>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING THE
MAY 4 FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING. TODAY
IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLIC
AS WE DISCUSS THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT DOLLARS. I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING, I'M
TERESA MOSQUEDA, CHAIR OF THE
FINANCE HOUSING COMMITTEE, THIS
MEETING IS IN ORDER, I WANT TO
WELCOME PRESIDENT GONZALES, I
WANT TO MELT WELCOME
COUNCILMEMBER, STRAUSS.
AND WE WILL MAKE SURE TO
ANNOUNCE OTHERS PRESENCE AS
WELL AS THEY JOIN THE MEETING.
MADAME CLERK, THANK YOU FOR
STAFFING US THIS AFTERNOON AND
ALSO THIS MORNING.
WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING
TOMORROW AFTERNOON AT 2:00, SO
I WANT TO THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF
I.T.
AND CLERK'S OFFICE AS WELL.
AND ALSO, THE SEATTLE CHANNEL
WHO CONTINUES TO BRING THIS TO
MEMBERS OF THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
THANK YOU AS WELL TO ALL OF THE
COMMITTEE COLLEAGUES FOR BEING
WITH US TODAY, I KNOW WE ARE
ASKING A LOT OF YOUR TIME FOR
TWO MEETINGS IN ONE DAY BACK-TO-
BACK WITH ANOTHER MEETING
TOMORROW, I APPRECIATE YOUR
DEDICATION TO HAVING THIS
ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN PACKAGE,
WE HAVE HAD THREE MEETINGS ON
THIS TOPIC, WE HAVE JOINED WITH
OTHER COUNCILS TO HEAR HOW THEY
ARE PLANNING TO DEPLOY DOLLARS
INCLUDING FROM AUSTIN AND
MINNEAPOLIS, AND MAKING SURE
THAT WE HEAR FROM FOLKS IN
DENVER AS WELL.
WE ARE A PART OF LOCAL PROGRESS
IN LISTENING TO WHAT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING, THERE
HAS BEEN A LOT OF SIMILARITIES
TO WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE
COMMUNITY PANEL, WE HAD ABOUT
SEVEN OR EIGHT PEOPLE WHO
JOINED US TO TALK ABOUT
EVERYTHING FROM CHILDCARE TO
HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS
ASSISTANCE, SMALL-BUSINESS
SUPPORT, THE NEED FOR DIRECT
CASH ASSISTANCE, HEALTH
SERVICES, ALL SERVICES THAT
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT FOLKS
WHO HAVE BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
THE CONSEQUENCES OF COVID AND
WE SHOULD NOTE, HAVING DEALING
WITH INEQUITIES IN OUR SYSTEM,
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US
WITH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO
START MAKING INVESTMENTS INTO
BUILDING A MORE RESILIENT LOCAL
ECONOMY THAT IS MORE EQUITABLE
AS WELL.
AS A REMINDER, THIS IS FUNDING
THAT IS COMING FROM CONGRESS IN
TWO TRANCHES, THE FIRST IS $119
MILLION AND THIS IS THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED
FOR 2021.
THE SECOND WILL BE SLIGHTLY
LESS THAN THIS AND IT'LL BE IN
THE 2022 FALL BUDGET PROCESS AS
WE LOOK AT THE TREMENDOUS NEED
TO ADDRESS THE CRISES AND
COMPOUNDING CRISES ACROSS THE
COMMUNITY, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS
ABOUT EQUITABLE RECOVERY, WE
ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FORWARD
TO BOTH MAKING IMMEDIATE
INVESTMENTS AND LONGER-TERM
INVESTMENTS TO NOT RETURN TO
THE WAY THINGS WERE ABOUT TO
CREATE A NEW, MORE EQUITABLE
ECONOMY SO WE DON'T GO BACK TO
THE PREVIOUS INEQUITABLE LOCAL
ECONOMY THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY.
I WANT TO GET THE CHANCE TO
HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC AND WE WILL
WELCOME OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO HAVE ALSO JOINED THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, GONZALES AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WHO
JOINED US.
WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US
TONIGHT AS WELL.
AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND OPEN UP PUBLIC
COMMENT, I'M GOING TO MODERATE
IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER, I WILL
CALL THREE SPEAKERS WITHIN A
TIME, IF YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED,
YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP BY GOING
TO THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE AT
SEATTLE.GOV, THE COMMENT LINK
IS LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
YOU WILL HEAR A CHIME THAT SAYS
YOU ARE NOW UNMUTED BUT YOU
ALSO HAVE TO PUSH á6 ON YOUR
OWN PHONE, AND MAKE SURE YOUR
PHONE IS NOT ON MUTE AS WELL.
YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO
SPEAK AND YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR
10 SECONDS TOWARD THE END OF
YOUR ALLOTTED TIME, WE ASK THAT
YOU WRAP UP WITHIN THE LAST 10
SECONDS.
SEND ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO
COUNSEL@SEATTLE.GOV. I WOULD
LIKE TO CONTINUE LISTENING IN,
AND YOU CAN FIND IS ON THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE LISTEN
IN OPTION ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
WITH THAT, LET'S GO TO THE
FIRST THREE SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO PETER
AND JACOB FOR JOINING US TODAY,
YOU ARE UP FIRST.
>> MY NAME IS DEE POWERS AND I
AM A CURRENT RESIDENT AS WELL
AS A BOARD MEMBER FROM THE
ORGANIZATION OF SEATTLE, I'M
CALLING IN TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
USING FUNDS FOR THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT TO FUND SAFE
LAWS WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES
ATTACHED.
I GOT PRICED OUT OF MY
APARTMENT IN SEATTLE IN 2015,
AFTER BEING LABELED WITH A 40%
INCREASE AT MY OLD APARTMENT.
AT THAT POINT, WE PURCHASED AN
RV AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN IT
FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS.
IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE SURFACE
RESISTANT OF THE LOCAL
RESIDENTS, IT'S THAT MY
HOUSEHOLD HASN'T BEEN OFFERED
APPROPRIATE SERVICES THAT MEET
OUR NEEDS.
AND WHAT WE HAVE WANTED AND
NEEDED ARE SAFE LAWS WITH
WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
SIMILAR TO OUR BELOVED TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES, ONLY WITH
VEHICLES INSTEAD OF TINY HOUSES.
WITH THE SUPPORT AND THE
STRUCTURE INVOLVED, WE WILL BE
ABLE TO SLIDE AND TRANSITION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT SPEAKER
IS PETER, GOOD AFTERNOON PETER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
PETER, I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 4, I'M AN ABOLITIONIST
AND I URGE THE COMMITTEE TO
ASSURE THAT NOT A SINGLE DOLLAR
IS SPENT ON SUPPORTING OR
EXPANDING POLICING THE
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, MUNICIPAL
COURT, OR ANY SPACE FOR
DETENTION.
THE CITY SHOULD ALLOCATE OUR
FUNDS TO PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING, MONEY WILL GO TO
FIVE PRIORITY AREAS, HOUSING
AND PHYSICAL SPACE, MENTAL
HEALTHCARE, YOUTH AND CHILDREN,
ECONOMIC DEVELOP AND NON-COMP
CRISIS RESPONSE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT
THE CITY IS ALREADY SITTING ON
$28 MILLION AND IS AN
EXPLICITLY, AND EXPLICITLY
GETTING THE MONEY OUT TO THE
COMMUNITY.
IN FEBRUARY, WHEN THEY
PRESENTED A ROADMAP TO CITY
COUNCIL, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
SAID SHE WOULD GET THE SPENDING
AND IMPLEMENT MENTATION PLAN
FINALIZED ON MARCH 16.
NOW IT IS MAY, THE MAYOR HAS
DELAYED IT, I'M FRUSTRATED WITH
THAT BUT ALSO FRUSTRATED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR NOT
RESCHEDULING THE DISCUSSION
AFTER THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
WAS INTERRUPTED BY OF ALL
THINGS, THE GUILTY CONVICTION
OF A POLICE OFFICER FOR MURDER.
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY LED PB
SHOULD BE A PRIORITY IN WORKING
TOWARDS JUSTICE FOR GEORGE
FLOYD.
IT IS A CONCRETE WAY TO DUMP
DEMOCRATIZED POWER, DECISION-
MAKING AND PUBLIC DOLLARS.
FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE, BLACK
LIVES MATTER AND WE WILL
CONTINUE HOLDING YOU TO THE
COMMITMENT YOU MADE LAST SUMMER
TO DEFUND BY 50% AND INVEST IT
INTO THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, JACOB, GOOD
EVENING.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING, I'M
AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZER FOR REAL
CHANGE, I'M CALLING TO ASK CITY
COUNCIL TO PLEASE PROTECT AND
SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE
LIVING IN THEIR VEHICLES AND
DIRECT MONEY TOWARDS CREATING
MULTIPLE RV RESIDENT WITH
WRAPAROUND SERVICES, SO WE KNOW
THE CLOSE THAT HALF OF THOSE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
SEATTLE LIVE IN THEIR VEHICLES,
ONLY 1% OF HOMELESS FUNDING GO
TOWARDS SOURCES OF SUPPORTING
VEHICLE RESIDENCE, AND VEHICLE
RESIDENCE AGAIN HAVE TO LIVE IN
AREAS THAT ARE TOWED AND
IMPOUNDED.
CREATING SAFE LAWS WITH
WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THE
THOUSANDS OF FOLKS LIVING IN
THEIR VEHICLES IS AN IMPORTANT
STEP WE CAN TAKE TO PROTECT
THOSE WHO ARE DRIVEN OUT OF
THEIR HOUSING DUE TO
SKYROCKETING RENT,
GENTRIFICATION.
SAVE LOTS GIVES RESIDENT SAFETY
AND SECURITY AND THE CHANCE TO
GET ACCESS TO SERVICES.
IT DOES NOT MEAN OPENING UP A
COUPLE OF INS HOSPITAL PARKING
LOTS, THAT MEANS CREATING
PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO
PARK AND LIVE AND PROVIDE
SERVICES TO ALL RESIDENTS.
THE CITIES SHOULD WORK WITH
RESIDENTS TO ENSURE THE SAFE
LAWS CREATES SAFE WATTS, THERE
ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF THRIVING
RV COMMUNITIES AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND SOMETHING THAT WE
CAN QUICKLY SCALE UP TO MEET
THE MAGNITUDE OF THE HOUSING
CRISIS.
I ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS TO TAKE
A LOOK AT THE PROGRAM IN
AUSTIN, TEXAS WHICH PROVIDES RV
PARK HOMES, TINY HOMES,
KITCHENS, RESTROOMS AS WELL AS
CREATING SPACES TO ART AND
GARDENING.
IT'S TIME WE CREATE SPACES THAT
SUPPORT AND PROTECT THEM AND
ALLOW THEM TO BE HAPPY.
PLEASE TAKE STEPS TO FUND RV
SAFE WATTS WITH WRAPAROUND
HOUSES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THE
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, GOOD
EVENING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, I'M
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7, I'M
URGING THE COMMITTEE TO
ALLOCATE 100% OF THE FEDERAL
FUNDS TOWARDS IMMEDIATE AND
LONG-TERM COMMUNITY LED
SOLUTIONS TO BUILD A STRONGER,
MORE EQUITABLE SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRITICALLY
THAT NO MONEY GOES TO
SUPPORTING OR EXPANDING
POLICING OR DETENTION OR
ANYTHING OF THAT SORT.
WE KNOW THAT COVID HAD A
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON
GROUPS WHO ARE ALREADY
SUFFERING FROM SOCIAL AND
RACIAL INEQUITIES, THEY INCLUDE
LGBT AND DISABLED PERSONS, WE
NEED STEPS TO START FULLY
INVESTING IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
PARK CITY AND COUNTLESS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE ON
THEIR KNEES AFTER THIS
PANDEMIC.
I URGE THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE
MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS THAT
PROMOTE LONG-TERM HEALING IN
THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
SUCH AS HOUSING ASSISTANCE,
ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES AND
BASIC INCOME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT PERSON
IS SARAH.
GOOD EVENING.
SARAH, IF YOU WANT TO HIT á6,
PERFECT, GOOD EVENING.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TONIGHT, I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT WESTSIDE BABY, A
DIAPER BANK SERVING SEATTLE AND
SOUTH KING COUNTY, I AM HERE
TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO INCLUDE
DIAPERS AND ALLOCATION OF OUR
BUSINESS, BEFORE COVID, DIAPER
NEED WHICH IS DEFINED AS NOT
BEING ABLE TO GET AN ADEQUATE
SUPPLY OF DIAPERS WITH A PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS IMPACTING NEARLY
ONE IN FOUR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG
CHILDREN IN KING COUNTY AND ONE
IN THREE BY PARK FAMILIES.
AFTER COVID, FAMILIES MOST
IMPACTED BY DIAPER NEED ALSO
EXPERIENCED THE MOST JOB LOSS
AND THE WORST HEALTH OUTCOMES.
APPLICATIONS MORE THAN DOUBLED
IN THE TWO MONTHS AFTER THE
PANDEMIC BEGAN AND WENT UP 27%
OVERALL LAST YEAR.
UNLIKE OTHER BASIC NEEDS LIKE
FOOD AND RENT, THERE IS NO
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR LOW
INCOME FAMILIES TO PURCHASE
DIAPERS.
CANNOT BE USED TO PURCHASE
ESSENTIAL ITEMS, AS SUCH, FOR
FAMILIES EXPERIENCING DIAPER
NEED, IT IS THE FOURTH HIGHEST
HOUSEHOLD EXPENSE AFTER YOU GO
THROUGH RENT, FOOD, AND
UTILITIES.
DEMAND HAS INCREASED OVER 50%,
WE ARE THE LARGEST DIAPER BAG
IN WASHINGTON.
WE CANNOT ADDRESS THIS PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS ON A MEANINGFUL
LEVEL.
>> THANK YOU, SARAH, CHRIS YOU
ARE NEXT.
GOOD EVENING, CHRIS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
CHRIS WOODWARD, THE ALLIANCE OF
PIONEER SQUARE IS A NONPROFIT
THAT HELPS PRESERVE WHAT MAKES
PIONEER SQUARE THE MOST
AUTHENTIC AND ENGAGING BUT IN
SEATTLE, I'M PROVIDING PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE
CONTINUATION OF THE PROGRAM
THROUGH AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
ACT FUND, THE JUST CARE PROGRAM
HAS PROVEN TO EFFECTIVELY AND
SAFELY SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH VERY
HIGH BARRIERS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
WE WERE OPERATING AS DESIGNED
LAST FALL AND HAD A MAJOR IMPACT
IN PIONEER SQUARE.
DURING THAT TIME, THE JUST CARE
TEAM COMPRISED OF A CULTURALLY
RELEVANT SET OF INDIVIDUALS AND
HAD SEVERAL IN CABINETS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT ANY NEED
FOR ENFORCEMENT OR DISPERSAL.
THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS
RECEIVED SERVICES IN TEMPORARY
HOUSING THROUGH THE JUST CARE
PROGRAM WERE HOMELESS AND/OR
SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE
PROGRAM HAS BEEN LIMITED WHILE
THE COUNTY PLANS A FORMER
PROCUREMENT PROCESS PRESUMING
AN EXPANDED MODEL DURING THE
TIME OF JULY 2021 UNTIL JUNE
2022.
HOWEVER EXPECTING LIMITATIONS,
THE CARE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO
AFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE
INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY
ADDRESSING THE GROWING
ENCAMPMENT IN THE HEART OF
PIONEER SQUARE AT PIONEER PARK.
