>> GOOD AFTERNOON, TODAY IS
FEBRUARY 2nd , 2026. TIME IS 20
2:00 P.M.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> EIGHT PRESENT. PLEASE CALL
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES WILL BE ADOPTED. ON TO
THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT. WE HAVE
NO PRESENTATIONS OR
PROCLAMATIONS FOR SIGNATURES
TODAY. OUR NEXT OYR PRESENTATION
WILL BE FEBRUARY THE 9th, NEXT
MONDAY THEY WILL PRESENT. WE DO
NOT HAVE ANY EXECUTIVE SESSION
SCHEDULED AND TOMORROW OUR CITY
COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA WILL HAVE
THREE ITEMS FOR INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AND ONE ITEM
ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
THERE'S NO LETTER OF
PROCLAMATIONS AND WE ARE GOING
TO JUMP INTO -- WE'LL BEGIN OUR
NEXT DISCUSSION ON THE PREVIEW
OF THE CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS IN
COUNCIL REGIONAL COMMITTEES AND
THE ORDER OF DISCUSSION IS
ESTABLISHED BY THE ROTATED ROLL
CALL, BUT THOSE ARE MY MEETING
NOTES. I THINK IT'S GOOD IF WE
JUST PASS IT. IS THAT OKAY, TO
THE RIGHT OR LEFT? NO MATTER?
AWESOME. I THINK LAST TIME WE
WENT TO THE LEFT, BUT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU WERE
TO MY LEFT AND NOW YOU'RE TO MY
RIGHT. IS THAT OKAY YOU ARE
STARTING FIRST?
>> SURE. HAPPY TO. THANK YOU.
I'LL KEEP THIS BRIEF. FINANCE
NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETS
TOMORROW MORNING. WE HAVE TWO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. ONE IS THE
FIRST OF TWO MEETINGS FOR THE
APPOINTMENT OF ALLIE PANUCCI AS
DIRECTOR OF THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE. THIS WILL BE
INTRODUCTORY. WE ARE NOT ASKING
HER TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS
WE POSED TO HER FOR TOMORROW'S
MEETING. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR TO
US HAVE HER IN COMMITTEE TWICE.
SHE WILL BE ASKED TO SUBMIT THE
WRITTEN RESPONSES AT THE SECOND
COMMITTEE MEETING THAT SHE COMES
TO. I KNOW THAT THERE WERE A FEW
QUESTIONS SUBMITTED AFTER THE
EXTENDED DEADLINE LAST WEEK, SO
HAPPY TO TALK TO OTHER -- WORK
WITH OTHER MEMBERS WHO STILL
HAVE QUESTIONS THAT DID NOT MEET
THE EXTENDED DEADLINE TO
NAVIGATE HOW TO GET YOUR
QUESTIONS ACROSS. YOU CAN ALWAYS
ASK THEM AT COMMITTEE. WE DO NOT
ANTICIPATE THE IN-DEPTH
QUESTIONS TOMORROW. SO DO HAVE
SOME INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND
QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM, BUT
WE'LL GET INTO DEPTH AT THE
FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEETING. THE
SECOND ITEM ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA
IS THE ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER. THIS IS OUR SECOND OF
TWO MEETINGS REGARDING THIS BILL
AND WE ARE SCHEDULED TO VOTE. I
HAVE PROPOSED ONE AMENDMENT TO
THE LEGISLATION WHICH I SHARED
WITH YOUR OFFICE LAST WEEK. THIS
IS NOT AN AMENDMENT TO THE
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BECAUSE
THAT WOULD SEND US BACK TO THE
START. THERE ARE NOT MANY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMENDMENTS TO
THIS LEGISLATION. THIS IS
BASICALLY THE ONLY PLACE TO
AMEND THE LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT
IS ABOUT PROCESS, WHICH IS THAT
IF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
WANTS TO BE UPDATED IN THE
FUTURE, NOT ONLY DOES THE MAYOR
NEED TO SIGN OFF, BUT IT NEEDS
TO COME THROUGH COUNCIL. THIS IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE MAYOR CAN
MAKE DECISIONS NOT IN THE VIEW
OF THE PUBLIC WHEN IT COMES TO
COUNCIL, THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND WEIGH IN
ON THE ASPECTS THAT ARE
CONTAINED WITHIN THE INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT. SO THAT IS SIMPLY THE
ONLY AMENDMENT. IT DOES HAVE THE
SUPPORT OF THE SOCIAL HOUSING --
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO TAKE A
VOTE TOMORROW. THERE IS NO
LEGISLATION COMING FROM MY
COMMITTEE TO FULL COUNCIL
TOMORROW. WITH SOUND TRANSIT I
EXPLAINED THE BIG NEWS LAST WEEK
WITH THE CROSS LAKE CONNECTION
OCCURRING. PLEASE, WE'D LOVE TO
HAVE ANY AND ALL OF YOU OUT
THERE. WE ALSO -- THAT'S THE
GOOD NEWS ABOUT SOUND TRANSIT.
THE HARDER NEWS IS THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO GO THROUGH THE
ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE AT SOUND
TRANSIT. SO, COLLEAGUES, I DO
ASK THAT EACH OF YOU GET
ONE-ON-ONE BRIEFINGS WITH OUR
SEATTLE SOUND TRANSIT TEAM.
THERE MAY BE IN THE NEXT QUARTER
A TIME WHERE THEY COME AND
PRESENT TO US EITHER AT
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE OR AT
COUNCIL BRIEFING AND I WANT YOU
TO BE AS WELL PREPARED AS
POSSIBLE FOR THAT PUBLIC
MEETING. IT'S A LOT OF
INFORMATION, SO I'M REQUESTING
EVERYONE GET TIME WITH OUR
SEATTLE TEAM TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S COMING DOWN
THE PIKE WITH SOUND TRANSIT
ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE. THERE'S
ALSO AN EXPANSION COMMITTEE NEXT
WEEK, ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON
CITIES CONTINUES TO HOLD FRIDAY
IT ACTION UPDATES ABOUT THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO IF YOU
ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING
ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
BEYOND JUST OFFICE AND
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, YOU
CAN SIGN UP FOR AWCs FRIDAY
CALLS. LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED
ANY HELP WITH THAT. LASTLY, IN
DISTRICT 6 I HOSTED A TOWN HALL
AT THE GREENWOOD BRANCH OF THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY LAST
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IT WAS A GREAT
EVENT. ABOUT 100 PEOPLE CAME OUT
AND FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT HAVE
MISSED THE TOWN HALL, I WILL BE
DOING MORE TOWN HALLS IN THE
UPCOMING MONTHS . I ALSO HAVE
OFFICE HOURS EVERY OTHER WEEK
UNLESS I HAVE A TOWN HALL OR
SOME OTHER EXTERNAL WORK. WE
HAVE MORE OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK
AND OPENING UP MORE LATER THIS
MONTH AND IF THEY REMAIN FULL,
I'LL OPEN UP OFFICE HOURS ON A
SUNDAY. SO WITH THAT,
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS ON MY
REPORT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, YOU'RE DOING THE
SOCIAL HOUSING STUFF?
>> JUST THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
REGARDING THE MONEY AS MY ROLE
AS THE BUDGET CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER TAKES AS
THE HOUSING COMMITTEE CHAIR
TAKES EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> OKAY. SO, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE
AN ANSWER, THAT'S OKAY, JUST
WANT TO TRY AND GET IT CLARIFIED
HERE ON THE ILA. I KNEW THAT.
WOULD YOUR COMMITTEE BE
ENTERTAINING IF INDEED SOMETHING
COMES FORWARD THEN AMENDING THE
CHARTER OR CHANGING THE CHARTER?
>> SO WE'LL HAVE THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER IN MY
COMMITTEE. I BELIEVE THEY'RE
SCHEDULED FEBRUARY 11th FOR AN
UPDATE AND SO YOU'LL BE THERE
AND WE CAN DISCUSS ANY POTENTIAL
NEEDS AROUND THAT.
>> OKAY, GREAT. I FORGOT, I'M
ON YOUR COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. TO YOUR RIGHT,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND COLLEAGUES.
STARTING OFF OUR NEXT -- WE DO
NOT HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING
TOMORROW. IT'S A WEEK FROM
TOMORROW AND WE'LL HAVE --
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO PIECES ON
THE AGENDA THAT WILL BE
CONFIRMED. THERE'S A LOT OF
MOVING ELEMENTS RELATED TO
PUBLIC SAFETY THESE DAYS, BUT WE
WILL HAVE A BILL BY OUR
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
AND ALSO A BRIEFING FROM OIG
WHICH PERTAINS TO BASICALLY THE
PUBLIC DRUG USE AND POSSESSION
COMING UP A WEEK FROM TOMORROW.
I'LL LET COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
SPEAK IF SHE'D LIKE TO ADD WHEN
SHE'S UP ON THAT BILL. FOR THIS
WEEK TODAY STARTING OFF WITH
TODAY, MET WITH ESTHER FROM THE
SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD,
GOOD CONVERSATIONS. WEDNESDAY
I'M MEETING WITH THE EVERGREEN
MEDICAL RESPITE CARE, GETTING A
BRIEFING ON THAT. THIS KIND OF
GOES TO, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING
WHERE THESE SERVICES REALLY
CONNECT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT'S THAT SEAM POINT I'VE BEEN
RAISING. THURSDAY MEETING WITH
OIR RELATED TO IRELAND, ALSO THE
GBSA THAT DAY TALKING ABOUT
ADVOCACY FROM THAT SIDE AND
PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEN FRIDAY
THE CASCADE BICYCLE CLUB. NEXT
WEEK NIAP AND HAVE BUDGET
DIRECTOR PENUCCI DESIGNEE COMING
TO MY OFFICE AND LATER THAT WEEK
A LITTLE BIT WITH METRO CHAMBER.
