>>> IS 2:00 P.M.
. I AM PRESIDENT OF THE
COUNCIL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL >>
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?THE ROLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> HERE.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS OUR TWO OTHER COLLEAGUES
MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE
VIRTUAL ROOMS OF ZOOM, WE WILL
BE SURE TO ANNOUNCE THEY HAVE
JOINED US.
>>> WE HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT A
PROCLAMATION AND I WILL GO
AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD TO
RECOGNIZE TIM HARRIS, WHO IS
WITH US IN THIS VIRTUAL ZOOM
CALL TODAY.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US, TIM.
ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THE COUNCIL RULES WILL BE
SUSPENDED PRIOR TO TIM BEING
ABLE TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION
. IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL GO
AHEAD AND HANDED OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WHO WILL
MAKE THE PRESENTATION ON BEHALF
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT IS A REAL HONOR FOR ME TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE
THE GOOD WORKS OF TIM HARRIS.
I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR ABOUT A
QUARTER OF A DECADE. IT HAS BEEN
A PRIVILEGE TO GET TO WORK WITH
HIM AND IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND
AN HONOR AGAIN FOR ME TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW,
REALLY LIFT UP THE CONTRIBUTIONS
HE HAS MADE TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND LIFTING THE VOICES
AS HE HAS DONE OF MANY IN OUR
COMMUNITY FOR WHOM WE DO NOT
SPEND ENOUGH TIME INCORPORATING
AND ENGAGING IN OUR POLICY
DECISIONS.
I THINK HE IS REALLY THE
CONSCIENCE OF THE CITY. ONE OF
MANY VOICES THAT ARE THE
CONSCIENCE OF THE CITY.
HE HAS REALLY DONE OUTSTANDING
WORK ON POVERTY ISSUES AND
HOMELESS ISSUES.
I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION.
IT IS THE PROCLAMATION HONORING
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OF TIM
HARRIS.
TIM HARRIS STARTED REAL CHANGE
NEWS IN 1994 AND GREW THE
STREET PAPER' IS BUDGET FROM
$23,000 TO OVER $1 MILLION IN
25 YEARS.
HE WORKED TO WIN MANY POLICY
ADVANCEMENTS TO HELP PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
POVERTY AND TIM PLAYED A
LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE
EXPANSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS
HEADQUARTERED IN LASCAUX.
THROUGH REAL CHANGE NEWS, HE
HAS HUNDREDS OF VENDORS.
IN DOING SO EMPOWERED VENDOR TO
HOUSE AND PROVIDE FOR
THEMSELVES.
TIM HAS GAINED THE SUPPORT OF
THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES, BUSINESSES IN THE
REGION.
TIM HAS AUTHORED AND PUBLISHED
NEARLY 300 WEEKLY DIRECTORS
CORNER ESSAYS THAT HAVE TUGGED
THE COMMUNITIES SLEEVE ON
ISSUES RELATED TO OUR SOCIAL
CONSCIOUSNESS.
TIM BECAME ONE OF THE MOST
COMPELLING AND IMPACTFUL VOICES
OF THE COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATING
FOR THE RIGHTS IN OUR REGION.
HE HAS NEVER FAILED TO SUPPORT
IN NEW JERSEY HUMAN SERVICE
NEEDS.
HE HAS TAUGHT US TO VIEW
HOUSING NOT AS A REWARD BUT AS
THE BASIC NEED.
WHEREAS REAL CHANGE NEWS, WITH
10'S LEADERSHIP, HAS BEEN
HONORED WITH DOZENS OF AWARDS
FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM
FROM THE REGIONAL SOCIETY OF
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS AND AN
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO
SOCIAL JUSTICE.
MY CAT IS AGREEING, IF YOU CAN
HEAR THE CAT IN THE BACKGROUND.
THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
PROCLAIMS JANUARY 11th TO BE
TIM HARRIS DAY. THANK YOU.
>> WE SEE LOTS OF VIRTUAL
CLAPPING IN THE BACKGROUND FOR
THOSE REMARKS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR READING THAT
PROCLAMATION INTO THE RECORD.
I WANT TO ALSO NOTE WE HAVE
BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND LEWIS WHO WERE
PRESENT DURING THE PRESENTATION
BUT DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
COLLEAGUES, I DO WANT TO,
BEFORE WE SUSPEND THE ROLES IN
ORDER TO HEAR FROM TIM HARRIS
DIRECTLY, WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT COMMENTS
FROM ANY COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
CHOOSE TO DO SO.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS TO ALLOW THIS
PROCLAMATION TO BE PRESENTED?
WE HAVE A SHY GROUP TODAY.
ANYBODY?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
TIM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE
TO THE CITY AND FOR REALLY
BRINGING INTO RELIEF THE
IMPORTANCE OF ALL OF US WITH
TREATING OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS
WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
YOUR MISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT
W CONSTANTLY REMEMBER THEIR
HUMANITY HAS BEEN REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE WORK WE ARE
DOING HERE AS A COUNCIL, SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
SERVICE AND ALL YOU HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONVERSATION
.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES . ARE THERE ANY OTHER
TRADE 27 THAT WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> TIM, CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE LEGACY
AND I KNOW THE COMPETITIVE
PAPER CONTINUES TO MOVE ON.
YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AMPLIFY
THE VOLUME FOR PEOPLE LIVING ON
SHELTERED IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND IN OUR REGION.
IN DOING SO, YOU HAVE HELPED TO
MAKE PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THE
CALL FOR ACTION, NOT JUST FOR
HOUSING AND SHELTER, MUST BE
MORE AND WE SHOULD HAVE TRUE,
SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
WE MUST CREATE ACCESS AND
OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE BOARD.
BY PUBLISHING STORIES ON A
WEEKLY BASIS WITH THE WORDS OF
THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, YOU HAVE HELPED TO
BRING TEARS TO OUR EYES. THIS
IS A CALL FOR ACTION THAT WILL
NEVER BE QUIETED. I REMEMBER
OFTEN READING STORIES FROM MANY
OF THE OFFERS THAT ARE FEATURED
IN REAL CHANGE AND JUST BEING
SO INCREDIBLY MOVED, AND ALSO
AT YOUR LUNCHEONS AT AN ANNUAL
BASIS AND SEEING PEOPLE I WOULD
REGULARLY SEE WHO ARE REAL
CHANGE VENDORS AND JUST BEING
INCREDIBLY INSPIRED.
THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE HAS
HELPED TO AMPLIFY THE NEED FOR
ACTION AND IT IS WITH GREAT --
I AM IN GREAT AWE OF ALL YOU
HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
I WILL CONTINUE TO POST SOME OF
THOSE STORIES ON MY WALL AS
REMINDERS OF WHY WE DO THIS AND
TO SEE THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU
HAVE DONE AND THE FOLKS AT REAL
CHANGE, JUST A HUGE APPLAUSE
FOR ALL OF THEIR INCREDIBLE
WORK.
IT WOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT
THE CALL FOR ACTION HAS NEVER
BEEN MORE EVIDENT NOW, GIVEN
THAT SO MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE
LIVING HOUSING INSECURE AND
WITHOUT THE SHELTERED HOUSING
THAT THEY NEED.
WE ARE NOT GIVING UP WITH THE
DEMAND HERE.
YOUR STORIES AMPLIFY THAT ON A
DAILY BASIS AND THE RESPONSE TO
THE TYPE OF REACTION WE HAVE
SEEN FROM FOLKS LIVING OUTSIDE,
ESPECIALLY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT
IS WHY WE ARE COMMITTED TO
CHANGING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE
WORK AND SERVICE.
LONG-LIVED REAL CHANGE!
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA . COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT?
>> WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF
THINGS WE COULD SAY ABOUT TIM
HARRIS. THANK YOU, TIM, FOR ALL
OF THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE OVER
THE MANY DECADES.
I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW
THINGS.
ONE, I THINK IN ADDITION TO
EVERY SERVICE YOU AND REAL
CHANGE HAVE PROVIDED TO OUR
HOMELESS NEIGHBORS AND TO OUR
COMMUNITY AT LARGE BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, THE SOUL OF THE COMMUNITY
REALLY CAN ONLY BE JUDGED BY HOW
THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US
ARE TREATED, I THINK ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE
WORK OF REAL CHANGE HAS BEEN TO
ABSOLUTELY INSIST ON THE
HUMANITY AND DIGNITY OF OUR
HOMELESS NEIGHBORS.
YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE TAG ON
THAT. THERE ARE NO WORDS TO
DESCRIBE THAT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW THAT IS
CRUCIAL AND THAT CANNOT BE
NEGOTIATED AWAY.
I THINK REAL CHANGE HAS BEEN A
BEACON ON THAT FRONT.
I REALLY WISH YOU WELL.
I WISH YOUR FAMILY WELL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE THAT
ARE CARRYING ON THE WORK OF
REAL CHANGE. ALL OF THE
ORGANIZERS THAT ARE WORKING
WITH REAL CHANGE.
AS TIM AND I HAVE STILL LOOKED
FORWARD TO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO
RINGING THE GONG AGAIN.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A
DAY IN SEATTLE WE NO LONGER
HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THERE
ARE NO HOMELESS ON THE STREETS.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL HAVE
GONE A LONG WAY TOWARDS MAKING
THAT HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT . ANY
OTHER COMMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS ? ALL RIGHT.
IT LOOKS LIKE NO OTHER COMMENTS
. TIM, I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANKS TO YOU AND ALL OF THE
FOLKS OVER AT REAL CHANGE FOR
AL OF THE ADVOCACY WORK THAT
YOU DO. IN ADDITION TO JUST
GOOD JOURNALISM AND STRONG
JOURNALISM, THAT REALLY GIVES A
VOICE TO PEOPLE WHO ORDINARILY
DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO HAVE A
VOICE.
IT IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
YOU ALL HAVE IN RECENT YEARS
DONE SOME AMAZING ADVOCACY. ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE THE
PLEASURE OF BEING ABLE TO
EXPERIENCE IN 2018 WAS ACTUALLY
BEING ABLE TO SIT ON THE DAIS.
SORRY, 2019.
I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO OUR
COLLEAGUES AND I REMEMBER WHEN
YOU RAN A CAMPAIGN AROUND
MAKING SURE WE HAVE TOILETS AND
HYGIENE FACILITIES IN THE CITY.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD LEANED
OVER TO ME AND SAID, "THIS IS
ONE OF THE BEST CAMPAIGNS WE
HAVE SEEN ." IT WAS VERY
POWERFUL AND IMPORTANT. AS A
RESULT, THAT YEAR FOR THE FIRST
TIME WE MOVED FORWARD WITH
REALLY SIGNIFICANT, MEANINGFUL
FUNDING TO ALLOW FOR HYGIENE
AND TOILETING FACILITIES TO BE
SET UP.
LITTLE DID WE KNOW HOW
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THOSE KIND
OF INVESTMENTS WOULD BE WHEN
SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE WERE
FACED WITH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
ESPECIALLY AT THIS ON PRESENTED
NATURE.
THE BOOK YOU GAVE US AFTER YOU
WON THE CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS
"EVERYBODY POOPS" IS IT SITTING
IN MY LIBRARY.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO TELL HER
HOW THAT BOOK CAME TO BE ON HER
LITTLE KID'S LIBRARY.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL OF
YOUR WORK.
RETIREMENT IS JUST THAT.
IT IS JUST RETIREMENT FROM A
FORMAL JOB AND I KNOW YOU WILL
CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED IN MANY
IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING OUR
CITY IN THE COMING YEARS.
COLLEAGUES, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES
WILL BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW THIS
PROCLAMATION TO BE ACCEPTED AND
FOR TIM HARRIS TO THE COUNCIL.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND
TIM HARRIS, THE GUEST OF HONOR
HERE WITH US THIS AFTERNOON,
YOU ARE NOW RECOGNIZED IN ORDER
TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME REMARKS
AND ACCEPTANCE OF THIS
PROCLAMATION THAT WAS LED
FORWARD BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD . DON'T FORGET TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF, TIM.
THERE WE GO.
YOU ARE NOW ON MUTED.
GO FOR IT.
>> EXCELLENT.
