THEIR
>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
THE TIME IS 9:30 A.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YEAR.
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> HERE.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
PAYMENT THANK YOU SO MUCH, IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION THE
MINUTES OF JUNE 1st, 2021 WILL
BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE NOW ADOPTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT, I DON'T
HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT OUT
THIS MORNING, SO WE'LL JUST
MOVE RIGHT ON INTO OUR
DISCUSSION ON THE PREVIEW OF
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS,
COUNCIL IN REGIONAL COMMITTEES.
>>> I'LL CALL ON COUNCILMEMBERS
AS ESTABLISHED BY THE ROLL CALL
THAT THE CLERK JUST WENT
THROUGH.
AS A REMINDER, THE RICK'S ROLL
CALL RELATION BEGINS WITH
JUAREZ, FOLLOWED BY LEWIS,
MOSQUEDA, PEDERSEN, SAWANT, AND
I WILL CONCLUDE THIS
DISCUSSION.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I THOUGHT HERBOLD WENT FIRST,
BUT OKAY.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
I AM NOTICING ON THE SCRIPT,
THAT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
NAME WAS ACCIDENTALLY ERASED.
SO, THAT IS WRONG.
THANK YO FOR COUNT DIRECTING
ME.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY JUST
BECAUSE I'M EXCUSED FROM FULL
COUNCIL TODAY.
MAYBE DUE TO THE MESSAGE THAT
THAT WASN'T THE CASE FOR THE
MORNING.
MY APOLOGIES.
ON MY END IF I CONTRIBUTED TO
THAT COMMAND GOOD MORNING.
THE, JUST VERY QUICKLY, THERE
IS A PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE TOMORROW AT
9:30 A.M.
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE A
ROUNDTABLE WITH CITY AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THERE IS
CURRENTLY OPERATING IN SEATTLE.
WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THOSE THAT
RESPOND TO LOW-LEVEL CRIMES,
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISES.
THIS IS PART OF THE COUNCILS
WORK TO REIMAGINE COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE POSSIBILITIES OF NON-ARMED
RESPONSE.
WE EXPECT PARTICIPANTS FROM THE
DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY CENTER,
CRISIS CONNECTIONS, THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE
DIVERSION PROGRAM, HEALTHONE
AND THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE
RECEIVING A PRESENTATION FROM
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT ON THEIR ALL HAZARD
MITIGATION PLAN.
FINALLY, WE'LL BE HEARING A
PRESENTATION FROM COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF ON THE CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM REALIGNMENT WORK
THAT HE HAS BEEN FULFILLING.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE AT TODAY'S 2:00 P.M.
MEETING.
THING, QUICKLY AND UPDATE FROM
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
I JUST WANT FOLKS TO KNOW BOTH
ON THE COUNCIL AND IN THE
PUBLIC, THIS IS A LOT OF
INTEREST IN THIS RFP.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS RELEASED AN
RFP FOR PROPOSALS REGARDING 2021
ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER
RESILIENCY.
THE BACKGROUND ON THIS OF
COURSE IS RACISM AND VIOLENCE
AGAINST THE API IT COMMUNITY,
INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY DURING
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE RESPONDED
TO THE RACISM AND INTOLERANCE
WITH ORDINANCE 1260 308.
THE ASIAN-AMERICAN AND PACIFIC
ISLANDER COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS
ORDINANCE.
THROUGH THIS ORDINANCE, THE
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT RECEIVED $300,000 TO
ALLOCATE TO COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES OF RACISM AND
INTOLERANCE TOWARD THE API
COMMUNITY.
ALSO $50,000 MAY BE AVAILABLE
FOR ORGANIZATIONS, AND YOU CAN
BE A FISCAL SPONSOR, OR FOR
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND
PROPOSE YOUR OWN ACTIVITY.
ON JUNE 10th, STAFF WILL HOST
AN INFORMATION SESSION FOR THE
ASIAN-AMERICAN AND PACIFIC
ISLANDER RESILIENCY RFP, AND
COMMUNITY AGENCIES WILL LEARN
ABOUT THAT RFP POTENTIAL
OUTCOMES AND ACTIVITIES, AND
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
QUESTIONS.
SO, YOU CAN JOIN THE
INFORMATION SESSION AT
SEATTLE.GOV/HUMAN SERVICES AND
CLICK ON FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
THE RFP IS OPEN THROUGH JUNE
25th AT NOON.
QUICK UPDATE FROM PUBLIC HEALTH,
WE ARE OF COURSE LEARNING MORE
POSITIVE NEWS ABOUT THE ABILITY
OF CORONAVIRUS VACCINATIONS TO
PROTECT PEOPLE FROM COVID
HOSPITALIZATIONS.
THAT'S CONCERNING NEWS FOR
ANYONE WHO HAS NOT YET
VACCINATED.
IN WASHINGTON STATE, OVER A TWO
WEEK PERIOD ENDING MAY 9th, THE
HOSPITAL ADMISSION RATE FOR
UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, 45 TO 64,
WAS ABOUT 21 TIMES HIGHER THAN
THE RATE FOR FULLY VACCINATED
PEOPLE OF THE SAME AGE.
AMONG PEOPLE AGES 65 AND OLDER,
THE HOSPITAL ADMISSION RATE WAS
ABOUT 50 TIMES HIGHER.
IN UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, THEN
THOSE THAT ARE FULLY VACCINATED.
SO, IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED,
PLEASE GO TO
SEATTLE.GOV/VACCINE TO FIND A
VACCINATION SITE.
YOU DON'T NEED AN APPOINTMENT,
YOU CAN JUST WALK OUT, WALK UP
WITHOUT ONE AND IT IS ALWAYS
FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE,
REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION
STATUS.
UPCOMING MEETINGS THIS WEEK, WE
HAVE REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING
ON SATURDAY.
THEN, ON FRIDAY, CLEAN WATER
PLAN WORKSHOP OF THE REGIONAL
WASTEWATER COMMITTEE.
IN ADDITION, I'M A MEMBER OF
THE LEADERSHIP INTERVENTION AND
CHANGE LINK GROUP.
WE ARE HAVING A
MULTIDISCIPLINAR Y TEAM MEETING.
THAT IS AN ORGANIZATION OF
COUNTYWIDE FOLKS INVOLVED IN
CRIME PREVENTION.
THURSDAY WE HAVE THE LEAD
POLICY COORDINATING GROUP
MEETING.
AND ON WEDNESDAY, THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE CLEAN TASK FORCE
MEETING.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE THIS
MORNING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR THAT
REPORT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND GO DOWN THE LINE AND HEAR
NOW FROM COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
GOOD MORNING.
>>> GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
LET ME HOLD UP HERE.
NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M NOT
READY.
OKAY, SO THERE ARE NO ITEMS OF
THE PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE ITEMS FROM LAST WEEK'S
MEETING WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY,
JUNE 14th AT FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA.
PARKS, JUST A QUICK UPDATE AND
WITHOUT GOING THROUGH ALL THE
STEPS AGAIN, I'LL WAIT UNTIL
NEXT WEEK TO BRING YOU ALL UP
TO DATE WITH THAT.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS
CONTINUING TO HIRE FOR SEASONAL
STAFF POSITIONS THIS SUMMER.
AS I SHARED LAST WEEK,
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO
GET TO THE WEBSITE.
THE JOBS POSTING CAN BE FOUND
AT THE PARKS WEBSITE.
WWW.SEATTLE.GOV/PARKS.
LET'S SEE.
IN REGARD TO SOUND TRANSIT,
LAST THURSDAY I ATTENDED THE
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD OF
DIRECTORS MEETING WHERE WE
RECEIVED ANOTHER POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION FROM SOUND TRANSIT
TO CONSIDER COMPLEX REALIGNMENT
SCENARIOS.
WHAT HAS BECOME CLEAR, SINCE WE
FIRST LEARNED OF THE FIRST
AFFORDABILITY GAP, WHICH I
BELIEVE WAS $11.9 BILLION,
WHICH IS NOW BEEN REDUCED TO
$7.9 BILLION, IS THAT THERE ARE
SIGNIFICANT UNKNOWNS THAT ARE
CHANGING WITH THE NEW FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION.
I THINK WE'VE SEEN A GOOD TREND
HERE AS FAR AS POTENTIAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW STATE AND
FEDERAL REVENUE SOURCES.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW OUR PROGRAM
IS NOW UNAFFORDABLE BASED ON
THE PANDEMIC AND THE RECESSION
AND THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION.
ACQUISITION OF LAND.
ANYWAY, THE BOARD MAY CONSIDER
DELAYING A REALIGNMENT DECISION
TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY
NEEDS TO GET DONE AS DETERMINED
BY STATE LAW.
THERE IS A DRAFT RESOLUTION,
WHICH WE DISCUSSED, BUT WE HAVE
NOT PASSED.
I'M GUESSING THERE WILL BE A
LOT OF AMENDMENTS TO THIS DRAFT
RESOLUTION, WHICH IS NOW
PENDING BEFORE THE BOARD FOR
OUR NEXT MEETING.
WITH THAT, I'M DONE, AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, DO YOU WANT
ME TO READ COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS' NOTES NOW?
>> OH, SURE, YEAH, WHY DON'T WE
GO AHEAD AND DO THAT NOW.
OKAY, GREAT, I'M STEPPING IN
FOR COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
TODAY.
PROBABLY REPRESENTING DISTRICT
6. LAND-USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE, THERE ARE FIVE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT INVENTION AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD ON
TODAY'S INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
THERE IS ONE ITEM FROM THE LAND-
USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE
ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
COUNCIL BILL 120080, EXTENDS
THE MORATORIUM ON THE
REDEVELOPMENT OF THE
MANUFACTURED MOBILE HOME PARKS
FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.
THE TIME THAT IS NECESSARY TO
CONCLUDE THE APPEAL PROCESS,
WHICH IS TEMPORARILY HINDERING
PROGRESS ON THE MOBILE HOME
PARK DISTRICT OVERLAY
LEGISLATION.
IT TO GREAT MOBILE HOME
RESIDENTS.
WE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR A
COUPLE YEARS.
DISTRICT 6 HAD A TOWN HALL LAST
WEEK.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HELD A
VIRTUAL TOWN HALL WITH DISTRICT
6 RESIDENTS FOCUSED ON ARPA
FUNDING AT HIS OFFICES -- AND
HIS OFFICE'S RESPONSE TO
HOMELESSNESS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WAS
JOINED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WOULD
LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO
ATTENDED AND SUBMITTED
QUESTIONS AT HIS TOWN HALL.
THAT'S IT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ'S REPORT?
GREAT.
OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY, SO I'LL GO
AHEAD AND GO DOWN THE LINE.
>>> NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS, AND THEN MORALES.
>> GOOD MORNING, MADAME
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO JUMP OFF YOUR ON WHAT'S
GOING ON THIS WEEK.
SO, THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S COUNCIL AGENDA
FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND
INVESTMENTS.
I WILL HOWEVER BE WALKING ON A
BILL THAT I WILL DISCUSS LATER
IN MY PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.
I DO WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY AT
THE FRONT END TO A LETTER THAT
MY OFFICE DISTRIBUTED THAT I
WROTE IN COORDINATION WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD REGARDING
THE AGENDA OF THE OVERDOSE OF
EMERGENCY INNOVATIVE RECOVERY
TASK FORCE.
OEIR.
WHILE THIS MAY BE THE FIRST
TIME THAT MANY FOLKS IN THE
PUBLIC HAVE HEARD OF THIS
COMING TASK FORCE, I'LL TRY TO
KEEP IT TO FORESHADOWING SO AS
NOT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF ITS.
THIS IS A TASK FORCE THAT IS
GOING TO BE CONVENED BY THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER ASSOCIATION,
AMONG OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH
EXPERTS, IN ORDER TO DISCUSS
OUR RESPONSE TO OVERDOSES OF --
OVERDOSES OF DRUGS, AND RELATED
SOCIETAL ISSUES FROM SUBSTANCE
ADDICTION.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND I
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE
FORMULATION OF THIS TASK FORCE
WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
ASSOCIATION.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN IN CLOSE
CONTACT WITH THE ADVOCATES
ORGANIZING AROUND THE NATURE
MOVEMENT TO REASSESS PUBLIC
POLICY IN A PROGRESSIVE
DIRECTION, AROUND [
INDISCERNIBLE ] ALSO KNOWN AS
PSYCHEDELIC SPIRIT THE CITY
POLICY RELATED TO THEM
FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF A NUMBER
OF JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE
COUNTRY WHO ARE EITHER MADE IT
A LOW LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITY,
OR EVEN LEGALIZED OR
DECRIMINALIZED THE SUBSTANCES.
BASED ON SOME OF THE SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH AROUND EMPTY AND THEIR
POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS, IN THE
TREATMENT OF BEHAVIORAL MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND
SUBSTANCE ADDICTION,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, MYSELF
AND THE MOVEMENT CAME TOGETHER
TO WORK TO GET THIS ON THE
AGENDA OF THE OVERDOSE
EMERGENCY INNOVATIVE RECOVERY
TASK FORCE.
WHICH WILL BE MEETING
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, AND
REMITTING RECOMMENDATIONS TO
VARIOUS BODIES, INCLUDING THE
BOARD OF HEALTH, WHICH I WORK
ON.
SERVE ON AS A REPRESENTATIVE
FROM THIS COUNCIL.
AND THE COUNTY AND CITY
COUNCIL'S, IN ADDITION TO THE
STATE LEGISLATURE, WE BELIEVE
THE ISSUES THE MOVEMENT HAVE
RAISED ARE VERY RELEVANT TO THE
WORK OF THIS TASK FORCE.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE
APPROPRIATE WAY TO MANAGE THIS
SCOPE OF WORK AND DRIVE TOWARDS
A CITY REVISION OF POLICIES
RELATING TO THEM.
IT'S THE TIME TO ACT ON THIS.
THE TIMING IS FORTUITOUS THAT
THIS PDA TASK FORCE IS GOING UP
AT THE SAME TIME THAT THIS
MOVEMENT HAS STARTED IN THE
CITY.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND I
WOULD LIKE TO INVITE FOLKS TO
JOIN US IN SIGNING ON TO THIS
LETTER IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
THAT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE IS
PART OF THE WORK PLAN OF THIS
TASK FORCE, WHICH WILL BE
REPORTING BACK TO US IN THE
FALL.
SO, I DON'T KNOW THE PROCEDURE
HERE, MADAME PRESIDENT.
IF WE WANT TO JUST TAKE A
MOMENT TO GO THROUGH THAT
LETTER NOW, IF PEOPLE WANT TO
FIX THEIR SIGNATURE, OR AT THE
CONCLUSION OF MY BRIEFING?
>> I AM HAPPY TO DO IT EITHER
WAY.
I THINK IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE TO
JUST DO IT NOW SINCE YOU JUST
BRIEFED THE LETTER AND SO WHAT
WE WOULD DO IS HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ASK
QUESTIONS AND THEN SORT OF HAVE
THAT CONVERSATION, AND THEN WE
WOULD HAVE THE CLERK CALL THE
ROLL.
IF THAT WORKS WELL FOR YOU, WE
CAN DO THAT NOW.
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT THERE
WILL PROBABLY BE QUESTIONS THAT
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER FROM
COLLEAGUES.
I DO ALSO WANT TO FLY, I KNOW
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS
BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS POLICY
AREA AS WELL.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT THIS
WEEKEND INVITING COLLABORATION
ON THIS.
I DO INTEND TO FOLLOW UP WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO TRY TO
UNITE OUR EFFORTS ON THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE.
I THOUGHT I WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT IN THE INITIAL BRIEFING.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WITH
HER HAND RAISED RIGHT NOW.
I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT OVER TO
QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES, AND
PROCEED WTH THE SIDING BEFORE
CLOSING OUT MY BRIEFING.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
HERBOLD.
FOR CIRCULATING THIS LETTER.
