>>> GOOD AFTERNOON COLLEAGUES.
THE MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT'S 2:05 P.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> SAWANT.
>> HERE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
PEDERSON.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> HERE.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
COLLEAGUES, WITHER GOING TO
HAVE TO DO SOME ADMINISTRATIVE
STUFF HERE BEFORE WE GET INTO
ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
FIRST UP THE SUSPENSION OF THE
RULES.
AS I MENTIONED THIS MORNING THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SILENT ON
ALLOWING REMOTE MEETINGS AND
ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION AT
CITY COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE
MEETINGS.
TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING
REMOTELY I WILL MOVE TO SUSPEND
THE COUNCIL RULES THROUGH
JANUARY 19th , 2021.
AS I MENTIONED THIS MORNING
THAT WOULD BRING US UP TO DATE
IN TERMS OF THE RENEWED
PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY GOVERNOR
INSLEE RELATED TO OPEN PUBLIC
MEETINGS ACT AND ITS
APPLICABILITY TO GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES INCLUDING THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC MEETINGS --
THROUGH JANUARY 19th, 2021.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND
CITY COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY
MEETINGS WILL BE HELD REMOTELY
WITH COUNCILMEMBERS
PARTICIPATING ELECTRONICALLY
THROUGH AT LEAST JANUARY 19th,
2021.
OKAY.
PRESENTATIONS, WE HAVE ONE
PRESENTATION THIS AFTERNOON AND
THAT WILL REPRESENTED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ASK QUESTIONS OR MAKE COMMENTS
BEFORE I ASK IF THEY WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE THEIR SIGNATURES ON THE
PROCLAMATION.
WE WILL HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD ADDRESS THE
PROCLAMATION, HEAR QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS IF ANY.
AND I WILL ASK -- TO DETERMINE
WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS'
SIGNATURES WILL BE AFFIXED TO
THE PROCLAMATION.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> THIS IS IN RECOGNITION OF
THE BRAVERY, CREATIVITY AND
ABILITIES OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND A COLLECTIVE
GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE
ABLE TO COME TOGETHER TO CREATE
A NATIONAL MODEL FOR COMMUNITY
TESTING, WHICH HAS BEEN
REPLICATED ACROSS THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
SINCE JUNE 5th, 2020, SEATTLE'S
FOUR COMMUNITY TEST SITES HAVE
ADMINISTERED NEARLY 500,000
COVID-19 TESTS.
AND CHIEF SCOGGINS IS HERE TO
ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION ON
BEHALF OF THOSE NAMED.
AND I WOULD LIKE, IF IT PLEASE
THE COUNCIL, TO READ THE
PROCLAMATION AS FOLLOWS.
WHEREAS SEATTLE MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN, DEPUTY MAYOR MICHAEL
FONG AND STAFF JULIE KLEIN AND
LEAH TIFF YOWLEY IMMEDIATELY
RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR
WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY TESTING
AND WORKED WITH LOCAL HEALTH
OFFICIALS TO DRIVE POLICY TO
IMPLEMENT TEST SITES WITHIN THE
CITY AND WHEREAS SEATTLE FIRE
CHIEF HAROLD SCOGGINS AND
MEDICAL DIRECTOR DR. MICHAEL
SAYER LED THE WAY IN HAVING THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT TAKE ON THIS
NEW ROLE OF SERVING THE
COMMUNITY BY OBTAINING APPROVAL
TO HAVE EMTs AND PARAMEDICS
PARAMEDIC JOHN LOVING WELL-
STEPPED INTO THE ROLE OF
INITIALLY TRAINING AND
SUPERVISING UNIFORM AND
CIVILIAN STAFF AT THE FOUR
SITES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
PARAMEDIC BECKY MATTHEWS
OVERSEES THE NOTIFICATION GROUP
RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACTING
PEOPLE WHO HAVE TESTED
POSITIVE, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
SERVICES DIVISION DIRECTOR
SHEILA KELLY AND JULIE MOTTS
MOTO -- DON MCDERMOTT, NONILA
MASSMELA, MIKE WONG AND MELISSA
MIXON INSURED THE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, TESTING
SITE SUPPLIES, SIGNAGE AND SITE
CONSTRUCTION NEEDS WERE MET.
AND IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR
INSURING SITES ARE READY TO
OPERATE DURING THE WINTER
MONTHS AND FSA REAL ESTATE
SERVICES KAREN, LANE AND
RICHARD EMBRY SECURED LEASES IN
RECORD TIME FOR THE AURORA AND
SOTO SITES, AND FAS PURCHASING
AND CONTRACTING PRESLEY PALMER,
JULIE SALINAS, DAVID McKLEIN
AND PAM, FACILITATED ORDERING
ALL OF THE SUPPLIES AND
CUSTOMER SERVICE BUREAU
ANSWERED THOUSANDS OF CALLS
FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE
TESTING SITES.
MAYOR'S OFFICE HIGHTOWER AND
SFD COMMUNICATIONS STAFF WORKED
CLOSELY WITH SEATTLE/KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TO
ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF SITES
AND ENSURE THE COMMUNITY WAS
MADE AWARE OF WHO SHOULD SEEK
TESTING.
COORDINATED TRANSLATION OF KEY
TESTING INFORMATION TO REACH
SEATTLE'S NON-ENGLISH OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS
SPEAKING POPULATION.
AND THE CIVILIAN REGISTRATION
TEXTS AT SFD AND THE AMR,
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEXT AND
PARAMEDICS HAVE WORKED SO
EFFICIENTLY TO TEST UPWARDS OF
6500 PEOPLE PER DAY AT THE FOUR
SITES, AND SEATTLE FOUR
COMMUNITY TEST SITES HAVE
ADMINISTERED 500,000 COVID-19
SITES.
NOW THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
PROCLAIMS MONDAY, DECEMBER
14th AS THE DAY WE RECOGNIZE
THE UNPRECEDENTED AND
UNWAVERING EFFORTS, CREATIVITY,
COMMITTEE AND DEDICATION
DEMONSTRATED BY THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT WHO SURELY SAVED
COUNTLESS LIVES IN OUR
COMMUNITY THAT WOULD HAVE
OTHERWISE BEEN LOST THIS YEAR
DURING THE COVID-19 GLOBAL
PANDEMIC.
WE THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR THAT INSTRUCTION
AND THOSE COMMENTS ON THE
PROCLAMATION.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO ASK IF
THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE PROCLAMATION, WE ARE GOING
TO TAKE QUESTIONS ONLY RIGHT
NOW BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLE.
AFTER WE CALL THE ROLE WE WILL
GO AHEAD AND ASK IF COLLEAGUES
HAVE ANY GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT
THE PROCLAMATION.
SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE JUST GOING
TO RESERVE -- NADYA IS PULLING
ME TO THE SIDE HERE.
SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING TO
RESERVE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR
QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
CONTENTS OF THE PROCLAMATION
BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLE?
HEARING NO QUESTIONS, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE TO
DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS'
SIGNATURES MAY BE AFFIXED TO
THE PROCLAMATION.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO ALL NINE SIGNATURES OF ALL
NINE COUNCILMEMBERS WILL BE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION.
COLLEAGUES, NOW, OF COURSE, I'M
GOING TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE
RULES IN A MOMENT TO ALLOW
CHIEF SCOGGINS TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL AND ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION, BUT BEFORE I DO
THAT, I DID WANT TO OPEN IT UP
TO THE FULL COUNCIL TO SEE IF
THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS BEFORE I GO
AHEAD AND SUSPEND THE RULES TO
ALLOW CHIEF SCOGGINS TO ALLOW
THE PROCLAMATION.
ANY GENERAL COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED TO
ALLOW CHIEF SCOGGINS TO ACCEPT
THE PROCLAMATION AND PROVIDE
BRIEF REMARKS.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED.
CHIEF SCOGGINS, WELCOME TO
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE
YOU IN ORDER TO ALLOW YOU TO
PROVIDE US BRIEF REMARKS IN
ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROCLAMATION
DEVELOPED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL,
PRESIDENT GONZALES,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS --
WELL, YOU 2345EU78D QUITE A
LIST OF PARTNERS AND IT REALLY
TAKES THAT TYPE OF LIST TO
REALLY MAKE THIS GO.
I PROUDLY ACCEPT THIS
PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WHEN I ROLL IT BACK TO LAST
MARCH AND WE START WALKING DOWN
THIS ROAD WITH TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE
DISEASE WAS SPREADING IN THE
DEPARTMENT AND WE STARTED
TESTING OUR OWN FIREFIGHTERS,
NEVER WOULD I HAVE THOUGHT NINE
MONTHS LATER WE WOULD BE REALLY
RUNNING THE COMMUNITY TEST
SITES.
TODAY IS ANOTHER MILESTONE.
WE ARE GOING TO HIT ABOUT
475,000 TODAY, AND THAT'S
REALLY BIG MILESTONE FOR THE
DEPARTMENT.
OVER 16,000 PEOPLE HAVE TESTED
POSITIVE SINCE JUNE 5th AND WE
HAVE CONTACTED EVERY SINGLE ONE
OF THOSE PEOPLE AND GIVEN THEM
CLEAR DIRECTION.
THAT'S THE BECKY MATTHEWS NAME
THAT YOU MENTIONED.
SHE ACTUALLY LEADS THAT TEAM.
YOU KNOW, THE BRAIN CHILD OF
ACTING CAPTAIN BRIAN WALLACE
AND THE TEAM OF NAMES YOU READ
OFF HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY
INCREDIBLE, THE PARTNERSHIPS
WITH LOCAL 27 AND PRESIDENT
KENNY STEWART AND OUR MAYOR
GIVING US GUIDANCE AND
DIRECTION ON WHAT WE NEEDED TO
ACCOMPLISH, A COUPLE OF
PARTNERSHIPS THAT WEREN'T
MENTIONED, THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
PARTNERING COURSE WITH THEM
EARLY ON AND THEY ARE DOING ALL
OF OUR LAB WORK.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AT THE
ATLANTIC CITY BOAT RAMP.
CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STARTING
OFF AT RANIER BEACH HIGH SCHOOL
AND OVER IN WEST SEATTLE, WE
HAVE HAD SO MANY PARTNERSHIPS,
BUT OUR TEAM, OUR FIREFIGHTERS
ARE OVER 100 TEMPORARY
EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE HIRED
HAVE REALLY BEEN DOING JUST AN
AMAZING JOB IN SUPPORTED OF
COMMUNITY AND IT REALLY TIES TO
WHO WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION
AND OUR WHY, IS WE ARE HERE TO
SERVE SO THANK YOU FOR
RECOGNIZING THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND WE PROUDLY ACCEPT THIS
PROCLAMATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF SCOGGINS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SENT OUT
THE TROOPS HERE, BUT JUST AS
YOU WERE WRAPPING UP YOUR
COMMENTS, THERE'S A LADDER
TRUCK THAT JUST SHOWED UP
OUTSIDE MY HOUSE.
>> I THINK THEY ARE COMING TO
PICK IT UP.
>> THERE WE GO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF
SCOGGINS FOR BEING WITH US THIS
AFTERNOON AND FOR THOSE
REMARKS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MEN AND
WOMEN OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FOR ALL OF THE TREMENDOUS WORK
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.
I HAVE PERSONALLY VISITED THE
TESTING SITES MULTIPLE TIMES
THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD OF TIME
AS A SORT OF PROPHYLACTIC
MEASURE, NOT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
SYMPTOMATIC, BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR THE TESTING TO BE
PERIODICALLY DONE AS ONE OF THE
MANY FACTORS YOU TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT YOU ARE INFECTED OR NOT AND
REALLY HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH
THE CARE AND THE COMPASSION
EXPRESSED AT THE TESTING SITES
AND HAVE ALSO BEEN REALLY
IMPRESSED WITH JUST THE SHEER
MAGNITUDE OF THE ORGANIZATION
THAT HAS TO UNFOLD AT MANY OF
THE TESTING SITES IN ORDER FOR
IT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND CALM
AND LIKE A GOOD EXPERIENCE
GIVEN THE DISCOMFORT OF THE
ACTUAL TEST.
SO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT
YOU ALL HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL MONTHS AND I KNOW
THERE'S MUCH MORE WORK THAT
WILL CONTINUE INTO 2021 AND
BEYOND.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, ANY
CLOSING COMMENTS?
>> NO.
I JUST APPRECIATE HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.
I GIVE THE UPDATED NUMBERS
EVERY WEEK IN COUNCIL BRIEFINGS
AND JUST WANTED TO DO SOMETHING
EXTRA SPECIAL TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE ALL TOGETHER,
RECOGNIZING YOUR IMPORTANT
WORK.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO YOU AND
EVERYBODY AT SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND YOUR PARTNERS AS
WELL.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS?
>> I WANT TO THANK CHIEF
SCOGGINS, YOUR ENTIRE TEAM,
PRESIDENT STEWART IF HE WERE ON
THE LINE WITH US AS WELL.
I KNOW YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS
HAVE PUT UNCOUNTABLE HOURS INTO
THE RESPONSE THIS YEAR, BOTH IN
TERMS OF THE CRISIS OF COVID,
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
GENEROUSLY SHARED HOURS WITH
OTHER STATES WHO HAVE BEEN
EXPERIENCING HIGH NUMBERS OF
FOREST FIRES DUE TO CLIMATE
CHANGE AND YOU ARE ALSO ON THE
FRONT LINE REALLY HELPING
PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SERVICE TO
THOSE WHO ARE LIVING
UNSHELTERED AND THAT'S NOT WHAT
PART OF WHAT YOU HAVE SIGNED UP
FOR BUT PART OF AN INCREDIBLE
TEAM DOING THIS ALL AT THE SAME
TIME THAT YOU ARE TAKING CARE
OF THOSE IN THE MIDST OF A
PANDEMIC IS INCREDIBLY
APPRECIATED.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS BEEN
TREMENDOUS TO LIFT UP ALL OF
THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE
WEEK AS THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC
SAFETY AND I WANTED TO THANK
YOU BOTH FOR THE WORK YOU DO TO
KEEP OUR CITY SAFE AND ALL OF
YOUR SUPPORT THAT YOU'RE
OFFERING TO MEMBERS OF IAFS27
AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US TO
ALL OF YOU AND YOUR MEMBERSHIP
AND YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM.
JUST REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK
THAT YOU DO IN THE CITY.
>> ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES.
LAST CALL.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE WE ARE GOING TO
CLOSE OUT THIS PORTION OF
AGENDA AND GIVE OUR SINCERE
THANKS TO CHIEF SCOGGINS FOR
TAKING TIME OUT OF HIS BUSY
SCHEDULE TO BE WITH US FOR A
FEW MINUTES AT THE TOP OF THE
AFTERNOON TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE
FOLKS OVER AT THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF
SCOGGINS.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THROUGH
THE OTHER PORTIONS OF BUSINESS
ON OUR AGENDA.
NEXT UP IS APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES.
THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING OF DECEMBER 7th, 2020,
HAVE BEEN REVIEWED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES WILL BE SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
MINUTES WILL BE ASSIGNED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES.
ADOPTION OF THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
PROPOSED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS NOW ADOPTED.
APPROVAL OF THE AEXPWREND.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS NOW ADOPTED.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL AENDA, INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR AND THE
COUNCIL'S 2020 WORK PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
THEIR ONGOING PATIENCE AND
COOPERATION AS WE CONTINUE TO
OPERATE THIS REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT SYSTEM.
IT DOES REMAIN THE STRONG
INTENT OF THE CITY -- HOWEVER,
AS A REMINDER THE CITY COUNCIL
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO END OR
ELIMINATE THESE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIODS AT ANY POINT IF WE DEEM
THE SYSTEM IS BEING ACCUSED OR
NO LONGER SUITABLE FOR ALLOWING
OUR MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS MEETING, RATHER THAN BEING
20 MINUTES WILL BE 30 MINUTES.
WE DO HAVE APPROXIMATELY 42 OR
43 FOLKS SIGNED -- SORRY, 45
FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY WITH ALMOST
EVERYONE SHOWING UP AS BEING
PRESENT.
WE DO HAVE A RATHER FULL
AGENDA, SO RATHER THAN DOING --
BUT WE ALSO WANT TO HEAR FROM
AS MANY FOLKS WHO TOOK THE TIME
TO PREREGISTER TODAY AS WE CAN
WHILE STILL ALLOWING PLENTY OF
TIME FOR US TO DO OUR BUSINESS.
INSTEAD OF DOING 20 MINUTES I'M
GOING TO ASK THAT WE DO 30
MINUTES SO IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD WILL BE EXTENDED FROM 20
MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
EXTENDED -- WILL BE EXTENDED TO
A TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE
MINUTE RATHER THAN TWO MINUTES
GIVEN THE VOLUME OF SPEAKERS
SIGNED UP.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
PUBLIC COMMENT BY GOING TO THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE AT
SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL.
WONTS A CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE MICRO
PHONE AND WILL BE THE SPEAKER'S
CUE THAT IT IS THEIR TURN TO
PRESS STAR SIX AND THEN BEGIN
SPEAKING.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
RELATE TO AN ITEM ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR OR THE COUNCIL'S 2020
WORK PROGRAM.
AT ABOUT TEN SECONDS, THE
SPEAKER IS GOING TO HEAR A
CHIME.
THAT CHIME MEANS THAT YOU HAVE
EXACTLY TEN SECONDS LEFT TO
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS.
IF SPEAKERS DON'T END THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE
AND IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, YOU CAN
DO SO ON SEATTLE CHANNEL OR ONE
OF THE LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED
ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY, FOLKS.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN.
IT IS 2:25 P.M.
SO WE WILL GO UNTIL 3:05 P.M.
I THINK I GOT THAT RIGHT.
AND AGAIN, IF YOU ARE GOING TO
ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, YOU WILL
HEAR THE AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF,
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
YOU NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX
AFTER YOU HEAR THAT PROMPT AND
THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR
YOU.
I MAY NEED TO PERIODICALLY
REMIND FOLKS OF THAT PARTICULAR
I I HAD -- FIRST PERSON IS
HOWARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
HOWARD DALE, DISTRICT SEVEN
COMMENTING ON POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
COUNCIL FOR PRESIDENT GONZALES,
DURING THIS MORNING'S COUNCIL
BRIEFING ON THE PAR TISS TORE
BUDGET PROCESS, YOU MADE A VERY
IMPORTANT POINT.
YOU SAID WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH
THIS PROCESS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT
WAS DONE IN 2015 IN DEVELOPING
THE EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENT
AGENDA.
YOU SAID THAT THE CITY, QUOTE,
INTENTIONALLY HANDED OVER POWER
TO THE COMMUNITY.
IT ALLOWED COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
OF DECISION MAKING.
IT WAS A PARADIGM SHIFT FOR THE
CITY TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO NOT
JUST IMPANEL COMMUNITY EXPERTS
TO GIVE US ADVICE.
SO I ASK, IN POLICING WITH THE
GREATEST AND MOST DANGEROUS
POWER AND BALANCE LIE, WHY
CANNOT THE COUNCIL RECOGNIZE
THE SAME NEED TO SEE POWER BACK
TO THE COMMUNITY DIRECTLY FOR
COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT OF
POLICING?
INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO BE --
EXEMPLIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION AND THE OPA
HANDING OVER DECISION MAKING TO
BODIES THAT ARE SELECTED BY THE
CITY AND CUT OFF IN THE
COMMUNITY.
PLEASE --
>> OKAY.
NEXT UP IS CASTILLO HIGHTOWER,
FOLLOWED BY DANIEL CAVANAUGH.
>> MY NAME IS CASTILE
HIGHTOWER.
CLUTTERED THE STREETS.
AS A RESULT, SEVEN
COUNCILMEMBERS -- PLAN -- [
AUDIO DIFFICULTY ]
>> INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH.
SINCE THAT TIME NOT ONLY HAS
THE COUNCIL WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO WANT
TO CONTINUALLY BETRAY THE --
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SPD.
WITNESSED BY THOUSANDS OF
ACTIVISTS AT THE HANDS OF SPD
DURING THE JUSTICE FOR GEORGE
FLOYD MOVEMENT, A SLAP IN THE
FACE FOR THOSE LIKE MYSELF,
RIPPED AWAY FROM THEM LIKE MY
BROTHER HERBERT HIGHTOWER JR.
KILLED.
YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO DO THE
RIGHT THING.
NOT TOMORROW, NOT THE DAY
AFTER, BUT RIGHT NOW AND VOTE
NO ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.
ALL EXPERIENCED -- I WANT TO
THANK -- [ AUDIO DIFFICULTY ]
>> NEXT IS DANIEL CAVANAUGH,
FOLLOWED BY PRESTON SAHABU.
AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, YOU HAVE
TO HIT STAR SIX AFTER YOU HEAR
THE PROMPT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THERE WE GO.
WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
>> OKAY.
MY NAME IS DAN.
I'M A RENTER IN SEATTLE AND A
MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
AND I REALLY AGREE WITH CASTILE
HIGHTOWER'S COMMENTS AND I ALSO
REALLY STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION THAT THE -- PRO VOTE
TODAY WHICH CORRECTLY STANDS
WITH THE MILLIONS OF FARMERS IN
INDIA WHO ARE PROTESTING
AGAINST THE NEW PRIVATIZATION
AND EXPLOITATION LAWS BY MODI
AND THE DJT.
MODI'S NEW LAWS ARE A MASSIVE
HANDOUT TO BILLIONAIRES AND
MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS WHO
ARE GOING TO BECOME WEALTHIER
AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE AND ONE OF THE
BILLIONAIRES WHO WILL DIRECTLY
BENEFIT IS MUKESH, HE'S LIKE
THE JEFF BEZOS OF INDIANA.
I'M ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS ON
THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT THIS
SUMMER WHEN WE WON THE HISTORIC
AMAZON TAX -- AGAINST JEFF
BEZOS AND I THINK WORKING
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE HAVE A STAKE
IN -- WINNING A VICTORY AGAINST
THE BILLIONAIRE CLASS IN INDIA.
SO I REALLY STRONGLY SUPPORT
THE RESOLUTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> NEXT UP IS PRESTON, FOLLOWED
BY SUTMUNDER COW.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS PRESTON AND I'M A
MEMBER OF SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE
AND U.S. UA W-4 121 WHICH
REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF
ACADEMIC STUDENT WORKERS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
I'M SPEAKING ON THE RESOLUTION
ON SOLIDARITY WITH THE FARMERS
AND WORKERS IN INDIA.
NOW ONCE AGAIN, THE FARMERS AND
WORKERS ARE RESISTING PRIME
MINISTER MODI'S RIGHT WING
GOVERNMENT.
THEIR STRUGGLE AGAINST
PRIVATIZATION IS AGAINST THEIR
BILLIONAIRE CLASS JUST AS OUR
UNION FOUGHT THE TAX AMAZON AND
THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD.
BUILD INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY.
ALSO STRONGLY I SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT SUPPORTING THE
JANUARY 8th GENERAL STRIKE IN
INDIA, STRIKE CON SOL DART --
MY OWN UNION DEFEATED TRUMP'S
DEPORTATION OF INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS WITH PROTESTS OUTSIDE
I.C.E.
