>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
TODAY IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER
19th. THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WILL COME TO ORDER. THE TIME IS
2:05. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE
DELAY. MADAME CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL ROLE?
>> COMMISSIONER SAWANT. .
COMMISSIONER HERBOLD..
COMMISSIONER LEWIS. .
COMMISSIONER MORALES. .
COMMISSIONER MOSQUEDA .
COMMISSIONER NELSON .
COMMISSIONER PEDERSEN . AND
COMMISIONER JUAREZ.. 9
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ALONG IN
OUR AGENDA AS FAR AS
PRESENTATIONS, WE HAVE A
PROCLAMATION SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER 18th TO
SEPTEMBER 24th DIAPER WEEK
AWARENESS. WE VOTED ON IT
YESTERDAY, AND RIGHT NOW, I'M
GOING TO ALLOW COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD TO WALK US THROUGH
THIS, AND THEN DO A
PRESENTATION. WHEN WE GET TO
THAT POINT, WE WILL SUSPEND THE
RULES. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH. AND TO
MY COLLEAGUES, AS WELL, FOR
JOINING ME AND MAYOR HAROLD IN
DECLARING SEPTEMBER 18th
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24th, 2023,
AS DIAPER NEED AWARENESS WEEK.
TODAY, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF
WESTSIDE BABY WITH US TODAY TO
SPEAK ABOUT THEIR CRITICAL WORK
ADDRESSING DIAPER NEED IN
SEATTLE. I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
ABOUT ONE IN FOUR COUNTIES IN
KING COUNTY EXPERIENCED DIAPER
NEED, AND WE KNOW THAT SOME
COMMUNITIES ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY BY DIAPER
NEED. BLACK CAREGIVERS AND
LATIN CAREGIVERS ARE OVER TWO
TIMES AS LIKELY TO VARIANCE
DIAPER NEED. WE KNOW THAT LGBT
FAMILIES ARE ALSO ASKED
VARIANCE THINGS SIGNIFICANTLY
HIGHER RATES OF DIAPER NEED. IN
THESE COMMUNITIES, CAREGIVERS
OFTEN HAVE TO MAKE HARD
DECISIONS BETWEEN BUYING
DIAPERS ON A LIMITED INCOME OR
GROCERIES FOR THE WEEK. THE
ECONOMIC TOLL THAT DIAPER NEED
CAN PLACE ON FAMILIES IS
SIGNIFICANT. PURCHASING ENOUGH
DIAPERS TO KEEP A BABY OR
TODDLER DRY, CLEAN, AND HEALTHY
CAN CONSUME 13% OF A LOW WAGE
FAMILIES POST-TAX INCOME,
MAKING IT INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT
TO OBTAIN A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY.
I AM SO GRATEFUL TO WESTSIDE
BABY FOR THEIR ONGOING WORK
REPORTING SEATTLE'S BABIES AND
INFANTS EXPERIENCING DIAPER
NEEDS, AND I'M REALLY PLEASED
THAT BECKY SCHROEDER AND LAURA
SKELTON, INTERIM EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, ARE ABLE TO BE HERE
TODAY TO SHARE THEIR REMARKS
ABOUT DIAPER NEED AWARENESS
WEEK AND SPEAK ABOUT THEIR
TERRIFIC WORK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES
WILL BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW OUR
GUEST TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION AND PROVIDE BRIEF
REMARKS. BECKY AND LAURA ARE
BOTH HERE FROM WESTSIDE BABY.
WERE YOU GUYS HERE LAST YEAR,
TOO?
>> YES, WE DID HAVE WESTSIDE
BABY REPRESENTATION LAST YEAR,
TOO.
>> THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE, I AM THE
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT
WEST SIDE BABY.
>> AND I BECKY SCHROEDER,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO
DIAPER NEED AND PROCLAIMING
THIS AS DIAPER NEED AWARENESS
WEEK IN THE CITY OF THE ADDLE.
AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, NEARLY
-- I'M SORRY, OVER 20% OF
FAMILIES LOCALLY LIKE A
SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF DIAPERS TO
KEEP THEIR BABIES CLEAN AND
DRY. AS A RESULT, PARENTS OFTEN
HAVE TO REUSE DIRTY DIAPERS OR
USE PAPER TOWELS AND PLASTIC
BAGS TO GET BY. MANY LOW INCOME
PARENTS HAVE TO STRETCH THE
TIME BETWEEN DIAPER CHANGES,
PUTTING THEIR CHILDREN AT RISK
FOR PAINFUL DIAPER RASHES AND
INFECTIONS. STUDIES SHOW THAT
MOTHERS ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD
DIAPERS FOR THEIR BABIES ARE
MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
COMPOUNDING ON THIS MOST AT
LEAST ONE DAY SUPPLY OF
DISPOSABLE DIAPERS. PARENTS WHO
CANNOT SUPPLY WILL BE ONE
UNABLE TO ACCESS CHILDCARE,
IMPEDING THEIR ABILITY TO GO TO
WORK OR SCHOOL. WE KNOW THE
DIAPERS CAN COST ABOUT $100 A
MONTH CHILD, AND THOSE COSTS
HAVE RISEN AT AN ALARMING RATE
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE
PANDEMIC. THOSE FACING
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES MAY HAVE
TO PAY EVEN MORE THAN THEY HAVE
TO PURCHASE DIAPERS AT A
CONVENIENCE STORE. SO FOR THE
PAST 22 YEARS, WESTSIDE BABY
HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO SEEING A
SAFETY NET TO THE DISTRIBUTION
OF DIAPERS AND OTHER ESSENTIALS
TO CHILDREN. WE WORKED DIRECTLY
WITH OVER 100 SOCIAL SERVICE
PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTY,
INCLUDING NUMEROUS
SEATTLE-BASED PROGRAMS SUCH AS
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY,
SEATTLE PUBLIX TOOLS, PUBLIC
HEALTH, AND NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD
BANKS TO CONNECT RESOURCE TO
NEED. WE HAVE RECENTLY HEARD
FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
PARTNER REFLECTING ON HOW
DIAPERS CAN BE A BRIDGE TO
OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT. SHE
SAID THAT OFTEN DIAPERS AND
WIPES GET IN THE DOOR AND
ALLOWED DEEP AND MEANINGFUL
CONNECTIONS TO BE BUILT AND MY
CLIENTS TO THRIVE. THIS YEAR,
WEST SIDE BABY IS ON TRACK TO
SUPPLY 2.6 MILLION DIAPERS TO
SEATTLE AREA FAMILIES. WE CAN
ONLY DO THIS THANKS TO THE
SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AND
THANKS TO THE AWARENESS AROUND
THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL DIAPER
AWARENESS WEEK.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING
HERE. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
SKIP THIS STEP HERE. I MEANT TO
OPEN THE FLOOR FOR MY
COLLEAGUES. THAT I HAVE YOU
OPEN THE FLOOR AND THEN CLOSE
US OUT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. COLLEAGUES, AS
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE
NOW THAT WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS
FROM WESTSIDE BABY HERE, AND
REGARDING THE PROCLAMATION THAT
IS I WOULD GIVE US? I DO NOT
SEE ANY HANDS. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, IS ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE
TO SAY TO CLOSE US OUT? AND
BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING, LET ME
SAY THIS -- THANK YOU, WESTSIDE
BABY, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR DOING THIS. THIS IS
AN ISSUE WE OFTEN DON'T TALK
ABOUT, BUT AS MOTHERS AND
GRANDMOTHERS, WE KNOW THAT THAT
IS A VERY -- IT IS AN EXPENSE
THAT IS REALLY DIFFICULT,
PARTICULARLY THAT FIRST YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. AND I KNOW SOME
FOLKS MIGHT THINK -- I BRING
THIS FORWARD EVERY YEAR JUST
BECAUSE OF WESTSIDE BABIES WORK
IN MY DISTRICT, BUT WESTERN
BABY DOES WORK ALL OVER THE
CITY. AND OUTSIDE OF THE CITY,
AS WELL. I BELIEVE KING COUNTY
ALSO ACT ANNUALLY IN HONOR OF
THE WORK THAT THEY DO, AND I
HAVE JUST BEEN SO HONORED TO
LEND MY VOICE IN SOME SMALL WAY
OVER THESE YEARS TO THE
ADVOCACY -- AND NOT JUST
ADVOCACY. THE REAL LIFE
ADDRESSING OF NEEDS THAT
CAREGIVERS EXPERIENCE EVERY
DAY. REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE
HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
THOSE ISSUES IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH WESTSIDE BABY.
>> I SHOULD ADD --
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND I
TALKED ABOUT THIS. WE LOOK
CLOSELY WITH NORTH HELPLINE,
AND THEY HAVE THE DIAPERS AND
FORMULA 1st TO GO ALL THE TIME.
WE CAN NEVER KEEP THAT STOCK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE AND COMING HERE EVERY
YEAR. I KNOW YOU DON'T DO THIS
OUT OF HABIT, YOU DO IT BECAUSE
YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT THIS
ISSUE, SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
LET'S MOVE ON IN OUR AGENDA TO
PUBLIC COMMENT. MADAME CLERK, I
KNOW WE CHECKED WITH YOU BEFORE
WE WENT LIVE. HOW MANY FOLKS DO
WE HAVE REMOTELY NOW?
>> WE NOW HAVE 48 REMOTE AND 30
IN PERSON.
>> OKAY. SO LET'S DO THIS. WE
WILL GIVE EVERYONE ONE MINUTE,
AND LET'S DO 10 AND 10,
STARTING WITH THE FOLKS ONLINE
FIRST, AND WE WILL DO THE
RECORDING, BECAUSE I'M GUESSING
WE WILL HAVE SOME FIRST-TIME
CALLERS AND SOME FOLKS WOULD
NOT COME DOWN TO PUBLIC COMMENT
IN PERSON BEFORE. PLEASE BE
MINDFUL OF THE CHIME THAT TELLS
YOU YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO WRAP
THINGS UP. THERE'S A LOT OF
FOLKS HERE TODAY WITH A LOT OF
COMMENTS TO MAKE, AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T CUT
PEOPLE OFF, AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE NEED TO BE AGENDA AND
THAT WE ARE RESPECTFUL AND THAT
WE ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO HAVE
OPINIONS EVEN IF WE DISAGREE
WITH THEM. WITH THAT, MADAME
CLERK, LET'S START WITH THE
FIRST 10 REMOTE, AND WE WILL
FLIP OVER TO THE FIRST 10 IN
PERSON.
>> AND YOU WOULD LIKE THE
RECORDING PLAYED?
>> YES, I WOULD. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE. WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY. THE CITY OF
FLOWERS, AND THE CITY OF
GOODWILL, BUILT ON INDIGENOUS
LAND AND THE TRADITIONAL
TERRITORY OF THE PEOPLES. THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT AND IS
EAGER TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS OF
OUR CITY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
PROVIDE VERBAL PUBLIC COMMENT,
YOU MAY REGISTER TWO HOURS
WRITER TO THE MEETING VIA THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WEB SITE.
HERE'S SOME INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEEDINGS.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
ON THE COUNCILS WEBS RIGHT.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN
THEY REGISTER ONLINE AND USE
THE MEETING I.D. AND PASSCODE
WAS EMAILED UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS. A
REMINDER -- THE SPEAKER MEETING
IDEA IS GENERAL LINE I.D.
PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA. ONCE
THE SPEAKER'S NAME IS CALLED,
THE SPEAKERS MICROPHONE WILL BE
ON MUTATED, AND AUTOMATIC
PROMPT WILL DAY, THE HOST WOULD
LIKE YOU TO UNMUTE YOUR
MICROPHONE. THAT IS YOUR QUEUE
THAT IT IS YOUR TUR TO WEEK.
AT THAT TIME, YOU MUST PRESS
STAR 6. YOU WILL THEN HEAR A
PROMPT OF, YOU ARE UNMUTE IT.
BE SURE YOUR PHONE IS UNMUTE IT
ON YOUR END SO YOU WILL BE
HEARD. AS A SPEAKER, YOU SHOULD
BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND
THE ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
THE CHIME WILL SOUND WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT. AS A GENTLE
REMINDER TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTATED, AND THE NEXT
SPEAKER REGISTERED WILL BE
CALLED. ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE
CONCLUDED PROVIDING PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND
JOIN US BY FOLLOWING THE
MEETING VIA SEATTLE CHANNEL
BROADCAST OR THROUGH THE
LISTENING LINE OPTION LISTED ON
THE AGENDA. THE COUNCIL
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ELIMINATE
PUBLIC COMMENT AS THE SYSTEM IS
BEING ABUSED. WHERE THE PROCESS
IMPEDES THE COUNCIL'S ABILITY
TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS ON
BEHALF OF RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY. ANY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE
THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO THESE
PROCEEDINGS OR THAT IS NOT
FOCUSED ON AN APPROPRIATE TOPIC
AS SPECIFIED ON COUNCIL RULES
MAY LEAD TO THE SPEAKER BEING
MUTED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
OUR HOPE IS TO PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR REDUCTIVE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL ASSIST
OUR ORDERLY CONSIDERATION OF
ISSUES BEFORE THE COUNCIL. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESSED STAR
6 AFTER HEARING THE PROMPT OF,
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTE IT. THANK
YOU, SEATTLE.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS NOT
PRESENT, SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO
THE SECOND. MICHAEL WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY DREW BATCHELOR.
MICHAEL, YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS
OUR 6 TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
>> HELLO. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 3, AND I'M CALLING THE
COUNCIL TO AGAIN REJECT THE
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
CRIMINALIZE DRUG POSSESSION AND
PUBLIC DRUG USE. WE HAVE
DECADES OF EVIDENCE THAT THIS
DOESN'T GET PEOPLE TO HELP THEY
NEED. THIS WOULD INCREASE
OVERDOSES AND RACIAL THIS
VERITY IN REAL TIME. THE
PROPOSED BILL WILL BRING US
BACK TO REGRESSIVE POLICIES
INSTEAD OF MOVING TOWARDS
EVIDENCE-BASED AND MORE
COMPASSIONATE APPROACHES. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ACRES
DREW BATCHELOR, AND DREW WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY ALEX FAY.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DREW
BATCHELOR. LAST JANUARY, AN
OFFICER DELIVERED CRIMINAL
JUSTICE TO A DRUG USER IT WAS
NOT A DANGER TO ANYONE AND
ENDED UP KILLING HIM. TODAY, WE
FIND THE COUNCIL VOTING IF
THAT'S SAME OFFICER SHOULD WORK
WITH SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
I WONDER WHAT A DOLLAR VALUE
HAS TO BE ON THEIR LIFE. SAY
WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT THE WAR ON
DRUGS, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
IT'S SUCH AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR
A LEADER TO GO ON RECORD AND
SUPPORTING BAD POLICY. SEATTLE
DESERVES BETTER. EVERYONE KNOWS
MASSIVE INCARCERATION AS A
FIELD POLICY. WE HAVE 50 YEARS
OF EVIDENCE IT DOESN'T WORK. IT
EXACERBATES ALL OF THESE
PROBLEMS. IT IS UNEQUALLY
ENFORCED. WE NEED OTHER
SERVICES THAT WILL ACTUALLY
HELP WILL BREAK THE CYCLE OF
POVERTY AND ADDICTION. THERE
ARE BETTER SOLUTIONS ALL OVER
THE WORLD. VOTE NO ON SEATTLE'S
NEW WAR ON DRUGS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CHAIRMAN OF THE LOS ANGELES
FROM THE SNOQUALMIE DRIVE.
>> MADAM CLERK, SO WE HAVE --
HI. CHAIRMAN, WELCOME. GREAT.
>> SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE
HONOR TO BEAK. AS YOU KNOW, OUR
TRIBE DECIDED TO BE PUBLIC THIS
SUMMER ABOUT THE NEED TO
PROTECT THEIR CULTURAL MODIFIED
TREE IN SEATTLE THIS SUMMER
AFTER WE BECAME AWARE OF IT
BEING REMOVED. THERE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND AS
SUCH ART DETECTED UNDER STATE
LAW. IT'S CRITICAL THAT ALL
SITES ARE PROTECTED WITHIN
SEATTLE'S LIMITS AND BEYOND.
TRIBES WERE NOT CONSULTED, AND
AS A RESULT -- THE LEGISLATIVE
FIX BEFORE YOU HAS BEEN
CAREFULLY CRAFTED USING TRIBAL
FEEDBACK AND REVIEW. OUR HANDS
GO UP TO COUNCILMAN PEDERSON
FOR LEADERSHIP AND
FOLLOW-THROUGH IN INTRODUCING
LANGUAGE THAT WILL HELP PROTECT
THESE FEW ARCHAEOLOGICAL'S
RIGHT IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND REACHING NOT ONLY THE
SNOQUALMIE INDIAN TRIBE, AND
ALSO OTHER TRIBES IN THE AREA
ON THE ISSUE. PLEASE MAKE SURE
THIS BUILD IS VOTED ON FAIRLY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER IS ALEX FAY, AND ALEX
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY --. GO
AHEAD, ALEX.
>> HI, I'M A REGISTERED NURSE
WHO WORKS AND LIVES IN DISTRICT
THREE. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO
REJECT CB 120645. I WORK DAILY
WITH PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS AND
PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO UNHOUSED.
DURING MY TIME AS A NURSE, I
HAVE A CHANCE TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY OF MY
PATIENTS, AND JUST SEE THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM AND
THEIR DRUG USE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS --, AND THEY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY --.
>> HELLO, I'M THE DIRECT OF
POLITICS AND ENGAGEMENT AT
ASIAN COUNSELING REFERRAL
SERVICE, AS WELL AS SEATTLE
DISTRICT 3. I'M HERE TO ALSO
ASK COUNCIL TO REJECT THE
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXPAND
THE STATE'S CRIMINAL CODE TO
PROSECUTE DRUG POSSESSION AND
PUBLIC DRUG USE. MORE
SPECIFICALLY, THE SERVICE
DIVIDER THAT HAS WHAT THOSE
THROUGH RECOVERY FOR SUBSTANCE
ABUSE DISORDER. WE KNOW
INCARCERATION IS NOT AN ANSWER.
WE NEED CULTURALLY COMPETENT
SERVICES AND EVIDENCE-BASED
PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACHES. NOT
OUTSOURCED AND OUTMODED WAR ON
DRUGS. WE DEEPLY HARM
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. IS A
LONG-STANDING AND TRUSTED
SERVICE DIVIDER, AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS STRUGGLING THROUGH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WE ASK CITY
COUNCIL TO PROPOSE REJECT THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS -- AND
SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID
HILL.
>> HELLO. I'M ASKING YOU TO
VOTE NO ON THE REGRESSIVE WAR
ON DRUGS. I LIVE IN APARTMENT
IN DISTRICT 3. I LOOK UP TO
SIRENS AND A TEAM OF FIRST
RESPONDERS PULLING THE LIMP
BODY OF A MAN OUT OF THE TENT.
I WATCHED IN ANTICIPATION,
WORRIED ABOUT THE WHITE SHEET
THEY BROUGHT OUT. A FEW MINUTES
LATER, THE MAN THANKFULLY CAME
TO. HE COULDN'T REBUT IN HIS
SHIRT BECAUSE HIS HANDS WERE
SHAKING SO HARD. IT SHOCKED ME
TO THINK, IF THE POLICE OFFICER
ON SCENE, THIS MAN IS SO
CLEARLY SICK. HOW IN THE WORLD
WOULD JAIL HELP US NOW? EVEN
MORE THAN THAT, HOW IS THE
THREAT OF JAIL GOING TO HELP? I
WANT OUR SYSTEM TO APPROACH THE
NEIGHBORS IN A SAFE WAY.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DAVID GILL, AND DAVID WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY ALICE LOCKHART.
>> HI, THIS IS DAVID GILL, I'M
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5. I'M
ASKING THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE
ALLOW COUNCIL PETERSONS
LEGISLATION PROTECTING
CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT TREES BY
BOATING THIS AFTERNOON ON THE
LEGISLATION ON THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRA CALENDAR.
PRESENTING THIS BILL A
PERPETUATION OF PERCEPTION THAT
OUR CITY COUNCIL IS MORRIS ON
SIEVE, THE MONEY POWER AND
INFLUENCE, BUT FOR PROFIT
DEVELOPERS THAN TO TRY PROJECT
THE ENVIRONMENT OF SEATTLE'S
DWINDLING URBAN FOREST. THIS
STATUS CONFIRMATION DOES NOT
SLOW DOWN THE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT
THING. SUPPORT SEATTLE'S
INDIGENOUS TRIBES, CLIMATE, AND
ENVIRONMENT GROUPS, AND PUTS
EMTs ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THINK.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ACRES
ALICE LOCKHART, AND ALICE WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY MARK EPPS.
>> HI, COUNCIL. I'M ALICE
LOCKHART IN DISTRICT 5,
SPEAKING EMPHATICALLY AGAINST %
THE NEW WAR ON DRUGS.
COUNCILMEMBERS, WE ALL KNOW
THIS IS A BAD POLICY. IT PUTS
MORE POLICY POWER IN THE HANDS
OF POLICE, LIKE THE LEADERS WE
JUST HEARD SHOWING BLATANT
DISREGARD FOR A MEMBER OF OUR
COMMUNITY. THESE UNION LEADERS
ARE NOT A A FEW BAD APPLES.
THEY ARE REPRESENTATIVE. WE
KNOW THIS TAKES RESOURCES AWAY
FROM REAL SOLUTIONS. WE KNOW
THERE WILL BE RACIAL THIS
PARITY WITH THE HORSE MEANT. WE
KNOW IT WILL RESULT IN DEATHS
IN JAIL AND OVERDOSES UPON
RELEASE. PERSONALLY, BACK IN
THE DAYS I USED TO COMMUTE TO
DOWNTOWN, HEARD MULTIPLE PEOPLE
ON THE BUS RIDING TOGETHER WHO
HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL.
BUT FROM THREE DIFFERENT
OCCASIONS, FOLTZ WERE SAD THAT
THEY WERE LOSING THEIR JOBS AS
A RESULT OF HAVING GONE TO
JAIL. JAIL JUST MAKES
EVERYTHING WORSE. WE KNOW THIS
POLICY WILL FAIL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER
IS MARK EPSTEIN, AND THEN WE
WILL MOVE TO THE IN PERSON
COMMENTORS. GO AHEAD, MARK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
PEOPLE. MY NAME IS MARK
EPSTEIN, I'M AN EDUCATOR IN THE
RAINIER VALLEY. AND THEN I'D
LIKE TO SPEAK TO ALEX PEDERSEN
PROPOSED AMENDMENT ON
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES. I
HEARD A LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT AT
THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING,
BUT WHAT MAKES IT REAL IS WHEN
ACTION IS TAKEN TO BRING
JUSTICE TO NATIVE PEOPLE.
INDIGENOUS STORIES ARE NOT JUST
CUTE STORIES ABOUT TREES AND
ANIMALS AND THE EARTH. THEY ARE
SCIENTIFICALLY BASED OVER MANY
THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF ITS
PERIODS. THE IMPORTANCE OF
TREES AND LARGE TREES IN THE
CITY IS RECOGNIZED. THE
JAPANESE COMMENTS OF FOREST
BATHING, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD,
I'VE SEEN THE 20 LARGEST TREES
BE REMOVED. PLEASE HERE AND
PASS THE PEDERSON AMENDMENT TO
PROTECT SEATTLE'S TREES.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. OUR FIRST
REMOTE SPEAKER IS -- WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY --. AND BE SURE TO
PULL THE MIKE WRIGHT UP TO YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THIS
ORDINANCE. I THINK IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT AS A PERSON THAT
WORKS THE STREET IN THE
CORRIDOR AND NORTH SEATTLE, AS
WELL AS IN SOUTH SEATTLE. OFTEN
TIMES, I AM THE GUY THAT CLEANS
UP AFTER THE ATTIC, WHETHER
THEY ARE ALCOHOLICS, MARIJUANA
SMOKERS, FENTANYL I.V.s. AND
I'M A LITTLE SICK AND TIRED OF
GOING TO A JOB SITE WHERE I'VE
GOT SOMEBODY SMOKING FENTANYL
OR SHOOTING UP WITH NO RESPECT
FOR MY WELFARE OR THE
CUSTOMER'S WELFARE OR THE
BUSINESS WELFARE. THEIR ONLY
CONCERN FOR THEMSELVES IS
GETTING HIGH AND SAYING HI. I
WOULD LIKE TO DISRUPT IT
WITHOUT ASKING SEATTLE POLICE
TO RESPOND. I WANT TO THANK SPD
FOR ALSO GIVING THE NARCAN WHEN
WE NEED THEM FOR PEOPLE THAT
ARE OVERDOSED. OVERDOSING, OR
MAYBE DYING. MY TIME IS
EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMAN STRAUSS, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SERVICE AND HAVE A
GREAT DAY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS --,
FOLLOWED BY --.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M A
RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT
SIX. I'M RISING IN STRICT
OPPOSITION TO CB 120645. OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T CARE
ABOUT THE LAW. THEY APPEAR
INCONVENIENCED AT BEST BUY THE
NEED TO ENSURE BASIC PUBLIC
SAFETY. IF IT WASN'T CLEAR
BEFORE TO THE FEDERAL CONSENT
DECREE, IT'S CLEAR NOW AS THEY
LEARN THE DETAILS OF THE DEATH
OF --. THE POLICE UNION VICE
PRESIDENTS REPUGNANT DISREGARD
AND DISRESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE
IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH.
IT'S REMARKABLY TONE DEAF TO
FOLLOW THIS REVELATION BY
IMMEDIATELY GRANTING SWEEPING
AUTHORITY TO A POLICE
DEPARTMENT THAT IS PROVEN TIME
AND TIME AGAIN IT IS NOT
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF
THE COMMUNITY IT REPRESENTS. I
WILL ASK ANDREW LEWIS. I WILL
ASK LISA TO PLEASE VOTE NO AND
UPHOLD THE PROGRESSIVE
PRINCIPLES YOU ARE ELECTED TO
REPRESENT. I REFUSE TO LET THE
CITY DOUBLE DOWN ON A FIELD
POLICE SYSTEM.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BAILEY, AND BAILEY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY JORDAN.
>> MY NAME IS BAILEY. I'M A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO AND
I'M A POLITICAL WORKER HERE IN
SEATTLE. I'M NOT GOING TO WASTE
YOUR TIME ONCE AGAIN. I'M
TESTIFYING AGAINST THE NEW WAR
ON DRUGS ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE IT
IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS BILL IS
INCOMPLETE AND OTHER OPPOSITION
TO THE VALUES OF OUR CITY AND
THE VALUES OF THIS CHAMBER. IF
YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT YOUR
CITIZENS, YOU WILL NOT BE
EMPOWERING A POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT STANDS I THE WORDS THAT
PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE OF LESSER
VALUE. DO YOU BELIEVE, ALL OF
YOU WHO ARE GOING TO VOTE ON
THIS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING TO BE IN HORSING THIS, DO
YOU BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME
ARE OF LESSER VALUE? BECAUSE
THAT IS THE WORDS OF THE VICE
RESIDENT OF THE POLICE GUILD.
THAT IS THE WORDS THAT OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS WHAT AND
BY, AND ALL OF YOU SEEM A
LITTLE TOO EXCITED TO HAND MORE
AUTHORITY TO A TRIGGER-HAPPY
CITY ATTORNEY WHO PLANS ON
PROSECUTING MORE AND
PROSECUTING DISPROPORTIONATELY.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I URGE
ALL OF YOU, INCLUDING LISA
HERBOLD AND ANDREW LEWIS, TO
VOTE NO ON THIS LARGEST
PATIENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JORDAN. JORDAN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY TERESA.
>> AND AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
JORDAN. I SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT TO THE TREE
ORDINANCE. THIS IS A SMALL BUT
IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS
RECTIFYING THIS HASTILY CRAFTED
LEGISLATION WHICH FAILS TO
PROTECT SEATTLE'S REMAINING
TREES FROM DEVELOPMENT, THAT
PRIORITIZES SHORT-TERM PROFIT
OVER LONG-TERM HEALTH OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. I SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION TO CB 120645, WHICH
CRIMINALIZES DRUG POSSESSION
AND USE AND GIVES THIS POWER TO
A POLICE FORCE WHICH HAS
REPEATEDLY BROKEN OUR TRUST,
MOST RECENT WITH THE SHAMEFUL
RIDICULING BY THE PRESIDENT OF
-- FOLLOWING HER WRONGFUL
DEATH. INVESTING IN PUBLIC
HEALTH INSTEAD OF PUNISHMENT IS
A WISE AND COMPASSIONATE
CHOICE. THINK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TERESA LAMB. SHE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY TONYA.
>> I AM HERE FOR THE THIRD TIME
. THE FACTS SHOW THAT THIS BILL
WILL DO NOTHING BUT DEEPEN THE
HARM ALREADY SUFFERED BY
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. I AM
ANGRY THAT THE CREATORS OF THIS
BILL ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THE DESPERATION WE ALL FEEL TO
END THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
AND TO PUSH THEIR OWN AGENDAS.