TO THE OVERDOSE EMERGENCY AND
INNOVATIVE RECOVERY TASK FORCE.
I'M ABSOLUTELY HAPPY TO SIGN
THIS LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE
DEMANDS OF THE DECRIMINALIZED
NATURE MOVEMENT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
ACTIVISTS OF THE DECRIMINALIZED
NATURE MOVEMENT, BOTH IN
SEATTLE AND NATIONWIDE WHO ARE
ADVOCATING FOR VARIOUS
PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS LIKE MUSHROOMS
AND CACTUS TO BE DECRIMINALIZED.
JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT I
SUPPORT THEIR DEMANDS FOR
SEVERAL REASONS.
FIRST, THE GENERAL REASON, EVEN
FOR HARMFUL AND ADDICTIVE
DRUGS, DATA HAS SHOWN JUST
ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMINGLY THAT
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS
A TERRIBLE RESPONSE.
WE KNOW THE FAILED WAR ON DRUGS
DID NOTHING BUT EXPAND MASS
INCARCERATION, DECIMATING
ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
AND WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITIES.
THE CRIMINALIZATION OF
úPSYCHEDELIC DRUGS IS ONLY A
SMALL PART OF THAT MASS
INCARCERATION PROBLEM, BUT IT
IS A PART.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, THERE IS NO
SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH SHOWING
THAT THESE PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS
ARE VERY HARMFUL, SORRY, REALLY
HARMFUL, AND CAN HAVE VERY
SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS.
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THEY
CAN HAVE A POWERFUL BENEFIT IN
SOME CIRCUMSTANCES TO TREAT
DEPRESSION AND ADDICTION.
MY LAYPERSONS UNDERSTANDING,
OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT A MEDICAL
EXPERT, BUT MY LAYPERSONS
UNDERSTANDING FROM HAVING
TALKED TO A COUPLE PEOPLE
ACTUALLY IN SEATTLE, IN FACT
ONE OF THEM RIGHT IN DISTRICT 3
WHO HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE,
AND IS DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH
ON THESE ISSUES, IS THAT WE ARE
ONLY AT THE TIP OF WHAT
ACTUALLY IS PROBABLY GOING TO
BE UNCOVERED IN THE FUTURE IN
TERMS OF CORRECTING SOME OF THE
COMPLETE MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MANY OF
THESE ISSUES.
PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS ALSO HAVE A
LONG HISTORY OF RELIGIOUS
CEREMONIES, WHICH IS THE
MEANING OF THE WORD USED IN THE
LETTER, AND IN ADDITION TO
SUPPORTING THIS LETTER AS
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS MENTIONED,
MY STAFF AND I ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF IN COLLABORATION WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'S OF TO
DEVELOP LEGISLATION TO
DECRIMINALIZED PSYCHEDELIC
DRUGS IN SEATTLE.
USING THE SAME LEGAL APPROACH
THAT SEATTLE USED TO
DECRIMINALIZED CANNABIS SHORTLY
BEFORE IT WAS THEN LEGALIZED
STATEWIDE IN 2012.
ESSENTIALLY SEATTLE HAS NO
POWER TO LEGALIZE THESE DRUGS
BECAUSE IS NOT A CITY LAW THAT
MAKES THEM ILLEGAL, BUT THE
CITY DOES HAVE THE POWER TO
ESSENTIALLY DECRIMINALIZE THEM
BY MAKING THEIR ENFORCEMENT THE
LAST PRIORITY OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE.
AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS WHAT
SEATTLE DID WITH CANNABIS IN
THE PASSED, AND THAT'S WHAT
THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL
DO.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO WEIGH IN WITH
MY SUPPORT FOR THIS LETTER AND
THINK COUNCILMEMBERS LEWIS AND
HERBOLD.
FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS LETTER
AND ALSO THE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC DEFENDERS ASSOCIATION
FOR THE NEW TABLE THAT THEY ARE
CONVENING.
I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THEM
AS WELL ABOUT THIS UPCOMING NEW
TASK FORCE THAT THEY ARE BEING
CONVENED, BUT THAT THEY DECIDED
TO ALSO ADVOCATE FOR THIS TO BE
A COMPONENT OF THOSE
DISCUSSIONS LOOK FORWARD TO THE
LEGISLATION THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT JUST NOTED AS WELL.
FOLKS, I ALSO WANTED TO REALLY
HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING THAT
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS NOTED IN
HIS COMMENTS, WHICH IS THAT
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT EMERGING
AREA OF TREATMENT FOR THOSE
WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
WHEN I HAVE THE BRIEFING FROM
THE FOLKS FROM DECRIMINALIZED
NATURE THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW
ACCESS TO THIS TYPES OF --
MEDICINAL OPTION, IS ACTUALLY
VERY MUCH PROMISING FOR THOSE
WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY,
INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE
SUFFERED FROM SEVERE
CONCUSSIONS.
I HAVE A VERY DEAR FRIEND TO 3
1/2 YEARS AGO SUFFERED AN
INCREDIBLE ACCIDENT, AND HAD AN
UNDIAGNOSED CONCUSSION.
AT THAT TIME.
IT HAS LED TO HER NOT BEING
ABLE TO KEEP HER SMALL BUSINESS.
NOT BEING ABLE TO BE EMPLOYED,
AND SHE IS THE SWEETEST,
KINDEST PERSON, AND CONTINUES
TO BE SO, BUT NEEDS ACCESS TO
TREATMENT THAT IS ACTUALLY
GOING TO RESULT IN CHANGES TO
THE CHEMISTRY IN HER BRAIN.
HEARING THAT, I SENT THE
INFORMATION OVER TO HER.
SHE SHARED IT WITH THE MEDICAL
PROVIDER COMMUNITY AS WELL.
HER RESPONSE WAS THAT HER
DOCTOR SAID THIS IS ONE OF THE
MOST PROMISING AREAS OF
RESEARCH THAT IS COMING FORWARD
ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY HAPPY
TO OFFER SOME CITATIONS FOR
FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED,
BUT IN SUMMARY, THE FOLKS FROM
DECRIMINALIZE NATURE HAVE SAID
THAT NO INFLAMMATION SEEMS TO
BE IMPACTED IN THE LOSS OF
COGNITIVE FUNCTION AND
PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS FOLLOWING
A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
WE KNOW THAT PSYCHEDELICS
REDUCE NEURAL INFORMATION BASED
ON THE RECEPTORS THEY TARGET.
THE, MANY NEUROLOGISTS ARE
BEGINNING TO EXPLORE THE WAYS
THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER THE
PIECES OF THE PUZZLE, AND USE
THIS IMPORTANT TREATMENT.
I'M GOING TO BE SIGNING ON,
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
I JUST WANTED TO ELEVATE THAT
COMPONENT AS A POTENTIAL AREA
OF TREATMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE
SUFFERING FROM THE CONSEQUENCES
OF CONCUSSIONS, AND TRAUMATIC
BRAIN INJURY.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THE LETTER BEFORE
I ASKED THE CLERK TO CALL THE
ROLL?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FEW
COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR
NEW ENTITY. JUST AS ONE WAY TO
UNDERSCORE HOW, NOT ONLY HOW
IMPORTANT THIS WORK, BUT WHAT A
GOOD FIT THIS PARTICULAR
REQUEST IS IN THAT WORK.
THIS IS THE OVERDOSE EMERGENCY
AND INNOVATIVE RECOVERY TASK
FORCE.
THE ORIGINS REALLY ARE CREDITED
TO THE BOARD CHAIR FOR THE
SEATTLE KING COUNTY BLACK LIVES
MATTER, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER ASSOCIATIONS, THAT IS
YES TO DRUG USER HEALTH
PROJECT.
THEY HAVE REQUESTED THAT
ELECTED LEADERS IN THE REGION
PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN CONVENING
AND ESTABLISHING THIS TASK
FORCE.
THEY SAY THAT THE CONTINUATION
OF THE STATUS QUO IS
UNACCEPTABLE, AND I AGREE.
THAT THE REGION NEEDS TO ADVANCE
SOLUTIONS FOR BOTH LOCAL IMPACT
AND INFORMING STATE WIDE
STRATEGIES.
AGAIN, MANY OF THE EFFORTS HERE
ARE REALLY DESIGNED TO FOCUS ON
INFORMING STATE WIDE STRATEGIES.
AGAIN, MUCH LIKE THE REQUESTS
FROM DECRIMINALIZE NATURE. A
TASK FORCE IS THE MOST
EFFECTIVE APPROACH FOR
SUCCESSFULLY ADVANCING THESE
GOALS.
SAYS THE CONVENERS OF THE TASK
FORCE.
THE INTENT WOULD BE TO CONVENE
LOCAL EXPERTS, RELEVANT
COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND PEOPLE
WHO ARE IMPACTED TO EVALUATE,
RECOMMEND, AND PROMOTE
INTERVENTION WITH A FOCUS ON
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE WHO USE
DRUGS.
JUST WANTED TO GIVE ADDITIONAL
CONTEXT FOR THIS PARTICULAR
REQUEST FOR THIS LETTER.
AS WELL AS THE BROADER WORK
THAT THE OVERDOSE EMERGENCY AND
INNOVATIVE RECOVERY TASK FORCE
WILL BE FOCUSED ON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
AND THE OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THE LETTER BEFORE
WE CALL THE ROLL?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST NEED MORE TIME TO REVIEW
THIS LETTER.
I'M NOT PREPARED TO SIGN IF
THIS MORNING, BUT LOOK FORWARD
TO GETTING MORE INFORMATION
FROM COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'
OFFICE.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
APPRECIATE IT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
BEFORE I CALL THE ROLL?
ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME PULL UP
THE SCRIPT HERE.
AGAIN, COLLEAGUES, WE DID HAVE
A OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS
BEFORE I REQUESTED THE ROLL
CALL.
THIS IS AS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
DESCRIBES, A LETTER THAT IS
BEING PRESENTED FOR
COUNCILMEMBER CONSIDERATION AND
IF YOU VOTE YES, YOUR SIGNATURE
WILL BE ADDED TO THE LETTER.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WITH THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO
DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURE
AFFIXED TO THE LETTER REGARDING
OVERDOSE EMERGENCY AND
INNOVATION RECOVERY TASK FORCE?
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
BE MARK PEDERSEN?
>> PEDERSEN?
SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN DALLAS?
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU.
SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE NOW DONE
A ROLL CALL FOR THE LETTER SO
I'M GOING TO HAND IT BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS SO YOU CAN
FINISH YOUR REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT,
AND DO APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S COMMENTS ON THAT ON
THE LETTER.
I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TASK
FORCE ON SOME OF THE
CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE BEEN
HAVING.
APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING AN
INTEREST IN HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION, SO I'M HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT.
MOVING BACK TO MY REPORT, ON
THE LEGISLATION THAT THEM
INTRODUCING, AND WALKING ON
TODAY.
WHICH IS COUNCIL BILL 120096.
TODAY THEM INTRODUCING
LEGISLATION AMENDING THE
SPENDING AUTHORITY THAT THIS
COUNCIL PASSED EARLIER THIS
YEAR FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER.
THIS $12 MILLION OF SPENDING
AUTHORITY WAS ORIGINALLY
INTENDED TO BE LARGELY
REIMBURSED BY FEMA.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE SPENDING
AUTHORITY HAS NOT YET BEEN
UTILIZED BY THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, ALTHOUGH THERE MAY
BE SOME EFFORTS THAT ARE IN THE
PLANNING STAGES TO UTILIZE SOME
OF THAT MONEY.
BUT, WHAT THIS LEGISLATION
REALLY HOPE TO DO IS BROADEN
THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THIS
$12 MILLION IN SPENDING
AUTHORITY CAN BE DISTRIBUTED TO
SERVICE PROVIDERS.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT
CONTINUE TO SEEK FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT.
BUT IN NO LONGER MAKES SEEKING
THAT REIMBURSEMENT A STRICT
REQUIREMENT TO DISTRIBUTE THE
FUNDS.
THERE ARE TWO REASONS TO MAKE
THIS CHANGE AND BROADEN THIS
AUTHORITY.
FIRST, WE HAVE MORE RESOURCES
AT OUR DISPOSAL THEN WHEN THE
BILL WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW NEXT YEAR
THE CITY WILL BE RECEIVING ARPA
DOLLARS IN THE SPRING.
WE KNOW THAT 2021 CITY REVENUES
WILL BE $40 MILLION HIGHER THAN
WE ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, AND
WE DID NOT HAVE THE FORTUNE OF
THAT REVENUE FORECAST AT THE
TIME WE ORIGINALLY CRAFTED THE
BILL.
WE NOW HAVE THE BENEFIT OF A
$10 MILLION STATE INSURANCE FUND
THAT REPRESENTATIVE MacRI
CRAFTED IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO
COMPENSATE CITIES IN THE EVENT
THAT FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS COME
UP SHORT.
THESE NEW FACTORS GIVE THE CITY
MORE LEEWAY TO RESPOND TO THE
GREATEST EMERGENCY WE ARE
FACING, WHICH IS THE CRISIS OF
HOMELESSNESS.
THE SECOND REASON, IS AS OF
JUNE 30th, WE ARE ANTICIPATING
A BROAD REOPENING OF CL'S
ECONOMY.
WE ONLY GET THE CHANCE TO
REOPEN OUR ECONOMY ONCE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT, ONE OF THE
BIGGEST OBSTACLES THAT I HEAR,
FROM FOLKS, IN THE SERVICE
SECTOR, AND IN THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, IS THE PRESENCE OF
UNSANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS.
WE HAVE A LEGACY OVER THE
COURSE OF COVID OF OUR ALREADY
SCANT SHELTER SYSTEM BEING HIT,
AND OUR NEIGHBORS ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, NO
LONGER HAVING THAT RESOURCE FOR
ACCESS TO, SHELTERS THAT USE TO
PROVIDE THE CRITICAL DIGNITY,
PRIVACY, AND SERVICES NECESSARY
TO MITIGATE OR ESCAPE THEIR
CONDITION OF HOMELESSNESS.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, PEOPLE WHO
USED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
SHELTER SYSTEM THAT HAS NOW
BEEN DE-INTENSIFIED, AND WAS
NEVER REALLY SUCCESSFULLY
SCALED BACK UP TO COMPENSATE
FOR THAT LAST -- LACK OF
CAPACITY, ARE NOW LIVING IN
UNSANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS.
WHICH HAVE CREATED ISSUES FOR
OUR BUSINESS DISTRICTS ACROSS
THE CITY.
THERE IS ONE RESPONSE THAT CAN
HELP TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY'S
ISSUE.
WHETHER YOU ARE NOT HOUSED,
WHETHER YOU ARE A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, WHICH IS TO
SCALE UP THE AMOUNT OF
EMERGENCY SHELTER WE HAVE
AVAILABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE
LACK OF CAPACITY IN OUR SHELTER
SYSTEM.
I HEAR THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST OBSTACLES WHEN I TALK
TO PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, FOR OUR RETURN TO
WORK AND REVIVAL OF TOURISM.
I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM OUR
SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT DURING
COVID, IRREPARABLE DAMAGE HAS
BEEN CAUSED TO A LOT OF OUR
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WHO HAVE HIGH
BARRIER PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS AND
HAVE BEEN LIVING WITHOUT CARE
FOR SUPPORT NOW FOR THE LAST 18
MONTHS IN A LOT OF CASES.
WE HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE
PANDEMIC SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF
SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADAPT TO
THESE CONDITIONS, AND MOVE OUR
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS INTO WELL
RESOURCED ENHANCED SHELTERS,
PARTICULARLY HOTEL BASED ONES.
RESULTING IN PUBLIC SPACES NO
LONGER BEING UTILIZED FOR
ENCAMPMENTS, AND RESULTING IN
PEOPLE IN SOME CASES, BEING
ABLE TO MOVE INTO MARKET RATE
HOUSING, LET ALONE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BECAUSE OF
THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY HAVE
RECEIVED FROM THESE ENHANCED
SHELTERS.
