>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
WELCOME BACK. MARCH 22nd, 2021
BRIEFING WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.
THE TIME IS 9:32 A.M.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> SAWANT?
THEIR PRESENT.
>> STRAUSS?
THEIR PRESENT.
>> HER MOLD?
SPEED HOLD.
>> WARS?
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCIL PRESENT GONZALEZ?
MET HERE.
>> THE MINUTES WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
MINUTES ARE NOW OBJECTED.
I'M GOING TO DISPENSE WITH THE
PRESIDENT'S REPORT IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME.
WE DO HAVE A VERY LONG AGENDA
TODAY WITH THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE
FOLLOWED BY A PRESENTATION ON
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF
2021.
THEN, WE ARE GOING TO DO A
PREVIEW OF THIS WEEK'S
ACTIVITIES AND THEN WE DO HAVE
A RATHER LONG EXECUTIVE SESSION
THAT WE NEED AT LEAST 45
MINUTES FOR.
JUST ASKING FOLKS TO KEEP THAT
IN MIND AS YOU ARE GIVING YOUR
PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO
HANDED OVER TO DIRECTOR LILY
WILSON-CODEGA WITH OUR OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
TO DO INTRODUCTIONS AND WE ARE
GOING TO DIG RIGHT INTO THE
STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
UPDATES.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU.
PASSING IT TO ROBIN KOSKEY.
>> ROBIN KOSKEY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR
OF OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS.
>> QUINN RELATIONS.
>>, SMITH, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR.
>> WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP
THIS TO A VERY BRIEF 20 MINUTE
STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
IF FOLKS WOULD BE WILLING TO
HOLD YOUR QUESTION TO THE END,
WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM OR
FOLLOW UP WITH THEM ONLINE.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE OUR
FEDERAL TEAM JOINING US HERE
TODAY.
GIVING THAT SLIGHT CHANGE IN
AGENDA, WE WILL START TODAY'S
BRIEFING WITH A LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE FOLLOWED BY A FEDERAL
BRIEFING.
OUR FEDERAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
AND OUR FEDERAL LOBBYIST WHO
WILL BE JOINING US LIVE FROM
WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR A BRIEFING
OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN,
THE MASS OF $1.9 MILLION
CONGRESSIONAL RESCUE PACKAGE.
THEY WILL UNPACK SOME OF THE
CRITICAL RESOURCES THAT WILL
BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER EXCITING NEWS, AND THE
LEGISLATURE, BUDGETS ARE COMING
OUT WITH LEGISLATORS DIVIDING
THEIR TIME WITHIN COMMITTEE AND
ON THE FLOOR.
WHEN WILL REVIEW BUDGET
ACTIVITY MORE IN DEPTH.
BEFORE HE STARTS US OFF WITH A
FULL LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING, I
FIRST WANTED TO NOTE THAT
SENATE BILL 5051, THE
DECERTIFICATION BILL CONTINUES
TO MOVE ALONG HAVING PASSED THE
SENATE ALREADY.
IT WAS EXEC'D OUT OF HOUSE
PUBLIC SAFETY LAST WEEK.
THE SPECIFIC AMENDMENT LANGUAGE
WE WERE SEEKING NO LONGER HAS A
PATH FORWARD.
A SPECIAL NOTE OF APPRECIATION
TO GONZALEZ, HERBOLD, AND
MORALES FOR WORKING SO CLOSELY
AND VARIOUSLY WITH OUR TEAM IN
AN EFFORT TO INCORPORATE THIS
LANGUAGE.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THERE
THIS SESSION, BUT WE REALLY DO
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP.
AGAIN, WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO
HOLD QUESTION TO THE END TODAY
GIVEN TIME LIMITATIONS DUE TO
OUR FEDERAL AND STATE BRIEFING
SOME I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP
WITH ANY OF YOU ON THIS IN MORE
DETAIL OFF-LINE IF YOU LIKE.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO QUINN MAJESKI, OR STAY
RELATIONS DIRECTOR TO START US
OFF WITH AN UPDATE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BEGINNING THE BUDGET AND
REVENUE SPACE, LAST WEDNESDAY,
THE STATE ECONOMIC AND REVENUE
FORECAST COUNCIL RELEASED THEIR
UPDATED REVENUE FORECAST.
AS WE EXPECTED, IT SHOWED A
INCREASE IN PROJECTED REVENUES
AND SORT OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE
OVERALL STATE BUDGET SITUATION.
I THINK THAT INCREASE WAS
LARGER THAN MYSELF OR MANY
OTHERS PREDICTED.
THE CURRENT BIENNIUM, THE 19 TO
21 BIENNIUM INCREASED BY $1.3
BILLION.
THE REVENUE FORECAST AND THE
REVENUE FORECAST FOR THE
FOLLOWING BIENNIUM INCREASED BY
$1.9 BILLION.
THAT ESSENTIALLY ERASES THE
RATHER MASSIVE SHORTFALL THAT
HAS DEADLY TRUCK SINCE SUMMER
AND INTO THE START OF
LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO THE
POINT WHERE THE CURRENT BIENNIUM
THAT WE ARE IN HAS ABOUT A $500
MILLION SHORTFALL AND THE NEXT
ONE HAS 881 -- $81 MILLION
SURPLUS.
AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THIS
IS A BIT OF A DOUBLE-EDGED
SWORD.
IT DOES MEAN THAT THE PROGRAMS,
THE KEY PROGRAMS THAT WE WANT
TO SEE FUNDED AND BENEFIT FROM
AT THE STATE LEVEL, ARE LIKELY
TO AT LEAST CONTINUE AT THEIR
CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL IF NOT
SEE SOME TARGETED ENHANCEMENTS.
HOWEVER, IT DOES MEAN THAT THE
NEED FOR NEW REVENUE AND
ESPECIALLY MORE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE IS LIKELY TO SEE A
FURTHER DROP IN MOMENTUM.
I THINK THAT ANYTHING BEYOND
THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX AND
POTENTIAL CARBON PRICING IS
SORT OF DISTINCT FROM THIS.
ANYTHING BEYOND THE CAPITAL
GAINS TAX OR CARBON PRICING IS
UNLIKELY TO SEE SIGNIFICANT
MOVEMENT THIS SESSION GIVEN THE
LACK OF NEED FOR NEW REVENUE
BASED ON THIS CURRENT FORECAST.
AS DIRECTOR WILSON-CODEGA
MENTIONED, WITH THE REVENUE
FORECAST, THAT IS SORT OF THE
FINAL PIECE FOR LEGISLATORS AS
THEY CRAFT THEIR BUDGETS KNOWING
SORT OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY
HAVE.
SO, THIS WEEK WE EXPECT THE
BUDGETS TO BE ROLLING OUT.
THAT IS THE OPERATING BUDGET,
THE CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THE
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET.
ALL OF THOSE ARE SCHEDULED FOR
HEARINGS STARTING WITH
TRANSPORTATION ON TUESDAY, AND
THEN CAPITAL AND OPERATING
LATER THIS WEEK.
SO, WE WILL HAVE MORE FOR YOU
AND FOLLOW-UP OVER EMAIL AS
THOSE BUDGETS ARE RELEASED.
AS LILY MENTIONS, IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME WE ARE GOING
TO HOLD QUESTIONS TO THE END,
SO I WILL PASS IT OFF TO HANNAH
TO DISCUSS EDUCATION.
>> THANKS, QUINN.
1213 AND 5273, THE HOUSE
VERSION HAS A HOUSE HEARING
TOMORROW.
BOTH VERSIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR
ACTION LATER THIS WEEK.
BOTH CONTINUE TO MOVE.
SENATE BILL 5321 IS SCHEDULED
FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION LATER
THIS WEEK.
THOSE ARE THE BIG UPDATES.
A LOT OF OUR EDUCATION
PRIORITIES CONTINUE TO MOVE AND
I'LL PASS IT OFF TO QUINN FOR
THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SPACE,
THE LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE
FOLLOWING THAT IS STILL ALIVE
HAS MADE IT PAST THE VARIOUS
CUTOFFS TO THIS POINT.
IT ALL CONTINUES TO MOVE.
HOUSE BILL 1099, WHICH
INCORPORATES CLIMATE ACTION
INTO GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND
CONFERENCE OF PLANNING, SENATE
BILL 5022, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH
PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY.
RECYCLING.
AS WELL AS THE HEEL ACT, SENATE
BILL 5141, ARE ALL SLATED FOR
-- THEY ALL HAD HEARINGS LAST
WEEK AND ARE SLATED FOR
EXECUTIVE SESSION COMMITTEE
VOTES THIS WEEK THE CLIMATE
COMMITMENT ACT, WHICH IS THE
GOVERNOR REQUEST SIGNIFICANT
PIECE OF LEGISLATION, DEALING
WITH A CAPTAIN AND THE BEST
PROGRAM IS ALSO SCHEDULED FOR
EXECUTIVE SESSION ON TUESDAY.
IN THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT SPACE,
THERE IS QUITE A FEW BILLS IN
HERE.
I WON'T HIGHLIGHT ALL OF THEM.
THE VAST MAJORITY HAVE ALREADY
MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE.
THAT INCLUDES 1056, THE FUTURE
PUBLIC MEETINGS AND STATES OF
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION.
1173, THIS IS THE ARMORY PDA
LEGISLATION.
HOUSE BILL 1189, TAX INCREMENT
FINANCING.
THEN, ONE OTHER THAT I THINK IS
WORTH HIGHLIGHTING, HOUSE BILL
1258, THE MICHAEL KITCHEN
LEGISLATION HAS A HEARING THIS
WEEK.
IN THE SENATE AGRICULTURE WATER,
AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARKS
COMMITTEE.
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO HANNAH
FOR HEALTHCARE.
>>> THANKS, QUINN.
HOUSE BILL 1477, THAT IS THE
BILL THAT ESTABLISHES THE 988
SUICIDE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
HOTLINE PAST THE HOUSE ON MARCH
17th.
78-18 WAS THE VOTE.
IT HAS A HEARING LAST FRIDAY.
IT IS SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTIVE
SESSION LATER THIS WEEK.
MOVING QUICKLY NOW THAT IT IS A
MANOR HOUSE.
SENATE BILL 5068, WHICH EXPANDS
THE POSTPARTUM MEDICAID COVERAGE
HAS AN EXECUTIVE ACTION
SCHEDULED IN APPROPRIATIONS
TOMORROW.
A LOT OF OTHER BILLS CONTINUE
TO MOVE, BUT THOSE ARE BIG
HIGHLIGHTS WE ARE TRACKING
CLOSELY.
NOW, LET'S SCROLL DOWN AND GET
US TO HOUSING.
>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
PERHAPS THE BIGGEST NEWS IN THE
HOUSING FIELD LAST WEEK WAS THE
GOVERNOR EXTENDED THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM TO JUNE 30th, 2021,
ALLOWING TIME FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO PASS TENANT
PROTECTIONS AND ALLOCATE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE FUNDS AND GET
PROGRAMS UP AND RUNNING.
ADDITIONALLY, I JUST WANTED TO
THANK THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
WERE ABLE TO SIGN ONTO THE
LETTER ON HOUSE BILL 1220 THAT
MAKES SOME REVISIONS TO WHAT
MUST BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN TERMS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ALSO, REQUIRES JURISDICTIONS TO
ALLOW EMERGENCY SHELTER AND
PERMIT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN
ANY ZONE WHERE SHORT-TERM
RENTALS ARE LOCATED.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, FOR CIRCULATING THE
LETTER, AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, HERBOLD, LEWIS, AND
STRAUSS, FOR ALL SIGNING ONTO
THAT LETTER.
IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED BY
OUR DELEGATION.
ALSO, EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS
TAKEN IN THE SENATE HOUSING AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE ON
THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION BILL,
HOUSE BILL 1236.
IT WAS AMENDED WITH CHANGES
THAT I WOULD CHARACTERIZE AS
TECHNICAL IN NATURE.
SO, THAT BILL IS MOVING ALONG
AND WILL GO TO THE SENATE FLOOR
NOW.
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS ALSO TOOK
EXECUTIVE ACTION ON HOUSE BILL
1277 WHICH WOULD GIVE 100
MILLION -- WOULD CREATE AN
ADDITIONAL $100 MILLION IN
DOCUMENT RECORDING FEES
STATEWIDE FOR HOMELESSNESS AND
RENT ASSISTANCE.
I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO POLICE
REFORM.
EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN ON
HOUSE BILL 504 IN THE SENATE.
THAT IS THE TACTICS BILL THAT
ADDRESSES CHOKE HOLDS,
PURSUITS, MILITARY EQUIPMENT,
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS.
THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENTS MADE TO THAT BILL
THAT HAVE RESULTED IN AN
ONGOING CONVERSATION, BUT I DO
EXPECT ANY ISSUES THAT HAVE
BEEN CREATED TO BE RESOLVED AND
FOR THE BILL TO MOVE ALONG TO
FINAL PASSAGE IN THE SENATE.
EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS ALSO TAKEN
IN THE SENATE LAW AND JUSTICE
COMMITTEE ON HOUSE BILL 1267.
THAT IS THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST
LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH
STATEWIDE CENTRALIZED
INVESTIGATIONS FOR USE OF
FORCE.
THAT WAS REFERRED TO WAYS AND
MEANS.
WRAPPING UP THE PUBLIC SAFETY
FOR TODAY, EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS
TAKEN ON SENATE BILL 5051, LILY
ACTUALLY MENTIONED EARLIER, THE
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF
PEACE OFFICERS BILL THAT WOULD
CHANGE THE RULES AROUND THE
CERTIFYING POLICE OFFICERS THAT
HAD A HEARING IN THE HOUSE THIS
THURSDAY AND AN EXECUTIVE
ACTION WAS TAKEN.
ALSO, JUST SHORTENING MY REPORT
FOR TODAY, YOU CAN SEE FROM THE
BULLETIN THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL
OTHER POLICE REFORM BILLS THAT
CONTINUE TO MOVE FINALLY, JUST
WANTED TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON
SENATE BILL 503.
THAT WOULD PROHIBIT OPEN CARRY
AT THE STATE CAPITAL IN PUBLIC
DEMONSTRATIONS.
EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN LAST
WEEK.
THAT IS NOW BEING REFERRED TO
THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE.
IT WAS AMENDED WITH SOME
CLARIFYING LANGUAGE ON THE
DEFINITION OF A WEAPON, AND
DEFINITION OF DEMONSTRATION AND
ADDED A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE,
BUT OTHERWISE THE BILL REMAINS
INTACT AND IT'S MOSTLY ORIGINAL
FORM.
NOW, I WILL HAND IT BACK TO
HANNAH.
>> THANKS, ROBIN.
THE CIVIL LEGAL AID FUNDS BILL,
1072, AND THE RESTORATION OF
VOTING RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE
CONVICTED OF A FELONY, HOUSE
BILL 1078, WERE BOTH PLACED ON
SECOND READING.
THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE BILL,
HOUSE BILL 1073, AND THE
WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT,
1297, WERE BOTH VOTED OUT OF
THEIR POLICY COMMITTEES.
THEY WERE REFERRED TO WAYS AND
MEANS.
THIS WAS A BIG HIGHLIGHT AS A
LOT OF OUR OTHERS CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD.
I WILL PASS IT BACK TO QUINN.
>>> FINALLY IN THE
TRANSPORTATION SPACE, NOT MUCH
ON LEGISLATION HERE, BUT I WILL
NOTE THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET
IS SORT OF THE FIRST STEP WITH
HEARINGS AND HOUSE AND SENATE
TRANSPORTATION TOMORROW.
I DO WANT TO MAKE A DISTINCTION
THAT THIS IS -- THE BASELINE
CURRENT LAW BUDGET IS DISTINCT
AND SEPARATE FROM A POTENTIAL
NEW REVENUE PACKAGE.
THE BASELINE BUDGET WON'T
INCLUDE ANY NEW REVENUE SO IT'S
UNLIKELY TO INCLUDE PROBABLY
MUCH OF NOTE, EXCEPT THE ONE
THING WE WILL BE LOOKING OUT
FOR IS THAT TRANSPORTATION
REVENUES HAVE NOT LARGELY
BOUNCED BACK THE WAY THAT THE
OPERATING BUDGET REVENUES HAVE.
SO, WE WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR ANY DINNER REFERRED OR
DELAYED PROJECT.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THAT DOES
NOT OCCUR.
SO, I JUST DO WANT TO MAKE THAT
DISTINCTION THAT THIS IS NOT
THE BIG REVENUE PACKET THAT WE
HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT IS
CONTINUING TO BE WORKED ON
BEHIND THE SCENES.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU STATE TEAM.
I THINK IF THE STATE TEAM CAN
STAY ON WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS
AFTER THE END.
>> YEAH.
I THINK THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU DON'T MIND,
IF YOU CAN SAVE YOUR QUESTIONS
UNTIL THE END OF THE FEDERAL
PRESENTATION WE CAN TAKE ALL
STATE AND FEDERAL COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS AT THE END.
SO, LET'S PLAN TO DO IT THAT
WAY.
>> HAS LESLIE JOINED?
>> I DON'T THINK SHE IS ON YET
SO WE MAY ACTUALLY HAVE TIME
FOR A COUPLE QUESTIONS IF WE
HAVE THEM.
>> THERE WE GO.
SO, COLLEAGUES ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THE STATE UPDATES?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
PLEASE.
>> JUST VERY BRIEFLY I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF
THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE ON
THE HOUSING BILLS AND
LEGISLATIONS.
FOR OUR COLLEAGUES THAT I THINK
I WANTED TO SIGN ON THAT
LETTER, WE WORK QUICKLY WITH
THE OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS TO CIRCULATE A LETTER
AT THE HOUSING AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR HOUSE
BILL 1220.
DOING SO IN PUBLIC FORUM TO TRY
TO GET AS MANY SIGNATURES AS
POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE
HOUSING COMMITTEE, SEEMED
APPROPRIATE.
APOLOGIES IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE
SIGNED ONTO THAT AND YOU ARE
WONDERING WHY YOU WEREN'T
INCLUDED.
IT WAS BECAUSE IT CAME FROM THE
HOUSING AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND A WAY FOR US TO
CIRCULATE THE LETTER AND
CIRCULATE BEFORE THE HEARING.
THANKS AGAIN FOR OIR FOR THAT,
AND APOLOGIES WE WEREN'T ABLE
TO GET IT IN FRONT OF THE TEAM
ON MONDAY.
THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR OUR
FULL COUNCIL TO SIGN ON, BUT I
DO APPRECIATE THE MEMBERS WHO
DID.
IF THERE'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR
HOUSE BILL 1220 AS IT
PROGRESSES, I'M SURE THERE'S
OTHER MEMBERS THAT WOULD BE
INTERESTED AS WELL.
