WILL COME TO ORDER, I AM CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LINN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>> THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK, PLEASE NOTE
FOR THE RECORD, EVERYBODY, THAT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
IS EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S
MEETING. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. PUBLIC
COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS
ON THE AGENDA OR WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE. HOW
MEN SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CHAIR, WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS
TODAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. THEN, PUBLIC
COMMENT IS NOW CLOSED. WE WILL
PROCEED TO OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK,
ARE YOU PRESENT?
>> CHECKING AUDIO, CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> THANK YOU. I AM PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FOR THE
RECORD, COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK IS
ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY'S
MEETING. WILL THE CLERK READ
ITEM ONE? TO THE REPORT?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, UPDATE ON $4
MILLION INVESTMENT FOR REFUGEE
AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A
SPECIAL LIBRARY, EDUCATION, AND
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE MEETING.
OR REGULARLY MEETINGS HAD BEEN
USED FOR THE RENEWAL OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY LEVEE RR, I
WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON
THE VERY IMPORTANT $4 MILLION
INVESTMENT GIVEN TO A WIRE ON
THE 2026 BUDGET, IN SUPPORT OF
OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITY IN TOWN. DIRECTOR CUC
VU IS HERE TO LET US KNOW HOW
THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE
IMPLEMENTED IN SUPPORT OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE GREAT WORK IN GENERAL THEY
HAVE BEEN DOING FOR MANY YEARS,
NOT JUST NOW, FOR THE IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITY. FOR THE RECORD, I
HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING
WITH DIRECTOR VU ALL THE WAY
BACK TO ABOUT 2018 OR 2019,
DIRECTOR. WE ARE SO LUCKY TO
HAVE HER BACK AT THE CITY, AT
THE HELM ONCE AGAIN. I KNOW HER
COMMITMENT TO OUR IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY, I
REALLY APPRECIATE HER WORK. SO
LUCKY TO GET TO WORK WITH HER
AGAIN. WE HAVE SPOKEN, AND WHILE
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE SURGE THAT
WE SAW IN MINNEAPOLIS HERE IN
SEATTLE, WE HAVE SEEN AN
INCREASE IN I.C.E ACTIVITY,
WHILE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL
HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, WE DON'T
WANT TO INSTILL FEAR IN FOLKS,
BECAUSE THAT IS THE POINT,
RIGHT? THE CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION CLEARLY WANTS
FOLKS TO LIVE IN FEAR. I NEVER
WANT TO BE MONGERING OR ADD
STRESS TO WHAT IS ALREADY A
STRESSFUL TIME FOR IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE FOLKS IN TOWN. IT IS OUR
JOB AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND AS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, TO REALLY HELP
KEEP OUR PEOPLE CALM AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE SUPPORT OUR
COMMUNITIES WHEN WE ARE--
INSTEAD OF OPERATING IN A CHAOS
SITUATION, AND THAT IS THE POINT
OF OUR INVESTMENTS IS TO REALLY
HELP SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES AND
PROVIDE COMFORT AND SECURITY. I
AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
HEARING ABOUT THE INVESTMENT AND
HOW IT IS GETTING IMPLEMENTED.
THE ORIGINAL INVESTMENT, WHICH
IS AN ONGOING INVESTMENT, BY THE
WAY, WAS DELINEATED BY COUNCIL
ACTION TO DO THE FOLLOWING, TO
ADDRESS BACKFILL FOR FEDERAL
BUDGET CUTS, AND ALSO JUST RAPID
RESPONSE, LEGAL DEFENSE, WHICH
THE DEPARTMENT ALREADY PROVIDES,
IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION AND
CITIZENSHIP SUPPORT, WHICH IS
DEPARTMENT ALREADY PROVIDES AS
WELL, ADULT IMMIGRANT WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT, AND READY TO WORK,
WHICH THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN
DOING FOR MANY YEARS NOW,
IMMIGRANT YOUTH CAREER PATHWAY
PROGRAMS, IMMIGRANT SAFETY
ACCESS NETWORK, AND ETHNIC MEDIA
AND TRANSLATION AND COMMUNITY
ADVISORS AND THE STAFFING
NEEDING TO SUPPORT THE
FUNCTIONS, TEMPORARY STAFFING
NEEDED, TO SCALE UP THE WORK,
BECAUSE THIS IS NORMALLY IT IS,
WOULD HAVE BEEN $6 MILLION
DEPARTMENT IS NOW A $10 WITH THE
NEW MONEY, SO YOU ARE ABLE TO DO
MORE. THE REASON WHY I AM
POINTING THAT OUT IS BECAUSE ANY
TIME A DEPARTMENT GETS THIS SIZE
OF PERCENTAGE INCREASE, I WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT THEN HAS TO TURN
AROUND AND BE ABLE TO SCALE UP
THEIR OPERATIONS TO MEET THAT
EXTRA FUNDING AND THAT TAKES
TIME. SO I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS ISN'T
SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD TURN
AROUND OVERNIGHT, BECAUSE THIS
IS A LOT MORE THAN YOU ARE
USUALLY MANAGING FOR, IN TERMS
OF A BUDGET. SO, THAT IS
IMPORTANT HERE TO NOTE, AND IT
ALWAYS TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF
TIME. AND THEN I REALLY WANT TO,
ALSO, COLLEAGUES, APOLOGIES FOR
NOT GETTING THE SLIDE DECK
SOONER. WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO GET
MATERIAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THERE WAS SOME LAST-MINUTE WORK
ON THE PRESENTATION BUT I
DIDN'T WANT TO HOLD UP THE
MEETING TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW THE
DEPARTMENT IS DOING GREAT WORK,
