APRIL 7, 2026 MEETING OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME
TO ORDER. IT IS 2:04, I AM JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH, YOUR BEAUTIFUL
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WILL THE
CLERK CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS? COUNCIL
MEMBER FOSTER?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LINN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK?
PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> SIX PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA AND
KETTLE ARE EXCUSED. I WAS SAYING
IF YOU WERE PAYING ATTENTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK HAS
PROCLAMATION FOR RECOGNIZING
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
FOR SIGNATURE AND PRESENTATION
TODAY. COUNCIL MEMBER WILL SHARE
COMS AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, I WILL
KEEP REMARKS BRIEF SO WE HAVE
TIME TO READ THE PROCLAMATION
INTO THE RECORD AND HEAR FROM
OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE HERE TO
RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION TODAY.
AS CHAIR OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE I HAVE SPONSORED THIS
RECOGNIZING APRIL AS SEXUAL
ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH HERE IN
SEATTLE WE STAND UNITED TO
RECOGNIZE THE STRENGTH AND
RESILIENCE OF SURVIVORS. WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEEP AND LONG
LASTING TRAUMA OF SEXUAL
VIOLENCE AND CONDEMN IT IN ALL
FORMS. IN PARTICULAR, AS
SURVIVOR, MYSELF Y AM-- IT IS
TRULY AN HONOR TO SPONSOR THIS
PROCLAMATION. TODAY AND EVERY
DAY WE MUST TAKE STEPS TO
BELIEVE SURVIVORS AND HONOR THE
ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZATIONS
WORKING TIRELESSLY TO CREATE A
SAFER COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF US.
THIS PROCLAMATION IS A
COMMITMENT TO CHALLENGE THE
SOCIETAL ATTITUDES AND MAKE
MEANINGFUL ACTION AGAINST THE
STRUCTURES THAT ALLOWS RAPE
CULTURE TO EXIST. WITH THAT, I
WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION INTO
THE RECORD. WHEREAS SEXUAL SALT
AWARENESS MONTH WAS FIRST
OBSERVED BY THE UNITED STATES IN
APRIL, 2001 TO RAISE AWARENESS
ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT, PREVENT
SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND SUPPORT
SURVIVORS, DENIM DAY WAS
ESTABLISHED IN APRIL, RECOGNIZE
THIS YEAR APRIL 29, 2026, TO
PROTEST GLOBAL MITTS AROUND
CONSENT AND VICTIM BLAMING AND
REMAINS THE LONGEST RUNNING
SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND
EDUCATION CAMPAIGN IN HISTORY,
AND WHEREAS RAPE IS AMONG THE
MOST UNDER REPORTED CRIMES FOR
MANY REASONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO FEAR OF NOT BEING
BELIEVED AND FURTHER TRAUMATIZED
BY THE LEGAL SYSTEM, ADDITIONAL
BARRIERS SUCH AS LANGUAGE,
IMMIGRATION STATUS, GENDER BIAS,
AND SYSTEMIC RACISM FURTHER
OPPRESS AND SILENCE VICTIMS, AND
WHEREAS SEXUAL VIOLENCE EXISTSEN
OCONTINUUM OF BEHAVIOR INCLUDES
RACIST, SEXIST, TRANSPHOBIC,
ABLEST AND HATE SPEECH, THIS
RANGES FROM RAPE JOKES, AND
NORMALIZED HARMFUL LANGUAGE TO
HOSTILE VERBAL HARASSMENT, TO
VIOLENT THREATS, AND CYBER
STOCKING AND ONLINE SPACES TO
NONCONSENSUAL GENERATION AND
DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL IMAGES,
AND WHEREAS MILLIONS HAVE BEEN
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND ARE TOO
OFTEN LEFT WITH LITTLE SUPPORT
AND FEW SOLUTIONS, OVER 81% OF
WOMEN AND 43% OF MEN ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES HAVE REPORTED SOME
FORM OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND/OR
ASSAULT DURING THEIR LIFETIME.
GIRLS AGES 16-19 ARE FOUR TIMES
MORE LIKELY THAN THE GENERAL
POPULATION TO EXPERIENCE RAPE
AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. WHEREAS WE
KNOW THAT TRANSGENDER WOMEN,
ESPECIALLY TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR,
ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY MORE
LIKELY TO SUFFER DISCRIMINATION,
VIOLENCE AND ABUSE, AND AS CITY
GOVERNMENT WE COMMIT TO THE
ELIMINATION AND PREVENTION OF
THIS IDENTITY-BASED HATE, AND
FIGHT TO CHANGE ALL NORMS THAT
PERPETUATE DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST GENDER QUEER
INDIVIDUALS, AND WHEREAS WE
UNDERSTAND THAT WARTIME SEXUAL
VIOLENCE HAS BEEN USED
THROUGHOUT HISTORY AS
DELIBERATELY BRUTAL TACTIC OFTEN
UNPUNISHED AND WIDESPREAD DURING
CONFLICT RECOGNIZED BY UNITED
NATIONS AS A CRIME AGAINST
HUMANITY AND A WAR CRIME, AND
WHEREAS WE MUST PUBLICLY
RECOGNIZE THE HUNDREDS OF
REPORTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE MADE
BY IMMIGRANTS WHILE BEING HELD
IN IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS
DETENTION CENTERS, THESE REPORTS
INDICATE A SYSTEMIC PATTERN OF
ABUSE PERPETRATED BY DETENTION
OFFICERS, GUARDS, AND FACILITY
STAFF, AND WHEREAS WE KNOW THAT
94% OF NATIVE AMERICAN OR
INDIGENOUS WOMEN LIVING IN
SEATTLE REPORTED THEY HAVE BEEN
RAPED OR COERCED INTO SEX AT
LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIVES AND WE
KNOW THERE IS A CRISIS OF
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE
AND WHEREAS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
HOMELESS AND HOUSING INSECURE
WOMEN FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES
THAT AFFECT THEIR WELLBEING,
HIGH RISK FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED SEVEN TIMES
MORE OFTEN THAN PEOPLE WITHOUT
DISABILITIES, AND WHEREAS WE
REJECT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN ALL
FORMS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
TARGETS THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS
WOMEN IN THE HOME, ON THE
STREETS, IN THE WORKPLACE,
MEDIA, AND ONLINE, AND SUPPORT
SURVIVORS IN THEIR RECOVERY.
WHEREAS WE KNOW THAT WORKING
TOGETHER TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY
ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE,
SUPPORTING SURVIVORS WHEN THEY
COME FORWARD, SPEAKING OUT
AGAINST HARMFUL ATTITUDES AND
ACTIONS, AND ENGAGING IN BEST
PRACTICE SEXUAL VIOLENCE
PREVENTION WORK HELPS END SEXUAL
VIOLENCE, AND WHEREAS EFFORTS TO
CHANGE BELIEF SYSTEMS AND
PRACTICES THAT PERPETUATE SEXUAL
VIOLENCE, ESPECIALLY IN TARGETED
VOLNERABLE POPULATIONS, REQUIRE
PARTICIPATION OF THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY, AND WHEREAS SEATTLE
MUST WORK TO BECOME A PLACE
WHERE SEXUAL ASSAULT IS TREATED
AS PREVENTABLE PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUE, WHERE SOCIAL PERCEPTIONS
AROUND SEXUAL VIOLENCE ARE
CHANGED, WHERE SURVIVORS CAN
ACCESS AN ARRAY OF SERVICES THAT
ARE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND
RELEVANT TO THEIR NEEDS, AND
WHERE SEXUAL VIOLENCE DECREASES
IN FREQUENCY, AND WHEREAS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE INVESTS IN
COMPREHENSIVE NET WORK OF
TRAUMA-INFORMED SOCIAL SERVICES,
AND SPECIALIZED RESPONSE TO
SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT ADDRESSES
THE NEEDS OF SURVIVORS BY
PROVIDING 24-HOUR RESPONSE
SYSTEM, CRISIS INTERVENTION,
INFORMATION AND REFERRALS, THE
SEEK THEN SPEAK PROGRAM, AND
GENERAL MEDICAL AND LEGAL
ADVOCACY, AND WHEREAS SEATTLE,
THE SEATTLE REGION, IS HOME TO A
STRONG SURVIVOR ADVOCACY
NETWORK, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THE COALITION ENDING
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, HARBOR
VIEW CENTER FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT
AND TRAUMATIC STRESS, KING
COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE
CENTER, AND THE WASHINGTON STATE
COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT,
WHO, IN FEBRUARY OF 2026,
ANNOUNCED THEY WILL NOW BE
SERVING AS WASHINGTON STATE'S
FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED SEXUAL
ASSAULT COALITION. AND WHEREAS,
BY WORKING TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY, WE CAN ALLEVIATE THE
TRAUMA OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE BY
INSURING ALL SURVIVORS HAVE
ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES
BY ACTIVELY CHALLENGING AND
DISRUPTING HARMFUL ATTITUDES AND
BEHAVEIERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND BY
RESPECTING AND SAFEGUARDING
SURVIVOR'S IDENTITIES AND
STORIES, INSURING THAT ANY
SHARING OF LIVED EXPERIENCES ARE
RESPECTED AND CENTERED ON
SURVIVOR'S WELL BEING, ALWAYS.
FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
DO PROCLAIM APRIL 20, 2026 TO BE
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
RINCK. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLL
FOR SIGNATURES? COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ?
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO
STAND FOR THIS, IF I MAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD EVERY YEAR
A COUNCIL MEMBER BRINGS THIS
FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT SEXUAL
ASSAULT. THE REASON I WANT TO
ADDRESS THE ROOM IS THAT I AM
HOPING THAT ALL OF YOU, I KNOW,
MANY LISTEN TO NPR AND KEOW,
FINISHED A SEVEN-PART EPISODE
CALLED ADULTS IN THE ROOM,
REGARDING GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE ONE OF
OUR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
PRINCIPLE THERE, CHERYL CHOW,
WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE TO
STAND FOR STUDENTS THAT WERE
SUBJECTED TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, TO
GROOMING, AND IT CONTINUED, AND
IT CONTINUES TODAY. THIS KEOW
EXPOSE AOF TWO FOLKS WHO WENT TO
HIGH SCHOOL AT GARFIELD, ONE WHO
IS NOW REPORTER, I CAN'T THINK
OF HER NAME, ZELDA RAFFERTY, YOU
WERE AROUND, THIS IS ABOUT THE
TIME YOU GRADUATED FROM HIGH
SCHOOL. I THINK IT IS SO
PROFOUND THAT IN MARCH OF APRIL,
2026, THAT WE ARE STILL
GRAPPLING WITH EVEN POST ME TOO,
WITHOUT GOING INTO MY OWN
EXPERIENCE AS AN OLDER WOMAN
NOW, NOW WE HAVE THE LANGUAGE
AND THE WORDS TO GRASP WHAT
GROOMING IS. WE HAVE THE
LANGUAGE WHERE WE CAN GO BEYOND
WHAT IS JUST INAPPROPRIATE. NOW
WE HAVE LAWS AND RULES IN PLACE
TO SAY YOU ARE A MANDATORY
REPORTER, THAT YOU HAVE TO DO
THAT, AND IT STILL PERSISTS. SO
I AM HOPING THOSE OF YOU WHO
HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LISTEN TO KEOW CALLED ADULTS IN
THE ROOM, SEVEN EPISODES YOU GET
A CHANCE TO DO THAT,
PROCLAMATIONS ARE IMPORTANT,
RESOLUTIONS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT
MOST IMPORTANT THING IS
EDUCATION AND THAT WE CONTINUE
TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND I
HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, I WILL
SAY IT MANY TIMES, YOU CAN
ALWAYS JUDGE A SOCIETY ABOUT HOW
THEY TREAT THEIR WOMEN AND THEIR
GIRLS. THIS IS A TRUISM
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND
THROUGHOUT TIME. SO THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ, ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY
COMMENTS BEFORE I ASK THE CLERK
TO CALL THE ROLL ON SIGNATURES?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE
PROCLAMATION THIS YEAR FORWARD,
AND COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ FOR
YOUR COMMENTS. THEY ARE HARD TO
FOLLOW UP BUT I DID WANT TO JUST
SAY I WAS RECENTLY AT THE BE
LOUD BREAKFAST. WHEN IT COMES TO
THAT PART OF THE BREAKFAST WHERE
THEY ASK ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN
TOUCHED BY OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO
HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT, PLEASE STAND. THERE ARE
VERY FEW PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THAT
REMAIN SITTING, TO SHOW YOU THE
LEVEL OF HOW SEXUAL ASSAULT
IMPACTS WOMEN AND GIRLS AND BOYS
AND MEN IN OUR SOCIETY. SO I
REALLY-- TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ, A RESOLUTION,
THESE ARE JUST WORDS, ACTIONS
MEAN MORE, AND JUST I AM
GRATEFUL, AS AN OLDER WOMAN
MYSELF, THAT WE DO HAVE THE LAWS
TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, WHO
ENGAGE IN WRONG ACTIONS. I HAVE
TWO DAUGHTERS MYSELF, SO THIS IS
REALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME, AND IT
IS NOT JUST WORDS FOR ME, THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT I CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT, AND THAT WE SHOULD BE
DOING MORE JUST THAN WORDS
AROUND. I AM GLAD THAT WE HAVE
THE LAWS NOW, TO HOLD PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE, AND THAT WE CAN ALL
SPEAK UP WHEN WE SEE THERE IS
SOMETHING WRONG, BECAUSE WHEN I
WAS GROWING UP, IF YOU SAID
ANYTHING, NOBODY EITHER BELIEVED
YOU OR ASKED WHAT YOU WERE
WEARING OR THAT YOU ASKED FOR
IT, AND IT WENT UNADDRESSED,
THIS HAPPENED ACROSS COLLEGE
CAMPUSES IN THIS COUNTRY AND
HAPPENS STILL TODAY, AND IT IS
NOT OKAY, AND WE NEED DO BETTER.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE
RESOLUTION AS THE REMINDER THAT
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO
BETTER, THIS IS IMPORTANT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR
THOSE WORDS. LET THE RECORD
REFLECT I DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE
COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA
ATTENDANCE, SHE IS HERE. ARE
THERE ANYMORE COLLEAGUES THAT
WOULD LIKE DISCUSSION? AWESOME.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD. CAN
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON WHO WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURE FIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER LINN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU, AGAIN, COUNCIL
MEMBER RINCK FOR YOUR HARD WORK
AND STAFF FOR ORGANIZING ALL THE
SPEAKERS TODAY WHO WE WILL CALL.
ARE THERE COMMENTS? WE WILL
SUSPEND THE RULE, IF NO
OBJECTION, WE WILL SUSPEND THE
RULES TO ALLOW PROCLAMATION AND
ALLOW THE GUESTS TO PROVIDE
COMMENT? HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW
COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK TO ADDRESS
THE PROCLAMATION AND I WILL CALL
UP THE GUESTS ALL IN THE ORDER
OF SPEAKING, AND WE WOULD INVITE
YOU ALL TO THE MIC HERE IN THE
MIDDLE TO GIVE SOME WORDS. THEN
WE WILL DO A GROUP PHOTO. SO,
THE FIRST PERSON, WE HAVE EMILY
ROSE BAR, WHIT NOCMORA, AND
AMANDA DEFISHER FROM THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION. NEXT WE
HAVE-- I AM GOING TO MESS, CHEL
GARY? SHELL, SORRY. SHELL GARY
FROM HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
WELCOME, SHELL. WE ALSO HAVE
KATE GARVEY FROM KING COUNTY
SEXUAL SALT RESOURCE CENTER. WE
HAVE, IS IT DIARA? SAY IT AGAIN?
DIADRA? I BUTCHERED YOUR NAME, I
APOLOGIZE, I WILL CORRECT IT FOR
THE REPORT. BOIDLAND FROM
WASHINGTON STATE COALITION
AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
SEXUAL ASSAULT. AND THEN WE
HAVE-- HELP ME WITH THIS.
