>>> AUGUST 8th 2023 JOINT
MEETING OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE AND THE SELECT
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 5: 31 A.M. I AM LISA
HERBOLD , CHAIR OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>>
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS
ALSO EXCUSED.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE WANT TO
RELAY THE ATTENDANCE FOR THE
RECORD? THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO
WE WILL HEAR A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION TO COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
BY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF. WE
WILL PROCEED TO THE HEARING ON
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THE
MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, HEARING
FIRST FROM THE ACCOUNTABILITY
BODIES, AND WE WILL MOVE TO
APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR OUR
COMMITTEE MEETING. I WANT TO
THANK COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR
THEIR FORBEARANCE. I KNOW IT
HAS BEEN A LONG DAY AND WE HAVE
BEEN ASKING A LOT OF YOU, SO I
APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE
TODAY. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, TODAY'S AGENDA WILL
BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, TODAY'S AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. MAY THE CLERK PLEASE
READ AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
INTRODUCTION TO COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION,
OR S PMA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE
JOINED BY CENTRAL STAFF
DIRECTOR ESTHER HANDY AND GREG
DAWES IS ALSO HERE FOR THE
INTRODUCTION TO THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS.
SPECIFICALLY IN THIS CASE FOR
US TODAY, THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HER BOLD.
AS I PULL UP MY PRESENTATION, I
AM ESTHER HANDY, DIRECTOR OF
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF, AS YOU
MENTIONED, HERE TO PROVIDE A
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CITY LABOR
NEGOTIATION PROCESSES TO SET
SOME CONTEXT FOR THE PUBLIC
HEARING. I AM JOINED BY HER
SUPERVISING ANALYST GREG DOSS,
WHO WILL BE HERE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. THE SEATTLE POLICE
MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION IS THE
SMALLER OF TWO UNIONS THAT
REPRESENT CITY OF SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICERS. THE SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICERS KILLED,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SPOG,
REPRESENTS MOST OFFICERS.
TONIGHT, THE GOAL IS TO
EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM BEFORE THE CITY AND
UNION BEGIN CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS. THE CURRENT S
PMA CONTRACT RUNS FROM JANUARY
1st, 2020 THROUGH THE END OF
THIS YEAR, DECEMBER 31st, 2023.
THERE ARE TWO TIMING
CONSIDERATIONS THAT AFFECT WHEN
FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS CAN BEGIN.
FIRST ACKNOWLEDGING THE
EXPIRING CONTRACT ON MAY 19th
OF THIS YEAR, THE LABOR
RELATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE WAS
PROVIDED A FORMAL 180 DAY
NOTICE OF THE CITY'S INTENT TO
BEGIN BARGAINING WITH SPMA,
WHICH PROMPTED THIS PUBLIC
HEARING. THE CITY AND SPMA CAN
BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS NO SOONER
THAN 90 DAYS FROM TONIGHT'S
PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS
NOVEMBER 7th, 2023. THIS IS
THE FIRST STEP IN THE LABOR
NEGOTIATION PROCESS, WHICH I
WILL WALK THROUGH, AND I WANT
TO THANK JESSE FRANCE FOR
HELPING US TO CREATE THIS
GRAPHIC TO HELP EXPLAIN IT. I
WANT TO TRY TO ADVANCE MY
SLIDES. THERE WE GO. SO
WASHINGTON STATE LAW
ESTABLISHES THE RIGHT OF
EMPLOYEES TO JOIN LABOR
ORGANIZATIONS AND BE
REPRESENTED IN MATTERS
CONCERNING PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.
THE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE CITY
AND UNIONS NEGOTIATE IN GOOD
FAITH ON ALL MANDATORY SUBJECT
OF BARGAINING. THAT IS
GENERALLY WAGES, HOURS AND
WORKING CONDITIONS, AND FOR
POLICE UNIONS THOSE
NEGOTIATIONS WILL ALSO INCLUDE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS
PROCESS KICKS OFF WITH A JOINT
PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING.
THE INPUT WILL BE TAKEN TO THE
LABOR RELATIONS POLICY
COMMITTEE WHOSE JOB IT IS TO
ESTABLISH BARGAINING PARAMETERS
FOR THE LABOR RELATIONS
NEGOTIATING TEAM. THE LABOR
RELATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE
INCLUDES THESE MEMBERS . FROM
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, DEBORA
JUAREZ, COUNCILMEMBERS HER
BOLD, CHAIR MOSQUEDA , AND
PEDERSEN AS WELL AS THE
GENERAL COUNCIL TO THE MAYOR
AND THE POLICY DIRECTOR TO THE
MAYOR. THIS COMMITTEE MEETS
REGULARLY TO DISCUSS BARGAINING
STRATEGY FOR CITY UNIONS AND
ARE THEREFORE EXCLUDED FROM
TYPICAL REQUIREMENTS FROM THE
OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ACT. THEY
SET THE PARAMETERS THAT THE
CITY NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE USES
TO DEVELOP A TENTATIVE
AGREEMENT OR ESSENTIALLY A
PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH SPMA.
THAT COULD BE FOR ONE YEAR OR
FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. ONCE AN
AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED
MANAGEMENT MUST RATIFY THE
AGREEMENT. THE CITY THEN
RATIFIES IT THROUGH A MOMENT
MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL
IN OPEN SESSION. THAT IS A
QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS.
GREG AND I ARE AVAILABLE TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS BEFORE TAKING
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR
HANDY. GREG, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> NOPE, I JUST AM HERE TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT
HAVE ON SPMA SPECIFICALLY OR
THE LAST CONTRACT. THANKS.
>> I AM JUST SEEING IF THERE
ARE QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS. LOOKING FOR
RAISED HANDS AND REAL HANDS.
NOT SEEING ANY. JUST BEFORE WE
MOVE ON, I DO WANT TO, AGAIN,
UNDERSCORE THE PURPOSE OF THE
HEARING, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED
BY MUNICIPAL CODE UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF PREVIOUS
COUNCILMEMBERS BECAUSE OF
CONCERN THAT THE PROCESS, ONCE
IT BEGAN, WAS A CLOSE PROCESS.
THE COUNCIL WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE WAS THE ABILITY OF
THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS POLICE
STAKEHOLDERS TO GIVE INPUT TO
THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS BEFORE
IT BEGAN. THAT IS WHY THE
PROCESS IS IMPORTANT. WE HAD A
LOT OF GOOD OUTCOMES WITH THE
LAST SPMA CONTRACT NEGOTIATION,
AND A NUMBER OF THE -- THAT
WERE REFLECTED IN THAT CONTRACT
WERE REFORMS THAT WERE
IDENTIFIED BY THE PUBLIC AND BY
OUR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS, THE CPC, THE OPA AND
THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL IN ADVANCE OF THE
NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE SPMA
CONTRACT LAST TIME AROUND. SO
WITH THAT IF THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE WILL
PROCEED TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO BE
HEARING FIRST FROM OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS, IS
THAT CORRECT, MR. CLERK?
>> THAT IS CORRECT, YES.
>> CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ
THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM?
>> AGENDA ITEM D, AGENDA ITEM
ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH
THE SEATTLE POLICE MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS
PRESIDING OFFICER I AM OPENING
UP THE HEARING ON COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
FOLKS ARE PROBABLY AWARE THAT
THIS HEARING OPENED UP A 3: 30
P.M. AND IN PERSON
REGISTRATION BEGAN AT 5:00.
