>> AWESOME. GOOD AFTERNOON. THE
JANUARY 20th, 2026 MEETING OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS TO: 02. I
AM JOY HOLLINGSWORTH, I AM YOUR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> HERE.
>> I THINK THAT WAS -- CAN YOU
RESTART THE ROLLCALL, PLEASE?
>> I WILL START IT AGAIN.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> SIX PRESENT.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ WILL BE EXCUSED FROM
TODAY'S MEETING. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
IS EXCUSED. JUST AS A REMINDER,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ARE
EXCUSED, AS WELL. THERE ARE NO
PRESENTATIONS TODAY, AND
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME, WE ARE
GOING TO OPEN UP THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC
COMMENT IS LIMITED TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA OR WHATEVER IS
IN THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNCIL,
AS WELL. SO, WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO HEARING OUR COMMENTS.
CLERK, HOW MANY DO WE HAVE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> 17 IN PERSON, TWO REMOTE.
>> AWESOME, EVERYONE WILL GET
TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK A PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AND CLERK, WILL
YOU PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS LEFT IN
THEIR TIME, SPEAKERS' MICS WILL
BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END
THEIR COMMENTS IN THE ALLOTTED
TIME, TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER. WE WILL NOW BEGIN
WITH OUR IN PERSON COMMENTERS.
>> AWESOME, I AM GOING TO READ
THEM IN THREES, SO PLEASE MAKE
YOUR WAY UP TO THE FRONT. WE
HAVE WENDY, NEXT WE HAVE ALEX,
OR, -- YEAH, IT'S ALEX. AND
NEXT, WE HAVE YVETTE DINESH.
WELCOME, WENDY.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. IS THIS
ON? YEAH. REALLY CLOSE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS WENDY
WEICHERT, I AM AN INSTANT
MANAGER FOR PUBLIC SERVICES SOTO
RIB MANAGING MANAGER. THE CITIES
RECYCLABLES PROCESSING RFP AWARD
FAILS THE TEST OF FAIRNESS,
OPERATIONAL LOGIC, AND BEST
VALUE FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
LAST SUMMER, REPUBLIC SERVICES
SUBMITTED A BID TO PROCESS UP TO
200% OF THE CITIES VOLUME WHILE
THE ONLY OTHER BIDDER OFFERED TO
TAKE ONLY 50%. FOR THE CITY TO
NOW ENGAGE IN CONTRACT WAR WITH
A VENDOR THAT ONLY BID ON HALF
IS A CLASSIC BAIT AND SWITCH. IT
IS NOT ONLY AN UNFAIR
COMPETITIVE PROCESS, WE BELIEVE
IT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE GOVERNING
FAIR COMPETITION. THIS ISN'T
JUST A PROCESS DISPUTE, IT IS
ALSO ABOUT THE POCKETBOOKS OF
SEATTLE RESIDENTS. YOUR
CONSTITUENTS ARE ALREADY FACING
UNPRECEDENTED AFFORDABILITY
CHALLENGES AND RATE INCREASES ON
EVERY SERVICE AND PRODUCTS THEY
BUY. WITHOUT YOUR INTERVENTION,
THIS UNFAIR RFP OUTCOME WILL
UNDOUBTEDLY RESULT IN US PAYING
MORE FOR RECYCLING, TOO. OUR BIG
PROTEST IS ALSO ABOUT THE 100
JOBS AT SOUTH SEATTLE FACILITY
THAT ARE NOW UNCERTAIN. BY
FAILING TO KEEP ANY RECYCLING
PROCESSING IN SOTO, THE CITY IS
DIRECTLY JEOPARDIZING
HIGH-QUALITY UNION JOBS AND 60
FIRM EMPLOYEE POSITIONS. THESE
FRONT-LINE WORKERS' LIVELIHOODS
ARE AT RISK, ONCE THIS WORK
MOVES OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE CITY
LIMITS. I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK
YOU TO HONOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO
LABOR BY PROTECTING THESE
EMPLOYEES, WHO WORK SEATTLE JOBS
TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES. ON
BEHALF OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND
SEATTLE RESIDENTS, PUBLIC
SERVICES ENCOURAGE YOU TO
RECONSIDER AN EFFICIENT
RECYCLING RFP PROCESS AND CHOOSE
THE PATH THAT PROTECTS LOCAL
LIVELIHOODS, HONORS FAIR BIDDING
PRACTICES, AND MAINTAINS OUR
LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP THE CITY
HAS RELIED ON FOR OVER THREE
DECADES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU, WENDY. NEXT, WE
HAVE ALEX, FOLLOWED BY YVETTE
DINESH.
>> ALEX TSIMERMAN, DON'T FORGET
I HAVE A LAST NAME, TOO.
>> THANK YOU, MR. TSIMERMAN.
>> MY NAME IS ALEXANDER
TSIMERMAN AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO
YOU GUYS BECAUSE YOU MAKE ME
SICK. YOU DON'T DO NOTHING
ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A
COMPLICATED PROBLEM YOU FIX AND
I WILL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES. RELIGION, WHY ARE WE
NOT DOING THIS? DON'T DO THIS,
TERRIBLE TIME. NUMBER TWO, 10
YEARS AGO, GONZALES, [ INAUDIBLE
] AND YOU PUT THIS RULE INSIDE,
HOW YOU CAN SPEAK IN PUBLIC
MEETINGS. ALEX TSIMERMAN,
BECAUSE I AM A JEW. WHAT IS
THIS? ANOTHER POINT, THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. [ INAUDIBLE
] RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY
ZERO, AND THIS IS BECAUSE -- [
INAUDIBLE ] IT'S STILL ONLY $10
MILLION. IT IS A POOR PEOPLE'S
UNION PROJECT. YOU, FOR EXAMPLE,
STEEL $100 BILLION IN LAST WEEK,
ANOTHER $35 BILLION. SO, IT IS
ON THE COMPARABLE TO YOU. YOU
NICE PEOPLE, DON'T PUT $10
BILLION STOLEN. GOOD! [ LAUGHTER
] I NEED HOUSING RIGHT NOW. I AM
SENIOR CITIZEN FOR MANY YEARS.
IN SEATTLE, HOUSING AUTHORITY
KICKS OFF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE HAVE AN APARTMENT, WE
PAID 2000 FOR EACH, AND THEY
NEVER HAVE A DOCUMENT. OH, GUYS,
IT'S A NIGHTMARE. TWO MINUTES?
VIVA AMERICAN REVOLUTION. STAND
UP --
>> THANK YOU, MR. TSIMERMAN.
NEXT, WE HAVE MS. YVETTE DINESH,
FOLLOWED BY ZELLA, AND IF I AM
NOT READING YOUR LAST NAME, I
CAN'T READ YOUR HANDWRITING, SO
I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T MIND NOT
TO READ YOUR LAST NAME. YVETTE
DINESH, ZELLA, THEN JEFF BARRY.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE
FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR
WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL. I JUST CAME
BACK FROM MY FIRST EVER KING
COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING. IT WAS
RATHER INTERESTING. I WANT TO
THANK THEM FOR THE SMALL GRANT I
GOT IN DECEMBER, SPENT IN TWO
WEEKS, BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY
HELPFUL. I ALSO NOTICED UNDER
THE RULES OF CONDUCT THAT
DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IS STILL
NOT TOLERATED, JUST FYI. ALSO,
REGARDING THE HOMELESS
SITUATION, I READ IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES, THAT IT IS OCCUPIED AND
THAT IT IS $16 MILLION TO
RENOVATE. I THINK THAT IS
EXCESSIVE AND I JUST REALLY
WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
AND ALSO, REGARDING THOSE WHO
STRUGGLED TO STAY HOUSED, I
WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT
SOMEHOW, THEY GET MONEY
MANAGEMENT COUNSELING, BECAUSE
THEY CAN AFFORD THIS JUST BARELY
-- IN OTHER WORDS, THEY KNOW HOW
TO HANDLE THEIR MONEY RIGHT.
BUT, I AM OLD, SO I KNOW HOW TO
MANAGE MY MONEY PROPERLY.
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS, I AM
POVERTY-STRICKEN, BUT I KNOW HOW
TO WORK MY MONEY. AND THEN, LAST
WEEK, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
THE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE LAST
WEEK. THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.
IT STARTED ON TIME. AND IT ENDED
ON TIME. OF COURSE, ALEXIS WAS
THERE, AS WELL. I'M GLAD YOU
CAME. I HOPE YOU GUYS KEEP DOING
THAT, BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY
APPRECIATES THAT, LIKE I DO.
THAT'S IT, FOR NOW. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MS. YVETTE. NEXT,
WE HAVE ZELLA, WELCOME. FOLLOWED
BY JEFFREY, AND THEN PETER
MILLER. ZELLA?