THEY HAVE A NEW LEADER, JOE
McGINN, AND AT THE END OF NEXT
WEEK IS OUR LATEST DISTRICT SUB
AND NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, WHICH
IS A COUNCIL OF COUNCILS
DOWNTOWN, OUR NEW DOWNTOWN
COMMUNITY COUNCIL, BELLTOWN,
SOUTH LAKE UNION, UPTOWN, QUEEN
ANNE, MAGNOLIA, BRINGING ALL
THESE GROUPS PLUS SOME OTHER
SINGLE INTERESTS ORGANIZATIONS,
WHICH HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF, BY
THE WAY. I'LL OUT IT RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE THEY'VE SAID IT TO ME,
THAT THEY'VE GONE ON THEIR OWN
AND CREATED AN URBAN DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
INCORPORATING CAP HILL, BRINGING
IN THOSE AREAS AND THEY'RE
ADVOCATING TO WHICH THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING
TO LEARN THE POWER OF THE
ORGANIZED GROUPS WITHIN DISTRICT
7, BUT I'LL LEAVE THAT ALONE,
DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING
AWAY. LASTLY, I'LL ALSO BE
MEETING WITH THE PORT OF
SEATTLE. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M
LOOKING TO DO THIS YEAR ENGAGING
WITH STAKEHOLDERS IS ABOUT
CREATING A CITY OF SEATTLE
MARITIME STRATEGY. PART OF THIS
IS REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE
MANY, MANY ELEMENTS OF THE
MARITIME WORLD AND SO LOOKING TO
CONTINUE THAT WORK AS WE MOVE
FORWARD AND THEN LATER WORK MORE
AND MORE CLOSELY WITH CENTRAL
STAFF AND SO FORTH. LASTLY, I
JUST WANTED TO NOTE I KNOW WE
DON'T HAVE OAR TODAY RELATED TO
OLYMPIA, BUT I ENGAGING ON THESE
BILLS, SENATE BILL 6002, WHICH
IS AORP. I DID GO DOWN FOR AWC
DAYS AND I ALSO HAD A CALL
MEETING WITH SENATOR TRUDEAU ON
THAT BILL. I WILL NOTE, YOU
KNOW, WITH THE NEW TIME PERIOD
AS IT CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE PLUS
THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE REQUESTS
HOLD, THOSE COMBINATION WITH OUR
BILL WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT
PIECES IN IT REALLY ADDRESSES
ALL THE ELEMENTS AND ALSO
WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
ON MIRRORING WHAT WE'VE DONE
WITH CCTV IN TERMS OF A PAUSE OF
THE PROGRAM IF DESPITE ALL THAT
WE'RE DOING PLUS THESE NEW
PIECES COMING POTENTIALLY OUT OF
WASHINGTON STATE LAW WOULD PUT
US IN GOOD STEAD BUT STILL GIVE
THAT 60-DAY HOLD, SIMILAR TO
WHAT WE HAVE WITH CCTV.
SEPARATELY -- BY THE WAY, I'VE
HAD CALLS WITH SOME MEMBERS OF
OUR SEATTLE DELEGATION,
INCLUDING THIS MORNING ON THAT
BILL, PLUS HOUSE BILL 2526. THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THAT BUILDS
ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
MEETING LAST WEEK, BUT ALSO THE
SUMMIT ON CRIME SURVIVORS ON
THURSDAY THAT WAS HELD IN THE
LANDIS ROOM AND WAS AN
INCREDIBLE ALL DAY EVENT. IT WAS
SOMETHING AND REALLY GOING INTO,
YOU KNOW, THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION AND GREAT PANELS,
GREAT EFFORT, PRIMARILY KING
COUNTY EFFORT, BUT ALSO THE
CITY. CITY ATTORNEY EVANS WAS
THERE ALL DAY. COUNCILMEMBER
BALDUCCI WAS THERE, BUNCH OF
DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THERE AND AS
IT RELATES TO OLYMPIA, HOUSE
BILL 2526, VERY IMPORTANT BILL
THAT WOULD BASICALLY TAKE --
IT'S INTERESTING, YOU KNOW. IF
AN UNDERAGE PERSON IS INVOLVED,
IT'S A FELONY AND THEN THAT
PERSON TURNS 18, NEXT THING YOU
KNOW, IT'S A SIMPLE
MISDEMEANOR, REALLY NOTHING
RELATIVE AND THIS BILL WOULD
BRING THAT BACK UP INTO THE
FELONY, HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS
TO INCLUDE WITH THE PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY MANNION ON THIS AND, OF
COURSE, THE SEATTLE DELEGATION
MEMBERS IN OLYMPIA, SO VERY
IMPORTANT. AND I ALSO SPOKE TO
THEM ABOUT THE ISSUES RELATED TO
ENCAMPMENTS, TOO. I UNDERSTAND
WHY WE NEED THAT BILL, BECAUSE
THE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS IN
THE STATE, PARTICULARLY IN THIS
REGION, ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY
NEED TO DO AS IT RELATES TO
OFFERING SERVICES AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE THAT DO
NOT HAVE SHELTER, BUT WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR EFFORTS
DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE WEB
AND THEN WE ALL OF A SUDDEN FIND
OURSELVES TRIPPING BECAUSE OF
SOMETHING THAT WAS INVOLVED IN
THIS BILL BECAUSE WE'VE DONE A
LOT OF WORK IN THE CITY AND
WE'RE GOING TO DO MORE WORK IN
THE CITY TO INCLUDE WITH MAYOR
WILSON AND HER TEAM, BUT IF THE
LANGUAGE IN THE BILL SORT OF
TRIPS UP OUR EFFORTS HERE, THAT
COULD BE PROBLEMATIC NOT ONLY ON
THE HUMAN SERVICES SIDE, BUT
ALSO ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENGAGE ON
THAT, EITHER VIA AWC, BUT ALSO
DIRECTLY WITH MEMBERS IN
OLYMPIA, SPECIFICALLY THOSE IN
OUR SEATTLE DELEGATION AND THAT
IS IT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. SO I
WILL HAND IT OFF TO MY
COLLEAGUE.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FIRST
BEFORE?
>> ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH NO
QUESTIONS.
>> NO? ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND COLLEAGUES. SO ON
THE TRANSPORTATION, WATERFRONT
AND SEATTLE CENTER, THAT'S THE
FORMAL NAME OF THE COMMITTEE,
STEPS, THE STEPS COMMITTEE
FRONT. THAT'S SAFETY AS IN
TRAFFIC SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION,
ENTERTAINMENT PROJECTS SPORTS
COMMITTEE. WE WILL HAVE OUR
SECOND MEETING THIS COMING
THURSDAY. THE FIRST STEPS
COMMITTEE, AS YOU KNOW, WE
FOCUSED HEAVILY ON TRAFFIC
SAFETY. THAT WAS AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER ONE, VISION ZERO PROGRESS
STATUS NEXT STEPS, IMPEDIMENTS
TO SUCCESS. THIS NEXT STEPS
COMMITTEE WE'RE FOCUSING MORE
ON SORT OF GOVERNANCE AND ADA
COMPLIANCE, ACCESSIBILITY MORE
BROADLY. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRIEFING
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ON THEIR 2026
PROPOSED LEVY DELIVERY PLAN.
EVERY YEAR UNDER THE LEVY THEY
ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A PLAN
AND REPORT ON SIGNIFICANT LEVY
DELIVERABLES FOR THAT YEAR. AS
YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT
RECENTLY TRANSMITTED THAT REPORT
I THINK ON FRIDAY, IF MY MEMORY
SERVES ME CORRECTLY, RECENTLY.
SO GOING TO INVITE THE
DEPARTMENT IN, GIVE THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF SHARE
OUT, REPORT OUT THAT WORK AND IT
WILL BE A TWO-FER FOR ME BECAUSE
IN MY CAPACITY AS A LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBER AS
WELL, I THINK THE DEPARTMENT IS
PRESENTING IN PART ON THAT
DURING THE AGENDA TOMORROW,
DURING TOMORROW'S LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT
IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS GOING ON
AROUND WHAT'S BEING PLANNED AND
TO DELIVER FOR THE LEVY SPENDING
THIS YEAR. GOING TO HEAR MORE
ABOUT IT DURING COMMITTEE. THE
NEXT IMPORTANT TOPIC BROADLY
RELATES TO ACCESSIBILITY AND ADA
COMPLIANCE AND THERE'S A WHOLE
REYNOLDSON CONSENT DECREE WE'LL
LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT AS
WELL AND HOW THAT -- THOSE LEGAL
REQUIREMENTS GOVERN OUR BROADER
ACCESSIBILITY WORK, BUT IT'S
MORE THAN THAT AND THE
DEPARTMENT CARES MORE THAN JUST
MERE LEGAL COMPLIANCE. SO WE'LL
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BROADER
PROGRAM ON THURSDAY. SO EXCITED
FOR THAT. JUST AS AN ASIDE,
COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY DISTRICT
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVEN'T
ALREADY, MAKE SURE YOU GET IN
YOUR PROJECTS AND WORK WITH SDOT
ON THEIR DISTRICT PROJECT FUND.
THE SOFT, THE FIRST BIG SORT OF
SOFT DEADLINE IS COMING UP ON
MARCH 1st THAT WE ESTABLISHED
DURING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THAT
PROJECT, THE LEGISLATION THAT
GOVERNS THAT PROJECT. WE WORKED
WITH THEM HARD TO ESTABLISH AND
THOSE WERE THE MUTUALLY-AGREED
PARAMETERS. SO MARCH 1st, JUST
UNDER A MONTH FROM NOW IS, WHEN
THAT FIRST BIG DEADLINE IS. SO I
ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO WORK WITH
THE DEPARTMENT TO FINALIZE THAT.
AGAIN, THEY HAVE SUGGESTED
PROJECTS THAT DON'T MEET THE
CRITERIA FOR DELIVERY UNDER ONE
OF THE EXISTING MANY DOZENS OF
OTHER PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT'S
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, ET
CETERA, ET CETERA, AND, YOU
KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY ALL HEAR
REGULARLY FROM CONSTITUENTS
ABOUT OTHER NEEDS. SO ANOTHER
OPTION IS KIND OF SELF-SELECTION
OR BOTH OR WHATEVER, YOUR
CHOICE, BUT WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU
TO WORK WITH THEM TO FINALIZE BY
THE MARCH 1st DEADLINE AND
AGAIN, I ALSO MENTIONED UPCOMING
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING
TOMORROW, LOOKING TO PERSONALLY
JOINING THAT AGAIN. LET'S SEE.
