>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, THE
JUNE 21st, 2021 COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER.
THE TIME IS 10:30 A.M.
BEFORE THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL,
COLLEAGUES I DID WANT YOU TO BE
AWARE THAT I HEARD FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS' OFFICE,
AND HE WILL BE ARRIVING LATE TO
THIS BRIEFING.
I WILL MAKE SURE TO ANNOUNCE
HIS ARRIVAL FOR PUBLIC RECORD
WHEN I SEE THAT HE ENTERS INTO
THE ZOOM ROOM.
THAT BEING SAID, THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MOSQUEDA?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
HERE.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>>> THE MINUTES OF JUNE 14th
2021 WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
>>> PRESIDENT'S REPORT, I DON'T
HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT RELATED
TO OPERATIONS OF THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, FOR
THOSE OF US WHO CELEBRATED OVER
THE WEEKEND ON JUNETEENTH OF
COURSE WAS ON JUNE 19th.
WHICH WAS THIS PASSED SATURDAY.
I WANTED TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE
THE FACT THAT WE NOW AS A
COUNTRY HAVE THIS FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HOLIDAY, WHICH IS
GOOD NEWS, BUT OF COURSE WE
HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO TO
CONTINUE TO LIFT UP OUR BLACK
NEIGHBORS HERE IN SEATTLE AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING ON THAT
CONTINUING ISSUE.
>>> SECONDLY, I DO WANT TO TAKE
JUST A QUICK POINT OF PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE THIS MORNING.
BY ACKNOWLEDGING A REALLY
ATROCIOUS ACT OF RACISM AGAINST
MY CHIEF OF STAFF WHO LAST WEEK
WAS ON A ZOOM AND WAS SUBJECTED
TO THE REPEATED USE OF THE N
WORD.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS
OFFICIAL BUSINESS OR ELECTORAL
WORK, THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR IN
SUBJECTING PEOPLE IN OUR CITY
TO THOSE -- THAT TYPE OF HATRED
IS ABSOLUTELY BEYOND THE PALE,
AND I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU JOIN
ME IN ADMONISHING AND REJECTING
THAT KIND OF HARMFUL, HURTFUL
RACISM BEING SUBJECTED TO ANY
MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND
WHEN IT HITS HOME LIKE IT HAS
FOR US HERE ON MY TEAM, IT IS
PARTICULARLY PAINFUL.
SO, I HOPE YOU ALL WILL JOIN ME
IN CALLING OUT THAT BEHAVIOR
AND IN HELPING MY TEAM SUPPORT
MY CHIEF OF STAFF, BREANNA
THOMAS IN THAT MOMENT SHE
CONTINUES TO PROCESS THE EVENTS
OF LAST WEEK.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
JUST HAVE A PERSONAL MOMENT OF
PRIVILEGE AT THE TOP OF TODAY'S
AGENDA.
>>> WE WILL GO AHEAD AND SHIFT
NOW TO A DISCUSSION OF PREVIOUS
CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS.
COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES
AND I'LL CALL ON COUNCILMEMBERS
AS ESTABLISHED BY THE ROTATING
ROLL CALL.
THIS WEEK, AGAIN FIRST UP IS
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOLLOWED
BY MORALES, PEDERSEN, SAWANT,
STRAUSS, HERBOLD, JUAREZ,
LEWIS, AND THEN I WILL
CONCLUDE THIS AGENDA DISCUSSION.
FIRST UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
STARTING TODAY'S BRIEFING WITH
AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF WHAT
HAPPENED TO YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF
AND TO A TEAM MEMBER HERE AT
CITY HALL.
I TOO WANT TO STAND IN
OPPOSITION AND STRONG
OPPOSITION, AND CONDEMN THE
LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED AGAINST
BREANNA, AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THIS HAPPENED RIGHT NEXT TO
OUR CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH.
AS YOU MENTIONED, WE CAN'T PAT
OURSELVES ON THE BACK FOR
HAVING A FEDERAL HOLIDAY
DECLARED WHEN THAT TYPE OF
RACIST LANGUAGE IS USED IN AN
OVERT AND EXPLICIT WAY AGAINST
ANY MEMBER OF OUR TEAM OR ANY
MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT THE
CHAIR O THE KING COUNTY
DEMOCRATS, IS NOT AN ENDORSING
AGENCY OF ANY KIND, AS YOU
SAID, DOESN'T REALLY MATTER
WHETHER IT'S ON THE ELECTORAL
SIDE OR A LEGISLATIVE MATTER,
WHAT THE CHAIR OF THE KING
COUNTY DEMOCRATS SAID IN HER
STATEMENT WAS WE MUST STAND IN
OPPOSITION TO ANY KIND OF
STATEMENTS LIKE THAT.
MAKE SURE THAT ESPECIALLY WOMEN
OF COLOR AND BLACK WOMEN HAVE
THE ABILITY TO NOT BE SUBJECT
TO SUCH RACIST BEHAVIOR.
SO, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
STARTING TODAY'S MEETING
WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
I ALSO WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON THE
COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE ABOUT
JUNETEENTH.
WE ARE ALL I THINK IN A
POSITION TO RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF JUNETEENTH.
I DID HEAR SO MANY PEOPLE OVER
THE WEEKEND TALK ABOUT HOW THIS
IS NOT A CELEBRATION
NECESSARILY.
THIS IS A DAY OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF DECADES OF DELAYED ACTION.
HERE IN 2021, WHEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS FINALLY
RECOGNIZED JUNETEENTH, WE STILL
SEE STATES LIKE TEXAS PUSHING
ANTI-BOATING DISENFRANCHISEMENT
LAWS.
BEEN IN CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
ALSO HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD
WE MUST FIGHT AGAINST ANY
EFFORT TO CO-OPT JUNE SEEN.
WHILE WE SIMULTANEOUSLY CREATE
POLICIES THAT [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
PREVIOUSLY STATUS QUO THAT
CAUSE MORE HARM ESPECIALLY TO
THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
OF SEATTLE.
SO, WHILE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE
IMPORTANCE OF JUNETEENTH, WE
WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT.
WE WILL CONTINUED TO FIGHT TORT
ACTION, TO FIGHT AGAINST RACISM
AND RECOGNIZING THE TREMENDOUS
DEMANDS TO UNDO DECADES IF NOT
CENTURIES OF REGRESSIVE
POLICIES THAT ACTUALLY ARE AT
THE ROOT OF AN EQUITABLE
HOUSING, INEQUITABLE EDUCATION
AND SECURITY.
AND HEALTH DISPARITIES AS WE
CONTINUE TO SEE HEALTH
DISPARITIES CONTINUE IN THIS
MOMENT OF COVID.
MOVING ON I WANT TO SAY HAPPY
FATHER'S DAY TO ALL FOLKS IN
OUR COMMUNITY RECOGNIZING THAT
FATHERS AND PARENT HE COME IN
ALL SHAPES AND FORMS.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL WHO
CELEBRATED THIS WEEKEND AS DADS
AND DADDY'S.
AS WE SAY IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, AS
FOLKS RECOGNIZED THAT THIS IS
NOT JUST ABOUT BOTHERS IN THE
TRADITIONAL SENSE, BUT ALSO
CHOSEN PARENTS, AND CHOSEN
PARENTING MODELS.
I APPRECIATE ALL WHO TAKE CARE
OF OUR KIDDOS ACROSS THIS
COMMITTEE AND ACROSS OUR
COUNTRY.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IS
POSSIBLY AN ESPECIALLY HARD DAY
FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE LOST
LOVED ONES DURING THE LAST YEAR
AS PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS,
KIDDOS, UNCLES AND OTHERS.
THINKING OF EVERYBODY AND
THANKING EVERYBODY FOR
CONTINUING TO CARE FOR OUR
KIDDOS NO MATTER WHAT FORM OF
PARENTING YOU ENGAGE IN.
WE DO HAVE THREE ITEMS FROM THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE FIRST TWO RELATE TO THE
SEATTLE RESCUE PLAN ACT.
THESE ARE COUNCIL BILL 120093
AND 120094.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, AS THIS IS
A VERY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO PASS THE SEATTLE RESCUE
PLAN ACT TWO WEEKS AGO I,
ALONG WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, INTRODUCED THIS
LEGISLATION PACKAGE WITH THE
MAYORS' OFFICE WITH KEEPING IN
MIND WITH THE RESOLUTION THAT
YOU PASSED TO CREATE THE
APPROPRIATION TO REFLECT THE
DIVERSITY OF OPINION AMONGST
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE
DIVERSITY OF THINGS WE HEARD
FROM COMMUNITY CONSTITUENCY
CALLED IN OVER THE MULTIPLE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAD FOR
PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
AS YOU'LL RECALL, THIS IS THE
FIRST TRANCHE OF THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT DOLLARS.
SEATTLE'S PORTION OF THE
FEDERAL DOLLARS TOTALS $232
MILLION.
TODAY'S BILL IN FRONT OF US IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THE
FIRST HALF OF THAT, $160
MILLION, ALONG WITH $12.2
MILLION THAT COME FROM THE HOME
INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FUND
DOLLARS.
THESE BILLS ARE THE RESULT OF
COUNCIL BILL -- EXCUSE ME
COUNCIL RESOLUTION 13999
PASSED IN MARCH AND THE FIVE
VESTMENT COMMUNITY MEETINGS
THAT WE HAD TO HEAR WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN OTHER CITIES, AND
DIRECTLY WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
DIRECTLY HEARING FROM FOLKS WHO
HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED DUE TO THE
CONSEQUENCES OF COVID.
BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES,
AND THAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE
ROOTED IN THOSE COMMUNITIES
MOST DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED.
I THINK THE PACKAGE IN FRONT OF
US REPRESENTS STRONG
COORDINATION AMONGST COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES HERE TODAY.
INTENTIONAL LISTENING WITH THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ALSO
STRONG COLLABORATION AND
COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY
AND STATE OFFICIALS WHO
TOGETHER, WE LOOKED AT THE
AMOUNT OF DOLLARS COMING INTO
KING COUNTY SO WE CAN MAKE SURE
FUNDING DIRECTLY TO THOSE IN
OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAS THE MOST
úNEEDS.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO
MAKE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT
IN HELPING TO ADDRESS THE HARMS
CAUSED BY COVID BOTH IN TERMS
OF LOST LIVES AND LOST
LIVELIHOODS.
WHEN YOU THINK BOTH THE
PHYSICAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF
THE ECONOMIC HEALTH
CONSEQUENCES IMPOSED ON OUR
COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AGAIN THAT
$160 MILLION, EVEN ADDING THE
EXTRA $12 MILLION FROM THE HOME
INVESTMENT PLAN IS NOT ENOUGH.
TODAY'S PACKAGE OF $120 MILLION
IS REALLY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP
IN THIS INFUSION PROVIDES AN
INCREDIBLE ONE-TIME OPPORTUNITY
TO COMMIT RESOURCES TO OUR
COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED.
IS DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH TO
CREATE THE EQUITY OH ECONOMY
THAT WE ARE ALL ACCOUNTABLE TO.
THIS THE FIRST STEP IN THE
FIRST TRANCHE TO THE BUILDING
BLOCKS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO
PUT TOGETHER THROUGHOUT AUGUST,
SEPTEMBER, AND OCTOBER AS WE
WORK ON THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF
US AND INTO THE ONGOING YEARS.
AS A REMINDER, STARTING
ACTUALLY IN JULY, WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN
OUR CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.
WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT
THE GRANT ACCEPTANCE ORDINANCE,
STRATEGIC ACADEMIC FUND
INVESTMENTS, AND WE WILL BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.
ALONG WITH THE NEW ECONOMIC
REVENUE FORECAST THAT WILL
BRING US ADDITIONAL REVENUE
OPPORTUNITIES TO DIRECTLY
INVEST IN THOSE MOST IMPACTED.
THE THIRD ITEM ON THE FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON'S
COUNCIL BILL 12010 ONE WHICH
IS A HOUSING LEVY
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCE PLAN.
HAVE DESCRIBED THIS VERY
BRIEFLY FOR FOLKS WHO DIDN'T
HAVE THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE.
THIS LEGISLATION OFFERS THE
CITY THE ABILITY TO UPDATE ITS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDING
POLICIES, IT MAKES IMPORTANT
UPDATES AND BUILDING FEET,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
EXPAND NOT JUST BUILDING
HOUSING, BUT REALLY SPECIFYING
WHERE THE HOUSING SHOULD TAKE
PLACE, AND WHO SHOULD BE IN
THAT HOUSING.
IN 2009, THROUGH MY COMMITTEE,
REWORKED TO UPDATE THE
COMMUNITY PREFERENCE POLICY
FRAMEWORK INCLUDING LONGER
LABOR STANDARDS AND REPLACE THE
ACQUISITION AUTHORITY FROM THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING TO NAME A FEW
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WE MADE IN
2019.
THIS UPDATE IN 2021 OFFERS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COUPLE THOSE
IMPORTANT CHANGES BY MAKING
SURE THAT WE ARE INCREASING THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING'S
HOMEOWNERSHIP SUBSIDY TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE ADEQUATELY AND
EQUITABLY FUNDING THE
CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE
HOMES.
WE ARE MOVING -- REMOVING THE
CAP ON THE ACQUISITION
AUTHORITY WHEN THERE ARE NEW
REVENUE SOURCES AVAILABLE SO
THAT THE CITY CAN MOVE QUICKLY
TO SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO
ACQUIRE PROPERTIES FOR THE
CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
GIVEN CHANGES IN THE MARKET.
I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT ALL
OF THE IMPORTANT BUT SMALL
CHANGES WE ARE MAKING HERE AS
WE REALLY LOOK TO FOLLOW
THROUGH ON THE PREVIOUS CHANGES
THAT WE MADE.
THANKS AGAIN TO AARON HOUSE FOR
HER WORK ON THE PLAN AND THE
LONG WITH OUR TEAM FOR THE WORK
ON THE SEATTLE RESCUE PLAN ACT.
IN OUR COMMITTEE REPORT WE HAVE
THE NEXT FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE ON JULY 9th AT 9:30
A.M.
WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE
AGENDA BUT SOME MAJOR
COMPONENTS ARE THE GROCERY
WORKER HAZARD PLAY, THE SOUTH
PARK PROPERTY TRANSFER, AND FTE
LEGISLATION.
AND A FEW POSSIBLE BUDGET
RELATED ITEMS, NOTABLY THE
CAPITAL PROJECTS TO BE
DETERMINED.
AND OTHER UPDATES, THIS TUESDAY
I WILL BE JOINING THE
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON
CITIES ANNUAL CONCERT.
ON WEDNESDAY I'LL BE SPEAKING
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
WOMEN'S CENTER FOR A NATIONAL
EDUCATION WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE PROGRAM.
