>>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE,
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO OUR
BUDGET HEARING TONIGHT, OCTOBER
3. THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO
BUDGET MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE,
THANK YOU, HAVE THE BLINDS
DRAWN NOW, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRELL WITH
ME AS IS COUNCIL MEMBER SWAN,
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ,
COUNCILMEMBER VASQUEZ AND HIM
AND I BELIEVE I SAW MEMBER
HERBOLD HERE, THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR COMING.
TONIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR
FROM EACH OF YOU, YOU WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES EACH, TO SPEAK,
UNLESS YOU ARE WITH A GROUP,
NOBODY HAS TO TAKE ALL THE TIME
JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, IN SOME
DAYS, WE HAVE GIVEN AWARDS FOR
THE SHORTEST SPEECH AT THE END
OF THE EVENING.
THE SHORTEST, BUT THE PICKIEST.
SO, THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE AIMING
FOR.
THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE
OCTOBER 22 AT 5:30, YOU HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO US
IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
WE BEGAN THE REVIEW OF THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET, REVIEW LAST
WEEKEND AND ALL DAY YESTERDAY,
WE LOOKED AT THE DNC PROPOSAL,
AND TONIGHT NEXT MONTH THROUGH
TONIGHT'S HEARING AND THEN THE
SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WE WILL
BE ENTERTAINING DIFFERENT
IDEAS, SOME OF THE COMMUNITY
RESPONSE, SOME OF YOUR BEST
THINKING, TO INCORPORATE INTO
WHAT WILL BECOME THE COUNCIL'S
RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
ANYWAY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A
BALANCED BUDGET.
SO, IF SOMEBODY STEPS UP AND
SAYS, WE NEED 700 MILLION
DOLLARS MORE FOR SOMETHING
GREAT, UNLESS YOU HAVE A NEW
REVENUE SOURCE FOR US, THAT'S
HANDY IT WILL PROBABLY NOT END
UP IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
I AM GOING TO BE THROUGH THE
COUNCIL'S BUDGET ON NOVEMBER 6,
SO THAT WILL BE AFTER WE GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE
COMMITTEE TWICE.
I THINK I AM JUST GOING TO DIVE
INTO NIGHT, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
HAVE SIGNED UP, THERE ARE ABOUT
14 PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WITH US
LAST NIGHT.
AND, THEY WERE HERE TALKING
PRIMARILY ABOUT THE DNC CONTRACT
. BUT, TOO MANY PEOPLE HAD TO
LEAVE TO GO TO OTHER EVENTS
LAST NIGHT, SO WE PROMISED THEM
THAT THEY WOULD GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO COME FORWARD
TONIGHT, SO, I AM GOING TO READ
OFF VARIOUS NUMBERS HERE, AND
THEN I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TO
HOLD UP YOUR NUMBERS WHEN YOU
COME UP WITH THE NUMBERS ON THE
COMMENT CARDS, I WILL BE
CALLING THREE NAMES, AND WE
WILL TRY TO KEEP THINGS MOVING
THAT WAY.
IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, I'M
GOING TO ASK YOU TO COME TO THE
MICROPHONE, KILL UP -- Q UP,
AND WE WILL BE DONE BEFORE
MIDNIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
OKAY.
KATIE GARO, AND I THINK KEIKO
WILL BE HERE AS WELL.
YOU MAY HAVE SOMEONE ELSE ON,
EXCELLENT, THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, WOULD YOU
PERMIT US TO SPEAK AS A GROUP
ON BEHALF OF THE FAIR SHARE
COALITION?
>> ABSOLUTELY, YOU HAVE UP TO
FIVE MINUTES KATIE TO DESPISE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER FOR
HAVING US HERE TONIGHT, MY NAME
IS KATIE GARO, AND THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR AT MLK LABOR, AN
ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO
BUILDING POWER FOR WORKERS.
WE AT MLK LABOR ARE ONE OF THE
50 COMMUNITY LABOR
TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING
ORGANIZATIONS WHO MAKE UP THE
FAIR SHARE COALITION,
úSUPPORTING THE MAYORS FAIR
SHARE PLAN.
IN 2011, UBER AND LYFT ENTERED
THE MARKET IN A FLURRY.
SEATTLEITES EMBRACED THE SIMPLE
AND EFFICIENT NEW TOOL TO GET
AROUND BY TAXI DRIVERS WHO
PREVIOUSLY MADE A LIVING WAGE
SLOWLY SLIPPED INTO POVERTY,
UNABLE TO COMPETE WITH DNC
COMPANIES, WHO WERE NOT SUBJECT
TO THE SAME LICENSING FEES AND
REGULATIONS THEY WERE.
2015, ENTER COUNCILMEMBER MIKE
O'BRIEN.
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
LEGISLATED THE FIRST-EVER
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS
FOR DRIVERS, WITH A VISION TO
RAISE STANDARDS FOR DRIVERS AND
GIVE THEM A VOICE ON THE JOB.
2019, AND AMBITIOUS AND
PRAGMATIC MAYOR, JENNY DURKIN
DECIDES ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, AND
ANNOUNCES HER FAIR SHARE PLAN,
IT IS A MODEST $.51 PER RIDE TAX
WHICH ATTEMPTS TO BRING DIGNITY
TO A MOSTLY IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE WORKFORCE, WHO ARE THE
FURTHEST FROM ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY,
AND CREATE NEW HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT WE SO DESPERATELY NEED.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER MIKE
O'BRIEN FROM YOUR PIONEERING,
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HAROLD
FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP
ON THIS BODY OF WORK.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUERA FOR ALWAYS HAVING OUR
BACK.
THANK YOU MOSTLY TO TEAMSTERS
LOCAL 117, AND THE AT BASE
DRIVERS ASSOCIATION, FOR NEVER
ABANDONING DRIVERS.
YOU ARE A DEACON IN THE LABOR
MOVEMENT AND YOU HAVE PROVEN TO
WORKERS EVERYWHERE THAT NO LAW
OR JUDGE WILL DEFINE THE FATE
OF PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A
LIVING.
AND, NOW I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE A LEADER IN THE
ASSOCIATION AND TEAMSTERS LOCAL
117, THE CALICO BENA.
>> GOOD EVENING, I AM A UNION
REPRESENTATION 117, WE ARE A
UNION OF OVER 17,000 WORKING
PEOPLE ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE.
TONIGHT, WE ARE EXCITED TO JOIN
THE FAIR SHARE COALITION AND
PARTNER WITH A GROWING NUMBER
OF LABOR AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD A MORE
SUSTAINABLE SEATTLE FOR ALL.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
SEATTLE WORKS FOR EVERYONE
INCLUDING OUR CITY 30,000 UBER
AND LYFT DRIVERS.
AS A FORMER UBER DRIVER MYSELF,
I KNOW THE IMPORTANT ROLE UBER
AND LYFT DRIVERS PLAY IN
SEATTLE'S TRANSPORTATION
SERVICE.
YET, DRIVERS HAVE SEEN THEIR
FORMS OF TRIP TRAVEL GETTING
WORSE FROM TIME TO TIME.
MANY OF OUR DRIVERS ARE PEOPLE
OF COLOR AND IMMIGRANTS FOR HIM
DRIVING IS THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF
INCOME.
THE LACK OF PROTECTION, ACCESS
TO BENEFITS AND ALL OF THE COST
ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR WORK.
TONIGHT, WE URGE YOU TO ADAPT
COMMITTEE NUMBER ONE TO ENSURE
THAT DRIVERS EARN A LIVING WAGE
FOR AND ARE PAID FOR THEIR
EXPERIENCE.
NUMBER TWO, TO ESTABLISH A
PROCESS OF ACTIVATION FOR
WRONGFUL TERMINATION.
NUMBER THREE, TO INVEST IN
DRIVER SUPPORT SERVICE HOUSING
AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT,
SO THAT DRIVERS CAN CREATE
ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE
WHERE THEY WORK.
WE APPRECIATE CONSTANT WORK ON
ISSUES OVER THE YEARS, WE ARE
LOOKING TOWARDS WORKING WITH
GOALS AND BUILDING A MORE
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ALL,
THANK YOU.
>> FINALLY MY NAME IS KELSEY
MESSER I AM WITH THE
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
COALITION AND WE ARE PROUD TO
BE A PART OF THE FAIR SHARE
COALITION, I THINK EVERYONE IN
THIS ROOM KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS THAT WE HAVE RELIABLE AND
AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION,
DURING THIS TIME OF GROWTH,
WHICH IS WHY WE ARE INCREDIBLY
SUPPORTIVE AND EXCITED TO SEE
THAT THIS LEGISLATION WILL
SUPPORT US, FULLY FUNDING THE
CENTER CITY CONNECTOR STREETCAR
PROJECT.
WHICH WILL IMPROVE OUR MOBILITY
AND DOWNTOWN, ONE OF OUR MOST
CONGESTED AREAS.
AND, PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO
MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE EVERY
SINGLE DAY.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN A LONG-
TERM GOAL OF THE CITY AND HAS
STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC.
IN ADDITION TO FUNDING THE
STREETCAR PROJECT, CRITICALLY,
THIS WILL FUND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT, WHICH
WILL ALLOW TRANSIT ORIENTED
COMMUNITIES, WORKING FAMILIES,
ACCESS TO JOBS, SCHOOLS, AND
OPPORTUNITY, WITHOUT THE ADDED
COST BURDEN OF OWNING A VEHICLE.
IF WE ARE A CITY THAT
PRIORITIZES HEALTH AND THE WELL-
BEING OF OUR PEOPLE AND PLANET,
WE NEED TO INVEST IN MORE
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES, MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO
PROTECT AND LIFT UP OUR WORKERS
AND THE FAIR SHARE PLAN HELPS
US DO ALL OF THESE THINGS.
SO PLEASE STAND WITH US AND
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
>> MOHAMMED MOHAMMED AND WALTER
ELLIS AND DON CLEARY, CAN YOU
RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU ARE
HERE SO WE CAN SEE?
AGAIN, MOHAMMED MOHAMMED,
WALTER ELLIS AND DON CLEARY?
OKAY.
THOSE WERE SOME FROM LAST NIGHT.
JUDGE JUST I WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SPEAK?
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBERS,
I AM JUDGE IF HS WITH SEATTLE
MEAN A CIVIL COURT, THANK YOU
FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK A FEW MINUTES.
MY COLLEAGUES, JUDGE CHEN, AS
WELL AS MY COLLEAGUE BETTY
McNEELY WERE HERE TO TALK ABOUT
THE SEATTLE MEAN A CIVIL COURT
PROBATION DEPARTMENT.
WE CAME LAST YEAR TO TALK TO
YOU, AND ASK THAT YOU PRESERVE
OUR MONEY FOR PROBATION.
AND, WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED
TO HAVE RESOURCES WHEN WE HAVE
INDIVIDUALS IN FRONT OF US AND
WE ARE LOOKING AT OPTIONS OTHER
THAN PLACING THEM IN JAIL.
I AM NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT I
SAID LAST YEAR, BUT WHAT I
WOULD LIKE COUNSEL TO KNOW, AND
I WILL TALK ABOUT IT IN DATA
BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE NUMBERS
SPEAK LOUDER THAN ANYTHING ELSE
YOU CAN SAY.
72 COMMITTED HIGH COMMUNITY
SAFETY RELATED NOT DIVERSION
ELIGIBLE CRIMES, THAT'S OUR
NUMBERS.
77 SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THEIR
OBLIGATIONS, AND WHEN I SAY 77
PERCENT, THAT MEANS WE HAVE 77
PERCENT OF THE INDIVIDUALS, WHO
WENT THROUGH OUR SYSTEM, WHO
ACTUALLY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED
THEIR OBLIGATIONS.
THERE IS A MISS NUMBER THAT
PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE
PUNISHED FOR NOT SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETING PROBATION, THEY SIT
IN JAIL, THAT IS NOT TRUE, OUR
NUMBERS SHOW OTHERWISE, 1600
INDIVIDUALS ARE ON PROBATION
THAT IS AN AVERAGE DAILY
POPULATION .35 AVERAGE DAILY
POST SENTENCE JAIL POPULATION
FOR SOC CASES.
86 PERCENT COMPLETE PROBATION
WITHOUT RETURNING TO JAIL.
ONE THIRD EXIT EARLY FROM
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
OBLIGATIONS.
I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
TALK ABOUT SOME PROGRAMS, THOSE
PROGRAMS ARE PRETRIAL PROGRAMS,
THOSE ARE PREFILING CASES.
THOSE PROGRAMS LEAD LINK FINAL
PACK, WE CANNOT PUT INDIVIDUALS
INTO THOSE PROGRAMS, THOSE ARE
OUTSIDE OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT JURISDICTION.
WE ARE PROGRESSIVE AND WE HAVE
INTEGRATED MANY BEST PRACTICES
IN OUR WORK.
IN FACT, WE GO TO CONFERENCES,
PROBATION DEPARTMENT SPENDS
HOURS AND HOURS, BEYOND TIME
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
INNOVATING, THAT WE ARE DOING
THE BEST PRACTICES.
WE DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO MASS
INCARCERATION.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I AM A WOMAN OF
COLOR.
TRUST ME.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE PEOPLE
OF COLOR BEING INCARCERATED FOR
PERIODS LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD
OR EVEN GOING TO JAIL IF THEY
DON'T.
THAT IS WHY, PROBATION ASSIST
ME, TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL --
SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS OUTSIDE OF
THE JAIL SYSTEM.
AND THEN, FINALLY, I WANT TO
POINT OUT TO COUNSEL, MANY OF
THE CASES THAT ARE PROBATION
HAVE TO BE IN PROBATION,
BECAUSE THE LAW REQUIRES
SUPERVISION.
DUIS, DB RELATED CASES, I
CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT IT MUST
FEEL LIKE TO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL
WHO IS NOW ON THEIR THIRD OR
FOURTH DUI RELATED CASE IN
FRONT OF ME.
AND IF I HAD NO PROBATION, TO
PROVIDE OVERSIGHT.
>> I THINK I DON'T HAVE TO SAY
WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE.
IT WOULD NOT BE GOOD FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
I COULD GO ON AND ON AND I
WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THIS
INFORMATION, BUT WHEN I ASK YOU
TO THINK ABOUT, IS THAT, WHAT
WE ARE ASKING, AS THE JUDGES OF
THIS COMMUNITY, IS, WE THINK --
PLEASE PRESERVE OUR MONEY FOR
PROBATION.
THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSED HERE PREVIOUSLY, ARE
A PART OF A CONTINUUM.
SOMETIMES, YOU DO NOT CATCH THE
PERSON AT THE BEGINNING.
SOMETIMES YOU DO NOT CATCH THEM
IN THE MIDDLE.
SOMETIMES, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU
MAY NOT CATCH THEM AT THE END.
BUT, THERE SHOULD BE PROGRAMS
THAT GO THROUGHOUT THE
CONTINUUM, STARTING BEFORE THEY
ARE ARRESTED, AFTER THEY ARE
ARRESTED.
WHEN THE CHARGES ARE FILED,
WHEN SENTENCING HAPPENS, WE ARE
ASKING THAT YOU ALLOW US TO
KEEP THE GOOD WORK WE ARE
DOING, WITH WORKING WITH THESE
INDIVIDUALS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU YOUR HONOR,
APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
LOCKED AHMED?
THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK, I
APPRECIATE IT.
AND AFTER, OH BOY.
MOHAMMED AND THEN SAUBIZ?
>> THANK YOU SEATTLE CITY
MEMBERS.
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE AND AM HONORED TO
SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU ALL.
I AM AN UBER AND LYFT DRIVER.
FOR MANY YEARS, DRIVERS HAVE
BEEN FIGHTING, TOGETHER WITH
THE UNION, FOR FAIR PAY, AND
THE RIGHT TO FAIR ACTIVATION
AND DRIVER VOICE.
BY SAYING THAT, UBER AND LYFT
ARE TAKING MORE AND MORE FROM
WHAT A PASSENGER PAYS WHILE
DRIVERS ARE EARNING LESS AND
LESS.
WE ARE HOPEFUL FOR CHANGE NOW
THAT DRIVERS ISSUES ARE BACK ON
THE AGENDA AT CITY HALL.
WE ARE GIVING YOU TWO SEE THE
FAIR SHARE PLAN, AND WORKING
WITH DRIVER COMMUNITY, TO SET A
LIVING WAGE.
WE ARE EXCITED THAT NEW YORK
DRIVERS WANT THE MINIMUM RIGHT,
IT LOOKS AS MINIMUM WEIGHT RATE
AND PROTECTION.
WE WANT THE SAME PROTECTION
HERE.
ALL DRIVERS, NO MATTER WHERE IN
NEW YORK, SEATTLE, OR ANYWHERE
ELSE.
DRIVERS DESERVE A FAIR RATE ON
RIDESHARE.
RIGHT ON THE JOB.
BY MENTIONING THE POINT, OF A
FAIR RATE AND THE --
DEACTIVATION DUE PROCESS, OUR
PAY IS WE USED TO BE PAID TWO
DOLLARS OVERNIGHT, WE ARE PAID
BETWEEN DOLLAR 18 PER MILE, OR
WE ARE PAID A DOLLAR SIX, WHICH
IS MORE DECREASING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU
TO STAND ON NOW, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
DO WE HAVE MOHAMMED?
SABIZ?
IBN AL SLADE?
WE ARE MOVING THROUGH PRETTY
FAST HERE.
I SAW PATIENTS HERE.
I THOUGHT I SAW PATIENTS HERE.
ELIZABETH JAMES?
I THINK JONATHAN AND PAIGE
SPOKE LAST NIGHT.
PLEASE, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU,
THANK YOU FOR COMING ELIZABETH.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT.
I AM ELIZABETH JAMES FROM SPEAK
OUT SEATTLE.
AND, WE HOPE YOU WILL WE WANT
TO BE BALANCED WITH THAT SO AS
LISA DOES GUARD ALWAYS TELLS
US, LEAD IS UNDERSTOOD BY MANY
AND UNFAIRLY GETS LAME FOR
CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND
WHILE IT IS TRUE, CITY AND
COUNTY OFFICIALS SOMETIMES
OVERSELL WHAT LEAD CAN REALLY
DO.
LEAD IS NOT FOR ALL OFFENDERS
AND CERTAINLY NOT FOR ALL
RELATED TO VENDORS.
LEAD WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR
DIVERSION OF LOW-LEVEL
NONVIOLENT CRIMES OF
SUBSISTENCE, DRUG SALES OR
POSITION AND PROSTITUTION.
ITWAS NEVER INTENDED FOR
PEOPLE WHO COMMIT ASSAULT,
VIOLENT CRIMES, OR WHOEVER
OTHERWISE POSE A THREAT TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC.
FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT LEAD
CANNOT SERVE, DUE TO SAFETY
CONCERNS FOR THE GREATER GOOD,
WE MUST FIND ALTERNATIVE
PROGRAMS, SO THAT WE CAN AND
THERE IS NO -- RECYCLING DOOR
AND CREATE A DIFFERENT WAY TO
SERVE THEM THAT WILL WORK FOR
THEM.
A DURKIN'S RECENT PROPOSAL FOR
A 60 BED SHELTER AND ADOPTIONS
IS AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL TO
FUND.
IT IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS THOSE
OFFENDERS WHO FALL THROUGH THE
CRACKS RIGHT NOW, AND YOU ARE
CYCLING IN AND OUT AND CREATING
SOME REAL SAFETY ISSUES FOR THE
GENERAL PUBLIC.
CATCH AND RELEASE IS NOT
WORKING FOR ANYONE, WE NEED
PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE SHELTER
AND SERVICES TO TURN LIVES
AROUND.
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT ALSO
HAS DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAT ARE
DEMONSTRABLY WORKING.
YESTERDAY, THEY ONLY HAD 32
PEOPLE, SERVING TIME FOR JAILS.
THEY ARE NOT JUST WILLY-NILLY
JAILING PEOPLE, THEY ARE TRYING
TO WORK WITH THEM, AND TRYING
TO DIVERT THEM TO DRUG COURT OR
MENTAL HEALTH COURT, SPEAK OUT
SEATTLE HAS MEMBERS WHO HAVE
GONE THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS,
AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE CHANGED
THEIR LIVES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
ELIZABETH.
APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
IT LOOKS LIKE NUMBER 15? CINDY
KRUEGER?
EXCELLENT, CINDY, COME ON UP
AND JENNIFER NEWMAN, THERE IS A
GROUP.
SO, IF YOU AND YOUR GROUP CAN
GET ORGANIZED PERHAPS OVER HERE
ON THAT SIDE, AND THEN CAITLIN
HYMAN IS NUMBER 17.
>> NICE HATS, EVERYBODY.
WHO IS CINDY KRUEGER.
NICE, OKAY, CINDY, DO YOU WANT
TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TELL US
WHY YOU ARE WEARING THESE HATS
AND INTO THE MICROPHONE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO
SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY
FELLER FELLOW BALLY P PATCH
NAMES, ANY OTHER GARDENERS IN
THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT?
HOORAY.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS CINDY KRUEGER AND I
AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
BALLARD P PATCH TONIGHT.
THE BALLARD P PATCH GARDENERS
WANT TO THINK A DURKIN FOR
PROPOSING $3 MILLION IN ONE-
TIME FUNDING FOR THE SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX, FOR THE P PATCH
PROGRAM.
THESE MONIES WILL BE WELCOMED
IN THE PROGRAM WHICH HAS LONG
BEEN UNDERFUNDED.
AS OUR CITY BECOMES
INCREASINGLY DENSE, THESE OASES
OF GREEN OPEN-SPACE ARE VITAL.
CURRENTLY, BALLARD P PATCH, AN
IMMACULATE P PATCH, ARE BOTH
UNDER IMMINENT THREAT OF SALE.
THE BEVERAGE TAX MONEY COULD
FURTHER OUR PLAN TO PURCHASE
BALLARD P PATCH FROM THE
PRIVATE LANDOWNER?
. IT COULD ALSO HELP RELOCATE
THE IMMACULATE P PATCH IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT.
BECAUSE OF OUR URGENT NEED, WE
ALSO ASKED THE COUNCIL,
SEPARATELY EARMARKED $250,000
FOR THE BALLARD P PATCH IN THE
2020 BUDGET.
THIS MONEY WOULD HELP US WITH
OUR DOWN PAYMENT, URGENTLY
NEEDED IN EARLY 2020.
CITED ON A HALF ACRE OF LAND IN
1976, THE BALLARD P PATCH IS
ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE
PROGRAM.
THIS LAND HAS NEVER BEEN
TOUCHED BY DEVELOPMENT, AND IT
IS VITAL TO PRESERVE THAT.
THE LAND HAS BEEN LEASED FOR 43
YEARS THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF
OUR REDEEMERS LUTHERAN CHURCH.
THE CHURCH INTENDS TO SELL THE
LAND TO FUND THE RENOVATION
PROJECT, AND IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH GROW, OUR FISCAL SPONSOR,
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE FIRST
CHANCE TO PURCHASE IT.
THE RISK OF LOSING THIS GARDEN
IS REAL, WITH THE CHURCHES
CONSTRUCTION SLATED TO BEGIN IN
THE SPRING OF 2020.
RELOCATION OF A GARDEN THE SIZE
IS NOT POSSIBLE.
CITY FUNDING IS A CRUCIAL
COMPONENT OF THE FUNDING
STRATEGY TO LEVERAGE OTHER
FUNDS.
IN OUR CASE, KING COUNTY'S
CONSERVATION FUTURES TAX HAS
BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A
STRONG POTENTIAL FOR
ACQUISITION.
HOWEVER, IT REQUIRES A ONE TO
ONE LOCAL MATCH.
SINCE EARLY, 2019, WE HAVE
DEVOTED THOUSANDS OF HOURS
EXPLORING FUNDING OPTIONS FOR
THE $1.8 MILLION PURCHASE PRICE.
WE HAVE HELD FUNDRAISERS AND
RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS.
ALL THE WHILE, WE HAVE
MAINTAINED OUR GARDENS
CONNECTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY,
DONATING MORE THAN 2500 POUNDS
OF ORGANIC FRESH PICKED PRODUCE
TO THE BALLARD FOOD BANK.
WE POSTED AN EMERGENCY HOT
WORKSHOP AND MOUNTED HER 18th
ANNUAL ART GARDEN COMMUNITY
FESTIVAL.
IT IS OUR VISION AND INTENT, TO
FURTHER OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH
UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.
BUT, TO BRING THAT VISION TO
LIFE, WE MUST PRESERVE THE
GARDEN.
PLEASE CONSIDER OUR URGENT NEED,
AND HELP US GIVE THE GNOME A
HOME, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANYBODY ELSE FROM BALLARD GROUP
SPEAKING?
OKAY.
LET'S INTRODUCE OURSELVES OVER
HERE, PLEASE.
>> WE ARE CEDING OUR CHAIRS SO
OTHERS CAN SIT.
DESPITE HOW NICE OF YOU, THANK
YOU.
THOSE ARE GOOD GNOMES.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED
COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS WE ARE
EXPERIENCING.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER NEWMAN AND
I AM WITH CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
SERVICES, I AM THE PROGRAM
DIRECTOR FOR SAINT MARTIN
SHELTER ONE OF THE OLDEST
SHELTERS HERE IN SEATTLE.
WE PROVIDE MORE THAN 80,000 BED
NIGHTS PER YEAR FOR MEN OVER
THE AGE OF 50.
FUNDING HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH
THE INCREASING COST OF RUNNING
A SHELTER.
WE ARE AT NOW A DEFICIT OF
NEARLY $400,000.
THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AND WE
ARE COMING UP AGAINST THE WALL
AT THIS POINT.
WE HAVE A SHELTER FULL OF MEN
AT THE AGE OF RETIREMENT, THEY
HAVE FIXED INCOMES, THERE ARE
NOT NEARLY ENOUGH HOUSES IN THE
CITY FOR PEOPLE ON FIXED
INCOMES.
AND, CONSEQUENTLY, WE ARE LEFT
WITH MEN MAKING THE SHELTER
THEIR HOME, AS THEY WAIT, OFTEN
TIMES YEARS, ON HOUSING LIST.
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, WE ARE
STILL HOUSING FOLKS, WE HAVE
HOUSED 60 MEN SO FAR THIS YEAR,
OUT OF ST. MARTIN'S.
THE OTHER CHALLENGE WE HAVE, IS
THAT, BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE
MEN WE SERVE THEY'RE COMING
WITH AGING RELATED CONDITIONS
IN DEVELOPING IN SHELTER.
CANCER, DEMENTIA, COPD.
THESE MEN NEED THIS SHELTER,
AND WE NEED FUNDING TO CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE IT.
MANY OF OUR MEN WERE LABORERS
WERE TRADESMEN.
THEY SPENT THEIR WORKING LIVES
WORKING IN THIS CITY, DESPITE
HAVING A BAD NIGHT COST OF LESS
THAN $25 PER PERSON, WE HAVE A
NEARLY $400,000 DEFICIT.
WE HAVE TALKED WITH THE ACTING
HST DIRECTOR, AND WITH THE KING
COUNTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE NOW ASKING YOU, THE
COUNCIL, TO PROVIDE ST. MARTIN'S
ADEQUATE FUNDING, SO THAT WE
COULD CONTINUE TO SERVE THE MEN
MANY OF WHOM HELPED BUILD THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBERS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
YOUR SUPPORT.
THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, I AM ONE
OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE HARD
WORK THAT SAINT MARTINS HAS PUT
IN FOR MEN IN THIS AREA.
I HAVE BEEN GOING THERE FOR
ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW, AND I AM
LIVING STABLE, THEY DO PLACE
YOU IN AN APARTMENT, AND THEY
STAY WITH YOU.
THEY DON'T KICK YOU TO THE
CURB.
THEY HAVE CASEWORKERS THAT COME
TO YOUR HOME, MAKE SURE YOU ARE
TAKEN CARE OF, MAKE SURE YOU
ARE STAYING ON TOP OF YOUR
BILLS, AND THERE IS NO DOPE OR
ALCOHOL ALLOWED IN ANY OF THE
BUILDINGS.