>> WELL SAID, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
FOLKS, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE
GETTING TWO MINUTES, I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
NOT ACCIDENTALLY CUTTING FOLKS
OFF TOO EARLY, SO CHRIS AND
SARAH, YOU DID HAVE ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS AND WE ACCIDENTALLY
CUT YOU OFF EARLY, PLEASE CALL
BACK IN AND WE WILL NOTE THAT
YOU ARE CALLING IN, WE DON'T
WANT TO KEEP IT SHORT.
AND AGAIN, YOU WILL HEAR A 10
SECOND CHIME AT THE END OF YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME.
SO, DO CALL BACK IF YOU STILL
HAD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS YOU
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
VICTOR, GOOD EVENING.
WE WILL GO VICTOR FOLLOWED BY
KAYLEE AND BROCK HOWELL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, VICTOR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBERS
, UNDER THE DIRECT NOTATION FROM
THE ASIAN COUNSEL, I'M GOING TO
TALK ABOUT THE JUST CAMP
PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP, A
WONDERFUL PARTNER FROM PDA.
SINCE THE CONCEPTION, WE HAD
OVER 71 CLIENTS TO DATE, SINCE
NOVEMBER OF 2020, AND A
MAJORITY OF THE CLIENTS THAT WE
FOCUS ON IN CHINATOWN IS THE
NATIONAL DISTRICT AS THE BRAND,
ALMOST ALL CLIENTS ARE OVER 6%
OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND ALSO
FROM THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND WE
ARE DOING WORK FOR THE HEALTH
PROVIDERS IN KING COUNTY
BECAUSE OF THAT, WE SERVE
CLIENTS WITH CHRONIC MENTAL
HEALTH AND CHRONIC SUBSTANCE
DISORDER, 100% OF THE CLIENTS
THAT WE SERVE TODAY HAVE
SUBSTANCE ISSUES, 90% HAS
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, PUBLIC
HEALTH HAS CONDEMNED OUR
EFFORTS TO THE CONDEMNED
OUTBREAK.
IT IS A COST-EFFECTIVE PROGRAM,
IT COSTED UP $22,600 PER CLIENT
AT A MINIMUM, I URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO REALLY SUPPORT OUR
SUPPORT. INSTEAD, YOU SHOULD
FOCUS ON ENHANCING RESOURCES ON
WHAT IS REALLY WORKING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VICTOR.
GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN.
KAYLEE, GOOD EVENING.
YOU ARE UP NEXT.
>> HI, THANK YOU, MY NAME IS
KAYLEE, I'M AN ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 4, I'M CALLING TO URGE
THE COMMITTEE TO ALLOCATE ALL
OF THE FEDERAL AMERICA PLAN ACT
RELIEF FUND TOWARD IMMEDIATE
AND LONG-TERM COMMUNITY LED
SOLUTIONS TO BUILD A STRONGER
MORE EQUITABLE SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPORTANTLY,
NOT TO USE THESE FUNDS TO
SUPPORT OR EXPAND POLICING.
I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY NEEDS
TO ENGAGE IN THE PUBLIC
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING TO
DETERMINE HOW OUR FUNDS SHOULD
BE SPENT.
COVID-19 HAS HAD A
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON
GROUPS WHO HAVE ALREADY SUFFERED
RACIAL INJUSTICES AND ECONOMIC
INEQUALITIES.
THUS, I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE
NEED TO YOU USE THESE FUNDS TO
HELP THESE GROUPS AND I URGE
THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE
MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS AND
PROMOTE LONG-TERM HEALING FOR
OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
THROUGH PERMANENT QUALITY AND
ACCESSIBLE HOUSING FOR ALL ON
HOUSED PEOPLE IN SEATTLE,
INVESTING IN OUR K-12 SCHOOLS
AND EXPANDING PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU IN THE NEXT PERSON
IS BROCK, GOOD EVENING.
>>
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO HIT á6
ONE MORE TIME FOR ME.
THERE WE GO.
>> THANK YOU.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS BROCK HOWELL
I AM THE CHAIR OF THE GREEN LAKE
GROUP AND I LEAVE LIVE IN
SINGLE TOWN, I WAS ALSO A CO-
WRITER OF THE STATE HEALTHY
BUSINESS, AND THAT WAS ALSO
PRODUCED BY THE COUNTY.
I'M SPEAKING OF SUPPORT OF
DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THE KEEP
MOVING STREETS AND THE STATE
HEALTHY STREETS AS A PART OF
THIS FUNDING. THE KEEP MOVING
STREETS PROGRAM HAS BEEN
CRITICAL FOR PROVIDING
PHYSICALLY DISTANCED OUTDOOR
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO
WALK OR BIKE, BOTH FOR
RECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION,
SPECIFICALLY FOR GREEN LAKE
PARK ITSELF, WE HAD SOME
CHALLENGES THAT THE PARKS
PERMIT HAD RESTRICTED WHO CAN
USE THE INNER PARK AS PREVENTING
BIKING THERE AND CLOCKWISE
RUNNING AND JOGGING ON THE
INNER PATH WHICH FORCES PEOPLE
TO THE OUTER PATH AND AS A
RESULT, THAT PUTS PEOPLE INTO A
DANGEROUS TRAIL NEXT TO AURORA.
SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE FUNDING FOR
THE PROGRAM SO WE CAN CONTINUE
TO HAVE PHYSICAL DISTANCING
THAT IS APPROPRIATE AS WE MOVE
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE
SAFE WITHIN OUR PARKS AND
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, GOOD
EVENING.
>> I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
5, I'M CALLING TO URGE THE
COMMITTEE TO ALLOCATE 100% OF
THE ARPA RELIEF FUNDS TOWARD
THE IMMEDIATE AND LONG FOR THE
ALLEGED SOLUTIONS SO WE ARE
BUILDING A STRONGER AND MORE
EQUITABLE SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND
NOT ONE SINGLE DOLLAR IS SPENT
ON SUPPORTING AND EXPANDING
POLICING THE OFFICE OF
MUNICIPAL COURT OR ANY STATE
THAT CHANGES FOLKS.
THE CITY SHOULD DETERMINE HOW
THESE SHOULD BE SPENT, WE KNOW
THAT COVID-19 HAS HAD A HUGE
IMPACT ON THESE FOLKS, WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADVOCATING
FOR THEM.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ENSURING THAT THE SOCIAL
AND RACIAL EQUITIES THAT ARE
THERE FOR FOLKS, AND THESE
GROUPS INCLUDE LGBT FOLKS,
DISABLED FOLKS, AND IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT THE FUNDS SHOULD
BE MADE TO PRIORITIZE THOSE
NEEDS.
I URGE THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE
FULL INVESTMENTS THAT PROMOTE
LONG-TERM BILLING OR MORE
AFFORDABLE COMMITTEES THROUGH
HOUSING ASSISTANCE, YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT, ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL
OWNED BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY
COVID-19 AND RESOURCES FOR
TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO ENSURE
SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE EDUCATIONAL
FACILITIES.
CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR
NEEDS TO STOP STALLING AND
INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
SHOW THEY TRULY CARE FOR THEIR
INVESTMENT.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I
LAST MENTIONED THAT BLACK LIVES
MATTER, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR FOLKS
AND ALL THAT MONEY SHOULD BE
SPENT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
HELPING FOLKS AND THAT IS THE
END OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ISAAC, GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS ISAAC, AND I'M A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE.
I'M CALLING IN TODAY TO CALL ON
CITY COUNCIL TO INVEST AT LEAST
$100 MILLION OF AMERICAN RELIEF
PLAN ACT FUNDING DIRECTLY INTO
THE LOCAL BLACK COMMUNITY.
FOR CONTEXT, WE HAVE HEARD FROM
CALLERS SPEAK ON A NUMBER OF
THINGS BEFORE THIS COMMENT, ONE
ON THE DISTRICT IMPACT OF COVID
ON CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND TWO,
WE HEARD BLACK LIVES MATTER AND
WE ALSO HEARD PROTESTING ABOUT
THE UPRISING.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONCEPTUALIZE
THIS AGAIN, REQUEST ON CITY
COUNCILS TO DIRECTLY INVEST
$100 MILLION IN BLACK
COMMUNITIES.
THESE PROTESTS WERE MOTIVATED
TO TACKLE ANTIBLACK RACISM,
ANTIBLACK RACISM IS THE DEFINING
IDEOLOGY BY FAR, NOT REGULAR
RACISM, SPECIFICALLY ANTIBLACK
RACISM, THAT IS BECAUSE IN THE
U.S., THE ENTIRE WEALTH WAS
BUILT ON THE PLANTATION SLAVERY
IN THE 19th CENTURY, THE SLAVES
AND COUNTED FOR 1.5 GDP, THAT
WAS MORE VALUABLE THAN ALL THE
FARMLAND. SO ANTIBLACK RACISM
WAS CULTIVATED AND JUSTIFIED IN
AN INDUSTRY THAT WAS AT LARGE
AND HAS LED TO THE STATE ANTI-
BLACK RACISM. HERE WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING, WE SAW
THAT $542 BILLION WERE GIVEN
OUT AS THE PRIMARY WAY TO
PROVIDE RELEASE OF COVID FOR
THE $542 BILLION, LESS THAN 2%
WENT TO BLACK BUSINESSES, THAT
IS DURING A TIME WHEN COVID WAS
ALREADY EXACERBATING ANTIBLACK
RACISM AND IMPACTING POVERTY,
IT IS ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO
INVEST THAT RESOURCES RIGHT NOW
DO GOOD BY THE BLACK COMMUNITY
AND INVEST AT LEAST $100
MILLION INTO THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ISAAC.
BRITNEY, GOOD EVENING, THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US.
á6 TO UNMUTE.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M SORRY I DIALED IN A LITTLE
BIT LATE, I WAS ON THE OTHER
LINE WATCHING.
>> THIS IS PERFECT TIMING.
>> I'M SO GLAD, THANK YOU.
I WANT TO GO ON WHAT OTHER
FOLKS HAVE OFFERED AS FAR AS
ASKING FOR $100 MILLION
INVESTED DIRECTLY INTO THE
BLACK COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE, I
WAS HERE IN MY PROFESSIONAL
CAPACITY WITH THE NATIONAL
INNOVATION SERVICE TALKING
ABOUT THE REDESIGNING OF
SERVICES AND REALLY FOCUSING ON
HOW WE UPROOT THE WHITE
SUPREMACY THAT IS UNDERPINNING
OUR PUBLIC SYSTEM AND
REDESIGNING AND LED BY THE
PEOPLE WITH THE COMMUNITY WHO
KNOW THE SOLUTIONS AND KNOW
WHERE THE FUNDING IS PRAYER
THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I WAS
HERE.
NOW I LIVE HERE AND I'M HERE AS
A RESIDENT.
AS ISAAC MENTIONED, BEFORE ME,
THE DISPARITIES HAVE ONLY BEEN
EXACERBATED AND HIGHLIGHTED BY
THIS PANDEMIC IN THE WAY OF
ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE
BLACK COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE AND
OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN
THE CITY IS NOT BY DESIGNING
PROGRAMS OR HAVING THE METRICS
THAT WE ALWAYS USE, IT IS
PUTTING HANDS AND THE MONEY OF
PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.
AND WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING
BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEIR
COMMUNITIES, THEIR NEIGHBORS,
THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILIES COME A
PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY NEED AND
HONORING THAT AND RESPECTING
THAT IS THE WAY FORWARD FROM
HERE, IT'S THE WAY THAT WE
REBUILD FROM THIS CRISIS AND I
ALSO WANT TO SHARE, CURRENTLY
THE CASE THAT THE NATIONAL
LEADERS AND ADVOCATES ARE
SAYING, PUT MONEY IN THE HANDS
OF DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES, THAT IS THE WAY TO
THE SOLUTION, WHERE THOSE
COMMUNITIES ARE NOURISHED, THEY
ARE THRIVING AND --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PLEASE
SEND THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS.
WE HAVE THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> HELLO, I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK
FOR MORE FUNDING FOR TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
CURRENTLY I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 3 BUT I'M THE SITE
MANAGER FOR GEORGETOWN TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE IN DISTRICT 2.
THIS SHELTER MODEL ALLOWS
PEOPLE A SAFE PLACE TO REGAIN
THEIR DIGNITY AND STABILITY. IT
ALSO GIVES THEM HOPE FOR THE
FUTURE.
I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN AGAIN
AND AGAIN SINCE I STARTED
WORKING HERE, THIS IS ALSO MY
OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE BEING
HOMELESS MYSELF.
I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
CURRENTLY HELP PEOPLE NOW
WITHOUT THE SUPPORT I FOUND IN
THE VILLAGES.
I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE
COURAGE TO BECOME HOUSED AGAIN
WITHOUT THE VILLAGES SUPPORT
STAFF.
I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE
THE SAME OPPORTUNITY I WAS
GIVEN.
THAT IS WHERE YOU COME IN.
WE SUPPORT IT TAKES A VILLAGE
PROPOSAL FOR NINE NEW TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES AND ALSO PLEASE
UTILIZE FUNDS FOR PERMANENT
HOUSING SOLUTION SUCH AS
DECLARING PROPERTIES FOR LOW
INCOME HOUSING. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
GO AHEAD, DID YOU HAVE
SOMETHING ELSE?
OKAY, GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
AND GOOD EVENING GEORGE,
WELCOME.
GEORGE, IF YOU CAN HIT á6 ON
YOUR PHONE THEN WE WILL GET YOU
OFFICIALLY UNMUTED HERE.
GEORGE, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, á6
TO UNMUTE, AND AS A REMINDER,
JUST HIT á6 TO UNMUTE , YOU
HAVE TO HIT IT ON YOUR LINE AS
WELL, IT IS AUTHORIZING YOU TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU,
AND JUST REMEMBER, á6 WHEN I
COME BACK TO YOU.
THE NEXT PERSON IS CAROLYN
HENRY.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
CAROLINE HENRY, I'M A RESIDENT
OF BELLTOWN IN SEATTLE.
I WANT TO SEE MY COMMUNITY
DRIVE WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL
WE MAKE MOVES TO FUND AND
ELEVATE THE BLACK MEMBERS OF
OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE
YOU CAN CHOOSE TO MAKE A REAL
DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY, THAT IS
WHY I'M CALLING ON YOU TO
INVEST AT LEAST $100 MILLION
FROM THE ARPA FUNDING DIRECTLY
INTO THE LOCAL BLACK IMMUNITY,
I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE
BLACK COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
EXCLUDED FROM FEDERAL PANDEMIC
RELIEF FUNDING, THE U.S. AWARDED
TO U.S. BUSINESSES AND
ORGANIZATIONS IN LESS THAN 2%
OF THAT REACHED BLACK OWNED
ORGANIZATIONS.
CITY COUNCIL HAS A DIRECT
RESPONSE ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE
WHOLESALE FAILURE OF FEDERALLY
RELEASED DISSIPATION AND
ANTIBLACK POLICY AND INDIVIDUAL
DECISIONS THAT EXCLUDED BLACK
COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE ON ITS
ENTIRETY, LEADING TO FURTHER
DEVASTATION AND COMPOUNDED
HARM.
NOW THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WILL SOON RECEIVE $239 MILLION
THROUGH THE ARPA MANDATED WHICH
HAS BEEN INVESTING THIS MONEY
FOR NON-CONGREGATE SHELTERS,
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
ACQUISITION OF BUILDING FOR
EMERGENCY HOUSING.
I EXPECT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO MAKE THE NECESSARY
INVESTMENTS THAT YOUR
PREDECESSORS HAVE SYSTEMICALLY
FAILED TO MAKE IN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
I URGE YOU TO COMMIT $100
MILLION FROM SEATTLE'S ARPA
FUNDING DIRECTLY INTO THE LOCAL
BLACK COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, AND I RELEASE THE
REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO
GEORGE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
JUST á6 YOUR LINE.
OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO KEEP YOU
ON THE SCREEN AND WHEN I SEE
YOU COME OFF MUTE, WE WILL COME
BACK TO YOU.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT THREE
SPEAKERS AND WE CAN KEEP GEORGE
ON THE SCREEN HERE JUST SO I
CAN WATCH FOR THAT.
WALTER, PAGE AND STEVE HUBER,
GOOD EVENING.
>> MY NAME IS CAMILO WALTER AND
I'M THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
CUSHIONS DIRECTOR FOR REAL
CHANGE, ROUGHLY HALF THE PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS SLEEP
IN THEIR VEHICLES, WE NEED TO
PRIORITIZE CREATING OPTIONS
THAT SERVE THESE NEIGHBORS AND
MEET THEIR NEEDS WHERE THEY
ARE.
THIS MEANS WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
AFTER THE 72 HOUR PARKING BAN
HAS BEEN REINSTATED,
ESSENTIALLY A FORM OF EVICTION
WAS VEHICLES ARE NOT ABLE TO
RESTART AFTER IDLE TIME DURING
THIS PANDEMIC, THE CITY IS
FAILING TO MEET VEHICLE
RESIDENCE WHERE THEY ARE.
WE NEED TO LISTEN TO VEHICLE
RESIDENCE.
AGAIN, ABOUT HALF OF THOSE
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND WE NEED TO
HEAR HOW THE CITY CAN SHOW UP
FOR THEIR NEEDS.
I WAS MOVED BY THESE
TESTIMONIES THAT THE 40% RENT
INCEASE LED TO THEM PURCHASING
AN RV AND THIS IS A REALITY FOR
SO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER ON-
SITE LAUNDRY, KITCHEN,
RESTROOMS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY
BASIS FOR VEHICLE RESIDENCE, WE
COULD REALLY BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
THEM AND MEET THEIR GOALS.
I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT
VEHICLE RESIDENCE IN DIRECT
FEDERAL MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT TOWARDS
CREATING MULTIPLE RV STATE LAWS
FOR RESIDENTS WITH THOSE KEY
WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TONIGHT, THE NEXT PERSON IS
PAIGE OWENS.
GOOD EVENING.
JUST á6 TO UNMUTE.
OKAY, I SEE YOU ARE STILL MUTED.
PERFECT.
>> THERE WE GO.
GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS PAIGE
OWENS, I AM A REAL CHANGE
ADVOCATE AND TERM. I'M CALLING
IN TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
DIRECTING MONEY FROM ARPA TO
FUND MULTIPLE RV SAFE LOTS FOR
RESIDENTS WITH WRAPAROUND
SERVICES, LIKE WE STATED
BEFORE, NEARLY HALF OF THE UN-
HOUSED COMMUNITIES OF IN
VEHICLES, FUNDING SAFE LOTS FOR
VEHICLE RESIDENCE MATTERS TO ME
BECAUSE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A
CHANCE AND CHOICE TO LIVE IN RV
VEHICLES, WITH PRICES OF HOMES
AS HIGH AS THEY ARE, IT IS
BECOMING A MUCH MORE REASONABLE
CHOICE FOR PEOPLE AND IN ALL
HONESTY, I HAVE LIVED ON THE
STREETS AND IN SHELTERS AND IF
I BECAME HOMELESS AGAIN, I
WOULD STAY IN MY CAR BEFORE
GOING TO EMERGENCY SHELTERS FOR
SAFETY REASONS.
PLEASE TAKE THIS STEP TO
PROTECT AND SUPPORT VEHICLE
RESIDENCE, DIRECT ARPA FUNDS
WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND
CREATE SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR
OUR NEIGHBORS LIVING IN THEIR
VEHICLES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TONIGHT.
I CAN SEE GEORGE, GOOD EVENING,
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS GEORGE AND
I'M WORKING WITH LEHIGH TO
EXPAND THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
PROGRAM, I'M URGING COUNSEL
TODAY TO SUPPORT USING ARPA
FUNDS TO BUILD NEW VILLAGES
THIS YEAR.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES ARE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE
, AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE
STRATEGY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TO
MEET THE DUAL CRISIS OF
HOMELESSNESS AND COVID.
BUILDING THESE VILLAGES WOULD
COST ABOUT 9 MILLION AND WOULD
HELP MORE THAN 5 MILLION PEOPLE
ACCESS THE SERVICES THEY NEED
TO MOVE TO STABLE HOUSING.
FOR OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE LIVING
IN SHELTERS, AND ALL OF US WHO
ARE APPALLED BY THE CRISIS OF
HOMELESSNESS, THERE IS NO
GREATER URGENCY.
WE CANNOT LOSE THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
PLEASE USE ARPA FUNDS TO BUILD
NINE MORE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
TO HELP 500 PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY
INTO PRIORITIZE FINDING AND
BUILDING PERMANENT LOW INCOME
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GEORGE.
THE NEXT PERSON IS STEVE, GOOD
EVENING.
>> HELLO, CHAIR MOSQUEDA, GOOD
TO BE WITH YOU THIS EVENING,
AND COUNCILMEMBERS AS WELL.
MY NAME IS STEVE HUBER, LOCALLY
IN SEATTLE AND A PROUD NUMBER
OF THE SEATTLE ALLIANCE, I
APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO SPEAK
WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
AND IN BOTH MY PROFESSIONAL AND
PERSONAL CAPACITIES, I AGREE
WITH ALL OF THE HOMELESSNESS
AND BLACK LIVES MATTER COMMENTS
I HAVE HEARD UP TO THIS POINT.
THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY HAS
BEEN DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THIS
CRISIS AND IS A CONTINUING
CRISIS IN THAT REGARD.
THE RECENT ECONOMIC REVENUE
FORECAST BY THE CBO, THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE STATED THAT
LEADER AND HOSPITALITY ACCOUNT
FOR HALF OF THE JOBS LOST THAT
WE HAVE NOT YET RECOVERED TO
THIS POINT.
SO, RESTAURANTS REALLY DO NEED
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO CONTINUE
HIRING BACK AND STAYING
FINANCIALLY AFLOAT THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC WHILE WE ARE STILL
UNDER RESTRICTIONS.
PIERCE COUNTY RECENTLY RAN AN
INTERESTING PROGRAM, THE
RESTAURANT RALLY THAT ALLOWED
RESTAURANTS TO OFFER 30%
DISCOUNTS TO DINERS AND RECEIVE
A REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE CITY,
NEARLY 300 RESTAURANTS
ANTICIPATED IN THAT PROGRAM, IT
WAS WILDLY SUCCESSFUL TO BRING
PEOPLE INTO THE RESTAURANTS.
AND DOING TAKEOUT DINNERS AS
WELL, WHEREVER THEY FELT SAFE.
ANOTHER IDEA WOULD BE
OFFSETTING SOME OF THE FEES OR
PARKING REVENUE AROUND OUTDOOR
DINING AND PERMANENT STREET
TREES, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
COULD PROBABLY GO A LONG WAY TO
GIVING US A COMPLETE REOPENING
IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTR.
AND ADDITIONAL MARKETING SUPPORT
TO BRING PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE
SEATTLE BACK IN TWO SEATTLE,
BOTH TOURISTS AND OTHERS
FREQUENT LOCAL BUSINESSES TO
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I
REALIZE HOW HARD IT IS TO DO A
BALANCING ACT BETWEEN ALL THE
COMPETING PRIORITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE, WE
APPRECIATE YOU DIALING IN
TODAY.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A QUICK
UPDATE, THAT BRINGS US TO CALL
HER NUMBER 20, WE HAVE ABOUT 60
MORE PEOPLE TO TESTIFY TONIGHT
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A TIME
CHECK, WE HAVE ABOUT TWO MORE
HOURS TO GO.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE MEMBERS
WHO ARE HERE THIS EVENING AND
THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING IN ON
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL AS WELL.
MARY STONE, MARTY HARTMAN AND
RD HURTS. GOOD EVENING, MARY.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> GREAT, MARYELLEN STONE,
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL. I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
IMPORTANT COMMENTS ABOUT HOUSING
, ABOUT BLACK LIVES AND I WANT
TO SHIFT A LITTLE BIT TO BRING
UP THE ISSUE OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE.
I'M CALLING ON BEHALF OF THE
UNDOCUMENTED AND LOW INCOME
VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WHO
ARE NEEDING CIVIL LEGAL
ASSISTANCE, FAMILY LAW HELP WITH
PARENTING PLANS, DIVORCED
PROCEEDINGS, PROTECTION ORDERS,
WE KNOW BECAUSE THESE WOMEN AND
THEIR CHILDREN ARE UNDOCUMENTED
AND LOWER INCOME, WITHOUT LEGAL
REPRESENTATION, THEY HAVE VERY
FEW OPTIONS.
AND THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS
ESSENTIAL ALWAYS BUT
PARTICULARLY NOW WITH THE COURT
BACKUPS, THE BACKLOGS THAT THE
COMMUNITIES ARE EXPERIENCING.
OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES LEGAL
ASSISTANCE, LEGAL ATTORNEYS WHO
ARE CONNECTED WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND TRAUMA INFORMED,
AND THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE
ABLE TO PROVIDE IMMIGRATION
SERVICES, AGAIN, VISA ASSISTANCE
FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT,
PARENTING AND FAMILY LAW
SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT WHO ARE SEEKING
PROTECTION AND SEPARATION FROM
THE PERSON WHO ASSAULTED THEM.
I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL FOR A
LOT OF $150,000 FOR 12 MONTHS
TO PROVIDE AT LEAST 140 FAMILIES
WITH THIS KIND OF LEGAL
ASSISTANCE.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING MY
CALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE
APPRECIATE YOU DIALING IN.
THE NEXT PERSON IS MARTY.
GOOD EVENING.
WELCOME.
IF YOU WANT TO HIT á6 ONE MORE
TIME, WE WILL TRY TO GET YOU
UNMUTED . AFTER MARTY, IS ARIE,
WE CAN LEAVE MARTY ON THE
SCREEN.
GOOD EVENING, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
OKAY, á6 TO UNMUTE, AND I'M
GOING TO READ THE NEXT THREE
SPEAKERS.
BOB WILLIAMSON, ALEXANDER AND
CHRIS McDANIEL.
WELCOME.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, SORRY ABOUT
THAT.
GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS ARIE.
AS A SEATTLE RESIDENT, I'M
CALLING ON YOU TO INVEST AT
LEAST $100 MILLION FROM THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING
DIRECTLY INTO THE LOCAL BLACK
COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS
DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMED BLACK
IMMUNITY ACROSS VIRTUALLY ALL
METRICS.
I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE GOTTEN
REALLY GOOD AT THE HANDWRINGING
AND SAYING THE RIGHT WORDS
ABOUT WHY THIS IS THE CASE BUT
CHANGING THE PRESENT SYSTEM
REQUIRES LARGE-SCALE
INVESTMENTS AND ADVISORS AND
OTHERS HAVE NOTICED, LESS THAN
2% OF THE PPE AID REACHED THE
BLACK ORGANIZATIONS, THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY AND
RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO WRITE
THAT WRONG.
I'M CALLING ON THE COUNCIL AT
LARGE TO STEP UP AND HONOR THE
COMMITMENTS TO RACIAL JUSTICE
YOU HAVE MADE IN THE PAST.
THIS IS AN UNMATCHED
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A MORE
EQUITABLE SEATTLE AND BEGIN TO
PAY BACK THE BLACK COMMUNITY
THAT HAS BEEN DIVERTED AWAY
FROM IT.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU FOR
DIALING IN TODAY.
GOOD EVENING, MARTY.
I CAN SEE YOU UNMUTED NOW.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY, MY NAME IS
MARTY HARTMAN, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF MARY'S PLACE WHERE
WE PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTERS
FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
WE WERE SO CLOSE TO OUR GOAL
THAT NO CHILD IS LEFT OUT IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAD TO CLOSE SHELTERS, AND
AS THE END OF THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM APPROACHES, THE
FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING
ON THE EDGE, MANY WILL FACE
EVICTION AND POSSIBLE
HOMELESSNESS.
NEARLY 80% OF THE GUESTS
IDENTIFY AS DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY THE HEALTH AND
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS
PANDEMIC.
WE KNOW WE NEED TO ACT TODAY
úI'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER AN
ALLOCATION OF $500,000 FOR
SHELTER OPERATIONS TO ADD
CAPACITY AND SCALE UP
SUCCESSFUL DIVERSION PROGRAMS.
THE MOBILE OUTREACH AND
DIVERSION TEAM USES THE
FLEXIBLE FUNDING TO HELP
FAMILIES ADDRESS BARRIERS AND
MOVE QUICKLY BACK INTO HOUSING
AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $1900 PER
FAMILY.
IT'S MUCH MORE COST-EFFECTIVE
THAN SHELTERS AND REDUCES THE
TRAUMA OF A SHELTER STAY.
WE WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH THIS
REQUEST MORE IN DETAIL IN AN
EMAIL AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU
DIALING IN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BOB
ALEXANDER AND CHRIS, GOOD
EVENING, BOB, YOU ARE UP FIRST.
>> MY NAME IS BOB WILLIAMSON,
I'M A RETIRED CONSTRUTION
WORKER AND VIETNAM VET I WAS A
RESIDENT OF THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE AND IN MY OPINION, WE
NEED MORE PLACES LIKE THIS, IT
HELPED ME GET MY FEET ON THE
GROUND AND GET MY NEW
APARTMENT.
I'M ASKING, I'M THE FIRST ONE
TO MOVE IN HERE AND THIS IS
GREAT, I'M ECSTATIC.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO LEE I
AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
EVERYONE FOLLOW MY FOOTSTEPS TO
MOVE ON.
THE TINY HOUSES ARE A REALLY
GREAT IDEA, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
STORY.
ALEXANDER, YOU ARE UP NEXT.
GOOD EVENING.
>> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS ALEX,
AS A SEATTLE RESIDENT, I'M
CALLING ON YOU TO INVEST $100
MILLION FROM SEATTLE'S ARPA
FUNDING DIRECTLY INTO BLACK
COMMUNITIES, THEY HAVE BEEN
EXCLUDED, LESS THAN 2% OF THE
$520 BILLION IN PPP AID GIVEN
TO THE U.S. BUSINESSES REACHED
BLACK OWNED ORGANIZATIONS.
CITY COUNCIL HAS A DIRECT
RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE
ANTIBLACK POLICIES AND
INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS THAT
EXCLUDE BLACK COMMUNITIES
ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM FEDERAL
AID.
CITY COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE $239
MILLION THROUGH THE ARPA
MANDATED WITH THE INVESTING
THIS MONEY FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE,
NON-CONGREGATE SHELTERS, RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, ACQUISITION OF
BUILDINGS EMERGENCY OR
PERMANENT HOUSING.
ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED
TO REMEDY THIS HARM AND MAKE
THE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN
THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT YOUR
PREDECESSORS HAVE FAILED TO
MAKE.
I URGE YOU TO COMMIT $100
MILLION FROM SEATTLE'S ARPA
FUNDING DIRECTLY INTO LOCAL
BLACK COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT PERSON
IS CHRIS, GOOD EVENING.
>> HI, CHRIS.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS CHRIS McDANIEL AND
I'M CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF
GEORGETOWN TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
BUT NOT FOR MUCH LONGER, I'M
PLANNING ON GETTING HOUSING NOW
THAT THEY ARE LOOSENING THE
RESTRICTIONS FROM COVID.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A YEAR
AND I COULDN'T SEE WAITING IN
ANY OF THE OTHER SHELTERS.
