>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
MEETING.
TODAY IS MAY 18th, 2021.
I'M TERESA MOSQUEDA, CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR HERBOLD.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS FIVE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COLLEAGUES.
AND I WANT TO EXTEND A WELCOME
TO OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND
OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES, AGAIN,
FOR THE LOSS THAT YOUR FAMILY
IS EXPERIENCING OF YOUR MOTHER-
IN-LAW AND THE TRAGIC INCIDENTS
IN YOUR CONDO.
WE'VE ALL BEEN THINKING ABOUT
YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO
THE LONG CONVERSATION THAT WE
HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
COLLEAGUES, WE DO HAVE A FULL
AGENDA.
WE HAVE A 45 PEOPLE CURRENTLY
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO I WANT TO WARN FOLKS THAT
THERE IS GOING TO BE A ONE-
MINUTE LIMIT ON PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ALSO WILL HAVE CONSECUTIVE
TRANSLATION DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE
SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION DURING
THE REMAINDER OF THE
PRESENTATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TRANSLATION FOR.
WE WILL DO FIRST THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS' STANDARD BOARD REPORT
OUT AND A BRIEFING ON THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT
PROPOSAL, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL
GUIDANCE THAT WE RECEIVED LAST
MONDAY.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A BRIEFING
ON THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE.
THNKS, AGAIN, TO VICE CHAIR
HERBOLD FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON
THAT.
PLEASE NOTE THAT TODAY WE WILL
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS
TO HAVE A NEED FOR CONSECUTIVE
TRANSLATION TO HAVE DOUBLE THE
AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO ONE MINUTE FOR EVERYONE,
EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO ARE
REQUIRING TRANSLATION, WE'LL
HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN
ACCOMMODATE TRANSLATION.
AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, EVERYONE PRESENT IN THE
ZOOM WILL NEED TO SELECT THE
INTERPRETATION TOOL WHICH IS IN
THE CONTROL PANEL AT THE BOTTOM
OF YOUR SCREEN, AND I'LL READ
THESE INSTRUCTIONS IN SPANISH
AS WELL WHEN WE GET THERE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> EVERYONE IN THE ZOOM IS
GOING TO NEED TO SELECT THE
LANGUAGE THAT THEY'D LIKE TO
LISTEN TO, AND THE TWO CHOICES
TODAY ARE ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
YOU MUST CHOOSE ONE OF THOSE TO
LISTEN IN, OTHERWISE YOU WILL
NOT HEAR ANYTHING ON YOUR END
>>> THE ATTENDEES WHO ARE
LISTENING IN AFTER PUBLIC
COMMENT WILL BE ABLE TO SELECT
THOSE LANGUAGES AS WELL FOR OUR
GUESTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, AND
WE DO HAVE A LARGE LIST OF
FOLKS WHO ARE HERE TO PRESENT
ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, TODAY'S AGENDA WILL
BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
AGAIN, COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE
ABOUT 45 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M GOING TO MODERATE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
I'LL CALL THREE SPEAKERS AT A
TIME IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY'RE REGISTERED.
IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED IN
PROVIDING A PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU
CAN GO TO SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT.
ONCE I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU WILL
HEAR YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED, BUT
YOU ALSO NEED TO PUSH THE STAR
6. [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> YOU NEED TO ALSO HIT STAR 6
SO YOU CAN BECOME UNMUTED.
BEGIN SPEAKING BY SAYING YOUR
NAME AND THE ISSUES YOU ARE
HERE TO ADDRESS.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A 10-
SECOND TIME AT THE END OF YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME.
THAT'S YOUR INDICATION TO WRAP
UP.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE
LISTENING IN, PLEASE GO TO
SEATTLECHANNEL.GOV OR OTHER
LISTEN-IN OPTIONS ON YOUR
AGENDA.
OH, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
TRANSLATION SERVICES HERE.
I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO READ
THIS IN SPANISH WHICH IS
PROBABLY MUCH BETTER THAN THE
OFF-THE-TOP-OF MY HEAD
TRANSLATION.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS
POSSIBLE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> OKAY.
HERE WE GO, FOLKS.
THANK YOU FOR DEALING WITH MY
ATTEMPT AT READING IN SPANISH.
I'M SORRY THAT THAT WAS VERY
MUCH INCORRECT IN SOME PLACES.
THAT IS ON ME.
THE FIRST THREE PEOPLE ARE
SELINA CARTISOS, DARCY HARRISON
AND SAMANTHA CONCERNEL.
GOOD MORNING.
SELINA.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS SELIN A, AND I AM
SPEAKING ABOUT THE -- HELLO?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> I'M SELINA AND I WILL BE
SPEAKING ABOUT THEARA DIRECT
AID.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5 AND A
HOMEOWNER AT BITTER LAKE HOME
CONDOMINIUM, A COMPLEX OF 92
HOMES ON LINDEN AVENUE NORTH
THAT ABUTTS THE PARK.
WE SEE ON A DAILY BASIS HOW
COVID HAS IMPACTED HOUSEHOLDS
IN NORTH SEATTLE AND REQUEST
THE CITY DIRECT AID TO ADDRESS
THE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF
COVID IN OUR COMMUNITY WHICH IS
H.U.D.
CENSUS TRACT 0.401.
I STAND WITH THE NEIGHBORS IN
MY COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE
IDEA OF CITY OF SEATTLE
DIRECTING FUNDS TO RELEASE THE
SAM'S CLUB AT 135th AND AURORA
AVENUE NORTH WHICH HAS BEEN
VACANT SINCE 2018.
THIS PROPERTY HAS THE CAPACITY
TO SERVE THE LARGE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN THE NORTH END
FOR SHORT AND LONG TERM.
SAM'S CLUB WOULD FOLLOW A
SIMILAR MODEL AS THE TESLA
DEALERSHIP IN SOTO WHICH IS
LEASED FROM THE PRIVATE OWNER.
PEOPLE STAYING AT CITY HALL AND
SEATTLE CENTER WERE RELOCATED
TO TESLA IN SOTO, AND PEOPLE
CAMPING IN TENTS IN PUBLIC
SPACES OF NORTH SEATTLE WOULD
BE RELOCATED TO SAM'S CLUB ON
AURORA.
IN THE SHORT TERM, OVER 60
TENTS AT THE BITTER LAKE PARK
AND BROADVIEW THOMPSON
ELEMENTARY, AS WELL AS TENTS
SET UP IN THE NOOKS AND
CRANNIES OF THE NORTH END COULD
BE RELOCATED TO THE PARKING
AREA.
IN THE LONG TERM, THE BUILDING
COULD BECOME AN ENHANCED
SHELTER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOU FLAGGING THAT.
THE NEXT PERSON IS DARCY.
GOOD MORNING, DARCY.
>> AND, DARCY --
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> YES.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM PUBLIC COMMENTING ON
OPPOSITION TO TB120069.
EXCUSE ME.
I'M THE OWNER OF EMMERSON
CAPITAL, I OWN A HOME IN
DISTRICT 3. I'VE BEEN A
BUSINESS OWNER IN SEATTLE SINCE
2012, -- [ INAUDIBLE ] A
SALON WHERE ALL SERVICE
PROVIDERS WANT TO SHARE WITH A
RENTAL TERM CONTRACT.
HOLD ALL REQUIRED LICENSES,
INSURANCE, PAY THEIR OWN TAXES
AND DETERMINE THEIR OWN
SCHEDULING POLICIES AND
SUPPLIES.
I AM ALSO ONE OF THE LEADERS OF
A HISTORIC GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO
BATTLE STATE LEGISLATION IN
OLYMPIA IN 2019 AIMED AT
ELIMINATING BOOTH RENTAL FOR
COSMETOLOGISTS, AS WELL AS TO
REDEFINE INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTING IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
WE HAVE EFFECTIVELY -- THROUGH
OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR
COSMETOLOGISTS OF WASHINGTON
UNITED TRADE ASSOCIATION.
WE HAVE OVER 11,000 SUPPORTERS
AND OVER 250 ENROLLED
APPLICANTS WHO ARE PRIMARILY
BOOTH RENTERS OR BOOTH RENTAL
SALON OWNERS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE --
EXCUSE ME?
>> THANK YOU.
SORRY, DARCY.
WE GOT TO THE END OF OUR TIME
HERE THIS MORNING.
BUT I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOU
CALLING IN.
AND IF YOU COULD SEND IN THE
REST OF YOUR COMMENTS, THAT
WOULD BE GREAT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO NEXT TO
SAMANTHA.
GOOD MORNING, SAMANTHA.
>> AND, SAMANTHA, IF YOU CAN
HIT STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN
MOSQUEDA AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
I'M SAMANTHA AND THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR TECHNA IN
WASHINGTON IN THE NORTHWEST.
RESPECTFULLY, I AM TESTIFYING
IN OPPOSITION TO THE CURRENT
VERSION OF COUNCIL BILL 120069
TODAY.
I SENT THIS COMMITTEE A LETTER
FROM OUR ASSOCIATION, AS WELL
AS PROPOSED AMENDMENT LANGUAGE
DRAFTED BY SOME OF OUR MEMBER
COMPANIES, SO I'LL JUST KEEP MY
COMMENTS BRIEF.
WE SUPPORT DISCLOSURE AND AGREE
THAT WORKERS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS
TO THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO
MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT
WHETHER TO ACCEPT OR DENY WORK,
INCLUDING THE ASSIGNMENT, THE
LOCATION AND HOW MUCH THEY WILL
BE PAID.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS CURRENTLY
DRAFTED, THIS BILL REQUIRES
EXTENSIVE AND DUPE LA KAITIVE
EXPOSURES TO INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS AND THIS RESULTS IN
CUMBERSOME PROCESSES WHERE
PARAGRAPHS OF CONTENT ARE BEING
DISPLAYED OVER AND OVER AGAIN
AS DRIVERS ATTEMPT TO WORK ON
THE PLATFORMS.
SO WE BELIEVE THERE ARE WAYS TO
CONCISELY DISCLOSE CRITICAL
INFORMATION WITHOUT THE RISK OF
IT GETTING LOST IN PARAGRAPHS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION OF OUR CONCERNS
AND OF OUR AMENDMENT LANGUAGE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
SAMANTHA.
AND PERFECT TIMING.
APOLOGIES FOR THE SHORTER TIME
TODAY, FOLKS.
REALLY WANT TO GET THROUGH
EVERYBODY HERE, AND THAT WAS
GREAT MODELING.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE ARE MIA
KELLY, CHRIS WLIFONG AND JOE
THOMPSON.
GOOD MORNING, MIA.
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MIA KELLY, A FORMER
GIG WORKER AND ANALYZER WITH
ORGANIZE WASHINGTON'S CAMPAIGN.
PEOPLE DO GOOD WORK BECAUSE
IT'S THE ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME
THAT WORKS FOR THEM AND THEIR
LIVES.
GIG WORKERS AREN'T COVERED BY
MINIMUM WAGE OR ANY OTHER BASIC
PROTECTIONS, AND THOUSANDS ARE
TAKING HOME ONLY A FEW DOLLARS
AN HOUR AFTER EXPENSES, EVEN
THOUGHCOMPANIES WILL ADVERTISE
THAT YOU CAN MAKE UP TO $25 AN
HOUR.
EVERYDAY WE HEAR FROM WORKERS
WHO DEPEND ON THAT FLEXIBILITY
OF GIG WORK.
WE SEE CHIP AWAY AT THAT
FLEXIBILITY BY PENALIZING THEM
FOR REJECTING LOW PAYING
OFFERS.
I HEAR FROM WORKERS WHO HAVE
BEEN DEACTIVATED FOR NO REASON
AND GETTING NO RESPONSE WHEN
THEY CONTACT SUPPORT.
I HAVE HEARD FROM WORKERS WHO
HAVE ALSO BECOME HOMELESS
BECAUSE OF THEIR CAR BREAKING
DOWN AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO PUT AWAY MONEY WHILE WORKING
UP TO 50 HOURS A WEEK.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAPPY TO HEAR
THAT THE COUNCIL IS INCLUDING A
COMMITMENT IN THE CONTRACTOR
TRANSFER ORDINANCE -- [
INAUDIBLE ] AND MORE ROBUST
TRANSPARENCY QUALITIES FOR GIG
WORKERS THIS YEAR.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO
MOVE THIS LEGISLATION FORWARD
AS FIRST STEPS TOWARD ENDING
SUBMINIMUM WAGES FOR GIG
WORKERS WHO ARE PREDOMINANTLY
PEOPLE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANTS,
LGGT WORKERS.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE PORTABLE
BENEFITS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LIKE US --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE DO SEND IN THE REST OF
YOUR COMMENTS.
THE NEXT PERSON IS CHRIS.
GOOD MORNING, CHRIS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS CHRIS WILFONG, I'M A
GIG WORKER FOR UBER EATS AND
ROVER.
I'M HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR
THE TRANSPARENCY BILL.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT
CREATING PROTECTIONS FOR PAY
AND FLEXIBILITY FOR GIG
WORKERS.
SO MOST GIG WORKERS CHOOSE TO
BE GIG WORKERS BECAUSE THEY
HAVE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES IN
THEIR LIVES THAT REQUIRE IT.
FOR ME I HAVE FAMILY
RESPONSIBILITYIES, AND
BASICALLY WE CAN'T HAVE TRUE
FLEXIBILITY IF WE'RE BEING PAID
SO LITTLE THAT WE HAVE TO WORK
THE SAME NUMBER OF HOURS TO
LIVE COMFORTABLY.
SO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE
TIME OFF OF WORK TO VISIT MY
MOTHER AND BE IN MY NEPHEWS'
LIVES.
AND THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE TO
SAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
THE NEXT PERSON IS JOE.
GOOD MORNING, JOE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
THANK YOU.
>> HI.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JOE THOMPSON.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF MERCY
HOUSING NORTHWEST.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
CONSIDER A $2.5 MILLION
ALLOCATION OF THE RECOVERY ACT
FUNDS TO SUPPORT RESIDENT
SERVICES FOR THE CITY'S NON-
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES.
I FEEL FUNDING AT THIS LEVEL
AND NOT LESS IS CRITICAL TO
ENSURE THAT OUR SERVICES ARE
ROBUST ENOUGH TO MEET THE
CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY COVID-
19 THAT OUR RESIDENTS FACE AND
WILL CONTINUE TO FACE FOR THE
FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
MERCY HOUSING NORTHWEST HAS A
LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT OF
PERFORMING ONSITE SERVICES TO
ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES AND ALL
OF OUR RESIDENTS.
TO THIS POINT WE HAVE RECEIVED
NO FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
WE'D VERY MUCH LIKE TO EXPAND
THE DEPTHS OF OUR SERVICE,
ACADEMY THIS FUNDING WOULD
ALLOW US TO DO THIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
CONSIDERING ALLOCATING OUR
FUNDS TO SUPPORT RESIDENT
SERVICES AT NONPERMIT-SUPPORTED
HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE DR.
ALEXANDER GARAVEES, JUSTIN
SIMMONS AND ALIKA DMENG EZ.
GOOD MORNING, DOCTOR.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DR. ALEX ANDRA
GERVES.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A SUPPORT
MANDATE FOR WORKERS.
I WROTE MY DOCTORAL THESIS ON
PORTABLE BENEFITS.
AND AFTER SPENDING THE LAST
THREE YEARS STUDYING, I FIND
THAT THERE'S INTEREST AT THE
FEDERAL, STATE AND MUNICIPAL
LEVEL.
PHILADELPHIA IS THE ONLY CITY
TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS A MANDATE.
SEATTLE COULD LEAD THE WAY IN
DEMONSTRATING THAT A MANDATE IS
POSSIBLE AND COULD SERVE AS
INSPIRATION, ALONG WITH SAN
FRANCISCO IN DRIVING POLICY
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I ALSO BELIEVE THE POWER OF A
PORTABLE BENEFITS MANDATE GOES
BEYOND THE BENEFITS THEMSELVES,
BENEFITS IN THIS CASE BECOME
LEGIBLITY TOOLS.
THEY MAKE WORK VISUAL AND
QUANTIFIABLE.
PROVIDING A BENEFIT STRUCTURE
HELPS LEGITIMIZE STANDARD WORK
THAT IS DESERVING OF WORK
PROTECTIONS.
AND FINALLY, IN MY RESEARCH, I
HAVE FOUND THAT ACCESS TO
BENEFITS WITHOUT A MANDATE AND
A WAY TO ACCRUE HOURS EQUITABLY
WILL NOT RESULT IN DOMESTIC
WORKERS GETTING PROTECTION.
THAT'S THE WHY THE
RECOMMENDATION IS CRUCIAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THE NEXT PERSON IS JUSTIN.
GOOD MORNING, JUSTIN.
>> MY NAME IS JUSTIN SIMON,
LIFELONG DISTRICT 5 RESIDENT.
I LIVE IN A 92-UNIT LAKEFRONT
CONDOMINIUM COMMUNITY AT BITTER
LAKE.
I AM ALSO ALLIED WITH THE GROUP
SAVE BITTER LAKE AND BROADVIEW
THOMPSON K-8. IN MY EMAIL
YESTERDAY, I RECEIVED A MESSAGE
FROM FORMER SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL BRUCE HARRELL, NOW
LEADING CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR.
HARRELL WROTE, I BELIEVE THE
MAJORITY OF THESE ARPA FUNDS
NEED TO ADDRESS THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, ESPECIALLY
HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE CAMPED
ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, NEAR PLAY
FIELDS AND IN OTHER SENSITIVE
AREAS.
WE KNOW THAT THE WHOLE
ENCAMPMENT SITUATION AT BITTER
LAKE IS AN ESCALATING PROBLEM,
NOT JUST FOR NEIGHBORS,
TEACHERS, PARENTS, CHILDREN AND
CAMPERS, BUT FOR U.S. COUNCIL
MEMBERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE,
ALONG WITH THE SEATTLE SCHOOL
BOARD FOR THE LAND OCCUPIED BY
THIS ENCAMPMENT.
THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RESPOND NOW IN A WAY THAT WOULD
PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF EACH
OF THESE GROUPS.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO USE SOME OF
THE ARPA FUNDS TO RELOCATE THIS
UNPERMITTED ENCAMPMENT FROM
BITTER LAKE TO ANOTHER LOCATION
WHERE SERVICES AND FACILITIES
WOULD BE MORE READILY
AVAILABLE, ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS WOULD BE MITIGATE AND
RESISTANCE FROM NEIGHBORS WOULD
BE MUCH DIMINISHED.
WE'LL BE SHARING OUR
SUGGESTIONS WITH YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY.
THE NEXT PERSON IS ALIKA
DOMINGUEZ.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> ARE YOU PRESENT TO DO
TRANSLATION?
>> WE'LL BE PROVIDING THE
TRANSLATION.
>> I'M SORRY.
CARDENO, DID YOU WANT THE TIME
TO TRANSLATE THAT, PLEASE?
>> OKAY.
SURE.
