>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS THE MEETING OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE OF THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL.
TODAY IS FRIDAY, JULY 15, THE
TIME IS 9:37.
I AM COUNCILWOMAN KSHAMA
SAWANT.
WILL THE CLERK LEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALE IS.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
FOUR PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
WELCOME MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
WE WILL HOPEFULLY APPOINT
JESSYN FARRELL FOR THE OFFICE
OF SUSTAINABILITY.
SHE IS ACTING AS THE ALERT
DIRECTOR.
WE DO HAVE ANSWERS I'M SURE WE
WILL HEAR MORE FROM HER
PERSONALLY THIS MORNING.
THE COMMITTEE WILL VOTE ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF FIVE
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE GREEN NEW
DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
ALL FIVE REAPPOINTMENTS SO I DO
NOT EXPECT THEY WILL NEED A
COMMITTEE MEETING BUT -- AND I
ASSUME IT WILL BE A QUICK
AGENDA ITEM.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE DISCUSSION
ON THESE APPOINTMENTS, WE HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS
ANYBODY FROM SIGNING UP
REMOTELY.
WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP
IN PERSON HERE.
PLEASE READ THEIR NAMES. EACH
PERSON WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
>> CAROLYN MALONEY FOLLOWED BY
ALEX TSIMERMAN.
>> I AM CAROLYN MALONEY.
I LIVE AT 19 MARIETTA STREET IN
SENIOR HOUSING.
THIS IS A RENTERS RIGHTS ISSUE.
I AM BEING RETALIATED AGAINST
BECAUSE I PROTEST AGAINST
SEATTLE POLICE BEING PRESENT AT
MY VOCATION. THEY HAVE NO RIGHT
TO BE THERE.
I PROTEST USUALLY AT FOURTH AND
JAMES.
MY RENTS HAS BEEN RAISED
ASTRONOMICALLY.
THAT IS THE HANDOUT I GET OVER
THERE.
BECAUSE WHENEVER I PROTEST I AM
RETALIATED AGAINST BY THIS
RAISED RENT.
MY RENT IS $325 A MONTH.
ACCORDING TO THAT STATEMENT, I
OWE $980.
I PAID $325 THIS MONTH.
I RECEIVED ANOTHER STATEMENT. I
DID NOT HAVE TIME TO COPY IT.
IT'S A $1305 THAT I OWE.
I HAVE IT HERE BUT I DO NOT
HAVE A COPY FOR HER.
I AM LOCKED OUT PERIODICALLY.
I HAVE OF FOG LOCK THAT FLASHES
RED WHEN I TRY TO GET IN.
TENANTS ARE TOLD TO SHUN ME.
THIS IS ELDER ABUSE HARASSMENT
THAT GOES ON BETWEEN THE MANAGER
AND SEATTLE POLICE.
THE MANAGER IS NICOLE MEALS.
I ASKED THE ASSISTANT MANAGER
WHY IS MY RENT SUDDENLY JACK.
SHE SAID IT IS A GLITCH BUT THE
GLITCH CONTINUES.
I HAVE BEEN THERE THREE AND A
HALF YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER
BEEN LATE. I ALWAYS PAY THE
RIGHT AMOUNT OF RENT.
YET MY RENT HAS BEEN DISTORTED
TO AN ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH RENT.
I TALKED TO RHONDA WALKER,
ANOTHER TENANT IN A WHEELCHAIR.
RENT IS $5000.
THIS NEEDS TO STOP.
I WAS EVICTED AND ON THE
STREETS FOR 5 1/2 YEARS I DO
NOT INTEND TO GO BACK.
>> THANK YOU.
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
>> CAROLYN MALONE.
>> CAN YOU MAKE SURE TO TALK TO
TED AFTER THE COMMITTEE?
>> YES.
I WILL THANK YOU.
>> THE LAST SPEAKER IS ALEX
TSIMERMAN.
>> THANK YOU.
MY 30 THEM FASCIST MOB. I WANT
TO SPEAK ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT.
FOR MANY YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN
THIS CROOK TO YOU.
I SPEAK WITH THESE PEOPLE FOR
THE LAST 15 OR 20 YEARS 100
TIMES.
NOT SO DIFFERENT.
THEY NEVER LISTEN TO ONE NORMAL
CIVILIZED LOGICAL VOICE.
NEVER. NEVER.
MY QUESTION RIGHT NOW, HOW IS
THIS POSSIBLE?
A CROOK IS IDENTICAL TO YOU.
THE APPLE NEVER FALLS TOO MUCH
FROM THE TREE.
