>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT IS 2021, FEBRUARY 16.
IT IS 9:30.
WILL THEY CALL THE ROLL?
>> HERE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRASSE?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WALRUS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MARIAH ELLIS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNSEL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>>> WE WILL DO THE MINUTES IF
THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.
I HEAR NO OBJECTION AND THE
MINUTES ARE ACCEPTED.
MAYOR DURKAN DID DELIVER HER
SPEECH VIA THE SEATTLE CHANNEL
AS IS REQUIRED BY THE CITY
CHARTER.
WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CONSIDER FILING THIS, WHICH
REPRESENTS THE 2021 STATE OF
THE CITY ADDRESS DELIVERED ON
FEBRUARY 16 AND THE SENIOR
DEPUTY MAYOR WILL BE AVAILABLE
AND PRESENT AT HOUR COUNCIL
MEETING TO MAKE THE FORMAL
PRESENTATION OF THE TEXT OF THE
MAYOR'S SPEECH AT THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING AS IS TRADITION
AND CUSTOM.
ALSO, WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA
THIS AFTERNOON WITH 20 MINUTES
OF PUBLIC COMMENT OFFERED THIS
AFTERNOON DURING FULL COUNSEL
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
YOU ALL THEM.
LET'S MOVE ON TO STATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATES.
WE HAVE NUMBERS OF OUR OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
WITH US FOR THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE AND
I WILL GIVE IT TO DIRECTOR
WILSON TO DO INTRODUCTIONS FOR
THE RECORD AND TO KICK OFF THIS
SESSION UPDATE.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, I AM THE
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS AND I WILL PASS IT
ALONG TO ROBIN.
>> I AM PASSING IT ON TO QUINN.
>> I AM THAT STIPULATIONS
DIRECTOR AND PASSING IT ON TO
HANNAH.
>> I WILL START BY SAYING I
HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT
WEEKEND IN THE SNOW AND WE ARE
WITH YOU WITH A STATEMENT AND
UPDATE.
THIS MIGHT BE OPTIMISTIC BUT I
WILL SAY WE ARE SHORT OF BEING
HALFWAY DONE WITH THE 2021
VIRTUAL SESSION, WITH IT ENDING
ON APRIL 25.
THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR
MILESTONE.
WE WILL PASS THE COMMITTEE CUT
OFF AND THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED
AND COMING UP IN THE NOT SO
DISTANT FUTURE, WE ARE LOOKING
AT FEBRUARY 22 FOR THE CUT OFF
FOR THE LAST THEY NEED TO PASS
THE PHYSICAL COMMITTEES AND THE
HOUSE OF ORIGIN.
GONZALEZ AND MANY
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN
DOING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
WORK WITH OUR LEGAL PARTNERS --
ROBIN WILL TOUCH ON THIS IN
MORE DETAIL IN HER REPORT GIVEN
THAT WORK IS IN HER PORTFOLIO
BUT HER LEADERSHIP IS GREATLY
APPRECIATED BY ALL OF US.
WE HAVE A WAY TO TO ADVANCE THE
CHANGES WITH POLICE DISCIPLINE
IN THE CITY AND JUST
REINFORCING THEIR ENGAGEMENT IS
MUCH APPRECIATED AND IT WILL BE
HELPFUL MOVING FORWARD.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE
COUNSEL'S ENGAGEMENT DURING
THIS SESSION, WITH THE DIRECTOR
THAT WILL REVIEW IT NEXT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
STARTING IN THE BUDGET AND
REVENUE SPACE, TWO MAJOR
UPDATES.
THE FIRST IS HOUSE BILL 1368,
WHICH IS THE EARLY ACTION COVID
RELIEF PACKAGE NOW GETTING
FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH STATE
PROGRAMS AND THAT PASSED THE
SENATE LAST WEEK, 47-2 AND IS
GOING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK,
MEANING IT WILL GO TO THE
EXECUTIVE AGENCIES AND THEN
ADDITIONAL DETAILS WILL BE
WORKED OUT TO LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
PARTNERS AT THE STATE TO MAKE
SURE FUNDING IS USED IT TO ITS
HIGHEST AND BEST USE AND TRY TO
SECURE FUNDING FOR HOUR PUBLIC
HEALTH RESPONSE.
THE OTHER ITEM I WOULD
HIGHLIGHT IN THE ABOVE IT
REVENUE SPACE IS SENATE BILL
5096 AND THIS IS THE SENATE --
CURRENTLY IT IS OF THE
GOVERNOR'S VERSION OF THE
CAPITAL GAINS TAX AND IT IS
SCHEDULED FOR A VOTE OUT OF
COMMITTEE LATER TODAY AND I
ANTICIPATE THAT WE MAY SEE SOME
CHANGES OFFERED BY THE SENATE
TO MAKE IT MORE IN LINE WITH
WHAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT
CAPITAL GAINS.
THOSE ARE NOT CURRENTLY
AVAILABLE BUT WHEN WE RETURN
NEXT WEEK, I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE
AN UPDATE.
I WILL PAUSE THERE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT REVENUE.
>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
BUDGET AND OR REVENUE SECTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
I AM EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE
SENATE.
WE ARE WORKING ON THIS FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS AND WE
APPRECIATE THOSE IN THE HOUSE
WHO CONTINUE TO PASS IT OVER
AND THAT PEOPLE IN THE SENATE
WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR IT.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT IS
HAPPENING AROUND THAT BILL
TODAY.
PLEASE KEEP US UPDATED.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE
ARE IN SUPPORT OF
REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS AND THEIR
HOUSE BILL 1494?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK AND
GET BACK TO YOU.
I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THAT BILL.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MORE
PROGRESSIVE TAXES, ESPECIALLY
ON THE WEALTHIEST AND LARGEST
COMPANIES, AND I BELIEVE THIS
EFFORT BY REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS
IS A WAY TO OFFSET TAXES THAT
HAVE BEEN MORE PROGRESSIVE IN
NATURE AND TRYING TO FIND THAT
BALANCE.
I WANT TO SEND A NOTE OF
SUPPORT IF THAT BILL CONTINUES
TO MOVE FORWARD AND IF THERE
ARE NEW PIECES OF LEGISLATION,
BECAUSE IT COULD TAKE MANY
YEARS.
I WANT TO NOTE MY APPRECIATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY, I LOOKED AT THE
BILL.
WE MIGHT GET IT INTO THE
HOUSING SPACE BUT IF NOT, I
WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU AND
YOUR OFFICE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR LYNN?
>> WE HAVE A QUICK SCAN.
SORRY, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE
PRESENTATION IS, IT LOOKS LIKE
THERE IS ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> ANYTHING ON HOW MUCH
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE CAN EXPECT WITH THE
EARLY RELIEF PACKAGE THAT IS
PASSING THE CHAMBERS?
>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO NOT
HAVE THAT INFORMATION YET.
I KNOW IT IS OF CONCERN.
THE LEGISLATION ITSELF PROVIDES
VERY LITTLE DETAIL ABOUT HOW
THE MONEY WILL BE ALLOCATED AND
LEAVES A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY TO
THE EXECUTIVE AGENCIES.
SOME OF THOSE AGENCIES IN
PARTICULAR LIKE THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH, ARE RECEIVING THE
MONEY FOR THE RESPONSE AND WE
UNDERSTAND THAT IS LIKELY, AT
LEAST SOME GOOD PORTION OF
THAT, IS LIKELY TO COME THROUGH
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES
AND WE WANT TO WORK CLOSELY
WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ON THAT, BUT
I THINK WE ARE GETTING DETAILS
ABOUT HOW OTHER FUNDING WILL BE
ALLOCATED BUT AS WE LEARN MORE,
I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE
INFORMATION TO YOUR OFFICE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, THE ONE THING
WE DO KNOW IS THAT THEY WILL
RECEIVE $23 MILLION DIRECTLY IN
MENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS NOT
COMING AS A RESULT OF THIS BILL
BUT THAT IS A DIRECT ALLOCATION
AND THEN OTHER HOUSING MONEY IS
SIMILAR -- WE DO NOT KNOW HOW
THAT WILL FLOW BUT IT WILL VERY
LIKELY BE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT
HAPPENED WITH THE LAST FUNDING,
WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO
DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY BUT I DO
KNOW CITY STAFF ARE ACTIVELY
ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE COUNTY.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I SEE YOUR HAND IS UP.
>> THANK YOU, JUST ONE
QUESTION.
ON THE BILL -- I CAN'T REMEMBER
WHICH ONE IT IS, BUT TO MAKE
THE PROGRESSIVE -- SORRY, THE
PROPERTY TAX REVENUE MORE
PROGRESSIVE COMPARED TO NOW, IT
DOES NOT FALL ON RENTERS BUT IT
IS NOT PROGRESSIVE ON THE
MIDDLE-CLASS OWNERS, WHO ARE
BASICALLY PAYING THE SAME
GRADE.
TO MAKE IT PROGRESSIVE, AM I
RIGHT IT WOULD REQUIRE A
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE OR AM I
WRONG ABOUT THAT?
>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
IT WOULD.
THERE IS A COMPANION RESOLUTION
THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE BILL
BY 4094 BY REPRESENTATIVE
HARRIS.
>> I MISSED THAT ALREADY.
AGAIN, I AM SORRY IF YOU
ALREADY SAID THIS.
I WAS DISTRACTED.
WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF HOW
LIKELY IT IS -- THIS WOULD BE A
HUGELY WELCOMED SHIFT BUT THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE
WANTED FOR YEARS BUT HAS NOT
CHANGED AND NOW DEMOCRATS HAVE
A MAJORITY IN BOTH HOUSES, SO
DO YOU SEE THIS GOING
SOMEWHERE?
>> I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT
THE ODDS ARE OF IT PASSING.
IT IS STILL ALIVE.
THE FISCAL CUTOFF IS NOT UNTIL
NEXT MONDAY, SO THERE IS SOME
CHANCE IT COULD PASS OUT OF
COMMITTEE, BUT I AM NOT SURE
EXACTLY WHAT THE PROSPECTS ARE,
AS YOU HAVE SAID -- IT IS A
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE AND QUITE A
HEAVY LIFT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I DO NOT SEE ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED, SO LET'S MOVE TO THE
NEXT SECTION, THANK YOU.
>> I WILL GO TO HANNAH.
>> THANK YOU, A FEW UPDATES IN
THE EDUCATION SPACE, WHERE A
LOT OF OUR PRIORITIES ARE
MOVING THROUGH.
THE FIRST IS BILL 1215 FOR
KIDS.
THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE
VERSION WILL HAVE HEARINGS
TODAY AND THOSE WILL CONTINUE
TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE SENATE SCALED-BACK FROM
THEIR INTRODUCTIONS.
THE CHILD CARE LICENSING BILL
HAD A HEARING LAST WEEK AND IS
SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION
TODAY AND ANOTHER BILL TO
HIGHLIGHT IS SENATE BILL 5340
ABOUT QUALIFICATIONS AND THAT
EXPANDS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
FOR SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTORS,
ALLOWING NONPERMANENT RESIDENTS
TO APPLY.
THAT WAS TAKEN ON LAST WEEK AND
THAT HAS BEEN PASSED.
I WILL PAUSE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO
EDUCATION?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY, SO WE CAN
KEEP GOING.
>> MOVING ON TO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL SPACE.
I WOULD NOTE AS AN UPDATE,
SINCE WE HAVE PASSED POLICY
CUTOFF, THAT ALL OF THE BILLS
WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING HERE AS
PRIORITIES FOR SUPPORT ARE ON
TRACK, HAVE PASSED THE POLICY
COMMITTEE AND ARE TRACK TO MOVE
FORWARD OUT OF FISCAL COMMITTEE
WITH HEARINGS AND COMMITTEE
SCHEDULED IN THE RESPECTIVE
FISCAL COMMITTEES THIS WEEK,
INCLUDING 1075 ON
TRANSPORTATION AND 10 84 ON
BUILDING, AND 1091, WHICH IS
THE FUEL STANDARD, AND SENATE
BILL 1522 WHICH DEALS WITH
RECYCLING AND STEWARDSHIP AND
5141, WHICH IS THE HEEL ACT.
THE ONE STILL IN POLICY
COMMITTEE IS THE COMMITMENT
ACT, WHICH IS THE GOVERNOR
REQUEST LEGISLATION COMBINED
WITH THE RESTORATION OF
AUTHORITY FOR POLLUTIONS AND
WHILE THIS DID NOT MAKE IT PAST
-- DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF
COMMITTEE AFTER THE POLICY
CUTOFF, IT IS GOING TO BE
CONSIDERED -- IT IS EXEMPT FROM
THE CUTOFFS.
WE KNOW THAT THE CURRENT
SPONSORS ARE WORKING VERY
DILIGENTLY TO INCORPORATE
FEEDBACK THAT THEY HAVE
RECEIVED IN PUBLIC COMMENTS
SUBSEQUENTLY AND WE EXPECT HE
WILL HAVE A SUBSTITUTED VERSION
OF THE BILL IN THE COMING WEEKS
FOR CONSIDERATION.
I WILL PAUSE FOR ANY QUESTIONS
ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THE
ENVIRONMENT?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED.
>> MOVING ON TO GENERAL
GOVERNMENT WITH A COUPLE QUICK
HIGHLIGHTS.
HOUSE BILL 1095, WHICH IS
CONSIDERED TO BE AN EARLY
ACTION ECONOMIC RECOVERY
RESPONSE HAS PASSED BOTH
CHAMBERS AND HAS BEEN SENT TO
THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
THIS WILL TALK ABOUT GRANTS
GIVEN FOR THE PURPOSES OF
ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AND
RECOVERY, EXEMPT FROM STATE
TAXES, MEANING THE GRANTS
FUNDING CAN GO A LITTLE
FURTHER, SO THAT IS GOING TO
THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
EXPECT IT TO BE SIGNED.
ANOTHER HOUSE BILL, WHICH IS
THE ARMORY PDA, IS SCHEDULED
FOR A VOTE IN THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT IS
GOING THROUGH THE FISCAL
COMMITTEE AND IS SCHEDULED FOR
A VOTE TOMORROW.
AND THEN HIGHLIGHTING ONE BILL
THAT WAS A PROBLEMATIC BILL WE
WERE TRACKING, WHICH DID NOT
MAKE IT OUT OF THE COMMITTEE,
SO IT WILL PREEMPT THE CITY IN
A VARIETY OF WAYS ON
TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
IT IS SENATE BILL 5110 AND THAT
IS NOT PASSED OUT AND IT WILL
NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE
SESSION.
I WILL PAUSE FOR ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT GENERAL
GOVERNMENT?
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE, RELATED TO THIS PUBLIC
MEETINGS AND EMERGENCIES BILL.
IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WAS
SPONSORED BY THE PRESIDENT-
ELECT.
I WANT TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING
WHERE YOU THINK THAT IS IN THE
PROCESS, IN THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, AND THEN THE SECOND
QUESTION I HAD WAS SHB 1423,
WHICH IS THE SOCIAL EQUITY BILL
ON THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.
I WANT TO GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING ON WHAT THAT BILL
ACCOMPLISHES.
I KNOW I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A
LOT OF EMAILS FROM CONSTITUENTS
ABOUT SOCIAL EQUITY ISSUES IN
THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY AND WANT
TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT THIS BILL, WHICH IS IN
ORDER TO KNOW WHETHER THIS
WOULD ADDRESS SOME OF THE
CONCERNS I HAVE BEEN HEARING
FROM CONSTITUENTS IN MY INBOX.
THOSE TWO QUESTIONS, PLEASE.
>> HOUSE BILL 1056 IS PRETTY
FAR AHEAD OF WHAT WE WOULD
CONSIDER THAT GENERAL SCHEDULE
OF LEGISLATION AND HAS PASSED
THE HOUSE AND RECEIVED A
HEARING IN THE SENATE
COMMITTEE.
IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IT IS
SCHEDULED FOR A COMMITTEE VOTE
YET BUT THAT IS NOT UNUSUAL
GIVEN HOW FAR AHEAD IT IS,
DEALING WITH SENATE BILLS AT
THIS POINT.
IT HAS BEEN MOVING AT A PRETTY
GOOD CLIP.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, THIS
WOULD PROVIDE FOR ANY FUTURE
DECLARATIONS OF PUBLIC
EMERGENCY THAT THE PROVISIONS
WILL BE OPEN TO PUBLIC
MEETINGS, WHICH WERE
IMPLEMENTED BY THE GOVERNOR
ORDER AND SUBSEQUENTLY EXTENDED
THROUGH THE DURATION EARLIER IN
SESSION.
THIS WOULD MAKE SURE THEY APPLY
TO ANY FUTURE PUBLIC
EMERGENCIES, SO IT IS GOOD FOR
NOT JUST THE CURRENT CRISIS WE
ARE IN BUT FUTURE CRISES.
I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT BILL --
IT IS IN A GOOD PLACE AND I
HAVE NOT HAD ANY INDICATION IT
IS FACING ANY PROBLEMS IN THE
SENATE OTHER THAN IT JUST BEING
SO FAR AHEAD IT NEEDS TO CATCH
UP TO EVERYTHING ELSE.
ON HOUSE BILL 1443, THIS IS ONE
WE RAN THIS REPORT -- IT WAS AS
LATE AS WE COULD TO CATCH ALL
THE UPDATES AS IT IS PASSING
OUT OF COMMITTEE BUT THERE WERE
A FEW BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE
SYSTEM, THAT IT DID NOT GET
UPDATED AND THIS ONE ACTUALLY
DID PASS OUT OF THE POLICY
COMMITTEE, SO IT IS IN
APPROPRIATIONS RIGHT NOW.
I CAN PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE
AND PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION TO
YOU BUT IN GENERAL, THIS WOULD
MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE SOCIAL
EQUITY AND CANNABIS TASK FORCE.
I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK
THE EXACT FRAMING, BUT THEY
WORK ON THESE ISSUES.
THEY WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO THE
MEMBERSHIP AS WELL AS PROVIDE
FOR A GRANT PROGRAM TO BE
MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE TO PROVIDE SOCIAL
EQUITY GRANTS FOR THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY TO HELP ADDRESS SOME
OF THE CONCERNS I KNOW YOU AND
YOUR OFFICE AND OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE.
I DO NOT KNOW IF IT ADDRESSES
ALL OF THE ISSUES, OF WHICH
THERE ARE MANY, BUT I THINK IT
IS A SMALL STEP FORWARD AND I
AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE A MORE
COMPETENT UPDATE TO YOU AND
YOUR OFFICE.
>> AND THEN REVIEWING THE
BULLETIN, SORRY, I HAVE ONE
MORE QUESTION AND I THINK IT IS
ON IF YOU SCROLL DOWN, HANNAH,
TO PAGE 6 BECAUSE MY COMPUTER
IS ACTING UP, TAX INCREMENT
FINANCING, 5211.
CAN YOU QUICKLY TELL US WHAT
THE INTENT OF THIS PARTICULAR
BILL IS AND WHERE WE ARE AT ON
IT IN TERMS OF PROCESS?
>> CERTAINLY, THIS BILL WOULD
AUTHORIZE TAX INCREMENT
FINANCING.
