>>> AWESOME, IS THIS MICROPHONE
ON?
HELLO, EVERYONE, GOOD AFTERNOON,
THE APRIL 14, 2026,
MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL
WILL COME TO ORDER AT 2:03:00
P.M.
I'M JOY HOLLINGSWORTH,
COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. WE HAVE STARTED THE
MEETING,
EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, WE'RE
READY TO ROCK.
AWESOME.
>> LET'S DO THIS!
>> WE'LL START THE APRIL 14,
2026, MEETING OF SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER AT
2:04, I'M JOY HOLLINGSWORTH,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
CALL THE ROLE.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. JUAREZ.
LIN.
RINCK.
>> PLENTY.
>> RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>> HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE IS EXCUSED.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WILL PRESENT
A RESOLUTION.
SHARE YOUR COMMENTS.
>> COLLEAGUES, IT IS A
REAL HONOR TO BE PRESENTING THIS
PROCLAMATION.
I THANK YOU FOR
PARTICIPATION AND SIGNATURES ON
IT.
IT'S A REAL HONOR TO HAVE
WORKED
ON THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SO
MANY PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION TO
THE RECORD AND THEN TURN
IT OVER TO INVITED SPEAKERS
TODAY. WHEREAS CAMBODIA IS ONE
OF THE
ORIGINAL CIVILIZATIONS
OF SOUTHEAST ASIA DATING
BACK NEARLY 4,000 YEARS AND
WHEREAS
BETWEEN 1969 AND 1973,
THE UNITED STATES DROPPED
540,000 TONS OF BOMBS INTO
CAMBODIA,
DESTABILIZING THE
ALREADY FRAGILE GOVERNMENT AND
HELPING FUEL THE RISE OF THE
KHMER
ROUGE, AND DURING THE GENOCIDE,
1975 TO 1979, APPROXIMATELY
2 MILLION PEOPLE LOST THEIR
LIVES AT THE HANDS OF THE KHMER
ROUGE.
AND CURRENTLY OVER HALF THE
MEMBERS OF THE
POPULATION EXPERIENCE VARYING
DEGREESDEGREES
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES FROM THE GENOCIDE.
WHEREAS THE SEATTLE
METROPOLITAN AREA IS HOME TO
OVER 22,000
INDIVIDUALS OF KHMAI DESCENT,
AND THIS IS THE ANNIVERSARY TO
REMEMBER THE TRAGEDIES UNDER
THE KHMER ROUGE.
AND WHERE THE CURRENT U.S.
IMMIGRATION POLICIES HAVE
INCREASED DEPORTATIONS THROUGH
I.C.E. RAIDS, EXPEDITED
PROCEEDINGS, AND ADDING TO THE
TRAUMA FOR THE COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HAS SERVED AS A SANCTUARY AND
HOME
TO THE COMMUNITY FOR
DECADES WITH SCHOOLS PLAYING A
VITAL ROLE IN REBUILDING LIVES,
PRESERVING CULTURAL
IDENTITIES AND ADVOCATING FOR
IMMIGRANTS.
APRIL 14, 2026, THE 51st
ANNIVERSARY OF THE KHMER
ROUGE GENOCIDE.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
FLOOR BEFORE WE INVITE GUESTS
TO SPEAK?
WE'RE GOING TO SUSPEND THE
RULES AND ALLOW COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK
TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION TO
OUR
GUESTS, AND I'LL CALL UP
THE
SPEAKERS. I APOLOGIZE, I'M
GOING TO
MESS UP PRONOUNCING YOUR
NAME, CORRECT ME WHEN YOU COME
UP.
WE HAVE SCHWAN ROSS FROMFROM
COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF WASHINGTON.
JENNY FROM THE CAMBODIAN
AMERICAN ADVOCACY FOR PEACE.
LINE UP TO SPEAK.
AND SAMATE FROM -- DID I SAY
THAT RIGHT? I GOT A THUMBS
UP. ALSO SWOSTAY FROM THE
STUDENT
ASSOCIATION.
WELCOME. MANNY FROM DEPORTATION
AND ADVOCACY GROUP.
AND TITA FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS -- I'M THE
PRESIDENT OF THE CAMBODIAN
AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP COALITION.
TODAY, OUR CAMBODIAN
NEW YEAR. THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE
BEGANBEGAN
1975 WHEN THE KHMER ROUGE LED BY
POL POT TOOK CONTROL OF
CAMBODIA.
1975 TO 1979, 2 MILLION
PEOPLE, NEARLY A QUARTER OF THE
POPULATION OF CAMBODIA, DIED.
EVERY TIME I TALK
ABOUT CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE, I
CANNOT
STOP -- MYSELF FROM TEARING UP.
HOW I SUFFER.
EXCUSE
ME. FROM PHNOM PENH, AND SENT
TO WORK IN THE RICE FIELDS
FROMFROM UNTIL NIGHT.
WITH LITTLE REST AND NO FOOD.
ONE DAY, THE SECURITY FORCE
TOOK ME FROM THE FIELD,
INTENDING TO
KILL ME BECAUSE I WAS EDUCATED.
THE PEOPLE I WAS WITH WERE
SHOCKED.
THEY KEPT ME AT THEIR POST
FROM MORNING TO MIDNIGHT,
WAITING
FOR THEIR SUPERIOR TO DECIDE
MY
FATE. I WAS EVENTUALLY SPARED
BECAUSE THE LEADER WAS BUSY AND
ORDERED
THEM TO SEND ME HOME AND WATCH
OVER ME.
WHEN I RETURN, EVERYONE
CRY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT
EXPECT ME TO COME BACK ALIVE.
AND ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, THEY
SENT ME TO COUNTRY, AT THAT
TIME THE HOLE OF MY FAMILY HAD
TO
HIDE MY HISTORY UNDERGROUND TO
SURVIVE.
MY TWO OLDER BROTHERS WERE
KILLED BECAUSE THEY
WERE ENGINEERS.
MY GRANDPARENT DIED DUE TO
NO FOOD AND NO MEDICINE.
EVEN THOUGH I WORKED VERY
HARD, THEY STILL SENT ME TO
PRISON.
BUT I WAS LUCKY TO
SURVIVE BECAUSE THERE WAS
NOT ENOUGH TIME TO KILLKILL DUE
TO
THE WAR WITH VIETNAM.
FINALLY, I FEEL VERY
FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE AND TODAY
-- AND
TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES,
AND GRATEFUL TO THE U.S. WHO
GAVE ME
CITY AND NEW LIFE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY FELLOW
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HAPPY
NEW
YEARS. I'M JENNY REPRESENTING
CAMBODIAN AMERICAN ADVOCATING
PEACE.
APRIL IS A SPECIAL MONTH WE ALL
CELEBRATE OUR COMBINED NEW
YEARS, A BIG EVENT OF OUR
CULTURE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME
IT'S VERY
MEANINGFUL AND HOW TO REMEMBER
THE PAINFUL HISTORY IN OUR PAST.
THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK MORE
THAN 2 MILLION OF OUR
FAMILIES'
LIVES. INNOCENT PEOPLE LOST
THEIR
LIFE, INCLUDING MY OWN FAMILY.
THE LONG- TERM EFFECT, THE
TRAUMA, AND PTSD CONTINUE
TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.
REMAINS A SERIOUS
CONCERN, ACCORDING TO A LOCAL
STATISTIC, IT'S STILL HIGH
RATE,
REPORTED RATE OF CRIME AMONG
OTHERS.
SO I'M ASKING WHAT CAN EACH ONE
OF US INDIVIDUALLY, WHAT CAN
WE DO TO HELP CREATING PEACE.
WHAT CAN YOU IN YOUR ROLES
AS LEADERS DO TO ADVOCATE PEACE
AND SUPPORT SAFETY IN OUR
COMMUNITIES?
OUR ORGANIZATION, CAMBODIAN
AMERICAN ADVOCATING PEACE,
IS COMMITTED TO SAFETY,
COMBATTING GENDER BASED
VIOLENCE.
TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A
MORE PEACEFUL FUTURE FOR
EVERYONE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN.
ALONG WITH MY FELLOW MEMBER
THERE, MARY AND EMMA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE,
FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CONCERN TO
MAKE
OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
AND COUNCILMEMBERS, TODAY WE
GATHER
TO MARK THE 51st ANNIVERSARY
OF THE KHMER ROUGE GENOCIDE,
NEARLY
2 MILLION PEOPLE WERE
MURDERED AND TAKEN
THROUGH VIOLENCE. MY FAMILY
SURVIVED THE
LABOR CAMPS AND I WAS BORN IN
A REFUGEE CAMP NEXT TO
THE THAILAND BORDER.
THE TRUTH IS, THE RISE OF
THE KHMER ROUGE DID NOT HAPPEN
IN
ISOLATION.
IT WAS SHAPED IN PART BY U.S.
FOREIGN POLICY DECISIONS.
THE SECRET AND ILLEGAL
CARPET BOMBING OF CAMBODIA BY
RICHARD NIXON AND HENRY
KISSINGER.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TONS
OF BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON
CAMBODIAN
SOIL, A NEUTRAL COUNTRY.
THIS DESTABILIZED THE
COUNTRY AND CREATED THE
DECISIONSDECISIONS
FORCES LIKE KHMER ROUGE
TO TAKE POWER.
THIS IS ALIVE, IN TRAUMA CARRIED
BY SURVIVORS, MANY YOU SEE
HERE IN CITY HALL.
AND THIS LIVES AND IS CARRIED BY
MY FAMILY, MY MOM, SIBLINGS,
AND DISPLACED
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE WERE
FORCED TO FLEE
THE COUNTRY AND THIS TRAUMA
NOW LIVES IN SEATTLE.
THIS IS PART OF A VIBRANT KHMAI
COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE
CITY OPENED ITS DOORS TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE NEED HEALING AND ARE SEEKING
A NEW BEGINNING. BUT TODAY WITH
GLOBAL
CONFLICT, FORCED MIGRATION AND
RISING
ANTI- IMMIGRANT SENTIMENT, ARE
WE REPEATING HISTORY?
WE SEE U.S. IMPERIALISM
AROUND THE WORLD, FAMILIES
DISPLACED, COMMUNITIES SEEK
REFUGE
AND POLICIES
ROOTED IN FEAR INSTEAD OF
HUMANITY.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT SEATTLE
REMAINS A SAFE
COMMUNITY PROTECTING IMMIGRANTS.
INVEST IN HEALING,
BELONGING, CULTURAL PRESERVATION
AND
THE LEADERSHIP OF THOSE
MOST IMPACTED.
WE CANNOT FORGET THE TRAGEDY
THAT THE KHMER ROUGE
GENOCIDE HAS CAUSED AND WE MUST
CARRYCARRY A RESPONSIBLE
AND COMPASSIONATE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBERS FOR GIVING US
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
AND RECOGNIZING THE
ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE.
I STAND HERE AS A PROUD
KHMAI AMERICAN AND CHILD OF
IMMIGRANTS, AND
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
ASSOCIATION.
MANY KHMAI LOST GENERATIONS OF
SCHOLARS ENGINEERS
AND PROFESSIONALS AND MANY OF US
ARE STILL NAVIGATING SYSTEMS OUR
FAMILIES WERE NEVER
GIVEN THE CHANCE TO
EXPERIENCE. THIS IS WHY
REPRESENTATION
MATTERS, INCLUDING KHMAI
LANGUAGE AND STUDIES,
ESSENTIAL TO PRESERVE HISTORY
AND
HELP FUTURE GENERATIONS KNOW
THEIR
IDENTITY.
WHEN STUDENTS SEE
THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN
EDUCATION
IT CREATES A SENSE OF SUCCESS.
THE ELDERS' SACRIFICES LIFT
UP THE COMMUNITY.
I ASK WE INVEST IN THE FUTURE BY
SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL
ACCESS AND COMMUNITIES FOR
KHMAI YOUTH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,
GREETINGS. THANK YOU FOR
CREATING SPACE
TO SHARE OUR STORIES.
I'M HERE TODAY AS A
REPRESENTATIVE OF CAGE, MY
ANTIDEPORTATION ADVOCACY
GROUP, WE WORK WITH SOUTHEAST
ASIAN
COMMUNITIES IN THREAT
OF DEPORTATION
RIGHT NOW. THIS PROCLAMATION IS
MEANINGFUL TO THE CAMBODIAN
KHMAI
COMMUNITY, IT HONORS OUR
JOURNEYJOURNEY
CONTRIBUTION TO THE CULTURE
AND ECONOMIC REGION.
IT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THE
PAINFUL LEGACY OF OUR MIGRATION
STORY, DISPLACEMENT AND
DEPORTATION THAT STILL IMPACTS
OUR
COMMUNITY. SINCE 2002, MANY OF
OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
BEEN DEPORTED TO A COUNTRY
THEY'VE NEVER KNOWN, BORN IN A
REFUGEE
CAMP, NO MEMORY OF CAMBODIA.
TODAY COMMUNITY MEMBERS CONTINUE
TO FACE DETENTION AND
DEPORTATION, RAIDS,
CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF
DISPLACEMENT
BACK TO A COUNTRY THAT MANY
ESCAPED BECAUSE OF GENOCIDE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR RECOGNIZING
OUR STORY.
AND ASK FOR YOUR
CONTINUED SUPPORT IN ADDRESSING
THESE
INJUSTICE FOR US AND ALL
COMMUNITIES IMPACTED. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD
AFTERNOON, HONORABLE
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US.
I'M WITH THE KHMAI COMMUNITY
OF SEATTLE KING COUNTY.
I WAS BORN INTO THE WAR
JUST BEFORE
THE KHMER ROUGE GENOCIDE. I WAS
ONLY 5 WHEN UNCA UNDER THE
REGIME EXECUTED MY FATHER AND
HIS TWO BROTHERS IN A
SINGLE DAY.
MY 10-YEAR- OLD BROTHER TAKEN
BY FORCED LABOR AND WE LATER
LEARNED HE WAS BURIED
ALIVE AFTER FALLING ILL.
I CAN'T FATHOM THE DEPTH OF THE
ENDURANCE REQUIRED BY
MY GRANDPARENTS AND MILLIONS OF
OTHERS AS THEY
WATCHED THEIR LOVED ONES
SYSTEMICALLY
DESTROYED.
AT ABLE 7, MY
FAMILY ATTEMPTED TO FLEE TO
THAILAND, ONLY
TO FACE ANOTHER NIGHTMARE.
ALONG WITH 10,000 OTHER
REFUGEES, WE WERE FORCED BY
THAI SOLDIERS DOWN A STEEP
MOUNTAIN,
INFESTED WITH LAND MINES.
MY MOM SAID WE HAD TO PAVE
DEAD BODIES TO ELIMINATE THE
LAND
MINES. WE WERE SUFFERING FROM
CHICKEN
POX, STARVING.