I WAS WAITING FOR MY DISABILITY
TO COME THROUGH, I GOT IT THE
DAY BEFORE THEY CALLED THE
QUARANTINE AND LOCKED
EVERYTHING DOWN.
WITHOUT THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGE,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE
DONE.
MY DISABILITY, I CANNOT WALK
AROUND ALL DAY LONG.
THE PROGRAM GIVES PEOPLE
DIGNITY AND A PLACE TO STAY
UNTIL THE HOUSING BECOMES
AVAILABLE.
SO THE PEOPLE THERE RIGHT NOW
ARE JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING
TO BECOME AVAILABLE.
THEY HAVE THEIR PROBLEMS WITH
HOMELESSNESS, THEY JUST NEED
SOMEPLACE TO GO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU DIALING
INTO NIGHT, AND THANK YOU FOR
SHARING YOUR STORY.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, SUSAN
BOYD, LISA AND KAY.
GOOD EVENING, SUSAN.
SUSAN, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, JUST
á6 ONE MORE TIME TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF, I KNOW IT IS ONE MORE
COMPLICATED STEP THAT HAS BEEN
ADDED BY ZOOM RIGHT AFTER THE
PANDEMIC STARTED.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A
CHANCE TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND
FOR ALL THE SPEAKERS, JUST A
REMINDER, WHEN YOU HEAR YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED, THAT IS YOUR
PROMPT TO HIT á6 ON YOUR PART
AS WELL.
IT IS A TWO STEP PROCESS
UNFORTUNATELY.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
ADD LISA TO THE SCREEN IF YOU
CAN HIT á6 TO UNMUTE, THAT
WOULD BE GREAT, YOU'RE UP NEXT
. GO AHEAD, LISA.
>> I'M LISA, WE HAVE AN OFFICE
AT PIONEER SQUARE AND APARTMENT
BUILDING OPENING IN PIONEER
SQUARE IN JULY FOR 80 UNITS OF
WORKFORCE HOUSING ON SOUTH
WASHINGTON AND SECOND.
AND, WE ALONG WITH OTHER, MANY
OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED
TREMENDOUS SUFFERING SINCE
COVID BEGAN, FOR BUILDING
OWNERS, SMALL BUSINESSES,
RESIDENTS, EMPLOYERS AND
EMPLOYEES, THE HOMELESS
SITUATION IN PIONEER SQUARE HAS
BEEN CATASTROPHIC, AS SHELTERS
HAVE CLOSED AND PEOPLE IN NEED
HAVE HAD NOWHERE TO GO BUT THE
STREETS.
SO, I'M HERE TO SAY THAT JUST
CARE HAS BEEN A REAL BRIGHT SPOT
FOR ALL OF US.
IT HAS BEEN AT THE CENTER OF A
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT
INVOLVED ALL PARTIES IN WORKING
TOGETHER WITHIN AN HOUR OF
BEING ALERTED, ADDRESSING THE
NEEDS OF UN-SHELTERED PEOPLE
THAT ARE ON THE STREETS,
CLEANING UP THE GARBAGE THAT
HAS OCCURRED ON THE STREETS, AND
MAKING THOSE WHO LIVE OR WORK
THERE FEEL SAFE. AND AS SOME OF
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE SAID,
IT'S THE ONLY PROGRAM THAT THEY
HAVE SEEN WORK IN THE CITY. SO,
MY REQUEST IS THAT THE COUNCIL
FUND AND EXPAND JUST CARE AS
FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE
ENTIRE DOWNTOWN, NOT JUST
PIONEER SQUARE AND THE CID
WHICH IS THE PILOT AREAS.
THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
SUSAN, I SEE YOU, WE WILL COME
BACK TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
GOOD EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU SO
MUCH, AND THANK YOU COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, BELLWETHER ALONG WITH
A HALF DOZEN OR SO OTHER
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE
CITY'S PRIMARY PARTNERS IN
PROVIDING PERMANENT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR THE CITY'S LOW-WAGE
WORKFORCE, OR LOW INCOME
FAMILIES, SENIORS, OR THAN 60%
OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE ARE
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
MANY ARE IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES AND OUR RESIDENTS HAVE
BEEN THE HARDEST HIT BY THE
PANDEMIC.
100S OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE LOST
JOBS, UNABLE TO PAY RENT, OUR
SENIORS HAVE FOUGHT ISOLATION
AND DEPRESSION, THE RESIDENTS
ARE PUSHED TO THE BRINK BY
ANXIETY AND FAMILIES OF SCHOOL-
AGED CHILDREN HAVE REALLY
STRUGGLED.
IT IS OUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT
HAVE ASSURED THAT ALL RESIDENTS
HAVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, SENIORS HAVE THE
TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES TO STAY
CONNECTED AND FAMILIES ARE
CONNECTED WITH EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ENSURE
THEIR KIDS CONTINUE TO GET THE
EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.
THESE RESIDENT SERVICE
COORDINATORS AND OTHER KEY TO
MAINTAINING HOUSING STABILITY
IN PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS
AMONG OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ARE
RESIDENT SERVICES PROGRAM WHICH
SO FAR HAVE SURVIVED WITH
ABSOLUTELY NO FUNDING FROM THE
CITY ARE BEING STRETCHED TO THE
BRINK. WE ARE INADEQUATELY
STAFFED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
OUR RESIDENTS, LET ALONE THOSE
WHO FAILED 100S OF UNITS YOU
PLAN TO BRING ONLINE IN THE
NEXT 18 MONTHS.
YOU HAVE SET THE RIGHT
PRIORITIES FOR THE RECOVERY ACT
FUNDS AND ARE RESIDENT SERVICES
PROGRAMS WILL FILL SO MANY OF
THEM.
WE WILL GET TO YOU IN MORE
DETAIL, A DESCRIPTION OF OUR
REQUEST TO YOU AND I THINK
THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE TO TALK
ABOUT THE POWER OF RESIDENT
SERVICES IN OUR PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SUSAN,
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE
TONIGHT.
THE NEXT PERSON IS KAY AND MR.
GARRETT, THE NEXT THREE, BARRY,
LAURA AND ANDREA.
GOOD EVENING, BARRY.
>> HI, I LIVE IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE AND I SERVE AS THE
COCHAIR OF THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT DIA, I
ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF
PIONEER SQUARE BIA AND ON THE
BOARD OF ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER
SQUARE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO VOICE MY
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE WORK THAT
JUST CARE HAS BEEN DOING AND TO
ADVOCATE FOR CONTINUED FUNDING
OF THIS PROGRAM.
THE RECENT POSITIVE IMPACTS
FROM THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN
DOING HAS BEEN IMPRESSVE.
I HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SEE
THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES
FROM THE I-5 OVERPASS IN
CHINATOWN AND THAT REPRESENT
ONE EXAMPLE OF THE WORK THEY
HAVE DONE AND THERE HAVE BEEN
MANY OTHER GREAT EXAMPLES.
THIS PROGRAM HELPS PEOPLE THAT
ARE SUFFERING FROM
HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES AND ADDICTION ISSUES AND
IT HELPS ALL OF THAT.
NO ONE CAN ARGUE TO LOOK THE
OTHER WAY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
LIVING WITHOUT SERVICES, WATER,
TOILET, HEAT, ADEQUATE SHELTER,
AND JUST CARE IS DOING
SOMETHING ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
FOR THE COMMUNITIES NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED BY PEOPLE LIVING ON
THE STREETS OR INNER PARKS
WITHOUT SERVICES, WITHOUT THEIR
MOST BASIC HUMAN NEEDS MET,
JUST CARE IS PROVIDING THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WITH A PLACE TO GO
FOR THE SERVICES THEY NEED IN
THE PUBLIC SPACES ARE BEING
CLEANED UP AND MADE AVAILABLE
FOR ALL THE PUBLIC TO USE
AGAIN.
THEY USE EMPATHY AND COMPASSION
FOR PEOPLE WHO NEEDED THE MOST
AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
NEED IT THE MOST.
WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF JUST
CARE BECAUSE THEIR EFFORTS ARE
RESULTING IN THE KIND OF CHANGE
WE NEED A LOT MORE OF.
AND ESPECIALLY IN CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IN
PIONEER SQUARE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF
THIS WORTHWHILE PROGRAM.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU
DIALING IN TODAY, GOOD EVENING
LAURA, YOU'RE UP NEXT.
>> I'M LAURA FROM SHARE THE
CITY'S ACTION FUND AND WE ASK
THAT YOU MOVE RESCUE DOLLARS TO
SAFE LOTS TO BLACK OWNED
EQUITABLE DEPARTMENT, THESE
COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN HARDEST
HIT BY THE PANDEMIC TO BE
PRIORITIZED FOR THESE FUNDS.
THANK YOU TO REAL CHANGE IN
KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW,
ALERTING PEOPLE ABOUT THIS
IMPORTANT MEETING.
THE SAFE LOT PROGRAM TOOK A
RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF PROCESS,
AND DOESN'T EVEN ALLOW OUR
NEEDS DESPITE LIVING THROUGHOUT
THAT, FULL-TIME GETTING THAT
PERMITTED.
WE NEED TO FIND A PATH AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT ANY
DELAYS, WE NEED A PARTICIPATORY
BUDGET PROCESS WHERE IT FEELS
LIKE ADVOCATES, BLACK FOLDS AND
PEOPLE WITHOUT HOUSING NEEDS
ARE PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER,
SO PLEASE LET'S WORK TO CITE
SAFE LOTS AND GET $100 MILLION
FOR BLACK COMMUNITY OWNED
DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I
APPRECIATE YOU DIALING IN, THE
NEXT PERSON IS ANDREW.
GOOD EVENING.
>> I'M ANDREW CONSTANTINO,
ASSISTANT PROGRAM MANAGER FOR
FOR LEHIGH'S FINANCE VILLAGES,
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING
FOR THE VILLAGES AND SEEING HOW
THEY CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES
EVERYDAY, HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS
AND FAMILIES BUYING SAFETY,
SHELTER AND SERVICES AS WELL AS
WORKING TOWARDS FINDING
PERMANENT HOUSES.
THE VILLAGES HAVE PROVEN
THEMSELVES TO BE RESILIENT
DURING THE PANDEMIC AS A NON-
CONGREGATE SHELTER AND OUR
PLACES OF REFUGE FOR VULNERABLE
PEOPLE TO WHETHER MANY STORMS,
REBUILD AND EMERGE STRONGER.
WE NEED MORE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES SO THAT WE CAN INVITE
EVERYONE INSIDE AND INTO LIVES
OF DIGNITY, COMMUNITY AND
OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY
TONIGHT.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, MARA,
CATHERINE DAWSON, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MARA.
>> I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT AND
CALLING ON YOU TO INVEST AT
LEAST $100 MILLION TO A FEDERAL
RELEASE FUNDING INTO THE LOCAL
BLACK COMMUNITY.
COVID-19 HAS LAID THE
IMPLICATIONS OF HUNDREDS OF
YEARS OF ANTIBLACK RACISM, THAT
DISPROPORTIONATE HARMED THE
BLACK COMMUNITY.
SEATTLE REPRESENTATIVES FORMER
AND CURRENT COUNCILMEMBERS AND
THE CURRENT AND PAST DECISIONS
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A CITY LIKE
SEATTLE.
ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES IN
THE WORLD AND ON A TRAJECTORY
TO ONLY WORSEN.
AGAINST THIS BLACK COMMUNITIES
ARE EXCLUDED FROM FUNDING
ENTIRELY.
LESS THAN 2% OF THE AID REACHED
BLACK OWNED ORGANIZATIONS.
NOW, WITH THIS $234 MILLION,
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO
READDRESS THIS HARM AND AGAIN,
$520 BILLION IS OVER HALF OF $1
TRILLION OF THE WEALTH TRANSFER
BUT ENTIRELY EXCLUDED BLACK
COMMUNITIES.
HERE, IT WOULD BE RIGHTING THE
WRONGS OF THE PROGRAM, TRULY,
IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE FAILURE.
I HEARD A LOT OF DISCUSSION
ABOUT SERVICES TO HOMELESSNESS,
AND MANY OTHERS AND I JUST WANT
TO NOTE HERE THAT MOST OF THE
SERVICE PROVIDERS IN SEATTLE
ARE WHITE OWNED AND THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IS ENTIRELY OVER
INDEXED.
THIS WOULD CAPTURE THE ANTI-
BLACK ELEMENT, SO PLEASE TAKE
THIS RESPONSIBILITY AND THE
NECESSARY INVESTMENT THAT YOUR
PREDECESSORS HAVE FAILED TO MAKE
AND COMMIT $100 MILLION
DIRECTLY TO THE LOCAL BLACK
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY TONIGHT.
THE NEXT PERSON IS AMORDIA
PRETTY GOOD EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBERS,
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
COALITION IN GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING
THAT THE COUNCIL ALLOCATE $2
MILLION IN FUNDING FROM ARPA
TOWARD GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR
THE REMAINDER OF 2021.
AS THE COALITION, WE WORK WITH
OVER 40 COMMUNITY-BASED
CULTURALLY SPECIFIC AWARDS TO
GENDER INEQUITY AND AND AND ANY
OTHER FORMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
WE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ATTEND TO
HEALTH NEEDS, HELPING SURVIVORS
YOU PLAN TO STAY AS SAFE AS
POSSIBLE FROM THE ONGOING
IMPACT OF ABUSE AND HAVING A
SAFE SPACE AMONG MANY OTHER
CRITICAL SUPPORT AS SURVIVORS
MAKE THEIR WAY TOWARD SAFETY
FROM ABUSE.
WE KNOW THAT FUNDING FOR
PROGRAMS EVEN BEFORE COVID WAS
NOT ADEQUATE TO MEET THE
ACCUSED AND COMPLEXED NEEDS,
AND THAT HAS INTENSIFIED OVER
THE PAST YEAR ESPECIALLY FOR
SURVIVORS, LGBT SURVIVORS AND
SURVIVORS EXPERIENCING
INTERLOCKING SYSTEMIC BARRIERS
IN THEIR LIVES.
THIS RECOMMENDATION WILL ENSURE
THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN EXISTING
SERVICES WHILE ALSO ALLOWING US
TO FOCUS ON BUILDING BACK
BETTER AS WE LOOK TO 2022
FUNDING.
I APPRECIATE THE COUNCILMEMBERS
TIME, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF SURVIVORS IN BEHALF OF THE
COALITION OF ENDING GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TONIGHT.
THE NEXT PERSON IS
COUNCILMEMBER DAWSON.
FOLLOWED BY KATHRYN.
>> CATHERINE DAWSON, YOU ARE UP.
JUST MAKE SURE YOUR PHONE IS
NOT ON MUTE.
>> HI.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS CATHERINE DAWSON,
I'M IN DISTRICT 3 AND I'M
CALLING TO URGE THE COUNCIL PUT
ALL OF THE FEDERAL AID ARPA
RELIEF FUNDS TOWARD IMMEDIATE
AND LONG-TERM COMMUNITY LED
EQUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE, SO
NONE OF THAT MONEY SHOULD BE
SPENT TO SUPPORT POLICING IN
ANY FORM INCLUDING THE POLICE
FORCE ITSELF, REFORM THE
COMMITTEE WITHIN THE POLICE
FORCE, PROSECUTION COURSE OR
DETENTION, THE CITY SHOULD
ENGAGE IN A PUBLIC PROCESS TO
DETERMINE HOW THE FUNDS SHOULD
BE SPENT WITH THE FOCUS ON
SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY
COVID-19.