I DO NOT HAVE THE SPECIFICS OF
WHAT THE PROGRAM WOULD LOOK
LIKE BUT I AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW
UP ON THAT.
THIS IS THE ISSUE AWC HAS BEEN
WORKING ON FOR MANY YEARS.
THEY ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME
ADDITIONAL REVENUE OPTIONS
THROUGH TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
IT IS CURRENTLY IN -- IT HAS A
COMMITTEE VOTE SCHEDULED
TOMORROW, AND SO I ANTICIPATE
IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
FORWARD.
IN TERMS OF OVERALL PROSPECTS,
I DO NOT HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF
THAT BUT I AM HAPPY TO DO SOME
DIGGNG AND GET BACK TO YOU.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT PROBLEMS
THIS IS DESIGNED TO FIX, TO GET
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE
LEGISLATION SIDE.
COUNCILMEMBER, PLEASE.
>> I WILL SAY THIS BILL HAS
BEEN SUPPORTED, THE IDEA OF
THIS TOOL IS SOMETHING THAT THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
HAS BEEN TALKING FOR SOME TIME
AND AS WAS SAID BEFORE, I KNOW
THE ASSOCIATION HAS SUPPORTED
IT IN DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT
ENTITIES AND THEY SUPPORTED THE
IDEA THAT IT WOULD GENERATE
REVENUE BASED ON FUTURE VALUE,
THAT COULD BE ASSESSED SO THERE
IS SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE
AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
THERE IS SOME CONCERN IT COULD
BE USED -- IF SOMETHING LIKE
THIS PASSES, IT NEEDS TO BE
USED IN AN EQUITABLE WAY.
IN THE SOUTH END OF SEATTLE,
THERE IS SOME CONCERN BUT IN
GENERAL, I THINK IT IS
SOMETHING FOLKS ARE INTERESTED
IN AS ANOTHER TOOL FOR
SUPPORTING ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT IS WHAT I WAS HOPING.
I WAS HOPING TO GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THIS WOULD
BE UTILIZED, SO I APPRECIATE
THAT ADDITIONAL CONTEXT.
THAT IS VERY HELPFUL.
I DO NOT SEE ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED, SO I THINK YOU CAN KEEP
GOING.
>> I WILL HAND IT OFF TO HANA
TO COVER HEALTHCARE.
>> A COUPLE OF DATES ABOUT SOME
BILLS THAT WILL MOVE THROUGH.
HOUSE BILL 1477, WHICH IS THE
REINTRODUCED VERSION OF THE
SYSTEM AND CREATING HIGH-TECH
CRISIS CALL CENTERS AND
RESPONSE TEAMS, WHICH WAS HEARD
LAST WEEK AND IS SCHEDULED FOR
EXECUTIVE ACTION TODAY.
THERE IS ONGOING WORK WITH
STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS SOME OF
THE CONCERNS OVER
IMPLEMENTATION AND COSTS AND
THAT BILL CONTINUES TO MOVE
FORWARD.
AND THEN THE MEDICAID BILL, WE
FOLLOWED SO CLOSELY AND ARE
CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THIS
YEAR, HAD A HEARING YESTERDAY
AND IS SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTIVE
ACTION TOMORROW.
HEALTH BILL 5195, THE OPIOID
OVERDOSE OF MEDICATION BILL, IS
SCHEDULED FOR A HEARING LATER
THIS WEEK, AND HOUSE BILL 5313
WILL MOVE FORWARD.
THAT IS ABOUT UNFAIR PRACTICE,
TO DENY COVERAGE FOR GENDER
REAFFIRMING TREATMENTS.
THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR A HEARING
AT THE END OF THE WEEK, AND
THEN THERE IS A BILL THIS WEEK,
SENATE BILL 5399, THAT
ESTABLISHES A UNIVERSAL
HEALTHCARE COMMISSION, THAT IS
CHARGED WITH DEVELOPING A PLAN
TO BE A FEDERAL PLAN FOR
AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE COVERAGE,
PUBLICLY FINANCED FOR EVERYONE,
AND THAT PASSED OUT OF THE
POLICY COMMITTEE AND IS SET UP
FOR A PUBLIC COMMITTEE ON
FRIDAY.
I WILL PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
HEALTHCARE?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> HELLO, THANKS EVERYONE.
I WILL JUST SAY A FEW MORE
WORDS ABOUT HOUSE BILL 1494.
REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS IS
TALKING ABOUT TAX EXEMPTIONS.
THEY WOULD EXEMPT THE FIRST 20
$50,000, THE OWNER OF THE HOME
SIGNED DECLARATION AND AS WE
SAID, IT WOULD REQUIRE A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
UNDERSTOOD WHAT THAT BILL WAS
BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE
OTHER HOUSING BILLS.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER IMPORTANT
BILLS THAT ARE STILL MOVING,
INCLUDING HOUSE BILL 1236 WITH
EVICTION AND 1277 TO INCREASE
RECORDING FEES.
AS FAR AS THE BILLS GO TO
ADDRESS THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
ENDING AT THE END OF MARCH,
SENATE BILL 5139 WOULD LIMIT
RENT INCREASES AND HAS
UNFORTUNATELY DIED AND THAT
BILL WILL NOT BE MOVING FORWARD
úBY SENATOR DOSS.
SENATE BILL 5160 IS THERE, MORE
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SINCE IT
IS THE ONLY VEHICLE AT PLAY TO
ADDRESS THE END OF THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
IT WAS -- EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS
TAKEN LAST WEEK AND WAS
REFERRED TO AN IMPORTANT
HEARING TODAY, AND THE CITY IS
SUPPORTING IT AND IS SCHEDULED
FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS
UPCOMING THURSDAY.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE ON HOUSING
BILLS FOR THIS WEEK, IF THERE
ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> AS FAR AS POLICE REFORM,
THIS IS ANOTHER AREA OF GREAT
IMPORTANCE THAT THE LEGISLATOR
MENTIONED AND THERE ARE MANY
BILLS THAT ARE STILL IN PLAY
AND TWO BILLS PASSED THE HOUSE
LAST WEEK THAT WE HAVE NOT
REALLY TALKED ABOUT SINCE THE
FIRST WEEK.
HOUSE BILL 1088, WHICH LOOKS AT
OFFICER IMPEACHMENT
DISCLOSURES, CREATES BEST
PRACTICES AND ONLINE TRAININGS
AND MAKES A LAW ENFORCEMENT
REQUIRE ABOUT PAST IMPEACHMENT
DISCLOSURE BEFORE HIRING AN
OFFICER, AND IT PASSED THE
HOUSE LAST WEEK ON A BIPARTISAN
VOTE OF 61-37.
SIMILARLY, HOUSE BILL 1089
SPONSORED BY THIS
REPRESENTATIVE WOULD PROVIDE
TRANSPARENCY REGARDED
INVESTIGATIONS AND MORE ABOUT
DEADLY FORCE. THIS AUTHORIZES
THE STATE AUDITOR TO ACTUALLY
REVIEW DEADLY FORCE
INVESTIGATIONS TO DETERMINE
WHETHER THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES COMPLIED WITH ALL
ACTUAL RULES AND PROCEDURES.
HOUSE BILL 1203 DEALS WITH
COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT, EXECUTIVE
ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE AND WE ARE
WORKING WITH THE PRIME SPONSOR
OF THE BILL, REPRESENTATIVE
JOHNSON, AND OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, TO ENSURE IT IS
COMPATIBLE WITH OUR POLICE
OVERSIGHT SYSTEM IN SEATTLE AND
THAT BILL HAS A HEARING AND
APPROPRIATIONS TOMORROW, AND
HOUSE BILL 1267, THE GOVERNOR'S
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION
LEGISLATION IS IN THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE BUT
HAS NOT HAD A HEARING YET
SCHEDULED.
HOUSE BILL 1310 BY
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON AND THE
USE OF FORCE ALSO HAD EXECUTIVE
ACTION TAKEN LAST WEEK TO MOVE
FORWARD TO THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE BUT THERE IS NOT BEEN
A HEARING SCHEDULED YET.
ONE THING THAT DOES APPEAR TO
HAVE FALLING PREY TO THE CUT
OFF IS HOUSE BILL 1507, THAT I
MENTIONED LAST WEEK ABOUT
INDEPENDENT PROSECUTIONS.
IT WAS HEARD VERY LATE AND
INTRODUCED VERY LATE IN THE
PROCESS, HEARD YESTERDAY.
EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS NOT TAKEN.
WE WILL KEEP AN EYE OUT TO SEE
IF ANY OF THOSE PROVISIONS ARE
LIKELY TO GET AMENDED TO OTHER
BILLS OR IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING
TO WORK ON IN THE INTERIM,
GIVEN THE OTHER INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATIONS STILL MOVING
FORWARD.
AND THEN FINALLY, OVER IN THE
SENATE, THE DECERTIFICATION
BILL, SENATE BILL 5051, HAD
EXECUTIVE ACTION TAKEN
YESTERDAY AND WAS AMENDED WITH
MOSTLY TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS,
ONE THAT CHANGES THE CJTC TO
INCLUDE AN OFFICER AS PART OF
THE PROCESS IN THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION.
NOW IT WILL MOVE ONTO THE
SENATE.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR POLICE
REFORM, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS QUITE
A LOT.
>> THAT IS ALWAYS A LOT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, FOR THE UPDATE.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT SENATE
BILL 5134, SENATOR SOLOMON'S
BILL.
DID YOU TOUCH UP ON THAT?
THAT IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST
POLICE REFORM BILLS THAT WE
HAVE, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO
ARBITRATION.
>> YES, PETERSON.
I DO THINK THAT IS ALSO A BILL
THAT HAS FALLEN PREY TO CUT OFF.
NEXT WEEK, WE WILL ALSO MAKE
SURE WE INDICATE -- WE DO NOT
HAVE TIME.
IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE SYSTEM
TO UPDATE, SO SOME THINGS THAT
WE HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY MARKED,
WE WILL DO THAT GOING FORWARD.
AS YOU KNOW, ELIMINATION OF
ARBITRATION COMPLETELY WAS AN
EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE,
THAT DREW SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION
ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS, SO THIS
DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF THE
LABOR COMMITTEE.
WE DO CONTINUE TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGISLATORS,
AS SAID, TO HIGHLIGHT THE
IMPORTANCE OF POLICE
DISCIPLINARY PROCESS PERFORMED
AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGISLATORS
TO TRY TO MOVE SOMETHING
FORWARD THIS SESSION.
WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON
THOSE EFFORTS AND ENLIST YOUR
SUPPORT BECAUSE IT IS
DEFINITELY QUITE A STEEP HILL
TO CLIMB.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAS
BEEN SUPPORTING THOSE EFFORTS
THUS FAR.
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER.
ú>> YOU SAID IT WAS CREATING
CONTROVERSY ON A NUMBER OF
FRONTS.
COULD YOU SPECIFY WHO WAS
OPPOSING THAT, TO REMOVE
ARBITRATION?
>> I WILL -- I THINK IT WAS
CLEAR AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
THAT BILL BUT THERE WERE SOME
LABOR UNIONS THAT REPRESENT
POLICE OFFICERS THAT EXPRESSED
THEIR CONCERN ABOUT NOT HAVING
ARBITRATION AS A WAY TO MOVE
FORWARD.
I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU WANT TO
ADD ANYTHING.
>> I THINK YOU COVERED IT
PERFECTLY.
I WANT TO NOTE FOR COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THERE ARE STRONG
OPPOSITIONS TO THIS THEORETICAL
THREAT TO LABOR UNIONS
EXISTENCE AND CHANGING ANY OF
THE STATUTES BECAUSE OF THIS
KIND OF EXISTENTIAL FEAR ABOUT
THAT, GIVEN THAT LABOR UNIONS
HAVE EXPERIENCED ATTACKS ACROSS
THIS COUNTRY, LOCALLY LIKE THE
FREEDOM FOUNDATION.
THERE IS QUITE A HIGH LEVEL OF
CONCERN.
THE WORK WE HAVE TO DO IN FRONT
OF US IS TO REALLY ILLUSTRATE
THE COUNSEL'S WORK AND THE
MAYOR'S PRIORITIES ARE IN LINE
WITH WORKING FAMILIES, WHILE
SQUARELY ADDRESSING POLICE
REFORM AND I THINK WE ARE
GETTING CLOSE TO IDENTIFYING
SOME OPTIONS THAT WE ARE
HOPEFUL ALL PARTIES CAN'T AGREE
WITH AND IT IS HARD TO MOVE
ANYTHING WITHOUT CONSENSUS. IT
IS CHALLENGING THROUGH VIRTUAL
SESSIONS THAT WE ARE DOING WORK
WITH THE IMPACTED UNIONS THAT
DO REPRESENT POLICE UNIONS AND
CORRECTIONS GROUPS AND WHATNOT
BUT HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS.
WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH MORE
SPECIFICITY THAT IS HELPFUL BUT
WE HAVE A BIT OF WORK TO DO AND
WE WILL BE CALLING ON YOU AND
YOUR COLLEAGUES AS WE MOVE
FORWARD.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO GET SOME
FOLLOW-UP. I THINK IT IS
DISTURBING THAT POLICE UNIONS
ARE SAYING THEY DO NOT WANT
SOMETHING ABOUT POLICE REFORM.
I DO NOT THINK THE STATE
EGISLATURES SHOULD BE
LISTENING TO THAT.
I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU
AFTERWARDS.
>> OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
5134.
I UNDERSTAND THAT GIVEN THE
OUTRIGHT BAN ON ARBITRATION IN
THAT BILL, WHY THERE HAS BEEN
SOME CRUNCH.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY
EVERYTHING ELSE IN THAT BILL IS
GOING TO BASICALLY LANGUISH
BECAUSE OF THE CONTROVERSY
AROUND ARBITRATION.
AGAIN, FOR THE RECORD, SENATE
BILL 5134 ALLOWED FOR OUTRIGHT
ELIMINATION OF ARBITRATION, AND
SENATE BILL 5055 MAKES SOME
CHANGES TO ARBITRATION BUT WE
LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT THE
TITLE WAS CHANGED TO SENATE
BILL 5055 TO LIMIT THE ABILITY
TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THAT
BILL, AND THEN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE -- I AM VERY DISTURBED
ABOUT THAT DEVELOPMENT AS WELL
BUT BACK TO 5134, THERE IS A
LOT IN THAT BILL THAT IS NOT
ABOUT ARBITRATION, AND I AM
WONDERING IF ANYTHING HAS BEEN
IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES TO TRY
TO MOVE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE.
THAT BILL PROHIBITS COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENTS FROM
REQUIRING THINGS LIKE WAVING.
FOR MISCONDUCT INTERVIEWS AND
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENTS AND TIME LIMITS ON
COMPLAINT FILING OR LIMITS ON
USE OF CIVILIAN SUPERVISORS AND
INVESTIGATORS AND USE OF
SUBPOENA AUTHORITY.
THESE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT
ISSUES TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND I AM CONCERNED THERE IS NO
VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD THAT
ADDRESSES ANY OF SEATTLE'S
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WILL SAY I THINK MANY OF THE
PROVISIONS IN THAT BILL, IN
ADDITION TO ARBITRATION, WERE
SEEN AS QUITE CONTROVERSIAL
CHANGES, JUST CONTROVERSIAL
úCHANGES OVER ALL TO POLICING
AND POLICE REFORM, AND AS I
SAID, WITH COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK
FOR AVENUES TO SEE IF ANY
CHANGES CAN BE MADE THIS
SESSION, ADDITIONALLY.
I AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH
SENATOR SOLOMON, WHO IS THE
COSPONSOR OF THAT BILL, TO SEE
IF HE HAS IDENTIFIED ANY MEANS
WITHOUT THAT BILL MAY MOVE
FORWARD.
>> IF YOU COULD, I WOULD REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT.
PLEASE INQUIRE ON MY PATH,
BECAUSE I AM A BIG SUPPORTER OF
THAT BILL AND A FAN OF HIS
WORK.
>> COUNCILMEMBER?
>> THANK YOU, JUST ON THE
POINT, MANY OF US RESPONDED
ABOUT POLICING AND ALSO ABOUT
THE QUESTION OF ARBITRATION AND
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
ARBITRATION AND POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, I WANT TO NOTE
THAT IT IS QUITE DISTURBING,
AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME
WE HAVE HEARD THIS FROM POLICE
UNIONS, AND ON A REGULAR BASIS,
THIS FALSE EQUIVALENCY BETWEEN
LEFT-WING AND PROGRESSIVE
MOVEMENTS, PEACEFUL MOVEMENTS
LIKE BLACK LIVES MATTER FOR
EXAMPLE, AND ALL KINDS OF
WEAPONS DURING THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER MOVEMENTS COMPARED TO
THE ATTEMPT BY HUNDREDS OF FAR-
RIGHT TRUMP'S SUPPORTERS
VIOLENTLY ATTACKING THE CAPITOL
AND IN AN ACTUAL BED TO TRY TO
OVERTURN A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION
RESULT BUT IT JUST STRUCK ME
THAT FOR THEM TO COMPARE THE
QUESTION, THE URGENTLY NEEDED
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE
FACT OF THE POLICE UNIONS LIKE
THE POLICE OFFICERS GUILD,
BEING ONE OF THE KEY OBSTACLES
TO ACHIEVING POLICE
úACCOUNTABILITY IS A FAX, NOT A
OPINION, AND THIS IS RIGHT WING
CONSERVATIVE POLICY KIND OF
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A LONG
TRACK RECORD OF ATTACKING
UNIONS RIGHTS, AND IT IS OF
FALSE EQUIVALENCY, AND I THINK
THE RANK AND FILE OF THE
COUNSEL, LAST SUMMER, DURING
THE PROTEST, THEY MADE IT A
VERY IMPORTANT POINT WHEN THE
DELEGATES VOTED IN A MAJORITY
TO EXPAND THE POLICE OFFICER
COUNSEL BY EXPLAINING WE THINK
ALL WORKERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO
UNIONIZE AND DEMAND WORKPLACE
CONDITIONS AND ADVOCATE FOR
THEIR WAGES UNDER WORKPLACE
QUESTIONS BUT THAT CANNOT BE IN
ANY WAY IN OPPOSITION TO THE
FACT THE UNION HAS TO STAND
AGAINST RACISM, AGAINST
VIOLENCE ON THE WORKING CLASS,
AND INJURIES TO ALL.
THEY NEED TO REJECT ANY KIND OF
FALSE EQUIVALENCY BETWEEN THE
FIGHT TO UNIONIZE AND THE FIGHT
FOR WORKERS RIGHTS AND COMPARE
THAT TO THE RIGHT OF WORKERS
DEMANDING POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, ESPECIALLY IN
LIGHT OF THE SYSTEMIC RACISM IN
THE COUNTRY.
>> THANK YOU, IF I CAN JUST
RESPOND, YOU MADE A GOOD POINT.
I DID NOT INTEND TO MAKE A
COMPARISON BETWEEN WHAT WE ARE
SEEKING AS THE CITY WITH OUR
PARTNER AROUND ARBITRATION ALL
REFORM AND THE FOUNDATION.