WELL, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
THIS MEANS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
TO ME AND IT MEANS A LOT TO THE
ENTIRE REAL CHANGE COMMUNITY.
I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO ALL
OF THE VENDORS WHO HAVE
INSPIRED ME OVER THE YEARS.
I HAVE SEEN THE MOST AMAZING
TRANSFORMATIONS. REALLY, REALLY
REMARKABLE PEOPLE RISING ABOVE
PERSONAL ADVERSITY TO JUST DO
EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.
I CAN'T EVEN PUT WORDS AROUND
HOW INSPIRING THAT HAS BEEN AND
HOW MUCH THAT HAS MEANT TO ME.
THE WHOLE REAL CHANGE COMMUNITY,
EVERYBODY WHO IS WORKING TOWARD
A WORLD WHERE EACH ONE OF US IS
VALUED AND NONE OF US ARE
ABANDONED, THAT IS THE REAL
VISION BEHIND REAL CHANGE. I AM
JUST SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYBODY
THAT HAS BEEN PART OF IT.
I WILL CONTINUE TO BE PART OF
THAT FIGHT AND LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO
CONTINUE MAKING SEATTLE A
BETTER CITY.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS.
I WILL BE SEEING YOU.
>> WELL SAID, TIM.
WELL, WELL SAID.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE REMARKS AND
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT THE
TOP OF THE HOUR TO ACCEPT THIS
PROCLAMATION.
AGAIN, THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR GIVING US ALL AN
OPPORTUNITY TO AFFIX OUR NAMES
TO THIS PROCLAMATION. YOU'RE
WELCOME TO DEPART THE VIRTUAL
ROOM NOW.
WE WILL DIG INTO IMPORTANT BUT
MUCH MORE MUNDANE PARTS OF OUR
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS.
THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN, TIM, FOR
BEING WITH US.
BE SAFE.
>>> OKAY, COLLEAGUES.
THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING OF JANUARY 4th, 2021
HAVE BEEN REVIEWED.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THE
MINUTES WILL BE SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES?
>>> ADOPTION OF THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
I MOVED TO ADOPT THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND I DO KNOW THERE IS
AN AMENDMENT TO THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR BUT I WILL NEED A
SECOND BEFORE WE CAN CONSIDER
THAT AMENDMENT.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM GOING TO RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, WHO WILL
MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I MOVED TO AMEND THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR FOR 31985, CALLING ON
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO
IMMEDIATELY REMOVE U.S.
PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP FROM
OFFICE BY ANY MEANS PERMITTED
BY THE U.S. CONSTITUTION,
INCLUDING IMPEACHMENT FOR
VIOLATING HIS OATH OF OFFICE ON
JANUARY 6th, 2021, OR FOR
COMMITTING ANY OTHER HIGH
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS AND BY
REFERRING IT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION AT TODAY'S
MEETING.
>> THANK YOU.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT
MOTION?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
BY INTRODUCING RESOLUTION 31985
FOR ADOPTION AT TODAY'S
MEETING.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
AMENDMENT TO THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR?
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR AS AMENDED?
HEARING NONE, >> HERBOLD?WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE AMENDED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR?
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> IT IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
COLLEGE, AT THIS TIME WE WILL
OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD ON ITEMS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA, AND THE
COUNCIL'S WORK PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
THEIR ONGOING PATIENCE AS WE
CONTINUE TO OPERATE THIS REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT SYSTEM.
IT REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT TO
HAVE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULARLY INCLUDED ON THE
AGENDAS, HOWEVER AS A REMINDER,
THE CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE
RIGHT TO END OR ELIMINATE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IF WE
DEEM THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED
OR IS NO LONGER SUITABLE FOR
MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER, IT IS 20 MINUTES AND
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN 2
MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE CITY
COUNCIL.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL
'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
PUBLIC COMMENT BY GOING TO THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE AT
COUCIL.SEATTLE.GOV . IT IS ALSO
LISTED ON TODAY'S PUBLIC
AGENDA.
HOOPS. EXCUSE ME.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
THE STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND THE
SPEAKER IS GOING TO HEAR AN
AUTOMATED PROMPT OF "YOU HAVE
BEEN ON MUTED."
THAT IS THEIR QUEUE THAT IT IS
THEIR TURN TO SPEAK AFTER THEY
HAVE PRESSED STAR SIX.
AGAIN, PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING HER NAME AND THE ITEM
YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE
TO AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL'S WORK PROGRAM AS
WELL.
AT 10 SECONDS, THE SPEAKER WILL
HEAR A CHIME. IT WILL HAVE
EXACTLY 10 SECONDS TO WRAP UP
THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME, THERE
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED.
I ASKED YOU PLEASE DISCONNECT
FROM THE LINE AND IF YOU
CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS
MEETING, YOU CAN DO SO VIA THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR LISTENING
OPTIONS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
COLLEAGUES, THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN.
IT IS 2:21, SO WE WILL HEAR
PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL 2:41 P.M.
OR UNTIL WE EXHAUST THE LIST IF
IT IS LESS THAN 20 MINUTES.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
AGAIN, IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO
GIVE COMMENT TODAY, YOU WILL
NEED TO HIT STAR SIX AFTER YOU
HEAR THE AUTOMATED PROMPT THAT
YOU HAVE BEEN ON MUTED.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS HOWARD
GALE, FOLLOWED BY JIM STREET.
HOWARD, WELCOME.
>> HI.
HOWARD GALE, DISTRICT 7
COMMENTING ON POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE ARE WEEKS AWAY FROM ENTERING
OUR NINTH YEAR OF POLICE
REFORM.
THAT'S RIGHT.
OUR NINTH YEAR.
OVER THIS LAST YEAR, WE SAW THE
RIGHT-WING SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICER MIKE MORALES
OVERWHELMINGLY ELECTED OVER THE
POLICE OFFICER'S UNION,
GARNERING OVER TWO-THIRDS.
TREND 24 PROMISED TO GET
"SERIOUS" WITH PROTESTERS.
THE CAMPAIGN TO GET RID OF A
RADICAL CITY COUNCIL AND HAVE
POLICE TAKE BACK CONTROL
CHANGED THE NARRATIVE OVER
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THEY ARE NOT TAKING CONTROL OF
THEIR ABUSE, BUT RATHER INCREASE
WHICH WE SAW COME TO FRUITION
WITH THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS.