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE
COULD GET YOU THE BRIEFING,
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, BUT
THAT MEANT YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE
MATERIALS UNTIL A LITTLE EARLIER
TODAY AND FOR THAT I DO
APOLOGIZE AND I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR GRACE SO LETS GET INTO THE
PRESENTATION, DIRECTOR VU, YOU
CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE. COLLEAGUES, IF YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS, I WILL LOOK OUT
FOR YOUR HANDS. YOU CAN GO AHEAD
AND ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GO
ALONG, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF
INFORMATION AND A LOT OF GREAT
WORK AND LOT OF PIECES TO THIS
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL
THE END. GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR VU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, THANK
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS LINN AND
FOSTER AND RINCK FOR JOINING US
TODAY. I AM THE ACTING DIRECTOR
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS,
HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE
ON OFFICE $4 MILLION EXPANDED
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO AS THE
CHAIR REFERENCED THIS REPRESENTS
A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE TO THE
BUDGET, AND WE HAVE LOT OF
THANKS TO COMMUNITY ADVOCACY,
BUT ALSO SUPPORT FROM CITY
COUNCIL. THESE ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES WILL ALLOW US TO
CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE MOUNTING
CHALLENGES FACING IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMUNITIES TODAY. FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE NEW TO OUR
ODDGENCE, THE MISSION OF OIRA IS
IMPROVE THE LIVES OF SEATTLE'S
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEES BY
WELCOMING POLICIES, PROVIDING
SERVICE AND PROGRAM THAT PROMOTE
THE WELL BEING, AND DOING
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INCLUDING
ETHNIC MEDIA PROGRAM. I WANT TO
START, FIRST, WITH LOOKING AT
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BUDGET
AD, AND NEEDING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE NOT ONLY MOVE QUICKLY,
BUT ALSO DO IT IN THE RIGHT WAY
THAT REFLECTS COMMUNITY NEED, SO
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF COMMUNITY
FEEDBACK, LOOKED AT DATA AND
RESEARCH, AND ALL OF THAT TO
REFLECT COUNCIL'S DIRECTIVE TO
US, MITIGATE IMPACT OF FEDERAL
FUNDING LOST AND EXPAND AND
CREATE NEW PROGRAMMING TO
SUPPORT IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES INCLUDING LEVEL
SERVICE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,
OUTREACH, AND COMMUNITY
NAVIGATION SERVICES AND OTHER
CRITICAL PROGRAMS. I AM GOING TO
START WITH THIS TABLE HERE, I
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A
HIGH-LEVAL RESPONSE AND WE WANT
TO DRILL DOWN IN THE DETAILS,
WHICH I KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED
IN, SO WE START, FIRST, WITH THE
INVESTMENT AREAS, WHICH ARE
REMOVAL DEFENSE, I WANT TO MOVE
QUICKLY THROUGH THIS AND SPEND A
LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND GIVING
YOU MORE DETAILED INFORMATION
ABOUT WHICH EACH OF THESE
INVESTMENT AREAS LOOKS LIKE. FOR
REMOVAL DEFENSE, WE HAVE A
PROPOSED INVESTMENT OF $1.25
MILLION IN COMMUNITY GRANTS WE
HAVE $280,000, AND IF THERE IS A
SURGE IN 2026, THAT WILL
DEFINITELY IMPACT WHAT THIS
INVESTMENT LOOKS LIKE FOR 2027.
WE HAVE A CATEGORY TO SUPPORT
BUSINESSES, WORKERS, AND SOCIAL
PROVIDERS, AT AN AMOUNT
$500,000, WE HAVE $250,000 FOR
COMMUNITY RESPONSE FOR DETAINED
FAMILIES, AND THEN ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENT AREAS THAT ARE
IMPACTING BY FEDERAL FUNDING
CUTS, FOR EXAMPLE, LEGAL
ORIENTATION PROGRAM THERE THAT
WORK IS DONE EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
PROJECT AT THE TACOMA DETENTION
CENTER, $538,000 FUNDING WAS CUT
THERE, OUR PROPOSAL IS CONTINUE
$140,000, THE MOUNT THAT IS PRO
RATED FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF
DETAINEES WHO HAVE DIRECT
SEATTLE TIE, WHICH IS 25%.
FEDERAL NATURALIZATION FUNDING
CUTS, IN SEATTLE, WAS
APPROXIMATELY $675,000, AND THIS
AMOUNT REFLECTS CITIZENSHIP
INTEGRATION GRANTS, LOST FOR
SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS SERVING
PEOPLE WITH SEATTLE TIE,
INCLUDING ACRS, REWALLET,
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, THIS TOTAL
INTEGRATION GRANTS LOST OVERALL
IS MORE THAN $1 MILLION PER
YEAR, OUR PROPOSAL IS TO FUND
THESE CUTS FOR NATURALIZATION
$200,000 FOR THIS YEAR, AS WE
KEEP MOVING TO CUTS TO FEDERAL
FUNDS FOR ESL, OUR ESTIMATE WAS
APPROXIMATELY $800,000 OF
FEDERAL FUNDS WERE CUT AFFECTING
MOSTLY OUR SEATTLE COLLEGES, AND
WE DID RECEIVE RECORDING FROM
NORTH AND CENTRAL SEATTLE
COLLEGES, AND ARE AWAITING ON
INFORMATION FROM SOUTH SEATTLE
COLLEGE, I EXPECT THE $800,000
ESTIMATE WAS MUCH HIGHER, WHICH
REPRESENTS LOST CATASPY FOR
SERVING COMMUNITY NEEDS, SO OUR
PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT THIS WORK AT
$655,000 GETS US CLOSER, BUT NOT
A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE
FEDERAL DOLLARS CUT. EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE, LEVERAGING $300,000
INVESTMENT, WE WILL PARTNER WITH
SEATTLE FOUNDATION, THEY HAVE A
GOAL TO MATCH OR EXCEED THE
AMOUNT. AS YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE
IS DOING THE LANGUAGE ACCESS
WORK AND LANGUAGE JUSTICE, IF
YOU WILL, ETHNIC MEDIA BUDGET
$75,000 TO $125,000 TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE ABLE TO REACH AS MANY
AUDIENCE AS POSSIBLE AND TO
