>>> GOOD MORNING.
AND WELCOME TO THE JANUARY
26th, 2021 MEETING OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING.
IT IS 9:30 A.M.
I'M IN LISA HERBOLD, CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROAD?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JEFF
GONZALEZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> HERE.
>> FOUR MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, ALEX.
SO, ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WE WILL
BE HEARING THE APPOINTMENT OF
CHECK CURRY MAYER TO THE OFFICE
FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WE'LL BE HEARING A PRESENTATION
AND DISCUSSION OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND
PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY
SAFETY INITIATIVE.
WE'LL ALSO BE HEARING A BRIEF
UPDATE FROM THE SERVICE
DEPARTMENT ON THE COMMUNITY
SAFETY INVESTMENT PROCESS, AND
WE'LL BE ENGAGED IN A ANOTHER
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
RECOMMENDATIONS MOVING FORWARD
ON THE LESS LETHAL WEAPONS
DRAFT BILL DEVELOPED BASED ON
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS.
AND FINALLY, WE'LL HAVE A
DISCUSSION ONLY ON COUNSEL BILL
1199-81 REGARDING A
SUPPLEMENTAL AMENDMENT TO SPD'S
2021 BUDGET.
BEFORE WE BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT,
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE UNUSUAL
PROCESS FOR DELIBERATIONS ON
OUR LAST LETHAL WEAPONS BILL.
JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR FOLKS WHO
MAY BE LISTENING IN OR
INTENDING TO USE PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY ON THAT TOPIC, ANY
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE
COMMITTEE MAKES ON LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS WILL HAVE TO BE
SUBMITTED TO THE MONITOR AND
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AND U.S. DISTRICT COURT BEFORE
WE HAVE ANY FULL COUNSEL
ACTIONS.
WE HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE UNDER A
CONSENT DECREE UNDER THE
SUPERVISION OF A CONSENT
DECREE, AND WE HAVE TO MEET
TERMS THAT ARE LAID OUT IN THE
CONSENT DECREE THAT INCLUDE THE
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF BILLS
RELATED TO POLICE USE OF FORCE.
SO UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE,
THE MONITOR AND DOJ MUST REVIEW
AND THE COURT MUST APPROVE ANY
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE USE OF
FORCE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
SO, JUST AS A POINT OF
INFORMATION, THE BILL THAT WE
HAVE BEFORE US TODAY THAT WE
HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS ON
SINCE THIS SUMMER WILL NOT BE
MOVING TO FULL COUNCIL AS IS
TYPICALLY THE PROCESS.
NORMALLY AFTER A COMMITTEE
VOTE, LEGISLATURE WILL MOVE ON
TO FULL COUNCIL FOR THE FULL
COUNCIL VOTE.
THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN.
AFTER THIS COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION, THEN WE WILL BE
SUBMITTING TO LEGISLATION TO
THE COURT, FOR REVIEW.
AND SO, I SEE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS NOW
JOINED US.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
AND WE'LL NOW APPROVE OUR
AGENDA FOR OUR COMMITTEE
MEETING TODAY.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION.
TODAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING WILL
BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS UP ADOPTED. NOW, WE
WILL MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE
ABOUT 35 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING.
AND IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT DISCUSSION, WE
WILL IDENTIFY A FAIR AMOUNT OF
TIME FOR EVERYBODY TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE 20 MINUTES ON THE
AGENDA, AND I WANT TO DO
EVERYTHING I CAN TO ALLOW FOR
AS MANY PEOPLE TO SPEAK AS
POSSIBLE.
SO INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL TWO
MINUTES OF TIME, WE WILL HAVE
1.5 MINUTES TO SPEAK.
SO, A MINUTE AND A HALF.
90 SECONDS PER SPEAKER.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER PER
NAME, AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN FIND OUT BEFORE THE END OF
THE PUBLIC HEARING BY GOING TO
THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
THE LINK IS ALSO NOTED ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
YOU'LL HEAR A PROMPT.
ONCE YOU HAVE HEARD THAT
PROMPT, YOU NEED TO PLAY PRESS
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOUR SELF.
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND ITEM BY WHICH YOU ARE
ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR
ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE THE SPIEGEL HERE'S THE
CHIME, WE ASK THAT YOU BEGIN TO
WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT HEAR THE
CHIME AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED AT THE END OF 10 MINUTES
TO ALLOW US TO HEAR THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
TIME AND GIVEN YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE DISCONNECT YOUR
LINE. YOU CAN DO SO AT THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR LISTING
OPTIONS.
IN ORDER TO ALLOW AS MANY
SPEAKERS TO SPEAK AS POSSIBLE,
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'VE
ADJUSTED THE SPEAKING TIME FROM
TWO MINUTES TO 90 SECONDS.
AND NOW, IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, I WILL AMEND THE
AGENDA TO ALLOW SOME ADDITIONAL
TIME FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING.
SO AGAIN, IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, I'D LIKE TO AMEND
THE AGENDA FOR 30 MINUTES OF
PUBLIC COMMENT, RATHER THAN 20
MINUTES.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA IS AMENDED TO ALLOW FOR
30 MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO NEXT, I'M GOING TO BEGIN
CALLING ON THE SPEAKERS IN
ORDER TO SPEAK.
WE WILL START WITH HOWARD GALE,
FOLLOWED BY STEPHEN RAMOS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
AS SEATTLE RECENTLY NOTED IN
RELATION TO MANY MONTHS OF
HORRIFYING REVIEWS COMMITTED BY
SEATTLE POLICE, QUOTE, THE
ALLEGATIONS FOR POLICY
VIOLATIONS IN 5 OF 22 CASES,
ONLY ONE OFFICER SO FAR HAS
BEEN DISCIPLINED, AND THAT WAS
A WRITTEN REPRIMAND.
WE ARE NOW WELL PAST THE
CONTRACTUAL 180 DAY TIMELINE
FOR DISCIPLINING OFFICERS FOR
MANY OF THE MOST HORRIFYING
ABUSES OF LAST SUMMER,
GUARANTEEING THAT POLICE WILL
ISSUE SANCTIONS, EMBOLDENING
THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR ABUSE.
YET, HERE WE ARE TODAY.
THIS MORNING, YOU WILL BE
DISCUSSING CERTAIN TOOLS OF
POLICE ABUSE, A WORTHY GOAL,
BUT MEANINGLESS AS LONG AS
POLICE HAVE -- GUNS, ARRESTS,
ET CETERA, IN A SYSTEM THAT
COMPLETELY LACKS ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION
WILL HOLD A POLICE USE OF FORCE
POLICY WITH NO REAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND A TOTAL
COMPLETE ABSENCE OF THE VICTIMS
OF THOSE POLICIES.
THE PARTICULAR IRONY HERE IS
THAT YOU WILL BE DISCUSSING
AWS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER
BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL COURT
CONSENT DECREE, WHILE YOU
IGNORE ACTIONS THAT IS
ACCOUNTABILITY YOU COULD TAKE
TO BRING OFFICERS TO JUSTICE.
IMAGINE ENGAGING IN THIS POLICY
DISCUSSION AROUND DOMESTIC
ABUSE, WHERE IN THE MORNING
THEY DISCUSS WHAT METHODS OF
ABUSE ABUSERS HAVE RECOURSE TO
IN A SYSTEM THAT WOULD REFUSE
TO UPHOLD -- TO ACCOUNT AND IN
THE EVENING THEY HAVE A
DISCUSSION LED BY EXPERTS
WITHOUT HEARING CRIMINAL
REVIEWS.
PLEASE, YOU MUST DO BETTER.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPHEN
RAMOSE, FOLLOWED BY KATE RUBIN.
STEPHEN?
HI.
MY NAME IS STEPHEN RAMOS.
I'M CALLING REGARDING THE
CHANGES BEING MADE TO THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS BAN.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL
THE USE OF THESE WEAPONS
ESCALATED AN ALREADY TENSE AND
HORRIFYING SITUATIONS, AND NOT
ONLY INJURED PROTESTERS, BUT
ALSO THOSE THAT LIVED IN THE
HOMES NEARBY AND SENT MANY
PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN SEATTLE
INTO FEAR AND CHAOS.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE PEOPLE THAT
YOU ARE HURTING, HAVE HURT, AND
WILL BE HURT BY THESE WEAPONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, STEPHEN.
KATE RUBIN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
BARBARA FINNEY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KATE RUBIN.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2
AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
SEATTLE.
I'M CALLING TODAY TO CALL ON
SEATTLE TO UPHOLD THE BAN ON
WEAPONS WITHOUT ANY CROWD
CONTROL.
I'M FRUSTRATED THAT THIS IS UP
FOR DISCUSSION AGAIN.
NONLETHAL DOES NOT MEAN
NONVIOLENT AND I WITNESSED
FIRSTHAND HOW USE OF THESE
WEAPONS ESCALATED VIOLENCE AND
CAUSES PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL
HARM TO PROTESTERS.
NOT ONLY IS IT A MASSIVE WASTE
OF RESOURCES, IT WILL OF COURSE
PUT BLACK AND BROWN ACTIVISTS
AT FURTHER RISK.
SEATTLE HOLDS ITSELF AS
PROGRESSIVE, SO WE NEED TO BE
LEADERS AND SHOW THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY HOW TO TAKE CARE OF
THE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KATE.
BARBARA FINNEY WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY LINDSAY ANDERSON.
>> MY NAME IS BARBARA FINNEY.
I'M A RETIRED REGISTERED NURSE
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF KEEPING
THE BAN AS IT IS.
SCIENTISTS AND MEDICAL
COMMUNITIES HAVE RECENTLY
WEIGHED IN.
THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS RESEARCH
CONSORTIUM, A GROUP OF
SCIENTISTS, PUBLISHED AN OPEN
LETTER TO AMERICAN ELECTED
OFFICIALS ON JANUARY 19th,
REQUESTING THAT YOU LEVERAGE
ANY AND ALL AVENUES TO HOLD
CURRENT AND FUTURE USE OF
CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST
CIVILIANS IN CALLING FOR A
COMPLETE MORATORIUM ON CHEMICAL
WEAPONS BEING USED ON HUMANS IN
THE U.S. ON JANUARY 13th, THE
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE, INJURIES
FROM LESS LETHAL WEAPONS DURING
THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS IN
MINNEAPOLIS.
IT CONCLUDES, ALTHOUGH THE
RESULTS REPRESENT ONLY A SINGLE
REGION IN WORLDWIDE PROTESTS,
THESE FINDINGS REVEAL THAT
UNDER CURRENT PRACTICES,
PROJECTILES ARE NOT APPROPRIATE
FOR CROWD CONTROL.
KEEP YOUR ORIGINAL STRONG
LEGISLATIVE BAN ON SPD HAVING
THEM USE THESE WEAPONS AGAINST
PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT.
KEEP THE BAN ON POLICE, USE OF
TEAR GAS, RUBBER BULLETS, AND
OTHER SO-CALLED CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS, BLACK LIVES MATTER.
>> THANK YOU ON BARBARA.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDSAY
ANDERSON, FOLLOWED BY TARA
MILLER-BARRY.
LINDSAY?
AND C, ARE YOU WITH US?
IF YOU ARE WITH US, YOU NEED TO
HIT STAR SIX.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S MOVE ON TO TARA MILLER-
BARRY.
IF LINDSAY COMES BACK, WE WILL
TRY TO GET LINDSAY IN.
TARA?
>> HI.
HELLO?
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
WE CAN.
>> HI.
OKAY, GOOD DAY, CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LINDSAY ANDERSON.
AND I AM WANTING TO DISCUSS
TODAY, I CAME TO DEFEND THE BAN
ON THE POLICE FORCE.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT HAS
BEEN VERY EXTREME, THE USE OF
THE POLICE FORCE ON OUR PEOPLE,
AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE
COMING TO MAKE SPACE AND
PEACEFUL PROTESTS.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN USING DEADLY
FORCE UPON OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE
HOMELESS, WHEN I BELIEVE THAT
IT IS THE POLICE'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO BE PROTECTING
AND SERVING US.
AND THIS IS NOT PROTECTING AND
SERVING US BY USING DEADLY
FORCE UPON PEOPLE THAT ARE
SLEEPING, LIKE THEY USED UPON
CLAYTON NORTON.
A BLACK WHO FELL UPON HIS EAR
WHEN HE WAS SIMPLY LAYING DOWN.
LAYING DOWN IS SIMPLY ONE OF
THE MOST PEACEFUL AND TRUSTING
THINGS THAT YOU CAN SAY TO
SOMEONE.
IT IS SAYING THAT, POLICE, WE
EXPECT YOU TO BE PROTECTING US.
WE TRUST YOU, THAT YOU ARE
PROTECTING US AND SERVING US,
AND THIS IS WHAT WE EXPECT OF
THEM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU, LINDSAY.
NEXT, WE HAVE TARA MILLER-BARRY
FOLLOWED BY THEO BUCK.
TARA?
>> HI.
MY NAME IS TARA MILLER-VARY
FROM DISTRICT 1. I WORK AT
SPACE ACTION NETWORK AND AM A
MEMBER OF THE UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH IN BALLARD.
AS SOMEONE WHO FACE THE
NIGHTMARE OF THE MILITARIZED
POLICE DEPARTMENT USING SOME
WEAPONS NOT EVEN ALLOWED IN WAR,
I'M URGING YOU TO SIDE WITH THE
THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS WHO
CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR BLACK
AND INDIGENOUS LIVES AND HOLD
FOR COMMITMENT FOR THE BAN ON
THESE SO-CALLED WEAPONS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER ALSO YOU
CAUSES -- MILITARY STYLE
TACTICS FOR POLICE CONTROL, END
QUOTE.
LAST SUMMER MADE IT CLEAR THAT
SPD HAS NO CONTROL OVER THEIR
TACTICS AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED
TO ASSESS THE SITUATION, USE OF
WEAPONS OF ANY KIND AS A MEANS
OF CROWD CONTROL.
FROM MISSING A CHILD, TO USING
CROWD CONTROL TO TERRORIZE A
CROWD NIGHTLY, AS THEY ARE
REVIVING THEM, THESE WEAPONS
CAN BE LETHAL AND ARE EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN THE
HANDS OF A TRIGGER-HAPPY AND
RACIST ORGANIZATION.
THIS COMES IN STARK CONTRAST TO
THE VERY LIGHT TO KNOW POLICE
FORCE USED IN THE JANUARY COUP
ATTEMPT IN D.C. AND CAPITOLS
AROUND THE NATION INCLUDING
OLYMPIA.
SPD ARGUED THAT WITHOUT THESE
WEAPONS, POLICE WILL BE FORCED
TO USE MORE BRUTAL WEAPONS SUCH
AS BATONS AND BULLETS.
I URGE YOU TO STAND AGAINST
THIS RHTORIC AND IMAGINE A
WORLD WITHOUT POLICE VIOLENCE
ALTOGETHER.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE
BAN AND DO NOT WATER IT DOWN.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT, WE HAVE LEAH BUCK,
FOLLOWED BY CLAIRE FORNEY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JULIA BUCK IN
DISTRICT 6. I'M GOING TO
EXPRESS MY CONCERN THAT THE
COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING
WEAKENING THE CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS BAN.
I ONLY ASK THE COUNCIL TO
INSERT POLICE THE FEDERAL
COURT TO REMOVE THE STATE ORDER
ON THE WEAPONS BAN PLACED AT
THE REQUEST OF THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND FORMER CHIEF BEST.
IS SEEMS VERY COUNTERINTUITIVE
THAT TAKING WEAPONS OUT OF
SPD'S ARSENAL WOULD BE A
VIOLATION OF THE CONSENT DECREE
THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE
SPD CANNOT BE TRUSTED WITH ITS
DEPLOYMENT OF FORCE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK THE
COUNCIL TO HOLD SPD ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THEIR $5 MILLION IN EXCESS
SPENDING IN 2020 BY REMOVING
THAT SAME AMOUNT FOR 2021'S SPD
BUDGET.
I BELIEVE IT SETS A VERY
DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR CITY
DEPARTMENTS NOT TO BE REQUIRED
TO ADHERE TO BUDGET
ALLOCATIONS.
PARTICULARLY A MILITARIZED FORCE
WHEN THAT AMOUNT IS SET BY OUR
ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE HAVE CIVILIAN CONTROL OF THE
MILITARY FOR THIS REASON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, JULIA.
NEXT, WE HAVE CAROL FORNEY,
FOLLOWED BY ANNA PEI.
CAROL, ARE YOU WITH US?
CAROL FORNEY?
I'M NOT SEEING YOU LOGGED IN.
SO, LET'S MOVE DOWN TO ANNA
PEI.
ANNA PEI, ARE YOU WITH US?
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK TAYLOR.
MARK?
GOOD MORNING.
MARK?
ALL RIGHT.
MOVING DOWN THE LIST.
WE WILL WORK PEOPLE BACK IN IF
PEOPLE COME BACK ON.
THE NEXT PERSON I HAVE LISTED
PRESENT IS ANITRA FREEMAN,
FOLLOWED BY HAERKAT SEIT.
>> ANITRA IS NOT ON THE LINE.
>> HELLO?
HELLO?
>> YES.
HI, ANITRA.
>> OKAY, YES.
GOOD MORNING.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU THIS
MORNING FROM THE WOMEN'S
SHELTER, WHICH IS UP BY EIGHT
AND CHERRY.
I WAS JUST TOLD THIS MORNING
THAT BACK IN JUNE, THEY HAD
TEARGAS POURING IN THROUGH THE
WINDOWS HERE.
AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE
INCIDENTS WHERE THE POLICE USE
OF CROWD CONTROL IS MORE OF A
THREAT TO THE PUBLIC THAN WHAT
THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY PROTECTING
US AGAINST.
CLAYTON YOUR 10 WAS A HOMELESS
MAN WHO WAS ASLEEP IN CAL
ANDERSON PARK ON JUNE 1st.
HE WAS HIT IN THE HEAD AND THE
CHEST BY BLAST BOLDS.
HE WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS RIGHT
EAR.
HE HAD BEEN ASLEEP ON THE
GROUND.
HE WAS DEFINITELY NOT A DANGER
TO ANYBODY.
THIS, THE POLICE HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY ARE NOT
GOOD UNDER PRESSURE, THAT THEY
ARE NOT INDISCRIMINATE IN THEIR
USE OF THESE WEAPONS.
WHEN THEY NEED TO BE DENIED THE
USE OF THESE WEAPONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HAERKAT
SEIT, FOLLOWED BY ANITA REID.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNSELOR.
MY NAME IS HAERKAT SEIT.
ON THE COORDINATOR FOR CITY
FOUNDATIONS WHO HAS AN OFFICE
AT THE SEATTLE --.
I LIKE TO SHARE THE CITY VISION
AND PARTNERSHIP EXPERIENCE WITH
CURRY MAYER, WHO WAS APPOINTED
AS THE DIRECTOR OF OUR
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
FIRST OF ALL, 2 1/2 YEARS
AGO'S, KURT HE WAS THE ONE WHO
-- ON CITY FOUNDATIONS FOR THE
FIRST TIME, AFTER BEING
REFERRED BY THE CITY OF REDMOND
EMERGENCY MANAGER.
AND LAST NIGHT, I SENT AN EMAIL
SHARING MY EXPERIENCE WITH CURRY
, WHEN CURRY CONDUCTED THE
TRAINING CLASSES AND THE CITY
FOUNDATION OFFICE.
CURRY WAS THE ONE WHO INITIATED
THE IDEA FOR PROVIDING THE
TRAINING TO THE CHINESE
COMMUNITIES.
SO, I'M IMPRESSED BY HER
DEDICATIONS, OUTREACH TO HIGH-
RISK ORGANIZATIONS, HER DIVERSE
INCLUSIONS AND THOUGHTFULNESS.
WE ARE LUCKY THAT WE DID NOT
HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER DURING
ANY DISCUSSIONS EVEN YET.
HOWEVER, WE REVIEWED OUR
CONNECTIONS, TRUSTED OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF
BELLEVUE TO DESIGN THESE
ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED BY CURRY
MAYER.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ZANEITA REID,
FOLLOWED BY MENDES.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> HI.
I'M ZANEITA REID.
THE REASON I'M HERE TO DAY IS
TO INTRODUCE THE EXPERIENCE
COALITION TO SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THOSE OF US
WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE COALITION
RECOGNIZE, SYMPATHIZE, AND
SUPPORT ALL OF OUR WOMEN
LEADERS AND UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS JOB IS NOT EASY AND WE
RESPECT THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
THE LIVED EXPERIENCE COALITION
IS A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER TO LIFT
EACH OTHER UP, ADVOCATE FOR
OURSELVES AND OTHERS IN ADVANCE
SOCIAL JUSTICE.
WE WORK BEYOND STRUCTURES BY
UNIFYING OUR VOICES AND EFFORTS
TO DISMANTLE SYSTEM BARRIERS
IMPACTING PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,
INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM, BASED ON BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH NEEDS AND/OR FLEEING
VIOLENCE AND EMOTIONAL
PSYCHOLOGICAL VICTIMIZATION.
SO, THE POWER OF THE OPPRESSED
IS THE ONLY POWER THAT CAN
LIBERATE BOTH OPPRESSED AND
OPPRESSOR.
WE ARE ALSO THE ONLY BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS LED ORGANIZATION
UPHOLDING THE THEORY OF CHANGE
AND CENTERING THE VOICES OF
THOSE IN THE HOMELESSNESS
POPULATION.
AND, WE DEFINED AND DESIGNED
THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM TO ENSURE
THAT PEOPLE RECEIVING SERVICES
HAVE A FORMALIZED AVENUE FOR
GRIEVANCE AND ASSURANCE FOR
QUALITY AND LOW BARRIER
SERVICES WITH DIGNITY.
WE HAVE MANY ITEMS THIS YEAR
THAT WE --
>> THANK YOU.
YOU CAN SEND THE REST OF YOUR
TESTIMONY IN VIA EMAIL IF YOU
WOULD.
WE'D LOVE TO READ IT.
JEFF FERNANDEZ WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY LINDA KREIRAR, I BELIEVE IT
IS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
JEFF FERNANDEZ HERE.
I WANT TO SPEAK TO UPHOLDING
AND EXPANDING THE WEAPONS BAN.
DEAR COUNCIL, WE AS FREE PEOPLE
HAVE THE RIGHT TO OCCUPY OUR
STREETS TO PROTEST THE
VIOLENCE, RACISM, AND
INJUSTICE OF OUR POLICE WITHOUT
BEING ATTACKED BY THEM.
HOW MANY SPD OFFICERS ARE ON
PUBLICLY FUNDED PAID VACATION
AFTER BRUTALLY ATTACKING
CIVILIANS IN SEATTLE?
AND, HOW MANY SPD OFFICERS ARE
COLLECTING TAXPAYER MONEY WHILE
ON VACATION FOR SUPPORTING AN
INSURRECTION IN D.C.?
THE DRAFT LEGISLATION IS
ASSUMING AFFABLY THAT SPD IS
NOT A RIGHT-WING RACIST
INSTITUTION CREATED BY THE
IDEALS OF WHITE SUPREMACY.
POLICING WAS CREATED TO CAPTURE
AND OFTEN KILL RUNAWAY SLAVES.
THE MISSION OF POLICING REMAINS
VERY MUCH THE SAME.
IT IS TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY
OF THE RULING CLASS, WHETHER IT
IS A GLASS WINDOW OF STARBUCKS
WERE BLACK SLAVES.
YOU WOULD ENDEAVOR TO ENSHRINE
IN LAW ONCE AGAIN THE LEGAL
AUTHORITY FOR OUR RIGHT WING,
RACIST INSTITUTION TO ATTACK
CITIZENS WHO DEMAND JUSTICE IN
OUR CITY.
RIGHT-WING FASCISTS LIKE MIKE
WHO LEGALIZE THE BARBARIC -- BY
BLACK LIVES MATTER ACTAVIS AND
CLAY SAID OF SHIELDING OUR
PROFESSORS, I'M CALLING FOR
EVERY CENT THAT POLICE SPENT ON
CHEMICAL ATTACKS, MUNITION,
VEHICLES, AND OVERTIME USE IN
2020, TO ATTACK BLM PROTESTERS,
REDIRECT THOSE FUNDS AWAY FROM
THE RACIST SPD AND INTO BLACK
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,
ESPECIALLY THE LEADERSHIP OF
KSHAMA SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, JEFF.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDA
KREIRAR FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN
KINNEY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS LINDA KREIRAR AND I
-- CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR
HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT WITH THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
AND WE WORK WITH AND REPORT TO
THE STATE COMMUNITY AND
TECHNICAL COLLEGE.
I WANT TO ADD MY SUPPORT OF
CONFIRMING CURRY MAYER AS THE
NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
CURRY HAS SERVED AS OUR COCHAIR
FOR HOMELAND SECURITY SINCE
2016, AND SHE HAS BEEN A BOARD
MEMBER SINCE 2014.
OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, SHE
HAS BEEN OUR DRIVING FORCE WITH
THE CENTER'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE
EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND
COORDINATION IN HELPING TO
RESPOND TO OUR EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION, EMPLOYERS FOR
EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND
COORDINATION IN DEALING WITH
OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
WE WORK TO DEVELOP A PREPARED
AND SKILLED WORKFORCE IN THE
ALL HAZARD EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
FIELD.
CURRY HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN
HELPING THE CENTER REACH ITS
GOALS AS A BOARD MEMBER AND
COCHAIR AND EDUCATOR.
IT HAS BEEN A --
>> THANK YOU, LINDA, FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF THE APPOINTMENT TO
THE DIRECTOR OF OEM.
BENJAMIN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
EMILY MacARTHUR.
BENJAMIN, ARE YOU WITH US?
>> YEP.
MY NAME IS BENJAMIN.
