>>> All right colleagues, good
morning everyone.
The 14th, 2021 meeting will now
come to order.
The time is 9:30 a.m.
>> Lewis?
>> Present.
>> Morales.
>> Here.
>> Pedersen.
>> Here.
>> Sawant?
>> Here.
>> Strauss?
>> Present.
>> Herbold.
>> Year.
>> Juarez.
>> Here.
>> Eight present.
>> Thank you so much, approval
of the minutes is next, if
there is no objection the
minutes will be adopted.
Hearing no objection, the
minutes are now adopted.
>>> President's report, I do
not have a president's report
this morning so we will move
straight into a preview of
today's city council actions,
council and regional
committees.
Of course we will go in the
roll call rotation which
begins, as a reminder with
councilmember Lewis, followed
by Morales, Pedersen, Sawant,
Strauss, Herbold, Juarez, and I
will conclude . Councilmember
Mosqueda is excused from
today's briefing and city
Council meeting.
So, I'm going to hit it right
on over to councilmember Lewis.
Good morning.
>> Thank you Madam President,
good morning.
I want to begin my remarks
today by offering my sincere
condolences to the family of
officer Harris who was killed
over the weekend and a horrible
incident.
I'm sure more information will
be coming out as there is more
reporting.
We know that officer Harris was
off duty, she was on her way
home and decided to assist the
Washington State patrol, which
she was under no obligation to
do, but out of her sense of
public duty decided to do.
I know that I join ALL MY
COLLEAGUES AND JUST EXPRESSING
THE EXTREME SENSE OF LOSS AND
GRIEF AT LOSING A PUBLIC
SERVANT AND AN EMPLOYEE OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IN SUCH
HORRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY
HEARTFELT GRIEF TO OFFICER
HARRIS' FAMILY AND ALL OF HER
LOVED ONES.
IT IS JUST A HORRIBLE THING
WHEN A MEMBER OF THE CITY
FAMILY FACES A TRAGEDY LIKE
THAT.
I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE
MATTERS OF TODAY, WHICH ARE
BRIEF.
I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN SAY WE
DO HAVE THE LEGISLATION
REGARDING THE HOMELESS SERVICE
PROVIDER EXPANSION OF SPENDING
AUTHORITY FOR THE BILL THAT WAS
ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR
REIMBURSEMENT.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE
TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR FAST
TRACKING THIS LEGISLATION AND
ALLOWING US TO HEAR IT OUT OF
THE ORDER OF THE NORMAL
COMMITTEES SO THAT WE CAN
FRONTLOAD THESE CRITICAL
INVESTMENTS AND GET THAT MONEY
OUT THE DOOR.
I DO WANT TO CALL MY COLLEAGUES
ATTENTION TO A LETTER THAT WAS
SENT OVER THE WEEKEND, OR I
BELIEVE BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON
FRIDAY, SIGNED BY A NUMBER OF
STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION
AND THE SEATTLE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE SUPPORTING THE
LEGISLATION.
THERE IS A SENTENCE IN THE
LETTER PRAISING THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE COSPONSORS OF THIS
LEGISLATION, INCLUDING
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, SO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I AM
PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE
FINALLY BUILT A COALITION THAT
HAS UNITED THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
IT IS THIS BILL THAT IS ON THIS
AFTERNOON.
I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING THIS
LEGISLATION FORWARD.
I APPRECIATE THE BROAD
COALITION THAT HAS COME FORWARD
TO SUPPORT IT.
THAT WILL BE COMING UP FOR
FINAL PASSAGE THIS AFTERNOON.
I WILL BE ATTENDING LATER THIS
WEEK THE BOARD OF HEALTH, IT
SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING BOARD
OF HEALTH MEETING AS WE WILL BE
HAVING A PRESENTATION DISCUSSING
THE BOARD OF HEALTH'S HELMET
LAW.
AS PART OF THE WORK PLAN THAT
WE APPROVED EARLIER THIS YEAR,
PEOPLE MAY RECALL DUE TO
EXTENSIVE REPORTING FROM CROSS
CUT BY DAVID COLEMAN,
HIGHLIGHTING THE EXTREME
DISPROPORTIONALITY IN THE
ENFORCEMENT OF THE HELMET LAW
TOWARDS PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
THE BOARD OF HEALTH DECIDED TO
UNDERGO AN ASSESSMENT AS PART
OF THE WORK PLAN ON THE
EFFICACY AND EQUITY OF THE
HELMET LAW.
BOTH ITS EXISTENCE AND
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS.
AS PART OF THAT, WE WILL BE
HAVING AN INITIAL PRESENTATION
FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND I'M
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
BOARD OF HEALTH THIS WEEK.
IT'S AN INTERESTING TOPIC, AND
WE HAVE CERTAINLY LEARNED A LOT
IN THE LEAD UP TO IT.
NATIONALLY ON HELMET LAWS AND
THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON THE
COMMUNITY.
SO, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO
HEAR THAT PRESENTATION AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO THAT THIS
COMING THURSDAY.
I WILL ALSO BE ATTENDING THE
QUEEN AND FARMERS MARKET IN THE
AFTERNOON FOLLOWING THE BOARD
OF HEALTH MEETING.
ON THURSDAY.
THE 17th OF JUNE.
I WILL BE AT THE FARMERS MARKET
FROM A LITTLE AFTER 3:00 IN THE
AFTERNOON POSSIBLY LATER
DEPENDING ON WHEN BOARD OF
HEALTH LETS UP, UNTIL 6:30 IN
THE EVENING.
INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
PLEASE DROP BY AND WHILE
PATRONIZING THE MARKET, I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT
PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT PENDING CITY
BUSINESS AND LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING PEOPLE THERE.
WITH THOSE UPDATES, MADAM
PRESIDENT, I HAVE NOTHING
ADDITIONAL TO REPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, WE ARE GOING TO
KEEP GOING DOWN THE LINE HERE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, AND AFTER THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
HAPPY MONDAY.
I DO WANT TO BEGIN BY OFFERING
MY CONDOLENCES AS WELL TO THE
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF OFFICER
HARRIS.
I'M SURE THEY ARE BEGINNING A
VERY HARD GRIEVING PROCESS AND
HOPE THAT THROUGH THAT PROCESS
THEY CAN RECALL FOND MEMORIES
OF HER AND REALLY CELEBRATE HER
LIFE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA
FROM THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE COUNCIL BILL 120069
RELATED TO FOOD DELIVERY
PLATFORMS.
THIS IS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ' BILL, WHICH I'M SURE
SHE WILL SPEAK TO LATER.
WE DO HAVE SEVERAL APARTMENTS
AS WELL FROM THE LGBTQ
DISABILITY AND MUSIC
COMMISSIONS.
SO, WE WILL HAVE, I THINK THERE
IS 16 APPOINTMENTS TO MOVE
FORWARD THIS AFTERNOON.
EXCUSE ME.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE IS TOMORROW, TUESDAY
AT 2:00 P.M.
WE WILL HAVE A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON BUILDING AND
EQUITABLE ECONOMY.
WE GOT A GREAT PANEL OF
STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO WILL BE SHARING
THEIR STRATEGIES FOR INVESTING
OUR CITY DOLLARS IN A WAY THAT
REALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE INEQUITY
OF OUR PASSED INVESTMENT
PRACTICES AND LOOKS TO SOME I
THINK VERY EXCITING AND
CREATIVE WAYS TO START BUILDING
COMMUNITY WEALTH IN THE CITY.
SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
CONVERSATION AND LOOK FORWARD
TO THE COMMITTEE MEETING.
DEPARTMENT UPDATES.
EXCUSE ME.
THE PROCESS HAS BEGUN FOR A
CANDIDATE SEARCH FOR A NEW
DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
PLAN IS TO SEAT A NEW DIRECTOR
BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
AS THAT PROCESS MOVES FORWARD,
COLLEAGUES, I WILL BE ASKING
FOR YOUR HELP ON QUESTIONS THAT
YOU HAVE FOR THE CONFIRMATION
PROCESS.
IT IS PRETTY EARLY STAGES, BUT
JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS
UP.
FOR OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, THE DEPARTMENT IS
ALSO REVIEWING, OR IS REVIEWING
A FINAL REPORT ON THE CREATION
OF A FILM COMMISSION.
WE HAVE BEEN GETTING LOTS OF
REQUESTS TO ACTUALLY SEEK AND
BEGIN A NEW FILM COMMISSION.
THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
REVIEWING A FINAL REPORT WITH
THE FILM INDUSTRY TASK FORCE TO
DETERMINE HOW AND WHETHER TO
MOVE FORWARD.
SO, WE HAVE ASKED THE
DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT A FINAL
DECISION AT THE JULY COMMUNITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MEETING.
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE
THAN.
THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO MEETING
WITH HUMAN RESOURCES ON THE
PROCESS FOR SELECTING A NEW
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES DIRECTOR.
SO, LOTS OF THINGS MOVING AND I
WILL DO MY BEST TO KEEP YOU
INFORMED AS I UNDERSTAND
PROCESSES MOVING FORWARD.
LAST WEEK I MET WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH TO DISCUSS THEIR WORK ON
YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE.
THERE IS A REGIONAL EFFORT TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THAT WE
ARE REALLY MAKING THE KIND OF
INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES
THAT CAN HELP CHANGE COMMUNITY
CONDITIONS.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL AT
IN THE LAST YEAR.
REALLY HAPPY TO MEET WITH THEM.
I ALSO MET WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
FROM A COUPLE MIDDLE SCHOOLS
WHO WERE PART OF THE RISING
CARES PROGRAM.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE HEARING
THEIR VISION FOR WHAT COMMUNITY
SAFETY LOOKS LIKE, AND I WAS
REALLY GLAD TO HEAR DIRECTLY
FROM MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ABOUT
THEIR INTEREST IN MAKING SURE
THAT OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS ARE
PROTECTED.
THAT ARE HOMELESS NEIGHBORS
HAVE ACCESS TO SHELTER SERVICES
TO TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, TO THE
KIND OF ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
AND MEDICAL SERVICES THAT THEY
NEED IN ORDER TO STABILIZE
THEMSELVS.
IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR SUCH
COMPASSION FROM THE YOUNG
PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
ACCESS TO GOOD FOOD AND SAFE
PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO WORK AND
PLAY.
SO, I WANT TO THANK THEM AGAIN
FOR INVITING US TO HEAR FROM
THEM.
ALSO MET WITH DR. QUINTON MORRIS
AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION TO
DISCUSS THEIR NEED FOR RECOVERY
INVESTMENTS, SPECIFICALLY IN
THE CULTURAL SECTOR.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND I
HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT
THIS.
WE KNOW THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
SECTOR IN THE CITY AND REALLY
DRIVES A LOT OF THE TOURISM
THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY.
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
INCLUDED AS WE ARE MOVING
FORWARD WITH THE INVESTMENT AND
WHAT RECOVERY LOOKS LIKE HERE.
FINALLY, MY OFFICE ON FRIDAY
DISTRIBUTED A JOINT COUNCIL
MAYORAL PROCLAMATION FOR PRIDE
MONTH.
COLLEAGUES, YOU SHOULD HAVE
RECEIVED THAT ON FRIDAY.
LGBTQ COMMISSION HAS CRAFTED
THE PROCLAMATION THAT WE SENT.
WE WON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION OF
FULL COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON,
BUT DID WANT TO PROVIDE THE
JOINT PROCLAMATION TO THE
COMMISSION.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT LAST FRIDAY THE
MAYOR AND THE LGBTQ COMMISSION
RAISED THE PRIDE FLAG AT CITY
HALL, AND AS ALWAYS, WE ARE
EXCITED TO BE CELEBRATING AND
HONORING ALL OF OUR LGBTQ
NEIGHBORS WHO CONTINUE TO FIGHT
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE WELL
REPRESENTED AT DECISION-MAKING
CABLES AND THAT THE NEEDS OF
THAT COMMUNITY ARE REFLECTED IN
THE WAY THAT THE CITY MOVES
FORWARD.
I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE FOR THIS MORNING,
COLLEAGUES.
SO, THAT IS MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
I DO NEED TO CALL THE ROLL ON
SIGNATURES TO THE PROCLAMATION
THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
SO, BEFORE I DO THAT, ARE THERE
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PROCLAMATION THAT WAS
DISTRIBUTED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES?
OKAY, I'M NOT SEEING ANY
QUESTIONS, SO WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO
DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION
PROCLAIMING JUNE, 2021 TO BE
LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
FOR BRINGING FORWARD THAT
PROCLAMATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, AND AFTER THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
THE TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE HAS NO ITEMS ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S FULL CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA.
THE COMMITTEE MEETS ON THE
FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS OF
EACH MONTH AT 9:30 IN THE
MORNING.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 16th.
THE COMMITTEE AGENDA HAS SIX
ITEMS.
THREE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD.
APPROVAL OF A LOW INTEREST LOAN
IS ALREADY PLANNED, TO FINANCE
$66 MILLION OF THE $570 MILLION
SHIP CANAL WATER QUALITY
CONTROL PROJECT.
THIS IS A MEGAPROJECT PLANNED
OVER MANY YEARS.
DUE TO THE STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTS REQUIRING THE CITY
AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS TO
PREVENT HARMFUL STORMWATER AND
WASTEWATER FROM POLLUTING OUR
LOCAL WATERWAYS.
THIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
PROJECT INCLUDES A NEW TUNNEL
BORING MACHINE CREATING A 2.7
MILE STORM WATER STORAGE TUNNEL
FROM WALLINGFORD TO BALLARD.
OUR COMMITTEE WILL ALSO DISCUSS
THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT.
IS A MULTIYEAR PLAN FOR
IMPLEMENTING THE MISSION OF
THIS ONE BILLION-DOLLAR CITY
OWNED UTILITY ENTERPRISE, WHICH
PROVIDES AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE,
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE
ELECTRICITY TO OVER 900,000
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE AND
SURROUNDING AREAS.
I'M PLEASED THAT DESPITE
SEVERAL COST PRESSURES SUCH AS
COVID, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT HAS
SURPASSED EXPECTATIONS IN
KEEPING THEIR RATE INCREASES
UNDER CONTROL.
CITY LIGHT SUCCEEDED IN NOT
INCREASING THE BILLS OF
ELECTRICITY CUSTOMERS THIS
YEAR.
WHILE ALSO LOWERING FUTURE RATE
INCREASES WHEN COMPARED TO THE
PREVIOUS STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE NET RESULT IS THE SIX YEAR
AVERAGE INCREASE WILL BE LESS
THAN 3.5%, INSTEAD OF THE
ORIGINAL 4.5% THAT WAS PLANNED.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE RATES WILL
RISE AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO
THE RATE OF INFLATION, WHICH IS
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND
REASONABLE.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE CUSTOMER
REVIEW PANEL HAS ENDORSED THE
PLAN, AND SUPPORTS ITS ADOPTION
BY THE COUNCIL.
IT'S JUST OUR FIRST HEARING OF
THIS AT COMMITTEE THIS
WEDNESDAY.
THE CEO OF SOUND TRANSIT AND
HIS TEAM WILL BE PRESENTING TO
OUR COMMITTEE THIS WEDNESDAY ON
THEIR SO-CALLED REALIGNMENT
PROCESS.
THIS VITAL REGIONAL TRANSIT
AGENCY IS CONSIDERING IT FOR
ITS NEW PROJECTS.
AS YOU KNOW, THE SOUND TRANSIT
BOARD HAS 18 MEMBES, AND WHILE
ONLY TWO OF THEM ARE FROM OUR
CITY GOVERNMENT, OUR MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ ARE
TIRELESS ADVOCATES.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR HELP
MAKE POSSIBLE SOUND TRANSIT'S
VISION.
I SHARE THE STANDS OF MANY
OTHERS THAT SOUND TRANSIT BOARD
SHOULD DELAY ANY DRASTIC
DECISIONS ON REALIGNMENT UNTIL
THE RAPIDLY CHANGING REVENUES
AND COST BECOME MORE CLEAR.
I KNOW THIS CITY COUNCIL AND
ITS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES
ARE BIG SUPPORTERS OF TRANSIT,
AS EVIDENCED MOST RECENTLY BY
OUR RENEWAL OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
LAST YEAR DESPITE THE ECONOMIC
RECESSION.
WE ARE ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPENING THIS OCTOBER OF THREE
NEW LIGHT RAIL STATIONS IN
SEATTLE, FOUNDED BY THE SOUND
TRANSIT TWO MEASURE APPROVED BY
VOTERS IN 2008.
THE AMBITIOUS NEXT STEPS ARE
IMPLEMENTATION OF SOUND TRANSIT
THREE EXPANSION APPROVED BY THE
REGION'S VOTERS IN 2016.
SEATTLE VOTERS WERE
INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING COST THE
POSSIBLE FOR SOUND TRANSIT
THREE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT
DELIVERS ON ITS PROMISES FOR
SEATTLE.
THIS INCLUDES LIGHT RAIL
STATIONS TO WEST SEATTLE WHICH
WILL IMPACT PORT OF SEATTLE,
STATIONS TO BALLARD WHICH WILL
IMPACT UNION AND SEATTLE CENTER.
ADDITIONAL STATION FOR SOUTH
SEATTLE AS WELL AS NORTHEAST
130th STREET AND CONNECTIONS
IMPORTANT TO THE ENTIRE REGION
THAT WILL GO THROUGH THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
WE ARE PLEASED THAT SOUND
TRANSIT ACCEPTED THE INVITATION
TO BRIEF OUR COMMITTEE ON THE
REALIGNMENT SITUATION.
I BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE SEVERAL
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL
ASSUMPTIONS SOUND TRANSIT HAS
BEEN RELYING ON TO MAKE THE
REALIGNMENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO
THE BOARD.
IN ADDITION TO THE PRESENTATION
THIS WEDNESDAY ON REALIGNMENT,
WE HOPE SOUND TRANSIT RETURNS
TO OUR COMMITTEE LATER TO
UPDATE US ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT PROCESS.
DURING -- OR DISCUSSING THAT IS
AN IMPORTANT PLATFORM TO RAISE
OTHER ISSUES IMPORTANT TO US
SUCH AS THE NEED FOR THOUGHTFUL
COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND
STAKEHOLDER INPUT TO ENSURE
EXCELLENT ACCESS TO STATIONS
AND INTEGRATION IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THAT CAN DELIVER A POSITIVE
EXPERIENCE FOR TRANSIT RIDERS
AS WE ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO
MOVE OUT OF THEIR GASOLINE
FUELED CARS, TO CARBON FRIENDLY
TRANSIT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO
MEET OUR AMBITIOUS GOALS TO
ADDRESS THE CRISIS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE.
REGARDING TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING, I KNOW WE ALL HAVE A
LOT OF INTEREST IN SEEING
WHETHER MORE FUNDING WILL COME
FROM OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE TRANSPORTATION FUNDS FROM
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT,
ARPA, SIGNED INTO LAW IN MARCH
WILL GO MAINLY TO BACK THE
LOSSES SUFFERED BY TRANSIT
AGENCIES, AND THAT BACKFIELD
FUNDING IS WELCOMED AND VITAL.
I KNOW WE ARE ALSO HOPING FOR
MORE MONEY FOR NEW
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
AFTER COMBINING RECENT MEDIA
REPORTS WITH THE ALL ON THE
GROUND INTEL FROM OUR FEDERAL
LOBBYISTS IN DC, WHAT'S CLEAR
IS THAT THE PICTURE FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS MURKY.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY
OUTWEIGHED RECORD-BREAKING SUMS
OF MONEY, AND THE POLITICS OF
BECOME MORE FLUID ON
INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS,
ESPECIALLY IN THE U.S. SENATE.
IF CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT
ULTIMATELY AGREE ON
INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION THIS
YEAR IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE MUCH
FEWER DOLLARS THAN WHAT
PRESIDENT BIDEN ORIGINALLY
CALLED FOR TO ADDRESS OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
THERE ARE LOTS OF MOVING PIECES
AND INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS,
REAUTHORIZATION OF FIVE-YEAR
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ACT,
WHICH EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 30th,
THEN THERE IS THE WHOLE BUDGET
PROCESS WHICH WILL PROBABLY
REQUIRE BUDGET RECONCILIATION
TO AVOID THE 60 VOTES REQUIRED
IN THE SENATE.
