GOOD AFTERNOON THIS IS THE
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF
THE SUSTAINABILITY MEETING-
TUESDAY APRIL 27th.
2:02.
I AMAL CHAIR OF THE OFFICE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> FRIEND.
>> COUNSELLAL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
AND COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
AND I'M GOING TO CALL
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> FOUR PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THERE IS A BANNING OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR EVICTIONS TO BE
DISCUSSED OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
AND EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT
TO OUR ATTENTION BY EDUCATORS
AND A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
SCHOOL BOARD.
THERE'S A DISCUSSION WITH GREAT
COMMUNITY PANEL THAT HAVE
GENEROUSLY GIVEN THEIR TIME TO
COME AND SHARE THEIR STORIES.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY RENTERS
COMMITTEE I HOPE WE CAN TAKE
AMENDMENTS AND POSSIBLE VOTES
ON THE VARIOUS BILLS AND AS THE
UPCOMING COMMITTEE THAT I
BELIEVE WILL HAVE TO BE -- WE
WILL HAVE TO SET A DATE AND MY
OFFICE WILL COORDINATE WITH THE
OFFICES OF THE OTHER COMMITTEE
MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
DATE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE
BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE TO BE
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING AND
AT THAT MEETING WE WILL HAVE
THE JUST CAUSE BILL FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AS I
MENTIONED IN THE BRIEFING
YESTERDAY I WOULD LIKE TO
COSPONSOR THIS BILL AND THAT IS
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HOLD
OFF ON THAT BILL AND WE WILL BE
WORKING AS I SAID TO HAVE A
GOOD TIME TO SCHEDULE IT.
OUR TWO JUST CAUSE BILLS AIM TO
CLOSE THE CURRENT LOOPHOLE THAT
LANDLORDS HAVE EXPLOITED AND
THEY TAKE A MORE TECHNICAL
APPROACH AND AS WE GO THROUGH
THE DISCUSSION TODAY AND BEYOND
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND THE
CITY COUNCIL ITSELF TO PASS A
UNIFIED BILL, THE STRONGEST
POSSIBILITY THAT CLOSES THE
LOOP HOLES WITHOUT EXCEPTION
AND THAT IS WHAT RENTERS
URGENTLY NEED AND OUR GOAL.
MOST IMPORTANTLY AS WE KNOW
FROM OUR EXPERIENCE OF MANY
YEARS OF WINNING RENTER RIGHTS
WE WILL NEED TO GET ORGANIZED.
THAT IS WHY IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE RENTERS THAT
HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY
THE CRISIS THAT UNFOLDS WHEN WE
DON'T HAVE RENTERS PROTECTED
TODAY TO SHARE WITH US I WANT
TO SHARE WITH YOU BEFORE WE
OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TWO
IMPORTANT NUMBERS.
ONE IS 64, THE DAYS REMAINING
AFTER TODAY BEFORE THE CURRENT
EVICTION MORATORIUM.
WE HOPE TO HAVE IT EXTENDED
BEYOND JUNE 30th BUT IT HAS
BEEN DIFFICULT WHEN THE
DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE JOINED WITH THE
REPUBLICANS TO VOTE TO END THE
MORATORIUM STATEWIDE ON JUNE
30th.
THAT IS EFFORT BUT THAT IS WHAT
THE STATE'S POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT DECIDED TO DO.
IN OUR LAST OFFICE WE HAVE
HEARD FROM TENANTS STRUGGLING
IN THE WAKE OF COVID AND THE
LOSS OF INCOME AND JOBS.
THEY FEEL THE END OF THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM.
JOHN SAID AS MANY YEARS AS
SUCCESSFUL TENANT WITH ON TIME
RENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
PROPERTY I WAS INFORMED THAT MY
LEASE WOULD NOT BE RENEWED AT
THE END OF JUNE 2021.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE
COUNCIL HAS PLACED SOME
TEMPORARY PROTECTIONS POST
MORATORIUM INCLUDING GIVING
TENANTS SOME RELIEF IF THEY
SUFFER BECAUSE OF COVID-19 BUT
THEY ARE TEMPORARY AND THEY ARE
APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE MONTHS
AS THOSE ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS
EXPIRE.
THE TRENDS ARE SHOWING A PRETTY
SCARY SCENARIO NATIONALLY
UNLESS RENTERS FIGHT BACK.
THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT WE
PASS THESE BILLS AND OTHER
TENANT PROTECTIONS BEFORE THE
MORATORIUM EXPIRE AND KEEP
ORGANIZING AND THE MOVEMENT
NEEDS TO BE MINDFUL OF 64
UNDERSCORED.
THE SECOND NUMBER I WANTED TO
SHARE IS 3.5%.
THAT IS THE AVERAGE SEATTLE
PRICE INCREASE IN THE LAST
MONTH ACCORDING TO A REPORT
PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL
RENTS.
THAT IS RENT INCREASE OF 3.5%.
COMPOUNDED THAT COMES TO AN
AVERAGE REN INCREASE OF MORE
THAN 50%.
THAT IS DOWN RIGHT MERCENARY.
AMONG THE ONE HUNDRED CITIES
THE SEATTLE RENT INCREASE WAS
THE 5th HIGHEST.
AS THE APARTMENT LIST.COM
OFFERS SAID THE DAYS OF
PLUMMETING RENT ARE OFFICIAL
BEHIND US.
SO REALLY IT SHOWS HOW THE
INTEREST OF CORPORATE LANDLORDS
AND PROPERTY MANAGE
CORPORATIONS AND THE BANKS THAT
UNDERRIGHT THE REAL ESTATE
DEALS ARE COMPLETELY OPEN TO
RENTERS, SOMETHING THAT THEY
ARE CELEBRATING AND THAT IS WHY
WE HAVE TO REALLY PUSH BACK
AGAINST THIS.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING
ADMISSION BY THE CAPTAINS OF
THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY AFTER
SEEING REPRESENTS DROP DUE TO
COVID AND THE RECESSION,
CORPORATE LANDLORDS SEE A
GLIMMER OF ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT
AND WASTING NO TIME TO EXPLOIT
SEATTLE RENTERS-FOR ANYONE
HARBORING ILLUSIONS THAT
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WILL ALLOW
TENANTS TO EASE BACK INTO LIFE
AFTER COVID THIS RENTAL
INCREASE FIGURE IS A BRUTAL
REALITY CHECK.
THE PANDEMIC IS ERASING NO TIME
OF SEATTLE WORKING CLASS
RENTERS AND IT IS OUR JOB TO
MOVE THE BILLS FORWARD TO PUT
RENTERS' RIGHTS BEFORE
CORPORATE PROFIT.
FIRST THIS AFTERNOON THE
COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS OUR BILL
FOR PERMITTING THE EVICTION OF
SCHOOL CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES
AND EDUCATORS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR PERFORM LAST WEEK WHEN THE
BILL WAS FORMALLY INTRODUCED MY
OFFICE HAD A PRESS UNVEIL THE
BILL.
IN OTHER WORDS BANNING THE
EVICTIONS OF CHILDREN AND
EDUCATORS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
WE WERE JOINED BY THE SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION, THE UNION THAT
REPRESENTS PUBLIC SCHOOL
EDUCATORS.
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT AND BY
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
THIS BANS THE EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOL CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IT IS COMMON SENSE BUT THERE IS
RESEARCH SHOWING THAT WHEN
CHILDREN ARE EVICTED IT HAD
DEVASTATION ON THEIR
ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH.
JUST IMAGINE FOCUSING ON SCHOOL
WORK AND GETTING EVICTED.
THE LOSING HOME REPORT FOUND
THAT OF EVICTED RESPONDENTS
ITH SCHOOL AGE CHIL-
POINT 7% SAID CHILDREN HAD TO
MOVES SCHOOLS AFTER THE
EVICTION AND 80% SAID THEY
SUFFERED VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF
THE EVICTION.
IN 2018 THE STATE FOUND THAT
NEARLY 4200 SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE HOMELESS
AT SOME POINT DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
THAT IS A STAGGERING 7% OF ALL
PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN.
IMPRACTICAL TERMS THAT MEANS
THAT IN AN AVERAGE CLASS OF 30
STUDENTS TWO WILL BE HOMELESS
AT SOME POINT DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
THIS IS A RACIAL JUSTICE AND
BLACK LIVES MATTER MATTER
ISSUE.
JUST AS SEATTLE LANDLORDS EVICT
BLACKS AT MUCH HIGHER RATES.
DATA FOUND THAT 40% OF HOMELESS
STUDENTS WERE BLACK AND 23% OF
HOMELESS STUDENTS WERE LATINOS
EVEN THOUGH THE BLACK AND
LATINO MEMBERS CONSTITUTE ONLY
14 AND 12% EFFECTIVELY OF THE
SCHOOL POPULATION.
PREVENTING EVICTIONS WILL
PRODUCE THIS ONE FORM OF SYSTEM
THAT AFFECTS STUDENTS.
DURING THE COMMUNITY PANEL MY
STAFF WILL REVIEW THE
STAGGERING DATA IN MORE
DETAILS.
THE FACTS UNDERSCORE WHY WE
NEED TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION.
THIS FACT THAT EVICTION OF
CHILDREN FROM THEIR HOMES
HAPPEN IN ONE OF THE RICHEST
CITIES OF THE WORLD IS A
DAMMING INDICTMENT OF
CAPITALISM WE SHOULD STOP THIS
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THE SEATTLE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
HAS ENDORSED THIS BILL.
EARLIER OUR OFFICE RECEIVED A
MESSAGE FROM THE SEA PRESIDENT
JENNIFER MATTHER THAT SAYS LAST
WEEK AT THE REPRESENTATIVE
ASSEMBLE THE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION OVERWHELMINGLY
SUPPORT ADD NEW BUSINESS ITEM
OR RESOLUTION TO ADVOCATE FOR
THE CREATION OF AND SUPPORT
EXISTING LEGISLATION DESIGNED
TO HELP WITH PROTECTION AGAINST
SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WITH
SIMILAR PROTECTIONS FOR
EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL STAFF
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR
INCLUDING CHILD CARE WORKERS
AND PREK EDUCATORS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
LEGISLATION FORWARD TO AFFECT
CHANGE AT THIS CITY LEVEL.
PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN
DO TO SUPPORT THE IMPORTANT
WORK.
THE SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL AND I
APPLAUD THE MEMBERS POSSESS
THEIR ADVOCACY AND AS ONE OF
THE FORCES THAT REALLY FORCE
ALONGSIDE US AND WASHINGTON
COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK TO
WHEN THE MOVE GAP AND PAYMENT
PLAN THAT IS ONE -- NOT ONE OF
THE BIGGEST TITLES BUT ONE OF
THE MOST IMPACTFUL.
AFTER THIS BILL THE COMMITTEE
WILL DISCUSS A BILL FROM MY
OFFICE TO GO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE
IN THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE.
WE WILL HEAR FROM A COMMUNITY
PANEL OF MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN
ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE
LOPHOLE AND FROM RENTAL
ORGANIZERS THAT WILL DESCRIBE
WHAT THE LOOPHOLE MEANS FOR
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RENTERS IN
SEATTLE AND WHY WE URGENTLY
NEED TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE
BEFORE IT EXPIRES.
IT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST
MEETING DEVELOPING THE
LEGISLATION AS I NOTED IT IS AN
ISSUE WE PUT ON OUR WORK PLAN
FOR THE YEAR TO FIX THE
LOOPHOLE HAS EDUCATED A
SITUATION WHERE LANDLORDS CAN
REFUSE TO RENEW A LEASE WITHOUT
ANY CAUSE.
WE ORGANIZED A PETITION TO HEAR
FROM RENTERS AND WITHIN HOURS
443 PEOPLE SPOKE AND OTHERS
SENT STORIES.
MY STAFF AND I HAVE BEEN
DIRECTLY TALKING TO DOZENS OF
TENANTS WORKING WITH US TO
CAUSE THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE
INCLUDING SOME OF THEM WHO WE
WILL HEAR FROM THIS AFTERNOON.
THE BILL FROM MY OFFICE FOLLOWS
THE MODEL OF THE LEGISLATION
PASSED BY A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT
THAT GATHERED SIGNATURES AND
WON THE STABLE HOMES INITIATIVE
THAT CREATED JUST CAUSE FEDERAL
WAY AND INCLUDED RENTERS OF
LEASES.
THERE IS THE ADDED URGENCY TO
DO THIS IN SEATTLE IN 64 DAYS.
HAPPY THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAS BROUGHT A BILL
FORWARD AND MY OFFICE IS HAPPY
TO WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES ON THE BILL.
WE KNOW IT WILL TAKE A BUILDING
APPROACH FOR AN ISSUE THAT IS
CRUCIAL FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF RENTERS AND THAT IS WHAT
TENNERS HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH
OUR OFFICE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR
MOVEMENT WHEN CLOSING THE
LOOPHOLE, WE HAVE SEEN
REPEATEDLY HOW THE APPROACH CAN
EITHER FEEL OR RESULT IN A
WATERED DOWN BILL.
THAT WE SEE.
WE SAW WITH THE STATE HOUSE
BILL 1236 THAT HAPPY STATEWIDE
AND GAPPING LOOP HOLES FOR
CORPORATE LANDLORDS TO EXPLOIT.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT A NEW GREEN
DEAL IN SEATTLE AND THE GIANT
COMPANY TO CREATE THE STRUCTURE
AND TO STOP CLIMATE
CATASTROPHE.
WE HEARD FROM THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY ABOUT SEATTLE
GAS EMISSIONS AND IT SHOULD
SURPRISE TO LEARN THAT CITY IS
NOWHERE IT NEEDS TO BE FOR
CLIMATE CHANGE OR AT LEAST
SEATTLE'S SHARE OF THE WORK.
THIS IS A GLOBAL PROCESS.
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION
COMPARED TO WHAT IS NEEDED
LOOKS LIKE THE EDGE OF A CLIFF.
IT WILL REQUIRE A MASSIVE
MOMENT IN GREEN STRUCTURE TO BE
FUNDED BY INCREASE AND FOR THAT
WE WILL NEED A MOMENT.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
DISCUSSION ALSO AND I APOLOGIZE
TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND WE
HAVE THREE AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE
WILL -- WITH THE COOPERATION OF
AN UNDERSTANDING OF ALL OF THE
PANELISTS MOVE AWAY AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE
WILL GO TO THE AGENDA TEMS.
I WILL READ THE NAMES AND MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE
SIGNED UPPER READY TO GO
BECAUSE WE HAVE 25 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
AND I WANT TO INCLUDE EVERYONE
WE WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR
EACH PERSON TO SPEAK AND THEN
WE WILL GET TO THE AGENDA
ITEMS.
SO THE FIRST --
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I WANT
TO LET FOLK KNOW I AM PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR JOINING US.
>> I NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE
SIGNING UP FROM.
I KNOW PEOPLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH
PUBLIC COMMENT SO I WANT TO
MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE OF
THAT.
FIRST SPEAKER IS ANGIE.
>> MY NAME IS ANGIE AND A
MEMBER OF THE GRASSROOTS
LANDLORDS YOU HAVE CREATED A
TSUNAMI YOU NEW REGULATIONS
WITHOUT INCLUDING SMALL
LANDLORDS.
THIS VOLATILE LANDSCAPE IS
PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL FOR
SMALL MOM AND POP LANDLORDS
THAT PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND
LOCAL RENTAL HOUSING.
A STOUNSINGLY CITY COUNCIL HAS
DONE NO FOLLOW-UP ANALYSIS.
WE ARE ALL IN THE RRIO DATABASE
AND EASY TO REACH.
BUT YOU CONTINUE TO EXCLUDE
LOCAL HOUSING PROVIDERS FROM
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND
PRESENTATIONS AND COMMISSIONS
AND OTHER OUTREACH AND
ANALYSTS.
YOU HAVE DEEP POCKETED
CORPORATE INVESTORS AND CITY
COUNCIL IS HAVING A MORE
RESTRICTIVE HOUSING MARKET.
TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR
RENTERS YOU NEED TO COLLABORATE
WITH SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
SERVE THEM NOT WILLINGLY
EXCLUDE US TO THE BENEFIT OF
LARGE CORPORATIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRYCE
SORERANO.
>> HI, MY NAME IS BRYCE AND I
AM A RENNER IN MOUND BAKER
CALLING TO URGE THE RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE TO PROHIBIT
THE EVICTIONS OF FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
THE LEGISLATION THAT PASSED
LAST MONTH IS CRUCIAL VICTORY
BUT RENTERS ARE FACING A
HOUSING CRISIS.
EVICTIONS HAVE SEVERE
CONSEQUENCES ON CHILDREN'S
LEARNING AND EDUCATION AND
MENTAL HEALTH AND NINE OUT OF
TEN TIMES RESULT IS
HOMELESSNESS.
WITH THAT THE FACT THAT OVER
40,000 STUDENTS IN WASHINGTON
STATE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS
AND YOU CAN SEE HOW URGENT
PASSING LITTLE LEGISLATION
PROHIBITING THE SCHOOL YEAR
EVICTIONS IS.
THE RENTAL COMMITTEE MUST ALSO
EXPAND JUST CAUSE PROTECTION
AGAINST EVICTIONS TO ALL
TENANTS.
CEILING HAS HAD JUST CAUSE
PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS ON
MONTH-TO-MONTH LEASES SINCE
1980 BUT MOST ARE TERM LEASES.
THIS MEANS PEOPLE CAN BE
EVICTED GIVING LANDLORDS TO
GENTRIFY THE CITY AND DISPLACE
NEIGHBORHOODS AS THEY PLEASE.
THE LEGISLATION MUST BE PASSED
NOW AND WITH NO LOOP HOLES.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE HANNA SABOTO.
>> MY NAME IS HANNA SABOTO AND
RENTER IN DISTRICT THREE.
I URGE TO VOTE YES ON SAWANT
LEGISLATION ON EVICTIONS OF
FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS AND
CHILDREN DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN IN
CRISIS SINCE THE START OF THE
PANDEMIC.
THIS HAS BEEN FOR OVER A YEAR.
NO CHILD SHOULD BE AFFECTED
ESPECIALLY NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF
A HEALTH CRISIS.
WE NEED A BILL TO EXPAND JUST
CAUSE PROTECTION.
THE LEASES ARE NOT COUGHED BY
THE JUST CAUSE PROTECTIONS AND
THIS MEANS THEY CAN BE EVICTED
FOR NO RUN AT ALL AT THE END OF
THE LEASES.
THIS IS THE REALITY FOR MOST
RENTERS IN SEATTLE.
OUR MOVEMENT COMPOSED OF
HOMELESS ACTIVISTS AND MANY
MORE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE WON
CUTAL RENTAL RIGHTS VICTORIES
LIKE THE BAN ON WINTER
EVICTIONS BECAUSE WE FOUGHT FOR
THEM BUT THERE IS A HOUSING
CRISIS AND WE NEED TO WIN MUCH
MORE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE MARGO STEWART
FOLLOWED BY GWEN HART.
>> I AM MARGO.
I AM COMING IN FAVOR OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S SOLUTION
AND TO CLOSE THE LOOP HOLES
AROUND THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
PROJECT.
EVEN WITH THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM IN THE PAST MONTH I
HAVE SEEN PEOPLE BE HARASSED
AND WITHOUT CLEAR CAUSE.
WE KNOW THAT 90% OF THE TIME IT
END UP WITH THEM ON THE STREET
AND NOW THAT STATEWIDE
MORATORIUM WILL END AT THE END
OF JUNE IT IS MORE URGENT TO
PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE
PROTECTION FROM UNWARRANTED
EVICTIONS AND THOSE HAPPENING
AND OVER THE SUMMER.
WE ARE STILL BATTLING THE
PANDEMIC AND THE HOUSING CRISIS
IN SEEMS PRECEDES THE PANDEMIC
BY MANY YEARS.
TO EMPHASIZE THE LANDLORDS
SERVING EVICTIONS WITHOUT
SUPPORTABLE CAUSE ARE
PREDOMINANTLY LARGE PROFITEERS
THAT WANT TO PROFIT FROM THE
PANDEMIC.
I AM URGING FOR THE STRONGEST
EFFORT FOR THE STRONGEST BILL
POSSIBLE TO TIE THAT TO THE
REPRESENTERS AND TENANT RIGHTS
MOVEMENT BY BACKING AGAINST THE
LANDLORD LOBBY.
THANK YOU.
>> GWEN HART.
>> I'M GWEN HART AND I AM A
VOTER IN DISTRICT 7 AND URGING
CITY COUNCIL TO EXPANDS JUST
CAUSE PROTECTION AGAINST
EVICTIONS FOR ALL TENANTS AND
PROHIBIT EVICTIONS AGAINST
FAMILY AND EDUCATORS DURING THE
SCHOOL YEAR.
THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED THE
GREATEST EMPLOYMENT THE U.S.
HAS SEEN AND THIS IS CRUCIAL IF
WE WANT TO KEEP FAMILIES IN
THEIR HOMES.
SEATTLE HAS HAD PROTECTION FOR
YEARS BUT THEY ARE APPLYING TO
MONTH-TO-MONTH LEASES BUT WE
NEED TO APPLY THEM TO ALL
LEASES IF WE WANT TO PREVENT A
WAVE OF HOMELESSNESS AFTER THE
MORATORIUM END.
THE PANDEMIC HAS ALTERED THE
EDUCATION OF CHILDREN IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY AND FAMILY
EVICTIONS WILL EXACERBATE THE
DAMAGE DONE.
THANK YOU.
>> KATE REUBEN FOLLOWED BY
KEVIN SLOWGO.
GO AHEAD.
KATE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MY NAME IS
KATE REUBEN AND THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE AND A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 2. WE ASK
THAT THE COMMITTEE SUPPORT AND
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF CB120057
TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
THIS LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS WAS DEVELOPED BY
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS
INCLUDING OUR ORGANIZATION.
IN ORDER TO FIX THE LEASES POOL
AND THE JUST CAUSE PROTECTION.
I WOULD URGE THE COMMITTEE TO
VOTE YES FOR COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT LEGISLATION TO PREVENT
EVICTIONS OF FAMILY AND
EDUCATORS AND CHILDREN IN THE
SCHOOL YEAR.
BOTH PIECES ARE NECESSARY TO
KEEP THE COMMUNITY HOUSED.
THANK YOU.
>>> WE HAVE KEVIN VICSONG.
>> YOU NEED TO APPEAR TO BE
MUTED HIT STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
>> THANKS.
MY NAME IS KEVIN A MEMBER OF
SEATTLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
AND RENTER IN FREMONT.
WITH THE EVICTION MORATORIUM TO
EXPIRE ON JUNE 30th AND THE
PANDEMIC CLAIMING LIVES AND
SHARING BUSINESSES IT IS
CRUCIAL THAT LEGISLATION
PROTECT FAMILIES AND RENTERS.
AS WE SAID THERE IS OVER 40,000
STUDENTS HOMELESS IN THE STATE
HOMELESS AND DISPROPORTIONATE
STUDENTS OF COLOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY UNION
AND OTHER MOVEMENT LEADERS FOR
THIS LEGISLATION.
I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO CLOSE
THE LOOPHOLE TO ALLOW EVICTIONS
ON FIXED TERMS.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO POINT TO
A REASON WHY REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THIS IS A MONTH-TO-
MONTH OR FIXED TERM LEASE.