INVOLVE OUR IMPORTANT PARTNERS
IN ETHNIC MEDIA, $300,000 TO
TEMPORARY STAFFING. THE
LEGISLATION APPROVES FOR THREE
POSITIONS, TWO STRATEGIC
ADVISOR, ONE GENERAL GOVERNMENT
POSITIONS AND ONE CONTRACT AND
GRANT SPECIALIST. WE DO NOT NEED
THE GRANTS AND CONTRACT
SPECIALIST ROLE BECAUSE WE HAVE
THE ABILITY TO ABSORB THAT
ADDITIONAL WORK, BUT WE WILL
REQUEST ONE STRATEGIC ADVISOR,
ONE POSITION, AND THAT POSITION
WILL FUND SET AT THE END OF THE
YEAR. SO, I WANT TO ADD THAT,
AND THEN JUST STEP BACK FOR A
MOMENT HERE TO EXPLAIN HOW WE
ARRIVED AT THOSE INVESTMENT
AREAS AND AMOUNTS AND GROUNDED
IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THAT WE
SAW, WHICH IS WE DID A LOT OF
LISTENING OVER, BEGINNING FROM
THE TIME THAT THE NEW WHITE
HOUSE TOOK PLACE, AND WE KNEW
THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF
IMMIGRATION ACTIVITY, SO WE
CONVENED OUR LEGAL PROGRAMS AND
DID A SURVEY FOR BOTH LEGAL
DEFENSE AND NATURALIZATION
PARTNERS IN MAY OF 2025 AND DID
ANOTHER IN MARCH OF 2026, SAME
FOR ESR AND WORKFORCE EDUCATION,
SURVEY IN-PERSON CONVENING, JULY
2025, AND MARCH OF 2026, RAPID
RESPONSE, THAT WAS AN ONFWOEING
DISCUSSION, BECAUSE IF YOU
RECALL, THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION
STARTED IMMEDIATELY IN 2025, AND
THAT BODY OF WORK WAS CRITICAL
FOR US TO STAND UP AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE. WE DID ONE-ON-ONE
ENGAGEMENT WITH MY PREDECESSOR,
DIRECTOR, 23 COMMUNITY PARTNERS,
WHICH EITHER CONTINUE TO DO IN
MY RETURN TO THE CITY, AND AS
THE MAYOR KATIE WILSON'S
ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN
LEADERSHIP, THEY FELT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO ALSO BE GROUNDED IN
THE LISTENING AND LEARNING FROM
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES AND THE MAYOR AND
HER STAFF HELD A ROUND TABLE
FEBRUARY 2026, WE TOOK
INFORMATION FROM HER TRANSITION
TEAM WITH, THAT DID TWO
LISTENING SESSIONS AND A SURVEY,
ANOTHER ETHNIC MEDIA ROUND TABLE
IN MARCH OF 2026, AND THEN
REALLY SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATIONS
WE HAVE DONE WITH PEER
JURISDICTIONS IN BOSTON, DENVER,
MINNEAPOLIS, SAN JOSE. CHICAGO
AND MINNEAPOLIS HAD A LOT OF
IMPORTANT LESSONS TO SHARE. SO
WHAT DID WE LEARN? I WANT TO
REFLECT, FIRST, ON THE NUMBER
ONE PRIORITY THAT STOOD OUT
THROUGH ALL OF THE ENGAGEMENT
THAT WE DID, AND FOR GOOD
REASON, WE SAW FEDERAL POLICY
CHANGES THAT LED TO SIGNIFICANT
DELAYS IN IMMIGRATION PROCESSES,
AND NEW BARRIERS PREVENTING
IMMIGRANTS IN SEATTLE FROM
ACCESSING THINGS THAT WERE NOT
SO HARD TO DO BEFORE, SUCH AS
GETTING WORK PERMITS, OR
APPLYING FOR A ASYLUM OR
APPLYING FOR GREEN CARD,
BECOMING A U.S. CITIZEN AND
BENEFITS THAT COME WITH
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE STATUS,
BUT THOSE INCREASE REQUESTS FOR
LEGAL ASSISTANCE IMMIGRATION
INFORMATION, DUE TO HEIGHTENED
COMMUNITY CONCERNS, ABOUT
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TACTICS.
WE SEE MAPPED OUT SEATTLE
SUBDIVISION, 14,290 CASES IN
IMMIGRATION COURT WITH ABOUT
6,266 THAT ARE REPRESENTED BY AN
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AND
APPROXIMATELY 8,000 WITHOUT
REPRESENTATION, SO EFFECTIVELY,
ALMOST 60% OF THE CASES HAVE NO
LEGAL REPRESENTATION. THE DATA
SHOWS, ALSO, THAT BETWEEN 2024
AND 2025, ACCORDING TO SEATTLE
TIMES ARTICLE DATED MARCH 11th,
WE SAW AN INCREASE OF 152% IN
ENFORCEMENT ALONG WITH INCREASED
CHALLENGES FOR COMMUNICATION
WITH DETAINED INDIVIDUALS AND ON
TUESDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SIT WITH A COALITION CALLED HOT
POT FOR ALL, WHICH IS A GROUP OF
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE MOSTLY
SEEING SOUTHEAST ASIAN
IMMIGRANTS, BUT MANY OF THOSE
COME AS REFUGEES AND THAT
COMMUNITY HAS SEEN A DEVASTATING
TOLL IN DEPORTATIONS THAT
HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY, SO IT IS
NOT JUST OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE NO
DOCUMENTATION, IT IS MEMBERS OF
OUR COMMUNITIES WHO ARE HERE
WITH STATUS, AND WHO ARE BEING
DEPORTED AND NOT ABLE TO SEE
THEIR FAMILIES OR COMMUNICATE
WITH THEM. AND WHAT IS
SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS IS THAT
929 ARRESTS WERE CARRIED OUT IN
2024, AMONG WASHINGTON COUNTIES,
KING COUNTY SAW THE HIGHEST
NUMBER OF ARRESTS LAST YEAR WITH
1,030 TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, AND
NEARLY HALF OF THE KING COUNTY
ARRESTS, 470, WERE IN SEATTLE,
WHICH, TO ME, DEBUNKS THE IDEA
THAT SEATTLE IS SAFE FROM I.C.E
ENFORCEMENT. THAT IS NOT TRUE
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DATA.
>> I WILL SAY, DIRECTOR VU, I
WILL TAKE THE MINUTE NOW TO SAY
THAT THIS TRACKS WITH WHAT WE
HEARD LAST YEAR FROM IMMIGRANT
ORGANIZATIONS, DEFENSE
ORGANIZATIONS, WHERE THE FEDERAL
FUNDING WAS GETTING CUT, AND
THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF
CONCERN FOR THE COUNCIL, SO THIS
LEGAL PIECE IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
AND THE POINT THAT OUR IMMIGRANT
POPULATION, THE ONE WHOSE ARE
HERE, DOCUMENTED OR EXPERIENCING
ISSUES TOO, NOT JUST THE ONES
THAT ARE HERE UNDOCUMENTED, SO,
EVERYONE IS IN NEED OF LEGAL
DEFENSE RIGHT NOW, SO THAT IS AN
IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE. I
DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE THINKS
SEATTLE, THERE HAS BEEN AN
UPTICK IN SEATTLE, WE HAVEN'T
SEEN QUITE THE SAME SURGE AS
CHICAGO AND MINNEAPOLIS,
THANKFULLY, AND, AGAIN, WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT IS TO COME IN
THE FUTURE, BUT I DON'T THINK
ANYONE DOESN'T KNOW AT THIS
POINT, THAT FOLKS ARE GETTING
PICKED UP IN SEATTLE. THERE IS
AN INCREASE. WE HAVE SEEN THAT.
THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE. THANK
YOU.
>> WHEN&WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING,
AND THE LEGAL DEFENSE RISING AS
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, WE HEARD
LOT OF OTHER NEEDS, SO THESE, I
WANTED TO TOUCH ON THESE
ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES, WE HEARD
THAT-- AND WE HAVE SEEN
SIGNIFICANT CUTS IN FEDERAL
FUNDING TO IMMIGRATION PROGRAMS,
ESL, WE HAVE SEEN THEY ARE
DEEPLY AFRAID OF BEING TARGETED
BY ENFORCEMENT AND THE IMPACT OF
THAT IS THAT IT IS AFFECTING
PEOPLE'S SELF SUFFICIENCY, THEY
ARE AFRAID TO GO TO WORK
SOMETIMES. AND WHEN THERE IS
LACK OF INCOME, THAT IMPACTS
THEIR BOTTOM LINE TO AFFORD
BASIC NEEDS.
>> WE ARE SENDING KIDS TO
SCHOOL, TOO, DIRECTOR, WE HAVE
HEARD A LOT. I KNOW SPS IS DOING
A LOT OF WORK THERE.
>> ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES
INCLUDESMALL COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TELLING
US THAT THEY NEED RESOURCES TO
SUPPORT RESIDENTS AND WORKERS
AND WHILE WE KNOW THESE STORIES
OF ENFORCEMENT AT A NATIONAL
LEVEL, OR EVEN REGIONAL LEVEL,
IT REALLY DRILLS DOWN, ALSO, TO
FIGURE AT A HYPERLOCAL LEVEL AND
PEOPLE FEEL A NEED TO SUPPORT
THEIR NEIGHBORS. WE ALSO HEARD
THERE IS A NEED FOR EXPANDED
LEGAL CONSULTATIONS, SAFETY
PLANNING AND RESPONSE TO
PROTOCOLS ACROSS BUSINESS
COMMUNITIES, WORKERS, AND
IMMIGRANT SERVING PROVIDERS SUCH
AS FOOD BANKS. THAT IS GENERAL
OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE HAVE HEARD,
AND I WANT TO BEGIN NOW, GIVING
YOU A LITTLE MORE DETAILS ABOUT
THIS EXPANDED INVESTMENT
PORTFOLIO, AND WE ARE GOING TO
START, FIRST, WITH THE TOP TWO,
WHAT YOU SEE HERE, LEGAL REMOVAL
DEFENSE AND SMALL COMMUNITY
GRANTS, BECAUSE THESE WERE THE
ONES THAT WERE THE MOST URGENT
IN TERMS OF STANDING UP AND
REFLECTING WHAT WE HEARD AS
PRIORITIES. SO, WITH THE REMOVAL
DEFENSE, THIS TOUCHES OUR LEGAL
DEFENSE NETWORK, LDN, AND
NEEDING TO EXPAND THAT AND WE
ARE GOING TO DO THAT THROUGH AN
RFP PROCESS, SO THIS PROGRAM
PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO
LOW INCOME IMMIGRANT WHOSE ARE
IN DETENTION, FACING REMOVAL, OR
IN DANGER OF LOSS BECAUSE OF
THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. SO I
WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT THE FUNDING DETAILS
ARE, AND THIS IS AVAILABLE
THROUGH RFP, I AM HAPPY TO MAKE
IT AVAILABLE TO OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS IF THEY WOULD LIKE. THE
TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE ARE UP TO
AN ADDITIONAL $1.25 MILLION. THE
CONTRACT PERIOD BEGINS JUNE 1,
AND THROUGH DECEMBER 31 OF 2026,
THIS RFP HAS ALREADY BEEN
RELEASED, AND THE SUBMISSION
DEADLINE IS 5:00 P.M. APRIL
24th. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS MUST
BE A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
WITH THE 501C3 STATUS, MUST HAVE
OFFICES LOCATED WITHIN SEATTLE
KING COUNTY, AND HAVE AT LEAST
ONE FULLY ACCREDITED DOJ REP OR
LICENSE ATTORNEY WITH AT LEAST
TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE PROVIDING
REMOVAL DEFENSE SERVICES, AND
THEY MUST BE COMMITTED TO OFFING
REMOVAL DEFENSE SERVICES FOR AT
LEAST THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THAT
IS A VERY HIGH BAR, BUT ONE THAT
IS NECESSARY, BECAUSE THE CASES
ARE TAKING A LONG TIME AND THEY
NEED TO RELY ON REPRESENTATION
FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR CASE,
AND ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS MUST BE
ABLE TO COMMENCE FULL PROPOSED
SERVICES WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF
THE CONTRACT EXECUTION.
>> DIRECTOR VU, CAN YOU ALSO--
AND I KNOW PART OF THIS IS
INSURING THAT THESE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE SERVICING
EITHER RESIDENTS OR SEATTLE OR
FOLKS THAT HAVE A NEXUS TO,
THERE HAS TO BE A NEXUS TO
SEATTLE.
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR REMINDING
ME. THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A TIE TO
SEATTLE, AND THAT MEANS LIVE,
WORK, OR GO TO SCHOOL HERE,
POSSIBLY RECEIVE SERVICES HERE
AS WELL. AND BECAUSE THIS IS A
SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM, WE WANT TO
BE TRANSPARENT WHAT THE OUTCOMES
ARE. THERE IS FULL
REPRESENTATION WITH ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENT FOR CASE LOAD OF 500,
WHICH DOUBLES THE CURRENT
CASELOAD OF 250, AND THAT
INCLUDES UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN,
OUT OF THE 250 CASES CURRENTLY,
THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT
TO A HUNDRED DERIVATIVES, WHICH
IS FAMILY MEMBERS. WE ALSO,
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, PROVIDE
CRITICAL QUALIFIED IMMIGRATION
ATTORNEY SERVICES FOR CASES
THROUGH THE VERY COMPLEX AND
OFTEN LENGTHY IMMIGRATION
PROCESS.
