Council president
Juarez and members of the Seattle City Council, thank you.
Thank you for allowing me to join you on my first report on the state of the city.
I entered office six weeks ago with a commitment to a new approach
to a vision of what I've referred to as one Seattle, defined by a commitment
to listen to and to work with one another toward a shared goals
rooted in urgency and action.
And I'm pleased to be joined by my by members of my executive committee
who I know you are already working closely with every day
from the mayor's office.
You'll never hear me or members of my administration attack your integrity
or your commitment to solve the problems, said
both of our branches of government face.
I hope you will share this approach, and I have heard loudly
and clearly that is what the public wants.
Our priorities do not have to contradict
instead of looking at differing opinions as mutually exclusive.
We can look to the politics of
and AND, the right number of officers and the right kind of officers, more
housing and vibrant, unique neighborhoods, climate justice and new jobs,
diversity
and commonality.
All of us on this call in throughout Seattle
have much more in common than we're often told.
Let's build on the spirit of unity that that concept should be our baseline,
not the proposition that we are perpetually divided.
Now that's how we built the Space Needle, that's how we cleaned up Lake Washington.
That's how we created libraries in parks and how Seattle became one
of the most desirable American cities to live in.
ONE Seattle means a renewed focus on good government
governance and tangible progress on nuance and conversation.
I BELIEVE THIS GROUP RIGHT
HERE, US, WE CAN AND WILL SET A
NEW TONE AND A NEW EXAMPLE FOR
WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED WHEN WE
HIT RESET AND HAVE A SHARED
AGENDA FOR OUR CITY TOGETHER.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT DEBORA
JUAREZ'S UNANIMOUS ELECTION TO
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENCY SHOWS
THAT YOU BELIEVE IN THE SPIRIT
OF UNITY IN THE SAME WAY I DO,
SHE IS THE CORRECT PERSON TO
LEAD THE COUNCIL, HER TRADEMARK
RESPONSIVENESS AND HER
COLLABORATIVE NATURE, EVEN HER
SENSE OF HUMOR ARE ALREADY
MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT SHE DOES NOT
ORDER THE CLERK TO HIT THE MUTE
BUTTON BECAUSE I HAVE SOME
PLANS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
WITH YOU.
WE NEED HER LEADERSHIP BECAUSE
THE CHALLENGES FACING SEATTLE
ARE DIFFICULT, SOME OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT THE CITY HAS EVER
FACED.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THE STATUS
QUO IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THAT IS ONE AREA WHERE WE MUST
ALL AGREE.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY I HEAR
STORIES OF LONGTIME SMALL
BUSINESSES CLOSING THEIR DOORS
FOR GOOD OR LEAVING OUR CITY.
FAMILIES FOREVER CHANGED
BECAUSE OF SENSELESS TRAGEDY OR
DRIVEN BY GUN VIOLENCE OR
OVERDOSE, RISING RENTS AND
INABILITY TO PAY BILLS OR FIND
HOUSING.
CLIMATE IMPACTS, DISSOLUTION
YOUTH OR RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT
FEEL SEEN OR HEARD.
AS WE COME OUT OF COVID
RECOVERY, SEATTLE CAN AND WILL
BE SO MUCH MORE.
THIS IS MY CORE BELIEF.
WILL BE THE DRIVING PRINCIPLE
BEHIND OUR ADMINISTRATION, THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE
PUBLIC DESERVES TO SEE CHANGE
AND TO KNOW THAT WE ARE ACTING
WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY
REQUIRED BY THIS MOMENT.
IN MY FIRST SIX WEEKS IN
OFFICE, YOU ARE SEEING US IN
REAL TIME BUILD SUSTAINABLE
SYSTEMS THAT MOVE OUR CITY
FORWARD.
QUITE CANDIDLY, PERHAPS BECAUSE
OF THE PANDEMIC, I DID NOT
INHERIT CLEAR DEPARTMENTAL
SYSTEMS TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS
THE CONDITIONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY
OR HOMELESSNESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE CLEAR, I
BELIEVE IN GOING BACK TO THE
BASICS.
THAT IS WHERE GOOD GOVERNANCE
BEGINS, THE BASICS INCLUDE
EFFORTS LIKE OUR HOUSING FIRST
POLICY.
FIXING A POTHOLE, MAKING SURE
OUR SIDEWALKS AND PARKS ARE
SAFE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
TO USE, MAKING SURE WE ENFORCE
OUR CRIMINAL LAWS AGAINST THOSE
WHO ARE HARMING OTHERS.
WE LEAVE WITH AND ACKNOWLEDGE
THE FACT THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS
HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.
THAT THE EXPORTATION OF OUR
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAS BEEN
WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THIS
COUNTRY SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
THAT IN 2022, WE HAVE SEEN ANTI-
ASIAN HATE AND ANTI-SEMITISM AT
ALARMING LEVELS.
THOSE UNDERSTANDINGS SHOULD BE
A PART OF OUR BASICS AS WELL
AND JUST AS IMPORTANT.