I WILL ALSO BE SPEAKING IN THE
EVENING AT THE URBAN DESIGN
FORUM TO DISCUSS SEATTLE'S
EXISTING SMALL-SCALE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
OUR CURRENT I WOULD SAY
EXCLUSIONARY ZONING POLICIES,
TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF HOW OUR CITY CAN CONTINUE TO
MAKE CHANGES TO ACTUALLY MEET
OUR GOALS OF A 15 MINUTE CITY
PLANNING CONCERT THAT WOULD
CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE LENS OF
A MORE EQUITABLE AND
INCLUSIONARY ZONING.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WILL GO
AHEAD AND STOP THERE.
WE DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF
UPDATES.
JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS AGAIN
TO THEIR WORK ON THE CONSTANTLY
GETTING OUT PPE AND MASK
DONATIONS.
THEY DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB OF
WORKING WITH FOLKS LIKE BLACK
DOLLAR DAYS TASK FORCE, THE
WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK.
THE FIRST TONGAN NUTRITION
PROGRAM.
SO MANY MORE AS MORE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN WORKING TO DONATE MASKS
AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT TO THE COMMUNITY TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO ADDRESS COVID AS
WE ALSO WORK ON VACCINATING,
ESPECIALLY OUR MOST HARDEST TO
REACH COMMUNITIES, AND ARE MORE
DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE BOARD OF HEALTH, WANT TO
JUST SAY THURSDAY WE HAD OUR
BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING.
WE HAD A BRIEFING ON THE
COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF THE
HELMET LAW IN KING COUNTY.
AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS,
ESPECIALLY RAMIFICATIONS ON
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BEING
DISPROPORTIONATELY POLICED BY
THE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT LAW.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF WEARING HELMETS,
AND THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE USING HELMETS
EFFECTIVELY AND -- AND
DELIVERING HELMETS IF WE CAN,
FREE.
ESPECIALLY TO COMMUNITIES IN
LOW INCOME AREAS AND AMONG
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BUT THE
HARDSHIP AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISES THAT IS BEING CREATED BY
HAVING DISPROPORTIONATE
POLICING RELATED TO THE HELMET
LAW IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD
OF HEALTH WILL BEGIN TAKING UP.
IT SEEMED UNANIMOUS IN TERMS OF
OUR DISCUSSION THAT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN
REFORM THAT ANTIQUATED APPROACH
AS WE LOOK TOWARDS MORE
HOLISTIC PUBLIC HEALTH
SOLUTIONS TO MAKING SURE FOLKS
CAN WEAR A HELMET, HAVE ACCESS
TO IT, BUT NOT ARE ENFORCING IT
THROUGH PUNITIVE AND -- HARMFUL
MEASURES THAT RELY ON LAW
ENFORCEMENT ONLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, I WILL STOP
THERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, I'LL HAVE SOME
COMMENTS TO MAKE ABOUT THE
SEATTLE RESCUE PLAN, BUT IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME THIS MORNING,
I'M JUST GOING TO SAVE THOSE
FOR FULL COUNCIL.
I DO JUST WANT TO, IN
ANTICIPATION OF THAT, THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND YOUR
OFFICE AND MAYOR DURKAN AND HER
TEAM AND FOLKS FROM CBO WHO
REALLY DUG INTO THE DETAILS AND
WORK REALLY HARD ON SO MUCH OF
WHAT IS IN THE SEATTLE RESCUE
PLAN.
OF COURSE THE ANALYSIS WAS A
HEAVY PARTICIPANT AS WELL.
LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING MORE
COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT IS THE MOST
EXCITING PART OF THE SEATTLE
RESCUE PLAN FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE.
AND THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE
WORK TO GET US TO THIS POINT,
TO BE ABLE TO FINALLY TAKE A
FINAL VOTE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET'S GO
AHEAD AND GO DOWN THE LINE TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES NEXT, AND
AFTER THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
GOOD MORNING.
>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
LAST WEEK I DID MEET WITH OPCD
TO GET AN UPDATE ON THEIR WORK
FOR THE REST OF 2021
SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE TEAM.
THEY ARE VERY FOCUSED RIGHT NOW
ON CONTRACT MANAGEMENT.
WE KNOW THERE IS AN RFP OUT
RIGHT NOW, AND THERE IS THE
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FUND
OVERSIGHT AND CONTRACTS, SO
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK
HAPPENING IN THAT DIVISION IN
PARTICULAR.
THE EDI ADVISORY BOARD IS IN
THE PROCESS OF DOING THEIR
STRATEGIC PLANNING.
FIGURING OUT THEIR EVALUATION
METHODS UNTIL -- WHAT KIND OF
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT THEY
NEED.
AS WE KNOW, GETTING THIS TEAM
TOGETHER WAS REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE WORKING
TOGETHER AND HAVE THEIR
PROCESSES ESTABLISHED SO THAT
WHEN THE $20 MILLION FROM THE
JUMPSTART REVENUE COMES IN,
THAT TEAM IS ALREADY FINELY
TUNED.
I'M EXCITED THAT THEY ARE
MOSTLY SEATED, I THINK THERE'S
A FEW SEATS LEFT.
BUT, THAT GROUP IS WORKING WELL
TOGETHER ALREADY.
THE EDI TEAM IS ALSO WORKING ON
A COMPREHENSIVE FUNDING
STRATEGY.
THEY DO HAVE REVENUE FROM SHORT-
TERM RENTALS.
FROM THE STRATEGIC INVESTMENT
FUND, FROM JUMPSTART.
SO, THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING
AND THEY'RE WORKING HARD TO
MAKE SURE THERE IS A
COORDINATED AND WELL-
FUNCTIONING PROCESS IN PLACE
FOR HOW TO GET THOSE DOLLARS
OUT THE DOOR.
THEY ALSO, THE DEPARTMENT JUST
WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
ARE ELEVATING THE INDIGENOUS
SEATTLE PROGRAM.
TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TO CONTINUE
TO INCORPORATE THE VALUES AND
PRINCIPLES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS ABOUT
THE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS THAT
WILL BE HAPPENING THERE AS WELL.
SO, A LOT IS HAPPENING IN THAT
DIVISION, AND I'M EXCITED FOR
ALL THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
THANKS TO SOME OF OUR WORK.
LAST WEEK IN THE DISTRICT, I
WAS INVITED TO SPEAK TO
NEIGHBORS ON FRIDAY NIGHT FOR
THEIR MAKE THE PATIO PERMANENT
EVENT AT THE COLUMBIA CITY OH
PATIO.
THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL STREET
CAFES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
BLOCKING OFF PART OF FERDINAND
AT RAINIER AVENUE.
IT HAS BEEN HOPPING EVER SINCE
IT WAS CREATED.
SO, FOLKS ARE REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP
IT PERMANENT AND THEY WERE
EXCITED TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE
EXTENDED THE PERMIT UNTIL MAY
OF NEXT YEAR.
EAGER TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT
TOWARD KEEPING THOSE STREET
CAFES OPEN.
I ALSO DID GET TO CELEBRATE A
BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY NIGHT OUTDOORS.
LISTENING TO MUSIC FROM OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD BAND, THE
PANDEMICS.
LOTS OF NEIGHBORS CAME TOGETHER
EARLY LAST YEAR AND HAVE BEEN
PERFORMING OUT THERE ON
WEEKENDS.
SO, IT WAS FUN TO SEE.
I DO WANT TO THANK QUINN
CALENDAR WITH COLUMBIA AND
HILLMAN CITY NEIGHBORS IN ACTION
FOR ORGANIZING THE EVENT.
THIS REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT
THE NEIGHBORS WANT TO TAKE ON,
IS THE MAINTENANCE AND
CONTINUATION OF THAT STREET
CAFE.
THEY DON'T WANT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION TO HAVE TO HAVE
THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
THEY REALLY WANT THIS TO BE A
NEIGHBOR OWNED SORT OF DRIVEN
THING.
SO, THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
THIS WEEK I'LL BE PARTICIPATING
IN ANOTHER TOWN HALL IN RAINIER
BEACH.
THIS ONE WILL BE FOCUSED ON
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.
I WILL SAY THAT BEFORE HEADING
TO THE MAKE THE PATIO PERMANENT
EVENT ON FRIDAY EVENING, I WAS
AT THE DOLLAR STORE IN RAINIER
BEACH GETTING SOME BALLOONS FOR
THE EVENT.
AND WAS IN THE STORE WHEN THERE
WAS A SHOOTING AT RAINIER BEACH
-- RAINIER AVENUE AND HENDERSON.
KITTY CORNER FROM THE DOLLAR
STORE IS THE RAINIER BEACH
COMMUNITY CENTER.
AS I LOOKED OUT THE DOOR TO SEE
WHAT WAS GOING ON, I SAW THE
CORNER GREETER TENTS.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE WERE
TWO VICTIMS.
THEY WERE IN STABLE CONDITION
WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT HARBORVIEW.
THE CORNER GREETER'S THEMSELVES
TO HAD NOT ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED
SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHILE THEY
WERE OUT DOING THEIR WORK,
WORK, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, A BIT
SHAKEN.
IT REALLY DEMONSTRATES THE NEED
FOR MORE INVESTMENT, AND BETTER
PROTOCOLS.
AS I TALKED WITH FOLKS FROM THE
CORNER GREETER'S AFTERWORD,
WHAT THEY REALLY WANTED TO
STRESS WAS THAT THERE ARE THESE
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.
THERE ARE THE VIOLENCE AND
CORRUPTION PROGRAMS.
I SAW COACH DOWN THERE VERY
SHORTLY AFTER.
WHAT THERE ISN'T YET IS A
COMPREHENSIVE HOST INCIDENT
RESPONSE FOR COMMUNITY.
AWAY FOR THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS
TO SORT OF THE BRIEF TOGETHER.
SO, I'LL BE WORKING WITH FOLKS
TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE
RIGHT POTENT INCIDENT RESPONSE
IS SO THAT THE -- THERE IS A
PROCESS IN PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO
KIND OF DEBRIEF AND DECOMPRESS
FROM SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I DO WANT TO SAY THOUGH, THAT
THIS THURSDAY WE WILL BE HAVING
ANOTHER TOWN HALL.
THIS ONE IS ABOUT RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE AND WE WILL BE HEARING
FROM COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS,
SOUTHEAST NETWORK SAFETY NET,
RAINIER BEACH ACTIVE COALITION,
AND URBAN FAMILY.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THESE
GROUPS AGAIN FOR INVITING ME
AND KING COUNTY COUNCILMEMBERS
TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
THIS WEEK I'LL ALSO HAVE A
FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH
NEIGHBORS AND MT. BAKER AND THE
SOUND TRANSIT AGENCY.
TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE IMPROVE
LIGHTING AND ACTIVATE SPACE. WE
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MT.
BAKER FOR SOME TIME.
AS YOU RECALL, WE HAD AN
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM OF FOLKS
COME AND MEET WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THE ISSUES THAT THEY ARE HAVING.
SO, WE CONTINUE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND CONTINUE
TRYING TO ENGAGE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS AND DIFFERENT
AGENCIES TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
CAN ACTIVATE THESE SPACES,
RESPOND TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS'
CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY, ABOUT
HOW TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SUPPORTING OUR HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS.
AND TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE
DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAT OR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE FACING
ARE BEING ADDRESSED BY US AS A
CITY.
SO, THAT'S THE NEXT STEP IS TO
SEE HOW WE CAN ENGAGE SOUND
TRANSIT AND ADDRESSING SOME OF
THE LIGHTING AND OTHER SAFETY
ISSUES THAT ARE PRESENTED FROM
THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN
ELEVATED PLATFORM AND THERE'S
JUST NOT A LOT OF GOOD THINGS
HAPPENING UNDERNEATH.
SO, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
IF WE CAN START TO ACTIVATE
THAT SPACE IN SOME WAY.
COLLEAGUES, THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
OH, FINALLY, I AM EXCITED TO
ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL HAVE A
NEW STAFF MEMBER SOON.
THEY HAVE BEEN AN INTERN WITH
OUR OFFICE FOR THE LAST EIGHT
MONTHS OR SO.
SHE RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
HAS BEEN A REALLY CRUCIAL PART
OF OUR TEAM.
NOW THAT SHE IS A GRADUATE, WE
ARE VERY EXCITED TO WELCOME HER
AS AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE
CREW AND SHE WILL BE STARTING
RIGHT AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY
HOLIDAY.
SO, WHEN SHE IS OFFICIALLY ON
BOARD WE WILL MAKE SURE TO HAVE
SOME SORT OF OPEN HOUSE
WELCOMING FOR HER SO THAT YOU
CAN ALL GET TO KNOW HER AS WE
HAVE.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE THIS
MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
COLLEAGUES, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON TWO
ITEMS.
FIRST, RELATES TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES' RECOGNITION, CORRECTLY
SO, THAT THERE IS A BIG NEED FOR
COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION
OF FOLKS THAT ARE DOING
VIOLENCE DESTRUCTION WORK.
JUST WANTED TO LET FOLKS KNOW
THAT AS PART OF THE $10.2
MILLION THAT HSD IS DOING, THE
RFP FOR, ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION
-- CAPACITY BUILDING FOR
VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK, AND
THAT'S GOING TO BE, WE'LL BE
HEARING ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT
THAT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
PROBABLY EARLY JULY.
SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THIS FUNDING IS REALLY FOCUSED
ON IT EXACTLY THAT.
SO, FUNDED APPLICANTS WILL BE
PARTICIPATING IN SYSTEMS
COORDINATION MEETINGS THAT WILL
INVOLVE SORT OF PROCESSING
INDIVIDUAL EVENTS THAT FOLKS
ARE DEALING WITH.
EVALUATION AND LEARNING EFFORTS.
DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS.
SHARING RESOURCES AND BEGINNING
TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY LEVEL
INDICATORS FOR SAFETY.
THESE GROUPS WILL BE
FACILITATED BY AN EXTERNAL NON-
CITY TEAM.
SO, JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT
THERE IS A RECOGNITION THAT
THIS SORT OF COORDINATION IS
NECESSARY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE
WORK.
REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE
CITY, FOR ITS OWN $10.2 MILLION
RFP THAT THE COUNCIL FUNDED,
THAT WE ARE REPLICATING SOME OF
THE APPROACHES THAT ARE USED
REGIONALLY BY ORGANIZATIONS.
ALSO WANTED TO FLAG AS IT
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE
RECOGNITION THAT WE NEED TO BE
LOOKING AT AS A TOOL TO ADDRESS
VARYING LEVEL OF CRIME.
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE LAST
WEEK, MAYBE TWO WEEKS AGO PUT
OUT THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR 180.
FOLKS REMEMBER THE HISTORY ON
THAT.
AND 2018, SEATTLE REENTRY
WORKGROUP WROTE A REPORT WHERE
THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY
ATTORNEY EXPAND CHOOSE 180 TWO
AGE IS OVER 25.