THANKS ALL, JUST WANTED TO
PROVIDE THAT UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
WE WERE MOVING VERY QUICKLY SO
WE JUST DID WHAT WAS MOST
EXPEDIENT TO MAKE SURE
SEATTLE'S VOICE WAS HEARD.
INC.
YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU OIR STAFF FOR ALL
THE PRESENTATIONS THESE MANY
WEEKS.
IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
I UNDERSTAND THAT HOUSE BILL
1236, WHICH PASSED THE HOUSE
AND IS NOW IN SENATE INCLUDES A
LOOPHOLE THAT WAS ADDED IN WITH
AN AMENDMENTTHAT WAS ADDED TO
THE ORIGINAL BILL.
THIS LOOPHOLE PROVIDES THAT --
THAT WHERE THE INITIAL LEASE
TERM IS BETWEEN 3 AND 12
MONTHS, A LANDLORD MAY TERMINATE
THE TENANCY WITHOUT CAUSE AT
THE END OF THE TERM BY
PROVIDING AT LEAST 50 DAYS
WRITTEN NOTICE.
BEFORE I GO ON, THANK YOU,
ROBIN, FOR FOLLOWING UP WITH MY
OFFICE ON THE QUESTIONS I HAD
ASKED ABOUT THE AMENDMENT LAST
WEEK.
THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE
INFORMATION, FROM YOUR EMAIL,
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SIGNIFICANT
LOOPHOLE AS IT CREATES A GAP
FOR EVERY TENANT IN WASHINGTON
STATE WHO IS ON AN INITIAL TERM
LEASE.
MY QUESTIONS WERE AGAIN
FOLLOWING UP, IS FINE, DO YOU
KNOW IF HOUSE OR SENATE STAFF
HAVE AN ESTIMATE ON THE NUMBER
OF TENANTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
THAT WOULD BE REMOVED FROM JUST
CAUSE PROTECTION AS A RESULT OF
THIS LOOPHOLE?
JUST TO MAKE A NOTE I'VE ASKED
THE SAME QUESTION OF THIS
CENTRAL STAFF THIS MORNING AS
WE GOT THE NUMBER OF SEATTLE
TENANTS IN INITIAL TERM LEASES,
AT LEAST AN ESTIMATE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS
LOOPHOLE WAS PROPOSED BY A
DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT IT WAS HE
WHO MOVED THIS AMENDMENT?
IT WOULD ALSO BE GOOD IF YOU
CAN PROVIDE MY OFFICE WITH A
ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
I UNDERSTAND YOU WILL NEED TO
REACH OUT TO HOUSESTAFF TO GET
THIS INFORMATION.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU CAN
SEND IT TO ME OFF-LINE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND
WHO VOTED FOR AND OPPOSED
CREATING THIS LOOPHOLE THAT
WOULD POTENTIALLY LEAD MANY
TENANTS WITHOUT JUST CAUSE
PROTECTIONS, BUT ALSO OF COURSE
WE WANT THE DATA AS WELL TO
UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH, HOW MANY
OF THE TENANTS WOULD BE
POTENTIALLY AFFECTED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
I WILL LOOK INTO THE EXACT
MECHANICS OF HOW THE AMENDMENT
HAPPENED, BUT I'M GUESSING THAT
IT WAS OFFERED IN AN EFFORT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE BILL COULD
MOVE FORWARD AT ALL.
I WILL CHECK INTO THE DYNAMICS
OF THAT AND GET BACK TO YOU, AS
WELL AS GET YOU THE ROLL CALL
VOTE AND SEE IF I CAN FIND ANY
INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF
TENANTS WHO MIGHT BE IMPACTED
BY THIS CHANGE IN THE
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST TO GIVE FURTHER CONTEXT,
OBVIOUSLY THE TENANTS RIGHTS
ADVOCATES THEY PUSH FOR THINGS
THAT DOES NOT HAVE THESE
COMPUTATIONS.
JUST CAUSE PROTECTION FOR ALL.
OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD WANT THAT
PROTECTION THROUGHOUT THE
STATE.
IT'S IN THAT CONTEXT AS WELL
THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A BETTER
EXAMPLE OF THAT WHICH WE WOULD
WANT SEATTLE TO FOLLOW.
WE ALSO WANT THE STATE TO
FOLLOW THAT SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, THANK YOU, ROBIN.
WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE OTHER
HALF OF OUR FEDERAL TEAM HAS
JOINED US.
WOULD YOU LIKE US TO RESERVE
THE REST OF OUR QUESTIONS TO
THE END AND MOVE ON WITH THE
FEDERAL AFFAIRS PRESENTATION
TODAY?
>> I THINK SO.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
COUNCILMEMBERS, THERE WILL BE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE
STATE ISSUES AT THE END OF THE
FEDERAL PRESENTATION.
SO, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE ON A
VERY TIGHT SCHEDULE TODAY, AND
I'D LIKE TO GET US OUT OF HERE
BEFORE 1:45 P.M., LET'S GO
AHEAD AND HANDED OVER TO OUR
FEDERAL TEAM.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES FOR
THE RECORD AND THEN I'M GOING
TO HANDED OVER TO YOU FOR A
PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL AFFAIRS FOR
OUR OFFICE OF ENTERED
GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
>> COCHAIR OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT GROUP HOLLAND AND
KNIGHT.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO BASICALLY
HANDED OVER TO LESLIE WHO IS
GOING TO GIVE US A SUMMARY.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF
PLANNING AND CONVERSATIONS
HAPPENING BOTH IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND WITH COUNCIL ON HOW
TO USE THE FUNDS COMING IN.
QUESTIONS ON WHAT FUNDS ARE
COMING IN.
SO, WE DON'T HAVE -- WE MAY NOT
HAVE A TON OF SPECIFICS OF THE
RIGHT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTIONS,
BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE TO TAKE
DOWN ALL YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY
AND GET BACK TO ALL.
SO, LESLIE WOULD YOU LIKE TO
GET US STARTED?
>> GREAT, THANKS SO MUCH.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ FOR HAVING ME HERE
TODAY.
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WAS SIGNED
INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.
WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT.
I THINK THIS IS THE BILL THAT
MANY OF US HAD BEEN WAITING FOR,
WHICH REALLY PROVIDES
COMPREHENSIVE RELIEF ACROSS THE
BOARD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I KNOW SO
MANY OF YOU ADVOCATED FOR, OR
MAJOR VOICES HEARD ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF STATE AND LOCAL
DIRECT ASSISTANCE, AND THAT HAS
BEEN PROVIDED TO THE TUNE OF
$350 BILLION.
ROUGHLY $45 BILLION OF THAT IS
COMING DIRECTLY TO CITIES WHO
RECEIVED CDBG.
THAT'S BEING DONE BY A MODIFIED
CDBG FORMULA.
STILL WAITING ON FINAL
ESTIMATES FROM TREASURY, THE
ESTIMATES FROM CONGRESS HAVE
RANGED IN THE $236-$239 MILLION
RANGE COMING DIRECTLY TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
THEY HAVE TRIED TO BE AS BROAD
AS POSSIBLE IN THEIR USES, BUT
OF COURSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO SEE HOW TREASURY INTERPRETS
THIS THROUGH ITS GUIDANCE,
WHICH WE UNDERSTAND THEY ARE
WORKING ON LITERALLY RIGHT NOW.
SO, THE FOUR MAIN KIND OF
BUCKETS THAT ARE ALLOWABLE USES
ARE RESPONDING TO THE PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY, OR ITS
NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
TO PROVIDE GOVERNMENT SERVICES
TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY REVENUE LOSS.
TO MAKE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS
IN WATER, SEWER, OR BROADBAND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
OR, TO INCLUDE PREMIUM PAY FOR
ELIGIBLE WORKERS PERFORMING
ESSENTIAL WORK.
I JUST WANT TO NOTE ON THAT
FINAL, THIS PREMIUM PAY ISSUE,
THE WAY THAT THE LEGISLATION
HAS BEEN WRITTEN, BOTH IN TERMS
OF TIMING, HOW CAPS WILL WORK
ABOUT THIS, WE DEFINITELY
EXPECT TO SEE GUIDANCE ON THAT
PIECE IN PARTICULAR.
THE WAY THAT AID IS GOING TO BE
DISTRIBUTED IS THAT TREASURY
WILL DO IT IN TWO TRANCHES.
THE FIRST TRANCHE, THEY HAVE 60
DAYS, FROM TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN
THE BILL GOT SIGNED INTO LAW,
TO GET THE FIRST TRANCHE OUT.
THE SECOND TRANCHE WILL BE
RELEASED 12 MONTHS AFTER THAT.
SO, IT'S REALLY BEING DIVIDED
INTO TWO EQUAL PAYMENTS.
THERE WILL BE SOME REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.
AGAIN, THE INTENTION HAS BEEN
TO KEEP THIS FUND FLEXIBLE,
USEFUL.
YOU HAVE HEARD TREASURY
SECRETARY YELLEN SAY WHAT A
PRIORITY IT IS TO GET THIS
MONEY OUT.
SHE HAS USED THIS AS A CORE
PART OF HELPING THE ECONOMY TO
RECOVER.
WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE WORKING
AS WE SPEAK TO GET THAT MONEY
OUT AND THE GUIDANCE OUT AS
WELL.
IN ADDITION, AS I KNOW YOU HAVE
ALL SEEN, A NUMBER OF TAX
PROVISIONS THAT WILL BE VERY
HELPFUL.
THERE IS A CHILD TAX CREDIT
THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED.
AND EXPANSION OF THE ITC.
THERE IS CREDITS FOR PAID SICK
AND FAMILY LEAVE.
THESE WILL NOW BE EXPANDED TO
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
THERE ARE STIMULUS PAYMENTS
WITH MANY CONSTITUENTS MAY HAVE
ALREADY RECEIVED.
THOSE CHECKS ARE GOING OUT NOW
TO THE TUNE OF $1400 PER
INDIVIDUAL.
THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL $7.2
BILLION THAT IS BEING RELEASED
THROUGH AN EMERGENCY
CONDUCTIVITY FUND, ESSENTIALLY
THIS IS MONEY THAT IS GOING TO
BE THROUGH THE EARACHE PROGRAM
TO SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES.
THE FCC JUST-RELEASED PUBLIC
COMMENT ON POTENTIAL GUIDANCE
FOR THAT THAT YOUR I.T.
DEPARTMENT IS AWARE OF AND HAS.
THERE IS A WIDE, KIND OF AN
EXPANSION AGAIN, 15% INCREASE
IN S.N.A.P.
BENEFITS THAT HAVE BEEN
INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS BILLS.
THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 30th.
THERE IS $122 BILLION THAT IS
GOING FOR K-12 TO ASSIST WITH
REOPENING.
THERE IS $40 BILLION GOING TO
HIGHER EDUCATION.
THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING GIVEN
DIRECTLY -- 50% IS BEING GIVEN
DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS, 50% FOR
INSTITUTIONS.
THERE IS $40 BILLION AVAILABLE
FOR CHILD CARE AGENCIES, AND AN
ADDITIONAL $4.5 MILLION.
THERE'S ANOTHER $500 MILLION
THAT IS BEING PROVIDED FOR
WATER ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO
STATES TO ASSIST LOW INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS.
JUST A NOTE ON THAT, THAT WAS A
NEW PROGRAM THAT WAS CREATED IN
DECEMBER.
SENATOR MURRAY WAS INSTRUMENTAL
IN HELPING TO CREATE THAT
PROGRAM.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH
HER OFFICE BECAUSE HHS HAS
GOTTEN VERY BOGGED DOWN IN
CREATING THE GUIDELINES FOR
THAT PROGRAM.
AS A SIDE NOTE, TO ME THIS IS
SORT OF AN INDICATION AS TO WHY
CONGRESS REALLY TRIED NOT TO
CREATE NEW PROGRAMS.
FOR THIS EXACT REASON, WE ARE
NOW SEVERAL MONTHS IN, THE
MONEY IS STILL NOT OUT.
SENATOR MURRAY'S TEAM IS
WORKING VERY, VERY HARD ON THIS
TO TRY TO HELP US GET ACCESS TO
THOSE FUNDS.
AS AN ADDITIONAL $7.5 BILLION
FOR VACCINES.
AN ADDITIONAL $47.8 MILLION FOR
CONTACT TRACING AND TESTING.
THEN, THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF
FUNDING FOR HOUSING.
$27.4 BILLION FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
AN ADDITIONAL $5 BILLION FOR
HOUSING VOUCHERS.
THAT WILL GO TO PUBLIC HOUSING
AGENCIES.
THAT'S ANOTHER $5 BILLION FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND ROUGHLY,
CLOSE TO $10 BILLION TO ASSIST
HOMEOWNERS AS WELL.
FINALLY, AN ADDITIONAL $30
BILLION FOR TRANSIT AGENCIES
THAT WILL BE FLOWING.
SO, THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE
ICEBERG.
I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE OUR MEMO,
AND AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS WE
WILL BE GETTING MORE DETAIL AS
THE MONTHS CONTINUE.
IT IS VERY EXCITING TO SEE THIS.
I WOULD SAY AS YOU ARE ALSO
SEEING, NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA
FOR CONGRESS IS GOING TO BE
WORKING THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE.
TODAY, THE HOUSE ENERGY AND
COMMERCE COMMITTEE IS BEGINNING
TO MARK UP THEIR LIFT ACT,
WHICH IS KIND OF A WIDE RANGE
OF CLIMATE CHANGE, BROADBAND
VENTURES, DESIGNS TO INVEST IN
THE NATION'S ENERGY AND
BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ARE SEEING HEARINGS THIS WEEK
WITH THE TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ABOUT
THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES
AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE
THEM SEVERAL MONTHS TO KIND OF
COME TOGETHER WITH A PLAN AND
COME TOGETHER WITH THE RIGHT
COURSE OF ACTION.
WILL THEY DO THIS THROUGH
RECONCILIATION?
WILL THEY DO THIS ON A
BIPARTISN BASIS?
MAYBE THEY DO A LITTLE BIT OF
BOTH.
THAT WILL BE KIND OF CONSUMING
THE NEXT WEEK AND MONTHS AS WE
MOVE FORWARD.
VERY EXCITING THAT THEY FINALLY
GOT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
SIGNED INTO LAW.
SO, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
SARAH, PLEASE CHIME IN IF I
MISSED ANYTHING.
>> THAT WAS GREAT, THANK YOU,
LESLIE.
>> OKAY, FOLKS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH LESLIE AND
SARAH FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
OPEN IT UP NOW TO COLLEAGUES,
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT
HAVE EITHER ON THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, OR THE
FEDERAL UPDATE?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN LESLIE.
IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING GOOD
NEWS.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED.
THANKS FOR THE CONSTANT UPDATES.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH
WE APPRECIATE THE PLAY-BY-PLAY
AND UPDATES IN REAL-TIME COMING
FROM DC.
APPRECIATE HOW FAST THE
ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO
MOVE AND HOW FAST YOU, AS
ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF CITIES
LIKE SEATTLE, ARE WORKING TO
MAKE SURE WE GET CLARITY.
COLLEAGUES, AGAIN, THE TRANCHES
THAT LESLIE MENTIONED ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT BOTH IN THE
NEAR-TERM AND THE LONG-TERM AS
WE THINK ABOUT THE BUCKETS OF
FUNDING TO GET US OUT OF THIS
RECESSION AND RESPOND TO THE
HEALTH CRISES IN FRONT OF US.
YOU WILL HEAR MORE AS WE TALK
ABOUT IT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS
WE ARE CONSIDERING ALONG WITH
PUBLIC CREATION IS IN TRANCHE
ONE ALONE, HAVING AN IMMEDIATE
RELIEF PLAN, AND THEN A LONGER-
TERM, I SHOULD SAY MIDTERM
FUNDING AS WELL.
LESLIE, I'M WONDERING IN
CONVERSATIONS YOU'RE HAVING
WITH OTHER CITIES, IS THERE
OTHER CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING
AROUND USING TRANCHE ONE, AND
TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE
IMMEDIATE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
LOOKING TO FALL OFF A CLIFF IN
JUNE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
SOME IMMEDIATE DOLLARS OUT THE
DOOR AS THEY FIGURE OUT LONGER
STRATEGIES FOR SOME OF THOSE
NEAR-TERM DOLLARS?
JUST IN TRANCHE ONE.
THOSE ARE PART OF THE
CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE BEEN
HAVING.
>> I THINK A LOT OF CITIES ARE
PUTTING THEIR PLANS TOGETHER AS
WE SPEAK AND SORT OF GRAPPLING
WITH SOME OF THOSE EXACT ISSUES.
RECOGNIZING OF COURSE, THAT
THESE DOLLARS NEED TO BE
EXPANDED BY 2024.
THEN, ALSO RECOGNIZING WHAT A
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THIS IS.
AGAIN, IT'S UNLIKELY THAT WE
ARE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER COVID
PACKAGE, LET ALONE ONE THAT
WOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF
FLEXIBLE FUNDING.
SO, PEOPLE ARE GRAPPLING WITH
EXACTLY THESE KINDS OF ISSUES.
HOW FAST TO GO, WHAT KINDS OF
INVESTMENTS TO MAKE, WHAT'S
APPROPRIATE TO GO WITH THE
EMERGENCY IN FRONT OF US,
VERSUS WHERE WE MIGHT BE SIX
MONTHS DOWN THE LINE WHEN SOME
OF THESE CRITICAL PROGRAMS HAVE
EXPIRED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOING TO THE STATE LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA IF I MAY.
I WANT TO ECHO SOME OF THE
CONCERNS I HAVE HEARD FROM
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT REGARDING
THE STATEWIDE JUST CAUSE BILL.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ME OVER THE
YEARS REFERRED TO THE SEATTLE
LOOPHOLE.
THE SEATTLE LOOPHOLE IS THE
PROBLEM THAT EXISTS IN OUR
CITY'S JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE
THAT ALLOWS GOOD TENANTS TO
HAVE THEIR TENANCY TERMINATED
AT THE END OF A LEASE AGREEMENT
FOR ANY REASON OR NO REASON.
SO, NOT ONLY DOES THE BILL IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE NO LONGER
FIX THE SEATTLE LOOPHOLE, WHICH
IS WHAT THE ORIGINAL VERSION
DOES, IT ACTUALLY PLACES THE
PROBLEM LANGUAGE IN STATE LAW.
SO, BEFORE -- THERE IS NO STATE
LAW RIGHT NOW.
THERE WAS AN ABSENCE OF LANGUAGE
IN THE RCW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM
THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LAW.
THERE WAS A LEGAL
INTERPRETATION.