ANNMARIE THEA TORRES FROM THE
COALITION ENDING GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE. WELCOME. THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE, THAT IS THE
ORDER OF SPEAKERS. WE HAVE EMILY
AND AMANDA FIRST. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS EMILY AND
I AM A CO-CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION. I RESIDE IN
DISTRICT TWO. THANK YOU FOR THIS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL
AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS
MONTH. WE ARE HONORED TO ACCEPT
THE PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF
SURVIVORS ACROSS THE CITY AND
RECOGNITION OF THE ADVOCATES,
SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERS WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO
ADVANCE SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND
HEALING. AS A COMMISSION THAT IS
DEDICATED TO GENDER EQUITY, WE
KNOW THAT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS NOT
ONLY A PERSONAL TRAUMA, BUT A
SYSTEMIC ISSUE THAT REQUIRES
COMMUNITY-WIDE COMMITMENT,
THOUGHTFUL POLICY, AND SURVIVOR
CENTERED RESPONSES. THIS MONTH
IS A REMINDER THAT SEXUAL
VIOLENCE IS NOT INEVITABLE, BUT
PREVENTABLE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR
THE COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP AND
PARTNERSHIP, AND WE APPRECIATE
YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO
MAKING SEATTLE A CITY WHERE ALL
PEOPLE CAN LIVE, WORK, FREE FROM
VIOLENCE. THANK YOU FOR STANDING
WITH SURVIVORS AND HELPING
ASSURE AWARENESS LEADS TO
MEANINGFUL ACTION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI. MY NAME IS WHITNEY. I
HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING PART
OF THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION. WE ARE A DIVERSE
GROUP WHO VOLUNTEER AS
COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE WE CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES AND
LOVE OUR CITY. WE KNOW YOU DO
TOO. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR
YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING
SEATTLE A SAFE AND WELCOMING
PLACE FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU
FOR RECOGNIZING APRIL AS SEXUAL
ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.
ADDRESSING ISSUES OF SAFETY AND
WELLBEING AS PRIORITY FOR THE
COMMISSION, OUR FOCUS AREAS AND
WORK PLANS ARE LARGELY
CONTINUATION OF WHAT COMMUNITY
WAS ELEVATING OVER 50 YEARS AGO
WHEN THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION WAS FORMED. THIS IS
INCLUDED ADVOCATEING FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A WOMAN'S
SHELTER FOR SURVIVORS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE 70s,
HISTORY OF STRONG COLLABORATION
WITH HSD AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT TO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY
CONCERNS AND UPLIFT COMMUNITY
SOLUTIONS VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL
CAMPAIGNS, PUBLIC EVENTS, AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO
PROMOTE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. THIS
TOPIC CONTINUES TO BE A FOCUS
FOR OUR COMMISSION, BECAUSE THE
CRISIS REMAINS PERVASIVE AND
URGENT. AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE
STATISTICS IN TODAY'S
PROCLAMATION. THE IMPACTS OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE ARE FELT
IN EVERY DISTRICT IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IN EVERY
COMMUNITY OF OUR CITY. THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION IS
INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE
REALTY, OUR FRIENDS ARE
SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE. OUR COLLEAGUES ARE
SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE. THE FOLKS WE SUPPORT
AND PAID AND UNPAID ROLES ARE
SURVIVORS, AND WE, PAST AND
CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION ARE
SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE. SEXUAL ASSAULT
AWARENESS MONTH COMPELS US TO
HAWNTHER COURAGE OF SURVIVORS
AND TO BELIEVE THEM. TO BE
CANDED ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE EXPERIENCING,
AND TO RECOGNIZE AND TRUST THE
CRITICAL WORK OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS SPACE. ARE
REMINDS US TO COMMIT TO BUILDING
A CITY WHERE WE WITH EXPERIENCE
SAFETY. HEALING IS POSSIBLE AND
SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS PREVENTABLE.
WE ALL HAVE A ROLE IN BUILDING
THE SAFER ANTI-RACIST FUTURE
THAT WE NEED AND DESERT. THANK
YOU TO THE ORGANIZATIONS,
COALITIONS, AND PROGRAMS,
INCLUDING MANY HERE TODAY, WHO
PROMOTE CULTURALLY REL VENT
SUPPORT, HEALING, AND HOPE IN
OUR REGION, AND THANK YOU TO THE
CITY FOR INVESTING IN THE
CRITICAL EFFORTS. WE NEED TO
CONTINUE RESOURCEING THIS WORK,
WE NEED TO INCREASE THE FUNDING
AND SUPPORT FOR THIS WORK. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM GOING OLD SCHOOL WITH
PAPER.
>> GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK
YOU FOR HAVING US. MY NAME IS
AMANDA, MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE/HER
AND I AM A MEMBER OF RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT ONE. I SERVE AS
CO-CHAIR OF THE GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE SUBCOMMITTEE AT THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. ON
THIS 25th ANNIVERSARY OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH, WE
CONFRONT A DIFFICULT TRUTH, THAT
SEXUAL VIOLENCE REMAINS
PERVASIVE ACROSS SOCIOECONOMIC
AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS IN
SEATTLE. COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
INDICATES FAR TOO OFTEN
SURVIVORS ARE ASKED TO NAVIGATE
SYSTEMS THAT ARE NOT DESIGNATED
AROUND THEIR DIGNITY, SAFETY, OR
CULTURAL NEEDS. IN ADDITION TO
THE PROCLAMATION, WE ARE ASKING
YOU TO TAKE A CONCRETE STEP
FORWARD IN STRENGTHENING
CONFIDENCHALITY AND SURVIVOR
SAFETY IN CITY COUNCIL
PROCESSES, SPECIFICALLY INSURE
MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR PUBLIC
MEETINGS DO NOT EXPLOIT
SURVIVORS FOR SHOCK VALUE OR
UNINTENTIONALLY ENDANGER
EXPERIENCES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HUMAN
TRAFFICKING, OR STOCKING.
SENSITIVE INFORMATION PUBLISHED
WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS OR CONSENT
PUT SURVIVORS AT RISK OF
IDENTIFICATION, RETRAUMATIZEATIO
N, HARASSMENT, OR WORSE. WHILE
WE MAY BE PRESENTING AND
REPRESENTING WOMEN, THAT RISK
CAN SILENCEAL VOICES WE NEED TO
HEAR MOST REGARDLESS OF GENDER
IDENTITY. TODAY, IN RECOGNITION
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS
MONTH, OUR CALL TO ACTION IS
SIMPLE, AMEND CITY COUNCIL
MEETING RULES AND PROCEDURES TO
INSURE SURVIVOR'S SAFETY IN
PRESENTATIONS, WE ARE ASKING FOR
PHOTO AND VIDEO REDACTION AS
WELL AS TRAUMA-INFORMED
PARTICIPATION OPTIONS FOR THOSE
WHO WOULD LIKE TO THEIR THEIR
STORIES. THIS WILL UPHOLD
TRANSPARENCY FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS
WHILE PROTECTING SURVIVOR
IDENTITY. IF SEATTLE IS TO
BECOME A PLACE WHERE SEXUAL
ASSAULT IS TREATED AS PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE, WE URGE YOU TO
ADOPT THE PROTECTIONS AND LEAD
WITH INTENTION. BY INSURING NO
SURVIVOR HAS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
BEING HEARD AND BEING SAFE,
BECAUSE AWARENESS ALONE IS NOT
ENOUGH. SAFETY MUST BE BUILT
INTO OUR SYSTEMS AND REFLECTED
IN OUR PROCESSES. SURVIVORS MUST
BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITHOUT FEAR.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SHARED
COMMITMENT TO THIS ISSUE AND
WELCOME CONTINUED CONVERSATION
ABOUT THIS AND OTHER
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION HAS TO
OFFER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU, LONG WITH
THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO
COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY, AND
EFFORT TO BE CHAMPIONS FOR THOSE
WHO EXPERIENCE SEXUAL VIOLENCE,
WHICH INCLUDE THOSE YOU KNOW,
THOSE YOU LOVE, AND THOSE YOU
REPRESENT. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, EMILY, THANK YOU, WHIT,
THANK YOU, AMANDA. NEXT WE HAVE
SHELL FROM HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, AND WE ARE JOINED BY
REPRESENTATIVE BREONNA TOMUS AND
HANNAH FROM HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
SHELL, I USE SHE/HER PRONOUNS
WITH THE SAFE AND THRIVING
COMMUNITIES DIVISION. AS
CONTRACT SUPERVISOR WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, IT
IS A UNIT WITHIN STC, SORRY, I,
ALONG WITH OUR TEAM HERE, HAVE
THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH OVER
30 COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. HSD FUNDS THE
ORGANIZATIONS AS A SAFETY NET
FOR SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE, TO INCREASE ACCESS TO
SERVICES THAT ARE
TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND CULTURALLY
REL VENT. SEXUAL VIOLENCE
AFFECTS EVERYBODY REGARDLESS OF
AGE, GENDER, RACE, AND OTHER
BACKGROUNDS. SURVIVORS OFTEN
FACE BARRIERS TO REPORTING OR
SEEKING HELP, INCLUDING FEAR,
STIG NU, AND LACK OF TRUST IN
SYSTEMS SUCH AS THE IMPACT OF
CURRENT FEDERAL POLICIES, AS
WELL AS THE CONTINUED OPPRESSION
THAT MADE IT HARDER FOR
SURVIVORS TO SEEK SAFETY. WE
APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S
SUPPORT TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS
FOR SURVIVORS WHO WORK WITH
SURVIVORS EVERY DAY AND WHO WORK
WITH THE MOST VOLNERABLE. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND
ADDRESSING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
IN OUR CITY. TOGETHER WE CAN
TAKE ACTION TO END SEXUAL
VIOLENCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE HAVE KATE GARVEY FROM KING
COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE
CENTER, FOLLOWED BY DARIA, --
THEY DID, OKAY? I APOLOGIZE.
THERE IS NO D IN MY DOCUMENT ON
THE END, I JUST WANT YOU TO--
SORRY. I APOLOGIZE, YOU WILL
CORRECT ME WHEN YOU COME.
>> ALL RIGHT, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, THANK YOU ALL. MY NAME
IS KATE GARVEY, I AM THE CEO OF
THE KING COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT
RESOURCE CENTER, AND I HAVE SO
MANY NOTES HERE TO REFERENCE BUT
I WANT TO START OFF WITH SOME
THANK YOUS BECAUSE ALL OF YOU
HAVE SAID SOMETHING REALLY
MEANINGFUL TODAY. WE GO TO THESE
THROUGHOUT THE MONTH IN ALL OF
KING COUNTY AND HEAR WONDERFUL
THINGS FROM SO MANY OF OUR
COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES ACROSS
THE COUNTY. TODAY WAS ESPECIALLY
MEANINGFUL TO HEAR HOW SPECIAL
THIS PROCLAMATION AND HOW
THOUGHTFUL IT WAS. I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK,
BECAUSE YOU HIT SO MANY
PERSONALIZED NOTES IN THERE,
THANK YOU. YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ, WHAT YOU SAID TODAY WAS
REALLY IMPACTFUL, PROBABLY MORE
SO THAN WHAT I COULD SAY IN HERE
ABOUT BEING PART OF THE
COMMUNITY AND PAYING ATTENTION
TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND YOU,
AND TALKING ABOUT THOSE THAT
CAME BEFORE US, THAT DID THE
GOOD WORK. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND
LISTENING TO THAT PODCAST AS
WELL, ADULTS IN THE ROOM. YES.
FINALLY, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER RIVERA, FOR TALKING ABOUT
THE BE LOUD BREAKFAST, THE
MOMENT WE ASK EVERYBODY TO STAND
UP, IF THEY THEMSELVES OR KNOW
SOMEONE WHO IS A SURVIVOR, IT IS
AN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL MOMENT.
TO THE OTHER SURVIVORS IN THE
ROOM, I WANT TO SAY WE SEE YOU,
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, AND YOU ARE
NOT ALONE. I THINK YOU HAVE
HEARD SEXUAL ASSAULT IS
INCREDIBLY COMMON. IT IS FAR
MORE COMMON THAN PEOPLE REALIZE,
HALF OF WOMEN AND A THIRD OF MEN
WILL EXPERIENCE ASSAULT IN THEIR
LIFETIME.
WE KNOW YOUNG PEOPLE AMONG US
ARE THE MOST VOLNERABLE TO
SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND OFTEN LEAST
LIKELY TO BE BELIEVED. SEXUAL
VIOLENCE PERSISTS IN SILENCE, IT
THRIVES WHEN WE LOOK AWAY, WHEN
WE ASSUME IT DOESN'T AFFECT
PEOPLE WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITIES
WE ARE APART OF. WE TREAT
AWARENESS AS A MOMENT INSTEAD OF
A RESPONSIBILITY. WHILE THIS
ISSUE CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING AND
CREATING CHANGE DOESN'T REQUIRE
DOING EVERYTHING, WE CAN DO
THINGS THAT ARE SMALL, EVERY DAY
CHOICES, IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE
SPEAKING UP WHEN WE HEAR SOMEONE
THAT IS VICTIM BLAMING, NOT
LAUGHING AT A JOKE THAT MAKES
LIGHT OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, IT CAN
BE HAVING AN HONEST
AGE-APPROPRIATE CONVERSATION
WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT CONSENT
AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. IT
CAN BE SIMPLE, AND IT CAN BE
POWERFUL. JUST LIKE BELIEVING
SOMEONE WHEN THEY SHARE THEIR
STORY AND THEN HELPING THEM
CONNECT TO SUPPORT. AN EASY
PLACE TO START, OF COURSE, IS BY
SHARING OUR RESOURCES, YOU CAN
SHARE 24 HOUR RESOURCE LINE
1-88-99-VOICE, SO ANYONE THAT
NEEDS HELP KNOWS WHERE TO TURN.
WE OFTEN SAY WE CAN'T CHANGE
WHAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT.
SEATTLE, THANK YOU YOUR
COMMITMENT, ESPECIALLY THE LAST
BUDGET SEASON, AND TO SURVIVORS
IN SEATTLE AS A WHOLE. YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP AND
WILLINGNESS TO BE LOUD ABOUT
SEXUAL ASSAULT IS MAKING A
DIFFERENCE. TOGETHER WE CAN
CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE
SURVIVORS ARE SUPPORTED,
BELIEVED, AND WHERE PREVENTION
IS TRULY POSSIBLE. THANK YOU CHT
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS DIADRA BOILENED.
SO, I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT THE
WASHINGTON STATE COALITION
AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
SEXUAL ASSAULT. THIS YEAR MARKS
OUR FIRST AS THE DESIGNATED
SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITION OF
WASHINGTON STATE. WE HOLD THAT
RESPONSIBILITY WITH DEEP HONOR
AND PRIDE AS WE SUPPORT
COMMUNITY SEXUAL ASSAULT
PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE. APRIL
2026 MARKS THE 25th ANNIVERSARY
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS
MONTH BUT THE MOVEMENT DID NOT
BEGIN 25 YEARS AGO, IT IS ROOTED
IN DECADES OF ORGANIZING DATING
BACK TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA OF
THE 1940US AND 50s WHEN
MOVEMENTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE AND
EQUALITY BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE. AT
A TIME WHEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
WERE OFTEN SILENCED, ACTIVEESTS
PUSH ED FORWARD ANYWAY. WE MUST
ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WORK WAS, AND
CONTINUES TO BE, LED BY BLACK
WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR, WHOSE
LEADERSHIP, COURAGE, LAID THE
FOUNDATION FOR THE MOVEMENT WE
CARRY FORWARD TODAY. TODAY WE
ARE REMINDED THIS WORK IS FAR
FROM OVER. RECENT DISCLOSURE
INCLUDING DELOR EZ, SHARING HER
TRUTH ALONGSIDE THE CONTINUED
RECKONING IN EPSTEIN CASE,
UNDERSCORE THE URGENCY, OFTEN AT
GREAT PERSONAL COST, ASKING TO
BE HEARD, BELIEVED, AND
SUPPORTED. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER WE STAND WITH
SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND
WHAT W THE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT
THEM EVERY DAY. SEXUAL VIOLENCE
IMPACTS EVERY COMMUNITY, AND
BEHIND EVERY STATISTIC IS A
PERSON, A SURVIVOR WHO DESERVES
TO BE BELIEVED, SUPPORTED, AND
MET WITH CARE. COMMUNITY-BASED
PROGRAMS ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE
PROVIDE THAT CARE EVERY DAY,
OFFERING CRISIS SUPPORT,
ADVOCACY, AND PATHWAYS TO
HEALING. THIS MONTH IS NOT ONLY
ABOUT AWARENESS, IT IS ABOUT
ACTION. IT IS ABOUT INVESTING IN
SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR
SURVIVORS. TO THE ADVOCATE
SURVIVORS AND COMMUNITIES
MEMBERS HERE TODAY, WE THANK
YOU. YOUR VOICES, YOUR WORK,
YOUR COMMITMENT ARE WHAT MOVE US
FORWARD. WE ARE STRONGER
TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS
ANNMARIE, COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE COALITION ENDING
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. SO MUCH
BEAUTIFUL THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID
BY ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND
PARTNERS IN THE WORK Y AM GOING
TO TRY TO ADD A LITTLE SOMETHING
TO THE CONVERSATION. WE ARE JUST
SO PROUD TO BE HERE WITH
EVERYONE AND ACKNOWLEDGING APRIL
AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS
MONTH. IN THE BOOK "TRUTH AND
REPAIR" EXPERT JUDITH STATES
SURVIVORS WANT THE TRUTH TO BE
RECOGNIZED AND THE CRIME TO BE
DENOUNCED BY THOSE IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES WHO MATTER TO THEM.