MOM DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD
MAKE IT.
A YEAR LATER WE ESCAPED AND I
REACHED THE UNITED STATES AT THE
AGE OF 10 AFTER TWO YEARS IN
A REFUGEE
CAMP. IT WAS NOT UNTIL GRADUATE
SCHOOL THAT I UNDERSTOOD THE
ROOT OF
OUR DISPLACEMENT,
THE U.S. SECRET BOMBING OF
CAMBODIA,
WHICH DROPPED 2.7 MILLION
TONS OF BOMBS, EQUIVALENT TO
WORLD WAR II, ATTRIBUTING
TO THE KILLING FIELDS.
OUR PROFESSIONALS, ARTISTS AND
MASTERS WERE TORTURED, MURDERED.
THIS LEFT SURVIVORS
MAINLY FARMERS WITH LITTLE TO
NO
EDUCATION. WHEN WE SETTLED IN
THE UNITED
STATES, WE STRUGGLED TO CONTINUE
WITH SYSTEM NAVIGATION.
THE IMPACT OF THE REFUGEE ACT OF
1980 WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP US
ALL, YET OUR COMMUNITY WAS
LED DUE TO SYSTEMIC NEGLECT.
INSTEAD OF HEALING, WE WERE
LABELED PROBLEMATIC
REFUGEES, PLACED IN
UNDERRESOURCED
NEIGHBORHOOD, BURDENED BY
UNDIAGNOSED PTSD AND
BROKEN
COURAGE. NAVIGATING A SYSTEM
THAT SAW OUR
TRAUMA AS A DEFICIT RATHER
THAN A WOUND IN NEED OF HEALING.
NOT ALL REFUGEES ARE CREATED
EQUAL. WE HEARD ABOUT THE
POLICY, IMMIGRATION REFORM AND
IMMIGRANT RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF
1996
TO FURTHER DEVASTATE US.
AMONG SOUTHEAST ASIAN, WE
FACE THE HIGHEST RATE OF
DEPORTATION.
AS YOU HEARD EARLIER.
AND MOST WERE BORN IN
THE REFUGEE CAMP.
TODAY OUR YOUTH SHOW ALARMINGLY
HIGH RATES OF DEPRESSION,
SUICIDAL IDEATION AND ABUSE
BY ADULTS ACCORDING TO A SURVEY
IN
2018 AND 2023.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I DON'T WANT
OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE
TO BLAME AND SHAME OURSELF
BECAUSE
OF OUR HISTORICAL, RECURRENT AND
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA.
OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS A
DEDICATED SPACE TO
HEAL, BRIDGE GENERATIONAL GAPS
AND CULTIVATE
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
WE'RE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE WE'RE
IN THE PERMITTING PHASE FOR
THE FIRST EVER KHMAI
COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER IN
SEATTLE, AND
WE ASK COUNCIL FOR FULL SUPPORT
IN HELPING US REACH.
WE'RE 9. 8 MILLION SHORT,
OUR FUNDING GOAL.
BY THE END OF THE
YEAR TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I'M THANKING THE CREATOR
FOR YOUR STRENGTH, FOR YOUR
RESILIENCE.
AND YOUR COURAGE AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL.
I KNOW FOR THE SPEAKERS,
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO
WITH
THE SIX PEOPLE THAT SPOKE WITH
THE
COUNCIL. IF YOU WOULD ALL COME,
WE'LL HAVE THE TEAM IN THE
MIDDLE TO TAKE PHOTOS, THEN
WE'LL JUMP
INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AS WE TAKE THE GROUP
PHOTO.
AND
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION
AND YOUR TEAM DOING THIS
AS WELL. JUST COME UP HERE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU SECURITY
FOR OPENING THE DOORS IN THE
BACK.
WE COULDN'T EARLIER ON BECAUSE
THERE WAS MUSIC.
NO MUSIC AT 2:00 ON AA
WOULD BE NICE.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.
THAT'S REALLY KIND AND
GRACIOUS OF YOU.
SUCH A NICE GESTURE AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND FOR THE GIFTS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
YOU FOR THAT.
COLLEAGUES, WE'RE NOW GOING
TO OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT
PERIOD. AND THE COMMENTS ARE
LIMITED
TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA, AND INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AND WORK
PROGRAM.
I WILL ASK THE CLERK HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE.
JUST
BE PATIENT. EMILIA IS THE BEST
CLERK OF ALL
TIME, JUST HAVE TO GIVE HER
PATIENCE NOW AS SHE ADDS UP
PEOPLE.
>> WE HAVE 30 IN PERSON AND
11 REMOTE.
>> WE HAVE 41, SO THAT MEANS
BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER
30, EVERYONE WILL GET ONE MINUTE
TO
SPEAK. TODAY, 41 SPEAKERS, MAYBE
MORE.
ONE MINUTE PER COUNCIL RULES.
30 OR LESS, TWO MINUTES, OVER
30 IT'S ONE.
NOW PRESENT THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL
BE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN HAD THE ORDER REGISTERED.
WILL HEAR A CHIME FOR
TEN SECONDS OF TIME.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN AND WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
>> AWESOME.
WE WILL NOW -- I'LL CALL
THE FIRST TEN SPEAKERS.
PETER, YASMIN,
MARGARET, CAROLYN, YVETTE,
CAILIN,
HANNAH, I THINK MARTA, KARA,
ELISE.
SPEAKERS ONE THROUGH TEN.
I DON'T SEE PETER.
YASMIN, IF YOU'RE UP, START
COMING TO THE FRONT.
MARGARET, CAROLYN, YVETTE --
>> YOU READY?
>> READY.
>> YASMINE, PRESIDENT OF
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I'M JUST HERE TO THANK YOU
FORFOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THE
LIBRARY
LEVY PROPOSAL, FOR YOUR
DEBATE AND TRANSPARENCE.
YOU DEMONSTRATED DEMOCRACY IN
ACTION. I THINK IN SEVEN YEARS
WE'RE
GOING TO FIND THE INVESTMENTS
YOU'VE MADE IN THE LEVY
THAT HOPEFULLY YOU VOTE ON
TODAY, WILL SERVE AS THE BEST
BULWARKBULWARK UNCERTAINTY IN
THE FUTURE.
AS YOU SAID IN YOUR OWN STORIES,
LIBRARIES ARE LIFELINES,
SHELTERS IN EMERGENCIES, FREE
TOOLS AND RESOURCES
AND COMMUNITIES DEVOTED TO
LEARNING.
I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR HER
LEADERSHIP AND
ROBUST ENGAGEMENT
WITH COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC.
THANKS TO THE
COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR YOUR
AMENDMENTS AND
COSPONSORSHIPS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, YOU'RE ALL GOOD.
BEFORE YOU START, I KNOW
THERE'S
SHIFTING RIGHT NOW.
DO PEOPLE HAVE
SEATS? WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
ABLE
TO HEAR THE SPEAKERS.
ALL GOOD.
YOU
ARE UP.
>> HELLO, MARGARET FROM LAKE
CITY, D-5.
I LIVE ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS
FROM THE OLYMPIC HILLS TINY
HOUSE
VILLAGE.
LOW BARRIER SHELTER WITH 24/7
STAFFING.
I HAVE A COMPLAINT.
IT'S NOT LARGE ENOUGH.
44 UNITS ARE FULL BECAUSE
UNHOUSED PEOPLE WANT TO COME
INSIDE.
THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT TWO BILLS
TO ALLOCATE MORE FUNDING AND
REMOVE BARRIERS TO
RAPIDLY EXPAND SHELTER SERVICES.
WHEN I TALK WITH NEIGHBORS
ABOUT THE TINY HOUSES,
PEOPLE
INITIALLY CONCERNED BECOME
SUPPORTIVE WHEN THEY HEAR
ABOUT THE SECURITY, STAFFING AND
SERVICES. SHELTER EXPANSION
NEEDS TO BE
IN EVERY DISTRICT.
AND COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, I
HOPE YOU WILL COME TO OLYMPIC
HILLS, SEE THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE
AND HOW WELL IT FITS IN THE
COMMUNITY. WE NEED YOU TO FUND
TO, BUILD
IT, SUPPORT IT, NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE --
[ APPLAUSE
] NEXT WE HAVE CAROLYN.
WELCOME.
>> CAROLYN MALONE, SENIORS,
ELDERS, OLD PEOPLE MATTER, TOO,
CITY COUNCIL.
I'M NOT HERE TO CONVINCE
BECAUSE
I HAVE NO CONFIDENT
EXPECTANCYEXPECTANCY
OF EVER MEETING WITH YOU
EVEN THOUGH I'VE SOUGHT TO MEET
WITH YOU ON THE ONGOING POLICE
AND HOUSING ISSUE.
I SHOULD NOT BE
FIGHTING CONTINUOUSLY TO KEEP MY
HOUSING AND POLICE ARE ALLOWED
TO OCCUPY
SPACE.
BECAUSE I CONTINUALLY PROTEST
IN FRONT OF THEIR BUNKER,
THEY CONTINUALLY RETALIATE.
I HAVE A COMPLAINT FOR
THE SEATTLE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS THAT'S BEING WAYLAID,
SLOWED
DOWN. PEOPLE ARE NOT ON
THE JOB. I'VE ASKED TO MEET
WITH
THE DIRECTOR AND AM TOLD HE'S
ON
LEAVE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS
GOING
ON, OTHERWISE I WILL CONTINUALLY
COME BEFORE YOU NOT TO SEEK
YOUR HELP BUT PRESENT THE FACTS.
OLD PEOPLE MATTER, TOO.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT YVETTE, CAILIN,
HANNAH, MARTA, KARA, ELISA.
GIVE US ONE SECOND.
THERE'S SOME NOISE IN THE BACK,
IS THERE AN ISSUE BACK THERE?
OKAY, JUST COMING THROUGH THE
VENTS? I THINK THEY'RE POPPING
BALLOONS
IN THE BASEMENT BELOW.
IF IT'S NOT AN ISSUE, JUST
SPEAK
LOUDLY IN THE MIC,
I THINK WE'RE OKAY.
>>> I PLEDGE
ALLEGIANCE TO THE
FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS
ONE NATION UNDER
GOD
INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR
ALL.
I WANT TO THANK OUR CAMBODIAN
NEIGHBORS FOR COMING OUT AND
SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCE.
IT WAS HEARTBREAKING AND
THEIR COURAGE IS HEARTWARMING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
RESILIENCERESILIENCE COURAGE FOR
SPEAKING OUT.
MY HEART IS WITH YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT CAILIN, HANNAH, MARTA --
MARTHA?
OKAY. GO AHEAD.
>> I'M CAILIN, A
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
PROFESSIONAL, WORK FOR
THERAPEUTIC --
>> PAUSE, RESTART THE TIME,
PULLPULL MICROPHONE CLOSE TO
YOU, AS
COUNCILMEMBER SAYS MICK
JAGGER IT.
>> HELLO, I'M A
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
PROFESSIONAL, I WORK FOR
THERAPEUTIC HEALTH SERVICES AS
PROGRAM MANAGER.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE TWO
BILLS.
OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SERVICE AT SOME OF
THE TINY HOME VILLAGES.
WE CREATE WARM, SAFE,
INVITING SPACES TO COME TALK OR
GRAB A
SNACK OR ART
SUPPLIES. WE MEET PEOPLE WHERE
THEY'RE
AT, ALLOWS US TO BUILD RAPPORT
AND A
SENSE OF COMMUNITY,
HELPING PEOPLE WITH NEEDED
SERVICES.
SOMEONE NEEDS HELP,
THEY HAVE QUICK PROFESSIONAL
HELP.
I'VE WITNESSED HOW THE
SHELTERS HAVE LED TO INCREASED
STABILITY.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT
HANNAH.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
I'M HANNAH HUTCHINS, A
SOCIAL WORKER IN SEATTLE, MEMBER
OF THE
LEHIGH TEAM WITH THERAPEUTIC
HEALTH SERVICES.
WE WORK WITHIN THE SHELTERS
RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE USE AND
CONNECTING FOLKS TO RESOURCES IN
THE COMMUNITY.
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS WALK
OUT THE FRONT DOOR.
I WORK AT THE OLDEST TINY HOME
VILLAGE, A WHOPPING 74 UNITS.
I'M ON SITE IN PERSON, AND
SPENT
A YEAR BUILDING RAPPORT TO
INCREASE TRUST WITH MY
CLIENTS WHO TEND FOR GOOD
REASONS
TO MISTRUST SYSTEMS.
HOMELESSNESS IS NOT AN
INDIVIDUAL ISSUE, CAUSED
FOR MORAL FAILINGS OR LIFESTYLE
CHOICES, IT'S A SYSTEMIC
FAILURE CAUSED BY EDUCATION,
EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH CARE,
CRIMINAL
JUSTICE AND HOUSING SYSTEMS TO
NAME
A FEW.
>> THANK YOU,
HANNAH. NEXT.
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT DING,
THAT'S TEN SECONDS LEFT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I'M MARTA,
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
MANAGER AT LOW INCOME HOUSING
INSTITUTE.
WE BELIEVE THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN SEATTLE
MUST MATCH
THE NEEDS OF OUR UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS.
WE'VE SHOWN DEDICATION TO IT
WITH THE TINY HOME MODEL,
IT BEGAN WHEN EMCAMPMENTS
NEEDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT,
AND TRANSFERRED TO THE MODEL YOU
SEE
TODAY. LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT
THIS MODEL WIDELY ACROSS THE
CITY
OF SEATTLE TO FURTHER HELP
OUR COMMUNITY ACCESS ENHANCED
SHELTER AND TINY HOUSE VILLAGE.
I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT MAYOR
WILSON'S LEGISLATION AND ALLOW
IT WITH THE
URGENCY REQUIRED THROUGH THE TWO
BILLS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
KARA. THEN ALYSSA.
>> I'M KARA WILLIAMS FROM D-3.
I SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF CB-
121184 AND 185.
WE'RE IN DIRE NEED OF
SHELTER THAT PROVIDES PEOPLE A
ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, A DOOR
THAT
LOCKS, A SPACE OF THEIR OWN,
WRAP AROUND CASE MANAGEMENT AND
OTHER
SERVICES. GIVING THIS AUTHORITY
WILL EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF
SITING
LAND FOR SHELTERS ANDAND IT
WILL COMPLETE THE PROCESS TO
BRING IT TO REALITY.
TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES, COLLABORATE
CLOSELY WITH NEIGHBORS AND MEET
PEOPLE
WHERE THEY ARE ON THE PATH
TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
WE CAN MOVE FASTER THAN
BEFORE BUT WE NEED YOUR YES
VOTEVOTE TO
SO. PLEASE PACE SS IT TODAY, WE
NEEDED MORE YESTERDAY.