GOING BACK TO THE BASICS MEAN
SERVING THE PUBLIC AND THE
ENTIRE PUBLIC, AND IT MEANS
SERVING THEM WELL.
THAT IS WHY YOU HEARD ME, TWO
WEEKS AGO, TALK ABOUT MY
COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN
THE FACE OF A REPORT SHOWING
INCREASES IN VIOLENT CRIME AND
IN OVER 40% INCREASE IN SHOTS
FIRED LAST YEAR.
I SHARED RESULTS OF IMMEDIATE
ACTION TO ADDRESS CRIME AND
LOOK AT THE DATA TO RECOGNIZE
WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES ARE MOST IMPACTED
BY PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.
THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
WHAT IS CRITICAL AND NEW,
HOWEVER, IS WE REMAIN WHOLLY
COMMITTED TO AVOIDING THE
MISTAKES OF THE PAST.
MY ADMINISTRATION IS REACHING
OUT TO MEMBERS OF THE CRIMINAL
DEPARTMENT, MANY MY FRIENDS, TO
LET THEM KNOW THAT, WHEN WE
MAKE ARRESTS, WE WILL MAKE SURE
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE
PROTECTED, THAT ALTERNATIVE
ORMS OTHER THAN ARREST ARE
EXPLORED, THE TREATMENT PLANTS
ARE IN PLACE AND A MILITARIZED
OR RACIALIZED APPROACH WILL NOT
BE TOLERATED.
WE PROVIDED A SPECIFIC ARREST
NUMBERS AND THE AMOUNT OF
STOLEN GOODS RECOVERED, AND
DESCRIBE HOW DOZENS OF
VULNERABLE PEOPLE CAUGHT UP IN
A WEB OF ORGANIZED CRIMES WERE
ORGANIZED WITHOUT
INCARCERATION.
THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE
DEFINE PROGRESS, NOT JUST WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT ALSO WITH
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, OUTREACH,
SUPPORT, SOCIAL SERVICES, IT
MEANS, NOT JUST ADDRESSING GUN
VIOLENCE, BUT PREVENTING IT
THROUGH INPUT AND SOLUTIONS
FROM THE COMMUNITIES MOST
IMPACTED ALONG WITH
GROUNDBREAKING LAWS, LOCAL AND
REGIONAL COLLABORATION, AND
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES. WE
HAVE ALREADY BEGUN ROLLING OUT
ELEMENTS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
PLAN AND YOU WILL SOON HEAR
MORE DETAILS ABOUT HOW INTERVAL
THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH TO
PUBLIC SAFETY IS FOR EVERY
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
PART OF THE PLAN REQUIRES MORE
OFFICERS.
THE DEPLETED STAFFING WE SEE
TODAY DOES NOT ALLOW US TO
REACT TO EMERGENCIES, AND CRIME
RESPONSE TIMES OUR RESIDENTS
DESERVE AND DOES NOT ALLOW US
TO STOP THE SPECIALTY TEAMS WE
NEED FOR ISSUES LIKE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE OR DUI, OR FOR NATURAL
CRIMES.
THEY TARGET OUR ELDERLY.
IT DOES NOT ALLOW US TO CONDUCT
A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WE
EXPECT TO SUSTAINABLE CHANGE.
I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH MIKE
ALEXANDER, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE TRAINING COMMITTEE
ABOUT WHAT IT WILL TAKE FROM
THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE A HEALTHY PIPELINE
OF SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS.
IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, 2022, WE
WILL HAVE A SPECIAL SEATTLE
ONLY FOCUSED CLASS AT THE
POLICE ACADEMY WHICH WILL MEAN
THE NEXT 36 NEW OFFICERS WE
NEED TO HELP US REACH OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS WILL COME
OUT OF THE EFFORT.
WE HAVE FUNDING TO HIRE 125 NEW
OFFICERS THIS YEAR.
IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIAL
TRAINING CLASS, WE ARE ROLLING
OUT A NEW CAMPAIGN TO RECRUIT
THE NEXT GENERATION OF SEATTLE
POLICE.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS WILL
BE CONSISTENT WITH THE VALUES I
EXPECT TO SEE IN OUR OFFICES,
THE CULTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT,
THE ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY
AND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
JUSTICE REQUIRES SERVING THE
PEOPLE.
EVEN IF YOU'RE WATCHING TODAY
AND INTERESTED IN HELPING MAKE
OUR CITY MORE SAFE AND JUST,
PLEASE REACH OUT, WE ARE
HIRING.
YOU RECENTLY HEARD FROM THE
CHIEF ABOUT REQUIRING NEW
RECRUITS AS PART OF THEIR
TRAINING TO DIVE INTO IT AND
KNOW THE COMMUNITIES THEY WILL
BE WORKING IN BEFORE THEY TAKE
OFFICE.
THE RIGHT NUMBER OF POLICE
OFFICERS IN THE RIGHT KIND OF
POLICE OFFICERS.