I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE COUNCIL WERE INTERESTED IN
PURSUING A LEGISLATIVE FIX THAT
I CERTAINLY SUPPORT.
AGAIN, I THINK THIS LANGUAGE
THAT IS BEING PROPOSED TO BE
PUT INTO STATE LAW REALLY JUST
CODIFIES THE PROBLEM THAT WE
CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR CITY LAW.
I AGREE, THAT'S REALLY, REALLY
PROBLEMATIC.
ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT THOUGH,
I DO WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I
HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED WORKING,
PARTICULARLY WITH ROBIN IN LILY
ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
ISSUES.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD
WORK YOU HAVE DONE AND ALL THE
ASSISTANCE OF MANY POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY STAKEHOLDERS, AS
WELL AS THE PROGRESS THAT WE
HAVE MADE THIS SESSION WITH
SOME OF OUR LABOR STAKEHOLDERS
THAT I THINK IS REALLY
IMPORTANT AS WELL.
ON A RELATED BUT SEPARATE TOPIC
THOUGH, I'M WONDERING IF YOU
COULD ENLIGHTEN US.
WHAT IS THE STATE'S PATH
FORWARD TO ADDRESS THE
WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME
COURT'S RULING IN STATE VERSUS
BLAKE AS IT RELATES TO DRUG
POSSESSION?
WHAT IS THE STATE'S PATH
FORWARD IN ADDRESSING THAT?
ARE THEY LOOKING AT DOING A
SPECIAL SESSION, OR BRINGING IT
UP NEXT YEAR?
IS THERE A WAY FOR US, LIKE WE
DO WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA, TO GIVE SOME PERSPECTIVE
THAT THE CITY MIGHT HAVE ABOUT
HOW THAT MIGHT BE RESOLVED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I CAN
ADDRESS THAT FOR YOU, ALTHOUGH
I DON'T HAVE A BUTTONED UP
ANSWER FOR EXACTLY HOW THE
STATE LEGISLATURE PLAN TO
APPROACH IT.
THERE ARE DEFINITELY
CONVERSATIONS UNDERWAY.
I THINK THERE IS SOME DIVERGING,
MAYBE NOT DIVERGING, BUT THERE
IS A DISCUSSION OVER SEVERAL
DIFFERENT APPROACHES.
I DO THINK THERE IS A DESIRE TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT IS FUNDED AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
THERE ARE I THINK 126,000 PEOPLE
WHO ARE IMPACTED OVERALL BY THE
CHANGE THAT THE SUPREME COURT
DECISION MAKES.
SOMETHING LIKE 7000 PEOPLE THAT
ARE CURRENTLY IN DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS CUSTODY WILL NEED
TO BE RESENTENCED.
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE AND
LEGISLATORS TO WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THERE ARE
ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE AT THE
LOCAL LEVELS.
DIVERSION PROGRAMS, TREATMENT
PROGRAMS, ANY THINGS THAT WE
ALREADY HAVE IN SEATTLE THAT
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL
OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE
STATEWIDE.
SO, I WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AND
LET YOU KNOW.
I SUSPECT WE WILL SEE SOMETHING
IN THE NEXT WEEK TO TWO WEEKS
ON A PROPOSAL.
I WILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE
ON THE COUNCIL IS AWARE OF WHAT
THAT IS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY FOLLOW
UP ON COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
COMMENTS, WHICH I REALLY
APPRECIATE.
I WANTED TO THANK HER FOR
WEIGHING IN ON THIS AND AGAIN,
ECHO ALL THE TIMES TO THE STAFF
FOR HELPING US FOLLOW UP ON
THIS.
JUST IN RESPONSE TO WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WAS
SAYING, I KNOW SHE HERSELF IS A
TENANT ADVOCATE.
COUNCILMEMBERS TOGETHER, OUR
OFFICES WERE LOOKING INTO IT.
WE SUDDENLY SPEND A LOT OF
HOURS TO SEE, WORK WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE
IF WE CAN FIND A LEGAL PATHWAY
TO CLOSE THESE LEGAL LOOPHOLES.
WHAT WE NEED IS A STRONG LAW
FROM THE STATE LEVEL THAT WILL
ACTUALLY PROVIDE A REAL WAY TO
DO THAT IN SEATTLE, AND IN
FACT, FEDERAL WAY REALLY
PROVIDES A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
THEY ACTUALLY CLOSED ALL THE
LOOPHOLES.
I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE
A BETTER PATH TO CLOSING ALL
THE LOOPHOLES FOR JUST CAUSE
PROTECTIONS.
>> WE WILL DO SOME ADDITIONAL
BACKGROUND WORK FOR YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS, AND GET BACK TO
YOU WITH ANY DETAILS THAT I'M
ABLE TO GLEAN.
>> GRADES.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JUST BEFORE THIS GETS WRAPPED
UP, I WANTED TO SAY THANKS
AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT
YOU ALL HAVE DONE ON THE
FEDERAL INFORMATION.
FOR HELPING TO PACKAGE THIS FOR
US.
AS I MENTIONED IN OUR COMMITTEE
MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO, WE USED
TO POINT TO THE ACA, THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AS ONE OF
THE BIGGEST PIECES OF HUMAN
RIGHTS LEGISLATION IN THE MOST
RECENT DECADES.
NOW, I THINK THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT TAKES A SEAT BACK TO
ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT
HAS BEEN DONE ON THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY ACT.
IT REALLY DOES HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO HELP ADDRESS
GENERATIONAL POVERTY,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE NUMBERS OF
KIDDOS IN PROPERTY.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE ALL KNEW THE ACA WAS
SOMETHING TO BE BUILT ON FOR
HEALTHCARE FOR EVERYONE.
EXCITING TO SEE ONE LEGISLATION
PASSES, AND HOW INSTRUMENTAL
THAT WAS, WHENEVER IT WAS, 10
YEARS AGO NOW.
I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE
THE BENEFITS OF THIS
LEGISLATION PLAYING OUT FOR 10
YEARS.
AGAIN, THIS IS FOUNDATIONAL FOR
THE WORK TO COME FROM OUR
CONGRESSIONAL PARTNERS IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH STATES AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION.
I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY TIMELY
THAT YOU PROVIDED THESE DETAILS
TODAY AS WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF
PASSING OUR RESOLUTION THIS
AFTERNOON.
THAT RESOLUTION PROVIDES THE
BACKBONE TO WHAT THE CITY'S
PRIORITIES WILL BE WHEN WE ADD
ALLOCATED THOSE DOLLARS AND THE
CITY DIRECTLY OUT TO
COMMUNITIES.
THE 10 OR 12 BUCKETS THAT YOU
SEE IN TERMS OF ISSUE AREAS
REFLECTED IN OUR RESOLUTION ARE
INTENDED TO MIRROR WHAT WAS IN
THE BILL.
ALSO, CENTRAL STAFF, COLLEAGUES
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY RECEIVED
THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION,
CENTRAL STAFF DID A SIDE-BY-SIDE
OF WHAT OUR RESOLUTION SAID AND
WHAT IS SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED
OR DIRECTED.
IN THE AMERICAN RECOVERY SACKS.
WE WILL RECIRCULATE THAT AGAIN
BECAUSE THE COMPLEMENTS MUCH OF
WHAT LESLIE AND SARAH SHARED
TODAY.
I THINK IT'S A HELPFUL WAY TO
SHARE WHERE WE ARE HOPING TO
GET ADDITIONAL DETAILS FILLED IN
AND WHERE THE COUNCIL'S
PRIORITIES ARE ALIGNING VERY
NICELY WITH WHAT OUR
CONGRESSIONAL PARTNERS PAST.
THANKS AGAIN FOR THE UPDATE AND
VERY EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU
ALL.
AND LEARN FROM OTHER CITIES.
WE ARE HOPING TO HEAR MORE FROM
OTHER CITIES SOON ABOUT WHAT
THEY ARE PLANNING TO DO AND WE
WILL BE BACK IN TOUCH WITH YOU,
LESLIE AND SIERRA AS WE REACH
OUT TO THOSE CITIES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED, SO LILY, DO YOU WANT TO
CLOSE US OUT AND THEN WE WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH OUR AGENDA?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A BIG
THANK YOU TO THE STATE TEAM FOR
THEIR ONGOING BRIEFING, AND THE
FEDERAL TEAM FOR JOINING US
TODAY AND TO ALL OF YOU.
WE HAVE HAD MANY HAIR ON FIRE
MOMENTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL
MONTHS WHERE WE NEEDED YOU TO
CONTACT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OR
A CERTAIN COMMITTEE CHAIR IN
THE LEGISLATURE, AND APPRECIATE
YOU ALWAYS BEING AVAILABLE AND
WILLING TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY.
IT MEANS THE WORLD TO OUR TEAMS
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE
PARTNERSHIP.
>> THANKS FOR THAT, LILY.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU
FOR THE HARD WORK.
I KNOW WE ARE NOT QUITE DONE
YET.
MUCH MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE, BUT CERTAINLY A LOT OF
REALLY POSITIVE PROGRESS ON OUR
PRIORITIES. I'M DEEPLY
APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR
JOINING US.
LESLIE, THANK YOU FOR CALLING
IN FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. REALLY
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL
NEXT TIME.
THEIR THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>> WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE.
AGENDA ITEM 5, A PREVIEW OF
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS.
COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COMMITTEE
BUSINESS.
AS A REMINDER, THE ROLL CALL
ROTATION FOR THIS MORNING'S
REPORT OUT WILL START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND THEN WE
WILL HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, MOSQUEDA, PEDERSEN,
SAWANT, STRAUSS, HERBOLD,
JUAREZ, AND THEN I WILL OCCLUDE
THE DISCUSSION.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S GET
STARTED.
FIRST UP IS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
THEN, WE WILL HEAR FROM, HOLD
ON A MINUTE.
I THINK MY SCRIPT IS WRONG.
I THINK WE ARE ACTUALLY
STARTING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES TODAY.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GOT TO GO
FIRST LAST WEEK.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, MY SCRIPT IS
A LITTLE OUTDATED.
AGAIN, IT WILL BE MORALES,
MOSQUEDA, PEDERSEN, SAWANT,
STRAUSS AND HERBOLD.
THEN, JUAREZ, LEWIS, AND I
WILL CONCLUDE.
FIRST UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
AGAIN TO OUR OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS FOR
ALL THE WORK THAT THEY ARE
DOING TO KEEP US POSTED ON
STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION.
I DO WANT TO BEGIN THIS MORNING
BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE HORRIFIC
TRAGEDY IN ATLANTA LAST WEEK.
EIGHT PEOPLE, SIX OF THEM ASIAN
WOMEN, WERE VICTIMS OF WHITE
SUPREMACY AND THE VIOLENCE THAT
COMES WITH IT.
IN SAN FRANCISCO, WE KNOW THAT
ELDERLY AGE AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WERE VICIOUSLY ATTACKED
BY A MAN WHO THOUGHT HE WOULD
GET AWAY WITH IT.
HE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT ONE
OF HIS VICTIMS WOULD FIGHT
BACK.
HERE IN SEATTLE, THE
INTERNATIONAL FULL GOSPEL
CHURCH WAS TARGETED WITH ANTI-
CHINESE MESSAGES FOR THE FOURTH
TIME.
IN BEACON HILL OVER THE
WEEKEND, SEVERAL ASIAN WOMEN
WERE HARASSED IN THEIR CARS BY
A MAN WHO SEEMED TO BE DRIVING
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKING
FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO A COST.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THE CHEROKEE
COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS, THE
ATTACKS BY THESE PEOPLE WERE
RACIST AND ABSOLUTELY
INEXCUSABLE.
THESE MEN, THEIR BELIEFS AND
ACTIONS HAVE SHATTERED
FAMILIES, DEVASTATED
COMMUNITIES, AND IN THE ATLANTA
CASE, CUT THE LIVES OF THESE
WOMEN SHORT.
THEY ALL DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THEY
ALL DESERVE JUSTICE.
WE KNOW THAT THESE ATTACKS
AREN'T RARE, AND THAT IT IS
REALLY A GREAT SHAME ON THIS
COUNTRY.
IT IS PAINFUL HOW MANY YOUNG
WHITE MEN ARE GROWING UP WITH
WHITE SUPREMACIST BELIEFS.
IT IS INFURIATING HOW REGULARLY
WE SEE THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES.
SO, I WANT TO AGAIN WHICH THE
FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS, SEND
THEM ALL OUR BLESSINGS AND
REALLY JUST TOLD OUR ASIAN-
PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY IN
OUR HEARTS THIS MORNING.
>>> THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
AGENDA.
LAST WEEK I ATTENDED THE BOARD
OF HEALTH MEETING WHERE
DIRECTOR HAYES REPORTED A GREAT
UPDATE ON FLASH, WHICH IS THE
SEXUAL HEALTH CURRICULUM.
IN OUR COMMUNITY.
REALLY JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE
BIG IMPACT THAT HAS HAD ON
REDUCING TEEN PREGNANCY IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
OUR RATES ARE 2 1/2 TIMES LOWER
THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
DIRECTOR HAYES REPORTED THAT
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SEEN
INCREASED CONDOM USE.
INCREASED CONFIDENCE TO SAY NO,
AND ALSO AN IMPROVED
UNDERSTANDING THAT BIRTH
CONTROL IS EFFECTIVE.
I'M REALLY EXCITING TO NOTE
THAT PROGRAM IS WORKING IN OUR
SCHOOLS.
SHE ALSO MENTIONED THE HEALTHY
BUSINESS STREETS GUIDE WHICH IS
A RESEARCH GUIDE TO HELP
SUPPORT RESTAURANTS DURING
COVID.
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOW IN PHASE
THREE, OUTDOOR DINING IS STILL
THE BEST OPTION.
SO, THIS GUIDE SUPPORTS
BUSINESSES AND ENCOURAGES THE
TEMPORARY STREET USE FOR
OUTDOOR DINING, AND I'M EXCITED
THAT WE ARE DOING THAT HERE IN
THE CITY.
REGARDING COVID, A REMINDER
THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE
CONTINUING TO OPEN, WE ARE IN
KING COUNTY, SEEING OUR CASES
GO UP AGAIN.
A REMINDER TO MAINTAIN SAFETY
PROTOCOLS, WEAR YOUR MASKS, DO
NOT GATHER WITH PEOPLE YOU DO
NOT LIVE WITH.
ESPECIALLY AFTER WATCHING WHAT
HAPPENED IN MIAMI THIS WEEKEND,
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO START
TRAVELING OR ENJOYING SPRING
BREAK WITH PEOPLE YOU DON'T
LIVE WITH.
>>> REGARDING THE VACCINE
UPDATES, WE NOW HAVE ABOUT
400,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE BECOMING
ELIGIBLE.
DIRECTOR HAYES IS REMINDING US
THAT RIGHT NOW, WE ONLY HAVE
ONE DOSE FOR EVERY EIGHT PEOPLE
WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.
SO, IT'S GOING TO BE A ROUGH
FEW WEEKS.
UNTIL WE START TO GET MORE
DOSAGE IN.
SHE DID MENTION THAT IN APRIL,
THEY EXPECT TO DOUBLE THE DOSE
IS THAT WASHINGTON STATE IS
BEING ALLOCATED.
I KNOW EVERYBODY IS GETTING
IMPATIENT TO GET THEIR VACCINE.
I HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED YET.
I STILL DON'T QUALIFY.
WE ARE ALL WORKING ON IT AND
IT'S JUST A REMINDER TO STAY
SAFE UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED
YOUR VACCINE.
>>> ON WEDNESDAY, THE KING
COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON
MOBILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
WILL BE DISCUSSING THE STRATEGIC
CLIENT ACTION PLAN.
I DID REQUEST THAT AS A BOARD
OF HEALTH, WHO HAS DECLARED
RACISM TO BE A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS, THAT WE SUBMIT A LETTER
TO SUPPORT AIRCRAFT EMISSIONS
IN THE ACTION PLAN GREENHOUSE
GAS TARGET REDUCTIONS.
BEACON HILL IS ONE OF THE
AIRPORT COMMUNITIES THAT IS
MOSTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND HAS
HAD TREMENDOUS IMPACT, HEALTH
IMPACT BECAUSE OF EMISSIONS AND
PARTICULATE MATTER THAT IS THE
RESULT OF THE INCREASE IN AIR
TRAFFIC OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>>> COUNCILMEMBER McDERMOTT AND
I WILL BE DRAFTING A LETTER ON
BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
TO SUBMIT TO THAT COMMITTEE
OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
LAST WEEK, MY OFFICE MET WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
TO DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE STREET SIX BUDGET ACTION
THAT I INCLUDED IN THE 2021
BUDGET.
THE CONTRACT WAS MOVED FROM SBU
TO DOM, BUT WE MET WITH BOTH
OFFICES AND REALLY WANT TO THANK
SBU, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH
THE CLEAN HANDS COLLECTIVE TO
CREATE DIFFERENT PROTOTYPES FOR
HOW TO MAKE THE STREETS SAFE
PROGRAM WORK.
I DID CLARIFY THAT THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT FOR THIS
BUDGET ACTION IS FOR STREET SIX
WITH WATER, NOT JUST FOR HAND
SANITIZER STATIONS WHICH WAS
SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN
DISCUSSED.
JUST FOR A TIMELINE, THERE WILL
BE AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING
THAT IS COMING OUT AT THE END
OF MARCH.
MARCH 30th, THERE WILL BE AN
INFORMATION SESSION VIA ZOOM
FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO
BECOME PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE
PROVIDED TO THE RECIPIENTS OF
THIS FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN
MAKE SURE WE ARE TRACKING WHAT
IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT.
THIS WILL BE A CONTRACTING
PROCESS, NOT A GRANT PROCESS.
I'M TOLD BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS THE GOAL IS TO
TRY TO GET THE MONEY OUT THE
DOOR FASTER.
THE ANTICIPATED DATE FOR THAT
IS IN MAY.
WE ALSO MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF EARLY LEARNING TO DISCUSS
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE BUDGET
ACTION.
YOU MAY KNOW THAT THE BEST
STARTS FOR KIDS LEVY IS UP FOR
RENEWAL IN AUGUST.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE
CURRENT GRANTEE CONTRACTS ARE
EXPECTED TO END AT THE END OF
DECEMBER.
SO, GIVEN THAT, WE DISCUSSED
THAT THE BEST USE OF THE
$550,000 FOR THIS MIGHT BE
TOWARD SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING TO
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS WHO MIGHT
EXPERIENCE A GAP IN FUNDING FOR
THE 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR.
IT WILL BE IMPORTANT THAT THESE
COMMUNITY-BASED MODELS ARE
INVESTED IN, ESPECIALLY IF THEY
ARE TRAINING YOUNG PEOPLE IN
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.
PEACEMAKING CIRCLES.