I WILL GIVE YOU A SIMPLE
EXAMPLE.
WHY DO YOU NOT SHOW US FACES?
YOU PRETEND TO BE SOCIALIST FOR
WORKING PEOPLE.
MY ANALOGY RIGHT NOW COMES TO
MY HEAD.
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE ALSO HERE.
WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE A ? WHY
DO NOT SHOW MY FACE.
WHEN YOU COME TO THIS MEETING
EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST THREE
MONTHS AND ASKED VERY SIMPLE
QUESTION.
THEY SHOW YOUR FACE BUT DO NOT
SHOW MY FACE.
WHY? WHY DON'T YOU CHANGE THIS.
TO YOU FOR WORKING PEOPLE?
I AM A WORKING PEOPLE.
I AM SOCIAL SECURITY.
I'M A RETIRED OLD MAN.
WHY CAN'T YOU CHANGE THIS FOR
YOUR MEETING SEPARATE FROM ALL
CROOKS AND BE FOR THE PEOPLE?
WHY YOU CAN'T DOING THIS.
YOU SEE THEIR FACES WHY CAN'T
YOU SEE MY FACES.
MY QUESTION TO YOU RIGHT NOW
WHEN YOU STOP ACTING LIKE A
NAZI SOCIALIST.
IS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
YOU ARE FOR THE PEOPLE . THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR DIRTY
TIME.
>> THAT WAS OUR FINAL SPEAKER.
>> THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC
COMMENT.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN OUR FIRST ITEM
WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT OF
JESSYN FARRELL AS THE DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.
I BELIEVE OUR PRESENTERS ARE ON
ZOOM SO PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES. WE CAN BEGIN THE
DISCUSSION THEN.
>> THANK YOU. I AM THE CHIEF
EQUITY OFFICER FOR MAYOR
HARRELL ADMINISTRATION.
I SAID GOOD MORNING
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE
YOU TO JESSYN FARRELL.
IF YOU HAVE WORKED WITH HER IN
HER PREVIOUS ROLE AS AN ADVOCATE
OR A LEGISLATOR REPRESENTING
NORTH SEATTLE, YOU KNOW HOW
FORTUNATE WE ARE TO HAVE THIS
LONGTIME CHAMPION FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE,
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND
HOUSING ACCESS.
THROUGH HER WORK SHE HAS AIMED
TO CENTER THE VOICE OF THE MOST
MARGINALIZED. AS YOU KNOW,
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE MOST
AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.
BEFORE MAYOR HARRELL
CONTEMPLATED REFERRING JESSYN'S
NOMINATION FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION, OUR OFFICE
CONSULTED WITH STAKEHOLDERS
INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM
THE TRANSIT RIDER UNION,
COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS, THE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM.
SEATTLE BUILDING TRADES, LABOR,
CLIMATE SOLUTIONS,
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES COALITION
. WARD AND SEVERAL STAFF
MEMBERS AT THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT.
WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT
JESSYN HAS DEMONSTRATED A DRIVE
AND COMMITMENT TO ADVANCE
CLIMATE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BE
EMULATED IN CITIES ACROSS THE
GLOBE.
SHE IS LOVED BY HER STAFF.
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES
RESPECTER AND SHE REMAINS
FEARLESS AND UNDAUNTED IN THE
FACE OF WHAT ARE ALMOST
EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGES.
I CONSIDER MYSELF SO FORTUNATE
TO HAVE THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT
UNDER MY PORTFOLIO.
IT MEANS THAT I HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH CAPABLE
OF VISIONARY LEADERS WHO HAS
THE CREDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY
CONNECTIONS TO ADVANCE REAL
CHANGE ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT
ALL OF US.
SHE IS ALREADY WORKING TO
ELEVATE THE VOICES OF THE GREEN
NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD AND
ENHANCING ACCESS TO HEALTHY
FOOD AND DEVELOP IMPROVED
ENERGY STANDARDS IN SEATTLE
BUILDINGS.
SHE IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
IT IS AMAZING TO SEE HER AT
WORK HERE.
AS YOU CONSIDER HER NOMINATION
TODAY, I TRUST YOU WILL
RECOGNIZE WHAT AN INCREDIBLE
ASSET WE HAVE. SHE WAKES UP
EVERY DAY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE JESSYN TO HER
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SAWANT,
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE.
I AM JESSYN FARRELL THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT.
IT IS TRULY A PRIVILEGE TO GET
TO BE HERE TODAY., LIKE TO
THANK MAYOR HARRELL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THANK CHIEF
EQUITY OFFICER EMORY FOR HER
KIND REMARKS.