WE CAN HAVE SAFETY AND WE CAN
HAVE PERFORM.
THIS WILL BE THE ADMINISTRATION
THAT STOPS THE FEDERAL CONSENT
DECREE OVER THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THE ADMINISTRATION WILL MAKE
SURE OUR POLICE ARE MORE
INNOVATIVE, REPRESENTATIVE, AND
FOCUSED.
I HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH
THE EARLY PRIORITIES PUBLIC
SAFETY CHAIR LISA HERBOLD AND I
HAVE A LIE.AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH HER ON SWIFT
AND LONG-TERM ACTION, INCLUDING
HOW WE ASSIGN SAFETY RESOURCES
LIKE THE NURSE NAVIGATION 911
PROGRAM I ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK
WITH COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WHO
WANTED TO MAKE POSSIBLE.
TO ME, PUBLIC SAFETY MEANS MORE
THAN JUST STOPPING CRIME, IT
MEANS ENJOYING PEOPLE GET THE
HELP THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED
IT, AND THAT OUR SYSTEMS WERE
BUILT FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL
PEOPLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE MY
DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU ABOUT THE
CREATION OF A THIRD KIND OF
PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT.
STAFFED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WHO HAVE THE TRAINING TO BE
CULTURALLY COMPETENT MASTERS OF
DE-ESCALATION.
WE KNOW THAT EVERY PROBLEM
CANNOT BE SOLVED WITH A GUN AND
A BADGE RESPONSE.
I AM INTRIGUED BY THE CREATION
OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATION CENTER, THE CSCC,
WITCH WILL GO AWAY FROM MY
POLICE-CENTERED APPROACH TO
PUBLIC SAFETY AND FOCUS MORE ON
HARM REDUCTION.
ANOTHER WAY WE WILL DO IT IS
THROUGH THE UNIT THREE WHICH
EXPANDS BEYOND DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
TO -- CONNECTING ACCESS TO
SERVICES.
OUR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO
CRISIS INTERVENTION IDEAS FROM
SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS THE LOCAL
27, TO IMPROVE AND HELP
RESPONSES TO THESE NONEMERGENCY
EVENTS.
THIS DEPARTMENT WILL ALLOW FIRE
AND POLICE TO ADDRESS
EMERGENCIES WHERE THEY ARE MOST
NEEDED.
WE HAVE EMBARKED UPON
PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE SEATTLE COLLEGE IS ABOUT
BUILDING OUT THIS KIND OF
CURRICULUM AND HOW THEY CAN
ENCOURAGES OUR COMMUNITIES TO
CONSIDER A CAREER IN HELPING
PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THE TIME TO BUILD THIS
DEPARTMENT IS NOW.
AS WE GET INTO THE BUDGET
PROCESS, I WILL SHARE FURTHER
STEPS IN THIS REGARD.
WE WILL ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH
OUR NEW CITY ATTORNEY ON THE
ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
MAKING SURE THIS NEW APPROACH
TO PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALIGNED
WITH HER STRATEGIES, AND I'M
CONFIDENT THEY ARE.
TOGETHER WE RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING WE HOLD
THAT ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE AND
BUILD A CRIMINAL AND LEGAL
SYSTEM THAT LETS
COMPREHENSIVELY IN DELIVERING
FAIRNESS AND TRUE JUSTICE FOR
EVERYBODY.
THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS MUST BE
TREATED LIKE THE CRISIS THAT IT
IS.
LATER THIS WEEK I WILL SHARE A
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF OUR EFFORTS TO BRING
PEOPLE INSIDE WITH EXECUTIVE AT
THE COUNTY AND THE CEO, AND
OTHER PHILANTHROPIC BUSINESS
AND CIVIC LEADERS TO HELP THE
CITY COUNCIL YOU HAVE SUPPORTED
WHO WILL STRONGLY PURSUE A
REGIONAL SOLUTION TO
HOMELESSNESS.
THE REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY IS NOW OPERATIONAL
AND ESTIMATES THAT MORE THAN
40,000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THIS REGION
ARE HERE.
IT IS TIME TO FINALLY IMPLEMENT
REAL AND OVERDUE REGIONAL
COORDINATION WITH THE URGENCY
OF TRUE CRISIS RESPONSE TO THIS
CHALLENGE AS PART OF THE
GOVERNING COMMITTEE I AM
WORKING WITH THE CEO TO ENSURE
THE RIGHT STRATEGY THAT IS IN
PLACE TO LEAD TO SUSTAINABLE
CHANGE.
I AM ADVOCATING THE STATE AND
FEDERAL LEVEL AND WORKING WITH
THE GOVERNOR BEFORE I EVEN TOOK
OFFICE TO ADVOCATE FOR HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO GO
TOWARDS HOUSING AND SERVICES
AND IMPROVED RIGHT-OF-WAY
COORDINATION.
WITH THE HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY TO SECURE
FEDERAL SUPPORT.
