>>> I APPRECIATE THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL UNDERSTOOD MY CODE.
WELCOME BACK TO THE MEETING OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, IT IS
MARCH 29th, 2021.
IS MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS TO: 06 P.M.
I'M LORENA GONZALE, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL OH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> HERE.
>> NINE PRESENT.
PRESENTATIONS, WE HAVE A
PRESENTATION RIGHT HERE AT THE
TOP, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AS A
PROCLAMATION HONORING SAM AND
HIS SERVICE AS THE DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS GOING
TO FIRST PRESENT THE
PROCLAMATION, AND THEN I WILL
OPEN THE FLOOR FOR COMMENTS
FROM OTHER COUNSEL MEMBERS.
THEN AFTER WE CONCLUDE
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS, WE WILL
SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW OUR
GUEST TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION AND WE WILL ALSO
ALLOW HIM TO OPPORTUNE, TO
PROVIDE SOME COMMENTS.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THE
DIRECTOR WITH US IN THIS
VIRTUAL ZOOM ROOM, THIS WAS A
SURPRISE FOR HIM, SO, HE IS
HERE, RATHER SURPRISED, BUT
VERY EXCITED TO ACCEPT THIS
PROCLAMATION THAT I AM NOW
GOING TO HAND OVER TO THE
MICROPHONE TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS TO PRESENT A
PROCLAMATION.
>> IN QUEUE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR
ALLOWING US TO PROVIDE THIS
PROCLAMATION. A LITTLE MORE
THAN FIVE YEARS AGO, HE WAS
NOMINATED TO BE THE FIRST
PERMANENT DIRECTOR, THE FIRST
EVER OF THE OFFICE OF PLANNING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS.
HE CAME TO US WITH AN
IMPRESSIVE RESUME AS A LEADER
IN COMMUNITY PLANNING, COMING
FROM BOULDER, CHICAGO, AND SAN
FRANCISCO. DURING HIS TIME IN
SEATTLE, HE OVERSAW THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, LED THE
CREATION OF THE EQUITABLE
INITIATIVE AND PROVIDED A STUDY
PLANNING LEADERSHIP FROM ONE OF
THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN
THE UNITED STATES.
DURING HIS TIME, SEATTLE HAD
THE FASTEST GROWTH IN THE
NATION, EVEN OUTPACING NEW YORK
CITY IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION.
HIS FINAL DAY WAS THIS PAST
FRIDAY, AND I WANTED TO TAKE
JUST A MOMENT, I WANT TO READ
THE WHOLE PROCLAMATION,
CONSIDERING TIME. I
DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT
THAT HE IS A NATIONAL,
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
LEADER IN URBAN PLANNING, AND,
I GUESS, THAT WAS, OTHER THINGS
THAT THIS PROCLAMATION STATES IS
WHERE AS HE SPEARHEADED
IMPLEMENTATION OF EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, WHICH
PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO
COMMUNITY-BASED FUNDING
ORGANIZATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS THAT RESPONDED TO
DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES AND
ADVANCED EQUITY IN HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, AND
WHEREAS UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP
THEY LEAD THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
MHA, WHICH WILL CREATE
THOUSANDS OF DESPERATELY NEEDED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN
SEATTLE, AND HAS ALREADY RAISED
MORE THAN $66 MILLION FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHILE HE IS HELPED ESTABLISH
THE CRITERIA FOR MUTUALLY
OFFSETTING BENEFIT TRANSFERS,
IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY, WHICH
IS ALLOWED FOR THE TRANSFER THE
PROPERTY BUT THE CENTRAL AREA
SENIOR CENTER IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, THIS HAS ALSO ALLOWED
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF MANY
ACRES OF FARMLAND THROUGHOUT
THE REGION, AND INCREASED
DENSITY HERE IN SEATTLE.
WHEREAS HE ATTENDED HARVARD,
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
WHERE HE EARNED HIS BACHELOR OF
ARCHITECTURE AND THE
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY WHERE HE EARNED HIS
MASTER OF CITY PLANNING AND
WHEREAS IN SAN FRANCISCO, HE
SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF
SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT, AND CHICAGO
WHEREAS IN CHICAGO, HE WAS THE
DIRECTOR OF LAND USE AND
PLANNING POLICY FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT, AND WHEREAS IN
BOULDER, HE SERVED AS SENIOR
URBAN PLANNING DESIGNER IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
PLANNING AND SUSTAINABILITY.
HE LED TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE
HERE FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART I LET
YOU GO.
I HAVE THREATENED MANY TIMES TO
NOT CONCLUDE MEETINGS TO RETAIN
YOU HERE IN THE CITY, I JUST
úWANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO
RECOGNIZE YOU, BECAUSE I CANNOT
THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR
SERVICE TO OUR CITY, AND
DIRECTING US THROUGH SOME OF
THE MOST INCREDIBLE GOLD --
GROWTH THROUGH THE GOLDRUSH.
YOUR FINGERPRINTS ARE
INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL AND WE
COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS
WITHOUT YOU.
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
I DO WANT TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR
TO ANY COMMENTS THAT ANY
COUNCILMEMBERS MIGHT ALSO HAVE,
AND THEN ONCE WE DO THAT, WE
WILL SUSPEND THE RULES AND
INVITE THE DIRECTOR TO SHARE
SOME WISDOM WITH US IN THIS
MEETING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CRAFTING THIS PROCLAMATION.
I AM SO GLAD YOU DID.
IT IS, IT HAS BEEN A REAL HONOR
AND PLEASURE, EVEN IN MY SHORT
TIME HERE IS A COUNCILMEMBER,
TO WORK WITH YOU, I KNOW YOUR
HISTORY, I KNOW THE WORK YOU
HAVE DONE IN OTHER CITIES, AND
I HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED
SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE IN MY
CAPACITY AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER,
ADVOCATING FOR THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE,
ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR TO GET TO HAVE A SEAT AT
THE TABLE IN DECIDING WHAT
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS LOOK LIKE
AND HOW THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS
CHANGE AND GROW.
THAT WORK HAS BEEN GUIDED BY
YOUR STEADY HAND AND YOUR
COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO GET A
SEAT AT THE TABLE.
SO, I AM REALLY SORRY TO SEE
YOU GO, BUT I AM SO THANKFUL
FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY AND
YOUR WORK IN REALLY HELPING
CREATE THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION
OF THIS PRIORITY, AND
COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY IN
OUR PLANNING PROCESSES, AND I
THINK THIS WORK WILL CONTINUE
AND THE TEAM YOU HAVE PUT
TOGETHER IS GOING TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOUR LEGACY CONTINUES TO
LIVE ON IN OUR DEPARTMENT, AND
I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST AND I
AM SO GLAD THAT I HAVE AT LEAST
A LITTLE BIT OF TIME GETTING TO
WORK WITH YOU, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE
SUSPEND THE RULES?
>> I AM VERY GRATEFUL, AND NOT
JUST THAT HE WAS LEADING OUR
PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT A TIME
OF INCREDIBLE GROSS.
THAT HE WAS THE FIRST DIRECTOR
UNDER THE CITY PARK WEST
PLANNING EFFORTS WHERE WE
ACTUALLY OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED,
FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN OUR
PLAN, THAT THERE IS SUCH A
THING CALLED DISPLACEMENT.
AND THAT WE SHOULD PLAN TOWARDS
THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
DISPLACEMENT OCCURS IN OUR
CITY, AND THAT PART OF GROSS IS
THE INEVITABLE DISPLACEMENT
IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
GROWTH.
SO NOT ONLY FOR, AS IT RELATES
TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE, BUT ALSO A
RECOGNITION THAT, IN OUR
EFFORTS, TO INCREASE
DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY, OUR
EFFORTS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR
THE MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, BUT THAT
WE HAVE TO, IN OUR ZONING,
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE CAN BE
DISPLACEMENT RELATED IMPACTS,
AND THE FACT THAT THE DIRECTOR
HAS SUCH, FOR SEATTLE, A A
VIEWPOINT THAT, I THINK THEY
COME MAYBE, THAT IT IS
REFLECTED IN OUR CITY PLANNING
DOCUMENTS MIGHT BE TAKEN FOR
GRANTED.
BUT I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT FOR
GRANTED, I HAVE APPRECIATED
THAT WIDE EYED REFLECTION OF
THE IMPACTS TO LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT ARE
OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH
DEVELOPMENT AND GROSS.
AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST
FONDLY RECALL THE DIRECTOR
FACILITATING THE VIEWING OF A
MOVIE ABOUT THE CONFLICT BETWEEN
THEIR VIEWS AROUND URBAN
PLANNING, ONE VIEW OF URBAN
PLANNING, WHICH WAS VERY MUCH
ALLOW IT TO BE POSSIBLE FOR IT
ALL TO BE TORN DOWN AND
SOMETHING NEW TO BE BUILT BACK
UP, AND ANOTHER VIEW OF URBAN
PLANNING THAT RECOGNIZES THAT
THERE ARE THINGS OF VALUE THAT
WE WANT TO CONSIDER HOW WE
MAINTAIN THOSE THINGS OF VALUE
WHILE ALSO ENCOURAGING
DEVELOPMENT AND JUST, THAT IS
JUST A MEMORY I HAVE WHERE I
COULD, I SAW SAM IN THE REAL
WORLD TALKING TO A ROOM FULL OF
PEOPLE ABOUT HIS PHILOSOPHY
AROUND PLANNING, REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU, YOU WILL BE
MISSED.
>> ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS?
>> IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU,
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
I AM VERY EXCITED THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS SURPRISE
úYOU WITH US.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE FROM AN
INTERNAL CITY FAMILY
PERSPECTIVE, YOU ARE ONE OF THE
FIRST DIRECTORS THAT REACHED
OUT TO ME WHEN I WAS FIRST
ELECTED.
HAD CALLED AROUND TO VARIOUS
DEPARTMENT AND ASKED FOR TIME
TO MEET WITH THE DEPARTMENTS
AND REALLY DO A WALK-THROUGH.
IN DOING SO, WANTED TO BRING
WITH US TO PROTECT 17 MEMBERS
AND HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF HOW THE CITY FAMILY WORKS TO
ADDRESS VARIOUS ISSUES WERE
MISSING AND HOW WE CAN DO
BETTER FOR OUR RESIDENTS WITH
STREAMLINING SERVICES.
YOU HAD AN INCREDIBLE OUTLOOK
ON THE ROLE YOUR CITY EMPLOYEES
PLAY WITH MAKING THE POLICIES
OF OUR CITY COME TO LIFE, AND I
KNOW THAT, WHEN I WALKED AROUND
WITH YOU, THERE WAS A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT
FOR YOU AND THE WAY IN WHICH HE
WORKED WITH EMPLOYEES.
THANK YOU FOR LIFTING UP
EMPLOYEES, OUR CITY FAMILY, AND
THE RESPECT AND ENGAGEMENT YOU
PROVIDED, BOTH DIRECTLY WITH
YOUR DEPARTMENT MEMBERS AND
WITH THE UNION REPRESENTATION
AS WELL.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL SHOW OF
UNITY, AND REALLY EXCITING TO
SEE YOU IN ACTION.
LOOKING FORWARD TO STAYING IN
TOUCH WITH YOU AND HEARING MORE
ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHAPTER, AS I'M
SURE YOU WILL BE CONTINUING TO
SHAKE THINGS UP. APPRECIATE ALL
YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR CITY.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
WELL, I WILL JUST CONCLUDED BY
ALSO ECHOING MY DEEP
APPRECIATION TO YOU FOR ALL OF
THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU HAVE
DONE FOR THE CITY AT A REALLY
CRITICAL PERIOD OF TIME IN OUR
HISTORY AS A CITY, IN TERMS OF
HELPING US TO SHEPHERD THROUGH
STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
WITH A STRONG COMMITMENT TO
RACIAL EQUITY, AND DOING THAT
DURING UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH IS
A VERY CHALLENGING TASK TO DO,
AND, BUT YOU ROSE TO THE
OCCASION AND YOU DID IT WITH
INTEGRITY, WITH GREAT RESPECT,
WITH A LOT OF INTELLECT, AND
WITH JUST A DEEP UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT IT MEANS TO CREATE
PLACE AND TO HELP US BUILD A
CITY THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS
OF LIFE CAN LIVE IN AND I HAVE
SO DEEPLY APPRECIATED YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY AND
REALLY JUST APPRECIATE YOU AS A
HUMAN IN OUR CITY FAMILY, AND I
KNOW YOU AND I HAVE HAD A LOT
OF OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK ABOUT
CERTAIN THINGS, YOUR FAMILY,
YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR SPECIAL
CONNECTION TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, AND THE COMMUNITY
HERE.
YOU WILL BE SORELY MISSED, BUT
I KNOW YOU WILL NEVER BE THAT
FAR AWAY.
SO, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE
HAD YOU FOR AS LONG AS WE DID,
AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN
YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I AM NOW
GOING TO ASK IF THERE IS ANY
OBJECTION TO THE COUNCIL RULES
BEING SUSPENDED TO ALLOW THE
DIRECTOR TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION AND PROVIDE
REMARKS.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE NOW
SUSPENDED, AGAIN, WELCOME TO
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, I'M
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HAND IT
OVER TO YOU PROVIDE SOME
REMARKS.
AS YOU ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION
ON OUR BEHALF.
>> I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TISSUES
AROUND, SO I AM GOING TO TRY TO
STAY DRY, THIS WAS A GREAT
SURPRISE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
THIS MEANS A LOT.
ESPECIALLY FROM THE CITY.
I AM INCREDIBLY HONORED TO
ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS
CITY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
IT IS AN ENVIABLE POSITION, AS
HARD AS THE WORK IS AND AS A
CHALLENGING TIME WE HAVE GONE
THROUGH, SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE
MOST INCREDIBLE CITIES AROUND
THE ISSUES YOU ALL CARE ABOUT,
ABOUT EQUITY, HAS BEEN A LEADER
IN A VERY SHORT TIME AROUND THE
COUNTRY, AND TO BE PART OF THAT
HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST
HONORS OF MY PROFESSIONAL
CAREER.
I ACCEPT A LOT OF THE ACCOLADES,
BUT I KNOW CLEARLY THAT IT WAS
AN INCREDIBLE STAFF WE BUILT
THAT IS ACTUALLY DONE THE WORK
AND THE IDEAS, A LOT OF THE
PRAISE WE GET, MOST OF YOU IN
THIS ROOM HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
THAT FOR YEARS, THE COMMUNITY
GROUPS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY PUT
OUR FEET TO THE FIRE IS THE
REASON WHY THAT PROGRAM HAS
SUCCEEDED, THE TEAM HAS DONE AN
INCREDIBLE WORK AROUND SOME OF
THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES,
WHETHER IT IS A MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, VERY
CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, GOING TO THE
PANDEMIC LAST YEAR, AND HAVING
BUILT AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM
WITH THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS
LITERALLY, IT TOOK A VILLAGE.
I AM ALSO VERY GRATEFUL TO
SEATTLE AND THE TWO MAYORS WHO
APPOINTED ME, PREVIOUSLY AND MY
CURRENT BOSS AS WELL, TO
ACTUALLY GIVE ME THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
SEATTLE, YOU KNOW, I COMPARED
NOTES WITH MANY OF MY PEERS
AROUND THE COUNTRY, PLANNING
DIRECTORS.
SEATTLE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE LAST FEW
YEARS ON EQUITY ISSUES, CLIMATE
ISSUES, AND PLANNING ISSUES,
BECAUSE OF THE WORK ALL OF YOU
HAVE DONE HERE.
PLANNING IS A CONTACT SPORT,
AND WHERE IT IS MOST
CONTENTIOUS IS WHERE PEOPLE
REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PLACE.
SEATTLE IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES
AS WELL.
IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT
IT SO MUCH THAT IT BECOMES SUCH
A HARD JOB TO DO FOR ALL OF YOU
IN THIS ROOM AS WELL.
IF YOU DIDN'T CARE ABOUT A
PLACE, IT WOULD BE THE EASIEST
JOB FOR ANY PLANER ANYWHERE.
FOR THAT REASON, I THINK, THIS
CITY WILL STILL CONTINUE TO BE
AN EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL
THAT I HAVE HAD A SMALL PART TO
PLAY IN THAT, AND I THANK YOU,
ALL OF YOU. WE WORKED A LOT
CLOSELY TOGETHER ON A NUMBER OF
ISSUES, MOST OF IT IS REALLY
WHAT I LEARNED FROM WHAT THE
CITY HAS IN TERMS OF STRENGTH
AND COMMUNITY.
THAT JUST BECAME KIND OF A
CHANNEL FOR THAT, AND I HAVE
LEARNED A LOT FROM HERE AND I
WOULD APPLY IT IN MY NEXT JOB
AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND I WILL
JUST COMPLETELY, I AM SURPRISED
BY THIS, AS I PROMISED, I WILL
GET EVEN WITH COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR DOING THIS.
[ LAUGHTER ] THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT
, THE RECOGNITION, IT MEANS A
LOT COMING FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND FROM THIS
LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
EVERYBODY IS CLAPPING IN THE
BACKGROUND, SO, WE ARE SO
APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR SERVICE
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR COUNSEL AND
FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE CITY. IT IS HARD
TO GET JAZZED UP ABOUT THINGS
LIKE CONSTRUCTION CODES AND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF TIMELINES.
[ LAUGHTER ] BUT YOU DO IT IN A
WAY THAT IS REALLY ACCESSIBLE
AND THAT REALLY SORT OF
EXPLAINS TO FOLKS WHY IT IS SO
IMPORTANT, SO REALLY, REALLY
DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL YOU
HAVE DONE FOR US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES.
WEARE GOING TO MOVE ALONG
HERE, NEXT, COLLEAGUES, AS YOU
KNOW THIS MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ HAD US SIGN A SECOND
PROCLAMATION, UNFORTUNATELY,
THEY HAD A SCHEDULING CONFLICT,
SO MY OFFICE IS GOING TO WORK
WITH COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ TO
RESCHEDULE THIS PRESENTATION.
THE PROCLAMATION WILL STILL BE
PRESENTED, WE ARE JUST GOING TO
FOCUS ON FINDING AN ALTERNATIVE
TIME. THANKS FOR SIGNING ON
THIS MORNING AND APOLOGIES THAT
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
DO IT TODAY.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADD?
>> NO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY, SO, LET'S KEEP GOING
HERE, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES,
THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING OF MARCH 22nd, 2021
HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, THE MINUTES WILL
BE SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED.
THE COURT PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
ALL RIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE
REMOTE PUBLIC HOMAGE PERIOD FOR
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA,
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND THE COUNCIL'S WORK
PROGRAM.
I THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR
ONGOING PATIENCE AND
COOPERATION AS WE CONTINUE TO
OPERATE WITH REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
IT REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY
INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS.
HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE.
HOWEVER, AS A REMINDER, THE
CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO END OR ELIMINATE THESE
PERIDS AT ANY POINT IF WE DEEM
THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR
IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ALLOWING
OUR MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER -- THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR THIS MEETING WAS
ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO BE 20
MINUTES WITH EACH SPEAKER BEING
PROVIDED TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK,
HOWEVER, IN REVIEWING THE
PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN-UP SHEET, I
AM NOTICING THAT WE ARE UP TO
APPROXIMATELY 52 INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE PREREGISTERED TO SPEAK,
SO I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND
EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
TO LAST UP TO 60 MINUTES WITH
EACH PERSON BEING PROVIDED ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK, THAT SHOULD
GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET
THROUGH EVERYONE TODAY, SO FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO CALLED IN
TODAY, PLEASE BEGIN PARING DOWN
YOUR COMMENTS TO ONE MINUTE
INSTEAD OF TWO MINUTES, I DO
APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM ALL OF
THOSE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK,
AND YOUR COOPERATION ON THAT
FRONT WILL HELP US ACHIEVE
THAT.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED, IF YOU HAVE
NOT YET REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT
WOULD LIKE TO, YOU CAN SIGN UP
FOR THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT
BY GOING TO THE WEBSITE. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS ALSO
LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALLING THEM, STAFF WILL
UNMUTE THE APPROPRIATE
MICROPHONE AND AN AUTOMATIC
PROMPT WILL BE YOUR Q AS THE
SPEAKER TO PRESS STAR SIX FOR
YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME, THE ITEM YOU ARE
ADDRESSING, AND THE ITEM YOU
ARE ADDRESSING, AS A REMEDY,
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA, THE
REFERRAL CALENDAR, WITH THE
WORK PROGRAM.
SPEAKERS ARE GOING TO HEAR A
CHIME AROUND 10 SECONDS, THAT
MEANS THAT YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT OF THE ALLOTTED TIME OF
YEAR WHEN MINUTE, AGAIN, YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR A CHIME.
AT THAT POINT, WE ASK YOU BEGIN
TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
IF YOU DON'T AND YOUR COMMENTS
AT THE END OF THE ONE MINUTE,
YOUR MICROPHONE IS GOING TO BE
MUTED, SO WE CAN CALL ON THE
NEXT PERSON.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
COMMENT WE ASK YOU PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE AND IF
YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING
THE MEETING, YOU DO SO ON THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR ANY OF THE
LISTENING OPTIONS.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN, WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST,
AGAIN, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME,
YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTE IT AND YOU HAVE TO
PRESS STAR X IN ORDER FOR US TO
BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS ARE KATE
RUBIN FOLLOWED BY BEATRICE.
KATE, WELCOME.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KATE RUBIN
, I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 2
AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I'M CALLING IS A PART OF THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL BILL WITHOUT
INCOME GARMENTS.
THERE IS A MASSIVE POWER
IMBALANCE BETWEEN RENTERS AND
LANDLORDS.
90% OF LANDLORDS HAVE LEGAL
REPRESENTATION COMPARED TO ONLY
10% OF RENTERS.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC EVEN BEGAN,
47% OF TENANTS WERE SPENDING
MORE THAN A THIRD OF OUR INCOME
ON RENT.
IT IS SEATTLE PROFITS RACIST
HOUSING HISTORY, LOW INCOME
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE
MORE LIKELY TO BE RENTERS AT
FIRST TO BE DISPLACED.
WITH THAT I COULDN'T QUIT
REPRESENTATION, HOW WILL THEY
DEFEND THEMSELVES?
MANY TENANTS ALREADY SELF
EFFECT BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT IS
THEIR ONLY OPTION.
GIVING PEOPLE FACING EVICTIONS
AND THEIR REPRESENTATION AND
SUPPORT WILL ULTIMATELY HELP TO
KEEP THEM HOUSED AND SAVE
LIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS BEATRICE FOLLOWED BY
JACOB.