I'M HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF LAW AND
I'M HERE TO DEFEND THE BAN ON
THE USE OF TEAR GAS, RUBBER
BULLETS, AND GLASS BULLETS.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST
EIGHT MONTHS, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS DEMONSTRATED
TIME AND AGAIN A CHILD'S
ABILITY TO HANDLE THE POWER OF
USING MILITARY STYLE WEAPONS.
THEY HAVE INDISCRIMINATELY
ATTACKED MEDICS, LEGAL
OBSERVERS, MEMBERS OF THE
MEDIA, AND PROTESTERS ON
COUNTLESS OCCASIONS.
I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN TEARGAS,
PEPPER SPRAYED, STUCK WITH
RUBBER BULLETS, AND GLASS
BALLS.
I DID NOT BREAK ANY LAWS, BUT
MY BODY HAS BEEN LEFT BURNED,
BRUISED, AND ABUSED.
I WITNESSED THE SEATTLE POLICE
THREATENED VIOLENCE ON A CROWD
OF PEOPLE FOR PLACING FLOWERS
ON THE GROUND.
THEY HAD A CANDLE FOR A
MEMORIAL AND CALLED IT A DEVICE
USED AGAINST THEM.
EYEWITNESS THE POLICE THROW
MOLOTOV'S APPELLEE POLE
INTENDS.
ONE EXPLODED CLOSE TO MY HEAD.
PEOPLE'S HEARTS HAVE STOPPED.
I HAVE WITNESSED THE POLICE
BRUTALLY ARREST PEOPLE FOR
USING SIDEWALK CHALK.
THE POLICE ARE ACTING LIKE
GRADE SCHOOL BULLIES.
USING THESE BULLIES HAVE NEVER
BEEN ABOUT CROWD CONTROL BUT
CONTROLLING THE VOICES OF
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
FIVE MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE FORCE WERE PRESENT IN
D.C. FOR THE INSURRECTION AT
THE CAPITOL.
THE HEAD OF THE POLICE
OFFICERS' GUILD BLAMED THIS
INSURRECTION ON THE BLM
MOVEMENT.
THESE PEOPLE ARE DERANGED AND
THEY ARE AGGRESSIVE AND WEIRD.
WE MUST DEFEND THE BAN ON CROWD
CONTROL WEAPONS AND WE MUST
PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, BENJAMIN.
EMILY MacARTHUR WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY SOPHIA LOPEZ.
EMILY?
EMILY, ARE YOU WITH US?
THERE YOU ARE.
EMILY?
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, PLEASE
HIT STAR SIX.
EMILY, YOU ARE STILL ON MUTE.
THERE WE GO.
ARE YOU THERE?
>> HELLO?
>> THERE YOU ARE.
EMILY, HELLO.
>> OKAY.
SO, YES.
FAILURE TO DISPERSE,
TRESPASSING, VIOLATING A
CURFEW.
THESE ARE ALL SO-CALLED CRIMES
THAT POLICE CHARGE PROTESTERS
WITH AFTER-THE-FACT IN ORDER TO
JUSTIFY VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM.
I ASKED THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
READ THE NEW YORK TIMES
ARTICLE FROM NOVEMBER 19th
TITLED, WHY CHARGES AGAINST
PROTESTERS ARE BEING DISMISSED
BY THE THOUSANDS, WHICH
DESCRIBES THE PHENOMENON WHICH
IS NATIONWIDE OF POLICE
OFFICERS CHARGING PROTESTERS
WITH CRIMES WHICH ARE
COMPLETELY UNABLE TO BE HELD UP
IN COURT AND TOTALLY
UNSUBSTANTIATED.
THIS IS THE WEAPON THAT YOU ARE
HANDING TO SPD WHEN YOU SAY
THAT YOU CAN USE THESE
DANGEROUS WEAPONS, IF ONLY
SOMEONE DOES A CRIME, BECAUSE
WE KNOW THAT THE COOKS CRIMES
WILL BE INVENTED, NEW LAWS WILL
BE OFFERED TO BE USED AGAINST
PROTESTERS IN ORDER TO SQUELCH
DISSENT AS WAS DESCRIBED IN
THIS ARTICLE.
IF YOU THINK WORKERS DESERVE AN
EIGHT HOUR DAY, IF YOU THINK
BLACK AMERICANS DESERVE ACCESS
TO EATING IN, YOU KNOW, OTHER
ESTABLISHMENTS, USING WATER
FOUNTAINS, IF YOU THINK WOMEN
DESERVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, YOU
NEED TO VOTE AGAINST THESE
LOOPHOLES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO COUNCIL
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT FOR SIN
AGAINST THESE LOOPHOLES.
IT IS A STRENGTH OF YOUR
CONVICTION AND YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO STICK YOUR NECK OUT WHILE
YOU ARE FACING FILE RIGHT-WING
ACTS AND IT IS SHAMEFUL THE
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE NOT
STOOD UP AGAINST THE OFFICERS
WHO WENT TO THE CAPITOL.
>> THANK YOU, EMILY.
LET'S SEE HERE.
CYNTHIA LOPEZ?
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> WE CAN, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS SOPHIA LOPEZ.
AND I'M PROVIDING COMMENT ON
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE
APPOINTMENT OF CURRY MAYER,
DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
AS AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT MYSELF,
SOMETHING I CONSIDER TO BE A
GREAT PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT
FOR ME IS THAT I WAS THE ONE
WHO CHOSE CURRY MAYER TO BE MY
SUCCESSOR FOR THE CITY OF
BELLEVUE IN HER PREVIOUS
POSITION.
SHE IS AS EXPERIENCED AND
BRILLIANT IN ACTION AS SHE IS
ON PAPER.
HER PASSION AND DETERMINATION
TO SERVE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS
UNMATCHED WITHIN THE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY HERE IN
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, AND
POSSIBLY NATIONWIDE.
ONE THING I LEARNED FROM CURRY
MAYER DURING MY TIME WORKING
WITH HER IS THAT YOUR APPROACH
WILL ALWAYS DETERMINE THEIR
RESPONSE.
SUCH A SIMPLE STATEMENT, YET SO
MUCH TRUTH IN POWER BEHIND IT.
CURRY WELCOMED THE TEST
CONVERSATION.
SHE IS MORE DRIVEN AND
DETERMINED THAN ANYONE I KNOW
TO UPHOLDING THE IDEALS OF
EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
SHE BRINGS WITH HER A WEALTH OF
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE ACROSS
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND
PRIVATE SECTORS.
SHE WILL KNOW WHO TO CALL, WHAT
TO SAY, AND HOW TO CONTINUE TO
DO THE JOB IN LIGHT OF THE
UNEXPECTED THAT COULD INFLICT
SEATTLE AND THE ENTIRE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST.
THERE IS NO ONE MORE QUALIFIED
AND PREPARED TO GUIDE THE CITY
THROUGH WHATEVER EMERGENCY OR
DISASTER THAT MIGHT OCCUR.
I CURRENTLY WORK IN KING COUNTY
AS A PROGRAM MANAGER IN THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
AND I'M GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL
TO KNOW THAT CURRY WILL BE
RIGHT THERE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE LEADING THE WAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SOPHIA.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAMONT
GREENE, FOLLOWED BY JULIE McKAY.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE LIVED EXPERIENCE
COALITION IS A MULTIRACIAL
ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON
BUILDING LEADERSHIP CAPACITY
AMONGST BLACK INDIGENOUS LOT
NEXT PACIFIC ISLANDER AND OTHER
PEOPLE OF COLOR OVERREPRESENTED
WITHIN THE CURRENT HOMELESS
POPULATION.
THE LIVED EXPERIENCE COALITION
COMPLETELY RAN BY PEOPLE WHO
HAVE EXPERIENCED, ARE CURRENTLY
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THE LIVED EXPERIENCE COALITION
HAS DEEP AND TRUSTING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR MANY
UNFILTERED RELATIVES.
WE HAVE PROVIDED MUCH-NEEDED
HYGIENE, MASKS, MEDICAL
RESOURCES, AND OTHER RESOURCES
TO OFFER 400 PEOPLE WITH
CURRENT AND SHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS IN THE LAST FOUR
MONTHS.
OUR ASK IS THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT PARTNERS WITH THE
LIVING EXPERIENCE COALITION
REGARDING THE SAFETY EXPERIENCE
AND INVESTMENT PROCESSING.
THE LIVED EXPERIENCE COALITION
CAN BE A HUGE ASSET TO THE
COMMUNITY'S SAFETY INITIATIVE
TO ENSURE THAT SOLUTIONS ARE
CODEVELOPED BY THOSE MOST
IMPACTED, ESPECIALLY ARE BLACK,
BROWN, AND NATIVE AND SHELTERED
COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING
ON SHELTERED HOMELESSNESS WHO
OFTEN FEAR INTERACTIONS WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND
LACK TRUST WITH OUTREACH
WORKERS THEY DON'T RELATE TO.
LASTLY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
SHIFT THE MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT
TO A RECOGNITION THAT THOSE
CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM ARE
OFTEN AN UNTAPPED SOURCE OF
AWARENESS AND LEADERSHIP ON THE
MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS THAT
CAN WORK FOR PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OR
HOMELESSNESS ARE TREMENDOUS
ASSETS IN DEVELOPING STRATEGIES
THAT MINIMIZE HARM AND
FACILITATES TRUST WITH OUTREACH
WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU, LAMONT.
OR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIE
McKAY, FOLLOWED BY HARRELL
ODOM.
JULIE?
ARE YOU WITH US, JULIE?
I'M NOT SEEING JULIE ON THE
LINE HERE.
THERE SHE IS.
JULIE, CAN YOU HIT STAR SIX?
JULIE, YOU ARE SHOWING AS MUTED.
STILL MUTED.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, HIT STAR
SIX.
JULIE, PLEASE DO SO.
I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
MY APOLOGIES, JULIE, FOR THE
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HARRELL
ODOM.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> MY NAME IS HARRELL ODOM WITH
DISTRICT 2. GOOD MORNING, THANK
YOU.
I'M WITH THE OLYMPIC TRENCH
COALITION AND WE ARE HERE TODAY
TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES AS THE
ONLY ADVOCACY PROGRAM AND LOBBY
FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE.
HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE
UNINTENTIONALLY AFFECTED BY
SUCH THINGS THAT ARE BEING
DISCUSSED TODAY.
WE WISH THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE COUNCIL TO RECOGNIZE US
AS THAT LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT
WILL PROMOTE HOMELESSNESS AND
THE WELL-BEING OF HOMELESS
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE, WHOSE UNINTENTIONAL
CONSEQUENCES THAT WE HAVE,
PROTESTS WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE
JUST TRYING TO SLEEP GET OUT OF
THE WAY AND HAVE SOME TYPE OF
COMFORT.
WE WISH TO BE MORE OF A PARTNER
WITH THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT
AND MULTIPLE CHANGES.
WE ARE ON THE GOVERNANCE
COUNCIL IN THE NEW REGIONAL
AUTHORITY AND OUR
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD OF A NEW
REGIONAL AUTHORITY.
WE HOPE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
RECOGNIZES US AS A VALUABLE
PARTNER IN THE YEAR TO COME AND
OUR GREAT PLANS AND OUR
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KYRA MEIKO.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS KYRA MEIKO.
I'M A MEMBER OF USCW.
FIRST I WANT TO EXTEND MY --
TO KSHAMA SAWANT.
THE DEATH THREATS HE RECEIVED
IS -- I'M CALLING ABOUT THE
SAME MEMBER THAT -- HERBOLD
TRIED TO UPHOLD UNDER STRONG
COMMUNITY.
WE ALREADY HEARD FROM PEOPLE ,
VETERANS SINCE PTSD THAT WERE
TRIGGERED BY FLASH BANGS AND
PROTESTERS BRUTALLY INJURED.
LAST WEEK I WENT TO THE
HOSPITAL TO HAVE A RESPIRATORY
TEST DONE BECAUSE I'M STILL
EXPERIENCING BREATHING ISSUES
AS WELL AS HEARING DAMAGE FROM
A FLASH BANG NEXT TO MY HEAD.
NOW I HAVE TO CALL IN ON MY DAY
OFF TO BEG YOU NOT TO LET THE
POLICE USE WEAPONS BANNED BY
THE GENEVA CONVENTION.
PLEASE DO YOUR JOB AND DON'T
BACK DOWN ON THIS BILL.
>> THANK YOU.
ELLA SEAN, FOLLOWED BY KATHRYN
GENTRY.
>> HI.
I'M A MEMBER OF -- OR A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX.
I'M CALLING TODAY TO ASK THAT
YOU FOLLOW THROUGH YOUR
COMMITMENTS TO PULL BACK $5.3
MILLION FROM SPD'S 2021 BUDGET.
I WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THE
RESOLUTION LAST SUMMER STATING
THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD NO
LONGER BE BACKFILLING SPD'S
OVERTIME SPENDING, MUCH OF
WHICH LAST SUMMER WAS USED TO
ENGAGE IN RESPONDING TO
PROTESTERS VIOLENTLY.
COUNCIL ENDED UP BACKFILLING
SPD'S BLACK ALL BY $5.4
MILLION, BUT ALSO INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION TO CUT THE SAME
AMOUNT FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
BYPASSING THAT LEGISLATION, YOU
ILL BE CONTINUING T
YOUR WORD TO HOLD THE LINE
AGAINST MAYORS AND SPD
UNACCOUNTABLE SPENDING.
BY PUTTING THIS MONEY TOWARD
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, WE
COULD USE FUNDING PROJECTS THAT
ACTUALLY PROMOTE TRUE PUBLIC
SAFETY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
KATHRYN GENTRY?
>> HI.
MY NAME IS KATIE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED
SUPPORT AND FIGHTING FOR THE
WELL-BEING OF ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE NEED TO UPHOLD THIS BAN WITH
NO LOOPHOLES.
THE STAFF HAS BEEN BANNED
INTERNATIONALLY DURING WAR.
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE BUT I WILL
SPEAK FOR MYSELF HERE, I WAS
TEARGAS DURING A PROTEST FOR
PEACEFULLY PROTESTING AND I HAD
MY PERIOD FOR THREE WEEKS
AFTERWARDS WHICH IS NOT NORMAL
AT ALL.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS CURRENTLY
DOING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF GAS
BECAUSE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW ALL
OF THE EFFECTS.
WHAT IF FOLKS WHO HAVE A UTERUS
CANNOT HAVE CHILDREN BECAUSE
THEY WERE GASSED BY SPD?
ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT, BECAUSE
I'M NOT.
POLICE WERE CAPABLE OF USING
DISCRETION AND CAPABLE OF
DECIDING WHEN IS VIOLENT AND
NONVIOLENT IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY
THE USE OF THESE WEAPONS.
THEY SIMPLY CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED
AT ALL.
AND IF THEY ARE USED
IMPROPERLY, THERE IS NO
ACCOUNTABILITY AND
CONSEQUENCES.
THE GAS ITSELF CANNOT BE
CONTAINED.
COUNTLESS PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN
HARMED PHYSICALLY AND
EMOTIONALLY. DO YOUR JOBS AND
BAN THESE TOOLS OF OPPRESSION
AND VIOLENCE.
DEFUND AND ABOLISH POLICE.
>> THANK YOU, KATIE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD
TYPE FOLLOWED BY ERIC SALANDER.
RICHARD?
>> I BELIEVE I AM ON MUTED NOW.
>> YES, YOU ARE GOOD.
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
HI.
>> HIGHS.
I'M A SOFTWARE ENGINEER LIVING
IN DISTRICT FOUR.
I'M CALLING IN DEFENSE OF
UPHOLDING THE BAN ON CROWD
CONTROL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS AS
IT IS.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS
RESPONSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE TO
BE USING THESE HEAVILY
MILITARISTIC WEAPONS IN THE
CITY AND ON CITIES OF
NONRESIDENTS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
GOING OUT WITH THE FULL BLACK
LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT, AND
BRINGING FORWARD THESE
POSITIONS AND PARTICIPATING
DEMOCRATICALLY IN THE WAY THE
CURRENT SYSTEM ALLOWS THEM TO,
AND IN THE WAY THEY NEED TO DO
IT TO GET THEIR VOICES HEARD.
AND, I DON'T THINK THE POLICE
SHOULD BE USING VIOLENT TACTICS
ON LARGELY PEACEFUL PROTESTERS
AND IF WE WANT TO ADDRESS
CRIME, WHICH ISN'T WHAT THESE
PROTESTS ARE IN THE FIRST PLACE,
THEY NEED TO BE INVESTING MORE
IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THINGS
THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP REDUCE
CRIME INSTEAD OF MORE HEAVILY
ARMING AND THINGS THAT ARE MORE
VIOLENT.
I THINK TOOLS LIKE TEARGAS AND
THE BULLETS AND -- SORRY, THE
GLASS BALLS THAT KEEP
ESCALATING THE SITUATION,
MAKING THINGS --
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
WE'VE GOT FOUR MORE PEOPLE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR TIME ON
THE AGENDA.
BUT IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
OBJECTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO --
>> HELLO?
>> HELLO.
HELLO?
SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE, AS
I SAID, EXCEEDED OUR TIME ON
THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
BUT WE'VE GOT FOUR MORE PEOPLE
SIGNED UP AND IF THERE ARE NO
FURTHER OBJECTIONS TO DOING SO,
I'D LIKE TO FURTHER EXTEND THE
TIME ON THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT TO SHORTENING
EVERYBODY'S SPEAKING TIME TO
ONE MINUTE, PLEASE.
SO NEXT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE,
NEXT, ERIC BELANGER FOLLOWED BY
AIDEN CAROL.
>> HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YES.
>> YEAH, HI.
MY NAME IS ERIC SALANDER.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
FIRST OF ALL, LAST MEETING WHEN
WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT
CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS BAN,
LEWIS MADE A COMMENT THAT HE
WAS CONCERNED ABOUT BANNING
TEARGAS IN ALL SITUATIONS
BECAUSE, SPECIFICALLY
REFERENCING THE EVENTS ON
JANUARY 6th AT THE NATION'S
CAPITOL.
THE THING ABOUT THAT IS, DURING
THE EVENT SET THE NATION'S
CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6th, WE HAD
CAPITOL POLICE TAKING SELFIES
WITH THE INSURRECTIONIST.
THE IDEA THAT THE COPS ARE
GOING TO USE TEARGAS TO PROTECT
YOU FROM A REAL THREAT IS
FRANKLY JUST NOT BASED IN
REALITY.
SECONDLY, AND I THINK MORE
IMPORTANTLY, YOU NEED TO BASE
YOUR POLICIES IN AND AROUND THE
RESULTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
SEEING.
A 7-YEAR-OLD KID GOT MACED.
WE TEARGAS A RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD REPEATEDLY.
IF YOU ROLLBACK THE BAN, THAT'S
JUST GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING,
SO THERE NEEDS TO BE A
MECHANISM IN PLACE.
THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
ANYONE.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AIDAN
FOLLOWED BY OLIVER MISCHKA.
YOUR TIME HAS BEEN REDUCED TO
ONE MINUTE SO WE CAN GET
EVERYBODY IN.
AIDEN?
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS AIDEN CAROL, AND I'M
IN DISTRICT 6. I WANT TO ECHO
MANY OF THE EXCELLENT COMMENTS,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXPERIENCED
COALITION, AND I WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT FOR HER
WORK ON THIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD ON THE MISDEMEANOR
REFORM PROPOSAL, ALTHOUGH THE
MEDIA, "THE SEATTLE TIMES," HAS
DONE THEIR BEST TO EXTORT THAT.
IN THIS CASE, THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING USED TO BE THAT
THE CONSENT DECREE OUGHT TO BE
A FULL -- NOT A CEILING FOR
WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN
IMPOSE IN POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE HAVE A NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL
AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TURNOVER
PERHAPS YOU ARE MORE INTERESTED
IN POLICE REFORM THAN THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
CERTAINLY, TEARGAS AND BLAST
BALLS, WHICH I HAVE PERSONALLY
EXPERIENCED AND -- RUBBER
BULLETS --
>> THANK YOU, AIDEN.
PLEASE DO FEEL FREE TO SEND
YOUR TESTIMONY IN SO WE CAN
FULLY APPRECIATE IT.
OLIVER MISCHKA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY, WE'VE GOT ANNA PEI
PRESENT FROM EARLIER, THE 10th
SPEAKER WHO SIGNED UP BUT WE
DID NOT GET IN WHEN WE CALLED
HER NAME.
SO FIRST, OLIVER, FOLLOWED BY
ANNA PEI.
OLIVER?
>> HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
HI.
MY NAME IS OLIVER ALY PENNUCCI
AND I'M LOCATED IN DISTRICT
THREE, A LONGTIME RESIDENT.
I AM CALLING TODAY TO FIRST
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT FOR
HER SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP TO
HOLD ACCOUNTABLE CITY COUNCIL
FOR THE WEAPONS BAN THAT WAS
PROMISED AND HAS SINCE WATERED
DOWN.
I THINK I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF
FOLKS TALK ABOUT INSURRECTION
AT THE CAPITOL BEING USED, AND
I REALLY WANT TO INFORM
DEMOCRATS TO NOT BE USING THIS
AS AN EXCUSE TO INCREASE
SURVEILLANCE AND INCREASE
POLICING, AND DEMILITARIZED
VIOLENT POLICE THAT HAS BEEN
COMMITTED FROM SPD.
THAT HAS GONE ULTIMATELY
UNCHECKED.
AND, USING THE THREAT TO
INCREASE ENFORCEMENT AGAINST
PEACEFUL AND OR OTHERWISE
PROTESTS IS NOT WHAT I --
>> THANK YOU.
OUR LAST TWO SPEAKERS.
ANNA PEI, FOLLOWED BY MARK
CANFIELD.
ANNA?
LET'S GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT
HERE, IF YOU CAN BE HERE WITH
US.
AND I SEE THAT THERE IS
SOMEBODY ON THE LINE WHO IS
MUTED.
BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANNA
IS WITH US.
DO WE WANT TO TRY MARK?
AGAIN, MARK?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN, THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS THE DIRECTOR FOR
DEMOCRACY NEWS AN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATION COVERING PRO-
DEMOCRACY MOVEMENTS AROUND THE
WORLD.
THIS IS AN HISTORIC MOVEMENT.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ISSUE
SINCE THE WTO 20 YEARS AGO.
-SUBJECTED TO TEARGAS AND
PEPPER SPRAY AS A REPORTER.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS IS A MAJOR
CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE.
TOO OFTEN WE'VE SEEN WEAPONS
USED IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP
LEGITIMATE PROTESTS BY PEOPLE
PRACTICING PEACEFUL CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE.
THESE WEAPONS ARE POTENTIALLY
LETHAL.
THEY HAVE BEEN USED AT TIMES TO
STIFLE POLITICAL DISSENT AND
THEY HAVE HARMED RESIDENTS OF
THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND BYSTANDERS WHO HAVE NOTHING
TO DO WITH PROTESTS.
PLEASE, DECIDE ONCE AND FOR
ALL.
IS THIS A REAL MOVE TO BAN
THESE WEAPONS?
OR ONLY A HALFHEARTED POLITICAL
GESTURE?
I DON'T BUY POLICE WARNINGS,
BUT THE ONLY RESPONSE FOR
WEAPONS.
50 PEOPLE WHO WERE ARRESTED ON
MLK DAY AND NO CHEMICAL WEAPONS
OR CROWD CONTROL DEVICES.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT
FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO OUR
ITEMS OF BUSINESS, AND WE WILL
START WITH THE FIRST ITEM ON
THE AGENDA.
ALEX, CAN YOU PLEASE READ INTO
THE RECORD?
>> I DON'T NUMBER ONE,
APPOINTMENT 0157, APPOINTMENT
OF CURRY MAYER, DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
>> THANK YOU, ALEX.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
LET'S DO A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS VERY QUICKLY AT
THE TABLE FOR THIS ITEM.
JOINING THE APPOINTED OR
NOMINATED DIRECTOR, CURRY
MAYER.
IS IT JUST YOU OR DO WE HAVE
ANYBODY ELSE WITH US?
>> JUST ME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> YOU BET.
IT IS MY HONOR TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WONDERFUL SUPPORT THAT WE HEARD
IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY FOR YOUR
EFFORTS TO LEAD SEATTLE'S
POLICE DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, OR THE
RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS THAT
COUNCIL MEMBERS DEVELOPED AND
SENT ON TO YOU.
AND I THINK MAYBE WHAT I LIKE
TO DO FIRST IS OPEN UP THE FLOOR
TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL
TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE
ANY PARTICULAR FOLLOW-UPS TO
THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS THAT
WERE SUBMITTED LAST WEEK.
>> THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I DON'T HAVE ANY FOLLOW-UP
QUESTIONS, BUT IF THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GENERAL
REMARKS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD
DEFINITELY BE INTERESTED IN
HEARING THAT AND MAYBE HAVE
SOME FOLLOW-UPS THERE, BUT JUST
VERY HAPPY SHE COULD JOIN US AT
COMMITTEE TODAY AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO FULLY CONSIDERING
HER.
BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY INITIAL
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
I WAS JUMPING TO THE MEAT OF
THE QUESTIONS, BECAUSE WE DID
HAVE THE CANDIDATE IN COMMITTEE
TWO WEEKS AGO, WHERE WE HEARD
ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE, AND WE
HEARD FROM DEPUTY MAYOR ABOUT
WHY THEY FEEL THAT SHE IS THE
BEST CANDIDATE, AND WE ALSO
HEARD NOT JUST FROM THE NOMINEE
ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE, BUT WHY
IT IS THAT SHE IS INTERESTED IN
SERVING IN THIS ROLE AT THIS
VERY CHALLENGING TIME.