LET'S BE CLEAR, SEATTLE'S
EFFORTS WILL NOT PAUSE WHILE
REGIONAL ACTIONS RAMP UP.
IN OUR FIRST SIX WEEKS, WE HAVE
BEEN EVALUATING THE CITY'S
EXISTING SYSTEMS FOR ADDRESSING
THE IMPACTS OF HOMELESSNESS AND
WORKING TO IMMEDIATELY CREATE
MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
SOLUTIONS.
WHEN WE ENTERED OFFICE, THE
CITY HAS SIX DIFFERENT SYSTEMS
IN SIX DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS
TRACKING OUTREACH AND SERVICES
TO HOMELESSNESS.
SOME TRACK THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE.
SOME TRACK THE NUMBER OF TENTS
WHILE INDIVIDUAL STAFF STRIVE
TO WORK TOGETHER, OVERALL
SYSTEMS WERE NOT COORDINATED.
FOR OUR ADMINISTRATION, THIS IS
NOT ACCEPTABLE.
WE HAVE SINCE COME BY THESE
EFFORTS INTO ONE SYSTEM WITH
CROSS DEPARTMENTAL EXPECTATIONS
AND COORDINATION THAT WILL FORM
THE BACKBONE OF, NOT ONLY A
TRANSPARENT DASHBOARD TO TRACK
PROGRESS, BUT ALSO AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, TO BETTER HELP
PEOPLE OFF THE SIDEWALK AND
INTO SHELTER AND SERVICES.
FURTHER, IF A PERSON WANTED TO
REPORT THEIR CONCERN ABOUT AN
ENCAMPMENT WITH THE CITY, THE
CITY DID NOT HAVE A CENTRALIZED
SYSTEM TO LOCK THE REPORT AND
ACT, NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
WE PUT THE NECESSARY PEOPLE AND
PROCESSES IN PLACE TO ADDRESS
THE MORE THAN 1500 REPORTS WE
HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC
JUST SINCE WE HAVE TAKEN
OFFICE.
OUR NEW SYSTEM WILL ALLOW US TO
TAKE ACTION AND SHARE UPDATES
AND PROVIDE A MORE COMPLETE
PICTURE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
SEATTLE.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF SYSTEMS
ISSUES WE MUST DO BETTER.
ALONG WITH SYSTEMS REFORM, WE
NEED NEW UNITS OF HOUSING.
I AM AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING
ALTERNATIVE SHELTER OPTIONS AND
CONSIDERING A WIDE ARRAY OF
OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING THE
LEASING AND PURCHASING OF
EXISTING BUILDINGS.
BEYOND HOUSING, WE URGENTLY
NEED MORE AND BETTER MENTAL
HEALTH AND ADDICTION TREATMENT
SERVICES AND STAFFING FOR THE
PROVIDERS AND WORKERS WHO
DELIVER THE SERVICE INCLUDING
BETTER WAGES AND BENEFITS TO
THE PEOPLE IN THIS DEMANDING
PROFESSION.
THIS IS AN AREA WHERE ANDREW
LEWIS IS BRINGING LEADERSHIP AS
COMMITTEE CHAIR, WITH THE
DEDICATION TO DETAILS TO FIND
HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND TO GET
PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS
COLLABORATIVE WORK.
MY ADMINISTRATION'S EARLY WORK
HAS BEEN REDUCING SILOS LOCALLY
AND REGIONALLY AND COLLECTING
BETTER DATA AND ENSURING
DEPARTMENTS WORK TOGETHER.
OUR ADMINISTRATION IS
DEVELOPING A NEW
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM, THE
UNIFIED CARE TEAM, BE UCT WILL
COLLECT AND PROVIDE DATA TO THE
PUBLIC AND COORDINATE ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS WITH ONE VOICE AND
IT SURE OUR PLAN AND PROGRESS
ARE CLEAR FOR ALL.
BECAUSE WE CAN HELP PEOPLE
LIVING IN SHELTERS AND WE CAN
RESTORE PARKS AND SIDEWALKS.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS,
THE CITY HAS CLOSED SOME OF THE
LARGEST AND CAMAS SEATTLE HAS
SEEN, LIKE GREEN LAKE OR
BROADVIEW THOMPSON AND PROVIDED
OVER 400 PEOPLE WITH SHELTER
AND SUPPORT.
HOWEVER, NO ONE WHO LOOKS
AROUND OUR CITY TODAY WILL SAY
OUR WORK IS ANYWHERE NEAR
COMPLETE.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS
ON TOP PRIORITIES LIKE WOODLAND
PARK WHERE WE ARE WORKING
DIRECTLY ALONGSIDE
COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS TO SUPPORT
NEIGHBORS IN CONNECTING THOSE
LIVING WITHOUT HOUSES WITH
APPROPRIATE SHELTER SERVICES.
WOODLAND PARK IS A GEM IN OUR
CITY AND TRASH AND FIRES AND
INHUMANE CONDITIONS ARE NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
PERIOD.