AGAIN, MR. CLERK, MY NOTES SAY
I WILL CALL PEOPLE IN THE ORDER
OF REGISTRATION, BUT I BELIEVE
THAT IS NOT THE CASE. WE ARE
GOING TO BE HEARING FIRST FROM
OUR ACCOUNT ABILITY PARTNERS?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. SO THAT IS NOT IN
ORDER OF REGISTRATION. SO AM I
ASKING FOLKS TO THE TABLE, MR.
CLERK?
>> GIVEN THAT THAT IS NOT
FILMED, YOU COULD ASK --
>> OKAY. WHAT OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS LIKE TO
COME TO THE TABLE AND GIVE YOUR
COMMENTS THERE? IS THAT OKAY?
THANK YOU.
>> IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT ME TO
DO? I DON'T -- I DIDN'T HAVE
DIRECTION IF I AM SUPPOSED TO
DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE
BEGINNING WITH OUR THREE
ACCOUNTABILITY BODIES. THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION,
THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL AND THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU WILL
EACH HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO
SPEAK, AND I WILL ALLOW YOU TO
GO IN ORDER. WE ARE INTENDING
TO HEAR FIRST FROM THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSIONER,
SO WE WILL START WITH THAT.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT. REVEREND
HUNTER?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD
EVENING. I AM DR. PATRICIA L
HUNTER, ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE COMMISSION.
MY CO-CHAIRS ARE REVEREND
WALDEN AND JOE MARGOLIN.
COUNCIL WAS PRESENTED THE
UPCOMING SPMA NEGOTIATION AND
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO DO THE
SAME. CBC REMAINS COMMITTED TO
GOALS OF ACCOUNTABILITY AS
OUTLINED IN THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE AND
WE BELIEVE THAT COMMUNITY
CONCERNS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY
SHOULD BE ROBUSTLY PRESENTED AS
PART OF THE BARGAINING PROCESS.
THE COMMISSION IS PLEASED TO
NOTE THAT IT APPEARS THAT MANY
OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
SUGGESTED TO COUNCIL THREE
YEARS AGO HAVE IN FACT BEEN
IMPLEMENTED IN THE CURRENT SPMA
CONTRACT, INCLUDING USING A
PREPONDERANT STANDARD FOR
ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT ,
ACCEPTING DISHONESTY AND
REQUIREMENTS FOR MATERIAL
INFORMATION DURING
INVESTIGATIONS AND REFORMING
THE 180 DAY TIMELINE FOR OPA
INVESTIGATIONS AND ESTABLISHING
FIRM TIMELINES FOR EACH STEP OF
THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS,
INCLUDING APPEALS TO REDUCE THE
LENGTH OF TIME FOR CASES TO BE
RESOLVED, AND THREE, REFORMING
CERTAIN FEATURES OF THE
DISCIPLINARY PROCESS THAT
AFFECT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE. AS WE
NOTED IN OUR PRESENTATION IN
2019, THE ORDINANCE HAS NOT
BEEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED, WHICH
CONTINUES TO CAUSE FRICTION
BETWEEN POLICE CONTRACT TERMS
AND THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
AROUND THE CONSENT DECREE.
THERE ARE STILL GAPS THAT NEED
TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE UPCOMING
ROUNDS OF NEGOTIATIONS, AND WE
BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE THREE
AREAS THAT THE COUNCIL AND SPMA
SHOULD STILL FOCUS ON FOR THE
NEW ROUND OF CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS. THE OFFICE --
NUMBER ONE, THE OPPOSITE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY HAS AN IMPORTANT
ROLE IN THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
OVERSIGHT SYSTEM THAT IS
WELL-ADDRESSED, HOWEVER THE CPC
STILL PROPOSES THAT UNION
APPROVAL OF EXTENSIONS OF THE
180 DAY TIMELINE SHOULD NOT BE
REQUIRED WHEN OPA IS NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DELAY.
NUMBER TWO, THE CPC ALSO
PROPOSES THAT THE STATUTE OF
LIMITATION SHOULD NOT APPLY FOR
SERIOUS EXCESSIVE FORCE, FOR
EXAMPLE, WITH DISHONESTY,
COMMERCIAL CONTACT OR THAT ALL
PERSONNEL FILE SHOULD BE
PROPOSED FOR AT LEAST SIX YEARS
AFTER THE OFFICER IS NO LONGER
EMPLOYED BY THE CITY. NUMBER
THREE, CPC PROPOSES REFORMS TO
SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT AND
PRACTICE BY WHICH POLICE
AGENCIES PERMIT OFFICERS TO
WORK FOR OTHER EMPLOYERS WHEN
OFF DUTY WHILE STILL WEARING
SPD UNIFORMS, CARRYING WEAPONS
AND MAINTAINING THE POWER AND
AUTHORITY OF ON-DUTY OFFICERS.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ISSUED AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING A
COORDINATED INTERDEPARTMENTAL
EFFORT TO REQUIRE SPD TO
PROVIDE GREATER OVERSIGHT
THROUGH REGULATIONS AND
MANAGEMENT OF ALL SECONDARY
EMPLOYMENT FOR SPD OFFICERS.
THE CPC HAS ADDITIONAL
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE
OUTLINED IN OUR FORTHCOMING
LETTER INCLUDING SUGGESTIONS
THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE
LAST CONTRACT. IT IS OUR
SINCERE HOPE THAT IN THE NEXT
ROUND OF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
THAT RECOMMENDATIONS BY ALL
ACCOUNT ABILITY PARTNERS WILL
BE IMPLANTED TO ENSURE THAT SPD
IS GUIDED BY CONSTITUTIONAL
POLICING AS INTENDED BY THE
CITY ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE.
FINALLY, THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION IS CONCERNED WITH
THE BIASED CULTURE THAT IS
PREVALENT WITHIN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE BELIEVE
THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE POLICE CHIEF AND
MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE THAT SPD
IS A BIAS-FREE EMPLOYER. WE
WERE RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF THE
VIDEO AND IN THE PRECINCT HUNG
A TRUMPET PRESENT BANNER. IT
IS INCUMBENT UPON MANAGEMENT,
TENANTS AND CAPTAINS TO
PROHIBIT REPROBATE BEHAVIOR AND
NOT NEGOTIATED AWAY FROM THIS
CONTRACT. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT
THOSE WHO ALLOW THESE ACTS TO
GO UNPUNISHED WILL BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR.
HUNTER. I BELIEVE NEXT WE HAVE
THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL, REPRESENTED BY DEPUTY
DIRECTOR SMITH.