ON A MUCH LIGHTER NOTE, HAPPY
BLACK HISTORY MONTH! FEBRUARY
2nd, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE GET
THE SHORTEST MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BUT IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
IMPACTFUL MONTHS AND SO JUST
REALLY IMPORTANT TIME TO HONOR,
CELEBRATE, AND REFLECT UPON THE
MANY TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS OF
BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN
PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND
OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
REALLY CONTRIBUTED SO
MEANINGFULLY AND PROFOUNDLY TO
OUR BROADER SOCIETY. SO HAPPY
BLACK HISTORY MONTH! I'M
EXCITED. THIS YEAR VISITING A
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS WITHIN MY OWN
DISTRICT, SCHOOLS OF ALL SIZES,
INCLUDING PRESCHOOLS, BUT
EXCITED TO LATER THIS WEEK GOING
TO JOIN AN ASSEMBLY AT GENESEE
HILL ELEMENTARY IN WEST SEATTLE
WHERE THEY'VE INVITED ME TO
COME TALK MORE ABOUT BLACK
HISTORY FOR THE STUDENTS AT
GENESEE HILL, SO LOOKING FORWARD
TO THAT. SHOULD ALSO NOTE THIS
MORNING I ATTENDED THE SEATTLE
POLICE CHIEF YEAR IN REVIEW
PRESENTATION TO THE COMMUNITY,
FIRST INITIATIVE, KIND OF A LOOK
BACK AT 2025, WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT WORKED ON AND
ACCOMPLISHED AND KIND OF THE
PATH AHEAD AND SO WAS EXCITED TO
BE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT WITH MANY
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY,
COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ET CETERA.
SAW SOME ELECTED COLLEAGUES
THERE, INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE CHAIR KETTLE, CITY
ATTORNEY EVANS, AND KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR LISA MANNION WERE
THERE AS WELL AS MEMBERS FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUT
ATTENDED THAT MEETING TODAY. I
HAD SOME REALLY PRODUCTIVE
MEETINGS RECENTLY WITH SOME
CONSTITUENTS IN MY COMMUNITY,
INCLUDING THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD
BANK DID A SITE TOUR AND VISIT
LAST WEEK, GREAT TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE HIGHLY IMPACTFUL WORK
THEY DO FIRSTHAND. ALSO HAD A
GREAT CONVERSATION WITH FOLKS
FROM THE TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES
WHICH THEY OPERATE AMONGST OTHER
THINGS A TRANSITIONAL PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SET OF
FACILITIES ON AVALON IN MY
DISTRICT AND SO LEARNED MORE
ABOUT THEIR GREAT WORK
FIRSTHAND. SO WILL NOT GIVE AN
EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL MY
PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS OVER THE
LAST WEEK, BUT ALL THAT'S TO
SAY THAT'S STEPS IN A NUTSHELL
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU ALL TO BRING ALL THE
GREAT THINGS TO LIFE. WELCOME
ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, IF ANY.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. IF WE COULD
GO TO COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, IT
WOULD SEEM LIKE PRETTY EASY TO
GO TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE
UP ON THE SCREEN. SO AWESOME.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COLLEAGUES. ALL RIGHT. IT'S A
HARD DAY. I KNOW WE'RE ALL
COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE
HORRIBLE NEWS FROM THIS WEEKEND.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, TWO TEENAGERS
WHO ARE BELIEVED TO BE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE SHOT
AND KILLED. MY HEART JUST BREAKS
FOR THESE CHILDREN -- NOT ONLY
THESE CHILDREN'S FAMILIES, FOR
OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY
ACROSS THE BOARD. THERE ARE NO
WORDS TO EXPRESS THE LOSS OF A
CHILD AND I JUST SO FEEL FOR
THEIR PARENTS AND FAMILIES. AND
ALL OF THE RAINIER BEACH
COMMUNITY, WHO I KNOW ARE
SUFFERING THIS TOGETHER.
COLLEAGUES, I MEAN WE ALL KNOW
THIS. AS A CITY, WE NEED TO DO
BETTER TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE. AS
YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR SUPPORT I
ADDED 25,000 IN LAST YEAR AND
THIS YEAR'S BUDGETS TO HELP
OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE BEEN
SIGNIFICANTLY SUCCESSFUL LIKE
BALTIMORE IN REDUCING GUN
VIOLENCE IN THEIR CITIES. I'VE
ALREADY STARTED AT THE START OF
THE YEAR -- ACTUALLY AT THE END
OF THE YEAR I STARTED
CONVERSATIONS AND PUTTING
TOGETHER A PROPOSAL FOR WHAT A
SUMMIT WILL LOOK LIKE AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO SHARING THAT PROPOSAL
ONCE WE'RE FURTHER ALONG. AS
YOU CAN SEE, I'M AT A LOSS FOR
WORDS, SO I JUST WILL SAY THAT I
DO -- WE NEED TO NOT JUST GIVE
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. WE
ACTUALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING
AND WHEN I PUT THIS MONEY INTO
THE BUDGET LAST YEAR, IT WAS TO
FIND AND HEAR ABOUT MORE WAYS OF
MORE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN
OUR CITY TO REALLY ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE WHICH HAS IMPACTED ALL OF
US AND AS YOU KNOW, MY OWN
FAMILY PERSONALLY, SO MORE
CONVERSATION ON THAT,
COLLEAGUES. LAST WEEK ON
WEDNESDAY I TOOK A TOUR OF THE
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES FACILITY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WAS IN YOUR
DISTRICT, MET WITH THEM AND HAD
A TOUR OF THEIR FOOD BANK. IT
WAS SO GREAT TO LEARN ABOUT THE
WORK THEY'RE DOING THERE IN
SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WHO HAVE FOOD INSECURITY AND
THOUGH THEY ARE A JEWISH
ORGANIZATION, THAT DOESN'T MEAN
THEY ONLY SERVE JEWISH
COMMUNITY. ON THE CONTRARY, MANY
OF YOU MAY KNOW, A BIG TENET OF
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IS TO DO
GOOD DEEDS AND TO HELP OTHERS IN
NEED. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES WORK
BECAUSE THEIR WORK EXTENDS
BEYOND JEWISH COMMUNITY AND
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND THEY'RE
SEEING MORE AND MORE NEED POSED
WITH THE SNAP BENEFIT REDUCTIONS
FROM LAST YEAR. THEY ARE REALLY
PROVIDING A LOT OF FOOD FOR
FOLKS ACROSS OUR CITY AND SOME
FOLK COME, YOU KNOW, FROM EVEN
THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT UP TO
CAPITOL HILL TO UTILIZE THE FOOD
BANK. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL
THEIR WORK IN THIS SPACE. I ALSO
ATTENDED, AS MANY OF US PROBABLY
DID, KING COUNTY EXECUTIVES
IMMIGRATION ROUNDTABLE. HE HAD
TWO LAST WEEK. I ATTENDED THE
THURSDAY ONE ON THE NORTH END IN
THE D5. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, I
WAS SO HAPPY TO BE IN YOUR
DISTRICT WITH FOLKS THERE. IT
WAS REALLY UPSETTING OBVIOUSLY
TO HEAR ABOUT THE FEAR THAT OUR
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ARE HAVING
TO COPE WITH, ESPECIALLY OUR
KIDS. THERE WERE KIDS THERE
TALKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE.
IT REALLY BREAKS THE HEART. I'M
REALLY APPRECIATIVE TO THE
COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR INCLUDING
US IN THESE CONVERSATIONS AND IN
THESE MEETINGS SO WE CAN ALL
HEAR TOGETHER FROM COMMUNITY. I
REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING WITH
OUR COUNTERPARTS ON THE COUNTY
COUNCIL AND WITH THE EXECUTIVE
IN SUPPORT OF OUR MUTUAL
COMMUNITIES AND I KNOW WE ARE
ALL IN VARIOUS WAYS WORKING WITH
OUR COUNTERPARTS AT THE COUNTY
AND EVEN THE STATE IN TRYING TO
ADDRESS COMMUNITIES' NEEDS IN
ORDER TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES. SO
IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO BE THERE
TO HEAR FROM FOLKS DIRECTLY ON
WHAT THEY NEEDED. A LOT OF WHAT
WE HEARD WAS KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
EDUCATION SO FOLKS ARE WELL
INFORMED AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY
REALLY IMPORTANT AND WHILE WE'RE
OUT WE HAD A PRESENTATION AT OUR
LEND COMMITTEE LAST WEEK FROM
LIRA GIVING UPDATES AS TO THE
WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IN
COMMUNITY AND A LOT OF WHAT
THEY'RE DOING IS KNOW YOUR
RIGHTS EDUCATION AND ALSO LEGAL
DEFENSE. THE CITY'S PROVIDING
DOLLARS, AS YOU KNOW, TO DO
LEGAL DEFENSE TO HELP LEGAL
DEFENSE AND COMMUNITIES. SO BOTH
THOSE EFFORTS I HEARD LOUD AND
CLEAR AGAIN AT THIS MEETING LAST
WEEK, THAT THAT IS NEEDED AND
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY'S
TRYING TO SUPPORT WITH. SO, YOU
KNOW, THAT IS WHAT EVERYONE IS
TOGETHER WORKING ON. I WANT TO
LASTLY SPEAK BRIEFLY ON THE
LEGISLATION I BROUGHT FORTH
THAT'S ON THE I RC TOMORROW AND
THAT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
REFERENCED. I SPOKE WITH MOST OF
YOU ABOUT THE LEGISLATION AND
REALLY APPRECIATED OUR
ENGAGEMENT ON THE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. I KNOW WE'RE ALL
GRAPPLING WITH WHAT THE CITY CAN
AND CAN'T DO LEGALLY RELATED TO
WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S EGREGIOUS
OVERREACH IN OUR CITIES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY. THE LEGISLATION I
OFFERED IS STRAIGHTFORWARD, AS
WE DISCUSSED, AND ALSO VERY
IMPORTANT. IT NOT ONLY CODIFIES
THE STATE LAW UNDER THE KEEP
WASHINGTON WORKING ACT, IT
UPDATES THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE TO CODIFY THE STATE LAW
WHICH RESTRICTS LAW ENFORCEMENT,
COURTS, AND SCHOOLS, FOR
INSTANCE, FROM SHARING PERSONAL
INFORMATION ABSENT EITHER THE
INDIVIDUAL'S OWN REQUEST TO
SHARE THEIR OWN INFORMATION OR A
COURT-ISSUED WARRANT OR OTHER
LEGAL OBLIGATION TO DO SO. THE
LEGISLATION I'M OFFERING ALSO
CLOSES A GAP IN THE CODE AND IN
THAT IT ALSO INCLUDES OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND RESTRICTS OTHER
CITY DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST LAW
ENFORCEMENT OR THE COURTS FROM
PROVIDING PERSONAL INFORMATION
ABSENT, LIKE I SAID, THE
INDIVIDUALS WANTING THAT TO
HAPPEN THEMSELVES OR SOME LEGAL
OBLIGATION TO DO SO. I THINK
UPDATING OUR SMC IS REALLY,
REALLY CRITICAL AND SO THIS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO NOW. THE
LEGISLATION IS CB121158. IT'S
BEEN SHARED WITH YOUR OFFICES
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
SUPPORT WHEN IT COMES BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO
BE, AS COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
SAID, PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THERE'S
MORE I CAN REPORT. OH, I MET
WITH THE D4 COURT. I HAD MY
QUARTERLY MEETING WITH THE D4
COMMUNITY COUNCILS LAST WEEK TO
ALSO HEAR FROM THEM ON THEIR
PRIORITIES AND CONCERNS. SO LIKE
WE ALL HAVE TO REPORT, BUT IN
THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL
LEAVE IT THERE, HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS, CHAT WITH YOU
INDIVIDUALLY IF YOU WANT TO
REACH OUT. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR GOING
INTO THE BILL, WANTED TO -- AND
I APPRECIATE HER DOING THAT AND
THAT IS AGAIN A START OF A
NUMBER OF BILLS THAT WE'LL BE
WORKING THROUGH RELATED TO
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. ALSO ON
THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE I FIRST
EITHER COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA OR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT RELATED TO
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT 4:00 P.M.