I JUST WANT YOU TO HAVE THE
INFORMATION AS A COUNSEL THAT
THE CONCERNS OF THE LABOR
COMMUNITY HAS EXPRESSED HAS
LESS TO DO -- I THINK THERE IS
A LOT OF GOODWILL, AND A LOT OF
COMMITMENT TO RACIAL JUSTICE IN
POLICE REFORM, BUT IT IS ONE OF
THOSE DELICATE NEGOTIATIONS AT
THIS POINT WHERE WE ARE TRYING
TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE FACT
LABOR UNIONS HAVE, FOR MANY
YEARS, FELT UNDER ATTACK BY
THOSE KINDS OF GROUPS AND THEY
WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE PURSUE
REFORM, THAT WE ARE NOT DOING
HARM TO THOSE FOLKS AND THOSE
INSTITUTIONS THAT PROTECT
WORKERS.
CLEARLY, THAT IS NOT THE INTENT
BUT GIVEN SOME OF THE COMPLEX
POLICY ISSUES THAT PLAY HERE,
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE CONTINUED
TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND
WE WILL BUT TO KEEP YOU AND
YOUR COUNSEL COLLEAGUES ENGAGED
IN THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE
ARE MAKING HEADWAY WITH OUR
PARTNERS AND THEY CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE IN POLICE
REFORM AND THEY HAD THE
EXPERIENCE IN VERY RECENT
HISTORY OF BEING ATTACKED FROM
ALL ANGLES, SO WE ARE TRYING TO
THREAD THAT NEEDLE
APPROPRIATELY AND WE ARE IN
NEGOTIATIONS AROUND HOW WE CAN
MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK THIS IS A CHALLENGING
ONE BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO
THIS AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS
VERY HIGH ON THE COUNSEL'S
AGENDA AS A WHOLE.
>> I WANT TO CLARIFY -- AS
PROGRESSIVES TOGETHER, WE ARE
UNITED.
I AM JUST SAYING THEY DO DRAW
THAT FALSE EQUIVALENCY AND IT
IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE
GIVEN THE ATMOSPHERE OF NOT
JUST IN D.C. BUT NATIONWIDE AND
I ALSO WOULD SAY AS A RANK-AND-
FILE UNION MEMBER MYSELF, AND
SOMEONE THAT IS A DEDICATED
FIGHTER FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, WE
SHOULD NOT -- THERE ARE
CONSERVATIVE ELEMENTS AND THERE
ARE TREMENDOUS MEMBERS OF RANK-
AND-FILE WHO REALLY HAVE SPOKEN
UP ABOUT BLACK LIVES MATTER AND
ABOUT THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM
AND ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE
FIGHT AGAINST SPECIFIC
OPPRESSION HAS TO GO HAND IN
HAND WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE BACKLASH THAT
ESPECIALLY PUBLIC'S OPINIONS
HAVE FACED, RIGHTLY FROM
CERTAIN GROUPS, BUT PRIMARILY
FROM BIG BUSINESSES AND THE
IDEA OF POLITICS THAT HAS FOR
DECADES -- WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS
ON IN A BIG WAY'S STANCE ABOUT
UNIONS AND WORKERS AS A WHOLE
BUT MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE
SAY THOSE ATTACKS GO HAND-IN-
HAND WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST
RACISM AND OPPRESSION.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT
CONVERSATION.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A
LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND CLARITY THAT A
THINK IS GETTING MISSED OR
OVERSEEN WHICH IS MY
UNDERSTANDING BASED ON MY OWN
CONVERSATIONS WITH THIS
STATEWIDE COALITION THAT IS
WORKING ON THIS POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY REFORM EFFORTS,
IT IS NOT JUST LABOR UNIONS
THAT REPRESENT COLLECTION
OFFICERS OR POLICE OFFICERS
THAT ARE INVOLVED IN ENGAGEMENT
AND THERE IS A WASHINGTON
COALITION FOR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS ON
CENTERING FAMILIES THAT HAVE
LOST FAMILY MEMBERS TO THESE
AMENDMENTS IN THE PAST AND THAT
COALITION ALSO INCLUDES MEMBERS
OF FOLKS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN
THE INITIATIVE 940, THE
WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN, AND CIVIL
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, TRIBES,
LABOR UNIONS, MEMBERS OF THE
FAITH COMMUNITY AND ACTIVISTS
WHO ARE WORKING TOGETHER IN
CONCERT TO TRY TO THREAD THE
NEEDLE ON THESE ISSUES TO SEE
SOME PROGRESS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATOR AS IT RELATES TO
MANY OF THE BILLS THAT ARE
INCLUDED IN THIS BULLETIN, THAT
TH CITY OF SEATTLE IS
CONTINUING TO SUPPORT.
THOSE BILLS ARE LISTED PUBLICLY
ON THEIR WEBSITE IN TERMS OF
THE ONE THEY ARE ACTIVELY
SUPPORTING, AND ENCOURAGING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ALSO
SUPPORT, SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THIS PARTICULAR BILL, SENATE
BILL 5134 IS NOT ONE OF THE
BILLS INCLUDED IN THEIR
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, SO I WANT
TO BE COGNIZANT TO THE FACT
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS
ADVOCATING FOR DIFFERING
STRATEGIES AT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING THE
WASHINGTON COALITION FOR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, WHO IS NOT MADE
UP OF JUST POLICE UNIONS OR
UNIONS AT REPRESENT
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
THAT IS ANOTHER HELPFUL PIECE
OF INFORMATION, HOPEFULLY, THAT
I THINK SHOWS THAT THINGS ARE
COMPLICATED AND THERE ARE MANY
STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGING ON THIS
ISSUE AND HOW HER GOAL IS TO
MAKE SURE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE
IS WE -- THAT WE CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT MANY OF THOSE
INITIATIVES AND CONTINUE TO
ADVOCATE FOR THE STRONGEST
VERSION OF ACCOUNTABILITY
MEASURES THAT WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE FOR OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND WE
WILL KEEP WORKING TOGETHER TO
TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.
OKAY, I DO NOT SEE ANY OTHER
HANDS UP IN THIS SPACE, SO WHY
DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND KEEP
GOING.
>> A FEW QUICK THINGS ON THE
PUBLIC SAFETY FRONT.
THESE BILLS ARE STILL MOVING,
HOUSE BILL 1283, HOUSE BILL
5038, AND ALSO ANOTHER
INCORRECT ITEM ON HERE, RIGHT
AT THE END OF THE PAGE BEFORE
YOU HAVE THE CIVIL PROTECTION
ORDERS, SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL
1230, WHICH WOULD STREAMLINE
THE CIVIL PROTECTION ORDER
SYSTEM AND THAT BILL IS STILL
MOVING AND HAS BEEN REFERRED TO
APPROPRIATIONS AND THEN, THE
LAST BILL AND PAGE I THINK ON
THE NEXT PAGE, SOME OF YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN SENATE BILL 5226.
THAT BILL WAS SUBSTANTIALLY
ADMITTED AND I WOULD WOULD
REQUIRE A PERSON WHO WILL
ATTEST TO AN INFRACTION THAT
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO
PAY AND BE INFORMED HOW TO
SUBMIT EVIDENCE OF THEIR
INABILITY TO PAY AND ALSO
INFORMATION THAT IF THEY DO NOT
PAY, THEY MAY BE SUBJECT TO A
COLLECTION ACTION, INCLUDING
THE GARNISHMENT OF WAGES, AND
ALSO REQUIRES THE COURT TO
ATTEND TO ENTER A PAYMENT PLAN
WITH PURSING THOSE WHO CANNOT
PAY.
PROVISIONS WERE STREAMLINED BUT
THAT BILL IS MOVING FORWARD.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE ON PUBLIC
SAFETY.
>> ALL RIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS ON
THAT?
LET'S KEEP GOING.
>> I HAVE A FEW BILLS TO
HIGHLIGHT WITH THE SAFETY NET.
HOUSE BILL 1151 ABOUT ECONOMIC
RECOVERY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE
BIG PRIORITY BILLS FOR HUMAN
SERVICE ADVOCATES, THEY WANT TO
MOVE OUT OF APPROPRIATIONS AND
IS NOW GOING TO RULES.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT TAX
CREDIT AND LASTLY, SENATE BILL
5214, WHICH REINVESTS -- IT WAS
AMENDED SO WE MAKE SURE THE
STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS AT
7% AND DOES THAT COUNT TOWARDS
THE TOTAL LIMIT OF 16th MONTHS
IN THAT PROGRAM.
THAT IS RETROACTIVE THROUGH
LAST YEAR, SO IT COVERS THE
PANDEMIC.
AND THAT BILL IS SCHEDULED FOR
A PUBLIC HEARING TODAY.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE ON THE
SAFETY NET.
>> ANY QUESTIONS?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS,
SO WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> NOW, WITH TRANSPORTATION, WE
HAVE SOME BRIEF UPDATES BECAUSE
WE ARE LOW ON TIME.
WE ARE DISCUSSING THE
ENVIRONMENT AND A SMALL UPDATE.
THERE WAS A MOTION THAT THIS
WOULD NOT GO TO TRANSPORTATION
IN AN EFFORT TO EXPEDITE AND
SUPPORT THAT LEGISLATION, IT
DOES APPEAR IT HAS BEEN
REFERRED AFTER GOING THROUGH
ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS TO
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
ON THE HOUSE SIDE, WE
ANTICIPATE IT WILL PASS AGAIN
AND I THINK IT REMAINS TO BE
SEEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE
SENATE AND IS SOMETHING WE ARE
TRACKING CLOSELY, THEN THEY
HAVE PASSED OUT OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND IT WAS
AMENDED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO
THE EXCISE TAX PIECE, BUT I
WILL NOT GO INTO ALL THE
DETAILS.
IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED, I
WOULD BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION?
ALL RIGHT, SEEING NINE.
LET'S KEEP GOING.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATION.
>> EXCELLENT, OKAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THAT
BEFORE WE SHIFT GEARS INTO THE
NEXT SESSION?
I AM HEARING NONE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
YOUR GOOD WORK ON ALL OF THESE
ISSUES.
I KNOW MANY OF US ARE
CONTACTING YOU ON VARIOUS
PRIORITIES AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOU NEXT WEEK.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO
PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS, WITH THE REGIONAL
COMMITTEES.
THIS WILL CALL ROTATION BEGINS
WITH PETERSON FOLLOWED BY
STRAUSS, WALRATH, LEWIS,
MORALES, AND OTHERS.
FIRST UP IS PETERSON, AND THEN
OTHERS.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU.
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES --
OUR NEXT MEETING IS TOMORROW
MORNING, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY
17, AND THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
ONLINE LAST FRIDAY, FEBRUARY
12.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
THE FIRST IS AN AGREEMENT
THROUGH METRO AND AN INTEGRATED
RESOURCE PLAN AND PROGRESS
REPORT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
ABOUT THOSE. IN DISTRICT 4,
THIS PAST FRIDAY, I HELD MY
WEEKLY OFFICE HOURS BY
TELEPHONE.
CONSTITUENTS WERE TALKING ABOUT
HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY,
AND THE STATUS OF THE POLICE
CONTRACT.
WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT
THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT, WHERE
THEY POSTPONED THE SALE OF THE
NATIONAL ARCHIVES FACILITY.
THEY CREATED A PERMANENT
INJUNCTION.
THAT IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT 4.
I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE NEW BIDEN
DEMONSTRATION WILL AGREE THAT
THE TRUMPET ADMINISTRATION DID
NOT FOLLOW THE LAW AND IT IS
BEST TO KEEP THE HISTORICAL
DOCUMENTS HERE.
WE ALREADY SUPPORT KEEPING THE
FACILITY IN THE NORTHWEST AND
IDEALLY THEY CAN FIND FEDERAL
RESOURCES TO PAY FOR ANY
NECESSARY UPGRADES TO THE
FACILITY AND I GREATLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK OF OUR
ATTORNEY GENERAL ABOUT FERGUSON
AND THE TRIBAL NATIONS ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS. THEY HAVE
RESEARCHERS AND MANY OTHERS
SUCCESSFULLY FIGHTING THE SALE,
SO WE CAN KEEP THE ARCHIVAL
HERE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SO, DURING THE SNOWSTORM OVER
THE WEEKEND, I JUST WANT TO
THANK ALL THE CITY GOVERNMENT
WORK CREWS AND THEIR MANAGERS
FOR WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK,
ESPECIALLY THOSE DEPARTMENTS WE
SEE A LOT IN OUR COMMITTEE,
LIKE THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES CLEARING ARTERIAL
ROADS AND SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
KEEPING THE POWER ON OR
RESTORING POWER WHERE NEEDED,
AND IT IS A TESTAMENT THAT
MAYOR JENNY DURKAN AND HER TEAM
ARE ONCE AGAIN VERY PREPARED AND
LAUNCHED INTO ACTION DURING THE
SNOWSTORM.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOING BASIC
AND GOOD WORK IT WAS MEANT TO
DO.
I APPRECIATE THEIR HARD WORK.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ABOUT THAT REPORT?
I AM HEARING NONE.
LET'S HEAR FROM THIS
COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING,
EVERYBODY.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA, THERE IS
NOTHING FROM THE COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS NORMALLY
SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 23 HAS
BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR MARCH 4,
WHICH IS THE THURSDAY OF THE
FOLLOWING WEEK AND I APPRECIATE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WORKING WITH
MY OFFICE TO ENABLE THE
RESCHEDULING.
THE COMMITTEE IS DISCUSSING A
PACKAGE OF RENTERS' RIGHTS
BILLS AND AMONG THEM, BEING
COSPONSORED -- WE DISCUSSED THE
RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION FOR
RENTERS FACING EVICTION AND I
HOPE AT THE NEXT MEETING, WE
WILL BE IN A POSITION TO VOTE
ON THE RIGHT TO THAT
LEGISLATION AND ALSO DISCUSSED
THE PROBLEM OF DEFAULT
EVICTIONS.
RENTERS DO NOT RESPOND TO THE
NECESSARY PAPERWORK AND ARE NOT
ABLE TO BE PRESENT FOR THEIR
EVICTION HEARING, WHICH HAPPENS
A GREAT DEAL BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE FACING EVICTION ARE
FACING OTHER TYPES OF CRISES IN
THEIR LIFE AND ARE BEING
EVICTED BY DEFAULT AND IT IS A
HUGE ISSUE.
IT IS THE UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME
OF HALF THE EVICTIONS IN
SEATTLE, ACTUALLY, AND IN
ADDITION TO THOSE BILLS, THEY
ARE WORKING ON A COMPANION
LEGISLATION TO THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS
THOSE DEFAULT EVICTIONS.
THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE
ENVIRONMENT IS -- THE MOVEMENT
WANT FUNDING.
ONCE IT IS DONE, WE WILL
FINALLY BE READY TO APPOINT THE
BOARD INCLUDING CLIMATE
ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZERS AND WE
WILL FIGHT FOR INVESTMENTS AND
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN
SEATTLE.
LIKE THAT RENTERS COMMISSION
AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION, THEY WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A
COURAGEOUS STANCE FOR
COMMUNITIES AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO THEM DOING THAT.
THERE IS ONE ITEM ON TODAY'S
COUNSEL THAT I AM REPORTING ON.
IT IS THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE
STATEWIDE TAXES ON BIG
BUSINESS.
THERE IS A LIMITATION ON THE
ABILITY TO TAX THE RICH.
IT WAS DISCUSSED, THE LAST
ITEM, THERE ARE THREE
PROGRESSIVE BILLS CURRENTLY
BEING DISCUSSED.
ONE IS TAXING CAPITAL GAINS.
THEY ARE ALL CRUCIAL AND NEED
TO BE PASSED FOR RAISING THE
FUNDS PEOPLE NEED FOR SERVICES,
JOBS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS.
THIS RESOLUTION STATES THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL URGES STATE
LAWMAKERS TO PASS PROGRESSIVE
TAXES ON THE RICH AND BIG
BUSINESSES AND RAISE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUES BECAUSE WE
NEED STATEWIDE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUES URGENTLY THROUGH OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES, TO HAVE THE
RIGHT TO RAISE HIS BUSINESS
TAXES.
EVERY SESSION, LAWMAKERS ARE
LOOKING AT PROGRESSIVE BILLS
AND IT IS A QUESTION OF
BRINGING THOSE PROGRESSIVE
MEASURES TO THE STATE.
IT IS INEXCUSABLE.
THERE ARE PERIODS WHEN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS A FULL
GOVERNORSHIP AND THEY ARE
PAYING LIP SERVICE TO PEOPLE IN
THE ROOMS WHILE DOING THE
BIDDING OF BIG BUSINESS AT THE
BILLIONAIRES.
WORKING PEOPLE ARE FACING A
COMPOUNDING CRISIS DURING THE
PANDEMIC AND THE RECESSION, AND
THEY WERE ALREADY IN A CRISIS
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE
GOVERNORSHIP AND THE NEED TO
DECISIVELY CONTROL THE
STATEHOUSE 57-41 AND THAT STATE
SENATE 29-20.
THEY NEED TO APPROVE TAXES ON
BIG BUSINESS AND THE WEALTHY TO
ADDRESS THE SUFFERING OF
WORKING PEOPLE AND SMALL
BUSINESSES, WHICH ARE GETTING
DECIMATED DURING THIS PANDEMIC
AND WHY AT THE SAME TIME, THEY
ARE DEFENDING THE GAINS BY
HUNDREDS OF RANK-AND-FILE
MEMBERS AND ADVOCATES WHO HAVE
BEEN PART OF THE TAX AMAZON
MOVEMENT AND THE GEORGE FLOYD
PROTESTS -- THEY WANT TO TAX
THE CORPORATIONS TO GET
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER
PROJECTS.
THEY URGE STATE LAWMAKERS TO
PASS TAXES ON BIG BUSINESSES
AND THE RICH AND TO RAISE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUES.
I WANT TO SHARE THAT I HAVE
SENT A PUBLIC LETTER OF
SOLIDARITY TO THE WORKERS WHO
WERE FIGHTING TO BUILD
RECOGNITION FOR WHAT HAS BEEN
CALLED A UNION THAT HAS BACKED
WORKERS AND BLACK WOMEN WORKERS
WITH AMAZON UNIONS, AT ONE OF
AMAZON'S WAREHOUSE US.
WE WANT TO HAVE SOLIDARITY FOR
THE WORKERS, AND TO VOTE A
RESOUNDING YES FOR WORKERS'
RIGHTS.
AMAZON WILL KNOW THEY HAVE MADE
$22.1 BILLION IN PROFITS AND
THEY HAVE BEEN EXPLOITING
WORKERS WITH LOW WAGES AND WE
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THEIR
STAFFING AND SWEATSHOP LIGHT
CONDITIONS INCLUDING NOT GIVING
THEM EASY BATHROOM BREAKS. OVER
20,000 AMAZON WORKERS ARE KNOWN
TO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR
COVID WITH ALABAMA WAREHOUSE
REPORTING ONE OF THE HIGHEST
INFECTION RATES.
AMAZON HAS SKIMMED OUT OF ITS
OBLIGATIONS OVER $61 MILLION IN
TIPS FROM DELIVERY DRIVERS.