TRULY IS A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH
YOU ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
I THOUGHT I WOULD SPEND A FEW
MOMENTS TALKING ABOUT HOW I SEE
MY ROLE AND FISSION.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING
YOUR QUESTIONS AND TALKING
TODAY ABOUT THE OFFICE AND
WHERE WE MICHAEL RASA CITY.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT IS AN
HONOR TO WORK WITH A PASSIONATE
AND DARING TALENTED STAFF. THEY
ARE AMAZING.
IT'S AN HONOR TO GET TO WORK
WITH AMAZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WHO WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND
FURTHER CLIMATE JUSTICE, FOOD
ACCESS ACROSS THE CITY.
AND THE REALLY WONDERFUL CITY
LEADERS AND FOLKS ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS AS WE WORK TOGETHER
TO PUT FORWARD REALLY
COMPREHENSIVE POLICIES THAT WILL
ACHIEVE A HEALTHY AND RESILIENT
CITY AND ADVANCE RACIAL AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I SEE MY
ROLE AS SUPPORTING THIS WORK.
THERE ARE ALREADY SO MANY GOOD
THINGS HAPPENING AT THE OFFICE
OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT, WHETHER IT IS THE
FOOD ACESS WORK OR THE GREAT
WORK BEING DONE TO UPDATE OUR
GROUNDBREAKING FOOD ACTION PLAN
TO EXPAND ACCESS TO FRESH BOX
AND THE RETAILERS PARTICIPATING
IN ACCESS TO CULTURALLY
RELEVANT FOOD IN SCHOOLS.
I SEE MYSELF AS SUPPORTING OUR
GREAT PLACE-BASED RESILIENCY
WORK AND IMPLEMENTING THAT HE
WANTED SHELLEY ACTION PLAN AND
OUR GROUNDBREAKING WORK AROUND
THE RESILIENCY DISTRICT THERE
AS WELL AS WORK TO FOSTER A
HEALTHY AND EQUITABLE TREE
CANOPY IN THE CITY.
OF COURSE, SUPPORTING THE WORK
WE ARE DOING TO ADVANCE CLIMATE
JUSTICE AND WORKING WITH THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD
TO ADVANCE POLICIES THAT ARE
COMMUNITY CENTERED AND ADVANCE
PROSPERITY.
TO THE CARBONIZED
TRANSPORTATION AND BUILDINGS AND
BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENCY
ACROSS THE CITY.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I SEE MY
ROLE AS SUPPORTING THE GREAT
WORK ALREADY BEING DONE.
SECONDLY, I SEE MY ROLE AS
GETTING TO BE A CHAMPION FOR
SCALING THE WORK THAT WE ARE
DOING.
I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
CLIMATE TO ILLUSTRATE THAT.
AS WE KNOW, IT IS GO TIME TO
ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
THE HOUR IS REALLY LATE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE
ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO TO
REDUCE EMISSIONS.
WE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS AND
THERE ARE MANY REALLY GREAT
PROGRAMS ALREADY HAPPENING,
WHETHER IT'S THE CLEAN HEAT
CONVERSION PROGRAM, THANK YOU
COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF
THAT . WHETHER IT IS THE WORK TO
THE CARBONIZED BUILDINGS,
WHETHER IT'S THE WORK ON
PROCESS OR HOW WE DO THIS TO
CENTER COMMUNITIES AND
COMMUNITY VOICES AND SOLUTIONS.
JUST TO SAY WE ACTUALLY KNOW
HOW TO DO THIS.
THE CHALLENGE IS TO PUT IN
PLACE THE FUNDING AND THE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACTUALLY
SCALE THE WORK WE ARE DOING SO
WE CAN REDUCE THE OMISSIONS.
I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS WE
NEED TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND
INCREASE INVESTMENTS AND THAT
IS REALLY ONE OF MY ROLES THAT
I SEE AS I AM THE DIRECTOR.
THE THIRD THING IS TO REALLY
BUILD ON THE IMPORTANT WORK WE
HAVE BEEN DOING TO CENTER RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
TWO SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THAT.
WANT TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY
OF THE OFFICE AND IMPROVE
OFFICE CULTURE SO THAT THE IPO
SEE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
CAN FEEL SUPPORTED AND THRIVE
FOR THE LONG TERM AS MEMBERS OF
THE TEAM.
SECONDLY, TO REALLY INTEGRATE
CLIMATE JUSTICE AND CENTERING
THE WORK OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES IN
EVERYTHING WE DO.