SO, THEY CAN HELP CHANGE THE
CULTURE OF THE SCHOOLS.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IT
IS NOT JUST TEACHERS AND
ADMINISTRATORS, BUT YOUNG
PEOPLE ALSO BEING TRAINED.
MOVING ONTO DISTRICT 2, ON
THURSDAY I VISITED ONE OF THE
VACCINE CLINICS PUT ON BY A
SOMALI HEALTH BOARD.
WE HAD ABOUT 150 SENIORS WHO
WERE THERE TO GET THEIR SECOND
DOSE.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU, FOR
THOSE 150 PEOPLE, WE HAD SEVEN
INTERPRETERS SPEAKING ROMO,
SOMALI, SWAHILI, AND SEVERAL
OTHER LANGUAGES.
THAT IS A LOT OF DIVERSITY FOR
150 PEOPLE.
MOST OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
HAD WALKED TO THE COMMUNITY
CENTER FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAD VOLUNTEERS WHO HAD
CANVASSED THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN
THE PRIOR WEEKS LEADING UP TO
THE DISTRIBUTION.
EVERYBODY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL
TWO DAYS BEFORE TO REMIND THEM
TO COME BACK FOR THEIR SECOND
DOSE.
THEY RECEIVED ANOTHER PHONE
CALL A DAY BEFORE, REMINDING
THEM TO BRING THEIR VACCINATION
CARD.
THE FOLKS WE SPOKE TO WHO HAD
COME BACK AND BEEN VACCINATED,
SAID THAT IT WAS REALLY THAT
FREQUENT TOUCH, COUPLED WITH
HAVING INTERPRETATION
AVAILABLE, AND COUPLED WITH THE
EASE OF ACCESSING THE SITE,
THAT REALLY MADE THEIR
VACCINATION PROCESS A SUCCESS.
SO, I JUST WANT TO THANK AGAIN
THE SOMALI HEALTH BOARD, AND
ALL OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATION WHO ARE GOING THAT
EXTRA MILE TO MAKE SURE THEY
ARE BREACHING PEOPLE WHO DON'T
HAVE ACCESS, OR CAN'T GET TO
THE MASS VACCINATION SITES.
I THINK IT IS JUST ANOTHER
INDICATION THAT WE NEED SEVERAL
APPROACHES TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY GETS THEIR VACCINE.
I ALSO MET WITH INSTITUTES WHO
WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FACT THAT OUR GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS ARE NOT GOING DOWN.
WE ARE WAY OFF TRACK IN SEATTLE
WITH OUR CLIMATE GOALS, SO
FOLKS ARE LOOKING TO KNOW WHAT
WE AS A CITY COUNCIL ARE GOING
TO BE DOING TO REALLY ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE.
WE WILL BE CIRCLING BACK WITH
THEM OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF
DAYS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT
MIGHT BE.
I THINK WE ALL RECEIVED A
LETTER WITH A REQUEST TO CREATE
A SELECT COMMITTEE ON CLIMATE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE
WILLING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S EXACTLY THE
RIGHT TOOL, BUT NEVERTHELESS,
FOLKS ARE INTERESTING TO KNOW
WHAT ACTION WE ARE GOING TO BE
TAKING.
YESTERDAY I PARTICIPATED IN A
WALKING AND ROLLING TO WORK OF
THE AREA AROUND THE FUTURE
JENKINS PARK LIGHT RAIL STATION.
THAT STATION IS SET TO OPEN IN
2023, AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE
ONE OF THE BUSIEST TRANSIT
TRANSFER POINTS IN THE CITY.
IN THE COUNTY REALLY.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS I WALKED
WITH OUR GROUP OF ABOUT A DOZEN
PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOM WORK AT
LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND
ARE THEMSELVES BLIND, IT WAS A
VERY ANXIETY PROVOKING
EXPERIENCE.
IF YOU ARE WALKING OR ROLLING
TO THE NEW LIGHT RAIL STATION
FROM NORTH OR SOUTH, ON RANIER,
YOU WILL HAVE TO CROSS THE
CLOVERLEAF ON AND OFF RAMPS TO
I-90.
THESE RAMPS HAVE BLIND CURVES.
THEY ARE POORLY LIT.
THEY DON'T HAVE SIGNALS THAT
ARE ADAPTED FOR BLIND AND DEAF
NEIGHBORS.
IT WAS TERRIFYING.
TO TRY TO NAVIGATE THAT AREA.
EVEN WITHOUT HAVING A
DISABILITY OR MOBILITY ISSUE.
SO, I AM ENCOURAGED THAT OUR OWN
STATE SENATOR IS ON TOP OF
THIS.
I KNOW THAT SOUND TRANSIT IS
ALSO TALK ABOUT NOT JUST THE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO
BE NEEDED RIGHT AT THE STATION,
BUT A BLOCK OR TWO AWAY FROM
THE STATION.
WE WILL NEED TO SEE SOME
IMPROVEMENTS THERE AS WELL.
THIS WEEK, KING COUNTY
COUNCILMEMBER AND I WILL BE
GUESTS AT THE PEOPLESTOWN HALL.
FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY SAFETY IN
THE RANIER BEACH SAFEWAY
PARKING LOT.
OUR PARTNERS COMPLETING A
BEAUTIFUL SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH.
THE ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE
DISCUSSING THE WORK THEY DO ON
THE GROUND TO SUPPORT YOUNG
PEOPLE AND TO KEEP THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE.
WE WILL ALSO BE SHARING SOME OF
THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AS
LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT A SHIFT
IN INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY-
BASED ALTERNATIVES.
TWO OTHER PREVENTION AND
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES.
ON WEDNESDAY, I WILL BE
PARTICIPATING IN A BUILDING
TENANT POWER WORKSHOP.
THESE WORKSHOPS TEACH TENANTS
HOW TO ORGANIZE THEIR
BUILDINGS, ENGAGE IN THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND BUILD
A BROADER TENANT MOVEMENT.
AT THIS WORKSHOP I WILL DISCUSS
THE TWO PIECES OF EVICTION
RELATED LEGISLATION THAT I HAVE
MENTIONED MY OFFICE HAS BEEN
WORKING ON IN MY BRIEFING LAST
WEEK.
THIS IS PANDEMIC RELATED
EVICTION DEFENSE AND CLOSING
THE LEASE TERMINATION LOOSE SO
TO GRANT JUST CAUSE PROTECTION
THROUGH THE ENTIRE TENANCY.
FINALLY, NEXT MONDAY, THE 29th,
I WILL BE JOINING MEMBERS OF
THE TENANT WORKSHOP IN MY
OFFICE'S ACCOUNTABILITY
COUNCIL, PLUS SEVERAL OTHER
ORGANIZERS AND ADVOCATES TO
LAUNCH THE STAY HOUSE, STAY
HEALTHY CAMPAIGN.
I WILL HAVE MORE TO SHARE ABOUT
THAT NEXT WEEK.
THAT IS MY REPORT THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
ANY OTHER -- ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND GO DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I HOPE YOU HAVE HAD A GOOD
WEEKEND.
A FEW UPDATES FOR YOU TODAY.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS FROM THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
THIS INCLUDES RESOLUTION 31999.
THIS IS THE RESOLUTION THAT I
JUST SPOKE ABOUT AS IT RELATES
TO THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN
ACT.
IT PROVIDES THE PILLARS OF WHAT
THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES WILL
BE AS WE LOOK AT ALLOCATING
FEDERAL FUNDS THAT ARE COMING
FROM THE TRULY HISTORIC
INVESTMENT IN BOTH RESPONDING TO
THE COVID CRISIS AND MAKING
SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN
AN EQUITABLE RECOVERY.
THE PRIORITY INVESTMENTS ARE
INFORMED BY COUNCIL'S PREVIOUS
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD
OVER THE LAST YEAR AS WE HAVE
BEEN GRAPPLING WITH THE
CONSEQUENCES OF COVID.
THE COUNCIL INCLUDED THE
COUNCIL RESOLUTION INCLUDES THE
2020 BUDGET REVISIONS.
IT INCLUDES JUMPSTART COVID
RELIEF PLANS AND THE 2021
ADOPTED BUDGET AS TOUCH POINTS.
FOR WHAT WE USED TO INFORM THE
RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF US TODAY
AND THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA.
EVEN THOUGH THIS WENT TO THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE,
I WANT TO THANK PEDERSEN,
STRAUSS, MORALES, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, AND VICE CHAIR
HERBOLD FOR ALL OF THEIR
ADDITIONS BECAUSE THIS WAS
TRULY REFLECTIVE OF THE FULL
COUNCIL SINCE WE WAITED THE
EXTRA WEEK TO TRY TO GET YOUR
FEEDBACK BEFORE INTRODUCING
SOMETHING.
APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT
YOU DID DIRECTLY WITH CENTRAL
STAFF TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS A
DOCUMENT THAT WAS REFLECTIVE OF
ALL COUNCIL MEMBER STRATEGIES.
I WANT TO THANK AGAIN SOME
OTHERS WHO MADE SURE THAT THE
FOLLOWING CONSIDERATIONS WERE
KEPT IN MIND AS WE CRAFTED THE
RESOLUTION.
FIRST, NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE WERE PIVOTING THE CITY'
EFFORTS FROM A ACUTELY
EMERGENCY RELIEF TO LONGER-TERM
RECOVERY.
THE SECOND WAS THE POTENTIAL TO
LEVERAGE OTHER STATE, LOCAL AND
FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND PARTNERS
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A
MULTIPLIER EFFECT FOR THESE NEW
FEDERAL DOLLARS.
THIRD, A RECOGNITION THAT THE
CITY'S CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS
WOULD LIMIT ITS ABILITY TO
DELIVER SERVICES IF WE STARTED
TO SCALE BACK ON ANY OF THOSE.
RUNNING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
PRESERVE PROGRAMS WHERE
POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS
EFFICIENTLY DELIVERED.
THE DOLLARS WERE DELIVERED TO
THE COMMUNITY QUICKLY.
THE SPENDING PRIORITIES ARE
GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES INCLUDING
EQUITY, COORDINATION,
FLEXIBILITY, RESILIENCE.
AS YOU HEARD, LESLIE MENTIONED
THIS MORNING A NEED TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THESE FUNDS ARE
PROBABLY THE LAST TIME WE ARE
GOING TO GET AN AMOUNT AS
IMPRESSIVE AS THIS FROM OUR
FEDERAL PARTNERS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE
IS FLEXIBILITY AND WE ARE
WORKING TO COORDINATE THESE
DOLLARS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS
AND REALLY PRIORITIZING EQUITY.
AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE
RESOLUTION, THE PRIORITY TOPICS
INCLUDING VACCINATIONS AND
TESTING, HOMELESS AND HOUSING
SITUATION, CHILDCARE, SMALL
BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY WELL-
BEING, TRANSPORTATION AND
REVENUE.
FINANCIAL RESILIENCE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE
RESOLUTION HAS PASSED OUT OF
COMMITTEE.
THAT ADDS INVESTMENTS ON GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE RESPONSE
SERVICES TO THE LIST OF
ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE FUNDED.
SECONDLY, WE HAVE COUNSELED THE
120019 WHICH COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
IS THE PRIME SPONSOR OF AND I'M
HONORED TO BE LISTED AS A
COSPONSOR.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HAD THAT
LEGISLATION IN OUR COMMITTEE
AND TO MOVE OUT WITH A FULL,
UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION FOR PASSAGE.
I'LL LET COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
SPEAK TO THE DETAILS OF THIS,
BUT VERY BRIEFLY.
AGAIN, THIS ALLOCATES THE $12
MILLION NEEDED TO PROVIDE NON-
CONGREGANT SHELTER SERVICES AND
TO HOTEL ROOMS, TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AT
RISK OF CONTRACTING COVID ARE
HAVING SEVERE OUTCOMES RELATED
TO LIVING OUTSIDE AS A RESULT
OF COVID COMPOUNDING THE
STRESSORS THAT THEY ALREADY
EXPERIENCE.
BECAUSE THIS WAS AMENDING A
BUDGET THAT WE ALREADY PASSED,
APPROVAL OF THIS APPROPRIATION
WILL REQUIRE A THREE FOURTHS
VOTE OF THE COUNCIL THIS
AFTERNOON AND LOOKING FORWARD
TO SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION.
AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR OUR CONVERSATIONS
WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AT
FEMA, AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR HELPING MOVE THE
CURRENT FORWARD SO WE CAN
CONTINUE IMPORTANT SERVICES AND
BUILD OFF OF CRITICAL SERVICES
THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN.
LIKE THOSE OFFERED THROUGH JUST
CARE, WHICH HAVE BEEN DATA-
DRIVEN SOLUTIONS AND TRUE HARM
REDUCTION STRATEGIES.
HELPING TO MOVE FOLKS OFF THE
STREET AND PREVENT FOLKS FROM
BEING OUT IN THE ELEMENTS
EXPOSED TO COVID.
OUR FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE IS NOT ACTUALLY
SCHEDULED TO MEET UNTIL APRIL
6th, AND THAT WILL BE AT 9:30
A.M.
THE TENTATIVE AGENDA IS
FORTHCOMING BUT I DO WANT TO
FLAG ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR
YOU.
THAT IS COUNCIL BILL 120018.
THIS IS THE BILL RELATED TO
RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT WE
DISCUSSED IN OUR COMMITTEE THE
LAST TIME WE MET.
THIS HAS THE ABILITY FOR US TO
USE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WERE
APPROVED LAST DECEMBER, AS I
MENTIONED OVER THE LAST TWO
WEEKS, WE HAVE BEEN EAGERLY
ANTICIPATING THIS LEGISLATION.
GIVING THE EXTENSION OF THE
MORATORIUM EVICTION EXTENSION,
WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
FLEXIBILITY.
WE WANTED TO TAKE THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS HAD A CHANCE
TO REVIEW THE LEGISLATION
BEFORE IT WAS ADVANCED.
WE DO PLAN TO HAVE A VOTE,
EVERYTHING DISCUSSION OF
POSSIBLE VOTE ON APRIL 6th.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THAT LEGISLATION TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT MEETS THE
PRIORITIES THAT YOU, AS COUNCIL
MEMBERS, WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH HAS BEFORE WE JUST MOVE
SOMETHING THROUGH.
I WILL REITERATE THE TIMELINE.
THE TIMELINE FOR ANY AMENDMENTS
IS FRIDAY.
WE SEND ANY AMENDMENTS TO
CENTRAL STAFF BY THIS FRIDAY.
MARCH 26th.
SO THAT CENTRAL STAFF, TRACY
RATCLIFFE, HAS A CHANCE TO WORK
WITH YOU AND WE CAN TOUCH BASE
BACK WITH OFFICE OF HOUSING, ON
ANY POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS.
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MOVE OUT
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ON APRIL
6th SO THAT WE CAN GET IT TO
THE FULL COUNCIL THE FOLLOWING
WEEK.
AS A RELATES TO THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY PLAN ACT, COLLEAGUES,
AS YOU JUST HAD A GREAT BRIEFING
FROM LESLIE AND SIERRA FROM OUR
FEDERAL TEAM, I WON'T REITERATE
MANY OF THE POINTS THAT THEY
MADE.
THOSE HIGHLIGHTS THAT YOU HEARD
WERE ALSO REITERATED IN THE
COUNCIL BRIEFING.
ALSO IN THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING WE RECENTLY
HAD.
I DO ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU HAVE
NOT HAD A CHANCE YET, TO LOOK
AT THE PRESENTATION THAT ALLIE
SENT AROUND THAT PROVIDED A
COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF WHAT
IS IN THE AMERICAN RECOVERY
PLAN ACT.
TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AT
THAT.
WE CAN RECIRCULATE SO THAT ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE FAMILIAR
WITH IT.
IT SHOWS AGAIN WHAT WE KNOW
FROM THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT
ARE AVAILABLE AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL.
IT IS NOT CITY SPECIFIC YET,
BUT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
THEN, WE PUT A COMPARATIVE
COLUMN NEXT TO IT ON WHERE THE
COUNCIL PRIORITIES ARE ALREADY
OUTLINED ACCORDING TO THE
RESOLUTION THAT WE ARE SLATED
TO PASS THIS AFTERNOON.
IT'S A REALLY HELPFUL DOCUMENT
TO SORT OF GROUND YOURSELF ON
SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT LESLIE
SHARED TODAY AND I THINK IT
COMPLEMENTS THE MEMO THAT THEY
HAVE ALSO PROVIDED.
WE WILL BE WORKING WITH CENTRAL
STAFF AND THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, AND FOLKS
WITHIN MY OFFICE, AS WE LOOK TO
IDENTIFY SPECIFIC DATES FOR YOU
ALL TO KNOW WHEN THE NEXT
ITERATION OF OUR CONVERSATION
TO CONTINUE.
JUST A REMINDER, AS I MENTIONED
IN THE LAST BRIEFING, OUR HOPE
IS TO PASS A AT LEAST A FIRST
ORDINANCE OUT OF FULL COUNCIL
BEFORE JUNE.
BEFORE THE END OF MAY IDEALLY,
SO THAT ANY OF THE PROGRAMS
THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE
THAT ARE SLATED TO EXPIRE IN
JUNE, THAT WE HAVE A RUNWAY TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE KEPT IN
PLACE, AND IN SOME CASES, ARE
MERGED INTO OTHER PROGRAMS.
AGAIN, FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS,
WE WILL BE DELIBERATING AND
DISCUSSING THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY ACT PLAN.
THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE
PRIORITIES AS WE LOOK TO GET
THESE DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THIS TIMELINE ALIGNS VERY
NICELY WITH WHAT LESLIE
DESCRIBED THIS MORNING, WHICH
IS THAT OVER THE NEXT 60 DAYS,
WE HOPE TO BOTH HAVE MORE
INFORMATION AND WE KNOW THAT
THE FUNDS THEN WILL BECOME MORE
AVAILABLE IN THOSE 60 DAYS.
MORE INFORMATION TO COME ABOUT
THAT, BUT JUST WANTED TO
PROVIDE YOU WITH THOSE SORT OF
BROAD PILLARS OF THE
CONVERSATION TO COME.
IN TERMS OF OTHER UPDATES, WE
HAVE THE REGIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
FROM DIRECTOR BOBBY HEALS.
MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS
AND TO THOSE FULL CITY
EMPLOYEES, I BELIEVE YOU'RE
GETTING ALERT AS WELL.
ON FRIDAY, THE CITY ANNOUNCE
THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE PAYING
ALL CITY EMPLOYEES FOR THE
TELEWORK ALLOWANCE, WHICH IS UP
TO $48 PER MONTH INTENDED TO
REIMBURSE EMPLOYEES FOR COSTS
INCURRED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF
THE TELEWORK DIRECTIVE.