AND I JUST WANTED TO NOTE
SADNESS IN THE TRAGEDY THAT WE
SAW FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS THOSE
TWO STUDENTS WERE LOOKING TO
BOARD A BUS. IT IS SUPER
IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COUNCIL
AND ALSO THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE TO WORK THESE ISSUES
UNDERSTANDING SCHOOL SAFETY. WE
HAVE A SEPARATE PIECE WITH THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT. I HAVE HAD
MEETINGS WITH -- A MEETING WITH
THE SUPERINTENDENT NOT THIS PAST
WEEKEND BUT PREVIOUSLY WHERE WE
DID TALK ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
HIM AND DOING WHATEVER I, WE,
CAN DO IN SUPPORT OF WHAT HE'S
DOING. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TAKEN A
LOT OF EFFORTS IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS TO SUPPORT SCHOOL SAFETY.
CLEARLY, MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I SKIPPED OVER THIS, BUT THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, TALKING
ABOUT THE ONE-YEAR REVIEW FROM
CHIEF BARNES THIS MORNING. I'VE
HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS AND SO
FORTH TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC
AND THIS MORNING HE SPOKE TO IT
DIRECTLY. HE SPOKE TO IT IN
RESPONSE TO A QUESTION THAT
GIVEN AS A FORMER TEACHER,
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, AND ALL
THE VARIOUS PIECES, PLUS HIS
EXPERIENCE IN MADISON, HE IS
THERE ALSO TO ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY ENGAGE WITH THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT. I THINK THIS TEAM
EFFORT IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE
CANNOT HAVE BARRIERS. IN THE
PAST I HAVE OFTEN SAID IT'S A
SHAME, BUT WE SEEM TO HAVE TO
HAVE A NEED FOR EXCHANGE
AMBASSADORS IN ORDER TO WORK
WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THOSE
DAYS NEED TO BE LONG PAST AND WE
NEED TO BE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH
THE SUPERINTENDENT AND WORK
THESE CHALLENGES AND DO SO IN A
WAY THAT IS GROUNDED AND FOCUS
ON HOW TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE. SO
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
FOR BRINGING THIS UP IN TERMS OF
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES OF YOUR
COMMUNITY, PLUS THE BILL AND
THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, BECAUSE I
DID NOT SPEAK TO THE ONE-YEAR
REVIEW FROM OUR POLICE CHIEF
THIS MORNING. COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. ARE THERE
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, DID YOU
HAVE A QUESTION?
>> I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT I WAS
NEXT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
SORRY, COLLEAGUES, I COULDN'T
THERE BE IN PERSON. I DID WANT
TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK
CONSTITUENTS DON'T REALIZE THAT
THE NINE OF US CAN'T BE
TOGETHER, SPEAKING TOGETHER IN A
CONVERSATION, UNLESS WE'RE IN
CHAMBERS IN THE PUBLIC. SO I
JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
WE ALL CARE DEEPLY AND EQUALLY
AND ARE ALIGNED ON THE ISSUE OF
GUN VIOLENCE THAT IS PLAGUING
OUR CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR, OF
COURSE, THE CITY IN GENERAL, BUT
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH KIDS AND
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IN
THIS CONTEXT BECAUSE WHILE SOME
OF US MAY TALK ABOUT IT, OTHERS
MAY NOT. WE ARE IN COMMUNITY
TALKING ABOUT THIS AND WE ALL
ARE VERY MUCH ALIGNED AND I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE
PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT, THAT WE ARE
VERY MUCH ALIGNED AND I MEAN, I
CAN YOU THE DAY A STUDENT GOT
SHOT AT INGRAM AND I WENT TO
PICK MY GIRLS UP THE HORROR, BUT
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW IT FEELS
TO BE A PARENT -- I COULD PICK
MY KIDS UP AND TWO KIDS COULD
NOT. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY
KID, THE ONE PARENT WHO WENT TO
PICK UP HER KID, THE WAILING,
THAT DOES NOT LEAVE YOU AND THIS
IS WHY YOU WON'T KNOW HOW MUCH
AND HOW DEEPLY I CARE ABOUT
THIS, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE
DON'T COLLECTIVELY DO. WE DO. I
JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
BECAUSE FOLKS DON'T ALWAYS KNOW
THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE
TO HAVE HAVE TO HAPPEN ONE ON
ONE, BUT THIS IS ALL SOMETHING
THAT WE ALL TOGETHER CARE ABOUT
AND WE'RE TRYING TO WORK
TOGETHER TO SOLVE. SO I JUST
WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, LIKE
I SAID, BECAUSE IT'S HARD FOR
THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AS THEY HEAR
US TALKING, HEARING SOME OF US
ARE IN DIFFERENT FORUMS OR ET
CETERA, THAT WE VERY MUCH ARE
ALIGNED AND THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO --
AND, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT. I AM IN CONSTANT
CONTACT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND THEY ARE VERY MUCH
RESPONSIVE AND I WANTED TO SAY
THAT OUT LOUD AS WELL. SO THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR THE
EXTRA TIME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, LET
ME JUST SAY VERY QUICKLY YEAH, I
WAS AT THE SHOOTING AT INGRAM
RIGHT AFTERWARDS AND SPOKE THERE
TO THE STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE
STUDENTS AT LAKESIDE HIGH
SCHOOL, AND DID THE WALKOUT WITH
ALL THE STUDENTS AND WE MARCHED
TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
AFTER THAT SHOOTING AND MET WITH
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO YEAH,
THOSE OF US THAT HAVE RAISED OUR
CHILDREN, MY CHILDREN WENT TO
NATHAN HALE AND EXSTEIN. ANYWAY,
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
PHONE CALL WHEN I RETURNED FROM
RAINIER BEACH BECAUSE I THINK
THAT'S REAL LEADERSHIP WHEN
PEOPLE GIVE YOU THE COURTESY NOT
ONLY OF A PHONE CALL, BUT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE ALL IN
PAIN AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU
WERE CARRYING AND SO I
APPRECIATE THE CALL TO TELL ME.
YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT WHAT THAT
MEANT. SO FOR THAT, THANK YOU.
ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, SORRY TO
CHANGE THE TONE, HAPPY
GROUNDHOG'S DAY. IT HAS ITS
INDIGENOUS ROOTS, AS YOU KNOW.
THAT'S THE ONLY HOLIDAY I
ACTUALLY REMEMBER, THE CHANGING
OF THE SEASONS. MEANS A LOT TO
ME. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, FOR ALL THE MEMES
SAYING HAPPY GROUNDHOG'S DAY.
WE HAVE TILL END OF BUSINESS DAY
TO WAIT FOR GIFTS, SO I'LL BE
WAITING FOR THOSE. LET ME GET
THROUGH MY COMMUNITY BRIEFING
HERE. SO THE NEXT PARKS AND CITY
LIGHT COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR
FEBRUARY 18th AND I WANT TO
COME BACK TO OUR MEETING THAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN MARCH 18th
REGARDING SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND
SOME LICENSING AND LEGISLATION
THAT CAME TO FRUITION THAT I HAD
A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS MORNING.
I WILL BE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
NEXT WEEK TO ATTEND THE
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WINTER SESSION
OF THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF
AMERICAN INDIANS FOUNDED IN
1944, THE OLDEST AND LARGEST
MOST REPRESENTATIVE AMERICAN
INDIAN ALASKAN NATIVE
ORGANIZATION SERVING THE BROAD
INTERESTS OF OVER 500 TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITIES.
I'VE GONE FOR 23 YEARS AND THE
LAST FIVE YEARS, LESLIE PULNA,
OUR AWESOME LOBBYIST IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. SETS UP OUR
MEETINGS ON THE HILL TO MEET NOT
ONLY WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION AND SENATORS, BUT
PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT. I'LL JUST SAY IT
BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I AM. THE
FIRST TIME MR. TRUMP WAS IN
OFFICE IT WASN'T VERY GOOD
MEETING WITH CERTAIN GROUPS
BECAUSE IT WASN'T PRODUCTIVE.
WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, IT MAY
NOT BE AS PRODUCTIVE THE SECOND
TIME, BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE
WE'LL BE MEETING NOT ONLY WITH
TRIBAL LEADERSHIP AND
INDIGENOUS-LED ORGANIZATIONS,
INCLUDING OUR OWN SEATTLE HEALTH
BOARD, UNITED INDIANS, DAYBREAK
STAR, CHIEF SEATTLE WILL ALL BE
THERE DOING LOBBYING AS WELL.
