GOOD MORNING. WE ARE GETTING A
LITTLE BIT OF A LATE START. THI
IS A FEBRUARY 10th 2023
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF
THE NEIGHBORHOODS, EDUCATION,
CIVIL RIGHTS, AND CULTURE
COMMITTEE. I AM TAMMY MORALES,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL TH
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION TODAY'S AGENDA WILL B
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA IS ADOPTED. SO,
WE HAVE SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS ON
TODAY'S COMMITTEE AGENDA, AND
THEN WE WILL HAVE A COMMUNITY
PANEL PRESENTATION ON MOBILITY
ISSUES AND ITS IMPACT ON THE
HEALTH OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO
AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THE
GENERAL -- IN PERSON AND HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT. DO WE HAVE
ANYBODY IN PERSON? OKAY. WE HAV
SEVERAL FOLKS WHO ARE SIGNED UP
-- SORRY. WHO ARE SIGNED UP
VIRTUALLY. FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO I WILL REMIND FOLKS THAT YOU
NEED TO ADJUST THINGS THAT ARE
ON TODAY'S AGENDA. SO WE DO --
IT DOES REMAIN THE STRONG INTEN
OF COUNCIL TO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT DURING OUR REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETINGS. THE COUNCI
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY TH
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT ANY
TIME IF WE DEEM THAT THE SYSTEM
IS BEING ABUSED. I WILL MODERAT
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IN TH
FOLLOWING MANNER. THIS COMMENT
PERIOD WILL BE FOR UP TO 20
MINUTES. EACH SPEAKER WILL BE
GIVEN TWO MINUTES. LET'S SAY ON
MINUTE BECAUSE IT DOES LOOK LIK
THERE ARE SEVERAL FOLKS SIGNED
UP I WILL CALL ON TWO BEAKERS A
A TIME IN THE ORDER IN WHICH YO
REGISTERED ON THE WEBSITE. IF
YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU CA
SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF THE
COMMENT PERIOD BY GOING TO THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE. ONCE I CALL
YOUR NAME PLEASE UNMUTE AND YOU
WILL RECEIVE A PROMPT THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN UN-MUTED. AT THAT
POINT PRESS STAR SIX TO BEGIN
SPEAKING. YOU WILL HEAR A TIME
WHEN YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE TIME PLEASE
WRAPUP YOUR COMMENT SO WE CAN
MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. WHEN
YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU
DISCONNECT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE T
CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE MEETING
THAT YOU DO SO VIA SEATTLE
CHANNEL. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. I WILL CALL
THE FIRST PERSON. AS I SAID WE
DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP IN
PERSON. THE FIRST PERSON I SEE
-- IS -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ].
>> YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES. PLEASE GO AHEAD. YOU
HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO
SAY THAT I'M REQUESTING ALL THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
VOTE NO ON THE COST ORGANS.
BECAUSE IT DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTS INDIAN CHILDREN IN THE
U.S. AND LEADS TO HARASSMENT,
ASSAULT ON A COMMUNITY THAT IS
VICTIM OF CENTURIES OF
HORRENDOUS COLONIAL ATROCITIES.
IT IS RECORDED THAT THE BRITISH
ACTUALLY USED [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
AND WHEN THEY ASKED INDIANS, A
LOT DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT. THIS
IS ALL DOCUMENTED BY THE BRITIS
THEMSELVES. IT IS ALSO NOTED
THAT THEY LOOKED AT A 40 YEAR
PERIOD DURING COLONIALISM AND
THEY FOUND THAT 165 MILLION
INDIANS PERISHED DURING THIS
PERIOD. SO ANYWAY, PLEASE
CONSIDER THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS THAT ARE CREATED BY
COLONIALISM. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI. AND YOU ALL HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HI. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS
MY SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING
THE COMMISSION ORDINANCE. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] FOR INSTANCE A
QUALITY [ INDISCERNIBLE ]. IT
IS NOT BASED ON A REPRESENTATIV
SAMPLE. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] ALONG
SIMILAR LINES, ONE OF THE KEY
FINDINGS OF THE RESEARCH IS THA
LARGE MAJORITIES OF PEOPLE [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. SO, I SINCEREL
REQUEST ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO VOTE NO ON THIS ORDINANCE.
POST ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. I WANTED TO SA
THAT WITH THIS CAST ORDINANCE,
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL IS
INVITING LAWSUITS JUST LIKE WHA
HAPPENED WITH CAL STATE
UNIVERSITY. IN THEIR LAWSUIT, A
PROFESSOR CLAIMED THAT CAL
STATE'S NEW DISCRIMINATION
POLICY QUOTE SEEK TO DEFINE THE
HINDU RELIGION AS INCLUDING
CHAOS [ INDISCERNIBLE ]. AND
THAT IT SINGLED OUT STUDENTS AN
STAFF WHO ARE INDIAN AND HINDU.
THEY DON'T IDENTIFY AS BEING
MEMBERS AND THEY FEAR THEY WILL
ASSIGN ONE TO THEM UNDER THE
POLICY. BOTH PROFESSORS WERE
BORN OF INDIA AND FOLLOWERS OF
HINDUISM. MY WIFE NEVER HAD
CASTE IDENTITY IN THEIR
COMMUNITY. SHE HAS NO CASTE. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] HISTORIES AND
CULTURES THAT IT DOESN'T
UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES. OKAY.
>> I'M CALLING TO REALLY ASK OU
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE NO ON TH
CASTE ORDINANCE. YOU HAVE
ALREADY BEEN CONTACTED BY
SEVERAL FOLKS. THE ONES YOU ARE
CLAIMING TO PROTECT AND
REPRESENT, AND ALL OF THOSE
FOLKS HAVE URGED YOU TO NOT FAL
FOR THIS RACIST JOKE. THEY DO
NOT NEED REPRESENTATION FROM TH
LIKES OF AN OPEN HATE GROUP
DEDICATED TO DEMOLISHING
HINDUISM. THAT IS THEIR RIGHT,
SEATTLE SHOULD NOT MAINSTREAM
SUCH HATE. AS PREVIOUS SCHOLARS
HAVE SAID, THOSE OPPOSING IT AR
NOT FOR DISCRIMINATION, BUT THE
WANT TO WARN YOU NOT TO SET UP
AN COMMISSION OR A LAW THAT
WOULD START TO DISCRIMINATE
AGAINST YET ANOTHER MINORITY.
MOST BAD ACTS START WITH VERY
GOOD INTENTIONS. WHILE MOST OF
YOUR ACTING WITH MOST GOOD
INTENTIONS, PLEASE BE AWARE OF
THE RAMIFICATIONS OF WHAT YOU'R
DOING. THANK YOU, VOTE NO.
>> HI. I'M CALLING IN TO URGE
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO VOT
NO ON THE CASTE ORDINANCE. IT
IS FAR REMOVED FROM THE AMERICA
CULTURAL CONTEXT, AND NOT EASY
TO LEGISLATE MORALLY. ONE OF MY
MAIN CONCERNS IS HOW THIS LAW
WILL ACTUALLY BE ENFORCED THERE
ARE NO UNIVERSALLY APPLICABLE
WAYS TO DETERMINE SOMEONE'S
CASTE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW MY
CASTE. AS A SOUTH ASIAN
AMERICAN, IS THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL GOING TO SEND ME ONE? I
SO I WOULD BE BEHOLDEN TO MY
CASTE. WILL YOU FOR SOUTH ASIAN
TO IDENTIFY WITH ONE IF THEY
CHOOSE NOT IDENTIFY THAT WAY?
LASTLY, HOW WILL THIS APPLY TO
ETHICS ME MIXED PEOPLE? IF THEY
HAVE NOT CONSIDERED THESE
QUESTIONS I WOULD URGE THEM TO
TABLE IT UNTIL MORE STUDIES HAV
BEEN CONDUCTED AS IT MAY HAVE
POSSIBLE RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE
VERY PEOPLE HE CLAIMS TO HELP.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I AM AGAINST THE CASTE
ORDINANCE. I ASK IF YOU'RE
TIRED [ INDISCERNIBLE ]. WHO
DECIDES IF A PERSON IS HIGHER O
LOWER CASTE? CASTE IS A FOREIGN
WORD. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] ALL
DISCRIMINATION COMES FROM A
PLACE [ INDISCERNIBLE ]. THERE
IS A LOT WE CAN DO ABOUT THE
LETTER. PLEASE EDUCATE
YOURSELVES. PLEASE DO NOT [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. THANK YOU VER
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I STRONGLY URGE THE SEATTLE
COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THE CASTE
RESOLUTION. AGAIN, IT IS
FOUNDED ON FAULTY DATA. THERE
ARE SEVERAL WELL DOCUMENTED
PROBLEMS AS LAID OUT IN VARIOUS
ARTICLES. THE QUALITY WAS
CHALLENGED COMPREHENSIVELY BACK
IN 2018. MORE RECENTLY THE 2020
SURVEY ON INDIAN AMERICANS BY
THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT CALLED
THE SERVICE FLAWED AND FOOTNOTE
29 INDICATED THE FOLLOWING THE
STUDY RELIED ON A
NONREPRESENTATIVE SNOWBALL
SAMPLE METHOD TO RECRUIT
RESPONDENTS. RESPONDENTS WHO DI
NOT TO CLOSE A CASTE IDENTITY
WERE DROPPED FROM THE DATA SET
IT IS LIKELY THE SAMPLE DOES NO
FULLY REPRESENT THE SOUTH ASIAN
AMERICAN POPULATION. AND
POLITICAL DIRECTOR WENT ON
TWITTER AND TWEETED THAT CASTE
HAS INFORMED EVERY SOCIAL,
POLITICAL AND -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. SHE IS SEEKIN
TO DISMANTLE HINDUISM. I JUST
WANT TO KNOW IF SEATTLE SUPPORT
THIS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE YOU WITH US?
APOLOGIES IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING
YOUR NAME. OKAY. I'VE GOT THREE
FOLKS LISTED NEXT WHO ARE NOT
PRESENT.
>> HELLO? HELLO? HELLO?
>> YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS PRESSING TH
RUN BUTTON. GOOD EVENING
COUNCILMEMBERS. SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE T
SAY JUST MAKE IT SHORT AND
SIMPLE. PLEASE VOTE NO TO THE
CASTE ORDINANCE . THIS IS VERY
MUCH [ INDISCERNIBLE ]. WHICH I
GOING TO INVITE MORE LAWSUITS,
MORE DISCRIMINATION. IT IS GOIN
TO CREATE MORE BAD BLOOD AMONG
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] IMMIGRANTS LIKE
MYSELF. MY KIDS ARE AMERICAN.
THEY HAVE BEEN EDUCATED HERE.
NOBODY HAS A CASTE. WITH THIS
THERE IS A CASTE TAG AND THAT
IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR TH
FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS
ORDINANCE IS GOING TO PUMP UP
MORE HATRED AMONG THE AMERICANS
WHO ARE BORN HERE. THIS IS
ABSOLUTELY A NO. IT IS GOING TO
INVITE MORE TROUBLE FOR
AMERICANS GOING DOWN THE FUTURE
THAT'S MY TAKE. THERE ARE
ALREADY ENOUGH DISCRIMINATORY
LAWS TO PROTECT EVERY CITIZEN.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME HAS
ENDED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE I HAVE
LISTED ARE NOT PRESENT. IF
YOU'RE INTERESTED STILL YOU
STILL HAVE TIME TO CALL IN. SO
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M CALLING TO
REQUEST YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE
CASTE BASED ORDINANCE. I AM
DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS AS AN
EX-MICROSOFT EMPLOYEE AND AS A
SPOUSE WHO CURRENTLY WORKS FOR
AMAZON. THIS CASTE BASED
ORDINANCE WOULD HINDER NOT ONLY
HINDU AMERICANS BUT THE ENTIRE
SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY. I URGE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE NO
ON SUCH AN ORDINANCE SIMPLY
BECAUSE THIS WILL INVITE A
NUMBER OF FINANCIAL LAWSUITS TO
CITIES, TO BUSINESSES. THIS MAY
IN FACT RESULT IN BUSINESSES NO
HIRING PEOPLE OF SOUTH ASIAN
BACKGROUNDS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY
DON'T WANT TO GET INTO CASTE
BASED DISCRIMINATION ISSUES.
THEY MIGHT LOSE THEIR LICENSE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> YEAH. YEAH. I AM URGING THE
CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THE
CASTE ORDINANCE. I AM A HINDU
AMERICAN. I HAVE LIVED IN
AMERICA FOR 40 YEARS. NEVER HAD
THE QUESTION OF CASTE COME UP I
ANY OF MY INTERACTIONS. I WAS
DISCRIMINATED AT WORKPLACE, ONE
OF THE BIGGEST COMPANIES IN THE
WORLD, BY MY CHRISTIAN WHITE
MANAGERS. THIS IS AN EXPERIENCE
OF MORE SENIOR AMERICANS, AND
ALSO PROVEN BY THE CARNEGIE
ENDOWMENT SURVEY THAT POINTED
THIS OUT. SO, I AM VERY WORRIED
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS CASTE
WHY A CITY ON MY CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN WHO LIVE IN THE
SEATTLE AREA, AND HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT THEIR CASTE IS. WHO ARE
YOU TO DECIDE MY IDENTITY BY
DEFINING ON REALLY, REALLY CRAZ
PEOPLE. THAT IS DISCRIMINATORY
TO ME. THIS ORDINANCE IS GOING
TO COST MY FAMILY TO BE HARASSE
OR OSTRACIZED. THAT IS BECAUSE
THEY ARE HINDU. YOU CANNOT BE
CASTE POLICING. [ INDISCERNIBL
] SO, PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS
ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE YO
HERE? PRESS STAR SIX.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEA
ME?
>> YES.
>> YEAH, GOOD MEANING
COUNCILMEMBERS AND CHAIR MORALE
I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE NO ON TH
PROPOSED CASTE ORDINANCE. THE
PEOPLE OF THE EMERALD CITY [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. SHORTAGE OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THE CONSOLIDATE
CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS. LACK OF
HEALTHCARE COVERAGE. I CAN GO O
AND ON. THE PROBLEMS OF SEATTLE
ARE FAR TOO MANY. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] FROM WHICH WE
ARE SUPPOSEDLY COMING. THE
PROBLEMS ARE FAR TOO MANY FOR
THE COUNCIL. IN CHASING AFTER
NONEXISTING PROBLEMS OR CREATIN
NEW PROBLEMS. THIS ILL-ADVISED
AND ILL-FATED ARGUMENT SUPPORTE
BY COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS A
PANDORA'S BOX [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO [
INDISCERNIBLE ].
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANKS VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO. I URGE THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO FOR THE
PROPOSED CASTE ORDINANCE. I
WOULD URGE THEM TO LISTEN TO [
INDISCERNIBLE ] WHO OPPOSE THIS
ORDINANCE. THIS ORDINANCE, THIS
DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETS
MINORITY HINDU AMERICANS. I HAV
NEVER BEEN ASKED ABOUT MY CASTE
IN THE 30 YEARS I HAVE LIVED IN
THE U.S., NOR HAVE MY CHILDREN
BEEN. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO
DETERMINE EACH PERSONS CASTE?
SO, PLEASE VOTE NO, CITY
COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
PRESS STAR SIX IF YOU'RE HERE.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU. I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK CHAIR MORALES FOR
HOSTING TODAY'S PANEL AND
DISCUSSION ON MOBILITY. I LIVE
IN COLUMBIA CITY. WHILE I CAN
DRIVE I MOSTLY GET AROUND BY
WALKING, BIKING, OR TAKING
TRANSIT. UNFORTUNATELY NEARLY
EVERY TIME I CHOOSE NOT TO DRIV
I'M REMINDED THAT WHILE I LIVE
IN AN URBAN VILLAGE, THE
PLANNING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AN
THE SOUTH END IN GENERAL
PRIORITIZES DRIVERS. LONG SIGNA
TIMINGS ON RAINIER AND MLK
PRIORITIZE DRIVERS HEADING NORT
AND SOUTH. ALMOST A MILE AWAY
THERE ARE PEOPLE ALREADY WAITIN
TO CROSS THE STREET. AS A RESUL
OF BOTH INTERSECTIONS I
FREQUENTLY SEE PEOPLE ARE FORCE
TO CHOOSE BETWEEN JAYWALKING OR
WATCHING THE BUS OR LINK TRAIN
PULL AWAY WITHOUT THE. I HOPE
THAT WE CAN HAVE A PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT HOW
TRANSPORTATION POLICY IS THE
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. AR
YOU ON? PRESS STAR SIX IF YOU
ARE AVAILABLE.
>> YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? I GO BY MY
LAST NAME. I HAVE BEEN LIVING I
SEATTLE SINCE 2001. MOVED FROM
ALABAMA IN 1996. I HAVE NEVER
BEEN ASKED ABOUT MY CASTE
DURING ALL THIS DAYS. NOBODY
ASKED OUR CASTE. CASTE WAS
BANNED IN INDIA IN 1950. NOW W
ARE TALKING IN THE U.S., IN
SEATTLE, AND 23, ABOUT THE CAST
ORDINANCE. THIS IS KIND OF
RIDICULOUS. I THINK THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS INVITING LAWSUITS,
COUNTER LAWSUITS. TAKE MY WORD
FOR IT. FROM MY EXPERIENCE I AM
TELLING YOU. [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
PLEASE, FOR YOUR OWN INTEREST,
VOTE NO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI THERE. I AM SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF THE CONVERSATION ON
THE -- MOBILITY DISCUSSION WE
ARE ABOUT TO HAVE. I ECHO
EVERYTHING THAT JASON SAID. VER
WELL STATED, JASON. AND WOULD
ALSO JUST LIKE TO REITERATE THA
THE SPEED LIMIT ON RAINIER IT'S
25 MILES PER HOUR, BUT WE ARE
CONSISTENTLY SEEING MUCH HIGHER
SPEEDS AND VERY LITTLE
ENFORCEMENT OR COMMUNICATION TO
THE PUBLIC ABOUT SPEEDING. ABOU
THE DANGER THAT PEDESTRIANS AND
BICYCLISTS ARE FACING. WOULD
REALLY LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER
WITH COUNCIL AND WITH OUR
DEPARTMENTS, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS, TO IMPROVE
COMMUNICATION AROUND SAFETY AND
IMPROVE ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE IT
IS REALLY THE BEST WAY THAT WE
COULD ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE
ACTUALLY GOING THE SPEED LIMIT
AND NOT HITTING PEOPLE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. IF
YOU'RE HERE, PRESS STAR SIX.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO A
COUPLE FOLKS WHO WERE NOT
PRESENT BEFORE. I SHOW YOU AS
PRESENT NOW. PRESS STAR SIX TO
BEGIN.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> HI. I WORK IN SEATTLE. I WEN
TO ONE OF THE BEST COLLEGES IN
INDIA BECAUSE I WAS GIVEN A
UPPERHAND. IT MEANS I WAS NOT
THE BACK OF MY CLASS. I WAS
HUGGED ON MY BIRTHDAYS. EVEN ON
SCORING A LOW-GRADE AS WELL. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] I NEVER FELT I
WAS ANY KIND OF LOWER CASTE
UNTIL TODAY. TODAY WHEN THIS LA
IS BEING DISCUSSED YOU ARE
ENFORCING MY CASTE ON ME. YOU
ARE REMINDING ME OF THE BAD WAY
I'M SURE IT WILL HURT ME [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. THE COMPANIES
INDISCERNIBLE ]. WE WILL BE SEE
AS CORPORATE BAGGAGE. PLEASE
DON'T DO THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT MY VIEWS
I REALLY WANT TO WORK AGAINST
THE CASTE ORDINANCE, AND I'M
VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS
COMING UP. I THINK WE HAVE
LEARNED ENOUGH FROM THE RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION THAT WAS DONE
EARLIER WITH THE JAPANESE
INTERMENTS. THIS SORT OF
ORDINANCE IS GOING TO RACIALLY
PROFILE AND ETHICALLY PROFILE
INDIAN AMERICANS, SPECIFICALLY
HINDU AMERICANS. I WANT TO VOTE
AGAINST DAY AND I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYONE HERE
UNDERSTANDS THAT OUR CURRENT
AMERICAN LAW TAKES CARE OF THIS
-- ANY SORT OF DISCRIMINATION
THAT HAPPENS IN THE COUNTRY.
