>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AT
CITY HALL.
ONE OF THE BEST LOOKING
AUDIENCES I'VE EVER SEEN SINCE
I'VE BEEN HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
JULY 15, 2019 FULL CITY COUNCIL
COME TO ORDER.
2:00 AND BRUCE HARRELL
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL WILL
YOU CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ROLL CALL]
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION TO THE
INTRODUCTION THE FULL CALENDAR
WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION TODAY'S AND
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 1 AND
EIGHTH, 2019 CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION THE
MINUTES WILL BE SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED.
THERE YOU GO, MADAM CLERK.
PRESENTATIONS, I HAVE A
PRESENTATION I AM VERY HONORED
TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
IT'S RELATIVE TO MS. CAROLYN
RILEY PAYNE WE ARE CALLING IT
CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE DAY AND I
WILL SAY SOME BRIEF REMARKS AND
IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO
JOIN IN , FEEL FREE TO.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY MY HONOR AS A
MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL AND A
REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CITY TO
QUITE CANDIDLY SORT OF HONOR
THIS KIND OF TALENT.
WHEN I SAY TALENT, WHAT I MEAN
BY THAT IS MANY OF YOU IN THE
WORLD OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN
RIGHTS AND EDUCATION KNOW THE
WORK THAT CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE
HAS DONE THROUGHOUT HER DECADES
AND DECADES IN THE CITY.
BUT HER STYLE IS ONE THAT I
THINK IS MAGNIFICENT BECAUSE
MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW WHO
SHE IS BECAUSE SHE IS NOT THAT
KIND OF LEADER THAT POUNDS HER
CHEST AND SAYS LOOK AT ME AND
LOOK AT ALL THE WORK THAT I
HAVE DONE.
INDEED SHE HAS DONE IT, AND
THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE PARTICULARLY IN THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHO
ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF HER
WORK AND HAVE HER COMMITMENT TO
EDUCATION IN CIVIL AND HUMAN
RIGHTS.
I THINK MANY OF US THAT GREW UP
IN THE CITY WOULD ATTEST TO THE
WORK SHE IS DONE, EVEN THOSE
WHO ARE NEWBIES WOULD REALIZE
HER WORK WITH DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT I WILL
DESCRIBE IN THE PROCLAMATION,
WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY PROUD TO
HONOR HER AND WE HONOR THE BEST
IN OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY.
LET ME READ THIS PROCLAMATION
THAT WAS SIGNED BY ALL NINE
COUNCILMEMBERS, SO CAROLYN
RILEY PAYNE YOU ARE ONE OF THE
FEW PEOPLE WHO GOT US TO AGREE
ON EVERYTHING WORD FOR WORD .
LET ME READ IT PLEASE.
WHEREAS CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE WAS
BORN IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
AND WAS ONE OF EIGHT CHILDREN
OF ROBERTA AND JOSEPH PAYNE,
THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVISM AND
EDUCATION WAS INSTILLED IN
CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE AT AN EARLY
AGE AND SHE WAS VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE USE COUNCIL OF THE NAACP
ALONG WITH OTHER YOUTH GROUPS
IN NORTH CAROLINA AND
UNDERSTOOD ATTENDING COLLEGE
WAS EXPECTED.
AND CAROLYN ATTENDED BENEDICT
COLLEGE WHICH IS A HISTORICALLY
BLACK COLLEGE FOR WOMEN WHERE
SHE EARNED A BACHELORS DEGREE
IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
SHE RECALLED WHAT HER PROFESSOR
TOLD HER WHEN SHE GRADUATED AND
I QUOTE, YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT.
YOU KNOW THE THEORIES OF
EDUCATION.
GO OUT NOW, PUT THE BOOKS AWAY
AND LOVE CHILDREN, BUT TEACH
THEM.
AND WHEREAS WHEREVER CAROLYN
HAS BEEN SHE IS TOUCH THE LIVES
OF PEOPLE AROUND HER.
CAROLYN HAS A GREAT SENSE OF
HUMILITY AND NEVER WANTS TO
TALK WHAT SHE IS DOING FOR
OTHERS.
WHEREAS CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE IS
A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER WHO
LEFT HER MARK ON EVERY PART OF
OUR CITY, SHE HAS ADVOCATED FOR
CHILDREN , WORKED WITH FOOD
BANKS, ESTABLISHED A CONSULTING
GROUP AS WELL AS PROVIDED
LEADERSHIP AND UNYIELDING
SUPPORT TO THE FOLLOWING GROUPS
AND ORGANIZATIONS.
CASCADE CHAPTER OF FEDERALLY
EMPLOYED WOMEN, FPU, REGION 10
PLAQUES IN GOVERNMENT, JUBILEE
WOMEN'S CENTER, SOUTHEAST ASIAN
COMPASSION ASSISTANCE NETWORK,
THE AFRO ACADEMIC CULTURAL AND
TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC
OLYMPICS KNOWN AS AACTSO , AND
I MUST SAY THE SATURDAY AT THE
CHURCH WERE HUNDREDS ATTENDED
THIS GREAT CELEBRATION, THERE
ARE MANY WELL-KNOWN
BENEFICIARIES AND PARTICIPANTS
IN THE PROGRAM UNDER HER
LEADERSHIP.
SHE IS A MEMBER OF DELTA SIGMA
THETA SORORITY IN THE LOCAL
BRANCH OF THE SEATTLE KANE
COUNTY NAACP AND WHEREAS CITY
LEADERS, WE ENDEAVOR TO SEIZE
EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE
TWO OFTEN NEGLECTED OF MEN AND
WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND
THAT SAID WE BELIEVE CAROLYN
RILEY PAYNE IS A PHENOMENAL
WOMAN WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY
COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
THEREFORE THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL CLAIMS TODAY IS CAROLYN
RILEY PAYNE DAY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND A LESS ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
WANT TO SAY SOME WORDS I LIKE
TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND WE CAN
HEAR FROM CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE
OR ANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK ON HER BEHALF
DURING THE PRESENT PROGRAM.
I DON'T WANT TO HOG ALL THE
GREAT REMARKS. I WILL PROCEED
TO GO OUT HERE AND IF I'M LUCKY
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A
PICTURE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM INDEED HONORED AND HUMBLED
BY THIS RECOGNITION AND THIS
PROCLAMATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING
THE TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT I HAVE
DONE, WORKING WITH ALL THE
ORGANIZATIONS I WORKED WITH. I
DIDN'T DO IT ALONE.
I STOOD ON OTHER PEOPLE'S
SHOULDERS, BUT IT TOOK
COMMITMENT. WHO DOES 40 YEARS
OF ANYTHING?
>> ONLY SOMEBODY, SOME PEOPLE
WOULD SAY IS A LITTLE BIT
CRAZY, BUT SOMEONE WHO IS
COMMITTED AND LOVES WHAT THEY
ARE DOING.
EVERY ORGANIZATION I WORK WITH
HAS THE SAME KIND OF THEME.
HELPING AND EMPOWERING THE
WOMEN TRANSITIONING FROM
HOMELESSNESS, OR CHILDREN
TRYING TO FIND WHO THEY ARE.
SO I AM INDEED GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD TO HAVE
BLESSED ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT
AND TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF
FAMILY, CHURCH, AND THE
COMMUNITY TO MAKE WHATEVER I
HAVE DONE HAPPEN.
I WAS HUMBLED BY ALL THE GOOD
THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD THAT I
HAVE DONE, AND SO I SAY THANK
YOU AND I DO HOPE -- I'M NOT
GOING TO SAY I DO HOPE BECAUSE
I HAVE ANOTHER 40 YEARS TO DO
THAT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO
FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND
I DO APPRECIATE THE
RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THE RULES ARE STILL
SUSPENDED, DO YOU WANT TO SAY A
FEW REMARKS?
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND AS
HE APPROACHES THE MICROPHONE,
PART OF OUR LEGISLATION DAY I'M
GOING TO ANTICIPATE WE WILL
CONFIRM OUR NEW DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR ROBERT
HUMES, ALSO KNOWN AS BOBBY.
I LIKE YOU TO STAND UP . [
APPLAUSE ]
>> HE SAID DURING THE
CONFIRMATION PROCESS HE HAS AN
OPEN-DOOR POLICY.
BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, WE LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT PROCESS LED BY
ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES. I WANTED
MR. HUME WHO IS RELATIVELY NEW
TO , I SAY RELATIVELY NEW
BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE
KNOWS THE COMMUNITY LEADERS.
MR. RYE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> I INTRODUCED MYSELF AND HE
HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT AND OFF
TO THE RIGHT FOOT.