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMITMENT
TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR
CITY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANT TO CALL THE NEXT TEN
PEOPLE AFTER YOU BEFORE YOU GO.
YOU'RE STILL COMING UP,
JUST WANT THEM ON DECK.
CATHY, CORINNA, LYDIA,LYDIA,
PATTY, ANITRA, ALICIA, AMIN,
TERRY AND CHARLOTTE, ALL NEXT.
>> I'M ELISA SCOTT, A FORMER
CLIENT OF THE TINY VILLAGES.
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE LIVING
IN A TENT, AND WHEN THEY FOUND
US, THEY GAVE US A TINY HOME.
I HAD A BRAIN TUMOR,
WASN'T BEING TREATED, AND THE
TINY VILLAGES OFFERED
ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE
SURGERY, WHICH I WOULDN'T HAVE
HAD ON THE
STREETS. I JUST AM LOOKING
AT RAIN OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, AND
I
REMEMBER THAT FIRST WEEK WE WERE
IN
THE TINY HOUSE, IT STARTED
RAINING LIKE NOW, AND I STARTED
CRYING BECAUSE I WASN'T COLD
AND I
WASN'T WET.
AND I HAD A DOOR WE COULD LOCK.
AND I FELT SAFE IN A BED.
IT WAS FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME
I FELT
THAT. SO JUST TELL YOU WE'VE
BEEN
MARRIED 32 YEARS AND WE
FOUND
DIGNITY AGAIN. WE'RE NOW
GRANDPARENTS.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY
AS WELL.
CATHY, CORINNA, LYDIA.
>> I'M CATHY BENSON,
FREQUENT USER OF THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LINE
LIBRARIES,
PLACE THAT BRINGS JOY TO
SEATTLEITES.
THANKS FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE
AMENDMENTS, AND COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO PROPOSED THE AMENDMENTS,
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PASSAGE
OF
THE LEVY TODAY THAT WE CAN VOTE
ON.
I READ AN EDIT ORIAL IN
THE "SEATTLE TIMES," BUT WE
HAVE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS
FOR BOOKS, CHILDREN TO READ FOR
FREE, USE A PRINTER, COMPUTER,
LEARN ENGLISH AS A
SECOND LANGUAGE AND WALK IN AND
KNOW THEY'RE WELCOME.
I WILL BE SO HAPPY WHEN I
HEAR YOU'RE GOING TO PASS THE
LEVY TO GO TO THE VOTERS.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE CORINNA, LYDIA,
SUSAN.
>> I'M CORINNA, HERE TO SUPPORT
CB-122184 AND
185. I KNOW FROM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE, THE SHELTERS CAN BE
UNSAFELY.
I HAD TO SET UP A TENT AT
THE WALL OF DEATH THAT FILLED
WITH MORE TENTS.
AFTER I MOVED TO A SHELTER, I
LEARNED IT WAS BURNED BY ARSON.
I WORRIED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF
I DIDN'T DECIDE I WANTED A
RED BULL AT THAT MOMENT.
APPROVING THESE MEASURES
INCREASES SHELTER UNITS,
CREATES JOBS, VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES AND GROWTH.
LET'S LET PEOPLE FOCUS ON
REBUILDING THEIR LIVES
INSTEAD OF JUST SURVIVING.
>> THANK YOU
SO MUCH. LYDIA.
TRY TO DO OUR SPIRIT HANDS
IN BETWEEN SPEAKERS.
IF WE DID IN BETWEEN EVERY
SPEAKER WOULD EXTEND IT A
LITTLE
BIT. SO SPIRIT HANDS, DANCING,
TWIRLING, SPIRIT
FINGERS, WHATEVER YOU ALL WANT
TO DO. LYDIA.
WELCOME.
>> I WAS AT THE MAYOR'S
SHELTER EXPANSION PLAN, AND I'M
HERE
TO STATE SUPPORT FOR THE
TWO BILLS. I'M UNCONVINCED OF
THE TIME TABLE PRESENTED BY THE
EXECUTIVE THAT 500 SHELTER BEDS
COULD BE
OPEN BY THE WORLD CUP, BUT
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD GO
FORWARD BECAUSE I'M OPEN TO
BEING PROVEN
WRONG AND BELIEVE 1,000
SHELTER BEDS IS DOABLE IN A
YEAR.
I SUPPORT ALLOWING HIGHER CAP
OF CLIENTS, 100 TO 150, 250 MAX
AT ONE SITE PER DISTRICT.
BUT BELIEVE NEGLECTING
TO ESTABLISH MORE TENT CITIES IS
AN
OVERSIGHT GIVEN THE ONGOING
SWEEPS. HOPE IT PASSES THE
REVIEW AND IS
CODIFIED INTO LAW INSTEAD OF
REMAINING IN INTERIM
LEGISLATION.
THAT'S
ALL.
>> THANK YOU, LYDIA.
NEXT SUSAN, THEN PATTY.
ANITRA.
>> SUSAN HAD TO LEAVE.
>> OKAY.
UNDERSTOOD.
PATTY?
>> WOMEN'S SHELTER.
>>
THANK YOU. NOW PATTY, THEN
ANITRA AND
ALICIA.
>> I'M PATTY MALONE, I STAY
AT THE BUNKHOUSE SHELTER.
I'M JOINED TODAY WITH A BUNCH
OF
MY FELLOW SHARE PARTICIPANTS.
TOGETHER WE OPERATE NEARLY
500 SHELTER SPOTS ALL OVER
SEATTLE. WE'RE CALLING FOR MORE
SHELTER FOR A LONG TIME, AND
URGE YOU
TO VOTE TODAY TO SUPPORT MORE
FUNDING FOR SHELTER.
EASY WAYS TO GET LEASE
FOR PUBLIC SHELTER SPACE.
MORE SHELTER IS DESPERATELY
NEEDED.
SHARE SHELTERS ARE FULL AND OUR
WHEEL PARTNERS HAVE BEEN
TURNING AWAY WOMEN FOR LACK OF
SPACE.
WITHOUT SHELTER, WE DIE.
PLEASE VOTE TO AUTHORIZE
ADDITIONAL SHELTER
FUNDING TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ANITRA, ALICIA, AMIN.
>> SHARE AND
WHEEL. WHEEL FACILITATES THREE
LOW
BARRIER WOMEN'S SHELTERS FOR
100
OR MORE WOMEN A
NIGHT. OUR SHELTERS ARE ALWAYS
FULL.
AND WE HAVE TO TURN AWAYAWAY
EVERY NIGHT.
SOMETIMES
ELDERS. WE ALSO STAND WOMEN IN
BLACK
VIGILS WHEN PEOPLE DIE WITHOUT
SHELTER. NOON TOMORROW, WE STAND
FOR ANOTHER 25 PEOPLE.
IN MARCH, THREE PEOPLE DIED OF
HYPOTHERMIA.
ONE OF PNEUMONIA, AND ONE BY
SUICIDE. AND WE DEDICATE THIS
VIGILVIGIL
A BABY WHO DIED HOMELESS LAST --
WITHOUT SHELTER, PEOPLE DIE.
THE EVE OF OUR WOMEN IN
BLACK VIGIL, IN THE NAME OF
THOSE WHO
DIED,
VOTE YES. WE NEED THE SHELTERS.
>> THANK YOU.
ALICIA, AMIN, TERRY AND
CHARLOTTE.
WELCOME. JUST REMINDER IF WE
COULD DO
SPIRIT HANDS AS MUCH
AS
POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS ALICIA, I LIVE
AT TENT CITY THREE.
I'M A REPEAT PERSON THE
LAST FIVE YEARS.
I HAD AN APARTMENT IN THE HEART
OF CAPITAL HILL AREA,
BUT LAST JULY I WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH A
RARE TYPE OF BLOOD CANCER, AND
UNFORTUNATELY CAN'T WORK
BECAUSE OF IT.
WITHOUT TENT CITY THREE,
ONCE AGAIN SAVING ME FOR A PLACE
TO
LIVE, I WOULD BE OUT ON
THE STREETS AND POSSIBLY DEAD
BY NOW.
THOUGH I AM SLOWLY DYING
ALREADY.
PLEASE VOTE YES FOR
MORE FUNDING AND HELP US HAVE
SHELTER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT AMIN, TERRY,
CHARLOTTE.
WELCOME.
>> I'M AMIN, A RECOVERING
OPIOID
ADDICT REPRESENTING SHARE.
I'VE BEEN STAYING CLEAN 392
DAYS
TODAY. AND I COULD NOT HAVE DONE
IT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF
THE LOVING COMMUNITY I FOUND
AT
SHARE. WHEN I LOST MY JOB AND
SOON AFTER MY APARTMENT, I WAS
AFRAID THAT I NOT FIND
SHELTER THAT WAS NOT ONLY SAFE
BUT SUPPORTIVE OF
EFFORTS TO STAY CLEAN.
WITHOUT SHELTER PEOPLE
DIE, WITHOUT RECOVERY, ADDICTS
DIE.
FUNDING AND SAFE PLACES MUST BE
PART OF ANY SUCCESSFUL PLAN
TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS, AND
SHARE OPERATES THOSE.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT
SHARE CAN BE A INSTRUMENT FOR
CHANGE
FOR THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY AND
THOSE
OF US WHO WANT TO FIND A BETTER
WAY OF LIFE AND RECOVERY FROM
DRUGS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT TERRY, THEN CHARLOTTE.
AMIN, GOOD EFFING JOB,
392, PROUD OF YOU BRO.
>> MY NAME IS TERRY, I'M
A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC IN AA AS
AN
ATHEIST OVER 48 YEARS.
I'M 68 YEARS OLD, RETIRED.
I HAVE COPD, TYPE TWO DIABETES,
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND KIDDY
DISEASE. MY RETIREMENT INCOME
RAN OUT AND
I ENDED UP ON THE STREET IN
EUGENE, OREGON, ON
WHAT MEDICATION I HAD GOT
STOLEN.
WHEN I GOT MY LAST DEPOSIT,
I BOUGHT A TICKET
TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, BECAUSE
I KNEW I
WOULD STAND A BETTER CHANCE
OF GETTING OFF THE STREET.
THE FIRST NIGHT WHEN MY
MONEY RAN OUT, I ENDED UP AT
TENT CITY
THREE, WHICH I'M GRATEFUL FOR
BECAUSE NOW I'M ABLE TO GET
ALL MY STUFF BACK, GET BACK ON
MY
FEET. IF I --
>> THANK YOU, TERRY.
NEXT WE HAVE CHARLOTTE.
WELCOME. AND BEFORE YOU GO, I'M
GOING
SAY NEXT TEN PEOPLE.
THEN I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE
ELSE HAS SIGNED UP.
BUT WE HAVE 14 PEOPLE PRESENT
ONLINE.
JESSARA, RICH, JIM, HOWARD,
ARES, MARK, JEFF, ALICIA, KELLY
AND NATHAN.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT
AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
203 DAYS UNTIL
ELECTION DAY. I'M ASKING YOU TO
PULL APPOINTMENT 3470 FROM
THE CONSENT CALENDAR, VOTE DOWN
THE
NOMINATION. PASS THE LIBRARY
LEVY TO THE
VOTERS, PASS THE HOUSING BILLS.
WHOSE PRODUCTS WOULD REQUIRE
RETAIL FLOOR STAFF TO WEAR
MICROPHONES TO CAPTURE
EVERY WORD THEY SPEAK AND USE AI
MODELS.
THIS IS PLAINLY DYSTOPIAN.
THE RODUCT MAKES CLEAR WHERE HE
STANDS ON HUMAN RIGHTS.
WORKING PEOPLE ARE NOT TOOLS
TO GENERATE A PROFIT AND
ORWELLIAN
SURVEILLANCE HAS NO PLACE ININ
THE
LEADERSHIP OF CITY.
HE'S CLEARLY THE WRONG PICK TO
JOIN A BODY TASKED WITH
ENFORCING ETHICS LAWS. PULL HIS
NOMINATION AND REJECT
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT, JESSARA, RICH, JIM,
HOWARD, ARES.
>> GOOD EVENING, I'M HERE WITH
SHARE, WITH WHEEL,
AND SERVICES NOT SWEEPS.
I WAS HOMELESS FIVE YEARS,
CURRENTLY IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ON CAPITAL HILL, COMING
UP ON A
YEAR. SHARE AND WHEEL PROVIDE
SHELTER, AND SERVICES NOT
SWEEPS FIGHTS TO STOP SWEEPING
PEOPLE
AND USING THE MONEY WE'RE
WASTING TO PROVIDE SERVICES
INSTEAD.
WHEEL IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER
OF
SHELTER FOR WOMEN, CIS AND
TRANS IN SEATTLE AND ONLY ONE
YOU CAN WALK UP TO SAY IS
THERE
SPACE WITHOUT REFERRAL. BUT WE
HAVE
TO SOMETIMES SAY NO. I HAD TO
TURN AWAY TEN WOMEN ONE
NIGHT, AND COULDN'T TELL YOU
HOW
SHITTY I FELT
NOT EVEN ABLE TO OFFER A CHAIR
SOMETIMES.
SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION.
AND HERE ARE FLIERS FOR THE
VIGIL TOMORROW.
>> RICH, JIM, HOWARD.
>> I'M RICH, FOUNDER OF REACH
MINISTRY, AND PASTOR OF HOPE IS
ALIVE CHURCH. FOR THE LAST NINE
YEARS WE'VE
SERVED OVER 270,000
PEOPLE ON THE STREETS WITH A
MEAL, DIRECTING THEM TO HOUSING,
TO HOPE AND TO PURPOSE.
I HAD THE PLEASURE TO MEET WITH
BRUCE HARRELL BEFORE
HIS TERM WAS OVER AND HAVE THE
PLEASURE TO MEET WITH KATIE
WILSON
COME THE END OF
THE MONTH. BUT WE'RE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT
HOW TO BUILD MORE UNITY
IN THE COMMUNITY AND INTRODUCE
FAITH INTO IT AS WELL.
I'M WITH A GROUP THAT
PRAYS EVERY THURSDAY FOR EVERY
COUNCILMEMBER, GOVERNOR
AND
MAYOR. HOW CAN WE HAVE A SEAT AT
THE
TABLE, MORE IN COMMON
THAN DIFFERENCES, GETTING PEOPLE
OFF THE STREETS, INTO HOUSING.
WITH PURPOSE, HOPE, LOVE AND
PASSION TO INVITE OTHER
PEOPLE ON THE JOURNEY TO HELP AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT, JIM, HOUR, GAIL, ARES.
>> HI, JIM, I'M WITH THE
AMERICAN PARTY OF LABOR.