SO, THIS ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MENTIONS
THE WORK OF CURRENT PROGRAMS,
THE CITY ATTORNEY IS STILL
WORKING ON THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN
THEIR WORK PLAN LAST YEAR.
FOR THE EXPANSION OF CHOOSE 180
TWO AGE IS OVER 25.
WANT TO LIFT UP SOME OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR OWN
CARLOS LUGO IN THE DRAFT
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM STRATEGIC
PLAN.
HE SAYS SPECIFICALLY AS IT
RELATES TO THE EXPANSION OF
CHOOSE 180, THAT AS THE COUNCIL
CONSIDERS EXPANDING DIVERSION
OPTIONS FOR THIS GROUP, IT
SHOULD EXPLORE RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE-BASED PROGRAMMING
BECAUSE INTERVENTION SHOULD BE
MATCHED TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S RISK
TO REOFFEND.
INDIVIDUALS WITH A LOWER RISK
LEVEL WOULD REQUIRE A LIGHTER
TOUCH, WHICH RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE CONFERENCING COULD
PROVIDE.
SO, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH IN THE
WAY OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR
AGES ABOVE 25.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY
OF A DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR
NONSPECIALIZED GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
ANOTHER FINDING IN CARLOS'
REPORT IS THAT THE CITY DOES
NOT CURRENTLY OFFER A
MAINSTREAM DIVERSION, NON-AGE
RESTRICTED OPTION, FOR THOSE --
FOR POPULATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED
BECAUSE THEY ARE REPEATEDLY
CYCLING THROUGH THE CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM.
SO, THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ASK
FOR THE CITY THAT I'M WELL
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THE REST OF YOU ALL AND THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON
GOING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR THAT
INFORMATION.
REALLY HELPFUL.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
ALL RIGHT.
>>> SO, MOVING DOWN THE LINE WE
WILL HEAR NEXT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
FOR OPENING OUR MEETING TODAY
BY CONDEMNING THE RACIST
HIJACKING OF THE ZOOM MEETING
THAT TARGETED OUR COLLEAGUE,
BREANNA THOMAS.
I JOIN THE CONDEMNATION OF THAT
AND ANY RACIST AND HATEFUL
ATTACK.
RACISM AND HATE HAVE NO PLACE
IN SEATTLE OR ANYWHERE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR OPENING THE
MEETING THAT WAY.
APPRECIATE IT.
REGARDING OUR CITY'S
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE, WE HAVE FIVE ITEMS
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S FULL CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA.
WE HAVE THREE APPOINTMENTS TO
THE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD.
ALL OF THESE APPLICANTS WERE
APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY OUR
COMMITTEE.
WE MET THEM ALL AT COMMITTEE.
THEY WILL NOT BE AT THE FULL
COUNCIL MEETING, BUT I'LL GIVE
NON-COMMITTEE MEMBERS A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THEIR BIO AT THE FULL
COUNCIL MEETING.
COUNCIL BILL 1200100 WILL
AUTHORIZE SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES TO ACCEPT A LOW
INTEREST LOAN PRESIDED BY THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY TO
FINANCE $66 MILLION OF THE $570
MILLION SHIP CANAL WATER
PROJECT.
THE SHIP CANAL WATER QUALITY
PROJECT IS A MEGAPROJECT
PLANNED OVER MANY YEARS DUE TO
THE STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTS REQUIRING THE CITY
AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS TO
PREVENT HARMFUL STORM WATER AND
WASTEWATER FROM POLLUTING OUR
LOCAL WATERWAYS.
THIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
PROJECT INCLUDES A NEW TUNNEL
BORING MACHINE CREATING A 2.7
MILE STORM WATER SEWAGE TUNNEL
FROM WALLINGFORD TO BALLARD.
THIS PARTICULAR FINANCING
PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE
GOVERNMENT ENABLES BELOW-MARKET
INTEREST RATE OF APPROXIMATELY
1%.
WHEREAS IF WE WENT OUT TO THE
CONVENTIONAL MARKET, WE WOULD
NEED TO PAY A HIGHER RATE OF
AROUND 3%.
USING THE STATE PROGRAM WILL
SAVE RATEPAYERS APPROXIMATELY
$12 MILLION JUST FROM THIS ONE
LOAN.
THIS COUNCIL BILL WAS APPROVED
UNANIMOUSLY BY COMMITTEE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
BEFORE FULL COUNCIL TODAY,
PLEASE CONTACT BRIAN GOODNIGHT
ON CENTRAL STAFF.
RESOLUTION 32008 SIMPLY SETS
THE TIME OF A PUBLIC HEARING AT
OUR FUTURE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE.
WILL BE FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY
21st AT 9:30 A.M.
TO DISCUSS ANOTHER SMALL
PROPERTY TRANSFER ASSOCIATED
WITH THE WORK ON SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT'S FACILITIES AND THE
SOUTH PARK TO GEORGETOWN BIKE
TRAIL.
IF APPROVED AFTER THE JULY 21st
PUBLIC HEARING, ARE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO VACATE
THEIR RIGHT AWAY OF A 13,000
SQUARE FOOT PARCEL AND PROVIDE
THAT TO SEATTLE CITY LIGHT WITH
OWNS ADJACENT PRIOR PARTIES.
CLERK FILE 314451 IS ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
AND HIS SEATTLE CITY LIGHT'S
OFFICIAL APPLICATION FOR
VACATION OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
IT WILL BE HANDLED IN A MANNER
THAT DOES NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
THIS RESOLUTION TODAY SIMPLY
SETS THE DATE OF THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
WE'LL GET MORE INFORMATION ON
THE SUBSTANCE OF THIS PROPOSAL
BEFORE AND DURING THE JULY 21st
PUBLIC HEARING AT OUR COMMITTEE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE THIS
AFTERNOON'S COUNCIL MEETING,
PLEASE CONTACT COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
ARE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE MEETS ON
THE FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS
OF EACH MONTH AT 9:30 IN THE
MORNING.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL
BE WEDNESDAY, JULY 7th.
OF THE NEWS.
ARE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE, AS YOU
KNOW, MONITORS SEATTLE'S
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT WHICH INCLUDES
NEARLY 700 EMPLOYEES AND A
BUDGET OF NEARLY $300 MILLION.
SO, IT IS DISAPPOINTING NEWS
THAT WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR FROM
THEIR LEADER WHO SERVES AS THE
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY AT THE SHIP'S
LAST DAY WORKING FOR OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT WILL BE AT THE END
OF THIS MONTH.
IN ONLY 2.5 YEARS, HE HAS MADE
PROGRESS ON SEVERAL IMPORTANT
FRONTS.
OUR CITY GOVERNMENT HAS NEARLY
40 DEPARTMENTS AND THEY ALL
RELY ON SEATTLE I.T.
TO COMPLETE THE WORK FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
HE AND HIS TEAM STEPPED UP WHEN
SUDDENLY THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES
HAD TO WORK REMOTELY DURING THE
PANDEMIC WITH ADDITIONAL
TECHNOLOGY NEEDS, INCLUDING
CYBERSECURITY.
I WANT TO OFFER A SPECIAL
THANKS TO HE AND HIS TEAMS FOR
THEIR CRAFTING OF THE INTERNET
FOR ALL ACTION PLAN THAT WAS
BASED ON THE RESOLUTION THAT
COUNCIL SUPPORTED.
SO THAT WE CAN ACCELERATE OUR
EFFORT TO DELIVER DIGITAL
EQUITY.
IT'S A SOLID ACTION PLAN AND I
WOULD EXPECT ANY SUCCESSOR OF
THE DEPARTMENT TO PRIORITIZE IT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MAYOR DURKAN
APPOINTING AN INTERIM DIRECTOR.
TO SURF FOR AT LEAST THE REST
OF HER TERM AS MAYOR.
ONE OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS
TO PUT TOGETHER A VERY STRONG
TEAM -- VERY STRONG TEAMS
THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT.
I'M HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE A
SMOOTH TRANSITION AND I WISH
HIM THE VERY BEST.
IN DISTRICT 4, I ATTENDED TWO
COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IN
BOTH MEETINGS ADDRESSED
CONCERNS OVER PUBLIC SAFETY.
AT ONE MEETING THE CAPTAIN OF
SEATTLE'S NORTH PRECINCT
ANSWERED QUESTIONS.
THE NORTH PRECINCT IS THE
LARGEST GEOGRAPHIC AREA IN THE
CITY, WHICH MAKES IT MORE
DIFFICULT TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO
911 CALLS.
AT THE OTHER MEETINGS, ONE OF
OUR CITY'S CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATOR'S ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THESE
DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES
SPENDING THEIR EVENING HOURS
SHARING INFORMATION AND
ANSWERING QUESTIONS FOR THESE
AND OTHER COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
THANK YOU, THAT CONCLUDES MY
REPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
OTHER ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>>> SAYING NINE, WE WILL GO TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AND GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING FOR THE
COMMITTEE SCHEDULED FOR HIS
REGULAR TIME, TOMORROW, JUNE
22nd AT 2:00 P.M.
AT THAT COMMITTEE WE WILL
DISCUSS WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS INVOLVED IN THE STOP
THE MONEY PIPELINE CAMPAIGN TO
FORCE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
AND INSURANCE COMPANIES TO STOP
BACKING FOSSIL FUEL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AFTER YEARS OF ORGANIZING
DIRECT ACTION AND VOTING THE
CLIMATE MOVEMENT, THE KEYSTONE
XL PIPELINE HAS FINALLY BEEN
DEFEATED.
THIS IS A MAJOR VICTORY FOR THE
CLIMATE JUSTICE MOVEMENT THAT
HAS INVOLVED TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE.
THE FOSSIL FUEL CORPORATIONS
WERE FORCED TO ABANDON THIS
PROJECT BECAUSE ACTIVISTS AND
ORGANIZERS MADE ITS COMPLETION
SO DIFFICULT FROM EVERY ANGLE
THAT BIG BUSINESS DECIDED TO
CUT THEIR LOSSES.
WE NEED TO USE THE STRATEGY OF
BLOCKING THE CORPORATE PROFIT
PIPELINE TO EVERY PROPOSED
EXPANSION OF FOSSIL FUEL
INFRASTRUCTURE FROM KEYSTONE XL
TO THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE
TWO LINE 3. WE HAVE TO BE SOBER
HOWEVER, THAT WHILE THE
BILLIONAIRE CLASS WILL BE FORCED
TO TAKE SOME MEASURES BOTH FOR
THEIR OWN PROFIT AND UNDER
PRESSURE FROM MASS RESISTANCE,
IT HAS BEEN AND WILL BE A DAY
LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT.
TO HAVE ANY HOPE OF ABORTING
FULL ON CATASTROPHE FOR THE
PLANET, WE WILL NEED THE
INTERNATIONAL WORKING CLASS TO
TAKE THE FOSSIL FUEL BANKING
AND OTHER SECTORS INTO
DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC OWNERSHIP TO
URGENTLY SHIFT INTO A GLOBAL
SOCIALIST ECONOMY POWERED BY
CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY.
JUST TO GIVE A CONCRETE EXAMPLE
OF THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF
CAPITALISM AND ITS INABILITY TO
DEAL WITH THIS CRISIS, IT HAS
BEEN REPORTED BY THE GUARDIAN
NEWSPAPER RECENTLY, THAT JUST
SINCE THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD,
WHICH ITSELF WAS COMPLETELY
INSUFFICIENT AND INADEQUATE,
WAS SIGNED IN 2015, JUST SINCE
THEN, BIG BANKS, THE 60 LARGEST
BANKS IN THE WORLD HAVE
INCREASED FOSSIL FUEL FINANCIAL
UNDERWRITING BY NEARLY $4
TRILLION.
SO, GIVEN THESE DIRE STATISTICS,
IT IS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT WE
WILL NEED TO FIGHT FOR A
SOCIALIST ECONOMY, WHICH WILL
HAVE TO BEGIN BY THE FIGHT,
BEGIN WITH THE FIGHT FOR A
DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF
ALL THE SECTORS.
ORGANIZING SUCH AS TO END THE
KEYSTONE PIPELINE AND STOP THE
MONEY PIPELINE CAMPAIGN ARE
ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL FOR STEPS
THAT ARE BEING TAKEN BY
DETERMINED ACTIVISTS MY COUNCIL
OFFICE IS PROUD TO BE
ORGANIZING WITH THEM.
THIS WILL BE NEEDED ALONGSIDE A
MILITANT MOBILIZATION OF THE
UNION WORKER MOVEMENT IN THE
FOSSIL FUEL SECTOR WITH THE
WHOLE LABOR MOVEMENT IN
SOLIDARITY.
TO DEMAND JUST TRANSITION AND
RETRAINING FOR WORKERS INTO THE
CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY ECONOMY.
LAST FRIDAY, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS FROM MY OFFICE JOINED
AN ACTION TO STOP THE MONEY
CAMPAIGN.
WHERE THE ACTIVISTS PAINTED A
MURAL OUTSIDE OF LIBERTY MUTUAL
AND RESISTANCE TO THE
TRANSMOUNTAIN PIPELINE.
THAT BEAUTIFUL MURAL SAYS AND
ENSURE OUR FUTURE, NOT. THIS
DEMONSTRATION WAS PART OF THE
DAY OF ACTION ALL AROUND THE
WORLD IN SOLIDARITY WITH LAND
DEFENDERS FIGHTING THE PIPELINE.
WITH THE HELP OF CITY COUNCILS
CENTRAL STAFF, MY OFFICE IS
DEVELOPING LEGISLATION TO GIVE
THE GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT
BOARD THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO
RAISE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND
OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO
BUILD ON CITY CONTRACTS TO
ENABLE THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
JOIN THE INTERNET THE MOVEMENT
PLEDGING NOT TO DO BUSINESS
WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
BACKING THE FOSSIL FUEL
CORPORATIONS THAT ARE
ENDANGERING ALL OF HUMANITY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
DISCUSSION AT THE COMMITTEE
TOMORROW, WHICH IS GOING TO BE
LED BY INDIGENOUS AND OTHER
CLIMATE JUSTICE ACTIVISTS.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO DISCUSS
WITH AND VOTE ON SEVERAL
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
THEY ARE ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
AFTER THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD APPOINTMENTS,
THE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS
SEVERAL RENTERS' RIGHTS BILLS
FOCUSED ON RENTER INCREASES AND
ADDRESSING THE EXORBITANT RENT
INCREASES IN OUR CITIES.
WE NEED STRONG RENT CONTROL IN
THE CITY WITHOUT CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES.
AS I'VE INFORMED MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, TWO VERY IMPORTANT
PRESS CONFERENCES A FEW WEEKS
AGO, MY OFFICE HAS PREPARED
LEGISLATION.
IT IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING
REVIEW.
CORPORATE LANDLORDS HAVE RAISED
RENTS OUT OF A STAGGERING 13%
IN JUST THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.
