>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
TODAY'S TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th.
THIS IS THE MEETING OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL THAT WILL
NOW COME TO ORDER. THE TIME IS
2:04 PM. MY APOLOGIES FOR BEING
LATE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> EIGHT ARE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES IS EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL. HEARING AND SEEING
NO EXCEPTION, SHE IS INDEED
EXCUSED. MOVING ON OUR AGENDA TO
PRESENTATIONS. I AM NOT AWARE OF
ANY PRESENTATIONS FOR TODAY. WE
WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. LET
ME MAKE A FEW COMMENTS BEFORE
PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT
IS FOR TODAY'S AGENDA. WE WILL
HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
AGENDA ITEM. TODAY AND THE
COMMITTEE REPORTS WE HAVE FOUR
COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ONE PUBLIC
HEARING ON COUNSEL BILL 130625
REGARDING THE SEATTLE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THAT IS
LATER ON IN THE AGENDA. THOSE
PEOPLE WHO ARE ONLINE OR IN
PERSON, WE WILL HAVE YOUR
PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE
PARTICULAR BILL LATER ON. I
BELIEVE IT IS AGENDA ITEM H.
FOR NOW, WE WOULD JUST DO THE
BASIC PUBLIC COMMENT. MADAME
CLERK, I WILL HAVE A DO THE
RECORDING. BECAUSE I THINK WE
HAVE SOME NEW FOLKS HERE AND I
WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO THE RULES
ABOUT WHAT OUR INSTRUCTIONS ARE
WHEN WE PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT
AND OUR OPINION AS CITY
COUNCIL. WITH THAT, MADAME
CLERK, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
YOU AND EACH SPEAKER HAS TWO
MINUTES. PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF
THE 10 SECOND COUNTER SO YOU CAN
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS. WE HATE
HAVING TO CUT PEOPLE OFF. WITH
THAT, MADAME CLERK, I WILL HAND
IT OFF TO YOU FOR YOUR
INSTRUCTIONS.
>> LET ME TRY THIS FOR JUST A
QUICK SECOND.
>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, I WOULD
LIKE TO. I KNOW COUPLE OF TIMES
WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE
RECORDING. I CAN GO AHEAD AND
PRETTY MUCH SAY IT BY HEART.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, DEBORA
JUAREZ, UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT
PLAYING FOR ME AT THE MOMENT. IF
YOU DON'T MIND PROVIDING THE
QUICK TIPS AND WE ALSO HAVE A
SCRIPT THAT WE CAN ANNOUNCE AS
WELL TOO.
>> I CAN DO IT. THANK YOU.
THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE HEARD THE
RECORDING THAT SHARON WILLIAMS
DOES FOR THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE ALL BEEN
HEARING THIS FOR YEARS. SOME OF
US LONGER THAN OTHERS. WE ASK
THAT WHEN YOU PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT, THAT YOU GIVE PEOPLE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEIR
VOICE IN THE CITIES BUILDING.
THAT YOU ALLOW PEOPLE THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THE DIGNITY OF
THE RESPECT TO LET THEM FINISHES
THEIR SENTENCES AND THEIR
THOUGHTS, EVEN IF YOU DISAGREE.
THAT IS ALL WE HAVE EVER A█SKE.
FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MOM MATTERS
OF THE AGENDA OR WORK PLAN OR
ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT WILL
CERTAINLY COME UP TODAY IN THE
PUBLIC HEARING. AGAIN, IT IS
JUST KINDNESS. BASIC KINDNESS
AND BASIC RESPECT AND LISTENING
TO WHAT OTHER FOLKS HAVE TO SAY
AND TAKING TIME TO HEAR EACH
OTHER. WHICH I DON'T THINK WE
HAVE A LOT OF IT IN TODAY'S
WORLD. WITH THAT, I HOPE I HAVE
COVERED THE RULES. AND WITH
THAT, MADAME CLERK, LET'S START
WITH HER FIRST 10.
>> LET'S START WITH THE FIRST 10
REMOTE.
>> THE FIRST SPEAKER REMOTELY .
>> I AM CALLING ON SUPPORT WITH
THE RESOLUTION PROPOSAL FOR
THE RETURN OF HOSTAGES IN
GAZA. WHEN I SEE WHAT IS GOING
ON, IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART .
AND WE AS A CITY, CAN COME OF
THE SUFFERING WELL. LONG-TERM
SOLUTIONS CAN BE FOUND,
HOPEFULLY. I WOULD LIKE TO
SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AND THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING US.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SONJA.
>> YOU MAY WANT TO PRESS STAR
SIX TO ONLY YOURSELF.
>> HELLO. NOW IT WORKS. WE ARE
SHOWING THE LEADERSHIP OF
BRINGING THE RESOLUTION UP TODAY
TO A VOTE. AND I URGE YOU TO
VOTE YES. THEY HAVE CONDEMNED
THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN GAZA
ALONG WITH STATE TERRORISM WITH
THE GOVERNMENT . WE NEEDED IN
TO U.S. FUNDING FOR THE
MILITARY. 60,000 ARE GIVING
MONEY TO ALL OF THESE OTHER
COUNTRIES AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY
MONEY FOR OUR PEOPLE HERE TOO.
THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES AND THE
RESTORATION OF HUMANITARIAN AID
AND GAZA AND AND IN TO THE
ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF
PALESTINIAN LAND. TO COMBAT
FOLKS ANTI-SEMITISM AND
HOMOPHOBIA IN ALL OF THEIR
FORMS. AT THIS POINT, FOR AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL, THE PUBLIC IS
SILENT AND IT CONSISTS THAT YOU
HAVE THE DUTY TO VOTE FOR THIS.
THE REFUSAL TO SUPPORT THIS WILL
HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR
THE DEMOCRATS BUSINESS NEXT
ELECTION. SUPPORT HAS PLUMMETED
IN THE ARAB-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
IT WAS 59% AND OUT IS 17%. IN
NOVEMBER, WE REMEMBER. NOT ONLY
TO STOP BUT THAT THERE IS DANGER
OF WAR. THE DEMOCRATS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL ENSURE THAT THE
PARTY CURRENTLY REPRESENTING YOU
ARE IMPERIALISTS RIGHT NOW. I
WANT TO DO THE BARE MINIMUM AND
VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA.
>> HELLO. I AM A RESIDENT IN
DISTRICT 3 AND I'M CALLING TO
ENCOURAGE THE FULL COUNSEL TO
SUPPORT KSHAMA SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION TO CALL FOR AN
IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE. AND I
FEEL SINCE THE SEVENTH OF
OCTOBER, I HAVE BEEN VERY
CONCERNED. ACTUALLY, EVEN
BEFORE THAT. BUT EVEN MORE SO
SINCE THE SEVENTH OF OCTOBER.
I'M CONCERNED THAT MY TAX MONIES
SUPPORTING ISRAELI APARTHEID
GOVERNMENT. AND NOW EVEN MORE
SO, THE ETHNIC CLEANSING AND
MURDER OF PALESTINIANS. THAT
FEELS LIKE MY DIRECT
INVOLVEMENT IN THIS CONFLICT. I
THINK THAT CREATING A STATEMENT
FROM THE CITY WOULD HELP TO
GARDNER THE PUBLIC OPINION THAT
IS CLEAR WITHIN OUR CITY AND
WITHIN OUR STATE AND WITHIN THE
COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.
THAT WE WANT TO CEASE-FIRE. WE
CAN JOIN WITH PROVIDENCE, RHODE
ISLAND, IN COMMITTING TO THE
STATEMENT. AND I ALSO THINK IT
WILL HELP TO ENCOURAGE OIL AND
REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS FOR
WASHINGTON STATE, THAT OUR BILL
IS STRUGGLING TO MAKE THE
STATEMENT AND CALL FOR A
CEASE-FIRE. I THINK THAT'S IT
FOR ME RIGHT NOW. PLEASE SUPPORT
THIS RESOLUTION AND THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS PRESTON.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS PRESTON AND
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4
WITH WORKERS STRIKE BACK. ISRAEL
IS THE BEST $3 BILLION
INVESTMENT THAT WE MAKE.
WHETHER THERE IN ISRAEL OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BUT WE
WOULD NEED TO INVENT THEM FROM
ISRAEL TO PROTECT HER INTERESTS
IN THE REGION. THE NOW PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES
IMPERIALISM THAT CARES AS
LITTLE ABOUT THE SAFETY AND
SECURITY OF JEWISH AND ISRAELI
PEOPLE AS IT DOES FOR MUSLIMS
AND PALESTINIANS. MULTINATIONAL
CORPORATIONS AND DEFENSE
CONTRACTORS UNDERSTAND THAT THE
BILLIONS OF MILITARY AID IS NOT
IN THE INTEREST OF KEEPING THESE
PEOPLE SAFE. IF THEY WERE, ONE
WOULD HOPE THAT THE $100 BILLION
FROM THE U.S. TO THE RIGHT-WING
ISRAELI STATE FROM THE 1960s
WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH. BUT THE
THOUSANDS OF JEWISH AND I
ISRAELIS AND THE MILLIONS
TRAPPED IN GAZA IS THE FOURTH
LARGEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD.
IT STANDS HOUR BY HOUR. THIS IS
WHY I AM CALLING IN STRONG
SUPPORT WITH THE POWERFUL
RESOLUTION ON THE WAR IN GAZA
AND DEMAND THAT ALL DEMOCRATS ON
THE COUNCIL VOTE YESTERDAY. TO
NOT ONLY CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE
CEASE-FIRE WITH ATTACK, BUT TO
ACTUALLY GET AT THE ROOTS OF
THIS CRISIS. THE U.S. MILITARY
AID TO SUPPORT ISRAEL'S ONGOING
OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE . AND
WE DEMAND THAT IT BE REPEALED
IMMEDIATELY. NO MORE AID FROM
THE VIRTUAL TEAM OR IN THE
FUTURE.
>> DEMOCRATS ARE NOT JUST
SUPPORTING ABOUT LEADING THE
CHARGE. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS
PUTTING TOGETHER BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TO THIS EFFECT. CAN WE
FIND IT NOW EVEN AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL? THERE COMPLICIT . VOTE
YES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MARK TAYLOR.
>> MY NAME IS MARK TAYLOR AND I
SERVE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
THE NONPROFIT NEWS ORGANIZATION,
DEMOCRACY WATCH NEWS. EARLIER
TODAY, WE PRESENTED INFORMATION
ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND
PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS. THEY
WERE HELD AT THE HAGUE OF THE
NETHERLANDS SPONSORED BY UNESCO
AND THE GLOBAL FUND FOR MEDIA
DEVELOPMENT. IF YOU WANT TO FIND
OUT WHETHER RANKED 45th IN THE
WORLD, YOU COULD READ MY
ARTICLE. BUT TODAY I'M SPEAKING
IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION FOR
AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE IN
ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES.
ACCORDING TO THE COMMITTEE TO
PROTECT JOURNALISTS, THE
ADVOCACY GROUP FOR REPORTERS, 37
TO SEVEN KILLED SINCE THE
CONFLICT BEGAN ONE MONTH AGO.
THE GROUP'S PRESIDENT TOLD CNN
AND BBC NEWS THAT THIS IS THE
MOST DANGEROUS CONFLICT FOR
JOURNALISTS SINCE THEY BEGAN
KEEPING RECORDS OVER 30 YEARS
AGO. THE FAMILIES OF JOURNALISTS
HAVE ALSO BEEN KILLED AND
WOUNDED IN GAZA. HAVE JOINED
WITH OTHER GROUPS WITH THE U.N.
SECURITY GENERAL AND ALL WORLD
LEADERS TO SECURE IMMEDIATE
CEASE-FIRE OF ISRAEL AND THE
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN
TERRITORIES. TO PREVENT FURTHER
HARM TO CIVILIANS. REPORTERS AND
MEDIA WORKERS SHOULD NEVER BE
TARGETED BY MILITARY POLICE
FORCES. FREEDOM OF THE PRESS TO
MAN'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND
THE SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS.
REPORTER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO
SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES IN ORDER
TO DO THEIR JOBS. THE CONTINUED
KILLING OF CIVILIANS WILL NOT
BENEFIT EITHER SIDE IN THIS
CONFLICT AND THIS KIND OF
VIOLENCE WILL ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO
TRAUMA, FEAR, AND HATRED,
ALREADY RAMPANT IN THE AREA OF
THE WORLD. IT'S A HUMANITARIAN
AND HUMAN RIGHTS DISASTER. URGED
THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE
RESOLUTION. TO SEND A CLEAR
MESSAGE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD
THAT SEATTLE SUPPORTS HUMAN
RIGHTS AND PEACEFUL EFFORTS TO
RESOLVE ARMED CONFLICTS AND GAZA
AND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD,
WHERE THEY OCCUR. I AGREE WITH
THE U.S. SENATOR, BARBARA LEE.
THE ONLY WAY WE WILL SEE PEACE
AND JUSTICE FOR THIS REALLY
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE --
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BARBARA.
>> HELLO. AND BARBARA FROM
DISTRICT 5 I AM SPEAKING IN A
PERSONAL CAPACITY AND I WANT
THE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON THE
COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP. THE
RESOLUTION FOR THE IMMEDIATE
CEASE-FIRE. WE HAVE A SPECIFIC
QUOTE. OH MY GOD. NEARLY 40,000
CASUALTIES IN GAZA . 10,000 DEAD
AND OVER ONE THIRD OF THEM
CHILDREN. THE ISRAELI BOMBING
OF HOSPITALS AND CHURCHES AND
MOSQUES AND REFUGEE CAMPS AND
CIVILIANS FLEEING ON DESIGNATED
HOMES AND JOURNALISTS AND AID
WORKERS. CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT WAS TREATED
TODAY. WITH THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT. THEY HAD KILLED
5500 OR 55,513 PALESTINIAN
CHILDREN AND ONE MONTH. EVERY
10 MINUTES, ONE CHILD AND GAZA
IS KILLED AND TWO ARE INJURED.
AND A COLONY BOTH TO SUPPORT
THIS RESOLUTION FOR THE SAKE OF
THE CHILDREN THAT ARE STILL
SURVIVING IN GAZA. THE BRUTAL
DISPROPORTIONATE AGGRESSION AND
GAZA IS TO CHECK THE U.N.
DEFINITION OF THE WORD. IT IS
BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY U.S. TAX
DOLLARS. WE WANT NO MORE OF OUR
TAX DOLLARS GOING TO THE
MILITARY IN ISRAEL. VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
STRONG AND RIGHTEOUS RESOLUTION
FOR THE IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE IN
KSHAMA SAWANT AND IN THE U.S.
FUNDING FOR THE ISRAELI
MILITARY. RESTORATION OF
HUMANITARIAN AID FOR THE PEOPLE
OF GAZA AND RESCIND
OCCUPATIONAL PALESTINIAN LAND.
VOTE YES.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS AUDREY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM CHAIR OF
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS
COUNCIL FOR SEATTLE. WERE
CALLING IN ON BEHALF OF THOSE
OPPOSED TO COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION. IS A
NETWORK OF 35 LOCAL JEWISH
ORGANIZATIONS AND ABOUT 30
LITERS. IS A COALITION OF
ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE THIS OUT
RIGHT. WE HAVE TWO CRITICAL
REASONS FOR OPPOSING THE
RESOLUTION. FIRST, THE CONTENT
IS INFLAMMATORY AND DOES NOT
ACCURATELY REFLECT THE
SITUATION. AND SECOND, THE
PROPER PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING
A RESOLUTION WOULD COMPLETELY
BYPASS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO
FULLY PARTICIPATE. LET ME GIVE A
FEW KEY POINTS. LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT, THE
COMMITTEE IS DECIMATED BY THE
HUMANITARIAN IMPACT. WE MOURN
THE LOSS OF THOUSANDS OF
ISRAELIS AS WELL AS PALESTINIANS
LIVING IN GAZA. NO LIFE SHOULD
BEGIN. WE ARE ALSO MEETING ABOUT
THE RISE OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND
ISLAMAPHOBIA AND ANTI-ARAB HATE
SEEN RECENTLY. OUR CONTENT OF
THE RESOLUTION IS THE
PARTICULARLY DISTURBING. LACKS
FACTUAL ACCURACY AND CAN BE
EXCITING OR EVEN MORE VIOLENT.
NAMES OF ANTI-SEMITISM ARE
PAINTING ISRAEL AS EVIL AND
ILLEGITIMATE. WHICH CAN LEAD TO
THE DEHUMANIZATION OF JEWISH
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE. AT A TIME
WHEN THERE ARE DAILY THREATS
AGAINST GLOBAL JEWISH
ORGANIZATIONS. WITH RESPECT TO
THE PROCEDURAL PROCESS, WE WERE
SURPRISED IT WAS BEING BROUGHT
FORTH TODAY. SUBMITTING THE
RESOLUTION WITH ONE DAYS NOTICE
ON AN ISSUE AS CONTROVERSIAL AS
THIS ONE , IT DOES NOT INVITE
FAIR AND FULL DEBATE. IN THIS
INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING TIME, WE
NEED OUR LEADERS TO DEMONSTRATE
TRUE EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.
IF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCILS
INTERESTED IN ADOPTING THE
COMMENTS, WE ARE HONORED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE SHARED
HUMANITY OF EVERYONE INVOLVED.
WE URGE A NO VOTE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS OLIVIA. ,
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU, OLIVIA.
>> I AM A DISTRICT 4 VOTER AND
A LOCAL FARMER IN THE AREA.
ASKED THE COUNCIL TO'S VOTE IN
FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION BROUGHT
FORWARD BY COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT. TO ENTER AN IMMEDIATE
CEASE-FIRE. THE BLOODIEST SALT
OF THE RIGHT WING WITH THIS
CRISIS AND GOING BACK TO THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AS PREVIOUSLY
STATED ALREADY AT THIS MEETING.
AND THEY COME OUT CLEARLY
AGAINST UNFETTERED FUNDING.
WITH HER ARMS TO ISRAEL AND
DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE
CEASE-FIRE TO REACH THE PEOPLE
OF POLICY THING. AND WICKET
ACKNOWLEDGE AND CONDEMN THE
HORRORS OF THE ATTACK. WITH THE
ISRAELI PEOPLE THEY ALSO HAVE
THIS FROM THE MASSES OF
PALESTINIANS PEOPLE WHO WERE
BEARING THE BRUTAL BURDEN OF
THIS. THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE
CITY AND OLDER GENERATIONS OF
THE CITY ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
THE COMPLEXITY OF THE CONFLICT
THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPING FOR
DECADES AND STILL DEMAND THAT
THIS ACT TO BE SECURED FOR THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. I
PERSONALLY FIND THE SILENCE OF
SUPPOSEDLY PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS
IN THE CITY TO BE APPALLING. I
BELIEVE IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
CITY COUNCIL VOTE IN FAVOR OF
THE RESOLUTION. THIS IS SENDING
A CLEAR PUBLIC MESSAGE THAT IT
IS OUT OF THE DEVASTATION OF THE
CONFLICT. TO BE SILENT AT THIS
TIME IS TO BE COMPLICIT WITH THE
MASS MURDER OF PALESTINIAN WOMEN
AND CHILDREN AND MEN. YOUNG
PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS
OF LIFE. WE ASKED THE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS ALL TO STAY
SILENT IN THE FACE OF THE
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND VOTE YES
TO THE RESOLUTION.
>>
>> GO AHEAD.
>> SHARING AGAIN WITH EVERYONE
FOR THE CEASE-FIRE FOR OUR
PALESTINIAN SISTERS AND
BROTHERS. WITH THE ISLAMAPHOBIA
AND ANTI-SEMITISM. WE HAVE TRIED
SO LONG AND IT CAN BE
HEARTBREAKING. FOR WHITE
NATIONALISM AND CHRISTIAN
ZIONISM. THIS IS WITH WAR AND
DOMINATION. THERE WERE NO WAR IF
IT WERE ABOUT LOVE. WE ARE ALL
HUMAN BEINGS IT CREATED IN THE
IMAGE OF GOD. IT IS STATELY IN
THE HOMELAND. WITH THE
CEASE-FIRE WE NEED SELECTIVE
LIBERATION AROUND THE WORLD.
FAITH LEADERS IN ALL WALKS OF
LIFE IN THE COMMUNITIES. WE
HAVE WRITTEN AND MET AND SPOKEN
WITH THE CONGRESSMAN AND
CONGRESSWOMEN . WE KNOW THAT
WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER. UNDER
YEARS OF HARD WORK AND
DEDICATION, WE WILL CONTINUE
THE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE. FROM
THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST AND
THE COMMUNITY, IT IS FOR 40,000
PEOPLE. AND FOR THE CEASE-FIRE
IN KSHAMA SAWANT -- GAZA FOR
PALESTINIAN BROTHERS AND
SISTERS. WITH THE FALSEHOOD AND
THE TRUTH AND FROM DESPAIR TO
HOPE AND FROM DESPAIR TO TRUST.
IT IS FROM HATE TO LOVE.
WISHING PEACE TO THE UNIVERSE
AND TO THE WORLD.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DANA
AND I WAS BORN HERE IN SEATTLE.
I'M A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON. I'M A
PALESTINIAN AMERICAN. WANT TO
SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AS A MOM. AS
A RIDER, I TAUGHT AN ONLINE
WORKSHOP FOR SOME YOUNG STUDENTS
ADVISE IT GAZA SIX YEARS AGO AND
I BECAME FRIENDS WITH MANY OF
THEM IN FACEBOOK AND OVER THE
LAST FEW WEEKS WE HAD WATCHED
THEM WITH VARIOUS FAMILY MEMBERS
AND FRIENDS AND TEACHERS AND
DOCTORS AND NEIGHBORS OF THEIRS.
WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED. I JUST
WANTED TO STAY WITH THAT IMAGE
AS YOU CONSIDER THIS RESOLUTION
BY COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
. PALESTINIANS ARE DYING
BECAUSE OF THIS APARTHEID REGIME
THAT IS SLAUGHTERING THEM. IT
MAY SEEM TO BE WEIRD TO BE
TALKING ABOUT THIS AT THE CITY
LEVEL. BUT IT IS ACTUALLY REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY LEVEL TO
SHOW LEADERSHIP AND TO
COMMUNICATE ALL OF OUR
PALESTINIAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORS
AND OUR ARAB AMERICAN NEIGHBORS
ARE MUSLIM AMERICAN NEIGHBORS
THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE DOES
NOT STAND FOR GENOCIDE AND THAT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE BELIEVES
THAT HIS CEASE-FIRE IMMEDIATELY
NOW IS THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE
TOWARDS PEACE. I'M SO GRATEFUL
TO KSHAMA SAWANT FOR HER
LEADERSHIP AND I URGE YOU TO
VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION.
WE CAN NO LONGER STAND BY IN
SILENCE AND WANT TO KNOW AGAIN
AS A MOM THAT OUR PALESTINIAN
KIDS HERE ARE UNSAFE ON
UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES WHEN THEY
SPEAK OUT FOR JUSTICE FOR THEIR
FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEIR UNSAFE
ON HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND
THEY FEEL UNSAFE AND OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOMES. I HOPE
THAT MY CITY SHOWS THIS TO
PEOPLE.
>> OUR FIRST ENDS PERSON SPEAK
-- IN PERSON SPEAK TO SPEND I
AM A COFOUNDER. AND FIRST, I
WANT TO THANK KSHAMA SAWANT FOR
BRINGING THIS ISSUE UP IN FRONT.
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE. AND
FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE SEEN
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION IN THE
WAR. AND IT CAN MESS YOU UP.
JUST BY SEEING THE HORROR OF
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. IT IS A
SHAME. THE WHOLE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY SOLD THEIR SOULS AND VALUE
OF LIFE TO THE ZIONIST REGGIE.
EXCEPT FOR A FEW. TODAY I AM
ASHAMED TO BE A SUPPORTER OF
DEMOCRATS. WHILE THEY'RE
SLEEPING AND PARTYING .
THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS ARE
GETTING SLAUGHTERED. PRIMARILY
WOMEN AND CHILDREN. AND SO THE
ZIONISTS OF THE REGIME HAS
KILLED OVER 10,000 VICTIMS.
THESE DEVIL ZIONISTS ARE
BOMBARDING HOSPITALS AND
CHURCHES AND MOSQUES. AND
THEY'RE JUST BUSY DOING
GENOCIDE. THERE ARE DOING THE
SAME EVIL STUFF THAT HITLER DID
TO THEM OR EVEN WORSE. EVERYONE
IN THE POSITION AND POWER TO SAY
SOMETHING IS QUIET. SHAME ON
THEM. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM IN
THE 2024 ELECTION. I WANT TO
TELL YOU FROM THE RIVER TO THE
SEA. PALESTINE WILL BE FREE.
FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA.
PALESTINE WILL BE FREE .
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BRANDON.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST ADDRESS
THE ISSUE THAT MANY ORDINARY
ISRAELI CITIZENS DO NOT SUPPORT
THE ACTIONS OF THE BENJAMIN
NETANYAHU REGIME. THAT HAMAS
DOES NOT REPRESENT THE INTEREST
OF THE ORDINARY PALESTINIANS.
THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF NATION
AGAINST NATION. IT IS AN ISSUE
OF IMPERIALISM. AND THE FACT
THAT OUR TAX MONIES BEING USED
BY THE JOE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
TO FUND THESE ATROCITIES. EVERY
DOLLAR SPENT ON MILITARY FUNDING
IS A DOLLAR NOT SPENT ON
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND
ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR
SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN UNDERFUNDED
FOR FAR TOO LONG. AND PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR TOO LONG
TO GET HEALTHCARE THROUGHOUT
OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY AND
ABROAD. WE NEEDED IMMEDIATE
CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA WITH
HUMANITARIAN AID AND AN ABSOLUTE
TERMINATION OF MILITARY
FUNDING. AND THE REDIRECTION OF
PUBLIC FUNDS TO FUND OUR
ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT WE ALL
NEED. OUR CITY'S CRIME RATE.