I'VE BEEN MOVED BY ALL
THE STORIES TOLD TODAY,
ESPECIALLY BY ANITRA, ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE
OF SHELTER AND PUBLIC HEALTH
PROGRAMS.
BUT INSTEAD OF PROVIDING
MEANINGFUL FUNDING,
YOU'VE PUMPED MILLIONS INTO SPD
SINCE
2021 IN THE NAME OF
SURVEILLANCE, AND FOR CRIME
PREVENTION AND VIOLENCE
PREVENTION. WE KNOW THAT CAMERAS
CANNOT PREVENT CRIME, THAT
CAMERAS
ARE USED AGAINST THE POOR
THAT COMMIT CRIMES MOTIVATED BY
POVERTY. MURDERED BY SPD.
HAD SEATTLE PUT MORE MONEY
IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND
HOUSING PROGRAMS, CHRISTIAN MAY
BE WITH
US, AND ALL THE PEOPLE
MENTIONED MIGHT BE WITH US.
BUT INSTEAD, YOU AND YOUR
BUDGET PRIORITIES HAVE FUNDED
HURT.
>> THANK YOU, JIM, MR. BAINES.
NEXT, HOWARD.
>> GOOD
AFTERNOON. TODAY IS
HOLOCAUSTHOLOCAUST
TODAY.
WE MUST REMEMBER AND
COMMEMORATE PAST GENOCIDES AS
HAS BEEN DONE
TODAY.
CANNOT EXIST APART
FROM REAL WORLD ACTIONS.
GENOCIDES ONLY HAPPEN WHEN THOSE
COMFORTABLE WITH
COMMEMORATING THEM AFTER THE
FACT ARE
UNCOMFORTABLE CONDEMNING
THEM DURING THE FACT.
FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL LOOK
UPON US WITH GREAT DISDAIN
THAT WE CONDEMN GENOCIDES FROM
YEARS AGO BUT THREATEN GENOCIDE
ON THE
IRANIAN PEOPLE AND THE
PALESTINIANS. SPEAKING OF
IGNORING
GENOCIDE, PROTECTING IMMIGRANTS
AND
FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS,
POLICE KILLINGS OR IGNORING
PEOPLE EXECUTING PEOPLE IN
CRISIS HOLDING KNIVES,
REMEMBERREMEMBER
MLK SAID, QUOTE, IF AMERICA --
>> THANK YOU.
IS ARES HERE?
YOU'RE
UP.
WELCOME. FOLLOWED BY MARK, JEFF,
ALICIA,
KELLY, NATHAN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT --
I'VE BEEN
HEARING A LOT. I TALKED TO
DANIEL ABOUT
THE TINY HOMES AND STUFF.
AS SOMEBODY MOST OF MY
LIFE AFFECTED BY HOMELESSNESS, I
DO NOT THINK THAT TINY HOMES
ARE BETTER
THAN SHELTERS. THERE'S A LOT OF
THINGS LIKE --
THERE'S LESS RESOURCES, AND
HE MADE A POINT LAST
TUESDAY MORNING THAT IT'S NOT
ACCESSIBLE FOR FAMILIES, PEOPLE
IN
WHEELCHAIRS, ANY COUPLES.
THERE ARE SO MANY -- I HAD
A COUPLE QUESTIONS WE
CAN TALK ABOUT AFTERWARDS,
WHAT'S
WRONG WITH BUYING VACANT
BUILDINGS?
THAT'S
IT, BASICALLY. SHELTERS ARE
BETTER.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL GOOD.
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENT.
MARK, JEFF, ALICIA, KELLY,
NATHAN.
>> HI, MARK, ON THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS OF ANYTHING HELPS,
A SMALL NONPROFIT.
WE GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING
AND STABILIZE THEM
TO KEEP THEM
THERE. I WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR
OF THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL FOR A THOUSAND
NEW TINY HOUSES.
I HOPE YOU FUND
THAT. HAD IT'S IMPORTANT TO
PROVIDE
SERVICES IN SHELTERS LIKE TINY
HOUSES, ESPECIALLY DRUG REHAB.
AND GET PEOPLE CLEAN,
ISOLATED FROM THE
DRUG TRADE. PEOPLE WHO REFUSE
SERVICE
HAVE GIVEN UP HOPE AND BELIEVE
THE
SERVICES WON'T HELP THEM.
OR THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH
SERVICES AND SHELTERS THAT
WERE NOT GOOD EXPERIENCES.
WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE INTOINTO
SHELTER, AND GIVE THEM A
GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH IT, HELP
THEM TO
PROSPER.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT JEFF.
ALICIA, KELLY,
NATHAN.
>> HOW'S IT GOING
COUNCIL, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
AND TALKING
ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
JEFF, D- 3 RESIDENT,
WITH SERVICES NOT SWEEPS
COALITION.
HERE TO ONCE AGAIN TALK
ABOUT HOW DESPERATELY WE NEED
MORE SHELTER AND SERVICES IN THE
CITY. YOU'VE HEARD AMAZING
TESTIMONY FROM FOLKS TODAY HOW
THE
POLICIES CAN TRANSFORM LIVES.
I'M EXCITED YOU'RE ABOUT TO
VOTE ON GIVING MONEY TO THE
IMPORTANT
CAUSE. IT'S NOWHERE NEAR
ENOUGH.
HOPE WE TAKE THIS STEP
TODAY AND PUT MONEY TO
THE BOLD NEW APPROACH FROM THE
MAYOR,
BUT CITY RESOURCES BEHIND
IT AND TAKE MORE FROM THE
UNIFIED CARE
TEAM FOR THE SERVICES THAT ARE
HARMFUL AND PUT THAT TOWARDS
THE SHELTER BUILTOUT AND
SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES INSTEAD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>>
THANK YOU. ALICIA, KELLY,
NATHAN.
IS -- IS IT
ALYSSA?
SCOTT? KELLY.
WELCOME.
>> HI.
YEAH. I'M KELLY, I'M HERE
BECAUSE WE
ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE SHELTER
AND HOUSING, BUT TO DO
THAT EFFECTIVELY AND RAPIDLY, WE
HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SWEEPS.
I AM A SOCIAL
WORKER, BEEN OUTREACH CASE
MANAGER, WORKED IN
SHELTER AND TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING, I'M A FULL- TIME
TRAUMATRAUMA
THERAPIST. IT TAKES YEARS TO
BUILD
TRUST BECAUSE THE SYSTEM
IS
TRAUMATIZING. THERE'S A LOT OF
COORDINATION.
EVERY MONTH ON SAVE MY SPOT,
APPLYING TO A PROGRAM,
GETTING A VOUCHER, THEN ONE DAY
YOU
GET THE CALL, GET THE APARTMENT,
SO
STOKED. HAPPENED TIME AND
AGAIN, I'LL FIND THIS GUY.
TRY TO CALL, CAN'T FIND
HIM BAH AT 7:00 A.M. HE GOT
SWEPT.
WHAT I'M SAYING, IT IS SO
DEMORALIZING.
NOT ONLY WITHOUT A DAY
OF EXCITEMENT BUT NOW HE
DOESN'T HAVE MEDICATION, PHONE,
ANYTHING.
HAPPENS COUNTLESS TIMES.
$30 MILLION WE COULD BE
SPENDING --
>>
THANK YOU. NEXT NATHAN, THEN
ONLINE.
>> I'M HERE TO REPEAT
MY QUESTION FOR MAYOR WILSON
TO TURN ALL THE CAMERAS OFF.
WE ALL SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THE COUNTRY. IT'S UP IN THE AIR
WHETHER WE
WILL HAVE AN ELECTION.
HOW DO WE KNOW THESE CAMERAS
WILL NOT BE USEDUSED AGAINST --
TURN
OFF THE CAMERAS THAT CAN BE USED
TO POLITICALLY
PERSECUTE US. AND AI IS BAD FOR
OUR BRAINS.
IT DEVALUES OUR CULTURE.
AI IS TELLING PEOPLE TO KILL
THEMSELVES AND THEY'RE DOING
IT.
DATA CENTERS DRAIN WATER
RESOURCES AND DRIVE UP
ENERGY
BILLS. WHO IN THE AUDIENCE WANTS
AN AI
DATA CENTER?
WHO THINKS IT'S A BAD IDEA.
>>
THANK YOU.
NATHAN. WE'LL TRANSITION
ONLINE.
REMINDER, SPIRIT HANDS
BETWEEN SPEAKERS AS WE TRY TO
NAVIGATE -- YOU'RE GOOD,
YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'RE GOOD.
ONLY ONE WHO SLAPPED, TOO?
NO, YOU'RE
GOOD. AIDAN, KATE, VICTORIA,
DAVID
HAYNES, DAVID GILL, MIA.
AIDAN YOU SHOULD BE
ONLINE, PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> I SEE YOU RAISED
YOUR HAND. PRESS STAR 6.
I.T., ANYTHING ON YOUR
END?
>> STAR 6,
UNMUTE.
>> I SEE WHAT YOU SEE.
>> THEY RAISED THEIR HAND AGAIN.
DO YOU WANT TO MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT CALLER AND WE CAN
GO BACK
TO AIDAN?
>> WE'LL COME BACK TO
YOU, AIDAN.
KATE, YOU'RE NEXT.
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
>> I'M KATE, A BEACON
HILLHILL AND MEMBER OF THE
SERVICES NOT SWEEPS COALITION.
THERE'S A NARRATIVE THAT
UNHOUSED PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE REJECT SHELTER AND
SERVICES.
THAT'S BEEN USED TO JUSTIFY
EXPENSIVE, INEFFECTIVE AND
CRUEL SWEEPS.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
SHELTERS,
ANY GIVEN NIGHT ALMOST ALL ARE
FULL AND WHAT IS OFFERED
IS OFTEN INAPPROPRIATE.
WE'RE SPENDING TENS OF MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS ON SWEEPS
THAT COULD BE REINVESTED FOR THE
PROPOSALS
IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE
BILL FOR NEW SHELTER WITH
WRAPAROUND
SERVICE. PLEASE VOTE YES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
VICTORIA, NOT PRESENT?
NEXT, DAVID
HAYNES, THEN DAVID
GILL. STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
YOU ARE UNMUTED.
>> HI, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU.
I DEMAND CITY COUNCIL DELAY
VOTING ON THE
ETHICS APPOINTMENTS UNTIL
THERE'S
A FULL INVESTIGATION OF LAST
WEEK'S GOVERNANCE
AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEETING THAT
ONLY ALLOWED CERTAIN PEOPLE TO
SPEAK IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT
FIT
THE AGENDAS OF THE PEOPLE
ON THE COUNCIL WHO USE THEIR
PRIVILEGE
TO SABOTAGE THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. WHY DIDN'T THE CITY HAVE
AA
SAFETY MEETING
THIS
MORNING? THERE'S MORE THAN ONE
COUNCIL.
THERE'S A FLAW IN THE POLICE
CHIEF'S PHILOSOPHICAL
LENS BECAUSE HE'S BASED
ALMOST EVERYTHING ON A PROFESSOR
AT UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
WHO DOES PUBLIC ORIENTED
POLICING,
WHERE HE'S TRYING TO
MISCONSTRUE THE APPROACH.
ANYWAY, IT'S NOT FAIR THE
CITY COUNCIL IS WEAPONIZING THE
RULES, AND WE NEED TO PURGE
THE CORRUPT --
>> THANK YOU, MR. HAYNES.
NEXT, DAVID GILL, FOLLOWED BY
MIA FOSTER.
STAR 6 UNMUTE.
>> HI, I'M A 30- YEAR RESIDENT
OF
SEATTLE.
HOMEOWNER, LIVE IN DISTRICT
TWO AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT
MAYOR WILSON'S PUSH TO BUILD
MORE TINY
HOMES.
ASK THE COUNCIL PLEASE
TO APPROVE THE BILLS ON THE
AGENDA
TODAY TO HELP FINANCE AND
STREAMLINE THE PROCESS.
WE CAN GET 500 SHELTERS
UP BEFORE THE CUP, THAT WOULD
BE AMAZING, PROBABLY A MIRACLE
BUT
WE
SHOULD TRY. THANK YOU.
>>
THANK YOU. NEXT MIA, THEN
GENEVIEVE AND
BRUCE.
>> HI THERE, I'M MIA
FOSTER, CASE MANAGEMENT AT CAMP
SECOND
CHANCE, A TINY HOUSE SHELTER
IN
DELLRIDGE. I WANTED TO SHARE
WHAT WE
DO AS CASE MANAGERS TO
UNDERSTAND WHY THE BILLS FOR
FUNDING ARE
IMPORTANT. DAILY I'M HELPING
CONNECT PEOPLE
WITH DOCUMENTATION, INCOME,
PHONES, COMPUTERS, MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT, SUBSTANCE
USE, MEDICAL CARE, HYGIENE
SERVICES,
YOU NAME IT.
ALSO BRINGING ON PARTNERS
LIKE THE HEPATITIS EDUCATION
PROJECT
TO GET PEOPLE TESTED.
HELP PEOPLE GET CONNECTED
TO SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER TREATMENTS.
ALL SERVICES
PROVIDED WHERE SOMEONE IS LIVING
MAKES IT A LOT
MORE FEASIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO
ACTUALLY RECOVER.
TO GIVE PEOPLE THE
METAPHORICAL BOOT TO BOOTSTRAP
THEMSELVES.
IT'S HARD TO PULL
YOURSELVES UP IF YOU HAVE
NOTHING TO PULL ON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT
GENEVIEVE, BRUCE. STAR 6.
>> HELLO, I'M A VOLUNTEER PARK
STEWARD FOR THE DR. JOSE
RESOLVE
PARK. I WENT TO THE MAYOR'S
COMMUNITY MEETING LAST WEEK
AND WONDERED ABOUT THE
WRAPAROUND
SERVICES THAT WILL BE OFFERED TO
THE TINY
HOMES.
I URGE YOU TO QUESTION THAT.
THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES
OFFERED ARE TREATING SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER.
60-80% OF THOSE HOMELESS HAVE
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
WITHOUT THAT ADDRESSED,
YOU'RE HARMING THAT PERSON,
NEARLY
THREE PEOPLE A DAY ARE DYING OF
OVERDOSE IN OUR COUNTY.
BUT ALSO HARMING THE
COMMUNITY BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE
WILL
HAVE TO GO OUT INTO THE
COMMUNITY
TO STEAL FOR THEIR SUBSTANCE
ABUSE DISORDER AND HAVE TO BE
GOING OUT INTO COMMUNITIES TO
BUY THE
SUBSTANCES, CREATING
MORE CRIME IN THE AREA.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT BRUCE.
THEN MAUREEN AND MELISSA.
>> HELLO.