THIS MEANS SURVIVORS MUST
ACTUALLY MATTER TO THEIR WIDER
COMMUNITIES. OUR WORK AS A
COALITION IS TO CARE FOR,
CONNECT WITH, AND MOBILIZE OVER
35 LOCAL PROGRAMS WHO ARE ALL
WORKING TO BUILD COMMUNITIES
WHERE SURVIVORS AND THEIR
EXPERIENCES ACTUALLY MATTER IN
OUR SOCIETY. ADVOCATES BARE
WITNESS TO THE IMPACTS OF RAPE,
ABUSE, AND VIOLENCE THAT PEOPLE
OFTEN LOOK AWAY FROM OR PRETEND
DOESN'T EXIST. AS WE WATCH THE
NATIONAL NEWS, WE ARE ALL BARING
WITNESS AS MENTIONED, TO
SURVIVORS POWERFULLY DISCLOSING
BUSE AND EXPOSING DECADES OF
COVER UPS. LOCALLY WE HAVE SEEN
DISCLOSURES OF MISCONDUCT AND
SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT SEVERAL
CITY DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PROGRAMS
STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE
NEED FOR SERVICES AMIDST
INCREASING BUDGET CUTS AND
FEDERAL FUNDING UNCERTAINTY.
THERE IS MUCH WORK TO BE DONE TO
FULLY REALIZE OUR COLLECTIVE
VISION OF EQUITABLE
RELATIONSHIPS AND END TO
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. WE
BELIEVE HAVING STRONG SURVIVOR
PROGRAMS AND WORKING IN
COALITION CAN SHIFT THE
CONDITIONS THAT ALLOW ABUSES OF
POWER TO FLOURISH. AND WHY
LEADERSHIP FROM ELECTED LEADERS
AS EXHIBITED HERE TODAY IS SO
CRITICAL. NAMING THE CURRENT AND
HISTORICAL VIOLENCE OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT AND WHO IS MOST LIKELY
TO EXPERIENCE ITS HARMS AS THIS
PROCLAMATION DOES IS A
MEANINGFUL WAY TO SHOW THAT
SURVIVORS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES
MATTER. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION
AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR
WILSON FOR STANDING WITH US
TODAY AND FOR MAKING THIS
PROCLAMATION A PRIORITY. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK
TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS, DID
YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?
>> THEY COVERED IT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME
TODAY. I BELIEVE NOW WE ARE
GOING TO DO A GROUP PHOTO. WE
HAVE DONE THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES
BEFORE, SO, COLLEAGUES, IF YOU
WOULD COME TO THE CENTER AND
THEN THE FOLKS THAT SPOKE, WE
ARE GOING TO TAKE A GROUP PHOTO
WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE
PROCLAMATION AND WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE EVERYBODY COME UP TO THE
STAGE. DON'T WORRY, WE CAN FIT
EVERYBODY. SO, COME ON UP.
>> ONE, TWO, THREE, BEAUTIFUL
SMILES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I FEEL YOU THERE. SEE YOU
NEXT TIME. TWICE IN TWO DAYS.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, ALL, SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU TO THE CROWD FOR
YOUR PATIENCE AS WE PRESENTED
THE PROCLAMATION, DO OUR GROUP
PHOTO. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
RINCK, FOR ORGANIZING THAT IN
YOUR STAFF. I DON'T SEE YOUR
STAFF, BUT ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB
Y KNOW THAT IS A LOT OF
LOGISTICS. THANK YOU ALL.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE ARE
NOW GOING TO OPEN THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, PUBLIC
COMMENTS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
OR THE COUNCIL'S WORK PROGRAM
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE
COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL CANNOT
ACCEPT COMMENTS ON QUASI
JUDICIAL ITEMS OR
CAMPAIGN-RELATED MATTERS. CLERK,
HOW MEN SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> FOUR REMOTE, AND 24 IN
PERSON.
>> SO WE HIT THE MAGIC NUM B
RIGHT UNDER 30. THAT IS 28
SPEAKERS. IF THERE ARE FEWER
THAN 30, THEN EACH SPEAKER GETS
TWO MINUTES, IF THERE IS 30-60,
IT IS ONE MINUTE PER SPEAKER AND
IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 60, THERE
IS ONE MINUTE OR LESS. WE HAVE
28, EVERY SPEAKER WILL GET TWO
MINUTES. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
READ OVER THE INSTRUCTIONS
>> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
OF THEIR THEME, SPEAKERS MICs
WILL BE MUTE FD THEY DO NOT END
COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED
TIME TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
OUR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> AWESOME. I WILL CALL UP THE
FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS, MR.
ZIMMERMAN, ANDREA, NICOLE,
STEVE, AND WE HAVE KEN. EACH
SPEAKER WILL GET TWO MINUTES.
AFTER KEN, THEN WE HAVE TERRY,
JOHN, DIANA, MINISTER HERD, AND
THEN WE HAVE, LAST NAME,
MINDAUNGA? I CAN'T, WHEN WE GET
TO THAT NAME, I WILL TRY TO SAY
IT. POLOGIZE. YOU CAN USE
EITHER. TWO MINUTES. AWESOME,
MR. ZIMMERMAN.
>> THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS
ALEX ZIMMERMAN, I LIVE HERE 40
YEARS. I AM PRESIDENT OF STAND
UP, AMERICA, I AM 15 TIME FOR
ELECTION, PERSECUTE ME SEVEN
TIMES, ALL CASES DISMISSED AND I
HAVE 7,000 DAY OF TRESPASS,
7,000 DAY OF TRESPASS, NOBODY IN
AMERICA HAVE 7,000 DAY OF
TRESPASS, FASCIST, YES. SO LAST
MONTH SHARE, BLACK WOMAN, GIVE
ME TRESPASS FOR--
>> PAUSE, PAUSE, PAUSE, TIME.
YOU CONSTANTLY ATTACK MY RACE
ALL THE TIME, THAT IS NOT
ACCEPTED HERE, OKAY? YOU CAN
JUDGE ME BY THE CONTENT OF MY
CHARACTER, POLICIES BUT NOT MY
RACE. TIME CAN CONTINUE. THAT IS
YOUR WARNING.
>> I CAN MENTION YOUR NAME, I
HAVE OPINION ABOUT WHAT YOU DID
BECAUSE IT IS NINE TOGETHER,
VERY IMPORTANT. NOT PERSONAL,
YOU. YOU ONLY DID THIS. YOU ARE
RESPONSIBLE, IT IS A PROBLEM. SO
I WANT TO EXPLAIN TOIOYOU,
PEOPLE, NOT YOU, PERSONAL,
DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, MY
QUESTION TO YOU, MARTIN LUTHER
KING KILL, WHY HE KILLED?
BECAUSE HE HAVE DIFFERENT
OPINION I AM ALEX FOR 30-PLUS
YEAR, I AM HERE AND HAVE
DIFFERENT OPINION AND DIFFERENT
VIEW. YOU GIVE IT, TRESPASSES,
FROM SEATTLE, FIVE YEARS, SO MY
QUESTION RIGHT NOW, WHERE IS
DIFFERENT BETWEEN MARTIN LUTHER
KING AND ALEX TSIMERMAN? NOT
DIFFERENT, ONE IS BLACK, IS
ANOTHER IS JEW. EXACTLY WHAT HAS
HAPPENED IN AMERICA FOR LAST 40
YEARS. IN SEATTLE, NUMBER ONE
FASCIST, AMERICAN REVOLUTION,
STAND UP, HAPPY COW, BRING
AMERICA BACK, LIKE WE HAVE
BEFORE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT, JUST A REMINDER TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC, YOU ARE NOT
LOWED TO ATTACK COUNCIL MEMBERS
BASED ON THEIR RACE, BASED ON
THEIR GENDER, BASED ON THEIR
SEXUALITY, BASED ON THEIR
RELIGION, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT.
[ APPLAUSE ] WE WON'T-- JUST
WON'T BETOLERATED. NEXT, ANDREA
. WELCOME.
>> HELLO, I AM HERE REPRESENTING
LABORS ACROSS THE REGION. I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT WHY SUPPORTING A
BOND FOR THE SEATTLE CENTER SO
IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FOR THE
CITY, BUT FOR OUR MEMBERS AND WE
RELY ON REALLY GOOD UNION JOBS.
SO THE SEATTLE CENTER IS ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT PLACES IN OUR
CITY, IT WHERE PEOPLE COME
TOGETHER FOR FESTIVALS,
CONCERTS, SPORTING EVENTS, ET
CETERA, BUT THE FACILITIES OLD,
LOT OF MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PUT
OFF FOR A VERY LONG TIME,
WAITING TO FIX THE BUILDINGS
DOESN'T MAKE IT CHEAPER, IT
ONLY MAKES IT MORE EXPENSIVE AND
CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND INTEREST
RATES ARE UNPREDICTABLE. SO, IT
IS ACTUALLY GOING TO SAVE US
MONEY IF WE DO THIS NOW.
INVESTING IN THE SEATTLE CENTER
IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE, REPAIRING
AND UPGRADES CREATE JOBS RIGHT
AWAY, WHICH MEMBERS NEED DURING
THE TOUGH TIMES AND CONSTRUCTION
IS STEADY WORK FOR MEMBERS IN
THE CITY, AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
VISITING THE CENTER, MORE
BUSINESS. THIS WOULD MAKE THIS
CENTER SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE
FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
IMPROVEMENTS NOW MEAN PEOPLE CAN
ENJOY THE PUBLIC SPACES WITHOUT
DISRUPTIONS FROM CRUMBLING
INFRASTRUCTURE, SO, AS I SAID,
IF WE WAIT, WE RISK LOSING
PUBLIC SUPPORT AND MOMENTUM,
RIGHT NOW THE PEOPLE ARE PAYING
ATTENTION. WE CAN ACT WHILE THE
NEED IS URGENT AND VISIBLE.
SUPPORTING THE BOND IS SMART,
RESPONSIBLE, AND SOMETIMELY, IT
PROTECTS PUBLIC ACCESSS, SUPPORT
UNION FAMILIES AND KEEP SEATTLE
A VIBRANT HUB FOR THE CITY. WE
URGE YOU TO ACT NOW AND PUT THIS
ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT SO
CONSTRUCTION CAN START SOONER,
UNION JOBS CAN BE CREATED AND
THE CENTER CAN CONTINUE SERVING
OUR COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS.
>> NICOLE, STEVE, KEN, JERRY.
>> MY NAME IS NICOLE AND I
REPRESENT THE INTERNATIONAL
BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL
WORKERS, LOCAL 46 I AM INAN
ELECTRICIAN. I WANT TO BOOST
WHAT MY UNION SISTER WAS SAYING.
GOOD TIME TO BE IN SEATTLE, WE
WON THE SUPER BOWL, ABOUT TO
HOST THE WORLD CUP, WE WILL, GOD
WILLING, BE HAVING THE SEATTLE
SUPER SONICS RETURNING TO THE
SEATTLE CENTER IN THE NEAR
FUTURE AND IT IS A GREAT TIME TO
INVEST IN OURSELVES. THESE
INVESTMENTS ARE A HEAVY LIFT. WE
ARE THE ONES THAT PAY FOR THEM.
BUT IT IS NEVER GOING TO BE A
BAD IDEA TO MAKE THE SEATTLE
CENTER GOOD. IT IS THE SETTING
OF OUR CHILDHOODS, FOR THE KIDS
IN THE CITY, IT IS A PLACE WHERE
EVERYBODY IS WELCOME, AND, YOU
KNOW, SELFISHLY, I HAVE TO SAY
THAT IN MY UNION, WE HAVE HAD A
LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF WORK, YOU
KNOW, IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY OUT
THERE IN THE ECONOMY AND THERE
IS A THOUSAND ELECTRICIANS
WITHOUT JOBS RIGHT NOW. IF THE
INVESTMENT IN SOMETHING THAT
LIFTS OUR CITY UP CAN ALSO BE AN
INVESTMENT IN WORKERS WHO NEED
JOBS RIGHT NOW, THAT IS A DOUBLE
WIN FOR US, AND THAT IS OUR
UNION IS COMING TO YOU, ASKING
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON A BOND TO
REDO THE SEATTLE CENTER, MAKE IT
READY FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE,
AND CUT DOWN ON GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS, AND IT IS THE SAME
REASON WHY WE ARE GOING TO BE
BACK TOMORROW MORNING ADVOCATING
FOR THE AMENDMENTS TO THE
LIBRARY LEVEE, WE ARE ASKING FOR
YOU TO INVEST IN US AS WORKERS.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT, STEVE,
FOLLOWED BY KEN, TERRY JOHN,
DIANA, JIMMY.
>> HE HAS GOT A SIGN. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS STEVE Y AM
A RETIRED MATH TEACHER, AND NOW
I HAPPILY VOLUNTEER WITH TRASH
WALK TO IMPROVE OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. WHILE PICKING UP
TRASH, WE HAVE OBSERVED DECAY OF
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY RELATED
TO OPEN AIR DRUG USE AND CRIME.
WE HAVE DOCUMENTED THE IMPACT ON
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO RAISE
AWARENESS AND AFFECT CHANGE. YOU
HAVE A COPY OF OUR DOCUMENT.
THIS MAP SHOWS THE AFFECTED AREA
BETWEEN THE LIGHT RAIL STATIONS.
THIS IS SEATTLE'S ONLY
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS WALKING
DISTANCE TO L1 AND L2, IT HAS SO
MUCH POTENTIAL. BUT THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD IS AT A BREAKING
POINT. EACH RED DOT REPRESENTS A
SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS,
NON-PROFIT SCHOOL, CHURCH, OR
RESIDENT, WHO HAS BEEN IMPACTED.
THERE ARE WELL OVER 200 UNHOUSED
IN THE MAPPED AREA. THE TOTAL
FINANCIAL IMPACT FOR JUST THESE
34 OVER THE LAST TWO TO THREE
YEARS IN ARSON, THEFT, AND
PROPERTY DAMAGE, IS 2.35 MILLION
OR 80K PER PROPERTY. JUST AS
IMPORTANT AS THE IMPACT FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY, STAFF, STUDENTS,
CONGREGATION. FOR DECADES MOUNT
BAKER WAS A HERB OF COMMERCE AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE, WE ARE LEFT
WITH VACANT LOTS, CLOSED
BUSINESSES, AND UNSAFE
ENVIRONMENT THAT DETERS FUTURE
GROWTH IN INVESTMENT. THIS
PHOTO, ONE OF MANY IN THE
PACKET, SHOWS A SEATTLE
GREENWAY, A SCHOOL ZONE WITH AN
ELEMENTARY AND GIRLS MIDDLE
SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET. NOTE
THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON
WITH THEIR GUIDE DOG WALKING TO
THE LIGHT HOUSE FOR THE BLIND,
FORCED TO NAVIGATE AN ACTIVE
DRUG DEAL, A WOMAN BUYING FROM
THE DEALER INSIDE THIS TENT.
THIS IS NOT CITY BASICS BETTER,
THIS IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY
CRISIS THAT NEEDS A COVID-LEVEL
RESPONSE. PLEASE AUTHORIZE
ACTION TO TAKE DRUG DEALERS OFF
OUR STREETERS AND GET TREATMENT
FOR THOSE THEY PRAY UPON. ACT TO
RESTORE HEALTH AND SAFETY TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KEN, STEVE, EXCUSE
ME. IT IS STEVE. WE HAVE KEN
FOLLOWED BY TERRY.