OFFICES AND WE KNOW THAT MODI
AND HIS GOVERNMENT CAN BE
DEFEATED IN MUCH THE SAME WAY.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE TO SUPPORT
SAWANT'S AMENDMENT, AS WELL AS
THE SOUTH ASIAN ACTIVISTS WHO
ARE MOBILIZING -- [ AUDIO
DIFFICULTY ]
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS KENT COUNCILMEMBER
CLARK FOLLOWED BY LAURA LEE
STERN.
COUNCILMEMBER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL,
PRESIDENT AND HONORABLE
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
RESOLUTION 31983.
KENT CITY COUNCIL AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR
FARMERS PEACEFULLY PROTESTING
IN INDIA.
I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR
RESPONDING TO MY EMAILS AND
TEXTS SO QUICKLY IN GETTING
THIS RESOLUTION ON THEIR
AGENDA.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW BY NOW,
250 MILLION FARMERS AND
LABORERS ARE ON THE STREETS OF
DELHI, PROTESTING TO GET THE
UNJUST LAWS REPEALED.
DURING THE TIME OF THE GLOBAL
PANDEMIC OUR UNCLES, BROTHERS,
MOTHERS, SISTERS AND CHILDREN
ARE ON THE STREET NOT CARING
FOR THEIR HEALTH.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET
MEDIA'S ATTENTION TO THE
LARGEST PROTEST IN HISTORY.
WE HAVE LOST AT LEAST 25
INDIVIDUALS FIGHTING FOR THEIR
LIVELIHOODS.
I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS
PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROTEST
REGARDLESS OF DETERIORATING
HEALTH.
THESE BILLS -- [ INDISCERNIBLE
]
>> REMOVING RESTRICTIONS ON
PURCHASE OF LAND BY
CORPORATIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER FOR CALLING IN.
SORRY ABOUT THE TIME CUTOFF
THERE.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
COOPERATION AND YOUR
PARTNERSHIP AND FOR REACHING
OUT TO SO MANY OF US PERSONALLY
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTOOD
THE ISSUE.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
NEXT UP IS LAURA LEE STURM,
FOLLOWED BY DANIEL WANG.
>> HELLO.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LAURA LEE STURM.
I AM HERE TODAY TO SHOW MY
STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED
RESOLUTION TO STAND WITH THE
FARMERS IN INDIA.
TODAY MARKS THE 19th DAY WHERE
MILLIONS OF FARMERS HAVE COME
TOGETHER TO PROTEST NEW
AGRICULTURE LAWS FROM PRIME
MINISTER MODI.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT
THESE PROTESTS AS AN ATTACK ON
LABOR AND AN ATTACK ON THE
HUMANITY OF THE PEOPLE OF
INDIA.
PEOPLE ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES
TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHT TO
FEED OTHERS.
THEY ARE IN THE STREETS EVERY
DAY CLEANING UP AFTER THE
PROTESTS, FEEDING POOR CHILDREN
ON THE STREETS OF DELHI,
PROVIDING MEDICAL SUPPORT TO
THE POLICE WHO ATTACKED THEM.
THESE FARMERS REALLY ARE NOT
ASKING FOR MUCH.
THEY JUST NEED SUPPORT SO THEY
CAN GO BACK TO WORK AND AFFORD
TO FEED THEIR OWN FAMILIES.
IT HURTS THAT THIS IS EVEN
SOMETHING WE NEED TO ORGANIZE
AROUND.
THESE LAWS WILL EXPAND THE
WEALTH OF BILLIONAIRES AT THE
EXPENSE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE.
IT SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A
DEBATE.
SO WE NEED TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH INDIA'S LABOR
MOVEMENT AND SUPPORT THIS
RESOLUTION AS WELL AS THE
AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION FOR
THE --
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS DANIEL WANG,
FOLLOWED BY TAJIU OS.
>> I'M A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
NEEDS TO VOTE NO ON THE
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET THAT IS --
BY ALMOST 5 1/2 MILLION
DOLLARS.
IT IS LIKE RECOVERING THE COPS
CHECK FOR ALL THE MONEY SPENT
ON REPESSING, TEAR GASSING AND
FLASH BOMBING THE JUSTICE FOR
GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT.
WE DIDN'T GET THE 50% DEFUND OF
SPD WE WERE PROMISED.
I'M ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
THE RESOLUTION OF 31983, CO-
SPONSORED BY SAWANT AND
MOSQUEDA.
STANDS WITH THE MILLIONS OF
FARMERS IN INDIA PROTESTING THE
NEW AGRICULTURAL LAWS THAT WILL
DECIMATE WHAT LITTLE INTEREST
THEY HAVE.
MILLIONS OF PROTESTERS CONTINUE
TO MARCH TOWARDS NEW DELHI.
BUT THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES.
INDIA'S MAJOR LABOR UNIONS ARE
CALLING A GENERAL STRIKE ON
JANUARY 8th AND A MASSIVE SHOW
OF SOLIDARITY ACROSS INDIA'S
WORKING CLASS.
AS YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD THE
COUNCIL OFFICE IS ALSO
ORGANIZING WITH SOUTH ASIAN
ACTIVISTS ON JANUARY 8th --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS TASH YA FOLLOWED BY
EMIJAT KING.
>> HI, MY NAME IS TAJIOUS AND
I'M A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE AND UAW4121.
STRONGLY SUPPORT -- THE
MILLIONS OF FARMERS IN INDIA
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE
GOVERNMENT'S FARM BILLS.
I THINK IT'S VITAL FOR WORKING
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE AND THOSE WHO
CLAIM TO REPRESENT MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE AND LABOR TO CONCRETELY
STAND WITH THE FARMERS AND
WORKERS IN INDIA.
IN JANUARY COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
BROUGHT FORWARD THE CRUCIAL
RESOLUTION AGAINST MODI'S ANTI-
MUSLIM, ANTIFOR CITIZENSHIP
LAWS WHICH AS WE SOCIALISTS
FOUGHT FOR TOGETHER.
A GENERAL STRIKE HAS BEEN
CALLED BY THE INDIA WORKING
CLASS ON JANUARY 8th.
STRONGLY SUPPORT AMENDMENT TO
THE RESOLUTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IN SUPPORT
OF THIS MASS ACTION.
I URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO
STAND WITH LABOR AGAINST THESE
UNJUST LAWS TO VOTE YES ON THIS
AMENDMENT AND VOTE NO ON THE
BUDGET WHICH WILL GIVE THE SPD
AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION.
YET ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE
JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD
MOVEMENT.
>> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER
TEN KING FOLLOWED BY, I THINK
IT'S SHOW AMER, SPEAKER NUMBER
11.
>> IN SUPPORT OF THE FARMERS IN
INDIA.
KING COUNTY HAS A STRONG TIE TO
THIS COMMUNITY.
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO
OUR CULTURAL FABRIC, ECONOMY
AND COUNTY AT LARGE.
MERE 2% OF THE POPULATION IN
INDIA -- IS A FUNDAMENTAL
PRINCIPLE.
EVEN AFTER FACING A POLICE
BRUTALITY PROTESTERS SEE
THEMSELVES AND THE LARGER DAILY
POPULATIONS THROUGH -- [ AUDIO
DIFFICULTY ]
>> I AM SICK OF --
>> GREAT TIME.
>> WHERE HE.
>> CONDEMN THE VIOLENCE AGAINST
THE FARMERS FOR PEACEFULLY --
UPHOLD THE VALUES OF
COMPASSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
MOVE TO SPEAKER NUMBER 11, SHOW
AMAR FALLED BY KAYLA NEW -- AND
MARY DELANY, WHO ARE SIGNED UP
BUT NOT PRESENT.
SO STU AND MARY, IF YOU ARE
LISTENING, NOW WOULD BE THE
TIME TO CALL IN.
SPEAKER NUMBER 11.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS ZOEY AIMER, I'M A
LIFELONG SEATTLE ARE NOT AND A
MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION THAT'S UP FOR A VOTE
TODAY IN SOLID DARE WITH
MILLIONS OF FARMERS IN INDIA,
AS WELL AS THE AMENDMENT
SUPPORTING THE GENERAL STRIKE
PROTESTING AGAINST A NEW
PRIVATIZATION -- THE NEW LAWS
THAT PUSH PRIVATIZATION AND
STRIP FARMERS FROM THE -- IS
LIKE TAKING AWAY THE MINIMUM
WAGE AND CLAIMING IT'S A GOOD
THING THAT WORKERS CANNOT BE
FORCED TO TAKE A JOB THAT PAYS
FIVE DOLLARS A DAY IN 2020.
CITY THAT PASSED THE FIRST $15
MINIMUM WAGE AND THE AMAZON TAX
AFTER IMMENSE EFFORTS BY
MYSELF, WE SHOULD BE PROUD TO
SUPPORT THE STRIKING FARMERS
AND WORKERS IN INDIA AND
ASHAMED TO DO ANY LESS.
JOIN US IN SEATTLE ON JANUARY
8th AT 3:00 P.M.
FOR A CARAVAN AND SOLIDARITY
WITH THE GENERAL STRIKE.
ADDITIONALLY, I URGE ALL CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS ALONGSIE SAWANT
TO VOTE NO ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET.
THE SPD CAN PAY FOR THEIR OWN
OVER TIME.
>> NEXT UP IS KAYLA NEWCOMER
FOLLOWED BY PRASHANT NEEMA.
KAYLA.
>> MY NAME IS KAYLA NEWCOMER,
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX
AND A STUDENT AT UW'S SCHOOL OF
SOCIAL WORK.
I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR
SPONSORING AN 800K SUPPLEMENTAL
COVID-19 AMENDMENT Q4 -- UDYC
AND THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND
SOUTH SEATTLE SHELTER AND
RANIER VALLEY OPEN 24/7 TO
SUPPORT YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
EXPERIENCING SUCCESS IN KING
COUNTY.
HUGE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AND TO ALL OF
YOU FOR HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE
HAVE CONTINUED ACCESS TO 24/7
SUPPORT THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
WE URGE YOU TO PASS THE
AMENDMENT TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING.
KAYLA, NEXT UP IS PROSAHAN
NEEMA FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN
PREETSING.
IF YOU'RE WITH US, YOU WILL
WANT TO HIT STAR SIX SO WE CAN
HEAR.
>> MY NAME IS PROSHANT.
I HAVE BEEN IN SEATTLE AREA FOR
LOST 20 YEARS.
I AM SPEAKING TODAY ASKING THE
COUNCIL TO WORK YES ON
RESOLUTION 31983, INCLUDING THE
AMENDMENT PUT FORWARD BY
COUNCILWOMAN SAWANT.
WORKING CLASS SINCE THE LAST
TIME WE ARGUED TO PASS THE
HISTORICAL -- IN RTCA.
THE RESOLUTION WENT ON TO BE
HISTORIC.
THE NEW FARM LAWS UNDER THE
SAME SERIES OF LAWS AND
POLICIES THAT ARE AIMED AT
HELPING THE WORKING CLASS AND
REACH THE NEED -- INDIANS, THE
FARM BILL RELIEF FARMERS -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> GLOBALLY WITH 600 MILLION --
SO I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS
RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
OKAY.
LOOKS LIKE SPEAKER NUMBER 16 IS
NOW SHOWING AS NOT PRESENT.
IF YOU CALL BACK IN, WE WILL
MAKE SURE TO CALL ON YOU.
WE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN THE
LIST HERE.
NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 17,
FOLLOWED BY EMILY MACARTHUR.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS -- I AM A SEATTLE
RESIDENT IN FIRST HILL.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME
THOUGHTS IN SUPPORT OF
RESOLUTION 31983.
AND YES, TO BE THE WORLD'S
LARGEST DEMOCRACY BUT WITH THIS
TITLE COMES THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF INSURING THE RIGHTS OF YOUR
CONSTITUENTS.
THESE RIGHTS INCLUDE THE RIGHTS
OF PROTESTS WITHOUT FEAR OF
BEING BRUTALLY BEATEN, TORTURED
OR KILLED.
IT REQUIRES FAIR REPORTING, NOT
GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED
NARRATIVE.
IT ALSO REQUIRES LISTENING,
ALLOWING THE FARMERS, THOSE WHO
ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THESE
ORDINANCES TO HAVE A SEAT AT
THE DECISION MAKING TABLE.
I HUMBLY REQUEST THE CITY OF
SEATTLE STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE FARMERS AND PUSH FOR
OUR OUTSIDE PRESSURE ON THE
INDIAN GOVERNMENT.
BECAUSE IF WE LOOK AT HISTORY
WITHOUT THE EYES OF THE WORLD
WATCHING CLOSELY, PRIME
MINISTER MODI WILL DO WHAT HE
DOES BEST, DESTROY AND VIOLATE
OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF THOSE WHO
STAND IN HIS WAY.
>> NEXT UP IS EMILY MACARTHUR,
FOLLOWED BY HATTIE RHODES.
>> HI, MY NAME IS EMILY
MACARTHUR.
I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT TWO
AND A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
LIKE MANY WHO HAVE SPOKEN TODAY
I WANTED TO SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION STANDING IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE STRUGGLING
FARMERS IN INDIA.
I ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION
FROM COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IN
SUPPORT OF THE JANUARY 8th
GENERAL STRIKE IN INDIA.
THAT'S BECAUSE STRIKING IS THE
BEST TOOL THAT WORKING CLASS
PEOPLE HAVE TO WIN IMPORTANT
GAINS LIKE THIS FIGHT, THE
STRIKE ACTUALLY WILL INVOLVE
NOT JUST FARMERS BUT HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF STUDENTS,
MEMBERS OF INDIA'S MIGHTY LABOR
DAY MOVEMENT.
THIS SOLIDARITY IS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY TO DEFEAT THE NEW
UNJUST LAWS.
I URGE THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOLT YES ON THIS AMENDMENT.
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, UNION
MEMBERS AND -- [ AUDIO
DIFFICULTY ]
>> FOR A CAR CARAVAN RALLY THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS
ORGANIZING ALONG -- [ AUDIO
DIFFICULTY ]
>> THE GENERAL STRIKE THAT DAY
IN INDIA BECAUSE INTERNATIONAL
SOLIDARITY IS HOW WE GET THE
GOODS.
>> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER
19, HATTIE RHODES, FOLLOWED BY
STAR WILEY.
>> HELLO, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS HATTIE RHODES.
I AM THE SITE COORDINATOR FOR
GEORGETOWN TINY HOUSE VILLAGE.
TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE
VILLAGES SEATTLE HAS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE WILL
AND ENCOURAGE TO OPENING THREE
MORE VILLAGES IN THE NEXT YEAR.
I THINK FIRST HAND HOW THESE
VILLAGES HAVE PROVIDED A SAFE
AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT IN
UNCERTAIN TIMES AND ALLOWED SO
MANY PEOPLE TO REGAIN THEIR
DIGNITY AND STABILITY.
THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE FOR THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES MATTERS.
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE
LIVES OF PEOPLE THAT OFTEN FEEL
FORGOTTEN AND IGNORED.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO ADVOCATING FOR
MORE VILLAGES IN THE NEW YEAR.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS STAR WILEY, FOLLOWED
BY --
>> HELLO.
MY OTHER NAME IS STAR WILLIE
AND I'M A RENTER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
I URGE YOU ALL TO PLEASE JOIN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IN VOTING
NO ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
AND STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION BEING VOTED ON TODAY
AS WELL AS THE AMENDMENT TO THE
RESOLUTION.
HOLD THE LINE, STAND BY YOUR
PROMISE IN 26 MILLION THAT TOOK
TO THE STREETS IN PEACEFUL
PROTESTS LAST SUMMER, MANY THAT
WERE TEAR GASSED AND PEPPER
SPRAYED.
SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO
THE POLICE BUDGET THIS YEAR AND
DISAPPOINTING AND COUNTER
PRODUCTIVE IF YOU DON'T VOTE NO
ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE PROPOSED
RESOLUTION THAT IS UP FOR VOTE
TODAY.
AND BUILD POWERFUL
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH
THE MILLIONS OF FARMERS IN
INDIA PROTESTING AGAINST THE
NEW PRIVATIZATION AND
EXPLOITATION LAWS.
I ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTIONS
FROM COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IN
SUPPORT OF THE JANUARY 8th
GENERAL STRIKE IN INDIA.
>> NEXT UP IS --
>> I'M SPEAKING TODAY ASKING
THE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON
RESOLUTION 31983 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
SAWANT.
INCLUDING REPORTS BY --
HAS ALWAYS USED LANGUAGE TO --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> I URGE THE COUNCIL TO STAND
WITH THE FARMERS, ALSO URGE
EVERYONE TO JOIN US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS -- I'M A VOLUNTEER
WITH THE COALITION OF SEATTLE
-- I'M SPEAKING TODAY ASKING
THE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON
RESOLUTION, INCLUDING THE
AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE --
ALSO KNOWN AS THE ARCHITECTS OF
THE FARM BILL.
CHAIRMAN OF THE RELIANCE
CONGLOMERATE, STRONG ARMED THE
INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO PUT
OPERATIONAL COSTS OF EXPIRATION
AND MINING SO THAT HIS FEDERAL
CHEMICAL BUSINESS CAN RUN A
PROFIT.
STRONG ARMED THE TELECOM
REGULATORY AUTHORITY --
RELIANCE CUSTOMERS FOR FREE.
THUS BANKRUPTING ALL OF THEM IN
THE PROCESS AND BECOMING A
MARKET LEADER IN JUST FIVE
YEARS.
HE OWES THE MOST AMOUNT OF
UNPAID DEBT FROM GOVERNMENT
FUNDING, PRACTICALLY ALL OF THE
INDIAN GOVERNMENT.
MANY REAL ESTATE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE BARON.
IT IS NOT SURPRISING FINANCIAL
ANALYSTS HAVE CALLED AS MODI'S
--
>> THANK YOU.
JOE WALL FOLLOWED BY STACY
JOHNSON.
>> HI.
THIS IS JOE WALL.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU COMMENTS ON
YOUR BILL THAT CONCERNS SO-
CALLED GRASSROOTS LOBBYING.
I LISTENED TO YOUR DISCUSSION
LAST WEEK.
I WOULD SUGGEST WE ARE GETTING
ENCUMBERED BY INAPPROPRIATE
TERMINOLOGY.
YOU WERE GETTING AT IS DIRECT
LOBBYING AT THE POLITICIANS AND
INDIRECT LOBBYING WHICH IS AT
THE PEOPLE AS A SORT OF A BANK
SHOT IN POOL TO GET
LEGISLATION.
WHAT I RECOMMEND IS THAT YOU
UPDATE YOUR DEFINITION OF
LOBBYING TO INCLUDE YOUR OWN
WORDS MAKING EXPENDITURES
PRESENTING A PROGRAM TO THE
PUBLIC, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND THEN UPDATE THE REPORTING
SECTION 2.06.030 VO TO
ENCOMPASS -- REMOVE ALL
REFERENCES TO GRASSROOTS
LOBBYING BECAUSE, IN FACT, THE
ORDINANCE WILL ENCOMPASS SMALL
TIME OPERATION --
>> NEXT UP IS STACY JOHNSON,
FOLLOWED BY --
>> HELLO.
STACY JOHNSON, RESIDENT
BOOKKEEPER IN DISTRICT TWO.
I WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING TO
SUPPORT SEATTLE'S TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES DURING THIS CAR WRECK
OF A YEAR, ESPECIALLY
PERSOALLY I DON'T KNOW WHERE I
WOULD BE WITHOUT THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
FROM THE COCKLES OF MY SOUL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS --
>> HI, I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE
COALITION OF SEATTLE INDIAN
AMERICANS.
I AM SPEAKING TODAY ASKING THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON
RESOLUTION NUMBER 31983
INCLUDING THE -- BY
COUNCILWOMAN SAWANT.
BY THE [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
LEADING TO WORLDWIDE PROTEST IN
SUPPORT OF MILLIONS OF INDIAN
FARMERS WHO OFFER THESE BILLS.
THIS LEGISLATION -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> THESE NEW FARM BILLS, THEY
DO NOTHING TO HELP THE POOR
FARMERS WHO HAVE FACED FLOODS
AND LOW CROPS, WHO ARE FORCED
TO SELL THE LANDS TO THESE
BUSINESSES AT EXTREMELY LOW
COST AND -- ALREADY -- I'M
AFRAID THESE BILLS ARE GOING TO
MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE.
I ALSO SUPPORT THE JAN EIGHTH
CAR RALLY ORGANIZED TO SHOW
SOLIDARITY WITH THE GENERAL
STRIKE THAT DAY IN INDIA.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS KAHNE HASSAN AND I'M
PART OF COALITION OF SEATTLE
AMERICAN INDIANS.
I AM BACK HERE AT COUNCIL AFTER
LAST FEBRUARY -- AGAIN, NOW THE
HELL BENT ON DESTROYING FARMERS
BY ADOPTING ANTIFARMER LAWS TO
SUPPORT BIG CORPORATE WHO
FINANCE MILLIONS OF DOLLAR IN
THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
IT IS DISTURBING THAT EVERY
YEAR THOUSANDS OF FARMERS COME
IN SOCIETY IN INDIA DUE TO
NONPAYMENT OF DEBT.
NOW THE PEACEFUL PROTESTING
FARMERS ARE LABELED AS
TERRORISTS.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES
ON 31983 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
INCLUDING THE AMENDMENT
PROPOSED BY THE COUNCILWOMAN.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS CHRIS McDANIEL,
FOLLOWED BY -- SINGH AND THEN
RINA.
CHRIS.
YOU CHRIS, YOU WILL NEED TO HIT
STAR SIX SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
ONE MORE TIME.
THERE WE GO.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE ON UNMUTED SO
GO AHEAD. LOOK LIKE WE MIGHT BE
--
>> IS THAT --
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
GO FOR IT, CHRIS.
>> MY NAME IS CHRIS McDANIEL.
I LIVE AT GEORGETOWN TINY HOME
VILLAGE AND I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK YOU FOR FUNDING THIS
PLACE AND CONTINUE FUNDING THEM
BECAUSE I'M SEEING THE LIGHT AT
THE END OF THE TUNNEL, PLACE
FOR ME TO MOVE TOO.
I'VE GOT INCOME NOW AND --
DISABILITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS --
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M A RESIDENT OF KENT,
WASHINGTON.
I'M HERE TO PROVIDE A VERY
BRIEF COMMENT ON THE RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING FARMERS PROTEST IN
INDIA.
GIVEN THE LIMITED TIME, I'LL BE
SPEAKING ON WHY THE FARMERS ARE
PROTESTING.
INDIAN GOVERNMENT HASTILY
PASSED THREE FARM BILLS DURING
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THESE LAWS ARE DESIGNED TO
PRIVATIZE THE AGRICULTURE
SECTOR BENEFITING LARGE
CORPORATIONS.
CORPORATIONS AT THE EXPENSE OF
SMALL FARMERS.
AMONG MANY ISSUES THESE LAWS
LIFT THE PRICE PROTECTIONS AND
DENY FARMERS LEGAL RECOURSE
THROUGH THE COURT OF LAW.
THE FARMERS OF INDIA ARE SMALL.
THEY ARE POOR, FRAGMENTED AND
WITH LITLE EDUCATION LIMITING
THEIR BARGAINING POWER AGAINST
THE LARGE CORPORATIONS.
THIS WILL LEAD TO PREDATORY
PRACTICES AND EVENTUALLY
FARMERS LOSING THEIR LAND AND
THEIR WAY OF LIFE.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF THE
FARMERS AND -- STRIKE.
THESE LAWS ARE CORRUPT.
THEY ARE ABOUT THE TRANSFERENCE
OF WEALTH TO THE TOP.