AND THEY ALSO STATE AMAZON HAS
NO BUSINESS TELLING WORKERS NOT
TO PAY THEIR DUES OR CARRY OUT
ANTIUNION PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGNS
WHICH HAVE BEEN RELENTLESS, AND
-- AMAZON EXECUTIVES ARE
FIGHTING HARD AND IT IS SELFISH
PROVE THEY ARE LYING AND
FIGHTING BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHEN
WORKERS WIN, THEY HAVE TO BEGIN
TO RESPECT THE DEMANDS OF THEIR
WORKERS AND THEY ARE AFRAID OF
THE COLLECTIVE POWER THEY WILL
HAVE AS A UNION BECAUSE THEY
HAVE MORE POWER AT THE BOXES
AND THOSE WORKERS, THEY WILL
CARRY OUT THE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THAT
REPORT?
>> I JUST WANT TO REFERENCE
LAST WEEK'S CONVERSATION
RELATED TO THE INTRODUCTION AND
I WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE
SPECIFICITY THAT WAS INCLUDED
IN THE CITY COUNCIL'S
RESOLUTION RELATED TO OUR STATE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
I DID NOT SPEAK UP WHEN
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON RAISED
THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT THERE IS A NECESSITY TO
PASS ANOTHER PIECE OF
LEGISLATION GIVEN THE PASSAGE
OF RESOLUTION 31982 IN EARLY
DECEMBER, ADOPTED BY THE
COUNCIL WITH A VOTE OF 8-0. I
CHECKED THE LANGUAGE FROM THAT
RESOLUTION AND THAT RESOLUTION
STATES THE COUNSEL -- THEY HAVE
CONFERENCE OF TAX REFORM THAT
LEADS TO MORE EQUITABLE AND
PROGRESSIVE TAX STRUCTURES AND
DECREASES RELIANCE ON FLAT TAX
SOURCES LIKE SALES AND PROPERTY
TAXES.
IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE
CITY'S SUPPORT TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE FOR STATEWIDE
CAPITAL GAINS TAX AND A
PROGRESSIVE STATEWIDE PAYROLL
TAX DOES NOT PREEMPT OR
DIMINISH THE CITY'S LOCAL
AUTHORITY.
I AGREE WITH THE STATEMENTS OF
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
LAST WEEK, WHERE HE STATED
THERE IS NOTHING TO PROHIBIT US
FROM PASSING LEGISLATION ABOUT
ITEMS THAT ARE ON OUR STATE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IF THERE IS
NEW INFORMATION OR THE
CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED AND
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE
STRENGTH OF OUR EARLIER
STATEMENT, AND THE RESOLUTION
WE PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 8-0
AND THE STATUS OF THE CURRENT
BILL IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE,
I DO NOT SEE THAT WE WOULD HAVE
A NEED TO PASS ANOTHER PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
I DID -- I APPRECIATE THE
RECOGNITIN AROUND THE COMMENTS
I MADE LAST WEEK ON MONDAY.
I DID WANT FROM A PROCEDURAL
PERSPECTIVE MAY CLEAR THAT
RESOLUTIONS ARE OFTEN TIMES --,
BECAUSE THERE IS NEW
INFORMATION OR NEW INTEREST
THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE ALREADY
ADEQUATELY BEEN REVOLVED
THROUGH OTHER PIECES OF
OPPOSITION BY VIRTUE OF MAKING
THOSE COMMENTS.
I WAS NOT TRYING TO PUT MY
THUMB ON A SCALE ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER BUT SIMPLY MAKING SURE
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MAY
CLEAR TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE UN
PUBLIC WHAT THE LAY OF THE LAND
IS IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS AND
THE PROCEDURE.
I ALSO WENT BACK AND TOOK A
LOOK AT THAT RESOLUTION AND I
HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MEMBERS
OF THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
BILLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATION
THAT IS BEING DEBATED AT THE
STATE LEGISLATURE FITS SQUARELY
WITHIN THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA THAT WAS ADOPTED BY
RESOLUTION 31982, OF WHICH I
WAS THE PRIME SPONSOR, SO,
AGAIN, THE BILLS THAT ARE BEING
DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW RELATED TO
WEALTH TAX, CAPITAL GAINS TAX
AND OTHER PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
TAXES STREAMS DO NOT INCLUDE
ANY LANGUAGE AND WOULD NOT HARM
THE CITY COUNCIL'S EFFORTS
AROUND PASSAGE OF AN
IMPLEMENTATION OF JUMPSTART
SEATTLE AS PROPOSED BY THIS
COUNCILMEMBER AND COSPONSORED
BY MANY OF US ON THIS COUNSEL.
I THINK THAT THE ISSUES THAT
ARE BEING HIGHLIGHTED BY THIS
NEW RESOLUTION ARE, AS FAR AS I
CAN TELL, REDUNDANT OF THE
ISSUES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY
ADDRESSED AND TAKEN A VOTE OF 8-
0 ON, AND IN OUR ADOPTION OF
RESOLUTION RIGHT HERE, I AM --
I AGREE THAT I DO NOT THINK IT
IS NECESSARY FOR US TO ADOPT A
SECOND RESOLUTION THAT
EFFECTIVELY REITERATES A
POSITION THAT THE CITY HAS
ALREADY TAKEN AND THAT WOULD --
THAT PURPORTS TO ADDRESS ISSUES
THAT ARE NOT RIGHT OR UNDER
CONSIDERATION BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AS I UNDERSTAND IT
BASED ON MY BRIEFING FROM OTHER
PEOPLE AND BILLS THAT ARE BEING
DEBATED IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE.
EITHER ERIN EGAN COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
>> I DO NOT THINK THAT THE
RESOLUTION IS REDUNDANT FROM A
POLITICAL SENSE.
THE AGENDA INCLUDES
MISINFORMATION. I NEVER DENIED
THAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT LAST WEEK
BUT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
RESOLUTION, IF ANYONE IS BEING
HONEST, THERE IS ALMOST NOTHING
THAT BUILDS MOMENTUM TO GET
THESE THINGS DONE AND DEMOCRATS
HAVE BEEN IN POWER BEFORE IN
HISTORY, AND MANY PROGRESSIVE
BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN
THE LEGISLATURES AND MANY
PROGRESSIVE BILLS HAVE BEEN
INTRODUCED, WHICH IS A POSITIVE
THING, AND THIS IS URGENT THAT
THE BILLS ARE ACTUALLY PAST BUT
SIMPLY INTRODUCTION OF THOSE
BILLS BY THE LEGISLATURES DOES
NOT ENSURE THEY WILL PASS.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS TIME AND TIME
AGAIN AND IF ALL THAT IS NEEDED
WAS TO PASS THIS, THEN --
AGGRESSIVE TAXES HAVE BEEN
THERE FOR YEARS AND THIS
RESOLUTION FROM ALL OF US DO
THAT BECAUSE WE INTEND FOR THE
RESOLUTION TO ACTUALLY
HIGHLIGHT THE MOST CRUCIAL
ISSUES AND TO HAVE A SPECIFIC
INFLUENCE IN FAVOR OF
PROGRESSIVE TAXES AND THE
RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOVING FORWARD
ARE ALSO GOING FORWARD, ARGUING
WORKING PEOPLE CAN HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE CITY
COUNCIL HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT A
VERY CRUCIAL ISSUE.
THE STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS
MANY PAGES LONG AND THERE ARE
MANY ISSUES.
EVERYTHING WE DO NOT DO, TO
BRING ALL KINDS OF ISSUES, THEY
ARE THE MOST CRUCIAL, AND THE
MOST AT STAKE.
IN THAT SENSE, I WOULD SAY THE
RESOLUTION IS IMPORTANT AND
WOULD VOTE YES ON IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I SEE
YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP.
BEFORE I CALL ON YOU, I DID --
I DID NOT WANT TO PUT OUT THERE
THAT THE BILLS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY BEING DEBATED IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE HAVE BEEN
INTRODUCED, SUPPORTED AND
ADVOCATED FOR BY VERY WELL
KNOWN ESTABLISHED PROGRESSIVE
DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND THERE IS AN
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MOMENTUM
BEHIND THOSE BILLS.
THOSE BILLS ARE BEING
INTRODUCED UNLIKE ANY OTHER
PERIOD OF TIME IN OUR HISTORY
DURING ONE OF THE GREATEST
ECONOMIC CRISES IN OVER 100
YEARS.
THIS IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SUPPORT
OUR DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS IN
OLYMPIA, WHO ARE SEEING A
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO
ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING DONE
THIS SESSION.
I AM HOPEFUL AND I AM
SUPPORTIVE AND I AM ALSO USING
MY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS AND WITH
OTHER LEADERS IN OLYMPIA TO
MAKE THE CASES AS TO WHY IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THIS
PROGRESSIVE TAX BILLS PASSED
THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE,
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOUSANDS
OF OUR CONSTITUENTS IN SEATTLE
AND ACROSS THE REGION, WHO ARE
DESPERATELY WAITING TO SEE SOME
TAX RELIEF AND DESPERATELY
WAITING TO SEE ADDITIONAL
REVENUE THAT WILL ACTUALLY MEET
THEIR BASIC NEEDS, PAYING RENT,
ACCESS TO MAKING SURE THEY
CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR BUSINESS
IN PLACE.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE SUPPORT
AND THESE PRIORITIES AND
VALUES, I BELIEVE, ARE SHARED
BY REPRESENTATIVES, WHO ARE
FIGHTING LIKE HECK AND HAVE
BEEN FOR YEARS TO TRY TO GET
CONSENSUS AND THE VOTES THEY
NEED TO PASS THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATIVE PIECES AT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND I THINK RIGHT
NOW, WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF THAT
AND THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, TO ADVANCE
THESE EFFORTS, AND I, FOR ONE,
STAND WITH THEM AND BECAUSE I
STAND WITH THEM AND THOSE
EFFORTS, THOSE PRIORITIES AND
THOSE LEGISLATIVE VALUES ARE
REFLECTED IN THE CITY'S STATE
LEGISLATIVE LOBBYING AGENDA
THAT THE COUNSEL IN A VOTE OF 8-
0 VOTED TO SUPPORT AND PASS IN
DECEMBER.
THAT HAS BEEN THE GUIDING
PRINCIPLE AND THE FRAMEWORK BY
WHICH OUR LOBBY YES HAS BEEN
APPROACHING THIS WORK IN
ADVOCATING FOR.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN JUST
INTRODUCED LAISSEZ-FAIRE ON A
DESK.
WE'VE ALL BEEN ACTIVELY
ENGAGING WITH AND LOBBYING AND
ENCOURAGING OUR CONSTITUENTS TO
DO THE SAME IN OLYMPIA TO MAKE
SURE THAT LEGISLATORS ACROSS
BOTH AISLES UNDERSTAND WHY
THESE BILLS ARE SO IMPORTANT
AND WHY THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT
IN THIS HISTORICAL PERIOD OF
TIME WHERE WE MAY NOT HAVE
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE
STRONGEST CASE POSSIBLE FOR THE
PASSAGE OF THIS VERY STRONG
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE TAX BILLS.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK OF
OUR STATE LEGISLATURES ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE HOUSE
AND SENATE WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING TIRELESSLY TO TRY TO
ACHIEVE THESE BILLS AND LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN CENTERED
ON THE FACT WE HAVE MADE THESE
PRIORITIES CLEAR IN A PREVIOUS
RESOLUTION AND I DO WANT TO
LOOK AT ALL THE WORK I HAVE
BEEN DOING TO ADVOCATE FOR HER
SITTING PRIORITIES IN THE
LEGISLATURE AND MY WORK WITH
CERTAIN CITIES, THAT
RESOLUTIONS DO NOT TECHNICALLY
DELIVER TO LEGISLATORS.
THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY READ
AND WE USED -- YOUR POINT, THAT
PSSING THE LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES RESOLUTION IS NOT
NECESSARILY ENSURING THE FOLLOW-
UP IS OCCURRING AND I
ABSOLUTELY HEAR YOU, WHICH IS
ALSO WHY I HAVE BEEN SENDING
LETTERS TO DIFFERENT
LEGISLATURES ON DIFFERENT
TOPICS, AND MIGHT BE CIRCLING
BACK ON TRANSPORTATION
PRIORITIES THAT I WANT TO GET
SIGNATURES TO ENSURE SOME OF
OUR PRIORITIES ARE MET AND I
HAVE BEEN MAKING PHONE CALLS
AND GETTING EMAILS.
WHAT I AM STUCK WITH, AND
SOMETHING THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME IS WHEN I'M
SPEAKING WITH LEGISLATORS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE
CHAMPIONING ISSUES I AM TRYING
TO SUPPORT, MY QUESTION IS HOW
CAN I BEST SUPPORT YOU AND
SOMETIMES THAT MEANS SENDING
LETTERS AND SOMETIMES THAT
MEANS NOT SENDING RESOLUTIONS.
LAST YEAR, A SIMILAR TOPIC WAS
BEING DISCUSSED AT WE SENT A
LETTER AND I FOUND THAT TO BE
MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE COMPARED TO
PASSING A RESOLUTION,
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE ALREADY
PASSED A RESOLUTION, SO I
WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR
YOU WALL.
>> OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES?
OKAY, LET'S CONTINUE ON WITH
REPORTS.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, FOR MY REPORT,
THERE ARE EIGHT COMMISSION
APPOINTMENTS ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION IN THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
THEY WERE IN LAST WEEK'S
CALENDAR AND THEY ARE BEING RE-
REFERRED TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
WE WILL SKIP THE STEP OF
COMMITTEE.
WE FIND AS WE ARE HAVING OUR
COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS , ONE
MEETING IS BETTER THAN COMING
TO TWO.
THERE ARE NO NEW ITEMS ON
TODAY'S A FULL AGENDA AND THE
NEXT MEETING IS ON SATURDAY
24th AT 9:40 IN THE MORNING.
LAST WEEK, I JOINED THIS
DISTRICT MEETING TO DISCUSS
HOMELESSNESS AND WAS JOINED BY
A COUPLE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
AND I ALSO TESTIFIED,
ADVOCATING FOR THE CITY'S
PRIORITIES, WITH HOUSE BILL
1035 TO CREATE A LOCAL OPTION
WITH TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR
PROPERTY OWNERS WHO SET ASIDE
25% OF THEIR BUILDINGS FOR LOW
INCOME TENANTS.
THIS WAS A RECOMMENDATION THAT
HAS NOT BEEN FOLLOWED THROUGH
WITH.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE BILL OF
RECORDS MEETING ON TUESDAY AND
I MET WITH OTHERS ON THURSDAY
AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
THE DELEGATION ON THE ORIGINAL
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR.
ALSO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
FIRES THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS
ARE RESPONDING TO IN EARNEST.
THIS WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN
ARSON AND THEY ARE FOLLOWING UP
TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION
AND I WILL RESERVE MY COMMENTS
UNTIL A REPORT IS PROVIDED.
THIS WAS RULED AS ACCIDENTAL
AND IT IS CLEAR PEOPLE ARE
SUFFERING OUTSIDE AND THIS HAS
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT
ARE RIPPLING THROUGH OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO LIVE THAT
WAY, THE WAY IT IS OCCURRING.
AND THEN MANY PEOPLE WERE LEFT
AT THESE AREAS IN THE SNOW AND
IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO SHARE
WITH THEM THAT WE DO NOT HAVE
THE SHELTER AND HOUSING AT THE
LEVEL OF POWER HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS, EVEN WITH THE EMERGENCY
SHELTER, IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO
BRING EVERYONE INTO WEATHER THE
STORM.
OTHERS SAID WHY CAN'T WE FORCE
PEOPLE INTO SHELTERS, AND
AGAIN, WE CANNOT FORCE PEOPLE
INTO BAGS AND SHELTERS THAT
SIMPLY DO NOT EXIST.
IF THE SHELTER DOES NOT EXIST,
WE CANNOT ASK THEM TO THEIR CARE
BECAUSE IT DOES NOT EXIST.
LAST WEEK REALLY DEMONSTRATED
EVEN MORE CLEARLY THE NEED TO
HAVE THE SPECTRUM OF ADEQUATE
SHELTER AND HOUSING OPTIONS
AVAILABLE AT THE SAME RATE OF
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
EEN LIVING OUTSIDE.
THIS WEEK, THIS COMING WEEK, WE
WILL ATTEND THE FREMONT CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE MEETING ON
WEDNESDAY AT 9:00 IN THE
MORNING.
COUNCILMAN PETERSON MIGHT BE A
FEW MINUTES LATE TO THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
I WILL BE THERE AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
I WILL ALSO GO TO THE TRANSIT
COMMITTEE, SPENDING TIME WITH A
COUPLE OF COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL.
MY STAFF WILL ATTEND THE
COMMUNITY CANCEL ON WEDNESDAY,
THE 17th.
IN DISTRICT 6, I AM LOOKING AT
MEETINGS.
I HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS
WITH NEIGHBORS AND WE DISCUSSED
PLANS TO LOOK AT THE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS AND CRIME
PREVENTION AND POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND PLANNED TO
ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND THE
GREAT WORK OF THE INITIATIVE TO
CLEAN SEATTLE AND WHAT THEY ARE
DOING.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS
FOR GIVING ME YOUR TIME AND WE
DO MEET WITH RESIDENTS DURING
THOSE HOURS AND IN THE EVENING
AS WELL, AND WE WILL DO SO
AGAIN ON THE 18th.
THAT IS MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT, I AM HEARING NONE.
NEXT UP IS THIS COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE ITEM ON
THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA, ABOUT
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
THIS IS THIS BILL.
I AM SURE YOU REMEMBER -- THIS
WAS FOLLOWING COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND
THE BUILDING CODES BEING
BROUGHT TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
THE FIRE CODE HAS BEEN UPDATED
ALONG WITH THE BUILDING CODE IN
ORDER TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY AND
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
IT WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2016 AND
IT IS USUALLY UPDATED EVERY
THREE YEARS.
THE UPDATES WERE DELAYED
BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY.
THERE ARE CHANGES TO THE FIRE
CODE THAT WERE PRESENTED BY THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND
CHANGES ARE RELATIVELY MINOR.
NEVERTHELESS, IT PLAYS AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY
AND CHANGES INCLUDED ALLOWING
ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES INSIDE OF
BUILDINGS TO MAINTAIN THEIR
CONNECTION IN ORDER -- THEY
REQUIRE NEW INTEGRATED TESTING
REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGH-RISE
BUILDINGS TO ENSURE FIRE
PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
SYSTEMS WORK AS INTENDED AND
ARE TESTED AT LEAST EVERY 10
YEARS, AND THEN AMENDMENT
ALLOWS FUELING LIKE IN AREAS
LIKE PARKING LOTS, AND THEN A
CHAPTER TO ADDRESS ELECTRICAL
STORAGE SYSTEMS THAT ARE
REGULATED BY THE PREVIOUS FIRE
CODE.
WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
FIRE CODE WHICH WAS SENT OUT BY
THE CENTRAL STAFF ON FRIDAY AND
THE AMENDMENT IS BACK IN PAGE
116 REGARDING FUEL TANK
STORAGE, SOMEONE MAY NOTICE
PAGES FROM THE FIRE CODE
ATTACHMENT AND THEY WERE
AMENDED ON PURPOSE AND THERE
ARE NO UPDATES TO THOSE PARTS
OF THE FIRE CODE IN PUBLISHING
THE ENTIRE CODE WENT VIOLATE
THE INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.