THE ONLY THING IS I DID NOT
CATCH THEIR NAME.
>> ALIKA DOMINGUEZ WHO'S COME
TO TESTIFY BEFORE ON WORKERS.
YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE HER.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND I'M SORRY, IN THE FUTURE,
SHOULD I DO -- SHOULD WE DO
SPACING IT OUT A LITTLE BIT?
>> I THINK SHE WAS NOT
PREPARED, AND I HAD TO QUICKLY
JOT DOWN WHAT SHE SAID.
BUT FOR OTHERS I DO HAVE THEIR
STATEMENTS.
>> WONDERFUL.
APPRECIATE THAT.
OKAY.
PLEASE CONTINUE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> MY NAME IS ALIKA DMING
DOMINGUEZ A MEMBER OF THE NANNY
COLLECTIVE, AND I HAVE BEEN A
NANNY FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS.
AND I HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS
INDUSTRY FOR A LONG TIME.
I AM EXCITED THAT SOON I WILL
BE PART OF THE SEATTLE DOMESTIC
WORKERS STANDARDS BOARD, AND I
THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE
IS THE ENFORCEMENT THAT COMES
ON THE EMPLOYERS.
WHEN THE LAW WAS PASSED TO
PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS, I SPOKE TO MY
EMPLOYERS, AND I SPECIFICALLY
WANTED TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT
THE BREAKS.
BUT THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT
HEARD ABOUT THE LOT, AND THEY
DENIED GIVING THESE BENEFITS.
THE ISSUE IS THAT DOMESTIC
WORKERS ARE ISOLATED, AND EVEN
THOUGH THE LAW PASSED TWO
YEARS, MANY DOMESTIC WORKERS
HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OF THEIR
RIGHTS FROM THE LAW THAT WAS
PASSED.
WE NEED TO DISTRIBUTE MATERIALS
TO INFORM THE EMPLOYERS AND
WORKERS ABOUT THE RIGHTS, AND
SO THAT WE CAN ENFORCE THIS
LAW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT WE PRESENTED -- THAT WILL
BE PRESENTED TO YOU LATER
TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALIKA.
THE NEXT PERSON -- THE NEXT
THREE PEOPLE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND FOR TRANSLATION.
>> MY NAME IS AND I HAVE BEEN A
BABYSITTER IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS.
AND I AM PART OF THE NANNY
COLLECTIVE.
I AM PROUD TO HAVE PARTICIPATED
IN THE INITIAL EFFORTS IN THE
CREATION OF THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS.
AS A BABYSITTER, I HAVE
REALIZED THAT THE PARTICIPATION
OF US AS DOMESTIC WORKERS IS
CRUCIAL AND IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, AND IT
IS NECESSARY THAT WE BE A
FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE
CONVERSATION, CREATION AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF SYSTEMS THAT
HELP TO ENFORCE OUR RIGHTS AND
IN CREATING A PART OF A BENEFIT
SYSTEM.
I ASK THIS COUNCIL TO CONSIDER
AND APPLY THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE LAST LABOR STANDARDS
BOARD.
THE CITY INVESTS IN THE
COMMUNITY AND DOMESTIC WORKERS
AND CONNECT WITH US IN OUR
LANGUAGE.
THEY DEPEND ON THEIR WORK AND
MAY HAVE LISMED TIME AND
RESOURCES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MARISOL.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE
MARISSA, MARCOS MARTINEZ AND
LAURA GONZALEZ.
GOOD MORNING, MARISSA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
THIS IS MARISSA.
FOLKS CALL ME REESE.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
MUSIC COMMISSION AND THE -- [
INAUDIBLE ] NORTHWEST FOLK
LIFE AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT
THE AMERICAN RESCUE FUNDS PLAN.
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE
ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTOR TO
MAKE SURE THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS
DIRECT INVESTMENT IN OUR SECTOR
AS A PART OF THAT DISPERSION OF
FUNDS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MANY
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, CULTURAL
WORKERS, PRODUCTION MEMBERS WHO
HAVE BEEN ESSENTIALLY UNABLE TO
WORK FOR 14 MONTHS AND ARE
STILL LOOKING AT A LONG TERM TO
COME BACK FOR REOPENING.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CONSIDER
THIS AN INVESTMENT AS THESE
WORKERS ARE PART OF THE SOCIAL
COHESION AND CREATIVITY THAT
OUR CITY NEEDS TO BE COMING
BACK FROM THIS TIME OF -- FROM
THIS PANDEMIC.
SO REALLY WANT TO JUST PUT A
WORD IN THERE FOR OUR SECTORS
ARE AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING
ME SPEAK TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY.
GOOD MORNING, MARCOS.
YOU ARE NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
GOOD MORNING.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND
I AM HERE TO URGE YOU TO
APPROVE THE BENEFITS FOR
DOMESTIC WORKERS NOT AS A
PILOT, BUT AS A PERMANENT
MANDATED POLICY.
OUR COALITION SURVEY SHOWED
ONLY 36% OF DOMESTIC WORKERS
ARE GETTING PAID SICK UNDER
CURRENT ORDINANCE, AND ONLY 13%
OF HOUSE CLEANERS.
DURING COVID, WORKERS HAVE HAD
AN INCREASED NEED FOR PTO.
THE ALIA PLATFORM HAVE SHOWN
THAT PTO WORKS IF ENOUGH
EMPLOYERS PARTICIPATE, BUT NOT
ENOUGH EMPLOYERS DO.
SO ALIA SHOWS THAT WE NEED
COUNCIL TO ENACT PORTABLE PTO
AS A MANDATE FOR EMPLOYERS TO
PARTICIPATE.
LASTLY, WE HAVE SURVEYED
EMPLOYERS, AND NEARLY 60% OF
THEM SAY EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING DOMESTIC
WORKER BENEFITS, INCLUDING PTO.
SO WORKERS NEED IT.
IT'S DOABLE, AND EMPLOYERS
SUPPORT IT.
WE URGE YOU TO FOLLOW THE
STANDARD BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION
AND APPROVE PORTABLE PTO FOR
DOMESTIC WORKERS AS A PERMANENT
MANDATED POLICY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARCOS.
THE NEXT PERSON IS LAURA
GONZALEZ.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> GRACIAS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LAURA
GONZALEZ, AND I HAVE BEEN A
NANNY FOR OVER 18 YEARS, AND
OUT OF THOSE 18 YEARS, FOR 16
OF THOSE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED
ANY KIND OF BENEFITS.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, I HAVE LIVED
A LOT OF GOOD MOMENTS, BUT I
LEARNED TO NEGOTIATE.
BUT I HAVE BEEN -- BUT I HAVE
NOT HAD AS BAD SITUATIONS AS
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD REALLY
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES, AND
ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC,
IT HAS BEEN QUITE TREMENDOUS
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S MANDATE TO
SHUT DOWN THE STATE.
I HAD TO TALK TO MY EMPLOYERS
ABOUT STILL CONTINUING TO WORK,
THAT IF THEY COULD HELP ME OUT,
THEY SAY THEY COULD NOT HELP ME
OUT WITH ANY KIND OF SUPPORT.
AND I HAD BEEN WITHOUT ANY KIND
OF INCOME FOR AT LEAST FIVE
MONTHS.
AND SO WHEN I CONTINUED TO GO
BACK TO WORK, ONE DAY I
REALIZED THAT I WAS REALLY
SICK, BUT I STILL HAD TO
CONTINUE TO GO INTO WORK.
WHEN MY EMPLOYERS NOTICED I HAD
A TEMPERATURE, THEY SENT ME
HOME, AND THEN THEY DECIDED
THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR MY TIME
OFF.
I SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT A PROGRAM
CALLED ALIA TO HELP PROVIDE
BENEFITS TO ME, AND THEY SAID
THAT SINCE IT WAS NOT
MANDATORY, THEY DID NOT
PARTICIPATE.
I HAVE REALIZED THAT
IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE
-- MANY OTHER PEOPLE -- MOST OF
THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE ANY
KIND OF BENEFITS OR SUPPORTED
AT WORK, AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO
DO WITH LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
SO I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT
DOMESTIC WORKERS IN THEIR
EFFORTS TO INFORM EMPLOYERS
MORE ABOUT THE LAW AND THEIR
RIGHTS.
THANK YOU.
>> GRACIAS.
THE NEXT PERSON IS MICHAEL,
FOLLOWED BY ELENA AND ANOTHER.
GOOD MORNING, MICHAEL.
>> GOOD MORNING.
HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL GREER, AND I
AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO AT
ARTS FUND, AND I'M ENCOURAGING
YOU TO CONSIDER AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN ACT DIRECT AID FOR THE
ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR.
OUR FUND REPRESENTS OVER 100
ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
IN 2019, THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY
PROVIDED OVER 67,000 JOBS AND
OVER $24 BILLION IN GOODS AND
SERVICES SOLD.
SINCE THE START OF THE
PANDEMIC, WE HAVE SEEN OUR
SAMPLE OF THIS SECTOR LOSE OVER
50% OF ITS WORK FORCE AND IS
PROJECTD TO SEE A 30% DECREASE
IN FISCAL YEAR '21 PERSONNEL
EXPENSES, ALONG WITH A 65%
DECREASE IN EARNED INCOME OVER
THE SAME PERIOD.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OUR
ORGANIZATIONS WILL HAVE
SUFFERED OVER $250 MILLION IN
LOSSES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC
THROUGH THE PAST 12 MONTHS
ALONE.
THIS INDUSTRY WAS FIRST TO
CLOSE AND WILL BE LAST TO FULLY
REOPEN, AND WE ARE TURNING TO
OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN
ORDER TO SUPPORT THE RECOVERY
OF THE INDUSTRY, ITS WORKERS
AN ALL OF THE ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL BENEFITS THAT IT BRINGS
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
PROVIDING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
ACT AID TO THIS SECTOR WILL DO
JUST THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> HELLO?
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> GRACIAS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM AND I AM HERE BECAUSE I
WANT TO SUPPORT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LABOR
STANDARDS FORCE.
IN ALL THE TIME THAT I HAVE
BEEN WORKING, I HAVE NEVER HAD
THE POSSIBILITY OF REST WHEN I
HAVE FELT ILL.
THEY HAVE NOT CONSIDERED ANY
DAYS FOR ME TO TAKE OFF IN CASE
OF ILLNESS.
TO BE MORE PRECISE AND BASE IT
ON MY WORK EXPERIENCE, WHEN I
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE
VACCINE FOR COVID, MY BODY
REACTED IN A NEGATIVE WAY.
I HAD GENERAL DISCOMFORT SUCH
AS HEADACHE, PAIN ON MY ARMS,
FEVER, WEAKNESS, ET CETERA, AND
DESPITE THAT REACTION THAT MY
BODY HAD AND THAT MY BOSSES
REALIZED THAT I WAS HAVING DUE
TO THE VACCINE, AND THEY KNEW
THAT THESE WERE THE POSSIBLE
REACTIONS THAT OUR BODIES COULD
HAVE BECAUSE OF THE VACCINE,
THEY DID NOT BOTHER TO TELL ME
TO TAKE THE DAY OFF, TO REST
AND TO CONTINUE WITH MY WORK
THE NEXT DAY SO THAT I COULD
REGAIN MY STRENGTH.
DO YOU THINK THIS IS HUMAN?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT DOMESTIC
WORKERS ARE IMMUNE TO DISEASE
SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE DOMESTIC
WORKERS?
IT IS WORTH MENTIONING I AM AN
AUPIERE SINCE AS MY JOB I
FULFILL THE DUTIES THAT
CORRESPOND TO A NANNY.
I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF AN
EXCHANGE STUDENT AS THE PROGRAM
CALL US.
WE ARE NANNY TO WORK MORE THAN
40 HOURS A WEEK AND THAT MANY
HOST FAMILIES CONSIDER US TO BE
AVAILABLE 24/7 BY THE SIMPLE
FACT OF US LIVING WITH THEM.
I ASK THIS COUNCIL TO CONSIDER
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
LABOR STANDARDS BOARD SO THAT
WORKERS LIKE ME CAN HAVE ACCESS
TO PAID SICK TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GRACIAS.
THE NEXT PERSON IS EBONI.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
MY NAME IS EBONI.
I'M AN ARTS ADVOCATE AND
SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION MEMBER,
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND
ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS AND
CULTURE SECTOR.
I REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
SUPPORT THE SEATTLE ARTS
COMMISSION BUDGET LETTER TO THE
MAYOR.
I ASK THAT YOU DIRECTLY INVEST
IN INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS BY
ALLOCATING $15 MILLION TO SERVE
AS STIMULUS FOR ARTISTS AND
ALLOCATE FUNDING OF $1 MILLION
ANNUALLY FOR THE NEXT THREE
YEARS TO HOPE CORPS WHICH
CENTERS THE RESTORATION FOR
WEALTH OF THOSE AFFECTED
DISPROPORTIONATELY DURING THIS
PANDEMIC.
I ASK THAT YOU INVEST IN
CULTURAL COMMUNITIES BY
ALLOCATING $20 MILLION TOWARDS
ULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
SUPPORT CULTURAL SPACES BY
FORGIVING ALL GRANTS FOR 2021
TO 2022 FOR ARTISTS AND
CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
ARTISTS WHO CALL THE CITY.
AS RESOURCE THE CULTURAL SPACE
AGENCY FULLEST POTENTIAL AND
CAUSE FINANCIAL PRESS TO THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE
BUDGETIG RESULTING FROM THE
DIMINISHED ADMISSIONS TAX
COLLECTION AND SUPPLEMENT THE
BUDGET TO MATCH THE 2019 BUDGET
TOTAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I WILL LOOK FOR THAT LETTER
THAT YOU SENT TO THE MAYOR.
THANK YOU.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> HI.
I ALSO DON'T HAVE THEIR
STATEMENT PREPARED, SO I DIDN'T
CATCH EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS
GOING TOO FAST.
SORRY.
HI.
I'M A NANNY AND AN AWE PAIR,
ALSO NOW A MOM TO A 10 MONTH
OLD.
DOMESTIC WORKERS HERE DO NOT
RECEIVE SUCH BENEFIT AS PAID
TIME OFF.
IT'S NECESSARY FOR ALL WORKERS
TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF
BENEFITS, ANDI ASK THAT YOU
WORK ON MAKING CHANGES TO THE
CURRENT DOMESTIC WORKER BILL OF
RIGHTS TO APPROVE IT AND MAKE
CHANGES SO THAT ALL WORKERS ARE
ABLE TO HAVE BENEFITS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> OKAY.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, FOLKS,
ARE LISTED AS NOT PRESENT, JANE
SALZUKI, ADRIENNE MENDOZA,
SHOWING UP AS NOT PRESENT.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> I BELIEVE THAT DOES CONCLUDE
OUR TRANSLATION SERVICES THAT
WE KNOW OF.
I WANT TO THANK CARDENA WHO IS
ON THE LINE WITH US.
IN CASE SOMEONE COMES UP, I
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW,
CARDENO THAT IS EVERYONE ON MY
LIST.
IF OTHER FOLKS APPEAR, WE
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME, AND I KNOW YOU'LL BE
PRESENT WITH US FOR THE NEXT
PRESENTATION AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, CARDENO,
FOR YOUR TRANSLATION.
OKAY, FOLKS, WE STILL HAVE A
HANDFUL OF PEOPLE READY TO
TESTIFY ON OTHER ITEMS HERE.
AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO
CALL NAMES.
DR. KINTON MORRIS, KIM ENGLAND
AND KIM WOLF.
AS A REMINDER, ONE MINUTE TO
SPEAK.
YOU'LL HAVE 10 SECONDS AT THE
END OF YOUR TIME, AND YOU ALSO
NEED TO PUSH STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
GOOD MORNING, DR. MORRIS.
>>
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M DR. QUINTEN MORRIS.
I AM THE COCHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
ARTS COMMISSION, PROFESSOR AT
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY AND ALSO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER
OF KEY TO CHANGE.
I'M WRITING -- I'M SPEAKING OF
COURSE TO TALK ABOUT THE
RECOVERY OF ARTS HERE IN
SEATTLE.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A VILLAGE TO
BRING SEATTLE OUT OF THIS
CRISIS.
THE ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTOR
ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO
UNITE AND HELP BRING FEELINGS
OF SAFETY AND SOLACE BACK TO
OUR CITY'S RESIDENTS DURING THE
CRUCIAL COVID RECOVERY PERIOD.
MORE THAN 62% OF ARTISTIC AND
CREATIVE WORKERS HAVE BEEN
UNEMPLOYED.
95% OF THEM HAVE EXPERIENCED
SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF INCOME, AND
71% OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
INDICATE THAT THE FINANCIAL
IMPACT HAS BEEN SEVERE DUE TO
THE PANDEMIC.
[ INAUDIBLE ] YOU ALL
CONSIDER INVESTING IN
INDIVIDUAL ARTS BY ALLOCATING
$15 MILLION TO SERVE AS A
STIMULUS TOWARDS WORKING
CREATIVE IN SEATTLE, OF COURSE
INVEST SEED MONEY OF $1 MILLION
AND INVEST IN OUR CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES.
I WROTE A LETTER TO THE MAYOR,
AND, OF COURSE, I'M GOING TO
FOLLOW UP WITH THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL AS WELL BECAUSE I WANT
TO JOIN IN THE RECOVERY OF
HELPING OUR CITY GET BACK TO A
SENSE OF NORMALCY WITH THE ARTS
AND CULTURAL SECTOR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THE NEXT PERSON IS KIM
ENGLAND.
GOOD MORNING, KIM.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KIM ENGLAND.
I SUPPORT THE DOMESTIC WORKER
STANDARDS BOARD'S
RECOMMENDATIONS.
LABOR STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON.
I SPEAK TODAY AS A PROUD MEMBER
OF THE COALITION OF DOMESTIC
WORKERS AND THEIR ALLIES.
EARLIER THIS YEAR THE COALITION
CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF EMPLOYERS
OF DOMESTIC WORKERS.
OVER 120 EMPLOYERS RESPONDED.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW OF
THE FINDINGS.
A LITTLE OVER 70% OF EMPLOYERS
SAID DOMESTIC WORKERS SHOULD
RECEIVE PAID VACATION TIME.
APPROXIMATELY 90% OF EMPLOYERS
SAY DOMESTIC WORKERS SHOULD
RECEIVE PAID SICK TIME, AND
ABOUT 90% OF EMPLOYERS
RESPONDED THAT DOMESTIC WORKERS
SHOULD GET HEALTH INSURANCE.
AND AS YOU ALREADY HEARD FROM
MARCOS MARTINEZ, NEARLY 60% OF
EMPLOYERS INCLUDED THE HIRING
FAMILY AMONG THE LIST OF WHO
SHOULD PAY FOR DOMESTIC WORK
BENEFITS.
ONE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS ALSO
SHOW THAT MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES
ARE SUPPORTED BUT CONFUSED
ABOUT BENEFITS FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS.