THESE LAWS ARE NOT ABOUT
LIBERALIZING FARMING.
DRIVEN BY GREED AND CRONYISM.
THEY NEED UPWARD MOBILITY OF
THE POOR.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS LAW
IS GOING TO DO IS GOING TO GET
RID OF THE RATION MARKETS WHICH
IS WHERE THE POOR PEOPLE TO GO
TO GET FOOD.
IF THEY ARE NOT THERE, WHERE
WILL THEY EAT?
THEY WILL NOT EAT.
THEY WILL DIE.
THE MINORITY GROUP THE SIKH
COMMUNITY INTO POVERTY.
IF THEY ARE IN POVERTY WHERE
WILL THEY GO TO GET FOOD?
THEY WILL NOT HAVE FOOD AND
THEY WILL DIE.
WHEN AMERICA'S ECONOMY WAS THE
STRONGEST WAS WHEN THE MIDDLE
CLASS WAS STRIVING.
WE NEED TO STAND UP TO THESE
BILLIONAIRES CREATING WEALTH
INECONNECTED THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD AND IF WE DON'T WE WILL
SEE DEMOCRACY FALL AND
SOCIETIES GET THICKER.
IT IS NOT THE PROBLEM OF
SEATTLE BUT WE ARE SEEING
CITIZENS RISE UP AND WE NEED TO
SUPPORT ALL OF THE CITIZENS,
ALL THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONING
DEMOCRACY --
>> NEXT UP.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
GO AHEAD.
>> YEAH.
I AM WITH THE COALITION OF
SEATTLE INDIA.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] FARM LAWS IN
INDIA THAT ARE BE PROTESTED BY
MILLIONS OF FARMERS WORLDWIDE
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL TO KNOW IF --
CORPORATION DONE BY INDIANS OR
-- THAT'S -- BUT FOR THE
BENEFIT, FOR THE CORPORATION.
-- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> ARE NOT KNOWN FOR THEIR FAIR
PRACTICES AND DEEPLY
ANTIENVIRONMENT AS WELL.
HOW CAN INDIAN FARMERS SERVE
THESE PEOPLE?
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS --
>> I AM A KING COUNTY NATIVE
HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO VOTE
YES ON RESOLUTION 31983 IN
SUPPORT OF STRUGGLING OPPRESSED
FARMERS IN INDIA.
19 DAYS AGO HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF FARMERS EMAIL
PARKED ON A 221-MILE JOURNEY TO
INDIA'S CAPITAL TO POST
AGRICULTURAL LOSS.
ALONG THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN
MET WITH HARMFUL WATER CANNONS,
TEAR GAS AND BARRICADES, YET
THEY CONTINUE TO PERSEVERANCE.
GOING BACK HOME IS A DEATH
SENTENCE.
IN THE DEAD OF WINTER FARMERS
OCCUPY THE STREETS BECAUSE IT'S
SIMPLE, NO FARMERS, NO FOOD.
TARGETED BY MISLEADING
TERRORIST NARRATIVES PUSHED BY
THE INDIA MEDIA CONTROLLED BY
BOTH THE BILLIONAIRE --
NARRATIVE THAT -- A NARRATIVE
THAT YOU HAVE ALL FOUGHT.
AS WASHINGTONIANS WE KNOW THE
TERRORISM OF LIBERALISM AND --
>> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER
33.
GO AHEAD.
I SEE YOU'RE UNMUTED BUT WE
STILL CAN'T HEAR YOU.
TRY STAR 61 MORE TIME.
LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE UNMUTED.
CAN'T HEAR SPEAKER NUMBER 33.
LET'S CIRCLE BACK TO SPEAKER
NUMBER 33.
LET'S GO TO BARBARA PHINNEY
NEXT.
AND THEN WE WILL TRY --
>> HELLO.
>> GO AHEAD, BARBARA.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS BARBARA PHINNEY.
I'M A UNION MEMBER OF AFGY.
I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE
RESOLUTION OF SOLIDARITY WITH
FARMERS PROTESTING IN INDIA IN
SUPPORT OF AFFECTED MEMBERS OF
SEATTLE'S SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY
AND AN IMPORTANT AMENDMENT
BROUGHT BY COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
THAT STATES SOLIDARITY WITH
FARMERS ORGANIZATIONS, TRADE
UNION, FEDERATIONS AND STUDENT
UNIONS OF INDIANA ORGANIZING
FOR GENERAL STRIKE ON JANUARY
8th, 2021.
RESTORATION OF PROTECTIONS FOR
SMALLER FARMS, INCREASING
MINIMUM WAGE, ENDING
PRIVATEIZATIONS AND DEFENDING
THE RIGHTS OF RELIGIOUS AND
ETHNIC COMMUNITIES.
WANT YOU TO VOTE FOR THIS
SOLIDARITY.
THANK YOU.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO SPEAKER
NUMBER 33.
SEE IF WE CAN.
RESOLVE OUR TECH ISSUES HERE.
STAR SIX SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> HI THERE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
SUCCESS.
GO AHEAD.
>> PERFECT.
THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS -- COALITION OF
SEATTLE INDIAN AMERICANS.
I AM SPEAKING TODAY ASKING THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON
RESOLUTION, INCLUDING THE
AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY
COUNCILWOMAN SAWANT.
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH MY
SIKH BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
THESE ANTIFARMER LAWS DIRECTLY
IMPACT THE FARMERS IN INDIA AND
CORPORATIONS TO LEGALLY ROB
THEIR LANDS.
MORE THAN HALF WHERE THIS
POPULATION COMES FROM
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.
THE AVERAGE INDIAN FARMER MAKES
$140 PER MONTH.
OF THESE 260 MILLION WORKERS,
MANY SOLELY RELY ON FARMING TO
PUT FOOD ON THEIR OWN TABLE AND
ROOF ON THEIR OWN HEAD.
STOP THE PRIVATIZATION AND
PLEASE VOTE ON 31983.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS --
>> HELLO.
>> YEP.
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI.
I'M SPEAKING ASKING THE COUNCIL
TO VOTE YES ON RESOLUTION 31983
INCLUDING THE AMENDMENT
PROPOSED BY COUNCILWOMAN
SAWANT.
ARE AN ATTACK ON FARMERS,
CONSUMERS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
AN ATTACK ON OUR DEMOCRACY.
BEFORE -- NO FARMERS WERE
CONSULTED REGARDING THE BILLS.
THERE WAS NO TIME GIVEN FOR
DISCUSSION -- OPPOSITION
PARTIES EXPRESSED A NEED FOR
DISCUSSION, THE PRESS, THE
CAMERA STOPPED BROADCASTING
THESE PROCEEDINGS, THE MODI
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PUSHING
THESE BILLS IN AN INAPPROPRIATE
WAY TO ENABLE LARGE
AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES TO
OPERATE AT THE COST OF POOR
FARMERS AND CONSUMERS.
COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF
DEMOCRACY.
I URGE WORKING PEOPLE, UNION
MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS
TO JOIN US ON JANUARY 8th FOR A
CAR RALLY TO SUPPORT THE SIKH
COMMUNITY AND SOUTHEASTERN
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND THE
LABOR UNION --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST A
REMINDER TO OUR SPEAKERS, AFTER
YOU HEAR THE PROMPT THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED, YOU WILL
NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX FOR US
TO BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
REBA BASHI, FOLLOWED BY PEGGY
HOEDIS.
I.T., DO WE HAVE REBA ON THE
LINE?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
GO AHEAD, REBA.
NOW WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
WE COULD HEAR YOU AND NOW YOU
HAVE DISAPPEARED ON US.
SO MAYBE HIT STAR 61 MORE TIME.
OKAY.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YEP.
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
GO AHEAD.
>> REQUESTING -- AS WELL AS THE
AMENDMENT.
I AM NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT
THE SPEAKERS PRIOR TO ME HAVE
SAID IN TERMS OF HOW THERE IS
NO RECORDED EVIDENCE AND
FARMERS WERE NOT CONSULTED BUT
THE -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] HAS
BECOME SO BRAZEN NOW THAT THEY
DO NOT EVEN WANT TO HIDE TO
LEGALIZE -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
IT'S BECOMING TIRESOME FOR US
AS WELL TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TO
HIGHLIGHT THE PROBLEMS
HAPPENING IN THE SUPPOSED
BIGGEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD.
BUT I HAVE A HUNCH THAT THIS IS
NOT THE LAST TIME WE WILL BE
DOING THIS.
WE WILL USE THIS COUNCIL'S
STRENGTH AND VOICE TO GARNER
MORE SUPPORT WORLDWIDE TO CAUSE
THE STEADY DECLINE OF DEMOCRACY
AND THEREFORE SET AN EXAMINE TO
OTHER DICTATORS SO AGAIN, I
ALSO URGE OTHER PEOPLE HERE AND
THE UNION MEMBERS TO SPREAD THE
WORD, ALL THE ACTIVISTS TO JOIN
A CAR RALLY ON JANUARY 8th AT
3:00 P.M.
TO GIVE US FURTHER SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, WE ARE AT TIME FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
WE ONLY HAVE, ONE, TWO -- WE
HAVE SIX MORE SPEAKERS SO
THAT'S SIX MORE MINUTES.
SO WITH YOUR I INDULGENCE I
WOULD LIKE TO COMPLETE THE LIST
SINCE WE HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, I
WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD BY SIX MINUTES.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, WE WILL
EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD BY SIX MINUTES WHICH
WILL ALLOW US TO GET THROUGH
THE COMPLETE LIST FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WHO REGISTERED AND
ARE CURRENTLY SHOWING UP AT
PRESENT.
NEXT UP IS PEGGY FOLLOWED BY
NELAM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PEGGY HOTELS AND I'M
A NICKELSVILLE FOUNDER AND A
LONGTIME VOLUNTEER WITH
HOMELESS PEOPLE.
I'M SPEAKING FIRST IN SUPPORT
OF THE INDIAN FARMERS PROTEST.
THIS IS 100% THE RIGHT THING
FOR THE COUNCIL TO DO.
>> KHAKI AND I SAID COCKY: I'M
SORRY.
>> THANK YOU FOR ADDING
NICKELSVILLE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES TO THE CITY BUDGET.
I WANT TO SPEAK UP AGAINST
SLEEPING CAL ANDERSON PARK
WHICH WAS POSTED TODAY WHILE
RECOGNIZING THAT THE COUNCIL AS
A BODY HAS ATTEMPTED TO STOP
THE SWEEPS.
THERE'S BEEN A SUPPORT GROUP BY
CALLED CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY
CENTER IN THE PARK 24/7 FOR
FIVE MONTHS PROVIDING TENTS,
SLEEPING BAGS, FOOD AND OTHER
NECESSITIES.
THE PUBLIC HAS CONTINUED TO USE
THE PARK DURING THIS TIME, AS
YOU CAN SEE BY VISITING THERE
YOURSELF, AS I HAVE REGULARLY.
OF ALL THE PLACES THIS SWEEP,
úTHIS SHOULD BE LAST ONE.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY BUT THIS
SHOULD BE THE LAST ONE ON THE
LIST.
PLEASE DEMAND A HALT TO THIS
CRUEL AND PARTICULARLY
UNWANTED, UNWARRANTED SWEEP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS -- YOU WILL WANT TO
HIT STAR SIX AFTER YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED.
THERE WE GO.
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
GO AHEAD.
>> I AM ASKING THE COUNCIL TO
VOTE YES ON RESOLUTION 31983,
INCLUDING THE AMENDMENT
PROPOSED BY COUNCILWOMAN SAWANT
AND COUNCILWOMAN MOSQUEDA.
I URGE THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
TO PASS THE -- RESOLUTION, CO-
SPONSORED BY SAWANT IN RESPONSE
TO THE -- IMPLEMENTED BY THE
INDIAN GOVERNMENT.
FARMERS IN INDIA TYPICALLY WORK
ON AVERAGE LAND HOLDING OF LESS
THAN AN ACRE UNLIKE IN THE
U.S.A.
THE NEW LAWS RECORD EXTREME
HARDSHIP AND INSTABILITY TO THE
FARMING COMMUNITY TO THE
ADVANTAGE OF LARGE AGRICULTURAL
CORPORATIONS.
THIS IN TURN WILL IMPACT ALL OF
INDIA WITH SHORTAGES CREATED BY
AN ARTIFICIAL MARKET DESPITE
THERE BEING A SUPPLY OF FARM
PRODUCT.
THIS COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO
GLOBAL HUNGER CRISIS SINCE THE
SAME CORPORATIONS CAN CREATE
ARTIFICIAL SHORTAGES TO
COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF INDIA.
PARALLELS BETWEEN THESE --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ALICE LOCKERT
FOLLOWED BY --
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
I AM ALICE LOCKERT, SPEAKING
FOR 350 SEATTLE.
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ME IN A
WHILE BECAUSE OUR SISTER
ORGANIZATION, 350 SEATTLE
ACTION, SPENT A FEW HUNDRED
DOLLARS ON THE FEDERAL ELECTION
AND AS A RESULT I HAVE BEEN
IMMERSED IN FEDERAL ELECTION
REPORTING INSTEAD OF DOING MY
USUAL WORK AS AN ACTIVIST.
AND AS YOU -- SO AS YOU MIGHT
IMAGINE I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED
TO HEAR IN THIS MORNING'S
COUNCIL BRIEFING THAT THE
COUNCIL MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZES LIKE OURS.
I SHARED THE NEWS WITH OTHER
SEATTLE LEADERS AND THEY WERE
LIKEWISE AGHAST.
BOTHER FOR US BUT PARTICULARLY
BURDENSOME FOR NEWER, SMALLER,
LESS PRIVILEGED COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
I'M ALSO DEEPLY WORRIED ABOUT
HOW THE COMPLAINT PROCESS FOR
REPORTING WILL EFFECTIVELY
PAINT A TARGET ON THE BACKS OF
GRASSROOTS GROUPS.
350 SEATTLE ASKS THAT THE
COUNCILMEMBERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT STRIKING THE
GRASSROOTS COMPONENT OF THE
LOBBYING LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS --
>> I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION IN
FAVOR OF THE 250 MILLION
FARMERS PEACEFULLY PROTESTING
IN DELHI FOR REGIME OF MODI
GOVERNMENT TO TAKE BACK THE
PREBLACK LAWS PASSED AGAINST
THE FARMERS.
NOT ONLY ARE THESE LAWS UNJUST
BUT PASSED IN THE -- THE
FARMERS PEACEFUL PROTEST FROM
THE STATE NEIGHBORING STATES TO
DELHI WAS MET WITH POLICE
BRUTALITY AND MILITARY
BRUTALITY INCLUDING TEAR GAS,
BATON CHARGES AND WATER
CANNONS, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS WILL BLINDED BY
CORPORATE GREED, SIT IN THEIR
WARM HOMES, THE FARMERS ARE
SLEEPING OUTSIDE ON THE ROADS
IN THE COLD, RAIN ANDIN HUMANE
ENVIRONMENTS WHEN THE
GOVERNMENT PROVIDED A MINIMUM
WAGE FOR ITS HARD WORK AND NOT
HAVE THEIR LAND UP FOR GRABS.
CHOOSES NOT TO PORTRAY THE
LARGEST PROTEST IN THE WORLD'S
HISTORY, FARMERS ARE SERVING
FREE FOOD TO EVERYONE AND -- WE
ASK FOR YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS
RESOLUTION AND SUPPORT THE
MILLIONS IN INDIA AND AROUND
THE WORLD WHO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE FARMERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP.
>> HELLO.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT AND URGE
THIS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION FOR STANDING IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE FARMERS IN
INDIA.
THESE THREE LAWS WERE PASSED
UNCONSTITUTIONALLY AND DIDN'T
GO THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS
TO GET PASSED.
IF THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT CAN DO
THIS WITH THE FARMERS, IMAGINE
WHAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO IN
THE FUTURE AS WELL.
THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS
CORPORATE GREED AND THIS HARMS
THE LIKELIHOOD OF FARMERS IN
PUNEJAB AND THROUGHOUT INDIA.
EVENTUALLY THE LAWS THAT ARE
PASSED WILL ALLOW MAJOR
CORPORATIONS TO TAKE AWAY THIS
LAND FROM FARMERS WHICH IS
UNJUST AND UNFAIR.
THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE
MEDIA COVERAGE WHICH NEEDS TO
CHANGE TO BRING AWARENESS TO
THE LARGEST PEOPLE PROTEST IN
HISTORY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IS SPEAKER
NUMBER 49.
>> HELLO.
I AM FROM BELLTOWN.
I SUPPORT RESOLUTION 31983.
INDIAN FARMERS HAVE BEEN
PROTESTING THE INDIAN
GOVERNMENT'S THREE NEW LAWS
SINCE SEPTEMBER.
THESE UNJUST LAWS WILL
DRASTICALLY CHANGE INTO
SOMETHING WHICH THE FARMERS GET
PAID.
THE FARMERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN
AFFECTED BY DECADES OF POLICIES
THAT HAVE HARMED THEM IN
NUMEROUS WAYS.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FARMERS
ARE ATTEMPTING TO PEACEFULLY
ASSEMBLE AND VOICE THEIR
CONCERNS AND HAVE BEEN MET
BYIAN SECURITY FORCES --
INCLUDING MEDIA BLOGS AND
DISTORTION. ONE INDIAN FARMER
COMMITS SUICIDE EVERY 30
MINUTES AND COVID-19 HAS ONLY
MADE THE SITUATION WORSE.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER'S SAN JUAN'S
RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
THIS DOES CONCLUDE OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR TODAY'S
MEETING.
SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO
ITEMS OF BUSINESS AT THIS TIME.
FIRST UP IS PAYMENT OF THE
BILLS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE INTO THE RECORD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
I MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
119979.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
PASS THE BILL.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WILL CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> .
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
AGENDA ITEM 1. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 1 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> 11966 RELATING TO THE LEGAL
REPRESENTATION OF MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN AND PROCEEDINGS
INCLUDING A RECALL CHARGE,
PAYING EXPENSES NECESSARY TO
DEFEND MAYOR JENNY DURKAN IN
THOSE PROCEEDINGS AND RATIFY
AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR
CTS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL
BILL 119966.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO PASS THE BILL.
COLLEAGUES, AS I MENTIONED THIS
MORNING, DURING COUNCIL
BRIEFING, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE
THAT RELATES TO THE LEGAL
REPRESENTATION OF MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN IN THE JUDICIAL
PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THE
RECALL CHARGE WHICH HAS NOW
COME TO A CONCLUSION.
AS YOU WILL NOTE FROM THE
FISCAL NOTES, THE SUMMARY.
FISCAL NOTE NOTES THAT THE
TOTAL COST OF THE LEGAL DEFENSE
IS $240,000 AND SO THAT IS WHAT
THE FISCAL IMPACT IS OF THIS
PARTICULAR BILL SHOULD IT PASS.
SO THIS BILL IS BEING PROPOSED,
CONSISTENT WITH THE SAME
STATUTORY FRAMEWORK THAT WAS IN
PLAY AND UP FOR CONSIDERATION
BY THE FULL COUNCIL ON
SEPTEMBER 15th WHEN WE
CONSIDERED AND PASSED THE SAME
PIECE OF LEGISLATION RELATED TO
THE LEGAL DEFENSE OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT RELATED TO
THAT RECALL PETITION.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING JUST
TIMING.
IN THIS INSTANCE WE KNOW WHAT
THE RESULTS OF THAT PETITION
ARE AND WHAT THE TOTAL FEES ARE
FOR THE JUDICIAL PROCEEDING.
SO HAPPY TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR
TO HEAR ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM
ANYONE ELSE.
ANY COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER, SAWANT, PLEASE.
>> I WILL BE VOTING YES ON THIS
ITEM BECAUSE I SUPPORT THE
RIGHT TO A LEGAL DEFENSE FOR
ALL.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW
THAT I HAVE COMPLETELY OPPOSED
MAYOR DURKAN'S POLITICAL
ACTIONS, HER SYSTEMATIC BUT ALL
TOO UNSURPRISING OPPOSITION TO
THE AMAZON TAX TO FUND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE
GREEN NEW DEAL.
HER ADMINISTRATION DOING THE
BIDDING OF TELECOM CORPORATIONS
AND BLOCKING PROGRESS ON
BROADBAND WHICH IS URGENTLY
NEEDED AND ESPECIALLY THE
ACTIONS AGAINST THE "BLACK
LIVES MATTER" MOVEMENT, WHICH
WHILE CARRIED OUT BY THE
POLICE, LIE AT THE DOORSTEP OF
HER ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS TO
THE MAYOR AND THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT.
UNDER MAYOR DURKAN'S WATCH
SEATTLE POLICE TARGETED
ORDINARY PEOPLE WITH TEAR GAS,
RUBBER BULLETS AND OTHER
WEAPONS IN BRUTAL REPRESSION OF
THE MOVEMENT.
HOWEVER, THIS VOTE IS NOT
TAKING A POSITION ON MAYOR
DURKAN'S ACTIONS, IT IS ABOUT
THE RIGHT TO LEGAL
REPRESENTATION AND WE HAVE TO
BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE PRECEDENT
THAT IS BEING SET FOR WORKING
CLASSY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
WHO CANNOT AFFORD LARGE LEGAL
EXPENSES WHILE CORPORATE
POLITICIANS COULD EASILY AFFORD
IT.
IF WE DO NOT SET A CRYSTAL
CLEAR PRECEDENT THAT LEGAL
REPRESENTATION IS A RIGHT
REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO
AFFORD IT THEN IT WOULD END UP
CREATING A DYNAMIC --
EFFECTIVELY HAVE ACCESS TO --
IN THE FUTURE.
FOR THAT DEMOCRATIC REASON I
WILL BE VOTING YES ON THIS BILL
FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION BUT I
WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT I
CONTINUE TO BE OPPOSED TO WHAT
MAYOR DURKAN HAS DONE IN
RELATION TO THE "BLACK LIVES
MATTER" PROTESTS AND WORK
PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
AND, OF COURSE, COLLEAGUES
VOTING FOR THIS BILL OR THIS
BILL IS SIMPLY TAKING A
POSITION ON WHETHER OR NOT
LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS
APPROPRIATE UNDER THE STATE
STATUTE THAT ALLOWS FOR AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL TO REQUEST
LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND TO
HAVE THEIR LEGAL COSTS COVERED.
IT CERTAINLY IS NOT A VOTE ON
ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT; THAT
ISSUE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOW
>> 9 IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
AGENDA ITEM 2. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 11969 RELATING
TO THE CITY LIGHT AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENTS
TEMPORARILY REMOVING THE CHARGE
OF INTEREST ON DELINQUENT
UTILITY CONSUMPTION AND
UTILIZATION ACCOUNTS,
SUPERSEDING SEVERAL SECTIONS
UNDER TITLE 21 THAT AUTHORIZE
AND REQUIRE THE COLLECTION OF
INTEREST AND DELINQUENT UTILITY
CONSUMPTION AND UTILIZATION
ACCOUNTS AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
>> I MOVE TO PASS, IS THERE A
SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, YOU
ARE THE SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM
AND --
>> COLLEAGUES, AS I MENTIONED
THIS MORNING AT COUNCIL
BRIEFING, COUNCIL BILL 119969
WOULD EXTEND OUR FORGIVENESS OF
LATE FEES ON UTILITY BILLS
DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.