116, IT DOES INCLUDE SOME
CHANGES AND THE OTHER PAGES YOU
MIGHT NOTICE ARE MISSING ARE
INTENTIONALLY MISSING.
WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S VACCINE
RESOLUTION AND I WILL HOLD THAT
IN FULL WITH HER PRESENTATION
AND THEN AS FAR AS ITEMS
RELATED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE,
COMING UP, THERE IS NO
COMMITTEE MEETING BUT I WANT TO
MENTION A FEW THINGS RELATED TO
EACH FIRE, POLICE, AND HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COVID-19
TEST ADMINISTRATED FOR SITES,
WITH OVER 627,000 TESTS
ADMINISTERED UNTIL FEBRUARY 11
AND THEN VACCINES HAVE BEEN
ADMINISTERED, OVER 4323
VACCINES THROUGH FEBRUARY 13.
THESE VACCINATIONS HAVE
OCCURRED AT 86 ADULT FAMILY
HOMES AND 29 AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CENTERS FOR SENIORS AND AT SIX
POP-UPS.
NOW, I THINK FOLKS ARE AWARE
THAT COMING OUT OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE WAS A MOTION
INDICATING THAT THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS SUPPORTING THE MOTION,
THEY WANTED TO SEND A DRAFT
BILL TO THE MONITOR AS IT
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE
LESS LETHAL WEAPON SPELL AND
LAST WEEK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE DID SHARE THIS BILL WITH
THE MONITOR AND U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE IN LINE WITH THE
MOTION COMING OUT OF COMMITTEE
AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A 45 DAY
TIME PERIOD FOR THE MONITOR TO
GET US PUT ON THAT.
I WILL KEEP THE COUNCIL
APPRISED AS WE FIND OUT MORE
INFORMATION.
NOW, THE MOTION WITH THE U.S.
DISTRICT COURT REGARDING
POLICIES FOR THE POLICE
REGARDING THE USE OF FORCE AND
CROWD CONTROL POLICIES, I THINK
EVERYONE REMEMBERS BECAUSE OF
THE CONSENT DECREE, THERE IS A
SCHEDULE FOR A REVIEW AND WHILE
WE HAVE BEEN DELIBERATING ON
THE LESS LETHAL WEAPONS BILL,
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN
GOING THROUGH THE SCHEDULE OF
REVIEW FOR THEIR USE OF FORCE
AND POLICIES.
THERE IS SOME OVERLAP WITH THE
AREAS WE ARE RECOMMENDING
LEGISLATION FOR AND THE REVIEW
THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH FOR
THE POLICIES CONSISTENT WITH
THE CONSENT DECREE.
I WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF
THINGS REGARDING THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THERE ARE MANY THANKS TO THOSE
WHO HAVE WORKED OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL DAYS TO KEEP PEOPLE
SAFE DURING THE SNOWSTORM'S..
ARE AWARE IT IS THE MONITORS
PROGRAMS DURING SEVERE WEATHER.
THEY PROVIDE CARE FOR HER MOST
AT RISK RESIDENTS.
APPARENTLY, THEY ARE REPORTING
THERE WERE NO IMPACTS TO THE
PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND
THOSE WITH DISABILITIES BUT
THEY ARE IMPACTING FOOD BANK
ANNUAL SERVICE PROGRAMS.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE OPERATED
FOR SEVERE WEATHER OVER THE
WEEKEND WITH THE ABILITY TO
SERVE 239 GUESTS AT EACH CITY
HALL, PAVILION, AND CENTER IN
GARFIELD.
I WANTED TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE
PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION AND OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS. THEY PERFORMED
WELL AND TRANSPORTED PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOPELESSNESS AND
SHELTER THEM DURING THE WINTER
STORM.
AS OF MONDAY, THEY SHARED
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEMPORARY
SEVERE SHELTERS, PROVIDING 77
INDIVIDUALS WITH HAND WARMERS
AND PROVIDED SUPPLIES LIKE
WATER, SNACKS, ETC., TO PEOPLE,
AND EXPORTED INDIVIDUALS TO
TEMPORARY SHELTERS.
THEY HAD 13 ADDITIONAL
REFERRALS FROM THE TEMPORARY
WINTER SHELTERS INTO PERMANENT
SHELTERS AND THE METROPOLITAN
SEATTLE AREA IS SENDING
OUTREACH TO THE PAVILION AND
CITY HALL SHELTERS.
THEY ARE VISITED BY THE WHOLE
TEAM BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
GEORGETOWN AND BEACON HILL AND
HOWARD LAKE CITY AND CLEAN
LAND.
LASTLY, COMING UP THIS WEEK,
F0
AND I WAS ELECTED TO CO-CHAIR
THAT BODY FOR A SECOND YEAR,
AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE
ASK THE SALMON RECOVERY PLAN
BODY OF WORK THAT THAT -- THAT
ENTITY, THAT REGIONAL
GOVERNMENT ENTITY THAT HAS BEEN
WORKED ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND COMING UP THIS WEEK,
HOSTING A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE ON
MARGINAL WAY ON THURSDAY FROM
6:00 TO 7:30:00 P.M.
REGARDING CHANGES TO THE ROADS.
I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS ARE VERY
INTERESTED IN THIS SINCE THIS
IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY DETOUR
ROUTES OUT OF WEST SEATTLE.
YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION AT
SDOT WEST MARGINAL WAY'S
WEBSITE, AND A COUPLE OF
THINGS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT
COMING OUT OF LAST WEEK'S WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE PASSPORT
MEETING.
I WAS UNABLE TO INTEND BUT I
KNOW THAT ONE OF THE CHAIRS
SAID THAT SDOT REACHED
PRELIMINARY 30 PERCENT, A
SIGNIFICANT BENCHMARK FOR THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE REPAIR.
THEY'VE SHARED THE DESIGN WITH
OTHER AGENCIES INCLUDING
UTILITIES AND THE PORT FOR
FEEDBACK AND THEY EXPECT TO
FINALIZE 30 PERCENT LATER THIS
MONTH.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, LET'S GO AHEAD
AND HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ AND THEN FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
SO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE
PUBLIC ASSETS COMMUNITIES AND
I'LL GO THROUGH THE RESOLUTION
31990, THE EXITIY AND VACCINE
PRESENTED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
MORE ON THE LAWSUIT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN SPOKE TO
AND SOUND PARK AND TRANSIT AND
THE WEEK AHEAD.
ONE ITEM ON THE PUBLIC ASSETS
COMMITTEE ON THIS CALENDAR,
RESOLUTION 31990.
AND THAT IS A RESOLUTION
SETTING THE TIME AND PLACE FOR
HEARINGS ON THE APPEAL TO THE
HEARING EXAMINER'S REPORT ON
THE FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLE WITH
THE LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
NUMBER 6751, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE WATERFRONT LID.
IT'S THE SAME PROJECT WE ACTED
ON IN 2020 AND THE YEAR BEFORE
THAT AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT,
AND I WILL SPEAK MORE TO THIS
AT 2:00.
WE ARE GETTING A SYSTEM DOWN OF
WRITTEN APPEALS AND THE QUASI
IN THE CITY COUNCIL.
ITEM NUMBER 5 REGARDING
RESOLUTION 31992, I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ OF
PUTTING TOGETHER A STRONG
COMMITTEE PANEL TO ADDRESS THE
VACCINE.
AS YOU YOU KNOW,
COUNCILMEMBER, WE WERE IN YOUR
COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY, AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU AS THEY
CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE A
SUCCESSFUL MODEL FOR EDUCATION,
OUTREACH, AND COMMUNITY
RESPONSIBILITY AS SHOWN IN THE
NATIONAL SURVEY WHICH WAS
PUBLISHED JANUARY 2021.
WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR ACROSS
THE PANELISTS AS COUNCIL WE
MUST IDENTIFY WAYS IN WHICH WE
ARE SHIFTING POWER TO
COMMUNITIES.
IN ADDITION WE LEARNED THAT AS
ORGANIZATIONS ADAPT TO THE
COMMUNITY NEEDS THE RESOURCES
NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE BECAUSE
THE NEEDS IT CHANGE FROM WEEK
TO WEEK.
WE HEARD THAT TRUSTED COMMUNITY
MESSENGERS ARE THE BEST FOLKS
AND THE BEST PEOPLE TO FOR
ANYTHING, WHETHER VACCINE,
HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH, ANY OF
THESE COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WANT
TO GO TO, PEOPLE EMBEDDED IN
THE COMMUNITY, TRUSTING
COMMUNITY MESSENGERS TO DELIVER
THE SERVICES.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN OUR
EFFORTS WITH SHELTERING THE
UNSHELTERED.
IN REGARDS TO THE NATIONAL
ARCHIVES LAWSUIT, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN STOLE A LITTLE OF MY
THUNDER.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, AND THERE WAS A
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION.
THERE WERE 49 PLAINTIFFS AND
THERE WERE MANY -- I THINK 10
IN THE PLEADING, 10 ISSUES THAT
WERE -- THAT WERE IN THE
ORIGINAL PLEADING BUT THE JUDGE
ONLY RULED ON ONE, ACTUALLY,
AND THAT WAS THE FOURTH
PLEADING IN WHICH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT LACKED GOVERNMENT
CONSULTATION WITH THE TRIBE.
AND THE LACK OF THAT
CONSULTATION IS WHAT HE RULED
ON THE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION.
AS YOU KNOW, TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
ARE SOVEREIGN AND ALSO UNDER
FEDERAL LAW REQUIRE
CONSULTATION WHEN YOU HAVE
ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS THE TRIBE
AND WHAT WE SAW.
SO IT WAS A GOOD DAY FOR THE
STATE AND THE REGION AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY FOR ME TOO, A GOOD
DAY -- IT WAS A GOOD DAY TO BE
INDIGENOUS AND FOR TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY.
WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
SO THE INJUNCTION IS TEMPORARY
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROTECT
THE ARCHIVES IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
AND LAST FRIDAY A BIG SHOUT OUT
TO THE STAFF WHO DRAFTED A
LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE
ASKING FOR FEDERAL SUPPORT ON
THIS ISSUE.
I PLAN TO ASK FOR SIGNATURES IN
THIS AFTERNOON'S COUNCIL
MEETING.
THIS WILL BE A JOINT LETTER
SIGNED ALONG WITH MAYOR DURKAN.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU THINK
WRITING A LETTER TO THE
PRESIDENT DOESN'T MATTER BUT IN
THIS CASE IT WILL BECAUSE WE
HAVE NEW APPOINTEES IN THE
INTERIOR, AND WE HAVE REASON
YES THIS IS AN UNUSUAL MEETING
COUNTRY, AND YOU HAVE A LAWSUIT
AND YOU TRACK THE LAWSUIT AND
YOU RUN PARALLEL THE POLITICAL
SIDE OF THAT, AND WE WILL GO
WITH THE INTERIOR AND THE WHITE
HOUSE SINCE THIS IS AN
ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE.
AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN PULL THE
SALE AND HOPEFULLY STOP THIS
AND START LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES
FOR THE ARCHIVES, NOT JUST FOR
THE TRIBES IN THE THREE STATES,
WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND
ALASKA, BUT FOR ALL THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE
PLAINTIFFS AS WELL INCLUDING
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, A BIG
SHOUT OUT TO PETE HOLMES WHO
WAS GREAT IN GETTING US TO BE A
PLAINTIFF WITH THE 40 OTHER
PLAINTIFFS.
AN UPDATE ON THE CLEAN CITY
INITIATIVE.
CREWS COLLECTED 28800 POUNDS OF
TRASH AND 670 NEEDLES FROM 53
ENCAMPMENTS ACROSS SEATTLE AND
FOCUS ON THE CASCADE PLAYGROUND
FOR A DEEP CLEAN THIS WEEK.
IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY, THE
CREWS CLEANED ONE MILLION
POUNDS OF TRASH FROM PARKS,
NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND
BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
THEY HAVE PROPERLY DISPOSED OF
26,000 NEEDLES AND COLLECTED
THE TRASH AND GARBAGE AND
CLEANED GRAFFITI FROM 300
STRUCTURES AND A BIG SHOUT OUT
TO PARKS'S ATTENDANT FORGIVING
ME A WEEKLY UPDATE AND WE SPEAK
AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AND GET
UPDATES FROM THE STAFF.
BLAKE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD, THE
KEEP MOVING STREET STARTING
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15th TO
FEBRUARY 21st, ONE MILE OF THE
NORTHERN PORTION OF LAKE
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD FROM MOUNT
BAKER TO SAND FAIRS PARK IS
OPEN TO PEOPLE WALKING, ROWING,
BIKING UNTIL THE MORNING OF
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21.
SDOT IS PLANNING AN APRIL EVENT
FRIDAY APRIL 9 THROUGH APRIL
15th.
MORE ON THAT THAT YOU WILL GET
IN THE WEEKLY UPDATE OF PARKS.
SHELTER OPERATIONS, PARK STAFF
OPEN THE BITTER LAKE AND
GARFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER
THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
NIGHT FEBRUARY 14th AS
EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR FOLKS
SLEEPING OUTSIDE.
FACILITY STAFF PROVIDED TENTS
FOR ENTRYWAYS AND CUSTODIAN
PATHWAYS.
STAFF PROVIDED SANITATION
SUPPLIES, MASKS, WIPES, PPE,
AND THEY SET UP COTS AND
PROVIDED CUSTODIAL SUPPORT AT
EACH LOCATION.
THE SNOW RESPONSE, PARKS
MONITORED THE SITUATION AND WAS
PREPARED TO ASSIST SDOT IN
PLOWING 17 ROUTES AND HAULING
SALT.
CREWS WENT OUT TO RETREAT ALL
CHILD ACCESS CARE SITES AND THE
NEED TO SHIP CREWS TO FOCUS ON
SNOW RESPONSE MAY LEAD TO
IMPACTS TO THE CLEAN CITY WORK
THIS WEEK.
THE TEAM FOCUSED ON ENCAMPMENT
CLEAN UP AND WILL SHIFT TO
TRANSPORTING PEOPLE TO
EMERGENCY SHELTERS AS NEEDED.
FOR FEBRUARY TENTH, OUR NON-
PROFIT PARTNER FOOD LIFELINE
REPORTED 1810 INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES ASSISTED WITH BOXES OF
FOOD, AND THAT IS MEAT AND
VEGETABLES.
THE SHOWER PROGRAM, WE ASSISTED
450 USERS FEBRUARY 3 THROUGH
THE NINTH AT GREEN LAKE
COMMUNITY CENTER LOCATION THAT
SERVED 128 PEOPLE.
A QUICK UPDATE ON SOUND
TRANSIT.
SOUND TRANSIT ON THE PROGRAM
REALIGNMENT, THE SOUND TRANSIT
BOARD WILL CONTINUE THE CAPITAL
REALIGNMENT DISCUSSION AT THE
UPCOMING BOARD MEETING ON
DISCUSSION WITH THE REALIGNMENT
SCENARIOS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
TO EXECUTE THE PLANS IN APRIL.
A MAJORITY OF THE AGENCIES'S
EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON
ORGANIZING AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL.
RECENTLY, THE BOARD SIGNED ON
TO TWO LETTERS SEEK EXPANDED
CAPACITY FOR THE AGENCY TO
CLOSE THE ABILITY GAP FOR THE
SOUND TRANSIT CAPITAL PROGRAM.
THE LETTERS WERE SENT EARLY
LAST WEEK, ONE TO SECRETARY
BULL LaMARCUS IEG, AND WHAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT IS MONEY FROM
THE FEDS AND FROM THE STATE,
AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE BILL
TRACKER, WE HAVE BEEN FINDING
THAT WE DO HAVE COMMON GROUND
THERE, SO MORE TO COME.
DOWNTOWN TUNNEL CLOSURES, THERE
WILL BE A SERIES OF UPCOMING
LINK SERVICE CLOSURES TO
COMPLETE AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE
FOR THE EAST LINK PROJECT.
AND THEY WILL REMOVE THE
TEMPARILY PLATFORM AT PIONEER
SQUARE INSTALLED FOR CONNECT
2020.
LINK WILL STOP RUNNING FINISH
SOTO AND CAPITOL HILL FOR FIVE
CONSECUTIVE WEEKENDS BEGINNING
APRIL 2, FROM 10:00 P.M.
FRIDAY UNTIL THE START OF
SERVICE ON MONDAY MORNING.
ON EACH WEEKEND, TRAINS WILL
RUN BETWEEN ANGLE LAKE AND SOTO
AND CAPITOL HILL AND THE UDUB
STATION AND THIS WILL BE VERY
SIMILAR TO THE EXPERIENCE FOR
PASSENGERS AS THE WEEKEND
CLOSURES THAT OCCURRED DURING
CONNECT 2020.
SOUND TRANSIT WILL HAVE STAFF
AMBASSADORS AND EXTRA SECURITY
STAFF FOR SHUTTLE BUSES AND TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I ATTENDED THE DOWNTOWN'S
ASSOCIATION'S ADDRESS THE STATE
OF DOWNTOWN.
OF COURSE, IT WAS VIRTUAL.
THE THEME WAS RECOVERY STARTS
HERE AND A QUICK HIGHLIGHT.
OVER 1200 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO
WATCH.
WE LEARNED THAT WE KNOW THAT
THERE IS 83 SQUARE MILES IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND DOWNTOWN
MAKES UP THREE SQUARE MILES AND
ABOUT 55 PERCENT OF OUR JOBS.
WE KNOW THAT AS MUCH AT STAKE
DURING OUR RECOVERY.
PRECOVID DOWNTOWN HOSTED
348,000 EMPLOYEES, 12.5 MILLION
VISITORS ANNUALLY AND YOU
477,000 AVERAGED PEOPLE PER
DAY.
DOWNTOWN LOST AN ESTIMATED
48,000 JOBS IN THE FIRST HALF
OF 2020 AND BY THE YEAR'S END
SOME RETURNED BUT WE HAVE AN
ESTIMATED LOSS OF 20,000 JOBS.
AMONG THE HARDEST-HIT WERE
HOSPITALITY, RETAIL AND
ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ARTS.
THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION HAS TRACKED MORE
THAN 235 PERMANENT STREET-LEVEL
PERMANENT BUSINESS LOCATION
CLOSURES IN SEATTLE IN 2020
INCLUDING MORE THAN 165
BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
DESPITE A DECLINE IN FOOT
TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN, ROUGHLY 90
BUSINESSES OVER CAME ALL ODDS
TO OPEN NEW STOREFRONTS IN
2020.
REQUEST OF OUR OFFICE, OUR
OFFICE WAS PROVIDED
WITH A FACT SHEET OF THE
CURRENT STATE OF DOWNTOWN.
I AM HAPPY TO DISLABT --
DISTRIBUTE IF YOU ARE
INTERESTED.
IT'S BASICALLY TWO PAGES AND
MORE INFORMATION ON THE
HIGHLIGHTS AND NUMBERS.