TOMORROW'S COMMITTEE WILL ALSO
DISCUSS RENT CONTROL FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS AND WILL GO OVER
WHAT KIND OF RENT CONTROL
POLICY WE NEED AND HOW WE HAVE
TO COMPLETELY REJECT THE FINAL
LOOPHOLES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN
PLACE ANOTHER RENT CONTROL
LAWS.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO BE
BRIEFED BY CENTRAL STAFF ABOUT
LEGISLATION FROM MY OFFICE TO
REQUIRE LANDLORDS TO PROVIDE
SIX MONTHS NOTICE FOR RENT
INCREASES. AND ANOTHER BILL
FROM MY OFFICE TO REQUIRE
LANDLORDS TO PROVIDE RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY DISPLACE
THEIR TENANTS WITH OUTRAGEOUS
RATE INCREASES, A PROCESS WHICH
HAS BEEN REFERRED TO QUICKLY AS
ECONOMIC EVICTIONS.
LAST WEEK MAYOR DURKAN FINALLY
WAS FORCED TO CONCEDE TO THE
DEMANDS OF RENTER ORGANIZERS
AND EXTEND THE CITYWIDE
EVICTION MORATORIUM TO THE END
OF SEPTEMBER.
COUNCILMEMBERS REMEMBER THAT
TWO WEEKS AGO THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THIS
RESOLUTION, 31998 FROM MY
OFFICE WHICH DEMANDED BOTH
MAYOR DURKAN AND GOVERNED BY
INSLEE TO RENEW AND EXTEND CITY
AND STATEWIDE MORATORIUM TO THE
END OF 2021 THE MAYOR'S
ANNOUNCEMENT IS A VICTORY BY
ALL RENTERS.
IT BELONGS TO THOUSANDS WE HAVE
BEEN SPEAKING OUT RALLYING AND
DEMANDING THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT EXTEND
PROTECTIONS AGAINST EVICTION
AND THE HUNDREDS WHO SPOKE UP
IN EMAILS TO THE CITY COUNCIL
TO PASS A RESOLUTION.
WHILE OUR MOVEMENT CELEBRATES
THE EXTENSION OF THE MORATORIUM
, AS A DIRECT RESULT OF MASS
ACTION, WE WILL ALSO NOT STOP
FIGHTING BECAUSE WE CANNOT
AFFORD TO.
THE MOVEMENT HAS DEMANDED AN
EXTENSION OF THE MORATORIUM TO
THE END OF 2021 NOT JUST
THROUGH SEPTEMBER, BECAUSE THAT
IS WHAT IS NEEDED AT BARE
MINIMUM, SO THE MOVEMENT WILL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THAT.
IN FACT, THIS IS THE SECOND
TIME THAT OUR MOVEMENT HAS
DEMANDED THAT THE MAYOR EXTEND
THE MORATORIUM TO THE END OF
THIS YEAR.
EACH OF THESE TIMES SHE HAS
RESPONDED WITH ONLY A THREE
MONTH EXTENSION.
IF WE WIN ENOUGH EXTENSIONS, IT
WILL ADD UP TO AN EXTENSION TO
THE END OF THIS YEAR, BUT
HONESTLY IF IT WAS -- IF THE
MAYOR WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO
PROACTIVELY MAKE SURE THAT
RENTERS WERE PROTECTED, THEN
SHE WOULD HAVE EXTENDED THE
MORATORIUM TO THE END OF THIS
YEAR TO BEGIN WITH, BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN
RENTERS, THESE ARE WORKING-
CLASS PEOPLE WHO HAVE FACED THE
BRUNT OF THE CRISIS.
THE PEACE OF MIND THAT THEY
NEED TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON
RECOVERING FROM THE FINANCIAL
SHOCK THAT THEY ARE
EXPERIENCING THROUGH THE COVID
EMERGENCY AND GETTING THEIR
LIVES BACK ON TRACK.
RATHER THAN LIVING IN CONSTANT
FEAR OF IMMINENT EVICTION.
MY OFFICE HAS PREVIOUSLY
PLANNED A RALLY FOR JUNE 24th
TO EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
THAT IS THIS THURSDAY.
WE ARE NOW, FOR THE MOMENT,
CANCELING THIS RALLY FOR THE
BEST OF REASONS, BECAUSE WE WON
THE MORATORIUM EXTENSION TO
SEPTEMBER 30th.
WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING UPCOMING
STEPS VERY SOON AND COORDINATION
WITH COMMUNITY AND LABOR
ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN
PART OF THIS STRUGGLE TO EXTEND
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM SO THAT
WE CAN CONTINUE ORGANIZING TO
EXTEND THE MORATORIUM TO THE
END THIS YEAR.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY IS
GROWING FOR THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE IN THE WAKE OF THE
ISRAELI STATE'S MOST RECENT
BRUTAL ATTACK ON GAZA.
EVICTION OF PALESTINIANS FROM
THEIR HOMES.
LAST MONTH I WAS GLAD TO BE
ABLE TO SEND A LETTER, ALONG
WITH COUNCILMEMBERS HERBOLD AND
MOSQUEDA TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND
THE U.S. CONGRESS URGING THEM
TO IMMEDIATELY STOP ALL
MILITARY WEAPONS -- MILITARY
AID, WEAPONS SALES, AND
DIPLOMATIC COVER TO THE ISRAELI
STATE.
MY COUNCIL OFFICE WILL SHORTLY
BE INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO
BAN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT FROM ENGAGING IN
TRAINING WITH THE ISRAELI
POLICE.
AND MILITARY.
CRUCIALLY WE WILL NEED TO BUILD
INTERNATIONAL WORKING CLASS
SOLIDARITY WITH UNIONS AND THE
LABOR MOVEMENT TAKING ACTION IN
ORDER TO END PALESTINIAN
OPPRESSION BY THE ISRAELI
RULING CLASS.
WORLDWIDE UNIONIZED PORT
WORKERS ARE SHOWING THE WAY BY
COURAGEOUSLY REFUSING TO UNLOAD
CARGO FROM ISRAELI SHIPS
RESPONDING TO THE CALL FOR
SOLIDARITY FROM LABOR UNIONS IN
PALESTINE INCLUDING THE
PALESTINIAN TRADE UNION
CONFEDERATION.
FIRST IT WAS A SOUTH AFRICAN
AND ITALIAN DOCKWORKERS WHO
REFUSED TO HANDLE -- THEN, IN
OAKLAND EARLIER THIS MONTH, A
COMMUNITY AND WORKER COALITION
LED BY THE ARAB RESOURCE AND
ORGANIZING CENTER, WITH
SOLIDARITY FROM MEMBERS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL WAREHOUSE UNION
THERE SUCCESSFULLY BLOCKED AN
ISRAELI SHIP ON JUNE 4th AFTER
17 DAYS OF DELAYING THE SHIP
FROM ATTEMPTING TO DOCK.
AS A PALESTINIAN RANK AND FILE
MEMBER IN OAKLAND SAID, QUOTE,
AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY
TO ALL.
JUST AS LOCAL 10 WORKERS
REFUSED TO UNLOAD CARGO FROM
APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA IN THE
1980s, WE HONOR A COMMUNITY
PICKET ASKING US NOT TO UNLOAD
CARGO FROM ISRAELI VESSELS END
QUOTE.
IT IS THE LARGEST CARGO
SHIPPING COMPANY WHICH OFTEN
DEALS IN ISRAELI MANUFACTURING
TECHNOLOGY, ARMAMENTS, AND
LARGE LOGISTICS EQUIPMENT.
ACTIVISTS LED BY THE
PALESTINIAN COALITION IN SEATTLE
AND ALSO ACTIVISTS WORLDWIDE
HAVE TARGETED THE SHIPS.
LAST WEEK, THE STRUGGLE WAS
CENTERED IN THE PORT OF SEATTLE.
LAST THURSDAY I WAS AMONG A
GROUP OF MY STAFF AND I,
ACTUALLY WERE AMONG A GROUP OF
100 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
PEACEFULLY GATHERED AND
PICKETED OUTSIDE TERMINAL 18 ON
HARBOUR ISLAND.
AT A DEMONSTRATION ORGANIZED BY
PALESTINIANS.
WHILE I WAS AT THE PROTEST, I
HEARD SEATTLE POLICE DELAY OVER
A LOUDSPEAKER THAT THE INTENDED
TO ENFORCE THE INTERESTS OF BIG
BUSINESS PROFITS OVER THE
RIGHTS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
PEACEFULLY ENGAGING IN FIRST
AMENDMENT PROTECTED ACTIVITIES.
THIS IS SHAMEFUL, BUT NOT
SURPRISING GIVEN THAT THE
HISTORIC ROLE OF THE POLICE
UNDER CAPITALISM IS TO DEFEND
THE STATE, AND BIG BUSINESS.
IN THE END, THE SEATTLE
ACTIVISTS BLOCKED THE UNLOADING
OF THE SHIP FOR OVER TWO WEEKS,
WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS STEP
FORWARD.
AT OUR PEACEFUL PROTEST, IT WAS
DISRUPTED WHEN POLICE SWOOPED
IN AND AGGRESSIVELY AND
FORCEFULLY BROKE UP THE PROTEST
AND ARRESTED 11 PEOPLE.
THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN ARRESTED IN THE FIRST
PLACE, AND CHARGED.
THEY ALONG WITH ALL OF US WHO
MARCHED AND CHARGED AND
PICKETED ON THURSDAY WERE
STANDING UP FOR BASIC HUMAN
RIGHTS, AND AGAINST THE DECADE-
LONG OPPRESSION OF PALESTINIANS
BY THE ISRAELI RULING CLASS.
MY SOCIAL COUNCIL OFFICE IS
PROUD TO BE MOBILIZING ALONG
WITH UNION MEMBERS, SOCIALISTS
AND ACTIVISTS FROM THE JEWISH
AND MUSLIM AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES OF FAITH, AND MANY
OTHERS, TO CALL ON THE PORT OF
SEATTLE TO NOT PERMIT THE
SHIPPING LINE FROM ACCESSING
THE PORT OF SEATTLE.
MY OFFICE, AS AN ORGANIZING
OFFICE FOR WORKING PEOPLE, WILL
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ACTIVISTS
IN THE FREE PALESTINE MOVEMENT,
INCLUDING SUPPORTING THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN UNJUSTLY ARRESTED IN
THE FIGHT FOR BASIC HUMAN
RIGHTS.
LAST WEEK MY OFFICE STAFF MET
WITH SIX COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS
WHO ARE HEADING UP THE GARFIELD
SUPERBLOCK COALITION.
A GRASSROOTS EFFORT IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT TO CREATE A
VITAL CIVIC SPACE THAT OWNERS
AND TELLS THE STORY THROUGH ART
AND CULTURAL PRESENTATIONS OF
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE
OVER THE MILLENNIA. THE
GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK WILL
ENHANCE THE AREA AROUND THE
GARFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER, THE
POOL, AND THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WITH ART THAT CELEBRATES THE
AREA'S HISTORY, AND NEW TREES
AND WALKWAYS TO ENSURE ACCESS
FOR ALL.
NEW SAFE PUBLIC BATHROOM
FACILITIES AND OTHER URGENTLY
NEEDED COMMUNITY AMENITIES.
WHEN COMPLETED, IT WILL BE A
COMMUNITY GEM, A LONG-OVERDUE
GEM.
THIS IS AN AMAZING COMMUNITY
BUILDING PROJECT LED BY
GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE
DOGGEDLY PURSUED THIS PROJECT
SINCE 2005.
I ERRED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AT GARFIELD
SUPERBLOCK.ORG GARFIELD
SUPERBLOCK PROJECT IS PRECISELY
THE SORT OF INVESTMENT THE CITY
NEEDS TO MAKE AN HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES LIKE
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
MY OFFICE HAS COMMITTED TO WORK
WITH COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS TO
FIGHT FOR THE FUNDING THEY NEED
TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.
ABOUT $500,000 TO GET THE
PROJECT SHOVEL READY AND THEN
ABOUT $67 MILLION FOR FULL
CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IN ADDITION
TO ENHANCING THE COMMUNITY WILL
ALSO CREATE GOOD UNION JOBS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THUS FAR, THE GARFIELD
SUPERBLOCK PROJECT HAS RECEIVED
SOME FUNDING FROM THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL
AS THE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE, AND MY OFFICE IS
COMMUNICATED TO ADVOCATE
ALONGSIDE THE COMMUNITY TO
SECURE FULL PROJECT FUNDING.
úWHETHER THIS IS FUNDED THROUGH
THE FUNDS IN THE BUDGET LAST
AUTUMN, OR THE ARPA FUNDS BEING
ALLOCATED TODAY OR SOME OTHER
SOURCE OF FUNDING, REGARDLESS
IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL THAT THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT CREATE THIS
COMMUNITY SPACE.
MY OFFICE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO
ADVOCATE FOR DEFUNDING THE
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FUND
PROJECTS LIKE THIS ONE.
IF IT'S NOT FUNDED THROUGH THE
DOLLARS ALREADY ALLOCATED, THEN
MY OFFICE WILL PROPOSE THIS AS
PART OF OUR PEOPLE'S BUDGET
CAMPAIGN LATER THIS YEAR TO
DEMAND THAT THE CITY FUND IT
WITH MONEY OUT OF THE $5.4
MILLION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
PREVIOUSLY PLEDGED TO CUT FROM
THIS YEAR'S POLICE BUDGET TO
BALANCE A $5.4 MILLION THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OVERSPENT ON THEIR
BUDGET LAST YEAR.
WE WILL NEED MORE COMMUNITY
CIVIL SPACE, ART, AND EQUITABLE
PARKS AND INVESTMENTS IN
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES.
WE WILL NEED MUCH MORE EXPANDED
ACCESS TO PUBLIC BATHROOMS.
NOT THE CONTINUATION OF A
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT HANDING
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
TO A MILITARIZED POLICE
DEPARTMENT THAT HAS COMMITTED
ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST
HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
IN THE LAST YEAR.
AS REPEATEDLY DEMONSTRATED, A
REAL LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
ALL THE FUNDS THAT THEY ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR.
AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, MY
OFFICE IS ALSO INTRODUCING
LEGISLATION REQUESTED BY
DECRIMINALIZED NATURE TO
DECRIMINALIZE PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS
IN SEATTLE.
MY STAFF HAVE HAD MEETINGS WITH
THE ACTIVISTS IN DEVELOPING THE
LEGISLATION.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THE
LEGISLATION TO DECRIMINALIZE
PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS WILL USE THE
SAME LEGAL APPROACH THAT
SEATTLE USED TO DECRIMINALIZE
CANNABIS SHORTLY BEFORE IT WAS
LEGALIZED STATEWIDE.
BY ESSENTIALLY MAKING THE
ENFORCEMENT THE LAST PRIORITY
OF THE SEATTLE POLICE, WHICH IS
WHAT SEATTLE DID WITH CANNABIS
IN THE PAST.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
OTHER ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
ON THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, COLLEAGUES, I DID
WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD
THAT WE WERE JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AT 9:56
A.M.