JUST DOING SOMETHING DOES NOT
MEAN IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO
DO, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS SO
MUCH AT STAKE. AND ALTHOUGH I
DO APPRECIATE COUNCILWOMAN
HERBOLD AND COUNCILMAN LEWIS
FLAVORING THE TASTE OF THIS
BILL WITH AMENDMENTS SO WE
BELIEVE IT TASTE GOOD WHEN IT
IS FORCED DOWN OUR THROATS, THE
ROOT OF THIS BILL WILL MAKE
CRIMINALS OUT OF THOSE
SUFFERING THE MOST. NO AMOUNT
OF AMENDMENT CAN CHANGE THIS. I
URGE YOU ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE
DO NOT PASS THIS BILL AND
ABANDON THE CITIZENS THAT NEED
YOU MOST. THIS IS THE WRONG WAY
TO GO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TONYA. TONYA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY RANDY.
>> MY NAME IS TONYA, DISTRICT 2
RESIDENT, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER,
AND I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL
BECAUSE I AM PART OF THE CHINA
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WATCH.
WE HAVE BEEN OUT FOR 3 YEARS
TRYING TO HELP OUR UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS, TRYING TO AID OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE
RESIDENCE. I DON'T KNOW HOW
MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD A FRIEND
DIE FROM FENTANYL. HOW MANY
HAVE YOU WITNESSED PEOPLE DYING
IN FRONT OF YOU FROM FENTANYL?
WE HAVE SEEN TOO MANY DEATHS.
AND WE NEED SOMETHING TO BE
DONE. WE CANNOT HAVE A PERFECT
PLAN B IN ENVY OF A GOOD PLAN.
WE JUST NEED TREATMENTS. WE
NEED SERVICES BEING OFFERED,
AND IT'S BEEN AFFECTING OUR
COMMUNITIES AND SMALL
BUSINESSES. HALF A BLOCK AWAY
FROM 12th AND JACKSON, WHERE
THERE'S 150 PEOPLE ALMOST EVERY
SINGLE NIGHT THERE. I AM IN
FAVOR OF THIS BILL. WE NEED TO
VOTE YES AND DO SOMETHING,
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS AND
GOOD LEADERS WOULD HAVE SEEN
THIS ON THE HORIZON. NOW WE
HAVE NO OPTIONS AND WE HAVE TO
ACT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RANDY, AND RANDY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY REZA.
>> I AM PART OF THE NIGHT
WATCH. LIFELONG SOUTH SEATTLE
RESIDENT. I HAVE SEEN THE WAR
ON DRUGS. I SAW COLUMBIA CITY
WHEN IT WAS TERRIBLE. I HAVE
DONE CPR ON AN OVERDOSE VICTIM.
LUCKILY, SEATTLE PD AND
FIREFIGHTERS WERE THERE TO SAVE
HIS LIFE. HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS
HAVE DONE THAT? WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING, AND VOTING YES ON
THIS DRUG BILL WILL BE DOING
SOMETHING. WE NEED TO DO
BETTER.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS REZA, FOLLOWED BY DENNIS.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
AT KILROY REALTY CORPORATION
AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DIRECTOR. I GOT THIS PIECE OF
PAPER HERE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT
I FIGURE REPEATING WHAT I HAVE
BEEN DOING THE PAST COUPLE OF
TIMES I CAME IN PROBABLY IS NOT
A GOOD LOOK TODAY, I THINK.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS I
APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU
GUYS HAVE TAKEN THREE MONTHS TO
TRY TO TAKE SOMETHING THAT
NOBODY WAS SUPER HAPPY WITH,
BUT EVERYBODY FELT THE IMPETUS
TO DO SOMETHING AND TRY TO MAKE
IT BETTER. I COMMEND YOU FOR
DOING THAT. I DO THINK WE NEED
TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE. I THINK
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE
STATUS QUO IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
WHILE FOLKS MIGHT HAVE VARIOUS
IDEAS ON THE BEST WAY TO
ADDRESS IT, I DO THINK THIS IS
AN ATTEMPT STEP FORWARD. IF THE
FOUNDATION ON WHICH WE CAN GROW
AND CONTINUE TO MAKE GOOD
POLICY TRIES TO ADDRESS ALL OF
OUR SHARED INTEREST AND ALL OF
OUR SHARED CONCERNS. YOU WILL
HAVE A VERY HARD JOB AND I
DON'T ENVY YOU. BUT WHAT YOU
GUYS HAVE DONE IS YOU HAVE
TRIED TO PUT YOUR HEADS
TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A
SOLUTION THAT CAN ADVANCE ALL
OF OUR SHARED INTEREST AND ALL
OF OUR SHARED CONCERNS. PLEASE
LOOK FORWARD WITH THIS
ORDINANCE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DENNIS,
AND DENNIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
STEVE. AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK
TO REMOTE. THANK YOU, DENNIS.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT. MY NAME IS
DENNIS AND I WORK IT PLYMOUTH
HOUSING. IT INTERSECTS WITH
ADDICTION AS A HUMAN SERVICES
PROVIDER. MANY RESIDENTS ARE IN
RECOVERY AND REQUIRE SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR
INDIVIDUAL GOALS. CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES IN PUBLIC SPACES
INCREASES THE CHALLENGES OF
PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO PURSUE
RECOVERY. STAFF ARE ALSO
AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE USE AS
THEY TRAVEL TO AND FROM WORK AS
THE MAJORITY OF OUR 19
BUILDINGS ARE IN THE DOWNTOWN
OR DOOR. WE HAVE SEEN VIOLENCE
AND VANDALISM IN THE LAST 12
MONTHS IN OUR BUILDINGS
INCREASE. THIS IS A TOOL THE
CITY CAN USE TO HELP FACILITATE
RECOVERY IN OUR COMMUNITY TO
INDIVIDUALS IN NEED.
>> THANK YOU, ARE LAST IN
PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKER FOR THIS
GROUP WILL BE STEVE.
>> MY NAME IS STEVE, AND I'D
LIKE TO SAY FIRST OFF THAT
COUNCILMAN PEDERSEN MUST HAVE A
GOOD IDEA, BECAUSE IT'S HAVING
A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING BEFORE
THE COUNCIL. AND I THINK TREES
BEING PROTECTED FROM EVERYBODY
BUT THE DEVELOPERS WHO WANT TO
-- OR THE ONES WHO ARE
DESTROYING THEM AS A BIT OF A
PROBLEM. BUT ALSO, SINCE I'M
HERE, ON YOUR ORDINANCE ON
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, IT'S TIME WE
DO SOMETHING. ONE THING WE
HAVEN'T HEARD IS, WHAT ABOUT
THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF
CATTLE ? WE HAVE A LOT OF
CONCERN FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT
NOT PEOPLE. AND ALL THE DRUG
ADDICTS ARE NOT CLEAR AND
PRESENT DANGERS TO EVERYONE
ELSE ON THE STREET, BUT THERE
ARE SOME THAT ARE. AND RIGHT
NOW, WITH THE POLICE FORCE
DOWN, OVER 500, THEY DO NOT
COME. THEY COME FOR YOU, BUT
THEY DON'T COME FOR THE MOST OF
THE REST OF US. THE MUSEUM IS
NOT THE ONLY PLACE THAT HAS
TROUBLE GETTING SOME ACTION. SO
GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, GET THE
STATE --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER WILL BE JOSH, AND JOSH
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SANDY. AND
AGAIN, YOU MIGHT NEED TO PRESS
STAR 6 IN ORDER TO BE HEARD
REMOTELY.
>> HIGH, MY NAME IS JOSH. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 4, AND I MAKE
CONSTITUENT OF COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. I AM VEHEMENTLY
AGAINST CB 120645 THAT
CRIMINALIZES DRUGS. THIS BILL
PUTS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
ENFORCEMENT SQUARELY ON WHAT WE
ALREADY KNOW TO BE A RACIST,
YOURS POSSIBLE, AND ACTIVELY
HARMFUL ORGANIZATION. THE SAME
POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT MURDERED
EARLIER THIS YEAR AND LAUGHED
AT IT, AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN
SAN FRANCISCO ENACT A SIMILAR
NEW WAR ON DRUGS WHERE OVERDOSE
DEATH HAVE SKYROCKETED WHERE
THEY HAVE BEEN DECLINING FOR
TWO YEARS BEFORE IT WAS AN
ACTIVE. WE NEED TO BE FUNDING
TREATMENT THAT ACTUALLY TREAT
PEOPLE LIKE HUMAN BEINGS.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE NEW WAR
ON DRUGS. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT BEAKER
IS SANDY, AND SANDY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY JUNE. GO AHEAD,
SANDY. ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SURE
WHY WE ARE NOT HEARING HER.
>> SANDY, IT IS STAR 6. YOU ARE
MUTED. GO BACK AGAIN. STAR 6.
THERE YOU ARE.
>> THANK YOU, SORRY FOR THAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M
ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S BILL
DETECTING CULTURALLY MODIFIED
TREES. THIS WAS ACTUALLY
PUBLICLY PROMISED IN AN
INTERVIEW IN A FORMAL STATEMENT
ON JULY 25th. RECENTLY, A
LEADER WAS REMOVED IN WEST
SEATTLE. IT WAS HUGE AND OLD,
AND IT MIGHT BE CULTURALLY
MODIFIED. BUT THEY CALLED THE
INTAKE STAFF AND TOLD THEM THAT
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A
CMT. THIS KIND OF RESPONSE
MAKES AIRLAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
SEEM HOLLOW AND PERFORMATIVE.
PROTECTION FOR CMT RECOGNIZES
THE EXISTING SERENITY OF TRIBES
AND IS ALREADY STATE LAW. IT
ALSO PLACES SEATTLE ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY, SO WE
HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT IT.
>> JUNE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY --.
JUNE, YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS
STAR 6.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. CAN YOU
HEAR ME?
>> YES. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JUNE
AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO. I
URGE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THE
NEXT STEPS TO CONSIDER AND
APPROVE PROPOSED BILL TMP 9902
REGARDING CULTURALLY MODIFIED
TREES, CRAFTED WITH THE
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE. THE COUNCIL
PROTECTED TIER ONE, OR HERITAGE
TREES, FOR BEING CUT UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES. A BEAUTIFUL
BLACK WALNUT LIVES IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD. HOWEVER, IT WAS
NOT RELATED TO ANY PARTICULAR
HERITAGE OR CULTURAL CONTENT.
IN CONTRAST, CMT'S ARE
IMPORTANT TO THE INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES OF THE PUGET SOUND
REGION AND ARE SPECIFICALLY
PROTECTED UNDER THE LAW. IT
MAKES NO SENSE TO ME THAT THE
COUNCIL WOULD GO TO SUCH
LENGTHS TO PROTECT TIER ONE
TREES WHILE NOT EXTENDING
PROTECTION TO TREES THAT ARE
TRULY HERITAGE TREES,
DESIGNATED AS CULTURALLY
IMPORTANT BY THE FIRST PEOPLES
OF THIS LAND. THINK.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT BEAKER
SAMUEL, AND SAMUEL WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY BARBARA BERNARD.
>> HIGH. I COORDINATE THESE
SERVICES IN CONFERENCING IN
NORTH SEATTLE. I ALSO HAVE THE
HONOR OF WORKING WITH
INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL TO
ADDRESS CRIME IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD. CB 120645 IS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL . DRUG USE
IS COMPLICATED, AND WE TRULY
NEED TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE
RESPONSE. FOR A LONG TIME,
WE'VE BEEN MISSING A STEADY
SOURCE OF GUIDANCE FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY DOING
THIS WORK. THIS COMMUNITY HAS
SOME OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND
COMMITTED PRACTITIONERS IN THE
COUNTRY. FENTANYL WAS NOT THE
DRUG OF CHOICE A FEW YEARS AGO
AND MAY NOT BE A FEW YEARS FROM
NOW. THIS LEGISLATION CAN BE
PROGRESSIVE IF AND ONLY IT
HELPS WITH THIS CRISIS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DEBORAH, AND SHE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY SEAN.
>> HI, THIS IS BARBARA BERNARD,
DISTRICT SIX. ASKING FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION OF COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S LEGISLATION THAT BY
VOTING THIS AFTERNOON TO PUT
HIS LEGISLATION ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
COUNTER. WE WILL BE GRATEFUL TO
ANY OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
WHO DO THE RIGHT THINGS TODAY
TO PROTECT THE INDIGENOUS
TRIBE, INCLUDING THE CYCLE CALL
ME TRIBE, BECAUSE THEY DESERVE
TO HAVE CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT
AND COMPLY WITH STATE LAWS. WE
WERE PROMISED THAT CORRECTIONS
AND ADDITIONS WOULD BE MADE
WITH THE CURRENT TREE
ORDINANCE, AND THEY HAVE NOT
YET BEEN INTRODUCED. WE WOULD
LIKE THIS TO SERIOUSLY BE
CONSIDERED AND INTRODUCED
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT BEAKER SEAN
BLACKWELL, AND SEAN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY KIM BUTLER.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS SEAN
BLACKWELL. I'M A SOCIAL WORKER.
I HELP MANAGE THE LEAD
DIVERSION PROGRAM. PIONEER
SQUARE, DELL TOWN, AND OVER.
THIS PAST YEAR, I'VE ALSO
STARTED A PROJECT IN THE
DOWNTOWN CORE DOOR. IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT OF
THOSE WERE DRAFTING IT, THOSE
WERE OPPOSED TO CONTINUING THE
WAR ON DRUGS. IT'S IMPERATIVE
THAT A PLAN BE PUT IN PLACE TO
MEASURE THE RESULTS. IT'S
IMPERATIVE THE ORDINANCE
MAINTAINS THE PROVISION THAT
REQUIRES REGULAR DATA
COLLECTION. THE PUBLIC DESERVES
THE INFORMATION REQUIRED TO
EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE
OF THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KIM BUTLER, AND KIM WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY KATHLEEN ROSE. AND
KIM, YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR
6. OKAY, IT LOOKS LIKE KIM IS
NOT ON MUTING. LET'S TRY
KATHLEEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
KATHLEEN. I AM A LIFELONG
SEATTLE RESIDENT CURRENTLY
LIVING IN DISTRICT 6. THIS IS
NOT A WAR ON DRUGS, BUT IT IS A
BATTLE TO SAVE ALL OF SEATTLE.
WE DON'T WANT TO BECOME ANOTHER
SAN FRANCISCO. PLEASE MAKE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND IT'S
WONDERFUL AND DIVERSE
NEIGHBORHOODS A GREAT PLACE TO
WORK, LIVE, AND PLAY AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL NOT BE
KIM BUTLER, AND KIM WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY TAYLOR RILEY. GO
AHEAD, KIM.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4. I HAVE
LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I
REQUEST THAT YOU ALLOW
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
LEGISLATION PROTECTING THE
CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT TREES ON
THE REFERRAL CALENDAR. ALLOWING
FOR US TO BE HEARD AND NOT JUST
RESPONSIVE TO THE POWER AND
INFLUENCE. DEVELOPMENT AND
CONSTRUCTION CAN BE HINDERED
WITH JUST A SIMPLE EMAIL. THE
STATUS DESIGNATION -- PLEASE DO
THE RIGHT THING TODAY. IT'S
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT DROOPS,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION
TO CLIMATE JUSTICE, AND
YOURSELF ORT FOR SEATTLE
SERVICES.
>> OUR NEXT BEAKER IS TAYLOR
RILEY, AND TAYLOR WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY --. GO AHEAD,
TAYLOR.
>> HI, MY NAME IS TAYLOR. I
LIVE IN DEXTER THREE AND I'M A
PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCHER. I
URGE YOU ONCE AGAIN TO REJECT
THESE CRIMINAL CODES TO
PROSECUTE BLOOD DRUG
POSSESSION. THIS IS BAD AND
HARMFUL POLICY. WE HAVE DECADES
AND DECADES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
RESEARCH THAT CRIMINALIZING
DRUG USE AND POSSESSION WILL
ONLY MAKE THE OVERDOSE CRISIS
WORSE. THIS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY
INCREASE OVERDOSES, DEBTS,
RACIAL DISPARITIES, AND YOU
ALL VOTING FOR THIS WILL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. FOR A
COUNCIL WHO SAYS THEY ARE
COMMITTED TO RACIAL EQUITY, IT
IS BAFFLING YOU WOULD GIVE
TATTLED THE PIECE. THE BLACK
AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AT MUCH
HIGHER RATES THAN WHITE PEOPLE.
WE DON'T NEED POLICE TO SOLVE A
VERY SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS, THIS WILL CERTAINLY
MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE AND
TAKE RESOURCES AWAY FROM WHAT
PEOPLE ACTUALLY NEED --
HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, AND
TREATMENT. DON'T BRING US BACK
TO REGRESSIVE AND RACIST WAR ON
DRUG POLICIES.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS -- AND
THEN WE WILL MOVE BACK TO IN
PERSON. GO AHEAD.
>> HI. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2,
SPECIFICALLY IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. I'M
URGING THE COUNCIL TO REJECT
THIS BILL TO EXPAND PROSECUTION
OF PUBLIC DRUG USE. WE NEED
COMPACT COMPASSIONATE AND
EFFECTIVE CARE FOR OUR MOST
VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS. THAT DOES
NOT INCLUDE CRIMINALIZATION AND
INCARCERATION. THE ADOPTION OF
THIS BILL WOULD BE A RACIST
SETBACK FOR OUR CITY. WE KNOW
CRIMINALIZATION IS NOT A PUBLIC
HEALTH SOLUTION. PLEASE VOTE
NO.
>> OUR NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS ANDREA, AND ANDREA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY FAYE.
>> HELLO. WE ARE FOR PASSING
THIS ORDINANCE, BECAUSE THIS
ALONE -- NARCAN -- IS NOT
WORKING. FOUR PEOPLE A DAY ARE
DYING IN KING COUNTY. 112,000
PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN OUR NATION
OVER FENTANYL OVERDOSES. IT IS
TIME FOR CHANGE. IT IS TIME FOR
INCLUDING ALL TOOLS, AND THAT
INCLUDES THE TOOL OF OUR POLICE
FORCE. IT DOES NOT MEAN ARREST,
INCARCERATE FOREVER. IT JUST
MEANS STOP. ARREST MEANS STOP.
IT DOESN'T MEAN CONVICT. STOP
THE BEHAVIOR THAT IS HARMING
YOU NOW, JUST LIKE WE WOULD
ALLOW SOMEONE TO SIT THERE AND
STAB HIMSELF IN THE NECK AND WE
WOULD WALK BY. FENTANYL
OVERDOSE -- OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS ARE RESPONDING AT 15
A DAY. SOMETHING IS NOT
WORKING. ALL TOOLS ON DECK, ALL
HANDS ON DECK. PLEASE PASS THS
ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FAYE,
AND FAYE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
PETER.
>> HELLO, AND GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS FAYE. I AM THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR PURPOSE DIGNITY
ACTION. WE OPERATE CO-LEAD,
WHICH IS AN INTENSITY OF
MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND ALSO
PROVIDE PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR
LEAD CITYWIDE. THE SERVICE
OFFICES BY LEAD OUR HARM
REDUCTION, BECAUSE THAT'S OFTEN
THE MOST HUMANE AND MOST
EFFECTIVE ENGAGING PEOPLE ON A
LONG RECOVERY JOURNEY. BUT WE
NEED PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. WE
DON'T LEAVE THEM THERE. THE
GOAL IS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS
OVER A LONG ARC OF CHANGE THAT
REFLECTS HOW COMPLICATED AND
NONLINEAR RECOVERY IS FOR MOST
PEOPLE. WHEN WE HAVE ENOUGH
CASE MANAGEMENT, MANY PEOPLE
MAKE A LOT OF PROGRESS AND
NEIGHBORHOODS BENEFIT. WE ARE
ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO THAT
VISION. BUT WE WILL NEED THE
RESOURCES TO DO THE JOB. WE
CANNOT MERELY BUDGET TO
MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT EFFORTS,
WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN BAILED TO
MEET THE CURRENT NEEDS. MUCH
LESS THOSE THAT WOULD BE NEEDED
TO MEET THE NEED OF THE
ORDINANCE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PETER,
AND PETER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
LARRY MARSHALL. PETER.
>> I DON'T SEE --
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS PETER.
HELLO. MY NAME IS PETER. I'M
AGAINST THE NEW WAR ON DRUGS
BILL. ONE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS
WITH COUNCIL BILL 120645 LIES
ON IT RELIANCE OF OFFICER
DISCRETION TO DECIDE WHICH
INDIVIDUALS ARE DESERVING OR
NOT OF DIVERSION. AS LONG AS
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS EXISTS, THIS
WILL PRODUCE RACIST OUTCOMES.
FURTHERMORE, WE ARE NOT DEALING
WITH MERELY UNCONSCIOUS BIAS IN
THE SPD. WE HAVE SEEN VIOLENCE,
RACISM, THROUGHOUT THE RANKS.
INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING -- MORE
RECENTLY, WE HAVE HEARD ODIOUS
REMARKS THAT HER LIFE HAD
LIMITED VALUE. THESE COPS ARE
ALLOWED TO INFLICT VIOLENCE ON
FOLKS AND GET TO CHOOSE WHO
GOES INTO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM. AND FOR WHAT? IN THIS
CASE, DRUG USE. THAT IS NOT
DRESSED. ACTING ON YOUR COMFORT
OR DESIRE TO MAKE MONEY ON
PEOPLE GOING SHOPPING, TO USE
THAT TO LOCK UP UNHOUSED FOLKS
IS HATEFUL AND VIOLENT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LARRY
MARSHALL. LARRY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY HOWARD GAIL.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I
WORK AT THE HAMPTON INN HERE .
I THOUGHT ABOUT TELLING YOU
GUYS ABOUT HOW MY SON WAS
MURDERED THIS YEAR. 16, HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
INCIDENT. I LOOK AT THAT AND
SAY, VIOLENCE IS VIOLENCE. DRUG
IS DRUGS. BUT WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING. I'VE BEEN HERE TWO
YEARS, MOVING BACK FROM
VIRGINIA, AND THIRD AVENUE HAS
ME WORRIED ALL THE TIME. MY
YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, 18, AND THE
YOUNGER ONE, 13. I'VE ALREADY
LOST ONE KID. I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT YOU GUYS. MY BOSS LOST A
SON TO FENTANYL BECAUSE HE
THOUGHT IT WAS A PERCOCET. WE
ARE NOT HOLDING ANYBODY
ACCOUNTABLE. I GET IT SPD IS
THE BAD PEOPLE. THAT'S THE
INDIVIDUAL PERSON. AT THE END
OF THE DAY -- YOU CAN LAUGH
ABOUT IT. EACH PERSON IS
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OWN
ACTIONS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE
NEED TO DO -- HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE. IF WE DON'T, THEN
WHAT? THAT'S ALL WE WANTED TO
DO, BUT WE STILL NEED TO PUT
PEOPLE AWAY, BECAUSE IT'S ALL
ABOUT TIME. PEOPLE NEED TIME IN
JAIL TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY
ARE GOING TO DO, JUST LIKE IF
THEY HAD TIME IN --.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
-- THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS HOWARD, AND HOWARD WILL BE
HANDLED BY KATHLEEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. IN 2020,
JUST DAYS BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD'S
MURDER, YOUR POLICE CHASED A
BLACK MAN FACING A SEVERE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS WITH A
DOG AND MURDERED. IN 2021, YOUR
POLICE RUSHED A BARRICADE OF A
MAN EXPERIENCING A SEVERE
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WITH GUNS
DRAWN AND KILLED HIM. YOU SAID
LITTLE OR NOTHING. IN 2022,
YOUR POLICE SENT A DOG TO BITE
THE NAKED OF A LATIN MAN
EXPERIENCING A SEVERE MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS AND YOU SAID
NOTHING. YOUR POLICE CAME IN ON
A BLACK TEEN ON CAPITOL HILL,
HIS POTENTIAL MURDER ONLY
PREVENTED BY REGULAR FOLKS IN
THE STREET. YOU SAID NOTHING.
WHY WOULD A SEATTLE OFFICER
THINKING MAKING HARMLESS
HARMFUL COMMENTS WOULD CAUSE
HIM ANY CONCERN? ATTACK DOGS
AND BULLETS APPEAR NOT TO
AFFECT YOUR CONSCIENCE, BUT
THIS DOES. YOU HAVE NOTICED IT
AND EITHER YOU DO NOT CARE, YOU
BELIEVE THE PERSON HAD IT
COMING, OR DECIDED THAT IT
SIMPLY DEPENDED ON PRESS
ATTENTION.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
KATHLEEN. AND KATHLEEN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ROB.
>> MY NAME IS KATHLEEN, AND I
AM A DISTRICT SIX. I AM HERE TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMAN PEDERSEN'S
BILL, AND -- HOW DO I PUT
THIS? I LOOKED UP WHEN SEATTLE
WAS FOUNDED ON WIKIPEDIA, AND
IT WAS 1851. AND THEY DESCRIBED
THE CITY WAS OLD-GROWTH FOREST
WITH TREES THAT WERE 1000 TO
2000 YEARS OLD, AND AS HIGH AS
400 FEET. ALL WE ARE ASKING IS
-- THIS HAS ALL BEEN LOST TO
THE SNOQUALMIE TRIBE AND TO ALL
OF US. ALL WE ARE ASKING IS
THAT YOU PROTECT A LITTLE
REMNANT, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU CAN'T FIND THE WILL TO
EVEN GIVE IT A HEARING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROB. ROB
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MIKE
STEWART.
>> IT AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS ROB
FROM DISTRICT 1. I HAVE THREE
YOUNG KIDS. AND I WILL TELL
YOU, AS A DAD FROM DELL RIDGE,
I AM HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT
OF THIS DRUG USE BILL. AS A DAD
FROM DELL RIDGE, I KNOW
FIRSTHAND THAT PARENTS ACROSS
THE CITY -- THEY HAVE A
REASONABLE EXPECTATION TO BE
ABLE TO USE OUR PUBLIC PARKS
AND TRAVERSE ALONG THE
SIDEWALKS WITHOUT HAVING TO SEE
SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM A
DEBILITATING DRUG DEPENDENCY
ISSUE OPEN. AND AT THE SAME
TIME, IT'S ALSO REASONABLE
EXPECTATION FOR PEOPLE
SUFFERING FROM DEBILITATING
DRUG DEPENDENCY ISSUES TO KNOW
THAT THEIR CITY CARES ABOUT
THEM AND TRULY CARES AND VALUES
THEIR LIVES AND THEIR
VARIANCES. THAT'S WHY THIS
THING IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WE CAN ALL WIN IN THIS. WE HAVE
A SHARED OPPORTUNITY AND A
SHARED OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE
RIGHT ACTION. I'VE HEARD PEOPLE
POINTEDLY CALL OUT CERTAIN
COUNCILMEMBERS AND I WILL DO
THE SAME. COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD, YOU SPONSORED THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MIKE STEWART, AND HE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY SCOTT.
>> I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT
THE BALLARD ALLIANCE, HERE
SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BALLARD BIA RENEWAL. I
WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND
WORK OVER THE PAST MONTH TO
SHEPHERD THIS GROUP OR
COMMITTEE, AND I ALSO WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS
FOR HIS SUPPORT OF THE RENEWAL,
BUT ALSO HIS PARTNERSHIP ON
MANY SIGNIFICANT PROJECT OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, ALL OF
WHICH HAVE HELPED IMPROVE THE
VITALITY OF THE BALLARD
DISTRICT. AT LAST YEAR'S
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
HEARING, MEMBERS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM MORE
THAN 30 PROPERTY OWNERS,
BUSINESS OWNERS, RESIDENTS, AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS. EACH SHARED
THEIR PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE
BALLARD BIA AND THE SIGNIFICANT
AND IMPORTANT ROLE THAT THE
ORGANIZATION PLAYS WITHIN THE
BALLARD COMMUNITY. ALL OF THESE
SUPPORTERS AGREE THAT THE BIA
HAS DEMONSTRATED A STRONG TRACK
RECORD OF LEADERSHIP AND THE
ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE ON
BEHALF OF BALLARD. TO THAT END,
WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT
TODAY OF THE BALLARD BIA
RENEWAL AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO
VOTE YES ON COUNCIL BILL
120363.
>> THANK YOU. AND NEXT SPEAKER
SCOTT, AND SCOTT WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY OUR LAST IN PERSON
SPEAKER FOR THIS GROUP, NATHAN
FISHER. GO AHEAD, SCOTT.
>> I AM THE CO-CHAIR OF THE
BALLARD ALLIANCE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS, AND IN FOLLOWING
MIKE, I WANT TO SAY, IT HAS
BEEN AN AMAZING SEVEN YEARS
SINCE THIS COUNCIL FIRST
AUTHORIZED THE BIA IN BALLARD.
WE ARE BACK ASKING FOR A 12
YEAR RENEWAL. THERE'S A LOT OF
WORK TO BE DONE. A LOT OF WORK
HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY IN THOSE
SEVEN YEARS, AND WE ARE ASKING
YOU TO SIP US AGAIN TO GIVE US
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH YOU IN THE CITY AND
WORK WITH OUR BUSINESSES AND
OUR RESIDENTS AND OTHERS
THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY TO
KEEP DOING THE GREAT WORK THAT
HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE DONE,
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BIA. TAKE
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NATHAN
FISHER IN PERSON, AND THEN WE
WILL BE MOVING TO JENNIFER
GODFREY REMOTELY.