WHILE WE ARE ALL AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION IN GENERAL, I
THINK THIS SORT OF TARGETED,
AGENDA DRIVEN ORDINANCE, SHOULD
BE TREATED WITH LOT OF CONCERN.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. IN FUTURE. TO
TALK AND GIVE YOU OUR POINT OF
VIEW AS INDIAN AMERICANS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE GOT
A COUPLE MORE SPEAKERS AND A
COUPLE MORE MINUTES. SO, NEXT
SPEAKER. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> I AM SEATTLE RESIDENT FOR
LAST 21 YEARS. WHEN YOU ARE USE
TO PRIVILEGE, THEN THE QUALITY
FEELS LIKE AN IMPRESSION. THIS
IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY. WE
ARE SEEING THE FRAGILITY OF THE
DOMINANT CASTE PEOPLE FROM MY
COMMUNITY. I ALSO BELONG TO TH
DOMINANT CASTE COMMUNITY. THEY
ARE TRYING TO PUT THE ROADBLOCK
IN THE PART OF JUSTICE FOR THE
PEOPLE FROM THE OPPRESSED CLASS
I WOULD BE REALLY -- I WOULD
REALLY URGE THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL TO LOOK BEYOND THESE
DOUBTFUL STATEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE
IF THE POLITICIANS ARE SAYING
THAT THEY ARE FEELING UNDER
PRESSURE, THAT THEY WILL BE
DISCRIMINATED, THEN THEY SHOULD
REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE ALREADY
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]. FROM
DISCRIMINATION BY THIS OR
RELIGION. SO THIS IS A
NONSTARTER ARGUMENT, SO PLEASE
VOTE YES ON THE ORDINANCE. THAN
YOU.
>> OKAY. ELSE, I'M GOING TO TAK
ONE MORE SPEAKER. I'M NOT SURE
I'M PRONOUNCING THAT RIGHT.
>> YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF THE CASTE ORDINANCE. I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT CASTE
DISCRIMINATION DOES EXIST IN
AMERICA. IT IS NOT TRUE THAT IT
IS COVERED UNDER THE EXISTING
LAW. ALL THE EXAMPLES IN THE
TEXT ARE ORDINANCE ILLUSTRATE
THAT THE CASTE DOES EXIST. THER
IS NO LEGAL RECOURSE YET. WE AR
PROPOSING TO CHANGE THAT THROUG
THIS ORDINANCE. ANY KIND OF
DISCRIMINATION IS BAD. IT IS
ABSURD TO SUGGEST THAT IT WILL
RACIALLY PROFILE SOUTH ASIANS.
THAT IS JUST A WAY TO EXCUSE
DISCRIMINATION. SO, I URGE YOU
-- I DEMAND THAT ALL OF YOU
SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. HELP
SEATTLE PASS A HISTORIC LAW.
THANKS.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. W
ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA
ITEM 1. SO, THIS CONCLUDES OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. CAN I AS
YOU TO -- YES, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON?
>> I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, DO YO
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS -- WHE
THIS LEGISLATION --
>> THIS ORDINANCE IS GOING TO B
ON THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA ON
FEBRUARY 21st.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. PLEASE READ ITEM 1 INT
THE RECORD.
>> I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW
I JOINED IN LATE OF COURSE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT IS PRESENT. APOLOGIES FO
MISSING YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. OKAY, YES, PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH
SEVEN. APPOINTMENT 2451, 2450,
2452, AND 2453. APPOINTMENTS TO
THE SEATTLE DISABILITY
COMMISSION. APPOINTMENTS 2455,
2454, 2456, APPOINTMENTS TO THE
SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. I
AM GOING TO HEADED OVER TO JANE
STAFFORD FROM THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS. LET FOLKS KNOW
THAT WE HAVE CREATED A CONSENT
AGENDA FOR APPOINTMENTS. SO,
JANET, DO WE HAVE ANY OF OUR
APPOINTEES HERE WITH US TODAY?
>> WE DON'T.
>> OKAY. GREAT. SO COLLEAGUES,
WE WILL ASK JANET TO SPEAK TO
THE APPOINTEES. IF ANYBODY
REFERS TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR
APPOINTEE, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO
THAT AND SPEAK TO SOMEBODY
INDIVIDUALLY. OTHERWISE WE WILL
VOTE AS A GROUP ON THESE
APPOINTMENTS. SO, JANET, I WILL
HAND IT OFF TO YOU. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE.
>> YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR
MORALES, AND GOOD MORNING TO AL
THE COUNCIL CHAIR MEMBERS. I
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME WORDS
FOR THE APPOINTMENTS OF NEW AND
RETURNING COMMISSIONERS.
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DISABILITY
COMMISSION, AS WELL AS THE LGBT
COMMISSION. STARTING US OFF WIT
DAWN DAILEY. DAWN HAS BEEN WIT
THE SEATTLE DISABILITY
COMMISSION SINCE 2021 AND IS
CURRENTLY PURSUING HER MASTERS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
SHE HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE
WORKING IN ACCESSIBILITY AND
ADVOCATING FOR DISABLED
INDIVIDUALS. SHE HAS PREVIOUSLY
WORKED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON'S DISABILITIES
OPPORTUNITIES, INFORMATION AND
TECHNOLOGY CENTER, TO HELP WITH
THE UNIVERSAL DESIGN
TECHNOLOGIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS
ON THE COMMISSION SHE ASPIRES T
CONTINUE HER ADVOCACY WORK FOR
AN ADDITIONAL TERM. OUR OTHER
RECOMMENDATION IS THE
APPOINTMENT OF JESSICA LO TO
THE DISABILITY COMMISSION.
JESSICA IS COMMITTED TO --
JESSICA IS COMMITTED TO
AMPLIFYING THE PERSPECTIVES AND
ADVOCATING FOR ISSUES OF
IMPORTANCE TO PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND/OR CHRONIC
CONDITIONS. OVER THE PAST SIX
YEARS, JESSICA HAS SERVED THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY IN SEVERAL
WAYS. AS A STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SHE HA
OVERSEEN A TEAM OF 15 PEOPLE IN
CREATING A PEER SUPPORT NETWORK
FOR PEOPLE WITH BRAIN INJURIES.
IN ADDITION, SHE HAS WORKED AT
FULL LIFECARE IN SOUTH SEATTLE
AND AT THE BRAIN INJURY ALLIANC
OF WASHINGTON. CURRENTLY,
JESSICA IS A MEDICAL STUDENT WH
HELPS TO DEDICATE HER FUTURE
PROCESS TO MEETING THE DIVERSE
NEEDS OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY
SHE HAS BEEN ACTIVELY ATTENDING
COMMISSION MEETINGS SINCE LAST
YEAR, AND HAS RECENTLY TAKEN A
ROLE TO HELP BUILD AND PUSH THE
COMMISSION'S SOCIAL MEDIA.
ANOTHER COMMISSIONER WE
RECOMMEND FOR REAPPOINTMENT IS
KAITLIN SKILTON. KAITLIN IS
ALSO KNOWN FOR BEING THE PRIOR
TITLEHOLDER FOR MISS WORLD CHAI
WASHINGTON AMERICA AND HAS
WORKED WITH RAW ARTISTS SEATTLE
IN NUMEROUS SHOWCASES. SHE WAS
RECENTLY SERVED -- SHE WAS
RECENTLY SERVING AS AN INTERIM
COCHAIR FOR THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION. IN 2022.
SHE IS A TO ADVOCATE FOR
ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY FOR TH
DISABLED COMMUNITY. SHE IS
LOOKING TO JOIN -- IN JOINING A
ADDITIONAL TERM WITH HER FELLOW
COMMISSIONERS, AND IN HER FREE
TIME SHE ENJOYS PHOTOGRAPHY. OU
LAST APPOINTMENT, WE APPOINTMEN
FOR THE DISABILITY COMMISSION I
TAYLORWOOD'S TAYLOR HAS SPENT
HER ENTIRE EDUCATION AND CAREER
WORKING FOR PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES AND MEDICAL
CONDITIONS. SHE IS VERY
PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING A BETTE
LIFE FOR THIS POPULATION AND
COMMUNITY. HER PASSION HAS
ALWAYS BEEN CARE FOR PEOPLE AND
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. SHE
HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER SINCE
2021 AND ALSO LOOKS FORWARD TO
HER CONTINUED WORK ON THE
COMMISSION. I BELIEVE THAT SUMS
IT UP FOR THE DISABILITY
COMMISSION. IF IT'S OKAY I CAN
ALSO SPEAK FOR THE LGBTQ
APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS
>> GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
JANET. LET ME JUST UP THERE AND
SEE IF COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE
DISABILITY COMMISSION. I AM NOT
SEEING ANYTHING. OKAY. THANK
YOU. THESE GO AHEAD.
>> SURE, GREAT. I WILL START US
OFF WITH ATIF OSMANI. THEY WER
RAISED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF
CHICAGO WHERE A MAJORITY OF HIS
FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED
STATES IN THE 1980s. SO COME HI
ETHNIC AND CULTURAL HERITAGE HA
ALWAYS BEEN AN IMPORTANT ASPECT
OF HIS IDENTITY. HE ATTENDED TH
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FOR HIS
UNDERGRAD DEGREE. WHERE HE
STUDIED PUBLIC POLICY AND
SPECIALIZED IN HEALTHCARE. HE I
EXCITED TO JOIN THE COMMISSION
BECAUSE HE KNOWS INCLUSIVE
POLICY IS CRUCIAL TO CHALLENGIN
THE INEQUITIES EXPERIENCED BY
PEOPLE. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
AND INCLUSIVE BABY ARE TWO
ISSUES HE HOPES TO ADDRESS AS
BEING PART OF THE COMMISSION HE
ALSO TOO HAS BEEN ACTIVELY
PARTICIPATING IN MEETING SINCE
INDISCERNIBLE ]. THE SECOND NEW
APPOINTMENT, CHRISTINA PIZANA.
