OKAY GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY, TODAY IS JULY 23, 2020, THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER IT IS 10:02 A.M., WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS,
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS,:::
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON.
HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIRWANT.
HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUS.
PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ.
HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLT.
HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ CHAIRMAN SKETA.
HERE.
THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK AS ADDITIONAL COLLEAGUES JOIN US I'LL BE SURE TO WELCOME THEM SO THE
VIEWING PUBLIC KNOWS THEY ARE WITH US, I APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US, THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF
OUR SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING THIS WEEK, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR CONVERSATION REGARDING
AMENDMENTS TO THE 2020 REBALANCING PACKAGE THAT ARE FOCUSED ON NONSPD RELATED ITEMS,
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PROPOSED INTRODUCED 8, 9, 10, 11 AND 12 ON THE AGENDA.
THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF OUR AGENDA WE'LL TALK ABOUT COMMENTS, HEARING NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED, WE'LL GET RIGHT INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND ALLOW FOLKS TO CHIME
IN IF THEY HAVEN'T YET A CHANCE TO SPEAK PUBLICLY OR SPEAK IF THEY'D LIKE TO, SO WE'LL BEGIN
OUR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY WITH AT LEAST 45 MINUTES, WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT 50 MINUTES,
MADAME CLERK, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP AND I'D LOVE TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH TIME
AS POSSIBLE.
IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WHO DO CHIME IN, WE'LL EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE EXTENDED TO 50 MINUTES.
HEARING NO OBJECTION THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS EXTENDED AT 9:50 WE'LL CHECK BACK IN WITH
FOLKS AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOTTEN EVERYBODY COVERED.
AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, I ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE BE PATIENT
AS WE CONTINUE TO LEARN TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM IN REALTIME AND NAVIGATE THROUGH INEVITABLE
GROWING PAINS WE'RE LOOKING THROUGH WAYS TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND PARTICIPATION.
IT REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT OF CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY INCLUDED
IN THE AGENDA.
WE'LL MODERATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'LL GIVE EACH SPEAKER A MINUTE TO SPEAK, YOU'LL HEAR 10 SECONDS BETWEEN THE TIME THAT
YOUR TIME IS SLATED TO END YOU'LL HEAR 10 SECOND TIMER TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENT.
I'LL CALL ON THREE SPEAKERS AT A TIME IN WHICH THE ORDER THEY ARE REGISTERED TODAY IF YOU
HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, DO SO BY GOING TO SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL.
THE COMMENT LINK IS ALSO ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL ON A SPEAKERS NAME YOU'LL BE PROMPTED TO BEGIN SPEAKING YOU'LL HEAR YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED AND THAT'S YOUR CUE TO START SPEAK, PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY STATING YOUR NAME
AND AS A REMINDER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO SPEAK TO ANY ITEMS ON THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE'S
AGENDA, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE ON TODAY'S PUBLISHED AGENDA.
IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR SPEAKING AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WATCHING, PLEASE DO SO BY
HANGING UP AND DIALING BACK INTO THE LISTEN LINE OR WATCHING ON SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE
LIVE STREAM ON THEIR WEBSITE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN, I'LL BEGIN BY CALLING
ON THREE SPEAKERS AT THE TIME, THE FIRST SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE HERE INCLUDE DANIEL SWANSON,
ALLEN AND AVA.
DANIEL SWAN SON, WELCOME.
I AM A WORKER AND VOTER IN DISTRICT FOUR AND A MEMBER OF DISTRICT ALTERNATIVE, HERE TO
DEFUNDING THE BUDGET BY AT LEAST 50% AND INVESTING THOSE FUNDS IN BLACK AND BROWN WORKING COMMUNITIES,
THE FOLKS AND WINNING FUNDS FOR ORGANIZING AGAINST THE TSUNAMI OF EVICTIONS THAT WILL
HIT US ONCE THE MORATORIUMS ARE LIFTED, STRONGER THAN EVER, WE'LL USE THIS MOMENTUM TO KEEP
OUR DEMANDS HERE, WE'LL NOT SIT IDLY AS THEY FACE JOBLESS, DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND RECESSION
JOIN US JULY 28 IN EFFECT FOR THESE DEMANDS, THANK YOU.
ALLEN, WELCOME.
MY NAME IS ALLEN I'M A DISTRICT 7 RESIDENT I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS' PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGES IN SPD IN DEMANDS TO CUT TO REMANNING SPD2020
BUDGET BY AT LEAST 50%.
IMPORTANT SERVICES AND PLANNED PROJECT SUCH AS THE CITY CENTER STREETCAR CONNECTION SHOULDN'T
BE SACRIFICED TO CONTINUE FUNDING SPD TERRORISM OF COMMUNITIES.
I ALSO URGE MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO KEEP IN MIND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CONTINUING
TO PRIORITIZE EXPENSIVE DESTRUCTIVE CAR-WAYED TRANSIT OVER MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
PUBLIC PRODUCED TRANSIT.
AN EXAMPLE IS A PROPOSED LAUNDERING OF FUNDS FROM OTHERS IN REPLACEMENT OF THE SEATTLE
BRIDGE WHILE BIKE LANES AND OTHERS ARE CUT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, DANIEL MCCRAW THEN DANIEL KAVANAUGH WILL FOLLOW AV.
SORRY, MY APOLOGIES.
WE HAVE DANIEL MCCRAW AND AVA MENTZ.
GOOD MORNING BUDGET COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS DAN MCCRAW, I'M PART OF HOUSING PROGRAM.
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE STRAUSS'S, WITH WHERE THE PANDEMIC, EVERYONE IS SEEING
SHELTERS HAVE SERIOUS SHELTERS ALWAYS CROWDED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, THE PANDEMIC CAUSED MANY
OF US TO TEST POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS, DON'T FORGET THERE IS A COMMUNITY SHELTER,
WE'VE NEVER BEEN CROWDED THE WAY MASS SHELTERS WORK, OURWAS TO MOVE TO 24/7 OPERATIONS SO
WE CAN SHELTER IN PLACE, WE NEED TO MAKE SOMETHING IS GOING, IT IS BY HIS NATURE OUR SHELTER
DESIGN EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO STAY HEALTHY.
THE COMMUNITY-BASED MODEL IS LESS EXPENSIVE AVA.
WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS EVA, I THINK THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND THIS RECESSION ARE REEXPOSING
THE SYSTEM IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, MOST ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, I THINK
HOW THE CRISIS IS HITTING SEATTLE WITH THE FAILURES OF THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT INCLUDING
LONG TIME RELUCTANCE TO THE RICH UNDER FUNDING AND PROJECT CUTS, WE WANT TO END THE TAX BY
BUILDING THE FIGHTING MOVEMENT WITH MULTI- RACIAL SOLIDARITY AND START TO WHAT WE NEED
INCLUDING INVESTING IN HOUSING IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT TO ADDRESS RACIST, REQUIRES OF STRUGGLE,
CONTINUE THAT, THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER BUDGET SEASON TO WIN WITH ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE NEED
ONCE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS LIFTED RENTERS WILL FACE EVICTION, WE NEED TO INVEST IN REFUNDS
BY AT LEAST 50% TO STOP THE SWEEPS OF OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE WILL BE DANIEL KAVANAUGH.
KATHY MASSY AND CRAIG SWANSON, DANIEL, WELCOME.
HEY, MY NAME IS DAN, I'M A RENTER IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AND A NURSING STUDENT, I'M CALLING
TO SUPPORT DEFUNDING THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY AT LEAST 50%, MOST OF THAT NEWS COVERAGE
ACT LIKE IT IS A DONE DEAL BUT I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE QUITE A FIGHT AND THERE ARE
LOTS OF WAYS TO LIMIT BOTH ESTABLISHMENTS FOR THE PROMISES THAT THEY MAKE SO I THINK
SOMEONE WHO IS INVESTORS MOVEMENT SHOULD HEAD OUT FOR PEOPLE'S BUDGET RALLY TO HELP TUESDAY
JULY 28 AT 6 P.M., SEATTLE CENTRAL COLLEGE TO DEFUNDING SPD, THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS
STOPPING THE SEATS OF OUR HOME COMMUNITY BY WINNING FUNDS FOR REN TAR ORGANIZING THE FIGHT
AGAINST THE MASSIVE WAVE OF EVICTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO HIT US WHEN THE MORATORIUMS WILL
BE LIFTED.
TUESDAY JULY 28 AT 6 P.M.
>>> I'M A WOMAN OF THE COALITION OF SEATTLE, OUR GROUP FOLLOWS THE LEADERSHIP IN DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE, NOT A SINGLE POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.
EACH OF THOSE --INCLUDING THE POLICE SYSTEM, AND WE CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE BLACK PEOPLE TO
BE MURDERED BEFORE WE MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN.
THE SAME WITH BLACK LIVES IN SEATTLE CAN ONLY COME FROM DEFUNDING SPD AND THE COMMUNITY,
IT IS TIME FOR THE COUNTRY TO LOOK INTO THE PEOPLE AND DEFEND SPD NOW, WITH 50%, ENSURE
THAT WE ACTUALLY MAKE PROGRESS, THANK YOU.
>> CRAIG SWANSON, WELCOME.
HI, THANKS, IT IS CRAIG SWANSON, I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION HERE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
DEFUNDING OF SPD, I'M SURE THERE ARE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREFUL COST REDUCTIONS
HOWEVER, CONCERN WITH HASTE WHICH REMOVING, ESPECIALLY AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT COVID WITH
THE SEATTLE BRIDGE AND OTHER CITY ISSUES.
I WOULD ARGUE PUBLIC SAFETY IS ARGUABLY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY,
THE 50% NUMBER REPRESENTS AN ARBITRARY ROUND, IS NOT POLITICAL, ONE OF THE RAMIFICATIONS
OF 1, 5, 10 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE DIE AS A RESULT OF YOUR REDUCTIONS IN THE POLICE FUNDING,
ALONE THE PETTY CRIME TO HAPPEN.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE 50% REDUCTION OR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HOW ABOUT CONSIDER 10% REDUCTION CREWS OR THREE YEARS TO EVALUATE HOW WELL YOU ARE DOING?
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO HELP ARTICULATE A PLAN .
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE ARE LOGAN SWAN, LEE CARABLE AND SUE MANG ING.
MY NAME IS LOGAN SWAN, I'M A RACQUETBALL UNION IRON WORKER, I CAN IMAGINE CUTTING POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET BY 50%, YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO BACK 7 YEARS SINCE THE POLICE BUDGET HAS
BEEN BALLOONED BY 47% IN THE LAST 7 YEARS ALONE, I SUPPORT THE DEMAND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY,
SAFETY FROM EVICTION, HOMELESSNESS, SAFETY FROM POLICE VIOLENCE, WHILE CORPORATIONS LIKE
AMAZON, PROFITEERING FROM THE CRISIS, SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST 14 PEOPLE GOING OUT
INTO THE STREETS DEMANDING JUSTICE, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WE'RE BEING FACED WITH
JOBLESSNESS, HEALTH CARE CRISIS, CUTS OF PUBLIC SERVICES WHICH ARE ATTACKS ON OUR UNION, SISTERS
AND BROTHERS, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROSPECT OF A MASSIVE WAVE OF EVICTIONS ONCE THE MORATORIUM
IS EXPIRED THE DAY BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING.
MY NAME IS LEE, I WAS BORN IN SEATTLE, I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE MEETINGS, IT IS APPARENT
TO ME CLEARLY HEARING FROM THE 10% OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DEFUND SPD, I REPRESENT 90% OF
YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, PEOPLE WHO ARE OF COLOR
WANT THE OPPORTUNITY.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS DEHUMANIZING SEATTLE, NOT ONLY BEING HUMANIZED, THEY ARE BEING DEMONIZED,
RECENTLY CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTED HIRING AND RECRUITMENT LEADING TO A 30% DIVERSITY HIRE.
YOU RECENTLY ARRIVED THE SPD MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO RESIZE AND RESPOND TO
INCIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OVER 10,000 CRISIS CALLS A YEAR.
YOU APPROVE RELAUNCHING COMMUNITY SERVICE OFF THEIR PROGRAM, THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN
THE PROPOSAL THAT ARE NOT DO- ABLE.
HAVE NO BASIS.
THANK YOU, SUE MAY, WELCOME.
SUE MAY, CHINATOWN REGARDING SPD DEFUNDING, THE SENSE OF URGENCY TO CHANGE IS RECOGNIZED
AND SHARED THAT CID AND SPD, WE CONTINUE IN THE ONGOING POLICING TO EXPERIENCE CRIMES
AS WELL AS THE PRESENT 11 P.M.
TO 5 P.M., OTHER AREAS IN JANUARY OFFICERS FROM THE CID FOR WEEKS, HOW DOES THE REDUCTION
OF PEOPLE AFFECT THIS?
IT IS WORRISOME FOR SHARING ANY PLANS TO ENSURE SAFETY, OUR INCLUSION, COUNCIL MEMBERS, APPRECIATION
FOR YOU TO TAKING TIME TO, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO THE SAME.
FAIL YOUR TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, UNDER LINE IMPORTANT GOALS.
THANK YOU, SUE MAY.
STEFAN, CASTTIL HIGHTOWER.
ONE OF SMALL MINORITY LANDLORDS AND LONG TIME NATIVE AS A LANDLORD IN THE U-DISTRICT IN
SEE YOUR INS CHINATOWN, WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE INCREASING RATES OF PROPERTY CRIME, PHYSICAL
THREATS TO OUR SENIORS MOST VULNERABLE AND PLAGUED OUR COMMUNITY.
ANY RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN MUST INCLUDE A DISCIPLINE COMMUNITY, PROCESS WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS
IN ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT.
OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS WE'VE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN BUSINESSES, RESIDENCE LEAVING
SEATTLE DUE TO THE RAMP IN CRIME, THEFT AND SAFETY CONCERNS.
ANY BUDGET OR MAJOR POLICY CHANGE WITHOUT THE DUE DILIGENCE WILL FURTHER PLACE THE SAFETY
OF OUR RESIDENCE, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS AT RISK.
RESULTING IN UNFORTUNATE, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>> CASTILLO, WELCOME.
I AM URGING YOU TO DEFUND SPD BY 50%, EVERY CASE MATTERS EVERY VICTIM MATTERS IN 2004,
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ENDED THE LIFE --BEFORE THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
FAR TOO OFTEN PROTECT FROM THE FACT --NOT MANY CARE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO A YOUNG
BLACK LIFE CUT SHORT, HOW MANY SO MANY WAYS YOU FAIL TO IGNORE -- KNOWING THAT JUSTICE
WOULD NOT BE SERVED NOR THAT THE PAIN I FELT AND THE PAIN OF SO MANY OTHER FAMILIES OF
THOSE LOST AT THE HANDS OF POLICE WILL BE FORGOTTEN.