>> DIRECTOR VU, WOULD YOU PLEASE
SHARE WITH US THE-- I WOULD LOVE
TO PUT IN OUR NEWS LETTERS THAT
RFP, SO FOLKS KNOW IT IS OPEN
AND THEY CAN APPLY. I AM HAPPY,
EVEN THOUGH I KNOW WE WOULD ALL
DO SO, SPEAK, I SEE COUNCIL
MEMBER LINN GIVING ME THE THUMBS
UP. WE WOULD LOVE TO GET THE
INFORMATION OUT WIDELY SO IF YOU
SHARE THE RFP DETAILS, WE WILL
PUT IT IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS TO
OUR CONSTITUENTS. THAT WOULD BE
GREAT. THANKS SO MUCH. PART OF
THIS, ON THE OUTCOMES PIECE, THE
CASE LOAD, THESE ARE ALL GOALS,
OF COURSE, AND WITH THE ULTIMATE
OUTCOME OF FOLKS IN THE
COMMUNITY BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE
PROCESS, WE WOULD LEARN TO HEAR
HOW MANY FOLKS WE WERE ABLE TO
HELP IN TOWN.
>> WE DO COLLECT QUARTERLY
REPORTS, SO I AM HAPPY TO SHARE
THOSE WITH ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS
WHO ARE INTERESTED.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I THINK
IT GOES TO JUST, IT WOULD
ALLEVIATE OUR CONCERNS, SOME OF
OUR CONCERNS, NOT FULLY, IT IS
REALLY GREAT TO HEAR THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO BE HELPFUL, I GUESS
IS WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN DO
THAT.
>> ANOTHER AREA I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT, WHICH WE SENT AN
ANNOUNCEMENT THROUGH RFP, IF YOU
HAVE NOT HEARD IT, WE WILL
FOLLOW UP AND PROVIDE
INFORMATION ON THIS, THESE ARE
ONE-TIME CONTRACTS WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS TO OFFER
RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND TOOLS
TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES IN
SEATTLE. SO, THE ACCEPTABLE
ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED INCLUDE
COMMUNITY AIDE FOR BASIC NEEDS,
THIS INCLUDES MEAL DELIVERY
SERVICE, OR ITEMS IN FOOD
PANTRY, BASIC GOODS SUCH AS BABY
FORMULA OR DIAPERS, WE DIRECT
PEOPLE TO ASSIST WITH UTILITIES,
REST, ASSISTANCE, FOOD. KNOW
YOUR RIGHT, COMMUNITY
INFORMATION SESSIONS COULD
INCLUDE RECENT OR PENDING
CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION LAW AND
POLICY, WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN
MANY. IT INCLUDES IMMIGRANT
WORKERS RIGHTS. A THIRD ACTIVITY
THIS FUNDING WILL SUPPORT IS
FAMILY SAFETY PLANNING TYPICALLY
OFFERED THROUGH WORKSHOPS OR
CLINICS, AND WITH AN IMMIGRATION
ATTORNEY, WHO HELPS INDIVIDUALS
AND THEIR FAMILIES CREATE PLANS
FOR CARE OF CHILDREN. OR,
RATHER, DEPENDENTS. THEY PROVIDE
LEGAL PREPARATIONS IN THE EVENT
OF DETENTION, OR DEPORTATION OF
A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN. SOME
USED THEIR DISCRETIONARY DOLLARS
BECAUSE IT IS JUST WHAT WAS
NEEDED BY COMMUNITY, EL SENT ROW
IS DOING THAT AND A NUMBER OF
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. WE CAN
LEARN FROM THAT. IN FACT, I HAVE
RECOMMENDED TO SOME OF OUR ASIAN
API COMMUNITIES TO LEAN INTO THE
EXPERTISE LATINO COMMUNITIES
HAVE DEVELOPED. AND THAT IS A
WAY WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH
OTHER.
>> THERE WAS A RECENT ARTICLE
TALKING ABOUT ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES, KIDS WHO COME HOME TO
FIND THEIR PARENTS HAVE BEEN
DETAINED, AND SO HAVING A FAMILY
PLAN IN PLACE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT IT IS VERY SAD, AND
ALSO HAVING A PLAN IN PLACE IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE FUNDING DETAILS, PRETTY
STRAIGHT FORWARD, BECAUSE WE
MEAN THIS TO BE A BROAD CATEGORY
FOR THE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT
THE CITY DOES NOT CURRENTLY
SUPPORT, AND THAT OUR INTENTION
IS TO REACH VERY SMALL
ORGANIZATIONS THAT MANY OF WHICH
MAY NOT HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE,
CONTRACTING WITH THE CITY, WE
WANT TO MAKE THIS EASY, SO THESE
WILL BE APPLICATIONS THROUGH
PDFs AND ONE-ON-ONE PHONE CALLS,
FOR EXAMPLE, JUST TO DRILL DOWN
A LITTLE BIT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES ARE, AND
THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, WILL
FOLLOW UP, ALSO, WITH ANY
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT MAY BE
NEEDED FOR VERY NEW
ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH THE
CITY. THE FUNDING DETAILS ARE
DESCRIBED HERE, TOTAL FUNDS
AVAILABLE ARE UP TO $280,000. I
DO WANT TO SAY THAT WHERE THERE
MAY BE UNDERSPENDING IN OTHER
PARTS OF OUR INVESTMENT
PORTFOLIO, THAT WE HAVE THE
OPTION TO SHIFT SOME OF THE
RESOURCES OVER HERE, BECAUSE OUR
EXPECTATION IS THAT THE NEED IS
GREATER THAN THE RESOURCES THAT
WE HAVE. THAT IS TRUE, PROBABLY,
ACROSS EVERY GRANT AREA IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. EACH
APPLICATION MAY BE AWARDED UP TO
$10,000, AND HERE ORGANIZATIONS
ARE STILL ELIGIBLE, EVEN IF THEY
RECEIVE CITY DOLLARS IN OTHER
AREAS OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS, SO
WE WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. THE
APPLICATION DEADLINE, IT WILL BE
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON
A ROLLING BASIS WITH FUNDING
DECISIONS ANNOUNCED WITHIN SIX
WEEKS OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION,
AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
COMMUNITIES NEEDED THIS MONEY
YESTERDAY, SO WE WANT TO MAKE
THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO
ALLOW FOR ENOUGH TIME TO VARIOUS
SMALL ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE A
CHANCE AND SO WE WILL KEEP THIS
OPEN FOR AS LONG AS BUDGET IS
AVAILABLE, OR UNTIL FUNDS ARE
EXHAUSTED. THE CONTRACT PERIOD
FOR THIS IS THROUGH THIS
CALENDAR YEAR . THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT ELIGIBILITY IS
CONTINGENT ON A NON-PROFIT
HAVING 501C3 STATUS, OR THEY MAY
PARTNER WITH A FISCAL SPONSOR
WITH THE 501C3 STAT, BUT IN ANY
CASE, MUST SERVE PEOPLE WITH A