IF WE WANT TO ADDRESS CRIME IN
OUR CITY, WE NEED TO ADDRESS
AFFORDABILITY. OUR INTERESTS
ARE ALIGNED WITH THE INTERESTS
OF ORDINARY CITIZENS IN OTHER
NATIONS. NOT WITH THOSE OF THE
IMPERIALIST CLASSES. AN INJURY
TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS
RESOLUTION AND THANK YOU. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MADDIE.
>> HELLO. I AM A SEATTLE
RESIDENT. OUT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY
TO THE DEMOCRATS OF CITY COUNCIL
TODAY AND DEMAND THAT YOU PUT
THE RESOLUTION FORWARD FROM CITY
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT. IF
YOU THINK IT IS NOT YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK OUT AS
MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
AND FIGHT FOR CEASE-FIRE, YOU
ARE WRONG. IT IS YOUR PARTY THAT
HAS BEEN EMBOLDENING AND
ENABLING THE SLAUGHTER OF
PALESTINIANS AND GAZA TO FUND
AUSTRALIA'S -- ISRAEL'S WILL
RIGHT WING REGIME. BY TRYING
TO FIGHT THE CEASE-FIRE, IT YOU
DO AS WELL. HIS APPROVAL RATINGS
ARE PLUMMETING ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND WE HAVE SEEN
COUNTLESS CHANCES OF PROTESTS
AND PEOPLE SAYING THAT WE WILL
REMEMBER THIS IN NOVEMBER.
WE'RE IN NOVEMBER RIGHT NOW
LOOKING AT OUR PALLETS TODAY AND
WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW YOU ARE
VOTING ON THIS RESOLUTION.
VOTING YES IN FAVOR OF THIS
RESOLUTION IS AN ABSOLUTE BARE
MINIMUM THAT YOU SHOULD BE
DOING. AND AND RAISED AN
EXCELLENT POINT THAT EVERY
SINGLE DOLLAR BEING SENT TO FUND
THIS LETTER PALESTINIANS IN GAZA
IS A DOLLAR THAT COULD BE SPENT
ON THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING FOR IN FRONT OF YOU FOR
DECADES. WE ARE FIGHTING FOR
RENT CONTROL AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WE'RE FIGHTING FOR
MEDICARE FOR ALL. AND BY NOT
SPEAKING UP AND NOT FIGHTING FOR
THOSE THINGS AND NOT FIGHTING
FOR HIS CEASE-FIRE OR PEACE,
YOU ARE ENDORSING MILITARY
FUNDING THAT IS DESTROYING
THOUSANDS OF LIVES AND WILL
CONTINUE TO DO SO. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS SURELY
HENDERSON.
>> I AM A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE. I AM HERE TO
DEMAND COUNSEL DEMOCRATS, WHO
HAVE SO FAR REMAINED COMPLETELY
SILENT ON THIS ISSUE, TO
PUBLICLY VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION. CALLING FOR THE
IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE, AND
EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS AND
HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE PEOPLE
OF GAZA AND IN TO THE ISRAELI
OCCUPATION OF PALESTINIAN LANDS.
AND IMPORTANTLY, AND IN TO U.S.
MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL. WITHOUT
WATERING THIS DOWN. I STAND IN
SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION FOR
SOMEONE WHO LIVED IN JERUSALEM
FOR THREE YEARS DURING THE
HEIGHT OF THE SECOND INTIFADA. I
SAW FIRSTHAND HOW THEY HAD
CARRIED THE BRUTAL POLICIES AND
ACTED TO CONTINUOUSLY INFLAME
THE CONFLICT. NOW HERE WE ARE
ONCE AGAIN CIVILIANS BEARING
THE BRUNT OF THE ONGOING
ESCALATION. WITH PALESTINIAN
DEATHS AT THE HANDS OF ISRAELI
MILITARY TOPPING 10,000. AND
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE BEING
KILLED ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN
AND THE ELDERLY. AT THIS POINT,
FOR A PUBLIC OFFICIAL TO BE
SILENT IS TO BE COMPLICIT IN
THIS STATE TERROR AGAINST THE
PEOPLE OF GAZA. THE RESOLUTION
ALSO IMPORTANTLY COMMITS TO
FIGHTING ISLAMAPHOBIA AND
ANTI-SEMITISM. WHICH ONLY
DIVIDES ORDINARY PEOPLE. BECAUSE
THE VIOLENCE UNDERMINES THE
SAFETY OF ORDINARY PEOPLE ON
BOTH SIDES. AND WHEN HE TONIGHT
AGAINST THESE ATROCITIES. IN
FACT, THE WHOLE WORLD IS RISING
UP AGAINST THE MONSTROUS CRIMES
BEING COMMITTED AGAINST THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT FOR
BRINGING FORWARD THIS
RESOLUTION. AND DEMOCRATIC
COUNCILMEMBERS, I HAVE SO MANY
HAVE SAID, IT IS YOUR PARTY THAT
IS CURRENTLY REPRESENTING U.S.
IMPERIALISM. YOU HAVE A
PARTICULAR RESPONSIBILITY TO
STAND AGAINST THE USE OF OUR TAX
DOLLARS GOING TOWARD ISRAELI
STATE TERROR. WE ARE SICK TO
DEATH OF THE CROCODILE TEARS
THAT THERE IS NO FUNDING TO
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR OUR
CITIZENS. WHERE IS YOUR VOICE?
TO THE BARE MINIMUM BY VOTING
YES ON THIS RESOLUTION WITHOUT
WATERING IT DOWN. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NATALIE
BAILEY.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS NATALIE
BABE BAILEY AND I AM A MEMBER
OF SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.
THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND WORKING PEOPLE FOR BRINGING
THE RESOLUTION FORWARD. I DEMAND
THAT ALL DEMOCRATS VOTE YES ON
THE RESOLUTION SHE HAS PUT
FORWARD. AT THIS POINT, AS AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL, TO BE SILENT
IS TO BE COMPLICIT. DEMOCRATS ON
THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU NEED TO DO
THE BARE MINIMUM BY VOTING YES
ON COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION. GAZA HAS FACED AND
THIS BLOODSHED AND THERE'S A
REAL DANGER OF A REGIONAL WAR IN
THE MIDDLE EAST IF WE DON'T HAVE
A CEASE-FIRE. THE REFUSAL TO
SUPPORT AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE
WILL HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES
FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE UPCOMING
ELECTION. IN 2020, BIDEN TO
SUPPORT THE ARAB-AMERICAN
COMMUNITY HAS NOW PLUMMETED TO
17%. ARAB-AMERICANS HAVE BEEN
CHANTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY . IN
NOVEMBER WE REMEMBER AND NO
CEASE-FIRE, NO VOTE. THAT IS A
CEASE-FIRE NOW AND NOT IN SIX
MONTHS. THE ONLY PEOPLE WAY TO
KEEP ORDINARY PEOPLE SAFE FROM
BOTH SIDES IS TO END THE ISRAELI
STATE OCCUPATION. THIS REQUIRES
A FIGHT AGAINST U.S. AND WESTERN
IMPERIALISM AND STARTING WITH
THE END TO THE BILLIONS OF
MILITARY AID IN ISRAEL. WE NEED
INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENTS OF
WORKING-CLASS AND YOUNG PEOPLE
AND WANTED FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE AT
THE END OF THIS DECADES CRISIS
THAT CAN ONLY BE BROUGHT ABOUT
BY WORKING-CLASS JOINED ACROSS
ETHNIC AND SECTARIAN LINES.
MOVEMENTS THAT NEED TO FIGHT FOR
AN AND WENT TO WAR AND A BUILD
FOR STRUGGLE FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND A
DIGNIFIED EXISTENCE FOR ALL.
THIS REQUIRES A GLOBAL FIGHT
BACK AGAINST THE BILLIONAIRE
CLASS AND THEIR POLITICAL
REPRESENTATIVES AGAINST THE
SYSTEM OF CAPITALISM. [ APPLAUSE
]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIAN.
>> HELLO. I AM JULIAN OF
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE. I'M HERE
TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE
YES ON THE GAZA CEASE-FIRE
RESOLUTION. ONE MONTH AND OVER
10,000 DEAD. OVER 4000 CHILDREN
AND NUMEROUS CHILDREN AND
JOURNALISTS AND FAMILIES
TARGETED AND MURDER. THE
RESPONSE FOR MOST DEMOCRATS IS
SILENCE. SHAMEFUL SILENCE. OUR
GOVERNMENT STANDS BY AND ENABLES
THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT . THE
WORLD SEES US GIVING A SOLID
GREEN LIGHT TO THIS ONGOING
ATROCITY. WE MUST AMEND A
CEASE-FIRE. THIS IS NOT A
COMPLICATED ISSUE. THE WELL
ARMED NATION IS COLLECTIVELY
PUNISHING 2 MILLION PEOPLE
TRAPPED IN A CAMP LIKE BOMBING
FISH IN A BARREL. PLEASE VOTE
YES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ZOE .
>> HELLO. I HAVE FROM DISTRICT
3. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, IN THE
WAKE OF THE GEORGE FLOYD
UPRISING AND POLICE MURDERS AND
ON CITY, WHEN VIOLENCE BETWEEN
THE ISRAELI STATE AND HAMAS
SPIKED, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED
AGAINST A RESOLUTION BROUGHT BY
CITY COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S OFFICE AND REFUSED TO
DIVEST ON POLICE BUDGET FOR
PAYING WITH OUR TAX MONEY FOR
TRAINING FROM THE ISRAELI
DIVIDED DEFENSE FORCE. LEADING
DIRECTLY TO THE GUT WRENCHING
VIOLENCE WE SEE TODAY. THIS IS
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S WAR. THE
DEMOCRATS AND THE CITY COUNCIL
ARE COMPLICIT IN THE DEATH OF
PALESTINIAN CITIZENS IF THEY
REFUSED TO SPEAK OUT AND DIVEST
SEATTLE. PASS THIS RESOLUTION
FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA AND
JOIN KSHAMA SAWANT'S OFFICE AND
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE TO FIGHT
THE PEOPLE'S BUZZ IT. EACH YEAR
WE BRING BUDGET IS A WAY TO
HUMAN SERVICES. THANK YOU.
>> MIA GRADNEY.
>> MY NAME IS NEIL GARDNER AND
I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE
RESOLUTION FOR THE CEASE-FIRE
IN GAZA. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
RESOLUTION AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO
KNOW ABOUT THE HEINOUS THINGS
HAPPENING IN GAZA AND THE
ATROCITIES THAT THE CITY
GOVERNMENT IS CREATING AGAINST
THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. YOU HAVE
HEARD PEOPLE SHOUT IN THE
STREETS AND NOTICED THE TIME TO
ACT. THE SITUATION, IT IS
RIDICULOUS THAT MOST
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE NOT ALREADY
TAKEN A STAND AGAINST IT.
ORDINARY PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ARE
GETTING KILLED BY THE VIOLENCE
OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND
THIS IS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A
LONG TIME. THIS IMPERIALIST
OCCUPATION IS NOT NEW. BUT THE
WIDESPREAD OUTRAGE SHOULD BE ONE
MORE REASON TO STAND AGAINST IT.
NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SOMETHING.
THIS IS ONE PART OF THE ISSUE.
ANOTHER CRUCIAL PART OF THE
ISSUE IS THE FUNDING OF THIS
LETTER BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF
IMPERIAL GREED FROM AMERICAN AND
ISRAELI GOVERNMENTS. IF YOU LET
IT STAND, THEN YOU ARE
COMPLICIT. THAT IS WHAT THE
DEMOCRATS ON THE COUNSELOR DOING
TODAY. THAT IS NOT WHAT THE
PEOPLE OF THE WORLD WANT AND NOT
WHAT AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT AND
NOT WHAT THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE
THAT YOU REPRESENT WANT. YOU
NEED TO CALL FOR THE CEASE-FIRE
IMMEDIATELY AND ON TOP OF THAT,
YOU NEED TO DEMAND THAT THE U.S.
STOP SENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO
FUND THE ISRAELI MILITARY AND
THE KILLING OF PALESTINIANS. YOU
NEED TO VOTE YES ON THE
RESOLUTION PUT FORWARD BY THE
SOCIALIST COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HANNAH.
>> HELLO. I AM A DISTRICT 3
RESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF WORKERS
STRIKE BACK. I'M HERE TO DEMAND
THAT ALL DEMOCRATS TODAY VOTE
YES ON COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION. OVER 4000
CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED IN
GAZA BY THE ISRAELI MILITARY.
UNICEF SPOKESPEOPLE HAVE SAID
THAT GAZA HAS BECOME A GRAVEYARD
FOR CHILDREN AND A LIVING FOR
EVERYONE ELSE. YET THE EIGHT
DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL
HAVE FAILED TO SAY ONE WORD
PUBLICLY TO CALL FOR AN IN ON
ISRAELI GOVERNMENTS WAR ON THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. WORKING
PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING AN
IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA AND
IN IN TO U.S. FUNDING FOR THE
ISRAELI MILITARY AND THE SAFE
RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES AND THE
RESTORATION OF HUMANITARIAN AID
TO THE PEOPLE IN GAZA AND IN TO
THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF
PALESTINIAN LANDS. WE CONDEMN
BOTH THE METHODS OF TERROR USED
BY HAMAS AND THE STATE TERRORISM
OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT. AND
WE COMBAT ISLAMAPHOBIA AND
ANTI-SEMITISM AND ALL OF THEIR
FORMS AND SUPPORT THE IS PEOPLE
OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE TO LIVE
IN PEACE AND SECURITY. AS OTHERS
HAVE SAID AT THIS POINT, FOR ANY
ELECTED OFFICIAL WITH THE PUBLIC
PLATFORM TO BE SILENT, IT IS TO
BE COMPLACENT. DEMOCRATS AND THE
CITY COUNCIL, IT IS YOUR PARTY
THAT IS CURRENTLY REPRESENTING
U.S. IMPERIALISM RIGHT NOW. AND
U.S. IMPERIALISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A BIPARTISAN AGENDA. JOE BIDEN
HAS BLOOD ON HIS HANDS. IF YOU
DON'T SAY ANYTHING, YOUR
SUPPORTING THAT. OVER 800 PEOPLE
HAVE WRITTEN TO CITY COUNCIL IN
A SINGLE DAY TO SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION AND WE HAVE SEEN
MILLIONS PROTESTING ACROSS THE
WORLD TO END THIS WERE. IN THE
U.S., I THINK WE HAVE AN
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT ROLE TO
PLAY TO CALL FOR AN END OF
MILITARY FUNDING IN ISRAEL. AS
THE SINGLE BIGGEST FUNDER OF THE
ISRAELI MILITARY. I WANT TO SET
COMPLETELY REJECT THE EARLIER
SPEAKERS STATEMENT OF THE
CONTENT OF THE RESOLUTION THAT
IT IS INFLAMMATORY THAT WILL
INCITE MORE VIOLENCE. WE HAVE
SEEN PROTEST LED BY BOTH
PALESTINIAN AND JEWISH WORKING
PEOPLE OPPOSING THE WAR AND
OCCUPATION ENSURING THAT IT IS
NOT INFLAMMATORY. IT IS UNITING
WORKING PEOPLE OF ALL STRIPES
ACROSS THE WORLD.
>> THINK YOU. OUR NEXT IN
PERSON SPEAKER IS DANIEL.
>> ELIZABETH NEWMAN AMAZON
WAREHOUSE WORKER AND I WOULD
LIKE TO TALK A BIT ABOUT THAT.
THE SAME COMPANY THAT EXPLOITS
MINIMAL AND OTHER WORKERS SEES A
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WITH THE
ISRAELI STATE IN 2014 WHEN THEY
HAD A BRUTAL OCCUPATION THERE.
THEY HAVE SINCE POURED BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE COWERED THE
KIND OF OCCUPATION THAT THEY
MAY HAVE CHARACTERS AS AUTOMATED
APARTHEID. IT TAKES AN ECONOMY
-- WAR ECONOMY TO RUN A WAR
MACHINE AND HAVE GONE ABOVE AND
BEYOND TO SUPPORT THE ISRAELI
WAR MACHINE. IT IS COMPANIES
LIKE BOEING THAT ARE CURRENTLY
GETTING RICH RIGHT NOW SENDING
MISSILES ABROAD. FIRST FOR THE
U.S. IMPERIALISM PROXY WAR ON
UKRAINE AND THEN TO ISRAEL AND
GAZA. AND FOR THE SEATTLE CITY
DEMOCRATS HERE, IS YOUR IS YOUR
PARTY AND JOE BIDEN PUSHING FOR
$14 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL U.S.
MILITARY AID TO THE STATE OF
ISRAEL. FOR THE WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE HERE IN THE STATES, WAR
ABROAD MEANS THAT CONTINUED WAR
ON PEOPLE BACK AT HOME BECAUSE
IN ORDER TO PAY FOR MILITARY
STANDING TO MAKE CRUCIAL
SLASHES WITH THE MASS MOVEMENT
BREWING IN THE COUNTRY AND
INTERNATIONALLY. DEMANDING AN
IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE NOW AND THE
ADD TO ALL U.S. MILITARY AID TO
ISRAEL. IF YOU'RE UNWILLING TO
VOTE ON THIS AND IF YOU'RE GOING
TO TRY TO WATER THIS DOWN, IT
CLARIFIES IT AGAIN THAT THE
DEMOCRATS AND THE CITY COUNCIL
DID NOT REPRESENT THE INTERESTS
OF THE WORKING PEOPLE BUT IT
INSTEAD SIDE WITH THE
BLOODTHIRSTY WAR MACHINE.
>> NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
SPEAKER IS GWENDOLYN HART.
>> WE ARE VOTING YES ON THIS
RESOLUTION. IN THE LAST MONTH,
THE ISRAELI MILITARY HAVE KILLED
10,000 PEOPLE IN GAZA INCLUDING
4100 CHILDREN INCLUDING INFANT
NEVER GOT TO SEE THE FIRST
BIRTHDAY. BUT BIDEN IS SENDING
THE ISRAELI MILITARY $14
BILLION. I'VE SEEN THE MASSIVE
ANTIWAR PROTEST IN THE COUNTRY.
WITH THOSE ELECTED RIGHT NOW.
AND STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH
ORDINARY PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND
PALESTINE. THIS IS THE ONLY
PATH.
>> ALONG WITH THE DECADES OF
OCCUPATION ALONG WITH THE
BIPARTISAN U.S. SUPPORT. THEY
MAY BENEFIT NOTHING FROM THE
WAR. BIDEN JUST WANTS A
MILITARY FOOTHOLD IN THE REGION.
SEATTLE, THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN
THE WORLD. THEY'RE NOT SPEAKING
BUT ANOTHER 14 BILLION FOR THE
BORDER WALL. $61 BILLION FOR
UKRAINE. WHY NOT? WHAT A LEGACY.
PASS THIS RESOLUTION TODAY AND
EVERETT POLICE FUNDING IN
SEATTLE AND FUND THE EDUCATION
AND CRITICAL SUPPORT SERVICES.
FUNDER ON CITY EMPLOYEES. WHAT
IS THERE TO DEBATE HERE? STOP
SUPPORTING SLAUGHTER. FOR A
MONTH NOW, STOP SUPPORTING THE
POLITICAL PARTIES THAT ENABLE
THIS. AND FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY'S THAT ARE ENABLING THIS
AND NO ONE IN THE PARTY IS
STANDING UP TO IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. I GOT MY
MASTERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND I NOW HAVE MY
PHD. I'M HERE TO HELP AS A
FELLOW SEATTLEITE. AND ALSO A
GAZAN. MY FAMILY IS ALL IN THE
GAZA STRIP RIGHT NOW. WITH OVER
26 MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. DUE TO
THE ISRAELI BOMBINGS THAT HAVE
BEEN FUNDED BY THE UNITED
STATES. 11 MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY
HAVE NOT BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE
RUBBLE. AND THEIR DEAD BODIES
ARE UNDERNEATH THE RUBBLE. THE
UNITED STATES IS SUPPORTING
ISRAEL'S SLAUGHTER. THIS HAS
BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A MONTH
NOW. MY FAMILY AND GAZA CANNOT
WAIT FOR YOUR PERFECT POLITICAL
MOMENT TO DEMAND A CEASE-FIRE.
PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS
12 HAVE GATHERED AND HELD A
PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE OF THE
HOSPITAL IN GAZA. THEY HAD JUST
BEEN BOMBED BY ISRAEL DAYS
BEFORE. WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY
COMPLETED TO THE WORLD THAT OUR
BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE BEING
KILLED. AND THEY PLEADED TO THE
WORLD FOR THEIR PROTECTION. I
URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THEIR
CALLS AND VOTE YES ON THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS POWERFUL
RESOLUTION TO CALL FOR THE
CEASE-FIRE. FAMILY CANNOT WAIT
ANYMORE AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE
ANYMORE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY.
PLEASE REMEMBER THESE ARE NOT
ABOUT CONVENIENCE. BUT YOU MAY
EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE HERE TODAY.
I ENCOURAGE YOU AND IN FACT
URGE YOU WITH THIS OBLIGATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> JOE, YOU HAVE TO START SIX.
YOU ARE NOT UNMUTED.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THIS OF THE SUBJECT
WE DON'T REALLY LIKE TALKING
ABOUT. BUT IT IS GOOD NEWS AND
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICES. I HAVE JEWISH
RELATIVES AND THERE ARE JEWS
FIGHTING RIGHT NOW. AND FOR
THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THIS IS AN
ANTI-SEMITIC COUNTRY WITH HATE.
AND UNLIKE OPPONENTS OF THE
RESOLUTION PUT OCTOBER 17th WE
WERE SEEING PEOPLE RIP DOWN
POSTERS AND IT WAS NOT THAT
BEHAVIOR YET . CALLING FOR THE
CEASE-FIRE NOW, IT WAS WHEN
THEY DID WITH THE MASSACRE.
THAT THEY WERE BURNED ALIVE AND
KILLED CIVILIANS AS THEY
TARGETED JEWISH PEOPLE . I
MOURNED THE LOSS AND OTHER
CIVILIANS THAT USED HUMAN
SHIELDS. WE WANT YOU TO BE
CLEAR. BUT THEY ARE ADVOCATING
FOR THE COUNCIL. THAT YOU HATE
FOR TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. I
HAVE THIS FACT TRUE. FINALLY.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. GO SEATTLE.
WE LOVE YOU. WE WILL NOT GIVE UP
OUR FREEDOM TO SOME ETHNIC
TERRORISTS. THAT'S IT AND WHAT
YOU EXPECT FROM FREEDOM
EVERYWHERE. THANK YOU FOR PUBLIC
SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU AND OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> YOU ARE GOOD.
>> MY NAME IS ERIN AND I AM A
CONSTITUENT AND I WANT TO ECHO
A LOT OF FELLOW COMMENTS
SUPPORTING COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION . AND
SENDING MILITARY AID INTO
ISRAEL. ON BEHALF OF THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. WE DO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR WHAT IS WRONG.
AND ADDITIONALLY, THEY HAVE A
$970 MILLION CONTRACT WITH
ISRAEL THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO
THE MURDER OF OVER 10,000
PALESTINIANS AND $800 MILLION
TAX BREAK FOR WASHINGTON. WE
SHOULD NOT TOLERATE THIS OR
THAT THE PALESTINIAN LINES WOULD
MATTER. AND FURTHERMORE, FOR
OVER TWO YEARS, WITH THE
ORGANIZATION IN SEATTLE, WE HAVE
THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND
WHILE THERE MILLIONS OF REASON
FOR CEASE-FIRE, THEY HAVE OVER
1 MILLION PALESTINIANS. AND IN
THE CONTEXT OF SEATTLE, IT IS
AN UNJUST MOVEMENT AND
UNFATHOMABLE SUFFERING THAT IT
CAUSES. AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO
STILL HAVE RUNNING WATER AND
FUNCTIONING HOSPITALS. I CANNOT
BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE LAYERS.
AND WITH ALL ROUNDS OF LIFE.
WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESOLUTION
AND THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
THAT THE LEADERS OF SEATTLE TO
SAY WE DON'T SUPPORT THE
GENOCIDE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GABRIEL.
>> I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3.
PUT FORWARD BY THE SOCIALIST
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT. I
THINK THE RESOLUTION IS A STRONG
STATEMENT TO THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION THAT THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE DO NOT STAND FOR
BLOODSHED AND WE VALUE
PALESTINIAN LIFE JUST AS WE
WOULD ANY OTHER . WE DO CLAIM
THIS STATEMENT IS INFLAMMATORY
BUT THERE'S NOTHING INFLAMMATORY
ABOUT CALLING FOR A CEASE-FIRE
AND AND IN TO THE WAR. IS THERE
ANYTHING INFLAMMATORY ABOUT
CALLING FOR THE END OF THE WORD.
IN FACT, IT'S THE BARE MINIMUM
WE CAN DO. THERE IS NOTHING
JUSTIFY TO WRITE ABOUT BOMBING
ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY
POPULATED REGIONS OF THE WORLD.
AND THE ACTIONS OF THE ISRAELI
MILITARY WILL DO NOTHING BUT
INFLAME THE CONFLICT. NO MATTER
HOW YOU SPIN IT, THE NO VOTE
TODAY WITH THE ELECTION IT MAKES
THIS FOR YOUR OFFICE OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL COMPLICIT
IN THE FUNDING AND EXECUTION.
TAKE A STAND AND USE YOUR VOICE
AND VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JOSIE.