JOIN US AS WE REPRESENT, TODAY I'M NOT GOING TO BE BE SILENT, TO EDUCATE AND EVERY SISTER,
EVERY BROTHER, UNCLE, NOT SHOW YOU WITH YOUR WORDS BUT THE RESPONSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND I'LL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR STATEMENT
AS WELL FOR FOLKS WE ASK YOU TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT IF YOUR TIME GETS CUTOFF, I
WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES AND OUR CALL TO ACTION ON BEHALF OF YOUR BROTHER AND SO
MANY MORE, THANK YOU FOR WRITING IN, WE'LL BE REACHING BACK OUT TO YOU.
FOLKS FROM I.T.
COULD WE GIVE FOLKS A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME TO WRAP UP THEIR COMMENTS BEFORE THEY
GET KIT OFF TODAY?
THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE IT.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE ARE MIKE MCWAY JOHN FOSTER AND KAITLYN PENAN, MIKE, WELCOME.
MY MAKE IS MIKE MCQUADE, FORMER COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBER I'VE LIVED IN EVERY DISTRICT
IN OUR CITY, CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
I'M CONCERN AT THE HASTE AND SPEED WHICH WE'RE MOVING TO DISMANTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AT
THE CITY COUNCIL YOU ADOPTED A BUDGET IN 2020 THAT REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES, YOU MUST FOLLOW-
THROUGH ON THAT PROMISE INCLUDING OUR COMMITMENT TO ADD TO AN ADEQUATELY FUNDED POLICE DEPARTMENT,
YES, WE'RE IN AGREEMENT THAT IT IS TIME TO RETHINK OUR POLICING FUNCTIONS AND HOW IT
COULD FUNCTION IN THE CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WE DON'T YET KNOW, CITY'S
DIALOGUE, THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT POLICING ROLLS AND THE HARSH REALITY, AS LEADERS AND
CONFIDENT ONES I URGE YOU TO TAKE A BREATH, PLEASE PROCEED INCREMENTALLY AND A STEADY
HAND.
SEATTLE'S LIABILITY TRUST AND SAFETY IS AT STAKE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING, JOHN, WELCOME.
MY NAME IS JOHN FOSTER, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5, BEEN IN SEATTLE FOR THE LAST 36 YEARS,
WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, LET'S REDUCE POLICE WORKLOAD BY HAVING OTHER RESPONDERS HANDLE
A CALL THAT DON'T REQUIRE ANY RESPONSE.
LET'S LEAVE POLICE TO DO WHAT THEY DO WELL AND SHIFT THE OTHER WORK TO SOCIAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCED WORKING WITH AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND PEOPLE WITH
DIVERSITY, THE REDUCED WORKLOAD FOR SPD, SHIFTING FUNDING TO APPROPRIATE RESPONDERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES,
WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED BY APPLYING RESPONDERS WHO DE- ESCALATE SITUATIONS, LET'S DO THIS,
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOHN, KAITLYN, WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS KAITLYN HIATT, I AM A HOUSING JUSTICE STAFF ATTORNEY, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
SHIFTING FUND, TOWARDS FUNDING FOR MORE EVICTION DEFENSE AND RENTAL ASSISTANT PROGRAM.
HOUSING IS AN INHERENTLY RACIAL ISSUE, RACE WILL BE THE BIGGEST FACTOR IN THE FALL-OUT
EVICTION CRISIS TO COME AS OF JUNE 40% OF BLACK HOUSEHOLDS AND 24% OF BLACK HOUSEHOLDS
WERE BEHIND ON RENT COMPARED TO ONLY 8% OF WHITE HOUSEHOLDS.
REJECTION RIGHT NOW AS PEAK UNEMPLOYMENT IN WASHINGTON WILL PEAK IN SEPTEMBER, SO THE
WORST IS STILL YET TO COME.
THE SIMILAR SERVICE INDICATES ABOUT 83% OF LANDLORDS IN SEATTLE ARE WHITE.
FAILURE TO PROVIDE TENANT PROTECTIONS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT SMALL TIME LANDLORDS IS SIMPLY
CODED LANGUAGE FOR RACISM.
IF WE DON'T ASK IF WE DON'T INTERVENE WHO ARE WE HELPING?
WE'RE HELPING THESE WHITE LANDLORDS PRESERVE THEIR HEALTH, THIS IS EXACTLY SYSTEMIC RACISM
THEY ARE FIGHTING AGAINST WITH JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD AND DEFUND SEATTLE PD, IN PLACES
LIKE THERE IS NO MORATORIUM WITH ARKANSAS THEY HAVE 72% INCREASE FROM MAY TO JUNE BECAUSE
THERE IS NO EVICTION MORATORIUM THEY CANNOT USE THE BACKLOG AND THE COURT INCREASE IN
NEED WE CAN ONLY EXPECT THIS TO RISE AS THE CARES ACT RISES IN AUGUST, LA HAS PUT $100
MILLION INTO RENT BUSINESSES BUT WITHIN 48 HOURS THEY RECEIVED 150,000 APPLICATIONS.
WE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO PROCESS 50,000 OF THOSE BY LOTTERY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
KAITLYN.
MARGARET, LOU BOND, EMILY CARTER.
KAITLYN IF YOU CAN SEND IN YOUR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WE'D APPRECIATE IT.
I'M MARGARET MCAULEY, KNOWN AS MIDGE, I LIVE AND WORK IN DISTRICT TWO.
WITH SAFETY AND NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS, THERE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY PEOPLE LIVING SHORT AND
LONG TERM ON OUR STREET, OUR DOWNTOWN WAS RIDDLED WITH REPEAT CRIME OFFENDERS WITH WHOM
THE CITY AND ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE LONG BEEN FAMILIAR, THERE IS A LONG NEED HOW WE
APPROACH LAWLESSNESS, BUT TO DEFEND POLICING AT 50% IS A KNEE JERK REACTION FOR PROCESS
IS NOT THE ROUTE TO GO.
THE COUNCIL DELIBERATIONS MUST BE BASED UPON EXTENSIVE DATA, ITS ANALYSIS, COMMUNITY COLLABORATION,
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, LOU, WELCOME.
THANK YOU, LOU BOND, I'M THE PROPERTY MANAGER AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF DIRDEN PIKE, WE'RE
A SMALL 10 STORY OFFICE BUILDING, MOST OF OUR BUSINESS ARE SMALL OFFICE BUSINESSES OVER
HALF ARE WOMEN- OWNED AN MANAGED, TWO OF OUR TENANTS DEAL WITH KIDS, WE HAVE ONE RETAILER,
WALGREENS, IT HAS A PHARMACY IN THE CLINIC WE KNOW THE CITY IS OVERWHELMED WITH BUDGET
ISSUES WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH, WE SUPPORT THE MAYOR AND THE CHIEF'S PLAN OF REDUCING
POLICE DEPARTMENT BY 10% RIGHT NOW AS MANAGE, WE DON'T BELIEVE IN SLASHING THEM AT ALL,
I URGE EACH OF YOU TO COME AND HANG OUT AT THIRD AND PIKE, THIRD AND PINE, THE DRUG ADDICTION
AND MENTAL ILLNESS IS OVERWHELMING, RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO RESPONSE TO IT, IN THE PAST
YEAR, EACH OF YOU, MANY OF YOU HAVE AGREED THAT WE NEEDED MORE POLICING, WE NEEDED TO
DO BETTER ON AURODRUG ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS AND YET ITS RETURN IN THE LAST SIX
WEEKS, OUR FOLKS DON'T FEEL SAFE, NOBODY FEELS SAFE HERE AT THE MOMENT, WE NEED YOUR HELP
SO PLEASE DON'T DO A KNEE-JERK REACTION AND REDUCE OUR FUNDING BY 50%, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
EMILY?
WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS EMILYMCAUTHOR I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT DO, A TWEET IS NOT A VOTE, YOU
CANNOT BE COMPLACENT THAT WE HAVE A VETO-PROOF MAJORITY FOR 50% DEFUNDING OF SPD, WE MUST
CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS FIGHT ON THE BASIS OF A MULTI-WORKING CLASS SOLIDARITY, JOIN
US ON TUESDAY AT 6 P.M.
AT THE COLLEGE TO SHOW YOU SUPPORT THIS DEMAND WE MEAN DEFUND IN 2020, NOT GRADUALLY, NOT
IN 2021, LIKE NOT IN NEW YORK AND L.A., POLICE TERRORIZE OUR COMMUNITY, TEAR GAS CHILDREN,
USE THOSE FUNDS FOR EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES HOW WE SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY BY INVESTING IN PUBLIC SERVICES WHERE BY UNION MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT
REGULARLY ON FOX NEWS MAKING RACIST COMMENTS AND WE DO NOT NEED THE POLICE TO ENFORCE THE
LAW AND ORDER AGENDA OF TRUMP AND MAYOR DURKIN, THAT WE NEED A SMALL LAYER TO ENFORCE OUR
CITY, MILLIONS OF OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT SOCIETY NOT BASED UPON
PROFIT, A SOCIETY WHERE WE DO NOT NEED POLICE BECAUSE .
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I WANT TO CONFIRM FOR FOLK THAT IS SIGNED IN EARLIER WHO ARE NOT PRESENT,
JUST TO SEE IF THEY'VE CALLED IN, OLGA SA NAN AND ASI JEFFS, IF YOU ARE LISTENING WE'RE
ABLE TO GET BACK IN IF YOU ARE ON THE LINE, WANT TO PAUSE TO SEE IF THEY'VE CALLED BACK
IN.
OKAY, JUST IF THEY ARE LISTENING, FEEL FREE TO CALL BACK IN AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE ARE LAURA LARSON AND ANITA FREEMAN AND AMANDA KIM.
LAURA, WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS LAURA LARSON I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE FOR 32 YEARS ALSO VOLUNTEERED AT THE
DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SERVICE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM YOU GUYS FOR ONCE A WEEK FOR THE
PAST 11 YEARS.
I'M CALLING TO SHARE I'M CONCERNED HOW FAST THE COUNCIL IS WILLING TO DEFUND THE POLICE,
CONCERNED THAT YOU ARE NOT PRESENTING THIS AS IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FUNDAMENTALLY
BAD, WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS AT ALL, I SUPPORT REFORM IN MANY AREAS OF OUR GOVERNMENT
RIGHT NOW AGREE WITH HELPING ENSURE ALL CITIZENS ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT BUT EVERYBODY,
NOT JUST THE POLICE, WITH THAT BEING SAID, CALLS TO JUST FLAT-OUT REDUCE THE SPD BUDGET
BY 50% ARE POWERFUL STATEMENTS, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A VERY DELIBERATE THOUGHTFUL MANNER
IT SEEMS ARBITRARY FOR ME TO PICK A NUMBER LIKE 50% BEFORE YOU'VE EXAMINED DETAILS NEEDS
AND OPTIONS AND SHARE THAT INFO WITH THE PUBLIC.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED YOU DON'T BELIEVE TO NOT MAKE A DECISION INVOLVING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AT THE TABLE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CHIEF, SOMEONE SHE DESIGNATES CONSISTENTLY AT THE TABLE WITH THESE DISCUSSIONS.
IN THE LAST --
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE SEND IN THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS ANOTHER SENTENCE THAT
YOU HAD THERE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
ANITRA WELCOME.
GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS ANITRA FREEMAN SPEAKING FROM WHEEL AND SHARE SUPPORTING 50% CUT TO
SPD FUNDING AND COMPLETE DEFUNDING OF HOMELESS SWEEPS, SWEEPS DO NOT HELP, SWEEPS KILL, WOMEN
IN BLACK STOOD WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER LAST WEEK FOR SIX MEN AND LIKELY WILL STAND AGAIN
NEXT WEDNESDAY ON THE STEPS TO CITY HALL.
FUND COMMUNITY AND HEALTH SERVICES FOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS FOR THE POLICE SHOULD NEVER BE ADDRESSING
LIKE MENTAL ILLNESS AND DRUG ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS.
FUND SHELTERS FOR CONTINUING 24/7 OPERATIONS, PARTICIPANTS TO BASE SHELTER ONLY, INCLUDES
REAL AND SHARED DEMOCRAT GRASS ROOTS OPERATION LIKE TENT CITIES AND TINY HOUSES.
WHICH KEEP PEOPLE A LOT SAFER BY SPENDING THE MONEY FOR THINGS THAT WORK, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ANITRA.
AMANDA KIM, WELCOME, MY NAME IS AMANDA KIM, I WORK IN DISTRICT 2, SEATTLE SEVERELY UNDERSTOOD
FUNDS THAT KEEP BLACK INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES SAFE, HOUSES, CHILD CARE, FOOD PROGRAMS AND
MENTAL HEALTH.
THE CITY HAS BEEN ALLOCATING MONEY TO FIND A VIOLENT MILITARIZED POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT FOR A NEW ECONOMY WHERE BLACK PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
HAVE CONTROL OVER HOUSING, LAND, ENERGY AND WORK, PLEASE DEFUND SPD BY 50% EACH YEAR,
YOU CAN LIVE IN HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITIES BY 911 OPERATIONS TRUSTED COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS, COMMUNITY-WIDE RESEARCH FOR HOUSING FOR ALL NOT ONLY FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN TINY VILLAGES, DISPLACEMENT IN HOMELESSNESS TO BEGIN WITH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU.
SHAWN BUTTERFIELD, FOLLOWED BY ALICIA ROBERTS AND LISA.
SHAWN, WELCOME.
HI, MY THAT I MEAN IS SHAWN BUTTERFIELD I'M AN AIDE FOR A DISABLED WOMAN AND IN DISTRICT
THREE, I WANT TO RESPOND TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO SAID HE COULDN'T IMAGINE DEFUNDING THE
POLICE BY 50%, COST 5 ADDITIONAL LIVES, WE HAVE TO DEFUND SPD THEY ARE GOING TO KILL
1 TO 5 BLACK TO BROWN PEOPLE, WE DON'T DEFUND THEM IF NOT FAR MORE, THE EXTRA $200 MILLION
WE COULD SAVE A LOT MORE FROM 1 TO 5 LIVES BY SPENDING THAT ON HOUSING, INSTEAD OF 90%
OF 911 CALLS, I WANT TO ECHO SOME OF MY COMRADES WHO CALLED IN TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD JOIN BLACK
LIVES MATTER ADVOCATES, COUNCIL MEMBER AS THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET RALLY TUESDAY JULY 28
AT SEATTLE CENTRAL COLLEGE, FOR THE KARENS WHO CALL IN AND SLOW DOWN TO LET DEREK CHAUVIN
KNEEL ON THEIR NECKS AND IS EAGER TO HAVE US SLOW DOWN IN GETTING THE POLICE.
ALICIA, WELCOME.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBER, MY NAME IS ALICIA ROBERTS PLEASE PASS THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
PASS CITY MEMBER TO PREVENT TAKING MY HOME.
