>>> GOOD MORNING.
THE MARCH 11th, 25022 REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER.
IT IS 9:30 A.M.
I'M TAMMY MORALES, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIRMAN MORALES?
>> HERE.
THANK YOU.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE'LL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT WE DON'T
HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS
MORNING, THAT'S CORRECT?
>> THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENT
REGISTRANTS.
>> VERY WELL.
IN THAT CASE I WILL CLOSE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE
WILL MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA.
PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, 2022 OFFICE
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS WORK PLAN
PRESENTATION FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE I INTRODUCE INTERIM
DIRECTOR WHEELER-SMITH, WHO I
WANT TO WELCOME THIS MORNING,
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, OUR ROLE
AS COUNCIL IS TO PROVIDE
OVERSIGHT TO OUR CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND STRIVE FOR
GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD WORK
OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND OUR
CITY WORKERS INSIDE THOSE
DEPARTMENTS.
SO TODAY WE'LL BE HEARING FROM
THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, A
DEPARTMENT THAT'S DOING REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS AND OUR CITY.
I WANT TO SHARE THAT I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR
CITY STAFF, WHO WORK VERY HARD
TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AND
POLICIES, ARE DOING SO RIGHT
NOW IN A TIME OF CRISIS, AND
ESPECIALLY WHILE THEY ARE
TRYING TO ADDRESS SOME OF MOST
PRESSING ISSUES THAT WE HAVE
HAD IN AT LEAST A CENTURY FOR
SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
I THINK THE DEPARTMENTS DESERVE
OUR RESPECT.
OBVIOUSLY IF WE BELIEVE THERE
COULD BE BETTER OUTCOMES, WE
CAN ASK FOR BETTER PROCESSING.
I THINK THAT TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY IS HOW WE
DIMINISH THE LOOK THE WORK WE
PLAY AND CYNICISM ABOUT HOW
LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKS.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE FOR THIS
DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR, I'VE
SEEN THE INSIDE WORKINGS IN
2017, 2018, WORKING CLOSELY TO
UNDERSTAND THEIR
ANTIDISCRIMINATION WORK.
WE HAVE 19 PROTECTED CLASSES IN
THE CITY SO THERE'S A LOT OF
WORK FOR THEM TO DO.
AND I WANTED TO SEE THE CITY'S
EFFORT TO END INSTITUTIONAL
RACISM WITHIN CITY GOVERNMENT.
LAST SUMMER SEVEN BLACK WOMEN
IN ONE CITY DEPARTMENT ALLEGED
DISCRIMINATION IN THE
WORKPLACE.
IT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME A
CITY DEPARTMENT CAME UNDER
SCRUTINY FOR DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST WOMEN.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
HEARING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY
AS THE DIRECTOR STEPS INTO A
REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE.
THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK AND YOU
AND THE TEAM AT OCR PLAY A
CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING OUR
DEPARTMENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE ACTIVELY RACIST AND
TO BE ACTIVELY PROTECTING
JUSTICES WITHIN OUR POLICIES
AND PRACTICES.
I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE BEEN ON
FOR LESS THAN A MONTH SO I
APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US TODAY
TO SHARE YOUR WORK PLAN FOR
2022 AND LOOK FORWARD TO
LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR VISION
FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT OVER
TO INTERIM DIRECTOR DERRICK
WHEELER-SMITH.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU
FOR THE WARM WELCOME.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH ALL
OF YOU THIS MORNING.
I AM GOING TO PULL UP A
POWERPOINT HERE.
I'M HONORED AND EXCITED TO TAKE
OVER THE ROLE AS DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
THIS OPPORTUNITY SPEAKS TO MY
PASSION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
THAT ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY
THOSE IMPACTED BY RACISM,
SHOULD HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS
AND OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.
I'M EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH ALL
OF YOU TOWARD THAT END.
THIS MORNING I'LL GET TO SHARE
THE WORK PLAN WITH THE FOLKS
LEADING THIS CHARGE OUT OF THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
ATTACHED HERE IS THE MISSION
AND VISION, CREATED BY THE
STAFF IN 2018. THE MISSION
VISION IS A CITY OF COMMUNITIES
HOLDING POWER AND PRIDE WITH
THE GOAL TO END RACISM THROUGH
RELATIONSHIPS AND ANTIRACIST
ORGANIZING, POLICY DEVELOPMENT
POLICIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS
ENFORCEMENT.