>> I LIVED IN MT. BAKER SINCE
1992, I WAS WALKING BETWEEN
RAINIER AVENUE AND SOUTH
COLLEGE, STEVE AND I WALK PRETTY
MUCH EVERY DAY FOR EXERCISE OR
PICK UP TRASH, THIS AREA HAS
BEEN USED FOR DRUG DEALING ASK
DRUG USES FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
ON THIS DAY I PASTED GENTLEMAN
IN A BLACK TRENCH COAT AND I
SAID GOOD MORNING, AS I
APPROACHED ONE OF THE RVs ALWAYS
PARK TLD I SEE A HAND COME OUT
OF THE WINDOW, BY THIS TIME A
LINE OF PEOPLE HAD FORMED
OUTSIDE THE WIND EO, THE FIRST
PERSON IN LINE WAS A LITTLE OLD
LADY, IN THE AS A RAIL. I SEE
HER PUT SOMETHING INTO THE HAND,
THE HAND WITHDRAWS FROM THE RV,
AND THEN REAPPEARS WITH
SOMETHING. THE LITTLE OLD LADY
TAKES THE SOMETHING FROM THE
HAND AND SHE IS JUST THRILLED,
SMILES AND GOES SKIPPING AWAY. I
TURN AROUND TO WALK AWAY AND THE
GENTLEMAN IN THE BLACK COAT IS
RIGHT BEHIND ME, HE ASK MEEZS
WHAT ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU
DOING? I REPLIED WHO ARE YOU AND
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? HE SAYS
YOU HERE TO HARASS THE HOMELESS
PEOPLE. I SAID NO I AM WALKING
THROUGH. WITH THAT HE REPEATED
HIS CLAIM AND SAID YOU BETTER
GET THE F OUT OF HERE. HE
APPROACHED ME CLOSER, REPEATED
HIS THREAT, AND RAISED HIS FIST
TO MY FACE. WITH THAT I BACKED
AWAY AND TOLD STEVE WE ARE NOT
SAFE HERE, WE HAVE GOT TO GET
OUT OF HERE. WE LEFT THE AREA
AND CALLED THE POLICE. THERE IS
SOMETHING WRONG IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IF A RESIDENT CAN'T
WALK DOWN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD
STREET WITHOUT GETTING
THREATENED BY A THUG TRYING TO
PROTECT THE DRUG DEAL. THE THUG
ACTED AS IF HE WAS PROTECTING
HOMELESS PEOPLE, IN REALTY HE
WAS ACTUALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THE DRUG ADDICTS. THE POOR
LITTLE OLD LADY AND MANY ARE
BEING PRAYED UPON T IS NOT
HUMANE AND ETHICAL TO LEAVE THEM
ON THE STREETS. THEY NEED
TREATMENT AND DRUG DEALERS NEED
TO BE ARRESTED, ARRESTING KNOWN
DRUG DEALERS TAKES WAY TOO LONG,
THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE
EXPEDITED. MT. BAKER RESIDENTS,
BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, AND
SCHOOLS ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO
DEAL WITH THE SITUATION PUT WITH
WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. WE NEED
YOUR HELP. I KNOW YOU WANT TO
HELP, WE NEED ACTION, NOT JUST
WORDS, YOU CAN DO BETTER. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KEN. NEXT, TERRY,
FOLLOWED BY JOHN. WELCOME,
TERRY. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> HI. I AM TERRY MCGIBBON, I
LIVED IN MT. BAKE FOR 50 YEARS.
I NEVER THOUGHT IN MY RETIREMENT
IED BE PICKING UP TRASH TO KEEP
MYSELF OUT OF TROUBLE, BUT I AM.
IT HAS BEEN A GOOD WAY FOR ME TO
CONNECT WITH THE BUSINESSES IN
OUR AREA, MEET OTHER NEIGHBORS
AND STUFF, GIVE BACK A LITTLE
BIT, TOO, A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I
LOVE. I HELPED RAISE TWO
DAUGHTERS THAT WENT TO GARFIELD.
I HAVE A REAL LOVE FOR THE
VALLEY AND MT. BAKER. I WANTED
TO THANK SOME PEOPLE, COUNCIL
MEMBER LINN, THESE PEOPLE AND
THEIR STAFFS, WE HAVE BEEN THE
SQUEAKY WHEEL AND THEY ARE
DEFINITELY HAVE BEEN HELPING US
OUT. CHRISTINE HENDERSON, WHO
ISN'T HERE, BUT WORKED FOR
COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON REALLY
HAS ORGANIZED AND GOT THE SAME
GOAL AND WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED
PEOPLE IN OUR MT. BAKER TRASH
GROUP NOW, WHICH IS CRAZY. JENNY
FRANKAL, TALK ABOUT SUPER STAR,
MAN, HER IN ADOPT A STREET,
AMAZING. SHE HAS HELPED US A
LOT. TRACY KRAMER AND FIND
IT/FIX IT, I AM ALL ABOUT TRYING
TO FIX IT. ANDREA, WE HEART
SEATTLE, DOING AMAZING WORK AND
STUFF, I CAN'T DO WHAT SHE IS
DOING, I AM JUST DOING WHAT I
CAN. THEY ARE REALLY DOING THE
HEAVY LIFTING. AND TEMPUAL THE
MT. BAKER ALLIANCE AND AND HER
STAFF, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE AND
THEIR STAFFS HAVE BEEN GREAT TO
WORK WITH AND STUFF. I AM GOING
TO KEEP MY THOUGHTS ON THE
POSITIVE SIDE AND THIS GOOD TO
SEE THINGS IMPROVE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD DAY BY DAY.
>> THANK YOU, TERRY. NEXT WE
HAVE JOHN, FOLLOWED BY DIANA,
AND MINISTER HERD.
>> HI, I OWN DEANY CONSTRUCTION,
MY COMPANY HAS BEEN PART OF THE
RAINIER VALLEY NEARLY 90 YEARS
ACROSS FOUR GENERATIONS, ONE OF
THE LAST LONG-STANDING
FAMILY-RUN BUSINESSES STILL
OPERATE IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUSINESSES LIKE OURS HELP BUILD
THE VALLEY, LITERALLY AND
FIGURATIVELY, BUT TODAY I HAVE
TO ASK FOR HOW MUCH LONGER? WE
ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED, THE
CONDITION OF THE MT. BAKER AND
NORTH RAINIER VALLEY
NEIGHBORHOODS HAS DECLINED IN
WAYS THAT ARE UNSAFE FOR
RESIDENTS, WORKERS, AND PEOPLE
LIVING ON THE STREETS. WE SEE
OPEN DRUG USE, INDIVIDUALS
PASSED OUT OR WORSE NEAR
ROADWAYS, PEOPLE WANDERING INTO
ACTIVE TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION
ZONES. DRUG USERS REGULARLY
CONGREGATE IN LARGE NUMBERS IN
OUR DRIVEWAY, AN ACT OF
THOROUGHFAIR ALL DAY LONG FOR
VEHICLES. I WANT TO BE CLEAR,
THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR THEM,
THESE ARE PEOPLE AT REAL RISK OF
BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR
KILLED BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY ARE
IN THE CONDITION THEY ARE IN.
ALSO PUTS MY EMPLOYEES IN AN
IMPOSSIBLE POSITION, I WANT THEM
TO FEEL SAFE WHEN THEY COME TO
WORK AND RIGHT NOW THEY DO NOT.
IT IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL RISK,
IT SOMETHING WE ARE ALL ACTIVELY
TRYING TO PREVENT EVERY DAY. WE
ALREADY HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN CONDITIONS ARE ALLOWED TO
DETERIORATE. LONG STANDING
BUSINESSES LIKE MUTUAL FISH AND
THE BAKERY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO
CLOSE. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE NEXT
ALLOWING PEOPLE IN THE DANGEROUS
CONDITIONS IS NEGLECTMENT WE
NEED REAL INTERVENTION,
TREATMENT, OUTREACH, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. IMMEDIATE
RESPONSE WHEN PEOPLE ARE NEAR
ROADWAYS AND ACTIVE WORK ZONES,
WE HAVE CALLED 911 MULTIPLE
TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE OR
DOESN'T DO ANYTHING. CONSTANT
ENFORCEMENT OF BASIC PUBLIC
SAFETY LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY ON
THE BOOKS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW
WHAT IS HAPPENING ISN'T WORKING
FOR ANYONE, NOT FOR THE PEOPLE
ON THE STREETS, NOT FOR WORKERS,
NOT FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE
INVESTED GENERATIONS INTO THE
COMMUNITY. THE QUESTION IS
WHETHER THE CITY WILL ACT BEFORE
PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY FORCES THE
ISSUE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. NEXT WE HAVE
DIANA, FOLLOWED BY JIMMY, IS IT
KAJETEN OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DIANA, THANKS
FOR LISTENING TO US. I AM HERE
REPRESENTING A BUSINESS IN THE
RAINIER VALLEY SINCE 1959, I
WORKED FOR THEM FOR 40 YEARS, I
STARTED IN 1986. I MOVED INTO
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT 34 YEARS
AGO, SO I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF
STUFF HAPPEN. WHEN I FIRST
STARTED WORKING AND LIVING IN
THE AREA, I COULDN'T GET
APPLICANTS TO COME TO APPLY FOR
A JOB BECAUSE WE WERE OFF
RAINIER AVENUE, PEOPLE WOULDN'T
WALK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE
OF CRIME SDP&DRUG DEALING, OVER
20 YEARS I SAW LOT OF
IMPROVEMENTS AND IT WAS REALLY A
GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. IT IS STILL
A GREAT PLACE, EXCEPT IT IS
DECLINING AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO
BACK UP EVERYTHING SAID ALREADY,
I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT
EVERYTHING, BUT 2015 WAS WHEN
HOMELESSNESS WAS A STATE OF
EMERGENCY, IT IS 2026, IF YOU DO
THET MATH, THAT IS 11 YEARS,
STATE OF EMERGENCY, THAT IS
CRAZY T. AND ALSO, LIKE,
EVERYBODY SAID, I DO WALK AROUND
LOT Y DO WALK TO WORK, BUT OUR
EMPLOYEES GET WORRIED. WE HAD
SOMEBODY DIE DOWN THE BLOCK, A
HOMELESS PERSON, PEOPLE
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WITNESS THAT.
PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO
EXPERIENCE IT, PEOPLE SHOULD NOT
BE DYING IN PUBLIC. I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE PEOPLE GET THE HELP THEY
NEED, AND, AGAIN, AS OF BACKING
WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SAID ABOUT
THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS WE ARE
LIVE AND WORKING IN, I WOULD
LIKE TO INVITE ANYBODY HERE
LISTENING THE COUNCIL TO COME TO
DAVIS DOOR, WE WILL WALK DOWN TO
BUDDHA, HAVE LUNCH, I WILL BUY
LUNCH, I WILL BUY DINNER, WALK
AROUND, YOU CAN WITNESS WHAT WE
ARE LIVING WITH WITH ENCAMPMENTS
AND DRUG DEALING AND DRUG USE ON
THE STREETS AND SEE THE
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE
AND TRYING TO SURVIVOR AND STAY
IN BUSINESS AND KEEP EMPLOYING
PEOPLE AND PAYING TAXES, JUST
LIKE I LIVE IN THE AREA, I WANT
TO KEEP WALKING AROUND, KEEP
PAYING MY TAXES AND LIVE IN A
BEAUTIFUL CITY, BUT I DON'T
WANT TO SEE IT DECLINE, I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE ACTION TAKEN TO SAVE
OUR AREA.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
MINISTER HERD FOLLOWED BY
KAJETAN AND THEN THE NEXT
SPEAKER, YOU CAN USE MIC, WE
HAVE LAURA, MICHAEL, JEFF, MATT,
GARRET, JASON, NATHAN, SCOTT,
AND JACK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM JIMMY
HERD, MINISTER IN CENTRAL
SEATTLE, WE HAVE SERVED THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50
YEAR S, INCLUDING WE PROVIDE
WEEKLY HOT MEALS FOR THOSE WHO
ARE HOMELESS, AND THOSE WHO
OTHERWISE NEED THEM. WE HAVE
BEEN DOING THAT FOR MANY YEARS,
WE HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH
RECURRING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT.
IT IS GONE NOW BUT IT WILL COME
BACK. I AM ASKING YOUR HELP WITH
THAT AND FOR THE LACK OF POLICE
PRESENCE IN THE AREA. WE HAVE
BEEN VICTIMS OF THEFT,
HARASSMENT, AND VANDALISM. I,
PERSONALLY, HAVE BEEN THREATENED
BY A RESIDENT OF THIS HOMELESS
COMMUNITY. WE SUFFERED PROPERTY
LOSS, HAD OVER A HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO
OUR AIR CONDITIONING UNITS,
PEOPLE TRYING TO GET THE COPPER
OUT, WE HAD A RENTAL HOME THAT
WE WERE RENTING OUT TO A LOW
INCOME PERSON, WE HAD A HOMELESS
PERSON BREAK IN, START A FIRE,
THERE IS NO FIREPLACE IN THERE,
BURN THE HOUSE DOWN. THE HOUSE
WAS A 1917 HISTORIC HOME. IT WAS
VALUED OVER $500,000, WE
CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE $30,000 A
YEAR OF LOST REVENUE BECAUSE IT
IS A VACANT LOT. WE NEED HELP
PREVENTING THE RETURN OF THIS
ENCAMPMENT. IT TAKES ONE THING,
BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS ONE
PERSON WILL PITCH A TENT, WITHIN
24 HOURATIZE THERE IS TEN TENTS
UP. IF WE CAN HAVE SOME
INTERVENTION WITH THE FIRST
PERSON THAT PITCHES THEIR TENT,
LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE NOT
LOWED. WE HAVE A VACANT LOT, WE
ARE WELCOME TO PARTNER WITH THE
CITY ON HOUSING PROJECT. WE NEED
HELP THERE. IF WE COULD INCREASE
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PATROLS, THAT
WOULD BE A GREAT HELP. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> KAJETAN AND THEN LAURA,
MICHAEL, JEFF, MATT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,IER AM OWNER
SAF RON SPICE, I HAVE BEEN
RUNNING THE SMALLBUS SINCE 2012.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HOW BAD THE
SITUATION HAS BECOME SINCE AFTER
THE PANDEMIC AND DUE TO THE
HOMELESSNESS AND THE DRUG
ADDICT, THE DRUG USE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. RIGHT NEXT TO MY
PLACE THE CITY OPEN A BRAND NEW
PLACE TO HELP SUPPORT THE
HOMELESS POPULATION. HOWEVER,
THE RESIDENTS OF HOBSON PLACE A
CONSTANTLY CREATING A HAZARD BY
THROWING USED NEEDLES ALL OVER
THE AREA, ON MY ROOF, AND IN
FRONT OF THE STORES. LAST YEAR A
COUPLE OF PEOPLE EVEN TRIED TO
BURN MY BUILDING DOWN IN SPITE
OF THE PEOPLE BEING ON SECURITY
FOOTAGE, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.
THERE WAS NO CONSEQUENCES TO
THEM, I TALKED TO THE ADDITIONAL
COST OF TRYING TO REBUILD THE
STORE FRONT, AND THE ROOF THAT
WAS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE. THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT WASN'T ON TIME,
I WOULD HAVE LOST THE WHOLE
BUILDING. NOT TO MENTION THE
LOSS OF REVENUE WHEN I WAS CLOSE
TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. ON THE
REGULAR BUSINESS, YOU KNOW EVERY
DAY, MY TRUCKS HAVE BEEN BROKEN
DOWN, GENERATORVISE BEEN STOLEN,
THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE THING
THEY NEED TO GET ELECTRICITY
WHEN THEY ARE ON THE STREET.
WINDOWS SMASHED, STEALING
WHATEVER THEY CAN FIND IN THE
FENCED AREA. ADDITIONAL COST TO
GET IT BACK FROM THE TOWING
COMPANY, I LIKE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, IT HAS BEEN A GOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD, CLOSE TO THE CITY
AND I WANT HELP FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL TO, YOU KNOW, MORE
PATROLLING AND MAYBE EVEN NO
TOILET, SO DO IT ALL OVER THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST KIND OF SAD.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT WE HAVE LAURA FOLLOWED
BY MICHAEL, JEFF, MATT, GARRET,
JASON, NATHAN WALL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
DR. LAURA, I AM THE OWNER OF THE
VETERINARY HOSPITAL WHICH HAS
BEEN SERVING NORTH BEACON HILL
IN RAINIER VALLEY SINCE THE
1950s. I AM NOT HERE TO DEBATE
HOMELESSNESS Y AM HERE TO
DESCRIBE THE UNCHECKED
LAWLESSNESS, LOOKS LIKE OUTSIDE
MY BUILDING AND TO HOLD THIS
COUNCIL ACCOUNTABLE. FOR NEARLY
FOUR YEARS WE HAVE ENDURED
CONSTANT ENCAMPMENT OUTSIDE OUR
DOOR. STAFF WERE SUBJECTED TO
LEWD COMMENTS AND INTIMIDATION,
YOUNG FEMALE EMPLOYEES AND
STUDENTS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL
JUST UP THE STREET HAVE BEEN
FOLLOWED, WE WITNESSED DALEY
DRUG DEALS OUTSIDE OUR GATE,
PEOPLE INCAPACITATED BY FENTANYL
IN OUR DRIVEWAY, INDIVIDUALS
NAKED IN OUR PARKING LOT. LAST
SUMMER SOMEONE NEARLY BURNED MY
BUILDING DOWN Y. HAPPENED TO
ARRIVE 6:30 A.M. TO FIND AN
ACTIVE FIRE FOUR FEET FROM MY
OXYGEN TANKS, OXYGEN IS VERY
COMBUSTIBLE. FIVE MINUTES LATER
THE BUILDING WOULD HAVE BEEN ON
FIREWORKS PATIENTS, BUSINESS,
FIREFIGHTERS' LIVES AT RISK. I
CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TWICE
FOR CAMP FIRES UNDER THE
PHARMACY, ONE OF OUR NEIGHBOR'S
ROOF, WE GAVE THE CITY FOOTAGE
OF THE ARSONIST WHO BURNED DOWN
THE FRUIT STAND ACROSS THE
STREET FROM US. WE BREATHED
TOXIC SMOKE FROM CAMP FIRES
BURNING TRASH ON OUR SIDEWALK.