WITH THAT, I WILL CONCLUDE MY
REMARKS AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AND TALK IN MORE
DETAIL ABOUT ANY OF THESE
THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE
THOSE REMARKS.
I HAVE SOME REMARKS TO MAKE AND
ALSO SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK BUT
I WILL OPEN IT UP FIRST TO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING?
>> IT LOOKS LIKE MORALES HAS
THEIR HAND UP.
>> I WILL HELP YOU OUT THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
MORNING, DR. FARRELL.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS
APPOINTMENT. I KNOW YOU HAVE
BEEN WORKING FOR A VERY LONG
TIME ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE
BIT MORE. I FEEL LIKE JUST THIS
WEEK WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
CLIMATE ISSUES.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
MAKING SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING
CLIMATE OMISSIONS IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT
JUST LAST NIGHT.
WE HAD A TWO HOUR HEARING ON
THE PARKS LEVY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLING IN ABOUT
HOW WE THE CARBONIZED
BUILDINGS, HEATING CONVERSION,
HOW WE MAKE SURE WE ARE
PRIORITIZING.
REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS
THROUGH THE PARKS LEVY, AND YOU
MENTIONED IN YOUR MAMA OR IN
YOUR ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS, THE WORK WITH THE
D.O.T.
AND MAKING SURE WE ARE
INCREASING TRANSIT OPTIONS AND
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE OPTIONS
SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO REDUCE
EMISSIONS AND REALLY MAKE THAT
EASY CHOICE, WHICH I THINK WE
REALLY HAVE TO DO IF WE ARE
GOING TO TRY TO MOVE PEOPLE OUT
OF THEIR CARS.
I WONDER IF YOU COULD TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR ROLE AND
THE ROLE OF OSC.
ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE A
ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS, BUT I SEE
IT AS YOU SAID AS YOUR CHARGE
TO SORT OF COORDINATE ALL OF
THAT WORK AND PROVIDE THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND THE
DEEPER KNOWLEDGE FOR OUR
DEPARTMENT.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU WORK
WITH THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS
SO THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO DO
TO PRIORITIZE THESE CHANGES.
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT
PIECES TO HOW I THINK THAT
WORKS.
I DO THINK THAT IT IS A SOFT
POWER OFFICE WITHOUT A CAPITAL
BUDGET.
REALLY AND TRULY A LOT OF THE
WORK IS AS ORGANIZERS,
SUPPORTERS, CHEERLEADERS TO
REALLY MOVE THE BALL FORWARD
WITH COLLEAGUES AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK
IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS TO HAVE
A CLEARLY ARTICULATED BILL
AGENDA OF WHAT IT IS WE ARE
TRYING TO DO.
WHILE THIS IS STILL BEING
REFINED.
I THINK THE BASIC PARAMETERS OF
THAT IS FOSTERING A GREEN AND
EQUITABLE ECONOMY.
AS WE ARE MAKING THESE
INVESTMENTS MAKING SURE WE ARE
CENTERING WORKERS AND PEOPLE
HAVE LEFT OUT AND THAT WE ARE
BUILDING A BASE OF PROSPERITY
AS WE ARE DOING THIS.
NUMBER TWO, OF COURSE REDUCING
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND
DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS IN
KEEPING WITH THE GOALS AROUND
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THAT IS ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR
PARTNERS AND WORKING WITH THE
D.O.T.
TO PUT FORWARD PLANS AND
PROGRAMS THAT ARE SCALED AND
AMBITIOUS THAT ACTUALLY GET THE
JOB DONE.
I CAN TALK MORE SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT WHAT THOSE ARE IF THERE
IS INTEREST.
THE THIRD THING IS, CLIMATE
CHANGE IS UPON US AND
COMMUNITIES ARE ALREADY
SUFFERING FROM THE EFFECTS.
WE NEED TO BE RELENTLESS IN THE
FOCUS AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE
RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT
BUILDINGS ARE COOLING IN WAYS
THAT ARE DUE CARBONIZED.
IT MEANS MAKING SURE PEOPLE
HAVE ACCESS TO TREE CANOPY,
COOLING, PARKS, OPEN SPACE, AND
IN THE CASE OF CLIMATE EMERGENCY
, PLACES LIKE RESILIENCY HUBS.
REALLY FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE
PLACES COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE.
RECOGNIZING THAT NOT EVERY
SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS THE
SAME NEEDS.
DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS
REALLY CENTERING ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH, PUBLIC SPACE AND ACCESS
AND PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN THOSE
THINGS.
LAYING OUT THAT CLEAR AGENDA
AND WHAT IT IS WE ARE TRYING TO
DO IS REALLY FOUNDATIONAL TO ME
SO WE CAN START TO ALIGN OUR
EFFORTS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.
AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PARKS
LEVY, WE CAN SAY HOW IS THAT
FURTHERING CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
HOW ARE WE BUILDING INTO THE
PARK SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE
SPAYED SAFE IN A CLIMATE
EMERGENCY.
HOW ARE WE DECOLONIZING OUR OWN
PARK FACILITIES.
IT ALSO MEANS AS WE ARE LOOKING
AT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
WORKING WITH OPC TO ADD A
CLIMATE ELEMENT.
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR
YOUR INTEREST AND DIRECTION ON
THAT.
REALLY LOOKING AT HOW WE ARE
INTEGRATING LAND-USE CHOICES TO
BE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
CREATING THE CONDITIONS WHERE
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES CAN
WORK.
THEY WORK BEST WHEN PEOPLE ARE
LIVING CLOSE TO AND HAVE
ACCESS.
REALLY INTEGRATING LAND-USE.
THESE ARE CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF
HOW ICY AND AGENDA THAT IS
CLEARLY ARTICULATED BILL AND
TRANSLATED INTO THE WORK THAT
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING.
ALL THE WHILE, MAKING SURE THAT
WE ARE A CONDUIT AND RESPONSIVE
TO WHAT COMMUNITY WANTS AND
SEES AND GIVING THE BOYS AN
AGENCY TO PEOPLE AS WE ARE
BUILDING OUT THESE PROGRAMS.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, IF I
MIGHT.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WOULD BE REMISS AS ONE OF THE
PEOPLE THAT HELPED TO WRITE THE
LOCAL FOOD ACTION PLAN IN 2012
IF I DID NOT ASK ABOUT IT.
YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR REMARKS
THAT YOU ARE UP DATING HIM.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO
TALK ABOUT THE CONNECTION HERE.
AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HEAT
WAVES AND INCREASED CARBON
EMISSIONS AND THE NEED TO
PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE
PAPER EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT
RECEIVING, PRESERVING FOOD
WASTE AND PROTECTING RIVERS AND
STREAMS AND FISH AND ALL OF THE
WAYS THAT OUR INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITY FOODWAYS ARE BEING
PRESERVED.
FOR EVERYBODY, WASHINGTON IS
ONE OF THE EPICENTERS OF
AGRICULTURE.
I KNOW THAT AS WE EXPERIENCE
CLIMATE CHANGE ACROSS THE GLOBE,
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO
WASHINGTON FOR OUR FOOD
PRODUCTION.
ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO ASK
FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS BEING
CONSIDERED OR UPDATING THAT
PLAN AND WHAT THE TIMELINE
MIGHT BE.
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
IN 2012.
THAT WAS REALLY GROUNDBREAKING
WORK THAT THE CITY DID.
CITIES HAVE NOT TYPICALLY DONE
THAT AT THAT TIME.
IT'S NOW MORE TYPICAL FOR
CITIES TO HAVE FOOD ACTION
PLANS.
IT REALLY IS BUILDING ON THAT
HISTORY AND WILLINGNESS TO
INNOVATE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WILL TALK
BRIEFLY ABOUT THE TIMELINE.
THERE IS A DEEP COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT THAT IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW. THAT WILL INFORM THE
DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL
BE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY IN THE
FALL AND WE WILL BE BRIEFING
THE COUNCIL ON THAT.
THE HOPE IS THAT THE COUNCIL
WOULD ADOPT THE FOOD ACTION
LAN IN JANUARY.
THERE IS SOME REALLY EXCITING
THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
PART OF IT, INCLUDING SPECIFIC
SUPPORTS OF INDIGENOUS FOOD
CULTURE AND FOODWAYS AND HOW WE
SUPPORT AND INTEGRATE THAT INTO
THE CITY FOOD PROGRAMMING AND
SUPPORT.
HOW WE ARE INCREASING AGENCY
AND DECISION-MAKING AND POWER
AROUND FOOD ACCESS THROUGH OUR
SUPPORT OF BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
AND OTHER FARMERS OF COLOR
WITHIN THE CITY.
HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING YOUTH AND
ACCESS TO HEALTHY PATHWAYS FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN
OUR SCHOOLS.
AROUND CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND
FRESH FOOD, AROUND MAINTAINING
FOOD ACCESS AND SOME OF THE
BARRIERS AROUND COST, AND JUST
IMPROVING THE PROGRAM FOR FRESH
BOOKS.