SO, HE HAS BEEN ON WITH US AND
I HAD NEGLECTED TO RECOGNIZE
HIS ENTRY INTO THE MEETING.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
>>> NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
MY COMPUTER IS HAVING A LITTLE
BIT OF TROUBLE, SO IF I START
GLITCHING, DO LET ME KNOW.
I WANT TO START MY COMMENTS OFF
THIS MORNING SHARING
CELEBRATION FOR JUNETEENTH AND
CONDEMNING THE RACIST ATTACKS
AGAINST RIHANNA THOMAS LAST
WEEK.
FROM MY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK,
THERE ARE SEVEN ITEMS FROM THE
LAND-USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
FIVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
RESERVATION BOARD AND COUNCIL
BILL 1200106, A LANDMARK
DESIGNATED ORDINANCE.
WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL BILL
120108, WHICH WILL AMEND THE
MASTER PLAN FOR THE TERRACE TO
ALLOW FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF
CURRENTLY VACANT SITES AND WE
ARE GOING TO BE ADDING MORE
TREES.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
LAND-USE AND NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23rd,
STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
THERE ARE FOUR ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
A PUBLIC HEARING AND VOTE ON
COUNCIL BILL 120081, WHICH
ALLOWS FOR ZONING FLEXIBILITY
FOR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE A BRIEFING
AND VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL 1200 --
THE COUNCIL BILL I JUST
MENTIONED.
AND A BRIEFING FROM OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ON THE RACIAL
EQUITY PLAN FOR THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAJOR UPDATE
PROCESS.
THEN, WE WILL HAVE A BRIEFING
FROM SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS ON
THEIR QUARTERLY PERMITTING
REPORT WHICH I'LL SPEAK ON A
LITTLE BIT MORE IN JUST A
MINUTE.
I WILL HOLD MY COMMENTS TO THIS
AFTERNOON ABOUT THE SEATTLE
RESCUE PLAN.
I CAN IMAGINE IT WILL BE A LONG
MEETING WHICH WILL LEAD INTO
OUR PARKS DISTRICT MEETING.
I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR BUDGET
CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
AND ARE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ FOR THEIR GREAT WORK
ALONGSIDE THE BUDGET DIRECTOR
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I HAVE HAD PRIORITIES WITH EACH
OF YOU ABOUT ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS, SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESSES, MAKING SURE WE HAVE
CHILDCARE AND THAT CHILD PRAYER
PROVIDERS ARE WELL PAIRED.
THE OVERARCHING THEME I HAVE
HEARD IS WE WANT TO GET THE
FEDERAL MONEY TO PEOPLE AS FAST
AS POSSIBLE.
THIS PROCESS WAS SPED UP BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU,
STARTING WITH THE RESOLUTION
NEARLY 2 OR THREE MONTHS AGO.
SO THAT EVERYONE HAS A CLEAR
FRAME IN WHICH TO WORK WITHIN.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU
AGAIN ALL OF YOU.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
I CAN SEE COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
LOOKING AT ME FOR THANKING
EVERYONE.
LAST WEEK I ATTENDED MY
QUARTERLY MEETING WITH
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE GREGORY
WHO IS IMPLEMENTING
TRANSFORMATIVE -- I WAS EXCITED
TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THEIR BUDGET
REQUESTS, WHICH WILL REDUCE
RECIDIVISM, INCARCERATION, AND
ESTABLISH HOUSING FOR PEOPLE IN
THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
IT'S AMAZING WORK, THANK YOU
JUDGE GREGORY.
I ALSO MET WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES ON THE SHIP CANAL
WATER QUALITY PROJECT, AND
SOUND TRANSIT ON THE
REALIGNMENT PROPOSAL WHICH WAS
HELD IN COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
WE ALSO DID MORE ORGANIZING
WORK AROUND THE BALLARD AVENUE
DESIGN SHRED SO WE ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL FRAMEWORK
ACROSS THE CITY.
SO THAT EVERYONE CAN HAVE
STREET CAFES AND NOT HAVE TO
WORRY THAT THEY MIGHT GO AWAY
SOMEDAY.
SO, GLAD TO HEAR THIS IS
WORKING WELL.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
WITH THE EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES
INITIATIVE TASK FORCE.
WAS UPDATED ABOUT THE GREEN
LAKE BOATHOUSE PROJECT.
MOST EXCITING LAST WEEK HIM ON
SATURDAY NIGHT, I GOT TO TOUR
AND WATCH THE NORTHGATE
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE BE PUT INTO
PLACE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, HER PARTNER, AND HER
OFFICE BIT. AND EXCITING MOMENT
FOR NEARLY A DECADE'S WORTH OF
WORK FINALLY BEING PUT INTO
PLACE.
THIS WEEK, LIKE MANY OF YOU
SEATTLE PARK DISTRICT MEETING
THIS AFTERNOON.
I WILL BE SPEAKING A BIT ABOUT
THE GREEN LAKE BOATHOUSE
PROJECT.
WHICH ONLY ABOUT $1.2 MILLION
HAVE BEEN COMPLETED FUNDED.
THEY HAVE ALL THE DESIGNS.
THERE ONLY TWO BOAT HOUSES IN
THE CITY.
THERE IS ANOTHER ONE DOWN IN
SOUTH SEATTLE.
THAT WAS DONE FIRST.
WE STARTED IN THE SOUTH END,
AND NOW WE ARE WORKING ON THE
SECOND BOATHOUSE IN THE CITY ON
THE NORTH END.
THIS ABOUT $1.2 MILLION AWAY.
THE CITY HAS ALREADY PUT SOME
MONEY IN.
WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING TO
ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN TO HELP
THEM GET THEIR LAST $1.2
MILLION.
TOMORROW I'M ATTENDING THE
NORTH SEATTLE -- FOR THE
MAJORITY OF THIS WEEK --
WASHINGTON CITY BOARD OF
DIRECTOR CONFERENCE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE
RELATIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING
ALL THE PARTNERS FROM ACROSS
THE STATE.
I WILL ALSO BE ATTENDING COUNTY
MANAGEMENT -- I'M ALSO
SCHEDULED TO ATTEND THE PUGET
COUNTY REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MEETING.
HERE IN DISTRICT 6, ISRAEL --
WHICH IS THE FREMONT SOLSTICE
PARADE. THERE ARE STILL WAYS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE FREMONT
SOLSTICE ART WALK [
INDISCERNIBLE - MUFFLED ] WE
SPOKE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN
THE INDUSTRIAL AREAS.
SPOKE ABOUT AURORA, THE HISTORY
OF AURORA, AND CURRENT STATE OF
AURORA.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE HAZARD PAY
LAW.
AN AMAZING PROGRAM FROM THE
SEATTLE PARKS DEPARTMENT
HELPING PEOPLE OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS.
LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR PEOPLE
WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES.
DRUG ADDICTION.
TERTIARY FOR BUSINESSES AND
HOMEOWNERS. I ALSO SPOKE WITH A
NEIGHBOR OF THE EVER SPRING
HOTEL.
IN MY TOWN HALL RECENTLY I
ASKED -- ANSWERED A QUESTION
ABOUT THE EVER SPRING HOTEL.
WE DO NOT HAVE A DATE CERTAIN
FOR A REOPENING.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN THE
IMPORTANT WORK OF JESSE AND HIS
TEAM.
WHEN THE EVER SPRING HOTEL WAS
CLOSED ON SHORT NOTICE, JESSE
AND THE TEAM WERE ABLE TO MAKE
SURE THAT THERE WERE HOUSING
OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE
WHO WAS LIVING IN THAT HOTEL.
THIS IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
WORK BECAUSE IF NOT FOR THAT,
ALL THESE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE
BEEN ON STREET CORNERS IN FRONT
OF PEOPLE'S HOMES, RATHER THAN
BEING HOUSED.
LASTLY, I SPOKE TO RESIDENTS
ABOUT THE REOPENING OF WAY
NORTH.
I THINK IT'S TIME WE OPEN AND
WE NEED A TWO WAY PROTECTED
BIKE LANE ALONG WEST GREEN LAKE
WAY NORTH TO COMPLETE THE CIRCLE
OF PROTECTED BIKE
INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THE LAKE.
THERE IS THE WITH WITHIN THE
ROADWAY, NOW WE JUST NEED TO DO
IT.
DURING MY WEEKLY OFFICE HOURS,
THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY, NOT
21st, I BELIEVE IT IS THURSDAY
-- 21st FROM 2:00 P.M.
TO 7:00 P.M.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO GET I.T.
, IF I.T.
CAN CONNECT WITH YOU AFTER THIS
MEETING.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
YOU WERE RATHER GLITCHY,
ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END.
I THINK WE GOT THE GIST OF WHAT
YOU WERE SAYING, BUT WHEN IT'S
GLITCHY, IT'S PRETTY BAD.
SO, IF WE CAN PRIORITIZE
ADDRESSING COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS' TECHNOLOGY CONCERNS,
AND DIFFICULTIES BEFORE FULL
COUNCIL, THAT WOULD BE
WONDERFUL.
OTHERWISE IS GOING TO BE REALLY
CHALLENGING TO UNDERSTAND YOU
THIS AFTERNOON.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
SCHEMA. THANKS SO MUCH.
>>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON
DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
I WANT TO ECHO MY OWN
APPRECIATION FOR MADAM
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, FOR
OPENING TODAY'S MEETING WITH
THE RECOGNITION OF BOTH
JUNETEENTH AND YOUR
CONDEMNATION OF EXPERIENCES OF
RACISM AND HATE RECENTLY
EXPERIENCED BY OUR COLLEAGUE
BREANNA THOMAS.
SEEING WHAT'S IN THE HEARTS AND
MINDS OF SOME HATE FILLED
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY IS A
STARK REMINDER, FOR ME, BUT ONE
THAT IS NOT A REMINDER, BUT
RATHER A LIVED REALITY FOR MANY.
THAT INDEED WE HAVE A LONG WAY
TO GO.
TO MAKE SEATTLE A MORE JUST
PLACE.
I HAVE NO ITEMS ON THE FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA TODAY.
I DO HAVE A COMMITTEE MEETING.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING ON
TUESDAY, AT 9:30.
THAT IS JUNE 22nd.
WE'LL HAVE THREE AGENDA ITEMS
ON THAT COMMITTEE AGENDA.
FIRST, THERE WILL BE A BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION OF LEGISLATION TO
LIMIT THE USE OF LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS.
LEGISLATION FOLLOWS THE
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE, AND THE CONSENT
DECREE MONITOR. WE WANT THE
PROCESS LAID OUT IN THE CONSENT
DECREE FOR USE OF FORCE
POLICIES.
THE LEGISLATION BUILDS UP THE
LEGISLATION ORIGINALLY
INTRODUCED I COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, AND UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED
BY THE COUNCIL.
IT BUILDS OFF THE SUBSEQUENT
CONSENSUS RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE PRE-ACCOUNTABILITY BODIES,
AND FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE.
AS WELL AS FOR THIS LAST ROUND,
YOU MAY RECALL THE VERSION, NOW
THEY COMMITTEE WAS NOT AND
INTRODUCED VERSION OF THE BILL.
IT WAS DRAFT LEGISLATION.
WE SHARED IT, NOT ONLY WITH THE
MONITOR, BUT ALSO WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
AND RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK.
O THE BILL ITSELF.
THIS NEW BILL INCORPORATES THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S FEEDBACK
RELATED TO ADDING A DEFINITION
OF FOR THE PURPOSE OF CROWD
CONTROL IN THE BILL.
AND ALLOWING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT 60 DAYS TO UPDATE
POLICIES AFTER THE LEGISLATION
IS APPROVED BY THE COURT.
IT ALSO CONDITIONS THE USE OF
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS ON WHETHER
OR NOT THE RISK OF SERIOUS
BODILY INJURY IS FROM VIOLENT
ACTIONS.
OUTWEIGHS THE RISK OF HARM TO
BYSTANDERS.
IT INCLUDES UPDATES NOTING
ACTION BY THE COURT, SINCE THE
COUNCIL ACTED ON THE DRAFT
VERSION, AND ACTION BY THE
STATE LEGISLATOR LIMITIN THE
USE OF TEAR GAS.
THE STAFF MEMO AND PRESENTATION
WILL BE LINKED TO THE MEETING
AGENDA AS SOON AS THEY ARE
APPROVED.
JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT
THE LEGISLATION MAINTAINS A
FULL BAN ON ACOUSTIC WEAPONS,
DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS, BLAST
BALLS, ULTRASONIC CANNONS, AND
WATER CANNONS.
SO, THAT'S A FULL BAN.
AS IT RELATES TO USE IN RALLIES
OR DEMONSTRATIONS, IT MAINTAINS
A BAN ON THE USE -- FLASH BANGS
OR NOISE DIVERSION DEVICES AND
IT CREATES A CONDITION UNDER
WHICH LAUNCHERS AND PEPPER SPRAY
AND TEARGAS CAN BE USED.
THERE IS SORT OF A TIERED
APPROACH FOR GO WHEN, AND UNDER
WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES, THOSE LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS CAN BE USED.
WE'LL ALSO BE HEARING IN
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION FROM THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON
THE CITY COUNCIL'S INVESTMENTS
IN CRISIS RESPONSE.
IN APRIL WE HEARD AN UPDATE
FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT ON THE NEW SAFE AND
THRIVING DIVISION.
REFOCUSED THE CONVERSATION BOTH
ON THE CREATION OF THAT
DIVISION, AS WELL AS THE
TRANSFER OF PITKIN ADVOCATES
FROM SPD INTO HST.
TOMORROW'S PRESENTATION WILL
COVER SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL
HAS MADE IN CRISIS RESPONSE
THAT ARE PART OF THE HST
PORTFOLIO.
THAT'S INCLUDING THE SOCIAL
WORKERS THAT WORK WITH HEALTH
ONE THEY ARE HOUSED IN HSD.
THE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT
ARE PART OF THE MOBILE CRISIS
TEAM'S.
AGAIN, HOUSED IN HSD.
CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM THAT PAIRS
WITH SPD ALSO HOUSED IN HSD.
THEN, FINALLY WE ARE GOING TO
BE HEARING AND CONSIDERING A
VOTE ON THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE
NEW COURT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT.
JUST A QUICK PUBLIC HEALTH
UPDATE.
WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT
JUNE 15th THE ENTIRETY OF KING
COUNTY ACHIEVED AN IMPORTANT
MILESTONE WITH 70% OF RESIDENTS
AGED 16 AND OLDER HAVING
COMPLETED THEIR VACCINATION
SERIES.