>> HELLO! MY NAME IS ZELLA
BURKART. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE
RECOGNIZED MY NAME AS I HAVE
BEEN EMAILING THE CITY COUNCIL
SINCE 2024, ASKING YOU TO
ADDRESS THE CONSTANT, FLAGRANT
VIOLATION OF NOISE ORDINANCES BY
VEHICLES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEN AGAIN, MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T
READ MY EMAILS, GIVEN THAT NO
ONE HAS REPLIED OR ANSWERED MY
QUESTIONS, THAT SEEMS MORE
LIKELY. I LIVE IN CHINATOWN, I
LIVE ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF MY
BUILDING. FROM THE FOURTH FLOOR,
WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED, I CAN
HEAR A LOUD CAR PASSING EVERY
FIVE MINUTES AND 32 SECONDS.
EVERY FIVE MINUTES, WHILE I AM
TRYING TO SLEEP, WHILE I AM
TRYING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION,
WHILE I AM TRYING TO WATCH A
MOVIE WITH FRIENDS, WHILE I AM
TRYING TO LIVE MY LIFE, DESPITE
THESE CONSTANT INTERRUPTIONS,
WHICH THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
BEEN PLAYING LIPSERVICE TOWARD
FACING, BUT WITH LAWS,
UNENFORCED, FUNCTIONALLY DO NOT
EXIST. AND, BOY, ARE THESE LAWS
EVER UNENFORCED. ON JANUARY 9th,
THE ENGINE NOISES SEEMED
PARTICULARLY BAD. I CALLED THE
POLICE TO ASK THEM TO PLEASE DO
SOMETHING. THAT NIGHT, I COULD
HEAR AN ENGINE NOISE EVERY 2:30.
THEY LASTED FOR UP TO A MINUTE.
THEY BUILD UP TO 20% OF THE
PORTION OF THE NIGHT I SAMPLED.
IF THE POLICE HAD BOTHERED TO
SHOW UP, IT SEEMS LIKELY THEY
COULD HAVE MADE A REAL
DIFFERENCE. INSTEAD, I GOT A
TEXT MORE THAN 12 HOURS AFTER I
CALLED, LETTING ME KNOW THAT THE
POLICE WERE FINALLY
INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. I
HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU, ASKING YOU
TO INSTALL NOISE STOPPERS, AS
NEWPORT, PHILADELPHIA, AND AN
INCREASING NUMBER OF OTHER
CITIES ARE NOW DOING. IF THE
POLICE HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES, WE
CAN AUTOMATE ENFORCEMENT INSTEAD
OF JUST CONDEMNING THE RESIDENTS
OF CHINATOWN TO LIVE UNDER
CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE AGREED
OUGHT TO BE PERMITTED. IF YOU DO
NOT BELIEVE NOISE TRAPS TO BE A
GOOD ANSWER, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT
SOLUTIONS YOU ARE ATTEMPTING.
YOU SHOULD HAVE MY EMAIL
ADDRESS.
>> THANK YOU, ZELLA. NEXT, WE
HAVE JEFFREY BARRY, FOLLOWED BY
PETER MILLER, AND THEN AMY
CAMPBELL. HELLO, JEFF.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS JEFF BARRY. I AM A SEATTLE
SEAL LIGHT EMPLOYEE FOR THE LAST
FIVE YEARS, AND FRIDAY, WE CAME
TO A -- TO WORK TO A MESSAGE
THAT OUR CEO WAS BEING REPLACED.
SHOCK AND DISAPPOINTMENT IS THE
LEAST I CAN SAY TO EXPRESS THAT.
SON HAS BEEN THE BEST CEO THAT
WE HAVE HAD SINCE I HAVE BEEN
THERE, WE HAVE -- WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON. I
KNOW THE MAYOR CAN REPLACE
PEOPLE, BUT IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING UNDER THE PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE ACT THAT THE MAYOR
MUST NOTIFY COUNCIL ON WHY THIS
INDIVIDUAL IS BEING TERMINATED.
WE KNOW IT IS NOT
PERFORMANCE-BASED. SO, WE ARE AT
A LOSS, RIGHT? THE BEST WAY FOR
ME -- THE BEST ANALOGY FOR ME TO
MAKE IS, WE HAVE A HEAD COACH
WHO IS JUST GETTING 13 READY TO
GO INTO THE PLAYOFFS, THAT HEAD
COACH GETS REMOVED, AND GETS
REPLACED BY A HEAD COACH THAT
COACHES MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL,
THEN WE ARE PLAYING FOOTBALL.
SHE HAS BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY
FOR YEARS, SHE HAS CONNECTIONS,
SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S DOING, SHE
HAS A 10 YEAR PLAN FOR US. WE
ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. AND FOR
THE RUG TO BE PULLED UNDERNEATH
US, IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE FINALLY
HAD TRUST IN OUR CEO. IF YOU
DON'T HAVE TRUST, YOU DON'T
HAVE A RELATIONSHIP. WE HAD
TRANSPARENCY FROM OUR CEO. THAT
HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE ISSUE FOR
US, AT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT. AND
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, SHE HAD A
LOT OF KNOWLEDGE. THAT IS BEING
THROWN TO THE WAYSIDE, AND A
REPLACEMENT NAMED THE EXACT SAME
DAY AS SHE WAS TERMINATED BY A
MAYOR THAT HAS BEEN IN OFFICE
FOR TWO WEEKS -- THERE HAS GOT
TO BE MORE TO THIS STORY AND I
THINK WE DESERVE TO KNOW. BUT,
REALLY, AS FAR AS CEO, YOU
SHOULD PUT HER BACK IN HER
RIGHTFUL PLACE THAT SHE
DESERVES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JEFF. NEXT, WE
HAVE PETER MILLER, FOLLOWED BY
AMY CAMPBELL. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM PETER
MILLER. I AM A RESIDENT OF WEST
SEATTLE, LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING YOU BACK AT HOME DEPOT,
OR THE WEST SEATTLE FARMERS
MARKET, WHERE I USUALLY RUN INTO
YOU. I AM A FOUR YEAR EMPLOYEE
OF SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, CAME
THROUGH THE APPRENTICE PROGRAM,
I WORKED MY WAY UP BEFORE THAT.
I AM ALSO ON THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING COMMITTEE FOR THE
UNION THAT REPRESENTS THE
ELECTRICIANS. AND I WORK WITH AN
ESTEEMED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS --
MOST OF WHOM WOULD ASK TO BE
DESCRIBED AS, "TOUGH TO GET
ALONG WITH." AND LAST WEEK, WHEN
ALL OF US FOUND OUT ABOUT A
CHANGE IN OUR DIRECTOR, CEO, AT
CITY LIGHT, I CAN SAFELY SAY
THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN A GROUP
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SO DIFFICULT
TO GET ALONG WITH, ALL SAY THE
SAME THING. WE ARE SHOCKED, WE
ARE DISMAYED, AND WE CAN'T
BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED, AND WE
DON'T KNOW WHY. WE DO KNOW THAT
THIS PERSON WAS VERY, VERY GOOD
FOR US, AND TO US, TO THE CITY,
TO THE CITY COUNCIL, TO WHAT SHE
HAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO THIS
CITY. SINCE 2004, WE HAVE HAD
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE,
SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT COUNCIL
DIRECTORS. SHE HAS BROUGHT US
THE ABILITY, RATIONALITY, AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE LISTENED
TO US. SHE ASKED US, WHAT IS IT
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, TO GET
CITY LIGHT BACK GOING? AND SHE
LISTENED TO US, AND I ENCOURAGE
YOU AND ASK YOU TO DO WHATEVER
YOU CAN TO KEEP DAWN LINDELL ON
AT CITY LIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PETER. NEXT, WE
HAVE AMY, FOLLOWED BY -- SOPHIA?
I APOLOGIZE. AND THEN, ANDREW.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> OKAY, I AM AMY CAMPBELL, I AM
A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, I WORK
FOR SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, I LIVE
IN NORTH YANDLE AND I AM PART OF
PROTECH 17, I HAVE A PREPARED
STATEMENT I HOPE WE CAN GET
THROUGH. I AM LETTING YOU KNOW
MY DEEP CONCERN AND
DISAPPOINTMENT REGARDING THE
RECENT LEADERSHIP DECISION BY
THE MAYOR TO REMOVE THE SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT CEO, DAWN LINDELL.