WHEN WE ARE NOT LEADING FROM
OUR VALUES, WE WANT TO HAVE
COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS SO WE
CAN FUNCTION AND BE IN
ALIGNMENT WITH THOSE POLICIES.
WE WANT TO MOVE COLLECTIVELY IN
THE DIRECTION OF RACIAL EQUITY.
WE WANT TO ENSURE ENGAGEMENT
WITH COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED
BY INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.
OUR SECOND VALUE IS ACCOUNTABLE
COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, REALLY
ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING AND DOING
THE WORK TO REPAIR CITY
GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN CAUSING
HARM TO COMMUNITIES MOST
IMPACTED BY ITS POLICIES AND
PRACTICES, AND BEING ABLE TO
ENSURE HIGH LEVELS OF COMMUNITY
INPUT AND PARTICIPATION AND
EXECUTION AS WELL AS
IMPLEMENTATION.
AND WE WANT THORPS WITH
CONSISTENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY,
THEN ALIGN IT WITH THE STATED
VALUES LIKE MAKING INFORMATION
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC,
RECOGNIZING THERE HAS TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE.
AND COLLABORATION, WE BELIEVE
IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK ACROSS
FUNCTIONAL AREAS AS WE THINK
ABOUT THE WORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
THE IMPACT OF THOSE HARMS AND
MAXIMIZE THE PLATFORMS WE HAVE
BEEN GIVEN.
THE MISSION AND VISION HAVE
REALLY BEEN A PART OF HELPING
STAFF TO GET CLEAR AND AGAIN,
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
ANCHORS US IN THE WORKER. WE
HAVE A STAFF OF 38 OR SO, AND
WE REALLY FUNCTION I WOULD SAY
AS A NETWORK MORE THAN KIND OF
A HIERARCHY.
YOU'RE SEEING HERE THE GREAT
PEOPLE LEADING THIS WORKS, MIKE
CHIN, JENIFERFER CHOA.
IN DECEMBER 2021 THE COMMUNITY
INVESTMENTS DIVISION ANNOUNCED
THE AWARPED FOR THE 2021
COLLECTIVE NETWORK, WHICH
CENTERED AROUND INCARCERATION
AS WELL AS POLICING REQUESTS,
WITH A FOCUS ON BLACK,
TRANSGENDER AND GENDER
NONCONFORMING COMMUNITIES. AND
THERE WAS ALSO WORK DONE WITH
OUR OTHER HIGHLIGHTS IN THE
CITY RACIAL EQUITY SITE.
THIS WAS A COLLABORATION
BETWEEN RSJI AND SEATTLE IT,
WORKING TO GATHER THE DATA
AROUND THE RACIAL INEQUITY.
IT ALSO INCLUDES THE STORIES OF
THOSE IMPACTED, AND PROVIDES
TRANSPARENCY AROUND A SPECIFIC
ACTIONS THE CITY DEPARTMENTS
ARE TAKING TOWARD ACHIEVING
AIRASIA EQUITY GOALS.
ONE THING MENTIONED HERE IS THE
BACKLOG AROUND CASES, SO THERE
WAS A CASE LOG THAT STARTED IN
2018.
THERE WERE OF COURSE STAFFING
ISSUES THAT WE ENCOUNTERED BUT
THROUGH THE AMAZING DEDICATION
AND HAVING TO NAVIGATE COVID-
19, THE STAFF HAS CLEARED THE
BACKLOG IN 2021 AND ENTERED
2022 WITH JUST THE MOST CURRENT
CASE LOADS.
THESE TYPES OF ALTERNATIVES
CULMINATED AFTER THE COMMUNITY
REQUESTED SOLUTIONS THAT BETTER
MET THE NEEDS OF THOSE MOST
AFFECTED AND IMPACTED BY
RACISM.
IN 2020, OUR POLICY DIVISION
ACTUALLY DID SOME WORK TO
CONVENE A TASK FORCE.
THE PURPOSE OF THAT TASK FORCE
WAS TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES TO
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. IN
2021 THERE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS
MADE WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THE EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
CAME FORWARD FROM THE TASK
FORCE WENT FROM THE ROOT OF THE
CAUSE WITH THE ILLEGAL SYSTEM
TO ELECTRONIC HOME MONITORING.
ONE PART OF THESE TOOK EFFECT
AFTER THE CITY MET WITH THE
TASK FORCE AND PROSECUTORS WERE
ORDERED TO STOP ASKING FOR STAY
OUT OF AREAS KNOWN FOR
PROSTITUTION, KNOWN AS SOAP.