JUST CAUSE PROTECTIONS SHOULD
APPLY TO ALL RENT AND ALL
TENANTS PERIOD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> JEFFREY FOGEL.
>> I AM A REGISTERED VOTER IN D
3 AND OWN RENTING PROPERTIES IN
D7.
I VIEW MY SMALL PORTFOLIO AS A
BUSINESS AND THIS IS NO
DIFFERENT THAN RESTRICTING A
RESTAURANT TO COLLECT PAYMENT
FOR FOOD.
I ALSO VIEW CITY COUNCIL'S
AGENDA [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
CONFLICT RESOLUTION THAT
RESULTS IN NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES WITH NO
COMPENSATION TO LANDLORDS.
I HAVE CONVERTED ONE PROPERTY
TO AIRBNBS.
GUESTS PAY UP FRONT AND THERE
IS AN INCENTIVE FOR GOOD
BEHAVIOR.
THE OTHER IS TO SELL THE OWNER
OCCUPANTS.
THEY ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY UNITS.
RENTERS WILL LOSE IN THE LONG
RUN AS SMALL LANDLORDS EXIT THE
BUSINESS LEAVING APARTMENTS AND
I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO
FOCUS ON CONVERSATION INSTEAD
OF PROTECTING ONE SIDE AGAINST
THE OTHER.
GOOD EXAMPLES ARE NOTIFICATIONS
AND FOR VIOLATORS CAN BE MOVED
ALONG.
>> CAN YOU -- SORRY THAT WAS
OVERTIME.
PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO
THE COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE MATTHEW LANG.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
I'M MATTHEW LANG.
I AM AN EDUCATOR AND LEAD
ORGANIZER OF THE TRANSIT UNION
AND THE JUSTICE CHAIR STANDING
AGAINST FORECLOSURES TODAY.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CHILD
HOMELESSNESS, RIGHT?
AND THE ISSUE OF EDUCATORS
BECOMING HOMELESS AND BEING
ABLE TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN IN
AN EFFECTIVE WAY.
AS OF TWO YEARS AGO, ABOUT 10%
OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
STUDENT POPULATION OR 54,000
WAS UNHOUSED IN ONE WAY WHETHER
THAT WAS LIVING OUT OF A
VEHICLE OR DOUBLING UP OR OTHER
WAYS AND THAT HAS DEEPLY
EFFECTS ON THE EDUCATION OF OUR
CHILDREN.
ADDITIONALLY, SO OFTEN WE DON'T
-- WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
NOT ONLY TEACHERS ARE MADE TO
SEE THAT THEIR SACRIFICES THAT
WERE MADE DURING THE PANDEMIC
WERE WORTHWHILE AND THEY WON'T
BE KICKED TO THE CURB AFTER THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM END.
AND THAT WE TAKE CARE OF
CONTRACTORS THAT WORK IN
EDUCATION SETTINGS AND STAFF
AND ADMIN AND JAN JANITORIAL.
EVERYONE HAS HAD A GREAT
SACRIFICE WITH THE PANDEMIC AND
NEED TO NOT THEMSELVES IN
HOMELESSNESS.
>>> WE HAVE CAMILLA WALTER.
>> I AM THE DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR FOR REAL CHANGE AND
RENTER.
WE SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION
PROHIBITING EVICTIONS DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
REDUCING HOUSING AND SECURITY
WILL SUPPORT THE WELL-BEING OF
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT
CRITICAL WORK TO CLOSE THE
EVICTION LOOPHOLE.
REAL CHANGE SUPPORTS COUNCIL
BILL 10057 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AS A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION DEVELOPED
WITH ONGOING COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
WE ASK THAT THIS COMMITTEE AS A
WHOLE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE
BILL THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE TRAM.
GO AHEAD TRAM.
>> TRAM, YOU APPEAR TO BE
MUTED.
IF YOU HIT STAR 6 YOU WILL
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM TRAM LARSEN AND I AM THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
WITH THE HOUSING JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT.
WE SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL 120057
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
THE COALITION HAS WORKED WITH
COUPLE MORALES' OFFICE TO
DEVELOP THIS LEGISLATION.
THIS HAS LEFT MANY RESIDENTS
VOLATILE TO LANDLORDS TO
CIRCUMVENT THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION.
SEATTLE HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST
NUMBER AS A RESULT.
WE KNOW COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
DEEPLY CARES.
WE ASK THAT THIS COMMITTEE AS A
WHOLE SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDED
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 12057
TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL.
WITH THE MORATORIUM COMING TO
AN END WE NEED TO ACT QUICKLY
TO PROTECT REPRESENTERS FROM
RETALIATORY BEHAVIORS AND
FLOODING THE EVICTION FILINGS.
THANK YOU.
>>> SONYA FULLNET.
>> I'M SONYA FULLNET AND AS A
WORKING MOM OF TWO TEENAGERS I
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
LEGISLATION AND URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT IT WITHOUT DELAY.
IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO EVICT
SOMEONE WITH NO JUSTIFICATION
AND ESPECIALLY SCHOOL CHILDREN
AND THEIR FAMILY.
SEATTLE HAS HAD THIS JUST CAUSE
PROTECTION FOR TENANTS ON MONTH-
TO-MONTH LEASES SINCE 190.
THIS HAS DIRECTED THE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AND SLUM LORDS TO USE
EVERY TRICK TO SUPPORT ANY LOOP
HOLES THEY CAN FIND.
THIS DOESN'T MEAN IF YOU
REPETATUR HOUSE YOU CAN EVICT
THEM.
YOU HAVE
YOU HAVE TO LEGITIMATE REASON.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR INTRODUCING THIS NECESSARY
BILL.
I BELIEVE THAT WE REALLY NEED
TO BUILD A MASS MOVEMENT OF
RENTERS TO CLOSE THE SEATTLE
JUST LOOPHOLE AND FIGHT THE
EVICTION CRISIS.
THANK YOU.
>>> MADELINE OLSEN.
>> I'M MADELINE AND A RENNER IN
GREEN LAKE AND I WANT TO SPEAK
IN FAVOR OF NO EVICTIONS FOR
FAMILIES AND DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
WE KNOW EVICTIONS ARE TRAUMATIC
FOR ANY PERSON BUT FOR CHILDREN
IT IS AMPLIFIED.
THEY ARE BEING DISRUPTED FROM
EDUCATION BUT REMOVED FROM THE
COMMUNITY OF PEERS TO SUPPORT
THEM.
I WANT TO ASK THE COMMITTEE TO
PLEASE SUPPORT EXPANDING JUST
CAUSE PROTECTION FOR RENTERS.
WHEN I MOVED I WAS TOTALLY
SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT
LANDLORDS IN SEATTLE CAN EVICT
TENANTS WITHOUT ANY LEGAL PROOF
OR REASON UNLESS YOU ARE
RENTING FOR A MONTH.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A COMMON SENSE
POLICY BUT WE KNOW CORPORATE
LANDLORDS WILL LOBBY BECAUSE
THEY HAVE THE MOST MONEY TO
GAIN AND ASKING EVERYONE TO YOU
KNOW PROTECT THE COMMUNITY OVER
PROFIT AND SUPPORT CHILDREN AND
REPRESENTERS FROM EVICTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>>> SEBASTIAN STOCKPILE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM A STAFF ATTORNEY WITH THE
KING COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT AND I
AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR.
WE SUPPORT OBVIOUSLY BILL 123-
0057 SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> SORRY.
NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON.
>> I THINK IT IS ON HIS END.
SO WE WILL --
>> MAYBE WE CAN COME BACK.
>> HOW ABOUT WE COME BACK?
SEBASTIAN IF YOU CAN HEAR --
MAYBE YOU CAN TRY AGAIN.
LET'S GO TO BROGAN JOHNSON.
>> I AM BROGAN THOMPSON IN
SEATTLE.
AND I OWN A SMALL FOUR PLEX AND
MYSELF AS A HOUSING PROVIDER
AND MY TENANTS LIKE THE
STABILITY OF FIXED TERM LEASES.
SEVERAL OF MY TENANTS I HAVE
GIVEN THESE COVID REBATES ON MY
OWN AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH THEM THROUGH THIS WHOLE
COVID ERA.
ALSO IT HAS BEEN PUZZLING THAT
YOU SEEM TO IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE COUNCIL MEETINGS HAVE
NO HOUSING PROVIDERS DURING THE
DRAFT OF YOUR DISCUSSIONS EVEN
THIS MEETING THERE IS NO
PRESENTERS AT THIS MEETING FROM
THE HOUSING PROVIDERS OR
PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND I WISH
YOU WOULD INCLUDE US A LITTLE
MORE IN THE BEGINNING.
DON'T LIKE THE PROPOSALS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> CARLA DAVIS FOLLOWED BY --
I'M SORRY.
I SHOULD CHECK SEBASTIAN IF YOU
ARE STILL THERE.
LET'S SEE IF YOU WANT TO GO
AHEAD.
SEBASTIAN.
I AM NOT HEARING ANYTHING SO
LET'S GO TO CARLA DAVIS.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
YES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM SEBASTIAN STOCKPILE AND
STAFF ATTORNEY WITH THE KING
COUNTY ASSOCIATION AND A RENTER
IN DISTRICT FOUR.
WE SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL 120-
0057 SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
AS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION WITH
ONGOING COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
THE STAY HEALTHY COALITION IS
WORKING WITH MORALES' OFFICE
AND ASK THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT HONOR IT.
THIS WAS DEVELOPED BY COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT TO THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL.
LAWMAKERS HAVE MOVED FORWARD
WITH LAWS TO HELP COMMUNITIES
WITHOUT GETTING MEANINGFUL
INPUT FOR EFFECTIVE LAWS TO BE
PASSED.
WITH THE MORATORIUM COMING TO
AN END WE NEED TO ACT QUICKLY
TO PROTECT VULNERABLE RENTERS
FROM RETALIATORY BEHAVIORS FROM
LANDLORDS.
RENTERS SHOULD NOT BE FACING
HOMELESSNESS AS A RESULT OF
LOOP HOLES AND FOR NO REASON.
12057 WILL ADDRESS THAT.
THANK YOU.
>>> WE HAVE CARLA DAVIS.
>> HOLE LOW I'M CARLA DAVIS
WITH THE HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT AND I WANT TO EXPRESS
MY SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL BILL
120057 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
EVERY DAY WE HEAR FROM
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT
FACE ARBITRARY AND UNJUST
EVICTION THREATS.
THE LOOPHOLE IS ESPECIALLY
CONCERNING AS IT EVADES THE
JUST CAUSE PROVISIONS THAT CITY
HAS ENACTED IN PROTECTION OF
TENANTS.
KNOWING COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
SUPPORTS AND SPONSORS THIS
LEGISLATION AND THE HEALTHY
COALITION WORK TOGETHER WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' OFFICE
TO CONTINUE SHOWING UP TO
RENTERS THAT FACE SIGNIFICANT
POWER IMBALANCES.
WE ASK THAT THE FULL COMMITTEE
SUPPORT AND RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF COUNCIL BILL 120057 TO THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL, THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION DEVELOPED BY AND
FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WE
ASK THAT YOU HONOR THOSE
VOICES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> MINDY LEE.
>> YEAH.
THIS IS MINDY LEE.
AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT
UNION AND I WORK IN THE SCHOOL
SYSTEM FOR 40 YEARS.
AND, OF COURSE, THAT WAS BEFORE
COVID AND I SAW THE DEVASTATION
OF THE KIDS WHEN THEY WERE
MOVED FROM THE HOUSE TO HOUSE.
IN FACT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT
DURING THAT TIME THAT WE WERE
ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO GO AND BUS
THEM FROM THEIR NEW LOCATION
WHERE EVER IT WAS IF IT WAS
OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT AND
BRING THEM BACK AND USED TO
GOING TO THE SCHOOLS THEY WENT
TO BECAUSE WE KNOW STABILITY
HELPS AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
FOR YEARS TO GET THE TEACHERS
TO LIVE AND POLICEMAN TO LIVE
IN THE DISTRICTS THAT THEY ARE
IN SO WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYBODY
TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.
IT ISSIC PAVE RATIVE TO KEEP
THE KIDS IN THE HOME AND NOT
EVICT THEM.
AS I SAID THIS WAS GOING ON
BEFORE COVID YOU CAN IMAGINE
DURING EVICTION TIME AND WE
NEED TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM
OR PASS THE LEGISLATION BEFORE
THE MORATORIUM RUNS OUT.
THANK YOU.
>>> LAURA BERNSTEIN.
>> HI MY NAME IS LAURA
BERNSTEIN A D7 RENTER AND
MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT WRITER
UNION AND FOUNDER OF SHARE THE
ACTION FUND AND PART OF THE
STAY HEALTHY COALITION.
WE SUPPORT 120057 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
THE EVICTION CRISIS IS PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS.
TENANT NEED HELP AND WE NEED TO
STAY HOUSED.
THE ACTION CITY FUND WANTS A
WELL FUNDED PURCHASE ACT AND
EXPANDED RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE MOST
LOW INCOME RESIDENTS BUT EASIER
ACCESS FOR TENANTS BEING
DISPLACED DUE TO THEIR AN
APARTMENT BEING DEVELOPED.
THANK YOU.
>> VIOLET.
GO AHEAD VIOLET.
>> VIOLET.
YOU APPEAR TO BE MUTED.
IF YOU HIT STAR 6 YOU WILL
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
HI, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS
SAWANT.
MY NAME IS VIOLET LAVATIGHT AND
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] IN WASHINGTON.
AND I AM EXCITED THAT THIS BILL
THAT KSHAMA SAWANT HAS PUT
FORTH TO PROTECT FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN TO BE PROTECTED.
IT IS NEEDED IN THIS DAY AND
AGE.
I AM CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL BILL 1257 BROUGHT BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COSPONSORED BY LEWIS ON THIS
BILL.
IT IS IMPORTANT.
IT IS VOICES FROM THE
COMMUNITY.
VOICES FROM OUR -- FROM JUST
STAKEHOLDERS THAT KNOW THE
DISPARITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE ARE ASKING YOU --
FULL COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL AND PASS IT AND THE
LEGISLATION IS SO IMPORTANT AND
SO NEEDED RIGHT NOW.
AND SO THANK YOU AGAIN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
SUPPORTING THIS BILL AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
LEWIS.
>> DAN CAVANAUGH THAT WAS
SIGNED UP EARLIER.
GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS DAN.
I'M A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE AND A RENTER IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND CALLING
BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBERS NEED TO
PASS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
JUST CAUSE PROTECTION.
AND I WANT TO THANK THAT SHE IS
COSPONSORING MORALES' BILLS
BECAUSE SHE SUPPORTS ALL
EFFORTS TO CLOSE THAT LOOPHOLE.
WE NEED A UNITED MOVEMENT BILL
FOR THAT.
I WANT TO PUSH BACK ON SOME OF
THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN HEARING
FROM SMALL LANDLORDS.
THESE BILLS AREN'T TARGETING
SMALL LANDLORDS.
SMALL LANDLORDS DON'T WANT TO
SCREW THEM OVER AND THERE IS A
REASON THAT TEACHERS' UNION
VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THE
LEGISLATION THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT PUT FOR WARD.
>>> THIS IS KATIE WILSON.
I'M A RENTER IN DRINK THREE AND
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
TRANSIT WRITERS UNION.
LAST FALL WHEN THE MEMBERSHIP
BEGAN TO DISCUSS WHAT TO WORK
ON THE RENTAL CRISIS EMERGED AS
A TOP CONCERN.
WE REACHED OUT TO COMMUNITY
ALLIES ORGANIZING WITH RENTERS
FOR MANY YEARS INCLUDINGAL
TENANTS UNION WASHINGTON CAN
AND SEATTLE AND THE HOUSING
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
TOGETHER WE BILL A BROAD
COALITION STAY HEALTHY TO WIN
STRONGER PROTECTION INCLUDING
TO STRENGTH AN THE JUST CAUSE
ORDINANCE.
IN JANUARY WE APPROACHED
MORALES KNOWING THAT THE
DISTRICTS IN THE CITY DISTRICT
2 WAS TO BE HARDEST HIT.
SINCE THEN AND ALONGSIDE SOUTH
SEATTLE GROUPS LIKE EL CENTRAL
AND WALLBACK WHOSE COMMUNITIES
ARE IMED WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON LEGISLATION TO PROTECT
RENTERS.
STRONGLY SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES LEGISLATION.
THIS HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE STAY
HEALTHY COALITION.
WE THANK COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS TO
COSPONSOR IT.
I HOPE THIS GOES INTO EFFECT
BEFORE THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
ENDS.
THANK YOU.
>>> DAVID HAYNES.
G AHEAD DAVID.
>> DAVID YOU APPEAR TO BE MUTED
IF YOU HIT STAR 6 YOU WILL
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU.
WE NEED TO TAKE BACK OF POWER
OF GREEDY CORPORATE LANDLORDS
DISCRIMINATING AGAINST VETERANS
AND NONVETERANS REQUIRED TO
MAKE THREE TIMES THE REN.
I HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST BY EVERY CORPORATE
LEASING OFFICE IN SEATTLE.
IT IS LIKE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE MILITARY SERVICE BUT WE
DON'T WANT YOU LIVING HERE WITH
BAD CREDIT OR NO CREDIT.
WITH THE VETERAN ADMINISTRATION
EVEN HELPING.
THE THING THAT IS MORE
BOTHERSOME THERE WAS A BUILDING
IN PIONEER SQUARE THAT IS
TOTALLY UNSIF.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS
ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN NEWER
STUDIOS AND THEY STILL WANT YOU
TO PAY UTILITIES SEPARATELY.
EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHTING IS
WORSE THAN A JAIL.
NOW --
>> HOLD ON.
>> GIVE ME A SECOND HERE.
WE CAN'T LET ABUSIVE LANDLORDS
GET AWAY WITH RIPPING OFF
RENTERS.
GOD BLESS THE RENTER'S REVOLT
TO ALLEVIATE THE ABUSE BY BANKS
GETTING AWAY WITH DILAPIDATED
RENT.
>>> ISAAC ORBAS NISTA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M A RENTER IN D2 AND I AM
CALLING TO ASK THAT THIS
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF
THE STRONG RENT PROTECTION.
CB12057 THAT WAS REQUIRED
STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING
WASHINGTON CAB.
WE SAW THE COURT DECISION AS
WELL SUPPORTED THE POLICIES
DEMONSTRATING THE DEEP SUPPORT
FOR THE PROTECTION AND THE
APPLICATION.
SO AGAIN I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND THE
OFFICE TO SUPPORT CB120057.
THANK YOU.
>>> SO OUR LAST TWO SPEAKERS
ARE RENE AND KAYLA.
>> HELLO I AM RENE BALOU AND
STAFF ATTORNEY WITH THE HOUSING
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL HAS
SEATTLE RENTER IN THE BAL ARD
NEIGHBORHOOD.
CALLING TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR
COUNCIL BILL 1257 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
THIS BILL IS A REALLY CRUCIAL
STEP IN RENTAL PROBLEMS FOR
SEATTLE TENANTS BECAUSE IT
WOULD CLOSE THE LEASE TERM
NATION LOOPHOLE UNDER THE
CURRENT JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE.
THE LOOPHOLE CURRENTLY ALLOWS
LANDLORDS TO DENY LEASE
RENEWALS THROUGH NO FAULT OF
THEIR OWN.
THIS LOOPHOLE RUNS COMPLETELY
COUNTER TO THE POLICY BEHIND
THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE.
IMAGINE BUILDING A HOME AND
EXPECTING THE OBJECT OF LEASE
RENEWAL.
WINNINGS ARE MOTIVATED BY
RACIAL BIAS.
LANDLORDS SHOULD APPRECIATE
RESPONSIBILITY BY PROVIDING
SOMEONE WITH A HOME.
I AM HEARING FROM LANDLORDS
TODAY FROM RENTAL HOUSING IS
SHOCKINGINGLY UNDER REGULATED.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS KAYLA
NICHOLSON.
>> I AM KAYLA NICHOLSON.
A RENTER IN DISTRICT 5 AND
WORKING PARENT.
I JUST WANT TO FIRST EXPRESS
SUPPORT FOR BOTH THE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT HAS BROUGHT.
THE BAN ON EVICTIONS OF SCHOOL
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND
TEACHERS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR
AND ALSO THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION LEGISLATION.
I JUST WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
HOSTING THIS COMMUNITY MEETING
AND FOR INVITING ORDINARY
RENTERS LIKE MYSELF TO BE PART
OF THIS DISCUSSION AND TO WEIGH
IN NOT JUST ON THIS LEGISLATION
BUT OVER THE YEARS THE STRATEGY
OF INVITING ORDINARY RENTERS
AND TRYING TO MOBILIZE THE
COMMUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND BE A
PART OF THIS HAS HELPED US TO
WIN COUNTLESS PIECES OF RENTAL
PROTECTION WITHOUT THE TYPES OF
LOOP HOLES THAT ARE SEEN IN
MOST CITIES, RIGHT?
WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY
PRECEDENT LEGISLATION AS A
RESULT OF THIS STRATEGY.
AND I, IF I REMEMBER CRIMINAL
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT INDICATED
AT THE BEGINNING SHE HAS
OFFERED TO COSPONSOR THE
LEGISLATION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE
MENTIONED SO I AM CONFUSED,
YEAH, SHE HAS ALREADY OFFERED
TO COSPONSOR THAT.
YEAH.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HEAR
FROM COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> SORRY.
PLEASE THE FIRST SPEAKERS I
INTERRUPTED PLEASE SEND YOUR
COMMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE
ABSOLUTELY ALWAYS.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
EVERYONE THAT SIGNED UP AND
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND I WANT TO
CONFIRM WHAT THE LAST SPEAKER
WAS SAYING.
I HAVE OFFERED TO COSPONSOR
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' BILL
BECAUSE OF COURSE MY OFFICE
SUPPORTS THE JUST CAUSE
LOOPHOLE AND IT DOES NO HELP
FROM MY STAND POINT -- I HAVE
ALWAYS USED MY OFFICE TO BUILD
RANK AND FILE MOVEMENT OF
RENTERS AND WORKERS BECAUSE
THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT
GETS IT.
SO IN THAT SENSE IT DOES NOT
HELP THE RENTERS MOVEMENT FOR
THERE TO BE DIVISION AND SO
ABSOLUTELY I HAVE OFFERED TO
COSPONSOR AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES TO RESPOND TO THAT
PUBLICLY AND I WILL DEFINITELY
LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
THAT IN THE CONCLUSION OF
PUBLIC COMMENT THE FIRST AGENDA
ITEM BEGINS.
WE -- TWO RENTER RIGHTS BILL WE
WILL HEAR TO EXPLAIN THE
LEGISLATION AND TO HEAR FROM A
COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT IS
ADVOCATES TO DISCUSS THIS
PROJECT THAT THE LEGISLATION
ADDRESSES AND STAFF FROM MY
OFFICE WILL SUMMARIZE WHERE WE
ARE.
WE HAVE A LOT ON OUR PLATE AND
I WANTED TO ACCOMMODATE
EVERYBODY ON PUBLIC COMMENT BUT
THAT DID TAKE UP QUITE A WHILE
AND WE HAVE THREE AGENDA ITEMS
SO I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL PRESENTERS KEEPING
EVERYTHING EFFICIENT.