>> I'M A SOCIAL WORKER AND A
MEMBER OF THE WASHINGTON FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES AND I'M ACTIVE WITH
WORKERS STRIKE BACK. I STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION CALLING FOR
THE CEASE-FIRE AND ENCOURAGING
ALL DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES. IT IS
SHAMEFUL THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS
KSHAMA SAWANT IS THE ONLY MEMBER
OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT HAS
BROUGHT FORWARD THIS ISSUE.
THIS IS YOUR PARTY THAT IS
CONTINUING THE FUNDING OF THE
WAR AND UNJUST BLOODSHED. OVER
4000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED
IN GAZA BY THE ISRAELI MILITARY.
HOW CAN WE SIT SILENTLY AS THE
NUMBER ONLY GROWS? I URGE
ALL-PRO LABOR DEMOCRATS TO STAND
THERE WORKING PEOPLE IN
PALESTINE AND ISRAEL. WE NEED A
CEASE-FIRE NOW AND AND IN TO THE
VIOLENCE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MOLLY.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF
YOU REMOTELY. MORE THAN A YEAR
AGO, I BEGAN LEARNING THE TRUTH
OF WHAT PALESTINIANS HAVE HAD TO
ENDURE FOR DECADES IN THEIR
FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL
OCCUPATION. BUT THE ONLY REASON
I NOW HAVE AWARENESS IS THAT I'M
HERE IN SEATTLE. HERE THERE ARE
SO MANY FACES AND SHAPES OF SKIN
AND SO MANY PEOPLE WITH
BACKGROUND HERITAGES AND
RELIGION. IT WAS YOUR PEOPLE
HERE IN SEATTLE WHO TOLD ME I
HAD TO PAY ATTENTION. AND IT IS
FOR THEM I'M CHOOSING TO NOT BE
SILENT TODAY. IS A HUGE
COMMUNITY OF PALESTINIANS AND
MUSLIMS IN SEATTLE. WITH OUR
PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. AT THESE
PEOPLE, YOUR PEOPLE, THAT ARE
WAITING FOR OTHER FUNDS EVERY
DAY TO HEAR NEWS OF THEIR LOVED
ONES IN PALESTINE. TO HEAR IF
THEY SURVIVED. AND WE ALSO KNOW
THAT IF THEY DO, WE HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT KIND OF LIVES THEY WILL
HAVE MOVING FORWARD. THE PEOPLE
HERE IN SEATTLE WATCHING THEIR
FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND PEOPLE
THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, BE
INDISCRIMINATELY MURDERED. ANY
HAVE YOUR PEOPLE IN SEATTLE WITH
INNOCENCE AND CHILDREN DYING.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR
COUNTRY'S ADMINISTRATION. I'M
CALLING ON THE CITY COUNCIL OF
SEATTLE TO REPRESENT THIS
COMMUNITY AND VOTE YES FOR THE
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION. DON'T DISCOUNT THE
AMOUNT OF PRESSURE CONCERNING
MAYFIELD TO VOTE FOR THIS
RESOLUTION. REGARDLESS OF YOUR
HERITAGE OR YOUR BELIEFS, WE ALL
KNOW THAT MORE 10,000 CIVILIANS
HAVE BEEN MURDERED AND A MILLION
HAVE BEEN PUNISHED AS WELL.
PLEASE HONOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE AND CONDEMNED THE
ISRAELI MILITARY ASSAULT.
>> BEFORE WE CALL THE NEXT
SPEAKER. HAVE COUNT HERE'S WE
CAN WRAP UP PUBLIC COMMENT. HOW
MANY VOTES DO WE HAVE REMOTE AND
HOW MANY IN PERSON?
>> IF YOU CAN JUST GIVE ME A
SECOND. I WILL GET IT FOR YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IT LOOKS
LIKE WE HAVE THREE MORE REMOTE.
DID YOU WANT TO IN PERSON COUNT
TOO?
>> YES.
>> WE HAVE 29 IN PERSON.
>> OKAY. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO DO. WE'RE GOING TO
FINISH UP WITH EVERYONE NOW FROM
THIS POINT FORWARD WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE. AND WE WILL STOP AT
3:15 PM. LET'S TRY TO FINISH UP
AT THE REMOTES OF THOROUGH THREE
AND THEN TAKE AS MANY AS WE CAN
OF THE IN PERSON AND SEE WHERE
WE ARE AT AT 3:15 PM. ONE MINUTE
EACH. AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOU
COMING TO CITY HALL AND WE ASK
THAT YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE
CLOCK. WE HAVE IT DOWN TO ONE
MINUTE AND MANY OF YOU WERE
SHARING THE SAME CONCERNS AND
ISSUES AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE
WITH THAT, MADAME CLERK, LET'S
START WITH THE THREE PEOPLE LEFT
REMOTE FOR ONE MINUTE. AND THEN
LET'S GO TO THE FOLKS IN
CHAMBERS FOR ONE MINUTE. AND
THEN WE SHOULD STOP BY 3:15 PM.
>> THANK YOU.
ACTUALLY THE GENTLEMAN IS
SHOWING TO VOTE PRESENT. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS JADE.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU. I
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION AND I URGE
ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY
DEMOCRATS, TO VOTE YES TO
CONDEMN THE ATTACK OF
PALESTINIANS IN GAZA. DEMAND A
CEASE-FIRE AND THE RETURN OF ALL
HOSTAGES. QUITTING ALL
PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS.
AND THIS DID NOT BEGIN ON
OCTOBER 7th. BUT THEY DID HAVE
TRAUMA FOR TICKETS AND WHAT WE
ARE CURRENTLY SEEING IS THE
VIOLATION OF THE LAW RESULTING
IN THIS IMPACT FOR GENERATIONS
TO COME. THEY WOULD NOT ADOPT
THE RESOLUTION FOR THIS
IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN AID.
BECAUSE THE MILITARY AID OF
ISRAEL IS NOT BEING USED BUT IT
IS RATHER BEING USED TO BOMB
DISABLED PEOPLE AND INFANTS IN
THE I SEE YOU. THE MILITARY AID
IS BEING USED FOR MEMBERS OF THE
PRESS AND FAMILY AND MOSQUES AND
FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN
ATTACKED. THIS IS A GRAB OF
INDIGENOUS LAND. THERE FORCIBLY
REMOVING COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS AISHA.
>> HELLO. I AM AISHA AND I AM
A DOCTOR. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY. I AM CALLING ON THE
DEMOCRATS TO SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION PUT FORWARD BY
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
CALLING FOR THE CEASE-FIRE
AGAINST THE ONGOING GENOCIDE IN
GAZA. IT IS INHUMANE AND
IMMORAL TO BE SILENT WHILE
WITNESSING THE MASSACRES. I'M
ALSO ASKING TO ANNOUNCE THE
RELEASE OF HOSTAGES AND ALLOW
FULL-SCALE HUMANITARIAN AID AND
FUEL TO GAZA AND TO ADD THE
OCCUPATION OF PALESTINIANS. AS
A DOCTOR, IT IS HARD TO WATCH
THE BOMBING. AND RESIDENTIAL
BUILDINGS. CHILDREN ARE BEING
MASSACRED AS WE SPEAK.
CIVILIANS ARE BEING MASSACRED.
AS DOCTORS, WE COULD TREAT THE
OUTCOME OF THESE INJURIES. TO
OPERATE AND REHABILITATE HUMANS
THAT HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER AND THIS IS OUR LAST
REMOTE SPEAKER. JOE.
>> HELLO. , DISTRICT COURT
RESIDENT AND A RANK-AND-FILE
MEMBER OF THE NORTH SHORE
ASSOCIATION. I ASK THAT THE
DEMOCRATS DEMAND TO VOTE YES ON
THIS RESOLUTION. PUT FORWARD BY
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
FOR ISLAMAPHOBIA AND
ANTI-SEMITISM AND FOR ALL
MILITARY FUNDING TO ISRAEL. THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE UNITED
STATES IMPERIALISM IS GIVING
ISRAEL TO FIND IS ABSOLUTELY
DISGUSTING. GIVEN THE
OUTRAGEOUS FUNDING CRISIS BUT A
LOT OF REPUBLICAN INSTITUTIONS
AND INCLUDING PUBLIC STATES. I
ALSO THINK THE LABOR MOVEMENT
HAS A HUGE ROLE TO PLAY IN THE
PROTEST MOVING FORWARD. AND I
URGE OTHER RANK-AND-FILE UNION
MEMBERS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
OFFICE TO PUT THIS FORWARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IN PERSON IS
JORDAN MEDLOCK.
>> HELLO. I'M JORDAN MEDLOCK AND
I DEMAND THAT ALL DEMOCRATS VOTE
YES ON COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION. TWO THIRDS
OF AMERICANS AND PURCHASE OUR
GROWING WORLDWIDE. CALLING FOR
AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE. JEWISH
LED PROTEST PROTESTERS LOCK
PHILADELPHIA'S MAIN TRANSIT
CENTER ON THURSDAY. FOLLOWING
LAST WEEK'S MASSIVE CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE AT NEW YORK CITY'S
GRAND CENTRAL STATION. EARLIER
THIS WEEK, UNION MEMBERS IN
ONTARIO, CANADA, LETTER CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE PROTEST OUTSIDE OF
A COMPANY NOT TO SELL ARMS TO
ISRAEL. ON FRIDAY, MORE THAN 100
PALESTINIAN JEWISH ACTIVISTS
BLOCKED THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE
TUCSON OFFICE OF A MAJOR WEAPONS
PROFITEER. TENS OF THOUSANDS
MARCHED ON THE STREETS OF
WASHINGTON, D.C. ON SATURDAY AND
PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE JOIN
PALESTINIANS IN MASSIVE
DEMONSTRATIONS THAT TOOK OVER
CAIRO AND BEIRUT AND KUALA
LUMPUR. AT THIS POINT, FOR AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL WITH A PLATFORM
TO BE SILENT, IT IS COMPLICIT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT IN THE
PERSON SPEAKER IS BRYCE
PHILLIPS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. OR GO AHEAD.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I APPRECIATE
THE ONLY COUNCILMEMBER THAT
ACTUALLY SHOWED UP ON THIS
ISSUE. ALI WONDER IF THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE EVEN WEARING
PANTS. IS A CHOCTAW DESCENDENT,
AS WELL AS ON MY MOTHER SIDE AS
WELL AS IRISH-AMERICAN ON MY
FATHER'S SIDE, I KNOW ETHNIC
CLEANSING AND GENOCIDE WHEN I
SEE IT. AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY
HOME OF A LOT OF TECHNOLOGICAL
PROGRESS. SOMETIMES,
TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS OUTSTRIP
SOCIAL AND MORAL PROGRESS. AND
THAT IS VERY EVIDENT IN THE
CITY, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. IT
IS TIME FOR THE COUNCIL TO DO
THE RIGHT THING AND SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION. THAT'S BEEN LEADERS
ON THIS ISSUE. 20 YEARS FROM
NOW, AND NO ONE WILL REGRET
VOTING FOR THIS. THE CRIMES
THAT ISRAEL ARE COMMITTING A WAR
CRIMES AGAINST CIVILIANS. IT'S
NOT ABOUT WHAT'S I DO SUPPORT IN
ISRAEL VERSUS PALESTINE. THERE'S
A LOT OF COMPLEXITY THERE. WHAT
IS NOT COMPLICATED IS BOMBING
HOSPITALS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER. THERE IS
ONLY ONE NAME ON THE LINE. PLUS
>> THE NEXT PERSON AFTER THAT.
>> I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF THE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A
CEASE-FIRE. SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT. I
WOULD STRONGLY URGE THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE IN FAVOR,
WITHOUT ANY WATERING DOWN. FOR
THE FATHER OF THE PLACENTA LANES
RELIEF FUND, THEY SAID, GOOD.
DOCTORS ARE OPERATING ON
CHILDREN WITHOUT ANESTHESIA
WITHOUT PAIN MEDICATION. THEIR
CHILDREN WHO ARE BURNED FROM
BOMBING OF THE BOMBS AND THE
DOCTORS DON'T HAVE ANESTHESIA.
THESE KIDS ARE GETTING TYLENOL,
WHILE THE 3rd DEGREE BURNS ALL
OVER THEIR BODY. AND QUOTE. ALL
OF THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN
THE NAME OF THE HOSTAGES WHO
WERE CAPTURED ON OCTOBER 7th.
BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE STATE
OF ISRAEL DOES NOT CARE ABOUT
THE HOSTAGES. WE SAID THAT
NETANYAHU WAS REPORTING THOSE AT
RISK. CEASE-FIRE NOW. THE
MADNESS NEEDS TO STOP.
>> NOW FOR NEXT SPEAKER. THANK
YOU. NOW FOR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO. I AM A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 3 AND I URGE DEMOCRATS
TO VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION TO
CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE
CEASE-FIRE AND RELEASE OF ALL
HOSTAGES AND END OF THE MILITARY
FUNDING TO ISRAEL AND THE END OF
THE OCCUPATION. WHY SHOULD WE
SUPPORT THE COLONIAL STATE? THE
MONEY SHOULD INSTEAD BE SENT
HERE. NOT ON ONE COLONIZATION OF
INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO DID NOTHING
WRONG. PALESTINIANS DID NOT
PERSECUTE JEWISH PEOPLE ACROSS
HISTORY. IT'S NOT THEM. THEY DID
NOTHING WRONG. JOE BIDEN IS
SUPPOSED TO BE A LIBERAL. HOW
CAN THERE BE NO REDLINES WHEN
THEY'RE LITERALLY USING BIBLICAL
LANGUAGE TO CALL FOR THE DEATHS
OF INNOCENT CHILDREN. YOU CANNOT
SUPPORT FANATICISM FROM GENOCIDE
USING BIBLICAL LANGUAGE.
DEMOCRATS WILL LOSE AND 2024 IF
THEY DON'T DO A CEASE-FIRE NOW.
PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD WANTED
IN TO THE GENOCIDE. THE U.S. IS
BREAKING INTERNATIONAL LAW AND
ITS OWN LAW TO SUPPORT THE
GENOCIDE. IT HAS TO STOP.
CEASE-FIRE NOW. IF YOU HAVE A
SHED OF HUMANITY IN AND OUT,
CEASE-FIRE NOW.
>> MADAME CLERK, IT IS 3:15 PM.
LET'S MAKE THIS OUR LAST
SPEAKER.
>> PRESIDENT DEBORA JUAREZ, NOT
MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE AND THERE
NOT MANY LEFT. CAN WE FINISH
EVERYONE WHO HAS COME HERE TO
SPEAK IN PERSON?
>> YES, I KNOW THAT. MADAME
CLERK, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
PHYSICALLY HERE? THE LAST COUNT
YOU SAID 29.
>> ONE MORE MINUTE. WE ARE UP
TO 20. THERE ARE 20 LEFT.
>> OKAY. WE WILL NOT DO 20
SPEAKERS BUT I WILL ADD FIVE
MORE MINUTES TO THE CLOCK.
>> 20 SPEAKERS IS JUST 20
MINUTES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE 20
MINUTES MORE FOR THIS ISSUE.
>> WE ARE GOING TO GIVE FIVE
MINUTES. AND WITH THAT, MADAME
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE NEXT
SPEAKER. PLEASE LISTEN FOR THE
10 SECOND TIMER AND LET'S GO
UNTIL 3:20 PM. LET'S GO UNTIL
3:25 PM.
>> LET'S DO THAT.
>> 3:25 PM AND THAT'S GO.
>> OUR NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER IS
KRISTIN.
>>
>> JUST SO WE CAN MOVE ALONG,
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT PERSON.
>> I'M HERE TO CALL FOR THE
IMMEDIATE YES VOTE ON THE
RESOLUTION., PALESTINIAN
AMERICAN AND TWO WEEKS AGO MY 16
AND TWO-YEAR-OLD SONS LOST OVER
40 MEMBERS OF THEIR EXTENDED
FAMILY IN AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE.
MY BOYS WILL GROW UP SEEING THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS THE
CONDUCTORS OF THE FAMILY TRAUMA
AND THEY WILL NOT FORGET THAT
THEIR LIVES ARE VALUED LESS.
OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CONSTITUENCY
WILL ALSO SEE THIS. THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY BOLSTER
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL ALSO
SEE THIS. BY NOT VOTING YES ON
THIS RESOLUTION, YOU CAN ENSURE
THE CONTINUATION AND
INTENSIFICATION OF ISLAMAPHOBIA
AND ANTI-SEMITISM. I WILL NOT
QUOTE STATISTICS OF HOW MANY MY
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MASSACRED SINCE
OCTOBER 7th THAT ALONE THE LAST
75 YEARS OF OCCUPATION. THEY
SEE WHAT YOU IS THAT ELECTED
LEADERS ARE CREATING IN THE
WORLD. THE WALL HAS BEEN REMOVED
FROM THE EYES AND THE SILENCES
NAKED AND CARE IS GENOCIDE.
CONTINUING TO AID AND ABET THE
CONTINGENCIES STATED INTENT.
>> THANK YOU. NOW FOR NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> NOW FOR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I GOT MY DEGREE FROM PUBLIC
HEALTH. BUT I'M ALSO AN ARAB
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. AND PARTLY
DUE TO DEMOCRATIC MEDICARE.
THE RESOLUTION IS SIMPLE AS A
CALL TO THAT IN OF VIOLENCE.
PLEASE HELP TO RESTORE FAITH IN
COMMUNITY. PLEASE VOTE YES
OTHERWISE WE WILL COME BACK.
AFTER SPENDING MORE TIME HERE
AND SOMETHING VERY BASIC. PLEASE
VOTE YES ON THE RESOLUTION AND
VOTE TODAY.
>> HELLO, NATHAN FISHER HERE.
OF COURSE WE ARE AGAINST THE
EXTERMINATION OF PALESTINIAN
CHILDREN. WE ARE HERE TO
CREATE THE SYSTEM FOR THE WAR
CRIMINALS. I WANT TO SEE A CITY
COUNCIL THAT HOLDS BOEING AND
ALL OF THESE TECH COMPANIES
DOING A PENTAGON CONTRACTS
ACCOUNTABLE. ON TO SEE PEOPLE
BEHIND BARS FOR THE CRIMINALITY
WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW. I DON'T
JUST WANT TO SEE A CEASE-FIRE.
THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TO BE
TOLD. AND IT JUST LETS ME KNOW
WHAT KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE.
AND IT TELLS US WHAT IS
WATCHING.
>> OKAY. I AM A PALESTINIAN
AMERICAN AND I WAS BORN HERE IN
SEATTLE. NOBODY IN SEATTLE HAS
ACCESS TO BASIC RESOURCES
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING
FOR OUR HOUSES COMMUNITY. ALONG
WITH THE MILITARY OCCUPATION
FROM PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN
OPPRESSED FOR 75 YEARS BUT NOT
SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION BUT
YOU ARE FUNDING THE GENOCIDE OF
MY PEOPLE. AND ON TOP OF THAT.
>> THANKS FOR INTRODUCING THIS.
WE WERE FOLLOWING HIM OUT ON
FACEBOOK AND WHO IS 13 YEARS OLD
IN PALESTINE AND HIS COUSIN WAS
KILLED IN FRONT OF HIM AND ARE
BOTH ABOUT 13. THEY HAVE THROWN
THEM IN A PRISON.
INTERROGATIONS ARE ON VIDEO.
THEN THEY SAY HIS SCHIZOPHRENIC
AND THEY WON'T LET HIM OUT OF
THE PRISON. THE SECOND IT
HAPPENED. WHEN IT WAS HIDDEN
FROM THE PUBLIC THE WITH THE
PSYCHOPATHIC WARMONGERS WERE
LIKE JEFFREY DAHMER WITH WEAPONS
AND THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN OUT OF
POWER. THESE PEOPLE ARE SIX.
HOW ARE WE LOOKING FOR OUR
SPEAKERS?
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AUSTIN
PRICE.
>>, DISTRICT 6 RENTER AND I'M
GETTING UP TODAY TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT FOR
PUTTING THIS FORWARD AND URGING
DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO
VOTE YES. ALONG WITH
PAINSTAKING CLOSENESS TO THE
SITUATION AND WE ARE BOMBING
AMBULANCES AND THAT OCCUPATION
OF LAND. AND IT HAS BEEN 78
YEARS OF HORROR. BUT THIS WOULD
STAY ON BE A STAIN ON ALL OF
OUR SOULS. IS OUR MONEY GOING
INTO THIS? IF WE DON'T HAVE THE
INTEGRITY. IN THE POLLING
STATION WE WILL DESERVE TO LOSE,
QUITE FRANKLY.
>> I AM A SEATTLE RESIDENT. I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT FOR ARRIVING IN
PERSON AS MOST OF THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS COULD NOT BE
BOTHERED TO TURN ON THE CAMERAS.
THIS IS A DEMONSTRATION THAT
THEY HOLD NOTHING BUT CONTEMPT
FOR PALESTINIANS AS THEY
CONTINUE TO X ESCALATE THE
VIOLENCE AND REFUSED TO KEEP
THEIR OWN CIVILIANS. THE ONLY
CARE ABOUT KILLING PANEL
PALESTINIANS. AS U.S. CITIZENS,
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO KEEP
OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE
CITY'S OUT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
WITH EVEN GREATER
RESPONSIBILITY. I KNOW THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEIR OWN
AGENDAS AT THE COST OF THEIR OWN
CONSTITUENTS. AS THEY DID WHEN
THEY WERE VOTING IN FAVOR OF
RENT CONTROL. WE NEED AN
IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE TO BRING TO
AN END AND IS SENT PALESTINIAN
AND ISRAELI CASUALTIES.
>> THANK YOU AND I BELIEVE ONE
SPEAKER IN PUBLIC COMMENT WAS
CALLED BUT WE MAY HAVE MISSED
IT. WITH LINDA'S PERMISSION, I'M
ANNOUNCING THE NAME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> HELLO. WE'RE HERE TO VOTE
IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION.
CALLED BY COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT. I CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE
CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA. I DON'T
WANT MY TAXES TO BE USED FOR
CAUSING DEATH IN THE WORLD. I
DEMAND THE SAFE RELEASE. AND I
DEMAND THE RESTORATION OF
HUMANITARIAN AID FOR THE PEOPLE
OF GAZA. AND THE END OF THE
ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF
PALESTINIAN LAND AND THE PEOPLE.
AND HOW THIS WILL PLAY AND SOME
OF YOU WILL SAY THAT IT'S A
VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE. SOME OF
YOU WILL CLAIM THAT YOU WOULD
INVOLVE BOTH SIDES AT SOME
POINT. LET ME TELL YOU THAT
THIS IS NOT A COMPLICATED ISSUE.
AND ALSO IF YOU DO NOT VOTE
YES, WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE
PEOPLE NEXT TIME. THANK YOU.
>> MADAME CLERK, HOW ARE WE
LOOKING?
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JARED.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OTHER
MICROPHONE. TO GET THROUGH THE
LIST.
>> I REPRESENT THE VOICE OF
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS
IN THE SEATTLE AREA. WE WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE
RESOLUTION FORWARD. I DEMAND
ALL DEMOCRATS VOTE YES FOR THE
CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION. AS YOU
HEARD FROM SATELLITES THAT LOST
THEIR LOVED ONES IN THIS WAR,
THE BRUTAL GENOCIDE IN GAZA HAS
TO STOP NOW. THEY WERE
MERCILESSLY KILLED WITH
THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS AND HALF
OF THEM WERE CHILDREN. IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL JOINED THE VOICES OF
200 MILLION AMERICANS WERE
SAYING NO TO THIS WAR. AND
SAYING NOT IN MY NAME AND
DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE IN TO
THE WORD. STOP THIS GENOCIDE
NOW. THANK YOU.
>> MADAME CLERK.
>> LET'S HAVE A PAUSE HERE. WE
ARE GOING TO TAKE ONE MORE
SPEAKER BECAUSE WE HAVE 65
PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
>> WE CANNOT HEAR YOU.
>> I'M SORRY. THEN LET'S JUST
TAKE A PAUSE HERE. LET ME KNOW
WHEN YOU CAN HEAR ME. AND THEN
WE WILL SHARE.
>> WE WILL TAKE ONE MORE
SPEAKER. CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT
WITH 65 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THE
PUBLIC HEARING. THAT WOULD
HAPPEN LATER ON IN THE AGENDA.
WE WOULD TAKE THE SPEAKER AND
THEN WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> I CANNOT REALLY SUM UP
ANYTHING ANYONE HAS SAID AFTER
SPEAKING ELOQUENTLY OF FAVOR OF
COUNCILMEMBERS RESOLUTION. AS
A MEMBER OF MY COMMUNITY. I
WILL SAY
>> I FELT DISRESPECTED
DISRESPECTED FOR HAVING MY TIME
TO COME HERE. THAT WAS VERY
REASSURING. I WANTED TO THINK
ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU VOTE ON THIS
RESOLUTION.
>> THANKS TO THOSE WHO CAME DOWN
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THOSE OF
YOU WHO CAME IN. WE HAVE REACHED
THE REND OF OUR ALLOTTED TIME
AND PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW
CLOSED. LET'S MOVE ON FOR THE
ADOPTION OF THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR. I ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR. IS THE SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO AMEND
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR TO REDUCE THE
RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE
ISRAELI MILITARY ASSAULT ON THE
PEOPLE OF GAZA TO URGE AN
IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE AND
AFFIRMING OPPOSITION TO
ISLAMAPHOBIA AND ANTI-SEMITISM
AND URGING THE U.S. CONGRESS TO
REFER YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FOR FINAL ACTION IN TODAY'S
MEETING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT. IS THE SECOND TO
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
MOTION?
>> CAN I MOTIVATE MY MOTION?
>> YES. I WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO
THAT AND THEN HE WILL GO AHEAD
AND MOVE FORWARD.