SHE IS ONE OF A FEW WOMEN
RUNNING MUNICIPAL UTILITIES IN
THE U.S., WE NEED DAWN FOR ONE
MORE YEAR, DAWN HAS BEEN WITH
FOR ONLY TWO YEARS AND HAS
ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN ANY CEO
IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, OVER 20
YEARS OF DELAYED MAINTENANCE,
DAWN IS THE FIRST CEO IN MORE
THAN A DECADE TO HAVE A CLEAR,
POSITIVE IMPACT ON UTILITY. SHE
HAS DESIGNATED SIGNIFICANT TIME
AND EFFORT TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF
SEXISM, RACISM, AND ALCOHOLISM
THAT WERE IGNORED BY PRIOR
LEADERSHIP AT BOTH SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND THE CITY. AT HER
LEADERSHIP, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
HAS BECOME A MORE REPUTABLE
ORGANIZATION WITH INCREASED
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. SHE IS REPLACING
POLES, UPDATING METERING
SYSTEMS, FREE CABLING MILES OF
UNDERGROUND BURIED CABLES. SHE
CAME TO THE UTILITY THROUGH A
VETTING PROCESS WHERE PROTECH 17
AND 77, AMONGST OTHER UNIONS,
WERE ON THE PANEL TO ELECT HER.
SHE HAS A BACHELORS IN CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING FROM NOTRE DAME, A
MASTERS OF BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION, HAS DEALT WITH
BUDGETS FROM $30 MILLION TO $1.3
BILLION, SPANNING 15 STATES AND
57 HYDRO DAMS. SHE HAS THE
EXPERIENCE, SHE HAS THE SKILLS,
SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING, SHE
HAS MET US ON THE DOCKS WITH THE
LINEMAN, AND WE HAVE HAD THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. I HAVE YET TO
HAVE ANY OTHER CEO DO ANYTHING
CLOSE. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU, AMY. THANK YOU,
ALL, FOR COMING. LAST TIME I SAW
SOMEONE WITH YOUR NAME SPELLED
LIKE THAT, SHE WAS A REALLY GOOD
THREE-POINT SHOOTER. SHE WAS A
TEAMMATE OF MINE. SO, I DON'T
KNOW IF -- OKAY, AWESOME. NEXT,
WE HAVE SOPHIA MONTOYA AND I
APOLOGIZE IF I SAY YOUR LAST
NAME WRONG, FOLLOWED BY ANDREW
AND THEN GAVE DEAS.
>> HI, I GO BY AMBER. THANK YOU
FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK. I AM ONE OF THE COUNTLESS
TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLED
RED STATES TO SEATTLE. WE
THOUGHT WE WOULD BE SAFE, HERE.
HOWEVER, THE --
>> HOLD ON, WE WILL PAUSE YOUR
TIME. WE ARE GOING TO START
OVER. PULL THE MICROPHONE CLOSER
SO WE CAN HEAR, AND ALSO, AT
HOME, AS WELL. IF YOU DON'T
WANT STARTING OVER, WE WILL
RESTART YOUR TIME.
>> OKAY.
>> PERFECT. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> HI, I GO BY EMBER. THANK YOU
FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK. I AM ONE OF THE COUNTLESS
TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLED
FROM RED STATES, TO SEATTLE. WE
THOUGHT WE WOULD BE SAFE, HERE.
HOWEVER, THE FASCISM HAS COME TO
THREATEN US, EVEN HERE. I AM AN
ACTIVE PART OF THE GROUP,
RESISTING I.C.E. OVER THE LAST
WEEK, WE HAVE WITNESSED I.C.E.
DRASTICALLY INCREASE THEIR
ILLEGAL KIDNAPPINGS OF NOT ONLY
PEOPLE OF COLOR, BUT EVERYONE.
EVERYWHERE I GO, I SEE POSTERS
FOR MISSING PERSONS, AND JUST
YESTERDAY, WHEN I WAS DOING
ACTIVISM, A NON-BIPOC AMERICAN
CITIZEN TOLD ME ABOUT HOW HE HAS
BEEN ABDUCTED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR
LITERALLY NO REASON. MY
MEXICAN-AMERICAN GRANDMOTHER IS
TERRIFIED. AS A TRANS PERSON OF
MEXICAN DESCENT, I AM TERRIFIED.
AS YOU ARE THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THIS DEMOCRATIC SANCTUARY CITY,
YOU ALL SHOULD BE TERRIFIED
BECAUSE THE ARE GOING TO TARGET
YOU EVENTUALLY. I.C.E. IS OUT
THERE RIGHT NOW, RAIDING TWO
HIGH SCHOOLS AND COMMITTING
MULTIPLE CRIMES AGAINST OUR
COMMUNITIES AND THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL THEY ARE
STOPPED. DON'T YOU AGREE? WE
NEED TO STOP I.C.E. FROM
VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION.
EVERY DAY, WE, THE RESISTANCE,
ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
STOP I.C.E., BUT AS PRIVATE
CITIZENS, WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE.
I KNOW LAST YEAR, THE PREVIOUS
STATE COUNCIL PASSED A LAW
FORCING SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO STOP HELPING
I.C.E., BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.
PLEASE, FOR THE GOOD OF THE
COMMUNITY, MAKE THAT LAW THE
START OF AN INITIATIVE TO STOP
I.C.E. FROM KIDNAPPING US ALL
AND KEEPING THE MOMENTUM GOING.
FOR ME, AND FOR EVERYONE, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, EMBER. NEXT, WE
HAVE ANDREW, FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL
DIAZ, AND THEN ROSE McMURRAY.
WELCOME, ANDREW. AND YOU CAN DO
WHATEVER MICROPHONE YOU WANT.
>> IS THIS OKAY?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> AWESOME. FIRST OF ALL, THANK
YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS ANDREW, A
COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND I ALSO
APOLOGIZE FOR SPEAKING OUTSIDE
OF THE AGENDA, BUT THE URGENCY
FOR THIS MOMENT DEMANDS THAT I
SPEAK TODAY. SEATTLE PRIDES
ITSELF ON BEING A PROGRESSIVE
CITY, YET WHENEVER IT COMES TO
LGBTQIA PLUS REPRESENTATION, WE
REMAIN REACTIVE INSTEAD OF
PROTECTIVE. WE WAIT FOR HARM,
FOR CRISIS, FOR HEADLINES, AND
ONLY THEN, DO WE RESPOND. THAT
IS NOT WHAT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS.
ON MAY 24th, 2025, MEMBERS OF
THE QUEER COMMUNITY WERE
BRUTALIZED BY THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED
AND BEATEN FOR PEACEFULLY
STANDING UP AGAINST HATE GROUPS.
AND THIS WEEK, WE LEARNED THAT
THE SEATTLE PD SERGEANT TOLD
OFFICERS THEY WERE PAST THE
POINT OF TALKING, AND THAT THEY
WERE THERE TOO -- PLEASE PERMIT
ME, BECAUSE THIS WAS SAID
PUBLICLY -- "FUCK PEOPLE UP" --
THIS IS NOT PUBLIC SAFETY, THIS
IS A STATE SANCTIONED VIOLENCE.
AND YES -- EVEN AFTER MOMENTS
LIKE THIS, OUR CITY HAS NO
LGBTQIA+ OFFICE, NO STRUCTURAL
HOME FOR OUR COMMUNITIES' NEEDS.
WE ARE EXPECTED TO NAVIGATE
SYSTEMS THAT WERE NOT IN PLACE
FOR US. IMMIGRATION, HOUSING,
SMALL-BUSINESS SUPPORT, CHILD
CARE, PUBLIC HEALTH. ALL WITH
SOUND REPRESENTATION AT THE
TABLE. OUR ISSUES ARE
INTERSECTIONAL, BUT OUR
GOVERNMENT TREATS THEM AS
OPTIONAL. DURING THE 2025
ELECTIONS, LGBTQ VOTERS HELPED
SECURE BECAUSE OF WINGS ACROSS
THE CITY. WE SHOWED UP, WE
ORGANIZED, WE DELIVERED, BUT OUR
POLITICAL POWER HAS NOT GONE
WITH POLITICAL WILL. WE NEED A
PROACTIVE, PERMANENT,
ACCOUNTABLE STRUCTURE, AND I
WANT TO PLEA THAT WE SHOOT FOR
HAVING A SEATTLE CITY OFFICE FOR
LGBTQIA --
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW. NEXT, WE
HAVE GABRIEL ROSE, AND THEN
KELSEY FERNS. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
GABRIEL DIAZ. I AM GOING TO
START WITH SOME AUDIO, ACTUALLY.
MAKE SURE IT IS TURNED UP ALL
THE WAY, HERE.
>> I AM TRACKING EVERYTHING THAT
IS HAPPENING. WE ARE GOING TO DO
SOME FUCKING WORK, WE ARE GOING
IN THIS TIME WITH GUNS BLAZING.
WE ARE PAST TALKING TO PEOPLE.