I GLOSSED OVER THEM BUT IF YOU
ARE INTERESTED WE CAN GET THAT
TO YOU.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE
-- WELL, AS YOU ALL KNOW,
DOWNTOWN WAS HIT REALLY HARD
WITH BUSINESSES,
AND WE ARE TRYING TO COME BACK
WITH THAT.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO DO THE
WATERFRONT OR ARENA OR
LIGHTRAIL OR OTHER AREAS.
WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON HOW
WE ARE GOING TO GET TO A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE COME BACK DOWNTOWN
TO LIVE TO WORK TO PLAY TO SHOP
AND HAVE BUSINESSES.
I ATTENDED THE PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION
POLICY BOARD MEETING REGARDING
NEW REVENUE FOR TRANSPORTATION
AND THE WEEK AHEAD.
THIS IS VERY EXCITING.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AT LEAST
FOR ME SINCE 2015.
I WILL BE MEETING WITH THE
BELLWEATHER HOUSING TO DISCUSS
THEIR PLANS FOR BUILDING MORE
THAN 200 AFFORDABLE HOMES AND A
LONG HOUSE AT NORTH SEATTLE
COLLEGE, VERY EXCITING.
TWO RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WILL
CREATE AFFORDABLE HOMES ON
CAMPUS SERVING FAMILIES RANGING
FROM 30 TO 80 AMI, AREA MEDIUM
INCOME.
YOUTH CARE WILL COORDINATE
SERVICES AND SUPPORT YOUNG
FOLKS TRANSITIONING OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS WITH AT LEAST 20
HOMES AVAILABLE.
THE LONG HOUSE WILL SERVE THE
COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY,
AND WE ARE EXPECTED TO OPEN
JULY 2024.
THE LONG HOUSE IS ALONG
CUMMINGS.
THOSE OF WHO YOU HAVE BEEN
AROUND AS LONG AS I HAVE
PROBABLY REMEMBER 30 YEARS AGO
WHEN EVERGREEN WAS THE FIRST TO
INTRODUCE A LONG HOUSE AND NOW
WE HAVE THE DID DUWAMISH AND
NOW AT U-DUB, AND WE ARE VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT
AND COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
SHARED THAT I WILL BE ON TV
WITH COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
PEDERSEN AND BRIAN CALLAHAN
THIS THURSDAY.
I AM NOT SURE WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT BUT I'M SURE IT
WILL BE REALLY EXCITING.
I LOVE GOING ON THAT SHOW.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS.
SO A TOWN HALL, TOWN HALL
SEATTLE AND SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
OF PUBLIC INSTITUTE WILL LIVE
STREAM THE PROMISE AND PERIL IN
SEATTLE'S NEW ERA OF FEMALE
LEADERSHIP WITH MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN, FORMER POLICE CHIEF
CARMEN BEST AND SEATTLE'S
PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT,
AND THIS IS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY
26th, AND I WILL BE WATCHING.
THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ FOR THAT REPORT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YOU DID
OFFER TO SHARE THAT TWO-PAGE
INFORMATION SHEET.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING
THE SHEET.
YOU ARE SHOWING IT TO ME, AND I
WANT TO BE ABLE TO READ IT BUT
IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND SHARING
IT WITH MY OVERS, HAVING
SOMEONE FROM YOUR OFFICE SHARE
IT WITH SOMEONE FROM MY OFFICE,
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WE ARE THINKING ABOUT EQUITABLE
ECONOMIC RELIEF AND THERE ARE A
LOT OF ECONOMIC NEEDS
THROUGHOUT OUR INDUSTRY AND OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT AND MAIN
STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT.
THEY NEED A PARTICULAR SET OF
STRATEGIES TO RECOVER FROM THIS
ECONOMIC CRISIS FROM COVID-19
AND THERE ARE REGIONAL
STRATEGIES THAT WE NEED TO KEEP
OUR EYE ON AND BE GOOD PARTNERS
AS WELL.
AND, OF COURSE, THERE ARE
ISSUES IN DOWNTOWN THAT
SPECIFIC TO DOWNTOWN THAT WILL
REQUIRE ITS OWN SET OF
STRATEGIES THAT MAY BE GOOD FOR
DOWNTOWN.
I THINK YOU KNOW, IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO COLLECT AS
MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN TO
FACILITATE OUR SMALL BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AND OTHER MEMBER OF
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S
SURVIVAL THROUGH 2021 AND
GETTING TO 2022 AND PROMOTE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY
WHICH WILL REQUIRE US TO TAKE
INTO CONSIDERATION HOW THE
STRATEGIES INVOLVED BASED ON
THE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION THE
DISTRICT.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> IF I MAY COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND I
GLOSSED OVER TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY SEES IT, AND I CAN
JUST SAY THIS.
SOME OF THE STATISTICS THAT I
WANT TO SHARE JUST BRIEFLY ARE
PRE-COVID NUMBERS, AND WE HAVE
BEEN DEVASTATED NOW POST-COVID.
AND PRECOVID WE HAD 348,000
EMPLOYEE WHO COMMUTE FROM
NEIGHBORHOODS OUTSIDE OF
SEATTLE AND 90,000 PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
WE KNOW THAT 81 PERCENT OF ALL
OFFICE SPACE IS IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE AND 55 PERCENT OF THE
JOBS ARE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE,
AND EVERY CITY IS DEVASTATED.
THE STRENGTH OF EVERY CITY IS
DOWNTOWN BUT WE HAVE GONE
THROUGH EPIDEMICS AND ECONOMIC
DOWNTURNS AND WE WILL LEARN HOW
TO GET OUT OF THIS BUT NOT
WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT AND
PRIVATE SECTOR AND PUBLIC
SECTOR.
LIKE I SAID, THE HARDEST HIT IS
THE HOSPITALITY, RETAIL, ARTS
AND ENTERTAINMENT, 13,000 FOOD
SERVICE TO BEES, 6,000 ARTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT JOBS, 4400 BRICK
AND MORTAR RETAIL JOBS AND 4000
HOTEL JOBS,
AND THAT WILL GO ON AND ON,
AND I WILL GET YOU THE TWO
PAGER.
AND I SAY THAT NOT TO SHAKE OR
WAG MY FINGER AT ANYBODY, BUT
MAINLY THESE ARE THE FACTS AND
THIS IS WHAT WE WILL DEAL WITH.
WE WON'T ALWAYS BE IN THE
PANDEMIC STATE AND WE HAVE TO
BE READY TO GO AND THANK YOU
AND THANK YOU FORGIVING ME THE
ADDITIONAL TIME TO ADD MORE
INFORMATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THE BENEFIT THAT THE
DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES HAVE THAT
PERHAPS THE MAIN STREET
BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE ARE
RESPECTIVE IN EACH OF YOUR
RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE A RESEARCH ARM
WITH THE BUSINESSES ASSOCIATION
THAT CREATES THAT DATA-DRIVEN
SPECIAL PICTURE OF THE
DEVASTATION OF COVID-19 ON
THOSE LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND
THAT'S WHY I WANT TO BE MINDFUL
OF THE FACT THAT DOWNTOWN THERE
ARE STRATEGIES THAT WILL NEED
TO BE AT PLAY, AND MANY OF OUR
BUSINESS DISTRICTS THAT I
BELIEVE WILL NEED MORE HELP
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE LEVEL
OF FORMALIZED DATE FOR OUR
LOCAL ECONOMY TO REALLY GUIDE
SOME OF THE STRATEGIES AND
WORK, AND THAT WILL REQUIRE
DEEPER ENGAGEMENT IN OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY SYSTEM TO REALLY GET A
CLEAR PICTURE OF PRECOVID, POST-
COVID AND GETTING A GOOD
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
STRATEGIES WILL BE MOVING
FORWARD THIS YEAR AND THE NEXT
FEW YEARS FOR HELPING OUR VERY
DIVERSE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NOT
ONLY SURVIVE BUT THRIVE WELL
INTO AND PAST THIS YEAR WELL
INTO THE FUTURE.
SO I THINK THAT'S A -- I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP THAT
INFORMATION, AND I THINK THAT
WE WILL HAVE HOPEFULLY AN
OPPORTUNITY WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES'S LEADERSHIP THROUGH
HER COMMITTEE AND HAVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE ARE
GOING TO ADDRESS NOT JUST
ECONOMIC RELIEF BUT EQUITABLE
ECONOMIC RELIEF THAT IS
REFLECTIVE OF THE NEEDS BASED
ON WHERE THE DISTRICT IS IN THE
CITY.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF I CAN
JUST ADD T WASN'T ALL GLOOM AND
DOOM.
THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING ARE THE WATERFRONT,
LIGHTRAIL, SEATTLE CENTER,
CONVENTION CENTER, AND,
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE NHL
TRAIN CENTER IN D5.
I WAS TALKING WITH SOME FOLKS
LAST WEEK, AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE
ANTICIPATING AROUND YEARLY
800,000 PEOPLE COMING THROUGH
D5 AT THE NORTH DATE PLACE
ALONE WITH HOUSING.
YOU HEARD ME SAY LAST WEEK ALL
THE THINGS WE ARE PUSHING AND
PUSHING FOR LIGHTRAIL BECAUSE
THIS WILL BE A CENTER.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE
HOW BIG IT IS NOW THAT WE HAVE
VIRGINIA MASON MOVING IN AND U-
DUB IS ALREADY HERE.
IT'S MORE THAN A HUB.
SO I WANT TO SEE AS YOU WERE
SAYING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF
WEALTH AND BRICK AND MORTAR
BUSINESSES WHO COULD NOT FIND
THEMSELVES ALLOWED IN THE
MARKETPLACE.
SO I AM EXCITED WITH THAT.
>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSIO
AND ONE THAT IS NOT JUST
LIMITED TO BUDGET COMMITTEEBUT
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND I
APPRECIATE YOU SAYING IT'S NOT
ALL DOOM AND GLOOM.
IT ISN'T.
THERE ARE BRIGHT SPOTS OUT
THERE THAT WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE
AND WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE
WANT TO SEE MORE OF THOSE AND
HAVE MORE POSITIVE STORIES
COMING OUT OF THE WORK THAT WE
ARE DOING TOGETHER.
OKAY.
WELL, ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE, WE WILL SEGUE
REALLY SMOOTHLY INTO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'S REPORT
WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE
REPRESENTATIVE FOR DOWNTOWN.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I THINK I WILL START MY REMARKS
JUST BY SAYING AT THE TOP THAT
I HAD THE PLEASURE TO ATTEND
THE VIRTUAL STATE OF DOWNTOWN
PROGRAM PUT ON BY THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION.
I WON'T GO INTO IT BECAUSE OF
HOW THOROUGH COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ'S REPORT WAS, BUT I WILL
SAY THAT THE REPORT AND
HIGHLIGHTS PARTICULARLY FOR OUR
FRIENDS IN THE NIGHTLIFE,
MUSIC, AND ENTERTAINMENT
INDUSTRY THAT HAVE BEEN
PARTICULARLY HIT AND WERE THE
FIRST TO CLOSE DOWN AND WILL BE
THE LAST TO REOPEN IN THE
PANDEMIC, AND THEY DID A GOOD
JOB OF SHOWCASING THE UNIQUE
STRUGGLE THAT THAT SECTOR HAS
FACED AND THE UNIQUE
CONTRIBUTION THAT THE SECTOR
MAKES TO THE DOWNTOWN
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER AND THE
CITY WHICH IS THE HEART OF WHAT
MAKES US THE MUSIC CAPITAL AND
A FUN CULTURAL STATE TO VISIT
AND LIVE IN.
SO I APPRECIATED THAT.
IT WAS A WELL PUT ON EVENT THAT
HIGHLIGHTS THE STEPS THAT WE
CAN DO COLLABORATIVELY AND
TOGETHER TO WORK TOWARDS
RECOVERY NOT JUST FOR DOWNTOWN
BUT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND THE
RECOVERY OF A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN
CORE WILL BE CRITICAL TO THE
OVER ALL VITALITY OF THE
RECOVERY OF THE CITY.
SO WITH THAT I WILL MOVE ON TO
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.
THERE ARE NO MATTERSY ON THE
HOMELESSNESS INVESTMENTS NOR DO
I HAVE ANY LEGISLATION FROM THE
COMMITTEE ON THE INSTRUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
I WANT TO START JUST BY GIVING
A SHOUT OUT TO ON SATURDAY.
I HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE TO GO
AND DO A RIDE ALONG IN THE
MIDDLE.
SNOWSTORM WITH HEALTH ONE WHICH
IS SORT OF AN IMPROMPTU THING
THAT CAME TOGETHER BY GIVING A
CALL TO THE UNIT TO MAKE SURE
THEY HAD EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED
TO OUTREACH TO THE FOLKS
EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND GET THEM INTO
SHELTERS AND LED TO AN OFFER TO
SEE IF I WANTED TO COME ALONG
MYSELF AND I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF
THAT, AND IT WAS REAL GREAT TO
SEE FIREFIGHTERS YOUNG AND
WEBER REALLY GETTING OUT THERE
IN THE CITY PARKS AND
úENCAMPMENTS ALL OVER THE CITY
TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WERE AWARE
OF THE WINTER SHELTER OPTIONS
AND DISTRIBUTE HATS AND GLOVES
AND HOT CHOCOLATE TO PEOPLE WHO
WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO THE
ELEMENTS AND MOST CRITICALLY
ARRANGE TRANSPORT TO PEOPLE WHO
ADAMANTLY WANTED TO GET INTO
SHELTERS AND WERE ABLE TO
ACCESS SHELTERS THROUGH THE
DIRECT REFERRAL THAT
FIREFIGHTERS YOUNG AND WEBER
WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
SO A GREAT SHOUT OUT TO THE
FOLKS AT HEALTH ONE AND A
TESTAMENT TO THE COUNCIL'S
DECISION LAST FUEL DRASTICALLY
EXPAND THE PROGRAM AND LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING THAT SCALED
UP THIS YEAR.
I DO WANT TO TRANSITION ON THAT
NOTE THAT THE 545 SPACES THAT
THE COUNCIL FUNDED IN OUR
BUDGET IN NOVEMBER TO PROVIDE
MORE LONG-TERM SHELTER FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS STILL HAVE NOT
SEEN ANY OF THE UNITS STOOD UP
DESPITE IT BEING SEVERAL MONTHS
SINCE THE COUNCIL MADE THE
APPROPRIATION.
MY COUNCIL WILL BE MEETING ON
THE HOMELESS ON INVESTMENTS.
AND AS FOLKS ARE AWARE THERE IS
A STANDING AGENDA ITEM IN THE
COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON
THE COUNCIL SHELTER SURGE,
BUDGET PRIORITY TO BE INCLUDED
IN THE BUDGET NOVEMBER.
JUST A REMINDER IT INCLUDED 120
TINY HOUSES, 125 ENHANCE
SHELTER PLACEMENTS, AND 300
HOTEL ROOMS.
AS OF THIS TIME, I'M UNAWARE
THAT ANY OF THE POSITIONS HAVE
YET BEEN STOOD UP YET.
AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
ALLUDED TO EARLIER, WHEN EVENTS
COME UP LIKE A SMOKE -- FIRE
SMOKE IN THE SUMMER OR
SNOWSTORMS IN THE WINTER, IT
MAKES THE LACK OF SHELTER THAT
WE ARE CURRENTLY OFFERING A
MORE PROFOUND PROBLEM IN TERMS
OF THE HAZARDS THAT FOLKS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE
EXPOSED TO.
I DO WANT TO REQUEST GOING
FORWARD JUST FOR MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC AND FOR THIS COUNCIL AND
WE'LL SEND THIS AGAIN IN EMAIL
BUT THAT FOR THIS MEETING,
TOWARDS THE END OF THIS MONTH
THAT WE GET A DETAILED
PRESENTATION FROM THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON THE
STATE OF ALL THREE OF THOSE
INVESTMENTS, AND IF THERE ARE
HURDLES TO THEIR
IMPLEMENTATION, AN
IDENTIFICATION PROCESS ON WHAT
PRECISELY THE HURDLES ARE AND
HOW THIS COUNCIL CAN STAND
READY TO ASSIST THE EXECUTIVE
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
CRITICAL ACCESS.
JUST, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS
APPROPRIATED NOT SUFFICIENT TO
REALIZE THE SHELTER OPTIONS?
ARE THERE REGULATIONS OR RURALS
THAT NEED TO BE WAIVED AND ARE
THOSE WITHIN THE POWER OF THE
CITY COUNCIL?
DOES THE STATE LEGISLATURE OR
OFFICIALS NEED TO WEIGH IN?
ARE THOSE THINGS WITHIN THE
POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT TO
EXPEDITE THE EXPANDING OF THE
ASSETS?
I WANT US TO WORK TOGETHER AS
THE COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVES
GIVEN THAT WE ARE NOW IN THE
MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY AND THOSE
POSITIONS ARE NOT YET REALIZED
AND REALLY IDENTIFY WHERE WE
ALL WANT TO GO, THE 545 THAT
ARE STOOD UP AND WORK BACKWARD
ON THE HURDLES WE NEED TO
OVERCOME TO MAKE IT A REALITY.
I WILL SEND THAT REQUEST IN
EMAIL FORM AS WELL TO THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND WE
WILL EXPECT THE UPDATE ON THE
TWO OFth -- 24th TO WORK
THROUGH THE HURDLES TOGETHER.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER MEET
THIS IS WEEK THEY WILL
HIGHLIGHT BRIEFLY.
WILL JOIN COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA LATER THIS WEEK,
AND I WILL JOIN THE MEETING ON
THE ISSUES FACING THE CITY
ESPECIALLY THE RESPONSE TO THE
HOMENESS CRISIS,
AND WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT,
I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
UPDATES AND APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GET STARTED ON
THIS SHORT WEEK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, AND I
THINK IT MIGHT BE A SHARE
RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN YOU AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AS CHAIR
OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
I KNOW YOU BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE
OF IMPLEMENTATION OF
REIMBURSEMENT ON ISSUES RELATED
TO SHELTERING AND NON-
CONGREGATE SHELTERING IN
PARTICULAR DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND I'M WONDERING IF IT'S PART
OF THE REGULAR MONTHLY
REPORTING IF IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL OR USEFUL TO
INCORPORATE A STATUS REPORT OR
ANY KIND OF BRIEFING ALSO
RELATED TO SOME OF THE FEDERAL
DOLLAR ISSUES RELATED
SPECIFICALLY TO INCREASING OUR
HEALTHCARE CAPACITY DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
AND I GUESS WHAT I AM TRYING TO
DO IS FIND SYNERGY AND
CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN HOW FINITE
OUR DOLLARS ARE AND A
COMPLEMENTARY SUPPLEMENT TO
THOSE THAT WE ALREADY FUNDED.
WHERE ARE THEY?
AND WE HAVE DOLLARS FOR THAT,
AND WHY ISN'T HAPPENING AND
WHAT'S THE PLAN?
AND THEN THERE IS THE ISSUE OF
THE OTHER ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL
REVENUE SOURCES AND
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO US
THAT ARE EMERGING FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
HOW ARE WE TYING THOSE TOGETHER
TO REALLY CREATE THAT SHELTER
CAPACITY THAT WE SNEED, NOT
JUST FOR THE NOW BUT MOVING ON.