>> I AM A RENTER IN CAPITOL
HILL.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
UNIVERSAL RIGHT TO COUNSEL
LEGISLATION, I'M AGAINST ANY
MEANS, TESTING, OR WITHHOLDS.
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE SHOWS ANY
TESTING, NO MATTER HOW MINIMUM,
DISCOURAGES ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO
DESPERATELY NEED SOCIAL
SERVICES FROM USING THEM.
TODAY, THIS COUNSEL HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO OPPOSE ANY
TESTING AMENDMENTS AND SET A
TRULY PROGRESSIVE PRESIDENT.
ORDINARY PEOPLE, WORKING
PEOPLE, WE DESERVE UNIVERSAL
SOCIAL PROGRAMS.
WE MAKE THE CITY ONE DAY AFTER
DAY, SO THE UNIVERSAL RIGHT TO
LEGAL REPRESENTATION WHEN WE
ARE FACED WITH EVICTION IS NOT
A BIG THING TO ASK OF A CITY
THAT IS HOME TO THE RICHEST MEN
IN THE WORLD.
I WANT TO THANK THE MANY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE JOINED
US TO FIGHTING MOVEMENT FROM
RENTERS RIGHTS.
IT IS HOW WE WON THE AMAZON TAX
AND THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE AND
HOW WE WILL KEEP WINNING THE
THINGS PEOPLE NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, NEXT UP IS JACOB
FOLLOWED BY PEGGY.
>> THANK YOU, HI, MY NAME IS
JACOB, I AM AN ADVOCACY,
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF THE RIGHT
TO LEGAL COUNSEL LEGISLATION IN
THE FORM IT WAS INTENDED,
WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS OR
LOOPHOLES.
IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO SEE
COUNCILMEMBERS THE LATEST
LEGISLATION WHEN RENTERS NEED
THIS PROTECTION SO CRUCIALLY,
AND IT IS ALSO DISAPPOINTED TO
SEE A PROGRESSIVE CITY COUNCIL
ADD AMENDMENTS TO THIS
LEGISLATION WHICH ARE BASED IN
HARMFUL ANTI-WELFARE AND ANTI-
POOR TALKING POINTS.
IS FLOATING THE IDEA THAT
SOMEONE MAKING $100,000 A YEAR,
ANY DIFFERENT FROM REAGAN ERA
WELFARE DISCOURSE.
THIS IS NOT ONLY HARMFUL AND
TOXIC, WHEN IT BECOMES THE
BASIS FOR AMENDMENTS, WE WILL
END UP WITH A BILL THAT IS
ROOTED IN DISTRUST OF POOR
PEOPLE AND A BILL THAT MAKES IT
ARDUOUS AND INACCESSIBLE TO
RECEIVE DESPERATELY NEEDED
AFFECTION PRODUCTION.
PLEASE REJECT ANTI-POOR TALKING
POINTS.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS PEGGY FOLLOWED BY
HOWARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNON,
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
PEGGY.
I AM SPEAKING TODAY IN FAVOR OF
THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR ALL
LEGISLATION.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THOSE BEING
EVICTED WHO HAVE LEGAL
REPRESENTATION HAVE A MUCH
BETTER CHANCE OF REMAINING
HOUSED.
THE WAY TO LEVEL THE UNEVEN
PLAYING FIELD IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT ALL TENANTS HAVE LEGAL
COUNSEL PASSING THIS BILL AND
PASSING IT WITHOUT MEANS
TESTING.
KNOWN UNDER THE DRESSER FINDING
-- FIGHTING AN EVICTION SHOULD
HAVE TO BE HUMILIATED.
ADMISSIONS LEASE TO
HOMELESSNESS.
THERE IS A LONG WAITING LIST OF
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE INTO
THE VILLAGES.
WE HAVE HAD TO TURN AWAY PEOPLE
FOR NEARLY ALL OUR 12 YEARS OF
OPERATION.
SOMETIMES DESPERATE PEOPLE HAVE
EVEN TRIED TO SCALE OUR FRIENDS
TO GET INSIDE.
YOU CAN HELP PREVENT
HEARTBREAKING SITUATIONS LIKE
THAT ONE BY GIVING EVERYONE
FACING EVICTION THE RIGHT TO AN
ATTORNEY WITHOUT REQUIRING
MEANS TESTING OF ANY KIND.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS HOWARD FOLLOWED BY
DANIEL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M COMMENTING ON CONTINUING
POLICE ABUSE AND FAILED
ACCOUNTABILITY.
10 MONTHS AFTER THE MURDER OF
GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS,
FOUR PEOPLE KILLED BY SPD
DURING JUST THIS LAST YEAR, THE
CITY COUNCIL IS CONSISTENTLY
FAILING TO DELIVER ON POLICE
ACCOUNT ABILITY.
LAST THURSDAY, WE LEARNED THAT
THEY HAVE CLEARED THE SPA OF
ANY WRONGDOING IN CLASS YOUR
PURPOSE KILLING OF SEAN, NOT
SURPRISING.
WE FULLY EXPECT THEM TO DO THE
SAME WITH OUR MANY THREE CASES.
THE FACT THAT ALL THESE CASES,
ALL THE OVERSIGHT BODIES, THEY
HAVE FAILED TO EVEN SUGGEST
CHANGES IN POLICIES.
AS WE APPROACH THE ONE-YEAR MARK
, IT IS CLEAR THAT COUNSEL WILL
NOT DELIVER ON ITS PROGRESS.
>> NEXT UP IS DANIEL FOLLOWED BY
JEFF.
>> I AM A RENTER AND A MEMBER
OF A SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE, I'M
HERE TO SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL BILL AND SPEAK AGAINST
THE MEANS TESTING LOOPHOLE.
IT IS BECAUSE I HAVE NEIGHBORS
AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE FACED
EVICTION IT IS ONE OF THE MOST
STRESSFUL THINGS I HAVE EVER
HAD TO DEAL WITH.
THE ISSUE IS THAT ANY MEANS
TESTING REQUIREMENTS, EVEN SO-
CALLED MINIMUM ONES, CREATE
OBSTACLES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
ALREADY IN A BAD SITUATION,
HOOPS FOR THEM TO JUMP THERE.
THE IDEA THAT MEANS TESTING IS
NEEDED TO PREVENT WEALTHY
PEOPLE FROM GETTING PUBLIC
DEFENSE IS ABSURD ON ITS FACE.
ALMOST ALL EVICTIONS HAPPEN
BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO PAY
RENT, SO GETTING AN EVICTION
NOTICE ON THE DOOR IS ITSELF A
MEANS TESTING EVENT, SO THIS
LOOPHOLE WOULD ONLY MAKE THE
PROCESS MORE DIFFICULT FOR
RENTERS TO GET HELP.
COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD LISTEN
TO WORKING PEOPLE WHO NEED YOU
TO PASS THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE,
NOT LISTEN TO CORPORATE
LOBBYISTS WHO WANT THE BILL WE
CAN DO, AND LASTLY TO THINK OUR
MOVEMENT FOR MAKING THIS
POSSIBLE.
WE EXPOSED THE CITY COUNCIL
PROFITS INTENTION TO WEAKEN THE
LEGISLATION AND SCARED THEM OFF
FROM CREATING WORSE LOOPHOLES.
>> NEXT UP IS JEFF FOLLOWED BY
JESSICA.
>> I AM A MEMBER OF A SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE AND I HAD STUART,
THE UNION OF 6000 ACADEMIC
WORKERS.
OUR UNION IS PROUD TO HAVE
SIGNED ON TO THE PETITION
CALLING ON CITY COUNCIL TO PASS
THE LEGISLATION WITHOUT ANY
LOOPHOLES OR MEANS TESTING.
IT HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR
STRONGEST AND MOST ACTIVE
WORKGROUPS, NOT LEAST BECAUSE
WORKGROUPS FACE UNRELENTING
DIFFICULTY WITH HOUSING IN
SEATTLE, WHETHER IT IS THE
SHEER COST OF RENT OR THREATS
AND INTIMIDATION FROM LANDLORDS.
WE RECENTLY HELPED ORGANIZE THE
HOUSING JUSTICE CONFERENCE OF
OTHER UNIONS UP AND DOWN THE
WEST COAST, BECAUSE WE KNOW
THIS STRUGGLE REQUIRES
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LARGEST
SCALE POSSIBLE.
AS PART OF THAT STRUGGLE, WE
AIM TO MAKE 100% SURE THAT
EVERY SINGLE TENANT FACING
EVICTION THE RIGHT TO A LAWYER,
WE ALL HAVE A STAKE IN STOPPING
EVICTIONS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF
WHICH LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS, AND
WE KNOW THAT ANY MEANS TESTING
OR LOOPHOLES, NO MATTER HOW
SMALL OR WHAT THEY'RE CALLED IS
ONLY GOING TO HUMILIATE,
DISCOURAGE TENANTS AND THE
BOLDEN LANDLORDS.
WE CALL ON CITY COUNCIL TO PASS
THE LEGISLATION WITHOUT
WATERING IT DOWN.
>> NEXT UP IS JESSICA FOLLOWED
BY GRAYSON.
>> MY NAME IS JESSICA, I AM A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 3, I WORK IN
DISTRICT 2 AT A SHELTER.
I AM CALLING TODAY IN FULL
SUPPORT OF PASSING A RIGHT TO
COUNSEL WITHOUT ANY LOOPHOLES
LIKE MEANS TESTING.
MANY CLIENTS AND GUESTS THAT
STAY IN OUR SHELTER HAVE
SUFFERED EVICTION AND WHEN THEY
COME TO OUR SHELTER, THEY ARE
ALREADY WALKING WITH A LOT OF
TRAUMA, OTHER FINANCIAL ISSUES
AND LEGAL ISSUES, ANY TYPE OF
MEANS TESTING TO STAY IN THEIR
HOME IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ADDED
BARRIER TO THEM STAYING IN HER
HOME.
EVEN IF IT IS SOMETHING AS
SIMPLE AS JUST HAVING TO STATE
YOUR MEANS.
OUR CLIENTS ARE ALREADY
EXPERIENCING A LOT OF STIGMA
FROM BEING IN THE SEX TRADE,
EXPERIENCING SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR
EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
AND THIS WILL ADD TO THE STIGMA
AND AGAIN CREATE ANOTHER
BARRIER.
SO, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE PASS
THE LEGISLATION AS IT IS AND
KEEP MORE PEOPLE IN THEIR
HOMES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
NEXT UP IS GRAYSON FOLLOWED BY
HANNAH.
TO IT.
>> CAN PEOPLE HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU, GLAD.
>> I AM GRAYSON, I AM A RENTER
AND CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL WITH NO MEANS
TESTING LOOPHOLES, WHICH
INCLUDES THE AMENDMENT BROUGHT
FORWARD TO CONCLUDE AN ADDITION
OF POVERTY ACCESS, I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER IS ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT WHEN SHE SAID EVEN THE
SEEMINGLY SMALL REQUIREMENT ONE
OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST
FROM ACCESSING THE SERVICE, AND
IT SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN.
RIGHT TO COUNSEL WILL CHANGE
THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE WHO WILL BE
FIGHTING EVICTIONS WITH YOUR
AGAINST CORPORATE LANDLORDS
WERE WILLING TO EMPLOY
EXTREMELY DIRTY TACTICS, DIRTY
TACTICS TO GENTRIFY THE CITY
AND BUILD PROFITABLE HOUSING
THAT ONLY A TINY FRACTION OF
PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.
IT IS FANTASTIC THE HARD WORK
OF RENTERS, ACTIVISTS, AND
WORKING PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN
RIGHT TO COUNSEL TO THIS POINT
AGAINST THE WISHES OF CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AND THE DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT.
BUT I STILL WANTED TO CALL ON
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES
DIRECTLY TO NOT INTRODUCE A
MEANS TESTING AMENDMENT.
>> NEXT UP IS HANNAH FOLLOWED
BY JORDAN QUEEN.
>> I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3,
I'M CALLING IN TODAY AS MANY
OTHERS HAVE BEFORE ME TO
EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSAL
TENANT RIGHT TO COUNSEL WITH NO
MEANS TESTING WHATSOEVER.
OUR MOVEMENT SPOKE TO CITY
COUNCIL ABOUT THIS TWO WEEKS
AGO.
AD ONLY A WEEK TIME.
LESSON 468 OF SIGNATURES FROM
SEATTLE RESIDENTS FOR OUR
POSITION DEMANDING A STRONG
LOOPHOLE FREELY RIGHT TO
COUNSEL..
OUR MOVEMENT IS HERE AGAIN
TODAY TO TELL YOU WE NEED
UNIVERSAL RIGHTS COUNSEL NOW
WITH NO LOOPHOLES.
DISTRICT OF US LEGISLATION DOES
FOR. THE DEMOCRATIC CONSUMERS
HAVE INDICATED THEY ARE
CONSIDERING WHITTLING THE BILL
DOWN.
CITY COUNCIL HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SET A PRECEDENT
AND BE EITHER PROGRESSIVE OR
REGRESSIVE.
LET'S PASS THE STRONGEST
POSSIBLE LEGISLATION, ANY
WEAKENING OF THE LEGISLATION
OPENS THE DOOR FOR FURTHER
WATERING DOWN THERE ON AS
LOOPHOLES ALWAYS DO.
ALL TENANTS FACING EVICTION
SHOULD RECEIVE LEGAL AID WITH
NO LOOPHOLES, THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS JORDAN FOLLOWED
BY KALING.
>> CAN YOU?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU, GO AHEAD.
>> GREAT, I AM JORDAN, I AM A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 2, I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR INTRODUCING AND
FIGHTING FOR THE UNIVERSAL
RIGHT TO COUNSEL LEGISLATION,
ALSO THANKS TO THE PEOPLE OF
THE MOVEMENT AND ACTIVISTS WHO
HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS.
HELPING SET THE STAGE FOR THIS
BILL TODAY AND ALSO TO ALL THE
ACTIVISTS AND THE MANY OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BUILT A
MOVEMENT FOR RENTERS' RIGHTS.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS PRESSURE
WE CAN SEE THIS LEGISLATIN
PASSED TODAY.
IT IS ONLY PRESSURE THAT CAN
PREVENT OR MINIMIZE CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES LIKE MEANS TESTING,
WHICH I URGE COUNSEL DEMOCRATS
NOT TO INTRODUCE TODAY.
AND OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE NOTED,
MEANS TESTING ONLY HELPS BIG
LANDLORDS AND REAL ESTATE LOBBY
, WHO KNOWS HOW THE SYSTEM
WORKS.
THEY CAN ALREADY AFFORD LAWYERS
TO REPRESENT THEM, THIS WILL
NOT --
>> THANKS FOR CALLING TODAY.
NEXT UP IS KALING FOLLOWED BY
ARIANNA.
>> MY NAME IS KAYLA NICHOLSON,
I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 5. I
JUST WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND ALL
THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO HELPED
TURN PEOPLE OUT FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT AND GET SIGNATURES ON
THE PETITION CALLING ON THE
COUNCIL TO PASS THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL LEGISLATION FROM
COUNSEL NUMBER SAWANT WITH NO
LOOPHOLES COMMIT NO MEANS
TESTING . I THINK IT IS, THERE
HAS BEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT
NAMES USED TO SORT OF TRY TO
OBSCURE WHAT IT IS IN THE
PREVIOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON
THIS BILL, PHRASES LIKE
ELIGIBILITY WERE USED, AND OF
COURSE, AS OTHER COMMENTERS
HAVE MENTIONED, THE RIGHT-WING
ARGUMENTS ASSAYING ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS IS JUST TO PROTECT
TAXPAYER MONEY FROM BEING TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF BY RICH PEOPLE,
THESE ARE THE SAME RIGHT-WING
ARGUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN USED
TO TRY TO ATTACK PUBLIC
PROGRAMS FOR DECADES, AND EVEN
HAVING A NON-ONEROUS MEANS
TESTING IS JUST A LOOPHOLE THAT
LANDLORDS CAN EXPLOIT LATER ON
TO MAKE THE PROGRAM --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, NEXT UP IS ARIANNA
FOLLOWED BY TERRA.
>> MY NAME IS ARIANNA, I AM
SPEAKING TODAY IN FAVOR OF THE
UNIVERSAL RIGHT TO COUNSEL
PROGRAM.
I AM AN AUTISTIC AMERICAN, THE
VERY SORT OF AMERICAN MEANS
TESTING WORKS AGAINST, YOU'VE
DELAYED HIS BYE-BYE WEEKS IN
ORDER TO WRITE EXCLUSIONS INTO
THIS BILL, DURING THIS DELAY,
ONE HOUSEHOLD PER DAY HAS LOST
THEIR HOME WHILE YOU WORKED ON
CREATING BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE
LIKE MYSELF.
I FIND IT RIDICULOUS THIS BODY
OF SELF-DESCRIBED PROGRESSIVE
DEMOCRATS CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR
DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC
PROGRAMS.
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN
OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS TO
UNDERMINE PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO A
úPROGRAM.
AS AN AMERICAN WITH AUTISM, I
PERSONALLY STRUGGLE TO JUMP TO
THE HOOPS YOU FOLKS CREATE TO
ACCESS PROGRAMS IN THE SAN
FRANCISCO HAS SHOWN THAT THESE
BARRIERS ARE UNNECESSARY,
EVICTIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A
MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, AND
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ARE
OFTEN THE VICTIMS OF EVICTIONS.
PLEASE PASS THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS TARA FOLLOWED BY
ALICIA.
>> THIS IS TARA MILLER, I AM A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 1. I'M
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF RENTERS'
RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS
VOICED CONCERNS TWO WEEKS AGO
THAT MEANS TESTING WOULD ENSURE
WHAT THE PEOPLE AREN'T ABUSING
A SERVICE PAID FOR BY THE CITY,
WHILE THAT FELT LIKE A GOOD
ARGUMENT, IF YOU USE THIS
APPROACH, THERE'S A QUESTION OF
WHO WILL MISS OUT ON THE
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF MEANS
TESTING.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO
FACE EVICTION ARE NOT WEALTHY
ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES IN
A LEGAL BATTLE.
LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE AND OF
FACING HOMELESSNESS, EVEN IF
YOU ARE OFFERING FREE COUNSEL,
PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY
STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE WILL FALL
THROUGH THE CRACKS.
IF YOU ARE FACING EVICTION, YOU
ARE FOCUSED ON MONEY, TAKING
CARE OF YOUR FAMILY, STRUGGLING
TO PUT A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD
NEXT WEEK.
YOU MAY NOT ABLE TO QUICKLY
PRODUCE PROOF OF INCOME AND
THIS SERVICE WILL BE
UNDERUTILIZED, HE WILL KEEP OUT
THE PEOPLE IT IS MEANT TO
SERVE.
PLEASE PASS IT WITH NO MEANS
TESTING OR OTHER LOOPHOLES, WE
CAN CONTINUE STRENGTHENING
RENTER PROTECTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ALICIA FOLLOWED BY
BLITHE SERRANO.
>> MY NAME IS ALICIA, I AM A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 3, AND I AM
ALSO PART OF A COALITION OF
SOCIALIST AND PROGRESSIVE
UNIONS.
THEY HAVE ALL SPONSORED A
PETITION TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DEMANDING YOU PASS
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S RIGHT TO
COUNSEL LEGISLATION WITH NO
MEANS TESTING, NO EXCLUSION,
AND NO MORE DELAYS TO MAKE OUR
MOVEMENT HAS BEEN OUT OVER THE
LAST WEEK ELECTING SIGNATURES
FROM ORDINARY PEOPLE ON THREE
CORNERS IN FRONT OF STORES AND
UNION MEMBERS ACT OF SOLIDARITY.
IN THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME,
468 PEOPLE SIGNED WITH 289
SIGNATURES COLLECTED OVER THE
LAST WEEKEND ALONE.
THESE ARE WORKING PEOPLE WHO
ARE READY TO PASS THIS WHEN
THEY HEARD US ASKED IF WE
WANTED TO STOP AND JUST
EVICTIONS.
CLEARLY THERE IS WIDESPREAD
SUPPORT FOR STRENGTHENING
RENTER'S' RIGHTS, THE QUESTION
IS WHETHER YOU ARE PREPARED TO
STAND ON THE SIDE OF OUR
MOVEMENT OR IF YOU ARE GOING TO
--
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS BLITHE FOLLOWED BY
ADDIE SMITH.
>> MY NAME IS BLITHE, I AM A
RENTER IN MT. BAKER, AND I'M
CALLING TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT
FOR CANCEL NUMBER SAWANT'S
RIGHT TO COUNSEL LEGISLATION
WITH NO MEANS TESTING OR
LOOPHOLES.
PEOPLE FACING EVICTION ARE
ALREADY MEANS TESTED GROUP, IF
SOMEONE HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY
RENT, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
SUDDENLY STOP PAYING RENT JUST
BECAUSE THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE
THEM WITH A LAWYER.
NEEDS TESTING WOULD ONLY SERVE
TO HURT THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY
NEED RIGHT TO COUNSEL, WHO ARE
THIS PROPORTIONALLY BLACK
RENTERS, WOMEN RENTERS, AND
PARENTS AND CHILDREN.
THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO
GO THROUGH THE HUMILIATING
PROCESS OF PROVING THEY ARE
POOR.
MEANS TESTING HAS BEEN USED FOR
BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER WORKING
PEOPLE AND SET THESE PROGRAMS
UP TO TO BE GUTTED OR
DISMANTLED IN THE FUTURE.
AS SELF-DESCRIBED PROGRESSIVES,
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REJECT MEANS TESTING IN ALL ITS
FORMS.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION IN ITS ORIGINAL
FORM WITH NO MEANS TESTING.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS ADDIE SMITH
FOLLOWED BY MARGO STUART.
WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS ADDIE SMITH, THE
COUNCILMEMBERS, GOVERNOR
INSLEE, AND ALL THE SENATE
MEMBERS OF THE MAJORITY
DEMOCRAT CONGRESS KNOW THAT AN
EXTENSION OF THE ACTION
MORATORIUM TO THE END OF 2021
IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE
MIDST OF COVID-19.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE
STATE HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED
AND THOUSANDS MORE HAVE NO
INTENTION OF BEING VACCINATED.
WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER,
SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, SENDING
CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL AT THE
END OF JUNE IS GOING TO MAKE
ATTENDANCE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT,
IF NOT, IMPOSSIBLE, WHICH MEANS
WASHINGTON STATE WILL HAVE
ANOTHER SURGEON CORONAVIRUS.
HAVING LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS
ONE THING, BUT GETTING RID OF
BAD JUDGES WHO SUPPORT
CORPORATE LANDLORDS AT ANOTHER.
JUDGES WILL EVICT FAMILIES
BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT CORPORATE
LANDLORDS.
CORPORATE LANDLORDS CAN AFFORD
THIS MORATORIUM TO THE END OF
2021.
THEY PAID MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
TO LOBBYISTS TO SPEAK ON THEIR
BEHALF.