WE HEARD A PRESENTATION FROM
JUST CARE IN THE SELECT
COMMUNITY ON HOMELESSNESS
STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS LAST
MONTH, INDICATING THAT VERY FEW
INDIVIDUALS HAD REFUSED OFFERS
OF ASSISTANCE TO THEIR EFFORTS
TO GET PEOPLE INSIDE, AND THAT
THEY ARE GETTING THEIR NEEDS
MET, AND IN MANY CASES, HAVE
MOVED ON TO THE PLACEMENTS THAT
I JUST DISCUSSED.
THIS MODEL WORKS, AND WE NEED
TO LEAN INTO IT.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN,
THOUSANDS OF OUR NEIGHBORS
REMAIN WITHOUT SHELTER OTHER
THAN A TENT OR SLEEPING BAG IN
THE DOORWAY.
WE KNOW THAT WELL RESOURCED
SHELTERS LIKE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND HOTELS CAN
STABILIZE PEOPLE WITH A HIGH
BARRIER PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE
THAT CAN ALSO, IN SOME CASES,
LEAD TO PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT IF WE FAIL TO
PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, REMOVING
AN ENCAMPMENT WILL SIMPLY
CREATE ANOTHER ENCAMPMENT
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND WILL MOVE THE HAZARDS THAT
OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS EXPERIENCE
THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO THE
HAZARDS THAT ARE BUSINESS
DISTRICTS TRYING TO REOPEN ARE
CONSTANTLY COMPLAINING ABOUT TO
OUR OUR OFFICES TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AND EVERY PUBLIC
OFFICIAL IN THE CITY.
WE CANNOT SEEK TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM OF ONE OF THESE
BUSINESS DISTRICTS MERELY TO
CREATE ANOTHER ONE FOR SOMEONE
ELSE.
ALL STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR INTERESTS
ARE THE SAME, THAT PROVIDING
DID NEARLY STABILIZATION AND
HEALTHCARE IS REALLY
FUNDAMENTALLY THIS COMES DOWN
TO HEALTHCARE.
IS THE SAME INTEREST AS WANTING
TO RESTORE BUSINESS DISTRICTS
ORDER FOR REOPENING.
THAT INTEREST REQUIRE STANDING
UP ADEQUATE SHELTER ON A TRULY
EMERGENCY BASIS, AND DOING IT
FOR THE SUMMER OF REOPENING.
TINY HOUSES ARE SLOW, BECAUSE
THEY NEED TO BE CITED AND GO
THROUGH EXTENSIVE PREPLANNING
AND BE CONSTRUCTED, BUT WE HAVE
SOME IN THE PIPELINE.
ENHANCED SHELTERS SIMILARLY
NEED TO BE CITED AND HELD OUT,
BUT HOTELS ARE FAST.
THEY ARE TURNKEY OPERATIONS.
THEY DON'T REQUIRE SITING.
THEY DON'T REQUIRE THE SAME
LEVEL PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION.
THEY REQUIRE A LEASE AND A PLAN
FROM A SERVICE PROVIDER.
THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE
LEANING INTO BEFORE THE END OF
THIS MONTH TO REOPEN DOWNTOWN
AND OUR OTHER BUSINESS
DISTRICTS, IN A WAY THAT WILL
MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
FOR THE RETURN TO WORK, AND THE
RETURN OF TOURISM.
I KNOW FOR A FACT, THAT WE HAVE
PROVIDERS THAT CAN SECURE
HOTELS IF THEY HAD CASH IN HAND.
THE SPEND AUTHORITY CAN BE USED
IMMEDIATELY.
WE MUST USE IT IMMEDIATELY.
MANY OF OUR SHELTER ASSETS IN
THE PIPELINE ARE COMING ONLINE
LATER THIS SUMMER, OR EVEN IN
THE FALL.
WE NEED PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO BE
ABLE TO GO NOW.
THIS MONTH, BEFORE THE ECONOMY
REOPENS.
WE ARE RUNNING THIS THROUGH THE
FULL COUNCIL.
I HOPE TO VOTE THIS OUT OF
COUNCIL ON THE 14th.
COMMENSURATE WITH THE EMERGENCY
WE ARE FACING.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ ,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR THEIR
COSPONSOR OF THIS CRITICAL
LEGISLATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT IT OVER THE
COURSE OF THE NEXT WEEK.
JUST TO PIVOT TO MY LAST ITEM
THAT I'M REALLY HAPPY TO
ANNOUNCE. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY
REALLY, REALLY DEEP
APPRECIATION AND
CONGRATULATIONS TO JESSICA DOE,
WHO HAS BEEN A GRADUATE STUDENT
INTERN IN MY OFFICE FOR ALMOST
MY ENTIRE COUNCIL TERM SO FAR.
THAT MEANS JESSICA, YOU HAVE
BASICALLY SPENT TWO THIRDS OF
YOUR TIME AT THE EVANS SCHOOL
WORKING IN OUR OFFICE.
I HOPE IT WAS FORMATIVE AND
HELPFUL.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE JESSICA
ON HER GRADUATION FROM THE
EVANS SCHOOL.
REALLY, REALLY PROFOUNDLY THANK
HER FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK
THAT SHE HAS DONE IN MY OFFICE,
AND CONSTITUENT CASEWORK, IN
DEVELOPING POLICY AROUND
TRANSPORTATION.
AROUND WORKERS RIGHTS.
I WANT TO REALLY CONGRATULATE
HER ON WHAT NO DOUBT WILL BE A
VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER GOING
FORWARD AND REALLY APPRECIATE
HER COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC
SERVICE, AND FOR REALLY GOING
OUT THERE PROUD AS ANOTHER
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
GRADUATE OUT IN THE WORKFORCE.
I WANTED TO JUST FINISH WITH
THAT NOTE AND TURN IT BACK OVER
TO YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
FOR THOSE REMARKS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, I LOOK FORWARD TO
THIS AFTERNOON'S WALK ON ON
THAT REALLY IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION, AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE A COSPONSOR.
>>> NEXT UP COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
THEN, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING A
LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT
LEGISLATION IN FULL COUNCIL,
AND REALLY PROUD TO BE JOINING
YOU IN SPONSORSHIP OF IT.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE.
LAST WEEK IN MY COMMITTEE, WE
HEARD 16 COMMISSION
APPOINTMENTS.
THOSE WILL BE COMING TO US FOR
CONFIRMATION ON MONDAY, JUNE
14th.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
NEXT TUESDAY, JUNE 15th, AND WE
WILL BE HEARING FROM COMMUNITY
PANELS TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES
FOR INEQUITABLE ECONOMY.
WE'LL BE HEARING ABOUT WAYS TO
PREVENT DISASTER GENTRIFICATION.
I INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN,
WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE
COMMITTEE OR NOT.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT
DISCUSSION, HOPING TO USE THAT
AS SORT OF A FOUNDATION FOR
FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE
HAVING RELATED TO THE ARPA
FUNDING.
SO, INVITE EVERYBODY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THAT IF YOU ARE
AVAILABLE.
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA WE HAVE TWO
BILLS TO CONSIDER.
COUNCIL BILL 120077, THE SOUND
AT HOME EVICTION DEFENSE FOR
RENTERS WHO ARE FACING
FINANCIAL HELP DURING THIS
PANDEMIC.
COUNCIL BILL 120090.
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, THAT
I'M JOINT SPONSORING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS IS A
COSPONSOR.
THAT BILL HAS SEVERAL PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEING
BROUGHT BY MY OFFICE, AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, THESE ARE
ALL TECHNICAL IN NATURE.
REALLY MEANT TO CLARIFY THE
INTENT OF THE BILL.
WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE THIS
MORNING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
ABOUT THOSE AMENDMENTS AND
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COLLEAGUES
MAY HAVE.
SO, I'LL KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF,
AND RESERVED MOST OF MY REMARKS
FOR THIS AFTERNOON.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
MANY OF US HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST FEW
WEEKS WITH SMALL LANDLORDS.
MY OFFICE HAS HAD A FEW
CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS, AND
WE KNOW THAT, LIKE THOUSANDS OF
RENTERS IN THE CITY, SOME
LANDLORDS HAVE LOST THEIR
INCOME DURING COVID.
SO, THESE BILLS, I JUST WANT TO
SAY ARE MEANT TO PROTECT
RENTERS FROM LOSING THEIR HOMES.
THEY ARE NOT MEANT TO PUT
LANDLORDS IN JEOPARDY OF ALSO
LOSING THEIR HOMES.
THAT'S WHY I WANT TO URGE THESE
LANDLORDS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE DOLLARS
THAT BOTH THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY HAVE MADE AVAILABLE.
THE COUNTY HAS AN EVICTION
PREVENTION AND RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
IT IS FUNDED AT $145 MILLION
FROM THE FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS
RESPONSE AND RELIEF
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION.
IT IS INTENDED TO HELP RESIDENTS
PAYING PASSED, CURRENT, AND
FUTURE RENT.
SEATTLE ALSO HAS ABOUT $20
MILLION AVAILABLE IN RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
SO, DO WANT TO URGE RENTERS, OR
LANDLORDS, BEFORE THEY CONSIDER
AN EVICTION RESPONSE, I WANT TO
URGE THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THESE DOLLARS SO THAT THEY CAN
BE MADE WHOLE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THEREFORE.
I'M ALSO HAPPY TO COSPONSOR
COUNCIL BILL 120096.
WHICH COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS
SUMMARIZED ALREADY.
MY OFFICE HAS WORKED DIRECTLY
WITH JUST CARE AND REALLY SEEN
HOW EFFECTIVE THIS PROGRAM IS.
WE TALKED WITH NEIGHBORS WHO
SEEN CO-LEAD AND JUST CARE IN
ACTION.
AS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS SAID,
THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT
THESE PROGRAMS HAVE UNIVERSAL
SUPPORT FROM SMALL BUSINESS,
SERVICE PROVIDERS, OUR HOUSE
NEIGHBORS, AND OUR UN-HOUSED
NEIGHBORS.
AND MANY ON THE COUNCIL.
FOLKS WHO WANT TO SEE UN-HOUSED
POPLE MOVED FROM THE STREET
AND TOWARDS STABILITY NEED TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROGRAM AND
UNDERSTAND THE VALUE THAT IT
HAS, AND THE REAL COMPREHENSIVE
SUPPORT THAT IT PROVIDES TO
PEOPLE.
THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN BY FINDING
AN EFFECTIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE
WAY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THAT AND HOPE THAT
WE CAN REALLY MOVE THAT FORWARD.
MOVING ONTO DEPARTMENT UPDATES.
THE ART DEPARTMENT, IF YOU
HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, YOU
SHOULD GO AND CHECK OUT THE NERO
THAT WAS INSTALLED LAST WEEKEND
ALONG THE MAYNARD ALLEYWAY.
ACROSS THE SOUTH KING STREET.
THESE ARE IMAGES OF PAINTED
NOODLES THAT WERE CREATED BY AN
ARTIST.
IT'S A COMBINATION OF
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
COMMUNITIES, TO REIMAGINE
MAYNARD ALLEY AS A VIBRANT
COMMUNITY FOCUSED PEDESTRIAN
SPACE.
I WILL SAY THROUGHOUT
CHINATOWN'S THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY, THE ALLEYWAYS HAVE
ALWAYS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE
IN COMMUNITY SPACE AS WELL.
THIS IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT AND REALLY TRY
TO GET SOME OF THE ALLEYWAYS
BACK TO ACTIVE SPACES.
THE PROJECT WAS FUNDED THROUGH
THE SEATTLE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE.
AND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION'S 1% FOR OUR
PROGRAM.
I DO WANT TO THANK THE
NORTHWEST AGENT LEAGUE FOR HIGH-
FIVING THIS PROJECT ANOTHER ART
PROJECT, THE AIDS MEMORIAL
PATHWAY INSTALLATION UP AND
CAPITOL HILL HAVE BEGUN.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO TAKE A LOOK.
IF YOU TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL UP
TO THE CAPITAL STOP, AS YOU
EMERGE FROM UNDERGROUND, YOU
WILL SEE THE INSTALLATION
CALLED WE ARE ALREADY HERE.
IT'S A SERIES OF TABLEAUX THAT
USE PROTEST SIGNS AND THEIR
ACCOMPANYING MESSAGES, LIKE
DREAM BIG, END AIDS.
TO INVOKE HISTORIC MOMENTS OF
PUBLIC CONVERGENCE.
DIFFERENT ARTWORKS LEAD
VISITORS THROUGH PATHWAYS AT
THE AIDS MEMORIAL WALKWAY, AND
ARE REALLY A POWERFUL MESSAGE.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO
CHECK IT OUT.
AS WE KNOW, AND AS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
HIGHLIGHTED LAST WEEK, THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY ITSELF DRIVES
ABOUT 18% OF SEATTLE'S GDP.
THE MAJORITY OF WORKERS IN OUR
CITY, AND THERE IS CLOSE TO
70,000, 67,000 CREATIVE WORKERS,
WHO WE KNOW ARE RUNNING LOW ON
RESERVES.
MANY OF THEM WERE VERY HARD-HIT
BY COVID.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CASH ON
HAND.
THE ORGANIZATIONS.
TO COVER SOME OF THEIR
OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE NEXT
YEAR.
SO, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ARPA FUNDS,
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ADDRESSING THE ROLE OF THE
ARTS SECTOR IN OUR ECONOMY, AND
ENSURE THAT WE ARE INCLUDING
THEM IN OUR RESCUE PLAN EFFORTS.
I KNOW WE WILL BE TALKING MORE
ABOUT THAT LATER.
MOVING ONTO EDI AND THE OFFICE
OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT,
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THE STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FUND
APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN.
AS A REMINDER, THE CITY WILL
SPEND $30 MILLION TO HELP GROUPS
BUY LAND AND BUILDINGS TO BE
USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS SUCH
AS AFFORDABLE SPACE FOR
BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY CENTERS,
CULTURAL SPACE, CHILDCARE, OPEN
SPACE, THERE IS AN RFP PROCESS
SET UP FOR THAT.
RFP'S ARE DUE JULY 14th.
THE FIRST OF THREE INFORMATION
SESSIONS ON HOW TO APPLY IS
THIS WEDNESDAY FROM NOON TO
1:00.
YOU CAN REGISTER AT SEATTLE.GOV/
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FUND.
SO, YOU CAN GET MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THAT
PROCESS WILL WORK.
ADDITIONALLY, THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FUND
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS HAS BEEN
EXTENDED TO JUNE 20th.
FOR 2021, THE EDI FUNDING,
WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $6.8
MILLION, IS AVAILABLE FOR
ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT EFFORTS IN HIGH
DISPLACEMENT RISKS
NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO, THERE CONTINUES TO BE AN
EMPHASIS ON SERVING BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
BEEN TARGETED BY SYSTEMIC AND
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.
THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY
BUILDING, PROPERTY ACQUISITION,
AND CAPITAL EXPENSES.
IF FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THAT, YOU CAN CONTACT MICHAEL AT
HIS CONTACT INFORMATION.
I WILL BE HOLDING OFFICE HOURS
AGAIN THIS WEDNESDAY AT THE
COLUMBIA CITY FARMERS MARKET.
WE WILL BE THERE STARTING AT
3:00.
CONSTITUENTS ARE INVITED TO
COME STOP BY AND TALK ABOUT
ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO
THEM.
I ALSO DO HAVE VIRTUAL OFFICE
HOURS ON THURSDAY FROM 10:00 TO
NOON.
FOLKS CAN REQUEST A MEETING ON
MY COUNCIL WEBSITE.
LAST WEEK I MET AGAIN WITH
NEIGHBORS FROM THE MT. BAKER
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO BE IN
TOUCH WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS
ABOUT HOW WE CREATE COMMUNITY
DRIVEN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.
PARTICULARLY AROUND THE LIGHT
RAIL STATIONS.