EMPLOYERS TELL US THEY ARE KEEN
TO GET CLEARER GROUND RULES
FROM CITY LEADERSHIP AND THAT
THEY ARE EAGER FOR A PLATFORM
OF RECORDKEEPING COMPLIANCE
THAT IS SIMPLE TO USE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THE NEXT PERSON IS KIM
WOLF.
GOOD MORNING, KIM.
>>
>> MY NAME IS KIMBERLY WOLF, A
LONG-TIME GIG WORKER.
I SUPPORT CB120069,
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE
LANGUAGE LAYING THE FOUNDATION
FOR THE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH MUCH NEEDED
PAY STANDARDS.
WE SUPPORT THE PASSING OF
POLICIES WHICH INCREASE
TRANSPARENCY FOR INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS AND COMMIT TO THE
NEXT STEP, A PAY STANDARD FOR
GIG WORKERS IN 2021.
WE WERE ALREADY MAKING
SUBMINIMUM WAGES, BUT DURING
COVID, WHEN THE GIG COMPANIES
ARE MAKING BILLIONS MORE, THEY
DROPPED OUR PAY EVEN FURTHER.
IT'S NOW LOWER THAN EVER.
AND THE DISCREPANCY HAS BECOME
SO VAST, PEOPLE ARE BLEEDING
MONEY, UNABLE TO PAY THEIR
BILLS, THAT'S SERIOUSLY HURTING
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS,
YOUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY.
WITHOUT THE LONG OVERDUE PAY-UP
STANDARDS IN PLACE, THE RACE TO
THE BOTTOM IN THE GIG ECONOMY
WILL ONLY PICK UP SPEED,
LEAVING MORE VULNERABLE AND
MARGINALIZED WORKERS BEHIND.
WE NEED THE COUNCIL TO PASS THE
PAY-UP POLICY FOR GIG WORKERS
THIS YEAR.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND
SUPPORTING GIG WORKERS BY
MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT DELAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE JOHN BURBANK, FOLLOWED
BY ELIA CORTEZ AND JOHN
SUDZBURY.
GOOD MORNING, JOHN.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
MOSQUEDA.
AND MY NAME IS JOHN BURBANK,
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE ECONOMIC INSTITUTE IN
SEATTLE.
I WANT TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT
CARE AND AFFECTION FOR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT LORRENA GONZALEZ IN
THIS MOMENT OF GREAT GRIEF FOR
HER.
SHE SHOULD KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL
FEELING FOR HER.
CHILD CARE WORKERS, I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN AND THE FIRST FUNDING
POSSIBLE.
CHILD CARE WORKERS ARE
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
THEY ARE WOMEN, PARTICULARLY
WOMEN OF COLOR.
CHILD CARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY UNDERPAID.
KING COUNTY CHILD CARE WORKERS
NOW MAKE ABOUT $16 AN HOUR, BUT
CHILD CARE WORKERS HAVE ALSO
STEPPED UP AS ESSENTIAL
WORKERS, AND AS THIS COUNCIL
HAS DEEMED THAT GROCERY STORE
WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS
AND DESERVE A $4 AN HOUR WAGE
INCREASE, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT
CHILD CARE WORKERS GET A $2 AN
HOUR WAGE INCREASE.
THAT WOULD BRING THEIR PAY UP
TO ABOUT $18.50 AN HOUR.
THAT WILL COST ABOUT $6 MILLION
FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2021.
IT WOULD COVER WORKERS AND
CHILD CARE CENTERS, FAMILY
HOMES, SCHOOL-AGED KIDS, E-CAP
WORKERS.
THIS IS A --
>> THANK YOU, JOHN.
PLEASE DO SEND THE REST OF YOUR
PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME TODAY.
THE NEXT PERSON IS ELIA.
GOOD MORNING.
AND AS WE LOOK FOR -- [
SEAKING SPANISH ]
>> GRACIAS.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> THANK YOU.
[ SPEAKINGS SPANISH ]
>> HI.
MY NAME IS AND I HAVE BEEN A
DOMESTIC WORKER FOR MORE THAN
10 YEARS.
I'M ALSO AN ORGANIZER OF
DOMESTIC WORKERS.
AT THE MOMENT I ORGANIZE A
GROUP OF MORE THAN 90 WORKERS.
EVERYDAY I HEAR DIFFICULTY
STORIES RIGHT NOW DURING THE
PANDEMIC ABOUT NOT HAVING
ACCESS TO BENEFITS LIKE SICK
DAYS OR TIME OFF.
SINCE WE WORK SUCH FEW HOURS.
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
THESE BENEFITS, MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE CONTINUED
WORKING DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR
FEAR OF LOSING THEIR WORK, EVEN
WITH THE RISK OF BEING INFECTED
WITH COVID-19.
I FEEL POWERLESS THAT I AM NOT
ABLE TO HELP MY COLLEAGUES.
THAT IS WHY I'M HERE ON BEHALF
OF ALL DOMESTIC WORKERS, MOST
OF THEM ARE WOMEN OF COLOR AND
IMMIGRANTS.
TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S URGENT
AND NECESSARY THAT A MECHANISM
FOR PORTABLE BENEFITS BE MADE
MANDATORY.
TWO YEARS AGO THE 33,000
DOMESTIC WORKERS IN SEATTLE, WE
WERE ABLE TO COME OUT OF THE
SHADOWS, BUT WE NEED TO STAY
VISIBLE.
DIGNITY, RESPECT AND BENEFITS
MUST BE MANDATORY FOR ALL
WORKERS, FOR ALL DOMESTIC
WORKERS.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
GRACIAS, ELIA.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE
BURKS, STANDSBURY [ SPEAKING
SPANISH ]
>> HI.
MY NAME IS BIRCH STANDSBURY.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO URGE THE
COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT A PORTABLE
BENEFITS SYSTEM FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS.
MY SON WAS BORN WITH A SEVERE
NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE.
HE HAS A TRAIK OS AT THAT MI,
HE HAS A CHAIR AND REQUIRES
CONSTANT CARE.
WE HAVE A NURSE IN OUR HOME
FIVE DAY AS WEEK TO HELP WITH
THAT CARE.
WE ALSO EMPLOY A HOUSE CLEANER
A COUPLE OF TIMES A MONTH.
MY PARTNER AND I DO OUR BEST TO
PROVIDE A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE
WORK ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT STILL
MEANS CONSTANTLY NAVIGATING
SOMEONE ELSE'S PERSONAL SPACE.
MEANWHILE, MOST DOMESTIC
WORKERS DID NOT RECEIVE
BENEFITS.
THE NURSES WHO WORK IN OUR HOME
ARE PAID THROUGH A PRIVATE
AGENCY, YET WE STILL FEEL A
RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THEY
HAVE FAIR COMPENSATION AND
BENEFITS.
FOR THE WOMAN WHO COMES TO
CLEAN OUR HOME, WE KNOW THAT
BENEFITS ARE NOT PART OF HER
WORK WHICH MEANS HAVING MANY
DIFFERENT FAMILIES AS
EMPLOYERS.
THAT'S WHY WE WORKED WITH THE
ORGANIZATION HAND IN HAND A FEW
YEARS AGO TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT
WITH THE ALIA PLATFORM IN ORDER
TO HELP HER WITH BENEFITS.
IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY PAY
PAID BENEFITS LIKE THE TIME
OFF, WE NEED CLEAR GUIDANCE
FROM THE CITY ABOUT WHAT
PLATFORMS TO USE THOSE
BENEFITS.
WE CAN'T --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE SEND IN THE REST OF YOUR
COMMENTS AS WELL.
GOOD MORNING.
FOLLOWED BY ENRIQUE VEGA.
LOOKING ON MY END FOR THE
SQUARES TO POP UP.
WELCOME.
IF YOU CAN PUSH STAR 6 ONE MORE
TIME.
>> SHE MAY NEED SPANISH.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M AN IMMIGRANT DOMESTIC
WORKER.
I'VE CLEANED HOUSES, TAKEN CARE
OF CHILDREN FOR FIVE YEARS.
I'M A MEMBER OF CASA LA TINA
AND WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE
BILL OF RIGHTS FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS IN THE FIRST YEAR WHEN
IT CAME INTO EFFECT IN JULY OF
2019.
WE WERE JUST ASSIMILATING THAT
WE HAD HAD SOME BASIC LABOR
RIGHTS WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT US
AND FORCED US TO SEE THE NEED
FOR PAID SICK BENEFITS.
DUE TO THE COVID-19, I LEFT MY
JOB WITHOUT AND NOW I HAVE NO
INCOME OR ANY KIND OF BENEFITS.
IF DOMESTIC WORKERS WERE
ENTITLED TO SICK DAYS OR PAID
TIME OFF, AT LEAST THE STRESS
OF NOT HAVING INCOME WOULD BE
LESS.
I'M A MEMBER OF A PORTABLE
MEMBER BENEFITS CALLED ALIA IN
WHICH SOME CLIENTS SIGNED UP TO
CONTRIBUTE EVERY TIME I WENT TO
WORK.
AND THAT THRILLED ME A LOT.
SINCE IS NOT MANDATORY, ONE OF
THEM NOW ONLY CONTINUES TO
CONTRIBUTE, AND I WOULD LIKE
ALL OF MY EMPLOYERS TO
CONTRIBUTE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL MODELS OF
PORTABLE BENEFITS THAT WORK.
THAT IS WHY I ASK THAT THE
COUNCIL SUPPORT THE
RECOMMENDATION AROUND A
PORTABLE BENEFITS PLATFORM THAT
IS MANDATORY FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS HERE IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GRACIAS.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> GOOD MORNING TO ALL COUNCIL
PEOPLE.
MY NAME IS THIS, AND I HAVE
BEEN A DOMESTIC WORKER FOR MORE
THAN 10 YEARS.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF CASA
LATINA.
I'VE NEVER FELT SO VULNERABLE
AS IN THIS TIME DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
IT HAS BEEN CHAOS TO BE WITHOUT
WORK AND WITHOUT PROTECTIONS.
BEING AT HOME WITHOUT WORK, I
FELT THAT MY LIFE DEPENDED ON A
THIN THREAD THAT AT ANY MOMENT
WOULD BREAK.
I ALSO REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT
PORTABLE BENEFITS ARE TO
DOMESTIC WORKERS.
WE WORK FOR A DIFFERENT
EMPLOYER, SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO
HAVE BENEFITS SUCH AS PAID TIME
OFF, SICK TIME, UNEMPLOYMENT OR
HEALTH INSURANCE.
DOMESTIC WORKERS ARE UNITED
FIGHTING NONSTOP TO BUILD A
SOCIETY IN WHICH WE HAVE THE
RIGHTS AND RESPECT WE DESERVE.
THAT IS WHY I ASK YOU TODAY FOR
YOUR FULL SUPPORT FOR THE
RECOMMENDATION.
BUT PERSONALLY, THE
RECOMMENDATION TO FIND A
MECHANISM TO -- [ INAUDIBLE ]
WOULD MAKE A HUGE CHANGE TO THE
LIVES OF ALL DOMESTIC WORKERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GRACIAS.
FOLKS, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR
45-MINUTE TIME.
I'M GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO EXTEND THE
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ANOTHER 15
MINUTES.
WE ONLY HAVE 11 MORE PEOPLE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
THAT SHOULD GIVE US TIME FOR
TRANSLATION IF NEEDED.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE
EXTENDED.
I SEE A THUMBS UP, FOR 15 MORE
MINUTES.
I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
PREPARING FOR THIS PUBLIC
TESTIMONY, SO THANK YOU.
OKAY.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ] MARTHA
FOLLOWED BY RICK AND SARAH
WILK.
GOOD MORNING, MARTHA.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
[ INAUDIBLE ]
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL.
I HAVE BEEN CLEANING HOUSES FOR
10 YEARS, AND I AM A MEMBER OF
CASA LATINA.
DURING THE WEEK I WORK FEW
HOURS BECAUSE I CLEAN HOUSES
TWO OR THREE TIMES PER WEEK,
BUT I HAVE SIX EMPLOYERS TO
MINE.
DURING THIS PANDEMIC, I WAS
LEFT WITHOUT A JOB WITHOUT ANY
KIND OF INCOME WITH A LOT OF
STRESS AND WITHOUT HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE SICK
DAYS, BENEFITS BECAUSE THE
SYSTEM IS DESIGNED ONLY FOR
WORKERS TO HAVE ONLY ONE
EMPLOYER.
JUST LIKE ME, THERE ARE MANY,
MANY OTHER DOMESTIC WORKERS WHO
ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION.
THAT IS WHY I SEE THE URGENT
NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE
BENEFITS.
I ASK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY
HEART TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING
THIS LABOR SECTOR THAT REMAINS
VULNERABLE AND OPRESSED.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO HAVE
PAID TIME MECHANISM OR PORTABLE
BENEFIT BE MADE MANDATORY.
WE DO NOT WANT A PILOT BECAUSE
THERE ARE ALREADY SEVERAL
MODELS THAT WORK SUCH AS THE
VIA BENEFITS PLATFORM WHICH I
AM A PART OF BUT IS NOT
MANDATORY.
I HUMBLY ASK THAT SEATTLE
CONTINUE TO BE AN EXAMPLE AT
THE NATIONAL LEVEL ON LABOR
RIGHTS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS.
WE TRUST YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> GRACIAS, MARTHA.
OKAY, FOLKS, AS A REMINDER, WE
ONLY HAVE ABOUT 10 MINUTES
LEFT, SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE
YOUR LINES CUT OFF AT ONE
MINUTE.
THAT INCLUDES FOR THE SPANISH
SPEAKERS AS WELL, BUT WE WILL
ALSO HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE FOR
TRANSLATION AFTER THAT.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE
RICK, SARAH WILT AND DONNA
HUTCHINSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON -- GOOD MORNING,
RICK.
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING.
>> OH, YEAH, THANKS.
I DON'T HAVE PREPARED REMARKS,
BUT I'M A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
ARTS COMMISSION, AND I WANT TO
STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE
COMMISSION'S BUDGET PROPOSAL
FOR THE FUNDING THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN.
I JUST WANT TO STATE, YOU KNOW,
AS A MEMBER OF THE ARTS
COMMUNITY SINCE 1994, AND I
MOVED HERE FROM LOS ANGELES
BEFORE THAT, JUST WANT TO
RESTATE GENERALLY HOW IMPORTANT
-- VITAL, I BELIEVE, THAT THE
ARTS ARE TO THE COMMUNITY TO
FUNDING, TO TAXPAYING, TO
CREATING A VIBRANT AND VITAL
ECO SYSTEM FOR THE COMMUNITY,
AND I JUST WOULD RECOMMEND
STRONGLY THAT GOING FORWARD
WITH THE NECESSARY FUNDING AND
TO ADVOCATE FOR ARTS IN
GENERAL, IT'S AN INVESTMENT,
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND THE NEXT PERSON IS SARAH.
GOOD MORNING.
>> MY NAME IS SARAH WILKE AND
I'M THE COCHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
ARTS COMMISSION.
AND I AM ASKING TODAY FOR
ALLOCATION OF DIRECT AID FROM
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO THE
ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR.
THE DIRECT AID FOR THE SECTOR
WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE
C.A.R.E.S.
ACT, AND WE'VE REALLY SEEN THE
IMPACT.
AS YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE, MORE
THAN 60% OF ARTISTS AND
CREATIVE WORKERS ARE FULLY
UNEMPLOYED.
95% HAVE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT
INCOME LOSS, AND 71% OF ARTS
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CONSIDERED
TO RECEIVE A SEVERE FINANCIAL
IMPACT THIS PAST YEAR.
YOU KNOW THIS, IS THE VERY
SECTOR THAT CAN BE AND SHOULD
BE REALLY FOUNDATIONAL TO THE
SEATTLE RECOVERY RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE THE SKILLS IN THE TOWN
AND THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO
BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR
MUTUAL BENEFIT, COMMON GROWTH
AND UNDERSTANDING.
BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT IF WE
DON'T HAVE THE STABILITY AND
THE SUPPORT TO BE IN A HEALTHY
PLACE OURSELVES, AND SO THAT IS
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I AM
ASKING FOR THAT DIRECT
ALLOCATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THE NEXT PERSON IS DONNA
HUTCHINSON, FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY
THOMAS.
AND, DONNA, JUST STAR 6 TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
OKAY.
AFTER DONNA WE HAVE ASHLEY
THOMAS, MICHAEL WOLF AND SANDRA
NELSON.
DO WE HAVE DONNA WITH US?
IF NOT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE
ON TO ASHLEY, PLEASE.
AND, DONNA, IF YOU'RE STILL
THERE, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE
FOR INCLUDING $2.5 MILLION FOR
HOUSING STABILITY AND RESIDENCE
SERVICES IN THE AARP BUDGET.
I WORK IN SERVICES AT COMMUNITY
HOUSING AND WE PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO OVER 200
PEOPLE THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
WE WORK TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO
LIFE-AFFIRMING RESOURCES BUT
SUPPORT THEIR HOUSING STABILITY
AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.
OUR RESIDENT SERVICES STAFF IS
STRETCHED BEYOND CAPACITY.
CURRENTLY WE ONLY ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE ONE RESIDENCE SERVICE
PROFESSIONAL FOR OVER 400
RESIDENTS.
AN INVESTMENT IN 2021 WILL HELP
ADDRESS THE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC
IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC BY
HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS, AND
ESPECIALLY OUR LOW INCOME
NEIGHBORS IN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR THAT ARE HARDEST HIT, GET
THEM CONNECTED TO ECONOMIC,
SOCIAL, MENTAL HEALTH AND
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
WHEN A RESIDENT HAS ACCESS
RESOURCES TO DRIVE NOT SURVIVE,
IT IMPACTS THE SENSE OF
COMMUNITY.
THANKS AGAIN FOR INCLUDING THIS
IN THE AARP BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THE NEXT PERSON IS MICHAEL
WOLF.
>>
>> GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS MICHAEL WOLF, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DRIVE
FORWARD, AND I'M HERE TO
TESTIFY ON COUNCIL BILL 120069,
THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
TRANSPARENCY BILL.
DRIVE FORWARD DOES SUPPORT
TRANSPARENCY FOR GAP-BASED GIG
WORKERS IN THEIR WORK.
BUT THIS BILL, AS USUAL, IS A
LITTLE CONVOLUTED IN HOW IT
GETS THERE AND DOESN'T REALLY
-- ISN'T REALLY PRACTICAL FOR
HOW APP-BASED GIG WORKERS DO
THEIR WORK ON A DAILY BASIS AND
CREATES COMPLICATIONS FOR THEM
IN HOW IT GETS TO TRANSPARENCY.
WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO
WORK WITH COUNCIL TO MAKE THIS
A BETTER BILL THAT ALL DRIVERS
CAN GET BEHIND AND ALL
COMPANIES CAN GET BEHIND.
AND I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY
EASY LIST TO DO.