OUR FENCE WAS CUT, ROOF WAS
BROKEN THROUGH, OUR LOT HAS BEEN
BREACHED AND ITEMS HAVE BEEN
STOLEN. WE CALLED THE CITY, THE
SEATTLE POLICE, REPEATEDLY,
NOTHING HAPPENS. DURING THE PAST
FOUR YEARS VANS AND RVs LEAKING
HUMAN WASTE AND STEALING TRASH
SAT OUTSIDE OUR BUSINESS WHILE
THE CITY IGNORED ITS OWN CODES.
THREATENED TO FINE US IF WE
DIDN'T CLEAN THE CITY-OWNED
ALLEY BEHIND US. WE REMOVED
2,000 POUNDS OF TRASH AT OUR
EXPENSE, IT COST CLIENTS,
REVENUE, AND SAFETY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
MICHAEL, FOLLOWED BY JEFF, MATT,
GARRET, JASON, NATHAN, SCOTT,
SCOTT, AND JACK.
>> HELLO. HI. I AM MICHAEL, A
MT. BAKER RESIDENT, BUSINESS
OWNER, NON-PROFIT DIRECTOR AND
BOARD MEMBER OF A MUTUAL AID
ORGANIZATION. YOU HAVE RECEIVED
NARRATIVES FROM MANY TODAY,
INCLUDING MINE, INWANT TO FOCUS
ON THE SYSTEM LEVEL ISSUES
DRIVING WHAT YOU ARE HEARING,
AND HOW TO FIX THEM. RIGHT NOW
THE SYSTEM IS IS STRUCTURED, 30
YEARS IN AND PROVIDERS ARE
SPENDING TIME SEARCHING FOR THE
NEXT SITE. THAT INSTABILITY
UNDERMINES ABILITY TO REBUILD.
THERE IS A PLANNING PROBLEM. WE
SHOULD HAVE A ROLLING PIPELINE
OF SITES AT LEAST A YEAR IN
ADVANCE, WITHOUT THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING REPEATED CONFLICTS
BETWEEN NEIGHBORS, PROVIDERS,
AND AGENCIES. THERE IS SPACE,
SEATTLE 83.9 SQUARE MILES, OVER
40,000 FOOTBALL FIELDS. THE
ISSUE ISN'T LAND T IS HOW WE
ARE STRUCTURING ACCESS TO IT
FROM PERMITTING AND CODE
STANDPOINT, THERE ARE WAYS TO
MAKES SITES MORE VIABLE, FEW
PRACTICAL CHANGES, LOWER, ALLOW
HYGIENE AND OPERATE MORE
EFFICIENTLY. OFFER INCENTIVES TO
LAND OWNERS. CREATE A PERMIT IN
PLACE OPTION, NEAR COMPLIANCE,
SET CLEAR STANDARDS THAT ALLOW
SITES TO STABILIZE WHERE THEY
ARE WHEN APPROPRIATE AND CREATE
PATHWAY TO DEVELOP SITES DURING
PERMITTING OR CONSTRUCTION
DELAYS, WITHIN INCENTIVES LIKE
REDUCTIONS AND LIABILITY
COVERAGE. THESE ARE SOLVABLE
OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS. I WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THE
CONVERSATION WITH ANYONE WORKING
ON IMPLEMENTATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, JEFF, MATT,
THEN GARRET, JASON, NATHAN. HI,
JEFF.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JEFF. I
WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
THE WORK YOU DO. I KNOW YOU PUT
A TON IN AND WE ARE PRIVILEGED
EVEN TO BE HERE TO HAVE A VENUE
TO SPEAK. THANK YOU Y. AM A
BUSINESS OWNER IN THE AREA, MY
CONTEXT FOR SEATTLE, I AM
FIVE-GENERATION SEATTLE PERSON,
MY MOM WAS MS. BALLARD IN
SEAFAIR PARADE, MY DAD WAS AN
OLYMPIC ATHLETE FROM UW, OWNED A
BUSINESS UP THE STREET. I LOVE
SEATTLE. I FIGHT FOR SEATTLE,
JOY KNOWS THIS. I STARTED A
PRAYER GROUP THAT PRAYED FOR YOU
ALL BY NAME FOR 300 WEEKS IN A
ROW, THAT MEETS AT WEST LAKE
CENTER AND WALKS THE AREA AND
THEN WE GO BACK TO OUR BUSINESS.
I REPRESENT A GROUP CALLED
KIROS, WHICH HAS 9,000 BUSINESS
PEOPLE IN IT, IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. IT IS A PRETTY GOOD
CONSTITUENCY, ALL VOLUNTEER . IT
IS WOMEN, MEN, DIFFERENT AGES,
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, BUT WE
COME TOGETHER TO LEARN HOW TO
ENGAGE THE CITY. SO I JUST AM
ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERING TO ANY
COUNCIL PERSON THAT WOULD WANT
TO MEET WITH ME, OR A GROUP OF
BUSINESS PEOPLE TO SAY WE WANT
TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND PARTNER
WITH THE CITY. THE CITY IS WORTH
FIGHTING FOR. I DEFEND BECAUSE I
PRAY FOR YOU EVERY WEEK, LIKE
FINALLY I GET TO ACTUALLY SEE
THE FACES. I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR GOOD WORK. WE ARE IN
FOR THE LONG RUN, THANK YOU FOR
WHAT ALL YOU DO. I AM HAPPY TO
MEET WITH ANYBODY. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, JEFF.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS. MATT,
MY MAN, YOU ARE UP NEXT. WE NEED
ALL THE PRAYERS-- JUST PLAYING,
MATT, GARRET, JASON, NATHAN.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MATT, I
ALSO WANT TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL I
AM FOR EACH OF YOU, I REPRESENT
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS COME
TOGETHER THE LAST FEW YEARS
CALLED TOGETHER FOR SEATTLE,
THIS IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WITHIN THE FAITH COMMUNITY OF
SEATTLE THAT ARE TRYING TO BUILD
BRIDGES, NOT WALLS, AND, REALLY,
SO I COME HERE AS A BRIDGE
BUILDER, ALSO TO RAISE AWARENESS
OF SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS
HAPPENING IN THE CITY. EACH
MONTH THERE ARE PASTORS COMING
TOGETHER THAT AREN'T INTO THE
TOXIC NATIONAL IDEOLOGICAL
DRAMA, BUT WANT TO DO GOOD FOR
SEATTLE, THEY LOVE THE CITY,
THEY LOVE JESUS, THEY REALLY
LOVE SEATTLE, THEY WANT TO SERVE
THIS CITY. EVERY MONTH AROUND
HOMELESSNESS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING,
AROUND HOW TO SUPPORT OUR
IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS, REALLY
APPRECIATED AWARENESS OF SEXUAL
VIOLENCE WE HAVE CHURCHES THAT
CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
THEY WANT TO SERVE THE CITY.
LIKE JEFF SAID, I WANT TO MAKE
MYSELF AVAILABLE, IF YOU WANT TO
BUILD BRIDGES, THE LEADERS
COMING TOGETHER IN YOUR
DISTRICTS, I WANT TO BE
AVAILABLE TO YOU AND APPRECIATE
EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MATT. NEXT IS
GARRET, JASON, NATHAN, SCOTT,
SCOTT, AND JACK.
>> I WAS BORN IN SEATTLE, ALMOST
62 YEARS AGO, AND THIS SMIE
FIRST TIME TO SEATTLE SILTY
COUNCIL MEETING, I AM SO
GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. AS MY
FRIENDS SHARED, WE ARE SO
GRATEFUL FOR EACH ONE OF YOU Y.
AM A . I PRAY FOR EACH ONE OF
YOU BY NAME. WE VALUE AND
APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT
YOU ARE DOING AND THE
CHALLENGING JOB THAT YOU HAVE
BEFORE YOU. I AM ALSO, LIKE
JEFF, FROM A LONG LINE OF
SEATTLEITES, MY PARENTS MOVED
HERE IN THE EARLY 1940s, I
DIDN'T KNOW THIS, BUT MY MOM
WAS A SEA-FAIR PRINCESS, MISS
CHINATOWN. SHE GRADUATED FROM
GARFIELD IN 1952 AND CHERYL CHOW
IS A GOOD FRIEND, WAS A GOOD
FRIEND OF OUR FAMILY AS WELL. SO
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THAT
DEAR WOMAN THAT SHE WAS AND ALSO
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
YOUR PROCLAMATION AGAINST SEXUAL
VIOLENCE, WE HAVE HAD CLOSE
FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS
AFFECTED AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND
BRING THESE THINGS TO LIGHT. I
HAVE BEEN A LIFE-LONG SEATTLE
SPORTS FAN, MYSELF, I REMEMBER
AS A LITTLE KID CLIMBING UNDER
COVERS WITH THE RADIO LISTENING
TO SONICS GAME BUT I AM EXCITED
ABOUT THE WORLD CUP BEING HERE,
I AM A LIFE LONG SOCCER PLAYER
AS WELL. THERE IS A GROUP THAT
GATHERED TOGETHER, WE GO BY
VICTORYSEATTLE.ORG, A COALITION
OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER
UNITING THE FAITH COMMUNITY,
BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN DIVERSE
NEIGHBORS, HAVING WATCH PARTIES,
WORKING WITH DIFFERENT
NON-PROFITS, FIGHTING HUMAN
TRAFFICKING. WE ARE EXCITED FOR
THE CUP AND WHAT WILL COME WITH
THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE JASON
FOLLOWED BY NATHAN AND THEN
SCOTT.
>> I HATE IT WHEN IT DOES THAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS,
MY NAME IS JASON, LIFE LONG
RESIDENT OF KING COUNTY, MOST OF
MY CAREER WORKING IN SEATTLE,
PROUD MEMBER AND SERVE AS A
LEADWER UA LOCAL 32 PLUMBERS AND
HVAC. I URGE YOU TO ACT NOW ON
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS BY
INVESTING IN THE SEATTLE CENTER.
WE NEED A ADDRESS AGING
FACILITIES AND PUT ICING ON THE
CAGE. I HAVE BEEN GOING THERE
SINCE I WAS A KID AND HAVE A LOT
OF FOUND MEMORIES, A PLACE THAT
BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER AND
DRIVES LOCAL ECONOMY THROUGH
EVENTS, TOURISM&SMALL BUSINESS
ACTIVITY. LIKE ME, 25-YEAR
PIPEFITTER, IT SHOWING ITS AGE.
ACT NOW SO YOU CAN PROVIDE OUR
FUTURE CHILDREN SIMILAR
MEMORIES. WAITING ONLY MAKES
THINGS WORSE, DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE DOES NOT GET
CHEAPER, CONSTRUCTION COST AND
INTEREST RATES ARE UNPREDICTABLE
AND DELAY S TODAY WILL MEAN
HIGHER COSTS TOMORROW. INVESTING
NOW LOWS US TO IMPROVE SAFETY,
ACCESSIBILITY, AND COMMUNITY
USE. IT KEEPS SKILLED WORKERS ON
THE JOB, SUPPORTS APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS THAT TRAIN FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION. THE ECONOMY IN A
SLUMP, MANY MEMBERS ARE READY TO
GO TO WORK RIGHT NOW, PUT THIS
ON THE BALLOT MEANS THESE
PROJECTS CAN START SOONER AND
SUPPORT FAMILY WAGE UNION JOBS
HERE AT HOME. THIS IS THE RIGHT
TIME TO INVEST IN OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR WORKFORCE,
AND OUR FUTURE, I URGE YOU TO
ACT NOW, THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. NEXT WE
HAVE NATHAN FOLLOWED BY SCOTT,
THEN SCOTT, THEN JACK.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST, I WANT TO
REITERATE MY CALL FOR MAYOR
WILSON TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON HER
CAMPAIGN PROMISE AND TURN OFF
THE CAMERAS, THIS IS NOT A GOOD
TIME TO INCREASE SURVEILLANCE
UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
I WANT TO REITERATE I DON'T
TRUST THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO COMPLY IN GOOD
FAITH WITH KEEP WASHINGTON
WORKING ACT WITH PROFESSIONALISM
STANDARDS OR WITH THE
RECENTLY-PASSED BILLS BY THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH HAVE
BEEN PRETTY GOOD. I DON'T TRUST
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
COMPLY WITH IT. SO HOW DO WE GET
THEM TO DO THAT AS A CITY? HOW
DO WE MAKE SURE OFFICERS COMPLY
WITH THESE RULES? YOU KNOW, I
UNDERSTAND IT IS PROBABLY NOT
CONSTITUTIONAL TO SAY WE CAN
JUST FIRE OFFICERS FOR THEIR
POLITICAL BELIEFS BUT THERE
THOOZ BE SOME WAY THEY HAVE BODY
CAMERAS, IFEEL LIKE THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE
MORE CONCERNED ABOUT, ESPECIALLY
WITH THE WORLD CUP COMING UP. WE
NEED TO EXPECT I.C.E COULD COME
TO SEATTLE IN LARGE NUMBERS
DURING THE WORLD CUP, AND THAT
IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO PREPARE
FOR. I GUESS THIS MIGHT NOT BE
PROP TO SAY BUT I AM NOT
TERRIBLY EXCITED WITH THE WORLD
CUP WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON IN
THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW I THINK
FOLKS SHOULD NOT BE COMING TO
THIS COUNTRY. I THINK WE SHOULD
BE EXPERIENCING BOYCOTTS AND I
THINK THE WORLD CUP SHOULD BE
BOYCOTTED BY PEOPLE. SO, THAT
SMIE PERSONAL OPINION, I DON'T
THINK THIS WILL BE VERY POPULAR
HERE, BUT EITHER WAY WE NEED TO
PREPARE FOR IT. FUCK I.C.E.
>> THANK YOU, NATHAN. NEXT,
SCOTT, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT, THEN
JACK. HEY, SCOTT.
>> I AM SCOTT BUZZARD, TODAY
HERE TO DEMAND THE CITY COUNCIL
TAKE AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
AGAINST INCREASING SURVEILLANCE,
AND TO CUT TIES WITH AX ON
COMPANY THAT SUPPLY THE CAMERAS
BECAUSE THE CAMERAS, THE
TECHNOLOGY IS A TOOL OF
GENOCIDE. THE CAMERAS CONTRIBUTE
TO THE DEATH OF THOUSANDS OF
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH
THE DADDY'S HOME TACTIC USED BY
ISRAELI MILITARY TO KILL
PALESTINIAN MEN. IF YOU
REPRESENTED THE INTEREST OF THE
PEOPLE, AS YOU CLAIM YOU DO, YOU
WOULD UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE'S
CONCERNS WITH THE VERY SIM
TECHNOLOGY BEING USED IN OUR
CITY. YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THE
CONCERNS WITH LACK OF TANGIBLE
MEASURE TAKEN AGAINST
PRIVATEIZED SURVEILLANCE. THE
CAMERAVISE BEEN PROVEN TO BE
USED BY I.C.E AND DHS IN ILLEGAL
KIDNAPPING OF IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AS UNIVERSITY STUDENT I CAN
ATTEST TO MY FACULTY AND FRIENDS
BEING DETAINED AND HOW THE
TECHNOLOGY MIGHT HAVE BEEN USED
MAKES ME SICK. NO PERSON IN THE
CITY SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR
THAT CAMERAS WILL USED TO
HARASS. TO COMBAT POTENTIAL
TERRORISM, IS ANOTHER EXCUSE
MADE TO JUSTIFY MILITARYISM AND
SECURITY EXPANSION. WE SEE WITH
THE MEDIA RHETORIC ON ECONOMIC
TERRORISM, THE GREAT WAR ON
TERROR JUSTIFYING ANOTHER
ATTACK. CEMENTMATIC OF THE
DEMONTEIC PARTARY, YOU AS A
WHOLE, WHERE WEAK SPINES
PREVAIL. WE MUST REMOVE THE
SECURITY SYSTEM BY ANY MEANS
NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE WORKING
CLASS. MUST REMOVE THE SECURITY
SYSTEMS WHOSE ONLY BENEFIT IS
LINE THE POCKETS OF A FEW WHILE
MASSES SUFFER UNDER STATE
VIOLENCE. LONG LIVE THE WORKING
CLASS.