THIS MONEY SHOULDN'T BE USED TO
MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS OF
INVESTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY
AND ENSURE EVERYONE'S BASIC
NEEDS ARE MET AND WORK TO
COMBAT THE HARMS OF RACIAL
CAPITALISM, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN
A HOUSING CRISIS AND THE POLICE
ARE PLANNING TO VIOLENTLY SWEEP
MANY OF THE MEMBERS AND THE
MONEY COULD GO TOWARD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO SUPPORT
THE EARLIER CALLS THROUGHOUT
THE NIGHT TO CREATE VEHICLE
SAFE LOTS AND TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE
THIS FUNDING FOR PEOPLE AND
I'M DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF MY
COUNCILMEMBER, CONTINUALLY
WORKING TOWARD COMMUNITY LED
LEGISLATION.
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> THE NEXT PERSON IS CATHERINE
CAMPBELL.
>> HI, YOU CAN CALL ME KATIE.
I'M A CENTRAL DISTRICT RESIDENT
AND COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE
VOLUNTEER WITH MY NEIGHBORHOOD
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE. THIS
FOCUSES ON HELPING BLACK
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES,
TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT
HOUSING AND I CAN SEE IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD THE IMPACT OF THE
HOUSING CRISIS ON OUR PEOPLE
AND THE SUCCESS AT THE LEHIGH
TINY HOUSE PROGRAM.
I'M HERE TO URGE CITY COUNCIL
IN REGARDS TO THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT TO PRIORITIZE
BOTH NON-CONGREGANTS EMERGENCY
SHELTERS, IN ORDER TO REDUCE
THE HEALTH RISK TO OUR CITIZENS
DURING THIS PANDEMIC SUCH AS
FOLKS GATHERING AT GARFIELD
WHEN THE WEATHER IS POOR.
PERMANENT LOW INCOME HOUSING
SUCH AS THE SUCCESS WITH THE
APARTMENTS INVESTMENT, AND
INVESTING IN THE IT TAKES A
VILLAGE PROGRAM AS TINY HOUSES
HAVE SEEN THE HIGHEST RATES OF
LONG-TERM HOUSING COMPARED TO
THE OTHER FORMS OF SHELTER.
WITH THE HOUSING MARKET
CURRENTLY AT A GENERATIONAL LOW
, RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME TO
INVEST IN PROPERTIES WITH LONG-
TERM HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND
TRANSITIONAL SOLUTIONS SUCH AS
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO
SUCCESSFULLY SERVE AS A
STEPPINGSTONE TO MORE THAN 500
PEOPLE MOVING INTO PERMANENT
HOUSING.
THE MAJORITY OF THE COST OF
THESE PROGRAMS I WOULD LIKE TO
POINT OUT ARE SIMPLY JUST A ONE
TIME COST, WHICH ARE A PERFECT
FIT FOR THESE SINGLE FEDERAL
GRANTS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL OF THE TIME AND
CONSIDERATION OF THE COUNCIL
AND I WILL RELINQUISH THE
REMAINDER OF MY TIME.
>> WONDERFU, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS,
CHRISTOPHER PEARSON, ERICA HOPE
AND ELLA McCRAY.
CHRISTOPHER, YOU ARE LISTED AS
NOT PRESENT SO WE WILL COME
BACK TO YOU.
AND ERICA, THAT MEANS YOU ARE
UP NEXT.
GOOD EVENING.
á6 TO UNMUTE.
>> HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC, MY NAME IS ERIKA AND
I'M A DISTRICT TO RESIDENT, I'M
CALLING TODAY TO INVEST AT
LEAST $100 MILLION FROM
SEATTLE'S REPLANNING FUNDING
DIRECTLY INTO THE PARK
IMMUNITY, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED
THAT THE BLACK IMMUNITY HAS
BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE FEDERAL
PANDEMIC FUNDING.
LESS THAN 2% OF THE AID REACHED
BLACK OWNED ORGANIZATION WHICH
IS RIDICULOUS.
CITY COUNCIL HAS THE DIRECT
RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS HIS
WHOLESALE FAILURE OF FEDERAL
RELIEF DISSOLUTION AND THE
ANTIBLACK POLICIES AND
DECISIONS THAT INCLUDED OUR
CITY IN SEATTLE ALMOST ENTIRELY.
WHICH LEADS TO COMPOUNDED HARM.
CITY COUNCIL WILL SOON RECEIVE
$239 BILLION TO THE ARPA, THIS
IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO THE
COUNCIL IN SEATTLE TO RECTIFY
THE INEQUITIES WITHIN THE CITY.
I WANT TO HOLD YOU ALL TO THIS
COMMITMENT BY ASKING YOU
DIRECTLY WHO IT'LL GO TO, MANY
PEOPLE SHARE TODAY ABOUT THEIR
STRUGGLES SO ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE INVEST AT LEAST 100
MILLION IN THE ARPA DIRECTLY TO
THE BLACK COMMUNITY, IN SEATTLE
DIRECTLY.
I WILL YIELD THE REST OF MY
TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR DIALING IN
TONIGHT AND THAT MEANS ELLA,
YOU ARE UP NEXT.
GOOD EVENING.
>> THANK YOU, GREETINGS, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS ELLA AND I AM A
COMMUNITY BUILDER FOR SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY, I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WESTSIDE
BABIES TO ADVOCATE AND EXPRESS
TO YOU ALL THE CONTINUED NEED
OF DIAPER SUPPORT DURING THIS
MOMENT IN TIME.
ONE OF MY SOURCES, AFTER I
JOINED IN JUNE 2020, WAS DOING
WELL IN HIS CHECKS, GOING DOOR-
TO-DOOR KNOCKING AND ASKING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIRECTLY WHAT
WAS THEIR IMMEDIATE NEED FOR
ONCE INSTEAD OF MAKING
ASSUMPTIONS.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THE TOP
REQUEST FOR DIAPERS AND BABY
WIPES.
THE HIGH POINT ALONE HAD 600
HOUSEHOLDS, MANY WITH MULTIPLE
HILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FOUR.
WESTSIDE BABY HAS BEEN A GREAT
HELP IN FULFILLING THIS
COMMUNITY NEED.
DONATING LITERALLY A 15 FOOT
LONG U-HAUL FULL OF DIAPERS.
EVEN WITH THIS LARGE DONATION,
THERE'S STILL NOT ENOUGH
DIAPERS TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS
. IN A COMMUNITY I SERVE ALONE,
THERE ARE 150 BABIES.
WHEN I'M OUT IN COMMUNITIES,
RESIDENTS ARE ASKING ME, WHEN
WILL THIS NEXT IS TO BE SHOULD
BE AND WILL I HAVE ANY LEFT
OVER FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, DUE TO
THE PANDEMIC, THERE ARE MANY
MORE BABIES BEING BORN, SO THIS
NEED FOR DIAPERS WILL ONLY BE
INCREASING.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU ON CITY
COUNCIL HAVE CHANGED A DIAPER
OR TWO IN YOUR LIFE, NOW
IMAGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO CHANGE
YOUR LITTLE LOVED ONES DIAPER
WHEN YOU FEEL IT IS BEST.
PLEASE KEEP THIS THOUGHT IN
MIND WHILE YOU ARE PLANNING THE
AARP FEDERAL FUNDS.
I THINK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND
TO QUOTE A RESIDENT TODAY, SHE
SAID WE NEED DIAPERS RIGHT NOW
MORE THAN WE NEED FOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT,
WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO
CHRISTOPHER, THANK YOU FOR
DIALING IN.
YOU ARE UP NEXT.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBER,
MY NAME IS CHRIS, LONGTIME
RESIDENT OF RAGER BEACH, THE
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ROOTS
HOUSING, FORMERLY CAPITOL HILL
HOUSING, WE PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING TO OVER 2000
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE, AND I
REALLY WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY
COLLEAGUE, SUSAN BOYD SAID
EARLIER, OUR RESIDENTS ARE
FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES
RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE PANDEMIC,
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, THE
CHALLENGES WE ARE ALL FACING
DEALING WITH BEING AT HOME, NOT
HAVING STEADY WORK, JUST THE
ANXIETY, THE CONSTANT HARM TO
OUR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND THEY NEED ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT DURING THESE
CHALLENGING TIMES, AS SUSAN
SAID, THE WAY WE PROVIDE SUPPORT
IS THROUGH OUR RESIDENT
SERVICES PROGRAM AND WE DON'T
GET ENOUGH FUNDING, WE DON'T
GET ANY FROM THE CITY FOR
RESIDENCE SERVICES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE RESIDENT
SERVICES PROFESSIONAL FOR 400
OF OUR RESIDENTS. BEST
PRACTICES WOULD TELL US THAT IT
SHOULD BE 1 TO 100 RESIDENT
RATIO. SO WE ARE REALLY SEEKING
FUNDS THROUGH THE ARPA DOLLARS
TO SUPPORT OUR SERVICES AND
SUPPORT THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN
OUR BUILDING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND
ONGOING WORK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH
CHRISTOPHER.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE TOM,
MICHAEL AND TERESA.
GOOD EVENING, TOM.
>> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS TOM
AND I LIVE IN GREENWOOD
DISTRICT 5, I ALSO REPRESENT
GREENWOOD GREENWAYS, A
NEIGHBORHOOD LED GROUP OF SAFE
STREETS ADVOCATES.
I WOULD LIKE TO CREATE SAFE
WALKING AND BIKE PATHS ALONG
GREEN LAKE.
AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC,
AS.RESPONDED QUICKLY.
SEATTLEITES OVERWHELMINGLY
SUPPORTED THIS, YET MANY OF US
DON'T LIVE CLOSE AND WE HAVE TO
TRAVEL TO A PUBLIC PARK SUCH AS
GREEN LAKE IN ORDER TO STAY
ACTIVE AND HEALTHY AND GET SOME
FRESH AIR.
THE BIKE LANE ALONG THE WEST
SIDE HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE THE
START OF THE PANDEMIC.
WHICH MEANS PEOPLE BIKING AND
JOGGING ON THE WEST SIDE HAVE
TO USE AN UNSAFE DIRT PATH THAT
IS JUST INCHES FROM FAST-MOVING
TRAFFIC ON AURORA AVENUE.
A JOGGER WAS GRAVELY INJURED,
NEARLY KILLED BY A CAR A COUPLE
YEARS AGO ALONG THIS PATH.
SDOT HAS PLANS DRAWN AND READY
TO MOVE THE BARRIER IN THE
MIDDLE OF AURORA TO THE SIDE,
NEXT TO THE GREEN LAKE CREATING
AN OUTER PATH.
THIS WOULD TAKE AN UNUSED
PORTION OF THE ROADWAY AND PUT
TO USE AS A BIKING AND WALKING
PATH AND WOULD CREATE A
COMPLETE LOOP AROUND THE LAKE.
THE ONLY THING THEY ARE MISSING
IS THE FUNDING.
I BELIEVE THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS
SHOULD BE USED TO COMPLETE THIS
PROJECT AND MAKE A PERMANENT
SAFE PUBLIC SPACE THAT PEOPLE
CAN RELY ON DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR DIALING IN.
THE NEXT PERSON IS MICAH.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU, WITH THE
SEATTLE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY, I'M CALLING ON
BEHALF OF A REQUEST TO FUND
RESIDENT SERVICES FOR NON-PSH
BUILDINGS WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HOUSING PORTFOLIO.
WE PROVIDE PERMANENT AFFORDABLE
, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE HOUSING
FOR OUR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND
SENIORS IN CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN HIT HARD
BY THE PANDEMIC THIS PAST YEAR
AND THAT INCLUDES OUR RESIDENTS
OF COURSE.
70% OF RESIDENTS EARN LESS THAN
30% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME, 40%
ARE SENIORS, 15% CHILDREN IN
25% LIVE IN MULTIGENERATIONAL
HOUSEHOLDS.
90% OF THE RESIDENTS ARE PEOPLE
OF COLOR AND A LARGE MAJORITY
OF THEM ARE NON-ENGLISH
SPEAKING.
AS I SAID, IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH
YEAR, THE RESIDENTS ARE AFRAID.
THE SENIORS ARE ISOLATED, THE
FAMILIES OF SCHOOL-AGED
CHILDREN HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED
BY ACCESS TO EQUIPMENT AND
RESOURCES AND OUR RESIDENTS
OVERALL HAVE LOST JOBS BASED,
FACED FINANCIAL INSECURITY AND
FACED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
MOST OF THE TIME IT ONLY COMES
OUT IN ENGLISH, IT HELPS
FAMILIES ACCESS GROCERIES,
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS,
LAPTOPS AND WI-FI FOR STUDENTS,
VACCINES AND OTHER HEALTHCARE
PROGRAMS AND WE AS AN
ORGANIZATION ARE STRETCHED AND
WE NEED RESIDENT SERVICES TO
MAINTAIN OUR HOUSING STABILITY
FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS THEY MOVE
TOWARD RECOVERY.
PLEASE CONSIDER ALLOCATING ARPA
FUNDS TO ALLOCATE SERVICES TO
THE CITIES NON-AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS,
TERESA AND JESSE AND ELIJAH
SMITH, GOOD EVENING, TERESA.
>> HI, MY NAME IS TERESA AND
I'M THE LEHI'S TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE PROGRAM MANAGER, THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
LIKE YOU, MY HEART BREAKS WHEN
I SEE THE TENTS SPRINGING UP
ALL OVER SEATTLE UNDER BRIDGES,
ALONG RESIDENTIAL STREETS, AND
THE PARKS.
IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE ON
HOUSED PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO
PRIORITIZE EMERGENCY AND
PERMANENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR
LOW INCOME PEOPLE.
WE SIMPLY NEED MORE LOW INCOME
HOUSING AND PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
I'M ALSO HERE TO ASK YOU TO
SUPPORT LEHI'S IT TAKES A
VILLAGE PROPOSAL TO BUILD NINE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE IS TO HELP
ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND TO
SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD OF THE
CORONAVIRUS.
AS YOU KNOW, THE VILLAGES ARE A
FORM OF NON-CONGREGATIONAL TO
THAT ALLOWS FOR SOCIAL
DISTANCING FOR PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS AND IT KEEPS
EVERYONE SAFE.
THEY ARE COST-EFFECTIVE, WE CAN
GET THEM BUILT QUICKLY AND WE
CAN SAFELY SHELTER PEOPLE AS
THEY WAIT FOR PERMANENT HOUSING.
OUR TINY HOUSES ARE HUMANE AND
HONOR THE AUTONOMY AND DIGNITY
OF EACH VILLAGER AND THEY HAVE
THE HIGHEST RATES OF ACCESS TO
PERMANENT HOUSING COMPARED TO
OTHER SHOULDER PROGRAMS.
WE SHELTER SINGLES, HOUSEHOLDS
AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
WE ARE TRAINING OUR TEAMS TO DO
THIS WORK WITH LOVE AND
RESPECT.
PLEASE HELP US BUILD MORE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE IS SO THAT WE CAN
PROVIDE PEACE OF MIND FOR EVEN
MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY
ON HOUSED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, AND JESSE, GOOD
EVENING.
YOU ARE UP NEXT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JESSE AND
I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT CALLING
N YOU TO INVEST AT LEAST $100
MILLION FROM SEATTLE'S INNER PI
FUNDING DIRECTLY INTO THE LOCAL
BLOCK COMMUNITY, I'M CONCERNED
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED
FROM FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF
FUNDING, THE U.S. HAS AWARDED
OVER $520 BILLION IN AID TO
ORGANIZATIONS IN LESS THAN 2%
HAS REACHED BACKBONE
ORGANIZATIONS.
CITY COUNCIL HAS A DIRECT
RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE
WHOLESALE FAILURE OF FEDERAL
DISSOLUTION AND THE ANTIBLACK
POLICIES AND INDIVIDUAL
DECISIONS THAT EXCLUDED BLACK
COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE ALMOST
ENTIRELY PRE-LEADING TO FURTHER
DEVASTATION AND HARM.