AND SO WE'D LOVE TO WORK WITH
YOU IN THE FUTURE TO BE ABLE TO
GET THIS BILL TO BE SOMETHING
THAT EVERYONE CAN GET BEHIND.
TRANSPARENCY ISN'T AN ISSUE
THAT ANYONE OPPOSES.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING
THE LEGISLATION CORRECT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
THE NEXT THREE ARE SANDRA
NELSON, HOLLY JACOBSON AND
VANESSA.
VIABLES.
SANDRA, ARE YOU WITH US?
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR DONNA
HUTCHINSON AS WELL.
OKAY.
I AM NOT SEEING SANDRA POP UP.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S MOVE ON TO HOLLY, HOLLY
JACOBSON.
HOLLY, ARE YOU WITH US?
>> GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS HOLLY JACOBSON.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE EXTRA
TIME TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL
COMMENT, COUNCIL.
I'M THE CEO OF PASSIVE ART AND
HAVE THE HONOR OF SITTING ON
THE SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION.
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE
ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTOR FOR
THE INVESTMENT IN THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN.
AS A MEANS OF SUPPORT, A MORE
EQUITABLE, MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY
RECOVERY.
WE KNOW THAT A VIBRANT ARTS
SECTOR IS NECESSARY FOR A
THRIVING COMMUNITY AND CITY.
HISTORY HAS MADE THIS CASE, AND
WE CAN MAKE THIS CASE AT EVERY
LEVEL, AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
AND AT THE SOCIETAL LEVEL AND
AT THE ECONOMIC LEVEL.
PASSIVE ARTS, FOR EXAMPLE,
PROVIDES ARTS OPPORTUNITIES TO
LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS FROM
OVER 50 SOCIAL SERVICE PARTNERS
AS A MEANS TO RECOVER FROM
TRAUMA, BE THAT TRAUMA FROM
RACISM, VIOLENCE, ABUSE,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER OR
POVERTY.
IT HELPS ARTISTS CONNECT BACK
TO THEMSELVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE ARTS ALSO CONNECT US WITH
EACH OTHER TORTION SEE EACH
OTHER THROUGH THE STORY AND
HUMAN EXPERIENCE VERSUS
STATISTICS.
THEY ARE A POWERFUL MEANS TO
FOSTER EMPATHY AND
UNDERSTANDING, AND AN
INCREASINGLY FRACTURE AND
DIVIDED WORLD.
THE ARTS ARE AN IMPACT ON OUR
ECONOMIC WELL-BEING AS WELL.
THEY'RE A STRONG --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HOLLY.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE
VANESSA, KAREN AND ENRICCIO,
AND THEN THE LAST PERSON IS
ERICA.
VANESSA, ARE YOU WITH US?
AND WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR
SANDRA NELSON TOO.
GOOD MORNING.
JUST STAR 6.
>> OKAY.
HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> I CAN, VANESSA.
THANK YOU.
>> OH, HI.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, FOR EXTENDING THIS
TIME TO ALLOW FOR A LITTLE BIT
OF COMMENTARY.
MY NAME IS VANESSA.
I AM AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST,
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.
I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOME
OF THOSE THINGS TODAY TOO, AND
ALSO PART OF THE SEATTLE LARGE
COMMISSION.
I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE
PREVIOUS MEMBERS' SUPPORT FOR
ARTS FUNDING AND REALLY ASKING
FOR THIS $15 MILLION DIRECT
ALLOCATION TO THE CREATIVE
WORKERS, AS WELL AS A HOPEFUL
MINIMAL ALLOCATION OF $20
MILLION TO OUR CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS.
AS AN ARTIST -- AND I JUST WANT
TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
YOU KNOW, REALLY, REALLY THINK
ABOUT WHAT HAS GOTTEN US IN
YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC.
YOU KNOW, THE MUSIC, THE
BEAUTIFUL DESIGN YOU SEE DAILY,
TRIPS TO THE AQUARIUM, YOU HAVE
TO PASS THROUGH ALL OF THOSE
LITTLE MOMENTS.
THEY ARE CRAFTED, THEY ARE
PREMEDITATED AND CREATED FOR
AUDIENCES TO EXPERIENCE.
THE 2022 AND 2023 YEAR WOULD
STILL HOLD SEATTLE AS A
DESTINATION CITY IF YOU CAN
PLEASE PRIORITIZE ARTS FUNDING
THIS TIME AROUND.
WE WERE LEFT OUT AT THE
BEGINNING --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE THAT.
KAREN.
GOOD MORNING.
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HI, THIS IS KAREN.
HI, THIS IS KAREN TORING, AND
I'M CALLING TO TALK ABOUT THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THE
ALLOCATION FOR FUNDING.
I SUPPORT ALL OF THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS WHO SPOKE IN RELATION
TO SUPPORTING ARTS AND CULTURAL
WORKERS.
BUT I'VE -- I'D ALSO LIKE FOR
THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER
PRIORITIZING INDIGENOUS AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR ARTS AND
CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE
-- WE CAN PROBABLY NAME ON ONE
OR TWO HANDS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THE
SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE WITH
THIS FUNDING, AND I WOULD LIKE
FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER
PATHWAYS TO FUNDING THAT ARE
GRANTS NOT LOANS AND TO MAKE --
[ INAUDIBLE ] A LOT OF TIMES
THERE ARE ALLOCATIONS OF
FUNDING [ INAUDIBLE ]
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, AND WE
CAN'T FLOAT 30 DAYS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
MAKES SENSE.
THANKS FOR WAITING.
RICO, I SEE YOU.
I THINK YOU JUST NEED TO HIT
STAR 6 ONE MORE TIME.
STAR 6, AND THEN THE LAST
PERSON WILL BE ERICA, IF YOU
WANT TO GET TEED UP, ERICA.
RICO, I SEE YOU ON MY SCREEN
HERE.
JUST STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
LET'S KEEP RICO UP, AND WE WILL
GO TO ERICA, AND WE WILL LOOK
-- OKAY.
FOLKS, I THINK WE'RE NEARING
THE END HERE.
RICO, ERIC A AND SANDRA, I AM
NOT SEEING YOU POP UP ON MY
SCREEN.
I'M GOING TO GIVE IT ONE MORE
SECOND HERE.
I HEARD SOMEBODY.
IF YOU JUST CAME OFF MUTE, FEEL
FREE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
RICO, I SEE YOU ON MUTE.
ERICA, I DON'T SEE YOU ON THE
LINE HERE.
AND I AM NOT SEEING SANDRA, SO,
FOLKS, THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.
SANDRA, WAIT, BEFORE WE GO, AND
ERICA, I SEE YOU THERE.
LET'S GO AHEAD SINCE YOU WAITED
THIS LONG.
LET'S GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO
TESTIFY.
SANDRA, YOU ARE FIRST.
CAN YOU HEAR ME, SANDRA?
ARE YOU ON MUTE ON YOUR END?
└> OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> I CAN HEAR YOU, ERICA.
GO AHEAD, ERICA, AND, SANDRA,
YOU'LL BE NEXT.
I SAW YOU GO BACK ON MUTE.
OKAY, ERICA, LET'S DO THIS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBER, AND THANK YOU FOR THE
EXTENDED TIME.
I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LIGHT
OF CENTER FOR EARLY CHILD CARE
CENTERS LOCATED IN SOUTH
SEATTLE.
AS A CHILD CARE PROVIDER FOR
THE PAST 24 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN
-- AND MOST RECENTLY SINCE
MARCH OF 2020 WE'VE BEEN
WORKING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AS
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING CHILD
CARE AND INCORPORATING REMOTE
LEARNING, ADAPTING SERVICES TO
PROVIDE RESPONSIVE SUPPORTS FOR
CHILDREN, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL,
ACADEMIC, MENTORING, TECHNOLOGY
AND BASIC SUPPORT FOR ALL OF
OUR COMMUNITIES SERVED.
WE HAVE BEEN THE BACKBONE OF
THE WORKING COMMUNITY TO
PROVIDE ESSENTIAL CHILD CARE
SERVICES WITHOUT RECEIVING
ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THE CHILD
CARE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THAT
HAVE BEEN OPENED DURING THE
PANDEMIC TO GIVE A $2
COMPENSATION FOR INCREASE TO
CHILD CARE WORKERS.
THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE ON MUTE, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
SANDRA, I SEE YOU LISTED AS
PRESENT STILL, AND RICO, WE'RE
TRYING TO WRAP THIS UP.
FOLKS, IF YOU CAN HIT STAR 6 TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WAITING THIS
WHOLE TIME, SO I'LL RESPECT
YOUR TIME AS WELL.
OKAY, FOLKS, I'M NOT HEARING
YOU COME OFF THE LINE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
BEING HERE FOR THE TESTIMONY.
I WANT TO THANK CARDENO FOR
YOUR TRANSLATION SERVICES THIS
MORNING.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT, AND WE
DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF
FOLKS WHO HAD BEEN WANTING TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND
NEEDED THE TRANSLATION AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
EXTRA TIME THIS MORNING,
COLLEAGUES.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
READ INTO THE RECORD ITEM
NUMBER ONE.
>> ITEM NUMBER ONE, DOMESTIC
WORKERS STANDARDS FOR
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY, COLLEAGUES, THIS IS
WHERE I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
GO AHEAD AND REFER BACK TO THE
EMAIL THAT I RECIRCULATED AGAIN
THIS MORNING.
YOU WILL NEED TO CHOOSE A
TRANSLATION SERVICE,
INTERPRETATION IN ENGLISH AND
SPANISH IS AVAILABLE.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO CLICK ON
THAT BUTTON ON THE BOTTOM.
THAT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE GLOBE.
PLEASE SELECT THE LANGUAGE IN
WHICH YOU'D LIKE TO LISTEN.
TODAY'S OPTIONS ARE ENGLISH AND
SPANISH.
YOU WILL CHOOSE A LANGUAGE, AND
YOU WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO HEAR
FOLKS IN THAT CHOSEN LANGUAGE
IN THE, QUOTE, ROOM THAT YOU'RE
IN.
AND I WANT TO THANK CARDENO FOR
THE TRANSLATION SERVICES, AND
WE REALLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT HER
EXPERTISE.
WE WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I.T.
AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHO HAVE
BEEN WORKING TO SYSTEMIZE OUR
SERVICES HERE AND WE ARE GOING
TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT SO
EVERYBODY CAN HEAR THE
TRANSLATION SERVICES.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
PLEASE DO HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS
UNTIL THE END OF THE
PRESENTATION SO THAT THE
TRANSLATION SERVICES DON'T GET
INTERRUPTED.
PLEASE REMEMBER, PRESENTERS, TO
SPEAK AS SLOW AS YOU CAN SO THE
INTERPRETER CAN CAPTURE WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING AND TRY TO AVOID
USING ACRONYMS AS THOSE ARE
DIFFICULT TO TRANSLATE.
FOR THE AUDIENCE, THE
PRESENTATION WILL BE STREAMED
ON SEATTLE CHANNEL IN ENGLISH.
FOR OUR AUDIENCE THAT IS
JOINING US VIA ZOOM, YOU WILL
NEED TO SELECT THE CHOSEN
LANGUAGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
PRESENTATION.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS?
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> WOW!
NO QUESTIONS?
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
INSTRUCTIONS.
AND TODAY, COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE
WITH US PRESENTER SYLVIA
GONZALEZ, COCHAIR OF THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS
BOARD, DANA BARNETT COCHAIR OF
THE DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS.
ATTENDEES ON THIS LINE ALSO
INCLUDE DOMESTIC WORKERS' BILL
OF RIGHTS COALITION MEMBERS WHO
ARE HERE MOSTLY FOR QUESTIONS.
I KNOW ONE PERSON IS ALSO GOING
TO BE ADDING SOME CONTEXT HERE
TODAY.
BUT I WANT TO HONOR THEIR
PRESENCE AND THEIR WORK AS
WELL.
EMILY DILLS, TERESA HILL, DANA
BARNETT, JORDAN GOLDWIG, LONNIE
TODD, ANDRE KETS LER, LIZ
HUNTER KELLER.
DANIELLE, DORIS FLORES, ANDREW
AND VERNICK.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
WITH US AS WELL.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE
PRESENTERS FOR TODAY, LONG-
AWAITED PRESENTATION.
AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR
THE TRANSLATION ONCE AGAIN.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA, I
JUST WANT TO CALL IT OUT FOR
THE RECORD, BAILEY FREEMAN, I'M
ACTUALLY THE CURRENT COCHAIR,
SO SYLVIA AND I WILL BE THE
MAIN PRESENTERS FOR TODAY.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
I'M SORRY IF I SAID THAT WRONG.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GRACIAS.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> THANK YOU, SYLVIA.
IN OUR PRESENTATION TODAY WE
WILL DISCUSS OUR
REPRESENTATIONS AND ISSUES THAT
THEY SEEK TO RESOLVE, INCLUDING
BARRIERS TO OUTREACH,
ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION.
WE WILL ALSO TOUCH ON NEXT
STEPS AS WE EXPECT TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH COUNCIL AND CITY
STAFF ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND
DEVELOPMENT OF THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
TIME PERMITTING WE WILL INVITE
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AND MEMBERS
OF THE DOMESTIC WORKERS'
COALITION TO HELP WITH THE
SHORT DISCUSSION THAT WILL
FOLLOW.
NEXT
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION HAS BEEN
GOING IN EARNEST SINCE THIS
WENT INTO EFFECT.
WE HAVE REACHED THOUSANDS OF
HIRING ENTITIES AND WORKERS SO
FAR, THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE
INVESTIGATION OUT OF 15
INQUIRIES.
THIS IS NOT DUE TO LACK OF
INTEREST OR ACTION FROM THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS TO
PERFORM THIS WORK, BUT DUE TO
THE VERY REAL BARRIERS THAT WE
WILL DISCUSS IN THE NEXT SLIDES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION OF
THIS UNIQUE ORDINANCE.
DOMESTIC WORKERS ARE UNIQUE
WORKFORCE WITH NO CENTRALIZED
NETWORKS.
SOME WORKERS DON'T SEE
THEMSELVES AS DOMESTIC WORKERS.
EVEN MORE HOMEOWNERS AND PARENTS
DON'T SEE THEMSELVES AS
EMPLOYERS.
THESE INDIVIDUALS MAY ENCOUNTER
MATERIALS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE.
THEY ASSUME IT DOES NOT APPLY
TO THEM.
FEAR AND MISTRUST IS A VERY
REAL ISSUE FOR WORKERS BOTH IN
ENGAGING WITH CITY OFFICIALS,
AS WELL AS CONCERNS ABOUT
RETALIATION FROM THEIR
EMPLOYERS.
THERE IS NO ANONYMITY WHEN YOU
ARE MAKING A COMPLAINT AS THE
SOLE EMPLOYEE.
REFERRALS AND REFERENCES ARE
CRITICAL TO FUTURE EMPLOYMENT
IN THIS WORD-OF-MOUTH DRIVEN
INDUSTRY.
FINALLY, THERE ARE TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOMESTIC WORKERS
IN SEATTLE IN THE AREA AND MORE
HIRING ENTITIES IN THIS REGION.
REACHING ALL OF THEM IN
BUILDING TRUST IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES IS A MASSIVE TASK
AND ONE THAT REQUIRES
CONSISTENT AND SIGNIFICANT
SUPPORT.
I WILL TURN IT BACK TO SILVIA
TO DISCUSS WORKING CONDITIONS.
>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> THERE WE GO.
THANK YOU, SILVIA.
NEW MATERIALS AND INCREASED
MATERIALS FOR OUTREACH ARE
CRITICAL TO REACHING WORKERS
AND THE HIRING ENTITIES.
LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND THE
PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUAL HOME
SPACES MAKE OUTREACH VERY
DIFFICULT.
WE NEED FUNDING TO EXPAND
MAILED MATERIALS TO EVERY HOME,
A STRATEGY USED TO REACH MORE
EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS WHERE
THEY ARE AND PROVIDE THE
MATERIALS IN LANGUAGES THEY ARE
COMFORTABLE WITH.
THE CURRENT FUNDING IS NOT
ENOUGH AT THE SCALE THAT WE
NEED.
WE ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIRD-PARTY
PLATFORMS THAT CONNECT WORKERS
AND OTHER HIRING ENTITIES.
THESE PLATFORMS ARE LARGE
CORPORATIONS WERE DISCONNECTED
FROM THE DAILY STRUGGLES OF
THOSE ON THE GROUND.
THEIR PRACTICES LEAVE MANY
WORKERS VULNERABLE AND HIRING
ENTITIES ILL-INFORMED.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THESE
COMPANIES ARE COVERED BY THE
ORDINANCE AS HIRING ENTITIES
THEMSELVES.
STRONG CITY REPRESENTATION
INSISTING THESE PLATFORMS TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR EDUCATING
THEIR CLIENTS AND PROTECTING
WORKERS CAN CHANGE THE INDUSTRY
FOR THE BETTER.
THESE PLATFORMS, WHEN HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, CAN BE AN
INCREDIBLE RESOURCE FOR
CHANGING THE CULTURE OF THIS
INVISIBLE WORK AND IMPROVING
ENFORCEMENT METHODS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ACCESS TO STRUCTURED HEALTHCARE
IS THE NUMBER ONE REQUESTED
BENEFIT BY WORKERS BASED ON OUR
LOCAL RESEARCH AND THAT OF THE
NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS
ALLIANCE.
WE ASK THAT THE CITY RESEARCH
WAYS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
STRUCTURED HEALTHCARE TO
WORKERS, EXPLORING VARIOUS
MODELS AND HIRING EDUCATED
ENTITIES ON THEIR OPTIONS.
DOMESTIC WORK IS TAXING ON
ONE'S BODY AND CAN RESULT IN
SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
INJURIES.
THESE WORKERS HAVE AN
ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TIME
OBTAINING THE NECESSARY
HEALTHCARE.
THEY WORK THROUGH INJURIES
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO
MISS A SHIFT, LET ALONE GO TO A
DOCTOR.
COVID HAS MADE THIS
EXPONENTIALLY MORE DANGEROUS.
LANGUAGE AND TECHNOLOGY BARRIERS
INCREASE THE DIFFICULTY OF
NEGOTIATING OUR CURRENT
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.
RESEARCHING WAYS TO IMPROVE ON
THESE PROBLEMS AND HELPING TO
LOBBY STATE LEGISLATION TO
EXPAND CURRENT OFFERINGS TO ALL
INDIVIDUALS IN WASHINGTON WILL
APPROVE IMPROVE LIVES ACROSS
THE BOARD.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE POLICY CHANGES THAT WE HAVE
OUTLINED IN OUR DETAILED
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO
MAKE OUR ORDINANCE STRONGER AND
MAKE OUTREACH EASIER AND
CLEARER.
WE SEEK TO ELIMINATE ANY
EXCEPTIONS TO THE DOMESTIC
WORKER ORDINANCE COVERAGE ON
BOTH SIDES.
