLUTELY FRIGHTENING, THESE
NUMBERS.
ECONOMISTS HAVE STATED THAT WE
ARE ENTERING A PERIOD OF LONG
AND PROFOUND ECONOMIC
DISRUPTION WITH LONG-TERM
IMPACTS ON ACCESS TO JOBS,
HOUSING, AND OTHER BASIC
NECESSITIES OF LIFE.
EIGHT HARVARD ECONOMIST THAT
STUDIES RECESSIONS ESTIMATES
THAT WE MIGHT SEE THE MOTHER OF
ALL FINANCIAL CRISES.
BY COMPARISON TO THE PRESENT
MOMENT, THE GREAT DEPRESSION
LASTED A DECADE WITH
UNEMPLOYMENT PEAKING AT ABOUT
25%, AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE
NOW ESTIMATES THAT UNEMPLOYMENT
IN THE COVID CRISIS COULD PEEK
AT 30%, WELL ABOVE THE GREAT
DEPRESSION PEAK.
THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT HAS
ALREADY ANNOUNCED THE FIRST
ROUND OF AUSTERITY FOR THE
CITY'S BUDGET, 10% BUDGET CUTS.
TWO QUOTE OF THE URBANIST, WHO
RECENTLY NOTED, A 10% CUT TO
THE GENERAL FUND WOULD BE
DEVASTATING.
THE AUSTERITY MEAT CLEAVER WILL
HIT SOCIAL SERVICES THAT PEOPLE
COUNT ON, ESPECIALLY DURING A
PANDEMIC RECESSION.
THAT IS A QUOTE FROM THE
URBANIST WHICH CLEARLY EXPLAINS
THAT A 10% CUT AT THE CITY
LEVEL IS GOING TO BE
DEVASTATING, AND THAT IS JUST
THE OPENING SALVO FOR BIG
BUSINESS AND THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT.
THIS IS OUR CHOICE, TAX AMAZON
FOR JOBS, HOUSING, AND
EMERGENCY RELIEF TO RELIEVE
SUFFERING AND REBUILD THE
COMMUNITY, OR TO INSIST ON
AUSTERITY THAT WILL ONLY DOUBLE
DOWN ON THE MISERY FOR ALL OF
US, WHILE PROTECTING THE RICH
AND POWERFUL?
AND, THAT IS REALLY THE CENTRAL
QUESTION THAT IS FACING OUR
CITY, WHO WILL PAY FOR THE
COVID CRISIS?
AUSTERITY?
WORKING PEOPLE, SMALL
BUSINESSES, SMALL LANDLORDS?
OUR CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
HAS CONSULTED WITH INDUSTRY
EXPERTS AND DETERMINED THAT IN
AGGREGATE, THE TAX AMAZON
LEGISLATION WOULD CREATE OR
SUPPORT 34,000 JOBS OVER THE
COURSE OF THE FIRST 10 YEARS OF
THIS LEGISLATION.
THESE JOBS WILL BE NEWLY
CREATED, LIKE THE SOCIAL WORK
POSITIONS AND OTHER JOBS IN
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, OR
SUPPORTED THROUGH INCREASED
DEMAND FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK TO
BUILD NEW SOCIAL HOUSING, AND
TO UPGRADE EXISTING HOMES WITH
ENERGY-EFFICIENT INVESTMENTS.
SO, LET'S TURN OUT TO THE
CENTRAL STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN
KIND ENOUGH TO PUT TOGETHER
INFORMATION ON THE JOBS THAT
WOULD BE CREATED WITH OUR TAX
AMAZON LEGISLATION INVESTMENTS.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR
THE RECORD AND TAKE OVER WITH
YOUR SLIDESHOW, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
-- CENTRAL STAFF.
I'M GOING TO ATTEMPT TO SHARE
MY SCREEN HERE.
TRACY, IF YOU WANT TO ELLIPSE
>> TRACY RADCLIFFE, COUNCIL
CENTER STAFF.
>> OKAY, IT IS NOT WORKING.
>> YEP.
>> GREAT.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT,
AT YOUR REQUEST WE PUT TOGETHER
INFORMATION TO DEMONSTRATE THE
NUMBER OF JOBS THAT COULD BE
SUPPORTED BY THE PROPOSED
INVESTMENTS IN SOCIAL HOUSING
AND GREEN NEW DEAL STRATEGIES
TO DESCRIBE THE COUNCIL BILL ,
CB 119774, THAT ACCOMPANIES THE
PROPOSED PAYROLL TAX.
BEFORE WE PRESENT THAT
INFORMATION WE WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE CAVEATS
TO BE AWARE OF WHEN USING THIS
INFORMATION.
FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL HAVE
KEY TERMS AND ESTIMATES FOR THE
TWO CATEGORIES OF SPENDING.
ESTIMATES WE WILL PRESENT
TONIGHT WERE DEVELOPED USING A
NUMBER OF SOURCES THAT EMPLOY
DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIES TO
ESTIMATE JOBS SUPPORTED BY THE
PROPOSED INVESTMENTS.
THIS IS JUST ONE APPROACH TO
ROUGHLY ESTIMATE JOBS THAT
COULD BE SUPPORTED AND IS BASED
ON A NUMBER OF ASSUMPTIONS.
THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF JOBS AS
YOU NOTED, CREATED OR
SUPPORTED, MAY BE HIGHER OR
LOWER THAN WHAT IS DESCRIBED
HERE.
AS AN EXAMPLE, THE ESTIMATES
ASSUME THAT THE AMOUNT OF
REVENUE THAT WILL BE GENERATED
BY THE PROPOSED PAYROLL TAX
WILL BRING IN APPROXIMATELY
$500 MILLION ANNUALLY.
WITH ABOUT $370 MILLION
INVESTED IN THE SOCIAL HOUSING,
AND ABOUT 120 MILLION INVESTED
IN GREEN NEW DEAL INVESTMENTS
ANNUALLY.
IF THOSE ESTIMATES OF THE
REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE TAX
ARE HIGHER OR LOWER THAN WHAT
ACTUALLY COMES IN, THE JOB
ESTIMATES WOULD ALSO CHANGE.
FURTHER, THE ESTIMATES DO NOT
ACCOUNT FOR JOBS THAT MAY BE
LOST BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN AN
INDUSTRY RESULTING FROM THESE
POLICY CHANGES OR THE RESECTION
ÃREDUCTIONS IN JOBS.
SORRY.
SO, BEFORE MOVING INTO THE
ESTIMATES WE WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THESE KEY TERMS THAT
WE MIGHT REFERENCE THE
PRESENTATION.
JOB ESTIMATES CAN BE MEASURED
AS DIRECT, THOSE JOBS SUPPORTED
BY THE PROJECT ITSELF, AND REC,
THOSE JOBS SUPPORTED IN
SUPPLYING THE INPUTS TO THE
PROJECT, OR REDUCED, THOSE JOB
SUPPORTING GOODS AND SERVICES
TO THOSE PEOPLE IN JOBS
SUPPORTED DIRECTLY AND
INDIRECTLY BY THE INVESTMENTS.
SOME OF THE ESTIMATES PROVIDED
TONIGHT INCLUDE JUST DIRECT
JOBS, WHILE OTHERS INCLUDE A
COMBINATION OF DIRECT,
INDIRECT, AND INDUCED JOBS.
I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHY WE
ARE USING THE TERM JOBS
RECORDED VERSUS CREATED.
WE USE THIS FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION RELATED
INVESTMENTS BECAUSE THE
INVESTMENTS MAY PROVIDE ONGOING
WORK FOR AN EXISTING WORKER
RATHER THAN PROVIDING A NEW JOB
A PERSON OR A PERSON NOT
CURRENTLY WORKING, OR NOT
CURRENTLY WORKING IN THAT
INDUSTRY.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE
IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN WERE
THE ONLY WORKING CONSTRUCTION
OR THE MAJORITY OF WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION, FOR EXISTING
WORKERS, MAYBE THOSE PROJECTS
ARE SUPPORTED BY THESE PUBLIC-
SECTOR INVESTMENTS.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO TRACY, WHO WILL DESCRIBE THE
ASSUMPTIONS AND ESTIMATES FROM
THE SOCIAL HOUSING INVESTMENTS.
>> THANKS, HOLLY, SOME OF YOU
TO SLIDE THREE, AND THE
ASSUMPTIONS AND INFORMATION
THAT UNDERPIN THE JOB ESTIMATES
FOR THE SOCIAL HOUSING
INVESTMENT.
FIRST AS ALLIE MENTIONED, THE
JOB ESTIMATES ARE BASED ON
SPECIFIC PROPOSALS REGARDING
THE NUMBER, TYPES OF HOUSING.
THE SPECIFIC JOB ESTIMATES FOR
NEW CONSTRUCTION HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS WERE BASED ON THE
APRIL 2015 NATIONAL CESSATION
OF HOMEBUILDERS REPORT, THAT
SHOWED EACH NEWLY CONSTRUCTED
100 UNIT MULTIFAMILY BUILDING
SUPPORTS 90 DIRECT AND INDIRECT
JOBS, AND 70 INDUCED JOBS.
THE SPECIFIC JOB ESTIMATES FOR
ONGOING STAFFING FOR NEW
PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING
PROJECTS ARE BASED ON THE
CITY'S EXPERIENCE WITH SUCH
PROJECTS, WHICH SHOWED ON
AVERAGE IT TAKES 20 STAFF TO
SUPPORT THE ONGOING OPERATIONS
AND SERVICES OF THE PROPERTIES.
STAFFING CAN BE LESS OR MORE
DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF
SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED AT
SUCH PROJECTS.
LOOKING AT THE TABLE ON THE
SLIDE 4, WE SEE THE SPENDING
PLAN IS AT ABOUT 500 UNITS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDED IN
THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE
TAX, AND AN ADDITIONAL 3100
UNITS FUNDED BY YOUR 10 FOR A
TOTAL OF 6600 UNITS BY THE END
OF 10 YEARS.
WE ESTIMATE THESE UNITS WILL
SUPPORT 3150 DIRECT AND
INDIRECT JOBS BY THE END OF
FIVE YEARS, AND 2790 ADDITIONAL
JOBS BY YEAR 10 FOR A TOTAL OF
5940 JOBS BY THE END OF 10
YEARS.
IN ADDITION, 2485 INDUCED JOBS
WILL BE SUPPORTED BY THE END OF
FIVE YEARS, AND AN ADDITIONAL
2200 JOBS WILL BE CREATED BY
THE END OF 10 YEARS, FOR A
TOTAL OF 4686 INDUCED JOBS BY
THE END OF 10 YEARS.
TOTAL IN THESE ALTOGETHER,
DIRECT, INDIRECT, AND INDUCED
JOBS, WE -- WE EACH REACH A
TOTAL OF 5635 JOBS SUPPORTED
AND 10,626 IN THE FIRST 10
YEARS.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THESE
UNITS WILL BE FUNDED AND
CONSTRUCTED OVER A PERIOD OF
10+ YEARS.
AS IT RELATES TO THE JOB
ESTIMATES FOR NEW PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECTS,
THE SPENDING PLAN ASSUMES THAT
1400 UNITS OF PSH WILL BE
FUNDED IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS,
AND AN ADDITIONAL 1300 UNITS BY
YEAR 10 FOR A TOTAL OF 2700 PSH
UNITS.
ASSUMING THE AVERAGE SIZE OF
SUCH PROJECT IS 100 UNITS,
THIS EQUATES TO 14 NEW PSH
BUILDINGS BEING FUNDED DURING
THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
THAT WILL RESULT IN 280 DIRECT
JOBS.
BY YOUR 10, AN ADDITIONAL 13
PSH PROJECTS WILL BE FUNDED,
REQUIRING AN ADDITIONAL 260
DIRECT JOBS, FOR A TOTAL OF 540
JOBS IN THE FIRST 10 YEARS.
AGAIN, THESE PSH PROJECTS WILL
BE CONSTRUCTED AND COMPLETED
OVER A PERIOD OF 10+ YEARS IN
THE JOB SUPPORTING THESE
PROJECTS WILL HAPPEN OVER THE
SAME TIME PERIOD.
>> THANKS, TRACY.
SO, NOW WE WILL MOVE TO DISCUSS
THE GREEN NEW DEAL RELATED
INVESTMENTS AND THE JOB
ESTIMATES SUPPORTED BY THOSE
INVESTMENTS.
FIRST, I WILL WALK THROUGH SOME
OF THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT
ESTIMATES, AND THAT I WILL
PRESENT THE NUMBERS.
THERE IS NO COMMON METHODOLOGY
TO ESTIMATE JOBS THAT MAY BE
SUPPORTED FOR THESE
INVESTMENTS, WHICH IS WHY WE
HAVE PROVIDED ESTIMATES USING
TWO DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIES.
WE FIRST ESTIMATED THE NUMBER
OF JOBS THAT COULD BE SUPPORTED
USING A RULE OF THUMB APPROACH
BY USING THE INDUSTRY THAT
ASSUMES THAT FOR EVERY $1
MILLION IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
INVESTMENTS, 17 JOBS ARE
SUPPORTED.
THE CITY ALSO HAS A JOBS TOOL
THAT WAS CREATED TO SIMPLY
PROJECT THE NUMBER OF LOCAL
CONTRACTOR JOBS.
THUS, THIS ESTIMATE IS
SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER, BECAUSE IT
IS REALLY LOOKING AT A SPECIFIC
SECTOR OF DIRECT EMPLOYMENT
THAT COULD BE SUPPORTED BY
THESE INVESTMENTS.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT FOR THIS ANALYSIS, THE
GREEN NEW DEAL INVESTMENTS WERE
ASSUMED TO BE ENTIRELY
DEDICATED TO CONVERTING HOMES
FROM A FOSSIL FUEL BASED HEAT
SOURCES TO ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS.
HOWEVER, THE SPENDING PLAN AS
CURRENTLY DRAFTED CONTEMPLATES
A BROADER RANGE OF INVESTMENTS
THAT WOULD BE DETERMINED WITH
INPUT FROM THE TO BE
ESTABLISHED GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD.
INVESTMENTS DIRECTED TOWARDS A
DIFFERENT STRATEGY MAY IMPACT
THESE ESTIMATES.
THIS SLIDE PRESENTS AN ESTIMATE
OF JOBS CALCULATED BY THE
METHODS DESCRIBED.
USING THE RULE OF THUMB METHOD
THE NUMBER OF JOBS SUPPORTED IS
ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $11,000 IN
THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE
INVESTMENTS IN ABOUT 22,000
OVER A 10 YEAR HORIZON, THAT
INCLUDES DIRECT, INDIRECT, AND
INDUCED JOBS.
USING THE JOBS TOOL, THE NUMBER
OF JOBS SUPPORTED IS ESTIMATED
TO BE ABOUT 2500 JOBS IN THE
FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE
INVESTMENTS, AND ABOUT 4400
JOBS SUPPORTED OVER A 10 YEAR
HORIZON.
THIS FINAL SLIDE SIMPLY
SUMMARIZES THE ESTIMATES IN THE
TWO SPENDING CATEGORIES THAT
USE SIMILAR APPROACHES IN TERMS
OF ACCOUNTING FOR DIRECT,
INDIRECT, AND INDUCED JOBS.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ESTIMATES
THAT ONLY LOOK AT DIRECT JOBS,
BECAUSE IT IS NOT SIMILAR DATA,
SO IT IS HARDER TO SUMMARIZE IN
ONE TABLE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION
WE HAVE PREPARED.
WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE
COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS AT THIS
MOMENT, BECAUSE YOUR SLIDES
WERE SO CLEAR.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALSO
EXPLAINING WHY WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT JOBS BEING SUPPORTED AND
BEING SO ACCURATE IN YOUR
PRESENTATION AND ALSO
EXPLAINING THE CAVEATS WITH THE
ESTIMATES, AND I THINK IF I WAS
JUST A REGULAR WORKING PERSON
WATCHING THESE SLIDES I WOULD
BE GREATLY EMPOWERED AND HAVE
MUCH MORE CONFIDENCE IN WHY THE
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE PASSING
A PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SOURCE
LIKE THE AMAZON TAX IN ORDER TO
FUND JOBS WHEN JOBLESSNESS IS A
KEY FEATURE OF THIS CRISIS.
AND I THINK THE NUMBERS THEY
HAVE PRESENTED REALLY GO TO THE
HEART OF THE MATTER THAT IS
BEING HIGHLIGHTED NOT JUST BY
SOCIALISTS LIKE ME, ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I . THIS
WEEK WAS THE WRITINGS FROM THE
ECONOMIST ON THE INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND.