>> HELLO, I AM NATHAN FISHER. I
AM ONE OF THE WITNESSES OF THE
DESPAIR SWEEPING THE CITY.
PEOPLE ON THE ZOMBIE DRUG.
THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO OVERDOSED
IN THE LIBRARY ACROSS THE
STREET FROM THE SCHOOL I WORK
AT. I AGREE WITH SARA NELSON.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
HOWEVER, WE DISAGREE ON WHAT
THAT IS. I THINK WE NEED TO
LEGALIZE AND REGULATE OUR DRUGS
SO PEOPLE AREN'T USING FENTANYL
WHEN THEY THINK THEY'RE USING
SOMETHING ELSE, AND THEY HAVE A
COMMUNITY TO GO TO WHERE THEY
CAN'T BE OVERSOLD DRUGS THAT
MAY KILL THEM. I DON'T THINK WE
NEED TO FURTHER THE POLICE
DATE. IF YOU GUYS REALLY CARED
ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE,
YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE IN
PERSON VOTING FOR RENT CONTROL.
I THINK WE NEED A WAR ON THE
DRUG -- ON THE CORPORATIONS
THAT ARE PUSHING PEOPLE INTO
ALL OF THIS, THE DESPAIR AND
THE HOMELESSNESS. SO PLEASE
DON'T BE A HYPOCRITE. IF YOU
ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT PEOPLE,
HELP THEM. DON'T ARREST THEM.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL MOVE
TO A REMOTE SPEAKERS. THEY ARE
JENNIFER, FOLLOWED BY JULIA.
>> JENNIFER.
>> HI. THANK YOU. I'M CALLING
TO REQUEST THAT THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL PLEASE VOTE TODAY
TO PUT COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
LEGISLATION PROTECTION
PROTECTING CULTURALLY
SIGNIFICANT TREES, TMP 9902,
THE COUNCIL INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR. LET'S
RESPECT THE SNOQUALMIE TRIBE
WHO HELPED CRAFT THIS BY NOT
DELAYING IT AGAIN. WE NEED TO
SAVE THE TREES THAT PROTECT THE
STARVING SOUTHERN KILLER
WHALES. WILDLIFE HABITAT AND
SOME WATER RETENTION THAT ONLY
MATURE TREES CAN PROVIDE. IT
WOULD TAKE DECADES OR CENTURIES
FOR REPLACEMENTS TO DO THE
SAME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JULIA, AND JULIA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY WENDY.
>> HI. PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF
PUTTING THIS PROTECTION ON THE
CALENDAR. THIS SIMPLE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION REQUESTS EXISTING
STATE LAWS, NOTHING MORE. WE
HAVE A DUTY TO HONOR OUR
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT
RELATIONSHIP WITH SOVEREIGN
INDIGENOUS TRIBES IN RESPECT
THE COMMITMENT THESE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES. EVEN SO,
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION HAS
BEEN BLOCKED FROM CONSIDERATION
BY THE COUNCIL THREE TIMES
ALREADY. PROJECT DEVELOPERS
HAVE ALREADY ARGUED THIS IS
FALSE. THEY CAN COMMUNICATE
WITH THE STATE WITH AN EMAIL
ABOUT TREE PROTECTION. EVEN IF
THIS DID RESULT IN PROJECT
DELAYS, RESTORING SIGNIFICANT
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE
PROCESS SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR US
TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION IS
REAL AND IT'S HAPPENING IN
SEATTLE RIGHT NOW. PLEASE PUT
THIS LEGISLATION ON THE
CALENDAR.
>> WENDY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ALICIA KOHLER.
>> HI, THIS IS WENDY. I'VE BEEN
A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE FOR 19
YEARS NOW, AND I HAVE NOT SEEN
THINGS THAT WORK ABOUT DRUG USE
IN PUBLIC. AND FOR WHO
ACTUALLY BENEFITS THEM, BUT I
WOULD SAY, IF THIS IS PUT IN
PLACE, IT WOULD BENEFIT A LOT
OF FAMILIES. AS A MOM WITH OUR
LITTLE KIDS, WE WOULD NOT BE
WALKING BY A BUS STOP SEEING A
DRUG ADDICT USING FENTANYL,
USING CRACK. AND ALSO, THERE'S
A HIGH SCHOOL ONE BLOCK AWAY
FROM ALL THE PEOPLE. IF THIS
LAW PASSED, THAT WOULD BENEFIT
ALL THE PARENTS THAT HAVE THEIR
KIDS STUDY IN THAT HIGH SCHOOL.
SO PLEASE, COUNCILMEMBERS,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT WEEK OR
IS ALICIA KOHLER, AND ALISHA
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JOSHUA
MORRIS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ALICIA. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 3 AND I HAVE
EXPERIENCED WITH A LOVED ONE
THE FAILED WAR ON DRUGS. REJECT
THE LEGISLATION. IF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS REALLY WANTED TO
HELP PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM DRUG
USE, THEY WOULD ADEQUATELY FUND
SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD HELP THOSE
PEOPLE INTO RECOVERY. INSTEAD,
TODAY, ARE SEEKING A CHEAP,
EASY, AND VIOLENT SOLUTION THAT
FLIES IN THE FACE OF DECADES OF
EVIDENCE AND HIDING A PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS FROM PUBLIC VIEW
INSTEAD OF PROVIDING RELIEF TO
PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY NEED IT.
THIS LEAVES THE WELL-BEING IN
THE HANDS OF A POLICE FORCE AND
HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES TO HAVE
OUTSTANDING DISREGARD FOR LESS
NORMAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
DIG DEEPER INTO YOUR MORAL
CONSCIENCE. THESE DEATHS ARE
UNACCEPTABLE. PEOPLE'S LIVES
ARE AT STAKE. PLEASE VOTE
AGAINST THIS BILL.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSHUA
MORRIS, AND JOSHUA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY SARAH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M CALLING ON
BEHALF OF -- PLEASE ADD
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S BILL
PROTECTING CULTURALLY MODIFIED
TREES TO THE REFERRAL CALENDAR.
HONOR AND RESPECT TRIBES.
PRESERVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES.
IT PRESERVES YOUR GENERATION.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH.
SARAH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS
DEAN. SARAH, YOU MAY NEED TO --
THERE YOU GO.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SARAH, AND
I'M HERE TO BE IN OPPOSITION OF
CB 120645. I AM EIGHT PUBLIC
HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGIST,
SPECIALIZING IN PUBLIC
SUBSTANCE ABUSE. BUT I AM HERE
ONLY AS A CITIZEN TO EXPRESS MY
CONCERN ABOUT THE ROACH OF THIS
BILL. SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE
MOST HIGHLY EDUCATED
POPULATIONS OF THE UNITED
STATES. OUR CURRENT EPIDEMIC TO
APPROACH WITHOUT EXACERBATING
HARM. THIS BILL SEEKS TO
CONTINUE OLD AND FAILED METHODS
HOPING FOR NEW RESULTS.
HISTORY SHOWS WE CANNOT ARREST
OUR WAY OUT OF A SUBSTANCE
ABUSE CRISIS. DATA SHOWS THAT
ARREST AND BUS ARE DIRECTLY
CORRELATED TO NEGATIVE OUTCOMES
LIKE OVERDOSES. WE KNOW THESE
ARE ALL THINGS THAT CAUSE
TRAUMA AND INCREASED HARM.
THESE KINDS OF TRAUMAS ARE
BUILDING BLOCKS OF SUBSTANCE
ABUSE DISORDER AND DRIVE PEOPLE
AWAY. I'M ASKING AS A RESIDENT
--
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NOW DENISE. AND DENISE WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY ROSE.
AND DENISE, YOU MAY -- THERE
YOU GO.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, CITY COUNCIL. I
APPRECIATE THIS TIME. I AM HERE
TODAY TO TALK ABOUT CB 120645.
I CURRENTLY WORK AS A CASE
MANAGER IN AN EMERGENCY SHELTER
IN NORTH SEATTLE, AND I DEAL
WITH EVIL DAILY THAT ARE
DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDERS, AND OUR HOUSING
INSECURE OR CURRENTLY HOMELESS.
I AGREE WITH WHAT MANY OF THIS
BEAKERS TODAY HAVE SAID. YES,
WE MUST DO SOMETHING. WE ARE IN
THE MIDDLE OF A CRISIS, AND WE
MUST DO SOMETHING, BUT THIS IS
NOT THE SOLUTION. WE KNOW FROM
MUCH RESEARCH AND OUR HISTORY
THAT CRIMINALIZING DRUG USE AND
PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL WILL NOT
HELP THE PROBLEM. IT INCREASES
THEIR SUBSTANCE USE. IT DOES
NOT --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ROSE, AND ROSE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY TIM.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
ROSE. I'M AN ATTORNEY, I'M AN
ADVOCATE. I WORK WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO ARE SURVIVING IN
THESE VIOLENT, RACIST SYSTEMS.
I AM HERE TODAY TODAY TO TELL
YOU TO NOT CONTINUE THE RACIST,
VIOLENT MESSAGE OF THE PAST.
THE WAR ON DRUGS WAS A FAILURE.
IT HARMS PEOPLE OF COLOR, IT
KILLED OUR LOVED ONES. I WILL
SAY IT AGAIN. IT KILLED OUR
LOVED ONES. I'M NOT HERE TODAY
AS AN ATTORNEY OR EVEN A YOUTH
WORKER, I AM AM ONE WHO
SURVIVED THEIR OWN ADDICTION.
I'M SAD TO HEAR THAT -- I DON'T
SEE MORE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE.
AND THE ROUTE THAT I WAS ABLE
TO GO WAS BECAUSE THE SYSTEM
DID NOT SUCK ME IN. THAT I
AVOIDED BEING SUCKED INTO YOUR
PRISON. MY FAMILY, MY BROTHER,
DID NOT. AND I CAN SEE THE
IMPACT OF INCARCERATION IS A
REASON WHY HE IS OUT ON THIS
TREAT. THAT VIOLENCE, THAT
TRAUMA, IS THE REASON A LOT OF
US USED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TIM. TIM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
OUR LAST REMOTE BEAKER IN THIS
GROUP, JADE. GO AHEAD, TIM.
>> HI. I NAME IS TIM. I'M HERE
REPRESENTING 3002 TALK OUT
AGAINST CB 120645. WHILE WE DO
APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT
BROUGHT FORWARD BY TERESA
MOSQUEDA, WE STILL FEEL THERE
NEEDS TO BE MORE CONVERSATION
AROUND SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS
OF FUNDING OF THIS PROPOSED
ORDINANCE. THE COMMITTEE NEEDS
TO DISCUSS AND PLAN BEFORE THIS
IS PUT TO A VOTE. AS IT STANDS
NOW, WE STILL OPPOSE THIS
ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER
REMOTELY WILL BE JADE.
>> MY NAME IS JADE, AND I JUST
WANT TO SAY -- I JUST WANT TO
HEART BY SAYING WERE -- WAR IS
NEVER GENTLE, AND TRY TO MAKE
IT AS SUCH IS DISGRACEFUL. I
URGE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON
120645 AND CONSIDER THE STUDY
PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON THAT, WHEN
ACCESSING, PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS
OF A MORE EFFICIENT PATH TO
SERVICES THAN THEY EVER DO AND
TRANSPORTED TO THE REVOLVING
DOORS OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR
JAIL, OBJECTS THAT
STATISTICALLY LEAD TO DEATH.
EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO
PARTICIPATED IN INTERVIEWS IN
THE STUDY NOTED THAT TAKING A
HEALTHIER AND SAFE WORK
ENVIRONMENT FOR WHEN THEY
RESPOND TO THOSE OVERDOSE
CALLS. THE STUDY ALSO NOTES
THAT 120 CONSUMPTION SITES,
THERE HAVE BEEN ZERO FATAL
OVERDOSES WEDNESDAY CONSUMPTION
WORKS. FIRST RESPONDERS AGREED
THAT FOCUSING --
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE TO
PUBLIC COMMENTERS IN PERSON.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS, AND
CHRIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ARETHA. CHRIS. OH, YOU'RE
GOING TO PASS. OKAY, THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ARETHA.
>> WE KNOW ARETHA.
>> WE DO.
>> IT AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. CLINICAL
DIRECTOR PUGET SOUND STAGE OR
TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS
ORDINANCE TODAY. WE HAVE
DECADES OF EVIDENCE THAT
INCARCERATION DOES NOT PREVENT
OVERDOSES, NOR DOES IT GIVE
PEOPLE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS,
BUT THIS BILL IS NOT A PUBLIC
HEALTH APPROACH. WHAT WILL
TRULY HELP PEOPLE'S HOUSING,
SAFE LOTS, CONSUMPTION SITES,
ACCESS TO WELL-PAYING UNION
JOBS. ALL THINGS THAT THIS
COUNCIL HAS BEEN ORDERED IN
THE PAST. ADOPTION OF THIS WILL
WILL INCREASE HARM AT THE HANDS
OF SPD, AND JAIL TIME. WE HAVE
NO GUARANTEE ANY OF THE
PROMISES OF THE VIRGIN
RESOURCES MADE IN THIS BILL
WILL COME TO FRUITION. WE
HAVEN'T SEEN THE BUDGET YET,
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR CITY
IS FACING A MASSIVE BUDGET
SHORTFALL. PLEASE VOTE NO
TODAY. DO NOT LET THIS BE THE
LEGACY OF THIS COUNCIL. DO NOT
LET THIS BE THE LEGACY OF THE
CITY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ERICA.
ERICA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
BRADLEY.
>> MY NAME IS ERICA. I'M A
PUBLIC DEFENDER IN KING COUNTY.
THE COUNCIL'S VOTE TODAY, IF
YOU VOTE YES ON THIS BILL, WILL
INVITE GADO POLICE OFFICERS TO
APPROACH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT
ASSAULTING ANYONE, WHO IS NOT
TRESPASSING, WHO IS NOT
THREATENING ANYONE, AND WHO --
INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS
ASSESSED WHETHER OR NOT A
CIGARETTE CONTAINS TOBACCO OR
CANNABIS BASED ON LOOKING AT
THEM. THAT IS DEEPLY UNJUST.
ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL. CITY
PROSECUTORS KNOW HOW MANY
LITTLE THINGS CAN ALREADY GET
SOMEBODY ARRESTED. YOU KNOW
THAT THEY CAN GO TO THE
HOSPITAL IF THEY HAVE A DRUG
PROBLEM. YOU KNOW THERE ARE
OTHER WAYS FOR THEM TO BE
DETAINED. ALL OF THEM AFFECTING
A PERSON'S ABILITY TO ACCESS
HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND
EMPLOYMENT. IF YOU VOTE
YESTERDAY, YOU DO SO KNOWING
THAT THESE DISTINCTIONS ARE
BASED ON RACE, CLASS, AND
NOTHING ELSE. THANK YOU. AND
PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY. WE BELONG
TO EACH OTHER. HAVE MERCY FOR
THOSE WHO LOST PEOPLE.
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS BRADLEY, AND BRADLEY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY MIKEY.
>> HELLO. I'M A CONSTITUENT OF
SEATTLE COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. I'M
URGING YOU TO AGAIN REJECT THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
EXPAND THE CITY'S CRIMINAL CODE
TO PROSECUTE DRUG POSSESSION
AND PUBLIC DRUG USE. I SPOKE
WITH MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
STRUGGLING WITH DRUGS. THESE
PEOPLE NEED CARE, SUPPORT, AND
COMMUNITY. NOT MORE
INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE.
THESE FOLKS ARE HUMAN BEINGS,
JUST LIKE YOU AND ME, AND
DESERVE TO BE TREATED AS SUCH.
WE SHOULD ATTACK THE ROOTS OF
THESE ISSUES. THESE INCLUDE,
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, HOUSING
AND SICK DIRTY, NATURAL
STABILITY, HEALTHCARE, AND
EDUCATION. THERE IS A MULTITUDE
OF EVIDENCE THAT INCARCERATION
DOES NOT PREVENT OVERDOSES, NOR
GIVE PEOPLE THE HELP THEY NEED.
IT MAKES ME ANGRY THAT THE CITY
IS CONSIDERING THIS LAW, AND I
URGE YOU TO VOTE NO. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MEG, AND SHE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY GEM. AND FEEL FREE
TO LINE UP AT BOTH MICROPHONES,
IF YOU'D LIKE TO.
>> IT AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MAGGIE, AND
I SERVE ON THE OPERATING BOARD
OF THE ALLIANCE. I'M HERE TODAY
TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE
RENEWAL OF THE BALLARD BIA. FOR
THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS OF
BALLARD BIA, THE LIFECYCLE
COINCIDED WITH UNIQUE AND
UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. A TRUE
TESTING GROUND FOR US ALL.
EVERYWHERE, THE NEED WAS FORCED
FOR STABILITY, RESILIENCE, AND
WRONG LEADERSHIP. I SPEAK BOTH
AS A LONGTIME BALLARD RESIDENT,
AND AS A BALLARD BUSINESS
LEADER TO EXPRESS MY PROFOUND
GRATITUDE FOR THE ACTIVE
RESPONSIVENESS, THE SINCERE
DEDICATION, AND THE FORWARD
THINKING VISION THAT THE
BALLARD ALLIANCE TEAM PROVIDED
THROUGH THE BALLARD BIA. I
APPLAUD THE BALLARD BIA FOR
AFFECTING REAL DILUTIONS, SUCH
AS STREET CAFES, TO HELP LOCAL
BUSINESSES SURVIVE THE
PANDEMIC, AND FOR SUCCESSFULLY
ADVOCATING FOR IMPACTFUL,
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS SUCH AS A
TUNNELED APPROACH TO LIGHT
RAIL. THESE VOTE YESTERDAY ON
COUNCIL BILL 120634.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS GEM. GEM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
SHARON A.
>> I AM HERE PRIMARILY AS A
NURSE, AND SO I WANT TO SAY TO
PEOPLE WHO IS POKING, I TOO
HAVE SEEN OVERDOSES. I TOO HAVE
DONE EPR. I TOO HAVE SEEN THE
UPTAKE OF PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE
USE COMING INTO THE HOSPITAL.
AND I TO ALSO HAVE WALKED THE
STREETS OF CHINATOWN SUPPORTING
UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY
DOING ENCAMPMENTS WEEPS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR MEDS ARE
BEING THROWN OUT BY SPD OR BY
THE CITY. ESPECIALLY ALSO WHEN
PARENTS HAVE THEIR KIDS ASHES
BEING THROWN OUT DURING
ENCAMPMENTS WEEPS. THERE IS A
LOT OF PAIN AND SUFFERING WE
HAVE SEEN ON CHINATOWN'S
TREATS. ONE THING I SEE THAT
THESE FOLKS HAVE IN COMMON IS
THAT A LOT OF THEM HAVE CYCLED
THROUGH KING COUNTY JAIL. A LOT
OF THEM HAVE SURVIVED KING
COUNTY JAIL, COME BACK ONTO THE
STREET, ON BACK TO SUBSTANCE
USE, AND REALIZED THAT KING
COUNTY JAIL HAS JUST INCREASED
MORE TRAUMA AND HAS NOT SOLVED
THE ADDICTION ISSUES. AND IT'S
INTERESTING FOR ME TO SEE SOME
PEOPLE IN THE SPACE TALK ABOUT
THE CID, AND THOSE SAME PEOPLE
WILL ALSO OPPOSE THE SHELTER
AND TREATMENT ENTER I WAS BEING
PROPOSED A FEW MONTHS AGO. SO
THE IRONY --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE --, AND SHE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY BILLY HAYWARD.
WE HAVE 45 MORE PEOPLE TO GO.
WE HAVE TO STICK TO IT. I'M
SORRY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
>> PLEASE, EVERYBODY. IT IS ONE
MINUTES. LISTEN FOR THE CHIME,
AND YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO WRAP
UP YOUR COMMENTS. WE DON'T LIKE
CUTTING PEOPLE OFF, BUT PLEASE
BE MINDFUL OF THE CHIME. CALL
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS --, AND
SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LILY.
>> HI. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT 350 SEATTLE. I'M
HERE TO ASK YOU AGAIN TO REJECT
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT
WILL EXPAND THE CITY'S CRIMINAL
CODE TO PROSECUTE DRUG
POSSESSION. DECADES OF RESEARCH
SHOW THAT CRIMINALIZING DRUGS
IS INEFFECTIVE AND ON HELP.
JAILS CANNOT SOLVE A PUBLIC
HEALTH PROBLEM. IF ANYTHING,
THEY MAKE IT WORSE. ACCORDING
TO STUDIES, PEOPLE INCARCERATED
WERE OVER 100 TIMES MORE LIKELY
TO DIE FROM OVERDOSE. BUT THIS
LAW IS ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE
RECOVER FROM ADDICTION OR AVOID
OVERDOSE OR IMPROVE THEIR
QUALITY OF LIFE. THIS LAW IS
ABOUT TO HUMANIZING DRUG USERS,
DESTABILIZING PEOPLE IN ALREADY
PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS, AND
EXPANDING THE CAR SEVERAL
SYSTEM, WHICH DISPROPORTIONATEL
Y HARMS BLACK, BROWN,
INDIGENOUS, AND POOR PEOPLE.
HOW CAN WE PASS A BILL WITHOUT
SEEING THE BUDGET AND WITHOUT
KNOWING FOR SURE THE PROMISES
OF DIVERSION? ESPECIALLY GIVEN
MAGIC MASSIVE BUDGET FALL THAT
WE ARE BEING TOLD ABOUT THAT WE
ARE FACING. KNOWING THAT, I
VOTE NO ON THIS RACIST --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LILY, AND LILY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY AIDAN.
>> IT AFTERNOON, SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS. ON BEHALF OF
THE NEARLY 2300 MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WE
ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON CB
120645. THE SEATTLE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND ALL OF
THE ABOVE APPROACH TO PUBLIC
SAFETY, AND THIS LEGISLATION AS
A TOOL TO THAT TOOLBOX. AS YOU
DELIBERATE TODAY, THESE KEEP
THE INTENT OF THIS LEGISLATION
-- TO ENFORCE THE LAW AND GET
PEOPLE TREATMENT -- AT THE TOP
OF YOUR MIND. WE HOPE THAT THE
MAYOR WILL RELEASE ANY
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS BOTH
SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE. WE EXPECT
THE RESULTS TO MAKE GOOD ON THE
INTENT, WHICH MEANS IN THE
COMING MONTHS, WE WILL SEE MORE
PEOPLE IN TREATMENT, YOU ARE
PEOPLE ON THE STREETS, AND A
DECLINE IN OVERDOSES. PLEASE
PASS THIS LEGISLATION TODAY AND
CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR
COMMUNITIES A FOR AND BETTER
CARED FOR. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AIDEN
CAROL, AND OUR LAST IN PERSONS
BEAKER WILL BE --.
>> SOME OF YOU KNOW I HAVE
TOURETTE'S AMONG OTHER THINGS.
THAT'S THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
THOSE OF US WITH DISABILITIES
HAVE TO STEP UP FOR EACH OTHER.
THIS LOBBY FOR US WITH
EXCLUSIVELY TARGET HOMELESS
PEOPLE. HOMELESS PEOPLE ALMOST
UNIVERSITY HAVE ONE OR MORE
DISABILITIES. A LOT MORE ENDED
UP ON THE STREETS, AND
ADDICTION IS A DISABILITY. WE
ARE SICK AND TIRED OF BEING
TOLD, WE KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR
YOU. WE ARE GOING TO FORCE-FEED
YOU, FORCE MEDICATE YOU. IT
MAKES IT A LOT HARDER TO ACCEPT
HELP WHEN NO ONE ACTUALLY
HELPED WITHOUT LOSING TRUST.
BEST CASE SCENARIO, EVERYONE IS
WHAT YOU END UP IN TREATMENT,
AND THAT TREATMENT, EITHER IS
GOING TO GO TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO
ALREADY WANTS IT -- THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH THE
SHELTERS RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE WHO
WANT SHELTER CAN'T GET IT.
PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED INTO IT
THROUGH THE SWEEPS. FIX THE
HOUSING CRISIS. MEANWHILE,
PROVIDE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE ON THE STREETS, BECAUSE
INPATIENT DOESN'T WORK AFTER
YOU END UP ON THE STREETS
AGAIN. YOU RELAPSE. PEOPLE
AFFECTED BY THE CRISIS HERE,
IT'S DISPROPORTIONATELY ABOUT
RACE AND DISABILITY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT BEAKER
IS AIDEN. I'M SORRY. THIS IS
OUR LAST SPEAKER IN PERSON, AND
THAT IS SOREN SMITH.
>> HI, I'VE BEEN A SEATTLE
RESIDENT FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. I
UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WANT TO BE ABLE
TO TELL THE DITCH WITH THAT
THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT
THE DRUG USE DUBLIN IN SEATTLE,
ABOUT THE CRISIS OF UNHOUSED
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE. AND MYSELF,
A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE STANDING
ON THE BACK WALL AS WELL, WANT
TO SEE THE COUNCIL DO
SOMETHING. BUT UNLIKE SOME
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, WE CARE
ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL DO. WE KNOW
AFTER DECADES OF RESEARCH THAT
CRIMINALIZING DRUG POSSESSION
OR DRUG USE IS NOT THE ANSWER.
I TRULY WONDER WHETHER SOME OF
THE BETTER DRESSED PEOPLE IN
THIS ROOM AND SOME OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TRULY BELIEVE
THAT PEOPLE WILL DECIDE TO JUST
STOP BEING ADDED IF WE ONLY
THREATEN THAT WITH ENOUGH
PRISON TIME. THAT IS NOT HOW
ADDICTION WORKS. PRETENDING
THAT IT IS IS A DANGEROUS AND
NA÷VE FANTASY. WHAT WE NEED IS
SERVICES, WE NEED SUPPORT, AND
WE NEED TO INVEST IN THE STAR
PROGRAM IN DENVER, AND THE
COMMUNITY WAS'S MODEL
EXPERIMENTED WITH IN BROOKLYN
JUST EARLIER THIS YEAR. SEATTLE
DESERVES BETTER.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE
HAVE ABOUT 20 MORE REMOTE
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP AND
APPROXIMATELY 35 IN PERSON.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, YOU
READ MY MIND. I WAS JUST GOING
TO ASK YOU. WE STARTED PUBLIC
COMMENT AT 2:17. IT'S WELL OVER
AN HOUR NOW. WE CAN GO FOR 10
MORE MINUTES, BECAUSE WE HAVE
SEVEN MATTERS ON THE AGENDA. SO
LET'S DO -- ARE WE GOING TO GO
BACK TO -- WERE GOING TO GO
BACK TO THE REMOTE BATCH?
>> I CAN DO FIVE REMOTE AND
FIVE MORE IN PERSON AND BE
DONE.
>> I WANT TO ENCOURAGE SOME
FOLKS WHO HAVE COME BEFORE, IT
HAS BEEN NOTED. I JUST HOPE
THAT THOSE WHO NEVER HAD A
CHANCE TO GET A CHANCE TO'S
BEAK INSTEAD OF THOSE THAT HAVE
BEEN HERE -- AND AGAIN, I'M NOT
COMMENTING ON THE FACT THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN HERE, BUT WE HEAR YOU
LOUD AND CLEAR. THANK YOU FOR
COMING AGAIN. STARTING WHEN I
GET DONE SPEAKING, WE WILL DO
10 MINUTES, FIVE AND FIVE, AND
THEN WE WILL CLOSE THE
COMMENTS.
>> WE ALSO ALWAYS TAKE WRITTEN
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> RIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER
WOULD BE JOE, FOLLOWED BY
RICHARD ELLISON.
>> GO AHEAD, JOE.
>> I WANT TO LEND MY VOICE AND
SUPPORT OF THE DRUG ORDINANCE.
IT IS VERY FRIGHTENING TO BE
AROUND SOMEONE WHO IS HIGH ON
ILLEGAL SUBS RINSES. IT CAN BE
VERY DANGEROUS FOR SOMEONE WITH
SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS A
CAMERA GEAR. I'VE HAD TO GO OUT
AND GET MACE. WITH THAT, CAN WE
TALK ABOUT WHITE-COLLAR CRIME?
BECAUSE HE HASN'T TURNED IN A
SINGLE PIECE OF WORK IN TWO
YEARS OF HIS CAMPAIGN. I HOPE
SOME OF YOU WHO CARE ABOUT
CRIME LIKE I DO WILL SPEAK OUT
OF AGAINST THAT AS WELL. THE
COUNCILMEMBER HAS BEEN PRETTY
LOUD AND CLEAR. WE WILL SEE
WHERE YOU ARE ON THAT. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RICHARD, AND RICHARD WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY BJ. GO AHEAD,
RICHARD.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
RICHARD. I LIVED IN DISTRICT 4,
AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF HIS BILL
THAT IS TRYING TO PROTECT THE
CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT TREES.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAD A
LITTLE BATTLE OVER A TREE IN MY
COMMUNITY, WHERE A HUGE REDWOOD
WAS UNDER THREAT AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAD TO CLIMB UNDERNEATH
THE TREE TO PROTECT IT. LOCAL
TRIBES STEPPED IN AND WERE
BASICALLY EFFECTIVE IN TRYING
TO PROTECT THAT TREE. WE NEED
TO HAVE A LAW THAT PROTECTS
THESE KINDS OF TREES THROUGHOUT
THE CITY. THE CITY COUNCIL
PASSED A LONG TIME AGO A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITH THE
LEADER -- A LEADER IN
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. THE
MINIMUM TO BE DONE IS TO
PROTECT THESE CULTURALLY
MODIFIED TREES WHEREVER THEY
MAY LIST. IT'S SOMETHING THAT
IS IMPERATIVE THAT MUST BE
DONE, AND I URGE THE WHOLE
COUNCIL TO PROTECT THIS BILL
BY, COUNCILMAN PEDERSEN.