>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM
BETSY SCOTT, DEPUTY INSPECTOR
GENERAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FROM
THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. WE
APPRECIATE BEING INCLUDED IN
THIS HEARING THIS EVENING. IN
ADVANCED BARGAINING, OIG
GENERATED A MEMORANDUM TO THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
IDENTIFYING POTENTIALLY
PROBLEMATIC PROVISIONS IN THE
AGREEMENT THAT UNPACKED
ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT MEMO WAS
INTENDED TO HIGHLIGHT AREAS OF
FOCUS FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF
BARGAINING EFFORTS TO
STRENGTHEN AND ACTUALIZE
ACCOUNTABILITY REFORMS ENACTED
BY THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL IN
2017. PRIMARY AREAS OF CONCERN
AT THE TIME INCLUDED ENSURING
MEASURES THAT PROVIDE
TRANSPARENCY , ENHANCED
COMMUNITY TRUST AND SOLIDIFIED
AUTHORITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY
ENTITIES. SPECIFICALLY SUBPOENA
POWER, QUANTUM OF PROOF ON
APPEAL, THE 180 DAY TIMELINE,
ARBITRATION REFORM AND
AUTHORITY IN CRIMINAL CASES
WERE IDENTIFIED AS PRIMARY
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
ADDITIONALLY, INCREASED
TRANSPARENCY IN THE BARGAINING
PROCESS WAS ALSO CALLED OUT FOR
REFORM. SINCE THAT TIME, THE
CURRENT CBA WAS NEGOTIATED,
RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL
STRIDES THAT ADDRESSED SPECIFIC
CONCERNS RAISED BY OIG AND
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
IMPROVEMENTS IN GAINS THAT
DIRECTLY BENEFIT ACCOUNTABILITY
EFFORTS IN THE CURRENT CBA
INCLUDE ADDITIONS TO ARTICLE 15
THAT CLEARLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND
ADOPT THE PHILOSOPHY AND
PURPOSE THAT UNDERPINS THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE,
INCLUDING PRIORITIZING
COMMUNITY TRUST AND
TRANSPARENCY AND RECOGNIZING
THE ROLE OF PROPER POLICE
LEGITIMACY, CLEARLY
ACKNOWLEDGING PREPONDERANCE OF
EVIDENCE AS THE STANDARD FOR
APPEAL AND REFUTING REVIEW WITH
DEFERENCE TO DECISIONS OF THE
CHIEF. PROVIDING THE
DISCIPLINE, REVIEW HEARINGS
WILL BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
WHILE PRESERVING RIGHTS AND
ADDRESSING A LOOPHOLE FOR
CRIMES COMMITTED IN
JURISDICTIONS AND ALLOWING
STAFF TO MONITOR MEMBERS AND
CLARIFY PROCESSES FOR MEDIATION
AND RAPID ADJUDICATION.
BARGAINING PARAMETERS INCLUDE
RECORDS RETENTION, CONFORMANCE
WITH STATE LAW AND ADDRESSING
POTENTIALLY-CONCERNING ISSUES
IN ARTICLE 16. OVERALL, THIS
PROVIDES MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT
OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND INCREASES
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
TO THE COMMUNITY. ADDRESSING
THESE REMAINING RECOMMENDATIONS
IN FUTURE AGREEMENTS WILL
FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY IN
2017. THE OIG LOOKS FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC
TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING
US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR SCOTT. LASTLY WE HAVE
OPA, OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, REPRESENTED BY
JUSTIN.
>> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE
BARGAINING PROCESS TONIGHT, AND
WE HOPE THAT THIS ALSO BRINGS
US CLOSER TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE. THIS ALSO ALLOWS US
TO DO OUR JOBS AND REMOVE SOME
OF THE PROCEDURAL ISSUES. THAT
SAID, IT HAS ONLY BEEN IN PLACE
FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, SO WE
HAVE LIMITED EXPERIENCE
OPERATING UNDER THAT AGREEMENT
. ROUGHLY LESS THAN 4% OF OUR
CASES ACTUALLY FALL UNDER THE
SPMA AGREEMENT. MOST OF THEM
DEFAULT TO THE SPOG AGREEMENT ,
BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE MULTIPLE
OFFICERS INVOLVED. SO THAT
SAID, THE SPMA AGREEMENT MIGHT
BE USED AS A BIT OF A MODEL FOR
SPOG NEGOTIATIONS , WE HOPE.
THAT IS PART OF OUR HOPE. SO
WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN
HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC
TONIGHT, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY
ARE THERE PROVISIONS YOU HAVE
PROBLEMS WITH IN THE CURRENT
AGREEMENT? ARE THERE ONES YOU
WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE, AND
WHY? I VIEW THIS AS KIND OF
LIKE A BOOK CLUB IN THE SENSE
THAT WE ARE ALL KIND OF TALKING
ABOUT THE SAME BOOK TONIGHT, WE
HOPE. SO WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE
HERE TO LISTEN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
UNDERSTAND THAT WE MAY BE
GETTING ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
AFTER THIS MEETING FROM EACH OF
THE THREE BODIES. IN THE PAST
WE HAVE MEMORIALIZED WHAT WE
HAVE HEARD IN THE FORM OF A
COUNCIL RESOLUTION. WE DO
RECOGNIZE THAT I THINK MUCH OF
THE FOCUS IS ABOUT RETAINING
THE GAINS OF THE LAST CONTRACT,
SO WE WILL, BASED ON OUR
ANALYSIS OF THE FEEDBACK THAT
WE ARE GETTING NOW, WE WILL
HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO
MEMORIALIZE THE INPUT THAT WE
ARE RECEIVING IN THE FORM OF A
COUNCIL RESOLUTION. SO NOW
MOVING BACK UP TO THE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC, JUST GIVING THE RULES
FOR THAT PROCESS, EACH SPEAKER
IS GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN
VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENTERS AND I WILL CALL ON
EACH SPEAKER BY NAME AND IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
ON THE COUNCIL WEBSITE AND SIGN
IN FORM. IF YOU HAVE NOT
REGISTERED YET TO SPEAK BUT YOU
WANT TO DO SO, YOU CAN STILL
DO SO BEFORE THE END OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION. WHEN I
CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME IF YOU
ARE USING THE VIRTUAL ITEM, WE
ASK THAT YOU LISTEN FOR THE
PROMPT, AND ONCE YOU HAVE HEARD
THE PROMPT, WE ASK THAT YOU
PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF. PLEASE SPEAK -- BEGIN
SPEAKING BY STATING YOUR NAME
AND THE ITEM WHICH YOU ARE
ADDRESSING. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR
A CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE
LEFT OF THE ALLOTTE TIME. ONCE
THE SPEAKER HERE'S THE CHIME WE
ASK THAT YOU BEGIN TO WRAP UP
YOUR COMMENTS. WHEN SPEAKERS DO
NOT END THERE COMMENTS THEY
WILL HAVE TIME PROVIDED,
UNFORTUNATELY. THE SPEAKER
MICROPHONE IS MUTED AFTER 10
SECONDS TO ALLOW US TO HEAR
FROM THE NEXT SPEAKER. WE HAVE
12 SPEAKERS SIGNED IN AND EIGHT
PEOPLE IN PERSON FOR SPEAKING
VIRTUALLY. I WILL START WITH
THE -- EXCELLENT! START WITH
THE IN PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKERS,
AND PRESENTERS, YOU ARE
WELCOME TO CONTINUE SITTING
THERE OR YOU CAN [ LAUGHTER ]
YOU CANNOT! WHATEVER YOU ARE
MOST COMFORTABLE DOING. WE WILL
START WITH KATHLEEN FOLLOWED BY
AMY SUMMERS.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS
KATHLEEN BURROWS AND I AM A
RESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN BALLARD. I
LIVE ACROSS FROM THE NIAGARA
EARNERS HOUSE, WHICH IS
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. I SUPPORT
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT .
DEFUNDING THE POLICE WAS, IN MY
BOOK , A COLOSSAL FAILURE. I
WANT TO SEE -- I WANT TO KEEP
THE POLICE WE HAVE AND I WANT
TO SEE MORE POLICE ON THE
STREETS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE
SEE SOMEBODY WALKING THE BEAT
IN DOWNTOWN BALLARD. I AM TIRED
OF SEEING BROKEN WINDOWS AND
GRAFFITI, AND MAYBE SOMETHING
LIKE THE NAVIGATION TEAM. I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT RETURN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD REQUEST
THAT PEOPLE SPEAK TO THE TOPIC
OF THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS
EVENING, WHICH IS THE INPUT
THAT THE PUBLIC IS GIVING TO
THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATING THE
CONTRACT WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
IN MY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE I
DO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO
ADDRESS OTHER, BROADER AND MORE
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, BUT FOR
THE PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING IT
IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR
THE TOPIC OF THE PUBLIC
HEARING, WHICH IS THE CONTRACT
WITH SPMA. THANK YOU! OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS AMY SUMMERS, AND ANY
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CAROLYN
MALONE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AMY SUMMERS AND I AM
A MEMBER OF PROACTIVE
PERSISTENT PEOPLE FOR PROGRESS,
WHICH IS A CITIZENS'
ORGANIZATION. WE ARE HERE
BECAUSE WE ARE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE IMPERATIVE THAT THE
2017 ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
BE FULLY INCORPORATED INTO THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
WITH SPMA . WE THINK THAT THE
CURRENT FORM OF THE AGREEMENT,
WHILE OTHERS HAVE NOTED THAT IT
IS AN IMPROVEMENT, THERE ARE
STILL PROVISIONS AND GAPS. THE
REPRESENTATIVE IS ASKED FOR
COMMENTS ON THEM. I WILL JUST
DRAW SEVERAL TO THE COUNCIL
ATTENTION. SECTION 12.2 NOTES
THAT EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY ARE
GOVERNED BY APPLICABLE CITY
ORDINANCES AND SAID THAT
ORDINANCES ARE PARAMOUNT,
EXCEPT WHERE THEY CONFLICT WITH
THE EXPRESS PROVISIONS
AGREEMENT. 16.6 REFERS TO THE
BILL OF RIGHTS AND SPELLS OUT
THE MINIMUM RIGHTS OF AN
OFFICER BUT THEN IT GOES ON TO
STATE THAT WHERE THE LANGUAGE
OF THE CONTRACT OR PASS
PRACTICES GRANT THE OFFICER
GREATER RIGHTS, THOSE GREATER
RIGHTS SHALL RETAIN. THAT, TO
OUR COMMUNITY, SEEMS LIKE
OPENING UP TERRIBLE POTENTIAL
FOR GOING BACK RATHER THAN
FORWARD. A THIRD PROVISION
REFERS TO THE RESULTS OF THE
BARGAINING ON THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
BETWEEN THE PARTIES IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS. THE CITY
MAY, NO IT DOES NOT SAY MUST,
MAY IMPLEMENT THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE. THE
ASSOCIATION RETAINS THE RIGHT
TO BARGAIN ANY UNFORESEEN
EFFECTS OF RISING
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE. THAT
IS VERY TROUBLING TO US. WE
URGE THE COUNCIL AND AS PMA TO
FINALIZE UNEQUIVOCAL LANGUAGE
SAYING THAT OFFICERS ARE
SUBJECT TO THE 2017 ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE CAROLYN MALONE,
FOLLOWED BY TODD SNARR.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
CAROLYN MALONE, AND I, ALONG
WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW WHO THESE FAKE POLICE
OFFICERS WERE WHO WENT TO
WASHINGTON, D.C. NOT TO SERVE
AND PROTECT, BUT TO DESTROY.
WHY DON'T WE LET THE PUBLIC
KNOW WHO THESE OFFICERS ARE? MY
PARTICULAR TOPIC, ONE OF MANY
TO TALK ABOUT, IS POLICE
PRESENCE IN MY BUILDING. THEY
HAVE NO RIGHT TO MAINTAIN
SURVEILLANCE ON ME BECAUSE I AM
A MILDLY BLACK WOMAN WHO STANDS
UP FOR HER RIGHTS. EACH TIME I
CONTACT AN AGENCY TO GET THEM
TO STOP POLICE HARASSMENT OR
REMOVE THEM FROM MY BUILDING
AND ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE, I AM
THWARTED, HARASSED, INTERFERED
WITH. POLICE HARASSMENT BEGAN
AGAINST ME WHEN MY DRIVERS
LICENSE OF 55 YEARS WAS
TERMINATED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.
MY CAR A YEAR LATER WITH ENGINE
DAMAGE. A LAWSUIT. JUDGE MARSHA
WAS ASSIGNED TO ME AND
MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED. EACH
TIME I WOULD FIGHT, CONTINUE TO
GO AFTER POLICE TO STOP THE
HARASSMENT, RETALIATION,
INTIMIDATION. I AM HARASSED
EVEN MORE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW WHO THESE SUPPOSEDLY
LAW-ABIDING PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO
WENT TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO DO
EXACTLY OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY
TOOK AN OATH TO DO. I WOULD
ALSO LIKE INTERVENTION FROM THE
APPROPRIATE AGENCY TO STOP
POLICE HARASSMENT, RETALIATION
AND REMOVAL FROM MY BUILDING
WITH THEIR ILLEGAL AUDIO/VIDEO
IN MY UNIT. POLICE HARASSMENT
MUST STOP AGAINST PEOPLE WHO
SPEAK OUT! JOSEPH CLAIMS TO BE
A SOCIAL WORKER AT CHANCERY
PLACE APARTMENTS. I CHALLENGE
THAT! THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I
DO BELIEVE, HAS NO SOCIAL
WORKERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TODD SNARR, WHO WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY HOWARD GALE.
>> REAL QUICK BEFORE I GET
STARTED, I WANT TO MAKE SURE OF
WHAT YOU MENTIONED ON THE
RULES. COULD YOU KIND OF
EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE
TO ME ON THE RULES ABOUT OUR
COMMENTS?
>> SURE. THIS IS A PUBLIC
HEARING TO GIVE THE CITY INPUT
TO THE NEXT SEATTLE POLICE
MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
CONTRACT. WE ASK THAT PEOPLE
DIRECT THEIR COMMENT IN THE
PUBLIC HEARING TOWARDS THE
ELEMENTS OF THE CONTRACT THAT
YOU FEEL THE CITY NEEDS TO WORK
ON ADDRESSING.
>> DIRECTLY WITH THE CONTRACT?
>> CORRECT.
>> I AM HOPING THAT I COULD
HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHARE MY
THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS. IF YOU
COULD JUST ALLOW ME THAT TWO
MINUTES?
>> SURE.
>> MY NAME IS TODD SNARR. I
SPENT TIME IN THE U.S. NAVY AND
AS A RESOLUTIONS REP WITH IRS.