THEN, THE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
FOLLOWING THAT.
SO, I'M HOPING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WILL ULTIMATELY
PROVIDE MORE FUNDING FOR OUR
AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
I BELIEVE OUR FEDERAL LOBBYISTS
MAY BE VISITING COUNCIL
BRIEFING, OR VISITING
COUNCILMEMBERS LATER ABOUT THIS
COMPLICATED PROCESS ABOUT
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS.
IN DISTRICT FOR I WAS ABLE TO
VISIT THE WALLINGFORD FARMERS
MARKET, WHICH WE STARTED THIS
PASSED WEDNESDAY.
THE WALLINGFORD FARMERS MARKET
WILL BE OPEN EVERY WEDNESDAY
EVENING FROM 3:00 P.M.
TO 7:00 P.M.
THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN
READ ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD BLOG.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT FARMERS
MARKET WHICH WE ARE REALLY
LUCKY OPERATE YEAR-ROUND.
THIS WEEK I WILL BE ATTENDING
AT LEAST ONE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
IN DISTRICT FOR.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, WE WILL HEAD DOWN
THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT,
AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND
EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR ITS
REGULAR TIME, ONE WEEK FROM
TUESDAY, JUNE 22nd AT 2:00 P.M.
AS I SAID AT LAST WEEK'S CITY
COUNCIL MEETING DURING THE VOTE
ON THE SEVERAL BILLS FROM MY
OFFICE ON EVICTION PREVENTION,
RUNAWAY RATE INCREASES ARE A
SIMPLE CAUSE OF THE ACUTE
AFFORDABILITY -- HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN OUR
CITY AND REGION.
IN ADDITION TO EVICTION
PREVENTION LAWS, WE ALSO NEED
TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUS IMPACT
OF RENT INCREASES THAT HAVE
BECOME UNAFFORDABLE TO MOST
RENTERS.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU USE THE RULE
OF THUMB THAT ECONOMISTS USE,
WHICH IS IF AS A HOUSEHOLD YOU
ARE PAYING ANY MORE THAN 25 TO
30% OF YOUR OVERALL INCOME ON
HOUSING, THEN YOU ARE IN --
YOUR RENT FOR AND NEED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
OBVIOUSLY THE CITY AND THE STATE
BOTH NEED RENT CONTROL, A
STRONG RENT CONTROL PROJECT,
FREE OF CORPORATE LOOPHOLES.
IN THE MEANWHILE, WE ALSO NEED
TO BRING IN POLICIES THAT WILL
ASSUAGE THE PROBLEM OF RENT
INCREASES.
IN NEXT WEEK'S MEETINGS OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE
WILL DISCUSS TWO RENTERS'
RIGHTS BILLS FROM MY OFFICE
RELATED TO OUTRAGEOUS RATE
INCREASES.
ONE BILL REQUIRES THAT
LANDLORDS MTS GIVE RENTERS
NOTICE ABOUT RATE INCREASES UP
TO 6 MONTHS NOTICE OF RENT
INCREASES.
CURRENTLY TWO MONTHS NOTICE ARE
REQUIRED.
THE OTHER BILL REQUIRES
LANDLORDS TO PAY RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY
ECONOMICALLY DID PLACE THEIR
TENANTS BECAUSE OF -- IN OTHER
WORDS BECAUSE OF OUTRAGEOUS
RENT INCREASES.
THAT TENANTS ARE PUSHED OUT
BECAUSE OF RENT INCREASES.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO VOTE ON
THE CONFIRMATION OF SEVERAL
APPOINTMENTS TO THE GREEN NEW
DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD AND WILL
DISCUSS WITH A PANEL OF CLIMATE
ACTIVISTS ABOUT THOSE PIPELINE
CAMPAIGNS WHICH STARTED
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND
INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT INVEST
RESOURCES IN THE EXPANSION OF
FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE
PIPELINE THREE.
THE KEYSTONE AND SOUTH PIPELINE
WHICH AFTER YEARS OF STRUGGLE,
BY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
ACTIVISTS, WAS DEFEATED BY THE
CLIMATE -- BECAUSE OF THE
CLIMATE JUSTICE MOVEMENT.
WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT
THIS IS ALSO A FOLLOW-UP OF THE
BILL THAT WAS PASSED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL FROM MY OFFICE TO
DIVEST THE CITY OF SEATTLE FROM
BANKS LIKE WELLS FARGO.
IT'S ALSO RELATED TO A DIRE
STATISTIC THAT WAS RECENTLY
REPORTED BY THE GUARDIAN
NEWSPAPER, WHICH SHOWS THAT
DESPITE ALL THE INFORMATION ON
THE PERILS OF CLIMATE CRISIS
AND THE IMPENDING CLIMATE
CATASTROPHE, DURING THE
PANDEMIC YEAR WHEN USAGE OF
FOSSIL FUEL INTENSE RESOURCES
WERE REDUCED DRAMATICALLY,
DURING THAT SAME YEAR, THE
WORLD'S LARGEST BANKS ACTUALLY
INCREASED THEIR UNDERWRITING OF
FOSSIL FUEL PROJECT BY NEARLY
$4 TRILLION.
THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE AND IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE STOP THE
MONEY PIPELINE MOVEMENT IS
ACTING ON THIS QUESTION, NOT
ONLY THE UNITED STATES, BUT
ALSO IN CANADA.
MY OFFICE IS DEVELOPING
LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT THOSE
STOP THE MONEY PIPELINE
CAMPAIGN TO GIVE THE GREEN NEW
DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD THE
ABILITY TO RATE AND INSURANCE
COMPANIES AND OTHER FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS WHEN THEY BID ON
CITY CONTRACTS AND TO REQUIRE
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO
FACTOR IN THAT RANKING.
IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE
CITY COUNCIL TO PASS, AS I
SAID, TO FOLLOW UP ON THE 2017
BILL RELATED TO WELLS FARGO.
AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, MY
OFFICE IS ALSO INTRODUCING
LEGISLATION REQUESTED BY THE
DECRIMINALIZED NATURE MOVEMENT
TO DECRIMINALIZE PSYCHEDELIC
DRUGS IN SEATTLE.
WHICH COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS
ALSO BEEN LOOKING INTO.
I SUPPORT THEIR DEMANDS FOR
SEVERAL REASONS, FIRST THE
GENERAL REASON, EVEN FOR
HARMFUL AND ADDICTIVE DRUGS,
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS
A TERRIBLE RESPONSE.
RAGAN'S FAILED WAR ON DRUGS DID
NOTHING BUT EXPAND MASS
INCARCERATION, DECIMATING WHOLE
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THE CRIMINALIZATION OF
PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS IS ONLY A
SMALL PART OF THAT MASS
INCARCERATION SYSTEM.
BUT, IT IS A PART.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, THERE IS
SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH SHOWING
THAT THESE PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS
ARE VERY RARELY HARMFUL AND CAN
HAVE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS.
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THEY
CAN HAVE A POWERFUL BENEFIT, IN
SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, TO TREAT
PTSD, DEPRESSION AND ADDICTION.
PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS ALSO HAVE A
LONG HISTORY OF USE IN
RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES.
THE LEGISLATION TO
DECRIMINALIZE PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS
IN SEATTLE USES THE SAME
APPROACH, LEGAL APPROACH,
SEATTLE USED TO DECRIMINALIZE
CANNABIS SHORTLY BEFORE IT WAS
LEGALIZED STATEWIDE.
ESSENTIALLY SEATTLE DOES NOT
HAVE THE POWER TO LEGALIZE
THESE DRUGS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A
CITY LAW THAT MAKES THEM
ILLEGAL, BUT THE CITY DOES HAVE
THE POWER TO ESSENTIALLY
DECRIMINALIZE THEM BY MAKING
THEIR ENFORCEMENT, THE LAST
PRIORITY OF THE SEATTLE POLICE.
THIS IS WHAT SEATTLE DID WITH
CANNABIS IN THE PASSED, AND
THIS IS WHAT THIS LEGISLATION
WILL DO.
LAST WEEK, THE CITY COUNCIL
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED THE
RESOLUTION MY OFFICE PUT
FORWARD ON BEHALF OF THE
RENTERS' RIGHTS MOVEMENT
CALLING ON MAYOR DURKAN AND
GOVERNOR INSLEE TO EXTEND OR
RENEW THE CURRENT EVICTION
MORATORIUM'S TO THE END OF 2021
ALONGSIDE, TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT
RESOLUTION, ALONGSIDE RANK-AND-
FILE RENTERS AND ACTIVIST
ORGANIZATIONS, MY COUNCIL
OFFICE IS ORGANIZING A RALLY
FOR THE EVICTION MORATORIUM FOR
THURSDAY, JUNE 24th AT 6:00
P.M.
AT CAL ANDERSON PARK ON CAPITOL
HILL TO DEMAND THE MAYOR EXTEND
THE MORATORIUM TO AT LEAST THE
END OF 2021 SEVERAL GROUPS ARE
ALL COSPONSORING THE RALLY AND
WE ARE HOPING MORE
ORGANIZATIONS WILL INCLUDING
LABOR UNIONS.
RALLY SPEAKERS WILL ALSO CALL
FOR RENT CONTROL AND FOR THE
CANCELLATION OF COVID THAT FOR
RENTERS, STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS,
SMALL LANDLORDS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES, BECAUSE BIG BANKS
AND BIG CORPORATIONS INCLUDING
CORPORATE LANDLORDS, SHOULD PAY
FOR THIS CRISIS NOT ORDINARY
PEOPLE.
EXTENDING THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM WE KNOW IS A RACIAL
JUSTICE ISSUE.
AS THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES
UNION HAS NOTED, DUE TO DECADES
OF INEQUALITY IN OUR HOUSING
SYSTEM, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
AND LOW INCOME WOMEN FEEL THE
IMPACT OF EVICTION THE MOST.
BLACK WOMEN IN PARTICULAR.
THAT'S A QUOTE FROM THE ACLU.