THE WORKERS EXCLUDED FROM
COVERAGE AND NO HIRING ENTITIES
EXCLUDED FROM COMPLIANCE FOR
THIS ADJUSTMENT TO THE
ORDINANCE IS SUPPORTED BY THE
RELEVANT LOCAL UNION
REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS
WORKERS.
A NOTICE OF RIGHTS PROVIDED BY
EMPLOYERS AND THIRD-PARTY
PLATFORMS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT
WORKERS UNDERSTAND THEIR
RIGHTS.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR
RIGHTS ARE, IT IS HARDER TO
TELL WHEN THEY ARE BEING
VIOLATED UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE.
REGARDING THE NEW INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR LEGISLATION, WE ASK
THAT THE CITY DO ITS DUE
DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE ALL
VULNERABLE WORKERS AFFECTED BY
ITS LEGISLATION BE ENGAGED
DIRECTLY TO MAKE SURE THE
PROCESS HELPS THEM IN PRACTICE
AND THAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE
TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
úI WILL PASS IT BACK TO SILVIA
TO DISCUSS PORTABLE BENEFITS.
SILVIA, YOU ARE ON MUTE.
>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS LIZ HUNTER-KELLER
AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS
BOARD.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM AN
EMPLOYER AND I AM HERE TO VOICE
MY SUPPORT FOR AND IF IT'S AND
PAID LEAVE FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS.
OVER THE YEARS AS A BOARD
MEMBER, I HAVE HEARD FROM
DOMESTIC WORKERS WHO HAVE NO
BENEFITS AT ALL.
THAT MEANS THEY GO TO WORK
SICK, WHICH WE KNOW OVER THE
LAST YEAR AND A HALF IS BAD IN
A NUMBER OF WAYS.
THEY WORK IN CLOSE QUARTERS
WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES AND THE
FAMILIES THEY WORK FOR, WHICH
MEANS THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF
TRANSMISSION IS GREATLY
INCREASED.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS MAY TAKE LONGER TO GET
WELL OR THAT SOMETHING SMALL
COULD TURN INTO SOMETHING LARGE
AND DANGEROUS AND COSTLY.
IT IS NOT JUST SICK LEAVE.
I HAVE HEARD FROM WORKERS WHO
CANNOT PAY TO TAKE PAID LEAVE
TO VISIT A SICK FAMILY MEMBER
OR ATTEND A FUNERAL.
I BELIEVE EMPLOYERS WOULD BE
WILLING AND EVEN HAPPY TO PAY
FOR BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE RESULTS FROM SURVEYS
CONDUCTED BY COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHOW
EMPLOYERS SUPPORT PAID LEAVE.
I CURRENTLY USE AN ONLINE
PLATFORM TO PAY MY NANNY, WHICH
HELPS ME MANAGE MY EMPLOYER
TAXES, PING TO HER PAID LEAVE,
AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THESE
PLATFORMS ON THE MARKET, WHICH
MEANS THERE IS A DEMAND FOR A
DOMESTIC WORKER PAY SYSTEM.
IT IS HARD TO FIND A WAY TO PAY
AND TO DO PAYMENT INTO OTHER
DOMESTIC WORKER BENEFITS.
THAT MEANS PTO AND BENEFITS ARE
LEFT UP TO THE EMPLOYERS TO
FIGURE IT OUT.
EMPLOYEES NEED A WAY FOR EACH
HOUSEHOLD TO CONTRIBUTE A FAIR
SHARE OF BENEFITS.
IF WE MADE PAID LEAVE MANDATORY
FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS AND
SUPPORTED A PORTABLE BENEFITS
PLATFORMS THAT ALLOW VARIOUS
HOUSEHOLDS TO PAY INTO A
CENTRAL ACCOUNT, THE MESSICK
WORKERS COULD ACCRUE PAID TIME
OFF LIKE THE REST OF THE WAGE
AND SALARY WORKERS IN OUR CITY.
THIS WOULD MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR
EMPLOYERS AND IMPROVE QUALITY
OF LIFE FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS.
LET'S MAKE SURE DOMESTIC
WORKERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO
TAKE PAID LEAVE LIKE THE REST
OF US.
EVERYONE SHOULD BE AFFORDED THE
RIGHT TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF
WITHOUT FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL
HARDSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, LIZ.
>> I WILL TURN IT BACK.
>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> THANK YOU, SILVIA.
THIS IS OUR LAST SLIDE OF THE
PRESENTATION TOUCHING ON NEXT
STEPS.
CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AND BOARD MEMBERS
THROUGHOUT THIS 120 DAY
RESPONSE PERIOD AND BEYOND IS
OF HUGE IMPORTANCE TO THE
BOARD.
WE WOULD LIKE COUNCIL STAFF TO
ATTEND OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS TO
PROVIDE SUBSTANTIVE STATUS
UPDATES AND APPLY OUR
SUGGESTIONS AND FEEDBACK.
THE PORTABLE BENEFITS
SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS COALITION EXPECTS
REGULAR UPDATES AND ENGAGEMENT
FROM COUNCIL STAFF,
SPECIFICALLY ON PORTABLE
BENEFITS.
A MEETING ABOUT THIS
RECOMMENDATION SHOULD TAKE
PLACE WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS
OF THIS RESPONSE PERIOD.
WE EXPECT THAT WORKERS,
IMMUNITY EXPERTS, AND BOARD
MEMBERS ARE CENTRAL TO GUIDING
THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS.
THEIR EXPERTISE AND SUCH IS
PRIORITIZED.
WE NEED TO ILLUSTRATE THE REAL
AND HIRING ENTITIES. C WORKERS
WE APPRECIATE THE TRUST YOU
HAVE PLACED IN US BY READING
THIS BOARD IN THE FIRST PLACE.
ALLOW US TO BE HANDS-ON IN
PUTTING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
INTO PRACTICE.
WE PLAN TO CONTINUE TO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO GUIDE THE
EXPANSION OF DOMESTIC WORKERS
RIGHTS.
THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THIS.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
INVITE MEMBERS OF THE COALITION
AND THE BOARD TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
SILVIA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SPEAK?
>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> I WILL STEP IN HERE.
I WANT TO GIVE FOLKS A CHANCE
TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE AT
IN THE AGENDA.
THIS IS THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
WE ONLY HAVE TWO MORE AGENDA
ITEMS FOR OUR REVISED AGENDA
ITEMS ALLOWS FOR 30 MINUTES,
WHICH SHOULD BE MORE THAN
NECESSARY TO PUT TOWARDS THE
NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
WE WILL START THAT AT 11:45.
WE HAVE ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF
DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
WE WILL START THE LAST AGENDA
ITEM AT 12:15, SO WE END BY OUR
1:00 TIME.
I SEE NUTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS.
GREAT.
AS THE LAST SLIDE SAYS, FROM
THE PARTICIPATION OF THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS
DRAFTING AND COSPONSORSHIP,
THANK YOU COUNCIL COLLEAGUES,
WE PUT IN PRETTY STRICT
LANGUAGE TO REQUIRE A RESPONSE
TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
WERE SUBMITTED.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO RESPOND BY
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021.
THAT ENSURES THAT
RECOMMENDATIONS DO NOT COME
FORWARD AND JUST SHOULD SIT ON
A SHELF.
WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS
POSSIBLE AND WHAT IS NOT
POSSIBLE AND ALTERNATIVES
PROPOSED.
A REMINDER ON THAT.
IN TERMS OF PROCESS,
COLLEAGUES, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THERE IS A TRANSPARENT AND
OPEN DIALOGUE, BOTH WITH
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND WITH
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WE WILL BE ASKING YOU TO SHARE
YOUR QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS NOT
ONLY IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION,
FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, SUCH
AS ON JULY 9. WE WANT TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE A LETTER CRAFTED
AND DISCUSSED AT OUR JULY 20 OR
AUGUST 3 COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
ALL OF THIS WOULD BE A VERY
PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT
RESPONSES TO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
TODAY IS A CHANCE TO WALK
THROUGH THOSE FOUR HIGH-LEVEL
RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE CAN HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER THREE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS OVER JULY
AND AUGUST WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE
TO VENT AND DISCUSS THE
RECOMMENDATIONS EVEN MORE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU WON'T
KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS
LIKE SO THAT WE AS A COLLECTIVE
COUNCIL WILL BE DRAFTING OUR
RESPONSE AS REQUIRED IN A
SERIES OF MEETINGS COMING UP.
OKAY, LET'S TURN IT OVER TO
QUESTIONS FROM I WANT TO THANK
THE TRANSLATOR.
I KNOW THAT IS A TON OF WORK,
AND WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO
POPPED ON THE SCREEN.
IT IS GREAT TO SEE ALL OF YOU.
COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS?
OKAY, I WILL POP IN ONE
QUESTION.
IT IS GOOD TO SEE SO MANY FACES.
OH, MY GOSH.
IT IS LIKE A REUNION COMING ON
THE SCREEN HERE.
IF THIS WERE IN PERSON, IT
WOULD BE EXCITING TO SEE ALL OF
YOU.
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, I WANT
TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO
ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERED AS
EXEMPT FROM THIS, THERE IS
INFORMATION ON THE SLIDE LABELED
NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS POLICY
CHANGES TO IMPROVE.
JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER, THIS
WAS DONE IN CORRELATION WITH
THE DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF
RIGHTS.
THERE WAS SOME CONCERNAT THE
TIME ABOUT HAVING DUPLICATE
STANDARDS FOR DEDICATED
REIMBURSABLE LONG-TERM CARE
PROVIDERS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CONVERSATION
HAS CHANGED AROUND IT.
THAT IS PART OF THE
RECOMMENDATION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW
WHY THEY WERE ORIGINALLY
EXCLUDED AND THE EVOLUTION OF
THE THOUGHT AROUND THAT.
PEOPLE MIGHT WONDER, WHY WERE
THEY EXCLUDED IN THE FIRST
PLACE?
THERE WERE SOME LESSONS LEARNED
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
NOW THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO
INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE MEDICAID
REIMBURSABLE WORKERS.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
WE DO HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS
WISH TO CHIME IN ON?
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL CONTEXT
THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE?
OKAY.
>> THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF WORK TO TRY TO ENGAGE
DOMESTIC WORKERS.
WE ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO
GET MORE WORKERS AT THE TABLE.
I AM REALLY PROUD TO SAY THAT,
AS I TRANSITION OFF OF THIS
BOARD, THAT MY ROLE HAS BEEN
REPLACED WITH A WORKER.
BUT WE HAVE INTENTIONALLY TRIED
TO REACH OUT AND TO ENGAGE IN
TO BE THOUGHTFUL.
WE HAVE APPRECIATED YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND WE APPRECIATE
THE DIRECTIVE WRITTEN IN THE
ORDINANCE.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO LOTS OF
BIG, DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BE
OVERWHELMED BY THE ASK.
WE ARE HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH
YOU TO DO THE HARD WORK.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ, MY
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
>> I WANT TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD,
AS WELL.
WE RECENTLY VOTED TO APPOINT
YOUR REPLACEMENT.
WE APPRECIATE YOU HELPING US TO
GET THIS ENTITY OFF THE GROUND.
WE KNOW YOU WILL BE INVOLVED IN
VARIOUS WAYS.
YES?
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
I AM IN THE COALITION OF
DOMESTIC WORKERS.
I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT,
ESPECIALLY SPEAKING ABOUT
PORTABLE BENEFITS, AS YOU HAVE
HEARD OVER PUBLIC COMMENTS OVER
DOMESTIC WORKERS AND WHAT WE
HAVE SEEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC,
IT IS VERY HIGHLY NEEDED TO HAVE
SUPPORT, TO HAVE PROTECTION,
ESPECIALLY PAID TIME OFF.
I WANTED TO REITERATE THAT IT
IS SOMETHING, THE PORTABLE
BENEFIT REQUEST, IT IS THERE
AND IT IS SORELY NEEDED.
IT IS SO NEEDED.
AND IT IS POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE SEEN IT.
I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF
INFORMATION ABOUT AALIYAH FOR
THOSE WHO ARE NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE
THERE.
THAT IS A PLATFORM THAT IS
GATHERING WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS
TO PAY INTO THE ACCOUNT OF
WORKERS.
IT WAS DESIGNED AND CREATED BY
THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS
ALLIANCE LAB.
IT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR AT
LEAST THE LAST TWO OR THREE
YEARS.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS FROM THE
NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS
ALLIANCE HERE.
THE REASON THERE ARE DIFFERENT
MECHANISMS IN EXISTENCE, BUT
THIS WORKED IN TERMS OF
VISIBILITY.
WE HAD ABOUT 80 OR MORE
DOMESTIC WORKERS WHO USE IT.
HOWEVER, ONLY HALF OF THE
EMPLOYERS OPTED IN.
IF IT IS JUST AN OPTION, IT
DOES NOT WORK.
AALIYAH WOULD BE THAT MECHANISM,
BUT IT NEEDS TO BE MANDATED.
THAT IS WHY IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE A MANDATED
THE POLICY ON THAT SO IT IS NOT
AN OPTION FOR THE EMPLOYERS TO
SAY YES OR NO.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT A LOT OF
EMPLOYERS ARE WILLING TO PAY
FOR IT.
87% SAY WE SHOULD BE PAID, WE
ARE WILLING TO PAY PORTABLE
BENEFIT.
THEY HAVE SEEN IT THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC.
THEY RELY ON ALL THOSE DOMESTIC
WORKERS WHO ARE DOING THE WORK
THAT IS NEEDED FOR ALL THE
OTHER WORKERS TO GO OUT AND
WORK.
AS WE ARE COMING BACK TO
HOPEFULLY SOME KIND OF
NORMALCY, THAT WILL BE EVEN
MORE AND MORE NEEDED.
WE SHOULD NOT FORGET WHAT
DOMESTIC WORKERS WENT THROUGH
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
IT WAS SO VISIBLE THAT NOW WE
CAN AND SHOULD DO SOMETHING.
IN SEATTLE, THE CITY COUNCIL
HAS BEEN ALWAYS AT THE
FOREFRONT OF THE NEW
LEGISLATION, THE MINIMUM WAGE
AND ALL OF THAT.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF THAT GROUP
IN THE FRONT.
WE HAVE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE
WORKING ON THAT.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN LEARN
FROM.
WE HAVE THE ADELPHIA.
WE HAVE SAN FRANCISCO.
WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM AND WORK
ON BEHALF OF THE BENEFIT OF ALL
DOMESTIC WORKERS, NOT JUST IN
SEATTLE, BUT IN WASHINGTON AND
THE WHOLE NATION.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ALL
OF THESE DOMESTIC WORKERS.
LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE WORKERS.
THANK YOU.
>> I DID HAVE A QUESTION AS IT
RELATES TO THE PLATFORM.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME.
I THINK IT WAS 2019 THAT I HAD
A CHANCE TO GO TO NEW YORK TO
MEET WITH FORK AT THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS ALLIANCE.
IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.
I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A HELPFUL
TOOL FOR MANY DOMESTIC WORKERS.
IN PHILADELPHIA, THEY MANDATED
PORTABLE BENEFITS.
ARE THEY USING AN ALIA
PLATFORM?
WHAT VEHICLE DID THEY USED TO
GET THOSE BENEFITS OUT TO
FOLKS?
>> I AM WITH THE NATIONAL
DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE.
I WILL TRY TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION.
THE ORDINANCE IN PHILADELPHIA
HAS BEEN PASSED.
WE ARE IN THE REGULATORY PHASE
OF IT.
THE PLATFORM ITSELF IS BEING
DESIGNED BY THE ENGINEERS AND
THE AND DWA LABS.
ALIA, AS YOU MAY HAVE LEARNED
AND WAS RAISED BY OTHERS IS
THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
WILL WILL BE UNFOLDED IN
PHILADELPHIA AND HOPEFULLY SAN
FRANCISCO IS GOING TO BE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
IS GOING TO BE BASED ON THE
ORDINANCE AND THE SPECIFIC RULE
PERTAINING TO HOW YOU ACCRUE
HOURS.
IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT
APPLICATION.
BUT THE CONCEPTS THAT
ORIGINATED FROM THE ALIA PILOT
THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IS
THE SPIRIT OF WHAT WILL BE
FOLDED OUT IN PHILADELPHIA AND
HOPEFULLY IN SAN FRANCISCO.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE PHILLY
AND SAN FRANCISCO PLATFORMS
WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR HIRING
ENTITIES AND DOMESTIC WORKERS?
THE SECOND PART OF THAT
QUESTION, I SOUGHT OUR FRIEND,
JASMINE, ON THE LINE HERE.
AS PART OF THE ORDINANCE, WE
HAD REQUESTED A DRAFT CONTRACT
OR A MODEL CONTRACT THAT COULD
BE USED.
DOES THIS CONTRACT GO BEYOND
EXPLAINING THE RIGHTS TO A
GUARANTEED AMOUNT OF PAY?
VISIT TALK ABOUT HOW THEY CAN
ACCRUE OR EARN PAID TIME OFF OR
SICK LEAVE AS PART OF THAT
MODEL CONTRACT IF A HIRING
ENTITY AT THIS POINT CHOOSES TO
DO SO, RECOGNIZING THEY SHOULD
BE, SINCE WE PUT IT INTO LAW.
IT IS PART OF THE REQUIRED PTO
-- I AM SORRY, PAID BREAKS OR
AT LEAST PART OF THE CONTRACT
THAT WE ENVISIONED.
DO WE ENVISION PTO BEING LISTED
IN THE DRAFT CONTRACT?
>> MY NAME IS JASMINE MARWAHA
AND I'M WITH THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS.
THE DOMESTIC WORKERS ORDINANCE
RIGHT NOW SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD
MAKE AVAILABLE A MODEL NOTICE
OF RIGHTS, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT THAN A NOTICE OF
CONTRACT.
THE NOTICE OF RIGHTS THAT WE
HAVE PROVIDED AS A SAMPLE JUST
LISTS THE RESIDENT TITLES THAT
DOMESTIC WORKERS ARE ENTITLED
TO FROM THE DOMESTIC WORKERS
ORDINANCE.
IT DOES NOT MAKE REFERENCE TO
THE OPTION OF PORTABLE
BENEFITS.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
I FORGOT THAT.
HE ALSO HAD THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS STANDARDS BOARD COME UP
WITH POTENTIAL MODEL CONTRACT
LANGUAGE.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT WAS A POSSIBLE TOPIC OF
DISCUSSION THAT WAS LISTED IN
THE ORDINANCE.
THAT WAS NOT NECESSARILY A
DIRECTIVE TO THE BOARD.
I DO KNOW THAT SOME COMMUNITY
PARTNERS THAT ARE FUNDED BY OLS
DO HAVE SOME MODEL CONTRACTS.
I KNOW THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC
WORKERS ALLIANCE ALSO HAS MODEL
CONTRACTS AVAILABLE.
THOSE RESOURCES DO EXIST, BUT
THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY FROM
OLS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
THAT THE ORDINANCE PHILADELPHIA
MANDATES WRITTEN AGREEMENTS.