>> THINK YOU AND I APPRECIATE
IT. IMAGINE IF SEATTLE WERE
GAZA. THE GAZA STRIP IS ALMOST
EXACTLY THE SAME SIZE IN SQUARE
MILES OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
BUT WITH THREE TIMES THE
POPULATION. CAUSES HOME TO 2.3
MILLION PEOPLE. IF SEATTLE WERE
GAZA, WE CANNOT TRAVEL OUTSIDE
THE CITY. PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN
GAZA ARE TRAPPED WITHIN THE
BOUNDARIES BY AN AIR AND LAND
AND SEA BLOCKADE AND FORCED BY
THE ISRAELI MILITARY. THE FOURTH
LARGEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD
WHICH IS BACKED BY TENS OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF U.S.
IMPERIALISM. NOW IMAGINE SELL
ELECTRICITY AND WATER SUPPLIES
THAT HAVE BEEN CUT OFF AND FOOD
SUPPLIES ARE DWINDLING AND
HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN BOMBED. WITH
ONLY FOUR LEFT IN OPERATION. NOW
IMAGINE THAT THE ISRAELI
MILITARY HAS DROPPED NO FEWER
THAN 10,000 BOMBS ON THE CITY.
THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF GAZA
ARE EXPERIENCING AS WE SPEAK AND
WHAT THE FAMILIES OF SO MANY OF
OUR SIBLINGS, LIKE THE SISTER
WHO ALL SPOKE TODAY AND WHOSE
FAMILIES ARE FACING POTENTIAL
DISASTERS IN GAZA AND MANY HAVE
ALREADY BEEN KILLED. IT IS
FRANKLY AND UNIMAGINABLE HUMAN
CATASTROPHE. WHICH IS WHY URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO JOIN ME IN
INTRODUCING AND VOTING IN FAVOR
AND PASSING THE RESOLUTION
TODAY. THE RESOLUTION CONDEMNS
THE BRUTAL ISRAELI ASSAULT ON
THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. IT DEMANDS
AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA
AND THE SAFE RELEASE OF ALL
HOSTAGES AND THE RESTORATION OF
HUMANITARIAN AID AND AND IN TO
THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF
PALESTINIAN LANDS. IT CONDEMNS
THE METHODS OF TERROR USED BY
HAMAS AND THE STATE TERRORISM OF
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND INFORMS
ISLAMAPHOBIA AND ANTI-SEMITISM
IN ALL THEIR FORMS AND SUPPORT
FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND
PALESTINE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND
SECURITY. THE AIMS OF THE
ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WERE MADE
CLEAR AFTER DECLARING ON OCTOBER
9th, I HAVE ORDERED A COMPLETE
SIEGE ON THE GAZA STRIP. THERE
WILL BE NO ELECTRICITY AND NO
FOOD AND NO FUEL. EVERYTHING IS
CLOSED. WE ARE FIGHTING HUMAN
ANIMALS AND WILL ACT
ACCORDINGLY. IT'S NOT AN
ABERRATION. THERE ARE MANY
OTHERS IN POWER IN ISRAEL AND
THE QUOTE IS EXACTLY WHAT THE
ISRAELI MILITARY IS CARRIED OUT.
THIS RESOLUTION, AS WE SAID
BEFORE, TOO CONDEMNS THE BRUTAL
OCTOBER 7th ATTACK WHERE HAMAS
KILLED 1400 ISRAELIS, INCLUDING
CHILDREN, WOMEN, THE ELDERLY,
AND OTHER CIVILIANS AS WELL AS
VETERANS AND OTHER ISRAELIS WHO
ENJOYED 3500 AND TOOK 200 AS
HOSTAGES. GLOBAL HISTORY SHOWS
VIOLENT ACTS ON INNOCENT AND
ORDINARY PEOPLE DO NOT BRING
PROGRESSIVE CHANGE. ON THE
CONTRARY, WE NEED AN
INTERNATIONAL ANTIWAR MOVEMENT
WITH THE LABOR MOVEMENT OF
RANK-AND-FILE WORKERS LEADING
PROTESTS AND STRIKE ACTIONS. OUR
MOVEMENT OPPOSES VIOLENT ATTACKS
ON CIVILIANS. BOTH IN ISRAEL AND
PALESTINE. WHICH STANDS IN SHARP
CONTRAST TO THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE IMPERIALISM
THAT TAKES EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO
DEHUMANIZE AND IGNORE THE
OPPRESSION OF THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE. A STAGGERING 10,000
ORDINARY PEOPLE IN GAZA HAVE
BEEN KILLED AND OVER 1 MILLION
HAVE BEEN FORCED FROM THEIR
HOMES. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE
KILLED ARE WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND
THE ELDERLY. ISRAELI MILITARY
HAS BOMBED HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS,
AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. AS OTHERS
HAVE ALREADY SAID, WITH OVER
4100 CHILDREN AND OVER 4100
CHILDREN MASSACRED, JAMES ELDER,
A UNICEF SPOKESPERSON SAID, THE
GAZA STRIP IS NOW GRAVEYARD FOR
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN. IT IS A
LIVING FOR EVERYONE ELSE. AS
WORKING PEOPLE ALSO SAID DURING
PUBLIC COMMENT, IMPERIALISM IS A
SHARED AGENDA FOR THE REPUBLICAN
AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES, WHICH
ARE THE TWO BIG BUSINESS PARTIES
THAT CONTROL THIS AGENDA. AND
JOE BIDEN HAS BLOOD ON HIS
HANDS. NEARLY 800 PEOPLE HAVE
SENT THIS TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AND URGING THEM TO VOTE YES ON
THIS RESOLUTION. IS THE
JOURNALIST AND INTERPRETER BASED
IN GAZA SAID DIRECTLY TO MY
OFFICE IN A STATEMENT URGING THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON THIS
RESOLUTION. WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN GAZA IS UNCALLED FOR HUMAN
SUFFERING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE WAR BETWEEN GOOD AND
EVIL. IT'S A WAR BETWEEN
UNLEASHED MADNESS AND COMMON
SENSE. CIVILIANS ARE BEARING
THE BRUNT OF THE ONGOING
ESCALATION WHILE HUMANITIES
FACING A DIFFICULT TEST AND A
MORAL CHALLENGE. THE BALL IS NOW
IN YOUR COURT. SIDE WITH
HUMANITY AND BE THERE IS BE
THERE FOR THOSE WHO NEED YOUR
HUMANITY NOW. AND QUOTE.
CERTAINLY IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY
DIRECT LEGAL AUTHORITY TO FORCE
ISRAEL TO ACCEPT A CEASE-FIRE
OR FOR CONGRESS TO END THE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MILITARY
FUNDING FOR ISRAELIS WEAPONRY.
BUT THE RESOLUTION IS PART OF A
GLOBAL MOVEMENT DEMANDING A
CEASE-FIRE. THIS RESOLUTION IS
AFFIRMING THE SENTIMENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED BY MILITANTS
WHO HAVE MARCHED IN DOZENS OF
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. AND
THIS MOVEMENT IS HAVING A REAL
IMPACT. BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR IT
IS BECOMING LESS AND LESS
POLITICALLY VIABLE FOR DEMOCRATS
AND THE JOE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
PARTICULARLY. TO CONTINUE
FUNDING ISRAEL'S OCCUPATION AND
OPPRESSION OF THE PALESTINIANS.
TWO THIRDS OF AMERICANS SUPPORT
AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE AND A
POLL CONDUCTED TWO WEEKS AGO
BEFORE THIS REALLY MILITARY
ESCALATION. A RECORD HIGH
MEANING THE NUMBERS WILL MOVE
EVEN MORE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THE RECORD HIGH 41% OPPOSE THE
U.S. MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL.
INCLUDING THE OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE. IF YOU
LOOK AT THE POLES OF YOUNG
PEOPLE, THE MAJORITY ARE AGAINST
THE SQUARE. BIDEN'S APPROVAL
RATING AMONGST DEMOCRATS HAVE
PLUMMETED TO A NEW LOW IN THE
LAST FEW WEEKS AND AMONG
ARAB-AMERICANS, JAPAN'S APPROVAL
HAS SHRUNK FROM 59% IN 2022 JUST
17% TODAY WITH PEOPLE CHANTING,
NO CEASE-FIRE AND NO VOTE. AS
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC
RELATIONS SAID, THAT MEANS A
CEASE-FIRE NOW. NOT SEVERAL
WEEKS OR MONTHS FROM NOW WHEN
THERE IS A REAL DANGER OF A
WIDER MIDDLE EAST WORD. WHICH
WILL SHED A LOT MORE BLOOD.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO NEED TO BE
CLEAR THE FOR THE CAPITALIST
CLASS, THE ISRAELI AND
PALESTINIAN CONFLICT IS NOT
ABOUT RACE OR RELIGION. IT IS
ABOUT MAINTAINING AN
OVERWHELMING MILITARY PRESENCE
FOR IMPERIALISM IN THE OIL-RICH
MIDDLE EAST AND ALL OF THE
BLOODSHED AND HUMAN SUFFERING IS
SIMPLY COLLATERAL DAMAGE FOR THE
GLOBAL ELITE. THE WAR ALSO
POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT.
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE
CONTEXT OF HEIGHTENED TENSIONS
AND POLARIZATIONS GLOBALLY DUE
TO THE NEW COLD WAR BETWEEN
UNITED STATES AND CHINA. WHICH
IS ALREADY ESCALATED THE SKILL
AND DURATION OF WAR IN UKRAINE.
IN THIS IMPERIALIST WAR BETWEEN
THE TWO CLOCKS, ORDINARY PEOPLE
AND ALL OF THESE COUNTRIES ARE
GETTING SCREWED. THESE ARE THE
FORCES THAT ARE MOVEMENT HAS TO
CONTEND WITH AS WE FIGHT FOR AN
IN TO THE VIOLENCE. THIS IS WHY
BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
IN WASHINGTON, D.C. CURRENTLY
HAVE BILLS TO GIVE THE ISRAELI
MILITARY AN ADDITIONAL $14
BILLION IN WEAPONRY AND FUNDING
IN ADDITION TO THE $3.2 BILLION
PROVIDED EVERY YEAR. OUGHT TO
THINK THAT MANY OF PALESTINIAN,
JEWISH AND MUSLIM ANOTHER
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS
WHO HAD WORKED WITH MY OFFICE
FOR THIS RESOLUTION. AND TO
THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME TO SPEAK
IN PUBLIC COMMENT ON SUCH SHORT
NOTICE. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT
TO THANK THE NEARLY 800 PEOPLE
WHO WROTE TO THE CITY COUNCIL
IN LESS THAN A DAY. IN FACT IT
WAS IN LESS THAN A MATTER OF
HOURS. AS WE SAID, WE ARE PART
OF THE MOVEMENT OF COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD. LAST BUT NOT
LEAST, I WANT TO THINK THE
MILLIONS OF JEWISH MUSLIM AND
ALL OTHER ETHNICITIES AND PEOPLE
WHO HAVE MARCHED ACROSS THE
WORLD. WITHOUT REGARD TO
NATIONALITY AND ETHNICITY AND
OTHER DIVISIONS. AS OTHERS HAVE
SAID, WHAT IS INFLAMMATORY IS
CONTINUING THE WATER. BUT
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING
IS A UNITED VOICE AND IT IN TO
THE WAR AND BLOODSHED. SEATTLE
IS NOT SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD.
ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE HAVE A
DUTY TO VOTE YES ON THIS
RESOLUTION. SEATTLE IS HOME TO
MANY PEOPLE WITH FAMILY AND
FRIENDS IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE.
INCLUDING PEOPLE IN GRAVE
DANGER IN GAZA. I URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO NOT DELAY
SPEAKING OUT ON THIS DEVASTATING
ISSUE AND VOTE YES. HISTORY
WILL JUDGE YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
HISTORY WILL JUDGE THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY. ARE YOU GOING
TO REPRESENT THE MADNESS OF U.S.
IMPERIALISM AND THE GREATER
WEALTHY SHAREHOLDERS AND THEIR
PROFITS? ESPECIALLY IN
COMPANIES LIKE RAYTHEON AND
BOEING AND LOCKHEED MARTIN AND
THE ENTIRE CAPITALIST CLASS. OR
ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW COURAGE
AND STAND WITH THE TENS OF
MILLIONS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
WORLDWIDE WHO ARE SAYING THAT
WE NEED A CEASE-FIRE NOW AND
WHEN EVEN IN TO THE OCCUPATION.
WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE IN TO U.S.
FUNDING FOR THE ISRAELI
MILITARY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT. I HAVE ALLOWED
YOU TO SPEAK TO A MATTER THAT
HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED. BUT
BECAUSE OF THE NECESSITY AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO YOU AND TO
ALL OF US, I WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND GIVE YOU THAT
OPPORTUNITY. PROCEDURALLY, I
MUST FOLLOW THE RULES ON THE
RULES OF ORDER. MY
UNDERSTANDING RIGHT NOW IS THAT
ALTHOUGH I DID GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. IT'S THAT
I DID NOT HEAR A SECOND. AND FOR
THAT, THE MOTION DIES FOR LACK
OF A SECOND. THAT MEANS, FOR
THOSE OF YOU LISTENING,
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT HAD
A CHANCE TO SHARE HER WORDS. BUT
WE WILL NOT BE ADDRESSING OR
VOTING ON THIS RESOLUTION .
>> WE CANNOT HEAR YOU.
>> SORRY. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
WE WILL NOT BE VOTING ON THIS
RESOLUTION FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
IF THIS WERE TO HAVE BEEN
PASSED OR A SECOND, WORD WOULD
HAVE ADDRESSED IT WITH OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS IN THE VOTE AND
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. SO
I WILL TRY TO SHORTEN THIS. BUT
WE DO HAVE THINGS TO SAY AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT. EMOTION DOES
FAIL ON THE AGENDA. IF THIS HAS
TO DO WITH SOME OF THOSE
COMMENTS, THEN GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
>> JUST TO CONFIRM MY
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU SAID.
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE DOES
NOT ALLOW US TO SPEAK TO THE
MOTION IF THERE IS NO SECOND.
>> WE JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC FOR WHY
WE ARE NOT SPEAKING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT? BUT THEY
CANNOT HEAR YOU AND COUNCIL
CHAMBERS AT THIS TIME.
>> OKAY. LET'S TAKE A PAUSE AND
JUST LET ME KNOW IF WE HAVE TO
TAKE A RECESS, WE WILL. BUT I
WILL STICK AROUND HERE UNTIL WE
ARE READY.
>> WE ARE ASKING IF IT'S
POSSIBLE AT THE MOMENT TO ALLOW
A QUICK RECESS.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT IS 3:44 PM.
MADAME CLERK. WOULD YOU LIKE A
FIVE MINUTE RECESS? OR 10?
>> THANK YOU. FIVE MINUTE
RECESS.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT FOLKS. STAY ON THE
LINE. WE WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE
RECESS.
>> WE HAVE 65 PEOPLE SIGNED UP
TO SPEAK FURTHER ON THE AGENDA.
THAT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LONG
THERE. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
YOU THAT SPOKE AND ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DID GIVE THE
COURTESY OF KSHAMA SAWANT TO
SPEAK TO HER ISSUE. AND NOW WE
WILL MOVE ON. WITH THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, I SEE YOU
HAVE YOUR HAND UP AND WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE ON TO OUR GENDER.
>> CAN WE CONFIRM THAT PEOPLE
THAT SHOWED UP TO SPEAK AT THE
PUBLIC HEARING IN PERSON IS
STILL IN THE AUDIENCE? I HEARD
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE
LEAVING.
>> THAT IS OUT OF ORDER.
>> WE CANNOT DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
WE JUST HAVE TO GO WITH WHO WE
HAVE. BUT WE CANNOT GET THERE.
WE HAVE MORE THINGS TO GET
THROUGH. BUT THE CLERKS ARE
TELLING ME THAT THERE 65 PEOPLE
THAT HAVE CALLED AND. I SHOULD
JUST SAY IT RIGHT NOW THAT BASED
ON MY DISCUSSIONS WITH ONE OF
THE PROPONENTS OF ITEM NUMBER
FIVE, WE WERE GIVEN ONE MINUTE
TO SPEAK TO THEIR ISSUE. WE WILL
NOW MOVE ON. WILL ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION.
>> I KNOW MOVED TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND? WE GOT ONE
EARLIER.
>> ALL RIGHT. NOW THAT WE ARE
DONE WITH THAT, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED.
>> PRESIDENT DEBORA JUAREZ, I
RAISED MY HAND, BECAUSE I DO
HAVE AN OBJECTION .
>> OKAY.
>> I THINK IT IS REALLY SHAMEFUL
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MADE UP OF
EIGHT DEMOCRATS IS NOT EVEN ABLE
TO GIVE A COURTESY SECOND SO
THAT THE VOTE CAN HAPPEN. DO YOU
KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY DON'T
WANT TO BE CAUGHT IN A PUBLIC
RECORD OF HAVING VOTED AGAINST A
RESOLUTION TO END A CEASE-FIRE.
>> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT, I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT
WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> THE REASON THEY'RE NOT
WILLING TO TAKE A VOTE IS
PRECISELY BECAUSE OF SOMETHING
THAT MANY OF YOU ALREADY SAID IN
PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE ALL
MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
AT THE CITY COUNCIL LEVEL THEY
PRETENDED THIS ON NONPARTISAN.
BUT THERE ABSOLUTELY PARTISANS.
AS A MY, BUT I'M A SOCIALIST.
I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY. THERE EXPECTED
TO BE LOYAL TO THE AGENDA OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY. AND THEY WILL
NOT BE CAUGHT VOTING YES ON THIS
RESOLUTION AND THEY ALSO DON'T
WANT TO BE CAUGHT VOTING NO.
BECAUSE THE OR ALSO, THE
POLITICAL PRICE TAG. WE HAVE TO
MAKE SURE IT THAT TODAY, THE
REFUSAL TO EVEN GIVE US A SECOND
TO HAVE A VOTE, ITSELF SHOULD
COME WITH A HEFTY PRICE TAG. NOT
JUST TO THESE COUNCILMEMBERS,
BUT LET'S TAKE THIS MESSAGE TO
OUTSIDE. LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR
THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANY
MORE THAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,
IT IS NOT THE REPRESENTATIVE OF
WORKING PEOPLE AND OPPRESSED
PEOPLE AND AGAINST IMPERIALISM.
WE NEED A PARTY ON THE LEFT THAT
IS ACTUALLY OF OPPOSED TO
IMPERIALISM. AND ACTUALLY AS
OPPOSED TO THE BALL IN THE CLASS
TO FUND THE NEEDS OF ORDINARY
PEOPLE. WHETHER THEY ARE
AMERICAN OR ISRAELI OR
PALESTINIAN. THAT IS THE KIND OF
WORLD THAT WE NEED ON THE
STARTING POINT IN THE UNITED
STATES IS FOR IS WORKING PEOPLE
AND THE LABOR LABOR MOVEMENT AND
COMMUNITIES. TO FIGHT FOR NO
PARTY FOR THE WORKING CLASS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT. WITH THAT,
PLEASE CALL ROLE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR AND ONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED. NOW LET'S MOVE ON.
AND WE WILL DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
>> THERE'S CHANTING GOING ON. IF
YOU WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE, I
WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN IT STOPS.
>> OKAY, IT STOPPED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WITH NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
MOVING ON IN OUR GENDER.
-- OUR AGENDA.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
>> MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. ITEMS INCLUDE THE
MINUTE OF OCTOBER 24th. AND WE
HAVE COUNCIL BILLS AND PAYROLL
BILL 90628 AND COUNCIL BILL
10699. ARE THERE ANY
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE ANYTHING FROM TODAY'S
CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> NOT SEEING ANY HANDS, ANYONE
WANTING TO REMOVE ANYTHING, I'M
OF TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL ROLE ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU. THE CONSENT
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES AND LEGISLATION OF THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF.
IN OUR GENDER WE MOVE INTO
COMMUNITY REPORTS ONLY HAVE FOUR
AND THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE ALL
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. PLEASE
REPORT TO THE RECORD.
>> THE CLERK FILE 314474.
APPLICATION FOR A CONTRACTOR IS
ON OF A SITE RELOCATED THAT
2210 EAST CHERRY STREET FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ONE OF
THE 40 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT AND
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
SUFFIX. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
THAT CITY COUNCIL GRANT IS
CONDITIONED THE CLERK FILE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WAS JUST FIXING SOMETHING IN
MY BACKGROUND. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES. THIS IS A SITE
LOCATED AT 23rd AND UNION.
SORRY. MY APOLOGIES. THESE ARE
LITTLE BIT MIXED UP. 23rd AND
JACKSON. THE ADDRESS IS 2210
EAST CHERRY STREET. IT'S A
CONTRACT ZONE CLERK FILE.
RELATING TO THE COUNCIL BILL
697 AND I WILL ADDRESS BOTH OF
THESE ITEMS RIGHT NOW. SO THAT
YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO
ME. THIS THE PROPOSED ZONE WITH
BOTH PORTIONS OF THE LOT TO
ALLOW THE EASTERN PORTION WHICH
IS THE IN ZONE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH
A 40 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT AND
MANDATORY HOUSING. AND THE
WESTERN PORTION OF THE ZONE WITH
A 40 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT . AND THE
PROPOSED ZONING IS FOR
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ONE WITH
A 65 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT. THIS
WOULD FACILITATE THE USE OF A
MIXED-USE BUILDING DESIGNING AND
AFRO FUTURIST ALL OF 114
APARTMENTS AND GROUND-FLOOR
COMMERCIAL SPACE. WE RECOMMEND
APPROVAL ON JUNE 8th IN THE
HEARING EXAMINER HELD AN OPEN
RECORD HEARING ON JULY 19th AND
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL ON AUGUST
17th. THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE WAS
BRIEFED WITH CONDITIONAL
APPROVAL ON OCTOBER 20th AND
THAT WAS THE AMENDMENT TO THE
COUNCIL BILL WHICH IS THE
EXECUTED PROPER USE AND
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE
COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU. ANY ITEMS? I
ASSUME YOU ARE GOOD AND YOU
DON'T NEED ANY CLOSING REMARKS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLE OF THE
GRANTING OF THE GROUP FILE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] SEVEN IN FAVOR
AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE CLERK FILE IS
GRANTED AS POSITIONED AND THEY
WILL HAVE THE DECISION OF THE
COUNCIL. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
FINDINGS IN CONCLUSION AND
DECISION OF THE COUNCIL ON MY
BEHALF. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER
TWO. PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER TWO
INTO THE RECORD.
>> THIS APPLICATION FOR THE
ZONING PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED AT
1000 NORTHEAST FROM
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL THREE
WITH 55 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT AND
MANDATORY HOUSING WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL THREE
WITH THE 65 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT
AND MANDATORY AFFORDABILITY. THE
CITY RECOMMENDS THEY GRANT IS
CONDITIONED THE CLERK FILE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THIS IS A CONTRACT ZONE WITH
THE CLERK FILING RELATING TO
THE COUNCIL BILL AND YES, WE
HAVE FOUR ITEMS IN THE
COMMITTEE BEFORE US TODAY.
THESE ARE TWO PACKAGES
ESSENTIALLY AND I WILL ADDRESS
BOTH THE CLERK FILE AND THE
COUNCIL BILL RIGHT NOW. THIS IS
A REZONED PROPERTY AT NORTHGATE
WITH WAY AND ROSE AWAY WAY. IT
IS REZONED WITH A 55 FOOT HEIGHT
LIMIT WITH THE 65 FOOT HEIGHT
LIMIT AND ONE SUFFIX. THE
REASONING QUOTES THE
DEVELOPMENT OF 184 UNIT
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITH MIXED
OF UNITS OF AFFORDABLE AT OR
BELOW 60% AND 80% OF THE AREA
MEDIAN INCOME AND THREE BEDROOM
UNITS. HEARING EXAMINER BOTH
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH NO
APPEAL OF THE HEARING EXAMINER'S
DECISION IN THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL ON OCTOBER
20th. THIS ALSO HAS THE
AMENDMENT TO ADD THE EXECUTED
PROPERTIES AND DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT AS PRESENTED ON THE
AGENDA. THANK YOU AND THE FINAL
COMMENTS ONCE YOU ARE DONE.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
AND DISTRICT 5. WE HAD
ANTICIPATED THIS AND THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. DID NOT THINK I'LL BE
AROUND TO SEE THE DAY THIS WOULD
HAPPEN AND THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS FOR MY COLLEAGUES
BEFORE I GO TO A VOTE? NOT
SEEING ANY, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE IN THE
GRANTING OF THE CLERK FILE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON. .
>> [ ROLL CALL ] SEVEN IN FAVOR
AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.. CLERK FINDING IS
FILED WITH THE DECISION OF
COUNSEL. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS AND
DECISION OF THE COUNCIL ON MY
BEHALF. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER
THREE. AGAIN WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS TO PLEASE
ITEM ENTER ITEM NUMBER THREE
INTO THE RECORD. RELATING TO
THE LAND USE AND ZONING OF
CHAPTER 23.32 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE AT PAGE 112 OF
THE OFFICIAL LAND-USE MAP TO
REZONED PARCELS LOCATED AT 2210
EAST CHERRY STREET.
>> THANK YOU. I'M OF TO PASS THE
COUNCIL BILL AND IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? THANK
YOU FOR MOVED TO AMEND THE BILL
WITH THE EXECUTED PROPERTIES AND
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AS
PRESENTED BY THE AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
TO SUBSTITUTE B AS PRESENTED ON
THE AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO
THE AMENDMENT?
>> THIS IS A CONTRACTUAL
CONTRACT BETWEEN JUST STATING
THAT THE DEVELOPER WILL DO WITH
THE COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED. SO IT
IS MORE PROCEDURAL. I WILL SET
MY COMMENTS FOR THE NEXT TIME
AROUND AS WELL.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE RULE ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA..