BECAUSE OF THAT SUCCESS, ON
JUNE 29th, WHEN ALL OF THOSE
VACCINATED FOLKS WILL HAVE
RECEIVED FULL PROTECTION, THE
KING COUNTY MASS DIRECTIVE WILL
END AND FOLKS WHO ARE VACCINATED
WILL BE ABLE TO START FOLLOWING
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH'S SOMEWHAT LESS
RESTRICTIVE GUIDANCE ON MASKS.
WHILE CORONAVIRUS CONTINUES TO
CIRCULATE THROUGHOUT OUR
COMMUNITIES, IT'S BECOMING CLEAR
THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF
CASES ARE AMONG THOSE WHO ARE
UNVACCINATED.
FURTHER PROOF THAT THE VACCINES
ARE WORKING.
MANY THANKS TO ALREADY
VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS HELPING
US REACH THIS IMPORTANT
MILESTONE.
ALSO WANT TO COME AS WE
CELEBRATE WHAT WE'VE
ACCOMPLISHED, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER AND RECOGNIZE THAT
1611 KING COUNTY NEIGHBORS HAVE
DIED FROM COVID IN THE LAST
YEAR.
THEN, FINALLY, IF YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN GETTING
VACCINATED, YOU CAN CHECK OUT
YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY OR GO TO
SEATTLE GOT THAT VACCINE.
ALSO JUST REALLY WANTED TO
REALLY QUICKLY MENTION FROM
INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE
ANNOUNCING LAST WEEK AS PART OF
HSD'S PORTFOLIO.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT IN 2019 HSD
BE A BEAR PERIODIC RFP FOR
FOOD SERVICES.
THAT WAS GOING TO BE FOR 2020
FUNDING.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DISCOVERED
WHEN WE RECEIVED ALL THE
APPLICATIONS IN 2019 IS THAT
THEY'RE JUST SIMPLY WEREN'T
ENOUGH APPLICANTS WHO WERE
SEEKING TO FIND THE NEEDS OF
PEOPLE LIVING IN DEL RIDGE,
GEORGETOWN, AND SOUTHPARK.
SO, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT,
HSD I THINK VERY WISELY DECIDED
TO ISSUE A SECOND RFP TO REALLY
FOCUS ON NEEDS OF FOLKS IN DEL
RIDGE, GEORGETOWN, AND
SOUTHPARK.
THEY PUT ASIDE ABOUT $223,000
FOR THE NEEDS OF THOSE
COMMUNITIES.
SO, LAST WEEK THEY ANNOUNCED,
HSD ANNOUNCED, THE RECIPIENTS OF
FUNDING FOR THOSE THREE
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND CALLED OUT
FUNDING FOR CULTIVATE
SOUTHPARK, ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
OF SEATTLE KING COUNTY,
SOUTHPARK SENIOR CITIZENS, AND
THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK.
I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT, AND
I'M MAKING INQUIRIES WITH HSD
ABOUT THIS, THAT THE AGENCIES
RECEIVED $153,000 IN FUNDING.
THIS IS ABOUT 70,000 LESS THEN
WE WERE SOLD IN 2020 THAT WERE
HELD OUT IN 2019.
JUST LOOKING, GIVEN THE FACT
THAT THE NEEDS ARE GREAT IN
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, JUST
LOOKING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAS
HAPPENED WITH THAT ADDITIONAL
$70,000.
AS FAR AS MEETINGS THAT ARE
COMING UP FOR ME THIS WEEK, I
GOT A REGIONAL COMMITTEE
MEETING WITH THE REGIONAL LAW
SAFETY COMMITTEE.
ALSO HAVE MY OFFICE HOURS ON
FRIDAY BETWEEN 2:00 AND 6:00
P.M.
THEN, LASTLY, I BELIEVE THE
INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE
OVERDOSE EMERGENCY AND
INNOVATIVE RECOVERY TASK FORCE
IS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND AS
WELL.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF US ON THE
COUNCIL ARE ACTING AS CONVENERS
AND REPRESENTING THE CITY IN
THIS NEW EFFORT.
SO, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT AND
REPRESENTING OUR INTERESTS ON
THE COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THE
IMPORTANT NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER AND
SUBSTANCE USE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD ON HER REPORT?
OKAY, I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED.
COLLEAGUE, I DO -- I RECEIVED A
NOTE FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA THAT SHE HAD RAISED
HER HAND FOR A QUESTION FOR
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
I MISSED HER HAND SO I'M GOING
TO CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA SO SHE CAN ASK HER
QUESTION.
JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'
TECHNOLOGY IS GLITCHING RIGHT
NOW SO HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE -- I
SEE HE MIGHT HAVE CHANGED HIS
DEVICE SO HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO
RESPOND AND WILL BE ABLE TO
HEAR HIM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AS A
CHAIR OF LAND USE FOR THE
UPCOMING MEETING AND HIS
COMMITTEE.
AND DOUBLE CHECK ON THE OPCD
PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANTED MAYBE LESS OF A
QUESTION AND MAYBE A NOTE OF
EXCITEMENT THAT THIS
CONVERSATION IS COMING UP.
WE DO HAVE I BELIEVE THE REPORT
OUT FROM OPCD THAT SHOULD
INCLUDE THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT ON OUR EXISTING ZONING
POLICIES.
FOLKS REMEMBER WE PASSED THIS
IN 2018 IN THE BUDGET.
WE EXPECTED A REPORT BACK FROM
THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT IN
DECEMBER OF 2019.
WE HEARD AT THE END OF 2019 AND
BEGINNING OF 2020 IT WAS
EXPECTED TO BE DELAYED.
THEN, IN EARLY 2020, WE
OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE ONSET OF
COVID.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT
RESULTED IN A FEW DELAYS ACROSS
THE CITY IN TERMS OF REPORT
BACK.
BUT HAVE BEEN EAGERLY AWAITING
THE REPORT FOR THE LAST FEW
MONTHS IN THE COMMITTEE, AND IT
HAS BEEN DELAYED FOR SEVERAL
MONTHS.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE UPCOMING CONVERSATION ON
THE 23rd TWO HERE BACK ON THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT THAT WE
PASSED.
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
STEP, I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE
MAJOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT
IS COMING IN 2023 AND 2024.
LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE RACIAL
EQUITY TOOLKIT THAT EVALUATES
OUR EXISTING ZONING POLICIES
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
FOR LOOKING AT HOW ARE OUR
EXISTING ZONING POLICY IS
ROOTED IN RACIAL EQUITY.
AND WHETHER OR NOT IT IS ROOTED
IN RACIAL EQUITY.
WE KNOW LIKE MANY OTHER CITIES,
SEATTLE HAS A HISTORY OF RACIST
EXCLUSIONARY ZONING POLICIES
AND RACIAL RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS.
AND REDLINING PRACTICES THAT
HAVE LOCKED BLACK, INDIGENOUS,
AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR INTO
DEVELOPMENTS IN CERTAIN AREAS
OF THE COMMITTEE BY EXCLUDING
THE ABILITY TO HAVE MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY OUR
BIPOC AMENITIES AND LOW-WAGE
FAMILIES AND WANTING TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
ACROSS THE CITY.
I THINK IT WILL BE A REALLY
EXCITING CONVERSATION, MUCH-
ANTICIPATED, BUT JUST WANTED TO
DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT AND
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FOR CONTINUING TO HAVE THAT ON
YOUR AGENDA, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW
IT HAS BEEN --
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MAY I
RESPOND?
>> OF COURSE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
I WILL NOTE WHILE WE HAVE IT
SCHEDULED, I HAVE HEARD THAT
THERE MAY BE COMPLICATIONS IN
IT COMING TO COMMITTEE.
WE ARE AT THIS TIME RESERVING
THE TIME ON MY COMMITTEE AS
MANY COMMITTEE MEMBERS KNOW
THIS ALL IS GOING TO BE, AND
THE REST OF THE SUMMER IS GOING
TO BE A VERY JAM-PACKED
COMMITTEE SCHEDULE.
SO, WE ARE RESERVING TIME FOR
OPCD TO COME AND PRESENT THIS
WEEK, HOWEVER I AM FLAGGING
THAT I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE
MIGHT BE COMPLICATIONS WITH IT.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE OPCD
PRESENTING AS THIS IS THE TIME
WE HAVE RESERVED AFTER MANY
DELAYS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER, MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOU INCLUDING THAT
ON YOUR AGENDA.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE
IMPORTANCE OF HAVING IT, EVEN
IF IT'S JUST A PARTIAL REPORT.
ESPECIALLY GIVING THE DELAYS WE
NOTED AT THE BEGINNING.
LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE
ACTUAL PRESENTATION GIVEN IT
WAS DUE IN DECEMBER OF 19.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
>>> COLLEAGUES, WE ARE GOING TO
KEEP GOING HERE, UNLESS THERE
ARE OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS OR
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
OKAY, HEARING NONE, NEXT UP IS
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, AND THEN
AFTER COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
WILL BE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING.
SO, THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMITTEES ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
AGENDA.
HOWEVER, ONCE THIS AFTERNOON'S
FULL COUNCIL MEETING IS
ADJOURNED, THE COUNCIL WILL
IMMEDIATELY BEGIN THE FIRST OF
THREE METROPOLITAN PARK
DISTRICT MEETINGS FOR THE YEAR.
ON THE AGENDA IS A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION OF THE 2021 OUTLOOK
BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THEN WE WILL HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
ONE IS RESOLUTION 42 WHICH WILL
FORMALIZE THE DECISION TO DELAY
THE NEXT SIX YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN
, AS YOU KNOW BECAUSE OF COVID
WE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE OUR
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND
GATHERINGS TO DISCUSS WHAT THAT
SIX-YEAR PLAN WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND RESOLUTION 43, WHICH
COMBINES THE PARK DISTRICT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND THE
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
INTO ONE COMMISSION.
THIS AGREED-UPON DISSOLUTION
AND REALIGNMENT, SO WE HAVE ONE
ENTITY, SO SOME OF THEIR DUTIES
AND MEMBERS OF A LOT.
THIS SEEMS LIKE A MORE
EFFICIENT WAY TO GET WORK DONE
SINCE WE HAVE THE SAME PEOPLE
WITH THE SAME ISSUES.
ON JULY 9th, THE MEETING HAS
BEEN RESCHEDULED TO JULY 16th.
I BELIEVE THAT'S A FRIDAY AT
2:00.
UPDATE FOR PARKS AGAIN, A SHORT
UPDATE, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
JOB PROGRAM SERVED ABOUT 330
USERS BETWEEN JUNE 9th AND JUNE
15th.
WE WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY
CENTERS THAT HAVE OPENED UP
OBVIOUSLY FOR THE LAST YEAR.
THE COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR THOSE
CAN COME IN AND USE THEIR
SERVICES.
LAST WEEK THE PARKS CHILDCARE
PROGRAM AGAIN SERVED OVER
APPROXIMATELY 300 CHILDREN AT
17 CHILDCARE FACILITIES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THIS WEEK, FROM JUNE 7th, I'M
SORRY, THE WEEK OF JUNE 7th TO
JUNE 11th, THE CLEAN CITY CREW
HAS BEEN VERY BUSY.
THEY PICKED UP OVER 49,000
POUNDS OF TRASH.
AND 670 NEEDLES.
FROM 35 ENCAMPMENTS FROM ACROSS
THE CITY.
THE CREWS FOCUSED ON DEEP
CLEANING OF COLUMBIA PARK AND
THE JACKSON PARK GOLF COURSE.
THE PARKS ARM OF THE CLEAN CITY
INITIATIVE HAS CLEANED UP ABOUT
2 MILLION TONS -- POUNDS OF
TRASH.
AND 55,000 NEEDLES THROUGHOUT
THE CITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO
DO SO.
ALTHOUGH I RECENTLY MENTIONED
THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAD
ENDED HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
FOOD LIFELINE, THE ORGANIZATION
SHARE THEY WERE ABLE TO RESERVE
33,000 FAMILIES WITH ONLY 1.6
MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD DUE TO
THE PARTNERSHIP.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
FOOD LIFELINE DISTRIBUTED FOODS
TO FAMILIES FROM OVER 100 ZIP
CODES IN THE PUGET SOUND AREA.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS GETTING
READY FOR THE SUMMER, AND AS I
SHARED LAST WEEK OF THE WEEK
STAFF POSITIONS THAT NEED TO BE
FILLED.
WE NEED ENTHUSIASTIC WORKERS TO
ENSURE THAT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT CAN OFFER NUMEROUS
SUMMER ACTIVITIES.
SO, WE NEED FOLKS TO SIGN UP
FOR THESE JOB POSTINGS.
THE JOB POSTINGS CAN BE FOUND
AT SEATTLE.GOV/PARKS.
ABOUT US, WORK WITH US.
SO YOU CAN ALSO NOT ONLY VISIT
THE WEBSITE, BUT ALSO VISIT OUR
SITE AS WELL.
THAT IS THE DISTRICT 5 SITE AS
WELL.
SOMETIME, I THINK THIS WEEK OR
NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE BEEN
PREPARING, AND I WILL BE
SHARING WITH MY COLLEAGUES,
SOME LEGISLATION TO DRAFT
LEGISLATION REGARDING THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE TRAUMA
THAT INDIGENOUS FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN HAVE EXPERIENCED FROM
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS AND
BOARDING SCHOOLS.
WITHOUT GOING INTO THE WHOLE
LONG HISTORY, I DON'T WANT TO
BE HERE FOREVER, THIS IS A VERY
PAINFUL CHAPTER IN INDIAN
COUNTRY AND FOR OUR COUNTRY.
AS YOU PROBABLY HEARD, THERE
WERE 215 GRAVES UNEARTHED AT A
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL IN CANADA.
WE HAVE THOSE SAME SCHOOLS IN
THE UNITED STATES, THEY ARE
CALLED BOARDING SCHOOLS.
MY FAMILY, MY GRANDPARENTS, MY
AUNTS, UNCLES, STEPPARENTS
INCLUDING MY MOTHER, ALL WERE
SENT TO RESIDENTIAL OR BOARDING
SCHOOLS.
THIS HISTORY IS NOT ONLY DARK
AND PAINFUL, BUT IT IS VIOLENT,
AND IT IS NOT LEFT OUR PEOPLE.
I THINK WHAT'S LEFT BEHIND IS A
RESILIENCY AND THE FACT THAT WE
ARE STILL HERE.
INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY DID A
GREAT ARTICLE BACK LAST WEEK.
IN WHICH, AT THE CARLISLE
INDIAN SCHOOL, THERE WERE 40
GRAVES.
OF THOSE 40 GRAVES, 10 OF THOSE
CHILDREN WERE BEING REINTERRED
BY THEIR TRIBE AND THEIR FAMILY.
I THINK IT'S REALLY SHOCKING
AND EMOTIONAL AND PAINFUL TO
SEE IN THE ARTICLE THAT OF THE
40 GRAVES, THEY ARE ALL COLOR-
CODED WITH THE TRIBAL
AFFILIATION OF THE CHILD.