NOTICE OF RIGHTS. WITH THE
ONCE THE PORTABLE BENEFITS
SYSTEM IS ROLLED OUT, AND TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE
EXPECTED TO BE ROLLED OUT BY
THE END OF THE YEAR.
SAN FRANCISCO, IT IS NOT LAW
YOU.
WE WILL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE
IN MID-JUNE OR THE END OF JUNE.
THERE IS NOT YET AN ORDINANCE
IN SAN FRANCISCO, BUT WE ARE
GETTING CLOSE TO A PROPOSAL
THAT WILL BE VETTED BY THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
>> WONDERFUL.
I SEE BAYLIE?
>> CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG,
FELLOW COLLEAGUES, BUT WE NEEDED
MORE DISCUSSION AND MORE TIME
TO ENGAGE MORE WORKERS TO MAKE
SURE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT
ACTUALLY WORKED FOR THEM AND
DID NOT CREATE BARRIERS TO THAT
SITUATION.
CONTRACTS AND FORMAL AGREEMENTS
CAN INDUCE FEAR AND EMOTIONAL
BARRIERS TO THAT SITUATION.
WE KIND OF DETERMINED OVERTIME
THAT NEEDED MORE DISCUSSION AND
WORKER ENGAGEMENT TO SEE IF
THAT WAS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD , DID YOU
HAVE SOMETHING?
>> JUST A QUESTION FOR JASMINE
ON WHAT THE CURRENT FUNDING IS
THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR OUTREACH
AND IF IT IS BROKEN OUT BY
TYPE OF OUTREACH.
MY NOTES SAY THAT, SO FAR, OLS
HAS RECEIVED 15 WORKER
INQUIRIES RESULTING IN ONE
INVESTIGATION.
OUR THESE OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED
WITH THE CURRENT LAWS? IS THIS
PART OF THE CALL FOR MORE
OUTREACH RESOURCES THAT THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS BOARD WOULD
TAKE ON? I WANT TO UNDERSTAND
MORE ABOUT THE THINKING. I SEE
15 WORKER INQUIRIES AND ONE
INVESTIGATION.
IF THOSE NUMBERS ARE CORRECT,
THEN THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO
BELIEVE, NOT THAT I WANT TO
BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF
VIOLATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY,
THAT IT WOULD LEAD ME TO
BELIEVE THAT MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT WORKERS RIGHTS IS
IMPORTANT.
I AM JUST TRYING TO SEE WHETHER
OR NOT WE ARE CONSIDERING THOSE
METRICS AS PART OF THE ARGUMENT
FOR WHY WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CURRENT
BUDGET IS FOR OUTREACH.
>> I CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO
THE CURRENT BUDGET.
THEN I WILL LET THE BOARD
ADVOCATE. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN A
FORMAL POSITION ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IT.
WE CAN ALSO CIRCLE BACK AND
HAVE SOMETHING IN WRITING IN
TERMS OF THE BREAKDOWN OF THE
OUTREACH BUDGET.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A CURRENT
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FUND AND
A BUSINESS OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION FUND.
THE DW OH IS AMONG THE LIST OF
LABOR STANDARDS THAT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS DO OUTREACH FOR.
IT IS FOLDED INTO, NOT
NECESSARILY SPECIFIC TO THE
ORDINANCE.
IT IS FOLDED INTO OUR SUITE OF
16 LABOR STANDARDS.
AND THEN THERE IS ALSO ABOUT
35,000 THAT OLS RECEIVES THAT
IS FOR, BOTH FOR DWO OUTREACH,
BUT ALSO FOR COSTS, INCLUDING
COSTS OF INTERPRETATION AND
TRANSLATION AND OTHER
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
I DON'T HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF HOW
MUCH OF THAT $35,000 GOES TO
OUTREACH VERSUS BOARD
ADMINISTRATION.
BUT THAT IS THE POT.
COUNCIL ALLOCATED AN ADDITIONAL
ONE-TIME FUNDING OF $50,000 TO
JUMPSTART THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
PART OF THE, PART OF OUR
RESPONSE AND EVALUATION OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND
MONTHS IS GOING TO BE, IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE BOARD,
WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THAT
$50,000?
WHAT WILL NEED ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES? WE WANT TO DO A
PRIORITIZATION EXERCISE WITH
THEM.
>> ANY CLOSING COMMENTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION OR
OVERALL?
>> MY DAUGHTERS AND EMILY BOTH
HAVE THEIR HANDS UP.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY
COMMENT THAT IT IS A LITTLE BIT
ON THE CONTRACT SIDE.
AS BAYLIE MENTIONED, THERE IS
A FEAR FROM MANY WORKERS ON
CREATING A CONTRACT THAT THEY
MAY NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
BUT I THINK A GREAT VEHICLE TO
MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS IS
THROUGH, THROUGH THE NOTICE OF
RIGHTS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT
IDEA, AS COUNCIL NUMBER
MOSQUEDA TO MENTIONED ,
POSSIBLY THE ACCRUAL SYSTEM FOR
WORKERS IN THAT NOTICE OF
RIGHTS.
THE ONLY ISSUE THAT I SEE IN
MANY OTHER WORKERS IS THAT IT
IS NOT MANDATORY TO OFFER TO
THE EMPLOYERS.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT
PUSH FORWARD, THIS WORK THAT WE
ARE ALREADY DOING, TO BE ABLE
TO ENFORCE THE LAW THAT WE
ALREADY HAVE AND PUSH FOR MORE
PEOPLE TO REALLY FOLLOW THE LAW.
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF WORKERS
FEEL INTIMIDATED WHEN TALKING
TO EMPLOYERS.
A LOT OF WORKERS DON'T HAVE THE
CAPACITY OR CONFIDENCE TO TALK
ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS.
IT IS A MATTER OF THE
RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY HAVE TO
DEVELOP WITH THEM.
THEY HAVE TO LEARN TO BE
EMPLOYERS.
I THINK ONE GREAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR US IS THROUGH THE ALREADY
CREATED NOTICE OF RIGHTS,
MAKING IT MANDATORY AND
STARTING FROM THAT SO WE CAN
KEEP ENFORCING THIS THE WAY IT
WAS MEANT TO BE FROM THE GET
GO.
I APPRECIATE YOU FOR WHAT YOU
ARE DOING TODAY.
I DECIDED TO SPEAK IN ENGLISH
TO MAKE MY POINTS.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME
AND CAPACITY THAT YOU ARE
úPUTTING INTO MAKING THIS
AVAILABLE FOR OUR WORKERS.
I APPRECIATE THAT A LOT.
I HOPE YOU CAN CONTINUE DOING
THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND EMILY TO CLOSE US OUT.
>> I WANT TO THINK EVERYBODY
HERE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK YOU ARE DOING.
I WILL BE QUICK ABOUT
ADVOCATING RESOURCES.
>> JUST SHOUT A LITTLE, EMILY.
>> JUST REALLY INVESTING IN
BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE,
THE WORKERS, IS WHAT I HAVE A
CONCERN ABOUT.
I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE
PASSED TWO YEARS OF OUR BOARD
SERVICE, THAT THREE OF PEOPLE
WHO LEFT WERE WORKERS VOICES.
I BELIEVE NOT SPEAKING TO THEIR
PERSONAL SITUATIONS, BUT I
BELIEVE THOSE ARE THE REASONS
THAT THE EMPLOYER
REPRESENTATION LEFT.
WAS MORE THAT THEY HAD TO MAKE
THE DECISION BETWEEN GOING TO
THE BOARD MEETINGS OR GOING TO
WORK.
I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO
MAKE AN EFFORT TO FIND A WAY TO
BRING THOSE PEOPLE TO THE TABLE
FOR MORE AFFORDABLE
REPRESENTATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY LAST COMMENTS?
>> I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
THAT THE PHILADELPHIA BILL IS
LAW.
WE ARE WORKING ON DESIGN AND
UNFOLDING THE PLATFORM.
IT IS A PERMANENT MANDATE.
THE SAN FRANCISCO BILL THAT I
AM WORKING ON WOULD ALSO BE
PERMANENT.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS
UNANIMOUSLY SHOWN SUPPORT OF
IT.
>> EXCELLENT.
GREAT. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
DANA, DID YOU HAVE ONE MORE
THING?
>> I WOULD LOVE THE TIME TO
RESPOND, I KNOW I CANNOT DO IT
NOW, BUT ABOUT THE QUESTION
ABOUT OUTREACH AND WHY IT HAS
BEEN SO DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY
IN TERMS OF OUTREACH TO
EMPLOYERS FOR AS A STAFF PERSON
FOR HAND-IN-HAND IN SEATTLE WHO
WAS VERY MUCH RESPONSIBLE FOR
DOING A LOT OF THAT OUTREACH, I
WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT WHY WE
DO NEED THAT OUTREACH MONEY.
>> THAT WOULD BE VERY WELCOME.
IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL
CONTRACTS YOU WANT TO PROVIDE,
WONDERFUL.
WE WILL TAKE LETTERS.
WE WILL TAKE EXAMPLES AS WE
CONSIDER OUR RESPONSE HERE.
JUST TO CLARIFY FOR MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC, WHILE THE NOTICE OF
RIGHTS MIGHT NOT HAVE A
MANDATORY PTO AND SICK LEAVE,
IT WAS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
TODAY, I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS
THAT IT IS MANDATORY THAT
DOMESTIC WORKERS GET REST AND
MEAL BREAKS ACCORDING TO THE LAW
AND AT LEAST THE MINIMUM WAGE,
WHICH IS ALSO MANDATORY.
AND A LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS TO
COME.
BAYLIE, LAST COMMENT?
>> I WANT TO GET A COMMITMENT
FROM COUNCILMEMBERS IN THIS ROOM
RIGHT NOW TO ENGAGE WITH US ON
A MONTHLY BASIS GOING FORWARD
FOR THIS 120 DAY PERIOD.
I KNOW IT WILL BE A BUSY TIME.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
RESPONSE IS NOT 119 DAYS TO THE
END OF THE PERIOD.
CAN I GET A COMMITMENT FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF HERE
TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH US
ON A MONTHLY BASIS FOR THE REST
OF THIS RESPONSE PERIOD?
>> I THINK YOU SAW SOME THUMBS-
UP.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS SHY
ABOUT ENGAGING.
THERE WILL BE THREE MORE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON THIS, AS
WELL.
WONDERFUL.
WE WILL CLOSE THIS OUT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
TWO.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT DIRECT
AID FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> ALY, I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR
PATIENCE TODAY.
I THINK WE STILL HAVE MORE THAN
THE 20 MINUTES THAT YOU SAID
YOU NEEDED.
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND WALK US
THROUGH ITEM NUMBER TWO HERE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS
AND SOME BAD NEWS FROM THE
FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS THAT WE
JUST LEARNED MORE ABOUT LAST
MONDAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM ALY PENNUCCI FROM THE
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
I WILL TRY TO KEEP MY
PRESENTATION BRIEF AND I AM
HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH ANY OF
YOU ONE-ON-ONE.
WE WILL BE BACK IN COMMITTEE
DISCUSSING THIS TOPIC IN A
COUPLE OF WEEKS.
TODAY, I WILL UPDATE THE
COMMITTEE ON THE GUIDANCE
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
TREASURY ON THE 10th REGARDING
THE ALLOCATION OF CORONAVIRUS
LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.
THAT IS THE FLEXIBLE DIRECT AID
TO CITIES AND THE ELIGIBLE
USES.
WE WILL DISCUSS COUNTY AND STATE
SPENDING IN AREAS THAT OVERLAP
OUR SPENDING PRIORITIES
IDENTIFIED IN RESOLUTION 31999
BY THE COUNCIL AND OUTLINE NEXT
STEPS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF
THE USE OF THESE FUNDS.
THE GUIDANCE ISSUED ON MAY 10
PROVIDED MORE DETAILED
ALLOCATION INFORMATION FOR THE
CLFR FUNDS. THE AMOUNT
ALLOCATED TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE CAME IN AT ABOUT $7
MILLION BELOW PREVIOUS ESTIMATES
THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN
THIS COMMITTEE.
THAT IS THE BAD NEWS THAT CHAIR
MOSQUEDA REFERRED TO.
FOR 2021, THE COMMITTEE WILL
CONSIDER AN APPROPRIATION BILL
THAT WILL AUTHORIZE THE
SPENDING OF ABOUT $160 MILLION,
AS WELL AS CONSIDERING USE OF
SOME TARGETED AID FOR SPECIFIC
PURPOSES THAT I WILL HIGHLIGHT
BRIEFLY AT THE END OF THE
PRESENTATION.
THE GUIDANCE ISSUED ON MAY 10
ALSO INCLUDED AN INTERIM FINAL
RULE THAT PROVIDES MORE DETAILED
GUIDANCE ON THE ELIGIBLE USES
OF THE DIRECT AID TO CITIES.
THESE FUNDS PROVIDE FLEX
ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO ADDRESS
THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY,
INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR
HOUSEHOLDS, SMALL BUSINESSES,
IMPACTED INDUSTRIES, ESSENTIAL
WORKERS, AND THE COMMUNITIES
HARDEST HIT BY THE CRISIS.
THIS CAN BE USED TO MAKE
NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN WATER,
SEWER, AND BROADBAND.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
INITIAL GUIDANCE OR WHAT WE
ASSUMED BASED ON THE LANGUAGE
THAT WAS IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN ACT.
THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION
IN THE DETAILED RULE TODAY.
I AM HIGHLIGHTING A FEW PIECES
RELATED TO GUIDANCE AROUND
INVESTMENTS THAT ADDRESS THE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THE
PANDEMIC.
THE GUIDANCE DESCRIBES USE OF
THE FUNDS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
TO WORKERS AND FAMILIES,
INCLUDING DIRECT CASH
ASSISTANCE, SUPPORTING JOB
TRAINING, AND AID TO HOUSEHOLDS
FACING FINANCIAL INSECURITIES,
EITHER THROUGH DIRECT FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE OR THROUGH SERVICES
AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT
WORKERS AND FAMILIES.
IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR SUPPORTING
SMALL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING
PROVIDING LOANS, GRANTS, OR IN-
KIND ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELING
PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS CAN
HELP TO REBOUND DURING THE
DOWNTURN.
AND THERE WILL BE INVESTMENTS
THAT WILL SPEED UP THE RECOVERY
OF THE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
SECTORS AS WELL AS REBUILDING
THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> MY APOLOGIES.
QUICKLY, AS IT RELATES TO
HOUSING AND SECURITY, THAT
INCLUDES HOMELESSNESS.
AND THE THIRD BULLET, CLOSING
OUT SPECIFIC SECTORS FOR PUBLIC
INVESTMENTS, DOES THE
HOSPITALITY OR TOURISM, IS THAT
INCLUDING THE ARTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, TO
THE FIRST QUESTION REGARDING
HOMELESS SERVICES, THE GUIDANCE
IS A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR IN THAT
AREA.
WE ARE STILL DIGGING INTO THAT.
IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING
SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO HELP
GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING.
WE ARE STILL SORTING OUT EXACTLY
ALL OF THE SPECIFIC ELIGIBLE
USES AS THE STRATEGIES TO
SUPPORT NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS ARE FAIRLY BROAD
IT.
INCLUDES SPECIFIC LANGUAGE
ABOUT SUPPORTING CERTAIN TYPES
OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSES FOR
GROWTH.
THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS SOME
HOMELESSNESS.
THERE IS MORE TO COME THERE.
THERE IS ALSO $12.2 MILLION FOR
HOME FUNDS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON
SUPPORTING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE
LANGUAGE AROUND THE TOURISM,
TRAVEL, AND HOSPITALITY
SECTORS, I HAVE NOT READ ALL OF
THE DETAILS ON THAT PIECE, BUT
IT IS FAIRLY BROAD.
I THINK THAT THE ARTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY COULD BE
CONSIDERED AS PART OF THAT, AS
WELL AS SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESSES.
I THINK THERE IS SOME
FLEXIBILITY THERE.
I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH MORE
INFORMATION.
>> THANKS, ALY .
>> SEE HERE.
THE GUIDANCE FOCUSES ON
PROVIDING SUPPORT TO
COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES MOST
IMPACTED BY THE CRISIS.
THIS SUPPORTS THE PRINCIPLES
THE COUNCIL ADOPTED IN
RESOLUTION 31999 THAT EXPRESS
THE INTENT TO PRIORITIZE USE OF
THESE FUNDS TO SUPPORT
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO
HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY COVID-19, AND TO
REALLY BUILD ON THE TYPE OF
INVESTMENTS THAT WERE FUNDED IN
THE JUMPSTART COVID RELIEF PLAN
IN 2020 AND 2021.
>> ALY, I WANT TO ORIENT
MYSELF TO THE SLIDES ON THE
SCREEN.
IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, YOU
HAD WHAT WAS IN THE RESOLUTION
VERSES WHAT THE GUIDANCE SAID.
IS THAT HOW THESE ARE ALSO
ORIENTED?
>> NO.
THIS WAS JUST A SPACE SAVER ON
THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE TO
SEPARATE OUT THE LANGUAGE IN
THE GUIDANCE FOR THOSE HARDEST
HIT.
IT PROVIDES SOME SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE ABOUT WHAT THE
GUIDANCE SAYS ABOUT HOW WE
IDENTIFY THE COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE HARDEST HIT.
THE BRIGHT PORTION OF THE SLIDE
IS SORT OF DESCRIBING WHAT THE
INTENT IS AROUND HOW WE MIGHT
TO FIND THOSE POPULATIONS.
AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE INVOLVING SERVING
FAMILIES WHO LIVE IN QUALIFIED
CENSUS TRACTS OR SUPPORTING
SERVICES OR BUSINESSES WITHIN
THOSE QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACTS,
BUT ALSO PROVIDES LANGUAGE TO
SUPPORT OTHER GEOGRAPHIES THAT
HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE NOT YET, BUT WILL GO
THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF LOOKING
AT WHAT IS IDENTIFIED AS A
QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACT IN
SEATTLE, AS WELL AS THE WORK
THAT THE CITY HAS DONE TO
IDENTIFY AREAS OF THE CITY THAT
ARE AT HIGH RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT OR DO NOT HAVE
GOOD ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE
INFORMATION FOR FUNDS THAT ARE
NOT ELIGIBLE FOR USE FROM CLFR
FUNDS.
FOR THE MOST PART, THE
PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE
RESOLUTION DO APPEAR TO BE
ELIGIBLE USES OF THE FUNDS.
THE ONE PIECE AT POINT OUT THAT
WAS INCLUDED IN THE RESOLUTION
IS INVESTMENTS IN CRITICAL
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE
UNLESS IT IS NEEDED TO RESPOND
TO PANDEMIC RELATED PUBLIC
HEALTH NEEDS OR IS AN
INVESTMENT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
FUNDED OTHERWISE BUT FOR
REDUCTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION'S BUDGET DUE TO
REVENUE, REDUCED REVENUES IN
2021.