THEY ARE A BASTION OF THE
CAPITALIST CLASS AND EVEN THOSE
ECONOMISTS ARE CONFRONTED WITH
A BITTER REALITY THAT THE
GLOBAL ECONOMY, THE GLOBAL
ECONOMY IS FACED WITH AND THEY
ARE FORCED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
UNLESS SOMETHING DRAMATIC IS
DONE, LIKE A PUBLIC WORKS
PROGRAM THAT WILL CREATE JOBS,
AND BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE
HOUSING, UNLESS SOMETHING LIKE
THAT IS DONE AND WE NEEDED DONE
ON A BIG SCALE, THERE WILL,
THEY SAY -- NOT A SOCIALIST,
THESE ECONOMISTS ARE SAYING
THAT THERE WILL BE A PERMANENT
SCARRING ON THE MOST VULNERABLE
WORKING PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY,
MEANING, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL
BE PERMANENT JOB LOSS, AND
THERE WILL BE JUST LASTING
EFFECT OF, YOU KNOW, THE
LASTING IMPOVERISHMENT OF A
WHOLE SECTION OF OUR SOCIETY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, ON THAT NOTE,
I WANTED TO REALLY THINK, NOT
ONLY ALLIE AND TRACY ABOUT THE
STRONG, YOU KNOW, ESTIMATES
THEY HAVE PREPARED THROUGH THE
PAINSTAKING RESEARCH.
BUT, ALSO ALL OF THE OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL STAFF
AND THE CENTRAL STAFF DIRECTOR
WHO HAVE PROVIDED REALLY
EXCELLENT TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR
US AND RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR US
TO BRING THIS LEGISLATION TO
THIS KIND OF POINT WHERE WE ARE
ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT OUR
NEXT PANEL WILL ILLUSTRATE WHAT
OUR NEXT STEP IS.
IT IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH
FOR US TO HAVE GOOD NUMBERS.
EVEN A VERY PROMISING NUMBERS.
IT IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO
HAVE GREAT IDEAS, JUST BECAUSE
THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, WHICH IS
ABSOLUTELY, IT IS.
IT IS NOT MEAN WE ARE GOING TO
WIN IT.
LOOK AT THE OBSTACLES THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT IS
PUTTING IN OUR PATH IT IS
BECAUSE BIG BUSINESS, THE
BILLIONAIRES, THE WEALTHY ARE
ABSOLUTELY NOT CLOSE TO PAYING
EVEN A DIME TO ADDRESS THE
CAUSE OF THIS CRISIS.
AND, THAT IS WHY WE ARE GOING
TO NEED WORKING PEOPLE TO FIGHT
BACK, AND IN FACT IT IS BECAUSE
OF WORKING PEOPLE FIGHTING BACK
THAT WE ARE EVEN AT THIS POINT.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE FORTUNATE TO
THIS EVENING TO HAVE WITH US A
NUMBER OF EXPERTS ON THE CRISIS
FACING WORKING PEOPLE, AND WHAT
WE WILL NEED TO DO TO CONTINUE
BUILDING OUR MOVEMENT.
THEY ARE EXPERTS BECAUSE AS
RANK AND FILE WORKERS IN
VARIOUS AREAS THEY KNOW AND SEE
EVERY DAY HOW THE COVID CRISIS
IS AFFECTING WORKERS IN THE
COMMUNITY, AND WHY THE AMAZON
TAX POLICY IS THE CORRECT
PRESCRIPTION FOR THE CRISIS WE
FACE.
WE HAVE A VERY LARGE PANEL, WE
HAVE I THINK EIGHT PEOPLE, AND
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEM.
BUT, SO THAT WE HAVE TIME TO
HEAR FROM ALL OF THEM, AND HAVE
A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION AND
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO TO THE
SECOND AGENDA POINT AS WELL, I
HAVE ASKED THEM TO SPEAK INTERN
FOR 2-3 MINUTES.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE MOLLY
WHITAKER, A RANK-AND-FILE
MEMBER OF 242.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MOLLY, FOR
JOINING US TONIGHT.
AND, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE TO
LEAVE EARLY FOR A BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION, BUT WE APPRECIATE
YOU MAKING PART OF THE BIRTHDAY
TO TESTIFY IN THIS IMPORTANT
DISCUSSION.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, KSHAMA, AND
THANKS EVERYONE FOR HAVING ME
ON.
MY NAME IS MOLLY, I AM A LABOR
AND LOCAL 242.
I LIVE IN MARION BUT I WORK IN
SEATTLE ON A LARGE JOB SITE.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE
TAX TODAY AND I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
CREATING UNION JOBS.
FOUR OVER FOUR DECADES NOW
THERE HAS BEEN A DEEPENING OF
CLASS STRATIFICATION.
THE RICH ARE RICHER AND THE
POOR ARE POOR.
A UNION CAREER IN THE BUILDING
TRADES IS ONE OF THE REMAINING
PATHS THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE
HAVE TO ATTAINING A DECENT
STANDARD OF LIVING.
THESE JOBS PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO MAY
BE NEVER HAD ACCESS TO HIGH-
QUALITY EDUCATION, OR THOSE WHO
WANT TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND
DESPITE HAVING A PAST CRIMINAL
RECORD.
PROVIDING THESE OPPORTUNITIES
IS ESSENTIAL TO THE OVERALL
HEALTH OF SOCIETY.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS
GETS ON THE BALLOT THIS SEASON,
ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE
ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY WE ARE
FACING TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MOLLY.
NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
COLIN BOONE, WHO IS A RANK-AND-
FILE MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL
BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL
WORKERS 46 LOCAL.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> MY NAME IS COLIN, I AM AN
APPRENTICE WITH THE IV W 46.
I JUST WANT TO SPEAK PERSONALLY
ABOUT WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.
BASICALLY, IN MY UNION WE ARE
ALWAYS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE
ECONOMY AS IT RELATES TO NEW
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND IT IS
COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT NO
BUILDING BOOM LASTS FOREVER AND
ANY ONE OF MY COWORKERS WAS
AROUND DURING THE 2008
FINANCIAL CRISIS HAS 1 MILLION
STORIES ABOUT HOW BAD THINGS
CAN GET DURING A RECESSION,
WHETHER THERE ARE NO JOBS
AVAILABLE, UNEMPLOYMENT STARTS
TO RUN OUT.
PEOPLE LOSE THEIR HOMES.
AND, SO RIGHT NOW AS WE ARE
DEALING WITH BOTH A MASSIVE
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, BUT ALSO
ENTERING INTO WHAT COULD BE ONE
OF THE WORST ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS
SINCE THE 1930S, THIS QUESTION
OF PROVIDING SAFE AND GOOD
PAYING UNION JOBS IS GOING TO
BE A CRUCIAL ONE.
AND THAT IS WHY I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THIS
LEGISLATION, IN ADDITION TO
PROVIDING THE IMMEDIATE RELIEF
FOR PEOPLE DURING COVID-19 , IS
ALSO GOING TO CREATE AND
PRESERVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
JOBS, INCLUDING MANY UNION
CONSTRUCTION JOBS THROUGH
BUILDING PUBLIC HOUSING AND
RETROFITTING AS WAS MENTIONED.
AND, HAVING CONSISTENT JOBS
LIKE THIS, THAT ARE RECESSION
PROOF, WHERE UNION MEMBERS CAN
COUNT ON THEM BEING THERE EVERY
YEAR WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE
LIFELINE DURING TOUGH ECONOMIC
TIMES.
AND WE KNOW WE CANNOT RELY ON
AMAZON OR BOEING OR ANY OTHER
LARGE CORPORATION TO BEND OVER
BACKWARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE WORK AS CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS, PARTICULARLY DURING A
RECESSION.
THE NUMBER ONE MOTIVE IS GOING
TO BE PRESERVING PROFITS ABOVE
EVERYTHING ELSE AND IF THAT
MEANS LAYING OFF WORKERS OR
CANCELING OR DELAYING
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, THEY'RE
GOING TO DO THAT.
AND THAT IS ALSO WHY WORKING
PEOPLE AND UNION MEMBERS ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT LIKE
HAIL TO GET THIS TAX PASSED
BECAUSE BIG BUSINESS WILL FIGHT
THIS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES TRYING TO TACKLE THIS
LEFT AND RIGHT SO WE WILL HAVE
TO FIGHT JUST AS HARD TO GET IT
PAST.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT APPEARS THAT
MANY OF THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD
RATHER SEE AUSTERITY BUDGETS
PAST AND CUTS TO SOCIAL
SERVICES RATHER THAN ACTUALLY
STANDING UP TO BIG BUSINESS AND
ENFORCING WHAT IS REALLY A
MODEST TAX.
AND, IT IS ALSO IN MY OPINION
REALLY SHAMEFUL THAT WE SEE
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS USE
LEGALISTIC EXCUSES TO AVOID
PASSING THE TAX AND NOT COMING
TO THIS MEETING.BUT, I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE
THIS FOR WORKING PEOPLE WHO
INSIST ON BEING HEARD.
>> NEXT, WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE LOGAN SWAN, RANK-AND-
FILE MEMBER OF IRONWORKERS 86,
LOGAN AND HIS COWORKERS DO THE
STRUCTURAL STEEL INSTALLATION
AND THE HIGH-RISES WE SEE ALL
OVER DOWNTOWN.
THEIR WORK REQUIRES GREAT
SKILL, TRAINING, AND CARE,
BUILDING THE BUILDINGS WE LIVE
IN AND WORK IN EVERYDAY.
WELCOME, LOGAN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS LOGAN.
I'M A RANK-AND-FILE IRONWORKER
AND TO FULLY SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION TO TAX AMAZON FOR
COVID RELIEF, UNION WAGE PAYING
JOBS AND PUBLICLY OWNED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WASHINGTON STATE AND SEATTLE
HAVE THE MOST REGRESSIVE
TAXATION ANYWHERE IN THE
COUNTRY.
THIS IS NOT BY ACCIDENT.
THIS IS UNFAIR AND
UNSUSTAINABLE AND IT HAS BEEN
CONSCIOUSLY CONSTRUCTED BY BIG
BUSINESS AND THEY HAVE FOUGHT
WORKING PEOPLE LIKE US TOOTH
AND NAIL TO KEEP US PICKING UP
THEIR TAB.
THE BUSINESS DEVELOPER AND
CORPORATE LANDLORD LOBBY
BITTERLY FOUGHT TAX AMAZON IN
2018.
THEY SPENT MILLIONS LAST YEAR
TRYING TO BUY CITY HALL.
THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY
CAN NOW TO UNDERMINE OUR
MOVEMENT TODAY WITH ASSISTANCE
PROVIDED FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO ARE REFUSING TO DISCUSS OUR
NEEDS.
THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT,
WITH THE BACKING OF THE
EMPLOYERS, PROMISE ACTION AND
ALTERNATIVES IN A CYNICAL
ATTEMPT TO NULLIFY US, THEY HAD
A 10 YEAR PLAN TO END
HOMELESSNESS BUT EVERY YEAR WE
SOUGHT GET WORSE.
THEY TALK A LOT ABOUT A
REGIONAL APPROACH.
BUT, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT
THESE ONLY SURFACE IN TERMS OF
MOBILIZATION AND ARE DROPPED
JUST AS QUICKLY IF THEY SUCCEED
IN UNDERCUTTING THEM.
WHAT CAME OF THE REGIONAL
APPROACH THAT JENNY DURKAN
MENTIONED IN 2013 WHEN THE
MAYOR AND THE MAJORITY OF CITY
COUNCIL REPEALED THE TAX ON BIG
BUSINESS?
CAST ASIDE ONCE THE OBJECTIVE
OF PROTECTING THE WEALTHY WAS
ACHIEVED.
WE SAW IN RESPONSE TO THE
MOVEMENT EARLIER THIS YEAR THEY
WERE WILLING TO REVISIT THIS,
BUT CONCEIVING ONLY A FRACTION
OF WHAT WE NEED WHILE BANNING
ANY FUTURE TAXATION.
THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE
QUICK TO WAX PROGRESSIVE IN
WORDS, BUT REFUSING TO SIT DOWN
WITH US AND REFUSING TO HOLD
MEETINGS ON OUR NEEDS, OUR
ACTION CONFERENCES ARE OPEN TO
EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS WHAT WE
NEED.
AFFORDABLE SOCIAL HOUSING,
UNION JOBS, AND RELIEF FOR
WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES DURING A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
AT THE ACTUAL CONFERENCES, WE
HAVE OPEN DISCUSSIONS AROUND
OUR DEMANDS AND WE ELECT
LEADERSHIP ON THE DIRECTIONS
THAT WE TAKE.
THE SAME COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT
TODAY WILL NOT INTERACT WITH
PEOPLE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY ON
OUR TERMS, RIGHT?
THEY TOLD US THAT A $15 MINIMUM
WAGE WAS TOO MUCH.
CAN WE COMPROMISE?
15 WILL DESTROY THE ECONOMY.
WE WERE TOLD EARLIER THIS YEAR
THAT A WINTER MORATORIUM ON
ADDICTIONS COULD PUT THE CITY
AT RISK OF LITIGATION, WHICH
SOUNDS FAMILIAR RIGHT NOW,
RIGHT?
NOW, COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
QUESTIONABLY CITING THE OPEN
PUBLIC MEETINGS TO SAY
DISCUSSING THIS EMERGENCY
MEASURE WOULD PRESENT A LEGAL
RISK BUT THAT IS NOT PRESENTÃ
STOP THEM FROM REPEALING THE
VICTORY AND TAXING BIG
BUSINESS.
THIS WORKING PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN
IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT
FIGHT.
THE SCALE OF NEED IS ONLY
CONTINUING TO RISE AS THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT HAS
FAILED TO ADDRESS THAT ALL THE
WEALTH WE CREATE GOES TO THE
TOP.
THIS BRAZEN BOYCOTT OF
COUNCILMEMBERS ABDICATING THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES TO ATTEND THIS
MEETING, OPTING INSTEAD TO
CANCEL MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE
TAX AMAZON LEGISLATION IS IN
RESPONSE TO OUR ARGUMENT.
THERE TAKING THIS APPROACH
BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL THEY
CAN TELL US KNOW AND VOTE
AGAINST WHAT WE NEED.
WE ARE FACING MULTIPLE CRISES
THAT ARE ONLY INCREASING IN
THEIR SEVERITY AND DEVASTATION
OF WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES.
WE DESPERATELY NEED COVID
RELIEF.
WE HAVE NEEDED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR YEARS.
LOOKING FORWARD, WE ARE GOING
TO BE IN DIRE STRAITS IF WE
DON'T FIGHT FOR UNION WAGE PAY
TALKS.
THIS WILL PROVIDE WORKING
FAMILIES WITH 400-$500 PAYMENTS
AND BUILD 10,000 AFFORDABLE
HOMES IN THE FIRST DECADE AND
CREATE 10,000 JOBS FOR MY
BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE
BUILDING TRADES TO GET THAT
DONE.
IT IS NOT ONLY WORKERS IN
SEATTLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
WORLDWIDE, PEOPLE LIKE US HAVE
THE SAME GRIEVANCES.
OUR STRUGGLE TODAY WILL INSPIRE
AND PROVIDE THEM WITH AN
EXAMPLE OF HOW TO ORGANIZE TO
FIGHT AND WIN.
AND THIS IS WHAT BIG BUSINESS
IN THE POLITICIANS ARE REALLY
AFRAID OF.
>> THANKS.
BEFORE I INTRODUCE THE OTHER
EXPERTS I HAD TWO QUESTIONS
THAT I NEED TO ASK THE TRADE
SPEAKERS, THE TRADE WORKERS WHO
ARE WITH US, CALI AND LOGAN .1
QUESTION I HAD WAS WHAT ARE THE
EXPERIENCES THAT YOU HEAR FROM
YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY FROM YOUR
OWN LIVES, BUT FROM YOUR
COWORKERS IN TERMS OF THE
COMMUTES THEY FACE, AND YOU
KNOW, YOU OR, YOU AND YOUR
COWORKERS ARE WORKERS WHO BUILD
THE BUILDINGS AND BUILD OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WHAT IS
YOUR ASSESSMENT OF WHAT
PROPORTION OF THE WORKERS WHO
ACTUALLY BUILD ALL OF THIS
INFRASTRUCTURE ARE ACTUALLY
ABLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY, AND
DO YOU HEAR FROM YOUR COWORKERS
THAT IT SHOULD BE DIFFERENT AND
THAT ALL WORKERS WHO WORK IN
THE CITY TO MAKE THE CITY RUN
SHOULD ALSO GET TO LIVE HERE?