WE SUPPORT SHAWN'S EFFORT, ESPECIALLY THOSE ALREADY ESTABLISHED, SANCTION AND WE SUPPORT
THE COMMUNITY SHELTERS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL STRAUSS THAT WOULD LIMIT MONEY FOR HOUSING VILLAGES, THIS SHOULD INCLUDE
DEMOCRAT AND VILLAGE, BLACK LIVES MATTER, HAS ON THE INITIATIVE.
RIGHT NOW THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS -- WE CONTINUE TO BE, CONTINUE TO BE FOCUSED
DURING A PANDEMIC, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALICIA, WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, WE'RE LONG TIME DEVELOPERS, PROPERTY OWNERS, BUSINESSES IN SEATTLE MANY
OF THE OTHER BUSINESS COMMUNITY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PROPOSALS TO DEFUND SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WHILE AGREEING THAT FUNDING CAN BE CHANGING HOW IT IS CARRYING OUT ITS WORK TO ADDRESSING
THE IMPORTANT ISSUES WITH RECENT PROTEST, WE KNOW IT IS A PRECONDITION FOR THE CITY'S
ECONOMY AND SOCIETY TO THRIVE.
BUSINESSES LARGE AND SMALL KEEPING THEIR BUSINESSES CLOSE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE WITH NO PLANS
TO RETURN THEIR EMPLOYEES AS ESTABLISHMENTS TO THE CURRENT VIOLENCE AND FEAR PREVALENT
ON THE STREETS OF SEATTLE, WITH EMPLOYEES BEING THREATENED WITH KNIVES, HARASSED, PEOPLE
BEING SHOT, SEATTLE'S LARGE AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES COMING BACK TO THEIR OFFICES WITH ALL OF THEIR
EMPLOYEES BEING STALLED DUE TO VIOLENCE ON THE STREETS WILL LEAD TO SMALL BUSINESSES
THAT SURVIVE THAT SERVE THEM PARISHING LISA.
IF YOU COULD SEND IN THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS, WE APPRECIATE THAT, THANK YOU FOR CALLING
IN, MOVING TO AMZI JEFFS WHO WAS NOT PRESENT, ARE YOU WITH US?
YES, I AM I AM A HEAD STEWARD WITH 4121 THE ACADEMIC WORK UNION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF DEFUNDING SPD BY 50%, MY UNION PLAYED A ROLE
IN REMOVING THE VIOLENT POLICE UNION FROM OUR LABOR COUNCIL, WE ALSO HELPED BUILD MOVEMENT
THAT WON THE RECENT AMAZON TAX WE SAW THAT IT REQUIRED A MOVEMENT OF OUR RIGHTS AND MEMBERS
OF ORDINARY PEOPLE IN SEATTLE TO HOLD THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT'S FEET TO THE FIRE
UNTIL THEY WERE WILLING TO ACT ON THAT ISSUE, I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS GOING TO
TAKE TO DEFUND SPD, AS OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE SAID, A TWEET IS NOT A VOTE, WE'LL NEED TO
BUILD THAT MOVEMENT STARTING TUESDAY JULY 28 WITH THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET RALLY AND MARCH.
I THINK I'M EXCITED TO BRING THE ENERGY AND ORGANIZING OF MY UNION TO THAT CAMPAIGN AND
MEETING NEXT TUESDAY, AS A UNION WE STAND COMPLETELY IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER MOVEMENT AND REJECT THE IDEA THAT INCREASED OR MAINTAIN BLOATED POLICE FUNDING IS A SOLUTION
TO THE PROBLEMS WE FACE IN SEATTLE WE NEED TO INVEST IN HOUSING JOBS AND SOCIAL SERVICES
UNTIL WE GET THE QUOTE UNQUOTE PREVIOUS SPEAKER WE DON'T GET THAT BY MAINTAINING FUNDING ON
THE POLICE AND THEIR VIOLENCE.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING BACK IN.
COLLEEN MCALLER HAVE FOLLOWED BY LORI CAMPBELL AND.
, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS I URGE COUNCIL NOT TO DEFUND SPD'S BUDGET BY 50%, WORK TO ANALYZE
A PLAN FOR THOSE IMPACTS OF SUCH A DRASTIC AND ARBITRARY BUDGET CUTS.
THERE IS NO DETAILED OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND MECHANISMS PROPOSED PROVEN TO BE AFFECTED
BY PUBLIC SAFETY, WHAT IS THE CRIMES TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE RESPONSE TO A MASS CASUALTY WITH
HALF ITS BUDGET?
IT WOULD REQUIRE SPD TO CUTOFFS OFFICERS MANY ARE THE NEW HIRE AND NEW TECHNIQUE, MOST EFFECTIVE,
THE BIKE UNIT, COMMUNITY OUTREACH UNIT, GANG UNITS WOULD BE ELIMINATED THE CITY INVESTED
IN THESE TEAMS TO REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME AND ITS WORKED, OTHER CITIES WILL UP THESE WELL-TRAINED
OFFICERS.
ALSO THEY REDUCE CAPACITY OF SPD WILL RESULT IN RESPONSE TIMES FOR VIOLENT CRIME.
ALSO RESULT IN WORK, INDIVIDUALS, WHO WANT THAT IS, I URGE THE CITY TO WORK WITH THE
OFFICE AND CHIEF OF POLICE AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO REALIGN THE BUDGET WILL HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LORI WELCOME.
THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBER MY NAME IS LAUREN CAMPBELL I AM WITH TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES LOCATED AT 3814 FOURTH AVENUE NORTHEAST, WE'VE BEEN RUNNING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS AND
IT WORKS.
EVERYTHING IS SAFE AND WELL MAINTAINED IT IS SAFE AND CLEAN FOR EXTREME MENTAL ILLNESS,
MOST OF US ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYEES, FACING AN INFLUX OF HOMELESSNESS, MAKES IT VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE, HOW DANGEROUS IT WOULD BE TO MOVE OUT OF OUR EXISTING
HOMES IN THE EPIDEMIC AND THE UP AND COMING FLU SEASON.
WE'LL DO OUR PART TO BE REASONABLE IN WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR A SOLUTION, WE'RE SAFE,
WE'RE LIKE FAMILY, WE ASK YOU TO PASS THIS AMENDMENT WE ASK TO ENCOURAGE A BETTER SOLUTION
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THANK YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU, THANKS FOR CALLING IN, SHAWN, WELCOME.
THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS SHAWN SMITH, I RESIDE AT NICKELSVILLE
NORTH LAKE VILLAGE, NICKELVILLE OPPOSES SANCTION AND UNSANCTIONED ENCAMPMENT.
OUR RESPONSE TO PEOPLE LOOTING IN CAMP, WE SHOULD DEFUND THE NAVIGATION TEAMS POLICE
ASPECT AND INSTEAD PUT FORWARD PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE AVAILABLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMENDMENT THAT WOULD MOVE MONEY AMENDMENT
FROM JAIL AND INTO TINY HOUSE VILLAGE, DOES THIS INCLUDE DEMOCRAT AND SELF MANAGEMENT?
WE SUPPORT THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT AND BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.
WE'RE THRILLED TO SEE POSITIVE CHANGE INS THE CITY, PLEASE PASS THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
PREVENT THE CITY'S MONEY FROM BEING SPENT ON SWEEPING OUR LINE HOME, NORTH LAKE BEFORE
THE RESOLUTION CAN BE ACCEPTED AND FOUND.
RIGHT NOW THIS DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WILL SWEEP US ON AUGUST FIRST, PLEASE PASS THE AMENDMENT,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU, SHAWN.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST WANT TO DO ANOTHER PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ANYBODY WHO
MIGHT BE LISTENING, WE ARE GETTING TO YOUR NAMES AND ITLOOKS LIKE YOU ARE NOT PRESENT,
I'LL CALL THE FIRST NAMES AND IF FOLKS CAN, IF YOU ARE LISTENING IF YOU WANT TO CALL BACK
IN, WE'LL GET BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT ENDS, DIONA VAUGHAN, SOPHIE TAYLOR, IDA LEE, EALICIA
PARIS, DAVE SULLIVAN, AND TEAL SHAWN TURNER.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING PUBLIC TESTIMONY IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE SEEN IT, GIVE
YOU A HEADS UP BOLGA WHO MENTIONED EARLIER, PLEASE CALL BACK IN AND WE'LL MAKE SURE TO
COME BACK TO YOU.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS INCLUDE LAYLA BLARE, BRENT BARLET, ARMALEE BAYLOR.
LEYLA, ARE YOU AVAILABLE?
GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS LEYLA BLARE, I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE, A GRADUATE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON, I AM 22 YEARS OLD, UPON WITNESSING THE BRUTALITY THAT SPD BROUGHT AGAINST ITS
RESIDENCE BACK IN MAY, I JOINED OTHERS IN PROTESTING THEIR ACTIONS.
AT THESE PEACEFUL PROTESTS WE ARE MET WITH TEAR GAS AND FLASH BANGS THAT SHOWS THE TRUE
COLORS OF OUR POLICE FORCE, IT IS NOT PROTECTING THE CITIZENS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREE
SPEECH INSTEAD USING INTIMIDATING TACTICS WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.
PLEASE USE YOUR POWER IN THIS COUNCIL TO REALLOCATE FUNDS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AT LEAST
50% OF THEIR BUDGET, TO COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS SPECIFICALLY FOLLOWING THE DETAILED PLAN THAT
KING COUNTY EQUITY, SEATTLE PUT FORWARD LAST WEDNESDAY IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP SEATTLE RESIDENCE
SAFE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU.
ANALEE, ARE YOU AVAILABLE LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS NOT YET DIALED IN, BRENT BARTLETT, WELCOME
I CALL TO SUPPORT THE POLICE BUDGET BY 50%, I THINK WE SHOULD END HOMELESS SWEEPS THE
CDC RECOMMENDS AGAINST CONDUCTING SWEEPS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
IF PEOPLE IN THE ENCAMPMENT DON'T HAVE CORONAVIRUS, SWEEP FORCES THEM TO MOVE SOMEWHERE WHERE
THAT THEY CAN CATCHMENT IF PEOPLE IN THE ENCAMPMENT DO HAVE THE CORONAVIRUS IT FORCES THEM TO
DISPERSE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY SPREADING THE DISEASE FURTHER.
I'VE BEEN READING THAT SOME CITIES HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATING HOTEL ROOMS TO HOUSE MEMBERS
OF THE HOMELESS WHO ARE ESPECIALLY AT RISK SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS
WELL.
THANK YOU, I CAN SEE THE REST OF MY TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT PERSON THAT WE'LL CALL ON IS OLGA.
MY NAME IS OLGA SAGAN, THE OWNER OF A BAKERY ON THIRD AND PIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CRIME
IN SEATTLE.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE SPD BEFORE DOING ANYTHING DRASTIC AND RUNNING THE DISTRICT INTO A MOTION
TO HAVE OUR REASONS TO STEP BACK AND BE CLEAR OF THE INTENTIONS AND PROCESSES.
WE WANT TO SEE WHAT IS THE PLAN.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REMOVE A CRIME HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN, RUNNING AND KILLING SMALL BUSINESSES
DOWNTOWN?
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME TO DOWNTOWN, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN DOWNTOWN, IN FEBRUARY,
IN JANUARY WE HAD THE SHOOTING IN DOWNTOWN, THEY WANTED THE POLICE PRESENCE, MAYOR COME
OUT, NEVER GOT TO MEET THE MAYOR, I ASKED TO MEET COUNCIL MAN LEWIS, NEVER GOT A MEETING
WITH COUNCIL MAN LEWIS.
WE WANT TO SEE WHAT THE PLAN IS.
WE AGREE THAT THINGS NEED TO CHANGE, BUT BEFORE THEY CHANGE DRASTICALLY --
THANKS FOR CALLING IN, WE'LL FOLLOW BACK UP, NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE ROSEMARY KIM, DAVE
SIMPSON, CARLY GARY.
ROSEMARY, GOOD MORNING.
HI.
MY NAME IS ROSEMARY KIM FROM DISTRICT 6.
I AM, AGAIN, CALLING ON MY SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES TO PLEASE VOTE FOR THE FOUR-POINT
PLAN PROPOSED BY KING COUNTY EQUITY IN SEATTLE, BY DEFUNDING THE POLICE BY 50%, REALLOCATING
FUNDS TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO THIS PLAN I'M CALLING ON THOSE WHO HAVE NOT
COMMIT TODAY THIS PLAN, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBERS PETERSON AND JUAREZ TO SUPPORT THIS
PLAN WITH YOUR VOTE IN THE NAME OF THIS COMMUNITY SAFETY, IT IS THE NAME OF WHITE SAFETY THAT
POLICE ARE KEEPING US AS A COMMUNITY SAFE.
WHEN WE SEE A FIRE, WE DO NOT INCREMENTALLY SPRAY WATER ON THE BUILDING OVER A LONG PERIOD,
WE PUT OUT THAT FIRE AND PUT IT OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE,
WE NEED TO STOP THAT FIRE ENGULFING THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE THE UNSAFE
AND VIOLENT ARMED POLICE FORCE.
THANK YOU.
I SEE MY TIME.
THANK YOU, DAVE, WELCOME.
I'M DAVE A WORKER IN DISTRICT 7, I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THEIR PROTEST,
IT IS SO IMPORTANT WE PROTECT OUR RIGHTS TO PROTEST IN SEATTLE WITH PROTESTERS EXERCISING
THEIR RIGHTS, STAYING COMMITTED TO THE FUNDING THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY AT LEAST
50%.
I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON AND JUAREZ TO GET ON BOARD FROM THAT COMMITMENT
AS WELL.
200 MILLION EXTRA DOLLARS FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE PUBLIC CAN'T WAIT.
THANK YOU.
>>> CARLY, WELCOME.
I AM A RENTER IN THE EAST LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALEX PETERSON'S DISTRICT FOUR A MEMBER OF
THE MOVEMENT FOR 121, I'M SUPPORTING DEFENDING SPD BY 50% AND KING COUNTY, IT IS LONG TIME
TO DISMANTLE OUR SYSTEM.
WHILE SOME MAY SAY THIS IS A KNEE-JERK REACTION, THERE ARE DECADES OF THE INDUSTRIAL PROCESS,
POLICE ARE NOT HERE FOR --THEY ARE ARMED WITH GUNS AND IMMUNITY WHEN THEY DON'T NEED TO
BE.
I SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZING THE FOUR POINT PLAN THE REMAINDER OF THE 2020 SPD BUDGET MUST
BE CUT BY 50% AND REPLACE 911 WITH A SECURITY SYSTEM.
HAVE COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTIONS TO HEALTH AND SAFETY.
FUND A ROAD MAP TO LIFE WITHOUT POLICING, FINALLY, PLEASE INVEST IN HOUSING.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY ALEX PETERSON, I URGE YOU TO.
ETHAN LANDS, WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK, I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2.