NOW, CITY COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE
$239 MILLION THROUGH THESE ARPA
MANDATED WITH INVESTING THIS
MONEY FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE, NON-
CONGREGANT SHELTER, RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, ACQUISITION OF
BUILDINGS FOR EMERGENCY OR
PERMANENT HOUSING.
I EXPECT ALL OF YOU TO REMEDY
THIS HARM AND MAKE THE
NECESSARY INVESTMENTS THAT YOUR
PREDECESSORS HAVE SYSTEMICALLY
FAILED TO MAKE IN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
AND I URGE YOU TO COMMIT $100
MILLION FROM SEATTLE'S ARPA
FUNDING DIRECTLY INTO THE LOCAL
BLACK COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GOOD
EVENING.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU, I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
I WAS URGED, IT'S REALLY SAD TO
HAVE TO ASK BUT URGED, I CAN'T
EVEN OVERSTATE THE SENSE OF
URGENCY AT A MINIMUM OF $100
MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL
FUNDING THAT IS COMING DOWN TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
PERPETUALLY, YOUR PREDECESSORS
AND IN GENERATIONS PAST HAS
CONSTANTLY NEGLECTED THE
ANTIBLACK AND RACIST POLICIES
THAT HAVE HURT THE BLACK
COMMUNITY. THESE POLICIES OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE BOTH THE
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
THAT HAVE HAD THE CURRENT BLOCK
COMMUNITY IN DISPARITY RIGHT
NOW.
MANY SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE
ASKING FOR MORE FUNDING WHEN IT
IS DISPROPORTIONATELY NOT
SERVING THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
WHEN WE THINK OF THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE UN-SHELTERED, IT IS
DISPROPORTIONATE BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, BLACK MEN,
BLACK WOMEN BUT YET WE CANNOT
CONTINUE TO KEEP GIVING SERVICE
PROVIDERS WHO ARE NOT BLACK
OWNED TO CONTINUE TO UN-
EFFECTIVELY SERVE OUR
COMMUNITY.
I'M HERE TO SAY AND URGE WITH
ALL THE PASSION THAT I HAVE IN
MY BODY FROM A ANCESTORS
SPEAKING FROM YEARS OF NEGLECT,
AND ABUSE, AND DEHUMANIZATION,
TO SAY THIS MONEY IS OWED. THIS
MONEY IS OWED AT A MINIMUM, 100
MILLION, I WOULD SAY MORE BUT
AT A MINIMUM, I WOULD SAY $100
MILLION GIVEN DIRECTLY TO THE
BLACK COMMUNITY, DIRECTLY TO
BLACK ORGANIZATIONS, TO ALLOW
US TO SERVE OUR OWN COMMUNITY
BECAUSE THESE INSTITUTIONS HAVE
CONSTANTLY BEEN HARMING US AND
EVERY TIME WE COME AND PLAY THE
GAME AND SPEAK TO YOU IN A
LANGUAGE THAT YOU ASK US, YOU
FIND A REASON TO CONTINUE NOT
TO DO IT.
GIVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE,
THE MONEY HAS NOT BEEN COMING,
WE ARE EXTREMELY HARMED. IT IS
DESERVED, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THE
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS. GOOD
EVENING.
>> THANK YOU, I AM HERE TO ECHO
THE CALL FOR CITY COUNCIL TO --
FUNDING TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
ALL THE WAYS YOU HAVE BEEN LEFT
OUT OF FUNDING, BUT TODAY, I
THINK I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT WE ARE THE ONES -- WHEN WE
COME TO YOU, IT IS NOT AS
>> WHAT I URGE YOU TO DO IS
TRULY A DECISION, DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, DON'T GO THE WAY YOU
ALREADY HAVE, IF YOU KNOW THERE
ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE
UNDERREPRESENTED, I CHALLENGE
YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND
-- BECAUSE WE ARE LIVING AND
BREATHING HUMAN BEINGS, WE VOTE
JUST LIKE YOU, WE GO TO THE
SAME GROCERY STORES AS YOU, SO
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE. IT IS ALREADY
PREMEDITATED. WE KNOW WHAT TO DO
. WE KNOW THE FOLKS THAT ARE
BEING IMPACTED. SO, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO
EVERYONE'S CALL. $100 MILLION
AT LEAST AT A MINIMUM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THE
NEXT PERSON, GOOD EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. AS
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE URGED ON
THIS CALL, I'M GOING TO ECHO SO
MANY OF THESE SENTIMENTS, THE
BLACK COMMUNITY IS OWED.
POINT BLANK.
AND COMING FROM A PLACE WHERE
THE ANCESTORS ARE EMBODYING AT
THIS MOMENT TO SAY RIGHT NOW,
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT
AND RIGHT THE WRONGS OF THE
PAST.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIND WAYS
TO EDUCATE OUR PEOPLE, TO
UTILIZE RESOURCES THAT ARE LED
BY US.
WE KNOW WHAT TO DO BEST. MANY
PEOPLE ON THIS CALL HAVE BEEN
SAYING THE SAME THING AT LEAST
$100 MILLION OF THE MONEY
SHOULD BE COMING DIRECTLY INTO
BLACK COMMUNITIES SO THAT
PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE RESOURCES
NEEDED TO ELEVATE THE
CONDITIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE
AMONGST ALL OF THE SECTORS
WHERE WE SEE OURSELVES IN THE
BOTTOM RUNG, AFTER EVERYTHING
WE GAVE TO THE COUNTRY,
EVERYTHING TO CREATE THE WORLD
THAT SO MANY ARE EATING OFF OF
CREATING THE LAND THAT SO MANY
FAMILIES THAT HAVE NOTHING TO
DO WITH OUR BLACK FARMS, WE
HAVE BEEN USING OUR BLACK BODIES
TO BUILD THEIR ECONOMIC WEALTH,
AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE
HAVE TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU, WE
ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEAD AND DO
WHAT IS RIGHT, WE HAVE BEEN
CONTINUOUSLY BEGGING FOR THE
THINGS THAT WE ARE OWED, AND
IT'S TIME, EVERYBODY ON THIS
CALL UNDERSTANDS THE BLACK
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AT THE
BOTTOM AND IT IS NOW AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL TO SAY, WE ARE GOING TO
CHANGE THIS NARRATIVE. TERESA,
I HEARD YOU SAY IT FROM THE
BEGINNING, WE CAN NO LONGER
DEAL WITH THE SAME NARRATIVE
THAT WE HAVE, IT IS TIME TO
INVEST THIS MONEY INTO BLACK
COMMUNITIES, AT LEAST $100
MILLION, WE NEED TO CHANGE
THESE DISPARITY GAPS AND THIS
IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LEAD.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT PERSON IS TOM, YOU
ARE LISTED AS NOT PRESENT, IF
YOU DO DIAL IN, WE ARE HAPPY TO
COME BACK TO YOU.
THE NEXT THREE, MARIAH, LISA, I
BELIEVE WE ALREADY HEARD FROM
YOU BUT WE WILL DOUBLE CHECK,
AND THEN WE HAVE CLAIRE CANTOR.
MARIA, YOU ARE UP NEXT.
GOOD EVENING, AND REMEMBER,
THAT YOU DO NEED TO HIT á6 TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
THERE YOU ARE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD
AND SPEAK, YOU ARE WELCOME TO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN YOU
HEAR ME OKAY?
>> I CAN, YES.
>> MY NAME IS MARIAH AND I'M
THE ECONOMY PROGRAM MANAGER FOR
SEATTLE GOOD BUSINESS NETWORK,
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, WE ARE
ADVOCATING FOR THE FUNDS TO
SUPPORT THE RESTAURANT
COMMUNITY KITCHENS WE HAVE BOTH
BEEN SUPPORTING AND FOR THE
ADDITIONAL PARTNERS ALREADY IN
OPERATION, WE WOULD LIKE TO
EXPAND OUR PROGRAMMING.
WE THINK THE COUNCIL, LAST YEAR
WE CREATED GOOD FOOD KITCHENS
WHICH SUPPORTS RESTAURANTS AND
PROVIDE MEALS TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS FACING FOOD INSECURITY.
WE ALSO SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS AND
SUPPLIERS.
WE CURRENTLY WORK WITH SEVERAL
ORGANIZATIONS, WHO HAVE BEEN
PROVIDING MEALS TO HEALTHY
SENIOR CENTER, MANORS PLACE,
AND SEATTLE URBAN LEAGUE JUST
TO NAME A FEW.
THESE PROJECTS REPRESENT A
COMMUNITY LED MODEL THAT HAS
UNIQUE ABILITY TO SUPPORT
MULTIPLE RELEASE EFFORTS AT
ONCE, HELPING TO FOSTER A
RECOVERY IN OUR REGION THAT
SUPPORTS BUSINESSES AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HARDEST HIT
BY THE PANDEMIC AND WHO ARE
ALSO MARGINALIZED.
IT PROVIDES CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE FOOD ASSISTANCE,
ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR
RESTAURANTS TO KEEP THEIR DOORS
OPEN, RETAINING AND RETIRING
REHIRING PEOPLE IN NEED OF
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND
INVESTING IN MORE RESILIENT
LOCAL FOOD ECONOMIES BY
STRENGTHENING LOCAL CHAIN
SUPPLY RELATIONSHIPS.
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUPPORT
THIS FUNDING AND HAVE SIGNED
ONTO A LETTER WE WILL BE
SUBMITTING TO YOU THAT OUTLINES
THE DETAILS OF THIS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION TO INCLUDE A
PROVISION OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO
SUPPORT COVID-19 RELIEF AND
RECOVERY EFFORTS IN THE
DISCUSSION TODAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I
APPRECIATE YOU DIALING IN.
LISA, I BELIEVE YOU ALREADY HAD
THE CHANCE TO SPEAK SO I THINK
THAT WAS A DUPLICATE, WE WILL
MOVE ON TO CLAIRE, YOU ARE
LISTED AS NOT PRESENT.
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO COME BACK
TO YOU IF YOU DO DIAL IN.
THE NEXT THREE ARE CINDY,
MICHAEL AND LISHEA WASHINGTON.
GOOD EVENING.
>> CINDY, YOU ARE STILL MUTED,
DO YOU WANT TO TRY TO HIT á6
ONE MORE TIME ? OKAY, LET'S
KEEP CINDY ON THE SCREEN AND WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE TO ADD
MICHAEL TO THE SCREEN AS WELL.
MICHAEL, IF YOU WANT TO HIT á6,
WE CAN GO TO YOU NEXT.
GOOD EVENING.
>> THANK YOU, JUST ECHOING A
LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN
ALREADY, THE COUNCIL SHOULD
GIVE 100,000 INTO THE LOCALLY
BLACK COMMUNITY AS WELL AS
SUPPORTING THE CALL FOR TINY
COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY, WE MADE NOTE OF
THAT.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO CINDY,
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, JUST DOUBLE
CHECK, JUST HIT á6 TO UNMUTE.
OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO KEEP YOU
ON THE SCREEN, AND WHEN I SEE
YOU COME OFF MUTE, WE WILL GO
BACK TO YOU.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE
LISHEA WASHINGTON, JEFF AND
LAURA GOODFELLOW.
GOOD EVENING.
>> I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT AND
I'M PRESSING AND URGING YOU ALL
TO INVEST AT LEAST $100 MILLION
FROM THE ARPA FUNDING DIRECTLY
INTO THE LOCAL BLACK COMMUNITY,
AND BLACK LED ORGANIZATIONS
SPECIFICALLY. AS WHAT WAS SAID
BEFORE, OUR DIFFERENT
INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN ALSO
ASKING FOR THESE FUNDS, THESE
SAME INSTITUTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN
EQUITABLY SERVING THE
POPULATIONS MOST HARMED IN THIS
COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY DURING
THIS PANDEMIC, I'M REALLY
SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT
THE COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THAT
THE BLACK POPULATION HAS BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED
DURING THIS PANDEMIC BUT HAS
MADE NO SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS TO
INVEST IN BLACK LED
ORGANIZATIONS AND WHO BETTER TO
ADDRESS OUR PROBLEMS THAN US AS
WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR. WE HAVE
BEEN GETTING SKIPPED OVER AND
SKIPPED OVER WHEN IT COMES TO
THESE INVESTMENTS, AND THIS AID
HAS NOT BEEN REACHING US.
SO, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A
DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY TO
ADDRESS THIS FAILURE, THE
FAILURE OF THESE OTHER
INSTITUTIONS, IT IS GOING PAST
FAILURE AND IT IS INDIVIDUAL
DECISIONS THAT HAVE EXCLUDED
BLACK COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE
ALMOST ENTIRELY.
SO WHEN THE COUNCIL RECEIVES
THIS $239 MILLION, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THEY INVEST AT
LEAST $100 MILLION INTO THE
BLACK COMMUNITY, SO I'M NOT
JUST ASKING, I'M URGING AND I'M
PRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO
THE RIGHT THING NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AND THE NEXT
PERSON IS JEFF, GOOD EVENING,
JEFF.
PERFECT, THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO
SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OF AND IN
SUPPORT OF CREATING A BIKE LANE
UP THE WEST SIDE OF GREEN LAKE
FROM AURORA AVENUE.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT HAS ALWAYS
BEEN A PROBLEM AS LONG AS I
HAVE LIVED HERE, AND EVEN
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, BUT
PARTICULARLY NOW.
THERE IS NO SIDEWALK ON THAT
CHUNK OF AURORA, IT'S ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE TO CROSS TO THE
OTHER SIDE AND ANY OTHER
REASONABLE PLACE. YOU HAVE TO
CROSS BACK AND GO ALONG LINDEN
AVENUE.
IT'S A DANGEROUS AREA AND IT IS
INCONVENIENT FOR BIKERS AND
THERE'S NO SCIENCE TO HELP
NAVIGATE TO THE ARGUABLY
FAVORED PATH ABOUT TWO BLOCKS
AWAY.
THIS WOULD HELP REDUCE THE
HIGHWAY SEAL OF THAT CHUNK OF
AURORA, ONE OF THE REASONS IS
THE DANGEROUS 45 MILE PER HOUR
SPEED LIMIT IS MAKING IT LIKE A
HIGHWAY, SO NARROWING THE
STREET, MAKING IT SAFER FOR
PEOPLE TO GET BOTH NORTH AND
SOUTH, EVEN BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, THEY WERE ONLY
ALLOWED TO GO SOUTH IF YOU ARE
ON A BIKE, YOU COULDN'T
ACTUALLY DO THAT BECAUSE THERE
WAS AN ARROW.
THIS WOULD BE A BIG IMPROVEMENT
FOR BIKE NAVIGATION AND SAFETY,
PARTICULARLY DURING THE
PANDEMIC BUT ALSO AFTERWARDS,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE NEXT PERSON IS LAURA AND I
DO WANT TO REMIND CINDY, IF YOU
CAN HEAR ME, WE WILL COME TO
YOU AS SOON AS I SEE YOU COME
OFF MUTE.
SO, LAURA, YOU'RE UP NEXT. IT
LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE NOT PRESENT,
APOLOGIES FOR THAT, IF YOU DIAL
IN, WE WILL MAKE SURE -- CINDY,
DON'T GO ANYWHERE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE,
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
CINDY, IF YOU ARE ON MUTE ON
YOUR PHONE, JUST MAKE SURE IT
IS OFF MUTE AS WELL.
>> HELLO?
PERFECT.
MY NAME IS CINDY AND I'M A
RESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO
ALLOCATE 100% OF THE ARPA FUNDS
FOR THE STRONGER MORE EQUITABLE
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MAKE SURE
NOT A SINGLE SET --
>> EXCELLENT, I APPRECIATE YOU
WAITING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY TODAY.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE ARE
NAOMI, DOMINIQUE DAVIS AND JIM
WALLACE. NAOMI, IT LOOKS LIKE
YOU ARE NOT PRESENT SO IF YOU
DIAL IN, WE WILL COME BACK TO
YOU.