THIS WEEK I WILL BE MEETING
WITH SOUND TRANSIT AND FROM THE
FOLKS FROM THE MT. BAKER
NEIGHBORHOOD SO WE CAN TALK
ABOUT WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE STATION AREA ITSELF IS SAFE.
THE FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ARE ALSO ORGANIZING, BECAUSE
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MT.
BAKER IS A MORE WALKABLE URBAN
ENVIRONMENT, AND HAVE BEEN
WORKING VERY HARD FOR YEARS, SO
THEY ARE REVIEWING SOME OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS THAT THEY
HAVE CREATED OVER THE YEARS.
AND ARE LOOKING TO SORT OF
REVISIT AND ELEVATE THAT
CONVERSATION IN THE COMMUNITY
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
PARTICIPATING IN THAT WITH THEM.
FINALLY, ON A BITTERSWEET NOTE,
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT
MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE, LETICIA
FARMER WILL BE LEAVING AT THE
END OF JUNE.
SHE HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE PART
OF MY OFFICE, AND REALLY HELPED
PULL THINGS TOGETHER FOR US AS
WE LAUNCHED THIS NEW TEAM LAST
YEAR.
I WILL SAY WE WERE JUST KIND OF
SETTLING INTO A RHYTHM IN MY
OFFICE WHEN COVID SENT US ALL
HOME TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD A
TEAM REMOTELY.
THAT WAS FUN.
SO, SHE HAS BEEN GREAT.
SHE HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR
SOME TIME, AS YOU ALL KNOW,
ALSO WORKED AT COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN'S OFFICE.
WE WILL MISS HER, BUT SHE HAS
BEEN ACCEPTED TO GRADUATE
SCHOOL, SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED
FOR HER AND LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING BACK FROM HER ABOUT
WHAT SHE LEARNS ON HER NEW
JOURNEY.
COLLEAGUES, THAT IS ALL I HAVE
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE'RE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND GO DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, FOLLOWED BY PEDERSEN.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
JUST ONE SECOND HERE.
MY SCREEN IS DOING SOMETHING
FUNNY.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ITEMS ON
TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA
FROM THE HOUSING AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE OR ON THE INSTRUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR.
WE DO HAVE SOME ITEMS THAT WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING IN A WEEK
FROM NOW.
FOLKS, REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE
THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR
TUESDAY, JUNE 15th AT 9:30 A.M.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE SEATTLE
RESCUE PLAN ACT.
THIS IS OUR FEDERAL AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT ORDINANCE THAT
úSEATTLE IS MOVING FORWARD TO
IMPLEMENT CRITICAL ASSISTANCE
TO SMALL BUSINESSES, TO WORKING
FAMILIES VIA CASH ASSISTANCE,
CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE.
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE
INVESTMENTS FOR A MORE EQUITABLE
RECOVERY, WHICH WE DISCUSSED ON
FRIDAY LAST WEEK.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
THE ROBUST DISCUSSION THAT WE
HAD, AND TO CENTRAL STAFF ARE
WALKING US THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION ALONG WITH THE CBO.
I WILL HAVE MORE COMMENTS ON
THE MOMENTARILY.
I DO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT
IF YOU HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS THAT
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE TO THIS
ITERATION, THIS FIRST TRANCHE,
A FEDERAL RESCUE PLAN ACT
DOLLARS, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE
DEADLINE FOR SENDING IN THOSE
AMENDMENTS TO CENTRAL STAFF IS
NOON ON TUESDAY.
THAT IS TOMORROW.
THAT HELPS GIVE US A WEEK TO
WORK WITH CENTRAL STAFF, TO
WORK WITH ALL OF YOU, AND TO
THE EXTENT THAT YOU WILL NEED
úTO ALSO THE STAKEHOLDER, THE
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEING
BROUGHT FORWARD THRUST ALL HAVE
SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE PUBLIC ON THE AGENDA,
IN THE EVENT OF OUR JUNE 15th
MEETING.
AS A REMINDER, AMENDMENTS TO
NEED TO BE SELF BALANCING.
THAT IS IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE
OR ADD FUNDING TO A CERTAIN
CATEGORY, WE ARE ASKING THAT
YOU PROPOSE WHAT YOU LIKE TO
SEE A REDUCED FROM.
SO THAT WE HAVE A BALANCED
PROPOSAL THAT WE CAN HAVE IN
FRONT OF US TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL OF THE MATH WORKS OUT BY
THE END OF THE MEETING SO WE
CAN PASS A BILL OUT.
ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOMED, AND
ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
MEETING, AND THIS IS PERFECTLY
CONSISTENT WITH COUNCIL ROLE
6.B.3.
WHICH ALLOWS FOR NON-COMMITTEE
MEMBERS TO QUOTE PARTICIPATE
WITHOUT VOTING RIGHTS IN A
STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR A PERSON WHO
IS WORKING WITH OTHERS IN THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S OFFICE,
ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
CONTOURS AND LIMITATIONS ON
WHAT IT MEANS TO QUOTE,
PARTICIPATE WITHOUT VOTING, CAN
BE ADHERED TO WHILE ALSO
ALLOWING ANY COUNCILMEMBER TO
BRING FORWARD POSSIBLE LANGUAGE.
SO, TO CLARIFY HOW THE PROCESS
WILL WORK, DAN IS SENDING OUT A
MEMO THAT AT LEAST TODAY, I
DON'T THINK IT IS IN YOUR
INBOXES YET, BUT IT'S COMING
TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS
WORK ON THAT MEMO THAT WILL
CLARIFY THE PROCESS, AND IN THE
MEMO IT WILL CLARIFY THAT
CENTRAL STAFF AND LAW HAVE COME
TO A PROCESS THAT NON-COMMITTEE
úMEMBERS CAN USE TO MOVE FORWAR
AMENDMENTS.
THIS INCLUDES FIRST NON-
COMMITTEE MEMBERS CAN OFFER AN
AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION, AND
ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMITTEE TO
TAKE THE AMENDMENT BY BEING
RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR TO DO
SO.
WHICH I WILL DEFINITELY DO SO
IF YOU COME TO OUR MEETING AND
YOU'RE NOT A STANDING COMMITTEE
MEMBER.
NINE COMMITTEE MEMBERS CANNOT
MAKE A MOTION, SECONDED MOTION
OR VOTE ON A MOTION EITHER TO
AMEND THE UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION, AND NON-COMMITTEE
MEMBERS CAN BE AN AUTHOR OF AN
AMENDMENT, BUT NOT A SPONSOR OF
AN AMENDMENT.
UP TO 2 COMMITTEE MEMBERS CAN
SPONSOR A PROPOSED AMENDMENT
LIMITING THE NUMBER OF
COSPONSORS TO TO.
AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF ANY
ROLLING QUORUMS, WHICH WE ARE
VERY SENSITIVE TO COME AND WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW
THAT THREE IS A QUORUM FOR OUR
COMMITTEE.
DURING AN OPEN PUBLIC MEETING
THAT COMMITTEE CAN AT ANY POINT
AFTER THE INITIAL PROPOSAL IS
ANNOUNCED ADD ANY OTHER
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO THE LIST
OF SPONSORS IF THEY DESIRE TO
SIGN ON AS A COSPONSOR OF AN
AMENDMENT.
AS THE CHAIR, I WILL BE IN THE
POSITION TO DECIDE WHETHER OR
NOT TO BRING FORWARD AN
AMENDMENT ON BEHALF OF ANYBODY
WHO IS NOT IN OUR COMMITTEE.
I HAVE COMMITTED TO YOU THAT I
WILL DO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL OF THEIR IDEAS TO GET
REFLECTED IN THE COMMITTEE, AND
IN OUR DISCUSSION.
FOLKS, ALL OF THAT WILL BE IN A
MEMO THAT IS CIRCULATED AGAIN
BY DAN.
YOU WILL HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF
YOU, BUT THE TAKE AWAY IS IF
YOU'RE NOT A STANDING COMMITTEE
MEMBER, YOU'RE STILL WELCOME TO
HELP US CRAFT A PROPOSAL AS IT
LEADS TO COMMITTEE SO THAT YOUR
IDEAS ARE FULLY REFLECTED IN
OUR DISCUSSION AND DEBATE.
THIS WILL BE UP FOR BRIEFING
DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE VOTE FOR
AMENDMENTS AGAIN ON THE 15th.
IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL TIME ON
THE UPPER LEGISLATION WE WILL
BE HOLDING A SPECIAL MEETING ON
JUNE 16th AT 2:00 P.M.
THAT ALLOWS FOR US, LIKE WE'VE
DONE IN PREVIOUS BUDGET
DISCUSSION, TO ROLL INTO THE
NEXT MEETING IF WE DON'T HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINALIZE THE
DISCUSSION IN THAT FIRST
COMMITTEE MEETING.
WANTED TO ALSO NOTE THAT IN THE
MEETING ON THE 15th WE DO HAVE
TWO OTHER ITEMS.
WE MAY START WITH THOSE JUST TO
GET THOSE OUT OF THE WAY, BUT
WE'LL MAKE SURE TO GIVE YOU AN
UPDATE ON THAT FOR OUR STAFF
MEETING LATER THIS WEEK ON
THURSDAY WE ALSO HAVE A
BRIEFING DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE
VOTE ON THE HOUSING LEVY
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
PLAN, AND THE HOUSING FUNDING
POLICY LEGISLATION, WHICH WILL
BE ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR ON THE 14th
WE GOT A PREVIEW OF THAT
LEGISLATION AND THE PACKAGE IN
THE PRESENTATION THAT OFFICE OF
HOUSING PROVIDED.
WE DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO
WALK THROUGH IT IN DETAIL BUT
THERE WAS NO LEGISLATION AND
HAD TO BEGIN WITH, SO PLEASE
REFERENCE THAT IS BACKGROUND
INFORMATION AS YOU ANTICIPATE
THE LEGISLATION BEING POSTED ON
THE JUNE 14th INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR, WHICH AGAIN
WILL BE PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY
THIS WEEK.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE A PANEL ON
THE GROCERY WORKER HOUSE PAY.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND NEXT
WEEK'S PAY, PLEASE DO LET AARON
HOUSE FROM MY OFFICE NO.
IN ADVANCE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE
THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE
INFORMATION AND WE'VE INCLUDED
YOUR NAME IN THE SCRIPT TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE REFERENCING ALL
FOLKS ARE PRESENT IN OUR
COMMITTEE.
COUNCILMEMBERS, LAST WEEK IN
ACTIVITIES THAT I PARTICIPATED
IN, WE MET WITH A NUMBER OF
STAKEHOLDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TALK ABOUT
THE URGENT NEEDS BEING
ADDRESSED IN THE SEATTLE RESCUE
PLAN ACT.
PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE CRAFTED
AND DISCUSSED ON FRIDAY.
WE HAD AN HOUR OF PUBLIC
TESTIMONY, AND WE HEARD VERY
POSITIVE COMMENTS ON
SUGGESTIONS FROM SOME SMALL
SWEETS AND MOSTLY WHAT WE HEARD
DURING DISCUSSION WAS A STRONG
DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THE FUNDING
GETS OUT THE DOOR IN AN
EQUITABLE WAY TO DIRECTLY INTO
COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED AND
DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF
INDIVIDUALS MOST IMPACTED BY
COVID THIS IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT ELEMENT THAT WE HAVE
TRIED TO CRAFT WITHIN THE
LEGISLATION, AND WE HEARD
DESIRE FROM COUNCILMEMBER TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LIFTING UP
HOW THE FUNDING GETS OUT AND
NOTING THAT THE HOW IT GETS OUT
IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE
WHAT WE ARE FINDING.
I DID SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE
LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED
IN SECTION 8 OF THE SEATTLE
RESCUE PLAN ACT, AND JUSTIFIED
IN ADVANCE, SOME EXCUSE FOR
NEXT MONDAY'S MEETING, I WANT
TO LET FOLKS KNOW WE ARE
WORKING TO TRY TO ADD
ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION TO
THAT SECTION 8 FOR SOME OF THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD A
COMMITTEE MEETING LAST FRIDAY.
AND FROM SOME STAKEHOLDERS AS
WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS
VERY CLEAR THAT WE DO WANT
THESE DOLLARS TO GO DIRECTLY
INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE MOST
DIRECTLY IMPACTED INCLUDING
INTO ORGANIZATIONS, AND
COMMUNITY-BASED -- COMMUNITY
LED EFFORTSTO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE BEING DEPLOYED
DIRECTLY TO THOSE DIRECTLY
AFFECTED.
SO, RATHER CLARIFYING IN BOTH
THE LANGUAGE IN ARPA, AND ALSO
IN THE CASH ASSISTANCE DOLLARS,
THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU SEE IN
SECTION 8, THE CITY WILL
PRIORITIZE AND PARTNER WITH
LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
CULTURALLY RELEVANT,
HISTORICALLY ROOTED, AND
FOUNDED BY COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE DIPS ARE PROPORTIONALLY
IMPACTED BY COVID AND HAVE
ORGANIZATIONAL STAFF AND BOARD
COMPOSITION THAT REFLECT THE
COMMITTEES THEY SERVE FOR THE
PURPOSE OF THE DIRECT GRANTS
AND/OR OUTPATIENT OF GRANT TO
THE PAINTED.
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
COMPONENT AGAIN, I WANT TO
THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS
COSPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION
AS WELL.
THIS WAS A DRIVING PILLAR, A
DRIVING VALUE OF OUR DISCUSSION
TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS
IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE THAT WAS
RECEIVED BY THOSE DIRECTLY
IMPACTED.
SO, LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU, AND
AGAIN TOMORROW AT NOON IS THE
DUE DATE FOR YOUR AMENDMENTS.
AND OTHER UPDATES, I WANT TO
OFFER SOME CLARIFICATION.
THERE WAS A STATEMENT SENT
AROUND FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ON FRIDAY MORNING WHICH
ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRATEGIC
INVESTMENT FUND IS SEEKING
PROPOSALS OF $3 MILLION FOR
LAND AND PROPERTY ACQUISITION
TO RESPOND TO DISPROPORTIONATE
DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES
IMPACTING BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE AND COLORS COMMUNITIES.
THIS INVESTMENTS AS PART OF THE
MAYOR'S COMMITMENT OF $100
ILLION OF FUNDING OTHER GRADED.
SYSTEMIC RACISM AND OPPRESSION.
UNFORTUNATE, THE ANNOUNCEMENT
WAS REALLY GREAT NEWS, AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE
TO AMPLIFY THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
FOLKS TO APPLY FOR THE $30
MILLION.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT FAILED TO MAKE
NOTE THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY
FUNDING FROM THE MERCER AND THE
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE HAVE REALLY
PRIORITIZED IN LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET THAT WE MAJOR WENT
DIRECTLY TO THE COMMITMENTS
THAT WERE ALREADY SPECIFIED BY
THE COUNCIL.
IN THE 2019 BUDGET AND IN THE
2020 BUDGET, WE WORKED TO MAKE
SURE THEY WERE PROTECTED AND
MAKING SURE THAT THOSE DOLLARS
WHAT EXACTLY TO WHERE THE
COMMUNITY HAD IT SPECIFICALLY
ASKED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF
THE $30 MILLION CAN DIRECTLY
FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
AND FOLKS WHO WERE CONCERNED
ABOUT A LARGE SWATH OF PUBLIC
LAND BEING SOLD TO THE PUBLIC
BETTER, AND MANY OF YOU WHO
WERE ARE NOT ON COUNCIL AT TIME
WORKED TO STRENGTHEN THE
LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE WE HAD
ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO AT LEAST $30 MILLION WOULD
GO TO A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT
FUND.
SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS
DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION
CONSENTS.
RECOGNIZING THAT WHEN WE HAVE
PUBLIC LAND IT SHOULD BE GOING
TO THE HIGHEST PUBLIC USE.
THIS IS PART OF THE
CONVERSATION THAT LED TO OUR
LAND DISPOSITION BILL THAT
MAJOR IN THE FUTURE, LAND THAT
WAS OWNED BY THE CITY WAS FIRST
PRIORITIZED FOR PUBLIC USE
AMONG DEPARTMENTS FOR THINGS
LIKE HOUSING AND CHILD CARE AND
COMMUNITY CENTERS.