NCIA MEETS FOUR TIMES A YEAR. I
ONLY GO TO THE FEBRUARY ONE
BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE WHERE
ALL THE LOBBYISTS, LAWYERS, AND
LAWMAKERS ARE AND WHERE OUR TWO
SENATORS, MURRAY AND CANTWELL,
ALWAYS COME TO OUR LUNCHEON, THE
NATIVE WOMEN HONORING LUNCHEON,
AND SPEAK AND WE ALSO HAVE TONS
OF LEADERSHIP NOT JUST FROM OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, BUT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS
ALWAYS NICE. THE ISSUES THAT WE
TOUCH ON AND WORK WITH ON THE
CITY SIDE AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
SIDE AND ON INDIGENOUS-LED
ORGANIZATIONS SIDE IS
APPROPRIATIONS AND BUDGET,
CULTURAL PROTECTION, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE,
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
INTERNATIONAL EFFICACY, LAND AND
NATURAL RESOURCES, LEGAL
GOVERNANCE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND
SOCIAL RESOURCES AND OFTEN I'M
ASKED TO EITHER CHAIR ONE OF
THESE OR SOME OF THESE. SOMEHOW
THE TRIBES STILL THINK I WORK
FOR THEM. ALSO ANOTHER BIG SHOUT
OUT TO LESLIE PULNER. SHE WILL
BE ATTENDING SOME OF OUR
MEETINGS, SETS UP OUR LUNCHEON
AND MEETING WITH OUR DELEGATION.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, AS
I AM EVERY YEAR. WE'RE ALSO
DOING OUR 30th ANNUAL NATIONAL
INDIAN WOMEN'S HONOR LUNCHEON
WHICH I'VE SHARED ORGANIZED BY
OUR OWN JULIA JOHNSON WHO
CHAIRED THE NATIVE AMERICAN
CAUCUS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE
DO SEPARATELY THAT'S NOT
POLITICAL THAT WE HONOR NATIVE
WOMEN WHO ARE LEADERS IN CITY,
STATE AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENT WHO
ARE ELECTED AND DOING OTHER
THINGS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, SENATOR MARIA CANTWELL
WILL SPEAK AND, OF COURSE,
SENATOR CANTWELL AND SENATOR
MURRAY TAKE TURNS KIND OF
EMCEEING OR BEING OUR KEYNOTES
AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN OUT OF
MINNESOTA, WHO IS ALSO A DEAR
FRIEND OF MINE. SHE'LL BE
SPEAKING. SHE'S THERE EVERY
YEAR WITH ME. I'LL BE EMCEEING
THE LUNCHEON WITH COUNCIL TERESA
SHELTON FROM THE . AND THE
TREASURER OF NCI AND ANOTHER
DEAR FRIEND OF MINE, VEREEN
MARTIN, VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR
OF TRIBAL AND CORPORATE
RELATIONS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN
FINANCE OFFERS ASSOCIATION WHICH
I USED TO BE A MEMBER OF AND
CHAIR SINCE 1982. WELL, THAT'S
WHEN IT STARTED. I WASN'T ON IT
IN '82. SHE SERVES AS ADVISORY
MEMBER TO THE AMERICAN INDIAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THAT WAS
RECENTLY CREATED, THE AMERICAN
INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF
OKLAHOMA, ET CETERA. I WANT A
SHOUT OUT TO THESE WOMEN WHO I
WORKED WITH FOR TWO OR THREE
DECADES ARE THE ONES THAT PUSH
THE IRS TO GIVE TRIBES THE SAME
TAX-EXEMPT STATUS AS STATES,
GOVERNMENTS, AND LOCAL
MUNICIPALITIES AND ISSUING
TAX-EXEMPT BONDS FOR ESSENTIAL
GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES. IT WAS IN
THE MAKING FOR 30 YEARS AND
FINALLY HAPPENED UNDER THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION. GETTING BACK TO
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, HAD A
MEETING THIS MORNING, A
BRIEFING, FROM MORA, OUR FRIEND
MORA, AND CRAIG SMITH. SO WE
HAVE A LOT GOING ON. WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE A BIG MEETING
MARCH 18th. LET ME JUST BRIEFLY
GET THROUGH THIS. I KNOW IT'S A
LITTLE WONKY. NUMBER ONE IS THE
LEGISLATION THAT'S HAPPENING
NOW, HOUSE BILL 2515 AND SENATE
BILL 6171 REGARDING DATA CENTERS
AND LARGE BILL LOADS. THAT IS
DATA CENTERS THAT NEED TO START
PAYING FOR THEIR ENERGY COSTS,
ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF A.I. WE
HAVE THAT COMING UP. SINCE WE'RE
MOVING AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS,
MOVING TOWARDS ELECTRICITY,
RATES ARE GOING TO GO UP. WE'LL
HAVE THAT IN COMMITTEE AS MANY
TIMES AS IT TAKES TO GET IT
RIGHT. THE BIG DEAL HERE SINCE
THE '90s IS THE SKAGIT
HYDRORELICENSING. THE DEADLINE
HAS BEEN EXTENDED A FEW TIMES,
SO WE GOT TO GET IT OUT OF THE
COMMITTEE. WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE
TWO MEETINGS. IT'S THE
RELICENSING FOR THE SKAGIT
HYDRODAMS AND THE 2026
INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN KNOWN
ALSO AS THE IRO. OF COURSE, AS
YOU KNOW, IT WILL ADDRESS SOME
OF THE RATE CHANGES. I WANT TO
CHANGE COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WHO
USED TO CHAIR THIS WHO KNOWS ALL
ABOUT THIS STUFF. THIS IS GOING
TO BE VERY EXCITING AND MEETING
WITH MORA AND LEARNING WHAT'S
GOING ON AND CRAIG ON THE
FEDERAL SIDE. THEY ARE WORKING
WITH REPRESENTATIVE LARSON ON
THE BILL TO -- A FEMA REFORM
BILL AND I HAVE A COPY IF ANYONE
IS INCLINED TO LOOK AT IT. YOU
DON'T HAVE TO. SO WE GOT STUFF
GOING ON WITH MAKING THE SWITCH
FROM FOSSIL TO ELECTRIC,
RECOGNIZING THE DATA CENTERS,
NOT JUST A.I. AND WHAT THAT'S
GOING TO DO, BUT RATES, IF YOU
PULL HERE, SOMETHING'S GOING TO
HAPPEN OVER HERE. WE'LL HAVE TO
LOOK AT RATES AND WHAT THAT
MEANS AND WHO'S GOING TO BE
PAYING MORE. I'M REALLY HAPPY
TO HEAR ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL
SIDE THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT AND
OUR GOVERNOR CAME OUT EARLY
JANUARY AND LATER THROUGH A
PROPUBLICA REPORT TO BRING UP
DATA CENTERS NEED TO START
PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE -- THAT
DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. WE JUST
GOT TO UP THOSE COSTS SO IT
DOESN'T GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL
RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYER. DID YOU
HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY?
>> I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO
OFFER ME THAT OPPORTUNITY ON
GROUNDHOG'S DAY.
>> OKAY. I JUST SAW YOU SHAKING
YOUR HEAD. I'M SURE THE JUDGE
CAME OUT IN ME, IS THERE
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY? OKAY.
IT IS AN ISSUE. AREN'T YOU IN
MY COMMITTEE?
>> YES. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN. I
WON'T TAKE UP ANY MORE AIR
TIME, BUT THIS RATES
CONVERSATION THAT YOU'RE HAVING
WITH COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AS LAST
CHAIR, IT'S JUST ONE WE
URGENTLY NEED TO HAVE AND WITH
THE PUBLIC. SO THANK YOU.
>> YEAH. YOU AND I TALKED
OFFLINE ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS. I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AS
WELL. I'M JUST SO EXCITED AND
THRILLED TO DO THIS. SO THAT
BEING SAID, HAPPY GROUNDHOG'S
DAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, AND IT'S GREAT TO HEAR
YOUR EXCITEMENT FOR THAT AND FOR
RATES I KNOW YOU'LL DO A
PHENOMENAL JOB AND WE'RE SO
HAPPY YOU'RE LEADING THAT
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND HAPPY GROUNDHOG'S DAY. I
HOPE MY TEAM IS SCROUNGING UP A
GIFT TO GET TO YOU BY THE END OF
THE DAY. WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN
DO. ON THE NOTE OF HOLIDAYS,
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND I
WILL SAY I'M HAPPY, COLLEAGUES,
I'M WORKING ON THE BLACK
HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION AND I
WANT TO LET YOU KNOW IT'S ON CP
TIME. THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE
ANY PROCLAMATIONS. MANY
COLLEAGUES KNOW, DON'T ASK IN
COMMITTEE. I'LL TELL YOU BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS. IT WILL BE RIGHT
ON TIME. VERY MUCH LOOKING
FORWARD TO DOING THAT AND THANK
YOU, COLLEAGUES FOR GIVING ME
THE HONOR. WHY DON'T I SAY
THINGS I'M EXCITED ABOUT FOR
NOW AND APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. LAST FRIDAY YOU
INVITED ME AND IT WAS AN HONOR
TO ATTEND WITH YOU AT WASHINGTON
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I'M SURE
YOU'LL SPEAK MORE ABOUT THIS,
BUT I WANT TO UPLIFT YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND SAY THANK YOU FOR
MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. FOR FOLKS
WHO DIDN'T SEE IT, THE SEAHAWKS
MADE ALONG WITH SAFEWAY AND
OTHERS MADE A TREMENDOUS GIFT TO
HELP SAVE THE WASHINGTON MIDDLE
SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM. WHAT FOLKS
MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT WAS REALLY
COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S LEADERSHIP.
SO I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU HERE
FOR THAT TODAY. THANK YOU. IT
WAS AN HONOR TO JOIN YOU THERE.
I'M EXCITED BECAUSE I HAVE MY
VOICE BACK. IT'S BEEN A GREAT
FIRST MONTH IN OFFICE HERE. I'VE
HAD LOTS OF GREAT MEETINGS.
COLLEAGUES, I WAS HONORED TO BE
SELECTED AS THE VICE-CHAIR FOR
THE BOARD OF HEALTH. THANK YOU
TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO SIT ON THAT
COMMITTEE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I'M
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK
THERE, PARTICULARLY IN THE
MOMENT THAT WE ARE IN WHERE WE
ARE SEEING CHANGES IN
VACCINATION SCHEDULES AND THINGS
THAT IMPACT CORE PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICES WHERE WE ARE SEEING
PEOPLE LOSE ACCESS TO THEIR
MEDICAID AND MEDICARE AND
THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE IN THE
NEXT FEW YEARS WITH SOME OF THE
RULE CHANGES. PUBLIC HEALTH'S
WORK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SO
I'M HONORED TO HAVE THAT
DESIGNATION AND SERVE THERE WITH
MY COLLEAGUES. I HAVE ALSO BEEN
DOING MEETINGS WITH LOTS OF
FOLKS IN THE HOUSING COMMUNITY.