LOGAN, IF YOU WANT TO START AND
THEN COLIN AND MOLLY IF SHE IS
STILL AVAILABLE.
>> YEAH, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH, I MEAN MY COMMUTE --
WHEN I'M WORKING IN SEATTLE,
WHICH HAS BEEN THE PAST SEVERAL
YEARS, USUALLY THAT IS THE
CLOSEST COMMUTE I CAN GET IS
DRIVING TO SEATTLE AND IT IS
ANYWHERE FROM AN HOUR TO TWO
HOURS A DAY IN TRAFFIC.
AND THEN, I AM CONSIDERED
REALLY FORTUNATE MOST OF THE
GUYS ON THE JOB SITE THAT I AM
ON ARE COMMUTING FROM TACOMA,
AS FAR DOWN SOUTH AS LACEY,
FROM EVERETT.
IT IS NOT BONNEY LAKE.
IT IS YOU KNOW, 3-4 HOURS A DAY
IN THE CAR IS NOT OUTSIDE OF
THE NORMAL.
AND, THAT IS YOU KNOW, SOME
PEOPLE, THAT HAS THE AREAS THEY
GREW UP IN AND THEY WANT TO
STAY THERE BUT YOU KNOW, I
MEAN, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A
CHOICE.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE A HOME
IN SEATTLE.
I USED TO LIVE IN SEATTLE, AND
NOW I LIVE DOWN IN DES MOINES.
>> COLLIN?
>> YEAH, IT IS A SIMILAR STORY
WITH MY COWORKERS.
YEAH.
I HAVE ABOUT A 45 MINUTE
COMMUTE AND I'M CONSIDERED VERY
FORTUNATE AND AS LOGAN SAID,
MOST OF MY COWORKERS HAVE
SEVERAL HOUR-LONG COMMUTES.
ALSO KNOW VERY FEW PEOPLE IN MY
JOB SITE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN
SEATTLE AND JUST KIND OF LIKE
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE IS LIKE
SEATTLE IS TOO EXPENSIVE.
PARTICULARLY YOU KNOW,
JOURNEYMEN WHO ARE MAKING
BETTER WAGES IN A, THEY HAVE
FAMILIES AND IT IS EXPENSIVE IN
SEATTLE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS PUBLIC
TRANSIT THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
TO GET TO VARIOUS JOB SITES ON
SHORT NOTICE SO COMMUTES ARE
KIND OF PART OF THE THING.
>> MOLLY, I SEE YOU ARE STILL
HERE.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THAT AND HAVE YOU ALSO
RESPOND.
>> YEAH, SO I AM CURRENTLY
WORKING ON APARTMENT BUILDINGS
AND IT IS IRONIC THAT WE CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE PLACES WE
ARE BUILDING.
LIKE THE PREVIOUS TWO GUYS
SAID, PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY
COMMUTES FROM PRETTY FAR.
THE FURTHEST I HAVE EVER HEARD
IS, I HAVE ONE COWORKER WHO
COMMUTES FROM CLE ELUM.
I HAVE WORKED WITH A GUY WHO
LIVED IN YELM.
SO, PEOPLE TRAVEL REALLY FAR.
TRAFFIC IS A BIG TOPIC OF
CONVERSATION ON THE JOB SITE
ALL THE TIME.
>> RIGHT.
AND, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I HAVE
ANOTHER QUESTION FOR ALL THREE
OF YOU BUT WE WILL START WITH
MOLLY THIS TIME.
TWO YEARS AGO, SOME OF THE
LEADERS OF SOME OF THE BUILDING
TRADES UNIONS OPPOSE THE AMAZON
TAX BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT
ACCORDING TO THEM WORKERS
NEEDED TO ALIGN WITH BIG
BUSINESS TO PROTECT JOBS
BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE WOULD LOSE
JOBS ACCORDING TO THEM.
AND A QUOTE FROM ONE OF THOSE
LEADERS IT WAS WE FEEL LIKE A
LOCAL POLITICIAN SHOULD BE
FACILITATING BUSINESS IN THE
CITY.
I BELIEVE ALL THREE OF YOU WERE
PART OF THE AMAZON TAX MOVEMENT
LAST TIME, TWO YEARS AGO?
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THIS, AND
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR
COWORKERS KNOW VERSUS TWO YEARS
AGO?
ARE YOU OBSERVING A CHANGE?
AND, HOW DO YOU THINK, YOU YOUR
SELF, AS A UNION MEMBER, A RANK
AND FILE CONSTRUCTION TRADES
WORKER, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT
BUILDING UNITY AMONG RANK-AND-
FILE WORKERS TO FIGHT FOR A
SOCIETY THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR
THOSE OF US WHO ARE BUILDING
IT.
>> IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING.
I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE MY UNION
LOCAL IT WAS NOT REALLY
FIGHTING FOR THE WORKING CLASS
AT ALL BY BEING SO OPPOSED TO
THE HEAD TAX.
I REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO.
I REMEMBER SOME PEOPLE BEING
PRETTY AGAINST IT.
BUT THEN MOST OF THEM I COULD
SIT DOWN AND TALK TO YOU AND
SHARE MY OPINION AND THEY WOULD
SAY I SUPPOSE THAT MAKES SENSE.
SO, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WITH
THE MEDIA THAT PEOPLE ARE
PRESENTED WITH.
THEY DON'T HEAR OUR SIDE OF IT.
I HAVE NOT HEARD A LOT OF
DISCUSSION LATELY ON THE JOB
SITE.
SOMETIMES WE GET POSTERS FROM
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE GETTING
POSTED ON THE POLLS SOMETIMES
AND IT IS THEY GET TORN DOWN
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THE
ACTUAL GUYS ON MY JOB SITE
DOING THAT OR NOT.
YEAH, I THINK THAT IS ALL THAT
I HAVE TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU.
AND, COLIN AND LOGAN, DO YOU
WANT TO ADD YOUR THOUGHTS AND I
THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT
DISCUSSION AND I APPRECIATE
MOLLY WEIGHING IN ON THIS ALSO
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT
ALWAYS GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY
START WITH EVERYBODY AGREEING
ON EVERYTHING, SO BUILDING
UNIFIED MOVEMENTS WHERE WE CAN
COME TOGETHER AROUND COMMON
IDEAS, COMMON VALUES,, DEMANDS.
>> SO I STARTED WORKING AT MY
CURRENT JOB AFTER THE FIRST TAX
AMAZON FIGHT ENDED, I
DEFINITELY NOTICED THAT THERE
IS MORE OPENNESS TO NOT BEING
SUPER FRIENDLY OR TANKFUL TO
AMAZON AS A CORPORATION. BEFORE
RECENTLY, I THINK PART OF THAT
IS SEEING HOW RIDICULOUSLY
WEALTHY JEFF BEZOS HAS GOTTEN.
AND THEN ALSO, YEAH, LIKE THERE
IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF TRUMP
SUPPORTERS ON THE JOBSITE.
YOU SEE PRETTY CONSERVATIVE
THINGS WRITTEN IN THE PORTA
POTTY.
I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH
COWORKERS ROUND BERNIE SANDERS
AND A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT WHO
IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS OR
THAT POLICY.
WHEN I PUT FORWARD WE SHOULD
TAX THE WEALTHY AND BIG
CORPORATIONS, THAT IS NOT EIGHT
PRETTY RECEPTIVE RESPONSE WHICH
IS INTERESTING.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
>> GREAT.
LOGAN, IF YOU CAN ADD YOUR
THOUGHTS AS WELL.
YOU WERE DEFINITELY IN THE
THICK OF IT TWO YEARS AGO ALSO.
I THINK, COLLIN MADE A GOOD
POINT, WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE OUR
FELLOW WORKERS WITH VERY
DIFFERENT POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES,
EVEN SOMETIMES QUITE DIFFERENT,
AND YET, WE CAN ACTUALLY WIN
OUR FELLOW WORKERS OVER WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT OUR SHARED INTEREST
IS A WORKING-CLASS.
AND SPECIFICALLY, CAN YOU
ADDRESS, OBVIOUSLY, AND I SPEAK
AS A RANK-AND-FILE LABOR UNION
MEMBER MYSELF, WE DON'T TAKE IT
LIGHTLY WHEN AMAZON TRIES TO
TAKE AWAY JOBS.
WE DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.
WE ABSOLUTELY FEEL SOLIDARITY
WITH CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO
MIGHT FEEL THREATENED THAT
THEIR JOBS ARE GOING TO BE LOST
, ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK WE HAVE TO STAND
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THEM.
BUT HOW DO WE EXPLAINED
ACTUALLY THEIR INTERESTS ARE
TIED WITH OTHER WORKERS WERE
NOT IN THE TRADES AND WORKING-
CLASS PEOPLE AS A WHOLE WHETHER
UNIONIZED OR NOT AND NOT WITH
AMAZON.
>> YEAH, SO, I FULLY SUPPORTED
THE TAX AMAZON CAMPAIGN IN 2018.
AND, FOLLOWING THAT,
UNFORTUNATELY MY UNION
LEADERSHIP CITED WITH AMAZON IN
THAT.
MY EXPERIENCE ON THE JOBSITE, I
WOULD TALK TO, I REMEMBER AFTER
THE INFAMOUS WEST CONFERENCE
THE CRANE OPERATOR ON MY
JOBSITE SAID, I SAW YOU AT THAT
THING, THAT'S AWESOME.
YOU GOING OUT THERE WITH THE
OTHER IRONWORKERS.
I SAID IT WAS KIND OF -- WE
WEREN'T ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE
ISSUE.
HE GOES, WHAT YOU MEAN?
I SUPPORT TAX AMAZON.
AND HE LOOKS AT ME, WHY?
AND I EXPLAINED HOW IT'S A RACE
TO THE BOTTOM IF WE ACCEPT THE
BULLYING FROM THESE COMPANIES.
HOW AMAZON HAS $4.5 BILLION
INVESTED IN THEIR CAMPUS IN
SEATTLE.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD
ON THE IDEA THAT IF WE JUST
GIVE AS MANY BREAKS AS POSSIBLE
AND EASE THE LOAD ON BIG
BUSINESS THAT WORKERS WILL
BENEFIT.
THAT IS TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS.
THERE IS NOT ANY SERIOUS
ECONOMIST, I MEAN THAT HAS BEEN
UNIVERSALLY COMPLETELY
DEBUNKED.
GEORGE BUSH IN THE 1990S SAID
VOODOO ECONOMICS.
IT'S WILD THAT IS BEING
REPACKAGED TODAY.
AND THERE IS A RECORD ON THAT,
RIGHT?
IN 2013 I REMEMBER BEFORE I GOT
TO THE UNION, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
PROUNION, I WAS WATCHING AS
MACHINISTS, THE MEMBERS GOT
RAKED OVER THE COALS.
BOEING THREATENED TO LEAVE.
THEY THREATENED THEY WOULD TAKE
THE JOBS OUT.
AND A DISGUSTING BETRAY OF
WORKING PEOPLE.
YOU HAD ALL OF THESE PARTISAN
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS FROM
MAYORS TO THE GOVERNOR SAYING,
TAKE THE TERRIBLE CONTRACTS,
AND WE WILL GIVE THEM $9
BILLION.
WHAT HAPPENED?
BOEING SHIPS 13,000 JOBS OUT OF
THE STATE SINCE THEN.
EXPLAINING THAT TO HIM, HE HAD
NEVER HEARD THE OTHER PART OF
THE ARGUMENT, RIGHT?
MAINSTREAM MEDIA DOESN'T SAY
THAT.
MEDIA BIG BUSINESS DOESN'T SAY
THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY WE WEREN'T HAVING
DISCUSSION ON THAT BASIS IN THE
LABOR MOVEMENT.
WHEN I TOLD HIM ALL THAT, HE
SAID, IF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS
TRUE THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
TO BE HONEST, I HAVEN'T FOUND A
SINGLE BUILDING TRADES WORKER
ON THE JOB SITE SINCE THEN THAT
HAS BEEN HOSTILE TO ME BECAUSE
MY POSITION.
THEY MIGHT'VE BEEN DISAGREEING
BUT WE WOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION
ABOUT IT AND EVEN IF THEY WERE
LIKE, STILL LIKE, WE WILL SEE,
I'M NOT CONVINCED.
THEY DEFINITELY, IT'S REALLY,
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF
INFORMATION OUT THERE FROM OUR
SIDE OF HOW THESE THINGS
ACTUALLY WORK.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THIS DATA
FROM THE STAFF IS HERE BECAUSE,
YEAH, THIS IS GOING TO CREATE
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS FOR
WORKING PEOPLE.
THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS,
RIGHT?
WE SAW DURING THE LAST
RECESSION THAT THE PRIVATE
MARKET FAILED TO PROVIDE US
WITH JOBS.
WE NEED, I'M SORRY, I AM
WILLING TO WORK.
IN THIS VERY WEALTHY COUNTRY
OWES ME A LIVING.
I WANT TO BUILD THINGS THAT
SOCIETY NEEDS.
THAT IS PUBLICLY OWNED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT IS HOSPITALS FOR PEOPLE
WHO NEED CARE.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE
AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.
THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO DO THEM
ON THE BASIS OF FOR PEOPLE AND
NOT-FOR-PROFIT.
THIS LEGISLATION IS ADDRESSING
THAT.
AND IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IT'S GOING
TO BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WHAT WE SAW LAST TIME WHERE IT
WAS ONE THIRD OF CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS WERE UNEMPLOYED, IT
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT.
I FEEL TO MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT,
ESPECIALLY IN THE BUILDING
TRADES, THIS IS IN OUR INTEREST.
SO YEAH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
LABOR SHOULD BE OVERWHELMINGLY
BEHIND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH LOGAN,
HOLLY, COLLIN.
YOU HAVE PRESENTED A VERY
IMPORTANT , YOU HAVE GIVEN US
AN IMPORTANT GLIMPSE INTO HOW
ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS ACTUALLY
HAVING CONCRETE CONVERSATIONS
WITH OUR COWORKERS WE CAN WIN
EACH OTHER OVER.
AND SUDDENLY, ASPIRING EXAMPLE
OF HOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD
A STRONG MOVEMENT BY BEING WITH
ONLY A FEW OF US WHO AGREE WITH
EACH OTHER, WE HAVE TO DO THE
HARD TASK OF DISCUSSING AND
DEBATING IN OPEN AND RESPECTFUL
AS LOGAN SAID, AND OPEN AND
RESPECTFUL WAY.
I HOPE IF THERE ANY
CONSTRUCTION TRADES WORKERS ON
THE LIVESTREAM OR SOMEONE
WATCHING THIS, YOUR COWORKER OR
FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND, IS A
TRADE WORKER, AND YOU WANT TO
INTRODUCE THEM TO THIS
DISCUSSION THESE FEEL FREE.
HAVE THEM CONTACT OUR OFFICE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH
US, WE JUST WANT TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE NEED A
POWERFUL LABOR MOVEMENT TO
FIGHT AGAINST WHAT'S INEVITABLY
COMING AGAINST US UNLESS WE
FIGHT BACK.
HEART OF WHAT WE NEED TO FIGHT
BACK AGAINST IS THE AUSTERITY
IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THE NEXT
WE HAVE DOCTOR ZOE'S INSTEAD
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON HOUSESTAFF
ASSOCIATION, A PRIMARY CARE
DOCTOR AND LEADER IN HER UNION
JUST BEEN BATTLING THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
ADMINISTRATION FOR UNION
CONTRACT FOR WELL OVER A YEAR.
THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE
TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT AS WELL.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM A FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENT
PHYSICIAN AT UW AND THE VICE
PRESIDENT IS MENTIONED.
THE INDEPENDENT LABOR UNION FOR
THE RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS AT UW.
I LIVE IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT
AND WORK ALL OVER SEATTLE BUT I
MOSTLY A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR IN
NORTHGATE.
I'M JOINING THIS CAR CALL
INSULA VERILY WITH MANY
RESIDENT PHYSICIANS WHO LIVE
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND MY
PATIENTS WHO DESERVE BETTER.
IS HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON THE
FRONT LINES, UW HA MEMBERS HAVE
BEEN TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS,
ACUTE CARE WARDS AND MORE.