THERE INDIAN NAME, AND SO I'M
HAPPY THAT THOSE 10 CHILDREN
WILL BE RETURNED BACK TO THEIR
FAMILY AND THEIR TRIBE AND
BURIED IN THE APPROPRIATE
MANNER.
THE CARLISLE BOARDING SCHOOL I
THINK IS ONE OF 40, I'M SORRY
ONE OF 400, OVER 400 BOARDING
SCHOOLS THAT DID NOT STOP THE
PRACTICE UNTIL I THINK THE LAST
BOARDING SCHOOL WAS CLOSED IN
THE LATE 80s.
THIS ALSO GOES BACK TO SOME OF
THE LEGISLATION WE LOOKED AT
REGARDING MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND
THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT OF
1978.
IN WHICH THIS GOVERNMENT HAD A
POLICY OF REMOVING CHILDREN
FROM THEIR FAMILIES.
SO, THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY
EMOTIONAL, BUT IMPORTANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION TO, NOT ONLY TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRAUMA, AND THE
HORRIFIC HISTORY, OF TRYING TO
WIPE AWAY OUR CULTURE, OUR
CHILDREN, OUR HISTORY, OUR
LANGUAGE, BUT FOR ME, AS ALWAYS,
MOVING FORWARD IS THE HEALING
AND THE COMFORT AND THE
DISCUSSION TO ADDRESS THIS.
THAT WE CAN STILL CELEBRATE,
THAT IS MADE OF PEOPLE, THAT IS
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AS SOVEREIGN
GOVERNMENTS, THAT WE ARE STILL
HERE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE
HERE.
WITH THAT, THAT LEGISLATION
SHOULD BE TEED UP AND HOPEFULLY
TO YOU BUT NEXT WEEK.
SOUND TRANSIT, THIS WEEK I WILL
ATTEND A BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING FOR SOUND TRANSIT.
THE CHAIR WILL PRESENT A
PROPOSAL FOR A REALIGNMENT
DECISION.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN
DISCUSSING THAT FOR QUITE A
WHILE AFTER A HOLD FOR COVID.
WE WILL BE MAKING THAT DECISION
I BELIEVE IN JULY.
I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, THANK YOU FOR
INVITING SOUND TRANSIT TO YOUR
COMMITTEE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
ABOUT REALIGNMENT.
I UNDERSTAND THEY PROVIDED YOU
WITH A 45 PAGE POWERPOINT, AND
YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
EVERYBODY HOW THIS REALIGNMENT
DECISION, HOW WE PUT EVERYTHING
INTO TEARS AND SCENARIOS.
HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERED
QUESTIONS.
I WAS NOT AT THE MEETING BUT
DID LISTEN AND.
THANK YOU FOR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
LAST WEEK, EARLY SUNDAY MORNING
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
MENTIONED THIS, WE GOT TO
WITNESS AGAIN, THE LAST FINAL
PORTION OF THE, NOW IT IS
CALLED THE NORTHGATE PEDESTRIAN
BIKE BRIDGE OVER I-5. WE WERE
THERE FROM ABOUT 11:230 TO 2:30
IN THE MORNING.
THIS LAST BAND WEIGHED OVER 210
POUNDS I BELIEVE.
I THINK IT'S NO SECRET THAT I
HAVE BEEN PUSHING HARD AND I
HOPE THIS COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT
ME, THAT IS FITTINGLY AND
RIGHTFULLY THAT WE NAME THIS
BRIDGE AFTER JOHN LEWIS.
IT'S A BRIDGE, CERTAINLY A
BRIDGE MR. LEWIS WALKED OVER,
THE PETTIS RIDGE IN 1962 WITH
THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
IN THE NORTH END WE HAVE A REAL
LACK OF PLACEHOLDERS, MARKERS,
INTERACTIVE TRAILS THAT
DESIGNATE PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT
ARE PART OF THE CITY.
THAT ARE PART OF THIS COUNTRY
AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE
RECOGNIZED.
AS WE KNOW, PLACES ARE SACRED
AND WHEN YOU NAME THEM, PEOPLE
ASK WHO IS THAT PERSON?
WHO IS REPRESENTATIVE JOHN
LEWIS?
WHAT DID HE DO?
THEN, THEY WILL KNOW WHO THEY
ARE.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERN AND
DISCUSSION ABOUT MAYBE MR.
LEWIS DID NOT HAVE A CONNECTION
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
HE DID VISIT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON IN 2017, BUT NEITHER
DID GEORGE WASHINGTON OR MR.
JEFFERSON OR ANYBODY ELSE.
WITH THAT, I THINK WE HAVE TO
LOOK AT HOW WE DECIDE WHAT IS
HISTORY, HOW IT IS COMMEMORATED,
WHO OUR HEROES ARE, WHO MADE
HISTORY, AND WHO IS IN A
POSITION TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
HONOR THOSE FOLKS SO PEOPLE DO
ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
I WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO
THIS COUNCIL'S SUPPORT IN THE
NAMING OF THIS BRIDGE, WHICH IS
PHENOMENAL.
IS GOING TO LINK NORTH SEATTLE
COLLEGE WITH NORTHGATE MALL.
IS BEEN IN THE MAKING FOR A
LONG TIME.
I'M GLAD TO FINALLY SEE A DROP
INTO PLACE AND WE DO NAME IT
AFTER THE HONORABLE JOHN LEWIS.
LET'S SEE.
NEXT WEEK, THIS WEEK, I'M SORRY.
I WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE --
FOR THE NATIVE ACTION NETWORK
AS I SHARED WITH YOU BEFORE IN
THE PAST.
THIS ORGANIZATION I'VE BEEN A
PART OF FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.
IT IS LED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE.
TWO NATIVE WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN
MAJOR LEADERS.
WE HAVE A NEW COHORT GROUP OF
INDIGENOUS WOMEN LEADERS COMING
IN WHO ARE LOOKING TO HAVE
PEOPLE AS WE DO IN OUR WORLD
AND OTHER PLACES AS WELL,
MENTOR THESE YOUNG WOMEN TO
BECOME EVEN GREATER LEADERS.
THE TITLE OF THE SPEECH,
SHAPING NATIVE FUTURES.
WHAT WE DO HAD NATIVE ACTION
NETWORK IS PROVIDE PIPELINE AND
EDUCATIONAL CULTURAL SPACE TO
MENTOR AND HELP INDIGENOUS
WOMEN BECOME GREATER LEADERS IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THE
NEW CALL THIS HAS BEEN A
SUCCESSFUL GROUP.
MY DAUGHTERS USED TO GO, AND
NOW THEY ARE 30 AND 27.
IT IS AROUND AND HAS BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
I ONLY HAVE ONE TECHNICAL
QUESTION AND IT'S ABOUT
LOGISTICS, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO CONVENE AS
THE BOARD OF THE METROPOLITAN
PARKS DISTRICT RIGHT AFTER FULL
COUNCIL.
CAN YOU GIVE ME A SENSE OF HOW
MUCH BUFFER TIME YOU NEED
BETWEEN THE ADJOURNMENT OF FULL
COUNCIL AND THE TIME BEFORE WE
CAN GET GOING ON THE DISTRICT'S
MEETING?
I'M ASSUMING YOU'VE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH TECHNOLOGY
IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
>> I DON'T ANTICIPATE -- I MEAN
IF YOU NEED 10 OR 15 MINUTES
THAT WOULD BE FINE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO
BE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, HOW WE
-- HOW YOUR CALENDAR MOVES.
HOW YOUR AGENDA MOVES.
IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE -- SO, IF
YOU WANT TO DO A 10 OR 15
MINUTE BREAK THAT'S FINE.
>> I WILL CONFER WITH THE
CLERK'S OFFICE, AND TECHNOLOGY,
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
MAKE THE SWITCH THAT SEATTLE
CHANNEL CAN MAKE THE SWITCH.
WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE
THE BIGGEST DELAY.
NORMALLY, IN REAL LIFE, WE
COULD DO IT PRETTY QUICKLY.
BUT, THE TECHNOLOGY -- WE WILL
MAKE SURE TO LET FOLKS KNOW HOW
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD
BEFORE WE ENTER AND ADJOURN
FULL COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN ALL
GET BACK IN OUR SEATS WEARING
A DIFFERENT HAT.
>>> NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU FOR
INDULGING MY LATE ARRIVAL TO
BRIEFING THIS MORNING.
LATER, IN MY REPORT, I WILL
REPORT ON WHAT HAPPENED.
THIS MORNING.
SO, FIRST I DO HAVE AN ITEM
THAT WILL BE LOCKED ON FOR
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL.
THAT ITEM THAT WAS NOT LISTED
IN THE INITIAL INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR THROUGH SOME
KIND OF ERROR.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN
COMMUNICATING WITH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE THIS MORNING,
AND I'VE BEEN IN SURE THAT IT
WILL BE PUT ON THE DIRECTION
AND REFERRAL, AND CAPABLE OF
BEING WALKED ON.
IT IS LEGISLAION THAT HAS NOT
YET BEEN ASSIGNED.
THE BILL NUMBER, TO ALLOW THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO ACCEPT
PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS INTO A
CITY FUND TO SUPPORT SHELTER
AND HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH
ACTIVITIES.
THIS HAS BEEN A REQUEST FROM A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES,
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN COORDINATING
WITH THROUGH IT TAKES A VILLAGE
INITIATIVE, AS WELL AS
ADDITIONAL TO TRY TO CULTIVATE
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
OBVIOUSLY PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS
ARE NO REPLACEMENT FOR STEADY,
CONSISTENT, AND RELIABLE
INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES THROUGH
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
BUT, WHEN PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY ARE STANDING UP WITH
AN INTEREST IN GIVING THE CITY
FUNDS TO LEAN INTO SUCCESSFUL
STRATEGIES, AND HAVE BEEN
GETTING OUR EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS INSIDE, I BELIEVE
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE AN OUTLET FOR PEOPLE TO
NGAGE IN THAT LEVEL OF SERVANT
LEADERSHIP IF THAT IS HOW THEY
WANT TO BE A PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
SO, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THAT
LEGISLATION IN THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS
STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS THIS
COMING WEDNESDAY.
WE WILL ADDITIONALLY HAVE SOME
WRITTEN UPDATES FROM THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN
ANTICIPATION OF THEIR BIG
PRESENTATION IN JULY ON THE
ROLLOUT OF A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS THROUGH
THE AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT.
AS WELL AS THROUGH OTHER
SOURCES OF CITY REVENUE AS WELL
AS UPDATES ON THE RAPID
REHOUSING PROGRAM AND HOPE
TELLING SURGE PROGRAM.
THAT WILL BE THROUGH AN IN
PERSON PANEL AT OUR JULY
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE.
WE WILL HAVE SOME WRITTEN
UPDATES THAT CENTRAL STAFF AND
MYSELF WILL REPORT ON, ON THE
RECORD TO THE COMMITTEE ON
WEDNESDAY, BASED ON QUESTIONS
FROM MY OFFICE AND FELLOW
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE A
UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ON THE
CITY'S SMOKE SHELTERING
RESPONSE.
AS WE ARE STARTING TO GET,
UNFORTUNATELY INTO THE SEASON,
WHERE WILDFIRE SMOKE IS GOING
TO BE PROBABLY PART OF OUR
SEATTLE SUMMER.
WE NEED TO BE PREPARED AND
READY TO GET MORE OF OUR
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS INSIDE, AND INTO
SHELTERS AND COOLING CENTERS,
WHEN INEVITABLY WE DO GET HIT
BY WILDFIRE SMOKE LATER THIS
SUMMER.
WE WILL GET AN UPDATE FROM THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
ABOUT HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS
AND AT WHAT POINT THE SHELTERS
WILL BE OPEN.
THAT WILL BE AUGMENTED WITH
WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS FROM
THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT
REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE
SMOKE SHELTER SYSTEM WHICH I'VE
BEEN INFORMED IS GOING TO BE
REDDER RESOURCED THAN LAST
SUMMER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
THAT COMMITTEE MEETING AND LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY
THERE ON WEDNESDAY.
PIVOTING OUT TO THIRD AVENUE.
SO, THIS MORNING I WAS LATE TO
COUNCIL BRIEFING BECAUSE I WAS
HOLDING A PRESS AVAILABILITY
WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
DEFENDER ASSOCIATION, JUST CARE
, CO-LEAD, AS WELL AS A NUMBER
OF OTHER OUTREACH ORGANIZATIONS.
ALSO PRESENT WAS RACHEL SMITH
FROM THE SEATTLE METROPOLITAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS WELL AS
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION
AND OTHER MAJOR DOWNTOWN
PROPERTY OWNERS, AS WELL AS
FRANK YODER, THE OWNER OF WILD
GINGER AND ANOTHER BUSINESS.
IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING
TOGETHER THE UNIQUE COALITION
THAT HELPED REMOVE A VERY
PROBLEMATIC ENCAMPMENT THAT WAS
ON THIRD AVENUE, BUT GUARANTEE
SHELTER AND SERVICES AND
ASSISTANCE TO EVERYONE LIVING
IN THAT ENCAMPMENT AND TO DO IT
IN THE JUST CARE MODEL WHERE
THERE IS NO DISPLACEMENT OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING OUTSIDE.
THIS MODEL, AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED
SEVERAL TIMES HERE AT COUNCIL,
CENTERS THE INTERESTS OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE LIVING UNSHELTERED, AS
WELL AS THE INTEREST OF HOUSED
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BUSINESS
OWNERS TO LEAD TO THE
RESOLUTION THAT ALL PARTIES
WANT TO SEE, WHICH IS PEOPLE
GETTING INSIDE GETTING THE
SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE THEY
NEED.
WHILE ADDITIONALLY MAKING SURE
THE PUBLIC SPACES ARE THERE FOR
EVERYBODY TO ENJOY AND NOT TO
BE USED AS AN UNSANCTIONED
SHELTER WHEN PEOPLE SHOULD BE
LIVING IN PLACES WITH FOUR
WALLS AND A DOOR THAT LOCKS.
WE HAD A GOOD TIME CELEBRATING
THE SUCCESS OF THIS MODEL ON
THAT PARTICULAR BLOCK OF THIRD
AVENUE.
REALLY JUST CENTERING AND
LIFTING UP THE WORK OF THE
PEOPLE THERE WHO REALLY MADE IT
HAPPEN.
THE OUTREACH WORKERS WHO WERE
PRESENT, WHO WERE ON THE GROUND
AND HAVE BEEN BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS FOR WEEKS IN THAT
CORRIDOR.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT
TO NICOLE, KIRBY, SHERRY,
MICHAEL, THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE
DOING IS HEROIC TO REALLY HAVE
A PEOPLE CENTERED OUTREACH
CENTER APPROACH TO RESOLVING
OUR ONGOING -- THIS FALL, SIX-
YEAR STATE OF EMERGENCY ON
HOMELESSNESS.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
AND THE HOPE TEAM WHO ASSISTED
IN THE OPERATION AND PROVIDED
14 PLACEMENTS FOR PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT
WERE MORE SUITABLE TO THE NEEDS
OF THE FOLKS WHO THE OUTREACH
WORKERS WERE MAKING CONTACT
WITH.