I WANT TO SAY MY DAUGHTER
ANGELA WAS AN AXLE PARTICIPANT
A NATIONAL WINNER AND A
CLASSMATE OF COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ, SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
AND SEATMATES IN LAW SCHOOL AND
REMAINED FRIENDS SINCE THEN.
BUT CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE SAID
FOR 40 YEARS HAS BEEN
OUTSTANDING.
THE TRIBUTE GIVEN TO HER ON
SATURDAY AT FIRST AME WAS
OVERWHELMING AND WE DO
APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT SHE
HAS RECEIVED. SHE IS WORTHY TO
BE PRAISED AND I STILL CANNOT
IMAGINE WHY ANYBODY WOULD WANT
TO PUT ON THE SIDELINES FROM
AXEL BECAUSE SHE IS NOT ONLY IN
SEATTLE AND MARTIN LUTHER KING
JR. COUNCIL BUT ACROSS THE
COUNCIL AND SHE HAS A
REPUTATION.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
REPRESENTING HER WORK AND
HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL STEP IN
AND TRY TO TAKE HER PLACE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MR. RYE.
>> AND WHILE THE RULES ARE
SUSPENDED I KNOW WE HAVE THE
STATE DIRECTOR HERE TO SAY A
FEW WORDS, I KNOW YOU ARE NO
STRANGER TO A MICROPHONE SO BE
OUR GUEST.
>> THAT'S FUNNY, THE
MICROPHONE, I KNOW SHE ALWAYS
GETS NERVOUS.
I AM GERALD HANKINSON AND I'M
THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP IN
WASHINGTON WHERE I SERVED FOR 6
YEARS AS THE NAACP PRESIDENT
FOR SIX YEARS ENDING JANUARY 1.
CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE WAS THE
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT AND IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MY LEADERSHIP
SO WHENEVER YOU GET MAD ABOUT
ME, BLAME HER.
SHE HAS BEEN MORE THAN JUST AN
AXO PERSON BUT A MOTHER TO ME.
AT A LEADERSHIP ROLE AT LOCAL
AND STATE LEVEL EVERYTHING I'VE
DONE IS LARGELY BECAUSE WHAT
SHE PROVIDED FOR ME.
DON'T THINK BECAUSE THERE'S A
BUNCH OF KIDS IT'S GROWING
BECAUSE OF CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE
BUT ADULTS THAT SHE EDUCATED
AND PREPARED AS WELL.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER FOR
HER WORK . I'M ONLY 50 YEARS
OLD WHEN SHE STARTED THIS I WAS
10.
WE ARE THE OLDEST CIVIL RIGHTS
ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION.
SHE'S GOING NATIONAL TO COMPETE
WITH OTHER KIDS IN TWO DAYS
FROM NOW TO BRING HOME THE
GOLD, SEATTLE.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER
LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP AND
EXPERTISE SHE PROVIDED MUCH OF
US IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MY
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
FOR MY PERSONAL LIFE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
AND THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL FOR
RECOGNIZING THIS LADY BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY ALL ABOUT KIDS THAT
ARE SUCCESSFUL LARGELY BECAUSE
OF CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE.
I HAVE A COLD SO FORGIVE ME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE REMARKS AND
I'M ONLY 40 SO WHEN SHE STARTED
I WAS ZERO.
AT THIS POINT WE WILL TAKE
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS THAT
APPEAR ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL COUNCIL
AND THE CITY COUNCIL 2019 WORK
PROGRAM AND WE WILL EXTEND
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR 20 MINUTES
AND I WILL CALL YOU OUT IN THE
ORDER YOU SIGNED UP.
AND WE HAVE EIGHT SPEAKERS
SIGNED UP.
I WILL START WITH ANDREW COOK.
ANDREW WILL BE FIRST AND THEN
ALICIA FOLLOWED BY HILLARY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE
COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ANDREW AND FIVE DAYS
FROM NOW MARKS MY FOUR YEARS
WORKING AT THE EFC HELPING THE
MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY. AT THE COMMUNITY
DISCUSSION ON THE HUMAN
SERVICES RECOGNITION YOU ARE
CONSERVING WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE
BENEFITING FROM CONSISTENT AND
KNOWLEDGEABLE CASE MANAGEMENT.
TRISTAN SPOKE OF JOE AND HIS
UNWAVERING SUPPORT WHILE
HOMELESS AS A YOUTH AND SUSANNA
SPOKE ABOUT NINA, A GUIDE SHE
PROVIDED TO HELP SUSANNA WAS A
CAREGIVER TO AN ADULT CHILD
WITH DISABILITIES AND SOMEONE
WHO HAS WORKED AS A CASE
MANAGER THESE ARE WONDERFUL
STORIES TO HERE.
THIS POWERFUL TESTIMONY MADE ME
THINK ABOUT THE NAMES I CARRY
WITH ME.
I HAVE HAPPY MEMORIES OF
CONGRATULATING PEOPLE WITH
HOUSING IN THE NAMES THAT
IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND ARE
SCOTT AND BARRY.
. SCOTT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST
CLIENTS BACK WHEN I WAS ABOUT
95% ENTHUSIASM AND 5%
KNOWLEDGE.
I WILL NEVER FORGET SCOTT. HE
WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO EVER
TEARFULLY BEGGED ME TO HELP HIM
FIND HOUSING BECAUSE HE DID NOT
WANT TO DIE IN A SHELTER.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN FOR SCOTT.
HE DIED A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AT
HARBORVIEW.
BARRY WAS A BIG GUY BUT SOFT-
SPOKEN INTERESTED IN FILM AND
PHILOSOPHY.
I ENJOYED GETTING TO CHAT WITH
HIM ABOUT THOSE SUBJECTS.
I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE BUT I
SUSPECT THE PHILOSOPHY WAS HIM
TRYING TO FIND COMFORT IN A
LIFE WHERE HIS GENETICS
OVERCAME HIM IN THE FORM OF A
BAD HEART.
HE WAS ALSO SICK TO WORK BUT
NOT QUITE SICK ENOUGH FOR
HOSPICE.
I NEVER GOT AN OFFICIAL REPORT
BUT THE FRIENDS HE MADE IN THE
SHELTER SAID HE DIED ALONE I%
úAN ABANDONED BUILDING AT THE
WATERFRONT AND HIS ASHES WERE
LAID TO REST JULY 10 THIS YEAR
AS PART OF THAT KING COUNTY
REMAINS PROGRAM.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT BOTH KNEW
THEY WERE CARED FOR AND THEY
WILL BE REMEMBERED.
IT IS IN THAT SPIRIT THAT I
STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK
YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT
FOR THIS VITAL WORK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THAT AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS MELISSA AND I'M HERE
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
I'VE SERVED ON THE BOARD FOR
ALMOST 2 YEARS AND I'M DEEPLY
PASSIONATE ABOUT ENSURING THAT
WE CAN FULFILL THE MISSION TO
AND YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AND THAT
HINGES ON SUPPORTING ITS STAFF
AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS LEGISLATION IS IMPORTANT
TO ME BECAUSE I WORKED IN THE
NONPROFIT WORLD FOR MANY YEARS.
I HAVE A SENSITIVITY TO
MISREPRESENTATION OF OVERHEAD
AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
PUT SIMPLY, THIS WORK CANNOT BE
DONE WHEN THE BUILDINGS ARE
CRUMBLING, WHEN THE COMPUTERS
DON'T WORK, WHEN THE LAUNDRY
MACHINES BREAK, AND ONE HALF
THE POSITIONS ARE VACANT
BECAUSE STAFF CAN'T AFFORD TO
LIVE ON POVERTY WAGES.
YOUTH CARE SERVES SOME OF OUR
MOST VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE IN
THE CITY.
13-YEAR-OLD WHO HAVE BEEN
TRAFFICKED AND SEXUALLY
EXPLOITED.
19-YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING THE FIRST EPISODES
OF PSYCHOSIS.
22-YEAR-OLDS WHO HAVE
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND
STRUGGLE TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN.
MANY STAFF EXPERIENCED
SECONDARY TRAUMA WHILE DOING
THIS LIFE-SAVING WORK.
BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE
PRIVILEGES OF SELF-CARE OR EVEN
OF MEETING THEIR OWN BASIC
NEEDS.
PEOPLE WHO GO INTO CAREER OF
SERVICE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO
SACRIFICE THEIR WELL-BEING IN
ORDER TO DO THIS VALUABLE WORK.
DURING THE LAST HEARING YOU
HEARD THAT 99% OF THE CITY'S
CURRENT OPEN JOBS START AT A
MINIMUM OF $22 PER HOUR.
IT'S GREAT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE
THAT LIVING WAGE FOR ITS STAFF.