GOVERNOR INSLEE MUST
INVESTIGATE.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS MARGO STUART
FOLLOWED BY CHARLOTTE SISSEL.
WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL, I AM A
RENTER IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT,
I'M ALSO CALLING IN FAVOR OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
LEGISLATION FOR RIGHT TO LEGAL
COUNSEL FOR ALL RENTERS FACING
EVICTION.
I THINK IF THIS PASSES TODAY,
IT IS GOING TO BE A VICTORY FOR
TENANTS' RIGHTS IN SEATTLE AND
A STRONG EXAMPLE OF THE EFFECT
OF ORGANIZING DIRECTLY AMONG
TENANTS AND ORDINARY PEOPLE.
I WANT TO THANK CANCEL NUMBER
SAWANT , THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET
MOVEMENT AND ALL THE OTHER
ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO
FOUGHT FOR THIS PERMIT I WANT
TO AGREE WITH OTHER SPEAKERS
WHO HAVE SPOKEN TO OPPOSE ANY
MEANS TESTING AMENDMENTS, THE
TRUTH IS, PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD
NOT TO GET EVICTED, DON'T GET
EVICTED, AND IN TERMS OF LEGAL
PROCESS AND LIFE IN PART, THE
EVICTION IS ALREADY INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT AND DEMANDING, SO, IT
IS DEMEANING, STIGMATIZING TO
ASK PEOPLE TO SHOW PROOF THEY
ARE POOR.
I DO THINK, IF COUNCIL MEMBERS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DESCRIBE
THEMSELVES AS PROGRESSIVES,
WORRIED, THEN IT IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT TO REDOUBLE YOUR
EFFORTS TO DEFEND AND EXPAND
THE AMAZON TAX TO ENSURE BIG
BUSINESS AND THE MOST RICH AND
OUR CITY ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR
SHARE.
THINK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, NEXT UP IS CHARLOTTE
SISSEL FOLLOWED BY MORGAN
HARTLEY.
GO AHEAD, CHARLOTTE, CHARLOTTE,
IF YOU ARE WITH US, YOU JUST
NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX SO WE
CAN HEAR YOUR.
I.T., CAN YOU CONFIRM IF
CHARLOTTE IS STILL WITH US?
>> THE CALLER IS STILL THERE.
>> CHARLOTTE, IF YOU CAN HIT
STAR SIX, THAT WILL UNMUTE YOU.
OKAY, LET'S COME BACK TO
CHARLOTTE.
LET'S GO TO MORGAN, AND THEN
EMILY AND WE WILL TRY CHARLOTTE
AGAIN.
MORGAN, WELCOME.
>> YOU CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS MORGAN, I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4, I'M
HERE TODAY IN FULL SUPPORT OF
THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNSEL
WITH NO MEANS TESTING AS
CHAMPIONED COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
I WORK FULL-TIME WITH YOUTH
EXPERIENCING HEARTLESSNESS, I
HELP WITH JOB HUNTS, ACCESSING
COUNSELING, AND APPLYING FOR
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
THE QUICKEST WAY TO DENY MY
CLIENTS THE ASSISTANCE THEY
NEED IS BY INTRODUCING MEANS
TESTING.
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE WALK AWAY
AFTER BEING TOLD THAT ANOTHER
DOCUMENT THEY DON'T HAVE IS
REQUIRED.
PAPERWORK TAKES WEEKS TO
RECEIVE, AND EACH WEEK BRINGS
WITH IT A POSSIBILITY MY
CLIENTS ARE INJURED,
RETRAUMATIZED, OR SIMPLY LOSE
HOPE.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY
CLIENTS AND TENANTS THIS BILL
WOULD PROTECT IS THAT ONE IS
HOUSED AND ONE IS NOT.
MEANS TESTING WILL HAVE THE
SAME EFFECT IT ALWAYS DOES,
DENYING PEOPLE THE RESOURCES
THEY NEED TO SURVIVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS CHARLOTTE.
ANSARI, EMILY MacARTHUR, UNLESS
WE HAVE CHARLOTTE WITH US.
>> HELLO?
>> HELLO, IS THIS CHARLOTTE OR
EMILY?
>> EMILY.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS EMILY, I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 AND A
RENTER.
20 MILLION RENTERS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ARE BEHIND ON RENT.
SOME ESTIMATES PUT IT AT ONE IN
FIVE RENTERS.
THE EVICTION TSUNAMI, AS IT HAS
BEEN TERMED BY MAINSTREAM
MEDIA, IS COMING, AND HIS RIGHT
TO COUNSEL DECISION IS A KEY
BLOCKADE IN WHICH WE CAN HELP
PREVENT THESE EVICTIONS FROM
HAPPENING, I SUPPORT CANCEL
NUMBER SAWANT'S UNIVERSAL
RIGHT TO COUNSEL WITH NO
LOOPHOLES, I ALSO HEARD IN THE
BRIEFING THIS MORNING
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, WHO
VOTED AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION
COMMITTEE, ALSO VOTED TO DELAY
IT , WHICH IF YOU HAVE
UNDERSCORED MEANS PEOPLE WERE
BEING EVICTED AND BECOMING
HOMELESS AND THAT THE DELAY, IT
IS GOING TO INTRODUCE AN
AMENDMENT BUT SAYS IT IS ABOUT
FUNDING, SUBJECT TO
APPROPRIATION.
IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND WE
SHOULD REJECT THIS AND APPEAL
TO ALL COUNSEL MARISSA TO STAND
AGAINST THIS UPSTART AMENDMENT
WHICH IN EFFECT WILL MEAN THERE
WILL BE NO RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR
ANYONE SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S TRY CHARLOTTE AGAIN.
CHARLOTTE, IF YOU ARE WITH US,
PRESS STAR SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
OKAY, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT, SEEMS
LIKE WE ARE STILL HAVING SOME
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES GETTING
CHARLOTTE ON THE LINE, SO,
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR FROM
SHIRLEY, AND THEN DAN.
SHIRLEY, WELCOME.
>> CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?
>> NOW WE CAN HEAR YOU, GO
AHEAD.
>> I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, AND I
AM CALLING IN LIKE 70 BEFORE ME
IN SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S RIGHT TO COUNSEL
WITHOUT TUPLES LIKE MEANS
TESTING.
AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
MYSELF, I AM CONSTANTLY TRYING
TO EDUCATE FOLKS THAT IT IS NOT
WORKERS' RATES MAINTAINING, IT
IS THE FACT THE CAPITALISTIC
SYSTEM IS MADE FOR
MULTIMILLIONAIRES,
BILLIONAIRES, AND GIANT
CORPORATIONS.
SIMILARLY, ANY STRUGGLING MOM
AND POP LANDLORDS ARE NOT
STRUGGLING BECAUSE RENTERS ARE
ABUSING THEM, THAT IS A HORRIBLE
SENTIMENT.
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN LARGE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE THE
ONES DOING THE VAST MAJORITY OF
EVICTING, AND THAT THE REASON
APARTMENTS ARE OWNED BY
CORPORATE LANDLORDS IS NOT
BECAUSE MOM AND POP LANDLORDS
ARE GETTING WIPED OUT, IT IS
THE SAME REASON BIG CORPORATIONS
THRIVE UNDER CAPITALISM.
CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO PASS THE
LEGISLATION WITHOUT LOOPHOLES
WITH NO DELAYS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, NEXT UP IS DAN.
>> MY NAME IS DAN, AS A MEMBER
OF THE LOCAL GRASSROOTS
HOMELESS ORGANIZATION, EVERY
DAY WE SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF
A SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE ARE
SYSTEMICALLY INHUMANELY MADE
HOMELESS.
THOUSANDS OF RENTERS ARE
DESPERATE TO PAY RENT AND THE
DEBT ISN'T MAKING THIS ANY
EASIER.
WHEN WE ARE 90% OF EVICTIONS
HAS LED TO HOMELESSNESS AND
BLACK COMMUNITY AND WOMEN ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETED, WE
SHOULD ASK OURSELVES WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO SUPPORT FROM THE
STATUS QUO A REAL CHANGE.
RIGHT TO COUNSEL IS A BASIC
AMERICAN RIGHT TO
REPRESENTATION, AND AN INCREASE
IS REALLY IMPORTANT SETTING.
WHEN WE HEAR EVICTIONS HAVE
BEEN LINKED TO INCREASED COVID-
19 TRANSMISSION, PEOPLE NEED TO
STAY HOUSED IF WE ARE TO STAY
HEALTHY.
COUNSEL NEEDS TO PASS THIS AND
THE MAYOR NEEDS TO EXTEND THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IT
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS MINDY FOLLOWED BY
AVA.
WELCOME.
>> I AM A MEMBER OF PUGET SOUND
ADVOCATES FOR RETIREMENT ACTION
AND ALSO FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER
KING COUNTY COUNCIL, AND THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE TESTIFYING
TODAY REALLY SMART, AND I HOPE
TO COUNSEL IS LISTENING TO
THEM, BECAUSE THIS MEANS TESTING
IS MEAN.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE
TELLING PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY
HAVE MONEY THAT THEY HAD TO
DECIDE WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO
WITH IT, DO WANT TO SPEND YOUR
SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO REPRESENT
YOURSELF, TO DEFENDANT
SOMETHING THAT SUMMARY HAS SAID
YOU DID, THAT THEY ARE SAYING
YOU ARE GUILTY OF, WE ARE NOT
SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY, YOU
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INNOCENT
UNTIL SUMMARY OF CAN PROVE YOUR
GUILTY.
DON'T REQUIRE PEOPLE TO SPEND
THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY TO
DEFEND THEMSELVES, WHICH THEY
MAY END UP LOSING AND IT WILL
BE HARD FOR THEM TO RENT AGAIN.
WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE TENTS
HERE IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IT
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS AVA FOLLOWED BY STAR.
>> MY NAME IS EVA, AM A RENTER
IN DISTRICT 2 AND I'M SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL LEGISLATION IN ITS
CURRENT FORM, WITH NO LOOPHOLES
OR MEANS TESTING.
COUNCILMEMBER HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A CLEAR
STANCE AGAINST MEANS TESTING,
WHICH BOTH REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS HAVE PUSHED FOR
DECADES, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THEM
TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER WORKING
PEOPLE AND CUT AND DISMANTLE
PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE.
A SECRET AMENDMENT TO MAKE THIS
LEGISLATION SUBJECT TO
APPROPRIATION AS PEDERSEN
PLANS TO INTRODUCE WOULD BE
UNACCEPTABLE.
THIS IS NOTHING BUT AN EXCUSE
TO NOT MAKE RIGHT TO CANCEL AN
ACTUAL RIGHT.
HOW DARE COUNCILMEMBERS TRY TO
STRIP RENTERS OF THE RIGHT TO
AN ATTORNEY AND A SECRET
AMENDMENT.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD BE AN
IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS
PROTECTING RENTERS AND
STRENGTHENING THE POWER.
THAT IS RIGHT BUT LANDLORDS
OPPOSE IT.
A LOOPHOLE LIKE THIS WOULD BE A
SLAP IN THE FACE TO ALL THOSE
WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR UNIVERSAL
RIGHT TO COUNSEL LEGISLATION.
>> NEXT UP IS STAR, AND THEN WE
WILL TRY CHARLOTTE AGAIN.
>> MY NAME IS STAR, I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 7 AND A
MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
I URGE YOU TO PASS THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL LEGISLATION TODAY, AS
IT IS WITH NO AMENDMENT.
MEANS TESTING ONLY LIMITS
ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD
ALREADY BE ELIGIBLE.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
ARE PUTTING FORTH THIS
LEGISLATION.
MANY RENTERS IN SEATTLE
STRUGGLED TO PAY RENT, EVEN
BEFORE THE LOSS OF HOURS DUE TO
COVID-19.
WORKERS IN SEATTLE STRUGGLING
TO PAY RENT HAVE NO WAY TO
DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
90% OF PEOPLE IN SEATTLE BECOME
HOMELESS AFTER BEING EVICTED.
IN NEW YORK HARD TO ADDRESS THE
CRISIS OF HELPLESS PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE, AND THIS LEGISLATION
CAN HELP PREVENT PEOPLE FROM
GETTING TO THAT POINT.
65% OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEGAL
REPRESENTATION ARE ABLE TO STAY
IN THEIR HOMES.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN LANDLORDS
ARE LESS LIKELY TO SERVE
EVICTION PAPERS WHEN THEY KNOW
THEIR TENANT HAS LEGAL
REPRESENTATION.
I THINK THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO
HOW CORPORATE LANDLORDS TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF A SYSTEM THAT IS
SKEWED IN FAVOR.
PLEASE LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
A FOR US AND GIVE US THE RIGHT
TO LEGAL COUNSEL WITH NO MEANS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IT
TODAY.
CHARLOTTE, LET'S TRY ONE MORE
TIME.
CHARLOTTE, ARE YOU THERE?
JUST REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR SIX.
OKAY, WE ARE STILL HAVING SOME
ISSUES WITH CHARLOTTE, SO WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO BARBARA
FOLLOWED BY METALINE.
BARBARA, WELCOME.
>> I'M BARBARA, DISTRICT 5,
WHERE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE
ARE RENTERS.
I SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE RIGHT
TO COUNSEL FOR ALL WITHOUT ANY
MEANS TESTING AS SPONSORED AND
CHAMPIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FROM HER OFFICE, AND HER
COALITION OF LOCAL GROUPS AND
UNIONS.
IN A LETTER TO THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL FROM THE WASHINGTON ACLU
, I QUOTE, SECURING TENANTS'
RIGHTS TO COUNSEL IS KEY TO
FIGHTING THE LOOMING CLIFF
AMIDST THE BLOOMING CRISIS.
WE URGE THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL TO TAKE IMMEDIATE
ACTION TO PROTECT THE
VULNERABLE TENANTS ACROSS THE
CITY BY CREATING A TRULY
UNIVERSAL WITHOUT EXCEPTION
RIGHT TO COUNSEL TO ALL TENANTS
FACING EVICTION IN SEATTLE.
AND OF COURSE.
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MUST
PASS THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
WITHOUT HUMILIATING PROOF OF
INCOME REQUIREMENTS.
NO LOOPHOLES, NO MEANS TESTING.
WE NEED A UNIVERSAL WITHOUT
EXCEPTION RIGHT TO COUNSEL TO
ALL TENANTS FACING EVICTION IN
OUR CITY TO LIMIT DISPLACEMENT,
FIGHT EVICTION --
>> THANKS FOR CALLING IT TODAY,
NEXT UP IS MADELINE FOLLOWED BY
JULIA.
>> CAN HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU, GO AHEAD.
>> I'M MADELINE, I AM A RENTER.
I JUST WANT TO PUT MY FULL
SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
FOR TENANTS FACING ELECTION.
JUST LIKE HEALTHCARE, THIS
NEEDS TO BE UNIVERSAL IF IT IS
ACTUALLY GOING TO SERVE THE
PEOPLE MOST IN NEED.
PEOPLE FACING EVICTION ARE
CLEARLY UNABLE TO AFFORD AN
ATTORNEY, THEY WOULD BE IN THIS
POSITION OF BEING EVICTED IF
THEY COULD.
ADDING MEANS TESTING IS GOING
TO PREVENT THOSE WHO NEED IT
MOST FROM RECEIVING AID.
I ALSO HEARD THERE IS A SECRET
AMENDMENT ON THE TABLE IT IS
SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL TO
STRIP IS LITERALLY LIFE-SAVING
PROTECTION WITH AN AMENDMENT.
IT IS GOING TO CROSS A FRACTION
OF WHAT THE CITY SPENDS AND
ACTUALLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
SAVE THE CITY MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS FOR PEOPLE NOT BEING
DISPLACED.
>> THANKS FOR CALLING TODAY.
NEXT UP IS JULIA FOLLOWED BY
ALVIN.
>> MY NAME IS JULIA, I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 6. I'M
CALLING TO SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL LEGISLATION AND TO
OPPOSE ANY AMENDMENTS THAT
WOULD WEAKEN OR UNDERMINE THE
LEGISLATION SUCH AS MEANS
TESTING.
SEATTLE RENTERS DESERVE THE
BASIC PROTECTIONS OF A
UNIVERSAL RIGHT TO COUNSEL
PROGRAM.
THAT MEANS IT IS AVAILABLE TO
EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF INCOME
STATUS.
STUDIES SHOW THAT MEANS TESTING
DOES NOT HELP RENTERS AND
WORKING PEOPLE, IT DOES NOT
MAKE THE PROGRAM MORE
EFFICIENT, AND EVEN THE LEAST
INVASIVE MEANS TESTING ONLY
ADDS UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES AND
ONLY HELPS BIG CORPORATE
LANDLORDS WOULD LOVE TO SEE
THIS LEGISLATION WE CAN.
THE ACTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TODAY WILL REVEAL WHO'S INSIDE
COUNCILMEMBER'S ARE REALLY ON.
AS WORKERS AND RENTERS ARE
GETTING ORGANIZED AND FIGHTING
BACK, THE RIGHTS MOVEMENT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING A
SPOTLIGHT ON THIS ATTEMPT TO
WEAKEN THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
LEGISLATION, AND FOR PUTTING
IMMENSE PRESSURE ON THE COUNCIL
TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION AS
PROPOSED COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
TODAY, WE ARE DEMANDING YOU
PASS THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL BILL
AS IS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CALLING IT TODAY.
NEXT UP IS ALVIN FOLLOWED BY
MATTHEW.
>> MY NAME IS ALVIN AND I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT TWO, I WOULD
LIKE TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL
TO PASS THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
LEGISLATION WITH NO MEANS
TESTING, AND NO LOOPHOLES AND
PASS IT AS IT STANDS NOW, THE
STRONGEST VERSION.
THERE IS TONS OF DATA FROM
CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO WHICH
PASSED LEGISLATION SHOWING THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL KEEPS RENTERS
IN THEIR HOMES AND OFF THE
STREETS, PREVENTS PREDATORY
LANDLORDS FROM KICKING OUT
TENANTS AND CAN SAVE
MUNICIPALITIES OF MONEY.
IN SAN FRANCISCO, WHERE THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL IS UNIVERSAL,
85% OF THOSE RECEIVING COUNSEL
ARE ALREADY OF LOW AND
EXTREMELY LOW INCOME. PEOPLE
WHO ARE SERVED EVICTION NOTICES
ARE ALREADY POOR, STRUGGLING,
AND THOSE WITH MEANS AND
RESOURCES TO PAY THE RENT ARE
NOT GOING TO BE SERVED NOTICES
FOR FAILURE TO PAY.
PLACING LIMITS ON THOSE WHO
RECEIVE COUNSEL THE ONLY PLACE
A BARRIER ON PEOPLE WHO NEED IT
THE MOST.
IT IS ALREADY ONE YEAR AFTER
LEGISLATION HAS PASSED IN SAN
FRANCISCO, THERE IS A 10%
DECREASE IN EVICTION FILINGS,
SHOWING THAT LANDLORDS ARE LESS
LIKELY TO FILE EVICTION
PROCEEDINGS IF THEY KNOW THEIR
TENANT IS REPRESENTED.
8% OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE
ABLE TO REMAIN IN THE HOMES,
AND TO 60% OF THOSE --
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY,
NEXT UP IS MATTHEW FOLLOWED BY
MATTHEW SMITH.
>> MY NAME IS MATT, I AM A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. I'M
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S RIGHT
TO COUNSEL LEGISLATION WITHOUT
ANY AMENDMENTS, NO VERIFICATION
, INDIGENT STATUS, AND NO
SUBJECT TO MEANS TESTING,
WHICH, I THINK, THE SUBJECT TO
APPROPRIATION ALSO IS NOT A
RIGHT, A SERIES RIGHT TO
COUNSEL, I THINK WE NEED TO
MAKE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
UNIVERSAL, ANY KIND OF
OBJECTION TO APPROPRIATION
OPENS US UP TO START SOMETHING
PERTAINING TO PROTECT RENTERS.
I THINK THEY ARE CONGRATULATING
THEMSELVES ON THEIR SO-CALLED
CITY,, AND I SUSPECT THAT CITY
FAMILY, WE NEED TO BE TACTFUL
RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR ALL
TENANTS.
INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT OUR
CITY FAMILY, THE QUESTION IS
WHAT SIDE DO YOU STAND ON.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IT
TODAY, NEXT UP IS MATTHEW SMITH
FOLLOWED BY EVAN.
MATTHEW, WELCOME.
MATTHEW SMITH, IF YOU ARE WITH
US, REMEMBER TO HIT STAR SIX.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> WE CAN.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS MATT SMITH, I AM
A RENTER FROM DISTRICT 2, AND
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S RIGHT
TO COUNSEL LEGISLATION, THERE'S
BEEN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR
THIS LEGISLATION WITHOUT ANY
MEANS TESTING OR OTHER
LOOPHOLES.
I HAVE HAD CALLS FROM OTHER
PEOPLE FOR ANY COUNCILMEMBERS
PLANNING TO OFFER AMENDMENTS,
TO WITHDRAW THOSE AMENDMENTS
AND PASS THE ORIGINAL BILL AS
IT WAS WRITTEN.
THAT ALSO GOES FOR THIS NEW
SURPRISE AMENDMENT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
COUNCILMMBER PEDERSEN VOTED
AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION
COMMITTEE, I THINK EVERYONE
SHOULD SEE THIS FOR WHAT IT IS,
WHICH IS A TRANSPARENT ATTEMPT
TO CORRECT THIS LEGISLATION.
THERE WERE A LOT OF NICE WORDS
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CALL,
EQUITY, THAT IS HAPPENING AT
THE SAME TIME THAT WE HAVE
RECORD HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE
AND THE LOOMING THREAT OF MASS
EVICTION.
WE NEED REAL ACTION FOR
RENTERS, SO, IF YOU WANT TO
OFFER MORE THAN NICE WORDS,
PASS THIS LEGISLATION WITHOUT
MEANS TESTING OR ANY EXCLUSION,
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MOVEMENT
FOR PUSHING IT THIS FAR.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
NEXT IS EVAN, FOLLOWED BY
MICHELLE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS EVAN IN
DISTRICT 2, I'M CALLING TO ASK
THAT YOU SUPPORT CONSTABLE 12007
, AND PROVIDE FREE WRITER TO
COUNSEL FOR ALL RENTERS WITH NO
MEANS TESTING.
I AM A SEATTLE HOMEOWNER WHO
RENTS OUT A PORTION OF MY HOME
TO TENANTS, I STRONGLY SUPPORT
THIS BILL.
RENTERS WHO FACE POTENTIAL
EVICTION ARE ALREADY AN
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FINANCIAL
POSITION AND WE CANNOT EXPECT
THEM TO GATHER THE NEEDED
RESOURCES TO DEFEND THEMSELVES
AGAINST LANDLORDS WITH FAR MORE
RESOURCES.