BUT ABSOLUTELY HAPPY TO OPEN IT
UP TO ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
THAT THE NOMINEE HAS ABOUT THIS
NEW ROLE THAT SHE IS ABOUT TO
EMBARK IN.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY,
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
I'M HONORED THAT THE MAYOR AND
THE DEPUTY MAYOR HAVE
CONFIDENCE IN MY WORK WITH THEM
AND I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN
SEATTLE.
SO, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS
REALLY QUICKLY.
I AM VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO
USING THE LESSONS WE HAVE
LEARNED IN COVID ABOUT
CONTINUING TO REACH UNDERSERVED
POPULATIONS, BOTH IN THE
COMMUNITY, AND ALSO FOR PEOPLE
WITH ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL
NEEDS, AND THE COVID PANDEMIC
HAS EMPHASIZED THAT THAT IS
STILL AN ISSUE FOR US IN ALL OF
THE WORK THAT WE DO FOR
PREPAREDNESS, MITIGATION, AND
OF COURSE IN RESPONSE.
AND AS THE CITY MOVES INTO
RECOVERY.
SO THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT IS VERY MUCH
INVOLVED IN THE COVID RESPONSE
AND THE VACCINE DEPLOYMENT.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF
OTHER HAZARDS THAT FACE
SEATTLE.
SO OUR FOCUS THIS YEAR WILL
ALSO BE ON THOSE MORE
TRADITIONAL, IF YOU WILL, KINDS
OF EMERGENCIES, HAZARDS, AND
VULNERABILITIES.
SO, EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS,
THE NISQUALLY EARTHQUAKE
ANNIVERSARY IS COMING UP.
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS WILL BE
OUR TOPIC IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT
VENUES AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THEM
UNDERSTAND HOW THEY BEST
PREPARE FOR THAT.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT, OR ARE
ALSO SUPER EXCITED THAT WE ARE
GOING TO BE AN INDEPENDENT
ORGANIZATION.
SO OUR OWN DEPARTMENT WITH THE
ABILITY TO WORK DIRECTLY WITHIN
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, MAKING
DECISIONS, BUT ALSO WORKING
WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS REALLY
A TEAM SPORT AND IS CONNECTED
TO EVERYTHING, SO IT REQUIRES
ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES TO CONTINUE TO COME
TOGETHER THE WAY THAT THEY DID
IN COVID TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
SERVE EVERYBODY IN SEATTLE.
ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS,
REGARDLESS OF HOW WE DO THAT.
AND SO, I'M EXCITED TO LEAD
THAT TEAM IN COORDINATION AND
COLLABORATION TO BEST SERVE
SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS
AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.
I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
AND JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT IS
USEFUL FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC
TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF SOME OF
THE QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL
ASKED IN YOUR THOROUGH AND
HELPFUL ANSWERS, I WANTED TO
SUM UP SOME OF WHAT THOSE
QUESTIONS ASKED AND GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR
ANSWERS WITH THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED
IS, WHAT DO YOU SEE IS AMONG
THE MOST EFFECTIVE POOLS TO
ADDRESS RACIAL EQUITY IN THE
FIELD OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT?
AND, ANOTHER WAS, HOW
SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU WORK TO
RECRUIT MENTOR AND TRAIN
COMMUNITIES TO ENTER THE FIELD
OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT?
>> SORRY, I'M UNMUTE AGAIN.
SO YES.
I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO, IN ADDRESSING RACIAL EQUITY
IN PREPARING FOR RESPONDING TO
A RECOVERY FROM A DISASTER, IT
IS REALLY -- STARTS WITH
UNDERSTANDING HOW SYSTEMIC
RACISM HAS ADVERSELY IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES AND OTHER
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. SO
THOSE WITH ACCESS AND
FUNCTIONAL NEEDS AS WELL.
BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT IMPACTS
PEOPLE'S DAILY LIVES AND THINGS
THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR THEM TO
GET SERVICES OR DO THE THINGS
THAT THEY NEED TO DO, WHETHER
IT'S ACCESS TO EDUCATION OR
TRANSPORTATION OR HEALTH, ALL
OF THOSE THINGS THAT IMPACT
YOUR LIFE ALSO IMPACT YOUR
ABILITY TO BE RESILIENT WHICH
IS REALLY WHAT EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT IS ABOUT.
SO IF WE ARE NOT ADDRESSING
THOSE THINGS, THEN IT WOULD BE
IMPOSSIBLE TO HELP PEOPLE BE
PREPARED.
SO IT MEANS THAT WE LEARN AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT A COMMUNITY
NEEDS AND BELIEVES IS IMPORTANT,
AND THEN WORK WITH THEM TO HELP
THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE
VULNERABILITIES AND HAZARDS
THAT THEY FACE.
AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT
IT MEANS TO BUILD COMMUNITY
RESILIENCE WHICH WILL MAKE
PEOPLE MORE PREPARED, JUST BY
VIRTUE AS A FACT OF THAT
COMMUNITY, THAT COMMUNITY
RESILIENCE BUILDING.
SO, OEMS PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER
DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS THESE
DAILY LIFE ISSUES ALLOWS US TO
BE MORE SUCCESSFUL AT FOCUSING
ON PREPAREDNESS ISSUES THAT
WILL MAKE SENSE TOWARD GO A
COMMUNITY OR A NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND ALL OF THEIR NEEDS ARE
DIFFERENT.
SO, WHEN WE FIRST ADDRESSED
THOSE THINGS THAT A COMMUNITY
STRUGGLES WITH EVERY DAY, THEN
WE CAN LOOK AT, HOW DO WE HELP
THEM BE MORE PREPARED?
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU
CAN DO IS, FIRST, A COMMUNITY
NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
SOMETIMES WE DO THAT WITH A
SURVEY.
THE SURVEY WOULD NOT JUST BE
DONE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY, BUT WE
USE COMMUNITY SAFETY
AMBASSADORS WHO ARE PARTNERS
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED TO
DO PREPAREDNESS AND WORK WITH
US AND TEACHING SKILLS, BUT
THEY ALSO ARE CONNECTED TO A
COMMUNITY, THEY SPEAK THAT
COMMUNITY'S LANGUAGE.
SO, THAT A SURVEY OF WHAT'S
IMPORTANT TO YOU AND WHAT YOU
KNOW ABOUT THE HAZARDS YOU FACE
WOULD BE THE FIRST THING THAT
YOU WOULD DO.
THE SECOND THING THAT IS TO
MAKE RELATIONSHIPS WITH
COMMUNITY LEADERS, SO PEOPLE
THAT ALREADY HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP IN THOSE DIFFERENT
AREAS, BE IT A NEIGHBORHOOD, A
PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS, THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, ALL OF THOSE
COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE IMPORTANT,
NOT ONLY MESSENGERS, BUT SORT
OF WHAT WE CALL CULTURE
BROKERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO
STILL DON'T TRUST THE
GOVERNMENT.
THEY MAY HAVE HAD A BAD
EXPERIENCE, OR IT MAY JUST BE
THAT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
IS PART OF THEIR CULTURAL
UNDERSTANDING.
SO WHEN YOU MAKE THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE THAT
HAVE RELATIONSHIPS ALREADY IN
THE COMMUNITY, THEN WE ARE ABLE
TO WORK WITH THEM IN
UNDERSTANDING WHAT A COMMUNITY
NEEDS, BUT ALSO HELPING US
PROVIDE MESSAGING.
AND VERY MUCH FOCUSED FOR
EVERYONE, NOT JUST BY BLACK
COMMUNITIES, BUT ON HOW WE GET
OUR MESSAGING OUT AND HOW WE
WORK WITH PEOPLE NOT JUST USING
TECHNOLOGY.
THERE IS STILL A LARGE PORTION
OF THE POPULATION EVERYWHERE,
NOT JUST IN SEATTLE, THAT THAT
IS NOT AN OPTION.
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT
I'VE USED THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL
ARE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS.
SO, CHILDREN ARE GREAT
TEACHERS.
THEY ARE ALSO ADAMANT ABOUT
WHEN THEY LEARN SOMETHING NEW,
THEY GO BACK AND WORK WITH
THEIR FAMILIES AND STAY ON THAT
MESSAGE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME.
SO, TWO OF THE REALLY WELL-
KNOWN CAMPAIGNS THAT CHILDREN
ACTUALLY HAD A BIG PART IN WERE
THE NON-SMOKING CAMPAIGN THAT
NOW SEEMS LIKE THAT WAS A LONG
TIME AGO, RIGHT?
AND ALSO RECYCLING.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CHILDREN
CHAMPIONED.
SO, WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND
TALKING TO THEM ABOUT, WHAT ARE
THE HAZARDS WE FACE?
WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY
RESILIENCE THEY NEED?
ALSO THEN TARGETING SPECIFIC
POPULATIONS IN THE SCHOOLS.
IN BELLEVUE, WE WORKED WITH A
SPECIAL ED TEACHER AND SOME
SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND
FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE DEVELOPED A SCRIPT.
WE WERE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER
THESE MINI VIDEOS ON WHAT IT
MEANS WHEN THERE IS A DISASTER.
WHO IS GOING TO COME?
HOW DO YOU KNOW IT IS SAFE?
WHAT DOES A PLACE OF REFUGE
LOOK LIKE?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DO
SHELTERING?
STARTING WITH REALLY BRIEF,
SHORT, TARGETED MESSAGES
THROUGH CHILDREN IS OFTEN SUPER
SUCCESSFUL AND SOMETHING THAT I
HAVE USED IN THE PAST.
ALSO, THE COMMUNITY EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM TRAINING THAT YOU
HAVE HEARD ABOUT THAT GROWN-UPS
USE, TEENAGERS ARE OFTEN ALSO
VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THAT PROGRAM
AND THEN THEY CARRY THE MESSAGE
FORWARD.
SO, THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE
MESSAGES THAT I'VE USED FOR
REACHING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
OF ALL KINDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> AND, NOT SEEING ANYBODY COME
OFF OF ME AT -- OH, COUNCIL
MEMBER MIRELES?
>> SORRY.
I THOUGHT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO
BE USING THE RAISE THE HAND
FEATURE.
SO, PLEASE.
IF SOMEBODY ELSE HAD THEIR HAND
RAISED FIRST, GO AHEAD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> SO, THANK YOU.
JUST REALLY QUICKLY, I REVIEWED
SOME OF THE MATERIALS IN TERMS
OF THE RESPONSE IS THAT INTERIM
DIRECTOR MAYER PROVIDED TO THE
COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
DETAILED RESPONSE.
I LIKE TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE
OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOU
ARE GOING TO APPROACH LANGUAGE
COMPETENCY WITHIN THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
I SAW THAT YOU REFERENCED IT
ESSENTIALLY ONCE IN THE CONTEXT
OF PREPAREDNESS AND GETTING
EMERGENCY INFORMATION OUT TO
NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING
POPULATIONS OR LIMITED ENGLISH
SPEAKING POPULATIONS.
BUT, IT HAS LONG BEEN A CONCERN
OF MIND THAT PARTICULARLY IN
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, WE DON'T SEEM TO
HAVE A STRONG STRATEGY AND WORK
PLAN TO ENSURE THAT ALL
COMPONENTS, ALL BUSINESS LINES
OF WORK THAT IS BEING DONE BY
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT HAS A LANGUAGE AND
CULTURAL COMPETENCY
PERSPECTIVE.
BUT, I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON
THAT LANGUAGE COMPONENT AND,
YOU KNOW, I CONTINUE TO BE
CONCERNED THAT OUR FOCUS AROUND
INTEGRATING LANGUAGE COMPETENCY
AT OEM SEEMS TO BE LIMITED TO
THE PREPAREDNESS ASPECT AS
OPPOSED TO THROUGHOUT EVERY
ASPECT OF THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
>> OKAY.
SO, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR
QUESTION, IT'S ABOUT HOW TO
INTEGRATE REACHING LIMITED
ENGLISH PROFICIENT MESSAGING,
OR, I'M NOT SURE I TOTALLY
UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
>> WE LIVE IN A CITY IN WHICH
MANY LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I PERSONALLY COME FROM A FAMILY
WHERE MY PARENTS GREW UP NOT
SPEAKING ENGLISH.
I WAS THERE TRANSLATOR, I WAS
THERE INTERPRETER.
THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES IN
SEATTLE WHOM I THINK ARE LIVING
IN THAT SAME EXISTENCE.
BUT THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, DOES A
LOT OF RESILIENCY WORK.
THEY DO A LOT OF PREPAREDNESS
WORK.
THEY DO ALERT WORK.
IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS AN
EMERGENCY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
YOU KNOW, AS A CLEAR EXAMPLE,
WHEN THE RIDE THE DUCKS MASSIVE
FATAL CRASH HAPPENED ON THE
BRIDGE, THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON BRIDGE, THOSE WERE
MOSTLY FOREIGN STUDENTS WHOSE
FAMILY MEMBERS AND MANY OF THEM
DID NOT SPEAK ANY ENGLISH, AND
WE HAD A HECK OF A TIME
SCRAMBLING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT
WHO WAS GOING TO TRANSLATE AND
INTERPRET AND WE WERE DOING
THAT IN REAL TIME.
NOW, I THINK WE HAVE LEARNED
SOME LESSONS FROM THAT.
BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE THAT IS
SORT OF THE COMPONENT AROUND
LANGUAGE ACCESS AND
UNDERSTANDING THAT PEOPLE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE RECEIVE AND
PROCESS INFORMATION IN A
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH.
THAT CULTURE, I FEEL LIKE, IT'S
STILL NOT GETTING BAKED INTO
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
AND WHEN IT IS BEING TALKED
ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT DOES, IT IS, IN MY
EXPERIENCE, VERY LIMITED TO
NOTIFICATIONS OR TO, YOU KNOW,
THE PREPAREDNESS BUCKET ONLY IN
TERMS OF LANGUAGE ACCESS.
I LIKE TO GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOUR
STRATEGIES ARE GOING TO BE OR
WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO
PRIORITIZE, ENSURING THAT THERE
IS LANGUAGE ACCESS IN OTHER
ASPECTS OF THE WORK THAT THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
DOES.
>> OKAY, OKAY, THANK YOU.
SO, ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE
USE CURRENTLY THAT CAN BE
EXPANDED BEYOND PREPAREDNESS IS
THE USE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY
AMBASSADORS WHO ARE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO SPEAK OTHER
LANGUAGES AND ARE CONNECTED TO
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
COMMUNITY, WHO CAN TRANSLATE
NOT ONLY AHEAD OF TIME, BUT
ALSO IN REAL TIME WITH
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
SO, WE HAVE FOCUSED MOSTLY ON
USING THEM IN PREPAREDNESS AND
IN MESSAGING, AS YOU DESCRIBED.
BUT WE ALSO, ALL OF OUR PLANS
AROUND, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO
POST EMERGENCY OR ALSO WITH OUR
MITIGATION PLANS, ARE THINGS
THAT WE CAN USE THOSE
TRANSLATION SERVICES, NOT ONLY
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE
AMBASSADORS, BUT THE CONTRACT
THAT WE HAVE FOR TRANSLATION
CAN ALSO BE USED WHEN WE ASKED
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THOSE
REALLY IMPORTANT PLANS.
SO, THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
IS ABOUT -- WHICH IS ON THE
WEBSITE RIGHT NOW, HERE ARE THE
THINGS THAT WE ARE VULNERABLE
TO, AND HERE IS HOW WE WANT
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ACTIONS
THAT WE ARE TAKING AROUND
MITIGATION.
ALL OF THE REST OF OUR PLANS
ARE ALSO POSTED FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SO, WE CAN USE THOSE -- I'M
SORRY.
I LOST MY -- WE CAN USE THOSE
COMMUNITY SERVICE AMBASSADORS
AND ALSO OUR TRANSLATION
SERVICES TO TRANSLATE THOSE
PLANS SO THAT WE HAVE THAT
ACCESS TO TRANSLATE IT FOR
THOSE OTHER PIECES OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, NOT JUST
PREPAREDNESS.
SO THE MITIGATION, RESPONSE
PLANS, AND HOW WE DO EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT IN GENERAL.
WE ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
SO, YOU'RE RIGHT.
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO
SPEAK LANGUAGES OTHER THAN
ENGLISH ALSO HAVE ACCESS AND
KNOW ABOUT THOSE PLANS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT ALSO THEN WOULD REQUIRE US
TO TAKE THOSE PLANS TO PEOPLE
AND NOT JUST POST THEM.
SO THEY ARE NOT JUST ON THE
WEBSITE, BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY
MEETING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS
AND SAYING, HEY, YOU MAY NOT BE
AWARE OF THIS.
THERE IS A HAZARD MITIGATION
PLAN.
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS HAZARD
MITIGATION?
AND WITH EXPERIENCES THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND, AND THEN ASKING
THEM, THIS IS HOW THAT MIGHT
AFFECT YOU, AND, HOW WOULD YOU
ENGAGE WITH US, OR WHAT ARE THE
THINGS THAT YOU WOULD CHANGE?
WHAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU?
WHAT IS, LIKE, THAT ISN'T GOING
TO WORK AT ALL?
I SEE THAT AS PROBABLY THE MOST
EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THAT
LANGUAGE TRANSLATION.
IN THOSE OTHER AREAS AS YOU
MENTIONED.
AND YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE THAT
THERE IS ALSO -- THERE WAS A
BILL ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO NOW
THAT REQUIRED THAT ALL OF WHAT
WE DO IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
INCLUDING MESSAGING, NEEDS TO
BE TRANSLATED INTO THE TOP
LANGUAGE.
SO, THE EITHER 1% OF THE
POPULATION, OR 1000 PEOPLE,
WHICHEVER IS SMALLER, ARE THE
LANGUAGES THAT YOU HAVE TO
TRANSLATE WHAT YOU DO IN AN
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE
COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE.
SO, IT IS DEFINITELY A
CHALLENGE, BUT NOT SOMETHING
THAT WE CAN'T DO OR SOMETHING
THAT WE ARE NOT STRIVING TO DO.
SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION.
AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED
MORE DETAIL.
>> THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ MIGHT
HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP
ON, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING.
I AM INTERESTED IN A DIFFERENT
PREPAREDNESS QUESTION,
PARTICULARLY AROUND THE
REINFORCED MASONRY ISSUE THAT
I'M SURE YOU KNOW WE HAVE HAD
MANY STUDIES DONE HERE IN
SEATTLE, AND AS SOMEBODY WHO
REPRESENTS THE FINANCIAL
DISTRICT, WHERE WE HAVE AT
LEAST 100 BUILDINGS ON THE LIST
OF PROBLEMATIC STRUCTURES, I'M
REALLY INTERESTED IF YOU HAVE
THOUGHTS ON THIS QUESTION OF
WHAT STEPS THE CITY CAN TAKE,
BOTH IMMEDIATELY, AND IN THE
LONG TERM.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT THE COST OF DOING
RETROFITS IN SOME OF THESE
BUILDINGS, THEY CAN -- IT IS
SUBSTANTIAL.
AND GIVEN THAT SO MANY OF THE
RESIDENTS OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE
LOW INCOME, RAISING THE RENT TO
COVER THE COST OF THE LOAN TO
MAKE THESE SORTS OF REPAIRS IS
REALLY NOT AN OPTION.
SO, I'D BE CURIOUS TO HEAR YOUR
THOUGHTS AGAIN AND JUST GIVE
YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE
THAT IN THIS FORM AS WELL.
>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF
REINFORCED MASONRY BUILDINGS IN
SAN FRANCISCO.
I'M FROM CALIFORNIA, SO I'M
VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE EFFORTS
THAT HAPPENED IN CALIFORNIA.
AND HERE IN SEATTLE, WE HAVE
BEEN STUDIED AND WE HAVE BEEN
ATTEMPTING TO DEAL WITH THE
ISSUE OF HOW WE REMEDY THAT
DANGER FOR ABOUT 50 YEARS.
SO, WAY LONGER THAN ANY OF US
HAVE BEEN AROUND, AND THERE
REALLY IS, AS YOU HAD
MENTIONED, A VERY HIGH COST FOR
RETROFITTING THESE BUILDINGS.
SO, WE HAVE NEVER REALLY
IDENTIFIED A SOLUTION THAT
WOULD EFFECTIVELY INCENTIVIZE
PRIVATE BUILDING OWNERS TO
SEISMICALLY RETROFIT THEIR
BUILDINGS VOLUNTARILY.
AND AN ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT
VOLUNTARY RETROFITTING OF AU RM
IN CALIFORNIA PROVED TO BE
REALLY UNSUCCESSFUL.
SO MOST LIKELY, A MANDATORY
RETROFIT ORDINANCE IS GOING TO
BE THE PATH TO MAKING SURE
THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS MORE
THAN 1,100 YOU ARE AND
BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
AND, SOME OF THEIR WE LOOK
SINCE IS IN THIS MANDATORY
ORDINANCE, EXACTLY WHAT YOU
STATED.
AND, IT IS EXPENSIVE, AND THE
WORRY IS ALWAYS THAT THE
BUILDING OWNER WILL THEN PASS
THAT EXPENSE ONTO THE COMMUNITY
AND RAISING RENTS, AND THAT'S
NOT A GOOD SOLUTION EITHER.
THERE IS ALSO OVER 2000
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS WITH
URM BUILDINGS HERE IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
SO I THINK THAT ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE COULD BEGIN TO
DO IS TO STOP LOOKING AT
SEISMIC SAFETY BY IT SELF, THAT
IT'S REALLY TIED TO A NUMBER OF
OTHER INITIATIVES THAT I THINK
WE ALL AGREE ARE IMPORTANT.
SO, AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND CLEAN
ENERGY ARE ALL KIND OF WRAPPED
UP IN THIS RING THAT WE TALK
ABOUT WITH SEISMIC, SAFETY, AND
THE ISSUE OF UNREINFORCED
MASONRY BUILDINGS.
SO, A SUCCESSFUL MANDATORY
RETROFIT ORDINANCE WILL REQUIRE
SOME FINANCING MECHANISM, SOME
CREATIVE FINANCING MECHANISMS
THAT WILL HELP ABSORB SOME OF
THAT BURDEN SO THAT BUILDING
OWNERS DON'T FEEL LIKE, YOU
KNOW, IT'S ONLY ON THEM, AND
THEY ARE GOING TO PASS IT ON TO
THEIR RESIDENTS OR THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE RENTING FROM THEM.
AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME
SIGNIFICANT WORK DONE IN
IDENTIFYING WHAT THE FUNDING
MECHANISMS MIGHT BE, WORKING
WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND
THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL HAS DONE SOME WORK
AROUND THIS, AND THEY SHARED A
REPORT WITH THE CITY, AND WE
CAN CERTAINLY SHARE THAT WITH
YOU IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.
THERE IS ALSO AN ALLIANCE FOR
SAFETY, AFFORDABILITY, AND
PRESERVATION, WHERE BUILDING
OWNERS CAN GET CERTAIN CREDITS
FOR OTHER KINDS OF WORK THAT
THEY DO, IF THEY DO THE URM
WORK, SO THAT THERE IS KIND OF
A TRADE-OFF TO THAT.
SO IN THE SHORT TERM, WHERE ALSO
OEM IS LOOKING AT SOME FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT COULD
HELP WITH THAT, SOME
MITIGATION GRANTS THAT MIGHT BE
HELPFUL, AND THEN MORE LONG-
TERM, LOOKING AT THESE OTHER
WAYS THAT WE CAN OFFER CREATIVE
FINANCING AND WORKING WITH THE
PRIVATE SECTOR I THINK IS GOING
TO BE THE THING THAT IS GOING
TO GET US THE MOST TRACTION IN
THIS AREA.
THERE IS ALSO -- THERE WAS AN
EXAMPLE MOST RECENTLY WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY
PROVIDED US A $5 MILLION GRANT
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO
AN OWNER OF THE BREHMER
APARTMENTS, WHICH IS A 48, 49
UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO GET
SOME MONEY FOR THAT AND THAT
HELD TREMENDOUSLY.
BUT REALLY, THE SOLVE, I THINK
IF YOU WILL, AND THE PATH TO
THAT IS THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT
WE HAVE WITH PRIVATE SECTOR AND
OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
TO LOOK AT HOW WE DO THIS AND
THAT THE FINANCIAL BURDEN IS
NOT JUST ON ONE SECTOR OR ONE
PORTION OF THE FINANCIAL
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
JUST A FOLLOW-UP ON THAT
QUESTION.
I ALSO ADDED URM ON MY LIST OF
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.
THIS IS A TOPIC THAT I KNOW A
COUPLE OF YEARS BACK, THE
ENTIRE LAND-USE COMMUNITY WROTE
TO THE EXECUTIVE OUT OF CONCERN
THAT THIS TOPIC WAS NOT ON THE
WORK PLANS FOR THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS FOR DEVELOPING A
PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE MANY
STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN
DELIVERED OVER PAST YEARS
RELATED TO HOW TO BEGIN DEALING
WITH UNREINFORCED MASONRY,
SEISMIC DEFICIENCIES, AND HOW
TO GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING THE
PRIORITY BUILDINGS.
YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR COMMENT,
AND THANK YOU FOR DOING SO.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR
WITH THEM AND THAT YOU ARE
TALKING WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR
SAFETY AFFORDABILITY AND
PRESERVATION.
I WANT TO JUST, WHEN YOU
REFERENCED THE RETROFIT CREDIT
PROGRAM AS A TOOL FOR SOME OF
THE FINANCING NEEDS ASSOCIATED
WITH ADDRESSING URM BUILDINGS,
I JUST WANT TO FIND OUT, DO YOU
SUPPORT A RETROFIT PROGRAM AS A
TOOL WHO THOSE WHO HELPED WITH
THE FINANCING?