THE FIRST ITEM HERE IN TERMS OF
THE BANNING THE EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AND
EDUCATORS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR, WE HAVE PRESENTATION FROM
ASHA VENKATARANMAN AND ALY
PENNUCCI AND COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF ON THIS OFFICE.
I WILL HAVE THEM COME IN AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES FOR THE
RECORD AND BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE
READY.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AND ASHA VENKATARANMAN
AND ALY PENNUCCI.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
ASHA VENKATARANMAN WITH CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND DIVE
INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE
PRESENTATION.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS
TWO BILLS.
COUNCIL BILL 120046 RELATED TO
EVICTIONS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR AS WELL AS COUNCIL BILL
120056 RELATED TO FIXED TERM
LEASES AND THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION ORDINANCE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
BEFORE -- SO WE WILL TAKE UP
THE FIRST COUNCIL BILL.
120046 THAT RELATES TO THE
SCHOOL YEAR EVICTIONS.
HOWEVER, BEFORE GETTING INTO
DESCRIBING WHAT THAT BILL DOES,
I THOUGHT WE WOULD JUST START
WITH DESCRIBING GENERALLY WHAT
THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE DOES BUT I WILL KEEP
IT BRIEF BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT HAS DONE THIS AND THERE
HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS
PRESENTATIONS.
GENERALLY SPEAKING THE JUST
CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE
REQUIRES LANDLORDS AFTERNOON
PROPERTY MANAGERS TO STATE ONE
OF THE APPROVED REASONS LIST
3rd INVITING THE ORDINANCE TO
PROCEED WITH EVICTION AND THAT
INCLUDES NOTICING REQUIREMENTS
TO TENANTS PRIOR TO FILING
UNLAWFUL DETAINER TO TAKE
TENANT TO COURT AND PROVIDES A
DEFENSE TO EVICTIONS FOR
UNLAWFUL DETAINER.
IT DOESN'T PROHIBIT THE
LANDLORD FROM PROCEEDING WITH
ISSUING THE NOTICE AND TAKING A
TENANT TO COURT BUT OFFERS A
TENANT A DEFENSE IN THOSE
PROCEEDINGS WHICH THEIR
ATTORNEY OR THEY THEMSELVES CAN
RAISE BEFORE THE JUDGE.
HERE ON THIS SLIDE THIS IS A
HIGH LEVEL DESCRIBED WHAT THE
DEFENSES ARE INCLUDING
REQUIRING A DEFENSE WOULD BE IF
IT WOULD RESULT IN A TENANT
HAVING TO VACANT BETWEEN
DECEMBER 1st AND MARCH 1
APPLYING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY.
WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE INTO
DESCRIBING COUNCIL BILL 120046.
THIS BILL WOULD AMEND THE JUST
CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE TO
PROVIDE A DEFENSE FOR EVICTION
THAT WOULD OCCUR DURING THE
SCHOOL YEAR IF ANY MEMBER OF
THE HOUSEHOLD IS UNDER 18 AND
ENROLLED IN SCHOOL AS THE PAIR
REST OR GUARDIAN OF SUCH A
PERSON OR IS A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE.
SO I WILL JUST PAUSE HERE FOR A
MINUTE TO SAY THIS IS WHERE I
WAS DESCRIBING IT OFFERS A
DEFENSE.
IT DOESN'T PROHIBIT THE
LANDLORD FROM INITIATING
EVICTION PROCEEDINGS BUT IT
DOES OFFER A DEFENSE FOR THE
TENANT WHEN THEY ARE IN COURT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
DEFINITIONS AND WHO IT WILL
APPLY TO.
AS I HAVE DESCRIBED IT COVERS
ANY HOUSEHOLD WITH A CHILD OR
STUDENT.
ANYBODY UNDER 18 OR CURRENTLY
ENROLLED IN SCHOOL.
DEFINITION OF EDUCATOR IS
BROADER THAN SOME PEOPLE
UNDERSTOOD.
IT INCLUDES EMPLOYEES OR
CONTRACTORS OF SCHOOL,
GOVERNING BODY AND EXECUTE
TEACHERS AND PARA PROFESSIONALS
AND ADMINISTRATORS AND THE LIST
GOES ON HERE ON THE SLIDE.
BUT IT IS A BROAD DEFINITION OF
ANYONE THAT IS SUPPORTING THE
SCHOOL, THE EDUCATORS AND THE
STUDENTS IN BEING ABLE TO
SUCCEED IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF SCHOOL
THIS APPLIES TO ANY EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
HEAD START FACILITIES AND
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
THAT PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR ALL
GRADES OR AGE GROUPS UP TO AND
INCLUDING 12th GRADE.
THE SCHOOL YEAR IS TIED TO THE
ACADEMIC YEAR SET BY THE
SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THAT IS AT A HIGH LEVEL AND THE
AMENDMENT FOR THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION ORDINANCE WOULD DO IN
COUNCIL BILL 120046.
WE HAD INTENDED TO KEEP THIS
BRIEF AND WITH THE CHAIR'S
DIRECT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT MORE
TO ADD BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
I'LL JUST NOTE THAT THE NEXT
STEP HERE AS COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT HAD DESCRIBED WE ARE
HAPPY TO WORK WITH COMMITTEE
MEMBERS FOR CONSIDERATION AT
THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING
WHERE I THINK THE CHAIR INTENDS
TO TAKE UP ADDITIONAL
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL VOTE
AT THAT MEETING.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M SURE THERE ARE QUESTIONS TO
BE DIRECTED TO YOU ALL ASHA AND
ALY.
I WANT TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY
PANEL BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
SEVERAL OF THEM.
TWO OR THREE OF THEM HAVE TIME
CONSTRAINTS.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CALL ON THEM SO WE -- TO BEGIN
WITH WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS SPEAKING TO BAN SCHOOL
-- BAN THE EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOLS.
I'M SORRY.
I HAVE A MOUTHFUL.
BAN THE EVICTIONS OF SCHOOL
CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS DOING
THE SCHOOL YEAR BILL.
SO I WANT TO START WITH MATT
MALE AND JULISSA SANCHEZ AND
ARIANA LAUREANO.
I'M JUST READING THE NAMES SO
THERE IS NOT TIME WASTED IN
AWKWARDNESS AND MATT MALEY IS
AN EDUCATOR TAKING TIME OUT OF
HIS WORKDAY AND SCHOOL HOURS TO
COME HERE.
I WANTED TO START THERE VERY
QUICKLY.
WELCOME AND FOR THE RECORD
INTRODUCE YOURSELF WITH A
SENTENCE OR TWO AND DO YOUR
PRESENT TAKING AND WE WILL NEXT
HAVE JULISSA SANCHEZ.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
AS STATED MY NAME IS MATTHEW
MALEY AND SUBSTITUTE TEACHER IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND A
MEMBER OF SEATTLE INDICATING
ASSOCIATION.
I ALSO RENT AND WORK IN
DISTRICT THREE OF SEATTLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY
THANKING THE OFFICE OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
BRINGING THESE IMPORTANT PIECES
OF LEGISLATION FORWARD.
I'M SPEAKING MOSTLY TO THE
EVICTION PROTECTION FOR SCHOOL
AGE STUDENTS BUT I SUPPORT A
UNITED MOVEMENT FOR THE
STRONGEST POSSIBLE JUST CAUSE
PROTECTION FOR RENTERS.
PASSING EVICTION PROTECTIONS
FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND
FAMILIES OF SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS
WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATE IMPACT AND
POSITIVE ON STUDENTS AND
WORKING FAMILIES.
AS IS ALREADY MENTIONED.
I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I VOTED
FOR THE RESOLUTION THAT IS PUT
FORWARD IN FRONT OF SEA AND MY
UNION AND PASSED IN SUPPORT OF
THIS EVICTION PROTECTION.
THE LACK OF QUALITY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS NOT A NEW CHALLENGE
TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES
BUT EXACERBATED BY ISSUES OF
THE PANTS AND REMOTE LEARNING
AND LAG OF ACCESS TO ADEQUATE
TECHNOLOGY AND HIGH SPEED
INTERNET.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC UPWARDS OF
20 TO 30% OF STUDENTS IN A
GIVEN SCHOOL MIGHT BE HOMELESS
QUALIFYING FOR THE FEDERAL
PROGRAM AND REFERRED TO OTHER
STATISTICS ALREADY TODAY.
ON TOP THAT HAVE, STUDENTS THAT
HAVE RETURNED IN-PERSON CLASSES
FACE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AS
WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE
TEAMSTERS LOCAL REPRESENTING
BUS DRIVERS AND THAT IS INSTUFF
BUS DRIVERS AND LACK OF TRAPS
IT FOR MANY STUDENTS THAT NEED
IT BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS CAN'T
AFFORD TO TAKE THEM TO AND FROM
SCHOOL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
DAY.
THIS IS WHY I SUPPORT
IMPLEMENTING PROTECTION FOR
EDUCATORS AND FAMILY AND SCHOOL
AGE CHILDREN LIKE THE COUNCIL
BILL BEING CONSIDERED TODAY.
I WILL URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
TO VOTE YES AS THEY SEND IT TO
FULL COUNCIL.
THE PROBLEMS OF HOUSING
INSTABILITY ARE REAL AND
DEVASTATING FOR FAMILIES.
THERE ARE SOLUTIONS AND I WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR HER OFFICE'S LEADERSHIP AND
OTHER RECENT VICTORIES LIKE
WINNING EVICTION DEFENSE FOR
RENTERS BEING BROUGHT TO COURT.
FINALLY LIKE WE KNOW THE
IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC IS
IMMENSE AND WON'T SPEAK TO THE
LOOPHOLE FULLY BUT AS A RENTER
I HAVE LIVED IN FIVE DIFFERENT
HOUSING SITUATIONS AND MY EIGHT
YEARS IN SEATTLE AND AT LEAST
TWO OF THEM ARE AT THE END OF
MY FIXED TERM LEASE FOR NO GOOD
REASON OTHER THAN THE LANDLORD
DID NOT WANT TO LET US FILL AN
EMPTY ROOM AND THE SECOND TIME
BECAUSE MY LANDLORD PLANNED TO
TURN IT INTO AN AIRBNB THAT WE
HAVE HEARD IN THE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I CAB STAY ON LONG.
I'M IN MY BREAK SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH TO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THESE
BILLS AND I URGE ALL CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE
BILLS AND FOR THE MOVEMENT OF
RENTERS AND WORKING PEOPLE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> THANK YOU, MATT.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING
TIME OUT OF YOUR WORKDAY AS AN
EDUCATOR.
IF YOU CAN STICK AROUND FOR AS
LONG AS POSSIBLE, PLEASE DO
BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WILL BE
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
AND I KNOW I HAVE QUESTIONS AND
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JULISSA
SANCHEZ FOLLOWED BY ARIANA
LAUREANO.
IF YOU ALL -- JUSTLIKE MATT
WANTED TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THE
JUST BILL PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.
GO AHEAD JULISSA SANCHEZ.
>> THANK YOU.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M JULISSA SANCHEZ A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER AND TENANTS RIGHTS
ADVOCATE WITH THE UNION OF
WASHINGTON STATE.
AS A TENANTS UNION
REPRESENTATIVE AND FIRM
BELIEVER THAT HOUSING IS A
FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT AND,
THEREFORE, A CHILD'S RIGHT AND
AS AN EDUCATOR, MOTHER AND
HUMAN THAT HAS LIVED THROUGH
DISPLACE MANY ESPECIALLY THE
ONE WE KNOW IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT IN EARLY 2000S, I CAN
ASSURE YOU THAT EVICTIONS AND
DISPLACE MANY RUIN LIFE.
AND RUIN COMMUNITY AND
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.
I WORK WITH THE LATINOS AND
DOCUMENTED COMMUNITY AND I WANT
TO FOCUS ON THEIR EXPERIENCES
IN BEING DISPLACED.
AS THEY HAVE ALREADY CAME FROM
A TOTALLY DIFFERENT COUNTRY AND
MIGRATED HERE AND THE COMMUNITY
AND THE HOME HERE AND FOR
UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN TO BE
DISPLACED AGAIN AND A COUNTRY
WHERE THEY ARE RECREATING THEIR
LIVES.
AND WHILE IN SCHOOL WHILE
LEARNING ENGLISH AND LEARNING A
NEW LANGUAGE AND CULTURE AND
NEW -- FORMING THEIR OWN
IDENTITY WITHIN THE COUNTRY AND
BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC HAS
AFFECTED THE UNDOCUMENTED AND
LATINO COMMUNITY AND REALLY
DEVASTATING WAYS.
TO FIND YOURSELF AS A CHILD
BEING EVICTED AND NOT
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT PROCESS
IS LIKE AND WHY THAT PROCESS
EXISTS AND WHY WE ALLOW THAT TO
HAPPEN TO CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES OR ANYONE, REALLY,
RIGHT?
BUT AS A CHILD HOW DO PARENTS
EXPLAIN TO CHILDREN THAT THEY
ARE BEING EVICTED AND THEY WILL
NO LONGER BE IN THEIR SCHOOL
AND THE WORLD THAT THEY HAVE
CREATED AND THE SPACE THAT THEY
ARE TRYING TO GROW AND BECOME
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD, RIGHT?
CHILDREN HAVE ENDURED SO MUCH
UNDER THE PANDEMIC AND HAVE
DEMONSTRATED TO US ADULTS AND
TO OUR SOCIETY HOW INCREDIBLE
WE ARE.
YOU KNOW, MY SON, MY SON HAS
HAD A HARD TIME STAYING ON TOP
OF ASSIGNMENTS AND STAYING ON
TOP OF HOMEWORK DURING ONLINE
LEARNING.
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE
CONNECTION TO HIS FRIENDS.
HE DOESN'T HAVE THE CONNECTION
TO HIS COMMUNITY AT SCHOOL.
NOW IMAGINE EVICTED DURING
THIS PROCESS WHILE YOU ARE
TRYING TO GO BACK TO THE NORMAL
WAY OF LIFE, RIGHT?
SO HAVE CHILDREN HAVE ALREADY
SHOWED UP RESILIENCE WE NEED TO
SHOW UP FOR OUR CHILDREN AND
NEED TO PROTECT THEM AND KEEP
THEM IN THEIR HOMES AND KEEP
THEM SAFE ESPECIALLY BLACK,
BROWN, UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN
THAT PROPORTIONATELY SUFFER
FROM HOUSING INJUSTIFIEDS AND
WITNESSING THEIR PEERS BEING
KILLED AT THE HANDS OF POLICE.
AND WE MUST PASS THIS
LEGISLATION TO MAKE CHILDREN
AND THEIR FAMILIES FEEL SAFE
AND PROTECT CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES FROM HOMELESSNESS.
HAVING A STABLE HOME SUPPORTS
CHILDREN'S MENTAL, SOCIAL
HEALTH AND THEIR FUTURE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
PUTTING THIS BILL AND PUTTING
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FIRST.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH JULISSA
SANCHEZ.
I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
OWN CHILD'S EXPERIENCE AND NOT
ONLY AS A RENTERS RIGHTS
ADVOCATE BUT AS A PARENT.
THAT IS VALUABLE.
WE HAVE ARIANA LAUREANO NEXT.
GO AHEAD.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR
THE RECORD AND GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS ARIANA LAUREANO.
I'M A TENANT ACTIVIST HERE IN
SEATTLE.
SO EVICTIONS ARE BREAKING UP
OUR COMMUNITY.
AS WE HEARD HERE TODAY WE HAVE
ROUGHLY 1200 EVICTIONS PER
YEAR.
90 PERSIAN OF WHICH RESULT IN
HOMELESSNESS WITH OVER 52% OF
TENANTS HAVING ONE CHILD.
WE HAVE ONE IN 14 CHILDREN
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
DURING THEIR EDUCATION.
SORRY.
MY COMPUTER JUST QUIT.
OH, MY.
I AM SO SORRY.
MY COMPUTER JUST COMPLETELY
FAILED ON ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
>> DON'T YOU WORRY AT ALL,
ARIANA LAUREANO.
THIS HAPPENS TO ALL OF US.
HOW ABOUT I GO TO THE NEXT
PANEL AND THEN WE COME BACK TO
YOU.
IS THAT OKAY?
>> YES.
THANK YOU.
>> OF COURSE.
WE HAVE SHIRLEY HENDERSON THAT
IS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND
RENNER, GO AHEAD SHIRLEY.
AS I CALL APPLIES SAY ONE
SENTENCE AND GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM SHIRLEY HENDERSON AND I'M
HERE TODAY AS A RENTER AND
SMALL BUSINESS OPENER TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
LEGISLATION.
WE WILL BE SPEAKING
SPECIFICALLY ON CLOSING THE
LOOPHOLE IN SEATTLE'S JUST
CAUSE ORDINANCE.
I HAVE HAD MY OWN EXPERIENCE
WITH UNJUST EVICTIONS.
AFTER YEARS OF MANAGING AN
APARTMENT BUILDING ON CAPITOL
HILL MY PARTNER AND I WERE TOLD
THAT MANAGEMENT COMPANY WAS NO
LONGER GOING TO HAVE ON SITE
MANAGERS SO AFTER CARING FOR
THE BUILDING AND THE TENANTS
FOR SIX YEARS WE WERE GIVEN TWO
WEEKS RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS TO
FIND A NEW PLACE BECAUSE THE
COMPANY WANTED US OUT BEFORE
THE NEW YEAR.
IT WAS NOT AN EVICTION IN A
TECHNICAL SENSE, RIGHT?
WE WERE STILL FORCED TO LEAVE
AT SHORT NOTICE.
WE HAD BEEN MANAGING THE
APARTMENT BUILDING SO WE
COULD'S IN ORDER TO LIVE NEAR
OUR PLACE OF BUSINESS AND
MANAGING THE APARTMENT BUILDING
WAS ALSO A NO SMALL PART THE
REASON WE COULD AFFORD TO OPEN
A SMALL BUSINESS IN SEATTLE IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
TRYING TO FIND A NEW HOME IN
THE CRAZY EXPENSIVE RENTAL
MARKET DURING THE HOLIDAYS WAS
HORRIFIC AND FURTHERED TO MOVE
FURTHER FROM OUR BUSINESS AND
COMMUNITY.
WHILE CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE MAY
NOT HAVE PROTECTED MY PARTNER
AND I FROM GETTING EVICTED I
CAN RELATE TO FOLK THAT HAVE
BEEN EVICTED WITHOUT CAUSE THAT
ARE THEN LEFT STRUGGLING TO
FIND A NEW HOME WHEN THEY DON'T
HAVE THE TIME OR THE MONEY FOR
DEPOSITS ON TOP OF HAVING THE
EMOTIONAL STRESS OF JUST BEING
EVICTED.
SO MANY TENANTS ARE EVICTED
THROUGH THE LOOPHOLE IN
SEATTLE'S LAWS TO PREVENT
EVICTIONS WITHOUT A JUSTIFIABLE
REASON.
AS OTHERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT
ON AVERAGE SEATTLE LANDLORDS
EVICT ABOUT 1200 TENANTS EVERY
YEAR ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS
AND THIS LOOPHOLE IS THOROUGHLY
EXPLOITED BY CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AS SLUM LORDS AS I
HAVE EXPERIENCED AND WITNESSED
AS BEING A MANAGER.
AND IT IS ABOUT TO BECOME A
BIGGER DANGER BECAUSE AS OTHERS
HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE,
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE
HAVE JUST VOTED TO END THE
STATEWIDE EVICTION MORATORIUM
ON JUNE 30th OF THIS YEAR.
AND THAT'S JUST AROUND THE
CORNER.
AND WE KNOW THAT MANY TENANTS
ARE STILL STRUGGLING
ECONOMICALLY AS A RESULT OF
COVID AND THE CAPTAINIST
RECESSION.
WITHOUT THE JUST CAUSE
PROTECTION EXTENDED PRIOR TO
JUNE 30th WE CAN SEE LANDLORDS
START TO FILE EVICTION NOTICES
AGAINST TEAM LEASE DEBT ANTS AS
THEY EXPIRE IN JULY.
NATIONALLY THE PANDEMIC AND
EVICTION MORATORIUM HAVE NOT
STOPPED CORPORATE LANDLORDS
EVICTIONS WE KNOW THE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS WILL DO THE BULK OF
THE EVICTING.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS
AFFECTS SMALL BUSINESSES TOO.
WHETHER IT IS FROM STRUGGLING
RENTERS AND EMPLOYEES THAT ARE
AT THE MERCY OF LANDLORDS WHEN
THE LEASE TERM IS UP AND FORCED
ON THEM.
THE EMPLOYEES FROM SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE ABSOLUTELY
STRUGGLING RENTERS.
AS A MAJORITY OF THE SERVICE
INDUSTRY JOBS ENDED TO COVID
BECAUSE OF CLOSURES.
IT IS TIME TO WE CLOSE THE
LOOPHOLE AND HAVE JUST CAUSE
PROTECTION FROM EVICTIONS.
I AM JOINING COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S OFFICE AND THE RIGHTS
ACTIVISTS TO FIGHT FOR THE
STRONGEST POSSIBLE PROTECTION
FOR RENTERS GETTING UNJUSTLY
EVICTED.
IT IS A POSSIBLE THAT MORALES
IS WORKING ON LEGISLATION AND
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF MORALES WORKING
TOGETHER WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S OFFICE FOR JUST CAUSE
EVICTIONS AS THERE IS MORE
STRENGTH IN WORKING UNITED
TOGETHER AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S OFFICE IS THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL FIGHTER FOR RENTERS
PROTECTIONS AND HOUSING JUSTICE
BECAUSE OF HER OFFICE USE OF
MOVEMENT WITH RENTERS AND
WORKERS TO EMPOWER THEM AND GET
ORGANIZED AND THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT IS MOST
IMPORTANT TO WIN THE STRONGEST
POSSIBLE LEGISLATION WITHOUT
LOOP HOLES.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE HERE
TODAY AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S OFFICE FOR WORKING ON
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU, SHARELY.
I WILL TRY TO BRING IN THE
SPEAKERS.
I KNOW FROM WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
INFORMED ARE SHORT ON TIME
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO TO
THEIR JOB AND FAMILY.
I WANT TO CALL ON ANNA MARIA
THAT IS A RENTER.
AND MARIA IF YOU ARE HERE CAN
YOU GIVE AN INTRODUCTION FOR
YOURSELF AND GO AHEAD WITH YOUR
COMMENTS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M ANNA MARIA AND ARTS
EDUCATOR AND ARTIST AND
VOLUNTEER AND RENTER OUT OF
WEST SEATTLE.
FROM 2011 TO 2014 MY PARTNER
AND I LIVED IN LOWER QUEEN ANN
IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING
RELATIVELY SMALL WITH 13 UNITS
PRIVATELY OWNED.
WE HAD MULTI GENERATIONAL
FAMILIES AND YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS AND YOUNG PEOPLE
IN THE BUILDING.
OUR PREVIOUS LANDLORD WHEN HE
DIED HIS BUILDING WAS SOLD TO A
CORPORATION.
THERE IS NO EFFORT OR HELP TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT WOULD GET
RENEWED.
THEY SAID THINGS WERE GOING TO
CHANGE AND THEY CHANGED THE
RULES AROUND PETS.
HALF OF MY NEIGHBORS GOT CATS
AND DOGS AND IN THE SPRING OF
2014 WE WENT TO A FAMILY
WEDDING.