SINCE 2010 I AM THE OWNER OF MY
OWN ACCOUNTING BUSINESS. I DO
NOT LIVE HERE. I AM IN
WASHINGTON STATE. I HAVE LIVED
OVER IN CLARKSTON, WASHINGTON
. I DO HAVE CLIENTS THAT LIVE
OVER HERE. I HAVE OBSERVED ALL
THE INFORMATION THAT TRANSPIRES
HERE IN SEATTLE. WHEN IT COMES
TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WHAT THAT
MEANS TO ME IS LAW AND ORDER.
WE MUST HAVE LAW AND ORDER.
YES, THERE NEEDS TO BE
ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY
WITH EVERYBODY. NOT JUST POLICE
OFFICERS.
AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK
FOR THAT OWNER ARE PROBABLY OUT
OF A JOB FOR HAVING TO REBUILD
THEIR STORE WHEN THEY SHUT IT
DOWN. ANYWAYS, PLEASE BRING
BACK THE POLICE FORCE. IF A
POLICE OFFICER VIOLATES THEIR
OATH, THEY MUST BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. BUT MOST POLICE
OFFICERS ARE GOOD CITIZENS LIKE
ANYBODY ELSE. THANK YOU!
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HOWARD
GALE AND HOWARD WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY VALERIE .
>> OVER THREE YEARS AFTER THE
POLICE RIOTS OF 2020, THE CITY
STILL PLANS TO NEGOTIATE A NEW
CONTRACT WITH SPMA AS THEY ARE
WITH SPOG WITH THE MAXIMAL
DEMANDS , THE MAXIMAL DEMANDS
STILL BASED ON THE FAILED 2017
LEGISLATION. THAT IS WHY
TODAY'S HEARING IS PURELY
PERFORMATIVE AND POINTLESS , AS
INDICATED BY THE TOTAL LACK OF
PARTICIPATION. WE MIGHT HAVE 10
PEOPLE SPEAKING TODAY. WE KNOW
THAT THIS IS POINTLESS BECAUSE
COMMUNITY INPUT WAS SOUGHT IN
2021 WITH THE CLEAREST DEMAND
BEING THE POLICE STOP
INVESTIGATING THEIR FELLOW
OFFICERS. THIS WAS IMMEDIATELY
REJECTED, AND INSTEAD THE CPC
FORWARDED RECOMMENDATIONS AS
IN THE 2017 ORDINANCE TO
MAINTAIN POLICE INVESTIGATING
POLICE, A SYSTEM THAT WAS
ENTIRELY REJECTED BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE IN 2021 WHEN THEY
SET UP THE OFFICE OF
INVESTIGATIONS. IT IS ALSO A
SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN TOTALLY
REJECTED BY EVERY CITY THAT HAS
PUT FORTH POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
SINCE GEORGE FORD. MOST NOTABLE
IN CITY DEMANDS, THEY WILL
STILL ALLOW POLICE TO
INVESTIGATE POLICE, STILL ALLOW
FOR ARBITRATION AND STILL ALLOW
THE POLICE CHIEF TO SUMMARILY
OVERRULE ALL DISCIPLINE. THE
BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WHERE
DOZENS OF U.S. CITIES HAVE
LEARNED FROM SUMMER 2020,
SEATTLE REMAINS STUCK IN THE
FAILED EXPERIMENT 2017. LET ME
POINT OUT THAT NO MATTER , IF
EVERY ASPECT OF THE 2017
ORDINANCE WAS IMPLEMENT IT, WE
STILL WOULD'VE HAD THE SUMMER
OF 2020 AND THE REPEATED
KILLINGS EVERY YEAR OF SOMEONE
IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. WHY?
BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE POLICE
INVESTIGATING POLICE, AND IN
THE RARE INSTANCE WHERE THEY DO
A HALFWAY REASONABLE JOB, THAT
IS THEN OVERTURNED BY THE
POLICE CHIEF. THIS HAS TO STOP.
WE HAVE TO HAVE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY WITHOUT THE
INTERFERENCE OF GROUPS LIKE THE
CPC, OPA AND OIG. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE HEAR
FROM OUR NEXT SPEAKER, MR.
CLARK?
>> TECHNICAL ISSUE APPEARS TO
HAVE BEEN FIXED.
>> OKAY, WE NEED TO RESTART THE
RECORDING HERE, SO -- SEATTLE
CHANNEL, ARE YOU OKAY? WE ARE
GOING TO RESTART THE RECORDING
HERE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED. STANDBY PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS VALERIE
CHLARETTE, AND I HAVE TO SAY
THAT THE MORE THINGS CHANGE IN
SEATTLE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE
SAME. PEOPLE HAD EXPERIENCED
AGGRESSIVE RESPONSES TO THE
BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS.
WAS THERE ACCOUNTABILITY? NO.
DID THE POLICE CHANGE? NO. WE
SAW THAT DURING THE RESPONSE TO
THE PROTESTS IN 2020. OVER THE
YEARS, AND THERE ARE MANY WAYS,
THE PUBLIC HAS LET COUNCIL AND
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS KNOW
WHAT WE THINK OF POLICING IN
SEATTLE AND THAT WE THINK OF
ACCOUNTABILITY AND WHAT WE
THINK OF REFORM UNDER THE
CONSENT DECREE. FOR PEOPLE WHO
REALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON,
WE DO NOT THINK MUCH OF IT. IT
IS NOT IMPRESSIVE. THE PROCESS
OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION IS ALSO
EXTREMELY UNIMPRESSIVE. IF
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WATCHING
THIS COULD SEE THE VERY SPARSE
TURNOUT IN THIS CHAMBER OF THE
PUBLIC TO DISCUSS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT SUBJECT, THEY MIGHT
WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.
WHAT IS GOING ON IS THAT THIS
SO-CALLED PUBLIC HEARING WAS
ANNOUNCED ONLINE BY CITY
COUNCIL EIGHT DAYS AGO IN
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S BLOG
AND IN A TWITTER POST BY HER
FOUR DAYS AGO. IT REALLY DOES
NOT ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR
UNPAID MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ARE ACTIVISTS, WHO MAY
HAVE BEEN EGREGIOUSLY HARMED BY
POLICING, TO PUT TOGETHER AN
IMPRESSIVE AND INFORMED SHOW A
PUBLIC COMMENT. SO I THINK THAT
WE CAN ASSUME THAT GOING INTO
THIS ROUND OF AS PMA CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS, THE PUBLIC IS
REALLY NOT REPRESENTED. THIS IS
NOT -- THIS REALLY IS NOT
SATISFACTORY AT ALL. IT IS A
SHAM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ERIC SIMMONS AND ERIC WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY CARRIE KAPLAN.
>> THANK YOU . TESTING,
TESTING, HELLO! MY NAME IS ERIC
SIMMONS. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON
THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF THE
POLICE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
A QUEER PERSON LIVING IN THE
CITY. WE ALL AGREE THAT SPD ARE
CURRENTLY INCAPABLE OF KEEPING
LAW AND ORDER. MANY PROPOSE
THAT INCREASED FUNDING COULD
HELP, BUT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING
THAT FOR AS LONG AS I CAN
REMEMBER AND IT HAS NOT WORKED.
DESPITE WHAT SOME MAY CLAIM,
THE POLICE ARE STILL VERY MUCH
FUNDED AND ARE FAR FROM
ANYTHING RESEMBLING GENUINE
DEFUNDING. CURRENTLY THE POLICE
BUDGET SITS AT JUST OVER ONE
FIFTH OF THE CITY BUDGET, SO
NOW IS THE TIME TO ASK, CAN WE
AFFORD THIS FAILING PROGRAM?