SECONDLY, I HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY,
PORTABILITY AND PRESERVATION TO
DEVELOP A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD
OUTLINE THE STEPS THAT THE CITY
NEEDS TO TAKE IN ORDER TO
CREATE A MANDATORY URM PROGRAM,
AND THE RESOLUTION INCLUDES A
SPECIFIC TIMELINE FOR
DELIVERABLES THAT ARE PART OF
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH A
PROGRAM, AND IMPLEMENTING THE
FINANCING AS MENTIONED BEFORE,
TO IDENTIFYING THE PRIORITY
ACTIONS FOR BUILDINGS THAT ARE
IDENTIFIED AS BUILDINGS MOST
VULNERABLE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING
FIRST.
I JUST WANT TO FIND OUT, IN
ADDITION TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU
ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE RETROFIT
CREDIT PROGRAM, WHETHER OR NOT
YOU ARE SUPPORTIVE OF WORKING
WITH ME ON THIS RESOLUTION IN
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS SO THAT --
I'M VERY FLEXIBLE ON WHAT A
DESIRABLE TIMELINE IS OF THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROGRAM,
GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE ARE
DEALING WITH A LOT OF
SIMULTANEOUS CRISES IN THE
CITY.
BUT JUST WANT TO KNOW WHETHER
OR NOT I CAN COUNT ON WORKING
WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT TWO
MONTHS TO DEVELOP A RESOLUTION
SO WE CAN ALL HOLD OURSELVES
ACCOUNTABLE, FINALLY ADDRESSING
THE NEEDS OF OUR URM BUILDINGS.
>> SO, THE ANSWER IS, YES.
I SUPPORT THE FINANCING OPTIONS
AND WOULD BE HONORED TO WORK
WITH YOU ON PUTTING TOGETHER A
TIMELINE AND WHAT ARE THE
DELIVERABLES AND WHAT WE CAN
DO.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE
COVID IMPACTS AND DISASTER
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING
COMMUNITIES, URMs IS A GOOD
EXAMPLE.
THEY ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECT COMMUNITIES AND OTHER
PEOPLE WITH ACCESS AND
FUNCTIONAL NEEDS.
SO, VULNERABLE POPULATIONS,
EMERGENCY MANAGERS, ALL OF
THOSE THINGS WE WANT TO DO WITH
MITIGATION IN HELPING PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR
VULNERABILITIES ARE AND ALL OF
THAT INCLUDE THE CONTINUED USE
OF URM BUILDINGS FOR HOUSING.
SO, ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
IN THOSE STRUCTURES NOW, IF THE
EARTHQUAKE WERE TO HAPPEN TODAY
OR TOMORROW, ARE GOING TO
REQUIRE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE
ON HOUSE, THEY ARE GOING TO
HAVE ELECTRICITY, THEY ARE
GOING TO HAVE INJURIES.
ALL OF THOSE DANGEROUS THINGS
THAT HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY AFTER A
DISASTER, WHETHER IT BE AN
EARTHQUAKE OR SOMETHING SMALLER
THAN THAT WILL BE IN SERIOUS
TROUBLE IF THEY ARE IN A URM
BUILDING.
SO, ABSOLUTELY APPLAUD YOUR
EFFORTS AND VERY HAPPY TO WORK
WITH YOU ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS.
AND I'M NOW MONITORING PEOPLE'S
MUTE BUTTON IS, AND THE HANDS UP
FUNCTION ON OUR ZOOM CALL HERE.
AND IF I AM CORRECT AND THERE
ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I
LIKE TO MOVE THE APPOINTMENT OF
CURRY MAYER , AND THAT IS
APPOINTMENT 0157.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS TO THE
RECOMMENDATION?
SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, I
JUST WANT TO AGAIN THANK
INTERIM DIRECTOR CURRY MAYER
FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
THE MEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THIS APPOINTMENT WILL MOVE
ON TO THE CITY COUNCIL POLL
AGENDA ON MONDAY -- MONDAY,
MARCH 1st.
ALEX?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> JUST GIVE US A LITTLE
BACKGROUND?
>> I'M SORRY, FEBRUARY 1st.
>> OKAY, I WAS, LIKE, WHY ARE
WE HOLDING IT FOR A MONTH?
OKAY, THIS WILL MOVE ON TO FULL
COUNCIL THIS COMING MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 1st.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
AND YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US
ON MONDAY.
ALEX WILL FILL YOU IN ON THE
DETAILS ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M REALLY HONORED AND SO
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU.
GOODBYE.
>> GOODBYE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO ON
THE AGENDA.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO,
SEATTLE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S
PATIENTS.
AND IF WE COULD START OFF
PERHAPS WITH A ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS, IF EVERYBODY WHO
IS JOINING US FOR THIS AWAITED
PRESENTATION ON YOUR REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK IMPLEMENTING THE
COUNCIL'S POLICY OBJECTIVES AS
IT RELATES TO SUPPORTING
COMMUNITY-BASED PUBLIC SAFETY
INTERVENTIONS.
>> HI.
I'M DOMINIC DAVIS FROM
COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS, A.K.A.,
COACH DOM.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO
YOU GUYS.
I WANT TO OPEN REAL QUICK WITH
A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS AND THEN
I WILL DIGRESS TO MY TEAM.
WE ARE -- WE
DECIDED, LET'S COME TOGETHER
AND WORK TOGETHER AS ONE BIG
UNIT, ONE BIG TEAM.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS COME
TOGETHER OUT OF THESE SILOS AND
WORK AS A UNIT, TO ADDRESS GUN
VIOLENCE AND GANG INTERVENTION
PROCESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, I WANT TO SAY FIRST OF
ALL, WE ARE THE COMMUNITY, WE
LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE GREW
UP IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE PART OF WHAT WE ARE
DOING.
THIS IS NOT A JOB, THIS IS NOT
JUST AN INITIATIVE, THIS IS NOT
JUST WORK.
THIS IS OUR LIFESTYLE.
YOU ARE SEEING THESE PEOPLE
COME TOGETHER TO WORK TOGETHER
AND HEAL THE COMMUNITY THEY
HAVE BEEN IN FOR THEIR WHOLE
LIFE.
AND, WE ARE GROUNDED IN THIS
WORK SO DEEPLY.
I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO HSD FOR
SUPPORTING THIS WORK AND THIS
GUN SAFETY WORK, THIS GANG
REVISION WORK AT A HIGH LEVEL.
WE HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH
HSD AND HSD HAS BEEN A
POWERFUL PARTNER IN THIS WORK
AND MOVING THIS WORK FORWARD.
I'M GOING TO HAND THE BATON OFF
OVER TO PAUL PATU AND LET HIM
START THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND, I'M JUST HOPING THAT,
BEFORE WE LAUNCH INTO THE
PRESENTATION, COULD WE JUST DO
A REAL QUICK GO AROUND OF
INTRODUCTION, JUST SO WE KNOW
BASED ON THE FACES THAT ARE
PRESENT WHO IS HERE FOR THIS
PARTICULAR PANEL DISCUSSION?
IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> THAT'S FINE.
HELLO, EVERYONE.
THIS IS PAUL PATU.
>> I'M CHANTEL.
>> WE ARE THE DIRECTORS AND
COFOUNDERS OF THE URBAN FAMILY.
IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
I MARTI JACKSON, THE SOUTHEAST
NETWORK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF
KING COUNTY.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MARTIN
LAWSON.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE
COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM AND I
WILL ALSO BE FUNCTIONING AS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVES CENTRAL DISTRICT.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS MARVIN MARSHALL AND
I'M THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION
DIRECTOR WITH THE YMCA, AND I
CURRENTLY OVERSEE THE PROGRAM
AND WILL BE PART OF THE WEST
SEATTLE HUB.
>> HELLO.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS HELEN
HOWELL.
I'M THE NEW INTERIM DIRECTOR OF
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE FOR YOUR
FIRST VISIT TO THE COMMITTEE IN
YOUR NEW CAPACITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
TIFFANY WASHINGTON, DEPUTY
MAYOR.
GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> AND LIKEWISE TO YOU, DEPUTY
MAYOR WASHINGTON.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU IN YOUR NEW
COMMISSION AS DEPUTY MAYOR.
>> AND THIS IS TANYA KIM WITH
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
TIFFANY WILL OPEN US UP.
>> A ROUND OF INTRODUCTIONS.
>> OKAY, I WILL PASS IT BACK
FOR PAUL PATU.
ARE YOU OPENING US UP TODAY?
>> FIRST, WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN
WITH HELEN TO DO THE OVER A FEW
SLIDES.
THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR.
>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR.
AND, AS YOU MENTIONED, CHAIR
HERBOLD, IT IS MY FIRST COUNCIL
BRIEFING IN MY NEW ROLE.
AND, THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT IS THE COMMITTEE AND
SUPPORT OF THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE.
ALONG WITH THE INTRODUCTIONS
THAT YOU JUST HEARD, OUR
PARTNERS WILL PROVIDE BACKGROUND
INFORMATION AND AN OVERVIEW OF
SEATTLE CSI, AND WE'LL BEGIN
WITH DOMINIQUE DAVIS, I BELIEVE.
DOM?
>> YEAH, I JUMPED THE GUN AND
JUST JUMPED RIGHT INTO
SPEAKING.
BUT, THE STATEMENTS I WAS
MAKING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS
UNIQUE.
AND THIS IS UNITY WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
THE COMMUNITY KNOWS ALL OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE YOUNG
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE STREETS
OF THE COMMUNITY KNOW THE WORK
THAT WE DO.
THE FAMILIES KNOW THE WORK THAT
WE DO AND ARE SUPPORTING THE
COMMUNITY AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL.
AND SO, HERE WE ARE, BRINGING
ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS
TOGETHER, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY
CAN SEE US UNITED AS ONE,
WORKING UNDER ONE ACCORD WITH
ONE AGENDA.
TYPICALLY TO STOP THE VIOLENCE
IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO SUPPORT
THE SERVICES THAT ARE IN NEED.
SO THIS IS NOT JUST AN
INITIATIVE THAT WE ARE PUSHING
FORWARD, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING
THEY CAN VISUALLY SEE BECAUSE
THIS IS ABOUT BRINGING THE
COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND IGNITING
THE COMMUNITY TO STOP THE GANG
VIOLENCE, BUT NOW THEY CAN SEE
ORGANIZATIONS COMING TOGETHER
OUT OF THEIR SILOS, UNITING TO
SHOW THEM THAT THIS IS WHAT THE
COMMUNITY CAN DO ALSO.
SO WE ARE GOING TO START WITH
THE PRESENTATION FOR NOW.
PAUL, GO AHEAD AND TAKE OVER,
BROTHER.
>> THANK YOU, DOMINIQUE.
I CAN TELL YOU ARE A PREACHER.
THAT WAS YOUR SECOND CLOSING.
BUT, THANK YOU.
IT IS GOOD TO BE AMONGST FAMILY
AND FRIENDS AND LEADERS FROM
OUR COMMUNITY.
I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU A VIDEO.
BUT BEFORE I DO, I WANTED TO
STATE A PURPOSE OF THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE.
AND THEN YOU CAN PUSH PLAY AT
THE END OF THIS STATEMENT.
THIS IS KIND OF A -- TO THE
TECH.
THE PURPOSE OF SEATTLE CSI IS
TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND
NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY,
PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK AND
BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS IN SEATTLE,
AND EVENTUALLY SOUTH KING
COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO
PRESENT THIS INITIATIVE TO THE
CITY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR
THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY VIOLENCE.
PUSH PLAY ON THE VIDEO.
>> WE ARE QUEUING UP THE VIDEO.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU.
>> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE
HERE?
>> SO, WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO
SEE IS AN INTRO.
BASICALLY, THEY SAY THAT A
PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS.
THIS IS OUR VERSION OF 1000
WORDS THROUGH THIS NINE MINUTE
VIDEO.
>> IN A STATE HIT HARD BY COVID-
19 CAME ONE OF THE STRONGEST
WARNINGS.
>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
CHANGE OUR LIVES IN WAYS THAT
ARE UNCOMFORTABLE IF WE ARE
GOING TO SUCCEED AS A
COMMUNITY.
>> ANGER ERUPTED FOLLOWING THE
ARREST AND DEATH OF GEORGE
FLOYD ON MONDAY.
HE PLEADED FOR HIS LIFE.
>> THERE IS ALSO A GROWING
FEELING OF ANXIETY FOR MANY
VOTERS AS WE GET CLOSER TO
TUESDAY.
>> WE KNOW THAT ONE PERSON, AT
LEAST ONE PERSON WAS SHOT.
NEIGHBORS SAY THAT VICTIM MAY
HAVE GONE INTO THE SCHOOL FOR
HELP.
>> BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
>> IT LOOKS AS TERRIFYING AS IT
SOUNDED.
A YOUNG MAN OPENING FIRE IN A
CROWDED PLAYGROUND, PEOPLE
RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES.
>> WHOEVER DID THIS TO MY SON,
THAT BABY NEEDED A HUG.
>> AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE
SURE THAT HIS NAME IS NOT DRUG
THROUGH THE MUD LIKE THIS WAS
JUST TIME KIND OF GANG-RELATED
SHOOTING.
>> THIS HAPPENED AROUND 3:15
RIGHT AT 22nd AND UNION.
>> HE WAS ON 19th.
HE DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO 20
YET.
THERE IS TOO MANY YOUNG KIDS
GETTING KILLED IN THE STREETS.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT.
IT IS GETTING TO BE OUT OF
HAND.
>> THERE IS A MOVEMENT IN THE
UNITED STATES OF YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO I'M VERY PROUD OF, IN
DEALING WITH THE STRUCTURAL
ISSUES THAT NEED TO CHANGE IF
WE ARE GOING TO BE A BETTER
SOCIETY.
BUT, THERE IS THIS POLITICAL
PLOY TO TRY TO PICK POLICE
BRUTALITY, AND POLICE
MISCONDUCT AGAINST BLACK ON
BLACK VIOLENCE.
BUT THE FICTION, IT'S ALL
CONNECTED.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT DECADES OF
FAILED HOUSING POLICIES AND
POOR EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURES,
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT RESISTANT
UNEMPLOYMENT AND
UNDEREMPLOYMENT IN A COMMUNITY,
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT POOR
HEALTH CARE AND THEN YOU THROW
DRUGS INTO THE MIX, AND DUFFEL
BAGS FULL OF GUNS, NO WONDER
THAT YOU WOULD SEE THIS CULTURE
OF VIOLENCE EMERGE.
BUT, THE SOLUTION IS MINING THE
ASSETS THAT ARE THERE IN THE
COMMUNITY, TO HAVE A STRONG
COMMUNITY COMPONENT IN THE
COLLABORATION AROUND VIOLENCE
REDUCTION.
THEY ARE THERE, BRINGING THEM
TOGETHER, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT,
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND THE
CITY.
WITH THE ONE AIM OF REDUCING
VIOLENCE, BUT MAKE SURE THAT
THE COMMUNITY COMPONENT IS
STRONG.
BECAUSE THAT OLD ADAGE THAT
COMES FROM WRONG IS RIGHT, THAT
YOU DO FOR ME WITHOUT ME, YOU
DO TO ME.
>> AS A SYSTEM, YOU HAVE TO
LOOK AT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO
DIFFERENTLY?
>> I'M TIRED OF SEEING A LOT OF
PEOPLE BEING MURDERED OVER
STUPID THINGS.
I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE MY
STORY.
>> FROM THE MURDER OF GEORGE
FLOYD TO THE INSTANCE AT THE
CAPITOL, INSTITUTIONALIZED
RACISM HAS DIVIDED US FOR TOO
LONG.
ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE
TRANSPIRED FOR THIS PAST YEAR,
FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE PEOPLE
OF COLOR, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, WE HAVE
BEEN EXPERIENCING
INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM AND
INTERNALIZED OPPRESSION FOR A
LONG TIME.
AND SO, THESE INCIDENTS HAVE
REALLY BROUGHT LIGHT TO THE
SITUATION.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE PAYING
ATTENTION TO IT.
I THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING
ATTENTION TO IT RIGHT NOW.
>> WE CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE COME
FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITIES
THINKING THAT THEY HAVE THE
ACCESS FOR THOSE PROBLEMS IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
TAKE THE ONUS ON WHAT HAPPENS
IN OUR COMMUNITIES?
WE HAVE THE SOLUTIONS.
WE ARE THE OPPRESSED PEOPLE?
>> IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT IT
TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A
CHILD.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I CAN BE
CORRECTED BY MY MOTHER, MY
FATHER, MY AUNT, MY UNCLE, AND
SOMETIMES EVEN BIG MAMA.
>> NOW MORE THAN EVER,
PARTICULARLY WITH BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES, WE NEED TO
PULL TOGETHER.
WE NEED TO BE YOUR OWN SAFETY.
WE NEED TO HAVE SAFETY THAT
COMES FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
>> WE GREW UP IN HERE.
WE HAVE HERITAGE HERE, WE HAVE
HISTORY HERE.
AND WE JUST WANT TO COME BACK
TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE
GREW UP IN AND RESTORE THAT
SENSE OF PEACE, THAT COMMUNITY,
THAT CONNECTION.
>> I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO MY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WORK,
YOU GUYS.
RAINIER BEACH IS KNOWN TO BE
RICH IN HUMAN RESOURCE.
WE ARE KNOWN TO HAVE RICH
CULTURE HERE, AND NOT ONLY DID
I GRADUATE FROM HERE, I CAME
BACK TO WORK IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> BEHIND ME, I HAVE THE ICONIC
HIGH SCHOOL.
FOR ME, WORKING IN WEST SEATTLE
WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT.
I REMEMBER LIVING IN WEST
SEATTLE AS A KID.
MY OLDER BROTHER, HE MADE HIS
WAY TO HIGH POINT.
AND FROM HIGH POINT TO 35th, IF
YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WEST
SEATTLE, THERE'S A LOT OF
HISTORY IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT TO WHERE THE
RESOURCES ARE FALLING, FREE
FLOWING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT PEOPLE TO
HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH
THEY CAN WALK IN AND HAVE FUN
IN AND BE AT THE PARK AND THROW
PICNICS AND BARBECUES AND
COOKOUTS.
>> THE SORTS OF BEING LOCATED
RIGHT HERE, THIS CHURCH HAS
BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR 47
YEARS, PRIOR TO THE COMMUNITY
BEING DRIVEN OUT TO SOUTH KING
COUNTY AND OTHER AREAS FURTHER
AWAY.
THIS WHOLE AREA IS AFRICAN-
AMERICAN.
THIS IS THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
IT IS CHANGED.
THE DEMOGRAPHICS LOOK NOTHING
LIKE THEY LOOKS LIKE WHEN I
GREW UP RUNNING THESE STREETS.
AND WE ARE OVERWHELMED WITH JOY
ABOUT BEING ABLE TO COME BACK
HERE, DO THIS WORK IN THE
COMMUNITY, AND DO THIS WORK
WITH MEMBERS WHO ARE FROM THIS
COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW THE HISTORY
OF THIS COMMUNITY, WHO ARE
INVESTED, AND HAVE FAMILY
MEMBERS HERE.
>> A COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE FACEDOWN OF THE
SOUTH END, CENTRAL DISTRICT OF
WEST SEATTLE.
COMMUNITY SAFETY IS ABOUT
RELATIONSHIP AND IS ABOUT
COMMUNITY AND ABOUT EXTENDED
FAMILY.
>> IMAGINE HAVING BLACK AND
BROWN, SAFE, CARING ADULTS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IN THE
STREETS, IN THE SCHOOLS,
SURROUNDING THE COMMUNITIES
WITH CARE AND SUPPORT AND LOVE.
HOW MUCH GREATER AND SAFER OUR
COMMUNITIES WOULD BE, SIMPLY
BECAUSE WE ARE SERVING US.
>> JUST LIKE IT TAKES A VILLAGE
TO RAISE A CHILD, IT TAKES A
COLLABORATION, COOPERATION OF
MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS TO END
THE VIOLENCE AND TO END THE
MARGINAL IS HIM IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> YMCA, COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS,
URBAN FAMILY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'M
EXCITED ABOUT RELATED TO THIS
INITIATIVE IS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO WORK TOGETHER WITH TRUSTED
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> MY NAME IS MARTIN LAWSON.
I'M WITH COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS.
I AM PART OF THE SEATTLE
INITIATIVES SAFETY DISTRICT.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS PAUL PATU.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
URBAN FAMILY.
ON BEHALF OF MY INITIATIVE,
URBAN FAMILY WILL LEAD THE
TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,
AND CONSULTING.
>> MY NAME IS MARTI JACKSON.
I'M A SOUTHEAST MEMBER OF THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE BOYS
AND GIRLS CLUBS OF KING COUNTY.
FOR THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY
SAFETY INITIATIVE, I WILL BE
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HER.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MARVIN
MARSHALL, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR
WITH THE YMCA OF SEATTLE.
ON BEHALF OF THE SEATTLE SAFETY
INITIATIVE, I WILL OVERSEE THE
WEST SEATTLE HUB.
>> THANK YOU.
AS YOU SAY, A PICTURE IS WORTH
1000 WORDS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ALSO HAVE AN
OPENING SLIDESHOW THAT WE WERE
GOING TO GO THROUGH?
>> YES.
WE CAN START OFF WITH
BACKGROUND.
THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU.
>> SO, I WANT TO FIRST SAY THAT
I AM DEEPLY, DEEPLY HONORED TO
WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
INITIATIVE.
IN TRUTH, WE ALL KNOW EACH
OTHER, AND WE FOUND EACH OTHER
AGAIN IN THE PERFECT STORM THAT
WAS 2020.
2020 WAS DIFFICULT.
VERY DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US.
COVID-19, GEORGE FLOYD, AND THE
ELECTION TO THE YEAR, IT REALLY
PUT A DEMAND ON COMMUNITY FOLKS
LIKE OURSELVES TO REALLY PULL
TOGETHER AND TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
WE COULD DO ON BEHALF OF THE
PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE INTENTION
WAS TO REALLY FOCUS OUR EFFORTS
ON THE IDEA OF POWER TO THE
PEOPLE, AND THE EMERGENCE OF
BLACK AND BROWN GRASSROOTS
LEADERSHIP EMERGED DURING THIS
PERFECT STORM, IF YOU WILL.
AND IT REALLY HELPED TO FORGE
OUR WILL TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE CAN'T CHANGE A LOT OF THE
THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR
CONTROL, BUT WHAT WE CAN
CONTROL IS HOW WE REACT TO
THEM.
AND SO, IN HONOR OF THIS, I'M
REALLY, HONESTLY MOVED BY THE
VIDEO, EVEN THOUGH WE PUT IT
TOGETHER.
JUST THE IMAGES OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALL THAT THIS
YEAR HAS PRODUCED, OR LAST YEAR
HAS PRODUCED.
I THINK IN CLOSING, AND TO MOVE
US ON, I THINK THE PLACE FOR
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
BEFORE WE CAN MOVE ON IS REALLY
HEALING, AND US REALLY
GROUNDING OURSELVES IN HEALING,
AND THAT STARTS WITH WORKING
TOGETHER.
MOVE TOGETHER.
AND SO, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE
THE MEMBERS OF OUR INITIATIVE.
AND WE WILL START OFF WITH
MARTI JACKSON FROM THE
SOUTHEAST NETWORK, SOUTH AND
SAFETY HUB.
MARTI JACKSON?
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
I'LL BE BRIEF . I'M MARTI
JACKSON.
ON THE SOUTHEAST NETWORK
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THIS
SAFETY NET OVER AT THE BOYS AND
GIRLS CLUB OF KING COUNTY.
I AM, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE
COMMUNITY, THE VIDEO, BORN AND
RAISED IN SOUTH SEATTLE,
PARTICULARLY THE RAINIER BEACH
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M NOT JUST A PRACTITIONER IN
THIS WORK, BUT I'M ALSO A
MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER OF YOUNG
PEOPLE THAT ALSO GO TO SCHOOL
IN THE SOUTH END OVER AT SOUTH
SHORE AND ARE ALSO GRADUATE THE
RAINIER BEACH HIGH SCHOOL.
IT GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN OUR
FAMILY ROOTS, GENERATIONS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN THE
SAME NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN.
AND TO HAVE THE HONOR TO BE
ABLE TO WORK IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS AS -- DEFINITELY SERVES
ME WELL, ESPECIALLY IN
ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES
THAT WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND I WILL
LEAVE IT TO MARVIN MARSHALL.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
AS WAS STATED, MY NAME IS
MARVIN MARSHALL, AND I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF THE VIOLENCE
PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR THE
YMCA, CURRENTLY ALIVE AND FREE.
AND FOR ME, THIS WORK IS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I'M
FOREVER IMPACTED BY THESE
ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, I'M A SEATTLE NATIVE
BORN AND RAISED.
I GREW UP A LITTLE BIT
EVERYWHERE IN SEATTLE, FROM THE
SOUTH END OF THE CITY TO WEST
SEATTLE.
AND I FEEL THAT IT IS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE
WORKING TOGETHER BECAUSE A LOT
OF TIMES, WE ALL DO GREAT WORK
IN THIS INDUSTRY, BUT IT IS
SIDELOAD.
AND SO TO BE ABLE TO BREAK DOWN
THOSE WALLS AND COME TOGETHER,
YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN THESE FOLKS
DO GREAT WORK LATERALLY, BUT AS
WE ARE ALL SITTING AT THE TABLE
TOGETHER, I THINK THAT CREATES
A UNITY THAT WILL GET A LOT
FURTHER, AS OPPOSED TO BEING
DIVIDED.
I WILL PASS IT ALONG TO MARTIN
LAWSON.
>> THANK YOU, MARVIN.
THE SEATTLE SAFETY INITIATIVE
IS PART OF THE LARGER SEATTLE
PEACE AND SAFETY INITIATIVE,
WHICH IS A COLLABORATION OF
COMMUNITY ELDERS AND ABOUT 20
BLACK AND BROWN NONPROFIT
PROVIDERS THAT SERVE THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IN AREAS SUCH AS
EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELLNESS, REENTRY
SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES, FINANCIAL
LITERACY, AND FAMILY SUPPORT
SERVICES.