WHEN WE CAME BACK WE FOUND IN
OUR MAILBOX A LETTER FROM FROM
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
THEY HAVE WAITED FOR THE LAST
LEASE TO LAPSE AND IT CHANGED.
ALL OF OUR RENTS WENT UP 30%.
WE THOUGHT THIS WAS ILLEGAL
BEING FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
I AM NOT AWARE OF UNJUST TIS OF
CORPORATE EVICTIONS BUT I
THOUGHT THIS WAS TOO MUCH FOR
CEILING AND SO LONG AS TENANTS
HAVE A 60 DAY NOTICE THAT
CORPORATE LANDLORDS CAN RAISE
IS AS MUCH AS THEY WANT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT COMMENTS
SAID EARLIER WE HAVE 64 DAYS,
THAT MEANS IN FOUR DAYS THERE
WILL BE CORPORATE LANDLORDS
SENDING OUT NOTICES RAISING
RENTS OVER 30%.
WE HAD SOME WHOSE RENT WEPT UP
AS FAR AS 43%.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO UPDATES
TO MAKE THE BUILDING MORE
DISABILITY ACCESSIBLE OR
ANYTHING ELSE BEYOND SLAPPING A
NEW COAT OF PAINT TO JUSTIFY
ALL OF THE RAISES OF OUR RENT.
IF YOU WANTED TO STAY MONTH-TO-
MONTH UNTIL YOU FOUND A BETTER
PLACE YOU HAD TO AGREE AND THEY
DECIDED TO BAN ALL PETS FROM
THE BUILDING AFTER ALLOWING US
THERE INCLUDING THOSE THAT HAD
GOLD FISH.
ALL OF US THAT HAD JUST GOTTEN
ANIMALS HAD TO MOVE OUT OF THE
BUILDING REGARDLESS.
THE ENTIRE BUILDING WAS A GHOST
TOWN IN THREE WEEK.
EVERYONE WAS RUNNING AROUND
STRESSED AND SOME PEOPLE WERE
UNABLE TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE.
MOVING OUT OF SEATTLE OR MOVING
INTO OTHER HOUSING WITH FRIENDS
OR FAMILY.
ONE COUPLE IN OUR BUILDING WAS
8 MONTHS PREGNANT.
THEY HAD NO RESOURCES TO CALL A
MOVING COMPANY.
I REMEMBER SEEING HER
STRUGGLING CARRYING MATTRESS TO
THE MOVING VAN.
WE LEFT THE BUILDING WITHIN
LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AND THE
BUILDING MANAGER WAS CRYING
EVERY SINGLE DAY WE SAW HER.
THE ONLY WAY WE FOUND THE
APARTMENT BECAUSE I AT THE TIME
HAD A JOB THAT WOULD ALLOW ME
TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH MY TIME SO
I COULD FIND A HOME.
MY PARTNER WAS IN THE SAME
POSITION AND NOT AFFORDED
ANYTIME OFF TO LOOK AT THE
PLACES WHERE WE WANTED TO LIVE.
MANY NEIGHBORS WERE NOT IN THE
SAME POSITION AND FINDING A
HOME SUDDENLY WHEN YOU DON'T
HAVE A SAFING MEANT THEY HAD TO
TAKE TIME OFF WORK AND FELT
CRUEL THAT THIS NEW BURDEN OF
LOSING MONEY TO FIND A NEW
PLACE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT
WAS BEING PUT ON THEM.
I NOW IN WEST SEATTLE AND
HAVEN'T DISCUSSED THAT SENSE OF
CORPORATE LANDOWNER.
I SPENT A YEAR BE MY CURRENT
RENTAL BEING TOLD TO MOVE AND
THAT THE HOUSE WILL BE TORN
DOWN AND TURNED INTO CONDOS FOR
A YEAR.
MY HOUSE MATES AND I HAD TO
SCHEDULE OUR WORK AROUND CITY
INSPECTORS AND CONSTRUCTION
COMPANIES AND CONSULTANTS
WORKING TO COME OUT TO LOOK AT
OUR HOME TO GET US EVICTED OUT
OF THEIR CONVENIENCE.
I HAD TO SCHEDULE MY WORK FOR
ME TO APPARENTLY FOR PEOPLE TO
COME IN AND EXPECT WHETHER THE
SOIL WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR CONDOS
TO TURN US OUT OF OUR OWN HOME.
THIS DOES NOT HAVE A SENSE OF
SECURITY IN ONE'S HOUSING
ESPECALLY WITH NO NOTICE AND
YOU COME HOME WITH A GIANT SIGN
OUTSIDE YOUR APARTMENT BUILDING
SAYING IT WILL BE TORN DOWN.
I PAY MY RENT AND TACKS AND
VOTE AND VOLUNTEER AND LIVE
HERE.
I WONDER AGAIN AND AGAIN WHEN
THIS HAPPENS TO ME WHY IS THE
STATUS QUO IS THAT WE ALLOW
COMPANIES TO PUSH AROUND
RENTERS.
I AM SHARING MY EXPERIENCE AS A
MIXED RACE LIGHT SKIN LA
LATINO I KNOW THERE IS SYSTEMIC
RACISM.
THIS CREATES FURTHER HARM TO
OUR FELLOW CITIZENS BLACK
INDIGENOUS, PACIFIC ISLANDER
AND OTHER LATINO PEOPLE AND
IMMIGRANTS UNDOCUMENTED OR NOT
AND TRANS.
RENTERS ARE A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF SEATTLE AND WE
DESERVE RENT CONTROL TO BEING
PUSHED IN THE CYCLE OF HOUSE
COST.
WE ARE YOUR TEACHERS AND YOUR
BARISTAS AND RESTAURANT
EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE YOUR UNIVERSITY
EMPLOYEES AND YOUR ESSENTIAL
WORKERS.
HOLDING YOU AND ALL OF US
TOGETHER DURING THIS TIME.
WE DESERVE HOUSING PROTECTION
AND RENT CONTROL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MARIA AS
YOU POINTED OUT THE WORKERS ARE
THE VAST MAJORITY OF RENTERS.
THAT IS IMPORTANT.
NEXT WE HAVE -- SORRY.
I WILL LET DARE INTRODUCE
HERSELF.
>> I AM PERRY ANDERSON WITH THE
TENANTS UNION OF WASHINGTON
STATE.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF OUR SPOKANE
OFFICE BUT I ALSO LEAD OUR
STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION AND OUR
POLICY WORK.
AND I WAS ASKED TO PREVIOUSLY
EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED AT THE
STATE LAWYER IF EVERYBODY KEPT
SAYING JUST CAUSE PASSED THE
STATE LEGISLATURE AND CAUSES
THE SEATTLE LOOPHOLE THAT BY
THE WAY WAS THE BIGGEST BARRIER
GETTING IT PASSED THROUGH
BECAUSE THE LANDLORDS WERE ADAM
THAT THEY WANTED TO KEEP THE
LOOPHOLE INTACT.
WHEN LEGISLATRE IS ENACTED
THERE IS COMPROMISE FROM BOTH
SIDES AND AMENDMENTS WERE TAKEN
ON THIS AMENDMENT.
I MEAN ON THIS BILL.
AND THE ONE AMENDMENT THAT I
THINK PROBABLY IMPACTS SEATTLE
TENANTS IS THE PROBATIONARY
PERIOD THAT THEY PUT ON FIXED
TERM LEASES.
SO THE BILL THAT JUST PASSED IN
OLYMPIA HOUSE BILL 1236
SPONSORED -- REPRESENTATIVE
NICOLE MAKRAOE AND IT DOES
PROVIDE JUST CASE AND END THE
NO CAUSE NOTICES FOR MONTH-TO-
MONTH RENTERS IN THE STATE THAT
IS USED AS STATEWIDE
ORGANIZATION, WE HEAR FROM
TENANTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE
WHO STILL GETS 20 DAY NOTICES
AND HAVE TO MOVE WITHIN 20 DAYS
AND IN THE CITY OF SPOKANE
WHERE THE VACANCY RATE IS AT
ONE PERCENT OR 1.1% THAT MEANS
THAT TENANTS HAVE NO WHERE TO
GO WHEN THEY GET THE 20 DAY
NOTICES.
FOR THAT REASON THE BILL WAS
VERY HELPFUL AND WE ARE EXCITED
THAT IT PASSED.
BUT THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD MAY
CAN TROUBLESOME FOR SEATTLE
RENTERS AND WE HAD TROUBLE WITH
THAT.
WHAT IT MEANS WHEN HOUSE BILL
1236 IS SIGNED INTO LAW,
LANDLORDS CAN ELECT TO OFFER
PER PETAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD
SO THAT IS THE PART THAT I
DON'T LIKE.
WHAT IT DOES ALLOW A LANDLORD
TO DO IF THEY FIRST OFFER A ONE-
YEAR LEASE TO A TENANT, THEN
FOR THAT FIRST YEAR THEY CAN
ISSUE A 60 NO CAUSE NOTICE TO
NOTIFY THE TENANT THAT THEIR
LEASE IS NOT BEING RENEWED AND
AFTER THE TERM LEASE EXPIRES.
SO THAT WAY THERE WILL STILL BE
NO CAUSE EVICTIONS IN SEATTLE
IF A TENANT CAN'T MOVE TO
WITHIN 60 DAYS OF PRECEDING
THAT NOTICE.
IF THE LANDLORD DECIDES TO
RENEW THE LEASE AT THE END OF
THAT PROBATIONARY PERIOD THEY
CAN OFFER TO A SIX MONTH TO ONE
YEAR LEASE AND CONTINUE
PERPETUALLY AT THE END OF THAT
PERIOD TO OFFER 6 0-DAY NOTICE
OF NO CAUSE THAT WOULD END THAT
TERM LEASE.
OR IT WOULD CONVERT
AUTOMATICALLY INTO A MONTH-TO-
MONTH LEASE OR MONTH-TO-MONTH
AGREEMENT AND FOR JUST CAUSE
EVICTION.
IF YOU ARE A MONTH-TO-MONTH
TENANT YOU ARE AT RISK OF
RECEIVING A 60 DAY MONTH
INCREASE NOTICE AND WE KNOW IN
SPOKANE WE ARE SEEING 60% RENT
INCREASE NOTICES AND THEY ARE
DRASTIC.
SO THAT IS WHERE THE BILL IS
RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU WERE TO CLOSE THE HOLE
IT WOULD MEAN TO END THAT
PERIOD AND THE UNDERSTANDING IS
BARIAN HAVE ORDINANCES THAT
NEVER INCLUDED PROBATIONARY
PERIOD SO IT WAS COOKED UP AT
THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
OTHER CITIES DON'T HAVE A
PROBATIONARY PERIOD AND THAT'S
THE ONE -- THE DRAWBACK THAT
IMPACTS AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN
SEATTLE.
YOU WILL NOW, I GUESS WE WILL
ALL HAVE THE SAME THING IN THE
STATE SO WE WILL ALL HAVE THAT
LOOPHOLE.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW SOPHISTICATED
LANDLORDS ARE OUTSIDE OF
SEATTLE AND IF THEY WILL ISSUE
THAT NOTICE.
I AM HOPING A LOT OF THEM WILL
FORGET BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T
ISSUE THAT 60 DAY NOTICE THAT
TERM LEASE WOULD EITHER CONVERT
TO MONTH-TO-MONTH THAT THE TEN
AND THE WOULD HAVE JUST CAUSE
OR THE LANDLORD WOULD HAVE THE
OFFER TO RENEW THE LEASE.
SO I HOPE I EXPLAINED THAT.
>> THANK YOU, TERRY AND WE WILL
HAVE IMPRESS FOR YOU.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBERS WILL DO
SO.
ARE YOU ABLE TO STAY FOR A BIT?
>> YES.
I CAN STAY FOR A LITTLE BIT.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM REQUESTING THAT SO WE CAN
HAVE SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN A
RUSH TO GO TO THEIR DAY JOB.
I BELIEVE ARIANA LAUREANO'S
COMPUTER IS FIXED.
DID YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD.
>> YES.
WE CAN TRY THIS AGAIN.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
SO AS WE HEARD WE HAVE ROUGHLY
1200 EVICTIONS PER YEAR AND
WITH OVER 52% OF TENANTS HAVING
CHILDREN WE HAVE ONE IN 14
CHILDREN EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS DURING THEIR
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
THIS DOUBLES THE CHANCE OF
DROPPING OUT FOR AT LEAST 561
CHILDREN PER YEAR.
WHEN THE CHILD IS NOT
EXPERIENCING THE TRAUMA OF
HOUSING INSECURITY OFTEN THEY
ARE WITNESSING THAT TRAUMA
OCCUR TO A MEMBER COMMUNITY.
FRIENDS DISAPPEARING AND
NEIGHBORS NO LONGER THERE.
EVEN IF THE EVICTIONS DON'T HIT
THEIR FAMILIES IT HITS FRIEND.
THESE HARM THE KIDS DURING THE %
DEVELOPMENT AND DAMAGE THE
SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
I MAY NOT HAVE DRAWN UP IN
SEATTLE BUT THIS PROBLEM
PERMEATES OUR NATION.
I MOVED ALMOST EVERY YEAR WHEN
I WAS A KID BECAUSE I WAS
RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER AND
IMPACTS OF THAT HAVIC QUOD
THROUGH MY LIFE.
MOST OF MY FRIENDS MOVE EVERY
YEAR.
WE NEED TO LIVE FOR A STABLE
HOUSING SITUATION FOR RENTERS,
ONE THAT YOUR NEIGHBORS DON'T
CONSTANTLY CHANGE AND ONE WHERE
CHILDREN CAN'T LOSE FRIENDS TO
EVICTIONS AND IT IS MY BELIEF
THAT EVICTIONS AND THE RENTAL
MARKETS OF LARGE CONTRIBUTORS
TO THE DESTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY
AND THAT LEADS TO A LOOPHOLE.
THE LOOPHOLE AND JUST CASE
IMPACTS MY HOUSEHOLD COMMUNITY
DIRECTLY.
THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WE
FELL.
OUR LEASE EXPIRED IN THE
PANDEMIC AND EVEN THOUGH WE ARE
CAUGHT UP WE WILL FACE AN
EVICTION ONCE THE MORATORIUM IS
LIFTED.
OUR LANDLORD SAID WE SHOULD BE
GRATEFUL HE DID NOT APPLY FEES
FOR THE MONTHS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN MONTH-TO-MONTH.
THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
MY BUILDING IS AT 50% CAPACITY
AND OF THE FOUR TENANTS
REMAINING TWO OF US HAVE
EXPIRED LEASES AND WILL NOT BE
PROTECTED BY JUST CAUSE.
MY NEIGHBOR IS A SINGLE MOTHER
AND SHE FEARS EVICTION NOT
BECAUSE SHE IS BEHIND ON RENT
BUT BECAUSE SHE HAS COMPLAINED
ABOUT THE LIVING CONDITIONS AND
HER LEASE EXPIRED.
MY LANDLORD IS A SLUMLORD THAT
KEEPS UNIT IS IN BAD CONDITION
AND LEASES THEM SIX TO EIGHT
MONTHS SO HE CAN EVICT AS OFTEN
AS HE NEEDS WITHOUT JUST CAUSE.
I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND SAWANT FOR WORKING
TOGETHER TO PAVE THE WAY
TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR
TENANTS AND I BELIEVE THESE
BILLS CAN CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS
THAT.
THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU ARIANA LAUREANO.
AND I THINK ARIANA LAUREANO YOU
MADE A NOTE OF A VERY IMPORTANT
POINT THAT IS THE CASE OF
RENTERS GETTING EVICTION
NOTICES AND NOT HAVING LEASES
RENEWED AS A WAY OF RETALIATING
AGAINST THEM FOR COMPLAINING
ABOUT SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS.
WE HEAR ABOUT THAT ALL THE
TIME.
I DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC NUMBERS
OFF OF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT
ANECDOTALLY WHAT WE HEAR FROM
RENTERS AND THEY ARE AFRAID TO
SAY ANYTHING.
SLUMLORDS ARE THE MOST
NOTORIOUS FOR THAT.
I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT
OUT.
NEXT WE HAVE JORDAN VANNO ASS
AND LET PEOPLE KNOW YOU ARE
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF YOUR
BROTHER.
GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN THAT,
JORDAN.
>> YOU ARE MUTED.
>> SORRY.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS JORDAN VANNOAST AND
I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY
OLDER BROTHER, HENRY THAT HAS
MENTAL ILLNESS AND FACES
EVICTION FOR NO JUSTIFIABLE
CAUSE.
THE LANDLORD HAS MERELY STATED
THAT HE WANTS THE SPACE FOR HIS
BUSINESS PARTNER, I IN VIOLATED
MY BROTHER TO BE HERE TODAY BUT
DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE STRESS
ON HIS EMOTIONAL HEALTH HE HAS
UNDERSTANDABLY DECLINED.
I BELIEVE THAT HENRY IS SOMEONE
THAT LIVES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
IS BEING TARGETED DUE TO HIS
CONDITION.
THE BUILDING HE LIVES IN HAS
FOUR UNITS AND THE LANDLORD
CLAIMS HE HAS CONTACTED ALL THE
TENANTS THOUGH CLEARLY HE HAS
IDENTIFIED HENRY AS A CANDIDATE
FOR EVICTION DISPUTE THE
ASSERTION HE IS SEEKING OTHER
OPTIONS TO ASSURE NO DISRUPTION
TO CURRENT TENANTS UNQUOTE.
I REQUESTED TO MEET WITH HIM ON
ZOOM OR BY PHONE AND DISCUSS
OPTIONS INCLUDING RENEGOTIATING
THE LEASE BUT HIS ANSWERS HAVE
BEEN SHORT, EVASIVE AND
NONCOMMITTAL.
HENRY HAS LIVED AT HIS
APARTMENT BUILDING LONGER THAN
ANY OF THE OTHER TENANTS FOR
EIGHT YEARS.
THE REPRESENT HAS NEVER BEEN
LATE.
HENRY WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
SCHIZOPHRENIA AT AGE 18 AND HAS
HAS EMOTIONAL TRAUMA IN HIS
LIFE.
DIFFICULT FOR A PERSON THAT HAS
NOT EXPERIENCED MENTAL ILLNESS
TO COMPREHEND THE DEPTH OF THIS
THAT OCCURS FROM MAINSTREAM
SOCIETY.
AT AGE 64 HE IS BEGINNING TO
HEAL HIS PAST AND FEEL A SENSE
OF DIGNITY AND PERSONAL E
MPOWERMENT.
HE HAS DONATE THE PAINTS AND
THE CAFETERIA AT SWEDISH
BALLARD HAS HIS PAINTINGS
HANGING.
HE LIVES CLOSE BY AND WALKS
OVER TO SHARE A MEAL.
IF EVICTED IT WILL BE DIFFICULT
TO FIND ANYTHING AFFORDABLE
WITHIN A FIVE MILE RADIUS AND
SOMEONE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS HE
WILL BE PLUNGED INTO ISOLATION.
STABLE HOUSING IS ESSENTIAL IS
FOR EVERYBODY AND ESPECIALLY
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
HOW MANY OF THESE PEOPLE LACK
FAMILY RESOURCES ARE EVICTED
WITHOUT JUST CAUSE AND END UP
ON THE STREET CAUSING THEIR
MENTAL ILLNESS AND EMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING TO DETERIORATE AND
CREATING SUFFERING AND EXPENSE
FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
LANDLORDS SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
TREAT HUMAN BEINGS LIKE MERE
NUMBERS IN A BUSINESS EQUATION.
IT IS INHUMANE AND UNJUST AND
DOESN'T NEED TO BE THIS WAY.
THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS GIVEN US
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A
COMPASSIONATE WORLD WHERE NO
ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND.
WE ARE ALL CONNECTED.
IT IS IRONIC WHEN LANDLORDS USE
LEGAL AUTHORITY AND POWER TO
TREAT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING LIKE
THEY ARE A PIECE OF PROPERTY TO
OWN OR DISCARD AS IT SUITS
THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
WE ARE NO LONGER LIVING IN
MEDIEVAL TIMES AND HUMAN CIVIL
I ZATION IS FACING THIS.
IT IS TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR
IN TER DEPENDENCE.
IF ONE PERSON IS NOT SAFE WE
ARE ALL AFFECTED AND UNLESS WE
CAN BUILD A WORLD BASED ON
COMPASSION AND INEQUITY THERE
IS NO HOPE FOR THE CLIMATE
EMERGENCY OR ANY OF THE SOCIAL
AND ECOLOGICAL OR CRISIS THAT
WE FACE.
COUNCILMEMBERS PLEASE WORK
TOGETHER TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION
CLOSING THE JUST CAUSE LOPHOLE
IN TERM LEASES FOR TENANTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, JORDAN AND I
WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ONLY
LISTENING ON THE PHONE.
THOSE OF YOU WATCHING WILL HAVE
GOOD FORTUNE TO SEE THE
PAINTINGS OF JORDAN'S BROTHER
AND PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THEM.
GO AHEAD JACOB.
>> HI.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
MY NAME IS JACOB SHEER AND I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING A PLACE
WHERE RENTERS AND WORKING
PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE.
AND THANK YOU TO THE RENTERS
AND ADVOCATES THAT HAVE FOUGHT
FOR CRUCIAL VICTORIES TO LEGAL
COUNCIL AND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM AND EXTENSIONS.
AND ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO THE STAY HEALTHY COALITION
AND WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES' OFFICE THAT I'M PROUD
TO BE A PART OF.
I LIVE IN WALLINGFORD IN
DISTRICT FOUR AND MEMBER OF THE
BOAT WORKERS ON CAPITOL HILL.
AND I WANT TO TALK TODAY ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF JUST CAUSE
FOR RENTERS.
I MYSELF AM A TERM RENTER AND I
TRADITIONALLY SIGNED ONE YEAR
LEASES WHERE I LIVE IN
WALLINGFORD.
I LOVE MY APARTMENT.
I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR ALMOST
SEVEN YEARS.
I PROBABLY HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED
A LONG-TERM RENTER AND JOKE
ABOUT LIVING HERE FOR THE REST
OF MY LIFE AND DESPITE YEARS OF
PAYING RENT ON TIME I HAVE THE
GOOD FORTUNE TO HAVE A PRETTY
KIND LANDLOR.
THERE DOES ALWAYS EXIST THAT
SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY EVERY
AUGUST WHEN MY LEASE IS UP WHEN
I KNOW THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY
THAT I CAN HAVE MY HOME TAKEN
AWAY FROM ME.
SO PEOPLE DESERVE JUST CAUSE IN
EVERY AREA OF ECONOMIC LIFE.
AND AS WE HAVE BEEN BARGAINNG
FOR OVER THE PAST YEAR SECURING
JUST CAUSE CALLS FOR A PRIMARY
OBJECTIVE FOR OUR FELLOW
WORKERS AND BEING PROTECTED FOR
JUST CAUSE ON THE JOB MEANS
THAT WORKERS CAN LOSE THEIR
JOBS DUE TO THE WHIMS OF
CRITERIA AND IT IS A VITAL STEP
TOWARDS DEMOCRACY.
WHEN WORKERS KNOW THAT THE BOSS
CAN FIRE THEM IT PRODUCES A
POWER IMBALANCE AND HOLDING
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABLE AND
REWARDING.