ALSO, BOARDING TO APARTMENT
LISTING.COM, NATIONALLY 28% OF
RENTERS STARTED THIS YEAR WITH
RENTAL DEBT, WHICH IS BAD
ENOUGH, BUT THE BLACK
HOUSEHOLDS THAT FIGURE WAS A
STAGGERING 52%.
WE KNOW IN SEATTLE BLACK RENTERS
ARE SERVED WITH EVICTION NOTICE
AS A AT MORE THAN THREE TIMES
THE RATE OF OTHER RENTERS
ACCORDING TO THE KING COUNTY
BAR ASSOCIATION HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT.
MAYOR DURKAN HAS A CHOICE.
SHE CAN STAND WITH STRUGGLING
RENTERS AND EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM THROUGH THE END OF
THIS YEAR AND PREVENT WHAT
ECONOMISTS ARE PREDICTING,
WHICH IS A NATIONWIDE TSUNAMI
OF EVICTIONS IF THE MORATORIUMS
ARE REVOKED.
OR, REPRESENT CORPORATE
LANDLORDS.
ARE RALLY WILL DEMAND THAT
DURKIN STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY
AND EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM TO THE END OF 2021
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON MY OFFICE
STAFF WAS PROUD TO JOIN WITH
125 OTHER DEMONSTRATORS ON
HARBOR ISLAND TO PROTEST THE
ARRIVAL OF AN ISRAELI CARGO KIT.
WHICH CAME TO SEATTLE ON JUNE
2nd AND HAS BEEN WAITING TO
UNLOAD ITS CARGO.
THE HARBOUR ISLAND ACTION TO
BLOCK THE BOAT AS PART OF A
GROWING INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT
OF LABOR AND COMMUNITY
ACTIVISTS.
IT BEGAN LAST MONTH WITH
DOCKWORKERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
REFUSING TO HANDLE A SHIP TO
PROTEST THE IS REAL HE STATES
OPPRESSION OF THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE.
THANKS TO THE ORGANIZATION OF
PALESTINIANS, A SEATTLE-BASED
GROUP, ALONG WITH THE
SOLIDARITY OF MEMBERS OF THE
LONGSHORE WORKERS UNION, THE
SHIP HAS NOT BEEN UNLOADED.
THE SEATTLE ACTION COMES IN THE
WAKE OF TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY
AND LABOR SOLIDARITY IN
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA WHERE A
COMMUNITY AND WORKER COALITION,
AGAIN WITH CRITICAL SOLIDARITY
FROM LONGSHORE UNION MEMBERS,
SUCCESSFULLY BLOCKED AN ISRAELI
SHIP ON JUNE 4th AFTER 17 DAYS
OF DELAYING THE SHIP FROM
ATTEMPTING TO DR. AS A BROTHER
AND PALESTINIAN RANK-AND-FILE
WORKER AND WORKER IN OAKLAND
SAID QUOTE, AN INJURY TO ONE IS
AN INJURY TO ALL.
JUST AS LOCAL 10 WORKERS
REFUSED TO UNLOAD CARGO FROM
APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA IN THE
1980s, WE HONOR COMMUNITY
PICKETS ASKING US NOT TO UNLOAD
CARGO FROM ISRAELI VESSELS END
QUOTE.
LAST MONTH, THE PALESTINE
GENERAL FEDERATION OF TRADE
UNION ISSUED AN IMPORTANT
APPEAL.
THEY WROTE, WE CALL ON OUR
FRIENDS AND ALL THE FIELD
LOVING PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TO
DO WHAT THEY CAN TO STOP THIS
AGGRESSION AND IS REALLY RACIST
POLICIES WHICH REMIND US OF
THOSE USED BY THE APARTHEID
SOUTH AFRICA REGIME THAT WAS
DEFEATED BY THE STEADFASTNESS
OF THE AFRICAN PEOPLE.
THE PALESTINIANS ARE FACING THE
SAME RACISTS PRACTICE CURIOUS
BY THE RIGHT-WING ISRAELI
GOVERNMENT END QUOTE.
AMONG THE SOLIDARITY IS THAT
U.S. LABOR UNION MEMBERS
REFUSED TO UNLOAD THE SHIPS.
AS I SAID TO THE MAY 16th RALLY,
QUOTE, INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
IS CRUCIAL WHAT'S EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT IS A UNITED WORKING
CLASS PEOPLE MOVEMENT AGAINST
THE ISRAELI CLASSES POLICIES.
END QUOTE.
THE ROLE OF ORGANIZED LABOR IN
BUILDING INTERNATIONAL
SOLIDARITY, AS NUMEROUS
HISTORICAL EXAMPLES
DEMONSTRATE, WILL BE DECISIVE
IF WE ARE TO END THE OCCUPATION.
SO, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT MEMBERS
OF THE LONGSHORE WORKERS UNION
HAVE STOOD ALONGSIDE THE
MOVEMENT AND HAVE RECEIVED TO
UNLOAD THE SHIPS.
MY OFFICE AND MY ORGANIZATION
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE WILL
CONTINUE TO JOIN WITH THE
COMMUNITY AT PROTESTS AT THE
PORT OF SEATTLE TO ENSURE THE
CARGO IS NOT UNLOADED.
MOST IMPORTANT WILL BE
COORDINATED ACTIONS BY UNION
WORKERS GLOBALLY, ESPECIALLY
INSIDE THE U.S. AND INSIDE
ISRAEL TO REFUSE TO UNLOAD AND
UNLOAD ARMS SHIPMENTS.
IN FACT, THIS IS IS REAL'S
LARGEST COMPANIES.
OFTEN DEALING IN MILITARY
TECHNOLOGY.
THAT'S WHY THE PALESTINIAN
COLLECTIVE HAS CORRECTLY DECIDED
TO ENGAGE IN THE BLOCK THE BOAT
CAMPAIGN.
WE NEED ALL SOCIALISTS IN THE
LABOR MOVEMENT OF THE UNITED
STATES TO STAND UP CLEARLY IN
SUPPORT OF THIS HISTORIC
STRUGGLE WITH THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE AND TO DEMAND AN END TO
U.S. ADMINISTRATION SHAMEFUL
AND DECADES LONG POLICIES OF
DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT AND ARMS AND
WEAPONS AND MILITARY SUPPORT
FOR THE ISRAELI SYSTEM OF
APARTHEID.
RELATED TO OUR OFFICE OF
SOLIDARITY WITH THIS
INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT TO BLOCK
THE BOAT MY COUNCIL OFFICE WILL
SHORTLY BE INTRODUCING
LEGISLATION TO BAN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM ENGAGING
IN TRAINING WITH ISRAELI
MILITARY AND POLICE.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS
DOCUMENTED THE COMMON FACTORS
OF ISRAELI FORCES TRAINING U.S.
POLICE INCLUDING POLICE AND
DEPARTMENTS LIKE SEATTLE AND
BALTIMORE, THAT HAD BEEN FOUND
BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT TO HAVE
A PATTERN OF VIOLATING THE
RIGHTS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
COMING ON THE ONE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF THE POLICE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OVER THE
YEARS POLICE FROM SEATTLE TO
MINNEAPOLIS TO NEW YORK HAVE
ALL BEEN INVOLVED IN TRAINING
WITH ISRAELI MILITARY AND
POLICE.
WE ABSOLUTELY MUST PUT AN END
TO THIS DEADLY EXCHANGE.
POLICE FROM MORE THAN 30 STATES
AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THESE
TRAINING SESSIONS IN RECENT
YEARS.
AS RECENTLY AS 2015, SEATTLE
POLICE MADE TRAINING TRIPS TO
ISRAEL, A NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVISTS.
WHILE WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT
THERE ARE NO CURRENT PLANS FOR
SEATTLE POLICE TO HAVE PERSONAL
TRAINING WITH ISRAELI MILITARY
OR POLICE, WE KNOW THAT HAS
HAPPENED IN THE PASSED AND WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT IT NEVER
HAPPENS AGAIN, AS LONG AS
ISRAEL UTILIZES THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE.
MY OFFICE IS WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THE
LEGISLATION, AND I GREATLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK OF GREG
DOSS ON CENTRAL STAFF IN
DRAFTING.
I WELCOME THE COSPONSORSHIP OF
THE LEGISLATION BY OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS, AND IF YOU HAVE
AY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT MY
STAFF AND I ALSO WANTED TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBERS HERBOLD
AND MOSQUEDA, WHO SIGNED THE
LETTER ALONG WITH ME TO THE
U.S. CONGRESS AND TO PRESIDENT
BIDEN.
A FEW WEEKS AGO.
FINALLY, ON THE STRUGGLE IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE
THE AMERICAN MUSLIM EMPOWERMENT
NETWORK FOR ORGANIZING THE FOUR
PAGE AD THAT APPEARED THIS
WEEKEND IN THE SEATTLE TIMES.
I WAS PROUD TO SIGN ON, AS WAS
MY ORGANIZATION, SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
THE OPEN LETTER NOTED THE
CONTINUED ISRAELI STATE
VIOLENCE AGAINST THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THE FACT
THAT THE ISRAELI STATE RECEIVES
$3.8 BILLION A YEAR IN U.S. AID.
THE OPEN LETTER, WHICH WAS
PUBLISHED IN THE SEATTLE TIMES
AS AN AID, CALLED ON CONGRESS
TO SUPPORT HR 2590, A
CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION TO
PROHIBIT ISRAELI STATE FROM
USING U.S. TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR
THE MILITARY DETENTION AND
ABUSE OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN.
IT ALSO PROHIBITS USING U.S.
TAX DOLLARS FOR THE SEIZURE AND
DESTRUCTION OF PALESTINIAN
PROPERTY, IN VIOLATION OF
INTERNATIONAL LAW, OR FOR
FURTHER UNILATERAL ANNEXATION
OF PALESTINIAN TERRITORY IN
VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
EXCUSE ME.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THAT REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE, WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND GO DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBERS HERBOLD.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
I HAD A MOMENT TRYING TO FIND
MY MUTE BUTTON THERE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WEEK,
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
LAND-USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LAND-
USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE
IS NEXT WEEK, WEDNESDAY, JUNE
23rd, STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
THERE ARE FIVE APPOINTMENTS
TODAY ON OUR FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA.