WE ARE HERE TO FUCK PEOPLE UP,
NOW. THEY HAVE PUSHED THE
ENVELOPE, AND NOW --
>> THAT IS THE ATTITUDE OF
SERGEANT MATTHEW DIDIER OF THE
COMMUNITY RESPONSE GROUP, WHOSE
JOB IT IS TO MASSES -- HANDLE
MASS PROTESTS. IF YOU COULDN'T
HEAR IT, HE TOLD PEOPLE HE WAS
THERE TOO, AND I QUOTE, "FUCK
PEOPLE UP" -- AND THAT IS WHAT
THEY DID. IN RELEASED BODY
CAMERA FOOTAGE, YOU CAN SEE ME,
SPECIFICALLY, BEING TACKLED FROM
BEHIND, I AM STANDING STILL
WHILE BEING TACKLED FROM BEHIND
AND AS I CRY OUT MULTIPLE TIMES,
"I'M A MEDIC, I'M A MEDIC,"
THIS IS IN MAY BUT I STILL
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO WORK
FULL-TIME SINCE THIS DAY. PEOPLE
ARE BEING BRUTALIZED, FOLKS. AND
WE NEED TO CHANGE. WHEN PEOPLE
WHO REPRESENT THE CITY HAVE A
STATED GOAL OF BEATING PEOPLE,
IT SHOWS THAT SPD WILL TRAMPLE
OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. AS
ONE OF THE MANY VICTIMS ON THAT
DAY, I DEMAND YOU FIRE THE
OFFICERS IN CHARGE THAT DATE
INCLUDING OFFICER MATTHEW AND
OFFICER LARRY, A FULL
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW DONE OF
THAT DAY BECAUSE BEFORE THE
BREAKING DOWN OF THAT DAY, THE
SECOND REVIEW, ONE OF THE RULES
OF THAT WAS, "ABSOLUTE PRIVACY."
NOTHING THAT CAME OUT THAT THEY
WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SHARED OR
LEAKED. SO, ANYTHING THAT CAME
OUT THAT DAY, ANYTHING THAT WAS
SAID, THESE OFFICERS WOULD NOT
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THESE OFFICERS ARE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
COMMUNITY, NOT JUST SWEPT UNDER
THE RUG AS HAPPENS TIME AND TIME
AGAIN, TYPICALLY TO OUR TRANS
AND QUEER COMMUNITIES. QUEER
COMMUNITY, WE ALSO NEED MORE
LGBTQ OFFICERS, WE NEED MORE
LGBTQ PEOPLE WHO KNOW OUR
COMMUNITIES AND FIGHT FOR US.
THE QUEER COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE
TODAY CRIES OUT, "RESPECT OUR
EXISTENCE OR EXPECT OUR
RESISTANCE. NO MORE DEAD OR
INJURED CITIZENS. THANK YOU."
>> THANK YOU, GABRIEL. NEXT, WE
HAVE ROSE McMURRAY, FOLLOWED BY
KELSEY BURNS, AND FOLLOWED BY J
BURNS. IS ROSE HERE? HI. NO,
TAKE YOUR TIME. YOU ARE ALL
GOOD. WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR
COMING.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
ROSE McMURRAY. I AM HERE TO
SPEAK TODAY IN SPECIFICS ABOUT
THE COMMENTS OF MATTHEW DIDIER
ON MAY 24th, LAST YEAR. HOWEVER,
MORE BROADLY, I AM HERE TO TALK
ABOUT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. WE
LIVE IN A NATION WHERE POLICE
ARE GIVEN A SPECIAL CLASS ABOVE
PRIVATE CITIZENS, WE HAVE SEEN A
GROWING THREAT OF UNACCOUNTABLE
AUTHORITIES, ARRESTING AND
KIDNAPPING CITIZENS, AND THIS
HAS RECENTLY ESCALATED TO
MURDER. WE ARE IN A CITY THAT IS
SUPPOSED BE SAFE FROM THESE
THINGS, HOWEVER THE ACTIONS --
THE COMMENTS MADE BY AND ACTIONS
COMMITTED BY OFFICER MATTHEW
DIDIER OUR PREMEDITATED ASSAULT.
IF SOMETHING WERE DONE SIMILAR,
THEY WOULD BE ARRESTED. IF WE
HAVE SEEN IN THIS CITY, WE HAVE
SEEN OFFICERS IN THIS CITY HAVE
OVER A DECADE OF COMPLAINTS AND
INCIDENTS OF ABUSE WITH NO REAL
ACCOUNTABILITY. FURTHER, IN THE
PAST YEAR, WE HAVE SIGNED A NEW
CONTRACT WITH POLICE THAT
FURTHER REDUCES POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, AS WELL AS IN A
SEPARATE ORDINANCE, LEGALIZE
POLICE USE OF WEAPON EYES CROWD
CONTROL THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED
WAR CRIMES IF IT WAS USED IN A
FOREIGN COUNTRY. PLEASE, HELP US
SET AN EXAMPLE, IF YOU USE --
WISH TO BE A PROGRESSIVE CITY,
IF YOU WISH TO BE A CITY THAT
CARES ABOUT ITS CITIZENS AND
CARES ABOUT THE RIGHT TO
PROTEST, AND WORK TO INCREASE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY OVER THE
COMING YEARS AND OVER -- AND
OVER YOUR COMING TERMS. IT IS
ESSENTIAL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR
CITY AND IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE
SAKE OF US BEING ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO SUCCESSFULLY RESIST
FEDERAL INCURSIONS BY I.C.E.
OFFICERS AND FEDERAL ASSAULTS
AGAINST OUR CITY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU, ROSE. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT, WE HAVE
KELSEY BURNS, FOLLOWED BY JAY
BURNS, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY --
DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? I'M SO
SORRY. HI, KELSEY. WELCOME.
>> HI. I AM FROM DISTRICT 5. AS
MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE LAST CITY
COUNCIL NOTION NEGOTIATED AWAY
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES, AND
PUSHED THROUGH A CONTRACT TO
MAKE SURE THE VOTE HAPPENED
PRIOR TO SOME PEOPLE HERE BEING
SEATED. TO THE FEW MEMBERS WHO
LISTENED, SHARED YOUR
EXPERIENCES AND CONCERNS AROUND
THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN
THAT CONTRACT, THANK YOU. ON MAY
24th, SPD PEPPER SPRAYED ME,
BEAT ME, GAVE ME A CONCUSSION,
BROKE MY GLASSES, AND ARRESTED
ME ON FALSE CHARGES. THE FOOTAGE
OF THAT DAY BLATANTLY
CONTRADICTS THE ARREST
DOCUMENTS. MY HANDS WERE VISIBLE
AND EMPTY DURING THE ENTIRETY OF
THE ENCOUNTER. I COMMITTED NO
CRIMES. DESPITE THIS, I WAS
ARRESTED. WE SAW THE LEAD UP TO
THE POLICE VIOLENCE, WHERE
DIDIER MADE COMMENTS CLEAR THEY
WERE INTENDING ON COMMITTING
VIOLENCE, SUCH AS, "WE ARE DONE
TALKING, WE ARE HERE TO "FUCK
PEOPLE UP." SO, ULTIMATELY, I
GOT TO SPEND THE WEEKEND IN
JAIL, CONCUSSED, BLIND. MY JOB
NOW TAKES MORE HOURS TO COMPLETE
FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK. AT
THE EXPENSE OF FAMILY TIME, AND
PERSONAL TIME. MY EXPECTATIONS
ARE THAT, WITHOUT PUBLIC
PRESSURE OR ACTIONS FROM THIS
COUNCIL, THAT THIS TYPE OF
BEHAVIOR WILL CONTINUE
UNCHECKED, AS WE HAVE SEEN
REPEATEDLY. THE POLICE WILL NOT
HOLD THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE. I
ASK THAT YOU TAKE THIS TIME TO
ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE VOICES IN
THIS ROOM TODAY AND TO EXERT
YOUR PRESSURE TO PUBLICLY PUSH
FOR CHANGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, KELSEY. NEXT, WE
HAVE JAY BURNS. WELCOME, JAY.