WE HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND THE
IMPACT OF NOT HAVING JUST CAUSE
AND I HAVE HAD CO-WORKERS BE
FIRED WITHOUT EVIDENCE.
SUBJECT TO THE WHIMS OF
MANAGEMENT WITHOUT ANY
CONSIDERATION TO THE PEOPLE
CONTRIBUTING TO OUR WORKPLACE.
IT IS CLEAR HOW A NAL LA GOS OF
WORKERS BEING FIRED.
CAUSING THE JUST TERM LOOPHOLE
AND FELLOW WORKERS WE KNOW THAT
MAJORITY OF RENTERS ARE TERM
RENTERS AND VITAL STEP TOWARDS
WHERE RENTERS LIVE AND THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU JACOB AND FOR
POINTING OUT THE A NAL LA
ANALOGOUS SITUATION OF WORKERS
TO GET ORGANIZED AND RENTERS AS
WELL SO BOSSES DON'T EXPLOIT
THEM AND TO DIVIDE AGAINST
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
LOOPHOLE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
NEXT WE HAVE SHARON CRAWLLY.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI.
I'M SHARON CRAWLY.
I AM HERE AS A RENTER IN
SEATTLE'S DISTRICT 6. A MEMBER
OF THE CEILING'S RENTER'S
COMMISSION AND MEMBER AND
ORGANIZER OF UAW LOCAL 4121
THAT MY BACKGROUND -- WE ARE IN
BARGAINING RIGHT NOW.
SO OUR UNION IS MADE UP OF 6000
ACADEMIC WORKERS IN WASHINGTON.
WE NOT ONLY MAKE THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON RUN BUT WE ARE
DOING THE MAJORITY OF RESEARCH
ON LIFE-SAVING MEASURES TO DEAL
WITH COVID AND OTHER KINDS OF
ILLNESSES.
YEAH SO I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF BOTH PIECES
OF LEGISLATION BUT WILL SPEAK
ON JUST CAUSE EVICTION PROJECT.
I URGE ALL OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO SUPPORT AND
ENACT THIS LEGISLATION NOW
BEFORE THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
EXPIRES.
AND TO FACE THE TSUNAMI OF
EVICTIONS AT THE END OF JUNE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
BRINGING THIS LEGISLATION
FORWARD AND FOR INVITING ME TO
SPEAK TODAY.
I THANK YOU FOR THE POWERFUL
REMARKS IN SUPPORT OF MY UNION
YESTERDAY AT OUR BARGAINING
RALLY.
SO AS I SAID I'M A LONG TIME
SEATTLE RENTER.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEVERAL
DIFFERENT SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS
EVERY LEASE IN SEATTLE HAS BEEN
A TERM LEASE AND I HAVE NEVER
HAD ONE EXCEPT FOR ONE THAT
ROLLED INTO [ INDISCERNIBLE ] I
HAD TO RENEW WITH ANOTHER ERM
LEASE.
INCLUDING TO THE ONE I MOVED IN
TO BALLARD.
GIVING THAT RENTS IN SEATTLE
ARE STARTING TO RISE IN
ANTICIPATION OF THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM EXPIRING I AM
NERVOUS ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF
BEING EVICTED AT THE END OF MY
LEASE HERE IF MY LANDLORD
DECIDES TO RAISE THE REN BEYOND
WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY FELLOW
412 RENTERS AND WHEN WE MOVED
WE COMMITTED TO PROGRAMS FOR
FOUR TO FIVE YEARS FOR
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM AND FIVE
OR MORE FOR A Ph.D.
PROGRAM.
WHEN WE MOVED HERE FROM OUT OF
STATE OR FROM OUTSIDE THE
COUNTRY, WE SEARCH FOR A PLACE
TO REN AND MOST OR ALL OF US
SIGN TERM LEASES THAT MAKE IT
LEGAL FOR OUR LANDLORD TO EVICT
US FOR NO REASON.
AND AT THE SAME TIME THE
MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS ARE
RENT DRIVEN.
WHICH MANY PAYING OVER HALF OF
THEIR INCOME IN RENT AND LIVING
CLOSE TO THE BONE AND MANY OF
US TAKE OUT LOANS TO MAKE END
MEET BECAUSE IT IS SO
EXPENSIVE.
THE HOUSING SIG AND THE LONG
TERM ECONOMICS IS NERVE
RENTING.
WHAT WE NEED MOST IS HOUSING
STABILITY.
HARD ENOUGH TO BE IN SCHOOL
WITHOUT HAVING THAT STABILITY.
BESIDES WHICH EVICTION IS
EXPENSIVE AND EXTREMELY
DISRUPTIVE AND BEING EVICTED
CAN DRIVE A GRAD STUDENT OUT OF
SCHOOL.
THIS IS FOR UNDOCUMENTED
MEMBERS AND THE 40% OF OUR
MEMBERS ARE INTERNATIONAL
SCHOLARS ON TEMPORARY VISAS.
UNACCEPTABLE.
NOBODY SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO
EVICTION WITHOUT JUST CAUSE.
NOT RIGHT THAT SOME RENTERS
HAVE THAT PROTECTION AND OTHERS
DON'T.
AS THE 4121 MCMY AND MY FELLOW
UNION MEMBERS WOULD NOT ACCEPT
A SITUATION WHERE SOME MEMBERS
HAVE PROTECTION AGAINST WITHOUT
JUST CAUSE AND OTHERS CAN LOSE
WITH NO REASON.
IN A UNION CONTRACT JUST CAUSE
PROTECTION APPLIES TO EVERYONE
AND IF MANAGEMENT TRIES TO TAKE
IT AWAY WE FIGHT AND WE KNOW IT
IS SUPER IMPORTANT AND LET ME
EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH JACOB
AT ELLIOT BAY AND HIS MEMBERS
IN THIS FIGHT AND, YES, JUST
CAUSE PROTECTION IS ALWAYS A
KEY PART OF THE UNION CONTRACT.
SO WE WANT JUST CAUSE
PROTECTION BY JOINING IN
SOLIDARITY AND FIGHTING AS A
GROUP TO MAKE THIS AND OTHER
IMPROVEMENTS.
WE ARE IN BARGAINING WITH THE
UNIVERSITY AND OUR CONTRACT
EXPIRES FRIDAY AND SOME OF WHAT
YOU PROPOSE WOULD ERODE THE
JUST CAUSE PROTECTION IN OUR ."
AS UNION MEMBERS WE ARE NOT
STANDING FOR THIS SEATTLE
RENTERS WE WON EITHER.
FORMING A UNION EQUALIZING THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
EMPLOYERS AND BEING PART OF A
UNION MEANS THAT I AND MY
FELLOW UNION MEMBERS HAVE THE
POWER TO MAKE OUR EMPLOYEES
LISTEN TO US AND NEGOTIATE WITH
US.
THEY CAP MAKE UNILATERAL
CHANGES TO OUR WORK.
BEFORE WE HAD A UNION IT WAS
EASY FOR YOU GUYS TO IGNORE IT
BUT THEY CAN'T IGNORE ALL 6000
OF US.
WE HAVE SEEN THE TENANT
ORGANIZING WORK AND KSHAMA
SAWANT HAS BEEN THERE TO HELP
ORGANIZE AGAINST EVICTIONS BUT
THE LAW AS IT STANDS IS
LOPSIDED IN FAVOR OF LANDLORDS.
BY BEING HERE AND MAKING OUR
VOICES HEARD IN FAVOR OF THE
LEGISLATION HOPEFULLY WE CAN
CHANGE THAT.
ENACTING JUST CAUSE PROTECTION
FOR SEATTLE RENTERS WOULD BE AN
IMPORTANT STEP BETWEEN RENTERS
AND LANDLORDS AND ENACTING THE
RIGHTS TO COUNCIL LAST MONTH
LEVELED THAT PLAYING FIELD BUT
WE CAP STOP THERE.
WE NEED JUST CAUSE PROTECTION
JUST AS MUCH AS WE NEED THE
RIGHT TO COUNCIL.
THEY GO HAND IN HAND.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CLOSE
THE LOOPHOLE AND EXTENSIVE
WITHOUT JUST CAUSE TO ALL
SEATTLE RENTERS.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR BRINGING THE LEGISLATION
FORWARD AND FOR HELPING US TO
MAKE SEATTLE A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE, WORK AND LEARN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND PLEASE
ENACT THIS LEGISLATION.
BOTH PIECES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, SHARON.
THAT WAS POWERFUL AND THANK YOU
FOR HAVING THE UAW REGULAR GAIL
REGALIA IN THE BACKGROUND.
IT IS A SHINING THING AND YOU
HAVE BEEN ON THE FROST LINE FOR
THE HOUSING STRUGGLES AND ON
THE AMAZON TAX MOVEMENT AS WELL
AND REALLY JUST QUITE INSPIRING
FOR WORKERS AND RENTERS THE
EXAMPLE YOU HAVE SHOWN.
I WANTED TO QUICKLY SAY THAT WE
THE NEXT ITEM BY 4:00 AND MY E
MOST SINCERE APOLOGIES FOR THE
DELAY TO GETTING TO THAT TO OUR
PRESENTERS.
BUT LAST BUT NOT LEAST OUR
COMMUNITY SPEAKER IS SEAN
BUTTERFIELD AND SEAN, AGAIN AS
EVERYONE HAS DONE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AND THEN TALK ABOUT
YOUR EXPERIENCE.
WELCOME.
>> HI.
SO MY NAME IS SEAN BUTTERFIELD.
I'M A MEMBER OF SI U 775 AND A
CAREGIVER FOR MY DISABLED
PARTNER CHARITY AND WE LIVE
TOGETHER IN A RENTED PARM ON
CAPITOL HILL.
I WANT TO SPEAK IN THE
PROSPECTIVE OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES ABOUT THE LOOPHOLE
ALLOWING LANDLORDS TO END A
TENANCY FOR ANY REASON EVEN IF
THEY ARE GOING TO JUST TURN
AROUND AND RENT IT TO SOMEBODY
ELSE AFTER YOU MOVE OUT.
ABOUT MY PARTICULAR SIG MY
PARTNER, CHARITY, HAS A
PROGRESSIVE DISABILITY, THAT
MEANS SHE CAN'T STAND OR
TRANSFER FROM HER BED OR
WHEELCHAIR WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.
THAT USED TO MEAN BALANCING
HELP BUT NOW IT IS A CAREGIVER
GIVING THE BODY WEIGHT AND
MOVING HER.
AFTER YEARS OF EFFORT ON MY
PART TO HAVE EFHS INSTALL A
LIFT THIS WAS GRANTED A FEW
YEARS AGO.
THIS HAS MEANT WE CAN HIRE ANY
CAREGIVER AND NOT LIMIT US TO
THOSE WITH THE STRENGTH TO LIFT
HER LIKE MOST OF US SHE AIN'T
GETTING ANY LIGHTER AS SHE GETS
OLDER.
AND IT HAS MEANT TO MOVE HER
BASICALLY WITHOUT THE RISK OF
INJURING HER.
HOWEVER, AS THE YEARS HAVE COME
BY WE HAVE RELIED ON THIS LIST
AS THE DISABILITY HAS
PROGRESSED AND REALIZED HOW
RELY RELIANT WE ARE TO THE
DEPARTMENT.
EACH OF THE PAST TEN YEARS OUR
LEASE HAS BEEN RENEWED BUT EACH
YEAR BRINGS A PALLABLE FEAR WE
WILL BE FORCED TO MOVE AND GO
WITHOUT TECHNOLOGY THAT IS
INSTALLED IN OUR HOME AND FOR
YEARS UNTIL DHS WILL INSTALL IT
IN A NEW APARTMENT FROM WHICH
WE OULD HAVE EASILY BEEN
EVICTED AFTER SIX MONTHS OR A
YEAR.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR IT IS NOT
JUST.
ANYBODY THAT USES A WHEELCHAIR
OR REQUIRES SPECIFIC AMENITIES
ALREADY HAS INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT TIME FINDING AND
KEEPING HOUSING.
BEYOND THE DEFICIT OF ADA AND
APARTMENT COMPLIANCES LANDLORDS
DO THEIR BEST TO REMOVE
DISABLED PRESENTS AND OFTEN
BECAUSE OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS
THAT THEY REQUIRE OR BECAUSE
REAL CHAIRS CAN CAUSE SCUFFING
OF PAINTS AND UNITS.
CHARITY'S PREVIOUS LANDLORD HAS
REFUSED TO REMOVE THE LEASE
BECAUSE OF THE MINOR WEAR AND
TEAR AND THEY NEVER NEED TO
DEFEND AND IN COURT AT THAT
TIME AND THEY WOULDN'T TODAY
BECAUSE WHEN LANDLORDS EVICT
DISABLED TENANTS THEY DO SO
WITH LOOP HOLES LIKE THE LOOP
HOLES WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY.
THIS KIND OF EVICTION IS
DISRUPTIVE TO ALL RENTERS AND
PARTICULARLY TO PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES THAT MUST STRUGGLE
TO FIND NEW HOUSING.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RELY
ON FRIENDLY NEIGHBORS FOR SMALL
FAVORS AND IN FORMAL CARE
GIVING SERVICES AND TAKES
MONTHS OR YEARS TO ASK PEOPLE
TO HELP PULL THEIR PANTS.
RETRIEVE IMPORTANT OBJECT UNDER
THE BED OR GET BACK IN THEIR
WHEELCHAIR.
THESE KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS
ARE THE FABRIC OF COMMUNITY AND
EVERY EVICTION HAS A GAPPING
HOLE IN THAT FABRIC.
RENTERS LIKE THAT DESPERATELY
NEED PROTECTION FROM THE'S
BECAUSE OF POWER BETWEEN
TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.
THE JUST CAUSE LEGISLATION
BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE ADVANCED
BY COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WOULD
GIVE US SEMBLANCE OF LONG TERM
SECURITY AND I HOPE THIS
COMMITTEE AND THE WHOLE COUNSEL
WOULD VOTE THE LEGISLATION TO
LAW BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM THAT
ARE HERE TO FOLLOW.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
INVITING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SEAN.
AND I KNOW MANY ARE IN SIMILAR
SITUATIONS TO PROVIDE CARE FOR
A FAMILY MEMBER LIKE YOU ARE
FOR YOUR PARTNER AND THE
STRUGGLES THAT YOU ALL ARE
FACING AND I HAVE HEARD FROM
MEMBERS ABOUT BEING IN HOME
GIVERS MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE A
WORKPLACE THAT YOU NEED TO COME
AND GET ORGANIZED AND THAT IS A
CHALLENGE AND SIMILAR ISOLATION
SO I COUNTER THAT BY GETTING
RENTERS ORGANIZED AND SO
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE VOICES
AND ESPECIALLY, I WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY THAT SPOKE AND
ESPECIALLY SEAN AND JORDAN FOR
BRINGING IN THE VOICES FROM OUR
DISABLED COMMUNITY MEMBERS
BECAUSE SEAN YOU SAID THEY ARE
VULNERABLE TO THE IMBALANCE OF
POWER BETWEEN REPRESENTERS AND
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
MUCH APPRECIATED.
WANTED TO QUICKLY OPEN UP FOR
QUESTIONS AND APOLOGIZE TO
COUNCILMEMBERS.
WE HAVE OUR PRESENTERS WAITING
AND WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO FIT
EVERYTHING IN ONE COMMITTEE AND
DON'T WANT TO CANCEL ITEMS
BECAUSE THE PRESENTERS HAVE
MADE TIME AND I WANT TO RESPECT
THEM.
AND I WANT TO APOLOGIZE SO
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND RAISE YOUR
HANDS.
I HAD QUESTIONS BUT I WILL WAIT
FOR OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE HAVE
DONE BOTH COMMUNITY PANELS.
THE TWO ISSUES.
WANTED TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT
BOT.
OKAY?
SO REGARDING COUNCIL BILL
12046.
I WANT TO THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR THIS.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE
SURE WE ARE PROTECTING CHILDREN
AND THEIR FAMILIES AT AN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE MY
DAUGHTER GOES.
I THINK IT IS 1 IN 10 CHILDREN
LACK STABLE HOUSING.
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR IN
A SHELTER AND OVER 50%, CLOSE
TO 60% ARE ON LUNCHES AND THERE
IS NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.
JUST QUICKLY.
I DO WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF
THE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT
CAME UP REGARDING THE JUST
CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE.
COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING MY BILL, COUNCIL
BILL 120057.
TAKES A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
APPROACH THAN THE BILL THAT WE
ARE HEARING ABOUT TODAY FROM
KSHAMA SAWANT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR MY BILL
LATER AND THANK COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR COSPONSORING AND THE
MEMBER OF THE STAY HEALTHY
COALITION AND THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR HER
REQUEST FOR SPONSORSHIP AND
WILL GLADLY ACCEPT THAT AND MY
HOPE IS TO SCHEDULE A MEETING
BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING SO
WE HAVE A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM
THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ON THE
BILL.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE HEAR BOTH
BILLS AND I THINK MAY 25th IS
THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING SO I
KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO
THE NEXT PANEL.
I WILL WORK WITH CENTRAL STAFF
TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE KIND OF A
SIDE BY SIDE OF BOTH BILLS.
THE LAST THING THAT I DO NEED
TO NOTE THAT IN THE SUMMARY AND
FISCAL NOTE FOR OUR LEGISLATION
HAS BEEN UPDATED.
THAT SHOULD BE ON LEGISLASTAR
AND INCLUDES LANGUAGE IN THE
SUMMARY PORTION OF THE BILL.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS
NOTED FOR THE RECORD.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND FOR
RESPONDING TO COSPONSORING YOUR
BILL.
I AM HAPPY TO COSPONSOR THAT
AND AS I SAID BEFORE MY STAFF
IS WORKING ON SCHEDULING A
MEETING BETWEEN TODAY AND THE
25th BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO
WAIT UNTIL THEN.
SO WE WILL BE DOING THAT.
WE WANT TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION
ON THE BILL TO BAN THE
EVICTIONS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
AND EDUCATORS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR AND AS OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TODAY HAVE SAID SO
ELOQUENTLY IT IS SO IMPORTANT.
WE DON'T HAVE MATTHEW MALEY
HERE AT THIS TIME AND STUDENTS.
WE HOPE IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE
FUTURE.
HARD TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEMBER
SHOW UP WHILE IN SCHOOL.
ESPECIALLY TO SHOW UP DURING
SCHOOL TIME AND WE DON'T WANT
TO DISRUPT SCHOOL CHILDREN
LEARNING ANYMORE THAN CAN BE
HELPED.
IN FACT THESE ARE CHILDREN
ALREADY EXPERIENCING
DISRUPTION.
I HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS
QUICKLY.
I AM LOOKING AND SCANNING TO
SEE IF COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
QUESTIOS.
I WILL WAIT.
GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAWANT AND
THANK YOU FOR STRUCTURING THIS
SO THAT IT WAS A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION TODAY.
AND NOT A VOTE.
SO THAT WE HAD TIME TO HEAR
FROM EVERYONE THAT YOU BROUGHT
HERE THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR
SHOWING UP TODAY AND GIVING US
YOUR TESTIMONY.
I'M GLAD THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES WAS ABLE TO WORK OUT
WITH YOUR BILLS TOGETHER.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE TWO
BILLS BEFORE US, 46, ABOUT
SCHOOLS AND 56 ABOUT THE TERM
LEASES AND JUST CAUSE, SHOULD I
JUST ASK, I WANT TO ASK CENTRAL
STAFF SOME QUESTIONS SO THAT
THEY COULD FLESH OUT -- I'M
ASSUMING THEY WILL BE DOING
MEMOS FOR THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING.
IS THAT THE IDEA?
THERE ARE THINGS THAT I AM
HOPING YOU CAN EXPLORE WHEN YOU
DRAFT YOUR MEMOS.
YOU DON'T NEED TO ANSWER BUT I
WANT TO GET OUT A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS.
THAT IS OKAY CHAIR SAWANT?
>> YES.
THAT SOUNDS FINE.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
SO FOR CENTRAL STAFF JUST GOING
OVER 120046 ABOUT SCHOOLS, I
HEARD REFERENCES TO THE SAN
FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA ORDINANCE
I GUESS THAT WAS IN 2016.
WASHINGTON AND CALIFORNIA STATE
LAW ARE DIFFERENT.
I WANTED TO KNOW IF THE CENTRAL
STAFF MEMBERS COULD LOOK AT
WHAT WERE THE RESULTS THERE,
SORT OF THE BEFORE AND AFTER
RESULTS.
CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER --
BECAUSE LANDLORDS CAN STILL
EVICT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS
I BELIEVE AND WANTED TO KNOW IF
THERE IS A SPIKE IN EVICTIONS
THAT OCCUR IN THE SUMMER OR
THAT IS A CONCERN THAT DIDN'T
ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE WOULD HAVE
DATA ON THAT NOW AFTER A COUPLE
OF YEARS.
AND CURIOUS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES VERSUS SMALLER
UNIVERSE OF EDUCATORS THAT HAVE
THAT EDUCATIONAL RELATIONSHIP
DIRECTLY WITH THE STUDENTS
VERSUS JUST SCHOOL CHILDREN
PROTECTING THE SCHOOL CHILDREN
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SORT OF THE DIFFERENT -- THE
UNIVERSE GETTING BIGGER AND
WHAT THE PROS AND CONS OF THAT
ARE.
REGARDING THE -- AND WE MIGHT
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS LATER BUT
JUST OFF OF THE TOP OF MY HEAD
AFTER HEARING FROM EVERYBODY
TODAY.
ON THE NEXT BILL, 120056, YOU
KNOW, I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF
SEVERAL OF THE TENANT
PROTECTION LAWS AND THE WINTER
BAN.
WE DID AMEND THE RIGHT TO FREE
COUNCIL AND I ULTIMATELY
SUPPORTED THAT AND WE HAVE HAD
A LOT OF RELIEF PROGRAMS FOR
TENANTS DURING THE COVID
PANDEMIC THAT I SUPPORT.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE 120056
BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN -- WE HAVE
BEEN FOLLOWING HB HOUSE BILL
1236.
I THINK ONE OF THE SPEAKERS
TALKED ABOUT THAT AS WELL
TODAY.
IT SEEMS THAT HB1236 ALLOWS
LANDLORDS AFTER THE END OF THE
FIRST YEAR THAT THEY GIVE 60
DAY IN THIS THAT CAN END AS
AGREED.
AND SO I'M TRYING TO RECONCILE,
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT STATE
LAW WOULD PREEMPT THE LOCAL
LAWS.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT
THAT ISSUE SINCE THAT BILL IS
GOING TO GO IN EFFECT AND WE
ARE PROPOSING SOMETHING.
AND THIS BILL IS PROPOSING
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND
CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF
SMALL LANDLORDS THAT WE HAVE
HEARD THOSE LANDLORDS -- SOME
LANDLORDS COMING IN.
I KNOW IN THE WINTER BAN WE
DEFINE THOSE OWNING FOUR OR
FEWER UNITS.
THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT
CORPORATE LANDLORDS AND I DON'T
VIEW THE SMALLER LANDLORDS IN
THE SAME WAY AND DON HAVE THE
ECONOMY OF SCALE.
THEY SEEM TO TRY TO WORK WITH
TENANTS AND JUST CONCERNED
ABOUT APPLYING THIS SO BROADLY,
THIS 120056.
SO WANTED TO SEE IF OTHER
CITIES HAD A SIMILAR LAW
OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON STATE AND
WHETHER THEY HAVE EXEMPTIONS
FOR SMALL LANDLORDS.