CHRISTINA IS A FOURTH [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. CENTERED ON
LIBERATION AND JUSTICE WORK. FO
THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THEY HAVE
BEEN ADVOCATING IN SCHOOLS. PAR
OF THIS WORK HAS BEEN VERY
COMPLEX. DIRECTING AND
RE-CENTERING STAFF AND PARENTS,
UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS
AROUND INCLUSION. CHRISTINA HAS
ALSO AN ARCHITECTURE BACKGROUND
WHICH IN MANY WAYS INVOLVES
LISTENING TO STAKEHOLDERS
RESEARCHING TECHNICAL DESIGN AN
SAFETY GUIDELINES. HOPES , LOVE
AND LIBERATION, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ARE ALL ELEMENTS
THAT CHRISTINA STRIVES TO CENTE
IN HER TIME WITH THE COMMISSION
AND ON THEIR SPARE TIME, KRISTE
AND HER FAMILY ENJOY FAMILY
BIKING, EXPLORING THE OUTDOORS,
SPENDING QUALITY TIME CREATING
ART AND MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH
COMMUNITY, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
OUR LAST RECOMMENDED NEW
APPOINTMENT FOR THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION IS CHELSEA WRIGHT.
CHELSEA IS THE DIRECTOR OF
OPERATIONS AT THE ALLIANCE OF
GUN RESPONSIBILITY. A LOCAL
NONPROFIT WORKING TO REDUCE GUN
VIOLENCE AMONG OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE A DEEP PASSION FOR
WANTING TO ORGANIZE SOCIAL
MOVEMENTS THROUGH THEIR
OPERATIONS WORK. IN THEIR FREE
TIME, THEY HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING
FOR TRANS-ATHLETES IN COLLEGE.
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. FIGHTING
FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AND
ADVOCATING FOR ADOPTEES. CHELSE
IS ALSO A CURRENT BOARD MEMBER
OF ADOPTEES UNITED. A NONPROFIT
REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF
ALL ADOPTEES, WHETHER DOMESTIC,
INTERCOUNTRY, TRANSRACIAL, OR
FORMAL FOSTER YOUTH. CHELSEA HA
BEEN INVOLVED IN COMMISSION
MEETING SINCE LAST YEAR, AND IS
EXCITED TO ADD TO THE WORK THAT
THE COMMISSION IS DOING IN
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SAFETY.
THANK YOU. I THINK THAT -- I
BELIEVE THAT SUMS IT UP. I'LL
PASS IT BACK TO YOU, CHAIR
MORALES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JANET,
AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ALL
OF THESE APPOINTEES TO US. I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM.
FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO. I
KNOW WE HAVE THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION IN PARTICULAR HAS
REQUESTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COME BEFORE COMMITTEE TO SHARE
THEIR WORK PLAN FOR THE YEAR.
SOME OF THE POLICY PRIORITIES
THAT THEY HAVE. SO, WE LOOK
FORWARD TO HAVING THEM IN
COMMITTEE AT SOME POINT THIS
YEAR. WORKING ON THAT SCHEDULE.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR JANET
I AM NOT SEEING ANY. OKAY. SO,
AM GOING TO MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL
OF THESE APPOINTMENTS. IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. DEVON, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR MORALES?
>> YES.
>> 4 IN FAVOR.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE COUNCIL APPROVED THESE
APPOINTMENTS WILL BE SENT TO TH
FEBRUARY 21st CITY COUNCIL
MEETING THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE WITH US, JANET.
>> CAN I JUST SAY THANK YOU VER
MUCH FOR EVERYONE FOR BEING
WILLING TO SERVE AND FOR YOUR
WORK IN PUTTING THESE
APPOINTMENTS THROUGH THE
PROCESS, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. OKAY. WILL YOU PLEASE
READ ITEM 8 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 8. PANEL ON THE
IMPACT AND MOBILITY ON SOCIAL
WELL-BEING, COMMUNITY CARE AND
NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESSIBILITY FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M
EXCITED. WE HAVE THREE FOLKS
HERE TO JOIN US. I'M GOING TO
ASK YOU TO GO AHEAD AND COME UP
TO THE COMMITTEE TABLE. SO, I'L
AND AS THEY ARE APPROACHING, I
WILL JUST SAY, LET ME GET TO MY
NOTES TOGETHER HERE. I WANT TO
SORT OF SET THE CONTEXT FOR THI
DISCUSSION BY PROVIDING AN
OVERVIEW OF THE MOBILITY ISSUES
THAT WE HAVE NOW. PLEASE COME O
UP HERE. SO, I DO HAVE A SHORT
SLIDESHOW TO HELP DO THAT. THEN
I WILL OPEN IT UP TO THE PANEL
FOR YOUR REACTIONS AND FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. COLLEAGUES, I ALSO
WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS DURING
THIS DISCUSSION AS WELL. SO, BU
BEFORE I BEGIN I WILL ASK EACH
OF YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE
TODAY, ANGELA CASTANEDA. I'M
THE DIRECTOR OF THE BEACON
BUSINESS ALLIANCE. CO-FOUNDER
MEMBER OF THE ESSENTIAL SEATTLE
COLLECTIVE. SERVING SMALL
BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, BEACON
HILL TO READ YOUR BEACH.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
AS WELL. MY NAME IS ERICA BUSCH
I AM THE COLEADER OF THE
DUWAMISH VALLEY SAFE STREETS.
I'M ALSO THE PUBLIC SAFE MANAGE
FOR THE ALLIANCE OF PIONEER
GREATER. I'M CURRENTLY THE URBA
DESIGNER ON THE SEATTLE DESIGN
COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM AB JUANER. I AM THE
PROGRAM MANAGER AT PUGET SOUND
SAGE. I HAVE DONE A MAJORITY OF
MY WORK IN SOUTH SEATTLE,
SPECIFICALLY IN ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. OKAY, DEVO
I'M GOING TO THANK YOU FOR
RUNNING THE SLIDES FOR ME HERE.
SO, I WANTED TO START. YOU CAN
GO TO SLIDE THREE PLEASE. BY
JUST TALKING ABOUT KIND OF WHER
WE ARE RIGHT NOW. THIS IS A
LARGE CITY. A GROWING CITY. WE
KNOW WE HAVE GOT A LOT MORE
FOLKS COMING TO MOVE HERE. BUT,
WE HAVE GOT FEW NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT ACTUALLY MEET NEIGHBORS'
IMMEDIATE EVERY DAY NEEDS.
REALLY FORCES PEOPLE TO TRAVEL
LONG DISTANCES TO GO TO THE
GROCERY STORE OR TO THE DOCTOR.
EVEN TO CHILDCARE. AND CAN
REALLY PUT LOW AND MIDDLE INCOM
FOLKS IN A TOUGH POSITION IF
THEY DON'T OWN A CAR. SO -- GO
TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS
IS GOING TO BE AWKWARD. IT WOUL
BE BETTER IF I WAS DOWN THERE
WITH YOU. SO, RIGHT NOW, WHAT
THAT MEANS FOR US, THANK YOU.
THAT'S GREAT. IS THAT OUR
CURRENT NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN
REALLY MEANS THAT FOLKS HAVE TO
DRIVE. THEY HAVE TO PLAN FOR
EXTRA TIME IT TAKES IF THEY ARE
USING TRANSIT. WE ARE REALLY
PRIORITIZING THE CONVENIENCE OF
THOSE WHO DRIVE, AND TRAFFIC
FLOW AND TRAFFIC THROUGHPUT,
OVER SAFETY. THAT IN TURN
PRIORITIZES, OR REALLY VALUES
THE TIME OF THOSE WHO CAN'T
AFFORD A CAR OVER THE TIME OF
THOSE WHO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT.
SO, THIS IS SORT OF WHERE WE AR
TODAY. THIS MAP SHOWS OUR LAND
USE PATTERNS. REALLY HOW IT KIN
OF FORCES US TO TRAVEL. SO FOR
EXAMPLE, THE PURPLE AREA IN THE
CENTER IS WHERE MOST OF OUR JOB
ARE. THE KIND OF ORANGE AREA IS
URBAN CENTERS, URBAN VILLAGES.
BASICALLY MIXED-USE COMMERCIAL.
THEN, THE -- YELLOW IS KIND OF
EVERYTHING ELSE. SO
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING. THAT'S
WHERE BASICALLY FOLKS WHO ARE
CENTERED AROUND GETTING AROUND
WITH A CAR ARE LIVING. THE
CHALLENGE WITH THIS IS WHAT IT
MEANS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE
CAR, AND THEIR ABILITY TO ACCES
SERVICES. THEIR ABILITY TO GET
TO PLACES THAT THEY NEED TO GO.
SO FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU LIVE DOWN
IN RANIER BEACH, THE CLOSEST
HOSPITAL IS HARBORVIEW. THAT'S
25 MINUTE DRIVE. IF YOU HAVE TO
TAKE THE BUS, IT'S ALMOST AN
HOUR. THAT ASSUMES YOU DON'T
HAVE TO TAKE THE TRANSFER. IT
ALSO ASSUMES THAT YOU ARE GOING
DURING RUSH HOUR OR DURING
REGULAR HOURS. GOOD LUCK IF YOU
HAVE TO GET THERE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT. SO, THIS IS A
SERIOUS ISSUE. IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS BE ABLE TO
NAVIGATE AROUND THEIR COMMUNITY
BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE THINGS
THAT THEY NEED. IN A WAY THAT I
CONVENIENT, EVEN FOR FOLKS WHO
AREN'T IN CARS. SO, YOU CAN GO
TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, DEVON
SO ANOTHER ISSUE OF SORT OF OUR
CURRENT SITUATION IS REALLY HOW
ISOLATED YOU ARE IF YOU AREN'T
IN A CAR. SO, THIS IS A MAP THA
DEMONSTRATES SORT OF THE
INEQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION
NETWORK. THE YELLOW, IF YOU CAN
SEE IT, THE YELLOW LINES ON HER
ARE ROADS. FOLKS CAN DRIVE OR
TAKE TRANSIT ON HERE. BUT, WE
HAVE GOT SOMETHING LIKE 4000
MILES, ALMOST 4000 MILES OF
ROAD. WE HAVE 165 MILES OF BIKE
LANE. THAT'S WHAT IS IN BLUE
HERE. MOST OF THIS IS SHARE
ROADS. THESE ARE NOT PROTECTED
BY CLAIMS. THIS IS A LANE WITH
PAINT IN IT THAT SAYS BIKES CAN
BE HERE AND YOU SHOULD BE AWARE
OF THAT. WE ONLY HAVE FOUR MILE
OF WHAT OUR TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIES AS
PROTECTED BY CLAIMS. THAT'S
REALLY PAINT ALSO. WE HAVE SOM
HARD PROTECTED BIKE LANES BUT I
IS NOT CATEGORIZED. WE DON'T
ACTUALLY KNOW, I DON'T KNOW
PRECISELY HOW MUCH -- HOW MANY
MILES OF PROTECTED BIKE LANE WE
HAVE. IT IS LESS THAN FOUR IN
THE CITY. WE KNOW THAT FOR SURE
SO, THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR LAND USE.
THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE REALLY
DISCONNECTED FROM ONE ANOTHER.
AND THE ABILITY OF OUR NEIGHBOR
TO GET FROM ONE NEIGHBORHOOD TO
ANOTHER WITHOUT GETTING IN THEI
CAR IS VERY INEQUITABLE. ONLY 8
OF THE LAND IN THE CITY IS FOR
COMMERCIAL AND MIXED-USE. MOST
OF THE CITY LAYOUT REQUIRES
PEOPLE TO TAKE A LONG TRIP IN
ORDER TO ACCESS SERVICES. SO,
THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT,
WELL, THERE ARE MANY REASONS WH
THIS IS IMPORTANT, BUT DEVON IF
YOU WILL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS A SLIDE OF ALL OF THE
COLLISIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN
THE CITY IN RECENT YEARS. IT'S
REALLY AN EXAMPLE OF THE SORT O
EPIDEMIC OF CHALLENGES THAT WE
HAVE. ALMOST 7000 COLLISIONS
LAST YEAR ACCORDING TO THE STAT
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. OVER
2200 INJURIES RESULTING FROM
THOSE COLLISIONS. 20 OF 34
FATALITIES WERE PEOPLE WALKING
OR BIKING. OVER HALF OF THOSE
ARE IN MY DISTRICT IN THE SOUTH
END OF SEATTLE. WHAT WE ARE
STARTING TO LEARN NOW IS SOME
REPORTING IS INDICATING THAT
ALMOST HALF OF THESE INJURIES
ARE HIT AND RUNS AS WELL. SO
PEOPLE AREN'T STOPPING TO RENDE
AID, TO OFFER ASSISTANCE, TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS
EMERGENCY VEHICLES COMING. SO,
THIS IS CLEARLY AN EPIDEMIC AND
A GROWING PROBLEM. WHAT IT MEAN
IS THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AREN'
SAFE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING
OR BIKING OR TRYING TO GET AWAY
AND GET AROUND IN ANY WAY THAT
ISN'T IN A CAR. SO, WHY AM I
TALKING ABOUT THIS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE? [
LAUGHTER ] BECAUSE HOW WE DESIG
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAS EVERYTHIN
TO DO WITH SAFETY. IT HAS
EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE
WELL-BEING OF ELDERS AND
CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION OR HOUSING, OR
PARKS. ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE
CONNECTED. EVEN IF RIGHT NOW OU
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOT CONNECTED
SO, I WANTED TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION TODAY BECAUSE
SEATTLEITES DESERVE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE RICH IN
RESOURCES. NO MATTER WHAT PART
OF TOWN THEY LIVE IN. THAT
INCLUDES MOBILITY OPTIONS. IT
INCLUDES ACCESS TO GOOD JOBS. I
INCLUDES THE ABILITY TO GO TO A
SMALL BUSINESS. IT INCLUDES
HOMES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE. IT
ALSO MEANS WELL-CONNECTED
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PEOPLE CAN
WALK, ROLL, AND PLAY SAFELY. IT
MEANS NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE
CHILD FRIENDLY. WHERE KIDS CAN
BE AUTONOMOUS AND NAVIGATE THEI
STREETS WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY
ABOUT A CAR SLOW ROLLING THROUG
A CROSSWALK, WHICH I WITNESS
REGULARLY. IT MEANS
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE SOCIALLY
CONNECTED AND WELL RESOURCED SO
FOLKS CAN GO TO A CULTURAL
CENTER. CAN GO TO A SMALL
BUSINESS. CAN GO TO THE
PHARMACY. IT ALSO MEANS AGE
FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAD I
DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS YESTERDAY
AND MY FIRST CONSTITUENT WAS AN
85-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO ARRIVED O
A BIKE. SHE WAS ON A BIKE
BECAUSE WHEN SHE WAS 20 YEARS
YOUNGER, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A
CAR ACCIDENT AND DIDN'T FEEL
SAFE DRIVING ANYMORE. SO NOW SH
WANTS TO NAVIGATE HER
NEIGHBORHOOD ON A BIKE. HER
VISION IMPAIRMENTS ALLOW HER TO
GET AROUND MORE SAFELY THAT WAY
BUT HER STREETS DON'T
NECESSARILY ALLOW HER TO GET
AROUND MORE SAFELY THAT WAY. SO
NO MATTER WHAT AGE WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT IN A COMMUNITY,
PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
NAVIGATE AND GET TO THE THINGS
THEY NEED TO DO. WITHOUT
WORRYING. SO, WHAT I WOULD LIKE
TO TALK WITH OUR PANELISTS ABOU
TODAY IS REALLY HOW WE MOVE FRO
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CREATE SO
MANY BARRIERS TO MOBILITY TO
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ALLOW OUR
KIDS AND OUR ELDERS AND OTHERS
TO NAVIGATE AROUND SAFELY. SO,
WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO YOU FOR
YOUR REACTIONS. FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. THEN, I HAVE A FEW
QUESTIONS AND TO WANT TO WELCOM
MY COLLEAGUES TO ASK QUESTIONS
AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS ANGELA
CASTANEDA. I THINK I JUST
WANTED TO ADD TO THE WONDERFUL
DISCUSSION OF ALL OF THESE
ISSUES BY SAYING THAT ALSO THE
CONNECTIVITY NEEDS TO BE
HAPPENING WITHIN OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT. IF THE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS -- LISTEN, I WORK
WITH WONDERFUL ADVOCATES AND
ACCOMPLICES EVEN, RIGHT? I WOUL
CALL THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH THA
SDOT OR THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS,
BUT OFTEN I FIND THEY ARE NOT
HOLDING HANDS WITH EACH OTHER.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT
OUT THERE AND ADD THAT TO THE
LIST OF THINGS WE ARE LOOKING
AT.
>> YES. THIS IS ERICA BUSH,
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US.
THINK THIS IS PERSONALLY ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS FACIN
US RIGHT NOW. IT IMPACTS AS YOU
MENTIONED, OUR SOCIAL COHESION.
OUR SENSE OF SAFETY. OUR SENSE
OF ADAPTATION AND RECOVERY. FRO
THE PANDEMIC. WE EXPERIENCED
INCREDIBLE ISOLATION DURING THA
TIME. OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT,
OUR LAND USE PATTERNS, ARE
FURTHER EXACERBATING THE ISSUES
AT THAT PANDMIC CAUSED US. WE
ARE SEEING HIGH RATES OF
ANXIETY. WE ARE SEEING HIGH
RATES OF DEPRESSION, AND ON TOP
OF THAT WE ARE SEEING THE ACTUA
LOSS OF LIVES DUE TO THESE
SITUATIONS. I KNOW WE ARE KIND
OF GOING TO GO AROUND AND
CIRCLE, SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO
THROUGH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT
WOULD LOVE TO SPEAK TO, BUT THE
PRESENTATION BRIDGES ARE REALLY
HIGHLIGHTED HOW, AS I THINK WE
CAN ALL COMFORTABLY SAY, THAT
THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING
HISTORICAL DISINVESTMENT IN
DISTRICT 1 OR DISTRICT 2. SOUTH
SEATTLE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
ROADWAYS WE CAN SEE THAT IN A
MAP. WE CAN SEE HOW
DISINVESTMENT HAS CAUSED US TO
HAVE THESE SEPARATIONS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. IT WILL TAKE
SUBSTANTIAL REINVESTMENT IN OUR
COMMUNITIES TO BRING US BACK
TOGETHER. BUT THE GOOD THING IS
THAT WE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS. WE
ARE AN INCREDIBLY EDUCATED AND
THOUGHTFUL CITY. WE RECOGNIZE
EXACTLY WHERE THESE FATALITIES
ARE HAPPENING, WHY THEY ARE
HAPPENING, AND SOME REALLY
STRATEGIC FACETS FOR HOW WE CAN
IMPLEMENT CHANGE. WE KNOW THAT
OVER 59% OF OUR FATALITIES
HAPPEN AT INTERSECTION THEREFOR
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE VERY
SPECIFIC CHANGES THAT WE CAN
IMPLEMENT AT THESE INTERSECTION
TO DIMINISH THOSE FATALITIES.
SO, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON FROM
THERE AND COME BACK AROUND.
>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, THIS IS AB
JUANER FROM PUGET SOUND SAGE.
I'M GOING TO JUST TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT HOW PUGET SOUND SAGE
DOES ITS WORK. WE HAVE THE
TRANSITION FRAMEWORK. THAT
ESSENTIALLY IS ABOUT STOPPING
THE BAD AND CREATING THE NEW. I
AM A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER AND ALSO AN URBAN
PLANNING PETITIONER, BUT LONG
BEFORE I DECIDED THAT URBAN
PLANNING WAS FUN, I ENTERED
COLLEGE AT 17 TO STUDY FAMILY
LIFE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT. WAS A PRESCHOOL
TEACHER FOR A COUPLE YEARS. EVE
THOUGH I'M DURING URBAN PLANNIN
NOW, THE FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE
THAT I GAINED AS AN EARLY
CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIS
IN WAS THAT IF YOU WANT A CHILD
TO GROW HEALTHY, SAFE, CONFIDEN
AND FULLY REALIZED, HAVE THE
ABILITY TO SELF DETERMINE AND
HAVE THE AGENCY TO LIVE THEIR
LIVES FREELY, YOU WANT TO CREAT
A HOLISTIC ECOSYSTEM OF CARE
AROUND THAT CHILD. AND THAT GOE
BEYOND JUST THE FAMILY
STRUCTURE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE
SOCIAL NETWORK, THE
INFRASTRUCTURE, THE PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE, IN PLACE.