HAVE THEY EARNED OUR FUNDING
AND TRUST? WITH ABYSMAL
RESPONSE TIMES, CEASELESS
REPORTS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT
AND A POPULATION WITH ZERO
FAITH IN THE PROGRAM, IT IS
TIME WE DEMAND THAT THE POLICE
ARE IN THEIR BUDGET AND
PRIVILEGES, WHICH STARTS WITH
ASKING IF THEY EVEN DESERVE THE
IMMENSE 23% OF OUR TAX DOLLARS
THEY ALREADY HAVE. OUR CURRENT
POLICE FORCE IS TOO BIG A
LUXURY FOR A CITY WITH RAMPANT
POVERTY, AND IT IS TIME THAT WE
DEMAND THAT THE POLICE EITHER
USE THE MONEY AND POWER WE
ALREADY GAVE THEM MORE
RESPONSIBLY, OR WE GIVE OUR
MONEY IN TRUST TO MORE
EFFECTIVE AND COMPETENT
PROGRAMS, ONES WHICH WE
DESPERATELY NEED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CARRIE KAPLAN.
>> HELLO. I ACTUALLY CAME HERE
TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR HOMELESS
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, BUT SINCE
WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT,
THAT'S FINE. I AM A
NEUROSCIENTIST AND I AM GOING
TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT I THINK
ABOUT THE POLICE. I WOULD LOVE
TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE FORCE. I
WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT EVERYONE
IN OUR COMMUNITY. AS
NEUROSCIENTISTS, I THINK THAT
US ALL LEARNING AND THEM
HELPING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
TO LEARN ABOUT BREATHING
EXERCISES TO HELP OUR BRAINS TO
FUNCTION BETTER AND TO HAVE
BETTER RESPONSES WOULD BE AN
EASY, CHEAP AND EFFECTIVE WAY
OF EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER IN
OUR COMMUNITY. I REALLY LOOK
FORWARD TO TRYING TO PROMOTE
THAT AND MY DESIRE FOR PUBLIC
HEALTH TO BE BETTER. FROM WHAT
I HAVE HEARD, PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT POLICE OFFICERS ANYMORE,
THEY FEEL THAT EVERYBODY IN THE
COMMUNITY HATES THEM, AND THEY
STILL WANT TO SERVE OUR
COMMUNITY, AND IT SHOULD BE A
WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR EVERYBODY
TO BE SUPPORTED BY OUR POLICE
AND FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A PART
OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE
THERE TO HELP US. IT WOULD
CAUSE LESS ANXIETY AND STRESS
AND MORE COMING TOGETHER AS
HUMANS, AS ONE COLLECTIVE UNIT.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN PUT AWAY A
LOT OF OUR ANTIQUATED
PERSPECTIVES ABOUT OTHERS BEING
BAD AND JUST COME TOGETHER AND
THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. I
AM HAPPY TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT
AND BE A RESOURCE FOR THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AND THE POLICE
CONTRACT DOES COVER OFFICER
WELLNESS, SO YOUR COMMENTS ARE
WELL-RECEIVED.
>> I'M SORRY, WHAT DID YOU SAY?
>> THE CONTRACT DOES ADDRESS
WELLNESS, SO YOUR COMMENTS ARE
WELL-PLACED. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS PAUL COMRIE, WHO WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY MOLLY SOMERSET. WE
ARE SWITCHING TO ONLINE
SPEAKERS. PAUL COMRIE? YOU
WITH US?
>> OKAY, NOW I AM UNMUTED.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. YES. I A -- I DON'T
HAVE COMMENTS ON SPECIFIC
PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT AND
DISCUSSIONS TODAY. I MOSTLY
HAVE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE
NEGOTIATIONS THEMSELVES. MY
NAME, AGAIN, IS PAUL COMRIE AND
I LIVE IN BALLARD AS WELL LIKE
THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT ARE
TODAY. I DO NOT SUPPORT SPD. I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE POLICE WERE
NEVER DEFUNDED AND I WANT TO
SEE FEWER POLICE OFFICERS
STOCKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I
WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR
REPRESENTATIVES FIRST AND
FOREMOST. CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT
REPRESENT SPMA AND THIS SHOULD
NOT BE A FAST TRACK OR
RUBBERSTAMP. THE POLICE DO FEEL
LIKE A THREAT TO MANY
SEATTLEITES AND WE WANT LESS
MONEY IN THEIR HANDS, MEANING
FEWER POLICE OFFICERS. WE
UNDERSTAND THE POLICE TO BE AN
OCCUPYING FORCE THAT DEFENDS
CAPITAL FIRST AND FOREMOST AND
THEY OFTEN SEE THEMSELVES
LIVING OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
THEY VERY RARELY APPROACH
ANYTHING THAT RESEMBLES CRIME
PREVENTION. WE MUST REMEMBER
THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF SPD, THE
KIND OF PEOPLE WHO YOU WILL NOT
BE NEGOTIATING WITH ELEVATED
PEOPLE LIKE FORMER POLICE CHIEF
CARMEN BEST. WE SAW THAT THE
REPRESENTATION OF SPD ON
JANUARY 6th DOES NOT REPRESENT
THE CULTURE OF OUR CITY AND
MOST OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT IT
IS STILL UNDER THE CONSENT
DECREE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. IN
SHORT, MANY PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
UNDERSTAND THAT THE CULTURE
CONTINUES TO BE ROTTEN, BUT
OBVIOUSLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS , YOU
CANNOT ASSUME THE WORST OF THE
EMPLOYEES YOU WILL BE
NEGOTIATING WITH, AND I
UNDERSTAND YOU ARE LEGALLY
REQUIRED TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD
FAITH, SO IN SHORT I ASK YOU TO
REMEMBER TO NEGOTIATE SHREWDLY
ON BEHALF OF CITIZENS LIKE
MYSELF. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU, AND OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS MOLLY SOMERSET.
MOLLY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BETH.
MOLLY, IF YOU COULD HIT STAR
SIX, SO WE COULD HEAR YOU?
AGAIN, MOLLY -- THERE YOU GO.
PERFECT!
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING,
PUBLIC SERVICES AND HEALTH AND
SAFETY COMMITTEE. I CALL ON YOU
TO NOT RENEW THE SPMA CONTRACT
. AS THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY I LOOK
FORWARD TO TAKING STEPS AWAY
FROM AN INSTITUTION THAT HAS
ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT MAINTAINING
WHITE SUPREMACY AND SUPPRESSING
THE WORKING CLASS AND POOR.