THIS IS HOW WE HAVE ASKED
EMPLOYEES TO STAY HOME.
IF THEY CAN STAY HOME DURING
THIS TIME, WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO
STAY HOME.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT COMES WITH
ADDED COSTS.
INTERNET, LIGHT, HEAT.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
WERE COMPENSATING FOR THAT
ADDITIONAL COST.
FOLKS WHO WERE PAYING FOR THOSE
ITEMS OUT OF POCKET.
THIS IS ALL RELATED TO YOUR
WORK EXPENSES AND WE ARE
GRATEFUL THAT THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE, IN ADDITION TO THE
COUNCIL, COLLEAGUES HERE, THAT
WE HELD $3 MILLION FOR THIS
PURPOSE.
THANK YOU FOR THE COALITION OF
CITY UNIONS AND THEIR ADVOCACY
AND FOR REACHING OUT SO QUICKLY
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS ON
OUR RADAR IN THE CITY BUDGET'S
OFFICE AND THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE WORK VERY QUICKLY TO
COME UP WITH AN ESTIMATE.
THANKS TO DAN AND DOLLY FOR
THEIR WORK AND THE EMPLOYEES
FOR CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT
THEIR NEEDS.
TO MAKE SURE THE COST WAS
COMPENSATED.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO
SHOW AS EMPLOYERS, IN THIS
MOMENT WHEN WE ARE ASKING FOLKS
WHO CAN STAY AT HOME TO STAY AT
HOME.
I UNDERSTAND THERE IS ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS AS WELL ABOUT HOW
DO WE MAKE SURE TO CONTINUE TO
RESPECT AND COMPENSATE THOSE
WHO ARE STILL NEEDED TO COME TO
WORK AND APPRECIATE THE ROLE
THAT THE CITY UNIONS ARE PAYING
IN THAT EFFORT AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL EMPLOYEES, AND I
HOPE THIS DOES HELP.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THANKS SO MUCH TO THE
LEADERSHIP OF CITY ATTORNEY
PETE HOLMES WE ARE EXCITED FOR
THE INCREDIBLE BACK TO BACK
MEETINGS LAST WEEK.
WE RECEIVED NEWS ON WEDNESDAY
AND THURSDAY LAST WEEK OF
REALLY IMPORTANT WINS.
THIS INCLUDES DISMISSING THE
CASE AGAINST TWO CASES OF
LIBERALLY RELATED LEGISLATION.
FIRST, THE HOTEL WORKER
LEGISLATION WHICH I HAD THE
PLEASURE TO COSPONSOR.
THIS IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE
HAVE ACCESS TO GUARANTEED
HEALTHCARE AS PART OF THEIR JOB.
THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS
WE REMEMBER THAT HOTEL WORKERS
ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE
BACK INJURIES AT A MUCH HIGHER
RATE THAN THAT OF COAL MINERS
AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
MEMBERS.
SO, HEALTHCARE WAS A KEY
COMPONENT OF THIS LEGISLATION
THAT WE PASSED TWO YEARS AGO.
REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT
HEALTHCARE COMPONENT DEFENDED
AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO
PETE HOLMES.
AND OUR WHOLE CITY FAMILY.
THE SECOND LEGISLATION THAT
WERE RECEIVED POSITIVE NEWS
ABOUT WAS GROCERY WORKERS.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO PRIME
SPONSOR THAT ALONG WITH MANY OF
YOU ON COUNCIL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT
ON THIS.
WE ACTED QUICKLY IN THE MONTH
OF JANUARY ALONG WITH MANY
OTHER CITIES.
NOW, GROCERY WORKERS ARE ABLE TO
KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO ACCESS THEIR HAZARD
PAY THAT THEY ARE OWED BECAUSE
THEY ARE IN HAZARD'S WAY AND
GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR
WORK.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HOTEL
WORKERS AND ALSO THE GROCERY
WORKERS ALONG WITH OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN WE DO
THESE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS, IT
CREATES HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
ACROSS SEATTLE.
FINALLY, THANK YOU TO GOVERNOR
INSLEE FOR HIS WORK AND HIS
TEAM'S WORK TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS FROM
RENTAL UNITS.
I MENTIONED THAT I SENT A
LETTER TO GOVERNOR INSLEE TWO
WEEKS AGO.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE ALSO
BEEN REACHING OUT.
WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO HAVE
GOVERNOR INSLEE IN OUR STATE
LEADING THE EFFORTS IN RESPONSE
TO COVID.
OUR STATE IS IN A BETTER PLACE
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING
IN WORKER PROTECTIONS AND
THINGS LIKE RENTAL PRODUCTIONS.
MAKING SURE THAT WE EXTENDED
THE MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS
THROUGH JUNE IS A HUGE
PROPONENT OF MAKING SURE THAT
THERE IS MORE RESILIENCY AND
STABILITY FOR FAMILIES AS MORE
OF OUR ECONOMY OPENS UP.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO
CALL HOME AND TO BE ABLE TO SAY
HOME TO STAY HEALTHY AND ALSO
TO STAY CIVILIZED AS WE WANT
OUR ECONOMY TO STABILIZE AND
OPEN BACK UP.
THANKS AGAIN TO JIM BAUMGART,
JOHN FLANAGAN, AND NICK WHO
I'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST. I
CAN'T BELIEVE I AM
MISPRONOUNCING A LAST NAME.
I AM SORRY VERY MUCH.
IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH
YOU ALL AND APPRECIATE ALL OF
YOUR WORK ON THIS TO EXTEND
THAT MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS.
LAST WEEK, IN CLOSING, I HAD
THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN A
NATIONAL FORUM TO TALK ABOUT
HAZARD PAY.
NOT JUST FOR GROCERY WORKERS
BUT TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT
HAZARD PAY IS PART OF THE
OVERALL PACKAGE OF ALMOST A
DOZEN PIECES OF LEGISLATION
THAT WE AS A CITY COUNCIL HAVE
PASSED IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID
CRISIS HITTING QUOTE, ESSENTIAL
WORKERS THE HARDEST.
RECOGNIZING THAT MANY OF THESE
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, INSTEAD OF
BEING TREATED AS SUCH, WERE
BEING TREATED AS SACRIFICIAL.
WE CANNOT THANK THEM FOR THEIR
SACRIFICE AND LET THEM CONTINUE
TO SUFFER HIGHER RATES OF
CONTRACTING COVID, HIGH RATES
OF DEATH FROM COVID, AND BE
MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE
WORKING IN POSITIONS THAT ARE
PAYING MINIMUM WAGE AT BEST.
WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE
TYPES OF CHANGES THAT WE HAVE
PUT INTO PLACE, BOTH IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND HAVE DONE SO
RECOGNIZING THE CONSEQUENCES OF
COVID.
THIS IS ALL IN RESPONSE TO THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE ALREADY HAD
AN UNEQUAL ECONOMY TO BEGIN
WITH.
THAT TYPE OF INCOME INEQUALITY
THAT WE SAW EXPERIENCED BEFORE
COVID MEANT THAT WE HAD TO ACT
QUICKLY TO STEP IN TO PROVIDE
THINGS LIKE RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
FOOD ASSISTANCE, ADDITIONAL
PROTECTIONS FOR LABOR SUPPORT.
THE CONVERSATION I HAD A CHANCE
TO PARTICIPATE IN INCLUDED
MEMBERS OF THE WHITE HOUSE
ECONOMIC ADVISERS FROM
PRESIDENT BIDEN.
JARED BERNSTEIN.
WAS ON A PANEL WITH THE
GOVERNOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA, TOM
WOLFE, WHO WE ALL TALKED ABOUT
HOW THESE ARE THE TYPES OF
INVESTMENTS WE NEED MOVING
FORWARD SO WE HAVE STRONGER
ECONOMIES TO BEGIN WITH.
WE CAN WEATHER ECONOMIC
DOWNTURNS FOR FUTURE HEALTH
CONSEQUENCES.
IT WAS A REALLY EXCITING
OPPORTUNITY TO FEATURE THE WORK
OF SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND I
WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF
THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION FOR
REACHING OUT AND FEATURING OUR
CITY SO PROMINENTLY IN THE
NATIONAL CONVERSATION.
ALSO HAVE A CHANCE TO JOIN
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AS
WE WERE ON A PANEL PRESENTATION
FOR LATINO ADVOCACY WEEK LAST
WEEK WHICH HELPED TO ADVOCATE
FOR STRONGER CONNECTIONS
BETWEEN THE LATINX COMMUNITY
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
PROVIDING UPDATES FROM PEER TO
PEER, ELECTED TO ELECTED, AS WE
RESPOND TO THE CRISIS OF COVID
AND THINK ABOUT HOW OUR
RECOVERY EFFORTS ARE CENTERED
ON THE LATINX COMMUNITY AND ALL
OF THOSE EFFORTS.
úIT WAS EXCITING TO BE ON THAT
PANEL.
I MET WITH JOHN FROM THE
FIREFIGHTER'S HEALTHONE TEAM
AND GOT AN UPDATE ON HOW THE
HEALTH TWO BAND IS GOING AS WE
ALSO POSITION OURSELVES FOR
OPENING UP THE THIRD BAND THAT
WE FUNDED LAST WEEK.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING MORE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OPENING UP
ADDITIONAL VEHICLES.
AGAIN MY GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE
AT LEAST FIVE VANS, BUT I
UNDERSTAND IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE THE CAPACITY TO OPEN UP
THE HEALTHONE.
WE NEED TO OPEN UP MORE
HEALTHONE VANS, IT IS MORE
ABOUT RECOGNIZING WHAT CAPACITY
HEALTHONE NEEDS IN ORDER TO
OPEN UP THESE VANS.
THAT'S WHY WE PUT IN THE BUDGET
LAST YEAR MORE FUNDING FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
CASE MANAGERS ALLOCATING
ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTER SLOTS TO
HEALTHONE, AND FREEING OUR
FIREFIGHTERS FROM BEING UNDER
THE FLEET REDUCTION POLICY.
THAT IS HOW WE ARE CREATING
GREATER STABILITY AND OPENING
UP MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
HEALTHONE TO RESPOND TO
CRITICAL CALLS.
SO, I THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK
AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW
WE CREATE GREATER STABILITY FOR
HEALTHONE, AND FUTURE OPENINGS
OF VANS FOR THE DIFFERENT
STATIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
I MET WITH FOLKS FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH
SERVICES FOUNDATION REGARDING
THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THEY
ARE DOING UP ON THE BEACON HILL
SITE.
THAT IS THE NORTH LOT OF THE
POWER.
EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
THEM.
AS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES SAID,
PARTICIPATED IN THE BOARD OF
HEALTH MEETING.
WANT TO REITERATE ONE LAST
POINT FROM THE BOARD OF HEALTH
MEETING, AND THEN I THINK I
WILL STOP.
AS PATTY HAYES SAID, WE HAVE
SEEN AN UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF
CASES WITH PEOPLE RELAXING
THEIR RESPONSE TO COVID.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES NOTED
THAT FOR EVERY ONE VACCINE WE
HAVE COMING TO OUR CITY, THERE
ARE EIGHT PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT
VACCINE.
SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE'VE SEEN THE
NUMBER OF COVID CASES INCREASE
BY 18% IN KING COUNTY.
SO, PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO
EVERYTHING WE WERE BEFORE.
ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL OPENINGS
HAPPEN, TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS
THAT YOU NEED TO STAY WITHIN
YOUR OWN FAMILY UNIT AND MAKE
SURE TO CONTINUE TO DOUBLE UP
WHEN YOU ARE WEARING MASKS AND
GOING OUT.
I'LL SAVE THE REST OF MY
COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO
SPARE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR
OTHERS.
I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND FAS FOR ALL THE WORK
THAT THEY HAVE DONE AT THE
LUMEN FIELD.
IF FOLKS ARE INTERFERING IN
VOLUNTEERING LIKE SUE BIRD AND
MEGAN RAPINOE DID, PLEASE GO TO
THE WEBSITE.
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SIGN UP TO
VACCINATE, SORRY, TO SUPPORT AT
THE VACCINATION CLINICS AS
WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND GO DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, THEN COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
OUR TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE HAS FOUR
ITEMS ON TODAY'S FULL CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE FIRST IS HELPING TO CONNECT
PART OF THE REGIONAL RAIL TO
TRAIL PROJECT BY HAVING SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT GRANT A SMALL
EASEMENT TO THE CITY OF
KIRKLAND.
OUR COMMITTEE HELD THE REQUIRED
PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 3rd,
AND THEN RECOMMENDED IT
UNANIMOUSLY ON MARCH 17th.
THE SECOND ITEM, COSPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, ACCEPTS
A GRANT FROM THE PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE.
THIS IS COUNCIL BILL 120017.
MANY THANKS TO COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, AND TO
CITY GOVERNMENT STAFF WHO
ENABLED US TO SECURE THIS GRANT
TO HELP PAY FOR THE RESTORATION
WORK FOR THIS BRIDGE THAT IS SO
IMPORTANT TO THE CITY, THE
REGION, AND THE STATE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE HIGH
BRIDGE REOPENING, WHICH IS
SCHEDULED FOR THE MIDDLE OF
NEXT YEAR.
THE THIRD AND FOURTH ITEMS FROM
OUR COMMITTEE ARE RELATED TO
TECHNOLOGY.
AFTER DISCUSSIONS ON MARCH
THIRD AND MARCH 17th, OUR
COMMITTEE REGARDING -- OUR
COMMITTEE REGARDING THESE
EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES FROM
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED THE SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT REPORTS.
THANKS YOU TOO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR HER AMENDMENT
APPROVED THAT COMMITTEE TO
BETTER ALIGN THE CITY'S TIME
PERIOD FOR RETAINING RECORDS
WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT'S
POLICIES.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I KNOW
SHE WILL SPEAK TO THIS LATER.
SHE ALSO HAS PUBLISHED A
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ON TODAY'S
AGENDA TO HAVE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT EXPLORE THE
FEASIBILITY OF AN ADDITIONAL
COMPUTER SECURITY FEATURE BASED
ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S
RESPONSES DURING OUR COMMITTEE.
THAT IS PUBLISHED ONLINE RIGHT
NOW.
THE SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORTS
ARE PART OF THE SO-CALLED GROUP
2 EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE
MUST EXAMINE THANKS TO THE
CITY'S 2017 AND 2018
SURVEILLANCE ORDINANCE.
WE AGREED TO HAVE A THIRD
COMMITTEE MEETING ON APRIL 7th
TO FINALIZE THE SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT REPORTS ON EXISTING
TECHNOLOGIES RELIED UPON BY SPD.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NEXT
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR MAY BREAK UP THESE
FIVE TECHNOLOGIES, CURRENTLY IN
ONE BILL, AND TO FIVE BILLS
THAT WE CAN BE MORE NIMBLE AT
THE APRIL 7th COMMITTEE.
AS I MENTIONED DURING
COMMITTEE, AMENDMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE DUE
TOMORROW TO CENTRAL STAFF SO
THEY CAN UNDERGO A DOUBLE LEGAL
REVIEW.
THAT INCLUDES A REGULAR LEGAL
REVIEW THAT ALL AMENDMENTS GO
THROUGH I WANT TO THANK OUR
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT.
AND OTHERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
AT THIS STAGE OF THE
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORT
PROCESS.
JUST A REMINDER, WE HAVE GROUP
3 AND GROUP 4 SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT REPORTS COMING SOON.
SO, THIS GROUP 2 WILL GET US
ACCLIMATED TO WHAT IS INVOLVED
IN REVIEWING AND APPROVING
THESE EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES
AFTER THEY HAVE UNDERGONE
THOROUGH REVIEW BY OUR
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT AT SURVEILLANCE
WORKING GROUP.
THE GOOD NEWS FROM AN
ACCOUNTABILITY PERSPECTIVE,
IT'S NOT OVER WHEN COUNCIL
APPROVES THESE ORDINANCES FOR
THE SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORTS.
THEN, OUR CITY AUDITOR AND
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
WORK CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE
TECHNOLOGIES AFTER WE APPROVE
THE REPORTS.
AT COMMITTEE, WE ALSO ACCEPTED
COUNCILMEMBER 120015 WHICH IS A
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT RATES.
THE FULL COUNCIL HOWEVER WILL
VOTE ON THAT NEXT MONDAY, MARCH
29th , INSTEAD OF TODAY, TO
GIVE EVERYONE MORE TIME TO
REVIEW THIS.
THE BILL REAFFIRMS ELECTRICITY
RATES FOR SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
THIS YEAR, AND FOR 2022.
I'M PLEASED THAT CITY LIGHT HAS
MANAGED TO TAKE VARIOUS ACTIONS
THAT WILL AMAZINGLY RESULT IN
NO NET INCREASE TO CUSTOMER
BILLS THIS YEAR.
EACH CUSTOMER'S BILL IS
COMPRISED OF VARIOUS
ELECTRICITY RATES, PAST-DUE
POWER RATES, SURCHARGES, AND
THROUGH A COMBINATION OF
ACTIONS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO
PRESENT AN INCREASE IN BILLS
THIS YEAR.
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT WILL BE
KEEPING THEIR PROMISE FOR NEXT
YEAR, 2022, BY STICKING WITH
THE ORIGINAL RATE PATH AGREED
TO BACK IN 2018.
POSSIBLY ACHIEVING A SMALLER
INCREASE IF THE PASTOR RATE ON
THE BONNEVILLE POWER
ADMINISTRATION COMES IN LOWER.
I APPRECIATE BOTH SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES FOCUSING ON
AFFORDABILITY.
SO, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT
BILL, WHICH IS ON OUR
TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE AGENDA. THERE IS A
GREAT POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
IN THERE.
CITY LIGHT IS AVAILABLE TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AS IS
ERIC McCONAUGHEY FROM CENTRAL
STAFF BEFORE NEXT MONDAY.
OUR NEXT MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL
7th AT 9:30 A.M.
THE COMMITTEE AGENDA WILL
INCLUDE AN UPDATE ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR INTERNET
FOR ALL ACTION PLAN.
THIS PAST FRIDAY, LIKE EVERY
FRIDAY, I HELD VIRTUAL OFFICE
HOURS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
CONSTITUENCY REACHED OUT TO
DISCUSS SAFELY AND HOMELESSNESS
IN OUR CITY PARKS.
I HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF OFFICE
HOURS THIS COMING FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.
LASTLY, I VISITED THE
WALLINGFORD SMALL BUSINESS
DISTRICT ALONG NORTH 45th
STREET.
INCLUDING OUTDOOR SEATING AT
MURPHY'S PUB, AND THE NEWLY
REOPENED OCTOPUS BAR.