FROM THE LAND-USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE, AND
THEY ARE THE SEATTLE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT PDA
GOVERNING COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.
SO, FIVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE CID
PDA GOVERNMENT COUNCIL ON
TODAY'S FULL AGENDA.
TOMORROW AT OUR FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE I WILL BE
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE
SEATTLE WEST PLAN LEGISLATION
TO INCREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF
FUNDING WE INTEND TO ALLOCATE
TO PERMANENT HOUSING
ACQUISITION TO $60 MILLION.
CURRENTLY THE LEGISLATION
STATES THE INTENT OF COUNCIL IS
TO ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL $40
MILLION TO ACQUIRING PERMANENT
HOUSING BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022.
WITH $28.5 MILLION ALLOCATED IN
THIS ROUND OF FUNDING AND THE
REMAINDER TO BE FUNDED IN 2022.
I APPRECIATE THE SERIOUS
INVESTMENT IN HOUSING, AND I
BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO START
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, WE
NEED TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE.
WHICH IS WHAT I WILL BE
BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD
TO INCREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO
$60 MILLION.
INTENDED FOR 2022.
LOOKING AT MY WEEK LAST WEEK,
REALLY EXCITED COLLEAGUES TO
BRING ANOTHER MEMBER OF MY TEAM
ON.
WE HAVE A NEW TEAMMATE, KATE
HOFFMAN STARTED LAST WEEK.
SHE COMES TO US FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN YOUTH
AND FAMILIES.
WORKING PREVIOUS TO THAT AT THE
STATE LEGISLATURE, AND BEFORE
THAT, NOVICE MENTAL HEALTH
SOLUTIONS.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BRING HER
ON, AND I WILL LIKELY BE
REQUESTING MEETINGS WITH EACH
OF YOUR OFFICES AS WE USED TO,
WHILE IN PERSON, WALK THE HALL
AND MAKE INTRODUCTIONS.
I'LL BE DOING THIS VIRTUALLY.
ALSO LAST WEEK I HAD THE
PLEASURE OF HAVING A TOWNHALL
FOR DISTRICT 6. WE HAD CITY
úBUDGET DIRECTOR BEN NOBLE,
DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF HOUSING
EMILY ALVARADO, AND KING COUNTY
EGIONAL HOMELESSNESS CEO MA
DOAN'S PRESENT ABOUT THE
SEATTLE RESCUE PLAN.
ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO USE
THOSE DOLLARS TO INVEST IN
HOUSING HERE IN THE CITY, AND
HOW WE ARE GOING TO REGIONALLY
ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD
OUT TO ME IS THAT COVID PUT A
PAUSE ON THE HIRING OF THE CEO
OF THIS REGIONAL AUTHORITY ON
HOMELESSNESS.
THAT PERIOD OF PAUSE WAS LONGER
THAN THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WILL
TAKE FOR THE CEO, MARK DOAN'S
TO BE ABLE TO BRING ON SEATTLE
AND KING COUNTY'S CONTRACTS
INTO THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY.
SO, WE HAD A YEAR PLUS PAUSE.
BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, SIX
MONTHS FROM NOW, HIS OFFICE, OR
THEIR OFFICE WILL BE MAINTAINING
ALL OF THE CONTRACTS FOR
SEATTLE IN KING COUNTY.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
PROGRESS IN SHORT ORDER.
LAST WEEK I ALSO JOINED THE
PHINNEY RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION AND THE BALLARD
ALLIANCE FOR MONTHLY MEETINGS,
WHICH PROVED VERY FRUITFUL.
I ALSO RECEIVED AN INTERNAL, AN
INITIAL BRIEFING ON TEMPORARY
CODE CHANGES FOR REGULATIONS ON
STREET-LEVEL USE OF DOWNTOWN.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL BE BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A
RECOVERY DOWNTOWN THAT AGAIN,
WHERE THE CODE MEETS THE NEEDS
OF OUR CITY.
LAST WEEK I ALSO MET WITH
DIRECTOR DR. BEN NOBLE AT THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE TO DISCUSS
THE RESCUE PLAN AND THE SDOT
DIRECTOR ABOUT TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES INCLUDING WEST GREEN
LAKE WAY NORTH.
LAST WEEK I ALSO JOINED A
HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR OF
BALLARD, LOOKING AT THE
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, HISTORIC
DISTRICT, AND INDUSTRIAL
DISTRICT, WHICH ARE ALL WITHIN
THREE BLOCKS OF EACH OTHER.
WE LOOKED AT THE HISTORY FROM
PRE-CONTACT TO EARLY
SETTLEMENT, TO TODAY AND WHERE
WE ARE GOING IN THE FUTURE.
I HAD A GREAT TIME LEARNING AND
SHARING MY OWN KNOWLEDGE OF
BALLARD'S HISTORY.
ONE FUN FACT I'LL SHARE WITH
YOU, COLLEAGUES, IS BEFORE
BALLARD WAS ANNEXED, BALLARD WAS
WASHINGTON'S SEVENTH LARGEST
CITY.
COMPETING WITH SEATTLE.
IN OTHER NEWS OF TODAY, OR LAST
WEEK, I ALSO RECEIVED A
BRIEFING FROM SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT ON THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN
UPDATE, AND AS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN STATED, IT IS FOR THE
FIRST TIMEKEEPING RATE
INCREASES AS CLOSE TO THE RATE
OF INFLATION AS POSSIBLE.
I WANT TO THANK CITY LIGHT'S
GENERAL MANAGER DEBORAH SMITH
AND THEIR ENTIRE TEAM FOR THIS
GREAT WORK.
LASTLY, LAST WEEK, IT IS
GRADUATION SEASON, SO I WOULD
BE REMISS WITHOUT SHARING
CONGRATULATIONS TO A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE.
I STARTED BY ATTENDING THE
RETIREMENT PARTY FOR ONE PERSON
WHO HAS WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR
20 YEARS.
MANAGING URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION, JUST WANT TO
CONGRATULATE SANDRA.
I ALSO ATTENDED GRADUATION
CELEBRATIONS FOR AN INTERN, A
MEMBER OF MY STAFF, AND OTHER
LEGISLATIVE STAFF.
I ALSO ATTENDED A SWEARING IN
CEREMONY FOR A FORMER STAFF OF
MINE SHE WAS SWORN INTO THE BAR
BY THE SUPREME COURT CHIEF
JUSTICE GONZALEZ AND JUSTICE
MADSEN.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS
MOMENT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE.
GREAT WORK, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO
SEE WHAT ALL OF YOU DO,
ESPECIALLY YOU, SANDRA.
THIS COMING WEEK, I WILL ATTEND
MY QUARTERLY MEETING WITH THE
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE GREGORY.
I'LL BE RECEIVING BRIEFINGS
FROM SPU ON THE SHIP CANAL
WATER QUALITY PROJECT AND SOUND
TRANSIT AHEAD OF WEDNESDAY'S
COMMITTEE.
ON WEDNESDAY I'LL BE JOINING
THE REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMITTEE
AND MEETING WITH SDC I TO
CONTINUE OUR WORK LASTLY, I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO RECEIVING AN
UPDATE ON THE GREEN LAKE
BOATHOUSE PROJECT WHICH HAS
NEARLY COMPLETED ITS FUNDING
GOALS.
HERE AND DISTRICT 6 AS I
MENTIONED, I HELD A TOWNHALL,
WHICH IS ON MY WEBSITE ALONG
WITH MY WEEKLY VIDEO UPDATES.
ALL THE PASSED NEWSLETTERS AND
THE LINK TO SIGN UP FOR
DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS.
IF YOU LIKE TO JOIN ME FOR A
ONE ON ONE MEETING SIGN UP ON
MY WEBSITE.
LAST WEEK I MET WITH NEIGHBORS
FROM SEVERAL AREAS AND FIVE
DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM PHINNEY
RIDGE.
WE DISCUSSED HOW TO ASSIST
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
BEING BUILT.
THE USE OF UNDERUTILIZED CITY
BUILDINGS.
WEST GREENWAY DRIVE NORTH.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND
THE TIMELINE FOR REOPENING
NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS.
HOMELESSNESS IN THE DISTRICT
AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
TRAFFIC, AGAIN ON WEST GREEN
LAKE WAY NORTH.
LIGHT POLLUTION.
SALMON HABITAT AND ADDRESSING
PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND EXPECTATIONS.
TINY HOME VILLAGES,
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, AND
AGAIN THE WEST GREENWAY LAKE
NORTH OPENING IN MY LAST THREE
VIDEOS OF WEST GREENWAY LAKE
NORTH, I HAVE FOR THE LAST YEAR
BEEN ADVOCATING TO HAVE THAT
OPENED TO BOTH TRAFFIC AND
PEDESTRIANS.
WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR
THAT THERE IS A DESIRE TO KEEP
BIKES ON THE OUTER LOOP OF
GREEN LAKE, WHICH MEANS WE DO
NEED TO HAVE A TWO WAY
PROTECTED GRANDLY AND A TWO WAY
TRAVEL LANE FOR CARS.
THERE IS THE SPACE.
I CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE TO THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AND DIRECTOR OF
SDOT.
I'LL CONTINUE CARRYING THAT
MESSAGE.
THEN, THIS WEEK MY OFFICE HOURS
WILL BE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 17th
FROM 2:00 TO 6:00 P.M.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH
NEIGHBORS.
AGAIN, JUST SIGN UP ON MY
WEBSITE.
THERE'S A LINK THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, THAT IS MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR YOUR
REPORT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
SEE NONE, WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND GO DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP AS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> HELLO, AND GOOD MORNING
EVERYBODY.
SO, AS OTHERS HAVE THIS
MORNING, JUST WANT TO NOTE HOW
OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO FRIENDS
AND FAMILY, AND COLLEAGUES, OF
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICER
ALEXANDRA HARRIS.
WHO WAS TRAGICALLY STRUCK BY A
CAR ON I-5 AND DIED EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING.
SHE HAD PULLED OVER TO HELP OUT
A COLLISION ON I-5 AFTER HER
SHIFT WAS OVER.