WHY SHOULD HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS GET ANYTHING LESS?
WE ALL KNOW THAT SEATTLE IS
FACING A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
TO EXECUTE OUR PLANS, TO
ADDRESS THIS CRISIS, WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE DOING THIS
WORK CAN DO IT WELL. I URGE
YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] HILLARY BEFORE YOU
BEGIN LET ME READ THREE MORE
NAMES.
COREY, ALICIA, AND KELLY.
SO COREY, ALICIA AND KELLY IN
THAT ORDER.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS HILLARY AND I'M HERE
TODAY IN BEHALF OF YOUTH CARE
IN SUPPORT OF THE INFLATION
ADJUSTMENT FOR HUMAN SERVICES
CONTRACTS.
I'M A YOUTH COUNSELOR AT YOUTH
CARE A LESSON SHELTER AND SERVE
KIDS AS YOUNG AS 12 AND AS OLD
AS 17 YEARS OLD.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUTH COME
TO US WITH A VARIETY OF MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES AND THE ONE WE
SEE THE MOST ARE ANXIETY,
DEPRESSION AND ATTACHMENT
DISORDERS.
THESE KIDS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO
TAKE ON THE EMOTIONAL BURDEN OF
THE ADULTS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO
CARE FOR THEM.
THEY HAVE BEEN REJECTED AND
PUSHED OUT SO MANY TIMES THEY
ARRIVE AT OUR SHELTER EXPECTING
TO BE REJECTED, EXPECTING TO
FEEL UNWELCOME.
IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WE
HAVE WITH THEM WE NEED TO
CREATE A SENSE OF HOME THAT IS
CALM, WELCOMING AND SAFE.
THAT MEANS CLEAN CLOTHING EVERY
DAY, SNACKS IN THE PANTRY AND
HEALTHY FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR
EVERY MEAL, ENGAGING ACTIVITIES
AND OUTINGS THAT BUILD LIFE
SKILLS IN THE SENSE OF
COMMUNITY, ALL OF THESE THINGS
ARE ESSENTIAL AND THEY ALL COST
MORE EACH YEAR.
THINK ABOUT THE PRICE OF A
MOVIE TICKET.
EVEN WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS
THOSE TICKETS HAVE ALMOST
DOUBLED.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE REFERENCE THE
IMPACT OF TURNOVER ON CLIENTS
LIVES. FOR A 12-YEAR-OLD WHO
MAY NEVER OF HAD A TRUSTING
ADULT IN THEIR ENTIRE LIFE,
HAVING SOMEONE LEAVE
UNEXPECTEDLY CAN BE DEVASTATING.
IF WE ARE BURNT OUT A STAFF, IF
WE ARE STRESSED BECAUSE OF OUR
OWN FINANCES, IT'S HARD TO
BRING 110% TO OUR JOBS EVERY
DAY WHICH IS WHAT THOSE KIDS
REALLY NEED.
THE REALITY IS THIS IS THE
LOWEST PAYING JOB I HAVE HAD
SINCE GRADUATING COLLEGE IN 2014
, AND I WAS A SCHOOLTEACHER FOR
4 YEARS BEFORE THIS JOB.
THE STAKES ARE SO MUCH HIGHER.
WHEN STAFF LEAVE IT ONLY
REINFORCES THESE KIDS BELIEVE
THAT ADULTS WILL ABANDON THEM,
THAT THEY ARE BAD KIDS AND NOT
WORTHY OF LOVE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN WE DON'T
PASS INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS LIKE
THE ONES CONSIDERING TODAY WE
DON'T JUST CAUSE HARM, WE CAUSE
LIFELONG TRAUMA.
I URGE YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] SHE'S A
SCHOOLTEACHER.
SEE HOW SHE SAW THE CLOCK
RUNNING IT JUST CUT IT RIGHT
THERE.
THAT'S LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU.
HAVING SAID THAT, COREY, ALICIA
AND KELLY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS COREY AND I'M HERE
ALONG WITH KIM AND JESSE ALONG
WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
ASSOCIATION.
I'M AN ATTORNEY AT THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER ASSOCIATION AND I WORK
DAY IN AND DAY OUT WITH CASE
MANAGERS AT THE EVERGREEN
TREATMENT SERVICES TO HELP
CLIENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE
LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE
DIVERSION LEAD PROGRAM AND I
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO NEARLY
THE QUALITY OF WORK I DO
WITHOUT THE IMPORTANT CASE
MANAGERS AT REACH.
THE CASE MANAGERS AT REACH ARE
INCREDIBLY SKILLED AND KILLED
EASILY BE TAKEN JOBS THAT PAY
MORE AND HAVE LESS WORK AND
LOWER CASE LOADS, BUT CHOOSE TO
HELP OUR CLIENTS.
WITHOUT THEIR HELP AND
CONSISTED CASE MANAGEMENT, I
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HELP
CLIENTS WHO FACE LEGAL NEEDS.
SO I AM PLEASED THAT THE COUNCIL
HAS THIS LEGISLATION BEFORE
THEM TO PROVIDE COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS TO CASE MANAGERS
BECAUSE I KNOW IN CASE MANAGERS
ARE ABLE TO STAY WITH CLIENTS
IN THE LONG-TERM, THEY ARE ABLE
TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES AND
CLIENTS ACHIEVE BETTER
OUTCOMES.
>> THANK YOU, COREY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS, MY
NAME IS TIM AND I REPRESENT THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER ASSOCIATION AND
IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE I WORKED AS
A REACH CASE MANAGER AND CAN
ATTEST TO SPECIFICALLY WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.
PEOPLE BURN OUT RELATIVELY
QUICKLY.
I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT FOUR
YEARS WHICH WAS TUMULTUOUS AND
WHAT BURNOUT LOOKS LIKE IS
LITERALLY COMING HOME EVERY DAY
AND NOT GETTING SLEEP AND CRYING
TO YOURSELF OVER AND OVER.
YOU LITERALLY WANT TO PULL YOUR
HAIR OUT.
YOU THINK ABOUT SELF-CARE AND
THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT SELF-
CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE FIELDS.
WHEN YOU ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING
TO CUT CORNERS, WHEN YOU ARE
CONSTANTLY HAVING TO EAT RED
BEANS AND RICE EVERY SINGLE
NIGHT AND DOUSING IT IN CRAFT
ITALIAN DRESSING TO GIVE IT
SOME TYPE OF FLAVOR, THAT'S NOT
SELF-CARE.
YOU CAN NOURISH YOUR BODY OR
GET ANY SLEEP.
AS CAPITALISTIC AS IT MAY
SOUND, MONEY IS THAT WEIGHT TO
HELP SELF-CARE.
IT PUTS NOURISHING FOOD IN YOUR
STOMACH.
IT PUTS A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD.
PEOPLE ASKED ME WHY I DID THIS
WORK AND WHY MY BIGGEST AND
FIRST RESPONSE WAS
COMPASSIONATE LOVE FOR
INDIVIDUALS IS THE STARK
REALITY I WAS A PAYCHECK AND A
HALF AWAY FROM BEING THAT
INDIVIDUAL ON THE STREET THAT
NEEDED OUTREACH SERVICES AND
BASIC NEEDS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION NOT JUST FOR THE
PEOPLE WE SIRS BUT THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO DO THE SERVING
AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ALICIA AND I'M WITH
THE COALITION ENDING GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE AND I ON THE
STUDENT COMMITTEE OF THE
SEATTLE COALITION SPEAKING
TODAY ABOUT HALF OF THEM.
S HSC MEMBERS PROVIDE SERVICES
THAT SUPPORT SEATTLE RESIDENTS
TO THRIVE ACROSS THEIR LIFESPAN
AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY CLINICS,
HUMAN SERVICES BUILD WELL-
BEING.
WE APPRECIATE AN UNANIMOUS VOTE
IN SUPPORT OF AN AUTOMATIC
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ON HUMAN
SERVICES CONTRACT THAT WILL BE
TO COUNCIL TODAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING HUMAN
SERVICE CONTRACTS FOR INFLATION
SO WE CAN RETAIN THE SERVICES
AND INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE
BUILT TOGETHER MAKES SENSE.
COST TO PROVIDE SERVICES
INCLUDE TECHNOLOGY FOR
EVALUATION AND REPORTING,
FACILITIES, ENERGY,
TRANSPORTATION AND WAGES,
RECRUITING, TRAINING AND
HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.
WE MUST PAY THOSE COSTS ARE WE
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN
CURRENT SERVICES.
SIMPLY PUT, YOU UNDERMINE OUR
CAPACITY TO REACH OUR GOALS
WHEN COST TO PROVIDE SERVICES
RISE BUT YOUR INVESTMENT SIMPLY
DOESN'T KEEP UP.