LAST JULY, SAWANT SAID THAT
BLACK LIVES MATTER ACTIVISTS
WANT TO "TAKE YOUR PROPERTY AND
GIVE IT TO INDIANS.
" DAYS AGO, HE RETREATED, "
TWEETS BLAMING BLACK LIVES
MATTER."
THE HATEFUL ABUSE OF PROTESTERS
WAS RECENTLY HEARD THAT AT
LEAST TWO SPD OFFICERS
REPURPOSED VARIOUSLY
CONTRIBUTED TO MY ANGELO AND
OPRAH WHEN PEOPLE SHOW YOU WHO
THEY ARE, BELIEVE THEM THE
FIRST TIME.
WITH SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS
OVERWHELMINGLY VOTE A HATE
RIGHT-WING, BELIEVE THEM THE
FIRST TIME.
WHEN THEY MERCILESSLY SHAME
YOU, THEY CHANGE WHO REPRESENTS
THEM.
THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AND
POLICY WILL NOT CHANGE WHO THEY
ARE.
WE NEED FULLY CIVILIAN ICED
POLICE OVERSIGHT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS JIM STREET,
FOLLOWED BY VALERIE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS JIM STREET.
A WEEK AGO, I ATTENDED A
MEETING ORGANIZED BY CLIMATE
ACTION.
THEY WERE HOSTING THE MAYOR'S
POLICY DIRECTOR ON CLIMATE AND
THEY WERE ASKING TO HAVE
QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY
STRATEGIES ARE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS BY 2030.
WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE FOR
MEETING THOSE GOALS?
WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE IN 2021
AND 2022 IMPLEMENTATION OF
ESSENTIAL ACTIONS?
AND FINALLY, ARE WE ON TRACK?
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THE ANSWER
HE GAVE WAS, "WE ARE WORKING ON
IT.
WE ARE WORKING ON IT."
MEMBERS WERE VERY FRUSTRATED.
WORKING ON IT DOESN'T WORK WHEN
IT COMES TO ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE COUNCIL'S 2019 GREEN NEW
DEAL RESOLUTION MADE THE
SYSTEMIC THREAT OF GLOBAL
WARMING A CENTRAL PRIORITY FOR
CITY ACTION.
AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT
HASN'T HAPPENED.
A SELECT COMMITTEE WILL
UNDERSCORE THE CENTRAL PRIORITY
THAT YOU ARE DETERMINED TO GIVE
TO THIS ISSUE.
MEETING OUR CLIMATE GOALS WILL
REQUIRE THAT WE ASSISTANCE ALSO
DO OUR PART TO REDUCE OUR OWN
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
WE NEED TO BELIEVE THAT OUR
COMBINED EFFORTS ARE ON TRACK
TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS BY 50% BY 2030. WE
NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWERS TO
THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS THAT I
MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING.
A SELECT COMMITTEE WILL ENABLE
THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY AND THE PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT THAT ARE ESSENTIAL
FOR OUR SUCCESS AND CLIMATE.
WE NEED THAT.
WE NEED TO ACT ON THIS NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS VALERIE, FOLLOWED BY
COLIN MADDEN.
>> HI.
THIS IS VALERIE SPEAKING TO
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
AT THIS MORNING'S BREATHING,
COUNCILMEMBERS CRITICIZED MIKE
SAWANT FOR HIS RECENT
MISLEADING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE
VIOLENT INSURRECTION AT THE
CAPITAL LAST WEEK.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT
MIKE MORALES HAS MADE EXTREME
STATEMENTS ABOUT LIKEWISE
MATTER, PROTESTS, AND POLICING.
HIS RIGHT-WING POLITICAL VIEWS
WERE VERY CLEAR WHEN SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICERS ELECTED HIM A
YEAR AGO AS THEIR SPOKESMAN.
HE RAN FOR THAT POSITION AS A
HARDLINER WITH A VIDEO
GLORIFYING MILITARIZED POLICING.
HE HAS A HIGH PROFILE ON
TWITTER AND IN THE MEDIA AND
HAS APPEARED ON NATIONAL
TELEVISION.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN CLEAR WHO HE
IS AND WHAT HE BELIEVES AND
WHAT HE SUPPORTS.
WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO
HEAR MISLEADING AND EXTREME
STATEMENTS BECAUSE THE NINE-
YEAR SPD REFORM PROJECT IS NOT
WORKING.
AGGRESSIVE ANTI-DEMOCRATIC
POISE AND ATTITUDE IS DOMINANT
IN SPD BECAUSE OUR CITY HAS
FAILED TO HOLD SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR UNDUE
AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE.
WE SAW THEIR IMMUNITY IN THE
STREETS WHILE WE CANNOT CHANGE
THE COVER POLICE WITHOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY.
OPA HAS OPENED A PRELIMINARY
INVESTIGATION INTO SAWANT 'S
RECENT COMMENTS.
WHAT WILL THAT ACCOMPLISH OTHER
THAN THE ILLUSION OF
ACCOUNTABILITY?
WE NEED A NEW POLICE CIVILIAN
STRUCTURE FOR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, ONE THAT WILL
HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS COLIN MADDEN.
COLLIN, IF YOU ARE WITH US, YOU
WILL NEED TO HIT STAR SIX SO WE
CAN HEAR YOU.
>> HI.
AM I WORKING NOW?
>> I CAN HEAR YOU LOUD AND
CLEAR.
>> VERY GOOD.
I AM A SMALL BUSINESS PERSON
HERE IN SEATTLE. BORN AND
RAISED.
I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT IN
STRONG OPPOSITION TO
COUNCILPERSON HERBOLD 'S
PROPOSAL TO EXPAND DEFENSES FOR
MISDEMEANOR CRIMES.
I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT I THINK
THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT OF
PERMISSIVENESS IS JUST DAMAGING
THE CORE OF OUR CITY AND THE
CULTURE OF WHO WE ARE.
LIVABILITY IS SUFFERING ALREADY.