YEAH, BRUCE, CHAIRPERSON FOR
THETHE FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS
AND
HUNGER. I WANTED TO TELL YOU ON
BEHALF OF OUR TASK FORCE AND THE
500 FOLKS LIVING ON THE STREETS
IN
BALLARD, I THINK WE CAN VERY
ENTHUSIASTICALLY, FULLY SUPPORT
KATIE'S PLAN TO EXPAND THE
AVAILABLE, VIABLE SHELTERS
FOR
FOLKS. IS IT GOING TO FIX
HOMELESSNESS, NO, BUT WE'RE
ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED IT IS THE
RIGHTEST
AND BEST FIRST STEP.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT
ALL HER EFFORTS TO DO THAT AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU, BRUCE.
NEXT, AIDAN.
IF YOU'RE ONLINE,
STAR 6, UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> NOW WE CAN, GOOD JOB.
>> THANK YOU.
YEAH, DEFINITELY NO ON AI,
AND DATA CENTERS AND CAMERAS,
AND
SWEEPS.
THE SWEEPS ARE MAJOR CAUSE OF
THE RISE IN OVERDOSES.
RECORD NUMBER OF
DEATHS WE SAW UNDER THE
HARRELL
ADMINISTRATION. THAT'S PART OF
WHY PEOPLE
WANTED A CHANGE.
WE AT SERVICES NOT SWEEPS
COALITION SUPPORT MAYOR
WILSON'S SHELTER PUSH.
WE WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL
ABOUT WHO IS RUNNING THE
SHELTERS AND
SERVICES, TO BE HELD TO A HIGH
STANDARD, MOVING AS FAST AS WE
CAN. ONE OF THE FASTEST WAYS TO
OPEN QUALITY SHELTER IS A
PARKING LOT
FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RVs
TO PARK WITHOUT HAVING TO SIGN
OVER
THE
TITLE OR DAMAGE THEIR VEHICLE
THE WAY LEHIGH AND
OTHERS KEEP MAKING
THEM DO. LIABILITY ISSUES ARE
SOLVABLE.
WE NEED ALL THE OPTIONS
FOR EVERYONE.
PEOPLE WANT HELP.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER 11, MAUREEN,
THEN MARISSA, ALBERTO AND
JOE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MAUREEN,
I'VE LIVED IN SEATTLE SINCE
1972, IN BALLARD THE LAST
36
YEARS. MY HEART GOES OUT TO
TODAY'S SPEAKERS AND MY
FELLOW
COMMENTATORS. SINCE 2018, I'VE
VOLUNTEERED WITH THE COMMUNITY
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE FOR THE WITTIER
HEIGHTS TINY HOUSE WOMEN'S
VILLAGE.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORKWORK
THE STAFF WHO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND
FACILITATE TRANSFORMATIONS IN
PEOPLE'S LIVES EVERY DAY.
I'VE SEEN HOW THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR
DUCKS IN A ROW AND MOVE
INTO PERMANENT HOUSING OR
REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
THE TWO COUNCIL BILLS TO
STREAMLINE THE PROJECT TO DIRECT
FUNDS
TO THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS
AND ALLOW MORE RESIDENTS PER
VILLAGE. MAYBE HOUSING FOR ALL
EFFECTIVE IN SEATTLE.
THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED
HARD
WORK.
>>
THANK YOU. MARISSA, ALBERTO,
JOE.
>> GOOD
AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS,
MARISSA, CASE
MANAGER AT LEHIGH'S
ROSY'S VILLAGE.
I SEE EVERY DAY HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO
HAVE
SHELTER, THE RIGHT KIND OF
SHELTER, WITH
THE RIGHT SUPPORTS.
WE NEED PEOPLE RECOGNIZING
THAT SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP IS
ONLY THE FIRST STEP.
WHAT HELPS PEOPLE MOVE
FORWARD IS CONSISTENT SUPPORT TO
WALK
THEM THROUGH
THE PROCESS. I'VE HELPED
CLIENTS WITH
LONGSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH
AND SUBSTANCE USE NEEDS, FROM
WHICH MANY ARE ABLE TO FOCUS ON
HOUSING GOALS AND BEGIN HEALING
FROM TRAUMA.
WITHOUT SUPPORTS, PEOPLE OFTEN
REMAIN IN CRISIS.
SERVICES WITH SHELTERS IS
COMPASSIONATE AND PRACTICAL.
IT TAKES MORE THAN A BED
BUT COORDINATED SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>>
THANK YOU. NEXT, ALBERTO, THEN
JOE.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M A HARDWORKING MEMBER OF THE
HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
I CONDEMN MARITZA RIVERA AS
UNETHICAL AND AN
EMBARRASSMENT TO OUR PEOPLE.
RIVERA STARTED HER
TERM ATTEMPTING TO CUT EDI
FUNDING FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY,
AND ALSO TOOK A VOTE TO ROLL
BACK
ETHICS RULES TO ENRICH
HERSELF AS A LANDLORD.
JUST RECENTLY SHE CALLED FOR
AN AUDIT FOCUSED ON
CUTTINGCUTTING SERVICES
FOR EVERYONE IN
THE CITY. ANY AUDIT SHOULD ONLY
LEAD TO
GIVING PEOPLE CASH IN HAND MONEY
TO SPEND AS THEY DEEM FIT
DURING ALL THIS CHAOS.
PEOPLE NEED HELP, NOT
PROCLAMATIONS. PEOPLE ARE ANGRY,
TIRED, AND IT'S TIME YOU TAKE
ACTION.
THANK YOU ALL.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> THANK YOU, ALBERTO.
NEXT, JOE.
STAR 6 UNMUTE.
>> THANK YOU.
JOE HERE.
A FEW THINGS.
FIRST I FULLY SUPPORT MAYOR
WILSON'S
HOMELESSNESS PLAN TO GET PEOPLE
OFF THETHE STREETS.
WE CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE
STEALING OUR PARKS FROM US.
WE CAN ALSO BE TOUGH ON DRUG USE
AND MAKE CLEAR THAT PEOPLE NEED
THE COMPASSION OF
TREATMENT, NOT JUST CONTINUE TO
PERPETUATE
THE HARMS AND COKE DEALERS NEED
TO
BE SUMMARILY DEALT WITH.
I'M SURE SEATTLE NIGHTS WILL
NOT
LIKE WHAT I HAVE IN MIND.
PEOPLE ARE CRYING A RIVER ON
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.
HAVE YOU RODE A BUS
LATELY? ON EVERY TRANSIT
VEHICLE ARE MULTIPLE CAMERAS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT
TO
COMPLAIN ABOUT MORE SURVEILLANCE
IN A MAJOR CITY.
BUSINESSES CAN
HAVE THEM AND MORE TOOLS TO HELP
LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS ALWAYS A
GOOD
IDEA. AS ALWAYS, GO STORM, GO
SEATTLE, GO HAWKS, GO SOUND
TRANSIT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, JOE.
ANY MORE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT?
DOUBLE CHECK JUST TO MAKE SURE.
SO PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED
FOR THE MEETING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING
TODAY, TAKING OFF WORK AND YOUR
TIME,
EVERYTHING FOR COMING
DOWN HERE. ALL THE PEOPLE THAT
GAVE US
PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH
EMAIL, EVERY TIME THEY SEE US AT
THE BUS STOP, WE COLLECT PUBLIC
COMMENTS BEYOND THE
CHAMBER ALL THE TIME.
COMING DOWN TO SEE US.
WE HAVE A HEALTHY AGENDA.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NONE, IT'S ADOPTED.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, ADOPTED.
NOW THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR. FIVE APPOINTMENTS FROM
HUMAN
SERVICES, LABOR, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
ANY ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WANT TO
REMOVE.
COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK?
>> ITEM 3, APPOINTMENT 3470 BE
REMOVED.
>> ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
WANT TO REMOVE ITEMS?
3 HAS BEEN REMOVED AND WILL
BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY TOWARDS
THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO I'LL MOVE TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR EXCLUDING
NUMBER 3.
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO
ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR
EXCLUDING ITEM 3.
CLERK CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YAY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>>
YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>>
YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>>
AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> NONE OPPOSED.
>> READ ITEM
1.
>> RELATED TO PROPERTY TAXES FOR
SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED
ELECTORS OF THE CITY, TO
LEVY REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES
UP TO SEVEN YEARS IN EXCESS --
FOR THE PURPOSE OF
SUSTAINING INVESTMENTS IN
LIBRARY
OPERATIONS. HOURS, TECHNOLOGY
AND
MAINTENANCE,
EMPLOYMENT, EXPANDING ACCESS,
AND A SEISMIC
RETROFIT OF ONE FACILITY.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS BOTH.
>> HELL OF AN INTRODUCTION.
COUNCILMEMBER, RIVERA.
>>.
>> FIRST
MOVE.
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED TO AMEND
THE BILL.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS
IT.
>> NOW I MOVE TO AMEND
AMENDMENT A ON THE
AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED --
I JUMPED AHEAD, APOLOGIES.
MOVED AND SECOND TO AMEND
THE BILL ON AMENDMENT A.
>> COLLEAGUES, I'M SPONSORING A
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO THE
LIBRARY LEVY ON BEHALF
OF CENTRAL STAFF, TO UPDATE
THE SECTION OF THE LEVY LANGUAGE
TO
REFLECT INCREASE MADE BY
THE AMENDMENTS THAT PASSED LAST
WEEK. IT SAYS 410 MILLION,
NOW THAT FIGURE HAS CHANGED AND
WE
NEED TO CHANGE THE LEVY LANGUAGE
WITH
THIS FIX.
I DON'T HAVE THAT NEW FIGURE.
I BELIEVE IT'S
479 MILLION.
>> YEAH.
>> BUT MAYBE CENTRAL STAFF IS IN
CHAMBERS AND CAN
CONFIRM.
>> WE HAVE CENTRAL STAFF AND
I GOT A NICE HEAD NOD FROMFROM
CONFIRMED.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
YOU HAVE MORE?
>> NO, WE JUST NEED TO VOTE TO
UPDATE THAT NUMBER, SUPER
QUICK
AMENDMENT.
>> ERIC, COME TO THE TABLE.
GIVE US A SECOND.
>> POINT OF ORDER, DO WE NEED TO
PRESENT THE RULES TO ALLOW
HIM TO PRESENT DURING
COUNCIL?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, RULES ARE SUSPENDED
TO HAVE ERIC COME TO THE
TABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT AMENDMENT
A.
>> IT'S 479, 760, 000.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO
SAY. I'M ON THE CENTRAL STAFF.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR ERIC
BEFORE HE LEAVES THE TABLE?
SEEING NONE.
THANK YOU ERIC FOR THAT.
COLLEAGUES, OTHER COMMENTS
REGARDING AMENDMENT A?
AWESOME.
CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE ON THE
ADOPTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YAY.
>> FOSTER.
>>
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LIN.
>>
YES.
>> RINCK.
>> YES.
>> RIVERA.
>>
AYE.
>> HOLLINGSWORTH.
>>
YES.
>> NONE OPPOSED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, COMMENTS ON THE FINAL
BILL
BEFORE US.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE
OF MY THOUGHTS ON THIS PACKAGE
AND THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHERE
I STAND AS WELL.
I SUPPORTED THE 410
MILLION, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS
MORE THAN
FAIR GIVEN IT WAS 50% MORE
THAN THE LAST LEVY
EVEN ACCOUNTING FOR INFLATION.
I DIDN'T VOTE FOR ANY
AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE SIZE
OF THE
LEVY BECAUSE IT WOULD DIMINISH
OUR
ABILITY TO ADDRESS OTHER CITY
NEEDS AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTES
TO THE AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM.
I GOT MORE EMAILS FROM FOLKS
IN MY DISTRICT AND ACROSS
THE CITY SAYING THEY'RE
STRUGGLING WITH
PROPERTY TAXES, SOME
RETIREES NEEDING TO WORK PAST
RETIREMENT JUST TO PAY THEM.
I VOTED YES TO PASS THE
LEGISLATION OUT OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE BECAUSE I KNOW
THE
LIBRARY NEEDS A LEVY TO FUND A
THIRD OF ITS BUDGET, BUT I'M
DISAPPOINTED IN THE TURN THE
RENEWAL PROCESS TOOK.
OF COURSE WE NEED TO FUND
OUR LIBRARIES BUT THIS WAS
SIMPLY
MORE THAN I THINK WAS
NEEDED WHEN THERE ARE OTHER
PRESSING
ISSUES AT THE MOMENT.
MORE RECENTLY IT'S BEEN
REPORTED IN THE MEDIA, YOU MAY
HAVE SEEN
IT, THAT SEATTLE IS FACING A
BACKLOG IN THE PROSECUTION OF
CRIMINAL CASES IN THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ONGOING
MANY YEARS.
WE CAN'T HELP SOME PEOPLE FIND
JUSTICE BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH PROSECUTORS TO TAKE
ON CASES.
THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF
THE MANY NEEDS WE HAVE ACROSS
THE CITY AND WHY I THOUGHT IT
WAS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE LEVY
TO
THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED
AMOUNT TO GIVE US SOME FUNDING
TO
BE ABLE TO FUND OTHER THINGS.
WE LITERALLY CANNOT AFFORD TO
CONTINUE OPERATING THIS WAY.
WE NEED TO GOVERN WITH
MORE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I
WAS TAUGHT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE
THE MONEY, WE NEEDED TO
PRIORITIZE AND MAKE TOUGH
CHOICES BASED
ON WHAT WE COULD AFFORD.
ULTIMATELY HOWEVER IT'S UP TO
THE VOTERS TO DECIDE.
SO I WILL VOTE YES TO SEND
IT TO THE AUGUST BALLOT TO GIVE
VOTERS THAT
OPPORTUNITY. HOWEVER, AS I SAID
LAST WEEK,
VOTERS ARE NOT PRIVY TO ALL
THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION WE GET
AS COUNCILMEMBERS AS PART OF
CITY
BUDGETING. THAT'S WHY IT WAS
IMPORTANT
FOR ME TO BE TRANSPARENT
WITH THE PUBLIC LIKE I AM TODAY.
THEY SHOULD FILL OUT BALLOTS
WITH ALL THE INFORMATION AND
KNOWLEDGE THAT VOTING FOR
THIS HIGHER AMOUNT MEANS
THERE WILL BE LESS FOR OTHER
MEANS.
THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL AS AMENDED?
FOSTER FOLLOWED BY
RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK
YOU CHAIR RIVERA FOR STEWARDSHIP
OF THIS THROUGH THE
SELECT
COMMITTEE. TO SPEAK AROUND THE
COST OF THE LEVY.
I AGREE THAT
VOTERS SHOULD HAVE INFORMATION,
AND I WANT TO PUT
THE COST INTO CONTEXT.