>> THANK YOU, SCOTT. NEXT WE
HAVE SCOTT SHULER FOLLOWED BY
JACK, DID I SAY YOUR NAME RIGHT?
>> SKYLER.
>> SO SORRY.
>> NOBODY GETS IT RIGHT.
>> YOU ARE GOOD. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. HAWN TO BE HERE,
GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS SCOTT
SKYLER, MEMBER OF THE UPPER
SKAGIT INDIAN TRIBE AND ELDER
AND POLICY REP. I WOULD LIKE TO
TALK ABOUT THE SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT NEGOTIATEED SETTLEMENT,
WHICH WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF AND
HOPE THE CITY COUNCIL SEEKS TO
APPROVE THIS TODAY AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTATION BUT
THE UPPER SKAGIT PEOPLE ARE
PEOPLE LINED THE SKAGIT RIVER UP
TO THE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
PROJECT AREA, WHAT IS SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT NEGOTIATEED
SETTLEMENT MEAN TO US? HAS GONE
ON A FOR EIGHT YEARS BUT TAKEN
OEVER A HUNDRED YEARS FOR IT TO
COME TO FRUITION. EVERYTHING
THAT HAPPENED SINCE 1921 WHEN
THE DAMS WERE FIRST BUILT HAD TO
HAPPEN TO GET US TO THIS POINT
IN TIME. EVERYTHING NEEDED TO
OCCUR TO MAKE THE SETTLEMENT
POSSIBLE, SO IF WE DO MOVE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
SETTLEMENT, WHAT IT MEANS TO THE
UPPER SKAGIT PEOPLE, IT GIVES
BACK OUR IDENTITY, ABOUT
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TO US, WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FULL
IMPLEMENTATION AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE AND ADDRESSING
LONG-TERM HARMS. IT ACKNOWLEDGES
WHAT THE DAMS WERE BUILT VALLEY
OF SPIRIT, ACKNOWLEDGE OUR
CULTURE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
THE BEST PART OF THE SETTLEMENT,
WE CAN COME HOME FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN WELL OVER A HUNDRED
YEARS, SO, THANK YOU, LOOK
FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE MR. JACK.
>> YEAH.
>> WELCOME.
>> HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE BLOCKED THE
SKAGIT RIVER TO SALMON OVER A
CENTURY AGO. EVEN THEN IN 1919
STATE LAW PROHIBITED BLOCKAGE OF
SALMON-BEARING STREAMS. CITY
LIGHTS FOUNDING FATHER, JD ROSS,
KNEW IT WAS PROHIBITED, BUT DID
IT ANYWAY. BUT OUR PEOPLE,
WITHIN WHOSE TERRITORY YOUR
HYDROELECTRIC FACILITIES WERE
NOT CONSULTED. HOWEVER, LIKE
SEATTLE, WE HAVE BEEN GATHERING
POWER FOR A HUNDRED YEARS. WE
NOW KNOW, AS DOES THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, FROM WHAT IS CALLED
THE COVERTS CASE, THAT OUR
TREATIES HAVE POWER. THE SKAGIT
RIVER OF THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS,
THAT IS OUR BLACK HILLS. IT IS
THE AMAZON OF THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST, AND WE WILL NOT STOP
FIGHTING FOR ITS PROTECTION
BECAUSE, LIKE THE SALMON, WATER
IS SACRED. DOWN STREAM FROM YOUR
DAMS, PUGET SOUND ENERGY HAVE
FISH PASSAGE, WHICH BROUGHT
SALMON IN THE BAKER RIVER FROM
NEAR EXTINCTION 292,000 SALMON.
IN THE SKAGIT RIVER THERE ARE
THREE SPECIES OF SALMON ON THE
THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES
RIGHT NOW. THE AGREEMENT BEFORE
YOU, IF FULFILLED IN GOOD FAITH,
WILL MAKE THINGS RIGHT FOR THE
NEXT 50 YEARS, AND WE WILL HELP
YOU MAKE A SUCCESS. THANK YOU.
BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO END N
VOLVE SOME CONSTRUCTION, I HAVE
SOMETHING I WANT YOU TO BUILD,
BECAUSE, REMEMBER, THERE IS 1%
FOR ART.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR.
JACK. YOU SANG THE HILLS ARE OUR
AMAZON HERE IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST GOT ME, REALLY GOT ME,
RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU. NEXT WE
HAVE BILLY, WELCOME, BILLY.
BILLY IS A GREAT BASEBALL PLAY,
I WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
THEN GABRIEL, YVETTE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND REST OF THE FULL
COUNCIL, I AM BILLY AND I LOOK
MORE LIKE A LEADOFF HITTER THAN
CLEAN UP HITTER TODAY. I DON'T
WANT TO REPEAT A LOT OF STUFF
THAT MY BROTHERS AND SISTER SAID
EARLIER BUT I AM HERE IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF BRINGING SEATTLE
CENTER BOND INITIATIVE THIS
NOVEMBER. LETS BRING SONICS BACK
TO AN AREA TO SEATTLE CENTER
CAMPUS THAT IS GOING TO BE WORLD
CLASS. I THINK WE WILL HAVE A
GENERATION WHERE WE ARE AT WITH
CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA, BUILDING A
SECOND MEMORIAL STADIUM BUT HAVE
THE BONES OF THE SEATTLE CENTER
THAT IS NOW 64 YEARS OLD. IT IS
NOT JUST ABOUT BRINGING
CONSTRUCTION JOBS TO DO THE WORK
THERE, IT IS ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES
CURRENTLY, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A
LOT OF REPRESENTED FOLKS THERE,
STAGE HANDS, MUSICIANS,
MAINTENANCE WORKERS, FOLKS THAT
WORK AT THE ARMORY, THAT THOSE
NUMBERS AND REVENUE COMING IN
ARE DWINDLING BECAUSE THE
SEATTLE CENTER WITH THE AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE HAS TO COMPETE
WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT NEW
ARENAS IN THE AREA, ALL THE NEW
PARKS AND EVENT SPACES THAT HAVE
BEEN PUT IN PLACE SINCE THE
1960s WHEN ORIGINALLY BUILT. WE
NEED SEATTLE TO COMPETE. IF WE
ADD THE SONICS AND KNOW ONCE WE
ADD THE SONICS, CLIMATE PLEDGE
ALINA WILL BE TOP FIVE IN THE
WORLD AS FAR AS EVENTS COMING TO
SEATTLEMENT MADISON SQUARE
GARDEN AND A COUPLE OTHERS BUT
OVER 250 EVENTS EVERY SINGLE
YEAR RIGHT THERE AT CLIMATE
PLEDGE ARENA AND NEED TO BRING
THEM TO A WORLD CLASS FACILITY.
PLEASE WORK WITH THE 7th FLOOR
AND TRY TO FIGURE A WAY TO GET
THIS PUSHED FORWARD INTO
NOVEMBER AND ON THE BALLOT,
STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT.
>> GABRIEL, YVETTE, RACHEL, THEN
ONLINE SPEAKERS.
>> FIRSTLY, CANNOT START WITHOUT
ASKING FOLKS TO SAY A PRAYER FOR
THE PEOPLE OF IRAN AFTER OUR
PRESIDENT THREATENED GENOCIDE
AGAINST THE IRANIAN PEOPLE. NOW
MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN
AGAINST I.C.E, SOME ISSUES,
REASONS WE HAVE SPOKEN OUT IS
I.C.E IS UNACCOUNTABLE,
DANGEROUS, INJURED AND HURT
PEOPLE AND CAN GET AWAY WITH
WHATEVER THEY WANT BECAUSE THEY
HAVE POLITICAL POWER BEHIND
THEM. MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN WE
GIVE THOSE ARGUMENTS ABOUT I.C.E
BUT NOT ABOUT SPD? Y'ALL Y AM
SURE ALL OF YOU SAW THIS IMAGE,
THIS IS THE IMAGE OF SOMEONE
BEING PEPPER PRAYED WHILE ON THE
GROUND, TWO WOMEN, WHILE ON THE
GROUND. WE TALK ABOUT
UNACCOUNTABILITY OF I.C.E, BUT I
WILL SHARE TWO FACTS THAT
SURPRISE NOBODY THAT WAS THERE
THAT DAY. ONE, OPA FOUND NO
WRONG DOING FOR THE OFFICER
SPRAYING THE PERSON ON THE
GROUND, THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE
DISCIPLINARY ACTION, HIS BODY
CAM WAS OFF . WE HAVE SO MANY
PEOPLE ON THIS, WHO HAD AROUND
THE AREA, HAD BODY CAM ON BUT
SURPRISINGLY THE OFFICERS WAS
OFF. HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE,
OFFICER CALY HEINZMAN WASCUSED
OF PUNCHING PROTESTERS ON THE
HEAD WHOOL ON THE GROUND, HAND
RESTRAINED, ALSO, NO BODY CAM.
THERE A CONSTANT HISTORY OF
POLICE TURNING OFF BODY CAM OR
NOT TURNING THEM ON DURING
MOMENTS WHEN THEY WANT TO GET
ROUGH WITH PEOPLE. ANOTHER CASE
INVESTIGATED BY OPA WHEN AN
OFFICER SHOT SOMEBODY DURING THE
PROTESTS IN THE BACK OF THE
WEAPON WHILE SHOT IN THE BACK,
HE WAS GIVEN NOTICE ASHGZ FOR
SHOOTING HIM IN THE BACK ONLY
GIVEN A SUPERVISOR WARNING,
STERN TALKING TO FOR NOT WARNING
HE WOULD SHOOT HIM IN THE BACK
WHILE RUNNING AWAY, NOT
COMMITTING A CRIME. LASTING
MEDICAL ISSUES, BECOME DISABLED
LEAVING ME WITH SOME CONSTANT
AMNESIA I HAD TO LEAVE MY JOB. I
DON'T KNOW IF I AM GOING TO
WORK AGAIN. WE NEED TO--
>> THANK YOU, GABRIEL. NEXT WE
HAVE YVETTEE FOLLOWED BY RACHEL.
IF YOU ARE ONLINE, WE ARE COMING
TO YOU NEXT. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED
STATES AMERICA, AND TO THE
REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION, UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL. I WANT TO GIVE
A SHOUTOUT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL
CHAMPIONS, KING COUNTY
METROPOLITAN MEETING, PRETTY
COOL. I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT
MAYOR WILSON HAS AMBITIOUS GOAL
TO BUILD 500 SHELTER BY JUNE 1,
MANY WHO FLEE DANGEROUS
SITUATIONS END UP IN HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENTS WAITING FOR SHELTER,
FAR TOO OFTEN WITH YOUNG
CHILDREN IN TOW. ONE ALTERNATIVE
IS BUILD TINY HOMES IS TOP
SHEDS, THEY PROVIDE STYLES AND
VISUALLY APPEALING, PLUS COST
EFFECTIVE. THE ONES I SAW AT
LOWES $2400 TO $5,000,
POTENTIALLY 500 BY MAY 1. I WANT
THEM, BECAUSE MT. BAKER
COMMUNITY SHOWED UP TODAY,
WONDERING IF THEY ARE CONSIDERED
A COMMUNITY SENTINEL AS FAR AS
PATROLLING THE COMMUNITY TO, AS
DETERRENT FOR ALL THE DRAMA
GOING ON THERE. OTHER THAN THAT,
I AM GOOD TO GO. THANK YOU VER Y
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. BUDDHISM, ORANGE,
IS ENLIGHTENMENT, AND THE
HIGHEST FORM OF SPIRITUALITY.
THAT FITS YOU. YOU ARE NEXT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBER, MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COUNCIL. I WAS NOT GOING TO GIVE
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY BUT I CAME
IN TO WATCH BUT HEARD YOU WERE
GIVING A PROCLAMATION FOR SEXUAL
ASSAULT AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THAT. I AM-- I HAVE BEEN A
VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND I
KNOW THAT HOW ISOLATING IT IS TO
COME OUT WITH IT YAZ AM DOING IT
NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME. TO THE
PUBLIC. US, AS VICTIMS OF SEXUAL
SALT, KNOW HOW ISOLATING IT IS
TO WHICH OUT AND TALK ABOUT IT,
BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID WE ARE NOT
GOING TO BE BELIEVED, WE ARE
GOING TO BE SHAMED. I WAS
WEARING TOO MANY HEELS,
STILETTOS WERE TOO HIGH, I ASKED
FOR IT OR I WAS TOO VOLNERABLE,
I DIDN'T STICK UP FOR MYSELF. I
KNOW THAT IS NOT THE TRUTH. I
COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR
THIS DAY. US, AS SEATTLEITES, AS
ALECTED OFFICIALS, AS COMMUNITY
LEADERS, AS ORGANIZERS, AS
COALITION BUILDERS, AS ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND AS OVERALL, JUST
HUMAN BEING ON THIS EARTH, WE
HAVE COME A LONG WAY WHEN IT
COMES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT. BUT THE
NEWLY PASSED MILLIONAIRES WEALTH
TAX, WE NEED TO BE-- WE NEED TO
BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT
FUNDING AND USE IT TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE USING THAT TOWARD MORE
FUNDS FOR VICTIMS, LIKE MYSELF
AND OTHERS, AND WE ARE IN THIS
ALL TOGETHER, SO I REALLY AM
GRATEFUL TO THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, RACHEL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND
VULNERABILITY TODAY DURING THAT
PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. WE ARE GOING TO TRANSITION
ONLINE AND GO WITH ROSE FIRST,
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6, FOLLOWED BY
DAVID, CHARLOTTE, AND THEN JOE.
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, ROSE.
>> HELLO, CITY COUNCIL. THANK
YOU FOR LETTING ME CHAT TODAY
WITH Y'ALL. LAST WEEK I WAS
VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE CITY
COUNCIL BRING OUT THE TRANSDAY
OF PROCLAMATION, THE
PROCLAMATION FOR THE TRANSDAY OF
DISABILITY, AND THAT WAS VERY
GOOD, VERY HELPFUL, HOWEVER, WE
ARE SEEING IN THE WORLD THAT
WORDS ARE DOING SO MUCH BUT WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING
ACTION. THE PROCLAMATION TODAY
ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS
IS ALSO HELPFUL. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT, AS A TRANS
PERSON IS AN ENDEMIC, A LOT OF
US EXPERIENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT,
SOMETHING WE ARE VERY COMMON
WITH. AS WE ARE LOOKING FOR
THINGS TO BE DOING IN THE
FUTURE, WE HAVE TO BE NOT JUST
DOING WHAT LITTLE PIECE THINGS
LITTLE BY LITTLE, WE ALSO HAVE
TO BE WORKING AS QUICKLY AS WE
CAN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS.
THERE ARE REAL PROBLEMS THAT ARE
GOING TO NEED IMMEDIATE ACTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL ARE
AWARE, WE HAVE EIGHT DAYS BEFORE
THE STOCK PILE OF GAS RUNS OUT
IN THE U.S. IT IS IMPERATIVE
THAT WE, AS A CITY, THAT ALL THE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYER
AND EVERYBODY GET TOGETHER TO
TRY AND WORK ON THAT, TO TRY AND
SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET AHEAD
OF THIS, BECAUSE WE ARE REACHING
A SITUATION THAT PEOPLE ARE
COMPARING TO THE BEGINNING OF
COVID. WE ARE HAVING THINGS, AN
ENTIRELY NEW WORLD SHOWN BEFORE
US, IF WE DO NOT GET AHEAD T IS
GOING TO SWAMP UP. FOR THE
TRANSCOMMUNITY, WE EXPERIENCE
THIS TOO, RIGHT AFTER THE
TRANSDAY OF DISABILITY
PROCLAMATION, IDAHO PASSED THE
BATHROOM BAN BILL AND WE NEED
THE HELP OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
AND MAY TO GET AHEAD OF THIS AND
HELP WITH EVERYBODY. POLITICS,
AS USUAL, UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT
ENOUGH ANYMORE. WE ARE GOING TO
TO WORK AT A QUICKER PACE, IF WE
DON'T, THERE ARE GOING TO BE
REALLY DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.
I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO WORK WITH
US AND, PLEASE, THERE IS A LOT
OF WORK TO DO BUT WE NEED TO DO
IT.