AND, THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.
I AM A PROUD PERSON A ST.
MARTIN'S.
AND THIS IS WHAT I DO NOW, I
GET TO HANG OUT WITH THESE FINE
LADIES WHO PUT IN SO MUCH WORK,
AND SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF IN
ST. MARTIN'S, THAT IS IT FOR ME
TODAY, BUT I WANT TO SAY ONE
THING BEFORE I LEAVE.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
SERVED FOR ALL THE YEARS YOU
HAVE PUT IN IN THE CITY, GOD
BLESS YOU ALL, AND HAVE A NICE
DAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMING.
OKAY, THE NEXT -- WE HAVE
CAITLIN HEINEN, ROBERT SWARTS,
AND CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB.
HI.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CAITLIN HEINEN, I'M
A STAFF ATTORNEY FOR THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT AND I
AM HERE THIS EVENING, TO TALK
ABOUT WHY WE NEED FUNDING FOR
LAWYERS TO REPRESENT TENANTS
FACING EVICTION.
SEATTLE NEEDS MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BUT BUILDING THESE
PROPERTIES TAKES TIME, AND
EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT
HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY,
IS TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED WHERE
THEY ARE ALREADY LIVING.
BUT, TO DO THIS WELL, TENANTS
NEED LAWYERS.
OUR COURTS ARE NOT EASY TO
NAVIGATE ALONE.
THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT IS
THE ONLY IN COURT PROGRAM IN
OUR AREA THAT PROVIDES EVICTION
DEFENSE WHICH WE HAVE BEEN
DOING FOR 20 YEARS.
WE ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF
THE HOUSING CRISIS HERE IN THE
SEATTLE AREA, AND WE SEE THE
DIFFERENCE THAT HAVING AN
ATTORNEY MAKES IN THESE
EVICTION CASES.
BUT, AS EVICTION CASES RISE AND
OUR VOLUNTEER NUMBERS DECLINE,
WE ARE HAVING TO TURN AWAY MORE
AND MORE CLIENTS, DUE TO LOW
CAPACITY.
ALMOST ALL LANDLORDS ALREADY
HAVE AN ATTORNEY, SO TENANTS
ARE ALREADY AT A DISADVANTAGE.
THESE CLIENTS WHO ARE TURNED
AWAY ARE OFTEN HAVING TO GO
INTO COURT, REPRESENTING
THEMSELVES PRO SE, AND THESE
TENANTS WILL MOST UNDOUBTEDLY
úBE AFFECTED WITHIN A WEEK.
THIS IS THE HARDEST PART OF MY
JOB AS A STAFF ATTORNEY.
HAVING TO TELL SOMEONE IN NEED,
HAVING TO TELL SOMEONE IN
CRISIS, BUT I CANNOT HELP THEM
TODAY, BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT
ENOUGH LAWYERS AVAILABLE.
THIS IS WHY HAVING ENOUGH
LAWYERS IS CRUCIAL IN EVICTION
DEFENSE.
THE NEWEST LAWS PASSED THIS
YEAR AT THE STATE LEVEL, ARE
INTENDED TO PROTECT TENANTS BUT
THEY WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE IF
THEY ARE NOT ENFORCED BY
LAWYERS IN THE COURTS.
NEW YORK CITY AND SAN FRANCISCO
GUARANTEE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
IT IS TIME SEATTLE FOLLOWED SUIT
AND PROVIDING FUNDING FOR
EVICTION DEFENSE LAWYERS IS A
GREAT FIRST STEP, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH CAITLIN.
ROBIN?
NUMBER 18?
ROBIN SCHWARTZ, CHIEF SEATTLE
CLUB?
AND, WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE
SPEAKING ABOUT LEAD AND REACH
AND WE DON'T HAVE NAMES.
ON NUMBER 20, 21, AND 22.
DESPITE HI, MY NAME IS ROBIN
SCHWARTZ AND I'M A PARENT AT
CONCORDE INTERNATIONAL
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING FOR A
SAFE ADA COMPLIANT ACCESS RENT
FOR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES
COMING TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS
PROJECT.
THIS ENTRYWAY WILL REPLACE A
DANGEROUS FOOTPATH WHICH LEADS
INTO THE SCHOOL'S PARKING LOT
TO THE NEW PATH WILL BE WELL
LIT, TREE-LINED AND WILL
PROVIDE A SECOND SAFER ENTRYWAY
TO SCHOOL, THE WAFER ACCESS TO
THE PLAYGROUND, AND WILL ALLOWS
STUDENTS TO SAFELY AND EASILY
WALK TO TAMARA FARM, A WORKING
FARM WHERE CHILDREN GROW AND
ENJOY HEALTHY FOOD AND CULTURAL
TIES TO A LIFESTYLE MANY LEFT
BEHIND AND IMMIGRATED HERE.
SOUTH PARK HAS MORE CHILDREN
PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD IN SEATTLE.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE WORST
AIR QUALITY IN THE STATE, AND
FEWER GREEN SPACE AND ALTERING
NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY.
73 PERCENT OF CONCORD'S KIDS
QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED
LUNCH, AND 87 PERCENT ARE
CHILDREN OF COLOR.
THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES ALSO
THAT COME WITH LIVING NEXT TO A
SUPERFUND SITE BUT WE KNOW OUR
KIDS DESERVE A SAFE AND
EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT.
CONCORDE FAMILIES HAVE LONG
RECOGNIZED THE SAFETY ISSUES
INHERENT ON THIS PATH AND WORK
HARD TO SELECT CHANGE.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE SEEKING YOUR
HELP, EVEN COMING HERE TODAY IS
A PRIVILEGE THAT MOST OF OUR
FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE DUE TO
LANGUAGE BARRIERS, INFLUX OF
JOBS, INADEQUATE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, ET CETERA.
RAISING FUNDS IS OFTEN ABOUT
WHO HAS THE LOUDEST VOICE.
I AM ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER WHO
HAS THE GREATEST NEED AND WHICH
COMMUNITIES HAVE WAITED THE
LONGEST FOR EQUITY AND ACTION.
A BEAUTIFUL SAFE PATHWAY TO
SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT TO SOUTH
PARK FAMILIES AND WE HOPE THE
COUNSEL SHARES OUR GOALS, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> ROBIN, WE HAVE A NICE --
FROM SEATTLE CHILDREN CLUB,
GRADUATIONS ON A GREAT DAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS
FOR HAVING US POINT
>> YOU WENT FIVE MINUTES?
>> IT'S ALREADY GONE.
PLEASE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
US, HERE, WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THE PROCESS, WE KNOW THAT
THIS IS A LOT OF HARD WORK AND
I LOVE THE COMMUNITY FEEL IN
THIS ROOM.
WE SUPPORT LEAD, WE SUPPORT ST.
MARTIN'S AND LAZARUS DAYS AFTER
THEY ARE INCREDIBLE AND ALSO
THE STREETCAR.
SO WE WILL GET THAT OUT OF THE
WAY.
MY NAME IS COLLEEN ALCOHOLIC I
AM HERE AS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CHIEF SEATTLE
CLUB WE ARE HERE TO TALK A BIT
ABOUT THE WORK WE ARE DOING AT
THE CLUB, SPECIFICALLY AROUND
OUR HOUSING WORK WE HAVE BEEN
DOING, RAPID REHOUSING.
IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, WE
HAVE IMPACTED NATIVE HOUSING
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE IN
INCREDIBLE WAYS.
WE ARE HAPPY RECIPIENT OF HST
DOLLARS FOR OUR RAPID REHOUSING
PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, THIS PAST YEAR, WE
úSPEND THOSE DOLLARS WITHIN THE
FIRST SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE WE
HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL AT
HOUSING NATIVE PEOPLE.
IT IS NO SECRET IN THIS CITY,
THAT DESPITE BEING A NATIVE
CITY, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES
OF HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO, WE ARE VERY LASER
FOCUSED ON ASKING FOR SUPPORT
FROM FURTHER REHOUSING DOLLARS
FOR CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB, AS WELL
AS MONEY OUT OF FOCUS DOLLARS
FOR OUR DAYS AND APPEARED TO
TURN OVER THE REST OF MY TIME
TO SHILOH, TO SHARE A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THEIR STORIES.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS SHILOH WHITE HAWK.
I AM A ASSEMBLING AND HICKORY
APACHE.
I LIVED ON A APACHE RESERVATION
IN MEXICO, I AM A PROUD UNITED
STATES AIR FORCE VETERAN, I
SERVED 10 YEARS AFTER -- THE
PROUD FATHER OF THREE WONDERFUL
CHILDREN AND IN 2015 I BECAME
HOMELESS DUE TO THE SYMPTOMS OF
CHRONIC PTSD THAT I WAS
DIAGNOSED WITH.
DO -- THROUGH THE VA.
SO, I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK
BETWEEN OREGON AND NEW MEXICO,
FINALLY DECIDED TO SETTLE HERE
IN SEATTLE TO BE NEAR MY KIDS.
THAT IS WHEN I HEARD ABOUT
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB.
THEY HAVE A PROGRAM THERE. IT
IS CALLED THE NATIVES WORKS
PROGRAM, AND, IT HIS A TRAUMA
INFORMED INDIGENOUS DESIGN
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.
IT WILL HELP ME GET BACK ON MY
FEET.
LET'S SEE HERE, THE VA HELPED
ME WITH SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, BUT
I STILL NEED A SECURITY DEPOSIT.
THE CLUB PROVIDED ME WITH $1420
OF RAPID REHOUSING FUNDS, TO
HELP ME, AND THEY ALSO HELPED
ME FINISH MY APARTMENT.
THIS HAS ALLOWED ME TO FOCUS ON
MY TREATMENT, AND OF COURSE MY
CHILDREN.
AUTO CLUB HAS BECOME A PART OF
MY FAMILY, MY FATHER TAUGHT ME
WORKING IN NATIVE WORDS,
WORKING ON A HOME BRACELET
WHICH BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF
THAT TIME.
SO, IT WAS LIKE A BIG FAMILY TO
ME, AND, I AM ONE OF MANY
TESTIMONIALS, JUST ONE, SO SHE
COULD TAKE FROM MY WORDS, THERE
ARE A LOT MORE OF THE PEOPLE
OUT THERE.
I THINK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SHARE MY STORY, I AM HERE TODAY
TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT THE CLUB'S REQUEST FOR
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HOMELESS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS INEZ GONZALEZ,
I AM A FORMER MEMBER OF CHIEF
SEATTLE CLUB, AND NOW PROUD TO
BE LEAD CASE MANAGER AT THE
TEAM.
I DID NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE
CLUB UNTIL LAST FALL, I LEARNED
ABOUT HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES AND AT THE TIME, I
MYSELF WAS FACING HOMELESSNESS.
I CAME INTO THE CLUB WORKING
WITH THE CASE MANAGER AND I WAS
ABLE TO GET THE FUNDS I NEEDED
TO MOVE INTO A PLACE FOR ME AND
MY SON.
AFTER SEEING THE WORK THAT
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB DOES FOR THE
COMMUNITY, AND EXPERIENCING IT
FIRST HAND I IMAGINE BEING PART
OF THAT.
I GOT MY FOOT IN THE DOOR
WORKING AS HYGIENE AND
FACILITIES.
I STARTED -- AFTER I STARTED AT
MY POSITION I KNEW EXACTLY
WHERE I NEEDED TO BE.
IT WAS REWARDING TO HELP OUR
MEMBERS, AND BEING A SEATTLE
NATIVE MYSELF WHEN I CAME INTO
THE MIDDLE OF THIS CITY, IT
FELT LIKE HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I APPLIED
FOR A JOB AS A CASE MANAGER AND
I AM NOW LEAD CASE MANAGER.
MY VERY FIRST CASE IN MY NEW
POSITION IS A 73-YEAR-OLD
VIETNAM VETERAN SLEEPING
OUTSIDE OF THE VA.
HE CAME IN SEEKING HELP THROUGH
OUR RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM.
HE WAS IN A WALKER, BUT STRONG-
WILLED.
I GOT HIM INTO SHELTER BUT HE
DISAPPEARED OVER THE WEEKEND.
BY THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, I WENT
INTO WORK AND MEMBERS INFORMED
ME HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
TERMINAL CANCER.
WE CRIED TOGETHER AND HE ASKED
ME IF HE COULD GO HOME TO NORTH
DAKOTA AND BECAUSE OF OUR
DIVERSION PROGRAM, WE WERE ABLE
TO -- SORRY, WE WERE ABLE TO
GET HIM ON A TRAIN THAT NIGHT.
HE WENT HOME TO MAKE
ARRANGEMENTS TO BE BURIED NEXT
TO HIS LATE LIFE.
THIS MEMBER STILL CALLS THE
CLUB TO THIS DAY, TO SAY HI TO
SARAH.
I CAN PERSONALLY TESTIFY TO THE
IMPACTFUL LIFE-CHANGING
SERVICES THAT CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB
PRESIDES TO OUR NATIVE
COMMUNITY.
PLEASE PROVIDE FULL FUNDING TO
EXPAND OUR HOMELESS SYSTEMS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THINK VERY MUCH EVERYBODY.
>> NEXT THREE GROUPS LIVING
JUST ASK YOU THIS, DID YOU SIGN
UP AS 20, 21, 22, AS LEAD REACH
ONE AND REACH TO?
>> GREAT.
THE THREE OF YOU ARE TOGETHER,
PERFECT.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, LET ME
READ THREE MORNINGS, QUEEN
PEARL, MARGUERITE BECHARD, MASS
COALITION, AND ALEX FINCH.
>> 375 MINUTE GROUPS.
>> OH, THANK YOU.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
PLEASE.
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY
COWORKERS AND I ARE HERE TO
SUPPORT HIS -- SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF LEAD PROGRAM AND WE ALSO
SUPPORT CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB VERY
MUCH AND WE SHARE SOME OF THE
SAME CLIENTS.
WE ARE DOING A LOT OF STELLAR
WORK TOGETHER.
MY NAME IS JOANNA AND I AM A
CASE MANAGER, AND I HAVE BEEN
IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS FOR 10 YEARS.
CURRENTLY, I SERVE 38 CLIENTS
WITH THE LEAD PROGRAM IS TWICE
AS MANY AS IS IDEAL.
ONE THING I LEARNED OVER THIS
PAST DECADE IS THE DETRIMENTAL
IMPACT THAT UNDERFUNDED SOCIAL
SERVICES HAS ON THOSE WHO DO
THE WORK.
INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE AND THE
COMMUNITY OVERALL.
HIGH CASELOADS LIKE MINE BREED
EXHAUSTION, BURNOUT, AND RESULT
IN HIGH TURNOVER FOR OUR
ORGANIZATION SERVING THE CITY'S
MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION.
IN THESE CONDITIONS, CASE
MANAGERS ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE
A LONG-TERM WORK THAT IS
ESSENTIAL TO BE EFFECTIVE IN
FOSTERING INDIVIDUAL AND
COMMUNITY CHANGE.
INDEED, IT IS OUR RELATIONSHIPS
WITH OUR GIANT CLIENT THAT HAVE
PROVEN TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT
IN PROVIDING A HEALING
ENVIRONMENT.
WHEN CASE MANAGERS AND CLIENTS
BECOME DISCOURAGED BY FATIGUE
AND TURNOVER IT REINFORCES
MISTRUST AND MAKES IT EVEN
HARDER FOR THE NEXT CASE
MANAGER TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THOSE CLIENTS, LET ALONE
FOSTER FAITH IN A SYSTEM THAT
CASE MANAGERS AND OURSELVES ARE
TEST TO WORK WITHIN.
I HAVE A HANDFUL OF CLIENTS ON
MY CASELOAD WHO I RARELY SEEN
BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT
SERVICES BUT BECAUSE WHAT THEY
NEED IS MORE INTENSIVE
OUTREACH, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
TO GAIN TRUST AND MOMENTUM
AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN ABANDONED
TIME AND AGAIN.
I FRANKLY DO NOT HAVE THE TIME
TO GO OUT AND FIND THEM AND
MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT.
EVEN ACTORS IN THE FIELD WHICH
REACH FOLKS WITH MENTAL
ILLNESS, HIGH MEDICAL NEEDS,
AND SEVERE COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.
AND, BECAUSE OF THAT, THE FOLKS
WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE ARE
FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS AND
SUFFERING NEEDLESSLY BECAUSE WE
HAVE IS AS A CITY DO NOT
APPROPRIATELY VALUE SOCIAL
WORKER DESPITE OUR PROGRAMS
BEING HELD EVIDENCE-BASED.
NOVELIST GEORGE ELIOT SAID WHAT
DO WE LIVE FOR IF NOT TO MAKE
LIFE LESS DIFFICULT FOR EACH
OTHER.
I AM ASKING COUNSEL TO EASE THE
DIFFICULTY OF THIS WORK AND
EXPAND OUR REACH BY FUNDING THE
LEAD PROGRAM TO SCALE.
IF YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR SOCIAL
WORKERS, WE CAN MORE
EFFECTIVELY TAKE CARE OF YOUR
VULNERABLE CONSTITUENTS AND
HELP YOU IMPROVE THE CITY FOR
ALL OF US.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS,
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
I KNOW THAT WHAT YOU HAVE IN
FRONT OF YOU IS A VERY
DIFFICULT DECISION, AND THAT IS
NOT LOST ON US.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GOOD
PROGRAMS HERE THAT HAVE SPOKEN,
AND THAT IS A REALLY DIFFICULT
DECISION.
WE FACED DIFFICULT DECISIONS
EVERY DAY WITH OUR CLIENTS,
AND, I THINK IT IS REALLY
DIFFICULT TO CONVEY THE TRAUMA
AND THE HARDSHIPS THAT OUR
CLIENTS PHASING OUT ON THE
STREET, IT WOULD TAKE MUCH MORE
THAN FIVE MINUTES, PROBABLY
MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS TO CONVEY
HERE TO YOU GUYS.
HOWEVER, THAT IS OUR JOB, THAT
IS WHAT WE DO.
AND, THE REALITY IS THAT WE
CONTINUE TO GET REFERRALS, WE
CONTINUE TO GET CALLS FROM THE
POLICE, TO DO THIS WORK.
AND, THE DEMAND IS STILL THERE,
THE DEMAND IS HIGH.
THE REALITY IS THAT WHEN WE ARE
OUT IN THE FIELD, WE GET CALLS
FROM THE POLICE TO COME AND
HELP YOU THEY STILL THINK THAT
WE ARE THE ANSWER, AND WE STILL
SHOW UP.
AND, WE HAVE TO SHOW UP AT OUR
BEST, AND WE CANNOT DO THAT WITH
TOO HIGH OF A CASELOAD.
WE CANNOT DO THAT AND BRING THE
QUALITY OF SERVICE THAT WE ARE
REQUIRED TO DO, TO SERVE THE
MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION, AND
I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THIS, BUT
THE REALITY IS WE REQUIRE THE
FUND TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT
YOU SEE ON THE STREETS.
YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
I DON'T WANT TO DIVE INTO DIRTY
DETAILS, CREATE A SCENARIO, BUT
YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEE, BUT AT
THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED
THESE THINGS IN ORDER TO DO THE
JOB THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE
, AND WE ARE DOING.
WE ARE DOING IT AND WE WANT TO
KEEP DOING IT.
WE LOVE DOING THIS JOB.
I LOVE DOING THIS JOB.
I WANT TO KEEP DOING THIS JOB.
LET ME KEEP DOING THIS JOB.
PLEASE.
I WILL MY COWORKER
>>, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY
COWORKER SAID, THAT THE WORK
THAT WE DO IS UNIQUE AND
UNPRECEDENTED FOR THE
POPULATIONS THAT WE TOUCH EVERY
DAY.
PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY ON
THE STREETS, FACING SEXUAL
ASSAULT, AND ROBBERY AT ALL
POINTS OF THE DAY, PEOPLE WHO
ARE TRAUMATIZED BOTH CURRENTLY
AND HISTORICALLY THROUGH THEIR
PAST LIVES. THE WORK THAT WE DO
NEED TIME AND THERE ARE NOT
ENOUGH OF US.
WE CANNOT SPEND TWO HOURS AND
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO CALM DOWN
WHEN THEY JUST GOT ASSAULTED
BECAUSE WE HAVE 30 OTHER
CLIENTS TO GO SEE.
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH OF US TO
DO THIS.
SO, THAT IS ALL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE THE NEXT GROUP, IT IS
NUMBER 21.
THEN, THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION, THEN MARGUERITE.
>> MY NAME IS KATRINA HENRICO
MIAMI LEAD CASE MANAGER, WHAT I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THE
HUMANS THAT I SERVE.
WE ARE ALL HUMANS AND PEOPLE
THAT WE SERVE OUR HUMANS.
AND, THEY HAVE BEEN DEVALUED,
THEY HAVE BEEN MISTREATED, BUT
HAVE BEEN OSTRACIZED, THEY DO
NOT HAVE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT
THEY NEED TO GET ALONG EVERY
DAY LIKE YOU AND I. EVEN I WORK
EVERY DAY AND NOT TOO LONG AGO
EXPERIENCED BEING HOMELESS.
BUT, NO ONE WOULD KNOW THAT
BECAUSE I COME TO WORK EVERY
DAY AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME
FACE, STILL SERVING THE SAME
PEOPLE, I AM DOING EVERYTHING
THAT I NEED TO DO.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY,
TO DO THAT EVERY DAY LIKE ME,
TO KEEP GOING AND NEVER GIVE UP
AND HELP SOMEONE ELSE.
BECAUSE, THEY HAVE HIGH MEDICAL
NEEDS, THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD
FUNDING.
NOWHERE TO LAY YOUR HEAD, ALL
THE STRESSES AND TRAUMAS, AND
THEN THINK ABOUT THE CHILDHOOD
TRAUMA, THAT GROWS AND KEEPS
GOING BECAUSE IT HAS NEVER BEEN
TREATED, IT HAS NEVER BEEN
IDENTIFIED, IT HAS NEVER BEEN,
TAKEN CARE OF IN A MANNER THAT
MAYBE YOU OR I CAN MAKE SURE
THAT THIS IS TREATED, AND THAT
IS TREATED AND THIS IS TAKEN
CARE OF, WE HAVE THE
CONNECTIONS THAT THEY DO NOT
HAVE.
THEY NEED ME TO HELP THEM, THEY
NEED MY COWORKERS TO HELP THEM,
THE STAFF THAT I WORK WITH, WE
ALL PUT OURSELVES ON THE LINE
ALL THE TIME.
WE ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT
WE DON'T KNOW, TO HAVE HEALTH
CONDITIONS, THAT CAN BE
CONTRACTED.
IF THEY HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS
THAT ARE UNTREATED.
I HAVE A CLIENT THAT I HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH THE WHOLE
TIME I HAVE BEEN AT REACH, AND
HE HAS BEEN SICK THE WHOLE
TIME.
I AM NOT A CAREGIVER.
I AM HIS CASE MANAGER BUT WHO
WOULD KNOW THAT?
BY ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I AM
HAVING TO DO.
WE ALL CARRY THAT BURDEN.
THE PEOPLE THAT WE SEE OUTSIDE,
THEY ARE STILL VALUABLE, THEY
ARE STILL WORTH SOMETHING,
THERE STILL ARE SOME OF HIS
FAMILY OR LOVED ONES.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT
THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND NOT
FORGET THEM, JUST BECAUSE YOU
ARE OUTSIDE AND HOMELESS DOES
NOT MEAN YOU'RE NOT IMPORTANT,
YOU ARE WITHOUT A HOME.
JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE SICK AND
YOU'RE ON DRUGS, THAT IS A
SICKNESS, AND ADDICTION.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS
ADDICTED TO SHOPPING OR CLUES
SHOES OR CLOSE OR FOOD OR
SUGAR, WE ARE ALL ADDICTED TO
SOMETHING.
THEY DID NOT LOSE THEIR VALUE
BECAUSE THEY WERE ADDICTED TO
SOMETHING, REGARDLESS OF THE
WAYSIDE AND NOBODY WAS THERE TO
CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY FELL TO
DATE.
DRUGS ARE AN ADDICTION, BUT HOW
DID THEY GET THERE?
LET'S LOOK AT THE BIGGER
PROBLEMS.
IT IS NOT THE ATTICS THAT ARE
THE PROBLEM, DOES NOT THE
PEOPLE SELLING DRUGS IT IS THE
PEOPLE BRINGING THE DRUGS HERE
THAT ARE MAKING THEM AVAILABLE
TO ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT
ARE PASSING THAT SICKNESS
ALONG.
IT IS JUST -- IT IS A CYCLE,
AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HELP.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE
, AND DO WHATEVER WE CAN, WE
CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM
OVERNIGHT.
EVERYBODY EXPECTS LEAD AND
REACH AS AN AGENCY TO STEP UP
TO THE PLATE AND BECAUSE WE
HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE,
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO MAGICALLY
MAKE EVERYTHING DISAPPEAR AND
MAKE IT BETTER.
IT DOES NOT HAPPEN LIKE THAT,
BECAUSE THE CLIENT THAT I AM
SERVING, I HAVE TO BUILD A
RAPPORT WITH THEM FIRST, THEY
HAVE TO TRUST ME.
THEY ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT
EVERY DAY WHERE THEY CANNOT
TRUST THE PEOPLE THEY ARE WITH.
THEY CANNOT TRUST THEIR
NEIGHBOR BECAUSE THEY MIGHT
WANT THOSE SHOES.
THEY DON'T HAVE ISSUES THAT
THEY HAVE.
IF I AM WITHOUT, AND I DON'T
HAVE AND YOU HAVE, WHAT DOES
THAT MAKE ME?
THAT MAKES ME I HAVE NOT, SO I
WANT WHAT THE HABS HAVE.
AND SO, IF THAT MEANS THAT I
HAVE TO TAKE FROM YOU TO GET
IT, THEN THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING
TO DO.
THAT IS A SICKNESS BUT IF I
DON'T HAVE IT, AND I DON'T HAVE
ANY ADVOCACY TO BE ABLE TO DO
WHAT I NEED TO DO, THIS IS NOT
JUST A JOB FOR ME, THIS IS MY
LIFE.
THIS IS MY PASSION.
I USED TO BE ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE OUTSIDE SELLING DRUGS.
I WAS THAT PERSON.
EVERY THING I DO FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT I SERVE EVERY DAY, I AM
GIVING BACK TO THEM EVERYTHING
THAT I HAVE, FOR EVERYTHING
THAT I DID WRONG.
NOBODY TOLD ME WHAT WAS RIGHT
OR WHAT I COULD DO BUT THEY
SHOW ME WHAT I COULD DO.
IT'S NOT RIGHT THEY DON'T NEED
A PAT ON THE BACK THEY DON'T
NEED YOU TO MOVE AWAY FROM THEM
THEY DON'T NEED YOU DO NOT LOOK
THEIR WAY, THEY NEED US TO LOOK
THEIR WAY THEY NEED US TO HELP
THEM, THEY NEED US TO LOVE ON
THEM, THEY NEED SOMEBODY TO
VALUE THEM LIKE WE DO AND WE
DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO TAKE
CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED
TO SERVE, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE
CARE OF OURSELVES AND TO BE A
BETTER HUMANITY, A BETTER
SOCIETY, THEN WE WILL CONTINUE
THIS CYCLE AND NO ONE WILL GET
BETTER.
>> WELL DONE.
OKAY, AFTER MARGUERITE, IS MASS
COALITION.
OH.
I'M SORRY.
>> THEY ARE NEXT.
THEN YOU.
THEN MARGUERITE.
FIRST LEAD, I APOLOGIZE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS KIMBERLY
HARRELL, AND I WORK WITH REACH
ON THE CASE MANAGER WITH LEAD.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO SPEAK TO
YOU ALL ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
CASE MANAGEMENT.
THE VULNERABLE POPULATION I
HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING,
FOR ME AND THE CLIENTS I SERVE
I AM THE VOICE FOR THEM.