>> BJ WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
DAVID.
>> THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A
GENTLE WAR ON DRUGS. IT'S ALSO
DESERVED THAT AFTER RUSHING
THIS WILL TO COUNCIL, NO
WAITING THE TYPICAL TWO WEEKS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO END PUBLIC
COMMENT EARLY. A LOT MORE
PEOPLE SHOWED UP JUST BACK IN
JUNE ALREADY TO TELL YOU WHAT
YOU ALREADY KNOW. YOU SHOULDN'T
BE CUTTING PEOPLE OFF NOW WHEN
YOU'RE PUSHING THINGS THROUGH
AND TRY TO SPEED UP THE
PROCESS, GIVING PEOPLE LESS
TIME TO TALK TO YOU BEFORE
THIS. I ALSO WANT TO TALK
ABOUT, THIS BILL IS BEING
PUSHED BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO
ARE PUSHING FOR BUDGET
AUSTERITY. COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
VOTED FOR THE BILL AND
COMMUNITY HAVE ALSO BEEN
PUSHING THIS SINCE THE FINANCE
MEETING LAST MONTH. THEY BEEN
TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO CUT
CITY SERVICES. THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN
PUSHING FOR THIS SINCE THE
START. IF THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO
FUND SERVICES, THEY'VE HAD --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DAVID, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER,
YEN.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE. I WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK TO TWO DIFFERENT
BILLS. I AM AN OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPIST IN OUR TRAUMA CENTERS
HERE IN SEATTLE, AND I WOULD
LIKE TO FRAME THE OPIOID CRISIS
AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN
THIS WAY. YOU SHOULD NOT BE
CRIMINALIZING OPIOID USE FOR
THE SAME REASON WE WOULDN'T
CRIMINALIZE WHITE SUGARS AND
PROCESSED FOODS AND THOSE
CONSUMPTION POSSESSIONS AND
THOSE TYPES OF SUBSTANCES THAT
WOULD CAUSE DIABETES. WE
WOULDN'T CRIMINALIZE LACK OF
EXERCISE. WE WOULDN'T
CRIMINALIZE POVERTY. THERE IS
NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD BE
CRIMINALIZING PUBLIC USE,
BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUE AND REQUIRES A PUBLIC
HEALTH NURSE WANTS. SECOND, I
WOULD LIKE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOTE AND TO PUT THE CULTURALLY
SIGNIFICANT TREES BILL ON THE
PROPOSALS LIST. CONSIDER THE
HEAT DOME AFFECT AND THE
IMPORTANCE --
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST REMOTE
BEAKER IS YEN.
>> THERE YOU ARE. GO AHEAD.
>> HI. MY NAME IS YEN. AS A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2, I AM
NOT A SUPPORTER OF PENALIZING
DRUG USE. THEY HAVE RIPPLE
EFFECTS. EVERY DAY, MY
NEIGHBORS AND VISITORS HAVE
THEIR CAR WINDOWS SMASHED,
ESPECIALLY WHEN FOLKS ARE
DESTABILIZED. MY PARTNER
WITNESSED THE HATE CRIME LAST
WEEK AND WHAT WAS MISSING FROM
THE REPORTING WAS THAT HE WAS
UPSET HIS CAR WINDOW WAS
SMASHED. THE CITY IS CHOOSING
VIOLENCE VIA THE CRIMINAL DRUG
USE ONLY LEADS TO MORE VIOLENCE
ON THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THIS
PAST -- WE PICKED UP OVER FIVE
BAGS OF TRASH AND GAVE AWAY 100
BOXES OF NARCAN, EACH ONE
INCLUDING TWO INJECTIONS. WE
KNOW THAT THE POLICE DON'T
PREVENT CRIME. THEY WRITE
REPORTS FOR INSURANCE CLAIMS.
ONLY WE CAN KEEP EACH OTHER
SAFE.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
TO OUR LAST FIVE IN PERSONS
BEAKERS, BEGINNING WITH
FREEMAN, AND SHE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY --
IS SHE HERE? OH.
>> ANITRA FROM WHEEL. ONE OF
THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT WE WOMEN
STOOD FOR WAS ROBIN LANGSTON. A
HOMELESS WOMAN WAS STRANGLED TO
DEATH WHILE WAITING FOR
TREATMENT. EVERY PERSON THAT
YOU FORCE INTO TREATMENT, YOU
ARE DENYING A TREATMENT BED FOR
SOMEONE WHO IS OUT THERE ASKING
FOR IT. AND FOR EVERY PERSON
YOU FORCE INTO TREATMENT WHO
GETS OUT AND DOES NOT HAVE
HOUSING, THEY ARE GOING RIGHT
BACK OUT TO THE STREET, AND
PROBABLY USING AGAIN. SO THIS
LAW ISN'T HELPING ANYONE. IT
ISN'T HELPING THE PEOPLE WHO
WANT YOU TO CLEAN UP THE
STREETS. IT ISN'T HELPING THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE USING AND DYING
A FENTANYL. IT ISN'T HELPING
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING AND
ASKING FOR TREATMENT. PLEASE.
WE NEED RESOURCES INSTEAD.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT -- OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS ILIANA. SHE
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KISKA.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M AN ATTORNEY
AT IMMIGRATION CRIMINAL
DEFENSE, AND I WORKED ON POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY. I'M ALSO A
RESIDENT IN YOUR DISTRICT. I'M
ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON
COUNCIL BILL 120645. I'M GOING
TO GIVE THE REST OF MY TIME TO
NINA.
>> MY NAME IS NINA, I URGE YOU
TO VOTE NO ON THIS BILL. THE
CITY COUNCIL STATED THAT RACISM
IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. IF
THEY WANT TO HAVE PRO-EQUITY
INVESTMENTS, THIS WILL DOES THE
OPPOSITE, AND IN FACT, PUTS
DISCRETION IN POLICE HANDS WERE
PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT
THEY AREN'T WILLING OR CAPABLE
TO SEE THE HUMANITY OF THE
MEMBERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS CURRENT BILL -- IN THIS
CURRENT BILL, PLEASE OFFICERS
WON'T HAVE TO FACILITATE IT
RESOURCES WE NEED. INSTEAD,
THEY WILL PUT THEM IN JAILS OR
PRISONS, WHICH ULTIMATELY, IS
THE GOAL. TRUSTING THE POLICE
TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY IS
INSANITY. I CONTINUE TO
COVER-UP AND COVER-UP AND
COVER-UP. I UNDERSTAND RIGHT
NOW THE POLITICAL CLIMATE HAS
SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT, BUT IT
ALWAYS SWINGS BACK. WE WILL BE
HERE CONTINUING TO DEFEND
JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KEISHA K. AND KEISHA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY BARRY.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KEISHA. I
WAS HERE LAST WEEK, AND I'M
HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS
ORDINANCE. MAKING THIS A DRUG
ISSUE ABOUT THE POLICE IS NOT
GOING TO WORK. THE ISSUE IS,
DRUGS IS A PROBLEM. PEOPLE HAVE
ADDICTION, AND THAT'S WHAT WE
NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON. I DON'T
THINK THIS WILL IS PERFECT, BUT
I DO BELIEVE IT'S A STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION TO GETTING SOME
RESOLVE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO BE SAFE IN THE STREETS. WE
ALL DESERVE TO BE SAFE IN OUR
STREETS. A PLEA TO A MOTION, A
PLEA TO AUTHORITY, NEVER WORKS.
WE CAN ALL SAY IT, WE CAN ALL
STAND HERE AND THE DRUGS WILL
APPEAL TO A CERTAIN RACE. IT'S
NOT ABOUT RACE. IT IS SIMPLY
ABOUT GETTING THE DRUGS OFF OF
OUR STREET, KEEPING OUR'S
STREETS SAFE FOR EVERY SINGLE
PERSON, AND COMING UP WITH
RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE
WHO WANT THE HELP. NOT EVERYONE
WHO IS ADDICTED TO DRUGS NEEDS
HELP. AND I AM JUST SAYING,
PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE YES AND
KEEP THIS SEAT OF SEATTLE SAFE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BARRY BLANTON, AND BARRY
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR LAST
BEAKER, SHANNON KELLY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
BARRY BLANTON. I'M A PRINCIPAL
AT LINTON TURNER, AND I'VE BEEN
ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE
BALLARD BIA, AS WELL AS MANY
OTHER BIAS IN THE CITY FOR THE
LAST SEVEN YEARS, SINCE ITS
INCEPTION. REPRESENTING SEVERAL
BUILDINGS WITHIN THE BA BROWN
TREE, I SUPPORT RENEWING THE
BALLARD BIA, BECAUSE IT IS
UNIQUELY FOCUSED ON ENSURING
THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF
OUR COMMUNITY WHILE CREATING A
VIBRANT, THRIVING ENVIRONMENT
FOR OUR COMMERCIAL TENANTS AND
OUR RESIDENTS TO LIVE IN. THE
BALLARD BIA HAS BEEN AN
INVALUABLE PARTNER IN HELPING
US DO THAT IN A MYRIAD OF WAYS.
CLEAN AND SAFE STREETS PROGRAMS
TO MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, FROM
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE
CREATION OF AN ACTIVE PUBLIC
NEXT PROGRAM, OUR TEAM AT THE
BALLARD BIA HAS ESTABLISHED A
STRONG TRACK RECORD OVER ITS
LIFECYCLE AS A LEADER THAT GETS
DONE ON BEHALF OF THE BALLARD
COMMUNITY. SO PLEASE, VOTE YES
ON COUNCIL BILL 120634 AND
IMPROVE THE REAUTHORIZATION OF
THE BALLARD BIA. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST A TODAY
WILL BE SHANNON KELLY.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SHANNON
KELLY. I'M A SOCIAL WORKER WITH
THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I KNOW
PART OF THE REASONING YOU VOTED
KNOW THE LAST TIME ON THIS DRUG
ORDINANCE BILL WAS BECAUSE
THERE WAS NO INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
DIVERSION, AND THE CITY
RANDOMLY DECIDED TO DROP THEIR
COMMUNITY COURTS. I APPRECIATE
YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE AMENDMENTS
TO IMPROVE DIVERSION EFFORTS.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE NOT GOOD
ENOUGH. THEY WILL NOT GET
PEOPLE TO TREATMENT. THERE IS
NO INFRASTRUCTURE SET UP TO DO
THAT. IT WILL NOT SEND PEOPLE
TO TREATMENT. IT WILL PUT THEM
IN JAIL AND KILL PEOPLE. SO MY
ONLY THOUGHT PROCESS IS,
REALLY, THIS IS A QUESTION.
VOTING YES ON THIS, IT EITHER
HAS TO BE INTENTIONAL MALICE,
OR A SEVERE COGNITIVE
DISSONANCE, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
SAY YOU CARE FOR PEOPLE AND
VOTE FOR THIS. BECAUSE YOU WILL
KILL PEOPLE. IT'S NOT TOO LATE.
>> SO, MADAME CLERK?
>> THAT IS IT.
>> OKAY. WELL, LET ME END BY
THANKING EVERYONE OF YOU THAT
CALLED IN AND EVERYONE OF YOU
THAT CAME TO PUBLIC COMMENT,
AND THOSE OF YOU THAT CAME
AGAIN. YOU CAN ALWAYS SUBMIT,
AND WE HAVE READ AND HEARD IN
OUR MAILBOX PEOPLE'S POSITION
ON MANY OF THE MATTERS THAT ARE
ON TODAY'S AGENDA. AND YOUR
WORDS ARE HEARD, AND I WANT TO
THANK ALL OF YOU, EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF YOU. WITH THAT, PUBLIC
COMMENT IS NOW CLOSED, AND WE
WILL MOVE ON IN OUR AGENDA. SO
LET'S GO TO THE ADOPTION OF THE
IRC. I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. WE MOVED AND
SECONDED THE REFERRAL CALENDAR.
UNDERSTAND THAT BEFORE I SAY
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS, AND
UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN HAS A MOTION FOR US.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. PURSUANT TO SECTION
3 A OF OUR CITY COUNCIL RULES,
I MOVED TO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
TO ADD TMP 9902 TO FORMALLY
INTRODUCE THAT COUNCIL BILL
SUPPORTING CULTURALLY MODIFIED
TREES LAKE ALUMA AND REFER IT
TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
CONSIDERATION.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR BY ADDING A BILL AS
DESCRIBED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
ADDRESS IT, AND THEN I WILL
OPEN UP THE FLOOR?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. PURSUANT TO SECTION
3-A OF OUR CITY COUNCIL RULES,
I CIRCULATED THE DRAFT BILL
BEFORE 5:00 P.M. YESTERDAY. IT
WAS APPROVED BY CENTRAL STAFF
AND THE LAW DEPARTMENT SO THAT
WE COULD VOTE TODAY TO PLACE IT
ON TO OUR REFERRAL CALENDAR,
WHAT WE CALL OUR IRC. AFTER
CRAFTING THE LEGISLATION WITH
THE SNOQUALMIE TRIBE, THIS
COUNCIL BILL REGARDING
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES LAKE
ALUMA , REQUESTED FOR REMOVAL,
WAS ORIGINALLY UPLOADED TO OUR
SYSTEM AT THE END OF AUGUST.
AFTER ADDITIONAL PRELIMINARY
FEEDBACK, THE LEGISLATION WAS
SHORTENED AND SIGNIFIED, STILL
RETAINING ITS TEMPORARY NUMBER.
I WANT TO THANK CENTRAL STAFF
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
FOR THEIR REVIEW OF THE
LEGISLATION TO CONFIRM NO
ISSUES. WE HAD A CENTRAL STAFF
PRESENTATION ON THE DRAFT IN MY
COMMITTEE THIS MORNING. I
APPRECIATE THE CHAIR OF THE
TRIBE CALLING INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT BOTH THIS MORNING AND
THIS AFTERNOON TO REITERATE HIS
SUPPORT. I APPRECIATE THE
DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO CALLED IN
TODAY TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT
AS WELL. WE ARE NOT HERE TO
DEBATE THE MERITS OF THE FOUR
PAGE BILL AND ITS CONTENTS,
BECAUSE THE MOTION BEFORE US IS
SIMPLY A PROCEDURAL MOTION TO
INTRODUCE THE BILL SO THAT WE
CAN, AS PART OF OUR PUBLIC
PROCESS, DISCUSS IT, MAKE FINAL
REFINEMENTS IN A FUTURE
MEETING. REGARDING TIMING, IT
COULD WORK BEST TO VOTE ON IT
AT A FULL COUNCIL MEETING IN
EARLY NOVEMBER TO PROVIDE
EVERYONE WITH ADDITIONAL TIME.
COLLEAGUES, PLEASE JOIN ME IN
VOTING YES TODAY TO ENABLE THIS
BRIEF BUT VITAL LEGISLATION TO
BE HEARD FORMALLY BY THE CITY
COUNCIL PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. I WILL GO FIRST AND
THEN I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT SUPPORT
YOUR MOTION TO AMEND THE IRC TO
SEND THIS LEGISLATION TO FULL
COUNCIL. AND LET ME TELL YOU
WHY. MANY OF THEM ARE REASONS
YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED. I
WOULD LIKE FOR THE PUBLIC AND
MY COLLEAGUES TO KNOW. I WANT
TO BEGIN WITH, I BELIEVE AND I
KNOW THAT NOBODY HERE IS
AGAINST PROTECTING CULTURALLY
MODIFIED TREES, OR JUST
RESPECTING THE SNOQUALMIE
TRIBE. THE ISSUE IS HOW AND
WHAT LEGISLATIVE VENUE -- THE
ISSUE IS WHAT AND HOW
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WE USE TO
CREATE AN ORDINANCE THAT DOES
EXACTLY THAT. THAT IDENTIFIES,
CLARIFIES, SUBSTANTIATES, AND
CREATES A PROCESS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW. AS YOU
KNOW, I'M NOT A FAN OF
WAHKON'S, BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS,
IT TURNS CITY COUNCIL INTO A
COMMITTEE MEETING. A COMMITTEE
IN WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE A
LAND-USE COMMITTEE WITH SUBJECT
MATTER JURISDICTION TO ADDRESS
THESE ISSUES. AS YOU KNOW, I
LIKE TO DEFER TO THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE BEFORE I SIGN ANY
ISSUE TO A COMMITTEE, BECAUSE I
THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO
DO. IT'S A FAIR THING TO DO,
AND I RELY AND GIVE DEFERENCE
TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, BECAUSE
THEY ARE IN THOSE ISSUES
DAY-TO-DAY MORE THAN THE REST
OF US ARE, BECAUSE WE ARE
ATTENDING TO OUR OWN
COMMITTEES. THERE ARE OTHER
MEANS TO ACHIEVE THE SAME GOAL,
WHICH IS PROTECTING CULTURALLY
MODIFIED TREES, WHETHER IT IS
THROUGH A DIRECTORS RULE, AND
ALSO, AS I SHARED, THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OR COUNCIL. I THINK IT IS
REALLY UNFAIR TO TAKE SUCH A
COMPLEX ISSUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING FOR AT LEAST TWO
MONTHS AND WE HAVE A STANDING
COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS IT. WE
HAVE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND
OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR
GUIDANCE, INCLUDING THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL,
AND OTHER TRIBES. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL
WILL WITH THE NINE MEMBERS HAS
FOUR SITTING COUNCILMAN FROM
SNOQUALMIE'S, SNOQUALMIE,
MUCKLESHOOT, AND YAKIMA. WE
HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM OTHER
TRIBES, AS WELL. LET ME JUST
ADD SOME MORE CONTEXT HERE. IF
WE WERE TO CRAFT AND IMPROVE
LEGISLATION, WHICH WE WILL DO,
WE WOULD WORK WITH, AS THESE
DEAN, DR. ALLISON BROOKS, AS
YOU KNOW, IS A STATE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION OFFICER. I WORKED
WITH HER IN THE PAST AS WELL
AND OBVIOUSLY TRUST HER
JUDGMENT AND HER EXPERTISE. AND
I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO WHAT
WE'VE HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT
FROM SOME OTHER FOLKS. I DO NOT
BUY INTO THE NARRATIVE THAT
THIS IS EITHER ANTI-DEVELOPER
OR PRO-DEVELOPER. WHETHER IT'S
PRO TRIBE OR ANTI-TRIBE. IT'S
NOT. IT'S ABOUT A PROCESS AND
GETTING TO, HOW DO WE PROTECT
THAT? I WANT TO THANK YOU,
BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION HAD SOME COMPONENTS
I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH, AND
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
REMOVING THAT WE WERE LASER
FOCUSED ON CULTURALLY MODIFIED
TREES. SO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO
BE IN A POSITION TO PUT THIS
ISSUE WITH THE RIGHT COMMITTEE
SO THAT WE DO DRAFT A LAW BASED
ON FEDERAL AND DATE LAWS THAT
PROTECT CULTURAL RESOURCES. I'M
HOPING THAT AS TCI -- IS YOU
DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE
WHEEL HERE. THERE ARE FEDERAL
AND STATE LAWS, SOMEBODY HELP
RIGHT, SOME THAT I HELP
LITIGATE. HOW WOULD YOU TRAVEL
CONSULTATION, AND HOW WE WORKED
EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT
REFLECTS ALL OF THAT. THIS IS
THE WHOLE PURPOSE FOR THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL,
SO WE COULD LAY THESE ISSUES TO
THE COUNCIL TO TRAVEL
CONSULTATION GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT, AND I ALSO DON'T
BUY INTO SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS
THAT SOMEHOW, IF WE WERE TO
PASS AN ORDINANCE THIS AND
ASSIGN IT TO THE FULL COUNCIL,
THAT THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO
EXAMINE 70,000 TREES. I DON'T
THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
AGAIN, I WANT TO DEFER TO THE
COMMITTEES AND OTHER GROUPS AND
NOT SUPPLANT MY OWN JUDGMENT
FOR THEIRS. AND I WANT TO DEFER
TO THOSE GROUPS AS WELL AS THE
CHAIR OF LAND-USE. AND I DO
WANT TO SAY THIS WITH ALL
SINCERITY, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. YOU ARE DOING EXACTLY
WHAT I WISH OTHER ELECTED WOULD
DO MORE UP, AND THAT IS, YOU
REACHED OUT TO TWO TRIBES WITH
CONSULTATION AND I DO MORE THAN
COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. THIS IS
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING UP TO
IN OUR PROCESS IN THE LAST
EIGHT, ALMOST EIGHT YEARS TO
GETTING BEYOND A LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. WE HAVE LAND
BACK POLICIES. RIGHT OF FIRST
REFUSAL. WE ARE WORKING WITH OP
CD AND DOING TRAVEL
CONSULTATION ON PROPERTY AND
USES AND HOUSING. AND WE'VE
BEEN DOING THAT, NOW WE ARE
GOING TO CODIFY THAT. I DON'T
LIKE TO TURN COUNCIL MEETINGS
INTO COMMITTEE MEETINGS. I
DON'T LIKE TO BYPASS THAT
PROCESS. AND AGAIN, I DON'T
BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BUY INTO
ANY KIND OF NARRATIVE THAT IF
WE DON'T, AND PEOPLE TODAY VOTE
NO, THAT THEY ARE
ANTI-CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES.
AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT THE PROCESS.
AND AGAIN, I BELIEVE WE NEED
MORE MORE THOUGHTFUL AND MORE
CAREFUL PROCESS TO CREATING AND
CRACK THIS LEGISLATION THAT
TRULY SPEAKS TO THAT IF WE
ALREADY HAVE THAT ON THE BOOKS
TO GIVE US GUIDANCE. IT ALSO --
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES IS
JUST NOT AN INNATE OR OPEN
OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AND
REVISIT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHAPPY
OR HAPPY WITH THE TREE
ORDINANCE. AND I THINK IT IS
OFFENSIVE AT BEST TO GO AHEAD
AND USE ANY TRIBE AND THEIR
TREATY AND THEIR CULTURE TO
COME IN AND DAY, LOOK, I HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH THIS, AND
THEREFORE, I WANT TO PUT FOR
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES. BY
THE WAY, I WANT TO DISCUSS
OTHER ISSUES AS WELL, BECAUSE I
HAVE A FEELING THAT IS WHAT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT I WAS
ACTUALLY GUARDING AGAINST WHY I
WANTED TO GO THIS TO GO TO THE
COMMITTEE, INCLUDING MINE. LET
ME BE CLEAR. THIS ISN'T AN
ANTI-DEVELOPMENT,
PRODEVELOPMENT ANTI-TRIBE, PRO
TRIBE -- THIS IS ABOUT CRAFTING
LEGISLATION, A LAW, THAT BRINGS
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS, CONSULTATION WITH
THE CORRECT PARTIES THAT WE GET
IT ON THE BOOKS, AND IT DONE
RIGHT, AND WE SERVE AS AN
EXAMPLE TO OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER IT IS OP
CD, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORS.
ALL OF THEM ARE WILLING
PARTNERS. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
THIS WEEK IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AND OF COURSE, WORKING
AND TALKING TO OTHER TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP AS WELL. AND I THINK
YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT YOU
HAVE -- AND AGAIN, I COMMEND
YOU AND THANK YOU. YOU
CERTAINLY HAVE LIT THE FIRE FOR
ROBUST DISCUSSION. I THINK THIS
IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS
HAPPENED ON THIS COUNCIL,
BESIDES ME DOING IT, THAT
ANOTHER ELECTED LEADER HAS
UNDERSTOOD GOOD, REACHED OUT,
AND ACTUALLY HAS DONE TRIBAL
CONSULTATION. FOR THAT, I THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ANDERSON.
BUT SADLY, I CANNOT VOTE YES
WITH YOU TODAY FOR THE REASONS
I JUST STATED. THANK YOU. I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS HIS
HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WILL BE VOTING YES
ON THIS PROCEDURAL MOTION TODAY
FROM COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ON
THE UNDERLYING ORDINANCE. I
APPRECIATE, FOR A LOT OF THE
REASONS THAT YOU JUST STATED --
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN BRINGING
THIS ISSUE FORWARD TO THE
COUNCIL. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT OTHER COLLEAGUES ARE
WORKING ON SIMILAR PROPOSALS
AROUND WHAT I THINK ALL OF US
WOULD AGREE IS IMPORTANT, WHICH
IS CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES,
AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE
ADEQUATE RECOGNITIONS AND
PROTECTIONS FOR CULTURALLY
MODIFIED TREES AND
COLLABORATION. WITH TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP, AND WITH THE STATE
TO IDENTIFY THOSE TREES. BUT I
DO WANT TO STATE THAT MY VOTE
TODAY IS PROCEDURAL TO ADVANCED
THIS IDEA FORWARD. I WOULD WANT
TO DO FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH
TRIBAL STAKEHOLDERS, AS WELL AS
OTHER COLLEAGUE ON WHAT THE
FINAL STATE OF THE POLICY WOULD
LOOK LIKE. BUT I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN GETTING
THIS CONVERSATION STARTED , AND
LOOK FORWARD TO DELIBERATING
WITH OTHER COLLEAGUES ON
POLICIES AROUND CULTURALLY
MODIFIED TREES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> I SHARE THE POSITION OF
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WILL ALSO
SAY THAT SHE SHARED MY FEELINGS
IN A MORE FACTUAL AND IN A
BETTER WAY THAN EVEN I COULD,
SO I WON'T TRY TO REPEAT WHAT
SHE HAS ALREADY SAID. JUST FOR
THE RECORD, BECAUSE IT IS NOW A
PUBLIC DISCUSSION, I AM FOR
DETECTING CULTURALLY MODIFIED
TREES. WE DRAFTED THE BILL IN
EARLY AUGUST. WHEN LUMA WAS
SAVED, WE TOOK A MOMENT TO
ENSURE WE ARE DOING IT IN THE
RIGHT WAY. COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, AS I SAID TO YOU OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I
REMAIN OPEN AND EXCITED TO
HAVE THIS DISCUSSION IN THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE.
AS I SAID OVER THE LAST FEW
WEEKS, AND JUST YESTERDAY, I
WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR BILLS ARE IN
COLLABORATION NOT IN CONFLICT,
AND I AM HERE TO SAY THAT I,
TOO, WOULD LIKE TO PROTECT
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES. I
WILL NOW JUST SHARE MORE
PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS, BUT --
WHEN WE SPOKE, I SHARED THAT
THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE WAS
COMPLETELY FULL THIS MONTH. WE
HAD A 3.5 HOUR MEETING. I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER MORALEZ, YOU
REALLY WANTED TO HAVE ONE OF
YOUR BILLS SHARED AS AN
INFORMATIONAL ITEM, AND I THINK
THERE'S SOME TOUGH FEELINGS
TOWARD ME ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE
TO HAVE THAT ON THE COMMITTEE,
AND YOU ALSO SHARED THAT YOU
CAN HAVE IT IN YOUR OWN
COMMITTEE. JUST LIKE YOU DID
TODAY, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
IT IS NOT PERSONAL. IT'S NOT
ABOUT THE POLICY, IT WAS JUST
THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS OVER
THREE HOURS LONG. AND SO I,
AGAIN, REMAIN COMMITTED TO
WORKING WITH YOU, SHOULD YOU
DESIRE TO, TO CREATE
PROTECTIONS THAT PROTECT
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES AS
TIER ONE TREES, AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR EFFORTS ARE IN
COLLABORATION. SO HERE ON THE
RECORD, THE SAME CONVERSATION I
HAVE SHARED PREVIOUSLY, I AM
HERE TO WORK WITH YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE WHAT YOU
SAID AND WHAT THE CHAIR OF
LAND-USE HEADSET AS WELL. I DO
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR THE WORK THAT YOU
HAVE DONE ON THIS ISSUE, AND
APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE NOTED
THAT YOU HAVE REACHED OUT TO
THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
OFFICE, AND THAT YOU
ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE THE
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS ASPECT THAT WE NEED
TO BE APPLYING TO THIS
LEGISLATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH
WHAT THE STATE LAW IS, AND HOW
WE SHOULD BE COMPLEMENTING THE
STATE LAW EFFORTS TO EXPEDITE
OUR CITY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
STATE PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT
SOMETHING LIKE WHAT WITH
HAPPENED WITH LUMA NEVER OCCURS
AGAIN. I WAS ONE OF THE AUTHORS
ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS . ON A LETTER THAT WE
SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT URGING
THAT COLLABORATION AND
CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE TO
PROTECT LUMA. I AM PREPARED TO
SUPPORT LEGISLATION WHEN IT
ULTIMATELY COMES IN FRONT OF
THE COUNCIL. BUT I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS AND THE
URGENCY TO TREAT THIS WITH
INTEGRITY AND THE TIMEFRAME
THAT IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE
THAT IT IS DONE RIGHT, AND NOT
JUST ANOTHER CHECK MARK BEFORE
THE END OF THE YEAR. I LOOK
FORWARD TO VOTING ON THIS AND
ACTING IN APPROPRIATE TIME TO
MAKE SURE COMES BEFORE THE
COUNCIL AND I AM VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS LEGISLATION
TO CODIFY OUR PROCESS AND DO
CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE
PARTNERS. BUT I DON'T THINK IT
SERVES US WELL TO EXPEDITE A
PROCESS AS THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT ALREADY ARTICULATED
THAT DOES NOT GIVE DUE
DILIGENCE TO THE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, AND THE GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT WHEN PASSING THE
LEGISLATION, GIVEN THE SHORT
TIMEFRAME THAT WE HAVE AND THE
FACT THAT THE BUDGET IS COMING
NEXT TUESDAY. IN QUEUE, MADAM
PRESIDENT. I WILL BE VOTING NO
ON THIS, BUT SUPPORTIVE OF THE
UNDERLYING BILL.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
WRAP US UP BEFORE WE GO TO A
VOTE? AND THEN I HAVE A COMMENT
TO MAKE.