I SPENT SOME TIME LAST NIGHT
READING SUMMARIES OF OFFICER
HARRIS' PODCASTS.
IT COVERS TOPICS OF WELLNESS,
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS,, AND
LEADERSHIPS.
IT'S VERY EVIDENT THAT OFFICER
HARRIS CARED DEEPLY FOR HER
COMMUNITY AND SHE WILL BE
MOURNED BY HER FAMILY.
THE WASHINGTON STATE PATROL IS
INVESTIGATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT LED UP TO THIS INCIDENT.
IN COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
ABSENCE SHE ASKED THAT I
DELIVER HER REPORT.
THE NEXT FINANCE AND HOUSING
MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY,
JUNE 15th AT 9:30 A.M.
THE COMMITTEE AGENDA WILL HAVE
A PANEL PRESENTATION ON THE
GROCERY WORKERS HAZARD PAY
ORDINANCE.
A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON
THE HOUSING LEVY ADMINISTRATION
AND FINANCE PLAN.
AND THE ACCOMPANYING HOUSING
FUNDING POLICIES.
FINALLY, IT WILL BE HAVING,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WILL BE
HAVING A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE
VOTE ON AMENDMENTS ON THE
SEATTLE RESCUE PLAN ORDINANCE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ASKED
THAT I REMIND ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT YOU ARE
WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED TO
ATTEND THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
AND PARTICIPATE IN THE
DISCUSSION.
IS ONLY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE
ALLOWED TO TAKE A VOTE, AND
SPONSOR AMENDMENTS, NONMEMBERS
CAN OFFER AMENDMENTS BUT WILL
NEED A MEMBER SPONSOR TO BRING
THE AMENDMENT FORWARD IN
COMMITTEE ITSELF.
IF ADDITIONAL TIME IS NEEDED
FOR A SESSION AND VOTE ON THE
SEATTLE RESCUE PLAN ORDINANCE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WILL
HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING ON JUNE
16th AT 2:00 P.M.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
HOPING TO HAVE A FINAL VOTE ON
JUNE 21st OR JUNE 28th.
THEN, FINAL REMINDER ON THAT,
AMENDMENTS RECEIVED LAST WEEK
WERE PUBLISHED TO THE FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE AGENDA
LAST WEEK ON FRIDAY.
, THEY ARE PUBLIC.
COUNCILMEMBERS CAN REVIEW
AMENDMENTS IN ADVANCE OF
TOMORROW'S INVES COMMITTEE
MEETING.
AGAIN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ATTEND THE MEETING ON JUNE
15th, OR 16, OR BOTH, AND
YOU'RE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE,
PLEASE LET HER OFFICE KNOW
TODAY.
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE AGENDA.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMITTEE ON THE FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA, BUT WE DO HAVE AN
AMENDMENT TO ANOTHER BILL AND A
BILL THAT I HAVE SPONSORED THAT
HAS BEEN WORKING ITS WAY
THROUGH COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE.
ON THAT ONE FIRST, THAT IS
COUNCIL BILL 120069.
REFERRED TO AS INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR PROTECTIONS.
ON JUNE 4th, DURING THE FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING,
THIS BILL WAS VOTED OUT OF
COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY WITH FIVE
VOTES IN SUPPORT.
THIS WAS THE LAST OF SEVERAL
COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHERE WE
HEARD DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE
BILL BOTH BEFORE, DURING AND
AFTER.
OUR COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE
FOURTH WE VOTED TO ADDRESS AN
AMENDMENT RISING FROM
STAKEHOLDERS AND THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS FOR A
SUBSTITUTE BILL.
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES, THERE ARE
SOME TECHNICAL ONES AS WELL.
THE BILL WERE CLARIFYING WAS
NEVER INTENDED TO, BUT WE ARE
MAKING VERY CLEAR THAT DOES NOT
INCLUDE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
WITH THE ONLY RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE CONTRACT OR AND THE
HIRING ENTITY IS A PROPERTY
RENTAL AGREEMENT.
WHICH IS AN AGREEMENT FOR LEASE
TO RENT SPACE FROM THE HIRING
ENTITY AN EXAMPLE OF COURSE OF
THIS TYPE OF PROPERTY RENTAL
AGREEMENT, WHICH IS NOT AN
AGREEMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT, OR
RENUMERATION ASSOCIATED WITH
WORK.
IS FOR INSTANCE INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR HAIRSTYLISTS WHOSE
ONLY RELATIONSHIP WITH A SALON
IS RENTING OUT A BOOTH FOR
WORKSPACE.
WE ARE ALSO MAKING AMENDMENTS
TO THE LEGISLATION RELATED TO
SOME OTHER PROTECTIONS FOR A
PLATFORM GIG WORKER.
MAINTAINING FOR INSTANCE THE
REQUIREMENT FOR TIMELY PAYMENT
IN THE BILL FOR PLATFORM GIG
WORKERS.
WE ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING
COMPENSATION ISSUES IN A
SUBSEQUENT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
THAT WAS AN AMENDMENT REQUESTED
BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS THAT I
BROUGHT FORWARD IN COMMITTEE
THAT HANDILY PASSED.
NEXT, WE CLARIFIED THE
DIRECTOR'S AUTHORITY TO RULE
FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE
LEGISLATION.
JUST MAKING SURE THAT THAT WAS
VERY CLEAR.
REMOVE THE EFFECTIVE DATE BACK
TO SEPTEMBER 20 -- 22nd AT
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
CONSENT.
THEY HAD ASKED FOR MORE TIME.
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
SOME OF THE BUDGET ISSUES THAT
HAVE BEEN RAISED, WE ADDED A
NON-CODIFIED SECTION TO GO BACK
AND SURE THAT OLS CAN USE THE
PROCESS THAT IS ESTABLISHED BY
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO
ESTABLISH THE OFFICE'S FUNDING
NEEDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF
THIS POLICY.
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS IS
ONE OF THE FEW DEPARTMENTS IN
THE CITY THAT HAS THE ABILITY
TO DIRECT REPORTS TO THE CITY
COUNCIL ON WHAT IT'S BUDGET
NEEDS ARE, UNLIKE OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS THAT ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THEN, LASTLY, WE ADJUSTED THE
TIMELINE IN THE BILL THAT IS
LOOKING FORWARD ON THE PAY UP
CAMPAIGN FOR ESTABLISHING
MINIMUM COMPENSATION AND OTHER
COMPENSATION FOR PLATFORM GIG
WORKERS.
MOVED IT UP TO THE END OF 2021
I WANT TO MENTION COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS'S BILL THAT WILL BE
BEFORE US TODAY.
COUNCIL BILL 120096.
THE HOTEL SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
PROVIDES A. I DO HAVE AN
AMENDMENT TO THAT BILL WHICH
PROVIDES $3 MILLION OF THE $12
MILLION WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
PROGRAM.
ALSO KNOWN AS LET EVERYONE
ADVANCE WITH DIGNITY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS WHO SPONSORED THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION AND FOR
SPONSORING THIS AMENDMENT AS
WELL.
I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
IS ALSO SPONSORING THE
AMENDMENT.
MANY OF US HAVE RECEIVED
COMMUNICATION EXPLAINING HOW AN
INCREASE IN COSTS AND A NEED
FOR L.E.A.D.
SERVICES DURING COVID HAS GROWN.
AND THAT EXEC'S EFFORTS TO
RESPOND TO INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED
IN LOW-LEVEL CRIMINAL OFFENSES
HAS ALSO INTENSIFIED.
AS PART OF LAST YEAR'S
BUDGETING REBALANCING PROCESS,
AS YOU RECALL, THE COUNCIL
APPROVED A PROVISO REQUIRING
THAT L.E.A.D.
ACCEPT APPROPRIATE REFERRALS
WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT FROM COMMUNITY
SOURCES AND AGENCIES SUCH AS
THE MOBILE CRISIS TEAM, THE
CRISIS THE VIRGIN FACILITY,
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE,
KING COUNTY ATTORNEY, KING
COUNTY JAIL, DISAPPOINTMENT
ASSOCIATION THAT OTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND
BUSINESS GROUPS.
SUCH REFERRALS ARE KNOWN AS
COMMUNITY REFERRALS.
AS REQUIRED BY THE COUNCIL'S
PROVISO, LEE HAS PROVIDED
WRITTEN CONFIRMATION THAT THEY
ARE RECEIVING SUCH REFERRALS.
THESE ARE REFERRALS THAT THEY
ARE RECEIVING, NOT REQUIRING
LAW ENFORCEMENT APPROVAL.
THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION, WHICH ADMINISTERS
BOTH L.E.A.D.
AND JUST CARES, HAS DESCRIBED
L.E.A.D.
AT THE BACKBONE OF JUST CARES.
WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION.
IF WE ARE GOING TO ENSURE THAT
MORE DOLLARS GO OUT FOR JUST
CARE, WE REALLY HAVE TO SUPPORT
THAT BACKBONE AS WELL.
PROVIDING A CONSTITUENT QUOTE
HERE, A LOT OF DOWNTOWN THEATER
AND FALSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED
AND SHOULD NOT BE OFFERED A
HOTEL.
SHOULD NOT BE OFFERED A HOTEL
VIA GHESQUIERE, HOUSE, BUT
INVOLVED IN A LEGAL MATTER
RELATED TO INCOMES THE ABILITY
OR BEHAVIOR HEALTH SYSTEMS.
WE NEED TO RESPOND TO THEM TOO.
IT RELIES HEAVILY ON L.E.A.D.
AND WILL WORK IN ADVANCE.
IT WON'T WORK TO ADVANCE A $12
MILLION FOR JUST CARE WHILE
ALLOWING L.E.A.D.
TO COLLAPSE.
AS A LITTLE BIT OF UPDATE ON
OUR EFFORTS TO BRING L.E.A.D.
TO SCALE, YOU MIGHT RECALL AS
A RESULT OF SOME OF OUR BUDGET
ACTIONS, IN AUGUST, THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE
DELIVERING A REPORT TO COUNCIL
ON WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO
TAKE L.E.A.D.
TO SCALE IN SEATTLE.