>> [ ROLL CALL ] SEVEN IN FAVOR
AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
THE BILL IS AMENDED IS BEFORE
THE COUNCIL. THERE ARE NO OTHER
COMMENTS ON THE AMENDED BILL AND
COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS IS
GOOD WITH NO MORE CLOSING
REMARKS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE RULE ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL IS AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] SEVEN IN FAVOR
AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> YOU. THE BILL PASSES AS
AMENDED AND PLEASE AFFIX BY THE
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF. LET'S MOVE ON TO
ITEM NUMBER FOUR. PLEASE READ
ITEM NUMBER FOUR INTO THE
RECORD.
>> RELATING TO LAND USE AND
ZONING AMENDING CHAPTER 33.2 OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE ON
PAGE 16 OF THE OFFICIAL LAND-USE
MAP TO REZONE THE PROPERTY WITH
1020 NORTHEAST GATEWAY FROM
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL THREE.
>> I MOVED TO PAST COUNCIL BILL
120696. IS THE SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WE MOVED TO AMEND THE EXECUTED
PROPERTY AGREEMENT AS
POTENTIALLY ON THE AGENDA WITH
THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY
AND THE DEVELOPER. TO STATING
THAT THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY HAVE
TO DO. THANK YOU AND NO FURTHER
COMMENTS NEEDED.
>> THERE WILL BE SOME CONFUSION
HERE BECAUSE WE EDITED YOUR
SUBSTITUTE. ITEM FOR DOES NOT
SHOW ME THAT YOU HAD AN
AMENDMENT TO IT . YOU HAD AN
AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER THREE
BUT NOT NUMBER FOUR.
>> FANTASTIC. YOU SEE THIS HERE
WITH THIS STRAIGHTFORWARD --
>> IT WAS ALREADY SIGNED.
>> YOU ARE ALREADY GOOD ON THAT
ONE.
>> THERE IS A SECOND HE HAD IT
AND SPOKE TO THAT AND WE ARE
GUESSING YOU HAD NO CLOSING
REMARKS AND YOU COULD GO TO A
VOTE.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU AND MY
APOLOGIES FOR THE CONFUSION.
>> THAT IS MY JOB APPEAR,
APPARENTLY. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE OF THE
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] SEVEN IN FAVOR
AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE BILL PASSES
AND PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE BILL ON MY BEHALF. NOW
WILL GET TO THE PUBLIC HEARING
AND I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS TO
SAY. FIRST, MADAME CLERK.
WILLIAM REED ITEM 5 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 5. AMENDING THE
SEATTLE CONFERENCE A PLAN TO
INCORPORATE CHANGES RELATED TO
THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT
PROGRAM PROPOSED AS PART OF THE
2022-2023 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
ANNUAL AMENDMENT PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE OPEN
PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM WE
WILL HAVE THE COUNCIL AND THE
PUBLIC OVERVIEW OF THE BILL AND
THEN WE WILL ALLOW
COUNCILMEMBERS, IF INDEED THE
HAVE QUESTIONS, TO ASK THEM.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AND THEN I
WILL ASK THE COSPONSOR THE BILL
TO PROVIDE SOME INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS. THE PROCESS TODAY IS
THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION ON
THE COUNCILMEMBERS CAN ASK
QUESTIONS AND WILL GO TO A
PUBLIC HEARING. ALSO, WHAT I
WANTED TO ADD AND I WANTED TO
THINK CENTRAL STAFF FOR
PROVIDING THIS FOR ME. IT'S A
QUICK OVERVIEW FOR THE PUBLIC
AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AS
WELL. THE CHRONOLOGY OF
COUNTABLE 120 65. SEEMS TO BE A
LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION WHICH
I'M SURE COUNCILMEMBER LISA
HERBOLD WILL RESPOND TO A LOT OF
THAT OUTSTANDING HISTORY. BUT
HERE'S SOME OF THE CHRONOLOGY
THAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH THIS
YEAR, 2023. MARCH 21 OF 2023,
THE TRANSPORTATION IN SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE
RECEIVED A PRESENTATION ON THE
DRAFT IMPACT STUDY AND REVIEWED
A POTENTIAL PROJECT LIST FOR
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES. ON
MAY 17th OF 2023, COUNCIL BILL
10625 WAS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY
CLERK AND SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS. ON AUGUST 8th OF
2023, THE CITY COUNCIL FORMALLY
REFERRED COUNCIL BILL 12365 TO
THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE. ON
SEPTEMBER 13th, THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE HEARD COUNCIL BILL
120635. AT THAT MEETING, OR
AMAZING COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF
PROVIDED A BRIEFING ON THE BILL
AND IT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE
COMMITTEE. TODAY, THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS CONDUCTED A PUBLIC
HEARING, WHICH WAS PUBLICLY
ADVERTISED WITH 30 DAYS
ADVANCED NOTICE. BEFORE WE START
THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE WILL
AGAIN RECEIVE A PRESENTATION ON
THE BILL BY CENTRAL STAFF AND
AGAIN THE COUNCILMEMBERS MAY
THEN ASK QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE
START OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION AND
QUESTIONS , WE WILL BEGIN THE
PUBLIC HEARING.
>> ON NOVEMBER 21st IN RESPONSE
TO CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN
RAISED BY GROUPS SUCH AS SEATTLE
FOR EVERYONE, BECAUSE COULD
BICYCLE CLUB, TRANSPORTATION
CHOICES, THE URBANISTS, THE
SEATTLE SUBWAY. THE AMENDMENT
RELATES TO THE CURRENT POLICY
AND WHAT THE POLICY IS SUPPOSED
TO BE CHANGED TO. THE CURRENT
POLICY SAYS TO CONSIDER USE OF
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT. THE
PROPOSED VERSION OF COUNCIL BILL
1206 FIVE REPLACES THE WORDS TO
CONSIDER THE USE OF WITH USE. SO
IT WOULD READ USE THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT BASE.
BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN THAT WE
HAVE HEARD FROM FOLKS, MY
AMENDMENT WILL RETURN THE
LANGUAGE WORDS IS USED
TRANSPORTATION FEES. TO THE
CURRENT LANGUAGE OF CONSIDER USE
OF. THE ABILITY TO ENACT THIS
AMENDMENT WITH THE CONSIDER USE
LANGUAGE AND TO STILL FULFILL
THE PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT
CONFIRMS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO EXPLAIN. WITH EITHER
LANGUAGE. WHETHER THIS CONSIDER
USE OR USE. THIS BILL DOES NOT
CREATE ANY OBLIGATION TO CREATE
A TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE
PROGRAM. THE HEARING EXAMINER
SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT ADOPTION
OF GENERALIZED POLICIES OF A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DO NOT
REQUIRE OR EVEN GUARANTEE THAT
IMPLEMENTING ORDINANCES BE
ADOPTED. THERE IS NO IMPERATIVE
NOR REQUIREMENTS OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICIES BE
IMPLEMENTED THROUGH SUBSEQUENT
REGULATIONS. THEY MAY, BUT
THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO.
NEVERTHELESS, THE CHANGE OF THE
POLICIES IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION. ABOUT THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE
PROGRAM. AS A GESTURE OF GOOD
FAITH, OFFER THE AMENDMENT TO
OFFER THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS OF
SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS. THE BILL
BEFORE US TODAY DOES NOTHING
MORE THAN ADD A LIST OF 25 I CAN
PEDESTRIAN AND TRANSIT AND
FREIGHT PROJECTS. TO OUR
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
IDENTIFYING THEM AS ELIGIBLE FOR
FUNDING. UNDER FUTURE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE IF ONE
WAS CREATED. THE BILL RESTATES
STATE LAW TO EXEMPTIONS FOR LOW
INCOME HOUSING AND OTHER PUBLIC
PURPOSES AND IT DESCRIBES A
POSSIBLE POLICY OF CONSIDERING
LOCATIONAL DISCOUNTS FOR URBAN
CENTERS. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW
MANY EMAILS WE HAVE RECEIVED
COMMENTING ON WHETHER OR NOT
PEOPLE WANT TO TRANSPORTATION
IMPACT FEE OR OPPOSE A
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE. THERE
IS NO TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE
BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY.
PEOPLE HAVE POINTED TO THE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
IMPACT PROGRAM AS A REASON TO
NOT SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD ALLOW DISCUSSION OF THE
VERY QUESTIONS ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES. ANY
PROPOSAL TO CREATE SUCH A
PROGRAM WOULD NEED TO BE A
SEPARATE FUTURE ACTION. FOR THIS
REASON, QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MUCH
IT SHOULD BE AND IF IT IS GOOD
ECONOMIC SENSE TO ENACT THIS
FEELING THIS REAL ESTATE
ENVIRONMENT. WHAT ELSE ABOUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COULD BE
EXEMPT? THAT THESE BELOW IN
SOME AREAS TO INCENTIVIZE
DEVELOPMENT? HOW SHOULD IT BE
COLLECTED AND AT WHAT STAGE OF
DEVELOPMENT? THESE ARE QUESTIONS
FOR ANOTHER DAY. WILL NOT EVEN
BE ABLE TO GET TO THE PROCESS
ABOUT HAVING A QUESTION ABOUT
THIS UNTIL WE HAVE PASSED THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT.
THOSE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WOULD REQUIRE A SEPARATE FUTURE
PROCESS AND ACTION. ASKING THESE
QUESTIONS NOW IN OPPOSITION TO
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT ALIGNED
WITH THE PROCESS AHEAD NECESSARY
TO DELIBERATE AND PASS AND
OPPOSE THE IMPACT FEE PROGRAM.
THIS IS ALL I HAVE GOT TODAY.
WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
WILL HAND IT BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
AND WE SEE COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA HAS HER HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WAS
NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HERE TODAY
AND SO THIS IS NOT THE ONLY
REASON I'M PARTICIPATING IN
TODAY'S CONVERSATION. BECAUSE
I'M FRUSTRATED, COLLEAGUES. I'M
FRUSTRATED THAT I SPENT THE LAST
SIX IS ON COUNSEL WORKING HARD
ON MY TEAM TO PUSH AND PASS PRO
HOUSING POLICIES. WE HAVE DONE
THAT AND FOCUSED ON HOUSING
INVESTMENTS DIRECTLY AND
FOCUSING ON AMENDMENTS TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I FEEL LIKE
WHEN ASKED QUESTIONS, AND THIS
IS NOT TARGETED AT ANY ONE
PERSON. BUT WHEN ASKED
QUESTIONS, I'M BEING TREATED AS
IF IT IS UNREASONABLE. THIS
QUESTIONS ARE COMING FROM
COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE WHO ARE
VERY INTERESTED IN WANTING TO
ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO
IMPEDIMENT TO BUILDING HOUSING.
THESE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
ARE CENTRAL TO ADDRESS AND
SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN
THE COMMITTEE SETTING AND NOT IN
THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET. I DON'T
THINK IT SHOULD COME AS ANY
SURPRISE TO ANYONE THAT THERE
WILL BE AMENDMENTS FOR ME AS
WELL. I HAD 20 QUESTIONS THAT
ARE RAISED AND I DON'T BELIEVE
THEY HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH THE
FULL COUNSEL. I'M HAPPY TO START
GOING THROUGH THIS TODAY AS PART
OF THE CONVERSATION THAT I
BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE HAVING
BEFORE WE GET INTO POLICY
CONTENT. AND BEFORE WE HAVE A
ROBUST DISCUSSION TO THE PUBLIC
HEARING. TO SAY THERE HAS BEEN A
CONVERSATION ON THIS TOPIC FOR
YEARS. OR TO DISMISS CONCERNS BY
SAYING THE LAST COMMITTEE WAS IN
THE SPRING IS JUST NOT GOOD
ENOUGH. MY QUESTIONS HAVE NOT
BEEN ANSWERED IN FULL AND MY
CONCERNS ARE NOT ALLEVIATED.
SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE THE
ONLY TIME I HAVE IN THE QUESTION
AT THE END OF THE YEAR, I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE IT. WANT TO
REITERATE MY CONCERN OF THE
PATIENT TIME OF THIS SUBSTANTIVE
POLICY IN THE SERIOUS IMPACT IT
HAS THE ABILITY TO CREATE THE
NEEDED HOUSING TO ALLEVIATE THE
HOUSING CRISIS IN OUR IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES. WANT TO EXPRESS
I'M VERY OPEN TO ENGAGING IN THE
DISCUSSION IDEALLY TO THE LAND
USE COMMITTEE. I'M A MEMBER OF
THE COMMITTEE AND TO GET INTO
THE POLICY WEEDS WITH THE POLICY
DETAILS. I DON'T TICKETS
APPROPRIATE TO BE DOING SO IN
THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET ON THE
MIDDLE OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
THAT IS GOING LONG. AND TO DO SO
IN SUCH A SHORT TIMELINE. GIVEN
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS RELAYED IN THE TO
THE IMPACT FEE LEGISLATION, I
BELIEVE WE NEED MORE TIME ON
THIS POLICY. MORE THAN ONE
PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT. IN
COMPARISON, WHEN THE COUNCIL
PASSES THE AFFORDABILITY
LEGISLATION CITYWIDE, WE HAD 20
COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO DISCUSS
AND UNDERSTAND THE POLICY
IMPACTS WITH COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS THAT WE
JOINED IN ON AT THE END OF 2016
AND 2017. THIS YEAR, WE ARE
ENGAGING IN A ROBUST BUDGET. AS
WE SPEAK THESE ARE BEING
FINALIZED AND WE HAVE BEEN IN
BACK-TO-BACK MEETINGS THROUGHOUT
THE LAST SIX WEEKS TO TRY TO GET
TO THE BUDGET PROCESS AND NEXT
WEEK WE ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT AMENDMENTS
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO
VOTE ON THIS LEGISLATION IN
FRONT OF US. I DON'T THINK THERE
HAS BEEN SUFFICIENT TIME TO GET
TO THE WEEDS OF THE POLICY
CONVERSATION IN THE BUDGET AND
I BELIEVE HER WORK WOULD BE
BETTER SERVED BY WORKING TO
DEVELOP AND PASS THE 2024
BUDGET IN THE NEXT MONTH HERE
AND FOCUS ON THE POLICY NEXT
YEAR WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
IS UP. BASED ON THE SINGLE
DISCUSSION WE HAD IN THE LAND
USE COMMITTEE, I SUBMITTED
AROUND 20 QUESTIONS TO THIS AND
THE PROJECT LIST FOR EXAMPLE
THAT IS PART OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT I HAD. HAD A NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT WAS
DEVELOPED. IT TURNS OUT IT WAS
DEVELOPED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
SOME OF THE PROJECT LIST ON THE
LISTS IN FRONT OF US HAVE
PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
FULLY FUNDED SINCE THEN. NEW
PROJECTS HAVE NO DOUBT EMERGED
AND WE RAISED QUESTIONS AND
CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT HAVE
BEEN COMPLETED AND WHAT THE
RACIAL EQUITY ANALYSIS HAS BEEN
SINCE THE INITIAL LIST WAS
DEVELOPED IN 2016. I UNDERSTAND
WE HAVE ADDED THE DOCKETING TO
REQUEST THE DEVELOPMENT OF
POLICY FOR CONSIDERATION BY
COUNSEL. HOWEVER, I STILL THINK
WE NEED TO HAVE THE TIME AND
ANALYSIS TO UNDERSTAND THE
DELIVERY AND MAKE AMENDMENTS. I
DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE ABILITY
TO DO THAT IN EARNEST AND WITH
THE TIME THAT IT NECESSITATES.
BUT EVEN THOUGH I AM THE BUDGET
CHAIR, I WILL ENGAGE IN BRINGING
FORWARD AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE NOT FURTHER
COMPROMISING OUR ABILITY TO
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS
WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR
ABILITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING .
WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS AND DURING THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE MEETING, WE
POSED THE QUESTIONS IN PUBLIC
AND I APPRECIATE THE CENTRAL
STUFF HAS PROVIDED A RESPONSE TO
THOSE ON OCTOBER 13th. THAT IS
NOT SUFFICIENT TIME FOR EITHER
ME OR MY TEAM OR THE FULL
COUNSEL TO HAVE A FULL
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE POLICY
QUESTIONS ARE. AND I DO HAVE A
NUMBER OF FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
THAT I'M HAPPY TO POSE HERE
TODAY. IT WAS NOT MY INTENT TO
BE HERE TODAY, GIVEN EVERYTHING
ELSE GOING ON. I DO APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY WITH CENTRAL
STAFF IN SHORT NOTICE TO BE ABLE
TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS AND I'M
HAPPY TO ENGAGE ON THE
STATEMENTS IN FRONT OF US. WE
HAVE THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON
HOUSING AND THE CONCERN OF
PROCESS AND TIMELINE AND THE
CALL FOR COUNSEL TO ENGAGE IN
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT TO
INCLUDE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
SARA CUPP. THE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM. AND THE
SEATTLE METRO CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE COMMERCE. AND THE
URBANIST SEATTLE COALITION FOR
HOUSING. AND WITH THAT, MADAM
PRESIDENT, I'M HAPPY TO WAIT FOR
THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO ASK MY
20 OR SO QUESTIONS THAT I STILL
HAVE. 'S NEW IS THERE ANYWAY YOU
CAN ASK ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS
OFF-LINE?
>> THAT'S THE POINT, MADAM
PRESIDENT. WE DID SUBMIT THE 20
QUESTIONS ONLINE. WE DID RECEIVE
FEEDBACK, BUT I DON'T TO GET
HAS BEEN SHARED WITH THE FULL
COUNSEL. I THINK IT'S
APPROPRIATE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS
AND ALLOW CENTRAL STUFF TO WALK
THROUGH EACH OF THE ANSWERS. I'M
COUNTING 20 QUESTIONS EXACTLY
AND AM HAPPY TO READ THOSE AGAIN
FOR THE RECORD INTO THE PUBLIC
COMMENT HERE. BUT DOES THE TYPE
OF THINGS THAT I THINK OUR
COUNSEL SHOULD BE DISCUSSING AND
DELIBERATING BEFORE WE ARE ASKED
TO MAKE A VOTE INTEREST TWO
WEEKS.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. WE WILL HAVE
THE FLOOR OVER TO MR. FRIEDMAN.
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST NEED TO CORRECT THE
RECORD. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING
THAT YOU SAID, COUNCILMEMBER
LISA HERBOLD. YOU DID SAY THAT
THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
REGARDING THE RATE ORDINANCE ARE
NOT APPROPRIATE TODAY. FROM MY
POSITION AS A LAND-USE CHAIR,
AND IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, I FIND
THAT TO BE INCORRECT. AND NOT
CORRECT UNTIL I SEE YOUR HAND
GOING UP. BUT WHAT I AM HERE TO
SHARE WITH YOU AND COLLEAGUES IS
THE REASON I AM STATING THAT
THIS IS NOT A PROCEDURAL MOTION
TO PASS THE COMP PLAN WITHOUT AT
LEAST A DRAFT RATE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS BECAUSE EVERY TIME.
WEATHER WAS MANDATORY HOUSING OF
PORTABILITY OR THE INDUSTRIAL
MARITIME WORK THIS YEAR OR THE
MAJOR UPDATE TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WHEN WE
PASS EITHER THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN AMENDMENTS THAT REQUIRE THE
ZONING CHANGES THERE IS AT LEAST
A DRAFT OR ZONING CHANGE IN
PLACE. THESE TWO THINGS ARE
PAIRED AND THIS IS WHY WE ARE
NOT VIEWING WHAT IS GOING ON AS
PROCEDURAL. AND IT IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE PASS THESE TWO
THINGS IN TANDEM. EVEN IF THERE
IS NOT A PERMANENT OR FINAL
RATE COUNSEL BUILD THAT THERE IS
AT LEAST A DRAFT. WE WILL LEAVE
THAT THERE.
>> WE WILL LET COUNCILMEMBER
LISA HERBOLD CLOSE THIS OUT AND
THIS IS WHY I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN
WE WALKED THINGS ON AS THE FULL
COUNSEL TURNING INTO THE
COMMITTEE. GO AHEAD AND MAKE
YOUR COMMENTS AND WILL HANDED
OVER TO YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE OF THE SIZE OF THE FEET --
FEE . THE SIZE OF THE FEE IS NOT
CONTEMPLATED WITH THIS
LEGISLATION. THE REFERENCE TO
THE MHA TYPE OF PROCESS INTO
LIBERATION. THIS IS NOT
RELEVANT TO THE COMP PLAN WE ARE
MAKING TODAY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF
A PROGRAM AND THE SIZE OF THE
FEE. WHEN THE FEE WOULD BE
COLLECTED. ALL OF THOSE THINGS
ARE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE PROGRAM. THE BILL BEFORE US
DOES THREE THINGS. IT AMENDS THE
COMP PLAN TO ADD THE PROJECT
LIST ENTER REFERENCE STATE LAW
THAT SAYS THAT WE CAN HAVE
EXEMPTIONS. ENTER REFERENCE THE
FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE LOCATIONAL
DISCOUNTS. EVERYTHING ELSE COMES
AFTER THAT. IT REALLY UPSETS ME
TO HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT THIS
IMPACTS THE COST OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WE HAVE NOT SET OF FEE.
THERE IS NO FEE SET. SO THERE
IS NO WAY THAT WE CAN KNOW
WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD SET A
FEE IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT HAVE
A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. I JUST REALLY THINK
WE'RE DOING A BIG DISSERVICE TO
THE PUBLIC BY CONTINUING TO
SUGGEST THAT THEY ARE MAKING THE
DECISIONS TODAY. BUT WERE
CLEARING THE WAY SO THAT NEXT
YEAR'S COUNSEL CAN DELIBERATE ON
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO
DEVELOP A PROGRAM. THIS IS A
PROCEDURAL MOTION. AND THE
HEARING EXAMINER RULED ON THAT.
THAT THIS IS A PROCEDURAL
ACTION AND THERE IS NO
OBLIGATION TO CREATE A PROGRAM.
THEY WOULD BE IN CONFLICT WITH
THE COMP PLAN PROJECT AND WE
HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HAVE THIS
HEARING. WE HAVE MADE ATTEMPTS
TO HAVE THIS HEARING ACCORDING
TO THE NORMAL PROCESS. I AM VERY
GRATEFUL TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT DEBORA JUAREZ IN
ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS HEARING
TODAY. BUT IT IS NOT OUR
PREFERENCE EITHER. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. I WILL ADD SOMETHING
AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON. THANK
YOU FOR PROVIDING US WITH THE
HEARING EXAMINER'S DECISION AND
WE ALL HAVE THAT. AND I ALSO
LEARNED THAT YOUR 20 QUESTIONS
WILL BE SHARED WITH THE REST OF
YOUR COLLEAGUES. WE ALL HAVE
YOUR QUESTIONS IN FRONT OF US.
>> WILL THOSE ALL BE SHARED WITH
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC?
>> HOW WILL CENTRAL STUFF WALK
THROUGH THAT ?
>> I HAVE ASKED THE CLERK IF YOU
POST THE 20 QUESTIONS ONLINE.
BUT AS A COURTESY, WE GOT WORD
FROM CENTRAL STAFF AND FROM THE
DIRECTOR THAT IF IT MAKES IT
EASIER TO GO AHEAD AND SHARE THE
20 QUESTIONS WITH THE COLLEAGUES
AND IF YOU WANT THAT POSTED AS
WELL. WE CAN STILL ENTERTAIN THE
QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE TODAY. WE
ARE JUST STATING THAT SO THAT WE
LOOK AT THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT
YOU HAVE. NOT TRYING TO COMMENT
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. IT'S A
COURTESY AND WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU KNEW THAT.
>> THANK YOU. IF CENTRAL STAFF
IS ABLE TO WALK THROUGH THOSE
QUESTIONS BRIEFLY, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
>> OKAY. I WILL MOVE IT FORWARD.
AND COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I
WILL LET YOU FINISH LET YOU WRAP
IT UP WITH US. I UNDERSTAND
WHERE ISSUES ARE. AND THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THIS
SPONSORS ARE LISA HERBOLD AND
ALEX PEDERSEN. AND WITH THAT,
YOU KNOW RECOGNIZE TO BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> WITH THE COUNCIL AND CENTRAL
STUFF. I THINK WHAT I'LL DO IS
JUST BRIEFLY RUN THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION I GAVE TO THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ON
SEPTEMBER 17th. MOST OF IT IS
UNCHANGED THE ONLY CHANGES THE
PERMANENT DECISION FROM THE
HEARING EXAMINER. IT SOUNDS LIKE
THERE IS AN INTEREST IN WALKING
THROUGH THE QUESTIONS POSED TO
CENTRAL STUFF AND I CAN WALK
THROUGH THAT AS WELL IF IT IS
USEFUL TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LET ME OPEN UP MY SCREEN HERE.
HERE'S THE QUESTION FROM
SEPTEMBER 11th TO THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. WE
HAVE AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF
WHAT THE BILL DOES. MOST OF WHAT
I WILL BE PROVIDING HERE'S FOR
CONTEXT. BUT LET THE COUNCIL
KNOW THE DELIBERATION OF THE
IMPACT FEE THAT HAS BEEN GOING
ON FOR QUITE A WHILE. THEN
INITIATED A CONVERSATION ABOUT
THE IMPACT FEES IN 2014 AND
2018. THE COUNCIL TOOK A RUN AT
AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AND THERE WAS AN APPEAL THAT WAS
ULTIMATELY IN THE COUNCIL IN
THAT EFFORT. IT WAS DORMANT FOR
A WHILE AND IT WAS INITIATED
AGAIN FOR THE TWO SPONSORS OF
THE BILL. LAST YEAR. AND AGAIN
THERE WAS AN APPEAL YESTERDAY
WITH THE AFFIRMATIVE DECISION.