THESE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF
2021 AND GRATEFUL JUST TO SHARE
THOSE WITH YOU TODAY.
THIS IS THE 2022 BUDGET FOR OUR
OFFICE, ALL BROKEN DOWN INTO
SALARY AND LABOR EXPENSES.
INCLUDED JUST FOR CLARITY ARE
THE PRECIPITATE OUTREACH AND
COLLECTIVE NETWORK, THE RACIAL
EQUITY FUND AND POLICY OUTREACH
WORK.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE THE OPERATIONAL
EXPENSES, WHICH IS AROUND 17%
OF BUDGET.
THERE'S ALSO THE WORK THAT
HAPPENS WITH COMMISSIONS AND
DAILY EXPENSES FOR THE OFFICE,
WHICH SITS AROUND $150,000,
ABOUT 2% OF THE OVERALL BUDGET.
MOVING ON FROM THE BUDGET, AS
HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED, I WANT
TO FRAME THE NEXT PORTION OF
THE CONVERSATION AND TAKE A
DEEPER DIVE, IF YOU WILL,
LOOKING AT THE MAIN AREAS OF
WORK FROM OUR OFFICE.
THAT'S CIVIL RIGHTS
ENFORCEMENT, POLICY
DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVES, COMMUNITY EVENTS
AND MORE.
UP FIRST I'LL ABOUT THE CIVIL
RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT AND 2022
PRIORITIES FOR THIS BODY OF
WORK.
THERE'S THE EDUCATION AND
EMPOWERMENT, AND I'LL WALK
THROUGH SOME OF THIS.
ONE THING IS ELIMINATING
DISCRIMINATION AND HOUSING.
HOMETOWN, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS
AND HOUSING.
THE SECOND BODY OF WORK IS
EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON
CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE ARE ALSO DOING THE WORK TO
BUILD ACCOUNTABLE COMMUNITY
RELATIONSHIPS, WHICH HAPPENS
THROUGH OUTREACH AND PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT.
AND FOR 2022, THE ENFORCEMENT
DIVISION IS REALLY GOING TO
LOCK IN ON THREE AREAS:
EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT
RESOLUTION AND ADVOCACY.
NEXT UP IS OUR POLICY DIVISION,
AND THAT DIVISION IS LED BY CAT
LEAN.
THE FOLKS WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED
BY THE PRACTICES SHOULD BE
HEARD, THEIR MEANS PRIORITIZED
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, AND
THAT WE ARE CENSORING THEM AT
THE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE FOLKS
AND REALLY WORKING TO CLOSE THE
GAP.
OUR THIRD BODY OF WORK THAT I'M
SHARING WITH YOU TODAY IS OUR
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE.
THIS BODY OF WORK THAT COMES
FROM OUR RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVE FOR 2022
WILL BE CENTERED AND CONTINUE
TO FOCUS AROUND THREE PRIMARY
AREAS: ENGAGEMENT, CONVENING
AND OUTCOMES.
OUR PRIORITIES FOR 2022 ARE
FOCUSED ON RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING, FOR SUSTAINABLE
CHANGE.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE
RECOMMEND THE IMPORTANT OF
BEING ABLE TO HELP AGAIN AND
ONE OF THE WAYS THAT HAPPENS IS
THROUGH TRAINING.
úWE PROVIDE TRAINING USING TOOL
LIKE RACE, THE POWER OF
ILLUSION AND INTERNALIZED
SUPPRESSION.
THE RSJI SUMMIT IS AN ADVOCATES
DAY WITH PANEL DISCUSSIONS
FEATURING CITY STAFF AND
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AS WELL AS
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS.
IT'S BEEN VIRTUAL FOR TWO YEARS
DOUGH TO THE PANDEMIC.
AND THE WEBSITE THAT RSJI HAS
BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF
DEVELOPING AND CONTINUING TO
PRODUCE MORE CONTENT, IT
SPOTLIGHTS THE RACIAL EQUITY
WORK HAPPENING INSIDE SEATTLE
TO INCITE AND INSPIRE CITY
EMPLOYEES AND TO BE ABLE TO
DEVELOP TRUST WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES.
>> LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS A QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.
I'VE ENJOYED THIS PRESENTATION.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE
RSJI ENGAGEMENT IN TRAINING
CITY WIDE.
IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING YOUR
DEPARTMENT IS IN CHARGE WITH
PROVIDING THE STAFFING FOR RSJI
TRAINING ACROSS ALL CITY
DEPARTMENTS OR DO EACH CITY
DEPARTMENT HAVE THEIR OWN STAFF
TO HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH THIS?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE
BASICALLY STAFF THE ENTIRE
CITY, BUT PART OF THE ROLE IS
MENTIONED HERE IN THIS SECOND
PRIORITY AROUND OUR WORK.
IT'S A HUGE UNDERTAKING TO
SUPPORTED ALL THIS WORK AND TO
BE ABLE TO DO IT WITH FIDELITY
AND THINK THROUGH WHAT IT
MEANS.
THAT SAID, THERE ARE GREAT
FOLKS ALSO ENGAGED IN THIS WORK
FROM A VOLUNTEER BASIS IN TERMS
OF BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD
ADD?
>> NO, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT..
I THINK OUR TEAM IS NOT THAT
BIG AND WHILE THEY WOULD LIKE
TO PROVIDE TRAINING CITY WIDE
AND DO IT WITH LARGER TRAINING
SESSIONS, REALLY IT'S INCUMBENT
ON THE CHANGE TEAMS AND
DEPARTMENTS TO SUPPORT CAPACITY
BUILDING, TO GET THE MORE
TARGETED TRAININGS DONE.
>> I'LL JUST ADD ON TOP OF
THAT, THE FOLKS WHO DO THAT
WORK IN EACH DEPARTMENT DO THAT
ON TOP OF WHAT THEIR REGULAR
DUTIES ARE.
THEY DON'T GET COMPUTATION OR
RECOGNITION, JUST MORE WORK.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THEIR CAPACITY IS LIMITED AND
THAT REFLECTS OUR NEED TO
COMMIT TO DOING THIS WORK WELL.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
WE HAVE SIX RACES WORKING
THAT'S BASED ON THIS AND IF WE
TRULY WANT TO TAKE THIS WORK
SERIOUSLY, WE NEED TO INVEST IN
THE PEOPLE AND BUDGET TO GET
THIS WORK DONE.
I'VE SEEN IT TIME AND TIME
AGAIN, DEPARTMENTS THAT WANT TO
DO THE WORK AND THERE'S NOT
ENOUGH TO PASS IT BECAUSE IT'S
RESTING ON A SMALL TEAM WORKING
TO THE BEST BEST OF THEIR
ABILITY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE HAVE SIX PEOPLE DOING A LOT
OF WORK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN
STRAUSS FOR THE WORDS YOU'RE
SHARING RIGHT NOW.
I'M ALL ABOUT HIGH EXPECTATIONS
BUT WE WANT TO HAVE THE SUPPORT
THAT MATCHES THOSE EXPECTATIONS
. WE ARE EXCITED TO ADD FOLKS
TO THAT TEAM.
THERE ARE STAFF DOING AMAZING
WORK, SO THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR
PAUSING ME TO BE SURE I GOT
THAT QUESTION.
CONVENIENCE AND THE WORK THAT
HAS TO HAPPEN IN TERMS OF BEING
A CONVENER.
SOME OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH
CAPACITY.
WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE FIVE OR SIX
VOTES, THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE TO
SIT.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE
IMPORTANT FOR US TO BUILD A
CAPACITY AS THEY ARE WORKING ON
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE
PLANS AND STRATEGIES.
REALLY THERE'S MONTHLY MEETINGS
TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND HOW TOO
TAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION.
THERE ARE ALSO EQUITY LEADS AND
THESE ARE SOMETHING THAT THE
TEAM PLANS TO RESTART REGULAR
MEETINGS FOR.
RSJI HELPS FACILITATE THE
HEALING FOR THE DIFFERENT
GROUPS WHO HAVE CAPACITY TO
ENGAGE AND HOLD SPACE FOR ONE
ANOTHER.
AND IT'S THE OUTCOMES THAT THIS
TEAM FOCUSED ON FOR 2022.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT IMPLEMENTING
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INTO
SEATTLE'S WORK AND ONE DAY IS
THROUGH THE RAT, RACIAL TOOL
KIT.
EACH CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
GETTING A KIT AND THERE'S
ASSISTANCE THAT'S PROVIDED TO
THESE DEPARTMENT RNTs.
AGAIN, JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT
CAPACITY, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO BUILD CAPACITY
BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY DON'T
WANT OUR WORK TO SHOW UP AS
DECORATION BUT WE WANT TO BE
ABLE TO LEAN IN. THERE'S THE
WORK WITH THE CBO, CITY BUDGET
DEPARTMENT, AND HOW THAT ALIGNS
WITH OUR SAID VALUES.