IT IT HAS A GREATER NEED THAN
WE FUND AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE
ACCESS TO MORE AND MORE
RETAILERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I AM ALSO
INTERESTED IN IS ACCESS TO
TRANSPORTATION.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE
SAFE AND HEALTHY ACCESS TO
STORE AND SHOPS.
ACCESS FOR VULNERABLE USERS OF
OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND
START GETTING TO HEALTHY FOOD
ACCESS.
THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE PIECES
THAT ARE COMING.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THE QUESTIONS FROM OTHER
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I DO NOT SEE ANY HANDS UPON THE
ZOOM. I WILL GO AHEAD AND ASK A
QUESTION. FIRST OF ALL, THANK
YOU FOR THE RESPONSES THAT YOU
SEND TO THE QUESTIONS FROM MY
OFFICE.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED
WAS, WHY DO YOU THINK LEADERS
INCLUDING LOCAL AND NATIONAL
ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE FAILED
TO TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION TO
ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS,
DESPITE THE MOST DIRE WARNING
FROM SCIENTISTS.
IN RESPONSE HE SAID SOMETHING I
REALLY AGREE WITH.
YOU SAID IN SPITE OF THE
OVERWHELMING SCIENTIFIC
CONSENSUS ABOUT THE CLIMATE
EMERGENCY AND THE BROAD PUBLIC
SUPPORT FOR URGENT ACTION, WE
HAVE FAILED TO TAKE MEANINGFUL
ACTION.
IN LARGE PART BECAUSE THE
SYSTEMIC POWER OF THE FOSSIL
FUEL IN HER INDUSTRY.
THAT IS A FACT.
YOU ALSO SAID SOMETHING I DO
NOT AGREE WITH.
YOU SAID FORTUNATELY IN SEATTLE
WE HAVE FOUND THE KEYS TO
UNLOCKING PROGRESS ON CLIMATE
BY TAKING THE ECONOMIC FIGHT
HEAD-ON WITH THE GREEN NEW DEAL
AND FLIPPING THE TRICKLE DOWN
NARRATIVE UPSIDE DOWN.
JUST EXPLAIN WHERE I'M COMING
FROM.
WHEN WE ARE FACING A GLOBAL
EXISTENTIAL CRISIS I DO NOT
THINK IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE
CITY TO BE MAY BE BETTER THAN
SOME OTHER CITIES AND SOME
METRICS WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS
IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS SIMPLY NOT
ENOUGH.
I AM SURE SCIENTIFICALLY
SPEAKING, YOU WILL HAVE TO
AGREE THAT THE MEASURE OF
SUCCESS IN THE CASE OF CLIMATE
CHANGE HAS TO BE FAR MORE SOBER
AND IN LINE WITH THE
DEVASTATING STATISTICS.
I AM NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND HOW
YOU CAN SAY THAT SEATTLE HAS
FLIPPED THE TRICKLE DOWN
NARRATIVE UPSIDE DOWN.
SEATTLE BUDGETED $6.5 BILLION
OUT OF A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR
BUDGET FOR THE GREEN NEW DEAL.
WE KNOW FROM REPORTS RELEASED BY
THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
AND ENVIRONMENT ITSELF THAT
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK AT
BUILDING OMISSIONS IN SEATTLE
THAT THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO
INCREASE, NOT DECREASE.
IF YOU COULD JUST EXPRESS SOME
THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU NEED AND
WHAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN
TO REVERSE THAT.
>> I THINK THAT YOU ARE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THE DEPTH AND URGENCY OF THE
CRISIS IS DEEPLY PROFOUND.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT PART
OF THAT AND PART OF WHAT I HOPE
IS THAT WE CAN TAKE THE THINGS,
THIS WILL GO BACK TO WHAT I
SAID EARLIER AROUND SCALE.
IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE SOLVED
THE PROBLEM HERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
WE ARE DOING SOME EXPERIMENTS
AND WE ARE DOING PROJECTS THAT
ARE SHOWING THE WAY. THE
CHALLENGE NOW HERE IN THE CITY
IS TO SCALE THEM TO THE SIZE OF
THE PROBLEM.
THAT IS ALSO TO RECOGNIZE, AS
YOU POINT OUT THIS IS A GLOBAL
PROBLEM IN A NATIONAL PROBLEM.
AND YET THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT
WE DO NOT ACT IN THE CITY AND
WE DON'T ACT AS AN EXAMPLE IN A
LABORATORY.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL KNOW
TOO WELL IS THAT PEOPLE CAN SAY
WE COULD NOT DO SOMETHING IN
THE CITY BECAUSE IT'S A
NATIONAL OR GLOBAL PROBLEM.