I AM THE VOICE FOR THEM WHEN IT
COMES TO DEALING WITH HIS OR
HER SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
I AM THE VOICE FOR MY
VULNERABLE CLIENTS DEALING WITH
MEDICAL AND MENTAL PROVIDERS,
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, I AM
THE VOICE FOR MY VULNERABLE
CLIENTS IN A COURTROOM THAT
SOMETIMES CANNOT HEAR, SEE, OR
IMAGINE THE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA
THEY HAVE BEEN THERE AND STILL
GOING THROUGH.
I AM THE VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO
GENERATIONAL PROGRESS MY
CLIENTS HAVE LIVED AND
STRUGGLED TO BECOME ACCUSTOMED
TO.
FOR SOME, GENERATIONS, FOR
OTHERS, FIVE YEARS AND COUNTING.
I AM ALSO THE VOICE FOR ALL 27
EXTREMELY VULNERABLE CLIENTS ON
MY CASELOAD TODAY.
NOW A MAJOR KEY ROLE IS
HEARING, HAVING A HEARING EAR,
HAVING AN EAR FROM MOST OF THE
TERRIFIC HEARTBREAKING STORIES.
SOME PEOPLE SAY AND THINK,
THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS HAVE A
CHOICE.
EITHER BE HOMELESS OR HAVE A
HOME, THEY MIGHT SAY OH, IT'S
YOUR FAULT, YOU MADE THE CHOICE,
TO USE HEROIN, CRACK, OR METH.
NOW, NOW COMES THE TIME FOR YOU
ALL TO HEAR A CLIENTS TRUTH.
IF I TOLD YOU THAT AT THE AGE
OF -- SORRY.
IF I TOLD YOU, AT THE AGE OF
12, MY CLIENT'S MOTHER SLIPPED
THE NEEDLE IN HIS VEINS, SHE
WAS THE HAND THAT TAUGHT MY
CLIENT HOW TO TOUCH, FEEL, AND
LOOK FOR HER VEINS WHEN IT CAME
TO HER NEEDING CLIENT TIME.
TWO YEARS LATER MY CLIENTS MOM
BECAME A TRAGEDY FOR HIS LIFE.
MY CLIENTS MOM BECAME A NEEDLE
FOR HER SON'S LIFE BY INJECTING
HIM WITH HEROIN.
MY FIRST THOUGHT IN HEARING
THIS STORY WAS COMPLETE RAGE,
BUT THE MORE I LISTENED, THE I
LEARNED THAT MY CLIENTS MOM HAD
A TRIP AS WELL.
MY CLIENTS GRANDMOTHER
INTRODUCED HER DAUGHTER TO
ALCOHOL AT A YOUNG AGE, TO MAKE
IT EASIER FOR HER TO BE A
SEXUAL PARTNER FOR HER OWN
FATHER.
GENERATIONAL POVERTY AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS THE STORY
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE HEAR.
MY CLIENT WAS 17 WHEN HIS
MOTHER COMMIT SUICIDE.
WHY IS THE NEED FOR MORE CASE
MANAGEMENT IMPORTANT?
LIKE I SAID, I HAVE A CASELOAD
OF 27 CLIENTS THAT I SHOW UP
FOR EVERY DAY.
FULLY PRESENT FOR ALL OF THEM
AT ANY TIME.
I PRACTICE SELF-CARE BUT IT CAN
BECOME CHALLENGING WHEN YOU
DEAL WITH SUCH VULNERABLE MEN
AND WOMEN, THAT NOT ONLY NEED
YOUR TIME IN BASIC NEED SUPPORT
RESOURCES HOUSING MEDICAL
HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, VISITS
IN JAIL BEING PICKED UP OFF THE
FREEWAY BECAUSE THEY WERE
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND THROWN
OUT OF THE CAR., YOU WERE THE
FIRST PERSON THAT THEY CALLED.
ALONG WITH BEING THE FIRST
PERSON THAT WAS CALLED, I WAS
DEALING WITH TWO OTHER CLIENTS
THE SAME DAY WITH OTHER NEEDS,
NOT TO SAY, THE NIGHT BEFORE I
SPENT THE NIGHT AT SWEDISH
BECAUSE ONE OF MY CLIENTS HAD A
BABY AND I WAS THE ONLY ONE
INTO THE LITTLE DELIVERY ROOM
TO SUPPORT HER BESIDES THE
DOCTORS AND NURSES.
MY CLIENT THAT WAS SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED AND THROWN OUT OF THE
CAR HAD A PICKED UP ON THE
FREEWAY, NEEDED THREE HOURS OF
ENCOURAGEMENT TO GO TO THE
HOSPITAL, AND HAVE A SEXUAL
ASSAULT KIT PERFORMED AND IT
TOOK ANOTHER 6 1/2 HOURS AT THE
HOSPITAL TO FINALLY BE SEEN,
AND IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE
SUPPORT OF MY TEAM AND MY
SUPERVISOR I PROBABLY WOULD
HAVE BEEN THERE LONGER.
MONEY IS NEEDED FOR THE HELP
THAT MYSELF, MY TEAM, MY
COWORKERS, MY AGENCY DEAL WITH
EVERY DAY.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND
IMPROVING LIVES, HELPING WITH
TRAUMA, OUTREACH AND CLIENTS
AND STATEMENTS UNDER A BRIDGE
IN A TENT IN AN ALLEY, AND
OTHER PLACES THAT MOST PEOPLE
WOULD NOT SET FOOT IN.
THIS WORK IS SO REWARDING AND
IT IS TOUGH WORK ALL AT THE
SAME TIME.
I WANT TO SAY I DO NOT CARRY
THIS HOME, BUT IT WOULD BE
EASIER IF I HAD OTHERS LIKE
MYSELF MY TEAM AND MY AGENCY TO
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES
OF OTHERS, THANK YOU FOR
LETTING ME BORROW YOUR EARS.
NOW, I ASK YOU, PLEASE USE YOUR
VOICE FOR ME, SO THAT YOU CAN
ADVOCATE FOR THE FUNDING WE
NEED TO MAKE MORE OF AN IMPACT
AND A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORK
THAT WE DO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL.
MARGUERITE WISHART, MASS
COALITION NUMBER 23 AND ALEX
FINCH IS 24.
>> OKAY, GOOD DAY EVERYONE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO
GIVE HOMAGE TO THOSE SUFFERING
FROM BREAST CANCER.
GOING THROUGH HEALING WHO HAVE
ALREADY BEEN HEALED. THIS IS
FOR YOU.
MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.
THIS IS BREAST CANCER MONTH, SO
I DO THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME
FUNDING FOR THEM.
THOSE THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM A
GREAT ILLNESS BLACK WOMAN AT A
HIGH RATE SO IT IS CALLED
GENERATIONAL POVERTY AND
COMMUNITY TO TRAUMA.
AND OUR COMMUNITY IS BEING
SEVERELY TRAUMATIZED, JUST LIKE
THE VERDICT THE VERDICT OF THE
MEN KILLED IN TEXAS, IT AFFECTS
ALL OF US, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT
DOCTOR KING SAID.
REVEREND -- DON'T FORGET HE WAS
A REVERENT, AND I AM ASHAMED TO
SAY I WAS BORN IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
WHAT THEY TOLD ME THE MOST
RACIST STATE IN THE UNION.
SO, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT A BLACK
PERSON TO DO?
YEAH, MOVE ALONG.
JUST LIKE I TOLD SOUND TRANSIT
I SAID I HAVE TO ADDRESS YOU, I
DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I HAVE TO
ADDRESS YOU.
YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE MY FREE
SPEECH FROM ME, AND NOW THEY
HAVE A MOVIE OUT CALLED
HARRIETT TUBMAN , DO YOU KNOW
WHO SHE WAS?
I'M NOT GOING BACK.
YOU GO BACK, AND FIX WHAT YOU
DONE DID TO US, THIS IS 2019
AND YOU'RE STILL TRAUMATIZING
US.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, THAT'S
WHAT I ASKED THEM OVER THERE AT
SOUND TRANSIT, YOU GOT A
PROBLEM, YOU BETTER FIX IT,
RIGHT NOW.
NOW, NOT TOMORROW, RIGHT NOW IS
THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED
FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT
SEEN.
EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T SEE IT,
THEN REVEREND JACKSON SAID KEEP
HOPE ALIVE.
YOU TELL ME WHAT KIND OF HOPE
YOU GOT ENOUGH THE WAY YOU'VE
BEEN TREATING US FOR THE PAST
--
>> THANK YOU MARGARET, THANK
YOU.
MASS COALITION, ALEX FINCH?
NUMBER 25 IS THE DUWAMISH
VALLEY SAFE STREETS.
MASS COALITION AND THEN ALEX.
I THINK YOU JUST TURNED IT OFF,
THERE YOU GO.
>> OKAY, ARE WE ON?
OKAY, GOOD.
HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE ARE HERE WITH THE MASS
COALITION MOVE ALL SEATTLE
SUSTAINABLY.
MASS IS A COALITION OF
TRANSPORTATION AND CLIMATE
GROUPS BRINGING URGENCY TO HOW
PEOPLE ARE SHIFTING AROUND OUR
CITIES, WE ARE PUSHING FOR
EQUITABLE SAFE CARBON FREE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND WE
HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SHARE THAT
ADDRESS ROTATION BUDGET.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE
LIKE IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET BUT WE
ALSO THINK YOU AS A COUNCIL
HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE IT
EVEN BETTER.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE
DEDICATED BUS LANES AND SIGNAL
PRIORITY IN SEATTLE, STILL
LOOKING AT WHAT EXACTLY IS
PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR BUT
WHATEVER IT IS, WE WOULD LIKE
MORE, AND WE ALSO SUPPORT THE
CITY TRANSPORTATION EQUITY
AGENDA, AND WE ASKED THE
COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE THIS WORK
AND MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS THE
RESOURCES AND THE STAFF NEEDED,
SO THAT IT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED
DEPARTMENTWIDE.
>> HELLO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL,
MY NAME IS SETH EDMONDSON AND I
AM FROM CASCADE BICYCLE CLUB.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE
ARE VERY HAPPY, THAT THERE ARE
FUNDS MARKED FOR BICYCLE ROUTES
IN THE MASTER PLAN AS WELL AS
LIKE INCIDENTS WE JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT THOSE THINGS ARE
ESSENTIAL AND THAT SEATTLE
NEEDS TO RETURN TO ITS
LEADERSHIP ROLE IN LIMITING
BICYCLE ROUTES FOR THE CITY,
MUCH THE WAY IT DID IN 2007
WHEN IT INTRODUCED THE COMPLETE
STREETS ORDINANCE BEING THE
FIRST PEOPLE IN THE NATION TO
DO THAT FOR A CITY.
AND, WE NEED TO SPECIFICALLY
FIND ROUTES THAT ARE INCLUDED
BY THE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN IN
SEATTLE JUST AS WERE INCLUDED
IN THE RECENT RESOLUTION PASSED
BY THE COUNCIL.
>> HI, I'M CLAIRE COUNTER FOR
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS.
WE ARE ALSO ASKING THE COUNCIL
TO FUND AN ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR
POSITION, FOR SCHOOL IN SEATTLE.
SIPHONED OFF LAST YEAR INTO THE
GENERAL FUND.
WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND THE
ENTIRE REST OF THE COUNCIL AND
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR INCREASING
THE PEDESTRIAN BUDGET FOR THE
PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN, AND, THE
ADA BUDGETS, THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT AND WE HOPE THAT
COUNSEL PROTECTS AND MAINTAINS
THOSE INCREASES.
TO BUILD MORE SIDEWALKS UP IN
NORTH SEATTLE WHERE WE DO NOT
HAVE SIDEWALKS ON A LOT OF OUR
MAJOR TRANSIT PATHWAYS.
AND, THE OTHER PLACES WHERE
THAT PEDESTRIAN MONEY IS GOING.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY CRISIS RIGHT
NOW, DEATHS AND INJURIES ARE AT
THE HIGHEST SINCE 2010, AND WE
ALL KNOW THAT THOSE DEATHS AND
INJURIES FALL
DISPROPORTIONATELY WITH THE
UNHOUSED AMONG US, WITH LOW
INCOME FOLKS, PEOPLE OF COLOR,
DISABLED PEOPLE AND WITH
ELDERS.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THOSE INCREASES.
DESPITE HIGH COUNSEL.
ALICE WITH 350.
SUCH HEARTRENDING STORIES HERE
TONIGHT. I REMEMBER ONE COUNCIL
CANDIDATE SAYING HOW CAN WE --
CLIMATE IS A LUXURY, WHEN WE
HAVE PEOPLE IN THE STREETS.
AND, SHE ACTUALLY MEANT IT, AND
THE WHOLE ROOM BUDDHA, AND YET
I FEEL A LITTLE BIT LIKE THAT
IN THIS MOMENT, SPEAKING TO YOU
, BUT WE CANNOT AVOID THAT.
OUR CHILDREN AND OUR
GRANDCHILDREN CANNOT AFFORD US
TO DROP THE BALL ON CLIMATE.
AND I AM TREMENDOUSLY GRATEFUL
THAT YOU ALL HAVE SIGNED ON TO
THE SEATTLE GREEN NEW DEAL, ARE
WORKING AS HARD AS YOU CAN TO
CREATE THE LOW CARBON IN CITY
HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION THAT
WE ALL NEED, AND THAT WE KNOW
WE CAN DO EQUITABLY, SO THAT
PEOPLE GET INTO THEIR SHIFT
EARLY IN THE MORNING DO NOT
HAVE TO TAKE AN OVER, THEY CAN
TAKE A BUS.
AS WE BUILD OUT OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, OUR CITY
BECOMES MORE JUST AND BECOMES
BETTER FOR ALL OF US. AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING EVERY
DAY AND IN THIS BUDGET, FOR A
GREENER CITY WHICH IS BETTER
FOR ALL OF US HERE AND NOW AND
BETTER FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR
GRANDCHILDREN, AND PEOPLE
ACROSS THE GLOBE WHO NEED THESE
CHANGES SO DESPERATELY.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
ALEX, THEN 25 IS THE AMISH
VALLEY SAFE STREETS AND 26 IS
DOCTOR JEFFREY PERKINS.
>> HI.
>> HI AGAIN COUNCIL MEMBER
BRADSHAW.
EVERYBODY ELSE.
MY NAME IS ALEX FINCH AND AMY
RESIDENT OF NORTH LAKE, IT IS A
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE JUST NORTH
OF IVERS HOUSE ON SAINT UNION.
NICHOLASVILLE OFFERED ME THE
STABILITY I NEEDED TO GET MY
LIFE BACK TOGETHER AND I TOOK
IT PRETTY RECENTLY THAT ABILITY
HAS BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION
BY HST AND LEHIGH.
AT A RECENT COMMUNITY ADVISORY
COMMISSION MEETING, HST MANAGER
STATED THAT THE VILLAGE WILL
CLOSE UNLESS LEHIGH CONFORMS
WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF AND
PLAN TO HAVE SET FORWARD.
NOT, OUR COMPLIANCE, THE
VILLAGERS COMPLIANCE, BUT
LEHIGH'S.
WE ALSO RECEIVED A VIDEO FROM
HST STATING THAT ANY FOLLOW-UP
WOULD COME FROM LEHIGH AND NOT
US.
SINCE THEN, LEHIGH HAS DEMANDED
THE VILLAGERS COMPLY WITH HMIS
THIS IS THE CASE MANAGER, BUT
HE HAS NOT SHOWN UP TO THE
VILLAGE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
AUGUST.
BEFORE THAT, HE ONLY SHOWED UP
TWO DAYS EACH WEEK AND NOT FULL-
TIME, AS THE CONTRACT REQUIRED.
OVER THE PAST WEEK, WE IN THE
VILLAGE HAVE LEARNED THAT IN
THE MAYOR'S BUDGET IT STATES
THAT THE CITY WILL SPEND
$1,262,000 TO CLOSE US AND THE
GEORGETOWN CAMPUS, AS WELL AS
RELOCATE US TO OTHER AND CAN'T
MISS.
WE ARE TIRED OF BEING TREATED
LIKE CHILDREN BY LEHIGH AND
HST.
WE ARE TIRED OF LIVING IN FEAR
OF THIS SITUATION.
BOTH LEHIGH AND HST ARE CAUSING
THE VILLAGE UNDO STRESS AND
ANGER AND I CANNOT STATE THIS
ENOUGH, WE ARE NOT CHILDREN.
WE ARE ADULTS THAT CAN FULLY
REASON AND UNDERSTAND WHATEVER
IS BEING SAID TO US.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT
REGARDS OUR FUTURE CONTINUANCE,
THEN WE AS A VILLAGE NEED TO BE
PART OF THIS, WE NEED TO BE KEPT
IN THE LOOP AND NOT THROWN
THIRDHAND INFORMATION FROM
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
A WANTS TO RENEGE ON A PROMISE
OF OPENING 1000 TINY HOUSES SHE
NEEDS TO DO IT IN PERSON IT'S
NOT THREE PUPPETS IN FINE PRINT
IN THE BUDGET.
INSTEAD, USE THAT 1.3 MILLION
TO OPEN MORE ATTORNEY HAS
VILLAGES.
WE JUST NEED THE LAND TO USE,
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR OPERATING
COSTS.
WE HAVE A POTENTIAL SPONSOR, TO
SPONSOR US.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THAT'S ALL WE NEED.
BUT THANK YOU.
>> STILL AMISH VALLEY?
OVER HERE?
>> WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE AMISH
VALLEY SAFE STREETS.
WE ARE NEIGHBORS WERE PRESENT
STUDENTS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS,
WHO WANT A SAFE NETWORK OF
STREETS FOR PEOPLE IN SEATTLE,
PARTICULARLY IN GEORGETOWN AND
SOUTHPARK GREATER AREA.
MANY OF US CANNOT MAKE IT TO
THE EVENT THIS EVENING, BUT
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM
SOUTHPARK AND GEORGETOWN WANTED
TO SPEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU
CARD TO LISE AND BRUCE, THANK
YOU FOR REPRESENTING OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, THANK YOU FOR
SUPPORTING THE GEORGETOWN TO
SOUTHPARK TRAIL. WE WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
HAROLD GONZALEZ O'BRIEN AND
JOHNSON FOR SPONSORING THE 2017
GREEN SHEETS THAT GOT THIS
PROJECT STARTED.
WITH THAT INITIAL FUNDING OUR
COMMITTEE HAS BEEN BUSY, WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH D.O.T.
TO SUPPORT A BROADLY SUPPORTED
COMMUNITY PLAN FOR THE TRAIL,
NEIGHBORHOOD STREET FUNDING TO
FIX A PROBLEMATIC INTERSECTION,
WE ARE WORKING WITH CITY LIGHT
AND PARKS TO SECURE A
COMPARATIVE LAND NEEDED FOR THE
TRAIL, AND D.O.T.
WILL BE COMPLETING A 30 PERCENT
DESIGN AT THE END OF THIS YEAR,
EXHAUSTING FUNDING.
EVERY THING IS IN PLACE TO
CONTINUE TO FINISH THE DESIGN
AND CONNECT GEORGETOWN AND
SOUTHPARK.
SO, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE US
HANGING IN BUDGET LIMBO.
WE ARE READY TO CONNECT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS CHELSEA, I
LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL, BUT I USE
THESE ROUTES TO COMMUTE TO
BOEING FIELD BY BICYCLE.
AND IT WOULD BE A REALLY BIG
SAFETY IMPROVEMENT IF WE WERE
TO HAVE SAFE PROTECTIVE ROUTES
TO BIKE DOWN TO BOEING FIELD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> WE ARE ALSO HERE IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE DUWAMISH
TRIBE, AND WE ARE HERE TO
SUPPORT THEIR REQUEST FOR
FUNDING A DEITY DESIGN PRODUCT
THAT WOULD FINALLY MAKE IT SO
THAT PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY
CROSS WEST MARGINAL WAY, AND
REACH OUR FIRST PEOPLES
CULTURAL LONGHOUSE, WITHOUT
HAVING TO WEAR SAFETY VEST AND
PUT OUT ORANGE CONES.
SO, PLEASE FIND SOME FUNDING
FOR THAT.
ALSO, LASTLY IN THE LAST 13
YEARS, 70 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND
125 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY
INJURED ON THE STREETS OF
SEATTLE'S INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
THAT IS MORE THAN ANY OTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY.
THERE ARE 29 PARTICULAR LANES
TO CHOOSE FROM IN THAT AREA,
AND THE LATEST B IMP IN
LIMITATION PLAN, BICYCLE AND
LIMITATION PLAN HAS COMMITTED
TO FINALLY FIND A SOLUTION.
ERIKA WILL SAY MORE ABOUT THAT.
DESPITE HI, MY NAME IS ERICA.
I AM AN URBAN DESIGNER AND
PLANNER AND I AM ALSO A SOUTH
SEATTLE RESIDENT.
I WORKED WITH MY FIRM ON THE
GEORGETOWN MOBILITY STUDY, AND
WANTED TO SUPPORT THIS TEAM AND
MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS, AND THIS
RESOLUTION THAT HAS RECENTLY
BEEN BROUGHT FORTH TO IMPROVE
SOUTH SEATTLE BICYCLE IN THE
STRUCTURE.
SOUTH SEATTLE PORT AND
STRUCTURE PROJECT AND POORLY
FUNDED IMPLEMENTATION THROUGHOUT
OUR HISTORY.
AND, I REALLY ENCOURAGE ALL OF
YOU TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
USE STRONGER CONNECTIONS FOR
THESE COMMUNITIES WHO REALLY
NEED THEM FOR THEIR JOBS AND
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST IN
THE CENTER OF OUR CITY, THAT SO
MANY PEOPLE CANNOT ACCESS RIGHT
NOW.
BICYCLING AND WALKING HAS
HISTORICALLY BEEN, BY FAR, THE
MOST COST EFFECTIVE AND HEALTHY
WAY OF MOVING THROUGH IN AND
OUT OF THE PHYSICAL SPACES THAT
WE LIVE IN EVERY DAY.
AND, FOR MANY OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS, THESE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY DON'T
HAVE.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION,
TO BRING FUNDING SO THAT OTHER
PEOPLE CAN BE ENGAGED AND HAVE
A HEALTHIER STYLE OF LIVING,
THAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON HERE
IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THE
TOUGH BUDGET DECISIONS AHEAD,
AND I THINK WE WILL LET DOCTOR
PERKINS SPEAK FOR THE TRIBE
WITH THE REST OF OUR TIME.
>> VERY GOOD, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR COMING.
DOCTOR PERKINS?
JUST A MOMENT PLEASE.
DAVID HAYNES AND NUMBER 29 IS
STEVE DASCHLE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> THANK YOU.
DESPITE EITHER ONE.
JUST KEEP TALKING.
>> IS THAT BETTER?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
IT IS NOW -- FOR THE LAST THREE
YEARS I HAVE BEEN WITH CECILE
HANSEN I HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED
TO THE TRIBE FROM THE SUQUAMISH
RESERVATION, PEOPLE INVITED ME
OUT TO AN EVENT AND THAT WAS
ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, BUT,
THEY HAD SOME NEEDS AND, THEY
DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO EXPERTS
LIKE MYSELF EVERY DAY.
SO, I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE
TRIBE AND I AGREED TO HELP SEE
IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THOSE NEEDS, HERE IS THE
REPORT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A COPY
WORKING WITH DISTRICT 1, SHE
HAS ATTRIBUTED SOME FACT SHEETS
THAT WE HAVE COMPILED.
MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THE
DILEMMAS TRIBE WITH VERY LITTLE
PUBLIC INVESTMENT, HAVE RIGHT
NOW, THIS IS THEIR 10th YEAR
ANNIVERSARY SINCE THE HOSPITAL
WAS BUILT IN 2009, AND OVER
50,000 PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD HAVE COME THROUGH THOSE
DOORS.
THEY HAVE COME THROUGH THERE
WITH VERY LITTLE PUBLIC
INVESTMENT, BUT THAT WEST
MARGINAL WAY IS SO DANGEROUS
AND WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE, TO
CROSS THAT STREET, THE DANGER
WITH THE SCHOOL BUSES COMING
IN, WE ARE ASKING YOU ALL TO
SUPPORT THE GREEN SHEET,
SUPPORT THE D.O.T.
PROJECT TO SLOW THE TRAFFIC
DOWN, FROM FIVE LANES TO TWO,
AND IT WILL BE A GOOD THING,
AND PEOPLE CAN SAFELY CROSS
THAT STREET.
THERE IS PARKING ACROSS ON THE
OTHER SIDE, PAVED THE SIDEWALK,
IT IS TIME NOW, AFTER 10 YEARS
OF PUBLIC BENEFITS, IT IS A
REGIONAL ASSET ACCORDING TO
COUNCILMAN JOEL McDERMOTT KING
COUNTY COUNCILMAN.
THEIR HISTORY IS SO INCREDIBLE.
THEY ARE HONORABLE PEOPLE,
QUIET PEOPLE THEY ARE
CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE, ALWAYS
TELLING ME TO RELAX,
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> BECAUSE, THEY KNOW THAT I
HAVE TO ADD CUSTOMS, I'VE BEEN
OUT ON MY ALL MY LIFE, ON THAT
NOTE, PLEASE SUPPORT PUTTING
THE 2 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE
BUDGET TO GET THAT FIXED, AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD JOB, WITH THE NICHE YOU
HAVE, I APPLAUD YOU.
>> HOLD IS A SECOND DAVID
HAYNES IS 27, STEVE DASCHLE IS
29, AND ED BRONSON IS 30.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> CITY COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING.
THIS IS THE MOST ABRASIVE
DEVICE RACIST DIVISIVE BUDGET
THAT 21st CENTURY HAS SEEN IN
HIS NATION AND IT FURTHER
IMPLODES SOCIETY.
THE BUDGET PROVES THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL FOREVER
BE IN VIOLATION OF POLICE
REFORM.
SEATTLE POLICE ARE BEING
REPORTED OVERTIME TO BUY AT THE
TARGET HOMELESS AS CRIMINALS,
WHILE PURPOSEFULLY EXEMPTING
LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS WHO
DESTROY LIVES DAILY.
DANS ATTEBERRY, THE COUNTY
PROSECUTOR WHO MISLEADS, FAILED
HIS OWN SISTER, WHO WAS A
VICTIM OF THE DRUG PRESSURES
AND SEX CRIME VIOLATED YET DANS
HATTEBERG EMBRACES THE DISGRACED
DESTROYING LIFE AS IF HE WANTS
THE WHOLE COUNTY TO SUFFER THE
LOSS OF HIS DEAD SISTER, AS HE
CARRIED ASLEEP AGAINST EVIL
EVIL DRUG PUSHERS THAT EXEMPT
LIVES DAILY.
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD STAND UP
AND STOP SUPERVISING WITH THE
DEVIL'S UNDERWORLD MINIONS.
IN FACT WE NEED IS A FEMA
SECURITY TEND TO FORCE THE
BREAKING OF THE HABITS OF THE
REPEAT OFFENDERS.
IF YOU PUT THEM IN HOUSING THEY
ONLY BECOME MORE RESTED AND
SOPHISTICATED TO CONDUCT ON
CIVIL WAR. ANYWAY.
OKAY, YET THE HOMELESS
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX REFUSES TO
HELP INNOCENCE EVER DRUG-FREE
UPSTANDING BECAUSE THEY DO NOT
QUALIFY UNDER THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS THAT
SCORNED EDUCATION OF HATE APPLY
WHEN IT IS COMMITTED FROM
FAILING.
IT SHOULD BE CALLED THE RACIAL
SOCIAL INJUSTICE LENS, HIRING
IGNOBLE AND SOCIAL LEVER THAT
THEIR SUBHUMAN MISTREAT WHILE
SUBJECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR
LIVED EXPERIENCE AS PROOF WE
NEED A MASS FIRING OF
LEADERSHIP TASKED WITH SOLVING
SOCIETAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY
TREASONOUS AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL
POLICIES.