>> I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO ENABLE US TO FREE
THIS LEGISLATION AND GET IT
ONTO THE IRC TO GET MOVING ON
THE PUBLIC PROCESS. TWO, YOU
KNOW, THROUGH CONSULTATION THAT
HAS BEEN DONE, THEY ARE ASKED
ACTING ACTION, MOMENTUM HERE,
AND WE CAN DO THAT BY SIMPLY
GETTING IT ONTO THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR RATHER THAN DEBATING
THE MERITS OF THE BILL ITSELF
HERE. I JUST, AS A LEGISLATOR,
I WROTE THE LEGISLATION, GOT IT
APPROVED BY THE LAW DEPARTMENT,
AND WANTED INTRODUCED. THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCIL PEDERSEN, THANK YOU
FOR THE ROBUST DISCUSSION. I
KNOW YOU WANTED, AS YOU TOLD
ME, TO LIGHT THE FIRE. I GET
IT. I'M WITH YOU. WE ALL WANT
TO PROTECT LUMA AND CULTURALLY
MODIFIED TREES, I ALSO DON'T
WANT TO UNDERMINE AND TAKE AWAY
THE POWER WE GAVE TO THE
INDIGENOUS COUNCIL TO ADDRESS
THESE VARIED TYPES OF ISSUES TO
CONSULT WITH NOT ONLY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUT CITY
DEPARTMENTS. AND BECAUSE I KIND
OF KNOW THIS TOUGH, IS A TON OF
FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS. WE
COULD LITERALLY DO THIS THROUGH
A SLIDE OF DIRECTORS RULE.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
WAYS WE CAN DO THIS INSTEAD OF
JUST PLOPPING IT IN FRONT OF
THE FULL COUNCIL. I DON'T MEAN
TO SOUND NEGATIVE, BECAUSE I
KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORKED ON
THIS. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAD
FOLKS SHOW UP TO CALL IN, AND I
WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE
SUPPORT OF NOT A LOT OF
ATTENTION BEING GIVEN TO
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES AS A
CULTURAL RESOURCE. SO I WANT TO
THANK THE SNOQUALMIE TRIBE AND
THE CHAIR WHO I KNOW PERSONALLY
AND THOSE FOLKS. AGAIN, THANK
YOU. SO WITH THAT, MADAM CHAIR,
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> KNOW.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD. B
MAC YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALEZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> KNOW.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> KNOW.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> KNOW. THAT WAS 5 IN FAVOR, 4
OPPOSED.
>> OKAY. SO THE MOTION CARRIES,
ANDTHE COUNCIL BILL IS ADDED
TO THE INTRODUCTORY REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND WILL COME BEFORE
FULL COUNCIL DURING BUDGET, SO
THAT IS GOING TO BE AWESOME. [
CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
>> CAN I GET A CONFIRMATION ON
THE VOTE COUNT? I THOUGHT I
HEARD FIVE OPPOSED AND FOUR IN
FAVOR.
>> OH, DID I GET IT IN REVERSE?
>> I DON'T KNOW. COULD HAVE
BEEN -- MADAM CLERK, I THOUGHT
IT PAST.
>> I SHOW FOUR IN FAVOR, FIVE
AND POSED
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTION THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE ADOPTION
OF THE AGENDA. THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. SEEING NO OBJECTION
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. LET'S
MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WE WILL NOW CONSIDER
THE PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR.
ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR
INCLUDE THE MINUTES FROM
SEPTEMBER 12th , PAYROLL BILL
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>> WE HAVE THE 18 APPOINTMENTS
TO GET ENGAGED PROGRAM, WHICH
WERE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL
YESTERDAY. WE HAVE TWO
APPOINTMENTS FROM THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND THE LIGHT
COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE
TO REMOVE ANYTHING FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR? NOT SEEING
OR HEARING ANY OBJECTION, I
MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> AS. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
>> YES.
>> ON COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE CONSENT
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. MADAM
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES AND
THE LEGISLATION ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. SO, LET'S MOVE ON TO
COMMITTEE REPORTS. AS I SHARED
EARLIER, WE HAVE SEVEN ITEMS.
ITEM ONE IS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. WITH THAT WE WILL
BEGIN WITH ITEM NUMBER ONE.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> THE REPORT OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM ONE
COUNSEL BILL 120645, AN
ORDINANCE RELATED TO CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES ADDING THE CRIME OF
KNOWING POSSESSION OF A
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND USE OF
A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN A
PUBLIC PLACE AMENDING SECTION
12 A .0 9.020 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADDING A NEW
SECTION 3.2 8.141 TO THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE, THIS
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS AS AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE I HAND IT
TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD,
I WANT TO MAKE A NOTE HERE FOR
THE PUBLIC, THAT WE HAVE FOUR
AMENDMENTS LABELED A, B, C, AND
D. AMENDMENT A IS KEPT COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD. B AND C IS
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. HOW I
WOULD LIKE TO HANDLE THIS
LEGISLATION IS ALLOWED COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD TO ADDRESS THE
BASE LEGISLATION, GO TO ALL
FOUR AMENDMENTS, A TO D AND
ALLOW THE SPONSORS TO MOVE AND
DISCUSSED AND AT THE END, OPEN
THE FLOOR AT THE END OF
WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH THE BILL,
AMENDED OR NOT, AND THEN OPEN
UP THE FLOOR THEN ALLOW COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD TO CLOSE US
OUT. DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A
PLAN, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
>> GREAT. WITH THAT, COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD, YOU ARE THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT. THE BILL BEFORE US
CLEARLY STATES THAT DIVERSION
TREATMENT AND OTHER
ALTERNATIVES TO BOOKING AND THE
REST ARE THE PREFERRED APPROACH
INCORPORATING A STATE LAW THAT
ALREADY MAKES POSSESSION AND
PUBLIC USE OF A CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCE A GROSS MISDEMEANOR.
THE STATE LAW APPLIES
EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE, SO THE
STATE LAW THAT WAS ADOPTED IN
MAY, MAKING POSSESSION AND
PUBLIC USE GROSS MISDEMEANORS,
IT ALREADY APPLIES IN SEATTLE.
SEATTLE CAN ALREADY ARREST
WHETHER OR NOT WE ACT ON THIS
BILL OR NOT. I SEE MANY OF THE
SIGNS IN THE ROOM SAYING THAT
THIS BILL GRANTS DISCRETION TO
POLICE OFFICERS. IT DOES NOT
GRANT DISCRETION TO POLICE
OFFICERS. THIS BILL GUIDES
OFFICER DISCRETION. THE
OFFICERS ALREADY HAVE UNDER
STATE LAW , DISCRETION TO
CREATE A COURSE OF ACTION BASED
ON THE THREAT OF HARM
ASSESSMENT FOR PREARREST
DIVERSION RESULTING IN NO
ARREST, AND WHEN THERE IS
ARREST, PRE-BOOKING DIVERSION
TO AVOID PROSECUTION. THIS DOES
NOT CREATE NEW AUTHORITY. IT
SEEKS TO LIMIT IT IN A WAY THAT
DOES NOT EXIST UNDER STATE LAW.
IT DOES CREATE NEW AUTHORITY
FOR PROSECUTION, AND FOR THAT
REASON, IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO
HAVE ONGOING REVIEW TO ENSURE
THAT THE BILLS GOALS OF
LIMITING ARREST AND PROSECUTION
ARE REALIZED IN IMPLEMENTATION.
THE AMENDMENT ESTABLISHES --
THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS PASSED
IN COMMITTEE LAST WEEK
ESTABLISHES A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ADVISE
THE CITY REGARDING THE NEED
FOR CHANGES IN POLICE PROTOCOL,
LEGISLATION, OR OTHER POLICY
AND PROVIDE DATA AS RECOMMENDED
BY THE STATE, AND SEPARATELY,
REVIEW BY THE CITY'S OFFICE OF
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. THE
LEGISLATION ALSO REQUIRES
REPORTING TO THIS NEW
COMMITTEE OF DATA, INCLUDING
DEMOGRAPHIC AND OTHER
INFORMATION RELATED TO
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DIVERTED
PRIOR TO ARREST, AND PRIOR TO
JAIL BOOKING WHEN THERE HAS
BEEN ARREST, AND PRIOR TO
REFERRAL IF THE CITY ATTORNEY
IS CONSIDERING PROSECUTION .
THE INTENT IS NOT ONLY TO
ALIGN THE DATA REQUIREMENTS
UNDER STATE LAW, BUT TO ADD
ADDITIONAL DATA COLLECTION
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COHORT OF
PEOPLE THAT THIS LAW STRONGLY
RECOMMENDS POLICE DO NOT
ARREST. THERE IS UNDENIABLY A
RACIALLY BIASED HISTORY OF THIS
COUNTRY IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF
DRUG LAWS. THIS HISTRY IS A
BIG PART OF THE REASON WHY SO
MANY DO NOT TRUST THE
ENFORCEMENT OF DRUG LAWS, AND I
BELIEVE WE MUST FACE THIS
HISTORY SQUARELY . DURING THE
PREVIOUS BRIEFING, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE NOTED THAT THE
APPROACHES ARE INFORMED BY
DESIRE TO BALANCE PUBLIC SAFETY
OBJECTIVES WITH THE MAYOR'S OWN
EXPERIENCE WITH THE WAR ON
DRUGS. IN THE MAYOR'S
LEGISLATION, IT STATES, THE
CITY OF SEATTLE RECOGNIZES THE
PRIOR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL
DRUG OFFENSE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND POLICIES, INCLUDING THE WAR
ON DRUGS, DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND CAUSED
TRAUMA AND PAIN THAT LINGERS
STILL TODAY IN THESE
COMMUNITIES. IT FURTHER STATES
THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
COMMITTED TO NOT REPEATING THE
ERRORS OF THE PAST, AND WILL
WORK TO HAVE THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THIS ORDINANCE BALANCE
PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE
WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS USING
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. THIS IS
A COMMITMENT TO NOT REPEAT THE
ERRORS OF THE PAST AND WE NEED
ALL OF YOU TO HELP ENSURE THAT
IN IMPLEMENTATION, THIS
COMMITMENT IS REALIZED. THIS IS
BY THE POLICY STATEMENT
EMPHASIZING DIVERSION IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS SO
IMPORTANT. WE KNOW THAT EVEN A
SMALL PERIOD OF TIME IN JAIL
CAN RESULT IN PEOPLE LOSING
JOBS, HOUSING, AND OTHER
IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS. WE HEARD
EARLY IN PUBLIC, THAT A
MISDEMEANOR CAN HAVE THIS KIND
OF LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT . THAT
IS WHY SPECIFICALLY THE
EMPHASIS ON PREARREST
DIVERSION IS SO IMPORTANT.
UNLIKE THE [INDISCERNIBLE] IT
DOES NOT TANGLE PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT HARMING OTHERS IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A
DEFAULT APPROACH. IN THE FIRST
SEVEN MONTHS OF THE YEAR, THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED AN
AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 11 PUBLIC
OVERDOSES EACH DAY IN SEATTLE.
THOSE ARE OVERDOSES
SPECIFICALLY OCCURRING IN
PUBLIC PLACES. IT IS IMPORTANT
TO ADDRESS THIS. JUST THIS
MORNING I PARTICIPATED IN AN
EVENT REPORTING OUT ON THE
EFFORTS OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENTS, HEALTH 99 OVER
DOSE RESPONSE TEAM. THIS IS A
PILOT PROGRAM, PART OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENTS MOBILE INTEGRATED
HEALTH PROGRAM. SINCE ITS
LAUNCH ON JULY 7th, HEALTH 99
HAS RESPONDED TO 68 OVERDOSES
AND CONDUCTED 20 CLIENT
OUTREACH VISITS. IT IS ALSO
IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS
IMPLEMENTATION IN A WAY THAT
THIS LAW DOES NOT DRIVE PEOPLE
INTO THE SHADOWS AND THEREBY
INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF
ADDITIONAL OVERDOSES. WHEN
PEOPLE ARE FORCED INTO THE
SHADOWS, THERE IS LIMITED
ABILITY FOR INTERVENTION. WE
KNOW THAT 40% OF FIRST
OVERDOSE REVERSALS GIVEN TO
PATIENTS ON A FIRE DEPARTMENT
OVERDOSE REVERSAL CALL WERE
ACTUALLY ADMINISTERED BY BY
STANDARDS. -- BYSTANDERS. THE
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH OF
DEVELOPING THIS LEGISLATION,
AGAIN, IS INTENDED TO GUIDE
AND LIMIT OFFICER DISCRETION,
AND TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO
THIS POLICY SAYS LOUD AND
CLEAR , WE DON'T THINK SHOULD
BE ELIGIBLE FOR ARREST, AND
STEERS THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE TO
PREARREST DIVERSION. THIS IS
NOT AN AUCTION THAT WAS
CONSIDERED UNDER THE BLAKE FIX
LEGISLATION AT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND I THINK AN
IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THIS
LEGISLATION, IF WE DON'T ACT ON
THIS LEGISLATION, POLICE WILL
STILL BE ABLE TO ARREST PEOPLE
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR THIS COUNCIL TO
GUIDE AND DEFINE THE POLICIES
FOR WHEN PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED.
WE HAVE FOUR PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS. I KNOW STAFF IS
AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS ON THE
AMENDMENTS AND THANKS IN
ADVANCE TO THE COUNCIL OFFICE
FOR NOTING THT WE WILL NEED
TO SUSPEND THE RULES SHOULD WE
HAVE QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL
STAFF. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD. WHAT WE WILL DO THEN
IS START WITH THE AMENDMENTS,
AND I BELIEVE YOUR FIRST UP,
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> A PROBLEM. SHORT AND SWEET,
AMENDMENT A HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED
BY CENTRAL STAFF AS A TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT TO MAKE TECHNICAL
AND CLARIFYING EDITS FOR
DRAFTING CONVENTION AND EASE OF
UNDERSTANDING AND WITH YOUR
PERMISSION I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
AMENDMENT A.
>> HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS , IS YOUR COMMENT
TO THE AMENDMENT?
>> IT'S TO THE AMENDMENT. I MAY
AS WELL SECOND THE MOTION TO
MOVE THE AMENDMENT.
>> OKAY THANK YOU. WE HAVE A
SECOND AND WITH THAT, IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
ADOPT AMENDMENT A AS PRESENTED
ON THE AGENDA . THE
COUNCILMEMBERS SPOKE TO IT, SO
GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> I THINK I WILL BE VOTING IN
FAVOR OF AMENDMENT A , SINCE IT
REFLECTS LARGELY TECHNICAL
CHANGES TO THE BILL THAT
ADVANCED OUT OF COMMITTEE AS
PERTAINS TO THE OTHER
AMENDMENTS, I'M GOING TO BE
STICKING TO THE COMPROMISE WE
PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND
VOTING AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
THREE AMENDMENTS AND I WILL
MAKE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AS WE
GO THROUGH, AMENDMENT BY
AMENDMENT , BUT I DO WANT IS
LIKE THAT I WILL BE SUPPORTING
THIS AMENDMENT FROM COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> OKAY. SO I WOULD ASK ALL OF
YOU TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO
THE ACTUAL MEMBER THAT IS IN
FRONT OF US. WHERE THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING
AMENDMENT A? COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS
MAY BE IN REFERENCE TO THE FACT
THAT CENTRAL STAFF CAN BE HERE,
AS WELL. THIS AMENDMENT WAS
DESCRIBED AS TECHNICAL IN
NATURE, BUT I DO HAVE SOME
CONCERNS WITH POINT J, AN
OFFICER'S FAILURE TO COMPLY
WITH THIS SECTION, SECTION 3.2
8.141 SHALL NOT RENDER AN
ARREST UNLAWFUL OF THE ARREST
IS OTHERWISE SUPPORTED BY
PROBABLE CAUSE. MY CONCERN,
AND PERHAPS THIS IS FOR CENTRAL
STAFF, IS THAT THIS MAKES THE
BILLS PURPORTED FOCUS ON
DIVERSION LESS CONCRETE. IF WE
EXPRESSLY SAY THAT THIS
DIVERSION FREE WORK DOESN'T
NEED TO BE FOLLOWED. IS THAT
IN EFFECT WHAT WE ARE SAYING
HERE? BECAUSE IF THAT'S THE
IMPACT, IT DOES NOT FEEL
TECHNICAL IN NATURE.
>> WITH THAT, IS YOUR QUESTIO
DIRECTED TO CENTRAL STAFF?
>> YES, AND I APPRECIATE THEM
BEING HERE, TOO. THE REASON I
AM ASKING THIS QUESTION IS
THAT -- THE REASON FOR THE
TECHNICAL CHANGE THAT WE HEARD
IS THAT COUNSEL IS EMPOWERED TO
TELL JUDGES WHAT MAKES AN
ARREST UNLAWFUL. DO YOU
UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING?
>> YES. I'M GOING TO SUSPEND
THE RULES AND LET HER ANSWER.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO
BE DOING A LOT OF SUSPENDING TO
ALLOW CENTRAL STAFF. DO I HAVE
TO DO IT EVERY TIME OR CAN I
JUST DO A BLANKET MAGIC WAND ,
SUSPEND THE RULES AND LET THEM
TALK.
>> YOU CAN DO A BLANKET SUSPEND
THE RULES TO ALLOW
COUNCILMEMBERS TO ASK
QUESTIONS.
>> GREAT. THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING
TO DO. I'M GOING TO DO THE
OVERALL MAGIC WAND SUSPEND THE
RULES. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, RULES WILL BE
SUSPENDED TO ALLOW COUNSEL
CENTRAL STAFF TO PRESENT THE
AMENDMENTS LISTED ON THE AGENDA
AND ASK QUESTIONS -- ANSWER
QUESTIONS, I'M SORRY. HEARING
NO OBJECTIONS THE RULES ARE
SUBSTANDARD -- SUSPENDED AND
WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> THANK YOU. TO YOUR
QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA, THE VERSION THAT WAS
PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE ON THE
AMENDMENT WAS TO SAY THAT
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE
SECTIONS WOULD NOT BE A BASIS
TO EXCLUDE OR RENDER AN
ADMISSIBLE AND OBTAINED
EVIDENCE. AS YOU MENTION, THAT
IS PRIMARILY A JUDICIAL
DECISION AND NOT A LEGISLATIVE
ONE, SO THE INTENT HERE OF THIS
AMENDMENT IS TO CLARIFY THAT
THE LEGISLATIVE BODY IS SAYING
THAT THE ARREST ITSELF WOULD
NOT BE UNLAWFUL IF THE ARREST
WAS OTHERWISE SUPPORTED BY
PROBABLE CAUSE, AND SO IN THAT
WAY , THE EFFECT IS THE SAME
FROM EITHER CLAUSE HERE. IT IS
JUST THAT THE ARREST BEING
UNLAWFUL IS NOT A JUDICIAL
DETERMINATION, IT IS A
LEGISLATIVE ONE.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK I'M
GOING TO BE VOTING NO ON THIS
AMENDMENT. I THINK WE ARE
MAKING THE CHOICE HERE IN THE
CHOICE IN FRONT OF US IN MY
OPINION I AGREE BUT THERE ARE
TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THIS
AMENDMENT BUT THE CONCERN I
HAVE WITH THE [INDISCERNIBLE]
IS THAT WE COULD BE CHOOSING TO
ADHERE THAT THE DIVERSION
FRAMEWORK IS ADHERED TO. MY
FEAR IS THAT THIS AMENDMENT
INSTEAD PROPOSES THE OPPOSITE
AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS
SOMETHING I CAN SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA. DO ANY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS IN
REGARD TO AMENDMENT A AS
PRESENTED?
>> ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU
WANT TO SAY BEFORE WE GO TO A
VOTE?
>> THANKS. JUST TO CLARIFY, AND
ALL OF THESE CASES, PROBABLE
CAUSE HAS ALREADY BEEN
ESTABLISHED. THAT IS THE
ASSUMPTION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS
ORDINANCE, SO I THINK THIS IS
JUST CONSISTENT WITH THAT
UNDERSTANDING THAT PROBABLE
CAUSE UNDER STATE LAW HAS
ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED AND
I VIEW THIS LANGUAGE
CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT AS
ESTABLISHED UNDER THE VERSION
THAT WE VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. WITH
THAT, MADAME CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT A?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
>> NO
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
>> NO
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON
>> AYE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
>> YES
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ
>> AYE.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, THREE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION
CARRIES. AMENDMENT A IS ADOPTED
IN THE BILL AS AMENDED. WITH
THAT, LET'S MOVE ON. WE HAVE
ANOTHER AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF
US, COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I MOVE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT BE.
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY.
>> IT IS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT BE.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> I'VE BEEN CLEAR SINCE DAY
ONE THAT WHATEVER LAW WE PASS
MUST CONFORM TO THE STATE LAW
MAKING KNOWING POSSESSION AND
PUBLIC USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS A
GROSS MISDEMEANOR AND I WOULD
OPPOSE ANY PROVISIONS THAT
INTERFERE WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S PROSECUTORIAL
DISCRETION OR THE MAYOR'S
AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH POLICIES
AND PROTOCOLS BY WHICH SPD WILL
ENFORCE THE LAW. 120645 AS
AMENDED BY THE HERBAL LEWIS
SUBSTITUTE CONTAINS PROVISIONS
THAT UNDERMINED EXECUTIVE
AUTHORITY AND THAT IS WHAT MY
AMENDMENT SEEK TO REMEDY SO
SPECIFICALLY, AMENDMENT B
ELIMINATES SECTION 4, WHICH
ESTABLISHES A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH
QUOTE, SHALL ADVISE THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
CIVILIAN ASSISTED RESPONSE AND
ENGAGEMENT CARE DEPARTMENT ON
AN ONGOING BASIS REGARDING ANY
NEED FOR CHANGE IN
PERATIONALIZED POLICE
PROTOCOLS, LEGISLATION, OR
OTHER POLICIES. THAT'S IT.
THAT'S A SHORTENED READ OF THAT
SECTION 4. SO, WHY
ILLUMINATED? FIRST OF ALL, THE
MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER WILL
DETERMINE POLICE PROTOCOLS
RELATING TO POSSESSION AND
PUBLIC USE OFFENSES. SECOND,
THE MAYOR ALREADY ESTABLISHED A
24 MEMBER FENTANYL SYSTEMS
WORKGROUP. ANOTHER ADVISORY
COMMITTEE WOULD BE DUPLICATIVE,
PROBABLY, AND I'M WARY OF ANY
COMMITTEE TASKED WITH PARALLEL
SUBJECT MATTER THAT THEY WILL
BE WEIGHING IN ON, AND ALSO
FINALLY, DECIDING WHO GETS TO
BE ON THIS COMMITTEE , AND HOW
IT WILL BE STRUCTURED IS LIKELY
TO BE A LONG, CONTENTIOUS AND
DISTRACTING PROCESS AND WE
CLEARLY HAVE A LOT OF REALLY
PRESSING ISSUES ON OUR PLATE,
SO WHY GO THERE? AND THEN
FINALLY, MY LAST REASON IS, I
AM ALL FOR REPORTING ON
INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO
DIVERSION, BUT I THINK THAT IS
WHAT LEAD PROGRAM STAFF
PROBABLY ALREADY DO OR SHOULD
BE DOING, SO WHY DO WE NEED AN
EXTERNAL COMMITTEE TO DO THAT
AND MORE TO THE POINT, WE
PASSED COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN'S REPORTING ADMIN,
WHICH WILL RENDER THE
REPORTING THIS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE WOULD PRODUCE
SUPERFLUOUS. AMENDMENT FIVE
WOULD ASK THE OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL TO WORK WITH
SPD AND OTHER RELEVANT
DEPARTMENTS TO COLLECT DATA AND
SHARE DATA ON WHAT THE COUNCIL
-- WITH THE COUNCIL TO HELP
EVALUATE HOW POLICY GUIDANCE
REGARDING DIVERSION IS
IMPACTING AN OFFICER'S ABILITY
TO DO THEIR JOB AND PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND THERE IS A
LONG LIST OF INFORMATION THE
AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE TO BE
COLLECTED. EVERYTHING FROM THE
NUMBER OF OVERDOSES, NUMBER OF
SHOOTINGS WHERE DRUGS WERE A
FACTOR, NUMBER OF 911 CALLS
ABOUT USE, NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS IN PURSUIT OF
ENFORCING THE ORDINANCE, NUMBER
OF ATTEMPTS AT DIVERSION, ET
CETERA AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
ONE OF THE LAST BULLET POINTS
IS ANY OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED
BY OIG AS HELPFUL FOR THE
PURPOSE OF REVIEW REQUIRED BY
THIS SUBSECTION OR PROVIDING
WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH
WILL INCLUDE RELEVANT
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION. SO TO
RECAP THE STEPS ON THE MAYOR'S
ABILITY TO DETERMINE POLICING
PROTOCOLS AND POLICY AND WOULD
CREATE A DUPLICATE BODY OF WORK
THAT IS ALREADY BEING DONE, AND
OIG WILL ALREADY BE TRACKING
AND REPORTING ON THIS
INFORMATION AND IN MY OPINION,
WE DON'T NEED AN EXTRA GROUP TO
DUPLICATE WORK THAT IS ALREADY
BEING DONE. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON. COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD, I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND
IF I LET COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
GO FIRST AND I WILL RESPOND
THEN YOU CAN DO THE CLOSING
COMMENTS. IS THAT OKAY? ALL
RIGHT . COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL BE
OPPOSING THIS AMENDMENT TODAY
FROM COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON. THE
BILL REFLECTS A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT TRADE-OFFS INCLUDING
THE ADOPTION OF THIS IMPORTANT
FEEDBACK LOOP OF THIS COMMITTEE
TO RECOMMEND CONSISTENT
IMPROVEMENTS, CHANGES, WAYS TO
IMPROVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND
PUBLIC SAFETY POLICIES OF THE
MEASURES THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
ARE PUTTING FORWARD. I DON'T
AGREE WITH THE CONTENTION THAT
THIS COMMITTEE STEPS ON THE
AUTHORITY OF THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. IT IS SUPPORTED BY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. IT WAS
INCORPORATED IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THROUGH
THIS PROCESS AND I THINK THEY
WOULD BE THE BETTER JUDGES OF
WEATHER THIS IMPEDES OR IMPOSES
UPON THEIR AUTHORITY. WE, AS A
COUNSEL, CREATE COMMISSIONS
ALL THE TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON WAS RECENTLY PART OF
CREATING A COMMISSION TO THE
CITIES BORN COMMISSIONS OF THE
CITIZENS. OF THE OVERSIGHT OF
CREATING FEEDBACK LOOPS FOR
POLICIES AND AN IMPORTANT PART
OF THE BILL IN FRONT OF US
TODAY SO I WILL BE VOTING NO ON
THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU. LIKEWISE I'M NOT
IN SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT. I
WANT TO REFERENCE TESTIMONY WE
EARD FROM LATE TODAY ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
COMMITTEE ON AN ONGOING BASIS
GIVEN THAT THIS IS NEW,
PROSECUTORIAL AUTHORITY, IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE ONGOING
REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW IS
CONSISTENT WITH OUR INTENT,
THAT INTENT BEING TO LIMIT
DISCRETION, LIMIT ARREST AND
LIMIT PROSECUTIONS. THE
AMENDMENT ESTABLISHES A
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVISORY
COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE CITY
REGARDING NEEDS FOR CHANGES IN
THE CITY FOR POLICE PROTOCOL,
LEGISLATION OR OTHER POLICY AND
TO PROVIDE DATA AS RECOMMENDED
BY THE STATE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
AND RECOVERY PLAN. THE
AMENDMENT THAT IS BEING OFFERED
ACTUALLY REMOVES THE REQUEST
FOR DEMOCRATIC AND OTHER
REPORTING RECOMMENDED BY THE
STATE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
RECOVERY SERVICE PLAN AND THIS
SECTION ONLY REQUEST THE
BIANNUAL REPORT . I ALSO WANT
TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, I DO NOT
AGREE THAT THIS WOULD
UNDERMINED EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY
. WE CONSULTED WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ABOUT THIS. IT DOES NOT
UNDERMINE THE SCOPE OF WORK
THE SENTINEL TASK FORCE THAT
WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE MAYOR,
AND WE HAD ACTUALLY DISCUSSED
THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT GROUP
POTENTIALLY TAKING ON THE
WORK OF THIS NEW BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ONCE
THAT GROUPS WORK IS DONE, SO
NOT SEEING A LOT OF CONFLICT
THERE. JUST THE POTENTIAL FOR
A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION TO
CONFIRM THAT THIS LAW IS BEING
IMPLEMENTED IN A WAY THAT IS
CONSISTENT. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, SO WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE TO VOTE. AN AMENDMENT BE
. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE OF THE ADOPTION OF
MAN BE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> NO.