THE MEASURE IS ALSO FISCALLY
PRUDENT SINCE THE CITY'S
GENERAL FUND REVENUE INCREASES
HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY OUTPACED
INFLATION OVER THE PAST 20
YEARS EVEN TAKING RECESSIONS
INTO ACCOUNT.
WE HAVE THE MEANS.
WE ARE HEARTENED TO SEE YOUR
SUPPORT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM
ONCE AND FOR ALL.
CONSISTENTLY ADJUSTING FOR
INFLATION IS AN EFFECTIVE
COMMON SENSE BUSINESS PRACTICE
AND WE URGE YOU TO IMPLEMENT
THIS TO STABILIZE YOUR
INVESTMENT IN HUMAN SERVICES
FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO, KELLY LARSON WITH
PLYMOUTH HOUSING.
WE PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
FOR 1000 INDIVIDUALS IN SEATTLE
EVERY YEAR.
IT'S COMMON SENSE.
I HEARD AT THE RALLY THE CHANT
WAS THE ECONOMY IS THRIVING WHY
ARE WE SURVIVING?
ITS CRITICAL WORK WITH
IMPORTANT WORK OUR STAFF ARE
ASKED TO DO A LOT AND WE ARE
OPERATING BUILDINGS THAT ARE
REALLY STRUGGLING WITH
CONTRACTS.
WE HAVE ELECTRICITY, WATER,
GARBAGE, SEWER, HUGE COST
INCREASES EVERY YEAR.
WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
WE NEED IT. EVEN IF WE CAN
RAISE PUBLIC FUNDS WE HAVE
PEOPLE DOING EXCELLENT WORK IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO HELP ON
US BUT WE RELY ON GOVERNMENT.
PLEASE STEP UP AND MAKE SURE IT
HAPPENS FOR US.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KELLY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> I HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS
SIGNED UP.
MEGAN AND DAVID.
>> I WAS JUST AT THE AMAZON
FARE WHERE WE BUILT A BIRD AND
DELIVERED THE MESSAGE TO JEFF
BEZOS TO SHUT DOWN I.C.E.
AND STOP USING SURVEILLANCE AND
HUMAN SERVICE JOBS ARE SO
IMPORTANT.
I THOUGHT WHAT IF THE JOB
CREATION OF I.C.E.
WAS TURNED INTO HUMAN SERVICE
JOBS AND HOW WE GO HERE IN
SEATTLE AND HAVE ALL THE
INFORMATION IN THE SYSTEM. WE
TOOK THE PEOPLE THAT WERE
CROSSING OVER AND I.C.E.
WOULD CHANGE THEIR NAME AND
THEY WOULD CHECK INTO THE
COUNTRY AND SEE WHAT KIND OF
MILITIA WAS HAPPENING AND WHY
THEY RAN AND TRY TO COMMUNICATE
BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE
COUNTRIES.
THAT'S 100 YEARS IN THE FUTURE,
SO TODAY MAYBE IT'S NOT, BUT
TODAY I THINK HUMAN SERVICES
FOR SOME REASON ARE UNDERVALUED
. I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO IN JUST FOR
INFLATION AND ADD VALUE TO
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY.
SO PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD A ROUGH
GO IN SOCIETY CAN TRANSITION
INTO MORE HUMANE CIRCUMSTANCES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MEGAN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MY NAME IS DAVID.
I'M A HOUSING ASSISTANCE CASE
MANAGER AT DEFC AND I WORKED
THERE FOR 4 YEARS NOW.
OBVIOUSLY HOMELESSNESS IS A
HUGE ISSUE IN THIS CITY AND IN
THIS COUNTY AND THIS COUNTRY.
THE POPULATION THAT DEFC
SPECIFICALLY SERVES IS NOT
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HOMELESS
POPULATION IN GENERAL.
THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY SOME OF
THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE.
PEOPLE THAT ARE REPEATEDLY,
INVOLUNTARILY DETAINED FOR
EATING THEIR OWN FECES.
I KNOW A WOMAN THAT DID THAT.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING
THESE DECISIONS TO GET IN TOUCH
WITH CRISIS RESPONDERS THAT
INVOLUNTARILY DETAINED THEM ARE
MAKING FAIRLY OVER MINIMUM WAGE.
THESE DECISIONS ARE FAR MORE
DIFFICULT, ARE FAR MORE CLINICAL
, THEY REQUIRE FAR MORE
TRAINING AND EDUCATION THAN THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY
MAKING.
I'VE SEEN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
MAKING THEM. THEY ARE MY
FRIENDS, THEY ARE MY COWORKERS.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THEY SEE PEOPLE IN PAIN. THEY
SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING.
AND THEY WANT BETTER, AND THEY
SIMPLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
WE CAN'T PROVIDE SOMETHING
BETTER FOR THESE VULNERABLE
PEOPLE UNLESS WE GET MORE
EDUCATED, MORE TRAINED PEOPLE
IN THESE POSITIONS.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL START.
IF IT PASSES.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THAT CONCLUDES A PUBLIC
COMMENT SECTION.
PLEASE GO TO PAYMENT OF THE
BILLS AND READ.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119368 AND
ORDERING THEREOF.
>> I ORDER TO PASS AND MOVE AND
SECOND THE BILL PASSING, ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> [ROLL CALL VOTE]
>> A IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASS AND SIGN IT.
READ THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
THE REPORT 1370APPOINTMENT OF
ROBERT HUMES AS DIRECTOR,
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES, FOR A TERM TO JUNE
1, 2023.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
APPOINTMENT BE CONFIRMED.
>> COMMISSIONER BAGSHAW?
>> I AM VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT
TO YOU ROBERT HUMES AS DIRECTOR
OF OUR NEXT HUMAN RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP.
WE WILL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY
TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE IN A
MOMENT.
BOBBY, I HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED TO
WORK WITH YOU FIRST OF ALL
THROUGH OUR SEATTLE CITY
EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
YOU ARE A WONDERFUL ADDITION ON
THE BOARD AND IT'S AN HONOR.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
APPRECIATE THE FACT YOU AND I
HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK
ABOUT THIS NEW POSITION FOR YOU
AND HOW YOU HAVE COME OVER FROM
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND ALSO
YOUR VERY IMPRESSIVE HISTORY
PRIOR TO THAT.
YOU BEEN WORKING WITH SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND YOU ALSO HAD A
LONG STINT WITH THE MILITARY
AND YOU ARE BRINGING A LOT OF
SKILLS TO THIS HUMAN RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TO
MY COLLEAGUES THAT I FEEL VERY
STRONGLY ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT
AROUND EQUITY AND EMPOWERMENT
AND REACHING INTO YOUR
DEPARTMENT BOTH TO EMPOWER THE
PEOPLE TO DO THEIR BEST WORK
AND ALSO ENCOURAGING THEM TO
RISE IN DELIVER POSITIONSTHAT
IS SOMETHING I FEEL IS VERY
IMPORTANT AS A MANAGER, AND I
KNOW YOU WILL DO EXACTLY THAT.
I PERSONALLY AM LOOKING FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE NEXT 5 1/2
MONTHS.
TO MY COLLEAGUES, I CANNOT
APPLAUD HIM MORE AND APPRECIATE
WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
I ALSO THINK I HAVE TO HAVE A
MOTION HERE BECAUSE WE NEED TO
ADD THE EXPECTATIONS LETTER
WHICH HAS NOW BEEN CIRCULATED
AND ALL OF YOU HAVE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO IT.
IT WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE
AGENDA LAST WEEK SO I'D LIKE TO
MOVE TO AMEND TO SUPPORT 01372
AND THAT THE EXPECTATION
LETTER.
>> JUST THE VOTE ON THE
AMENDMENT AND NOT THE
CONFIRMATION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE
AMENDMENT AS DESCRIBED BY
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED?
AYES HABIT AND THE PACKAGE OF
THE MINUTES INCLUDE THE
EXPECTATION.
ARE YOU FINISHED WITH YOUR
REMARKS?
ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES WANT TO
MAKE ANY REMARKS BEFORE WE VOTE
ON THIS LEGISLATION?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> I WANT TO SAY WELCOME.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
TO A NUMBER OF FOLKS ON THE
LABOR COMMUNITY ABOUT YOU AND
HIGH RECOMMENDATIONS A VERY
EXCITED THEY WERE INVOLVED IN
THE PROCESS AND THE OPTIMISTIC
OUTLOOK THEY HAVE FOR THE
DEPARTMENT AND CITY WITH YOUR
LEADERSHIP.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR INTEREST IN WORKING
WITH US AND SERVING THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
I WILL MAKE A COMMENT THAT
DURING THE FIRST HEARING WHERE
YOU WERE PRESENTED TO THE
COUNCIL I RECEIVED SOME
FEEDBACK THAT PERHAPS I WAS A
LITTLE HARD ON YOU.