I BELIEVE THAT THE CITIZENS OF
SEATTLE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF
CITIZENS ARE SUFFERING AS THE
COUNCIL AND CITY GOVERNMENT
FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF
RELATIVELY FEW, WHICH I BELIEVE
THOSE NEEDS ARE SIGNIFICANT,
BUT I BELIEVE IT IS MISGUIDED
TO PURSUE A POLICY OF
PERMISSIVE IS HIM THAT
ENCOURAGES MORE OF THE SAME
BEHAVIOR.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE CAMPING
AND ABUSING DRUGS AND MAKING
OUR CUP PUBLIC SPACES UNUSABLE
FOR THE REGULAR TAXPAYING
CITIZENS.
THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM
ALL OVER THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA,
NOT JUST SEATTLE BECAUSE OF
THIS PERMISSIVE CULTURE THAT WE
HAVE HERE. I BELIEVE THE REAL
ISSUE IS MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG
ABUSE, AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT
WE SHOULD BE DOING, FOCUSING ON
THOSE THINGS AND ENFORCING THE
LAWS WE HAVE AND EXPANDING
DIVERSION PROGRAMS INTO MENTAL
HEALTH FACILITIES.
BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
LET'S SEE HERE.
JUST DOUBLE CHECKING MY LIST.
OUR LAST SPEAKER WHO IS
REGISTERED AND PRESENT IS JOE
CONSULAR. WE HAVE A MAURY OGLE
AND A DANIEL LEVY LISTED BUT
SHOWING AS NOT PRESENT.
MAURY AND DANIEL, IF YOU'RE
LISTENING, NOW IS YOUR TIME TO
CALL BACK IN BEFORE I CLOSE OUT
THE PERIOD OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT UP IS JOE.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I AM ASSUMING EVERYONE CAN HEAR
ME, SO I WILL START.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO ENDORSE YOU FOR
REMAINING AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
FOR ANOTHER YEAR. YOUR
LEADERSHIP IS ABSOLUTELY
AMAZING.
YOU ALSO SHOWED GREAT
LEADERSHIP BEFORE YOU WERE A
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, STANDING UP
TO TSIMERMAN , A KNOWN TRUMP
SUPPORTER.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE IS A
BOOK OUT ABOUT ALEX TSIMERMAN,
CALLING "TACKLING TSIMERMAN "
ON AMAZON.
I WANT TO CALL IN AND THANK THE
COUNCIL FOR THE RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR TRUMP TO GO.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE CAN BE UPSET AND
HOPEFULLY PRINT THEIR OWN SIGNS
AND SHOW THAT UPSET IN A CIVIL
MANNER, BUT THERE IS NO EXCUSE
ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH FOR
BLOCKING REPRESENTATIVES FROM
CARRYING OUT THEIR LEGAL
RESPONSIBILITIES.
THERE IS NEVER AN EXCUSE FOR
THAT.
I ALSO HOPE THAT YOU WILL
SUBPOENA MIKE SAWANT AMONG
OTHERS TO TESTIFY. I HEAR THAT
IDEAS ARE GOING AROUND ON
SOCIAL MEDIA AND I'M SURE IT
WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO
HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
AGAIN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. FRANKLY TO OPEN
PUBLIC MEETINGS BEFORE WITH ALL
OF THESE CHANGES IN THE PAST
YEAR, I WILL STOP THERE.
THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING AWESOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY. I WILL DOUBLE
CHECK REALLY QUICKLY OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT LIST HERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE NO OTHER FOLKS
HAVE CALLED IN FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY SO WE WILL GO
AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT THE PERIOD
OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL BEGIN CONSIDERING ITEMS
OF BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA.
>>> FIRST UP, PAYMENT OF THE
BILLS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE?
>> 119986, THE WEEK OF DECEMBER
28th, 2020 THROUGH JANUARY 1st,
2021 AND ORDER IN THE PAYMENT
THEREOF.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME
CLERK.
I WILL PASS 119986. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED THAT THE
BILL PASSED.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NOT A POST.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF?
>>> WE WILL MOVE STRAIGHT TO
ADOPTION OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
1 INTO THE RECORD?
>> RESOLUTION 391 85, CALLING
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS TO GREEDILY REMOVE
U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP
FROM OFFICE BY ANY MEANS
PERMITTED BY THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION INCLUDING
IMPEACHMENT FOR VIOLATING HIS
OATH OF OFFICE ON JANUARY 6th,
2021, OR FOR COMMITTING ANY
OTHER HIGH CRIMES AND
MISDEMEANORS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK.
I MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
39185. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU ARE
THE LEAD SPONSOR ON THIS
RESOLUTION AND ARE RECOGNIZED
TO ADDRESS THE ITEM . AND THEN
WE CAN HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN , WHO I UNDERSTAND IS
ALSO A COSPONSOR.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD , YOU ARE
UP FIRST.
>> THIS RESOLUTION WAS WRITTEN
IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL
PROGRESS.
IT IS BASED ON A DRAFT ARTICLE
OF IMPEACHMENT FROM
REPRESENTATIVE ELON OMAR.
I HAVE LEARNED THIS MORNING THAT
OUR SISTER CITY IN LOCAL
PROGRESS, MINNEAPOLIS, WILL BE
TAKING A SIMILAR ACTION ON
WEDNESDAY. I SUSPECT OTHER
CITIES WILL FOLLOW. THIS
RESOLUTION, THE CONTENT HAS, OF
COURSE, BEEN REVIEWED AND
APPROVED BY THE LAW DEPARTMENT
AND THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
THIS IS AN UPDATED VERSION THAT
INCLUDES CHANGES FROM
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN AND YOUR STAFF FOR
PROVIDING VALUABLE INPUT.
I WANT TO UPLIFT SOME OF THE
ELEMENTS OF THE RESOLUTION. AS
MENTIONED, IT MIRRORS THE
INTRODUCED RESOLUTION THAT
ACCOMPANIES THE ARTICLE OF
IMPEACHMENT INTRODUCED IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
ENCOURAGING DONALD J TRUMP WITH
INCITEMENT OF INSURRECTION AND
IN VIOLATION OF HIS
CONSTITUTIONAL OATH TO
FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE OFFICE
OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
IF DONALD TRUMP SUGGESTED THAT
THE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE
SHOULD OVERTURN THE RESULT OF
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION,
WHICH HE REPEATEDLY MADE FALSE
CLAIMS HE WON THE ELECTION.