WANTED TO FIGURE OUT CALLS CONCERN WITH THE HOUSE'S POPULATION, I AGREE TO AN EXTENT,
I DEFINITELY WANT TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, HOPING TO HOUSING FOR ALL SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE
OFF THE STREET AND SAFE HOUSING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY, WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SAFETY
FOR?
AM I SUPPOSED TO FEEL BAD FOR LANDLORDS AND BUSINESS OWNERS FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE
BEING BRUTALIZED BY POLICE?
UT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME, WE START WITH THE POLICE PRESENCE, THEY HAVE 100 YEARS TO
NOT BE A RACE INSTITUTION, GUESS WHAT, STILL A RACE INSTITUTION, WE LOOK AT THE, ALREADY
IMPLEMENTED SIX OF THE 8 REFORMS, NONE OF IT IS WORKING, WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY, PEOPLE
WHO ARE CALLING FOR MORE POLICE PRESENCE, AT THE SAME TIME CLAIMING THAT CRIME IS GOING
UP AND PEOPLE LEADING THE CITY, IT IS INCREASING POLICE BUDGET DOESN'T WORK, I DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW WE WANT TO GO DOWN THE SAME ROUTE THAT CLEARLY ISN'T WORKING, I THINK WE DO A SAFE
ALTERNATIVE.
I'M FOINING GOING TO READ THE REST OF
THE NAMES,, ANA LEE, FEMUR, FREUND BURLINER, ALICIA PARIS, DAVE SULLIVAN, TEAL SHAWN TURNER.
FOLKS FROM I.T.
DO WE HAVE ANY OF THOSE FOLKS WITH US RIGHT NOW?
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE CONFIRMED ALL OF OUR CALLERS.
NO OTHER CALLERS.
OKAY.
CALLING THAT PUTS US EXACTLY AT 50 MINUTES AS WE TALKED ABOUT WE WERE PLANNING TO EXTEND
THIS FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF, WE WILL, AGAIN, HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT NEXT WEDNESDAY
AT 2 P.M.
AT OUR COUNCIL MEMBER CHAIR GONZALEZ, LOOKING MORE FOR SHARING WITH FOLKS, IF YOU WERE SIGNED
UP TO SPEAK AND WERE NOT ABLE TO CALL BACK IN TODAY, WE DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENTS TO COUNCIL@SEATTLE .GOV.
THAT ENDS OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING WE'LL MOVE ONTO ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE TITLE OF ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
REVIEW A PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE 2020 PACKAGE.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NON-SPD RELATED AMENDMENTS FOR THE 2020 REBALANCING
PACKAGE, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE ROBUST PRODUCTION AND AMENDED DISCUSSION YESTERDAY,
WE GOT THROUGH ALMOST ALL OF AMENDMENTS WE'RE CURRENTLY ON PACKET THREE WHERE WE'LL CONTINUE
WITH AMENDMENTS 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 TO COUNCIL 119825.
WE'LL FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS AS WE DID YESTERDAY, WHERE WE'LL ASK THE SPONSOR TO SPEAK TO THEM,
THAT THEY PUT FORWARD, WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, IF COUNCIL MEMBERS
WOULD LIKE TO SIGN ON AS A CO-SPONSOR, IT IS NOT REQUIRED TO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS
GET THE CHANCE TO ADD THEIR NAME IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO IT AT THIS POINT.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A QUICK SECOND TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES, I KNOW FOLKS HAVE CALLED
BACK IN, WE STARTED RIGHT ON TIME AND WE DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO WELCOME SOFT FOLKS SO JUST
WANT TO WELCOME ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS, WE SEE YOU, LEWIS,
THANK YOU.
JUST FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE ON THE LINE SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZALEZ COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS, PETERSON, STRAUSS, SALANT, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, NOT
ON THE LINE, JOINING US IN A VERY QUICK SECOND.
WE MISS EVERYONE?
THANKS FOR BEING HERE, EVERYBODY.
BEFORE WE BEGIN WITH THE REMAINDER OF OUR AMENDMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A SECOND TO
PROVIDE US INFORMATION, WE KNOW MANY OF OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WE KNOW COLLEAGUES HAVE
BEEN RAISING CONCERNS WHETHER THE MAYOR PROVIDED A COMPLETE PICTURE HOW SHE IS PROPOSING TO
REBALANCE THE BUDGET.
WE CALL THIS THE REBALANCING FOR A REASON, WITHOUT A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHETHER OR NOT
WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION, WE ARE IN A POSITION TO PASS A REBALANCING PACKET AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN ENGAGED, WITH ALL THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE US AS COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, OUR AMENDMENT GOING FORWARD, THAT WE HAVE
THE FUNDS AVAILABLE, RIGHT NOW, I'M WORRIED GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE,
WE NEED TO OFFER SOME CLARIFICATION SO WE GET A CLEARER PICTURE, DIRECTOR, I'M WONDERING
IF YOU'D BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSEQUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP, PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH
A WHOLE PICTURE WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE THE INFORMATION NEEDED IN FRONT OF THE 2020, AND
BREAKING NEWS YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN THE LAST WEEK.
THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR, CENTRAL STAFF DIRECTOR, I APPRECIATE THESE INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, I
WILL BEGIN BY SAYING WE HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF
ABOUT THE LACK OF COMPLETE INFORMATION AND OR TRANSPARENCY RELATED TO THE MAYOR'S REBALANCING
NEIGHBORS, LARGELY BECAUSE WE DID NOT RECEIVE AN ORDNANCE THAT WOULD ENACT A BALANCE BUDGET
AS A SPECIFIC DATE NOR DID WE RECEIVE A WHOLISTIC FINANCIAL SUMMARY WITH HOW THE PROPOSALS WOULD
ADDRESS THE CITY'S CHALLENGES.
INSTEAD WE RECEIVED A SET OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ENACT SOME OF THE MAYOR'S REBALANCING
MEASURES BUT NOT ALL OF THEM THEREFORE ITS BEEN DIFFICULT TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE, WHICH
HAS RAISED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.
TO FURTHER EXPLAIN, EARLIER THIS MONTH WE HEARD FROM CEO THAT THE CITY HAS A $299 MILLION
BUDGET SHORT FALL IN 2020, PUT TOGETHER A PACKAGE OF MATERIALS WE REFER TO AS THE MAYOR'S
2020 REBALANCING PACKAGE, DID SO UNDER SOME TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES.
A QUICK SIDE NOTE THIS PACKAGECPO ACKNOWLEDGED WAS --
DUE TO THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF THE SITUATION ALSO TO PRESERVE AS MUCH RESOURCES FOR 2021
AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE KNOW THE BUDGET DEFICIT CONSISTS OF TWO ELEMENTS, FIRST, IS THE SIGNIFICANT DROP
IN REVENUES DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.
THE SECOND ARE THE NEW RESPONSES TO THE PANDEMIC, AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK IN COMMITTEE THE
BUDGET DEFICIT IS A MOVING TARGET.
FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE RECEIVING THE MAY REVENUE UPDATE THAT IS THE UPDATE WHICH THE MAYOR
USED, THE COUNCIL RECEIVED A SECOND UPDATE IN JUNE THAT REDUCED REVENUES BY $11.4 MILLION,
WE EXPECT AT LEAST TWO ADDITIONAL FORECAST UPDATES BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND THE
NEXT ONE COMING AS SOON AS NEXT MONTH, AUGUST.
DUE TO THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF OUR TIMES AND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MAYOR'S PACKAGE
IS NOT BALANCED, WE RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL NOMINATE AN AGREED UPON BUDGET SHORT FALL
TARGET TO ACHIEVE A DEFINITIVE REBALANCING WHICH I HAVE CONVEYED TO CEO DIRECTOR BEN
NOBLE AND I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, BY DOING THIS, THAT THIS WILL ALLOW THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL
TO TRANSPARENTLY, FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS FOR UNFORESEEN FISCAL EVENTS.
IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE AND TRANSPARENT PICTURE OF ISSUES, CENTRAL STAFF IS PREPARING,
TAKING TWO APPROACHES TO BETTER ILLUSTRATE HOW THE COMPONENT PARTS COME TOGETHER IN REBALANCING
ASKING THEM TO CONFIRM OUR NUMBERS FILL IN THE BLANKS, AS SOON AS WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION,
WE'LL SHARE THAT WITH THE BUDGET CHAIR AND WITH ALL OF YOU AS I INDICATED TOM AND I ARE
HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU ONE ON ONE, THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO
HAVE HERE HERE IN THIS FORUM, WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU AS MUCH DETAIL AS WE.
JUST TELLING US BASICALLY WHAT WE LEARNED DAY ONE OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS, THE CUTS THAT
ARE INCLUDED THAT REFLECT ONLY THE CUTS THAT ARE THE COUNCILS ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO ACT
UPON, BUT ALL THE OTHER PROPOSED CUTS ARE SORT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, TRUST ME, WE'RE MAKING
THESE CUTS-CUTS, WE WANT TO ACTUALLY MEMORIALIZE THEM LEGISLATIVELY.
RIGHT.
I THINK THAT THAT IS AN ACCURATE STATEMENT, I WOULD JUST PUT A FINAL POINT ALL THESE OTHER
THINGS THAT ALSO MAKES IT POSSIBLE AS THEY ARE MAKING AMENDMENTS WHERE CAN I TAKE MONEY
IS THIS BEING DOUBLE COUNTED TO FUND BALANCES, AND SO FOURTH.
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS?
OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS.
I APPRECIATE THIS, KIERSTEN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO NOW, YOU KNOW, I MADE THE COMMEND THAT
WE ARE, I'M ASKING THE DIRECTOR NOBLE FOR THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTS THAT THEY WERE USING
TO SHARE WITH US, NOT THE PDF THAT SHOWS THEIR POLICY PRIORITIES THE SPREAD SHEET WITH FORMULAS
SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF ASSUMPTIONS ARE BEING MADE OR WHAT THOSE RESTORATIONS
WOULD BE THE PROCESS THEY HAVE BEEN SO AS A FRESHMAN HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING, SO, YOU KNOW,
I WORKED FOR THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AS THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, I KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD
BE RECEIVING IN ORDER TO MAKE THE KIND OF ANALYSIS TO MAKE, WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT KIND
OF INFORMATION, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU HELPING US PULL TOGETHER WHAT WE NEED TO SEE TO BE
ABLE TO FULFILL OUR DUTY TO MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WELL SAID, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
OKAY, I'M NOT SEEING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT OVERVIEW, FOR
DELAYING THIS, I WANT TO UNDER SCORE THE REQUEST FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLT ABOUT A MEMO,
I THINK THAT WILL BE A HELPFUL DOCUMENT TO HAVE, I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK
TO THE DEGREE THAT THE FUTURE CONVERSATION WE HAVE TO NEED ADDITIONAL TIME WORK WITH
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND ALL OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING ALL OF OUR T'S CROSSED
AND OUR I'S DOTTED, JUST WANT TO UNDER SCORE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS
GETTING THIS RELIEF OUT THE DOOR AND ADJUSTING THE BUDGET, WANT TO DO SO IN A TIMELY WAY
THAT WORKS FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE TEAM ON CENTRAL STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THAT OVERVIEW TODAY AND
WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
THANK YOU.
THANKS COLLEAGUES FOR THAT.
WE WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT CONTEXT AS WE ENDEAVOR TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE WITH ALL
OF YOU AND WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE TOUGH DECISION THAT IS ARE BOTH IN FRONT OF US AND
HOW WE CAN POTENTIALLY BE MAKING DECISIONS THAT RIGHT SIZE OUR INVESTMENTS AND MAKE SURE
THAT THE BUDGET DOCUMENT, AS A MORAL DOCUMENT, REALLY INVEST IN WHAT WE PRIORITIZE AS WE
REBALANCE, I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR FUTURE CONVERSATIONS ON 2021, AND 2022, GIVEN THE
JUMP START PROPOSAL THAT WE PASS TO HAVE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE IN HAND SO WE ARE NOT CONSTANTLY IN
THIS POSITION OF TRYING TO PIT ONE PROGRAM AGAINST ANOTHER, NOT TAKING THE TYPE OF CUTS
WE'LL BE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY DUE TO THE ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT IS PRESENTING ITSELF
THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK TO MAKE SURE FUTURE BUDGETS WILL HAVE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE TO HELP RELY ON.
AS WE CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY CHANGES IN THE 2020 REBALANCING PACKET WE'LL CONTINUE WITH
AMENDMENT NUMBER 8 WE ENDED OUR DISCUSSION YESTERDAY ON AMENDMENT NUMBER 7, CENTRAL STAFF
WILL READ THROUGH EACH AMENDMENT AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE AFFECT OF THE AMENDMENT AND
FOLKS WILL GET A CHANCE TO SIGN ON IF THEY LIKE, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE HAVE LISA T
US UP, I SEE AUSHA ON THE LINE, WE HAVE AMENDMENT NUMBER 8 AND 3 IN FRONT OF US, ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
LET'S GO AHEAD AND START, WE'RE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER 8 AND PACKET NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS
RELATED TO COUNCIL BILL 119825, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, LISA, YOU CAN GET US
KICKED OFF HERE.
THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR, I THINK AUSHA IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING TO THE FIRST THREE THAT
YOU ARE CONSIDERING TODAY, AMENDMENTS, THEY WILL JUST GO IN THAT SEQUENCE, AND I WILL
JUST TURN IT OVER TO AUSHA.
THANK YOU, SUAHA.
GREAT, AS YOU MENTIONED WE'RE ON AMENDMENT AMENDMENT NUMBER 8 TO ADD $25,000 TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO CONDUCT A RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT ON POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF THE PRE-FILING
DIVERSION PROGRAM TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CRIMES AS WELL AS FOR ADULTS THAT ARE 25 AND
UP, THESE FUNDS WOULD COME FROM THE FAS CONTRACT FOR JAIL SERVICES ASSUMING THAT WE RECEIVE
A WAIVER OF THE JAIL CONTRACT BETWEEN OCTOBER AND DECEMBER, I WILL TURN IT OVER FOR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS IS YOUR AMENDMENT PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU.
SO, YES.
AS AUSHA EXPLAINED, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ADD $25,000 AS REQUESTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY
FOR RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT ON THE POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF PREFILING DIVERSION TO ADULTS
25 AND OLDER A STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY REPORT TO
THE COUNCIL REGARDING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REENTRY WORK GROUP, FOR THOSE 25 AND OLDER.