YOU ASKED, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
ABOUT SOCIAL HOUSING. ON
FEBRUARY 11th WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO HAVING THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER IN TO
COMMITTEE TO DO A BRIEFING.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES
AT THE DEVELOPER. WE'LL TALK
ABOUT THOSE, BUT WE WANT TO BE
BE
ARE DOING THE WORK TO LOOK AT
WHAT FOLKS HAVE ALREADY TOLD US,
AND THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE WE
ARE MAKING GOOD ON THOSE
ACTIONS. THAT RELATES TO THE
LOSS OF THE TWO STUDENTS ON
FRIDAY, WHICH IS DEVASTATING
BEYOND WORDS. YOU KNOW, MY HEART
HAS BEEN VERY HEAVY AS A
NEIGHBOR, AS A MOM AND COMMUNITY
MEMBER, BUT ALSO, REALLY FOCUSED
AS A COUNCILMEMBER. I THINK WE
OWE THAT TO ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. YOU KNOW, SOMETHING
I WANT TO LIFT UP FOR US IF
FOLKS HAVE NOT SEEN IT IS,
CONVERGE MEDIA SHARED AN
INTERVIEW -- I WANT TO SAY IT
WAS A CONVENING FROM 2023 WITH
STUDENTS -- SO AS WE THINK OF
THE MOMENT WE ARE IN NOW, I WANT
TO INVITE COLLEAGUES TO GO BACK
AND WATCH THAT VIDEO IF YOU HAVE
NOT SEEN IT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
LISTENING TO THE THINGS THAT
MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY UPLIFTED
FOR US TO ACT ON, AND THAT WE
ARE USING THAT AS A STARTING
POINT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, THIS WEEK.
I WANT TO START BY RECOGNIZING
YOUR WORK, AND COUNCILMEMBER
LYNN AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS
WELL FOR REALLY RESPONDING TO
COMMUNITY NEED AND SHOWING UP.
COUNCILMEMBER LYNN, I BELIEVE
YOU HELD OFFICE HOURS THIS
WEEKEND. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
SHOWING UP AND COMMUNITY AT A
TIME WERE REALLY NEEDED IT.
FULLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAD
TWO MAJOR INCIDENTS OF GUN
VIOLENCE THIS WEEKEND. ANOTHER
ONE IN PIONEER SQUARE. AND OF
COURSE, THE LOSS OF TWO YOUNG
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING. I AM
HEARTBROKEN AND SHAKEN AND ANGRY
. MY HEART IS WITH THE FAMILIES
IN THE RAINIER BEACH COMMUNITY.
AND OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES
DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS. I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF
YOU AND HOW WE DO RIGHT ON THAT
PROMISE. I WANT TO HONOR THE
WORK THAT, COLLEAGUES, YOU ALL
DID THIS WEEKEND. THANK YOU. TO
THAT POINT, I WILL BE MOVING ON
FOR A COUPLE OF POINTS RELATED
TO COMMITTEE AND CLOSE WITH
OTHER PIECES RELATED TO
COMMUNITY EVENTS. OUR FIRST
MEETING OF THE HUMAN SERVICES,
LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING IS HAPPENING
THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 , AT
9:30 A.M. WE WILL HAVE A
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON THE
WESTLAKE VISION AND PLANNING
RESOLUTION, AS WELL AS A
BRIEFING FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT ON SENIOR AND
DISABILITY SERVICES, AND A
BRIEFING FROM THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS GENERALLY ABOUT
THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN UP TO
FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND
HOPE FOLKS CAN JOIN. LAST WEEK,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CIRCULATED A
MEMO TO REESTABLISH THE FEDERAL
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR THAT .
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, THANK YOU
FOR SERVING AS VICE CHAIR.
COLLEAGUES, I REALLY ROPED HIM
INTO IT. WE WILL BE HAVING OUR
FIRST MEETING ON MARCH 5 . I
KNOW MANY OFFICES ARE WORKING ON
LEGISLATION RELATED TO FEDERAL
RESPONSE I KNOW OUR OFFICE IS
WORKING ON THAT , FIVE DIFFERENT
THINGS RIGHT NOW. COLLEAGUES, I
JUST ASKED IF WE CAN JUST HAVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
HOWEVER MUCH YOU ARE COMFORTABLE
SHARING WILL BE GREAT. JUST WANT
TO RECOGNIZE THAT NOT EVERY
PIECE OF LEGISLATION NEEDS TO
RUN THROUGH FEDERAL COMMITTEE. I
KNOW LAST YEAR WE TOOK UP THE
WELCOMING RESOLUTION COMMITTEE,
BUT WE TOOK UP SEATTLE SHIELD
AND FINANCE. WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, BUT ALSO WERE
CAREFULLY ON COMMITTEE PLANNING.
I KNOW I HAVE BEEN IN
CONVERSATION WITH COMMITTEE
CHAIRS ON SEVERAL PIECES OF
LEGISLATION AND WHERE WE ROUTE
TO. WE KNOW WE WANT TO MOVE
URGENTLY. ASK FOR OPEN
COMMUNICATION SO WE CAN DO THAT
CAREFUL PLANNING WORK AND MAKE
SURE LEGISLATION CAN BE HEARD IN
A TIMELY FASHION. I WANT TO LIFT
UP -- ALSO, HAPPY MONTH. EXCITED
TO BE HEARING YOU WILL BE
BRINGING FORWARD THE
PROCLAMATION. HAPPY GROUNDHOG
DAY, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. YOUR
GIFT IS CHAIRING THE CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE. [ LAUGHTER ] I WANT
TO EXPRESS A LOT OF GRATITUDE TO
YOU. [ LAUGHTER ] I WILL WORK ON
IT. BUT I TRULY WANT TO EXPRESS
ALSO MY GRATITUDE FOR YOU TAKING
ON THAT COMMITTEE. IT IS AN
INCREDIBLE THING THAT WE HAVE,
CITY LIGHT. WE NEED TO DO RIGHT
BY STEWARDING IT WELL FOR THE
SAKE OF RATE REPAIRS ACROSS THE
CITY. A LOT FACING UTILITY. JUST
OVER THE PAST YEAR, THINGS HAVE
BEEN HEADING IN A BETTER PLACE,
BUT THINGS ARE STILL FRAGILE.
WISHING BEST OF LUCK. I WISH I
WAS ON THE COMMITTEE AT LEAST
THIS YEAR, --
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO
DO. THANK YOU FOR SHEPHERDING
THE UTILITY DURING THIS TIME. I
WILL CLOSE WITH A COUPLE OF
EXTERNAL EVENTS. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I JOINED LAST MONDAY
AT HORIZON HOUSE FOR THEIR
GROUNDBREAKING. JUST REALLY
EXCITING TO SEE DEVELOPMENT
HAPPENING IN FIRST HILL AREA. I
CAN'T RECALL OFF THE TOP OF MY
HEAD HOW MANY FLOORS THERE IS
GOING TO BE IN THE NEW BUILDING.
IT IS SOMETHING TALL.
>> OVER 30.
>> OVER 30 FLOORS. REALLY
EXCITING TO SEE MORE SENIOR
HOUSING COMING INTO THE CITY. IT
MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE WHEN
TALKING ABOUT KEEPING FAMILIES
TOGETHER. IF YOU CAN BE NEARBY
TO BE ABLE TO GO VISIT YOUR
FOLKS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
LASTLY, I WANTED TO TOUCH ON AN
EVENT I WENT TO CALL TO THE ARTS
TO ASHES PERFORMANCE TO HONOR
INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST
REMEMBRANCE DAY AND THE
LIBERALIZATION -- LIBERATION OF
AUSCHWITZ. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
THE THEMES OF THE PERFORMANCE
CERTAINLY RESONATED WITH WHAT WE
ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY WHEN
TALKING ABOUT DISCRIMINATION,
RACISM, CONCENTRATION CAMPS, AND
GENOCIDE. AND SO, I JUST WANT TO
LIFT UP THAT THERE IS A LOT OF
INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY EVENTS
HAPPENING. ART CONTINUES TO BE A
POWERFUL VEHICLE FOR REALLY
CONVEYING A MESSAGE, BUT ALSO
KIND OF DRAWING IN TIME TOGETHER
OUR HISTORY. I WANTED TO
RECOGNIZE THAT AND ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO GO TO THINGS AT
HAUL. WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE ARTS
COMMUNITY. WITH THAT, THOSE ARE
MY UPDATES FOR TODAY. HAPPY TO
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? AWESOME.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
START OFF BRIEFLY , LAND USE
COMMITTEE MEETING THIS WEEK. IT
IS GOING TO BE ON THE STATE
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
THRESHOLDS. SO LOOK FORWARD TO
HAVING THAT DISCUSSION . THIS
COMING SATURDAY THERE WILL BE A
CHINESE EXPULSION REMEMBRANCE OF
MARCH. IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, BACK
IN THE LATE 1800s, THERE WAS A
LOT OF MOB ACTIVITY WHERE
CHINESE COMMUNITIES WERE BEING
ATTACKED AND DRIVEN OUT OF
PLACES IN L.A., SAN FRANCISCO,
TACOMA AND SEATTLE. THERE WILL
BE A REMEMBRANCE MARCH STARTING
AROUND 10:00. I WILL BE
ATTENDING THAT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, FOR
TALKING ABOUT THE COALITION. I
THINK IT WAS DEVASTATING TO WALK
OUT OF THAT MEETING . IT WAS
BOTH SORT OF A REMINDER OF THE
LACK OF INVESTMENT THAT THE FOUR
CHOICES WE HAVE MADE TO CERTAIN
COMMUNITIES AND THE HARM THAT IS
HAPPENED, AND THEN TO WALK OUT
OF THAT MEETING GETTING ALERTS
ABOUT THE SHOOTING JUST A FEW
BLOCKS AWAY. JUST WANT TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE FRIDAY, THE EVENTS OF
THIS WEEKEND, THIS COMING WEEK.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
FOR BEING THERE FRIDAY, AND FOR
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER FOR BEING
THERE. AND OTHERS THAT SHOWED UP
. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SHOWED UP
. ONE OF THE MOMS WAS NOT IN THE
AREA AND NEEDED A FLIGHT, AND
THEY WERE GETTING HER A FLIGHT
IMMEDIATELY. THE MAYOR WAS ON
THE PLANE , AND THE FIRST THING
SHE DID WHEN SHE GOT OFF THE
PLANE WAS TO SHOW UP. I THINK
THAT WAS MEANINGFUL.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU TALKED
ABOUT HEARING A MOM . I WILL
NEVER FORGET HEARING A MOM , THE
GRIEF . I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYTHING
WORSE IN LIFE THAN LOSING YOUR
CHILD THAT WAY. I WILL NEVER
FORGET HEARING THAT GRIEF . AND
SO, IT IS PAINFUL, NOT ONLY
BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BUT ALSO
BLACK LIVES MATTER AT SCHOOLS
WEEK. NOT ONLY THE PAIN FOR THE
MOMS AND THE FAMILIES, BUT ON
SATURDAY THERE WAS A VIGIL
THERE. THE -- THERE WERE SO MANY
YOUTH THERE THAT THE PAIN IN
THEIR FACES, -- JUST THE FEAR ,
THE GRIEF -- YOU KNOW. TWO
RAINIER BEACH HIGH SCHOOL
SENIORS. WHAT THEY ARE DEALING
WITH IN THAT COMMUNITY. I DO
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION
GROUPS AND NONPROFITS WHO SPRING
INTO ACTION IN THESE TYPES OF
EVENTS. THEY WORK WITH THESE
KIDS INTO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO
SUPPORT THEM . THEY ARE DEEPLY
HURT THEMSELVES, BUT THEY HAVE
TO PUT THEIR EMOTIONS ASIDE SO
THEY CAN SPRING INTO SUPPORT TO
DO WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP KIDS
GRIEVE, AND ALSO TO PREVENT
FURTHER VIOLENCE . THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT . WE WERE
THERE AT RAINIER BEACH THIS
MORNING. ALL THE STAFF FROM ALL
THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS. THERE
ARE A NUMBER SCHOOLS THERE.