WHEN I SPEAK TO BUSINESS OWNERS
IN MY DISTRICT, THEY TELL ME
WHAT THEY WANT NOW MORE THAN
ANYTHING, OUR CUSTOMERS.
THEY WANT TO SEE THEIR REGULAR
CUSTOMERS RETURN AND WELCOME
NEW CUSTOMERS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY
THEY GENERATE ONGOING REVENUE
NEEDED TO REHIRE THEIR WORKERS
AND PAY THEIR COMMERCIAL RENT
AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES.
WITH PHASE THREE NOW OFFICIALLY
IN PLACE TODAY, TO THE EXTENT
YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, MASK UP,
HEAD OUT TO YOUR FAVORITE
CLUSTER OF SMALL BUSINESSES,
WHETHER IT IS EASTLAKE AVENUE,
NORTH E 65th STREET, STORNOWAY,
UNIVERSITY WITH, OR WHICHEVER
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES CLOSEST
TO YOUR HOME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> I JUST HAD TO TAKE THE TIME
TO ADDRESS THE MENU FOR FULL
COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS
BROUGHT TO MY -- OR THE NEED
FOR IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY
ATTENTION DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS RELATES TO THE
AUTHENTICATION USE BY THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR
THEIR SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY
THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
THE COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH
SYSTEM.
CURRENTLY THE DEPARTMENT USES A
AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM THAT IS
NOT A TWO FACTOR VERIFICATION.
INSTEAD IT IS WHAT'S CALLED A
TOKEN-BASED AUTHENTICATION.
IT WORKS BY ENSURING THAT EACH
REQUEST FOR SERVER IS
ACCOMPANIED BY A SIGNED TOKEN
WHICH THE SERVER VERIFIES FOR
AUTHENTICITY, AND ONLY RESPONSE
TO THAT REQUEST.
THIS AMENDMENT ASKS THAT THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT
NO LATER THAN THE END OF THE
THIRD QUARTER ON THE FEASIBILITY
OF USING INSTEAD WHAT'S CALLED
A TWO FACTOR AUTHENTICATION FOR
ACCESS TO DATA ON THE COMPUTER
AIDED DISPATCH SYSTEM.
THIS ADDS A SECOND PIECE OF
INFORMATION, OR A SECOND LAYER
THAT IS NEEDED BEFORE ACCESS IS
GRANTED TO AN ACCOUNT.
THIS PREVENTS SOMEONE FROM
LOGGING IN, EVEN IF THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO A PASSWORD, THUS
ADDING ANOTHER LAYER OF
SECURITY.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
HAS IMPLEMENTED A TWO FACTOR
AUTHENTICATION FOR THEIR SYSTEM
AND THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
HAS SAID THAT TWO FACTOR
AUTHENTICATION IS REQUIRED BY
FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
INFORMATION SERVICES ON SOME OF
ITS SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE FIRE
INVESTIGATIONS UNIT.
IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR
THEIR COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH.
THEY CONFIRM THAT IT IS LIKELY
POSSIBLE TO SET IT UP.
THOUGH THEY DON'T KNOW HOW
DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO
IMPLEMENT.
THAT IS WHY THIS AMENDMENT ASKS
THAT QUESTION OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
HOW DIFFICULT WOULD IT BE TO
IMPLEMENT THIS TWO FACTOR
AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM AND
REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL AT THE
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER?
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
ON EITHER THE AMENDMENT AS
DESCRIBED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, OR COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S REPORT?
OKAY.
GREAT.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I DID
WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I THINK MY
OFFICE COMMUNICATED WITH YOUR
OFFICE, THAT WE AT THIS
JUNCTURE DID NOT HAVE OR INTEND
TO BRING ANY ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE BILL.
THAT WE WERE BRIEFED ON, BUT
DIDN'T TAKE ACTION ON.
I JUST WANTED TO CLOSE THE LOOP
WITH YOU ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER
TECHNOLOGIES WE'VE GOT TO DEAL
WITH AND WANT TO MAKE SURE
THERE IS TIME IN YOUR COMMITTEE
TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE
BIGGER ISSUES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, COLLEAGUES, NEXT UP IS
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, AND THEN
SHOUSE.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL
REMEMBER THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL
LEGISLATION WHICH GUARANTEES A
RIGHT TO EVERY TENANT FACING
EVICTION TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY,
WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR A VOTE
LAST WEEK, BUT UNFORTUNATELY
THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY
COUNCIL VOTED TO DELAY THE VOTE
UNTIL MARCH 29th.
SO, THAT BOAT IS SCHEDULED FOR
NEXT MONDAY, MARCH 29th.
NOT TODAY.
THE LEGISLATION ON RIGHT TO
COUNSEL THAT WAS BROUGHT
FORWARD TO MY OFFICE AND FROM
THE RENTERS RIGHT MOVEMENTS,
AND PASSED BY THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMUNITY IS THE
STRONGEST IN TERMS OF THE
OUTCOME IT WILL HAVE.
THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE
LEGISLATION ON RIGHT TO COUNSEL
BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE
LOOPHOLES LIKE MEANS TESTING.
I APPRECIATE MANY COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE CO-
AUTHORED A LETTER AND SEND IT
TO THE CITY COUNCIL SO THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE
THAT.
IT URGES THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
NOT INCLUDE MEANS TESTING THEY
INCLUDED VERY SOUND ARGUMENTS
TO SUPPORT WHY THEY SAY THAT
MEANS TESTING WILL BE BAD.
AMONG OTHER ITEMS THAT THEY
HAVE RAISED, THE EVICTION
PROCESS IN WASHINGTON STATE
MAKES THE USE OF MEANS TEST
UNWORKABLE.
I THINK IT MEANS TESTED BAD IN
GENERAL, BUT THEY ARE FURTHER
ALSO CORRECTLY POINTING OUT,
THAT SPECIFICALLY IN WASHINGTON
STATE IT WILL BE DIFFICULT
UNTIL THE DAY OF THEIR HEARING.
TENANTS DO NOT COME TO COURT
PREPARED TO PROVIDE
DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER PROOF OF
INCOME.
IF A TENANT IS FOUND TO NOT BE
ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF THEIR MEANS
TESTING, OR OTHERWISE DON'T
HAVE DOCUMENTATION, THERE WILL
NOT BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE TENANT TO OBTAIN COUNSEL.
I HOPE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS'
OFFICES ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT
THAT LETTER.
IT HAS VERY VALUABLE
DOCUMENTATION OF WHY MEANS
TESTING HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN
VARIOUS PLACES.
WHY WE SHOULD FOLLOW A CITY
LIKE SAN FRANCISCO WHICH HAS A
RIGHT TO COUNSEL WITHOUT MEANS
TESTING.
THE NEXT MEETINGOF THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED
FOR ITS REGULAR TIME, TOMORROW,
ARCH 23rd AT 2:00 P.M.
WE WILL HAVE A BRIEFING ON THE
END OF LEASE LOOPHOLE IN
SEATTLE'S JUST CAUSE EVICTION
PROTECTION AND HOW THAT
LOOPHOLE WAS CLOSED IN FEDERAL
WAY.
WE WILL ALSO LOOK AT THE
CURRENT HOUSE BILL AND COST
PROTECTION STATEWIDE'S.
TROUBLING LOOPHOLES, ESPECIALLY
INITIAL TERM LEASES WHICH WAS
SUPPOSED AND PROPOSED BY THE
HOUSE.
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW
MINUTES AGO.
THAT WILL PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE
WITH OVERALL BACKGROUND
INFORMATION SO WE CAN BENEFIT
FUTURE MEETINGS WHICH I PLAN TO
ORGANIZE AND DISCUSS WITH
RENTERS AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS.
AS THE CHAIR OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE, I'M
DEFINITELY COMMITTING TO
CLOSING THE END OF LEASE
LOOPHOLE THIS YEAR.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, DO
SOMETHING MY OFFICE HAS SPENT A
LOT OF TIME OVER THE LAST YEARS
THINK ABOUT AND ALSO LOOKING
FOR A LEGAL WAY TO DO IT.
LIKE THE CURRENT HOUSE BILL
1236, OF COURSE THE LEGISLATION
THAT MY OFFICE WILL BE FIGHTING
FOR WILL CONTAIN NO LANDLORD
LOOPHOLES, NO EXCEPTIONS.
EVERY TENANT NEEDS TO BE
COVERED BY JUST CAUSE
PROTECTIONS, AND FOR THAT WE
WILL NEED -- IT WILL NOT BE
ENOUGH TO PROPOSE, WE WILL NEED
A RENTERS RIGHTS MOVEMENT THAT
WILL FIGHT AGAINST CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AND BECAUSE WITHOUT
THAT FIGHTING STRATEGY WE SEE
WHAT HAPPENS AND WE WILL END UP
GETTING SOMETHING LIKE WHAT
HAPPENED WITH THE STATE HOUSE
BILL WHICH WAS A VERY GOOD BILL.
THEN, ULTIMATELY AMENDMENTS GOT
ADDED.
ON TUESDAY IN THE COMMITTEE, I
WILL BE ANNOUNCING THAT WE ARE
DROPPING THE RESOLUTION TO
STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S CURRENT
JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE AND I HAVE
ASKED CENTRAL STAFF TO BEGIN
WORKING WITH MY OFFICE
IMMEDIATELY ON THE LEGISLATION
DROPPING.
AS I SAID, THE LEGISLATION WOULD
ADD NO LOOPHOLES.
I BELIEVE THE NEW FEDERAL WAY
LAW ENACTED BY OTHER INITIATIVES
SERVES AS A USEFUL TEMPLATE.
I OF COURSE WELCOME ALL
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, INCLUDING
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, WHO
WOULD LIKE TO PUSH FOR SUCH
JUST CAUSE PROTECTIONS SO THAT
WE CAN REMOVE ALL LOOPHOLES.
I ALSO PLAN TO ANNOUNCE AT THE
MEETING THAT WE WILL BEGIN
DRAFTING LEGISLATION BANNING
THE USE OF CREDIT CHECKS AND
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL APPLICATIONS.
AS COUNCILMEMBERS KNOW, THIS IS
A DEMAND THAT HAS COME FROM THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION, WHO
RECENTLY ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE
URGING THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THIS
UP.
ALSO, MY COUNCIL OFFICE WAS
REALLY PLEASED TO COHOST THE
FIRST SEATTLE RIGHTS TRAINING
IN 2021 WHICH HAS BEEN
CORRECTLY REFORMATTED TO
BUILDING TENANT POWER.
THEY ARE CORRECTLY POINTING OUT
THAT IT IS REALLY ABOUT AN
IMBALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN
CORPORATE LANDLORDS AND
INDIVIDUAL RENTERS.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BUILD POWER
IS BY ORGANIZING TENANTS, AND
I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE EAST
SEATTLE DOING THAT AND I'M
REALLY GLAD THAT
IT'S REALLY CRUCIAL TO SEE THAT
THEY ARE USING THIS FUNDING TO
MAKE SURE THAT RENTERS KNOW
THEIR RIGHTS, BUT NOT AND THEIR
YEAR.
INAT THE TABLE TOMORROW, WE
ALSO HOPE TO DISCUSS A MEET
WITH A FUTURE APPOINTEE, WHO
WORKS FOR THE SUNRISE MOVEMENT.
FINALLY, THE COMMITTEE WILL
DISCUSS WITH CLIMATE ACTIVISTS
FROM CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND 350
ABOUT ELECTRIFYING SEATTLE'S
INFRASTRUCTURE.
ALSO, I WANTED TO EXPRESS
SOLIDARITY, AND CONGRATULATIONS
TO UFCW AND GROCERY STORE
WORKERS WHO WON A VICTORY THIS
WEEK, AS A JUDGE DROPPED DOWN
THE LAWSUIT BROUGHT DOWN BY
MASSIVE GROCERY STORE CHAINS
BROUGHT DOWN BY WORKERS DURING
THIS HISTORIC PANDEMIC, AND
ALSO SOLIDARITY WITH ALL
ESSENTIAL AND FRONTLINE
WORKERS.
ALL OF WHOM DESERVE THE SAME
HAZARD PAY.
I STAND STRONGLY WITH ALL THE
WORKERS AND UNIONS WHO WANT TO
FIGHT FOR HAZARD PAY AND
WORKER'S RIGHTS IN THESE TIMES
OF EXTREMETIVITY.
SEVERAL RETAILERS HAVE NOT BEEN
SHARED IN PART WITH THEIR
WORKERS ACCORDING TO AN
ANALYSIS OF 13 MAJOR COMPANIES,
A REFLECTION OF HOW THE
PANDEMIC HAS WORSENED THE
COUNTRY'S ALREADY PRONOUNCED
ISSUES WITH INEQUALITY.
THE PROFITS ROSE AT THESE
COMPANIES SOME $16.7 BILLION,
OR 40% THIS YEAR, WITH THE
AVERAGE PAY FOR THEIR FRONTLINE
WORKERS WAS UP ONLY $1.11 AN
HOUR, OR 10% SINCE THE PANDEMIC
BEGAN.
THAT'S A QUOTE FROM "THE
WASHINGTON POST."
IN DISMISSING THE CASE, THE
JUDGE'S RULING NOTED THAT THE
CORPORATE PRODUCERS ARE MAKING
RECORD BREAKING PROFIT AND THE
GROCERY STORE EMPLOYEES ARE AT
SIGNIFICANTLY HEIGHTENED RISK
OF CONTRACTING COVID-19.
SO THIS IS, I REALLY AGREE A
VERY IMPORTANT RULING FROM THE
COURTS.
AN OP-ED FROM ME WAS PUBLISHED
THIS MORNING IN THE URBANIST.
MOST IMMEDIATELY, IT WAS BY THE
RECENT GAS FIRING IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT, BUT OF COURSE
THE GAS FIRE TINS BROUGHT UP
LARGER AND PREEXISTING
QUESTIONS ABOUT COMMUNITY
SAFETY, ENDING THE CLIMATE
CRISIS.
JUST TO QUOTE VERY BRIEFLY FROM
THE OP-ED, AS I SAY, WHEN IT
COMES TO CLIMATE JUSTICE, PSE
IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.
FULLY 60% OF PSE'S POWER
GENERATION ARE COAL AND GAS,
BOTH OF WHICH ARE MAJOR
CONTRIBUTORS TO POLLUTION.
GAS MAY BE GOOD FOR PSE
SHAREHOLDERS, THE COMPANY
BOASTS OF NEARLY $1 BILLION IN
PROFITS BETWEEN 2016 AND 2019,
BUT THOSE PROFITS ARE
DESTROYING THE PLANET.
GAS IS THE FASTEST GROWING
SOURCE OF CLIENT POLLUTION IN
WASHINGTON, ACCORDING TO A
RECENT REPORT BY THE SIGHT LINE
INSTITUTE.
AS CUSTOMER MEMBERS HAVE CALLED
FOR THE STATE COMMISSION TO
LOOK INTO NOT ONLY THIS
INCIDENT, BUT ALSO, FOR AN
OVERALL INVESTIGATION ON PSE'S
PRACTICES, BUT IT ALSO MAKES
THE POINT THAT PSE EXECUTIVES
WILL NEVER ABANDON GAS AND
COAL, BECAUSE THOSE FOSSIL
FUELS ARE WHAT FEEDS THE
COMPANY'S PROFITS AND WE NEED
TO FUEL A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO
BRING CORPORATIONS UNDER
CONTROL OF DEMOCRATIC WORKERS
SO WE CAN RENEW THESE COMPANIES
WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SERVE
PEOPLE AND THE PLANET, NOT
PROFITS.
WORKERS ABILITY COMMUNITIES NOT
PRIVATE INVESTORS NEED TO OWN
THE RESOURCES DEMOCRATICALLY,
IF WE ARE TO EVEN BEGIN THE
TRANSITION OF FOSSIL FUELS.
LAST MONDAY, MY OFFICE BROUGHT
A RESOLUTION TO URGE THE MAYOR
AND THE GOVERNOR TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM TO THE END OF 2021.
AS WE KNOW, AT LEAST 48
ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY AND
LABOR HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THIS,
AND EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM TO
AT LEAST THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AS WE KNOW, 43 MINUTES BEFORE
THE COUNCIL WAS TO VOTE ON THAT
RESOLUTION, MAYOR DURKAN
FINALLY RESPOND TODAY OUR
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT, AND
EXTENDED THE MORATORIUM FOR
THREE MONTHS TO THE END OF
JUNE, AND THURSDAY, GOVERNOR
INSLEE DID THE SAME.
THIS IS NOT EVERYTHING RENTERS
NEED AND THE MOVEMENT HAS BEEN
DEMANDING, AND DEMONSTRATES
WHEN WE FIGHT, QUESTION WIN.
OUR RESOLUTION IS NOW FOR THE
FIRST WEEK IN JUNE, SO IF THE
MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR FAIL TO
EXTEND THE MORATORIUM TO THE
END OF 2021 BEFORE THEM,
RENTER'S RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND
COMMUNITY WILL HAVE THAT READY
AT THAT TIME.
SOURCES LIKE SO MANY
ORGANIZATIONS ARE HORRIFIED BY
THE MURDERS OF EIGHT PEOPLE,
INCLUDING SIX ASIAN WORKING
CLASS WOMEN IN ATLANTA SOME
DAYS AGO.
CONDOLENCES AND SOLIDARITY TO
THE GRIEVING FAMILY MEMBERS AND
FRIENDS.
IT IS VITAL WE ALL STAND WITH
OUR ASIAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORS AS
WE STAND WITH OUR BLACK AND
BROWN NEIGHBORS AGAINST THE
SPIKE IN HATE CRIMES HAPPENING
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DRIVEN BY
THE FAR RIGHT'S HATE, RACIST,
AND XENOPHOBIC RHETORIC AROUND
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
WE KNOW THIS UPTICK WAS STOKED
BY A FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
BRANDING OF COVID AS THE CHINA
VIRUS OR THE KUNG FLU, FANNING
THE FLAMES AGAINST ASIAN-
AMERICANS.
WHILE DETAILS ARE STILL
EMERGING, THE PERPETRATOR HAS
REVEALED THAT HE TARGETED THESE
BUSINESSES THROUGH A DEEPLY
HELD SEXISM AS WELL.
SO THIS IS REALLY A HATE CRIME,
MOTIVATED BY XENOPHOBIA,
BIGOTRY AND ALSO MISOGYNY.
HORRIFICALLY, HE SAID HE
TARGETS THESE BUSINESSES
PROVIDING AN OUTLET TO HIS
ADDICTION TO SEX, INDICATING HE
PURCHASED SEX FROM THE WOMEN HE
KILLED.