THEN THE DATA ANALYTICS AND
RACIAL EQUITY, RSJI QUEENS
DEPARTMENT LISTS TO BE SURE THE
DATA IS USED EQUITY BLUE BY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
LASTLY, OUR COMMUNITY
INVESTMENT DIVISION IS THE
NEWEST DIVISION THAT I
MENTIONED EARLIER, AND WE HAVE
PR 2022 PRIORITIES FOR THIS
DIVISION.
THE HISTORY OF THIS COMMUNITY
INVESTMENT DIVISION REALLY
COMES FROM COMMUNITY EFFORTS.
I THINK OFTENTIMES WE COULD BE
MOVING SO FAST THAT WE DON'T
PAUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE
HISTORICAL CONTEXT.
WE WANT TO CREATE AND RESPECT
THE ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP OF THE
PREVIOUS DIRECTOR TO BE ABLE TO
MAKE THESE PIVOTS IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY.
THERE IS A THIRD-PARTY
ADMINISTRATOR THAT WE ARE
PARTNERING WITH.
THEY ARE LEADING WORK IN OUR
BACKYARD WITH FOLKS IN KING
COUNTY AND HELPING THEM RIGHT
HERE.
I THINK THAT PROVIDES A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE
TO LEARN AND FIND OUT SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
WORKING. THERE'S THE 2021
NETWORK COLLECTIVE FUNDING. WE
ARE PREPARING TO RELEASE THE
TWO 2022 RFPs.
JUST TAKING A LOOK TO MAKE SURE
THERE WERE NO QUESTIONS.
THEN OUR CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION
COMMISSION.
WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THESE
COMMISSIONS AND THEY ARE REALLY
DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT OUR
COMMISSIONERS AND SAID TEAMS
AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE THE TOOLS
AND GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT
NECESSARY AND NEEDED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL ADVISORS, IF YOU
WILL.
THERE WILL BE FIRST IN CITY
RESOURCES THIS YEAR, SITES
WHERE COMMISSIONS CAN USE CITY
TOOLS TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH
OTHER AND CREATE A CENTRALIZED
HUB TO PERFORM THEIR WORK AS
CITY COMMISSIONERS.
TRANSPARENCY IS SO IMPORTANT,
SO WE WANT TO CREATE THE
PROCESS AND SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW
US TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS
POSSIBLE, SO THAT'S A
COMMITMENT FROM OUR OFFICE.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR
WHEELER-SMITH.
THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT, JUST
JUMP RIGHT IN.
I'VE GOT A FEW QUESTIONS. THE
FIRST THING IS PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING AND I THINK YOU'RE
RIGHT, GIVEN THAT WE HAD ONE
RESPONDENT TO THE RFP AND THEY
ARE ALREADY HERE IN KING COUNTY
WORKING ON THEIR PROJECT.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM WHAT
THEY ARE EXPERIENCING WITH
THEIR BUDGET COMMITTEE.
THE COUNTY HAS $10 MILLION THEY
WILL BE USING IN FIVE
UNINCORPORATED AREAS I DON'T
REMEMBER THEM ALL BUT THAT WORK
HAS BEGUN, AND IT'S EXCITING
THAT THE COUNTY IS ALSO
INTERESTED IN THIS WORK AND IS
REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA
OF TRYING TO SHARE POWER WITH
COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE TALKED AS A COUNCIL
ABOUT HOW TO KNOCK SIZE ACCESS
TO POWER AND I THINK THIS IS
PART OF THAT EFFORT.
PART OF THE WORK IS TO BUILD
CAPACITY SO AS WE TALK ABOUT
SHIFTING RESOURCES, SHIFTING
TOWARD A COMMUNITY-BASED
ALTERNATIVE. GO BACK TO SLIDE
TEN.
MAYBE I MISNUMBERED.
ANYWAY, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT
THE RSJI WORK AND JUST KIND OF
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE REALLY
IMPORTANT LESSONS FROM THAT
WORK.
IN TERMS OF HOW AS A CITY WE
OPERATE, I THINK WE DO A GOOD
JOB OF USING THE INFORMATION TO
INFORM POLICY-MAKING.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE
ABOUT, I THINK HOW WE USE THIS
TO INFORM INTERNAL CITY
OPERATIONS WILL BE VERY
IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE
CULTURE SHIFT WE ARE MAKING
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT SO WE
DON'T HAVE ALLEGATIONS OF ANY
DISCRIMINATION FROM OUR CITY
WORKERS.