THE CITY ATTORNEY IN HIS RESPONSE INCURRED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REENTRY TASK
FORCE AND CREATED FUNDING TO CREATE A RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT IN EXPANSION, THIS IS VERY
TIMELY FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE TO TAKE SHAPE HERE AT THE SEE OF SEATTLE, ALSO KING COUNTY
AS WE KNOW, DEPUTY CONSTATEEN ONCE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AND AN ATTEMPT TO SUPPORT DIVERSION,
REHABILITATION, HARM REDUCTION MORE DETAILS WOULD BE AVAILABLE LATER IN THE YEAR FUNDING
WOULD BE USED TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, AS PART OF THE, CITY ATTORNEY HAS BEEN AS WE ALL KNOW
RUNNING A PRE-FILING DIVERSION PROGRAM FROM 18 TO 24-YEAR-OLDS SINCE 2017 AND, YOU KNOW,
AGAIN, THIS FUNDING, THIS EXPANSION OR THE BEGINNING STEPS OF THIS EXPANSION WOULD BE
AN IMPORTANT COMMITMENT TO OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO INCREASE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION
AND ITS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT ALTERNATIVES BUT
PREPARE FOR THE REDUCTION OF JAIL SERVICES, WHICH I KNOW, WE ON THE COUNCIL, SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLT?
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, I AM A VERY STRONG SUPPORTER OF THIS AND HAVING
WORKED ON THIS DIVERSION PROGRAM IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN MY PREVIOUS ROLE IN PERSONALLY
ATTEST TO THE STRENGTH AND THE VALUE OF THIS APPROACH AND WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISE, MADAME
CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED ON AS A CO-SPONSOR COUNCIL PREPONDERATE GONZALEZ, THANK YOU,
CHAIRMAN, JUST A QUICK QUESTION HERE SINCE IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE DOCUMENT BEFORE
US IN A PROPOSED AMENDMENT, I GUESS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE SPONSOR, I AM OBVIOUSLY
REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AND HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THESE RACIAL EQUITY ANALYSES ON ALL OF
OUR DIVERSION PROGRAMMING WHETHER IT IS PRETRIAL OR PREFILING, JUST A QUICK QUESTION AROUND
HOW YOU ENVISION THE $25,000 WOULD BE SPENT IN LARGE PART, I ASKED THAT QUESTION BECAUSE
WHEN WE DID RSJ REQUIREMENTS AND FUNDING IN THE PAST THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN,
ETHINK IT WAS THE 18 TO 24 GROUP, WE ARE VERY DELIBERATE IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT WAS BEING
DONE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND JUST WANT TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM YOU ABOUT HOW
YOU ENVISION THAT WORK BEING COMPLETED AS IT RELATES TO THE 25 PLUS ADULT POPULATION.
SURE.
I ACTUALLY, I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT CENTRAL STAFF HAS BEEN DIGGING INTO A LITTLE
BIT, THE PROPOSAL COMING OUT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR FUNDS TO COMPENSATE
STAKEHOLDERS THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY ENGAGES WITH AND PREVENTING RESOURCES LIKE FOOD, DAY
CARE, POSSIBLE FEES FOR ENGAGEMENT SITES, AUSHA HAS RAISED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR
NOT THIS IS THE CORRECT UNIVERSE OF EXPENSES FOR RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT ANALYSIS GIVEN
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING THIS WORK POTENTIALLY REMOTELY IN A COVID-19 ERA.
SO THAT MIGHT CHANGE THE MIX OF EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH . I BELIEVE YOU FROZE, IT MIGHT BE MY
INTERNET CONNECTION, COULD YOU WRAP UP THAT LAST SENTENCE THAT YOU SAID?
I BELIEVE YOU FROZE.
I'M SORRY, I ASKED AUSHA, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I FROZE, BUT I ASKED AUSHA TO FILL IN THE
BLANKS FOR ME AS FAR AS WHAT THE UNIVERSE OF EXPENSES WOULD BE, INCLUDED IN THE RET.
I THINK YOU COVERED IT, COUNCIL MEMBER, IT IS PRIMARILY FOR FACILITIES RENTAL CHILD CARE,
THAT SORT OF THING, ONCE WE HAVE AN UPDATED NUMBER THE COST IT IS LIKELY THAT COST WILL
BE UPDATED.
MAY I FOLLOW UP?
AUSHA IF I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLT ARE SAYING, DOES THAT
MEAN THAT THE COST ESTIMATED WHICH IS $25,000 MIGHT ACTUALLY BE LAST BECAUSE OF THE REMOTE
ENVIRONMENT?
IS THAT WHAT I THINK I'M HEARING YOU SAY?
YES, THAT'S MOST LIKELY THE CASE.
SO THIS IS SORT OF A PLACE HOLDER FOR LACK OF A BETTER TURN THAT DEEPER ANALYSIS OCCURS
SO WE HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF EXACTLY WHAT THE COST WILL BE FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO
ENGAGE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN DOING THIS WORK SIMILAR TO HAVING DID IT IN
THE 18 TO 24 CATEGORY, BUT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE RREMOTELY, IS THAT
AN ACCURATE SUMMARY?
CORRECT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD CLARITY IN MY MIND AROUND THAT, BECAUSE THAT DETAIL
WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE DOCUMENTS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS,
WOULD LIKE TO SIGNAL MY SUPPORT AND INTEREST IN BEING A SPONSOR ON THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST,
WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLT FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
THANK YOU, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTION ON AMENDMENT 8.
OKAY.
I AM SEEING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, I ALSO AS WE TURN TO SUMMARIZING THE CO-SPONSORS
THAT SIGNAL INTEREST, I WILL NOTE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ HAS ALSO SIGNALED INTEREST,
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER STAURSS, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ HAVE ALSO
ADDED THEIR NAMES, I WILL BE ADDING MY NAME AS WELL.
SO CO-SPONSORED INCLUDE COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, LEWIS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, COUNCIL
MEMBER STARAUSS AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT.
OKAY, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
LET'S MOVE ONTO AMENDMENT NUMBER 9 SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT, I'LL TURN IT BACK
OVER TO AUSHA.
THANKS.
BEFORE I DO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS SOMETHING, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS, I
DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE TRYING TO REACH ME.
OKAY.
SOUNDS GOOD, THANK YOU GO AHEAD.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 9 WOULD PLACE AN ADVISEEL ON THE CITY BUDGET RESTRICT THE CITY ATTORNEY
FROM USING ANY FUNDS TO PROSECUTE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE JUSTICE FOR
GEORGE FLOYD PROTEST, THE FUNDS COULD BE SPENT ON RELEASING CHARGES BUT NOT ON PROSECUTING
THOSE INDIVIDUALS, I'LL TURN IT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR FURTHER COMMENT.
GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT.
THIS BUDGET, ALL TOGETHER, PLACES THE ADVISORY ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT RELATED AMENDMENTS ARE BEING DISCUSSED NEXT WEEK, THE SUBSTANCE IS ONLY
THOSE FOR PART OF THE AMENDMENT, BUT REALLY TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET ADVISER, I WOULD
THINK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ADVISER, THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WHEN THEY ARREST SOMEONE, CAN DEFER THAT PERSON FOR PROSECUTION, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
OR TO THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR AND FABRICATED, QUOTE UNQUOTE CRIMES LIKE ASSAULTING A POLICE
OFFICER ARE PROSECUTED THROUGH THE COUNTY, WITH THIS ADVISER, WE WANT TO PROHIBIT THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FROM PROSECUTING PEOPLE, WE WANT TO PREVENT THE COUNTY FROM PROSECUTING
FOR THOSE AS WELL.
WE HAVE NO DIRECT POWER OVER THE COUNTY, WILL BE DIFFICULT TO PROSECUTE SOMEONE WITHOUT
THE POLICE PROVIDING THE EVIDENCE AND THE TESTIMONY, THAT IS NEEDED THE WHOLE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM THE FLASH BANGS THE ARREST OF JOURNALISTS.
EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN IN, CRIMES THAT ARE FABRICATED FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTERS BY, A LASER
POINTER, ASSAULT ON A POLICE OFFICER, THE DISCOURSE, YOU'VE SEEN THIS HAPPENING IN MANY,
FACING PROSECUTION, SOME LIKE THE COUNTY, CHILLING REPORTS, PROTEST, THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND SHOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM USING ANY PUBLIC FUNDS, CITY FUNDS TO COOPERATE
IN ANYWAY BEYOND WHAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW, WITH ANY OF THE INVESTIGATIONS OR PROSECUTIONS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT?
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME CHAIR, AND I, THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS WHILE THE DEMONSTRATIONS
GOING ON FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS, I'VE BEEN, PERSONALLY, IN PRETTY FREQUENT CONTACT WITH
CITY ATTORNEY HOLMES FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE, I DON'T WANT ANY OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE BEING
PICKED UP AND REFERRED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO BE CHARGED FOR EXERCISING THEIR
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS FOR REALLY IN LOTS OF CASES, REALLY ARBITRARY CLAIMS OF PEDESTRIAN
INTERFERENCE OR FAILURE TO DISPERSE OR DESTRUCTION, THINGS THAT ARE BEING REFERRED TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT ARE CLEARLY PRETTY SPEECHLESS.
THROUGHOUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS, CITY ATTORNEY HOLMES HAS BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT WITH ME,
AND I THINK WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION HOW HIS OFFICE
HAS ELECTED TO USE THEIR DISCRETION IN RESPONDING TO THE CASES THAT ARE BEING REFERRED TO THEM
BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE, AND, I THINK THAT THIS INFORMATION
WAS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE PUBLIC AS WELL, IF FOLKS ARE WATCHING AT HOME, BUT TO DATE, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE HAS DECLINED OR DISMISSED 72 OF YOUR REFERRALS, WHICH IS THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY
OF THE REFERS THEY RECEIVE, THEY HAVE DIVERTED THREE OF THOSE CASES TO CHOOSE FROM THE DIVERSION
PROGRAM WE JUST DISCUSSED.
ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL ENGAGED IN ANY ACTIVITY CAN, INTENTIONALLY RELATED TO THE DEMONSTRATIONS
HAS BEEN CHARGED THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ONLY PURSUING CHARGES AGAINST ONE PERSON,
ACTUALLY, WHO BRANDISHED WEAPONS AS DEMONSTRATORS NOT FOR NECESSARILY A FIRST AMENDMENT ACTIVITY
THEY WERE ENGAGED IN.
I JUST BRING THAT UP TO SAY, MY SENSE HAS BEEN THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS BEEN
VERY ABLY USING THEIR DISCRETION TO WORK AND ACT IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT THIS IS ATTEMPTING
TO ACCOMPLISH.
I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, THEN CHARTER ISSUES AND DIVISION OF POWER ISSUES ASIDE ON HAVING
THEM DUALLY ELECTED TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS UNDER THE CHARTER, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW THAT
THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY CALLED FOR, BASED UPON THE SITUATION.
CONSIDERING THAT OF THE NEARLY 100 REFERRALS THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ELECTED TO ONLY CHARGE
ONE AND HAS AFFIRMATIVELY DISMISSED OR DECLINED, YOU KNOW, WELL OVER 95% OF THE REFERRALS.
JUST WANTED TO MENTION THOSE STATISTICS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT, DID YOU HAVE A RESPONSE?
I DO, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO SPEAK I WOULD JUST HOLD OFF.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS.
I ALSO HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY WITH THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR,
I AM WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE SERIOUSNESS THE CRUX OF THE MATTER THE PROBLEM IS, THAT
WITH THE FOLKS CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANORS THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE ARE BEING CHARGED WITH FELONIES
GETTING SENT OVER TO THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR HAVING THEIR CASES DROPPED ONCE ALREADY IN
THE SYSTEM, HAVING THESE REQUESTING BAIL ON JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY, SO, I'M NOT SURE WHAT
TO DO WITH THIS HERE, I GUESS, IS WHAT I'M SAYING, BECAUSE I DO FEEL LIKE OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERY, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE NOT
ENTERING THE SYSTEM FOR SUSPICIOUS REASONS AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS, COUNCIL
MEMBER, HOW WE MIGHT GET TO THE REST OF THE PROBLEM.
PLEASE GO AHEAD COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT.
THERE IS A COUPLE DIFFERENASPECTS ONE WHICH IS REGARD TO INCLUDING THE POINTS, IS THAT
TRADITIONALLY MY OFFICE, I KNOW MY STAFF HAVE COMMUNICATED THIS, COUNCIL MEMBER PLANS SEPARATE
FROM THE SEATTLE POLICE, WHICH IS ALSO PART OF THIS NOT DISCUSSING THAT TODAY WITH THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE IS GOING TO DISCUSS THEM NEXT WEEK, I THINK SUBSTANTIVELY THIS IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE AMENDMENT, AS I WAS SAYING, MY INTENTION WAS TO HAVE THEM
FOR SEPARATE AMENDMENTS, I THINK THEY DO COME UP SEPARATELY, AND THE FACTS THAT COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS RELAYED JUST NOW, THE CITY ATTORNEY MAHOMES, MYSELF, THE ISSUE IN GENERAL, WE
CONTINUE THE AMENDMENTS TO BE SEPARATE, WHICH IS NOT OUR INTENTION, THAT'S ONE THING, AND
SO, BUT AS FAR AS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S PORTION IS CONCERNED FROM THE AMENDMENT, I, AS I SAID,
I DON'T DENY THE STATISTICS BUT I DON'T THINK THAT PUTS ASIDE THE'RE FACTS IN THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL IS ONLY AROUND FOR THE CITY GOVERNMENT ACQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE OPEN MEETINGS, WE'LL
HAVE A MOVEMENT DEMANDING AGAINST PROTESTERS WOULD DROP, ALSO THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH CHARGES
BEING MADE IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THE COUNCIL HAS THE DUTY TO USE THE TOOL AVAILABLE TO
SUPPORT US, I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT I DO KNOW THE COUNCIL HAVE SO-CALLED HOURS OF WORK,
THE POLICE BELIEVE THEY SPEND MONEY THEY DON'T, THAT THEY HAVE NOT UPDATED, NOT BEING ALLOCATED
FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS THAT IS ON THEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL, AT THE SAME TIME, REGARDLESS
OF WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY IS DOING, SHOULD MAKE OUR POSITION CRYSTAL CLEAR, ESPECIALLY
IN THIS HISTORIC MOMENT THAT YOU DON'T AGREE TO, IN PUBLIC FUNDS, BE USED TO PROSECUTE.
I WOULD SAY FIRST OF ALL, PART OF THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT, PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, EVEN
FOR THIS PORTION OF THE AMENDMENT, FOR HEARING AND THE AMENDED VERSION OF SEPARATE AMENDMENTS
AS WE HAVE INTENDED, BUT EVEN WITH THIS ONE, I FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT POSITION FOR THE
CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE AND GOVERNMENTS WILL CHANGE, THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PHILOSOPHY,
THAT IS AGREED I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE TAKING
THE STEPS TO NOT PROSECUTE, I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE A POSITION ON THIS REGARDLESS, ESPECIALLY AT
THIS MOMENT, SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THIS AMENDMENT.