DOZENS OF OUR MEMBERS, MYSELF
INCLUDED REDEPLOYED TO COVER
EXTRA SHIFTS WITHOUT HAZARD PAY.
WE HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE
HEALTH AND ECONOMIC IMPACT THIS
PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON OUR
PATIENTS.
THE CRISIS HAS MADE IT MORE
EVIDENT THE SYSTEMIC AND
EQUITIES WITH THE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM AND UNJUST SOCIETY THAT
WE ALREADY KNEW EXISTED.
THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE
IMPORTANT.
I AM A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.
I SPOKE WITH THE PATIENT A
LITTLE WHILE AGO WHO WAS
DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL
AFTER RECOVERING FROM COVID.
THE MEDICATION SHE NEEDED TO
CONTINUE HER RECOVERY AT HOME
WERE GOING TO COST $500.
SHE COULDN'T PICK THEM UP AND
WENT DAYS WITHOUT THEM.
THE COVID ICU WAS ALMOST
EXCLUSIVELY PATIENTS WHO WERE
IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SHOWING HOW THIS VIRUS DOES
DISCRIMINATE AND
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS
THOSE OF US WHO ARE ALREADY
MOST VULNERABLE.
WILL MANY OF OUR PATIENTS ARE
STRUGGLING, I DON'T KNOW IF
úTHEY MAY HAVE A HOME TO GO HOM
TO, THE BIGGEST COMPANIES IN
OUR CITY BRING RECORD PROFITS
AT THE EXPENSE OUR LIVELIHOODS.
EVEN BEFORE COVID NEARLY HALF
OF ALL SEATTLE RENTERS STRUGGLE
TO PAY RENT INCLUDING MANY
RESIDENTS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE
STAFF.
BEFORE COVID PHYSICIANS AT MY
CLINIC WERE ALREADY SOUNDING
THE ALARM THAT HER MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE AND FRONT-LINE STAFF
ARE NOT PAID ENOUGH TO SURVIVE.
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER
STAFF AT UW ARE PAID FAR BELOW
THE STANDARD FOR JOB
CATEGORIES.
OVER THE HOLIDAYS WE HAD A FOOD
DRIVE AND ENDED UP DONATING THE
COLLECTED FOOD TO MEMBERS OF
HER OWN STAFF BECAUSE THERE
WERE PEOPLE STRUGGLING EVEN
WITH THEIR OWN UW MADISON
COMMUNITY.
ALL THE WHILE OUR HOSPITAL CEO
TAKES ON A HIGH SIX-FIGURE
SALARY.
UW MADISON EXECUTIVES HAVE SENT
OUT EMAILS CLAIMING TO BE
TAKING LARGE SALARY PAY CUTS
BUT THIS IS QUESTIONABLE.
DOCTOR RAMSEY RECENTLY ADMITTED
THE 20% CUT CLAIMED IN AN EMAIL
MIGHT JUST BE OFF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT EACH
WE ARE STILL FIGURE OUT WHAT
THAT MEANS.
BIG COMPANIES TELL US THIS IS A
DIFFICULT FINANCIAL TIME FOR
THEM.
IN OUR CURRENT NEGOTIATION
SESSIONS WITH UW THEY TELL US
THEY HAVE NO MORE MONEY TO
INCREASE OUR PAY TO A FAIR WAGE
DURING COVID OR HAZARD PAY.
THE THING IS THIS IS A GLOBAL
ECONOMIC CRISIS FOR ALL PEOPLE.
FOR THE WORKERS, NOT FOR THE
CORPORATIONS.
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE INCLUDING OUR
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND PATIENTS
NEED IT NOW.
SEATTLE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE INSTITUTIONAL
INJUSTICES ALLOWED TO
PERPETUATE AND DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT.
WE MUST TAX BIG COMPANIES TO
PROVIDE SERVICES OUR COMMUNITY
NEEDS.
AFFORDABLE AND SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING, INVESTMENTS AND GREAT
NEW DEAL PROGRAMS AND EMERGENCY
COVID AIDE.
>> THANK YOU.
WE NOW HAVE PAULA, A PLUMBER AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
AND A RANK-AND-FILE PRESIDENT
OF THE WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF
STATE EMPLOYEES VOTING WHICH
PROBABLY INCLUDES MORE THAN
3000 WORKERS AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON INCLUDING
HUNDREDS OF MEDICAL CENTER
WORKERS WHO ARE BRAVELY ON THE
FRONT LINES BATTLING COVID. AND
ALSO BATTLING AN ADMINISTRATION
THAT HAS DRAGGED ITS HEELS IN
PROVIDING WORKERS WITH EVEN
BASIC PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND
SUPPLIES.
THE UW APPROACH, CUTTING
BUDGETS AND MAKING WORKERS
SUFFER QUITE LITERALLY.
WELCOME, PAULA.
>> IN MY UNMUTED?
>> YES.
YOU'RE NOT UNMUTED NOW.
>> HOW IS THAT?
>> THAT IS BETTER.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS PAULA, I LIVE IN
COLUMBIA CITY IN DISTRICT 7. I
WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AS A PLUMBER.
I AM ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF
LOCAL 1488 WHICH IS MAIN CAMPUS
AND UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
MEDICAL CENTER.
I REPRESENT FOOD WORKERS,
CUSTODIANS, TRADES, TRUCK
DRIVERS AND A LOT OF LOW-PAID
HOSPITAL WORKERS.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO PASS THIS
ACT, BECAUSE, FOR MY MEMBERS
IT'S ABOUT JOBLESSNESS,
EMERGENCY RELIEF AND HEALTHCARE
CRISIS.
THE UW HAS CONSIDERED US ALL
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, SO WE ALL
HAD TO COME TO WORK EVERY DAY.
BUT WE HAVE HAD TO FIGHT FOR
PROTECTIONS.
CAMPUS EMPLOYEES WERE TOLD WE
COULDN'T HAVE PPE OR
DISINFECTANTS BECAUSE
EVERYTHING HAD TO GO TO THE
HOSPITALS.
FOR A WHILE THERE WEREN'T
ENOUGH MASKS AT THE HOSPITAL SO
WORKERS WERE BRINGING IN MASKS
FROM HOME.
IMAGINE, THEY WERE TOLD THEY
WOULD BE DISCIPLINED IF THEY
DIDN'T TAKE THEM OFF BECAUSE
THEY WERE SCARING PATIENTS BY
HAVING A MASK ON.
ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AFTER
SOME PRESSURE WE FINALLY GOT
THE UNIVERSITY TO RESCIND THAT.
NOW THEY ARE HANDING OUT ONE
MASK PER DAY.
THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS, LIKE
OUR CUSTODIANS WHO HAVE TO
CLEAN OUT PATIENT ROOMS, COVID
ROOMS, INFECTIOUS ROOMS, THEY
ARE USED TO CHANGING THEIR MASK
AND PPE EVERY TIME THEY FINISH
CLEANING A ROOM.
NOW THEY HAVE TO CLEAN ALL THE
ROOMS FOR EIGHT HOURS USING THE
SAME MASK.
HOW CEMETERY IS THAT?
THE OTHER THING WE HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO FOR IS PLEXIGLASS
BARRIERS SET UP AT THE
UNIVERSITY AT THE TWO HOSPITALS.
MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN FIGHTING US
OVER THAT.
THEY SAID IT WAS INEFFECTUAL
EVEN THOUGH GROCERY STORES AND
HARDWARE STORES, GAS STATIONS,
THEY ALL HAVE PLEXIGLASS
BARRIERS.
A FEW WEEKS AGO MYSELF AND
THREE OTHER EMBERS OF COUNCIL
28 MADE A COUPLE OF LEXI CLASS
BARRIERS, WE WENT INTO THE ER
AND SET THE BARRIERS UP.
THEY STAYED UP FOR TWO DAYS
BEFORE MANAGEMENT FIGURED IT
OUT.
THEY TOOK THEM DOWN AND THEY
TOLD US HOW EMBARRASSED THEY
WERE THAT WE WOULD DO SUCH A
THING.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO TRY TO
PROTECT OURSELVES.
NOW AFTER TELLING US FOR MONTHS
AND MONTHS HOW MUCH THEY
APPRECIATED US, THEY ANNOUNCED
LAST WEEK THAT THEY ARE GOING
TO INSTITUTE FOR LOWS AT THREE
HOSPITALS AND THE NEXT WEEK
THEY'RE GOING TO START
DISCUSSING FOR LOWS ON MAIN
CAMPUS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GO FROM
REALLY APPRECIATE EVERY DAY TO
HERE IS YOUR PINK SLIP.
IT IS MIND BLOWING TO PEOPLE.
WE FEEL LIKE THE, TELLING US WE
ARE DOING A VALUABLE SERVICE
AND AT THE END, YOU KNOW, WE
DON'T NEED YOU FOR A WHILE.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT UW AND THEIR
AUSTERITY MEASURE.
THEY ARE DOING THIS TO TRY TO
SAVE SOME MONEY UNTIL THE NEXT
COVID INFLUX.
AUSTERITY DOESN'T WORK.
WORKERS. WE NEED MORE SERVICES.
AND SO WE ALSO NEED BIGGER
BUSINESS TO HELP DO THEIR PART.
WE ARE ALL IN A CONNECTED AND
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
I AM ASKING THE REST OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO PLEASE HIS
SUPPORT THE TAX AMAZON.
>> I WANT TO ASK ONE QUESTION
OF YOU, AS YOU MENTIONED,
AUSTERITY IS, IT'S NOT ON THE
HORIZON BUT IT'S ALREADY HERE
FOR UW WORKERS.
WE KNOW IT'S THERE FOR THE
FIELD CITY OF SEATTLE WORKERS,
AND IN OLYMPIA,, ZOE AND PAULA,
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT ARE THE
DISCUSSIONS WITHIN YOUR UNIONS,
WITHIN THE RANK-AND-FILE AND
LEADERSHIP ABOUT HOW TO PREPARE
YOUR MEMBERS TO FIGHT AGAINST
THIS AUSTERITY AND HOW THE
COMMUNITY AT LARGE CAN HELP
YOU.
ZOE, WANT TO GET STARTED?
>> SHORT.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR A LOT OF OUR
MEMBERS THEY ARE FEELING PRETTY
DEJECTED RIGHT NOW.
OUR JOBS ARE INCREDIBLY HARD,
RESIDENTS WORK UP TO 80 HOURS
PER WEEK AND ONLY GET FOUR DAYS
OFF PER MONTH.
THEY ARE EXHAUSTED, THEY'RE
DOING EXTRA SHIFTS AND I REALLY
AGREE WITH WHAT PAULA SAID HOW
IT'S SO IRONIC THAT WE GET A
LOT OF HIGH-FIVES AND PARADES
AND FREE FOOD WHICH IS ALL
GREAT, BUT WHAT WE NEED IS
WELLNESS IN A REAL SENSE AND
WHAT WE NEED TO BE WELL
ACTUALLY IS AT THE END OF THE
DAY WHEN YOU ARE SO EXHAUSTED
TO NOT ALSO BE WORRIED ABOUT
PAYING FOR RENT AND CHILDCARE
AND THE FACT THAT YOUR SPOUSE
WAS LAID OFF.
AND SO I THINK A LOT OF OUR
MEMBERS ARE FEELING REALLY SICK
AND TIRED OF THE WAY WE ARE
BEING TREATED, ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS
NEGOTIATION FOR SO LONG, EVEN
BEFORE COVID WERE NOT WILLING
TO PAY US ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT
RESIDENTS IN OTHER EXPENSIVE
CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO,
L.A., SAN DIEGO AND NEW YORK
ARE PAID.
NOW WITH COVID THEY HAVE
ANOTHER EXCUSE TO CONTINUE NOT
PAYING US ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT
THEY ARE PAID.
WE ARE A LOT LUCKIER THAN A LOT
OF OUR OTHER ETHICAL STAFF WE
WORK WITH.
SO IT'S ALSO OUR JOB AS
PHYSICIANS TO ECHO THE NEEDS OF
OTHER UW UPPER CAMPUS AND
MEDICAL STAFF TOO.
I THINK SOME OF US ARE GETTING
SOME HOPE FROM DOING THAT AND
BEING PART OF THE MOVEMENT AND
SOLIDARITY WITH EVERYONE ELSE I
THINK IT'S REALLY HARD.
>> PAULA?
>> MOST OF THE UNIONS BLAME
DOCTOR RAMSEY FOR THIS
SITUATION THEY ARE IN.
HE CLAIMS THEY ARE $500 MILLION
IN THE HOLE.
HE HAS DONE A LOT OF STUFF OVER
THE LAST FIVE OR 10 YEARS THAT
HAS COST THE HOSPITAL MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS.
HE BUILT A NEW TOWER THAT THEY
REALIZED, ONCE A GOT ILL, THEY
COULDN'T FEEL.
THEY DIDN'T NEED IT.
AND HE IS REALLY AT FAULT FOR
WHAT IS HAPPENING.
THIS IS A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY,
PUBLIC HOSPITALS, AND THE
PUBLIC NEEDS TO HOLD THE UW
MEDICAL SYSTEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THE MONEY THEY HAVE BEEN
WASTING.
THERE WASTING MEDICARE MONEY,
STATE MONEY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO BE TRYING TO DO,
ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT, WHEN THEY
SPEND MONEY.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS WHAT
AUSTERITY IS ABOUT.
UPPER MANAGEMENT MAKES MISTAKES
AND THEY WANT THE WORKERS TO BE
FORD.
TO MAKE IT BETTER.
WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT THIS WE
CAN'T KEEP HAVING TO BEAR THE
BRUNT OF EVERY MISTAKE THEY
MAKE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS PAULA SAID, IT'S REALLY, THE
AUSTERITY, IT'S NOT LIKE AN ACT
OF GOD, IT'S BEING CARRIED OUT
BY THE BUREAUCRATS, THE
ADMINISTRATION AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
IF THERE IS ANY MISMANAGEMENT
OF RESERVED CASH, IT IS THEIR
FAULT.
AND IT SHOULD NOT BE PUT ON THE
BACKS OF WORKING PEOPLE.
ZOE, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
BEING VERY SORT OF OPEN ABOUT
HOW THERE IS A FEELING OF
DETECTION.
I APPRECIATE THAT BEING
ARTICULATED BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
AS WE HEAD INTO THE WORST
ECONOMIC YEAR OF OUR LIVES, IT
IS GOING TO BE A FACTOR.
WE HAVE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER
THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND PART OF SUPPORTING IS JUST
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE
FEELING DEJECTED OR DEMORALIZED
OR SAD AND THAT THOSE ARE GOING
TO BE REAL THINGS AMONG WORKING
PEOPLE.
AND THEN AS YOU ALSO SAID,
OVERCOMING, BECOMING PART OF A
MOVEMENT YOU HAVE SOLIDARITY
AND YOU OFFER SOLIDARITY AND
YOU GET SOLIDARITY BACK.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SHARING
THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE ALL HUMAN, AND WE
HAVE TO BUILD THE MOVEMENT
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR OWN HUMANITY.
AND, TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN
ADDRESS THIS TOGETHER, WE NOW
HAVE MATT WHO IS AN EDUCATOR
AND RANK-AND-FILE MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
WHICH I AM PROUD TO REPORT HAS
VOTED TO ENDORSE OUR TAX AMAZON
CAMPAIGN.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR HOSTING THIS AND THE
OTHER PANELISTS ON TONIGHT AS
WELL AS EVERYONE TUNING IN
FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE.
MY NAME IS MATT, I AM A RENTER
IN D3 I LIVE IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
I AM A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER WHO
BEFORE THE CRISIS WAS TEACHING
MUSIC HERE IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
I AM NO LONGER A SUBSTITUTE
TEACHER.
AND I AM RIGHT NOW WORKING AS A
RESIDENTIAL PAINTER AND
CONTRACTOR BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
I USUALLY DO DURING THE SUMMERS.
AM A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND AS
WAS MENTIONED WE RECENTLY VOTED
TO ENDORSE THE AMAZON TAX
MOVEMENT SPECIFICALLY THE
SAWANT MORALES TAX AMAZON
LEGISLATION INCLUDING THE
FUNDING FOR IMMEDIATE CASH IN
HAND RELIEF FOR SEATTLE
FAMILIES AS WELL AS FUNDING FOR
HOUSING.
THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR
STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS,
TO FUND HOUSING.
I THINK WHAT THE SISTERS AND
BROTHERS FROM THE TRADES WERE
SPEAKING ABOUT EARLIER WITH
COMMUTES, IT MAYBE ISN'T AS
EXAGGERATED FOR EDUCATORS BUT A
LOT OF PEOPLE WILL COME IN FROM
NEED HOUSING IN THE CITY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE LIVE
WHERE WE CAN TEACH.