>> TO THE THREE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS WHO VOTED AGAINST, I
THANK YOU, TO THE NEW MEMBERS, I
WELCOME YOU. I AM A RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE AND A RESIDENT OF THIS
COMMUNITY AND I AM ALSO A VICTIM
OF POLICE VIOLENCE AND I AM HERE
TO TELL YOU WHAT POLICE
DEPARTMENT DID TO ME ON MAY
24th, 2025. I WAS GRABBED,
HOOKED TO THE GROUND, PUNCHED IN
THE HEAD SEVERAL TIMES BY
OFFICER KELLY HINDMAN. SPD CALLS
IT NONCOMPLIANCE STRIKES, BUT I
CALL IT MULTIPLE MRIs AND FORMS
OF CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS. MY
WRISTS WERE TWISTED IN EXTRA
TIGHT CUFFS THAT I NEEDED
MULTIPLE X-RAYS TO MAKE SURE
THERE WERE NO FRACTURES. I WAS
IN THOSE COUGHS FOR MANY HOURS
SO I AM THANKFUL THERE IS NO
LASTING DAMAGE. I NEVER RECEIVED
MEDICAL CARE WHILE DETAINED AND
NOT UNTIL THREE DAYS LATER, WHEN
I WAS FINALLY RELEASED FROM
JAIL. FOR ALMOST 24 HOURS, I WAS
PUKING MY GUTS OUT BUT INSTEAD
OF CARE, I WAS PLACED IN
SOLITARY CELLS. NOBODY CAME TO
MYSELF WHILE I WAS SUFFERING
FROM THE EFFECTS OF WHAT SPD
DID. I DIDN'T EVEN RECEIVE A
CUP FOR WATER UNTIL THE NEXT DAY
WHEN I WAS MOVED INTO THE
GENERAL POPULATION. IMAGINE
BEING ALL ALONE, PLAYING ON THE
FLOOR NEXT TO A METAL TOILET IN
A CELL BECAUSE YOU WERE TOO SICK
TO MOVE ALL BECAUSE SPD CAUSED A
DAY OF VIOLENCE OVER THREE
FUCKING BALLOONS. IF YOU
RECOGNIZE MY STORY IT IS BECAUSE
I SPOKE THESE WORDS TO THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL LAST MONTH,
BUT ONLY A FEW OF YOU WERE
ACTUALLY LISTEN. BOB KETTLE, JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH, NOW I SAY, AGAIN,
HOLD SPD ACCOUNTABLE! THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, JAY. NEXT, WE HAVE
-- IS IT -- RORY? LAST NAME IS
STARTS WITH L-E-G, HE IS NUMBER
14?
>> IT'S TERRIBLE, IT'S
TERRIBLE.
>> NO, NO, NO, YOU ARE FINE. SAY
THAT AGAIN?
>> ROSE.
>> ROSE, I APOLOGIZE SO MUCH.
WELCOME, ROSE.
>> OKAY. LAST WEEK, THERE WERE A
LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAME AND
SPOKE ABOUT I.C.E., AS I AM SURE
YOU ARE AWARE. WE WERE WARNED,
WE WERE WORRIED, WE SAW THE
IMAGES AND THE VIDEOS THAT CAME
UP FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS -- THINGS
ARE NOW RAMPING UP. THERE ARE
TWO SCHOOLS UNDER LOCKDOWN RIGHT
NOW IN SEATTLE BECAUSE OF I.C.E.
THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE REPORTING
THAT THEY ARE AT BAILEY GASSER
SCHOOL IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT,
WHERE I.C.E. IS SHOWING UP. LAST
WEEK, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH ASKED PEOPLE, WHAT
YOU WANT US TO DO ABOUT IT?
THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN SENDING ALL OF YOU EMAILS
THIS WEEK ABOUT WHAT TO DO, I
KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ONE OF
THOSE PEOPLE. I LOOK FORWARD TO
SPEAKING TO ANY AND -- ANY OR
ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE
TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT TO DO. THERE
ARE BASIC THINGS WE CAN DO.
RIGHT NOW, I.C.E. IS TRACKING
ALL OF OUR PHONE LOCATION DATA
AND USING IT TO FIND
INDIVIDUALS. THIS PLACES ALL OF
US AT RISK. IT PLACES THE MAYOR
AT RISK, IT PLACES UNDOCUMENTED
PEOPLE AT RISK AND THAT NEEDS TO
STOP RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW,
AMAZON IS ALSO SHARING THIRD --
THEIR RING DATA WITH ICE, THAT
CANNOT HAPPEN. ALSO, LICENSE
PLATE READERS ARE ALSO BEING
USED AS A WAY TO HELP I.C.E. IN
ADDITION, THERE HAS BEEN LOTS OF
TALKING ABOUT, HERE, ABOUT, "SPD
NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE."
SPD NEEDS TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, NOT JUST, NOT ONLY
JUST, HOW THEY ARE BRUTALIZING
PEOPLE, BUT ALSO HOW THEY ARE
AFFECTING I.C.E. RIGHT NOW, IS
BEING REPORTED THAT I.C.E. IS
BEING SHOWING UP WITHOUT LICENSE
PLATES AT SCHOOL SO PEOPLE CAN
FIND OUT WHERE THESE CARS ARE
COMING FROM. IT IS OF UTMOST
IMPORTANCE THAT WE ARE ALL
HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE, AS WE
HOLD ANYONE ELSE. THESE ARE
MASKED INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE NO
IDEA WHO THEY ARE, THEY ARE
KIDNAPPING PEOPLE, AND AS
CONGRESSWOMAN APPEL SAID THIS
MORNING, PEOPLE ARE EVEN DYING
IN I.C.E. CUSTODY. WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO EVERYONE IN
SEATTLE, AND I EXPECT ALL OF YOU
TO BE A PART OF THIS RESOLUTION
HELPING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU, ROSE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT, WE HAVE MR. DEAN, ALEX
STEEN. WELCOME. NEXT, WE HAVE
MET, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM. AND
THEN, WE WILL SWITCH TO ONLINE,
IF THERE IS NO ONE ELSE SIGNED
UP. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. DEAN.
>> IT AFTERNOON. WE ACTUALLY
HAVE BEEN TEXTING ABOUT HOW TO
ADDRESS POLICE BRUTALITY IN
SEATTLE. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I
JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN WITH ME ON MAY
24th. I WASN'T ARRESTED. I SAW
A YOUNG WOMAN ON THE GROUND
BEING PEPPER SPRAYED WHILE SHE
WAS ON THE GROUND. I RAN OVER
AND ASKED THE OFFICERS TO GET
OFF OF HER BECAUSE THERE WERE
THREE PEOPLE THERE. I DID NOT
ATTACK THEM, MY HANDS WERE UP.
NEXT THING I KNEW, I WAS ON THE
GROUND, I HAD BEEN THROWN BY THE
THROAT, AND I TRIED TO GET UP,
THE OFFICER THAT HAD THROWN ME,
INSTEAD OF COMING TO ARREST ME,
HE THEN PUT HIS HANDS AROUND MY
THROAT AND BEGAN TO SQUEEZE. I
-- NEXT THING I KNEW, WAS
BASICALLY BEING DRAGGED AWAY BY
FOUR PEOPLE. SOMEONE HAD PUNCHED
HIM BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED
THAT HE WAS GOING TO SERIOUSLY
PHYSICALLY HARM ME. I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO
ACTION TAKEN. TO ME, VERY CLEAR,
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT
INFORMATION HAS COME OUT ABOUT
SPD ON 24th, GOING IN TO DO THIS
KIND OF SHIT. THEY HAD VERY
CLEAR INTENT, THEY HAD STATED
INTENT, THAT WAS OVERTLY
CRIMINAL, OVERTLY BIASED
POLICING, AND THEY BEHAVED IN A
WAY WHICH WAS FUNDAMENTALLY
UNACCEPTABLE. THEY CLEARLY, BY
THE WAY THEY SPOKE, AND BY THE
ACTIONS THEY TOOK, DID NOT CARE
ABOUT ENFORCING THE LAW. THEY
CARED PURELY ABOUT ATTEMPTING TO
MAKE A BIG SKEPTICAL, FOR THE
IDEA OF, FOR SIMPLE SADISM, OR
FUTURE PREVENTION, THROUGH
EXAMPLE. BUT, THAT IS NOT HOW
POLICING WORKS IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA. WE ARE NOT
RUSSIA, WE ARE NOT IRAN, WE ARE
NOT NORTH KOREA, AND POLICE DO
NOT WANT PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING,
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO TALK.
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN,
LITERALLY, ANYONE THERE TO
DE-ESCALATE THINGS, AND THERE
WASN'T. INSTEAD, MATT DIDIER
DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO GO IN,
AND HAVE PEOPLE "FUCK PEOPLE
UP." SO, THEY FUCKED US UP. I
DON'T KNOW HOW THAT IS
ACCEPTABLE AND I WOULD REALLY
LIKE AN IMMEDIATE ADDRESS ABOUT
WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE, NOT
WHAT YOU CAN DO, WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DEAN.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT, WE HAVE MATT, FOLLOWED
BY WILLIAM. WELCOME, MATT.
>> HELLO, I AM A RESIDENT OF D2,
AND I JUST WANTED TO ECHO SOME
OF THE POINTS BEING MADE BY SOME
OF THE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ABOUT, YES, I.C.E. IS AN
OCCUPYING FORCE. WE ARE SEEING
THAT INCREASING BY THE DAY. BUT,
I DON'T WANT US TO THINK THAT
THAT IS ANYTHING DISTINCT, OR
DIFFERENT FROM, HONESTLY, THE
OCCUPYING FORCE WE HAVE, HERE,
IN FUCKING SEATTLE. I WAS BACK
THERE ON MAY 24th, 2025. I SAW,
AS MANY OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WERE ASSAULTED BY SEATTLE PD AS,
AGAIN, SOMEONE WHO SILLIES THE
GOOD NAME, MATT, WANTS TO GO IN
AND "FUCK PEOPLE UP." AND WE
HAVE SEEN THEY HAVE BEEN
HANDSOMELY REWARDED FOR THAT.