ALSO LET THE ATTORNEY HOLMES KNOW THAT IF HIS OFFICE WANTS TO SUGGEST AN AMENDED LANGUAGE
WHICH DOES NOT FEEL, FEELS LIKE HE IS TAKING WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING TO TAKE A POSITION FROM
THE COUNCIL, WHAT HE WANTS TO HAPPEN IN GOING FORWARD, THEN I WELCOME THOSE AMENDMENTS AND
HE HAS PROMISED HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND LET MY OFFICE KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS
LIKEWISE, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO AMEND THIS LANGUAGE IN A WAY THAT
YOU FEEL REFLECTS, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY BETTER THAN I WELCOME THAT, ABSOLUTELY.
, I DON'T THINK WE COULD JUST PUSH --
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
THANK YOU.
, I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S COMMENTS RIGHT NOW, I DO THINK THAT MANY OF US HAVE
PUBLICLY GONE ON THE RECORD, INCLUDING MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER VERY STRONGLY, URGING BOTH
THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR TO USE THEIR DISCUSSION TO NOT BRING CHARGES
AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTERS, I JUST WONDER, I DO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT, I THINK
SOME FORMAL WAY OF US MANIFESTING THAT VALUE IS IMPORTANT, BUT I WONDER IF IT WOULD BE
BETTER DONE THROUGH A RESOLUTION OR SOME OTHER DEVICE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US FOR THIS PROVISO,
JUST GIVEN THAT, THE CHARGER ISSUES ASIDE IF IT IS INFRINGING LIKE IF WE DID HAVE A
CITY ATTORNEY, I WOULD HONESTLY HAVE NO PROBLEM PASSING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, EVEN JUST TO
MAKE THE STATEMENT AND MAKE THE POINT, BUT THE FACT THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY IS WILLING
TO WORK WITH US HAS BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT HIS PROCESS.
I JUST WONDER IF WE MIGHT EXPLORE A LESS SORT OF, A LESS ISSUE, A LESS SORT OF CONFRONTATIONAL
WAY TO DO THIS THAN WOULDN'T INTENTIONALLY LEAD TO SOME KIND OF CHARTER FIGHT OR SOME
KIND OF STRAIN BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SO I MEAN, I'M JUST BRINGING THAT UP, I SUPPORT THE SENTIMENT AND I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
DISCUSSION FOR US TO GO ON THE RECORD FOR, I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE WAY TO DO
IT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT.
YES, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON THIS YET, SO I WILL, AS I SAID, KEEP WORKING WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT AND AS I SAID, I WELCOME COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER IF YOU HAVE SUGGESTED LANGUAGE CHANGE FOR THIS, I
DO BELIEVE THAT, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RESOLUTION AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS
SOON AS I SAID THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF MY STAFF, WE SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT AND I, WHAT
I WOULD PREFER IS THAT WE, THAT MY OFFICE TRY OUR BEST TO SEE IF WE CAN GET AN AGREEMENT
FROM YOU ALL ON THE ADVISER OF THIS KIND AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEN I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO BRING THE RESOLUTION FORWARD BUT OBVIOUSLY THE IMPORTANCE IS DIFFERENT THAN A RESOLUTION
WHICH IS WHY I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP ON THAT YET.
THAT'S ONE THING.
THE OTHER THING AS I SAID IS THE SPD AMENDMENT, THE PROVISO, THE ULTIMATE SEATTLE POLICE IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE SEATTLE POLICE CAN FORWARD CHARGES
TO THE COUNTY AND BY PASSING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS AN OPTION TO HAVE, PUTTING LIMITATIONS
AND DEFINING THOSE LIMITATIONS ON THE SEATTLE POLICE'S POWER IS, I THINK, THE MOST IMPORTANT
FOR THE COUNCIL TO A PROVISO, FROM TV STATION, THEY ARE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT PROSECUTION,
I WOULD SAY THAT'S THE MOST.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR COMMENTS HERE, I GUESS
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU MAY BE HAVING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, I, TOO, APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD, DEFINITELY
SUPPORTIVE OF WORKING WITH LAWS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS, ALL CONTINUE TO STAY
TUNE AS YOU MAY FINE TUNE THIS POTENTIAL PROVISO TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ADDRESSED THE CONCERNS
NOT HAVING THE AUTHORITY TO LEGALLY BIND WHETHER OR NOT THE CEO PROSECUTES OR INFRINGE ON THEIR
DECISION, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DECISION, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONCEPT AND POSSIBLE
RESOLUTION IF THEPROVISO, IF THERE IS ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO ADD THEIR NAME AS A CO-SPONSOR?
OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD WE'LL STAY WITH
MUCH WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT YEAR AS WE GO OVER THE NEXT GENERATION OF THIS.
LET'S GO TO AMENDMENT 10, THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO AUSH,
A.
WOULD ADD $72,000 TO THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO FILL A DISPUTE RESOLUTION
MEDIATOR POSITION FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2020.
THIS IS A POSITION THAT THE COUNCIL ADDED IN THE 2020 ADOPTED BUDGET, THE ORIGINAL IDEA
FROM THE EXECUTIVE WAS TO CUT THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE COST, WHICH IS CLOSER TO $127,000,
BUT GIVEN THAT THERE IS ONLY SIX MONTHS LEFT IN THE YEAR, THE AGENDA IS TO PROVIDE THE
AMOUNT OF COST IT WOULD TAKE TO EMPLOY SOMEBODY FOR SIX MONTHS.
AND THE BACKING FOR THIS WOULD COME FROM THE PROJECTED VACANCIES WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY,
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE SPONSOR FOR FURTHER COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, AUSHA.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AS AUSHA MENTIONED THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO RESTORE FUNDING FOR A PARTICULAR
POSITION, A FEW YEARS AGO, I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION IN THAT ROLE, I PARTICIPATED IN PRETTY ROBUST RACIAL EQUITY ASSESSMENT OF
THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND HOW IT SERVES AS A GUIDE FOR DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS
ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS RECOMMENDATIONS AND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY, ONE
OF THE STEPS THAT WE AGREED UPON WAS THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE TIME LE RESOLUTION
TO CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION, RESTORING
THIS MEDIATOR POSITION PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ENSURING THAT THOSE WHO HAVE, WHO
ARE SEEKING A CASE COULD GET EXPEDIENT RESOLUTION TO THEIR CASE, THIS IS A POSITION THAT HELPS
SUPPORT COMMUNITY IN SEEKING FAIR TREATMENT FOR HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT.
WE KNOW THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS GENEROUSLY CREATED, I THINK IT IS 21 PROTECTED CLASSES
THAT WE HAD IN THE CITY NOW, IT IS THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING
AND INVESTIGATING PROBLEMS THERE.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT OFFICE HAS THE KIND OF STAFFING THAT CAN HELP MAKE SURE
OUR NEIGHBORS ARE PROTECTED.
SO WE ARE MOVING TO RESTORE THIS FUNDING AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT POSITION IS THERE, CONTINUE
TO PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
OKAY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS, COUNCIL
MEMBER GONZALEZ, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBALT CAN BE COUNCIL MEMBER PRESIDENT TOO IF SHE WANTS, ITS FUN.
JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON THIS FOR THE SPONSOR, SO, AS I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE THERE
IS LANGUAGE IN HERE ABOUT A MEDIATOR, I HEARD ABOUT INVESTIGATION AND MEDIATORS DON'T DO
INVESTIGATIONS I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO RESTORE
IF THERE IS RESTORATION HERE, MY UNDERSTANDING FROM MY CONVERSATION WITH OCR, IS THEY HAVE
A MORE SIGNIFICANT NEED AROUND HAVING AN ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATOR AS OPPOSED TO A MEDIATOR POSITION
AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING THOSE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT.
IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO PROVIDE OCR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO DO INVESTIGATIONS TO IDENTIFY
AND RESOLVE POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF THE ITEMS THAT FALL UNDER THE ENFORCEMENT OF OCR, THEN
AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE A MORE APPROPRIATE THING FOR US TO FUND.
IF WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FUND A POSITION THAT WOULD, AFTER AN INVESTIGATION IS DONE OR IN
THE COURSE OF AN INVESTIGATION BEING DONE OR AFTER A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED, ENGAGE
IN DISPUTE RESOLUTION, IE, NOT LITIGATION, THIS WOULD BE THE POSITION TO FUND SO I'M
A LITTLE, I'M TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT YOUR ACTUAL INTENT IS, COUNCIL MEMBER, WHAT NEED
YOU ARE TRYING TO MEET.
WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATIONS DO YOU HAVE WITH OCR AROUND WHAT RESOURCES WOULD BE MOST DESIRED
FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE?
SO, YOU'RE RIGHT, AUSHA, I KNOW YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING HERE, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT,
YES, OCR NEEDS MORE INVESTIGATORS FOR SURE AND THIS IS ALSO A PIECE OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING
TO SOLVE FOR, SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE OFFICE BETTER
AND AUSHA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO CHIME IN HERE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS SUPPORT
THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS WHAT THE OFFICE DOES AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN ENTIRE POSITION
THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR, THIS IS TRYING TO SAVE PART OF A POSITION.
BUT AUSHA, I'LL LET YOU.
YEAH.
SO THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION MEDIATOR POSITION IS INTENDED TO BE A COMPLEMENT TO THE INVESTIGATION
PROCESS, AND SO, IN THOSE CASES WHERE I THINK I'LL BACK UP A LITTLE DURING THE RHE REPORT
THERE WAS CONVERSATION HOW THE WAY THAT THE LAWS ARE CRAFTED IS EQUALITY NOT EQUITY, THERE
IS NOT A LOT OF RESOLUTION THAT COMES OUT OF INVESTIGATIONS THAT SATISFY FILES IN THE
WAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE, THE IDEA WAS TO CREATE THIS SORT OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, BUT
THAT SORT OF APPROACH TO ALTERNATIVES TO INVESTIGATIONS SO THIS DISPUTE RESOLUTION MEDIATOR WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE THE SORT OF ARM OF THAT, THAT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION
PROCESS, THE STUDENT RESOLUTION MEDIATOR COULD PROVIDE SOME SORT OF ALTERNATIVE TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO GET TO THE STANDING GOALS AND SO WITHOUT THIS POSITION THERE IS NOT ANYWAY
TO DIVERSE FROM THEINVESTIGATIVE PROCESS, SO THERE COULD BE SOME DIVERSION FROM THIS
PROCESS, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT THE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION NEEDS MORE INVESTIGATORS
THE FOCUS WAS ON MAKING SURE THAT THIS ALTERNATIVE WAS IN PLACE RATHER THAN, SORT OF, AT THE
SAME TIME ENFORCEMENT DOES NEED INVESTIGATORS IF THAT'S HELPFUL.
WHAT I WILL SAY, TOO, IS I PARTICIPATED, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COMMUNITY MEETINGS DID
ABOUT THIS PROCESS TO HEAR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, AND WHAT I SAY
IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS POSITION WITH BEING A NEUTRAL
BODY WHEN COMPLAINTS ARE BOUGHT THE OFFICES DO FIGHT FOR YOU AND THE FACT THAT OUR INVESTIGATORS
HAVE TO HEAR FROM BOTH PARTIES TRYING TO RESOLVE IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS A BALANCE
IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT THEY ARE -- FOR JUSTICE AT A DIFFERENT JOB THAN THAT, SO WHAT
WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS SAY, OKAY, IF, NOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS OFFICE REALLY
IS ABLE TO DO, IF AN INVESTIGATION ISN'T THE RIGHT PATH, IF WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IS A REFERRAL
TO LEGAL SERVICES OR SOME WAY TO RESOLVE YOUR DISPUTE, THIS IS ANOTHER PATH THAT WE CAN
TAKE, THANK YOU, AUSHA FOR TRIGGERING MY MEMORY WHAT THESE ARE LIKE, IT REALLY WAS EYE OPENING
TO HEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS JUST HOW FRUSTRATED THEY WERE WITH THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OFFICE
BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS THAT THE OFFICE HAS WITH THE KIND OF WORK THEY DO.
OKAY COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE HEARING YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF OTHERS WERE AS WELL, BUT I THINK THAT
JUST AS YOU WERE SAYING CAME THROUGH, I KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS, IT IS CHALLENGING TRYING TO
DO THIS BY ZOOM, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COULD NOT HEAR A SPECIFIC ANSWER IN COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALAS' COMMENTS?
I THINK I, JUST WHAT IT WAS, I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.
I GUESS THE ONE LAST PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SORT OF HEAR FROM YOU
ALL IF YOU HAVE IT, IF NOT, THAT'S OKAY, IS WHETHER OR NOT WHETHER THERE HAVE BEEN ANY
CONVERSATIONS WITH OCR AROUND, IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A RESTORATION OF DOLLARS FOR A
PARTICULAR POSITION WHETHER THEY HAVE A GREATER NEED ON THE INVESTIGATION SIDE OR A GREATER
NEED ON THE MEDIATOR SIDE.
OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW OCR, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU COMPARE
IT WITH OAS IS NOT FUNDED,EQUITABLY IN TERMS OF THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM AS A WHOLE, AND,
YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBALD HAS SPOKEN VERY ELOQUENTLY ABOUT HER DISCOMFORT WITH
THAT, I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN HER MOUTH, I'M SURE SHE'LL CHIME IN HERE, I DO WORRY
ABOUT FUNDING MEDIATORS OVER INVESTIGATORS BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THE TEAM EXISTS IN
TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT WITH THE FULL INTEND OF OUR LAW IN THE INVESTIGATION SIDE AS OPPOSED
TO THE MEDIATION SIDE AND SO I JUST WANT TO FLAG, NOT SORT OF A LACK OF SUPPORT FOR GIVING
OCR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BUT HAVING THEM, A DEEPER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS
THE RIGHT BUCKET, WHETHER THERE NEEDS TO BE A DIFFERENT BUCKET THAT WE SUPPORT IN ORDER
TO CONTINUE TO RESOURCE OCR, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE INTENT AND DESIRE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES FOR LESS RESOURCES AS OPPOSED TO THE REBALANCING PACKAGE.
I'M HAPPY TO HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION WITH THEM AND SEE IF THERE IS A SHIFTING THAT WE
NEED TO DO SO WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TO
SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
MEMBER HERBALD PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AS
BOTH SHE AND AUSHA EXPLAINED THIS WAS A HIGH- PRIORITY FOR THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT THAT
THE COUNCIL SUPPORTED, IT WAS A HIGH PRIORITY PARTIALLY IN ADDITION TO THE EQUITY ISSUES
DESCRIBED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS, ALSO A HIGH PRIORITY IN CONSIDERATION OF THE WORKLOAD
FOR FULL INVESTIGATIONS PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL'S FUNDING OF THIS POSITION, THERE WASN'T A SECOND
PATH, THE ONLY PATH WAS ALL CASES WENT TO FULL INVESTIGATION, ONE WAY MUCH LIKE THE
OPA DID FOR ITS CREATION OF A MEDIATION ONE WAY OF INVESTIGATOR CASE LOADS IS BY GIVING
PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINTS I DID SOUNDED TO ME LIKE IT WAS A HIGH PRIORITY OFFICE HAS
BEEN IN THE FUTURE, HAS BEEN AN ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS NEW PROGRAM TO ACT AS A SECOND PATH
FOR PEOPLE WITH COMPLAINTS TO TAKE HAS BEEN A PRIORITY IN PRIOR YEARS AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
SEEING NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, AUSHA DID I CUT YOU OFF WERE YOU ABOUT TO
SAY SOMETHING?