SEATTLE TIE. I DO WANT TO
EMPHASIZE, NOT ON A SLIDE, BUT
IT IS IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE
THAT THIS PROGRAM CANNOT FUND
ANY PROJECTS THAT ACTIVELY, OR
UNLAWFULLY, OBSTRUCT OR
INTERFERE WITH FEDERAL
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. WE
CANNOT FUND LEGAL A VICE NOT
PRESENTED BY AN ACCREDITED
ATTORNEY OR PROVIDE CASH
ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALSISM
THAT IS SPELLED OUT IN THE RFP
BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO
CONVEY THAT TO YOU ALL AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. AND
THEN, JUST WANT TO MENTION,
BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS AREN'T
FAMILIAR WITH THE FISCAL SPONSOR
SET UP, SOME ARE, SOME AREN'T,
PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE
WATCHING, BUT FOR THESE
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, IF THEY ARE
NOT 501C3 ORGANIZATION, THEY
DON'T HAVE THINGS SET UP TO
RECEIVE FUNDS, SO TYPICALLY,
THEN YOU WORK THROUGH A FISCAL
SPONSOR THAT IS 501C3 AND THEY
KNOW HOW TO HELP WITH THE
APPLICATIONS TO THE CITY AND ALL
THE PEOPLE WORK AND ON THE BACK
END, THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO
SUBMIT IN ORDER TO THEN GET THE
GRANTS, AND THEN ALL THE
REPORTING, 501C3 FISCAL SPONSOR
THEN HELPS WITH THE REPORTING.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
>> JUST SO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THAT
IS, AND HOW THIS, THE
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT AREN'T
501C3s GET TO BECOME
COMPETITIVE, STILL, IF THEY WERE
WITH A A SPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT IS
RIGHT. SO REPORTING IS A PART OF
CONTRACTING WITH THE CITY, AND
WE WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT
THAT. SO, MOVING FORWARD, THE
OUTCOMES THAT WE HAVE FOR THE
COMMUNITY SMALL GRANTS--
>> SORRY, DIRECTOR, ONE MORE.
>> SORRY.
>> SORRY, DIRECTOR.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LINN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THE ELIGIBILITY, YOU KNOW,
SOME OF OUR UNIONS, IN
PARTICULAR, INDUSTRIES, YOU
KNOW, MAJORITY OF THEIR MEMBERS
MAY BE IMMIGRANTS, AND WE HAVE
SEEN HOW OFTEN TIMES IT IS OUR
UNION PARTNERS THAT ARE KIND OF
A FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR MANY
FOLKS. YOU KNOW, THERE IS A
REPORT RECENTLY ABOUT U-DUB GRAD
STUDENT WHO WAS DETAINED AND IT
WAS THE UNION THAT RUSHED DOWN
TO THE AIRPORT TO, YOU KNOW, TRY
TO ASSIST. SO I AM WONDERING, ON
THE SMALL GRANTS, I DON'T THINK
UNIONS ARE 501C3s, WONDERING IF
IF THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE, COULD
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ANY
SORT OF COLLABORATION OR
OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR UNION
PARTNERS?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
CERTAINLY FROM THE WORKER ANGLE,
THERE IS A LOT OF COLLABORATION,
AND SO I WILL GO BACK TO OUR
GROUP, I KNOW LABOR UNIONS HAVE
A SPECIFIC LABOR TAX STATUS AND
I DON'T WANT TO RULE THAT OUT,
SO THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT
OUT. AND THEN I WOULD LOVE TO
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO HAVE A
MORE SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION
ABOUT THAT. HAVING SAID THAT, I
DO WANT TO SAY THAT OUR
INTENTION IS TO SUPPORT VERY
SMALL ORGANIZATIONS, AND
ALTHOUGH UNIONS DO DO IMPORTANT
WORK, I THINK GIVEN THE AMOUNT
OF SUPPORT OR REQUEST THAT WE
WOULD EXPECT FROM THIS, THAT
WOULD BE APPLIED AGAINST
CONSIDERATION FOR ORGANIZATIONS
THAT HAVE NO RESOURCES SO I WANT
TO BE-- MAKE SURE TO OFFER THAT
AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GREAT QUESTION,
COUNCIL MEMBER LINN, AND THANK
YOU DIRECTOR VU, A LOT OF FOLKS
DON'T REALIZE PART OF THE
EFFORT IS REALLY THERE ARE A LOT
OF FOLKS ON THE GROUND WHO, AND
A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WANT TO HELP
THE FOLKS ON THE GROUND,
IMMIGRANT FOLKS ON THE GROUND,
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
WORKING WITH FOLKS THAT HAVE
ACCESS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
MIGHT NOT KNOW HOW TO GET
RESOURCES AND HOW TO, YOU KNOW,
HOW TO ACCESS SOME OF THESE
RESOURCES. SO, OFTEN TIMES WE
FIND THESE SMALL COMMUNITY
GROUPS, AND SOMETIMES THEY GET
SQUEEZED OUT OF THE PROCESS
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USED TO
CONTRACTING WITH THE CITY.
>> YEP.
>> SO I THINK WHAT I AM HEARING
YOU SAY AND WHAT I KNOW FROM OUR
WORK IN THE PAST TOGETHER IS
THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO
REALLY INTENTIONAL TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE PROVIDING ACCESS AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME SMALLER
GROUPS THAT DO ALREADY HELP
FOLKS IN COMMUNITY, BUT THEY
DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW HOW TO
ACCESS CITY DOLLARS, WHICH IS
WHY I BRING UP THE SPONSOR
PIECE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS AREN'T
NECESSARILY 501C3s AND THEY NEED
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS FISCAL
SPONSOR TO DO THE WORK. YEAH, I
JUST-- POINTING OUT THE SMALLER
GROUPS. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
SMALLER GROUPS, BECAUSE THEY ARE
DOING SO MUCH IN COMMUNITY,
DON'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS HAVE
THE ACCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS WHAT I AM HEARING YOU
SAY.
>> YES.
>> YOU CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG,
DIRECTOR.
>> YOU KNOW, THE BEAUTY OF WHAT
WE SAW IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE
DESENERALIZED NATURE HOW PEOPLE
CAME TOGETHER WITH VERY LITTLE
RESOURCES, ADMIRABLE. WE ARE IN
SUCH A PRIVILEGED AMOUNT OF
MONEY, LOCAL SUPPORTS.