LAST CONTRACT, SOME OF OUR
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE, I WANT TO
SALUTE FOR THE GUMPTION AND THE
RESOLVE THEY HAD TO SAY, "NO, WE
ARE NOT GOING TO REWARD THIS."
FOR EVERYONE ELSE, I HAVE GOT TO
ASK YOU, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS
POLICE RIOTING IN YOUR OWN CITY?
DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE LACK
OF ACCOUNTABILITY, AND BODIES
PILING UP, YEAR AFTER YEAR, AT
THE HANDS OF SPD? PLEASE, START
DOING SOMETHING. START PUTTING
WORDS INTO ACTIONS. BECAUSE THE
ALTERNATIVE, IS SOMETHING THAT
PROBABLY NONE OF YOU WOULD WANT
TO SEE, WHICH IS LOCAL CITIZENS
TAKING MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN
HANDS. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN MANY
YEARS SINCE THE BLACK PARTY FOR
SELF-DEFENSE HAD ARMED PATROLS,
BUT CERTAINLY, MANY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ARE THINKING, MAYBE IT
IS ABOUT TIME WE TAKE THIS BACK.
YOU WANT US TO TURN THIS INTO A
TIT-FOR-TAT, OR DO YOU WANT TO
DE-ESCALATE YOUR OWN PEOPLE? OH,
PLEASE, DO THE RIGHT THING, DO
WHAT IS POLITICALLY PRAGMATIC IN
YOUR BEST INTEREST AND START TO
DE-ESCALATE THIS SITUATION, AND
RAIN THESE MOTHERFUCKERS IN.
ESPECIALLY YOU, BOB CADDELL.
I'M GLAD I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION,
BECAUSE OF ALL THE FOLKS
SPEAKING, YOU ARE THE MOST
DISRESPECTFUL. SO, NOW THAT WE
HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, DO FUCKING
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, MATT. NEXT, WE
HAVE WILLIAM. IS WILLIAM HERE?
HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON, WELCOME,
WILLIAM.
>> IT AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
WILLIAM ROLAND, I AM A RESIDENT
OF DISTRICT 2. I WAS RESIDENT AT
CAL ANDERSON PARK ON MAY 24th OF
LAST YEAR, PERHAPS BECAUSE I WAS
NOT WEARING BLACK, I WAS NOT
ARRESTED OR ASSAULTED, BUT, I
DID SEE MANY OF MY FELLOW
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FELLOW
SEATTLE RESIDENTS, ASSAULTED,
AND ARRESTED, AND PEPPER
SPRAYED, AND OTHERWISE ABUSED.
APPARENTLY, FOR THE "CRIME" OF
WEARING BLACK. IT REMINDED ME OF
WHAT I SAW ON TV IN 1968, WHEN I
WAS 15. I SAW POLICE IN CHICAGO
BEATING DEMONSTRATORS AT THE
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION,
APPARENTLY, FOR THE CRIME OF
BEING THERE. THAT SORT OF POLICE
OVER RESPONSE IS TOTALLY
UNACCEPTABLE. ESPECIALLY IN A
CITY LIKE OURS, WHICH PRIDES
ITSELF ON BEING A DRESSES. --
PROGRESSIVE. YOU CAN SEE HOW
PEOPLE WOULD GET AWAY WITH THAT
KIND OF STUFF IN CHICAGO, BUT
THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT SEATTLE IS
LIKE. SO, I CALL ON YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS, AND OTHER CITY
LEADERS, TO HOLD SPD
ACCOUNTABLE, AND TO TAKE
PARTICULAR ACTION AGAINST
OFFICERS SUCH AS MATT DIDIER,
WHO CALLED FOR THE PEOPLE UNDER
HIS COMMAND THAT DAY TO EXERCISE
VIOLENCE. AGAINST THE CITIZENS
OF OUR CITY, AND OTHER PEOPLE.
AGAIN, FOR THE "CRIME" OF BEING
BLACK. SO, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION, AND I HOPE VERY, VERY
MUCH, THAT SOMETHING WILL BE
DONE TO MAKE POLICE ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, WILLIAM. WE ARE
NOW GOING TO SWITCH TO ONLINE
PUBLIC COMMENTERS. PUBLIC
COMMENTERS, WHEN YOU ARE MOVED
UP INTO THE ZOOM AND YOU SEE
YOUR NAME, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOUR SELF. NEXT ONE,
WE HAVE ALBERTO ALVAREZ.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. LAZY COWARDS WHO
CAN'T EVEN ZOOM IN TO A COUNCIL
MEETING, AS OUR NATION DEFENDS
AGAINST FASCISM. BLACK, BROWN,
AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE BEING
KIDNAPPED REGARDLESS OF THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS. CITIZEN
MOTHERS ARE SHOT IN THE FACE,
KILLED BY FEDERAL FORCES. WHITE,
MILITARY VETERANS ARE ARRESTED
FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST AND DENIED
DUE PROCESS AND ACCESS TO THEIR
LAWYERS. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
YOU HAVE A SENSIBLE HONOR AND
RESPECT FOR THE ARMED FORCES.
YOU SEEM TO HOLD THAT, SOMEHOW,
MEN OF HONOR WILL STEP UP. WHY
NOT BE THAT FIRST MAN TO LEAD,
AND TAKE ACTION? NOT JUST A
PRESS RELEASE WITH PLATITUDES.
WHEN THEY WERE BEING ROUNDED UP
AND SENT TO COUNT CAMP, THE
NAZIS AND SS, WOULD HAVE LOVED
TO SEE THE MASS SURVEILLANCE OUR
CITY IS BEING STRANGLED WITH
TODAY. ONLY TO MAKE THE EVIL OF
THEIR WORK THAT MUCH EASIER.
WHAT ARE ANY OF YOU WAITING FOR?
WHERE IS THE LINE, WHERE YOU
WILL TAKE ACTION? YOU NEED TO
ENFORCE AND VOTE ON THESE
ISSUES. OTHERWISE, YOU ARE LAZY
AND A DANGER TO ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. SHAME ON YOU. SHAME
ON YOU. SHAME ON YOU. HAVE A
GOOD DAY.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT, WE HAVE DAVID HAYNES.
DAVID HAYNES, IF YOU ARE
PRESENT, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOUR SELF.
>> HI, THANK YOU. DAVID HAYNES.
WE STILL HAVE EVIL, PREDATORY
CRIMINALS CONDUCTING CIVIL WAR
ON THE COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE,
AND SOME OF THEM ARE GETTING
AWAY WITH IT AND CONTINUING TO
IMPOSE -- AND RUINING HAPPINESS.
MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN LISTED AS
LOW-LEVEL NONVIOLENT AND IT IS A
CONCERN BECAUSE BRUCE HARRELL
TAINTED THE INTEGRITY OF POLICE
REFORM AND THE BUDGET THAT YOU
ALL SIGNED OFF ON, IS -- IT IS
STILL PRIORITIZING REPEAT
OFFENDING CRIMINALS WHO ARE
CONNECTED TO THE UNDERWORLD, WHO
NEVER GET QUESTIONED TO FIND OUT
WHERE THEY GOT THE DRUGS, OR
WHERE THE HOUSE IS. THEY GO AND
SHUT IT DOWN, BEING FORTHRIGHT
AND DILIGENT IN THE EFFORTS TO
SHUT DOWN CRIMINALS THAT ARE
MAKING IT UNSAFE, AND YET, WE
HAVE ALL OF THIS LGBTQ
OVERDRAMATIC DRAMA QUEENS
SHOWING UP, DRESSED LIKE WOMEN,
TALKING, LIKE, CRAZY STUFF ABOUT
FILLING IN THE BLANKS OF WHAT
HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO, THAT
THEY ARE CLAIMING IT IS
HAPPENING NOW, ACTING LIKE
I.C.E. IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN
THEIR LIFE, AND IN SEATTLE'S
LIFE. AND, LIKE, WANT TO SCARE
SOME OF THE INNOCENT MIGRANTS
AND NOT SEPARATE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A CARTEL MEMBER AND AN
INNOCENT MIGRANT. YOU ALL ARE
RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR
EVERYBODY. AND IT IS PART OF THE
REASON WHY TRUMP GOT ELECTED,
BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO
ELEVATE THE PERVERTED PLATFORM
OF A PROGRESSIVE TO THE POINT OF
TAINTING THE INTEGRITY OF
POLICY, AND EXACERBATING THE
HOMELESS CRISIS. I KNOW THIS
COUNCIL IS ALREADY GIVING
EXCUSES NOT TO SHOW UP BECAUSE
THEY HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS
TO DO, AND YOU COUNSELED A BUNCH
OF MEETINGS YOU ARE NOT EVEN
GOING TO MAKE AN EFFORT AS IF
YOU ARE GOING TO LET THESE
PEOPLE SUFFER ANOTHER WINTER
WITH THIS HALF-ASSED EFFORT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. HAYNES. AND --
IS THAT THE END OF OUR PUBLIC --
OKAY, AWESOME. SO, WE HAVE
REACHED THE LIST END OF OUR
REGISTERED SPEAKERS AND PUBLIC
COMMENT IS NOW CLOSED. I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING. I
WILL SAY, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE
A LOT OF EMOTIONS, SO PEOPLE
CURSE, OR MR. HAYNES -- JUST TRY
TO DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS NOT
TOWARD PEOPLE IN A DEROGATORY
WAY. FOR ANYONE. I KNOW IT IS
FREEDOM OF SPEECH, SO WE WILL
NEVER SUPPRESS THAT, BUT JUST
TRYING TO COOL TEMPERATURES DOWN
AND MAKE SURE WE ARE RESPECTFUL
OF EACH OTHER, SO JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT, THERE. I BELIEVE,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU HAVE
YOUR HAND RAISED?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
FIRST THING I WANTED TO SAY IN
DIRECT RESPONSE TO MR. HAYNES
IS, WELCOME TO OUR MEMBERS IN
CHAMBER WHO ARE TRANS OR PART OF
THE BROADER LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, AND YOUR
VOICE IS HEARD. THAT IS THE
FIRST THING I WANTED TO SAY.