DOMINIQUE, IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE
YOU ARE NOT PRESENT SO WE WILL
COME BACK TO YOU.
THAT MEANS, JIM YOU ARE UP
NEXT.
GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR
WAITING.
>> HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS AND
CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE DURING THIS MEETING, I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO
ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO
HAVE SPOKEN.
I AM SUPPORTING A PATH ALONG
GREEN LAKE. I HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE OF RIDING ON THE
STREET, IN THAT LANE WITH THE
TRAFFIC AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR I
FORGET HOW TRULY TERRIFYING IT
IS AND IT IS AS IF YOU ARE
LEAVING THE BEAUTIFUL GREEN
LAKE AREA AND INTEGRATING INTO
A FREEWAY, JUST INAPPROPRIATE
FOR THE AREA AND THERE ARE SIX
LANES OF PAVEMENT AVAILABLE AND
ONLY TWO FEET OF DIRT AND
PUDDLES FOR HUMANS AND
PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS.
I HAD THE EXPERIENCE, WHEN I
HEARD ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, IT
WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THIS
WAS THE CORRECT THING TO DO,
IT'S NOT A JOINT PROJECT AND IT
WILL GREATLY IMPROVE THE LIVES
OF PEOPLE ALL AROUND THAT PART
OF THE CITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
CONSIDERING THIS AND THANK YOU
TO ALL THE OTHER TEST FIRES
TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THE
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS WE HAVE ARE
TRACY, EJ AND MICHAEL. MICHAEL,
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE LISTED AS
NOT PRESENT SO YOU STILL HAVE
TIME TO DIAL IN.
TRACY, YOU'RE UP, IF YOU CAN
HITáSIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
OKAY, TRACY, I'M GOING TO KEEP
YOU -- THERE YOU ARE, GO AHEAD.
>> I CAN HEAR YOU.
>> HELLO.
>> YOU ARE UP, WE WILL RESTART
YOUR TIME HERE.
>> MY NAME IS NOT TERESA.
>> I APOLOGIZE, WE HAVE YOU
LISTED AS TRACY.
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR
NAME FOR THE RECORD AND WE WILL
MAKE SURE TO REPORT IT ON OUR
END.
>> YES, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO
URGE THE SEATTLE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE TO SEND MONEY
TO THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WHO KNOW HOW TO
SERVE BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS,
PACIFIC ISLANDER, HAWAIIAN
PEOPLE DISABILITIES AND VETERANS
, WHO HAVE BEEN OVERREPRESENTED
AND GROSSLY NEGLECTED AND
IMPACTED DURING COVID. THE
COALITION WOULD LIKE THE
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO INCLUDE
THOSE MEMBERS WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCE AND THOSE THAT WORK
WITH THE MOST MARGINALIZED IN
THE SYSTEM UNDER A REGIONAL
APPROACH AND WE HIGHLY
ENCOURAGE THE CITY OF SEATTLE
TO USE A RACIALLY EQUITABLE
LENS AND EQUITY-BASED DECISION-
MAKING THAT INVOLVES PEOPLE
MOST IMPACTED AND IS UTILIZED
IN ALLOCATION OF THESE FUNDS IN
ORDER TO MINIMIZE HARM AND
MAXIMIZE BENEFIT FOR REGIONALLY
MARGINALIZED AND HISTORICALLY
DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES IN
OUR REGION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I
APOLOGIZE FOR THE NAME
CONFUSION, WE APPRECIATE YOU
DIALING IN AND I'VE SEEN LIVE
YOU LISTED ON MY END SO WE HAVE
YOU MARKED AS PRESENTED.
TRACY, GOING BACK TO TRACY
HAROLD, YOU ARE LISTED AS NOT
PRESENT.
THE NEXT THREE AFTER TRACY ARE
BJ, MICHAEL, AND NAOMI CLARK.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING.
>> HELLO, I'M A BALLARD
RESIDENT AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER AND I URGE THE COMMITTEE
TO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THE
FEDERAL ARPA RELIEF FUNDS ARE
SPENT ON SUPPORTING THE POLICE,
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, MUNICIPAL
COURT OR ANY SPACE FOR
DETENTION COME ALL THE FUNDS
SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE AND LONG-
TERM SOLUTIONS TO BUILD A
STRONGER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE CITY SHOULD ENGAGE IN
PUBLIC PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
TO DETERMINE HOW TO ALLOCATE
THE ARPA FUNDS, COVID
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
GROUPS THAT WERE ALREADY
SUFFERING ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES.
THIS INVOLVES MAINLY BLACK,
INDIGENOUS PERSON OF COLOR, LGBT
AND DISABLED PERSONS SHOULD
ABSOLUTELY BE PRIORITIZED IN
THE DISTRIBUTION OF ARPA FUNDS.
I URGE THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE
MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS FOR THE
MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES,
PERMANENT QUALITY ACCESSIBLE
HOUSING FOR ALL OF THE
SHELTERED IN OUR COMMUNITY SO
WE CAN STOP HAVING SWEETS WHERE
PEOPLE AREN'T OFFERED SHELTERED
. AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE, RENT
AND MORTGAGE CANCELLATION OR
DEFERMENT FOR THE HOUSE TO
ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO
STAY HOUSED.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE
TONIGHT.
THE NEXT PERSON LISTED IS
MICHAEL.
YOU ARE NOT PRESENT, WE WILL
COME BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS WE
SEE YOU POP INTO THE SCREEN.
PLEASE DIAL IN ON THE
INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE SENT
AFTER FOLKS SIGNED IN.
THERE'S A HANDFUL OF FOLKS THAT
ARE LISTED AS NOT PRESENT SO
I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO READ
THE NAMES IN THE ORDER THAT
THEY APPEAR.
AND WE WILL HAPPILY COME BACK
TO YOU ALL.
THE NEXT PEOPLE AFTER MICHAEL,
GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PATIENCE TONIGHT, JUST HIT
á6 TO UNMUTE.
PERFECT.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
PROVIDING A SPACE FOR THE
COMMUNITY TO SHARE, I WOULD
LIKE TO ECHO A LOT OF THE
SENTIMENTS OF MY FELLOW SEATTLE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I AM A LOCAL
SEATTLE RESIDENT FROM SOUTH
SEATTLE AND I ADVOCATE FOR AT
LEAST 100 MILLION TO GO BACK TO
BLACK LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOR
THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL
LACK OF CARE, A LACK OF SUPPORT
AND A LACK OF HUMANITY FOR MY
BLACK COMMUNITY.
I HAVE SEEN SINCE MY EDUCATION
NOT HAVING CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM, NOT
BEING ABLE TO SEE EDUCATORS
THAT REFLECT MY APPEARANCE, NOT
BEING ABLE TO HAVE FOOD
AVAILABLE THAT WAS HEALTHY AND
AFFORDABLE. THERE HAS BEEN A
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF
DISADVANTAGED, GIVEN TO THE
BLACK COMMUNITY AND I CAN SEE
THROUGHOUT HISTORY WHERE IT HAS
BEEN WRITTEN DOWN AND THERE IS A
PRECEDENCE THAT HAS BEEN SET
AND IT'S ALMOST AS IF THE BLACK
COMMUNITY HAS NOT BEEN LISTED
UP.
I THINK A LOT OF THESE
MOVEMENTS WHO COUPLE US WITH,
OR RE-CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
POC'S, THEY ARE NEGATING THE
FACT THE BLACK COMMUNITY WAS
ENSLAVED, BLACK COMMUNITY BUILT
THIS COUNTRY, SO WHEN IT COMES
TO BLACK COMMUNITY, BEING
AFFORDED ANY KIND OF RESOURCE I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHERE OUR
CITY COUNCIL IS WILLING TO MAKE
THAT CHANGE IN HISTORY SO THAT
MY CHILDREN CAN NO LONGER BE IN
A CITY OR SYSTEM THAT SOMEHOW
FORGETS THIS OR SOMEHOW DOESN'T
HAVE APPROPRIATELY, I GUESS
APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS THAT YOU
CAN SEE YOURSELF REFLECTED.
I HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNITIES FOR
A LONG TIME AND NOT UNTIL I WAS
AN ADULT DID I EVEN HAVE THE
WHEREWITHAL TO BE ABLE TO
CONNECT TO SYSTEMS LIKE THIS.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE
WHERE THIS CITY COUNCIL WILL
ADVOCATE AT LEAST 100 MILLION
TO BLACK COMMUNITIES BEING THAT
WE HAVE BUILT THIS COUNTRY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
DAVID, YOU ARE NEXT.
>> THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS ABOUT THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY ACT, WE NEED TO SOLVE
THE HOMELESS CRISIS, IT IS
DISRESPECTFUL TO THINK THAT
THIS IS REPARATIONS FOR BLACK
PEOPLE IN A NATIVE AMERICAN
TOWN STILL HOMELESS AND TREADED
ON BY RACIST BULLIES, THINKING
IT IS ABOUT POCKETING $100
MILLION BECAUSE THEY HATE THE
HOMELESS AND THE INNOCENT
CITIZENS PUTTING CERTAIN PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY AS
UNTRUSTWORTHY.
THE HOMELESS HAS SUFFERED
DISPROPORTIONATELY AND
COMPOUNDED WHILE BEING PREDATOR
ICED BY BLACK AND BROWN AND
WHITE TENTS WITH ABLE ADULTS
EXEMPTED FROM JAIL, DONATING TO
COMMUNITY ACTIVIST DEMANDING
$100 MILLION. WE NEED THE
AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT MONEY TO
SOLVE THE HOMELESS HOUSING
CRISIS WITH 21st CENTURY, FIRST
WORLD QUALITY HOUSING,
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND SCHOOL
BUILD OUTS FOR JOB CREATION, IN
ALL 50 STATES AND TERRITORIES
FOR REAL EQUITY AND THE WHOLE
COMMONWEALTH TO ALLEVIATE THE
OPPRESSION.
WE CAN'T USE MOST OF THE MONEY
FOR, EXCUSE ME, WE CAN USE SOME
OF THE MONEY FOR MATERIALS AND
HAVE THE GOVERNOR DIRECT THE
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, TO
PARTNER WITH REAL UNION
QUALIFIED CARPENTERS TO BEGIN
THE FIRST WORLD QUALITY
REDEVELOPMENT OF THE INFLATED
SHELTER MOTELS, WHILE
RESTAURANTS ARE ABOUT TO GET
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FREE
MONEY, IT'S BETTER TO OFFER THE
HOMELESS AND SHELTERS AND MOTELS
DELIVERY OF FOOD BECAUSE SOME
OF THESE NONPROFITS ARE WRITTEN
OFF AND VETERANS AND THE OTHER
HOMELESS IN THE GOVERNMENT
FORCING US TO ACCEPT ONE
LOCATION OF UNHEALTHY FOOD IN
CERTAIN AREAS AND DELIVERIES.
WE NEED TO ALLEVIATE THE
OPPRESSION FROM BANKS OWNING
WEALTHY IN SOME PRIVATE
ENTITIES SKIMMING HOMELESS AND
GETTING RICH AT THE EXPENSE OF
PROGRESS AND THE NEED TO
ALLEVIATE THE OPPRESSION.
WE JUST NEED A MULTITUDE OF
BUILDOUT AND ALLEVIATION ON THE
OPPRESSION OF ALL THE DISGRACE
OF FLAWED DESIGNED BUILDINGS
SHAKING DOWN THE SMALL
BUSINESSES.
TAKING OFF THE PROPERTY VALUES,
PLEASE, THEY ARE ALL RUNDOWN
AND DILAPIDATED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE ARE
GOING TO, I'M GOING TO READ THE
NAMES, BASICALLY THERE'S ABOUT
15 MORE PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE
SIGNED UP TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY ABOUT HALF ARE
PRESENT AND HALF ARE NOT SO I'M
GOING TO READ THE NAMES OF
THOSE WHO ARE NOT PRESENT FIRST
SO IF YOU ARE LISTENING, YOU
KNOW THAT NOW IS YOUR TIME TO
DIAL IN.
SO THAT WE DON'T MISS THE
CHANCE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
THE LAST FOLKS THAT ARE LISTED
HERE AS NOT PRESENT OUR
NISHELE, SEAN, NASHEED, ELEANOR
, JULIA, AND NASHEED, THOSE
FOLKS ARE LISTED AS NOT PRESENT
AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY READY TO
SPEAK WHEN WE GET TO YOU BUT WE
SEE LISTED IS NOT PRESENT
CURRENTLY SO PLEASE DIAL IN.
I'M GOING TO READ THE REST OF
THE NAMES SO THE FOLKS KNOW WHO
IS UP NEXT AND IF YOU DON'T
HEAR YOUR NAME, THAT MEANS THAT
WE HAVE ALREADY CALLED YOUR
NAME AND PERHAPS YOU WERE
LISTED AS NOT PRESENT.
YOU ARE STILL WELCOME TO SPEAK.
THE LAST FOLKS THAT WE HAVE
LISTED INCLUDE JOSH, RAMON,
KELSEY, JOE THOMPSON, JOHN
PATTERSON, DYLAN, FLORA, AIDEN
CAROL AND MANNY. JOSH, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
YOURSELF OFF OF MUTE AND READY
TO SPEAK, YOU ARE UP NEXT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE
TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING,
CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE FINANCING
HOUSING COMMITTEE.
I WANTED TO ECHO THE CALLS FROM
ALL THE COMMUNITY ALL-STARS WHO
HAD TESTIFIED TONIGHT TO
REQUEST THE COUNCIL USE OUR
FEDERAL FUNDING TO PRIORITIZE
PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, STATE CAR
AND RV LOTS AND DEEP INVESTMENT
IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN BLACK
COMMUNITY LED ORGANIZATIONS.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS CRISES
OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE PANDEMIC
WITH THE URGENCY THEY DESERVE.
AS YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING MARKET
IS AT A HISTORIC LOW AND I
BELIEVE OUR CITY CAN AND SHOULD
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO RAPIDLY ACQUIRE
NEW PROPERTIES AT LOWER PRICES.
LEHIGH VISITS THE APARTMENTS
AND IS PERMANENTLY HOUSING
HOMELESS VETERANS AND OTHERS.
WE NEED A DIVERSITY OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS
INCLUDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING, PERMANENT LOW INCOME
HOUSING, RENTAL HOUSING,
HOUSING FOR FAMILIES, YOUTH AND
YOUNG ADULTS, VETERANS AND VERY
LOW INCOME ADULTS.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SO MUCH
FUNDING DEDICATED TO RAPID
REHOUSING, THIS WOULD CERTAINLY
HELP SOME THAT MAY BE ABLE TO
PAY MARKET RENT, TO PRIVATE
LANDLORDS BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT,
BUT DOES NOT HELP HOMELESS OR
LOW INCOME FAMILIES TRULY IN
NEED OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS SHOULD
INSTEAD GO TOWARD EXPANDING
PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ALONG WITH TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
AND CASE MANAGERS CAN WORK WITH
THEM TO PROVIDE TREATMENT AND
RECOVERY FROM TRAUMA AND MORE.
PLEASE TAKE THIS PROPOSAL AND
DEDICATE ARPA FUNDING FOR AN
ADDITIONAL $9 MILLION IN 2021
TO OPERATE NINE NEW VILLAGES,
THAT WOULD WOULD GET PEOPLE
INTO A SHELTER THAT ALLOWS
PROTECTION FROM THE COVID. TINY
HOUSES SERVES AS A
STEPPINGSTONE AS THE
HOMELESSNESS HAVE THE LONGEST
RATE OF TIME AWAY FROM SHELTERS.