REALLY, I THINK CITIES ARE
LABORATORIES AND PLACES WHERE
WE GET TO TEST WHAT WORKS. WE
CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND IN THE
COMMUNITY OF CITIES, SEATTLE
HAS BEEN A COMMUNITY OF CITIES
THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE C 40 AND
OTHERS TO PUSH CLIMATE POLICY
THAT WAY.
I REALLY TRULY AGREE WITH YOU
AND THE DEPTH OF THE PROBLEM IN
THE GLOBAL NATURE OF THE
PROBLEM.
YET, I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE
TO WRESTLE WITH IT LOCALLY AND
DO OUR OWN WORK TO SCALE OUR
ANSWERS.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST ONE OTHER THING WHICH IT
WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU WOULD
EXPRESS SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT
THIS.
YOU SAID IN YOUR RESPONSES TO
THE QUESTION THAT AS THE
DIRECTOR YOU WILL BE COMMITTED
TO MAKING THE SAME CASE FOR
TRANSFORMATION ON CLIMATE
INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY AND
REGION BASED ON, THIS IS A
QUOTE FROM YOUR RESPONSES,
BASED ON THE LAYERS OF THE
CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY AND USING
CLIMATE POLLUTION AND BUILDING
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.
ALL OF WHICH I AGREE WITH.
I THINK AS WE ALL KNOW, THOSE
OF US THAT HAVE WORKED IN
POLITICS NO MATTER WHICH
POSITIONS YOU HAVE TAKEN,
ANYBODY HAS TO HONESTLY
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR ANYTHING
LIKE TRANSFORMATIONAL CLIMATE
INVESTMENTS AS YOU SAY AND AS I
AGREE WITH, IT CANNOT BE DONE
WITHOUT COMING INTO DIRECT
CONFLICT. IT IS A SYSTEMIC POWER
OF THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY.
HOW IT STARTS MANIFESTING ITSELF
INCLUDING IN POLITICAL ENTITIES
IS THE MAIN OBSTACLE, NOT THE
KNOWLEDGE OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
UNDERSTANDING THE NEED TO
URGENTLY MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL
FUELS, THESE ARE THE VALUES.
THEY ARE SYSTEMIC AND POLITICAL.
HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR ROLE AS THE
DIRECTOR WHEN ALL OF THAT IS
TRUE BECAUSE IF YOU ARE TO LEAD
ON ANY TRANSFORMATIONAL CLIMATE
INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY, IT
WILL INEVITABLY PUT YOU IN
CONFLICT WITH MAJOR POWERS AND
THE ESTABLISHMENT AND BIG
BUSINESS.
HOW WILL YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
JUST TO GIVE YOU A CONCRETE
EXAMPLE, OTHER MAIN OBSTACLES
FOR GREEN NEW DEAL INVESTMENTS
IS PUBLIC REVENUES. THAT IS THE
PRIMARY AND ONLY OBSTACLE IS THE
ABSOLUTE AUTHORIZATION OF THE
BUSINESS AND WEALTHY ENTITIES.
PAYING ANYTHING CLOSE TO THEIR
FAIR SHARE OF TAXES THAT THE
CITY OR STATE LEVEL AND ALSO
NATIONALLY WE KNOW THIS IS TRUE.
>> I WILL START BY ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT PERSPECTIVE..
PART OF THE REASON I THINK THAT
THE GREEN NEW DEAL HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO BE SO POWERFUL IS
THAT IT CENTERS A DIFFERENT
ECONOMIC STORY AND GIVES US THE
OPPORTUNITY IT IS ABOUT
CENTERING WORKERS AND UNDOING
HARMS OF THE PAST FIVE FOCUSING
ON BROAD-BASED PROSPERITY AND
PARTNERSHIPS WITH LABOR
PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERS.
THEREFORE, MAKING INVESTMENTS
THAT ARE ABOUT CENTERING PEOPLE
AND THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW
CREATE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
WHICH IS BROAD-BASED
PARTICIPATION, PEOPLE HAVING
WELL-PAYING JOBS.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS. IT IS
EASY TO STOP ENVIRONMENTAL
REGULATIONS. WE KNOW THAT IS
NOT THE CASE BUT WE ARE BATHED
IN A MYTHOLOGY WHERE PEOPLE
HEAR THAT AND THEY ARE LIKE, MY
OWN ECONOMIC WELL-BEING IS SO
ALREADY DIFFICULT.