I ALSO OPPOSE ADDING MEANS
TESTING TO THE SPELL, IT WILL
ONLY SERVE TO ADD ROADBLOCKS
FOR THOSE WHO NEED THE SUPPORT
THE MOST, PEOPLE WHO CAN'T
AFFORD THEIR OWN EGO DEFENSE.
THEY JUST GET THEIR EMPLOYER,
THAT IS NOT A SITUATION.
PLEASE PASS IT WITHOUT ANY
MEANS TESTING LOOPHOLES,
THINKING.
>> NEXT UP IS MICHELLE,
FOLLOWED BY SARA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME IS MICHELLE, I'M THE
DIRECTING ATTORNEY OF THE
TENANT LA CENTER.
AM ALSO A D3 RESIDENT AND
RETURNED I SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL BILL, INCLUDING COUNSEL
PRESIDENT'S AMENDMENT.
THEY ALSO NEEDED TO BE LEGALLY
SOUND UNDER OUR STATE'S
CONSTITUTION AND INSTITUTE IN A
MANNER THAT TARGETS THOSE MOST
IN NEED.
WHEN WE DESIGN POLICIES THAT
PURPORT TO INCLUDE EVERYONE,
OFTEN THE POOREST MOST IMPACTED
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE
STILL LEFT BEHIND.
WHEN WE CAREFULLY FOCUS
ASSISTANCE ON THOSE MOST IN
NEED, EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM
BEING PART OF A STRONGER, MORE
RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
AMENDMENT THREE IS NECESSARY TO
ENSURE THAT LIMITED RESOURCES
ARE FOCUSED ON RENTERS THAT
FACE THE MOST HARDSHIPS.
IT DOES THIS WITHOUT CREATING
ADDITIONAL BARRIERS AND
ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING
EVICTION DEFENSE ALREADY HAVE A
LEVEL OF INCOME SCREEN.
THE AMENDMENT CREATES A LOW
THRESHOLD OF REQUIREMENTS.
AMENDMENT THREE HELPS
GUARANTEED THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
AND WILL EXPAND LEGAL
CHALLENGES SO TENANTS CAN
ACTUALLY BENEFIT.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS SARA FOLLOWED BY
JAKE.
>> MY NAME IS SARA AND I AM A
RENTER IN CAPITOL HILL, AND I'M
HERE IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S RIGHT
TO COUNSEL LEGISLATION WITHOUT
MEANS TESTING LOOPHOLES OR
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN'S
SECRET AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
WATER THIS LEGISLATION DOWN.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THE COST OF
PROVIDING LEGAL AID IS
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS AND WHAT IT
COSTS TO PROVIDE SHELTERS,
EMERGENCY HEALTHCARE, AND OTHER
COSTS. MAKING THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL UNIVERSAL TO ALL
TENANTS FACING EVICTION COSTS A
FRACTION OF WHAT THE CITY
SPENDS ON THE POLICE BUDGET AND
WHAT IT COSTS TO PROVIDE
HOMELESS SERVICES.
INDIVIDUALS FACING EVICTION'S
CAN RARELY AFFORD LEGAL
REPRESENTATION, WHERE AS WE KNOW
BIG LANDLORDS EVICTING THESE
TENANTS HAVE NO PROBLEM HIRING
THE MOST EXPENSIVE LEGAL AID.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT UP IS JAKE
FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL.
>> I AM JAKE, I AM A RENTER IN
D6, AND ACTIVIST, AS WELL AS A
VOLUNTEER WHO HAS ORGANIZED, I
AM SPEAKING TODAY IN FAVOR OF
THE BILL FOR KURT RIGHT TO
COUNSEL BUT WITHOUT ANY MEANS
TESTING.
WE GUARANTEE FREE LAWYERS TO
PEOPLE FACING THE TRAUMA OF
IMPRISONMENT AND WE KNOW THAT
90% OF EVICTIONS RESULT IN THE
TRAUMA OF HOMELESSNESS.
THIS IS REALLY A MORAL QUESTION
ABOUT HOW DO WE SUPPORT PEOPLE
FACING TRAUMA.
TWO CUPS MEANS TEST PEOPLE
BEFORE READING THEM THEIR
MIRANDA RIGHTS?
NO, AND MEANS TESTING HAS SHOWN
TO DISSUADE AND PUT A BARRIER
SO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
I SEEN THIS FIRSTHAND WATCHING
DRIVER AFTER DRIVER DECIDED NOT
TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT OR
OTHER VITAL ASSISTANCE THEY ARE
TOTALLY ELIGIBLE FOR BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
OF ENGLISH AS THEIR FIRST
LANGUAGE TO NAVIGATE MORE MEANS
TESTING PAPERWORK, SO MANY
DRIVERS TURNED ON MEANS TESTING
IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN
INFLUENCED --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, NEXT UP
IS GABRIEL FOLLOWED BY CAROL.
GO AHEAD, GABRIEL, REMEMBER TO
PRESS STAR SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
THERE WE GO.
GO AHEAD.
>> GABRIEL, HIT STAR SIX TIME,
WE HAD YOU, THEN YOU WENT AWAY.
OKAY.
DID WE LOSE GABRIEL?
CAN I.T.
LET ME KNOW IF HE IS STILL WITH
US?
>> THE CALLER IS THERE.
>> OKAY.
SO, GABRIEL, IF YOU CAN HIT
STAR SIX, WE DID HAVE YOU A
MINUTE AGO.
ONE MORE TIME, STAR SIX OH.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YEAH, NOW CAN HEAR YOU,
GLAD.
>> OKAY.
MY NAME IS GABRIEL, AND I'M A
RENTER WORKING IN DISTRICT 3. I
AM CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S CALL FOR
THE RIGHT OF TENANTS TO LEGAL
COUNSEL.
ACTUALLY GOES WITHOUT SAYING
THAT THE RIGHT TO A LAWYER IS
ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED IN
FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY, I AM
STRONGLY OPPOSED TO WATERING
DOWN THE STRAIGHT THROUGH
LOOPHOLES, RESTRICTIONS, OR
MEANS TESTING, AND I'M
ESPECIALLY OPPOSED TO MAKING
THOSE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
SOME SORT OF COMPLICATED BUDGET
APPROPRIATION.
ARE DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS SHOULD
NOT BE CONDITIONAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, IS
THIS TRUE?
ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO
RESTRICT THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT
TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION AT THE
LAST MINUTE THROUGH A SECRET
AMENDMENT?
THE CITY HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION
TO ENSURE CITIZENS ARE NOT
TURNED OUT THE HOMES WITHOUT
JUST CAUSE.
I WANT TO THINK THE OFFICE OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S, ALL MY
NEIGHBORS WHO SIGNED THE
PETITION, AND MEMBERS OF THE
COALITION FOR BRINGING THIS
LEGISLATION TO THE TABLE AND
CEASELESSLY ADVOCATING FOR
WORKING PEOPLE.
>> OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE
MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE CHARLOTTE
ON THE LINE WITH S&L.
CHARLOTTE, I'M GOING TO SEE IF
WE CAN HAVE SOME SUCCESS HERE,
CHARLOTTE, IF YOU ARE WITH US,
HIT STAR SIX.
STILL NOT HAVING ANY LUCK. WE
WILL TRY TO COME BACK.
>> CAN HEAR ME?
CAN HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN FINALLY HEAR YOUR.
THERE WE GO, YES.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM A SINGLE MOM AND A
HOMEOWNER, I RENT OUT ROOMS IN
MY HOUSE.
MY ANNUAL INCOME IS LESS THAN
$25,000, INCLUDING THE RENTAL
INCOME.
I HAVE RENTED TWO PEOPLE WHO
MAKE MORE THAN I DO, SO I JUST
WANT TO KNOW, IF YOU ARE GOING
TO GIVE FREE LAWYERS TO TENANTS
FACING EVICTION, WHAT ABOUT A
HOMEOWNER WHO NEEDS TO RENT A
ROOM IT THEIR PROPERTY.
THE CITY IS TAKING SIDES IN A
CIVIL DISPUTE AND I DO NOT SEE
HOW THAT CAN BE LEGAL.
YOU PROVIDED FREE LAWYERS TO
FATHERS IN A CUSTODY DISPUTE,
BUT NOT MOTHERS OR VICE VERSA?
THIS POLICY MAKES NO MORE SENSE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE
WORK THROUGH THOSE TECHNOLOGY
ISSUES.
NEXT UP IS CAROL FOLLOWED BY
SONJA.
>> MY NAME IS CAROL, AND I AM
CALLING FROM THE SHELTER AT
TRINITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT
PEOPLE UNDER THE THREAT OF
EVICTION HAVE A RIGHT TO AN
ATTORNEY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS OF CULLING THEM, NEXT
UP IS SONJA FOLLOWED BY RAUL.
GO AHEAD, SONJA.
SONJA, IF YOU ARE WITH US, JUST
REMEMBER TO HIT STAR SIX.
>> I FINALLY WORKED, OKAY.
I SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S LEGISLATION AGAINST
ANY MEANS TESTING, WHICH IS
HUMILIATING, HEARTLESS, AND
ABSOLUTELY GRATUITOUS.
IT IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT
THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES
LAWYER IS REPEATING TALKING
POINTS FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT,
WHENEVER IN THE RENTER DEFENSE
ATTORNEY HAS PROVED ANY TYPE OF
MEANS TESTING IS BAD.
THIS PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED BY
PUBLIC REVENUE, THE REASON
CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE AGAINST
THIS IS BECAUSE THEY INTENSELY
DISLIKE ANY CHANGE IN POWER
THAT EXISTS BETWEEN ORDINARY
WORKERS AND RENTERS AND THE
CORPORATIONS, AND THEY ARE
TERRIFIED THE BALANCE OF POWER
WILL SHIFT ONE IOTA IN FAVOR OF
WORKING PEOPLE.
CONTRARY TO WHAT WE HAVE HEARD
FROM SOME SMALL LANDLORDS, THEY
WILL HAVE THIS PROVIDED FOR
THEM.
PEOPLE SUFFER MANY REASONS, THE
PRIMARY ONE IS THEY CANNOT
COMPETE WITH THE DEEP POCKETS
OF THE CORPORATE LANDLORD.
BUT LANDLORDS ARE NOT IN THE
BUSINESS OF PROVIDING HOMES,
THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF
MAKING MONEY.
PLEASE PASS THIS WITHOUT --
>> THINK YOU WERE COMING IN,
NEXT UP IS RAUL FOLLOWED BY
LISA.
>> IF YOU ARE WITH US, MAKE
SURE YOU HIT STAR SO WE CAN
HEAR YOU.
ONE MORE TIME, HIT STAR.
OKAY, LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT BE
HAVING SOME TECHNOLOGY
DIFFICULTIES, SO LET'S GO TO
LISA AND THEN WE WILL TRY RAUL
AND MORE TIME.
LISA, PLEASE.
>> I AM SORRY, LISA HAD TO
LEAVE.
>> OKAY, THAT SOUNDS LIKE --
OKAY, SO, LET'S GO TO AND THEN
CATHERINE DAWSON.
>> OKAY, YES.
I AM SPEAKING FROM THE WHEEL
SHELTER AT TRINITY.
WE KNOW THAT HOMELESS PEOPLE
DIE AT AN AVERAGE AGE OF 48.
AND THAT EVICTION EXTREMELY
RAISES THE RISK OF HOMELESSNESS
, SO, EVICTION IS BASICALLY THE
THREAT OF A DEATH SENTENCE.
ANYBODY UNDER THE THREAT OF A
DEATH SENTENCE HAS A RIGHT TO
COUNSEL.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS IDEA
OF MEANS TESTING.
HONEST.
ANYBODY WITH THE MEANS TO HIRE
A LAWYER PROBABLY ISN'T AT RISK
, AND IS GOING TO HIRE THEIR
OWN LAWYER AND WERE.
DON'T SPEND MORE MONEY ON A
PROCESS THAT IS COMPLETELY
UNNECESSARY.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT UP IS
CATHERINE DAWSON.
GO AHEAD, JUST PRESS STAR SIX
SO WE CAN HERE.
>> THANKS, HI, YES, MY NAME IS
CATHERINE, I AM A SKILLFUL
RESIDENT AND I'M GOING TO VOICE
MY SUPPORT TO THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL LEGISLATION THAT HAS
BEEN PUT FORWARD BY COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT.
IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
OFFERS PROTECTION TO PEOPLE
FACING EVICTION WITHOUT AN
ADDITIONAL AREA OF MEANS
TESTING.
I DO STRONGLY OPPOSE ANY
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD TIE THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL THE BUDGET
APPROPRIATION.
I HOPE COUNCIL MEMBER DOES NOT
WATERED DOWN THESE PROTECTIONS
AND ANY PERSON FACING EVICTION
SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN
ATTORNEY WITHOUT JUMPING
THROUGH HOOPS.
WE KNOW COVERTLY ABLE TO EXERT
DISPROPORTIONAL POWER IN
SEATTLE AND CAN ALWAYS AFFORD
LAWYERS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT WORKING
PEOPLE CAN BE DEVASTATED BY
EVICTION.
THAT IMPACT IS NOT DISTRIBUTED
EQUALLY.
PEOPLE WITH MARGINALIZED
IDENTITIES, INCLUDING PEOPLE
WHO ARE LGBTQ PLUS, DISABLED,
NOR DIVERSE, MENTALLY ILL, ARE
MORE LIKELY TO FACE EVICTIONS
AND HOMELESSNESS.
EVICTIONS HAVE BROUGHT A
CASCADE OF DIFFICULTIES, THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR WORKING
PEOPLE.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> LET'S TRY RAUL ONE MORE
TIME.
IS YOU ARE WITH US, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX AFTER YOU HAVE
HEARD THE PROMPT, YOU HAVE BEEN
AN MUTED.
>> MY NAME IS RAUL, AM A NEW
RESIDENT IN SEATTLE.
AND A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 6.
SO, I DO AGREE THAT PEOPLE WHO
ARE ACTUALLY DESERVING NEED
SOME HELP, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT THE SMALL LANDLORDS
ALSO. YOU CANNOT BE UNFAIR TO
THE OTHER ONES, SO, I AM, I AM
NOT SURE ABOUT THAT THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
I'M GOING TO DO ONE MORE SWEEP
HERE OF THE SHEET TO SEE WHO IS
BOTH REGISTERED AND PRESENT, I
AM NOT SEEING ANY OTHER FOLKS
WHO ARE BOTH REGISTERED AND
PRESENT ON MY SPREADSHEET, SO,
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
AND DIG INTO OTHER ITEMS.
BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA, SO,
NEXT UP IS PAYMENT OF BILLS,
WHILE THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE.
>> CONSTABLE 1200 22 ORDERING
THE PAYMENT THEREOF.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND MOVED
TO PASS COUNSEL BILL 120022, IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED THAT THE BILL
PASSED, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
HERE YOU KNOW, IT'S, WITH THE
CLERK.
ROLE IN THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
26
>> AYE.
27
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
WANT
>> YES.
TO
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
FOR
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> AYE . WITH THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> REPORT OF THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE,
AGENDA ITEM ONE, RELATING TO
RESIDENTIAL EVICTIONS
GUARANTEEING THE RIGHT TO LEGAL
COUNSEL REGARDLESS OF ABILITY
TO PAY FOR ANY RESIDENTIAL
RENTER IN SEATTLE RESPONDING TO
AN UNLAWFUL DETAINER SUIT AND
ADDING A NEW SECTION TO THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
THE BILL PASSED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ,
MORALES, AND LEWIS IN FAVOR AND
PEDERSEN OPPOSED.
>> EVERY EVICTION IS AN ACT OF
VIOLENCE, AN ACT OF VIOLENCE
AGAINST THE RENTERS WHO ARE
TRAUMATIZED, DISPLACED,
CERTAINLY FORCED INTO DAILY
SURVIVAL MODE.
WHEN HE EVICTIONS ARE AGAINST
CHILDREN WHO ARE FORCED TO MOVE
AWAY FROM SCHOOLS AND FRIENDS,
AND AGAINST THE ADULTS WERE
FORCED AWAY FROM COMMUNITY AND
SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS.
EVERY EVICTION ADDS TO OUR
COMMUNITY'S MISERY AND
SUFFERING.
IT ACCELERATES RACIST
GENTRIFICATION.
THIS BILL WOULD GUARANTEE THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL THAT IS A
RIGHT TO A LAWYER TO ANY RENTER
IN SEATTLE FACING EVICTION.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOUR
LANDLORD ATTEMPTS TO EVICT YOU,
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO A LAWYER
BEING WITH YOU, DEFENDING YOU
IN COURT, JUST LIKE PEOPLE HAVE
THE RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY IF
THEY ARE ACCUSED OF A CRIME.
THIS BILL COMMITS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO CONTRACT FOR ALL THE
LEGAL REPRESENTATION NEEDED SO
THAT EVICTION DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
DEFEND EVERY RENTER WITHOUT
EXCEPTION FACING EVICTION WHO
NEEDS HELP.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, ABOUT 1200
RENTERS IN SEATTLE FACED
EVICTION EVERY YEAR.
EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, WITH
THE MORATORIUM IN PLACE,
LANDLORDS HAVE FILED MORE THAN
300 EVICTION CASES WITH THE
COURT AS THEY ARE EXPLOITING
LOOPHOLES IN THE MORATORIUM.
ANYMORE TENANTS ON TOP OF THAT
ARE CONSTANTLY EVICTING PEOPLE
FROM THEIR HOMES.
TENANTS ARE UNDERSTANDABLY
INTIMIDATED WHEN THEY GET AN
EVICTION NOTICE BECAUSE THEY
KNOW THE EVICTION SYSTEM IN
SEATTLE IS COMPLETELY STACKED
AGAINST THEM, AND THEY JUST
MOVE OUT AND UNDERTAKE GREATER
PRECARIOUSNESS AND HOUSING IN
ORDER TO AVOID THE WHOLE
EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO COURT
ARE NOT GOING TO COURT AND
GETTING EVICTED.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR
BLACK COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE
GIVEN EVICTION NOTICES AT THREE
TIMES THE RATE FOR OTHER
TENANTS.
WITHOUT THIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL
LEGISLATION, WE CAN EXPECT A
TSUNAMI OF EVICTIONS ONCE THE
CITY AND STATE MORATORIUMS
EXPIRE AS RENTERS WILL STILL BE
STRUGGLING UNDER THE DOUBLE
BLOWS OF THE RECESSION AND THE
COVID-19 HEALTH CRISIS AND WILL
BE BURDENED WITH THAT AND THIS
LEGISLATION WILL NOT BE ENOUGH,
WE WILL NEED MORE.
WE KNOW THAT EVICTION IT
DESTROYS COMMUNITIES, REX
HOUSEHOLDS, AND EVEN KILLS.
THE 2018 REPORT FOUND THAT 87.5%
, NEARLY 9 OUT OF 10 RENTERS
WHO ARE EVICTED END UP
HOMELESS.
IN THE STUDY OF 2017 EVICTIONS,
THE AUTHORS OF THE REPORT FOUND
THAT SOME TENANTS EVEN DIED
SHORTLY AFTER BEING EVICTED.
ACCORDING TO THE EVICTION LAB
AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY,
DESPITE THE PANDEMIC AND THE
EVICTION MORATORIUMS, LANDLORDS
HAVE FILED 272,612 EVICTIONS
SINCE MARCH LAST YEAR, IN JUST
THE 27 CITIES THAT THE EVICTION
LAB HAS BEEN TRACKING.
GROWING EVIDENCE, THEY SAY,
SHOWS THAT MORE AND MORE
EVICTIONS ARE NOT DRIVEN BY SO-
CALLED MOM AND POP LANDLORDS
STRUGGLING TO BALANCE THEIR
PERSONAL CHECKBOOKS.
SINCE THE CDC EVICTION
MORATORIUMS TOOK EFFECT LAST
SEPTEMBER, EVICTIONS AND
CORPORATE LANDLORDS HAVE
ACTUALLY BEEN STEADILY
INCREASING.
RESEARCH BY THE PRIVATE EQUITY
STAKEHOLDERS PROJECT, A
RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION, HAS TRACKED
NEARLY 50,000 EVICTIONS BY
CORPORATE LANDLORDS IN SELECT
COUNTIES IN SIX STATES SINCE
THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER LAST
YEAR AND FOUND THAT CORPORATE
LANDLORDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE MAJORITY AND SOMETIMES THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
EVICTIONS.
SEATTLE IS NO EXCEPTION TO
THIS.
MAJOR CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE
THE MAIN A VICTORS IN OUR CITY.
THE MOST EVICTING LANDLORD IN
2019 WAS GOODMAN REAL ESTATE, A
CORPORATION WITH $2.5 MILLION
WORTH OF PROPERTY HOLDINGS IN
THE U.S. AND CANADA.
OTHER MAJOR A VICTORS INCLUDE
REGIONAL GIANT EPIC ASSET
MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL
LANDLORD CORNER MANAGEMENT
CORPORATION, THE AMERICAN CIVIL
LIBERTIES UNION FOUND THAT
NATIONALLY 90% OF LANDLORDS ARE
REPRESENTED IN EVICTION COURT,
BUT ONLY 10% OF TENANTS ARE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE, AS A
STRUGGLING TENANT FACING
EVICTION, PERHAPS BECAUSE YOU
JUST LOST YOUR LOW-WAGE JOB,
GOING UP AGAINST THE LIKES OF
ATTORNEYS FROM GOODMAN REAL
ESTATE?
OUR RIGHT TO COUNSEL
LEGISLATION WILL GIVE THESE
TENANTS AT LEAST A FIGHTING
CHANCE IN COURT WHEN I HAVE TO
GO UP AGAINST THESE GREEDY
CORPORATE LANDLORDS AND THEIR
GREEDY LAWYERS.
THE IMPACT FROM THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL AS WE HAVE SEEN IN
CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT
HAVE PASSED SIMILAR
LEGISLATION, IS ABSOLUTELY
ASTOUNDING.
WITH A LAWYER, FAR FEWER PEOPLE
ARE EVICTED.
THIS IS BECAUSE UNJUST
EVICTIONS ARE OVERTURNED IN
COURT AND IT IS BECAUSE
EVICTION DEFENSE ATTORNEYS CAN
AND DO HELP CONNECT PEOPLE WITH
SOCIAL SERVICES WHEN THEY ARE
NEEDED.
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT IN
SEATTLE, FOR EXAMPLE, WORKS
CLOSELY WITH HOMEBASE, WHICH
ADMINISTERS RENTAL ASSISTANCE
FUNDS SO THEY CAN HELP PEOPLE
PAY BACK RENT AND PRESENT BACK
TO A JUDGE TO PREVENT THE
EVICTION.
STATISTICALLY, EVEN FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE ULTIMATELY EVICTED,
HAVING AN ATTORNEY STILL
IMPROVES THE OUTCOMES WITH
RENTERS SADDLED WITH LESS
CRUSHING DEBTS.
BUT ALL OF THIS IS NOT THE END
OF THE STORY.
IT IS ALSO BECAUSE, WHEN THERE
IS A UNIVERSAL RIGHT FOR
RENTERS TO HAVE A TRAINED
ATTORNEY WITH THEM IN COURT,
THAT GIVES CORPORATE LANDLORDS
PAUSE FROM ISSUING EVICTION
NOTICES IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IN NEW YORK, THE RATE OF
EVICTION FILINGS DROPPED BY A
STUNNING 30% SINCE THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL LEGISLATION PASSED,
BECAUSE LANDLORDS KNOW THEY CAN
NO LONGER USE THE COURTS TO
BULLY RENTERS WHO HAVE NO LEGAL
HELP. THEY'RE GOING TO GO UP
AGAINST A TRAINED ATTORNEY.
THESE ARE ALL THE PRIMARY
REASONS TO SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL, BECAUSE OF HUMAN
IMPACT OF EVICTIONS ON RENTERS
AND THE PROGRESSIVE OUTCOME
OVERALL FOR OUR SOCIETY BY
REFUSING HOUSING INSTABILITY
AND HOMELESSNESS, NOT TO MENTION
THE RACIAL COMPONENT OF THIS,
GIVING UNIVERSAL RIGHT TO
COUNSEL IS A BLACK LIVES MATTER
ISSUE.
BUT EVEN THROUGH THE NARROW
LENS OF THE CITY PROPER
FINANCES, THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
IS SENSIBLE.
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT, FOR
EXAMPLE, IS ESTIMATED AT
GUARANTEEING THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL WILL COST APPROXIMATELY
$750,000 IN A NORMAL YEAR, BY A
NORMAL YEAR, I MEAN AN, A
NORMAL YEAR WITHOUT EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
I APPRECIATE THE COSPONSORSHIP
AND I URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION
WITHOUT WATERING IT DOWN WITH
LOAN -- ONE LOOPHOLE OR ANOTHER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MEMBER SAWANT, WE
ARE GOING TO CONSIDER SEVERAL
AMENDMENTS , MY SUGGESTION IS
THAT WE DEBATE AND VOTE ON EACH
AMENDMENT BEFORE WE MAKE
COMMENTS ON THE LEGISLATION AS
A WHOLE, IF THAT IS ACCEPTABLE
FOR YOU FOLKS, I WOULD LIKE TO
PROCEED IN THAT MANNER.
AND THEN, COUNSEL FOR SAWANT AS
A SPONSOR OF THE BILL, YOU WILL
HAVE LAST, THE LAST WORD AS IS
REQUIRED UNDER THE COUNCIL
RULES, YOU WILL HAVE THE LAST
WORD ON THE BILL BEFORE WE
CLOSE OUT, IN CLOSING THE
DEBATE, YOU WILL HAVE THE LAST
WORD ON THE BILL, JUST WANT TO
SORT OF SAY THAT UP FRONT.
AS IS CUSTOMARY, LET'S GO AHEAD
AND DEAL WITH THE AMENDMENTS,
IF THAT IS OKAY WITH YOU.
OKAY, I'M GETTING A HEAD NOD,
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO.
FIRST UP, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO
THEM IN ORDER OF THE NUMBER OF
AMENDMENTS LISTED ON THE
AGENDA, SO THAT MEANS THE FIRST
AMENDMENT IS AMENDMENT ONE,
WHICH IS ADVANCED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I'M
GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO MAKE
HER MOTION.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I MOVED TO AMEND COUNSEL
BILL 12 007 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT ONE ON THE AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT ONE, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS AMENDMENT ONE.
>> THINK IS MUCH, THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD SPECIFY THAT
AN ATTORNEY ORGANIZATION WITH,
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTIONS AND INSPECTIONS
WOULD CONTRACT WITH, THAT THAT
ORGANIZATION SHOULD HAVE
EXPERIENCE PROVIDING LEGAL
REPRESENTATION TO TENANTS.
THIS AMENDMENT WAS SUGGESTED BY
AN ADVOCATE WHO HAS DEEP
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH TENANTS
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE IN THIS
INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE, THEY
WROTE THAT THE MANY LEGAL AID
ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT JUST
PROVIDE ADVICE ABOUT NOTICES OR
ON THE OTHER HAND, MIGHT ONLY
REPRESENT TENANTS AND SOME VERY
NARROW CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS BILL ISN'T A FUNDING
MECHANISM, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT THE COUNCIL INCLUDE IN OUR
INTENTION THAT THIS BILL FOR
FUTURE FUNDING THAT WOULD
SUPPORT THIS POLICY BE MADE
AVAILABLE ONLY TO THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS WILLING TO
REPRESENT TENANTS IN A
COURTROOM IN THE BROAD
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THIS BILL
CONTEMPLATES.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
AMENDMENT ONE?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNSEL NEVER
HERBOLD, THIS AMENDMENT
PROVIDES CLARIFYING LANGUAGE
THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
INTENT OF THE LEGISLATION .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
AMENDMENT ONE?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON AMENDMENT ONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL ROLE ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
ONE
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER GONZALES.
>> YES.
THE AMENDED BILL IS NOW BEFORE
THE COUNCIL.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD , I'M
GOING TO HAND IT BACK OVER TO
YOU TO MAKE THAT MOTION AND TO
SOLICIT A SECOND.
>> I MOVED TO AMEND COUNSEL BILL
12 007 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT TWO.
>> SECOND.
>> THINK IS SO MUCH, IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, BACK TO
YU TO DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT REGARDING
FUTURE REPORTING OBLIGATIONS,
AND, THE AMENDMENT WOULD
REQUIRE THE ORGANIZATION WITH
WHOM THE CITY CONTRACTS WILL
PROVIDE REPORTING ON NUMBERS OF
CASES FOR REPRESENTATION THAT
OCCURS OUTSIDE OF THE INITIAL
APPEARANCE SHOW CAUSE HEARING.
MOST CASES, VAST MAJORITY OF
CASES ARE RESOLVED AT THE
INITIAL APPEARANCE OR HEARING,
IN FACT, THE LAST YEAR FOR
WHICH WE HAVE DATA IN 2018,
ONLY 11 CASES OF A TOTAL OF
NEARLY 9000 CASES ACTUALLY WENT
TO TRIAL.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAD SOME REALLY
IMPORTANT AND TRANSFORMATIONAL
STATEWIDE AND LOCAL EVICTION
LAW REFORMS, AND IT IS QUITE
POSSIBLE, GIVEN THAT THOSE
REFORMS INHERENTLY GIVE TENANTS
, AND LARGELY TENANTS WHO ARE
SUBJECT TO EVICTION FOR
NONPAYMENT UPFRONT, GIVES THEM
A BASIS TO OPPOSE THEIR
EVICTION IN COURT FOR THE FIRST
TIME, SO, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
THERE HAVE BEEN LARGER NUMBERS
OF CASES THAT ARE ACTUALLY
GOING TO TRIAL, RATHER THAN
BEING RESOLVED IN THIS INITIAL
HEARING, IN CASES THAT GO TO
TRIAL, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE
MORE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO
CONTINUE THE FUNDING OF THIS
REALLY IMPORTANT RIGHT TO
COUNSEL POLICY.
SO, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
REQUIRE THAT THE PROVIDERS
PROVIDING THE SERVICE INCLUDE
THIS INFORMATION AS A REPORT,
AS REQUIRED BY THE CONTRACT,
AND INFORM THE COUNCIL IN THE
FUTURE ABOUT WHETHER FURTHER
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES NEED TO BE
MADE TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES THAT
COULD BE BROUGHT ON BY A FUTURE
INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR
REPRESENTATION THROUGHOUT THE
PERIOD OF A LONGER TRIAL.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT TWO?
SEEING AND HEARING NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT TWO, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL ROLE ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TWO?
25
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> YES.
>> THE MOTION CARRIED, THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED AND THE
BILL HAS NOW, IT INCLUDES
AMENDMENT TWO AS WELL.
IS SO, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND MOVE NOW TO AMENDMENT
THREE, WHICH IS MY AMENDMENT, I
MOVE TO AMEND COUNSEL BILL
120007 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT THREE ON THE AGENDA,
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
AFFECTED TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED, I WILL SPONSOR THE
AMENDMENT, ADDRESS IT, AND WE
WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND
DISCUSSION OF THE AMENDMENT.
AS I MENTIONED THIS MORNING, I
WAS INTERESTED IN PURSUING AN
AMENDMENT THAT ACCOMPLISHED TWO
THINGS, ONE, THAT MADE THE BILL
LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE, AND A MORE
WORKABLE BILL, THAT WOULD
ACTUALLY BRING TO FRUITION THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL TO THOSE
TENANTS WHO NEED IT THE MOST,
AND SECONDARILY, I HAVE A
STRONG INTEREST IN SUPPORTING
THIS POLICY AND ENSURING ACCESS
TO LEGAL AID FOR THOSE TENANTS
WHO NEED IT THE MOST, SO, MY
OFFICE PURSUED THIS PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT, WHICH ACCOMPLISHES A
FEW SIMPLE THINGS.
SO, FIRST OF ALL, THIS BILL AS
A RECITAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THE COUNCIL'S INTENT TO MINIMIZE
, THE COUNCIL HAS AN INTENT TO
MINIMIZE AS MANY BARRIERS AS
POSSIBLE, SECOND, AMENDMENT
THREE ESTABLISHES THAT ANY
TENANT RESIDING IN SEATTLE HAS
THE RIGHT TO LEGAL COUNSEL FREE
OF CHARGE IF ATTENDED NEEDS A
SIMPLE INDIGENCY STANDARD.
THIS STANDARD IS MODELED ON THE
SAME STANDARD UTILIZED IN THE
IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED BY CITY
COUNCIL IN 2016.
THE DEFINITION OF INDIGENCY
FOCUSES ON THE INABILITY TO
AFFORD AN ATTORNEY AT ANY POINT
DURING AN UNLAWFUL DETAINER
LAWSUIT.
THIRD, THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS
THE CONTRACT OF LEGAL SERVICE
PROVIDERSTO ESTABLISH THE
PROCESS AND MANNER BY WHICH TO
VERIFY INDIGENCY.
THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE
SIMILAR TO THE STEPS TAKEN BY
SERVICE PROVIDERS IN OTHER
CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE SELF
CERTIFICATION PROCESS APPROVED
IN THE COVID-19 EVICTION
DEFENSE BILL LAST YEAR.
THE TENANT SIMPLY NEEDS TO SIGN
A FORM AT THEIR APPEARANCE IN
EVICTION COURT THAT COULD BE A
SIMPLE THING AS SAYING AS I
CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY AND
THEN SIGNING THAT FORM AND
BEING THEREFORE IMMEDIATELY
ELIGIBLE FOR RECEIVING FREE
LEGAL AID, SO, WE ARE NOT
TALKING ABOUT A PROCESS BY WHICH
BY WHICH A TENANT IS GOING TO
HAVE TO PRESENT A MOUNTAIN FULL
OF PAPERWORK IN ORDER TO PROVE
THAT THEY ARE INDIGENT, IT IS
AS SIMPLE AS THE PROCESS THAT
WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE FOR
LEGAL DEFENSE, WHICH IS A SELF
ATTESTATION OR CERTIFICATION
THAT YOU, INDEED, CANNOT PAY
FOR YOUR OWN ATTORNEY IN THIS
UNLAWFUL DETAINER ACTION.
I BELIEVE THIS IS VERY SIMPLE,
I BELIEVE THAT MOST INDIVIDUALS
WHO NEED THE ACCESS TO LEGAL
AID ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
EASILY, SIMPLY, AND IN
COLLABORATION WITH SERVICE
PROVIDERS WHO HAVE A STRONG
INTEREST IN PROVIDING LEGAL
SERVICES TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS,
IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH THE COUNCIL'S
UNDERLYING POLICY GOALS, MAKING
SURE WE HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL AID
, SO, AGAIN, I BELIEVE THIS
LANGUAGE IS GOING TO MINIMIZE
THE RISKS OF HAVING THIS LOSS
SURVIVE A LEGAL CHALLENGE,
WHICH I BELIEVE IS ALMOST GOING
TO CERTAINLY HAPPEN.
WHILE ALSO PROVIDING ACCESS TO
A RIGHT TO COUNSEL TO THOSE
THAT NEED IT.
THIS AMENDMENT, AGAIN, IS A
REMINDER, IS MODELED AFTER THE
IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED IN 2016. IN
THAT CASE, WE ALSO INCLUDED AN
INDIGENT STANDARD, AGAIN, IN
THE THREE YEARS OF EXISTENCE,
THE DEFENSE FUND HAS HELPED
HUNDREDS OF IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES FIGHTING DEPORTATION
PROCEEDINGS WHILE HAVING NO
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN OR EFFECT
ON THOSE SEEKING SERVICES AS A
RESULT OF THE INDIGENT STANDARD
AND THE SELF CERTIFICATION
PROCESS I THAT CONTEXT, AGAIN,
THIS WAS UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED.
SO, I WOULD, TODAY, ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT IN VOTING IN FAVOR
OF AMENDMENT THREE.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE SOME
COMMENTS HERE, WE ARE GOING TO
OPEN UP THE FLOOR, FIRST UP IS
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
YOU ARE NOT ON MUTE, ACTUALLY.
YOU ARE READY TO GO.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALES, FOR BRINGING FORTH
THIS AMENDMENT TO MAKE THIS
BILL STRONGER
THIS AMENDMENT IS NOT AN
EXAMPLE OF MEANS TESTING.
LEGAL SERVICES DIVIDERS CAN
SIMPLY ASK RENTERS TO SIGN A
STATEMENT THAT THEY ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR THIS SERVICE, AND
AFTER DOING SO, THEY ARE
IMMEDIATELY ENTITLED TO
REPRESENTATION.
THERE IS NO TEST FOR ANYONE TO
HAVE TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS AND
WAIT FOR THE TEST TO BE GRADED.
IT IS NOT MEANS TESTING.
MEANS TESTING IS A METHOD FOR
DETERMINING WHETHER SOMEONE
QUALIFIES FOR FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO OBTAIN A SERVICE
OR GOOD AND IT LOOKS AT THE
MEANS OR MONETARY RESOURCES
THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS
AVAILABLE TO THEM TO PAY FOR A
PARTICULAR SERVICE OR GOOD.
THEN IT DETERMINES THE PERSON'S
ACCESS TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
IS BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO
PAY FOR IT.
AGAIN, THIS AMENDMENT DOES NOT
REQUIRE MEANS TESTING.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL MAKE THE
RIGHT STRONGER FOR ELIGIBLE
RENTERS.
STRONGER TO RESIST LEGAL
CHALLENGE FROM THOSE WHO DO NOT
WANTANYONE TO HAVE THE RIGHT.
JUST ONE PERSON RECEIVING A
FREE ATTORNEY WHEN THEY HAVE
SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN
ATTORNEY COULD BRING THE HARD
EARNED RIGHT TO COUNSEL LAW
DOWN.
I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE THAT
RISK.
THIS AMENDMENT ENSURES THAT THE
GREATEST NUMBER AND THOSE MOST
IN NEED ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
ASSISTANCE WHEN FACING EVICTION
WITH THE MOST MINIMAL OF
REQUIREMENTS.
I HAVE SEEN DATA THAT MEANS
TESTING CAN BE A BARRIER TO
SERVICES, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY
DATA THAT IS SELF ATTESTATION
OF POVERTY IS A BARRIER TO
SERVICES.
NO ONE IS CATERING TO BIG
LANDLORDS OR CREATING LOOPHOLES
TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE ACCESS TO THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL THAT THIS POLICY
SERVES.
NOR ARE WE WATERING ANYTHING
DOWN.
THEY'RE TRYING TO PASS A BILL
TO ENSURE THAT TENANTS CAN
REMAIN HOUSED WHEN THEY ARE
UNAWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS OR
DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS, THAT
IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT
WE ENSURE THIS LEGISLATION CAN
STAND UP TO LEGAL CHALLENGES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNSEL FOR
HERBOLD.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES IS NEXT
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
>> I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TO
ADD THAN WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD SAID, IT IS THE CASE
THAT RIGHT NOW , LEGAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS ALREADY ASKED A
SIMILAR QUESTION ABOUT ONE
POSSIBILITY TO PAY, AND THIS
AMENDMENT DOESN'T ADD
REQUIREMENTS FOR DETAILED
INCOME INFORMATION, IT IS SIMPLY
QUANTIFYING WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN PRACTICE, AND LEAVES TO THE
PROVIDERS DECISIONS ABOUT HOW
TO SET PARAMETERS FOR HOW TO
DETERMINE THAT, SO, I DON'T
THINK THAT IT CREATES ANY
ADDITIONAL BARRIER, IT JUST
CODIFIES SOME OF THE THINGS
ALREADY HAPPENING, AND I INTEND
TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.
DUE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> I OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT TO
INSERT MEANS TESTING OR ANY
OTHER KIND OF REQUIREMENT FOR
PEOPLE TO HAVE TO QUALIFY FOR
THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
I BELIEVE THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
SHOULD BE UNIVERSALLY AVAILABLE
FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.
JUST BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A
STANDARD USED IN A PREVIOUS
LEGISLATION IS NOT A GOOD
ENOUGH REASON TO REPRODUCE IT
IN THIS LEGISLATION.
COUNCILMEMBERS MAY WANT TO CALL
IT HAPPY JOY TESTING IF YOU
WANT, IT IS STILL MEANS
TESTING.
IT IS ASKING PEOPLE TO GO
THROUGH SOME KIND OF HOOP, JUMP
THROUGH SOME KIND OF HOOP
BEFORE THEY QUALIFY.
PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE
UNIVERSAL RIGHTS. I ALSO DO NOT
AGREE WITH THE IDEA THAT THIS
AMENDMENT MAKES THE LEGISLATION
QUOTE UNQUOTE LEGALLY
DEFENSIBLE.
EVICTION DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
THEMSELVES HAVE MADE IT VERY
CLEAR THAT SUCH AMENDMENTS ARE
NOT NEEDED TO MAKE THIS
LEGISLATION LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHICH
MAKES ANY LAW PASSED STRONG,
PROGRESSIVE LAW, PASSED STRONG
AGAINST LEGAL CHALLENGES BY
CORPORATIONS, THE WEALTHY,
CORPORATE LANDLORDS, IS A
FIGHTING UNITED MOVEMENT OF
WORKING PEOPLE, RENTERS, AND
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO HAVE AND
LIVE IN AFFORDABLE AND JUST
CITY.
THE RIGHT TO HAVE A LAWYER TO
PREVENT EVICTION SHOULD BE
AVAILABLE FOR EVERY RENTER
FACING EVICTION, JUST LIKE ALL
THE BEST PUBLIC SERVICES.
THAT IS NO MEANS TESTED TO USE
THE PUBLIC ROOMS, THEY ARE
AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE.
THERE IS NO MEANS TEST FOR
PUBLIC EDUCATION OR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, THERE IS NO MEANS
TESTING TO USE THE LIGHTS, THE
STREETLIGHTS, FEDERALLY, SOCIAL
SECURITY IS AVAILABLE TO
EVERYONE, AND BECAUSE OF THAT,
HAS ENDURED FOR 86 YEARS,
ALMOST A CENTURY, DESPITE
REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO DISMANTLE
IT BY THE RULING CLASS, BOTH
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC
ADMINISTRATIONS.
BECAUSE THESE CRUCIAL PUBLIC
SERVICES OR NOT MEANS TESTED,
NOBODY IS SHAMED OR HUMILIATED
FOR USING THEM.
ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL
SERVICES, ANY MEANS TESTING,
EVEN THE LEAST INVASIVE ASPECTS
OR TYPES, HAS THE EFFECT OF
PREVENTING SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE PEOPLE FROM USING
THE SERVICE.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THE REASON THIS
MEANS TESTING AMENDMENT FROM
CITY COUNCIL DEMOCRATS IS NOT
AS BAD OR INVASIVE OR ONEROUS
AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN, IS
BECAUSE THE RENTERS' RIGHTS AND
SOCIALIST ACTIVIST MOVEMENT WHO
ORGANIZED TO WIN THIS
LEGISLATION SAID LOUDLY THAT WE
OPPOSE MEANS TESTING, AND WE
VOICED OUR OPPOSITION IN A
UNIFIED MANNER, WHICH MADE OUR
COLLECTIVE VOICE SO POWERFUL.
I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO
THE UNIONS, THE ACLU, THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROGRAM, MANY
OTHERS FOR SPEAKING AGAINST ANY
KIND OF MEANS TESTING.
WE SAW THAT ORGANIZING IN
PUBLIC, TODAY, WHICH HAS MADE
IT VERY CLEAR THE HARM THAT
MEANS TESTING COULD DO, AND HAS
EXPOSED TO THE LIGHT OF DAY,
ATTEMPTS BY DEMOCRATS TO BRING
FAR WORSE AMENDMENTS.
HOWEVER, EVEN WHEN THE PROCESS
IS NOT ONEROUS, PEOPLE ARE
HESITANT ABOUT USING ANY KIND
OF MEANS TESTED SERVICES,
BECAUSE, AS I SAID, THEY FEEL
HUMILIATED OR THEY ARE NOT SURE
THEY ARE ELIGIBLE, OR THEY HAVE
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HOW
DIFFICULT THE APPLICATION WILL
BE.
THE REALITY OF EVICTION IN KING
COUNTY SHOWS THAT THE EVICTION
PROCESS IN WASHINGTON MAKES THE
USE OF ANY KIND OF TEST
UNWORKABLE, UNLIKE TERMINAL
PROCEEDINGS, THIS IS DESIGNED
TO BE VERY QUICK AND AS LITTLE
AS THREE WEEKS FROM A TIME A
TENANT MISSES A RENTAL PAYMENT.
LIKE A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING
WHICH IS MUCH LONGER AND
INVOLVES MULTIPLE COURT DATES,
MOST TENANTS HAVE ONLY ONE
COURT DATE.
FOR THAT ONE COURT DATE, WE
SHOULD NOT, AS A LEGISLATURE,
BE PUTTING ANY BARRIERS,
HOWEVER LESS INVASIVE.
MEANS TESTING HAS ALWAYS BEEN
USED POLITICALLY BY PROBATE
BUSINESS POLITICIANS, BOTH
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, FOR
OVER 40 YEARS TO DIVIDE AND
CONQUER AND MAKE IT EASY TO
DISMANTLE THE PROGRAMS OR AT
LEAST GOT THEM IN THE FUTURE.
ONE REASON FORMER PRESIDENT
BILL CLINTON WAS ABLE TO DESTROY
IT IN 1996, WAS BECAUSE WHEN IT
WAS FIRST SET UP, IT WAS SET UP
AFTER MEANS TESTING.
THROUGHOUT THE EXISTENCE OF
THESE PROGRAMS, THERE HAVE BEEN
WILDLY -- THESE FABRICATIONS
WERE USED BY CLINTON, ALONG
WITH LEGISLATORS FROM BOTH
POLITICAL PARTIES, TO CUT THE
WELFARE PROGRAMS.
MOST IMPORTANT REASON TO REJECT
THIS MEANS TESTING AMENDMENT,
IS BECAUSE OF THE MISSED
OPPORTUNITY TO SET A BETTER
PRESIDENT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALES REFERRED TO TWO OTHER
MEANS TESTED SERVICES IN SEATTLE
, AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE,
THIS CITY COUNCIL IS POPULATED
BY SELF-DESCRIBED PROGRESSIVE
DEMOCRATS.
IS ONE SOCIALIST.
RATHER THAN SEATTLE WATERING
DOWN LOCAL RENTER PROTECTIONS
BEING MADE ELSEWHERE OR WERE
MADE IN THE PAST, MY QUESTION
IS, WHY AREN'T AGGRESSIVE
DEMOCRATS SUPPORTING THE
LEGISLATION WITHOUT ANY
WATERING DOWN, ANY MEANS
TESTING, HOWEVER LESS INVASIVE
IT MAY BE, AND USE THAT
PRESIDENT TO DEMAND THE
LEGISLATORS FOLLOW SUIT, AND
PASS A STRONG LAW.
FINALLY, I WANT TO ALSO
EMPHASIZE THAT ALL THESE
ILLUSIONS TO LEGAL CONCERNS ARE
NOT ACCEPTABLE, BECAUSE, AS I
SAID, AND I WANTED TO REITERATE,
RENTERS' RIGHTS ATTORNEYS
THEMSELVES HAVE ROUNDLY
REJECTED IT.
RENTERS' RIGHTS ATTORNEYS WANT
A BOWL THAT STANDS UP IN COURT.
THEY ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF
WANTING THE LEGISLATURE, LIKE
THE CITY COUNCIL, TO PASS LAWS
THAT WON'T STAND UP IN COURT.
ABSOLUTELY WANT ABLE TO STAND
UP IN COURT, IT IS NOT IN THEIR
INTEREST TO CREATE ANY LEGAL
VULNERABILITIES, AND THEY ARE
STRONGLY SUPPORTING THIS
LEGISLATION WITHOUT ANY
WATERING DOWN.
THE IDEA THAT MEANS TESTING IS
NECESSARY IS AN IDEA THAT IS
ONLY EVER HOISTED ON THE MOST
VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR
SOCIETY.
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS,
WE HAVE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, MANY EXAMPLES OF
PROGRAMS TO GIVE HANDOUTS TO
THE RICH AND POWERFUL THAT HAVE
NO MEANS TESTING WHATSOEVER,
WHETHER ONEROUS OR NOT.
THERE WAS NO MEANS TESTING FOR
SEATTLE MANAGERS TO PROVE THEY
NEEDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR
THEIR STADIUM, THERE WAS NO
MEANS TESTING LANDLORDS TO GET
COMPENSATION FROM THE CITY TO
OTHER LEGISLATION, THERE IS NO
MEANS TESTING WHEN THE CITY
PAID TENS OF MILLIONS IT TO THE
WEALTHY WATERFRONT BUSINESSES
TO COMPENSATE FOR THE
INTERRUPTION OF THEIR SIDEWALK
ACCESS DURING THE SEAWALL
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT THERE WAS A
MEANS TEST WHEN THE CITY
INVESTED ALMOST HALF 1 BILLION
REBUILDING THE STREETS TO
ACCOMMODATE AMAZON'S CAMPUS.
THERE WAS NO MEANS TESTING IN
WASHINGTON STATE GAVE BOEING
EXECUTIVES AND MAJOR
SHAREHOLDERS A $9 BILLION
CORPORATE TAX BREAKS, THERE'S
NO MEANS TEST FOR ELECTRIC
OFFICIALS IN SEATTLE TO PAY
THEMSELVES EXORBITANT EXTENDED
SOLIDS.
MEANS TESTING IS NOT NEEDED IN
THIS LEGISLATION, BECAUSE
PEOPLE IN EVICTION COURT ARE
ALREADY AT THE ABSOLUTE END OF
THE RESOURCES.
IF THEY HAD ANY MONEY FOR
ATTORNEYS, THEY WOULD PAID THE
RENT IN THE FIRST PLACE AND NOT
GOT EVICTION NOTICES.
MEANS TESTING IS NOT LEGALLY
NECESSARY, MEANS TESTING CAN DO
REAL HARM CREATING OBSTACLES
FOR PEOPLE IN DESPERATE NEED
FOR HELP, AND IT OPENS THE DOOR
TO FURTHER WEAKENING OF THE
LEGISLATION IN THE FUTURE, AND
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET
A STRONG PRECEDENT AGAINST THIS
TODAY.
I URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE
NO ON THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO FIRST SAY COUNSEL
MEMBER HERBOLD AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALES, YOU HAVE
BEEN HEARING ME SAY SOME OF
THIS SINCE MARCH 4th, THIS
ORDINANCE AS ORIGINALLY
WRITTEN, WITHOUT ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA, IS ARGUABLY A GIFT OF
PUBLIC FUNDS, AND THEREFORE
VIOLATES STATE LAW.
IN ORDER TO REMEDY THIS LEGAL
FLOOR AND THIS VULNERABILITY,
BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW
PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS IS A
FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENTAL
PURPOSE WHICH WE ALL AGREE ON,
TODAY WE HAVE ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA, SOMEONE CONSULTS A
TEST THEY ARE, IN FACT, INDEED,
INDIGENT, SO, WHAT WE DO IS WE
LOOKED AT OTHER PROGRAMS WHERE
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN
THE CIVIL ARENA, NOT THE
CRIMINAL ARENA, AND WE LOOKED AT
THE NORTHWEST JUSTICE PROJECT
AND THE TENANT LA CENTER AND
COUNSEL PRESIDENT SHARED, WE
ALL VOTED ON THIS IN 2016, THE
IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND,
WHICH WAS PASSED, THE SIMPLE
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT.
I'M KIND OF TIRED OF GOING BACK
AND FORTH ABOUT MEANS TESTING
AND ELIGIBILITY, BUT I WILL
STATE THIS JUST FOR THE RECORD,
EVERYTHING COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
SAID ABOUT MEANS TESTING IS
TRUE, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT WE
HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
MEANS TESTING IS A REQUIREMENT
úTHAT APPLICANT FOR ANY TYPE OF
GOVERNMENT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR
INVESTIGATION OF THE FUNDS AND
RESOURCES PERMIT THAT THEY
ACTUALLY HAVE TO PROVIDE
DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THAT THEY
ARE INDIGENT.
MEANS TEST ORIGINATED AS A
METHOD OF LIMITING PAYMENT OF
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO THOSE
TRULY IN NEED IN ORDER TO
REDUCE THE COST OF SUCH
PROGRAMS TO TAXPAYERS.
MEANS TESTING WAS USED TO LIMIT
PAYMENT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO
THOSE TRULY IN NEED IT.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT IS
WEAPONIZE.
IS A FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDER AND
AS A FORMER PERSON THAT
REPRESENTED PEOPLE IN COURT FOR
UNLAWFUL DETAINER, THAT IS WHAT
WE LOOKED AT, WE DID NOT HAVE
MEANS TESTING, WE MADE SURE YOU
HAD LEGAL COUNSEL AND FOR THE
ISSUES THAT WERE IN FRONT OF US
TODAY.
THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, THANK
YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WHICH
YOU BROUGHT FORWARD, TALKS
ABOUT, OR ACTUALLY IS RESISTANT
AND IT ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF
WHAT ANYONE MAY QUALIFY FOR BY
SIMPLY SAYING THAT THEY ARE
INDIGENT.
THEY CHOOSE THAT THEY WANTED TO
PARTICIPATE AND BY CHOOSING
THAT THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE,
THEY SHOW THEY ARE IN FACT
INDIGENT.
POOR.
SO, THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
ALLOWS AND PERMITS GOVERNMENTS
TO PROVIDE A BENEFIT THAT
PROMOTES THE PUBLIC GOOD AND
DETERMINES THAT SUCH CRITERIA
SUCH AS INDIGENCY IS WHY WE
WOULD MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE
SURE.
I WANT TO MAKE ANOTHER POINT
THAT I AGREE WITH COUNSEL
MEMBER TREND 12, THE MAIN
CONCERN ABOUT ALLOWING
EVERYBODY, ANYBODY TO HAVE A
LAWYER ALL THE TIME, EVERY
TIME, IS THAT THAN THOSE TRULY
IN NEED BUT DON'T HAVE MONEY,
THAT ARE TRULY INDIGENT, ARE
NOT GOING TO GET LEGAL COUNSEL,
BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH
MONEY IN THE LAST THREE YEARS
WE HAVE PUT IN THE BUDGET AND
WE HAVE ALL PAST, WHICH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS ALWAYS
VOTED NO ON, ALMOST THE LAST
THREE YEARS, PLEASE CORRECT ME
IF I AM WRONG, FOR PEOPLE TO
HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL DURING
EVICTION, WHERE WE HAVE PUT
FORWARD MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO
ENSURE THAT THERE IS MONEY THERE
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING
WRONGFULLY EVICTED AND HAVE
LEGAL COUNSEL.
SO, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS
THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON
AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT IS GOING TO BE
PERMANENT IN WHICH PEOPLE MUST
JUST SAY THAT THEY ARE, INDEED,
IN NEED OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND
THEY CAN CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE PROGRAM
>> I'M CERTAINLY NOT AGAINST
THE POOR, I'M A PUBLIC DEFENDER
AS WELL AND AS AN ATTORNEY FOR
35 YEARS I CAN SAY THIS IS
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND WE
ARE JUST TRYING TO DO A GOOD
THING, SO THANK YOU.
I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE
HAD A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION AND WAS LOOKING
FORWARD TO VOTING ON IT A FEW
WEEKS AGO AND I'M GLAD THIS IS
MOVING FORWARD TODAY SO THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I KNOW CITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ARE LOOKING TO DO
SIMILAR THINGS SO I APPRECIATE
THE WORK THAT GOT INTO THIS
LEGISLATION.
THE OUTRAGE THAT HAS BEEN
EXPRESSED ABOUT MEANS TESTING
IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
I HAVE SPENT A LONG TIME
FIGHTING AGAINST MEANS TESTING
IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE
ESPECIALLY WHEN I WORK TO
IMPLEMENT HEALTH ESPECIALLY
HEALTH FOR KIDS ABOUT A DOZEN
YEARS AGO.
AT THAT POINT THE TESTING WAS
BEING WEAPON ICED TO PREVENT
IMMIGRANT KIDS TO BE ADDED TO
THE ROLES FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR
APPLE HEALTH AT THE TIME AND
THAT'S WHY HAVE AND CONTINUE TO
FIGHT AGAINST MEANS TESTING.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO
HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE DISCUSSION
TODAY AND THE BRIEFING FROM THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON THIS
AMENDMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
ORDINANCE THAT IT WAS BASED OFF
OF.
AS I UNDERSTAND THIS AMENDMENT
IN FRONT OF US, THE LEGAL
ORGANIZATION ACCEPT SELF
ATTESTATION SIMPLY SAYING AN
INDIVIDUAL CAN SIMPLY SAY THEY
DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO AFFORD
AN ATTORNEY.
I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS
STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, MANY
PEOPLE OUT OF WORK OR STILL
TRYING TO PAY THEIR OWN RENT
AND CHILD CARE AND THE CONCEPT
OF HAVING TO PAY AN ATTORNEY ON
TOP OF THAT, A LOT OF PEOPLE
WILL SAY THEY CAN'T AFFORD AN
ATTORNEY SO SOMEONE IS ITSELF
ATTESTING THAT THEY CAN'T
AFFORD AN ATTORNEY MEETS THE
CRITERIA HERE THAT THE
ORGANIZATION IS NOT GOING TO
ASK FOR INCOME VERIFICATION,
NOT GOING TO LOOK AT ANY
MONETARY RESOURCES AND NOT
COMPLY WITH A TEST OF ANY KIND.
I THINK THIS IS A BIG
DISTINCTION FROM THE TYPES OF
MEANS TESTING I FOUGHT IN THE
PAST, SELF ATTESTATION IS WHAT
WE FOUGHT FOR IN MANY CASES AS
AN ALTERNATIVE TO MEANS TESTING
SO PEOPLE CAN GET THE SERVICES
THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AND IN
THIS CASE, THAT WE'VE
DETERMINED, A RIGHT TO.
I APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS
CLARIFICATION THAT THERE'S NO
DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED AT THE
TIME OF APPLICATION OR LATER
AND AS I CHECKED IN WITH A HINT
AND FULL OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE
FOLKS ACROSS THE CITY ARE
CURRENTLY HELPING AND HAVE
PREVIOUSLY HELPED, THEY NOTED
THAT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LONG-
STANDING APPROVAL PROCESS BY
INCLUDING FEDERAL ENTITIES LIKE
THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
TO AVOID UNDERMINING ATTORNEY-
CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND THAT'S
RELATIONSHIP TO MAKE SURE THEY
JUST ACCEPT FROM THE CLIENT AT
THE POINT OF SERVICE THAT THEY
ARE NOT ABLE TO PAY FOR AN
ATTORNEY THAT ANY ADDITIONAL
TYPE OF BARRIER WOULD BE A
BARRIER TO THE INTAKE AND COULD
NOT BE A FUNCTIONAL PROCESS SO
THEY ARE VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO
MEANS TESTING BUT HAVE BEEN
WORKING UNDER THIS EXISTING
MODEL OF SELF ATTESTATION AND
BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT AN
ADDITIONAL BARRIER.
I UNDERSTAND THE STANDARD IS
NOT A TEST NOW ON APPLICATION
LATER AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT I WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE
BECAUSE JUST LIKE I THINK MEANS
TESTING CAN HAVE A CHILLING
EFFECT ON WHETHER OR NOT
SOMEONE APPLIES FOR SERVICES, I
ALSO DON'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY
CONFUSION OUT THERE OF WHEN
THIS BILL PASSES, I DON'T WANT
THERE TO BE ANY CONFUSION OUT
THERE ABOUT FOLKS COMING AND
SIGNING UP.
THERE'S NO TEST AND AT THE VERY
LEAST IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WILL
BE A PIECE OF PAPER THAT'S
SIGNED AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
FOLKS GET ACCESS TO THE
SERVICES AND I DON'T WANT THERE
TO BE A CHILLING EFFECT FROM
DEBATE BUT ULTIMATELY THIS
LEGISLATION WILL PASS AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE
FINAL LEGISLATION AND I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT
TODAY.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
ON AMENDMENT 3? COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT, I
COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO
THE DIGITAL RAISE HAND TODAY
FOR SOME REASON SO I DID IT THE
OLD-FASHIONED WAY, SO THANK YOU
FOR RECOGNIZING ME FOR A
MOMENT.
I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE
AMENDMENT TODAY, MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ALREADY MADE A LOT OF THE
COMMENTS THAT I WOULD HAVE BUT
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE A FEW MORE
THAT I THINK ARE INSTRUCTIVE
AND IMPORTANT.
I WANT TO ADD THAT ANOTHER
DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE SELF
ATTESTATION AND MEANS TESTING
IS THAT THIS WILL NOT INCUR
PROCEDURAL COSTS SINCE WE ARE
NOT DOING FINANCIAL SCREENINGS
AND INVESTIGATIONS INTO
PEOPLE'S FINANCIAL BACKGROUND
TO DO A SELF ATTESTATION WHICH
I THINK IS A CRITICAL THING TO
NOTE THAT MEANS TESTING AND ONE
OF THE BIG ARGUMENTS IN ADDITION
TO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED
HERE TODAY ON THE IMPACT IT CAN
HAVE ON PEOPLE SEEKING
SERVICES, THE DETERRENT THE
EFFECTS CAN HAVE ON PEOPLE
SEEKING SERVICES IT ALSO WOULD
HAVE INCURRED REAL COST TO THE
CITY IN BUYING THE SOFTWARE FOR
HALF MILLION DOLLARS, HIRING
AND FTD AT A COST OF OVER
$100,000.
A MODEL OF SELF ATTESTATION
DOES NOT DO THAT AND CAN KICK
IN PROCEDURALLY AT THE POINT
WHEN PEOPLE WILL NEED THIS
LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND WILL NOT
REQUIRE A DELAY OR A
RESCHEDULING OF THESE TENANT
RELATED EVICTION PROCEEDINGS.
SO IT DOESN'T COME WITH THOSE
LOGISTICAL AND FINANCIAL COSTS
THAT MEANS TESTING WOULD HAVE
COME WITH IN ADDITION TO ALL
THE OTHER HORRIBLE THINGS ABOUT
MEANS TESTING WE HAVE ALREADY
DISCUSSED EXTENSIVELY IN THIS
SESSION.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY
APPRECIATION FOR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALES AND BRINGING
FORWARD A PROPOSAL THAT IS
STRUCTURED TO PROVIDE THE VERY
MINIMUM OF POTENTIAL HURDLE
WHILE ADDRESSING THE VERY REAL
SUBSTANTIVE IMPACTS.
I DON'T WANT TO VIOLATE THE
FIGHT CLUB RULES OF EXECUTIVE
SESSION BUT I WILL JUST SAY ALL
OF US WERE IN THAT EXECUTIVE
SESSION AND I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE CENTER THE
GUIDANCE AND ADVICE OF THE TEAM
THAT SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATED
VIGOROUS LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST
JUST CAUSE EVICTION, AGAINST
FIRST IN TIME PROTECTIONS AND
AGAINST THE VARIOUS EVICTION
MORATORIUMS THIS COUNSEL HAS
ENACTED AND I BELIEVE, I
APPRECIATE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S
DILIGENCE IN WORKING WITH THE
TEAM IN WORKING WITH US ON THE
COUNCIL TO CRAFT SOMETHING THAT
WILL STILL PROVIDE THIS VITAL
SERVICE TO EVERYONE WHO WILL
NEED IT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME
STRENGTHENING THIS LAW AGAINST
THE CHALLENGES THAT WE KNOW
WILL COME FROM DEEP-POCKETED
AND VERY WELL RESOURCED
LANDLORD INTEREST THAT WILL
SUIT TO TRY TO GET RID OF IT.
SO WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT I
DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT 3?
>> OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU, I WANTED TO
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE
QUESTION OF SELF ATTESTATION.
I DON'T AGREE THAT IT WILL NOT
BE A VALUE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT
WHAT THE DATA INDICATES IT ALL.
FOR EXAMPLE, ACCORDING TO
SEATTLE OFFICIAL ENROLLMENT
NUMBER FOR THE PROGRAM WHICH IS
FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE WHO
CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE FULL
UTILITY BILLS.
AS OF ENROLLMENT NUMBERS AS OF
THE END OF FEBRUARY IS 42,094
CUSTOMERS AND THEY ARE
CURRENTLY ESTIMATING THE NUMBER
OF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS AT
90,000 SO THAT MEAN SEATTLE'S
UTE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
HAS ENROLLED LESS THAN 50
PERCENT OF THE ELIGIBLE
HOUSEHOLDS.
IT USED TO BE EVEN WORSE THAN
THAT, IT USED TO BE UNDER 20
PERCENT.
THE CITY NOW ALSO ENROLLS
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY AND OTHER LOW-
INCOME HOUSING AND THIS WAS
PART OF OUR EFFORT FROM OUR
MOVEMENT TO OPT OUT PROGRAM BUT
THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SO NOW THE
APPLICATION PROCESS HAS BEEN
MADE SIMPLER WHICH OF COURSE I
SUPPORT MAKING ANY OBSTACLE
SIMPLER BUT NOW THERE'S A
SIMPLE SELF CERTIFICATION SO
PEOPLE CAN SELF CERTIFY THEIR
INCOME BUT STILL THE ENROLLMENT
REMAINS AT LESS THAN 50 PERCENT
YEARS LATER AND THERE ARE MANY
OTHER EXAMPLES BUT I CHOSE THIS
ONE BECAUSE IT IS CLOSE TO
OURS, RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE SO WHEN THE EVIDENCE
DOES NOT SHOW THAT SELF
ATTESTATION WILL NOT BE A
BARRIER I DON'T KNOW HOW
COUNCILMEMBER CAN GIVE CLAIM
THAT IT WON'T BE A BARRIER
BECAUSE IT WILL.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
AMENDMENT 3? BECAUSE ON THE
SPONSOR I GET THE LAST WORD ON
IT, SO JUST LAST CALL ON
AMENDMENT 3. OKAY, I'M GOING TO
MAKE SOME CLOSING REMARKS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
CONVERSATION AND THE DEBATE
AMOUNT AMENDMENT 3 AND YOUR
WORK CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING
A MINUTE 3. THERE'S A FEW
THINGS I WANT TO CLARIFY IN
RESPONSE TO SOME OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S COMMENTS
ON AMENDMENT 3 THAT I DO THINK
ARE NOT ENTIRELY ACCURATE.
ONE, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
LAWYERS REPRESENTING TENANTS
ARE GOING TO HUMILIATE TENANTS
AS A RESULT OF THE PASSAGE OF
AMENDMENT . THERE WERE SOME
COMMENTS MADE THAT SOMEHOW A
SELF ATTESTATION WAS GOING TO
RESULT IN HUMILIATION BUT LET'S
REMEMBER THAT THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE ASKING THE QUESTIONS ABOUT
ELIGIBILITY AND ACCESSING LEGAL
SERVICES ARE THE VERY PEOPLE WE
ARE RELYING ON TO REPRESENT
THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND I BELIEVE
THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUT
FORWARD CONSISTENT WITH THEIR
CURRENT PROCESS, SOMETHING THAT
IS COMPASSIONATE, NOT
EMBARRASSING AND THAT WILL
FULFILL THEIR MISSION OF MAKING
SURE THAT AS MANY TENANTS AS
POSSIBLE HAVE ACCESS TO FREE
LEGAL SERVICES WHEN NEEDED
DURING EVICTION PROCEEDINGS.
SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A CREATION
OF COMPARISONS BETWEEN ACCESS
TO WATER, LIGHT, AND ROADWAYS
TO LEGAL AID SERVICES THAT PAY
FOR A LAWYER AND I BELIEVE THIS
IS A FALSE EQUIVALENCY AND
SHOULD BE REJECTED FOR THAT
REASON.
THIRD, THIS IS NOT A MEANS
TEST.
WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL
OBLIGATION TO NOT ENGAGE IN THE
GIFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS, THE
SUPPLIES TO EVERY SINGLE ACTION
AND DETERMINATION AND DECISION
WE MAKE AS A CITY COUNCIL.
THAT OBLIGATION FLOWS AGAIN
FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE
CONSTITUTION. I BELIEVE
AMENDMENT 3 FOCUSES OUR LIMITED
RESOURCES ON THOSE WHO MOST
NEED ACCESS TO FREE LEGAL
SERVICES AND EVICTION
PROCEEDINGS AND I BELIEVE EVEN
WITH THE INCLUSION OF AMENDMENT
3, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED
REPRESENTATION FOR FREE AND
EVICTION PROCEEDINGS, WILL IN
FACT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THOSE
SERVICES.
FOURTH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
REMARKS BY COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
ABOUT THIS SETTING A PRECEDENT
THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE SET
IF WE PASS THE BASE BILL
WITHOUT AMENDMENT 3. HOWEVER,
ONLY AN AMENDMENT TO THE
WASHINGTON STATE'S CONSTITUTION
WOULD ALLOW FOR THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TO AVOID THE
REALITIES OF THE DUTIES RELATED
TO THE GIFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS, IN
OTHER WORDS IS OBLIGATION
RELATED TO AVOIDING THE GIFT OF
PUBLIC FUNDS APPLIES EQUALLY TO
THE WASHINGTON STATE
LEGISLATURE AS IT DOES TO US.
THERE IS NO SUCH EFFORT AT THE
STATE TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION
TO ALLOW FOR A DIFFERENT
STANDARD RELATED TO HOW WE
ALLOCATE AN APPROPRIATE
TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT THE LOCAL,
REGIONAL, OR STATE EFFORTS.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHY SENATE BILL
5160 WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE
EVICTION CLIFF THAT WE ARE ALL
FACING INCLUDES INDIGENCY
REQUIREMENT TO CREATE A
STATEWIDE RIGHT TO COUNSEL AND
LASTLY THERE'S BEEN AN ANALOGY
CREATED BETWEEN THE INDIGENCY
STANDARD THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO
CONSIDER ADOPTING IN AMENDMENT
3 TO THE PROVISIONS PROVIDED IN
THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM.
A SIMPLE GOOGLE OF UTILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAMS SEATTLE
REQUEST ENROLLMENT BRINGS UP
THE ENROLLMENT FORM THAT AN
INDIVIDUAL WOULD HAVE TO FILL
OUT IN ORDER TO DETERMINE
WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE
ELIGIBLE.
UNLIKE THE PROGRAM, MY
AMENDMENT IS NOT INCLUDE THE
DISCLOSURE OF WHAT IS EXPECTED
OR ESTIMATED MONTHLY INCOME FOR
YOUR HOUSEHOLD BEFORE TAXES.
IN FACT IF YOU LOOK AT THE
ELIGIBILITY ENROLLMENT FORM
THERE IS A QUESTION THAT
REQUIRES DISCLOSURE OF THE
EXPECTED OR MONTHLY INCOME
BEFORE TAXES.
THAT REQUIREMENT IS NOT
INCLUDED IN AMENDMENT 3, ONLY A
SELF ATTESTATION THAT YOU
CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY WILL
BE ASKED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE
LEGAL ELIGIBILITY UNDER THIS
PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
THERE IS NOT A CLEAN COMPARISON
BETWEEN THE UDP, IT CERTAINLY
REQUIRES MUCH MORE THAN A SELF
CERTIFICATION AND ATTESTATION
OF NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD FOR
EXAMPLE IN THAT CASE PAYING
YOUR BILL. SO I WILL CLOSE OUT
DEBATE THERE, AND APPRECIATE
YOUR CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING
AMENDMENT 3 AND I'M EXCITED
ABOUT VOTING ON THIS BILL TO
FINALLY ONE AND FOR ALL CREATE
A RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR TENANTS
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO DOING THAT VERY SOON
HERE.
WITH THAT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT 3?
>> MOSQUEDA , PEDERSON ,
SAWANT , STRAUSS , HERBOLD,
WHEREAS, LEWIS.
MORALE IS, PRESIDENT GONZALES
EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON AM
GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO YOU TO
MAKE A MOTION FOR I BELIEVE
AMENDMENT 4.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
I MOVED TO MOVE AMEND THE BILL
12007 AS PRESENTED AS AMENDMENT
4 ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> THERE HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
CONSUMMATE THE PEDERSON AM
GOING TO HAND IT BACK TO YOU TO
WALK US THROUGH THE AMENDMENT.
>> I WILL BE BRIEF.
THIS AMENDMENT AND NEVER 4 ON
TODAY'S AGENDA WOULD ADVISE ONE
OF THE RECITALS IN THE BILL TO
CLARIFY THAT THE EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT SHOULD CONDUCT AN
OPEN REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
PROCESS FOR AWARDING THIS TAX
DOLLARS RATHER THAN MAKING A
DIRECT AWARD TO A SINGLE
ATTORNEY ORGANIZATION WITHOUT
AN OPEN PROCESS.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL PROVIDE A
GRACE PERIOD OF A YEAR AND A
HALF TO CONTINUE WITH EXISTING
CONTRACT AND THE REQUEST FOR
PROPOSAL PROCESS WOULD OCCUR
AND THAT COMPORTS WITH BEST
PRACTICES AND AWARDING ONGOING
CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTORNEY
ORGANIZATIONS WHICH COULD
INCLUDE THE EXISTING ONE AS
WELL AS OTHERS THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE CONSIDERATION FOR
PROVIDING THESE LEGAL SERVICES.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
AMENDMENT 4? COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, PLEASE?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
NO ONE IS SURPRISED BY MY VOTES
SO I WANT TO GIVE A CHANCE TO
LET OTHERS KNOW THAT I DID HAVE
A CHANCE TO CHECK IN WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON AND I
APOLOGIZE THAT I DID NOT SOME
OF THE QUESTIONS THIS MORNING.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS
AMENDMENT SIMPLY BECAUSE I
THINK IT MIGHT BE MORE IN THE
WEEDS THE NECESSARY. I THINK
WELL IT'S ADVISORY, THEY
CLEARLY CAN TAKE IT UNDER
ADVISEMENT BUT IT'S NOT
DIRECTING THEM AND I FEEL LIKE
IT IS NOT NECESSARY GIVEN WHAT
I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THEY GO
THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE THERE
ARE FEES ON A FAIRLY REGULAR
BASIS AND ALSO THINK THERE IS A
LEVEL OF URGENCY AROUND THE
RELATION, THE TRUST RELATION
THAT HOPEFULLY A CONTRACTING
ENTITY WOULD HAVE WITH REFERRAL
ENTITIES OR WITH FOLKS WHO WORK
WITH THOSE WHO MIGHT NEED
SERVICES.
I APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE
COMING FROM WITH THIS BECAUSE I
DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
THOSE CONTRACTS TO GO OUT BUT I
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ALREADY
HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR IN THE
WORKS AND I'M GOING TO BE
VOTING NO ON THIS TODAY BUT I
APPRECIATE THE INTENT FROM
WHERE YOU CAME FROM.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU, I WILL BE VOTING
NO ON THIS AMENDMENT, IT'S JUST
AN AMENDMENT SO DOES NOT CHANGE
THE SUBSTANCE OF THE
LEGISLATION HOWEVER IN VOTING
NO BECAUSE IT'S OVERLY
PRESCRIPTIVE OF HOW THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS CONTRACTS OUT THE
SERVICES AND DOES NOT REFLECT
THE REALITY OF EVICTION CODE IN
SEATTLE.
IN THE BILL THAT MY OFFICE HAS
PROPOSED, IT SAYS THAT THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION WHICH
IS THE CITY DEPARTMENT
RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING RIGHTS
. OUR BILL THEN GIVES
PARAMETERS FOR WHAT MAKES AN
ORGANIZATION A GOOD CHOICE TO
PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.
WE WANT ATTORNEYS WITH
EXPERIENCE DEFENDING RENTERS IN
COURT AGAINST EVICTION, WE WANT
AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS OUT
OF THE KING COUNTY COURTHOUSE
SO RENTER CAN BE MET BY AN
ATTORNEY WHEN THEY SHOW UP.
THE REALITY IS THE HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT IS THE ONLY
ORGANIZATION LIKE THAT RIGHT
NOW IN SEATTLE AND AS THEY
THEMSELVES WILL TELL YOU THERE
ARE NOT MANY PRIVATE FORMS OR
ANY AT ALL PERHAPS AND VERY FEW
AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT PROVIDE
THIS KIND OF SERVICE WHICH IS
DEFENDING RENTERS AGAINST
EVICTION.
THE JUSTICE ATTORNEYS ARE
DEDICATED AND THEY DO THE BEST
THEY CAN TO SUPPORT RENTERS AND
THAT'S WHY THIS CLAUSE THEY
PROPOSE STATES THAT SDCI SHOULD
CONTINUE CONTRACTING WITH AS JP
UNLESS AN OTHER ORGANIZATION
BECOMES BETTER QUALIFIED.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE DO NOT
KNOW WHO WILL BE DEFENDING
RENTERS IN 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS,
MAYBE IT WILL BE SOME
ORGANIZATION OR SJP, THE
DEPARTMENT IS EMPOWERED BY THE
LEGISLATION TO MAKE THAT
DECISION, WE DO NOT REQUIRE THAT
THEY REQUIRE SAP, BUT WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROLE THEY ARE
PLAYING RIGHT NOW.
NONE OF THIS NEEDS TO BE
PRESCRIBED IN THE LEGISLATION,
I WANT TO STRESS AGAIN THAT
BECAUSE THIS AMENDMENT CHANGES
A CLOSET DOES NOT CHANGE ANY
FUNCTIONAL PART OF THE
LEGISLATION BUT I DO THINK IT'S
UNNECESSARY AND OVERLY
PRESCRIPTIVE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN
HERBOLD?
>> I THINK THE LANGUAGE IN THE
EXISTING RECITAL ABOUT A FUTURE
ORGANIZATION POTENTIALLY
BECOMING A QUALIFIED, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT OTHER WAY A
DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO MAKE
THAT DETERMINATION IF IT WAS
NOT FOR AN OPEN COMPETITIVE
PROCESS TO DETERMINE WHO IS
MOST QUALIFIED.
GIVEN THAT THIS IS ONLY A
RECITAL AND IT'S ONLY PROVIDING
THE COUNCILS POLICY PREFERENCE
AND GIVEN THAT IT'S IMPORTANT
TO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON AND
THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT WITH
THIS AMENDMENT WE COULD GET
HIS SUPPORT FOR THE BILL.
LET'S NOT FOCUS ON WHERE
DIFFERENCES ARE LET'S FOCUS ON
WHERE WE HAVE AGREEMENT.
FOR ALL THOSE REASONS I WOULD
DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE RECITAL
AS PROPOSED, THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT 4? I WILL HAND IT
BACK TO CANCEL THE PEDERSON IN
A MINUTE BUT I INTEND TO
úSUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT AS WELL
FOR MANY OF THE REASONS STATED
BY COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
DON'T THINK IT CREATES A
DIFFERENT RUBRIC.
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD?
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE CLOSING OUT DEBATE.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT 4?
>> MOSQUEDA , PEDERSON, GENTRY,
STRAUSS,
>>> SAWANT , JUAREZ, LEWIS,
MIRELES, PRESIDENT GONZALES.
SIX IN FAVOR, THREE OPPOSE.
>> THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED AND
THE AMENDMENT WILL IS BEFORE
THE COUNCIL.
THAT EXHAUSTS OUR AMENDMENTS AS
WE KNOW THEM AND NOW WE HAVE A
BILL THAT'S IN FRONT OF US THAT
IS AMENDMENT. COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD
OF THE BILL BUT I AM ASKING FOR
FLKS WHO MIGHT WANT TO SPEAK
ON THE BILL NOW.
CONSUMMATE THE PEDERSON, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WOULD THINK THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON
THIS TO HELP US AND GIVE US
MORE TIME AND HER SENSITIVE
AMENDMENT THAT PASSED TODAY TO
ENACT LAWS STRONG ENOUGH TO
SURVIVE SCRUTINY SO WE CAN
ACTUALLY HELP OUR MOST
VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS,
POLICYMAKERS SOMETIMES NEED THE
TIME TO THINK THROUGH THE
VARIOUS RAMIFICATIONS AND
BECAUSE YOU TOOK THE TIME IN
THIS CASE, WE ARE WERE ABLE TO
CONSIDER APPROVE SIZABLE
MINUTES TO MAKE THIS
LEGISLATION BETTER SO I AM ABLE
TO UPDATE MY VOTE TO A YES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU.
SORRY, TECHNOLOGY.
THANKS, COLLEAGUES.
I WANT TO REITERATE I AM PROUD
TO BE A COSPONSOR OF THIS
LEGISLATION TO BRING ALL
TENANTS REPRESENTATION IN
EVICTION CASES AND REALLY
APPRECIATE TODAY'S DISCUSSION.
IT'S TRUE THAT ANY RENTER COULD
FACE EVICTION AND ANY TENANT
SHOULD KNOW THEY HAVE SUPPORT
DURING ONE OF THE HARDEST TIMES
IN THEIR LIFE AND THAT SUPPORT
SHOULD NOT BE CONTINGENT ON
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OR ANY
OTHER LIMITATIONS.
WE KNOW THAT PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC TENANTS WERE ALREADY
FACING TOUGH ODDS IN EVICTION
COURT IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE LEGAL
REPRESENTATION.
AS EVICTION MORATORIUM I LIFTED
ACROSS THE REGION AND THE
PUBLIC EMERGENCY IS IN OUR
REARVIEW MIRROR WE KNOW MANY OF
OUR NEIGHBORS WILL BE IN TOUGH
SITUATIONS AGAIN.
AT THE MOMENT, THOSE LUCKY
ENOUGH TO KNOW ABOUT PROGRAMS
LIKE THE HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT OR THE TENANT LA CENTER
KNOW THAT LEGAL REPRESENTATION
CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
REMAINING HOUSTON AND CREATING
A PLAN TO HAVE TO LIVE IN YOUR
CAR AND FOLKS SHOULD NOT HAVE
TO FEEL LUCKY TO ACCESS LIMITED
FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
AS I SAID BEFORE, THE LANDLORD-
TENANT RELATIONSHIP IS
UNBALANCED AND THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL GOES A LONG WAY TOWARD
PROVIDING TENANTS WITH
PROTECTION AND PUTTING THEM ON
EQUAL FOOTING WITH LANDLORDS
AND I'M PROUD TO SPONSOR THIS
LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU CANCEL THE PEDERSON
FOR BRINGING FORWARD YOUR
AMENDMENT.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS
AS WELL ALONG WITH WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD SAID, I
WANT US STRIVE FOR ANONYMITY
AND COLLABORATIVE WORK ON
COUNSEL AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION TODAY INCLUDING
WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
PASSED TODAY AND I THINK IT
PUTS US ON MORE SOLID LEGAL
GROUND AND I THINK THERE'S A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT TO CELEBRATE
AS SEATTLE IS GOING TO BE
LOOKED AT AS A NATIONAL LEADER
IN THIS ISSUE, I WAS TRYING TO
LOOK UP THE STATISTICS TO
REMIND MYSELF BUT ON THIS
MORNING'S NEWS I HEARD THAT
AROUND 20 PERCENT OF RENTERS
ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO BE ABLE
TO PAY RENT AND THE CLIFF FOR
WINDOWS EVICTION MORATORIUMS GO
AWAY IS REAL AND THREATENING
AND WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO
MAKE SURE THAT RENTERS HAVE
DOLLARS IN HAND AND I WANT TO
REITERATE A RENTAL ASSISTANCE
BILL THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING
NEXT WEEK IS ALSO A SMALL
LANDLORD ASSISTANCE BILL
BECAUSE IT PASSES THROUGH AND
IT'S PART OF THAT SUPPORT
NETWORK THAT GOES TO OUR
SMALLEST LANDLORDS WHO ARE ALSO
BEING IMPACTED BY THE
CONSEQUENCES OF COVID SO I SEE
IT AS A BOTH, AND CONVERSATION,
TODAY'S BILL IS TRULY SOMETHING
TO BE CELEBRATED AND FOR US TO
CONTINUE TO REITERATE THAT IF
YOU ARE FACING EVICTION YOU
HAVE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL AND WE
CAN SAY THAT WITH INCREDIBLE
PRIDE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR
AMENDMENT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD
TODAY TO MAKE THIS LEGISLATION
STRONGER AND THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND
MORALES AND LEWIS WHO WERE THE
ORIGINAL COSPONSORS AS WELL .
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PASSING
IT AND SHOWING UNANIMITY ACROSS
COUNSEL FOR OUR UNITED SUPPORT
AND TO DO THAT NOT JUST FOR
RENTERS WHO ARE FACING EVICTION
BUT TRULY TO PROVIDE A MORE
STABLE, LOCAL ECONOMY AS WE
RECOVER.
WE CANNOT CREATE A MORE
EQUITABLE OR STABLE ECONOMY IF
PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FALL INTO
HOMELESSNESS AND THIS IS QUITE
LITERALLY AT THE FOUNDATION AND
ECONOMIC STIMULUS FOR OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY AS WELL AS A
HUMANITARIAN PIECE OF LET
LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING AND
PREVENT THEM FROM FALLING INTO
HOMELESSNESS.
VERY EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK
ON IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HI JUST WANT TO GROUND AND
SOME QUICK FACTS FROM THE
LOSING HOME REPORT THAT WAS
COMMISSIONED OUT OF MY OFFICE
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION, THE
NORTHWEST JUSTICE PROJECT AND
WASHINGTON KM, AND SOME OF THE
FINDINGS INCLUDE THAT NEARLY 52
PERCENT OF TENANTS IN EVICTION
FILINGS WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR,
31.2 PERCENT WERE BLACK TENANTS
AND THIS IS IN EVICTION RATE OF
4.5 TIMES WHAT WOULD BE EXPECTED
BASED ON THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS IN
SEATTLE AND WOMEN WERE MORE
LIKELY TO BE EVICTED OVER SMALL
AMOUNTS OF MONEY, OF SINGLE
TENANT HOUSEHOLDS WHERE A TENANT
OWED $100 OR LESS, 81 PERCENT
OF THOSE BEING EVICTED WERE
WOMEN.
TENANTS FACE STEEP FINANCIAL
COST RESULTING FROM AN
EVICTION, THE MEDIAN COURT THAT
JUDGMENT WAS OVER $3000
INCLUDING RENT OWED, NONPRINT
CHARGES AND LEGAL COSTS AND
NEARLY 86 PERCENT OF EVICTION
FILINGS WERE FOR NONPAYMENT OF
RENT AND OF THESE, 52 PERCENT
WERE FOR ONE MONTH OR LESS IN
RENT.
TENANTS WERE REQUIRED TO PAY
TTORNEYS FEES, 91 PERCENT OF
CASES WITH THE MEDIAN CHARGE OF
ABOUT $416 AND COURT COSTS, 92
PERCENT OF CASES WITH A MEDIAN
CHARGE OF ABOUT $360.
THOSE STATS ARE REALLY FOCUSED
ON NOT JUST THE BASIS FOR WHY WE
NEED CHANGES TO THE ELECTION
LAW BOTH IN STATE LAW AND IN
OUR OWN LOCAL LAW IN EVICTION
CASES THAT ARE RELATED TO
NONPAYMENT OF RENT, NOW TENANTS
HAVE MORE OF A RIGHT TO MAKE AN
ARGUMENT ABOUT THE CONDITIONS
THAT LEAD TO NONPAYMENT OF RENT
CASES BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE
THESE ARGUMENTS TO ADDRESS
THESE REALLY HEARTBREAKING
FINDINGS FROM THE LOSING HOME
REPORT, TENANTS NEED TO HAVE
EVICTION PREVENTION, LEGAL
PROVIDES ADVICE FROM TATE
TRAINED ATTORNEYS IN ORDER TO
MAKE THE ARGUMENTS THAT FOR THE
APPLICATION OF THE NEW RIGHTS
THEY HAVE SINCE 2019S CHANGES
IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND
CITY LAW AS WELL.
JUST WANTING TO BRING IT BACK
TO THE INEQUITIES THAT WE SEE IN
OUR EVICTION COURT SYSTEM AND
WE CAN'T JUST ALWAYS WORK ON
IMPROVING THE LAWS AND THE
RIGHTS, BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO
ADDRESS PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO
STAND UP FOR THEM AND I WANT TO
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT AND
ALL OF THE TENANT ADVOCACY
ADVOCACY GROUPS WHO HAVE MADE
THAT CAL LOUD AND CLEAR.
>>
>> I WILL JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF
ADDITIONAL REMARKS TO BUILD ON
WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY
SAID, FOR ME, A BIG THING THAT
WAS INSTRUCTED EARLY ON TO SIGN
ON AS A CO-SPONSOR. 86 PERCENT
OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
REPRESENTED IN A PROCEEDING
AVOIDED AN EVICTION SUGGESTS TO
ME IN THE WAY THAT OUR EVICTION
SYSTEM IS SET UP IN THE LAW
AROUND EVICTIONS IN THE COURTS
AND HOW THESE HEARINGS ARE
CONDUCTED AND TRADITIONAL
EXPECTATION OF WHO DOES AND
DOES NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION IN
THOSE PROCEEDINGS HAS LED TO
THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS NATIONALLY OF ILLEGAL
EVICTIONS.
THAT WHEN YOU HAVE COUNSEL IN
THE COURTROOM AND AN ADVOCATE
THAT CAN STAND TO ADDRESS THE
MERITS OF THE CASE THAT YOUR
LANDLORD IS BRINGING, TENANTS
OVERWHELMINGLY HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO STAND UP AND HOPEFULLY THIS
WILL HAVE A DETERRENT IN THE
COURTROOM FOR TENANTS BECOMES
WELL-KNOWN ON MERITORIOUS
ELECTIONS WILL NO LONGER BE
TOLERATED IN SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY.
THIS LEGISLATION COULD END UP
HAVING A REALLY PROFOUND IMPACT
AND CERTAINLY HAS IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND I
REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE
IMPACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE
IN OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE TENANTS
BEING ABLE TO LIVE WITH A SENSE
OF SECURITY IN REDUCING THE
NUMBER OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO
FALL INTO A STATE OF
HOMELESSNESS AND END UP LIVING
IN ENCAMPMENTS AND IN VEHICLES
AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
THE NEXT PHASE IN MAKING SURE
WE HAVE SUFFICIENT
APPROPRIATION TO SUSTAIN AND
BUILD ON THIS GOING FORWARD IN
A CITY THAT IS MAJORITY RENTER
AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS WELL
ENFORCED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FOR
LEWIS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU TO THE SPONSOR OF
THIS BILL, I'M EXCITED TO VOTE
YES, THIS WILL HAVE INCREDIBLE
BENEFITS TO MANY PEOPLE WHO
NEED LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN
EVICTION PROCEEDINGS AND WE ARE
GOING TO SEE A CASCADING IMPACT
OF NET BENEFITS BECAUSE WHEN
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO BE LEGALLY
REPRESENTED IN LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS, THEY ARE ABLE TO
RECEIVE THE ADVICE THEY NEED TO
MAKE DECISIONS TO THE BENEFIT
SO I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR
AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUES, I'M
EXCITED ABOUT YES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY
THANKS FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION IN
SPITE OF OUR DISAGREEMENT AS IT
RELATES TO AMENDMENT 3. I STILL
THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT POLICY
úFOR THE CITY. I HAVE LONG
ADVOCATED FOR EXPANSION AND
ESTABLISHING LEGAL AID PROGRAMS
AND A LOT OF OTHER AREAS AND
HAVE IN FACT BEEN VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE PRIME
SPONSORS AND OTHER EFFORTS TO
ADD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR
THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF LEGAL
AID AND PREVENTION OF EVICTIONS
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I THINK
THAT NEED RELATED TO EVICTIONS
AND THE NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO
A LAWYER IS THAT MUCH MORE
IMPORTANT IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME
WHERE WE KNOW WE ARE FACING A
SYNONYMY OF EVICTIONS AFTER THE
MORATORIUMS OR LIFTED BUT
BEFORE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET
BACK ON GOOD FOOTING
ECONOMICALLY TO BE ABLE TO
CATCH UP ON THEIR RENT.
THIS COUNSEL HAS TAKEN
IMPORTANT STEPS ON OTHER TENANT
PROTECTIONS THAT I THINK WE ARE
ALL PROUD OF AND APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BILL THAT
WILL BE ABLE TO BE IMPLEMENTED
QUICKLY AND THAT WILL BE
LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE IN A COURT
OF LAW.
I'M GOING TO HANDED OVER TO
SAWANT FOR CLOSING REMARKS AND
THEN WE WILL CALL THE ROLL ON
THIS BILL.
>> THANK YOU, I'M VERY HAPPY
FROM THE COMMENTS THAT COUNCIL
MEMBERS HAVE MADE THAT THIS
BILL IS LIKELY TO PASS
UNANIMOUSLY. WITH THIS
LEGISLATION, SEATTLE'S ABOUT
BECOME THE FIRST CITY IN
WASHINGTON STATE THAT
GUARANTEES THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
FOR RENTERS FACING EVICTION.
THIS VICTORY BELONGS TO THE
MENTORS RIGHT AND SOCIALIST
MOVEMENT WHICH MY COUNSEL
OFFICE IS PROUD TO BE A PART OF
AND WHICH UNDERSTANDS THAT IT
TAKES A FIGHTING STRATEGY TO
OVERCOME CORPORATE LANDLORDS
AND POLITICIANS.
SEATTLE NOW JOINS NEW YORK, SAN
FRANCISCO, BOULDER, COLORADO,
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, BALTIMORE,
MARYLAND, AMONG OTHERS IN
PRESCRIBING LEGAL RIGHTS FOR
RENTERS FACING EVICTION.
HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
IN MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
DESERVE CREDIT FOR THIS
VICTORY, PARTICULARLY THE
SEATTLE TENANTS UNION,
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE, THE BOOK
WORKERS UNION, THE HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT, THE AMERICAN
CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, THE
WASHINGTON STATE AFFILIATE AND
THE NATIONAL ACLU REAL CHANGE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION AND MANY
OTHERS INCLUDING THE DOZENS OF
ACTIVISTS AND VIRTUALLY ALL OF
HOME ARE STRUGGLING WORKERS AND
RENTERS WHO COLLECTED 460
EXHIBITORS FROM WORKING PEOPLE
IN OUR CITY WHO STRONGLY
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND
COUNSEL OFFICE HAS SERVED AS
THE CENTER OF ORGANIZING FOR
THE RENTERS RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
WE HAVE BUILT POWERFUL
MOVEMENTS, FOUGHT FOR AND
BROUGHT LEGISLATION LIKE THE
LAW THAT BANS RENT INCREASES IN
BUILDINGS WERE CODE VIOLATIONS
EXIST IN THE BAN ON WINTER
EVICTIONS, A CAP ON MOVING
FEES.
WE DID ALL OF THIS THROUGH
COLLABORATION AND UNITY AMONG
ORDINARY PEOPLE, WORKERS, RANK-
AND-FILE MEMBERS, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE NO
POWER OR INFLUENCE BY THEMSELVES
BECOME STRONG WHEN WE ORGANIZE
TOGETHER AND FIGHT BACK.
WE HAVE ONE UNANIMOUS VOTES
REPEATEDLY BY FIGHTING BACK IS
A MOVEMENT.
WE CELEBRATE THIS VICTORY BUT
WE CANNOT BECOME COMPLACENT
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE STATUS
QUO IS STILL HEAVILY STACKED
AGAINST RENTERS AND IN FAVOR OF
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
LANDLORDS HAVE IMMENSE POWER
AND IN MANY CASES, POWER OVER
WHETHER PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO
REMAIN HOUSED. THAT IS WHY WE
STILL NEED A HUGE EXPANSION OF
SOCIAL HOUSING BY PUBLIC
REVENUES THAT TEXT BIG BUSINESS
SO WE NEED TO INCREASE THE
AMAZON TAX, WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT RENTERS RIGHTS
THEMSELVES OR CONTINUE TO BE
STRENGTHENED AND THAT'S WHERE
MY OFFICE AND THE GROWING
RENTERS RIGHTS MOVEMENT WILL
NOT REST AFTER TODAY'S PASSAGE
OF RIGHT TO COUNSEL, OUR
MOVEMENT WILL CLAIM TODAY'S
VICTORY AS A VICTORY FOR THE
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT AND WILL GO
FORWARD TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION
TO PROTECT RENTERS FROM DEFAULT
EVICTIONS.
HALF OF ALL EVICTIONS IN
SEATTLE HAPPEN BY DEFAULT
MEANING THE COURT AUTOMATICALLY
ASKED THE RENTER BECAUSE THEY
DID NOT FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK
TO REQUEST A HEARING OR DID NOT
ATTEND THE HEARING AND OFTEN
ITS MOST VULNERABLE RENTERS
AFFECTED BY DEFAULT. WE HAVE
HEARD HORROR STORIES OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE BEDRIDDEN OR WERE IN A
COMA OR HAVE DEMENTIA, BEING
EVICTED BY DEFAULT WITHOUT EVEN
KNOWING IT'S HAPPENING.
MY OFFICE IS ALREADY WORKING ON
A MORATORIUM OF EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES DURING THE MONTHS OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR AS WAS SUGGESTED
BY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON
LEGISLATION REQUIRING LANDLORDS
TO HAVE TO MEET A JUST CAUSE
STANDARD FOR ALL EVICTIONS BY
CLOSING THE CURRENT LOOPHOLE
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO EVICT
TENANTS WITHOUT CAUSE AND WE
ARE PREPARING TO DEVELOP
LEGISLATION.
THE AVERAGE WINTER IN SEATTLE
HAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO NEGOTIATE
EVEN THE SMALLEST PART OF THEIR
LEASE WHEN THEY MOVE INTO A
HOUSE OR AN APARTMENT AND AS A
RESULT MANY LEASES HAVE
OUTRAGEOUS TERMS SO WE DO NEED
TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN
RENTERS RIGHTS TO HAVE A FULL
BILL OF RENTERS RIGHTS AND EVEN
THAT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH.
WE WILL NEED TO FIGHT FOR RENT
CONTROL AND WE WILL NEED TO
FIGHT TO CANCEL RENT AND
MORTGAGE AND UTILITY DEBT FOR
THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING
BECAUSE OF INCOME OR JOB LOSSES
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC IN A
RECESSION SO I CONGRATULATE
EVERYBODY WHO FOUGHT TO WIN
THIS, LET'S KEEP GOING, WHEN WE
FIGHT, WE WIN.
>> OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND CALL THIS TO VOTE NOW.
THE DEBATE IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED
AND I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE AMENDED BILL.
>> MOSQUEDA, PEDERSON, SAWANT ,
STRAUSS, HERBOLD, JUAREZ,
LEWIS, MORALES, PRESIDENT
GONZALES.
9 IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEMS TWO THROUGH FIVE INTO THE
RECORD?
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WERE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF
A HARD TIME HEARING YOU SO
HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK ON THAT
BEFORE WE READ THE NEXT ITEMS
INTO THE RECORD.
COUNSEL NEVER SAWANT, THIS IS
YOUR COMMITTEE WORK AS WELL SO
I'M GOING TO HANDED OVER TO YOU
TO ADDRESS THESE APPOINTMENTS .
>> I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR
AMELIA PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE
DISTURBANCE, DID SHE READ OUT
ALL ITEMS TWO THROUGH FIVE?
>> SHE DID.
SO ALL ITEMS TWO THROUGH FIVE
ARE NOW READ INTO THE RECORD SO
WE HAVE ALL OF THE APPOINTMENTS
BEFORE US SO YOU CAN ADDRESS
ALL OF THEM.
>> THANK YOU.
THESE ARE THE FIRST FOUR
APPOINTMENTS TO THE GREEN NEW
DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
AFTER THE MAYOR TWICE GOT THE
FUNDING FOR THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD IN OUR MOVEMENT
FOUGHT BACK TO RESTORE THAT
FUNDING, THE OFFICE HAS NOW
HIRED THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD ADVISOR AND WE
HAVE BEGUN MAKING APPOINTMENTS.
THERE ARE 19 SEATS ON THE
OVERSIGHT BOARD AND WE ARE
VOTING TO CONFIRM THE FIRST
FOUR OF THEM.
ALONG WITH THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT
WE HAVE OPENED UP A NEW
APPLICATION WINDOW FOR THE
REMAINING POSITIONS ANY MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO
APPLY CAN DO SO BY FINDING AN
APPLICATION ON THE OSU WEBSITE
OR MY COUNSEL OFFICE BLOG.
MATT BROMLEY IS BEING APPOINTED
TO ONE OF THE POSITIONS, HE IS
A COURAGEOUS ORGANIZER AND
CLIMATE ACTIVIST AND FOUNDER.
HE WAS THE INITIAL AUTHOR OF
SEATTLE'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
DAY RESOLUTION, BUILT A MOVEMENT
TO DIVERGE FROM FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS AND HELP. RACHEL
HEATON IS BEING APPOINTED, SHE
IS A CULTURAL EDITOR FOR AN
ENROLLED MEMBER OF THE TRIBE
AND A DESCENDENT OF THE NO
AMISH PEOPLE.
SHE IS ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER
OF THE MOLLUSCA DOGS AND A
COURAGEOUS CLIMATE ACTIVIST
TESTIFYING AROUND THE WORLD
ABOUT THE MOVEMENT TO DEFUND
THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY.
SHE WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR SEATTLE
PASSING ITS GREEN NEW DEAL
RESOLUTION AND OVERSIGHT BOARD
ORDINANCE IN 2019.
JUST WALLICK IS AN ORGANIZER
WITH 350 SEATTLE AND IS BEING
APPOINTMENT TO ONE OF THE
POSITIONS RESERVED FOR PEOPLE
WITH EXPERTISE IN COMBATING
CLIMATE CHANGE.
SHE HAS HELPED ORGANIZE
DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT
INVEST IN THE FOSSIL FUEL
INDUSTRY.
ALL OF THEM HAVE PAST
EXPERIENCE BUILDING THE
MOVEMENT FOR GREEN NEW DEAL HAD
TO ADJUST TRANSITION TO STOP
CLIMATE CHANGE.
THEY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THE
úCITY COUNCIL CONFIRM THESE
APPOINTMENTS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON ANY OF THESE
APPOINTMENTS?
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 1842, 1843, 1845,
AND 1846?
>> MOSQUEDA, PEDERSON, SAWANT,
STRAUSS, HERBOLD, JUAREZ,
LEWIS, MORALES, PRESIDENT
GONZALES?
9 IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES AND THE
APPOINTMENTS ARE CONFIRMED.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 60 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITY
AGENDA ITEM COUNSEL SIX.
AMENDING RATES, TERMS AND
CONDITIONS FOR THE USE AND SALE
OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLIED BY THE
CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT FOR 2021
AND 2022.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON, I'M
GOING TO HANDED OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, AT OUR
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE ON MARCH 17 WE
UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED THIS
COUNSEL BILL 120015 TWO
REAFFIRM ELECTRICITY RATES FOR
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, OUR CITY
HAS BECOME LESS AFFORDABLE AND
UTILITY BILLS ARE ESSENTIALLY
WAS AGGRESSIVE SO OUR GOAL IS
TO KEEP COSTS DOWN SO WE CAN
KEEP RATES LOW.
THANK YOU THANKFULLY DURING
COVID THE CITY OWNED UTILITIES
HAVE MANAGED TO KEEP RATES
STEADY, TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT
IN OUR UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
AND TO WAIVE LATE FEES.
WITH THIS LEGISLATION I AM
PLEASED THAT CITY LIGHT
CONTINUES TO PREVENT A NET
INCREASE TO ELECTRIC BILLS THIS
YEAR, EACH CUSTOMER'S BILL IS
COMPOSED OF VARIOUS ELECTRICITY
RATES PASS-THROUGH POWER RATES
AND SURCHARGES AND THROUGH A
COMBINATION OF ACTIONS WE CAN
CONTINUE TO PREVENT AN INCREASE
IN BILLS THIS YEAR, IN
ADDITION, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
WILL BE KEEPING THE PROMISE FOR
NEXT YEAR, 2022, BY STICKING
WITH THE ORIGINAL RATE PATH
AGREED TO BACK IN 2018 AND
POSSIBLY ACHIEVING A SMALLER
INCREASE IF PASSED THROUGH
RATES FROM BONNEVILLE POWER
ADMINISTRATION, IN LOWER.
I APPRECIATE BOTH SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES FOCUSING ON
AFFORDABILITY FOR OUR CITY
RESIDENTS AND I WANT TO THANK
MY VICE CHAIR, DAN STRAUSS, FOR
HELPING TO PROVIDE MORE TIME
FOR US TO CONSIDER THIS BILL.
AGAIN, THIS BILL WAS
RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY BY
COMMITTEE, THANK YOU.
>> OTHER ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO ALSO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE TO THE CITY LIGHT TEAM
WHO TOOK OVER TWO AND HALF
HOURS TO BRIEF ME ON A LONG
LIST OF QUESTIONS GOING INTO
THE STRATEGIC PLAN,
UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE WE ARE
CODIFYING THE 2022 RATES TODAY,
THAT THOSE WERE ALREADY
ENDORSED WITHIN THE LAST
STRATEGIC PLAN. I WANT TO THANK
CITY LIGHT FOR THEIR AMAZING
WORK TO BE ABLE TO KEEP RATES
AS LOW AS POSSIBLE AND NOT
INCREASE RATES THIS LAST YEAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. LOOKING
FORWARD TO VOTING YES.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
BILL?
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS SO WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> IT'S JUST A FREE-FOR-ALL AT
THIS POINT.
MADAME CLERK, WE ARE UNABLE TO
HEAR YOU SO PERHAPS YOU CAN
COME OFF OF MUTE OR SOMEBODY
CAN COME OFF OF ME.
>> LET ME TRY THIS AGAIN MADAME
PRESIDENT.
>> I WILL BE THE CLERK.
>> MOSQUEDA , PEDERSON,
SAWANT , STRAUSS, HERBOLD,
JUAREZ, LEWIS, MORALES,
PRESIDENT GONZALES.
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN, WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
I PROMISE WE WILL GET THROUGH
THIS, WE WILL DO TOGETHER.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEMS SEVEN THROUGH 11?
>> AGENDA ITEMS SEVEN THROUGH
11 APPOINTMENT 1832 THROUGH 1836
. REAPPOINTMENT AND
APPOINTMENTS OF EMILY KIM,
MARTHA LUCAS, AS MEMBERS
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
COMMISSION FOR TERM TO MAY 31,
2021.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I MOVED TO CONFIRM APPOINTMENTS
1832THROUGH 1836, IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED, TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, I'M GOING TO HANDED
OVER TO YOU TO WALK US THROUGH
THESE APPOINTMENTS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THESE FIVE APPOINTMENTS ARE TO
THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
COMMISSION WHICH ADVISES THE
CITY ON OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES.
THE COMMISSION IS MADE UP OF 16
MEMBERS, SEVEN APPOINTED TO THE
COUNCIL BY THE COUNCIL AND ONE
FROM EACH DISTRICT, SEVEN
APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND TWO
APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSION
ITSELF.
JASMINE IS A COUNSEL POINTMAN
FOR DISTRICT 1, SHE IS A 20
YEAR RESIDENT OF WEST SEATTLE
AND HAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE AS A LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECT.
EMILY KIM IS A MAYORAL
APPOINTMENT, SHE IS THE
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL IMPACT AND
COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND
PREVIOUSLY WORKED HERE COUNSEL
FOR FORMER COUNCILMEMBER JEAN
GUNN.
MARTHA LUCAS IS A COUNSEL FOR
DISTRICT 4, SHE'S A LONG TIME
WHICH WOULD RESIDENT WITH
EXPERIENCE IN HEALTHCARE
MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH,
EDUCATION, INSURANCE, AND
CAREGIVING.
SHE SERVES AS COCHAIR OF THE
CENSUS PROJECT FOR THE
WASHINGTON STATE COALITION OF
AFRICAN COMMUNITY LEADERS.
JULIE FAILED IS A MAYORAL
APPOINTMENT, SHE IS THE CO-OWNER
OF NORTHWEST VIETNAMESE NEWS
AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THE
WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION.
BILL SOUTHERN IS A COUNSEL
POINTMAN FOR DISTRICT 5, HE HAS
EXPERIENCE IN MEDIA, PUBLIC
AFFAIRS, AND COMMUNITY
RELATIONS INCLUDING SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SPECIAL
OLYMPICS WASHINGTON AND
WASHINGTN D.O.T.'S PUBLIC
AFFAIRS DIRECTOR FOR THE
NORTHWEST REGION.
I URGE A YES VOTE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY ADDIIONAL COMMENTS ON
THESE APPOINTMENT?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
1832 THROUGH 1836?
>> MOSQUEDA, PEDERSON,
SAWANT, STRAUSS, HERBOLD,
JUAREZ, LEWIS, MORALES,
PRESIDENT GONZALES.
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEMS 12 THROUGH 16 IN THE
RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENTS 1837 THROUGH
1845 ONE REAPPOINTMENTS OF
JESSICA JONES, STURDIVANT,
SARAH REEDER, SHERRY SALT AND
MICHAEL WALTON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I MOVED CONFIRM THESE
APPOINTMENTS. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
, COUNSEL STRAUSS I WILL
HEADED BACK OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THESE FIVE REAPPOINTMENT ARE TO
THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION,
JESSICA JONES HAS 15 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE WORKING ON BOTH
ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
STEWART IS A CERTIFIED ARBORIST
AND CO-OWNER OF A TREE COMPANY
AND HE ALSO BRINGS EXPERIENCE
HAVING PRACTICED IN CANADA AND
EUROPE.
HE SHARES A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE
AND INFORMATION THAT I
REGULARLY RELY ON AND I'M
EXCITED FOR HIM TO COME BACK.
SARAH WORKS IN THE WATER GROUP
OF THE WSP PERSON BRINKERHOFF
AND HAS WORKED AS AN URBAN
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FOR MORE
THAN A DECADE.
LASTLY, MICHAEL IS A CERTIFIED
ARBORIST WITH A BACKGROUND IN
HORTICULTURE, ARBORICULTURE,
CONSTRUCTION DETAILING AND
IRRIGATION.
HE CURRENTLY WORKS AT A LOCAL
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FIRM.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THESE APPOINTMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 1837 THROUGH 1841?
>> MOSQUEDA, PEDERSON,
SAWANT, STRAUSS, HERBOLD,
JUAREZ, LEWIS, MORALES,
PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES AND THE
APPOINTMENTS ARE CONFIRMED.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 17 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> THE NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE,
COUNSEL BILL 120021, TO START
PRESERVATION UPON THE SWEDISH
CLUB, THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
THE BILL PASSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BACK OVER
DUE, STRAUSS IS THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
DO I NEED TO MOVE HER SECOND IS
BILL ?
>> YOU CAN JUST SPEAK TO IT, GO
AHEAD AND
>> COUNSEL BILL 120021 IS THE
CONTROLS AND INCENTIVES
AGREEMENT FOR THE SWEDISH CLUB
ON QUEEN AND WHICH HAS BEEN
DESIGNATED AS LANDMARK, THE
AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY
THE OWNER AND APPROVED BY THE
LANDMARK PRESERVATION BOARD,
CONTROLS WILL BE PLACED ON THE
BUILDING EXTERIOR AND A PORTION
OF THE INTERIOR.
THE LANDMARK DESIGNATION
APPLIES TO THE BUILDING.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME I WILL
WILL RESERVE THE REMAINDER OF
MY COMMENTS AND IF ANYONE IS
INTERESTED, WE HAD A VERY GOOD
ROBUST DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE,
IT MIGHT SEEM AS A NON-ASSUMING
BUILDING AND HAS AN IMMENSE
AMOUNT OF HISTORY. CHRISTINE
ALSO SPOKE TO THE HISTORY OF
THE SWEDISH CLUB WHICH THE CLUB
BEING THE SOCIAL ASPECT ALSO
HAD A CIVICS ASPECT THAT BEGAN
SWEDISH HOSPITAL IN SEATTLE AND
I WILL RESERVE THE REMAINDER OF
MY COMMENTS TO SAY I URGE A YES
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ARE THERE
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE
BILL?
>> HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE PAUL CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE?
>> MOSQUEDA, PEDERSON, SAWANT,
STRAUSS, HERBOLD, JUAREZ,
LEWIS, MORALES, PRESIDENT
GONZALES?
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT, WITH THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF?
OTHER BUSINESS, I UNDERSTAND
YOU HAVE A REQUEST TO BE
EXCUSED SO I'M GOING TO LET YOU
DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO
REQUEST TO BE EXCUSED FROM THE
APRIL 12, 2021 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING AND CITY COUNCIL
BRIEFING.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS WILL BE
EXCUSED FROM THE APRIL 12 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
ALL RIGHT, HEARING NO OBJECTION,
A MEMBER STRAUSS IS EXCUSED
FROM THE APRIL 12 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
HEARING NONE, THIS DOES
CONCLUDE THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY CITY SETTLED
SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
IS MONDAY, APRIL 5 AT 2 PM AND
I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL
EVENING AND WE ARE ADJOURNED,
THANKS, EVERYONE.
[ EVENT HAS CONCLUDED ]