NOW THE COUNCIL IS FREE TO TAKE
THIS UP, AT LEAST FOR THE
MOMENT. WHAT ARE THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES? THEY
ARE FUNDING THE NEW
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH
DURING THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT
AND THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT
FEES INCLUDE PARKS AND
FACILITIES AND SCHOOLS. IT'S
ESSENTIALLY A THREE-STEP PROCESS
TO IMPLEMENT THE TRANSPORTATION
IMPACT PROGRAM. FIRST YOU NEED A
RATE STUDY. AND YOU NEED TO
ALSO AMEND THE CONFERENCE OF
PLAN TO INCLUDE THE PROJECT LIST
AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
THIS IS WHERE WE ARE NOW. IS A
FURTHER STEP BEYOND THAT WHICH
IS DEVELOPMENT AND PASSAGE OF
IMPLEMENTING REGULATION.
>> WHAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT
COULD BE EXEMPTED? THIS COULD BE
SERVING HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOMES
UP TO 80% OF AMI. ALONG WITH
OTHER USES THAT HAVE A BROAD
PUBLIC PURSE PURPOSE. THEY HAVE
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND
LOOKING OUT WHY THEY DO THAT.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE
WILL GO INTO WITH RESPECT TO
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA'S
QUESTIONS, THE REASON THEY DO IT
IS THEY ASSUME THE PRINCIPAL
FAMILY RESIDENT IS ALREADY
COVERED HOW MUCH REVENUE COULD
THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE
GENERATE? IT REALLY DEPENDS ON
FUTURE DECISIONS MADE BY THE
COUNCIL WOULD TWO MAIN FACTORS.
THE FEE LEVEL IS SET BY THE
CITY. THE CITY SETS THE FIBA LOW
CEILING ESTABLISHED BY THE RATE
STUDY. AND ALSO THE RATE OF
FUTURE EMPLOYMENT ON RESIDENTIAL
GROWTH. IMPACT FEES ARE LUMP A
SOURCE OF REVENUE AND THE CITIC
WOULD GET REVENUE FROM IMPACT
FEE PROGRAM ONLY WHEN THERE IS
DEVELOPMENT OCCURRING. COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES HERE FOR SET THE RATE
SIMILAR TO BELLINGHAM'S. AT THE
COURSE OF OVER 10 YEARS
GENERATING $200 MILLION TO
SETTLE RATE CENTRAL TO THE
WESTERN WASHINGTON AVERAGE AND
THE COULD GENERATE APPROXIMATELY
$400 MILLION FOR THE IMPACT RATE
SIMILAR TO WHAT IS CHARGED TO
GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $760
MILLION OVER 10 YEAR PERIOD. AND
GETTING TO THE NEXT LIGHT HERE.
ALONG WITH MOST OF THE
JURISDICTIONS IN WESTERN
WASHINGTON WITH THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE
PROGRAM. THEY DO HAVE FEES THAT
WOULD ACTUALLY EXCEED THE LEVEL
THAT THE CITY COULD SET. EVEN IF
THE CITY WANTED TO SET IT AT THE
MAXIMUM SUPPORT AT THE LOWER
END. THERE BETWEEN 4000 AND
6000 AND IT'S SIMILAR TO
KIRKLAND.
>> HOW DOES THE CITY OF SEATTLE
COMPARED TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS
WHEN A COMPARES TO CHARGING FEES
FOR SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS? NEW
CHARGES TO FUND NEW
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSOCIATED WITH
NEW RESIDENCE. WE HAVE A COUPLE
WITH A PASS-THROUGH CHARGE. TO
PAY FOR THE TREATMENT PLANT AND
HE WILL SEE IT IS THERE IN THE
COUNTY AND THE CITY ALSO HAS
MODEST WATER DEVELOPMENT
CHARGE. ALONG WITH THE WESTERN
WASHINGTON AVERAGE FOR
SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. AND
TO BE BELOW OTHER CHARGES. FOR
THE MULTIFAMILY COMPARISON, THE
CITY DOES HAVE A SYSTEM
IMPROVEMENT AND CHARGES FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE AN
INCLUSIONARY ZONING PROGRAM .
THAT IS ACTUALLY NOT TRUE OF
OTHER WESTERN WASHINGTON
JURISDICTIONS. WHICH STILL RELY
ON INCENTIVE ZONING PROGRAMS.
IF THE CITY WERE TO CHARGE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE
SIMILAR TO THE WASHINGTON
AVERAGE THAT WOULD PUT US IN
THIS RANGE AND STILL BELOW WHAT
KIRKLAND CHARGES. WHAT DOES THE
PROPOSAL DO? THEY HAVE SUMMED IT
UP PRETTY WELL. WITH THE
TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND RELATED
APPENDIX TO IDENTIFY
DEFICIENCIES. IT WOULD INCLUDE
A NEW LIST. IT WOULD NOT
ACTUALLY UPDATE THE LIST BUT IT
WOULD INCLUDE A NEW LIST OF
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
PRODUCTS IDENTIFIED IN THE RATE
STUDY TO REMEDY THE SYSTEM
DEFICIENCIES AND IT WOULD
ESTABLISH POLICIES OF LOCATIONAL
DISCOUNTS FOR URBAN CENTERS AND
VILLAGES AND EXEMPTIONS FOR LOW
INCOME HOUSE A AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES WITH PUBLIC PURPOSES
AS WHAT IS ALLOWED UNDER STATE
LAW. IT WOULD NOT IMPOSE A FEE.
SO WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AS THE NECESSARY STEP BUT IT'S
NOT A SUFFICIENT STEP TO
ESTABLISH THE IMPACT FEE PROGRAM
THAT WOULD IMPOSE THE FEE ON THE
DEVELOPMENT. THESE WERE THE NEXT
STEPS BACK IN SEPTEMBER. WE HAVE
A PUBLIC HEARING NOW. THE APPEAL
HAS BEEN OF ALL RESOLVED.
>> YOU COULD HAVE THEM NOW IN
THE INBOX.
>> YOU WERE WORKING ON THIS
SINCE 2014.
>> IN 2014 WERE HELPING WITH THE
BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS TO LINEUP
THE REVENUE THAT WAS USED FOR
THE INITIAL ANALYSIS.
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY AND THANK YOU FOR THAT
AND THE CHRONOLOGY. AND THANK
YOU FOR LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT
WE THOUGHT WE WERE DOING HERE
TODAY. ANNUAL RIGHT. WE GET ALL
THE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS
THINKING WE'RE DOING ONE THING
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE
DOING. BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WILL
ALLOW MY COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, AND I SHOULD MAKE THE
ANNOUNCEMENT. COUNCILMEMBER
TERESA MOSQUEDA, NOT ONLY DID WE
POST YOUR EMAIL AND QUESTIONS
THAT CENTRAL STAFF RESPONDED TO
BUT WE WILL ALSO POST OUT FOR
THE PUBLIC SOMEONE HAS IT IN
FRONT OF THEM. NOW WE ALL
HAVE.. I WILL LET COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON SPEAK AND THEN WE WILL GO
BACK TO THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE TO
OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
FOR NOW, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> I HAD TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME
BUT WITH THE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. FOLLOWING UP OUR NEW
CONFIRMED HE WAS INVOLVED FOR A
LONG TIME WITH THE HEARING
EXAMINER'S DECISION ON ITEM 12,
IT SAYS MR. FRIEDMAN CONDUCTS
THE REVIEW FOR THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH. YOU THE ONE THAT WENT
TO THE WHOLE CHECKLIST? WHO
ACTUALLY DID THE CHECKLIST?
UNDERSTIMULATED ON THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
>> IT COULD BE VERY
TIME-CONSUMING. WITH A FAIR
AMOUNT OF MY TIME. AND AS WELL.
WHEN THE EXECUTIVE WILL NOT
PERFORM THE REVIEW, THEN WE WILL
DO IT FOR THE COUNCIL AS A LAST
RESORT. TYPICALLY, WHAT THAT
MEANS, ONE OF US WILL WRITE THE
CHECKLIST AND OTHERS OF THE US
WILL ISSUE THE DETERMINATION.
IT'S NOT A FREQUENT THING, BUT
IT DOES OCCASIONALLY HAPPEN AND
THAT WAS THE CASE HERE. I CAN
ONLY THINK OF ONE TIME THE OF
THAT HAPPENING. AND WE HAVE
SOME COOPERATION AS WELL.
>> I'M NOT MEANING TO IMPUGN
YOUR INTEGRITY. I JUST DOES NOT
KNOW IF THERE WOULD EVER BE THE
SECOND OPINION OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT. JUST BECAUSE YOUR BEING
PORTRAYED IN THIS DECISION SET
OF HIS AS AN ADVOCATE FOR ONE
SIDE. BUT THAT'S FINE. I DON'T
KNOW HOW COMMON THAT IS. IN
YOUR ANSWER TO MY QUESTION
ABOUT, WHAT ARE THE MAJOR
DECISIONS THAT THIS BOOK THIS
YOUR SET IN MOTION? AND FOR WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT YEAR. YOU SAID,
THIS DOES NOT SET A RATE.
HOWEVER, ANY RESPONSE TO ME
COMING TO THE PROJECT LIST SETS
A CEILING AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S
ABOUT FOUR, BASED ON THIS
PRESENTATION. BUT THEN THE
PROJECT LIST IS PRETTY OUTDATED.
IS THE PROJECT LIST SET ON STONE
WHEN WE VOTE ON THIS? ARE WE
ENDORSING OR APPROVING THE
PROJECT LIST? OR CAN IT BE
SWITCHED OUT BEFORE THE CEILING
CHANGES NEXT YEAR? I JUST WANT
TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I HAVE TO
PREPARE DURING BUDGET FOR THE
VOTE ON THE 21st.
>> THE PROJECT LIST DOES NOT
UPDATE. THE CONSULTANT HAS
UPDATED THE COSTS FOR SOME OF
THOSE PROJECTS BASED ON CHANGED
CIRCUMSTANCES SINCE 2018. THAT
WAS DONE IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. ALL THE
PROJECTS ON THAT PROJECT LIST
ALONG WITH SOME THAT WERE
CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION OR
UNDERFUNDING BUT THEY'RE NOT
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS WITH IMPACT
FEES. THE PROJECT LIST IS DRAWN
FROM AN ADOPTED MODEL PLAN. SO
WITH THE PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN
AND THE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN.
AND ALSO A MOVE SEATTLE VISION
PROJECT. PROJECTS IDENTIFIED AS
PART OF THE MOVE SEATTLE
PLANNING PROCESS THAT WERE
CONTEMPLATED FOR SOME LATER
PHASE. AS YOU ALL PROBABLY
KNOW, THE CITIES IN THE PROCESS
OF UPDATING THE MODAL FANS WITH
THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORK FOR THAT
THAT IS ONGOING. AS WE RECENTLY
RELEASED THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT ON THAT WORK.
BUT THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY
TRANSPORTATION TO AND THAT IS
ELIGIBLE FOR COUNCIL ACTION. AT
SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, IF THE
CITY WANTS TO CONTINUE PURSUING
THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES,
THE COUNCIL MAY WANT TO CONSIDER
UPDATING THE PROJECT LIST, BASED
ON THE ADOPTED TRANSPORTATION
PLAN. IF AND WHEN THAT IS READY
FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. IF
THE CITY WOULD DO THAT, THAT
WOULD SET PROBABLY A NEW
CEILING FOR A FEE. AND SO, THE
RATE STUDY TAKES ALL OF THESE
IDENTIFIED PROJECTS AND
SUBTRACTS OUT THE PORTION OF THE
PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT RELATED
TO CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS TO
ACCOMMODATE NEW GROWTH. AND THEN
IT DIVIDES THAT AMOUNT OF THE
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPECTED TRIPS
OVER THE NEXT 10 OR 12 YEARS.
THAT IS HOW IT SETS A COST PER
PERSON TRIP. AND THAT IS A
CEILING ABOVE WHICH THE CITY
CANNOT CHARGE A FEE. AS A
PRACTICAL MATTER AND IN TALKING
TO OUR CONSULTANT, SHE INDICATED
THAT MOST IT WITH 65% THE
MAXIMUM SUPPORTABLE FEE OF THE
CHARGE. AND THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT.
BUT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A POLICY
CHOICE THAT SOME FUTURE COUNSEL
WOULD HAVE TO MAKE. AND THE RATE
STUDY BECAUSE IT QUANTIFIES THE
COST TO ACCOMMODATE NEW GROWTH.
IT DOES SET A CEILING ABOVE
WHICH THE CITY COULD NOT CHARGE
A FEE AT SOME POINT IN THE
FUTURE. IT IS KIND OF AN
OUTSIDE LIMIT ABOUT WHERE TO
SET THIS.
>> I WILL ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
WAITING THREE HOURS TO SPEAK.
GO AHEAD AND WILL DO THE
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE TO OPEN UP THE
PUBLIC HEARING.
>> WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAD
SHARED 20 QUESTIONS WITH THE
COUNCILMEMBERS ON THE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS THAT WILL BE POSTED
AS A MATTER PUBLIC RECORD FOR
THOSE WERE INTERESTED. WE
APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE ARE
CALLING AND WEIGHING IN. TO HAVE
TO POTENTIALLY VOTE ON SOMETHING
IN TWO WEEKS WITHOUT THE
COMMITTEE PROCESS, IT'S A
CHALLENGE. THANKS FOR DIALING
INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.
BUT I DO THINK AND I APPRECIATE
THAT YOU SPEAK FAST. IT WOULD
BE HELPFUL IF YOU DON'T MIND
SUMMARIZING SOME ANSWERS TO THE
QUESTIONS. AND NOTABLY AROUND
THE PROJECT LIST AS WE RAISE
QUESTIONS WHEN THE PROJECT LIST
ALREADY HAVING FUNDS FOR
CERTAIN ITEMS ON THAT LIST. BUT
THERE IS A PROJECT WITH THE
RAPID RISE ON THE LIST. AND AS
HE GO TO THE QUESTIONS, IT WOULD
BE HELPFUL. AND WHETHER OR NOT
WE ARE MAKING A POLICY DECISION
TODAY. POLICY STATES THAT THE
COUNCIL WILL IMPLEMENT IMPACT
FEES. AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR
QUESTIONS AS WELL, THAT IS PART
OF THE CONCERN AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU AND WE WILL GO
AHEAD TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> DID I JUST A YOU CORRECTLY
THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO
UPDATE THE LIST IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? SO THAT WE
WILL NEED TO PASS AN AMENDMENT
TO OUR AMENDMENT TO THE COMP
PLAN NEXT YEAR? IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YOU MAY OR YOU MAY NOT. IT
DEPENDS ON THE APPETITE OF THE
COUNCIL NEXT YEAR TO PURSUE THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES. AND
ALSO THE STATUS OF THE UPDATE
WORK THAT IS CURRENTLY DOING TO
THE UPDATE OF THE PLANS. THE
CONSOLIDATION INTO ONE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
>> THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT
I WAS SHARING IN THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE THE LAST TIME WE HAD
THIS ISSUE DISCUSSED. AND
AGAIN, WHY I URGE THAT THIS IS
NOT A PROCEDURAL STEP. THIS IS A
POLICY STEP THAT WE ARE TAKING
ABOUT UPDATING THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. BECAUSE AGAIN, IF WE WERE
TO PASS THE RATE ORDINANCE
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, IT WOULD
REQUIRE THE SAME NUMBER OF VOTES
THAT REQUEST UPDATE THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IN MY
EXPERIENCE HERE, WE HAVE ALWAYS
DONE THOSE THINGS IN TANDEM AND
NOT SEPARATED. AND I SEE YOU
SHAKING YOUR HEAD. WE WILL BE
IN DISAGREEMENT HERE WITH THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. THIS THE
WAY I HAVE SEEN IT DONE. I KNOW
THEY HAVE A LONGER TIME WITH
IMPACT FEES THAN I DO. IT'S
OKAY TO BE IN A DIFFERENT POLICY
POSITION AS WE ARE LOOKING AT
THE LONG ROAD OF THIS. I'M NOT
AGAINST IMPACT FEES AND I AM NOT
OKAY WITH HOW THIS IS GOING DOWN
RIGHT NOW. WE'RE LOOKING AT
YOUR PRESENTATION HERE RIGHT
NOW. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COST
COMPARISONS WITH SINGLE-FAMILY
AND MULTIFAMILY. IS THERE ANY
REASON THE PERMIT COSTS COSTS
WERE EXCLUDED?
>> THERE ARE THOUGHT PROCESSES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECTS.
WHAT THAT TRIES TO QUANTIFY IS
THE OVERALL PRO FORMA OF THE
PROJECT AND WITH THE SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT CHARGES ARE THAT
ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH
JURISDICTION. THE COSTS ARE NOT
INCLUDED IN THERE. AND OTHER
COSTS THAT MAY BE ASSOCIATED
WITH DEVELOPMENT 2. IT COULD BE
THE RIGHT AWAY CONSTRUCTION. IT
IS JUST THE COSTS REQUIRED BY
JURISDICTIONS BY CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE NEW
DEVELOPMENT.
>> OKAY. AND I TRUST YOUR WORK.
THIS IS THE COUNCILMEMBERS
QUESTION FROM A MOMENT AGO. HAVE
YOU HAD A THIRD-PARTY VALIDATE
THIS?
>> THE GENESIS OF THIS WORK, I
WAS ABLE TO WORK OFF OF IT WORK
PRODUCT THAT WAS DEVELOPED AS
PART OF THE INITIAL REVIEW OF
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES.
THERE IS A BODY OF WORK WHERE HE
LIFTED NOT JUST THESE
JURISDICTIONS BUT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AS WELL. THAT WAS
THE SOURCE OF THESE CHARTS. I
UPDATED THE COST ASSUMPTIONS.
AND I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF
THE CONSULTANTS.
>> UNDERSTANDING WE ARE JUST IN
THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY. SO I
WILL RESERVE THE REST OF MY
COMMENTS. THIS IS THE TIP OF THE
ICEBERG AND IS THE THIRD TIME
WE HAD A MEETING THIS YEAR ABOUT
THE TOPIC AND FOURTH WHEN YOU
CONSIDER THE WALK ONTO THE
REFERRAL INTRODUCTION CALENDAR.
MORE QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED
THEN THEY HAVE UNANSWERED FOR
THE FINAL PASSAGE. HAVE A LOT OF
CONCERNS RIGHT NOW.
>> COUNCILMEMBER , TERESA
MOSQUEDA, I REALLY WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU AND WE WANT TO HEAR
FROM THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT GIVEN THE
TIME. HOWEVER, I JUST WANT TO
ASK TWO QUESTIONS, IF I MIGHT.
I FEEL LIKE YOU JUST SPOKE TO
THIS AND IF I COULD ASK YOU
DIRECTLY. THE LEGISLATION IN
FRONT OF US. THAT THE COUNCIL
WILL TAKE UP THE IMPACT FEE.
DOES THIS DIRECTLY COUNSEL TO DO
THIS?
>> IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT THE
COUNCIL WILL DO THAT BUT IT
DOES IT NOT BY THE TERM TO
CONSIDER OR USE. IT DOES IT
INCLUDING THE COMPREHENSIVE LIST
WHICH IS A REQUIRED COMPONENT.
AND FOR ANY KIND OF FUTURE
CONSIDERATION OF THE TRANSPORT
IMPACT FEE PROGRAM. PEOPLE
COULD ARGUE ABOUT THE SEMANTICS
OF THE LEVEL OF EMPHASIS THAT IS
CONVEYED TO CONSIDER OR USE.
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, ARE
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT DOES
NOT COMPEL FUTURE COUNSEL TO
TAKE UP THE IMPACT FEE
LEGISLATION. AND WITH THE
LANGUAGE AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WITH MY RESPONSE TO YOUR
QUESTIONS. THERE IS ESSENTIALLY
A READER'S GUIDE TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO TELL
READERS HOW TO UNDERSTAND POLICY
LANGUAGE. SOME POLICIES USE THE
WORDS SHALL AND SHOULD AND SO
FORTH IN GENERAL. SUCH WORDS
DESCRIBE THE EMPHASIS THAT THE
POLICY PLACES ON THE ACTION AND
THE DO NOT NECESSARILY ESTABLISH
A SPECIFIC LEGAL DUTY TO PERFORM
A PARTICULAR ACT OR TO UNDERTAKE
A PROGRAM OR PROJECT TO ACHIEVE
A SPECIFIC RESULT. THE IMPACT
FEE AND THE COMP PLAN AMENDMENTS
MAKE IT SOMEWHAT LIKELY. AND
WHAT THE FUTURE COUNSEL COULD
IMPLEMENT WITH THE
TRANSPORTATION FEE IMPACT.
>> AND MY LAST QUESTION IS THAT
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS LIST
BEING OUTDATED . AT LEAST IT WAS
CREATED IN 2016. WE TALKED ABOUT
HOW SOME OF THE ITEMS ON THE
LIST AND HOW THE LIST WAS
POTENTIALLY CREATED IN 2016 AND
HOW NEEDS HAVE CHANGED AND THE
RACIAL EQUITY ANALYSIS HAS TO BE
UPDATED OR APPLIED IN THE FIRST
PLACE. WHEN THE PROJECT LIST
DICTATES THE FEES, IT WILL
INHERENTLY DRIVE THE DISCUSSION
AROUND THE FEE AMOUNT. WHY ARE
WE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT WHAT
IS INCLUDED IN THE LIST AND THUS
THE FEES? AND WE HAVE A LIST
THAT APPEARS TO BE OUTDATED.
>> IT IS UP TO THE COUNCIL TO
DECIDE WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE
PROJECT LIST. THERE'S QUITE A
DEPARTURE THAT IS REFLECTED AT
A GREAT STUDY ABOUT THE RATE
STUDIES AND THE DRAFT STUDIES
THAT CAN CHANGE AS WELL. THE
COUNCIL AS WE MENTIONED, WE
COULD ALWAYS CHANGE THE LIST AS
PART OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN UPDATES. I'M NOT SURE. I
THINK IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS
THAT ESSENTIALLY COMES DOWN WITH
LEGISLATIVE DELIBERATION. DO
YOU THINK IT'S THE RIGHT LIST OR
NOT? IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S THE
RIGHT LIST, THEN THERE
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE TO
UPDATE IT. THERE'S A VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN NOW AND
THE 21st TO UPDATE THE LIST.
>> I'M HAPPY TO BRING FORWARD
THE AMENDMENT ON POLICY BUT I'M
NOT SURE WE HAVE TIME TO GET
INTO THE LIST. THANKS FOR
PULLING OUT THESE TWO QUESTIONS.
>> THANKS AND WE WILL THEN GO TO
PUBLIC HEARING.
>> THE ORIGINAL LIST IS CREATED
IN 2018 AND 2016 IT WAS CREATED
IN 2018 AND IT WAS UPDATED IN
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS CORRECT
AND I HAVE THAT ON MY NOTES
HERE. IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY
AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU.
PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO CALLED IN
AND SHOWED UP TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND SAY
THE MAGIC WORDS. AS PRESIDING
OFFICER, I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC
HEARING ACCOUNTABLE ONE 265.
RELATING TO AMENDING THE SEATTLE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO
INCORPORATE CHANGES RELATED TO
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE
PROGRAM PROPOSED AS PART OF THE
2022-2023 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
ANNUAL AMENDMENT PROCESS. MADAME
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE
HAVE? REMOTE AND IN PERSON?
>> IN PERSON ON THE SIGN-UP
SHEET WE HAVE 14. AND REMOTE I
BELIEVE WE HAD 23. BUT IT LOOKS
AT A FEW PEOPLE DROPPED OFF.
>> I WILL GO AHEAD AND START.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START WITH
THE IN PERSON VOTES. YOU SAID
WE HAVE 23 BRIEFING SOME DROPPED
OFF ON THE REMOTE SIDE?
>> YES.
>> WHAT WE DO THE FIRST 10
SPEAKERS IN PERSON AND THEN LET
LET ME KNOW WHERE WE ARE AT WITH
THE REMOTE.
>> OUR FIRST IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS LISA. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE IS
GONE. THE NEXT PERSON IS PATRICK
FOLEY. IN HELLO AND THANK YOU,
COUNSEL. MY COMPANY EMPLOYS 16
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE . WE ARE
CREATORS AND BUILDERS OF THE
MIDTOWN PROJECT AT 23rd AND
UNION. IN MANY WAYS IT'S A
MARKET PROJECT BUT IT'S ALSO A
SOCIAL PROJECT. WE BROUGHT IN
AFFORDABLE PARTNERS WITH
COMMUNITY ROOTS HOUSING AND ON
THE FULL BLOCK WITH SOMEWHERE
COULDN'T 130 AFFORDABLE HOUSING
UNITS WITH 580 UNITS TOTAL AND
HAVE TO BLOCK IS AFFORDABLE.