>> YEAH.
I -- I THINK INCLUDING THOSE
KINDS OF QUESTIONS WHICH WERE
ALLUDED TO A LITTLE BIT, I
THINK, IN OUR COMMITTEE MEETING
LAST MONTH AND WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WILL BE
IMPORTANT TO DIVE INTO IN THIS
CONVERSATION.
I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY OF
INTEREST FROM WHAT I'VE
GATHERED FROM THE EXECUTIVES TO
TRY AND SEEK A REIMBURSEMENT
PARTICULARLY FOR THE HOTELING.
BUT SINCE THOSE PLANS ARE
AREADY FUNDED AND ESTABLISHED,
THAT IS WHERE, AS YOU BRING UP,
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE
SUPPLEMENTATION ARGUMENT.
THESE ARE THINGS WE WERE
ALREADY DOING AND NOW WE'RE
COMING IN AND SAYING IT'S
DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE TO
EMERGENCY -- LIKE SEQUENCING.
WE ARE DOING THE SHELTER SURGE
BECAUSE IT'S INTENSIFIED
BECAUSE OF COVID.
SO IT SHOULD BE AN ARGUMENT WE
CAN MAKE.
I THINK REGARDLESS OF THE
SUCCESS OF THAT, THERE IS
PROBABLY AMPLE SCOPE GIVEN THE
NEW GUIDANCE FROM THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION TO PURSUE A
COMPLETELY NEW AND MORE
EXPANSIVE HOTELING POLICY WHERE
WE WOULD NOT RUN INTO THAT
SUPPLEMENTATION ARGUMENT
BECAUSE WE AREN'T CONCEIVED OF
IT YET AND WE CAN BE CONCEIVING
OF IT IN RESPONSE TO THE NEW
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION POLICY
THAT PROVIDES MORE GENEROUS
REINBURSEMENT.
WE KNOW A LOT OF OTHER
JURISDICTIONS ARE SQUARING THE
CIRCLE EFFECTIVELY.
LOS ANGELES HAS THEIR OPERATION
KEY CARD OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT, A HOTEL POLICY WHERE THEY
ARE SAYING PUBLICALLY AND IT
WAS COVERED IN THE MEDIA THAT
THEY ARE GETTING 100 PERCENT
FEMA REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, I DON'T SEE
WHY WE CANNOT ALSO DO THAT.
SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING ELSE
WE'LL BE DIGGING INTO.
AS YOU WELL KNOW WE HAVE A LOT
OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS
COMING TO THE COUNCIL AND GOING
TO OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
PARTICULARLY KING COUNTY WITH
HOTELS, WITH PROVIDER PLANS,
WITH EVERYTHING KIND OF SET UP,
AND THEY NEED A GOVERNMENT
CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE THE
MONEY.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE READY TO
GO.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF -- IT'S
ADJUST A MATTER OF GETTING THE
RESOURCES OUT THE DOOR BUT THIS
IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION.
>> YEAH.
I THINK THE REASON I BROUGHT UP
THIS ISSUE IS SPECIFICALLY
RELATED TO SOME OF THE STORIES
NATIONALLY THAT I HAVE BEEN
SEEING OF MAJOR CITIES TAKING
WHAT SEEMS TO BE BETTER
ADVANTAGE AS IT RELATES TO
HOTELING, AND I WONDER IF IN
THE SPIRIT OF CORRECTING
CONNECT IVITY IF IT WOULD BE
USEFUL -- I WOULD FIND IT
USEFUL TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
IN YOUR COMMITTEE OR
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
COMMITTEE TO GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE CITIES
ARE USING THE PROGRAM AND GET
US A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT WE NEED TO DO ON OUR END
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
PROGRAMMING THAT ALLOWS FOR 100
PERCENT REIMBURSEMENT FOR HOTEL
ROOMS FOR THE CONGREGATE
SHELTER OPTIONS AND HELP US TO
IMMEDIATELY INCREASE OUR
SHELTER CAPACITY.
>> JUST ONE MORE QUESTION,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
I KNOW ANOTHER PEOPLE WANT TO
JUMP IN BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE
COUNCIL THAT'S INTERESTED AND
NOT JUST SORT OF YOU KNOW LEFT-
LEANING DAMAGIC SOCIALIST ON
TWITTER.
THE GROUP I PROBABLY TALK TO
MORE ABOUT THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION, THE
ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE WHO
ARE EAGER TO SEE THE CITY
EXPAND THE HOTELING-BASED
SERVICE PLATFORMS WHO ARE THE
BIG BUSINESS ADVOCACY GROUPS IN
THE CITY
ANOTHER QUESTION WOULD BE IS
THAT I HOPE THAT IN ADDITION TO
NAILING DOWN A LOT OF THESE
LOGISTICAL HURDLES, I DON'T
REALLY SEE WHAT THE POLITICAL
CONSTITUENCY IS IN THE CITY
THAT IS OPPOSED TO THIS BECAUSE
THE SMALL BUSINESSES -- I MEAN,
WE ARE TALKING RIGHTLY ABOUT
THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING EXTREME HAZARDS OF
LIFE AND SAFETY FROM THE
ELEMENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE
THAT DESPERATELY NEED TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF PROGRAMS LIKE THIS
AS PART OF OUR HUMANITARIAN
CITY,
AND IT'S ALSO SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS WHO HAVE ENCAMPMENTS IN
FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESSES OR
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE
TO TAKE ON A ROLE WHO ARE DE-
ESCALATING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
MENTAL ILLNESS IN THEIR
BUSINESS.
IT HELPS EVERYBODY.
I KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS A SENSE
OF URGENCY ABOUT IT,
AND I WANT TO UPLIFT THAT THE
COLIGDZ FOR THIS IS VERY BROAD.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT A
WAY FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT
HAPPEN.
THERE IS NO ONE REALLY AGAINST
THIS.
AND GET THROUGH RECOVERY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU
HAVE BEEN IN THE CUE FOR A
WHILE.
GO AHEAD.
>> WE HAVE THINGS IN THE BUDGET
FROM FOUR MONTHS AGO IN THE
BUDGET TO BE IMPLEMENTED YET,
AND I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT
THAT WE HAVE TO MONITOR AND
IMPLEMENT THE ACCOUNTABILITY
THROUGHOUT PROCESS AND MAKE
SURE THERE IS A FOLLOW THROUGH.
THERE HASN'T BEEN A FOLLOW
THROUGH THAT THE COUNCIL FINDS
SATISFACTORY ON HOTELING AND
TINY HOUSES.
AND THE OTHER SIDE IS MAKING
SURE THAT WE HAVE A FULL
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT FEDERAL
DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE
CITY AND HOW IT'S DEPLOYED AND
HOW QUICKLY WE CAN EXPECT TO
SEE RELIEF IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A PREVIEW OF WHAT I
WILL NOTE IN MY PRESENTATION
BUT ON FRIDAY AT 9:30 IN THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
WE ASKED THE DIRECTOR AND HIS
TEAM TO PRESENT ON THE COVID
RELIEF DOLLARS AND UPDATE ON
THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT
SEATTLE WILL BE RECEIVING AND
SPECIFICALLY HOW FUNDS WILL BE
USED FOR THE HOTELING STRATEGY,
AND YOU NOTED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS BEEN
SENDING ME NEWS CLIPS ABOUT
THIS AS WELL.
WE'VE SEEN NATIONAL COVERAGE,
FOR EXAMPLE, IN SAN FRANCISCO
SO THAT THE SHELTER IN PLACE
HOTELS IN SAN FRANCISCO WHICH
WAS SLATED TO CLOSE LAST YEAR
HAVE NOTICE THAT THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO RECEIVE 100 PERCENT OF
THE FEDERAL FUNDS REIMBURSED.
THAT WAS DATED JANUARY 22.
HERE WE ARE TRYING TO GET A
BETTER SENSE OF HOW FEDERAL
DOLLARS CAN BE USED HERE.
THE LOS ANGELES PROGRAM,
PROJECT ROOM KEY, IS AN
INITIATIVE THAT ALLOWS FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO BE
SHELTERED IN HOTEL ROOMS AND
THEY RECEIVED NOTICE THEY WILL
GET 100 PERCENT OF THE COST
REIMBURSED BY FEMA.
AND MAYOR GARCETTI WAS SAYING
HOW EXCITED THEY WERE TO MOVE
FORWARD ON FEBRUARY 4, AGAIN, A
WEEK AND A HALF AGO.
PART OF THE CONVERSATION ON
FRIDAY WILL REALLY BE TO DRIVE
HOME THE POINT THAT WAS MADE
TODAY AND LAST WEEK AND LAST
MONTH THAT WE WANT THE FEDERAL
DOLLARS THAT SHOULD BE USED IN
PARTNERSHIP AND SIMULTANEOUS TO
THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE
ALREADY ALLOCATED ESPECIALLY
GOING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
MEETING THAT WE HAD A FEW WEEKS
AGO WHERE IT WAS NOTED HOW --
HOW INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN
LIVING OUTSIDE ARE VERY LIKELY
TO HAVE MULTIPLE COMPOUNDING
CRISIS THAT THEY ARE DEALING
WITH WHICH EQUALS A NEED FOR
GREATER ASSISTANCE.
WE CANNOT BE GOING TO THE
LOWEST DENOMINATOR.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
THE SOURCE, AND A PREVIEW FOR
FRIDAY'S MEETING WE HAVE BEEN
GETTING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ON THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET
REIMBURSED.
AND COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND I
WERE THERE AND WE HEARD THEY
WERE GETTING REIMBURSED IN SIX
MONTHS.
SO A SIX MONTH REIMBURSE
SETTLEMENT GREAT NEWS AND A 100
PERCENT REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS
IS FANTASTIC ESPECIALLY WHILE
IT'S SNOWING OUTSIDE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ON THIS AND WILL TUNE IN ON
FRIDAY FOR MORE ON THAT.
>> THEY -- THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THAT ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ON HIS
REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE, LET'S GO AHEAD
AND HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, AND THEN FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA FROM THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS FRIDAY 26
AT 9:30, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT AND LOOKING FOR THE FINAL
REPORT FOR THE BLACK HISTORY
RESEARCH PROJECT AND LOOK
FORWARD TO SHARING THAT WITH
YOU, AND THE ARTS DEPARTMENT
IS WORKING TO BRING MORE BLACK
CONCERTS TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA
CHANNELS.
THIS IS BEGINNING IN BLACK
HISTORY MONTH AND THE
PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINUE
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SO THAT
THEY CAN HIGHLIGHT AND HONOR
BLACK BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS IN
THE CITY.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING
MORE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
LAST WEEK, THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED
THAT CA MILLA BANKS WILL BE
STEPPING INTO AN OFFICE THAT
WAS EXTRAORDINARILY BUSINESS
SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
THROUGH THE COVID CRISIS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MS. BANKS TO BRING THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY PROCESS -- TO BEGIN
THE PROCESS.
AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
TODAY WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING
TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
FIND NOT JUST SORT OF NORMAL
STEPS WE TAKE AND NOT JUST
NORMAL STEPS FOR RECOVERY BUT
FOCUS ON AN EQUITABLE RECOVERY
FOR THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT,
FOR DOWNTOWN, OR FOR A REGIONAL
RECOVERY HERE AND REALLY TO
LOOK AT DIFFERENT STRATEGIES
FOR DIFFERENT LEVELS AND
NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WANT TO SAY ALSO AS
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WAS
SAYING, WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE
BUSINESSES LEAVING DOWNTOWN
EVEN BEFORE THE COVID CRISIS
HIT,
AND SO WE MAY NEED TO THINK
DIFFERENTLY OR MORE CREATIVELY
ABOUT WHAT DOWNTOWN MEANS SO
IT'S NOT JUST SHOPPING
PARTICULARLY AS SO MUCH
SHOPPING MOVES ONLINE.
I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO MAKE DOWNTOWN MORE
EQUITABLE OR AFFORDABLE AND
BRING YOUNG PEOPLE OR YOUNG
FAMILIES BACK DOWNTOWN TO LIVE
AND ENJOY THE CULTURAL ASPECTS
THAT WE HAVE.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF WORK TO
DO THIS YEAR AND THE NEXT
SEVERAL YEARS AS WE THINK
CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT AN
EQUITABLE RECOVERY IS FOR THE
CITY.
I DO WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW
THAT THE APPLICATIONS ARE
AVAILABLE FOR THE 50th
NORTHWEST FESTIVAL WITH A
VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE AND SMALL
BUSINESSES AND CRAFTERS, AND
ARTISTS CAN APPLY TO BE
VENDORS.
IT'S A MEMORIAL DAY EVENT, AND
SPEAKING OF SMALL BUSINESS,
LAST WEEK I INTENDED THE GRAND
OPENING OF QUEEN CARE PRODUCTS
AT 23rd AND JACKSON.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE BLACK-OWNED
BUSINESSES COMING BACK TO THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MY
FRIEND AND CONSTITUENT MONICA
MATTHEWS WHO OPENED THE FIRST
QUEEN CARE IN COLUMBIA CITY A
FEW YEARS AGO.
IT'S BEEN REALLY SPECIAL TO
WATCH HER IDEA FOR SPECIAL
ENTERPRISEMENT TO SUPPORT THE
ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO WATCH THAT
GROW IN HER SECOND LOCATION, SO
CONGRATULATIONS TO MONICA AND
ALL THE YOUNG QUEENS WHO HAVE
WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN.
LAST WEEK, I MET WITH
CONSTITUENTS IN THE RAINIER
BEACH AREA INCLUDING A COUPLE
OF INITIATIVES, A BEAUTIFUL
SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH THAT WE
HAVE STARTED HERE.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH
AND ABOUT THE SAVE WAY AND THE
SAFETY OF THEIR PARKING LOT.
SAFEWAY HAS AGREED TO REPLACE
THE LIGHTS IN THE PARKING LOT
WITH STRONG L.E.D.
LIGHTS THERE.
AND WE ARE MEETING AGAIN THIS
EVENING TO CONTINUE THOSE
DISCUSSIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO
SOME POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THEM TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY
OF THAT PARKING LOT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALSO MET WITH CONSTITUENTS
ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER THINGS THIS
WEEKEND.
I MET WITH A 74-YEAR-OLD
CONSTITUENT WHO TOLD ME ABOUT
THE HOURS SHE SPENT TRYING TO
GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE
COVID VACCINE.
SHE AND OTHERS ARE FRUSTRATED
BY THE LACK OF CLEAR
INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER
SUPPLY IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE,
NOT JUST WHETHER THERE IS AN
APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE.
AND TOLD ME SEVERAL STORIES
ABOUT THE BYZANTINE EFFORTS SHE
WAS GOING THROUGH TO GET THE
VACCINE.
SHE HAS YET TO BE ABLE TO DO.
I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR THE
MEETINGS LAST WEEK.
THEY PROVIDED SOME SPECIFIC
STEPS THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING
AS A CITY AND A REGION TO SHARE
GREATER EQUITY WITH THE
VACCINE.
I ALSO MET WITH SOMEONE WHO
WANTED TO GET MORE CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE FOOD INTO THE
EMERGENCY FOOD SYSTEM.
YOU MAY KNOW THAT OUR FOOD
BANKS RELY ON DONATIONS AND THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH MORE LARGE
GROCERS WHICH IS HOW THEY GET
SUPPLY AND THE QUANTITY OF FOOD
THAT THEY NEED BUT IT'S NOT
NECESSARILY CULTURAL SPECIFIC
FOOD THAT OUR FOOD INSECURE
NEIGHBORS NEED, AND THERE IS
AN UNDERSTANDING WITH HOW THE
CITY MIGHT WORK WITH THE
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES RATHER
THAN ONLY FUNDING THE FOOD
BANKS.
SO WE WILL BE HOLDING A
CONVERSATION.
I HAVE DISTRICT HOURS THIS
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND FOLKS CAN
SIGN UP ON OUR WEBSITE.
ONE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT
THE WORKERS DID OVER THE SNOWY
WEEKEND.
WE HAVE BIG ISSUE WITH OUR
NEIGHBORS WHO DON'T HAVE CARS
WHO HAVE TO GET AROUND.
AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THROUGH
RAINIER AND JACKSON, AT THAT
ONE INTERSECTION I SAW A MAN IN
A WHEELCHAIR NAVIGATING IN THE
STREETS BECAUSE THE SIDEWALKS
WERE ICY.
HIS FRIEND WAS HELPING HIM TO
PUSH THROUGH THE SLUSH IN THE
GUTTER WHILE LOOKING BEHIND HIM
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRAFFIC
THAT WAS COMING AT THEM IN THE
STREET AND ACROSS THE STREET,
THERE WAS A MAN ON CRUTCHES
WITH HIS FOOT IN A CAST, AND
TRYING TO MAKE HIS WAY DOWN THE
STREET, AND THERE WAS AN
ELDERLY MAN SHUFFLING AT THE
CURB TO TRY AND STEP OUT OF THE
STREET ON TO AN ICY SIDEWALK.
SO WE REALLY HAVE TO DO A
BETTER JOB AS A CITY FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS WHO DON'T HAVE CARS
WHO MAKE THEIR WAY SAFELY
AROUND THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT'S
WINTER TIME AND SNOWING.
IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
BUSINESS OWNERS AND HOMEOWNERS
TO SHOVEL THEIR SIDEWALKS.
BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY
PEOPLE KNOW THAT, AND
ESPECIALLY SMALL BUSINESSES WHO
HAVE OTHER THINGS THEY ARE
DEALING WITH, AND IT'S THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE IT SURE
THEIR CUSTOMERS AND NEIGHBORS
CAN NAVIGATE AROUND THE STREETS
IN THE WINTER AND WE WILL BE
WORKING WITH BUSINESSES TO
COMPLY AND MAKE SURE THEIR
CUSTOMERS AND NEIGHBORS ARE
SAFE.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR THIS
MORNING.
>>THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I WANTED
TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK
YOU HAVE BEEN DOING TOGETHER
WITH MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS WITH THE ISSUES OF
PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE SAFEWAY
PARKING LOT.
I KNOW SEVERAL OF OUR OFFICES
HAVE BEEN ON NOW-WEEKLY CALLS
WITH THE COALITION OF COMMUNITY
LEADERS FROM THE SOUTH END WHO
HAVE BEEN DOING HE RCULEAN WORK
FOR YEARS, NOT JUST NOW BUT
HERES, AND I APPRECIATE ALL
THE WORK YOU ARE PUTTING IN TO
MAKE SURE THE SOLUTIONS ARE
ADDRESSED THERE AND WE ARE
IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES FOR
SOUTH END ORGANIZATIONS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS
THE ONGOING ISSUES OF GUN
VIOLENCE IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOUR WORK
AND CONTRIBUTIONS AND
LEADERSHIP.
SO THANK YOU.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THERE IS A FEW ITEMS THAT I
WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU AN YOU
WERE DATE ON.
THE FIRST ON THE INTRODUCTION
CALENDAR YOU WILL SEE THE
CAPITOL PROJECTS' WATCH LIST
RESOLUTION.