>> TWO IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. SO NOW I HAVE
SOME LANGUAGE HERE, SO THE
MOTION FAILS AND THE AMENDMENT
IS NOT ADOPTED. IS THAT
CORRECT, MADAME CLERK?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU. AMENDMENT B
FAILS AND THE AMENDMENT IS NOT
ADOPTED. LET'S MOVE ON TO
AMENDMENT C. WHICH I
UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON WELTY UP FOR US.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, DO YOU
WANT TO MOVE YOUR AMENDMENT?
>> YES. I MOVE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT C.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT C.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THE EFFECT IS WRITTEN BY
CENTRAL STAFF. THIS WOULD
STRIKE A PROVISION ASKING SPD
PRIORITIZE THE USE OF OFFICERS
WITH 40 OR MORE CRISIS
INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING. THE
REMOVAL OF THIS. PROVISION
WOULD ALLOW ANY OFFICER
REGARDLESS OF CIT TO RESPOND TO
THESE CRIMES.
>> AGAIN TO BACK TO WHAT I OPEN
MY COMMENTS WITH BEFORE,
TALKING ABOUT THE SPECIFIC
AMENDMENTS. THIS PROVISION, I
BELIEVE, INFRINGES UPON THE
CHIEF OF POLICE AND BY
EXTENSION, THE MAYOR'S
AUTHORITY TO MANAGE THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND MAKE DEPLOYMENT
DECISIONS. WHILE IT PROVIDES
SOME WIGGLE ROOM BASED
PRIMARILY ON OFFICER
AVAILABILITY AND LOCATION, THE
REALITY IS THAT SPD IS SO
SHORT-STAFFED THAT THEY
ROUTINELY BRING IN OFFICERS ON
OVERTIME JUST TO MEET BASIC
PATROL STAFFING NEEDS, AND I
DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PATROL
OFFICERS HAVE 40 HOURS OF CIT
TRAINING. THIS PRIORITY WOULD
BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MEET AND
THAT PRESENTS SERIOUS LEGAL
CONCERNS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
OFFICERS' DECISIONS MAY BE
CHALLENGED IN THE LAWSUIT IN
PART BECAUSE THE OFFICER FELL
BELOW THE EXPECTED TRAINING
LEVEL DETAILED BY THE ORDINANCE
AND WORSE OUTCOMES I'M NOT
ALLOWED TO MENTION BECAUSE OF
ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE. IN
CLOSING I WILL NOTE THAT EVER
SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE,
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD HAS
CHAMPIONED A NONUNIFORMED
RESPONSE TO CALLS BECAUSE
THERE IS WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT
THAT OFFICERS SHOULD NOT BE
SERVING AS SOCIAL WORKERS IN
THIS PROVISION, WHILE I CAN SEE
THE LOGIC AND SEE THAT IT WOULD
BE HELPFUL GOES IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION, AND DOES GENERATE
SOME PROBLEMS THAT I THINK ARE
CONCERNING FROM A LEGAL
STANDPOINT. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS,
I'M GUESSING THAT YOU WANT TO
SPEAK TO THE AMENDMENT C AND
THEN I'M GOING TO LET COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD CLOSE THIS OUT
ON THIS MATTER. COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL BE VOTING
AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT . THE
CHIEF OF POLICE HAS NOT
EXPRESSED A CONCERN TO THE
COUNCIL TO MY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
THE INCLUSION OF THIS PROVISION
IN THE ORDINANCE. THE PROVISION
IS NOT SO PRESCRIPTIVE AS TO
REQUIRE THE USE OF CIT TRAINED
OFFICERS TO RESPOND TO THESE
SITUATIONS, BUT MERELY A
STATEMENT OF PREFERENCE FROM
THE COUNCIL FOR OFFICERS WITH
THAT TRADING TO RESPOND. MY
UNDERSTANDING FROM INCREASED
MY OFFICE HAS MADE IS THAT
ABOUT 60% OF CURRENT POLICE
SERVICE DOES HAVE THIS CIT
TRAINING, SO IT IS A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE
OFFICERS AND SERVICE TO MEET
THIS DEFINITION. THERE IS
ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY IN THE
CURRENT LANGUAGE THAT IT IS NOT
OVERLY PRESCRIPTIVE AND FOR
THAT REASON I SUPPORT KEEPING
IT IN THE ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD,
DO YOU MIND IF I LET
[INDISCERNIBLE] STRAIGHT SKATE
AHEAD OF YOU IN THE QUEUE THEN
YOU CAN CLOSE THIS OUT?
>> GO FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO
AGAIN REITERATE MY APPRECIATION
FOR MELANIE CRAY ON MY OFFICE
WHO WORKED ON THE ORIGINAL
LANGUAGE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL WITH
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD AND
CENTRAL STAFF SO THANKS AGAIN
TO CENTRAL STAFF AND THE TEAM
FROM LAW WHO HELPED US REVIEW
THIS LANGUAGE THAT WE HELPED TO
INCLUDE . THAT WAS A LOT OF
WORK IN ADDITION TO MANY OTHER
COMPONENTS THAT WERE STRIPPED
OUT OF COMMITTEES FINAL VOTE
LAST WEEK BUT SOME OF WHICH
REMAINS IN THE BILL. MY HOPE IS
THAT THIS CONTINUES TO REMAIN
IN THE BILL. AS WE HEARD IN
COMMITTEE WHEN WE DISCUSSED
THIS BILL, OR THAN 50%, NEAR
60% OF SB -- SPD PATROLS HAVE
THIS TRAINING SO I CANNOT
UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT
THE FOLKS TO HANDLE
INTERACTIONS WHENEVER POSSIBLE
IF THEY HAVE THE CIT TRAINING.
I SIMILARLY HAVE NOT HEARD ANY
CONCERNS ABOUT IT AND IT IS, I
THINK, A STRETCH TO SAY THAT
ANYBODY HAS CONTACTED THE
COUNCIL OFFICIALLY ON BEHALF OF
SPD , AT LEAST NOT TO MY
OFFICE, TO SAY IT WOULD BE HARD
TO MEET THE STANDARD. THIS
ISSUE IS OFTEN BROUGHT UP TO US
BY SPD AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE
CAN IN GOOD FAITH SAY WE ARE.
TOWARDS RAISING DIVERSION WHEN
WE DO NOT PRIORITIZE USING
OFFICERS WHO HAVE ENHANCED
CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING.
AT THE VERY LEAST, I HOPE THIS
AMENDMENT STAYS IN THE
UNDERLYING BILL. THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF OTHER CONCERNS I HAVE
RAISED MAKING SURE THOSE WHO
ARE TRAINED IN THIS ASPECT ARE
DEPLOYED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO ADD
THIS IS LANGUAGE INCLUDED IN
THE SUBSTITUTE UPON COUNCIL
MEMBER MOSQUEDA'S REQUEST. I DO
SUPPORT INCLUSION. IT DOES NOT
CREATE A MANDATE. IT CREATES A
DEPLOYMENT PREFERENCE THAT IS
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
EXPLAINED, IS ONE THAT NEITHER
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF THE
CHIEF OF POLICE HAVE INDICATED
IS A PREFERECE THAT THEY
CAN'T WORK TO TRY TO CONSIDER
IN MAKING DEPLOYMENT
DECISIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT,
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO A VOTE.
MADAME CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION
OF AMENDMENT C.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> NO.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> NO. COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
>> NO AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ
>> NO.
>> TWO IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK. THE
MOTION FAILS. AMENDMENT C IS
NOT ADOPTED. LET'S MOVE ON. WE
HAVE AMENDMENT D FROM COUNCIL
MEMBER MOSQUEDA. WITH THAT, DO
YOU WANT TO MOVE YOUR MOTION?
>> THANK YOU, MADAME PRESENT
-- PRESIDENT. IMOVIE ADOPTION
OF AMENDMENT D.
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT D.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
THANKS TO THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC
SAFETY, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD,
FOR HER ONGOING SUPPORT OF THIS
ISSUE. I THINK IT IS CLEAR FROM
THE SUMMARY OF THIS AMENDMENT
AND THANKS TO CENTRAL STUFF
AGAIN FOR WORKING YOUTH --
WITH MY OFFICE TO BE LOOKING
FOR WAYS WE CAN BE PUTTING
ADDITIONAL SIDEBOARDS INTO THIS
LEGISLATION. THIS CHANGE WOULD
REQUIRE AN OFFICER TO POST MAKE
AN ASSESSMENT OF THREAT OF HARM
TO OTHERS AND MAKE AN ATTEMPT
TO DIVERT WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL
ONLY POSES A THREAT OF HARM TO
THEMSELVES. BY CHANGING THE
LANGUAGE THAT SAYS MAY IN
SECTION G AND H TO SHELL. THIS
IS US ATTEMPTING TO STRENGTHEN
THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK LAID
OUT IN THIS BILL. I HAVE RAISED
CONCERNS AND AMENDMENT A ON
SOME OF THESE ASPECTS, BUT
AMENDMENT D HELPS PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL SIDEBOARDS THAT THE
GOOD CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY WAS
SUPPORTIVE OF IN PUBLIC
COMMITTEE, AS WELL, IF I
REMEMBER CORRECTLY. I HOPE
THAT'S NOT PUTTING WORDS IN
YOUR MOUTH FOR FORGETTING THE
PROCESS THERE. THE OTHER
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE ADOPTED IN
COMMITTEE HAVE SLOWLY WHITTLED
DOWN THE TEETH OF THE SPELL AND
I REMAIN CONCERNED THAT IN THE
CURRENT FORM, THERE IS MERELY
A SUGGESTION OF DIVERSION, AND
ATTEMPT TO THROW OFF THE
PROCESS TO HELP MITIGATE
POTENTIAL HARM CAUSED BY THE
APPROACH HERE TO DOUBLE DOWN
ON ADDITIONAL PROSECUTORIAL
AUTHORITY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE
PUSHING FOR AND IN FACT
MANDATING DIVERSION WHEREVER
POSSIBLE. THIS IS A SMALL
CHANGE THAT I THINK SENDS A
STRONG MESSAGE EVEN THOUGH THE
LANGUAGE AND INVESTMENTS AROUND
DIVERSION INDICATE HUGE? FOR
OUR CONSIDERATION AS THE BUDGET
HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED, WE
WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE STATUTE
DIRECTS OFFICERS WHEREVER
POSSIBLE TO DEFAULT TO THE
PREARREST DIVERSION PROCESS
INSTEAD OF ARREST AND
PROSECUTION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND AGAIN I'M GOING TO
LET COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS GO.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I RESPECT THE INTENT
OF THE SPONSOR AND BRING IN
THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD. I
STILL THINK, AS I ARGUED IN
COMMITTEE, THAT THE MORE
PRESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGES BUT ARE
RESERVED TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS
GIVEN THAT IT IS WHERE DIRECT
INSTRUCTION FROM THE CHIEF AND
THE MAYOR CALM, AND HOW THESE
POLICIES ARE TO BE CARRIED OUT
AND BELIEVE THAT IS CONSISTENT
WITH THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF
HOW OUR GOVERNMENT IS SET UP .
WITH THIS AMENDMENT TO ATTACH,
I WOULD STILL SUPPORT THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION. I
THINK ULTIMATELY THE POLICY IS
GOING TO BE THE SAME WHETHER
IT IS IN THE ORDINANCE, OR THE
ORDINANCE COMPLEMENTED BY
EXECUTIVE ACTION , BUT GIVEN
THE TRADE-OFFS AND NEGOTIATIONS
BETWEEN COLLEAGUES THAT WE
MADE IN COMMITTEE, I WILL , IN
THE SAME SPIRIT AS REJECTING
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON'S
AMENDMENTS, REJECT THIS
AMENDMENT TODAY THOUGH I DO
APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF THE
AUTHOR.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST WANT
TO CLARIFY FOR MY COSPONSOR ,
AND HOPEFULLY THAT MIGHT RESULT
IN A RECONSIDERATION, BUT THIS
AMENDMENT IS PROPOSED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
RESTORES THE LANGUAGE AS
PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR. I
SUPPORT RETURNING TO THAT
LANGUAGE ON THE POLICY INTENT
OF THE MAYOR IN THAT LANGUAGE .
AS A REMINDER, THIS BILL IS
DIFFERENT THAN THE VERSION OF
LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY THE
CITY ATTORNEY AND COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN AND COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON AND I WOULD
REALLY LIKE TO RESPECT THE WORK
THE MAYOR DID IN BRINGING
TOGETHER A GROUP OF
STAKEHOLDERS TO WORK ON THIS
BILL AND DEVELOP A NUANCED
APPROACH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS IS
THAT A NEW HAND OR OLD HAND?
>> THAT IS FIELD HAND.
>> OKAY. WITH THAT, OH,
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.
>> JUST A NOTE THAT I RESPECT
WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
JUST SAID, BUT THE MAYOR'S
STAFF WAS IN SUPPORT OF THE
AMENDMENTS I MADE IN COMMITTEE
, THAT THIS AMENDMENT SEEKS TO
REVERSE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION. APPRECIATE THAT.
OKAY. SO, WITH THAT I SEE NO
OTHER HANDS UP SO MADAME CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
OF THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT D
AS PROPOSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON
>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
>> NO AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ
>> NO .
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED.
>> SO THE MOTION CARRIES,
CORRECT?
>> KNOW, THE MOTION FAILS.
FOUR IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED.
>> OKAY, SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO,
THE MOTION FAILS AND THE
AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED. IS
THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT, SO WITH
THAT, THE MOTION FAILS. THE
AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED, THAT
IS AMENDMENT D. LET'S GO BACK
TO THE ORIGINAL BASE
LEGISLATION. I'M GOING TO LET
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD HAVE THE
LAST WORD, IF THAT IS OKAY, AND
I SEE WE HAVE ALREADY COUNCIL
MEMBER MOSQUEDA'S HAND IS UP
FIRST. COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME PRESIDENT.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK OF
CENTRAL STUFF, THE HARD WORK
THAT HAS GONE INTO CRAFTING
LEGISLATION WHEN WE SHOULD'VE
BEEN ON RECESS, EVEN THOUGH
THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO
MOVE THIS BILL THROUGHOUT
RECESS, IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE HAD TO WORK
ON THROUGHOUT THE LAST FEW
MONTHS , AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE
WE WERE NOT SPENDING OUR TIME
WORKING ON WHERE THERE IS
COMMON GROUND. I MENTIONED LAST
WEEK IN COMMITTEE THAT I THINK
THERE IS A HUGE MISSED
OPPORTUNITY HERE. THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME
TOGETHER AS A CITY TO FOCUS ON
AREAS OF COMMON GROUND. WHAT I
HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ACROSS THE
CITY IS SHARED INTEREST IN
HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE
SUFFERING. WE HAVE HEARD PEOPLE
TALK TODAY ABOUT SEEING PEOPLE
SUFFERING ON THE STREET AND
WANTING TO SEE THIS PEOPLE GET
INTO TREATMENT AND SERVICES.
THAT IS WHAT PROPONENTS HAVE
SAID. WE HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SAY
THAT THERE IS A REAL URGENCY IN
MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY,
WHO IS DEALING WITH THE CRISIS
OF ADDICTION, GETS ACCESS TO
SUBSTANCE TREATMENT AND
COUNSELING SO THAT THEY CAN
GET CLEAN AND SOBER. THE
PROBLEM IS THAT THIS
LEGISLATION DOES NOT ADDRESS
THAT. PUBLIC COMMENTERS TODAY
SAID THEY WANT TO SEE PEOPLE
GET INTO TREATMENT AND THE HELP
THEY NEED. I DO, TOO, BUT THIS
BILL DOES NOT DO THAT. ONE
PUBLIC COMMENT OR SAID THEY
WANT TO SEE PEOPLE SUFFERING ON
OUR STREET GET INTO CARE
SERVICES THAT THE CITY OFFERS,
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS BILL
WILL DO. COUNSELING AND
REFERRAL SERVICES SO THAT THEY
KNOW THAT INCARCERATION IS NOT
THE ANSWER TO OVERDOES FOR THAT
IS WHAT THIS BILL DOES BY
DOUBLING DOWN ON THE
CRIMINALIZATION PROSECUTE
TATIAN APPROACH BY GIVING
ADDITIONAL PROSECUTORIAL
AUTHORITY TO THE CITY ATTORNEY
INSTEAD OF RELYING ON
RESOURCES AND INSTEAD OF
ADDRESSING THE ONGOING
INVESTMENTS NEEDED FOR CARE,
TREATMENT, COUNSELING, AND
COMPASSION. IT DOES SO
UNNECESSARILY. AS YOU HAVE
HEARD FROM CENTRAL STAFF, AS WE
HAVE SEEN IN THE MEMOS, THE
BLAKE BILLED THE STATE
LEGISLATURE PASSED EARLIER THIS
YEAR IS ALREADY THE LAW OF THE
LAND. IT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR
THE CITY TO DOUBLE DOWN ON
PROSECUTORIAL STRATEGIES TO TRY
TO PROSECUTE, CRIMINALIZE AND
PROSECUTE PEOPLE WHO ARE
DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS OF ADDICTION. THE BLAKE
FIXED AT THE STATE LEVEL IS THE
LAW IN SEATTLE. WHAT WE COULD
BE DOING RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF
GIVING ADDITIONAL PROSECUTORIAL
AUTHORITY TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S WE COULD BE FOCUSING
ON COMPLEMENTAR COMPONENTS TO
THAT STATE LAW. THE CITY COULD
BE OFFERING ADDITIONAL
STRATEGIES TO HELP MAKE SURE
PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO
TREATMENT, ARREST DIVERSION
STRATEGIES, COMPASSION,
COUNSELING AND PLACEMENT INTO
CARE, HOUSING, AND SERVICES. I
WISH WE WERE HERE FOCUSING ON
COMPLEMENTARY ASPECTS OF THE
STATE LAW INSTEAD OF DOUBLING
DOWN ON PROSECUTORIAL AUTHORITY
THAT ONLY EXACERBATES WHY
PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS OF
ADDICTION RIGHT NOW. THIS BILL
DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ROOT
CAUSES OF ADDICTION AND MENTAL
HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND
TRAUMA. INSTEAD, THE CORE
TENETS OF THIS LEGISLATION GIVE
THAT ADDITIONAL PROSECUTORIAL
AUTHORITY TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY
TO INCARCERATE PEOPLE FOR
PUBLIC CONSUMPTION AND
GREENLIGHT THE PROCESS FOR
ARREST. THE ARREST OF A PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS. I UNDERSTAND
THERE IS AN EMPHASIS ON
PREARREST DIVERSION IN THIS
BILL BUT THOSE SIDEBOARDS ARE
MERELY ARTWORK. WILL WILL WILL
YOU FOLLOW THE POLICIES THAT
WILL DO THIS, AND HAVE BECOME
AN INVESTMENT IN THE PREVIOUS
DIVERSION STRENGTH. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT
OFFERING A HOLLOW PROMISE THAT
LEGISLATION, SO WHILE THE
EMPHASIS IS ON PREARREST
DIVERSION AND NOT ARREST, WE
ARE NOT ACTUALLY ABLE TO FOLLOW
THROUGH WITH THAT WITHOUT
ASSURANCES THAT THEY WILL BE IN
THE BUDGET TO PROVIDE, EXPAND,
AND ENHANCE DIVERSION STRATEGY.
IT IS A HOLLOW PROMISE TO SAY
THIS IS PRIORITIZE ANYTHING
OTHER THAN ARREST AN CITY
PROSECUTION WITHOUT KNOWING
THAT THERE IS INCREASED NEW
FUNDING FOR PREARREST
DIVERSION STRATEGY. GIVEN THE
BACKGROUND AND THE WORK THAT
I'VE DONE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, AND
MY COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING
ROOT CAUSES OF BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER, AS WELL AS MY DUTY AS
BUDGET CHAIR, I CANNOT IN GOOD
CONSCIENCE VOTE FOR THIS BILL
BECAUSE I WANT TO BE VERY
CLEAR. IT IS EVIDENT THAT
THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
PREARREST DIVERSION STRATEGIES.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE FUNDING
THAT WILL INCREASE THE
PRE-BOOKING DIVERSION PROGRAM
IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET BECAUSE
EVEN IF WE HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT
OF FUNDING FOR PREARREST AND
DIVERSION STRATEGIES THAT WE
HAD IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, EVEN
IF IT INCLUDES INFLATION , IT
WILL NOT BEGIN TO BE ENOUGH
FUNDING TO COVER THE ADDITIONAL
COST OF THIS LAW AND
PROSECUTION WILL BRING ABOUT
AND I WANTED TO CORRECT THE
MISINFORMATION, OR THE
DISINFORMATION THAT IS OUT
THERE THAT THIS BILL SOMEHOW
BRINGS WITH IT $27 MILLION, 7
MILLION THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED
IN COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD'S
COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK WHICH I
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING. 7
MILLION OF THAT IS
[INDISCERNIBLE] THAT WE WILL BE
ALLOCATING TO TRADITIONAL
BRICK-AND-MORTAR CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS TO TRY TO HAVE
LANDING ZONES FOR PEOPLE TO
MOVE TO BUT 20 MILLION OF THAT
IS SPREAD OVER 20 YEARS AND
WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY 20%, WHICH
WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WE
ARE LOOKING AT LESS THAN $1
MILLION A YEAR FOR ADDED
INVESTMENTS INTO DIVERSION
STRATEGIES. IT IS AROUND
$700,000 THAT IS NEW FUNDING
THAT IS BEING PURPORTED TO COME
WITH THIS BILL ANNUALLY. THAT
IS NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH TO
ENSURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING
ACCESS TO THE TREATMENT, TO THE
CARE AND THE SERVICES THAT IT
S UNIFORMLY DESIRED ACROSS OUR
CITY. THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED
WITH THIS BILL AND PROPONENTS
OF THIS BILL, WE ARE ALL ASKING
FOR THE SAME THING, FOR MORE
INVESTMENTS TO GO INTO MAKING
SURE PEOPLE CAN HAVE A LANDING
ZONE TO GET TRADED, TO GET
CARE, TO GET OFF OF SUBSTANCES,
TO HAVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES MET, THEIR MENTAL
HEALTH NEEDS MET. THAT IS NOT
WHAT THIS LEGISLATION OFFERS,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE SIDEBOARDS
THAT HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN WITH
THIS LEGISLATION. NEXT WEEK IS
WHEN THE BUDGET IS RELEASED BY
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THE
PROPOSED BUDGET IS RELEASED A
WEEK FROM NOW. I HAD ASKED FOR
THIS LEGISLATION TO BE HELD FOR
ONE WEEK SO WE COULD SEE IF THE
PROMISED FUNDING THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO CORRESPOND WITH
ENHANCED PREARREST DIVERSION
STRATEGIES WAS ACTUALLY
INCLUDED AND AT A LEVEL
NECESSARY TO PREVENT OFFICERS
FROM DEFAULTING TO ARREST
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE
THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE
SERVICES OR THE PERSONNEL
NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT
PREARREST DIVERSION IS THE
PRIORITY AND THE DEFAULT VERSUS
ARREST AND PROSECUTION. I HOPE
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON
THIS IN THE UPCOMING YEAR, BUT
I KNOW THAT THERE WILL NOT BE
ENOUGH FUNDING IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET TO MAKE THIS A TRUE
COMMITMENT THAT PREARREST, AND
DIVERSION STRATEGIES WILL BE
THE PRIORITY. INSTEAD, THIS
WILL LEAD TO INCREASED
INCARCERATION ON PEOPLE WHO
HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ADDICTION
ARE INCARCERATED, THEY ARE
MORE LIKELY TO DIE WHILE IN
JAIL OR MORE LIKELY TO DIE AN
OVERDOSE WHEN RELEASED. THIS IS
NOT A STRATEGY TO GET US TO THE
SAME THING WE ALL WANT . MORE
PEOPLE GETTING ACCESS TO CARE
AND TREATMENT. THIS IS NOT A
STRATEGY TO ENSURE THAT THE
VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING
OUTSIDE AND CONSUMING OUTSIDE
GET OFF OF THE SUBSTANCES THEY
ARE USING AND GET INTO CARE AND
TREATMENT. THIS WILL ONLY
EXACERBATE THE SITUATION THEY
ARE FACING AND WILL EXACERBATE
THE RACIAL DISPARITIES WE
CURRENTLY SEE IN TERMS OF WHO
IS BEING ARRESTED AND
INCARCERATED. I'M SADDENED
TODAY THAT WE ARE TAKING THIS
STEP. INSTEAD OF COMPLEMENTING
THE STATE LEGISLATION THAT IS
ALREADY THE LAW OF THE LAND,
THAT ALREADY SAYS THAT PUBLIC
USE AND CONSUMPTION IS NOT
ALLOWED. WE SHOULD BE
PRIORITIZING ACTION AND CARE
SERVICES AND INSTEAD TODAY WE
ARE TAKING A STEP BACK. I THINK
THIS IS A SAD DAY AND I HOPE WE
WILL CONTINUE TO RIGHT THIS
WRONG IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE
AND I HOPE WE WILL ALSO BE ABLE
TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON SHARED
GROUND. I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE
THE ABILITY TO GET THE SERVICES
THEY NEED AND I KNOW DOUBLING
DOWN ON THE STRATEGIES OF THE
PAST WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH THAT.
I WILL BE VOTING NO TODAY.
>> I SEE THE ORDER OF THE HANDS
TODAY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
PARDON ME?
>> WHEN HOUNDS ARE GOING UP I
NOTED COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
WAS FIRST THEN COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS AND I'M RESERVING THE END
FOR COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON WAS BEFORE ME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT. LET ME PUT THAT IN
THERE. WITH THAT, COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. AS WE VOTE ON THIS
BILL TODAY, I HAVE TO SAY THAT
I AM DEEPLY FRUSTRATED AND
SADDENED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED
THE LOSS OF THREE FAMILY
MEMBERS TO SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER. THEY WERE NOT A
STATISTIC. THEY WERE MY FAMILY.
THERE WERE MEMBERS OF MY
COMMUNITY, AND THEY ARE DEEPLY
MISSED. I KNOW MY OWN
EXPERIENCE IS NOT UNIQUE AND I
KNOW SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE SHARED SIMILAR
EXPERIENCES. UNFORTUNATELY,
WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS THAT
EVEN AFTER A HARD-FOUGHT DEBATE
FROM SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO
SIT ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, THE BILL BEFORE US
REMAINS INEFFECTIVE. IT ADDS
POTENTIAL RACIAL HARMONY MAKES
FALSE PROMISES AT A TIME WHEN
FOLKS ARE DESPERATE FOR
SOLUTIONS. THIS BILL IS
UNNECESSARY, DARE I SAY
PERFORMATIVE. WITHOUT THIS
LEGISLATION, AS COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD HAS SAID, KNOWINGLY
POSSESSING A PROHIBITED
SUBSTANCE AND USING A
PROHIBITED SUBSTANCE IN PUBLIC
ARE ALREADY GROSS MISDEMEANORS.