ALL OF THESE SERVICES WILL BE
PROVIDED IN THE HUBS THAT WILL
BE LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AREA, THE SOUTH
SEATTLE AREA, AND ALSO WEST
SEATTLE.
THESE INITIATIVES ARE STARTED,
WERE STARTED TO COORDINATE
GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY,
PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND
POST-INCIDENT SERVICES IN
RESPONSE TO YOUTH AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE ACTIONS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS
OF SERVING THE NEIGHBORHOODS
WHERE THE HUBS ARE LOCATED, AND
WE WILL ALSO BE SURVEYING
GROUPS LIKE THE MT. BAKER MOMS
AND RAY NEAR BEACH MOMS TO
INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO THOSE
GROUPS AND GET A COMMUNITY
FEEDBACK AND INPUT.
WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS
WORK, LIKE DOM STATED EARLIER.
WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT HEALING
THESE SPACES WHERE WE ARE
LOCATED AND HAVE BEEN LOCATED
FOR GENERATIONS.
AND WE ARE WORKING HARD TO
CREATE AND MAINTAIN AN EFFECT
IF AND SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE
TO THE TRADITIONAL FORMS OF
POLICING THAT HAVE BEEN HARMFUL
IN MANY WAYS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, WE ARE LOOKING TO NURTURE
AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY LED AND
CENTERED EFFORTS TO ENSURE
COMMUNITY SAFETY.
THAT'S IT AND I WILL PASS IT
BACK.
>> THANK YOU. URBAN FAMILY WAS
COFOUNDED BY CHANTEL AND I. WE
ARE A HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM.
BUT, YEAH, WE ARE SERVING THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE GREW UP
IN, AND I THINK THAT IS UNIQUE
IN THIS.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS TO SAY
THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS ALSO A
POWER DYNAMIC SHIFT IS TWO
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS
PARTNERING WITH TWO LARGE,
NATIONALLY, WELL-RECOGNIZED
ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL TRACK AND
BROWN LEADERSHIP.
THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
OUR ROLE IN THE INITIATIVE, IN
TERMS OF WHERE URBAN FAMILY IS,
IS REALLY TO BRING OUR 20 PLUS
YEARS OF INTERVENTION WORK,
PARTICULARLY AROUND CRISIS
RESPONSE, CRITICAL INCIDENT
RESPONSE, AND THE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTING
NEEDED TO SCAFFOLD AND REALLY
BUILD THE COMPETENCY AND THE
SKILL OF OUR SAFETY TEAMS.
OUR LEADERS ARE ALREADY
TRUSTED, AND I FEEL REALLY GOOD
ABOUT THAT.
BUT IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
THAT THIS BE A HOLISTIC
INITIATIVE, AND REALLY FROM THE
GROUND UP, NURTURE, AND
CULTIVATE EACH AREA WITH CARE
AND SUPPORT.
AND SO, URBAN FAMILY IS
EXTREMELY, YOU KNOW, EXCITED TO
GET GOING ON THIS PROCESS, AND
TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THE
INITIATIVE AND PARTICULARLY THE
NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE
INITIATIVE, I'D LIKE TO HAND IT
BACK OFF TO MY COLLEAGUE MARTI
JACKSON WHO WILL EXPLAIN MORE
ABOUT THE MODEL OF SEATTLE CSI.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN YOU HOLD ON ONE SECOND?
COUNCIL MEMBER, HOW MUCH TIME
DO WE HAVE LEFT?
>> IF WE COULD WRAP UP THE
PRESENTATION IN THE NEXT FIVE TO
EIGHT MINUTES AND ALLOW FOR
SOME QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
SORRY.
>> NO, YOU ARE FINE, TIFFANY.
I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT BECAUSE
I WAS LOOKING AT THE TIME ALSO.
AND SO, I WILL GO AHEAD AND
JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE MODEL.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT PARTS OF
THIS MODEL, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE
COMPONENTS OF THIS MODEL, ALL
OF THE ASPECTS OF IT ARE
ALREADY EVIDENCE-BASED.
AND SO I THINK FOR ME, REALLY
LOOKING AT THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE SAFETY HUB, WHAT WE ARE
TAKING IS, AND WHAT WE'VE
ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTING, I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW
THAT WE HAVE ALREADY HAD
RESULTS AND IMPLEMENTED A LOT
OF THESE BEST PRACTICES, A LOT
OF THE MODELS, AND WE'VE SEEN
THE RESULTS.
WE'VE SEEN IT IN DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF IT.
PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION COMING
TOGETHER IS, WE ALL OWN A PIECE
OF THAT.
AND SO, BRING THOSE PIECES
TOGETHER AND REALLY LOOKING AT
THAT SAFETY MODEL, IT IS A
PLACE BASED APPROACH TO
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.
THIS APPROACH IS LOOKING AT OUR
COMMUNITY HUBS.
WE ALREADY INFORMALLY HAVE
THESE HUBS WITHIN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE KNOW THAT KIDS COME TO US IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR HELP.
FAMILIES.
WE HELP FAMILIES.
A LOT OF THIS HAS UNFOLDED
DURING THE PANDEMIC AROUND FOOD
INSECURITY AND OTHER THINGS THAT
WERE NEEDED, WHERE OUR
COMMUNITY PULLED TOGETHER, BUT
THEY KNEW WHO TO CALL, THEY
KNEW WHO TO PULL TO, AND THEY
SERVED OUR COMMUNITY CAPACITIES.
WE HAVE BEEN SERVED OR PRIOR TO
COVID.
AND SO I THINK IT REALLY IS A
TESTAMENT TO THAT.
SO THESE SAFETY HUBS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, WE ARE NOT DOING
ANYTHING NEW, BUT WHAT IS
DIFFERENT, ALL OF THESE SAFETY
HUBS WILL NOT BE RESOURCED
PROPERLY.
PART OF WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE IN
TERMS OF US OPERATING
INDIVIDUALLY IS, WE DID NOT
HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE
CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE AND
WRAPAROUND SERVICES, FOLLOW-UP,
OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT.
LOOKING AT OTHER EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES.
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK
WERE MENTIONED AS PART OF
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, JUST A
SYMPTOM.
AND ALL OF THE ROOTS ARE REALLY
THE DEFICITS, OR WHAT OUR
COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY
SERVICED WITH BECAUSE OF
FUNDING.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED NOW.
SO, YOU'LL SEE THE SAFETY HUBS,
AND EACH SAFETY HUBS WILL HAVE
THESE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO
HELP YOUTH AND FAMILIES.
THIS IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO A
YOUTH INITIATIVE, BUT A SAFETY
INITIATIVE.
WE ARE ADDRESSING YOUTH, THE
ENTIRE FAMILY.
AGAIN, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
PLACE BASED APPROACH IN
ADDRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS ON A
LOCAL LEVEL.
AND SO, ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS
IS OUR SAFETY TEAM WHICH IS
SAFE PASSAGE WHICH HAS BEEN
OPERATING FOR THE LAST FIVE
YEARS.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE
RESULTS WITHIN THE RAINIER
BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD IN
PARTICULAR, BUT LOOKING TO
REPLICATE THIS IN OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS, I'M SURE SOME OF
YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD AND
HEARD THE RESULTS OF WHAT HAS
HAPPENED WITH SAFE PASSAGE AND
THROUGH SOME OF THE OTHER
EFFORTS THAT ARE HAPPENING
THROUGH THE RAINIER BEACH
NEIGHBORHOOD.
CRIME HAS BEEN DOWN 40% THAT
FIRST YEAR WE WERE OPERATING,
AND SINCE THEN, 30%.
AND A LOT OF THE DATA AROUND
THIS WAS REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
WHAT I THINK IS UNIQUE IS TO
ATTRIBUTE THAT TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE
TAKING THAT AND REALLY MOVING
THAT AND REPLICATING
EVERYTHING, ALL THAT WE HAVE
BEEN DOING THAT HAS BEEN
WORKING IN OUR OWN
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEN SHARING
THESE RESOURCES.
AND ALIGNING OUR EFFORTS IN A
WAY SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT
ARE HAPPENING WITHIN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND BETTER SERVE
OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
MARVIN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT
BRIEFLY, WE WILL ALL BE
BRINGING THE SERVICES THAT WE
HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE
COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME.
AND WITH THE YMCA BEING PART OF
THAT BITTER UMBRELLA, BUT THEN
BEING MORE SPECIFICALLY,
PROGRAMMING WITH ALIVE AND
FREE, BEING COMMUNITY-BASED.
AND ALMOST LIKE BEING A
GRASSROOTS WITHIN THAT LARGER
UMBRELLA.
YOU KNOW, BRINGING THAT LENS UP
ALIVE AND FREE TO THAT WORK AND
LOOKING AT THE RESOURCES, THE
ABUNDANCE OF RESOURCES, AND
THEN ALSO IDENTIFYING
CULTURALLY RELEVANT RESOURCES
WITHIN EACH COMMUNIY.
BECAUSE YOU CAN MAKE A MILLION
REFERRALS, BUT IF THEY ARE NOT
APPLICABLE TO YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE,
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE
EFFECTIVE.
SO LOOKING AT THE BALANCING OF
WHICH RESOURCES TO APPLY AND
WHERE TO APPLY THEM TO IS VERY,
VERY BIG.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL
PASS IT OVER TO MARTIN.
>> I THINK ANOTHER THING,
MARTIN, MARTIN, AND MARTI HAVE
ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE
STRUCTURE, ALTHOUGH MARTI IS IN
THE SOUTH END, AND MARVIN IS
IN WEST SEATTLE WILL BE
COLLABORATING, WE'LL BE TAUGHT
ABOUT THE PLAYERS WHO
PARTICIPATE.
BECAUSE WE ARE ALL CONNECTED
DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY.
SO IF I HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH SOMEONE WHO PARTICIPATED
AND I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH MARTI
AND HER TEAM AND WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER TO DE-ESCALATE FROM
ALL SIDES.
SO WE ARE CREATING A NET TO
CREATE THESE ISSUES.
I WILL PASS IT ON.
>> IT IS BACK TO ME.
THANK YOU, LAWSON.
SO, THE LAST PIECE IN TERMS OF
THE MODEL, AND WE WILL GIVE YOU
KIND OF A VISUAL AS WELL AS YOU
CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN IS THE
TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,
AND CONSULTING, PARTICULARLY
AROUND CRITICAL INCIDENT
RESPONSE.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT A
REPLACEMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS A SAFETY SUPPORT THAT
CAN INTERFACE WITH BOTH, YOU
KNOW, OUR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, AS WELL AS OUR
COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE
UNIQUE FEATURE IS, OF THIS
INITIATIVE.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY
IS THAT YOU KNOW, THE
FOUNDATION HAS BEEN LAID.
THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN LAID
FROM INITIATIVES LIKE SEATTLE
YOU VIOLENCE PREVENTION
INITIATIVE AND MANY MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT IN CITY
OF SEATTLE'S HISTORY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR OUR
RESPECTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS IS
TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN STOP
CLEARING THE DECK EVERY TIME
THERE IS SOMEONE NEW IN OFFICE,
AND TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION
OF THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER OR
MAYOR THAT MAY HAVE
CONTRIBUTED.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAPPENS
OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS, THIS
INITIATIVE IS, REALLY, BECAUSE
WE STAYED IN THE WORK, WE JUST
SIMPLY STAYED IN THE WORK, AND
THE CITY HAS MADE INVESTMENTS.
úI KNOW CRITICAL INCIDENT
RESPONSE, BECAUSE THE LAST
INITIATIVE PROVIDED TRAINING
FOR CRITICAL INCIDENT AND
RESPONSE.
THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR
ALLY THAT IS NOW COMING BACK TO
LAST THE CITY BECAUSE THE CITY
MADE THAT INVESTMENT.
BUT IF IT DOES NOT GET CAPTURED
IN THE CITIES, PARTICULARLY OUR
LAWMAKERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS,
IF THEY LOSE ORGANIZATIONAL
MEMORY, THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE
THAT INVESTMENT ALL OVER AGAIN
AND START OFF WITH A NEW
PROJECT AND CALL IT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT DURING YOUR TERM.
THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY
AND A SMARTER WAY FOR US TO
BUILD ON OUR INVESTMENTS, AND
YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED
OFFICIALS.
WE VOTED YOU INTO OFFICE AND WE
ARE PRAYING THAT HE WOULD GIVE
EAR TO SOME OF THE WISDOM OF
THE THINGS HAPPENING,
RESPECTIVELY.
SO, BASICALLY IN SHORT, THE
FOUR KEY COMPONENTS OF THE
SAFETY INITIATIVE IS OUT
COMMUNITY SAFETY HUBS.
OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY HUBS ARE
LITERALLY A HUB OF RESOURCE, OF
LIFE, OF CARE AND SUPPORT THAT
SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE
RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES, RIGHT?
EVERYTHING EMANATES FROM THESE
SAFETY HUBS.
THIS IS WHERE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS CONNECT.
THIS IS WHERE EVERYTHING IS
INVITED TO THE TABLE.
THE SECOND PIECE IS OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD CRISIS SAFETY
TEAMS.
ONE OF THE FEATURES OF THIS
POINT FROM SAFE PASSAGE IS THAT
THEY WILL HAVE REGULAR SAFETY
PATROLS OF BLACK AND BROWN
SAFETY TEAMS, MAKING THEIR
ROUTINE PATROLS THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW,
PARTICULARLY IN HOT SPOTS,
RIGHT?
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
RESEARCH DONE BY, I WANT TO
SAY, GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY,
THAT BASICALLY HAS A WHOLE SET
OF DATA AND RESEARCH ON HOT
SPOTS AND MONITORING HOT SPOTS.
AND SO, OUR SAFETY TEAMS WILL
BE DEPLOYED TO DO PATROLS.
THE OTHER ASPECT IS CRITICAL
INCIDENT RESPONSE.
CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE IS
LITERALLY RESPONDING TO SHOTS
FIRED, TO VIOLENT IN THE
COMMUNITY, HIGHLY TRAINED
SAFETY TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE
TRAINED TO RESPOND TO VIOLENCE
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THE PHILOSOPHY THERE IS
REALLY KIND OF 48 HOURS.
48 HOUR STATISTICS RESEARCH
BEARS THAT IF YOU CAN GET
CLOSER TO THE INCIDENTS WITHIN
THE 48 HOUR PERIOD, THE
LIKELIHOOD OF YOU RESOLVING AND
BRINGING SOME SENSE OF
RESOLUTION TO THAT CRISIS
INCREASES.
AND ONCE AGAIN I WANT TO
REITERATE, WE ARE NOT POLICE,
WE RESPECT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE
ARE SUPPORT A SAFETY SUPPORT.
THE NEXT PIECE IS TRAINING AND
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
WE BUILT IN TRAINING ALL YEAR
ROUND.
WE THINK THAT THE GREATEST
INVESTMENT THAT WE CAN PLACE IN
THIS INITIATIVE IS ON THE
LEADERS OF THIS INITIATIVE.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS WILL
END, BUT THE LEADERS THAT WE
PREPARE THROUGH THESE
INITIATIVES WILL CONTINUE TO BE
AN ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITIES,
WHICH LEADS ME TO MY LAST PIECE,
INVESTMENT IN BLACK AND BROWN
LEADERSHIP.
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT
THESE ARE PATHWAYS TO EDUCATION
AND PATHWAYS TO EMPOWERMENT FOR
OUR YOUNG BLACK AND BROWN
LEADERS THAT ARE ENGAGING IN
THIS GOOD AND SACRED WORK,
RIGHT?
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE INVEST
IN THE LEADERSHIP.
ALSO, THE LEADERSHIP, I WOULD
BE REMISS TO SAY OF OUR ELDERS.
IT IS TIME FOR US TO INVEST IN
BRINGING US THE VOICES AND
WISDOM OF OUR ELDERS TO THE
SPACE AGAIN SO THAT IT IS
BALANCED, AND THEY HAVE VALUE,
ADD VALUE TO THIS INITIATIVE.
AND SO THESE FOUR KEY
COMPONENTS WE FEEL LIKE ARE
EXTREMELY INTENTIONAL, AND WE
ARE REALLY EXCITED TO GET
GOING.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT
BACK OFF TO TONYA.
>> YES.
IT IS TANYA KIM WITH THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WANT
TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT SLIDES
NINE AND 10 ARE.
WE PULLED SOME PERFORMANCE
METRICS FROM THE CONTRACT WE
HAVE WITH COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS,
THAT IS SUBCONTRACTS WITH THESE
WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS.
AND SO TOGETHER, THAT IS THE
PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE AT
THIS TIME, THE PARTNERSHIP
MODEL.
AND I CAN COME BACK, OR DR.
HELEN CAN COME BACK AND GET
INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE
CONTRACT AND THE ELEMENT ITSELF
AT A LATER TIME IF THAT IS YOUR
WISH.
BUT JUST HIGHLIGHTING A COUPLE
SO WE CAN GET TO SOME QUESTION
AND ANSWER IF THERE IS TIME.
SO QUESTION NUMBER ONE IS, THE
INITIATIVE THAT THE HUB
PROVIDERS ARE WORKING WITH BUT
LOOKING AT AND ROLLING
PARTICIPANTS AND HAVING THEM ON
CASE MANAGEMENT TO CREATE A
SERVICE GOAL, PLAN, EVERYTHING
YOU CAN SEE FROM HOUSING,
EDUCATION, YOU REALLY WANT TO
INTERVENE, BUT IT'S REALLY,
WHAT'S NEXT?
AND, ANOTHER THAT I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT IS, OF THOSE
PARTICIPATING IN CASE
MANAGEMENT IS THAT WE DO WANT
TO SEE A REPORTED DECREASE IN
INVOLVEMENT IN VIOLENCE AND
GENERAL CLIMB, AND OR FEELING
SAFE.
WITH THE NEXT SLIDE, I WILL
JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT PART OF,
JUST UNDERSCORING WHAT WE WERE
SAYING, THEY HAVE BEEN DOING
THIS WORK.
AND SO WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS
REALLY AROUND THE COORDINATION
AS WELL.
PART OF THAT IS THE
COORDINATION, WHAT YOU SHOULD
SEE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS
NEIGHBORHOOD BASED, THERE ARE
GOING TO BE SOME UNIQUE
ASPECTS.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE
SIMILARITIES AS WELL.
ORDINATION WITHOUT TRAININGS,
COORDINATION WITH OUR SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND
COORDINATION INTERNALLY IN JUST
HOW DATA IS SHARED AND
GATHERED.
AND SO I THINK WITH THAT, I
WILL STOP, BECAUSEWE ARE SHORT
ON TIME, AND I WANTED TO, IS
THERE IS SOME TIME, JUST GIVING
MORE SPACE BACK TO OUR PARTNERS
TO FIELD QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
I SEE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES HAS A QUESTION, AND
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
I FIRST WANT TO SAY THAT I
AGREE WITH WHAT PAUL SAID.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, NOT
JUST THAT WE HAVE BLACK LED
ORGANIZATIONS DOING OUR WORK,
THAT IT IS NOT JUST THE LARGER,
MORE ESTABLISHED ORGANIZATIONS
THAT THE SMALLER COMMUNITY-
BASED GROUPS THAT ARE REALLY
DOING A LOT OF THE FRONT LINE
WORKER ARE ALSO PART OF THESE
SOLUTIONS, SO, THANK YOU FOR
THAT.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR
WORK.
I KNOW THAT SO MUCH OF WHAT YOU
DO PARTICULARLY THE THROUGH
SAFE PASSAGE, I WORKED FOR A
COUPLE OF YEARS WITH RAINIER
BEACH ACTION COALITION.
SO I KNOW THE CORNER GREETER
PROGRAM IS VERY SIMILAR TO SAFE
PASSAGE, AND THAT HAS, AS MARTI
SAID, REALLY HAD AN IMPACT
REDUCING CRIME, I THINK 35%
WAS THE NUMBER I SAW OVER THE
PAST FEW YEARS.
SO WE KNOW THAT THESE PROGRAMS
WORK, AND THAT THEY ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF HELPING OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF
COVID, IT HAS BEEN HARD TO DO
THAT WORK.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING
FOLKS OUT ON THE STREET RIGHT
NOW IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE
ARE ABLE TO DO.
I FEEL THAT IS AT LEAST PART OF
WHY WE HAVE BEEN SEEING AN
INCREASE IN VIOLENCE IN THE
RAINIER BEACH AREA, AND SO I
LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF
THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, YOUR PLANS,
UNTIL WE ARE THROUGH COVID AND
CAN REALLY START TO RAMP BACK
UP.
AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER JUST
COMMENT THAT I WANT TO MAKE,
BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR THE PLANS
FOR THAT RIGHT NOW FIRST.
>> WELL, AS IT RELATES TO --,
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
I LIKE TO RELATE IT TO THE
CURRENT CLIMATE OF COVID WHICH
HAS BEEN EXTREMELY CONFUSING.
WITH THE SOCIAL DISTANCING, ET
CETERA.
BUT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO IS
REALLY BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT
LAYER OF SAFETY IN PLACE, BUT
ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE
SITUATIONS IN CRISIS RESPONSE,
OR AT LEAST ON BEHALF OF THE
PERPETRATORS AND THE VICTIMS,
WHERE THERE IS NOW SOCIAL
DISTANCING FROM, YOU KNOW,
CERTAIN ASPECTS AND THAT SAFETY
PIECE, AT LEAST FROM THAT
PERSPECTIVE, GET THROWN OUT THE
WINDOW.
HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT IS A
VERY, KIND OF, SENSITIVE TOPIC.
WE WILL APPLY ALL CURRENT
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND COVID
STANDARDS.
WE WILL, THOUGH, AT THE SAME
TIME, YOU KNOW, TRAIN OUR STAFF
TO ALSO, YOU KNOW, BE READY TO
RESPOND TO MULTIPLE ASPECTS OF
THE CRISIS RESPONSE WORK WHICH
WOULD BE DONE ON A CONSISTENT
BASIS.
>> THANK YOU.
OH, SORRY, GO AHEAD.
>> SORRY.
I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN
BECAUSE I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE,
I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT OUR
SAFETY TEAMS ARE IN PLACE.
SO IN TERMS OF RAINIER BEACH,
SAFE PASSAGE, AND I JUST WANT
TO CLARIFY, SAFE PASSAGE IS
PART OF THE COLLABORATION AROUND
SAFE PASSAGE SEPARATELY, BUT I
WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS
UNDERSTAND, THE RULES FOR BOTH
OF OUR TEAMS ARE DIFFERENT.
AND SO, SAFE PASSAGE AS PART OF
THIS COLLABORATION IS
ADDRESSING DIRECTLY WITH THE
DISTURBANCES, DE-ESCALATING
THESE SITUATIONS, WHICH IS NOT
THE ROLE OF CORNER GREETERS.
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PART IS CLEAR.
BUT WE HAVE SINCE, SINCE THE
INFLUX OF VIOLENCE THAT HAS
HAPPENED, PARTICULARLY RAINIER
BEACH, STARTED A HEALING SPACE
BACK IN JUNE.
AND SAW THAT WAS TO ADDRESS THE
TWO HOMICIDES THAT TOOK PLACE.
AND FOR OUR PARTNER WHO WE LOST
AT THAT RAINIER BEACH PARKING
LOT SAFETY.
AND SO THAT IS IN RESPONSE TO
THAT AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE
CURRENTLY OPERATING AND ALREADY
RESPONDING.
THIS INITIATIVE ALLOWS FOR US
TO PARTNER AND ALIGN OUR
EFFORTS, SO EVEN IF THERE IS
SUPPORT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT,
HEY, WE NEED THAT MANPOWER, WE
HAVE THAT NOW WITH THE OTHER
PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO COME IN
AND ALIGN OUR EFFORTS IN THAT
WAY.
I THINK IT JUST BUILDS CAPACITY
TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND, AND I
THINK THAT THERE IS ALSO JUST
NOT INFORMATION OUT THERE FOR
FOLKS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE
ALREADY ADDRESSING WHAT'S
HAPPENING, AND THOSE RECENT
SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED IT
AND IT'S HAPPENING WHEN WE ARE
NOT IN THE SPACE.
AND SO WE ARE STRATEGIZING NOW
TO LOOK AT, OKAY, WHEN IS THIS
HAPPENING?
AND I THINK THAT THERE IS THIS
RESPONSE SOMETIMES FROM THE
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE NOT
INVOLVED TO WANT TO BE, YOU
KNOW, REACTIVE AND KIND OF
REINVENT.
WE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE.
OUR TEAM HAS BEEN OUT THERE IN
THE PAYMENT.
RAINIER HENDERSON, OUT THERE IN
THE SAFEWAY PARKING LOT, AND WE
HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH
OUR PARTNERS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD TO ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT
HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC, THERE IS NOWHERE
FOR YOUNGER AND OLDER PEOPLE TO
GO BECAUSE THE BARS AND LOUNGES
ARE CLOSED, AND SO WE ARE
ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
WE ARE INCLUDING THE REST OF
THE SEATTLE SAFETY COMMUNITY
PARTNERS TO HELP IN
STRATEGIZING AROUND THAT.
HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR
QUESTION.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN
GETTING PLENTY FROM OUR
NEIGHBORS IN RAINIER BEACH.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN
AND WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF
MEETINGS SCHEDULED, SO I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS.
THE LAST THING I DO WANT TO SAY
IS, FIRST, I UNDERSTAND IS THIS
PARTICULAR INITIATIVE CAME OUT
OF DISCUSSIONS AROUND YOUTH
VIOLINS AND INTERACTION, SO
THERE IS A PARTICULAR FRAMING
FOR THIS WORK.