THIS SLIDE, I JUST LIST THE
CATEGORIES TO PRIORITIZE THE
USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS IDENTIFIED
IN THE RESOLUTION.
I HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE PROPOSED
, SO SLIDES 7 THROUGH 11
HIGHLIGHT PROPOSED
APPROPRIATIONS OF THE COUNTY
AND THE STATE THAT OVERLAP OR
COMPLEMENT THESE PRIORITIES.
THIS IS A HIGHLIGHT OF MANY OF
THE PROPOSED INVESTMENTS.
T IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE.
THE COUNTY IS STILL
DELIBERATING ON THEIR PROPOSAL.
SOME OF THESE NUMBERS MAY
CHANGE AS THEY FINALIZE THEIR
DECISIONS.
I AM NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT
OF TIME GOING THROUGH THE
DETAILS ON THESE SLIDES.
IF COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, I AM HAPPY TO TALK
OFF-LINE AND BRING ALONG OTHER
ANALYSTS WHO HAVE SOME MORE
DETAILS ON SOME OF THESE
SPECIFIC INVESTMENT AREAS.
JUST TO ORIENT YOU TO THE
SLIDES THEMSELVES, THE TOPICS
IN BOLD LIKE VACCINES AND
TESTING, THAT IS AN IDENTIFIED
SPENDING CATEGORY IN THE
RESOLUTION.
UNDERNEATH THAT, IT HIGHLIGHTS
SOME OF THE AREAS IN THIS CASE
AT THE COUNTY THAT SUPPORT
THOSE PRIORITIES.
THIS CAN BE USED MOVING FORWARD
AS THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS THE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL IN AREAS
WHERE THERE MAY BE SUFFICIENT
RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE STATE
OR THE COUNTY AND WHERE THERE
ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPLEMENT
OR BE A PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY
IN SUPPORTING CERTAIN SERVICES
OR PROGRAMS.
THIS IS AGAIN CONSISTENT WITH
THE PRINCIPLES LAID OUT IN THE
RESOLUTION WHERE THE COUNCIL
HIGHLIGHTED AS A PRIORITY
LEVERAGING SHARED RESOURCES TO
ENSURE THAT THE RESPONSE OF THE
CITY IS ADDRESSING GAPS IN
SERVICE AND TO EXPAND THE
FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
COUNTY TO SUPPORT COUNTY
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT
BENEFIT WORKERS, NONPROFITS,
AND SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE.
>> WELL SAID, ALY.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT EFFORT FOR
US TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN BE
ALIGNED IN CERTAIN INVESTMENT
AREAS, RING PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES TO SCALE, OR IDENTIFY
WITH THE COUNTY IS STEPPING IN.
THAT MEANS THE CITY IS ABLE TO
TAKE RESOURCES INTO ANOTHER
CATEGORY.
THANK YOU FOR ORIENTING US TO
THIS SLIDE.
THE BOLD IS WHERE WE HAVE
LANGUAGE THAT REPLICATES WHAT
IS IN OUR PRIORITIES FROM THE
RESOLUTION.
THE BULLETS ARE STILL TO BE
DISCUSSED, AS YOU SEE IN THE
NOTE WITH THE ASTERISK AT THE
BOTTOM.
VICE CHAIR 2012, DO YOU HAVE A
COMMENT?
>> YES.
DO WE HAVE A LEVEL OF DETAIL
THAT WOULD LET US KNOW WHETHER
OR NOT ANY OF THE INVESTMENTS
UNDER HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS AND
HOUSING SERVICES INCLUDE
ACQUISITION OF BUILDINGS FOR
SHELTERING?
>> I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE THAT
LEVEL OF DETAIL, BUT I DON'T
HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY TALKING
ABOUT THE PROPOSED SPENDING BY
THE COUNTY?
>> CORRECT.
>> I CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT
INFORMATION.
THE MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE
ONLINE.
WE CAN DIG AND CHECK WITH
COUNTY STAFF, AS WELL.
THERE HAS BEEN RECENT
ANNOUNCEMENTS WITH SOME OF THE
FUNDS THE CITY IS USING --
EXCUSE ME, THE COUNTY IS USING
FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE TO
SUPPORT ACQUISITION, LIKE
HOTELS, FOR EXAMPLE.
>> BUT THAT IS NOT FROM THIS
SOURCE OF FUNDS?
>> THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS
LIST, I BELIEVE.
THE $50 MILLION, I JUST NEED TO
DOUBLE CHECK.
THE BILL FROM THE COUNTY IS
DIRECT AID TO COUNTIES. HE
IT IS ALSO USING OTHER FUNDING
SOURCES SUCH AS THEIR RESERVES
AND, I THINK, A COUPLE OF OTHER
RESOURCES FROM THE COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO THIS SLIDE IS JUST A
CONTINUATION OF THE SAME, BUT
IT IS FOCUSING ON A COUPLE OF
OTHER CATEGORIES.
I WILL NOT DIVE INTO THE
DETAILS HERE.
I WOULD SAY THE INVESTMENTS ARE
LINED WITH MANY OF THE
PRINCIPLES AND PRIORITIES
ALIGNED IN THE COUNCIL
RESOLUTION, SUCH AS SUPPORTING
JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS,
PRIORITIZING INVESTMENTS IN
BIPOC BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC
RESILIENCY AND THAT SORT OF
THING.
SIMILARLY, THE STATE BUDGET
THAT THE COUNCIL HAD A MORE
DETAILED BRIEFING ON FROM OUR
COLLEAGUES IN HAWAII ARE ON
MONDAY, I WILL SPEND MUCH TIME
HERE, BUT THIS IS SOME SAMPLING
OF SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT
ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECENTLY
ADOPTED BUDGET BY THE STATE.
>> JUST A CLARIFICATION ON THAT
THOUGH, ALY . THESE ARE
STATEWIDE NUMBERS, CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
SOME OF THIS MAY FLOW TO THE
CITY.
MOST OF IT WILL FLOW THROUGH
OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE BUSINESSES, RENTERS, AND
LANDLORDS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO
THOSE FUNDS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
FOR THE MEMBER, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAS BEEN WITH US SINCE
PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND HAS BEEN A
REGULAR PARTICIPANT IN FINANCE
AND HOUSING EVEN WHEN NOT AN
ALTERNATE TECHNICALLY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE
WITH US, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING IN.
>> THANK YOU.
GOING BACK TO SORT OF A
RECOVERY AND EQUITABLE
INVESTMENTS, I AM CURIOUS IF
THERE IS ANY SPECIFIC FUNDING
ITEM THAT DOES TALK ABOUT, FOR
EXAMPLE, LAND ACQUISITION, HOW
WE WOULD SUPPORT MICRO BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT, ACCESS TO CAPITAL
FOR MICRO-BUSINESSES, THAT SORT
OF THING.
EITHER IN THE KING COUNTY
PRIORITIES THAT YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT, ALY, OR HOW
THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE OTHER
AREAS THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN.
>> THE LANGUAGE AND THE
GUIDANCE FROM THE TREASURY IS
PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING
THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF
BUSINESSES OR WORKERS WHO WERE
IMPACTED.
SO FAR, I HAVE COME ACROSS VERY
SPECIFIC LANGUAGE, ALTHOUGH IT
MAY BE IN THERE.
THE DOCUMENT IS ABOUT 150 PAGES.
WE WILL DOUBLE CHECK.
THERE IS CLEAR LANGUAGE ABOUT
ACQUISITION TO SUPPORT
INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE
OUSING AND SUPPORTING
BUSINESSES THROUGH HELPING TO
SECURE LONG-TERM LEASES AND
ADDRESSING BACKGROUND AND THAT
TYPE OF THING.
SPECIFIC TO MICRO-BUSINESSES OR
LAND ACQUISITION AS A MORE
GENERAL PRINCIPLE FOR LONG-TERM
COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING, THAT
TYPE OF THING, I WILL NEED TO
GET BACK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
THAT IS A BIG PRIORITY FOR A
NUMBER OF US, AS WELL.
LAND ACQUISITION AND EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT, CAPACITY BUILDING
IS SOMETHING WE HAVE HEARD A
LOT ABOUT DURING PUBLIC
TESTIMONY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE
ABOUT THAT AND HOW THAT CAN
LEAD INTO OUR PRIORITIES ALONG
THE LINES OF THE NEW GUIDANCE
THAT WE JUST GOT.
>> NEXT STEPS.
THE PLAN IS TO INTRODUCE AN
APPROPRIATION BILL ON JUNE 1
THAT WILL INCLUDE AUTHORIZING
SPENDING AT $160 MILLION OF
CLFR FUNDS AS WELL AS $12.2
MILLION OF ARPA PARTNERSHIP
FUNDS.
OTHER TARGETED AID MAY ALSO BE
INCLUDED IN THAT BILL IF
FUNDING IS KNOWN OR MAKE HIM
QUICKLY ON THE HEELS OF MAKING
A DECISION ON THAT BILL.
THAT INCLUDES THE ADDITIONAL
RENTAL ASSISTANCE THE CITY IS
ANTICIPATING OF ABOUT $28
MILLION, AS WELL AS SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS FROM THE OLDER
AMERICANS ACT THAT WILL BE USED
TO SUPPORT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
THAT SUPPORT SENIORS.
ON JUNE 4, THE COMMITTEE WILL
DISCUSS THE INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION IN WILL BEGIN TO
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS
WERE WHERE THERE NEEDS TO BE
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION
PROVIDED FOR THE CONSIDERATION
BY THE COMMITTEE.
AT THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE, THE SECOND COMMITTEE
IN JUNE, THERE WILL BE A
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON
AMENDMENTS AND THE BILL OR
POTENTIALLY BILLS.
FOR TECHNICAL REASONS, THERE
MAY BE A NEED TO HAVE MORE THAN
ONE BILL TO CONSIDER THESE
INVESTMENTS.
WE ARE STILL WORKING OUT THOSE
DETAILS.
THAT WAS ALL I HAD FOR PREPARED
PRESENTATION.
I AM HAPPY TO ADDRESS
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
>> BEFORE YOU TO QUESTIONS, I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, ALY,
FOR SPEARHEADING THIS
CONVERSATION.
I KNOW THE NUMBER FEW HAVE BEEN
IN MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WE THINK HER
FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING
ON COMPILING THE VARIOUS NOTES
FROM DISCUSSIONS IN THESE
COMMITTEES, PRIORITIES THAT YOU
BROUGHT UP, AND ITEMS WE HAVE
HEARD FROM PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF
ALIGNING THOSE WITH WHAT IS
POSSIBLE IN THE GUIDANCE THAT
WE RECEIVED.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT
POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO
ALIGN WITH THIS PROPOSAL AS WE
SEEK TO GET AS MANY DOLLARSOUT
THE DOOR AS POSSIBLE.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
YOUR WORK ON THIS AS A
COLLECTIVE.
THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN ACTIVELY
ENGAGED IN PUTTING PRIORITIES
FORWARD IN THESE MEETINGS, AND
THE PUBLIC, AS WELL.
LOTS OF WORK IS GOING IN TO SEE
HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET OUT THIS
$116 MILLION PLUS.
WE NEED A LOT MORE.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> WANTING TO UNDERSTAND A
LITTLE BIT MORE GIVEN THE
TIMELINE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED,
HOW WE WILL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
--
>> I THINK COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD MAY BE FROZEN?
I THINK I GOT THE GENERAL
INTENT OF THE QUESTION AROUND
WHEN WE WILL FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT KING COUNTY.
I BELIEVE THAT BILL IS BEFORE
THEIR COMMITTEE.
>> SORRY.
>> CHILDCARE INVESTMENTS, AS
WELL.
I AM INTERESTED IN A PROPOSAL
FOR CHILD CARE WORKERS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOUR
VIDEO AND AUDIO IS CUTTING OUT,
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
I BELIEVE WE ARE CATCHING WHAT
YOU ARE INTERESTED IN,
SPECIFICALLY THE CHILDCARE
PIECE.
ALY, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
APOLOGIES FOR SPEAKING OVER
YOU.
WE CANNOT HEAR YOUR.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA,
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
A BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED, I
DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER IN FRONT
OF ME, BUT I CAN DISTRIBUTE A
LINK.
IT IS BEING DISCUSSED IN
COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.
I THINK THE PLAN IS THAT THE
COUNTY WILL ACT ON THEIR
APPROPRIATION BILL BY THE END
OF THE MONTH. THAT WAS THE LAST
UPDATE I HAD.
IT WILL BE BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE IS BEING ASKED TO
MAKE A DECISION ON
APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK THAT
AND SEEK ADDITIONAL DETAILS
THAT CAN HELP INFORM YOUR
DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE TO
COMPLEMENT SOME OF THOSE
INVESTMENTS.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
YOU WERE CUTTING OUT A LITTLE
BIT.
WERE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ALY'S
ANSWER?
>> I GOT THE GIST OF IT.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT QUESTION.
I AM NOT SEEING ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS.
AS A REMINDER, WE WILL, AS ALY
MENTIONED, HAVE THIS BE OUR
LAST MEETING WITHOUT AN ACTUAL
DRAFT BILL IN FRONT OF YOU.
AT THE NEXT MEETING, WE WILL BE
ABLE TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US FOR
A DISCUSSION.
WE KNOW THAT THIS FEDERAL
GUIDANCE HAS BEEN HELPFUL.
IT IS ALSO DISCOURAGING THAT WE
GOT $7 MILLION LESS THAN WE
THOUGHT WE WOULD RECEIVE
WE ARE TRYING TO CRUNCH THOSE
NUMBERS AND REFLECT SOME OF THE
PRIORITIES WE CONTINUE TO HEAR
ABOUT.
IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK.
THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE TEAM
THAT HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY, THIS
WILL NOT BE INTRODUCED ON MAY
31, BUT INSTEAD JUNE 1, AS ALY
NOTED.
WE WILL HAVE A MEETING IN OUR
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTE
MEETING.
NOTE THAT IT IS ON A FRIDAY.
BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY, WE
MOVED FROM TUESDAY TO FRIDAY.
AT OUR JUNE 4 MEETING, WE WILL
BE DEVOTED TO WALKING THROUGH
THAT DRAFT PROPOSAL.
WE HAVE A HOLD ON YOUR CALENDAR
, NOT ONLY ON THE 15th, WHICH
IS OUR NORMAL MEETING DAY, BUT
ALSO ON THE 16th IN CASE WE
NEED TWO MEETINGS, AS WE DID
PREVIOUSLY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN
ACCOMMODATE DISCUSSIONS. WE
WILL MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOU
UPDATED AS WE GET CLOSER TO
THOSE TIMES.
IF YOU COULD GRACIOUSLY HOLD
THOSE DATES, THAT WOULD BE
GREATLY APPRECIATED.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS?
HEARING NONE, ALY, THANK YOU
FOR WALKING US THROUGH.
GUESS WHAT?
IT IS 12:15.
WE ARE ON TIME FOR OUR NEW
ALIGNED AGENDA.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
THREE.
CAN YOU PLEASE READ THAT INTO
THE RECORD?
>> ITEM NUMBER THREE,AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS IN
SEATTLE; ESTABLISHING LABOR
STANDARDS REQUIREMENTS FOR
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WORKING
IN SEATTLE; FOUR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
KARINA BULL IS WITH US, OUR
LEADER AND EXPERT ON LABOR
STANDARDS.
SHE HAS PROVIDED US WITH A MEMO
ANY PRESENTATION.
COUNCILMEMBER 12, DO YOU HAVE
ANY OPENING COMMENTS THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
>> IN THE INTEREST OF TIME AND
BECAUSE MY INTERNET IS
UNSTABLE, I WILL HANDED OVER TO
KARINA AND THANK HER FOR HER
WORK IN THIS CONTINUING
CONVERSATION.
OUR LAST MEETING WAS ON MAY 4.
THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.
I THINK THROUGH KARINA'S
PRESENTATION, WE WILL SEE HOW
THE LEGISLATION HAS CHANGED AND
SOME ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS FOR
CONSIDERATION.
THERE IS NO PLAN TO VOTE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
I AM KARINA BULL WITH COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
PER COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
INTRODUCTION, I HAVE A
PRESENTATION.
IT SHOULD HIGHLIGHT THE
INTRODUCED LEGISLATION AND
FOCUS ON SOME CHANGES FROM THE
DRAFT THAT WAS DISCUSSED ON MAY
4. AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
SAID, IT WILL BRING SOME ISSUES
TO THE COUNCILMEMBER ATTENTION
FOR CONSIDERATION.
TO BEGIN, THE INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRE
COMMERCIAL HIRING ENTITIES, THE
LEGAL TERM FOR BUSINESS IN THIS
LEGISLATION, TO PROVIDE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WITH
PRECONTRACT DISCLOSURES, TIMELY
PAYMENTS, AND PAYMENT
DISCLOSURES FOR SERVICES VALUED
AT $600 OR MORE.
THESE REQUIREMENTS BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON MARCH 1, 2022.
THEY WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS.
THE POLICY CHANGES BEGAN WITH
HIRING ENTITY COVERAGE.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD FULLY
DELIMITED TO COVERING
COMMERCIAL HIRING ENTITIES AT
THE TIME.
AT THE LAST MEETING, IT WAS
DISCUSSED THAT ANY HIRING
ENTITY OF A DOMESTIC WORKER
WOULD BE REMOVED.
THAT IS REFLECTED IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
NEXT, THERE IS A NEW
REQUIREMENT TO ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
MAY HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME
ADMINISTERING THE REQUIREMENTS
OF THIS LEGISLATION.
THAT CAN BE FOR INTERMITTENT
CONTRACTS OR SMALLER CONTRACTS.
THERE IS ANY REQUIREMENT FOR A
VALUE OF SERVICES. THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD ONLY COVER
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR SERVICES
WITH A PROPOSED ACTUAL OR
EXPECTED COMPENSATION VALUE OF
$600 OR MORE IN THE CALENDAR
YEAR.
NEXT, TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
COMPANIES WOULD STILL BE
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THEIR
DRIVERS WITH TIMELY PAYMENT.
THEY WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO
PROVIDE PRECONTRACT OR PAYMENT
DISCLOSURES.
THEY WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO
COMPLY WITH THE TNC MINIMUM
COMPENSATION ORDINANCE THAT WAS
PASSED LAST YEAR AND WENT INTO
EFFECT IN JANUARY.
THAT LAW REQUIRES PAYMENT OF
MINIMUM COMPENSATION AND DOES
REQUIRE PAYMENT DISCLOSURES. IT
DOES NOT REQUIRE SOMETHING AKIN
TO A PRECONTRACT DISCLOSURE OR
THAT SORT OF THING.
THIS LAW WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT
DISCUSSIONS WERE ALREADY HAD
WITH THE TNC COMPANIES AND
DRIVERS FOR THEIR NEEDS.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD FOCUS ON
THE TIMELY PAYMENT AND THE
NOTICE OF RIGHTS, AS WELL.