WORKING IN CONSULTATION WITH
L.E.A.D.'S POLICY COORDINATING
GROUP AND INCLUDE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SHOULD
HELP COUNCIL WITH BUDGETING
QUESTIONS AND 2022.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE AMENDMENT
THAT WE'LL HAVE BEFORE US TODAY
USES A PORTION OF THE $12 TO
EXPAND THE CONTRACT WITH
L.E.A.D., AND ENSURE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] ACCELERATED
RATE CAUSED BY COVID.
WE HAVE SEEN THE ABILITY TO
COVER THE INCREASED COST BY
OFFERING DURING COVID.
AN UPDATE FROM THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
HSD PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THE
HOSPITALITY WORKER EMERGENCY
RELIEF FUND.
WELLSPRING, WHICH WAS
ADMINISTERED, WHICH WAS
SELECTED TO ADMINISTER THE
FUND, REPORTS DISTRIBUTING 70
TRACKS TOTALING AN ADDITIONAL
$81,000 IN CASH ASSISTANCE THE
WEEK ENDING JUNE 4th FOR THE
HOSPITALITY WORKER EMERGENCY
RELIEF FUND.
THE CUMULATIVE DISPERSED AMOUNT
FOR THE FUND IS 1520 CHECKS.
TOTALING OVER $2 MILLION IN
CASH ASSISTANCE.
TO HOSPITALITY WORKERS.
OF COURSE A PUBLIC HEALTH
UPDATE.
AS WE KNOW, SEATTLE PASSED A
CRITICAL MILESTONE IN THE
PANDEMIC LAST WEEK.
MORE THAN 70% OF ELIGIBLE
RESIDENTS BEING FULLY
VACCINATED.
IN ADDITION, 80% OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS HAVE BEGUN THE
VACCINATION PROCESS, MAKING US
THE MOST VACCINATED CITY IN THE
NATION.
MANY THANKS TO THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT FOR BRINGING A POP-
UP VACCINE CLINIC THIS PASSED
SATURDAY TO THE OPENING OF THE
NEW SOUTH DELL RIDGE FARMERS
MARKET IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
AFRICAN COMMUNITY HOUSING AND
DEVELOPMENT.
ASSOCIATION AND DISTRICT 1 I
REALLY APPRECIATED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO STOP BY AND
THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING THERE.
THE VACCINE IS EASIER TO FIND
THAN EVER.
ITEMS COMING UP THIS WEEK.
A COUPLE OF MEETINGS I JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.
ONE IS A MEETING WITH THE LOWER
TRIBES NATIONAL RESOURCE AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THIS IS A REGULAR MEETING WITH
THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
ECOLOGY TO REVIEW CONCERNS ON
WATER RIGHTS ISSUES.
THERE WILL BE SOME TECHNICAL
PRESENTATIONS SHARED.
IT GIVES THE STAKEHOLDERS IN
THE AREA OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LEARN BOTH ABOUT THE EPA'S WORK,
BUT ALSO TO GIVE INPUT TO THE
EPA ABOUT NEEDED WORK YET TO BE
DONE.
THEN, ALSO WANT TO JUST
MENTIONED MY OFFICE HAS BEEN
SPONSORING WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH
THE PAY UP CAMPAIGN TO TALK
ABOUT MINIMUM COMPENSATION FOR
GIG WORKERS.
JUST WANT TO THANK NOT ONLY THE
PAY UP CAMPAIGN FOR THEIR
PARTICIPATION, BUT WE ARE
GETTING REALLY GOOD
PARTICIPATION FROM THE GIG
WORKER PLATFORMS AND JUST WANT
TO ALSO THANK OF COURSE MY
STAFF.
AS WELL AS THE PARTICIPATION OF
OFFICES, LEWIS AND STRAUSS AS
WELL.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, LOOKS
LIKE WE DO HAVE A QUESTION OR A
COMMENT HERE ON YOUR REPORT.
A COUPLE OF COUNCILMEMBERS.
FIRST IN LINE IS COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
THEN, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT THE
AMENDMENT, I MEAN I GUESS MY
COSPONSORSHIP THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS
BRINGING FORWARD IS A AMENDMENT.
AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
MENTIONED, THE BACKBONE OF THE
JUST CARE PROGRAM IS THE
OUTREACH AND IN THE WORK THAT
L.E.A.D.
DOES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
L.E.A.D.
REMAINS STRONG IN ORDER TO
BUILD A ROBUST ADAPTABLE AND
SCALED MODEL OF JUST CARE.
THAT CAN SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY,
AND THAT WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF WE
ARE ALSO ABLE TO KEEP L.E.A.D.
IN THE SHAPE IT NEEDS TO BE IN.
THE AMENDMENT IS CRITICAL TO A
LOT OF THE UNDERLYING
PROGRAMMATIC ASPIRATIONS OF THE
BILL, AND I AM HAPPY TO BE
COSPONSORING IT.
IT IS TOTALLY A FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
I DON'T HAVE COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S REPORT .
HER COMMENTS REMINDED ME THAT I
MISSED SURVEYING MY SINCERE
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND
FRIENDS OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICER WHO WAS UNFORTUNATELY
AND TRAGICALLY KILLED WHILE SHE
STOPPED TO COME AS THE SEATTLE
TIMES REPORTS, RENDER
ASSISTANCE AT A THREE-CAR
COLLISION ON I-5. FOUR, JUST
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I
NOTED THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, YOU ARE NEXT.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
SO, LET'S SEE.
THERE ARE FIVE ITEMS OUT OF THE
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA.
HERE'S WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT.
ITEMS 7 TO 9 ARE RELATED TO THE
WATERFRONT LEDGE.
THE FIRST IS A CLERK FILE, THE
FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND
DECISIONS RELATED TO IT.
THE SECOND ONE IS A BILL TO
ESTABLISH THE FINAL ASSESSMENT
ROLE.
IN THE THIRD AND FINAL PIECES
THE FINANCING PIECE REGARDING
BONDS AND ISSUANCE.
I'LL SPEAK MORE TO THAT THIS
AFTERNOON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ITEM 10 IS REGARDING THE
SEATTLE SCIENCE CENTER CODE
UPDATES AND ITEM 11, AGENDA 11
IS A LAND SWAP BETWEEN PARKS
AND SDOT.
LET ME GO RIGHT INTO THE NEXT
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT.
THE FIRST MEETING OF THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT
GOVERNING BOARD IS DOING 21st
AFTER A FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
WE MAY BE KICKING IT OVER A
WEEK, I'M NOT SURE.
FOR RIGHT NOW IT'S JUNE 21st.
THE MEMBERSHIP CONSTITUTES THE
FULL COUNCIL, WE WILL RECEIVE A
PRESENTATION FROM THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AT THIS MEETING.
PLEASE LET TRACY'S KNOW FROM
CENTRAL STAFF OR MY OFFICE IF
YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND.
PARKS, THIS IS OUR UPDATE OF
PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, THE SHOWER PROGRAM SERVED
ALMOST 380 RESIDENTS AND FIVE
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY CENTERS
BETWEEN JUNE 2nd AND JUNE 8th.
LAST WEEK, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
SERVED APPROXIMATELY 300
CHILDREN AND 17 CHILDCARE SITES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IN REGARDS TO THE QUEEN CITY
CRUISE, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS
REPORTING THE CRUISE PICKED UP
ABOUT 23,000 POUNDS OF TRASH.
FROM 21 ENCAMPMENT LOCATIONS
BETWEEN MAY 31st AND JUNE 6th.
THE QUEEN CITY CREWS ALSO
REMOVED ABOUT 270 NEEDLES.
IN TOTAL, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
HAS PICKED UP MORE THAN 2.1
MILLION POUNDS OF TRASH AND
55,000 NEEDLES.
SO, WE MEET WEEKLY WITH THE
SUPERINTENDENT TO SEE WHAT
PARKS NEED THE MOST DEEPEST
CLEANING AND WHERE WE CAN
ALLOCATE RESOURCES.
WHAT THE MONEY THAT WAS
DESIGNATED FROM BUDGET AND FROM
COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO GO TO
THESE PARTS.
CONTINUE TO DO THE CLEANUP, THE
HANDWASHING, EMPTYING THE
GARBAGE.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK THOSE
FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE DOING
THAT FOR US.
IN REGARDS TO DISTRICT 5, TWO
BIG ITEMS.
ACTUALLY ONE ITEM, WE'LL GET TO
THAT IN A MINUTE.
THE ALBERT DAVIS PARK.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT INFORMED
MY OFFICE I STILL HAVE WORK TO
DO TO REOPEN THE PARK AND HAVE
PUSHED BACK THE OPENING UNTIL
JUNE 28th.
THIS IS THE PART BEHIND THE
LAKE CITY LIBRARY.
WE FINALLY GOT IT CLEANED AND
WE ARE RECEIVING IT AND
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS OPEN
BY THE END OF JUNE, FIRST WEEK
IN JULY SO WE CAN REACTIVATE
THAT PARK AND GET FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OTHER
FOLKS BEHIND THE LIBRARY AND TO
ASSIST THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON
THAT STREET.
BEHIND THAT PARK.
SO, THIS WEEKEND, BIG DOINGS UP
IN DISTRICT 5. SATURDAY NIGHT
JUNE 12th BETWEEN ABOUT 11:00
AND CERTAINLY WELL:00 2:00 A.M.
THE FIRST BAND OF THE BRIDGE
WENT IN ON THE NORTHBOUND LANE.
BIG THANKS TO SDOT.
THE SPAN ITSELF WAS 240,000
POUNDS.
IT TOOK TWO CRANES AND THAT IS
OUR PEDESTRIAN/BIKE HOPEFULLY
WILL BE OUR HONORABLE JOHN
LEWIS PEDESTRIAN/BIKE RIDGE.
THEY DID IT IN THE POURING RAIN
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I WAS
THERE.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE BUT
I DIDN'T GO.
I SENT ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEER
STAFFERS ALSO KNOWN AS MY
HUSBAND.
THEY WERE OUT THERE FOR THREE
HOURS, WELL INTO THE RAIN, SO
THAT SOUTHBOUND LANE, THE SPAN
IS NOW IN THEIR.
NEXT SATURDAY, THE LARGER SPAN,
THE LAST BIG PIECE WILL GO IN.