BASICALLY IT BUILT ENVIRONMENT
THAT ALLOWS FOR THAT CHILD TO
GROW HEALTHY. THAT IS PRETTY
FOUNDATIONAL TO HOW I PRACTICE
URBAN PLANNING. LONG BEFORE I
MOVED TO SEATTLE TO WORK HERE A
A PROFESSIONAL URBAN PLANNER, I
HAVE VISITED HERE EVERY YEAR
DURING THE HOLIDAYS TO SEE MY
FAMILY. I'M A GRANDMA'S GIRL.
SHE HAS NEVER DRIVEN A CAR. SHE
LIVES IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DOWNTOWN. EVERY TIME I WOULD
VISIT HER I WOULD TAKE THE LIGH
RAIL FROM THE AIRPORT AND GO
STRAIGHT TO HER APARTMENT. THEN
WE WOULD TAKE THE BUS TO
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRIC
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE HER TREATS
ARE. THEN, WE WOULD TAKE ANOTHE
BUS TO SOUTH SEATTLE THROUGH A
FELLOW NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT HER FAVORITE
PASTRIES CAN BE FOUND. I WOULD
ASK HER, LIKE GRANDMA, WHY DON'
WE JUST TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL?
IT'S FUN. SHE WAS LIKE, OH THAT
IS TOO MUCH WALKING AND IT IS
TOO CONFUSING AND THE BUS IS
RIGHT THERE. SO, LET'S HOP ON
THE BUS. MY MOM AND I, WHO
LIVES, YOU KNOW MY MOM LIVES IN
UNIVERSITY VILLAGE. WE WOULD
TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL AND THE BUS
TO GO TO BEACON HILL BECAUSE
THAT'S WHERE OUR FAVORITE FOODS
AT ANTHONY'S MARKET IS. THESE
TWO WOMEN HAVE NEVER DRIVEN CAR
IN THEIR ENTIRE LIVES AND HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO GET AROUND SEATTLE
BEFORE THAT I SPENT MY TEENAGE
YEARS IN LOS ANGELES. WHERE I
LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE FIRST.
BEFORE I EVEN LIKE LEARNED HOW
TO TAKE THE BUS OR A TRAIN. BUT
EVERY TIME I'M IN SEATTLE I
DIDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE IT THEN,
WHEN I MOVED HERE AND STARTED
WORKING IN SOUTH SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOODS, I WAS STUNNED TO
SEE THIS EXPERIENCE OF
DISAPPEARING SIDEWALKS. IT'S
LIKE A MYSTERY TO ME BECAUSE I
DIDN'T SEE THAT IN DOWNTOWN. I
DIDN'T SEE THAT IN NORTH
SEATTLE. LIKE WHY IS -- WHY ARE
THE SIDEWALKS DISAPPEARING IN
SOUTH SEATTLE? SO, I WILL STOP
THERE. THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW ONE OF WHAT CAME TO M
IS LEARNED BEHAVIOR. IT'S LIKE
HOW WE GET AROUND THE CITY IS
ABOUT OUR LEARNED BEHAVIOR. HOW
DRIVERS DRIVE THROUGH
INTERSECTIONS. IF WE AREN'T
USING SOME SORT OF METHOD TO
COMMUNICATE, THAT'S NOT OKAY.
WHATEVER WAYS OF ENFORCEMENT,
THEN IT IS JUST GOING TO KEEP
GETTING WORSE AS WE SEE IT
HAPPENING. I KNOW WHEN I -- THE
WORK THAT I DO IN ADVOCATING AN
WORKING WITH SMALL BUSINESSES I
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE, I ASKED THES
QUESTIONS OF HOW DO YOUR
CUSTOMERS GET TO YOU? WHAT ARE
YOU EXPERIENCING ABOUT THAT?
WELL, THE FIRST QUESTION IS --
THE FIRST COMPLAINT IS THAT
PARKING IS GOING AWAY. WELL,
YEAH, WE KNOW. DENSITY IS
HAPPENING IN THE CITY AND THAT
IS NOT CHANGING ANY. SO, IF I
COULD GIVE THEM -- TAKE THEM
WITH ME UP TO WHERE THE
PROTECTED BIKE LANES HAVE BEEN
ALREADY INSTALLED IN LIGHT
ROOSEVELT AND NORTH SEATTLE, I
KNOW IT WAS LIKE PULLING THE
BAND-AID OFF AND IT WAS
DIFFICULT. BUT, NOW IT IS
WORKING. IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING
FROM MY EXPERIENCE. IF I WERE
STILL RIDING A BIKE, AND AS A
PAST BICYCLE MESSENGER, I DID
HAVE -- I WAS A BICYCLIST UP
UNTIL I COULD AFFORD TO BUY A
CAR. SO, I KNOW THAT VERY WELL
AS A NECESSARY MEANS FOR
TRANSPORTATION, BUT WHEN I'M
WORKING WITH SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS WHO DON'T RIDE, AND THEI
CUSTOMERS DON'T RIDE, THE
CUSTOMERS ARE ELDER -- ELDERS O
FAMILIES. A PROTECTED BIKE LANE
IS NOT SOMETHING THEY WANT TO
RESPOND TO. IF OUR SYSTEMS ARE,
OR OUR METHOD OF GETTING THAT
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK BEFORE WE
MOVE PROJECTS FORWARD LIKE THE
CURRENT PROJECT AT BEACON HILL.
BRINGING THAT PROTECTED --
MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS SO THA
THERE IS MORE THAN FOUR MILES O
PROTECTED BIKE LANES CONNECTED.
THAT'S GOING TO BE HARD. IT IS
GOING TO BE LIKE RIPPING OFF A
BAND-AID. SO, I THINK MY POINT
IS REALLY ABOUT HOW WE ARE
COMMUNICATING THESE CHANGES. IF
THE CITY IS MOVING FASTER THAN
THE SMALL COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING --
BUILDING THE TRUST WITH THESE
FAMILIES WHO ARE RUNNING
BUSINESSES AND THAT THEIR DAILY
LIFE IS SURROUNDED AND IS
SUPPORTED BY THEIR SMALL
BUSINESS. THEY NEED TO KNOW WHA
IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN THREE
YEARS FOR THEM TO HANG IN THERE
TO -- WHAT ARE THOSE THREE
YEARS, OR WHATEVER THE TIME IT
TAKES TO GET THAT THING WORKING
THAT NEW, THAT CHANGE. SO,
THAT'S WHERE I FIND A BIG
STRUGGLE AND IT'S THE RIGHT NOW
THE HERE AND NOW. WITH THE SMAL
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO DON'T FEEL
SAFE. THEIR CUSTOMERS DON'T FEE
SAFE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET
TO WALK INTO THEIR BUSINESS.
THERE IS NOWHERE TO PARK. WHAT
IS ACCESS? ACCESSIBILITY TO
THOSE BUSINESSES.
>> ANGELA, CAN YOU, I'M SORRY,
LET ME ASK YOU ONE MORE
QUESTION. SO, I'M THINKING
PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE BEACON
HILL RAIL STATION AREA. SO THAT
IS A HIGH PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THE STATION
THERE IS A GROCERY STORE. THERE
IS THE STATION COFFEE SHOP WHER
LOTS OF APARTMENTS ARE THERE.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
MAYBE WHAT SOME OF THOSE SMALL
BUSINESSES -- HOW THEY BENEFIT
FROM THAT SORT OF HIGH
PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY, AND THEN I
AM THINKING ABOUT THE
INTERSECTION AT THE RED APPLE
WHERE THERE ARE ALSO SOME
CHALLENGES IN PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
SO THERE IS TWO SIDES OF IT FOR
SURE. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT IN THAT PEDESTRIAN RICH
ENVIRONMENT HOW SMALL BUSINESSE
CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT, AND THEN
WHAT SOME OF THE --
>> THEY CAN BENEFIT. IS THE
QUESTION RIGHT NOW. SO, OF THE
VARYING PROJECTS,
INFRASTRUCTURE, MOBILITY,
TRANSIT FOCUSES THAT HAVE BEEN
GOING ON FOR THAT. THAT HAVE
BEEN HAPPENING FOR THAT
INTERSECTION. AND FOR THAT NODE
FRANKLY. THE BUSINESSES DON'T
KNOW WHAT IS COMING. SO -- THE
BENEFITS ARE THAT YEAH, WE HAVE
GOT THE LIGHT RAIL RIGHT THERE.
WE CAN COMMUNICATE TO THE WIDER
COMMUNITY HOW THEY CAN GET TO
THE PLACES THEY NEED TO GET TO.
THAT THOSE PLACES ARE OPEN. THA
THEY EXIST. THAT THEIR DOORS AR
OPEN. I THINK THAT IF, LIKE TH
-- TRY TO SAY THAT THE ACTUAL -
INTERSECTION HAS SO MANY
COMPLICATED MOVEMENT. SO THERE
IS PEDESTRIAN, THERE IS CARS
GOING WHICH WAY. THERE IS A
ONE-WAY. THERE'S A FESTIVAL
STREET. THERE IS NO SIGNAGE.
THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION TO TH
PEDESTRIANS THAT SAYS WALK THIS
WAY. DON'T CROSS MIDWAY ON THIS
BLOCK. DON'T JUMP OUT IN FRONT
OF A BUS STOP IT'S JUST, THOSE
ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE BARRIER
TO HAVING THE BEST SITUATION IN
THAT AREA.
>> THANK YOU. YEAH, I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HAS A
QUESTION.