TO THE DEGREE THAT THE CITY
DOESN'T NEED IT, OR I BELIEVE
THAT IT WAS STILL SURPLUS LAND
THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO PUT INTERACTION, THAT
WE INSTEAD PRIORITIZE WORKING
DIRECTLY WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, AGAIN ROOTED IN
HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE COULD
INVEST IN HOUSING AND CHILDCARE
IN COMMUNITY CENTERS AND OTHER
PUBLIC GOODS.
SO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
JUST OFFER THAT ADDITIONAL
CLARIFICATION.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PLAN, BUT
I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS WAS
$30 MILLION THAT COMMUNITY HAD
ADVOCATED FOR AND THIS IS
FUNDING THAT THE COUNCIL RE-
PRIORITIZED AND PROTECTED IN
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET TO MAKE SURE
IT WENT DIRECTLY TO THE
COMMITMENTS THAT COMMUNITY HAD
CALLED FOR SINCE THE SALE OF
THE MERCER.
TO REITERATE, THIS NOTICE IS
IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS SHOULD
KNOW THAT THE CITY IS NOW
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS
FUND, AND WILL MAKE AWARDS OF
$5 MILLION FOR PROJECT.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON JULY
14th.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN
PRIORITIZED FOR ORGANIZATIONS
WHO WORK WITH HIGH DISPLACEMENT
RISK NEIGHBORHOOD AREAS WITH
LOW ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY.
PLACES WERE FUTURE PUBLIC
INVESTMENTS ARE LIKELY TO SPUR
TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE.
SO, AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS TO
ALL.
I WORKED CLOSELY WITH
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ TO THIS.
WE WORKED TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE
RELATED TO CHILD CARE.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T
RELEASE THAT HISTORY.
SPEAKING OF CLARIFICATION, THIS
IS MY LAST UPDATE.
THE COURT OFFERED CLARIFICATION
ON FRIDAY ABOUT 5:00 P.M.
THE COURT OFFERED VERIFICATION
THAT JUMPSTART SEATTLE
PROGRESSIVE TAX IS LEGAL, IS
SOUND, IT IS THE LAW OF THE
LAND HERE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THIS IS A HUGE VICTORY FOR
HOUSING ADVOCATES.
FOR THOSE WHO NEED HOUSING AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE
INCREASING HOUSING ASSESSMENTS
GOING TO ONE OF THE DECLARED
STATES OF EMERGENCY IN OUR CITY.
THIS IS A HUGE VICTORY FOR
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVES, ECONOMIC
RESILIENCE FUNDING, AND GREEN
NEW DEAL INVESTMENTS.
IT WAS THIS COUNCIL WHO WORKED
VERY CLOSELY IN DEVELOPING THE
JUMPSTART PROPOSAL TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE RECEIVED OVER $214
MILLION A YEAR, EVERY YEAR FOR
THE NEXT 20 YEARS, AND THAT WE
HAD A VERY TIGHT SPEND POINT TO
GO TO THESE MUCH-NEEDED
PRIORITIES THAT ARE OFTEN PUT
ON THE BACK BURNER WITH SO MANY
COMPETING NEEDS.
THIS IS A MAJOR VICTORY FOR THE
COALITION WHO SPENT MANY, MANY
YEARS WORKING ON THIS.
THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND
ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY WHO
HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR YEARS,
FOR PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND THE
PASSAGE OF THE PROGRESSIVE
PAYROLL TAX IN SEATTLE IS
SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN ALL BE
PROUD OF.
WE ARE LOOKED AT ACROSS THE
NATION AS AN EXAMPLE OF A CITY
THAT DID NOT HAVE TO RESORT TO
AUSTERITY BUDGETING AS MANY
OTHER CITIES DID BECAUSE WE
WERE ABLE TO RELY ON THE
FUNDING THAT WILL BE COMING
FROM THIS VERY IMPORTANT TAX
THAT GOES JUST ON THE LARGEST
BUSINESSES OVER $7 MILLION.
IN SEATTLE PAYROLL, JUST ON THE
LARGEST SALARIES, OVER $150,000
IN PAY WITH A PROGRESSIVE
TAXATION ON THOSE LARGER
SALARIES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
JUDGE, KING COUNTY SUPERIOR
COURT JUDGE MARY ROBERTS SIDED
WITH THE CITY RULING THE TAX
APPLIES TO BUSINESSES, NOT
THEIR EMPLOYEES,", IT IS A
CONSTITUTIONALLY PERMISSIBLE
EXCISE TAX ON THE COST OF DOING
BUSINESS AND THE CITY HAS THE
AUTHORITY TO TAX ALL BUSINESS
ACTIVITIES.
THIS IS NOT A TAX ON EMPLOYEES
ROBERTS ROW, COURT, EMPLOYEES
DO NOT PAY THE TAX.
SO, I HOPE THAT OFFERS
CLARIFICATION THAT THIS IS A
TAX ON CORPORATIONS, THIS IS
NOT A TAX ON JOBS.
THIS IS A TAX THAT IS LEGALLY
SOUND AND IS QUITE LITERALLY
GOING TO HELP US BUILD A MORE
EQUITABLE ECONOMY AS WE SEEK TO
RECOVER FROM COVID.
EVERY DATA POINT SHOWED THAT
WHEN WE INVEST IN WORKERS, AND
MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE
GREATER HOUSING STABILITY AND
ECONOMIC STABILITY, THAT TYPE
OF INVESTMENT GOES DIRECTLY
BACK INTO MAKING A MORE
RESILIENT LOCAL ECONOMY, WHICH
IS GOOD FOR SMALL AND LARGE
BUSINESSES IN OUR REGION.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE RULING,
AS YOU CAN TELL.
WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO CITY
ATTORNEY PETE HOLMES , TO BE
ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, FOR
SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE OF THE
LEGISLATION.
THE ENTIRE CITY TEAM AND TO ALL
OF YOU, AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO PUT TRUST IN US AS
WE CRAFTED THE JUMPSTART
PROPOSAL.
AND GOT IT OVER THE FINISH LINE
, AND WE ARE NOW LOOKING
FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT THE
OVER 60% OF THE FUNDING THAT IS
COMING IN IS GOING DIRECTLY TO
HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND THAT WE
STAY TRUE TO OUR SPEND PLAN AS
DIRECTED BY THIS COUNCIL, TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO
KEEP THE TRUST WITH THE PUBLIC,
WHO ADVOCATED SO STRONGLY FOR
PROGRESSIVE TAXATION.
I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE ASSURANCES THAT
THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING
DIRECTLY INTO THE CATEGORY
HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
EXCUSE ME EQUITABLE DEVELOPING,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPING, AND GREEN
NEW DEAL.
CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE
THINGS AGAIN TO THE ATTORNEYS
OFFICE FOR THEIR GREAT WORK
SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN ALL BE
VERY CROWD OF.
NEWS CAME AT 5:00 ON FRIDAY SO
I WANTED TO REALLY LIFTED UP.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
OF COURSE, CONGRATULATIONS TO
YOU AND EVERYONE WHO VOTED IN
FAVOR OF, AND SPONSORED
JUMPSTART SEATTLE.
HUGE, HUGE VICTORY AND REALLY
PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE ALL
DID AS A COUNSELOR, AND AS A
COALITION, AND ALSO REALLY
PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THIS
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DID IN THE
DEFENDING OF OUR PROGRAMS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
ALL RIGHT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
>>> HEARING NONE, NEXT UP,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE HAS NO
ITEMS ON THIS AFTERNOON'S FULL
AGENDA FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION
AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE MEETS
ON THE FIRST AND THIRD
WEDNESDAYS OF EACH MONTH AT
9:30 IN THE MORNING.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
NEXT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16th.
THE COMMITTEE AGENDA WILL
INCLUDE A DISCUSSION OF THE
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT.
REGARDING TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES, I WANT TO OFFER MY
SINCERE CONDOLENCES FOR THE
FAMILY OF THE CONSTRUCTION
WORKER KILLED BY A STEEL BEAM
WHILE WORKING ON STATE HIGHWAY
520.
LAST WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2nd.
AS REPORTED IN THE LOCAL MEDIA.
THIS DEATH, CAUSED ON THE
CONSTRUCTION SITE, WILL BE
INVESTIGATED BY THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
INDUSTRIES.
IN DISTRICT 4, I VISITED MY
RESIDENTS, FOR I VISITED MANY
RESIDENTS OF MAGNUSON PARK LAST
WEDNESDAY DURING A VACCINE POP-
UP CLINIC HOSTED BY SEATTLE
FIREFIGHTERS.
THE ART CLUB, THE NONPROFIT,
SOLID GROUND, AND AFRICAN-
AMERICAN HEALTH BOARD.
IN ADDITION TO THE LIFE-SAVING
VACCINES, THEY OFFERED FOOD AND
PRICES TO ATTRACT FOLKS TO THE
CLINIC AT SANTOS PLACE, LOCATED
ADJACENT TO THE COMMUNITY
CENTER IN THE HEART OF MEDICINE
PARK.
OVER 150 LOW INCOME RESIDENTS,
70 PERCENT OF HOME IDENTIFY AS
BIPOC CALL MEDICINE PARK HOME
IN THESE APARTMENT BUILDINGS
OFFERED BY SOLID GROUND AND
MERCY HOUSE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ROOSEVELT
HIGH SCHOOL'S JAZZ BAND FOR
EARNING SEVEN AWARDS AT THIS
YEAR'S 26th ANNUAL ESSENTIALLY
ELLINGTON JAZZ FESTIVAL.
THEY CELEBRATE THE MUSIC OF
DUKE ELLINGTON AND OTHER
CLASSIC JAZZ COMPOSERS AND HAS
BEEN OPEN TO BANDS WEST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI FOR A FEW DECADES.
ROOSEVELT HIGH'S JAZZ BAND HAS
MADE THE FINAL 21 OF THE LAST
23 YEARS.
IT HAS WON THE COMPETITION FOUR
TIMES.
YOU CAN HEAR THE JAZZ BAND
USING THE LINCOLN TOMB AS
SEATTLE TIMES ARTICLE ABOUT
THIS, OR YOU CAN SEE THE BAND
LIVE THIS COMING DECEMBER FOR
THEIR ANNUAL JAZZ NUTCRACKER
PERFORMANCES DURING THE HOLIDAY
SEASON.
THE WALLINGFORD FARMERS MARKET
RESTART THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE
9th.
THE WALLINGFORD FARMERS MARKET
WILL BE OPEN EVERY WEDNESDAY
EVENING FROM 3:00 P.M.
TO 7:00 P.M.
THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN
READ THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BLOG.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT FARMERS
MARKET WHICH IS YEAR ROUND,
EVERY SATURDAY MORNING.
I THINK THOSE -- THAT CONCLUDES
MY REMARKS.
THANK YOU.
>>
>> SHORT AND SWEET, THANK YOU
SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>>> HEARING NONE, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND GO DOWN THE LINE AND
HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
NEXT.
>> THANK YOU, AND GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE.
FIRST, I ALSO AM HAPPY TO ADD
MYSELF AS COSPONSOR TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS' ORDINANCE.
COUNCIL B120096, TO SUPPORT
MAKING HOTEL ROOMS AVAILABLE
FOR THE JUST CARE PROGRAM TO
MAKE A SAFE AND HUMANE PLACE
FOR OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THE MAYOR
HAS DONE NOTHING WITH THE
AVAILABLE FEMA RESOURCES FOR
THE LAST YEAR WHILE THOUSANDS
OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE WERE FORCED
TO FIND WHATEVER SHELTER THEY
CAN FIND IN PARKS AND AT THE
SIDES OF THE ROADS.
I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THE
RFP FOR THE STRATEGIC
INVESTMENT FUND, HER OFFICE
TOTALLY IGNORED THE FACT THAT
SHE HAD CUT THE $30 MILLION
FROM THE BUDGET UNTIL THE
COUNCIL RESTORED THOSE $30
MILLION IN THE BUDGET AMENDMENT
PROPOSED BY MY OFFICE AND THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT.
THAT EXPLAINED AT THE TIME THE
MAYOR SAT ON THE $30 MILLION
FOR ALL OF 2020, REFUSING TO
LET IT BE USED TO BUILD HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY CENTERS.
DESPITE GETTING NUMEROUS
REQUESTS FROM NONPROFIT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS
LIKE LEHIGH AND OTHERS.
WE WARNED DURING THE LAST
BUDGET THAT IT WAS ESSENTIAL
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RESTORE
THE $30 MILLION, OTHERWISE THE
MAYOR CAN CONTINUE TO ISSUE
PRESS RELEASES ANNOUNCING FUNDS
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FOR
COMMUNITY COLORS WHICH ARE
NEVER ACTUALLY USED.
THE AMAZON TAX, ON UPHOLDING
THE AMAZON TAX, IS A HUGE
VICTORY FOR THOUSANDS OF
ORDINARY PEOPLE, ACTIVISTS,
UNION MEMBERS AND SOCIALISTS
WHO ACTIVELY FOUGHT IN THE TAX
AMAZON MOVEMENT.
THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT WON A
HISTORIC VICTORY LAST YEAR
DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE
NATIONWIDE BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTESTS.
THIS MOVEMENT HAS BEEN FIGHTING
SINCE THE AUTUMN OF 2017 WHEN
OUR PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT AT
THE TIME DID A VERY SUCCESSFUL
OVERNIGHT PEACEFUL OCCUPATION
OF CITY HALL.
AGAINST THE SWEEPS OF OUR
HOMELESS NEIGHBORS, AND WE
CONNECTED THAT TO THE FIGHT FOR
THE AMAZON TAX.
IN FACT IT WAS AT THAT TIME
THAT THE MOVEMENT STARTED
CALLING IT THE AMAZON TAX.
WE, AS ACTIVISTS, AND MY OFFICE
INCLUDED, GOT A SHAMEFUL REPEAL
BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME
OF THE AMAZON TAX WHICH WE HAD
WON AT THAT TIME.
IT LAID THE GROUNDWORK, THE
WORK THAT ACTIVISTS HAD DONE AT
THAT TIME LAID THE GROUNDWORK
FOR EVENTUALLY WINNING THE
AMAZON TAX LAST YEAR.
LAST SUMMER, AFTER THE HISTORIC
VICTORY THAT WE HAD IN THE 2019
ELECTIONS.
JUST LIKE IN THE CASE OF THE
FIGHT FOR THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE
IN SEATTLE, THE MOST CRITICAL
REASON WHY THE CITY'S BIG
BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT AND
POLITICAL ELITE WERE FORCED TO
CONCERN THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT
WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL BALLAD
INITIATIVE TEXT.
YOU HAVE IT STRAIGHT FROM THE
HORSE'S MOUTH, THE BIG BUSINESS
WHO THEMSELVES WERE FIERCELY
OPPOSED TO BOTH $15 AN HOUR AND
AMAZON TAX THEMSELVES, PUBLICLY
ADMITTED THAT HAD IT NOT BEEN
FOR THE CREDIBLE THREAT OF THE
BALLOT INITIATIVE, THEY WOULD
NOT HAVE RELENTED ON HAVING A
CITY COUNCIL MEASURE ON BOTH
THE $15 AN HOUR AND THE AMAZON
TAX.
IN FACT, THE TAX AMAZON
MOVEMENT COLLECTED A TOTAL OF
30,000 SIGNATURES ON THE BALLOT
INITIATIVE.
20,000 OF THOSE 30,000
SIGNATURES WERE COLLECTED AT THE
BLM PROTESTS IN SEATTLE AT THE
RATE OF 1000 SIGNATURES A DAY.