AND, I WORRY THAT, AS WE TALK
MORE BROADLY ABOUT COMMUNITY
SAFETY, THAT THAT IS THE ONLY
FRAMING.
AND SO ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE
INTO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM HERE,
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE THINKING
ABOUT COMMUNITY SAFETY, NOT
JUST IN TERMS OF REDUCING GUN
VIOLENCE OR THE CHALLENGES THAT
SOME OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
HAVING, BUT CREATING THE KIND
OF COMMUNITY CONDITIONS THAT
LEAD TO GREATER FOOD SECURITY,
ND MORE EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES AND GREATER
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ALL OF THE THINGS I THINK PAUL
SORT OF RAN THROUGH.
A SIMILAR LIST OF THINGS THAT I
THINK ABOUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT
WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE TRUE
COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND THAT IS
FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND OUR
FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE
IN PLACE.
SO I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT
TAKING TOO NARROWLY ABOUT WHAT
COMMUNITY SAFETY MEANS, EVEN AS
WE SET UP THIS INITIATIVE AND
SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU ARE
ALL DOING.
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT,
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
BECAUSE WE ARE INTENTIONAL
ABOUT THAT FOCUS.
IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT RESPONDING
TO INCIDENTS OR LOOKING AT
INCIDENTS.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE
UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THOSE
INCIDENTS, THAT
MARGINALIZATION, THAT FOOD
SECURITY AND, YOU KNOW, MENTAL
HEALTH, ADDICTION RECOVERY.
ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT LEAD
TO THESE INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE.
úTHANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT
BECAUSE WE ARE INTENTIONAL
ABOUT LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT ASPECTS.
>> AND IF I COULD MAKE ONE MORE
QUICK COMMENT.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, PART OF
WHY I WAS STRUGGLING A LITTLE
BIT WITH THE SLIDES, AND I
THINK IT'S BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND
THE FRAMING FOR THIS, BUT THE
CONTEXT OF THIS WORK, THAT THIS
IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE
VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION WORK PER
SE, THAT CONTEXT ISN'T INCLUDED
IN THE SLIDES, AND SO IT WOULD
BE EASY FOR SOMEONE WHO ISN'T
AWARE OF THE PARTICULAR WORK
YOU ARE DOING HERE TO
MISCONSTRUE, AND I THINK ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY THESE SORTS
OF PRESENTATIONS ARE CRAFTED
AND DRAFTED BY OUR DEPARTMENT,
NOT BY COMMUNITY.
AND SO YOU KNOW, WHEN I SEE
THINGS LIKE TRUSTED
ORGANIZATIONS AND CREDIBLE
ORGANIZATIONS, IF I THINK THAT
OUR DEPARTENTS WHICH ARE VERY
OFTEN QUITE LED ARE SAYING
THINGS ABOUT BLACK LED
ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, THESE
ARE TRUSTED ORGANIZATIONS, IT
MAKES ME FEEL SOME KIND OF WAY.
AND SO, I JUST WANTED TO, YOU
KNOW, SORT OF STATE FOR THE
RECORD THAT WE KNOW THIS IS THE
WORK THAT IS BEING CRAFTED IN A
VERY PARTICULAR WAY FOR A
PARTICULAR REASON, AND I JUST
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND THE
WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.
>> REST ASSURED, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES, MARTI JACKSON AND
PAUL PATU WOULD NEVER LET US
WRITE OUR OWN PRESENTATION.
>> AMEN, AMEN.
>> THEY ACTUALLY REORGANIZED
EVERYTHING TO HIGHLIGHT
COMMUNITY.
SO IN THIS SPACE, THAT'S NEVER
ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE SO, SO OVER TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, DO YOU
HAVE A QUESTION?
>> YEAH, I MEAN, I WILL JUST BE
REALLY BRIEF.
I'M KIND OF CURIOUS BECAUSE I
HAVE NOT THOUGHT ABOUT THIS
BEFORE BUT IT WAS RAISED IN THE
PRESENTATION.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU
EVERYBODY FOR THE WORK THAT HE
WAS DOING.
THIS IS REALLY FUNDAMENTAL TO
BEING A CITY THAT IS INVESTING
IN COMMUNITY LED PROJECTS, AND
I JUST COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED
TO CONTINUE THIS.
WHENEVER WE HAVE A PHONE CALL,
I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
WHEN YOU ARE ON THE SCHEDULE
BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT SOME REALLY
IMPACTFUL STUFF.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT AT THE
BEGINNING.
IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER WHEN
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
SAFETY TEAMS, THERE WAS A
REFERENCE TO THE SAFETY TEAM
TRAINING.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE PAST
JUST TO ASK EXACTLY WHAT THE
TRAINING ENTAILS.
SO I THOUGHT I'D JUST ASK THAT
HERE IN TERMS OF THE
COMBINATION OF TRAINING AND
EXPERIENCE THAT GOES INTO BEING
A SAFETY TEAM MEMBER, JUST OUT
OF CURIOSITY.
THAT'S IT, AND I DON'T THINK
I'LL HAVE A FOLLOW-UP IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME, COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS DYNAMIC.
THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF
EXPERTISE.
THE TRAININGS WERE IN PART AN
INVESTMENT FIRM, YOU KNOW,
DIFFERENT MODELS, RIGHT?
SO THE FIRST THING TYPICAL OF
THE CITY IS, YOU FIND THE
EXPERTS, AND THEN YOU SEND
PEOPLE TO GO GET TRAINED IN
THEM.
SO THAT HAS BEEN KIND OF THE
PATHWAY, RIGHT?
SO THE INVESTMENT FOR CRITICAL
INCIDENT RESPONSE WHICH COMES
OUT OF SHAW HEIGHTS AND SAFETY
PROTOCOL, WHICH AKIL BASHIR
TRAINS ON AND CHANTEL AND I
HAVE OUR OWN TRAINING AND
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE AROUND
THIS WORK AS WELL.
AND SO THE CULMINATION OF THE
TRAINING IS REALLY, YOU KNOW,
FROM OUR CACHET OF EXPERIENCE
AND EXPERTS IN THE FIELDS
RELATED TO, YOU REFERRED TO
VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION.
THAT IS A MODEL OUT OF CEASE-
FIRE OUT OF CHICAGO.
IF YOU WILL, AND PLANT YOURSELF
FROM THE MODELS, AND REALLY
KIND OF TRUST THE LEADERS THAT
HAVE ABSORBED THE MODELS ON
BEHALF OF OUR CONTEXT.
EVERY CITY IS GOING TO BE
DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE GOING TO LEARN BEST
PRACTICES IF YOU WANT, BUT THE
REALITY IS, IT TAKES
PRACTITIONERS FROM THE
COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT THINGS
ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE EMPHASIS IS REALLY ABOUT
PEOPLE CHANGING PEOPLE, YOU
KNOW?
AND BEING ABLE TO EMPOWER BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
AND I WILL REFERENCE AN OLD
ADAGE FROM THE BLACK PANTHER
ERA, IN 2020, WE HAVE TO BE
ABOUT TRAINING ANYONE, ANY
YOUNG PERSON THAT COMES IN OUR
PATHWAY, AND REALLY LIVE INTO
INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP AND
INDIGENOUS WAYS.
THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK
YOU.
>> YOU ARE MUTED.
>> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> OKAY, I WANT TO CLOSE OUT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
THANK YOU ALL OF THE OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US
PRESENT TO YOU GUYS.
I WANT TO SAY THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE.
YOU GUYS ARE PART OF THIS
COMMUNITY.
YOU GUYS ARE PART OF THE
COMMUNITY AND HAVE ALL WORKED
TOGETHER.
SO, LET'S MEET IN THE MIDDLE
AND HEAL OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
>> WHAT'S THE HASHTAG?
>> HASHTAG, COMMUNITY HEALING
COMMUNITY.
>> HASHTAG, MOVE TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING
TIME OUT TO SHARE YOUR
IMPORTANT WORK.
I APPRECIATE HEARING SOME
ECHOES OF THE IMPORTANT WORK
THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY
INVESTMENTS IN THE CITY, SUCH
AS THE SEATTLE YOUTH VIOLENCE
INITIATIVE.
I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF
FRUSTRATION AROUND THE CHANGES
AROUND THAT INITIATIVE TO MOVE
AWAY FROM A SIMILAR MODEL WE
ARE GOING BACK TO NOW WHICH IS
REALLY FOCUSED ON LEARNING AND
BENEFITING FROM THE EXPERTISE
OF THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO
BREAKING DOWN SILOS AND
ENCOURAGING COLLABORATION.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, I
DON'T NEED THEM ANSWERED NOW,
BUT I LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
HOW REFERRALS ARE RECEIVED TO
SCSI.
HOW THE COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT
YOUR WORK, HOW THEY CALL YOU,
AND HOW TO PRIORITIZE YOUR
REFERRALS.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW
MORE ABOUT HOW YOUR COMMUNITY
OR WORK IS COMMUNICATED TO THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
FINALLY, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS
ABOUT CONTRACT PERFORMANCE
MEASURES THAT I KNOW CHRISTINA
AND MY OFFICE CAN FOLLOW UP ON.
AND WITH THAT, AGAIN, MANY,
MANY THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR
THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU
GUYS ARE DOING IN THE
COMMUNITY, DOING WHAT YOU DO,
AND LIFTING UP AND DEVELOPING
LEADERSHIP IN THE EFFORT TO
MAKE SAFER COMMUNITIES.
SO WITH THAT, ALEX, CAN YOU READ
ITEM NUMBER THREE INTO THE
AGENDA?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE,
COMMUNITY CAPACITY INVESTMENT
PROCESS.
>> SO THE LAST ITEM WE HEARD IS
HOW THEY WERE ALLOCATING $4
MILLION IN FUNDING THAT THE
COUNCIL IDENTIFIED FOR THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE, AN INITIATIVE
DEVELOPED BY OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS.
THEY CAME TO US AND SAID, HEY,
WE WANT SUPPORT IN FUNDING THIS
INITIATIVE.
AND SO WHAT WE JUST HEARD IS
HOW THOSE DOLLARS WERE YOU USED
AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE
USED.
BUT WE ARE HEARING NOW IS A
VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION ON
ANOTHER PART OF DOLLARS THAT
THE COUNCILS PUT ASIDE IN THE
2020, REBALANCING PACKAGE.
AND AGAIN, WORKING TO TRY TO
REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON
TRADITIONAL POLICING. AND THIS
IS THE COMMUNITY CAPACITY
PROCESS.
THOSE INVESTMENTS HAVE NOT GONE
OUT THE DOOR YET BUT I'VE
INVITED HST TO GIVE US A SHORT
BRIEFING ON WHAT THE PROGRESS
IS AND THE STATUS IS FOR
GETTING THOSE DOLLARS OUT THE
DOOR AND DEVELOPING THIS
PARTICULAR PROGRAM WHICH I
THINK IS REALLY, HAS
FOUNDATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF
CREATING SAFER COMMUNITIES IN A
MORE BROADWAY THAN AS COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES WAS REFLECTING
ON, THE VIOLENCE REDUCTION
VERSUS SAFER COMMUNITIES.
I THINK THIS WAS INTENDED TO BE
A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A BROADER
LOOK AT WHAT MAKES SAFE
COMMUNITIES.
MAYOR WASHINGTON, ARE YOU GOING
TO TAKE IT AWAY FOR US?
>> I WAS WRITING DOWN WHAT YOU
SAID, THE THANKS FOR BRINGING
US BACK THIS IS A SHORT
OVERVIEW ON THE $12 MILLION
THAT WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY HS
THE.
AND SO, I BELIEVE THAT TANYA
KIM, ARE YOU WALKING US THROUGH
THIS PRESENTATION?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
HELEN IS GOING TO SHARE WITH
YOU WHAT WE ARE GOING TO GO
OVER AND I WILL TAKE IT AWAY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, A FEW
WEEKS AGO, WE FORWARDED TO
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD A MEMO
THAT PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF
THE STATUS OF THE COMMUNITY
SAFETY BUILDING INVESTMENT ,
AND SO AS COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR
HAS STATED, WE ARE JUST
PRESENTING AN OVERVIEW FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE
VIEWING PUBLIC TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE COUNCIL APPROVED 2021
INVESTMENT PROCESS WHICH
INCLUDES THE $12 MILLION FOR
SCALING UP COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION.
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE
ENTIRE COUNCIL FOR YOUR
CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP ON THIS
WORK, AND I WILL NOW TURN IT
OVER TO TONYA.
>> OKAY, THIS WILL BE QUICK AND
DIRTY.
WITH $12 MILLION, I JUST WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF KEY
ASPECT OF THE BUDGET.
BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, YOU KNOW,
JUST TO REITERATE THE COMMUNITY
AND SAFETY INVESTMENT, WE ARE
REALLY GOING FOR A BROADER
úAPPROACH, AND THERE ARE TWO
BENEFITS THAT I WANTED TO
UNDERSCORE.
ONE IS THAT WE ARE GETTING NEW
OR EXPANDED SERVICES, AND THEN
SECONDLY, MORE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WE SUPPORT, WE
WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE CAUSES
FOR PROVIDING BETTER SECURITY
COMMUNITY, RESILIENCE, AND
VITALITY.
SO WE ARE ZOOMING OUT A LITTLE
BIT FROM THE PRESENTATION THAT
WE JUST HEARD PREVIOUSLY.
WITH THE BUDGET OF 12 MILLION,
WE ARE ESTIMATING THAT THERE
WILL BE 1 MILLION AT $10.4
MILLION IN CONTRACTS TO
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
OR GROUPS TO PROVIDE THESE NEW
OR EXPANDED SERVICES, AND THERE
WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 50%.
WE ARE UP TO 1.6 MILLION FOR
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, SUCH AS
THINGS LIKE EXTERNAL
EVALUATORS, TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, STATEMENTS FOR THE
RAIDERS WITH THE REQUEST FOR
PROPOSAL PROCESS, ET CETERA.
WE ARE NOT GETTING INTO THE
NITTY-GRITTY OF THE RFP BECAUSE
WE ARE DEVELOPING IT.
THOSE THAT KNOW OUR REQUEST FOR
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
YOU KNOW WE START WITH
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AT THIS TIME, HSD IS ACTIVELY
DEVELOPING THE PROPOSAL,
GUIDELINES, AND APPLICATION.
REST ASSURED, WE ARE USING
EXISTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PROCURED,
THAT YOU ARE PROCURING,
EVERYBODY'S PROCURING.
WE ARE TAKING THE ANALYSIS
INTO CONSIDERATION, BUT FOR
THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE
ARE HONING IN ON THE NEEDS OF
CAPACITY BUILDING SPECIFIC.
AND SO WITH THAT, WE ARE HAVING
ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS, SMALL-
GROUP CONVERSATIONS TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE CAPACITY
BUILDING NEEDS ARE FOR OUR
SAFETY PROVIDERS AND IT REALLY
IS ALONG THE SPECTRUM.
CONVERSATIONS I COMMUNITY,
ACADEMIC EXPERTS, SO I WANT TO
ENSURE YOU THAT WE ARE TALKING
WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE,
SPECIFICALLY THE REGIONAL
APPROACH TO GUN VIOLENCE, AND
ITS IMPACT ON YOUTH WORK GROUP,
CITIES UNITED, AND THE OTHERS.
HSD WILL ASK OUR COMMUNITY
PROVIDERS MANY QUESTIONS
CONDUCT SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS,
WE DO WANT TO ASK THEM TO SEE
WHERE THEY SEE THEMSELVES
WITHIN THE SAFETY CONTINUUM,
OR, IN WHAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR
WITH.
SO, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT
PREVENTION, CRISIS RESPONSE,
INTERVENTION.
WHERE DO THEY SEE THEIR
PROGRAMMING OR WHERE DO THEY
SEE THEMSELVES?
SECONDLY, WE WANT TO KNOW HOW
THEY WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A
COMMUNITY LED PUBLIC SERVICE OR
SOLUTION.
THIRD, WE ARE INTERESTED TO
KNOW WHETHER THE RESPONSE WOULD
REPLACE A POLICE FUNCTION OR BE
PROVIDED AS A CO-RESPONSE WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND LASTLY, ONE OF THE KNOWN
QUESTIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO
ASK IS, IF THERE SERVICE WOULD
BE A RESPONSE TO VIOLENT OR
NONVIOLENT CRIME.
SO WE ARE GOING TO REALLY HAVE A
STRONGER LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS,
AND OUR PLAN IS TO COME BACK TO
COUNCIL WITH SOME INFORMATION
IN FEBRUARY.
AS WE ARE AKIN TO BEING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE RFP.
SO, I TALK A LOT ABOUT THE RFP.
IT IS THE WAY THAT WE ARE DOING
BE COMPETITIVE FUNDING PROCESS.
AND SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE
FOCUSING ON SCALING OF THE
EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS.
WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO SAVE
THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEN
EXPLORE NEW STRATEGIES.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WITH
INCREASED CAPACITY, IT MEANS
MORE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE.
CAPACITY BUILDING, AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE, IS A BROAD DEFINITION,
BUT WE CAN IMAGINE EVERY
ORGANIZATION AND EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD IS DIFFERENT, AND
SO WE CAN EXPECT REQUESTS FOR
THINGS LIKE STAFFING SUPPORT,
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, A
TRAINING AROUND DATABASE, ET
CETERA.
PROPOSALS WILL BE REVIEWED BY A
PANEL OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND
THAT COMMUNITY MEMBER OR GROUP
WILL MAKE FUNDING
RECOMMENDATION TO OUR
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
AND LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO NOTE
THAT WE DO KNOW THERE IS
URGENCY TO RELEASE THESE FUNDS
AS SUCH THE RFP WILL BE
RELEASED MARCH 1st.
PROPOSALS ARE DUE APRIL 9th.
AWARDS WILL BE ANNOUNCED MAY
13th, AND CONTRACTS WILL BEGIN
JULY 1st.
AND WE'VE SKIPPED AHEAD BY
SHOWING YOU A SLIDE THAT
DEMONSTRATES THAT AS WELL,
REALLY, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT
KNOW OUR DEPARTMENT, THIS IS
EXPEDITED AND WE'VE GOT ALL
HANDS ON DECK.
GOING BACK TO THE PERFORMANCE
MEASURES, JUST A QUICK NOTE TO
SAY THAT I KNOW THAT IS OF
INTEREST.
IT IS OF INTEREST TO THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND SO ONCE THE AWARDS ARE
MADE, WE ARE GOING TO BE
WORKING WITH PROVIDERS TO
IDENTIFY THE PERFORMANCE
METRICS.
BECAUSE IT IS CAPACITY
BUILDING, ORGANIZATIONS ARE
GOING TO BE IN DIFFERENT
PLACES.
WE MAY START WITH SOME INITIAL
PERFORMANCE METRICS, FOR
EXAMPLE, THINGS LIKE THE
INCREASED SERVICES OR THE
PERCENTAGE OF INCREASED
CAPACITY AS DEMONSTRATED BY
SOMETHING LIKE THE IMPROVEMENT
OF MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT BUT AT
THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO
BRING OUR CHILDREN TOGETHER
ALONG WITH OTHER INVESTMENTS TO
WORK WITH AN EXTERNAL EVALUATOR
TEAM TO SUPPORT THE COHORT IN
THEIR COMMUNITY LED EVALUATION
PROCESS.
AND SO TOGETHER, WE WILL AGREE
ON THE OUTCOMES WE ARE TRYING
TO ACCOMPLISH STARTING WITH
SHORT-TERM SUCCESS THAT WILL
LEAD US TO LONG-TERM SUCCESS,
AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING SOME
COMMON WAYS TO MEASURE IT.
AND THOSE JUST MISSING BACK TO
THAT TIMELINE, UNDERSCORING
AGAIN, SOME KEY DATES.
AND THE NEXT STEP FOR US IS TO
RETURN BACK TO COUNCIL WITH
SOME INFORMATION WITH OUR
PRELIMINARY LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS
AND PROGRESS REPORT, AT WHICH
TIME YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE OUR
SPENDING PLAN TO LIFT THE
REPRISALS.
FROM THERE, YOU CAN SEE WE ARE
GOING TO RELEASE THE REQUEST
FOR PROPOSAL IN MARCH, AND WE
ARE GOING TO GET US TO A JULY
1st CONTRACT START.
AND THAT IS OUR BRIEF UPDATE.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE
DETAIL IN THE MEMO THAT IS ALSO
PROVIDED.
WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE?
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REALLY, FOR SHE IS THE STATUS
UPDATE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT
TIMELINE ALLOWS FOR CONTINUED
COUNCIL ENGAGEMENT , AND
REQUIRES IT, BECAUSE THERE IS A
PROVISO INCLUDED THAT WE HAVE
TO ACT WITH IN ORDER FOR THESE
DOLLARS TO CONTRACTOR COUNCIL
MEMBER MOREL, I SEE YOUR HAND
IS UP.
OR IS THAT FROM BEFORE?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU.
THIS SORT OF GOES BACK TO THE
POINT I WAS MAKING BEFORE WHICH
IS THAT I'M A LITTLE BIT
CONCERNED ABOUT THE FRAMING OR
THE PRIORITY HERE, SEEMING TO
BE AROUND VIOLENT AND
NONVIOLENT CRIME, RATHER THAN
THINKING ABOUT COMMUNITY SAFETY
AND PUBLIC SAFETY AS BROADER
AND THAT.
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M LOOKING
AT THIS DIAGRAM ONE ABOUT THE
SAFETY CONTINUUM, THERE IS, IT
LOOKS LIKE PREVENTION, AND WHAT
I THINK OF AS SOME OF THOSE
BROADER COMMUNITY SAFETY
CONDITIONS IS NOT INCLUDED IN
THIS.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU
COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THAT QUESTION.
>> WELL, PART OF THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT THAT I MENTIONED IS,
WE ARE GOING TO BE SHARING THAT
DIAGRAM, AND WHAT YOU ARE
REFERRING TO WE DON'T HAVE ON
THE DATA DECK FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, BUT IT IS IN THE MEMO.
AND WE ARE GOING TO ASK
PROVIDERS, OR JUST AS WE
CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, WHERE THEY
SEE THEMSELVES ALONG THAT
CONTINUUM, WHETHER IT IS CRISIS
RESPONSE, ET CETERA.
AND ONCE WE GET SOME GOOD
INFORMATION, IT IS, WHERE DO WE
SEE SOME GAPS AND WHERE MIGHT
WE OFTEN FOCUS?
OR, WHERE THERE IS A PARTICULAR
NEED BASED ON WHAT WE ARE
HEARING.
AND SO FOR THE CONVERSATION
AROUND SAFETY, YOU ARE RIGHT,
THAT PREVENTION LOOKS LIKE IT IS
HANGING OFF THE SIDE, BUT, IT
DEPENDS ON HOW WE ARE DEFINING
PREVENTION AS WELL.
ARE WE TALKING UPSTREAM, WHERE
WE WANT HIGH-QUALITY ACCESS TO
UNIVERSITY PRESCHOOL?
OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SOME
IMMEDIATE PREVENTION
INTERVENTIONS THAT MIGHT
SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT
FURTHER ENGAGE?
AND SO, THAT SOMETHING WE WILL
FURTHER DEFINE.
BUT YOUR COMMENT IS NOTED AND
WE'VE DEFINITELY GOT THAT DOWN
IN MIND.
THANKS.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU.
AND I WANTED TO ADD A LITTLE
BIT, TOO.
I THINK THE CANCEL'S BUDGET
ACTION THAT ALIGNS WITH THIS
PARTICULAR FUNDING TALKS ABOUT
COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND AGAIN, I
THINK IT IS BROADER THAN THE
DISCUSSION WE JUST HAD AROUND,
THAT'S VERY FOCUSED ON VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION, BUT MAY NOT BE
QUITE AS BROAD AS MAYBE WE WOULD
IN RETROSPECT LIKE FOR THIS
ITEM, BUT, THE ACTION ITSELF
ASKED HSD TO MAKE A PROPOSED
SPENDING PLAN, ORGANIZED AROUND
THE INTERCEPT MODEL FRAMEWORK
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO, THIS OF INVESTING IN WHAT'S
CALLED INTERCEPT 0% IS THE
KINDS OF THINGS THAT WILL MAKE
IT LESS LIKELY THAT SOMEBODY
HAS ANY INTERACTION WITH THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
I'M REALLY EAGER TO SEE IS WHAT
THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOR THE
COMMUNITY ON HOW MUCH TO INVEST
IN EACH INTERCEPT.
BECAUSE I THINK, I LIKE YOU
COUNCIL MEMBER MOREL IS, WE ARE
GOING TO SEE A LOT OF INTEREST
IN FUNDING, INTERCEPT ZERO
ELEMENTS OF THIS TIMELINE.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS JUST DIPPING
OUR TOE IN ON THIS INVESTMENT,
AND I APPRECIATE THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM HS THE AS
IT RELATES TO THE TIMELINE
AROUND GETTING THESE DOLLARS
OUT.
MY SENSE OF URGENCY IS IN THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNCIL'S
SENSE OF URGENCY.
WE VOTING THREE TIMES ON THIS
FUNDING BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND
SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, FIRST
IN A PRISON COUNCIL MEMBER --
IN OUR 2020 PROCESS, OVERTURNING
THE VETO OF IT AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS WITHIN THE
2021 BUDGET.
AND SO, THERE WAS AN
EXPECTATION THAT HSD WOULD
BEGIN SOME OF THE WORK AROUND
DEVELOPING THE RFP IN 2020 AND
NOT WAITING UNTIL THE START OF
THE NEW YEAR.
AND SO, I THINK THE SENSE OF
URGENCY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
COUNCIL'S ACTIONS IN THE PAST
AND WHAT WE'VE EXPRESSED
BEFORE.