REALLY SHOWING A MODEL WHEREBY
PULLING THE JUST CARE SHELTER
SERVICES AND THE HOPE TEAM
SERVICES, WE CAN REALLY MAKE
SURE WE ARE IN A POSITION TO
SOLVE FOR EVERYBODY.
MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING
EVERYBODY INSIDE.
THIS IS REALLY A GREAT EXAMPLE
OF LEADERSHIP FROM THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FROM THE
DEPUTY MAYOR, TIFFANY
WASHINGTON, AND HAVING AN
INTEGRATED APPROACH OF THE CITY
WOULD JUST CARE.
REALLY DOING SOME HEAVY LIFTING
AND GETTING THE RESULT THAT WE
SAW.
I WANT TO THANK SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
AND ASKED THAT FOR SIMILARLY
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
INFRASTRUCTURE LIFTS AND DEBRIS
REMOVAL.
FOR DEBRIS THAT WAS LEFT BEHIND
AND DESIGNATED BY CAMPERS.
AS SOMETHING THEY WANTED
REMOVED BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT
MEET IN THE HOTEL OR SHELTER
PLACEMENT THEY WERE GOING TO.
THIS TRULY IS THE APPROACH THAT
WE SHOULD BE LEANING INTO MORE.
ESPECIALLY AS WE GO INTO BUDGET
SEASON TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE
FUTURE SYSTEM OF HOMELESSNESS
OUTREACH IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
WILL BE.
IT'S A WAY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
AS A COUNTY, AS A CITY, AND
REALLY MOVE THE BALL FORWARD
AND REALLY CENTER THE POLITICS
OF COLLABORATION INSTEAD OF THE
POLITICS OF CONFLICT.
WHICH HAVE OFTEN REARED THEIR
HEAD OVER THE COURSE OF OUR
STATE EMERGENCY.
I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE
PARTIES INVOLVED.
I WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP
OF YOU, EVERYONE HERE, MY
COLLEAGUES, AND SUPPORTING THIS
MODEL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO,
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT ALONG THE
WAY THAT WE CELEBRATE OUR
VICTORIES AND THAT WE CELEBRATE
OPERATIONS THAT SHOWCASE THE
SUCCESS OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN.
I DO WANT TO JUST GIVE ONE LAST
SHOUT OUT TO JUST CARE.
MY OFFICE WILL BE CIRCULATING
ALL COUNCIL OFFICES, SO FOLKS
CAN FIND IT ON THEIR OWN ANYWAY,
BUT WE'LL ALSO SEND ALL COUNCIL
OFFICES THE FINAL REPORT FROM
DR. BECKETT WHO REPORTED AT THE
MAY COMMITTEE MEETING FOR THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS.
SOME PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FROM
HER REPORT.
THIS IS PROFESSOR BECKETT AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
ON THE JUST CARE MODEL.
THIS REPORT INCLUDES THE
ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRAM TO THIS
POINT, AS WELL AS FINDINGS AND
CONCLUSIONS THAT COULD BE
HELPFUL FOR SCALABILITY.
I AM GOING TO BE DEFINITELY
DIGGING INTO THAT REPORT MYSELF
HERE OVER THE COURSE OF THIS
WEEK.
DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE FOLKS WHO
WANT TO SEE SOME OF THE
EMPIRICAL FINDINGS REGARDING
THIS MODEL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THIS REPORT, ESPECIALLY IN
ANTICIPATION OF POTENTIAL
INITIATIVES TO EXPAND IN SCALE.
THE KIND OF WORK WE'VE SEEN
JUST CARE DOING.
I DID -- I HAVE THE HONOR TO
PAY MY RESPECTS ON FRIDAY TO
THE MEMORIAL OF OFFICER HARRIS
AT THE SEATTLE POLICE OFFICER
HARRIS, WHO PASSED IN THE WAKE
OF A HORRIBLE AND TRAGIC
ACCIDENT LAST WEEK.
I HAD THE HONOR OF PAYING MY
RESPECTS AT HER MEMORIAL AT THE
WEST PRECINCT ON FRIDAY MORNING.
I WANT TO THANK CAPTAIN ALLEN
OF THE WEST PRECINCT FOR
GREETING ME THERE AND ALLOWING
US TO EXCHANGE A FEW WORDS
ABOUT THE HEROES -- HERE WITH
SOME OF OFFICER HARRIS.
IT WAS VERY HEARTENING TO SEE
THE COMMUNITY OUTPOURING AT HER
MEMORIAL AND SEE THE OUTPOURING
OF FLOWERS, NOTES, WELL-WISHERS
DROPPING BY.
REALLY CENTERING HER SERVANT
LEADERSHIP AND APPRECIATING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND PAY MY
RESPECTS IN PERSON.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO OFFICER
HARRIS' FAMILY, OFFICER HARRIS'
COLLEAGUES.
IT'S A GREAT LOSS FOR THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 7 AND THE
PEOPLE OF THE WEST PRECINCT.
ON REGIONAL COMMITTEES, THE
BOARD OF HEALTH LAST WEEK, WE
HAD A MEETING WHERE WE DISCUSSED
AT LENGTH, AMONG OTHER ITEMS,
THE HELMET LAW AS I
FORESHADOWED IN MY REMARKS LAST
WEEK THAT WE WOULD HEAR THE
PRESENTATION.
MY QUICK SUMMARY OF THE
FINDINGS, I'M NOT SURE IF MY
COLLEAGUES, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND MORALES TOUCHED ON
THIS IN THEIR PRESENTATIONS OR
NOT, AS I WAS NOT PRESENT.
MY BRIEF SORT OF SUMMARY OF MY
CONCLUSION OF THE FINDINGS HE
IS UNEQUIVOCALLY CLEAR AS
REPORTING FROM CROSSCUT HAS
MADE CLEAR, THAT THE HELMET
LAWS BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY
ENFORCED AGAINST OUR NEIGHBORS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AS
WELL AS PEOPLE OF COLOR.
BIPOC COMMUNITIES IN KING
COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL VOLUME
OF CITATIONS.
WE THEN HEARD SEVERAL REPORTS
INDICATING THAT THERE IS NOT A
CLEAR LINKAGE BETWEEN THE
PRESENCE OF A HELMET LAW AND
WHETHER THE PUBLIC ACCORDINGLY
RESPONSE IN WEARING HELMETS.
OF COURSE THE BOARD OF HEALTH
REACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT
PEOPLE SHOULD WEAR HELMETS, AND
THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO WEAR
HELMETS, AND THAT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE MEDICAL
COMMUNITY IS NEAR UNANIMOUS
THAT THE WEARING OF HELMETS HAS
A CONSIDERABLE IMPACT IN
PREVENTING HEAD INJURIES
RELATED TO COLLISIONS FOR FOLKS
WHO ARE ON BIKES OR OTHER
MULTIMODAL METHODS OF
TRANSPORTATION.
THERE WAS A WIDESPREAD
CONSENSUS TO CERTAINLY DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE
HELMET LAW TO REFLECT THAT, AND
TO HAVE SOME KIND OF
PROGRAMMATIC SYSTEM PROVIDING
AT SCALE THREE HELMETS,
EDUCATION REGARDING THE USE OF
HELMETS, SYSTEMS TO DISTRIBUTE
HELMETS TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.
THEM, TO SERIOUSLY RECONFIGURE
THE HELMET LAW ITSELF, OR
POTENTIALLY ELIMINATE THE
HELMET LAW ENTIRELY.
THAT WORK WILL GO ON WITH THE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
A FINAL DECISION WAS NOT MADE
IN THE LAST MEETING.
DEFINITELY RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO
IS INTERESTED TO GO AND WATCH
THE RECORDED PRESENTATION. THE
PANEL WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE AND I
REALLY SUPPORTED THE SUPPORT
NETWORK.
HEARING FROM THOSE FOLKS ABOUT
THE NATURE OF THE HELMET LAW.
I WILL, IN ADDITION TO MY
COUNCIL DUTIES, THIS WEEK,
ALSO BE ATTENDING THE REGIONAL
COMMITTEES OF PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL COUNCIL, I'LL ALSO BE
ATTENDING AS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD ALLUDED TO, THE
OVERDOSE EMERGENCY AND
INNOVATIVE RECOVERY TASK FORCE.
WHICH WILL BE CONVENING ITS
FIRST MEETINGS TO START THE
DISCUSSION AROUND REASSESSMENTS
OF OUR DRUG POLICY, INCLUDING
THE ADDITION TO THE WORK PLAN
AS THIS COUNCIL INDICATED I
BELIEVE TWO WEEKS AGO IN A
LETTER COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
AND I CO-AUTHORED, REQUESTING
THE ADDITION FOR A STUDY OF
PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS. MADAM
PRESIDENT, WITH THAT I HAVE NO
OTHER UPDATES FOR THE COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS' REPORT?
>>> HURRYING AND SEEING NONE, I
WILL CONCLUDE THIS PORTION OF
THIS MORNING'S AGENDA WITH MY
OWN REPORT.
I HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE
CALENDAR.
I HAVE TWO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
ITEM 3 IS COUNCIL BILL 120107 ,
WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE A
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
WITH THE SEATTLE FIRE CHIEFS
ASSOCIATION.
LOCAL 2898.
THIS LEGISLATION IS CONSISTENT
WITH MUNICIPAL CODE, WENT
THROUGH THE FULL LABOR
RELATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE
PROCESS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE PROPOSED COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT YOU CAN
CONTACT OUR COUNCIL'S CITY
STAFF.
ITEM 5 IS APPOINTMENT 01951, TO
THE SEATTLE ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS COMMISSION. THIS IS A
COUNCIL NOMINATION.
NEXT I HAVE ONE ITEM I AM
SPONSORING THAT IS SLATED FOR
FINAL ACTION THIS AFTERNOON.
THAT IS LISTED AS AGENDA ITEM
ONE WHICH IS COUNCIL BILL
120102 AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTION OF A COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
ELECTRICAL WORKERS, LOCAL 77.
THIS CBA IS A TWO YEAR
AGREEMENT ON WAGES, BENEFITS,
HOURS AND OTHER WORKING
CONDITIONS.
IT AFFECTS ABOUT 565 OF OUR
REGULARLY APPOINTED CITY
EMPLOYEES, AND ITS TERM
INCLUDES A COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENT OF APPROXIMATELY
2.5%.
THE TERMS OF THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT MEET THE
NEGOTIATIONS PARAMETERS SET BY
THE MEMBERS OF THE LABOR
RELATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE.
THIS AFTERNOON I WILL ASK
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE
PASSAGE OF THIS COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 24th, LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I WILL BE
ATTENDING THE PUGET SOUND
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING.
THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS UPDATE
TO BOTH THE REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND THE
REGIONAL ECONOMIC STRATEGY.
TOMORROW I'LL BE MEETING WITH
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEXICAN
CONSULATE IN THE SOUTH PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD.
LASTLY ON MY REPORT, AS WE
KNOW, PRIDE WEEKEND IS ABOUT TO
KICK OFF THIS WEEKEND HERE IN
SEATTLE AND IN MANY COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
ON SATURDAY, JUNE 26th, I'LL BE
ATTENDING THE DEDICATION OF THE
AIDS MEMORIAL PATHWAY WHICH
WILL OCCUR AT THE CAPITOL HILL
STATION NEAR CAL ANDERSON PARK
IN DISTRICT 3. THE INSTALLATION
WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGING THE FIRST
OF SEVERAL ART PIECES TO BE
INSTALLED ON THE AMP.
THE FIRST IS FROM ARTIST
CHRISTOPHER PAUL JORDAN THE
SCULPTURE THAT WILL BE
INSTALLED AT THE EDGE OF THE
NEW PLAZA FACING THE CAPITOL
HILL LIGHT RAIL STATION WAS
JUST PUT IN OVER THE LAST WEEK.
THE SCULPTURE IS TITLED AND I'M
GOING TO MISS EVERYBODY.
IT IS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE
AIDS MEMORIAL PATHWAY PROJECT.
AS A REMINDER COLLEAGUES, THE
AMP IS A TRAIL OF PUBLIC
ARTWORKS THAT WILL CONNECT THE
NORTHWEST CORNER OF CAL
ANDERSON PARK WITH THE NEW
PLAZA.
THE A.M.P.
WILL BE ONE OF THE FEW ARTS
INSTALLATIONS IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST THAT IS DEDICATED TO
MEMORIALIZING THE HIV AIDS
EPIDEMIC AND ITS HORRIFIC
IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
SEATTLE, WHICH IS HOME TO ONE
OF THE LARGEST LGBTQ+
POPULATIONS, IS ONE OF THE LAST
MAJOR U.S. CITIES TO GET A
PERMANENT PUBLIC AND PERMANENT
SPACE FOR REMEMBRANCE OF THE
PAST AND CURRENT LOST OF LIVES
TO HIV/AIDS.
AS A COUNCIL, WE HAVE SUPPORTED
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE A.M.P.,
INCLUDING FUNDING THE PROJECT
THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROJECT.
IN TOTAL, THIS IS A $2.8
MILLION PRODUCT THAT OVER A
PERIOD OF SIX YEARS INVOLVED
SIX ARTISTS, FIVE GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES, AND MULTIPLE PRIVATE
PARTNERS BEFORE COMING TO
FRUITION.
THIS IS A TRULY COMMUNITY
DRIVEN AND DEVELOPED PROJECT
AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE
IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO WERE
INVOLVED IN BRINGING US TO THIS
POINT.
I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTIONS
OF OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER TOM RASMUSSEN, A
DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT WHO IN
2015, PLANTED THE EARLY SEEDS
OF GROWING A PUBLIC HIV AIDS
MEMORIAL AND FORMED A GROUP TO
LOOK INTO THE EFFORT.
SIX YEARS LATER, HERE WE ARE
WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CELEBRATE THIS INCLUSIVE AND
ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC ART
INSTALLATION THAT AGAIN
ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IMPORTANT
ISSUE THAT CONTINUES TO IMPACT
OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, BUT
ESPECIALLY OUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
SO, I HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL
VISIT THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ART
INSTALLATION AND OF COURSE I
HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAS A HAPPY
AND SAFE PRIDE THIS WEEKEND.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T
HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO REPORT.
I AM FREE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS OR HEAR ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FOR THE
GOOD OF THE ORDER.
ALL RIGHT, I'M NOT SEEING ANY
HANDS RAISED, SO COLLEAGUES
THAT DOES CONCLUDE OUR AGENDA
FOR THIS MORNING'S COUNCIL
BRIEFING.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE
ADJOURNED, AND I WILL SEE YOU
ALL AT 2:00.