MAYOR DURKIN AS ATTORNEY
GENERAL SABOTAGED THE 2012
POLICE REFORM BY SLIPPING
SYNTHETIC DRUG PUSHERS STARTING
THE IMPLOSION WE SEE TODAY THAT
IS BEING FURTHER REWARDED WITH
COPS ACTING LIKE A HERO TO
BUSINESS, STEALING THE PERSONAL
BELONGINGS TO FORCE THEM OUT.
THERE IS MORE TO SAY BUT IT IS
NOT FAIR YOU SHOULD REJECT THIS
BUDGET OUT OF THE PRINCIPLES OF
SOLVING THE HOMELESS CRISIS,
NOT FURTHER PAYING OFF THESE
SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVISTS.
>> THANK YOU.
STEVE DASCHLE?
HI, STEVE, ED BRONSON IS 30,
AND DIA IS 31.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
STEVE DASCHLE I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOUTHWEST
YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES,
COCHAIR OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICES COALITION.
SHS C MEMBER THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR YOUR ACTIONS THIS SUMMER TO
ENACT AN AUTOMATIC ANNUAL
ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION ON ALL
HUMAN SERVICES CONTRACT THROUGH
HST.
OF COURSE, WE SUPPORT THE
FUNDING THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
THE MAYOR'S BUDGET ALSO
CONTINUES FUNDING FOR CURRENT
HUMAN SERVICES.
WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO FOLLOW
SUIT AND MAKE NO CUTS TO HUMAN
SERVICES.
WHAT THE MAYOR DID NOT INCLUDE
IS THE FUNDING TO TAKE THE
FIRST STEP TO CORRECT THE LONG-
TERM LEGACY OF UNDERPAYING HUMAN
SERVICES OF THE SKILLS
EDUCATION EXPERIENCE AND
INTEGRAL IMPORTANCE OF THIS
WORK, TO BUILD WELL-BEING AND
COMMUNITIES ACROSS SEATTLE.
OF ALL EXPERTS CONCERNED WITH
THIS PRECARIOUS STATE OF
INEQUITY, AS WELL AS INTEREST
IN REMEDYING IT.
IT IS TIME NOW TO TAKE THE
FIRST STEP.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IN COLLABORATION WITH
PROVIDERS CONDUCT A PAY EQUITY
ANALYSIS OF HUMAN SERVICES JOBS
AS COMPARED WITH JOBS THAT
REQUIRE SIMILAR LEVELS OF
SKILL, EDUCATION AND
DIFFICULTY.
WE URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
ALLOCATE RESOURCES OF A ROBUST
COMPARABLE WORTH ANALYSIS AND
BENCHMARK JOBS.
THIS WOULD REQUIRE 500,000 TO
600,000 IN 2020.
WE ALSO SUPPORT THE FUNDING IN
THE BUDGET TO IMPLEMENT A MUCH-
NEEDED COUNTYWIDE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE HOTLINE.
AND ENCOURAGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
INVEST IN THE FIVE ADDITIONAL
ACTIONS OUTLINED IN OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS WE SHARED WITH
YOU.
THE MEMBERS OF SHS D THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TOGETHER WE
AN BUILD A JUST AND THRIVING
COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT OUR
PRIORITY, INCLUDING BUDGET
PRIORITIES.
>> THANK YOU STEVE.
>>> AFTER STEVE DASCHLE, WE
HAVE NUMBER 30, GOOD TO SEE
YOU, ALWAYS APPRECIATE OUTDOOR,
DAVID TREE WHILE IS 32.
THANK YOU POINT
>> INCA COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT IS
AN HONOR TO BE HERE, DEMOCRACY
IS MESSY, ISN'T IT?
YOU GUYS SUFFER SLINGS AND
ARROWS, IF ONLY OUR COUNTRY
COULD HAVE MORE CIVIL
DISCOURSE, AND I AM PROUD TO BE
A PART OF THAT HERE IN SEATTLE.
I PARTICULARLY WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, AND COUNCILMEMBER
PACHECO FOR THEIR APATHY --
ADVOCACY.
OTHERS AS WELL, THANK YOU TO
MAYOR DURKIN, WHO HAS PROPOSED
ONE-TIME FUNDING IN THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PLAN, TO HELP EMPHASIZE KEY
CITY PRIORITIES.
YOU WILL HAVE CITY PRIORITIES
AND THE BUDGET TALKS ABOUT THAT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUTDOORS
FOR ALL, AN ORGANIZATION FOR 40
YEARS THAT HAS BEEN COMMITTED
ON SOCIAL EQUITY FOR PEOPLE AND
DISABILITIES.
DISABILITY DOES NOT MEAN
INABILITY.
AND DISABILITY IS DIVERSITY.
IF ONLY OUR CITY COULD IMPROVE
ITS OWN ASSETS, OF COURSE, A
KEY PRIORITY, IF ONLY OUR CITY
COULD COLLABORATE COULD
COLLABORATE WITH A NONPROFIT
MATCHING EVERY DOLLAR FROM THE
CITY WITH A DOLLARS AND OTHER
FUNDING.
IF ONLY THIS ONE-TIME FUNDING
COULD CREATE AN INCREDIBLE
COMMUNITY TREASURE, AND RENOVATE
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY LIABILITY
FOR 25 YEARS OF UNUSED FIREHOUSE
AND TRANSFORM IT INTO A
COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER FOR
ALL.
FOR RECOVERING VETERANS, FOR
CHILDREN WITH LIMB DIFFERENCE,
FOR USE WITH AUTISM, FOR
THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, IF ONLY THIS WAS
POSSIBLE.
IF ONLY WE COULD TRANSFORM A
DORMANT BUILDING AND TURN IT
INTO A COMMUNITY TREASURE, THAT
WILL BENEFIT PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND EVERYONE ELSE
FOR DECADES TO COME.
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU IT IS NOT
POSSIBLE.
IT WILL HAPPEN.
AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THIS ISSUE,
FOR THIS ONE-TIME FUNDING, FOR
CAPITAL FUNDS, IT WILL HELP
THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES FOR DECADES TO
COE.
OUTDOORS FOR ALL FOUNDATION,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ED, FOR
BEING HERE.
DSA, 31, DAVID 32 AND MICHELLE,
33.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
SABRINA VILLANUEVA, I AM A
PROPERTY MANAGER AND I AM HERE
VOICING SOME CONCERNS OF MY
TENANTS.
WE MANAGE SEVERAL BUILDINGS IN
DOWNTOWN WITH HUNDREDS OF
TENANTS, MOSTLY SMALL
BUSINESSES, COMPANIES THAT HAVE
10 PEOPLE OR LESS.
THERAPIST, PENNEBAKER, TIESHA
BARBER, ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSULTANTS.
REGULAR EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO ARE
JUST TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING.
AND, I AM SEEING FIRSTHAND, THE
NEGATIVE IMPACT THAT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES HAVE HAD.
ON OUR TENANTS.
TRESPASSING, AGGRESSIVE
HARASSMENT AND BURGLARIES.
THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING
VICTIMIZED, THERE EMPLOYEES AND
CUSTOMERS ARE TRYING TO
NAVIGATE HOW TO SAFELY COMMUTE
INTO THE CITY AND THEY NO
LONGER FEEL SAFE THEY DON'T
WANT TO RENEW THEIR SPACES THEY
WERE TO LEAVE SEATTLE.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY.
OUR BUILDING, ONE OF THE
PROPERTIES WAS BROKEN INTO
TWICE BY THE SAME INDIVIDUAL,
THEY ROBBED MULTIPLE TENANT
SPACES, THE POLICE IDENTIFIED
THEM, ARRESTED THEM, AND TWO
DAYS LATER, LET HIM OUT. HE
CAME BACK TO THE SAME BUILDING,
HE BURGLARIZED THE SAME
BUILDING AGAIN.
THERE ARE 21 OPEN BURGLARIES ON
THIS ONE INDIVIDUAL.
APPARENTLY, THERE ARE LAWS THAT
NEED TO BE ENFORCED AND PEOPLE
NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THESE ACTIONS.
AND, THAT IS WHY WE SUPPORT THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET TO INCREASE
FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR
CRIME PREVENTION, AND THE
PROLIFIC OFFENDER INITIATIVE.
IN ADDITION, OUR HOPE IS THAT
THE COUNCIL USES THIS FUNDING
TO PERSUADE THE CITY PROSECUTOR
TO ABANDON A TOLERANCE POLICY
THAT HAS LED TO THE DOCUMENT A
PROLIFERATION OF REPEAT
OFFENDERS AND CREATING A SAFE
SEATTLE FOR EVERYONE.
>> PLEASE, NO, PLEASE,
EVERYBODY IS LISTENING TO YOU,
WHEN YOU SPEAK AND I WANT TO
HAVE A LITTLE DECORUM OUT HERE.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ERIN.
I OVERSEE OPERATIONS AT
MULTIPLE OFFICE RETAIL AND
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT
HOUSE ALSO SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AND LONGTIME RESIDENTS
IN SEATTLE.
SABRINA AND I WERE BROUGHT
TOGETHER BY THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE WE SHARED
-- OUR PROPERTIES WERE BOTH
VICTIMS OF THIS GENTLEMAN THAT
SHE SPOKE OF, THAT HAS BEEN
TERRORIZING AND BURGLARIZING
MANY DIFFERENT BUILDINGS IN
SEATTLE.
SO, I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
HUNDREDS OF TENANTS AND STAFF
MEMBERS, WHO FEEL UNSAFE IN
THEIR HOMES, IN THEIR
BUSINESSES, AND PLACES OF
EMPLOYMENT.
IN 2019, IN A FOUR MONTH
PERIOD, SEVERAL TENANTS AND
MEMBERS OF OUR BUILDINGS FELL
VICTIM TO THREE OF THOSE
BURGLARIES TO THREE OF THE SAME
INDIVIDUAL.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE, OF
THE SEVERAL PROLIFIC OFFENDERS
THAT OUR PROPERTIES HAVE FELL
VICTIM TO IN THE PAST YEAR
ALONE.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
THAT GENTLEMAN HAS BEEN
ARRESTED AND RELEASED MULTIPLE
TIMES DESPITE OUR EFFORTS TO
HAVE HIM PROSECUTED FOR THE
CRIMES HE HAS COMMITTED.
WE HAVE GOT PHOTOGRAPHIC
EVIDENCE IN EACH INSTANCE, WE
ARE JUST TRYING TO SUPPORT OUR
ATTENDANCE AND STAFF THAT FEEL
UNSAFE, KNOWING THAT OUR
JUSTICE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO
CATCH AND RELEASE PROLIFIC
CRIMINALS LIKE THIS GENTLEMAN.
WITH LITTLE TO NO
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR
ACTIONS.
SO, COLLECTIVELY, YOU KNOW, WE
FEEL THAT MORE CRIMINALS WILL
FOLLOW SUIT, KNOWING THAT THEY
WILL NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE
FOR BURGLARIZING, VANDALIZING,
AS WELL AS ASSAULTING AND
HARASSING OUR TENANTS AND STAFF
AND RESIDENTS.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
INCREASE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
BUDGET, SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT
THE RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE, AND
SEND A MESSAGE TO THE CRIMINAL
-- TO THE CURRENT OFFENDERS AND
FUTURE OFFENDERS THAT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE WILL NOT TOLERATE
VIOLENCE AND DAMAGING CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY.
AND, THOSE WHO BREAK THE LAW
WILL BE PUNISHED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAW.
I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE
DIVERSION PROGRAMS, BUT, I
THINK THAT THERE IS A LINE THAT
NEEDS TO BE DRAWN.
>> AFTER DAVID, PLEASE.
MICHELLE?
33, ALICIA IS 34, HEATHER
WALKER IS 35.
SO, PLEASE, DAVID.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS DAVID TREE WEILER,
AND I AM HERE AS A PRIVATE
CITIZEN, ALTHOUGH I AM A MEMBER
OF THE CASCADE BIKE CLUB, AND I
FULLY SUPPORT THE GREEN NEW
DEAL, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE
WORK THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING
TO MAKE THAT A REALITY.
THIS COUNSEL HAS RECOGNIZED IN
RECENT MEETINGS THE URGENCY OF
REDUCING CARBON POLLUTION.
WORDS SPOKEN ABOUT THIS AND I
THINK THE COUNCIL IS ON THE
SAME PAGE AS THE PEOPLE WHO
SUPPORT THE GREEN NEW DEAL.
GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF CARS MORE
OFTEN, ESPECIALLY THING A
PERSON COMMUTES, AND SHORT
TRIPS.
AS THE COUNCIL IS WELL AWARE
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DO THIS.
BUSES, LIGHT RAIL, INCREASED
BIKE USE, WHICH IS NOT
INCREASING CARTON FOR STRUCTURE,
WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF
CARS WE NEED TO MAKE IT MORE
CONVENIENT TO DRIVE AND MAKE
OTHER THINGS MORE CONVENIENT TO
USE.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO DO THE
FOLLOWING, WHICH ARE NOT ALL OF
THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE
DONE, BUT I THINK THEY ARE SOME
OF THE MOST IMMEDIATE AND
CONCRETE THINGS THE COUNCIL CAN
DO TO SUPPORT THE BICYCLE
PORTION OF THESE SOLUTIONS.
NUMBER ONE, WORK WITH THE SDOC
TO PUT BIKE LANES ON A 35th
AVENUE NORTHEAST.
I KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS HEARD A
LOT ABOUT THAT, THERE HAVE BEEN
SOME OPPOSITION TO IT, BUT I
HAVE BIKED IN THAT AREA MANY
TIMES, AND THERE IS A LOT OF
BIKE USE UP THERE WHICH NEEDS
TO BE DONE.
FIND KEY CONNECTIONS TO THE
BICYCLE MASTER AND LIMITATION
PLAN.
>> GOOD, CAN YOU WRAP UP DAVID?
ANOTHER POINT OR TWO?
>> YES.
WE MUST USE CARS LESS, WE MUST
TAKE SPECIFIC CONCRETE STEPS TO
DO THIS, WE MUST MAKE PROGRESS
FASTER THAN WE THINK IS
CURRENTLY POSSIBLE.
>> YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN
TONIGHT.
MICHELLE?
AND THEN ALICIA AND THEN 35 IS
HEATHER WALKER.
>> HI, I AM A SPECIAL EDUCATION
TEACHER AND HOMELESS OUTREACH
COORDINATOR AT NOVA HIGH SCHOOL
BUT A RANK-AND-FILE MEMBER OF
THE SEATTLE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION, TO START BY
SPEAKING FIRST IN SOLIDARITY
WITH RAINIER BEACH HIGH SCHOOL
AND IN COURT IN SUPPORT OF
FREEDOM SCHOOL.
WHICH IS A SUPPORTING STUDENT
LED AND COMMUNITY BASED
SOLUTION LIKE FOR TRANSIT
PASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS, FACILITATING
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CIRCLES,
AND TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND
HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND ADDRESS
BIAS.
NOVA HIGH SCHOOL IS A RECIPIENT
OF PEOPLE'S BUDGET FUNDING LAST
YEAR FOR LGBTQ HEALTH CENTER,
NOVA 70 PERCENT LGBTQ
IDENTIFYING, 41 PERCENT TITLE
11 ELIGIBLE, AND 40 PERCENT
DOCUMENT BEARING, THE HEALTH
CENTER HELPS US SERVE OUR
STUDENTS, PEOPLES IMPACT ON
BUDGETS AND SCHOOLS IS POWERFUL
AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL.
BUT, A LARGER NEED, JUST WIDE,
THAT THESE ITEMS WILL NOT
ADDRESS HIS HOUSING.
WE ALSO NEED TO FIGHT FOR THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR EVICTIONS,
TO KEEP HOUSED.
WE NEED MORE PUBLICLY OWNED
HOUSING.
THIS IS WHY THE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION EARLIER THIS YEAR
GAVE IT UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.
CURRENT LEGISLATION PROPOSED.
DUNES TO SUPPORT HER NEARLY
4000 STUDENT HOMELESS AND
FAMILIES WE ALSO KNOW THERE ARE
THOUSANDS MORE STUDENTS FACING
HOUSING PORTABILITY IN THIS
CRISIS.
WE WERE HOPING THAT WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO HAVE THE PEOPLE OF THE
FULL COUNCIL ON OF THE WORK
THAT WE DID, MY COLLEAGUES AND
I THIS SUMMER MET WITH FAMILIES
AND PRINTERS AND WE HAVE A LOT
OF STORIES, OUR UNION IS
COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THIS
MANDATE FOR RENT CONTROL AND WE
HOPE THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO
MEET WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO
GATHERED STATEMENTS AND HEARD
THEIR STORIES, THEIR STORIES
ARE THE STORIES OF OUR STUDENTS
AND THEIR STORIES ARE THE
STORIES OF A LOT OF PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE.
SO, PLEASE IF YOU COULD
CONSIDER OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR
STUDENTS AND THEIR NEED FOR
RENT CONTROL THAT WOULD BE
REALLY IMPORTANT THIS BUDGET
SEASON, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING,
MICHELLE.
ALICIA, THEN HEATHER.
THEN RAY, NUMBER 36.
>> CAN YOU ADDRESS OUR TIME FOR
HEATHER WALKER?
>> I'M SORRY, WE HAVE ALICIA.
>>.
>> HI, I AM ALICIA ROBERTSON.
WE ARE NICHOLS WILL NORTHLAKE
RESIDENCE.
GOOD EVENING SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL.
OUR NAMES ARE KELLY McCLUSKEY
AND LAUREN HARRY.
DELIVERED NICHOLS WILL
NORTHLAKE.
IT IS A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE AT
3814 FOURTH AVENUE NORTHEAST.
WE ARE COMMENTING TODAY ON THE
MAYORS HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT
PROPOSAL BUDGET. ON PAGE 182,
THERE IS AN INCREMENTAL BUDGET
CHANGE TITLED RECEIVING TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
PLEASE DO NOT SPEND THE $1.2
MILLION HST AND A WANT TO SPEND
CLOSING OUR HOME AND A SECOND
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE.
ALL WE ARE ASKING IS THAT THE
HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND
LOW INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE
LEAVE US ALONE.
HSD SAYS THEY ARE WILLING TO
HEAR OUR SIDE, BUT THEY ARE NOT
READY TO WORK WITH US.
THEY WANT TO SHUT US DOWN.
SURE IT SOUNDS LIKE HSD IS JUST
TRYING TO TELL US HOW TO BE
HOMELESS.
BUT, WE ARE ADULTS AND WE ARE
TAKING CHARGE OF OUR LIVES.
HSD UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE
LIVE AT NORTHLAKE IS TOTALLY
THE OPPOSITE OF THE WAY IT IS.
HSD AND LEHIGH HAVE DESTROYED
OUR CAREFREE HAPPY ROUTINE OF
STANDING ON OUR OWN TWO FEET.
WAS GOOD HAVE THE REALLY DONE
FOR US? FORCEFULLY BULLYING AND
INTIMIDATING IS NOT THE WAY TO
HELP US.
IT IS NOT HOW WE RUN OUR VILLAGE
. IF ANYONE NEEDS A COPY OF OUR
RULES, BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE ASK
AND WE WILL GIVE IT TO YOU.
WE ARE NOT CHILDREN MIXED UP IN
HSD'S PROBLEM.
THEY TO GET TO PLAY THESE
CHILDISH IGNORANT GAMES.
WE WANT TO BE DONE WITH THE
DAMAGE LEHIGH AND HSD HAVE
CAUSED. LET US LIVE UP
NORTHLAKE, WITH GIFT OF GRACE
FOR OUR CHURCH SPONSOR.
MICHAEL STILL DOESN'T NEED YOUR
OPERATING DOLLARS, WE JUST NEED
THE LAND.
>> MY NAME IS JOHN TREVINO,
FROM ABOUT NICHOLS WILL
NORTHLAKE, TOO.
AND, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO WHAT
THEY SAID.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE IS,
YOU KNOW, NICHOLS WILL HAS
EXISTED FOR 11 YEARS.
IT IS ITS OWN CULTURE. I ALWAYS
TELL A FRIEND OF MINE THERE, I
CAN'T IMAGINE LIVING SOMEWHERE
ELSE AT THIS TIME.
YOU KNOW, WITH THE COST OF
LIVING AND HE ALWAYS SAYS,
MIGHT BE PROFOUNDLY HOMELESS,
JOHN, BUT -- I MEAN, I THINK
THERE IS A PLACE FOR US, AND
FOR LEHIGH.
WE KNOW THEY ARE THE BIG DOG
NOW, THEY ARE HERE TO STAY,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
HEATHER?
DO YOU HAVE A GROUP?
THANK YOU.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
HEATHER WALKER.
AND, I AM AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF
THE CHEHALIS TRIBE, AND A NEW
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE AND I AM
HERE WITH THE GROUP TO TALK
ABOUT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DAY.
AND, IT IS A CELEBRATION THAT
IS COMING UP HERE SHORTLY, THIS
YEAR IT IS ON OCTOBER 14, AND,
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE
IN THE ROOM HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO CELEBRATE THE INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES OF THIS AREA AND I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A LITTLE
BIT, BECAUSE WHILE WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE, WE
ARE ALSO STRUGGLING WITH
FUNDING, AND HAVING TO ASK
AROUND FOR DONATIONS AND ALL
KINDS OF THINGS IN ORDER TO
MAKE THAT DAY HAPPENED.
THIS EVENING, WE GATHER ON THE
ANCESTRAL HOMELAND OF MANY
PEOPLES WHO HAVE LIVED ALONG THE
SALE AT SEA SINCE TIME
IMMEMORIAL.
PLEASE JOIN US AND CELEBRATE IN
THESE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FOR
THEIR ENDURING CARE AND
PROTECTION OF OUR SACRED LAND
AND WATERWAYS.
SEATTLE, HAS BEEN HOME TO MANY
MODERN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
MANY PEOPLE CALL THIS PLACE
HOME, AND LIVED HERE WHILE MANY
OTHERS REGULARLY VISITED FOR
RESOURCES, CEREMONIES, AND FUN.
THEIR ANCESTORS SIGNED TREATIES
SUCH AS THE POINT ELLIOTT
TREATY AND THE MEDICINE CREEK
TREATY.
TODAY, YOU MAKE ALL THESE FIRST
CARETAKERS BY THEIR MODERN
AFFILIATIONS OF DUWAMISH,
SUQUAMISH, MUCKLESHOOT,
SNOQUALMIE, DEVELOP, WARMISH OR
PERHAPS YOU MIGHT CALL THEM
CINEMAS TO LAYLA FOR NISQUALLY.
YOU MAY FURTHER RECOGNIZE THE
URBAN INDIANS THAT HAVE MOVED
TO THIS URBAN LANDSCAPE, AND
CALLED THIS PLACE SEATTLE HOME.
THEY HAVE BEEN MOVED AWAY FROM
THEIR TRADITIONAL HOMELANDS, AND
CHOSEN SEATTLE AS THEIR PLACE,
WHICH ALSO INCLUDES ME NOW.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND
EVERYONE OF YOU FOR THE WORK
THAT YOU DO RAISING -- I RAISE
MY HANDS TO YOU, AND PLEASE ASK
YOU TO FULLY FUND THIS DAY OF
CELEBRATION, WITH ALL OF US.
>> I AM HERE, IT IS CRITICAL
THAT I AM HERE, TO VALUE OUR
INDIAN CITY, AND OUR INDIAN
COMMUNITIES, BY SUPPORTING RENT
CONTROL, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY,
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN, AND THANK YOU GUYS,
COUNCILMEMBERS, OR AS IN HAROLD
FOR SUPPORTING THOSE. WE CANNOT
CONTINUE THESE ATROCITIES
THROUGHOUT INDIAN COUNTRY, SUCH
AS HOMELESSNESS, INFANT
MORTALITY, MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN. WE NEED TO DO
BETTER WITH OUR BUDGET, MASS.
OUR FIRST ASK OF $25,000 FOR
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY WAS AT A
MINIMUM.
AS A CITY EMPLOYEE, INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES DAY HAS BEEN ERASED --
SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENT FOR
EMPLOYEES, AND IT IS IMPORTANT
TO THAT TRAINING WHEN WE
DECREASE OUR BUDGET, IT USUALLY
AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR FIRST,
AND WE DID THAT WITH CLEAR
QUEST.
WE ELIMINATED TRAINING DOLLARS
FOR CITY OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEES.
SO, INSTEAD OF REMOVING THOSE
TRAINING DOLLARS, SWITCH THOSE
MONIES TOWARDS INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES DAY.
SO THAT BOTH ARE COMMUNITIES
CAN SUPPORT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
DAY, AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
TO SUPPORT THAT DAY.
IT IS TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR
LAND, OUR ANCESTORS, THE
DUWAMISH PEOPLE THROUGH THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET, AND STOP
NICKEL AND DIMING OUR NATIVE
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> REAL QUICK I WANT TO
INTRODUCE MYSELF MY NAME IS
PATRICIA ALLEN, I AM ON TRIBAL
COUNCIL AS AN ELECTED DELEGATE,
AS WELL AS THE COALITION
COMMUNITY ADVOCATE FOR CHIEF
SEATTLE CLUB.
I WANTED, REALLY QUICKLY, TO
WRITE REMARKS THAT I AM ON THE
COMMITTEE FOR AT THE UNITED
INDIAN CELEBRATION, AND A LOT
OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM THIS
AS WELL AND WE REALLY DO NEED
THIS, WE ARE GETTING PACKED
HOUSES OF PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM
ALL OVER THE STATE TO COME HERE
AND CELEBRATE WITH US THIS
YEAR, TO LAYLA POUILLE HAVE THE
HONOR OF PEOPLE FROM TO LAYLA
COMING IN, AND JOINING IN
SOLIDARITY.
I AM ALSO ON THE MLK DAY
PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND HAVE
THE HONOR OF THAT AS WELL, AND
I FELT REALLY EMPOWERED
WHENEVER I GO THERE, SO IF YOU
CHECK OUT THEIR BUDGET AS WELL,
I AM NOT GOING TO COMPARE, I'M
NOT GOING TO NAME THEIR BUDGET
TO COMPARE, BUT I WANTED TO
CHECK THAT OUT, BECAUSE, I
WOULD LIKE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO
HAVE A GREAT IMPACT, AS WELL AS
A SIMILAR OR COMPLEMENTARY TWO
DAYS, LIKE MLK DAY.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKERS, WE HAVE RAY,
NUMBER 36, AND IT LOOKS LIKE
TRUE -- OR, TREY PROBABLY,
NUMBER 37.
AND LOU BELLA BOWEN, 38.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBERS,
I AM ACTUALLY A REPLACEMENT FOR
RAY EO WHO HAD TO NOT GO TO
THEM ANOTHER COMMITMENT, I AM
IN IT A COUNSEL WITH ATTORNEY
YOUTH AND CHILDREN.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR YOUTH
HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM, WHICH
WORKS TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING
OF YOUNG PEOPLE BY ADVOCATING
FOR THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS.
BEFORE I DO THAT, I DID JUST
WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYBODY IN THE
ROOM, AND, COUNCILMEMBERS AS
WELL, FOR JUST TAKING ACTION
STEPS ON ADDRESSING THE
HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM IN SEATTLE,
I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE ALL THE
ADVOCATES IN THE ROOM TODAY.
WE, ATTORNEYS AT OUR AGENCY
PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES
FOR FOUR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS,
CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE COURT,
YOU SEND FAMILY IMMIGRATION,
AND USE HOMELESSNESS.
I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF
LEGAL COUNSEL YOUTH AND
CHILDREN TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR
OUR HOMELESS IS LEGAL SERVICES
PROGRAM.
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WE PROVIDE
CRITICAL HOLISTIC CIVIL LEGAL
AID, SERVICES TO HUNDREDS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 12 TO 24.
THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE AT RISK
OF EXPRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN
SEATTLE.