I WILL VOTE NO ON THIS CARBON
TAX OR TO MY LEGISLATOR TO VOTE
NO OR NOT PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE
YOU ARE TOO BUSY WORKING TO ME
THE GREEN NEW DEAL IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
IT GIVES US AN ECONOMIC
NARRATIVE. WE HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW A DIFFERENT
WAY OF DOING THINGS AND
CENTERING THE PROSPERITY OF
REGULAR PEOPLE AND AS AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPERATIVE.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSES AND
THE DISCUSSION WE WERE ABLE TO
HAVE AND THE RESPONSES YOU SENT
IN WRITING.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS?
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING SO I WILL
NOT DELAY THIS FURTHER. IF
THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,
I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE JESSYN
FARRELL AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.
CAN I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. FOUR IN
FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU AND
CONGRATULATIONS.
THIS WILL GO TO THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR THE FULL VOTE ON
JULY 26 FOR FINAL CONFIRMATION.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR SAWANT AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'M DELIGHTED AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR FINAL ITEM FOR TODAY IS
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF FIVE GREEN
NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD
MEMBERS.
I WILL READ THEM INTO THE
RECORD NOW. APARTMENT 002269,
DEBOLINA BANERJEE AS A MEMBER
OF THE OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR A
TERM THROUGH APRIL 2025.
APPOINTMENT 02270,
REAPPOINTMENT OF EMILY J. MYERS
FOR THE SAME TERM.
APPOINTMENT 02271,
REAPPOINTMENT OF ANDREA OR
NELLIS. 02272 REAPPOINTMENT OF
DEEPA SIVARAJAN. APPOINTMENT
02273 REAPPOINTMENT OF JESS
WALLACH, SAME.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PRESENTERS
TO THIS.
IN MY RIGHT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
THESE ARE ALL REAPPOINTMENTS.
THEY ALL PARTICIPATED IN THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
IT WAS A SHORT APPOINTMENT
BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST
APPOINTMENT.
THE INITIAL TERM HAS EXPIRED
LESS THAN A YEAR INTO THEIR
APPOINTMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
INFORMATION.
I WILL NOW MOVE APPOINTMENTS.
EITHER NO OBJECTIONS?
I WILL NOW MOVE APPOINTMENT
02269302273.
CAN I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU JUAREZ.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ROLL IS BEING TAKEN]
IT IS UNANIMOUS.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS WILL MOVE TO THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL
CONFIRMATION.
THIS IS THE END OF THE
SCHEDULED AGENDA.
THERE ARE NO COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THE
MEETING.
>> MADAM CHAIR, BEFORE WE
ADJOURN CAN I SAY SOMETHING.
>> YES.
>> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO
PROPOSE THE QUESTIONS TO JESSYN
FARRELL ON THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY.
YOUR WORK HAS BEEN AMAZING WITH
THE GREEN NEW DEAL AND EFFORTS
TO KEEP MOVING THIS FORWARD.
I REALLY ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING
AND APPRECIATE SOMETHING,
PARTICULARLY IN THE
CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAD WITH
JESSYN ON THE GREEN NEW DEAL
AND THERE'S ALWAYS THIS
ARGUMENT THAT IT IS JOBS
VERSUS THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND SOMEBODY CAN TACKLE IT FROM
AN INTELLECTUAL LEVEL AND
FACTUAL LEVEL, NOT JUST
POLITICAL SLOGANS BUT ACTUAL
DIALOGUE ABOUT THE THREAT THAT
WE HAVE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, I
WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR
INTELLECT TO MOVING THIS
FORWARD AND NOT LETTING THIS
GO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE WORDS.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
IT IS ALWAYS FALSELY PRESENTED
AS JOBS VERSUS PLANET.
WE WILL HAVE NEITHER AND WHAT
WE NEED IS BOTH AND THAT THE
ONLY WAY IT CAN WORK.
IT IS ESPECIALLY RELEVANT TO
OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS MOST SHARPLY AND
RUTHLESS FOR THE OPPRESSED AND
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.
>> I HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM
YOU.
BECAUSE I AM OLDER THAN YOU I
ALWAYS HEARKEN BACK TO A FAMOUS
SUPREME COURT CASE WHICH I
CANNOT REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF
MY HEAD.
I THINK IT WAS JUSTICE DOUGLAS
THAT SAID WILL HE WAIT UNTIL WE
HAVE THE LAST SALMON IN THE
RIVER?
THAT IS FROM THE 70s.
IT'S NOT NEW TO ME.
TRIBES HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SO
I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT WE ARE
HAVING OTHER NON-COLONIAL WAYS
OF THINKING COLLECTIVELY ABOUT
THE ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS A GREAT METAPHOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
ALL AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING.
MEETING ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.