I WANTED TO MAKE ONE MORE POINT JUST WITH THE SELLER SAVINGS PROPOSED BY OCR, BY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH THIS POSITION IN WHICH THEY BROUGHT UP THE ENTIRE YEAR'S WORTH OF
POSITION, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE USED FOR THE POSITION, THE POSITIONS
THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FILLED HAVE HALF YEAR SUPPORT OF SALARY THIS WOULD PUT THE POSITION IN ORDER
TO FILL AN ENFORCEMENT POSITION, THE FIRST SIX MONTHS ALREADY HAPPENED BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T
BEEN HIRED IF THAT MAKES SENSE, YOU STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO HIRE AN ENFORCEMENT POSITION
FOR THE LATTER SIX MONTHS ASSUMING THE FUNDS FOR THAT STILL EXIST.
SEEING FOLKS NOD THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT ADDITIONAL PIECE OF INFORMATION.
I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS, YOU TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER
OF INDIVIDUAL CLASSIFICATIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER ADDED, I WAS HAPPY TO HAVE ADDED PROTECTIONS
FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS ON THE LABOR SIDE, WORK WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS,
FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED THE CLASSIFICATION TO BE PROTECTED THANKS FOR FLAGGING ALL THE
WORK THEY ARE DOING, ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO ADD THEIR NAME AS A CO-SPONSOR?
COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT, I SEE YOU COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUS I SEE YOU AS WELL.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUS, HERBOLT AND COUNCIL MEMBER ON THIS AMENDMENT WHICH IS AMENDMENT
NUMBER 10.
LET'S MOVE ONTO AMENDMENT NUMBER 11 THANKS FOR GYNOING US.
I WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CENTRAL STAFF I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO AMENDMENT NUMBER 11 AS THE
COUNCIL MEMBER IS CO- SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS MORALAS AND SALANT, THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD ADD $75,000 TO THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS TO PARTIALLY RESTORE FUNDING FOR THREE SENIOR
INVESTIGATOR POSITIONS AND THESE POSITIONS ARE VACANT DUE TO THE SIX MONTH TIME PERIOD
FREEZE THAT WOULD HAVE REDUCED BY 150,000.
, ALLOW TO FILL THESE POSITIONS FOR THREE MONTHS OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER, WOULD SUPPORT
THEIR ABILITY TO CONDUCT THEIR INVESTIGATION AND INQUIRY.
THEY MAKE THEIR POSITIONS FOR THREE MONTHS WOULD ALLOW, DURING AUGUST AND DURING SEPTEMBER.
THE MONEY FOR THIS AMENDMENT WOULD COME FROM FAS, $75,000 CUT THAT WOULD COME FROM SALARY
SAVINGS THAT AUSHA ALSO REFERENCED YESTERDAY AS WELL, THAT WOULD IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO
BE PRIORITIZE THE ONE TIME SALARY SAVINGS FROM FAS DEPARTMENT.
AND I'LL LEAVE IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER MORALIS TO SAY MORE.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANKS, I WANT TO FIRST THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS WITH
ME, AS WE JUST SAID, BOTH OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS HAVE
REALLY IMPORTANT INVESTIGATIVE WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
IN THIS CASE, IN PARTICULAR, THAT THOSE GET INVESTIGATED AND THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THE
CHALLENGES THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE AND OUR WORKERS IN SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES
HAVE, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POSITIONS, THESE THREE POSITIONS ARE RESTORED SO THAT
WORK CAN CONTINUE TO PROTECT ALL OF THOSE CLASSES AND LABOR POSITIONS THAT THE CITY
HAS BEEN SO STRONG PUTTING IN PLACE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS .
THE LABOR STANDARDS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE WE KNOW LABOR LAWS, ESPECIALLY, IN GENERAL
ORDNANCES NEED TO HAVE STRONG ENFORCEMENT ARE SOMETIMES WAITING TO STOP LOOKING AT THEIR
CASES, THE MAYOR HAVE WAGES UNREMEDIES WE KNOW IT IS DISPROPORTIONATELY FOR INVESTIGATIVE
POSITION THIS AMENDMENT WILL FUND THE POSITION, BUT MY OFFICE ALSO PREPARED AN AMENDMENT 1%
OF THE POLICE PATROL BUDGET.
WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO DO BUT THIS WOULD BE THE RIGHT THING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE CO- SPONSORS, ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THIS IS A QUESTION NOT SPECIFIC TO THIS PROPOSAL, IN GENERAL, ALL THE PROPOSALS WE ARE RESTORING
TO THE FREEZE, WE RESTORE FUNDING THAT HAVE BEEN HELD VACANT BECAUSE OF THE HIRING FREEZE,
WHAT DO THE DEPARTMENTS DO IN RESPONSE TO THE COUNCIL'S RESTORATION OF FUNDING.
ARE THEY GOING TO PUT IN FOR A HIRING FREEZE WAIVER BASED UPON THE COUNCIL'S ACTION, I
REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STEPS THEY WOULD TAKE GIVEN THE MAYOR HAS A HIRING FREEZE,
I WOULD CONSIDER IF WE WOULD CONSIDER NOT JUST FOR THIS PROPOSED AD FOR GLOBALLY FOR
ALL OF THE VACANT POSITIONS THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING RESTORING THAT HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO THE HIRING
FREEZE WHETHER OR NOT WE WANTED A COMPANY RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT THAT PROVIDES
SOME CLARITY ABOUT WHAT THE COUNCIL'S EXPECTATIONS ARE THESE ARE THE DEPARTMENT'S ACTIONS IN
RESPONSE TO THE RESTORATION, WHAT WE EXPECT IN THE MAYOR'S RESPONSE AS WELL COUNCIL MEMBER,
DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND?
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO CATALOG ALL OF THESE POSITIONS BEING RESTORED
AND COMMUNICATE THAT TO CBO, MANAGES THE EXCEPTIONS OF PROGRAM, IF THEY THINK THEY NEED SOMETHING
MORE LIKE A RESOLUTION, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'LL WORK ON THAT, SO LET'S GET BACK TO YOU ON
THE NEXT STEPS.
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS?
A FEW QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES AS YOU KNOW IN EACH OF THE BUDGET, DEBATES WE'VE HAD IN THE
PAST FEW YEARS ARE LEADING THE EFFORT TO PUT MORE OF THE FUNDING INTO THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE TO TRY TO MOVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING
INTO OLS, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS WHAT THE EXECUTIVE INTENDED THESE DOLLARS TO BE USED
FOR ORIGINALLY, FROM OLS, HAVE WE HEARD ABOUT THEIR CAPACITY TO HIRE BY OCTOBER FOR THESE
POSITIONS, THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS WOULD BE TOWARDS THE GENERAL FUND SHORT FALL THAT HAPPENED
IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID EMERGENCY, WE WOULD NEED TO CHECK IF THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
HAVE THE TWO-MONTH PROCESS, I CAN COMMENT TO THE FACT OAS STARTED A HIRING PROCESS FOR
THESE POSITIONS EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND SO ALL OF THE PIECES ARE IN PLACE, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING
THEY ARE EXCITED FOR THE CANDIDATES BUT THE HIRING PROCESS DID NEED TO STOOP DUE TO THE
HIRING FREEZE.
PART OF THE ISSUE WITH A LONG HIRING PROCESS, THE PIECES ARE IN PLACE THE JOB POSTINGS NOT
READY, I THINK THAT THOSE ITEMS WOULD BE ALREADY READY TO GO IN THIS SITUATION, I CAN CHECK
WITH THE OAS OR CEO TO MAKE SURE.
THE PROCESS FOR HIRING FORTHESE POSITIONS ON THE CUSP OF MAKING AN OFFER AND THE FREEZE
WENT INTO EFFECT, THE QUESTION WOULD BE WHETHER OR NOT THE CANDIDATES ARE STILL AVAILABLE,
IF NOT HOW THEY DO AN EXPEDITED PROCESS.
I BELIEVE THIS HIRING PROCESS WAS MUCH EARLIER IN THE YEAR, I DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN, IT
WAS PRECOVID, OR ON THE CUSP OF COVID, THEY HAVE NOT CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS YET BUT EXCITED
ABOUT THE CANDIDATES SELECTED FOR INTERVIEWS.
WHETHER OR NOT THOSE FOLKS STILL ARE LOOKING FOR A POSITION, THAT'S SOMETHING I AM LOOKING
INTO TO FIND OUT MORE.
QUESTION ABOUT 2021, DO WE HAVE ANY CERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT THE EXECUTIVE OR MAYOR'S OFFICE
IS CONSIDERING FOR MAINTAINING THE THREE INVESTIGATORS IF THEY WERE PICKED AND HIRED WITHIN THIS
SHORT TIME FRAME GIVEN THE CLIFF WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT IS IT POSSIBLE THEY WOULD ONLY BE ON?
WE DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION I IMAGINE THAT SORT OF INFORMATION WOULD COME IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET THAT OLS WOULD SUBMIT IN ADVANCE OF THE 2021 PROPOSED BUDGET IS APPLICABLE
TO THEIR UNIQUE SITUATION WITH THE AMERICAN LABOR FUNDS, MY SENSE IS THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE 2021 PROPOSED BUDGET.
>>> OKAY.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
I MEAN, I THINK THEY GAVE AN EXCELLENT RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION TO RAISE ABOUT TO HIRE, THEY
HAVE HAD EXCELLENT CANDIDATES WHAT COULD BE BETTER, ALSO JUST, ONCE THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE,
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY'LL GET ON THAT, WE HAVE, A NUMBER OF THE WORKERS IN THE OFFICE
OF LABOR STANDARDS, THEY REALLY BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY DO THEY CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE
DOING, THEY ARE FRUSTRATED NOT BEING ABLE TO FILL THAT STAFF POSITION, PERSONALLY I
HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THEY'LL BE EAGER TO GET ON IT ONCE THEY KNOW THE POSITIONS
CAN BE FUNDED.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT.
I'M NOT SEEING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR CO-SPONSORSHIP IF YOU ARE INTERESTED
IN COSPONSORING PLEASE LET ME KNOW, I'M GOING TO ADD MY NAME TO THIS AS A CO- SPONSOR AS
WELL, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
IF THIS AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SUSTAINED OLS FUNDING OR INVESTIGATOR
POSITIONS IN THE 2021, 2022 BUDGET SO WE CONTINUE TO PREVENT THAT TYPE OF CLIFF THAT WE KNOW
IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE PROPOSED AND WITH THAT I'LL ADD MY NAME, ANY ADDITIONAL FOLKS
WANT TO ADD THEIR NAME?
COUNCIL MEMBER, AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
OKAY.
I SEE COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUS, CO-SPONSORS TO AMENDMENT NUMBER
ELEVEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CO-SPONSORS, SALANT AND MORALAS, LET'S GO TO NUMBER 12.
THIS IS THE LAST AMENDMENT FOR OUR CONSIDERATION FOR TODAY, SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUS.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER, LOOKS LIKE LITCH, WELCOME.
COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS IS A PROVISO WOULD BE PLACED ON THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT TO RESERVE
$15,000 TO TRANSLATE MATERIALS RELATED TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKER,
A YEAR AGO THE COUNCIL ADOPTED NEW LEGISLATION AND THIS WOULD PROVIDE INFORMATION IN WHICH
HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BUILDING ADDITIONAL UNITS ON THEIR PROPERTY, COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUS IS A SPONSOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUS, PLEASE, GO AHEAD.
THE PROPOSED DIVISION DOES INCLUDE THIS $15,000 CUT FROM OPCD THAT WAS AS LISTED INTENDED
TO FUND THE TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES FOR THESE NEW LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN
PUT IN PLACE A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AS WE ALL KNOW AS THE CITY COUNCIL ACTED TO
ALLOW FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, WE KNOW THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE ABLE
TO INTERPRET THIS INFORMATION, READ THIS INFORMATION, DIGEST THIS INFORMATION IN LANGUAGE THAT EASY
FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THESE ARE TECHNICAL AND DETAILED PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT IS
NOT A BLAND, CALL THIS NUMBER, FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND IT IS NOT A SERVICE THAT CAN
BE PROVIDED BY LESS THAN EXTREMELY ARTICULATE FOLKS WHO ARE FLUENT IN LANGUAGE, WE CAN'T
USE BASIC TRANSLATION SERVICES, ADU PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ADDITIONAL INCOME FOR
STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS WHO BUILD ADDITIONAL WEALTH, ADD AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO COMMUNITIES,
IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WE MAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
CITY ANALYSIS AS LAST YEAR'S ADU LEGISLATION FOUND ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION DOES CREATE
BARRIERS, RACIAL DISPARITY FOR HOUSING OPTIONS IS FURTHER EXAGGERATED IF WE DON'T PROVIDE
THIS INFORMATION IN LANGUAGE, I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS WORTH CUTTING THESE TRANSLATION SERVICES
IN ORDER TO SAVE $15,000 IN A BUDGET OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS I'VE BEEN TOLD EVEN THE SMALL
COST OF THIS ITEM OF PCD SHOULD PROVIDE NECESSARY FUNDING WITHOUT INCREASING THE OVER ALL BUDGET,
THIS PROVIDES IF THEY DO SO BY ENSURING $15,000 OF THEIR BUDGET TO ONLY BE SPENT ON PROVIDING
TRANSLATION OF RDU MATERIALS WHICH, AGAIN, IS DETAILED TECHNICAL AND NEEDS A FLUENT SPEAKER
RATHER THAN BASIC TRANSLATION SERVICE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
WONDERFUL COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ PLEASE GO AHEAD.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I HAVE, IN THIS PARTICULAR SPACE, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS FOR IDENTIFYING THIS AS A POTENTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE REBALANCING PACKAGE I WANT
TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.
THERE IS A LOT IN THE REBALANCING PACKAGE WHICH I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH, THIS IS ONE
OF THE, THIS IS ONE OF THE PROPOSED CUTS I FIND MOST OFFENSIVE IN THE REBALANCING PACKAGE,
I THINK IT IS COMPLETELY CONTRARY TO OUR STATED COMMITMENT TO LANGUAGE ACCESS TO PROVIDING
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY WHO COULD AND
SHOULD BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE ADU PROGRAM AND WHO FRANKLY WOULD BENEFIT THE GREATEST
FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE ADU PROGRAM TO PROPOSE A CUT THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY LEAVE
THOSE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS OR LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT SPEAKERS COMPLETELY IN THE DARK
AS TO A REALLY IMPORTANT HOME STABILIZATION DISPLACEMENT, ANTI-DISPLACEMENT TOOL AVAILABLE
TO THEM IS JUST WRONG.