SOUTH SHORE K-8, DUNLAP. THEY
WERE ALL AT RAINIER BEACH THIS
MORNING TO PROVIDE SOME SPACE
FOR ALL THE EDUCATORS WHO,
AGAIN, SIMILARLY KNOW THE
STUDENTS, WORK WITH THEM, CARE
ABOUT THEM DEEPLY, OR IMPACTED,
AND YET, THEY HAVE TO THEN ALSO
SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS. YOU
KNOW, THERE WAS A DELAYED START.
YEAH, THIS IS TOUGH. I ALSO JUST
THINK ABOUT ONE OF THE MOMS WHO
LOST HER SON HAD ALSO LOST HER
OWN MOTHER FROM GUN VIOLENCE. I
JUST THINK ABOUT THE
INTERGENERATIONAL VIOLENCE , OR
INTERGENERATIONAL IMPACT OF THE
VIOLENCE, RATHER . I THINK ABOUT
THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS BEEN
INFLICTED UPON OUR BLACK
COMMUNITY FOR CENTURIES , AND
THE TOLL THAT HAS TAKEN , YOU
KNOW, THAT HAS BEEN PERPETUATED
OR CONDONED BY GOVERNMENT, BY
OUR COMMUNITIES. IT IS JUST
DEVASTATING FOR THIS TO CONTINUE
. FOR COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU
TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR BETTER
COLLABORATION, COORDINATION. IT
IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT WE
DO BETTER AS A CITY , THAT WE DO
BETTER AS A COMMUNITY. THAT WE
WORK WITH OUR SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. I DO THINK THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY HERE WITH A NEW
SUPERINTENDENT. THERE IS STRONG
INTEREST IN THE SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO -- AND
I MET WITH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
EARLIER LAST WEEK WHO WANT TO
HAVE MORE REGULAR MEETINGS WITH
US TO COLLABORATE WITH SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PARKS AND
OUR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
NONPROFITS, HOUSING PROVIDERS,
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND
MANY OTHER HOUSING PROVIDERS WHO
WORK WITH OUR YOUTH. IT IS GOING
TO TAKE ALL OF US COMING
TOGETHER TO HELP OUR YOUTH HEAL
, TO PREVENT THE NEXT TRAGEDY .
I WILL JUST SAY ONE LESS POINT.
I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO WORK
WITH OUR , SOME OF OUR
BUSINESSES. SOME OF OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA COMPANIES WHO, YOU KNOW,
OFTENTIMES THERE CAN BE SOME
ESCALATION THAT OCCURS ON SOCIAL
MEDIA. THERE HAS BEEN AN EFFORT
-- I HEARD FROM THE PRINCIPAL
TODAY WHO WAS TELLING HER KIDS,
HER STUDENTS, TO GET OFF SOCIAL
MEDIA BECAUSE OF THE TRAUMA IT
CAN FURTHER . I THINK WE NEED TO
WORK WITH THEM AS WELL ON THE
REAL MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS THAT
HAVE CONTINUED TO WORSEN . JUST
ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO WORK
WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
TO -- THERE IS NOTHING MORE
IMPORTANT THAN OUR KIDS, SAFETY.
WE OWE IT TO THEM TO DO
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER . AND
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU ON
THAT. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. ANY QUESTIONS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT --
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
I KNOW IT IS YOUR DISTRICT. AND
SO, IT WAS A HARD WEEKEND FOR
YOU PERSONALLY. THANK YOU FOR
BEING THERE WITH THEIR
CONSTITUENTS . I ALWAYS SAY I
REPRESENT ONE AREA OF THE CITY,
BUT WE ALL REPRESENT THE ENTIRE
CITY. I CARE ABOUT THE ENTIRE
CITY. THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE ABOUT
WORKING TOGETHER. I WILL SAY THE
IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA SHOULD
NOT BE DOWNPLAYED . I KNOW THAT
THE SCHOOLS DO IN SOME
CLASSROOMS -- KIDS HAVE TO PUT
THEIR PHONES AWAY SO THEY CAN
LEARN, BUT THIS IS BEYOND JUST
THE SCHOOLS. THIS IS -- I DON'T
KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER --
AND I KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
BILLS IN OLYMPIA RELATED TO A.I.
AND KIDS. SO WE NEED TO SUPPORT
THOSE EFFORTS AS WELL. MAKING
SURE WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO
SUPPORT KIDS , GET OFF SOCIAL
MEDIA, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WHEN
THEY ARE AT SCHOOL, BUT JUST IN
GENERAL. BECAUSE I DO THINK IT
IS HAVING -- WELL, STUDIES SHOW
IT HAS A HUGE IMPACT. THANK YOU
FOR UPLIFTING THAT AND THANK YOU
FOR BEING THERE WITH COMMUNITY
THIS WEEKEND IS WHAT I WANTED TO
SAY. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT IS
IMPACTING ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS .
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE HAD GUN
VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS AND AROUND
SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY .
RAINIER BEACH HAS BEEN
PARTICULARLY HARD HIT FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS. I DO JUST WANT TO
SAY ONE MORE THING. THERE HAS
BEEN A CALL FROM THE COMMUNITY
FOR TO SHOW UP AFTER DISMISSAL.
FROM APPROXIMATELY 3:30 TO 5:00
DOWN A REINDEER AND HENDERSON.
WE WILL BE THERE ALL WEEK. WE
WILL BE DOWN THERE AS MUCH AS WE
CAN. BUT JUST TO SHOW SOME LOVE
FOR THIS COMMUNITY . THEY REALLY
NEED IT. SO THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. NOT TRYING TO
SWITCH SUBJECTS, BECAUSE I WILL
TALK ABOUT THAT , BUT I WILL GET
THROUGH SOME OF MY ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. FIRST OFF, HAPPY
GROUNDHOG DAY . I DON'T HAVE A
GIFT FOR YOU. JUST BEING HONEST.
SORRY. EVERYONE WENT AROUND THE
TABLE, AND NO ONE SAID GO HAWKS.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
OKAY? THIS IS OUR LAST MONDAY
BRIEFING BEFORE SUPER BOWL
SUNDAY. JUST WANTED TO SAY IT. I
WILL SAY IT FOR ALL OF US, OKAY?
GO HAWKS. VERY EXCITED ABOUT
BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, FOR TAKING
THAT ON. I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA DID ONE . I THINK WE DID
ONE TOGETHER. COUNCIL MEMBER
SOLOMON. IT'S A TRADITION THAT
THE BLACK COUNCIL MEMBERS PASS
THE TORCH. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL
FOR YOU TO TAKE THAT ON. IT HAS
BEEN 100 YEARS CELEBRATING BLACK
HISTORY MONTH. AWESOME. AND I DO
WANT TO SAY, DURING THIS TIME,
THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON
IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. A LOT
OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW A LOT OF
ERASURE IS HAPPENING FOR BLACK
COMMUNITIES AND BLACK HISTORY
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHETHER
IN PHILADELPHIA, MUSEUMS, TAKING
NAMES DOWN, PARKS. ALL THESE
DIFFERENT THINGS. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING
AND PRESERVING THAT IS THE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER,
FOR TAKING THAT ON. ONE THING
ABOUT GOING LAST, WHICH IS
GREAT, IS THAT AN EVENT THAT I
WENT WITH YOU AT THAT I FORGOT
ABOUT YOU ALL HAVE HIGHLIGHTED.
SO THANK YOU. I WILL JUMP INTO
OUR GOVERNANCE, UTILITIES
MEETING WILL BE THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 12. THAT WILL BE AT
9:30. WE ARE NOT FINISHED WITH
THE AGENDA, BUT WE WILL HAVE
ITEMS FROM SPU AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY AS WELL. WE ARE STILL
GREAT -- STILL FIGURING THAT
PIECE OUT. WE ALSO HAVE THE
ORIGINAL WATER QUALITY
COMMITTEE. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
I AM SORRY YOU'RE NOT ON THAT
COMMITTEE WITH ME ANYMORE. VERY
SAD. BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A NEW
MEMBER, COUNCILMEMBER LIN, WILL
BE JOINING US. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. WE DID THE WORK PLAN
AGENDA FOR THE FIRST MEETING.
PHENOMENAL. AND THEN, LAST BUT
NOT LEAST, TWO THINGS . THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, FOR
JOINING US FOR SAVE THE MUSIC
FOR WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
YOU AND DIRECTOR SONG, FABULOUS.
A GREAT START. GREAT ENDING --
GREAT START TO THE FRIDAY. OKAY.