>> THANK YOU.
RAMON, LISTED AS NOT PRESENT,
WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO
YOU.
KELSEY, YOU ARE UP NEXT IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO HITáSIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> I'M KELSEY, I LIVE IN THE
GREEN LAKE AREA.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST AND
FOREMOST ADVOCATE FOR THE
JUSTICE APPROACH, WE SHOULD USE
THE MONEY FOR OUR TOP-RATED,
LOWER PRIORITY IT WAS
ORIGINALLY ALERTED TO THIS
MEETING THROUGH PEDESTRIAN
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, I WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR CREATING
THIS STAY HEALTHY PROJECT, IT
HAS GIVEN ME HOPE THAT WE MIGHT
CREATE A REAL INDUSTRY AND
OTHERWISE HUMAN POWERED IN THE
STRUCTURE BY PROPOSING THE
EXISTING INFRA STRUCTURE PLEASE
PLEASE KEEP THIS LOW-COST INFRA
STRUCTURE TO KEEP US SAFE AND
REDUCE THE USE OF PRIVATE
VEHICLES FOR TRANSPORTATION,
WHICH INCREASES CLIMATE CHANGE.
ONE, THIS SHOULD GO WITHOUT
SAYING BUT PLEASE ABOLISH
POLICE, DON'T BUILD NEW
DETENTION CENTERS, USE THAT
MONEY TO CARE FOR THESE
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE
SPOKEN AND LISTENED TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU TO YOU AS WELL,
KELSEY, I APPRECIATE YOUR
TESTIMONY.
THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS. ELEANOR
IS STILL LISTED AS NOT PRESENT,
WE WILL MOVE TO JOE THOMPSON AND
JOHN PATTERSON.
GOOD EVENING, JOE, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PATIENCE TONIGHT, YOU
HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU CHAIR
MOSQUEDA AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
MY NAME IS JOE THOMPSON AND I'M
THE PRESIDENT OF MERCY
NORTHWEST, I'M ASKING YOU TO
PLEASE CONSIDER THE 2.5 MILLION
ALLOCATION OF THE RECOVERY ACT
FUNDS TO SUPPORT RESIDENT
SERVICES OF THE CITIES NON-PHA
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE RESIDENCE AT THE PROPERTIES
HAVE BEEN HIT EXTREMELY HARD BY
THE PANDEMIC, THE LOW INCOME
AND PREDOMINANTLY COMMUNITIES
HAVE SUFFERED THE WORST THE
PANDEMIC HAS CREATED.
JOB, INCOME LOSS AND FOOD
INSECURITY, THE EXACERBATED
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES ALREADY FACED BY
MANY.
THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN
CHALLENGED TO NAVIGATE VIRTUAL
LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN THIS
STRESSFUL AND CHAOTIC
ENVIRONMENT, MERCY HOUSING
NORTHWEST HAS A LONG-STANDING
COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE ON-SITE
SERVICES AT ALL OUR PROPERTIES
INTO ALL THE RESIDENCE.
WE HAVE DONE THIS WITH NO
FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
OUR RESIDENT SERVICES AND STAFF
HAVE PERFORMED HEROICALLY TO
ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF SOCIAL
SERVICES TO RESIDENTS MAKING
SURE THAT BENEFITS WERE
RECEIVED, RENTAL SERVICE OBTAIN
AND FOOD NEEDS WERE ADDRESSED.
THEY ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS
MAINTAINED CONNECTION TO EACH
OTHER, TO CRITICAL SERVICES AND
THE COMMUNITIES. WE WORK WITH
YOUNG LEARNERS TO MAKE SURE
THEY HAVE BROADBAND WI-FI AND
PROPER DEVICES TO KEEP THEM
LEARNING AND ENGAGED IN SCHOOL.
SERVICE UTILIZATION BY OUR
RESIDENTS HAVE INCREASED FROM
65% IN A TYPICAL YEAR TO NEARLY
85% IN THE LAST YEAR.
THIS CLEARLY INDICATES THE
EXTREME NEED OF OUR RESIDENTS,
BUT ALSO OUR NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO ASSIST
THEM AT THIS TIME.
YOU HAVE SAID EXACTLY THE RIGHT
PRIORITIES FOR THE RECOVERY ACT
FUNDS AND OUR RESIDENT SERVICES
PROGRAMS TO FILL SO MANY OF
THEM, I URGE YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
AND THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
JOHN PATTERSON, YOU'RE UP NEXT,
FOLLOWED BY DYLAN, FLORA AND
IDAN . AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE
LEFT FOR THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS
EVENING MY NAME IS JOHN
PATTERSON, I'M CALLING TO
SUPPORT THE FUNDING PROGRAM AND
EXTENDED TO PROTECT GREEN LAKE
PARK.
FOR HEALTH REASONS, I'M STUCK
BIKING AND WALKING, OBVIOUSLY
IN SEATTLE, THERE IS A LIMITED
SET OF THINGS, BUT GREEN LAKE
HAS BEEN A STAPLE OF MY LIFE.
BEFORE, I HELPED ORGANIZE CLUBS
AROUND THE LAKE AND I KNOW THAT
OUTSIDE, DURING THE WINTER, THE
SILLY OPTION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
>> ESPECIALLY WITH THE COVID
RESTRICTIONS, AND MANY OTHER
CALLERS HAVE NOTED, JOGGERS ADD
TO THE MASK MIX, THEY HAVE
ROUTINELY DISRUPTED THE
EASTBOUND CONNECTION COMES
OPENING UP THE LEFT WOULD HELP
MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY AND WALK
ABILITY IN THE TIME, AND
ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT CORRIDOR TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND CONNECTS TWO
BUSINESSES ALONG NORTH OF THE
LAKE BUT ALSO THE NORTH 55th.
SO I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CLOSE
CALLS MYSELF, I HAVE SEEN
PEOPLE GET HIT.
ANYTIME YOU MIX HIGH-SPEED
TRAFFIC WITH PEDESTRIANS, IT'S
NOT A GOOD RECIPE.
LIKE I SAID, MYSELF AND MANY
OTHER RESIDENTS RELY ON THIS
PATH SO I URGE YOU TO FUND THIS
PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME TONIGHT.
IT SEEMS LIKE JULIA IS NEXT AND
STILL LISTED AS NOT PRESENT, SO
WE WILL MOVE ON TO DYLAN.
GOOD EVENING.
JUST á6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
GREAT.
>> MY NAME IS KIMBER, THAT IS
MY LEGAL NAME, NOT SURE IF THAT
WAS NECESSARY, JUST FOR THE
RECORD.
>> WE ARE HAPPY TO GO BY
WHATEVER NAME YOU PREFER.
CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN?
>> KIMBER.
>> IT IS NICE TO MEET YOU, WE
WILL RESTART YOUR TIME.
>> OKAY, I'M A SEATTLE
RESIDENT, LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS
HERE, CALLING FOR AT LEAST $100
MILLION FROM SEATTLE'S AMERICAN
RELIEF PLAN ACT TO GO TOWARDS
DIRECTLY TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY
, JUST TO REHASH A BUNCH OF THE
SAME TALKING POINTS OVER AND
OVER, BUT YES, THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IN BLACK BUSINESS IS
ARE BEING COMPLETELY OVERLOOKED
BY ANY SORT OF FEDERAL RESCUE
FUNDING DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
WHILE ALSO BEING ONE OF THE
HARDEST HIT DEMOGRAPHICS, AND
FOR OBVIOUS REASONS
UNFORTUNATELY. SO I REALLY THINK
THAT IT IS SUPER OBVIOUS THAT
GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE
RUNNING IT DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
COMMUNITIES NEED AND THEY ARE
NOT LISTENING TO THE BLACK
COMMUNITIES AND THE EASIEST
SOLUTION IS TO LET THOSE
COMMUNITIES SELF-DETERMINATION
AND BY GIVING THEM THE RESOURCES
TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS, I
THINK THAT IS REALLY CRUCIAL
AND CRITICAL AND MORE
RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL THE CAST
MEMBERS AND EVERY MEMBER OF
GOVERNMENT IN THIS WHOLE COUNTRY
BUILT ON WHITE SUPREMACY TO
UNDERTAKE. I YIELD THE REST OF
MY TIME, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR DIALING IN
TONIGHT.
THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS ARE FLORA
AND AIDAN. GOOD EVENING, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, IT IS
YOUR TURN IF YOU WANT TO HIT á6
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
WONDERFUL, GOOD EVENING.
>> MY NAME IS FLORA AND I'M A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3, I'M
CALLING TO ALLOCATE 100% OF THE
ARPA FUNDS TOWARD LONG-TERM
COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO ENSURE
THAT NOT A SINGLE CENT IS SPENT
ON POLICING, CRIMINALIZATION,
THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE,
MUNICIPAL COURT OR ANY SPACE
FOR DETENTION.
THIS INCLUDES POLICE
RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, INCOME
SUPPORT, PRACTICE EQUIPMENT OR
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY AS WELL
AS ANY SO-CALLED CIVILIAN
DEPARTMENT WITH AN STD.
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING WHICH
SHOULD BE BLACK LED AND
COMMUNITY LED NOT HOUSED WITHIN
THE CITY DEPARTMENT SHALL
DETERMINE HOW THE FUNDING IS
SPENT.
THEY HAVE SPENT AN IN
DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT, AND I
ALSO WANT TO REMIND THE
SPEAKERS, A FEW PEOPLE SAID
SOME BIZARRE THINGS, THAT -- I
EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERNS THAT
THE EXCLUSION FROM FEDERALLY
FUNDING FOR THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
I URGE THEM TO MAKE MEANINGFUL
INVESTMENTS THAT PROMOTE LONG-
TERM HEALING, YOUR PERMANENT
QUALITY ACCESSIBLE HOUSING FOR
ON A HOUSE PEOPLE, ASSISTANCE
FOR SMALL BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND
COLORED BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY
COVID-19, HEALTHCARE AND
IMMEDIATE RELEASE INCARCERATED
PEOPLE AND ALL OF THAT
IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY TO
SUPPORT PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
NONE OF THIS SHOULD GO TO
POLICING AND CRIMINALIZATION, I
YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THE
NEXT PERSON IS NISHEED FOLLOWED
BY AIDAN.
GOOD EVENING.
WONDERFUL.
GOOD EVENING.
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> I'M A TEACHER, IN THE SOUTH
SEATTLE ACADEMY, BORN AND
RAISED IN SOUTH SEATTLE AND OUR
COMMUNITY HAS CHANGED
DRASTICALLY, WE HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED BY GENTRIFICATION, AND
WE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY
SYSTEMATIC REPRESSION FOR YEARS
AND YEARS, AND WITHIN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE
ANYTHING FOR OURSELVES WITHIN
THE STATE LET ALONE THE CITY.
SO WITH THIS $100,000, I KNOW
THAT A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS
WILL COME ABOUT, I KNOW PEOPLE
WILL GET HELP AND THERE ARE A
LOT OF GREAT MINDS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY, WITHIN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY, WITH US,
WE HAVE HAD LAND TAKEN AWAY
FROM US FOR GENERATIONS AND NOT
BEING ABLE TO HAVE GENERATIONAL
WEALTH OR THE MEANS IN SUPPORT
AND SYSTEMS TO HAVE THE
KNOWLEDGE WITH THIS $100,000
ALLOCATED TO THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
THEY WOULD BE PUT IN THE RIGHT
PLACES, ESPECIALLY NOW WITHIN
JUSTICES THAT ARE BLATANTLY
GOING ON IN FRONT OF US THAT WE
SEE TODAY.
AND WITHIN THE SCHOOLS,
ESPECIALLY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
WHICH THE PIPELINE SYSTEM HAS
BEEN PREVALENT.
AND THROUGHOUT EDUCATION FOR
YEARS AND YEARS, AND A LOT OF
MONEY CAN GO TOWARDS THE SCHOOL
SYSTEMS TO DECOLONIZE
CURRICULUMS SO WE CAN LEARN
ABOUT OURSELVES. WE CAN SEE
OURSELVES MORE WITHIN THE
SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO, THE $1000
DEFINITELY SHOULD BE DIRECTED
AND PUT TOWARDS BLACK
COMMUNITIES FOR SURE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I
APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE
TONIGHT AND THE LAST PERSON IS
AIDAN CAROL.
GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PATIENCE, YOU ARE THE LAST
SPEAKER TONIGHT, PLEASE TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL $239 MILLION OF THESE FUNDS
SHOULD GO TO SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT DOES
NOT INCLUDE POLICING,
PROSECUTING COURTS, DETENTIONS,
JAILS OR TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE
SYSTEM.
I WANT TO SUPPORT AT LEAST $100
MILLION TO GO TO THE BLACK
COMMUNITY, IDEALLY ALL OF THIS
OF THE INVENTORY BUDGETING BUT,
ALSO THE SAFE LOT FOR RVS, AND
SECONDLY, THEY LACK A WAYS TO
DEAL WITH SEWAGE AND THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN
EASILY HELP WITH, IN GENERAL,
HYGIENE AND RESTROOMS AND
ENCAMPMENTS, THE SAME SERVICES
THAT EVERYONE ELSE RECEIVES
NEARBY. IN THE GREEN LAKE AREA
IN FACT, I WANT TO SUPPORT THE
AURORA BARRIER SUPPORT POST
AGREED WITH THE GREENWAY, BUT
THERE IS PLENTY OF MARGINALIZED
PLANS TO HELP WITH THINGS
INVOLVING HOUSING, PREPARING
FOR THE WILDFIRES THAT WE KNOW
ARE COMING, TRANSPORTATION,
LIBRARIES, BROADBAND, SUPPORTING
BUSINESSES AND USING EMPLOYMENT
AND MENTAL HEALTH AND UNIVERSAL
BASIC INCOME. THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND FOR
TOUCHING ON MANY OF THE POINTS
AS WELL THAT WE HEARD FROM
TONIGHT, THAT IS A GREAT
SUMMARY TO END ON, I APPRECIATE
EVERYONE'S TIME TONIGHT, THAT
DOES GIVE US TO THE END OF
EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED IN
THE TESTIMONY.
I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT AS
WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW,
THAT WILL CONTINUE DISCUSSION
IN THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE AT 2:00 P.M.
WE WILL DISCUSS THE ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN AND WE WILL HAVE A
DISCUSSION AS WELL ON THE
ORDINANCE BOTH LISTED AS A
POSSIBLE VOTE, I WANT TO THANK
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BEING
WITH US THROUGHOUT THE EVENING,
ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALES,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES , WHO
WERE WITH US UNTIL THE VERY
END.
THANK YOU TO THE OFFICE, THE
I.T.
FOLKS WHO ARE WITH US STILL,
ERIC AND SEATTLE CHANNEL, THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN A LONG
DAY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING
AT 9:30 AND A LOT OF THE FOLKS
THAT DIALED IN TODAY, A LOT OF
THIS INFORMATION WILL GO INTO
THE SPREADSHEET THAT WE HAVE IN
TABULATING TEST ON THE LAST
THREE MEETINGS AND ONGOING
DISCUSSIONS INCLUDING LAST YEAR
AS WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF
COVID.
ALL OF THIS IS VERY TIMELY,
VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND WE
KNOW THAT YOU TOOK TIME AWAY
FROM YOUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
TO JOIN US.
WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NOTHING
ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER,
HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. THANK
YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US TONIGHT AND WE WILL SEE YOU
TOMORROW AT 2:00 P.M.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING EVERYONE,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
PATIENCE THIS EVENING DURING
THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE
APPRECIATE YOU ALL.