THE MAJORITY OF THE YOUTH WE
SERVE OUR YOUTH OF COLOR, 20
PERCENT OF THE YOUTH IDENTIFY
AS LGBTQ PLUS.
AND, 17 PERCENT ARE IMMIGRANT
YEARS AND 50 PERCENT ARE UNDER
THE AGE OF 18.
WE ADDRESS A NUMBER OF CIVIL
AND LEGAL ISSUES, THAT DIRECTLY
IMPACT YOUNG PEOPLE'S SAFETY,
STABILITY, ACCESS TO EDUCATION,
EMPLOYMENT, INCOME, AND HOUSING.
SOME OF THE ISSUES WE ARE ABLE
TO ADVOCATE FOR, ARE ALLOWING
THEM TO ADDRESS ANY OUTSTANDING
WARRANTS, ALLOWING THEM TO SEE
SEAL CRIMINAL RECORDS, ACCESSING
CHILDHOOD SERVICES WHEN NEEDED,
ORDERS OF PROTECTION, NAME AND
GENDER MARKER CHANGES, LANDLORD-
TENANT ISSUES, AND HELPING
BENEFITS.
OVER THE YEARS, OUR REFERRALS
HAVE STEADIL INCREASED AS WE
HAVE CREATED MORE PARTNERS IN
THE COMMUNITY.
THIS YEAR, WE ARE REQUESTING,
WE HAVE ZERO MONEY RIGHT NOW
FROM THE CITY WE ARE REQUESTING
$100,000 FOR THE 2020
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, WHICH WILL
PROVIDE 1500 HRS.
OF DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMING.
>>> THE NEXT ONE, I THINK IT IS
TREY ORTHO FOR ALL, THEN LOU
BELLA BOWEN, THEN SEAN SMITH
NUMBER 39.
>> OKAY.
JUST A SECOND, I THINK IT IS
JUST ONE MINUTE, WE HAVE
ALREADY SEEN FROM OUR GOOD
FRIENDS.
>> I AM TIRED READ HERE FOR
ORCA FOR ALL, WITH THE TRANSIT
RIDERS, ORCA FOR ALL ENVISIONS
A NEW FUTURE WHEN EVERY
RESIDENT AND EVERY WORKER IN
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY HAS AN
UNLIMITED TRANSIT PASS, MAKING
IT EASY TO CHOOSE PUBLIC
TRANSIT.
WE BELIEVE THAT MOBILITY IS A
HUMAN RIGHT, WE ALSO BELIEVE
THAT A RAPID SHIFT TO LOW
CARBON MODES OF TRANSMISSION IS
URGENTLY NEEDED TO AVERT
CLIMATE CATASTROPHE.
OUR REGION CAN LEAD AN
INSPIRING DECISION AND SETTING
AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS AROUND
THE COUNTRY.
SUCCESS WILL REQUIRE ACTION BY
GOVERNMENTS EMPLOYERS AND
INDIVIDUALS.
TODAY, WE ARE CALLING ON CITY
LEADERS TO STEP UP.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE PROVIDES
FULLY SUBSIDIZED TRANSIT PASSES
FOR ALL DIRECT EMPLOYEES OF THE
CITY.
THIS PRACTICE IS CONSISTENT
WITH THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY
AND EQUITY GOALS, THAT'S GREAT,
A+ FOR THAT WORK.
HOWEVER, THOUSANDS MORE WORKERS
ARE EMPLOYED FOR CITY AND
COUNTY CONTRACTS.
THIS INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS, ON PUBLIC WORKS
PROJECTS, AND EMPLOYEES OF
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS AMONG
OTHERS.
MANY OF THESE WORKERS DO NOT
RECEIVE ANY TRANSIT SUBSIDY.
THE RESULT IS THAT TWO-TIER
SYSTEM WHERE DIRECT PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES RECEIVE FULL TRANSIT
BENEFITS BUT INDIRECT EMPLOYEES
DO NOT.
THIS IS NOT ONLY INEQUITABLE
FOR THESE WORKERS, IT ALSO
CONTRIBUTES TO OUR REGION'S
RISING CARBON EMISSIONS,
POLLUTION, AND TRAFFIC
CONGESTION.
WE ASKED THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
ADOPT AS AN OFFICIAL GOAL THAT
WORKERS EMPLOYED THROUGH PUBLIC
CONTRACTS SHOULD RECEIVE
TRANSIT BENEFITS.
ESTABLISH A TIMELINE AND TAKE
STEPS TOWARDS ACHIEVING THIS
OUTCOME SUCH AS REVIEW AND
STUDY THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE OF
CITY CONTRACT, TO DETERMINE
WHICH CATEGORIES OF WORKERS
SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR
RECEIVING TRANSIT BENEFITS AND
DIFFERENT POSSIBLE STRATEGIES
FOR ENSURING THAT THESE WORKERS
RECEIVE TRANSIT ASSETS.
THAT'S FOR TRANSIT RIDERS UNION
I WOULD SAY AFTER HEARING THE
STORIES ABOUT HIM IS NOTHING WE
SHOULD CONSIDER THAT WHILE WE
ARE THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO
DIVVY UP OUR HARD-EARNED MONEY,
WE SHOULD LOOK AROUND AND
OBSERVE WHO IS HERE.
I DON'T SEE ANY CEOS OR ANY
CONGRESS MEMBERS.
LOOK AT US AND OF REMEMBER OUR
FACES AND OUR STORIES, BECAUSE
WHEN YOU GO BACK TO YOUR
OFFICES AND DECIDE WHO LIVES
AND WHO DIES IN THE CITY IT
WILL BE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO
MATTER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NUMBER 38?
WOULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF
PLEASE?
WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES HERE FOR
THE SCREW.
>> MY NAME IS BENJAMIN SHABAZZ,
THIS IS LOU BELLA, THIS IS ILA
BREMEN, DONNA JEAN, AND WE
REPRESENT SOME OF THE RESIDENCE
AT THE BRIGHTON APARTMENT IN
SOUTH SEATTLE.
>> THEY GO FIRST.
>> THIS IS TO REPRESENTATIVE TO
ALLAH.
BRUCE HARRELL, THESE ARE
WRITTEN PETITIONS OF PEOPLE AND
RENT CONTROL.
WE ARE HERE FOR RENT CONTROL
TONIGHT.
AND, YES.
AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I WAS HERE
LAST WEEK, SORRY WE MISSED YOU.
SO WE DECIDED TO BRING IT TO
YOU TO MAYBE HAVE TIME TO READ
THEM.
TO BRUCE HARRELL, WE LIVE AT
THE BRIGHTON, I'VE BEEN THERE
15 OR 16 YEARS, RIGHT NOW WE
ARE FACING THE DILEMMA OF BEING
MOVED OUT BECAUSE OF RENT.
WE ARE ALL SENIORS, THIS IS A
SENIOR LED BUILDING, IT IS ALSO
A BUILDING WHERE WE FIRST MOVED
IN WE WERE CHARGED ACCORDING TO
OUR INCOME, AND BECAUSE OF THE
AREA THAT WE ARE IN NOW, IT IS
JUST OFF THE CHARTS.
IT IS MORE THAN WE CAN AFFORD.
THE RENT IS SUPERSEDING OUR
INCOME, WE ARE SENIORS, WE PAID
OUR DUES AS SENIORS, AND NOW,
WE ARE RETIRED AND NOW WE FACE
LIMITED INCOME, AND WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE BEEN THERE, EVERYBODY
THAT HAS BEEN THERE, 19 OR 20
OR 22 YEARS, AND WE DON'T WANT
TO HAVE TO MOVE.
WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER, WE
TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER,
EVERYBODY KNOWS THEIR NEIGHBOR,
AND WE LOVED BEING THERE, AND
WE WOULD LIKE TO STAY, SO WE
FEEL LIKE WE CAN SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM ON RENT CONTROL, THEN
WE WOULD BE HAPPY, I WANT YOU
ALL TO KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN
THERE FOR THE LONG HAUL, I AM
IN IT TO WIN IT AND WE IN THE
END WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE, I
WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, THAT I
AM A WINNER.
WE ARE WINNERS, IF WE STICK
TOGETHER, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT IT, TO EACH OTHER, AND SO
NOW, WE WANT TO PUBLICLY LET
EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE ARE ON
BOARD FOR RENT CONTROL, BECAUSE
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
YOU KNOW?
IT IS NEEDED, WHAT ARE WE GOING
TO DO, SOMEBODY HAS TO SPEAK UP
AND SAY SOMETHING OR IT WILL GO
UNNOTICED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> WE WANT TO CONTINUE BY
THINKING OUR COURAGEOUS
COUNCILMEMBER, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
IT TAKES COURAGE AND THE HUMAN
SPIRIT TO SPEAK UP FOR WHAT
THEY CALL THE LITTLE MAN.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE NEED RENT CONTROL.
LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, WE RESIDE
AT BRIGHTON APARTMENT, WE HAVE
SENIORS THERE, VETERANS THERE,
AND ALSO, PEOPLE THAT HAVE
CHALLENGES.
PHYSICAL CHALLENGES.
WE LIVE IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX
THAT HAS 125 UNITS.
PEOPLE LIVE ON LOW INCOME,
FIXED INCOME, SOCIAL SECURITY,
ET CETERA ET CETERA.
SOME ARE ON DIALYSIS.
MANY ARE SICK, AND DISABLED.
THE MANAGEMENT IS TRYING TO DO
A GOOD JOB.
THEY ARE TRYING TO MANAGE THE
SITUATION.
BUT, IT WILL SOON BE OUT OF
THEIR CONTROL.
IF RENT CONTROL IS NOT ENACTED,
OUR ELDERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO
BE SCARED AND FRIGHTENED EVERY
DAY, FACING AN UNSTABLE FUTURE.
AND, WHAT THAT LEADS TO HIS
ECONOMIC EVICTION THE ORDER OF
THE DAY, WHICH WILL PUT OUR
ELDERS OUT ON THE STREETS,
PEOPLE ON DIALYSIS, PEOPLE OVER
90 YEARS OLD, PEOPLE ON
WALKERS, GRANDMOTHERS AND GREAT
GREAT GRANDMOTHERS, BECAUSE IT
WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO PAY THE
RENT.
RENT CONTROL IS A NECESSITY.
WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> RENT CONTROL POINT
>> WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
>> NOW.
>> WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> RENT CONTROL.
>> WHEN WE WANT IT?
>> NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MY NAME IS DONNA JEAN, AND I
APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU
GUYS DECIDED TO COME HERE
TONIGHT.
YOU NEED TO HEAR WHAT THE
PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY.
IN REGARDS TO THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
YOU REALLY NEED TO TAKE THE TIME
, AND SACRIFICE THE TIME, WE
WERE HERE ON SEPTEMBER 23, NONE
OF YOU WERE HERE.
SO, WE SAY, THANK YOU FOR
COMING HERE, BUT, YOU SHOULD
HAVE BEEN HERE LAST TIME, AND
YOU CERTAINLY SHOULD BE HERE
FROM HERE ON OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
SEAN, BEFORE YOU GET STARTED,
WE HAVE GOT DEVON SILVER NAIL
AT 40, AT EVAN WRIGHT IS 41 AND
COULD I PLEASE ASK THOSE IN THE
BACK WHO ARE -- HAVE THEIR CELL
PHONES ONTO EITHER MUTE OR --
NOT BE WATCHING THE GAME WHILE
THIS IS GOING ON.
SO, WE HAVE SEAN, GOOD TO SEE
YOU AGAIN, AND THEN DEVON, THEN
LAURA, 41.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
JOHN SMITH I AM THE EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS COORDINATOR FOR
OCCUPIED NICHOLASVILLE VILLAGE.
WE ARE HERE WITH A VERY SIMPLE
ASK TONIGHT.
IT HAS BEEN PAINFULLY CLEAR
SINCE OCTOBER, OR APRIL, WHEN
OUR VILLAGE WAS INVADED, AND
THE MANAGEMENT TAKEN AWAY FROM
US, THAT TRUE SELF-MANAGEMENT
IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CITY,
OR HST.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO
DO IS SUPPORT REAL SELF-
MANAGEMENT.
WE ARE ASKING YOU, TO ALLOW
NORTH LIKE TO STAY IN PLACE AS
A SELF MANAGED COMMUNITY WITH A
RELIGIOUS SPONSOR.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO HELP US
FIND A LOCATION ON CITY LAND,
AND WE WILL FIND A RELIGIOUS
SPONSOR.
WE DON'T NEED THE CITY FUNDING
IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ON THE
HARD WORK THAT WE DO DAILY.
OUR JOB IS TO SAVE LIVES. LET'S
GET BACK TO IT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SEAN.
CAN I ASK DEVON, AND THEN LAURA
WRIGHT AND JESSICA, NUMBER 42,
TO APPROACH THE MICROPHONES?
PLEASE GO AHEAD, DEVON.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME IS DEVON SILVER NAIL,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE, WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION
THAT AMONG OTHER THINGS IS
TENANT RIGHTS TRAINING,
EDUCATION, AND ORGANIZING IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I AM HERE TONIGHT, BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS, WE
HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY
IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR
DISTRICTS AND PROVIDED TENANT
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WORK
THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED
TENANTS RIGHTS BOOT CAMP.
OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS WE
HAVE DONE 45 OF THOSE ACROSS
SEATTLE, WE HAVE DONE THAT ON A
VERY MINIMAL BUDGET ON AN ALL
VOLUNTEER BASIS, ALL OF OUR
DONATIONS HAS COME THROUGH
SMALL DOLLAR DONATIONS FROM
PEOPLE HERE IN SEATTLE.
AND, THROUGH THAT WORK WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO HELP HUNDREDS, AND
UTTERLY EVEN THOUSANDS OF
TENANTS GET EDUCATION.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP
TENANTS FOR REPAIR ISSUES,
WORKING WITH FOLKS FROM THE
BRAIN DEPARTMENT ON THEIR
ISSUES AS WELL.
AND, I AM COMING HERE BECAUSE
WE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DOING
THAT WORK IN A CONSISTENT WAY,
WE NEED TO HAVE A BIGGER
BUDGET.
SO, WE ARE ASKING THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET THIS YEAR, A DEFINED
TENANT RIGHTS BOOT CAMP, THAT
YOU EXPAND THIS KIND OF
OUTREACH WORK WE ARE DOING, TO
HELP TENANTS IN THE CITY.
I ALSO WANTED TO COME HERE AS
COCHAIR OF THE SEATTLE RENTERS
COMMISSION, A COMMISSION THAT
RECOMMENDED TO EVERYTHING THE
PERSON APPEAR, IN APRIL, TO
SUPPORT RENT CONTROL IN
SEATTLE.
WE DID NOT ACTUALLY JUST
RECOMMEND COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
SO, I KNOW THAT FOR REASONS YOU
AREN'T ABLE TO COME TO THE
MEETING ON MONDAY, FOR THE
RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE, BUT I
DO RECOGNIZE -- I DO HAVE THESE
BEAUTIFUL PETITIONS FOR YOU.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WE
TALK YOU ARE A TENANT ADVOCATE
SO I KNOW YOU WILL LIKE THESE.
I HAVE ONE HERE FOR YOU
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, AND I
HAVE LEARNED FOR YOU
COUNCILMEMBER BACK SHOP.
JUST READ THESE STORIES, I THINK
THEY ARE GOING TO TOUCH YOU AND
I KNOW YOU WILL MAKE THE RIGHT
DECISION AND SUPPORT US IN
SEATTLE FOR RENT CONTROL,
BECAUSE WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> RENT CONTROL.
>> AND WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
>> NOW.
>> WHAT WE WANT?
>> RENT CONTROL?
>> WHEN WE WANTED.
>> NOW.
>> LAURA JUST A MOMENT PLEASE,
JESSICA IS 42 IF YOU WILL LINE
UP AND EMILY, 43.
I POINT
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBER,
MY NAME IS LAURA WRIGHT.
I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
EDUCATOR AND NONPROFIT LEADER
PROBABLY REPRESENTING GREENER
BEACH HIGH SCHOOL AND THE
RAINIER BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD
WHERE HER I HAVE LIVED FOR 13
YEARS.
I AM HERE TODAY IN SOLIDARITY
AND SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET MOVEMENT, AND I WOULD
LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT UP TO
PARTICULAR BUDGET MOVEMENT ITEM
ON THE BUBBLE -- ON THE BUDGET.
THE RAINIER BEACH SCHOOLS
PROGRAM.
IT HAS BEEN 55 YEARS SINCE
FREEDOMS SUMMER WHEN YOUNG
REVOLUTIONARIES SOUGHT TO
DISMANTLE THE MERCILESS WHITE
THE PREMISES DOMESTIC TERRORIST
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
BY STRATEGIC MOBILIZATION
THROUGH FREEDOM SCHOOLS, VOTER
REGISTRATION, AND THE CREATION
OF THE MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
55 YEARS LATER HERE WE ARE TO
CONTINUE TO MYSTIC TERRORISM
AGAINST LICHEN BROWN LIVES, WE
KNOW THAT SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS IS ONE OF THE MOST
INEQUITABLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
THUS, SUMMER IS A CRITICAL TIME
TO NOT ONLY ENSURE THE MARGINAL
IS STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-
QUALITY PROGRAMMING BUT ALSO
THE TIME TO INNOVATE AND
MOBILIZE AGAINST RACIAL
INJUSTICE PARTICULARLY IN OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
FREEDOM SCHOOLS IT IS A HIGH-
IMPACT SOCIAL JUSTICE
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AND
LITERACY PROGRAM THAT HAS A
BECOME A CORNERSTONE OF YOUTH
LED ACTION AND EXCELLENCE IN
THE RAINIER BEACH COMMUNITY IN
2015.
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT LITERACY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT AND HAS RECENTLY
BECOME A POWERFUL TRAINING
GROUND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE,
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CIRCLE
KEEPERS.
I CAN OFFER SUPPORT TO ENSURE
HUNDREDS CAN HAVE FREEDOM
SCHOOLS.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION IT IS
THROUGH THIS FREEDOM SCHOOL
INITIATIVE THAT WHEN SCHOLARS
DECIDED TO PROTEST AGAINST THE
INEQUITABLE LOCKS ON POLICY NOW
WE HAVE THE VICTORY OF BEING
THE LARGEST CITY IN THIS
COUNTRY PROVIDING FREE YEAR-
ROUND ROTATION DUE TO THE WORK
OF OUR FREEDOM SCHOOLS PROGRAM,
PLEASE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN
MOVEMENT LIKE FREEDOM SCHOOLS
POINT
>> THANK YOU.
>> JESSICA AND THEN EMILY AND
THEN KIM, NUMBER 44?
>> HI, MY NAME IS JESSICA
STELZER, AND I AM HERE AS A
PRIVATE CITIZEN FROM DISTRICT
3, HAPPY TO SAY THAT, WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
I AM ALSO A PART WHILE WORKING
WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
GROUPS HERE HE TALKED ABOUT A
BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT
I ALSO SUPPORT.
AND I HAVE A LIST OF THINGS
THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR ME, BUT
I WANT TO SEE FUNDED MORE IN
2020.
SO, I STAND WITH THE ORCA FOR
ALL GROUP THAT CAME UP HERE, I
DEFINITELY THINK THAT WE NEED
THAT IN SEATTLE, AND ALSO WE
DESPERATELY NEED RENT CONTROL
SO I AM A PART OF THAT MOVEMENT
AS WELL.
I AM ALSO HERE WITH A POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP THAT I
THOUGHT WAS GOING TO SPEAK BUT
THEY ARE NOT UP HERE, WE HAVE A
LOT OF GOOD IDEAS, TO MAKE
POLICE MORE ACCOUNTABLE, A FEW
OF THEM ARE TO HAVE A DATABASE,
LIKE THE POLICE HAVE FOR
CRIMINALS, WE WOULD HAVE IT FOR
POLICE.
AS WELL AS HAVING POLICE LIVE
IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY
PATROL, AS WELL AS HAVING
POLICE SERVE THE COMMUNITY, IN
SOME FORM, I.E.
THROUGH SOCIAL WORK, TEACHER,
EMT, FIREFIGHTER BEFORE YOU CAN
BECOME A POLICEMAN, THOSE ARE
SOME IDEAS IN THE WORKS RIGHT
NOW.
I ALSO AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
SWITCHING OVER TO GREEN
INDUSTRY, AND MAKING SURE THAT
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE FOSSIL
FUEL INDUSTRY CAN BE GIVEN NEW
JOBS IN THE GREEN INDUSTRY, AND
I SUPPORT BASICALLY ANY PLANS
THAT THE USE CLIMATE MOVEMENT
OR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OR PEOPLE
OF COLOR HAVE COME UP WITH.
ALSO, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED
ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, AND MASS
SHOOTINGS.
AND, I KNOW THAT AT ANY RANDOM
TIME I COULD BECOME A VICTIM OF
GUN VIOLENCE, AND IN
WASHINGTON, I AM GLAD THAT WE
HAVE EXTREME RISK PROTECTION
ORDERS, WHICH ALLOW FAMILY
MEMBERS TO FEEL ANOTHER FAMILY
MEMBER IS A DANGER TO THEM OR
OTHERS TO PETITION THE COURT TO
HAVE THE GUNS TEMPORARILY
REMOVED, THE PROBLEM, THOUGH,
IS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH
FUNDING TO GET INFO OUT ABOUT
THESE ERP IS AND I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE SEATTLE GET THE
INFORMATION IN THE BUDGET
EASILY OUT AND AVAILABLE TO
EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
JESSICA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> EMILY?
FINALLY, ARE YOU SPEAKING AS A
GROUP?
>> I DON'T REALLY NEED FIVE
MINUTES.
>> OKAY.
YOU GET A STAR.
>> THANK YOU, FOR ALLOWING ME
TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN
TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS KIM LUNDGREN, AND I
AM HERE WITH THE VIETNAMESE
SENIOR CREW FROM THE ENEMY'S
SENIOR ASSOCIATION.
AGAIN, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK
ALL OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS,
ESPECIALLY CITY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT WHO HAS SUPPORTED US FOR
THE LAST YEAR.
GRANTING US FUND, WE CAN GET
TICKETS THAT HELP US WITH
TRANSPORTATION, SO THAT WE CAN
BUT DISSIPATE IN PARTICULARLY
THOSE PROVIDING ACTIVITY AND
CULTURAL BILL PROGRAMS.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BE OUT OF THE
HOUSE, THAT PREVENT US IT HAS
HELPED US HAVING A HEALTHY
LIFE.
AND, THE REASON FOR THE
VILLAGE, CANADA AND OREGON
WHERE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO
LEARN ABOUT AMERICAN CUSTOMS
AND CULTURE.
TONIGHT, MAKING A BIG
DIFFERENCE FOR OUR LIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU AND
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
DID EMILY, NUMBER 43, DID SHE
LEAVE US?
EMILY?
OKAY.
45 IS BARBARA FINNEY, THEN ADAM
AT 46, AND CHRIS VAN OF 47.
>> AND BARBARA FINNEY, MORE
THAN HALF OF PEOPLE ARE RENTERS
AND RENTS ARE SKYHIGH.
FUNDING TINY HAS VILLAGES WOULD
DIVIDE CRITICAL LIFE-SAVING
HOMES TO PEOPLE WHO SLEEP
OUTSIDE IN SEATTLE.
THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
NAVIGATION TEAMS SWEEPS ARE
CRUEL AND WASTEFUL.
COUNSEL USES THE 10 MILLION
SPENT ON SUITES, INSTEAD FOR
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
THE RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 23,
WITH 250 ATTENDEES,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YOU ARE A
MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE, BUT
DID NOT ATTEND OR SEND A STAFF
MEMBER IN YOUR PLACE.
A CONSTITUENTS OF YOURS WERE
HERE, AND TOLD STORIES ABOUT
STRUGGLING TO PAY THE RENT, AND
WHY THEY URGENTLY SUPPORT RENT
CONTROL.
WE PRESENT A PETITION SIGNED BY
12,000 PEOPLE, AND HOPE THAT
YOU WILL READ THERE WHAT THEY
SAY, THE LABOR UNION A FTE
ADMISSION, AND THE SEATTLE
MECHANIC SOCIALIST OF AMERICA
AND THE SEATTLE TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION.
RESOLUTION.
WE CALL ON YOU TO ENDORSE
CITYWIDE ORDINANCE FREE OF
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES.
WHAT DO WE NEED?
>> RENT CONTROL.
>> WHEN DO WE NEED IT?
>> NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
46, ADAM AND THEN 40 SECOND,
CHRIS VAN . WE REPRESENT 5000
ACADEMIC STUDENT EMPLOYEES AND
OVER THOUSAND POSTDOCS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
IT IS TIME FOR A PEOPLE'S
BUDGET IN SEATTLE.
PAYING ABOUT HALF OF THEIR
WAGES TO THE LANDLORD, THAT
MEANS PEOPLE ARE SCRAPING BY.
GOING TO HEALTHCARE OR OTHER
BASIC NECESSITIES FOR OUR
PAYCHECK.
WE KNOW THIS SITUATION IS
UNSUSTAINABLE.
WE NEED THIS BOND SO THAT WE
CAN BUILD A LOT MORE QUALITY,
PUBLICLY OWNED UNION BUILT
ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND, WE NEED THIS TO KEEP THE
CITY LIVABLE FOR WORKING PEOPLE.
WE ALSO NOW, THAT BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT
ENOUGH.
THE CORPORATE DEVELOPERS
BUILDING LUXURY APARTMENT AFTER
LUXURY APARTMENT, AND WAS
WORKING PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF
COLOR, AND LGBTQ PEOPLE BEING
RAPIDLY GENTRIFIED OUT OF OUR
OWN CITY.
WITH RENT AVERAGING OVER $2000
PER MONTH, IT IS CLEAR.
SEATTLE NEEDS RENT CONTROL.
COUNCILMEMBER PACHECO IS A
DISTRICT FOR WORKER I WAS
DISAPPOINTED YOU DID NOT ATTEND
THE SEPTEMBER 23 COMMITTEE
MEETING ON RENT CONTROL AND
WHERE IS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER
NOW?
WHY IS HE NOT HERE TO LISTEN TO
THE PEOPLE'S NEEDS?
AS WE SAID OVER 12,000 PEOPLE
HAVE SIGNED OUR RENT CONTROL
PETITION AND MY UNION AT 20
OTHER LABOR ORGANIZATIONS,
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS MOVEMENT, OUR
VOICES MATTER, YOU AND OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS NEED TO HEAR OUR
STORIES AND SUPPORT OUR
STRUGGLE TO RENT CONTROL, THAT
IS WHY WE ARE DELIVERING A COPY
OF THE PETITION SIGNATURES, TO
COUNCILMEMBER PACHECO'S OFFICE
TONIGHT.
HE IS STILL -- HE STOOD WITH US
BEFORE AT THE MEMBER SESSION
WHILE THE POSTDOCS ARE FIGHTING
FOR A CONTRACT AND WE ASK YOU
TO STAND WITH US AGAIN NOW.
>> THANK YOU ADAM.
CHRIS AND I, THEN IMAGING
WILLIAMS AND TIFFANY McCOY.
THAT'S NUMBER 47, 48, AND 49
POINT
>> THANK YOU.
EXCUSE ME.
IS THAT ON?
THANK YOU.
MADAM CHAIR AND -- I AM A
CONSULTANT IN THE TAXICAB
INDUSTRY, I AM A CONSULTANT TO
EASTSIDE FOR HIRE.
THERE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO
SAID THERE WAS NO CEO HERE.
I AM GERMAN PRESENT CEO OF THAT
CARD TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION,
APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
BUT, LAST NIGHT, I MAY HAVE
LEFT YOU WITH THE IMPRESSION,
THAT WE IN THE INDUSTRY HAVE
BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR 12
YEARS, ARE OPPOSED TO DRIVER
EQUITY WE ARE OPPOSED TO A
PROPOSAL THAT RAISES FARES ON
CUSTOMERS BUT TAKES THAT FAIR
INCREASE, AND DOES NOT PUT
EVERY PENNY OF IT, IN THE
DRIVER'S POCKET.