>> YES, ANGELA YOU MENTIONED
SOMETHING WHEN YOU FIRST STARTE
SPEAKING. I'M JUST WONDERING IF
SDOT AND DAWN, ARE THEY WORKING
TOGETHER PRETTY WELL? I DON'T
KNOW IF THAT IS A QUESTION FOR
YOU OR COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> FROM MY EXPERIENCE THERE IS
ALWAYS A GLITCH IN HOW PEOPLE
ARE COMMUNICATING. NOT ONLY IS
IT DIFFICULT FOR THE WORK THAT
DO TO KNOW WHO IS WHO, WHO IS
THE PERSON I NEED TO TALK TO. I
I'M HAVING TROUBLE, A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER IS GOING TO HAVE
TROUBLE. IDENTIFYING HOW DO THE
SOLVE A PROBLEM OR GET A
QUESTION ANSWERED. YOU HAVE --
THE PHONE TREE IS NOT THE
SOLUTION. SDOT, IF I MAY CALL I
ALL RIGHT HERE, THE ONLINE
SYSTEM, IS AS BUREAUCRATIC AND
DIFFICULT AS THE ACTUAL PEOPLE
BUREAUCRACY AND POLITICS
BUREAUCRACY. SO THERE IS -- I
DON'T THINK PEOPLE -- LIKE I
SAID, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THER
IS HANDS BEING HELD HERE. THE
CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE
DIFFERENT -- THE CONTRACTOR, OR
THE ADVOCATE THAT I'M WORKING
WITH IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB FO
WHAT SHE CAN DO. IT HAS TO GO U
THE TREE EVERY TIME. SO, THERE
IS THE PROCESS IS REALLY THE
KILLER.
>> RIGHT?
>> IT'S ALSO BEEN WHO IS TALKIN
-- WHAT YOUR REALM IS, AND THEN
THE MAYOR ABOUT THE VS OFFICE
AND THE DEPARTMENTS. IS JUST --
>> A LOT.
>> WHO ARE WE WORKING WITH HERE
WHERE IS THE POWER? WHO ARE THE
GATEKEEPERS? IT IS JUST THAT
SIMPLE. IS THERE A WAY THAT WE
CAN ALL COME TOGETHER? LAST
NIGHT I MISSED IT BUT THERE WAS
AN EVENT DOWN AT A FELLOW UW --
A FELLOW -- THE FOLKS THAT WERE
SPEAKING. UNFORTUNATELY I
COULDN'T GET THERE BUT THOSE AR
THE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS THAT
THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE AT
THAT LEVEL. WE SHOULD BE TALKIN
ABOUT HOW TO CONNECT THOSE DOTS
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK WE HAVE LOST
SOMETHING WITH -- WHAT I HEAR
FROM THE COMMUNITIES IS THAT
THERE SHOULD BE A MORE FORMAL
BRIDGE BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND
CITY. COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND
DISTRICT COUNCIL, WHATEVER.
>> IF WE DON'T FUND OUR OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADEQUATELY FOR THIS SIZE OF OUR
CITY AND LOOKING FORWARD INTO
HOW WE ARE DENSITY, AND HOW WE
ARE GROWING. THE POPULATION IS
EXPANDING HERE. THEN, THE SMALL
BUSINESS COMMUNITY -- THE SMALL
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
ARE GOING TO GET -- WITHOUT THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THE WEEKEND BUSINESS ALLIANCE
DOESN'T EXIST.
>> SPEAKING TO THE CHOIR HERE.
>> ERICA, DID YOU WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING?
>> YEAH, I THINK YOU BROUGHT UP
A GREAT POINT WHICH IS THAT
FACTOR OF TRUST. SO DID YOU.
THAT THE CITY IN ITS CURRENT
STATE, I FEEL HAS -- IT HAS LOS
A LOT OF TRUST WITH ITS
CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE THERE ISN'
THAT DIRECT LINE OF
COMMUNICATION. BECAUSE THERE IS
AN END UNDERSTANDING OF EXACTLY
HOW PROCESSES WILL MOVE FORWARD
THE FACT THAT WE, AND AGAIN
COMING AS A PLANNER TO THE
CONVERSATION, WE HAVE PLANNED
OUR COMMUNITIES TO DEATH. I HAV
WORKED ON THE GEORGETOWN OPEN
SPACE PLAN, THE PIONEER SQUARE
STREET SAFE CONCEPT PLAN,
JACKSON HELPED PLAN, DUWAMISH
VALLEY ACTION PLAN. I COULD GO
ON AND ON. WE AREN'T SEEING
IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE PLANS
AND YET WE CONTINUE TO FUND
ADDITIONAL PLANS. AS FAR AS THE
COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED, UNTIL
THEY SEE TRUE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE MEASURES THAT THEY HAVE BEE
VOCAL ABOUT NEEDING AND WANTING
FOR DECADES, EVERY TIME THAT
DOESN'T HAPPEN YOU LOSE THEM. W
LOSE THEIR INVOLVEMENT, AND WE
LOSE THEIR TRUST. IT'S TOTALLY
UNDERSTANDABLE. AT THIS POINT
THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T THINK THA
THERE CITY CARES ABOUT THEM
APPROPRIATELY. WITHOUT THAT
TRUST, WE HAVE A VERY HARD TASK
IN CONVINCING THEM THAT THESE
IMPROVEMENTS WILL THEN IMPACT
THEM IN A POSITIVE MANNER. SO,
BEFORE WE MOVE INTO MORE AND
MORE PLANNING, WE REALLY NEED T
STOP AND SAY HOW DO WE
IMPLEMENT? WE ARE RECEIVING
$26.5 MILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS
TO THE SOTO DISTRICT AND
SURROUNDING AREAS. WE NEED THAT
MONEY TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE
GROUND. IT CAN'T BE LOST IN
THESE PROCESSES OF PLANNING AND
NEGOTIATION AND OUTREACH, I HAT
TO SAY IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE HEAR
FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THA
THEY NEED SPACE AND RELIABLE
ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THAT WE
ALL USE EVERY DAY. THE LAWS OF
THOSE RESOURCES JUST SORT OF
LIKE PROLIFERATING INTO THE
ETHER JUST CAN'T CONTINUE. WE
JUST NEED TO SEE MORE ON THE
GROUND IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE
THINGS.
>> I WILL ADD THAT I THINK THE
-- I BELIEVE THAT THE PURPOSE O
LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS TO FURTHER
DEMOCRATIZE OUR PUBLIC GROUNDS.
ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT IS T
REALLY BE IN CENTRAL IN CREATIN
CONTINUOUS, OPEN COMMUNICATION
WITH COMMUNITIES. REALLY
INVESTING IN DEEP RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING. THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT
ACT REQUIRES CITIES TO DO
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING UPDATE
EVERY COUPLE YEARS. WHAT HAPPEN
IN BETWEEN? LIKE HOW ARE WE
SUSTAINING THESE RELATIONSHIPS
AND REALLY ALIGNING RESOURCES S
THAT NEIGHBORHOODS CAN
SELF-DETERMINED HOW THEIR PLACE
GROW? HOW THEIR PLACES DEVELOP?
AND I -- WE HAVE THIS TENDENCY
WITH ALL OF THESE BUREAUCRATIC
PROCESSES THAT RESULT IN FURTHE
RESTRICTIONS AROUND PEOPLE WITH
EXPERIENCE OF THE PUBLIC REALM.
AS EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRA
AT PUGET SOUND SAGE, I'M ALWAYS
FRUSTRATED OVER THE FACT THAT I
ORDER TO MAKE POTENTIAL
IMPROVEMENTS INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, WE
HAVE TO RELY ON THESE LIKE MAJO
SPORTING EVENTS OR
MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. MEGA
MARKET RATE WITH A LITTLE BIT O
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMET
TOO. EVEN HAVE A NICE SIDEWALK.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO,
ESPECIALLY CHILDREN AND SENIORS
TO BE GOING OUT OF THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND WALKING AROUN
LIKE THEY ARE PLAYING FLOOR IS
LAVA OR YOU HAVE JUST GIVING
YOU THAT FEELING OF SCARED.
FEELING SCARED THAT YOU MIGHT
GET HIT. I WAS TALKING TO A
YOUTH COORDINATOR YESTERDAY
ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO JUST
HANG AROUND, WALK AROUND GRANT
STREET. THE COORDINATOR WALKS
PRESCHOOLERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOO
TO GO TO THE PARK. THEN, HE
COMMUTES TO WORK FROM FILIPINO
VILLAGE. EITHER WALKS UP TO
COLUMBIA CITY STATION OR GOES
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FELLOW.
I WAS LIKE THAT'S NOT A PLEASAN
WALK. HE HAS MULTIPLE --
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN
SPLASHED OVER BY WATER BECAUSE
THERE WERE SPEEDING VEHICLES.
THAT'S NOT THE EXPERIENCE THAT
WE WANT YOUNG FOLKS TO HAVE IN
THE STREET. OR LIKE OUR ELDERS
WHO HAVE LIMITED MOBILITY. MY
GRANDMA HAS LIMITED MOBILITY NO
AND SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
FULLY EXPERIENCE SOUTH SEATTLE
THE WAY SHE USED TO. HOW ARE WE
CREATING A PUBLIC REALM THAT
FEELS GOOD? THAT FEELS SAFE AND
FUN AND MAKES US ALL FEEL
CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER? BECAUS
IF WE HAVE THIS CONNECTED
NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR COMMUNITIES
ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO BE
ENGAGING WITH EACH OTHER. HOW D
WE DO THAT, RIGHT?
>> SO, I GUESS THAT IS PART OF
THE QUESTION, RIGHT? AB, PUGET
SOUND SAGE WORKS ON TRANSIT
EQUITY, HEALTHY COMMUNITY'S. SO
HOW DO THOSE THINGS INTERSECT
AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BUILD
HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS,
UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL OF THOSE
THINGS INTERSECT? I THINK THAT'
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO -- THE
DIRECTION WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE
AS A CITY. I THINK WHAT I HEAR
YOU SAY IS WE CAN'T GET THERE I
WE CAN'T SORT OF BREAKDOWN SOME
OF THESE PROCESSES THAT WE HAVE
SET UP IN PLACE THAT ARE
ACTUALLY CREATING MORE BARRIERS
FOR US. I THINK TO YOUR POINT,
AB, ABOUT HOW DO WE BUILD
SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY, EVEN
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
SIDEWALKS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE,
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BU
OUR RELIANCE RIGHT NOW ON
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TO CREATE
NEW SIDEWALKS IS INHERENTLY
INEQUITABLE IF WHAT IT MEANS IS
THAT ONLY THE NEIGHBORHOODS
WHERE THOSE PROJECTS ARE
HAPPENING GET NEW SIDEWALKS.