WE ADOPTED THIS POLICY EARLIER
THIS YEAR AND THEN EXTENDED IT
WITH ORDINANCE 126182 TO
PROVIDE THIS FINANCIAL RELIEF
FROM BOTH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
AND SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
BUT THAT ORDINANCE EXPIRES IN
IS JUST TWO WEEKS SO TODAY'S
COUNCIL BILL WOULD EXTEND THIS
UTILITY-RELATED COVID RELIEF
FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THIS RELIEF POLICY DOES REDUCE
REVENUE TO THE UTILITIES THAT
WE OWN AND OPERATE BUT I
BELIEVE IT'S WORTH IT DURING
THIS UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC.
WHILE WE ARE SEEING A SPIKE IN
COVID CASES WE CAN SEE THE
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
WITH THE APPROVAL OF A VACCINE
AND WE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF COVID
ON OUR UTILITY ENTERPRISES NEXT
YEAR WHEN WE DISCUSS THEIR
STRATEGIC PLANS AND FUTURE
RATES.
THIS LEGISLATION IS CONSISTENT
WITH THE GOAL OF KEEPING RATES
LOW AND I ENCOURAGE YOUR
SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE BILL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> WILL THE CLERK AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF.
COMMITTEE REPORT FOR THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK READ AGENDA ITEM
3 INTO THE RECORD.
REPORT OF THE FINANCIAL AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM
3, COUNCIL BIG 119977, AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126000, WHICH ADOPTED
THE 2020 BUDGET, MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE GENERAL
FUND FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
DURING THE COVID-19 CIVIL
EMERGENCY; AND THE RATIFYING
AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR
ACTS.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASS
THE BILL AS AMENDED.
>> I WILL RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE THE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS ORDINANCE WILL EXPAND OUR
RELIEF TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND
PARTICULARLY WORKERS AS THE
GOVERNOR'S EXTENSION OF THE
BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS CONTINUE
UNTIL JANUARY 4th.
APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS A PIECE
OF ORDINANCE THAT WAS
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER --
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES, CO-
SPONSORED BY MYSELF AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND IN
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, WE KNOW THAT HALF OF
THE ALLOCATED FUNDS IN THIS
PROPOSED ORDINANCE HERE WILL GO
TO SUPPORTING OUR SMALLEST
BUSINESSES AND HALF THE AMOUNT
WILL GO DIRECTLY TO WORKERS
WITHIN HOSPITAL AT THAT TIME
INDUSTRY AT LARGE 85% OF THE
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE RECEIVED
ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO
EMPLOYERS WITH TEN OR FEWER
EMPLOYEES AND OVER 60% OF THOSE
APPLICANTS ARE FROM -- 29%
REPRESENT THE RESTAURANT AND
BAR INDUSTRY AND THERE IS STILL
SUCH A HUGE NEED SO WE ARE
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PIECE
OF LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
COMMITTEE'S SUPPORT OF THE
AMENDMENT THAT WE BROUGHT
FORWARD IN CONSULTATION WITH
SEATTLE RESTAURANTS UNITED AND
UNITE HERE.
WE KNEW THERE NEEDED TO BE
ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY FOR
SMALL RESTAURANTS AND BARS TO
HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE
NONMONETARY LEAF SUCH ADDS AS
PERMITS FOR OUTDOOR DINING AND
CLARIFICATION THAT THE $2.5
MILLION IN FLEXIBLE DIRECT CASH
ASSISTANCE CAN GO TO WORKERS IN
THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
IMPACTED BY THIS CRISIS TO MEET
ONGOING BASIC NEEDS AND MUCH
MORE NEEDED.
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU AND MAKING SURE THAT
THERE'S ADDITIONAL RELIEF AT
THE CITY LEVEL AS WE CONTINUE
TO URGE OUR CONGRESSIONAL
PARTNERS AND WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR STATE
PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IN
HARDEST HIT INDUSTRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, FOR
THOSE COMMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW
COMMENTS AS WELL AND I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS A CO-
SPONSOR OF THIS IMPORTANT -- I
JUST WANTED TO SAY I HAVE
TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS BILL
ALREADY IN COUNCIL BRIEFING AND
IN COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO SAY THAT LEGISLATION
REALLY DOES REPRESENT THE FACT
THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
TAKING SWIFT ACTION TO ADDRESS
THE ONGOING NEEDS OF SMALL
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS IMPACTED
BY COVID-19 -- BY THE COVID-19
ECONOMY AND THE RELATED
RESTRICTIONS.
AN ADDITIONAL $2.5 MILLION WILL
BE GIVEN TO SMALL RESTAURANTS
AND BARS THAT WILL SUPPORT THE
ABILITY OF OUR MAIN STREET
BUSINESSES TO KEEP THEIR DOORS
OPEN AND WORKERS EMPLOYED.
ANOTHER $2.5 MILLION IN DIRECT
CASH ASSISTANCE WILL GO TO
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WORKERS
AND THAT MEANS THAT THOUSANDS
OF FAMILIES CAN REMAIN HOUSED
AND FED IN THE WINTER MONTHS.
THE HOSPITALITY RESTAURANT AND
BAR INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HARDEST
HIT BY THE COVID ECONOMY AND
THESE YEAR-END INVESTMENTS WILL
PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF
AHEAD OF A VERY TOUGH WINTER.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I'M LUCKY
ENOUGH TO CONSIDER MYSELF A
FAMILY MEMBER OF THE RESTAURANT
AND BAR INDUSTRY.
MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN IN THE
SERVICE INDUSTRY FOR ALMOST 20
YEARS.
MOST OF THAT TIME HERE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, AND OUR HOME
HASS ALSO NOT BEEN SPARED BY
THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 AND THE
RELATED ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND
RESTRICTIONS.
SO TO ME IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO HAVE THESE STRATEGIC
TARGETED INVESTMENTS, SO TO THE
SERVICE INDUSTRY AND THE
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, WHICH HAS
BEEN HARDEST HIT BY MANY OF THE
RESTRICTIONS AND BY THIS
PANDEMIC AND SO I REALLY WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
FOR WILLINGNESS TO CREATE SPACE
AT THE LAST MINUTE AND HER
COMMITTEE TO ALLOW HEARING ON
THIS BILL.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR ONGOING AND INSTEAD
FUTURECAST SUPPORT AND
CHAMPIONING OF THE NEEDS OF OUR
DIVERSE SMALL BUSINESSES AND
ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS THE CITY
AND I WANT TO THANK MAYOR
DURKAN FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO
ALLOW US TO COLLABORATE BETWEEN
THE BRANCHES, TO IDENTIFY $5
MILLION TO MEET AND TO CREATE
THE BRIDGE BETWEEN NOW AND THE
NEW YEAR WHEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO TAKE SOME MORE SIGNIFICANT
ACTION AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
RELIEF.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND
ALSO THANK YOU TO MY OFFICE FOR
WORKING REALLY HARD ON THIS
LEGISLATION AND TO MY CHIEF OF
STAFF FOR ALSO LENDING HER
TALENTS TO DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND CREATING LOTS
OF AGREEMENT HERE.
O THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOUR
SUPPORT HERE.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE
BILL?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLE ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE
APROPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
MOVING ALONG TO AGENDA ITEM 4.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 4 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 4, COUNCIL BILL
119971, ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDING
FROM NONCITY SOURCES.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU ARE
THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE AND
ARE RECOGNIZED ONCE AGAIN TO
PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT
ON THIS BILL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON
TODAY'S AGENDA, WE TALKED ABOUT
QUITE A BIT THIS MORNING.
THIS IS RELATED TO THE FEDERAL
GRANTS THAT WE ARE ACCEPTING.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT
FEDERAL GRANTS THAT ARE
ACCEPTED AT THE END OF THE YEAR
EACH YEAR.
THERE HAS BEEN A DOCUMENT THAT
WAS CIRCULATED THIS WEEKEND BY
GREG DOSS FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
WORK THAT THEY DID OVER THE
WEEKEND TO HELP ANSWER
QUESTIONS THAT STEMMED FROM THE
ROBUST DISCUSSION IN OUR
COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU
SHOULD ALSO NOTE IN ADDITION TO
THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE
SUBMITTED THAT RESULTED IN 11-
PAGE RESPONSE DOCUMENT, IS THAT
DIRECTOR NOBEL HAS SENT A
LETTER TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT
IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS, THAT THOSE GET
ANSWERED BEFORE THOSE 2021
ALLOCATIONS ARE SPENT AND
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMMITMENT
FROM THE CBO OFFICE, FROM DR.
NOBEL THAT HE HAS SENT THIS
LETTER TO US, WHICH YOU ALL
SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AROUND
2:00 P.M.
TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS,
SPECIFICALLY AS WELL RELATED TO
HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS DO GET
ANSWERED.
AS THE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
DISCUSSED THIS MORNING THERE
WAS A LONG CONVERSATION ON
WEDNESDAY'S MEETING AND I HAVE
ADDITIONAL CONCERNS AND
QUESTIONS THAT I WILL BE
SUBMITTING.
FOLKS ARE ASKED BY ALY AND GREG
THAT IF YOU DO HAVE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS THAT ARE NOT YET
ANSWERED IN THAT 11-PAGE
DOCUMENT, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS BY
WEDNESDAY AT NOON SO THAT'S
CENTRAL STAFF CAN COORDINATE
WITH THE OFFICE TO ANSWER ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE AS VICE
CHAIR HERBOLD DID DURING OUR
COMMITTEE LAST WEDNESDAY THAT
FOLKS KNOW THERE IS A NUMBER OF
IMPORTANT GRANTS INCLUDED IN
THE OVERALL BILL AS WELL AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE TO MOVE THOSE
FORWARD TO ACCEPT THOSE GRANTS.
WITH THAT I WILL BE VOTING YES
AND THE COMMITTEE VOTED 5-0
RECOMMENDING PASSAGE DURING
FULL COUNCIL TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, FOR
THAT EXCELLENT REPORT WHILE
MULTITASKING, WELL DONE.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS -- YOU
WANT TO GO TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FIRST?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF BUDGET
DIRECTOR BEN NOBEL'S COMMITMENT
IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
TO DO MORE WORK WITH THE
COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE
DEVELOPMENT AND SUBMITTAL OF
GRANTS THAT MAY BE OF CONCERN
TO THE COUNCIL.
AN EXAMPLE OF THE WORK THAT
THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE AROUND
FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE OF
CONCERN RELATE SPECIFICALLY TO
LEGISLATION IN 2017 THAT THE
COUNCIL ADOPTED.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT THAT
YEAR I PROPOSED TO CREATE A NEW
SECTION OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE
PROHIBITING SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATION IN THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 1033
PROGRAM.
THAT ALLOWS CITIES TO TRANSFER
EXCESS MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO
CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES AT NO COST.
THIS WAS A PARTICULAR PROGRAM
THAT WE HAD RECEIVED CONCERNS
ABOUT AND IN RESPONSE WE -- THE
CHIEF HAD DECIDED TO NO LONGER
PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM AND
THEN WE SORT OF SOLIDIFIED THAT
POLICY DECISION OF CHIEF BEST
WITH THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT OUR
ONGOING EFFORTS TO TAKE A LOOK
AT SOME OF THESE GRANTS SOURCES
MIGHT RESULT IN A REQUEST FROM
THE COUNCIL TO THE DEPARTMENT
TO NO LONGER PARTICIPATE IN
SOME OF THESE GRANT SOURCES BUT
THAT IS IMPORTANT WORK AND I
APPRECIATE THAT WE NEED TO DO
MOVING FORWARD AND I APPRECIATE
THAT WE HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM
THE BUDGET DIRECTOR THAT WE CAN
TAKE A DEEPER DIVE IN THE
FUTURE BEFORE THESE GRANTS ARE
SOUGHT.
THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA
AND THANK YOU ALSO CHAIR
HERBOLD.
ALSO WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR
NOBEL FOR YOUR LETTER.
YOUR LETTER, AS WELL AS THE
CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH
GREG DOSS AND ALECK PA NUCCI
HAVE RESOLVED THE CONCERNS THAT
I HAVE FOR TODAY AND I WILL BE
FOLLOWING UP WITH ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS AS PER YOUR LETTER AS
REQUESTED.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
SENDING THAT ALONG AND WORKING
WITH US IN AN EXPEDIENT
FASHION.
THANK YOU TO DR. FISCHER AND
ANGELA SOCHI AND GREG FOR ALL
OF YOUR WORK ANSWERING THE 11
PAGES OF QUESTIONS OVER THE
WEEKEND.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WILL BE VOTING YES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COLLEAGUES.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE.
I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND --
FOR THEIR GOOD WORK ON GETTING
AS MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS
AS WE CAN.
LOTS MORE TO DO, ALWAYS,
PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO
OVERSIGHT ISSUES SO REALLY LOOK
FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GET TO THAT WORK.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
ALSO PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
ITEM 5, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 5
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 5, COUNCIL BILL
119970 AMENDING ORDINANCE --
ADOPTED A 20 BUDGET INCLUDING
THE 2020 THROUGH 2025 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND THE
BILL PASSES AS AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE QUARTER
FOR SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET THAT
AMENDS APPROPRIATIONS TO
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND BUDGET
CONTROL LEVELS INCLUDING THE
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
THIS IS IDEALLY INTENDED TO BE
A BILL THAT TRUES UP ANY
ADDITIONAL COSTS AND HELPS TO
TIE UP ANY LOOSE ENDS BEFORE
THE CALENDAR YEAR CONCLUDES.
THIS HELPS TO ENSURE THAT THERE
IS A BALANCED BUDGET AT THE END
OF EACH YEAR.
IDEALLY QUARTER 4 IS TO BE
TECHNICAL IN NATURE.
HOWEVER, THE PROPOSAL THAT WE
RECEIVED THIS YEAR FROM THE
MAYOR INCLUDED A REQUEST FOR
SPD FOR AN ADDITIONAL SPENDING
OF AUTHORITY.
THE COUNCIL, AS YOU KNOW, THIS
SUMMER PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT
TIED TO OUR SUMMER BUDGETING
PROCESS STATED THE FOLLOWING:
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT
SUPPORT ANY BUDGET AMENDMENTS
TO INCREASE SPD'S BUDGET TO
OFFSET OVERTIME EXPENDITURES
ABOVE THE FUNDS BUDGETED IN
2020 AND 2021.
SO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, AS
VICE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
AND MYSELF, WE HAVE INTRODUCED
AN AMENDMENT TO DO JUST THAT,
TO HOLD THE LINE, TO MAKE SURE
THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR AN
OVERSPEND WHICH IS A MANAGERIAL
DECISION AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE LOOKING ACROSS THESE TWO
BUDGETS TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS
IN THE RESOLUTION.
THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BOTH BY
THE AMENDMENT THAT IS INCLUDED
IN THIS BILL FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION TODAY, AGAIN,
THANK YOU COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
WHO WERE PART OF THE FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE WHO
INCLUDED THIS AMENDMENT AND IS
ALSO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE
BILL ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR TODAY
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND MYSELF WHICH I
DISCUSSED THIS MORNING.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IF IT PLEASES
THE PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO
DEFER TO VICE CHAIR HERBOLD TO
OFFER THIS AND OFFER COMMENTS
AND CLOSING BEFORE THE VOTE IF
THAT PLEASES THE PRESIDENT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
HERBOLD WANTS TO GO NEXT.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA YOU WILL
HAVE THE LAST WORD ON THE BILL
AS WE CLOSE THE DEBATE.
BUT FOR NOW LET'S HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE COMMENTS ON THIS
PARTICULAR BILL, PLEASE DO LET
ME KNOW.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THEN
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> AS COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
MENTIONED, WE ARE CO-SPONSORING
AN AMENDMENT THAT INSURES THAT
THE BUDGET PROCESS NEVER ENDS.
YEAH.
SO THIS AMENDMENT AS THE NEW
SECTION 13 EXPRESSING COUNCIL'S
INTENT TO TAKE ADDITIONAL
ACTION IN 2021 TO REDUCE THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S 2021
APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY BY AT
LEAST FIVE ON .4 MILLION.
THIS IS IN THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR WITH 90 COUNCIL BILL
119981 AND IT'S GOING TO BE
REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
EARLY NEXT YEAR.
AS COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
MENTIONED, PASSED BY THE
COUNCIL IN AUGUST, WE MADE A
STATEMENT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
WOULD NOT SUPPORT ANY BUDGET
AMENDMENTS TO INCREASE THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET TO
OFFSET OVERTIME EXPENDITURES.
WE EXPRESSED THE COUNCIL'S
INTENT TO REDUCE THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET IN PHASES
AND INCREASE FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY LED RESEARCH AND PAR
TISS PA TORE BUDGETING.
TOTAL $5.4 MILLION, AND THERE
ARE THREE ITEMS THAT MAKE UP
THAT MAKE UP THE $5.4 MILLION.
1.6 FOR SEPARATION PAY, 1.9
MILLION FOR FEMA REIMBURSEMENT
AND THAT IS SPECIFICALLY
OVERTIME ASSOCIATED WITH POLICE
OFFICERS WHO ARE STAFFING SOME
OF OUR COVID TESTING SITES AND
SO THERE'S AN ANTICIPATION THAT
THERE WILL BE FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT FOR THESE COSTS.
AND 1.9 MILLION FOR PARENTAL
LEAVE.
THE CONNECTION TO OVERTIME FOR
THAT ONE IS WHEN OFFICERS GO ON
PARENTAL LEAVE, THE DEPARTMENT
CANNOT SIMPLY HIRE NEW OFFICERS
TO FILL IN FOR THAT SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT'S HAD
WHEN THEY BRING FOLKS ON
OVERTIME.
EACH OF THESE IS CONNECTED TO
USE OF OVERTIME AND BACKFILLING
WORK.
AS I STATED IN COMMITTEE, LAST
WEEK, I DON'T SEE MYSELF AS A
PERSON EVEN GIVEN THE STATEMENT
THAT WAS IN THE COUNCIL
RESOLUTION ABOUT OVERTIME AND
THE INTENT TO NOT INCREASE
FUNDING FOR OVERTIME.
I MIGHT HAVE BEEN WILLING TO
CONSIDER SOME ADDITIONAL
OVERTIME IF IT WASN'T FOR THE
FACT THAT I DO BELIEVE THAT
THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK
THAT THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE
DOING IN REAL TIME TO ADDRESS
THE ALLOCATION OF OVERTIME, NOT
CONNECTED TO THE THREE ITEMS
THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
BUT REALLY OVERTIME CONNECTED
TO STAFFING THE PROTESTS THAT
WE HAVE BEEN SEEING FOR MANY,
MANY MONTHS NOW.
WE ARE STILL SEEING LARGE
NUMBERS OF OFFICERS DEPLOYED
FOR VERY SMALL NUMBERS OF
PROTESTERS AND I WANT TO JUST
MAKE NOTE THAT BACK ON
OCTOBER 31st CHIEF DIAZ
ANNOUNCED, VIA THE SPD BLOGGER
THAT SPD WAS CHANGING ITS
APPROACH TO DEMONSTRATIONS
INCLUDING, I QUOTE, RECOGNIZING
THAT THE VISIBLE PRESENCE IN
APPEARANCE OF OFFICERS AT A
DEMONSTRATION CAN IMPACT CROWDS
-- CAN IMPACT INTERACTIONS WITH
THE CROWD AND THAT REDUCING THE
DEPARTMENT'S PRESENCE WHEN SAFE
AND FEASIBLE WAS A GOAL.
AND I APPLAUD THAT STATED
CHANGED APPROACH
DEMONSTRATIONS, BUT IN JUST
FIVE DAYS AFTER THIS STATEMENT
WENT OUT ON NOVEMBER 4th , ON
CAPITOL HILL, THERE APPEARED TO
BE WHAT LOOKED LIKE ALMOST 100
OFFICERS PRESENT AT A
DEMONSTRATION OF 20 TO 30
PEOPLE.
WE HEARD PUBLIC COMMENT LAST
WEEK IN THE FINANCE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE THAT
EVEN LAST WEEK LARGE NUMBERS OF
OFFICERS ARE CONTINUING TO SHOW
UP AT PROTESTS OF SMALL GROUPS.
SO I RECOGNIZE THAT OVER TIME
MANAGEMENT REPORTS ARE BEING
SENT TO ALL BUREAU CHIEFS,
SWORN COMMANDERS AND CIVILIAN
MANAGERS EVERY MONTH.
AND THAT THESE REPORTS CONTAIN
DETAILED INFORMATION FOR ALL
EMPLOYEES WHO WORK OVERTIME IN
THE PRIOR MONTH.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO NOT JUST
REVIEW THE OVERTIME AFTER IT'S
APPROVED.
WE NEED TO BE REALLY LOOKING AT
THE DECISION MAKING ASSOCIATED
WITH THE APPROVAL.
WE KNOW ALSO THAT THE BUDGET
DIRECTOR RECEIVES MONTHLY
OVERTIME REPORTS AND HAS
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND I
THINK IS ALSO IN A POSITION TO
DO MORE TO CONTROL OVERTIME.
I WANT TO NOTE THAT ON A
BROADER LEVEL PART OF THE
PROBLEM IS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
NOT RECEIVED REGULAR ONGOING
UPDATES ABOUT SPD SPENDING.
AND THAT'S WHY THESE TYPE OF
END-OF-YEAR SPENDING BILLS ARE
COMMON AND SO TO BRIDGE THIS
INFORMATION GAP, THE COUNCIL
ADOPTED TWO ACTIONS IN ADOPTING
THE 2021 BUDGET.
FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE GOING TO
BE REQUESTING -- WE ARE GOING
TO BE RECEIVING -- WE
REQUESTED, WE ARE GOING TO BE
RECEIVING MONTHLY REPORTING ON
OVERTIME USE.
AND THAT WILL ALLOW THE COUNCIL
TO REALLY KEEP AN EYE ON HOW
OVERTIME IS BEING DEPLOYED IN
THAN EFFORT TO DO NECESSARY
COURSE CORRECTION IN FUTURE
DEPLOYMENT OF OVERTIME.
SECONDLY THE COUNCIL HAS
REQUESTED THAT SPD PROVIDE
MONTHLY FISCAL REPORTING
BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2021.
THIS REQUEST MADE DURING THE
SUMMER SUPPLEMENTAL PROCESS,
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK AGAIN WE
ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING ON A
MONTHLY BASIS THE SPENDING OF
THE LARGER OVERALL SPENDING OF
THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT
WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE TO
REDUCE THE 2021 BUDGET
AUTHORITY BEYOND -- BEYOND THIS
ACTION HERE TODAY TO CONSIDER
WHAT SPECIFICS WE MIGHT NEED TO
REALLY FOCUS ON IN THESE
MONTHLY REPORTS, WHETHER OR NOT
THAT'S TOTAL SPENDING TO DATE
BY BUDGET CONTROL LEVEL AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS AND CENTRAL STAFF
-- RECEIVE IT IN A WAY THAT
WILL MAKE IT MOST USABLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THE
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET WHICH GIVES
SEATTLE --
>> SAWANT, IT'S HARD TO HEAR
YOU.
>> SORRY.
OKAY.
IS THAT BETTER?
>> YES.
WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THE
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET WHICH GIVES
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AN ADDITIONAL $5.4 MILLION TO
FUND THE EXTRA OVERTIME THAT
THEY HAVE USED, ABUSING AND
INTIMIDATING THE "BLACK LIVES
MATTER" MOVEMENT.
EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT IS
ALLOCATED A BUDGET AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND THOSE
ARE THE FUNDS THEY HAVE
AVAILABLE TO DO WHATEVER THEY
NEED TO DO.
HERE WE ARE IN THE LAST COUNCIL
MEETINGOF THE YEAR, THE SAME
YEAR WE HAD A HISTORIC "BLACK
LIVES MATTER" MOVEMENT, A YEAR
IN WHICH UNDER PRESSURE FROM
THE STREET HEAT THE DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT MADE SWEEPING
BY 50%.
POLICE SPENT $5.4 MILLION MORE
THAN THEIR BUDGET, $5.4 MILLION
THAT DID NOT BELONG TO THEM AND
THEY ARE REQUESTING RETROACTIVE
PERMISSION FOR THESE MILLIONS
IN TAXPAYER MONEY THAT THEY
HAVE STOLEN.
THEY HAVE TAKEN THIS MONEY IN
ORDER TO ABUSE THE "BLACK LIVES
MATTER" MOVEMENT, SPENDING
MILLIONS IN OVERTIME TO FILL
THE STREETS OF SEATTLE WITH
TEAR GAS AND OTHER WEAPONS AND
THEY HAVE TAKEN THIS MONEY FOR
PERSONAL ENRICHMENT WITH
INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS AMASSING
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS IN OVERTIME PAY.
IMAGINE A CAR THIEF WHO TELLS
YOU THAT IF YOU JUST
RETROACTIVELY GIVE THEM YOUR
CAR, THEN THEY WILL NOT HAVE
STOLEN IT.
AND THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT DOES THIS ALMOST
EVERY YEAR TO THE POINT WHERE
THE COUNCIL EVEN PASSED A
RESOLUTION IN THE SUMMER WHICH
WAS MENTIONED ALLEGING TO SAY,
NO, IF THE POLICE MAKE THIS
REQUEST AT THE END OF THIS
YEAR.
NOW IS THE TEST.
WILL COUNCILMEMBERS HOLD THE
LINE OR YET AGAIN BACKFILL THE
ALREADY BLOATED POLICE BUDGET
WITH RENEWED PLEDGES TO HOLD
THE LINE NEXT YEAR?
UNFORTUNATELY IN THE FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE LAST
WEEK, COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE
COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO
APPROVE THIS POLICE FUNDING
THIS YEAR WHILE PLEDGING TO
TAKE IT FROM NEXT YEAR'S
úBUDGET.
BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TAKE
THE MONEY FROM NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET IF COUNCILMEMBERS PROVE
THAT THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF
HOLDING THE POLICE TO THAT
BUDGET?
WHAT IF THE POLICE GO OVER
THEIR BUDGET BY $5.4 MILLION
AGAIN IN 2021?
WILL THE COUNCIL HOLD THE LINE
THEN OR PUSH IT BACK ANOTHER
YEAR.
WHAT IF THEY GO OVER BY 20
MILLION IN 2021 OR 15 MILLION?
WHAT WILL MAKE THE
COUNCILMEMBERS MORE WILLING TO
HOLD THE POLICE TO THEIR BUDGET
NEXT YEAR GIVEN THAT THIS YEAR
THE COUNCIL ALREADY TOOK THE
EXTRA STEP OF PASSING A
RESOLUTION, A YEAR IN WHICH WE
HAD THE LARGEST STREET
MOBILIZATION IN U.S. HISTORY
PLEDGING TO HOLD THEM TO THEIR
BUDGET.
DOES THE COUNCIL NEED TO PASS
TWO RESOLUTIONS IN 2021 SAYING,
NO, BUT FOR REAL THIS TIME?
IN COMMITTEE PUBLIC COMMENT
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS DEMANDED
THE COUNCIL QUOTE/UNQUOTE HOLD
THE LINE.
IT IS MOVING THE LINE BACK A
YEAR WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT
WILL NOT MOVE AGAIN AND AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
OF COURSE THE REALITY IS IT'S
NOT ABOUT LINES OR PROMISES OR
RESOLUTIONS OR EVEN THE
GOODWILL OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IT'S ABOUT THE POWER OF THE
MOVEMENTS ON THE STREETS.
AT THE HIGHEST OF THE JUSTICE
FOR GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT
COUNCILMEMBERS PROMISED TO
DEFUND THE POLICE BY 50%.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THAT
WAS REDUCED TO JUST A COUPLE
PERCENT AND A PROMISE NOT TO
ADD THAT FUNDING BACK AT THE
END OF THE YEAR AND A COUPLE OF
MONTHS LATER HERE WE ARE.
THE LESSON FOR OUR MOVEMENT IS
WE MUST DEPEND ON OUR OWN
STRENGTH ALWAYS.
WE HAVE SEEN ALSO HOW WITH THE
RECEDING OF THE STREET MOVEMENT
THE CITY COUNCIL DEMOCRATS JUST
APPROVED NEARLY $200 MILLION IN
CUTS TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS LIKE
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.
I WANT TO RAISE ONE ADDITIONAL
PART OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
THAT IS INSISIOUS.
THERE IS FUNDING FROM THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
TO FUND SOMETHING CALLED A
FUSION CENTER.
I VOTED NO ON SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGETS IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF
THE FUSION CENTER FUNDING.
THE FUSION CENTER IS THE PLACE
WHERE THE SEATTLE POLICE AND
THE FBI SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT
PROTESTERS SO THAT PROTEST
MOVEMENTS LIKE "BLACK LIVES
MATTER" CAN BE CHARGED WITH
FEDERAL CRIMES.
IT WAS SIMILARLY USED AGAINST
THE ANTIWAR MOVEMENT AT THE
HEIGHT OF THE IRAQ WAR SO THIS
IS NOTHING NEW.
I WILL BE VOTING NO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND THEN IS THERE
ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE COMMENTS ON THIS BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND THEN
IT DOESN'T LOOK -- I HAVEN'T
SEEN ANYTHING THAT THEY WANT TO
-- IF THAT REMAINS THE CASE, WE
WILL HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA CLOSE OUT DEBATE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM GOING TO BE HONEST AND SAY
I AM VERY CONFLICTED ON THIS
BILL.
YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THERE
ARE MANY DEPARTMENTS THAT NEED
TO HAVE THEIR YEAR-END ITEMS
COVERED AND I DO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR
WALKING US THROUGH ALL OF THE
MEASURES THAT WE PASSED IN
ORDER TO HELP US KEEP CLOSER
TABS ON THE SPD BUDGET FROM NOW
ON.
AND I ALSO WANT TO BE REALLY
CLEAR THAT I DON'T SUPPORT THE
NOTION OF RECOVERING SPD
OVERTIME EVEN IF WE ARE
REDUCING AUTHORITY NEXT YEAR.
I REALLY THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS
IS THAT SPD CONTINUES TO
DISREGARD THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY
AND THE EFFORTS MADE TO REIN IN
THEIR OVERTIME EXPENSES.
DESPITE THIS BODY'S EXPRESSING
ITS INTENT OVER TWO BUDGET
PROCESSES THIS YEAR, THE
INTERIM CHIEF SUBMITTED A
REQUEST TO COVER ADDITIONAL
OVERTIME FOR ACTIVITIES THAT
JUDGE JONES HAS DEEMED OUT OF
COMPLIANCE WITH OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES.
IF ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT MANAGER
HAD OVERSPENT THEIR BUDGET BY
$5 MILLION, ESPECIALLY ON ANY
ACTIVITIES THAT A JUDGE HAS
DEEMED IN CONTEMPT OF COURT, WE
WOULD NOT HESITATE TO HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE.
SO I AM AS FRUSTRATED AS I KNOW
ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE ON
THIS ISSUE.
IF NOTHING ELSE, IT
DEMONSTRATES TO ME THAT OUR
SEARCH FOR A NEW POLICE CHIEF
WILL NEED TO INCLUDE A THOROUGH
VETTING OF THEIR FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND THEIR
COMMITMENT TO A REDUCED ROLE
FOR POLICE IN OUR COMMUNITY
SAFETY.
AS I SAID, I UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE ARE OTHER DEPARTMENTS
WHOSE YEAR END WORK IS SORT OF
IN THE BALANCE HERE SO I AM
CONFLICTED AND FRANKLY NOT
PREPARED YET TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
I'M GOING TO DO BUT I DO WANT
TO EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION WITH
THIS CONTINUED PROBLEM AND MY
HOPE IS THAT THE MEASURES THAT
WE HAVE PASSED WILL ALLOW US TO
BE IN A VERY DIFFERENT POSITION
NEXT YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
JUST CHECKING IN ONE MORE TIME.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS
ON THE BILL?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THIS BILL, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA I'M GOING TO HAND IT
OVER TO YOU TO CLOSE OUT DEBATE
WITH SOME FINANCIAL REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I'LL
PICK UP ON THE LAST COMMENTS
THAT YOU MADE.
I AM TOO ALSO CONFLICTED BY
THIS.
WANTED TO BRING FORWARD AN
AMENDMENT LAST WEEK THAT WOULD
HAVE STRIPPED THESE PIECES.
WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM
THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND THE
EXECUTIVES TEAM THAT THE FUNDS
THAT ARE BEING BASICALLY HELD
BACK THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THIS
ALLOCATION INCLUDE THINGS LIKE
PAYING FOR LEAVE, FEDERALLY
REIMBURSEMENT EXPENSES FOR
EMERGENCIES AND SEPARATION PAY.
BUT THOSE WERE MANAGERIAL
DECISIONS.
THOSE COULD HAVE BEEN PAID
FIRST.
INSTEAD OVERTIME WAS PAID
FIRST, THEN COUNCIL WAS ASKED
TO BASICALLY FILL THE COFFERS.
SO IN LIEU OF US HAVING
ADDITIONAL TOOLS IN THE LAST
WEEK HERE OF THE 2020 CYCLE,
THE AMENDMENT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
MYSELF INTRODUCED ON WEDNESDAY,
WHICH CLEARLY ARTICULATES OUR
FRUSTRATION AND CONCERN WITH
THIS PROCESS AND THE AMENDMENT
COUPLED WITH THE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TODAY
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY IN 2021
WE WILL BE ABLE TO IF ACTED
UPON REDUCE THE 2021 SPD BUDGET
BY THE PROPORTIONAL AMOUNT
BECAUSE IF THE TOOLS WE HAVE AT
OUR DISPOSAL LIMIT US AND DO
NOT ALLOW FOR US IN THEORY TO
BE ABLE TO HOLD BACK ON THAT
$5.4 MILLION THEN IT NEEDS TO
BE TAKEN OUT OF THE 2021
BUDGET.
IF I CAN, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
WANT TO READ FROM THE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TODAY.
THE COUNCIL HAS REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT SPD WOULD HAVE
SUFFICIENT APPROPRIATION
AUTHORITY TO COVER THE 5.4
MILLION HAD IT NOT OVERSPENT
ITS OVERTIME BUDGET DUE LARGELY
TO OVERDEPLOYMENT OF OFFICERS
DURING THE LARGELY PEACEFUL
PROTESTS IN THE SUMMER OF 2020,
INCLUDING THE DEPLOYMENT OF
OFFICERS THAT EXCEEDED $10
MILLION IN OVERTIME COSTS IN
LESS THAN 60 DAYS.
SPECIFICALLY EXAMPLES OF THE
TYPE OF RESPONSE THAT WE SAW
DURING THOSE DAYS INCLUDED AN
UNARMED ELDERLY PERSON WITH A
CANE BEING PEPPER SPRAYED AND
SLAMMED DOWN TO THE GROUND BY
AN OFFICER, AN 8-YEAR-OLD CHILD
GETTING PEPPER SPRAYED IN THE
FACE, A BIKE COP LITERALLY
RIDING OVER A PERSON'S NECK AND
AN OFFICER PUTTING THEIR KNEE
ON SOMEONE'S NECK.
WE ALSO HEARD AS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD TALKED ABOUT, THE LARGE
NUMBER OF OFFICERS WHO
CONTINUED TO BE DEPLOYED TO
RESPOND TO A RELATIVELY SMALL
NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OVER THE
LAST FEW MONTHS AND THIS SEEMS
TO BE IN CONTRADICTION TO WHAT
WE HAD HEARD FROM OUR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS,
SPECIFICALLY MR. -- WHO TALKED
IN HIS SUMMARY IN COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD'S COMMITTEE ABOUT HOW
THE SHEER PRESENCE AND THE TYPE
OF FORCE THAT WAS BEING SHOWN
IN RESPONSE TO THE PROTEST WAS
ESCALATING SITUATIONS AND THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT IF IT WERE
SCALED DOWN AND OFFICERS WERE
TO BE RESPONDING IN DIFFERENT
WAYS AND IN SMALLER FORCE, THEN
THERE WOULD BE LESS OF A NEED
FOR THAT TYPE OF RESPONSE FROM
THE OFFICERS AND I THINK THAT
THE LACK OF FOLLOW-THROUGH ON
THAT RECOMMENDATION CONTINUE TO
ESCALATE THE COSTS.
THE LEGISLATION ALSO SAYS THE
COUNCIL ANTICIPATES THERE WILL
BE SALARY SAVINGS ON SPD'S
BUDGET TO ACHIEVE -- ACHIEVED
IN 2021 DUE TO HIGHER THAN
ANTICIPATED ATTRITION WHICH --
IN OCTOBER AND AS I KNOW THIS
MORNING WE FOUND OUT ON
WEDNESDAY IS OCCURRING AS WELL
AND THE NUMBERS WE ARE
RECEIVING IN NOVEMBER AND WE
ANTICIPATE THAT THAT TREND WILL
CONTINUE IN 2020 FOR DECEMBER
AS WELL.
THE AMENDMENT COMMITS TO AND
THE BILL FOLLOWS THROUGH ON
THAT COMMITMENT TO REDUCE SPD'S
2021 APPORTION AUTHORITY
OFFSETTING THE INCREASED
AUTHORITY PROVIDED IN 2020 AND
MAKE SURE WE ARE INCREASING THE
FUNDING -- CALLED FOUR IN
RESOLUTION 31962.
THIS IS THE TOOL THAT WE HAVE
AT OUR DISPOSAL RIGHT NOW IN
THIS MOMENT TO HOLD THE LINE.
THIS IS HOW WE ARE MAKING SURE
THAT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR
OVERSPENDING THE AUTHORITY
ALREADY AUTHORIZED IN THE
BUDGET AND I EQUATE THIS TO
GOING TO A BANK FOR THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE A
HOME OR FOR EVEN THOSE MORE
THAN HALF OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS
WHO ARE RENTING, YOU WOULDN'T
GO AND PURCHASE SOMETHING THAT
YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO
BUY AND THEN GO TO THE BANK
LATER AND SAY, OOPS, I
OVERSPENT.
THAT WOULDN'T FLY THERE.
IT'S NOT FLYING FOR OTHER
DEPARTMENTS AND WE HAVE TO USE
THE TOOLS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD COMMENTED ON AND I
TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING AS WELL TO
HAVE EVEN MORE SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE IN EACH CELL AND EACH
LINE ITEM IN OUR BUDGET SO WE
HAVE GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND
CONTROL OVER HOW THESE DOLLARS
ARE BEING SPENT.
THIS IS PARTED OF THE STORY.
THIS IS PART OF THE NARRATIVE
IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD AND
BREONNA TAYLOR'S MURDER IN
MAKING SURE THAT WE AS A
COUNCIL FOR THE BUDGETARY
DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE CONTROL
OVER IN THE WAKE OF THOSE
MURDERS HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE
ARE NOT ONLY NOT INCREASING BUT
WE ARE NOW HOLDING THE LINE
ACROSS 2020 AND 2021.
SO IT'S NOT A MATTER OF SAYING
THIS WILL BE DEALT WITH NEXT
DECEMBER.
THE BILL HAS ALREADY BEEN
INTRODUCED.
IT WILL BE HEARD IN EARLY
JANUARY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR HER FORESIGHT TO
REQUEST REGULAR REPORTS AND I
THINK THIS GIVES US ALL AN
OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THE
TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT WE
WOULD LIKE TO BE SEEING ON A
MONHLY BASIS AS THOSE REPORTS
COME IN.
SO THAT WE AND ANY FUTURE
COUNCIL IS NEVER IN THIS
POSITION AGAIN AND THAT WE HAVE
GREATER TRANSPARENCY NOT JUST
FOR OUR BUDGET MAKING PROCESS
BUT FOR THE CITY AT LARGE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU OVER THE NEXT YEAR
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
GREATER TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL
TO CONTINUE TO HOLD THE LINE
AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON
OUR EFFORTS TO EXPOSE AND HAVE
GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY,
TRANSPARENCY AND FURTHER
SCRUTINIZE THE SPENDING SO THAT
ON THE MANAGERIAL SIDE, WHICH
COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY
FOR AS WELL, WE DON'T CONTINUE
TO SEE OVERALLOCATION OF
OVERTIME FUNDING AND THAT WE
EXPECT ALL DEPARTMENTS TO STAY
WITHIN THOSE BUDGETS,
ESPECIALLY, THOUGH, OUR SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND
THE AFTERMATH OF OUR SPD
REQUEST THAT WE LATCHED THIS
SUMMER.
I APPRECIATE WE HAVE HAD A LONG
CONVERSATION ON THIS AT TODAY'S
MEETING AND IN LAST WEDNESDAY'S
MEETING AND I DO ALSO WANT TO
REITERATE TO FOLKS THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF OTHER IMPORTANT
TECHNICAL FIXES AND ITEMS
WITHIN THE SUP MINUTE.
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THAT BUT WE
DID I THINK FOR GOOD REASON
WANT TO SPEND QUITE A BIT OF
TIME EXPLAINING TO THE COUNCIL
AND THE --
>> THANK YOU THE BILL PASSES,
WOULD THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE BILL ON MY
BEHALF?
ITEM 6, WITH THE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 6
INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 119973: AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING; AUTHORIZING
A LOAN OF UP TO $1,000,000 IN
GENERAL FUND FUNDS TO COMMUNITY
ROOTS HOUSING, A WASHINGTON
PUBLIC CORPORATION, TO MITIGATE
THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF COVID-
19; AND AUTHORIZING CERTAIN NEW
AGREEMENTS TO BE DEVELOPED
RELATING TO THE LENDING OF
GENERAL FUND FUNDS TO COMMUNITY
ROOTS HOUSING.
. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASSED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE A
REPORT ON THIS BILL AS WELL.
>> THIS BILL AUTHORIZES THE
MAYOR TO EXECUTE A LOAN
AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITY ROOTS
HOUSING FORMERLY KNOWN AS -- IN
AN AMOUNT UP TO $1 MILLION
USING GENERAL FUNDS APPROPRIATED
TO -- THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS
IMPAIRED THEM FROM BEING ABLE
TO CONNECT THE REVENUE NEEDED IN
COLLECTING COMMERCIAL AND
RESIDENTIAL TENANT RENT,
RESULTING IN AN OPERATING LOSS
OF -- A SHORTFALL OF
APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION REMAINS
. AS A REMINDER AS DISCUSSED IN
COMMITTEE, CAPITAL ROOTS
HOUSING IS -- IT IS NOT ELIGIBLE
TO APPLY FOR COVID-19 -- WHICH
WOULD HAVE HELPED TREMENDOUSLY
IN ADDRESSING THE CURRENT
SHORTFALL.
IN LIGHT OF THAT INFORMATION
AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE ROLE
THAT COMMUNITY ROOTS HOUSING
HAS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACCESSIBLE
HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING,
IT IS PRUDENT THAT THE CITY
DOES ALLOW FOR -- BUT
ESPECIALLY DURING A GLOBAL
PANDEMIC WE HAVE TO HAVE HOMES
IN ORDER TO AVOID CONTRACTING
AND SPREADING COVID-19 AND THIS
IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
THANKS TO COMMUNITY ROOTS
HOUSING FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
IN THE PAST AND I AM SUPPORTIVE
OF THIS LEGISLATION IT DID PASS
THE COMMITTEE 5-0 AND -- THANK
YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS?
OKAY, HEARING NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL --
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND -- WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE BILL ON MY
BEHALF?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF --
>> COUNCIL BILL 119967: AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE 2018
FAMILIES, EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL,
AND PROMISE LEVY; AMENDING THE
LEVY IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION PLAN ADOPTED BY
ORDINANCE 125807 TO GRANT THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING TEMPORARY
AUTHORITY TO MODIFY THE
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
PLAN IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-
19 PANDEMIC; AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASSED.
--
>> THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT IS
DESIGNED TO TEMPORARILY MODIFY
THE LEVY IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION PLAN THAT HAS BEEN
PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED AND APPROVED
BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
THESE MODIFICATIONS WILL ALLOW
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING SOME ADDITIONAL
FLEXIBILITY AS THEY CONTINUE TO
MODIFY THEIR PROGRAMMING AND
SERVICES IN THE CONTEXT OF
COVID-19, WE DID HAVE A ROBUST
PRESENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING
IN MY COMMITTEE LAST WEEK WHERE
THEY DESCRIBED HOW THE
FLEXIBILITY WILL ROLL OUT -- K-
12 -- LOTS OF GOOD STUFF THERE
IN THE SEATTLE PROMISE FOR
EXAMPLE THERE WILL BE
FLEXIBILITY ALLOWED FOR STUDENTS
WHO ARE PART OF THE COHORT FOR
SEATTLE PROMISE TO CONTINUE TO
ATTEND PART-TIME AS OPPOSED TO
REQUIRING FULL-TIME ATTENDANCE.
THAT IS ONE OF THE CHANGES
THERE.
IN THE K-12 SPACE THERE WILL BE
ADDITIONAL ONGOING FLEXIBILITY
IN LIGHT OF AND IN RESPONSE TO
THE FACT THAT CHILDREN ARE
REMOTE LEARNING AS OPPOSED TO
LEARNING ON SITE AND FOR EARLY
LEARNING THERE WILL BE
ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY
PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO
TUITION RELATED TO THOSE WHO
ARE LOOKING FOR CHILD CARE
SERVICES IN THAT EARLY LEARNING
SPACE.
THERE ARE OTHER ADDITIONAL
DETAILS INCLUDED IN THE
ORDINANCE AND REALLY APPRECIATE
DEALS -- IN TERMS OF SEEKING
THIS NOW SO THAT THEY CAN BEGIN
TO MODIFY HOW THEY ARE GOING TO
ROLL OUT THE OPERATIONAL PLAN
FOR THESE FUNDS IN THE 2021-
2022 ACADEMIC YEAR, THEIR PLAN
STARTS IN EARNEST VERY SHORTLY,
SO LOOKING FOR SWIFT APPROVAL
OF THIS GIVES THEM A LONG RAMP
TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE AND TO
ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS TO GET THIS
RIGHT, SO THE COMMITTEE DID
CONSIDER THIS AND UNANIMOUSLY
VOTED TO RECOMMEND THAT CITY
COUNCIL PASS THIS COUNCIL BILL,
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE BILL, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES, AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE BILL ON MY BEHALF?
ITEM 8, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM 8 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 8, COUNCIL BILL
119968: AN ORDINANCE RELATING
TO LOBBYING REGULATIONS;
EXPANDING LOBBYING REGULATIONS
TO COVER GRASSROOTS LOBBYING
CAMPAIGNS; CORRECTING
TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS,
CORRECTING SECTION REFERENCES,
CLARIFYING REGULATIONS, AND
MAKING MINOR AMENDMENTS; AND
AMENDING CHAPTER 2.06 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASSED, -- IN FAVOR AND
WITH AN EXTENSION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE I
WILL PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE
REPORT AND THEN OPEN THE FLOOR
TO COMMENTS FOR FOLKS ON THIS
PARTICULAR BILL IN JUST A
MOMENT HERE.