WE THINK IT IS ENTIRELY
DISINGENUOUS TO TAKE THAT
REVENUE, AND PUT IT IN OTHER
CITY PROJECTS, THAT MAY OR MAY
NOT BENEFIT THE DRIVER TO
UNDERCUT CURRENT CONDITIONS IS
BEING FORCED TO WORK OR HAS TO
WORK AT WHAT ANY ACCOUNTANT
WILL TELL YOU IS LESS THAN THE
COST OF OPERATION.
OUR INDUSTRY IN THE TAXI
INDUSTRY, OUR VEHICLES SIT IDLE
BECAUSE THE CITY MANDATES WE
OPERATE AT 260 AS OF A MILE.
UNDER CHAPTER 4060 SET FARES AT
A DOLLAR 75 PER MILE.
THIS WHOLE GREAT WONDERFUL
PACKAGE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
SOUNDS NICE. AND IF I WAS NOT
67, AND HAD NOT BEEN 50 YEARS
AROUND THE BLOCK, AROUND THE
POLITICAL BLOCK, I WOULD THINK
IT WAS JUST A RATHER DEPRAVED
ATTEMPT TO FILL A BUDGET HOLE,
THAT CANNOT BE FILLED WITH A
LESS KNOWLEDGEABLE SOURCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHRIS.
IMA JEAN WILLIAMS, AND TIFFANY
McCOY, 49, AND THEN WE WILL GO
ON TO JOYCE MONTY ON 50.
IMA JEAN IS HERE, FOR 48, THEN
TIFFANY.
YEAH.
>> APRIL'S BUDGET, PROGRAMS TO
HELP THE PEOPLE OF OUR DIVERSE
CITY, WHICH WE ARE SO PROUD OF,
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, HEAT,
SHOWERS, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE
GOING TO DO WITH THE HEAD
PACKS, IN CASE HE SHOULD
REMEMBER.
HELPS PEOPLE TO FEEL DIGNITY.
IF WE CAN GET MORE TINY HAS
VILLAGES, WE WILL SEE THE
NUMBERS OF OUR HOMELESS DECREASE
, AT LONG LAST, AT LONG LAST.
FREEDOM SCHOOL IN THE SUMMER,
TO MAKE THINGS MORE FAIR FOR
OUR KIDS. YOU KNOW, THE
CORPORATIONS GIVE CASH GIFTS TO
THE SCHOOLS.
IS IT FAIR AND EQUAL?
OF COURSE NOT.
FREEDOM SUMMER SCHOOL WOULD
BEGIN TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE
EQUAL.
IT IS A GOOD IDEA, AND WE
SHOULD DO IT.
LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANT
DIVERSION.
SOME OFFENDERS CAN BE HELPED
BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, WITH
COUNSELING AND TRAINING. WE
DON'T HAVE TO JUST LOCK THEM UP
AND THROW AWAY THE KEY, LIKE
SOME PLACES WHERE THEY DO.
ANY OF YOU EVER READ BRIAN
STEVENSON?
YOU DID?
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT.
WE WANT TO GO A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION HERE.
WE WANT TO HELP THE OFFENDER TO
COME BACK.
SO, THINK ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS
SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE THEY WILL
HELP OUR PEOPLE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TIFFANY IS 49, JOYCE MONTY
IS 50, AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE
WE HAVE NICHOLS HILL TINY
HOUSE, NUMBER 53.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS TIFFANY McCOY, I AM
THE LEAD ORGANIZER FOR REAL
CHANGE, FOLKS ARE MANY OF YOU
HAVE TRIED TO FIND A TOILET
OUTSIDE IN SEATTLE AND BEEN
UNSUCCESSFUL?
AWESOME.
WELL, YES, VERY WELL KNOWN.
SO, REAL CHANGES ASKING FOR
FIVE MOBILE PITSTOPS TO BE
FUNDED IN THIS CITY BUDGET.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR AGREEING TO SPONSOR
THIS LEGISLATION, AND FOR
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT FOR
AGREEING TO COSPONSOR, AND I AM
HOPING MANY AGREE TO SIGN ONTO
THIS.
YOU HAVE ME IN EACH OF YOUR
INBOXES AND I HOPE THAT YOU GET
BACK TO ME IN VENDORS, TO TALK
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THESE
POSTCARDS THAT WE ARE
COLLECTING AROUND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, I WANT TO TAKE A
MINUTE TO READ A COUPLE OF THEM.
AND UNABLE TO READ THE TOILET.
ONE MOTHER WAS FROM POSTPARTUM
DEPRESSION AND HER BODY WAS
STILL RECOVERING FROM GIVING
BIRTH.
SHE COULD NOT FIND A PUBLIC
BATHROOM AT PLANTER SQUARE ON A
DAY WHEN SHE FINALLY CONVINCED
HERSELF TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.
SHE HAD TO GO BACK HOME.
ANOTHER WAS OUT WITH A FRIEND,
WHO WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR, AND
CANNOT FIND A BATHROOM THAT WAS
ACCESSIBLE.
THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE,
ESPECIALLY POST ADA.
ANOTHER HAD TO SEARCH FOR 30
MINUTES TO FIND A BATHROOM FOR
THEIR FAMILY, AND THEY HAD TO
END UP LEAVING DOWNTOWN JUST TO
FIND A BATHROOM.
HER SON ENDED UP POOPING HIS
PANTS.
ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL SAID TUESDAY
MORNING, LUCKILY THEY FOUND A
STARBUCKS AND SINCE THEY WERE
WHITE AND THEY WERE NOT
HARASSED BY THE EMPLOYEES ARE
GLARED AT, THIS IS A FREQUENT
OCCURRENCE, I HAVE HUNDREDS
MORE OF THESE, I PLAN TO SHARE
THEM ALL THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET.
I WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE FOR
AN ITEM FOR AN ACTION HEARING,
WE WILL BE BRINGING IN PENNY
BUCKETS AND POO ENERGIES ALL
OVER THE PLACE, COME TALK TO
CITY COUNCIL UP ABOUT WHY WE
NEED TO FUND PUBLIC TOILETS
FINALLY.
DISTRICT FROM HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION WHICH IS AN ENDORSER
OF THIS CAMPAIGN, THE
ADJUSTMENT DOWNSTAIRS, COUNCIL
MEMBER BRADSHAW, YOU WILL BE
EXPECTING A LETTER IN YOUR
BALANCING PACKAGE.
EVERYBODY NEEDS A PLACE TO GO,
CHEERS.
>> THANK YOU TIFFANY NICE TO
SEE YOU.
>> EVENING, I'M JOYCE MODI,
ADVOCATE FOR THE SEATTLE PEA
PATCH COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM.
I WANT TO EXPRESS THE SUPPORT
FOR THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL
ALLOCATING $3 MILLION OF THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX MONIES
FOR THE PEA PATCH COMMUNITY
GARDEN ENHANCEMENT IN
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS ONE-TIME EXPENDITURE WOULD
BE A LIFE PRESERVER TO ENABLE
THE CITY TO SAVE THE BALLOT PEA
PATCH FROM BUILDING DEVELOPMENT.
BALLOT PEA PATCH IS A STELLAR
EXAMPLE OF HOW A COMMUNITY
GARDEN BUILDS COMMUNITY,
CREATES PASSIVE URBAN REFUGE
FOR NEIGHBORS, AND ANNUALLY
CONTRIBUTES A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF PRODUCE TO THE
BALLARD FOOD BANK.
THE COMMUNITY GARDEN
PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT
FUND CAN ALSO AID IN GARDEN
RELOCATION, FOR OTHER
DEVELOPMENT THREATENED PEA
PATCHES SUCH AS THE IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION ON CAPITOL HILL, IN
DISTRICT 3. GROH ASKS THAT CITY
COUNCIL ALSO CONSIDER EXTENDING
THE ONE-YEAR TIMELINE FOR THE
EXPENDITURE OF THESE FUNDS, TO
ALLOW FOR ADEQUATE STAKEHOLDER
PARTICIPATION, IN APPLYING FOR
THE FUNDS.
ONE YEAR DOES NOT ALLOW ENOUGH
TIME FOR DEPARTMENT STAFF AND
SEATTLE BEVERAGE TAX BOARD TO
THOUGHTFULLY AND FAIRLY
ADMINISTER THE FUNDS FOR THE
PEA PATCH, FOR THE BEST
OUTCOME, AND WITH MAXIMUM
BENEFITS THROUGH LAND
ACQUISITION, RELOCATION, AND
CAPITAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
COMMUNITY GARDENS.
PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING THE
TIMELINE TO THREE YEARS.
THANK YOU.
AND GIVE THE NOMA HOME.
IS BUT I LIKE IT.
JOYCE, IS THERE A 53?
DOES SOMEBODY HAVE 53?
OKAY.
MOVING ONTO 54, IS IT DINO?
54?
55?
DID YOU SIGN UP, SIR?
WHEN IT GETS TO BE YOUR TURN WE
WILL LISTEN TO YOU.
55 IS JEAN DORSEY.
>> GOOD EVENING, FINALLY, WISH
I GOT HERE EARLIER.
I AM HERE TO SUBMIT A BUDGET
REQUEST. I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER
OF AN ALL VOLUNTEER --
VOLUNTEER TEAM CALLED THE
SCOFFLAW MITIGATION TEAM SINCE
2011.
AND, THANK YOU FOR HAVING YOUR
STAFF MEMBER MEET WITH US
TODAY, APPRECIATE IT.
AND ALSO, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
AS DATA SHOWS, WE CONTINUE TO
SEE BETWEEN A 32 JUST OVER A
HALF OF THE UN-SHELTERED
HOMELESS LIVING IN VEHICLES IN
KING COUNTY.
THE LARGEST SEGMENT IS IN
SEATTLE.
AT PRESENT, THERE IS NO FUNDING
EFFORT, INTENTIONAL OUTREACH TO
VEHICLE RESIDENTS OF ANY
SUBSTANTIAL NATURE.
THAT WILL PROVIDE THEM HARM
RELIEF AND A POSSIBLE PAST TWO
EXIT THEIR VEHICLES. WE HAVE
PERFORMED SCOFFLAW MITIGATION
SINCE 2011, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE SEATTLE PARKING
ENFORCEMENT, AND THE SEATTLE
MUSICAL COURT, WE FURTHER
ADVISE FUNDED NONPROFITS WHO
ENCOUNTER VEHICLE RESIDENTS,
AND HAVE NO STAFF TRAINED TO
ADDRESS THEM.
WE NOW WORK WITH LEAD AND
REACH, THERE WE REMAIN UNFUNDED.
THIS PROPOSAL ASKS YOU FIND THE
SCOFFLAW MITIGATION, TO INCLUDE
ATTENDANT HARM REDUCTION
OPTIONS, AND THAT THE DOWNTIME
BETWEEN SCOFFLAW REFERRALS, WE
DON'T GET THEM EVERY DAY, WILL
BE UTILIZED TO DO INTENTIONAL
VEHICLE OUTREACH, GIVEN
SPENDING ON HOMELESSNESS
EFFORTS, THIS MIGHT BE THE
PROGRAM OFFERING THE MOST FOR
THE LEAST.
AND OF COURSE, IT WOULD BE THE
ONLY INTENTIONAL OUTREACH TO
VEHICLE RESIDENTS BEYOND
CLEANING TRASH ADJACENT TO RVS.
PLEASE ASK US FOR MORE
INFORMATION ON HOW THIS WILL
WORK.
YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT
WHEN COORDINATED ENTRY FOR ALL
WILL REQUIRE CREATING PATHWAYS
FOR VEHICLE RESIDENTS, DUE TO
HUD RULES, WHICH HAS NOT
OCCURRED TO DATE.
THE SEPARATE KIND OF EFFORT
WOULD ALLOW THE CEA TO MEET
THAT REQUIREMENT IN SEATTLE.
VEHICLE RESIDENTS ARE SIMPLE
NOT GETTING INTO THE SYSTEM, SO
THEY ARE NOT BEING COUNTED.
>> THANK YOU, JANE.
BUT I HAVE MY BUDGET ASK HERE.
>> 56 IS ERIN RANTS, AND IT
LOOKS LIKE 57, 58 HAVE CROSSED
THEIR NAMES OFF.
59 IS MATT McGREGOR.
SO, ERIN IS NEXT, HI.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ERIN RANTS,
AND THANKS FOR LISTENING.
I AM HERE AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
AND THE BUDGET, IS $12 MILLION
FOR THEM THIS YEAR AT 17
PERCENT, INCREASING LAST TIME,
IT WOULD BE BETTER FOCUSED ON
MORE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, AND
STATE PARKING, AREAS OVER THE
NAVIGATION TEAM, AND CLEANUP
CREWS.
SALARIES AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT
FOR THOSE WHICH TAKE UP A CHUNK
OF THE BUDGET, THE NAVIGATION
TEAM IS NOT DOING MUCH TO
IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
LIVING OUTSIDE THE CLEANUPS,
THE SWEEPS ARE DESIGNED TO WEAR
DOWN THE RESOLVE OF PEOPLE,
JUST TRYING TO EXIST IN THIS
INCREASINGLY CORPORATIZED CITY,
AND MOVE THEM TO SHELTER OR
AWAY FROM SEATTLE.
BUT, YOU WILL FIND THAT PUSHING
PEOPLE FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND
THROWING AWAY THEIR BELONGINGS
DOES NOT IMPROVE THEIR LIVES OR
MAKE THEM GO AWAY.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT PEOPLE'S
NEED FOR INDEPENDENCE AND
AUTONOMY IN THEIR LIVING
SITUATIONS.
AND, RESPOND ACCORDINGLY WITH
SITUATIONS LIKE SAFE PARKING
AND TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, AND
OTHER SOLUTIONS WHICH I AM NOT
MENTIONING, BECAUSE THEY NEED
TO COME FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND, OF COURSE, MORE MONEY FOR
HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED APARTMENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IS MATT McGREGOR NUMBER 59?
EXCELLENT., AFTERMATH, WE HAVE
60, JOHN PERKINS.
AND 61, LOOKS LIKE DEL
PATTERSON.
>> THANK YOU, HI.
THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING TIME
TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
I SUPPORT RENT CONTROL, AND
RENTERS RIGHTS, THANK YOU FOR
RECENTLY PASSING MORE RENTERS
RIGHTS, BUT, WE ALSO NEED TO
FUND EDUCATION AROUND THOSE
RIGHTS, AND HOW PEOPLE CAN
ACCESS THEM.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE TO
PLEASE ALSO INCLUDE RENTERS AND
TENANTS RIGHTS BOOT CAMPS IN
THE CITY AND HELP PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE
THOSE RIGHTS.
WE WILL HAVE ALL THE
ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD OF
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO
NAVIGATE IT IT DOESN'T HELP
ANYONE.
WE ALSO NEED TO FIND THE
EDUCATION SECTOR AROUND THAT,
ALSO, PLEASE GET MORE FUNDING
TO THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE ARE
DISSEMINATED AGAINST, AND HAVE
COMPLAINTS, THEY NEED TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE THOSE
INVESTIGATED, AND RIGHT NOW,
THEY ARE BACKLOGGED AND DO NOT
HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
SO, I WOULD URGE YOU, TO PLEASE
GIVE MORE MONEY TO THE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS, AND THE GREAT
WORK THAT THEY DO.
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN, I KNOW
YOU MISSED THE MEETING, BUT I
KNOW YOU ARE A GUY WITH A BIG
HEART, SO I WANT YOU TO PLEASE
TAKE SOME TIME TO READ THESE.
[ LAUGHTER ] STORIES OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR RENT
CONTROL LIKE I AM, MOST OF YOU
KNOW ME AND YOU KNOW THAT I AM
PASSIONATE ABOUT CITY AND DO
ALL THAT I CAN TO HELP THIS
CITY AND OUR RESIDENCE, AND I
AND MY FAMILY ARE SOMEONE WHO
WITHOUT RENT CONTROL MAY NO
LONGER BE UP TO LIVE IN THE
CITY.
SOON.
SO, PLEASE FIGHT FOR RENT
CONTROL.
WHAT DO WE NEED?
>> RENT CONTROL.
>> WHEN WE NEED IT?
>> NOW.
>> THANK YOU MATT.
JOHN?
JOHN PERKINS?
GOOD TO SEE YOU, DEL PATTERSON,
AND THEN TAKE A HOAX.
>> THANK YOU COUNSEL AGAIN.
SIX DAYS, 1789, 2018, 2019 30
REGO, 1789, THE TOWN'S
CONSTITUTION WAS DRAFTED, THEY
FORGOT A FEW THINGS, CITIZENS
ORGANIZED AND ADDED 10
AMENDMENTS, SO IT WAS CLEAR IN
THE PUBLIC DOCUMENT WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT INTENDED FOR
PEOPLE'S RIGHTS.
2075, THE STATE PASSED A
REFERENDUM TO RAISE LOTS OF
MONEY PART OF WHICH CAME TO THE
CITY TO BUY CERTAIN PROPERTIES,
WHICH THE CITY BEGAN TO SHARE
OWNERSHIP WITH WITH NONPROFITS.
1975, WEST ALLMOND, WHO IS A
MODEL MAYOR, IF ANY MAYORS ARE
CURRENTLY IN OFFICE, WOULD LIKE
A LESSON ON HOW TO DO THIS
OFFICE, CONSULT HIS
DEMONSTRATION.
TREMENDOUS GOODWILL,
PARTICULARLY FROM PROPERTY I
REPRESENT, TO MUTUALLY
OFFSETTING BENEFIT PROPERTY
WHICH SHARES THE WORK OF THOSE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
RETURNED FOR A REASONABLE RENT
AT THE CITY.
THE CITY NAMED LANDOWNERS
RESPONSIBLE FOR INITIATING
REPAIRS AND UPKEEP.
FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, OUR
ORGANIZATION THE CENTRAL AREA
SENIOR CENTER HAS SPENT OF ITS
OWN FUNDS $685,000, WHICH, BY
PRACTICE OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN
FROM THE CITY.
MAYORS OF MENSTRUATION SAID
THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO GIVE
DEED CONTROL TO THESE
PROPERTIES.
IN 2018, IT WAS NOT IN THE
BUDGET, THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL
WITH A PASSED RESOLUTION
3.51816, SO THE PUBLIC AND
FOLLOW ALL THE DISSONANCE, IT
IS NOT IN WRITING, SO SOMEONE
COULD SAY WE DON'T HAVE TO DO
IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO IDENTIFY HERE.
IN 2019, AGAIN, IT IS NOT IN
THE MAYOR'S BUDGET.
PLEASE, PUT IT IN WRITING.
TAKE ANOTHER RESOLUTION.
I DON'T KNOW THE LANGUAGE, BUT
GET IT IN WRITING SO THE PUBLIC
CAN FOLLOW THE PUBLIC BUSINESS.
>> THANK YOU.
DEL PATTERSON AND JAMES LAUFER?
61, 62, 63.
I DO NOT SEE DEL, PEGGY, YOU
ARE UP.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
PEGGY HODES, I AM IN A CULTURAL
FOUNDER AND VOLUNTEER.
I AM COMMENTING TODAY FROM THE
MAYORS HUMAN SERVICES OF A
PROPOSED BUDGET.
ON PAGE 182, THERE IS AN INCA
MENTAL BUDGET CHANGE, TITLED
RESIZING TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS A
DESPERATE NEED FOR MORE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES THIS PROPOSAL
INCLUDES A WHOPPING $1,200,000
PLUS, TO SHUT DOWN AND REMOVES
TWO TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
THIS IS INSANE.
IN FACT I ALMOST WONDER IF IT
IS A TYPO.
WE OPPOSE A CLOSURE OF BOTH THE
TWO VILLAGES THREATENED, ONE IS
NICHOLS WILL TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE, NORTH LAKE.
NICHOLS WILL NORTHLAKE CAN
CONTINUE RUNNING WITH GRACE
LUTHERAN CHURCH AS ITS SPONSOR,
THIS ARRANGEMENT ONLY REQUIRES
THE LAND AND THE CITIES
OPERATING COST, THE RESIDENTS
WOULD BE THRILLED TO GET AWAY
FROM THE HARASSMENT AND
INTIMIDATION THEY HAVE SUFFERED
FROM AGES D AND LEHIGH AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WOULD BE SAVING
MONEY.
IT IS A WIN-WIN.
AND, YES, WE NEED MORE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
BUT, HST'S PROMOTION OF ONE
ORGANIZATION, LEHIGH, TO HOLD A
MONOPOLY OVER EVERY TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE AND THE CITY IS JUST NOT
BEST PRACTICE.
AND YOU KNOW IT.
THANK YOU.
MISTER LOCKARD?
>> JUST JAMES, I DON'T GO BY
MISTER ORSER.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JAMES LOCKHART,
AND I WORK WITH THE
ORGANIZATION CALLED DRIVE
FORWARD.
I AM ALSO GOING TO SAY I WANT
TO SPEAK WITH MYSELF AS WELL,
SO THE GOOD THINGS THAT I SAY
AS DRIVE FORWARD, THE BAD
THINGS I SAY WOULD BE ME.
FIRST OF ALL, THE -- WHAT IS
BACK UP. GHT, TAXES, LET ME
DEACTIVATION, AND HOURLY RATE
SHOULD BE SEPARATE FROM THE
TAXES.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE DNC.
THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE
SEPARATE, THEY SHOULD NOT BE
THE SAME.
I HAVE BEEN DOING WRITING --
RIDESHARE FOR THREE YEARS NOW.
I BELIEVE THAT THE ONES WHO SAY
THEY ARE NOT MAKING AND EARNING
WITH THIS ARE NOT DOING IT
PROPERLY.
LAST YEAR, I GROSSED OVER
$100,000.
WHICH IS A RECORD FOR ME,
WORKING FOR MYSELF.
SO, THE THING I DO NOT
UNDERSTAND IS, I AGREE WITH THE
HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE HOUSING.
I AGREE WITH THE HOMELESSNESS,
AND ALL THE TRANSIT AND ALL
THAT STUFF, WHAT I DON'T AGREE
WITH, IS WHY ARE WE BEING TAXED,
WHY DO WE AS RIDESHARE PEOPLE
HAVE TO PAY FOR, BECAUSE THERE
IS NOTHING THERE FOR US.
WE PUT ON THE TABLE, A $27.50
BASED PAY, THAT WOULD BENEFIT
DRIVERS AND BRING BENEFITS TO
DRIVERS DIRECTLY AND IT WAS
TOSSED ASIDE BEFORE ANYBODY
LOOK AT IT.
I BELIEVE THE UNION IS GIVEN A
LOT OF FAKE NEWS ON THE
THICKNESS TO ME IS A LIE, THEY
HAVE BEEN TELLING THESE
DRIVERS, DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES
STUFF THAT THEY SAID THEY WERE
GOING TO DO AND THEY CAN DO AND
THEY CANNOT DO IT FOR THEM.
I AM ASKING A LOOK AT WHAT
DRIVE FORWARD COMMITTEE PUT ON
THE TABLE BRING US TO THE TABLE
WITH HOUSING, TRANSIT, AND
UNION, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THIS BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
RICHARD?
NUMBER 64?
CALVIN JONES NUMBER 65, AND
RAYMOND LEE, 66.
>> 64?
>> YES.
IF YOU ARE RICHARD, YOU ARE UP.
>> MY NAME IS RICHARD BROWDER,
AND I DRIVE MY CAR FOR LYFT.
I'M A RIDESHARE DRIVER.
I DO PRETTY GOOD.
MAYBE NOT QUITE THAT GOOD. I
HID OVER 18,000 RIDES IN THE
LAST FOUR YEARS.
AND, I GOT TO KNOW A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
IN THE CITY.
THE THING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT
THIS TAX, IT ALMOST FEELS
PUNITIVE, BECAUSE WE WERE NOT A
PART OF THE PEOPLE, I DON'T
THINK IT IS FAIR, TODAY I HAD A
YOUNG LADY I HAD TO TAKE HIM
BECAUSE BUSES DON'T RUN IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE DAY, SO SHE COULD
TAKE A NAP BEFORE HER THREE
JOBS THAT SHE COULD PAY RENT.
I THINK THAT THE RENT CONTROL
WOULD BE WELL DESERVED BY THESE
PEOPLE.
I DO LIKE THIS JOB, I LIKE
PEOPLE, MORE OFTEN, THAN IT
USED TO BE, I GET A LINE RIDE
WHERE I PICKED THREE PEOPLE UP
AND TAKE THEM TO EITHER THE SAME
, OR WITHIN A FEW BLOCKS OF
EACH OTHER.
I HAVE A HYBRID CAR WITH 50
CENTS TO THE GALLON, I TAKE
SEVEN PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY NEED
TO GO, A LOT OF THEM TWO OR
THREE AT A TIME.
YOU CANNOT TELL ME THAT I AM
NOT LEAVING A SMALL AND --
SMALLER CARBON FOOTPRINT THAN
OTHER WAYS AND I GET TO SEE
PEOPLE SOMETIMES ON THESE
RIDESHARE KNOWLEDGE AND BECOME
FRIENDS.
AND, A GUARANTEE FOR DRIVING
DRIVERS I THINK IS REALLY BAD,
I DRESSED CAB MANY YEARS AGO,
MANY DECADES AGO IN ALASKA.
ONCE YOU KNOW YOUR THE TOWN AND
APPLY YOURSELF YOU CAN MAKE A
PRETTY GOOD LIVING AT THIS.
THE PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT
NOT MAKING THE MONEY, DON'T PAY
ATTENTION TO THE PATTERNS OF
THE TOWN, AND OR IN OUR SYSTEM
IF WE GET A RATING OF THREE
STARS OR BELOW YOU WILL NEVER
GET PAIRED WITH THAT PERSON
RIGHT OR DRIVER, AND SOME
DRIVERS WON'T GET PAIRED WITH
THEIR RIDES EVER AGAIN BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT DERIDED -- RATED
WELL.
>> CALVIN JONES, 65, THAT LOOKS
LIKE ANNA McCAULEY, 67 POINT
TWO WE HAVE 65?
NO?
66?
JUST RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU CAN
RECALL, SO THAT WE GIVE YOU
TIME TO GET UP HERE.
67?
68?
JOHNNY?
GOOD, THANK YOU.
JOHNNY, AFTER YOU IS JOSH
CASSEL, I KNOW YOU ARE HERE.
AND, HILLARY COLEMAN IS 70.
>> HIGH COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY
NAME IS JOHNNY I'M WITH SCOTT
GREEN AND I'M ROCKING WITH
ILLINOIS SEATTLE, I AM HERE TO
REJECT POLICING AND
SURVEILLANCE, THIS IS NOT WHAT
MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
LAST FRIDAY WE SAW THOUSANDS
EFFECTS OF THE CLIMATE STRIKE.
THEY WERE CALLING FOR A GREEN
NEW DEAL FOR SEATTLE.
WELL, A GREEN NEW DEAL IS ABOUT
TRANSFORMING THE EXTRACTIVE
ECONOMY, THE ECONOMY THAT
THRIVES ON PAIN AT PROFIT AND
INTO ONE IN THAT CENTERS ON
REGENERATION AND HEALING.
SO, WITH THIS LOGIC THE CITY
SHOULD NOT BE INVESTING IN MORE
POLICING AND SURVEILLANCES WITH
EPHESUS PATROLS.
INSTEAD THESE FUNDS COULD BE
USED TO SUPPORT REAL SOLUTIONS
TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
INCLUDING TRANSIT SO THE PUBLIC
AND TO THEIR HOMES, GET TO
THEIR HOODS, GET TO WHEREVER
THEY NEED TO BE.
INCLUDING FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT DISPLACEMENT OR
EVICTIONS OR STABILITY.
WHEN FOLKS TO BE WORKING
MULTIPLE JOBS TO KEEP A ROOF
OVER THEIR HEAD, WE ALL DESERVE
LIVING WAGES.