THOSE ARE JUST SOME THOUGHTS
FOR CENTRAL STAFF WHEN YOU
CRAFT YOUR MEMO FOR THE NEXT
ROUND OF DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU CHAIR SAWANT FOR
GETTING US A SPACE TO THROW OUT
IDEAS AND ASK QUESTIONS TO
CENTRAL STAFF.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
QUESTIONS I THINK THEY ARE ALL
USEFUL TO GET CLARIFIED.
AND YES, AS I SAID IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BEING OKAY WITH
HAVING THE MEMOS THAT CENTRAL
STAFF WOULD DO IT ANY WAY.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM
ANYTIME TO RESPOND AT ALL RIGHT
NOW.
SO -- AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE
INFORMATION ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO
SCHOOL BILL AND CAN ADD
SOMETHING.
I AM JUST SAYING THAT AGAIN
APOLOGIES TO THE GREEN DEAL
PRESENTERS THAT WE WILL GIVE A
FEW MINUTES OVER BUT AS YOU CAN
SEE WE ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU ALL DON'T HAVE TO
WAIT FOR TOO LONG.
ASHA AND ALY GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS
AND WE CERTAINLY WILL FOLLOW UP
AND I WANT TO SET EXPECTATIONS
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE
PRODUCING FOR THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING AND SOME OF
THIS INFORMATION MIGHT BE
USEFUL FOR COUNCILMEMBERS TO
HAVE IN HAND AND IN ADVANCE OF
FUTURE DISCUSSIONS DEPENDING ON
THE SCHEDULE.
WE WILL DO THE BEST TO GET THE
MATERIALS TO BE AVAILABLE.
I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT
AND IT WON'T COME IN THE FORM
OF A MEMO AND WE WILL TRY TO
GET YOU INFORMATION SOONER
RATHER THAN LATER IN TERMS OF
AMENDMENTS AND THEN JUST WANT
TO NOTE THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP
AND GET MORE
>>> IT IS NOT AN APPLES TO
APPLES CONSIDER COMPARISON.
IT WILL BE FULLY APPLICABLE TO
THIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE THIS
PROVIDES TRADER PROTECTIONS FOR
TENANTS I THINK THAN THE SAN
FRANCISCO LAW.
QUICKLY ON THE STATE LAW I
WANTED TO CONFIRM WE ARE
LOOKING AT THAT CAREFULLY AND
ARE WORKING ON A SIDE-BY-SIDE
LOOK AT WHAT THAT IS DOING.
IT MAY HAVE OTHER IMPLICATIONS
FOR THE CITIES EVICTION
ORDINANCE GENERALLY SPEAKING AS
WELL AS HELPING HIGHLIGHT THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S PROPOSAL.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.
ASHA DO YOU WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING?
I SEE HER SHAKING HER HEAD.
I WILL CALL ON DAN.
>> I CAN SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT
THE QUESTIONS FOR SAN FRANCISCO
AND THE BILL CRAFTED TO COVER
ALL EDUCATORS AND ALL EMPLOYEES
OF SCHOOLS.
THE BILL IN SAN FRANCISCO DOES
COVER ALL EDUCATORS AND ALL
EMPLOYEES OF SCHOOLS AND ON A
PERSONAL NOTE I USED TO BE AN
EDUCATOR AND A TEACHER AND HAVE
SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THIS.
ALL THE STAFF AT THE SCHOOL
REALLY WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE A
CULTURE AND A TEAM WITHIN THE
SCHOOL, A CULTURE OF LEARNING
AND THERE ARE ALL OF THESE BEST
PRACTICES IN SCHOOL THAT DO
INVOLVE ALL OF THE STAFF.
THINGS LIKE SCHOOLWIDE POSITIVE
BEHAVIOR SUPPORT AND
INTERVENTION IS APPROPRIATE
THAT INVOLVES ALL STAFF.
THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS LIKE THIS
THAT REALLY DO INVOLVE ALL
STAFF.
AND ALL THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT
TURNOVER OF SCHOOL STAFF HAS A
BIG IMPACT ON THE EDUCATION OF
STUDENTS.
A BIG IMPACT.
SOME OF THAT RESEARCH IS
INCLUDED IN THE RECITAL OF THE
BILL.
ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE
RESULTS FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
AS WAS EXPLAINED THERE IS A
HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO
BILLS.
THE BILL IN SAN FRANCISCO IS
QUITE LIMITED.
IT ONLY COVERS CERTAIN NO-FAULT
EVICTIONS.
SO IF THE LANDLORD WANTS TO
RENOVATE THE APARTMENT, THAT
CAN'T HAPPEN DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
ABOUT NINE OUT OF 10 EVICTIONS
IN SEATTLE ACCORDING TO THE
LOSING HOME REPORTS ARE FOR
NONPAYMENT OF RENT.
SO THAT NINE OUT OF 10 IS NOT
COVERED BY THE SAN FRANCISCO
BILL.
THE REALITY IS THERE BILL
COVERS A VERY SMALL FRACTION OF
EVICTIONS.
PROBABLY TOO SMALL TO SHOW
MEANINGFUL RESULTS.
OUR BILL COVERS ALMOST ALL
TYPES OF EVICTIONS EXCEPT FOR
CERTAIN TYPES THAT ARE REQUIRED
BY LAW LIKE IF THE BUILDING IS
CONDEMNED AND THE CITY OR STATE
REQUIRES PEOPLE TO LEAVE, THAT
SORT OF THING.
AND THE ONE OTHER QUESTION WAS
ABOUT HOUSE BILL 1236.
THEY WERE BOTH IN THE SENATE
AND THE HOUSE THERE WERE
ATTEMPTS BY REPUBLICANS TO ADD
IN LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT PRE-AND
CITIES.
AND THOSE AMENDMENTS FAILED.
SO THAT IS A GOOD LEGISLATIVE
RECORD THAT IT DOES NOT PREEMPT
THE CITY.
THAT IS NOT THE INTENTION OF
THAT BILL TO PREVENT THE CITY
TO CREATE STRONGER DEFENSES TO
RENTERS.
BUT I'M NOT A LAWYER SO YOU
WILL HAVE TO ASK A LAWYER.
>> THANK YOU, TED.
TERRY, I WANT TO INVITE YOU IF
YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING
ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE STATE
HOUSE BILL BUT IN GENERAL FROM
YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THESE
THINGS?
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SAME
THING.
THERE IS NO STATE PREEMPTION ON
JUST CAUSE.
AND THERE WERE TWO CITIES PRIOR
TO THE STATE AND ACTING 1236
THAT ALREADY HAD INCLUDED TERM
LEASE IN JUST CAUSE.
I THINK THAT AN EASY WAY TO DO
IT WOULD BE TO JUST REMOVE
THOSE PROBATIONARY PERIODS.
I SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. IN
SPOKANE WHERE WE ARE WORKING ON
A SUITE OF TENANT PROTECTIONS
THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT WE
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT HERE,
TOO.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT LANDLORDS
WOULD JUST ISSUE A TERM LEASE
AND THEN 60 DAYS BEFORE THE END
OF THE LEASE ISSUE A NO CAUSE
NOTICE AND THAT KEEPS IT PRETTY
MUCH THE SAME AS IT IS RIGHT
NOW.
ORIGINALLY IT WAS JUST FOR THE
FIRST YEAR THAT THEY WOULD GET
THAT PROBATIONARY PERIOD THAT
MOST OF US OBJECTED TO BUT
THERE WERE LEGISLATORS THAT
WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT WITHOUT IT.
AND THEN WHEN THEY ADDED THE
ABILITY TO EXTEND THAT PROBATION
INTO PERPETUITY THE ONLY THING
THAT REALLY PROTECTS IS RENT
INCREASES BECAUSE IF THEY WERE
JUST TO ALLOW THOSE TO GO MONTH-
TO-MONTH THAN THOSE TENANTS DO
GET JUST CAUSE EVICTION.
I AM HEARING THAT THE MAJORITY
OF RENTERS IN SEATTLE ARE TERM
LEASE RENTERS AND I THINK THAT
IS INTERESTING BECAUSE OF THE
LOOPHOLE. IN SPOKANE WHERE WE
DON'T HAVE ANY JUST CAUSE
PROTECTIONS FOR MONTH-TO-MONTH
RENTERS, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN SEE
MOST OF THE RENTERS OVER HERE
ARE MONTH-TO-MONTH BECAUSE THE
LANDLORDS CAN THEN DO A RENT
INCREASE WAS 60 DAYS NOTICE.
ANYTHING THAT INCENTIVIZES, OR
PERHAPS WHAT OUR CONCERN WAS
WAS LANDLORDS IF THEY WOULD
ONLY OFFER MONTH-TO-MONTH IT
WAS A REAL BARRIER FOR TENANTS
WITH VOUCHERS THAT ARE
REQUIRING A ONE-YEAR LEASE FOR
THE INITIAL LEASE PERIOD.
SO WE KEPT THAT FIRST YEAR AS A
YEAR SO THIS WOULD BE GOOD FOR
TENANTS WITH VOUCHERS.
OTHER THAN THAT I DON'T SEE
THAT THE STATE BILL IS VERY
HELPFUL FOR TENANTS IN SEATTLE.
I'M SORRY TO SAY.
EXCEPT FOR MONTH-TO-MONTH.
>> THANK YOU.
STATED IN VERY ACCURATE TERMS.
INCIDENTALLY YOU ANSWER THE
QUESTION I WAS GOING TO ASK
WHICH IS WHY WAS THE LANDLORD
SO ADAMANT AGAINST CLOSING THE
LOOPHOLE IN SEATTLE BUT YOU
ANSWER THE QUESTION BY SAYING
IN CITIES WHERE THERE ARE MONTH-
TO-MONTH LEASES AND THAT IS THE
MAJORITY, LANDLORDS GO AFTER
THAT AND THEY DON'T WANT
PROTECTIONS FOR THEM.
>> EXACTLY.
YES.
>> IN SEATTLE TERM LEASES ARE
THE MAJORITY SO THERE YOU GO.
THEY DON'T WANT TO CLOSE THAT
LOOPHOLE.
>> IF THEY DIDN'T DO THAT THEY
WOULD HAVE TO GIVE JUST CAUSE
PROTECTION FOR THOSE MONTH-TO-
MONTH TENANTS AND IN FACT, MY
FEELING IS THAT SEATTLE
LANDLORDS KIND OF GET THE BEST
OF IT BECAUSE THEY ALSO GET THE
LONGEVITY OF A YEAR-LONG
TENANTS, A TENANT PAYING A YEAR
WORTH OF RENT.
IT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR THAT THEY
LOCK YOU INTO PAYING FOR A FULL
YEAR AND THEN CAN TERMINATE SO
EASILY.
I SUPPORT WHAT EVER YOU ALL DO
IN SEATTLE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO
USE IT FOR A MODEL FOR OTHER
CITIES IN THE STATE.
>> WELL SAID.
I COMPLETELY AGREE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND THE POINT YOU MADE THAT
WAS MADE BY SOMEBODY IN PUBLIC
COMMENT ABOUT IF YOU ARE A
SMALL LANDLORD, A LOT OF SMALL
LANDLORDS ARE UNION MEMBERS.
IT IS NOT LIKE THEY ARE RICH
PEOPLE, THEY ARE ONE UNIT THAT
THEY CAN RENT OUT AND IT IS A
SMALL AMOUNT OF INCOME THAT
THEY GET AND THEY ALWAYS SAY
THAT TERM LEASES ARE BETTER FOR
LANDLORDS WHO ARE NOT LOOKING
TO EXPLOIT RENTERS BECAUSE THAT
LONGEVITY MEANS THEY DON'T HAVE
TO SEEK RENTERS ALL THE TIME.
CORPORATE LANDLORDS HAVE A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EQUATION.
THEY DON'T WANT RENTERS TO FEEL
COMFORTABLE AND EMPOWERED IN
ANY WAY.
HIGHER TURNOVER IS GOOD FOR
THEM AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE
ALSO ABLE TO INCREASE RENT.
>> TOTALLY, I WAS GOING TO SAY
THE SAME THING.
YOU SEE THE DILEMMA OF A RENT
INCREASE OR A FIXED TERM
LOOPHOLE.
EITHER WAY THE LANDLORD HAS THE
BALANCE OF POWER IN ORDER TO
EITHER TERMINATE A TENANT FOR
MAKE THEM SO THAT RENT IS SO
UNAFFORDABLE THAT THEY WILL FAR
AND VOLUNTARILY EVICT THEMSELVES
ANY RENTAL LOCATIONS OR
ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT WOULD BE
HELPFUL IN LIEU OF THE FACT THAT
CITIES CAN'T ENACT RENT CONTROL
BECAUSE OF THE STATE LAW.
>> ABSOLUTELY, TERRY, I'M SO
GLAD ALSO MENTIONED THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE
AND WE SHOULD CONNECT WITH YOU,
MY STAFF WILL CONNECT WITH YOU.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO MY OFFICE
HAS THIS LEGISLATION FOR
ECONOMIC ASSISTANT FORT TENANTS
WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY EVICTED.
WHEN RENT WENT UP AND YOU END
UP SELF EVICTING.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE EMBERS OR
STATISTICS FOR NUMBER OF RENTERS
WHO END UP LEAVING BECAUSE THE
RENT WENT UP. SO WE BROUGHT
FORWARD A BILL, NOT THAT WE
FORMALLY INTRODUCED IT BUT WE
REALLY WANT TO BUILD A MOVEMENT
AROUND IT TO WIN THIS BECAUSE
WE KNOW THAT LANDLORDS WILL
ABSOLUTELY OPPOSE IT.
AND JUST TALKING ABOUT IT
PUBLICLY AND ORGANIZING A
MEETING.
ALREADY IT ELICITED CORPORATE
LANDLORD ANGER.
LANDLORD SHOULD PAY ECONOMIC
ASSISTANCE TO THE TENANTS WHO
ARE FORCED TO MOVE BECAUSE THEY
CHOSE TO INCREASE THE RENT AND
IT IS PUNITIVE BECAUSE OF THE
AMOUNT OF RENT THEY ARE ABLE TO
INCREASE.
>> COMPLETELY.
AND I THINK IT IS ALSO
RETALIATORY FOR TENANTS THAT
HAVE JUST CAUSE PROTECTION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
EXACTLY.
THAT IS TOTALLY RIGHT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
WE DEFINITELY ARE HOPING YOU
CAN JOIN US IN FUTURE
COMMITTEES.
AND MY STAFF WILL CONTACT YOU
OFF-LINE ABOUT THE OTHER BILLS
AS WELL.
WE REALLY NEED INPUT.
AND WE NEED THIS THING TO WEAR
ACTIVISTS IN DIFFERENT CITIES
ARE COLLABORATING AND BUILDING
MOVEMENT TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT
IS WHAT ACTUALLY WILL HELP US.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR RIGHT TO
COUNSEL BILL THAT YOU HAVE IN
SEATTLE WHICH IS AWESOME.
BETTER THAN WHAT THE STATE DID.
WE LOOK TO SEATTLE FOR
LEADERSHIP IN THE STATE AS WELL.
>> THE REASON WE WON IS BECAUSE
WE ARE INVENTORS IN THE STATE.
WHEN YOU HAVE POLITICIANS DOING
INSIDER NEGOTIATIONS, THEY GIVE
INTO CORPORATE LANDLORDS AND WE
DON'T WANT TO LET THAT HAPPEN
HERE.
THAT IS WHY MY OFFICE ALWAYS
INSIST ON ORGANIZING RENTERS.
THAT IS THE THING THAT
CORPORATE RENTERS FEAR THE
MOST.
>> I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN HOPING.
NOW THAT JUST CAUSE HAS PASSED
WE HOPE THAT MONTH-TO-MONTH
TENANTS WILL BE ORGANIZED AS
WELL.
THAT HAS TOTALLY PREVENTED THEM
FROM GETTING INVOLVED WITH A
LOT OF ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES
BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF A 20 DAY
NOTICE.
THAT IS A HUGE FEAR.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND LIKEWISE, PLEASE LET THE
RENTERS AND ACTIVISTS IN
SPOKANE KNOW THAT MY OFFICE IS
AT THE READY TO HELP YOU ALL
THERE.
WHATEVER YOU CAN WIN ONLY HELPS
RENTERS IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
WE DON'T WANT ANY INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY ON EITHER VACCINES.
>> WE JUST WANT SOLIDARITY AND
WORKING TOGETHER AND MOVING
FORWARD.
I SEE THAT HAPPENING, SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ABSOLUTELY.
SOLIDARITY AND WORKING TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBERS
ENGAGING ON BOTH BILLS AND
THINK YOU FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS
THAT CAME UP.
AND THANK YOU TO STAFF MEMBERS
AND ASHA VENKATARAMAN AND ALY
PENNUCCI.
QUICK APOLOGIES TO EVERYONE.
I WANT TO QUICKLY TURN TO OUR
LAST EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ITEM
BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THE CLIMATE CRISIS THAT FACES
US.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE WE NEED TO
BE SOBER ABOUT THE FACT THAT
SEATTLE AND THE REST OF THE
WORLD IS COMPLETELY FAILING AT
THIS MOMENT TO MAKE THE
ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO ADDRESS
THE IMPENDING CLIMATE
CATASTROPHE.
AND NOT FOR LACK OF ORDINARY
PEOPLE WANTING IT TO BE
ADDRESSED.
OUR PRESENTERS WHO ARE ABOUT TO
SPEAK, WE KNOW WE NEED TO
RAPIDLY ELECTRIFY OUR CITY'S
INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE KNOW IT
IS GOING TO REQUIRE BIG
INVESTMENTS IN GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CAN ONLY BE
FUNDED BY SUBSTANTIAL NEW BIG
BUSINESS TAXES AND I'M HOPING
THAT THIS DISCUSSION, EVEN
THOUGH IT WON'T ENCOMPASS ALL
THE THINGS WE NEED TO TALK
ABOUT BUT IT WILL BE A
DISCUSSION THAT WILL BE PART OF
HOPEFULLY ONGOING DISCUSSIONS.
NOT JUST DISCUSSIONS BUT
DISCUSSION FOLLOWED BY ACTIONS
AND ORGANIZING.
MANY PRESENTERS ARE ORGANIZERS
AND LEADERS ON STREET MOVEMENTS
AND HAVE WE HAVE WORKED WITH
MANY OF THEM BEFORE.
I WANTED TO WELCOME YOU ALL.
WE HAVE MATT, RACHEL, DEB ALINA,
DEEP AND JUST.
I WANT TO WELCOME YOU
ALTOGETHER.
IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND DO YOUR
PRESENTATION, I WANT TO LEAVE
IT TO YOU.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
WE WILL DO QUICK INTRODUCTIONS
AND THEN I BELIEVE TED, I
BELIEVE YOU WILL BE RUNNING THE
SLIDE PRESENTATION FOR US.
MY NAME IS MATT REMLE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO IN SOUTH
PEKIN HILL.
AND I AM THE COFOUNDER OF
MAZASKA TALKS.
IN THE COFOUNDER OF STOP THE
MONEY PIPELINE AND WAS RECENTLY
NOMINATED TO SIT ON SEATTLE'S
GREEN NEW DEAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND VERY HAPPY TO BE
HERE. IF I CAN DEVIATE JUST
QUICKLY, IT MADE MY HEART FEELS
SO GOOD, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE
LEFT BUT TO SEE TERRY ANDERSON
SPEAKING ON HERE.
HER AND I WORKED TOGETHER BACK
IN THE 90s AND EARLY 2000 ON
SOME REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ISSUES BRINGING
TOGETHER TRIBES, FARMWORKERS
AND URBAN COMMUNITIES TO FIGHT
ON THIS VERY ISSUE THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
SAYING HELLO TO TERRY.
I WILL PASS IT TO DEBOLINA ,
DEEPA, JESS, WHOEVER WANTS TO
GO NEXT .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
I AM DEBOLINA BANERJEE.
I USE SHE/HER PRONOUNS.
I AM AN ACTIVIST WITH PUGET
SOUND SAGE.
I WAS WITH THE CITY'S EQUITY AND
ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVES
COMMITTEE.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
COMMITTEE AND I COMPLETED A
TERM OVER THERE FOR THREE YEARS
NOW AND JUST RECENTLY NOMINATED
FOR THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD.
I WILL PASS IT ON TO DEEPA.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM DEEPA SIVARAJAN.
I USE SHE/HER PRONOUNS.
AND I AM THE POLICY MANAGER AT
CLIMATE SOLUTIONS.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JESS WALLACH . I USE
SHE/HER PRONOUNS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6 AND I AM
AN ORGANIZER WITH 350 SEATTLE.
AND RECENTLY GRANTED TO THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE.
>> I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED
RACHEL UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT
BE HERE WITH US TODAY.
SHE TOO WAS RECENTLY NOMINATED
TO SIT ON THE GREEN NEW DEAL
ADVISORY BOARD.
SHE IS WORKING WITH THE
CULTURAL DEPARTMENT WITH THE
MUCKLESHOOT TRIBE BUT SHE HAD
OTHER OBLIGATIONS.
APOLOGIES ON BEHALF OF RACHEL.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS I WANT
AND TO ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
SUPER IMPORTANT NECESSARY WORK
OF MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR
SEATTLE GREEN NEW DEAL.
I AM HONORED TO BE WORKING
ALONGSIDE THE OTHER PRESENTERS
HERE TODAY WHO ARE GOING TO
TOUCH ON THE DIFFERENT SUBJECT
AREAS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT
WHILE ADDRESSING THE GREEN NEW
DEAL RAGING FROM
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING,
COUNCIL MEMBERS ALREADY
MENTIONED ELECTRIFICATION AS
WELL AS THE NEED FOR MASS
INVESTMENT INTO THE GREEN NEW
DEAL. WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO
SPEND THE TIME GOING OVER THE
DETAILS OF WHERE WE ARE AT WITH
THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
I THINK WE ARE ALL QUITE
KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THAT AREA AT
THIS POINT.
WE SAW FROM OSC LAST TIME WE
GATHERED THAT SEATTLE'S
EMISSIONS ARE ACTUALLY GOING
UP.
SO, WE NEED SOME BOLD ACTION IN
MOVING FORWARD TO MEET OUR GOALS
TO REDUCING SEATTLE'S
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
AND GOING TO START OFF WITH
DEBOLINA WHO WILL KICK US OFF
IN ENERGY JUSTICE.
>> THANK YOU, MATT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT
THAT WE ARE NOT A WHOLE BOARD
OVER HERE.
SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, WHATEVER I
TALK ABOUT TODAY WILL MOSTLY BE
SOME OF THE LEARNINGS THAT SAGE
HAD TO OUR WORK AND THE
PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON AFTER HEARING FROM
COMMUNITIES.
SO, THE ENERGY INDUSTRY HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A MAJOR PIECE IN
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND LAST YEAR 2020 ABOUT THE
INJUSTICE AND IN THE ENERGY
SECTOR OUT INTO THE OPEN FOR
THOSE WHO ARE NOT PLUGGED INTO
THE CONVERSATIONS AND INTO THE
MOVEMENT.
WE HAVE SAGE STARTED WORKING ON
ENERGY JUSTICE SINCE 2019 WITH
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO EXPLORE
WHAT IT MEANS TO DO ENERGY
POLICY IN A RACIALLY JUST WAY.