>> THE OTHER THING, EVERYBODY
WANTS TO HELP LEGAL PARTNER
WHOSE CAN COME TOGETHER AND
REFER FOLKS TO THE DEPARTMENT,
WHO CAN REFER FOLKS TO THOSE
SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS. WE ARE
ALL WORKING TOGETHER, YES, WE
DEFINITELY SHOULD, THEY HAVE
ACCESS TOO. WE ARE ALL COMING
TOGETHER TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. THE
MAIN THING IN MY NOTES, KIND OF
A TALL ORDER, OUTSIDE OF THIS
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS COMING
TOGETHER TO ALSO PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING LABOR
PARTNERS ARE DOING SO MUCH, I
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT,
WE DON'T ALWAYS HEAR WHAT IS
HAPPENING ON THE GROUND&I KNOW
THERE IS SOME OTHER, AND
PHILANTHROPY AND OTHER EFFORTS,
WHICH IS WHY I THINK YOU WILL
WORK WITH SEATTLE FOUNDATION IN
TERMS OF RAISING SOME FUNDS,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE NEED IS
GREATER THAN WE ARE ABLE TO
ADDRESS, BUT THE CITY DOESN'T
ALWAYS HEAR WHO ELSE, AND WHAT
OTHER WORK IS BEING DONE OUT
THERE. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE
TO FIGURE OUT A WAY FOR US TO
KNOW THAT, INCLUDING THE GREAT
WORK THAT OUR LABOR PARTNERS DO
IN THIS SPACE, BECAUSE THEY DO A
LOT. WE DON'T ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT
IT. YOU KNOW?
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, I
WANTED TO SHARE THE OUTCOMES
THAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THIS
BODY OF WORK, AND ALSO TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT WE DO REQUIRE ALL
GRANTEES TO TRACK AND REPORT TO
US THE NUMBER OF EVENTS, THE
TOPICS, THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES
AND LANGUAGES SERVED,
SPECIFICALLY FOR FAMILY SAFETY
PLANNING ACTIVITIES, GRANTEES
WILL REPORT THE NUMBER OF
COMPLETED PLANS FOR BASIC NEEDS,
GRANTEES WILL ATTEST TO
ELIGIBILITY OF THOSE WHO ARE
SERVED AND PROVIDE RECEIPTS OR
FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR THE TYPE
OF NEED. THAT, CONSISTENT WITH
OUR CONCERN ABOUT DATA AND
PRIVACY, WE WANT TO-- YOU TO
KNOW, THAT ALL OF THIS WILL BE
REPORTED TO US ONLY IN THE
AGGREGATE.
>> YES. REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT WE ARE NOT-- THE CITY DOES
NOT COLLECT INFORMATION
IDENTIFYING INFORMATION, NO
NAMES, ADDRESSES, NOTHING OF
THAT NATURE. RECEIPTS DON'T
HAVE NAMES ATTACHED TO THEM, BUT
WE NEED FOR OUR REPORTING, OUR
FISCAL, OUR BOOKSISM WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE
DOCUMENTATION, BUT IT IS NOT TO
IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS OR
DISCOURAGE ANYONE FROM COMING
OUT TO GET ASSISTANCE.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
>> SO, HERE IS JUST AN EXAMPLE
OF REPORTING TEMPLATE HERE, SO
YOU CAN SEE WHAT COMMUNITY
PARTNERS WILL SEE. FUNDING, SO,
I JUST TALKED ABOUT THE LDN
EXPANSION AND THE COMMUNITY
SMALL GRANTS, THOSE WERE THE
FIRST RELEASED, NEXT IS FUNDING
INCLUDES INVESTMENTS THAT WILL
GO OUT AND BE ANNOUNCED LATER,
WHICH IS SUPPORT FOR A BODY OF
IMMIGRANT INCLUSION SERVICES, I
MENTIONED EARLIER THE FEDERAL
FUNDING LOSSES THAT WE HAVE
SEEN, FOR NATURALIZATION, ESL,
THE LEGAL ORIENTATION PROGRAM,
ALSO WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE
COMMUNITY RESPONSE FOR DETAINED
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, AND
FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN
LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS AND UP
COMING OPPORTUNITIES COME TO OUR
WEBSITE, THERE IS A LINK HERE IN
THE SLIDE. AND THEN WE PROVIDE
REGULAR UPDATES AND RESOURCES
THROUGH OUR MONTHLY NEWS LETTER,
OUR BLOG, AND SOCIAL MEDIA,
PLEASE STAY CONNECTED WITH US
AND STAY INFORMED AND THE
INFORMATION IS HERE ON THE
SCREEN. AND I WILL STOP THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, IT IS
CLEAR YOU AND YOUR TEAM, AND
THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM, SOME OF
WHICH ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, NICE
TO SEE YOU AGAIN, ARE DOING A
LOT. AND I WANT TO ALSO
ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS ONLY PART OF
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE
FUNDS, AND SINCE THIS IS ONGOING
IN YOUR BUDGET, YOU ARE WORKING
ON FUTURE YEARS, AND LOOKING AT
HOW WELL THINGS ARE GOING AND
SORT OF, DID WE COVER THE NEED
THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT COMMUNITY
NEEDS AT THE MOMENT, BECAUSE YOU
WANT TO BE NIMBLE IN YEARS AND
WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL
HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE TOO.