SECOND, I AM AWARE, THERE ARE
DIFFERENT PIECES OF THE CAL
ANDERSON PROTEST AND SOME ARE
REVIEWING THE PIECES THAT GO
INTO THAT AND I DO BELIEVE THAT,
YES, THAT SHOULD BE -- WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY IN OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE AND WITH THIS
COUNCIL TO DO THE OVERSIGHT AND
TO BRING TO FOR THAT REPORT. SO,
MY COMMITTEE HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY AND I WILL BE
WORKING WITH OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS WHO ARE REPRESENTED
HERE, IN PART, BUT OTHERS OF THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM BECAUSE
EACH YEAR, I HAVE ALL THREE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS COME TO
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, AND
SO, WE CAN MAKE, ESSENTIALLY,
THE CAL ANDERSON REPORT A CASE
STUDY, A FOCAL POINT OF THAT
COMMITTEE MEETING, TO HAVE THEM,
YOU KNOW, SPEAK TO IT,
PARTICULARLY THOSE, EACH
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER HAS
DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT
TO SPEAK TO THAT PROTEST, WHAT
HAPPENED, AND THEN WE CAN USE
THAT TO SPRINGBOARD TO FOLLOW-UP
WITH CHIEF BARNES IN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AS WELL. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE DO EACH YEAR,
AND EACH YEAR, IT IS A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT, THIS IS OUR THIRD
YEAR. SO, OUR COMMITMENT, TO
YOU, IS TO USE THIS REPORT AS A
FOCAL POINT FOR THAT MEETING
WITH OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS. WE ARE WORKING THE
SCHEDULING THROUGH QUARTER ONE,
QUARTER TWO, SO WE WILL GET THAT
SCHEDULED. PART OF THE CHALLENGE
WITH TWO IS LAW-ENFORCEMENT, SO
I JUST WANTED TO SHIFT, THERE. I
WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW, THE
CITY TO KNOW, THAT WE ARE
WORKING THIS. I AM WORKING WITH
OUR SELECT COMMITTEE CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, AND HER
FOLKS. BUT ALSO, IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH MAYOR WILSON, WE HAVE OUR
NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, I
AM NOT SURE WHAT HER EXACT TITLE
WILL BE, WITH ALLISON HOLCOMB
AND LISA DO GUARD AND SEPARATELY
WITH DEPUTY MAYOR, AS WELL. THIS
IS IN ADDITION TO WORKING WITH
ERIKA EVANS, OUR CITY ATTORNEY,
AND OUR IN HOUSE COUNCIL, WHICH
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I BELIEVE
-- AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE
HAVING MEETINGS TODAY AND
TOMORROW -- REALLY IMPORTANT TO
GET THE LEGAL BASELINE SET. AND
I RECOGNIZE THERE IS A LOT OF
COMMENTS RELATED TO LEGAL PIECES
OF THIS. I WILL SAY, FOR THE
COUNCILMEMBER CHERYL PUBLIC
SAFETY REPRESENTING THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, I WILL BE ENGAGING WITH
CITY ATTORNEY EVANS AND OUR OWN
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL FOR THAT
LEGISLATIVE BASELINE, THAT IS
SUPER IMPORTANT. SEPARATELY, WE
HAVE TO HAVE OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THEY HAVE COME
OUT WITH NEW GUIDANCE -- HERE IS
THE BIG THREE THINGS. THEY NEED
TO BE ENGAGED. THEY NEED TO
RESPOND TO THE 911 CALL THAT
SAYS, THERE IS AN ARMED
KIDNAPPING AT THE HOME DEPOT ON
AURORA. THEY NEED TO CONFIRM,
THEY NEED TO CONFIRM THE
IDENTITIES AND DOCUMENT. AS A
BASELINE, WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE
THREE ELEMENTS ACCOMPLISHED.
BUT, THERE IS OTHER ACTIONS THAT
WE CAN TAKE, TOO. I INVITE
EVERYBODY TO GO TO THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL AND LOOK AT OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY MEETING FROM LAST
TUESDAY. IN MY CHAIR COMMENT AT
THE VERY BEGINNING, I SPOKE TO
THE VARIOUS PIECES OF THIS, AND
I WILL SAY, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT
I SPEAK DIFFERENTLY. I SUPPORT
THE MAYOR, I SUPPORT THE CITY
ATTORNEY AND MY COLLEAGUES WITH
HOW THEY HAVE APPROACHED THIS
AND HOW THEY MAKE STATEMENTS
ABOUT THIS, BUT I WILL SAY, I
COME FROM MY OWN PERSPECTIVE AND
PEACE, SO I ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT
THAT AS A COMPLEMENTING THE
STATEMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES AND
OTHERS WITHIN THE CITY
GOVERNMENT. AND I JUST WANTED TO
SPEAK ON THOSE TWO POINTS. AND
AGAIN, WE ARE DOING THIS IN
PARTNERSHIP. AND ONE LAST THING,
REALLY, TO THE FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, AND YOU CAN LISTEN
TO "SEATTLE NEWS AND BRUISE" IN
THEIR LATEST EPISODE -- WE MADE
SUCH GREAT EFFORTS, REGARDING
TECHNOLOGY. WE DID THINGS VERY
DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS DID, RELATED TO
TECHNOLOGY. SO, FOR, LIKE,
AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS,
WE ARE NOT CONNECTED TO
WASHINGTON STATE SYSTEM. WE HAVE
CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS. SO, I
RECOGNIZE THE CONCERN AND WE
CONSTANTLY FOLLOW-UP, BUT WE
BUILT SUCH A DIFFERENT SYSTEM.
SO, I WANTED TO SAY THIS AT THE
VERY BEGINNING, AND FOR THE
GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE IN TERMS OF
ME GOING OUTSIDE, I ALSO WANT TO
THINK THAT -- SORRY, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, BUT SINCE I AM
SPEAKING WITH THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I WILL ALSO ADD,
RELATED TO SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, I
DO THINK IDW LOCAL 47 AND 17 FOR
COMING HERE, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
IS A UNION ORGANIZATION, YOU
HEARD IT THROUGH THE COMMENT AND
THE PIECES THAT ARE THERE AND
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE
TO THE ENTERPRISE IN OUR CITY
AND WE NEED TO TAKE VERY GRAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WE
ARE FACING AND HOW WE ARE FACING
THOSE AND AS YOU NOTED IN THE
PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE HAS BEEN
PROGRESS AND WORKING THESE
THINGS HAS, AS YOU SAID -- AND
THEN, SEPARATELY, THERE IS GOOD
GOVERNANCE ANGLES TO THIS. US,
AS A COUNCIL, WE ARE ALSO ON THE
PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION AND WE
HAVE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES, AS A
CITY COUNCIL. AND SO, I JUST
WANTED TO CLOSE BY A QUICK NOTE
THAT WE RECEIVED ON THURSDAY
NIGHT BY MR. MILLER, WHO IS A
JOURNEY WORKER, AN ELECTRICIAN,
HAD SAID THAT SOMEWHERE IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS LOST THEIR
MIND, FIRING DAWN LINDELL IS A
CATASTROPHIC MISTAKE, MS. LINDO
WAS ON HER WAY TO WRITING A
BADLY WOUNDED SHIP, SHE HAD THE
BACKING OF THE RANK AND FILE
UNION WORKERS, ESPECIALLY
ELECTRICIANS, IDW LOCAL 27, THIS
IS A MASSIVE MISTAKE AND WILL
HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR
THE CITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE LEAD
UP TO WORLD CUP. CITY COUNCIL
WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO DO
EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO KEEP
MS. LINDO AT THE HELM OF SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT, SO THANK YOU TO MR.