BUT I KNOW HSD WILL DO THE BEST
IT CAN WITH -- WITHIN THE
CONFINES AND CONTEXT OF WHERE
WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT.
>> CAN I JUST ASK HER REALLY
QUICK, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER
MOREL IS, YOU ARE RIGHT.
IN THE WORDS OF DR. MARSHALL
WHO CREATED THE ALIVE AND FREE
METHOD, HE SEES THE COMMUNITY
AS A SYSTEM, AND IT IS EITHER A
WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEM OR STRONG
IMMUNE SYSTEM.
WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE
SYSTEM OF THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T THINK AS A BLACK WOMAN,
I MEAN, I THINK YOU ARE SPOT ON
IN TERMS OF WE DON'T WANT TO BE
SEEN AS PROBLEMS TO BE FIXED.
IF YOU INVEST IN STRENGTHENING
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OVER TIME,
YOU WILL DECREASE RELIANCE ON
POLICE INTERACTION.
SO I THINK USING A STRENGTHS
BASED APPROACH MAY LAND BETTER
AS WELL WITH COMMUNITY, WHEN WE
DO OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO
JUST SAY, WHAT NEEDS TO BE
STRENGTHENED TO ENSURE THAT YOU
ARE BETTER OFF FIVE YEARS FROM
NOW?
SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT, AND COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD, YOU CAN DO BOTH.
IT IS REDEFINING COMMUNITY
SAFETY, RIGHT?
GIVE US THE RESOURCES WE NEED
TO THRIVE.
>> RIGHT.
AND THAT'S WHAT CAPACITY
BUILDING IS ALL ABOUT.
IT IS ABOUT MOVING FROM A PLACE
OF RECOGNIZING WHAT THE
STRENGTHS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE
AND DOUBLING DOWN IN OUR
INVESTMENTS.
SO, ABSOLUTELY.
>> START, I WAS JUST GOING TO
SAY REALLY QUICKLY, THANK YOU,
DEPUTY MAYOR WASHINGTON FOR
THOSE REFLECTIONS.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT.
AND WHAT I WAS GOING TO OFFER
IN TERMS OF THE SORT OF FRAMING
OF THE ISSUE HERE IS, I THINK
RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A LITTLE
BIT OF A BOTH AND WORLD.
LIKE, THERE IS A NEED TO ENGAGE
IN PREVENTION WORK THERE IS A
NEED TO ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE
INTERRUPTION WORK AND I'M NOT
HEARING ANYONE SUGGEST THAT WE
MOVE AWAY FROM DOING THOSE
STRATEGIES.
AND SO I DON'T WANT TO END
TODAY'S PRESENTATION WITH SORT
OF YOU ALL WALKING AWAY WITH
THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WANT YOU
TO DO LESS OF THOSE THINGS,
BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT
COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS THOSE
THINGS AS WELL.
AND DO APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY ON THE FRONT END,
YOU KNOW, JUST MENTIONED THAT
IN READING YOUR MEMO ON PAGE
THREE, IT DOES TALK ABOUT THOSE
VIOLENCE PREVENTION ISSUES,
THAT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY
INDICATORS AT THE MACRO LEVEL
IN TERMS OF METRICS, BUT WE
WILL SEE DECREASE IN VIOLENCE
AGAINST YOUNG ADULTS, DECREASE
IN 911 CALLS, DECREASE IN
VIOLENT CRIMES, DECREASING
INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE,
DECREASED RECIDIVISM, BUT THEN
IT ALSO STARTS TALKING ABOUT THE
THINGS THAT WE DO WANT TO SEE
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, NOT ON
THE DEFICIT SIDE, WHICH ARE
INCREASED RESILIENCY STRATEGIES
LIKE MENTORSHIP, CULTURAL
ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING, AND INCREASING
FEELINGS OF CONNECTEDNESS,
HEALTH, AND HOPE AS REPORTED BY
THE YOUTH HEALTH SURVEY AND
OTHERS AND AN INCREASE IN
PREVENTIONS OF SAFETY.
AND I THINK THAT IS THE
UPSTREAM STRATEGIES THAT WE
WOULD LIKE TO SEE INVESTED IN
MORE SIGNIFICANTLY CAN BE
BOLSTERED IN THE METRICS THAT
WE ARE LOOKING FOR, RIGHT?
SO, MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS A
BALANCE THERE.
THERE IS A LOT OF THE DECREASED
LANGUAGE IN THERE AND A LOT
LESS OF THE, WHAT WE WANT TO
SEE INCREASED LANGUAGE IN THE
MEMO THAT IS LAYING OUT THE
STRATEGIES.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO SEE SOME
OF THOSE STRATEGIES THAT ARE
FRAMED IN THE POSITIVE, AND THE
STRENGTH BASED CONTEXT.
HOW CAN WE CREATE GREATER
BALANCE ON THAT SIDE OF THE
LEDGER'S SO THAT FOLKS
UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE LOOKING
AT IT IN A BALANCED WAY, BOTH
UPSTREAM, BUT ALSO DEALING WITH
THE REALITY OF NEEDING TO
DECREASE SOME OF THESE OTHER
NEGATIVE THINGS THAT WE ARE
SEEING HAPPEN IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT DOING CONTINUE TO NEED A
RESPONSE AND INTERACTION OF
OTHERS.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THIS IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION AND APPRECIATE THE
WORK HSD IS DOING IN THE
COMMUNITY AND REALLY AM SO VERY
HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL FOR THE
WORK THE COMMUNITY IS DOING.
ALEX, CAN YOU PLEASE READ ITEM
4 IN THE AGENDA AND LET FOLKS
KNOW NOW THAT WE ARE NOT GOING
TO GET TO ITEM 5 ON THE AGENDA
TODAY?
ALEX?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR,
DISCUSSION OF LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS, DRAFT BILL, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS ON DRAFT BILL
FOR DISCUSSION.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO, THIS IS THE FOURTH MEETING
OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE ON LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS.
ON SEPTEMBER 11th, THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION,
INSPECTOR GENERAL, AND THE
OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNT
ABILITY EACH PRESENTED THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS AS IT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO THE BILL THAT
THE COUNCIL PASSED BACK IN
JUNE.
ON DECEMBER 17th, THERE WAS A
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH THE
ACCOUNTABILITIES PRESENT AS
WELL AS SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT PRESENT.
ON JANUARY 12, THE COMMITTEE
CONSIDERED A DRAFT BILL THAT
AMENDED THE BILL ADOPTED BY THE
COUNCIL BACK IN JUNE, BASED ON
SOME OF THE CONSENSUS
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE THREE
ACCOUNTABILITY BODIES.
AND THEN WE CONSIDERED A
DECISION AGENDA FOR THE
ACCOUNTABILITY BODIES HAD
VARIED RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE INTENT FOR TODAY IS FOR THE
COMMITTEE TO VOTE, WHICH WILL
IN ESSENCE BE A RECOMMENDATION.
AGAIN, THE COUNCIL'S LEGAL
COUNCIL WOULD THEN SEND THE
DRAFT LEGISLATION TO THE
MONITOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE IN LINE WITH THE
PROCESS DESCRIBED IN THE
CONSENT DECREE AND REQUIRED BY
JUDGE ROBART IN HIS TEMPORARY
RETAINING ORDER.
UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE, THE
COURT ORDERED THE CLIENT UP
POINTED MONITOR CAN APPROVE THE
PROPOSAL OR DETERMINED THAT
CONFLICTS WITH THE TERMS OF THE
CONSENT DECREE AGREEMENT.
IF THE CITY OR THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE OBJECT TO THE
MONITOR'S DETERMINATION, THEY
CAN MEET AND CONFER WITH THE
MONITOR.
AND IF THEY CHOOSE, PETITION
THE COURT.
ULTIMATELY, THE COURT APPROVAL
IS NEEDED FOR AN ORDINANCE TO
GO INTO EFFECT.
IF WE DON'T HAVE COURT
APPROVAL, WE WILL NOT HAVE A
REGULATION RELATED TO THE USE
OF LESS LETHAL WEAPONS.
SO ULTIMATELY, APPROVAL IS
NEEDED AND FULL COUNCIL ACTION
WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER THE
COMPLETION OF THE CONSENT DECREE
PROCESS.
OF COURSE, THIS IS VERY
DIFFERENT THAN THE STANDARD
PROCESS FOR LEGISLATION LAID
OUT UNDER THE CHARTER, AND
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CONSENT
DECREE, THE COUNCIL CANNOT
OVERRIDE THE DECISION OF THE
MONITOR OR COURT ON LEGISLATION
REGARDING THE USE OF FORCE.
JUDGE ROBART SPECIFICALLY
EXPRESSED AN INTENT IN HEARING
FROM THE THREE ACCOUNT ABILITY
BODIES AS DID THE COUNCIL IN
THE ORDINANCE THAT WE PASSED IN
JUNE, AND THIS IS A KEY REASON
THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS MET
TWICE TO HEAR, DISCUSS, AND ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
ACCOUNTABILITY RECOMMENDATION.
ACCOUNTABILITY BODY MUST GIVE
RECOMMENDATION.
AND THAT'S WHY THE DISCUSSION
TDAY AND IN PAST MEETINGS HAS
BEEN STRUCTURED SPECIFICALLY
AROUND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AGAIN, IN THE JULY TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER, I THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF
SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT JUDGE
ROBART MADE WHEN HE ISSUED THIS
RESTRAINING ORDER PROHIBITING
THIS FROM GOING INTO EFFECT.
HE WAS CRITICAL OF THE
ORDINANCE ADOPTED IN JUNE BY
THE COUNCIL, SAYING IT DOES NOT
INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY.
GIVEN THAT FOR ANY COUNCIL
LEGISLATION REGARDING THE USE
OF FORCE TO GO INTO EFFECT WE
HAVE TO NOTE THIS PERSPECTIVE,
WE HAVE TO KEEP IT IN MIND,
BECAUSE IT COULD BE A SIGNAL
THAT HE WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO
AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATION
ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL LAST
JUNE.
SO IDEALLY, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO TAKE UP THIS
LEGISLATION FOR ACTION DURING
2020, AFTER THE JULY
RESTRAINING ORDER WAS PUT INTO
PLACE.
HOWEVER, DUE TO THE NEED TO
REVISE THE 2020 BUDGET DUE TO
THE PANIC AND THEN THE REGULAR
TWO MONTH 2021 BUDGET PROCESS,
ONLY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS
BEEN ABLE TO HOLD HEARINGS, AND
WE'VE JUST BEEN ABLE TO GET TO
THIS THIS YEAR.
I JUST WANT TO ALSO ADDRESS
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE
HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SOMEBODY REFERRED TO THE WAY
THAT THE TRO WAS PUT INTO PLACE.
IT IS IMPORTANT I THINK TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE COURT
REJECTED THE MOTION OF THE
MAYOR AND CHIEF, AND THE TRO
WAS PUT INTO PLACE IN RESPONSE
TO A MOTION BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE.
SO, I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE
SUGGESTING THAT THE REASON WE
HAVE A TRO IN PLACE IS BECAUSE
OF AN ACTION TAKEN BY THE MAYOR,
AND THAT IS NOT ACCURATE
ACCORDING TO THE RECORD OF HOW
WE GOT HERE.
I HAVE HEARD MANY PEOPLE REFER
TO THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS
CONVENTION ADOPTED BY THE
UNITED NATIONS, AND THE
PROHIBITIONS AGAINST THE USE OF
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS, THAT HAVE
CHEMICAL IRRITANTS, THOSE
CONVENTIONS DO SPECIFY THAT
PURPOSE IS NOT PROHIBITED UNDER
THE CONVENTION INCLUDES LAW
ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING DOMESTIC
RIOT CONTROL PURPOSES.
AND I THINK WHAT OUR PURPOSE
HERE TODAY IS TO REALLY WORK TO
TIGHTEN CURRENT SPD POLICY ABOUT
HOW THEY INTERPRET THE RIGHT TO
USE THESE WEAPONS IN DOMESTIC
RIOT CONTROL PURPOSES.
AND SO WITH THAT, I THINK I WANT
TO HAND IT OVER TO CENTRAL
STAFF, TALK US THROUGH A
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
LISE KAYE, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT MY CAMERA
WHICH WORKED WHEN I LOGGED IN
THIS MORNING DECIDED TO STOP
WORKING.
I'M GOING TO TEST TO SEE IF I
CAN SHARE MY SCREEN.
FOR SOME REASON, I CAN'T.
I SENT THE PRESENTATION SO THAT
I CAN RUN IT.
I'M JUST A LITTLE ANNOYED HERE,
BUT LET'S TRY SHARING MY SCREEN
HERE.
LET'S SEE WHETHER YOU CAN SEE
THAT.
IS THAT COMING UP FOR YOU ALL?
>> YES, IT IS.
>> THAT'S GRAND.
OKAY, EVERYTHING IS GOOD THEN.
ALL RIGHT, SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
WITH YOUR PERMISSION THEN, I'M
GOING TO BRING UP WHAT WAS IN
THE BASE BILL, WHAT WAS IN THE
REVISED SPACE BILL, AND HOW
THESE COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE THAT IS SUBJECT TO
THAT TEMPORARY RESTRAINING
ORDER.
ACTUALLY, TEMPORARY INJUNCTION
AT THIS POINT.
SO, I'M GOING TO SKIP FORWARD
HERE.
SO, TAKING YOU BACK TO YOUR
DECEMBER 17th COMMITTEE
MEETING, THE COMMITTEE
DISCUSSED A BASE BILL THAT WAS
BUILT AROUND FOUR AREAS OF
CONSENSUS FROM THE THREE
ACCOUNTABILITY AGENCIES. THOSE
WERE THE COMMUNITY PUBLIC -- ON
SARCOMA COMMUNITY POLICE
DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL AND OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THREE OF THE AREAS OF CONSENSUS
WERE TO ALLOW SPECIFIC, NON-
CROWD CONTROL USES OF PEPPER
SPRAY, 40 MILLIMETER LAUNCHERS,
AND NOISE FLASH DEVICES.
BEFORE THE AREA OF CONSENSUS
WAS TO BAN CONTROL USE OF TEAR
GAS, AND THERE'S AN ASTERISK ON
THIS BECAUSE IT MEANS WE
DRAFTED THE BASE BILL AS A
COMPLETE BAN ON TEARGAS BECAUSE
THERE WAS NOT CONSENSUS AMONG
THE ACCOUNT ABILITY AGENCIES
FOR WHAT A PARTIAL BAN WOULD
LOOK LIKE.
THIS IS GOING TO MAKE MORE
SENSE TO YOU A LITTLE LATER IN
THE PRESENTATION.
AT YOUR JANUARY 12th COMMITTEE
MEETING, YOU DISCUSSED WHETHER
YOU'D WANT TO EXPAND THE BASE
BILL BEYOND THESE AREAS OF
CONSENSUS.
AND THAT DISCUSSION HAS
INFORMED WHAT WE ARE CALLING
THE REVISED BASE BILL.
THE REVISED BILL THEN WOULD BAN
SOME LESS LETHAL WEAPONS AND
WOULD IMPOSE CONDITIONS ON THE
USE OF OTHERS.
SO I'M GOING TO WALK YOU
THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO, AS TO THE LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS THAT WOULD BE BANNED,
THE REVISED BASE BILL WOULD BAN
40 MILLIMETER LAUNCHERS WHEN
USED TO DEPLOY CHEMICAL
IRRITANTS FROM CROWD CONTROL IN
ANY DEMONSTRATION.
IT WOULD BAN NOISE FLASH
DIVERSIONARY DEVICES FOR ANY
CROWD CONTROL OR DEMONSTRATION.
IT WOULD BAN TEARGAS OR
CHEMICAL IRRITANTS AND PEPPER
SPRAY, AND BANNED ACOUSTIC
WEAPONS, DIRECTED ENERGY
WEAPONS, WATER CANNONS,
DISORIENTATION DEVICES,
INCLUDING BLAST BALLS,
ULTRASONIC CANNONS, AND ANY
OTHER DEVICE PRIMARILY DESIGNED
TO BE USED ON MULTIPLE
INDIVIDUALS FOR CROWD CONTROL
AND TO CAUSE PAIN OR DISCOMFORT.
>> LISA, I'M CONFUSED ABOUT,
AND ITEM 4, ABOUT THE EXCEPTION
FOR NOISE FLASH DIVERSIONARY
DEVICES AS NOT BEING BANNED.
AND I UNDERSTAND AS EXPLAINED
IN NUMBER TWO, THAT THEY ARE
BANNED IN THE REVISED BASE BILL.
>> THEY ARE BANNED.
THERE ARE SOME CONDITIONS THAT
ARE BEING ESTABLISHED THAT
WOULD BAN THEM, OR APPLY TO
THEIR USE OUTSIDE ANY
DEMONSTRATION OR RALLY, SO
YOU'LL SEE THAT IN MY NEXT
SLIDE.
>> RIGHT.
BUT IT SEEMS THAT ITEM 4
COMBINES ITEMS THAT THERE IS A
TOTAL BAN, AND ITEMS FOR WHICH
THERE IS NOT A TOTAL BAN BUT
CAN BE USED UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES.
I BELIEVE THE BILL INCLUDES A
TOTAL BAN UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES FOR ACOUSTIC
WEAPONS, DIRECTED ENERGY
WEAPONS, WATER CANNONS,
DISORIENTATION DEVICES
INCLUDING ULTRASONIC CANNONS,
BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE A TOTAL
BAN FOR NON-FLASH DIVERSIONARY
DEVICES.
BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE
REQUESTS FROM THE
ACCOUNTABILITY BODIES, TO ALLOW
IT FOR SWOT CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
AND I'M GOING TO COVER THAT A
LITTLE BIT LATER.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, SO MOVING TO THE NEXT
SLIDE HERE.
THE REVISED BASE BILL WOULD
IMPOSE A SET OF SPECIFIC
CONDITIONS ON SOME OF THE LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE CONDITIONS
THAT WOULD BE APPLIED TO PEPPER
SPRAY.
O SPECIFICALLY, PEPPER SPRA
MAY NOT BE USED FOR CROWD
CONTROL IN A NONVIOLENT
DEMONSTRATION OR RALLY, AND
ONLY SPECIAL WEAPONS OR TACTICS
OFFICERS, THE S.W.A.T.
TEAM, MADE TO PLAY PEPPER
PRODUCTS USING A 40 MILLIMETER
LAUNCHER AND ONLY FOR PURPOSES
OTHER THAN CROWD CONTROL IN A
DEMONSTRATION OR RALLY.
AND FINALLY, PEPPER SPRAY MAY
ONLY BE DEPLOYED IN
CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHICH THE RISK
OF SERIOUS INJURY FROM VIOLENT
ACTIONS OUTWEIGHS THE RISK OF
HARMS DEVICES USED.
THE NEXT SET OF LIMITATIONS.
THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ON THE
DEPLOYMENT OF NOISE FLASH
DIVERSIONARY DEVICES.
SO SPECIFICALLY, ONLY S.W.A.T.
OFFICERS MAY DEPLOY THESE
DEVICES, AND S.W.A.T.
CAN USE THEM ONLY FOR PURPOSES
OTHER THAN CROWD CONTROL IN A
DEMONSTRATION.
SLIDE SIX SHOWS THAT THE
REVISED BASE BILL WOULD SHOW
THAT MUTUAL PARTNERS OPERATE
UNDER THE SAME POLICIES AS SPD
WITH RESPECT TO LESS PEOPLE
WEAPONS.
THE LANGUAGE IS CARRIED ON FROM
ORDINANCES ONE THROUGH SIX AND
THE -- BILL.
THE REVISED BILL WOULD ALSO ADD
THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY
ATTORNEY MODIFY THE RIGHT OF
ACTION CLAUSE TO READ THAT IT
WOULD EXCLUDE A PERSON WHO, IN
JUDGMENT OF A REASONABLE PERSON
COMMITS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AT
OR IMMEDATELY PRIOR TO THE USE
OF LESS LETHAL FORCE.
IT WOULD ALSO SET THE EFFECTIVE
DATE OF THE ORDINANCE AT 30
DAYS AFTER THE COURSE REVIEW
AND APPROVAL.
SO THE NEXT TWO SLIDES COMPARE
POLICIES ACROSS THE INITIAL
ORDINANCE, THE BASE BILL, AND
THE REVISED BASE BILL, AND I
JUST ASK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I
KNOW TIME IS SHORT.
DO YOU WANT ME TO WALK THROUGH
THESE TABLES OR COME BACK TO
THEM IN THE EVENT THAT THEY
BECOME APPLICABLE TO THE
DISCUSSION?
>> I THINK THE LATTER.
COMING BACK TO THEM, IF WE NEED
TO TALK ABOUT AN OPTIONAL AND
SEE WHAT THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE
SAID ABOUT IT. I
THIS IS A GOOD ORDINANCE TO
HAVE.
I DO WANT TO AGAIN STATE THAT
IN MY MIND, WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN
THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE IN
THIS PLACE OF HAVING TO REVISIT
THE ORDINANCE.
WE INCLUDED AN AMENDMENT, TWO
AMENDMENTS, AND ORDINANCE 126-
102.
ONE ORDINANCE ASKING THAT THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS REPORT
BACK TO US ON THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS AS IT RELATED
TO THE BILL BY AUGUST 2020, AND
THE OTHER ASKING THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO SUBMIT THE
ORDINANCE WITH THE COURT.
SO, I CONSTRUCT, WE HAVE
ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE ORIGINAL
BILL THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO
REVISIT THE BILL.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ALL
EXPECTED THAT THERE WOULD BE A
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
PLACED ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE BILL WHILE WE CONSIDERED
THE INPUT OF THE COURT, OR THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS, BUT WE
HAVE MADE THE COMMITMENT TO
CONSIDER THAT INPUT, AND NOW
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR
REGULATION IS CONTINGENT ON OUR
CONSIDERATION OF THAT INPUT.
SO, I JUST THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO GROUND THIS
DISCUSSION TODAY IN WHAT WE
KNEW AND PLANNED FOR IN
ORDINANCE 126-102.
>> OKAY.
I'M JUST GOING TO SHOW YOU SO
THAT I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE IT
HERE COMING UP, THIS IS THE
SECOND HALF OF THAT COMPARISON,
AND THERE IS ALSO A TABLE HERE
THAT SHOWS HOW THE PROVISIONS
OF THE REVISED BASE BILL
COMPARED TO THE OVERSIGHT
AGENCY MONTH INITIAL POSITIONS
ON BANNING LESS LETHAL WEAPONS.
YOU SAW THAT AT BOTH OF YOUR
PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
SO AT THIS POINT, THAT
COMPLETES MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU.
AND SO IN THE LAST MEETING, I
STATED SORT OF WHAT THE NEW
BASE BILL WAS GOING TO STRIVE
TO DO AND HOW I WAS GOING TO
MAKE AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT CAPTURED THE COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION.
IT LARGELY DID THAT AND DID
ADDRESS SOME THINGS THAT WE DID
NOT DISCUSS IN COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU, LISA, FOR LIFTING
THAT UP SPECIFICALLY AS IT
RELATES TO RECEIPT OF SOME OF
THE LAW DEPARTMENT'S ADVICE
AROUND THE PRIVATE RATE OF
ACTION AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE
OF ORDINANCE.
I MADE A COMMITMENT IN LAST
WEEK'S MEETING BECAUSE IT WAS
VERY APPARENT TO ME THAT THERE
WAS STRONG DISAGREEMENT OF
WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD
MAINTAIN THE TOTAL BAN ON
TEARGAS, OR WHETHER OR NOT WE
SHOULD LOOK AT TRYING TO
REGULATE OR CREATE NARROW
CONDITIONS FOR THE ALLOWANCE OF
THE USE OF TEARGAS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IN THE
RECOGNITION THAT I BELIEVE
THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN
DISCUSSING THOSE TWO OPTIONS,
THE BASE BILL MAINTAINS THE
TOTAL BAN AS CONTEMPLATED BY
THE ORDINANCE WE PASSED LAST
SUMMER, AND I HAVE BROUGHT
FORWARD AN AMENDMENT THAT
CREATES THE ALLOWANCE FOR USE
OF TEARGAS IN THE NARROW
CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND SO, LISA, DO YOU WANT TO GO
OVER ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT
WE HAVE FIRST, VERY QUICKLY,
HIGH-LEVEL?
AND THEN WE CAN GO OVER THE
INDIVIDUAL ONES.
>> CERTAINLY.
SO, DID YOU WANT TO -- SO, I'VE
GOT BOTH AMENDMENT ONE AND A
POTENTIAL AMENDMENT 1-A, AND
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT HAS
AMENDMENTS.
>> THANK YOU.
I EXPLAINED THE BACKGROUND ON
THAT ONE, AND IF YOU WANT TO
GO A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THE
DETAIL THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD, I HAVE SOME
COMMENTS TO MAKE BEFORE WE TALK
ABOUT AMENDMENTS, BECAUSE WE
HAVEN'T REALLY EVEN GONE OVER
THAT ONE SLIDE THAT TALKS ABOUT
WHAT THIS NEW BILL DOES, NOT
ONLY IN REFERENCE TO THE
ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT WAS
PASSED LAST SUMMER, BUT IN
COMPARISON WITH WHAT YOU
SUMMARIZED AT THE LAST
COMMITTEE.
WITH WHAT YOU CALL THE BASE BILL
THAT WAS PRESENTED LAST EVENING
WHICH THE PUBLIC NEVER GOT TO
SEE.
AS FAR AS MY KNOWLEDGE IS
CONCERNED, OTHER THAN THE EMAIL
THAT WENT OUT FROM MY OFFICE,
THAT SO-CALLED BASE BILL IS
ACTUALLY NOT ONLY REMARKABLY
DIFFERENT FROM THE ORDINANCE
THAT WAS PASSED LAST SUMMER BUT
CONTAINS LIMITS OF WHAT WAS NOT
DISCUSSED AT ALL IN THE LAST
COMEDY.