OKAY.
SORRY, I AM PULLING UP MY NOTES
HERE.
COLLEAGUES, THIS BILL COMES TO
US FROM -- IT WAS TRANSMITTED
TO MY OFFICE LAST DECEMBER,
THAT IS DECEMBER 2019.
BUT BETWEEN MY MATERNITY LEAVE
AND RESPONDING TO MULTIPLE
CRISES THAT IS 2020, IT HAS
BEEN SOMETIME BEFORE WE COULD
TAKE THIS BILL UP, SO THIS BILL
HAS BEEN IN THE QUEUE FOR
APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR NOW, IT
HAD BEEN THE HOPE OF THE --
THAT THIS BILL WOULD HAVE
ACTUALLY PASSED LAST YEAR OR
THE EARLY PART OF THIS YEAR SO
THAT THEY COULD SPEND MOST OF
THE YEAR IMPLEMENTING AND DOING
OUTREACH ON THIS BILL, BUT AS
IT MAY WE ARE HERE NOW AND HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS
BILL UP, I DO TAKE A LOT OF
PRIDE IN OUR GOVERNMENT AND
TRANSPARENCY MEASURES, AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, HOWEVER OUR
LOBBYING REGULATIONS, THIS IS
ONE AREA WHERE WE CAN SEE SOME
IMPROVEMENT.
-- NOTED AT COMMITTEE LAST WEEK
THAT ABSENT THESE REGULATIONS
THERE HAS BEEN A LARGE AMOUNT
OF MONEY BEING LEVERAGED TO
LOBBY AND INFLUENCE LEGISLATION
ON SEPTEMBER 30 FIRST --
SEPTEMBER 21 -- AND WE STILL DO
NOT KNOW WHO IS BEHIND THIS
EFFORT TO INFLUENCE CITY
POLICY.
THAT IS RELATED TO INDIRECT
LOBBYING IN PARTICULAR.
IF THIS WERE A TRADITIONAL
CAMPAIGN OR CANDIDATE WE WOULD
HAVE TRANSPARENCY AND
DISCLOSURE OF REQUIREMENTS SO
THIS HAS LONG BEEN A GRAY AREA
WITHOUT ANY TRANSPARENCY AND I
BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT IT
IS TIME TO BRING TRANSPARENCY
TO THAT AREA OF OUR LOBBYING
REGULATION AND WORK THAT
HAPPENS.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS LEGISLATION
IS GOOD FOR TRANSPARENCY OF THE
WHO AND THE RESOURCES THAT IS
BEING USED TO INFLUENCE POLICY
OR INVESTMENTS OR DIVESTMENTS
ACROSS THE CITY.
IT BRINGS US INTO ALIGNMENT
WITH DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS AT
THE STATE LEVEL, THERE ARE
THREE PARTS OF THIS BILL, AND
WITH MY AMENDMENT, IT WOULD
CLARIFY MEMBERSHIP
COMMUNICATIONS TO ADDRESS ANY
POTENTIAL CONCERNS RELATED TO
HOW ORGANIZATIONS COMMUNICATE
DIRECTLY WITH THEIR MEMBERS.
I WANT TO THANK -- AND ALL OF
HIS TEAM FOR BRINGING THIS
LEGISLATION FORWARD FOR
COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION BEFORE
THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND THIS
BILL EFFECTIVELY DOES THREE
THINGS, THE FIRST THING IS IT
WOULD REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF
LOBBYING COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN
LOBBYISTS AND DEPARTMENT
DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS
OR THEIR DIRECT REPORTS, IT
WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THAT
LOBBYISTS DISCLOSE ANY
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS OR OTHER
RELATIONSHIPS THEY MAY HAVE WITH
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, WHETHER IT
BE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS OR FOR
BALLOT MEASURES, AND LASTLY,
THE LAST PIECE IS RELATED TO
INDIRECT LOBBYING WHICH WOULD
REQUIRE SPONSORS, I.E.
PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE
PAYING FOR THE INDIRECT
LOBBYING, NOT THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE ACTUALLY ENGAGING IN THE
LOBBYING, NOT MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, BUT THOSE SPONSORS WHO
ARE EFFECTIVELY FOOTING THE BILL
TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC TO LOBBY COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR A PARTICULAR POSITION, IT
WOULD REQUIRE THOSE SPONSORS
WHO SPEND $750 IN ONE MONTH OR
$1300 IN A PERIOD OF THREE
MONTHS TO FILE DISCLOSURES WITH
-- TO DISCLOSE BOTH THOSE
LOBBYING EFFORTS, AND FUNDING
SOURCES AND ALSO THE
EXPENDITURES THAT THEY HAVE MADE
IN THAT AREA, I AM HAPPY TO
ADDRESS MY AMENDMENT IN
PARTICULAR THAT WOULD AGAIN MAKE
THIS COUNCIL BILL MORE
CONSISTENT WITH THE STATES LAW
ON LOBBYING ACTIVITIES BY
EXEMPTING INTERNAL MEMBERSHIP
COMMUNICATIONS SO FUNCTIONALLY
WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN IS IF YOU
ARE A MEMBER OF AN ORGANIZATION
SENDING AN EMAIL ABOUT AN ISSUE
OR ACTION TO ANOTHER MEMBER OF
YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT ACTIVITY
WOULD NOT BE COUNTED AS PART OF
ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD REQUIRE
DISCLOSURE TO SEATTLE ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS COMMISSION, SO THE
AMENDMENT THAT WE WERE
CONSIDERING IN A MOMENT DOES
NOT CURRENTLY DEFINE WHAT
MEMBERSHIP IS BY DESIGN, BUT --
AND FURTHER COMMUNITY INPUT TO
BETTER DEFINE WHAT MEMBERSHIP
MEANS.
LAST I WILL JUST END BY SAYING
-- AND ASKING LOTS OF REALLY
GOOD QUESTIONS INCLUDING THE
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COLLISION WHO FLAGGED SOME
CONCERNS FOR US LAST WEEK AND
GAVE US A VERY LONG LIST OF
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO ANSWER, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THE MEMBERSHIP
EXEMPTION -- WE WILL BE
CONSIDERING LATER AS PART OF
THIS LEGISLATION DOES ADDRESS
THE CONCERNS BY THE -- AT LEAST
A LITTLE BIT.
I WILL END MY REMARKS THERE,
AND I AM HAPPY TO NOW CALL FOR
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
ACTUALLY I THINK WHAT I HAVE TO
DO NOW IS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER
THE AMENDMENTS FIRST ACCORDING
TO MY SCRIPT.
SO WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
DO THAT. I
MOVE, I AM SORRY, I AM NOW
GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WHO I
UNDERSTAND HAS AN AMENDMENT.
>> I MOVE AMENDMENT ONE --
REMOVING THE RESTRICTIONS ON
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING --
>> THIS IS NOT LOBBYING, THIS
IS NOT PROFESSIONAL LOBBYISTS
PAID TO TALK TO ELECTED
OFFICIALS, THIS IS GRASSROOTS
-- THE ROLE REQUIRES ANY
GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN THAT SPENDS
AT LEAST $750 IN A MONTH TO
HAVE TO DISCLOSE ITS
EXPENDITURES DONORS AND AIMS.
IN MY VIEW THIS TURNS
TRANSPARENCY ON ITS HEAD.
WHEN I THINK OF TRANSPARENCY I
THINK THAT -- ESSENTIALLY THIS
IS THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT
DEMANDING TO KNOW ALL OF -- OR
ANY SMALL GROUP OF ORDINARY
PEOPLE OR MOVEMENT MAKING
DEMANDS ON ELECTED OFFICIALS IN
COMMITTEE COUNCILMEMBERS EVEN
COMPLAIN THAT THEY GET
CONTACTED BY THE PUBLIC AND
THEY DO NOT KNOW WHO TO BLAME.
-- CITED CORRECTLY WHEN SHE
SAID THAT SHE AND THE 350
SEATTLE LEADERSHIP ARE ALL
EQUALLY AGHAST AT THIS ATTEMPT,
AND SO I AM ALSO, I SHARE THOSE
CONCERNED I AM EQUALLY
CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL CREATE
A CHILLING EFFECT ON GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZING.
IT WILL BE EASIER FOR CORPORATE
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS, BUT FOR
GENUINE GRASSROOTS MOVEMENTS
THAT WILL NOT HAVE PROFESSIONAL
ACCOUNTANTS OR TREASURERS, THIS
PAPERWORK WILL BECOME FRANKLY
IMPOSSIBLE.
IMAGINE IF THIS LEGISLATION WAS
ON THE BOOKS DURING THE JUSTICE
FOR GEORGE LIGHT PROTEST,
DURING THOSE PROTESTS HUNDREDS
OR EVEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
DONATING TOO MANY COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZING
MARCHES AND MAKING DEMANDS LIKE
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD DEFUND
THE POLICE, RENTING A SOUND
SYSTEM FOR A SINGLE RALLY CAN
COST MORE THAN $750 DEPENDING
ON THE SIZE OF THE PROTEST.
THIS PUTS PROTEST ORGANIZERS IN
AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION.
IT IS TECHNICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO
TRACK DOWN EVERYONE WHO -- IT
REQUIRES THAT TO MAKE HIM
BECOME THE MAJOR FOCUS OF
ORGANIZERS WHO SHOULD BE
SPENDING THEIR ENERGY ON THE
RALLY ITSELF.
IT IS NOT THE INTENTION OF --
BUT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE
REGULATIONS WOULD LARGELY BE
COMPLAINT BASED MUCH LIKE OTHER
S.E.C.
REGULATIONS AND I GUARANTEE
THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF
TRUMPER'S BORDERS TRUMP
SUPPORTERS AND -- MY OFFICE HAS
TALKED ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION
WITH -- I APPRECIATE HIS TIME
WALKING US THROUGH IT BUT THE
REALITY IS THERE ARE SEVERAL
QUESTIONS THAT HAVE NO ANSWER
YET BUT THEY ARE REALLY
FUNDAMENTAL IN THE IMPACT OF
THIS LEGISLATION ON GENUINE
GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNS.
IF THERE IS A PROTEST ON AN
ISSUE, AT WHAT POINT DOES IT
MEET THE DEFINITION OF
GRASSROOTS LOBBYING?
IF IT IS ALL ABOUT A SPECIFIC
ILL IT SHOULD BE
STRAIGHTFORWARD BUT WHAT IS AN
ISSUE LIKE DEFUND THE POLICE OR
BLACK LIVES MATTER GENERALLY?
-- MOVEMENTS GROW ORGANICALLY,
THERE IS NO CLEAR START MOMENT
FOR CAMPAIGN STAFF TO BE
TRAINED BY THE S.E.C., SO HOW
WILL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZERS BE
MADE AWARE OF THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES, HOW SHOULD
VOLUNTEERS TRACK DONATIONS
THROWN IN BUCKETS WHICH IS A
COMMON STRATEGY FOR GRASSROOTS
FUNDRAISING?
THERE ARE NO ANSWERS TO ANY OF
THESE QUESTIONS YET, AND I
UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS -- BUT
THE SAD REALITY IS THAT IT WILL
CREATE A CHILLING EFFECT ON
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING BY BURYING
THEM IN RED TAPE AND THE
DISCLOSURE WILL BE EASY FOR
THOSE OF THE CORPORATIONS WHO
ALREADY HAVE ACCOUNTANTS AND
ATTORNEYS WHO MAKE IT TRIVIAL
FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THE
PAPERWORK AND IT WILL BE THE
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZERS WHO WILL
BE PENALIZED, AND THIRDLY I
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS LANGUAGE
HAS BEEN TAKEN ALMOST WORD FOR
WORD FROM THE STATE LAWS
REGULATING GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNS
STARTED IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT
HOWEVER THE STATE REGULATIONS
ARE THE LAST PLACE I WOULD LOOK
FOR -- OLYMPIA IS NOTORIOUSLY --
I THINK THIS IS EMBLEMATIC OF
THAT PROBLEM.
THE AMENDMENT MY OFFICE HAS
PREPARED, AND I THINK CENTRAL
STAFF FOR GETTING IT READY
RAPIDLY WOULD CUT FROM THE BILL
THE ENTIRE SECTION ON
GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNS AND WOULD
LEAVE THE OTHER TWO ISSUES
TAKEN UP BY THE BILL UNCHANGED.
IF THIS AMENDMENT FAILS I WILL
BE VOTING NO ON THE BILL AS A
WHOLE NOT BECAUSE I OBJECT TO
THESE OTHER TWO ISSUES BUT
BECAUSE UNBALANCED WITHOUT THIS
AMENDMENT, THE BILL WOULD BE AN
ATTACK ON GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING
AND WOULD NOT UNBALANCED
BENEFIT ORDINARY PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO BE CLEAR, MASS
MOVEMENTS HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE
OF EVERY PROGRESSIVE CHANGE IN
THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY
INCLUDING THE RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THE $15
MINIMUM WAGE AND THE AMAZON
TAX.
I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT IS SO
EAGER TO GATHER THE INFORMATION
OF GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS --
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
SPOKE TO THIS, SHE SAID THAT
THIS DOES NOT AFFECT PEOPLE WHO
CALL IN OR EMAILED THE COUNCIL,
IT ONLY AFFECTS ORGANIZERS.
BECAUSE OUR MOVEMENTS ARE ONLY
SUCCESSFUL WHEN WE GET
ORGANIZED, IT IS AS SIMPLE AS
THAT, THE COUNCIL IS SAYING YOU
ARE FINE IF YOU CALL AS
INDIVIDUALS WHICH HAS ALMOST
ZERO IMPACT ON POLITICAL
OUTCOMES BUT IF YOU SUCCEED AT
GETTING ORGANIZED ENOUGH TO BE
EFFECTIVE, THEN THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT WANTS TO KNOW WHO
YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON.
FINALLY SOCIALISTS AND RANK-AND-
FILE LABOR SHOULD REMEMBER THE
McCARTHY ERA AND THE BLACKLIST.
THIS HAS BEEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY
USED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO ATTACK
THE MASS MOVEMENT OF REGULAR
PEOPLE, AND THIS WILL BE JUST
ANOTHER STEP TOWARD CREATING
HINDRANCES TO GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZING IN CRITICAL
MOVEMENTS -- IF THIS AMENDMENT
FAILS I WILL BE VOTING NO ON
THE BILL AS A WHOLE.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT ONE?
I WOULD JUST SAY REALLY QUICKLY
THAT I DO OPPOSE AMENDMENT ONE,
AND I THINK THAT IT IS
UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE HAS BEEN
SUCH A MISCHARACTERIZATION OF
WHAT THE INDIRECT LOBBYING
PORTION OF THE UNDERLYING BILL
ACTUALLY DOES, THERE IS NOTHING
IN THE COUNCIL BILL THAT IS
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL THAT
WOULD IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM
LEAD A REASONABLE PERSON TO
CONCLUDE THAT FOLKS WHO ENGAGE
IN PROTEST MOVEMENT ORGANIZING,
PROTEST MOVEMENTS OR ORGANIZING
WOULD SUDDENLY BECOME LOBBYISTS
UNDER THIS PARTICULAR
LEGISLATION, I THINK THE BILL
IS PRETTY CLEAR IN DEFINING WHO
A LOBBYIST IS, IT TALKS ABOUT
HOW A LOBBYING -- IT DEFINES A
LOBBYIST AS ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO
LOBBIES FOR COMPENSATION,
EXCEPT INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT BE
REIMBURSED FOR MINOR INCIDENTAL
PERSONAL EXPENSES RELATED TO
THAT LOBBYING, IT DEFINES A
LOBBYIST EMPLOYER AS ANY
EMPLOYER WHO COMPENSATES -- SO
AGAIN THIS PARTICULAR
LEGISLATION IS SPECIFICALLY
TARGETED TOWARD THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PROFESSIONAL
LOBBYISTS, THERE IS NOTHING IN
THIS BILL THAT TARGETS
ORGANIZERS AS WE KNOW THEM TO BE
, IN FACT, THIS SIMPLY SAYS
THAT IF THERE IS A LOBBYIST WHO
IS COMPENSATED FOR THE LOBBYING
ACTIVITY, AND THOSE LOBBYISTS
ARE SPONSORING PUBLIC CAMPAIGNS
TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION AT THE
CITY COUNCIL OR AT THE CITY AS
A WHOLE, WHETHER THROUGH DIRECT
COMMUNICATION TO COUNCILMEMBERS
INDIRECT COMMUNICATION TO
COUNCILMEMBERS OR THE MAYORS
OFFICE OR THE DIRECTORS
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS OR THOSE
DEPUTY DIRECTORS, THEN THEY ARE
SIMPLY REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE
THAT ACTIVITY AND THEIR
EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THOSE
ACTIVITIES.
AGAIN, WE ARE TAKING A CAREFUL
APPROACH HERE THROUGH AMENDMENT
TWO, WHICH WE WILL DISCUSS IF
THIS AMENDMENT FAILS, IF THIS
AMENDMENT PASSES, THEN
AMENDMENT TWO WILL NOT BE ON
THE TABLE BECAUSE AMENDMENT TO
WOULD AMEND THE INDIRECT PORTION
OF THE BILL AS PASSED OUT OF
COMMITTEE, BUT AMENDMENT TO
MAKES THIS VERY CLEAR THAT IT
DOES NOT COVER ANY
COMMUNICATIONS FROM
ORGANIZATIONS TO THEIR MEMBERS,
AND THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT
AMENDMENT TO RESPOND TO
CONCERNS FROM NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER SMALL
ORGANIZATIONS WHO DO NOT WANT
TO BE PUT IN A POSITION AND
SHOULD NOT BE PUT IN A POSITION
TO HAVE TO COMMUNICATE, TO HAVE
TO DISCLOSE EVERY TIME YOU SEND
OUT AN EMAIL BLAST FOR EXAMPLE
TO THEIR MEMBER LIST.
AROUND A PARTICULAR ISSUE, SO I
WILL GO AHEAD AND OKAY, SORRY,
GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> I DID ABSTAIN ON THIS VOTE
IN COMMITTEE, AND I THINK THAT
THE CONCERNS THAT I HAD OUR
ADDRESSED BY THE AMENDMENT YOUR
OFFICE IS BRINGING FORWARD TO
ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING CONCERN
ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT WITH
VARIOUS MEMBERS, AND EACH OF
THE GRASS ROOTS LOBBYING AND --
CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THAT IS
NOT ONLY PERMITTED ACTIVITY,
BUT ENCOURAGED AS WE SEEK TO
GET INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM
INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY POLICY
DECISIONS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORWARD
YOUR AMENDMENT BECAUSE THAT IS
BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY I
AM NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING
THIS AMENDMENT THAT WE ARE
CURRENTLY DISCUSSING BUT WILL
BE DISCUSSING YOUR AMENDMENT TO
YOUR BILL AND THAT ADDRESSES MY
CONCERNS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATED THE
BACK-AND-FORTH WE HAD IN THE
COMMITTEE THAT WAS ABOUT THAT
PARTICULAR ISSUE AND THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH.
SOME ORGANIZING FOLKS AND
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE
BRINGING FORWARD THAT
MEMBERSHIP EXEMPTION WHICH DOES
EXIST IN STATE LAW BUT HAS NOT
MADE IT INTO THE BAY CITY BILL,
SO I THINK THIS IS AN
IMPROVEMENT ON THE ORIGINAL
CITY BILL AS IT WAS INTRODUCED.
WE ARE CONSIDERING AMENDMENT
ONE WHICH IS THE AMENDMENT AS
SPONSORED AND PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, HEARING
NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT ONE, WE WILL ASK THE
CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT
ONE.
>> ONE IN FAVOR, EIGHT OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION FAILS, THE
AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED, AND
THE BILL IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
I WILL NOW MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 11968 AS PRESENTED
WHICH WAS RECENTLY DISTRIBUTED.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT TWO, AS SPONSOR OF
THIS AMENDMENT, I WILL GO AHEAD
AND JUST RECAP REALLY QUICKLY
BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING IT, WHAT IT DOES, SO
AMENDMENT TO WOULD MAKE COUNCIL
BILL 119968 MORE CONSISTENT
WITH THE STATES LAW ON LOBBYING
ACTIVITIES BY EXEMPTING
INTERNAL MEMBERSHIP
COMMUNICATIONS AND AGAIN THIS
AMENDMENT, WITH THIS AMENDMENT,
-- WILL BE TASKED WITH A PUBLIC
PROCESS OF DEFINING MEMBERSHIP
THIS CAN LOOK LIKE A NUMBER OF
THINGS LIKE DUES PAYING,
úELECTING LEADERSHIP, AND BY NO
BEING PRESCRIPTIVE IN THE
LEGISLATION AT THIS MOMENT WE
WILL ALLOW -- SOME FLEXIBILITY
IN HOW THEY DEFINE THIS IN
THEIR RULEMAKING PROCESS WITH
THE BENEFIT OF HAVING PUBLIC
INPUT.
AGAIN COLLEAGUES, I THINK THAT
AMENDMENT TO, IT DOES ADDRESS
SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE
HEARD THROUGH ADDITIONAL
ENGAGEMENT AND CONVERSATION IN
COMMITTEE THROUGH HOW
ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE
MEMBERSHIPS ARE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE
WITH THOSE MEMBERS WITHOUT
BEING SUBJECTED TO CUMBERSOME
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS IN THE
NEW LOBBYING REGULATIONS, I DO
BELIEVE THAT THIS AMENDMENT
DOES ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
THERE WILL BE A PERIOD OF SIX
MONTHS IN 2021 WHERE THE
SEATTLE ETHICS AND ELECTION
COMMISSION IS GOING TO ENGAGE
IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY PUBLIC
INPUT PROCESS IS, AND DIRECTOR
BARNETT INDICATED TO US IN
COMMITTEE THAT THEY ARE LOOKING
AT TAKING A COMPLIANCE FIRST
APPROACH HERE, SO THEY ARE NOT
LOOKING TO HAVE THIS BE A
GOTCHA TYPE OF LEGISLATION,
THEY WANT TO ENCOURAGE
COMPLIANCE AND EDUCATE FOLKS IN
HOW TO COMPLY, AND THAT IS THE
APPROACH THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE
AS THEY GO THROUGH INITIALLY
IMPLEMENTING THIS PARTICULAR
COMPONENT OF THE BILL, SO WITH
THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO
SUPPORT AMENDMENT TO AS AN
IMPROVEMENT TO THE BILL AS
DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE, ARE
THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
>> I DO HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS
I AM GOING TO TRY TO LUMP THEM
TOGETHER AND SEE IF WE CAN DO
THIS QUICKLY.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT EMMA
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING LATELY
ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF
COALITIONS, THAT ARE KIND OF A
MIX OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
MOSTLY VOLUNTEER-BASED AND SOME
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO HAVE STAFF
, THAT HAVE A PAID STAFF TO
HELP WITH SOME OF THEIR WORK,
SO I AM WONDERING WHAT THIS
MEANS FOR COALITIONS, AND I
THINK THIS IS RELATED, BUT ALSO
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN HOW
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE
AFFECTED BY THIS AS OPPOSED TO
FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND
THINGS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO
DO.