>> THANK YOU, ROSE. NEXT WE HAVE
DAVID FOLLOWED BY CHARLOTTE AND
JOE. STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID HANES, IN
THE NAME OF SEXUAL ASSAULT DAY,
EXPLOITATION 1492, WHATEVER YEAR
IN YOUR HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
BEGAN, ARISE INNOCENCE AND STOP
GIVING SANCTUARY TO CUSTOM
VIOLATION, MISINTERPRETATION AND
VULTURE CULTURE, YOU WOULD THINK
SEATTLE DOZEN CARE BECAUSE IF
YOU LOOK AT THE POLICIES THAT
EMPOWER THE EVIL PREDATORS IN
VULTURE CULTURE HUMAN TRAFFIC
AND DESTROY LIVES DALEY, YOU ALL
ARE STILL EXEMPTING DRUG UNDER
3.5 GRAMS ALLOWED THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO DICTATE THE FATE OF
WHAT SHE IS GOING TO PROSECUTE
TO THE POINT SHE HAS ALREADY
CONVINCED THE POLICE CHIEF THAT
SHE IS IS NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE
ANY DRUG CRIME S UNDER 3.5
GRAMS. ALL OF THESE REPEAT
OFFENDING CRIMINALS THAT ARE
RUINING THE PURSUIT TO HAPPINESS
AND DESTROYING LIVES DALEY END
UP GETTING OUTF JAIL AND ON THE
LIST, ARE NOT BEING QUESTIONED
TO FIND WHERE THEY KEEP GETTING
IT TO SHUT IT DOWN. IT IS
EXACERBATING THE CRISIS IN
HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING, IN THE
REACTIVATION AND WHOLE GENERAL
PUBBING ALL HEALTH OF WELLBEING
OF COMMUNITY. IT IS NOT FAIR THE
CHIEF KEEPS GETTING A PASS FOR
MANIPULATING MEDIA REPORT HAVING
SUCCESS WITH CRIME BECAUSE THE
CRIME HOTSPOTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE
CALLING FROM, WHERE CRIME IS
TAKING PLACE, IS BEING
MANIPULATED BY SUVS THERE. THE
THING IS, WE NEED TO TAKE THE
RESTRICTIONS OFF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT THE
SMALL-TIME LANDLORDS AND THEIR
SELF-DEALING CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST CONSPIRE TO CUT SIN
HALF FROM 12 STORIES TO SIX
STORIES, AND THEN WATER DOWN
INTEGRITY OF THE DESIGN TO HELP
UNQUALIFIED NON-PROFITS
POLITICALLY CONNECTED TO BUILD
CRAPPY HOUSING FOR THE NEXT 20
YEARS TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T
COMPETE WITH THE LANDLORDS ON
CITY COUNCIL TRYING TO CREATE
THEIR OWN REAL ESTATE EMPIRE AT
THE EXPENSE OF EVERYBODY ELSE
BEING DENIED A BETTER CHOICE IN
HOUSING, AND REAL EQUITY.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT, CHARLOTTE,
FOLLOWED BY JOE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT,
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME
IS CHARLOTTE Y LIVE IN D3 AND
WORSHIP IN D4. I AM ASKING YOU
TO ADOPT AMENDMENT TO LIBRARY,
RINCK, STRAUSS, AND LINN, WITH
PARTICULAR RESPECT TO COUNCIL
MEMBER RINCK AND COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS'S AMENDMENTS, I AM
DISABLED, MY HUSBAND IS
DISABLED, WHEELCHAIR USER, AND
SO WE OFTEN RELY ON E-BOOKS AND
MY HUSBAND WILL BE UNABLE TO USE
THE PHYSICAL LIVE WITHOUT AN
ELEVATOR. MY POINT IS EVERYBODY
DESERVES ACCESS TO OUR
LIBRARIES, AND BY EXTENSION, THE
KNOWLEDGE CONTAINED THEREIN.
THESE AMENDMENTS WILL ENABLE
THAT AS THE AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL
MEMBER FOSTER AS WELL,
RENOVATING THE CENTRAL LIBRARY
IS ALSO ESSENTIALLY, IN MY
OPINION. IN REGARD TO AMENDMENT
BY COUNCIL MEMBER LINN, WE KNOW
THAT SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES
ARE OFTEN USED AS COOLING AND
WARMING CENTERS, AS CLIMATE
CHANGE CONTINUES TO REAR ITS
UGLY HEAD. THEY ARE PART OF
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM, IN 2025
ALONE, 15% P PEOPLE DIED IN KING
COUNTY OF HYPOTHERMIA AND
EXPOSURE AT LEAST. THESE ARE
PREVENTABLE DEATHS THAMIGHT HAVE
BEEN SOLVED BY HAVING OPEN STAFF
AND CAPABLE LIBRARIES. THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE DESERVE
ACCESSIBLE, SAFE, AND
CLIMATE-CONTROLLED LIBRARIES,
THEY DESERVE ACCESS TO THE
KNOWLEDGE THEREIN, THEY DESERVE
ACCESS SUNDAY TO SUNDAY AND
OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL
9:00-5:00, PLEASE AMEND THE
LEVEE, SEND IT TO US AND LET US
FINISH THE JOB. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
CHARLOTTE. NEXT WE HAVE JOE.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> HI, JOY, IT IS JOE HERE.
FIRST I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR
YOUR HANDLING OF THE RACISM, YOU
HANDLED IT LIKE A BOSS, GO,
STORM. SECOND THING IS, PLEASE
SUPPORT THE SKAGIT DAM
RELICENSING AGREEMENT. THE DAM
IS CRITICAL TO OUR SECURITY, OUR
ENERGY SECURITY, AND OUR
SECURITY FROM FLOOD EVENTS.
LICENSING AGREEMENT IS KEY TO
PROTECTING SKAGIT AND SEATTLE,
THIRD, I SUPPORT MAYOR WILSON'S
BOLD HOUSING AGENDA, AND WE NEED
TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THE CLIMATE
EMERGENCY, PEOPLE TO LIVE CLOSE
ENOUGH TO WHERE TRANSIT WORKS,
THERE IS AN EVENT IN THE CITY, I
WANTED TO ATTEND, BUT BECAUSE IT
STARTS 7:00, AND THE LAST
TRANSIT BACK HOME TO SKAGIT
LEAVES AT 7:20, IT WAS
IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
HAVE HOUSING CLOSE TO TRANSIT.
AND I WANT TO, I THINK THREE
POINTS IS ENOUGH. THANK YOU FOR
AWESOME PUBLIC SERVICE AND GO,
STORM, GO HAWKS, GO SONICS AND
HOPEFULLY GO SOUND TRANSIT. AS
ALWAYS.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, JOE. I
DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS ANYMORE
PUBLIC COMMENTERS UNLESS ANYONE
HAS SIGNED UP. WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT. LIST
OF REGISTERED SPEAKERS. NUMBER
ONE, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY
FOR COMING DOWN AND TAKING TIME
TO JOIN US AND GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT. IT WAS AN ARRAY THAT WE
HAD TODAY FROM DIFFERENT
SUBJECTS. ALL WITHIN THE
COUNCIL'S PURVIEW. THANK YOU
ALL FOR THAT. ALSO, FOR BEING
RESPECTFUL. YOU KNOW, AND THIS
IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE ALWAYS
TALK ABOUT, WHAT ARE COUNCIL
RULES? BUT IT IS LIKE A HOMEN TO
HUMAN BACK AND FORTH CONNECTION
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE MORE
CONVERSATION WHERES WE HAVE
RESPECT, UNDERSTANDING WHERE
PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM AND HERE
TO WORK AND SERVE YOU ALL EVERY
SINGLE DAY AND I SEE MY
COLLEAGUES WORKING HARD EVERY
DAY. YOU MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH
SOME OF THEIR POLICIES BUT I
KNOW THEY ARE WORKING HARD AND
WE HAVE A LOT MORE IN COMMON
THATHAN YOU ALL THINK. SO, THANK
YOU ALL FOR COMING, AND NOW WE
ARE GOING TO TRANSITION INTO OUR
COUNCIL MEETING. SO IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CAL ENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED
MINUTES OFMARCH 31, 2026,
COUNCIL BILL, PAYMENT OF THE
BILL, AND FIVE APPOINTMENTS FROM
THE LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY
COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ITEMS
COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR? I MOVE TO ADOPT.
>> SECOND.
>> I GOT IT EVEN BEFORE I ASKED
FOR IT IT. GREAT, THERE WAS A
PAUSE LAST WEEK. THANK YOU. IT
HAS HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LINN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES. SEVEN IN FAVOR.
>> ADOPTED. WILL THE THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES AND LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF? WILL THE MRUSHG READ
ITEM 1?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, 121189 WILLING
CITY EMPLOYMENT EXECUTION OF THE
PLUMING AND PIPE FITTING
INDUSTRY LOCAL 32.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. I WILL
MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
121189, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECOND TO PASS THE BILL. I
WILL ADDRESS AS THE SPONSOR, THE
BILL WOULD AUTHORIZE A
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY AND UNITED
ASSOCIATION OF JOURNEYMAN AND
APPRENTICES OF THE PLUMING AND
PIPE FITTING INDUSTRY LOCAL 32
FOR THREE-YEAR PERIOD JANUARY
2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 31st,
2027. CBA WOULD COVER UTILITIES,
SEATTLE CENTER, DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION AND
PARKS AND RECREATION. SPECIFIC
TERMS WOULD INCLUDE INCREASES IN
FOOTWEAR ALLOWANCES, PREMIUM FOR
SERVICES ACTIVE WATER
DISTRIBUTION LEVELS, LEVEL TWO
CERTIFICATIONS, AND SO
COLLEAGUES, I URGE YOUR SUPPORT
ON THIS BILL AND I WILL PAUSE
HERE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. SEEING
NONE, WILL THE MRUSHG PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LINN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES, CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT AND THE CLERK WILL PLEASE
AFFIX THE SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. WILL
THE MRUSHG PLEASE ITEM TWO INTO
THE RECORD?
>> RESOLUTION 32196 ADOPTING THE
STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
FOR THE 2026 ADOPTIVE BUDGET AND
2026 THROUGH 2031 ADOPTED
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
>> I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT
RESOLUTION 32196, IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN PROVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
RESOLUTION. COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS SPONSORED THE
RESOLUTION, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, THIS
IS THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING
STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. WE
WENT INTO LAST YEAR'S BUDGET
WITH A VERY GRIM OUTLOOK, NOT SO
DIFFERENT THAN WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW WITH A LOT OF ECONOMIC
VOLATILITY, WE ARE NOT SURE HOW
MUCH GENERAL FUNDS WE WOULD HAVE
TO USE BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURAL
BUDGET DEFICIT, WE ELECKED TO
USE A LOT OF STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT TO OFFSET
BUDGET NEEDS AND THEN WE
RECEIVED A GOOD BUDGET FORECAST
AND WERE ABLE TO FUND MANY
PRIORITIES WE WERE LOOKING TO,
IN THANKS BECAUSE OF THE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE COUNCIL
MEMBER RINCK AND BRUCE HARRELL
PUT ON THE BALLOT. WE HAD WAY
TOO MANY SLIDES LAST YEAR, IS
THE NICE WAY OF SAYING THAT. I
APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES FOR
TAKING A FEW OFF AND THIS COMING
YEAR WE ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE
MORE DILIGENT ABOUT HAVING
FEWER. THAT SAID, AND, LOOK, I
TAKE THIS AS WELL. I TRIED TO
GET RID OF A COUPLE OF MY OWN
SLIDES BY GETTING THE
INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT
IN A TIMELY MANNER. SO, JUST
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S WORK ON
THIS, THIS IS A FORMALLY
ADOPTING THE STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT FROM LAST
YEAR, AND THIS COMING YEAR, I
WILL ENDEAVOR TO HAVE A SHORTER
LIST.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE
COMMENTS?
>> SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LINN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> AWESOME. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED. THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE? YOU VOTED TO HAVE NO
SLIDES IN THE BUDGET. IS THAT
WHAT WE VOTED?
>> LIMITED TO FIVE.
>> I THOUGHT YOU SAID NO.
>> PLEASE READ ITEM THREE.
>> THE TRANSPORTATION WATER
FRONT AND SEATTLE CENTER
COMMITTEE RESOLUTION AFFIRMING
CITY OF SEATTLE READINESS FOR
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
TEAM DECLARING CLIMATE PLEDGE
ARENA.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK, ON
BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
>> LAST THURSDAY THE
TRANSPORTATION WATER FRONT IN
SEATTLE COMMITTEE HOSTED A ROUND
TABLE DISCUSSION, SEATTLE
NATIVE, AND NBA VETERAN,
SPENCER, AND REPRESENTATIVES
FROM THE SEATTLE SPORTS
COMMISSION, SEATTLE NBA FANS,
CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA AND NATIVE
YOUTH RISE ABOVE. THE PURPOSE OF
THE ROUND TABLE WAS TO
DEMONSTRATE SEATTLE IS, IN FACT,
READY FOR AN NBA FRANCHISE,
AFTER THE ROUND TABLE, DEPUTY
MAYOR AND CENTRAL STAFF
PRESENTED RESOLUTION 32198
AFFIRMING SEATTLE'S READINESS
FOR AN NBA TEAM. RESOLUTION
32198 WAS REFERRED TO TODAY'S
FULL COUNCIL MEETING BY
UNANIMOUS VOTE. THAT CONCLUDES
MY REPORT.
>> AWESOME. ARE THERE COMMENTS
REGARDING THE RESOLUTION? WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
>> IRR.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LINN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED, CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT AND WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
AWESOME. NOW WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM FOUR?
>> AGENDA FOUR, COUNCIL MEMBER
1211777 CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, FIVE OFF
LICENSE AGREEMENT AND RELATED
FOR PURPOSES OF RELICENSING THE
CITY SKAGIT RIVER HYDROELECTRIC
PROJECT BEFORE THE FEDERAL
INTERNALLY REGULATORY
COMMISSION.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL BE A LITTLE
WORDY BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGE
LIFT FROM MOVING ACROSS THE
FINISH LINE FROM EIGHT YEARS
AGO, I HAVE PREPARED COMMENTS.
WORK ON THIS COMPREHENSIVE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT STARTED IN
2018, THAT IS EIGHT YEARS AGO,
CREATES A 50 YEAR LICENSE WHICH
PRODUCES CARBON FREE FOR
SEATTLE, AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THREE TRIBES, TWO STATE AGENCY,
SKAGIT COUNTY AND FIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS. IT
CONTAINS OFF LICENSING
AGREEMENTS AND REPRESENTS ABOUT
$4 BILLION. WE DISCUSS THE
AGREEMENT AT TWO COMMITTEE
MEETINGS MARCH 18th AND APRIL 1
AND PASS IT OUT OF COMMITTEE 50.
CITY LIGHT GAVE TWO
PRESENTATIONSB IN DEPTH ON THE
AGREEMENT, HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF
THE LICENSING GOING BACK TO
1927, AND WHAT HAPPENS DURING
THE PROCESS WHICH STARTS AFTER
THE CITY'S STEP THREE PROCESS
OF PASSING THROUGH COMMITTEE,
FULL COUNCIL, AND TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. IF, INDEED, IT
PASSES TODAY. WE ARE HONORED TO
HOST A PANEL OF TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP AT THE MARCH 18th
COMMITTEE. THE PANEL WAS MADE OF
CHAIRMAN NINO, COUNCIL MEMBER
KEVIN LENNON AND JACK, GENERAL
COUNCIL FROM YAKIMA NATION FROM
THE INDIAN TRIBE, AND THEN WE
ALSO HAD CHAIRMAN STEVE EDWARDS
AND VICE CHAIRMAN BRIAN PORTER
FROM THE INDIAN TRIBAL COMMUNITY
AND WE HAD MR. SCOTT SKYLER,
POLICY LEAD, AND DAVID HAWKINS,
ATTORNEY FROM UPPER SKAGIT
INDIAN TRIBE, I SHOULD ADD WE
HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM MR.
SKYLER TODAY DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE, MR. SKYLER. THE TRIBE
SPOKE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE OF
THE LICENSING PROCESS AND
HISTORY IN&THE IMPORTANCE TO
TRIBES. BEFORE WE GO ON, I WANT
TO THANK-- SOME THANK YOUS,
BRIEFLY, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE, COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS, COUNCIL MEMBER
SAKA, AND COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA,
FOR THEIR AUTHENTIC AND MUCH
APPRECIATED PARTICIPATION IN THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS EIGHT-YEAR
PROCESS, AND ESPECIALLY THANKS,
OF COR, TO COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK,
WHO WAS FORMER CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE. OF COURSE, THANK YOU
TO MAYOR WILSON AND HER STAFF.