THAT WAS WHAT THE FEEDBACK WAS.
THE REASON I WAS A LITTLE HARD
ON YOU PERHAPS BECAUSE MY
EXPECTATIONS WERE HIGHER THAN I
HAVE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND WHEN I ASKED FOR YOUR
VISION OF WHAT THE CITY CAN BE
PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO
ITS EMPLOYEE BASE, I WANTED TO
HEAR THE WORDS DIVERSITY JUST
RING OUT.
I WAS CONCERNED I WASN'T
HEARING THE PASSION WITH WHICH
I LIKE TO SEE IT, PARTICULARLY
IN A PERSON THAT WOULD BE IN A
POSITION AS YOU ARE AS HEAD OF
THE HR GROUP, THAT DIVERSITY,
ACHIEVING IT IS VERY
INTENTIONAL.
HOW OFTEN DO WE HELP WE
COULDN'T HIRE DIVERSELY BECAUSE
WE COULDN'T FIND THE RIGHT
CANDIDATES?
YOU FIND THEM BY LOOKING.
WE HAD OUR ONE-ON-ONE AND I
BECAME FULLY CONVINCED WE HAVE
THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB
BASED ON YOUR PRIOR PERFORMANCE
AND THE COMMITMENT I HEARD FROM
YOU.
I WILL BE IN OFFICE WHEN MANY
OF THE PERSONNEL DECISIONS THAT
YOU WILL NO DOUBT LEAD WILL BE
IN EFFECT BUT I WON'T GO FAR
AND I WILL KEEP A GOOD EYE ON
YOU.
I'M VERY PLEASED AND WANT TO
COMMEND THE MAYOR AND THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR SELECTING
AFTER VERY COMPETITIVE SEARCH
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU THE REMAINDER OF THIS
YEAR.
SO HAVING SAID THAT I MOVED TO
VOTE.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF CONFIRMING
THE APPOINTMENT PLEASE AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.
MOTION CARRIES AN APPOINTMENT
IS CONFIRMED. AND MR. HUME WE
INVITE YOU TO THE MICROPHONE TO
SAY A FEW WORDS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW IS
HITTING YOU THE EXPECTATION
LETTER.
>> SOME OF OUR NUMBERS -- THANK
YOU COUNCIL, PRESIDENT HARRELL
AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
SOME OF OUR NUMBERS SAY THERE'S
11,000 IN THE CITY.
ANYONE GOT A BETTER NUMBER?
LET ME TAKE THAT NUMBER.
10,900 SOMETHING AND EACH ONE
OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS IS THE
STORY. EACH ONE OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS HAS A PURPOSE AND A
MEANING TO OUR SYSTEM AND TO
THE VALUE WE WANT TO PROVIDE
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
THAT'S A UNIQUE JOB.
AND IN HR WE GET TO SUPPORT
THOSE UNIQUE JOBS.
I TAKE THIS APPOINTMENT VERY
SERIOUSLY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND VALUE TO
OUR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE THEIR
JOBS IN THEIR LIVES BETTER
WHILE HERE AS A PART OF THIS
TEAM.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONFIDENCE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ALL FOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. HUME.
[ APPLAUSE ] PLEASE READ THE
SECOND AGENDA ITEM FOR THE
SHORT TITLE PLEASE.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119550 AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO FUNDING
FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS; ADOPTING
>> AT THE LAST FINANCING
COMMITTEE YOU REMEMBER THAT WE
WERE LOOKING AT THE 2019 ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN AND WHAT HAPPENS
HERE IS IT IS A GRANT THAT WE
WILL BE ABLE TO ACCEPT, ROUGHLY
$2 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE
HAD IDENTIFIED DURING OUR
BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS AND
FOR OTHER HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS IN A
COUPLE OF OTHERS.
THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE
COMMITTEE IS THAT WE APPROVE
THE GRANT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH
ACCEPTING $21,000,167.
>> SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO
ME.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THIS BILL?
IF NOT CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> [ROLL CALL VOTE]
>> A IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSED AND WE WILL
SIGN IT.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD TO HOUSING,
HEALTH AND WORKERS RIGHTS
COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119542 AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
CONTRACTING BY THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT; PROVIDING
THAT THE SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT PROVIDE A COST
INCREASE WHEN RENEWING OR
RENEGOTIATING CONTRACTS TO
ADDRESS ESCALATION IN COSTS AND
SPECIFYING HOW AND WHEN TO
APPLY THE INCREASE; AMENDING
SECTION 20.60.102 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO
EXEMPT HUMAN SERVICES CONTRACTS
FROM THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER
20.60; AND ADDING A NEW SECTION
3.20.060 TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A BILL
PASSES AS AMENDED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT I'D
LOVE TO SPEAK AT THE END AND
ALSO SUPPORT YOU IN THE
AMENDMENT IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
I COULD EITHER SECOND YOUR
AMENDMENT OR MOVE YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THE
AMENDMENT FIRST.
>> YES.
>> I WILL MOVE AMENDMENT I WILL
CALL IT AMENDMENT NUMBER 1. YOU
HAVE A COPY OF THE AMENDMENT
WHICH WAS PROPERLY CIRCULATED
ON A TIMELY BASIS WITH CENTRAL
STAFF FOR THAT. BASICALLY WHAT
IT DOES IS WE HEARD A LOT OF
TESTIMONY ABOUT HOW UNDERPAID
THE EMPLOYEES DOING THIS KIND
OF WORK ARE AND I DON'T THINK
THERE'S ANY DISAGREEMENT.
HOWEVER IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT
SOME OF THE LANGUAGE I THOUGHT
IN THE BILL COULD HAVE BEEN
STRONGER AND MAKING SURE THAT
IS CLEARLY OUR INTENT.
WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE HIGH
FIXED COSTS IN THESE NONPROFITS
AND OTHER COSTS THEY DON'T HAVE
CONTROL OVER.
I THOUGHT A STRONG POLICY
STATEMENT SAYING WE GET THAT
TOO BUT WE GET THE FACT THESE
ARE UNDERPAID JOBS AND WE WANT
TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
THAT'S OF THE AMENDMENT DOES.
NUMBER 1. A NUMBER 2, WE'VE
HAD AND WE'VE BEEN AROUND WITH
TOUGH TIMES AND A RECESSION AND
WHERE WE HAD TO REALLY SHARPEN
OUR PENCIL TO MAKE TOUGH CUTS.
SOME POLICY STATEMENTS, AROUND
2008 OR SO, SOME POLICY
STATEMENTS WE SAID DURING THEN
WERE WHILE WE HAVE TO MAKE
THESE TOUGH CUTS, THE WORK YOU
ALL DO, THE WORK THAT HUMAN
SERVICES DO, WE ARE PRESERVING.
THE WORK IS SO CRITICAL TO
PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE THAT
IN OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS,
THIS IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE RECOGNIZE WE HAVE TO
PRESERVE IF NOT EVEN ENHANCE
THE FUNDING.
THE OTHER LANGUAGE OF THIS
AMENDMENT CAPTURES THAT AND I
THINK IT'S READ BY SAYING THE
CRITICAL ROLE THAT HUMAN
SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS FILL AND
IT'S OUR INTENT TO FUND ANNUAL
ADJUSTMENTS IN TIMES OF
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE AMENDMENT
DOES AND I WILL FORMALLY MOVE IT
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I
DESCRIBED.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA SECONDS
IT SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDMENT?
>> I HAVE A COMMENT.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU, MR.
PRESIDENT FOR BRINGING THE
AMENDMENT FORWARD.
IT'S REALLY A SMART IDEA TO
MAKE SURE WE EXPRESSED THE
COUNCIL'S STRONG DESIRE THAT
THESE ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS ARE
RECEIVED BY A PROVIDER
ORGANIZATION AND DEALING WITH
FIXED AND VARIABLE COSTS AS WE
HAVE GREATER STABILITY FOR
ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR DESIRE IS
IN LINE WITH BOTH CEOs AND
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND FRONT-
LINE STAFF HAVE SAID TO WANT TO
SEE WAGES STABILIZED I WANT TO
SEE WORKERS STABILIZED.
AND THE TURNOVER AND VACANCY
RATES ADDRESSED.