I WILL JUST SAY THAT. THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING THERE. ALSO,
HORIZON HOUSE, WHICH WAS GREAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
FOR JOINING US. THAT WAS
PHENOMENAL. WE HAD A TON OF
PEOPLE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AND
I KNOW JUST BIG -- I KNOW THAT
WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE
TEACHERS, EDUCATORS AT RAINIER
BEACH HIGH SCHOOL. BUT BIG THANK
YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER LIN. YOU
WERE EVERYWHERE. SO DIALED IN. I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, THAT
IS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. MY PARENTS
LIVE RIGHT UP THE STREET. I KNOW
OF TON OF PEOPLE IN RAINIER
BEACH. I KNOW THAT WE ALL --
THIS IS A NONPARTISAN ISSUE
TALKING ABOUT KIDS, OUR BABIES,
MAKING SURE THEY ARE SAFE. IT IS
VERY TRAUMATIC . I WILL SAY
THIS. SEATTLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN
THE TALE OF TWO CITIES. IT HAS
BEEN THE TALE OF TWO CITIES
WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DO
NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON
IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. THERE
ARE KIDS WHO HAVE NOT LEFT
RAINIER AND HENDERSON AND THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT. THAT IS ALL
THEY KNOW. THE OTHER ADDRESS
THEY KNOW IS THE KING COUNTY
JAIL ACROSS THE STREET. THAT IS
THE OTHER ADDRESS THEY KNOW. SO
UNDERSTANDING THAT SEATTLE HAS
BEEN THE TALE OF TWO CITIES. WE
NEED TO LISTEN. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THAT WE NEED TO
LISTEN FOR BUT THESE COMMUNITIES
HAVE ASKED FOR. THEY SAID IT TWO
YEARS AGO, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY
AGAIN, THEY SAID IT THIS MORNING
WHEN WE WERE WALKING THE HALLS
AND TALKING TO THEM. THEY SAID
IT AGAIN. WE JUST NEED TO
IMPLEMENT THAT AND MAKE SURE THE
RESOURCES ARE THERE AND WE PAY
ATTENTION. THE UNDERINVESTMENT
WE HAVE DONE IN RAINIER BEACH,
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF A
BLACK FAMILY $55,000. THAT IS
THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH THING. I
APPRECIATE YOU ALL -- ALWAYS,
COLLEAGUES, LISTENING TO THAT
AND UPLIFTING THAT AN TRYING TO
SHIFT RESOURCES SO WE CAN MAKE
SURE THAT COMMUNITIES ARE WELL
RESOURCED. LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
WHAT I WILL DO, BECAUSE I
BELIEVE THAT IF KIDS KNEW THEIR
HISTORY , IT WOULD REVEAL THEIR
POTENTIAL GREATNESS. SO FOR
BLACK HISTORY MONTH, ONCE A
WEEK, I AM GOING TO HIGHLIGHT AN
AMAZING PERSON WITHIN -- WITH AN
ARTIFACT. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
AND IS THAT OF SEE MY
COLLECTION. THEY HAVE NOT SEEING
ALL OF IT, BUT THEY HAVE SEE MY
COLLECTION. I'M GOING TO BRING
AN ITEM ONCE A WEEK AND
HIGHLIGHT IT. HOPEFULLY -- IT
WILL ONLY BE ONE MINUTE OF BLACK
HISTORY MONTH ARTIFACTS. WEEK
ONE WILL BE ALTHEA GIBSON
MAGAZINE. WE WILL TALK ABOUT
HER. THE SECOND ONE WILL BE A
BOOK FROM THE 1800s. BOOKER T.
WASHINGTON, HIS FIRST BOOK. I
HAVE THE FIRST EDITION. THIRD
ONE WILL BE MARIAN ANDERSON. SHE
WAS ON THE COVER IN 1950. FIRST
BLACK WOMAN ON THE FRONT OF A
COVER. I ALSO HAVE A SIGNED
AUTOGRAPH THING FROM HER. YOU
WILL ALL SEE THAT. WE ARE GOING
TO TALK ABOUT THIS SO THE KIDS
CAN KIND OF SEE IT. WE WILL CUT
IT. IF THEY KNEW THEIR HISTORY,
BUILD THEIR POTENTIAL GREATNESS.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, FOR THE
FOURTH WEEK, A BOOK FROM THE
1800s FROM PAUL LAWRENCE DUNBAR,
A POET. I DO HAVE SOMETHING FROM
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM. I CAN BRING
THAT AS WELL. WE CAN DO A DOUBLE
ONE ON WEEK FOR -- FOUR.
>> I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU
ALL GET A MONTH, WE HAVE ONE
DAY.
>> I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT .
>> YOU GET A DAY, BUT YOU HAD TO
MAKE THAT DAY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
EMERITUS JUAREZ.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, WE CAN DO
IT THE WHOLE YEAR. THIS IS
INTEGRATED NATIVE AMERICAN
HERITAGE PRIDE. THIS IS YOUR
LAND. WE ARE ON IT. WE WILL DO
THAT. ANY WHO, COLLEAGUES, THAT
WILL BE MY CONTRIBUTION FOR THIS
MONTH. I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE
YOUNG PEOPLE IN RAINIER BEACH
THAT WE ARE LISTENING, AND WE
HEAR YOU . ALL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES. I KNOW EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF YOU. EVERY SINGLE
COLLEAGUE HERE. I KNOW YOUR
HEART. YOU HAVE ALWAYS, EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU, TALKED ABOUT
MAKING SURE OUR KIDS ARE SAFE,
AND MAKING SURE THEY CAN BE ABLE
TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR CITY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THE COUNCIL IS
DEDICATED TO . ADMINISTRATORS, I
KNOW THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE
TEACHERS, LITERALLY, EVERYONE.
THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TO FIGURE
THIS OUT, BECAUSE WE SHOULD NOT
BE USED TO THIS. THEY SHOULD NOT
BE NORMAL LIVES FOR OUR KIDS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALSO BRING UP
THE SOCIAL MEDIA PIECE AS WELL.
HOW I SEE A COMMENT AND AM ABLE
TO PROCESS IT IS VERY DIFFERENT
THAN A 12 AND 13-YEAR-OLD. VERY
DIFFERENT. JUST UNDERSTANDING
THAT PEACE AND MAKING SURE WE
CAN HAVE THE RESOURCES ON THE
GROUND TO THE COMMUNITY FOLKS
ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK AND MAKE
SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE. WITH THAT,
I WILL STOP. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
PER
>> THANK YOU, MADAME COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WANTED TO COMMENT
ON THE RAINIER BEACH MURDERS . I
WANTED TO GIVE DUE DEFERENCE TO
THE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THE
DISTRICT . ARCHER THE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE AS WELL, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. BUT IT JUST SO HAPPENED
THAT THIS TRAGEDY HAPPENED IN
COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, BUT IT IS
CERTAINLY CAPABLE OF REPETITION
ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS OUTSIDE OF
INCORPORATED SEATTLE BOUNDARY
LINES, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF IT.
IT TRAGICALLY HAS . WE NEED TO
DO BETTER . I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
WHAT IT IS LIKE AS A PARENT OF
MY OWN THREE YOUNG KIDS ,
IMAGINE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO KNOW
I AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY
GOOD NIGHT TO MY KIDS ANYMORE
AND LIVE THROUGH THE PAIN AND
ANGUISH OF DEALING WITH A LOSS,
OF NOT JUST A LOVED ONE, BUT A
CHILD. SO WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
I ALSO WANT TO APPLAUD THE
LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS '
LIN, FOSTER, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
FOR SHOWING UP . THAT IS A
CRITICAL FIRST STEP . YOU KNOW,
I THINK WE ARE ALL ALIGNED ON
DOING BETTER AND DOING MORE AS A
CITY . AS A REGION, BECAUSE WE
NEED TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTIONS.
BUT IF WE ARE THE ONLY ONES
DOING IT , AND THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT DOESN'T TAKE PARALLEL
ACTIONS IN THE COUNTY AND STATE
AND THE FEDS, THEN YOU KNOW, OUR
COLLECTIVE VALUE AND IMPACT WILL
BE SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED AND
CONSTRAINED. THIS HAS BEEN
WEIGHING HEAVILY ON ME AS WELL.
I WILL NEVER FORGET LOSING A
INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT THE VERY FIRST MONTH OF
MY FIRST TERM IN OFFICE IN
JANUARY . AND SO, I HAVE
LEVERAGED COMMUNITY INSIGHT AND
FEEDBACK INTO VARIOUS POLICY
THINGS AND APPROACHES I'VE
TAKEN, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY
THE FALL BUDGET PROCESS.
COMMUNITY WAS ASKING FOR MORE
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING THROUGH
PARKS. SO WE HAD $250,000 FOR
THAT. I KNOW WHERE ALL COMMITTED
TO THIS WORK, BUT I DO WANT TO
APPLAUD THE LEADERSHIP OF MY
COLLEAGUES FOR SHOWING UP.
SECOND THING , AS COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK NOTED, THERE WAS ACTUALLY
MULTIPLE HOMICIDES IN THE CITY
OVER THE WEEKEND, TRAGICALLY,
INCLUDING ONE IN MY KIT DISTRICT
IN PIONEER SQUARE. IN A PARKING
GARAGE, ONE PERSON KILLED.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHOT. THE IRONY
HERE IS THAT ME AND MY OFFICES
HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY ENGAGED ON
THIS SPECIFIC SITE. IT IS A
KNOWN PROBLEM SITE. THE PARKING
GARAGE. THE ALLIANCE FOR PRATER
SQUARE, WHICH IS THE IN PIONEER
SQUARE ALONG WITH THE RESIDENTS
IN PIONEER SQUARE CONSISTENTLY
ELEVATED THIS ONE SITE AS A
KNOWN PROBLEM AREA. I HAVE HAD
MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT PARTNERS,
INCLUDING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT
I AM HOPING THAT HOPEFUL THAT WE
CAN DO MORE AS A CITY TO TAKE
STRONGER ACTION. THIS WAS
ANOTHER PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY. IN
ANY EVENT, ON A SIGNIFICANTLY
LIGHTER NOTE, HAPPY GROUNDHOG
DAY. I AM TOLD THAT EXCITON HE
FELL , IS THAT THE NAME? HE SAW
HIS SHADOW.
>> WE DON'T RECOGNIZE -- HAS
GOT TO GO.
>> HE DID SEE HIS SHADOW.
>> I DON'T CARE WHAT HE SAW.
THAT'S NOT HOW WE DO. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THERE IT IS. IT IS GROUNDHOG
DAY. THAT IS ALL. TEAM EFFORT
WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON. ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> LASTING. RECOGNIZING THAT
MASLOW TOOK HIS HIERARCHY OF
NEEDS AND STOLEN FROM THE
BLACKFEET NATION. THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU,
COUNCI