THAT IS WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY
MEANS IN MY COMMUNITY.
SO, LET'S STOP FINANCING HARM
AND REINVEST IN AN ECONOMY THAT
SERVES THE PLANET AND OUR
PEOPLE.
IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THE
CARBONIZED IN THE CITY WE HAVE
TO KEEP THE SAME ENERGY, AND
ALSO REMOVE THESE TOXIC SYSTEMS
THAT HURT OUR COMMUNITY LET'S
INVEST IN OUR FUTURES ANOTHER
SYSTEM THAT IS FAILING OUR
PEOPLE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
JOSH?
DO YOU HAVE A GROUP?
ALL FOR GOING TO SPEAK?
>> AS A GROUP, IS THAT OKAY?
>> YOU BET.
>> THANKS, GOOD EVENING
EVERYONE.
I WILL HANDED OVER TO BECCA
FIRST.
>> HI, I AM BACK I THINK IS AND
WORK WITH THE TINY HOUSE TEAM,
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU AND OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY FOR
THE FUNDING AND SUPPORT OF
EIGHT TINY HOUSE VILLAGES IN
SEATTLE.
AS YOU KNOW, TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES ARE THE PREFERRED
SHELTER FOR PEOPLE BEING SWEPT
IN THE NAVIGATION TEAM AND FOR
PEOPLE LIVING IN VEHICLES.
196 PEOPLE DIE OF LIVING ON THE
STREETS LAST YEAR, AND WE
BELIEVE AND HOPE THAT YOU DO AS
WELL, NO ONE SHOULD DIE FROM
HOMELESSNESS.
THESE VILLAGES SHELTER CLOSE TO
1000 PEOPLE PER YEAR, AND HALF
HIGH RATES OF ACCESS TO LONG-
TERM HOUSING COMPARED WITH
OTHER SHELTERS.
THEY ARE COST-EFFECTIVE,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE
RETROFITTING OF THE JAIL,
HARBORVIEW HALL AND THE
NAVIGATION CENTER.
CITY-OWNED PRIVATE AND FAITH-
BASED LAND EXISTS TO
ACCOMMODATE MORE VILLAGES
ALREADY.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY COST-
EFFECTIVE GIVEN THE THOUSANDS
OF VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS WHO
BUILD VILLAGES AND ARE EXCITED
TO GET READY TO DO IT AGAIN.
SITTING IN WAREHOUSES, GARAGES
WITH NO PLACE TO GO.
WE WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF $6
MILLION FROM THE SALE PROCEEDS
OF THE SOUTH LAKE UNION MEGA
BLOCK OR OTHER SOURCES TO
SUPPORT 10 NEW TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES WITH 20 TO 60 TINY
HOUSES IN EAST VILLAGE.
300 TO 500 NEW TINY HOUSES WILL
SHELTER AN ADDITIONAL 800 TO
1200 HOMELESS MEN WOMEN CHILDREN
AND KEEP THEM SAFE AND WARM HE
DID TINY HOUSES WITH FACILITIES.
PAID SITE COORDINATOR SIMILAR TO
JORDAN AND CAMPSITE ENTRANCE.
500 WOULD BE OFFERED ON A
SLIGHT REDUCTION MODEL WITH 27
STUFF INCLUDING BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SPECIALIST, WHO CAN HELP
PEOPLE ON THEIR PATH TO
TREATMENT AND RECOVERY.
ALL VILLAGES WILL HAVE ON-SITE
HOUSING NAVIGATORS AND CASE
MANAGERS, THE CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR OTHER SERVICES.
VOCATIONAL PROBLEMS PROGRAMS,
STUDENTS, POLISH ELDERS AND
OTHER GROUPS COMPANIES AND
INDIVIDUALS.
ALL VILLAGES WILL HAVE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF
BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORS, AND
FAITH PARTNERS THAT WERE
PRESENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND
THEM.
>> MY NAME IS NAOMI, AND I AM A
STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND A VOLUNTEER WITH
LEHIGH.
GEORGETOWN VILLAGE IS AN
EXAMPLE OF AN INCREDIBLE
VILLAGE ON CITY HOMELAND.
COUPLES WITH KIDS AND PEOPLES
WITH PETS.
THE VILLAGE IS SELF MANAGED AND
RUN BY RESIDENTS.
AND REFERRALS ARE MADE BY THE
NAVIGATION TEAM.
TWO CHURCHES HAVE ALREADY
OFFERED TO SPONSOR AND SUPPORT
THE VILLAGE.
KEEPING IT OPEN WILL SAVE
$600,000 INSTEAD OF SHUTTING
DOWN, MOVING, RELOCATING
EVERYONE TO SET UP A NEW VILLAGE
. SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE
EXTREMELY DISRUPTIVE FOR THE
PEOPLE LIVING THERE.
WHO CAME DIRECTLY FROM
HOMELESSNESS TO FORM A
TIGHTKNIT COMMUNITY AND STRONG
BONDS WITH NEIGHBORS,
BUSINESSES, LOCAL FAITH
ORGANIZATION AND TRUST
PROVIDERS.
THE VILLAGE IS PERFORMING
FAIRLY WELL WITH 39 PERCENT OF
RESIDENTS MOVING INTO PERMANENT
HOUSING COMPARED WITH OTHER
SHELTER PROBLEMS THAT RANGE
FROM FOUR PERCENT TO 20
PERCENT.
THE GEORGETOWN VILLAGE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
THE RESIDENCE, THE GEORGETOWN
NEIGHBORS HAVE EXPRESSED STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE VILLAGE TO STAY
OPEN.
AND, 71 PERCENT OF GEORGETOWN
NEIGHBORS SURVEYED SUPPORT
EXTENDING THE PERMIT.
FROM THE VILLAGES ENGAGEMENT,
WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO THE
CONTINUED COMMITMENT OF
EVERYONE WHO WALKS THROUGH
THEIR DOORS, SHINING EXAMPLE OF
THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WE
SHOULD ALL ASPIRE TO BE.
PLEASE KEEP IT OPEN.
>> I'M JOSH CASSEL, WITH LEHIGH.
I WANT TO ALSO PLEASE ASK THAT
YOU PASS COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
LEGISLATION.
TO AUTHORIZE MORE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES IN SEATTLE.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS ON
OCTOBER 17, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.
WE NEED A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
ORDINANCE TO PASS, BEFORE THE
END OF MARCH 2020, WHEN TEMPER
-- TEMPORARY CURRENT EXTENSIONS
EXPIRE FOR THE VILLAGES THAT
ARE NOT SPONSORED.
RESULTS IS SUPPORT MORE FUNDING
FOR THE FAMILIES FORCED TO LIVE
IN THEIR VEHICLES, AND WILL NOT
COUNT HERE OVER 2000 PEOPLE AND
19 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
HOMELESS WERE LIVING IN THEIR
VEHICLES.
WE ARE REQUESTING THE COUNCIL
TO ADD 382,000 AND FUNDING TO
SUPPORT SAFE PARKING.
THE UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS BOARD
RECENTLY VOTED TO SUPPORT SAFE
PARKING AND I WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER MUST GET A
CHECKUP FOR PARTICIPATING IN
THE FORUM A FEW MONTHS AGO TO
SUPPORT THAT.
I WILL JUMP BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE
A BIT OF TIME LEFT.
LEHIGH SUPPORTS THE REAL CHANGE
CAMPAIGN FOR 1.5 MILLION IN THE
BUDGET, TO FUND FIVE MOBILE
PITSTOPS, I WANT TO THANK ALL
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALL
YOUR SUPPORT OF TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES, AND FOR MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK MY
EXCELLENCE COUNCILMEMBER
INDUSTRY SIZE, FOR HER SUPPORT
OF THESE, AND THANK YOU AND
HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
70 IS HILLARY COLEMAN, THEN WE
HAVE ANDREW CONSTANTINE AT 71
AND MERRILL COUSIN AT 72.
HI.
>> HI, IT EVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS,
MY NAME IS HILLARY COLEMAN AND
I AM HERE TODAY AS STAFF WITH
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO MAYOR DURKIN
FOR INCLUDING THE REQUIRED
FUNDS IN HER BUDGET TO ADDRESS
HUMAN SERVICES CONTRACTS CAN
KEEP UP WITH INFLATION AND WE
TRULY THINK EACH AND EVERYONE
OF YOU FOR YOUR UNANIMOUS STARTS
IN JULY TO TAKE IS IMPORTANT
AND NECESSARY BUT NOT
SUFFICIENT STEP TO STABILIZE
THE VITAL WORK CARRIED OUT BY
HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDERS.
WE URGE YOU TO TAKE THE NEXT
STEPS TO CLOSE THE WAY TO GET
THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE SHELTER,
HOUSING, SKILLED OUTREACH, AND
GUERRILLA SOCIAL WORK SERVICES
BY ALLOCATING $500,000 TO CARRY
OUT COMPARABLE WORTH STUDY
ANALYSIS OF BENCHMARK JOBS.
ON A RELATED NOTE, AS YOU TAKE
UP LEGISLATION TO REACH A
CONSENSUS ON HOMELESSNESS,
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT SIMILAR
FORMAL COMMITMENTS MUST BE MADE
TO ENSURE STABLE ADEQUATE
FUNDING FOR THOSE WHO DO THIS
WORK INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO
PAY COMPETITIVE WAGES AND
BENEFITS.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK
UPON THE LEGISLATION THAT YOU AT
CITY COUNCIL HAS PASSED.
WE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
ONE-TIME CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO
SUPPORT THE WORK OF OUR MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS AND ARE ALSO GLAD
TO SEE ADDITIONAL SKILLED
NURSING STAFF, AND SUPPORTS FOR
THE ILL AND ELDERLY PEOPLE
EXPENSING HOMELESSNESS, WE ASK
THAT YOU MAKE AN ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENT IN EVIDENCE-BASED
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND NOT TO
SQUANDER THE PRECIOUS PUBLIC
RESOURCES ON SO-CALLED ENHANCED
PROBATION AND OTHER UNPROVEN
APPROACHES.
WHILE ALL OF THIS IS IMPORTANT,
WE URGE YOU TO BUDGET FOR
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN
HOUSING IN THE FORM OF RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, WHICH WE WILL BE
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL DETAIL
ONTO EACH OF YOU SHORTLY.
THANK YOU, AND I HAVE A COPY OF
THIS FOR YOU ALSO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANDREW, 71, MERRILL COUSIN 72,
AND, KATHRYN STANFORD AT 73.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANDREW
CONSTANTINO, I AM THE ON-SITE
COORDINATOR AT GEORGETOWN TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE.
I SPEND A LOT OF MY DAY TELLING
PEOPLE KNOW, EVERY DAY, ON HOW
PEOPLE ASK HOW THEY MIGHT GET %
PLACED INTO A TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE.
FOR EXAMPLE, JUST TODAY,
TOTALLY TRUE, A YOUNG WOMAN
TRYING TO GET CUSTODY OF HER
CHILDREN ASKED ME ABOUT A TINY
HOUSE, A DISABLED VETERAN WHO
JUST LOST HOUSING, A MAN WHO
HAS BEEN CAMPING ON THE STREET,
JUST ENTERED TREATMENT FOR HIS
ADDICTION. A WOMAN IS LEAVING
AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, AND A
MOTHER OF FOUR SLEEPING IN HER
CAR TONIGHT, I'LL ASK ME HOW
THEY COULD FIND A TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TO
SAY NO TO, BECAUSE I WAS
VILLAGES FULL, LIKE ALL THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON WITH
THESE BILLET IS WHAT THESE
PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT
THEY KNOW THAT A TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES ARE A SAFE PLACE TO BE
AS THEY SEEK GREATER STABILITY
IN THEIR LIVES.
LET'S KEEP THE CAPACITY WE HAVE
AND CREATE MORE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
HELP ME SAY YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HAD A, I'M SUPPOSED TO TALK
WITH ANDREW.
I AM ALSO FROM THE GEORGETOWN
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE.
>> I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE YOUR
NAME ON THIS LIST.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
I'LL JUST LEAVE MY STATEMENT
HERE FOR YOU.
>> A FEW WANT TO FINISH THE TIME
THAT ANDREW LEFT, GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
I AM ALSO FROM THE GEORGETOWN
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE, AND AFTER
LOOKING AT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR AND SEEING
FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR THE
RELOCATION SPECIFICALLY OF OUR
VILLAGE, I HAVE COME TO THE
CONCLUSION, THAT IT SCARES ME.
IT SCARES ME, WHAT WILL HAPPEN
TO THE 60 ADULTS, ONE CHILD,
AND 21 PETS THAT ARE FINALLY
FINDING STABILITY AT OUR
VILLAGE.
IT SCARES ME TO THINK ABOUT THE
VULNERABLE ADULTS, THAT MAY
FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS, EVEN
WITH THE CONCENTRATED EFFORT
AND RESOURCES TO PLACING
VILLAGERS INTO HOUSING AND
OTHER OPTIONS.
IT SCARES ME TO THINK ABOUT THE
TRAUMATIZED NEIGHBORS I HAVE WHO
ARE THINKING ABOUT RETURNING TO
THE STREETS OR WOODS OR
SLEEPING IN A DOORWAY OR ASKED
TO GO TO A SHELTER WHERE THEY
DO NOT FEEL SAFE.
IT SCARES ME TO THINK OF THE
LOST RELATIONSHIPS, VILLAGERS
GAINED WITH A CASE MANAGER WHO
THEY HAVE GROWN TO TRUST, AND
IT SCARES ME TO THINK THEY WILL
LOSE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
GEORGETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO
HAS BEEN WONDERFULLY SUPPORTIVE
OF OUR VILLAGE AND INVESTED IN
THE SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IT SCARES ME TO THINK OF
SEATTLE LOSING CAPACITY FOR
PEOPLE TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO
BE, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BUILD
UPON THE SUCCESS OF THE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES, AND NOT LOSE
WHAT WE HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MERRILL?
>> KATHRYN STANFORD 73 AND LYNN
REED, 74.
>> HI COUNCIL MEMBERS MY NAME
IS MERRILL COUSIN AND I'M HERE
TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE
COALITION ENDING GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE?
TO SAY THAT WE ENTHUSIASTICALLY
SUPPORT THE FULL PORTFOLIO OF
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION FUNDING
RECOMMENDATION AND PARTICULARLY
THE COMPARATIVE WORTH ANALYSIS
TO ADDRESS THE HISTORIC
UNDERVALUING OF HUMAN SERVICES.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE
MAYOR INCLUDED THE CENTRAL
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE IN
HER BUDGET PROPOSAL AND WE ASK
YOU TO APPROVE THAT FUNDING.
THE HELPLINE WILL PROVIDE
IMMEDIATE, INFORM SUPPORT
PROBLEM SOLVING SAFETY PLANNING
AND INDIVIDUALIZED INFORMATION
TO THOUSANDS OF SURVIVORS IN
OUR REGION.
MANY OF THESE CALLERS WILL NOT
ACCESS ANY OTHER KIND OF SERVICE
, EITHER BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE
FOR THEM TO DO SO, THEY DO NOT
NEED OR WANTED, OR, OTHER
EXISTING SERVICE PROVIDERS LACK
THE CAPACITY TO SERVE THEM.
IT ALSO WILL PROVIDE A SIMPLE
STRAIGHTFORWARD PATH FOR
SURVIVORS FOR, FIRST
RESPONDERS, MEDICAL AND HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET
CONNECTED TO THE FULL RANGE OF
SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
BY APPROVING THIS FUNDING, YOU
WILL ALLOW SEATTLE TO LEVERAGE
KING COUNTY LEVY FUNDS TO
SUPPORT A PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL
BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR UNANIMOUSLY PASSING THE
ORDINANCE EARLIER THIS WEEK
WHICH RELIEVES A TENANT
EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL
VIOLENCE FROM LIABILITY, FOR
DAMAGES DONE TO A RENTAL
PROPERTY BY THEIR ABUSER.
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR SURVIVORS
HELD LIABLE FOR THESE DAMAGES
AS YOU KNOW CAN CAUSE A
CASCADING CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT
ALL TOO OFTEN LEADS TO
HOMELESSNESS.
BY PASSING THIS LEGISLATION YOU
REMOVE A BARRIER FOR SURVIVORS
TRYING TO ESCAPE AND HEAL FROM
ABUSE AND EVEN PORTABLY, THAT
SURVIVORS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR THEIR ABUSER'S ACTIONS.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS, AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR
THIS REALLY GROUNDBREAKING
POLICY AND MAKING IT A REALITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
CATHERINE, LOU REED, AND AND
EVELYN CHOW.
>> THANK YOU, GREETINGS
COUNSEL, THIS IS KATHRYN
STANFORD, AND I AM WITH,, THE
FOLKS THAT OWN, MANAGE, AND THE
SUPPORT FOLKS FOR THE
BUILDINGS, OFFICE BUILDINGS
DOWNTOWN.
SEATTLE.
I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, I HAVE
BEEN WHERE YOU ARE AND I KNOW
THAT WE SHOULD REALLY
APPRECIATE THEM FOR THEIR HARD
WORK.
WE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
PROPOSALS REGARDING PUBLIC
SAFETY. THAT IS REALLY OUR
FOCUS RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE GROWING CONCERNS FOR
THE SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES,
OUR TENANTS, AND PEOPLE WHO
PROVIDE THE PARKING CUSTODIAL
AND SECURITY SERVICES TO OUR
BUILDINGS.
WE DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE
NAVIGATION TEAM, AND ALSO,
BELIEVE HAVING CSO'S DOWNTOWN
ESPECIALLY, I DON'T THINK THEY
WERE ALLOCATED FOR DOWNTOWN,
BUT IT IS REALLY BENEFICIAL,
FOR US, AND A CRITICAL LINK TO
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT SO MUCH OF
WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, OR
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, THIS IS THE
HELP FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED
IT.
AND WE SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS.
I WILL TAKE MY HAT OFF FOR JUST
A MINUTE HERE, AND SAY THAT I
HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE
DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST
30 YEARS, 15 OF WHICH WAS AT
PIKE PLACE MARKET WHERE WE
PROVIDED MANY SERVICES FOR LOW
INCOME, PARTICULARLY SENIORS
DOWNTOWN, AND, BALLPOINT --
BATHROOMS THAT YOU CAN ACCESS
AS WELL.
AND, I JUST WANT TO SAY, BUT I
DON'T THINK THAT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO SOLVE OUR CHALLENGES
UNLESS WE FACE THEM TOGETHER.
THEY ARE SIGNIFICANT.
PARTICULARLY IN THE DOWNTOWN
AREA, AND, BY VILIFYING EACH
OTHER, AND NOT UNDERSTANDING
EACH OTHER, I JUST DON'T THINK
WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE, AND
THAT'S DOES A TREATED SERVICE
TO A GREAT COMMUNITY DOWNTOWN.
THANK YOU.
>> AFTER CATHERINE, LYNN REED,
ARE YOU SPEAKING WITH THIS
GROUP?
>> YES, NUMBER 70 POINT
>> THANK YOU.
CATHERINE IS 73.
SO, -- YEAH, I'M 73.
>> WELL, THAT IS ODD, BUT GO
AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS DANTE.
>> GO AHEAD.A POINT
>> THANK YOU.
>> SORRY GUYS, HOLD ON.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DANTE, I AM
THE COMMUNITY MEMBER IN
SEATTLE, AND I WANTED TO BRING
UP A TIME WHEN I WAS PROUD OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WHICH
WAS THE RECENT PASSAGE OF THE
LEGISLATION TO PROTECT HOTEL
WORKERS.
IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE YOU
FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE PEOPLE
WHO KNOW THEIR CONDITIONS THE
MOST, WHICH IS THE MOSTLY
IMMIGRANT WOMEN OF COLOR WHO
ORGANIZED THE LEGISLATION THAT
YOU ALL PASSED.
SO, I WAS PROUD OF THAT AND I
WANT TO BRING UP SOME THINGS IN
THE BUDGET THAT I AM NOT PROUD
OF, AND THAT I DON'T WANT OUR
CITY TO FIND.
AND, ONE OF THAT IS EXPANDING
THE POLICE, AND NEW MONEY TO
HIRE POLICE AND INCENTIVE
PROGRAMS.
I DO NOT THINK THAT SHOULD BE A
PRIORITY FOR US.
EMPHASIS TRAINING IS INCLUDED
IN THE 2020 BUDGET, A LOT OF US
HERE ARE NOTICING THAT, AND,
INCLUDING THE SPD NAVIGATION
TEAMS, WHO CLEAR HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENTS, WE DON'T WANT TO
SEE THAT.
AND THEN, JUST IN GENERAL,
DEFUNDING MILITARY AND POLICE
PRESENCE. OVER THE PAST FIVE
YEARS, SEATTLE HAS SPENT $60,000
, SENDING POLICE TO TRAIN WITH
THE ISRAELI MILITARY IN A
REALLY DANGEROUS EXCHANGE OF
TACTICS.
SO, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHEN
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED FOOD
AND HOUSING, ARE NOT TO BE ON
OUR BUDGET.
I AM ASKING YOU TO FIND INSTEAD
THINGS LIKE RENT CONTROL, FOR
THE ELDERLY FOR ALL, GREEN NEW
DEAL, AND FREEDOM SCHOOL,
SAFETY, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
EXPANDED POLICE SAFETY, I MEAN
REAL SAFETY, WHICH IS HOUSING,
FOOD, SECURE JOBS, LEGISLATION
LIKE THE ONE WE PASSED
RECENTLY.
SO, THANK YOU POINT
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING, DANTE.
LYNN REED?
>> GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING US ALL
TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS LYNN REED, I AM WITH
THE TRADE ASSOCIATION GROUP,
DRIVING FOR SEATTLE.
OUR ADVOCACY CONSISTS OF PNC
DRIVERS, HIRE DRIVERS AND TAXI
DRIVERS.
WE ADVOCATE AND INFORM OUR
MEMBERS ON HOW THEY CAN SPEAK
UP ON LOCAL AND STATE
LEGISLATION.
SO, HERE WE HAVE MAYOR JENNY
DURKIN PROPOSING AN ADDITIONAL
$.51 TAX ON RIDESHARE TRIPS IN
SEATTLE.
PUSHING THE TOTAL TO $.75 PER
PICKUP.
MAKING IT THE SECOND HIGHEST
RATE IN THE NATION.
CONSEQUENTLY, AN INCREASE OF
THIS NATURE WOULD CAUSE A DROP
IN RIDERS, LOWER DRIVE
EARNINGS, NEGATIVELY IMPACT
AVAILABILITY OF RIDES AND
PRESENCE OF THE VARIOUS, AND
CREATED A QUESTIONABLY
ACCESSIBLE DRIVERS AND SOLUTION
CENTER.
THE MAYOR ISN'T CEMENTING THE
MINIMUM EARNING FLOOR, THE
NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF DRIVERS,
CLEARLY A JERK AND IS NOT
LISTENING TO US.
OF THE PROPOSED $.51 INCREASE,
A MERE 12 PERCENT WOULD BE
DIRECTED TO DRIVER PROTECTIONS.
THE OTHER 88 PERCENT WOULD
PROVIDE A BUFFER IN THE MAYOR'S
COFFERS FOR ONGOING CITY
ISSUES.
NONE OF WHICH DIRECTLY BENEFIT
DRIVERS.
MUCH LIKE THE SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX, INCREASES WERE
PASSED TO CONSUMERS AND PROFITS
ROUTED TO THE CITY'S GENERAL
FUND WITH LITTLE ACCOUNT
ABILITY.
THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT THIS TAX, THIS PROPOSED
TAX, WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT.
THE MAYOR IS NACE TO THINK
THAT THESE COMPANIES LOSING
OVER $1 BILLION EACH QUARTER
WOULD STEP FORWARD AND ABSORB
THIS FEE.
HISTORICALLY, PRICE INCREASES
RESULT IN CONSUMERS PAYING MORE
AND BASIC ECONOMICS SHOW THAT
WHEN PRICES GO UP, DEMAND GOES
DOWN.
SO, WITH INCREASE PRICES
WRITERS CAN EXPECT DEMAND FOR
RIDESHARE TRIPS.
DECREASE.
THOSE WHO LIVE IN
TRANSPORTATION DESERTS WILL BE
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED,
AND THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, THE MAYOR SAYS WILL
BENEFIT MOST FROM THAT TAX
REVENUE, LIKE FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THEREFORE, IT IS CLEAR THIS IS
A REGRESSIVE TAX.
I AGREE, THE ISSUES OF
TRANSPORTATION AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ARE IMPORTANT, IT JUST
DOES NOT AFFIRM WHAT IS IN
TEXAS OR WRITER'S BEST
INTEREST.
MADIGAN SAYS THIS WILL PROVIDE
DRIVERS PRODUCTIONS WITH THE
NEW DRIVERS RESOLUTION CENTER.
WHILE I SUPPORT THE DRIVERS
RESOLUTION CENTER, I AM
CONCERNED WHETHER THERE WILL BE
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACCESS TO
THAT PROGRAM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS TOO
MUCH UNCERTAINTY ON HOW THIS
WILL BENEFIT DRIVERS.
ONE MAIN CONCERN, BEING ANY
INVOLVEMENT OF THE TEAM
TEAMSTERS, WHO IN THE PAST HAVE
FOUGHT AGAINST EVERYTHING PNC
RELATED, EVEN GOING SO FAR AS
TO PROPOSE A CITYWIDE DRIVER
CAP OF 150 DRIVERS AT ANY ONE
TIME.
AND UNREASONABLE FAIR
REGULATIONS.
WAITING FOR DETAILS OF HOW THIS
PLAN WILL BE AND LAMENTED AND
ADMINISTERED IT IS UNSETTLING,
CONSIDERING THE MAYOR'S STAFF
TOOK MOST OF THEIR DIRECTION
FROM THE TEAMSTERS, AND NOT A
TRUE ADVOCACY GROUP.
DRIVER ADVOCACY GROUP.
LIKE CBO, THIS LEGISLATION
NARROWLY QUALIFIES WHO CAN
OVERSEE THE PROGRAM, AND IS
CLEARLY STRUCTURED TISSUE IN A
PREDETERMINED ENTITY.
MOST DISAPPOINTING IS THE DELAY
OF A MINIMUM EARNING FLOOR FOR
DRIVERS.
DRIVERS I HAVE TALKED TO, SAID
AND EARNING FLOOR IS THEIR
NUMBER ONE CONCERN, BUT THE
MAYOR PUSHED OUT ANY DECISION
FOR ALMOST A YEAR.
TRY FORWARD PROVIDED ACTUAL
DRIVER DATA SUPPORTING A FAIR
MINIMUM EARNING FLOOR TO THE
MAYOR BUT SHE IGNORED IT.
DRIVERS WANT TO REMAIN
INDEPENDENT TO MAKE DECISIONS
IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR
SMALL BUSINESSES.
THIS TAX PROPOSAL BY THE MAYOR
SEEMS DISINGENUOUS, WITH BARELY
ONE 10th OF THE REVENUE
ACTUALLY BENEFITING DRIVERS.
IN THE FUTURE, I HOPE THE MAYOR
AND HER STAFF LISTEN, AND
CONSIDER WHAT WILL ACTUALLY
HELP THE DRIVERS FEEL MORE
SECURE IN THEIR PROFESSION.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM VIRGINIA, AND UBER
DRIVER, AND I ALSO REPRESENT
DRIVE FORWARD.
I HAVE BEEN WITH UBER FOR THREE
AND HALF YEARS, AND IN MY
LITTLE MIND, IN MY EXPERIENCE,
THE ISSUE STARTED WITH THE
TEAMSTERS WANTING RIDESHARE
COMPANIES TO BECOME UNIONIZED,
AND THEY WERE ANGRY ABOUT
TEAMSTERS AND TAXI DRIVERS WERE
ANGRY ABOUT UBER AND LIFE TO
MAKING MONEY.