THAT WILL BE QUESTION ONE.
>> ON THE LAST POINT AROUND FOR-
PROFIT AND NONPROFIT, THE
LOBBYING REGULATIONS AS A WHOLE
DO NOT DISTINGUISH WHETHER YOU
ARE FOR-PROFIT OR NONPROFIT, IT
IS ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE
PERSON WHO IS DOING THE
LOBBYING, SO THERE ARE SEVERAL
TRIGGERS IF YOU LOOK AT THE
UNDERLYING BILL THAT SORT OF
WALK-THROUGH, THE FIRST
THRESHOLD IS ARE YOU A
LOBBYIST, IF YOU ARE NOT A
LOBBYIST AND YOU ARE NOT PAID
TO ENGAGE IN LOBBYING BEHAVIOR,
THEN NOTHING ELSE MATTERS,
NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE FOR
YOU, BUT IF YOU MEET THE
DEFINITION OF LOBBYING, AND THEN
, BEING A LOBBYIST, YOU HAVE TO
REGISTER AS SUCH, AND IF YOU
ENGAGE IN SPONSORING CAMPAIGNS
FOR $750 A MONTH OR $1500 OVER
A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS, THEN
THAT MEANS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE
TO DISCLOSE YOUR LOBBYING
CTIVITY ALONG WITH YOUR
EXPENDITURES RELATED TO WHATEVER
PUBLIC CAMPAIGN YOU LAUNCH TO
INFLUENCE LEGISLATION.
SO THERE IS NOT A DISTINCTION
IN TERMS OF IF YOU ARE FOR-
PROFIT, IT IS NOT ABOUT THE
ISSUE OR THE CONTENT OF YOUR
SPEECH, IT IS ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT YOU MEET THE DEFINITIONAL
REQUIREMENT OF LOBBYIST AND THE
EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENT
NECESSARY TO RISE TO THE NEXT
LEVEL.
WE DID SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE
WERE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW
COALITIONS WORK TOGETHER, THAT
IS WHY WE REACHED OUT TO JULIA
FROM THE SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION TO ASK HER
SPECIFICALLY IF SHE HAD ANY
CONCERNS AROUND THE INDIRECT
LOBBYING PORTIONS OF THIS BILL,
UNDERSTANDING THAT SHE HAS A
VERY LARGE TOTALIZATION
COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT
COME TOGETHER TO REQUEST
PARTICULAR OUTCOMES, AND SO WE
DID RECEIVE SOME RESPONSES FROM
SEATTLE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS
COMMISSION THAT WERE RELATED TO
HOW DO WE ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE
PARTICULAR CONCERNS AND I AM
PULLING IT UP NOW?
GIVE ME JUST A MINUTE.
OKAY.
SO SOME OF THE PRIMARY CONCERNS
RELATED TO HOW THEY USE THEIR
MAILING LIST, WHICH WAS A
PRIMARY FORM OF HOW COALITIONS
ENGAGED WITH ONE ANOTHER AND
HOW THEY ACTIVATE PEOPLE WHO
ARE PART OF THOSE MAILING
ISTS, AND SO WITH THE EXEMPTION
WITH COMMUNICATIONS WITH
MEMBERS WHICH IS THIS
AMENDMENT, THEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE
THE CAPACITY TO FOR EXAMPLE
VOTE FOR AN ORGANIZATION'S
DIRECTOR OR PAY DUES, ETC.,
WOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO THE
INDIRECT LOBBYING REQUIREMENT,
SO WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT, IT
WOULD TRIGGER DISCLOSURE
REQUIREMENTS FOR EVEN COALITION
ORGANIZATIONS.
I AM HAPPY TO SHARE THIS EMAIL
WITH YOU AFTER THE FACT, THERE
ARE PROBABLY ABOUT A DOZEN
QUESTIONS THAT WERE POSED BY
JULIA THAT WE HAD WAYNE ANSWER
THAT WE CAN THEN SHARE THE
ANSWERS WITH JULIA ABOUT, BUT I
THINK IT ALSO IS IMPORTANT FOR
US TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT PRESENTING A
PROGRAM, ACCORDING TO SEATTLE
ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION
WHAT THAT MEANS IS USING THINGS
LIKE PAID SOCIAL MEDIA, PAID
BILLBOARDS OR OTHER MEANS OF
PAID COMMUNICATION TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO CONTACT THEIR ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND URGE THEM TO
EITHER SUPPORT OR OPPOSE A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION, SO AGAIN,
IF A COALITION IS MEETING THE
EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS, IS
COMMUNICATING OUTSIDE OF THEIR
MEMBERSHIP LIST, AND MEETS THE
DEFINITION OF LOBBYIST, THEN
THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FILE
A DISCLOSURE THAT WOULD INCLUDE
EXPENDITURE DISCLOSURES.
>> THANK YOU.
SO THAT PROBABLY ANSWERS MY
NEXT QUESTION THEN, WHICH IS,
WE DO HERE OFTEN FROM SOME OF
OUR MOST MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES, FORMERLY
INCARCERATED, SEX WORKERS,
FOLKS WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED, AND
SO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE PROTECTED, THAT WAS MY
CONCERN, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IF
THEY ARE NOT REGISTERED AS A
LOBBYIST AND WOULD NOT FALL
UNDER THAT DEFINITION, THEN
THAT IS A MOOT POINT.
>> RIGHT, YES, THE FIRST
THRESHOLD IS ARE YOU A LOBBYIST
ENGAGED IN COMPENSATED LOBBYING
WORK AND THEN ARE YOU EXPENDING
THE REQUIRED MINIMAL AMOUNTS IN
ORDER TO TRIGGER THE
DISCLOSURES?
EVEN LOBBYISTS WHO SPEND LESS
THAN $1500 IN A THREE-MONTH
PERIOD WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO
DO DISCLOSURES, SO I THINK THIS
IS A NEW FRAMEWORK, A NEW FORM
OF DISCLOSURE COMPARED TO -- AND
THEY ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING
SURE THAT THEY ENGAGE IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION AND IN RULEMAKING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT
CREATING A CHILLING EFFECT FOR
ORGANIZING WORK, BUT THIS IS
REALLY ABOUT WHO IS PAYING FOR
PUBLIC INFLUENCE CAMPAIGNS THAT
ARE AT SORT OF A HIGHER PAYMENT
LEVEL, SO THIS LEGISLATION IS
NOT INTENDED TO, NOR DOES IT, I
BELIEVE, PROHIBIT ONGOING
EFFORTS OF PEOPLE TO CONTINUE
TO ORGANIZE WITHIN COMMUNITY TO
DO OUTREACH TO EITHER SUPPORT
OR OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
ON AMENDMENT TWO?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON AMENDMENT TWO, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TWO?
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED AND THE
AMENDED BILL IS NOW BEFORE THE
COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL
AS AMENDED?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT , FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> I NEED A MINUTE TO GATHER MY
THOUGHTS.
>> SURE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> JUST VERY BRIEFLY, I WANT TO
ALSO THANK -- MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH A
PRETTY ROBUST COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, WE
DISCUSSED IT ON WEDNESDAY AND
JUST TO REITERATE FOR OUR
ONGOING CONCERNS THAT
INDIVIDUALS MAY HAVE OR
ORGANIZATIONS MAY HAVE, THERE
IS GOING TO BE A SIX MONTH
PROCESS TO FULLY HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY, I
STARTED MY LINE OF PETITIONING
WHEN -- I LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING MORE ABOUT HOW THE
UPCOMING SIX MONTHS GOES, AND I
KNOW THAT FOLKS ARE NOT SHY
ABOUT CONTINUING TO LET US KNOW
HOW LEGISLATION IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND
IF THERE ARE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCE I THINK WE HAVE
SHOWN A WILLINGNESS TIME AND
TIME AGAIN TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS
AND I AM REALLY OPTIMISTIC WITH
THE AMENDED LANGUAGE THAT WAS
INCLUDE TODAY THAT SOME OF
THOSE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN MET,
THANK YOU AND YOUR OFFICE FOR
THE WORK YOU DID WITH IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS GROUPS AND -- I KNOW YOU
HAVE REACHED OUT TO A HANDFUL
OF FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
ARE GETTING SOME FEEDBACK.
THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK, AND IT
MAKES ME OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE
SIX-MONTH CONVERSATION TO COME
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO REPORT
BACK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE
REMARKS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND THEN
IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK,
LET ME KNOW.
>> AS I STATED DURING THE
AMENDMENTS, THIS BILL INCLUDING,
WITH THE RESTRICTION ON
GRASSROOTS LOBBYING IS NOT
SOMETHING I CAN SUPPORT, I AM
DISAPPOINTED THAT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ CONTINUES
TO FALSELY CLAIM THAT ONLY PAID
LOBBYING IS AFFECTED -- SO IT
IS NOT WHAT THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT IS SAYING.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
THE COUNCIL HEARD FROM
GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNERS AND
PUBLIC COMMENTS SAYING THAT IT
WILL HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, WHY
WOULD COUNCILMEMBERS PASS A LAW
AND CLAIM THAT IT WILL NOT KILL
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS RIGHT
AFTER HEARING FROM GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZERS THAT WILL HAVE A
CHILLING EFFECT?
SO I WILL BE VOTING NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO MY
BELIEF AND MY HOPE, AND AS
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
MENTIONED, WE CAN REVISIT THIS
ISSUE, BUT I REALLY BELIEVE
THAT THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
TO REGISTER ARE NOT ONEROUS, AND
THEY SHOULD NOT RESULT IN THE
KINDS OF OUTCOMES TO TRUE
GRASSROOTS LOBBYING THAT SOME
PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE SOME CONCERNS
ABOUT, AND I THINK THAT THE
CONCERNS ARE FAR OUTWEIGHED BY
THE HARM THAT THIS BILL SEEKS
TO ADDRESS. FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, THAT HARM IS THE
ALLOWANCE OF DARK MONEY TO BE
USED WITHOUT ANY DISCLOSURE.
MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THAT LAST
YEAR THERE WAS A PAID LOBBYING
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PAYROLL
TAX LEGISLATION, IT TURNS OUT
THAT THE CHAMBER HAD NOTED THAT
THEY HAD FUNDED IT BUT THEY
WERE NOT REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE
THIS.
THIS I THINK IS, THIS LACK OF
DISCLOSURE IS MUCH MORE
CORROSIVE TO OUR DEMOCRATIC
VALUES AND OUR INSTITUTIONS
THAN THE BURDEN THAT THIS
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT WILL
PLACE ON WHAT WE TRADITIONALLY
THINK OF AS GRASSROOTS LOBBYING.
THE TERM GRASSROOTS IS USED IN
WASHINGTON STATE LAW, AND I DO
NOT THINK IT IS THE CLEAREST
TERM FOR DESCRIBING THIS
ACTIVITY FOR PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDING, BUT IN PRACTICE,
IT HAS THE SAME EFFECT OF
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS IN
CITIES LIKE LOS ANGELES.
WHERE THEY DEFINE LOBBYING
ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE SEEKING
TO INFLUENCE THE --
>> I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT OUR REGULATIONS BE CONTENT
NEUTRAL, BUT IN BEING CONTENT
NEUTRAL, I DO NOT THINK THE
OUTCOME IS GOING TO BE A
NEUTRAL OUTCOME, I THINK THE
OUTCOME IS GOING TO BE A MUCH
MORE ROBUST DISCLOSURE OF THOSE
IN POSITIONS OF POWER WITH
ACCESS TO GREAT AMOUNTS OF
RESOURCES TO OUR DEMOCRATIC
DECISION-MAKING, AND THAT IS
REALLY WHY I APPRECIATE THE
PROPOSAL OF THE ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS COMMISSION BRINGING
THIS FORWARD AND THE WORK OF
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
BRINGING THIS FORWARD, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS,
WE APPRECIATE THAT ADDITIONAL
TEXT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL AS AMENDED?
OKAY, I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND CLOSE OUT DEBATE, I WANT TO
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
CONSIDERATION OF THIS
PARTICULAR BILL, I FEEL REALLY
STRONGLY AS INDICATED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD THAT THE
BENEFITS OF HAVING THIS KIND OF
LOBBYING REGULATION WITHIN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE FAR OUTWEIGHS
THE BURDEN AND THE POTENTIAL
HARDSHIP OF THE DISCLOSURE AND
DO TRUST THAT THE SEATTLE
ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION
WILL WORK DILIGENTLY TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE NEW FRAMEWORK AND
ENVIRONMENT IS AND HOW TO WORK
WITH FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO BE
POTENTIALLY REQUIRED TO ENGAGE
IN THIS DISCLOSURE TO
SUCCESSFULLY DO SO, I ALSO DO
NOT WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE
FACT THAT THIS BILL DOES HAVE
TWO OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT
COMPONENTS TO IT. -- WHICH IS
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE FOR
LOBBYISTS WHO WORK ON --
REQUIRING THOSE DISCLOSURES TO
HAPPEN, IN ADDITION TO THAT,
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
INCLUDING DISCLOSURE
REQUIREMENTS FOR -- WE KNOW
THAT A LOT OF POLICY IS DRIVEN
AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL, AT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND I THINK
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENT AS
WELL.
SO ON BALANCE, I THINK THERE
ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN THIS
COUNCIL BILL THAT WILL INCREASE
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND
TRANSPARENCY AT THE CITY LEVEL
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
CONSIDERATION AT THIS LATE HOUR
OF THIS BILL AS AMENDED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
BILL AS AMENDED?
>> THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE BILL ON MY
BEHALF?
WE ARE NOW AT ITEM 9, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 9 INTO
THE RECORD?
>> RESOLUTION 31983: A
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
SOLIDARITY WITH FARMERS
PROTESTING THE PASSAGE OF
FARMING BILLS IN INDIA AND IN
SUPPORT OF AFFECTED MEMBERS OF
SEATTLE
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, I WILL MOVE TO
ADOPT RESOLUTION 31983, IS
THERE A SECOND?
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU ARE
LISTED AS THE PRIME SPONSOR AND
ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO --
>> COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A
CONDITION RATION CONTINUATION OF
--
>> AFTER HEARING FROM WORKERS
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUNJABI
COMMUNITY -- THE RESOLUTION
THAT WAS IN FRONT OF US WAS
PAST -- AND IN SUPPORT OF THE
AFFECTED MEMBERS OF --
>> THESE WORKERS ARE PROTESTING
THREE DEVASTATING DEREGULATION
BILLS THAT WERE PASSED BY --
THESE LAWS DEREGULATE THE SALE
OF CROPS, ALLOWING PRIVATE
BUYERS MORE POWER IN THE
MARKETPLACE THAT HAS LONG BEEN
INCORPORATED AND SUPPORTED BY
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.
FARMERS WORRY NOW THAT THESE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION COULD
DEVASTATE THEIR PRICES AND --
FARMERS HAVE SAID, INCLUDING
THREE REPORTS ON DEMOCRACY NOW
AND -- IT HAS BEEN WIDELY
REPORTED THAT FARMERS SAY THAT
THESE NEOLIBERAL POLICIES ARE A
BOON TO CORPORATIONS AND
ROLLBACK KEY LABOR AND --
PROTECTIONS. FARMING IS THE
LEADING SOURCE OF INCOME FOR
THE POPULATION OF INDIA.
THIS WILL LEAVE FARMERS AT THE
MERCY OF BIG CORPORATIONS WHO
WILL IN EFFECT -- EFFECTIVELY
HANDING OVER FARMS TO PRIVATE
CORPORATIONS.
-- SAID THAT THESE CHANGES WILL
PUT THEM AT RISK FOR LOSING
THEIR BUSINESSES AND LAND TO
LARGE CORPORATIONS.
60% OF INDIA'S POPULATIONS
REQUIRE RELY ON AGRICULTURE AS
THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME, AND
THIS AFFECTS US HERE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS WELL AS
THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD RELY
ON INDIA AND THEIR FARMERS,
THEY ARE THE LEADING EXPORTER OF
BASMATI RICE AND THE WORLD'S
LARGEST MILK PRODUCER TO THE
GLOBAL MARKET.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PRODUCTION THAT IS HAPPENING IN
STATES LIKE PUNJABI AND PLACES
LIKE RIHANNA AND DELI, THAT WE
STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEIR
EFFORTS ACROSS THE WORLD.
FARMWORKERS HAVE HAD A LONG
HISTORY OF ORGANIZED PROTESTS,
FROM THE ORGANIZED FARMWORKERS
IN THE UNITED STATES TO
FARMWORKERS IN INDIA NOW, WE
WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THOSE
WHO ARE HELPING TO PUT FOOD ON
THE WORLD'S TABLE AND WHO ARE
THEMSELVES STRUGGLING TO PUT
FOOD ON THEIR OWN TABLE.
WE WILL ALSO WANT TO SHOW
SOLIDARITY WITH WHAT IS
BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST
DEMONSTRATION IN THE WORLD
HISTORY.
THEY WERE MET BY VIOLENT
RESPONSE FROM THE INDIAN
GOVERNMENT, WATER CANNONS WERE
USED IN FREEZING COLD WEATHER,
AND THEY EXPERIENCED VIOLENT
RESPONSE VIA TEAR GAS, DEPLOYED
DURING A DEADLY GLOBAL PANDEMIC
THAT AFFECTS THE RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM.
THE POLICE PUT UP BARRICADES
WITH BARBED WIRE, AND DOUG 10
BY 10 TRENCHES TO PREVENT
FARMWORKERS FROM REACHING THE
NATIONS CAPITAL.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE SOURCES WE
SENT AROUND OVER THE WEEKEND
AND MUCH OF THE LOCAL AND
NATIONAL NEWS TO BRING
ATTENTION TO THE WORKERS IN
INDIA AND THE FARMWORKERS WHO
SPECIFICALLY STOOD UP AND HAVE
SHOWN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
COURAGE IN THE FACE OF
OPPOSITION AND OPPRESSION FROM
THE GOVERNMENT.
I WANT TO THANK SPECIFICALLY --
FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION
WITH THE PUNJABI COMMUNITY TO
OUR ATTENTION, THEY ARE WORKING
TO PASS A SIMILAR RESOLUTION
AND AS I NOTED THIS MORNING,
THE KENT MAYOR HAS SENT A VERY
STRONG STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY
FOR THE FARMWORKERS IN INDIA,
AND I APPRECIATE THE SOLIDARITY
TO OUR SISTER CITY IN KENT AND
THEIR UPCOMING ACTION IN
JANUARY.
THE SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY
SPECIFICALLY THE SIKH COMMUNITY
HAS BEEN ORGANIZING LOCAL
PROTESTS AND HAVE BEEN WORKING
TO PASS RESOLUTIONS IN OTHER
CITIES AS WELL, I AM HONORED
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BRING THIS
FORWARD TODAY AND THAT IT HAS
BEEN ABLE TO GRAB THE ATTENTION
OF ALL OF US IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY
TO BRING GREATER ATTENTION TO
THIS ISSUE AND STAND UP AGAINST
VIOLENT REPRESSION AND SUPPORT
THE FARMWORKERS.
WE APPRECIATE OUR CONGRESSIONAL
PARTNERS -- I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU TO
CONTINUE TO CALL ATTENTION TO
ISSUES THAT THESE FARMWORKERS
ARE DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR, AND
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AS A COSPONSOR FOR THIS
AND FOR YOUR EARLIER ACTIONS
THIS YEAR STARTING IN FEBRUARY
TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE
, AND AS FOLKS HAVE SAID, THIS
IS THE LATEST ITERATION OF
ATTACKS FROM THAT GOVERNMENT,
SO WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY, AND
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS
HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY
ESPECIALLY THE SOUTH ASIAN
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE -- KNOW
THAT WE SEE, HEAR, AND SUPPORT
THE PROTESTS OF FARMWORKERS IN
INDIA.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE AN AMENDMENT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORWARD
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL BUT
BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANT TO
OFFER YOU THE CHANCE TO MAKE
GENERAL COMMENTS IF YOU WOULD
LIKE AS A COSPONSOR OF THE
RESOLUTION.
>> YES, I WOULD LIKE THAT,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYBODY WHO
IS WATCHING THIS, MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC, GREETINGS AND
SOLIDARITY TO THE HUNDREDS OF
SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WHO HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MY
OFFICE OVER THE LAST WEEK AND
WHO I HAVE SPOKEN TO
PERSONALLY, WITH A BURNING
SENSE OF URGENCY TO FIGHT
INJUSTICE BEING FACED BY --
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AND I AM HONORED TO
COSPONSOR THIS RESOLUTION ON
BEHALF OF MY SISTERS AND
BROTHERS AND SIBLINGS IN INDIA.
-- ONE OF THE NEW LAWS FOR
EXAMPLES WOULD REPEAL THE
MINIMUM -- AS A MEASURE OF
BASIC ECONOMIC PROTECTION FOR
THEM.
I ALSO AGREE WITH -- WHO SAID
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT THAT THIS
ALLOWS THE MULTITUDE OF POOR
PEOPLE AND WORKING PEOPLE TO
ACCESS -- I PERSONALLY HAVE
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF GETTING
RICE AT THE LOCAL RATION SHOP AT
MUMBAI.
DISABLING THE RATION SYSTEM
WOULD BE A TICKET TO MASS START
ASIAN MASS STARVATION AND
MALNUTRITION.
AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF
SEATTLE'S WORKING PEOPLE AND AS
SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN INDIA
AND WAS POLITICIZED AND RACK
LOCALIZED RADICALIZED BY -- I
WAS PROUD TO JOIN THE PROTEST
RALLY YESTERDAY AS MYSELF AND
OTHER SPEAKERS OF THE RALLY
SAID THE NEW LAWS ARE GOING TO
DIRECTLY FURTHER ENRICH THE
ALREADY OBSCENELY WEALTHY,
BILLIONAIRES WHO -- BOTH OF WHOM
ARE AMONG THE 40 RICHEST PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD.
FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS MAKE UP 60% OF THE
COUNTRY'S POPULATION.
2018 STUDY FOUND THAT MORE THAN
HALF OF THE FARMERS IN INDIA
WERE IN DEBT, AND THIS WAS
BEFORE THE CURRENT PANDEMIC AND
DEEP CAPITALIST CRISIS.
MORE THAN 20,000 FARMERS IN THE
COUNTRY HAVE DIED BY SUICIDE
JUST FROM 2018 TO 2019 AND OVER
360,000 SINCE 1995.
FARMER INDEBTEDNESS HAS BEEN A
MAJOR FACTOR IN THESE SUICIDES.
THE PROTESTS MADE WORLD
HEADLINES AND HAVE LED TO
SOLIDARITY ACTIONS BY
COMMUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY BY
THE SIKH COMMUNITY GLOBALLY
INCLUDING IN CANADA AND THE
UNITED KINGDOM AND AUSTRALIA.
THE SOLIDARITY PROTESTS HAVE
EVEN FORCED ESTABLISHMENT
POLITICIANS TO SPEAK PUBLICLY
ABOUT THE PROTESTS INCLUDING
JUSTIN TRUDEAU AND A MEMBER OF
THE AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT.
I AGREE WITH THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO TESTIFIED AND SAID
THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY
ARE FACING A RACE TO THE BOTTOM
GLOBALLY AND UNLESS WE FIGHT
BACK WE ARE AT A LOSS.
I AGREE WITH THOSE WHO SAID IN
PUBLIC COMMENT THAT THEY FOUGHT
WITH US FOR THE $15 MINIMUM
WAGE AND WE HAVE A DIRECT STAKE
IN THE FARMERS IN INDIA --
POLICE USING BATONS WATER
CANNONS AND TEAR GAS.
BUT AS THE FARMERS HAVE SAID,
THE POLICE ARE USING TEAR GAS
AGAINST US, BUT WE WERE ALREADY
CRYING.
AT THIS POINT THE PROTESTS HAVE
SUSTAINED FOR NEARLY 3 WEEKS,
THIS IS REMARKABLE.
THE PROTEST ACTIONS OF -- WITH
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PROTESTERS BLOCKING ROADS AND
SQUATTING ON RAILWAY TRACKS.
THE PROTESTS ARE ALSO
NOTEWORTHY IN THE LEVEL OF
PREPARATION THEY CARRIED OUT
BEFORE LAUNCHING THE ACTIONS.
FARMERS SAY THEY ARE PREPARED
ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN
THE ACTION FOR MONTHS.
THE PROTESTS ALSO HAVE AN
IMPRESSIVE DEGREE OF
COORDINATION BETWEEN THE
ACTIONS IN METRO CENTERS LIKE
DELHI AND MUMBAI AND THEY HAVE
ORGANIZED SHIFTS WITH SOME
TENDING THE -- WOMEN'S
COMMITTEES HAVE HELPED WITH
PROVIDING FOOD AND AS OUR SIKH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TESTIFIED --
THE PROTESTS HAVE NOT BEEN
SHORT OF FOOD EVEN FOR A DAY.
THIS LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION AND
CONFIDENCE IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY THE FARMERS ARE NOT
INTIMIDATED DESPITE THE BRUTAL
TEAR GAS AND WATER CANNONS USED
BY THEM ON THEM BY THE POLICE.
SUCH ORGANIZING IS NOT -- SUCH
A LEVEL OF PREPARATION CAN ONLY
BE ACHIEVED BY FIRST BUILDING
THE POLITICAL CONVICTION,
SOLIDARITY, AND COHESION AMONG
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
OPPRESSED PEOPLE, RANK-AND-FILE
FARMERS, STRENGTHENING THE
CLARITY THAT WE HAVE TO FIGHT
TOGETHER -- AND IT WILL BE A
LONG AND HARD FIGHT AND IT WILL
INVOLVED SEGURA -- SIGNIFICANT
SACRIFICE.
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN
SUCCESSFULLY PUSH BACK AGAINST
THE GROSS INJUSTICES FACED BY
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY UNDER
THIS BANKRUPT SYSTEM OF
CAPITALISM.
-- THIS IS THE KIND OF
ORGANIZING NEEDED FOR ANY
LABOR MOVEMENT ANYWHERE, THE
BECAUSE BIG CORPORATIONS AND THE
CAPITALIST STATE HAVE ALL THE
WEALTH AND RESOURCES TO WAIT
FOR PROTESTS AND STRIKES TO
GROW EXHAUSTED AND DEMORALIZED.
MY OFFICE INITIATED A PETITION
TO URGE PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE
BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT
KAMALA HARRIS TO MAKE --
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN FIND
A LINK TO IT ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA
ACCOUNTS AND ON OUR COUNSEL
OFFICE BLOG.
MORE THAN 350 PEOPLE HAVE
SIGNED THE PETITION JUST SINCE
LAST MONTH, AND AS A NUMBER OF
THE SPEAKERS AND PUBLIC
TESTIMONY SAID -- IS ORGANIZING
A CAR CARAVAN RALLY ON JANUARY 8
IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE GENERAL
STRIKE IN INDIA WHICH IS GOING
TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT IS THIS KIND OF
SOLIDARITY AMONG WORKERS AND
FARMERS THAT CAN REALLY PUT THE
MODI REGIME ON THE DEFENSIVE
AND WE NEED ESCALATING TACTICS
LIKE THIS IN ORDER TO ENSURE
THAT WE DO NOT GET COMPLACENT
AND THAT WE WIN OUR VICTORIES.
I AM ALSO PROUD OF -- IN HOPING
TO BUILD INTERNATIONAL WORKING
CLASS SOLIDARITY WHICH IS
CRUCIAL IN THE GLOBAL FIGHT
BACK AGAINST CAPITALISM.
JUST INFANT -- IN JANUARY AND
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, MY
OFFICE BROUGHT FORWARD THE
RESOLUTION AGAINST -- AND WE SAW
THE PRO MODI SUPPORT -- AND
SPOKE IN SUCH DIVISIVE DEEPLY
RIGHT-WING LANGUAGE.
WE BROUGHT FORWARD A RESOLUTION
-- IN 2014, MY OFFICE SENT A
PUBLIC LETTER IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE OPPRESSED PEOPLE IN
PALESTINE, CALLING FOR THEN-
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE MEMBERS
OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS TO
CONDEMN THE BOMBARDMENT AND
VIOLENCE BY THE ISRAELI REGIME
IN GAZA.
WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED A
RESOLUTION -- WE MADE SEATTLE
THE FIRST CITY TO TAKE A
POSITION, SINCE THEN, FIVE
ADDITIONAL CITIES HAVE DONE THE
SAME WITH SAN FRANCISCO BEING
THE SIXTH CITY TO PASS THE
RESOLUTION IN JULY.
I WILL ECHO MY GENERAL COMMENTS
BY ADDING ANOTHER SLOGAN OF THE
MOVEMENT.
THE MOVEMENT HAS SAID -- WHICH
MEANS FARMERS STAY UNITED OR
LONG LIVE FARMER UNITY.
I THINK AS WE HEAD INTO THE
JANUARY 8 ACTION, IT IS
ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL FOR HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF WORKERS WHO WILL
BE ON STRIKE ALONGSIDE THE
FARMERS, ALONG WITH THE STUDENT
MOVEMENT, WE HAVE TO ALSO
RAISED THE SLOGAN -- WHICH IS
LONG LIVE THE UNITY BETWEEN
FARMERS AND WORKERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND CONSIDER AMENDMENT
ONE NOW THAT WE HAVE HEARD
GENERAL COMMENTS, BUT BEFORE WE
OPEN IT UP FOR ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE UNDERLYING
RESOLUTION, THERE WAS AN
AMENDMENT THAT WAS CIRCULATED
PREVIOUSLY TODAY, CONSISTENT
WITH COUNSEL RULES, SO I AM
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR THAT
MOTION OF AMENDMENT ONE.
>> I MOVE AMENDMENT ONE
INSERTING THE FOLLOWING
SENTENCES, SECTION 3 THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE FARMERS
ORGANIZATIONS DURING --
ORGANIZING FOR A GENERAL STRIKE
ON JANUARY 8, 2021, TO UNITE
THE MOVEMENTS OF OPPRESSED
PEOPLES, DEMANDING RESTORATIONS
FOR -- INCREASING THE MINIMUM
WAGE, ENDING PRIVATIZATION, AND
DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF
RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC MINORITIES.
WE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
ORDINARY PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY
FROM THE SIKH COMMUNITY AND
ALSO THE BROADER ASIAN
COMMUNITY.
AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON OF THOSE
SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THIS
AMENDMENT BECAUSE THE PROTEST
MOVEMENT HAVE ALREADY SHOWN
ENORMOUS STRENGTH AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, HAVING LASTED
NEARLY 3 WEEKS WITH AN
IMPRESSIVE DEGREE OF
ORGANIZATION AND POLITICAL
STRENGTH BUT IT WOULD BE FATAL
IF WE GOT COMPLACENT, THE
MOVEMENT HAS TO ESCALATE IN
ORDER TO -- THE MODI REGIME
WILL KEEP TRYING VARIOUS DIVIDE
AND CONQUER TRICKS TO BREAK THE
BACK OF THE MOVEMENT FOR EXAMPLE
LABELING SIKH FARMERS AS
TERRORISTS.
THEY WILL KEEP TRYING THESE
TACTICS, IF THEY DO NOT SUCCEED
IN THAT TERRIFIC HORRIFIC EFFORT
-- THEY WILL SIMPLY TRY AND
WAIT OUT THE MOVEMENT, WAIT FOR
PROTESTERS TO GET EXHAUSTED AND
DEMORALIZED, AS MEMBERS OF THE
LABOR MOVEMENT LIKE MYSELF
KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN,
AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE ARE
FIGHTING THE BOSSES WE NEED TO
HAVE TACTICS THAT WOULD
ESCALATE THE STRUGGLE AND PUT
INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE
BOSSES TO FORCE THEM CONCEDE --
THE CALL FOR THE GENERAL STRIKE
AS I SAID IS BEING SUPPORTED BY
100 FARMER ORGANIZATIONS, 10
TRADE UNION CONFIGURATIONS THAT
REPRESENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF WORKERS, UNION MEMBERS, AND
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS.
THE UNIONS ARE DEMANDING THE
RESTORATION OF PROTECTIONS FOR
SMALL FARMERS, INCREASING THE
MINIMUM WAGE, ESTABLISHING
PENSIONS AND SOCIAL SECURITY
FROM IT FOR WORKERS AND -- TO
UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT
OF SUCH AN ACTION AND WHY I AM
URGING COUNCILMEMBERS TO
SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, WE
SHOULD KNOW THAT THE TRADE
MOVEMENT HAS CARRIED OUT THREE
GENERAL STRIKE MOVEMENTS
RECENTLY.
ONE IN JANUARY 2019, ONE IN
JANUARY THIS YEAR, AND A THIRD
ONE IN LATE NOVEMBER.
EACH OF THOSE GENERAL STRIKES
HAS BEEN THE SINGLE LARGEST
GENERAL STRIKE IN GLOBAL LABOR
HISTORY.
THE LAST TWO STRIKES BROUGHT
215 MILLION -- THESE ARE
ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE, THESE ARE
EARTH SHATTERING ACTIONS, AND I
THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF EARTH
SHATTERING ACTION WE NEED IN
ORDER TO BE ABLE TO COMBAT THE
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS AND INDEED
TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE
FACING THE POOR WORKERS AND
FARMERS AT THE HANDS OF THE
BILLIONAIRE CLASS.
SO I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS MADE A
MOTION TO PUT AMENDMENT ONE
BEFORE US, IS THERE A SECOND?
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION ON
AMENDMENT ONE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU HAVE
ALREADY MADE COMMENTS ABOUT
AMENDMENT ONE, SO I AM GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP TO THE
FLOOR TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT ONE AND AS IS USUALLY
THE CASE, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT,
YOU WILL HAVE THE FINAL WORD ON
AMENDMENT ONE, BUT WE ARE
GOING TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
RESOLUTION FORWARD, I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THE BASE RESOLUTION.
SINCE PUBLIC COMMENT, -- FROM
KENT WHO BROUGHT THIS
RESOLUTION TO OUR CITY COUNCIL
FOR CONSIDERATION CALLED ME TO
ASK WHAT OTHER PUBLIC
COMMENTERS WERE SPEAKING ABOUT
WHEN DISCUSSING SECTION 3, AND
SHE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN
AWARE OF SECTION 3. FROM MY
COMMUNICATIONS IN MY PHONE CALL
WITH HER, JUST IN THE LAST
NUMBER OF HOURS, IT WAS HER
PREFERENCE TO MAINTAIN THE
FOCUS OF THIS RESOLUTION ON
SECTIONS 1 AND 2, AND FOR THOSE
REASONS I WILL NOT BE VOTING
FOR THIS AMENDMENT, ALTHOUGH I
SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND
EVERYTHING THAT WAS BROUGHT
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THAT ONE?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON AMENDMENT ONE, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, ANY CLOSING REMARKS
YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE BEFORE
WE TAKE A VOTE ON THIS
AMENDMENT?
>> YES, I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I
COMPLETELY DISAGREE, FOR NOT
SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT AND
THE REASONS HE STATED, I THINK
THEY ARE QUITE STUNNING, BUT I
APPRECIATE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS WAS OPEN ON WHY HE WAS
VOTING NO ON THE AMENDMENT, AND
I THINK THAT IS -- BUT
UNFORTUNATELY NOBODY ELSE HAS
SPOKEN TO IT SO I DO NOT KNOW
WHAT TO MAKE OF IT, I DO
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD SECONDING OF MY
AMENDMENT SO THAT WE CAN AT
LEAST HAVE A DISCUSSION, BUT I
THINK THAT IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
REGARDLESS OF WHAT ETHNICITIES
ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY HAVE, AT
THE END OF THE DAY, THE TEST
THAT WE AS AN ORDINARY PEOPLE
HAVE TO PUT THEM TO IS ARE THEY
STANDING WITH THE ORDINARY
PEOPLE OF WHATEVER ISSUE IS AT
HAND, OR ARE THEY STANDING WITH
THE ESTABLISHMENT AND I THINK
IT IS VERY TELLING THAT AT
LEAST ACCORDING TO WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS SAID,
AND I AM ASSUMING THAT OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS SHARE THAT
POSITION, I THINK THAT IT IS
DEEPLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT
IS NOT A QUESTION OF ONE
ELECTED OFFICIAL EVEN IF THEY
MAY BE FROM A CERTAIN COMMUNITY
, DOZENS OF PEOPLE FROM THE
SAME ETHNIC COMMUNITY TESTIFIED
IN PUBLIC COMMENT SAYING THAT
THEY WANTED YOU TO SUPPORT THAT
ACTION, AND THEY HAD THEIR OWN
WORDS TO DESCRIBE WHY THEY
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS
ACTION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO
GREATLY ESCALATE THE STRUGGLE
WHICH THE FARMERS AND THE
WORKERS UNDER THIS PANDEMIC DO,
THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR --
AND THAT IS WHY THERE WAS A
GENERAL STRIKE IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE FARMERS BECAUSE THEY
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NOT ONLY
STRENGTHEN THE FARMERS MOVEMENT
THEY STRENGTHEN THEIR OWN
MOVEMENT AND THAT THE STRUGGLE
FOR -- AND I JUST WANT ALL OF
THE ORDINARY PEOPLE AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE
TO OBSERVE THAT POLITICIANS ARE
DOING -- OR ARE THEY LISTENING
TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ONE
AFTER ANOTHER CAME AND SAID
THAT THEY WANT THE CITY COUNCIL
TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT?
I WILL BE VOTING YES ON THIS
AMENDMENT AND I STILL URGE
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
YES.
>> OKAY, I AM GOING TO CLOSE
OUT DEBATE ON THIS PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND
HAVE THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR AND FOUR
OPPOSED.
>> OKAY.
THE MOTION FAILS FOR A LACK OF
MAJORITY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER,
SO THE AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE TO
CONSIDERATION OF THE RESOLUTION
, AND I THINK WE HAVE HAD A LOT
OF DEBATE ON IT, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE
RESOLUTION AS PROPOSED?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR
THAT THE FOLKS I AM HEARING
FROM INCLUDING MEMBERS NOT
ONLY THAT HAVE BEEN ELECTED BUT
MEMBERS WHO ARE WORKING
DIRECTLY WITH THE PUNJABI
COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE WHO HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
THIS I THINK THAT FOLKS WANT TO
SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE ABOUT WHAT
IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN
INDIA, A MESSAGE TO THE
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND
FOR ME PERSONALLY THAT DOES NOT
MEAN NOT WANTING TO SUPPORT A
GENERAL STRIKE I THINK THAT
THERE IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER
MEETING AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR US TO CONTINUE TO SHOW
SOLIDARITY WITH A GENERAL
STRIKE BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT I AM FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF
THE PUNJABI COMMUNITY WHO HAS
BEEN REACHING OUT AND ASKING
FOR THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN
HE RESOLUTION TODAY.
I WILL BE MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE PUSHING OUT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE GENERAL STRIKE,
PEOPLE DO NOT COME TO A STRIKE
EASILY, THIS IS OFTEN THE LAST
LINE OF EFFORT TO TRY TO MAKE
SURE THAT MESSAGES ARE BEING
HEARD, WE KNOW THAT TIME AND
TIME AGAIN THAT THESE FARMERS
HAVE TRIED TO NEGOTIATE, THEY
HAVE PROTESTED, THEY HAVE PUT
THEIR LIVES IN HARMS WAY BOTH
BECAUSE OF COVID-19 AND ALSO
BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING
REPRESSIVE ATTRACTS FROM THE
POLICE AND THE GOVERNMENT BEING
EXPOSED TO VERY COLD
TEMPERATURES AND WATER CANNONS,
THEIR LIFE IS ON THE LINE, SO
WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE DONE
EVERYTHING THEY CAN PERSONALLY,
I SUPPORT THE GENERAL STRIKE, I
WILL BE PUTTING OUT MESSAGES
FROM OUR OFFICE IN SUPPORT TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW HOW
TO -- BUT IN FOLLOWING WITH
WHAT THE PUNJABI COMMUNITY HAS
ASKED FOR TODAY WHICH IS A VERY
CLEAR RESOLUTION SPECIFIC TO A
NATIONAL MESSAGE ACROSS THE
GLOBE, I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS RESOLUTION I THINK IT IS
AN UNFORTUNATE CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHO WE ARE FOLLOWING BUT
I DO NOT THINK THAT THOSE TWO
THINGS HAVE TO STAND IN
ISOLATION, WE CAN SEND FORWARD
THIS CLEAR RESOLUTION TODAY AND
ALSO STAND IN SUPPORT OF THE
UPCOMING GENERAL STRIKE WHICH I
PLAN TO DO AND I PLAN TO SEND
OUT MESSAGES FROM OUR OFFICE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS
HEAR DIRECTLY THAT THIS IS
ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT I AM
INTERESTED IN DOING IN SUPPORT
OF THOSE WHO HAVE REACHED OUT
INITIALLY VERY HAPPY TO HAVE
THIS RESOLUTION PASSED TODAY
AND THAT SAID I AM ALSO GOING
TO BE SUPPORTING THE CALL FOR
THE GENERAL STRIKE I KNOW THAT
IS NOT A DECISION PEOPLE COME
TO LIGHTLY OFTEN THE LAST LINE
OF DEFENSE WHEN THINKING ABOUT
THE STRATEGIES IN FRONT OF US
AND IT TAKES A HUGE ACT OF
COURAGE TO DO SO, SO FIRST OF
ALL I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW
THAT -- WANTED TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY AND -- TO OUR OFFICE
AND MORE INFORMATION
FORTHCOMING OBVIOUSLY ON THAT
FIRST WEEK OF ACTION IN
JANUARY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, I FULLY AGREE AS
A MEMBER OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT
MYSELF THAT IT IS NOT EASY FOR
WORKERS TO GO ON STRIKE, IT IS
A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION AND
IT REQUIRES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF SACRIFICE, THERE ARE LOTS OF
TWISTS AND TURNS BECAUSE THE
BOSSES IN THIS CASE ARE THE
MODI REGIME AND THE BILLIONAIRE
CLASS, THEY WILL TRY TO WAIT
OUT THE MOVEMENT AS MUCH AS
THEY CAN, SO DURING THE STRIKE
ACTION IT REQUIRES A LOT OF
RESILIENCE AND A LOT OF
STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL
POLITICAL CLARITY FOR THE
WORKERS AND SOLIDARITY FOR THEM
TO NOT BE BROKEN.
BUT I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS BEING
ACHIEVED BY THIS COUNSEL NOT
SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT FOR
THE STRIKE ACTION, BECAUSE THEY
HAVE ALREADY DECLARED THE
STRIKE ACTION SO WHEN WE AGREE
THAT IT IS NOT EASY FOR THEM TO
DO THIS, THAT MEANS THAT IT HAS
BEEN AN EXTREMELY HARD AND LONG
ROAD FOR THEM, SO I AM NOT SURE
HOW IT HELPS TO FIGHT FOR THE
GENERAL STRIKE BY SENDING A
MESSAGE OF, THIS IS NOT WHAT
THE PUNJABI COMMUNITY WANTS, I
ALSO DO NOT AGREE WITH THE IDEA
THAT NOT HAVING THE CLAUSE FOR
THE GENERAL STRIKE SUPPORT IS
SOMEHOW FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF
THE PUNJABI COMMUNITY, -- WE
HEARD FROM DOZENS OF PUNJABI
AND SIKH WORKING PEOPLE AND
DOZENS MORE AND HUNDREDS MORE
HAVE SPOKEN IN DIFFERENT WAYS,
NOT JUST TODAY, THAT THEY ARE
SUPPORTING THE STRIKE ACTION. I
ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT WE ALL
SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THE
GENERAL RELIEF ACTION, -- I
WANTED TO CALL ON EVERYBODY,
ALL THE ORDINARY PEOPLE,
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE
WATCHING THIS, LET'S MAKE SURE
THAT WE ORGANIZE A MASSIVE,
HISTORIC, JANUARY 8, 2021 -- IN
SEATTLE, I AM NOT SAYING THE
LOCATION YET BECAUSE WE ARE
AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW, BUT MY
POINT IS, LET'S MAKE IT A
MASSIVE AND SUCCESSFUL ACTION,
AND LET'S STAND SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
MASSES IN INDIA WHO ARE
STRUGGLING FOR A BETTER WORLD.
THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT DEBATE
HERE SINCE THE SPONSORS HAVE
SPOKEN LAST ON THIS PARTICULAR
RESOLUTION.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE BILL ON MY
BEHALF?
OTHER BUSINESS, IS THERE ANY
OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO
FIRST THANK ALL OF YOU -- AND
APPRECIATE THE STEWARDSHIP THAT
-- I WANT TO THANK MY OFFICE
AND DEALING WITH -- AND HER
PRESENCE AT THE RALLY AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER AS WELL YESTERDAY
AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT OUR
TEAM HAS BEEN DOING BETWEEN --
WE GOT THROUGH 20,000 EMAILS
JUST SPECIFIC TO BUDGET IN THE
LAST TWO WEEKS AND THEY ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME FROM
THE OFFICE AS WE ENDEAVOR TO
GET RESPONSES FROM EVERYBODY,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU ON VARIOUS ISSUES
COMING UP IN 2021, AND I WANT
TO SAY THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR
HARD WORK THIS YEAR, I KNOW THAT
WE TOOK A LOT OF YOUR TIME AND
YOUR FAMILIES TIME AND THE
COMMUNITIES TIME TO WORK WITH
OUR BUDGET PROCESS HERE,
DELIBERATIONS THAT WERE VERY
LENGTHY AT TIMES, THANKS FOR
CENTRAL STAFF, OUR ENTIRE TEAM,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
MORE ON -- AND EVERYTHING
RELATED TO COMMUNITY SAFETY,
AND HE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS IN
OUR OFFICE AND -- JUST WANT TO
SAY THANKS AS PER USUAL -- AND
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REQUEST TO
BE EXCUSED ON JANUARY 4.
>> THERE WE GO, THERE IS THE
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS.
THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA TO BE
EXCUSED ON JANUARY 4, IS THERE
ANY OBJECTION?
>> I OBJECT.
>> BETTER NOT, BECAUSE I DO NOT
HAVE A SCRIPT FOR THAT.
>> I WANT TO THANK HER BEFORE I
OBJECT.
>> I AM GOING TO TAKE THAT
OBJECTION IN JEST, AND ASSUME
THAT THERE IS NO ACTUAL
OBJECTION, AND COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA WILL BE EXCUSED FOR
JANUARY 4, 2021, IS THERE ANY
OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL?
THIS IS OUR LAST REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MARATHON CITY COUNCIL
MEETING FOR THE YEAR OF 2020.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ON
MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 AT 2:00
P.M..
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A
WONDERFUL EVENING, WE ARE
ADJOURNED, SEE YOU ALL IN 2021.