HAVE TO TELL YOU WE BARELY MET
THE PROJECT WORK TO GET THE
FINANCING FOR IT. IF WE WERE TO
CONSIDER THE FEES TODAY OR ALLOW
THEM TO MOVE FORWARD, I WOULD
UNDERRATE WITH 6 1/2 TO $7
MILLION OF COST, WHICH WOULD
KILL THE PROJECT AND ALL THE
COOL RETAILERS THAT WOULD NOT
EXIST TODAY BUT THAT WOULD STILL
BE IN THE SAME PLACE. I AM
ASKING YOU NOT TO CONSIDER
MOVING THIS FORWARD AND THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU AND OUR NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> HELLO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 7
AND I'M COMMENTING ON COUNTABLE
120 65. I DO NOT SUPPORT THE
BILL THAT ADDS THE ABILITY FOR
THE NEXT COUNSEL TO ADD IMPACT
FEES ON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. I
SUPPORT IMPROVING BIKE
STRUCTURES TO MAKE STREETS SAFER
FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T DRIVE. WE
COLLECTED ON BIKE LANE
OBSTRUCTIONS AND TO CROWD
SOURCE THE COLLECTION OF DATA
FOR WHAT BIKES SHOULD BE
UPGRADED. THE PILOT COULD BE
BENEFITED BY WATCHING
ADDITIONAL MONEY BUT I DO NOT
SUPPORT THE BILL. WITH NEW
RENTERS AND OWNERS WITH THESE
FEES AND PEOPLE WERE
DISPROPORTIONATELY LONGER AND
MORE DIVERSE. IS ONLY MAKES IT
MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO
MOVE TO THE CITY WITH THE
HOUSING CRISIS. IF THE CITY
WANTS TO RAISE MONEY FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, SHOULD
BE DONE THROUGH PROPERTY TAX
INCREASE. AND THE HAVE A START
TO OCCUPY HOUSING AND THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER'S JESSE.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
AM PRESENTING WITH A NONPROFIT
SECTOR. HERE TO RAISE MY
CONCERN ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION
IMPACT FEE. I WOULD JUST SPEAK
TO OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT
ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. THE
MOMENT THAT HIGHER INTEREST
RATES DEFLATE CONSTRUCTION COST
OF THE CHALLENGING CLIMATE IS
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR SOME
TIME. NOW THE COULD LIMIT NEW
HOUSE AND WHEN YORTY HAVE A
SHORTAGE. THIS COULD IMPACT
HOUSING SUPPLY BY DRIVING UP
COST AND PRODUCING HOUSING
REQUIRED BY THE PRIVATE PROJECT
FUNDERS AND LEADING DEVELOPMENTS
ARE NOT CONSTRUCTED. WITH THE
MOBILITY COMMISSIONING AND
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS CONCLUDING THE
IMPACT FEES THAT CAN REDUCE
HOUSING REDUCTION BY 15% TO
20%. WE URGE YOU NOT TO MOVE THE
POLICY FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M
THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS FOR KILROY CORPORATION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO
OPPOSE THE ADOPTION OF
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES AND
SEATTLE. SHOULD BE BASED ON
TODAY'S REALITY IS WE HAVE HEARD
FROM OTHERS ABOUT THE FEE
PROPOSAL AND WE HEARD HOW IT'S
YEARS OLD AND WE DON'T NEED TO
GO OVER THAT. BUT PASSING THE
OUTDATED LIST MEANS THE CITY HAS
TO GO BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND
PASS ANOTHER PLAN AMENDMENT TO
UPDATE THE PROJECT LIST.
FURTHERMORE, LOCAL CODE NEEDS
TO MATCH LOCAL POLICIES. IF YOU
CHANGE THE PLAN TO INCLUDE
IMPACT FEES, THEN THE COURT WILL
HAVE TO FOLLOW SUIT. MAKE NO
MISTAKE THAT YOU ARE MAKING A
POLICY CHOICE TODAY. ANOTHER KEY
DIFFERENCE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT
IS THAT WE ARE IN A HOUSING
CRISIS HERE. IF THE IMPACT FEE
HITS DEVELOPERS, THAT IS LESS
LESS MHA MONEY UNLESS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AND WHAT WE ALL SHARE
WILL NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED. FOR
THOSE REASONS, PLEASE OPPOSE
THE IMPACT FEES AND THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MEREDITH.
>> HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION
FOR THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT
FEES. WE STATED LAST MONTH THAT
THERE IS NO OUTREACH TO THE
COMMUNITY WITH NO OPPORTUNITIES
TO ASK QUESTIONS OR ENGAGE IN
DIALOGUE THE RECITAL IN THE
COUNTABLE HAS PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION INCLUDING
REQUIREMENTS FOR EARLY AND
CONTINUOUS PUBLIC TRANSPORT
PARTICIPATION. THAT HAS NOT
HAPPENED AT ALL AND WE HEARD THE
COUNSEL'S ARGUMENT THAT IT'S AN
ORDINANCE TO UPDATE THE COMP
PLAN AND NOT ACTUAL CODE. WHILE
THE COUNCIL VOTE FOR THE
AMENDMENT IF THEY DID NOT INTEND
TO VOTE FOR THE CODE? REGARDLESS
OF THE TIMELINE FOR THE ACTUAL
CODE IMPLEMENTATION, THE
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, INCLUDING
OURSELVES, WILL HAVE TO INCLUDE
THE FEES FROM THE RATE STUDY IN
OUR UNDERWRITING AND DISCLOSE
THE FEES TO OUR LENDERS AND
INVESTORS. TO NOT DO SO WOULD BE
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. ESPECIALLY
SINCE THE IMPACT FEES DOES NOT
OCCUR INTO THE BUILDING
ISSUANCE. WHICH IS MORE THAN TWO
YEARS AFTER STARTING A PROJECT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU AND NOW OUR NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> HERE ON BEHALF OF A LOCAL
SEATTLE-BASED LONG-TERM
DEVELOPER OF MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING. WITH PROJECTS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND
GREENWOOD AND EASTLAKE AND
UPTOWN. THESE PROJECTS
PARTICIPATE IN NOT ONLY THE MHA
PROGRAM INCLUDING ON-SITE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT ALSO THE
MFT PROGRAM. THIS IS LONG
HISTORY OF DEVELOPING IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND GIVEN THE
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
FINANCE CONDITIONS ON THE
CHALLENGES OF THE UPDATED ENERGY
CODE, THE LAST THREE PROJECTS
HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BEEN OUTSIDE
OF THE CITY. WOULD ENCOURAGE
YOU TO NOT ADOPT EVEN THIS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICY.
BECAUSE RESPECTFULLY, IT IS
SUBSTANTIVE POLICY. IF YOU ADOPT
THIS, IT WILL MAKE IT MORE
LIKELY THAT THE NEXT COUNSEL
WILL ADOPT IMPACT FEES. THEY
NEED TO BE FACTORED INTO THE
PROGRAM RIGHT NOW THE MAXIMUM
FEE UPWARDS OF POSSIBLY $8000 A
DOOR FOR RESIDENTIAL. THAT NEEDS
TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE
UNDERWRITING. IF THAT HAPPENS
RIGHT NOW, PROJECTS THAT ARE
ALREADY STRUGGLING WOULD NOT
MOVE FORWARD AND WE WANT ME TO
HER HOUSE AND GOES. WE ASK YOU
TO DECLINED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD
THE SESSION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CHRIS WALTER. CHRIS IS NOT
HERE? OKAY, THANK YOU. ANDY.
SORRY.
>> I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THIS
MOTION. THERE IS NO LOGICAL
REASON TO INCLUDE IT BUT IT JUST
ADDS EXPENSE TO BUILDING HOMES.
WE KNOW THEY ARE EXPENSIVE AND
WE BUILD LOTS OF THEM. WERE IN A
HOUSING SHORTAGE SO I DON'T KNOW
WHY ANYONE WOULD THINK IT MAKES
SENSE TO INCLUDE THIS BOOK WE
CAN INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES TO
PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION BUT WE
CANNOT DO THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE
THE HOUSING THERE IN THE FIRST
PLACE. I WOULD LIKE TO OPPOSE
THE MOTION.
>> ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, THAT WILL
BE SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THIS
POLICY CHANGE. I FEEL LIKE I'M
IN AN ALTERNATE REALITY WHEN I
HEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS SAYING THAT
THIS IS NOT A POLICY CHANGE.
WHEN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BUT
THE MAN POLICY-SETTING DOCUMENT.
MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT IS SETTING
POLICY AND AGAIN, WE HAVE NEVER
SEEN THE COUNSEL RUSH TO MAKE
SUCH AN IMPORTANT POLICY
DECISION EVER. FOR MHA, THERE
WERE THREE YEARS OF OUTREACH FOR
THOSE WHO WERE IMPACTED BY MHA
FEES WITH THE IMPACT FEE ON
HOUSING AND MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AND THE FACT THAT YOU
ARE CONSIDERING ADOPTING A
POLICY THAT INCLUDES A PROJECT
LIST THAT IS OUTDATED. ANY
HAVE TO AMEND THE COMP PLAN NEXT
YEAR TO EFFECTUATE THE POLICY.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
IT. WE OPPOSE THIS. PLEASE DON'T
DO THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DAVE.
>> IT DOES NOT LOOK IS LIKE DAVE
IS HERE.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. I'M
HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO
THE PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION OR
OPENING THE DOOR TO THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSPORTATION
IMPACT FEES. IN TERMS OF PERMIT
NUMBERS ON THE NUMBER OF NEW
UNITS THAT ARE SLATED TO ENTER
DEVELOPMENT IS ON THE SHARP
DECLINE. ON A YEAR-OVER-YEAR
BASIS WE WERE DOWN 32% VERSUS
THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR AND
63% VERSUS PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS.
WITH PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS
VERSUS 2022. IT DOES NOT MAKE
SENSE TO ONLY FOIST THE COST OF
TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT
ON NEW RESIDENCE. AND THIS IS
SOMETHING I BELIEVE SHOULD BE
LEVIED VIA A MORE BROAD TAX. IF
THERE IS A NEED TO FUND LOCAL
INFRASTRUCTURE WE WOULD RAISE
THIS BROADLY AND THIS IS THE
VERY THING SEATTLE NEEDS IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS OUR ONGOING
HOUSING CRISIS. PLEASE ADDRESS
THIS LEGISLATION AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANKS. THE LAST IN PERSON
SPEAKER IS RYAN DONAHUE.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. FIRST
OFF, HAPPY ELECTION DAY. I'M THE
CHIEF ADVOCACY OFFICER FOR
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SEATTLE
COMMUNITY COUNTY. HOWEVER,
TODAY. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
SEATTLE FOR EVERYONE IS ONE OF
THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
SHOULD CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THIS
AMENDMENT AND OPPOSE THE
IMPOSITION OF IMPACT FEES ON NEW
HOUSING. THAT BEING SAID, ONTO
TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK THE
COUNCILMEMBER FOR HER PROPOSED
AMENDMENT. PARTICULARLY AROUND
THE LANGUAGE OF CONSIDER AND
USE. WE DO APPRECIATE AND FEEL
LIKE WE WILL BE LISTEN TO AND WE
APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT
BEING SAID, WE ARE STILL
CONCERNED PARTICULARLY AROUND
THE UNDERLYING IMPACT OF THE
POLICY ITSELF. THESE FEES IN A
LETTER THAT WAS SENT BY THE
SIDELINE INSTITUTE TO THE
COUNCIL THAT WOULD USE THE
EXAMPLE OF PORTLAND. WHICH
CLEARLY SHOWED THAT IMPOSING
FEES THAT RESULTS IN LESS
HOUSING PRODUCTION OVERALL AND
DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN ON LESS
EXPENSIVE HOUSING TYPES AND THE
HIGHER SHARE OF THE BURDEN
FALLING ON RENTERS AND NEW
HOMEBUYERS. THOSE THAT COULD
AFFORD THE LEAST.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. WE WILL MOVE
TO THE REMOTE SPEAKERS NOW.
MATTHEW SEVEN -- MATHEUS OF A
-- MATTHEW SUTHERLAND.
>> HELLO. I AM IN ADVOCACY
DIRECTOR FOR TRANSPORTATION
CHOICES COALITION. FOR
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR
WASHINGTONIANS. THANKS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN. WERE
DELAYING THE CURRENT IMPACT FEES
AND SYNCHRONIZING WORK ON A NEW
BROAD TRANSPORTATION PROJECT
WITH THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
PLAN FUNDING PROCESS WITH THE
SAME LEVEL OF RIGOROUS COMMUNITY
AND EQUITY ANALYSIS. WE PROPOSE
COMPREHENSIVE PLANS THAT WOULD
CHANGE THE CONSIDERED USE OF THE
IMPACT USE THE TRANSPORTATION
IMPACT FEES. WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER LISA HERBOLD FOR
HER LANGUAGE CHANGING AND WE
THANK YOU FOR TAKING OUR
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. WITH HER
IMPACT FEES WE THINK THERE IS AN
INTEREST IN THE PATH FORWARD.
ESPECIALLY WITH STRONGER
EXEMPTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE
COUNSELING AND COORDINATION WITH
THE PROCESS. THANKS AND WE
APPRECIATE IT , COUNCIL MEMBERS
AND THANKS FOR THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NOW FOR NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> ARE YOU THERE?
>> I AM HERE. AND FRANKLY, IT IS
HIGH TIME TO CONSIDER THE USE OF
IMPACT FEES IS AN EQUITABLE
APPROACH TO FUND NEEDED
IMPROVEMENTS. BACK IN THE 90s
WHEN SEATTLE BEGAN ADVENTURE AND
GROWTH MANAGEMENT, WE WERE SURE
THAT GROWTH WOULD PAY FOR
ITSELF. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
INSTEAD, GROWTH HAS CREATED AN
INCREASE IN TRAFFIC AND TRAFFIC
ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES ANDY
KING BRIDGES AND ARTERIALS AND
MORE DEMAND FOR PEDESTRIAN AND
ADA FACILITIES. THIS COUNSEL HAS
APPROVED HIGHLY FAVORABLE TAX
BREAKS TO DEVELOPERS AND TO THE
MULTIFAMILY TAX EXEMPTION FOR
VERY LITTLE PUBLIC BENEFIT. THIS
HAS COST THE GENERAL FUND OVER
$172 MILLION IN 2022 ALONE AND
HAS PUT $7.6 MILLION OF EXAM
VALLEY UNDER REGULAR TAXPAYERS
WERE ALSO EXPECTED TO IMPROVE
THE $1 BILLION HOUSING LEVIED
TODAY AND ANOTHER LARGE
TRANSPORTATION LEVIED NEXT YEAR.
THIS TIME TO INJECT SOME
FAIRNESS INTO THIS EQUATION. THE
CONSIDERATION OF THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES IS A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> THANK YOU AND OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS SUZANNE GRANT.
>> YOU MAY TRY PRESSING STAR
SIX.
>> SUZANNE, STAR SIX. I SEE YOUR
TILE THERE. STAR SIX.
>> MAYBE WE CAN MOVE ONTO THE
NEXT SPEAKER AND COME BACK. THE
NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICK TAYLOR.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS PATRICK
TAYLOR AND I AM COCHAIR OF THE
HOUSING TASK FORCE AS WELL AS
THE ADVISORY BOARD AND THE
REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. TODAY WE
HAVE RUSHED INTO THE COMP PLAN
AND OR CITIES IN THE MIDST OF A
HOUSING CRISIS. IMPACT FEES ONLY
MAKE IT HARDER FOR THE COST OF
USE. IMPACT FEES IS WHERE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT EXIST.
BUT WE DID HAVE THE IMPACT
SOLUTION. IT UTILIZES AND
IMPROVES EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
WILL INCREASING THE TAXPAYERS TO
PAY FOR UPDATES AND ALLOWS
PEOPLE TO WORK CLOSER TO THE
PLACES THEY ENJOY. MORE OF OUR
RESIDENTS TAKE TRANSIT AND
DRIVING WITH NEW HOUSING
TRANSFORMING WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE SHOULD
ENCOURAGE NEW HOMES, NOT TAX
THEM. THE CITY HAS UNMET
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AFTER
HAVING PAID FOR THE BACK OF
RENTERS. IF A NEW TAX HAS NOT
BEEN A BAD IDEA, THEN IT'S A BAD
IDEA TO PUT IN THE COMP PLAN.
WITH THESE EFFORTS YOU CAN VOTE
NO ON TAXING HOMES.
>> THANK YOU AND IT LOOKS LIKE
SUZANNE GRANT IS UNMUTED NOW.
>> HELLO AND YOU CAN HEAR ME
NOW. GREAT. I URGE YOU TO PASS
THIS ON NOVEMBER 21st.
YESTERDAY, THE HEARING EXAMINER
DISMISSED THE APPEAL OF THE
CHALLENGE AND PREVIOUS APPEALS
DELAY THE ORDINANCE AND WROTE
THE ORDINANCE TO BENEFIT THEM. I
HOPE YOU PAID ATTENTION TO THE
RECENT REPORT AFTER
INVESTIGATING AND ALLEGING THAT
THEY ROUTINELY ENGAGED IN
UNETHICAL PERMITTING PROCESSES
AFTER A LARGE RULING AND THEY
WERE REBUILT WITH A SIGNIFICANT
LOSS OF URBAN FORESTS. WIRE
DEVELOPERS APPEALING IMPACT
FEES? DID NOT INTERFERE WITH
GROWTH. OTHER LOW-INCOME HOUSING
PROJECTS COULD BE EXEMPT FROM
THESE FEES. WE ALL KNOW WE NEED
MORE LOW INCOME HOUSING AND WE
NEED TO LEAVE MATURE TREES IN
THE GROUND. AND IT COULD HELP
TO CORRECT THE MISTAKES AND
OVERSIGHT THAT THEY HAD BEEN
ENGAGING IN REGARDING THE LEGAL
CUTTING OF TREES TO HELP TO PAY
FOR NEWER REPLACED TREES AND
UPGRADED RIGHTS-OF-WAY PROJECTS.
ON DEVELOPERS CLEAR LOTS THE
NEED TO PLACE BUILDINGS NEXT TO
EACH OTHER.
>> SORRY THAT WE HAD TO CUT YOU
OFF.
>> UNDERSTAND THAT IS OUR LAST
SPEAKER?
>> WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE.
>> SORRY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS
OUR LAST ONE.
>> BRADY NORSTROM IS OUR NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT. I AM SPEAKING
TODAY ON BEHALF OF FUTURE WISE.
WITH OUR POLICY USE ACROSS THE
STATE, HAVE SUPPORTED
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES AND
SOME JURISDICTIONS. I HAVE
LIMITED TIME TODAY SO SAY OUR
SUPPORT OF THE TOOL HAS BEEN
CONTEXTUAL. IN THIS CASE, WE DO
NOT SUPPORT THE CURRENT IMPACT
FOR THE PROCESS EVEN IF THIS ON
A STEP WITHIN THE LARGER
PROCESS. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
HIT ON A LOT OF THIS WAS
SOMETIME IN QUESTIONS. IN
PARTICULAR WERE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE REVENUE WHICH IS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF SEATTLE'S
AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESPONSE AND
HOUSING CREATION MORE BROADLY.
AND THEN, WE DO THINK THAT
COUNCIL MEMBERS LISA HERBOLD
FOR THE AMENDMENT LANGUAGE AND
WERE CONSIDERING CHANGING THAT
FOR THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT
FEES. AND REDUCE SUPPORT
ADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
AND RECOMMENDING ALTERNATIVE
PROCESSES TO HAVE A BROADER
CONVERSATION WITH MORE
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
TRADE-OFFS. IT LOOKS LIKE I AM
OUT OF TIME, BUT THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NOW FOR NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> GOOD EVENING. ON BEHALF OF
THE 2400 MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
METROPOLITAN TEAM OF COMMERCE.
WITH IMPACT FEES FOR THE
FOLLOWING REASONS. THIS PROCESS
IS NOT MERELY PROCEDURAL AND THE
AMENDMENT ALONE COULD HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT EFFECT FOR SIGNALING
TO DEVELOPERS THE CONSTRUCTION
IS ABOUT TO GET MORE EXPENSIVE
THAN SEATTLE. ALSO I BELIEVE THE
NEXT COUNSEL WOULD REMOVE THE
AMENDMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. TO
IMPORTANTLY, OUR CITY CANNOT
AFFORD TO FALL SHORT OF HOUSING
GOALS. WE NEED TO PRODUCE MORE
HOUSING ACROSS CERTAIN SPECTRUMS
BYPASSING MEASURES SUCH AS THE
SEATTLE HOUSING LOBBY AND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF ALL KIND. PLEASE
OPPOSE THE COMP PLAN AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU IN OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
HOLLY. YOU MAY TRY PRESSING
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
>> WERE HERE WITH THE SEATTLE
CHAIR. WITH THE PRODUCTION IN
THE HOUSING VOLUME THERE ARE DO
DROPPING AND THE IMPACT MAKES
HOUSING MORE EXPENSIVE. I'M
WORRIED WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE
CITY. THIS IS NOT JUST THE
PROCEDURAL VOTE BUT THE POLICY
CHANGE FOR THE CITY'S LONG-RANGE
PLANNING DOCUMENT . THIS ADOPTS
THE PROJECT LIST FOR THE UPPER
FEE LIMIT ON IMPACT FEES AND THE
METHODOLOGY FOR CALCULATING THE
FEES. IS ARE SUBSTANTIVE
DECISIONS FACTORING INTO THIS
AMOUNT WITH THE PROJECT THAT
NEVER UNDERWENT MEANINGFUL
OUTREACH. IF YOU ADDED TO THE
HOUSING PROJECTS, THEY WILL
ULTIMATELY INCREASE THE RENT
LEVELS. THE NEED TO BE
THOUGHTFUL BUT WERE THAT DOLLARS
ARE GOING. IT'S A TRADE-OFF AND
THE PROJECT METHODOLOGY MATTERS.
THIS IS A SUBSTANTIVE STEP
TOWARDS BAD POLICY AND IT'S NOT
COMPELLING TO SAY WILL TAKE A
FIRST STEP. BECAUSE THERE IS
STILL A SECOND STEP AND OF
COURSE THERE QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHETHER THE POLICY IS A GOOD
IDEA TO BE CLEAR WHERE YOU ARE
GOING AND NOT RUSH IT.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD,
MADAME CLERK, MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT YOU HAVE THE ADDITIONAL
24 PEOPLE REMOTELY THAT COLD IN.
>> IT WAS 24 LITTLE BIT AGO AND
I CAN GIVE YOU COUNT IF YOU HOLD
ON.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO WRAP UP THE
PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:30 PM.
>> YOU HAVE GOT ABOUT 20
SPEAKERS LEFT.
>> OKAY. WITH ONE MINUTE
APIECE. I WILL ASK THAT WE STOP
AT 5:30 PM. IF THERE IS AN
OBJECTION TO THAT, WE WOULD LIKE
TO HEAR IT NOW.
>> OBJECTION .
>> OKAY. HOW MANY LEFT?
>> 20.
>> LET'S LISTEN TO THE NEXT 20
PEOPLE FOR ONE MINUTE AND THEN
WE CAN CLOSE THE HEARING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER. AND YOU
CAN GO AHEAD.
>> I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS
THE BILL TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAX
TO DRIVE UP HOUSING COSTS FOR
EVERYONE. AND THE LOW INCOME
HOUSING DOES NOT HAVE TO BE
IMPACTED AS IT CAN BE EXEMPTED
FROM ANY FEES. REALLY I THINK
IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD
MORE AND CONTRIBUTE MORE TOWARD
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SHOULD
BE PAYING IT WHEN THEY ARE
BUILDING A NEW HOUSE. OR
GETTING THE PROFIT FOR BUILDING
HOUSES. I SUPPORT ALL OF THE
PEOPLE'S POSITIONS THAT HAVE
BEEN AGAINST AND FOR THE BILL.
THEY SPEAK MUCH MORE ELOQUENTLY
THAN I DO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RANDY.
>> IS THE AUDIO WORKING?
>> YES, IT IS. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT,
AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
NEXT YEAR'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
UPDATE IS ALL ABOUT INCREASING
HOUSING SUPPLY AND INCREASING
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES RUN
COUNTER TO THOSE GOALS. FOR THE
HOUSING EXPENSES THEY PUSH MORE
MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES AWAY
FROM HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. THIS
IS PARTICULARLY UNFAIR BECAUSE
THEY MAKE THE LAST PERSON PAY
FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT
PAYMENT IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT.
IT'S NOT MERELY THE
$7000-$10,000 FACE VALUE OF THE
FEE. IT CAN BE AFTER THE FEE
WAS FINANCED FOR 8% OF THE
BUILDER AFTER DOING THEIR
HOMEWORK AT DOUBLE OR TRIPLE.
IMPACT FEES WERE DESIGNED IN
THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT IS
NOT SEATTLE BUT THEY DO HAVE
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
ALTERNATIVES WITH THE
APPLICATION LEVY AND DEVELOPMENT
RIGHT NOW. THIS IS AN
ANTI-HOUSING AND
ANTI-AFFORDABILITY PROPOSAL AND
WE URGE YOU TO OBJECT.
>> THANK YOU AND OUR NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. FIRST
OF ALL, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
AND THE POLICY MEMBER. AND I'M
HERE FOR THE OPPOSITION OF THE
POTENTIAL POLICY OF IMPOSING
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES.
THERE IS A LOT THAT HAS BEEN
SAID TONIGHT. I KNOW THAT RIGHT
NOW THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THE PROCEDURE. BUT AT ANY
TIME, IMPOSING THESE MEASURES
ON US IN A HOUSING CRISIS THIS
IS A COUNTERPRODUCTIVE BURDEN ON
HOUSING PRODUCTION. SOME HAVE
BEEN TO OUR BUILDING SITES AND
MANY OF YOU HAVE EVEN WORKED ON
THEM WHILE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.
AND YOU UNDERSTAND THE
DIFFERENCE THAT A HOME CAN MAKE.
AND HOW THE COMMUNITY COMES
TOGETHER. AND IT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE. WE URGE YOU NOT TO
IMPOSE THESE FEES AND FURTHER
UNDERMINE AND CURTAIL THE
PRODUCTION OF HOUSING COSTS IN
THE CONTINUUM.