SO, THAT IS SATURDAY THE 26th.
SO, WE WORK WITH SDOT AND A
BREAK SHOUT OUT TO THE COMPANY.
AGAIN, IT WAS POURING RAIN AND
THEY WERE OUT THERE.
I THINK MY HUSBAND GOT HOME AT
LIKE 2:30 A.M.
IN THE MORNING.
THEY ARE STILL OUT THERE.
IF YOU COME UP I-5 YOU WILL SEE
IT.
WE HAVE SOME MEDIA THERE, BUT
WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME MORE WITH
DRONES AND CAMERAS.
THIS IS PRETTY HISTORICAL.
THIS BRIDGE HAS BEEN SPOKEN
ABOUT, TALKED ABOUT, SINCE 2013
AND CERTAINLY FOR ME, SINCE
2015.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THAT AND I'M HOPING THAT ONCE
WE GET THAT, I ALSO HAD A
PHENOMENAL MEETING WITH THE
PRESIDENT OF NORTH SEATTLE
COLLEGE.
DR. CRAWFORD, WHO IS AN AMAZING
WOMAN.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER,
AND ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER
ON SOME MAJOR PROJECTS.
SHE'S ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH
OTHER GROUPS.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE
NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE AND
NORTHGATE WITH LIGHT RAIL AND
THE PEDESTRIAN BIKE BRIDGE IS
GOING TO REALLY BOLSTER THEIR
ENROLLMENT AND THEY'RE FOCUSING
ON STUDENT OF COLOR, NATIVE
AMERICAN STUDENTS.
WE HAVE 200 UNITS GOING IN ON
THE CAMPUS AS WELL AS A
LONGHOUSE.
SO, WE ARE PUSHING FOR THAT
NATIVE AMERICAN PRESENCE IN THE
NORTH END, BUT ALSO FOR THE
BLACK COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT
WITH DR. CRAWFORD.
IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO MEET
WITH DR. CRAWFORD AT NORTH
SEATTLE COLLEGE, I REALLY
ENCOURAGE IT.
SHE IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE
ONE OF OUR LEADERS IN THE CITY
LIKE DR. BROWN WAS BEFORE HE
LEFT LAST WEEK, I WENT TO THE
MEETING AND MET WITH SOME FOLKS
THAT HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH FOR
A COUPLE YEARS NOW.
THE RAMPS TO NOWHERE.
I MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE PART OF THIS ARCH GROUP
, A GROUP ADVOCATING FOR
PRESERVING A FRAGMENT OF THE RH
THOMPSON RAMPS TO NOWHERE AS A
MONUMENT TO THE CITIZEN
ACTIVISTS WHO HELP DEFEAT THIS
NORTH/SOUTH EXPRESSWAY.
THOSE OF YOU THAT REMEMBER
THIS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE'S A LOT OF YOU THAT DO,
YOU GUYS ARE MUCH YOUNGER, BUT
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE
THE 70s.
ANYWAY, WE ARE PRESERVING THOSE
ARCHES, THE ARCHWAYS AND THE
COLUMNS IN THE PILLARS.
SO, IN OCTOBER 2016, SEATTLE
ARCH ADVANCED A PROPOSAL TO
PRESERVE FOUR COLUMNS AND A
CROSSBEAM OF THE DEFUNCT
FREEWAY.
WHICH RECEIVED UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT FROM SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL.
YOURS TRULY HERE WORKED ON THAT.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THAT
FINALLY HAPPENED.
IN THIS MEETING, THE
REPRESENTATIVES PRESENTED FOUR
DESIGN APPROACHES.
THEY DISCUSSED THOSE ISSUES
WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, THE ARBORETUM AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS.
IN ADDITION, BY COMPLETE
HAPPENSTANCE, THE WORKED OUT
GREAT, I WENT ON AN ARBORETUM
TOUR.
I ALSO WENT ON A TOUR TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THE UPCOMING
PROGRAMS AND RESTORATION
PROJECTS WITHIN THE PARK, AND
HOW THE CITY AND STATE PROJECTS
WILL IMPACT PARK OPERATIONS.
AS YOU WILL KNOW THEY ARE DOING
THE 520 PROJECT, CONNECTED TO
THE ARBORETUM, THE ARCHES, THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
BIG THANK YOU TO RAY LARSON,
DIRECTOR OF BOTANICAL GARDENS,
JANE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
ARBORETUM FOUNDATION.
AND SCOTT LINDSAY, A MEMBER OF
THE ARBORETUM BOARD FOR THE
EXCELLENT TOUR GUIDES.
THEY WERE VERY KIND AND I GOT
TO RIDE AROUND IN A GOLF CART.
OUR COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER
LEGISLATION AT THE END OF THE
YEAR THAT WILL TRANSFER 27
ACRES OF WSDOT LAND TO THE CITY
PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR
INCORPORATION INTO THE
ARBORETUM PARK.
IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT TO HER,
PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND
WE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE
CONTACT INFORMATION.
IT IS REALLY WORTH DOING.
IS GOING TO BE A BIG PROJECT
PUBLIC FOR THE NEXT COUPLE
YEARS.
PARTICULARLY WITH 520 AND
TRANSPORTATION OF THE
ADDITIONAL LAND AT INTO PARKS.
THIS WEEK, LET'S SEE, I'M GOING
TO BE MEETING WITH THE INTERIM
NEW CHIEF LIBRARIAN.
AS YOU KNOW WE LOST MT TO
CHARLOTTESVILLE, BUT WE HAVE
TOM AND TOM IS GREAT.
I'M ALSO GOING DOWN TO SOUTH
SEATTLE FOR A TOUR OF THE
DETECTIVE COOKIE CHAFFEE PARK.
THAT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT'S
ALL I GOT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND CONCLUDE THIS
PORTION OF THE AGENDA WITH MY
REPORTS.
GIVE ME JUST A SECOND HERE.
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, I HAVE ONE ITEM ON
TODAY'S CALENDAR.
IT IS A PERFUNCTORY BILL
RELATED TO CITY EMPLOYMENT.
IF YOU DO REVIEW IT AND HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
I ALSO HAVE FOUR ADDITIONAL
ITEMS ON TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA.
EXCUSE ME.
SLATED FOR A FINAL VOTE THIS
AFTERNOON.
THREE OF THOSE ARE APPOINTMENTS.
ONE IS AN APPOINTMENT TO BE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
I ALSO HAD TWO APPOINTMENT TO
THE DISTRICTING COMMISSION.
ADDITIONALLY I HAVE ONE COUNCIL
BILL UP FOR A FINAL VOTE THIS
AFTERNOON.
THIS IS COUNCIL BILL 120092.
THE FAIR FOOD DELIVERY BILL.
WHICH IS MODELED AFTER SOME
LEGISLATION IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
THIS BILL IS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD AND IS NARROW
IN FOCUS.
IT WILL REQUIRE DELIVERY
PLATFORMS AND RESTAURANTS TO
HAVE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT IN
ORDER FOR A RESTAURANT TO BE
LISTED ON A DELIVERY PLATFORM.
I'LL SPEAK TO THIS BILL IN
GREATER DETAIL THIS AFTERNOON,
BUT JUST SO YOU ARE ALL AWARE,
COLLEAGUES, WE'VE HEARD BROAD
SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATION
FROM VARIOUS SECTORS WITHIN THE
RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, FOOD
INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR.
IF YOU DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
YOU CAN REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO
ME OR TO MY SENIOR POLICY
ADVISER.
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULD
MEETING OF THE GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE IS
SCHEDULED FOR TODAY, JULY 13th
AT 2:00 P.M.
LASTLY, JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO THE CHAIRS OF THE SMALL
BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL WHO
TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
WITH ME AND MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE
TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW
THE CITY CAN BETTER SUPPORT OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH THE
RECOVERY PERIOD.
ONGOING CHALLENGES WE FACE IN
SMALL BUSINESSES.
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND TO OF
COURSE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
ALSO MY OFFICE MET WITH STUDENTS
FROM A COUPLE MIDDLE SCHOOLS
JUST AS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
DESCRIBED WE WERE EXCITED TO
HEAR THEIR VISION OF A BETTER
CITY.
I WAS REALLY HAPPY THAT MY
OFFICE WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE,
REGRETTING THE FACT THAT I
COULDN'T PERSONALLY PARTICIPATE,
BUT REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE
INVITATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THIS GROUP
OF REALLY STRONG YOUNG LEADERS
IN OUR CITY WHO HAVE LOTS OF
GREAT IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO MOVE
OUR CITY FORWARD.
THEN, LASTLY ALSO WANTED TO
ECHO MY SYMPATHIES THAT FOLKS
HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO AS IT
RELATES TO OFFICER HARRIS.
LOSS OF LIFE IS ALWAYS TRAGIC
OF COURSE.
REALLY SEND MY PERSONAL
CONDOLENCES AND THOUGHTS TO
OFFICER HARRIS' FAMILY,
FRIENDS, LOVED ONES, AND OF
COURSE ALL OF OUR CITY WORKERS
AND EMPLOYEES WHO I'M SURE HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW HER AND
WORK WITH HER.
I WISH ALL OF YOU MUCH RECOVERY
AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO
PROPERLY GRIEVE. I WAS VERY,
VERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THIS
REALLY TRAGIC, TRAGIC ACCIDENT
THAT UNFORTUNATELY TOOK A LIFE
OF ONE OF OUR OWN CITY FAMILY.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS?
I'M SEEING COUNCILMEMBER
SHOUSE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS
MOMENT TO ALSO ECHO WHAT YOU
JUST SAID, SHARING MY PERSONAL
CONDOLENCES WITH THE FAMILY AND
FRIENDS OF OFFICER HARRIS.
DURING THIS TRAGIC LOSS, THANK
YOU OFFICER HARRIS FOR YOUR
SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
MY CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY AND
FRIENDS YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS.
BEMENT THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
>> ALL RIGHT, THIS DOES
CONCLUDE OUR AGENDA FOR THIS
MORNING'S COUNCIL BRIEFING.
SO, I WILL SEE YOU ALL AT 2:00.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANKS SO MUCH, EVERYONE.