AND REALLY WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT AND TO PUT BACK
INTO PLACE REALLY IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO THE ADU PROGRAM THAT I ADVOCATED FOR LAST YEAR
WHICH IS TO FUND TRANSLATION AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS AND LIMITED
ENGLISH PROFICIENT SPEAKERS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS ADU PROGRAM WHICH AT THE TIME
THE MAYOR ADVOCATED WAS INTENDED FOR EXACTLY THOSE POPULATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT COULD BE INTENDED FOR THOSE POPULATIONS IF WE ARE NOW GOING TO LEAVE
THEM IN THE DARK IN TERMS OF MEANINGFUL ROBUST UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACT THAT THIS PROGRAM
EVEN EXISTS IF WE ARE ONLY GOING TO DO IT IN ENGLISH.
SO I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS ONE, AND HOPE THAT COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN SPONSORING
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS'S AMENDMENT.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS, GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND EVEN THOUGH, I SUPPORT THIS,
EVEN THOUGH I HAD CONCERNS WITH SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE RECENT ADU LEGISLATION,
I AGREE WITH THE GOALS OF HAVING, ENABLING PEOPLE TO BUILD THAT WEALTH AND TO ECHO WHAT
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ IS SAYING, WE NEED TO HAVE THE TRANSLATION SERVICES TO DO THAT,
I HAVE SOME CONSTITUENTS WHO ATTENDED THE SEMINARS FOR THE LEGISLATION, THEY WERE DISMAYED
AT THE LACK OF DIVERSITY, THE AUDIENCE, TO HEAR ABOUT THESE NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
THE TRANSLATION SERVICES ARE THE BEAR MINIMUM WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH AFFIRMATIVELY MARKETING
THIS PROGRAM FOR FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, I THINK WHEN WE BEGIN THIS CONVERSATION
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I ASKED OUR COLLEAGUES TO SO THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE NOT BEARING
THE BURDEN OF THE CUTS IN THE CITY, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, AT MY DISTRICT
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK, I THINK, 100- SOMETHING DIFFERENT LANGUAGES WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR CITY GOVERNMENT IS DOING PARTICULARLY IF THERE ARE WAYS TO SUPPORT
INCREASING WEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, SO, IT IS NOT JUST PLANNING DOCUMENTS, IT
IS LOAN DOCUMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, OPTIONS FOR UNDERSTANDING PARKS
AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND EDUCATION, WE NEED TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB AS A CITY OF MAKING SURE
THAT OUR RULES, OUR POLICIES, OUR DECISIONS, ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN THE DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES THAT THEY SPEAK.
SO I APPRECIATE THIS AS A REALLY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP, I WOULD ASK LISH, IF YOU HAVE
ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY LANGUAGES THIS $15,000 WOULD ALLOW US TO TRANSLATE BECAUSE
AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS TRIED REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE MATERIALS ARE TRANSLATED IN THE PAST,
I KNOW THAT IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO IT IN SO MANY
LANGUAGES AS POSSIBLE.
I DO HAVE THAT QUESTION FOR YOU, LISCH, THANK YOU.
I'LL ASK THE DEPARTMENT WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO THE SPONSOR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, I DID
GET A NOTE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, WHEN WE GET TO CO- SPONSORSHIP
I'LL BE LISTING HER NAME, WE HAVE SEEN MORE AND MORE PEOPLE FACING HOUSING AND SECURITY
DUE TO THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF COVID, I THINK THIS IS REALLY TIMELY VERY APPROPRIATE FOR
2020 REBALANCING PACKAGE AND GIVEN THE NATURE OF COVID AND HOW IT SPREADS WE WANT TO CONTINUE
TO PUSH FOR AS MANY OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE FOR FOLKS TO STAY STABLY HOUSED AND ACROSS OUR
COMMUNITY HELP PROVIDE THAT.
THESE STRUCTURES CAN HOUSE FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, ENABLE FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO
MAKE THEIR ENDS MEET AND PAY MORTGAGE, THE ABILITY TO GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO CAPTURE
SOME VALUE FROM THEIR PROPERTIES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST AND HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE ALLOW FOR
FOLKS THAT BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH AS WELL AS FIRST TIME HOMEOWNER SHIP OPTIONS TO ALLOW
FOR US TO GET A LEGACY OF RACIST RED LINING AND PRECLUDING PEOPLE FROM HAVING HOMEOWNER
SHIP OPTIONS IS SOMETHING I'M EXCITED ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE.
GIVEN THE RESULTS OF THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT CONDUCTED ON ADDING POLICY LAST YEAR WHICH
FOUND ACCESS TO CAPITOL AND INFORMATION ABOUT ADDED POLICIES AND FINANCING OPTIONS COULD
BE A BARRIER TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING INFORMATION OUT THERE, IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, UNDER SCORING WHAT
OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID AND I ALSO WILL BE SUPPORTING.
DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, COUNCIL COMMENTS ANYTHING ADDITIONAL.
LOOKING FOR CO-SPONSORS ON AMENDMENT NUMBER 12, COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ INDICATED SUPPORT,
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS, I THINK I SEE EVERYBODY FRANKLY.
LET ME MAKE SURE I GOT EVERYONE TO SEE IF WE MISSED ANYONE HERE.
OKAY.
SO IN MY READ, I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALAS, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS,
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLT, COUNCIL MEMBER SALANT, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ,
AND MYSELF, THAT IS A FULL COUNCIL LIST OF CO- SPONSORS TO GO WITH SPONSORS.
THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION ON THAT ONE.
CENTRAL STAFF, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO COVER IN THE BILL 119825, THE PREVIOUS
PACKAGES THAT WE COVERED WAS AMENDMENTS TO COUNCIL 119818 WHICH WAS IN PACKAGE ONE, COUNCIL
11982 WHICH WAS IN PACKET TO.
I'M LOOKING FOR YOU TO SEE ANY COMMENTS ON THE LAST 24 HOURS.
I WILL ASK THE DIRECTOR IF SHE HAD ANYTHING SHE WANTED TO ADD THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL
AMENDMENTS THAT WE PUT FORWARD AS WE REBALANCE THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF US THANKING STAFF FOR
WORK, WE KNOW WE ARE HALF WAY THROUGH DISCUSSIONS THROUGH AMENDMENTS THAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
NEXT WEDNESDAY WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS, THANKS FOR THE ENTIRE
TEAM WHO PROVIDED INFORMATION THUS FAR, WE HEARD FROM LISCH, AUSHA, AND CORRINA, I'M
LOOKING TO SEE IF WE HEARD FROM ANYBODY ELSE FROM CENTRAL STAFF, SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR
PROVIDING THAT TODAY.
THAT DOES BRING US TO THE END OF THE AMENDMENTS OWN THESE FIRST THREE ITEMS IS THERE ANYTHING
ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER?
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER YOU ARE WELCOME TO, OTHERWISE
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, I THINK YOU ARE ON MUTE, SORRY.
OF COURSE, I AM, I KNOW THE VIEWING PUBLIC, JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WHAT I THOUGHT WAS
A HANDS UP.
THANK YOU CHAIR MASKATA FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FURTHER ORDER OF THE OPPORTUNITY,
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, OF COURSE, SAY THANKS TO ALL OF OUR COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE BACKGROUND THE GENERAL PUBLIC DOESN'T GET THE PRIVILEGE
OF SEEING, I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO GET US ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO MAKE
SOME IMPORTANT POLICY DECISIONS AND THE COURSE OF THESE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS IN ADDITION TO
FISCAL DECISIONS IN MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION, THANKS TO TECHNOLOGY
FOLKS FOR DOING REMOTE MEETINGS AND MAKING IT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL PUBLIC COMMENT.
I REALLY JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPORTANT DECISIONS
TO MAKE HERE I WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET CHAIR FOR GETTING THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT AND HEATED
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET NOT JUST IN GENERAL FUND SENSE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET IN THE DISCISSIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE, WE CONTINUE TO OBVIOUSLY
RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PUBLIC COMMENT RELATED TO THE PROPOSALS TO DEFUND THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TO REDIRECT FUNDING TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT
PUBLIC SAFETY INTERVENTIONS THAT WILL MEET, KEEP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAFE, PARTICULARLY
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I KNOW NEXT WEEK WE'LL HAVE A CONTINUING CONVERSATION
AROUND THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
WE CONTINUE TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AND IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE, PUBLIC COMMENTS IN PARTICULAR,
THERE HAVE BEEN ACTIONS, DIRECT ACTIONS ON THE HOMES OF COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON AND COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ, THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY HAVE SEEN A STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THAT, I CONTINUE
TO BELIEVE THAT DEMONSTRATIONS ARE VERY POWERFUL TOOL TO EFFECTUATE A CHANGE TO CHALLENGE THE
STATUS QUO FOR A SOCIAL CHANGE THAT IS IMPORTANT FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF HAVING IT BE PEOPLE-DRIVEN
AND COMMUNITY- DRIVEN, BUT THAT ALSO, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T SUPPORT, YOU KNOW,
THE FEELING OF SECURITY AND SAFETY OF ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND CERTAINLY OUR COLLEAGUES
WHO ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO THESE DIRECT ACTIONS.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO USE THE TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ENGAGE
WITH US AS YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE HAVE HAD COUNTLESS HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO USE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS I KNOW A LOT OF YOU WHO
CALL ON NOR PUBLIC COMMENT CAN'T SEE ALL OF US, OFTEN TIME SEE THE TIMER OR THE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE BUT WE ARE ALL HERE, WE ARE LISTENING, WE ARE ALL ENGAGED AND WANT TO
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE YOUR COMMENTS.
SO I JUST WANT TO JUST PUBLICLY TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT I HOPE WE CAN CHANNEL OUR FRUSTRATION
THROUGH THESE CHANNELS AND THAT I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US AS A COUNCIL AND REPRESENTATIVES
OF OUR CONSTITUENTS TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO INVITE EACH OTHER INTO THESE CONVERSATIONS
AND TO DO THAT IN A WAY THAT FEELS MEANINGFUL AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO RISE TO THE OCCASION
AND DEAL WITH SOME OF THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT ARE FACING US AND DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT
ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE ARE BEING CALLED UPON TO ANSWER AND TO DEAL
WITH DIRECTLY.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT ON THE RECORD HERE AS WE TURN THE CORNER
FROM THESE GENERAL CONVERSATIONS TOWARDS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE SPD BUDGET AND ANYMORE PARTICULAR
DETAIL, I JUST WANT TO URGE US ALL TO BE PATIENT WITH EACH OTHER AND TO APPROACH EACH OTHER
WITH A DEGREE OF CARE AND WELCOMING IN EACH OTHER TO OUR CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE
SO MUCH IMPORTANT WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND WE NEED EACH OTHER TO MAKE THAT, TO GET
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, MADAME PRESIDENT, VERY WELL SAID, DID I SEE ANOTHER HAND?
OKAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS AND YOUR STATEMENT COUNCIL MEMBER
PRESIDENT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AS WE'RE DEALING WITH ISSUES WITH THE COUNTRY, I KNOW
OUR CITY CAN BECOME MORE AND MORE DIVIDED, ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING
HERE ARE NOT EASY IF THEY WERE EASY THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO, WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT DRAMATICALLY CHANGING INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE ROOTED DEEP IN PUBLIC POLICY AND TRYING
TO UPROOT SOME OF THOSE PAST SYSTEMS IS REALLY CHALLENGING WORK, I COMPLETELY GET THAT AND
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALLOWING FOLKS TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS, EXPRESS THEIR
FRUSTRATION AND TO PRACTICE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND MAKE SURE WHEN IT DOES CROSS INTO,
YOU KNOW, PROFANITIES AT CHILDREN OR THE LETTERS AND COMMENTS WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING ABOUT DEATH
THREATS AND THE SUCH, I THINK THAT IT IS REALLY HARD FOR OUR BODY AS A WHOLE TO CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD IN A PROACTIVE AND PROGRESSIVE MANNER, IN THE MANNER IN WHICH WE WANT TO
CREATE THAT POSITIVE CHANGE, I THINK THAT IT ADDS TO THE DIVISION THAT I DON'T THINK
ANY OF US REALLY WANT TO SEE IN THIS CITY RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE THESE
MASSIVE PUBLIC POLICY CHANGES.
I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES I KNOW SOME COMMENTS HAVE
BEEN DIRECTED AT CERTAIN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT COME TO OUR
DEFENSE.
THIS IS NO DIFFERENT SO I WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND EVERY SINGLE
PERSON HERE, NO MATTER IF WE DISAGREE ON PUBLIC POLICY, YOU HAVE ABSOLUTE THE RIGHT TO FEEL
SAFE AND TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS YOUR DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AND IN THIS SITUATION, I THINK
WE'RE ALL SORT OF GROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND SAME BOAT, WE HAVE FACED SIMILAR CHALLENGES
IN THE PAST TO TRY TO UPROOT PAST PUBLIC POLICIES AS IT RELATED TO LABOR STANDARDS AND THIS
COUNCIL HAS BEEN, I THINK, ON THE FRONTLINE OF SHOWING WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BOTH LISTEN
TO DIVERSE PROTESTS STRATEGIES AND TO HAVE THOSE WHO ARE PUSHING FROM THE OUTSIDE HAVE
THEIR VOICES LIFTED UP BUT WE WANT TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT MAKES SURE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE
IN THEIR OWN HOMES TO HAVE CONSTRUCTIVE PUBLIC POLICIES JUST AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND
PROTECTING AND DEFENDING OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IN PAST YEARS I WANT TO ECHO MY APPRECIATION
FOR THE WORDS THAT YOU HAVE SHARED VIA YOUR STATEMENT AND ECHO THOSE STATEMENTS TO SAY
WE STAND BY ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORTING YOU AND WANTING YOU
TO FEEL SAFE IN YOUR OWN HOMES.
AS MUCH AS WE ALSO WANT OUR STAFF TO BE SAFE FROM THE THREATS THEY RECEIVE ON COUNCIL AND
FOR MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA TO ALSO BE PROTECTED IN
THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
SO THIS IS THE, LOOKING FORWARD TO REALLY ENGAGING WITH YOU ALL AND THE PUBLIC AS WE
LOOK TO CREATE THE INSTITUTIONAL AND RADICAL CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU.
OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU WORK TODAY WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY AT 10 A.M.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE
HAVE UPCOMING ON MONDAY, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PRESIDENT
FOR STEERING US THROUGH MONDAY'S DISCUSSION, COUNCIL MEMBER, STAY SAFE AND APPRECIATE ALL
THAT
YOU HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF HERE AS WE
HAVE ENGAGED IN PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON REBALANCING THE 2020 REBALANCING PACKAGE.
TAKE CARE, EVERYBODY, THANKS AGAIN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
FOR
YOUR WORDS.
THANKS, EVERYBODY.