TO US IT MEANS WE LEAD WITH
WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR
PEOPLE.
IT MEANS WE DON'T GET
DISTRACTED BY FANCY NEW
TECHNOLOGY BUT START BY
ADDRESSING THE DISPROPORTIONATE
IN EQUITIES FOR US.
IT MEANS WE THINK OF DEMOCRATIC
PROCESSES TO LAYOUT ENERGY
POLICIES, NOT CHASE AFTER FALSE
PROBLEMS AND INSTEAD THINK
ABOUT ENERGY POLICIES IN TERMS
OF TRANSPORTATION JUSTICE,
HOUSING JUSTICE, FOOD JUSTICE,
ECONOMIC JUSTICE, WORKERS
RIGHTS.
ULTIMATELY JUST TRANSITION
FUNDED BY REVENUE.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE IS
SOME CLIMATE CONCERNS THAT HAVE
STAYED THE SAME SINCE OUR FIRST
TALKS ON CLIMATE IN 2015 AND
PRIORITIES HAVE STAYED THE SAME
AND THEN WE LISTED SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS OVER HERE THAT
WE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE?
HERE THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE
TALKED TO IN OUR RESEARCH ARE
NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING.
THEY WERE IN THE INCOME BRACKET
OF 10K-50 K PER YEAR. IN 2018
THE AMI FOR SEATTLE WAS 90 5K.
WE ALSO HAD 35% COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO WERE DISABLED.
THAT MEANS THEY WERE CONSTANTLY
RELYING ON ENERGY FOR DEVICES
OR MEDICINES AND ALL OF THAT.
WE CONDUCTED LISTENING SESSIONS
AND INTERVIEWS TO COLLECT THE
DATA.
WHAT WE LEARNED IS IN A RISING
ENERGY CRISIS, PEOPLE ARE
REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
AND LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS SEEK
TO CUT DOWN ON NECESSITIES
WHETHER IT IS RENT, MORTGAGE,
FOOD, MEDICINE TO AFFORD THEIR
ENERGY BILLS.
THEY FACE SO MUCH BARRIERS IN
BENEFITING FROM THE LOW INCOME
ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND
THIS IS NOT JUST SEATTLE.
IT IS SOUTH SEATTLE AND
SOUTHLAND COUNTY.
I WANTED TO BE TRANSPARENT
ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OVER
HERE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE
LEARNED IS THAT INCREASING 100%
OF ENERGY HOUSEHOLD IS REALLY
IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.
WITH IN SEATTLE WE HAVE 75%.
INCREASING THE PROGRAMS
ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPROVING
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ALSO
EXPANDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY
RETROFIT PROGRAMS.
WITH ANTI-DISPLACEMENT POLICIES
WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
WE HEARD.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE?
>> WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT ENERGY
JUSTICE WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION. IT PLAYS A HUGE
ROLE IN TRANSPORTATION AND ALSO
HOUSING WHICH JESS WILL TALK
MORE ABOUT.
WHAT WE HEARD IS THAT PEOPLE
REALLY WANTED THE CITY TO FOCUS
ON PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
THEY FEATURED LAST ON THEIR
PRIORITY LIST.
SHIFTING OUR FOCUS FROM
INDIVIDUAL TO OFFERING MORE
CHOICE WAS IMPORTANT.
ELECTRIFICATION OF PUBLIC
TRANSIT.
AND IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY.
INCREASING OPTIONS AND BEARING
TRANSIT INVESTMENTS WITH ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES.
WE CANNOT REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS IF WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IT IF OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE
MOSTLY TRANSIT DEPENDENT ARE
PUSHED OUT OF THE TRANSIT
AREAS.
IN PLACES WHERE WE HAVE MORE
TRANSIT OPTIONS.
END UP DRIVING.
THAT IS NOT A LOGICAL STEP.
INCREASING MORE TRANSIT OPTIONS
IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING
ABOUT AND THAT IS WHAT WE HEARD
FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE MAJORITY OF LOW INCOME
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH $30,000
PER YEAR, THEY WERE THE ONES
WHO RELIED MOSTLY ON TRANSIT.
AND WITH THIS I WILL PASS ON TO
JESS.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK MATT IS NEXT.
>> MATT, YOU ARE UP.
>> BACK TO ME.
THANK YOU DEBOLINA.
IN KEEPING ALONG THE THEME OF
ENERGY AND DEEPA WILL GO
DEEPER INTO ELECTRIFICATION
HERE SHORTLY.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
KNOW FOR THOSE OF US HERE
WORKING TOGETHER AND WITHIN OUR
BROADER COALITIONS WE REALLY
HOPE AS SEATTLE MOVES FORWARD
WITH ITS EFFORTS AT
ELECTRIFICATION OR MEETING ITS
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION
REDUCTIONS THAT IT TAKE AN
INTERSECTIONAL ANALYSIS APPROACH
TO ITS POLICIES. FOR EXAMPLE
CURRENTLY TRACKED GAS THAT
SEATTLE GETS THROUGH PUGET
SOUND ENERGY.
, PUGET SOUND ENERGY PURCHASES
THE BULK OF THE NATURAL OR
FRACKED GAS COMES FROM BRITISH
COLUMBIA OR ALBERTA AND TO THE
LESSER EXTENT THE ROCKY
MOUNTAIN REGION.
IN THE PICTURES THAT YOU SEE ON
THEIR THE TOP PHOTO ARE
FRACKING SIGHTS COMING OUT OF
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
THE MAJORITY OF THESE FRACKING
SIGHTS UP IN BC AND ALBERTA
TAKE PLACE ON OR NEAR FIRST
NATIONS COMMUNITY. THIS IS WHAT
WE MEAN IN TERMS OF
INTERSECTIONAL ANALYSIS.
IT IS NOT THAT THE GAS THAT WE
USE HERE IN SEATTLE CONTRIBUTES
WILL TO GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS BUT IT HAS DIRECT
IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITIES FROM
WHERE PUGET SOUND ENERGY IS
PURCHASING FROM.
I ENCOURAGE ESPECIALLY AS WE
MOVE INTO LOOKING AT THE FOSSIL
FUEL STUDY THAT WILL BE
DISCUSSED IN A FEW WEEKS THAT
WE ALSO LOOK AT CANDIDATES
CANADA'S INQUIRY THAT THEY
RELEASED INTO MISSING
INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND I WOULD
LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR HER
LEADERSHIP AND WORK ON THIS
ISSUE.
THESE SAME FRACKING SITES THAT
WE ARE GETTING OUR GAS FROM ARE
HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS INQUIRY AS
EPICENTERS FOR THE ISSUE OF
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN.
THE PHOTO RIGHT BELOW THAT
FRACKING SITE, THOSE ARE MAN
CAMPS.
THAT IS ONE LOCATED UP IN
BRITISH COLUMBIA NEAR THE
FRACKING SITE. THESE MAN CAMPS
ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THE EPIDEMIC
OF MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN.
GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT
LINE.
ONE OF THE THINGS AS
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT MENTIONED,
IS THE NEED TO LOOK INTO
INVESTMENTS INTO GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE.
I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE
SITTING ON THE DESIGN TEAM WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES FOR
THEIR FIFTY-YEAR SHAPE OUR
WATER PLAN AND THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT SPU IS LOOKING
INTO.
WE CAME ACROSS THIS INNOVATIVE
COMPANY OUT OF OREGON WHO HAS
DEVELOPED WATER TURBINES.
WE HAVE A SHORT CLIP HERE.
>> APOLOGIES, I DON'T HAVE THE
VIDEO QUEUED UP. I APOLOGIZE.
WE WILL HAVE TO DO IN THE
FUTURE.
>> NO PROBLEM.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT IS, FEEL
FREE TO COPY AND PASTE THE LINK
AND WATCH ON YOUR OWN.
BUT THEY ARE TURBINES THAT YOU
INSTALL DIRECTLY INTO DRINKING
OR WASTEWATER PIPELINES. WHAT
YOU SEE IN THAT TOP PICTURE IS
THE TURBINE ITSELF.
AND YOU HAVE YOURSELF A 24/7
SOURCE OF RENEWABLE GREENHOUSE
GAS FREE ENERGY THAT CAN BE PUT
ONTO THE GRID AND HOPEFULLY
PHASE OUT 30% OF OUR ENERGY
THAT COMES OUT OF FOSSIL FUELS.
LACES LIKE PORTLAND AND UP AND
DOWN THE WEST COAST FROM OREGON
TO CALIFORNIA HAVE BEGUN
INSTALLING THESE IN THEIR WATER
PIPELINES AND OTHER COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD FROM SOUTH
AFRICA AND SOME EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES. GO AHEAD AND GO TO
THE NEXT SLIDE.
LASTLY AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED A
FEW TIMES NOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS
THE ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM.
WE KNOW WE NEED TO REDUCE
SEATTLE'S GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS.
BUT THE REALLY NEEDS TO BE AN
INVESTMENT INTO THE
INFRASTRUCTURE WHETHER IT BE
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES,
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, ETC.
. AS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
ALREADY MENTIONED, AND INCREASE
INTO THE AMAZON JUMPSTART TAX.
THE SLIDE WAS FROM WHEN IT WAS
PASSED OVER THE SUMMER TIME AND
9% IS SLATED FOR GREEN NEW
DEAL.
WE KNOW WE WILL ABSOLUTELY NEED
THAT AND MORE TO MEET SEATTLE'S
GOALS OF GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS REDUCTION.
AND I WILL PASS IT OVER TO
JESS.
>> THANKS MATT AND DEBOLINA.
IF I COULD GET THE NIGHT THE
NEXT SLIDE, THANKS.
>> WE ARE NOT A WHOLE BOARD
HERE TODAY SO I'M SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF 350 SEATTLE AND WE
ARE EXCITED TO TAKE THIS TO THE
FULL OVERSIGHT BOARD WHEN WE
BEGAN MEETING.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BATTLES HOUSING CRISIS IS
PUSHING FOLKS OUT OF THE CITY
AND ALL OF THIS EXTRA DRIVING
IS DRIVING UP POLLUTION.
AS WE HEARD LAST MONTH,
TRANSPORTATION IS ALREADY OUR
NUMBER 1 SOURCE OF GREENHOUE
GAS EMISSIONS AND IT ONLY GETS
WORSE AS FOLKS ARE DISPLACED.
THAT DISPLACEMENT IS NOT EQUAL
ACROSS THE BOARD.
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME
úFOLKS ARE PUSHED OUT FIRST AND
FURTHEST.
OVERWHELMINGLY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
STAY ARE RENT BURDENED WITH
OVER 40% OF FOLKS UNDER 35
PAYING ONE THIRD OR MORE OF
THEIR INCOME TO RENT.
A HISTORY OF RACIST POLICIES
LIKE REDLINING AND EXCLUSIONARY
ZONING HAVE CONCENTRATED THIS
DISPLACEMENT RISK IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
JUST LIKE THE CLIMATE CRISIS,
SEATTLE'S HOUSING CRISIS HITS
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND POOR
PEOPLE FIRST AND WORST.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE STARTING.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE GOOD
NEWS IS IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
THAT WAY.
WHEN WE CAN ALL LIVE IN THE
PLACES WHERE WE WORK, GO TO
SCHOOL, SHOP AND CONNECT WITH
OUR COMMUNITIES WE DRIVE LESS
WHICH MEANS OUR CLIMATE
POLLUTION SLOWS AND OUR CLIMATE
RESILIENCE GROWS.
THIS BAR CHART ON THE LEFT SHOWS
HOW FOR SAN FRANCISCO WHICH IS
A CITY OF SIMILAR SIZE TO
SEATTLE, THEY ARE BUILDING MORE
HOUSING THAT HAS HUGE POTENTIAL
TO REDUCE CLIMATE POLLUTION.
IT IS AN ESSENTIAL CLIMATE
STRATEGY.
WHEN WE INVEST IN CITYWIDE
UNION BUILT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WE CAN CREATE THOUSANDS OF GOOD
JOBS AND BUILD FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY WE REDUCE OUR
CLIMATE DILUTION WHILE BUILDING
RESILIENCE.
KEEPING COMMUNITIES IN PLACE
PROTECTS THE COMMUNITY
CONNECTION THAT CAN MAKE A LIFE
OR DEATH DIFFERENCE THROUGH
CRISES LIKE COVID-19 AND ALSO
HEAT WAVES AND WILDFIRE SMOKE
THAT KEEP COMING BACK YEAR
AFTER YEAR.
THAT SAID, AS DEBOLINA TALKED
ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY BASED
RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN DONE, IT
IS NOT ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT
HOUSING ALONE.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IF IT
DISPLACES COMMUNITIES THAT
UNDERMINES OUR EFFORTS TO
REDUCE POLLUTION AND BUILD
RESILIENCE.
WE ALSO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES
WHENEVER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY CONTROL
DEVELOPMENT AND LAND TRUST THAT
KEEP FOLKS IN PLACE.
WE WANT TO COUPLE HOUSING WITH
COMMUNITY LED INVESTMENTS FOR
HEALTHY, RESILIENT
NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT OUR
NEIGHBORS CAN MEET THEIR BASIC
NEEDS, THINGS LIKE FOOD,
CHILDCARE, COMMUNITY
CONNECTION, PLACES TO PLAY AND
SHOP. GETTING TO WORK OR SCHOOL
AND DO THAT WITH AN EASY AND
SAFE WALK, BUS OR BIKE RIDE.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT REDUCE
CLIMATE ALEUTIAN AND THEY MAKE
OUR LIVES BETTER.
POLLUTION AND THEY MAKE OUR
LIVES BETTER.
THAT IS INTERESTING.
IT LOOKS LINK FOR ME.
LOOKS BLANK FOR ME.
AS YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A GREAT
GRAPHIC.
FROM THE SIDELINE INSTITUTE
SHOWING HOW PORTLAND INNOVATED
TO MAKE MORE AND MORE
AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR HOUSING.
PORTLAND IS JUST ONE OF MANY
CITIES THAT IS TACKLING CLIMATE
POLLUTION AND THE HOUSING
CRISIS BY EXPANDING WHAT IS
POSSIBLE.
WE CAN LEARN FROM WHAT WORKED
WHEN IT COMES TO REZONING WHEN
IT COMES TO MINNEAPOLIS, BOSTON
AND VANCOUVER BC AND WE CAN
LEARN A LOT FROM COMMUNITY LED
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS LIKE THE
HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
HERE OR THE EAST BAY PERMANENT
REAL ESTATE COOPERATIVE IN
OAKLAND.
I WANT TO SHARE THIS AS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF WHAT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING COULD LOOK LIKE AND HOW
MANY OPTIONS WE HAVE FOR
DENSITY IF WE THINK ABOUT
FILLING IN EXISTING
NEIGHBORHOODS IN ADDITION TO
THE UP SELLING OR BUILDING UP
MODEL THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANT TO CLOSE OUT AND
CHAIR FOR MY OWN EXPERIENCE AS
AN INDIVIDUAL AS WELL AS A
REPRESENTATIVE AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER FOR 350 SEATTLE BUT I
WILL BRING TO THE OVERSIGHT
BOARD.
I AM A RENTER LIKE 54% OF
SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
I LIVE IN GREEN LAKE NEAR THE
COMMERCIAL CENTER.
WHAT MY ROOMMATE AND I JOKINGLY
CALL THE UP HOUSE.
WE ARE A FALLING DOWN HOUSE
THAT IS SURROUNDED BY NEW
APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT RENT
FOR DOUBLE WHAT WE PAY.
WHEN OUR HOUSE GETS SOLD FOR
DEVELOPMENT WE WILL HAVE TO
LEAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE
HAVE BEEN ROUTED FOR YEARS.
THIS IS MY HOME BUT I LIVE HERE
WITH THIS LURKING QUESTION OF
HOW LONG CAN I STAY?
I AM NOT ALONE.
THE SEATTLE TIMES REPORTED
RECENTLY THAT 45% OF SEATTLE
MILLENNIAL'S THINK THEY WILL
HAVE TO MOVE SOMEWHERE CHEAPER
TO AFFORD THE LIFE THEY WANT
EVEN THOUGH NEARLY ALL WOULD
PREFER TO STAY IN SEATTLE.
TO BRING IT ALL FOR FULL
CIRCLE, WHEN YOUNG FOLKS, POOR
FOLKS AND FOLKS OF COLOR MOVE
OUT OF THE CITY, WE STILL COME
BACK FOR WORK, SCHOOL,
FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND ALL
THAT EXTRA DRIVING IS DRIVING
UP CLIMATE POLLUTION.
AND IT MAKES US LESS RESILIENT
IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHAOS.
THINGS LIKE HEAT WAVES AND
WILDFIRE SMOKE BECAUSE THOSE
CRITICAL COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND
DISRUPTED.
THE CHOICES THAT WE MAKE TODAY
WILL SHAPE OUR CITY FOR DECADES
TO COME. SEATTLE NEEDS HOUSING
AND A CITYWIDE BUILDOUT OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COUPLED WITH
STRONG ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
MEASURES AND INVESTMENTS IN
HEALTHY RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOODS
IS A POWERFUL GREEN NEW DEAL
SOLUTION.
I WILL PASS IT OVER TO DEEPA.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU TED FOR MOVING TO
THE NEXT SLIDE.
I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT I AM
NOT ON THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD SO I WILL BE
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CLIMATE
SOLUTIONS.
I WANT TO FINISH BY TYING
EVERYTHING TOGETHER INTO THE
ISSUE.
WE HEARD FROM DEBOLINA ABOUT
ENERGY JUSTICE AND MATT ABOUT
FRACKING GAS AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
WE BUILD HOUSING THAT IS MEANT
FOR FOLKS OF ALL COMMUNITIES TO
BE ABLE TO LIVE IN AND WE WANT
TO KNOW THAT THOSE BUILDINGS
ARE CLEAN AND SAFE FOR THEM TO
STAY IN.
IT IS RESPONDING TO THE FACT
THAT WE NEED TO STOP USING
FOSSIL FUELS TO HEAT AND POWER
OUR BUILDING.
AS YOU HEARD, THE BUILDING
EMISSIONS HAVE BEEN RISING
EVERY YEAR AND WE ARE NOT ON
TRACK AS A CITY TO REACH OUR
GOALS FOR REDUCTIONS OF
EMISSIONS BY 2030.
BUILDINGS ARE THE SECOND
HIGHEST SOURCE OF EMISSIONS IN
SEATTLE AND THE FASTEST
GROWING'S STORES SOURCE
STATEWIDE.
THAT IS DUE TO USING FRACKED
GAS TO HEAT AND POWER OUR
BUILDINGS.
WE HAVE THE BENEFIT IN SEATTLE
OF HAVING REALLY CLEAN
ELECTRICITY.
SEATTLE HAS 95% CLEAN
ELECTRICITY AND OFFSETS THE
REST BY PURCHASING ALLOWANCES
AND IN WASHINGTON AS A WHOLE WE
ARE MOVING TOWARD CLEANER
ELECTRICITY SOURCES BECAUSE OF
THE 2019 CLEAN ENERGY ACT.
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE STOP
USING FOSSIL FUELS AND SHIFT
OVER TO THE SOURCE OF ENERGY
THAT WILL BE CLEAN AND
RENEWABLE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SIMILAR TO
WHAT DEBOLINA MENTIONED, AIR
POLLUTION IS A BIG CONCERN FOR
USING FRACKED GAS IN OUR
BUILDINGS.
THIS IS TRUE INDOORS AND
OUTDOORS.
COMBUSTING GAS RELEASES
DANGEROUS POLLUTIONS WHICH HAVE
A NUMBER OF RESPIRATORY,
CARDIOVASCULAR, NEUROLOGICAL
IMPACTS.
CHILDREN WHO GROW UP IN A HOME
WITH A GAS STOVE WHERE
POLLUTANTS ARE COMING AND
HARMING OUR INDOOR AIR
POLLUTION.
CHILDREN WHO GROW UP IN THOSE
HOMES HAVE A 42% INCREASED RISK
OF EXPERIENCING ASTHMA SYMPTOMS.
AND THIS POLLUTION IS
CONTRIBUTING TO OUTDOOR AIR
POLLUTION.
WASHINGTON'S RESIDENTIAL
APPLIANCES RELEASE MORE THAN
TWO TIMES AS MUCH NITROUS OXIDE
AS ALL OF WASHINGTON'S GAS
POWER PLANTS COMBINED.
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.
I WANT TO FRAME THIS BY SAYING
AIR POLLUTION
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS
BLACK INDIGENOUS ASIAN AND
LATIN NEXT COMMUNITIES AS WELL
IS LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AS
WELL AS HISTORICAL LEGACIES OF
REDLINING AND SEGREGATION THAT
HAVE FORCED THESE COMMUNITIES
INTO AREAS WITH THE WORST AIR
POLLUTION.
THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE LESS
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ONCE THEY
ARE EXPERIENCING HEALTH IMPACTS
FROM AIR POLLUTION.
AND THIS HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE
DURING THE COVID CRISIS WHERE
WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT
DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN OF COVID
ON THOSE COMMUNITIES AND SMALL
INCREASES IN EXPOSURE TO THESE
POLLUTANTS WAS CORRELATED WITH
HIGHER DEATH RATE FROM COVID.
THIS LAST YEAR HAS BEEN A STARK
REMINDER OF HOW MUCH WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLLUTION IS
REDUCED.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> THERE IS ALSO THE SAFETY
RISK.
I HAVE SOME STATS HERE BUT
THERE IS REALLY INTERESTING
FRAMING.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT MATT
WAS SAYING ABOUT MAN CAMPS AND
THE FRACKED GAS SITES.
ALONG WITH SAFETY ALONG THE GAS
PIPELINES YOU HAVE THOSE RISKS
AND RISK TO WORKERS THEMSELVES
THAT START AT THE POINT OF
EXTRACTION.
THEN YOU HAVE THE TRANSMISSION
OF THE GAS THROUGH HUGE
PIPELINES THAT GO UNDERNEATH
COMMUNITIES AND HAVE RISKS OF
LEAKS THAT CAN CONTAMINATE THE
WATER SUPPLY.
YOU HAVE THE RISK OF
EARTHQUAKES AND THE RISK AT THE
POINT OF USE WHEN GAS GOES INTO
DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES AND HAS
A RISK OF LEAKING OR CAUSING
FIRES OR EXPLOSION IN
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE HAD A FIRE UNDERGROUND IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT THAT
REQUIRED EVACUATIONS TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS SAFE.
IN SEATTLE WE HAD AN EXPLOSION
IN 2016.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE
ALWAYS AT RISK OF ANOTHER GAS
LEAK OR EXPLOSION EVEN THOUGH
WE HEAR ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL
CASES WHERE THAT HAPPENS.
WE LOOKED AT THE 911 RECORDS
THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR SEATTLE.
AND A RESIDENT CALLED 911 AN
AVERAGE OF EVERY THREE DAYS
ABOUT A SUSPECTED GAS LEAK OR
ODOR WHICH IS REMARKABLE THAT
MOST GAS CUSTOMERS WOULD CALL
THEIR UTILITY FIRST AND DON'T
CALL 911.
GAS REALLY IS AN ISSUE OF
SAFETY.
AND EARTHQUAKE RISK MAKES US
VULNERABLE.