TODAY THE MEDIAN HOMEOWNER
IN SEATTLE WITH THE COUNCIL
AMENDED BILL WOULD PAY ROUGHLY
$191 PER
YEAR FOR THE LIBRARY LEVY.
MEDIAN HOME IN SEATTLE WE
KNOW IS ABOUT $870,000 PER YEAR.
THAT BREAKS DOWN TO ABOUT $16
A MONTH WITH THE LIBRARY LEVY AS
AMENDED LAST WEEK.
I THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR VOTERS
TO HAVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
STUCK WITH ME WAS THE MOM WHO
CAME IN TO TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER
OF
BOOKS SHE'S ABLE TO CHECK
OUT THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO
PAY FOR OUT OF POCKET AND HAVE
ACCESS FOR HER KID.
THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE TAKEN
UNDER CONSIDERATION.
AFFORDABILITY IS IMPORTANT
TO ALL OF US AND IT'S IMPORTANT
TO
BRING THE INFORMATION
FORWARD. THE MAJORITY OF THE
FUNDING
DOES COME FROM THE
GENERAL FUND. THERE'S BEEN A
LOT
OF CONVERSATION THE LAST FEW
WEEKS
ABOUT THE FACT THIS LEVY IS 50%
LARGER WHEN WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
INFLATION, PART OF THE REASON IS
BECAUSE IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT
CUTS THAT THE LIBRARY
HAS ABSORBED THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS DUE TO CHALLENGES WE HAVE
WITH THE GENERAL FUND.
IT BRINGS IT INTO THE LEVY TO
ENSURE WE CAN CONTINUE AND
HOLD STABLE OUR INVESTMENTS INTO
THE LIBRARIES THE NEXT
SEVEN YEARS. THAT'S GOING TO
ALLOW
US TO PROVIDE STABILITY FOR A
CORE
SEATTLE SERVICE. AND THAT'S PART
OF WHY
WE'RE SEEING THE INCREASED COST
IN THE
LEVY. WE KNOW WE HAVE STRUCTURAL
BUDGET CHALLENGES.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS SPOKEN
TO THAT IN COMMITTEE BEFORE.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO AS
A
COUNCIL AND IN
COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS AT
THE
STATE SO WE HAVE EFFECTIVE TOOLS
TO FUND
CRITICAL SERVICES.
LASTLY, WHEN I THINK OF THE
THINGS THAT COUNCIL ADDED, WHY I
VOTED FOR THEM, THEY'RE REALLY
FOR THINGS.
TALKING ABOUT HVAC
SYSTEMS, COOLING, RETROFITS AT
CENTRAL
LIBRARY WHICH IS 27 YEARS OLD
AT THE END OF THE LEVY,
CHIEF LIBRARIAN HAS GIVEN ME THE
NOD, THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ESL
CLASSES,
WHICH ARE GETTING CUT,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE OUR
RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE
IN CIVIC SOCIETY.
I WANT US TO CONTINUE TO
ADDRESS OUR AFFORDABILITY
CHALLENGES
BUT WANTED TO BRING THAT INTO
THE
RECORD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. COUNCILMEMBER ALEXIS --
SORRY,
RINCK.
>> YOU CAN CALL ME
ALEXIS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I MENTIONED THIS AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE
DISCUSSES OF THE LIBRARY LEVY,
BUT MY
BUBBY WAS A LIBRARIAN, I GREW UP
IN
LIBRARIES, TO WORK ON THIS
LEVYLEVY ADVANCE AMENDMENTS TO
EXPAND OUR COLLECTIONS AND
INVEST BACK
IN OUR BUILDINGS IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH A NUMBER OF YOU
ALL, THANK
YOU, IT'S BEEN A
TRUE HONOR. THE LIBRARY IS MORE
THAN
A SPECIAL PLACE, IT'S AN
ESSENTIAL PLACE, MADE CLEAR
THROUGHOUT
THIS PROCESS.
I WANTED TO TAKE THIS
MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
EVERYONE
WHO WORKED ON THIS LEVY
PROPOSAL, FROM COUNCIL OFFICES
AND
CENTRAL STAFF, ESPECIAL THANK
YOU TO TIM
ON MY TEAM WHO WORKED
HARD ON THE AMENDMENTS TO THE
LEVY.
THACHG THANK YOU ALSO TO THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOUNDATION,
FRIENDS OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND UNION
PARTNERS
FOR SHOWING UP EVERY STEP.
AND EVERY LIBRARY WORKER WHO
TENDS TO THESE INCREDIBLE
SPACES IN OUR CITY.
YOUR WORK IS SEEN AND
APPRECIATED BY ME AND MANY IN
OUR CITY WITH.
THAT, LET GET READING.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ADDRESSING THE CROWD
TODAY, IT'S CLEAR AND WHAT WE
KNOW FROM
CONVERSATIONS REGARDING
THE NEEDS OF THE BUDGET FOR THE
LIBRARY THIS LEVY DOESN'T GO
FAR
ENOUGH, THE FINANCIAL
NEEDS OF THE SYSTEM ARE BEYOND
WHAT
IS CONTAINED IN THE PACKAGE
TODAY, AND THE WASHINGTON STATE
TAX CODE IS LIMITING
OUR ABILITIES TO FULLY FUND OUR
LIBRARY
SYSTEM. FOLKS, FAMILIES AND
PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE WHO USE OUR LIBRARIES
ARE THE FIRST TO REALLY
FALL VICTIM TO WASHINGTON
STATE'S TAX
CODE AND WAY IT'S IMPLEMENTED
ON 281 CITIES AND TOWNS IN OUR
STATE. THEY'RE ALL HAVING
FISCAL
DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
ALLOWED TO RAISE PROPERTY TAX
REVENUE COMMENSURATE WITH THE
INFLATION EVERY YEAR.
SEATTLE HAS ALLOWED THE
LIBRARIES OUT OF MORE
THAN CAPITAL COSTS, BUT STILL
OLYMPIAOLYMPIA
ESTIMATING US. THAT SAID, WE'RE
BASING SO
MUCH OF THE TAX BASE ON THE
BACKS --BACKS
ON PROPERTY TAX, WHICH AGAIN,
I DON'T NEED TO GO INTO A TAX
CONVERSATION TODAY, BUT FOCUSING
ON THE BEAUTY HERE, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AND
I WORKED ON IT, SAM, RAISE
YOUR HAND,
DIRECTOR FAYE. I NEED THE TWO OF
YOU
TO TALK DURING THIS MEETING,
NOT
KIDDING. FINALLY THE LIBRARY HAS
AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT
FRAMEWORK, SAM LEADING THE WORK
IN MANY
WAYS.
THANKS FOR CARING FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS.
THANKS FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF BOOKS.
AND EBOOKS.
I SAW SOMEBODY COULDN'T HOLD
THE
BOOKS IN THEIR HANDS,
CARRYING SO MANY OUT.
HAVING WORKED AT A LIBRARY,
I KNOW HOW FAR THAT $35$35
GOES, CHECKED IN, CHECKED OUT,
CHECKED IN, CHECKED OUT.
THANKS FOR SUPPORT
INCREASING ACCESS SO PEOPLE CAN
GET
INTO THE LIBRARY, AND FOR
YOUR SUPPORT IN TAKING THE
LIBRARIES -- EVERYTHING THAT
YOU DO -- A STEP FURTHER BY
GETTING THEIR WORK OUT ON THE
AWARD
WINNING SEATTLE CHANNEL. IT'S A
GREAT HONOR TO WORK
WITH ALL OF YOU ON THIS LIBRARY
LEVY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, FOR LEADING US THROUGH
THE
PROCESS.
AGAIN, I'M SO SORRY THAT THE
STATE'S TAX CODE IS HITTING
LIBRARY FAMILIES FIRST.
WE'VE GOT MORE WORK TO DO IN
OLYMPIA AND I'M EXCITED
TO ACCEPTED THIS LEVY TO THE
VOTERS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES,
GRATITUDE TO A NUMBER OF
FOLKS AND LEVEL SETTING HOW WE
GOT
HERE. I HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT
NEARLY $500 MILLION LEVY.
BUT THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY
VALID
REASONS FOR THAT. A FLAWED
OLYMPIA TAX CODE
WITH AN ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS
1%
CAP, YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE, IN
PROPERTY TAXES WHICH
CLEARLY DOESN'T INCLUDE OR
REFLECT
THE COSTS OF INFLATION, NOR THE
INCREASING COSTS OF GOODS AND
SERVICES, WHICH BY THE WAY IS A
RELIC OF TIM AYMAN.
EVERY TIME OLYMPIA DECLINES
TOTO AND CHANGE THAT STRUCTURAL
ISSUE, OUR STATE IS HONORING THE
LEGACY OF TIM AYMAN, MEANWHILE
ON THE BACKS OF
EVERYDAY HOMEOWNERS AND PROPERTY
TAX
PAYERS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WE NEED CHANGE AT THE
OLYMPIA LEVEL TO BETTER POSITION
OUR CITY SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO
BACK TO VOTERS MAKING
SIGNIFICANT ASKS OVER AND OVER
AGAIN.
IT DOES HAVE
NONTRIVIAL IMPACTS ON
AFFORDABILITY, I RECOGNIZE
THAT. THAT SAID, THIS IS ALSO
ABOUT
EMPOWERMENT, ALSO ABOUT
PROVIDING DURABLE, LASTING
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
THROUGH LEARNING.
AND I WOULD POSIT THAT IS THE
SINGLE MOST POWERFUL UPSTREAM
INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE
TO PROTECT AFFORDABILITY
FOR DECADES GOING FORWARD.
SO THERE ARE
TRADE-OFFS. MINDFUL OF THAT, BUT
I THINK
ON BALANCE THIS IS A TERRIFIC
PACKAGE.
I'M EXCITED TO SEND IT TO
VOTERS.
AFTER THIS, IT WILL BE IN
THE HANDS OF VOTERS.
I'M ALSO GLAD,
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES, FOR
PASSING MY
AMENDMENTS. THREE AMENDMENTS I
HAD THAT
BENEFIT MY COUNCIL DISTRICT
BUT FRANKLY THE WHOLE CITY AND
WHOLE
LIBRARY SYSTEM.
DIGIT SKILLING INITIATIVE
AMENDMENT, DIGITAL
SKILLING AND AI INVESTMENTS,
FOCUS ON DIGITAL
EQUITY TO EXTEND
EXISTING PROGRAMS INTO
NEIGHBORHOODS
WITH LOWER RATES OF INTERNET
ACCESS, LOWER DIGITAL DEVICES
COMPARED TO MORE AFFLUENT PARTS
OF THE
CITY. HYDE PARK, SOUTH PARK
BRANCHES,
EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND
LEARNING.
MY OTHER
AMENDMENT, WASHINGTON STATE
BLACK LEGACY INSTITUTE, TO
BENEFIT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
THAT IN THE HISTORIC ADMIRAL
DISTRICT IN WEST SEATTLE, A
CENTER
AND SITE, FACILITY OF NOT JUST
WEST SEATTLE SIGNIFICANCE, CITY
OF
SEATTLE SIGNIFICANCE, THAT IS
A CENTER WITH STATEWIDE IMPACT
IN TERMS OF HOW CONSISTING
SHOWCASING THE VALUE,
PERSEVERANCE AND
TRIUMPH OUR BLACK COMMUNITY IN
THE STATE.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE
IT, AMENDMENT TO UNLOCK
MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ORGANIZATIONS --
INCLUDING
CONTRACTUAL OPPORTUNITIES.
FINALLY THE AMENDMENT I
COSPONSORED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK TO FINALLY
RENOVATE ONCE AND FOR ALL THE
HISTORIC WEST
SEATTLE BRANCH, CARNEGIE
INSTITUTION, AND MAKE
MUCH NEEDED SEISMIC REPAIRS,
AMONGST
OTHER THINGS.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THE LEARNING AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THIS LEVY
WOULD
UNLOCK IF PASSED, BUT I GEEK OUT
ABOUT OUR ABILITY AS A CITY
TO HELP PUT HAMMERS IN HANDS,
MAKE BUILDINGS SAFER, MAKE THEM
MORE MODERNIZED, STABLE.
AND REIMAGINE HISTORIC SPACES.
GETTING THAT DONE FOR WEST
SEATTLE IS A HUGE WIN, AND I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP, GETTING THIS DONE.
THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.
BFD.
IN ANY EVENT --
ALSO WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DIDN'T THANK
CHAIR
RIVERA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR
PARTNERSHIP, STRONG
COLLABORATION, END-TO-
END BEFORE IT WAS EVEN A FIRM,
CONCRETE
PROPOSAL, YOU WERE
COLLABORATIVE, CHECKING IN.
I THINK YOU DID AN EXCELLENT
JOB HELPING SHEPHERD US THROUGH
THIS. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
THANKS
FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP GETTING
WEST SEATTLE DONE.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER,
APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN
MOVINGMOVING
AMENDMENTS WHEN I WAS AWAY LAST
WEEK. THANKS TO MAYOR WILSON FOR
A
GOOD, CLEAN PACKAGE THAT WEWE
THROUGH AND MADE EVEN BETTER.
BUT APPRECIATE HER
LEADERSHIP HELPING TO GET THIS
DONE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT
TO THANK COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN
SHAPING THIS PACKAGE AND
PROCESS THROUGHOUT, AND I'VE
TRIED MY
BEST PERSONALLY TO LISTEN TO
COMMUNITY, READ AS MANY OF
THOSE EMAILS, THOUSANDS OF
EMAILS
WE'VE GOTTEN THE PAST
FEW
MONTHS. LISTEN ATTENTIVELY TO
ALL YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENTS, TESTIMONY,
MEET WITH YOU ALL DURING MY
OFFICE
HOURS, IN MY OFFICE, HAVE
YOU BEND MY EAR ON THE BUS, AT
THE
GROCERY STORE ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
YOUR FEEDBACK IS TRULY
INVALUABLE, AND I TRY MY BEST
TO LIVE UP TO IT AS PEST AS I
CAN AND BE RESPONSIVE TO IT.
SO I WANT TO THANK COMMUNITY.
THAT INCLUDES THE LIBRARY,
THE FOUNDATION, FRIENDS OF THE
LIBRARY, SO MANY OTHERS.
EVERYONE HAS A COOL LIBRARY
STORY, WHICH IS ONE THING
I LEARNED THROUGH THIS
PROCESS, AND HAS A FAVORITE
MEMORY,
BOOK, EXPERIENCE THAT STARTED OR
ENDEDENDED OUR LIBRARIES.
I'M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO PUT
TOGETHER THIS PACKAGE THAT NOW
GOES BEFORE VOTERS.