SO IF YOU COULD, TALK ABOUT HOW
WE EXAMINE IMPLEMENTING THE
COORDINATES HERE.
>> I'VE HEARD THERE IS A REAL
DESIRE FOR CONTINUITY BETWEEN
EACH CHANGE IN THE
ADMINISTRATION. SO HOW DO WE
CREATE CITY WIDE ACCOUNTABILITY
TO DO THE CONTINUING WORK?
>> I WOULD ADD THAT MY HOPE IS
WE COULD MAKE THE KIND OF
SHIFTS THAT MOVE THIS OUT OF
BEING AN INITIATIVE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BODE WELL TO
OUR COMMITMENT TO RECOGNIZING
THAT THIS IS A STABILIZED
COMPONENT THAT HAS TO SIT AT
THE CENTER OF OUR WORK.
IT SHOULD BE EMBEDDED IN HOW WE
MOVE AND HOW WE FUNCTION AND
HOW AS A STATE WE MOVE AWAY
FROM LIKE THE RACIAL EQUITY
LENS.
LET'S GET THE LASIK.
LENSES CAN BE TAKEN OFF.
SO HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT IN
EVERY FACET OF HOW WE FUNCTION
AND HOW WE MOVE, THESE
CONSIDERATIONS ARE EMBEDDED
INTO OUR THOUGHT PROCESSES?
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TREAT
EACH OTHER WITH THE RESPECT AND
DIGNITY THAT EACH OF US
DESERVES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT,
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THIS IS WORK THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME AND I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US,
ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE TRYING TO
MOVE FORWARD AND DISMANTLE SOME
OF THE SYSTEMS AT THE CENTER OF
ALL THE CHANGES WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WANTING TO MAKE.
SO EACH DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS SO
THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THE
WORK IS REALLY CLEAR.
GO TO SLIDE EIGHT -- WELL, YOU
WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE
WORK, THE CIVIL RIGHTS
ENFORCEMENT.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT
YOU HAVE RESOLVED THE BACKLOG
IN CASES.
I KNOW THAT'S A FEW YEARS OLD.
I KNOW LAST YEAR THE
INVESTIGATIONS TEAM WAS FINDING
DISCRIMINATION IN TWICE AS MANY
CASES AS THE YEAR BEFORE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE OPTIONS
FOR RESOLUTION?
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FORS AND
THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
AVAILABLE TO FOLKS WHO ARE
FILING COMPLAINTS.
>> YEAH. IN TERMS OF THE
INCREASE IN CASES, ONE PLACE
THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN
COVID-RELATED CASES WITH
WORKPLACE, ACCOMMODATIONS,
THERE'S DEFINITELY BEEN AN
INCREASE THERE.
IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR
RESOLUTION, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT'S BEEN HUGE IS WITH OUR
RESOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT WE HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
FOLKS WITH RESOLUTION COACHING
AND THE KIND THAT CENTERS
AROUND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE. I THINK
PEOPLE WANT THE ISSUES RESOLVED
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A MORE
HUMANE WAY OF INTERACTING WITH
EACH OTHER.
IT BRINGS FOLKS TOGETHER TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING TO WORK
FOR BOTH PARTIES. ANYTHING THAT
YOU WOULD ADD?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
YOU DID A GOOD JOB OF PROVIDING
THE OVERVIEW AND OPPORTUNITIES
THAT CAN RESOLVE CONFLICT WHEN
PARTIES ARE AT AN IMPASSE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS?
NOT SAYING ANYTHING.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT
CALLING THIS SHORT BEFORE YOU
HAVE A CHANCE.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
DERRICK, THANK YOU.
DIRECTOR WHEELER-SMITH AND
CABINET, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, WHETHER
IT'S WORK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY
TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORS WHO ARE
FILING COMPLAINTS BECAUSE OF
THEIR BELIEF THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, OR
DOING THE IMPORTANT WORK OF
HELPING US AS A CITY MOVE
TOWARD BEING ACTIVELY
ANTIRACIST.
I THINK THE WORK IS CAPITOL
HILL AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE
TEAM IS DOING TO HOLD THE CITY
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE VALUES AND
PRINCIPLES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO
SUPPORT THE RSJ NETWORK
STRATEGIES SO WE CAN CONTINUE
TO DISMANTLE INSTITUTIONAL
RACISM WITHIN THE CITY.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS.
IN THAT CASE, THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING FOR US --
SHOOT, I DON'T HAVE MY CALENDAR
UP.
MARCH 25th, 9:30 A.M.
WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANKS, EVERYBODY.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.