AS A SUBSTITUTE I WORK IN A LOT
OF DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS.
I GET TO KNOW SOME SCHOOLS
QUITE WELL INCLUDING SOME
STUDNTS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY HOUSING AND
SECURITY DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK
THE SAME.
I KNOW STUDENTS PERSONALLY WHO
HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE
THEY HAVE LOST HOUSING, THEY
HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT OF THEIR
FAMILY HOMES BECAUSE THEY CAME
OUT WITH THEIR TRUE GENDER
IDENTITY TO THEIR FAMILIES.
THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A TRAGIC
SITUATION AND SHOULD NOT
HAPPEN, YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE
HOUSED.
AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS QUITE SO
STARK OR HARSH.
A LOT OF TIMES IT'S FAMILIES
AND STUDENTS WHO ARE JUST
TRAVELING, STAYING ON PEOPLE'S
COUCHES.
THAT IS A HOUSING INSECURITY
AND CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON
THE SCHOOL, THE ABILITY OF
STUDENTS TO DO SCHOOL, TO
ENGGE IN SCHOOL.
A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S
UNFORTUNATE, BUT THE FIRST
CONVERSATION YOU SOMETIMES HAVE
WITH STUDENTS IS NOT
NECESSARILY HOW IS SCHOOL, HOW
IS WORK?
BUT HOW IS THE HOUSING
SITUATION?
A LOT OF HUGE QUESTIONS FACING
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY.
AND IT'S A SHAME THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS THE
ONLY ONE HERE TONIGHT.
I AM GLAD THIS MEETING IS BEING
HOSTED AND MOVING FORWARD ON
THIS BECAUSE STUDENTS CAN'T
WAIT, FAMILIES CAN'T WAIT.
THE REALITIES OF QUARANTINE FOR
EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS IS
DISTANCE LEARNING.
IT'S MAYBE NOT FIGHTING FOR TPE
OR HEALTH AND SAFETY AS MIGHT
BE HAPPENING IN A LOT OF OTHER
WORKPLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE
WERE ON THE CALL WITH ME, BUT
THE QUESTION OF HOW STUDENTS
LEARN WHEN THEY ARE AT HOME IS
A REAL ONE.
ESPECIALLY AS STUDENTS DON'T
HAVE ACCESS TO STABLE HOUSING.
OR IN PARTICULAR ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE STABLE RELIABLE
INTERNET.
THERE IS MULTIPLE EMERGENCY FOR
FAMILIES WITH MILLIONS APPLYING
FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.
WITH OTHERS WORKING FROM HOME.
WITH THE ADDED EXPECTATION OF
NOT ONLY PERFORMING CHILDCARE
FOR YOUR FAMILY, BUT BECOMING
HOME TEACHERS AS WELL.
HOMESCHOOLING YOUR STUDENTS.
THAT IS WHY I AM HERE TONIGHT,
PROBABLY STANDING WITH MY UNION
SUPPORTING THE AMAZON TAX
FIGHT.
IT'S A MODEST TAX ON SEATTLE'S
BIGGEST BUSINESSES AND IT WILL
URGENTLY FIND HIGH-QUALITY
PUBLIC HOUSING AND PROVIDE CASH
RELIEF FOR FAMILIES.
I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE
SEPARATED.
MY UNION VOTED TO SUPPORT BOTH
HALVES OF THAT AND I DON'T THINK
COUNCIL MEMBERS AT HOME
WATCHING THIS HOPEFULLY WILL
SUPPORT BOTH THE EMERGENCIES,
THAT WOULD BE SOLVED BY THE
HOUSING AND CASH IN HAND
RELIEF.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH
PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, THIS IS NOT
THE TIME FOR AUSTERITY BUDGETS.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S OFFICE
FOR HOSTING THIS AND EVERYONE
ELSE WHO IS ON THE VIDEO
TONIGHT.
THANKS AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, MATT FOR SPEAKING
AND SHARING YOUR UNION'S
VIEWPOINT ON WHY THIS IS URGENT.
AND NOT ONLY FOR TEACHERS, BUT
ALSO STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY
IS UNITED IN WANTING URGENT
RELIEF, NEEDING URGENT RELIEF.
NEXT UP WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE
UNION THAT REPRESENTS MANY OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WORKERS.
CRYSTAL WORKS IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE WHERE SHE ASSISTS
ELDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE
DEPARTMENT'S RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE CHANGE TEAM.
WELCOME.
>> I AM HERE AS A MEMBER OF
CITY EMPLOYEE AND REPRESENTING
MY OWN OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS.
BASED ON WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
SEE IN THE COMMUNITY, ONE OF
THE MAIN THINGS IS SEEING THE
EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON THE
COMMUNITIES AND HOW CLEARLY
DISPROPORTIONATE IT IS BASED ON
HOW INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN SET
UP FOR DECADES.
AND CENTURIES.
AND REALLY THESE ARE SO EVIDENT
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO FOCUS.
SO WHATEVER MONEY COMES FROM,
HOWEVER IT IS THAT BUDGETS ARE
LOOKED AT AND REDUCED, THE
IMPORTANCE OF LEADING WITH THE
VALUE THAT THE CITY STATES IT
HAS WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT IN
OUR WORK.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT EXAMPLES FROM
LOCATIONS OF WHERE QUARANTINE
SHELTERS ARE, WHERE EXPANSION
SHELTERS ARE, WHO IS GETTING
REASSIGNED TO DO THAT WORK.
LOOKING AT HOW BUDGETS AFFECT
TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES FIRST WERE
OFTEN PEOPLE OF COLOR. I AM
LOOKING AT HEARING HOW
CAREGIVERS NOW WORKING WITH OUR
CLIENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE
LIKELY BE IN A HOSPITAL OR
INSTITUTION ARE REMAINING IN
THEIR HOMES.
CAREGIVERS VERY OFTEN PEOPLE OF
COLOR COMMUTING FROM OUTSIDE
THE CITY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T
AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
JUST NOW WE ARE STARTING TO GET
MASKS ANOTHER PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT FOR THEM.
JUST LOOKING AT WHO ARE THE
MOST WONDERFUL AT THESE TIMES.
WHO IS EXPERIENCING THE ROLE OF
THE ESSENTIAL WORKER, I HAVE
THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING FROM
HOME BUT THERE ARE MANY TASKS
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING AND
LIVING AND EXPERIENCING, THEY
SHOULD BE GIVEN THE SUPPORT
THEY NEED RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE
BUDGET, WHEN YOU LOOK AT MONEY
COMING IN, THEY ALWAYS SAY
LET'S LOOK AT IT WITH A EQUITY
LENS, WHEN WE ARE IN EMERGENCY
MODE WEAKNESS THE OPPORTUNITY,
IF YOU LIKE WE NEED TO MAKE SO
MANY DECISIONS QUICKLY.
WE USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO
REVERT BACK TO THE SYSTEMS HOW
THEY HAVE BEEN SET UP AND I AM
TRYING TO LOOK AT SILVER
LININGS OF THINGS WE ARE
LEARNING FROM THIS TIME.
AND HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY BE
WORKING WITH, BRINGING IN
DECISION-MAKING FROM THE
COMMUNITY, LOOKING AT HOW WE
ARE GETTING SUPPORT,
GOVERNANCE, LOOKING AT
GOVERNANCE AND HOMELESSNESS AND
HOW COMMITTEES ARE SET UP AND
HOW WE CAN BE DOING THESE
THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND NOT
REALLY ALL IS LEADING WITH
RACE.
WHATEVER FUNDING SOURCES ARE
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, I JUST
FEEL IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE LOOK
AT HOW WE CAN DO THAT FROM A
RACIAL LENS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND NOW WE HAVE SARAH, A CLIMATE
SCIENTIST AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ADVOCATE.
WELCOME.
>> HI ALL.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE
OTHER CONTRIBUTORS TODAY TO THE
CONVERSATION.
THE PUBLIC LEADERS, EDUCATORS,
THE ENGINEERS, THE UNION
LABORERS, AND THE ELECTED
LEADERS.
I AM A CLIMATE AND OCEAN
SCIENTIST, I'M GOING TO TALK
TODAY BRIEFLY ABOUT AN OF THE
ASPECTS OF THE EFFORT TO
GENERATE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
WHICH IS IMPERATIVE TO LEAD ON
CLIMATE.
JUST FOR CONTEXT, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, THE SEATTLE COUNCIL IN
2017 UPHELD THE PARIS CLAIMANT
ACCORDS TO HIT THE TO DEGREE
TARGET FOR THE MAXIMUM MEAN
GLOBAL WARMING OF 2 DEGREES
CELSIUS.
IN ORDER FOR THE GLOBAL
COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN A
COMMITMENT OF 2 DEGREES C WHICH
THEMSELVES HAVE A MASSIVE
AMOUNT OF ANALOGIES WHICH I
WILL REFERENCE, IN ORDER TO
MAINTAIN OUR COMMITMENT WE NEED
DECARBONIZATION AND WE NEED IT
RAPIDLY.
BY THE CITY'S OWN CALCULATION
WE NEED A 50% REDUCTION IN
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN
REFERENCE TO A 20 -- 2008 LEVEL
BY 2030.
IS 10 YEARS AWAY.
WE NEED EXTENSIVE REDUCTION
ACROSS ALL SECTORS OF THE
CITY'S ACTIVITY.
WHAT THIS MEANS IS WE NEED
EFFECTIVE ACTION ACROSS
TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING
PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION,
TRANSIT, BICYCLING, SAFETY.
WE NEED TRANSFORMATION ACROSS
HOUSING, JOBS, AND LIVABLE
COMMUNITIES.
WE NEED TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE
ACROSS BUILDINGS, MULTIFAMILY
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS,
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, AND
TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN THE
RECYCLING, COMPOSTING AND WASTE
GENERATION ASPECTS OF THE
CITY'S MANAGEMENT.
WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE,
EFFECTIVE AND SCALABLE ACTION
THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED
NOW TO GET US TO A 50%
REDUCTION BITE 20/30 IN ORDER
TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S ALREADY
EXISTING COMMITMENTS TO CLIMATE
ACTION.
SO, PART OF THE CITY, THE
COUNCILS LANGUAGE HAS ALREADY
COMMITTED A GOAL OF
ESTABLISHING ADEQUATE FUNDING
TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE
COMPREHENSIVE AND RAPIDLY
APPROACHING DEADLINE FOR ALL OF
THESE CHANGES.
THIS COMMITMENT BY THE CITY,
BY THE COUNCIL PARTICULARLY
WAS A MOMENT OF ABSOLUTE CLARITY
IN PUBLIC LEADERSHIP AND I
APPLAUD THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN ITS
COMMITMENT TO THE PARIS
CLAIMANT ACCORDS.
IT CONTINUES TO PUT THE CITY
INTO THE ECHELON OF GLOBAL
LEADERSHIP AND WE ARE ALL
WANTING TO BE A PART OF IT.
AND APPLAUDING AS THE BENCHMARK
FOR WHAT GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
FOR THE CITY TO ADEQUATELY
ADDRESS THE SCALE AND NATURE OF
CLIMATE CHANGE, WHAT IT NEEDS
TO DO IS IT NEEDS TO BUILD
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SOURCES.
SO, FOR A MOMENT, WHAT DOES IT
MEAN FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE IN
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON TO ADAPT
AND RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE?
WE KNOW FROM THE SNOW DROUGHT
IN THE FIRES OF 2015 WHICH WERE
AN EXTREME WEATHER YEAR WHICH
EMISSIONS CONTRIBUTED TO, THAT
THERE WERE COSTS UP AND DOWN
DIFFERENT DOMAINS OF PUBLIC
LIFE.
BECAUSE OF THAT EXTREME YEAR.
PUBLIC HEALTH, EQUITY, ARE
NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMY, LARGE
SECTORS OF OUR RURAL ECONOMIES
WERE ALL IMPACTED.
2015 WAS A HARBINGER.
AN EXAMPLE OF HOW VULNERABLE WE
ARE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO THE
KIND OF WARMING AND DISRUPTION
COMING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.
HERE'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GLOBAL
2 DEGREES C AND GLOBAL 1.5
DEGREE C TARGET IS SUBSTANTIAL.
WE ARE AIMING FOR EIGHT 2
DEGREES C TARGET THERE ARE
MASSIVE STRUCTURAL CONSEQUENCES
THAT WILL COME WITH EVEN THIS
GOAL.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1.5 AND
2 DEGREES C IS LITERALLY
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING WATER INSECURITY
AND POVERTY FROM CLIMATE
INDUCED FACTORS.
SO OUR AMBITIOUS TARGET IS
STILL TARGETING US TOWARD HOT,
DANGEROUS AND ICONIC CHAOTIC
FUTURE.
WE SHOULD BE EXCEEDING THOSE
GOALS.
THIS IS WHY THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL, IT'S IMPERATIVE TO
FIND PROGRESSIVE, LITTLE
SOURCES OF REVENUE.
IT'S WHY I SUPPORT THE EFFORT
NOW TO TAX AMAZON TO GENERATE,
AS WE HEARD EARLIER TODAY, $120
MILLION ANNUALLY FOR GREEN NEW
DEAL FUNDING.
THIS FUNDING WOULD DIRECTLY
ADDRESS THE AREAS THAT NEED TO
BE THE CARBONIZED IN THIS THE
CITY'S PURVIEW BY A 2030
DEADLINE.
WHAT IS FANTASTIC ABOUT THIS IS
THIS IS EXACTLY IN LINE WITH
THE GOALS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS
ALREADY STATED FOR ITSELF IN
ORDER TO MEET THESE
DECARBONIZATION CLIMATE GOALS.
SO, IF THE CITY COUNCIL IS
WILLING TO LISTEN TO
EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS AND TO ALIGN
THEIR ACTIONS AND BEHAVIORS IN
ORDER TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S
LIVES, THEN IT ALSO NEEDS TO
LISTEN TO CLIMATE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS AND
ALIGN DECISION-MAKING OF THE
COUNCIL TO PROTECT AND STEWARD
THE LIVES OF THOSE OF US IN
WASHINGTON STATE AND ACROSS THE
PLANET ON A CATO TIMESCALE.
THE ACTIONS WE TAKE RIGHT NOW
WILL IMPACT THE TRAJECTORY OF
OUR CLIMATE FOR MILLENNIA INTO
THE FUTURE.
YOU CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE THE
SCIENCE THAT IS CONVENIENT FOR
YOU IN ORDER TO LEAD IN PUBLIC.
LET ME TELL YOU, THERE IS NO
MORE INCONVENIENT SCIENCE THAN
THE SCIENCE BEHIND CLIMATE
CHANGE.
HISTORY WILL JUDGE THIS
GENERATION OF PUBLIC LEADERS.
I WANT TO ENSURE THE CITY
COUNCIL IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF
HISTORY.
TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF
HISTORY IT MEANS PRIORITIZING
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE, IT MEANS
TAXING AMAZON EVEN IF IT IS
CHALLENGING POLITICALLY.
AND TO DO SO MEANS THAT IT WILL
BE ABLE TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY
TO THE NATURE AND SCALE OF THE
CLIMATE CRISIS THAT IS ALREADY
HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE
COUNCIL AND TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR THE TIME.
THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW-UP ON
WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HOW IF THE
COUNCIL IS PAYING SO MUCH
ATTENTION, CORRECTLY SO, TO
EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND HEALTHCARE
EXPERTS ABOUT FOLLOWING THE
STAY AT HOME WHICH WE ALL
SHOULD ADHERE TO IN SOCIAL
DISTANCING, THEN IT ONLY MAKES
SENSE THEY SHOULD ALSO PAY
ATTENTION TO CLIMATE SCIENTISTS
IN THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY.
CAN YOU SAY WHY YOU BELIEVE
THIS IS TIED TO THE COVID
EMERGENCY ALSO?
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S STRIKING
WE ARE HAVING THIS MEETING AND
I HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY BLOWN
AWAY BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS ALL
THE WAY FROM CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS TO CLIMATE SCIENTISTS
AND DOCTORS AND PLUMBERS, YET I
AM THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL
HERE AND NO ONE ELSE'S HERE
BECAUSE SOMEHOW DISCUSSING
EMERGENCIES IS NOT ALLOWED
DURING AN EMERGENCY.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW CLIMATE
EMERGENCY WHETHER IT'S ANY
OTHER KIND OF EMERGENCY WE TALK
ABOUT WHETHER ECONOMIC OR
PANDEMICS?