OUR STATE LEGISLATURE CLEARLY
DEFINED THE PROHIBITION OF DRUG
USE IN A PUBLIC PLACE. SIMILAR
TO THE BILL BEFORE US, THE
STATE LAW ENCOURAGES THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND COURTS TO
DIVERT, BUT DOES NOT REQUIRE
IT. AS A SUBDIVISION OF THIS
STATE, OUR CITY POLICE OFFICERS
AND LOCAL JUDICIAL
JURISDICTIONS ALREADY HAVE THE
POWER TO EXERCISE THIS
AUTHORITY. OVER THE PAST FEW
MONTHS, WE WERE PROMISED THE
DIALOGUE ACROSS SEVERAL
DIFFERENT TASKFORCES TO DISCUSS
THIS BILL BUT ONLY ONE OF THOSE
GROUPS MET. OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE
AN ACCOMPANYING EXECUTIVE ORDER
DETAILING THE POLICY DIRECTIVE
THAT SPD WOULD RECEIVE, BUT WE
HAVE BEEN MET WITH EXCUSES AND
DELAYS FOR WHY WE HAVE NOT SEEN
THAT POLICY. AS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA SAID, WE COULD'VE
WAITED TO TAKE THIS VOTE IN
TANDEM WITH THE MAYOR'S COUNSEL
NEXT WEEK TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
A SYSTEM THAT ADDRESSES THIS
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS BUT
INSTEAD WE ARE ASKED TO TAKE A
BLIND VOTE TODAY WITH YET
ANOTHER PROMISE THAT WE WILL
LEARN LATER OF THE EXECUTIVES
INTENTIONS AND WE WILL LEARN
THAT ONLY AFTER WE TAKE A VOTE.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS
BILL WILL NOT ADDRESS THE
FENTANYL CRISIS IN ANY
MEANINGFUL WAY. WHILE WE SIT
HERE ON THE DAIS, PEOPLE ARE
DYING , AND WE ARE SPENDING A
LOT OF ENERGY ON THE BILL THAT
WON'T HELP THEM, AND I FRANKLY
FIND IT SHAMEFUL. A SEMINAL
STUDY IN WASHINGTON STATE FOUND
THAT IN THE TWO WEEKS
FOLLOWING THEIR RELEASE, PEOPLE
WHO HAD BEEN INCARCERATED IN
STATE PRISONS WERE 129 TIMES
MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM AN
OVERDOSE COMPARED TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC. WATCHING
PEOPLE SUFFER ON THE STREET IS
PAINFUL. WE HAVE ALL SEEN IT.
AND, THERE ARE SERIOUS
SOLUTIONS THAT COULD MAKE A
DIFFERENCE, BUT THIS BILL
OFFERS NONE OF THEM. SO, LET ME
TELL YOU WHAT THIS BILL DOES
NOT DO. THIS BILL DOES NOT
PROVIDE TREATMENT. THE $27
MILLION IS NOT TO SCALE UP
TREATMENT OPTIONS IN THE CITY.
THAT WOULD SERVE THE VERY
LARGE-SCALE CRISIS THAT WE
HAVE. THAT MONEY IS COMING TO
THE CITY OVER THE COURSE OF
ABOUT 18 YEARS, WHICH IS
ULTIMATELY LESS THAN $1 MILLION
PER YEAR FOR TREATMENT, HARDLY
ENOUGH OF AN ANNUAL INVESTMENT
TO CALL THIS A SERIOUS
SOLUTION. ON TOP OF THIS, WE
HAVE A LOOMING BUDGET DEFICIT,
AS COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
MENTIONED, THAT TRENDS THE
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT
COMPLEMENT DIRECT FUNDS. THIS
BILL WILL NOT ACTUALLY INCREASE
DIVERSION, BECAUSE THE LEAD
PROGRAM THAT WE HOPE TO SEND
PEOPLE TO HIS ALREADY
UNDERFUNDED AND OVERCAPACITY
AND THERE HAS BEEN NO REAL
COMMITMENT FROM THE MAYOR TO
ADDRESS THIS IN THE BUDGET
CYCLE. PLUS, IT'S THE ONLY WAY
TO GET LEADS SUPPORT --
TRENTON SUPPORTED THROUGH LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY
REFERRALS WHICH CURRENTLY MAKE
UP MOST OF THE REFERRALS TO
LEAD WOULD BE ELIMINATED DUE TO
THE LIMITED SPACE. PASSING THIS
BILL WOULD ALSO NOT STOP PEOPLE
FROM DOING DRUGS IN PUBLIC,
ESPECIALLY SINCE THOSE TARGETED
BY THIS LEGISLATION ALREADY
HAVE NO PLACE TO BE OUT OF THE
PUBLIC EYE. AND, PASSING THIS
BILL WILL NOT CREATE TRUE
PUBLIC SAFETY, DESPITE WHAT
SOME MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE BEEN
CLAIMING . THIS BILL IS AIMED
AT ADDRESSING VISIBLE DISORDER
ON THE STREETS, BUT IT IS NOT
AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS. JAILING PEOPLE
WILL NOT ADDRESS THE DRUG
ADDICTIONS. IF WE WANTED TO
ADDRESS DRUG ADDICTION, WE
WOULD NOT BE FOCUSED ONLY ON
THOSE WHO USE IT IN THE STREETS
WHERE WE CAN SEE THEIR
SUFFERING. WE WOULD BE
STANDING UP REAL ALTERNATIVES
FOR EVERYONE. LET ME BE CLEAR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS BILL IS
GOING TO PASS, AND SO MY
QUESTION TO MY COLLEAGUES, MY
QUESTION TO THE MAYOR , IS WHAT
ARE WE DOING -- WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO TO FOLLOW THE
PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE ON HOW
TO ADDRESS THE FENTANYL CRISIS
THAT DR. PHASE ALLCON OF OUR
SEATTLE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN
CLEAR ABOUT. HE HAS BEEN CLEAR
THAT WE NEED HARM REDUCTION,
SENTINEL TEST STRIPS, BLOCKS
AND DISTRIBUTION, HEALTHCARE
FOR THINGS LIKE WOUND CARE FOR
FOLKS OUT ON THE STREET. WE
NEED LOW BARRIER HOUSING FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE NOT YET IN
TREATMENT ARE NOT YET READY FOR
TREATMENT. WE ALSO NEED
ABSTINENCE-BASED HOUSING FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE IN TREATMENT AND
WANT TO STAY SOBER. WE NEED
TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
SERVICES SUCH AS ACCESS TO
MEDICATION, COUNSELING, SOCIAL
SUPPORTS, RESIDENTIAL
TREATMENT, LOW BARRIER WALK IN
ACCENTS -- THESE ARE THE THINGS
WE COULD BE FUNDING. THESE ARE
THE THINGS WE COULD BE
BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE
FOR. THESE ARE THE THINGS WE
COULD BE TALKING ABOUT INSTEAD
OF TALKING ABOUT A BILL THAT IS
GOING TO DO ANYTHING. THIS
COUNSEL -- THIS COUNSEL HAS
BEEN WORKING TO ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES FOR YEARS. WE HAVE
PASSED LEGISLATION . WE HAVE
ALLOCATED FUNDING AND PAST
BUDGETS, SO I ASK , WHERE IS
OUR ALTERNATIVE CRISIS
RESPONSE. WHERE ARE THE MOBILE
CLINICS, WHERE IS OUR
SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION AND
MOBILE CARE SITES, WHERE IS
YOUR COMMITMENT TO PARTNERING
WITH STATE AND COUNTY HEALTH TO
GET SUPPORT. THESE ARE ALL
THINGS THE COUNCIL HAS PASSED
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND WE
ARE WAITING FOR THAT MONEY TO
BE SPENT AND THOSE POLICIES TO
GET IMPLEMENTED. THIS ISSUE HAS
CREATED A LOT OF DIVISION AND
MISINFORMATION IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND MY VOTE TODAY
COMES OUT OF A STRONG DESIRE TO
STOP THE DIVISIVE CONVERSATIONS
THAT GARNER ONE MORE CLICK ON
THE NEWSLETTER OR ONE MORE
PLEDGE OF ALLIANCE TO SOMEONE
OR ONE MORE HOLLOW PRESS
CONFERENCE FULL OF PROMISES. I
HOPE THAT AS WE MOVE INTO THE
BUDGET CYCLE, WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER TO FIND THE RESOURCES
WE NEED TO EARNESTLY ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR HER
HARD WORK TO MINIMIZE THE
IMPACTS OF THE DECISIONS TODAY
DESPITE HER STRONG RESERVATIONS
AND I WANT TO THANK MELANIE
CRAY AND HER STAFF , CENTRAL
STAFF AND GREG DAWSON I WANT TO
THANK MY CHIEF OF STAFF,
ALEXIS, WHO HAS BEEN TRACKING
ALL OF THIS WORK FOR OUR OFFICE
ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA STAFF. WITH THAT, I
WILL BE VOTING NO ON TODAY'S
BILL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. YES,
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
FOR RECOGNIZING ME. I WANT TO
START BY THANKING COUNCILMEMBER
HER BOLD FOR PRESIDING OVER A
LONG AND DELIBERATIVE PROCESS.
IT WAS NOT PART OF OUR
PREVIOUS DELIBERATIONS ON A
PREVIOUS ITERATION ON THIS
BILL. IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO COME UP WITH
A PACKAGE THAT IS IN FRONT OF
US TODAY, THE BILL THAT IS IN
FRONT OF US, I WILL BE THE
FIRST PERSON TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS
NOT GOING TO BE A PANACEA TO
SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM ASSOCIATED
WITH THE FENTANYL EPIDEMIC
AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD
ARGUE THAT THIS BILL, IN AND OF
ITSELF, IS NOT GOING TO BE THE
MAGIC SOLUTION THAT FIXES THE
SITUATION THAT WE ARE FACING.
THE -- HOLD ON, LOOK. I
LISTENED PATIENTLY TO EVERYBODY
IN THE AUDIENCE. LET ME TALK
FIRST AND THEN YOU CAN JEER
ALL YOU WANT TO AFTERWARDS.
BUT I JUST WANT TO STAY --
SAY THAT WHEN WE CONSIDER THE
PREVIOUS POLICY WE WERE
TACITLY BEING ASKED TO ENDORSE
THE POLICY THAT WAS GOING TO
RESOLVE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS IN OUR COURTS. THAT IS
NOT WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US
TODAY. IT ABSOLUTELY IS NOT. WE
ARE SETTING UP A PROCESS WITH
MAYOR HARRELL AND I GIVE HIM
CREDIT FOR THE CONVENING AROUND
THE BILL THAT IS IN FRONT OF US
TODAY TO EMPHASIZE WARM
HANDOFFS TO SERVICE PROVIDERS,
MAKING FULL USE OF OUR
DIVERSION PARTNERS THROUGH LAW
ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION
IN CASES WHERE ARREST AND
REFERRALS DO OCCUR , PRE-FILE
DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAT WE DID
IN OUR SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
INCREASE FUNDING FOR BY OVER
ONE THIRD . THESE ARE THE KINDS
OF INTERVENTIONS THAT WE SHOULD
BE EMPHASIZING TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE GETTING PEOPLE INTO
TREATMENT , INTO DIVERSION,
INTO HOUSING . ALL OF THE
INITIATIVES OF THIS COUNSEL
FUNDS. ONE THING I WOULD POINT
OUT , THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH MAYOR HARRELL, A LOT OF
THESE INITIATIVES, I WOULD SAY
RESPECTFULLY TO COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S POINTS, A LOT OF
THESE INITIATIVES ARE MOVING
FORWARD. WE ARE LAUNCHING IN AN
ALTERNATIVE DUAL DISPATCH
RESPONSE NEXT MONTH IN OCTOBER
DUE TO THE WORK OF MAYOR
HARRELL AND HIS TEAM AND CHAIR
HER BOLD AND PUBLIC SAFETY
WERE WE HAVE PUSHED THAT
FORWARD. SHE IS GOING TO SPEAK
TO THE POST RECOVERY TEAM THAT
MAYOR HARRELL AND COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD ANNOUNCED THIS
MORNING AT PRESS AVAILABILITY.
THERE ARE INITIATIVES AND
PROGRAMS AND EFFORTS WE ARE
PUTTING FORWARD TO LEAD WITH
WELLNESS, TO LEAD WITH AN
EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC HEALTH
OUTCOMES . I WOULD BE REMISS IF
I DIDN'T MENTION THAT THE POWER
AND AUTHORITY TO MAKE ARREST
UNDER THE POST BLAKE FIX
REMAINS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THIS
COUNSEL DOES, A POINT THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD MADE
EARLIER IN OUR DELIBERATIONS IS
THAT WITHOUT THIS BILL, THE
DELIBERATIVE GUIDANCE WE HAVE
WORKED ON AND CRAFTED WITH
MAYOR HARRELL DOES NOT EXIST
AS PART OF WHAT FACTORS INTO
HOW THAT DISCRETION IS UTILIZED
AND HOW IT IS USED. THIS BILL
DOES NOT GIVE ADDITIONAL
POWERS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS
BILL GIVES ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
AND AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE
ITEMS TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC HEALTH
BEST PRACTICES THAT ARE
ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION
AND ENTERING THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM, SO FOR THAT REASON, I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS BILL
TODAY, BUT I DO TAKE ON THE
REMARKS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES PUT FORWARD, THE
REMARKS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES PUT FORWARD, THAT THIS
BILL IN AND OF ITSELF, IF IT IS
NOT SUPPORTED BY ADEQUATE
INVESTMENTS IN THE PUBLIC
HEALTH AND DIVERSION RESOURCES
THAT WE ADVOCATE FOR IS NOT
GOING TO HAVE THE IMPACT WE ALL
WANTED TO SEE, SO WITH THAT,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WILL YIELD
BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS. NEXT IN THE QUEUE IS
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON. COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON.
>> CAN HEAR YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO,
THE DRUG CRISIS WE SEE PLAYING
OUT ON OUR STREETS IS THE MOST
CRUSHING PUBLIC HEALTH AND
SAFETY ISSUE OF OUR TIME. IN
2022, WASHINGTON HAD THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF OVERDOSE
FATALITIES IN THE NATION, THE
VAST MAJORITY OCCURRING IN
SEATTLE, SO WE HAVE A MORAL
OBLIGATION TO DO EVERYTHING
WITHIN OUR POWER TO REVERSE
THIS DEVASTATING LOSS OF LIFE
AND ASSOCIATED HARM TO OUR
COMMUNITY AND YES, THAT
INCLUDES LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT IS
SIMPLY THROWING MORE MONEY AT
EXISTING STRATEGIES WILL
CHANGE NOTHING. IT TOOK TWO
YEARS IN A SPECIAL SESSION FOR
THE STATE LGISLATURE TO FIX
BLAKE AND MAKE THE KNOWING
POSSESSION AND PUBLIC USE OF
ILLEGAL DRUGS A GROSS
MISDEMEANOR. FINAL VOTES WERE
43-6 IN THE SENATE AND 83-13 IN
THE HOUSE, AND NOW EVERY
INNOCENT POLITY IN THE REGION,
AND I THINK IN THE STATE HAS
CONFORMED TO THAT STATE LAW.
MEANWHILE, IT IS BEEN ALMOST
SIX MONTHS SINCE I PROPOSED MY
INITIAL LEGISLATION AND IN
JUNE WE CAME FIRST -- CLOSE TO
CONFORMING WITH STATE LAW AND
THAT FAILED AND I APPLAUD MAYOR
HARRELL FOR BRINGING THIS BACK
TO THE TABLE. THIS IS NOT A
PERFECT BILL, BUT IT IS TIME TO
GET THIS DONE BECAUSE EVERY DAY
THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING.
>> ARE YOU FINISHED WITH YOUR
COMMENTS, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ. THANKS TO
EVERYONE WHO DEMANDED THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL VOTE AGAINST THIS
LEGISLATION. I WILL BE VOTING
NO ON THIS BILL , WHICH IS
[INDISCERNIBLE] TO DO THE
BIDDING OF THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND EMPOWER
REPUBLICAN CITY ATTORNEY AND
DAVIDSON TO DECIDE WHEN TO
PROSECUTE AND CRIMINALIZE
INSTEAD OF REFERRING SOMEONE TO
TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION. THERE
ARE MANY WORDS IN THIS BILL
ABOUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH,
ADDICTION TREATMENT, DEVOTION
PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE ALL
IMPORTANT FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, ALL OF
THIS IS ASPIRATIONAL LANGUAGE
IN THE BILL, AT BEST, AND AN
INTENTIONAL SMOKESCREEN AT
WORST. THE SUBSTANTIVE
PORTION OF THE BILL, THE POWER
THAT ACTUALLY HAS LEGAL
ENFORCEABILITY, IS EXACTLY
IDENTICAL TO THE WAR ON DRUGS
BILL THAT COMMUNITY AND UNION
ACTIVIST IN MY COUNSEL OFFICE
SUCCEEDED IN NARROWLY DEFEATING
IN EARLY JUNE. WE WERE ABLE TO
DO THAT BECAUSE WE CLEARLY
EXPOSED, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
THE DISINGENUOUSNESS OF
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, WHO IS
ABOUT TO VOTE YES ON THE BILL
BY CALLING HIMSELF A
PROGRESSIVE AND LIBERAL
DEMOCRAT, AND WHO WAS
ULTIMATELY FORCED TO VOTE NO.
JUST LIKE THE PREVIOUS BILL,
YEARLY EFFECT OF THIS
LEGISLATION TODAY IS TO ALLOW
THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT TO
PROSECUTE AND DESTROY THE
LIVES OF THOSE WHO NEED MEDICAL
TREATMENT , AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
AND JOBS, AND LET'S BE CLEAR,
THE CURRENT CITY ATTORNEY AND
DAVIDSON JOINED THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY AFTER TRUMP WAS ELECTED,
AFTER TRUMP WAS ELECTED. IN
2020, SHE RECORDED A VIDEO FOR
HASHTAG WALK AWAY, A CAMPAIGN
THAT HELD EVENT SUPPORTING
DONALD TRUMP AND WAS STARTED BY
A JANUARY 6 WRITER WHO WAS
ARRESTED AND LATER CONVICTED.
SHE ALSO PROMOTED A RIGHT-WING
ATTACK ON HOMELESS PEOPLE,
LABELING THEM A QUOTE UNQUOTE
COVID THREAT. PROSECUTION AND
INCARCERATION IS STUNNINGLY
DIVORCED FROM THE CONCLUSIONS
OF STATISTICAL AND SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE THAT ADDICTION IS A
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, AND
REQUIRES PUBLIC HEALTH
SOLUTIONS. DESPITE PRESS
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE
DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT
BOASTING A $27 MILLION
SUPPOSEDLY $27 MILLION
INVESTMENT IN ADDICTION
RECOVERY SERVICES, THIS BILL
DOES NOT INCLUDE ONE PENNY FOR
TREATMENT SERVICES, AND WILL
ULTIMATELY DIVERT MORE AND MORE
PUBLIC RESOURCES TOWARD
IMPRISONING POOR PEOPLE AND
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE RATHER
THAN HELPING PEOPLE WITH
ADDICTION GAIN ACCESS TO
SERVICES THAT HAE BEEN PROVEN
TO HELP, SUCH AS METHADONE
CLINICS, LET ALONE ADDRESSING
THE CRISIS OF POVERTY BY TAXING
THE WEALTHY TO FULLY FUND
EDUCATION, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE
AND LIVING WAGE JOBS. AS I
SAID, MUCH OF THIS BILL URGES
SEATTLE POLICE TO USE ADDRESSED
-- ARREST DIVERSION PROGRAMS
AND REFERRALS TO ADDICTION
TREATMENT SERVICES WHEN
POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, THE BILL
DOES NOTHING TO ACTUALLY MAKE
THAT HAPPEN. RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT
THIS BILL, SEATTLE POLICE HAVE
THE DISCRETION AND POWER TO
DECIDE WHOM THEY WILL ARREST
FOR USING ILLEGAL DRUGS, AND
WHOM THEY WILL REFER TO
SERVICES. THAT POWER IS
[INDISCERNIBLE] BEING CHANGED
BY THIS BILL. THE THING THAT
CHANGES AS TO WHICH PROSECUTOR
ARRESTED INDIVIDUALS ARE SENT.
THE IDEA THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BEHAVIOR IS BASED
ON THE NONBINDING
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS BILL IS
SIMPLY NOT CREDIBLE. SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICER
[INDISCERNIBLE] IN RESPONSE TO
THE DEATH OF A YOUNG INDIAN
EXCHANGE STUDENT AFTER SHE WAS
RUN OVER BY OFTEN OFFICER
KEVIN DAYS POLICE VEHICLE
SAYING HER LIFE HAD LIMITED
VALUEEND QUOTE. HIS ACTIONS
ARE FAR FROM AN EXCEPTION IN
POLICE DEPARTMENTS NATIONWIDE
WHICH USE EXCESSIVE FORCE WITH
IMPUNITY ESPECIALLY AGAINST THE
POOR, THOSE FACING MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS, WOMEN IN
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY. DOES
ANYBODY HONESTLY THINK THAT
OFFICERS LIKE THIS WILL CARE
ABOUT OUR RECOMMENDATION TO
CONSIDER MENTAL HEALTH? THE
OPIOID EPIDEMIC IS AFFECTING
BEST SOURCE OF THE AMERICAN
WORKING CLASS AND THE POOR, BUT
THE CRISIS IS ESPECIALLY SEVERE
IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. FROM
2019 TO 2020, OVERDOSE DEATHS
INCREASED 24% FOR BLACK PEOPLE
IN 39% FOR AMERICAN INDIAN AND
ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE. MOST
PEOPLE WHO DIED BY OVERDOSE HAD
NO EVIDENCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
TREATMENT BEFORE THEIR DEATHS.
ACCORDING TO A FEBRUARY 2nd,
2022 REPORT FROM THE STANFORD
LANCET COMMISSION ON THE NORTH
AMERICAN OPIOID CRISIS, 1.2
MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AND
CANADA WILL DIE OF OPIOID
OVERDOSES BY THE END OF THE
DECADE WITHOUT URGENT
INTERVENTION. HALF A CENTURY
OF THE SO-CALLED WAR ON DRUGS
HAS PROVEN ONE THING.
CRIMINALIZATION OF ADDICTION
WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT ADDRESS
THE NATION'S RAGING OPIOID
CRISIS. DRUG OVERDOSE IS THE
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH
FOLLOWING RELEASE ROM THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
INTERNATIONALLY. THE MAJORITY
OF OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE OPIOID
-RELATED, AND INDIVIDUALS
RELEASED FROM PRISON IN
WASHINGTON STATE HAD 129 TIMES
GREATER RISK OF DRUG OVERDOSE
IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS POST
RELEASE RELATIVE TO THE GENERAL
POPULATION. THE MAJORITY OF
THESE OVERDOSES INVOLVED
OPIOIDS. SEATTLE AND
WASHINGTON STATES DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT HAVE OUTRAGEOUSLY
SPENT DECADES REFUSING TO
SUPPORT EVEN MINIMAL SOLUTIONS
THAT ARE STATISTICALLY PROVEN
TO WORK, SUCH AS SAFE
CONSUMPTION SITES , A.K.A.
JAILS, COMMUNITY HEALTH
ENGAGEMENT LOCATIONS AND FULLY
FUNDED PUBLIC SERVICES, LET
ALONE RENT CONTROL TAXES ON THE
WEALTHY TO FUND WHAT WE NEED.
IN 2017, MY OFFICE AND THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT WON A
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO FUND
ESTABLISHING A JAIL, BUT
MAYOR AFTER DEMOCRATIC PARTY
MAYOR HAVE REFUSED TO USE
RESOURCES FOR THAT PURPOSE.
INSTEAD, SEATTLE DEMOCRATS
PUSHED THROUGH A GUILT CONTRACT
THAT STOOD IN THE WAY OF ANY
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY EVER
SINCE. I WAS THE ONLY NO VOTE
ON THAT CONTRACT. EVERY
DEMOCRAT ON THE COUNCIL VOTED
YES INCLUDING NOW MAYOR
HARRELL AND COUNCILMEMBERS
HERBOLD, WARRIORS AND
MOSQUEDA. IT'S TIME WE GO OUT
OF THE BILLIONAIRE ARCHITECTS
OF THE CRISIS BUT NEITHER
DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS ARE
GOING TO DO THAT. WHERE ARE THE
CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR BIG PHARMA
BILLIONAIRES WITH MADE HUNDREDS
OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM
SELLING DANGEROUS OPIOIDS?
WHERE IS THE INCARCERATION OF
THE BILLIONAIRE SACKLER FAMILY
HIS FRAUDULENT MARKETING OF
OXYCODONE HAS KILLED THOUSANDS?
THE OPIOID CRISIS AND THE
PHARMACEUTICALS INDUSTRY'S ROLE
IN IT AND REFUSAL OF DEMOCRATS
IN WASHINGTON STATE AND IN
CONGRESS TO FIGHT FOR MEDICARE
FOR ALL HELP DEMONSTRATE THE
FAILURES OF THE FOR-PROFIT
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND OF
CAPITALISM ITSELF. THE NEED TO
PROVIDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OF
THE PRODUCT TO INCREASE PROFITS
FOR BILLIONAIRE SHAREHOLDERS
PUT THESE DRUG COMPANIES IN
DIRECT OPPOSITION TO THE
INTEREST OF ORDINARY PEOPLE.
THAT IS WHY IS A SOCIALIST I
BELIEVE THAT THE BIG
CORPORATIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN
INTO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP UNDER
DEMOCRATIC WORKERS CONTROL. I
ALSO WANT TO REGISTER MY
OPPOSITION TO THE DECISION TO
PUSH THIS VOTE TO TODAY RATHER
THAN NEXT WEEK, WHEN IT WOULD
HAVE NATURALLY GONE TO THE CITY
COUNCIL. CALLING THE VOTE ONE
WEEK EARLY HAS CAUSED IT TO
CONFLICT WITH THE IMPORTANT
RALLY ORGANIZED BY THE
COALITION OF CITY UNIONS
HAPPENING NOW OUTSIDE CITY
HALL. THE MAYOR HARRELL
ADMINISTRATION IS SCANDALOUSLY
ATTEMPTING TO FOR CITY WORKERS
TO ACCEPT THE CONTRACT WITH
WAGES THAT FALL FAR SHORT OF
THE BREATHTAKING AND
UNPRECEDENTED COST OF LIVING
IN OUR CITY. I URGE ANY MEDIA
HERE TODAY FIGHTING COVERING
TODAY'S VOTE TO FIGHT FOR A
DECENT CONTRACT. THE SO-CALLED
WAR ON DRUGS WAS CREATED AS A
WEAPON AIMED AT
RE-ESTABLISHING THE PATHOLOGY
AND STIGMA OF BLACK CRIMINALITY
THAT HAS BEEN A CORE INGREDIENT
OF THE RACIST NARRATIVE IN THE
UNITED STATES. IT WAS ALSO A
DIRECT ATTEMPT TO UNDERCUT THE
RADICALIZATION OF GENERATIONAL
BLACK YOUTH COMING OUT OF THE
BLACK LIBERATION MOVEMENT OF
THE 1960s AND 70s AND TO
PREVENT THEM JOINING IN
SOLIDARITY WITH RADICAL MINDED
WHITE YOUTH FOR A MULTIRACIAL
WORKING-CLASS FIGHT BACK
AGAINST THE RULING CLASS. THE
WAR ON DRUGS RAVAGED ENTIRE
COMMUNITIES, AND ONLY HELPED
EXACERBATE THE OPIOID CRISIS. I
WILL BE VOTING NO, BUT I ALSO
URGE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SPOKE
AGAINST THIS BILL TO SIGN THE
2023 PEOPLE'S BUDGET CAMPAIGN
PRETENSION THAT ORGANIZES FROM
MY OFFICE ARE CIRCULATING. THE
RICH HAVE BECOME EVEN RICHER.
SEATTLE HAS MORE BILLIONAIRES
THAN ANY OTHER U.S. CITY. THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET THIS YEAR IS
DEMANDING THAT THE AMAZON TAX,
WHICH ARE AMAZON MOVEMENT WON
IN 2020, BE INCREASED TO FULLY
FUND SERVICES, HOUSING, AND
JOBS. WINNING THAT PEOPLE'S
BUDGET DEMAND IS THE MOST
IMMEDIATE TASK OF ACTIVISTS AND
UNION MEMBERS IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF MONTHS HERE IN
SEATTLE BUT IN ADDITION,
WORKING PEOPLE NEED TO FIGHT TO
FORCE THE DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT TO FIRE SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICER AUDERER, WHO IS
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN MIKE
SHUMANN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE
GUILD. WE ALSO NEED TO FIGHT
TO WIN AN ELECTED COMMUNITY
OVERSIGHT BOARD WITH FULL
POWERS OVER THE POLICE,
INCLUDING HIRING AND FIRING AND
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, THE FACT THAT
THIS BILL IS GOING TO PASS
TODAY ON THE CITY COUNCIL WAS
EIGHT DEMOCRATS AND ONE
SOCIALIST SHOULD BE A REMINDER
THAT THE DEMOCRATS NO MORE
THAN THE REPUBLICANS REPRESENT
WORKING PEOPLE. POLL RESULTS
PUBLISHED JUST TODAY SO THAT
FOUR TIMES AS MANY AMERICANS
HAVE UNFAVORABLE REVIEWS OF
BOTH PARTIES TODAY THAN THEY
DID IN 2002 AND ALL-TIME HIGH,
WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
EQUALLY UNPOPULAR. WORKING
PEOPLE IN AMERICA URGENTLY NEED
OUR OWN POLITICAL PARTY
SOLIDARITY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT. I HAVE A FEW WORDS
THEN I WILL PASS IT OFF TO
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD AS THE
SPONSOR TO RESPOND AND WRAP UP
COMMENTS AND DO HER CLOSING
STATEMENTS. I JUST WANT TO
SHARE , NOT TO SPEND A LOT OF
TIME ON THIS, IT'S ALREADY BEEN
STOOD. THE WASHINGTON STATE
SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN BLAKE
IN 2021 , SO WE FAST FORWARD TO
TODAY, IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS
AND SEVEN MONTHS. WE KNOW THAT
THE STATE LEGISLATOR ADDRESS
THIS IN MAY OF 2023 . A
DIFFERENT BILL WAS IN FRONT OF
US PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON AND PEDERSEN ON JUNE 6
AND FAILED 5-4 THEN WE WENT
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD SO I
WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD FOR HER STURDINESS IN
GETTING THIS IN DOING THIS WORK
TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
IT IS NOT THE PERFECT BILL. WE
NEED ORDER. EVERYBODY GETS A
CHANCE TO SPEAK. YOU'VE HAD A
CHANCE. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO
HAVE PEOPLE REMOVED. THAT'S
RIDICULOUS. JUST LET ME SPEAK.
THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT, SOME
OF US WERE HERE DURING THE WAR
ON DRUGS AND IT IS ARGUABLE
ABOUT [INDISCERNIBLE]. I AGREE
WITH COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON
ABOUT THE SATTLER FAMILY ON THE
ISSUES WE DEALT WITH IN THE
LAWSUITS AND THE SETTLEMENTS
THAT ARE COMING THROUGH. THIS
WAS NOT DONE ONE WEEK EARLY.
IT WAS DONE IN DISCUSSION WITH
THE CHAIR, WHO I ALWAYS DEFER
TO THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
TO SEE WHAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS,
AND CENTRAL STAFF. AND WITH
THAT, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
. IS IT THE BEST? NO. IS IT AN
ANSWER TO EVERYTHING?
ABSOLUTELY NOT, BUT I AM
CONFIDENT THAT REGARDLESS OF
ANYONE'S POLITICAL AFFILIATION,
WHETHER THEY ARE A REPUBLICAN,
SOCIALIST, A DEMOCRAT, I REALLY
DON'T CARE, BUT I CARE ABOUT IS
THE LOSS OF LIFE, PUBLIC
SAFETY, AND THAT EVERYONE
SHOULD BE SAFE. EVERYONE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO USE OUR PARKS AND
STREETS, AND THAT WE START
WITH, AS THE SENATE BILL
STARTED WITH, IF YOU READ THE
VERY FIRST PARAGRAPH, THIS IS A
THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO A
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY , AND
WE, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE
ARE STILL HUMAN. WE ARE TRYING
TO DO THE BEST WE CAN DO WITH
WHAT WE HAVE HERE , AND THIS IS
NOT THE END. THIS IS THE
BEGINNING ON HOW WE ADDRESS
THIS CRISIS IN OUR CITY , WITH
A MODEL THAT STARTS WITH
TREATMENT FIRST AND I DON'T
BELIEVE WE ARE DOUBLY DOWN. I
DON'T THINK WE ARE GIVING MORE
PROSECUTORIAL POWER. I THINK WE
ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW TO THE
BEST OF OUR ABILITY. I WANT TO
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD FOR
WORKING CLOSELY TO STAND UP
ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR
ADDRESSING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
DISTRESS AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND
ALSO, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND
WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
SAYING ABOUT WHERE IS THE MONEY
GOING TO BE FOR THIS? WE STILL
HAVE THESE QUESTIONS THAT NEED
TO BE ANSWERED AND THEY ARE BIG
QUESTIONS, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE
TO LOOK AT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD
AS A CITY , AND HOW WE HEAL,
AND I'M NOT GOING TO CONFLATE
ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE
GOING ON OUT THERE. I WANT TO
FOCUS ON THIS BILL AND WHAT WE
ARE DOING HERE TODAY, SO THANK
YOU. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO
HAND IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD TO CLOSE US OUT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MANY OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN TODAY
ABOUT THE USE OF DISCRETION
WITHOUT OFFICERS. WITHOUT
PASSAGE OF THISLAW, UNDER
STATE LAW, SPD CAN AND LIKELY
WILL ARREST . THIS BILL HAS
ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT ON THAT.
SECONDLY, OFFICERS EXERCISE
DISCRETION EVERY DAY WITH
DECISIONS FULL OF IMPLICIT
BIAS IN THEIR LAW-ENFORCEMENT
CHOICES. THE THREAT OF HARM
ANALYSIS IS INTENDED TO BE
GUIDANCE FOR HOW TO MAKE
DISCRETIONARY DECISIONS LAW
ENFORCEMENT WOULD OTHERWISE
MAKE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE
BLAKE FIX. THIS LEGISLATION
DOES NOT ADD DISCRETION. WE ARE
NARROWING IT, AND WITHOUT
PASSAGE OF THIS LAW LIMITING
ARREST, I BELIEVE MORE HARM
WOULD BE DONE, NOT LESS.
OFFICERS HAVE MOSTLY UNFETTERED
DISCRETION. THE THREAT OF HARM
ANALYSIS, AGAIN, IS INTENDED TO
REIN IN THAT DISCRETION THAT
WILL OTHERWISE BE PERMITTED
UNDER THE BLAKE FIX IF THIS LAW
IS NOT PASSED. IT IS INTENDED
TO HELP MITIGATE -- OFFICERS
MITIGATE THEIR OWN IMPLICIT
BIAS AND IF IMPLEMENTED
CORRECTLY, THE ENTIRE COHORT OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AT RISK OF
HARM TO OTHERS , YET OTHERWISE
ELIGIBLE FOR ARREST UNDER STATE
LAW, WILL INSTEAD BY THIS LAW
BE DIVERTED TO PREARREST WITH
NO CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
INVOLVEMENT. THAT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT IS CONTEMPLATED
BY THE BLAKE FIX, AND WITHOUT
PASSAGE OF THIS LAW, THEY
WOULD NOT BE CONTEMPLATED.
AGAIN, THIS DESIRABLE OUTCOME
IS ALREADY IN SOME WAYS CITY
POLICY, BUT ONLY BY BUDGET
SUPPORT OF LEED AND THE
RELATIONSHIPS LEED HAS
FACILITATED WITH INDIVIDUAL
LEADERS OF SPD WHO ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF LEED. THE SEATTLE
BILL WILL ENSHRINE WHAT HAS
PRIMARILY BEEN A FUNDING
POLICY, WILL ENSHRINE THIS
APPROACH IN CITY LAW AND IN
CITY POLICY. LEED REPORTS THAT
A U.S. RESEARCH TEAM HAS FOUND
THAT BENEFITS HAVE BEEN
DISTRIBUTED PROPORTIONATELY TO
BIPOC RESIDENTS. BY PARK BUT
HIS PARENTS. THIS BILL SUPPORTS
BUILDING THIS APPROACH INTO
SEATTLE'S ACTIVITY. WE BELIEVE
IT IS POSSIBLE TO CREATE A
DIVERSION SYSTEM THAT ACTUALLY
ADVANCES RACE EQUITY. SOMETIMES
AS A LEGISLATOR YOU HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO SAY NO TO GET TO A
BETTER VERSION OF YES. IN JUNE,
A MAJORITY OF THIS COUNSEL SAID
NO, AND THAT CREATED A PATH TO
A BILL THAT CREATES GUIDANCE
FOR DISCRETION, ITEMS THAT
WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THIS
BILL. ALL THE WHILE, ARREST
COULD CONTINUE UNDER THE BLAKE
FIX. IT ALSO INCLUDES A CLEAR
STATEMENT TO PRIORITIZE THE
USE OF DIVERSION THAT WOULD NOT
EXIST WITHOUT THIS BILL. I
AGREE WITH THOSE OF YOU WHO SAY
THAT THIS LAW IS NOT A
SOLUTION. I NEVER THOUGHT IT
WAS A SOLUTION. IT IS ONE PIECE
OF POLICYMAKING THAT FOR THE
FIRST TIME EVER, PREARREST AND
PRE-BOOKING DIVERSION ARE
ENSHRINED IN THE LAW OF SEATTLE
AS THE PREFERRED APPROACH. TO
THOSE OF YOU CALLING FOR OTHER
INTERVENTIONS, FOR THE RECORD,
I WANT TO NOTE THAT LAST MONTH,
THIS COUNSEL PASSED $1 MILLION
IN FUNDING THAT I PROPOSED TO
SUPPORT TREATMENT IN MOTION, A
MOBILE MEDICATION VEHICLE AT
THREE ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS OR
THE CAPACITY TO SERVE UP TO
360 MORE PEOPLE EACH DAY, AND
NEXT WEEK I WILL BE HEARING
LEGISLATION IN MY COMMITTEE TO
APPROPRIATE $7 MILLION IN
SUPPORT OF MAYOR HARRELL'S $27
MILLION INVESTMENT ANNOUNCED IN
HIS APRIL EXECUTIVE ORDER AND
THE $7 MILLION WILL SUPPORT AN
OVERDOSE RECOVERY ENTER , SO
HEALTH 99, THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS
OVERDOSE RESPONSE TEAM, HAS A
PLACE TO ACTUALLY TAKE PEOPLE
TO RECOVER, GET MEDICATION AND
ACCESS RESOURCES. AS COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS MENTIONED, THE 911
COMMUNITY RESPONDER PROGRAM IS
BEING LAUNCHED NEXT MONTH AND
FOR THE FOR THE RECORD TO MY
COLLEAGUES REFERRING TO SAFE
CONSUMPTION SITE FUNDING, THE
COUNCILS 1.5 MILLION FOR A SAFE
CONSUMPTION SITE WAS ALREADY
ALLOCATED BY KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH IN 2021 . KING COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH DID SO CONSISTENT
WITH THE ADVOCACY AGREEMENT
THAT FUNDS COULD INSTEAD BE
SPENT FOR OTHER THAN A BRICKS
AND MORTAR FACILITY. THE FUNDS
WERE SENT TO TREATMENT
SERVICES, THE PEOPLE'S HARM
REDUCTION ALLIANCE AND FOR A
BROADER SCOPE OF HARM REDUCTION
INVESTMENTS THAN PREVIOUSLY
PROVIDED AT LOCATIONS WHERE
DRUG USERS RECEIVE SERVICES AND
I WANT TO QUOTE FROM SCS 'S
2020 LETTER, SUPERVISE
CONSUMPTION SERVICES
IMPLEMENTED AT EXISTING
LIBRARY OR SOCIAL SERVICE
LOCATIONS IS AN EVOLUTION AND
STRATEGY FOR LOCAL SCS
OPERATION AND AN ACCEPTABLE
ALTERNATIVE FOR A STANDALONE
SITE THAT IS PRACTICED IN HER
LEFT -- INTERNATIONAL. IT IS
LIKELY TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE AND
SUPPORTED BY DATA. THROUGH
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, SEATTLE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT CAN
MOVE THE FUNDING THROUGH THAT
CONTRACT, SO JUST WANTING,
BECAUSE THIS ISSUE COMES UP A
LOT, I WANTED TO EXPLAIN WHERE
THOSE FUNDS WERE USED, AND THAT
THEY WERE USED CONSISTENT WITH
THE ADVOCACY OF YES FOR SCS.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK
COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF AS WELL
AS MY OFFICE FURTHER WORK ON
THIS BILL . WHETHER OR NOT
THIS POLICY FUNCTIONS AS
INTENDED IS REALLY DEPENDENT ON
OUR CLOSE WATCHING OF THE DATA
THAT WE RECEIVED MOVING
FORWARD AFTER IMPLEMENTATION,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD AND WITH THAT, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE COUNCIL BILL IS
AMENDED ?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> OF THE CLERK PLEASE REPEAT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
>> NO
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON
>> AYE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
>> YES
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, THREE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU. THE BILL PASSES AS
AMENDED. PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF. LET'S MOVE ON TO
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. WILL
YOU PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER TWO
INTO THE RECORD? NOT HELPFUL.
ITEM NUMBER TWO PLEASE.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120654, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO CITY
EMPLOYMENT, COMMONLY REFERRED
TO AS THE THIRD QUARTER 2023
EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
>> COUNSEL, WE CANNOT HEAR YOU
IN THE CHAMBERS.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME NOW? -- CAN
YOU HEAR ME NOW? I DON'T WANT
TO HAVE TO TAKE A RECESS AT
5:23 BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN BEHAVE
IN CHAMBERS. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I HAVE
READ THE TITLE AND WE JUST NEED
YOU TO MAKE THE MOTION AND
SECOND TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
>> OKAY GREAT. I'M SORRY. I
MOVED TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120654. IS THERE A SECOND?
THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO PASS THE
COUNCIL BILL. AS SPONSOR OF
THIS BILL, I WILL ADDRESS THIS
ITEM. TODAY WE ARE CONSIDERING
THE THIRD QUARTER 2023
EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE. THIS IS A
REGULAR QUARTERLY ORDINANCE
THAT REVIEWS AND AUTHORIZED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL. STAFF HAS
REVIEWED THIS LEGISLATION. THE
ANALYSIS HAS BEEN AVAILABLE
ONLINE. IF PASSED, THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD DO THE
FOLLOWING FOUR THINGS. IF
PASSED, THIS LEGISLATION WOULD
DO FOUR THINGS. NUMBER ONE,
RETURN SEVEN POSITIONS TO THE
CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM WHICH NO
LONGER MEET EXEMPTION CRITERIA.
NUMBER TWO, EXEMPT ONE POSITION
FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM
PER MUNICIPAL CODE. NUMBER
THREE, ADJUST SALARIES OF TWO
TITLES TO MATCH CURRENT RATE OF
PAY AND FOUR, ESTABLISHED THREE
NEW TITLES FOR THE COMMUNITY
CRISIS RESPONDERS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATION CENTER. ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS? NOT SEEING ANY
COMMENTS, AND NONE FROM ME,
WELL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
>> YES AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ
>>'S.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THIS BILL ON MY
BEHALF. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM
NUMBER THREE.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE
COUNCIL BILL 120655, NORTHERN
IS RELATED TO CITY EMPLOYMENT
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
THE UNITED ASSOCIATION OF
JOURNEYMEN AND APPRENTICES OF
THE PLUMBING AND PIPE HITTING
INDUSTRY LOCAL 32 .
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120655. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO PASS. AS
COUNSEL OF THIS BILL I WILL
ADDRESS THIS ITEM AGAIN. THIS
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR
TO IMPLEMENT A COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE
UNITED ASSOCIATION OF
JOURNEYMEN AND APPRENTICES OF
THE PLUMBING AND PIPE FITTING
INDUSTRY LOCAL 32. THIS IS A
THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT ON
BENEFITS, WAGES, HOURS, OTHER
WORKING CONDITIONS FROM
JANUARY 1st, 22 AND TWO THROUGH
DECEMBER 31st, 2024. IT WILL
AFFECT APPROXIMATELY 170 CITY
EMPLOYEES. WITH THAT, ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS? NOT SEEING ANY
AND I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
>> AYE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON
>> AYE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
>> YES
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ
>> I CO- .
>> NONE IN FAVOR -- NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THIS ITEM ON MY
BEHALF. IT LOOKS LIKE ITEM
NUMBER FOUR IS COMING OUT OF
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
TECHNOLOGY AND CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE.
>> AGENDA ITEM FOR COUNCIL
120634 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
BALLARD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
AREAS ESTABLISHING A NEW 12
YEAR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA
TO BE KNOWN AS THE BALLARD
IMPROVEMENT AREA. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON, THIS COMES OUT OF YOUR
COMMITTEE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
ADDRESS IT?
>> IT'S UNFORTUNATE THE FOLKS
THAT REPRESENT THE BALANCE --
BALLOT ALLIANCE, MANY OF THE
LEADERSHIP , THEY HAVE BEEN
WAITING A LONG TIME FOR A
MOMENT OF GLORY HERE. THIS
ORDINANCE RENEWS THE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA FOR ANOTHER 12
YEARS. AS WE HEARD IN
COMMITTEE, NEARLY 65% OF THE
RATEPAYERS APPROVED THIS
RENEWAL WHICH ESSENTIALLY KEEPS
THE ASSESSMENT FORMULA THE
SAME, ALBEIT UPDATED FOR
INFLATION AND THE ORDINANCE
MAKE SOME CHANGES TO
BOUNDARIES, INCLUDING ADDING
ADDITIONAL PARCELS THAT ARE
PART OF THE BALLARD PRIMARY
MIXED-USE COURT ADDING A
SERVICE AREA COMPRISED OF FIVE
BALLARD BLOCK PARCELS LOCATED
SOUTHEAST OF THE PRIMARY BIA
SERVICE AREA WITH LIMITED
SERVICES AND ASSESSED AT A
REDUCED RATE. I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE, AND I WANT ALL WHO
ARE WATCHING TO KNOW THAT THE
BALLOT ALLIANCE PROVIDES --
USES THE ASSESSMENTS IT
COLLECTS FROM RATEPAYERS TO
IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICT, TO PUT ON
FESTIVALS, SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES AND BALLARD AND I
WOULD SAY NORTH SEATTLE WOULD
NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT ALL THE
WORK OF THE BALLARD ALLIANCE.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO SPONSOR
THE RENEWING LEGISLATION, AND I
WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO ALL
THE FOLKS FROM THE BALLARD
ALLIANCE. YOU SEE ME DO MY WORK
IN BALLARD ALL THE TIME AND NOW
YOU'RE GETTING TO SEE ME DO MY
WORK HERE AT CITY COUNCIL. I
WILL KEEP MY REMARKS SHORT
BECAUSE I THINK I SPOKE FOR
ABOUT 10 MINUTES LAST WEEK JUST
TO SAY THE BALLARD ALLIANCE HAS
BEEN ONE OF THE STRONGEST
PARTNERS IN ALMOST EVERY ASPECT
OF CHANGE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES,
NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES. YOU
HAVE TRULY BEEN A FORM FOR
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND
COMMUNITY BUILDING. YOU DO
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS,
PROBLEM-SOLVING FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES, YOU CREATE
NEIGHBORHOOD VIBRANCY FROM ST.
LUKE'S TO SOPHORA , SMALL
BUSINESS SUPPORT TO SUPPORTING
PEOPLE LIVING IN A PUBLIC
SPACE IS GETTING PEOPLE ALL
THE SERVICES THEY NEED, YOU
HAVE BEEN GETTING MORE THAN
3.5 STAFF TYPICALLY DO. ONE OF
THE THINGS I HAVE NOTICED MOST,
IN PARTICULAR, IS THAT WE HAVE
GONE THROUGH TREMENDOUS GROWTH
AND YOU HAVE HELPED US AS A
NEIGHBORHOOD STEWARD THAT
GROWTH AND THAT POSITIVE WAY.
WE HAVE HIGHER FOOT TRAFFIC IN
BALLARD THAN IN 2019. I HAVE
REPORTS FROM FRIENDS, PEOPLE
WHO HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE
TEENAGERS, WHO ARE CHOOSING TO
GO TO BALLARD AVENUE INSTEAD OF
THE MALL AND AGAIN, IT IS NOT
BECAUSE THE MALL IS GONE. THAT
ALLIANCE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY
NIMBLE, ADAPTIVE, WILLING TO
JUMP IN AT A MOMENTS NOTICE TO
GET WHATEVER IS NEEDED DONE . I
THINK THIS WEEK OUR TAX LIST
WAS GETTING NEW OUTLETS FOR
HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK
THERE. I AM AN ENORMOUS
CHAMPION OF THE BIAS RENEWAL
AND GEOGRAPHIC EXPANSION. WE
HAVE SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
PARTNERING WITH YOU IN THAT
WORK.
>> ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD BEFORE WE
GO TOA VOTE?
>> JUST ECHOING MY APPRECIATION
FOR MIKE STEWARD. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THE
EARLIER ITERATION WAS THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE AREA CAN BE
MEMBERS OF THE BALLOT ALLIANCE
AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT IN
THAT WAY, SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON. MADAM
CLERK WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> SHE STEPPED OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA .
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> YES. AND ONE MORE TIME,
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES. OKAY,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE BILL PASSES.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT AND WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE FIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THAT LEGISLATION.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
FIVE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ
ITEM NUMBER FIVE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> COUNTABLE 120641 AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO SEATTLE
TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREAS
ESTABLISHING A NEW 15 YEAR
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA TO BE
KNOWN AS THE SEATTLE TOURISM
IMPROVEMENT AREA. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON IS THE CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE AND THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THE SEATTLE TOURISM
IMPROVEMENT AREA WAS STARTED
TO ENABLE CITIES HILLIER'S TO
COMPETE AND GROW THEIR MARKET
SHARE. LAST YEAR THE CITY
RENEWED THE STIA AND DECREASED
ITS ASSESSMENT FROM TWO DOLLARS
PER NIGHT TO FOUR DOLLARS PER
NIGHT. THIS WOULD SWITCH THE
ASSESSMENT TO A 2.63% OF THE
TOTAL PER NIGHT RATE OF THE
PROGRAM STAY AND THIS IS
COMPETITIVE WITH PORTLAND AND
SIMILAR TO MOST CITIES
ASSESSMENTS. THE ORDINANCE ALSO
ALLOWS STIA TO CHOOSE FUNDS TO
ATTRACT TRAVELERS FOR MEETINGS
AND CONVENTIONS MARKETS INSTEAD
OF JUST FOR LEISURE TOURISM
WHICH IS ALL IT IS CURRENTLY
ALLOWED. WHY IS THAT
IMPORTANT? BECAUSE WE HAVE A
BRAND-NEW EXPANSION TO OUR
CONVENTION CENTER AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY , BUSINESS
ASSOCIATIONS, NONPROFITS, EVEN
INTERNATIONALLY, KNOW THIS
ASSET EXISTS, AND THE SOURCE
OF REVENUE WILL HELP THE
PROMOTION OF THAT HIRE STAFF
WHILE STILL PROMOTING NOT JUST
DOWNTOWN, NOT JUST NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE
CITY, BUT SEATTLE IS A
WONDERFUL CITY TO THE REST OF
THE NATION AND TO THE WORLD, SO
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION AND I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU. I'M REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT FOR THIS
LEGISLATION TODAY. I JUST WANT
TO TAKE -- SEEING THE ADVANCED
HOUR, NOT VERY MUCH TIME BUT DO
WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS IN THE
GALLERY FROM SEATTLE FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING THESE
PRIORITIES. DOWNTOWN IS REALLY
COMING ALONG. WE ARE DOWNTOWN
ON A REGULAR BASIS SEEING THE
IMPROVEMENT IN A WEEK BY WEEK
BASIS FROM THE WORK THAT CITY
EMPLOYEES ARE DOING, THE WORK
THAT THE DSA M.I.D. IS DOING
AND THE WORK THAT SEATTLE IS
DOING AND PROMOTING A ROBUST
RECOVERY IN OUR TOURISM AND
HOSPITALITY SECTOR. OUR SUCCESS
COMING BACK OF THE CITY IS DUE
IN NO SMALL PART TO THEIR
DILIGENCE AND THEIR HARD WORK
AND THIS POLICY WILL HELP
DOUBLE DOWN ON THOSE EFFECTIVE
PARTNERSHIPS AND GIVE THEM THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CONTINUE
TO MAKE SEATTLE A GREAT PLACE
TO DO BUSINESS, A GREAT PLACE
TO VISIT, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO SUPPORTING THIS TODAY AND
CONTINUING TO BE AN ADVOCATE
FOR BUSINESS SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO TO A
VOTE, COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, A
BIG THANK YOU TO YOU FOR ALL
THE WORK YOU'VE DONE TO
ACTIVATE DOWNTOWN. THE CORE,
THE WATERFRONT, BALLARD, BIAS,
THE TOURISM. THIS IS WHAT WE
NEED. WE NEED PEOPLE TO COME
BACK DOWNTOWN BUT THEY NEED TO
FEEL SAFE, SO I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR DOING THAT. IT HAS
REALLY HELPED OUT A LOT AND I
APPRECIATE HOW HARD YOU HAVE
WORKED AND YOUR STAFF IN
WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE, AS
WELL, TO GET THIS INTO YOUR
COMMITTEE, ON THE AGENDA, AND
FOR A VOTE, SO THANK YOU, WELL
DONE.
>> A FINAL WORD PLEASE.
>> SURE. I WAS JUST GOING TO
SAY THAT.
>> OKAY . JUST A NOTE THAT WHEN
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
COME TO COUNSEL ASKING FOR
RENEWAL, THEY THANK US AND I DO
BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE
THANKING THE RATEPAYERS WHO
ARE CHARGING THEMSELVES TO
GENERATE A POT OF MONEY TO GET
SPENT ON NOT SUPPLEMENTARY
MANY TIMES BUT ESSENTIAL
SERVICES THAT MAKE OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD SUCH A VIBRANT AND
SAFE AND CLEAN PLACE, SO THANK
YOU, RATEPAYERS. THANK YOU,
VISIT SEATTLE. THAT'S IT FOR
REAL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITH
THAT, MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> YES. AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> GREAT. THE BILL PASSES, THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT AND MADAM
CLERK, AGAIN, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THIS LEGISLATION.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
SIX WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS A
RESOLUTION THAT CAME OUT OF
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON'S
COMMITTEE.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX,
RESOLUTION 32108, RESOLUTION
RELATING TO THE CITY LIKE
DEPARTMENT DOCUMENTING
COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC
UTILITY REGULATORY POLICIES ACT
OF 1978 AS AMENDED BY THE
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND
JOBS ACT OF 2021 . THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON.
>> THIS IS A RESOLUTION --
WERE WE SUPPOSED TO SECOND?
OKAY. THIS RESOLUTION DOCUMENTS
CITY LIGHTS COMPLIANCE WITH THE
FEDERAL UTILITY REGULATORY
POLICIES ACT AS AMENDED IN
2021 BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT. THE
LETTER ADDED TWO NEW STANDARDS
TO PURPA REQUIRING THE CITY TO
ADOPT ELECTRIFICATION
STANDARDS. THE RESOLUTION
DOCUMENTING -- THIS RESOLUTION
DOCUMENTS THAT CITY LIGHT IS
INDEED IN COMPLIANCE WITH
FEDERAL LAW , AND THIS PASSED
OUT OF COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS? NOT SEEING ANY, I AM
GUESSING COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON, YOU ARE GOOD AND WE CAN
GO TO A VOTE?
>> ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, MADAM
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE LEGISLATION?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
>> YES
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
>> AYE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON
>> AYE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
>> YES
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ
.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED AND MADAM CLERK, PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATIVE -- LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF. LET'S GET TO
NUMBER SEVEN. PLEASE READ ITEM
SEVEN INTO THE RECORD.
>> FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM SEVEN,
RESOLUTION 32109, A RESOLUTION
APPROVING THE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY'S USE OF CERTAIN
EXCESS REVENUES FROM THE SALE,
LEASE, OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF
THE PROPERTY IN THE YESLER
TERRACE REDEVELOPMENT AREA. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED.
>> THANK YOU. DO I NEED TO MOVE
THE ADOPTION OF THIS?
>> YOU CAN DO IT BECAUSE IT
CAME OUT OF YOUR COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, THIS LEGISLATION
AUTHORIZES THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY TO USE HIGHER
THAN ANTICIPATED REVENUE FROM
LEED OR SALE OF PROPERTY
RELATED TO THE YESLER TERRACE
REDEVELOPMENT TO BE USED FOR
SERVICES SUPPORT INSIDE THE
BUILDING FOR RESIDENTS. AS WE
HAVE HEARD OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS, SERVICE NEEDS HAVE
INCREASED AMONG AFFORDABLE
HOUSING RESIDENTS. THE
BUILDINGS ARE THE SAME ON THE
OUTSIDE, BUT THE NEEDS ON THE
INSIDE FOR THE RESIDENCE HAVE
INCREASED DRAMATICALLY,
ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.
I AM APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE
WORK WE HAVE DONE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY UNDER
DIRECTOR BRANDON AND HIS TEAM,
AND THEIR PROPOSAL HERE TO
CREATIVELY USE THIS HIGHER
THAN ANTICIPATED REVENUE TO
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NEEDS OF
THE RESIDENTS INSIDE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORIT BUILDINGS. I
THANK THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF MY
OFFICE AND HER WORK TO SHEPHERD
THIS THROUGH AND TO CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> YOU GOOD?
>> THAT'S IT, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> AM SORRY. YOU TOOK A PAUSE
THERE. I WASN'T SURE IF YOU
HAD MORE TO SAY. THANK YOU. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN? NOT SEEING ANY,
I'M GUESSING YOU ARE GOOD AND
WRAPPING US UP, COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA?
>> LET'S DO THIS. ANYONE ELSE
YOU WANT TO THANK? NO? OKAY,
GLAD WE HAD THAT ROBUST
DISCUSSION. NO COMMENTS SO WITH
THAT WE ARE GOING TO A VOTE.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE RESOLUTION?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> YES .
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> AND, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>>THANK YOU. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED. THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT
AND MADAM CLERK, AGAIN, FIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF. THAT CLOSES OUR
AGENDA ITEMS, SO LET'S FINISH
UP HERE WITH THE REST OF THE
AGENDA. THERE ARE NO ITEMS TO
BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. THERE ARE NO OTHER
RESOLUTIONS, INTRODUCTION,
REFERRAL AND ADOPTION TODAY. IS
THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE COUNSEL? I DO NOT
SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING, SO WITH
THAT, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, THIS
DOES CONCLUDE OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THANK ALL OF YOU WHO SHOWED UP
AND CALLED IN ON THE
LEGISLATION. THE NEXT
SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 26, AND WITH THAT,
THANK YOU ALL, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.