I WANT TO THANK DAN STRAUSS
FOR PROGRESS IN THIS REGARD AND
FOR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE CITY.
PUBLIC SPACES ARE FOR EVERYONE
IN OUR CITY AND MANY WORKERS
ARE RETURNING TO THE OFFICE, SO
OUR FOCUS MUST ALSO ENSURE
SIDEWALKS RE ACCESSIBLE TO THE
PUBLIC AND CLEAR OF OBSTACLES
AND OBSTRUCTION.
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL OBLIGATION
OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
JUST LIKE CONTINUED WORK TO
PROVIDE SHELTER, HOUSING,
SERVICES, AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WE
ARE NOT YET OUT OF THE WOODS
FROM THE PANDEMIC.
BUT THE STEADY DECLINE IN
POSITIVE CASES IS MUCH NEEDED
POSITIVE NEWS, SEATTLE WILL
KEEP UP THE BEST RESPONSE IN
THE MISSION AS WE LEARN TO LIVE
WITH THIS VIRUS GOING FORWARD.
AS THE OMICRON WEIGHT BEGINS TO
CREST AND WITH OVER 90% OF
SEATTLE RESIDENTS RECEIVING AT
LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE,
A RENEWED FOCUS ON RETURN AND
RECOVERY WILL BE MORE
ESSENTIAL.
THAT INCLUDES CITY EMPLOYEES.
OUR OWN RETURN TO THE OFFICE.
CITY WORKERS HAVE PERSEVERED
THEIR INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
INCLUDING THE MORE THAN 65%.
THAT IS OVER 7000 EMPLOYEES WHO
HAVE CONTINUED TO BRAVELY WORK
IN THE FIELD AND IN PERSON OVER
THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THIS INCLUDES OUR STAFF TO
MAINTAIN OUR PARKS OR OUR CREWS
WHO KEEP THE POWER ON OR PEOPLE
WHO FIX THE ROAD OR CLEAR THEM
WHEN IT SNOWS AND POLICE AND
FIREFIGHTERS TO RESPOND TO
EMERGENCY CALLS.
SEATTLE FIRE WOULD ADMINISTER
VACCINES TO OUR MOST
VULNERABLE.
IN MID-MARCH WE WILL BRING BACK
THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING FROM HOME.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT HAS
BEEN INVIGORATING TO WORK
AROUND MY COLLEAGUES AND
FRIENDS IN PERSON.
I KNOW THAT THIS TRANSITION
WILL NOT BE EASY FOR EVERYONE
BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT OUR
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND OUR
LABOR PARTNERS WILL BE THIS
RETURNED TO WORK EFFORT IN A
THOUGHTFUL, SAFE, AND
COMPASSIONATE MANNER.
I KNOW THEY ARE ALREADY DEEP IN
THE WORK OF ENSURING AN
EQUITABLE RECOVERY.
OUR COVID RECOVERY MUST FOCUS
ON THE MOST VULNERABLE AND
IMPACTED AND SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESSES, THE ARTS, OUR
NIGHTLIFE, CHILDCARE, YOUTH,
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, WE MUST
GET FEDERAL AND STATE RESOURCES
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS SOON AS
WE CAN.
CITY EMPLOYEES ARE UP TO THE
TASK AS AMBASSADORS FOR SEATTLE
AND COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN
SERVICE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS AS
THEY INSPIRE ME EVERY DAY.
IN JUST A SHORT TIME ON THE
JOB, I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED BY
THE WORK OF OUR CITIES
DEPARTMENTS AND DIRECTORS, THE
TEAM WE HAVE BUILT IS STRONG.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SENDING YOU A
STEADY STREAM OF PERMANENT
DEPARTMENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS, STARTING WITH THESE
BUDGET DIRECTOR.
I AM VERY PLEASED THAT THE
LEADERS ANSWERED THE CALL FOR
PUBLIC SERVICE.
CRITICAL TO THE STATE OF THE
CITY, THE STATE OF OUR BUDGET.
I AM GRATEFUL THAT THE DIRECTOR
HAS DONE THE HARD WORK
NECESSARY OF ALERTING ALL OF US
TO THE REAL AND FORESEEABLE
ISSUES WE ARE FACING IN THE
2023 BUDGET.
AT THIS TIME, RELATIVE TO 2023
SPENDING, WE WILL FACE A
SIGNIFICANT $150 MILLION GAP
BETWEEN OUR EXPECTED GENERAL
FUND EXPENDITURES AND OUR
GENERAL FUND REVENUES.
THE RESULT OF A COMBINATION OF
FACTORS, SOME LONG-STANDING AS
WELL AS PANDEMIC UNCERTAINTY,
AND SOME CAUSED PERHAPS BY THE
USE OF ONE-TIME BUDGET FUNDING
SOURCES LIKE THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN, WHILE THE BUDGET
PROCESS MAY SEEK MONTHS AWAY,
WE KNOW THAT ENSURING A
BALANCED BUDGET IS ONE OF OUR
CORE CHARTER RESPONSIBILITIES.