SO THANK AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, THEN WE'LL
HAVE CLOSING REMARKS
FROM COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AGAIN FOR
SHEPHERDING THIS PROCESS, AS I
STATED LAST
TIME, REALLY APPRECIATE THE
FRANK, OPEN DIALOGUE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO
HAVE GOOD DEBATES, FOR US TO --
WE'RE HAVING A DEBATE AS A
COMMUNITY. WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF
DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND I
THINK YOU SEE THAT ON THE DAIS
AS WELL.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES
RESPECTFULLY AND THAT'S HOW YOU
HELPED LEAD
THIS DISCUSSION. I APPRECIATE
THAT.
I AGREE WITH COLLEAGUES,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
OTHERS, TALKING ABOUT THE BROKEN
TAX SYSTEM.
LARGELY COMING FROM THE STATE.
WE ARE MAKING SOME PROGRESS
ON FIXING THE WAY WE TAX
FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES, BUT WE
HAVE A LOT FURTHER TO GO.
SO WE END UP HAVING DIFFICULT
DISCUSSIONS. AS COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS SAID
WE PROBABLY NEEDED TO GO BIGGER.
THERE'S A LOT MORE NEEDS
WE'RE NOT FUNDING, BUT BECAUSE
OF THE
TOOLS AT HAND, THE PROPERTY
TAX AND CONCERNS AROUND
AFFORDABILITY, WE LANDED
WHERE WE DID.
I DO BELIEVE THAT MANY OF THESE
NEEDS, THINGS INCLUDING
LIKE TRANSITIONING SOME OF
OUR BUILDINGS AWAY FROM FOSSIL
FUELS
TO ELECT RIFICATION.
BUILDINGS ARE
SOLID INVESTMENTS. AND WE NEED
TO BE CAREFUL,
ASK OUR PARTNERS AND
DEPARTMENTS TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT
SPENDING,
YET I'M VERY COMFORTABLE AND
CONFIDENT THESE DOLLARS
ARE VERY MUCH NEEDED AND WILL BE
VERY
WELL SPENT.
THANK YOU ALL, TO THE CHAIR AND
MY COLLEAGUES FOR THIS DEBATE
AND DISCUSSION.
ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO THE
COMMUNITY, SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND THE BOARD
FOR
ALL YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCILMEMBER -- EVERYONE SPOKE.
SORRY, WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND COLLEAGUES FOR
YOUR COMMENTS.
I WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE
THINGS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME
FACTS HERE.
219 LEVY NOW AT 479.
THAT'S 70% MORE EVEN
ACCOUNTING FOR INFLATION.
AND I WANT TO SAY
WHILE I APPRECIATE PUTTING THE
COSTS
INTO CONTEXT AND IT'S TRUE
IT'S
ABOUT 191 MORE A YEAR, IF
IT WERE ONLY LIBRARIES, THAT
WOULD
BE FINE.
BUT THAT IS COMBINED TO THE
$8,000 PEOPLE ARE PAYING A YEAR
IN TAXES WITH ALL THE LEVIES
AND OTHER TAXES THAT SEATTLEITES
PAY, INCLUDING KING
COUNTY TAXES.
WHEN YOU COMBINE ALL THE TAXES
THE
TOGETHER, PEOPLE ARE PAYING
ON THE 850K HOUSE ABOUT $8,000
PLUS
NOW THE LIBRARY LEVY.
ONCE YOU START TAKING
INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE TAXES,
I THINK IT'S HARDER TO ARGUE
IT'S
JUST $16 A DAY.
THAT'S TRUE FOR THE LIBRARIES,
BUT THAT'S NOT ONLY THING WE'RE
PAYING FOR, AND LIBRARIES ISN'T
THE ONLY LEVY WE SEND TO THE
VOTERS TO
PAY FOR. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY, THERE IS AN
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
THIS IS WHY RETIREES ARE
HAVING TO WORK PART- TIME JOBS,
AND
RENTERS, THERE'S THIS NOTION
ONLY PROPERTY OWNERS PAY
PROPERTY TAXES, THEY'RE NOT,
RENTERS PAY IT, TOO, IT
GETS PASSED ON, IT
HAS TO. END OF THE DAY WE NEED
TO
BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
ASKING
OF VOTERS AND WHY IT
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, 191 A
YEAR, BUT COMBINED WITH OTHER
TAXES,
IT STARTS TO ADD UP.
ONCE WE START PUTTING MORE
AND MORE INTO THIS AND OTHER
LEVIES, THAT TAX INCREASE
BECOMES
UNSUSTAINABLE FOR FOLKS IN
THE
CITY. AND WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL
OF
THAT. THIS IS WHY I HAD CONCERNS
ABOUT
CONTINUING TO ADD.
MORE IMPORTANTLY THE TAX CAP, WE
DIDN'T LEAVE VERY MUCH FOR
THE SUBSEQUENT FUTURE LEVY
RENEWALSRENEWALS WE'LL TO DO,
NEXT
IS HOUSING LEVY.
YOU HEARD PEOPLE COMING
TO CHAMBERS TODAY TALKING ABOUT
THE
TINY HOME PROPOSAL, HOW ARE
WE GOING TO FUND THAT ONGOING?
I HAVE NO IDEA, BUT THIS IS
ALL REAL.
ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IS,
AND WE'RE ALL AGREED WE LOVE
OUR
LIBRARIES. AS I'VE SAID, IT
ISN'T WHO
LOVES THE LIBRARIES MORE, JUST
OPERATING UNDER FISCAL
REALITIES, AND I WISH
THAT WEREN'T THE
CASE. I MYSELF WOULD WANT TO
GIVE MORE
TO THE LIBRARIES, BUT THAT'S
NOT WHERE WE'RE AT.
SO THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I JUST DON'T WANT US TO BE
FLIPPANT ABOUT IT'S JUST
A
LITTLE MORE. ONCE YOU ADD ALL
THESE
LEVIES AND PROPERTY TAXES UP,
IT'S A
LOT. AND WE NEED TO BE MORE
FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE WE ARE
RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS.
IN TERMS OF OLYMPIA, THIS FLAWED
TAX SYSTEM, YES.
AND AS REGARDS THE
PROPERTY TAX -- SORRY, AS
REGARDS
THE LEVY CAP, WHICH I UNDERSTOOD
SOME COLLEAGUES TO BE TALKING
ABOUT, LIFTING THE LEVY CAP JUST
MEANS WE CAN ASK MORE
FROMFROM BY WAY OF PROPERTY
TAXES, IT DOESN'T RELIEF THE
PROPERTY TAX BURDEN, IT JUST
INCREASES
IT. ALL THESE THINGS ARE TRUE
AND
WHAT WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH,
AND THAT'S WHAT I FLAGGED LAST
TIME AND WILL FLAG AGAIN TODAY.
THAT SAID, WE'LL VOTE TO
PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE
WORKING TOGETHER ON THE
CONVERSATION.
I APPRECIATE WE'RE ALL
ALIGNED AND LOVE OUR LIBRARIES.
END OF THE DAY, WE'LL HAVE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY
FOR OTHER THINGS.
MAYBE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO, BUT
THIS WILL MOVE FORWARD TODAY
AND VOTERS WILL DECIDE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
WHEN THEY DECIDE, THEY HAVE THE
FULL INFORMATION.
I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO LATER
SAY WE PUT IT AT THAT LEVEL, 70%
OVER THE COST OF INFLATION,
NOW WE CAN'T PAY FOR OTHER
THINGS BECAUSE OF THE LEVY
CAP SITUATION.
WE MADE THAT EYES WIDE
OPEN DECISION.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
THE ROBUST
CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
NOW WE'LL CALL ROLL.
THANKS TO EVERYONE.
DOUBLE DOWN ON MY
COLLEAGUES, AND THANK MY MOM WHO
TAUGHT ME AT EARLY AGE IT'S
>> SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>>
YAY.
>>
RINCK.
>> AYE.
>> RIVERA.
>>
YAY.
>> HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE.
>> NONE OPPOSED.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE CAN DO THAT, THE BILL
PASSES AS AMENDED.
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE BILL TO BE
SENT TO THE VOTERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, I WOULD LIKE
TO CONSIDER SECTION I.
WE HAVE A COUNCILMEMBER
WHO NEEDS TO BE EXCUSED, ON
THE GOVERNANCE AND UTILITIES
MEETING.
THIS IS THE ITEM AGENDA
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
PACKAGE, AN
APPOINTMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO
ADDRESS THAT
FIRST.
>> JUST WANTED SAM AND DIRECTOR
FAYE
TO CONNECT. HE'S WALKING OUT
THE
DOOR.
>> PLEASE CONNECT.
YOU ASKED THAT BEFORE THE VOTE.
THAT'S GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
THEY ARE CONNECTING.
THANK YOU.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
WE'LL CONSIDER THAT NEXT.
ITEM I.
PLEASE READ INTO
THE RECORD. IT WAS
REMOVED.
>> CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM 3
FOR APPOINTMENT OF EVAN M.
SMITH.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
CONFIRM.
>> THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT, APPOINTMENT OF
EVAN SMITH AS MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE
ETHICS AND ELECTIONS
COMMISSION, DECEMBER 31, 2027.
4- 0 RECOMMENDATION.
BUT THERE WAS A REMOVAL, SO
LET COUNCILMEMBER RINCK ADDRESS
HER
REMOVAL OF THE
ITEM.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES WITH RESPECT TO
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION,
I PULLED THIS APPOINTMENT FROM
THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY BECAUSE
OF SOME OF THE DETAILS THAT
HAVE COME TO LIGHT RELATED TO
THE COMPANY THAT THE PROPOSED
APPOINTEE FOUNDED.
I HAVE DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT THE
PROLIFERATION AND LACK
OF REGULATIONS AROUND AI AND
CAMERACAMERA BROADLY.
AND THEY'RE SELLING
MICROPHONES THAT FLOOR STAFF ARE
REQUIRED TO
WEAR TO CAPTURE CONVERSATIONS
TRANSCRIBED AND ANALYZED BY AI
FOR PERFORMANCE. TO USE THIS
AGAINST
WORKERS, THOSE MAKING MINIMUM
WAGE
PARTICULARLY, IS INVASIVE TO
PUT IT LIGHTLY AND DYSTOPIAN AT
WORST. I WORRY ABOUT THE
WORKERS, PRIVACY AND ABILITY FOR
PEOPLE TO ORGANIZE.
AND I HAVE A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ETHICS
BEHIND SUCH A
BUSINESS. FOR THAT REASON I'M
UP ABLE
TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED
APPOINTEE TO OUR ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS
COMMISSION.
>> ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS REGARDING THIS IDEA?
I'M GOING TO SPEAK -- I'LL
SPEAK
TO MR. EVAN SMITH.
HE WAS MY NOMINATION, AND
II HE BRINGS A
STRONG FOUNDATION OF
LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY AND
PUBLIC
SERVICE, HIM AS A PERSON,
NOT FOR THE COMPANY OR SOME OF
THE
THINGS BROUGHT UP.
MR. SMITH ON EDUCATION,
GOVERNMENT AND LEADERSHIP.
BEGAN CAREER AS SOCIAL STUDIES
TEACHER, DEEP UNDERSTANDING
HOW SYSTEMS IMPACT COMMUNITIES.
SERVED MULTIPLE ROLES
FOR D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
WORKED
WITH FEMA IN DISASTER RECOVERY
IN
HURRICANE KATRINA. IN ADDITION,
HIS TIME IN
SENIOR LEADERSHIP ROLES IN
MAJOR COMPANIES REFLECT I THINK
HIS
ABILITY TO NAVIGATE
COMPLEX SYSTEMS AND MANAGING
LARGE-
SCALE OPERATIONS WITH
ACCOUNTABILITY
METRICS.
I'M CONFIDENT HIS BACKGROUND
AND
VALUES ENABLES TO
SERVE THOUGHTFUL MEMBER OF THE
ETHICS
COMMITTEE.
IF OUR DIRECTOR, MR. BARNETT,
HAD ISSUE
REGARDING THETHE PICK OR
CONFLICT INTEREST,
HE WOULD HAVE SAID THAT IN
COMMITTEE.
BUT I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK'S HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF
THE CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITY
HAS
AND THAT YOU HAVE AS
WELL. APPRECIATE THIS
CONVERSATION.
I WILL PAUSE THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S
ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT
HAVE COMMENTS REGARDING THIS
BEFORE WE CALL THIS TO A VOTE
SPECIFICALLY.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
SORRY, COULDN'T RAISE MY HAND
FAST ENOUGH EARLIER.
TO YOUR COMMENTS, MY OFFICE
DID REACH OUT TO DIRECTOR
BARNETT, AND HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY
ISSUES WITH THIS CONFIRMATION.
I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
I MADE THE SAME ASSUMPTION YOU
DID.
I HAD MY TEAM REACH OUT TO
MR. BARNETT.
I ALSO KNOW MR. EVAN SMITH
FROM THE FAMILIES AND EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL PROMISE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR THE LAST
LEVY THAT
WAS PASSED, AND I FOUND HIM
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMITTED.
I KNOW HE'S COMMITTED TO
KIDS AND FAMILIES.
ON A PERSONAL LEVEL I'VE HAD
THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS YOU
DESCRIBED IN YOUR REMARKS.
I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE.
GIVEN THAT AND GIVEN THAT WAYNE
BARNETT DOESN'T HAVE
ISSUES, I'M FINE MOVING
THIS APPOINTMENT FORWARD AND I
THINK EVAN FOR HIS
VOLUNTEERING TO DO THIS WORK.
THESE COMMISSIONS ARE ALL
VOLUNTEER.
I THINK THE FOLKS THAT STEP UP
TO DO THESE JOBS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING
THE APPOINTMENT?
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
YOUR
COMMENTS. CALL THE ROLL.
>> SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> FOSTER.
>> NO.
>>
JUAREZ.
>> SORRY, AYE.
>> LIN.
>> NO.
>> RINCK.
>> NO.
>> RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE.
FIVE IN FAVOR, THREE OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES,
APPOINTMENT CONFIRMED.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM
NUMBERNUMBER
IN THE AGENDA.
FIRST, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
EXCUSE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR THE
REMAINING.
YOU'RE EXCUSED.
READ ITEM NUMBER TWO INTO THE
RECORD.
>> RELATING TO LEASES, AUTHORITY
TO EXECUTE LEASES
WHEN THE LAND IS USED FOR
TRANSITIONAL
ENCAMPMENT.
RECOMMENDED PASS.
>> JUST CHECK IN, WE STILL
HAVE SEVEN COUNCILMEMBERS
PRESENT.
THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN QUORUM,
WE NEED SEVEN FOR THE BUDGET
VOTE.
>> I BELIEVE SIX --
NO, SEVEN. YES.
JUAREZ IS ONLINE.
WE'RE GOOD.