HE HAS INCITED VIOLENCE AND
ORCHESTRATED AN ATTEMPTED COUP
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
THIS EFFORT HAS INJURED AND
KILLED LAW ENFORCEMENT
PERSONNEL, MENACED MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, THE VICE PRESIDENT,
AND STAFF AND INTERFERED WITH
THE CONGRESSIONAL DUTY TO
CERTIFY ELECTION RESULTS.
THIS PERSON DEMONSTRATES WITH
HIS WORDS AND HIS ACTIONS THAT
HE WILL REMAIN A THREAT TO THE
NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY
OF OUR COUNTRY AND WARRANTS
IMPEACHMENT AND TRIAL, REMOVAL
FROM OFFICE, AND
DISQUALIFICATION TO HOLD ANY
FUTURE OFFICE IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
I ALSO WANT TO CONDEMN THE
POSSIBILITY OF ANY THREAT IN
OLYMPIA AND THE STATE
LEGISLATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
AS I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE FBI
HAS WARNED OF ARMED PROTESTS
BEING PLANNED AT ALL 50 STATE
CAPITALS AND HAS MENTIONED THIS
MORNING AND COUNCIL BRIEFING
OUR THOUGHTS AND HOPES ARE WITH
OUR DELEGATION AND THE REST OF
THE LEGISLATURE IN FILLING
THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO THE
CONSTITUENTS OF WASHINGTON STATE
AND THAT THEY DO SO IN SAFETY
AND SECURITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN NEXT,
AS ONE OF THE OTHER SPONSORS OF
THIS RESOLUTION AND COLLEAGUES,
IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE COMMENTS, PLEASE LET ME
KNOW BY EITHER RAISING YOUR
HAND IT TO THE CAMERA OR USING
THE RAISE THE HAND FEATURE IN
ZOOM. COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD ORACLE YOUR
LEADERSHIP.
ON JANUARY 20th, 2017, DONALD J
TRUMP SWORE TO PROTECT AND
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES.
ON JANUARY 6, 2021, THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED AND
WE WITNESSED WITH OUR OWN EYES
THE SHOCKING VIDEO OF A VIOLENT
MOB LOYAL TO PRESIDENT TRUMP
STORMING THE U.S. CAPITAL,
FORCING LAWMAKERS INTO HIDING
IN A STUNNING ATTEMPT TO
OVERTURN AMERICA'S PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION AND UNDERCUT THE
NATION'S DEMOCRACY AND KEEP
DEMOCRAT JOE BIDEN FROM
REPLACING TRUMP IN THE WHITE
HOUSE.
THIS IS AS REPORTED BY THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS.
RIOTERS WERE EGGED ON BY TRUMP
AND SPENT WEEKS FALSELY
ATTACKING THE INTEGRITY OF THE
ELECTION.
HE URGED SUPPORTERS TO DESCEND
ON WASHINGTON, D.C. TO PROTEST
CONGRESS'S FORMAL APPROVAL OF
BIDEN'S VICTORY.
FIVE AMERICANS ARE DEAD.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS VIOLATED
HIS OATH OF OFFICE.
AS SOME OF THAT HAS HAD THE
HONOR TO WORK INSIDE THOSE
SACRED HALLS OF THE CAPITOL
BUILDING IN OUR NATION'S
CAPITOL, I AM EAGER TO
SAFEGUARD PEACE, SECURITY, AND
DEMOCRACY FOR OUR NATION AND
ITS PEOPLE BY IMMEDIATELY
REMOVING PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP FROM OFFICE BY ANY MEANS
PERMITTED BY THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION. ONE OF THE THINGS
WE ADDED TO THIS WAS TO
BASICALLY EXPAND THIS SO IT
COULD BE THROUGH ANY MEANS
UNDER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION IN
ADDITION TO THE IMPEACHMENT
ARTICLES THAT ARE PROCEEDING
THROUGH THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN . I WANT TO THANK
BOTH OF YOU AND COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR GETTING TOGETHER
OFF-LINE TO COORDINATE EFFORTS
FOR THE PROCLAMATION.
BOTH OF YOU HAD EXPRESSED
INTEREST IN PURSUING A
RESOLUTION AND AGAIN, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT A
LITTLE EASIER FOR US ON THE
COUNCIL TO JUST DO SOME OF THAT
BACKGROUND WORK TO COORDINATE
AND GIVE US ONE UNIFIED
RESOLUTION TO CONSIDER.
MY DEEP APPRECIATION TO BOTH OF
YOU FOR THOSE EFFORTS.
AND TO YOUR STAFF, OF COURSE.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES.
I HADN'T SEEN ANYBODY RAISE
THEIR HAND USING THE ZOOM
FEATURE, BUT I JUST WANT TO DO
A QUICK SCAN AGAIN.
I THINK I SAW COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT WHO WANTS TO MAKE
COMMENTS.
AGAIN, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE A COMMENT ON THE
RESOLUTION BEFORE I CALL THE
ROLL, PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU.
I AM GLAD TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF
THIS RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE
IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD TRUMP.
DONALD TRUMP SHOULD HAVE BEEN
IMPEACHED LONG AGO.
SHE HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
IMPEACHED FOR MASSIVE HANDOUTS
TO HIS OWN COMPANIES AT THE
EXPENSE OF VITAL SOCIAL
SERVICES FOR FAILING TO
REPRESENT WORKING PEOPLE AND
INSTEAD REPRESENTING THE
BILLIONAIRE CLASS BEGINNING
WITH HIMSELF.
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED
FOR UTTERLY CRIMINAL APPROACH
TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH
HAS UNDOUBTEDLY DIRECTLY CAUSED
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES.
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED
FOR CAGING CHILDREN.
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED
FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING SO MANY
WOMEN.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS DONE SO
LITTLE TO FIGHT HIS FAR RIGHT
AGENDA OVER THE PAST FOUR
YEARS.
IMPEACHMENT AT THIS TIME WOULD
BE SYMBOLIC.