I APPRECIATE YOU UNDERSCORING
THAT IN THE AMENDMENT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THROUGH
YOUR AMENDMENT WE UNDERSCORE
OUR COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN
THE CRITICAL ROLE THESE HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDER ORGANIZATION,
FRONT-LINE STAFF AND THEIR
LEADERS PROVIDE TO OUR CITY AND
BY FULFILLING THE CITY'S
INTENTION TO FUND THE ANNUAL
ADJUSTMENT IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
, IT RECOGNIZES MORE PEOPLE
NEED THESE VARIOUS SERVICES
ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC
HARDSHIP.
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT
FORWARD IN WORKING WITH OUR
OFFICE ON THIS AND I WILL BE IN
AND ENTHUSIASTIC YES.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
WE HAVE A FEW OF THOSE WEDDING
VOWS, FOR BETTER OR WORSE.
ANY MORE COMMENTS BEFORE WE
VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT?
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE
AMENDMENT ONLY, JUST THE
AMENDMENT VOTE AYE.
OPPOSED?
THE AYES HABIT AND THE
LEGISLATION IS AMENDED.
BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT AND
I'M EXCITED TO BRING FORTH TO
THE COUNCIL THE AMENDED HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDER INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENT LEGISLATION.
IF IT PLEASES THE PRESIDENT I
WILL MAKE TO MAKE MY COMMENTS
AT THE VERY END TO CLOSE IT
OUT.
>> MANY PEOPLE HAVE WORKED ON
THIS LEGISLATION SO NOW WOULD
BE THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IF
YOU WOULD LIKE AND I WILL GIVE
YOU THE OPTION TO TALK ABOUT
ANY COMMENTS YOU WILL SAY BEFORE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA CLOSES
DEBATE ON IT.
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND COUNCILMEMBER
HARRELL WERE BRINGING THE
AMENDMENT AND STAUNCH SUPPORT
AND I WANT TO THANK THE
COMMUNITY FOR THE TREMENDOUS
WORK YOU DO. WE KNOW THAT
PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING ON
THE STREETS, PEOPLE THAT ARE
SUFFERING FROM BEHAVIORAL AND
MENTAL HEALTH NEED YOUR HELP.
THAT WARM HANDOFF IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE
THAT WE CAN DO.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW
DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING THE
WORK IS.
FOR OUR FRIENDS IN THE PUBLIC
DEFENDERS FOR THE WORK YOU ARE
DOING ON LEAD, WE KNOW THAT
MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE AS
WELL.
I WANT TO SAY I SUPPORT THIS.
I HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD AN
AMENDMENT THAT I WAS MORE
FOCUSED ON THE BUDGET TO MAKE
SURE THAT FUTURE COUNCILS HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING
TO BE REQUIRED GOING FORWARD.
WE KNOW THAT AMENDMENT DID NOT
PASS.
I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF MOVING
FORWARD IN SUPPORT OF YOU AND
ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IN THE
FUTURE, IF DIFFICULTIES ARE
BASED BECAUSE OF BUDGET CLIMATE
OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, FUTURE
COUNCILS AND THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE TO MAKE THEIR OWN
DECISIONS.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JUST HOW
STRONGLY I FEEL ABOUT THE WORK
YOU ARE DOING. I ALSO WANT TO
RESPOND TO SOMEBODY IN THE
AUDIENCE WHO SAID IT'S A GOOD
FIRST START.
THE GOOD FIRST START WAS THE
LAST BUDGET WHEN WE DID AT AN
ADDITIONAL 1.75% TO 2% FOR THIS
EXACT THING SO NOW WE ADD
ANOTHER 2% AND I'M PROUD OF
THAT.
GODSPEED AND ALL YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
BAGSHAW.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU AND I WANT TO ADD
THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT THE
COUNCIL EXERCISING BUDGETARY
DISCIPLINE. IT'S MY OPINION
THAT THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION
IS ACTUALLY AN EXPRESSION OF
OUR BUDGETARY DISCIPLINE.
THIS IS US SAYING WHEN WE ENTER
THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS THIS
YEAR THAT THIS IS OUR TOP
PRIORITY.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE
HAVE DONE IN PREVIOUS YEARS,
PRECISELY IN TOUGH ECONOMIC
TIMES WHEN PRIOR COUNCILS HAVE
PASSED RESOLUTIONS OR BUDGET
PRIORITY LETTER SENT TO THE
MAYOR SAYING OUR INTENTION WAS
TO HOLD HUMAN SERVICES HARMLESS
TO CUTS IN PAST YEARS.
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS AN
EXPRESSION OF OUR VALUES AND
FUTURE COUNCILS MAY HAVE
DIFFERENT VALUES, BUT IT'S AN
EXPRESSION OF OUR VALUES AT
THIS TIME IN MY VALUES FOR AS
LONG AS I'M ON THIS COUNCIL.
THANK YOU.
>> WELL STATED, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE
TURN IT BACK OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU PRESIDENT HARRELL.
I'M GLAD TO BE VOTING YES ON
THIS ORDINANCE TO PREVENT OR AT
LEAST HELP PREVENT HUMAN
SERVICE FUNDING INTERCITY FROM
FALLING FURTHER BEHIND THAN
ALREADY HAS.
I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL YOUR
ORGANIZATIONS, THE WORKERS AND
THE UNIONS THAT HAVE ADVOCATED
FOR THIS INCLUDING THE
HEALTHCARE NORTHWEST.
THE BILL REQUIRES HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDER FUNDING TO BE
INCREASED WITH INFLATION.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT
SOME LARGESS.
IF THE FUNDING GOES UP IN STEP
WITH INFLATION, IT JUST MEANS A
BREAK EVEN.
AS THE SPEAKERS AND PUBLIC
COMMENT HAVE STATED NOT ONLY
TODAY BUT ON OTHER OCCASIONS
THAT NOT ONLY ARE THE WAGES NOT
KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION, IT'S
ALSO THE OTHER COST THAT ALL
THE NONPROFIT SPACE INCLUDING
UTILITIES WHICH THEY ARE ON THE
HOOK FOR.
THEY CAN'T GO TO CITY LIGHT AND
SAY WE CAN'T PAY THE BILLS.
THEY HAVE TO PAY THE BILLS.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY THE BARE MINIMUM
THE CITY CAN AND SHOULD DO.
AS I MENTIONED IN THE COMMITTEE
MEETING DISCUSSING THIS
LEGISLATION, AT THE HEART OF
THIS PROBLEM OF COURSE IS THE
CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING FOR SOCIAL
SERVICES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL
DECADES.
THE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HOUSING
AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT
WAS ELIMINATED IN THE 1980s HAS
NEVER RETURNED.
WE ARE REELING FROM A VICIOUS
CYCLE DOWNWARD.
SOCIAL SERVICES HAS BEEN
OUTSOURCED IN MULTIPLE CITIES
AND HAVE BEEN OUTSOURCED FROM
THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO NONPROFITS
AND ONCE THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT OFFLOADS THE
RESPONSIBILITY THEY
SYSTEMATICALLY UNDERFUND THE
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE A
CORPORATION LIKE AMAZON PAYS NO
FEDERAL TAXES AND INSTEAD GETS
$129 MILLION TAX REBATES AND
TAX CUTS, SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS
ARE SO UNDERPAID THEY CANNOT
MAKE THEIR OWN RENT.
I THINK THESE STORIES ARE
REALLY POIGNANT OF HUMAN
SERVICE WORKERS BEING A
PAYCHECK AND A HALF AWAY FROM
BEING ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN NEED
OF THE SERVICES THEMSELVES.
I WANT TO QUICKLY IN TERMS OF
DRAWING CONNECTIONS WITH
DIFFERENT STRUGGLES ALSO WANT
TO CONGRATULATE THE AMAZON
WAREHOUSE WORKERS AROUND THE
COUNTRY WHO ARE COURAGEOUSLY
GOING OUT ON THE PRIME DAY
STRIKE TO PROTEST DANGEROUS
WORKING CONDITIONS AND
INADEQUATE BENEFITS AND AGAINST
EVEN HAVING SCHEDULING AND
BEING JOINED TODAY BY TENS OF
THOUSANDS OUTSIDE IN THE
STREETS PROTESTING I.C.E.
AGAINST AMAZON'S CONTRACT WITH
I.C.E.
SO THESE STRUGGLES ARE TIED
TOGETHER.
AND WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR ALSO
THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT SOME
WORKERS LIKE TECH WORKERS ARE
PAID MORE THAN HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS.
I THINK ALL WORKING PEOPLE
DESERVE A HIGH STANDARD OF
LIVING.
THE PROBLEM IS THE BIGGEST
BUSINESSES AND BILLIONAIRES ARE
AMASSING THE WEALTH OF SOCIETY
INTO FEWER AND FEWER HANDS.