IF THIS IS TRUE, THIS IS A
GROTESQUE ILLUSTRATION OF THE
EXTREME VIOLENCE SEX WORKERS
ARE EXPOSED TO, AND WHY IT
RANKS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
JOBS.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HE
PATRONIZED THESEBUSINESSES OR
NOT, WE KNOW WE HAVE TO FIGHT
BACK AGAINST THE FETISHIZING
AND OVERSEXUALIZING OF
BUSINESSES AS A WHOLE AND FIGHT
AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
IN THE COMMUNITY PROTEST
AGAINST VIOLENCE PROVIDED
POWERFUL TESTIMONY FROM THE
PROTEST AND THAT LINK HAS BEEN
SHARED ON A BLOG POST FROM MY
OFFICE.
I URGE PUBLIC MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBERS
TO LOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE IT
DEMONSTRATES THAT THESE ATTACKS
WERE NOT FINANCIALLY MOTIVATED,
BUT WERE BASED IN BIGOTRY, AND
IT'S VERY DANGEROUS, AND WE
HAVE TO PUSH BACK AND WE HAVE
TO MAKE IT CLEAR THE SOLUTION,
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M
ECHOING FROM PROTESTS THAT
BROKE OUT ALL THE WAY FROM LOS
ANGELES TO D.C. IN RESPONSE TO
THIS HORRIFIC CRIME IN ATLANTA,
AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID THE
SOLUTION IS NOT MORE POLICE IN
SEATTLE, THE SOLUTION IS NOT
MORE POLICE ON THE STREETS, AS
SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF DIAZ HAS
SUGGESTED.
STATISTICS SHOW THAT INCREASING
POLICE IS NOT WHAT KEEPS US
SAFE.
IT IS AS WOMEN AND WORKERS AND
IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR,
PUBLIC SAFETY IS DRAMATICALLY
IMPROVED BY SUBSTANTIAL
PROGRESSIVE VICTORIES AGAINST
INEQUALITY, ESPECIALLY RACIAL
AND GENDER INEQUALITY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS
THE INEQUALITY IN OUR CITY, AND
MAKE SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS
ARE PROTECTED AGAINST SUCH
VIOLENT ATTACKS, ANDWE REALLY
ADDRESS THE CULTURE OF BIGOTRY
AND HATRED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WE'LL MOVE DOWN
THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, AND THEN WE'LL HEAR
FROM COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
IN LINE WITH WHAT A NUMBER OF
US HAVE SAID PREVIOUSLY, I WANT
TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY DEEP
SADNESS AND ANGER AT THE
ANTIHATE CRIMES IN ATLANTA,
GEORGIA.
LAST MAY, MY DISTRICT
EXPERIENCED TWO REPORTED ANTI-
ASIAN ATTACKS AND AN UNKNOWN
NUMBER OF UNREPORTED INCIDENTS.
I EXPRESS MY SOLIDARITY WITH
THE ASIAN ISLANDER COMMUNITY
HERE, AND ACROSS OUR NATION.
MOVING ONTO MORE REGULAR
BUSINESS AT THIS TIME.
THERE ARE 11 ITEMS FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE ON
TODAY'S INTRODUCTION AND
REDUCTION CALENDAR
APPOINTMENTS TO THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION AND COUNCIL
BILL 10021, WHICH IMPOSES
LANDMARK CONTROLS ON THE
SWEDISH CLUB IN QUEEN ANNE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR LAND
USE.
THE NEXT USE IS THIS WEDNESDAY
MARCH 24th STARTING AT 9:30
A.M.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA, WHICH IS A BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON
COUNCILMEMBER 01121.
A BRIEFING FROM SDCI ON THEIR
QUARTERLY TREE REPORT.
A BRIEFING ON THEIR FIRST
PERMITTING REPORT.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THIS
IN THE COMMITTEE, AT THE LAST
COMMITTEE.
THE REPORT HADN'T BEEN RELEASED
FROM UPSTAIRS YET.
I GOT MY WHITE BOARD OUT, WE
WERE GETTING IT IN, EXPLAINING
THE PERMITTING PROCESSES, AND
CHOKEHOLDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
BUT THE COMMITTEE RAN LONG, SO
THAT REPORT IS NOT RELEASED, I
WILL TURN BACK TO THE WHITE
BOARD.
LAST WEEK, I RECEIVED AN UPDATE
FROM PRESIDING JUDGE GREGORY
ABOUT SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT'S
REFORMS TO THEIR PROM.
I JUST WANTS TO THANK THE
SEATTLE COURT AND PRESIDING
JUDGE GREGORY FOR THEIR WORK.
THEY ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN
2020, AND I'LL BE EXCITED TO
HEAR MORE THE NEXT TIME I MEET
WITH THEM.
I WAS GOING TO MEET WITH CHIEF
DIAZ.
I DID CHECK IN WITH OUR CITY
BUDGET OFFICE DIRECTOR NOBLE,
AND WE DISCUSSED REVENUE
UPDATES AND DISCUSSED THE NEW
FEDERAL FUNDING.
ON WEDNESDAY OF LAST WEEK, I
ATTENDED THE INTERNATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AND I
HEALTH HOURS FROM 2 TO 6:00
P.M.
ON THURSDAY.
AS WELL AS FRIDAY, I MET WITH
SALLY CLARK, IN THE MARITIME
AND INDUSTRIAL ADVISING GROUP,
AND I ENDED MY WEEK, CONNECTED
WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE
NEIGHBORHOOD BLOGS, MIKE
BALLARD FOR THE MONTHLY Q AND
A. THIS COMING WEEK, I'M BE
ATTENDING THE COMMUNITY MEETING
TONIGHT.
I WILL BE MEETING WITH THE
DIRECTOR OF ARTS AND CULTURE AS
WELL AS SUPERINTENDENT GARY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING
WITH THE GREENLAKE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, AND ON WEDNESDAY,
MEETING WITH THE CHIEF OF
POLICE AS DISCUSSED.
ALSO MEETING WITH ADAM
EISENBERG, ABOUT THE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROJECT.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT A TWO HOUR IN-
DEPTH BRIEFING FROM SEATTLE
CITY AND LIGHT TO RATE CHANGES
SO THAT WE CAN BE PREPARED TO
VOTE NEXT WEEK, AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN FOR
PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY THIS
WEEK TO LEARN MORE.
ON THURSDAY, I'LL BE ATTENDING
PUGET SOUND COUNCIL.
I'LL BE JOINING THE MARITIME
INDUSTRIAL MEETING.
I'LL BE HOSTING OFFICE HOURS
FROM 2 TO 6:00 P.M.
THURSDAY.
ON FRIDAY, I'LL CONTINUE TO
WORK ON THE LONG TERM CHANGES
FOR THE DISTRICT TRIANGLE.
LAST WEEK, I HAD CORONAVIRUSES
WITH NEIGHBORHOODS GREENWOOD,
PHINNEY RIDGE, OLYMPIC MANNER,
CROWNHILL, AND A COUPLE PLACES
IN BALLARD.
WE SPOKE ABOUT RESIDENT CASE
WORK.
TALKED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF
LIFE ISSUES FACING OUR
COMMUNITY.
FIRST RESPONDER RESPONSE TIMES
AND HOMELESSNESS.
I HAD TWO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THE NEED AND HOW TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS AT THE SCALE OF
THE CRISIS.
ONE INDIVIDUAL BROUGHT UP THE
FUNCTIONAL ZERO AND BINAME
LISTS.
ANOTHER NOTED THE FACT THAT WE
NEED ADEQUATE PLACES FOR PEOPLE
TO GO BECAUSE FROM THEIR
OPINION, PUSHING PEOPLE AROUND
ON ONE SIDE, AND JUST THE
CURRENT SITUATION OF COMPLETE
HANDS OFF.
NEITHER IS WORKING.
ANOTHER RESIDENT TALKED TO ME
ABOUT THE FIRST HAND IMPACTS OF
ZONING CHANGES MADE A FEW YEARS
AGO AND THE EXTENSIVE
CONSTRUCTION NOISE, AS WELL AS
ANOTHER RESIDENT SPOKE ABOUT
THE SAME MEETING SPOKE ABOUT AN
SDCI COMPLAINT ON A NEIGHBORING
PROPERTY, AND THANKED ME FOR
THE WORK ON THE YONDER SIDE
BILL, WHICH WAS REGARDING AN
SDCI COMPLAINT.
ASTLY, I DID SPEAK TO A SINGLE
MOM, WHO IS AN ESSENTIAL WORKER
ABOUT THE REAL IMPACTS OF NOT
HAVING CHILDCARE.
SHE WANTED ME TO SHARE SOME OF
THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD
BECAUSE OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS,
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU
ADDRESSED THIS PREVIOUSLY.
FOR THE CHILDCARE THAT THIS
PERSON USES HERE IN DISTRICT 6,
AFTER SCHOOL CHILDCARE GOES FOR
A RATE OF $220 PER MONTH, AND
FULL TIME CHILDCARE GOES FOR
$1,100 PER MONTH.
THAT'S AN $880 DIFFERENCE.
THERE ARE SCHOLARSHIPS
AVAILABLE AND SO SCHOLARSHIP
FOR AFTER SCHOOL BRINGS 220
DOWN TO 120 PER MONTH, OR A
SCHOLARSHIP FOR FULL TIME
CHILDCARE BRINGS $1,100 A MONTH
DOWN TO $620 A MONTH.
SO EVEN WITH THAT SCHOLARSHIP,
THAT'S AN INCREASE OF $500 PER
MONTH.
IT MIGHT, FOR MANY PEOPLE, $500
A MONTH, IF YOU HAVE TWO
INCOMES YOU'VE GOT HELP AT
HOME, IT MIGHT NOT FEEL AS BIG
OF AN IMPACT AS IT FEELS TO SO
MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE
EITHER A $500, OR $880 A MONTH
INCREASE IN YOUR BUDGET WITHOUT
SALARY SAVINGS IS AN INCREDIBLE
BURDEN TO HOLD.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO HAVE
MORE AFFORDABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE
CHILDCARE ACROSS THE CITY.
THIS WAS WHY MY FIRST BILL WAS
ABOUT REDUCING PERMITTING
CONDITIONAL PERMITS ON
CHILDCARE FACILITIES TO SITE
THEM, SO WE CAN GET THEM IN
FASTER.
AND I GUESS, I JUST WANTED TO
TAKE THIS MOMENT WHILE I HAD
EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO SHARE
THIS IMPACT THAT I HAD ABOUT
OFFICE HOURS, BECAUSE AGAIN,
WITHOUT A SCHOLARSHIP, THE
DIFFERENCE PER MONTH IS AN $880
INCREASE WITH THE SCHOLARSHIP
IT'S STILL A $500 INCREASE.
FOR A SINGLE MOM WHO IS HAVING
TO WORK, JUGGLING CHILDCARE
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THEN ALSO
HAVING THESE COSTS SKYROCKETED,
IT HAS PUT AN INCREDIBLE BURDEN
ON HER SHOULDERS.
SO I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER
WORK, CONTINUING THROUGHOUT
THIS PANDEMIC AS AN ESSENTIAL
WORKER, AND THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES FOR TAKING THE TIME
TO LISTEN TO THIS REPORT.
LASTLY, AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD
TO SPEAKING WITH D6 RESIDENTS
THIS THURSDAY FROM 2:00 TO 6:00
P.M.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND
COLLEAGUES, THAT IS MY REPORT.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES WE'RE GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND MOVE DOWN THE
LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE DOES NOT HAVE ANY
ITEMS ON THE WHOLE COUNCIL
AGENDA TODAY AT 2:00, BUT THE
COMMITTEE IS MEETING TOMORROW
MORNING AT 9:30 A.M.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
THE FIRST IS THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL WITH
BE US TO PRESENT THEIR 2020
ANNUAL REPORT.
SECONDLY, COUNCILMEMBER 119981
REGARDING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
I HAVE A SUBSTITUTE VERSION
THAT I'M PLANNING ON PROPOSING
IN COMMITTEE TOMORROW, THAT I
HOPE TO CIRCULATE SHORTLY.
THE COMMITTEE
EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS SEATTLE
I.T.
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS
AN EXCEPTION, SO THIS FUNDING
WOULD ALLOW SEATTLE I.T.
TO DO THAT PIECE OF THE PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE WORK.
IT ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR
EVIDENCE STORAGE FACILITIES, AS
RECOMMENDED BY THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS FOUND
THAT SEATTLE POLICE EVIDENCE
STORAGE FACILITY IS INADEQUATE,
LEADING TO IMPROPER
DEINSTRUCTION OF DNA EVIDENCE,
AND PURGING EVIDENCE FROM AN
UNKNOWN NUMBER OF HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATIONS.
FINALLY, IT CREATES FIVE NEW
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONDER
CONDITIONS IN TO ASSIST POLICE
OFFICERS IN RESPONDING TO
SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS AN
ARMED PERSON IN CRISIS, AND
POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE PUBLIC
AND OFFICERS.
IT ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR 2
MILLION FOR THE PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING PROGRAM, AND CENTRAL
STAFF ESTIMATES THAT THE $7.7
MILLION FROM UNFILLED OFFICER
POSITIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE
DURING 2021 AND THAT IS WHERE
THE FUNDING FOR FULFILLING THE
REQUESTS FROM THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS
FULFILLING THE OBJECTIVE OF
ADDING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
TO PARTICIPATORY BUDGET COME
FROM.
IT COMES FROM $7.7 MILLION IN
SALARY SAVINGS FROM UNFILLED
OFFICER POSITIONS THAT WILL BE
AVAILABLE DURING 2021.
ALSO, AS I'VE MENTIONED ON
NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, WE ARE, OF
COURSE UNDER A CONSENT DECREE
WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE, THE FEDERAL MONITOR
AND JUDGE HAVE EXPRESSED
INTEREST IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, AND ARE
FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCE.
EARLY THIS MORNING, THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A
LETTER FROM THE MONITOR THAT
STATES THE MONITORING TEAM ASKS
THAT THESE QUESTIONS, INCLUDE
SOME QUESTIONS BE ANSWERED AS
EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE, AND
PRIOR TO FURTHER ACTIONS BY THE
CITY ON THE BUDGET OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UPON RECEIPT OF THE ANALYSIS,
THE MONITORING TEAM WILL CONFER
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AND ADVISE THE COURT.
SO EVEN WITH ANY COMMITTEE
ACTION TOMORROW, IT'S VERY
LIKELY THAT ANY FINAL FULL
COUNCIL ACTION WILL HAVE TO
WAIT UNTIL THE MONITOR ADVISE
THE COURT.
I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
QUESTIONS IN THE MONITOR'S
LETTER ARE QUESTIONS TO A
CERTAIN EXTENT ARE REALLY
FOCUSED ON THE INTRODUCE BILL,
NOT ON THE SUBSTITUTE BILL, SO
I OF COURSE WILL BE SENDING THE
MONITOR A COPY OF THE BILL AS
WELL.
AS FAR AS OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
UPDATE, AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
THIS MORNING, MORE GROUPS ARE
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE COVID
VACCINATION IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
PEOPLE 16 YEARS OR OLDER WHO
ARE PREGNANT.
PEOPLE 16 YEARS OLD, OR OLDER
WHO HAVE A DISABILITY, THAT
PUTS THEM AT HIGH RISK FOR
ILLNESS.
AND HIGH RISK CRITICAL WORKERS
WHO WORK IN SETTINGS SUCH AS
AGRICULTURE, GROCERY STORES,
CORRECTIONS, PUBLIC TRANSIT,
AND MORE.
AND OF COURSE, GOVERNOR INSLEE
HAS ANNOUNCED ANOTHER GROUP
THAT BECOME ELIGIBLE ON MARCH
31st.
IF YOUR VACCINE ELIGIBLE, AND
HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED
VACCINATION, YOU CAN JOIN THE
CITY'S NOTIFICATION LIST.
YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL WHEN
A DOSE BECOMES AVAILABLE TO
YOU, AND YOU CAN SCHEDULE IT
FOR ANY OF THE THREE OF THE
CITY'S VACCINATION SITES.
YOU CAN CHOOSE WEST SEATTLE.
YOU CAN SIGN UP AT
SEATTLE.GOV/VACCINE, OR CALL
206-684-2489, AND OF COURSE THE
VACCINATION IS FREE.
MY WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT VACCINATION,
VACCINATION TEAMS HAVE
ADMINISTERED 28,242 VACCINES
THROUGH MARCH 20th.
AND 681,000 TESTS THAT'S A
CUMULATIVE AMOUNT OF TESTING
THROUGH MARCH 20th.
I KNOW THAT THE EXECUTIVE HAS
INDICATED THAT THERE MAY NEED
TO BE CHANGES AROUND TEST
SIGHTING TO ACCOMMODATE MORE
VACCINATIONS.
CURRENTLY THERE IS MORE
VACCINATION, THEY'RE EXPLORING
HAVING ONLY VACCINATION AT THAT
SITE, AND IF SO, THERE MAY NEED
TO BE, I BELIEVE THERE MAY NEED
TO BE ADDITIONAL TESTING SITES
AS SOME FOLKS HAVE NOTED TODAY.
THE INFECTION RATES IN KING
COUNTY AND SEATTLE ARE NOT
GOING DOWN OVER THESE LAST SIX
WEEKS.
SO I THINK THERE IS STILL A
GREAT NEED FOR TESTING AND I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THE EXECUTIVE ON IDENTIFYING
ADDITIONAL TESTING SITES IF
THEY DO INTEND TO ELIMINATE THE
TESTING AVAILABLE CURRENTLY AT
THE SOUTHWEST FACILITY.
AS FAR AS TESTING UPDATES, JUST
A FEW THINGS AT HSD, THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED
THAT I PASS ON THIS WEEK.
THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
HAS BEEN EXTENDED.
SO IF YOUR FINANCES HAVE BEEN
IMPACTED BY COVID, THE CITY
WILL HELP KEEP THE SERVICES ON,
AND OFFER RELIEF TO UTILITY
CUSTOMERS, BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL.
YOU CAN CALL 206-683-3000 AND
LEARN MORE.
ALSO HSD'S HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT YOUTH AND FAMILY
EMPOWERMENT DIVISION HOSTED THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY CAPACITY
BUILDING RFP SESSION ON MARCH
11th.
THERE WERE 61 ATTENDEES.
THE PRESENTATION AND A
RECORDING OF THE SESSION IN
ADDITION TO TRANSLATING
GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION
REQUIREMENTS ARE POSTED TO
HSD'S FUNDING WEBSITE, AND THEY
WILL CONTINUE TO FIELD
QUESTIONS THROUGH APRIL 5th,
AND POST THEM TO THE
SEATTLE.GOV/HUMAN SERVICES
SITE.