POLICING IN THE U.S. HAS
ORIGINS IN SLAVE PATROLS, AND
THERE ARE STORIES ABOUT THE SPD
KILLING TWO STRIKING MARITIME
WORKERS IN 1904. THEY ALSO
WENT UNDER A CONSENT DECREE DUE
TO BIAS POLICING AND EXCESSIVE
FORCE. IT WAS FOUND THAT SPD
CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT BIAS
POLICING COMPARED WITH WHITE
PEOPLE. THEY STOP PEOPLE NINE
TIMES MORE FREQUENTLY IN BLACK
PEOPLE FIVE TIMES MORE
FREQUENTLY. ADDITIONALLY,
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, PACIFIC
ISLANDERS AND BLACK PEOPLE ARE
SUBJECT TO MORE FORCE THAN
WHITE PEOPLE. WITHIN SPD THERE
IS EVIDENCE OF BIAS AND
DISCRIMINATION AS NOTED BY THE
$10 MILLION LAWSUIT. CONTRACTS
PROTECTED PEOPLE LIKE
LIEUTENANT HIGGINS, WHO KILLED
TWO SEATTLEITES IN CRISIS AND
PEOPLE LIKE LIEUTENANT HIGGINS
WHO DROVE ONTO A SIDEWALK AND
CALLED PROTESTERS COCKROACHES.
WE MUST END QUALIFIED IMMUNITY
, AND WE MUST NOT NEGOTIATE
WITH THOSE WHO UPHOLD CONTEMPT
FOR THE PEOPLE. DO NOT RENEW
THE CONTRACT. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BETH.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BETH AND
I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR A GOOD
CONTRACT FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ARE CITY EMPLOYEES
THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT
A CONTRACT FOR MORE THAN TWO
YEARS. THEY HAVE BEEN
MISTREATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
AND THE CITY AND HAVE BEEN THE
SUBJECT-THE VICTIMS OF HUNDREDS
OF ASSAULTS. EVEN THE MIDDLE OF
THOSE ASSAULTS, THE CITY
COUNCIL WAS SUPPORTING THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE ASSAULTING CITY
EMPLOYEES. THE DATA SAYS THAT
THERE IS MUCH LESS STAFFING ON
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAN NEEDED. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT
THE PERCENTAGE IS. IT IS
INCREDIBLE, BECAUSE THEY WERE
LOW-STAFFED THREE YEARS AGO,
AND THE NEW CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS ARE PROMISING TO GET
MORE STAFF, MORE POLICE
OFFICERS, AND SINCE THEN THEY
HAVE LOST MORE THAN 600 STAFF,
ALMOST ONE THIRD OF THE
STAFFING. IT WAS BECOMING A
MORE DIVERSE POLICE FORCE,
EXCEPT WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL
SUPER MAJORITY THREATENED TO
DEFUND THEM BY 50%. MANY OF
THOSE NEW AND MORE DIVERSE
OFFICERS COULD SEE THE WRITING
ON THE WALL AND THAT THEY
NEEDED TO GET A NEW JOB BEFORE
THEY GOT FIRED, SO THEY DID.
THEY WENT TO APPRECIATIVE
CITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS MISTREATED THE CITY
EMPLOYEES FOR FAR TOO LONG. THE
HOMICIDE RATES AND THE VIOLENCE
RATES, THE MOST VULNERABLE IN
OUR CITY ARE BEING KILLED. THEY
ARE BEING ASSAULTED BECAUSE
THERE IS NOT A POLICE FORCE
THAT IS NEEDED. THEY JUST DO
NOT HAVE THE STAFF OR THE
ABILITY. POLICE ARE BEING ASKED
TO DO INCREDIBLE OVERTIME,
WHICH IS JUST NOT FAIR. IT
MAKES THEM NOT -- YOU CANNOT
KEEP DOING OVERTIME AND KEEP
DOING THE JOB. THAT IS JUST --
YOU CANNOT KEEP DOING -- NO
STAFF MEMBER, NO CITY EMPLOYEE
SHOULD BE ASKED TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING BACK TO
OUR IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENTERS, WE HAVE ROXIE
FOLLOWED BY BRAD SPIEGEL.
>> HELLO. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME
WELL?
>> JUST SPEAK RIGHT UP INTO IT.
>> ALL RIGHT. I AM ONE OF THOSE
PROTESTERS WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY
INJURED BY POLICE A COUPLE
YEARS AGO IN THE UPRISING. I
ALSO HAD SHORT NOTICE AND I
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED.
PUBLIC SPEAKING IS A LITTLE BIT
DIFFICULT FOR ME GIVEN ALL
THESE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED
TO ME SURROUNDING THESE EVENTS.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND
EVERYONE HERE OF IS THAT
EVENTUALLY WE WILL MAKE ALL
THESE INSTITUTIONS IRRELEVANT.
WHAT WE DO HERE TODAY IS ONLY
APPLICABLE IN THE SHORT-TERM.
THIS CONTRACT, IF IT IS
RENEWED, WHICH IT PROBABLY WILL
BE, WILL ONE DAY NOT MATTER
ANYMORE. WE WILL MAKE BETTER
SYSTEMS. WE WILL MAKE BETTER
ALTERNATIVES. WE NEED TO HOUSE,
FEED, EDUCATE EVERYONE. THAT'S
IT. THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO DO.
POLICE ACTIVELY EXCLUDE PEOPLE
FROM RETAINING THE RESOURCES
THAT THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN A
MEANINGFUL AND FULFILLED LIFE.
WE SEE POLICE ACTIVELY POINTING
GUNS AT PEOPLE, TRYING TO GET
FOOD FROM DUMPSTERS IN PARTS OF
THIS COUNTRY. WE SEE POLICE
THROWING AWAY PEOPLE'S
BELONGINGS WHEN THEY ARE LIVING
ON THE STREET AND THAT'S ALL
THEY HAVE. EVERYDAY SWEEPS ARE
HAPPENING AND THESE PEOPLE ARE
BEING DISPLACED. THEIR LIVES
ARE BEING DISRUPTED. IT IS NOW
TIME FOR US AS A COLLECTIVE TO
DISRUPT THESE SYSTEMS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BRAD SPIEGEL, FOLLOWED BY
STONE LAVAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, OR I SHOULD
SAYGOOD EVENING NOW. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
HERE. LIKE MANY PEOPLE, I JUST
FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS JUST A FEW
HOURS AGO, ABOUT THIS MEETING.
SEATTLE HAS BEEN HOME FOR
MYSELF AND MY FAMILY FOR NEARLY
25 YEARS. WE HAVE SEEN THE GOOD
AND THE BAD, AND NOW WE ARE
SEEING THE UGLY. WE HAVE SEEN
THINGS THAT WORK AND WE HAVE
SEEN THINGS THAT HAVE NOT
WORKED. WE HAVE HAD CITY
COUNCILS THAT HAVE COME AND
GONE THAT BOTH SUPPORTED OUR
POLICE, FIRE, CITY EMPLOYEES,
AND WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY HAD
COUNCILS WHO HAVE NOT. THE
IMPORTANT TAKE AWAY FROM THIS
IS THAT AS MUCH AS SOME PEOPLE
MIGHT NOT LIKE THE POLICE FOR
WHATEVER THE REASON, THEY ARE
AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR
COMMUNITY. WE ARE SEEING WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE
EFFECTIVE POLICING AND ENOUGH
POLICE OFFICERS. WE START
SEEING BURNOUT, HUGE AMOUNTS
OVERTIME. WE STARTED SEEING
THIS DURING THE HUGE CROWDS
THAT CAME TO SEATTLE VISITING
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, AND
HOW MANY OFFICERS JUST SAID,
LISTEN, I LOVE MY JOB BUT I
CANNOT WORK 80+ HOURS A WEEK.