EVERYBODY ELSE WAITS. AND
WATCHES AS THEIR SIDEWALK
CRUMBLES OR CONTINUES NOT TO
EXIST AT ALL WHICH IS THE CASE
IN MUCH OF SOUTH SEATTLE AS MUC
AS NORTH SEATTLE. SO, YES, THAN
YOU FOR THAT. ERICA, I WANTED T
GO BACK TO YOU AND ASK IF YOU
COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE DIFFERENT MOBILITY NEEDS
THAT YOU SEE WITH THE WORK THAT
YOU DO.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO, AS YOU
SHOWED IN THE MAP WHERE YOU HAV
THIS LARGE SWATH OF UNDEVELOPED
SPACE IN THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR O
DUWAMISH VALLEY. PRETTY MUCH
FROM WHERE WE ARE SITTING NOW
SOUTH. WHAT THAT HAS MEANT IS
THAT OUR COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH
SEATTLE ARE COMPLETELY
DISCONNECTED IN LARGE PART
BECAUSE OF HOW WE'VE DEVELOPED
SYSTEMS AND WHERE OUR FREIGHT
IS. IF YOU ARE IN GEORGETOWN OR
SOUTHPARK OR CENTER RIDGE, OR
BEACON HILL, YOU CAN'T GET TO
THOSE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT HA
BEEN PREFACED THAT ANYWHERE THA
IS DEDICATED FOR FREIGHT MEANS
THAT IT CANNOT BE UTILIZED BY
ANYONE ELSE. THAT IS A TOTAL
MISNOMER. THESE ARE HUGE, HUGE
STREETS THAT CAN AND NEED TO
ALLOCATE FOR MORE THAN ONE
USAGE. WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY AS
CITY SORT OF LEANED BACK AND NO
APPROPRIATELY ENGAGED WITH OUR
FREIGHT COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT
HOW WE SHARE THE STREETS.
BECAUSE UNTIL THOSE STREETS ARE
SHARED, THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE
GOING TO STAY ISOLATED. IF YOU
LIVE IN GEORGETOWN OR SOUTHPARK
YOU CANNOT SAFELY BIKE TO A JOB
OPPORTUNITY OR AN EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY, OR FRIENDS AND
FAMILY, AND OTHER PARTS OF THIS
CITY. THAT HAS HUGE IMPLICATION
TO HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE. SO,
UNTIL WE CAN BRIDGE THE GAP OF
THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MILES
AND MILES OF INDUSTRIAL LANDS
SEPARATING OUR COMMUNITY REALLY
WORKS OR WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO
INTEGRATE THOSE INTO OUR SYSTEM
THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE
PROBLEM. RIGHT NOW THE SORT OF
COURSE OF ACTION THAT I OFTEN
SEE, THAT I FIND REALLY
CHALLENGING, IS THAT SDOT'S TEA
WILL COME AND PRESENT A DESIGN
TO THE FREIGHT ADVISORY BOARD O
TO THE SOTO BIA. THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY IMMEDIATELY GETS ANGR
AND THINKS THAT IT'S GOING TO
HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HOW THEY
FUNCTION. SO, SDOT RETREATS AND
TRIES TO COME UP WITH A
DIFFERENT PLAN AND PUT IT IN
FRONT OF THEM IT GOES BACK AND
FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH INSTEA
OF WORKING IN TANDEM ON THESE
DESIGNS. TO SIT DOWN WITH PEOPL
WHO DRIVE FREIGHT VEHICLES. WHO
NEED TO ACCESS THESE BUSINESSES
REALLY TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH LIKE
YOU KNOW HOW YOUR BUSINESS
FUNCTIONS. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH
SPACE YOU NEED IN ORDER TO
APPROPRIATELY MAKE A TURNING
RADIUS. OR HOW MUCH LEEWAY YOU
NEED IN THE LEFT HAND TURN LANE
SO IT DOESN'T BACK ONTO A
HIGHWAY RAMP. WE NEED TO USE TH
KNOWLEDGE BASE OF OUR
COMMUNITIES BETTER THAN WE DO
NOW. INSTEAD OF IT BEING LIKE
HOW ABOUT THIS, HOW ABOUT THIS.
IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW. IS THAT
FREIGHT, THERE REALLY ARE
DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR IS
THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN USE, IS
THAT A POLICY?
>> YEAH, I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE
AIRPORT WAY, FIRST AVENUE,
FOURTH AVENUE. ALL DEDICATED
FREIGHT ROUTES. THAT HAS BEEN
THE RATIONALE FOR WHY THERE
CAN'T BE PROTECTED BIKE LANES.
WHY WE CAN'T ADAPT OUR SIDEWALK
TO ALLOW FOR MORE LIKE
ACCESSIBILITY. AT THE SAME TIME
SOME OF OUR LARGER SOCIAL
SERVICES ARE IN THIS AREA. WE
HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TRYING
TO ACCESS REALLY CRITICAL
SERVICES IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT
IS UNBELIEVABLY UNSAFE. IT IS
WHERE WE SEE MOST OF OUR
FATALITIES. THAT HAS BEEN THIS
CONFLICT BACK AND FORTH OF LIKE
FREIGHT SAYING THAT IT IS JUST
UNSAFE TO HAVE THESE OTHER USES
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY HAVE
TO GO THROUGH THIS AREA. IT'S
NOT LIKE OUR INDUSTRIAL LANDS
ARE FAR AND FAR REMOVED FROM OU
URBAN ENVIRONMENT IT FACE IT
DEAD CENTER IN OUR CITY AND THE
ARE CRITICAL TO THE LIFEBLOOD O
OUR ECONOMY. I 100% UNDERSTAND
THAT, BUT THEY DO NEED TO WORK
IN COLLABORATION AND IN TANDEM
WITH OUR COMMUNITIES ADJACENT T
THEM.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE --
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
I'M NOT SEEING OTHER QUESTIONS.
I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING
ELSE I WANTED TO ASK BUT NOW I
HAVE FORGOTTEN.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO JUST -- IN
THINKING ABOUT THE ROOT CAUSES
OF SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE
ARE FACING WITH ACCESSIBILITY,
SAFETY. WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT A LOT OF TIMES IS JUST
ANOTHER BAND-AID WHEN ROOT
CAUSES -- PEOPLE NEED HOUSING.
TYPES OF HOUSING. THEN, THE
RESTRICTIONS AND FEES THAT ARE
-- IF SOMEONE WANTS TO ADD A
LIVING SPACE OR AN EXISTING
HOUSING. ALL OF THESE THINGS AL
PLAY INTO THESE FATALITIES.
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING NOT
HOUSED. SO, THEY ARE ON THE
STREET. THAT'S GOING TO ALWAYS
INCREASE THE INSTANCES OF DEATH
ON THE STREETS. SO, I WANTED T
SAY THERE IS A REACH PROGRAM, A
COUNTY PROGRAM THEY ARE OPENING
UP A NEW LOCATION IN GILMAN
CITY. WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT
THERE WILL BE FOUR PEOPLE, SO
THEY HAVE A BUDGET FOR ASK. THA
BUDGET, THAT IS REALLY NOT
ADDRESSING THE NEED. WHAT IF WE
HAD THREE
AND WE IDENTIFIED ENOUGH
FUNDING , REACH , THE CITY
WORKED WITH KING COUNTY TO DO
THAT. SOMETHING WE KNOW THAT
WORKS. WE COULD START MAKING
DENT IN COMMUNICATING WITH
THOSE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ,
AND THE CHRONIC, THAT
RECIDIVISM THAT, WE , BELIEVE
I THINK WE HAVE A LIST WITH TH
NUMBER OF PEOPLE CONTINUING TO
DO THAT SAME , VANDALISM , AND
IS IN A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE?
ACCESS TO THOSE RESOURCES. I
REALLY JUST WANT TO MAKE A PITC
TO LOOKING AT SOME OF THE
EXISTING SERVICES AND
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SERVING.
ARE THEY FUNDED ENOUGH TO BE
ABLE TO DO THE WORK THEY DO? O
ARE WE GOING TO CREATE A NEW
PDA TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. A BRAND-NEW ONE. I
VOTED YES. I AM SAYING, IT
WORRIES ME.
>> WE DO HAVE MORE TEAMS, PART
OF UNIFIED CARE TEAM' STRATEGY
IS HAD NEIGHBORHOOD REACH
PROVIDERS , THAT IS PART OF THE
PLAN. OKAY, COLLEAGUES , ANY
OTHER COMMENTS? NO. THANK YOU
ALL, SO MUCH. IF YOU WILL PUT
THE LAST SLIDE UP. FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC , OR PEOPLE
INTERESTED , WE DID INCLUDE A
LIST OF RESOURCES. IF PEOPLE
WANT TO DIVE DEEPER ON THE
ISSUES . I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
YOU FOR THIS DISCUSSION . I
THINK IT HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE
MOBILITY AND SOCIAL
PARTICIPATION PLAY IN SOME OF
THESE KEY DETERMINANTS OF HEALT
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT . IN TERMS
OF QUALITY OF LIFE , SOME OF TH
RESOURCES WE LISTED COULD HELP
US START TO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF CHANGE IN THE
COMMUNITY CONDITIONS. IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS , SO WE CAN CREAT
HEALTHY PLACES WHERE KIDS CAN
THRIVE, OUR ELDERS CAN REMAIN
ACTIVE AND AGE IN PLACE, AND
FOR OUR NEIGHBORS CAN MAKE SURE
THEY ARE SAFE IN ACCESSING THE
THINGS THAT THEY NEED. I WANT
TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING
DOWNTOWN TO SIT IN CHAMBERS WIT
US . I THINK MAYBE WE ARE MOVIN
TO HAVING REAL COMMITTEE
MEETINGS AT THE COMMITTEE TABLE
OKAY, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT .
COLLEAGUES , I DO NOT SEE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS. SO, LET'S SEE
, THAT CONCLUDES THIS MEETING
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS, EDUCATION, CIVIL
RIGHTS, AND CULTURE COMMITTEE I
FEBRUARY 24th . I WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. WE AR
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.