MILLER FOR THAT, BUT THIS ALSO
GOES TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY. I
TALK ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY
WITH THIS REPORT,
RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT WE
AS A BODY ALSO HAVE
RESPONSIBILITIES HERE AND A VERY
IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR OUR CITY.
SO, I APOLOGIZE FOR GOING ON, ON
ONE EXTRA ITEM, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, BUT I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTS
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A
COUNCIL, SO THANK YOU AND WE
WILL BE FOLLOWING UP FOR FEDERAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE WILL
ENGAGE WITH THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. AND IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTIONS, THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTIONS,
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED AND I
APOLOGIZE, I MEANT TO SAY THANK
YOU, ALL, AND I WILL SAY THIS
EVERY SINGLE TIME, THANK YOU FOR
TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY, FOR
COMING DOWN HERE, FOR EXPRESSING
AND ELEVATING ISSUES WE NEED TO
HEAR ABOUT, ALL THE TIME. YOU
MIGHT NOT GET AN ANSWER
IMMEDIATELY, RIGHT NOW, BUT WE
WILL STAY ENGAGED AND CONNECTED,
AND WE ARE ALWAYS COMMITTED, AS
YOU HEARD MR. DEAN, HE SENDS ME
TEXT MESSAGES ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
SOME OF THE CONCERNS HE HAS. I
HAVEN'T ADDRESSED SOME OF
THOSE, JUST YET. I AM STILL
COMPILING ALL THAT INFORMATION,
BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SEND
US THAT INFORMATION SO YOU CAN
GET AN ANSWER FROM US, AS WELL.
SO, I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE SUCH
A RIGID SWITCH INTO THE AGENDA.
I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU, ALL,
FOR COMING. SO, THANK YOU. AND
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. WE ARE NOW GOING TO
CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR, ITEMS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR INCLUDES THE MINUTES OF
JANUARY 13th, 2026, AND COUNCIL
BILL 121154 AND THIS IS PAYMENT
OF THE BILLS. ARE THERE ANY
ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE
TO REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR? YOU DON'T WANT TO NOT
PAY THE BILLS? I'M JUST
PLAYING. HEARING NONE, I MOVED
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR,
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> AWESOME. THE CONSENT
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION AND CONSENT
CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF? WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, CONSTABLE
121022 GRANTING EACH ST
PERMISSION TO CONTINUE OPERATING
PEDESTRIAN SKY BRIDGE OVER AND
ACROSS VIRGINIA STREET, BETWEEN
FIFTH AVENUE AND SIXTH AVENUE
FOR A 15 YEAR TERM, COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS.
>> AWESOME, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
AS CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
WATERFRONT COMMITTEE, A.K.A. THE
STEPS COMMITTEE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE THE
COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL
BILL 121022 WOULD RENEW
PERMISSION FOR THE WEST HOTEL
SKY BRIDGE OVER VIRGINIA STREET.
THE SKY BRIDGE CONNECTS THE
HOTEL TO THE PARKING GARAGE,
WHICH HAS APPROXIMATELY 400
SPACES. AS OF PUBLIC BENEFIT,
THE HOTEL DID EXTENSIVE WORK TO
REPAIR AND MAINTAIN THE GIANT
SEQUOIA LOCATED IN THE ADJACENT
AREA AND A TRIANGLE AT FOURTH
AVENUE AND VIRGINIA STREET. THIS
IS UPDATING THE IRRIGATION
SYSTEM, IMPROVING SOIL
CONDITIONS, AND IMPROVING
HOLIDAY LIGHTING. IF THE
ORDINANCE IS APPROVED, THE
PERMIT WILL BE IN PLACE UNTIL
2041 WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW
UNTIL 2056. SO, IN PLACE UNTIL
2041, RENEWABLE FOR ANOTHER 15
YEARS, THEREAFTER. THIS
ORDINANCE PASSED COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY. WE ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT HERE TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THE BILL
IN FRONT OF US? AWESOME. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
OH, THERE IS A COMMENT. I
APOLOGIZE. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE AS THIS IS IN MY
DISTRICT, I SAID THE SAME THING
IN TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, I
ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT,
COLLEAGUES. THIS IS IMPORTANT,
AND AS CHAIR NOTED, AS CHAIR
SAKA FROM THE COMMITTEE NOTED,
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE
COMMITTEE IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC
OFFSET AND SUPPORT, BUT ALSO IN
TERMS OF FACILITATING DIFFERENT
PIECES TO INCLUDE EPA ACCESS,
BETWEEN THE GARAGE AND THE
HOTEL. THESE PIECES COME UP AND
IT HAS BEEN A PART OF THE
COMMUNITY FOR THESE PAST 30
YEARS, SO IT REALLY NEEDS TO
MOVE FORWARD FOR THOSE REASONS,
SO I WILL ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU ,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE BILL IN
FRONT OF US? WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ABOUT THE
BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> AWESOME. THE BILL PASSES AND
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
ON THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER TWO INTO THE AGENDA?
>> COUNCIL BILL 121117,
VACATING THE ALLEY IN BLOCK 24,
HEIRS OF SARAH A. BELL S SECOND
ADDITION, IN THE DENNY TRIANGLE
NEIGHBORHOOD, ON THE GID
DEVELOPING GROUP AND THE SEATTLE
PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE
THE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, THE BILL BEFORE US
WOULD FINALIZE THE VACATION OF
THE ALLEY IN THE BLOCK BOUNDED
BY WESTLAKE AVENUE, NINTH
AVENUE, AND LENORA STREET. THIS
SPECIFIC ALLEY VACATION WAS
REQUESTED BY OUR OWN SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION, AND THE ADJACENT
PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER AND
FACILITATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE URBAN TRIANGLE PARK IN BENNY
TRIANGLE. BEYOND THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THIS ITSELF, BUT PUBLIC
DEVELOPMENT ATTACHED TO THIS
SPECIFIC VACATION REQUEST
INCLUDE INCREASED PLANTINGS
AROUND THE BLOCK AND INDOOR
STORAGE SPACE TO SUPPORT THE
PARK, WHEN THE VACATION WAS
ORIGINALLY APPROVED BY THE
COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL ADDED EIGHT
CONDITIONS ON ITS APPROVAL,
THOSE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN MET,
AND COUNCIL, THIS PROPOSAL
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, AT THE
COMMITTEE LEVEL. WE ARE ASKING
FOR YOUR SUPPORT HERE AGAIN
TODAY. ANOTHER PROJECT IN
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S DISTRICT
7. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WANTED TO ECHO AGAIN ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S COMMENTS
ON THIS BILL THAT I, TOO, AS A
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, I
ACTUALLY WAS THERE TODAY AS IT
TURNED OUT AND I SAW PEOPLE
ENJOYING WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A
PUBLIC SQUARE OR IN THIS CASE,
TRIANGLE. THESE ARE THE PIECES
THAT WE NEED WITH THE
INTENSIFICATION WE SAW IN SOUTH
LAKE UNION, WE NEED THESE
SMALLER GREEN SPACES, WE NEED
THESE PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS TO
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND
THAT IS WHAT IT IS DOING AND
WHAT I SAW TODAY WITH PEOPLE
SITTING ON THE BENCHES, YOU
KNOW, ENJOYING THEMSELVES AND,
YOU KNOW, BIG SAFETY, FANTASTIC
ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY AND I
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL.
>> NO WORRIES. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? ANY CLOSING
COUNCIL COMMENTS? AWESOME. OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES, THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? THERE
WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR AND THERE IS NO
RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION OR
ADOPTION TODAY. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL? COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> SORRY, BOLD HAND.
>> I WILL TAKE A POINT OF
PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, HIS BIRTHDAY
IS TOMORROW, BUT WANTED TO WISH
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA A VERY BIG,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I WAS READING
YOUR BIO BECAUSE I KNEW --
OBVIOUSLY, I KNOW YOU, BUT I
DIDN'T REALIZE YOU HAD SERVED
IN THE ARMED FORCES FOR 10
YEARS, SO THAT WAS PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE. SO, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
I PROMISE YOU, ALL, I WON'T
EMBARRASS YOU, ALL, LIKE THAT
FOR YOUR BIRTHDAYS. I PROBABLY
WILL. BUT, ANYWAYS, JUST WANTED
TO SAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. IF THERE IS
NO RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION
AND ADOPTION TODAY, IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS FROM ANY OF THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS? MS. YVETTE, CAN
WE DO IT AFTER THE MEETING? YES,
WE WILL DO IT AFTER THE MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE
REACHED TODAY'S END OF THE
MEETING AND AGENDA, THE NEXT
MEETING IS JANUARY 27th AT 2:00
P.M. HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.