>> THAT IS RIGHT. THE LANDSCAPE
IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING, AND WE
NEED BE RESPONSIVE AND TAKE A
LOOK, KEEP LISTENING AND
PIVOTING WHEN WE NEED TO.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR, AND I HEAR FROM, AND I
HAVE SPOKEN WITH SOME FOLKS IN
OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN TOWN,
AND THEY ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR
OIRAs AND THE CITY'S COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS AND THAT IS IS ALWAYS
REALLY, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE
HEARING THAT FROM COMMUNITY,
BECAUSE I KNOW WE ALL WANT TO DO
WHAT WE CAN TO HELP. COLLEAGUES,
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? COUNCIL
MEMBER FOSTER, I SEE YOU HAVE
YOUR CAMERA ON. DO YOU WANT--
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU. GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU, DIRECTOR, ALWAYS A PLEASURE
TO HEAR FROM YOU. MAYBE YOU CAN
SEND OVER SOME OF THE THINGS YOU
SHARED AT THE BEGINNING OF
COMMITTEE VIA E-MAIL, YOU HAD
REALLY GREAT POINTS AROUND THE
CUTS TO ESOL THAT YOU HAVE SEEN,
AND THE CUTS TO LEGAL DEFENSE
SERVICES, AND SO WE HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO TRACK THOSE AND IF YOU
ARE ABLE TO SEND THOSE NUMBERS
VIA FOLLOW UP, I THINK THAT
WOULD BE HELPFULMENT I GOT AS
GOOD OF NOTES AS I COULD BUT
WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT THAT
CORRECT. THAT WOULD BE
FANTASTIC. THEN I REALLY WANTED
TO SAY I APPRECIATE AND
WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING LESS
FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP, BUT
APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF
ATTENTION TO DETAIL,
PARTICULARLY AROUND THE LEGAL
DEFENSE, AND KNOWING THAT IS
SEEING SIGNIFICANT CUTS AND
HEARING MORE ABOUT
PRIORITIZEATION AND THE WAY YOU
APPROACHED THE FUNDING AMOUNT
BASED ON SEATTLE WAS REALLY
HELPFUL TO HEAR. THANK YOU. NO
QUESTIONS, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
MEMBER FOSTER. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ? LIKE I
SAID, COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU TO
MY COUNCIL MEMBER COLLEAGUES FOR
SHOWING UP AT THIS MEETING
TODAY. I KNOW IT IS A SPECIAL
MEETING. BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS
IMPORTANT AT THIS JUNCTURE, THE
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING
DILIGENTLY, AND I WANTED TO
PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW,
BOTH TO US AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, BECAUSE I HEAR FROM
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL
ALSO, WHO VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT
SUPPORTING OUR IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN
TOWN, AND I WANTED THEM TO SEE
THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND THE
CITY IS OFFERING ASSISTANCE AND
IT IS IMPORTANT, I DIDN'T WANT
TO WAIT FURTHER AND I KNOW THERE
IS MORE TO COME AND THIS IS THE
FIRST OF SUBSEQUENT, WE WILL
BRING YOU BACK TO COMMITTEE TO
GIVE UPDATES ON THIS, THE NEXT
PIECES OF THIS, AND THEN UPDATES
TO THE PIECES YOU JUST
INTRODUCED, BUT THANK YOU FOR
TALKING ABOUT THE RFPs AND IF
YOU SHARE BOTH RFP INFORMATION,
WE WILL SHARE THAT IN OUR NEWS
LETTERMENT COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK,
I SEE YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST
WANTED TO QUICKLY ADD MY VOICE
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SCHEDULING
THIS SPECIAL MEETING TODAY TO
GET THIS INFORMATION OUT AND IN
THE PUBLIC, I THINK THAT IS
TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT. I WANTED
TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, AGAIN,
THANK DIRECTOR VU FOR YOUR WORK
ON THIS. I THINK OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS
HAS FOUND A REALLY IMPORTANT
BALANCE HERE OF MOVING WITH
URGENCY, BUT ALSO BEING VERY
CAREFUL AND THOUGHTFUL WHEN IT
COMES TO PUTTING TOGETHER THIS
PROPOSED PLAN FOR $4 MILLION.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THE
COMMITTEE AND THOSE WHO AREN'T,
FOR MAKING THE $4 MILLION
INVESTMENT ONGOING IN THE BUDGET
LAST YEAR. I WANTED TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO FURTHER THANK THE
TEAM, OKSANA, BULEXA, YOU ALL
HAVE PARTNERED WITH US WHEN WE
ARE ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION
WITH A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY
GROUPS, THOSE ARE NOT ALWAYS
EASY CONVERSATIONS, THERE IS A
LOT OF FEAR, DISTRUST,
FRUSTRATION&I WANT TO THANK YOUR
TEAM FOR SHOWING UP ALONGSIDE
MYSELF AND COUNCIL OFFICES TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE HEARING THE
AUTHENTIC VOICES AND MAKING SURE
THAT THE PLANS FOR THIS FUNDING
IS REALLY INFORMED BY WHAT IS
NEEDED BY COMMUNITY. I WANTED TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU AND
YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR CAREFUL WORK
AND THANK YOU, AGAIN, CHAIR, TO
GET THIS INFORMATION OUT IN
PUBLIC.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
RINCK, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
COUNTY, I KNOW THAT THE KING
COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAD A MEETING
AND I WAS GRATEFUL TO GET AN
INVITATION, I THINK MANY OF US,
ACTUALLY, TO PARTICIPATE WHERE
WE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS
THEMSELVES, IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES TO HEAR FROM
COMMUNITY DIRECTLY, SO REALLY
APPRECIATE PARTNERING WITH THE
COUNTY ON THIS, WHO I KNOW IS
ALSO GIVING RESOURCES AND TRYING
TO DO WHAT THEY CAN, AND THE
STATE, FOR THAT MATTER, THE
GOVERNOR, HE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT
THIS, TOO, SO, WE ARE ALL
WORKING AND PARTNERING TOGETHER
IN AND SUPPORTING IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
WHETHER IT BE AT THE CITY, WITH
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AT THE
COUNTY, AND STATE LEVEL Y. AM
VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR ALL OUR
PARTNERS WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER
TO HELP, AND OUR OWN COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT
MEMBERS OF THE IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMUNITY WHO ARE
HELPING AS WELL, INDIVIDUALLY,
GIVING UP THEIR TIME AND EFFORT,
INCLUDING FOOD BANKS IN TOWN.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. DIRECTOR
VU, YOU HAVE GOT STAFF MEMBERS
AND WE MENTIONED SOME, I DON'T
WANT TO LEAVE OUT OTHERS. DO YOU
WANT TO INTRODUCE WHO IS HERE IN
THE AUDIENCE FROM YOUR TEAM, WE
ARE DOING AWESOME WORK.
>> I DIDN'T SEE THEM COME IN.
MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE,
STARTING ON THE END HERE,
WILSON, BELKISA, ASME, JOAQUIN,
WHO RECENTLY JOINED US TO MAKE
SURE THIS ALL GOES WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
>> IF WE ARE DOING ANY GOOD
WORK, THEY GET CREDIT FOR IT.
>> I LIKE TO GIVE PEOPLE CREDIT
AND THAT IS WHY I LIKE TO HAVE
PEOPLE NAMED BY NAME BECAUSE
EVERYBODY IS DOING GREAT WORK
AND PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE THE
PEOPLE BEHIND THE EFFORTS AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS
ACKNOWLEDGED, SO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE, AND LETS SEE, I
DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, I SO APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE. SEEING NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, THIS CONCLUDES THE
APRIL 9th SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
LIBRARIES, EDUCATION, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE. OUR
NEXT LINE COMMITTEE MEETING IS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 9:30.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
3:51 P.M., THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.