HIGHLY PRESSURIZED GAS
PIPELINES RUN A RISK OF
EXPLODING DURING EARTHQUAKES
AND ON THE OTHER SIDE HAVE ANY
KIND OF DISASTER, ELECTRICITY
IS MUCH EASIER TO RESTORE THAN
A BROKEN PIPELINE IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THE DISASTER.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT
ELECTRIFICATION IS A SOLUTION
THAT PROVIDES A LOT OF BENEFITS.
IT INCLUDES TECHNOLOGIES THAT
ARE READILY AVAILABLE IN MARKET
THESE DAYS THAT ARE MORE AND
MORE AFFORDABLE.
IN THIS STUDY FROM THE ROCKY
MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE IT SHOWS
THAT ALL ELECTRIC BUILDINGS IN
SEATTLE CAN SAVE MONEY BOTH
UPFRONT AND ACROSS THE
LIFECYCLE OF 50 YEARS AND IT
CAN SAVE A NEW HOME 28 TONS OF
CO2 EMISSIONS OVER A 15 YEAR
PERIOD.
I WANT TO TIE THIS BACK TO WHAT
DEBOLINA WAS SAYING IN THE
BEGINNING ABOUT ENERGY BURDENS
ON RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
WHO LIVE IN HOMES THAT HAVE NOT
BEEN WEATHERIZED OR HAVE
APPLIANCES THAT ARE NOT
EFFICIENT.
CURRENTLY ELECTRICITY IS MORE
EXPENSIVE THAN NATURAL GAS AS
AN ENERGY SOURCE.
BUT THE APPLIANCES THAT WE HAVE
, THE HIGH-EFFICIENCY HEAT PUMPS
AND WATER HEATERS SAVE SO MUCH
ENERGY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
SEEING SAVINGS ON OUR ENERGY
BILLS.
AND THAT WILL GO DOWN EVEN MORE
AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COME
ONTO THE GRID WITH ALL ELECTRIC
HOMES.
FINALLY, THE CLEAN ENERGY
TRANSFORMATION ACT REQUIRES
THAT LOW INCOME FOLKS CAN
RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR
HEATING BILLS IF THEY USE
ELECTRICITY WHILE GAS CUSTOMERS
DON'T HAVE PROTECTIONS.
THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD NEWS IN
TERMS OF THE COST AND HOW WE
CAN SAVE MONEY.
THIS IS MOSTLY WITH NEW
BUILDINGS.
THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT
CONVERSATIONS FOR EXISTING
BUILDINGS.
EVEN FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS
THOSE ENERGY BILL BENEFITS WILL
HOLD.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
I JUST WANT TO FINISH BY
TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE
POLICIES AND CURRENT EFFORTS OF
ELECTRIFICATION.
IN CALIFORNIA WE HAVE SEEN A
NUMBER OF CITIES WHO HAVE
PASSED ORDINANCES TO HAVE CLEAN
NEW BUILDINGS.
AND FOR SEATTLE WE ARE PLEASED
TO NOTE THAT SEATTLE PASSED A
COMMERCIAL ENERGY UPDATE IN
JANUARY THAT DID THIS FOR
COMMERCIAL AND LARGE MULTI
FAMILY BUILDINGS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS
EXTENDED TO ALL NEW BUILDINGS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
PUBLIC UTILITIES HAVE THE
ABILITY TO OFFER INCENTIVES FOR
SWITCHING FROM GAS OR OIL TO
ELECTRICITY.
THAT IS CURRENTLY A STATE-LEVEL
PROBLEM BUT WE ARE HAPPY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
CONTINUOUSLY ADVOCATED FOR THAT
AT THE STATE LEVEL.
AND THE BIG QUESTION WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT IS FUNDING FOR
EXISTING BUILDING RETROFITS.
WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO PROVIDE
DIRECT SUPPORT PROBABLY TO LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES TO FUND THOSE
AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT
INCENTIVES OR REBATES FOR OTHER
HOMEOWNERS WHO COULD AFFORD IT
BUT WE WANT TO INCENTIVIZE THEM
TO DO THAT.
I'M GOING TO SKIP THESE BECAUSE
I KNOW WE ARE SHORT ON TIME.
THERE IS A LOT OF MOVEMENT
HAPPENING ON RESTRICTING GAS
AND AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED
BOLDER ACTION AND WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ON TRACK
TO MEET OUR EMISSIONS GOALS
THAT WE SET. I WILL CLOSE
THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
I'M REALLY IMPRESSED BY THE
AMOUNT OF GROUND YOU ALL
COVERED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.
THOSE WERE VERY WELL LAID OUT
SLIDES.
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE
DELIGHTED TO SHARE IT WITH A
BROADER GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO MAY
NOT BE TUNED IN RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE IT IS DURING WORK HOURS
BUT WHO WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED
IN THIS INFORMATION. I THINK
YOU ALL HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED VERY
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF HOW
CLIMATE CRISIS TOUCHES PEOPLE'S
LIVES IN DIFFERENT WAYS. AND
ONE OF THE POINTS I APPRECIATED
WAS FROM DEBOLINA HEALTH
FOCUSING ON PUBLIC TRANSIT IS
NOT ONLY AN ENERGY JUSTICE AND
CLIMATE JUSTICE ISSUE BUT YOU
LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, IT IS
FOCUSING ON EXPANDING PUBLIC
TRANSIT IT IS WHAT IS NEEDED TO
ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS AS A
WHOLE.
IT SHOWS THAT THOSE TWO GOALS
ARE NOT IN CONFLICT WITH ONE
ANOTHER.
ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
AS A WHOLE GOES HAND-IN-HAND
WITH FOCUSING ON ENERGY JUSTICE
BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE MOST
IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS LIE.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT NEEDS
TO BE DONE.
IT IS REALLY ABOUT SCALE.
TO CONVINCE ORDINARY PEOPLE THEY
NEED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT, WE
HAVE SEEN THE STATISTICS THERE.
PEOPLE WANT TO USE IT BUT PEOPLE
WANT TO KNOW WHAT OPTIONS ARE
AVAILABLE.
IT HAS TO BE EXPANDED.
WE NEED BOLD SOLUTIONS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO
DRAW OUT WHICH A LOT OF THE
PRESENTERS KNOW THAT WE LEARN
FROM THE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS REPORT WHICH THE
COMMITTEE REVIEWED LAST MONTH
THAT MATT REFERENCE, THAT
FRACKED GAS AND OIL ACCOUNT FOR
45% OF ENERGY USED TO HEAT AND
COOL SEATTLE BUILDINGS.
THAT IS GOOD BUT THEY ACCOUNT
FOR A STAGGERING 91% OF
BUILDING EMISSIONS.
THAT IS REPORTED BY THE OFFICE
OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT.
THE REPORT ALSO NOTED THAT
SEATTLE HAS TO REDUCE BUILDING
TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER FORMS
OF POLLUTION AT 17 TIMES THE
CURRENT PRODUCTION RATE OVER
THE NEXT NINE YEARS TO BE ABLE
TO REACH THE CITIES 2030
POLLUTION REDUCTION GOALS WHICH
ARE NOT AMBITIOUS.
THEY ARE THE BARE MINIMUM THAT
IS NECESSARY.
IN THE BEGINNING IT USED TO BE
TOP TO BOTTOM AMBITIOUS BUT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT SURVIVAL
HERE.
THIS IS THE BARE MINIMUM THAT
IS NECESSARY THAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE.
I THINK ALL OF THIS IS POINTING
TOWARDS THE SCALE AT WHICH THE
SOLUTIONS NEED TO HAPPEN.
BOLD AS YOU ALL HAVE SAID AND AS
I COMPLETELY AGREE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS NOT
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND IT IS
NOT JUST THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
ON THE STATE LEVEL THE FAILURE
TO ACT IS WHAT WE HAVE TALKED
LOUDLY ABOUT.
STATEWIDE GREENHOUSE GASES
INCREASE IN 2018 AND REMAIN
LEVEL IN THE LAST DECADE.
SO, YOU HAVE SHOWN A NUMBER OF
IMPORTANT PRIORITIES HERE.
VERY EXCITING.
SOMETHING THAT WILL UNITE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND WORKING
TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
GIVEN THE REALITY THAT
GREENHOUSE GASES ARE NOT
DECLINING RIGHT NOW AND THE
FACT THAT WE ARE HEADED NOT IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT OVER
THE CLIMATE CHANGE CLIFF, TELL
US ABOUT THE SCALE OF THE
ACTION THAT YOU THINK THE
MOVEMENT NEEDS TO BE DEMANDIN
FROM THE CITY AND THE STATE.
WHO SHOULD PAY FOR THE
NECESSARY INVESTMENT?
THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF
JUSTICE BUT THE QUESTION OF
WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN
. IF YOU WANT TO REACH THE
SCALE OF THE ACTION WE WE NEED
THEN WHO NEEDS TO PAY FOR IT?
AND WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF AMAZON AND OTHER MAJOR
CORPORATIONS?
THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROFITABLE
CORPORATIONS WHO GAVE MILLIONS
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WHAT IS THEIR OBLIGATION TO PAY
FOR THE INVESTMENTS WE NEED?
AND IN YOUR VIEW HOW CAN WE
BEGIN TO GET THERE?
IS SOMEONE GOING TO RESPOND?
>> A TOUGH QUESTION WHICH IS
WHY I THINK WE ARE ALL SITTING
HERE.
>> I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON
THE SPOT.
IT IS A MATTER OF DISCUSSION
OBVIOUSLY.
>> I WILL CHIME IN AND SAY THAT
I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER ON WHO
HAS TO PAY ALTHOUGH IT
ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE
COMMUNITIES MOST AT RISK.
IT HAS TO BE SUPPORT FROM THE
GOVERNMENT AND THROUGH SOME
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
BUT I DO THINK THAT HAVING A
NUMBER OF PAIRED POLICIES WHEN
ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ANTI-
DISC EASEMENT TOGETHER AND
WEATHERIZATION AND
ELECTRIFICATION AND SOLAR READY
HOUSES, ALL OF THESE THINGS
HAVE TO BE GOING TOGETHER
BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL SIMILAR
GOALS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THEY ARE NOT PITTED AGAINST
EACH OTHER.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE FACED IN
CONVERT CONVERSATIONS AROUND
ELECTRIFICATION IS BUILDER
SAYING THAT MEANS WE CAN'T BUILD
BECAUSE THE COST OF BUILDINGS
WILL RISE.
WE NEED TO STAND FIRM AND SAY
THE BENEFITS OF A HOUSE WITHOUT
GAS NEED TO BE THERE FOR
AFFORDABLE UNITS AS WELL.
WE CAN'T HAVE THESE PRIORITIES
THAT ARE PITTED AGAINST EACH
OTHER.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IN TERMS OF THE FINANCING AND
FUNDING I THINK WE ARE ALL SUPER
CAUTIOUS THAT THE BURDEN CAN'T
BE PLACED ON WORKING FAMILIES
PERIOD.
AND PROGRESSIVE REVENUE IN
WHATEVER FORM THAT CAN COME.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE
AN INCREASE OF BIG BUSINESS TAX.
I APOLOGIZE, I AM STILL AT WORK.
JANITORIAL SERVICE IN THE
BACKGROUND IF I'M GETTING
DROWNED OUT.
THAT WOULD BE ONE POTENTIAL
SOLUTION TO LOOK AT.
>> I WILL ADD THAT I THINK WE
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE
MAKING SURE THAT ANY FEDERAL
STIMULUS FUNDS FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS FOR
ECONOMY BUILDING PRIORITIES, AS
THAT MOVES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
THAT WE ARE MAKING STRATEGIC
INVESTMENTS.
WHAT ARE THE INTERSECTIONS OF
EVERYDAY NEEDS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND REDUCING
CLIMATE POLLUTION.
EVERYTHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
HERE TONIGHT WHETHER ENERGY
JUSTICE OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OR MAKING SURE THAT THE AIR WE
BREATHE EVERY DAY IS CLEAN,
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT TAKE
CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES NOW.
AND BUILD TOWARD A HEALTHY
CLIMATE FUTURE.
THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE
MAXIMIZE THOSE INVESTMENTS AS
WE SEE FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS
WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT AND AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR SEATTLE.
>> JUST ECHOING WHAT EVERYONE
SAID. AND I ALSO WANTED TO
ELEVATE WHAT MATT SAID AROUND
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
AT LEAST IN WASHINGTON STATE
LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES ARE
PAYING MORE THAN THEIR SHARE.
WE HAVE A STATE TAX BUT NOT AN
INCOME TAX AND IT IS
DISPROPORTIONATE TO SAY THE
LEAST.
ECHOING ALSO THE STIMULUS FUNDS
AND WHERE THEY NEED TO GO AND
WHICH TARGETED COMMUNITIES THEY
NEED TO BE INVESTED IN.
THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
I HAD ANOTHER POINT IN MY MIND
AND I'M TOTALLY BLANKING OUT.
I'M TOTALLY BLANKING OUT.
I WILL REMEMBER LATER ON.
OH YES, OH YES, NOW I REMEMBER.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW POLICIES
THAT COME TO US AND A LOT OF
THOSE POLICIES SUGGEST REVENUE
SYSTEMS WHICH ARE BASED ON THE
SAME EXTRACTIVE MECHANISMS.
VERY PUBLICLY PUGET SOUND SAGE
HAS COME OUT AGAINST THE TAP
AND TRADE POLICY GOOD THAT GOT
PASSED IN THE STATE AND WE DO
NOT THINK THAT IS A SYSTEM
WHERE REVENUES WOULD BE
COLLECTED BY EXTRACTING AND
MAKING FOSSIL FUEL INVESTORS
DID AWAY WITH POLLUTING AND
BRINGING THAT REVENUE INTO
INVESTMENT AND OTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, THINKING ABOUT PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE SYSTEMS OVER THOSE
EXTRACTIVE REVENUE SYSTEMS IS
SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MORE
IMPORTANT FOR ME AND FOR SAGE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THE TERMINOLOGY REALLY
CAPTURES THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW
THE EXTRACTION AND EXPECTATION
THAT THE MOST MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES AND WORKING PEOPLE
AS A WHOLE FACE ON SO MANY
FRONTS.
IT IS NATURAL RESOURCES.
IT IS THE SAME THING THAT IS
HAPPENING IN SO MANY COUNTRIES.
THIS IS A GLOBAL ISSUE.
YOU CAN SEE THE LANDGRAB
HAPPENING IN SO MANY COUNTRIES
AND COMMUNITIES IN INDIA FOR
EXAMPLE, OUR HOME COUNTRY SO
MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN
DEVASTATED BECAUSE THE PLACES
WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN FOR
GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN
AWAY FROM THEM BECAUSE OF THE
NEED TO EXTRACT.
IT IS THE ENDLESS NEED OF
CAPITALISM TO EXTRACT NATURAL
RESOURCES OVER AND OVER AGAIN
AND IT NEVER ENDS.
THE PICTURE THAT YOU HAD MET,
ABOUT THE FRACKING SITES, THAT
WAS REALLY EVOCATIVE AND THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN THAT AND THE
MAN CAMPS AND THE HORRENDOUS
SITUATION THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS
AND ESPECIALLY THE INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
AND BRINGING THAT TOGETHER WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES WITH
HAVING GAS.
IT IS STUNNING.
YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME QUOTE
THIS BECAUSE I USE IT IN THE
LAST COMMITTEE.
ONE OF THE WORKERS WHO INSPECTS
THE GAS LINES HAS TOLD US THAT
IT IS SCARY FOR THE WORKERS
THERE ALSO BECAUSE A LOT OF
THIS IS NOT MAINTAINED BECAUSE
THE COMPANY THAT IS
PRIORITIZING PROFIT WANTS TO DO
THE BARE MINIMUM AND THEY MAYBE
DON'T BREAK THE LAW BUT THE
FACT IS THEY DON'T DO ANYWHERE
NEAR ENOUGH THAT THEY NEED TO
DO TO KEEP THINGS SAFE IN
GENERAL.
EVEN IF THEY WERE DOING THE MOST
INSPECTIONS AND REPLACEMENTS
WHICH THEY ARE NOT, EVEN IF
THEY DID JUST THE IDEA OF
HAVING THE GAS LINE IS REALLY
SCARY.
THE ADVOCACY FOR FULL
ELECTRIFICATION IS SO CRUCIAL.
I WANT TO RESPECT EVERYONE'S
TIME AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR
A WHILE.
I WANT TO ALSO INVITE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO ASK OR MAKE
COMMENTS.
JUST ONE OTHER QUESTION BEFORE
I CALL ON COUNCILMEMBERS, WE
SHOULD ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE
GREEN NEW DEAL IN CONTEXT OF
JOBS.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU SHOULD
HAVE AN ANSWER TODAY AND AS I
SAID BEFORE THIS IS REALLY
HAVING A DISCUSSION IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND OUR MOVEMENTS.
BUT WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS AND
MAYBE DEEPA FROM CLIMATE
SOLUTIONS YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT IN
ADDITION TO SAGE AND OTHERS IS
WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS BE ABLE
TO DEVELOP AN ESTIMATE OF HOW
MANY JOBS COULD BE CREATED OR
SUPPORTED IF THE CITY WERE TO
MOVE GAS CUSTOMERS ONTO
ELECTRICITY?
>> I CAN TAKE THAT FIRST.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME GREAT
INFORMATION FROM FOSSIL FUEL
TRANSMISSIONS THAT JUST CAME
OUT.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT ESTIMATED
THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT CREATED
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN
LOOK INTO.
I THINK THEY HAD SOME REALLY
GREAT CONCLUSIONS ABOUT
RECOMMENDATIONS IN TERMS OF HOW
TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION JUST AND
HOW TO INCREASE ACCESS FOR
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN IN
THE WORKFORCE OF ENERGY.
JOBS CREATED NOW ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY WHITE MEN
THAT ARE OCCUPYING THEM.
THERE IS A WAY THAT WE NEED TO
BE ABLE TO ENSURE ACCESS TO
BOTH RETRAINING AND
APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES
FOR FOLKS OF COLOR AND WOMEN.
I WILL JUST ADD THAT ONE OF THE
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT IN
REGARDS TO WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT IS THINKING OF HOW
MANY JOBS WILL BE LOST FROM
FOSSIL FUELS AND HOW MANY WILL
BE CREATED FROM CLEAN ENERGY
JOBS.
BUT THE JOB LOSSES FROM THE
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE
NOT ACCOUNTED FOR.
DO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS
REALISTICALLY AND THINK ABOUT
HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT CLIMATE
CHANGE IS ALREADY HAVING ON OUR
WORKERS AND RESIDENTS.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THAT
IS SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO
CERTAINLY.
>> THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT.
THAT IS A CONCRETE THING THAT
WE CAN PRESENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO A
SIMILAR THING WITH THE POINT
THAT ONE OF YOU TALKED ABOUT
WITH HOUSING AND THE
CONTRACTORS WILL TELL YOU IF
YOU ELECTRIFY IT WILL INCREASE
THE COST.
OBVIOUSLY THE QUESTION OF
PROFIT VERSUS PEOPLE IS THE
QUESTION.
BUT I THINK STUDIES SHOW THAT
ACTUALLY ON THE WHOLE IF YOU
DON'T READ IT AS ACTUAL COST TO
THE COMMUNITY, IT IS MUCH, MUCH
BETTER TO DO ELECTRIFYING.
THAT ARGUMENT FROM CONTRACTORS,
THAT REMINDS ME OF BOSSES WHO
SAY WE CAN HAVE OUR WORKERS
UNIONIZE BECAUSE OUR COSTS WILL
GO UP.
TOO BAD MAYBE PROFITS WILL GO
DOWN BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS FOR
WORKERS.
SIMILARLY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO ELECTRIFY.
THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE AREA THE
COST SHOULD NOT BE PUT ON
WORKING PEOPLE WHO MAYBE RENT
OR IF THEY ARE WELL-OFF ENOUGH
TO BUY AN APARTMENT. I THINK
THOSE POINTS ARE IMPORTANT.
THOSE STATISTICS THAT YOU COULD
GET US WOULD BE REALLY
BENEFICIAL.
>> THANK YOU.
I DID WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW
THAT WE WILL PRESENT THE FOSSIL
FUEL STUDY REPORT IN MY
COMMITTEE.
WE HAD HOPED TO HEAR THAT REPORT
IN MARCH.
MAYBE EVEN FEBRUARY.
BUT WE REALIZED OR THE
DEPARTMENT REALIZED THAT THERE
WAS A SECTOR MISSING FROM THE
STUDY ON THE IMPACTS OF JOBS
AND WHAT KIND OF JOBS SHOULD BE
INCLUDED.
SO WE HAD TO SEND THEM BACK TO
THE DRAWING BOARD ON THAT.
BUT WE WILL BE HEARING THAT IN
COMMITTEE ON MAY 18 AND I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO
CONNECT THE DOTS HERE FOR SOME
OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT.
I WAS ALSO WONDERING IF YOU ARE
ABLE TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION
AVAILABLE. IT IS NOT ON THE
AGENDA AND WE WOULD LOVE TO BE
ABLE TO REVIEW IT AND GET BACK
TO YOU.
>> WE WILL DEFINITELY PUT IT UP
AS WELL.
AND MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MORALE
US.
I DON'T SEE ANY VIRTUAL HANDS
UP BY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS.
THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE AND I HAVE
LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
AND POINTS FOR DISCUSSION.
. PRESENTERS, DO YOU WANT TO
MAKE SOME CLOSING COMMENTS
BEFORE WE CLOSE?
>> I WILL BE BRIEF.
THE TWO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE TODAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU ON SOME OF THESE
BOLD IDEAS AND EFFORTS MOVING
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONNECTING
WITH YOU BOTH OFF-LINE AND IN
THE UPCOMING COMMITTEES. I
THINK CONCRETE THINGS OF HOW TO
MOVE FORWARD.
AND DEEPA, YOU MADE AN
IMPORTANT POINT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO BE
SEQUENTIAL.
WE NEED A LOT OF THESE THINGS
TO BE MOVING VERY QUICKLY.
PUBLIC TRANSIT EXPANSION,
ELECTRIFICATION, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING EXPANSION, ALL OF THAT
IS NECESSARY AND ENCOURAGING.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
ESPECIALLY YOU PRESENTERS
BECAUSE YOU HAD TO WAIT FOR THE
OTHER ITEMS TO BE DONE.
OBVIOUSLY IN MY MIND THEY ARE
NOT SEPARATE.
RENTERS RIGHTS GO ALONG WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AS WELL.
JESS, YOU TALKED ABOUT BEING A
RENTER YOURSELF AND HOW IT IS
ALWAYS LOOMING ON THE HORIZON
FOR RENTERS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
HOUSING STABILITY BECAUSE OF
THE WAY THINGS ARE.
THAT DOES RELATE TO THE CLIMATE
CRISIS BECAUSE YOU GET PUSHED
FURTHER OFF AND NOT HAVING
PUBLIC TRANSIT EXPANSION SO
THERE ARE TENTACLES EVERYWHERE.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU
SHARED. I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBERS
STAYING THROUGH THE WHOLE
COMMITTEE.
I KNOW IS NOT THE SHORTEST
COMMITTEE BUT SOMETIMES THIS
HAS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE THESE
ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO DISCUSS.
I WANTED TO END BY SAYING THAT
WE NEED THOSE BOARD SOLUTIONS
URGENTLY.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME
AND PATIENCE.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS
I WILL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THE
MEETING.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.