I FULLY SUPPORT IT BECAUSE WE
NEED TO MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR
THAT THERE IS NO SUPPORT FOR
THIS RIGHT-WING VIOLENCE, BUT
IMPEACHMENT IN THE LAST FEW
DAYS OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY
ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A
RESISTANCE TO HIS AGENDA OVER
THE LAST FOUR YEARS OR TO
BUILDING A LEFT ALTERNATIVE TO
THE RIGHT WING GOING FORWARD.
WITH MASS PROTESTS AND
POLITICAL DEMANDS THAT WOULD
GENUINELY HELP WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE LIKE THE GREENDALE AND
MEDICARE FOR ALL, THERE COULD
HAVE BEEN A GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZING BY PROVIDING A
GENUINE PROGRESSIVE ALTERNATIVE
TO THE CORPORATE ESTABLISHMENT
AND ALSO TO DO RIGHT.
TRUMP TOOK ADVANTAGE AND WAS
ABLE TO FALSELY PRETEND TO BE
AN ANTIESTABLISHMENT
ALTERNATIVE AND HE WON OVER 74
MILLION VOTES IN THE LAST
ELECTION.
THIS SHOULD ALARM ANYONE
SERIOUS ABOUT FIGHTING THE
RIGHT.
BIDEN WON OVER 81 MILLION
VOTES.
HE IS THE FIRST U.S. PRESIDENT
TO HAVE WON MORE THAN 80
MILLION VOTES.
TRUMP WON OVER 74 MILLION
VOTES, WHICH IS MORE VOTES THAN
ANY OTHER PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE HAS EVER WON WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF BIDEN.
WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THIS WILL
DO LASTING DAMAGE UNLESS WE
BUILD THE LEFT AND SOCIAL
MOVEMENTS.
WEDNESDAY'S FAR RIGHT MOB IN
D.C. IN A VIOLENT ATTEMPT TO
OVERTURN A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION
RESULTS SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD AS
A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE LEFT.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE MEDIA
REPORT ADDRESS MORE PROTESTS AT
ALL 50 STATE CAPITALS AND IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. IN THE DAYS
LEADING UP TO JOE BIDEN'S
INAUGURATION, STROKING FEARS OF
MORE BLOODSHED.
THE RIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO
SCARILY GROW AS LONG AS THERE
IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE STATUS
QUO OF POLITICS.
DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENCES, THE
TWO PARTIES SERVE THE INTEREST
OF BUSINESS AND PUT THE BURDEN
OF THE COVID CRISIS AND BRUTAL
RECESSION ON ORDINARY PEOPLE.
IN SEATTLE, MOST IMMEDIATELY
OUR MOVEMENT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE
THE CITY COUNCIL IS ACCOUNTABLE
TO THE BLACK LIVES MATTER
MOVEMENT, TO THE WORKING CLASS,
AND ALL THOSE FIGHTING THE
RIGHT THING TO MAKE SURE ALL 27
THAT WILL BE VOTING YES ON THE
IMPEACHED TRUMP RESOLUTION
SHOULD MAKE SURE TO PASS THE
STRONGEST POSSIBLE ORDINANCE ON
THE BAND ON THE USE OF CROWD
CONTROL WEAPONS.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT MY
OFFICE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ANY AND ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BEST
AND STRONGEST POSSIBLE ORDINANCE
IS UPHELD.
NATIONALLY THE BEST AND ONLY
WAY TO STOP THE FAR RIGHT IS TO
BUILD THE LEFT AND SOCIAL
MOVEMENTS.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE ARE
GOING TO PULL MILLIONS OF
ORDINARY PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE
RIGHT WING'S INFLUENCE, BY
BUILDING A POWERFUL FIGHT BACK
IN THE INTEREST OF THE WORKING
CLASS.
THERE SHOULD BE A MASSIVE FORCE
LED BY UNIONS AND THE LEFT.
THIS WEEK, WE HEARD THE
INSPIRING ANNOUNCEMENT OF
EMPLOYEES AT GOOGLE FORMING THE
ALPHABET WORKERS UNION.
THIS IS A STEP IN THE DIRECTION
OF WHAT IS URGENTLY NEEDED.
THE REBUILDING OF A MILITANT
AMERICAN LABOR UNION.
WE CANNOT EXPECT JOE BIDEN OR
NANCY PELOSI TO PROVIDE ANY
ALTERNATIVS.
THAT IS WHAT I HAVE ENDORSED A
GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN WHICH
DEMANDS THE SQUAD AND OTHER
MOVEMENT ELECTED DEMOCRATS USE
A FLOOR BOARD ON MEDICARE FOR
ALL AS PART OF A LARGER STRATEGY
TO BUILD A FIGHTING MOVEMENT
FOR SOCIALIZED MEDICINE.
REPRESENTATIVES OF WORKING
PEOPLE CANNOT SUPPORT NANCY
PELOSI AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
AS MILLIONS FACED MISERY AS
EVEN SQUAD MEMBERS HAVE
UNFORTUNATELY HAVE DONE.
WHILE I AGREE TRUMP SHOULD BE
IN PEACE, THIS SHOULD NOT BE
OUR MAIN FOCUS.
THE LEFT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY
TO ADDRESS THE URGENT NEEDS OF
THE WORKING CLASS AND THAT
MEANS AS A STARTING POINT,
FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL FOR
MEDICARE FOR ALL, COMPREHENSIVE
COVID RELIEF, A SOCIALIST GREEN
NEW DEAL, AND PREPARING THE
GROUND TO LAUNCH A NEW PARTY.
THIS IS A CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN
HISTORY AND WE CANNOT ACCEPT
THE FALSE UNITY WITH THE
CORRUPT DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT BUT INSTEAD, WE
NEED TO BUILD A POWER FEE AND
FIGHT FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF
SOCIETY.
THE FINAL POINT I WILL MAKE IS
THAT WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT
WHAT NEEDS TO BE CONDEMNED. I
CONDEMN TRUMP'S VIOLENCE AND
THE RIGHT WING BIGOTED AGENDA
IT SERVES.
I CONDEMN THE ATTEMPT TO STEAL
THE ELECTION, A DEMOCRATIC
ELECTION RESULTS.