YESTERDAY, WE RECEIVED SOME
GOOD NEWS.
WE LEARNED THAT REVENUE FROM
THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL EXPENSE
TAX HAS COME IN $31 MILLION
HIGHER THAN EXPECTED.
THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE MUST GO
TOWARDS ALLEVIATING THE BUDGET
ISSES WE EXPECT IN 2023.
SO, WE WILL NEED TO LOOK AT ALL
OF OUR OPTIONS AND ASSIGNING
BETWEEN ONE TIME AND ONGOING
COMMITMENTS, ADJUSTING
EXPENDITURES, REVISITING
EXISTING FUNDING SOURCES, AND
LOOKING AT OPTIONS FOR
DECREASING REVENUES.
THIS WILL BE HARD WORK.
WE MUST BEGIN NOW, WHICH IS WHY
HIRE ASKED DEPARTMENTS
IMMEDIATELY TO LOOK AT
OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE.
WHILE THIS IS NOT AS DRASTIC AS
THE GREAT RECESSION WHEN I WAS
ON THE COUNCIL IN 2008-2009,
BUT WE CAN DO THIS, WE HAVE
DONE THIS.
IT STARTS WITH TRANSPARENCY.
IT COMPLETES WITH A COMMITMENT
TO THE BASICS LIKE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND CORE SERVICES. AS
COUNCIL PLEDGED DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR, I
COMMIT TO ADDRESSING THE
CHALLENGE TOGETHER . I KNOW
WORKING ALONGSIDE THE STRONG
LEADERSHIP OF BUDGET CHAIR
TERESA MOSQUEDA , WE WILL GET
TO A BUDGET THAT IS FINANCIALLY
SOUND AND SUPPORTS OUR VALUES.
ANOTHER TOP PRIORITY I KNOW THE
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE FOLLOWING
CLOSE IS WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
THE BRIDGE REMAINS ONE OF THE
CITY'S MOST DEPRESSING
PRIORITIES, EVEN AS I ANNOUNCED
LAST WEEK THAT THE REOPENING
SCHEDULE IS THREATENED BY THE
ONGOING CONGRESS WORK STOPPAGE.
YOU MAY RECALL SO MANY OF OUR
PROJECTS WITH CONCRETE FROM THE
WATERFRONT, TO OUR SHIP CANAL,
WATER QUALITY, CONTROL
PROJECTS, ABOUT EVERY MAJOR
PRIORITY, INCLUDING THE MADISON
RAPID BYLINE AND THE SIDEWALK
INSTALLATION IMPROVEMENTS.
I HAVE BEEN CLEAR THAT THE
BUSINESS AND LABOR, THEY MUST
RETURN TO THE BARGAINING TABLE
AND REACH A FAIR AGREEMENT.
THIS CONFLICT CONTINUES TO
DANGEROUSLY ESCALATE IN A WAY
THAT HELPS NO ONE AND HURTS
EVERYONE.
TO MY COMMITMENT TO A JUST
RESOLUTION CLEAR, I OFFER THIS
ROOM TO THE WORKERS AND
BUSINESSES ANYTIME AS A PLACE
TO COME TOGETHER AND RESOLVE
THEIR DISAGREEMENTS.
WE CAN DO THIS WORK.
I WANT TO THANK ALEX PEDERSEN
FOR HIS CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE PROJECT AND
SO MANY OTHER CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE BRIDGE AND
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
HE HAS AN EYE FOR DETAIL AND
COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE
TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS, THEY
ARE OUTSTANDING.
WITHIN OUR TRANSPORTATION
PLANNING WE MUST ADVANCE URGENT
NEEDED VISION ZERO ENHANCEMENTS
AND IMPROVEMENTS.
WORKING TO PREVENT DEATH AND
SERIOUS INJURIES ON STREETS
THAT PRIORITIZE PEOPLE.
PUBLIC SAFETY INCLUDES SAFE
STREETS.
I WANT TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE
IMPORTANCE OF NEW
GROUNDBREAKING FOR OUR
WATERFRONT PROGRAM AS PART OF
THE TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENTS
TO CREATE OVER 20 ACRES OF
PUBLIC SAFETY -- PUBLIC SPACE
THAT ALL OF THE PUBLIC CAN
ENJOY.
ACCESS TO TRANSIT, SAFE
STREETS, PARKS, SPORTS,
MENTORSHIP, THOSE MADE A
DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE.
THEY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE
LIVES OF SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE'S
AND THESE OTHER PROGRAMS AND
INFRASTRUCTURES THAT HELP MAKE
OUR CITY WELCOMING AND TO
FAMILIES WITH KIDS, AND
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES TO
OUR SCHOOLS.
WE ARE FORGING A NEW
RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SUPPORTING
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE 56,000
CHILDREN ENROLLED IN OUR
SEATTLE SCHOOLS HAS NEVER BEEN
MORE IMPORTANT.