>> DEFINITELY.
I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU TO
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE KIND OF
EVIDENCE-BASED LEADERSHIP THAT
IS REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO THE
SCALE AND NATURE OF BOTH THE
COVID CRISIS AND ALSO THE
EMERGENT CLIMATE CRISIS.
THE REASON WHY I AM HERE TODAY
IS BECAUSE OF MY COMMITMENT TO
PUBLIC LEADERSHIP AND MY DESIRE
TO HELP STEWARD PUBLIC DECISION-
MAKING TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S
LIVES IN THE FUTURE.
THE SAME KIND OF MOTIVATION IS
HAPPENING IN EPIDEMIOLOGISTS
AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
WE SEE THE SAME KIND OF
LEADERSHIP TO HELP STEWARD AND
PROTECT PEOPLE'S LIVES.
NOW, THE COVID CRISIS AND
CLIMATE CRISIS ARE NOT
ANALOGUES, THEY ARE HAPPENING
FOR FUNDAMENTALLY REASONS AND A
DIFFERENT TIME SCALES AND
DIFFERENT CONSEQUENCES.
AND YET WE CAN ALSO SEE FROM
THE COVID CRISIS, ONE OF THE
MANIFESTATIONS OF OUR PROFOUND
CONNECTIVITY AND THAT THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF AN
INTERSECTIONAL JUSTICE FOCUSED
LENS AND RIGHT ACTION IS WHAT
IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO LEAD US
TOWARD A SCIENCE INFORMED
SOCIETY IN THE FUTURE.
WHERE WE INCLUDE, AS WE MOVE
FORWARD TOGETHER, CLIMATE,
WORKERS RIGHTS, RACIAL JUSTICE,
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND WE
ALL COLLECTIVELY MOVE TOGETHER.
THIS IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED
APPROACH.
THIS IS NOT ORTHOGONAL FROM THE
ROLE I HAVE AS A PUBLIC
SCIENTIST AND SCHOLAR.
THAT IS WHY I AM HERE TODAY.
I THINK IT IS VERY ANALOGOUS
THAT THEY WOULD STAND UP AND
SAY I'M HERE TO TELL YOU BAD
NEWS ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY.
IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING AS
HAIMA CRISIS.
WHAT CLIMATE CRISIS WILL DO IS
IT WILL HURT YOU, HURT YOUR
FAMILY, DECREASE THE STABILITY
THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE
PLACES YOU WANT, EAT THE FOOD
YOU WANT, AND GATHER IN THE
PLACES YOU WANT.
IT WILL CAUSE THE SAME KIND OF
DISRUPTION, SYSTEMIC
DISRUPTION, CRISIS AND LOSS OF
LIFE THAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH 19
RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SARAH MENTIONED, THE TERM
RACIAL JUSTICE AND I THOUGHT WAS
THAT WAS WHAT MATT AND KRISTA
WAS SHARING WITH US.
IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC
SERVICE, SOCIAL SERVICES.
REALLY THAT IS A BIG ISSUE WE
ALL DEAL WITH.
KRISTA, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT HOW
YOUR COWORKERS AND THE PEOPLE
YOU SERVE, THE COMMUNITIES YOU
SERVE, THE QUESTION OF RACIAL
INJUSTICE KEEPS EMERGING
EVERYWHERE YOU GO TO MATHER
WHETHER YOU TALK ABOUT THE
QUESTION OF RENT, OR JOBS OR
HOW THE PANDEMIC IS AFFECTING
PEOPLE.
WHOSE LIVES ARE BEING LOST.
HOW THE QUESTION OF RACE
FIGURES IN AGAIN AND AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK WE HAVE HAD A FEW TIMES
WHERE WE HAVE HAD BEEN ABLE TO
PAUSE AND SPEAK AND SHARE WHEN
WE DO HEAR ABOUT THE LOCATION
OF THE SHELTER OR SOMETHING
SIMILAR TO THAT WHERE WE CAN BE
LIKE, WHO IS BEING INVOLVED IN
DECISION-MAKING?
ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN AN AREA
INVOLVED?
OR PEOPLE RECEIVING THAT
SERVICE INVOLVED?
AND SO, BOTH FROM A RACIAL,
LANGUAGE, CULTURAL POINT, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE THOSE
VOICES.
I WAS JUST THINKING, IT'S
SOMETHING WE CAN CAN CERTAINLY
CONTINUE TO DO BETTER.
A BIG AREA WE SEE FOR THIS IS
ARE THEY REPRESENTING THE
COMMUNITY'S WE SERVE AND THERE
ARE ON SOME LEVELS, BUT THE
HIGHER YOU GO THE MORE THEY ARE
NOT.
TO SEE HOW LEADERSHIP, HIRING
DECISIONS, THAT HAS BEEN A BIG
AREA WE ARE WORKING ON IN OUR
DEPARTMENT ON HOW TO HAVE OUR
WORKFORCE BEING REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE COMMUNITY'S WE SERVE.
AND THAT CAN BE CHALLENGING TO
THE SYSTEM OF HOW THINGS HAVE
BEEN DONE.
THAT IS ONE WAY RACIAL EQUITY
IS TRYING TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN
POSITIONS TO GIVE VOICES, NOT
TO ORGANIZING BUT TO HAVE A
VOICE THE COMES WITH POWER.
AND IT'S NOT JUST SHARED, IT'S
LISTEN TO.
>> MATT, QUICKLY IF YOU WANT TO
SHARE A LITTLE BIT QUICKLY
ABOUT HOW THE STUDENTS YOU TEACH
, THE CHILDREN OF WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE OF COLOR OF THE MOST
IMPACTED BY AUSTERITY IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO IN EDUCATION CIRCLES YOU
HEAR TALK ABOUT
DISPROPORTIONALITY AND WHAT
THAT MEANS IS IN A CITY LIKE
SEATTLE, WHICH IS MOSTLY WHITE,
YOU STILL SEE FAR HIGHER
PERCENTAGES OF STUDENTS BEING
DISCIPLINED LACKING ACCESS TO
HOUSING, IN PARTICULAR, I THINK
THE QUESTION OF
INTERSECTIONALITY HAS COME UP
AND IT'S NOT JUST LACK OF
ACCESS TO RESOURCES.
THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM
THAT A LOT OF STUDENTS FACE FOR
A VARIETY OF REASONS.
BUT THE LIKELIHOOD IF YOU
HAPPEN TO BE LGBTQ AS WELL AS
BLACK OR BROWN OR HOMELESS, ALL
OF THESE FACTORS ADD UP.
AND WHAT REALLY CREATES THE
CRISIS THAT A LOT OF STUDENTS
ARE FACING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE WEALTH OF
WORKERS AND ACTIVISTS AND UNION
LEADERS HERE WITH US.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
AS I SAID BEFORE, I AM JUST
REALLY FEELING HOW MUCH THE
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS MISSED AND
I HOPE THEY WILL WATCH THE
RECORDING OF THIS MEETING.
I KNOW I WILL WATCH IT EVEN
THOUGH I AM HERE LIVE.
OUR NEXT ITEM OF COURSE IS ALSO
EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT IS
ABOUT RENTERS AND HOW THEY CAN
GET ORGANIZED.
IN FACT, WE HAVE IS RENTERS WHO
ARE ORGANIZING THEMSELVES
ALREADY, THEY'RE GOING TO SHARE
ONE ON ONE WITH US THE
CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND SO ON.
I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL OPEN
THIS AGENDA ITEM WITH A BIG
APOLOGY TO OUR RENTER SPEAKERS
WERE HERE AND TO THE RENTERS
WERE WATCHING THE COMMITTEE, I
KNOW THIS AGENDA POINT IS GOING
TO BE CRUNCHED BUT ONLY BECAUSE
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP
MEETING VERY SOON.
AND A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FOR
MY OFFICE IS GOING TO BE HAVING
, IS GOING TO SHARE A
PRESENTATION AND INTRODUCE OUR
SPEAKERS.
HE'S GOING TO SHARE ALSO NEWS
ABOUT THIS EXCITING ORGANIZING
MEETING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING WHERE WE
ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON RENTER
ORGANIZING.
ADAM, WELCOME AND TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT WAS A PHENOMENAL DISCUSSION
AND I KNOW ALL THE RENTERS ON
THE CALL ALSO AGREE THAT WE NEED
TO TAX BIG BUSINESS AND THAT IS
ANOTHER FORM OF MAKING SURE
WORKING PEOPLE DON'T PAY. I'M
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SHARE THE
SCREEN, THE POWERPOINT
DEMONSTRATION SO WE CAN REALLY
BREEZE BY AND MAKE SURE WE GET
THROUGH QUICKLY. ALL RIGHT.
AS I WAS SAYING, I'M NOT GOING
TO READ THE WHOLE POWERPOINT
DISPLAY, WE ARE GOING TO GET TO
HER ORGANIZER, OUR SPEAKERS AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WE DID WANT TO GO AHEAD AND
MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNEW THIS
RESOURCE IS AVAILABLE.
WE WILL SHARE THE LINK THAT IS
ORGANIZING 101 IN THE CHAT AND
THE VARIOUS LIVE STREAMS.
AS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT, THIS IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST ECONOMIC CRISES WE ARE
FACING WITH 40 MILLION PEOPLE
NATIONWIDE HAVING LOST THEIR
JOBS.
WE KNOW THAT FORECLOSURE AND
EVICTIONS ARE GOING TO BE THE
WAY THAT CORPORATE LANDLORDS
AND BIG BANKS MAKE WORKING
PEOPLE PAY.
WE HAVE SEEN FOR CLOSURE AND
EVICTIONS MORATORIUMS BUT THAT
IS TO PROTECT, WE KNOW THAT
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DEBT
ARE GOING TO BE ACCUMULATING
AND THERE IS LITERALLY ZERO
PROSPECT FOR MOST WORKERS WHO
WITHOUT JOBS, SOMETIMES FOR
SEVERAL MONTHS, ZERO PROSPECT
OF PAYING FOR THAT BACK RENT.
IN REALITY WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WHEN WE HEAR FROM THESE
RENTERS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
ORGANIZING AND FIGHTING AGAINST
A MASSIVE WAVE OF EVICTIONS
THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING
UNLESS WE ORGANIZE AND FIGHT.
WE DON'T NEED TO KIND OF GUESS
ABOUT THIS.
WE SAW AFTER THE GREAT
RECESSION NEARLY 8 MILLION
WORKING PEOPLE, WORKING-CLASS
HOMEOWNERS WERE FORECLOSED ON
BY THE BANKS.
EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THIS
PANDEMIC WE ARE SEEING
BILLIONAIRES INCREASING THEIR
WEALTH, PROFITEERING, JUST AS
WE HEARD IN DEPTH BEFORE AS
THEY ARE FIGHTING AGAINST
PAYING MODEST AMOUNTS OF TAXES.
SO THAT WORKING PEOPLE CAN GET
BASIC THINGS.
WE DO NEED TO GET ORGANIZED.
AND WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
CONCRETELY, WHAT ARE WE TALKING
ABOUT WHEN WE SAY THAT WORKERS
SHOULDN'T PAY AND THAT
CORPORATE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES,
BIG LANDLORDS AND BIG BANKS
SHOULD PAY?
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FIGHTING
SO THAT RENT, UTILITIES AND
MORTGAGE ARE CANCELED SO WE DO
NOT HAVE TO PAY IF WE ARE
WORKING PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS AND LOST SIGNIFICANT
PAY AND HOURS AS A RESULT OF
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
WE ALSO KNOW OF COURSE OVER THE
PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THERE IS
LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF RENTERS
HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF
GETTING ORGANIZED IN THEIR
BUILDINGS AND BEYOND. WE KNOW
THIS IS NOT AN EASY PATH.
IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS CALLING
FOR SOMETHING LIKE A RENT
STRIKE.
WE KNOW THAT BUILDING MY
BUILDING ORGANIZING IS GOING TO
BE NECESSARY BUT IT'S GOING TO
TAKE TIME.
AND IF WE DOUBT AT ALL BEFORE
WE ARE GOING ON TO HEAR FROM
OUR SPEAKERS, IF WE DOUBT THAT
THIS IS NECESSARY, WE CAN LOOK
TO THE RULING CLASS RENTERS.
BUSINESS RENTERS.
STARBUCKS.
WE JUST FOUND IS DEMANDING A
FULL YEAR OF RENT.
CHEESECAKE FACTORY HAS DONE THE
SAME.
SUBWAY HAS TOLD THEIR OWNERS,
THE FRANCHISEES. WE ALSO KNOW
ANOTHER THING, THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT WILL NOT PROTECT
WORKING-CLASS RENTERS AND
HOMEOWNERS. SO IF WE ARE GOING
TO PROTECT OURSELVES, WE NEED
TO GET ORGANIZED AND MANY TO DO
THAT BY BUILDING OUR COLLECTIVE
POWERS AND MOVEMENT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR FROM A
COUPLE RENTERS IN SEATTLE,
TENANTS OF BUILDINGS MANAGED. A
COMPANY THAT MANAGES 5500 UNITS
IN THE SEATTLE AREA.
75 BUILDINGS IN CAPITOL HILL
ALONE.
THE FATE OF ORGANIZING DOESN'T
JUST IMPACT, IT'S THOUSANDS OF
RENTERS.
FIRST WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM
JASON WAS A PHOTOJOURNALIST, A
TENANT AT THE SOTO ARMS.
GO AHEAD.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> AWESOME.
THANK YOU ADAM, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
AS ADAM MENTIONED I'M A SELF-
EMPLOYED PHOTOGRAPHER AND I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 6, I AM HERE
REPRESENTING MY OWN OPINIONS
AND EXPERIENCES.
THANKFULLY I AM STILL WORKING
BUT I DO WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE
FOR MYSELF AND OTHER WORKING-
CLASS PEOPLE.
I HAVE SEEN TOO MANY OF MY
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES THAT
WERE LAID OFF, ESPECIALLY IN
2008 AND I WAS LAID OFF AND
DECIDED TO FREELANCE.
ABOUT MY BUILDING, MY ORIGINAL
LANDLORD HAD THE BUILDING SINCE
THE 1970S AND IT WAS A
WONDERFUL WOMAN.
HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE TENANTS AND WE HAD A
MAINTENANCE WORKER WHO IS HERE
A LOT AND KNEW ALL THE TENANTS
ON A FIRST NAME BASIS.
WE HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH
HIM.
IN OCTOBER OUR LANDLORD RETIRED
AND SOLD OUR BUILDING.
IN NOVEMBER I RECEIVED A NOTICE
FROM OUR NEW BUILDING MANAGER,
CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES, THAT
RENT WAS GOING UP 37% FOR MY
UNIT GETTING FEBRUARY 1. THIS
IS COMPLETELY LEGAL WITH THE 60
DAY ADVANCE NOTICE BECAUSE
THERE IS NO RENT CONTROL IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
BY THE WAY I SHOULD MENTION
THAT OREGON PASSED A STATEWIDE
RENT CONTROL LATE LAST YEAR
WHICH IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE HAPPEN IN WASHINGTON
TOO.
ALSO WORTH MESHING DIDN'T
MENTIONING IN PORTLAND THEY
RAISED $2.5 BILLION BY TAXING
BIG BUSINESS OVER 10 YEARS TO
FIGHT HOMELESSNESS WHICH I
THINK IS INSPIRING.
THE RENT INCREASE AT MY
BUILDING WAS VERY SHOCKING AND
FRUSTRATING.
AND OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS I
HAVE LIVED HERE, I HAD ONLY
SEEN ABOUT EIGHT 3% ANNUAL READ
RENT INCREASE WHICH IS A
STANDARD RENT INCREASE.
WHEN I APPEALED TO CORNELL AND
ASSOCIATES ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE
INCREASE, I HAD DIFFICULTY
GETTING A QUICK RESPONSE.
AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SPEAK
THE PERSON MANAGING MY BUILDING
AND THEY ASSURED ME THEY HAD
DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE
RENTS IN MY AREA AND I WAS
PLAYING PAYING BELOW MARKET
VALUE AND EVEN SUGGESTED THE
COULD'VE CHARGED ME MORE THAN
THEY DID.
IN FACT SAYING THE COULD'VE
CHARGED A 60% INCREASE INSTEAD
OF THE ALMOST 40% INCREASE.