SO I SAY THAT GIVEN THAT THIS
COMMITTEE HAS SO LITTLE TIME
LEFT, IT IS 12:24 NOW, THE
COMMITTEE THAT I'M SHARING, THE
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE THAT
IS AT 2:00 P.M.
TODAY, WE GET READY FOR THAT, I
ASK THAT THIS NOT BE RAN
THROUGH TODAY.
AS I SAID, THIS BILL WAS SENT
TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THEMSELVES
LAST EVENING WHICH WAS LESS
THAN 24 HOURS AGO.
AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT WASN'T
FORMALLY USED OR LINKED ON THE
AGENDA. AND YOU SAID REPEATEDLY
THAT YOU ARE CONSULTING WITH
WHAT YOU CALL ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS, AND MY ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS ARE WORKING CLASS
PEOPLE, REGULAR PEOPLE, AND
THEY HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO
SEE A LOT OF THE ASPECTS OF IT.
SO I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THOSE
FOR A FEW MINUTES.
I SAID AT THE LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO THAT I
HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO SUPPORT
LEGISLATION ON AN AMENDMENT TO
SUPPORT ENDING THE INJUNCTION
SO THAT THE BILL COULD GO INTO
EFFECT, BUT THAT CANNOT BE AN
EXCUSE TO CREATE GIANT
LOOPHOLES ALLOWING POLICE TO
CONTINUE ABUSING LEFT MOVEMENTS
LIKE THE BLACK LIVES MATTER
MOVEMENT.
THE BILL IN FRONT OF US CREATES
MILITARIZED WEAPONS, THE POLICE
ARE BANNED FROM USING IT.
IT ALSO REMOVES ALMOST ALL
ENFORCEMENT, EVEN WHEN THE LAW
HAS BEEN BROKEN.
THE ORIINAL BAN THAT MY OFFICE
OFFERED IN THE BLM MOVEMENT
LAST SUMMER CREATED AMONG OTHER
THINGS A RIGHT OF ACTION.
AND YOU MENTIONED THIS, AND I
WANT TO SPEAK TO IT, SO THAT IN
TIME POLICE BROKE THE LAW AND
IT CAN SUE THE CITY FOR
$10,000, THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT MAY NOT BE
SERIOUS ABOUT HOLDING POLICE
ACCOUNTABLE, BUT THE REASON WE
PUT THAT IN IS BECAUSE WHEN
MONEY IS INVOLVED, THEY BECOME
EMOTIONAL AROUND AVOIDING
LAWSUITS.
BUT THIS RIGHT OF ACTION WAS
THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HAVE
ACTUALLY ENFORCED THE BAN.
WE SAW THIS LAST FALL,
CONTINUING TO ABUSE THE POLICE
WITH TEAR GAS, POLICE AND
IGNORE THE INJUNCTION AND
CONTINUED USING THESE WEAPONS.
THIS ISN'T JUST ME SAYING THAT
THE POLICE VIOLATED THE
INJUNCTION, BUT WHAT WAS THE
CONSEQUENCE?
NOTHING AT ALL.
OF COURSE, THAT IS THE WHOLE
POINT.
POLICE VIOLATED THE INJUNCTION
AND THEY KNEW THAT THERE WAS
NOT GOING TO BE ANY ENFORCEMENT.
AND TODAY'S BILL HAS BEEN
PRESENTED AS NECESSARY TO MAKE
IT MORE LIKELY THAT IT WAS
APPROVED BY JUDGE ROBART OVER
SEEING THE CONSENT DECREE BUT I
DON'T AGREE WITH THAT
CHARACTERIZATION AT ALL BECAUSE
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS MADE NO
EFFORTS SO FAR TO ACTUALLY ASK
THEM TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE
AS IS, WHICH IS WHAT THE VAST
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
WANT.
SO, I DON'T ACCEPT THAT ALL OF
THESE LOOPHOLES ARE NEEDED,
BECAUSE THE CONSENT DECREE
REQUIRES IT.
BUT EVEN IF IT WERE TRUE, WHY
IS THIS NEW BILL REMOVING THE
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION, THE
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION IS
TOTALLY UNRELATED TO ANY OF
THOSE QUESTIONS?
THE ONLY REASON --
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, THE
BILL DOES NOT REMOVE THE
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
>> LET ME JUST FINISH.
YOU ARE FREE TO -- IT IS YOUR
COMMITTEE, YOU'RE FREE TO --
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT
CLARIFICATION.
I'M NOT TRYING TO STOP YOU FROM
TALKING, BUT THE BASE BILL DOES
NOT REMOVE THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION.
>> THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION
IS THE ONLY THING THAT PEOPLE
HAVE TO HOLD THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABLE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BILL
THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED, IT JUST
BUNCHES MASSIVE LOOPHOLES INTO
THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
IT IS THE ACTION OF WHAT
ORDINARY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY
ABLE TO DO IN PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION.
IT'S NOT WHETHER, YOU KNOW,
FORMALLY IN THE RIGHT OF LAW
THAT PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION
EXISTS.
THAT'S NOT THE STANDARD BY
WHICH WE SHOULD MEASURE, BUT
THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
AND ALSO, LET'S ALSO LOOK AT
SOME FACTS.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT WHAT
WAS CHARACTERIZED AS A PROCESS
LEADING THROUGH IS JUST
COMPLETELY ACCURATE.
THE REALITY IS THAT SOON AFTER
OUR MOVEMENT WON THIS ORDINANCE
LAST SUMMER, MAYOR DURKAN AND
FORMER CHIEF BEST, WITH THE
ASSISTANCE OF THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SHAMEFULLY
TRY TO REVEAL THE BAN AND STOP
IT FROM BEING IMPLEMENTED.
IT WAS TO EFFECTIVELY GET A
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
AGAINST THE BAN.
AS YOU CORRECTLY SAID, YES,
JUDGE ROBART REFUSED AT FIRST,
BUT THEN JUST DAYS LATER, THE
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER FOR
THE JUNCTION WAS GRANTED IN
RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FROM THE
DEPARTMENT, JUST AS YOU ARE
RIGHT, BUT THE ATTORNEY JOINED
THE EFFORT SO IT IS NOT ACCURATE
TO SAY THAT THE MAYOR'S
ADMINISTRATION DID NOT PLAY A
ROLE IN THIS.
BUT REGARDLESS, YOU KNOW, I
DON'T AGREE THAT THE ROLE OF
THE HIGHEST LEGISLATIVE BODY OF
THE CITY IS TO WATER DOWN
LEGISLATION, REALLY GOT
PRINCIPAL ELEMENT OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING HERE, THAT IT IS
ESSENTIAL TO LIFTING THE
RESTRICTIONS SO THAT THE
LEGISLATION CAN GO INTO EFFECT.
IT'S TRUE THAT WHILE THE BAN
HAS NOT BEEN STRUCK DOWN, IT
CANNOT BE ENFORCED IF THE LEGAL
RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED.
THAT'S ACCURATE.
BUT AS I SAID LAST TIME AS
WELL, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO
INDICATE THEY ARE DEMANDING THE
LEGISLATION TO BE WATERED DOWN.
AS I BELIEVE COMMUNITY MEMBER
LEAH BUCK SAID IN PUBLIC
COMMENT, IT JUST SEEMS
COUNTERINTUITIVE AND SORT OF
MIND-BOGGLING THAT THE BAN
WOULD BE OPPOSED TO A CONSENT
DECREE THAT WOULD PLACE WHERE
THE SERIOUS INVESTIGATION WAS
CALLED FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE,
INTO THE EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE
BY POLICE.
BUT EVEN IF THERE WAS EVIDENCE
THAT THE CODE DEMANDING THAT
LEGISLATION BE WATERED DOWN,
SHOULDN'T SELF PROFESSED PUBLIC
POLICE MEMBERS BE FIGHTING
AGAINST THE BAN AND PUT A LOT
OF PRESSURE ON THE PUBLIC COURT
TO APPROVE A LEGISLATION THAT
IS NEEDED, GIVEN THE, JUST
EXAMPLE OF EXAMPLE OF
SYSTEMATIC VIOLENCE FROM THE
POLICE?
BUT INSTEAD, IT SEEMS THE MOST
OF YOU ARE GETTING READY TO
MAKE AN OFFER TO THE COURT TO
-- THE BAN.
THE CITY HAS NOT MADE AN
ATTEMPT YET TO HAVE THOSE
RESTRICTIONS LIFTED.
AND SO, I MEAN, THE BOTTOM LINE
IS, WE DON'T EXPECT THE COURTS
AD POLICE UNDER CAPITALISM TO
BE ON OUR SIDE.
SO WHAT WE NEED IS ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES WHO WILL FIGHT
FOR THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE
LEGISLATION.
AND I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION
THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON
AMENDMENTS, BUT AS LISE KAYE
SAID, MY OFFICE IS BRINGING
AMENDMENTS TO RESTORE THE
STRONG ENFORCEMENT IN THE
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
I'M VERY PESSIMISTIC THAT WE
ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH ALL OF
OUR AMENDMENTS AND THE
DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT, GIVEN
THAT A NUMBER OF US HAVE
ANOTHER MEETING THAT STARTS IN
15 MINUTES, FOUR OF US.
YEAH.
SO, WHAT I LIKE, THOUGH, IS I
LIKE IF LISE KAYE COULD
DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, AND TO
MAYBE GO BACK TO THE BASE BILL.
I THOUGHT BETWEEN YOU AND I, WE
DID EXPLAIN WHAT WAS IN THE
BASE BILL.
BUT, IT SOUNDS LIKE COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT STILL HAS SOME
ADD ADDITIONAL NEEDS FOR MORE
DETAIL.
SO, PERHAPS IF WE COULD JUST DO
THOSE TWO THINGS BEFORE WE END
TODAY'S MEETING, AND WE WILL
BRING BACK THE VOTE ON THE
AMENDMENTS AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> OKAY.
I WILL -- THE FIRST TWO
AMENDMENTS WOULD -- THE FIRST
ONE WOULD -- LET ME JUST PULL
THESE UP.
MY APOLOGIES.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW
THE USE OF TEAR GAS WHEN USED
FOR CROWD CONTROL IN VIOLENT
PUBLIC DISTURBANCES, AND IT
ALSO THEN DEFINES A VIOLENT
PUBLIC DISTURBANCE AS ANY
GATHERING WHERE 12 OR MORE
PERSONS WHO ARE PRESENT
TOGETHER USE OR THREATEN TO USE
UNLAWFUL VIOLENCE TOWARD
ANOTHER PERSON OR GROUP OF
PEOPLE IN THE CONDUCT OF THEM
TAKEN TOGETHER IS SUCH AS WOULD
CAUSE A PERSON OF REASONABLE
FIRMNESS, THE PRECEDENT SEEMED
TO FEAR FOR THEIR PERSONAL
SAFETY PICK THAT'S REALLY HARD
TO ABSORB. I APOLOGIZE.
SO AMENDMENT ONE WOULD ALLOW
THE USE OF TEAR GAS FOR CROWD
CONTROL AND PUBLIC VIOLENT
DISTURBANCES, BUT ONLY WHEN
DEPLOYED UNDER DIRECTION OF
OFFICES WHO RECEIVED DIRECTION
OF TRAINING FOR ITS USE WITHIN
12 MONTHS AND USE OF TACTICAL
PLAN DEVELOPED PRIOR TO
DEPLOYMENT, AND THE USE IS
REASONABLY NECESSARY TO PREVENT
THREAT OF IMMINENT LOSS OF LIFE
OR SERIOUS HARM OR INJURY.
THESE EXCEPTIONS WOULD NOT BE
AUTHORIZED UNTIL THE SPD'S
ANNUAL USE OF POLICY IS
REVIEWED BY A CONSENT DECREE.
>> AND AS A POINT OF
INFORMATION, THOSE USE OF FORCE
POLICY REVIEWS ARE GOING ON
SIMULTANEOUSLY TO OUR
LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSIONS, AND I
BELIEVE THE -- THEY ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE IMPOSING CHANGES
TO THE USE OF FORCE POLICIES IN
EARLY FEBRUARY.
I BELIEVE IT IS FEBRUARY 11th.
AND SO, THAT WILL HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE CONSENT DECREE
PROCESS, THE SAME PROCESS I
DESCRIBED EARLIER.
AND SO, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
THE ORDINANCE AND, THE
RESTRICTIONS AROUND TEARGAS
WOULD GO INTO EFFECT AFTER THAT
TIME.
AND SO, I JUST WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THAT CURRENTLY, WE
DON'T HAVE ANY INSTRUCTIONS IN
LAW ON THE USE OF LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS AND UNLESS THE COURT
AUTHORIZES A COUNCIL BILL, WE
WILL NOT.
>> OKAY, AMENDMENT ONE A IS
KIND OF A PROVISIONAL
AMENDMENT.
IF AMENDMENT ONE PASSES, THE
LAW DEPARTMENT SAID THAT GIVEN
THE ADOPTED DEFINITION FOR
ALLOWING TEARGAS TO BE USED IN
A PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION, THEY
WOULD AMEND THE RIGHT OF ACTION
CLAUSE TO SET THE -- OR
BASICALLY, TO PROHIBIT ANY
PERSON WHOSE PARTICIPATION IN A
VIOLENT PUBLIC DISTURBANCE
PRIOR TO OR DURING THE USE OF
LESS LETHAL WEAPON WOULD CAUSE
THE PERSON OF REASONABLE
FIRMNESS PROCESSED AT THE SCENE
FOR FEAR FOR HIS PERSONAL
SAFETY NOT COVERED -- SUCH
PREVENTING, PROHIBITING SOMEONE
WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE VIOLENT
PUBLIC DISTURBANCE FROM
RECOVERING DAMAGES AND COURT
COSTS THROUGH HIS RIGHT OF
ACTION.
>> SO, LISA, HOW DOES THAT
DIFFER FROM THE LANGUAGE IN THE
BASE BILL THAT I PROPOSED
RELATING TO THE PRIVATE RIGHT
OF ACTION?
>> IT IS JUST SOMEWHAT
DIFFERENT DEFINITION IN TERMS OF
-- IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT
THE PERSON PARTICIPATING IN A
VIOLENT PUBLIC DISTURBANCE
WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE AS
OPPOSED TO THE PREVIOUS LANGUAGE
WOULD HAVE, SOMEBODY
PARTICIPATED OR COMMITTING A
CRIME.
>> AND SO, IT SEEMS WHETHER OR
NOT SOMEONE HAS COMMITTED A
CRIME IS A BRIGHTER LINE FOR
NOT ALLOWING SOMEBODY TO
RECOVER MONEY IN A PRIVATE
RIGHT OF ACTION.
WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY HAS
COMMITTED A CRIME IS A BRIGHTER
LINE FOR EXCLUSION THAN
PARTICIPATING IN A VIOLENT
DISTURBANCE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE
MORE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT DESCRIBED
AS A POTENTIAL LOOPHOLE.
BUT, I COULD SEE WHY IT MIGHT
GIVE THE ATTORNEY A LITTLE BIT
MORE COMFORT AS IT RELATES TO
SORT OF THIS DIRTY HANDS
CONCEPT.
>> SORRY.
JUST AS A CLARIFICATION, ARE WE
DISCUSSING WHAT YOU ARE CALLING
AMENDMENT 1-A? AND IF SO, COULD
THE LANGUAGE BE SHARED ON THE
SCREEN?
I'M NOT SURE I'VE SEEN IT SO
I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED AS TO
WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING.
>> OKAY, DID YOU WANT ME TO
SHOW AMENDMENT 1 OR 1-A? I
THINK NUMBER ONE WAS
DISTRIBUTED.
>> 1 HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED.
IT IS 1-A THAT I THINK IS NEW
TO MANY OF US.
>> MY CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE
WHETHER THIS IS GOING TO BE
SMALL ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SEE.
ARE YOU LOOKING AT IT NOW?
DOES IT SAY, FACEBOOK OPPOSED
AMENDMENT 1-A?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO
ZOOM.
IT IS ONE PAGE.
I'M SORRY.
I'M GOING TO SCROLL DOWN
THROUGH IT SO YOU'LL SEE.
THIS IS THE LANGUAGE THAT WOULD
-- WHAT YOU ARE CALLING THE
DIRTY HANDS PRIVILEGE, THAT
WOULD PREVENT A PERSON WHO WAS
PART OF A VIOLENT OR PUBLIC
DISTURBANCE FROM PARTICIPATING.
AND I WILL SCROLL BACK UP.
SO, THAT IS BASICALLY THE
LANGUAGE.
>> AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M
COMFORTABLE WITH THE LANGUAGE
THAT IS IN THE BASE BILL.
I AGREE TO BRING THIS FORWARD
FOR PURPOSES OF CONVERSATION
BECAUSE IT WAS THE REQUEST OF
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I'M NOT COMMITTED TO MOVING AND
FORWARD BECAUSE AS I SAID, I AM
COMFORTABLE WITH THE LANGUAGE
IN THE BASE BILL.
AND IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT, WE CAN
QUICKLY GO OVER COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT'S AMENDMENT AND CONVENE.
>> SO, AMENDMENTS 4A, 4B1 AND
4B2 ARE VARIATIONS.
4B1 AND 4B2 ARE VARIATIONS ON
AMENDMENT FOUR.
IT WOULD TAKE THE RIGHTS OF
VIOLATIONS BACK TO THE LANGUAGE
THAT WAS IN ORDINANCE 126.102.
DOES THAT SEEM ACCURATE TO YOU,
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
IS THAT THE DESCRIPTION YOU
WOULD USE?
>> YES.
WOULD IT BE OKAY WITH THE CHAIR
IF I SAID A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE
AMENDMENT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I CAN ALSO SHARE IT ON THE
SCREEN IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> THAT WOULD ALSO BE GOOD, IN
ADDITION TO WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS HAS A
COMMENT AS WELL.
YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL RESTORE THE
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
AS I SAID, THAT IS THE ONLY
REAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE BAN ON
CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS.
POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT HELD
INDIVIDUALLY ACCOUNTABLE,
PARTIALLY BECAUSE THE DECISION
TO USE THESE CHEMICAL AND OTHER
CHEMICAL LIES WEAPONS IS
USUALLY MADE AT THE TOP, NOT BY
THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICER.
BUT MORE BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE
VIRTUALLY NEVER HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR ABUSING LEFT-
WING AND PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.
I MEAN, THAT IS JUST A
STATISTICALLY ESTABLISHED FACT.
THIS IS JUST WHAT HAPPENS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THEORY, BUT THIS
IS ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENS IN
REAL LIFE.
THE LEGISLATION OF THE COUNCIL
PASSED LAST SUMMER HOLDS THE
CITY ESTABLISHMENT ACCOUNTABLE.
IF THE POLICE FILL THE STREETS
WITH TEARGAS AND EXPLOSIVES,
THE INFECTED PROTESTERS CAN SUE
FOR $10,000 EACH.
THE REASON WE PUT THAT IN IS
BECAUSE THAT IS A REAL
CONSEQUENCE FOR THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT POLICE.
IT IS ABOUT THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT THAT IS ALLOWING
POLICE TO CARRY OUT ACTIONS
THAT ARE COMPLETELY
OBJECTIONABLE, SO THAT IT
FORCES THEM TO TAKE THE BAN ON
THE MILITARIZED CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS SERIOUSLY.
THE REASON I DON'T THINK THAT
WHAT IS IN THE BASE BILL IS
ENOUGH IS -- AND I DO THINK
IT'S A LOOPHOLE, IT IS A
CRUCIAL LOOPHOLE, IS BECAUSE IT
MAKES IT FAR, FAR MORE
DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO SUE,
EVEN WHEN THE POLICE FREQUENTLY
MAKE THIS LAW.
ESSENTIALLY, IF BY NOT
APPROVING THIS AMENDMENT,
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE
BUILDING INTO THE LAW THE EXACT
SAME LACK OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY THAT ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS CLAIM TO BE WHAT IT'S
ABOUT, THE LOOPHOLE IS TWO
FOLD.
FIRST, THE LOOPHOLE SAYS THAT
THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION
ONLY APPLIES WHEN POLICE USE,
BANNED WEAPONS DURING A, QUOTE,
NONVIOLENT DEMONSTRATION.
END QUOTE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE KNOW,
AGAIN THIS IS REAL LIFE, WE
KNOW THAT THE IDEA OF, THE
QUOTE UNQUOTE, NONVIOLENT
DEMONSTRATION IS CONVENIENTLY
DEFINED, AND WHAT'S VIOLENT AND
WHAT'S NOT VIOLENT IS
COMPLETELY DEFINED BY THE
POLICE TO BE WHATEVER THEY WANT
IT TO BE.
DURING THE JUSTICE FOR GEORGE
FLOYD PROTESTS, THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT DECLARED
PEACEFUL PROTESTS TO BE VIOLENT
AND EVEN A RIOT WHEN THEY
WANTED TO CLEAR THE STREETS OF
THOSE PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.
AND AS I NOTED IN COMMITTEE
LAST TIME, I SAW THAT HAPPENING
WHILE I WAS AT A PROTEST WHICH
THEN RESULTED IN MASSIVE
TEARGAS, PEPPER SPRAY, BLAST
BALLS.
SOMEBODY COUNTED THE NUMBER OF
GRENADES THAT WERE UNLEASHED
THE MORNING AFTER AND WAS 300
MILLION SOMETHING, INSANE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY OWN
TESTIMONY THAT THE PROTEST WAS
COMPLETELY PEACEFUL.
SO, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
ALSO NOTE THAT THIS LOOPHOLE
PREVENTS ENFORCEMENT,
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE
PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN ANY
VIOLENCE. SOMEONE IN THE CROWD
HAS A WATER BOTTLE, THE POLICE
CLAIMED THE PROTEST IS VIOLENT,
START HIRING ILLEGAL GAS BALLS
AND YOU CANNOT GET JUSTICE
BECAUSE OF THESE LOOPHOLES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, LET
ME JUST -- I THINK I GET YOUR
POINT.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS,
IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
HAVE BANNED LESLIE THE WEAPONS
THAT ARE 100% BANNED IN THEIR
APPLICATION IN CROWD CONTROL
SITUATIONS, WHAT IS THE
PUNISHMENT?
WHAT MY AMENDMENT TRIED TO DO
IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IF THE
BASE BILL, TOGETHER WITH THE
TEARGAS AMENDMENT PASSES, THERE
WILL BE SOME ALLOWANCE OF
PEPPER SPRAY AND TEARGAS IN
NARROW CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO PERHAPS BETWEEN NOW AND THE
NEXT MEETING WE COULD CREATE
SOME OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO
MAINTAIN THE FULL BAN OF ALL
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS, BUT MAYBE
WE COULD CREATE SOME LANGUAGE
THAT ASSUMES SOME OUTCOMES
AROUND THESE AMENDMENTS,
WHEREAS THERE IS STILL A
PUNISHMENT FOR USE OF LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS THAT ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE BANNED IN ALL
CROWD CONTROL SITUATIONS, AND
THEN A PUNISHMENT FOR THE ONES
THAT ARE NOT BANNED, BUT ARE
MISUSED.
BUT, I NEED TO ADJOURN THIS
MEETING.
IT IS 12:44.
FOUR OF US HAVE ANOTHER MEETING
THAT WE HAVE TO BE AT.
AND SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
--
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I JUST WANT TO FINISH WHAT I
WAS SAYING.
IT MAY ADDRESS WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING.
I'M NOT GOING TO DISCUSS THAT,
BUT IN THE INTEREST, I JUST
WANT TO FINISH THAT IN A MINUTE
OR TWO.
OF COURSE AS I SAID, I'M
COMPLETELY OPEN TO DISCUSSING
STRONG ENFORCEMENT.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING THAT
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
BEYOND WHAT I JUST SAID, THOSE
SECOND LOOPHOLES SAY THAT THE
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION DOES
NOT APPLY TO, QUOTE, A PERSON,
WHO IN THE JUDGMENT OF A
REASONABLE PERSON COMMITS A
CRIMINAL ATTEMPT AT OR
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE USE OF
LESS LETHAL FORCE, AND TO QUOTE.
POLICE BRUTALITY IS NEVER OKAY,
BUT BEYOND THAT, IT DOES NOT
EVEN REQUIRE THE PERSON BE
CONVICTED OF CRIME, JUST THAT A
REASONABLE PERSON WOULD THINK
THAT THEY DID.
MOST RECENTLY, WE'VE SEEN HOW
POLICE REGULARLY CHARGE
PROTESTERS WITH, QUOTE UNQUOTE,
, NO OFFENSE TO JUSTIFY
BRUTALITY.
THIS HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME.
PEOPLE ARE CHARGED WITH
OFFENSES LIKE PARADING WITHOUT
A PERMIT, FAILING TO DISPERSE,
RESISTING ARREST.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY IN THE
MEETING?
THE FOUR OF US HAVE TO LEAVE I
WILL LEAVE THE MEETING OPEN IF
YOU WANT TO CONTINUE.
BUT WE HAVE TO ADJOURN.
IT IS 12:45.
WE ARE ALL EXPECTED IN ANOTHER
MEETING.
SO WITH THAT, UNLESS YOU WISH
TO STAY IN THE BEANING --
MEETING WITH THE OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO ADJOURN.
>> OBVIOUSLY I DON'T WANT TO.
GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN.
WE WILL HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
YES, THERE IS MORE DISCUSSION
HAPPENING.
AND I'M SORRY THAT WE WEREN'T
ABLE TO GET FURTHER IN
DISCUSSIONS TODAY.
WITH THAT, IT IS 12:45 P.M.,
AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICE COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU, ALL.