SKAGIT, WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
THANK SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, CRAIG
SMITH, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
INTERIM GM AND CEO, DENNIS
MCLARYN, CHRIS TOWNSEND, MARA
BURGER, BRIDGET MALINA, AND,
LETS SEE, STEVEN, MATT LOVE, AND
ERIC MCCONAUGHEY FROM CENTRAL
STAFF. THAT BEING SAID, THIS HAS
BEEN A LONG PROCESS AND I AM
HOPING THAT WE WILL ALL BE
ENDEAVOR AS COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS SAID, ENDEAVOR TO VOTE
YES TODAY AND HAVE THIS MOVE
FORWARD AFTER EIGHT YEARS.
AGAIN, THANK TRIBE LEADERSHIP
FOR BEING PRESENT TODAY. RAISE
OUR HANDS TO YOU, THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, IF THERE IS ANYONE
ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT.
I WAS TAKEN OVER A FOR MINUTE,
GOING TO A VOTE BUT THAT IS YOUR
JOB.
>> NO, THAT WAS GREAT. THANK YOU
FOR THAT REPORT. WE KNOW THERE
WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK IN THIS,
AND COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
DURING THE COMMITTEE, AND ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS DURING
THIS TIME? COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU. I WILL KEEP THIS
BRIEF BECAUSE I HAD COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ SPEAK WITH MY
REMARKS AT THE FIRST COMMITTEE
MEETING, I ALREADY SPENT TOO
MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT HOW I AM
NOT GOING TO TALK. WITH THAT,
THANK YOU TO OUR TRIBAL LEADER,
I KNOW NOT ALL OF OUR TRIBAL
LEADERS ARE HERE TODAY, AND
THANK YOU TO THE CITY LIGHT TEAM
BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO OUR
TRIBAL LEADERS. THE REASON I SAY
THIS IS BECAUSE I WANT TO FIRST
THANK YOU FOR LETTING US BE YOUR
GUESTS IN THE SKAGIT, YOU
TOUCHED A LOT ON THE LAST
HUNDRED YEARS THAT COULD HAVE
GONE BETTER AND SOMETHING I
OFTEN TIMES SAY IS TIME DOES NOT
HEEL WOUNDS, HEALING ACTION
HEALS WOUNDS, AND THAT IS A BIT
OF WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO TODAY.
THE SKAGIT RIVER IS ONE OF THE
HEALTHIEST RIVERS IN OUR AREA
AND HAS THE HIGHEST SALMON RUN
IN PUGET SOUND, THAT IS NOT BY
ACCIDENT. THIS IS TO TRIBAL
LEADERS, THIS IS BECAUSE YOUR
MILLENNIA OF STEWARDSHIP, YOUR
CONSERVATION EFFORTS OVER THE
LAST CENTURY, AND THE POSITIONS
THAT YOU HAVE HELD IN THE LAST
DECADE OF NEGOTIATING THIS
RELICENSE AGREEMENT. IT IS
WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU SITTING
ACROSS THE TABLE FROM US, AND
DEMANDING THE THINGS THAT YOU
KNOW WE NEED FOR OUR REGION. ME,
MY FAMILY, AND OUR FUTURE
GENERATIONS ARE INDEBTED TO YOU
FOR WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
IN THIS AGREEMENT BEFORE US
TODAY. I SAY THAT BECAUSE THE
LAST LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR
COLLEAGUES, ROSS LAKE, SO LARGE
IT GOES FROM ALMOST SKAGIT
COUNTY, BUT WHATCOM, TO CANADA,
THE LAST LICENSE THERE WAS A
CONSERVATION AGREEMENT THAT
CONSERVED AS MUCH LAND AS ROSS
LAKE OCCUPIES. SO IT IS HARD TO
SEE IT ALL IN ONE PLACE BUT WHEN
YOU LOOK AT THE LAKE ON A MAP,
YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH WAS
ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST
LICENSE, AND THIS AGREEMENT GOES
EVEN FURTHER. YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO WORK WITH US IN AN OFF
LICENSE AGREEMENT AND YOUR
COMMITMENT TO HOLD US TO ACCOUNT
IS WHAT MAKES THIS MOMENT
INCREDIBLY SPECIAL. IT IS WHAT
MAKES THIS AGREEMENT HISTORIC,
AND WE WILL LIVE BETTER LIVES,
OUR FUTURE GENERATION WILL BE
BETTER OFF, BECAUSE OF THE WORK
THAT YOU DID IN THIS AGREEMENT.
AND THANK YOU, CHRIS, FOR
GETTING US TO THE CITY BEING IN
AGREEMENT WITH TLEM. I REALLY
WANT TO SETTLE ON THAT, THOUGH.
FUTURE GENERATIONS ARE GOING TO
BE BETTER BECAUSE OF THE
POSITIONS YOU HAVE HELD OVER THE
LAST DECADE, AND HOW YOU HAVE
HELD US TO ACCOUNT IN THIS
AGREEMENT. SO FROM THE BOTTOM OF
MY HEART, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS. WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER
FOSTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> CLOSING.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE WILL COME TO COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ AS CLOSING. ANYONE
WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE
RAISE YOUR HAND. COUNCIL MEMBER
FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL BE VERY
BRIEF WITH MY REMARKS. I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR MOVING THIS
FORWARD. I APPRECIATE YOUR
INCREDIBLY HARD WORK THERE, SO
THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY TO COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ. I WANTED TO,
REALLY WHY I WANTED TO MAKE A
QUICK REMARK, I WANTED TO SAY
THANK YOU TO TRIBAL LEADERS WHO
ARE HERE AND MR. SKYLER, I WROTE
DOWN WHAT YOU SAID, KEY WITH
COME HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
YEARS, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
SHOWING UP AND TESTIFYING AND
SHARING WITH US THAT LANDED ON
ME. I WANTED TO SPEAK MY
APPRECIATION TO YOU. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER FOSTER. IS THERE ANY
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WOULD
LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ? CLOSE?
>> CLOSE YOU OUT.
>> THE CLOSE IS YOURSISM STRIKE
DOWN THE MIDDLE, LIKE YOU THREW
THAT BALL.
>> I DID.
>> THAT WENT OVER THE PLATE.
>> WHAT SHE IS REFERRING TO IS
BASEBALL TOURNAMENT WE GOT TO
THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH AND I
WANT TO SAY I THREW OUT THE BEST
ONE. I WILL JUST PUT IT THERE. I
WANT TO CLOSE US OUT,&RECOGNIZE,
SCOTT SKYLER, FROM UPPER SKAGIT
BECAUSE SCOTT'S MOTHER, DOREEN
MALONEY WHO I HAVE KNOWN SINCE A
TEENAGER, STARTED THE
NEGOTIATIONS WITH LORRAINE AND
BOB, I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS FIRST
NAME, FROM SWIN, AND THOSE ARE
THE DAYS BACK IN 1991, 1992, AND
SO I WANT TO-- WANT THIS COUNCIL
TO BE PROUD THAT THEY ARE PART
OF A HISTORICAL MOMENT THAT EVEN
THOUGH PROCEDUREERALLY THIS HAS
BEEN IN SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL,
WITH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, WITH
THREE FORMER GM SHGSs AND CEOs
AND FOUR MAYORS, AND FOR EIGHT
YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN A PART OF
THIS, I AM REALLY GLAD IT IS
OVER, BUT HOPEFULLY IT WILL GO
UP TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
FROM THEN TO THE FEDERAL ENERGY
REGULATORY COMMISSION AND THEN
ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD,
BUT I THINK THAT GOES TO THE
RESILIENCE OF OUR PEOPLE, LIKE
YOUR MOTHER, DOREEN, AND OTHER
FOLKS THAT HAVE WALKED ON, HOW
IMPORTANT THE RIVER SYSTEMS ARE
TO US. ONE THING, I AM NOT GOING
INTO SPEECH I GAVE DURING
COMMITTEE BUT I WILL SAY THIS,
WATCHING PUBLIC UTILITIES ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND FOLKS IN
THE 30s, 40s, AND 50s, AND WHAT
THEY DID TO MAINSTREAM AND RIVER
SYSTEMS IN THE STATE, AND OTHER
STATES, I WANT TO SAY VERGES ON
VIOLENCE BECAUSE IT DID MORE
THAN JUST TAKE FISH. ONE THING
THAT COMES TO MIND IS WHEN
TACOMA CITY LIGHT MOVED THE
MIDDLE FORK OF THE RIVER, AND
WHAT THAT DID TO THE PEOPLE. SO
THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS ONE
NICE THING ABOUT GETTING OLD IS
YOU DO HAVE WISDOM AND WE DO
KNOW YOU LEARN MORE FROM YOUR
FAILURES THAN YOU DO YOUR
SUCCESSES AND FOR LONGEVITY OF
THE PEOPLE AND WHAT UNCLE BILLY
USED TO SAY IS NATIVE PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE A PIONEER STORY, WE
WERE HERE, AND AS UNCLE BILLY
USED TO SAY, WE ARE NOT A
TRANSIENT COMMUNITY OR GROUP, WE
WILL LIVE AND DIE ON THOSE
RIVERS BECAUSE IT IS HOME, AND
SO YOU BEING HERE TODAY AND YOUR
WORDS AND COOPERATION ALONG WITH
THE OTHER TWO TRIBES AND THE
CITY, FOR ME IS A LONG JOURNEY,
I RAISE MY HANDS TO YOU. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS,
THANK YOU FOR THE TRIBAL LEADERS
HERE, I PUT MY PRAYER HANDS TO
YOU. RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LINN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX THE SIGNATURE, I
ALMOST SAID TO MY SKIN. I DON'T
KNOW-- THE SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
FIVE?
>> AGENDA FIVE, COUNCIL BILL
121183, CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT TO
THE NEEDS OF THE CITY LIGHT
DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZING SALE OF
PORTION OF CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT
REAL PROPERTY FOR ROAD PURPOSES
TO SNOHOMISH COUNTY, THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, BACK
TO YOU FOR THE DOUBLE STRIKE.
>> THIS IS LAND TRANSFER IN
WHICH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT IS
SELLING LAND TO SNOHOMISH COUNTY
BUT RETAIN RIGHTS AND ACCESS FOR
ELECTRICAL EASEMENT, THE SALE
ISN'T MARKET VALUE, $452,000,
AGAIN, IT IS SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
TO SNOHOMISH COUNTY, IT PASSED
OUT OF COMMITTEE 50, I ENDEAVOR
YOU TO VOTE YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL? SEEING NONE, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE-- THANK
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS, LET ME
JUST SAY THAT. MY APOLOGIES.
COLLEAGUES, WE ARE GOING TO CALL
THE ROLE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LINN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF? THANK YOU.
>>> COLLEAGUES, NO ITEM REMOVED,
THERE IS A PROCLAMATION, COUNCIL
MEMBER FOSTER HAS A PROCLAMATION
RECOGNIZING APRIL 6th THROUGH
THE 18th, 2026 AS TAX FRAUD
AWARENESS DAY ON OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, JUST PLAYING,
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEALING OUR
TAX DOLLARS. COUNCIL MEMBER
FOSTER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO
LEAD THE DISCUSSION ON THE
PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
PRESIDENT. JOKE ALMOST WENT PAST
ME BUT I CAUGHT YOU. I
APPRECIATE YOU. I AM REALLY
PROUD TO SPONSOR THE
PROCLAMATION AND WANT TO
APPRECIATE THE NORTH COAST
STATES CARPINEER'S UNION FOR
ADVOCACY AROUND PERSISTENT HARM
OF TAX FRAUD IN THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY AND FOR RAISING THE
ISSUE TO MY OFFICE AND FOR
WAITING THROUGH COUNCIL AND
STAYING WITH US TODAY. THANK
YOU. THIS RESOLUTION IS
IMPORTANT AND I AM EXCITED TO
BRING PFORWARD FOR A NUMBER OF
REASONS. ONE IS WE KNOW TAX
FRAUD LEADS TO LOST REVENUE FOR
COMMUNITY, WHICH IS CRITICALLY
NEEDED TO FUND ESSENTIALLY
SERVICES. ANOTHER IS THAT IT
CONTRIBUTES TO THE EXPLOITATION
OF WORKERS WHEN THEY ARE PAID
UNDER THE TABLE AND WHEN THEY
LOSE ACCESS TO FAIR WAGES,
HEALTHCARE, BENEFITS, AND SAFE
WORKING CONDITIONS. THESE HARMS
CAN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT
PEOPLE OF CULLER AND
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS AND I
BELIEVE THAT WE MUST INSURE THAT
OUR STRONG LABOR STANDARDS AND
WORKER PROTECTIONS IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE APPLY TO EVERYONE. I
AM EXCITED TO SHARE THE MAYOR
SIGNED ON TO THE PROCLAMATION
AND I ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUE'S
SUPPORT. WE WILL NOT BE
PRESENTING THE PROCLAMATION
TODAY BUT, RATHER, TOMORROW AT
THE TAX FRAUD DAYS OF RALLY
ACTION. I WILL BE SPEAKING ALONG
WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK AND
OTHER LEADERS WHO ARE RALLYING
TO ELEVATE THE IMPORTANT ISSUE.
I AM GOING TO READ A PORTION OF
THE PROCLAMATION FOR YOU ALL
TODAY AND THEN ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. SO, WHEREAS THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY PLAYS A
VITAL ROLE IN BUILDING AND
SUSTAINING THE INFRASTRUCTURE
ECONOMY, AND COMMUNITIES OF THE
CITY, WHEREAS COMMUNITIES ARE
DISPROPORTIONED, EXCUSE ME,
COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY
CONTRACTORS WHO FAIL TO FOLLOW
THE LAW, PAY WORKERS UNDER THE
TABLE OR MISCLASSIFY EMPLOYEES
CREATING INSTABILITY FOR WORK
SXRZ FAMILIES, AND WHEREAS
WORKERS SUBJECTED TO THE
PRACTICES OFTEN LOSE ACCESS TO
FAIR WAGES, HEALTHCARE,
RETIREMENT BENEFITS, AND SAFE
WORKING CONDITIONS, IMPACTING
NOT ONLY INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES BUT
ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE UNITED
BROTHERHOOD OF CARPINEERS
INCLUDING NORTHCOATS STATE
REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPINEERS
LED EFFORTS TO EBPOSE TAX FRAUD,
EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND ADVOCATE
FOR STRONGER ENFORCEMENT WHEREAS
THE CITY OF SEATTLE REMAINS
COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING STRONG
LABOR STANDARDS, SUPPORTING FAIR
AND RESPONSIBLE EXNOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, THEREFORE THE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL PROCLAIM APRIL
6 THROUGH 18th, 2026, TO BE TAX
FRAUD DAYS OF ACTION. THAT IS
WHAT I HAVE GOT AND I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
FOSTER, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS. COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING THIS
PROCLAMATION BEFORE I ASK TO
CALL THE ROLE FOR SIGNATURES?
AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. THIS IS IMPORTANT. I
SUPPORT IT A THOUSAND PERCENT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LINN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN SIGNATURES AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
FOSTER. AND I BELIEVE COUNCIL
MEMBER RINCK, YOU HAVE AN ITEM
FOR FURTHER BUSINESS?
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COLLEAGUES, I COULD NOT LET THIS
MEETING END WITHOUT
ACKNOWLEDGING THE REALTY THAT WE
ARE FACING IN THIS MOMENT,
RECOGNIZING THAT THIS MORNING
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP OPENLY
AND UNEQUIVOCALLY THREATENED THE
PEOPLE OF IRAN WITH A GENOCIDE
AT 5:00 P.M. OUR TIME TODAY.
4:05 NOW. DONALD TRUMP'S THREATS
FROM THIS MORNING TO ANNIHILATE
MORE THAN 90 MILLION PEOPLE IS
VILE AND RECKLESS. I WANT TO
TAKE THIS MOMENT TO JOIN THE
CHORUS OF MANY WHEN I SAY HE
MUST STEP DOWN, CONGRESS MUST
IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO DC AND
PASS A WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO
STOP HIS WERE WAR CRIMES IRAN,
WHETHER HE LIKE IT OR NOT, HE IS
SPEAKING AND ACTING IN OUR NAME
AND WE WILL ALL HAVE TO LIVE
WITH THE CONSEQUENCES. AND WHILE
WE HAVE BEEN HERE GATHERED IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND LEADERS REPRESENTING
THE IRANIAN DIASPERA AND THEIR
LOVED ONES WERE GATHERED ON THE
STEPS OF CITY HALL CALLING FOR
THIS HORROR TO STOP. I WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR THE RECORD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
BUT I KNOW THAT WHILE I MAY BE
SITTING HERE, I CERTAINLY STAND
WITH THE PEOPLE OF IRAN AND
IRANIAN NEIGHBORS. WANTED TO GET
THAT ON THE RECORD TODAY. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
RINCK. IS THERE ANY FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
AGENDA, THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING WILL BE APRIL 14th AT
2:00 P.M., HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, IT IS 4:06 P.M.