THIS IS DESPITE THE BUILDING I
LIVE IN IS 93 YEARS OLD AND HAS
ISSUES LIKE LOW WATER PRESSURE,
WHEN SHOWERS ARE SHUT OFF WHEN
THE NEIGHBOR IS RUNNING WATER.
THIN WALLS, YOU CAN HEAR
NEIGHBORS COUGHING.
WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT SEATTLE
EGG AND REACHED OUT TO CORNELL
AND ASSOCIATES TO INQUIRE ABOUT
RENTS BEING RETURNED TO THE
ORIGINAL AMOUNT TO HELP US GET
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
BUT AFTER GOING THROUGH ANOTHER
SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO GET A
RESPONSE, I GOT A DENIAL EMAIL
SUGGESTING AMONG OTHER THINGS
THAT WE ASK OUR PARENTS FOR
MONEY, PUT THE RENT ON A CREDIT
CARD OR FIND A JOB AMONG THE
BUSINESSES OPERATING DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
AS A RESULT OF THE RENT
INCREASE, SEVERAL OF MY
NEIGHBORS DECIDED TO MOVE OUT
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND AS A LAST RESORT, I DECIDED
TO APPEAL TO THE NEW BUILDING
OWNERS DIRECTLY.
I DISCOVERED AN ARTICLE IN THE
OCTOBER 14 ISSUE OF THE DAILY
JOURNAL OF COMMERCE THAT OUR
BUILDING HAD BEEN PURCHASED BY
A FAMILY THAT OWNS COPIERS
NORTHWEST.
IT MENTIONED AFTER THE SOLDIER
SOUTHLAKE UNION BUILDING FOR 25
$28.5 MILLION THEY STARTED
BUYING INVESTMENT PROPERTIES.
EVENTUALLY I RECEIVED A REPLY
FROM CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES
THAT I SHOULD NOT CONTACT THE
NEW BUILDING OWNERS DIRECTLY
AND ONLY REACH OUT THROUGH THE
TENANT LIAISON WHO WOULD
CONTACT CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES.
BASICALLY CORNELL AND
ASSOCIATES WERE HIRED TO DO ONE
JOB WHICH IS TO MAKE AS MUCH
PROFIT AS POSSIBLE FOR THEIR
CLIENTS.
IN FACT, ON THEIR WEBSITE IT
EXPLICITLY SAYS, "THEY WANT TO
ACHIEVE AXMEN INCOME UNDER
CONSTANTLY CHANGING ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS WHILE INCREASING
PROPERTY VALUES."
UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE MANY
EXAMPLES OF GREED AND PRICE
GOUGING ALL AROUND US,
ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
IS RENTERS WE NEED TO STAND UP
FOR WHAT WE FEEL IS FAIR AND
CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES IS
WORKING VERY HARD TO SHAKE
EVERY PENNY FROM OUR POCKETS
WITH VERY LITTLE CONCERN ABOUT
PEOPLE MOVING OUT DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE BUT IF
WE STAND TOGETHER AS NEIGHBORS
CAN BE HEARD.
IF EVERYONE LIVING IN ONE OF
THE 5500 UNITS MANAGED BY
CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES ALL
SIGNS A PETITION SENDS AN EMAIL
WE COULD HAVE OUR REQUESTS
TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
THIS IS SOMETHING I NEVER HAD
TO DO IN ALL MY YEARS AS A
RENTER.
BUT I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT
ESPECIALLY DURING THE UNCERTAIN
TIMES.
WE ARE NOT ONLY IN THE PANDEMIC,
YOU'RE LIKELY HEADING INTO
ANOTHER GREAT DEPRESSION AND WE
ALL NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR ONE
ANOTHER AND HELP BRING OUT
POSITIVE CHANGES.
TO CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE ARE NOT
JUST PEOPLE WHO PAY RENT. WE
ARE THE ONES WHO TEACHER KIDS,
WORKING YOUR HOSPITALS, THE
MUSIC YOU ENJOY, BUILD YOUR
HOUSING AND WE WORK IN THE
STORES TO HELP MAKE SEATTLE.
THE CITY WE LOVE TO LIVE IN.
SO THANK YOU ADAM AND
COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, JASON FOR THOSE
REALLY IMPACTFUL WORDS.
WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE OF
COURSE, WE ARE EXCITED TO
CONTINUE WORKING WITH JASON AND
OTHER RENTERS.
ON JUNE 4 WE HAVE RENTERS
ORGANIZING MEETING TO FIGHT
AGAINST CORONAVIRUS EVICTIONS.
WE WILL HAVE A FACEBOOK EVENT
POSTED.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR FROM
ANOTHER SEATTLE RENTER,
VICTORIA PRICE, A TISSUE
RECOVERY TECHNICIAN WHO HAS
SEEN HER HOURS REDUCED.
SHE IS A TENANT AT THE EAST
MERCER APARTMENTS ALSO MANAGED
BY CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES.
VICTORIA, GO AHEAD AND TELL US
ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, AS A TISSUE RECOVERY
TECHNICIAN I JOB IS TO RECOVER
I TISSUE FOR TRANSPLANT TO HELP
CURE CORNEAL BLINDNESS.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR I
WAS INJURED PRETTY BADLY AT
WORK.
IT TOOK WEEKS FOR ME TO
RECOVER.
BUT THEN THE WEEK I WENT BACK
TO WORK HAPPEN TO BE THE SAME
EXACT WORK ELECTIVE SURGERIES
WERE CANCELED.
AND WE SAW THE DEMAND FOR
TISSUE, EYE TISSUE AND
TECHNICIANS LIKE MY SELF
DROPPED TO VIRTUALLY ZERO
OVERNIGHT.
THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY
DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY AFTER
HAVING NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK
FOR LONGTIME.
AND DUE TO SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY
WITH THE COMPANY ON HOW THEY
WERE GOING TO PROCEED WITH
STAFF AND WHAT THIS MEANT FOR
CORNEA DONATIONS, I WAS NOT
ABLE TO FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
AS QUICKLY AS A LOT OF OTHER
PEOPLE.
AND WHEN I FINALLY DID APPLY I
DISCOVERED THAT THE AND
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DEPARTMENT
HAD ACTUALLY NO RECORD
WHATSOEVER THAT I HAD EVER
WORKED FOR THIS EMPLOYER.
DUE TO AN ERROR FROM WAGE
REPORTING IN 2019.
WHEN THEY CALCULATED MY
UNAPPOINTED BENEFITS THEY
DECIDED TO AWARD ME ABOUT $250
PER WEEK BASED SOLELY ON THE
ONE SERVICE INDUSTRY I HAVE HAD
IN 2019.
IT HAS TAKEN WEEKS TO SORT THIS
OUT AND GET THE NUMBERS UP TO
DATE AND FIGURE OUT WHERE
THINGS ARE.
I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE
APPROPRIATE BENEFIT AMOUNT THAT
I SHOULD BE RECEIVING.
NOT WORKING FOR MOST OF THE
YEAR, THEN NOTE SHIFTS, NO
DONORS, AND THEN APPLYING FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT, THAT IS NOT AN
OPTION EITHER.
IT JUST TURNED INTO THIS
PERFECT STORM WHERE I LITERALLY
FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND I'M
JUST WAITING ON EVERYTHING
BEING FINALIZED IN TERMS OF MY
WORKPLACE INJURY, IN TERMS OF
SURGERIES AND IN TERMS OF
UNEMPLOYMENT.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR WEEKS.
ACTUALLY MONTHS, FOR ANY SORT
OF PAYMENT.
IN MARCH AND REACHED OUT TO MY
APARTMENT MANAGER, TO SAY I
COULDN'T PAY RENT FOR APRIL.
AND ASKED IF CORNELL AND
ASSOCIATES IS OFFERING ANY RENT
RELIEF OR SUSPENSION TO HELP
THOSE OF LOST THEIR JOBS OR
INCOME DUE TO COVID-19.
HE WAS SUPER SYMPATHETIC.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY SAID NO.
I COULDN'T DO MUCH MORE TO HELP.
A FEW DAYS LATER I RECEIVED A
LETTER FROM CORNELL AND
ASSOCIATES STATING THAT ALL
RENTERS WILL BE DUE AT THE END
OF THE TEMPORARY EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
WITH A VERY STRONG EMPHASIS ON
TEMPORARY.
THEY SUGGESTED ASKING FRIENDS
OR FAMILY MEMBERS, TO GIVE YOU
MONEY TO HELP COVER YOUR RENT.
OR TO TAKE OUT LOANS, WHICH WAS
FOR ME A LITTLE DISTURBING
ALMOST, ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO
HELP PAY FOR YOUR RENT, WE ARE
GOING TO HELP YOU.
THAT I REACHED OUT TO RENT
RELIEF AFTER SEEING POSTERS
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I
LEARNED THAT TENANTS IN MY
BUILDING WERE ALSO CONCERNED.
I HAD A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS
WILLING TO JOIN A REQUEST FOR
RENT RELIEF WITH THE HELP OF A
NEIGHBOR AND SOON AFTER ADAM
CONTACTED ME AND THAT'S WHEN I
WAS PUT IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF
THE TENETS.
BUT ANOTHER APARTMENT MANAGED
BY CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES ON
THE FRONT PAGE OF THE SEATTLE
TIMES A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND IS A
RENTER, FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW I
HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER
SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS FOR
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO
PAY RENT DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF
COVID-19.
AS A RENTER WHO HAS BOTH LOST
ALL INCOME AND GOT ANIMAL
IMPLEMENT BENEFITS FOR THE LAST
FEW MONTHS, I AM UNSURE IF I
WILL HAVE A HOME AT THE END OF
THIS PANDEMIC.
AND FIGHTING FOR RENT RELIEF,
ESPECIALLY WHILE JUGGLING MY
OWN PERSONAL LIFE AND OTHER
STRUGGLES HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.
AND I AM REALLY HOPEFUL AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
OTHERS SO THAT WE CAN GET THE
FINANCIAL SUPPORT WE NEED
DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
IT'S JUST NOT FAIR TO THE
RENTERS.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, VICTORIA.
WE KNOW IT'S NOT JUST A COUPLE
RENTERS, LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE ARE IN THAT SITUATION.
NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE A HOME
AT THE END OF THIS PANDEMIC.
THAT IS WHY ONE OF THE BIG
REASONS WE HAVE THIS AGENDA ITEM
WAS TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN 101
FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE IN
THAT SITUATION.
ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS.
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SHARE MY
SCREEN AGAIN. AND AGAIN, I'M
NOT GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH
EACH ONE BUT I WILL SPEED
THROUGH A LITTLE BIT AND
THERE'S A LINK IN THE CHAT.
SO YEAH, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
EITHER EXPERIENCING THE LOSS OF
A JOB OR WHO JUST WANT TO
SUPPORT THEIR NEIGHBORS SO THEY
DON'T GET EVICTED, THERE ARE
CONCRETE STEPS WE CAN DO TO
BEGIN THAT ORGANIZING PROCESS.
ONE OF THEM IS TO DELIVER AN
ONLINE MEETING INVITATION.
YOU SEE A SAMPLE INVITATION.
IT'S NOT SUPER COMPLEX.
AND WE CAN OF COURSE HELP OUT
WITH THIS.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE ARE
EMPHASIZING IN THIS IS PEOPLE
SHOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH US
AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
THE NEXT THING IS YOU HAVE TO
PREPARE A FIRST MEETING.
SEND OUT AN AGENDA, YOU CAN SEE
A BASIC THING LIKE ASSESSING
THE NEEDS IN THE BUILDING,
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR TENANTS,
ESTABLISHING A NAME AND HAVING
A MEETING SET UP.
IN TERMS OF THE FIRST MEETING,
WE WANT TO HAVE A GOAL
ESTABLISHING A CORE GROUP OF
ORGANIZING AND DEVELOPING A
PLAN.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
GOING TO BE OVERNIGHT.
IF YOU FIND ONE OTHER TENANT
OUT OF THIS MEETING THAT WANTS
TO ORGANIZE, THAT IS A SUCCESS.
MORE IS BETTER.
BUT IT REQUIRES PATIENCE AND
PERSISTENCE.
ANOTHER THING WE FOUND AND WE
WILL HEAR FROM A RENTER VERY
SOON IS THAT A TENANT NEED
SURVEY IS A GOOD WAY TO REACH
OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE
BUILDING TO ASK HOW THEY'VE
BEEN AFFECTED.
AND THEN TO BEGIN TO FIND THOSE
PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN
FIGHTING TO MAKE IT SO TENANTS
AND WORKING PEOPLE DON'T PAY
THE COST OF THIS CRISIS, BUT
RATHER THE MILLIONAIRES, THE
CORPORATE COMPANIES AND BANKS
HAVE THE MONEY CAN.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE LAST
SIMPLE STEP OF THIS, THE
BEGINNING PROCESS, WHICH IS
BUILDING YOUR GROUP.
IF YOUR GROUP A NAME, START A
GROUP CHAT, IT'S KIND OF A
NONINTUITIVE THING, BUT IT'S
OKAY IF NOT EVERYONE NOT
WANTING TO JOIN YOUR GROUP
AUTOMATICALLY.
OF COURSE YOU WANT TO BE IN
CONVERSATION WITH EVERYBODY,
YOU WANT TO WIN OVER EVERYONE
IN THE BUILDING, BUT THE GROUP
SHOULD BE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T
THINK RENTERS SHOULD HAVE TO
PAY THE COST AND WHO DO THINK
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME
TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY TO WIN
THAT.
ONCE YOU ESTABLISH A BASIC
GROUP, THEN WE CAN BEGIN
LOOKING FORWARD, DRAFTING A
DEMAND LETTER, DELIVERING THE
DEMAND LETTER, WE WILL HERE IN
A BIT FROM ORGANIZERS,
ORGANIZING TRAININGS SO YOU
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
AND OF COURSE PUBLIC ACTIONS
AND FOLLOWING UP.
LINKING UP WITH THE BROADER
MOVEMENT, THESE ARE ALL THINGS
WE HAVE FOUND AND OTHER RENTERS
HAVE FOUND WILL BE NECESSARY IN
ORDER TO MAKE IT SO THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE ALL THE MONEY RIGHT
NOW ACTUALLY DO END UP PAYING
THE COST OF THIS CRISIS.
SO RIGHT NOW LET'S GO AHEAD AND
LISTEN TO -- WE'VE GOT ANOTHER
ORGANIZER RENTER WHO HAS GONE
THROUGH A LOT OF THE STEPS.
HIS NAME IS SHAWN, HE IS
CURRENTLY LAID OFF. TELL US
ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR
DOING SOME OF THIS ORGANIZING.
HOW IT IS GONE AND CHALLENGES.
>>
>> THANKS FOR HAVING THIS PANEL
AND THIS MEETING, I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE NEED TO KEEP HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS KEEP WORKING
TOGETHER.
MY NAME IS SEAN CASE.
I AM A LAID OFF LINE COOK. I AM
ALSO A MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC
SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.
I BELIEVE THAT BUILDING
ORGANIZING IS REALLY KEY TO
ACHIEVING ANY KIND OF JUSTICE
FOR RENTERS IN THIS CRISIS AND
BEYOND IT.
A LOT OF FOLKS ARE OUT OF WORK
AND SCARED RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF
MY NEIGHBORS ARE.
SOME ARE ALREADY UNABLE TO PAY
THE RENT AND OTHERS ARE WORRIED
ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO PAY RENT
IN THE COMING MONTHS.
AS THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT COMES
OUT IT'S GOING TO LAST A LONG
TIME.
GETTING A SENSE OF WHAT YOUR
NEIGHBORS NEED RIGHT NOW IS AN
IMPORTANT PLACE TO START.
YOU HAVE TO MEET YOUR
NEIGHBORS, GET THEM IN A
MEETING, TALK TO THEM TO SEE
WHO NEEDS WHAT.
YOU CAN WORK ON A NEEDS
ASSESSMENT SURVEY, THAT'S WHAT
WE DID IN OUR BUILDING.
WHEN WE FIRST SURVEYED IN MY
BUILDING WE FOUND THAT ABOUT
ONE THIRD OF US WERE OUT OF
WORK DUE TO COVID WHICH IS A
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PORTION.
SOME OF THOSE FOLKS ARE NOW
GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
BUT SOME STILL AREN'T.
THERE IS A MYTH THAT ALL THESE
EXTENDED EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED EQUALLY
TO EVERYONE AND EVERYONE WILL
BE FINE.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
BEING ABLE TO SHOW YOUR
NEIGHBORS THE PEOPLE IN YOUR
BUILDING ARE SUFFERING GOES A
LONG WAY TO GET PEOPLE ON BOARD
FOR ORGANIZING.