UNDER CAPITALISM, ECONOMIES
HAVE A CYCLE OF BOOMS AND
BUSTS.
WHEN THE ECONOMY IS BOOMING,
BIG BUSINESS MAKES MASSIVE
PROFITS AND THE WEALTHY GET
WEALTHIER AND WHEN THE ECONOMY
FALLS INTO RECESSION, WORKERS
ARE ASKED TO SHOULDER THE COST
UNDER THE FALSE SLOGAN OF
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
WE SHOULD REJECT THIS MYTHOLOGY
AND UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO FIGHT
FOR OUR RIGHTS.
AND WHETHER IT'S A RECESSION OR
A BOOM PERIOD, WE DON'T ACCEPT
A LOW LIVING STANDARD FOR THE
WORKERS WHO MAKE OUR CITY AND
SERVICES RUN.
WE NEED TO FIGHT TO FULLY FUND
HUMAN SERVICES WHICH MEANS IN
ADDITION TO TODAY'S MEASURE, WE
URGENTLY NEED TO TAX BIG
BUSINESS AND THE SUPERRICH TO
PROVIDE THOSE FUNDS. I ALSO
SAY THAT COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT
SO-CALLED FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
SHOULD NOT REPEAL THE AMAZON
TAX.
IT'S AN EASY WAY OF ADDRESSING
FIXED SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITY
WHICH IS EXPANDING PUBLIC
REVENUES IN THE CITY WITH THE
MOST PROGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM IN
THE NATION.
AS WORKERS WE SHOULD NOTE THE
OMINOUS PRONOUNCEMENT BEING
MADE THAT FUTURE COUNCILS AND
MAYORS MAY DO OTHER THINGS AND
THAT'S TRUE WHICH IS WHY WE
HAVE TO FIGHT FOR TAXES ON BIG
BUSINESS TODAY.
AND MAKE IT LAW.
WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR RENT
CONTROL TO ADDRESS THE ALARMING
RATE AT WHICH PEOPLE ARE BEING
FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES
SIMPLY BECAUSE THE RENTS ARE
GOING UP OUT OF CONTROL.
AND FURTHER OVERLOADING THE
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HUMAN
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.
FOR THE HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO INCREASE
WAGES BECAUSE OF THOSE WAGES ARE
TAKEN UP BY DISPROPORTIONATELY
úHIGH RENT INCREASES IT STILL
DOESN'T HELP. WE HAVE TO FIGHT
FOR THIS MEASURE TODAY AND ALSO
PLEASE JOIN US, ME AND MY
OFFICE AND WASHINGTON STATE
ANOTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
RENT CONTROL MOVEMENT AND
SPECIFICALLY I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE YOU ALL TO OUR RENT
CONTROL RALLY AT THE CHRISTIAN
CHURCH ON BROADWAY AT 500
BROADWAY EAST AT 6 PM THIS
SATURDAY, JULY 20.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS BEFORE I
TURN IT BACK OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU ENTIRE COUNCIL AND I
THINK ALL OF YOU FOR TURNING
OUT TO HALF A DOZEN COMMUNITY
MEETINGS JUST THIS YEAR ALONE.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BRING
FORTH THIS LEGISLATION TODAY IN
ITS AMENDED VERSION FOR FINAL
PASSAGE.
I HAVE TO SAY WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING FOR THIS FOR HALF A
YEAR AND MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER A
DECADE.
I SEE ALLISON AT THE RALLY AND
I SAID YOU SAID WE BEEN WORKING
ON THIS FOR 10 YEARS AND SHE
SAID AT LEAST 10 YEARS.
IT'S VERY EXCITING TO BE ABLE
TO TAKE THIS INITIAL STEP AND
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW IS
CORRECT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET WHERE THE FULL COUNCIL
WAS ABLE TO INCLUDE A 2%
INCREASE FOR BOTH THE NON-
GENERAL FUND AND THE GENERAL
FUND IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT FIRST STEP.
WE ALSO AT THAT POINT COMMITTED
TO PASSING LEGISLATION TO END
THE CYCLE OF UNCERTAINTY.
THE UNCERTAINTY FOR PROVIDERS
AND FRONT-LINE WORKERS AND
LEADERS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S
DIRECTLY FOR COME CLIENTS THAT
HAVE COME AND TESTIFY HERE TIME
AFTER TIME ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
IT WAS TO HAVE CASE MANAGERS
AND RELIABLE STAFF AT THESE
ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE THE TRUST
AND EXPERIENCE WHO CAN STAY IN
THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP
STABILIZE FOLKS.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE WE
FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT
COMMITMENT. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THE FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING
UNDERSTAND THE TYPE OF FOLKS
AND SERVICES YOU ARE HELPING
WITH.
YOU ARE HELPING TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST
VULNERABLE GET THE SERVICES
THAT ANY OTHER COUNTRY WOULD
FUND THROUGH PROGRESSIVE TAX
MEASURES, THAT ANY OTHER
COUNTRY WOULD LIFT UP AND SAY
WE HAVE TO INVEST IN THESE.
HERE WE ARE IN THIS CORNER OF
OUR COUNTRY TRYING TO MAKE UP
FOR THE FACT WE DON'T HAVE THE
REVENUE WE NEED TO INVEST IN
THE FABRIC OF THE SOCIAL SAFETY
NET THAT YOU ALL ACTUALLY MAKE
POSSIBLE.
YOU PROVIDE FOOD ON THE TABLE
FOR SENIORS THROUGH FOOD BANKS
AND MEAL PROGRAMS.
YOU MAKE SURE THE YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS GET FUNDED
AND PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO
STAY AT NIGHT WHEN THEY ARE
YOUTH.
YOU MAKE SURE THOSE WHO
EXPERIENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND
ASSAULT AT THE TREATMENT THEY
NEED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE
PREVENTION THEY NEED SO THEY
ARE NOT IN THAT SITUATION.
YOU MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE
A WARM AND SAFE PLACE TO STAY
AT NIGHT. YOU PREVENT PEOPLE
FROM FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS.
AS WE SAID AT THE RALLY, YOU
ARE THE BACKBONE OF WHAT MAKES
OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE
MOST VULNERABLE POSSIBLE AND
TODAY WE SHOW WE HAVE THE
BACKBONE TO STAND UP FOR ALL OF
THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE TO
THOSE MOST VULNERABLE.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT IF THE
WORK YOU HAD DONE HAD BEEN
WITHIN A DEPARTMENT AT THE
CITY, IF YOU WERE CITY WORKERS,
EVERY YEAR YOU WOULD HAVE
RECEIVED THIS INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENT.
DEPARTMENTS, FRONT-LINE WORKERS
AT THE CITY GET ADJUSTMENTS IN
THE COST OF THEIR OPERATIONAL
COSTS AND THE DOLLARS THAT GO
TO STAFF. WE INTENTIONALLY
DECIDED TO CONTRACT WITH YOU.
THE CITY HAS INTENTIONALLY
DECIDED TO CONTRACT OUT THIS
WORK NOT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN
CONTRACTING OUT BUT IN THIS
SPECIFIC CASE BECAUSE WE
BELIEVE YOU ARE THE MOST
EQUIPPED, THE MOST TRUSTED,YOU
HAVE THE EXPERIENCE ON THE
GROUND LEVEL TO ACTUALLY SERVE
OUR MOST VULNERABLE IN A WAY
THAT CAN BE HEARD AND WILL
PROCEED TO HELP STABILIZE
FOLKS.
YOU ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WE HAVE
INVESTED IN AND WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THE CONTRACTS YOU RECEIVE
RECEIVE INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENTS AT THE BARE MINIMUM
TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF
LIVING.
IT'S AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO SHOW THE CITY VALUES
THIS WORK AND WE ARE INVESTING
IN THE WORK YOU PROVIDE, THE
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND
COMMUNITY CONNECTEDNESS YOU
PROVIDE AT THE GROUND LEVEL.
WE STAND BY THE PRINCIPLE THAT
NOTHING SHOULD BE CONTRACTED
OUT JUST BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER.
WE SHOULD CONTRACT OUT FOR THE
REASONS WE ARE WHICH IS BECAUSE
YOU ARE OUR VALUED PARTNERS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE LOOK AT THE HISTORIC
UNDER FUND THAT WAS MENTIONED
EARLIER BY MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUE.
WE KNOW THAT CAN'T PUBLICLY
STATE OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING
SURE THE HUMAN SERVICE
CONTRACTS, THE SERVICES WE
PROVIDE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE
AND THE WORKERS ARE VALUES IF
WE ENGAGE IN A PROCESS THAT
FORCES THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN A
RACE TO THE BOTTOM. NO ONE
BENEFITS FROM THAT.