THERE WAS SUCH OVERWHELMING
SUPPORT AT THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER PROTESTS FOR THE AMAZON
TAX BECAUSE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD
THAT IS THE SAME SYSTEM THAT
CREATES THE DEEP OPPRESSION,
THE MASS INCARCERATION SYSTEM,
POLICE VIOLENCE, RACISM, THAT
ALSO DEPRIVES SOME OF THE VERY
SAME COMMUNITIES OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND THE FOR-PROFIT
HOUSING MARKET THAT HAS LED TO
SUCH INTENSE GENTRIFICATION AND
DISPLACEMENT.
OF WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
OR WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITIES AS
A WHOLE.
I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE
EVERYBODY WHO SIGNED THE BALLOT
INITIATIVE PETITION AND ALSO
EVERYBODY WHO FOUGHT IN THE
MOVEMENT, ALL THE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED OUR MASS
ACTION CONFERENCES.
WHICH WAS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF
A DEMOCRATICALLY ORGANIZED MASS
MOVEMENT, AND IN FACT THE MOST
DEMOCRATICALLY ORGANIZED
MOVEMENT THAT I'VE PERSONALLY
BEEN A PART OF WHERE THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE HAD A CHANCE TO WEIGH
IN ON THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE
POLITICAL DEBATE AND DISCUSSION,
AND THEN ALL OF US TOGETHER
VOTED ON IT.
I THINK THAT EXAMPLE SHOULD BE
CARRIED FORWARD IN ORDER TO
BUILD ON RENTERS' RIGHTS
VICTORIES.
MANY OF THE BILLS ARE COMING
TODAY, BUT WE HAVE MUCH MORE TO
THEM, INCLUDING RENT CONTROL
AND CANCELING OF COVID THAT.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA RELATED TO
THOSE RENTERS' RIGHTS ISSUES
THAT WERE VOTED OUT OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE ON MAY 25th.
COUNCIL BILL 120046 IS THE
LEGISLATION FROM MY OFFICE
BANNING THE EVICTION OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES
AND EDUCATORS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, IT IS
COMMON SENSE, BUT THERE IS
MOUNTAINS OF RESEARCH SHOWING
THAT WHEN KIDS ARE EVICTED IT
HAS DEVASTATING IMPACT ON THEIR
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND
DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S REALLY, AS MANY HAVE SAID,
MANY EDUCATORS AND PARENTS HAVE
SAID TO US, JUST IMAGINE TRYING
TO FOCUS ON YOUR SCHOOLWORK AS
A CHILD, WHILE LOSING YOUR HOME.
I READ THOSE STATISTIC MANY
TIMES, SO I'LL SKIP OVER THEM
FOR NOW, BUT ALSO JUST MENTIONED
THAT WE KNOW THAT STATISTICS
ALSO SHOW A VERY IMPORTANT
DIMENSION OF THE CRISIS.
WHICH IS THAT IT IS A RACIAL
JUSTICE AND BLACK LIVES MATTER
ISSUE.
OVERALL, WE SEE THAT SEATTLE
LANDLORDS EVICTED BLACK TENANTS
AT MUCH HIGHER RATES THAN OTHER
TENANTS.
SIMILARLY, EVEN ON THIS
SPECIFIC ISSUE, WE SEE THAT
BLACK STUDENTS AND OTHER
STUDENTS OF COLOR
DISPROPORTIONATELY FACED
HOMELESSNESS.
THE 2018 STATE DATA FROM THE
FULLY 40% OF HOMELESS STUDENTS
WERE BLACK, AND 23% OF HOMELESS
STUDENTS WERE LATINX, EVEN
THOUGH THOSE COMMUNITIES
CONTRIBUTE ONLY 14 AND 12%
RESPECTIVELY FCL'S PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS POPULATION.
PREVENTING SCHOOL YEAR
INNOVATIONS WILL REDUCE AT
LEAST THIS ONE FORM OF SYSTEMIC
RACISM.
THAT IS AFFECTING OUR STUDENTS
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OVERWHELMINGLY STRONG SUPPORT
THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE
SEATTLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION,
WHOSE REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
VOTED WITH NEAR UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT FOR A REVOLUTION IN
SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION.
I ALSO STRONGLY APPRECIATE THE
LETTER THAT WAS JOINTLY SENT BY
THEM AND BY THE MARTIN LUTHER
KING COUNTY LABOR COUNCIL IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS BILL,
AND REJECTING ANY LOOPHOLES
THAT WOULD WATER THE BILL DOWN.
THIS THE KIND OF ADVOCACY THAT
WE NEED FROM THE LABOR
MOVEMENT, AND THE LEADER
LEADERSHIP AND I WANTED TO
THANK THEM ALL FOR PLAYING THIS
IMPORTANT ROLE IN HELPING TO
PUSH THIS FORWARD.
WE'VE SEEN THE REALITY OF
EVICTION AND HOUSING
INSTABILITY, NOT ONLY AFFECTS
EDUCATION AND LEARNING OF YOUNG
CHILDREN, IT ALSO AFFECTS THEIR
MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL
OUTCOMES.
EVEN RELATED TO LOWER
VOCABULARY SKILLS, PROBLEM
BEHAVIORS, NOT TO MENTION OF
COURSE GRADE RETENTION AND ALSO
BEING CONNECTED TO INCREASED
HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES.
THEN, HE FOLLOWS THEM
THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE WITH THE
LOWER ADULT EDUCATIONAL
ATTAINMENT.
WE CAN SEE THE DEEP CONNECTION
BETWEEN HOUSING INSTABILITY AND
OVERALL WELL-BEING IN LIFE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT RESEARCH
SHOWS TURNOVER IN SCHOOL STAFF
SIGNIFICANTLY HARMS THE
SCHOOL'S EFFECTIVENESS IN
EDUCATING CHILDREN THAT IS WHY
OUR BILL IS A VERY STRONG BILL,
WHICH ALSO OFFERS SCHOOL YEAR
PROTECTIONS TO ALL STAFF IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ON PUBLIC
SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
LAST WEEK, CENTRAL STAFF SET
YOU ALL A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT
TO THIS LEGISLATION ADDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE WHICH WE
HAVE DISCUSSED IN CONSULTATION
WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ'S OFFICE.
WE SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT.
LAST TUESDAY, IN CITY COUNCIL
BRIEFING, I APPEALED TO ALL
COUNCIL OFFICES TO SEND OUT
ANY AMENDMENT IN ADVANCE SO
RENTERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REVIEW THEM.
THAT RENTERS CAN LET
COUNCILMEMBERS KNOW HOW THEY
WOULD BE AFFECTED BY POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS.
I APPRECIATE A CONVERSATION
THAT COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
I HAD ABOUT AN AMENDMENT THAT
SHE IS TRYING TO BRING FORWARD
THAT SHE SHARED THAT WE SHOULD
DRAFT OUT WITH THE COUNCIL
OFFICES.
AS I LET HER KNOW, IT WILL ADD
A SMALL LOOPHOLE TO THE HOLE,
WHICH I DON'T SUPPORT.
OF COURSE I CAN EXPLAIN MY
REASONING ONCE HEARD AMENDMENT
HAS BEEN DESCRIBED.
SO FAR I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY
OTHER AMENDMENTS.
EITHER THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO BE LAST-MINUTE
LOOPHOLES PROPOSED, OR THERE
ARE NOT GOING TO BE ANY
AMENDMENTS.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
HAS PROPOSED FOUR AMENDMENT
THAT WOULD HAVE WATERED DOWN
THE BILL.
IN A WAY THAT I WOULD
COMPLETELY NOT SUPPORT.
THANKFULLY, NONE OF THOSE
AMENDMENTS WERE PASSED BY THE
COMMITTEE.
OF COURSE, AMENDMENTS CAN COME
UP IN THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING
AS WELL, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE
SOME ADVANCED NOTICE OF THOSE
AMENDMENTS.
I APPRECIATE, AS I SAID, THE
ORGANIZATION OF THE SEATTLE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR WHO
ORIGINALLY SUGGESTED THIS
LEGISLATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AND SAT TO THE CITY COUNCIL A
LETTER LAST NIGHT THAT READ IN
PART, QUOTE, PREVENTING
EVICTIONS PREVENTS, AND HOME
RESIDENTS.
PREVENTING EVICTIONS OF THOSE
CONNECTED TO SCHOOL CAN FOCUS
ON SCHOOL.
THE SIMILAR LAW HAS SURVIVED
LEGAL CHALLENGES IN SAN
FRANCISCO, SEATTLE IS STRONGER
AND BETTER.
IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT A SCHOOL
STUDENT END WAS TO BE EVICTED
ON A DAY LIKE TODAY.
IMMEDIATELY DRAMATIC, BUT EVEN
WORSE, IF THE STUDENT NEEDS TO
BE ABLE TO FOCUS AT SCHOOL
TOMORROW.
THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO.
TOO MUCH STRESS AND PAIN.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE SMART POLICY.
THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE,
END QUOTE.
ALSO IN TODAY'S AGENDA, IS THE
COUNCIL BILL 120090.
WHICH IS A LEGISLATION JOINTLY
SPONSORED FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES' OFFICE IN MY OFFICE.
AND COSPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
CREATING A RIGHT OF FIRST
REFUSAL FOR RENTERS TO RENEW
THEIR LEASE UNLESS THE LANDLORD
HAS A JUST CAUSE FOR REFUSING
TO RENEW THE LEASE.
THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED
BY THE COMMITTEE, THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE SINCE MARCH.
THE COMMITTEE HEARD FROM TWO
PANELS OF IMPACTED RENTERS AND
RENTER RIGHTS EXPERTS.
IT DISCUSSED PREVIOUS
LEGISLATION THAT WERE DEVELOPED
BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'
OFFICE AND BY MY OFFICE.
THROUGH THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND
TECHNICAL FEEDBACK, IT BECAME
CLEAR THAT WHAT RENTERS REALLY
NEED IN THE SITUATION IS A
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL WHERE A
LANDLORD IS REQUIRED TO GET THE
CURRENT TENANT THE FIRST CHANCE
TO SIGN A NEW LEASE.
BEFORE OFFERING THAT LEASE TO
ANY OTHER PROSPECTIVE TENANTS
UNLESS THERE IS A JUST CAUSE.
WE KNOW RENTERS NEED A NEW
LEASE LONG BEFORE THEY FACE
EVICTION.
DIRECTORS WHO ARE TOLD THEY
WILL NOT HAVE THEIR LEASE
RENEWED WILL REFUSE TO LEAVE
JUST BECAUSE SEATTLE'S LOSSES
THAT CANNOT BE IN THAT
SITUATION.
IN REAL LIFE WE KNOW RENTERS
WOULD START LOOKING FOR A NEW
PLACE TO LIVE, EVEN THOUGH THEY
MAY -- EVEN BE AWARE THAT IT'S
UNJUST AND THEY UNDERSTANDABLY
SIMPLY DON'T FEEL COMPETENT TO
POTENTIALLY HAVE TO FIGHT IT
OUT IN COURT.
AND COURSE OF DISCUSSING OUR
BILL IN COMMITTEE WE HEARD FROM
DOZENS OF RENTERS WHO CALLED IN
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
EVERYONE WHO TESTIFIED AT THE
COMMITTEE TABLE ITSELF I WANT
READ THE FULL STATEMENT, BUT I
WANTED TO THANK ALL OF THEM.
ONE IS A STARBUCKS WORKER AND
TRANS ACTIVIST ALSO ANOTHER
COUPLE WHO ARE BOTH PUBLIC
SCHOOL EDUCATORS AND MEMBER OF
THE SEATTLE'S EDUCATION
COMMISSION.
OUR NEW BILL PUTS THE RIGHT OF
FIRST REFUSAL INTO THE PART OF
THE SEATTLE'S LAW THAT THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION
HAVE THE POWER TO ENFORCE.
IT MEANS THAT THE LANDLORD DOES
NOT OFFER A NEW LEASE, IT DOES
NOT HAVE A JUST CAUSE, 90 DAYS
BEFORE THE END OF THE LEASE,
THEY HAVE THE POWER TO FOLLOW-
UP, INVESTIGATE, TELL THE
LANDLORD THAT THE EITHER NEED
TO OFFER A NEW LEASE OR PRESENT
A JUST CAUSE NOT TO.
THEY CAN ISSUE A CITATION OR A
NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND START
ISSUING FINES IF A LANDLORD
REFUSES TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
ALL OF THIS CAN HAPPEN BEFORE
THE LEASE AND SO IDEALLY THESE
ISSUES CAN BE RESOLVED IN THE
RENTER CAN GET A NEW LEASE
WITHOUT ANYONE GOING TO
EVICTION COURT.
MY OFFICE ALSO HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WITH
SEVERAL LANDLORDS WHO DESKS
THAT ASSIST.
SOME EVEN SIGNED OUR COMMUNITY
PETITIONS.
IN FACT, RENTERS AND UNION
MEMBERS WHO ARE PART OF OUR
STUDY FOR AN OVERALL RENTERS'
BILL OF RIGHTS ARE FIGHTING TO
CANCEL COVID THAT.
IT IS FACED BY RENTERS AND ALSO
STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS,
STRUGGLING SMALL LANDLORDS AND
STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE BELIEVE THAT BIG BANKS AND
CORPORATE REAL ESTATE, ALONG
WITH BIG BUSINESS AS A WHOLE,
SHOULD PAY FOR THE CRISIS, NOT
WORKING PEOPLE AND OTHERS WHO
ARE STRUGGLING IN OUR COMMUNITY
TO SURVIVE.
INCLUDING STRUGGLING SMALL
LANDLORDS AND SMALL BUSINESS.
SOME OF THE LANDLORDS AT MY
OFFICE TALKED TO A POST THIS
LEGISLATION.
ONE MADE AN ARGUMENT AGAINST
THIS LEGISLATION THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO RESPOND TO PUBLIC.
HE SAID SOME RENTERS ARE A
QUOTE UNQUOTE HEADACHE, AND THE
END OF THE LEASE IS A
CONVENIENT TIME TO GET RID OF
THEM.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR
MORE MY OFFICE HAS SUPPORTED
MANY RENTERS AND GROUPS OF
RENTERS FACING ABUSE FROM THEIR
LANDLORD.
WHEN I HEAR THAT SOME RENTERS
WERE A HEADACHE, I HAD TO ASK
WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN?
THIS LEGISLATION ALLOWS
LANDLORDS TO REFUSE TO RENEW A
LEASE IF THEY HAVE A JUST
CAUSE.
BY LAW, THERE ARE JUST CAUSES
THAT THE LANDLORD CAN USE IF
THAT'S ACTUALLY TRUE.
SO, THE LEGISLATION IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING
LAW.
LANDLORDS CAN REFUSE TO RENEW A
LEASE IF THEY HAVE A JUST CAUSE
TO REFUSE TO DO SO.
THERE IS A CLEAR LAW AS WHAT
COUNTS AS A JUST CAUSE, NOT
SOME SO-CALLED HEADACHE, WHICH
IS NOT ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED IN
THE LAW.
IF A RENTER REPORTS A LANDLORD
TO THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
FOR HOUSING CODE VIOLATIONS OR
FOR VIOLATING RENTERS RIGHTS,
THAT MIGHT BE A HEADACHE FOR
THE LANDLORD, BUT IS NOT A JUST
CAUSE TO KICK OUT THE RENTER.
IT IS THE RENTER'S RIGHT TO
COMPLAIN ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL
EXAMPLE THAT I JUST USED.
OVER THE YEARS MY OFFICE HAS
SPOKEN TO MANY RENTERS WHOSE
LANDLORDS HAVE RETALIATED
AGAINST THEM FOR REPORTING
HOUSING CODE VIOLATIONS.
MY OFFICE ALSO SPOKE TO TWO
REPRESENTATIVES FROM WINDERMERE
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WHO OBJECT
TO BEING CALLED A BIG CORPORATE
LANDLORD.
TO BE PRECISE, THEY DO NOT OWN
BUILDINGS, THEY ARE PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT CORPORATION MANAGING
OVER 1000 RENTAL HOUSING UNITS.