THE MAYOR RECENTLY TRANSMITTED
THE PROJECTS INCLUDING THE 2021
CAPITOL PROJECT WATCH LIST IN
RESOLUTION 31853.
AND AGAIN, I BELIEVE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WAS A
SPONSOR OF THAT WE HAD A ROBUST
DISCUSSION LAST YEAR AND I'M
LOOKING FORWARD FROM COLLEAGUES
ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR
CHANGES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SEE TO THE LIST.
WE WOULD HAVE THIS WATCH LIST
ON THE COMMITTEE MEETING ON
FRIDAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING YOUR CONVERSATIONS AND
QUESTIONS FOR THE WATCH LIST ON
FRIDAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ ON THE
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF COVID
RELIEF.
I WILL BE HOLDING MY COMMENTS
UNTIL AFTER THE PRESENTATION ON
THE ITEM.
IN THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE WE HAVE A COMMITTEE
MEETING FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY
19th.
THIS GOT PUSHED TO FRIDAY DUE
TO PRESIDENT'S DAY ON MONDAY.
WE WILL BE MEETING AT 9:30 A.M.
THIS FRIDAY.
WE WILL HAVE A FEW ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
FIRST, THE APPOINTMENT OF RITA
HEYWARD TO THE SEATTLE HOUSING
BOARD, AND MEMBERS TO THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, AND
THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS
AND YOUR FEEDBACK AS WE ASK THE
INTERIM DIRECTOR TO PROVIDE
FEED BACK ON THE QUESTIONS.
WE'LL MAKE SURE TO SEND THAT
BACK TO YOU BUT THANK YOU FOR
OFFERING THE QUESTIONS TO GET
IN FRONT OF HIM, AND I HAD A
CHANCE TO MEET BRIEFLY WITH HIM
AND REALLY APPRECIATED SOME OF
THE INITIAL ANSWERS THAT WE
HEARD ESPECIALLY AROUND
EQUITABLE RELIEF AND SOLUTIONS
FOR WORKERS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES AS WE SEE A MORE
BALANCED RECOVERY IN A POST-
COVID WORLD.
AGAIN, WE SHOULD BE GETTING
ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ON
WEDNESDAY.
I MENTIONED THE CAPITOL
PROJECTS WATCH LIST.
THAT WILL BE ON OUR COMMITTEE
THIS FRIDAY AS WELL.
AND PLEASE DO LET US KNOW IF
THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS THAT
YOU WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AS
ESTABLISHED IN THE CITY'S
SELECTED PROJECTS.
FINALLY AS NOTED A MOMENT AGO
IN COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'S
PRESENTATION THERE WILL BE
DIRECTOR NOBLE AND HIS TEAM
FROM THE CITY BUDGET'S OFFICE
THAT WILL BE PRESENT AND
PRESENTING ON THE OVER ALL
FUNDING FOR COVID AND THE
LATEST RELIEF PACKAGE AND THE
FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THE CITY
SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE.
EXPECT A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL AS WE SEEK TO FIND SOME
MORES TO BOTH THE TIMING
QUESTION AND THE RESOURCE
ALLOCATION AS DISCUSSED
PREVIOUSLY AS IT RESULTS TO OUR
POPULATION.
IN TERMS OF UPDATES, THE OFFICE
OF LABOR STANDARDS RAILROADED
TO THE GROCERY EMPLOYEE PAY
ORDINANCE, THE MAYOR SIGNED THE
ORDINANCE AND POSTED THE FACT
SHEET WHICH IS CURRENTLY
TRANSLATED INTO A NUMBER OF
LANGUAGES, AND THEY WILL HAVE
A Q AND A DOCUMENT AND BEGIN
TRAINING COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS
OUTREACH PARTNERS ON THE LAW
AMONG OTHER TASKS OR WILL BE
ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES TO CALL
THEM FOR TECHNICAL ISSUES,
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT THEY
CAN USE FOR DOING OUTREACH AND
EDUCATING WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS
ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THE
LAW.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE
WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE, AND
YOU CAN CALL 206-256-5297 OR
EMAIL AT
LABOR.STANDARDSSTL.GOV.
AN UPDATE ON THE VACCINE
IMPLEMENTATION PROCEED.
SAS CONTINUES TO LEAD THE
OPERATIONAL DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND
OTHER PARTNERS ARE HIGH VOLUME
VACCINATIONS WITH THE CREATION
OF THE COMMAND, THEY HAVE
ACTIVATED THE DEPARTMENTS
OPERATIONS CENTER FOR A HIGH
VOLUME VACCINATION SITE.
AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY, THEY ARE
EXPECTED TO PROVIDE 10,000
DOSES DAILY, AND THEY ARE
EXACTLIED TO OPEN IN MARCH.
FAS IS LEADING THE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONTRACT
WITH THE INTENTION OF HAVING IT
IN PLACE FOR THE LUMENS FIELD
HIGH VOLUME VACCINATION.
AND THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
BETWEEN KING COUNTY AND PUBLIC
HEALTH TO ASSIST KING COUNTY
WITH VACCINATION-RELATED
QUESTIONS IS IN THE FINAL
DEVELOPMENT.
SO A GREAT WORK AND PARTNERSHIP
FROM OUR FRIENDS AT FAS.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PARTNERS
GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO THOSE
WORKING IN THE HALLS OF OLYMPIA
WORKING TO ADVANCE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE.
REALLY EXCITED TO SEE CAPITAL
GAINS CONTINUE ON THE
LEGISLATION, AND WE SEE MORE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE WITH
CAPITAL GAINS AND LEGISLATION
AS I ADDRESSED THIS MORNING TO
DRAWSES THE UPSIDE DOWN TAX
SYSTEM.
AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE LIFTED UP THE LETTER WE SENT
LAST YEAR AND LIFTING THAT UP
IN RECOGNITION THAT WE WANT TO
ALSO CONTINUE TO BE GOOD
PARTNERS WITH OUR STATE AND
LEGISLATIVE PARTNERSDESIGNED
TO ADVANCE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
THESE ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN
LEADING EFFORTS IN A VERY TOUGH
YEAR IN THE WAKE OF A COVID
RECESSION AND IMPACT ON HEALTH
AND WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY
AND OUR ECONOMY WHO ARE TRYING
TO STEP UP AND SEE THE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE BILLS PASS.
I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
MOMENTUM WE SEE IN FRONT OF US.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO BUILD ON THE
RELATIONSHIP AND THE
PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH OUR
LEGISLATIVE PARTNERS WHO ARE
CHAMPIONING THESE REVENUE
PROPOSALS TO GET THE BILLS
PASSED THIS YEAR,
AND I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE WHAT
I THINK THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
MENTIONED, A DEEP APPRECIATION
BECAUSE WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER
AND SEE A PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
AT THE STATE LEVEL ONLY HELPS
HERE AND WE KNOW THE ISSUES WE
ARE FACING ARE FAR BIGGER THAN
OUR BORDERS AND WE'RE ALL
WORKING TOGETHER, AND I WANT
TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR
CONTINUED WORK ON ADDRESSING
THE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE NEEDS
ACROSS THE STATE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM IN
PARTNERSHIP AND MAKE SURE THE
ITEM PASSES THIS YEAR AND THANK
THEM FOR THEIR WORK, AND I
WANT TO THANK AND
CONGRATULATION KING COUNTY
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE WORKING
TO INTRODUCE HAZARD PAY
LEGISLATION AT THE COUNTY
LEVEL, RECOGNIZING THAT TRADER
JOES, ALL THOSE IN THE REGION
ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH
IMPLEMENTING HAZARD PAY.
AND IT'S AGAIN A SILENCE THAT
WE HAVE SEEN REPLICATED ACROSS
THE WEST COAST, UP AND DOWN THE
WEST COAST AND SEATTLE WAS NOT
ALONE DOING THIS,
AND WITH KING COUNTY STEPPING
FORWARD, I'M OPTIMIST THEY
COULD MANY OF THE WORKERS IN
OUR REGION WHO ARE OFFERING
THEIR SERVICES DAILY WILL
RECEIVE HAZARD PAY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM AND
THANKS TO THEM FOR INTRODUCING
THE LEGISLATION.
SECOND TO THE LAST ITEM, I WANT
TO NOTE THAT ANYBODY WHO NEEDS
HEALTH INSURANCE, PLEASE NOTE
THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
HAS BEEN WORKING WITH STATES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE OPENING OPEN
ENROLLMENT FOR EXPANDED
PROGRAMS.
IF YOU NEED HEALTH INSURANCE
THIS IS A CHANCE TO GO TO THE
HEALTH INSURANCE WEBSITE AND
SIGN UP FOR HEALTHCARE.
IT WILL ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR YOU TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THEY MAY
QUALIFY FOR THE EXCHANGE PLAN
ON THE MARKETPLACE FIND OUT
THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
APPLE HEALTH, MEDICAID AND
MEDICAID EXPANDS THAT OFFERS
FREE AND LOW COST HEALTH
COVERAGE FOR KIDDOS ACROSS THE
STATE.
SO PLEASE DO GO AND SIGN UP,
WASHINGTON HEALTH PLAN FINDER
AND YOU CAN CLICK ON APPLY NOW,
THAT BUTTON IS, AGAIN,
WAHEALTHPLANFINDER.ORG, AND
CLICK ON APPLY NOW, AND YOU
WILL SEE TWO OPTIONS.
AND YOU WILL SEE IF YOU CAN
QUALIFY FOR APPLE HEALTH AND
THIS IS YEAR AROUND
HEALTHCARE.
PLEASE GO AND TRY AND SIGN UP
AGAIN.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE
ARE FIGHTING FOR EQUITABLE
ACCESS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY THAT CAME
TOGETHER FOR THE MEMORIAL LAST
FRIDAY, THE RESOLUTION THAT WE
ALL PASSED LAST MONDAY WAS READ
IN FULL AT THE MEMORIAL, AND
THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE DID A
TREMENDOUS JOB OF HONORING HIS
LIFE AND LEGACY.
WHILE WE COULD NOT BE THERE IN
PERSON, IT WAS A WONDERFUL
PRESENTATION THAT ANGIE AND
FRIENDS OFFERED FROM AFAR,
REALLY WELL DONE AND A
TREMENDOUS TRIBUTE TO HIS
INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF
HIS LIFE AND THE WORK THAT HE
STILL DOES.
WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR
TO WORK WITH HIM,
AND WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING IN
HIS NAME TO CREATE A MORE
AFFORDABLE AND EQUITABLE AND
COMMUNITY FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTION FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
HEARING NONE, WE ARE ALMOST
DONE HERE, FOLKS.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND CONCLUDE
THE AGENDA TODAY BY GIVING MY
REPORT AND ENDEAVOR TO MAKE IT
AS QUICK AS I CAN.
I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN AT IT FOR
QUITE SOMETIME.
I WANT TO SHARE A RECAP OF THE
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION I HOSTED
IN LAST WEEK'S GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
SEVERAL MEMBERS HAVE TOUCHED ON
THIS ALREADY.
WE HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM
THE HEALTH CLINIC THAT SERVES
WERE OF SEATTLE'S COMMUNITY,
AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR FROM THE IMPACTED MEMBERS
ON THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.
I AM NOT ALONE WITH THE CONCERN
ABOUT CREATING THE VACCINE
HUNGER GAMES ACROSS THE STATE
AND INCLUDING HERE IN SEATTLE.
IT GIVES ME HOPE TO HEAR FROM
THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE
NEEDS NOW SO ONCE WE HAVE MORE
VACCINE SUPPLY, IT WILL GET TO
EVERYONE EQUITABLY.
THREE KEY THINGS THAT THE
VACCINE PLANS NEED TO BE
EQUITABLE ARE IMPROVING DATA
COLLECTION WITH A CLEAR PICTURE
OF WHO IS NOT SERVED.
SECONDLY, FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP
OF THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO SERVE
THE COMMUNITIES SUCH AS HEALTH
CLINICS THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY
DELIVERED CARE AND SERVICES TO
PEOPLE DESPITE SIGNIFICANT
BARRIERS.
AND THIRD, SHIFTING AND
PRIORITIZING RESOURCES AND
POWER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
WALKING THE WALK OF EQUITY AND
NOT JUST GIVING LIP SERVICE TO
EQUITY.
I AM GRATEFUL TO THE FINALISTS
WHO JOINED ME TO SHIFT THE
POWER AND RESOURCES AND CALLED
ON GOVERNMENT NOT TO SACRIFICE
FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN OUR
DESIRE FOR VACCINES TO MOVE
QUICKLY IN THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
PANELISTS AGAIN FOR SHARING
THEIR TIME AND TESTIMONY WITH
THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
ATTENDED, AND, OF COURSE, A
HUGE THANK YOU TO MY SENIOR
POLICY ADVISER IN MY OFFICE WHO
DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN PULLING
TOGETHER A VERY DIVERSE PANEL
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL AS
THE GOVERNMENT PANEL TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAR AS MANY POWERFUL
COMMUNITY VOICES AS WE COULD.
SO A HUGE THANK YOU TO HER FOR
HER HARD WORK FOR PULLING THAT
TOGETHER IN THE NEXT WEEK AND A
HALF.
NEXT ONE RELATED ITEM ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR FOR FULL COUNCIL
ACTION THIS AFTERNOON AND THAT
IS RESOLUTION 31992, A
RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING THE
PRINCIPLES AND ACTIVITIES
CHARACTERIZING EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF COVID-19
VACCINE.
I WANT TO THANK MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN FOR HER COLLABORATION
AND COUNCILMEMBERS JUAREZ,
HERBOLD, PETERSEN, AND STRAUSS
FOR THEIR FEEDBACK AND EDITS.
I KNOW THERE ARE ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE
CONSIDERED ON THE RESOLUTION
BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO ASKING
THAT THE FULL COUNCIL ADOPT
THIS RESOLUTION AT THE MEETING
OF THE COUNCIL.
IT CURRENTLY ASK THE FOLLOWING,
IT OUTLINES EQUITABLE VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION AND CALLS OUT THE
BARRIERS FOR THE VACCINE AND
EXACERBATED THE COMMUNITIES OF
INEQUITIES OF THE PANDEMIC AND
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY
EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE AND
TRUST FOR CONNECTING THOSE
ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE TO THE
VACCINE ITSELF AND FOURTH
CREATES GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR
THE CITY AND IDENTIFIES OTHER
POTENTIAL STRATEGIES HOW IT
WILL DO ITS PART ON EQUITABLE
VACCINE DELIVERY.
WE HEARD IN THE COMMITTEE LAST
WEEK FROM THE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS, AND THEY
ARE THINKING ALREADY EQUITABLE
VACCINE DELIVERY IS VERY
HELPFUL AND FOR THOSE YOU WHO
WERE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND I HOPE
YOU CONSIDER LOOKING AT THAT
WHICH WAS THE LAST ITEM ON THE
AGENDA.
THE VARIOUS ITEMS ARE FOCUS ON
THE HIGHEST RISK AND IMPACTED
WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND
MAKING DISTRIBUTION EASY AND
MAKE IT AVAILABLE WHEN AND
WHERE PEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE AND
ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION AND
MOBILITY ISSUES, AND ENSURE
LANGUAGE AND IMMIGRATION
STATUS.
LASTLY, CONCRETE WAYS TO
COLLABORATE ACROSS COMMUNITY
HEALTH CLINICS, FEDERALLY
QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS AND
WITH THE INDIAN HEALTH CENTERS
TO MEET THE GOALS OF THE
RESOLUTION AND ACCOMPLISH OUR
GOAL OF EQUITABLE VACCINE
DELIVERY.
AS MOST OF YOU HEARD IN THE
STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH
DELIVERED BY MAYOR DURKAN
YESTERDAY EVENING, WE HAVE AN
AMBITIOUS CITY GOAL TO
VACCINATE 70 PERCENT OF THE
POPULATION AND I BELIEVE THAT
WITH THAT GOAL IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR US TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON
AN EQUITABLE VACCINE STRATEGY
TO THE BEST OF IT.
THIS INCORPORATES TO THE BEST
OF OUR ABILITY WHAT WE HEARD
FROM THE HEALTH PROVIDERS
DURING MY GOVERNANCE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK AND LOOK
FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT THIS
AFTERNOON, AND I AM HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS
RESOLUTION OR IF YOUR OFFICE
HAS CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE RESOLUTION, AND YOU CAN
CONTACT MY PUBLIC ADVISER WHO
IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THIS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID,
COLLEAGUES, I WILL END MY
COMMENTS THERE AND I AM HAPPY
TO TAKE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ABOUT MY REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
I KNOW THERE WERE SOME
AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> IS THIS AFTERNOON OKAY TIME
TO DISCUSS THIS AMENDMENT?
>> LET'S DO IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
FANTASTIC.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR BRINGING
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I HAVE APPRECIATED WORKING WITH
OUR OFFICE FOR ASSURANCES THAT
WILL PEOPLE WILL ACHIEVE THE
VAXATIONS THROUGH MY OFFICE AND
THE DIRECT OF THE IMMIGRANT
STATUS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED
AND ALL VACCINE PROVIDERS AND
LOCATIONS WILL PROACTIVELY TAKE
THIS POLICY.
ONE OTHER ITEM IN ADDITION TO
IS THAT ONE AND SOME OTHERS
THAT WE INCLUDED, ONE OTHER
ITEM THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO GET
IN TO CENTRAL STAFF IN TIME, SO
WOULD APPRECIATE CONSIDERATION
OF THIS.
WE HEARD A LOT FROM FOLKS IN
THE PUBLIC AND IN PARTICULAR ON
SOME TUESDAY'S PANEL DISCUSSION
WITH PRESIDENT GONZALEZ'S
COMMITTEE BUT PEOPLE REALLY
CONCERNED THAT THERE'S A NEED
TO COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA
ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF
PEOPLE RECEIVING THE VACCINE.
THERE IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THERE
IS A DASHBOARD THAT KING COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDES, BUT
THERE IS SOME FINE PRINT
INCLUDED IN THE DASHBOARD THAT
INDICATING THAT NOT ALL
PROVIDERS ARE COLLECTING
DEMOGRAPHICS.
WE HEARD 60 PERCENT OF
PROVIDERS ARE NOT INCLUDING
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ABOUT THE
FOLKS RECEIVING THE VACCINE.
SO THE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND
THE WASHINGTON STATE DATA
DASHBOARD RELIEVE ON THIS
INFORMATION, AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE INCLUDE THAT
EXPECTATION AS WELL.
WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO ADD
LANGUAGE ABOUT REPORTING THE
INFORMATION WITH THE CATEGORIES
TO FIND AND ANALYZE THE DATA
AND ADDRESS THE DISPARITY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
AND I CONSIDER THOSE FRIENDLY,
BUT I JUST REALIZED THAT THERE
WAS A LITTLE EXTRA WORK NEEDED
BEFORE WE HAD TO PUBLISH IT.
I APPRECIATE IT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS
REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
I AM NOT HEARING ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS, SO I AM GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND ADJOURN US FOR THE
MORNING.
THERE IS NO MORE BUSINESS ON
THIS MORNING'S AGENDA, SO I
WILL SEE YOU ALL AT 2:00.
THANK YOU.