IF YOU START OFF AT AN AMOUNT
THAT IS ALREADY HISTORICALLY
LOW, IF THERE IS AN HISTORIC
UNDER FUND FOR PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THEY ARE AT A
DETRIMENT.
WE HEARD A YEAR AGO ABOUT
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELORS
WITH MASTERS DEGREES IN
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY STARTING
OUT AT $33,000 A YEAR.
IT'S NO WONDER MANY FOLKS ARE
STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE ON THAT
WAGE.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE
HISTORICAL UNDER FUND IN THE
FUTURE AND TODAY WE TAKE AN
IMPORTANT STEP BY MAKING SURE
ALL YOUR CONTRACTS ARE TIED TO
THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT WE
EXPERIENCE EVERY YEAR AND THOSE
CONTRACTS KEEP UP.
I'M EXCITED THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION IS COMING FORWARD
NOW AND I WANT TO SAY A FEW
THANK USE. THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR
SUPPORTING THIS AND STANDING AT
THE RALLY LAST WEEK
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW FOR
AMENDMENTS AND THE REFLECTION
PIECE AND COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL
AND THE AMENDMENT TODAY.
AS WE LOOK AT THE FIXED AND
VARIABLE COST, WE KNOW THAT IN
MANY CASES MANY OF THE LEADERS
IN THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE
MAKING HEARTBREAKING DECISIONS
ABOUT NOT FILLING ROLES BECAUSE
THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR RENT OR
UTILITIES OR FOR THE INCREASED
COST OF OPERATIONS. THE FOLKS
WHO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THAT ARE
THE FRONT-LINE WORKERS AND
DIRECTLY THE FOLKS YOU SERVE.
EXCITED TO HAVE AN CONTENT
LANGUAGE INCLUDED SO WE CAN
LOOK AT THE VARIABLE COST WHICH
UNFORTUNATELY HAS RESULTED IN
HIGH TURNOVER RATES, 40% OR 50%
VACANCY RATES AMONG
ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDE
STABILITY THAT THEY NEED TO
ADDRESS AS A CITY BECAUSE IT'S
A VALUE STATEMENT.
I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE JUSTICE
AND YOU HEARD THEM SPEAK TODAY
AN I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THEM
SPEAK HALF A DOZEN TIMES OVER
THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE
IMPORTANT ROLE THEY PROVIDE,
THE WAY IN WHICH WE HAVE TIED
THE INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT IS
A COMMON SENSE APPROACH AND
SOMEONE SAID IN THEIR TESTIMONY
TODAY, I THINK IT'S THE VALUE
STATEMENT WE PUT FORTH TODAY
AND THIS LEGISLATION WILL HAVE
YEARS OF BENEFIT TO COME AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU.
TO MAKING SURE THIS IS
PROVIDING STABILITY AND ALSO
CONTINUING TO ADDRESS HISTORIC
UNDER FUND I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN HAS CONTINUED TO BRING
UP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THE LEGACY.
TO REITERATE WHAT'S ALREADY
BEEN SAID, THIS IS NOT A BUDGET
EXERCISE.
IT'S A POLICY AND VALUE
STATEMENT THAT IS EMBEDDED IN
THE LEGISLATION WITH THE CITY
MOVING FORWARD TODAY.
I WANT TO SAY THANK USE, MR.
PRESIDENT AND THEN I'LL BE DONE.
>> PLEASE.
>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
ALLISON, HILLARY FROM SEATTLE
KANE COUNTY COALITION ON HOUSE
LOOSENESS.
JULIAN FROM SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICES, LAUREN FROM CESC AND
SHOW SHAUNA AND EVERYONE FROM
YOUTH CARE, JESSE AND LINDSAY
FROM 1199 AND KALLI LARSON FROM
HOUSING AND AARON FROM WEST
SEATTLE HELPLINE INFLOW FROM
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICE AND
JENNIFER FROM THE FOOD BANK.
MUSLIM HOUSING, ALEX AND ANDREW
AND DID I SAY LOCAL EIGHT?
AND ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS,
NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS BUT THE
FOLKS YOU HAVE TURNED OUT IN
THE FRONT-LINE STAFF AND
WORKERS AND PEOPLE ON THE
GROUND LEVEL WHO HAVE ALSO HAD
RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE BROUGHT
IN CLIENTS THEMSELVES WHO
TESTIFIED AT THIS VERY TABLE
AND THEIR WORDS WERE INCREDIBLY
POWERFUL.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE
ORGANIZATIONS AND ESPECIALLY
THE HUMAN SERVICES COALITION
AND THE COALITION AROUND
HOMELESSNESS.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO
COME FORWARD AND THE FOLKS THAT
YOUTH CARE WE COULDN'T HAVE
DONE A BETTER JOB OF
ARTICULATING THE FIXED AND
VARIABLE COST WITHOUT THAT
DEMOGRAPHIC THAT YOU SHARED
WITH US.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING ALL THAT
INFORMATION.
AND INTERNALLY ANDY AND JEFF
FROM THE CENTRAL STAFF HAVE
BEEN TREMENDOUS ON THIS.
JESSE I KNOW YOU ARE NO LONGER
WITH US IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
BUT THANKS FOR YOUR ONGOING
WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN
STAFF AND LESLIE AS WELL.
ALSO MARK FROM NEIGHBOR CARE
WITH AN INCREDIBLE OP-ED WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THAT HIGHLIGHTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK AND
KATIE AND NICOLE FROM MLK
LABOR.
THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM HAS
BEEN SHARING THE INCREDIBLE
TURNOUT YOU HAVE DONE AND THIS
ROOM WAS PACKED HOW MANY TIMES?
SIX TIMES IN THE LAST SIX
MONTHS SO THANK YOU AND WITH
THAT THE WORK OF THE SECURITY
GUARDS AND THANK YOU TO
SECURITY FOR GETTING FOLKS
APPEAR. AND CONTINUING TO MOVE
THEM IN AND OUT ESPECIALLY IN
EVENING MEETINGS.
AND I WANT TO SAY A HUGE ROUND
OF APPRECIATION FOR FOLKS IN
THE CHIEF OF STAFF WHO
ORGANIZED THIS SO THANK YOU FOR
ALL OF YOUR WORK.
[ APPLAUSE ] MR. PRESIDENT,
WITH THAT LET'S DO THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
MAKE SURE WE COVER ALL THE
BASES.
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND
YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WITH THAT PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.>>
[ROLL CALL VOTE]
>> A IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> IT PASSES AND WE WILL SIGN
IT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>
WELL DONE.
PLEASE READ THE NEXT AND LAST
AGENDA ITEM.
APPOINTMENT OF VICTOR M. LOZADA
AS MEMBER, DOMESTIC WORKERS
>>STANDARDS BOARD, FOR A TERM
TO FEBRUARY 28, 2022.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
APPOINTMENT BE CONFIRMED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
I'M EXCITED THIS IS OUR LAST
APPOINTMENT TO SERVE THE
INITIAL ROUND FOR THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS STANDARD BOARD.
IT'S THE NINTH AND FINAL WORKER
IN THE BOARD CREATION AND
DELIGHTED THE BOARD HAS CHOSEN
A DOMESTIC WORKER IN ITS PICK
FORD'S BOARD AND SOMEONE WHO
HAS FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE IN
THE CHANGE MAKING THAT IS
NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE FULLY
IMPLEMENT THE DOMESTIC BILL OF
RIGHTS SO VICTOR I'VE BEEN
WORKING ON GARDEN ORIENTED WORK
SINCE 2003 AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO
BRING TO THE CONVERSATIONS ARE
READY AND WILL SO IN THE FUTURE
HIS EXPERIENCE IN MANY DOMESTIC
WORKER ISSUES IN THE INDUSTRY.
HE IS AN IMMIGRANT AND A FIRST
LANGUAGE SPANISH SPEAKER AND AN
INCREDIBLE ADVOCATE AS THOSE OF
YOU AT OUR COMMITTEE SAW LAST
WEEK.
HE IS INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT
THE ABILITY TO SERVE ON THE
BOARD AND GRATEFUL FOR HIS TIME
IN SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON MR.
LOZADA?
A DELIGHTFUL PERSON AND REALLY
A FUN INTERVIEW. I LOOK
FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF CONFIRMING
THE APPOINTMENT PLEASE VOTE AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED BOAT NO.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
APPOINTMENT IS CONFIRMED.
THAT CONCLUDES THE AGENDA FOR
THE DAY.
ANY FURTHER BUSINESS FOR THE
COUNCIL?
>> IF NOT WE STAND ADJOURNED
AND EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT REST
OF THE DAY.
>> THANK YOU.