>> WONDERFUL, TO THE ORDINANCE,
THIS IS COMMONSENSE
LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES THE
DIRECTOR
THE ABILITY TO SIGN LEASES FOR
LAND FOR TRANSITIONAL ENCAMPMENT
PURPOSES.
I'LL EDITORIALIZE THIS IS TOO
SMALL AND RESTRICTIVE TO
TRADITIONAL ENCAMPMENT BECAUSE
MANY THINGS ARE NEEDED TO ASSIST
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS THAT ARE
NOT SPECIFICALLY THESE.
WE'LL LIKELY BRING FORWARD
ANOTHER BILL LATER THIS YEAR TO
ADDRESS THE ONGOING NEEDS.
I URGE YES, THIS IS SUPER
COMMONSENSE.
>>
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FOR YOUR
STEWARDSHIP OF THIS LEGISLATION
AND DOING IT IN A
TIMELY MANNER, EXPEDITING THAT
PROCESS ASAS WELL.
WAS MORE?
>> JUST GOING TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. AND YOU
JUST DID IT.
>> ANY CLOSING?
AWESOME. CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>>
FOSTER.
>>
YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LIN.
>> YES.
>> RINCK.
>> YES.
>>
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES, CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE.
NUMBER 3.
>> RELATING TO THE
CITY'S RESPONSE TO
HOMELESSNESS, ADOPTED 2026
BUDGET, INCLUDING
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE.
>> WE HEARD SOLEMN WORDS AND I
WANT TO UPLIFT THE WORDS OF
ANITRA AND WOMEN IN BLACK WHO
STAND VIGIL FOR THE
PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.
A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR
THE PEOPLE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO
SAVE.
WE KNOW THAT HOMELESSNESS IS AN
ONGOING PROBLEM IN OUR CITY AND
UNDERSTAND THERE'S A NEED
FOR ADDITIONAL SHELTER, AND THAT
COSTS MONEY.
THAT'S WHAT THE BILL IS TO DO.
IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF A
NEWNEW
MAYOR, WE'RE YET TO THE PLAN
FOR THE REST OF THE
YEAR, AND IN MOST
CIRCUMSTANCES THE COUNCIL WOULD
NOT PASS A
BUDGET BILL WITHOUT AN
EXACT PLAN NAILED DOWN.
BUT I APPRECIATE THE
COMMITMENT OF THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AND
URGENCY. IN 2016, ONE
OF MY FAVORITE COUNCILMEMBERS
CALLED FOR A
THOUSAND NEW TINY HOMES WHEN WE
DIDN'T HAVE IT AS AN AGREED
UPON
SERVICE THAT CITY OF SEATTLE
PROVIDED. NOW A DECADE LATER WE
FIND
TINY HOMES TO BE A
GREAT SOLUTION FOR MANY PEOPLE
BUT NOT ALL.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM
LICENSED, CLINICAL SOCIAL
WORKERS TODAY.
FOLKS OFTENTIMES SAY THE
SOCIAL WORKER FILL IN THE BLANK.
I AM EVEN GUILT OF THAT.
THE NAV AM WAS LED BYBY
WITH THE SOCIAL WORKERS BEHIND.
THAT IS A BIT OF A VAGUE
STATEMENT FOR LICENSED CLINICAL
SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDING
DIRECT CARE.
I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO CAME TO
SPEAK TODAY WHO WORK IN THE TINY
HOME VILLAGES.
THEY SHARED THEY'RE THERE
FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND THAT WORKS
FOR MANY PEOPLE SUFFERING
FROM HOMELESSNESS BUT NOT ALL.
THE GOOD AND BAD IS WE HAVE
MANY PEOPLE ON
THE STREETS TODAY THAT HAVE BEEN
KICKED OUT OR NOT
BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN TINY HOME
VILLAGES.
THIS IS GOOD AND BAD.
A DECADE AGO I COULDN'T GET
THEM INTO A TINY HOME AT ALL,
MUCH
LESS TO BE KICKED OUT.
THE BAD, WE HAVE A NEW LEVEL
OF SERVICE TO PROVIDE.
I WAS QUOTED IN THE
"TIMES" SAYING I
WANTED THE MORE EXPENSIVE OPTION
THAN
TINY
HOMES, NOT BECAUSE I WANT TO
SPEND MORE MONEY.
IT'S BECAUSE WHEN WE DON'T
SPEND THE CORRECT LEVEL OF MONEY
FOR THE CORRECT TYPE OF RVICES
WE WILL NOT FIND THE OUTCOMES WE
DESIRE. I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING
GOOD ON THE COMMITMENT FROM THE
MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO UNDERSTAND THE
NEEDS OUT THERE.
WE HAD MANY
COUNCILMEMBERSCOUNCILMEMBERS
AMENDMENTS
FOR SOBER
SHELTER. NEED FOR FAMILY AND
WOMEN'S
SHELTERS.
I TALKED ABOUT HIGHER ACUTE.
AND END OF THE DAY, WE
HAD PUBLIC COMMENTER ARES
HERE, NOT BORN IN APRIL THOUGH,
I CHECKED WITH HER.
HER QUESTION
ABOUT VACANT BUILDINGS,
ABSOLUTELY.
WE STARTED A PROGRAM
IN THE PANDEMIC TO BUY VACANT
BUILDINGS, THE DIFFICULTY IS
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THAT ARE
VACANT.
IF WE BOUGHT A BUILDING WITH A
BUNCH OF TENANTS, WE'RE NOT
ABLE
TO FILL WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT BEFORE US TODAY IS THE
BUDGET BILL THAT STARTS FUNDING
OUR EXPANSION OF SHELTER IN OUR
CITY.
THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE
AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO
FOCUS ON WHAT LEVEL OF
SERVICE ARE WE PROVIDING AND FOR
WHOM.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE NEEDNEED
SPACE FOR PEOPLE IN
WHEELCHAIRS, WITH PARTNERS,
PETS, THINGS.
24/7 CASE MANAGEMENT
AND MEDICALLY ASSISTED TREATMENT
IN MANY PLACES.
THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF
CARE MEANS THERE'S A HIGHER
FINANCIAL COST.
AND WE HAVE TO RECKON WITH
THAT BECAUSE WITHOUT
SPENDING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS,
WE'RE NOT
GOING TO SEE THE OUTCOMES
WE'RE SETTING OUT TO ACHIEVE
TODAY.
AND WE ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS
SEPARATELY, ASIDE FROM
THIS BUDGET FUNDING NOW, THE
FACT
WE'VE GOT FOLKS REPORTEDLY
SETTING UP TENTS IN PUBLIC
SPACES THAT HAVE SHELTER AND
HOUSING.
WE HAVE FOLKS SETTING
UP STRUCTURES IN THE STREETS
OF BALLARD WITH FULL CHIMNEYS
SET
UP, AND BEEN BOUNCING AROUND
OUR CITY FOR MONTHS AND POSSIBLY
YEARS.
WE HAVE TO CREATE SOLUTIONS FOR
THESE FOLKS BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE
DOING NOW IS NOT WORKING.
I HOPE AND SUSPECT THIS
FUNDING WILL HELP US ADDRESSING
THOSE
PEOPLE'S ISSUES.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT WORDS, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
BILL
121185?
I SAID THIS
MONDAY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
STEWARDSHIP DURING THIS PROCESS,
BEING
VERY COLLABORATIVE AND TALKING
TO
ALL COUNCIL OFFICES.
AND YOU ADDED A MEETING TO
HEAR THE LEGISLATION AND MEET
THE
SENSE OF URGENCY THAT
THE SEVENTH FLOOR SAID THEY
WANTED.
APPRECIATE THAT.
THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN MOVING
SWIFTLY FOR THAT
PROCESS. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO
THAT
BUT SHOWED YOUR COMMITMENT TO
THE
LEGISLATION.
THANK. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
FLOOR
AWESOME.
CALL THE
>> SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>>
AYE.
>> FOSTER.
>>
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LIN.
>> YES.
>> RINCK.
>> YES.
>>
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>> YAY.
>> BILL PASSES.
CHAIR SIGN IT, CLERK AFFIX THE
SIGNATURE.
I THINK EVERY COUNCILMEMBER
IS LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
IMPLEMENTING
THIS. READ ITEM 4.
>> RELATING TO ACCEPTANCE OF
FUNDING FROM NON- CITY
SOURCES AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR
MAYOR'S DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT AND
AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF
SPECIFIED
GRANTS -- RECOMMENDED PASS.
>> AS ENUMERATED ININ CITY OF
SEATTLE'S CHARTER, CITY
COUNCIL MUST APPROVE GRANTS WE
RECEIVE FROM OTHER LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT
BEFORE WE'RE ALLOWED TO EXPEND
THEM.
THAT IS WHAT IS THE BILL IS,
I URGE A YES
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, CALL THE
ROLL.
>> SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> FOSTER.
>> YES.
>>
JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LIN.
>>
YES.
>> RINCK.
>>
YES.
>>
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES, CHAIR WILL
SIGN, AND CLERK AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE.
READ
NUMBER 5.
>> RELATING TO THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES, AUTHORIZING
THE GENERAL MANAGER AND CEO TO
ACCEPT SLOPE STABILIZATION
EASEMENTS WITHIN TWO
PARCELS. 6844703215.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASS.
>> AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE I
WILL PROVIDE THE REPORT.
THIS WILL
ALLOW TO BUILD PERMANENT
INFRASTRUCTURE IN
3822 AND 3832 NORTHEAST 91st
STREET.
THEY WERE ACQUIRED FOR $9,900
AND LIMITED FOR THE PORTION
FORFOR SLOPES.
THIS DOES NOT RAISE RATES.
THIS IS THE FIRST THING ANYONE
ASKS WHEN UTILITIES PURCHASE
ANYTHING.
THIS IS SEPARATE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> NOPE.
>> OKAY.
CALL
THE ROLL.
>> SAKA.
>>
AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> FOSTER.
>>
YES.
>>
JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LIN.
>> YES.
>> RINCK.
>> YES.
>>
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES.
CHAIR WILL SIGN.
CLERK AFFIX THE SIGNATURE.
NUMBER 6.
>> RELATING TO SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES,
AUTHORIZING ACQUISITION OF
CERTAIN
REAL PROPERTY RIGHTS BY
NEGOTIATION
OR EMINENT DOMAIN OF 4265700090.
AND 4265700085, BOTH AT
SOUTH
DIRECTOR STREET. COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASS.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, AS CHAIR, I
WILL PROVIDE THE REPORT.
THIS IS REGARDING WILLING
SALE OF TWO PRIVATE PARCELS TO
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES TO
CONSTRUCT PUMP STATION NUMBER
FOUR REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
EXISTING WASTEWATER PUMP SYSTEM
REQUIRES REPLACEMENT DUE TO
AGE AND CONDITION OF THE
CURRENT PUMP STATION.
BOTH WERE ACQUIRED FROM
DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER FUNDS.
AGAIN, THESE DON'T INCREASE
PEOPLE'S RATES.
THIS IS THE WASTEWATER FUND
WHICH THEY BUDGET OUT IES TO
HELP WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.
COMMENTS? CLERK CALL
THE ROLL.
>> SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LIN.
>>
YES.
>> RINCK.
>>
YES.
>>
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES.
CLERK AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON MY
BEHALF.
THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, I BELIEVE WE'RE
GOING TO NOW GO TO
ITEM NUMBER J ON THE AGENDA.
SORRY, LOST MY NOTES HERE.
WE ADDRESSED I.
THERE IS A RESOLUTION
FOR INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION
TODAY.
WILL THE CLERK READ THE AGENDA
ITEM.
>> RESOLUTION SETTING THE
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
PETITION OF THE YEW LLC FOR THE
VACATION OF THE
REMAINING PORTION OF THE
ALLEY LYING WITHIN BLOCK TWO,
WEGENER'S ADDITION TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
GREENWOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT.
IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION,
YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COLLEAGUES, THE YEW LLC HAS
SUBMITTED A PETITION TO
VACATE THE REMAINING PORTION OF
THE ALLEY IN BLOCK
TWO, COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.
VACATION IS A FORMAL
LEGAL PROCESS UNDER A SPECIFIC
STATE
STATUTE AND SPECIFIC SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE THAT REMOVES
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF- WAY
INTERESTS, TRANSFERRING TO A
PROPERTY
OWNER IF CONDITIONS ARE MET.
RESOLUTION SETS THE DATE IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW ANDAND
POLICY. IF PASSED, THE PUBLIC
HEARING
WILL TAKE PLACE MAY
7th STEPS COMMITTEE MEETING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
ANY OTHER
COMMENTS REGARDING THIS
RESOLUTION?
CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
>> SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>>
AYE.
>> FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LIN.
>> YES.
>> RINCK.
>> YES.
>> HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> AWESOME, RESOLUTION
IS ADOPTED.
CHAIR WILL SIGN AND CLERK WILL
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE.
COLLEAGUES, ANY MORE FURTHER
BUSINESS BEFORE
THE COUNCIL? COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, REQUEST TO
BE EXCUSED FROM THETHE 28th FULL
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OBJECTIONS
OBJECTIONS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS BEING
EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING?
ONE OBJECTION -- JUST PLAYING.
NO OBJECTION.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I LOOKED
TO COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> I ACTUALLY HAD SOMETHING.
>> I WAS LIKE SHE'S ON
ONE
TODAY.
>> I AM ON, BEEN HERE, COME
ON NOW.
I HAVE TO BE EXCUSED ON THE
28th AS WELL.
LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR,
TUESDAY, I HAVE TO BE EXCUSED
AS
WELL.
>> AWESOME.
ANY OBJECTION TO COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ BEING EXCUSED APRIL 28th
FULL COUNCIL
MEETING?
>> ARE YOU OBJECTING TO
YOURSELF?
>> NO.
>> OKAY.
NO OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, YOU'RE EXCUSED FROM THE
APRIL 28th FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
ANY MORE ITEMS BEFORE THE
COUNCIL? NOPE, AWESOME.
THANK YOU FOR A
SPIRITED MEETING.
I APPRECIATE THE
RESPECTFUL DEBATES AND
INFORMATION, AND ALL
OF THE PERSPECTIVES YOU ALL
HAVE.
THERE IS NEVER A DULL MOMENT
ON THIS COUNCIL.
THANK YOU ALL.
APPRECIATE IT.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
OLD OR NEW
HAND?
>> OLD HAPPENED, BUT TAKE
THE MOMENT TO SAY HBDCNBK.
THANK YOU EVERYONE.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> AWESOME.
WHO?
OKAY. THAT'S HOW WE'LL CLOSE
IT OUT.
NOTHING TO COME BEFORE.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S AGENDA.
NEXT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING WILL BE APRIL 21st