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE RENTERS,
AS SPOKEN TO PEOPLE, RENTERS
ARE REALLY IN A POSITION TO
MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN
BUILDING OWNER AND THE PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT COMPANY BECAUSE TO
THEM, THEY ARE THE LANDLORD.
I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THIS
CLARIFICATION SO THAT IT DOES
NOT DISTRACT FROM THE MAIN
POINT THAT BIG BUSINESS USE
SMALL LANDLORDS AS A FIG LEAF
TO A PROSE BASICALLY BENNY OF
THE PROGRESSIVE RENTERS RIGHTS
BILLS THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT
FORWARD.
LAST WEEK, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND MY OFFICE PRESENTED
AMENDMENTS CLARIFYING THE
LANGUAGE.
THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA
AND NONE OF THEM MAKE ANY
SUBSTANCES CHANGES.
ALSO ON TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA IS COUNCIL BILL 120077,
THE LEGISLATION COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES'S OFFICE, WHICH I
WELCOMED AND I HAVE COSPONSORED
AS COMMITTEE CHAIR TO CREATE A
DEFENSE AGAINST DAVIDSON FOR
RENTERS FACING RENTAL THAT'S
DURING COVID EMERGENCY THAT WAS
DESCRIBED EARLIER.
FINALLY, BUT NOT LEAST, IN
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDAS
RESOLUTION 31998 WHICH IS A
RESOLUTION FOR MY OFFICE URGING
THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR TO
EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM'S THROUGH THE END OF
THE YEAR.
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL REMEMBER
THAT THIS RESOLUTION LAST CAME
FOR A VOTE ON MARCH 13th.
TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE CITY AND
STATE EVICTION MORATORIUM'S
WERE SET TO EXPIRE.
MINUTES BEFORE THIS MEETING
WHERE THE RESOLUTION WOULD HAVE
BEEN VOTED ON, MAYOR DURKAN
RELENTED TO THE COMMUNITY
PRESSURE AND EXTENDED THE
MORATORIUM FOR ANOTHER SIX
MONTHS.
I'M SORRY, THREE MONTHS.
LATER THE GOVERNOR ALSO DID THE
SAME.
IN RESPONSE TO MY PROPOSED, AND
THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AGREED,
TO DELAY THEIR VOTE ON THE
RESOLUTION UNTIL TODAY, JUNE
7th.
THE MORATORIUMS ARE NOT
PROJECTED TO EXPIRE ON JUNE
30th.
WHICH WOULD BE A REAL DISASTER
FOR RENTERS.
ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS
BUREAU'S HOUSEHOLD SURVEY,
270,000 WASHINGTON STATE
RENTERS HAVE LITTLE TO NO
CONFIDENCE THAT THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO PAY RENT NEXT MONTH,
WHICH IS 18% OF ALL STATE
RENTERS.
98,000 WASHINGTON STATE RENTERS
THINK IT IS VERY, OR SOMEWHAT,
LIKELY THAT THEY WILL BE
EVICTED IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR AND WON THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR RENTERS
FACING EVICTION, RENTAL
ASSISTANCE MONEY, ALL OF THOSE
ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, BUT
NONE OF THEM ARE AN EXCUSE TO
FAIL TO EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
WHEN THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
ENDS, LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF
SEATTLE RENTERS COULD BE SERVED
WITH EVICTION PAPERWORK, KNOWN
AS UNLAWFUL RETAINER.
THIS IS NOT SPECULATION, THIS
HAS BEEN CONFIRMED NATIONWIDE
THROUGH ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS.
AN UNKNOWN NUMBER WILL SET THE
DATE, MEANING THAT THEY WILL
MOVE BEFORE THEY ARE EVEN
FORMALLY SERVED WITH EVICTION
PAPERWORK.
I APPRECIATE THE MLK LABOR
COUNCIL AND 46 OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS ARE SENT A JOINT
LETTER IN MARCH URGING THE
MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR TO EXTEND
THE MORATORIUM TO THE END OF
THIS YEAR.
PRECISELY FOR THIS REASON.
THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE PROPER
DATA ON HOW MANY RENTERS WILL
END UP SELF EVICTING.
STATISTICALLY HALF OF THOSE
ACTUALLY SERVED WITH FORMAL
EVICTION PAPERWORK WILL BE
EVICTED BY DEFAULT, BECAUSE
THEY'RE UNABLE TO RESPOND TO
THE PAPERWORK OR APPEAR IN
COURT.
ONLY THOSE WHO MAKE IT TO THEIR
AND HEARING CAN POTENTIALLY
AVOID EFFICIENT USING CLO'S
EVICTION DEFENSE, RIGHT TO
COUNSEL AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE
FUNDS.
I OPPOSE EVICTION BECAUSE
HOUSING SHOULD BE A HUMAN
RIGHT.
AT THE VERY LEAST HOWEVER, THIS
HOUSING EMERGENCY THAT RENTERS
ARE FACING DUE TO THE ECONOMIC
SHOCK OF COVID 19 AND THE REAR
COLLAPSE IN THEIR FINANCIAL
CONVERSATION, THAT THEY
EXPENSED OVER THE LAST YEAR
NEED TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE
ELECTED OFFICIALS EVEN CONSIDER
LIFTING THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
TWO WEEKS AGO MY OFFICE SENT
ALL COUNCILMEMBER OFFICES
AMENDMENT LANGUAGE TO UPDATE
THAT RESOLUTION TO ACCOUNT FOR
THE CHANGES OVER THE PASSED FEW
MONTHS.
HOPEFULLY COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
HAD THE CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT.
THE AMENDMENT HAS UP-TO-DATE
STATISTICS AND ALSO LANGUAGE ON
RECENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
INCLUDING IMPORTANT QUOTES,
WITHOUT JUST MENTIONED, I WON'T
READ FROM THE WASHINGTON
COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK.
ALSO FROM THE WASHINGTON LOW
INCOME HOUSING ALLIANCE.
BOTH THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE
ADVOCATING FOR THE EXTENDING OF
THE MORATORIUM TO THE END OF
THIS YEAR.
I REALLY HOPE THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL VOTE YES ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
THE AMENDMENT ALSO ACCOUNTS FOR
THE AMENDMENT RESOLUTION ALSO
ACCOUNTS FOR THE SENATE BILL
5160 THAT SHAMEFULLY ENDS THE
STATEWIDE MORATORIUM ON JUNE
30th.
TO BE CLEAR, WHILE THE
STATEWIDE MORATORIUM IS
SCHEDULED TO END ON JUNE 30th,
ACCORDING TO THAT BILL, THERE
IS NOTHING LEGALLY STOPPING
GOVERNOR INSLEE FROM ISSUING A
NEW PROCLAMATION REENACTING THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM, AND THE
LEGISLATION SAYS NOTHING ABOUT
THE CITY'S MORATORIUM.
THE AMENDMENT LANGUAGE IS FULLY
CONSISTENT WITH THE ISSUES.
I ONCE AGAIN URGE ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS,
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE WILL BE AT ITS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED TIME.
AT THE END OF THE MONTH, TODAY,
JUNE 22nd.
AT 2:00 P.M.
THE FULL AGENDA IS STILL BEING
DEVELOPED, BUT IT WILL DISCUSS
RENTERS RIGHTS LEGISLATION FROM
MY OFFICE REQUIRING LANDLORDS
TO PAY A RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
IF THEY DISPLACE THEIR TENANTS
BY FORCING THEM OUT WITH
UNCONSCIONABLE RENT INCREASES.
AND A LEGISLATION FROM MY OFFICE
ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BY THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION TO
GIVE RENTERS A SIX-MONTH NOTICE
FOR RENT INCREASES.
FINALLY, I AM CIRCULATING FOR
SIGNATURES A PROCLAMATION
BROUGHT TO MY OFFICE LAST
WEEKEND BY SEATTLE'S SOCIAL
EQUITY EDUCATORS.
IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL DAY
OF ACTION ORGANIZED BY THE
EDUCATION PROJECT IN BLACK
LIVES MATTER AT SCHOOL FOR JUNE
12th.
THE DAY OF ACTION IS TO RAISE
PUBLIC AWARENESS OF EDUCATORS
PLEDGED TO TEACH THE TRUTH
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING
LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT HOW
EDUCATORS CAN TEACH ISSUES
RELATED TO RACISM, SEXISM AND
OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES.
THE PLEDGE TO TEACH FOR TRUTH
SAYS QUOTE, WE THE UNDERSIGNED
EDUCATORS REFUSED TO LIE TO
YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT U.S. HISTORY
AND CURRENT EVENTS.
REGARDLESS OF THE LAW, AND TO
QUOTE.
IN SEATTLE, THE JUNE 12th EVENT
ORGANIZED BY SOCIAL ACTIVITY
EDUCATORS, WASHINGTON ETHNIC
STUDIES NOW, SEATTLE CENTER FOR
RACIAL EQUITY, AND SEATTLE
COUNCIL PD ESSAY WILL BEGIN AT
1:30 P.M.
IT WILL HAVE SPEAKERS AND A
YOUTH LED TOUR OF CULTURALLY
AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT
SEATTLE LANDMARKS.
I WILL BE HAPPILY JOINING THEM
MYSELF AT THE EVENT AND I THINK
ALL THE EDUCATORS AND ORGANIZERS
WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
EVENT AND ALSO BROUGHT THE IDEA
OF THE PROCLAMATION TO MY
OFFICE.
THIS PROCLAMATION DESIGNATES
JUNE 12, 2021 TO BE PLEDGED TO
TEACH THE TRUTH THAT.
THE LANGUAGE WAS SENT TO ALL
COUNCIL OFFICES SOMEWHAT LATE
BECAUSE IT WAS DRAFTED BY
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS OVER THE
WEEKEND.
UNFORTUNATELY IT CANNOT BE
DELAYED BECAUSE THE EVENT IS ON
THIS WEEKEND.
SO, I HOPE THAT COUNCILMEMBERS
WILL SUPPORT IT AND I WILL
LEAVE IT TO PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
TO DECIDE HOW TO BRING IT
FORWARD FOR A VOTE.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
ON THE PROCLAMATION, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND -- OPEN IT UP FOR ANY
QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON
THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN DO
THE ROLL CALL NOW DURING
COUNCIL BRIEFING.
SO, COLLEAGUES, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THE PROCLAMATION
AS DESCRIBED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT BEFORE I ASKED THE CLERK
TO CALL THE ROLL?
HEARING NONE, I ANY HANDS
RAISED EITHER, SO WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO
DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION
REGARDING A PROCLAMATION FOR A
PLEDGE TO TEACH THE TRUTH THEY?
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR.
>> OKAY, SORRY, WASN'T SURE IF
YOU HEARD ME.
GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR THAT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEING
PROPOSED THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT GAVE A NOD TO IN HER
COMMENTS.
IF YOU DO HAVE AMENDMENTS THAT
YOU WOULD LIKE TO QUEUE UP FOR
PREVIEW TODAY THAT WE'LL BE
CONSIDERING AT THE FULL
COUNCIL, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME
TO DO THAT.
ALSO AS A REMINDER, CENTRAL
STAFF ARE BOTH ON THE ZOOM CALL
TODAY.
THEY ARE AVAILABLE AS COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS
AND/OR THE UNDERLYING BILLS
THAT WE WILL BE CONSIDERING
RELATED TO ADDITIONAL TENANT
PROTECTIONS THIS AFTERNOON.
I'M GOING TO SCAN THE ROOM HERE
AND SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS TO
BRING FORWARD TODAY, JUST TO
CLARIFY FOR FOLKS.
I PROPOSED AND PUT FORWARD
AMENDMENTS AT THE COMMITTEE
LEVEL, WHICH SEEMED THE
APPROPRIATE TIME FOR ME TO DO
THAT AS A MEMBER OF THAT
COMMITTEE.
JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT I
WASN'T PLANNING TO BRING THEM
BACK A SECOND TIME TODAY.
>> OKAY, THANKS FOR CLARIFYING
THAT.
IT WILL HELP US MANAGE THIS
AFTERNOON'S PROCESS AND
PROCEDURES.
THANKS FOR THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS AGAIN TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR THE OVERVIEW OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND ALSO FOR
BRINGING FORWARD THE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE FOR SPECIFICALLY
FAMILIES WHO HAVE KIDDOS DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
I'M VERY MUCH APPRECIATIVE OF
THE WORK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO
IN THE PASSED, AND I'VE
CONTINUED TO DO ON THIS
LEGISLATION, AND JUST OVERALL
SUPPORTIVE OF THE THREE PIECES
OF LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US
TODAY.
I KNOW WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF
EMAILS FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE ALL
VERY MUCH RESPECT AND LOOK
FORWARD TO PASSING THE
LEGISLATION TODAY.
I ALSO DO HAVE A POSSIBLE
AMENDMENT THAT A MARKDOWN RIGHT
NOW.
WE ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND THE
CENTRAL STAFF TEAM THAT IS ON
THE LINE HERE AS WELL.
I DID SEND YOU A DRAFT OF THE
AMENDMENT OVER MASSAGING A
LITTLE BIT SO MAKE SURE WE CAN
ADDRESS ONE OF THE ISSUES WE
HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE UNDERLYING
BILL.
RELATED TO THE SCHOOL YEAR.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND
SOME OF THE POTENTIAL
UNINTENDED IMPACTS OF THE
HOUSING INSTABILITY THAT MAY
COME UP IN VERY RARE SITUATIONS
WHERE THERE IS A HOMEOWNER WHO
DOES NOT HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF
WEALTH.
HAS FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS OR
OTHER LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
NECESSITATE THEM TO MOVE BACK
INTO THEIR HOMES, BUT
POTENTIALLY DURING THIS 10
MONTH PERIOD.
I DID CIRCULATE AN AMENDMENT
THAT I'M CONSIDERING AND WILL
MAKE SURE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL
ANY CHANGES WELL BEFORE THE
MEETING THIS AFTERNOON TO GET
AT THE ONE CONCERN THAT I THINK
HAS COME UP THAT HAS RESONATED
WITH ME AND I WANT TO SEE IF WE
CAN TRY AND ADDRESS IT THROUGH
THIS ORDINANCE WITHOUT CREATING
ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THIS
SUBTEXT OF THE LEGISLATION.
THERE IS A HANDFUL OF FOLKS WHO
HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT WANTING TO
HAVE IT CAREFULLY CRAFTED
AMENDMENT THAT APPLIES
SPECIFICALLY TO OWNER MOVING.
AS AN EXEMPTION IN THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
EVICTIONS MORATORIUM.
I WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS
OWNER MOVE INS IS AN EXEMPTION
THAT IS EXACTLY MODELED OFF THE
LANGUAGE IN THE JUST CAUSE
STATUTE THAT THIS COUNCIL
PASSED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF ADVOCATES
AND TENANT RIGHTS FOLKS IN THAT
PERIOD.
SO, THE LANGUAGE THAT WE ARE
POTENTIALLY LOOK AT INCLUDING
IS FROM THE JUST CAUSE
ORDINANCE THAT LISTS OWNER MOVE
INS AS A JUST REASON FOR
EVICTION.
THIS IS NOT A LEE POLE, AS ARE
LOTS OF REASONS WHY AN OWNER
MAY NEED TO MOVE INTO THEIR
HOME, INCLUDING LIFE CHANGES
LIKE THE BIRTH OF A CHILD.
LOSS OF A JOB, ILLNESS OR
DISABILITY.
OR RELOCATION NEEDS.
IN THESE VERY FEW CASES, IT IS
EXPECTED THAT AN OWNER IS GOING
TO HAVE TO WAIT UP TO 10 MONTHS
TO MOVE IN, OR COULD, IF THEY
HAVE ADDITIONAL HOUSING
INSTABILITY, THAT THIS COULD
COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE HOUSING
INSTABILITY FOR THOSE SPECIFIC
FOLKS THAT HAVE A RENTAL UNIT
THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO MOVE
BACK INTO.