WORKING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
AND THE SCHOOL BOARD, WE ARE
GOING TO MAKE SURE SEATTLE
STUDENTS RECEIVED THE SUPPORT
THEY NEED OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.
AND THE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS THEY
NEED TO THRIVE IN A CHANGING
ECONOMY.
THIS SUPPORT MUST START EARLY.
THAT IS WHY I AM SO EXCITED
ABOUT OUR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
SEATTLE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM THAT
WILL PROVIDE MORE THAN 2100
SATS FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS
THIS YEAR AND INCREASE OVER 125
FROM LAST YEAR.
MOST SEATTLE FAMILIES QUALIFY
FOR FREE TUITION AND OVER THREE
QUARTERS OF PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING
WITH THE EDUCATION CHAIR TAMMY
MORALES ON HOW WE CAN DO MORE
FOR SEATTLE KIDS AND STUDENTS,
INCLUDING INCREASING ACCESS TO
HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE
PRESCHOOL AND TO POST SECONDARY
EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGH THE
SEATTLE PROMISE.
HER PASSION AND HER COMMITMENT
TO DRIVE EQUITY THROUGH
EDUCATION IS A SHARED PRINCIPLE
OF HOURS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES TO
DISTRICT 2, WHICH IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT DISTRICT OF THE SEVEN
DISTRICTS OF THE CITY, WAIT, I
THOUGHT THAT WAS DELETED FROM
THE SPEECH, SORRY, WHAT I MEANT
TO SAY WAS, HER COMMITMENT TO
ALL DISTRICTS, IN EDUCATION,
WILL BE EVIDENCED BY WORKING
TOGETHER IN 2022.
I WANT SMALL AND LOCAL
BUSINESSES TO KNOW THAT I HEAR
THEM AND I'M WORKING TO ADDRESS
THEIR VERY REAL CONCERNS.
I AM OPEN TO YOUR IDEAS AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT IS WHY ONE OF THE FIRST
BILLS I SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL
WOULD FUND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
FOR TOURISM WITH A SMALL
INCREASE IN THE LODGING FEE, AN
EFFORT SUPPORTED BY THE
DOWNTOWN HOT HOTELS AND
HOSPITALITY.
COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON HELPS
MY PASSION IN HELPING SMALL
BUSINESSES AND SHE IS ALREADY
BRINGING HER DYNAMIC EXPERIENCE
IN THIS ARENA TO SUPPORT HER
NEW IDEAS, HER BACKGROUND AS A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND HER
PLATFORM HIGHLIGHTING THE
IMPORTANT THAT SMALL BUSINESSES
BRING TO ALL COMMUNITIES AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WILL BE
INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE OUR
COVID RECOVERY PLANS ARE
SUCCESSFUL . SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESSES IS A MEANS TO
READING EQUITY IN OUR CITY, OUR
WORK TOGETHER MUST SUPPORT
BUSINESSES OWNED AND OPERATED
BY WOMEN, VETERANS, LGBTQ PLUS
FOLKS, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
BY IMPROVING CONTRACTING AND
ACCESS TO CAPITAL, CUTTING RED
TAPE, AND SIMPLIFIED
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
$.20 OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR SPENT
BY THE CITY WITH TWO WOMEN AND
MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES
FIRST.
I AM COMMITTING THE CITY TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER AND BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.
WE CAN ALSO DO MORE TO SUPPORT
WORKING PEOPLE, GIVING THEM THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES AND LIVING WAGES.
PUSHING INNOVATIVE AND NATION
LEADING PROTECTIONS.
MANY OF YOU HEARD ME MENTION
THE FORMATION OF A SEATTLE JOB
CENTER CONNECTING WORKERS AND
EMPLOYERS TO NEW OPPORTUNIIES.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND
APPRENTICESHIPS AS SEATTLE CITY
LEADS ELECTRIFICATION IN GRID
MODERNIZATION EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE CLIMATE EFFECTS, I WANT
TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
BENEFIT FROM CLEAN ENERGY JOBS.
AS WE APPROACH THE BUDGET
CYCLE, I WILL PREPARE FOR THE
COUNCIL A WHITE PAPER ON WHAT
WOULD WE LIKE TO BUILD IN OUR
JOB CENTERS.
HOW CAN WE MAKE FOR THE SUPPORT
-- HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THE
WORKER PROTECTIONS WE HAVE BEEN
KNOWN FOR AND IMPROVE LABOR
STANDARDS?
WE CAN PLOT A COURSE TO NOT
ONLY PROTECT WORKERS RIGHTS TO
HELP THEM FIND NEW JOBS AND
CAREERS SHOULD THEY SO CHOOSE.