THAT BEING SAID, THERE HAS TO
BE GIVE-AND-TAKE WITHIN A
CONTRACT. I, MYSELF, AND MANY
PEOPLE, WE ALL AGREE THAT
CERTAIN THINGS SUCH AS HAVING
ALL OF OUR POLICE LIVE WITHIN
THE CITY LIMITS, WHICH USED TO
BE A THING THAT WE WOULD SEE
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AN
OFFICER WHO LIVES IN THE
COMMUNITY WILL PROTECT THE
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STONE
LAVAN.
>> OKAY. SO FIRST I WOULD LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT THE EXPENSIVE
GROCERY PRICES. AS A
27-YEAR-OLD MAN I AM LIVING OFF
EBT CASH AND FOOD STAMPS. THEY
JUST RANDOMLY CUT OFF MY CASH
WHICH I HAD BEEN LIVING ON FOR
A WHILE. THESE PRICES, GROCERY
PRICES ARE NUTS. I HAVE NEVER
MADE MORE THAN $50,000 IN THE
CITY WORKING HERE. I USED TO BE
HOMELESS AND NOW I WORK MY ASS
OFF AND ALMOST DIED FOR IT. I
LIVE IN A LOW INCOME HOUSING
UNIT WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO HELP
PEOPLE GET OUT OF HOMELESSNESS,
AND THEY STILL EVICT YOU AND IT
IS FRONTED BY THE TAXES THAT
PAYS YOU GUYS' PAYCHECKS.
HONESTLY, IT IS DISGRACEFUL TO
TRY TO EVICT ME IN A LOW INCOME
HOUSING UNIT THAT IS FUNDED BY
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON TAXES.
IT IS PRETTY UNBELIEVABLE.
LIKE THAT IS NUTS. YOU CANNOT
DO THAT. PEOPLE ARE REALLY
SCARED TO CALL THE POLICE WHEN
THEY NEED IT. IF YOU CALL THE
POLICE THEY WILL JUST START
SAYING YOU ARE NUTS AND THEY
WILL LOCK YOU UP IN A MENTAL
HOSPITAL. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT MAKES ME SO MAD ABOUT THE
-- ABOUT THIS GOVERNMENT IS
THAT I HAVE BEEN SENT TO MENTAL
HOSPITALS, WHICH ARE REALLY
INSANE ASYLUM'S LIKE FIVE TIMES
FOR ABSOLUTE BOWL. LIKE
HONESTLY, I DON'T WANT TO BE
ARRESTED AND PUT ME IN SOME
LOONY BIN WHEN I DIDN'T HURT
ANYBODY, I DIDN'T SHOOT ANYBODY
OR STAB ANYBODY OR VIOLENTLY
ASSAULT ANYBODY. YOU GUYS HAVE
TO STOP THE POLICE FROM LOCKING
PEOPLE UP WITH THAT CRAZY WHITE
LADY IN THE VAST WHO BRINGS YOU
OUT OF JAIL AND TRANSFERS YOU
TO A INSANE ASYLUM. THOSE
PLACES ARE LIKE HELL . I NEVER
WANT TO GO BACK THERE AGAIN.
YOU GUYS HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS MENTAL HOSPITAL
LOCKUP CRAP. EVERYTHING IS TOO
EXPENSIVE. ALL RIGHT. HONESTLY,
THE POLICE, LIKE, THEY HAVE TO
BE PUT IN CHECK. THAT IS SOME
HIGHER UP RANK DISCRIMINATION
THEY GOT GOING ON. ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS OUR LAST
IN PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKER. WE
HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE WHO WERE
SIGNED IN VIRTUALLY WHO ARE
STILL SHOWING AS NOT PRESENT.
THEY HAVE NOT SEEN ANY CHANGE
IN THEIR STATUS AS NOT PRESENT.
SO THAT IS NOTED ON THE MEETING
AGENDA. PEOPLE CAN ALSO SEND
WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THE SUBJECT
OF THIS HEARING. OH, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO SIGN UP. REVEREND
WALDEN, YOU ARE OUR LAST
SPEAKER. WE WILL MAKE NOTE OF
IT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON , AND THANK
YOU. I AM SPEAKING FROM THE
OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNT
ABILITY. WE HAVE BEEN DOING
THIS WORK FOR A LONG TIME. WE
HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK. I WANT
TO SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT AS
MUCH OF THE CONTRACT AS I CAN,
BUT ABOUT THE FACT THAT NOBODY
IS SPEAKING FOR THE BLACK
COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT THERE
ARE A LOT OF ISSUES GOING ON.
THERE IS A LOT OF VIOLENCE THAT
IS HAPPENING AND NOT ENOUGH
DETECTIVES -- NOBODY IS GETTING
BACK TO THE MOTHERS WERE CRYING
BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN HAVE
BEEN KILLED. SO THERE HAS TO BE
A BALANCE. THIS YOUNG LADY
TALKED ABOUT THE WELLNESS AND
STUFF, BUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO SEE A COMMUNITY WITHOUT
POLICING DON'T HEAR BULLETS
EVERY NIGHT. THEY DON'T HEAR
SHOTS EVERY NIGHT. THEY DON'T
HEAR WHAT THE KIDS ARE GOING
THROUGH AND THE TRAUMA THAT
BLACK KIDS ARE LIVING IN RIGHT
NOW IN SEATTLE AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF THE
ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN OUR
COMMUNITY. A LARGE PART OF THE
BLACK COMMUNITY REALLY DO CARE
ABOUT THE POLICE. A LOT OF
PEOPLE WERE JUST SO HAPPY TO
SEE THE POLICE CHIEF THERE IN
THE PARADE. SO YOU HEAR
ANOTHER STORE BUT YOU DON'T
HEAR OUR STORY. SO WE HAVE HAD
THIS -- WE HAVE HAD THIS LONG
HISTORY WITH POLICING EVER
SINCE SLAVE CATCHERS. NOBODY
ELSE HAS THAT HISTORY. SO
PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED TO US, BUT THEY DO NOT
LIVE WITH US AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE NEED. SOMETIMES PEOPLE
WHO HAVE LIVED IN THIS
COMMUNITY AND BEEN THERE, I
HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO LOOK AT
THE BALANCE. THERE ARE SOME
OTHERS WHO ARE CRYING. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE
THAT. SO THAT IS OUR LAST
SPEAKER TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC
HEARING. WE HAVE EXHAUSTED THE
LIST OF FOLKS WHO HAVE SIGNED
UP ONLINE AS WELL AS THE IN
PERSON SPEAKERS. AS NOTED ON
THE MEETING AGENDA, FOLKS CAN
SEND WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THE
SUBJECT OF THIS HEARING TO ME
AT LISA.HERBOLD@SEATTLE.GOV.
THERE IS STILL ADDITIONAL TIME
FOR COMMENT. WITH THAT, PUBLIC
BARGAINING IS NOW CLOSED.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, JUST
CHECKING TO SEE, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS? LOOKING FOR VIRTUAL
HANDS RAISED. NOT SEEING ANY,
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY MEETING SCHEDULED FOR
THIS COMING MONDAY ON AUGUST
14th AT 2:00 P.M. AGAIN, WE
APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THIS IS THE
SECOND PUBLIC SAFETY AND
COMMUNITY SERVICES MEETING OF
THE DAY. THE TIME IS NOW 6: 30
P.M. AND WE ARE
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.