IN THIS EFFORT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE NOT CREATING
ADDITIONAL HARDSHIP OR HOUSING
INSTABILITY FOR THAT SPECIFIC
SMALL LANDLORD, WE ARE TRYING
TO LOOK AT MODELING THE
LANGUAGE EXACTLY FROM THE JUST
CAUSE STATUTE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE NOT CREATING ADDITIONAL
HOUSING INSTABILITY.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE
IMPORTANCE OF GREAT INSTABILITY
FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE
WITH KIDDOS DURING THIS TIME.
SO, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ADD A
OWNER MOVE IN EXEMPTION FOR
OWNERS TO GIVE 90 DAYS NOTICE
PRIOR TO THE MOVE AS IN THE
JUST CAUSE LEGISLATION TO MAKE
SRE THAT IF THEY MOVE, THAT
THIS IS THEIR PRINCIPAL
RESIDENCE.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE MOVING IN
AND THEN NOT STAYING THERE AND
NOT HAVING IT AS THEIR
PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO LIVE
THERE.
THIS NARROW AMENDMENT IS
INTENDED TO BE IN RESPONSE TO
SOME OF THE CONCERNS WE'VE
RECEIVED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
IMPACT OF HOUSING INSTABILITY
FOR FEW OF THE LOW INCOME OR
INCOME RESTRICTED SMALL
LANDLORD'S WITH JUST ONE SINGLE
RESIDENCE.
THAT THEY RENT AND ARE
DEPENDENT UPON THAT RENTAL UNIT
FOR THEIR OWN FAMILY TO BE ABLE
TO MOVE INTO POTENTIALLY IF
THEY ARE FACING HARDSHIP DUE TO
CIEL'S HIGH HOUSING COSTS,
THERE ARE A FEW CIRCUMSTANCES
WHERE AN OWNER OF THE RESIDENCE
MAY NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL
MEANS TO LINEUP ANOTHER HOUSING
OPTION OR TO WAIT FOR THE
LENGTH OF TIME REQUIRED IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, FAMILIES
WOULD NEED TO WAIT FOR THEM TO
MOVE IN AND THAT WOULD CREATE
ADDITIONAL HARDSHIP ONE EXAMPLE
IS THE CORRESPONDENCE THAT WE
HAD RELATED TO ONE OWNER AND
THEIR SMALL CHILDREN WHO HAD
BEEN LIVING WITH OTHER FAMILY
MEMBERS AND HAVE SINCE WELCOMED
A BABY.
THEY HAD ALWAYS WANTED AND
INTENDED TO MOVE BACK INTO
THEIR HOME AND DO NOT HAVE THE
MEANS TO PAY FOR BOTH THEIR
MORTGAGE AND AN ADDITIONAL SPOT
OR TAKE ON ADDITIONAL DEBT IN
HOUSING UNDER THIS LEGISLATION
AND IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, IN
THE CIRCUMSTANCE, THESE OWNERS
WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE
YEAR IS UP.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO FIND HIS
LANGUAGE FROM THE JUST CAUSE
ORDINANCE THAT IS ALREADY IN
PLACE TO APPLY IN THIS
SITUATION SO THAT IF THERE IS
OWNER MOVE IN'S THAT ARE
ALLOWED IN JUST CAUSE THAT WE
CAN APPLY IT TO THE SITUATION
WHERE THEN IT WOULD BE A JUST
REASON FOR ENDING THE MONTH-TO-
MONTH RENTAL AGREEMENT.
I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT RIGHT OF
FIRST REFUSAL LEGISLATION ALSO
HAS ALL THIS ALSO UP FOR A VOTE
THIS AFTERNOON.
WHICH I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF,
ALSO INCLUDES THAT ALL LEASES
AUTOMATICALLY CONVERT TO MONTH-
TO-MONTH UNDER THIS SITUATION.
THEIR FATHER JUST CAUSE
ORDINANCE PROTECTIONS WOULD
ALLOW ALL THESE LEASES.
REGARDING THE SCHOOL YEAR,
AGAIN I WANT TO SAY HOW
IMPORTANT THIS LEGISLATION IS.
HOW MUCH I SUPPORT THE FOLKS
WHO HAVE BEEN WRITING IN IN
SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION,
AND I JUST WANT TO SEE IF THERE
IS A WAY TO PAIR THE LANGUAGE
THAT WE HAVE FROM THE JUST
CAUSE ORDINANCE WITH THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
CREATING HOUSING STABILITY FOR
ALL.
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE INCOME
LIMITED AND MAY HAVE A LIFE-
CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCE THAT
NECESSITATES THEM TO MOVE BACK
INTO THEIR RENTAL UNIT.
ALSO REQUIRES -- WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT WITH THE SUPPORT AND
DIRECTION OF COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT IS IDEALLY FINDING WAYS
TO STRENGTHEN THE REQUIREMENTS,
ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZING THAT
THERE ARE CLEAR REASONS.
THERE HAS TO BE A JUSTIFICATION
TO USE THE MOVIE AND LANGUAGE
HERE.
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY
MAY BE CONCERNED THAT FOLKS USE
IT INAPPROPRIATELY.
TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT, WE ARE
LOOKING AT POSSIBLE TRIPLE
DAMAGES THAT WOULD GO BACK TO
THE RENTER IF SOMEBODY
INAPPROPRIATELY USES THIS SMALL
NARROW CAVEAT.
I THINK THAT'S JUST A NOTE TO
THE OVERALL NEED FOR US TO
STRENGTHEN THE JUST CAUSE MOVE
IN, OWNER MOVE IN LANGUAGE
OVERALL, WHICH I'M VERY MUCH
COMMITTED TO DOING, BUT WANTED
TO SEE IF THE IN THIS NARROW
SITUATION THERE MIGHT BE
SUPPORT FOR THAT.
AGAIN, THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR MY INITIAL LANGUAGE,
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING
IF WE CAN STRENGTHEN THIS
COMPONENT WITH A VERY IMPORTANT
NOTE THAT WE HAVE MORE WORK TO
DO ON OVER MOVE IN LANGUAGE
OVERALL TO MAKE SURE IT IS
BEING APPROPRIATELY APPLIED.
I THINK IT COULD POTENTIALLY
HELP HERE ESPECIALLY SOME OF
THE STORIES WE HAVE HEARD FROM
FOLKS WHO REALLY ARE MEETING
THESE HARDSHIP REQUIREMENTS AND
DO NEED TO POTENTIALLY MOVE
BACK IN.
SO, THAT'S THAT.
>> OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I THINK
YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF BE ON THE
LINE TODAY TO DESCRIBE YOUR
AMENDMENT.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO QUEUE
UP THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR -- I
THINK YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKED.
I'M GOING TO QUEUE YOU UP TO
SORT OF HAVE HIM EXPLAIN ANY
OTHER ASPECTS OF THE AMENDMENT
THAT YOU WOULD LIKE HIM TO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JEFF, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS AS WELL AS WE HAVE BEEN
HEARING FROM OVER THE LAST WEEK.
APOLOGIES I WAS NOT ABLE TO
OFFER SOMETHING VIA THE
COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS.
AS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A
NARROW SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE
THAT HAS COME UP FOR THE
SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES THAT A
HOMEOWNER MAY FIND THEMSELVES IN
THAT THEY NEED TO MOVE BACK IN.
JEFF HAS OFFERED SOME LANGUAGE
THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATED AND IS
WORKING WITH US ON THE
POSSIBILITY OF STRENGTHENING
THE DAMAGES SO THAT THERE IS
TRUE ENFORCEMENT THAT COULD BE
BUILT UPON IN THIS LANGUAGE.
JEFF, DID YOU WANT TO OFFER ANY
CLARIFICATION, OR YOU ARE
WELCOME TO ALSO SHOW THE
LANGUAGE THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED
TO ME IF THAT'S HELPFUL TO
FOLKS.
HAPPY TO HAVE YOU WALK THROUGH
AND OFFER CLARIFICATION.
>> SURE.
I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY MAJOR
CLARIFICATIONS.
IN MY ABLE TO SHARE SCREENS AT
THAT TIME?
OR, WILL THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL
PERMISSIONS?
>> JEFF, YOU CAN JUST WALK IT
THROUGH.
>> JUST A MOMENT.
DID THAT WORK?
IT APPEARS I'M HAVING A PROBLEM.
CAN YOU HEAR ME STILL?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY.
IT IS NOT HIGHLIGHTING THE
RIGHT SCREEN SO I'M NOT
ACTUALLY ABLE TO SCROLL OR
CONTROL IT.
I'LL JUST DESCRIBE IT.
AS WAS CIRCULATED ALREADY TO
ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS, IF YOU
LOOK AT WHAT WOULD BE
SUBPARAGRAPH 10 BE.
IN THE SCHOOL YEAR EVICTION
MORATORIUM THERE IS JUST A
SAMPLE REFERENCE THAT IS ADDED.
22 606 -- SUBSECTION.
ALL READY AS NOTED AS I
PREVIOUSLY NOTED IN SOME
MATERIALS PROVIDED, LAYS OUT
THE FUSE TIMES WHERE THE SCHOOL
YEAR EVICTION MORATORIUM WOULD
NOT APPLY AS A EVICTION.
THOSE FEW CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
GENERALLY WHEN A UNIT DOES NOT
COMPLY WITH THE LAND-USE COATS,
SUCH AS THE CONDITION OF THE
UNIT OR HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
OCCUPYING IT.
IF THERE HAS BEEN CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY ON THE PART OF THE
TENANT, OR AN OPERATION OF AN
UNLAWFUL BUSINESS.
SO, ADDING THAT SMALL
ADDITIONAL PIECE, JUST ADDS TO
THIS.
IF THE LANDLORD WAS LOOKING TO
MOVE INTO THE UNIT FOR THEIR
OWN OCCUPATION, OR THEIR
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER, THAT
WOULD BE PERMITTED.
THAT IS THE PIECE THAT HAS
ARDIE BEEN SEEN BY ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THE LANGUAGE THAT WE ARE
WORKING TO DEVELOP, THAT IS NOT
YET FINAL, WOULD ALSO REFER
BACK TO THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE.
ACTUALLY FOR THE LARGE PART,
COPYING AND PASTING IT.
NOTING THAT IN SUBSECTION B, IF
THE CONDITIONS RESULT IN THE
TENANT BEING REMOVED OR
VACATING, WERE NOT MEANT, THE
TENANT COULD PURSUE A PRIVATE
ACTION FOR EITHER $2000 OR
THREE TIMES THE RENT THAT HAVE
BEEN CHARGED TO THE TENANT,
WHICHEVER WAS GREATER, AND ANY
FEES ASSOCIATED.
EITHER THE SUIT OR ARBITRATION.
THAT LANGUAGE IS STILL BEING
FINALIZED SO I WON'T SHARE IT
AT THIS TIME.
ALSO I'M HAVING TROUBLE TO
SHARE SCREENS.
>> OKAY, GREAT, THANKS, JEFF.
SORRY YOU'RE HAVING SOME
TECHNOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES
THERE.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ON THAT PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT?
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL SORT OF LOOK FORWARD TO
GETTING THE OFFICIAL WORD FROM
YOUR OFFICE, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HERE PRETTY SHORTLY
BEFORE THE NOON DEADLINE ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU INTEND TO
BRING FORWARD THAT AMENDMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I KNOW
YOUR OFFICE IN MY OFFICE HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE
SEVERABILITY AMENDMENT.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS YOU WERE
GOING TO MEET ON BRINGING THAT
FORWARD.
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT SO
I DON'T DROP THE BALL ON IT.
>> YES, WE WILL MAKE SURE, I
WILL MAKE SURE ON MY END.
SO THE BALL DOESN'T GET DROPPED.
THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE SUPPORTIVE.
I THINK IT'S A SMART AMENDMENT.
TO INCLUDE THAT SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE.
I'M HAPPY TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF
THAT EFFORT.
>> JEFF?
>> I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
THAT ON FRIDAY AT 4:30, THE
AMENDMENT WAS CIRCULATED TO ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THAT SHOULD BE IN EVERYONE'S
INBOX FOR REVIEW.
>> THE SEVERABILITY AMENDMENT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT, YES.
>> GREAT, PERFECT.
[ INDISCERNIBLE - MULTIPLE
SPEAKERS ]
>> I APOLOGIZE.
I KNOW YOU CALLED MY NAME.
I WANTED TO SAY YES.
SORRY.
DIDN'T YOU COME ON THE
PROCLAMATION?
>> THAT WAS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S POPULATION?
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
I'LL MAKE SURE THAT GETS NOTED.
>> I APOLOGIZE.
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
OKAY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THOSE BILLS
OR OTHER PORTIONS OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S REPORT?
ALL RIGHT, I'M NOT SEEING
ANYTHING ELSE.
>>> GREAT, OKAY.
WELL, I WILL GO AHEAD AND
CONCLUDE THIS PORTION OF THE
AGENDA WITH MY REPORT, WHICH
WILL BE RELATIVELY BRIEF HERE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR FINAL
ACTION FROM THE GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE, HOWEVER
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THIS
AFTERNOONS INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR THAT WILL BE
REFERRED TO MY GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
BOTH ITEMS ARE APPOINTMENTS TO
THE DISTRICTING COMMITTEE AND
APPEAR AS ITEMS SEVEN AND EIGHT.
THESE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE
CONSIDERED TOMORROW, JUNE 8th,
2021 DURING MY REGULARLY
SCHEDULED GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE, WHICH IS
SET TO OCCUR AT 2:00 P.M.
THE FIRST TWO APPOINTMENTS AT
THE JUST MENTIONED TO THE TO
THE SEATTLE DISTRICTING
COMMISSION.
APPOINTMENT 1945 AND
APPOINTMENT 1946.
THESE ARE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
IN BOTH NOMINEES WILL BE
AVAILABLE DURING MY COMMITTEE
TOMORROW AFTERNOON TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS.
THE THIRD APPOINTMENT WILL BE
TO THE FAMILY OF EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
THIS WILL BE THE APPOINTMENT OF
MEMBER TO THE LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE.
SHE WILL BE WITH US TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS.
THE FOURTH AGENDA ITEM WILL BE
A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION
PRESENTED BY OUR FRIENDS ON THE
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMISSION.
WHO WILL BE SHARING
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN
EQUITABLE RECOVERY FROM THAT
COMMISSION'S PERSPECTIVE.
OUR LAST AND FIFTH AGENDA ITEM
IS A PRESENTATION FROM OUR
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
FRIENDLY LEARNING ON K-12 AND
SEATTLE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
INVESTMENTS TO DATE.
LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING THEM
FOR THAT CONVERSATION.
THIS THURSDAY, I WILL ATTEND
THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL
COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION POLICY
BOARD MEETING.
AT THAT MEETING, THE
TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD
WILL WASHINGTON WASHINGTON
STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO
DISCUSS THE RESULTS OF THE 2021
LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND
TRANSPORTATION RELATED
ACTIVITIES.
THE BOARD IS ALSO PLANNING TO
BE BRIEFED ON THE WORK AND
OUTREACH CONDUCTED AS PART OF
THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSRC'S COURT
NEEDED MOBILITY PLAN WHICH
IDENTIFIED MOBILITY NEEDS OF
PEOPLE REQUIRING SPECIALIZED
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
ON TUESDAY, MY ROLE AS MEMBER
OF KING COUNTY'S AUTHORITY
GOVERNING COMMITTEE I WILL BE
HAVING MY REGULAR CHECK INS
WITH REPRESENTATIVES WITH LIVED
EXPENSES COALITION.
ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON I PLAN TO
MEET WITH THE CHAIRS OF THE
SMALL BUSINESS BY THE COUNCIL
TO HEAR MORE ABOUT SMALL
BUSINESS NEEDS FOR OUR CITY.
AND OUR ONGOING ECONOMIC
RECOVERY.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
OR HEAR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE
GOOD OF THE ORDER.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED.
COLLEAGUES, THAT DOES CONCLUDE
OUR AGENDA FOR THIS MORNING.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE US, WE WILL BE
ADJOURNED.
SEE YOU ALL THIS AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU.