>>> OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON
EVERYONE, THE MAY 1820 21
MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL COME
TO ORDER.
IT IS TO: 01 P.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SIX
PRESENT.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION IT IS
ADOPTED.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA WE HAVE TWO
PRESENTATIONS AND TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION TO BE CONSIDERING.
THE FIRST REGARDING THE FOSSIL
FUEL STUDY THAT WAS CONDUCTED
AND THE SECOND WILL BE ON
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IN THE
TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION WE
HAVE ON HIS CANCEL BILL 120000
REGARDING CIVIL RIGHTS.
IT CHANGES AT THE END OF THE
DIRECTORS TERM BY ONE YEAR.
ALSO REMOVES AN OUTDATED
SUBSECTION REGARDING RACIAL
EQUITY TOOLKIT.
THEN WE WILL DISCUSS, I JUST
LOST MY NOTES.
WE WILL DISCUSS ANOTHER COUNSEL
BILL 120071.
THAT IS RELATED TO COMMERCIAL
TENDENCIES.
AND COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WILL
BE ADDRESSING THAT ITEM FOR US.
SO, THAT IS JUST A LITTLE
PREVIEW OF WHAT WE WILL BE
DOING THIS AFTERNOO.
I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND
THEN WE WILL GET INTO IT.
NOW WE WILL OPEN THE REMOTE
GENERAL, COMMENT.
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS
TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM AND MAKE
SURE WE CAN ENGAGE AND
ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
IN OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.
IT DOES REMAIN THE STRONG
INTENT TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
BUT COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO MODIFY THESE PERIODS IF WE
DEEM THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED
OR IS UNSUITABLE FOR ALLOWING
THE MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS
MEETING IS UP TO 20 MINUTES IN
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON TWO SPEAKERS AT
A TIME, IF YOU HAVE NOT YET
REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT WOULD
LIKE TO YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP
BEFORE THE PERIOD ENDS BY GOING
TO THE WEBSITE AT
SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL HILL.
ONCE I CALL THE SPEAKERS NAME
THEY WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND THE
AUTOMATIC PROMPT WILL BE THE
SPEAKERS QUEUE. YOU MUST PRESS
STAR SIX IN ORDER TO BEGIN
SPEAKING.
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND ITEM YOU ARE
ADDRESSING.
IT SHOULD RELATE TO AN ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
YOU WILL HEAR A CHIME IN 10
SECONDS OR LESS.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME, PLEASE
BEGIN TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS.
IF YOU DO NOT AND YOUR COMMENTS
AT THE END YOUR MICROPHONE WILL
BE MUTED.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO
FINISH YOUR COMMENT PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO EMAIL YOUR COMMENT TO
US SO WE CAN HEAR YOUR FULL
COMMENT.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
COMMENT WE ASK THAT YOU
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE.
IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE TO
FOLLOW THE MEETING THAT YOU CAN
DO SO ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL OR
THE LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA.
SO PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS
STAR SIX BEFORE SPEAKING.
AND I HAVE FIRST ON MY LIST
SHAMIR FOLLOWED BY PETER.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SHAMIR, I AM
A SEATTLE RESIDENT AND
COMMUNITY MEMBER.
I'M CALLING TO ASK
COUNCILMEMBERS TO LIFT THE
APPEAL ON THE $20 MILLION
BUDGETING.
IT MUST BE EQUITABLE AND
DESIGNED TO HELP OTHER
COMMUNITIES.
IT SHOULD BE CHOSEN THAT ARE
MOST LIKELY TO BE HARMED OR
KILLED.
THOSE THAT ARE NEEDING FULL-
TIME COMPENSATION.
IT IS VITAL FOR THE BUDGETING
UCCESS THAT IMPLEMENTATION
LED TO COMMUNITIES CLOSEST TO
HARMFUL EFFECTS OF POLICING.
WE CANNOT AFFORD THE STATUS QUO
WHERE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY
SUFFER BECAUSE THOSE ON THE
GROUND AND I WITH EXPERIENCE
THINK THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEST.
SYSTEMIC RACISM IS A RESULT AND
A REALITY.
WE ARE BUILDING A NEW PARADIGM
FOR OUTLOOK SAFETY THAT CENTERS
AROUND COMMITTEES MOST HARM BY
VIOLENT POLICING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE PETER WHO WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY KRISTIN SMITH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM A
RESIDENT AND ABOLITIONIST.
I AM GOING TO ASK
COUNCILMEMBERS TO LIFT THE
SUPERVISOR.
THEY SHOULD BE DESIGNED AND
HELD BY COMMUNITY NOT BY THE
CITY.
SECURING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ACCOUNTABLE NEED FULL-TIME
COMPENSATION AS OUTLINED IN THE
REPORT THEY SHOULD BE SELECTED
FROM COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST
LIKELY TO BE HARMED OR KILLED
BY SYSTEMIC RACISM AND
VIOLENCE.
THIS INCLUDES FOR EXAMPLE BLACK
WOMEN, PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANS-OR
NON-GENDER BINARY, THE BOHO
HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS,
INDIGENOUS WOMEN. BY PROVIDING
LIVING WAGES TO THESE EMPLOYEES
THEY CAN BE ANTIRACIST AND
ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR MOST
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
IF YOU ARE SAYING IT'S TOO
EXPENSIVE YOU ARE SAYING YOU
WOULD RATHER NOT SUPPORT BLACK
AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE
HISTORICALLY AND PRESENT LEAVE
BEEN KEPT OUT OF THE DECISION-
MAKING.
WE CAN HAVE A PARADIGM THAT
CENTERS AROUND COMMUNITIES MOST
HARMED BY VIOLENT POLICING,
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KRISTIN SMITH
FOLLOWED BY HEATHER KELLY.
>> NAME IS KIRSTEN SMITH I LIVE
IN DISTRICT ONE AND WORK ON
PUBLIC POLICY.
I AM COMMENTING ON AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER ONE ON THE FOSSIL FUEL
TRANSITION STUDY.
IT SUPPORTS THE WORK TO
FACILITATE AS PART OF SEATTLE'S
EFFORTS TO COMBAT CLIMATE
CHANGE.
THE WORK TO TRANSITION SIENNA
AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUEL IS
HAPPENING NOW AND WILL KEEP
MOVING FORWARD.
WE NEED TO PREPARE OUR
WORKFORCE RATHER THAN BEING
REACTIONARY.
CREATING EQUITABLY
TRANSITIONING THE LABOR FORCE
IS A KEY COMPONENT TO THE
SUCCESS.
THEY ARE COMING UP WITH
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS
LABOR ISSUES INCLUDING SAN
FRANCISCO WHERE PARTNERS ARE
BEING RETRAINED.
WE URGE YOU TO ACT ON THE
CITY'S RECOMMENDATIONS QUICKLY
AS STRESSING THESE WORKFORCE
ISSUES WILL ONLY GET MORE
EXPENSIVE.
>> NEXT WE HAVE HEATHER KELLY
FOLLOWED BY TANNER.
>> MY NAME IS HEATHER KELLY, I
LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX AND I'M
HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND
SEATTLE KING COUNTY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING.
IT IS A NONPARTISAN
ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY AND
EMPOWERING VOTERS.
WITH THOSE GOALS IN MIND WE
URGE THE COUNCIL CAN IMPLEMENT
IN A FULLY FUNDED PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING PROCESS.
THE LEAK SUPPORTS THE BUDGETING
PROCESS THAT BUILDS ON THE
INCREDIBLE GROUND WORK LAID BY
THE BLACK LABOR PROJECT.
AT THE LEAK SUBMITTED WORKING
IN TRANSPARENCY THROUGHOUT THE
PROCESS TO MAKE THEMSELVES
AVAILABLE, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MORALE IS FOR
THIS.
WE ARE CALLING FOR INVESTMENT
IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THIS
ALSO URGES OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT
COME FORWARD TO SUPPORT THIS
PROCESS TO DO SO NOW.
WE MUST AMPLIFY THE BLACK
COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR OWN,
DEMAND EQUITY AND JUSTICE TO
THOSE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY
POLICE VIOLENCE AND UPLIFT THIS
PROCESS HOWEVER WE CAN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO COMMENT TODAY.
>> THANK YOU HEATHER.
NEXT WE HAVE TANA FOLLOWED BY
LATONYA.
>> GREETINGS AND GOOD DAY, CAN
YOU WILL HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD DAY ONE AND ALL, I
RESIDE IN DISTRICT 1 AND I'M
ALSO ON THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION WHICH I AM THE CO-
CHAIR.
THE BLACK BILLY RENT RESEARCH
REPORT CALLED OUT BLACK WOMEN
AS THE KEY DEMOGRAPHIC TO
INCLUDE AS SALARY OF THE PB
STEERING COMMITTEE.
A DELAY IN GETTING THE FUNDS
OUT EQUALS A DELAY IN GETTING
THE SEATTLE AREA PAY JOBS TO
BLACK WOMEN.
BY OUR RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY
ME, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE
MEDIAN ANNUAL EARNINGS FOR FULL-
TIME YEAR-ROUND BLACK WOMEN
WORKERS IS JUST OVER 36,000.
AN AMOUNT 20% LOWER THAN WHITE
WOMEN.
BLACKS ARE MORE RELIANT ON
INCOMES AND OTHER FAMILIES.
SEATTLE IS CLEARLY UP TO ITS
OWN SHENANIGANS I TALKING THE
TALK AND NOT WALKING THE WALK.
THIS MONEY IS NOT A HANDOUT
IT'S AN INVESTMENT INTO A
COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN HARMED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM.
THE RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE, THE
PLAN HAS BEEN LAID OUT.
THIS IS BLACK BRILLIANCE AT ITS
FINEST.
IN THE NEXT YEAR, MORE BLACK
FAMILIES SUFFER BY WAITING ON
EMPTY PROMISES.
TRUST THAT THE COMMUNITY, GIVEN
THE RESOURCES NEEDED WILL BE
ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS OF
THE RESEARCH RESULTS.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT WE HAVE LATONYA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M A 38-
YEAR-OLD BLACK, NINE BARRY NERI
PERSON AND ALSO THE CO-LEAD OF
THE BLACK RANCH RESEARCH
PROJECT WHICH HAS OVER HUNDRED
IMMUNITY RESEARCHERS THAT ARE
PRIMARILY BLACK AND BROWN.
THIS IS TO DESIGN PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING PROCESS.
I'M GOING TO ASK CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS TO LIFT ON THE
28 MILLION BUDGETING.
IT IS A DEMOCRATIC BUDGETING
PROCESS THAT ALLOWS ALL
CITIZENS TO TAKE PART IN YOUR
FUTURE.
THAT INCLUDES THOSE WHO ARE
FORMALLY OR CURRENTLY
INCARCERATED AND THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE
ELECTORAL PROCESS.
SECURITY MEMBERS NEED FULL
COMPENSATION, AS OUTLINED IN
THE RESEARCH REPORT, THESE
INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE SELECTED
FROM COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST
LIKELY TO BE HARMED OR KILLED
BY SYSTEMIC RACISM AND
VIOLENCE.
THIS INCLUDES BLACK WOMEN,
THOSE WHO ARE TRANSGENDER,
GENDER NONCONFORMING, NON-
BINARY, PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE
OF HOMELESSNESS, INDIGENOUS
WOMEN, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
AMONG OTHERS.
COMMUNITY LED PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING WOULD TAKE THE FIRST
STEPS IN RIGHTING THE WRONGS OF
WHITE SUPREMACIST THAT MADE
DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WITHOUT GIVING TO THE
AGENCIES LIST IMPACTED.
I STEP INSIDE AND LETTING
BLACK, INDIGENOUS, TRANS
ANOTHER LEAD, WE ARE ENSURING
THAT THE SOLUTIONS MEET THE
NEEDS.
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW.
SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN
WAITING FOR GENERATIONS FOR THE
COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE
BRILLIANCE.
IT IS TIME FOR THE CITY TO
ALLOW COMMUNITIES TO LEAD THIS
PB PROCESS THAT WOULD HAVE
EQUITABLE OUTCOMES FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
EXCLUDED FROM OPPORTUNITY.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KIRA McCOY.
>> HELLO MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS KIRA
McCOY, I AM ADJUSTING THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING ITEM.
I'M A DISTRICT FOR RESIDENT,,
CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR AT U DUB
AND ALSO A CO-CHAIR OF THE
RACIAL INJUSTICE TEAM AT THE
UNIVERSITY CHURCH WHICH IS A
CONGREGATION WHERE WE HAVE OVER
200 MEMBERS.
I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU LIFT
THE PROVISO ON THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
THROUGH MY WORK AT CHURCH WE'VE
EXAMINED HOW OUR OWN
CONGREGATION AND LEADERSHIP ARE
OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE AND SOME
MEMBERS OF COLOR HAVE STRUGGLED
TO FEEL WELCOME, HAVE FELT HURT
BY MICRO AGGRESSIONS ARE FELT
LEFT OUT OF PROGRAM DECISIONS.
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE WELL-MEANING
LIBERALS WE HAVE INSTITUTIONAL
RACISM DISLIKE UNIVERSITIES AND
CITIES.
AS A WHITE PERSON I FELT THE
DESIRE TO FIX THESE ISSUES
QUICKLY AND TAKE THE REINS.
HOWEVER, I LEARNED TO PAUSE TO
HONOR THE WISDOM OF PEOPLE OF
COLOR IN MY INSTITUTION AND
FOLLOW THEIR GUIDELINES.
TO COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS
PROBLEMS.
WE REALLY WOULD HAVE A STRONGER
COMMUNITY IF BLACK, LGBTQ,
DISABLED MEMBERS DECIDE HOW
MONEY IS SPENT IN OUR CHURCH,
NOT JUST A FEW SELECT LEADERS
AT THE TOP.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S FOR
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING BECAUSE
AT THE CITY LEVEL I BELIEVE THE
MOST IMPACTED PEOPLE SHOULD
HAVE DECISION-MAKING POWER.
AND THIS IS JUST A SMALL SLICE
OF THE BIG PIE OF CITY FUNDING.
THE BLACK BRILLIANCE RESEARCH
PROJECT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING
AND GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS.
LET'S LISTEN.
I'D ASKED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
REALLY LISTEN.
THROUGH PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
WE ARE BUILDING A NEW PARADIGM
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
I WILL END WITH A QUOTE BY
AURORA LEVENS MIRELES.
>> KIRA, WE DO NOT HEAR YOUR
QUOTE.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SEND THAT
TO US.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S JUST ONE LINE.
IN ORDER TO BUILD THE MOVEMENTS
CAPABLE OF TRANSFORMING OUR
WORLD, WE HAVE TO DO OUR BEST
TO LIVE WITH ONE FOOT IN THE
WORLD WE HAVE NOT YET CREATED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, IMPORTANT WORDS
TO KEEP IN MIND NEXT WE HAVE
PENNY O'GRADY.
>> HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS AND
EVERYONE, MY NAME IS PENNY
O'GRADY AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT
6 AND WE ARE PROUD UNION FAMILY
AND I WANT TO SHOW MY CONTINUED
SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING.
SPECIFICALLY LAID OUT BY THE
BLACK RESEARCH, IT WILL BE
DESIGNED BY THE COMMUNITY, NOT
THE CITY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO RELEASE THE
$28 MILLION ALREADY BUDGETED
FOR IT.
DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO SPEED UP
THE PROCESS.
THE FUNDS ARE MUCH-NEEDED NOW
TO BUILD A MORE RESPONSIVE AND
CARING CITY.
MEETING PEOPLE'S NEEDS AND
BUILDING COMMUNITY WHILE
BUILDING NEW LIFE IN THIS
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS ARE ALL
ACCEPTABLE SOLUTIONS FOR TRUE
PUBLIC SAFETY.
POLICING IS NOT.
IT DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL SAFE.
PB IS A POWERFUL TOOL THAT
WORKS IN ALL THESE LEVELS.
AND ALSO, GOOSEBUMPS FOR SURE,
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE MAIA McCOY
FOLLOWED BY NICK MANNING.
MY OUT YOU WILL NEED TO PRESS
STAR SIX FOR US TO HEAR YOU.
>> PERFECT, THANK YOU.
NAME IS MAIA, I AM A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER AND I'VE BEEN REALLY
EXCITED, I'M SPEAKING ON
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
I'M URGING THE COUNCIL TO MOVE
THIS FORWARD.
I'VE BEEN ORGANIZING AROUND
THIS AND I'M FEELING REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THE RESEARCH
ABOUT THE BLACK ALIENS RESEARCH
PROJECTS AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
I REALLY WANTED TO FOLLOW THIS
ROAD MAP, COMMUNITY LED
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING WILL
TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN RIGHTING
WRONGS OF WHITE SUPREMACY.
CITY LEAD PROCESSES THAT MEET
TO ME MEMBERS AND BY STEPPING
ASIDE AND ALLOWING IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES LEAD AND ENSURING
THAT THE SOLUTIONS MATCH THE
NEEDS.
I'M FEELING FRUSTRATED THAT THE
FUNDS HAVE BEEN HELD FOR SO
LONG.
I FEEL LIKE SAFETY IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING.
MY TOP PRIORITY.
AND I FEEL ANGRY THAT WE ARE
NOT PRIORITIZING IT.
AND I THINK THAT THOSE MOST
IMPACTED SHOULD BE ON THE
COMMUNITY COMMITTEE TO MAKE
THOSE DECISIONS AND THEY SHOULD
BE PAID FOR THEIR TIME.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> NEXT WE HAVE NICK MANNING
THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
GIOVANNA THOMPSON RILEY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS NICK MANNING I LIVE
IN DISTRICT 3 AND I'M HERE
REPRESENTING THE WASHINGTON
POSITIONS FOR SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY WHICH IS A STATE
WIDE ORGANIZATION OF HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS WORKING ON SOME
OF THE BIGGEST LOUNGES TO OUR
HEALTH, MAINLY CLIMATE CHANGE.
I'M TESTIFYING REGARDING THE
FOSSIL FUEL TO URGE THE RAPID
USE OF FOSSIL FUEL THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE.
IT PROVIDES AN ENORMOUS
FOOTHOLD FOR THE ECONOMY AND IN
OUR STATE.
BEYOND THAT, WHILE I AM A
CLIMATE ACTIVIST, WHAT COMPELS
ME TO BELIEVE IN THIS AS THE
MOST IMPORTANT CLIMATE CAMPAIGN
IN OUR STATE, IS NOT
NECESSARILY THE IMPLICATION FOR
CLIMATE CHANGE BUT RATHER THE
IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH.
I'VE BEEN REALLY AT THE
FOREFRONT OF SOME OF THESE
REALLY DAMNING INFORMATION'S
THAT HAVE BEEN PUT OUT STUDIES
RECENTLY.
TALKING ABOUT A 42% INCREASE
CHANCE AND ASTHMA SYMPTOMS AND
STUDENTS GROWING UP WITH A LOT
GAS STOVE.
IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL BY EPA
STANDARDS, WE HAVE THESE
HEATING APPLIANCES, OVENS AND
ALL THE WAY THE GAS SEEPS INTO
OUR INDOOR ENVIRONMENT ARE
CAUSING IRREVERSIBLE HARM TO
OUR HEALTH.
ESPECIALLY IN THE
IMMUNOCOMPROMISED YOUNGER AND
OLDER POPULATIONS AS WELL.
IT ALREADY PASSED THE STRONG
COMMERCIAL ENERGY CODE.
AND NOW IT IS TIME WE BRING THE
REST OF OUR BUILDINGS UP TO THE
SAME STANDARDS.
ESPECIALLY FIRMS RELYING ON GAS
STOVES, HELP REALLY CANNOT
WAIT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> HELLO, I'M TREY FROM BLACK
ACTION COALITION.
I'M CALLING TO ASK THE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LIFT THE
PROVISO ON 28 MILLION FOR PB.
PB AND SEATTLE MUST BE
EQUITABLE, AND DESIGNED AND
HELD BY COMMUNITIES, NOT BY THE
CITY.
HOLDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROGRAM AND
THEY SHOULD HAVE FULL-TIME
COMPENSATION AND SHOULD
DEFINITELY BE BLACK.
AS OUTLINED IN THE BLACK
BRILLIANCE RESEARCH PROJECT, IT
SHOULD BE FROM COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE HARMED OR
KILLED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM, THIS
INCLUDES BLACK WOMEN, ABLE WHO
WORE TRANS OR NON-GENDER
BINARY, PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED
HOMELESSNESS AND WOMEN AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THE SEATTLE PB COMMITTEE NEEDS
TO BE CONSISTENT WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WERE MOST LIKELY TO BE
HARMED. WHICH IS WHY THEY
SHOULD BE BLACK, INDIGENOUS OR
TRANS-FOLKS.
BY PROVIDING A LIVING WAGE AND
SALARY FOR BLACK, INDIGENOUS OR
TRANS-PEOPLE, IT IS HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR MOST
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
I WOULD LET US LIKE TO SAY THAT
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THIS BY
MAKING SURE WE INVEST IN THE
BLACK COMMUNITY.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME,
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE AMY REALISTS.
AND WE ONLY HAVE FIVE MORE
PEOPLE LEFT AFTER AMY, SO WITH
YOUR PERMISSION I WILL EXTEND
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AN EXTRA 10
MINUTES.
ANY OBJECTIONS?
SINGING IN, WE WILL EXTEND FOR
10 MORE MINUTES.
AMY, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, I AM A DISTRICT
SIX RESIDENT AND ALSO AN
ANALYST AT THE NORTHWEST ENERGY
COALITION.
I LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE FOSSIL
FUEL TRANSITION STUDY THAT YOU
WILL BE HEARING ABOUT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL FOR
SENDING THIS STUDY A COUPLE OF
CYCLES AGO.
TO MEET OUR CLIMATE PROTECTION
ROLES WE NEED TO BEGIN MOVING
AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS.
WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT
CENTERS THE COMMUNITY THAT
COULD BE MOST AFFECTED.
SO I AM REALLY THANKFUL THAT
THIS STUDY IS BEFORE YOU AND
LAYS OUT A CLEAR FRAMEWORK AND
THE NEXT STEPS FOR HOW WE WORK
TOGETHER IN THE TRANSITION.
BUT NOW WE NEED ACTION FROM
COUNCIL.
WE HOPE THE COUNCIL WAS ABLE TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH STAKEHOLDERS
AND COMMUNITY QUICKLY ON THINGS
WE CAN DO NOW AND TOMORROW TO
ADDRESS THE FOSSIL FUEL USE FOR
BUILDINGS.
WE KNOW THAT OUR BUILDINGS IS
WHERE WE SPENT 99% OF OUR TIME,
WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY,
WE WANT THEM TO BE HEALTHY AND
RESILIENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE TODAY.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KATIE GENTRY.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KATIE I AM
A DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT,
RENTER.
I'M CALLING AND EMAILING THE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LIFT ON
THE PB BUDGETING.
IT IS DESIGNED TO BE HELD BY
COMMUNITY, NOT BY THE CITY.
THEY NEED FULL-TIME COMPENSATION
AND THESE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE
SELECTED FROM COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE HARMED OR
KILLED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM AND
VIOLENCE.
THIS INCLUDES FOR EXAMPLE BLACK
WOMEN, PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANS OR
GENDER NONE BINARY, PEOPLE WHO
HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS,
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THOSE
WITH DISABILITIES.
THROUGH PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
WE ARE BUILDING A PARADIGM FOR
COMMUNITIES CENTERED AROUND
THOSE MOST HARMED BY VIOLENT
POLICING.
>> I DO WANT TO REMIND
EVERYBODY THAT WHETHER YOU
RENT, OWN OR EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, YOU ARE STILL A
NEIGHBOR AND RESIDENT IN THIS
CITY.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
JOHNNY COKER WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY LANE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
I'M SPEAKING ABOUT AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER ONE THE FOSSIL FUEL
TRANSITION STUDY.
I WORK FOR RMI, AN INDEPENDENT
NONPROFIT WORKING TOWARDS A LOW
CARBON FUTURE.
ALL ELECTRIC HOMES ARE
AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS AND
NECESSARY FOR REDUCING
EMISSIONS FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE
ANALYSIS ON SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES
IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES.
IN OUR 2020 REPORT, THE NEW
ECONOMICS INCLUDE ALL ELECTRIC
HOMES IN THE SEATTLE, IT IS
$4500 LESS IN ANNUAL COST.
IN 2019, FRONTIER ENERGY FOUND
SIMILAR RESULTS IN THEIR
REPORTS IN THE CALIFORNIA
ENERGY COMMISSION.
WERE SAN FRANCISCO SAVES THE
5700 UP FRONT AND OVER $45,000
OVER ITS LIFETIME.
THE REASON FOR THE SAVINGS IS
SIMPLE, ELECTRIC HEATING DOES
NOT NEED GAS INFRASTRUCTURE
INSIDE OF IT.
IN A 2020, NRDC SUBMITTED
COMMENTS THAT FOUND THAT A GAS
FURNACE PLUS AND AC SYSTEM
COSTS 14% MORE THAN BASELINE
HEAT PUMP.
ADDITIONALLY, ANALYSIS OF UP
HARVARD PUBLIC HEALTH STUDY
FOUND THAT BURNING NATURAL GAS
IN BUILDINGS COSTS THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON $543 MILLION IN
HEALTH COSTS ANNUALLY.
SEATTLE HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE
FIRST STEP ON ELIMINATING MOST
FOSSIL FUELS IN COMMERCIAL AND
LARGE MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS.
NOW WE NEED IT TO BRING TO THE
ALL OTHER BUILDINGS.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE LYNN.
FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW.
LYNN, IF YOU ARE WITH US YOU
WILL HAVE TO PRESS STAR SIX SO
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY, I AM A 59-YEAR-OLD
WHITE WOMAN, I WORK AS A MENTAL
HEALTH COUNSELOR AND I
ORGANIZED WITH COALITION OF
ANTIRACIST WHITES.
I'M CALLING IN TO ASK THE CITY
COUNCILMEMBER TO LIFT THE
PROVISO ON THE 28 MILLION WHICH
IS OF TORY BUDGETING.
SEATTLE'S PB COMMITTEE REALLY
NEEDS TO CONSIST OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS MOST LIKELY HARMED BY
RACIST POLICING AND
INCARCERATION.
BY PROVIDING THESE LIVING WAGE
SALARIES, BLACK HIM INDIGENOUS
ENTRANCE AND DISABILITY PEOPLE
AMONG OTHERS, PB CAN BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR MOST
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
AND I THINK IT IS WAY PAST TIME
THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE
COMMITTEES ARE THE REAL EXPERTS
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
IF WE ARE GOING TO STAY TRUE TO
THE HEART AND SPIRIT OF
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, THEN
IT IS ESSENTIAL WE FOLLOW THE
LEAD OF THESE COMMITTEES FROM
THE BEGINNING.
IT MIGHT SEEM EASIER FOR SOME
TO FOLLOW BUSINESS AND
BUDGETING AS USUAL PROCESS, BUT
I'M REALLY ASKING YOU TO COMMIT
TO DOING YOUR PART IN MAKING
THE PROCESS ITSELF ANTIRACIST
FROM THE BEGINNING AND
THROUGHOUT.
WE WERE OFF TO A GOOD START
WITH THE LACK BRILLIANCE
RESEARCH PROJECT SHOWING US THE
ROAD MAP.
LET'S STAY ON THE ROAD, THANK
YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MATTHEW.
AND I DO SHOW DARNELL HIBLER AS
THE LAST SPEAKER.
SO DARNELL, IF YOU ARE
LISTENING, PLEASE COME BACK AND
SO YOU CAN BE LISTED AS
PRESENT.
FOR NOW, MATTHEW IS OUR LAST
SPEAKER.
MATTHEW, YOU WILL NEED TO PRESS
STAR SIX SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES I CAN.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW, I'M AN
ARTIST AND RESIDENT OF CAPITOL
HILL.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME MAKING A
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING SO I'M A LITTLE
NERVOUS.
THE REASON I'M CALLING IN IS TO
ASK YOU TO LIFT THE PROVISO FOR
THE 28 MILLION FOR
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
AS OUTLINED BY THE AMAZING LACK
BRILLIANCE RESEARCH REPORT.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING WILL BE
ORGANIZED BY NONGOVERNMENTAL
NONPROFIT AND THAT IT IS LED BY
A FULL-TIME COMMITTEE THAT IS
SELECTED FROM COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE HARMED OR
KILLED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM AND
VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE IN THE PAST AND
CONTINUE TO SPEND OBSCENE
AMOUNTS ON POLICING AND
INCARCERATION.
IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT
THIS APPROACH DOES NOT WORK TO
CREATE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE NEW IDEAS WILL EMERGE FROM
THE GRASSROOTS OF THE
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE MOST
INFORMATION FOR WHO IS BEING
HARMED IN THE WAY THINGS ARE
CURRENTLY ARRANGED.
THIS WILL ALSO GET EVERYONE
INVOLVED AND INVESTED IN THIS
PROCESS OF CHANGE.
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IS A
CRUCIAL PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO
TRY TO CREATE THE FUTURE
SEATTLE I WANT TO LIVE IN WHERE
EVERYONE CAN BE SAFE AND
FLOURISHING AND SURROUNDED BY
PEACE AND ABUNDANCE.
LIFT THE OF ISO, LED
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCEED
AND MAKE SURE IT'S LED BY
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AND
CONTINUE TO BE MOST HARMED BY
POLICING.
>> THANK YOU MATTHEW.
I DO SHOW DARNELL HIBLER AS THE
FINAL SPEAKER.
SO HE IS NOT HERE.
I THINK I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO CALLED
AND AND DARNELL IF YOU ARE
LISTENING, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR
COMMENTS TO US, WE WOULD BE
HAPPY TO RECEIVE YOUR COMMENT
THAT WAY.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON
TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
WITH THE CLERK FIRST READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM ONE, FOSSIL FUEL
TRANSITION STUDY UPDATE,
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
SO, JUST TO SET THIS UP QUICKLY,
IN 2019 COUNSEL ASKED TO
PROVIDE AN ANALYSIS OF JOBS AND
WAGES FOR THOSE WHO ARE
DIRECTLY EMPLOYED BY THE FOSSIL
FUEL INDUSTRY.
AND PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF A
FORECAST OF WHAT OUR ORIGINAL
JOB GROWTH COULD BE IN THE
CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR.
SO THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS
WE LOOK TO REDUCE AND ELIMINATE
FOSSIL FUELS.
WE ALSO NEED TO BE PREPARED TO
GET READY FOR A TRANSITION FOR
WORKERS IN THE INDUSTRIES AS WE
ARE BUILDING A GREEN ECONOMY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE FOLKS DO
NOT GET LEFT BEHIND.
I WILL ASK THEM TO FOCUS ON THE
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
I DO WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE
METHODOLOGY AS WELL BUT REALLY
WANT TO GET TO THOSE FINDINGS,
IN PART BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE A
PANEL TO SHARE THE DISCUSSION
WITH US HERE.
WE WILL BE HEARING FROM THE
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
AND THOSE WHO DID THE RESEARCH.
WE WILL ALSO BE HEARING FROM
THE SIERRA CLUB, CLIMATE
SOLUTIONS, 350 SEATTLE AS WELL
AS OUR LABOR PARTNERS FROM THE
MLK LABOR COUNCIL, THE SEATTLE
BUILDING TRADES AND IBEW 46.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
ALSO HEAR FROM WORKERS THAT
WILL BE IMPACTED FROM THESE
CHANGES EVERYONE THAT HAS THIS
IN MIND THAT THIS TRANSITION
HAPPENS IN A WAY THAT EDWIN CAN
THRIVE AND BE HEALTHY.
SO I WILL HAND IT OVER AND I
WILL START BY INTRODUCING THE
INTERIM DIRECTOR PAMELA BANKS.
AND I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO
START.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR
RESULTS ON THE FOSSIL FUEL
TRANSITION STUDY WITH YOU
TODAY.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED, IT TOOK
COMES AS A GREAT TIME TO SEE
HOW WE CAN USE THIS STUDY AND
THIS JOB GROWTH INDUSTRY TO
HELP RECOVER FROM COVID OUR
ATTRIBUTES WILL PROVIDE A
DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THE JOB
AND THEY WILL DO IT VERY
EXPEDITIOUSLY AND IT'S JUST
REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER
THE IMPACTS THESE JOBS HAVE NOT
ONLY ON THE COMMUNITY BUT THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY DISPLACED
FROM THEIR JOBS WE ARE LOOKING
TO CONNECT MORE BLACK AND BROWN
RESIDENTS TO CAREERS IN THE
ECONOMY SO WE CAN BUILD BACK
BETTER.
SIMILARLY WE NEED TO ENSURE
THERE IS ACCESS AND TRANSITIONS
TO CLEAN TECHNOLOGY JOBS THAT
OFFER HEALTHY, FAMILY WAGES AND
SUSTAINING JOBS FOR ALL
RESIDENTS.
WE WILL WRAP UP THE
PRESENTATION WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEXT STEPS
AND THEN OPEN UP FOR COMMENTS
FROM OUR GUESTS.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE NANCY,
THE DIRECTOR OF OUR WORKFORCE.
NANCY, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS, I KNOW WE HAVE
A LOT TO COVER SO I WILL MOVE
THROUGH THE SLIDES FAIRLY
QUICKLY.
I LEAD THE KEY INDUSTRIES AND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
WE TOGETHER AFTER THE ENCLOSED
RECOVERY STRATEGY THAT FOCUSES
ON KEY SECTORS.
THIS HELPS TO CONNECT THEM WITH
RESIDENTS AND YOUTH THAT NEED
GOOD JOBS.
THEY INCLUDE GREEN BUSINESS,
MARITIME AND MANUFACTURING AND
TECHNOLOGY, AND THEN OUR
WORKFORCE TEAM ALSO HAS
INITIATIVES TO CAREER PATHS AND
HEALTHCARE.
THESE SECTORS ARE IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THEY HAVE GROWTH
POTENTIAL, PROVIDE ACCESS TO
FAMILY WAGES SUSTAINING JOBS AND
PROVIDE SUPPORTS TO THE
DIVERSIFIED WORKFORCE.
WE START BY ASSESSING AND ASK
WHAT TRAINING IN TERMS OF
DIVERSIFICATION.
ALSO THE DOCTORS THAT ARE
CHANGING THE NATURE OF THE WORK
INCLUDING AUTOMATION OF CERTAIN
INCREASING RELIANCE ON DIGITAL
COMPETENCY.
WITH THESE INSIGHTS WE CAN
BEGIN TO BUILD TRAINING AND
ADVANCEMENT STRATEGIES TO
CONNECT MORE WORKFORCE TO THESE
CAREERS.
SO WE WANT TO THINK COUNSEL FOR
SUPPORTING THIS STUDY OF THE
WORKFORCE IMPACTS.
AS THE PRESENTERS WILL DISCUSS,
THE STUDY HAS ENABLED US TO
UNDERSTAND MORE FULLY THE
PREDICTIONS FOR JOB GROWTH,
CLEAN ENERGY AND THE DECLINE IN
FOSSIL FUEL RELATED
OCCUPATIONS.
THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY THIS
TRANSITION AND THE CURRENT
DEMOGRAPHIC MAKEUP, AND SO WITH
THAT I WANT TO TURN THE
PRESENTATION OVER TO STEPHANIE,
OUR BUSINESS ADVOCATE.
IN THE CONSULTING TEAM FROM
COMMUNITY ATTRIBUTES TO GO OVER
THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY.
>> MY JOB AS THE GREEN BUSINESS
ADVOCATE IS TO HELP GROW
BUSINESSES FOCUSED ON REDUCING,
REVERSING OR REPAIRING CLIMATE
IMPACTS.
AND ENSURING THERE IS EQUITABLE
ACCESS TO GOOD PAYING JOBS.
I DO THIS THROUGH HEARING FROM
BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT THEIR
UNIQUE GROWTH CHALLENGES AND
THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE
GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM WHICH
RECOGNIZES BUSINESSES
SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS AND
LINKS THEM TO LOCAL REBATES AND
INCENTIVES.
SHARING PARTNER RESEARCHES ON
OUR CLEAN ENERGY RESOURCE MAP
WE ARE CONNECTING BUSINESSES
SUCH AS FEAR SOLAR TO
OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR CAREER
CONNECTED LEARNING GRANT.
IN 2019 THE COUNCIL REQUESTED
AN ANALYSIS OF JOB WAGES OF
THOSE EMPLOYED IN THE FOSSIL
FUEL INDUSTRY.
IT FORECASTED RECOMMENDATIONS
TO IMPLEMENT.
WE CONDUCTED PROPOSALS FOR
ANALYSIS AND SELECTED COMMUNITY
ATTRIBUTES AS THE LEAD
RESEARCHER.
IN THE STUDY COMMUNITY AGREED
TO STAY ENGAGEDTO PROVIDE
INSIGHTS FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES
AND BRING VOICES FROM THEIR
STAKEHOLDERS AND CUSTOMERS.
ONCE WE RECEIVED APPROVAL TO
MOVE FORWARD WE FINALIZE THAT
WORK WITH COMMUNITY ATTRIBUTES.
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO THE
PRESIDENT AND CEO TO GO OVER
THE METHODOLOGIES AND FINDINGS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS, I AM THE
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF COMMUNITY
ATTRIBUTES AND MADALYN WILL
WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE
FINDINGS AS SHE DID SOME OF THE
HEAVY LIFTING.
AS AN ECONOMIST, STUDIES LIKE
THIS COME WITH CHALLENGES.
SO IT IS AGREEING TO WHAT IS
THE DEFINITION WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
IN THE DATA THAT ECONOMISTS ARE
ABLE TO WORK WITH, SOMETIMES
THEY WILL HANDLE THE
COMPLEXITIES OF THE NEEDS.
TO THAT END, WE HAD A LOT OF
INPUT ON HOW TO DEFINE THE
INDUSTRY MOVING FORWARD USING
THE DATA THAT IS AVAILABLE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF INDUSTRIES
THAT RELY ON FOSSIL FUELS AND
OUR RATE FOR CONVERSION TO
CLEAN ENERGY INCLUDING THAT
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
THEY ARE ALL A BIG PART OF THIS
TRANSITION TO TRANSITIONING TO
THE GREEN ECONOMY.
IT FOCUSED IN PART ON THOSE
THAT ARE WHOLLY TIED TO FOSSIL
FUELS.
WHICH WOULD FOR SURE NEED TO BE
TRANSFERRED OVER TO CLEAN
ENERGY MOVING FORWARD.
DEFINITIONS ARE IMPORTANT, SO
WE DID SOME SECONDARY RESEARCH
TO LEARN WHAT OTHER
INSTITUTIONS DID AS WELL AS THE
DEFINITION OF CLEAN ENERGY AND
CLEAN TECHNOLOGY AND WHAT THEY
WERE.
MASSACHUSETTS HAS DONE A LOT OF
LEADING RESEARCH ON THIS THAT
WAS HELPFUL.
ALL OF THIS IS NECESSARY FOR
OUR STUDY, TO BE ABLE TO USE
EXISTING DATA TO GET INTO HOW
MANY JOBS AND OCCUPATIONS ARE
TIED TO EACH OF THOSE
INDUSTRIES.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER FOR
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS, AND THE SENIOR
ECONOMIST FOR THE COMMUNITY
ATTRIBUTES.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PRESENT TODAY.
JUMPING ONTO THE KEY FINDINGS
OF THE STUDY, AS PART OF THIS
STUDY WE LOOKED AT THE OUTLOOK
FOR THE CLEAN ENERGY INDUSTRY
AND TALK TO STAKEHOLDERS.
THE SEATTLE CLEAN ENERGY
INDUSTRY LEADERS HAS A STRONG
OUTLOOK ON JOB GROWTH.
THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR A NEW
CLEAN ENERGY RECOVERY PROGRAM
AND POLICIES AT THE FEDERAL,
STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS IN THE
COMING YEARS THAT CAN FURTHER
STRENGTHEN AND STABILIZE THE
INJURY INDUSTRY.
OUR DATA ANALYSIS AND METRICS
FOR PRODUCE TO TAKE STOCK OF
THIS FOSSIL FUEL AND CLEAN
ENERGY SECTORS, IT'S SHOWN THAT
THE KING COUNTY'S JOB MARKET
HAS A GREATER NUMBER OF JOBS IN
THE CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR THAN IN
FOSSIL FUELS.
ALSO, CLEAN ENERGY JOBS ARE
MORE LIKELY TO OFFER WAGES
GREATER THAN THE WAGES OF
69,000 FOR KING COUNTY.
CLEAN ENERGY INDUSTRIES MOVE
ABOUT 11% OF JOBS WITH ABOVE
AVERAGE WAGES COMPARED TO 8%
FOR THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY.
ONE OTHER IMPORTANT KEY FINDING
IS AS THE TRANSITION TO CLEAN
ENERGY ACCELERATES, THERE IS A
NEED FOR DELIBERATE ACTION TO
ADDRESS RACIAL INEQUITIES IN
THE WORKFORCE.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS INCLUDE ON-
DEMAND SITE INTERVENTIONS.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTS TO
SUPPORT JOBS AND TARGETED
TRAINING INTERVENTIONS FOR THE
UPSCALING OF WORKERS.
THE TRANSITION FOR FOSSIL FUELS
WILL IMPACT THE FOSSIL FUEL
INDUSTRY DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING
ON THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.
IT CAN BE RELATIVELY
STRAIGHTFORWARD, WORKERS CAN
UPDATE THEIR SKILLS. FOR
EXAMPLE, AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE
TECHNICIANS AND MECHANICS WILL
LIKELY REQUIRE SOME LEVEL OF EV
RELATED SKILLS TRAINING.
FOR OTHER OCCUPATIONS, WORK
TRAINING WILL BE HARDER
ESPECIALLY WHEN TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT THE IMPACTS OF
AUTOMATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, PIPE LAYERS WHO
RELY ON FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENT
SKILLS WILL NEED JOB TRAINING
AND TRANSITION SUPPORT.
OR SPECIFIC OCCUPATIONS WITH
TRANSFERABILITY OF SKILLS AND
KNOWLEDGE THIS RESEARCH ALSO
LOOKED AT THE IMPACT OF
AUTOMATIONS ON THE OCCUPATIONS
UNDER CONSIDERATION IN FOSSIL
FUEL TRANSITION.
AND SPECIFICALLY FOUND THAT
FREIGHT LABORERS AND
CONSTRUCTION LABORERS, TWO
OPERATIONS THAT ARE FOSSIL FUEL
INDEPENDENT, WILL HAVE THE
LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS
OF COLOR AND WHERE THE MOST
IMPACTED BY AUTOMATION IN THE
FUTURE.
AMONGST OTHER FINDINGS AND
TAKEAWAYS ARE AN INCREASE IN
EMPLOYMENT IN CONSTRUCTION AND
BUILDING TRADES DUE TO AN
INCREASE EMAND OF EFFICIENCY
IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE ARE ALSO VARIOUS
ADMINISTRATIVE, LEGAL AND
FINANCIAL SERVICES, SO
SUPPORTING ADMIN JOBS THAT ARE
NOT NECESSARILY LINKED TO THE
FOSSIL FUEL OR CLEAN ENERGY
SECTOR.
SO THESE JOBS PRESUMABLY HAVE
SKILLS THAT ARE TRANSFERABLE
FROM ONE SECTOR TO ANOTHER.
AS PART OF THIS RESEARCH IS
CONDUCTED, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO
OVER 300 BUSINESSES AND
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CLEAN
ENERGY IN FOSSIL FUEL SECTORS.
WE DID INTERVIEWS WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS AN
ONLINE SURVEY.
WE RECEIVED ABOUT 49 RESPONSES
TO THE SURVEY INCLUDING 15
MINORITY AND WOMEN BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES.
MOST OF THE CONCERNS FOCUSED ON
DISRUPTIONS TO CONSISTENT WORK
AND THE NEED FOR A MORE
THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE
COST THAT WOULD BE IMPACTING
WORKERS.
SOME OF THE THEMES WERE AROUND
CREATING AND FUNDING TRANSITION
PLANS, TRANSITIONAL RULES AND
THINKING MULTIJURISDICTIONAL.
FROM THE CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR,
COMPANIES ARE FACING
COMPETITION FOR DIVERSE TALENT
WITH OTHER INDUSTRIES SUCH AS
TECH, ALSO TAPPING INTO THE
SAME TALENT POOL, SEATTLE CLEAN
ENERGY BUSINESS LEADERS
STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND
DECARBONIZATION WAS CONSIDERED
TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH MOVING
FORWARD.
FINALLY WE BROUGHT TOGETHER ALL
OF THIS ANALYSIS INTO OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THESE ARE GROUPED INTO THREE
CATEGORIES.
PRIORITIES TO DEMAND THE CLEAN
ENERGY STRATEGIES.
THEY ARE FOCUSED ON DEMAND SITE
INTERVENTION TO SUPPORT THOSE
HIGH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
STRATEGIES INCLUDE INVESTING IN
THE CARBONIZED DISTRICT ENERGY,
REACHING GOES WORKERS TO ENSURE
ALL TALENT OF THE CLEAN ENERGY
INDUSTRY.
OUR SECOND BUCKET OF DONATIONS
INCLUDE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
THAT WOULD PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMUNITIES
MOSTLY IMPACTED AND BUSINESSES
TO DRIVE EFFORTS TO GROW GOOD
JOBS AND MINIMIZE JOB LOSS.
STRATEGIES INCLUDED HERE WOULD
RELATE TO CREATING CONDITIONS
TO BUILD SKILL WORKFORCE FROM
LOCAL TALENT POOLS.
INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES SUCH
AS PAID INTERNSHIPS AND
APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN
THE CLEAN ENERGY AND CREATING A
DISPLACED FOSSIL FUEL WORKER
TRANSITION ASSISTANT FUND FOR
DISPLACED WORKERS.
FINALLY, BUSINESS EXPANSION
SUPPORT, TARGETING CLEAN ENERGY
SUPPLY STRATEGIES.
THESE INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE THE
UPSCALING OF WORKERS THROUGH
MICRO-CREDENTIALS AND PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
DISADVANTAGED WORKERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
DID SOMEBODY WANT TO WALK
THROUGH THIS SLIDE?
I DO WANT TO GET TO THE
COMMUNITY PANEL IN JUST A
MOMENT.
>> I WANTED TO CLOSE IT OUT
REALLY QUICK.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE
RECOVERY VISION FOR SEATTLE IS
VIBRANT, INNOVATIVE ADVERSITY
AND AS YOU JUST HEARD IT OFFERS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE
HEALTHY FAMILY WAGES ABSTAINING
JOBS AND CAPTURE THAT
OPPORTUNITY WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE
THE TRAINING AND SUPPORT THEY
NEED TO MOVE INTO THIS CLEAN
ENERGY CAREER.
OUR RECOVERY STRATEGY IS TO
INVEST IN WORKFORCE TO VELTMAN
RELATED TO TRAINING,
RETRAINING, APPRENTICESHIP AND
RETAINING PROGRAMS.
AND WE WANT TO DISCUSS THIS
WITH OUR PARTNERS TO HEAR WHAT
THEY HAVE TO SAY.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS
WORK IS CONNECTED TO THE GREEN
NEW DEAL IDT AND TRANSPORTATION
ELECTRIFICATION EFFORTS SO THAT
A COMPREHENSIVE CITYWIDE WORK
FOR STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED WITH
OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE CITY.
FINALLY WE WILL NEED TO WORK
WITH OUR PARTNERS AND
BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE THESE
OPPORTUNITIES ARE EQUITABLE AND
INCLUSIVE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATED THE
COUNCILS SUPPORT ON LOOKING
INTO THE STRATEGIES AND WE GET
FORWARD TO GETTING THIS
UNDERWAY.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.
WE DO HAVE A REQUEST FROM
KATIE, IF THE PANELISTS CAN BE
SENT TO THIS POWERPOINT.
IT IS PROBABLY AVAILABLE ON THE
COUNCIL WEBSITE.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEND THAT TO
YOU TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS
ACCESS TO THIS AS WELL AS THE
FULL REPORT YOU ANSWER SOME OF
MY QUESTIONS, BUT I DO SEE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS A
QUESTION.
THEN I WILL BRING THE REST OF
THE PANEL IN, AND I'VE GOT A
FEW PARTICULAR QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, DO YOU
HAVE A QUESTION?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
MAYBE MY QUESTIONS WILL BE
ANSWERED IN THE COMING
DISCUSSION.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THIS
REPORT WAS GOING TO PRESENT IN
SOME SORT OF CONCRETE ANALYSIS
ON THE IMPACT OF PEOPLE'S JOBS
IF SEATTLE PASSES THE BILL FOR
THAT NATURAL GAS HOOKUPS.
ALSO, I KNOW PEOPLE IN THE
LABOR MOVEMENT HAD QUESTIONS
ABOU WHAT WOULD BE THE OVERALL
BALANCE OF JOBS.
ARE ANY JOBS THAT WOULD BE
THREATENED?
I THINK IT IS A FAIR TO BE ABLE
TO ASK THAT QUESTION AND THEN
ANSWER THE QUESTION IN TERMS OF
WHAT OTHER JOBS WOULD BE
CREATED AND ON BALANCE, CAN WE
HAVE SORT OF A BLOSSOMING OF
UNION JOBS IN THE CLEAN ENERGY
SECTOR, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE
TRANSITIONS SO PEOPLE ARE
GUARANTEED JOBS THAT ARE AT
LEAST AS GOOD AS THE CURRENT
UNIONIZED JOBS.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD
EXPECT THESE IN THIS
PRESENTATION OR IF THAT
ANALYSIS IS FORTHCOMING.
THANK YOU.
>> DIRECTOR BANKS OR KRISTI, DO
YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT?
I HAVE A SIMILAR LIST OF
QUESTIONS SO I DO WANT TO BRING
THE PANEL IN.
I'M SURE WE WILL ALL BE TALKING
ABOUT THE SAME THING.
>> SURE, I APPRECIATE THE
QUESTION COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
WE DID NOT ANALYZE EXPLICITLY
THAT POLICY ACTION IN TERMS OF
THE JOB IMPACT.
I DO BELIEVE WITH HOME
CONSTRUCTION AND CONTRACTORS IN
GENERAL, THERE ARE SOME VERY
SPECIFIC OCCUPATIONS THAT THE
TEAM FOUND THAT WE WILL NEED
RETRAINING FOR NEW
OPPORTUNITIES.
PIPEFITTERS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF ONE WHERE THAT NATURAL GAS
PIPEFITTING IS JUST A SKILL SET
WOULD BE IN LESS DEMAND.
IT'S NOT TO SAY THOSE
INDIVIDUALS DON'T HAVE
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS, THEY
PROBABLY DO, THEY WILL JUST
PROBABLY HAVE SOME RETRAINING
THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO MEET
THOSE NEEDS.
THERE ARE EXAMPLES IN CLEAN
TECHNOLOGY, SUCH AS HEAT PUMPS
FOR EXAMPLE.
THIS MIGHT BE TOO WILL LOWER
DEMAND AND QUANTITY OF THOSE
WORKERS.
SO AS THE INDUSTRIES MIGRATE
AND TURNOVER WITHIN EACH
INDUSTRY AND APPLICATION FROM
FOSSIL FUELS TO CLEAN
TECHNOLOGY, THERE ARE
UNDOUBTEDLY SOME RETRAINING
THAT WILL BE NECESSARY AS A
PART OF THAT.
AND ALL THE TRADES FOR THE
LABOR UNIONS THAT HELP ORGANIZE
THOSE, THEY WILL CERTAINLY BE
ENGAGED AS PART OF THAT AS THE
TRANSFORMATION HAPPENS.
BUT THE APPRENTICESHIP WILL BE
FOCUSED ON THE TECHNOLOGY.
I EXPECTED TO BE AS MUCH DRIVEN
BY DEMAND, ESPECIALLY IN THE
SEATTLE MARKETS, AS MUCH AS
POLICIES.
SO HOPEFULLY BETWEEN THE TWO
FORCES, OF VIBRANT CONVERSION
CAN HAPPEN.
>> CAN WE TAKE THE PRESENTATION
DOWN, I LIKE TO BRING THE REST
OF THE FOLKS IN.
AND JUST GO AHEAD AND ASK THE
LABOR COUNCIL, MAYBE I CAN JUST
ASK OUR LABOR PARTNERS TO MAYBE
RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS, AND
YOUR REACTIONS TO THE REPORT.
I'D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR YOUR
THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW YOUR SECTOR
MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THIS.
>> I WILL JUMP IN.
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER.
OBVIOUSLY THE BUILDING TRADE
HERE IN SEATTLE, MY LOCAL JUST
TURNED 125 YEARS OLD.
MOST OF US HAVE BEEN OPERATING
FOR OVER A CENTURY IN SEATTLE.
WE HAVE SEEN EVERY KIND OF
TRANSITION THAT CAN HAPPEN IN A
MAJOR CITY.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THE
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND THINGS
LOOK LIKE 100 YEARS AGO.
THIS IS NOTHING NEW TO US.
TRANSITION TO NEW TECHNOLOGY.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WORRY
ME A LITTLE BIT.
I'M ABOUT FAMILY WAGES AND
BENEFITS.
NOT ONLY WAGES, BUT BENEFITS.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO
RETIRE WITH DIGNITY AND LIVE IN
THE HOME THEY WERE ABLE TO
AFFORD WHEN THEY WERE WORKING
IN THE FIELD BY THE HOURS.
SO MY JOB IS EASY, I JUST GET
TO CONCENTRATE ON WORKING-CLASS
FAMILIES AND OPPORTUNITY.
SO AROUND THIS, I ALWAYS HAVE
CONCERN, LIKE IN 2008 AND 2009,
WE HAD THIS HUGE INFLUX OF
MONEY.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WHENEVER
YOU SEE A PILE OF MONEY, EASY
PEOPLE KIND OF COME, AND A LOT
OF THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS
POPPED UP.
WE ARE GOING TO TEACH THE
CAULKING OF WINDOWS OR HEAT
PUMPS OR SOLAR.
WHEN BUILDING TRADES ALREADY DO
THAT THROUGH THE STATE APPROVED
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
SO WE HAD A LOT OF YOUNG MEN
AND WOMEN BEING TAUGHT
SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT
TRANSFERABLE TO AN
APPRENTICESHIP OR LONG-TERM
JOB.
THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES,
ONCE YOU, YOU CAN ONLY FOOL
PEOPLE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE
THEY LOSE THE ABILITY TO
BELIEVE YOU ANYMORE.
AND I SAW HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
COME BACK TO THE BUILDING
TRADES, KIDS WHO HAD GONE
THROUGH THESE FIVE, EIGHT, 12
WEEK PROGRAMS, WITH NO
CERTIFICATION OR NO JOB.
AND THE ONES THAT WERE OFFERED
WERE $15 AN HOUR WITH NO
BENEFITS.
SO I THINK AS WE SEE THIS WE
WILL SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE
THINKING ALL, IT'S THIS NEW
TECHNOLOGY.
WELL IT IS NOT REALLY NEW TO
US.
WE DO THAT.
EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE THE
BUILDING TRADE, WE DO.
I WOULD PRESS ANYBODY TO SHOW
ME SOMETHING WE ARE NOT ALREADY
TRAINING FOR WITH GOOD FAMILY
JOBS.
SO I WANT TO MAKE EVERYBODY
AWARE.
IF SOMEBODY'S GOT THIS NEW
THING THAT ONLY THEY CAN TEACH
AND IS PROPRIETARY, BE CAREFUL.
WE CAN DO IT ALL.
>> KEITH, DID YOU WANT TO CHIME
IN?
>> YES, PRETTY MUCH ECHOING
WHAT MONTY SAID.
ECHOING, THE RED FLAG, WE HAVE
THE BUILDING TRADES AND I'M
LICENSED CRAFT AND THEY DO A
FIVE-YEAR CORPORATE SHIP TO
OBTAIN A LICENSE.
I SIT ON A PRE-APPRENTICESHIP
NOW, WORK IN CONCERT WITH OF
THOSE PROGRAMS.
BUT THEY ACTUALLY OFFER
WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES AND
GET FOLKS INTO LIVING WAGE, NOT
JOBS, CAREERS.
I HEAR THE J WORD ALL THE TIME
AND IT KIND OF UPSETS ME.
MY CAREER FIELD IS NOT A JOB.
WE COME TO MEETINGS, WE WILL
HAVE THE BUILDING BEING BUILT
AND FOLKS COME IN AND SAY THOSE
ARE ALL TEMPORARY JOBS.
NO, IT IS A CAREER FILLED WITH
TEMPORARY JOBS THAT PAY ABOVE
APPRENTICE WAGES, A $69,000 A
YEAR MEDIAN INCOME.
SO A LITTLE RAW, THAT THE WHOLE
RFA FUNDING PIECE DID NOT GO AS
EXPECTED.
HE TRIED OUR BEST, BUT FOR ALL
THE MONEY THAT FLOWED, YOU TELL
ME WHAT WE GOT FOR HER AND I
DON'T THINK WE GOT THE BIGGEST
BANG FOR THE BUCK WE COULD
HAVE, WE HAVE THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION PUSHING THE PLAN
THAT IS COMING NOW, HOPEFULLY
WE WILL GET IT.
BUT WE NEED TO BE A LOT SMARTER
AND WE COULD ACTUALLY WORK.
THAT LAST PIECE, THE PIECE
ABOUT SOLAR WIND CAME OUT OF
THAT.
WELL, IN THE UNION SECTOR, WE
DON'T OWN THAT MARKET.
SHAME ON US, SHOULD HAVE TRIED
HARDER.
BUT A LOT OF THOSE JOBS ARE NOT
GOOD PAYING JOBS IN THAT
INDUSTRY REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU
HEAR.
THEY ARE NOT UNION WAGE JOBS,
THEY ARE NOT PREVAILED, SO A
LITTLE BIT OF A MISNOMER THERE.
SORRY IF I'M SOUNDING A LITTLE
GROUCHY BUT I'M ABOUT EVIL
GETTING TRUE EQUITY.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE PEOPLE IN,
GET THEM FOR FIVE YEARS, THEY
GET A LICENSE.
THEY CAN GROW A BUSINESS AFTER
THAT.
I'M NOT BLOWING SMOKE UP
ANYBODY'S TENT, I WANT PEOPLE
TO HAVE A REAL, LIVING WAGE
CAREER WHERE THEY CAN SUPPLY
FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR COMMUNITY
AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
YOU THINK I'D BE THE HAPPIEST
PERSON IN THE WORLD DANCING
CIRCLES BECAUSE
ELECTRIFICATION.
IT WILL BE A LOT OF WORK FOR MY
úMEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE WILL STEP UP AND OFFER FOLKS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO
THE INDUSTRY AND TRAIN FOLKS TO
THAT STANDARD.
HOWEVER, I'M ALSO NOT GOING TO
LEAVE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
IN THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY
BEHIND EITHER.
I HAVE IBEW MEMBERS THAT WORK
IN THE GAS INDUSTRY.
>> I WANT TO SAY THIS TO YOU AS
THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I'M NOT REALLY NEW TO THIS GAME
WITH UNIONS, MY DAD WAS OUT
LONG-HAUL TRUCK DRIVER.
THAT IS A CAREER AND I
APPRECIATE YOU CORRECTING THIS
ON THAT LANGUAGE.
AS A DIRECTOR, ANY MONEY THAT
OED GETS WILL GO TO Y'ALL.
I DON'T BELIEVE PUTTING PEOPLE
THROUGH PRE-APPRENTICESHIP
TRAINING SO THEN THEY SIT ON A
BENCH FOR A YEAR OR TWO YEARS
IF THEY CAN COME STRAIGHT TO
THE UNION.
MY COMMITMENT TO YOU ALL AND TO
THAT UNIONS, I WAS A UNION
MEMBER FOREVER UNTIL GETTING
INTO MANAGEMENT, IS TO SUPPORT
WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON.
AND THESE ARE CAREERS.
AND A LOT OF THE WORK I DO,
ESPECIALLY IN LAC AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES, YOU DON'T NEED A
COLLEGE DEGREE, PUTTING ALL
THESE PEOPLE THROUGH COLLEGE
AND GETTING INTO DEBT TO GET
INTO THE WORK AND PANCREAS THAT
Y'ALL HAVE.
WE ARE LOOKING TO YOU, YOU ARE
OUR PARTNERS IN THIS.
IT'S NOT JUST GIVING MONEY TO
SOME AGENCY, I'D RATHER GO
STRAIGHT TO THE UNION'S AND
WORK THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS,
PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONNECTIONS
WITH YOU ALL.
TO MAKE I WANT TO BRING BRITNEY
AND DEPART IN TO GET YOUR
PERSPECTIVE ON THE REPORT
ITSELF AND REALLY JUST THIS
BROADER ISSUE OF HOW WE
MITIGATE.
IF YOU THINK THERE ARE WAYS
THAT WE SHOULD BE MITIGATING
AND LAYING THE GROUNDWORK THAT
REALLY SUPPORTS WORKERS AND
ADDRESSES THE BROADER CLEAN
ENERGY ISSUES WE ARE LOOKING
AT.
SO, YOUR REACTIONS?
>> I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO REFER
TO JESSICA ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU ALL THE FOLKS THAT
WORKED ON THIS REPORT.
IT WAS REALLY TREMENDOUS OF YOU
TO COME TOGETHER AND I LOVE HOW
THIS CONVERSATION IS STARTING
OUT WITH A VERY EXPLICIT
UNDERSTANDING.
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITIES IN A CLEAN ENERGY
ECONOMY, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT
ILL TAKE CARE OF PE
THAT FEELS SO IMPORTANT AS A
RESIDENT.
THERE I AM AT RESONATING.
I AM AN ORGANIZER WITH 350
SEATTLE AND THE GRASS USE
CLIMATE GROUP WITH ALMOST
10,000 MEMBERS IN SEATTLE AND
KING COUNTY.
WE CO-LAUNCHED THE GREENDALE
CAMPAIGN AND HAVE SINCE THEN
BEEN PROUD TO WORK IN THE
COALITION AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
TO TRANSITION HOLDERS LIKE
SEATTLE.
WE BEGAN EXPLORING HOW TO
TRANSITION OUR HOMES BACK FROM
FOSSIL FUELS BACK IN 2019.
WE GOT SOME ARE IS WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS TO INTRODUCE A
POLICY, AND HEARD SOME REALLY
VALID FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS ON
THIS CALL THAT THERE WAS A LOT
MORE WORK TO HELP UNDERSTAND
HOW WORKERS WOULD BE IMPACTED.
SO WE PAUSE THE POLICY
DISCUSSIONS AND THEN WORKED
WITH LEADERS AT THE MLK LABOR
COUNCIL AND A LOT OF
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE TO WIN
FUNDING FOR THE 2020 BUDGET.
SO QUICK REACTION, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE MIGHT PRODUCE A
TIMESHARE.
THIS IS A REALLY GREAT TIME TO
BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.
THE REPORT AND OVERSIGHT
COMMUNITY COMING ONLINE, THIS
IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION
THERE HOMES AND BUILDINGS OFF
OF FOSSIL FUELS.
ALSO, AS YOU HEARD IN THE
COMMENTS, IT IS ALSO ESSENTIAL
AND AS THE CLEAN ECONOMY GROWS,
ALL THESE NEW JOB CAREERS WILL
BE GOOD, LIVING WAGE CAREERS
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
SO WE ARE JUST REALLY EXCITED
TO SEE HOW THIS WILL EQUITABLY
RING IN THE TRANSITION.
AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
CITY AND LABOR PARTNERS ON HOW
TO IMPLEMENT THEM TO EQUITABLY
PHASE OUT FOSSIL FUELS AND
BUILDS A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
FOR ALL.
DEPA, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
YOU.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME, I'M THE POLICY
MANAGER AT CLIMATE SOLUTIONS,
WHICH IS A LOCAL NONPROFIT
WORKING TO ACCELERATE CLEAN
ENERGY SOLUTIONS IN THE
NORTHWEST AND I WANT TO START
OFF BY FRAMING THIS ISSUE AS
ONE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, RACIAL
JUSTICE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND
CLIMATE MITIGATION.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WE
NEED TO START TO PHASE OUT
FOSSIL FUELS, WHICH SEATTLE HAS
ALREADY COMMITTED TO.
THERE ARE ENORMOUS HEALTH
IMPACTS FROM THE USE OF
PARTICULARLY GAS, BUT ALSO OIL
AND BUILDINGS, PUTTING INTO HER
AIR QUALITY CONCERNS. AND SO WE
ARE COMING FROM A PLACE OF
REALLY WANTING TO COLLABORATE
WITH EVERYONE HERE.
TO MAKE SURE THESE SOLUTIONS
ARE EQUITABLE AND INCLUDE JUST
TRANSITIONS.
AT THE BASELINE IS THAT WE NEED
TO STOP USING FOSSIL FUELS,
THERE IS NO WAY AROUND IT.
WE ARE REALLY PLEASED SEATTLE
HAS ALREADY GONE WORK ON THIS
TRANSITION.
WE ARE THRILLED THAT THEY
ADOPTED A STRONG ENERGY CODE
EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT
ELIMINATED MOST FOSSIL FUELS IN
NEW MARSHALL AND LARGE
MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS.
THAT WAS A GREAT FIRST STEP BUT
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL OTHER
BUILDINGS ARE ALSO BROUGHT UP
TO SPEED SO THAT THE PEOPLE USE
THOSE BUILDINGS WHICH INCLUDE
TENANTS, HOMEOWNERS AND
WORKERS, PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE
IN THE CITY, THAT THOSE FOLKS
AT THE SAME HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROTECTIONS.
AND WE KNOW THIS MOVEMENT IS
HAPPENING ALREADY.
SEATTLE SCHOOLS HAS ALREADY
RECENTLY MADE COMMITMENTS TO
STOP USING FOSSIL FUELS IN
THEIR BUILDINGS.
SO, WE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO GET
STARTED WITH EVERYONE HERE IN
DEVELOPING POLICIES WHILE ALSO
INCORPORATING THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS INTO THE
REPORTS.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF
THE DEMAND SITES THAT WE
TOUCHED ON IN THE PRESENTATION,
WHICH HOPEFULLY CAN CREATE A
PATH TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY
CAREERS ARE THE WORKERS WHO
COULD BE MOST IMPACTED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'D LOVE TO WORK
WITH YOU ALL ON INVESTING IN
THE CARBONIZED CLEANING
SYSTEMS, WHICH MEANS
PRESSURIZED PIPES, PROVIDING ON
COLD WATER TO BUILDINGS.
THERE ARE ALSO EXAMPLES FROM
OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE A PAST
POLICIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, SAN FRANCISCO
PAIRED THEIR BUILDING WITH
INSTALLING STORMWATER
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ALSO PROUDLY SUPPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMUNITY
SCALED DECARBONIZATION,
TARGETING NEIGHBORHOODS AS A
WHOLE AS A PLAN TO MOVE FROM
FOSSIL FUELS.
I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
ANY DECARBONIZATION EFFORTS,
ESPECIALLY FOR EXISTING
BUILDINGS, NEED TO BE PAIRED
WITH STRONG ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
POLICIES.
IT THE COMMUNITIES THAT FACE
THE BIGGEST HEALTH BURDENS FROM
L AIR POLLUTION SHOULD BE ABLE
TO EVEN CLEAN AND SAFE HOMES
BUT ALSO NOT WORRY ABOUT BEING
PRICED OUT.
IN THAT SAME PRINCIPLE HOLDS
TRUE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WILL STOP THERE AND LET BRIEF
BRITNEY SPEAK A LITTLE AS WELL.
BUT WE DO LIKE TO SEE THIS
REPORT AND SEE THAT THERE ARE
CONCH CREATE SOLUTIONS AND
STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED.
>> THANK YOU DEPA.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS BRITTANY AND I'M
CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE GROUP
SIERRA CLUB.
IT IS A VOLUNTEER LED
ORGANIZATION WORKING ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
AND WE ARE WORKING HARD ON
BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION
LOCALLY AND NATIONWIDE.
WE KNOW IT IS AN AREA IN
GETTING BIG RESULTS IN
IMPROVING HEALTH AND THE
CLIMATE.
I LIKE TO TALK REALLY QUICK
ABOUT WHY WE NEED TO ACT ON
BUILDINGS, JUST TO EMPHASIZE, A
REPORT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS
CLEARLY STATES THAT EXPANDING
THE USE OF NATURAL GAS IS JUST
INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE CLIMATE
AGREEMENT AND KEEPING GLOBAL
WARMING TO 1.25 DEGREES
CELSIUS.
ANOTHER REPORT SHOWS THAT
MEETING THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION'S NATIONAL
TARGET OF CUTTING CLIMATE
POLLUTION 50% BY 2030, MEANS
ALL NEW BUILDINGS MUST BE ALL
ELECTRIC BY 2025.
SO, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE
URGENCY IS THEY ARE.
BUT, WHILE THE TRANSITION TO
CLEAN AND TRANSITION TO
ELECTRIC BUILDINGS IS EXCITING,
HOW WE GO ABOUT IT IS IMPORTANT
TO.
THAT'S WHY WE ENCOURAGE AND
SUPPORT THE STUDY AND ARE
REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE DATA TO
HELP US MOVE FORWARD IN LINE
WITH OUR PRINCIPLES INCLUDING
ENSURING OUR WORKERS ARE TAKEN
CARE OF.
WE KNOW AND SEE FROM THE STUDY
THAT SOME WORKERS WILL NEED
HELP TRANSITIONING INTO NEW
JOBS AND CAREERS.
SPECIFICALLY GOOD PAIN, SECURED
UNION JOBS WITH GOOD BENEFITS.
WE ARE REALLY READY TO BACK
POLICIES THAT AID THIS,
INCLUDING NOT ONLY JOB TRAINING
AND PLACEMENT, BUT CHILDCARE
AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND
ASSISTANCE, TOO.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT FURTHER
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NEEDS TO
BE DONE AS WE SHAPE SPECIFIC
ELECTRIFICATION OF POLICIES.
ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES HIT
HARDEST BY CLIMATE CHANGE IN
COVID-19.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
THERE IS A HUGE OVERLAP HERE.
THE REPORT INDICATES THAT
WORKERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO MOST
LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM THE
TRANSITION SUPPORT.
THIS OUTREACH AND SUPPORT WORK
CANNOT BE SEPARATE FROM THE
CLIMATE WORK, IT IS ALL THE
SAME THING, IT IS JUST THAT WE
ARE ALL HERE TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE CAN THRIVE.
SO, FROM CITIES IN CALIFORNIA
TO ACROSS THE COUNTRY ALL ARE
MAKING SURE THEIR BUILDINGS ARE
BUILT SAFE AND FOSSIL FUEL
FREE.
AND SO TO LEVEL UP THE WORK,
I'M EXCITED WE CAN TAKE THE
DATA FROM THIS REPORT AND ALL
WORK TOGETHER TO MODEL A TRULY
EQUITABLE PROCESS.
IT CAN BE USED TO PROVE THE
LIVES OF EVERYONE IN SEATTLE
BUT ALSO INSPIRE OTHER
COMMUNITIES AS THEY MOVE
FORWARD.
I THINK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP.
>> I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT
PUGET SOUND WAS INTENDING TO BE
HERE.
SHE HAD AN EVENT COME UP AND
SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT
AREA BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK
HER BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN AN
INTEGRAL PART OF ALL OF THESE
CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK I AM GOING TO LEAVE IT
TO YOU KATIE TO HAVE THE LAST
WORD HERE.
WE DO NEED TO MOVE ON TO OUR
NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A
CHANCE TO BRING IT HOME FOR US
TODAY.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
I'M AT THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND
ALSO OF NUMBER OF THE LABORERS
LOCAL 242 HERE IN KING COUNTY.
AND I THINK THAT, WHAT I HAVE
LEARNED FROM DOING THIS KIND OF
WORK, THIS TRANSITION WORK, IS
THAT THE DEVIL REALLY IS IN THE
DETAILS.
BUT, THE WORK OF MAKING, THE
WORK OF TRANSITIONING TO A
CLEANER ECONOMY REALLY IS ABOUT
METICULOUS ANALYSIS OF WHO WILL
BE HARMED AND WHAT LIES ON THE
OTHER SIDE.
I LOVE THAT JUST TOLD THE STORY
OF HOW WE GOT HERE.
IT WAS ROOTED IN A SAYING OKAY
IF WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE
RULES AND HOW NATURAL GAS IS
USED IN SEATTLE, THEN WE NEED
TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHO WILL
BE HARMED.
I HEARD COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
SAY HEY, CAN WE REALLY DRILL
DOWN ON THAT AND WHO ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT, WITH WHAT
POLICY, AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN
AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST.
I THINK THAT THE VISION THAT
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SAID
IN HER GREAT NEW DEAL AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, IS ROOTED IN A
COMMITMENT TO KEEPING WORKERS
ALL WITH WAGE AND BENEFIT
PARITY DURING AND AT THE END OF
TRANSITION.
AND FRANKLY, THAT IS A LOT OF
MONEY.
SO, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE AND
REQUIRES SOME REGULATORY
CHANGES.
ANYTHING SO LONG AS THERE IS A
GOOD FAITH COMMITMENT FROM OUR
ELECTED LEADERS IN
ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERS, I THINK
WE CAN GET THERE TOGETHER.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO
APPRECIATE THAT IT FEELS LIKE
WE ARE ALL TRYING TO GET THERE
TOGETHER.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING
WHAT THE CONCRETE NEXT STEPS
ARE ON POLICY AND FOR WORKER
RETRAINING PLANS FOR THE FOLKS
WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS BEING IN
NEED OF THOSE SERVICES, BECAUSE
THERE IS LOTS OF WORK WE CAN DO
TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU ALL, I SEE THAT
MONTY HAS LEFT A COMMENT.
WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE THERE AS WELL.
LEAH WAS A BIG PART OF THE
CONVERSATION.
SO WE COULD HAVE THESE VERY
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION
AND TO REALLY PUTTING OUR HEADS
TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
CAN MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT
ENSURES THAT WE ARE HAVING
CLEAN BUILDINGS, CLEAN
COMMUNITIES, HEALTHY NEIGHBORS,
WORKERS THAT CONTINUE TO HAVE
GOOD PAYING CAREERS WITH
BENEFITS, ALL ALONG THE WAY.
AND, THE QUESTION OF HOW MUCH
THIS WILL ALL COST US, THAT IS
SOMETHING I LOOK FORWARD TO
TALKING ABOUT, TOO.
BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT WILL BE
A BIG PART OF OUR CONVERSATION
ABOUT HOW WE INVEST TO MAKE
SURE THIS HAPPENS.
SO THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR
BEING HERE AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION.
LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM,
LAKECIA WILL YOU PLEASE READ
ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> BUDGET UPDATE, BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON
TO THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
I DO WANT TO SORT OF SET THE
BACKGROUND AGAIN FOR THIS
CONVERSATION.
IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S
MURDER LAST YEAR, WE HEARD FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY
LIKE TO RUN COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ABOUT THE NEED FOR DEEP,
SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN ALL KINDS OF
SYSTEMS AND HOW THE CITY RUNS,
ESPECIALLY HOW WE ALLOCATE
RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY.
ONE PROPOSAL WE UNANIMOUSLY
SUPPORTED WAS A PARTICIPATORY
BUDGET PROCESSTHAT WOULD ALLOW
OUR NEIGHBORS TO VOTE ON HOW TO
ALLOCATE SOME PORTION OF CITY
RESOURCES SO THAT FOLKS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES COULD HAVE A SAY IN
HOW WE SHARE POWER AND
RESOURCES IN THE CITY.
THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT TRYING TO
REFORM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT A
REALLOCATION OF PUBLIC DOLLARS
AND INVESTING IN A WAY THAT
REVERSES GENERATIONS OF
POLICIES.
I BELIEVE AS A COUNSEL THAT WE
HAVE A MORAL IMPERATIVE TO
BEGIN DISMANTLING THE EXISTING
POWER STRUCTURES THAT ARE
ROOTED IN ANTI-BLACKNESS AND
REALLY FIND NEW WAYS TO SHARE
POWER AND DECISION-MAKING.
I THINK PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN
THAT DIRECTION AND REALLY EAGER
TO KEEP THIS POLICY MOVING
FORWARD SO WE CAN GET THE MONEY
OUT THE DOOR.
SO, TODAY WE WILL HEAR FIRST
FROM THE COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
THAT WILL WALK US THROUGH THE
DRAFT LEGISLATION.
THEN I'M EXCITED TO HAVE GUESTS
HERE TODAY THAT WILL TALK ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL FOR PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING TO HELP CHANGE
COMMUNITY CONDITIONS THAT CAN
LEAD TO BETTER COMMUNITY SAFETY
FOR EVERYONE.
SO AMY, I WILL HAND IT OFF TO
YOU TO GET US STARTED.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS AMY FROM THE COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF . TODAY I WANT TO
PROVIDE A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND THE
INITIATIVE, GIVEN OVERVIEW OF
LEGISLATION AND PROVIDE SOME
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS.
AS YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL HAS
BEEN WORKING TOWARD
ESTABLISHING A NEW
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROGRAM
SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2020 AFTER
SIGNIFICANT ADVOCACY EFFORTS
FUNDED $3 MILLION TO A
COMMUNITY RESEARCH PROJECT TO
CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND
ROAD MAP FOR A PROCESS THAT IS
INTENDED TO IMPROVE PUBLIC
SAFETY, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE
MOST IMPACTED BY RACISM AND
POLICING.
THE COUNCIL APPROPRIATED $20.3
MILLION IN THE 2021 ADOPTED
BUDGET INCLUDING FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
TO RUN THE PROCESS, THE SOCIAL
SERVICES TRIAGE SYSTEM APP AND
ALSO INVESTMENTS IN THE PROJECT
AND PROGRAMS TO BE RECOMMENDED
BY THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
PROCESS.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY HELD UNDER
PROVISO.
IN NOVEMBER THE COUNCIL ENTERED
INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE
FREEDOM PROJECT TO CONDUCT THE
BLACK BRILLIANCE RESEARCH
PROJECT.
THE PROJECT TEAM CONDUCTED
EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND NEEDS WHICH PROVIDED
THE BASIS FOR THE TEAM'S
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
PROGRAM.
IT IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEEDS
TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION IN THE
PROGRAM, A FRAMEWORK FOR AN
EQUITABLE PROCESS AND
RECOMMENDED PRIORITY INVESTMENT
AREAS THAT WERE DISCUSSED
DEVIOUSLY IN PRESENTATIONS.
SINCE THEN THE EXECUTIVE HAS
WORKED WITH THE BLACK
BRILLIANCE RESEARCH TEAM TO
DEVELOP A PROGRAM PENDING PLAN
BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS.
ON MARCH 30th THE EXECUTIVE
PROVIDED A MEMO WITH TWO
APPROACHES TO THE PARTICIPATING
PROGRAM.
THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THE
ATTACHMENT FOR TODAY'S AGENDA.
I WILL BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THEM.
THE EXECUTIVES FIRST PROPOSED
OPTION WOULD AUTHORIZE THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO
ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
FOR A THIRD PARTY TO ADMINISTER
THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
PROGRAM.
THEY ESTIMATE IT WILL COST 7.5
MILLION, NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT
AND GET THE THIRD PARTY TIME TO
HIRE STAFF BEFORE THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROGRAM
CAN BEGIN.
THE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTERED
WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING
AND MANAGING THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED BY THE RESEARCH
PROJECT, PROVIDING TECHNICAL
SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE AND
MANAGING FUNDS TO REDUCE
BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION SUCH
AS DIGITAL EQUITY INITIATIVES.
THIS OPTION ALSO INCLUDED
$375,000 FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOOD STAFF TO PROVIDE
ADMINISTRATIVE DATA, AND
LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AS
REQUESTED.
THE SECOND PROPOSED OPTION
WOULD AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO RUN THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROGRAM
INCLUDING HIRING 15 INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS TO FORM THE PROGRAM
COMMITTEE.
THIS WAS ESTIMATED TO COST 2.6
MILLION AND WOULD TAKE 3 TO 4
MONTHS BEFORE THE PROGRAM COULD
BEGIN.
UNDER BOTH OPTIONS, THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROGRAM
WOULD TAKE 6 TO 10 MONTHS AFTER
THE INITIAL SETUP DESCRIBED IN
THE TWO OPTIONS.
THE DRAFT LEGISLATION IS
INCLUDED IN TODAY'S AGENDA.
IT IS INTENDED TO MOVE THE
PROCESS FORWARD BUT DOES DIFFER
FROM THE OPTIONS PROPOSED BY
THE EXECUTIVE WHICH I WILL
HIGHLIGHT.
FIRST, THE LEGISLATION WOULD
LIFT THE PROVISO PROPOSED BY
THE COUNCIL ON APPROXIMATELY
$18 MILLION IN FINANCE.
THIS IS ONLY A PORTION OF THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING FUNDS
AND THE REMAINDER WOULD STAY
UNDER THE ORIGINAL ADVISERS.
IT WOULD CREATE THREE NEW
POSITIONS FOR THE SEATTLE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS TO WORK
WITH THE COMMUNITY TO REQUEST A
PROPOSAL TO SELECT A THIRD
PARTY ADMINISTRATOR TO MANAGE
THE CONTRACT AND STAFF THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
PROGRAM.
WHICH WOULD INCLUDE
COORDINATING INTERNAL CITY
STAFF AND EXTERNAL PARTNERS IN
SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM.
THEY WOULD APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO
SUPPORT THESE POSITIONS.
BECAUSE THE PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING IS ONE TIME RATHER
THAN ONGOING, THE LEGISLATION
APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR THESE
POSITIONS THROUGH 2023.
IT ALSO INCLUDES $15,000 TO
SUPPORT COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
IN THE SELECTION OF THE THIRD-
PARTY PROVIDER.
THE LEGISLATION ALSO HAS TWO
NEW ADVISERS.
FINALLY, THE LEGISLATION
INCLUDES A RATIFYING THE
CONFIRM CLASS WHICH WOULD ALLOW
WORK TO BEGIN BEFORE BECOMING
EFFECTIVE.
SO THEY CAN BEGIN RAIDING JOB
DESCRIPTIONS AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
THAT CONCLUDES THE BASIS OF THE
LEGISLATION.
I DO HAVE A FEW POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS I LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT AREA AS I MENTIONED,
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION
CREATES AUTHORITY FOR THREE NEW
POSITIONS AND FUNDS THE
POSITIONS WITH ONE-TIME FUNDS
SUFFICIENT, AND TO CONTINUE
BEYOND 2033 THEY WILL NEED TO
IDENTIFY ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE.
SECOND, THE LEGISLATION FUNDS
THE DEVELOPMENT AND ISSUANCE
FOR A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR
AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT STAFF
TO MANAGE THE CONTRACT AND
SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM.
BUT IT DOES NOT FUND THE
CONTRACT WITH THE THIRD-PARTY
ADMINISTRATOR.
IT ASSUMES THAT THE COUNCIL
WILL MAKE FUTURE APPROPRIATIONS
TO SUPPORT THE CONTRACT ONCE A
THIRD PARTY MINISTRY THERE IS
SELECTED.
LEGISLATION WOULD COMMIT THE
FUNDS, SORRY, YES, COMMIT THE
FUNDS TO SOC ARE WITCHES
CONSISTENT WITH THE
RECOMMENDATION MADE BY THE
BLACK BRILLIANCE RESEARCH
PROJECT TEAM RATHER THAN THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AS
THE EXECUTIVE PROPOSE.
THIS WOULD BE AN EXPANSION OF
THE DUTIES AND CAN BUILD OFF
THE COLLABORATIVE GRANTMAKING
WORK THAT WAS USED TO DEVELOP
THE COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES TO
INCARCERATION AND POLICE
REQUEST PROPOSALS PREVIOUSLY.
THIS WOULD HAVE NO EFFECT ON
THAT YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE
PROGRAM.
THE COUNCIL'S ORIGINAL INTENT
WAS THAT THIS PROGRAM WOULD
OCCUR IN 2021.
HOWEVER, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE
COUNCIL, THE PROCESS WILL
LIKELY TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS,
MEANING THAT THE ACTUAL PROGRAM
WILL NOT BEGIN UNTIL THE END OF
2021 WITH THE BULK OF THE
PROGRAM BEING CONDUCTED IN
2022.
DEPUTY MAYOR WASHINGTON'S MARCH
30th LETTER SUGGESTED THAT THE
COUNCIL ADDRESSED THE ISSUES
THAT INCLUDE RACIAL AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE SITUATIONS, THIRD-PARTY
ADMINISTRATOR PAYEE AND
LIMITATIONS ON VOTING AND
ELIGIBILITY.
THE LEGISLATION DOES NOT
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES
SPECIFICALLY, INSTEAD IT
DEPENDS ON THE COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS
RESPONDING TO ENSURE THAT THE
PROPOSED PROGRAMS CONSIDERS AND
ADJUST THEM APPROPRIATELY.
I ALSO WANTED TO RAISE THE FACT
THAT THE RFP DOES REQUIRE
ADDITIONAL TIME AND RESOURCES
FROM ORGANIZATIONS TO PREPARE
PROPOSALS.
THE LEGISLATION WOULD PROVIDE
AN ADDITIONAL 15,000 TO SUPPORT
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE RFP AND
CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE RFP
PROCESS.
IT COULD ALSO INCLUDE TECHNICAL
SUPPORT IDENTIFIED IN THE
COMMUNITY.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THE FUNDING
PROVIDED BY COUNSEL ANTICIPATES
FUNDING, A CIVILIAN CRISIS
RESPONSE AND IS NOT FUND THAT
AND WOULD REQUIRE FUTURE
COUNCIL ACTION TO FUND THE
PROJECT.
THAT INCLUDES THE POLICY THAT I
WOULD HIGHLIGHT IN THIS
LEGISLATION AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR
QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW BUT I WILL
SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS. I WILL SEE IF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
FOR AMY BEFORE MOVING TO OUR
GUESTS.
I'M NOT SEEING, ALL,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD .
>> CAN YOU WALK THROUGH THE
IMPLICATIONS OF NOT ACTING ON
THE RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT NOT
AMENDING THE PROVISO IN A WAY
THAT ADDRESSES THE REQUEST FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN APP.
BUT I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY,
THERE IS A PROVISO ON THOSE
DOLLARS NOW WITH THE
EXPECTATION THAT SOME DOLLARS
WOULD BE USED TO DEVELOP THE
APP.
THE PROPOSAL WE HAD BEFORE US
INCLUDE THAT EXPECTATION.
AND SO, IF WE JUST MOVE FORWARD
AND DID NOTHING, IT WOULD BE
THAT PERFECTO, CORRECT?
>> I THINK THAT EXPECTATION AT
LEAST IN TERMS OF THE LANGUAGE
IS STILL THERE, I THINK FOR THE
DEPARTMENT STAFF THAT HAD BEEN
WORKING ON THAT, NOBODY HAS
RUSHED FORWARD TO CLAIM
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE APP OR
FINDING THAT PORTION OF THIS.
SO I THINK IT WOULD REQUIRE A
LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO FIND
THE APPROPRIATE HOME, SCOPE AND
BUDGET FOR THAT.
SO IF COUNSEL DID WANT TO MOVE
FORWARD, IT COULD BE INCLUDED
IN THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
I COULD BE INCLUDED IN A
SEPARATE, INDEPENDENT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION OR COUNCIL COULD
CHOOSE TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT
OF AN APP ONLY IF IT'S CHOSEN
AS A PROJECT THROUGH THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET PROCESS.
IT WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS
DESCRIBED IN THE BLACK
BRILLIANCE RESEARCH PROJECT AS
ONE OF THE POTENTIAL TYPES OF
PROJECTS THAT COULD BE
DEVELOPED AND FUNDED THROUGH
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
SO THAT IS A CHOICE THAT THE
COUNCIL CAN PICK.
>> AND I'M JUST REMEMBERING A
$50,000 ALLOCATION FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CRISIS
RESPONSE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING
PIECES WHERE MANY OF US ARE
PARTICIPATING IN THE CITY
SPRING.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE
MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DISCUSS THE $50,000.
IT WAS NOT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS
ALLOCATED FOR THAT PURPOSE IN
THE BUDGET PROCESS, THERE WAS A
BUDGET ERROR AND IT WAS NOT
TRANSFERRED OVER TO HST.
SO THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY
WORKING ON THAT ELEMENT.
BUT IF THERE IS A FUNDING NEED
AND THE STAKEHOLDER RING SHOWS
THERE IS STILL A NEED, THAT
MIGHT BE A SOURCE OF FUNDING WE
WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER.
>> THAT SOUNDS VERY MUCH IN
LINE WITH THE ORIGINAL INTENT
OF THAT.
>> LET US MOVE ON.
I AM VERY EXCITED TO HAVE TWO
GUESTS HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE INVITED THE NEW YORK
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO
REPRESENTS DISTRICT 38 IN NEW
YORK CITY.
THEY HAVE 51 CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS THERE.
SO IMAGINE WHAT THEIR CENTRAL
STAFF MUST GO THROUGH.
SO DISTRICT 38 HAS PRODUCED THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF PB VOTERS
CITYWIDE AND WELCOMED VOTING
REGARDLESS OF MIGRATION STATUS.
THEY HAD MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.
SO I'M EXCITED TO HEAR FROM THE
COUNCILMEMBER ABOUT HOW THINGS
WORK IN NEW YORK.
WE ALSO HAVE THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF CHOOSE 180 WHICH IS
AN ORGANIZATION THAT PARTNERS
WITH INSTITUTIONAL LEADERS TO
CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE TO
OPPORTUNITY.
TO EMPOWER THEM WITH CHOICE AND
TEACH THEM SKILLS NECESSARY TO
AVOID ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU BOTH TO
JUST SORT OF SHARE WITH US YOUR
PERSPECTIVE AS YOU THINK ABOUT
PURCHASE OF A TORY BUDGETING.
ONE OF OUR GOALS FOR
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IS THAT
IT BE A TOOL FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.
IT REALLY FOSTERS CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT, FOSTERS BETTER
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
COMMUNITY AND THE CITY.
AND THAT WE BUILD CAPACITY AND
RESILIENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO WE ARE THINKING ABOUT, IN
ORDER TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS,
WHAT KIND OF SHORT-TERM AND
LONG-TERM MEASURES OF SUCCESS
WE MIGHT HAVE.
SO I WILL JUST PUT THAT OUT
THERE IS A BROAD QUESTIO BUT
WOULD ALSO LOVE TO HEAR FROM
YOU ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR
EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK.
>> THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU
COUNCILMEMBER'S ON THIS
COMMITTEE TODAY.
AS OF FELLOW COUNCILMEMBER I
JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I'VE
BEEN ENJOYING THIS PUBLIC
HEARING, LISTENING TO THE
INITIAL VOICES ON THE GROUND
AND REALLY WALKING THROUGH HOW
YOU DO YOUR WORK.
AMY'S PRESENTATION ABOUT THE
KIND OF TECHNICAL COMPONENTS
REALLY SHOW THAT YOU'VE ALL
BEEN THINKING REALLY LONG AND
HARD ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE.
SOMEONE WHO IS NOW SEVEN YEARS
DEEP INTO PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING IN THE DISTRICT, AS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES SAID, WE
ARE REALLY THRILLED WITH THE
RESPONSE FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU COMING YOU
ARE ON YOUR WAY, YOU ARE IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE COMPASS IS POINTING NORTH.
I'M JUST HERE TO SAY TAKE THAT
LEAP.
I WILL TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE
LEAP WE'VE TAKEN IN NEW YORK
CITY.
FIRST I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
DISTRICT ITSELF.
WITH THE HIGHEST PARTICIPATION
WE HAVE, OVER 50% OF RESIDENTS
WHO WERE LIVING, SOME 200,000
PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT ARE
FOREIGN-BORN.
THEY ARE NOT SPEAKING ENGLISH
AT HOME, THEY ARE SPEAKING
ANOTHER LANGUAGE, ARABIC,
CHINESE, THREE DIFFERENT
DIALECTS, SPANISH AND ENGLISH.
WE HAVE THE SECOND LARGEST
PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN
THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A VERY WORKING
FAMILY, LOW INCOME ECONOMIC
STATUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT ARE PART OF THE DISTRICT.
SO YOU WOULD ALMOST THINK THAT
THIS WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
WHEN WE HAVE OTHER DISTRICTS
THAT ARE A LOT MORE AFFLUENT
AND CONNECTED TO TECHNOLOGY AND
WHATNOT.
BUT WHAT IS DRIVING THIS
CONVERSATION IS THE ENERGY I
HEARD FROM MANY OTHER FOLKS
THAT TESTIFIED IN HIS HEARING.
THAT HUNGER TO CONNECT, TO
CONNECT TO GOVERNMENT.
AND WITH THE IDEAS THEY HAVE AS
PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD, SEEING THEIR
PARKS AND SCHOOLS.
KIDS SCHOOLS, STREETS AND LIGHT
POSTS AND SAYING HOW CAN WE
ENGAGE.
MANY OF THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN
ELECTIONS AND SO THEY ARE
HUNGRY TO REALLY SEE THINGS
CHANGE.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN A
ONE-YEAR PROCESS THAT STARTS
THE END OF SUMMER, GOES THROUGH
THE FALL AND SPRING PROCESS AND
AT THE END, VOTING HAPPENS.
IT'S TO COLLECT IDEAS IN THE
BEGINNING, RING COMMITTEES
TOGETHER TO REALLY THINK ABOUT
WHAT IS ELIGIBLE FOR CAPITAL
BECAUSE OUR PROJECTS ARE MOSTLY
THROUGH CAPITAL, AND FOR
STRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND
DEVELOPMENT.
THEN EVERYBODY VOTES.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE
IS THAT OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
ARE REALLY DRIVING, AND THE
DISTRICT, THEY ARE DRIVING THE
PROCESS BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN
THE VALUE.
ONCE THE PROJECT GETS INTO THE
BUDGET, WE SEE AN IMMEDIATE
AGENCY RESPONSE AND WE ARE
STARTING TO SEE THE LIGHT
POSTS,, OR THE PLAYGROUNDS.
AND SO IN A FEW YEARS, AND THIS
IS WHY, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES,
YOU WERE SAYING HOW QUICKLY CAN
WE SEE RESULTS, THIS WILL TAKE
SOME TIME.
BUT ONCE PEOPLE START SEEING
THAT THEIR IDEAS ARE BEING
LISTENED TO, THAT THEY ARE ABLE
TO ENGAGE IN THEIR
UNDERSTANDING THE COST OF THE
PROGRAM OR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT,
THEY ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THE GOVERNMENT WORKS.
THE NO LONGER BECOME OUTSIDE
FEELING, THEY ARE PART OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE PARENTS TEACHING OTHER
PARENTS ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT
WORKS AND WHAT THINGS COST.
NO LONGER ARE YOU DOING THIS AS
ONE DISTRICT OFFICE IN YOUR
COMMUNITY, NOW THERE IS A WHOLE
NEIGHBORHOOD UNDERSTANDING AND
ENGAGING EACH OTHER.
BRINGING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN
AND SAYING HOW DO WE MOVE THIS
FORWARD.
IT HAS LAUNCHED OTHER AUXILIARY
PROJECTS LIKE THE FACT THAT OUR
DISTRICT WILL NOW BE HOME TO
SEVEN NEW SCHOOLS.
THEY'VE TAKEN WHAT THEY
UNDERSTAND FROM PB AND THEY ARE
NOW ENGAGING THE SCHOOL
AUTHORITY DIRECTLY.
THEY SAY WE NEED MORE SCHOOLS.
THAT IS NOT A PB CONVERSATION
BUT A HOLISTIC BUDGETARY
CONVERSATION.
IT'S BRINGING AN INTELLIGENCE
THAT I WAS NOT ANTICIPATING.
THEY ARE PARTNERS WITH ME, THEY
ARE NO LONGER JUST ANGRY AT
GOVERNMENT INACTION.
THEY ARE PART OF THE ACTION.
SO I THINK THAT IS THE FIRST
THING I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH.
THE SECOND IS THE ACCESS
POINTS.
I THINK THERE IS SOME CRITICISM
SOMETIMES THAT SAYS WELL,
PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE LUXURY OF
TIME OR HIGHER ECONOMIC STATUS
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ENGAGE,
THAT IS JUST SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
WE ARE ENGAGING EVERYONE WHERE
THEY ARE AT.
SO A LOT OF THE VOTING PROCESS
WE DO AFTER EVERYONE HAS PULLED
THEIR PROJECTS TOGETHER AND WE
CREATE A BALLOT, WE GO TO
CHURCHES.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON WE TALKED TO
PEOPLE.
I GET TO GO AND SPEAK TO THE
CONGREGATIONS.
AND WE BRING THE BALLOTS TO THE
PEOPLE.
WHICH IS NOT A TYPICAL VOTING
PROCESS, BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO
IS REALLY MAKE THIS VOTING
PROCESS ACCESSIBLE SO EVERYONE
CAN ENGAGE.
WE ARE REMOVING LANGUAGE
BARRIERS, TIME BARRIERS,
REMOVING THE KIND OF
INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS. WE ARE
GOING TO PEOPLE DIRECTLY IN
TALKING ABOUT THE PROJECTS.
AND WHAT YOU SEE, BECAUSE THERE
IS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT AROUND
THESE PROJECTS, WE HAVE THESE
TEAMS GOING AROUND SAYING I
WORKED ON THIS, THIS IS KIND OF
COOL.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS
THAT IT HAS REALLY IGNITED
YOUNG PEOPLE IN UNDERSTANDING
THE POWER OF THEIR VOTE IN A
TIME WHERE NATIONALLY WE'VE
SEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT VOTES,
WHATEVER SIDE YOU ARE ON, IT IS
EXCITING YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEY
ARE UNDERSTANDING THEIR POWER.
ONCE THE YOUNG PART IS IGNITED,
THEY ARE RUINED FOREVER.
DEMOCRACY IS IN THEIR HEART AND
SPIRIT.
SO I WILL LEAVE IT THERE AND
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT COUNCILMEMBER.
SEAN, I WANT TO LET YOU RESPOND
AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT
WHAT THE POTENTIAL FOR THE
PROCESS ATARI BUDGET MEANS FOR
YOUR COMMUNITY.
>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE PRESENT AND SHARE THE
SPACE.
AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
FROM NEW YORK AND YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS AND INSIGHT AS
SOMEBODY WHO HAS ALREADY BEGUN
THE PROCESS AND IS FULLY LIVING
INTO THOSE PB PRINCIPLES AND
WATCHING THE IMPACT IT HAS.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID I
ACTUALLY CONSIDERED AND THAT
MAYBE, PEOPLE ARE BECOMING MORE
A PART OF THE GOVERNMENT.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE
COLLECTIVE US BUT I CAN SPEAK
FOR MYSELF INDIVIDUALLY THAT I
HOPE IS THAT THE PB PROCESS HAS
MORE ABOUT REVERSE EFFECT.
IN THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT
THESE RIGHTS THEY'VE BEEN
ENDOWED WITH BY THEIR CREATOR
IS ALL THE POWER THEY NEED IN
ORDER TO SEE THE TYPE OF
SYSTEMIC CHANGE HAPPEN TO ALLOW
OUR VOICE, OUR PRESENCE IN OUR
HUMANITY BE HONORED.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THE COMPASS
IS POINTED AND THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH OUR
TRUE NORTH.
WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND
WAS CONSIDERING REMARKS FOR
TODAY, I CONSIDERED OUR
ANCESTORS.
AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE
ENSLAVED IN THE SOUTH, AND TO
BE IN THESE HORRIFIC
CONDITIONS, AND NOT KNOW WHAT
THEY WERE GOING INTO BUT TO
KNOW WHAT THEY WERE ESCAPING
WAS TO SOMETHING BETTER THAN
THEIR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT WERE IN FRONT OF THEM
TODAY.
AND THE PATH AHEAD,
PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO MADE
THE JOURNEY AT FIRST, WAS NOT
CLEAR.
IT WAS LONG, ARDUOUS,
REPLICATED AND DIFFICULT.
AND YET, STILL, MY ANCESTORS
PERSEVERED BECAUSE THERE WAS A
DEEP CONVICTION THAT THERE HAD
TO BE SOMETHING BETTER.
THAT IF WE SIMPLY TRAVELED
NORTH THERE WAS SOMETHING
BETTER ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND AFTER EXPERIENCING WHAT HAS
BEEN DUBBED THE SEATTLE PROCESS
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WATCHING BLACK AND BROWN AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR IN
OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICES,
BECOME POLITICIZED AND USED FOR
POSTURING FOR THE SAKE OF
ADVANCING AGENDAS OR RE-
ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, IT IS
UNMISTAKABLY CLEAR TO ME THAT
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BEGIN TO
TRAVEL THE NEW DIRECTION AND
BRING THE COLLECTIVE MISS ALONG
WITH US AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO A
PLACE THAT BUILDS HOPE AND
PROSPERITY IN COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED AND UNDER
RESOURCED.
NOW ANYBODY LISTENING AND ALL
OF US ON THE ZOOM CALL RIGHT
NOW KNOW WITH GREAT CERTAINTY
THAT $28 MILLION WILL NOT EVEN
BEGIN TO MAKE UP FOR THE
ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES THAT ARE
PRESENT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
IN THE ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES
THAT HAVE IMPACTED THE
INDIGENOUS ANCESTORS THAT ARE
STILL HOLDING ON AND LIVING IN
THE SEATTLE AREA TODAY.
THE ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES THAT
ARE VISITED UPON OUR OUR
RELATIVES, PEOPLE OF COLOR,
BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND ON
BINARY SIBLINGS.
IT WILL NOT BEGIN TO MAKE GOOD
ON THE INJUSTICES AND PURCHASE
TRADED OR THE GENTRIFICATION
THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN DAY IN
AND DAY OUT.
IT WILL NOT BEGIN TO MAKE UP
FOR THE INEQUALITIES IN ACCESS
TO FOOD.
AND AS OUR FRIENDS IN THE LABOR
MOVEMENT.
ITS ACTUAL CAREERS AND NOT JUST
JOBS.
IT'S $28 MILLION.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS
$28 MILLION IS BEGIN TO BLAZE
THE TRAIL FORWARD THAT SPEAKS
TO HOW WE ALLOCATE RESOURCES IN
THE FUTURE.
AND A PROCESS THAT CAN BE
INSTILLED THAT SAYS THIS IS THE
RIGHT WAY TO SPEND MONEY THAT
IS COMING FROM TAXPAYERS OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE THAT HAS BEEN
ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE
MOST OF US PUSHED TO THE
FARTHEST OF THE MARGINS.
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS NOTHING
LIKE WHAT ANY OF US WOULD HOPE
FOR IT TO BE.
YES, WE NEED THE MONEY URGENTLY
BUT I WOULD MUCH RATHER
PERSONALLY MAKE SURE THE PATH
WE ARE TRAVELING IS ONE THAT IS
FULL OF EQUITY IN THAT
EXPEDIENCY.
AND THAT IN EQUITABLE PATH
FORWARD HONORS THE VOICES THAT
WERE IMPACTED IS ONE THAT WE
CHOOSE.
AND WHEN THE BLACK BRILLIANCE
RESEARCH PROJECT, THEY WERE
QUITE CLEAR IN THE FEEDBACK
THEY GOT ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WILL CALL OUT A COUPLE OF
THINGS JUST FOR THE SAKE OF
THIS CONVERSATION.
IN THE RESEARCH PROJECT IT SAID
DON WAS INEFFECTIVE AS DEEPLY
ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITIES.
PEOPLE FELT THAT DONNA IGNORED
AND OVERPOWERED THE COMMUNITY
VOICE AND DID NOT FOLLOW UP
WITH COMMUNITY AFTER THE VOTING
WAS DONE AND THAT THEY BROKE
TRUST AND HAVE A REPAIRABLE
HARM.
WHAT THEY SAID WHAT THEY WANTED
FROM THE LEAD CITY DEPARTMENT
WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS A PART OF
ENGAGING WITH THE BUY CAULK
COMMUNITIES AND THOSE THAT WERE
SET BY THE COMMUNITY AND
ACTUALLY OPERATE IN A TRUE
OWNERSHIP THAT IS RELATIONAL
AND NOT JUST TRANSACTIONAL.
THAT'S WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES
IN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
OPPOSITE OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
IT'S EXISTENCE IS TO UPHOLD
WHAT IS RIGHT AND A LOT WHAT IS
WRONG, REGARDLESS IF IT'S DONE
FROM THE EXECUTIVE OR BY THE
COUNCIL.
IT IS UNIQUELY PLACED TO BE
ABLE TO DO THIS WORK THAT THE
DATA SAYS IS BEING REQUESTED TO
BROUGHT FORWARD.
IT WILL TAKE LONGER, AND
ACCORDING TO AMY'S REPORT, IT
IS ALSO A MORE COSTLY WAY
FORWARD.
BUT WHAT IS THE ACTUAL
EXPENSIVE WAY OF DOING THINGS
WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, WHAT IS THE
GRADUAL COST OF SELF-
SACRIFICING BY SURRENDERING TO
THE SUPREMACIST TIMELINE AND
REALLY PUSHING OUR AUTHORITY TO
THE WHITE DOMINANT CULTURE IN
AN EFFORT TO BE TO GET THINGS
DONE IN A HURRY.
THIS 28 MILLION WILL NOT BUILD
THE DAM WE NEED, IF ANYTHING IS
JUST A LARGER BUCKET TO PULL
WATER UP FROM COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE ALREADY DROWNING.
SO IF IT'S ONLY A BIGGER
BUCKET, LET US USE THIS MOMENT
AND OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A PATH
WHERE WE CAN INSTRUCT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT THAT WOULD MAKE A
FUTURE THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS
HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME
ROTATION, THE SAME RIGMAROLE,
BECAUSE THIS WAS INSTIGATED BY
THE SOCIAL UNREST OF GEORGE
FLOYD, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A
MOVEMENT BUILT OVER GENERATIONS
AND GENERATIONS, THAT EMBODIES
MANY OF OUR ANCESTORS OF OUR
PAST THAT ARE LIVING LEGENDS.
AND THOSE MOVEMENT MAKERS THAT
ARE PRESENT TODAY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO
MOVE FORWARD.
AND THAT THERE IS A LIMITED
PATIENCE THAT OFTEN HAPPENS IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
BUT I ASK BROTHERS AND SISTERS
THAT WE NOT BEGIN TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT WE CAN GET RIGHT
NOW, BUT WHAT WE CAN CREATE AS
WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND AS WE CREATE AS WE MOVE
FORWARD, THAT WE HOLD THE CITY,
THE COUNCIL, THE EXECUTIVE AND
THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
ACCOUNTABLE TO HONORING
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET AT ITS
TRUEST FORM.
AND THEY MAKE STAKEHOLDERS THAT
HELP MAKE DECISIONS ON OUR
BEHALF AND THAT THEY ARE GOING
OUT AND GATHERING THE VOTES
FROM THE PEOPLE MOST
MARGINALIZED AND IMPACTED AND
THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE ACTUALLY
CREATING THE TYPE OF
PROGRAMMING AND RESOURCES THAT
WE EARNESTLY BELIEVE WILL BE
CATALYST FOR CHANGE, SO WE CAN
BEGIN TO CULTIVATE A FUTURE
GREATER THAN THE MOMENT THAT IS
NOW.
I AM FULLY PERSUADED THAT WE
CAN AND WILL MOVE FORWARD
TOGETHER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT COMMUNITY IS
NOT INCLUSIVE OF ALL, AND WE
HAVE A DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS
AND PERSPECTIVES AND THERE ARE
MULTIPLE WAYS THAT RESOURCES
WILL BE SPENT IN ALLOCATED AS
WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
THAT BEING SAID, WITH THIS
BUCKET OF MONEY AND THESE
RESOURCES, LET US HONOR THE
BLACK BRILLIANCE RESEARCH
PROJECT.
LET'S HONOR THE DATA INVOICES
THAT WERE COLLECTED THEREIN.
AND LET'S USE THESE DOLLARS TO
NOT JUST FUND PROJECTS THAT MAY
LAST A SEASON, BUT TO PLANT
SEEDS THAT WILL LAST
GENERATIONS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SEAN, I
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU SAID,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE THREAD HERE IS THAT BETWEEN
WHAT YOU AND THE COUNCILMEMBER
SAID WE ARE PLANTING SEEDS AND
BLAZING A TRAIL.
WE HAVE A FUTURE AHEAD OF US.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO BE REALLY
THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IS HOW TO USE
THIS RESOURCE IN A WAY THAT
LEVERAGES THE REAL POSSIBILITY,
AND NOT JUST INVESTING IN SORT
OF THE TYPICAL BUSINESS AS
USUAL.
THIS IS ABOUT TRYING SOMETHING
NEW, AND WE MIGHT NOT GET IT
RIGHT AND WE HAVE TO BE OKAY
WITH THAT AND WE HAVE TO KNOW
WE ARE STARTING SOMETHING NEW
AND BIGGER THAN WE'VE DONE
BEFORE.
IF WE HAVE TO COURSE CORRECT
ALONG THE WAY, WE WILL DO THAT.
BUT I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER TO
NOT LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF
THE GOOD AS WE SAY.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR
THAT.
I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN HAS A QUESTION.
OTHER COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE A
QUESTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR
HAND IN THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR MIRELES AND
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
AND WELCOME TO OUR COUNCIL
COLLEAGUE FROM NEW YORK CITY.
IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S DONE IN
NEW YORK CITY, YOU SAY IT'S
BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL
YEARS.
YOU MENTIONED THAT CAPITAL
PROJECTS IS THE FOCUS.
IS THERE A REASON YOU HAVE
CAPITAL PROJECTS AS YOUR FOCUS
RATHER THAN SOCIAL SERVICE
PROGRAMS OR OTHER TYPES OF
INTERVENTIONS LIKE THAT?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I THINK THERE ARE TWO MAIN
REASONS.
ONE, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE
IMPACTFUL IN AN INFRASTRUCTURE
KIND OF WAY.
AND A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT
HAVE COME THROUGH OUR CAPITAL
NEEDS IN SCHOOLS, ET CETERA.
OH, AND ONE TIME PURCHASES IF
YOU WILL, ONE-TIME PROJECTS.
AND THERE ARE SOME
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT HAVE
STARTED EXPERIMENTING WITH THE
PROGRAMMATIC, NON-
INFRASTRUCTURE, THIS IS MORE
PERSONNEL.
WHAT WE FIND ARE JUST
INTERESTING MOMENTS WHERE WE
THINK WE WILL BE FINDING THIS
FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS, IS IT
JUST A ONE OFF, PEOPLE VOTING
FOR ONE YEAR OR LESS, THAT
REQUIRES A MORE TOP-DOWN,
MAYORAL SUPPORT.
BECAUSE THEY CAN OFFER 3 TO 5
YEAR CONTRACTS.
IN THE BAYER HAS NOT BEEN VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
BUT IT WAS IN RECENT ELECTIONS
AND LOOKS LIKE IT WAS
AUTHORIZED BY A CHARTER CHANGE
THAT THE PEOPLE VOTED ON.
AND THAT WILL THEN SOLVE THE
PROBLEM AND WE ARE STILL
TINKERING THROUGH THAT NOW.
SO LONG STORY SHORT, IT WAS
EASIER TO DO CAPITAL BECAUSE
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL CAN DO IT.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH
PROGRAMS AND VERY SOON WE WILL
SEE A MAYORAL AGENDA THAT
INCLUDES THREE-YEAR AND FIVE-
YEAR PROGRAMS THAT CAN SOLVE
THE MULTITIER ISSUE.
>> FOLLOWING UP WITH ONE
ADDITIONAL QUESTION.
DOES NEW YORK CITY PAY THE
PARTICIPANTS IN THE BUDGETING
PROCESS?
>> ARE YOU SAYING THE VOTERS?
>> YEAH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
BOTTOM UP PARTICIATING, DO
THEY GET PAID FOR THEIR TIME?
>> THE ONLY FOLKS THAT ARE
ESSENTIALLY GETTING PAID
THROUGH THIS PROCESS ARE
CENTRAL STAFF THAT MANAGE THE
PROCESS AND THE BALLOTS.
THE CONSULTANTS WE BRING ON TO
HELP WITH A MARKETING STRATEGY.
BUT ESSENTIALLY MOST OF THE
WORK IS BUILT FROM THE GROUND
UP IN THE DISTRICT OFFICES AND
VOLUNTEERS.
ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT
ARE INKING THROUGH SOME OF
THESE PIECES, QUESTIONS ABOUT
ELIGIBILITY ARE DRIVEN BY
VOLUNTEERS.
THE CITY AGENCIES ARE ALREADY
DOING THIS WORK AND THEY ARE
THE ONES THAT WILL BE
IMPLEMENTING OR ARE ALREADY A
PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY ARE MANDATED TO SIT WITH
US AND TALK THROUGH THINGS AT
THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
A LOT OF THIS IS A VOLUNTEER
DRIVEN AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL
THROUGH COMMUNITY BOARDS,
COMMUNITY BOARD STYLE.
AND ARE NOT PAID.
>> AND JUST TO CLARIFY, IN NEW
YORK CITY, THE WAY THAT
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING WORKS
THERE IS THAT EACH
COUNCILMEMBER GETS AN ALLOTMENT
FOR PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING FOR
YOUR DISTRICT, WHICH IS WHY THE
DISTRICT STAFF IS SO MUCH MORE
INVOLVED, IS THAT CORRECT?
YOU MAKE THAT IS CORRECT.
AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT
DISTINCTION.
BECAUSE EVERYONE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IS KIND OF
EXPERIMENTING.
I GET ABOUT $5 MILLION A YEAR
TO MY DISCRETION.
I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT WITH
THOSE $5 MILLION.
I CHOOSE TO TAKE FOUR OF THOSE
5 MILLION AND BRING THEM TO THE
COMMUNITY FOR DECISION-MAKING.
AND THAT'S WHERE COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEERS COME TOGETHER TO GO
THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
AND MY STAFF RUNS THAT AND
FACILITATES THAT DISCUSSION AND
SUPPORTS THOSE VOLUNTEERS.
WE HOST MEETINGS IN OUR OFFICE,
ET CETERA.
THOSE ARE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY
FOLLOWING THE SAME THE SAME
STRUCTURE, BUT ADDING A
DIFFERENT BALLOT.
SO PEOPLE ARE VOTING IN THE
SPRING FOR BOTH CAPITAL AND
EXPENSE.
>> COUNCILMEMER HERBOLD, I SAW
YOUR HAND UP.
>> I ACTUALLY HAD THE SAME
QUESTION ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH
CREATING POTENTIAL YEAR-TO-YEAR
NEEDS WITH PEOPLE'S INTEREST IN
PROGRAMMATIC FUNDING WHEN PB
PRIORITIES MIGHT CHANGE FROM
YEAR TO YEAR.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
ADDRESSING THE.
>> CAN I OFFER A NEW POINT TO
THAT QUESTION?
>> PLEASE.
>> I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING
ABOUT THIS QUESTION, IT BEGS US
TO ASK, HOW DO WE CREATE, NO,
IT BEGS THE CONVERSATION OF THE
COMMUNITY TO SAY COULD WE DO
SOMETHING ONE TIME.
CAN WE OFFER AN EXPERIMENTAL
MOMENT.
AND SOME CREATIVE STUFF HAS
EMERGED.
PEOPLE SAYING WE HAVE THIS ONE
ISSUE AND IF WE HAD JUST THAT
ONE GROUP OF HELPERS WE COULD
PAY FOR TO KIND OF UNSOLVED AND
THINK ABOUT AN ISSUE IN ANOTHER
WAY, WE COULD BE A DIFFERENT
AND BETTER COMMUNITY.
SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL WHERE
YOU DON'T HAVE A THREE-YEAR
FUNDING STREAM, AND I THINK IT
HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE.
>> THANK YOU, THAT IS HELPFUL,
PROGRAMMATIC PRIORITIES CAN BE
ONE KIND IF DRAWN THAT WAY.
>> IT'S LIKE A MURAL, A MURAL
PROCESS THAT REALLY BROUGHT
PEOPLE TOGETHER, DISCUSSING
HATE CRIMES, AND WAS ENOUGH TO
BE ABLE TO BE IMPACTFUL AND
THERE WE GO, RATHER THAN
FUNDING A SOCIAL WORKER, SO
SHIFTING HOW WE CAN HAVE
COMMUNITIES HAVE SOMETHING TO
THROW AND HAVING SOME OF THESE
AGENCY COMMISSIONERS SAY THIS
COULD BE A FIVE YEAR PROGRAM
AND NOW YOU HAVE DIALOGUE, YOU
HAVE POWER AT THE COMMUNITY
LEVEL SAYING THIS IS HOW WE
WANT TO SPEND A $20,000 GRANT.
>> I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
WHEN I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH
ON PARTICIPATORY BUDGET, I CAME
ACROSS A DATA POINT THAT SAID
THE LARGER THE POT, THE MORE
PEOPLE YOU HAVE AND I'M
WONDERING, I DON'T KNOW IF THE
NUMBER OF DOLLARS HAS BEEN
STATIC BUT IF IT HASN'T AND THE
POT HAS GROWN, HAVE YOU SEEN
WERE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING AS
THE POT HAS GROWN?
>> THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING
QUESTION.
FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
ONE IS WE ACTUALLY ALL GET $5
MILLION AS COUNCILMEMBERS TO
MATTER WHAT DISTRICT.
THERE ARE SOME DISTRICTS THAT I
THINK NEED MORE THAN THAT.
BUT WE ALL GET 5 MILLION.
AND AT MINIMUM, MEMBERS THAT
ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS
INITIATIVE HAVE TO PUT AT LEAST
$1 MILLION DOWN.
MOST MEMBERS JUST PUT 1
MILLION.
THEN THEY TAKE THE REST AND DO
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH IT.
I PUT IN UP TO 4 MILLION EVERY
YEAR.
>>> I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING
THERE.
WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THIS IS
AN INTERESTING MARKER ABOUT
PRECIPITATE TATIAN
PARTICIPATION.
I WAS ELECTED SEVEN YEARS AGO
INTO THE COUNCIL.
IT WAS SURPASSED BY
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING VOTES A
FEW YEARS LATER.
SO, THAT WAS AN INTERESTING
MOMENT WHERE WE ARE DOING
SOMETHING RIGHT HERE.
THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON
WHERE PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING
BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEING THEIR
VOICE IMPACT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD
AND USUALLY IT IS VOTE FOR THE
PERSON AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU
SOMETHING.
AND HERE THEY ARE TAKING POWER
ON THEIR OWN.
THAT IS ANOTHER FUN FACT THAT
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND
DIGEST AS I CLOSE UP MY LAST
YEAR.
THIS IS MY LAST YEAR IN CITY
COUNCIL.
I THINK YOU ARE ONTO SOMETHING
THERE, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU.
AS YOU SAID, YOU HAD YOUNG
PEOPLE VOTING, MIDDLE
SCHOOLERS.
THOSE WHOSE IMMIGRATION STATUS
MAY HAVE PRECLUDED THEM FROM
VOTING IN A CITY ELECTION BUT
WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN WHATEVER
THEY CAN.
SEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU
ONE FINAL QUESTION AND THEN WE
DO NEED TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT
AGENDA ITEM.
THIS IS A PARTICIPATORY
PROCESS.
THIS IS ABOUT ENGAGING OUR
NEIGHBORS.
AND ESPECIALLY NEIGHBORS WHO
MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE
PAST.
WE WANT THEM TO BENEFIT FROM
THIS OPPORTUNITY.
DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW
WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
KNOW THIS OPPORTUNITY EXISTS?
I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS WE
HAVE HEARD ABOUT HOW THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET PROCESS
HAS WORKED IN THE PAST BECAUSE
A LOT OF IT WAS ONLINE VOTING
FOR EXAMPLE.
YOU HAD TO ALREADY BE ENGAGED
WITH THE CITY IN SOME WAY TO
KNOW THAT YOU HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT SOME OTHER WAYS MIGHT BE
FOR US TO THINK ABOUT GETTING
THE WORD OUT?
>> I APPRECIATE THE ASK.
I BELIEVE IN THE HEART OF
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, THE
IDEA THAT IT WOULD GO OUT TO AN
ORGANIZATION AND THAT WOULD
EMPLOY PEOPLE WHO A PART OF
THEIR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
FOLKS ARE RALLYING AROUND
VOTING AND ENGAGING IN THE
PROCESS AND PROVIDING JOBS, I
THINK THAT WILL BE
TRANSFORMATIVE IN AND OF
ITSELF.
I ALSO THINK THAT OUR COMMUNITY
IS FULL OF STAKEHOLDERS.
SOME ARE TRADITIONAL
STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE OFTEN
DIVIDED INTO SPACES TO SHARE
WITH PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF
POWER AND MANY STAKEHOLDERS WHO
AREN'T TYPICALLY INVITED INTO
THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THERE IS ENOUGH ORGANIZATION
REPRESENTATION ACROSS OUR CITY
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE IN EVERY CORNER OF OUR
COMMUNITY KNOWS AND IS AWARE OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING.
IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE US TO BE
INTENTIONAL ON WHO WE ENGAGE
AND HOW WE ENGAGE AND HOW WE
SHOW UP.
THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE IT IS
EASY TO CALL ON THE PEOPLE WHO
YOU HAVE THE GREATEST
RELATIONSHIP WITH AND ACTIVATE
THEM AND HAVE THEM DO WHAT IT
IS THAT THEY CAN DO.
IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE
SUCCESSFUL AND TO EMBRACE AND
ENGAGE THE COLLECTIVE US, WE
HAVE TO HAVE TOUGH
CONVERSATIONS, BUILD BRIDGES
THAT MAY HAVE BEEN BURNED BY
PROMISES THAT MAY BE UNCAPPED
AND GROW TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY IF WE ARE GOING TO
MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS BEING
HEARD AND LISTENED TO IN THIS
PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MENCHACA FOR
STAYING WITH US FROM AFTON NEW
YORK.
IT IS AFTER 7:00 THERE.
THANK YOU SEAN FOR JOINING US.
AND THANK YOU TO AMY.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON.
SO, LAKISHA, CAN I ASK YOU TO
PLEASE CALL, DON'T CALL THE
ROLL, PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM
INTO THE AGENDA, INTO THE
RECORD, GOOD GRIEF.
>> COUNSEL BILL 12000 ZERO.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
ORGANIZATION OF THE OFFICE FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS.
BREATHING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> AS I MENTIONED BEFORE THIS
BILL WOULD EXTEND THE TERM OF
THE OCR DIRECTOR FROM THE END
OF THIS YEAR, 2021 TO THE END
OF NEXT YEAR, 2022.
I WOULD ALSO REMOVE THE
LANGUAGE ADDED IN ORDINANCE
125470 THAT ASKS THE DEPARTMENT
TO CONDUCT AND ARE ET RACIAL
EQUITY TOOLKIT AS THAT HAS NOW
BEEN COMPLETED.
I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
ASHA FROM CENTRAL STAFF TO GIVE
US THE DETAILS.
>> I AM ASHA VENKATARAMAN OF
THE COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
AS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
MENTIONED, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
COUNSEL BILL 120000.
SHE DESCRIBED THE EFFECTIVE
PRECISIONS OF THE BILL
EXTENDING THE TERM OF THE
DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS AND REMOVING UP
PROVISION IN THE CODE.
I WILL JUST GO BACK AND TALK
THROUGH SOME OF THE BACKGROUND
AND HOW WE GOT TO THIS PLACE.
BACK IN 2017 COUNCIL MEMBERS
HAD HEARD OF VARIETY CONCERNS
FROM STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE
ABILITY OF THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS TO ESSENTIALLY DO ITS
JOB WHILE STILL UNDER THE
PURVIEW OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
AND ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS OR
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS
THOSE ISSUES WERE TO EXPLORE
INDEPENDENCE AS A SOLUTION AND
AS A DISCUSSION FROM THE
COMMITTEE AT A TIME LED TO THE
ASK FOR THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS TO DO RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT LED
TO THIS DISCUSSION AND THE ASK
FOR THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT
DEALT WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF
MANY EMPLOYEES OF COLOR THAT
DIDN'T FEEL HAD A LOT OF
RECOURSE WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED
ISSUES AROUND THE RACE OR MICRO
AGGRESSIONS OR RACE WASN'T
GETTING ADDRESSED.
MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORS THAT
EXPERIENCE WAS COMMUNICATED TO
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES CAME
ABOUT IN TERMS OF HOW THE
RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM
WAS ABLE TO DO THEIR WORK.
INHERENTLY THE WORK THAT THE RS
J I-TEAM DOES IS INTENDED TO
CRITIQUE THE INSTITUTION IN
WHICH THEY SERVE.
THAT COMES WITH CRITIQUING
OFTEN THE LEADERSHIP WHO ALSO
HAPPENS TO BE DIRECTLY THE
ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON WHETHER
THEY ARE EMPLOYED OR NOT.
THERE IS A RISK TO THOSE
EMPLOYEES OF BEING THE VERY JOB
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HIRED TO DO
IN TERMS OF THEIR JOB SECURITY.
AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT
PROMPTED THIS EXPLORATION OF
INDEPENDENCE WAS WHEN THE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS WAS
TASKED WITH AUDITING I BELIEVE
IT WAS FAS AT THE TIME THAT THE
EXECUTIVES IN ENCAMPMENTS TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THE
ADMINISTRATIVE RULES WERE BEING
FOLLOWED.
AND IN THE LEAD UP TO THE
RELEASE OF THE REPORT THERE
WERE CONCERNS ABOUT CENSORSHIP.
THERE WERE CONCERNS OF WHAT THE
EMPLOYEES HAD ACTUALLY SEEN AND
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REPORTED ON
WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE
PUBLISHED IN THAT REPORT.
SO, ALL OF THAT LEADING TO THE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
CONDUCTING A RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT AND PART OF THE
LEGISLATION THAT ENACTED THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT ALSO
TALKS ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF
THE DEPARTMENT WHICH WAS THE
ASK.
IT ALSO SPOKE TO THE LEADERSHIP
STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE THE
DIRECTORS TERM AND REMOVAL
PROCESS.
AND THOSE ELEMENTS OF THE
LEGISLATION WERE PUT IN PLACE
WITH THE INTENTION THAT ONCE
THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT WAS
COMPLETED THERE WOULD BE SOME
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT
MADE THE MOST SENSE FOR
LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT.
SO, OUR PROCESS BEGAN I BELIEVE
IN 2017.
BUT THE REPORT ITSELF DIDN'T
END UP RELEASED UNTIL 2019.
THAT REPORT CAME OUT WITH FIVE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
SEVERAL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING RESOURCES AND
STAFFING STARTED TO BE
ADDRESSED BY BOTH THE COUNCIL
AND THE EXECUTIVES THROUGH THE
ADDING OF EMPLOYEES AND
RESOURCES.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS REGARDING
OCR BEING UNDERSTAFFED WOULD BE
ADDRESSED.
BUT THERE WERE SOME REMAINING
BIGGE PICTURE ISSUES THAT IT
SPOKE TO IN TERMS OF THE WIDER
STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT,
ITS PLACEMENT WITHIN THE
EXECUTIVES.
WHAT OVERSIGHT LOOK LIKE.
HOW ACCOUNTABILITY WAS BEING
IMPLEMENTED OR NOT BEING
IMPLEMENTED.
A LOT OF THESE THINGS SPOKE TO
MORE CULTURAL CHANGE ISSUES.
AT THAT POINT AT THE END OF THE
2020 BUDGET PROCESS, THE
PROCESS IN 20 20 FOR THE 2021
BUDGET, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
HAD SPONSORED AND THE COUNCIL
ADOPTED A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT WHICH ASKED
THE EXECUTIVE TO PARTICIPATE IN
A WORK GROUP THAT WOULD GO
THROUGH THE RAG RECOMMENDATIONS
AND FIGURE OUT IF THE REMAINING
RECOMMENDATIONS, THE ONES ABOUT
OVERSIGHT AND STRUCTURE WERE
READY TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
THAT IS WORK THAT IS CURRENTLY
ONGOING WITH THE EXECUTIVES SO
IT IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR WHAT
WILL COME OUT OF THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS BUT THAT
RESPONSE IS DUE BACK AT THE END
OF JUNE.
SO, AS IT RELATES TO THIS BILL
THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY DRIVERS
FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE
DIRECTORS TERM.
THE FIRST IS RELATED TO THE
CYRUS BONDS.
IF IT TURNS OUT AT THE END OF
THIS CYRUS BONDS PROCESS THAT
THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
MAKE MAJOR CHANGES OR TO CHANGE
THE STRUCTUE OF THE OFFICE FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS, THE INTENT OF
EXTENDING THE DIRECTORS TERM IS
TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS SOME
SORT OF STABILITY IN THAT
PROCESS SO THAT THE PERSON THAT
HAS BEEN WITH THE STAFF
THROUGHOUT THIS PAST
ADMINISTRATION WILL WILL BE IN
PLACE WHILE ANY KIND OF
TRANSITION OCCURS WHILE THERE
IS ANY KIND OF STRUCTURAL
CHANGE AND SERVE AS A STABLE
PRESENCE GIVEN THE POTENTIAL
CHANGES.
BUT GIVEN THAT THE WORK AROUND
DOING RACIAL EQUITY WORK AND
TRYING TO UNDO INSTITUTIONAL
RACISM WITHIN THE INSTITUTION
IS LONG-TERM INTERGENERATIONAL
WORK THAT IS INTENDED TO BE
TRANSFORMATIONAL AND NOT
TRANSACTIONAL.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CYRUS
BONDS MIGHT COME OUT WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT DON'T
NECESSARILY SAY THAT NEW
STRUCTURES ARE READY FOR
IMPLEMENTATION AT THIS TIME BUT
THERE MAY BE OTHER THINGS THAT
HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE LARGE-
SCALE CHANGES ARE MADE.
IN THAT SITUATION IT IS
ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT DOING
THAT KIND OF TRANSITIONAL WORK
COULD TAKE YEARS AND THE INTENT
HERE IS NOT TO KEEP EXTENDING
THE TERM OF THE DIRECTOR OUT
UNTIL THE TRANSITION IS OVER.
IT IS JUST INTENDED TO MAKE
SURE THAT IF THE TRANSITION
WERE TO OCCUR IN THE NEXT YEAR
OR SO, THERE WOULD BE STABILITY
WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE SECOND
REASON FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THE
LEGISLATION.
BACK DURING THE DISCUSSIONS IN
2017 ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH A
DEPARTMENT CAN ACHIEVE MORE OR
LESS INDEPENDENCE FROM THE
EXECUTIVE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE,
OR THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY, IT
BECAME CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO
REAL WAY TO BE COMPLETELY
INDEPENDENT.
THERE ARE TOO MANY INTERACTING
FACTORS PARTICULARLY AT THE
MUNICIPAL LEVEL THAT REQUIRE
THAT AN APPOINTING AUTHORITY
HVE INPUT, HAVE CONTROL AND
OVERSIGHT.
SO, ONE OF THE INITIATIVE OF
INDEPENDENCE THAT WAS DISCUSSED
DURING THE INITIAL DISCUSSION
HAD TO DO WITH THE ABILITY OF
THE DIRECTOR TO NUMBER 1, BE
PROTECTED BY JUST CAUSE
PROTECTIONS WHICH WE PUT INTO
PLACE IN THE LEGISLATION BACK
IN 2017.
BUT ALSO THINGS LIKE TERM LIMITS
OR STAGGERED TERMS SO THAT THE
APPOINTING AUTHORITY AND THE
DIRECTOR DIDN'T NECESSARILY
START AND STOP AT THE SAME TIME
BUT ENDED UP OVERLAPPING FOR A
FEW YEARS.
THAT INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD
BE SOME MORE INDEPENDENCE
AVAILABLE TO THE DIRECTOR TO BE
ABLE TO DO THE WORK OF THE
DEPARTMENT.
SO, THAT BRINGS ME TO THE
SECOND REASON WHY THIS
LEGISLATION IS IN PLACE WHICH
IS TO PUT INTO PLACE OR START
TO PUT INTO PLACE SOME OF THAT
STAGGERING.
SO IF THE TERM HAD ENDED AT THE
END OF 2021, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
ON THE SAME SCHEDULE AS THE
TERM OF THE MIRROR.
INSTEAD, TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH
THE BONDS AND GRADUALLY MOVE
TOWARD A MORE STAGGERED
STRUCTURE, THIS LEGISLATION
MOVES THAT AND 82 2022.
AT THE MOMENT THERE IS FULL
OVERLAP BETWEEN THE TERMS OF
THE MAYOR AND THE DIRECTOR.
THIS LEGISLATION MOVES IT OUT A
YEAR.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CYRUS
BONDS AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE
THIS CONVERSATION THAT THERE IS
SOME DESIRE FOR THAT STAGGERING
TO CONTINUE, THAT IT BE TWO
YEARS.
FOR NOW THE INTENT IS TO ALLOW
FOR BOTH THE CYRUS BONDS
TRANSITION TO BE MORE STABLE
AND TO START THE STAGGERING
PROCESS.
THAT IS GENERALLY THE DRIVERS
BEHIND THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
I WILL PAUSE THERE IF THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER.
>> THANK YOU, ASHER.
THAT IS A LONG HISTORY GOING
BACK TO 2017.
Q COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLT FOR
STARTING THIS PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR CONTINUING THIS
IMPORTANT WORK.
I THINK ASHER DID A GOOD JOB OF
EXPLAINING THE CONDITIONS AND
CONCERNS THAT THE COUNCIL HAD
AROUND INDEPENDENCE THAT LED TO
OUR ENGAGEMENT AROUND THESE
ISSUES.
MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT THE
2017 LEGISLATION THAT ASKED
THAT WAS DELIVERED IN FALL OF
2019, BUT THAT THAT 2017 BILL
ACTUALLY MADE A REQUIREMENT FOR
GOOD CAUSE REASONS FOR
TERMINATION.
AM I RIGHT?
>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
>> DOES THIS LEGISLATION
CONTINUE THAT TO MAINTAIN THAT
OBLIGATION?
WILL IT DOES.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY CHANGES TO
THE JUST CAUSE PROTECTIONS.
IT ONLY CHANGES THE TERM AND
TAKES OUT THE REQUEST TO DO THE
RET SINCE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN
DONE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION?
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS.
SO, I WILL MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF
COUNSEL BILL 120000.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF THE BILL.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY.
OKAY WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> YES.
>> MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> YES. LMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> FOR IN FAVOR, NO OPPOSED.
>> OKAY, THE BILL PASSES AND WE
WILL MOVE IT TO FULL COUNCIL
WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE BILL PASSED.
SORRY, WHERE AM I? THANK YOU.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
4 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
COMMERCIAL TENDENCIES AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126066.
BREATHING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU LAKISHA.
THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBERS HERBOLD
IS BILL THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING.
BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO LISH
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY
COMMENTS?
>> MOSTLY JUST MY THANKS TO YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR
ALLOWING THE LEGISLATION TO BE
HEARD.
YOU WERE A COSPONSOR ON THE
ORIGINAL BILL THAT THIS BILL
PROPOSES TO TWEAK TO ADDRESS AN
ISSUE OF TIMING AND MAKE YOU
SURE THAT THE PROTECTIONS AS WE
INTENDED IN THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION ARE MAINTAINED.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALLOWING THIS
TO BE HEARD AS THE COMMERCIAL
EVICTION MORATORIUM IS EXPECTED
TO END ON JUNE 30.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LISH FROM CENTRAL STAFF,
WELCOME.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> LISH WHITSON COUNCILMEMBER
STAFF.
THIS IMMENSE LEGISLATION THAT
WAS ADAPTED A YEAR AGO.
RECOGNIZING VERY EARLY ON IN
THE COVID-19 CIVIL EMERGENCY
THAT BUSINESSES WERE GOING TO
HAVE A HARD TIME PAYING THEIR
RENT ON TIME THE COUNCIL
ADOPTED LEGISLATION THAT
ALLOWED FOR PAYMENT PLANS FOR
THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT
ABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT IN A
TIMELY MANNER DURING THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY.
OR FOR SIX MONTHS AFTER THE
CIVIL EMERGENCY.
THE PAYMENT PLANS HAVE A COUPLE
OF CRITERIA.
THEY NEED TO REQUIRE NO MORE
THAN ONE THIRD OF THE LATE RENT
BE PAID IN A MONTH AND THEY
ALSO ARE REQUIRED TO FULLY
REPAY THE LANDLORDS WITHIN A
YEAR.
AFTER THE END OF THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY.
SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS
THAT THEIR LANDLORDS ARE
POINTING TO PROVISIONS IN
RENTAL AGREEMENTS THAT STATE
THAT IF IS RENT PAID LATE THAT
THAT IS GROUNDS FOR EVICTION.
AND ONE PIECE OF THIS
LEGISLATION IS TO CLARIFY THAT
IF RENT IS BEING PAID ON TIME
UNDER THE PAYMENT PLAN THAT IT
IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED LATE
UNDER TERMS OF THE LEASE.
THE SECOND PROVISION IS THAT
SOME SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
HAVING DIFFICULTY NEGOTIATING
PAYMENT PLANS WITH THEIR
LANDLORDS.
THE CITY'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT HAS MODEL RENTAL
AGREEMENTS AVAILABLE ON THE
WEBSITE IF SMALL BUSINESSES OR
NONPROFIT PROVIDE THE RENTAL
AGREEMENT THAT MEETS THE
CONDITIONS OF ORDINANCE 126066
THEN THE COURTS ASSESSING THE
RENTAL AGREEMENT SHOULD
CONSIDER THAT PAYMENTS UNDER
THE PAYMENT AGREEMENT ARE BEING
PAID ON TIME.
SO, IT IS TRYING TO CLARIFY A
COUPLE OF CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE
THERE ARE CONFLICTS BETWEEN
LANDLORDS AND SMALL BUSINESS
AND NONPROFIT TENANTS WHILE
MAINTAINING THE PURPOSE OF THE
ORIGINAL BILL..
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, LISH.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON?
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD.
TO REFINE THAT ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESSES AND OTHER COMMERCIAL
TENANTS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND
IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC.
THE QUESTION IS FOR OUR CENTRAL
STAFF ANALYST, LISH THANK YOU
FOR YOUR MEMO.
BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL IS
ESSENTIALLY GETTING INVOLVED IN
THE CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP
FOR GOOD REASON AND GOOD CAUSE,
BUT JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS IS TEMPORARY.
AFTER THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD
ATER THE CIVIL EMERGENCY IS
OVER, EVENTUALLY THIS WILL END,
THIS WILL SUNSET.
>> CORRECT.
THIS IS TEMPORARY LEGISLATION
CLEARLY TIED TO THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> I'M REMEMBERING THIS IS A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION I THINK A
NUMBER OF US HAVE TOUCHED IN
DIFFERENT WAYS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES I
REFERENCE THE FACT THAT YOU
WERE A COSPONSOR TO THE
ORIGINAL BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON AS A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER THAT YOUR
OFFICE REFERRED US TO THE
GODDESS WORKING ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
GO AHEAD.
>> SIMILAR TO COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ, M TIMES I DON'T HAVE
THE HAND THING ON MY RESUME.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT
HAPPENS.
>> IN ANY EVENT, I JUST WANT TO
JUMP IN HERE AND JUST SIGNAL
THAT I AM VERY EXCITED TO VOTE
BILL FORWARD TODAY.
I THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO AS
WE ARE TRANSITIONING NOW INTO
THIS STAGE OF RECOVERY TO HELP
THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE
HUNG ON THROUGH COVID, HELP
THEM HANG ON A LITTLE LONGER TO
GET THE TAILWIND HERE OF THE
ECONOMY REOPENING AND THINGS
GETTING BACK TO NORMAL, THIS IS
A GOOD BILL THAT HELPS US
ACCOMPLISH THAT.
AND I DID JUST WANT TO SIGNAL
MY INTENTION HERE OR I SHOULD
SAY MY INTEREST IF THE SPONSOR
WILL HAVE ME TO SIGN ON AT THIS
POINT AS A COSPONSOR.
I THINK IT DOVETAILS NICELY
WITH EFFORTS FROM MY OFFICE ON
PERSONAL GUARANTEE REGULATIONS
AND SOME OTHER THINGS WE HAVE
BEEN DOING TO THE MALL EARLY
INTERFERE IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY
TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE SMALL
BUSINESSES WHO ARE FACING
POTENTIAL ABUSE OF LEGAL
COMMITMENTS THAT THEY MADE THAT
DID NOT ANTICIPATE A MASSIVE,
GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT CREATIVE
MASSIVE HARDSHIP AND PUT THEM
IN POTENTIAL DANGER OF LOSING
THEIR LIVELIHOODS AND LOSING
MORE THAN JUST A BUSINESS, BUT
SOME OF THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY
AS WELL LIKE THEIR HOUSE OR
THEIR SAVINGS.
SO WITH THAT, I DID JUST WANT
TO SIGNAL MY INTEREST IN THAT
IF THE SPONSOR WILL HAVE ME AND
WE WILL BE VOTING ON THE BILL
TODAY.
I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF
THE BILL TODAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I SAW A
THUMBS UP.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU.
I THINK THE REASON I THINK
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE
ALL YEAR I HAVE BEEN HEARING
FROM SMALL BUSINESSES,
RESTAURANTS, MOVIE THEATERS,
NONPROFITS THAT ARE HOUSED IN
LARGER BUILDINGS ON A BLOCK,
REGULARLY HEARING ABOUT HOW
PEOPLE ARE ABOUT TO GET KICKED
OUT.
LANDLORDS ARE SELLING.
PROPERTY OWNERS ARE SELLING AND
IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
THEY AREN'T RECEIVING RENT SO
IT IS HARD FOR THEM TO MAKE
THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.
THAT SAID, WHAT IT MEANS FOR
SOME COMMUNITIES IS A REAL
HEIGHTENED RISK OF DISASTER
GENTRIFICATION AND THAT IS PART
OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO STOP.
IF ALL OF THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES AND STOREFRONTS
SUDDENLY BECOME VACANT BECAUSE
NOBODY CAN AFFORD TO PAY RENT
AND THEY HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT,
THAT REALLY LEAVES THE WAY TO
FLIPPING ALL OF THESE
PROPERTIES AND THEN OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE LEFT WITH
NOTHING TO HOLD ONTO.
THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE MADE
THEIR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
VIBRANT ARE NOW GONE AND WHO
KNOWS WHAT IS COMING IN TO
REPLACE THEM.
OR EVEN IN FACT TO REPLACE THE
BUILDINGS THEY WERE HOUSED IN.
THERE IS A REAL LOOMING CRISIS
HERE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS ARE AT
RISK IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING
TO PROTECT THE SMALL BUSINESSES
THAT ARE IN THEM AND MAKE THEM
VIBRANT.
SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING
IT.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, IF THERE
ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS I WILL
GIVE HERBOLD THE LAST WORD.
THANK YOU.
2 THANK YOU, I JUST WANTED TO
ADD THAT I REALLY HOPE THAT
TAKING ACTION NOW WILL
ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESSES,
NONPROFITS AND THEIR LESSERS TO
ENTER INTO THESE KINDS OF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IT
WILL TAKE FOR TENANTS TO
RECOVER AND ADDRESS THEIR
ARREARS TO THE GOOD OF ALL
PARTIES AND THE COMMUNITIES
THEY SERVE AND TO AVOID THE
CASCADING IMPACT THAT WAS
IDENTIFIED AS REAL LOOMING
POSSIBILITIES.
CASCADING IMPACTS THAT CAN
INCLUDE NOT JUST REMOVAL OF THE
BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THE
BUILDINGS, BUT THE
REDEVELOPMENT OF THE BUILDINGS
THEMSELVES.
I WANT TO JUST LET FOLKS KNOW
THAT WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO
SEVERAL OF THE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO
HELPED US WITH THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION TO CHECK FOR THEIR
THOUGHTS.
JOE REALLY EMPHASIZED THE
IMPORTANCE OF GIVING LANDLORDS
AND TENANTS A REASON TO SIT
DOWN TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT
THEIR RESPECTIVE FINANCIAL
POSITIONS AND PERSPECTIVES.
FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE AS BOTH A
COMMERCIAL TENANT AND THE
LANDLORD, HIS EXPERIENCE HAS
BEEN THAT THE CONVERSATIONS
WERE DIFFICULT AT TIMES BUT HE
WAS ABLE TO BREAK THROUGH IN
ALL CASES AND NEGOTIATE PLANS
THAT HAVE WORKED FOR EVERYONE.
WE ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE
WASHINGTON STATE HOSPITALITY
ASSOCIATION REVIEW THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION AND GAVE THEM THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SUGGEST
ADDITIONAL CHANGES.
THEY SHARED WITH MEMBERS WHO
GAVE IT THE GREEN LIGHT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES ARE LETTING US HEAR
THIS TODAY.
>> MY PLEASURE.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE
NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THEN I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF COUNSEL THE 12 ZERO
000.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BILL
PASSES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, THE COUNCIL
BILL NUMBER WAS INCORRECT.
CAN YOU REPEAT IT?
>> OH DEAR.
I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL 12 0071.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
RECOMMENDED PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
NOW WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR MORALES?
>> YES.
>> FOR IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL WILL MOVE FORWARD
TO FULL COUNSEL ON MAY 24 WITH
THE RECOMMENDATION THAT IT DO
PASS.
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES, WE WENT A
LITTLE BIT LONG TODAY SO I
APPRECIATE YOUR INDULGENCE.
I DO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MENCHACA FROM
JOINING US FROM NEW YORK AND
SEAN GOODE.
AND TO THE STAFF AND PARTNERS
FROM THE LABOR AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
MOVEMENTS.
THANKS TO AMY GORE, LISH
WHITSON AND ASHA VENKATARAMAN
FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE
REMARKS ABOUT PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING.
I KNOW WE HAVE LOTS OF HEATED
CONVERSATION HAPPENING RIGHT
NOW AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
THIS ISN'T AND SHOULDN'T BE
ABOUT POLITICS.
WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
HAVE ASKED FOR THIS PROCESS AND
I JUST WANT TO REMIND US WHAT
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT.
THIS IS ABOUT A NEW PROCESS FOR
STOPPING HARM IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
FOR CREATING MORE INCLUSIVE
POLICIES AND FOLLOWING BLACK
AND INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP AND
IT IS ABOUT INVESTING IN
THRIVING SOLUTIONS WHERE WE CAN
REIMAGINE WHAT COMMUNITY SAFETY
LOOKS LIKE OR EVERYBODY.
SO, WE KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T A
NEW PROCESS IN THE CITY BUT WE
CAN LEARN FROM THE WAY WE HAVE
DONE IT IN THE PAST AND MAKE
SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT.
WE TALK A LOT IN THE CITY ABOUT
WANTING TO IMPROVE OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, REDUCING
VIOLENCE, CREATING ALTERNATIVES
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, CHANGING OUR
IDEAS ABOUT WHAT COMMUNITY
SAFETY LOOKS LIKE AND ALL OF
THAT REQUIRES A COMMITMENT TO
INVESTING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAY.
AND PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
ALLOWS CITIZENS TO DO THAT.
IT ALLOWS THEM TO IDENTIFY AND
DISCUSS AND PRIORITIZE PUBLIC
SPENDING AS COUNCILMEMBER
MENCHACA MENTIONS IT ENGAGES
PEOPLE AND GET THEM TO
UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT BETTER
SO THEY BRING DOWN THE HEAT
WHICH WE CAN ALL AGREE IT WOULD
BE A GOOD THING.
BUT REALLY GIVES PEOPLE REAL
POWER AND REAL MONEY AND THAT
IS IMPORTANT.
SO, OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING
FOR THIS.
THEY ARE EXPECTING US TO
DELIVER AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT
MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS
PROCESS.
I WANT TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES
TO REACH OUT IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS, IF
YOU HAVE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU
MIGHT WANT TO PROPOSE.
THIS IS STILL BEING REVIEWED BY
LAW.
BUT MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WE
CAN OFFICIALLY INTRODUCE THIS
ON MAY 24.
AND MY EXPECTATION IS ALSO THAT
WE CAN VOTE ON IT AT THE JUNE 3
ESPECIALLY SPECIAL COMMITTEE
MEETING AT 2:00.
WITH THAT THIS CONCLUDES THE
MAY 18, 2021 MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE.
THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR JOINING
AND FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND
WE ARE ADJOURNED.