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
CARES DEEPLY ABOUT ADDRESSING
INEQUALITY AND IN ALL OF OUR
YEARS WORKING TOGETHER, I HAVE
NEVER ONCE DOUBTED HER
COMMITMENT TO THAT END AND THE
COMMITMENT OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE
IN HER MISSION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
HER OFFICE, INCLUDING
INVESTMENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE AND GRANTS TO THE
COMMUNITY, ADVANCING JUSTICE
PRIORITIES AND CRITICAL CLIMATE
ACTION INITIATIVES.
HER OFFICE AND OUR OFFICE WILL
BE COMMITTED TO OPERATIONALLY
EQUITY FOR TRAINING AND
EDUCATION WITHIN OUR RIGHTS IS
IMPORTANT, I AM ASKING YOU TO
PROMISE TO GO OUT IN THE FIELD
AND ASK, HOW DOES OUR
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND
FIGHTIN INEQUALITY EQUATE TO
THOSE OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL?
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FIGHT TO BE
HEARD.
ARE WE VISITING THEIR
COMMUNITIES, THEIR CHURCHES,
THEIR MOSQUES, THEIR MEETING
PLACES?
WHEN WE -- WHAT HAVE WE LISTEN
TO COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE
WALLS OF CITY HALL?
THAT IS GOOD GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE BEGINNING OUR
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE WITH
THAT VERY PRINCIPLE IN MIND AND
SHARING THAT WE ARE ONE SEATTLE
BY GIVING ALL COMMUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, A VOICE IN SHAPING THE
FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
AS WE WORK TO BUILD A WALKABLE
TRANSIT ORIENTED NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH THE HOUSING SUPPLY THAT
MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE FUTURE,
THIS WILL BE OUR APPROACH.
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT AND
WORKERS PROTECTIONS.
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND
DISPLACEMENT PROTECTION.
MORE HOUSING AND EXPANDED TREE
CANOPY, IMPROVING EQUITY CAN
TAKE MANY FORMS, THAT IS WHY WE
ARE ALSO IN THE BEGINNING
STAGES OF A CONFERENCE OF
SEARCH FOR A TRANSPORTATION OF
PARKS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WHO
WILL SHARE AND UNDERSTAND MY
VISION FOR HOW THESE TWO MAJOR
DEPARTMENTS CAN BE DRIVERS OF
EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY IN OUR
CITY.
AMONG THE MAJOR INEQUITY
EFFORTS, I AM EXCITED TO SHARE
MORE DETAILS IN MY HEALTHY
SEATTLE PROGRAM IN THE FIRST
QUARTER OF THIS YEAR SO THAT
HEALTH EQUITY IS AT THE CENTER
OF OUR WORK.
SIMILARLY, LET'S SUPPORT
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES BY GROWING
SEATTLE'S PROGRAM HELPING
10,000 RESIDENTS GET ACCESS TO
HEALTHY AND LOCAL FOODS.
FINALLY, WHILE WE MUST TAKE --
MUST MAKE ACCESSING OUR
RESOURCES MORE ACCESSIBLE, THAT
IS WHY I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE
NEW CITY FORM TOOL DEVELOPED
WITH SUPPORT FROM GOOGLE AND
CODESIGNED WITH RESIDENTS AND
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND CITY STAFF, THIS TOOL IS
DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE TIME AND
EFFORT NEEDED FOR OUR RESIDENTS
TO SEEK AND APPLY FOR CITY
AFFORDABILITY SERVICES.
BACK TO THE BASICS.
IMPROVING EQUITY WORK AND NEW
TECHNOLOGY CAN ALL GO TOGETHER.
TRUTHFULLY, IT IS THE LIVED
EXPERIENCE WE HAVE THAT INFORMS
HOW WE SEE THE WORLD AND HOW WE
APPROACH THE CHALLENGES WE
FACE.
THAT IS WHY I AM VERY PROUD OF
THE EXECUTIVE TEAM I HAVE
BUILT.
WHY I SOUGHT TO BUILD A DIVERSE
AND COMPETENT AND ENGAGED GROUP
OF CIVIC LEADERS.
THEY ARE SHOWING EARLY ON WHAT
WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN WE BUILT
A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
CLEARLY THE CHALLENGES FACING
SEATTLE ARE BIG, THE PATH
REQUIRES EMPOWERING EACH OTHER,
THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, OUR
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, AND YOU,
THE CITY COUNCIL, IT MEANS
ENGAGING OUR GREATEST
RESOURCES, PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
ENGAGING THEM IN THE SOLUTIONS
WE WANT TO SEE.
NEXT YEAR I HOPE TO BE ABLE
TOGETHER IN PERSON WITH YOU TO
DELIVER A SPEECH TO YOU AT OUR
RESIDENCE TO CELEBRATE ONE YEAR
OF WORK TOGETHER IN MEANINGFUL
MILESTONES ON THE ISSUES I HAVE
LAID OUT.
TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE
NARRATIVE IN OUR CITY AND MAKE
SEATTLE A BETTER PLACE FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO CALL IT HOME.
I WILL NEED YOUR HELP, NOT
TOMORROW, TODAY.
LET'S GO TO WORK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ONE SEATTLE.