THEY WERE NOT TREATING THEIR
OWN CUSTOMERS FAIRLY, THEY WERE
NOT DOING THE JOB THAT THEY HAD
BEEN SO WELL COMPENSATED,
BEFORE, THERE ARE HORROR STORIES
FROM EVERY RIDESHARE WRITER
ABOVE THE AGE OF, SAY, 20 OR 25
POINT
>> I'LL HAVE TO ASK YOU TO COME
TO AN END.
>> SORRY.
>> JUST WRAP UP, FINISH HER
SENTENCE.
>> GOT IT.
THE TAX BY AMERICAN IS A BAND-
AID FOR THE TEAMSTERS, AND HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE QUALITY
OF OUR LIVES OR IMPROVEMENTS,
AND THE MONIES THAT ARE ALREADY
IN THE BUDGET HAS TO BE THERE.
SO MUCH REVENUE TO THE STATE
AND THE CITY HAS COME
>> I'LL HAVE TO ASK YOU TO
STOP.
THANK YOU.
>> WHY PUT IT ON THE DRIVERS.
>> IS A GROUP YOU HAD OVER FIVE
MINUTES NOW.
>> GOT IT PRETTY
>> THANK YOU.
SIR, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD AN
EMERGENCY, NUMBER 61.
PLEASE STEP UP.
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR
CONSIDERING THAT.
I HAVE TWO POINTS TO MAKE.
I WANT TO GREET THE
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE, AND THE
CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE REMAINING
, ON THE ISSUE OF UBER
TAXATION, I THINK IT IS VERY
UNFAIR.
TESTIFIED BEFORE THE COUNCIL
BEFORE, AND, IT IS A THING
ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, I DON'T THINK
THE MAYOR UNDERSTANDS WHAT UBER
TECHNOLOGIES IS.
NOW, I AM A SOCIAL SCIENTIST,
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, WHO
HAS DONE RESEARCH ON THIS,
EXTENSIVELY. AND, I HAVE
DEVELOPED A TERM CALLED
INNOCENTLY IGNORANT, THAT
MEANS, IT'S A NICE WAY TO SAY,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
TECHNOLOGY IS, THE CITY NEEDS
TO LEARN WHAT UBER TECHNOLOGIES
IS.
INTRODUCING MYSELF AS DEL
PATTERSON, BUT, YOU GUYS KNOW ME
AS MINISTER PATTERSON, FOUNDER
OF OUTREACH MINISTRY USA, WHERE
I USED TO WORK WITH A GUY SINCE
1987, SUCCESSFULLY, MY UBER
PROFILE HERE READS I AM THE
WASHINGTON STATE DIRECTORY FOR
THE LETTER AND JOF, I WOULD
LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS, I
AM A NATIVE OF CONROE TEXAS,
GREW UP HERE IN SEATTLE, 40
YEARS IN SEATTLE, I DROVE WITH
UBER, NEARLY 3 YEARS NOW.
AND, UBER PROVIDED
INDEPENDENCE, LIKE DRIVE
FORWARD, AS WE ARE DRIVING
INDEPENDENCE.
NEVER BEFORE HAVE I BEEN ABLE
TO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS I HAVE
MADE, DRIVING UBER.
THEY JUST SOLD THE COMPANY NOW,
AND THINGS ARE CHANGING.
I CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT THE
TECHNOLOGY WILL BE, BUT WE ARE
LEARNING IT NOW, AND I URGE THE
CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR JENNY
DURKIN, TO FORGET ABOUT THE
TAX.
WE MAKE MINIMUM EARNINGS, LESS
THAN MINIMUM EARNINGS, IF IT
WERE NOT FOR MY TIPS, I COULD
NOT SURVIVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING, AND THANK YOU FOR
WAITING.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, WE HAVE EVELYN CHOW AND IT
LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A GROUP
GOING THROUGH
>> WE ARE WITH THE CID
COALITION.
GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS SUE CADE, I AM A 74-
YEAR-OLD SEATTLE NATIVE. I AM
HERE REPRESENTING DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE.
THE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT COALITION, ALSO KNOWN
AS HUM BELL, NOT HOTEL.
I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE RANGE OF GRANNIES BUT
WE ARE NOT GOING TO SING TO YOU
TONIGHT ALL THAT WE HAVE A
PERFECT SONG CALLED POLICE HAVE
PERFECT VISION.
TODAY I AM ASKING
COUNCILMEMBERS TO REJECT THE
3.6 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RICH
INCLUDES THE PROPOSED HIRING
INCENTIVE, COMMUNITY SERVICE
OFFICERS AND RETENTION AND
RECRUITMENT. PEOPLE HAVE SAID
ALREADY INCREASED POLICING AND
SURVEILLANCE DOES NOT MAKE OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER.
HAVING HUNG AROUND THE CID, I
KNOW IT ALSO WILL NOT MAKE OUR
COMMUNITY COHESIVE.
AND WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR
CULTURAL SENIORS.
I HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE AND I
HAVE WITNESSED THE OVER
POLICING POLICE ON STEROIDS,
AND, IT REALLY BOTHERS ME.
THERE WERE POLICE CARS
CONVERGED ON THE PARK 50 MILES
PER HOUR, GRABBED A VERY
VULNERABLE PERSON, LIKE WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
THRIVING COMMUNITY.
AND I ALSO WITNESSED, COMING
DOWN JACKSON, THEY TURN LEFT
AND THEY MUST BE HEADING TO
SOTO, NO SIRENS BLARING, THAT I
DON'T KNOW, 80 MILES PER HOUR.
AND I AM JUST FEELING THAT THE
SPD HAS HAD A REPUTATION FOR
BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR
POLICE VIOLENCE, HARASSING
HOMELESS, VIOLATING COMPONENTS
OF THE 2012 CONSENT DECREE, AND
I SAY, NO MORE MONEY UNTIL THEY
COMPLY, I WILL HAND US OVER TO
OTHERS HERE.
>> HI, I'M ANNA CLUB STEEN,
ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
REGION GRANNIES, AND WE ARE
VERY MUCH ABOUT HAVING BUDGETS,
THAT PRIORITIZE OUR VULNERABLE
NEIGHBORS, OVER THE NEEDS OF
PREDATORY CORPORATIONS AND
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPERS WHO WANT TO
CRIMINALIZE POVERTY.
IT APPEARS THAT OUR MAYOR WANTS
TO CRIMINALIZE POVERTY, WE ARE
ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO THAT.
I AM SPECIFICALLY ASKING THE
COUNCIL TO REJECT THE PORTION
OF THE MAYOR'S BUDGET THAT
CONTINUES EMPHASIS PATROLS BY
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
WE THINK THERE SHOULD BE NO
FUNDING FOR THAT.
EMPHASIS PATROLS USE THE HIGHLY
CONTESTED AND RACIST BROKEN
WINDOWS THEORY THAT SIGNS OF
DISORDER AND CHAOS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ARE A PRECURSOR TO
MORE CRIME AND DISORDER, THE
BROKEN WINDOWS THEORY HAS BEEN
DISPROVEN, EVEN BY THE
ORIGINATOR OF THE THEORY, AND
SHOWN TO JUSTIFY AGGRESSIVE
OVER POLICING OF POOR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS PRACTICE LEADS TO MORE
UNNECESSARY MISDEMEANOR ARRESTS
AND JUSTIFIES RACIST AND
CLASSIST STOP AND FRISK
POLICIES.
IN SEATTLE, THESE TYPES OF
STOPS HAVE BEEN MONITORED SINCE
THE 2012 CONSENT DECREE. TAKE
NOTE OF THAT, 2012 AND WE ARE
IN 2019 AND THEY ARE STILL NOT
IN COMPLIANCE, THEY ARE NOT
ONLY NOT IN COMPLIANCE, THEY
ARE ACTIVELY FIGHTING IT AND
THEY SHOULD NOT BE GETTING
MONEY WHILE THEY ARE OUT OF
COMPLIANCE WITH THAT DECREE.
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS
BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE
DISPROPORTIONATE STOPS OF BLACK
INDIVIDUALS, AND WITH THEIR
IMPORTANT RECORD OF ABUSING
PEOPLE OF COLOR, THE COUNCIL
SHOULD NOT FUND THE
CONTINUATION OF THE PRACTICE
THAT ENABLES RACIST AND ANTI-
POOR PEOPLE POLICING PRACTICES
TO CONTINUE.
OVER PATROLLING AREAS WHERE
HOUSES FOLKS ARE SLEEPING AND
HANGING OUT IS INHUMANE, IT IS
ANTIPOOR PEOPLE, IT DOES NOT
SOLVE ALL LARGER CRISIS OF
HELPLESSNESS FACING SEATTLE AND
JUST TRAUMATIZES PEOPLE FURTHER.
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO EVELYN,
NOW.
>> HI ALL MY NAME IS EVELYN I
AM ALSO HERE WITH THE
CRIMINALIZED SEATTLE, HERE TO:
CONSUMMATE TO REJECT THE
EXPENSE OF THE PROBATION
INITIATIVE IN SEATTLE COURTS
EXTENDING PROBATION EXPENSE
SURVEILLANCE OR COMMUNITY
MEMBER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GET
ARRESTED TO GET ACCESS TO
SERVICES.
PROBATION DOES NOT REDUCE
RECIDIVISM AND FURTHERS RACIAL
AND CLASS DISPARITIES IN THE
EXISTING LEGAL SYSTEM AND IS
PROPOSAL FOR EXPANDED RELATION
COMES FROM AND I HOMELESS
GROUPS LIKE SAFE SEATTLE, SPEAK
OUT SEATTLE AND THE BUSINESS
LOBBY, ARE CITY CANNOT AFFORD TO
CATER TO BIGOTS WHO HATE POOR
PEOPLE AND BELIEVE IT TOUGH ON
CRIME APPROACH WILL CREATE MORE
SAFETY.
THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE LIKE THE YOUNGEST
PEOPLE HERE, SOME OF US CAME
STRAIGHT FROM SCHOOL.
>> DO WE HAVE JACK AND TANA
HERE?
I DON'T SEE HIM.
JASON, 77?
NAME IS ABSOLUTELY UNREADABLE
HERE, 78?
ANOTHER UNREADABLE NAME BUT IT
LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN SCRATCHED
OUT.
79?
PLEASE, TELL ME WHAT YOUR NAME
IS?
>> THOMAS EMMA.
>> NEVER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN
THAT.
THANK YOU.
OH JUST A SECOND HERE, DID YOU
END UP SIGNING AT THE BOTTOM OF
THIS LIST, I'M SORRY I JUST
INSULTED YOUR SIGNATURE.
I CAN READ THAT, 79, THANK YOU.
BUT IT WASN'T IN THE SPECIFIED
AREA.
HELLO CITY COUNCIL.
I AM THOMAS AND I AM HERE TO
ENCOURAGE EACH AND EVERYONE OF
YOU TO REJECT THE $3.6 MILLION
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TOWARDS THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE NEED SERVICES, NOT
SURVEILLANCE.
POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT SOCIAL
SERVICE WORKERS.
WE LITERALLY HAD SOCIAL SERVICE
WORKERS COME HERE AND TALK TO
Y'ALL ALONG WITH MANY OTHER
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE TAKING
DEMOCRACY INTO THEIR OWN HANDS
AND ARE DOING THE WORK.
WHAT THEY NEED IS MONEY.
AND, WHAT THEY NEED IS MORE
POWER, TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY
WANT TO DO WITH THEIR OWN
LIVES.
WE DO NOT NEED -- I'M JUST
GOING TO BE HONEST.
EVERY ADDITIONAL DOLLAR THAT
GOES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
FUNDS DEATH IN INSTALLMENTS.
WE DON'T NEED MORE SWEEPS, WE
NEED INVESTMENT, INTO
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES.
WE NEED MORE MONEY GOING INTO
THE GEORGETOWN TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE AND WE NEED TO INVEST
IN THE FOLKS WHO ARE SHOWING UP
AND DOING THE WORK DAY IN AND
DAY OUT.
WE NEED MORE SUPPORT, FOR
SOCIAL SERVICES, AND WE NEED TO
STOP CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE FOR
EXISTING AS THEY ARE.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM, AND WE
NEED TO ENSURE THAT -- YOU
KNOW, DEMOCRACY IS MAINTAINED,
AND WE NEED TO PUSH FOR A GREEN
NEW DEAL AND A PART OF THAT IS
DUE MILITARIZING.
A PART OF THAT IS GOING TO
INVOLVE TRYING TO UNWIND THIS
VIOLENT SYSTEM, THAT WE ARE
BEING SUBJECTED TO, AND
HONESTLY, BEING TERRORIZED BY.
WE NEED CLEAN WATER, WE NEED
FOOD, WE NEED A FUNCTIONING
SYSTEM THAT LISTENS TO THE
VOICES OF THE PEOPLE, SUCH AS
THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK IT UPON
HIMSELF TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL.
I REALLY ENCOURAGE Y'ALL NOT TO
INVEST MORE INTO POLICING.
>> THANK YOU.
NUMBER 80 WAS MICHAEL WOLF, AND
I THINK HE HAS LEFT AND CROSSED
HIS NAME OFF.
81 IS ED LAMBERT.
IS ED LAMBERT HERE?
VIRGINIA LEE?
82?
IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THERE IS
A GROUP, 83, 84 --
>> I'M 83.
>> OKAY.
83, AND AT?
>> AND IT ALREADY SPOKE.
>> OKAY.
>> SWITCH NUMBERS.
>> A BIGGER PARTING?
>> WE SWITCH NUMBERS, AND IT
WENT ALREADY.
>> OKAY, WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
>> MY NAME IS BOHNE VERA.
I AM HERE AS A CONCERNED
RESIDENT AND TAXPAYER IN
SEATTLE.
I AM HERE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT
THIS DIVISION OF THE BUDGET
BECAUSE IT IS A KEY INDICATOR
OF OUR VALUES AS A CITY.
I AM ALSO HERE AS ONE OF THE
ORGANIZERS WHO LOBBIED FOR THE
ZERO USE OF DETENTION, FOR
YOUTH RESOLUTION, THAT
RESOLUTION WAS PASSED AS A
MESSAGE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL,
THAT Y'ALL CARE ABOUT THE OVER
INCARCERATION ARE PRIMARILY
BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND USE OF
COLOR, AND I BELIEVE THAT HOW
WE TREAT OUR YOUTH AS A FLEXION
OF HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER, AND
CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE KNOW THAT THE OVER
INCARCERATION OF LACK,
INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
AS WELL AS HOMELESS COMMUNITIES
IS A DIRECT RESULT OF HOW
ANTIBLACK RACISM AND A
COMMITMENT TO PUNITIVE
PUNISHMENT WHICH DOES NOT
ADDRESS HARM IS PERPETUATED
THROUGH HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY.
WHEN I SAY OUR MONEY I MEAN US,
THE RESIDENCE OF SEATTLE.
THE MONEY OF THIS BUDGET
BELONGS TO US AND WE DEMAND
THAT YOU REJECT THE PROBATION OF
SEATTLE COURT, YOU REJECT THE
INCREASED PATROLS BY THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
YOU REJECT THE 3.6 MILLION IN
FUNDING FOR SPD WHICH INCLUDES
THE PROPOSED HIRING INCENTIVE,
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS,
RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT.
WE KNOW THAT INCARCERATION DOES
NOT CREATE SAFE COMMUNITIES FOR
OUR YOUTH OR OUR ADULTS.
ACCESS TO LEXIS EIGHT --
SUSTAINING RESOURCES, HEALTHY
FOOD AND HOUSING SET OF THINGS
THAT WERE ADVOCATED FOR TODAY
IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE SPENDING
OUR MONEY, NOT AN OVER PLACING
OUR COMMUNITIES THAT I AM HERE
BECAUSE I HAVE HOPE THAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL IS
SERIOUS ABOUT A GOAL OF ZERO
USE OF DETENTION FOR OUR YOUTH,
AND A REAL COMMITMENT TO
REDUCING HARM, AND CREATING
SAFE COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR
CITY AND BEYOND BY INVESTING IN
THE GREEN NEW DEAL, WORKER FOR
ALL, HEALTH ONE, NONCOERCIVE
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS AND
SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS,
COMMUNITY GRANTS FOR FIRST
RESPONDERS PROGRAMS, GRANTS FOR
EMERGENCY HOUSING, AND SUPPORT
EFFORTS FOR LONG-TERM
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
REENTRY SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING
OUT OF DOC AND JAILS AND THE
OTHER THINGS SPOKEN ABOUT
TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DOES SOMEBODY HAVE 84?
>> HI, I'M GANESH BUFFALO.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COUNSEL, TO
NOT ONLY CONSIDER, BUT MAKE AN
EFFORT, TO PUT ALL OF THEIR
ENERGY INTO RECOGNIZING, THAT
THAT WE NEED TO DEFUND THE
POLICE.
WE NEED TO REJECT ALL PROPOSED
FUNDING, TOWARDS AN INCREASED
AND HIRING OF SPD OFFICERS OR
CSS.
WE SEE THROUGH SPD'S EFFORTS TO
HIRE MORE AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
OF COLOR'S OFFICE, WE KNOW THAT
THE PACKAGES THEY OFFER TO
ENTICE OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
WILL BE ATTRACTIVE AND HEFTY.
THIS ENTIRE TACTIC IS FLAWED.
WE KNOW THAT POLICE OFFICERS
HARASS USE OF COLOR AND
HOMELESS PEOPLE,
DISPROPORTIONATELY.
AND WHATEVER SPACE IT PUTS ON,
IT SERVES TO ENFORCE THE
INTERESTS OF THE WEALTHY AND
THE RACIST COURT SYSTEM.
WE RESISTED THESE EFFORTS
DEFRAGMENT AND DIVIDE OUR
COMMUNITIES.
WHERE WE SEE INCREASED FUNDING
GO TOWARD RECRUITING, HIRING,
AND RETAINING POLICE OFFICERS.
WE DO NOT SEE A SIMILAR
COMMITMENT TOWARDS HOUSING
SOCIAL WORKERS, TEACHERS, AND
OTHER SERVICES WHICH ENSURE THE
SAFETY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF
OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
WE AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT AN
UNARMED NON-DEPUTIZED
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRAINED IN
CRISIS INTERVENTION SHOULD BE
THE FIRST RESPONDERS ON OUR
STREETS.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THESE
INDIVIDUALS SHOULD EVEN BE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE POLICE
FORCE.
WE CALL ON THE FUNDING FOR
CSO'S TO GO TOWARDS MENTAL
HEALTH COUNSELORS AND CRISIS
INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS, THAT
ARE NOT PART OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DO WE HAVE 85?
THANK YOU, DO YOU HAVE YOUR
CARD.
>> YEAH, IT'S IN MY SECRET ANDY
J MARTINEZ.
HI, EVERYONE, IT IS LATE.
WE'VE ALL BEEN HERE FOR A
REALLY LONG TIME.
I GUESS, I JUST WANT TO ECHO A
LOT OF WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT.
WE HEARD A LOT FROM SOCIAL
WORKERS AND CASE MANAGERS, WHO
HAVE COME OUT OF HOUSE
LISTENERS THEMSELVES, AND WHO
HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND
THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS, TO HELP
THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE,
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HELP. AND,
IT MAKE NO SENSE THAT THEY ARE
HERE ASKING FOR MONEY TO JUST
BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS.
THERE ARE PLACES LIKE THE
DAYBREAK STAR AND SHE SEATTLE
CLUB THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING
TIRELESSLY, AND HAVE PROVEN
METHODS TO COMBAT THE PROBLEMS
THAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO SOLVE
, SO IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT
THEY ARE HERE ASKING FOR MORE
MONEY, WHEN THIS BUDGET IS
ASKING FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
TO FUND MORE POLICING, AND MORE
SURVEILLANCE FOR THE CITY. WHEN
WE KNOW THAT THAT HISTORICALLY
HAS NOT WORKED.
YOU HAVE SEEN US HERE, FOR
YEARS.
I HAVE SEEN YOU HERE FOR YEARS.
HEARING THE CALLS FOR THE SAME
THINGS, AND SO, THIS BUDGET NOT
-- BUDGET IS NOT LIKE A BAND-
AID, IT SEEMS LIKE, TO BE
BENDING UNDER PRESSURE FROM
ONLINE FACEBOOK GROUPS,
ESPECIALLY THESE HATE GROUPS
THAT I KNOW YOU YOURSELVES HAVE
BEEN THE TARGETS OF, AND SO, I
HOPE THAT YOU WILL READ THIS
BUDGET AND HEAR EVERYTHING THAT
YOU HAVE HEARD TONIGHT, THE
TIMES ARE CHANGING, IT IS AN
ELECTION YEAR.
AND SO, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL
ALL WANT TO LEAVE A LEGACY, THAT
IS HERE FOR THE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE AN 86?
87?
88?
89?
TOLERANCE.
NO 86 THROUGH 88?
89?
OKAY, MOVING TO THE 10th PAGE,
CECILY BAILEY?
NUMBER 90? 91?
OH, THAT WAS MISTER BUFFALO WHO
ALREADY HAS SPOKEN.
92?
>> HI.
NINE MY NAME IS DOWNTOWN, I AM A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE AND THE
CHILDREN'S ADVOCATE AT HOUSING
PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE
MYSTIC VIOLENCE.
-- SURVIVORS OF THE MYSTIC
VIOLENCE.
I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO REJECT
SEATTLE'S EXPANSION OF LAW-
ENFORCEMENT IN THE NAME OF
REFORM AND INSTEAD INVEST THAT
MONEY INTO RENT CONTROL,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS,
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS,
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, GREEN
NEW DEAL, AND ORCA FOR ALL.
PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY ENSURE
THAT THE CITY IS HEALTHY, THAT
THE FAMILIES AND YOUTH OF THE
CITY SUCCEED.
AS A CHILDREN'S ADVOCATE,
WORKING AT A SHELTER, I HAVE
SEEN HOW MOST TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY
ONFIDENTIAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
PROGRAMS, HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED
DUE TO FUNDING.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THIS LEADS TO
SHELTER HAPPENING FOR A LOT OF
FAMILIES.
YOU SEE KIDS STARTING FROM
KINDERGARTEN, SWITCHING SCHOOLS,
HOMES, EVERY YEAR, DEPENDING ON
THEIR STAY AT THE SHELTER AND
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM.
THIS IS IN YOUR POWER TO CHANGE.
THERE ARE PROVEN SUCCESS
STORIES OF HOME TO SCHOOL
VOUCHERS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE
SCHOOL WILL WORK WITH SHELTERS
AND SERVICE PROVIDERS, TO
ALLOCATE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS TO
FAMILIES WHERE THEY CAN STAY
INSIDE THEIR SCHOOL AREAS, SO
THEY HAVE STABLE HOUSING,
STABLE SCHOOL UNTIL GRADUATION.
THERE WAS A CASE OF THIS, WHERE
A MOTHER WAS TELLING ME, THAT
SHE WAS SITTING WITH 13, IN
THEIR LIVING ROOM, AT THIS NEW
PERMANENT HOUSING THAT THEY
HAD, SHE SAID WE ARE GOING TO
STAY HERE LIKE THIS IS OUR HOME
NOW, AND HE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND
SAID I DON'T BELIEVE YOU.
THIS IS NOT WHAT HAS BEEN
HAPPENING SOME OF THE PAST
COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO, IT IS IS A SUCCESS STORY,
BUT IT IS STILL SAD, AND THEN,
THERE'S OTHER STORIES, WHERE --
>> I WILL ASK YOU TO WRAP UP?
>> OH, YEAH.
SO, I URGE YOU TO ACT WITH
RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, AND TWO, INSTEAD
OF ENABLING AND ACTING RACISM
BY FUNDING LAW-ENFORCEMENT, TO
BE ABLE TO LOOK INTO THE EYES OF
FAMILIES AND YOUTH AND TELL
THEM THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
95, M PAIN?
95?
DANTE HAS ARTIE SPOKEN, THAT IS
96.
NO, SORRY?
PLEASE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS EUAI.
AS STATED EARLIER, USE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, SEEING AS
WE ARE THE YOUNGEST PEOPLE IN
THE ROOM, SOME OF US AND WE
CAME STRAIGHT FROM SCHOOL, AND
WE ARE HERE, AWAY AFTER THEN WE
SHOULD BE, TO TELL YOU THAT WE
HAVE NO INTEREST IN ADDING MORE
MONEY INTO THE POLICE BUDGET.
I WORK WITH PRIMARILY USE OF
COLOR, WITH YOU SPEAK SEATTLE,
AND, LIKE, I SEE MY STUDENTS
LOSING HOPE, THE LONGER THAT
THEY STAY HERE.
IN FACT, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY,
LIKE, DURING THE NOVEMBER, 2016
LIKE ELECTIONS, WE HAD TO DUST,
SEVERAL OF THEM WERE ACCOSTED
BY THE SEATTLE POLICE
EPARTMENT, WHEN THEY TRIED TO
TAKE PART.
AND WHILE IT IS ENCOURAGING TO
SEE THE CLIMATE STRIKE AND TO
SEE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE OUT
THERE, A LOT OF BLACK AND BROWN
YOUTH OF COLOR ARE LOSING HOPE,
TO KEEP LIVING HERE, BECAUSE IT
IS SO DANGEROUS TO LIVE HERE.
EVERYONE I KNOW HAS EITHER BEEN
INCARCERATED, ARRESTED, AND
THEY ARE ALL UNDER 18? I'VE HAD
TO GIVE THEM THE TALK AS TO
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IS THEY GET
ARRESTED.
AS TO WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IF
THEIR PARENTS GET ARRESTED, OR
LIKE THEY ARE JUST OUT IN THE
STREET, OR JUST LAUGHING IN A
SUPERMARKET.
THE AMOUNT OF POLICING THAT
HAPPENS ESPECIALLY WITH BLACK
MEN, AND BLACK WOMEN, OR BLACK
STUDENTS IN GENERAL WITH
GROCERY STORES, AROUND THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT, IF YOU ARE A
STUDENT WITH A BACKPACK, WE
CANNOT ALLOW YOU IN MORE THAN
GROUPS OF THREE.
CASUAL RACISM LIKE THAT, AND I
DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO
TAKE FOR YOU GUYS, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT WORDS TO SAY TO YOU TO
MAKE YOU TAKE USE OF COLORS
LESS SERIOUSLY.
THIS IS ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE LAST PERSON ON OUR LIST IS
THE HONORABLE MICHAEL B FULLER.
>> I MUST CONTINUE IN PRAYER,
TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY, I'M 60
YEARS OLD.
NOW, I HAVE FOUGHT SO MANY YEARS
, TO DECREASE HOMELESSNESS, AND
THIS NEW CITY COUNCIL, AT THE
TIME OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, 2009
3000 FIREFIGHTERS US AND 1900,
GEORGE W. BUSH WHO SERVED IN
THE UNITED STATES NAVY, DURING
WORLD WAR II.
JUNE 6 1944, DURING WORLD WAR
II.
JUNE 19, JUNE 6, 1944, AND
JOHNNY FULLER, WHO SERVED IN
THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
DURING BOTH KOREAN WAR AND THE
VIETNAM WAR.
AND THEN YOU TURN AROUND HERE,
.80, OATH OF OFFICE 2.24 OH, RCW
8.40 201, YOU HOLD ON THAT AND
RCW 98 POINT 36080 MALICIOUS
HARASSMENT AND RCW 4.252020
MEETING ACTIVITIES INCOMPATIBLE
WITH PUBLIC DUTY, AND RCW 49.6
SCO, FREEDOM FROM THIS
COMMISSION.
AND 59.18 020, WRITES AND
OBLIGATIONS IMPOSED IN GOOD
FAITH IMPOSED.
Ã28.500, PERVASIVENESS AND
WRONGDOING, WITHIN CORPORATION,
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, NINEÃ28
POINT 600 POINT
>> THANK YOU REVEREND.
THE HONORABLE MISTER FULLER,
THANK YOU.
>>
>> GO AHEAD AND CUT HIM OFF.
THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU ALL
FOR STAND STAYING TO THE END.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL,
COLLEAGUES THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU, SECURITY.