BAIT ON BASED ON THE INITIAL
NEEDS WERE ABLE TO DRAFT A
LETTER. EVEN THOUGH WE GOT
NEARLY 40 SIGNATURES ON THE
FIRST LETTER WHICH IS A
MAJORITY OF MY BUILDING, IT
WENT UNANSWERED BY OUR LANDLORD
. OUR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
COMPANY, CORNELL ASSOCIATES, DID
RESPOND BUT WITH A FORM LETTER.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME ONE
THAT VICTORIA AND I'VE HEARD
FROM HANDFUL OF OTHERS, TENANTS
AND OTHER BUILDINGS GOT THE SAME
LETTER ASKING YOU TO ASK YOUR
PARENTS FOR MONEY, GET A NEW
CREDIT CARD, GET A JOB.
DURING COVID.
WHICH IS TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH.
THEY EXPECT TO COLLECT THE FULL
RENT AS IF THERE ISN'T AN
EMERGENCY HAPPENING.
AT THAT POINT IT WAS CLEAR THAT
A LETTER WASN'T ENOUGH.
IT WAS MET WITH SILENCE FROM
OUR LANDLORD AN ACT OF
AGGRESSION FROM CORNELL
ASSOCIATES.
WE HAD TO ELEVATE OUR GOAL.
FRIEND OF MINE PUT ME IN TOUCH
WITH SEATTLE TIMES AND I TALKED
TO HIM ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING
AND WHY AND AROUND THAT SAME
TIME ADAM REACHED OUT TO ME AND
OFFERED TO HELP US OUT.
SOME OF US SENT A STRONG LETTER
ON HER BEHALF TO MEET WITH US
AND RESPOND TO OUR NEEDS.
THE OFFICE ALSO HELPED US WITH
AN EMAIL CAMPAIGN DURING WHICH
AROUND 300 COMMUNITY MEMBERS
EMAILED CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES
DEMANDING THEY RESPOND TO US.
THE BASELINE THING WE ARE
ASKING FOR IS TO START A
CONVERSATION THAT HAS BEEN
REFUSED IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE
ARE ASKING FOR THAT MUCH DURING
THE FIRST HOURS OF THAT
CAMPAIGN, CORNELL ASSOCIATES
TOOK THEIR WEBSITE OFF-LINE.
IT WAS BACK A FEW DAYS LATER
BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW THE ONLY
AVAILABLE FUNCTION ON THE
WEBSITE IS THE PAY RENT BUTTON.
I THINK THAT IS PRETTY TELLING.
A WEEK AFTER THAT, WE DELIVERED
THE LETTER THAT WAS SIGNED BY
RENTERS IN THREE OTHER BUILDINGS
THAT THEY RUN.
THEY FAILED TO RESPOND TO THAT
LETTER.
SO THE ACTIONS WE TOOK
REACTIONS.
THAT IS GOOD.
IF WE HADN'T ELEVATED OUR
STRUGGLE WE WOULD'VE GOT
NOTHING.
WE CONTINUE, WE DON'T SEE THIS
AS A REASON TO BACK DOWN AND
GIVE UP.
ONE LESSON I HAVE LEARNED SO
FAR IN THE STRUGGLE IS THAT WE
NEED TO BE REALLY PATIENT AND
KEEP UNITY AND KEEP BUILDING.
CORNELL AND ASSOCIATES LOVES TO
IGNORE US UNTIL THE CRISIS GOES
AWAY.
BUT THIS ISN'T GOING AWAY
ANYTIME SOON.
ANYONE IN TOUCH WITH REALITY
REALIZES THAT IT'S CLEAR TO ME
THAT WE NEED A MOVEMENT BIG
ENOUGH TO MEET THE SIZE OF THE
DEVELOPING ECONOMIC CRISIS.
I AM HOPEFUL WE CAN BUILD THAT
MOVEMENT, ONE WELL-ORGANIZED
BUILDING DOESN'T WIN THE FIGHT
FOR JUSTICE A NETWORK OF
ORGANIZED BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY CAN.
IT'S IMPORTANT WE SHARE
RESOURCES AND EXPERIENCES LIKE
WE DO NOW AND WE CONTINUE TO DO
THAT AND WORK IN CONCERT WITH
EACH OTHER.
THIS ISN'T MERELY ABOUT WINNING
DISCOUNTS FOR RENTERS IN ONE
BUILDING WHO'S HAVING A HARD
TIME PAYING RENT, ALTHOUGH THAT
IS IMPORTANT, AND WE COULD DO
THAT, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE
WHEN THE MORATORIUM IS LIFTED
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE WE ARE
ALL PAYING ATTENTION AS THIS
CRISIS DEVELOPS IT'S ALSO THAT
WAY IN THE GROUNDWORK FOR MORE
ROBUST RENTERS.
ONE THAT IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR
HOUSING JUSTICE BEYOND COVID.
AND ADDRESS THE INHERENT POWER
BALANCE.
THE WEALTHY TO PROFIT FROM THE
BASIC HUMAN NEED OF HOUSING.
JASON REFERRED TO THIS, A
BUILDING MOVEMENT LIKE THIS IS
HOW WE GET RENT CONTROL.
IT'S SOMETHING WE DESPERATELY
NEED.
I AM DETERMINED TO KEEP WORKING
WITH MY NEIGHBORS AND TENANTS
ACROSS THE CITY, TENANTS
WATCHING THIS CALL.
AND ANY OTHER PERSON READY TO
GET ORGANIZED AND MAKE SURE
MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AND BIG
BANKS PAY FOR THIS CRISIS, NOT
WORKING PEOPLE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO.
I HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE AT THE
ORGANIZING MEETING ON JUNE 4 SO
WE CAN GET TO WORK ON THIS AND
KEEP TALKING AND WORKING
TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD TEND TO AGREE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE CORNELL AND
ASSOCIATES DOESN'T AGREE WITH
YOU GIVEN THEIR WEBSITE HAS ONE
FUNCTION WHICH IS THE ABILITY
TO PAY RENT RIGHT NOW.
YOU LITERALLY CAN'T MAKE THAT
STEP UP.
AND GOING TO GO TO MAIA WHO IS
AN ORGANIZER WITH AN
ORGANIZATION THAT OUR OFFICE
HAS WORKED WITH OVER THE PAST
FEW YEARS GATHERING THOUSANDS
OF SIGNATURES FOR RENT CONTROL.
THEY HAVE PUT ON DOZENS OF BOOT
CAMPS, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CAMPS.
WE ARE EXCITED THAT MY IS HERE.
THE ORGANIZER OF BE SEATTLE.
WE ARE EXCITED THEY ARE ALSO
WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
FIGHT TO MAKE IT SO WE DON'T
SEEK MASS EVICTIONS AS A RESULT
OF COVID-19.
GO AHEAD, MAIA.
I'M GOING TO SHARE A SCREEN SHE
HAS PROVIDED FOR US.
I APOLOGIZE IT'S A BIT GRAINY.
THERE WILL BE LINKS IN THE
CHATS IN THE WIDE STREAM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE
WHO HAS SPOKEN IN THIS AGENDA
POINT IN THE PREVIOUS ONE.
I AM IN ORGANIZER WITH BE
SEATTLE.
I WANTED TO SHARE TWO
RESOURCES.
THE FIRST IS, WE ARE HOSTING
ALMOST WEEKLY TENANT RIGHTS
CAMPS WHICH TALK ABOUT OUR
RIGHTS AS RENTERS.
UNDER SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON
STATE LAW.
WE ADDRESS CURRENT PROTECTIONS
AND COMMON QUESTIONS RELATED TO
RENTING DURING COVID-19 AND WE
GO INTO SOME OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN
TALKING TO TONIGHT EARLY STAGES
OF LIVING ORGANIZING.
WE THINK EDUCATION IS THE FIRST
STEP AND THAT ORGANIZING IS
NECESSARY TO NOT ONLY ENFORCE
OUR CURRENT PROTECTIONS BUT
ALSO AS PART OF A BIGGER FIGHT
TO RE-ENVISION WHAT HOUSING
LOOKS LIKE IN THIS COUNTRY.
OUR UPCOMING WORKSHOP IS
TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 PM.
HOPEFULLY A LINK WILL BE SENT
OR IN THE COMMENTS, YOU CAN
ALSO FIND IT AT OUR FACEBOOK
PAGE AT BE SEATTLE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH
PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR ARE
INTERESTED IN FORMING BUILDING
TENANT ASSOCIATIONS AND LEADING
A WORKSHOP DIRECTLY WITH YOU TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND GIVE
A GROUNDING IN SOME OF YOUR
RIGHTS AS TENANTS IN SEATTLE.
THE SECOND RESOURCE IS THE
TENANT RESEARCH PORTAL WHICH
COVERS CAPITOL HILL, CENTRAL
DISTRICT, MADISON VALLEY,
MADISON PARK, BAKER, PART OF
NORTH BEACON HILL.
WE ARE WORKING EXPANDING THAT.
BASICALLY IT'S A TOOL YOU CAN
USE TO KIND OF CLICK ON YOUR
ADDRESS AND LOOK AT WHO OWNS
THE BUILDING, DOES IT HAVE
PASSCODE COMPLAINTS, CODE
VIOLATIONS, AS A LANDLORD
SERIAL OF VICTOR?
IT'S A GREAT FOR STEPS ONE UP
ABOUT YOUR BUILDING.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO REACH OUT TO
ME AND THE REST OF THE BE
SEATTLE TEAM IF YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH
US TO WORK ON EIGHT TENANT
RIGHTS WORKSHOP OR ARE IN NEED
OF ORGANIZING SUPPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE,
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAIA.
WE WILL DEFINITELY BE IN
CONTACT.
I KNOW MY AUNT WILL BE THERE AT
THE JUNE 4 SEATTLE RENTERS
ORGANIZING MEETING SO WE CAN
FIGHT EVICTIONS.
I'M HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE
SHARING THE SCREEN.
WE JUST GOT RIGHT NOW A FEW
THINGS TO CLOSE DOWN.
OBVIOUSLY IT WOULDN'T BE AN
ORGANIZING MEETING IF WE DIDN'T
HAVE NEXT STEPS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE NEXT STEPS
AROUND TAXING AMAZON TO FUND
COVID-19 RELIEF.
TO BUILD SOCIAL HOUSING AND THE
NEW GREEN DEAL PROGRAM.
ARE ALSO GOING TO BE ORGANIZING
TO FIGHT EVICTION.
WE HAVE THE JUNE 4 ORGANIZING
MEETING.
PLEASE GO ON THE WEBSITE AFTER
THIS AND TYPE IN FIGHT
CORONAVIRUS TENANT EVICTION
ORGANIZING MEETING.
SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
WE ALSO HAVE FIGHTING EVICTION
SURVEY, THAT IS THE LAST LINK I
WILL SHARE.
PLEASE GO THERE, FILL OUT, WE
WANT TO FIND OUT WHO HAS BEEN
LAID OFF, PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST
SIGNIFICANT PAY.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONTACT
OUR OFFICE, GET ORGANIZED, COME
TO THE ORGANIZING MEETING.
THERE IS A LOT WE COULD DO.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS ALL
THE TENANTS HAVE EXPLAINED IN
THE SPEAKERS FOR THE TAX AMAZON
MEETING EXPLAINED, IF WE DON'T
ORGANIZE AND FIGHT, IT'S GOING
TO MEAN A LOT OF EVICTIONS,
IT'S GOING TO MEAN WORKING
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PAY THIS
COST INSTEAD OF THE BILLIONAIRE
CORPORATIONS, THE SUPERRICH
INDIVIDUALS LIKE JEFF BEZOS WE
KNOW HAS LITERALLY MADE $30
BILLION SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS
HAD TO MAKE A STARTED.
PLEASE REACH OUT TO US AND
LET'S GET ORGANIZED AND FIGHT
SO WE DON'T PAY THE COST OF
THIS CRISIS.
I BELIEVE, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE IT FROM
HERE AND CLOSEOUT THE MEETING.
>> THANK YOU, ADAM.
AND THANK YOU TO THE RENTER
ORGANIZER SPEAKERS.
ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO EXTEND MY
APOLOGIES TO YOU ALL AND
EVERYONE WAS WATCHING THIS, IT
GOT A LITTLE SCRUNCHED BUT
HOPEFULLY YOU FOUND IT AS
VALUABLE AS I DID.
AND EVEN IF IT WAS SHORTER THAN
THE TAX AMAZON PORTION IT WAS
EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE AND
EXCITING TO SEE THAT TENANTS
ARE ORGANIZING.
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH
WHAT SHAWN SAID, ABSOLUTELY
EVERY BUILDING ORGANIZING, EVEN
ONE BUILDING ORGANIZER AND ONE
VICTORY IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE THAT
WILL AFFECT ALL BUT WE DON'T
HAVE A NEED TO STOP THERE AND
WE CANNOT STOP THERE.
AND NETWORK OF BUILDINGS ARE
SUCCESSFULLY ORGANIZING AND
WILL BEGIN TO CONSTITUTE THE
KIND OF MESSED MOVEMENT WE
NEED.
WE NEED TO START BUILDING NOW
BEFORE THE WAVE OF EVICTIONS
HITS.
IT'S NOT AN IDLE FEAR, IT IS
EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN UNLESS
WE PREPARE AND FIGHT BACK IN
FIGHTING BACK IS GETTING
ORGANIZED.
IS ONE OF ADAMS SLIDES SAID,
EVICTIONS, FORECLOSURES,
JOBLESSNESS, PERMANENT LOSS OF
JOBS, AUSTERITY IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR, JOBS ARE FURLOUGHS,
CUTS TO SERVICES, CUTS TO
EDUCATION, ALL OF THESE ARE
VARIOUS FORMS IN WHICH THE
BILLIONAIRE CLASS EXTRACTS THE
COST OF THE RECESSION FROM US,
PUTTING ALL THE COSTS ON US.
AND THEMSELVES PROFITEERING.
OR ELSE, MAYBE SOME ARE NOT
PROFITEERING BUT THEY ARE NOT
ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THE CRISIS.
WE CAN'T HAVE IT THIS WAY
BECAUSE AS MANY OF YOU SAID, IT
IS SIMPLY NOT FAIR.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE WERE DISCUSSING BOTH TAXING
BIG BUSINESS TO CREATE A
PUBLICS WORK PROGRAM AND JOB
AND HOW AS RENTERS WE CAN FIGHT
BACK.
OF COURSE IF THERE ARE OTHER
WORKING-CLASS OR MIDDLE-CLASS
HOMEOWNERS WITHOUT THEIR JOB A
WILL FACE FOR CLOSURE JUST AS
WE SAW AFTER THE GREAT
RECESSION.
WE NEED TO UNITE.
IF THERE ARE SMALL LANDLORDS
WATCHING AND YOU ARE ON OUR
SIDE, I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE,
YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS
úMOVEMENT AS WELL AS SMALL
BUSINESSES GETTING SLAMMED WELL
BIG BUSINESSES PROFITEER.
JOIN US JUNE 4 FOR THE NEXT
STEPS OF THE RENTER ORGANIZING.
JUNE 4 AT 6:00.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO
JOINED US.
I KNOW IT'S LATE, BUT THIS WAS
A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT MEETING
AND I'M SO GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO
DO THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, LAST BUT NOT
LEAST, FOR EVERYONE IN MY CITY
COUNCIL OFFICE, THANKS TO ALL
THE SOCIALIST COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS WE HAVE IN OUR
OFFICE.
TED WHO IS BEEN THE BACKBONE OF
THE ZOO MEETINGS AND INCREDIBLE
TECHNOLOGY, ADAM WHO'S BEEN
HELPING TO ORGANIZE ALONGSIDE
THE TENANTS, AND JOHN WHO IS
BEEN A BIG PART OF EVERYTHING
WE HAD DONE INCLUDING ORGANIZING
THE LABOR MOVEMENT AND WHOSE
VOICES WERE HERE TONIGHT WITH
US.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
TAKE CARE.
MAKE SURE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AND
STAYED HOME IF YOU CAN, STAND
IN SOLIDARITY, WE WILL CONTINUE
ORGANIZING TO WIN THE AMAZON
TAX AND TO MAKE SURE WE WIN OUR
DEMANDS FOR COMPLETE SUSPENSION
WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES OF RENT,
MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.
SOLIDARITY, AND GOOD NIGHT.