NEXT, A PRESUMPTIVE CONTRACT.
AT THE LAST MEETING, THERE WAS
DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE A
PRESUMPTION OF A CONTRACT IN
THE ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT.
THAT MEANS THAT IF A HIRING
ENTITY HAD NOT PROVIDED A
PRECONTRACT DISCLOSURE OR HAD A
PRECONTRACT DISCLOSURE AND DID
NOT HONOR IT, IF THERE WAS A
PLAY MEANT -- A PAYMENT CLAIM,
THERE WOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC
PRESUMPTION THAT THE
PRECONTRACT DISCLOSURE HAD
TURNED INTO A CONTRACTOR AND
THE CONTRACTOR BEGAN WORK.
IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT
PRECONTRACT DISCLOSURE, THE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR CLAIMS
FOR PAYMENTS WERE TRUE.
IN THE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION,
THAT PRESUMPTIVE CONTRACT NOW
BEGINS FOR ANY SERVICES THAT
ARE PROVIDED.
THAT PRESUMPTIVE CONTRACT JUST
HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE
CONTRACTOR BEGINS AGREED-UPON
WORK FOR THE HIRING ENTITY.
IT DOES NOT WAIT NECESSARILY
UNTIL THERE IS A PAYMENT CLAIM.
IS LIKELY TO COME UP IN THE
CONTEXT OF A PAYMENT CLAIM.
THERE IS STILL THE PRESUMPTION
IN THE ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT FOR
SITUATIONS WHERE AN INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR WAS NOT GIVEN A
PRECONTRACT DISCLOSURE.
LAST, MODEL NOTICES, THOSE ARE
REQUIRED FOR ANY HIRING ENTITY
TO PROVIDE IN ENGLISH AND THE
PRIMARY LANGUAGE OF THE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.
HE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS IS
REQUIRED TO CREATE AND
DISTRIBUTE THOSE MODEL NOTICES
AND INCLUDE THOSE TRANSLATIONS
BY DATE THAT THIS LAW WOULD GO
INTO EFFECT ON MARCH 1, 2022,
SO THAT ALL BUSINESSES AND
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WOULD
BE READY TO GO WITH INFORMATION
THAT THEY NEED FOR THIS LAW TO
BE SUCCESSFUL.
JUST A COUPLE OF ISSUES FOR THE
COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
ONE IS THE COVERAGE OF
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.
THE LAW IS SILENT ON WHETHER
THESE REQUIREMENTS WOULD APPLY
TO GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, SO IT
IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL
MAY WANT TO CONSIDER ABOUT
WHETHER THE CITY OF SEATTLE
SHOULD BE EXPLICITLY INCLUDING,
INCLUDED AS A HIRING ENTITY.
RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE
IMPLICITLY INCLUDED.
THAT COULD BE VALUE TO
DECLARING THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS COVERED.
AND ALSO, TO WHAT EXTENT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS COVERED.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LEGISLATION
WOULD NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT
COVERAGE MAY ONLY APPLY TO
SITUATIONS WHEN THE CITY IS
ACTING AS A COMMERCIAL HIRING
ENTITY.
THEY WOULD NEED TO BE MORE
RESEARCH ON WHAT SITUATIONS
THAT WOULD APPLY TO.
IT COULD BE PUBLIC UTILITIES OR
CITY LIGHT.
WAS MAYBE THE ONLY SITUATIONS.
OR THERE MAY BE OTHER ONES.
ANOTHER OPTION FOR THE COUNCIL
TO CONSIDER IS COVERAGE FOR ANY
CONTRACT THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ENTERS INTO.
THAT WOULD BE FOR CHILDCARE.
IT COULD BE FOR MEDIATION
SERVICES.
THERE ARE, OF COURSE, A
PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT KIND OF
CONTRACTS THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ENTERS INTO.
ANOTHER OPTION IS TO EXPLICITLY
EXCLUDE THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FROM HIRING ENTITY COVERAGE.
ITEM C IS TO EXCLUDE OTHER
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES FROM
COVERAGE THAT COULD INCLUDE
KING COUNTY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A
COMBINATION OF ANY OF THOSE
OPTIONS, OR MAKE NO CHANGES TO
THE LEGISLATION AND THE RESULT
WOULD BE THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS COVERED AS A
COMMERCIAL HIRING ENTITY.
JUST WOULD NOT BE EXPLICITLY
ANNOUNCED.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THAT BEFORE I GO ON?
HEARING NONE, I WILL MOVE ON.
>> I HAVE ONE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> IF YOU COULD REACQUAINT US
WITH THE DEFINITION AS IS
CURRENTLY DRAFTED FOR A
COMMERCIAL HIRING ENTITY?
>> YES, I WILL.
I WILL TURN TO THAT IN MY COPY
OF THE LEGISLATION. AS I SAID
EARLIER, IT IS ESSENTIALLY THE
LEGAL TERM FOR A BUSINESS.
WITH THE LEGISLATION SAYS IS
THAT IT IS AN ENTITY THAT IS
REGULARLY ENGAGED IN BUSINESS
OR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY, WHICH
REGULARLY IS ENGAGED IN
BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.
THE ENTITY WOULD OWN OR OPERATE
IN ANY TRADE BUSINESS,
INCLUDING A NOT-FOR-PROFIT
BUSINESS, OR HOLDS ITSELF OUT
AS ENGAGING IN ANY TRADE OR
OCCUPATION.
>> AND SO THE QUESTION HERE IS
WHETHER OR NOT FOR CLARITY'S
SAKE WE NEED TO EXPLICITLY
DEFINE WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IS CONSIDERED
COMMERCIAL HIRING ENTITY.
>> I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THE
LEGISLATION COULD GO ABOUT IT.
ONE COULD BE THAT THE CITY
COULD BE ANNOUNCED AS COVERED.
THE LAW WOULD COVER COMMERCIAL
HIRING ENTITY OR THE CITY.
OR COULD BE THE LAW COVERS
COMMERCIAL HIRING ENTITIES AND
THE CITY, TO THE EXTENT THAT
ENGAGES IN COMMERCIAL HIRING
ENTITY OPERATIONS. OR THE CITY
COULD BE ADDED TO THE DEFINITION
OF A COMMERCIAL HIRING ENTITY.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
WAYS THAT COULD BE
ACCOMPLISHED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> THE NEXT ISSUE IS REGARDING
VALUE OF SERVICES. AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, THE
LEGISLATION WOULD COVER
SITUATIONS WHERE A CONTRACTOR
IS HIRED TO PROVIDE SERVICES
THAT ARE VALUED AT $600 OR MORE
IN A CALENDAR YEAR.
THE REASON WHY THIS SPECIFIC
AMOUNT WAS SELECTED IS BECAUSE
THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
ALREADY REQUIRES BUSINESSES TO
REPORT ON A 1099-NEC FORM THE
AMOUNT OF NONEMPLOYEE
COMPENSATION THAT IS PAID TO
WORKERS OF $600 OR MORE.
THAT IS A NICE ALIGNMENT.
THE LINES WITH THE TYPE OF
REPORTING THAT BUSINESSES ARE
ALREADY REQUIRED TO DO.
AS TIME MARCHES ON, THAT $600
WILL BE WORTH A DIFFERENT
AMOUNT IN THE FUTURE.
COUNCIL MAY WANT TO CONSIDER
CHANGING LEGISLATION OR LETTING
IT BECOME STAGNANT OR LESS
APPLICABLE IN THE FUTURE.
THERE COULD BE LANGUAGE STATING
THAT THE $600 WILL BE CHANGED
TO REFLECT ANY CHANGE IN THE
IRS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR
NONEMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
ANOTHER OPTION IS THAT THE $600
COULD BE CHANGED TO REFLECT THE
RATE OF INFLATION.
AND THEN OF COURSE, ANOTHER
OPTION IS NOT TO MAKE A CHANGE.
FOR EITHER A OR B, THE COULD BE
A REQUIREMENT THAT THE OFFICE
OF LABOR STANDARDS WOULD NEED
TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT AND
FILE IT WITH THE CITY CLERK AND
MAKE SURE TO DO SOME OUTREACH
AND ANNOUNCEMENTS SO BOTH
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND
BUSINESSES ARE AWARE OF THIS
CHANGE IN THE VALUE OF
SERVICES.
YES, TOM EMMER HERBOLD?
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, A AND B ARE
TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES OF
ADJUSTING THE VALUE OF
SERVICES, CORRECT?
>> YES, THEY ARE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUST TO PROVIDE SOME
BACKGROUND, IN THE LEGISLATION,
AS IS TYPICAL WITH ANY LABOR
STANDARDS, THE AMOUNTS OF CIVIL
PENALTIES AND FINES ARE
ADJUSTED EACH YEAR TO REFLECT
THE RATE OF INFLATION AND THE
MINIMUM COMPENSATION LAW, THE
MINIMUM COMPENSATION IS
ADJUSTED EVERY YEAR.
THERE IS A STANDARD PRACTICE OF
ADJUSTING AMOUNTS TO REFLECT
THE RATE OF INFLATION.
IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE INTERESTED
IN FOR THIS LAW, IT COULD BE
APPLIED AT $600.
BUT IT MAY NOT ALIGN WITH THAT
IRS REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
LAST OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON
THE CITY IN REGARDS TO THE COST
FOR OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
TO IMPLEMENT THIS LAW IS
SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MAY
WANT TO CONSIDER.
COUNCIL HAS ASKED OR LESS
THEIR ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD
COST TO IMPLEMENT THIS
LEGISLATION.
THEIR INITIAL ESTIMATE IS UP TO
$684,000.
THAT IS $60,000 IN ONE-TIME
FUNDS AND $624,000 IN ONGOING
FUNDS.
THIS WOULD BE FOR THREE
POSITIONS, A SENIOR
INVESTIGATOR, PARALEGAL, AND AN
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST THAT
WOULD CONDUCT OUTREACH.
THIS WOULD COVER ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES TO ONBOARD THOSE
POSITIONS, TO PAY FOR MODEL
NOTICES, CREATION OF CORE
DOCUMENTS.
THERE IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION
IN THE ENFORCEMENT SECTION THAT
ESTABLISHES 22 TYPES OF
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS FOR
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS.
THERE IS A COMPLAINT PROCEDURE,
WHICH IS A NONADVERSARIAL
EXCHANGE OF DOCUMENTS THAT OR
LESS WOULD FACILITATE.
AND THERE IS A CORE NAVIGATION
PROCEDURE WHERE OR LESS WILL
PROVIDE OUTREACH ON HOW TO
ACCESS THE COURT FOR
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
BOTH OF THOSE PROCEDURES AND
MECHANISMS WERE DESIGNED TO
REDUCE THE WORKLOAD ON OFFICE
OF LABOR STANDARDS . TO GET
THEM RUNNING, IT COULD TAKE
SOME EXTRA WORK ON THEIR PART.
YES, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> I JUST WANT TO NOTE HERE THAT
IT APPEARS TO ME, WE JUST HEARD
FROM THE DOMESTIC WORKERS
STANDARDS BOARD AND OR LESS
ABOUT HOW THE LACK OF FUNDING
FOR OUTREACH HAS BROUGHT THEM
BACK TO US TO SEEK ADDITIONAL
FUNDING.
I THINK THE NUMBER THAT WE
HEARD WAS $35,000 FOR OUTREACH
FOR THAT BILL.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A
NEED.
THIS NUMBER MAKES ME FEEL LIKE
THERE IS SORT OF A FUNDAMENTAL
MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT OUR
EXPECTATIONS ARE AROUND
ENFORCEMENT FOR THIS
LEGISLATION.
IS NOT C█LEAR TO ME HOW MUCH OF
THESE ONGOING ANNUAL COSTS ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A BIT
OF THE CONVERSATION WITH OLS.
I THINK ENFORCEMENT
EXPECTATIONS ARE REALLY THAT
THIS IS A LAW THAT IS INTENDED
TO EMPOWER WORKERS TO ASSERT
THEIR RIGHTS WITHOUT RELYING ON
OLS TO ENFORCE THE LAW.
I AM FLAGGING THAT AND
RECOGNIZING THAT THIS PROPOSED
PRICE TAG FOR ONGOING ANNUAL
COSTS IS THERE.
I AM INTERESTED IN FIGURING
OUT, GIVEN THE EFFECTIVE DATE
AND THE WORK THAT ACTUALLY
NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
LEGISLATION IN NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET PROCESS, WHETHER OR NOT
WE CAN SEQUENCE ADDRESSIN THE
NEEDS OF OLS IN A WAY THAT
CORRESPONDS TO OUR EXPECTATIONS
FOR ROLLING OUT THE ORDINANCE.
>> YEAH, THAT CERTAINLY WOULD
BE HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM OFFICE
OF LABOR STANDARDS WHETHER IN
A COMMITTEE MEETING OR OFF-
LINE, AS WELL, TO COMPARE THIS
LEGISLATION TO OTHER LAWS THAT
HAVE BEEN RECENTLY PASSED THAT
HAVE BEEN FUNDED OR NOT FUNDED.
MY NOTES REMIND ME THAT OFFICE
OF LABOR STANDARDS RECEIVED
ABOUT $276,000 TO IMPLEMENT THE
DOMESTIC WORKER ORDINANCE FOR
TWO POSITIONS.
AND ABOUT $300,000 TO IMPLEMENT
THE TNC MINIMUM COMPENSATION
FOR DRIVERS ORDINANCE.
THERE ARE TWO POSITIONS FOR
THAT.
WHAT OR LESS SAID WHEN THEY
PROVIDED THIS ESTIMATE TO
CENTRAL STAFF IS THAT THEY
BELIEVE THAT THIS BLOCK HAS A
WIDER SCOPE THAN ANY LAW THAT
HAS BEEN PASSED SINCE THE
MINIMUM WAGE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
IN SEATTLE.
IT IS THEIR THOUGHT THAT THIS
WOULD HAVE A WIDE SCOPE FOR
OUTREACH.
AS FAR AS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, ABOUT A
MUCH MORE LIMITED SCOPE OF
ENFORCEMENT, THAT WOULD
CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM HEARING
FROM OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
ON THAT APPROACH AND HOW THAT
MIGHT IMPACT THIS ESTIMATE.
>> I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING,
KARINA.
PERHAPS BROADER SCOPE FOR
OUTREACH TO NOTIFY COVERED
EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS OF THE
OBLIGATIONS.
BUT A MORE NARROW SCOPE FOR
ENFORCEMENT.
I WANT TO SEE THAT THE NUMBERS,
HE ESTIMATES THAT OR LESS IS
PROVIDING ALIGNS WITH THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST LIFT UP THAT
THE REASON WHY THIS POTENTIALLY
HAS A BROAD SCOPE FOR PURPOSES
OF NOTIFYING WORKERS AND THE
FOLKS WHO ARE CONTRACTING WITH
WORKERS FOR THESE TASKS, THE
REASON WHY IT IS A BROADER
SCOPE IS BECAUSE THIS IS AN
AREA THAT IS GROWING.
THERE ARE MORE WORKERS WHO ARE
WORKING AS CONTRACT WORKERS.
AND SO I THINK, I AGREE THE
NEED FOR FUNDING FOR OUTREACH
TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH WORKERS
AND THE CONTRACT EMPLOYERS ARE
ADHERING TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THE ORDINANCE.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
OR LESS UNDERSTANDS IT IS A
NARROWER EXPECTATION ON THE
ENFORCEMENT SIDE.
AGAIN, THESE ARE INTENDED TO BE
RIGHTS THAT ARE, THAT EMPOWER
WORKERS TO ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS.
>> SO OPERATIONALLY,
COUNCILMEMBER, HOW DO WE, HOW
DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS MAKING
SURE THAT THOSE
MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR POTENTIAL
POINTS OF CONFUSION ARE
ADDRESSED WITH OLS?
>> I THINK JUST MORE
CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE.
>> OKAY.
OKAY, GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US
UPDATED.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THIS NEXT PAGE ON OPTIONS IS
NOT TO BE DISCUSSED, BUT IS
SOMETHING FOR COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER.'S ARE OPTIONS FOR
RESPONDING TO OR LESS'S
ESTIMATES COULD INCLUDE ADDING
MONEY TO THEIR BUDGET DURING
THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PROCESS,
THE NEXT YEAR BUDGET PROCESS.
OR LESS HAS PROPOSED THAT
DELAYING THE EFFECTIVE DATE --
OLS HAS PROPOSED THAT DELAYING
THE EFFECTIVE DATE COULD HELP.
OR THEY CAN RECEIVE NO
MEDICATION AND MOVE FORWARD
WITH WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH
OTHER TOPICS.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION
ON THIS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I AM NOT SEEING ANY
QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
DO YOU WANT TO WALK US THROUGH
THE TIMELINE YOU ARE THINKING
OF, AS WELL?
>> CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS WITH
BOTH THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS AND LSAC AS WELL AS
WORKING WITH WASHINGTON ON A
NUMBER OF ITEMS WITHIN THE BILL
ITSELF, BOTH AS IT RELATES TO
THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THE BILL
AND SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT
KARINA QUEUED UP TODAY.
WE ARE TRYING TO CLEAR UP SOME
MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THE
EXPANDED SCOPE OF THE BILL
BEYOND WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY
LSAC.
AS IT RELATES TO THE PAY UP
CAMPAIGN, REQUESTS FOR THE
COMMITMENT OF THE COUNCIL AROUND
A MINIMUM COMPENSATION STANDARD
, STILL TALKING WITH THEM
THROUGH THE TIMELINE
EXPECTATIONS IN THAT
LEGISLATION.
I THINK WE ARE HOPEFULLY GOING
TO BE BACK IN EARLY JUNE.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
WE WILL STAY TUNED.
APPRECIATE IT.
KARINA, ANYTHING ELSE FROM
YOUR PERSPECTIVE?
>> THAT IS ALL.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE
HERE TODAY.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I KNOW THE DOMESTIC WORKER'S
BILL OF RIGHTS IS PROBABLY
INTERESTING, AS WELL.
IT HAS YOUR FINGERPRINTS ON IT.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US
THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON.
WE ARE SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF TIME.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO 1:00
AND TO BE PUSHING IT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES.
YOU HAVE BEEN TRUE CHAMPIONS
TODAY.
THANKS FOR STAYING ON THE LINE
WITH US.
AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE A
MEETING ON FRIDAY, JUNE 4. WE
WILL HAVE THE ARPA DIRECT AID
BILL. WE WILL HAVE TRANSPARENCY
REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACT
WORKERS.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE HOUSING
LEVY ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
PLAN AND POLICIES IN FRONT OF
US.
WE WILL FOLLOW-UP ON ADDITIONAL
BUDGET RELATED ITEMS.
THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY.
IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, HAVE
A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON AND WE
HOPE EVERYBODY GETS A LITTLE
BIT OF SUNSHINE BEFORE THE RAIN
COMES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.