I CONDEMN THIS CONMAN FOR
POSING AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR
WORKING PEOPLE WHILE BEING PART
OF THE ROTTEN BILLIONAIRE
CLASS.
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT
WORDS LIKE TREASON IN A WAY
THAT CAN BACKFIRE ON WORKING
PEOPLE.
THESE WORDS HAVE BEEN USED BY
ELECTED OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT
THE NATION SINCE WEDNESDAY.
THESE ARE WORDS THAT ARE USED
OVERWHELMINGLY TO ADAPT MOVEMENT
OF SOCIALISTS AND THE LABOR
MOVEMENT.
IN 1919, THE GREAT AMERICAN
SOCIALIST EUGENE WAS SENTENCED
TO A DECADE IN PRISON FOR
SPEAKING OUT AGAINST WORLD WAR
I COURAGEOUSLY.
THAT SAME YEAR, SEATTLE
SOCIALIST ANNA LOUISE STRONG,
THE LAST SOCIALIST ELECTED IN
SEATTLE, WAS PART OF A MOVEMENT
AGAINST WORLD WAR I. SHE
PUBLICLY AND COURAGEOUSLY STOOD
BY THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS AND
ONE OF THEIR STAFF MEMBERS WHO
WAS THEN JAILED FOR OPPOSING
THE WAR.
AFTER THAT, SHE HERSELF WAS
RECALLED FROM OFFICE AT THE
SCHOOL BOARD FOR HER
ASSOCIATION AND THOSE THAT WERE
COURAGEOUSLY OPPOSING WORLD WAR
I. THE SMITH ACT OF 1940 WAS
CREATED IN RESPONSE ON AN
ATTACK ON THE FAR RIGHT BUT WAS
USED TO ATTACK THE FAR LEFT AND
THE LABOR MOVEMENT.
THANK YOU AND I WILL VOTE YES
ON THIS RESOLUTION.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE
HAS BEEN SOME SPECULATION IN
THE MEDIA THAT IT IS
STRATEGICALLY WORTH IT TO
IMPEACH TRUMP, OR THE VALUE OF
IMPEACHING TRUMP AT THIS LATE
STAGE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT
THE CONSTITUTION PROVIDES THAT
WHEN SOMEONE IS IMPEACHED, THEY
ARE DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING
THAT OFFICE IN THE FUTURE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS CURRENTLY
ELIGIBLE, EVEN HAVING SO
NEGATIVELY HAVE VIOLATED THE
TRUST IN HIS OATH TO RUN AGAIN.
OR HOLD OTHER FEDERAL OFFICES.
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS MORE THAN
SYMBOLIC. THIS IMPEACHMENT IS
CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF
AMERICA. I DO WANT TO SHARE AN
OBSERVATION ABOUT SOME NEWS
THAT I HAD ACTUALLY WANTED TO
TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
POINT OUT.
BEFORE WE SAW THE WORST OF
AMERICA ON WEDNESDAY, WE SAW
THE BEST OF AMERICA ON TUESDAY
WHEN THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA SENT
THE PASTOR OF EBENEZER BAPTIST
CHURCH, THE MINISTRY OF DR. KING
, RAFFAELLA WARNOCK AND JOHN
OFF TO THE SENATE IN VIOLATION
AND IN CONDEMNATION OF THE
DIVISIVE POLITICS OF PRESIDENT
TRUMP AND EXPLICIT REJECTION OF
SENATORS WHO HAD BEEN RUNNING
ON A CAMPAIGN OF CONFRONTATION
AND THE KIND OF DIVISIVENESS
FOR. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS CALLED
AND FOLLOWING ON THE DISASTER
AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP, TO HAVE
UNIFIED CONTROL OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ON POLICIES AND
PLATFORMS TO THE DIVISION OF
THIS COUNTRY THAT PRESIDENT
TRUMP HAS PERPETRATED.
I JUST WANT TO LIFT UP BRIEFLY
IN A LIMITED, YOU KNOW, TO THE
EXTENT THAT I CAN HEAR THAT
THAT WAS ONLY DO TO INCREDIBLE
EFFORT OF NORMAL PEOPLE AND
COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY WHO WERE
APOLITICAL, WHO NEVER VOTED,
WHO WERE NEVER INVOLVED, WHO
NEVER ACTED, WHO SAW IT AS
THEIR DUTY TO FIGHT FOR GEORGIA
FOR VOTER INTEGRITY AND
SECURITY OR STACEY ABRAMS AS A
COMMUNITY AND MOVEMENT LEADER.
I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT THE SPIRIT
THAT WAS PRESENT ON TUESDAY
WILL BE A GUIDING FORCE OF
AMERICAN POLITICS TO COME IN
THE FUTURE INSTEAD OF THE
DIVISION AND TREASON THAT WE
SAW ON WEDNESDAY.
THIS RESOLUTION GETS US CLOSER
THEIR.
IT ENCOURAGES THE CONGRESS TO
REJECT AND FIRMLY REJECT THIS
MAN AND THIS MAN'S TALLEST TEXT
AND TO BAR HIM FROM EVER
DRAWING A PENSION FOR THAT
OFFICE.
THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER
RELEVANT CONSIDERATIONS.
I WANTED TO MENTION THAT AND
STATED I WILL BE VERY
ENTHUSIASTICALLY VOTING FOR
THIS AND I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
SAWANT FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION?
I DO WANT TO GIVE THE SPONSORS
OF THE RESOLUTION THE LAST WORD
TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE TO ADD.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD OR
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
OKAY.
I AM RECEIVING VISUAL CUES THAT
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS THAT EITHER OF THE
SPONSORS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ,
SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND ASK THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NOT A POST.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF.
>>> OTHER BUSINESS. HEARING
NONE, COLLEAGUES THIS CONCLUDES
THE ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19th, 2021 AT
2:00 P.M.
OF COURSE, MONDAY IS AN
OBSERVED HOLIDAY SO OUR FULL
COUNCIL MEETING INSTEAD OF IT
BEING ON MONDAY AND OUR COUNCIL
BRIEFING INSTEAD OF BEING ON
MONDAY, IT WILL BE ON TUESDAY,
JANUARY 19th, 2021 AT 2:00.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR HARD WORK TODAY AND I HOPE
YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.