>> I AM A HOUSING ADVOCATE
LIVING IN NORTHEAST SEATTLE. I
HAVE BEEN THAT HOUSING ADVOCATE
FOR 25 YEARS AND WE PARTICIPATE
IN THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
IMPACT FEES. AND THEN WORKING
WITH DEVELOPERS TO MAKE THIS
OPTIONAL AND INCLUSIONARY. AND
FRANKLY THE IMPACT FEES THAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE CHARGED
FOR THE ONE-TIME COSTS. CAPITAL
COSTS AND FINANCING THE COST OF
THE PROJECT FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
AND IT WOULD BE A DROP OF IN
THE BUCKET. SO IT IS COMPLETELY
FALSE TO SAY THAT THEY WOULD
KEEP RENTERS FROM RENTING
AFFORDABLE UNITS. IF ANY ARE TO
BE BUILT. THE PEOPLE HERE ARE
DEVELOPERS IN THE FOR-PROFIT
MARKET. AND IF IT'S NOT FOR
PROFIT, THEN THAT WILL NOT BE A
PROBLEM. WE NEED HALF OF NEW
HOUSING TO BE SUBSIDIZED.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS VANESSA.
>> I DON'T SEE HER. IT LOOKS
LIKE SHE IS UNMUTED.
>> THANK YOU AND SORRY. LITTLE
GLITCH THERE. GOOD EVENING,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE PLANNING COMMISSION AND
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BODY
THIS EVENING. THE PLANNING
COMMISSION SUPPORTS FOR THE
STUDY OF THE TRANSPORTATION
IMPACT FEE PROGRAM AFTER THE
RECENTLY RELEASED DRAFT
TRANSPORTATION PLAN. AND THE
SOON TO BE RELEASED DRAFT
UPDATES TO PRESENT THE PLAN.
ONCE THE PLANS HAVE BEEN
FINALIZED TO INCORPORATE PUBLIC
COMMENT AND TO BE REVISED FOR
THESE TWO PLANS, THEY ARE
ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDING POLICY
GUIDANCE AND PRIORITY. AND TO
CONTEMPLATE NEEDED FUTURE
INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE APPRECIATE THE DILIGENT AND
THOROUGH ANALYSIS TO DATE BY
CENTRAL STAFF AND CONSULTANTS
ON THIS PROPOSAL AND WE FEEL
THAT THIS WORK IS A SOLID
FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE STUDY.
PITCHER STUDIES NEEDED TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THESE INVESTMENTS
WILL BE FUNDED WITHOUT NEGATIVE
IMPACTS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS IAN WARNER.
>> HELLO. IAN WARNER. POLICY
DIRECTOR. TESTIFYING IN
OPPOSITION TO THE TRANSPORTATION
FEES. THANK YOU FOR TAKING OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
TRANSPORTATION IS AWARE THAT THE
HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE IS
INTERDEPENDENT ON BOTH OUR
CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF AN LIVABLE
AND SUSTAINABLE SEATTLE. THE
RESEARCH ABOUT THE
INTERDEPENDENCE TELLS US IMPACT
FEES ARE OFTEN ILL-SUITED TO
MEET THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF THOSE
IN SEATTLE. BUT THEY CAN AND
SHOULD BE MITIGATED BY
INCREASING RELIANCE ON TRANSIT.
IT IS CLEAR FROM TODAY'S
DISCUSSION THAT THERE ARE
SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL
POLICY QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE
ANSWERED. ADDING NEW COSTA
HOUSING IS NOT THE WAY TO
INTENSIVE INCENTIVIZE NEW
HOUSING PRODUCTION THAT WE NEED.
WE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO REJECT
THE ADOPTION OF THIS BILL AND
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SANDY.
>> AHEAD. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE
UNMUTED.
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES. WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> GREAT, THANKS. I'M SPEAKING
IN FAVOR OF THE BILL AND IN
CONTRAST TO MOST OTHER
COMMENTERS TODAY TO HAVE A
DIRECT FINANCIAL INTEREST IN
SEEING IT GO AWAY ALTHOUGH THE
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA
SAID THE TIMING OF THE BILL IS
NOT QUITE RIGHT BUT THE REALITY
IS THAT THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME
TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE
LEGISLATION. THIS WILL BENEFIT
MANY DIVERSE TRANSPORTATION USER
GROUPS AND REDUCE THE PROPERTY
TAX BURDEN WHICH IS DRIVING UP
HOUSING COSTS FOR RENTERS AND
HOMEOWNERS ALIKE. IF WE HOPE TO
MAKE ANY KIND OF PROGRESS IN
THIS DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT LIKE
THIS MEETING THAT WE HAD TODAY,
WE NEED TO MAKE THE MOST OF
EVERY MOMENT THAT WE HAVE. THIS
IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS. PLEASE
PASS THIS BILL AND THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RACHEL SCHAEFER.
AND YOU MAY TRY PRESSING STAR
SIX TO BE UNMUTED. NOW WE WILL
MOVE ON TO DEB BARKER. AND YOU
MAY TRY PRESSING STAR SIX.
>> I URGE YOUR ADOPTION TO
AMEND THE CITY'S PLAN AND TO
CONSIDER THE USE OF ADDING
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE
-RELATED POLICIES AND IMPROVING
THESE PARTICULARLY AMENDMENTS TO
THE COMP PLAN IS CALENDAR YEAR
TO ALLOW INCOMING CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS TO ASSESS THE
POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAFFIC
IMPACT PROGRAMS IN 2024. I HAVE
WORKED FOR ONE OF THE 70 OTHER
CITIES IN WASHINGTON STATE WITH
THE IMPACT FEE PROGRAM. SEATTLE
HAS YET TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THIS FUNDING TOOL. THERE
IMPLEMENTING TIPS IS A DISASTER
FOR THEIR BOTTOM LINE. BUT THEY
HAVE NO PROBLEMS PAYING THEIR
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES AND
ALL THE OTHER WASHINGTON CITIES.
WHICH BY THE WAY, ALSO HAVE THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. YOUR
ADOPTION TODAY FOR THE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO
PUT SEATTLE'S FUTURE AHEAD OF
THE DEVELOPERS BOTTOM LINE. IT
IS TIME FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS GREG SMITH.
>> HELLO. THIS IS DR. GREG
SMITH. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3. I
HAVE SPENT YEARS WORKING FOR
HOMELESS PROVIDERS AND DIRECTLY
WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE. I URGE A
NO VOTE ON PROPOSED IMPACT FEES.
WE HAVE LEARNED THAT
HOMELESSNESS IS A HOUSING
PROBLEM. AND MORE SPECIFICALLY,
A HOUSING SHORTAGE PROBLEM.
PLACES WITH HOUSING HAVE LITTLE
HOMELESSNESS AND PLACES THAT
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING HAVE
LOTS OF HOMELESSNESS. IT IS
JUST THAT SIMPLE. WHAT IS ALSO
SIMPLE AND WELL-ESTABLISHED IS
THAT WHEN WE INCREASE THE COST
OF NEW HOUSING YOU GET LESS
HOUSING. THE IMPACT FEE FOR THE
COST OF HOUSING AND SO THE
IMPACT FEE WOULD HAVE LESS
HOUSING ON WITH LESS HOUSING WE
WILL HAVE MORE HOMELESSNESS.
.RAM THIS THROUGH WITHOUT A
STUDY. VOTE NO ON THE IMPACT
FEES AND SAVE A FEW PEOPLE FROM
HOMELESSNESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MEGAN McKINNON.
>> HELLO.
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY THANK YOU.
>> I AM A NATIVE OF SEATTLE AND
I CARE VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THIS
ONGOING HEALTH AND VITALITY ON
ALL LEVELS. WITH OUR CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR CLIMATE
INFRASTRUCTURE. I DON'T
UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE ISSUES
HERE. I HEAR THE VOICE OF ALL
THE DEVELOPERS AND I'M VERY
PRO-HOUSING. BUT I ASK YOU TO
SUPPORT THIS BILL TO ALLOW THIS
COUNTABLE 12065. SO THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT CREATIVELY WORKING WITH
THE DEVELOPERS AND WITH THE
PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAD BEEN
FOOTING THE BILL ALL THIS TIME.
WHY CAN SO MANY OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES AND WASHINGTON
STATE DO THIS BUT WE CANNOT? WE
ARE SEATTLE. WHAT ARE WE NOT
IMAGINING HERE? FROM WHAT I
HAVE HEARD, KEEP THE DOOR OPEN
AND LET US DEBATE THIS. LET US
ALL PROJECTS DISSIPATE IN THIS.
YOU CAN DO IT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATT
HUTCHINS.
>> WE HAVE A CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED PROJECT LIST WITH
SUPPORTED GOALS AND WE WOULD
LIKE TO RESOLVE THEM WITH
ACCOUNTABILITY. WITH THE IMPACT
FEE, THIS JUST TAKES ALL OF THAT
MONEY THAT WE WOULD HAVE LOVE
IT ACROSS 150,000 PROPERTY
OWNERS AND PUT IT ON THE
RESIDENCE. AT THIS POINT, WITH
THE AMENDMENT IT WAS OFF TO
COUNSEL BUT THE RATE STUDY SAYS
WE WILL SHIFT UP TO $1.7 BILLION
FROM THE LEVIES PAID BY
PROPERTY OWNERS. AND ONE OF THE
ONLY BRIGHT SPOTS AND ANOTHER
IS VERY EXPENSIVE DEVELOPMENT
CLIMATE IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE
IMPACT FEES. THE DEVELOPMENT
PAYS FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE WATER MAINS AND THIS REMAINS
IN THE POWER LINES AND
SIDEWALKS. ALL OF THESE THINGS
THAT WERE MANDATED BY THE CITY.
PLEASE VOTE ON THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MIRANDA.
>> WE WILL AMEND THE CITY'S
COMP PLAN AND I DON'T THINK IT'S
A RUSHED ITEM WITH THE IMPACT
FEES BROUGHT UP AGAIN AND AGAIN
FOR YEARS. WE DO HAVE A HOUSING
SHORTAGE. I BELIEVE MOST OF THE
COUNTRY DOES. BUT THE HOUSING
DEVELOPED HERE IN SEATTLE IS
MARKET RATE HOUSING. AND THE
MARKET RATES ARE PRETTY GOOD.
AND THE PEOPLE BUYING AND
RENTING WANT A POSITIVE QUALITY
OF LIFE HERE IN THE CITY. IMPACT
FEES HELP TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE
AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTS
EVERYONE THAT HAS A GOOD QUALITY
OF LIFE. REGARDING
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES, TOO
REALLY GOOD FOR BUSINESS.
EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS NEED TO BE
ABLE TO GET TO WORK AND GOODS
AND SERVICES NEED TO BE
DELIVERED AND PEOPLE NEED TO GO
TO SCHOOL AND GO GROCERY
SHOPPING. WE WERE JUST WORKING
WITH OUR RELATIVES AND WE ALL
NEED TO GET AROUND SAFELY AND
EASILY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
PUSHBACK AGAINST AMENDING THE
COMP PLAN TO ALLOW THE
RESEARCH.
>> THINK HE AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS COLLEEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THANK YOU. WE
MENTIONED HIGHER DENSITY DUE TO
RESIDENTIAL GROWTH. HOWEVER, THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MUST
SUPPORT THE GROWTH HAS BEEN
NEGLECTED. WE REQUIRE THE
DEVELOPERS TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL
CAPACITY FOR THE OVERALL STREET
AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS. THE PROJECTS HAVE
HELPED DEVELOPERS CASH THEIR
CHECKS AND THERE ARE IMPACTS. ON
A RECENT TOUR OF THE FIVE
CORNERS BUSY INTERSECTION IN
SEATTLE, THERE WERE NO
CROSSWALKS ON THE STREET WITH
ALL OF THESE NEW RESIDENTS
BEHIND THE VILLAGE. THEY WERE
CONVERTED FROM WAREHOUSE TO
RESIDENTIAL WITH 1400 NEW
HOUSING UNITS AND THE DID NOT
HAVE ANY MONEY IN HIS BUDGET FOR
ANY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT. FOR
TRANSIT THERE WAS ONE BUS STOP
WITH THOSE HOLDING SHOPPING
BAGS. THEY ADDED A ROOF AND A
BENCH. VOTE YES TO ENABLE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT TO BE
CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE COMP
PLAN AND THANK YOU.
>> FOR SOME OF OUR HOMES IT IS
LESS THAN THE ACTUAL COST TO
BUILD THAT. TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES
REPRESENT YET ANOTHER COST THAT
WOULD BE LAYERED ON TOP OF THAT.
UNDERSTAND THAT THE VOTE TODAY
MAY NOT DIRECTLY IMPLEMENT
THESE FEES. BUT ANY POTENTIAL
ADDED COST OF HOUSING DESERVES
THE SCRUTINY OF THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE
NO . THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU AND OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS CATHERINE STANFORD.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I JUST WANT A SERIES OF FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER MYSELF THE I
APPRECIATE YOU ALL HANGING IN
THERE TO HEAR ALL OF US. NOT TO
MENTION, GET HOME TO DINNER. I
WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS
ASSOCIATION OF SEATTLE. I THINK
THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
GREAT COMMENTS. IN THE INTEREST
OF TIME, I WILL NOT GO OVER
THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP A
COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD FOR
CHANGING AND CHANGING BACK SOME
OF THE LANGUAGE. I APPRECIATE
IT. HOWEVER, I THINK THAT IN MY
EXPERIENCE, I THINK THAT IF IT
WERE TO PASS, NO MATTER WHAT THE
LANGUAGE SAYS, IT WOULD BE
CONSIDERED A NOD TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THE IMPACT FEES FOR FUTURE
COUNCILMEMBERS. I THINK THAT
WOULD BE A CHALLENGE FOR THE
CITY. I THINK IT'S ALSO
IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN AND
CANNOT BE USED FOR.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS VANESSA.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS VANESSA
AND I'M A RENTER AND I'M CALLING
INTO OPPOSE ANY CONSIDERATION
OF IMPACT FEE IN THE PLAN.
ALREADY WE HAVE A HOUSING
SHORTAGE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO
OWN BECAUSE OF THE BURDEN OF
HIGH RENT. THE FEES WOULD PUT
EARN OWNERSHIP EVEN FURTHER OUT
OF OUR REACH. I'M ALSO APPALLED
BY THE PROPOSAL. MORE PEOPLE
NEED MORE HOMES. OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
HOUSING. WHY SHOULD YOUNG
PEOPLE AND RENTERS PAY FOR
POLICIES TO TAKE UP THE TASK?
THIS LOCKS IN THE HOUSING IN
AFFORDABILITY . I URGE YOU TO
CONSIDER THE NEGATIVE IMPACT
THAT YOU SEE ON RENTERS. AND TO
VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TRAVIS CLOSE.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M A RENTER
LIVING IN DISTRICT 6 AND I URGE
YOU TO VOTE NO ON IMPACT FEES.
THIS IS A REGRESSIVE TAX THAT
WILL FALL ON SEATTLE'S RENTERS.
WE EXPECT OUR COUNSEL TO BE
WORKING ON POLICIES THAT MAKE
HOUSING LESS EXPENSIVE AND NOT
MORE EXPENSIVE. THE REPORT FROM
2015 FOUND THIS WILL BE PASSED
ON TO RENTERS LIKE ME. THIS
LEGISLATION IS BASED ON FAULTY
LOGIC. MORE PEOPLE LIVING
DOWNTOWN AS A BENEFIT TO OUR
CITY ARE NOT A COST. MORE PEOPLE
WALKING ON A SIDEWALK IS GOOD.
MORE PEOPLE RIDING A BUS IS
GOOD. INSTEAD OF TEXTING
RENTERS, ENCOURAGE COUNSEL TO
PURSUE FUNDING SOURCES THAT
BETTER REFLECT THE COST OF OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND
COMPLEMENT OUR CLIMATE GOALS
SUCH AS CONGESTION PRICING AND
PARKING MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING.
I'M AN ARCHITECT AND DEVELOPER
FOCUSING ON HOUSING. AND I AM
ALSO A RENTER. GETTING PROJECTS
APPROVED IT'S A MINDNUMBING
ENDEAVOR. IT'S FULL OF FINANCIAL
RISKS. I'M A SMALLTIME ACTOR
TURNED DEVELOPER. MOSTLY JUST TO
IMPACT HOUSING. AND I WISH THAT
THERE WERE A WAY TO PAY THESE
FEES AND NOT IMPACT HOUSING. I
WOULD LOVE FOR THEIR TO BE A
WAY TO PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION AS
A COMPONENT OF OUR PROJECTS. BUT
THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS THAT BANKS
AND FINANCIAL PARTNERS DON'T SEE
IT THE SAME WAY. ANY IMPACT FEES
BEING IMPOSED WILL INCREASE THE
COST OF PROVIDING THE ADDITIONAL
HOUSING. STUDY SHOW THAT DENSE
DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS CONTRIBUTE
ASYMMETRICALLY TO A HIGHER TAX
BASE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE
DOWNTOWN FUNDS THE SUBURBS. IN
OTHER WORDS, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK
THE COUNCIL FOR AN EXPERIMENT.
SHOULD WE CONSIDER PASSING A
SYSTEM ACCESS VERSION ON THE
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES THAT
ASYMMETRICALLY COST.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BONNIE WILLIAMS.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM WITH
DISTRICT 4. I SEE THAT THE
TIMING IS RIGHT TO PASS CB
120635. I SEE NO REASON TO DELAY
DISCUSSIONS OF THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES. A
FEW THINGS HAVE HAPPENED IN
FAVOR OF DEVELOPERS. ONE IS THE
STATE PAST THE HOUSING BILL
WHICH NOW ALLOWS DEVELOPERS TO
TEAR DOWN ONE SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSE AND BUILD 4 TO 6 UNITS ON
THAT LOT. THERE IS A GREAT
INCREASE IN THE BENEFITS FOR
DEVELOPERS THERE. THEY HAVE
GOTTEN INCENTIVES TO MHA. I
THINK IT IS TIME TO CREATE MORE
BALANCE. PROPERTY OWNERS TAXES
HAVE BEEN RISING . IN FACT
RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS ALIKE.
AND WE CAN'T KEEP PAYING THESE
HIGH PROPERTY TAXES. IT IS TIME
TO VOTE YES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JON LISBON.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU. I'M THE
PRESIDENT OF SETTLE FOR GROWTH
AND A 25 YEAR RESIDENT. AND WE
HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR A LONG TIME
THAT GROWTH SHOULD PAY FOR
GROWTH. IT'S A FAIR THING TO DO.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN DIRE
NEED OF IMPROVEMENTS AND THIS IS
ONE WAY TO GET IT DONE WITHOUT
BURDENING THE ALREADY
OVERBURDENED TAXPAYERS. YOU
HEARD THE NUMBERS BEFORE WITH
MORE THAN SEVERAL WASHINGTON
STATE CITIES AND WAS SEATTLE,
ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE,
THEY DID NOT. YOU HEARD THE
ARGUMENTS FROM THE MASTER
BUILDERS FOR THIS PROCEDURAL
POLICIES TO AFFECT THE BOTTOM
LINE AND THAT THE FEES WOULD
JUST GET PASSED ALONG TO RENTERS
AND IMPACT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THE MARKET
DETERMINES THE COST OF HOUSING
AND AS DEMAND, THE PRICES GO
DOWN. WE ARE SEEING THAT NOW
SETTLES GROWTH SLOWING THIS YEAR
AND THE INTEREST RATES HAVE
RISEN DRAMATICALLY. WITH 60%
AMI OR BELOW THAT MUST BE
SUBSIDIZED. THANK YOU AND
THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ERICA.
>> HELLO AND YES. I'M HERE TODAY
TO VOTE YES. ON CB 120635.
IMPACT FEES ARE NOT A NEW IDEA.
OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN
WASHINGTON HAVE ALREADY
IMPLEMENTED IMPACT FEES. THEY
HELP US TO PAY FOR
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
RATHER THAN PILING THE ENTIRE
COST FOR NON-HOMEOWNERS AND
RENTERS. WHO WILL END UP PAYING
FOR THESE INCREASED PROPERTY
TAXES. PUBLIC NONPROFIT AND
LONG-TERM HOUSING PROJECTS WILL
BE EXEMPT FROM THE FEES. IN
FACT, FEES ARE A SUCCESSFUL
SOURCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE REVENUE
FOR CITIES ACROSS THE NATION.
IMPACT FEES DO NOT INTERFERE
WITH GROWTH BECAUSE MANY OTHER
CITIES IN WASHINGTON USE THEM
AND THE CITIES HAVE NOT STOPPED
GROWING. SAID AS IMPACT FEES ARE
RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO
OTHER CITIES PROGRAMS. THE
IMPACT FEE REVENUE CAN BE USED
FOR PROJECTS FOR ALL MODES OF
TRAVEL. INCLUDING PEDESTRIANS,
TRANSIT BIKES AND MORE. I URGE
YOU TO VOTE YES . BECAUSE IT
MAKES SENSE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DOUG .
>> HELLO. I'M A RENTER AND
DISTRICT 4. I URGE YOU NOT TO
PASS THE IMPACT FEES AT THIS
TIME. WE DID AN EDITORIAL ON
THIS LAST WEEK. WIESE CITED AN
ARTICLE ABOUT THE IMPACT FEES.
BUT WITH HIGH INTEREST FEES
RIGHT NOW, IT'S ABOUT
ENVIRONMENT TO BE ADDING MORE
FEES ONTO HOUSING. IT WOULD NOT
BE A PROGRESSIVE TAX IN SUCH AN
ENVIRONMENT BUT A REGRESSIVE TAX
THAT HITS TENANTS TWICE OVER.
AND THEN SECOND, IF HOUSING
SLOWS DOWN AND IT LOOKS LIKELY
THAT IT WILL BE AS WE LOOK AT
HOMEBUILDERS ON THE CALL. THE
PAGAN WITH HIGHER RENT. THAT IS
NOT THE THING THAT WE SHOULD BE
DOING RIGHT NOW.
>> OUR LAST TWO SPEAKERS ARE
KELVIN JONES FOLLOWED BY RACHEL
SCHAEFER.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS COLIN JONES
AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH TECH
FOR HOUSING TO IMPOSE FEES. I
BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD MEAN
RENTS GO UP AND THAT RENTERS
WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR THE
HOUSING THAT THEY WENT. ALSO
DISAGREE WITH THE
CHARACTERIZATION THAT THIS IS A
SMALL STEP BUT I THINK THE
IMPACT FEES ARE SUBURBAN HOUSING
POLICY. AT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE
IN SEATTLE AND WE SHOULD CAN
SIGNAL TO THE NEXT COUNSEL THAT
HAS NO PLACE IN SEATTLE'S URBAN
PLANNING AND THEREFORE WE SHOULD
NOT ADD THE IMPACT FEE LANGUAGE
TO OUR ASSIGNMENT. THANK YOU.
>> RACHEL .
>> THANK YOU. SORRY FOR THE
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. I AM
RACHEL SCHAEFER SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF THE CLUB AND I WANT
TO SAY THAT OF COURSE WE DO
SUPPORT MORE FUNDING FOR
TRANSPORTATION AND PROJECTS FOR
WALKING AND BIKING AND TRANSIT
THAT ARE DEFINITELY COSTING MORE
THESE DAYS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
TRANSPORTATION FEES , THE
REALITY IS THAT THE
TRANSPORTATION DOES NOT EXIST IN
A VACUUM. THE PROJECTS THAT WE
WANT TO SEE FOR WALKING AND
BIKING IN TRANSIT ARE REALLY
ONLY SUCCESSFUL AS THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE THAT CAN ACCESS THEM AND
THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING NEARBY. IN
THE BROADER CONTEXT OF
LAND-USE, WE KNOW THERE ARE
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW
IMPLEMENTING THE FEES IMPACT
HOUSING A NEW DEVELOPMENT.
PARTICULARLY AT A CRUCIAL TIME
WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS. THAT
IS WHY IT WILL OPPOSE THE
AMENDMENT AND SUPPORT KEEPING
THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF THE
COMP PLAN. WHICH IS TO CONSIDER
THE USE OF THE FEES TO AFFECT
THIS UNCERTAINTY AND KEEP OUR
OPTIONS OPEN FOR THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THAT
CONCLUDES THE REMOTE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS WERE PRESENT. IF LINDA
COULD JUST VERIFY IF THERE IS
ANY IN PERSON LEFT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THERE NO
FURTHER IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU AND I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON TO GET TO
MY OFFICE TO LET US KNOW WE HAD
TO GO THROUGH EACH SPEAKER.
THANKS FOR BEING THE HALL
MONITOR AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
OKAY. THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER
ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND THIS
IS NOW CLOSED. AT 5:52 PM.
MOVING ON TO OUR GENDER, THERE
WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. MOVING ON TO
ADOPTION OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS,
THERE ARE NO OTHER RESOLUTIONS
TO BE CONSIDERED. MOVING ON TO
OTHER BUSINESS. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THIS COUNSEL BILL
WILL BE RE-REFERRED TO THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE FOR
FURTHER DELIBERATION AND
POSSIBLE ACTION. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE BILL IS REFERRED
TO THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
FOR FURTHER DELIBERATION AND
POSSIBLE ACTION. IS THERE ANY
OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
COUNSEL? I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE
TO GET OUT OF HERE. IS THERE
ANYTHING ELSE?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU FOR PRESIDING.
>> I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT.
EVERYONE IS OKAY? WE DON'T NEED
ANY EXCUSES OR NEED TO BE
EXCUSED. COUNCILMEMBER DAN
STRAUSS.
>> I JUST APPRECIATE EVERYONE
IN ALL OF THESE ITEMS TODAY ON
THE AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. COLLEAGUES, THIS
CONCLUDES THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THE NEXT
MEETING WE HAD WAS GOING TO BE
NOVEMBER 14th. BUT THAT WILL BE
CAN CANCELED. SO THE NEXT CITY
COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE NOVEMBER
21st. AND THANK YOU ALL AND WE
ARE ADJOURNED. PLACEMENT --