LASTLY, THE AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES CASE
MANAGERS CONTINUE TO CONTACT
CLIENTS THAT THEY HAVE WHO NEED
TO RECEIVE, OR WHO ARE
RECEIVING LONG TERM SERVICES
AND SUPPORTS FOR THEIR, TO
ASSIST THEM IN DOING SORT OF
HANDS ON EFFORT WITH THESE
INDIVIDUALS FOR ENROLLMENT AT
MASS VACCINATION CLINICS.
AS WE HAVE ALL DISCUSSED, I
KNOW WE ALL SHARE THE SHOCK,
THE SADNESS, THE ANGER ABOUT
THE MURDERS IN ATLANTA LAST
WEEK.
THIS HORRIBLE HATE CRIME WHERE
EIGHT PEOPLE WERE MURDERED.
SIX OF THEM ASIAN-AMERICAN
WOMEN.
IT IS A ECHOING OF RECENT
VIOLENCE THAT WE HAVE SEEN HERE
IN SEATTLE.
IT'S PART OF A NATIONWIDE
TREND.
LOOKING AT WHAT HAS BEEN GOING
ON HERE IN SEATTLE, I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP
IN MIND THE LONG HISTORY OF
ASIAN PREJUDICE AND VIOLENCE IN
OUR OWN CITY, WHICH DATES BACK
TO THE 19th CENTURY.
DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION
TARGETING CHINESE RESIDENTS IN
1885, AND THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY
MOB VIOLENCE TO EXPEL CHINESE
RESIDENTS FROM SEATTLE IN 1886.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FOLLOW
THE LEAD OF COMMUNITY IN
RESPONDING TO THIS.
AND BIG THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR DRAFTING THE
LETTER THAT THE COUNCIL SENT
TWO WEEKS AGO, STATING
SOLIDARITY WITH THE ASIAN-
AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND
CONDEMNING HATE CRIMES AND
REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT
WE ARE ALL WORKING TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CENTER OUR
FEELINGS AND OUR CONCERN AND
REALLY WORKING TO LIFT UP THE
VOICES OF ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMEN
WHO EXPERIENCE THIS VIOLENCE IN
THEIR DAY-TO-DAY WALKS OF LIFE.
AS FAR AS EVENTS COMING UP THIS
WEEK, I HAVE THE REGIONAL LAW
SAFETY AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE
MEETING ON THURSDAY.
ON FRIDAY THERE'S A SPECIAL
REGIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE
MEETING COMING UP.
I HAVE OFFICE HOURS ON FRIDAY
BETWEEN 2:00 AND 6:00 P.M.
AND THEN ALSO THIS WEEK, I'LL
BE ATTENDING THE HIGHLAND PARK
ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING TO
TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THEN LASTLY, JUST A COUPLE
OF THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION
FROM LAST WEEK.
THURSDAY I ATTENDED WORKING
WASHINGTON'S PAY UP EVENT.
THIS EVENT WAS THE LAUNCH OF
THEIR CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT AT
FACE WORKERS AND SUPPORT
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THESE
CONTRACT WORKERS.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
CAMPAIGN, AND EXCITED IN
WORKING ON SOME OF THE ISSUES
ASSOCIATED WITH AT BASE WORKERS
IN COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
COMMITTEE NEXT MONTH.
THEN ALSO, I ATTENDED AN ONLINE
COMMITTEE MEETING THAT THE
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES
SPONSORED LAST WEEK.
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES BEGAN
THE PROCESS FOR REPLACING THE
FAUNTLEROY FERRY TERMINAL.
YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S A LOT
OF INTEREST IN WEST SEATTLE,
AND ALSO IN THE SURROUNDING NON-
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITIES, THE
COMMUTER COMMITTEES ABOUT THE
PLAN TO REPLACE THE TERMINAL.
THE MEETINGS THAT THEY'RE
HOLDING ARE REALLY TO BEGIN
THIS PROCESS AND ALSO MY STAFF
HAS BEEN TRACKING THIS EFFORT
AS WELL, AND HAS BEEN WORKING
TO ATTEND ALL THE MEETINGS TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEARING
FROM COMMUNITIES ABOUT THEIR
CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACTS.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, YOU'RE UP NEXT, THEN
AFTER COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
COLLEAGUES.
I WILL BE VERY BRIEF AND LAUNCH
INTO MY REPORT.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE WHICH
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES
ASSISTED ME WITH, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
WE THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE
SNOQUALMIE CHIEF ANDY DELOS
ANGELES WHO PASSED AWAY JANUARY
21st, 2021.
HE LEAVES BEHIND A HUGE LEGACY
FOR MEMBERS OF THE SNOQUALMIE
TRIBE.
SEATTLE RESIDENTS AND
WASHINGTON STATE TRIBES.
IN HIS HONOR I HAVE INVITED
MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY TO THIS
AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TO ACCEPT A PROCLAMATION WHICH
DESCRIBES CHIEF ANDY'S LEGACY,
AND SOME OF YOU WILL REMEMBER,
I'VE TALKED ABOUT ANDY LAST
WEEK AS I SHARED, I'VE KNOWN
SINCE I WAS A YOUNG TEEN.
I WILL SHARE MORE OF THAT AT
2:00.
OUR OFFICE DID CIRCULATE THE
PROCLAMATION LAST FRIDAY.
I WANT TO AGAIN THANK
COUNCILMEMBER'S OFFICE FOR
SCHEDULING THIS IMPORTANT
DESIGNATION.
I'M READY FOR A ROLE CALL VOTE
IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROCLAMATION
WHEN YOU'RE READY.
>> SIGNATURES AS YOU JUST HEARD
COLLEAGUES WILL NEED TO BE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION
BEFORE IT IS PRESENTED AT 2:00
THIS AFTERNOON.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE CLERK
WHICH COUNCILMEMBER SIGNATURES
AFFIXED, BUT FIRST, ARE THERE
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO
THROUGH THE ROLE CALL?
HEARING NO QUESTIONS, WILL THE
CLERK CALL THE ROLE TO HEAR WHO
WOULD LIKE THEIR NAME ATTACHED.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, BACK TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SO RATHERRING THE PUBLIC ASSETS
COMMITTEE, THERE ARE NO ITEMS
FROM OUR COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S
AFTERNOON AGENDA.
IN REGARDS TO PARKS A QUICK
UPDATE AS I DO NORMALLY EVERY
MONDAY, UNDER THE CLEAN CITY
INITIATIVE FROM MARCH 1st TO
THE 7th, CLEANING CITY CREWS
PICKED UP 71,000 POUNDS OF
TRASH AND ABOUT 2,000 NEEDLES.
THEY PICKED UP AT 60
ENCAMPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY.
THIS WEEK, THEY EMPHASIZED
CLEANING AT DENNY PARK AND
OXBOW PARK.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION, FOOD
LIFELINE DISTRIBUTED EMERGENCY
FOOD TO ABOUT 1500 INDIVIDUALS
AND FAMILIES ON MARCH 17th
REGARDS TO CHILD CARE, THE
PARK'S DEPARTMENT SERVED 290
CHILDREN AT 17 SITES.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE OUR NUMBERS
ARE REALLY STABILIZING.
SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.
THE CAR KEY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
FEASIBILITY STUDY ON MARCH
12th, PARKS RECEIVED A FINAL
REPORT OF THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
REPLACEMENT FACILITY,
FEASIBILITY STUDY LED BY RHC
ENGINEERING.
THE REPORT DETAILS THE
CONDITION OF THE CURRENT BRIDGE
AND LAYS OUT RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT.
THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME I
BELIEVE ON MY NEXT MONDAY
UPDATE.
NATIVE COMMUNITIES AS SOME OF
YOU KNOW, I HAD TO LEAVE A
COUNCIL MEETING EARLY LAST
MONDAY, SO THANK YOU FOR
LETTING ME GO FIRST, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THE VACCINATION PARTNERSHIP.
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER BOARD
VACCINATED 155 FRONTLINE STAFF
FROM THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ON MONDAY, MARCH 15th,
INCLUDING CUSTODIANS, NUTRITION
SERVICES STAFF, SPECIAL
EDUCATION TEACHERS AND
INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES.
THIS WAS THE CORONAVIRUS
BETWEEN SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENT, AND CEO OF THE
SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD.
THEY COORDINATED EXTRA SUPPLY
OF VACCINES AND SIMPLY TARGETED
A CRUCIAL POPULATION OF
FRONTLINE WORKERS.
AGAIN, THE CITY MUST CONTINUE
TO EMPOWER OUR TRUSTED
COMMUNITY MESSENGERS TO
DISTRIBUTE VACCINES.
UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL
ARCHIVES.
ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17th, MY
OFFICE PARTICIPATED IN A
CONFERENCE HOSTED BY A NUMBER
OF FEDERAL AGENCIES TO LISTEN
TO THE CONCERNS RAISED BY OVER
20 PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTED.
THERE WAS AN OVERWHELMING
CONCERN FOR THE ABSENCE OF
TRIBAL CONSULTATION.
IF YOU RECALL, THREE WEEKS AGO,
JUDGE KUNAR DID ISSUE A
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION.
I'M GUESSING TALKS WILL
CONTINUE WITH THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION.
LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS, LAST
WEEK, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MEET WITH THE DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION FOLKS.
I ATTENDED THE MEETING, AND THE
WORK GROUP CONSISTS OF
INDUSTRIAL LEADERS FROM
SEATTLE'S LARGEST CORPORATIONS,
ARTISTS, ADVOCATES AND ELECTED
LEADERS TO COME TOGETHER IN
SUPPORT OF SEATTLE'S DOWNTOWN.
I ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO MEET
WITH THE SEATTLE RESTAURANT
ALLIANCE TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC
RECOVERY, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND
CONCERNS ABOUT DOWNTOWN AND THE
HOTEL COMMUNITY.
IN REGARDS TO THE ASIAN-
AMERICAN COMMUNITY, OBVIOUSLY,
WE ALL SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS
OF THE RACIST, AND HATE ATTACK
THAT OCCURRED TO THE ASIAN
WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY IN
ATLANTA, AND WE ARE WITNESSING
A RISE IN HATE CRIMES AGAINST
ASIAN-AMERICANS IN OUR
COMMUNITY, AND OF COURSE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
THE INTERNATIONAL FULL GOSPEL
FELLOWSHIP CHURCH AT DISTRICT 5
EXPERIENCED A HATEFUL GRAFFITI
FOR THE FOURTH TIME THIS YEAR.
MY OFFICE AND I HAVE REACHED
OUT TO THE CHURCH TO SHARE OUR
CONCERN AND SOLIDARITY AND
SUPPORT.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT I WILL MEET
WITH THEM THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS
WHAT THE CITY CAN DO TO SUPPORT
ASIAN-AMERICANS DURING THIS
DIFFICULT TIME, AND AGAIN, I'M
SORRY, AND SAD TO HEAR THAT WE
HAD ACTUALLY HEARD ABOUT THE
FIRST TWO TIMES, BUT I DID NOT
KNOW THAT IT WAS FOUR TIMES
UNTIL LAST WEEK.
AS I'VE BEEN SAYING AGAIN, OUR
FRIEND ON REPRESENTATIVE HOLE
AND WAS CONFIRMED, AND HAS
OFFICIALLY BECOME MADAM
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR.
THE SENATE APPROVED HER
CONFIRMATION 51-49.
SHE WAS CARE MOUNTAIN49 SHE WAS
SEREMONIOUSLY SWORN IN.
SECRETARY STEWART SAID THE ONLY
ALTERNATIVE LEFT IS TO EITHER
CIVILIZE, OR EXTERMINATE NATIVE
AMERICANS.
AND IN 2021, DEB HOLLAAND IS
CONFIRRED.
IT TUBE 1 TOOK 170 YEARS TO
BEND THAT ARC.
I'LL LEAVE IT ON THAT NOTE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE'LL HEAR NOW
FROM COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AND
THEN I WILL ABBREVIATE MY
ABBREVIATED REMARKS AT THE END
OF TODAY, BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT IS
SLATED TO LAST APPROXIMATELY 45
MINUTES.
YOU ALL SHOULD EXPECT TO BE IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION UNTIL CLOSE
TO 1:00 P.M.
BEFORE WE TRANSITION TO FULL
COUNCIL.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, PLEASE.
>> I WILL ENDEAVOR TO BE YOUR
ABBREVIATION WARM UP ACT.
SO I WILL TRY TO KEEP IT JUST
TO THE HIGHLIGHTS OF LAST WEEK.
AS A REMAINDER TO EVERYBODY,
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND
INVESTMENT MEETING IS CANCELED
FOR THIS WEEK.
SO DON'T DO ANYTHING TOO CRAZY
ON YOUR FREE AFTERNOON ON
WEDNESDAY.
BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE HUMAN
SERVICE'S DEPARTMENT ON THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON STANDING UP
HOMELESSNESS SHELTER AT OUR
APRIL MEETING.
I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO BELIEVE
THERE WILL BE UPDATES ON THE
RAPID HOUSING THAT I BELIEVE
ARE BEING STOOD UP, I BELIEVE
BEFORE THE END OF MARCH AND WE
SHOULD HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY
INFORMATION ON HOW THOSE
EFFORTS ARE GOING, WHEN WE
CONVENE FOR THAT MEETING IN
APRIL.
THAT'S A GOOD SEGWAY TO TALKING
ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON'S BILL
THAT I AM PRIME SPONSORING.
COUNCIL BILL 120019, WHICH WILL
APPROPRIATE $12 MILLION IN
SPENDING AUTHORITY WITH THE
EXPECTATION THAT THOSE
RESOURCES BE ULTIMATELY
REFUNDABLE THROUGH FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT FOR SHELTER FOR
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WHO ALSO ARE
PRESENTING WITH COMORBIDITIES
OR ARE 65 YEARS OR OLDER.
I LOOK FORWARD TO EXPANDING A
LITTLE MORE ON THIS THIS
AFTERNOON, AND LOOK FORWARD TO
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR HER LEADERSHIP,
AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ ALSO
IS INTERESTED IN COSPONSORING.
I DO APOLOGIZE FOR WIRES
CROSSED AND THAT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S NAME HAS NOT BEEN
INCLUDED.
VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN SHAPING
IT.
I CERTAINLY WELCOME THE
SPONSORSHIP FOR THE WORK THAT
SHE DID CONVENING WITH FEMA AND
SQUARING A LOT OF THE CIRCLES
THAT HAD HELD THIS CONVERSATION
BACK.
SO THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT
AND LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE
YOUR DUALLY INCLUDED ON THAT
BILL AS A COSPONSOR AS YOUR
EFFORTS CLEARLY WARRANT.
SO THANK YOU.
SIMILARLY, I ATTENDED THE
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION MEETING
GROUP WITH COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
WE KICKED OFF A VERY BROAD
RANGING CONVERSATION WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AROUND NUMEROUS
CHALLENGES DOWNTOWN IS FACING
ON THIS ROAD TO RECOVERY.
PRIME AMONG THEM BEING CONCERNS
AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY AROUND
CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, THE
REACTION TO A VARIETY OF
STOREFRONTS AND HAVING A SMOOTH
TRANSITION BACK TO CONGREGATE
WORK TO ACTIVATE THE DOWNTOWN
CORE AGAIN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WE
CONTINUE TO RAMP UP THE
RECOVERY.
AND AS WE SEE NUMEROUS
BUSINESSES START TO PLAN FOR
RETURN DATES AND HOPE THAT WE
CAN PRODUCTIVELY CONDUCT
PLANNING AS A PROVIDER
COMMUNITY AND CITY GOVERNMENT
THROUGH THAT EFFORT AND
APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THAT WORK GOING
FORWARD.
LAST WEEK, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE
ALONG WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ OF VOTING TO CONFIRM
MARK DONT AS THE CEO OF THE
REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY FOR
KING COUNTY.
AS MANY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY
KNOW WAS, HAS BEEN A LONG
DELAYED PROCESS IN STANDING UP
THIS CRITICAL REGIONAL
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO FINALLY
ADDRESS AS ONE UNITED KING
COUNTY COMMUNITY THE CRISIS OF
HOMELESSNESS IN OUR REGION.
MARK DONES IS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF SERVICE.
HE'S WORKED ON A NUMBER OF
CRITICAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING
THE LANDMARK YOUTH VIOLENCE
INITIATIVE FOR FORMER GOVERNOR
DUVALL PATRICK.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO MARK
TAKING ON THIS LEADERSHIP ROLE.
THE ENERGY MARK BRINGS, AND
JUST THE REAL CAN DO ATTITUDE
THAT IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY
TO STITCH TOGETHER THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT EFFORT AND WAS PROUD
TO VOTE FOR HIS CONFIRMATION
AND TO SEE REPORTED RECENTLY IN
THE SEATTLE TIMES THE MARKET
ACCEPTED THE OFFER AND IS
EXPECTED TO START WORK BY APRIL
26th.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING
MARK TO THE KING COUNTY FAMILY.
WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER UPDATES
TODAY.
AND WE'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR THAT REPORT.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND
CONCLUDE THIS SECTION OF THE
AGENDA BEFORE WE TRANSITION
INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
REALLY QUICKLY, THERE'S NOTHING
FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITTEE
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA, NOR IS THERE
ANYTHING ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
I WILL BE ATTENDING THE PUGET
SOUND MEETING THIS THURSDAY AT
10:00 A.M., TOGETHER WITH SOME
OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE.
THEN ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
TAT I WILL BE JOINING THE
COHORT OF THE YOUTH AND YOUNG
ADULT ADVOCACY PROGRAM ON
THURSDAY.
THIS IS A JOINTLY OPERATED
PROGRAM, BY CHOOSE 180, AND
COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS.
THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IS A TWO
YEAR CRICK CRICK LIMB
CORRICULUM.
THEY'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WHAT'S
IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITY SUCH
AS TRANSFORMATIVE SAFETY AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO BEING WITH THAT
COHORT OF YOUNG LEADERS IN OUR
COMMUNITY THIS THURSDAY EVENING
AND WHAT THE CITY CAN DO BEST
SUPPORT.
I HAD A FEW OTHER THINGS TO
SAY, BUT I'M GOING TO DISPENSE
WITH THEM, BECAUSE WE'RE
RUNNING BEHIND THIS MORNING,
AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
MOVE INTO THIS EXECUTIVE
SESSION.
THE SEATTLE COUNCIL WILL NOW
CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE SESSION
IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
CONFIDENCE MATTERS WITH CITY
ATTORNEYS.
THE COUNCIL RESERVES QUESTIONS
OF POLICY.
I EXPECT THE TIME OF THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION TO END BY NO
LATER THAN 1:00 P.M.
THIS AFTERNOON.
IF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO
BE EXTENDED BY THAT TIME, I'LL
ANNOUNCE THE EXTENSION AND THE
EXPECTED DURATION.