OKAY GREAT.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE THE
JANUARY 22nd 2021 SPECIAL
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:32 A.M.
I AM CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> THREE IN ATTENDANCE.
>> I SHOULD SAY I AM HERE,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS HERE.
>> WELCOME.
OKAY.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING ON TODAY'S AGENDA IS
ADOPTED.
I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYONE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
CAN YOU CONFIRM?
>> THERE ARE NO PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> GIVEN WE HAVE NOBODY SIGNED
UP WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
PART OF THE AGENDA.
BEFORE WE BEGIN TO WANT TO
WELCOME MY COLLEAGUES AND THE
PUBLIC BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
WE HAD BIG PLANS FOR SPENDING
2020 DISCUSSING WAYS TO BUILD
COMMUNITY WEALTH, WAYS TO
BOLSTER RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
WORK IN THE CITY TO SUPPORT
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL
BUSINESS.
THE UNIVERSE HAD OTHER PLANS
FOR US LAST YEAR SO WE ONLY
CONVENED A FEW TIMES.
I AM HOPEFUL WE CAN PICK UP
WHERE WE LEFT OFF AND TODAY I'M
EXCITED TODAY WE WILL BE
HEARING ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR PRESERVING CULTURAL SPACE
AND THINKING CREATIVELY ABOUT
TOOLS THAT CAN FACILITATE MORE
COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP IN OUR CITY.
WE WILL GET INTO THAT LATER IN
THE AGENDA.
BEFORE WE DO I'M EXCITED TO
HEAR FROM THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS AND FROM MANY NEIGHBORS
WHO ARE EAGER TO LEND THEIR
TIME AND TALENT TO SUPPORTING
THE WORK OF THE CITY BY
VOLUNTEERING ON SOME OF THE
CITY COMMISSION'S.
SO AS WE MOVE ON WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO THE
RECORD?
AGENDA ITEM 1 APPOINTMENT 1772
THE APPOINTMENT OF NATHANIEL
HIGBY AS MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
LGBTQ COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
APRIL 30th 2022.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL SEND THIS OVER TO MOLLY
BREWER FROM THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS TO PRESENT TO THE
COMMITTEE.
>> A LITTLE INTRODUCTION OF
NATE AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
THEM.
NATHANIEL HIGBY HAS BEEN
SERVING AS A COMMISSIONER FOR
THE SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION,
GRADUATING WITH A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY AND
CURRENTLY WORKS AT THE VIRGINIA
MASON MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HE
DOES CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
CONSULTING AND IS AN ACTIVE
MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ STAFF
COMMITTEE.
CURRENTLY COCHAIR OF THE
OUTREACH COMMITTEE FOR THE
COMMISSION AND LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING WORK AS A REGULAR
COMMISSIONER.
I WILL HANDED OVER TO NATE OR
TO YOU COUNCILMEMBER.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ONCE
AGAIN MY NAME IS NATE I WORK AT
VIRGINIA MASON AND I HAVE HAD
THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON THE
LGBTQ COMMISSION AS A
COMMISSIONER UP UNTIL RECENTLY
AND HAVE REALLY ENJOYED MY
EXPERIENCE.
I REALLY ENJOYED BEING ABLE TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY AND
THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN THE CITY.
AND I AM REALLY EAGER TO
CONTINUE DOING THE WORK THAT WE
STARTED PREVIOUSLY.
SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF
WORKING ON THE COMMISSION THE
PAST YEAR HAS BEEN CHEERING THE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE
AND BEING ABLE TO LEAD THAT
COMMITTEE THROUGH OUR PANDEMIC
RESPONSE AND THE RESPONDING TO
THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS
IN THE SUMMER.
AND BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IMPACTED
BY THE ISSUES THAT HAVE HAPPENED
THIS LAST YEAR TO SEE HOW WE
CAN SUPPORT THEM.
MY FAVORITE MILESTONE HAS BEEN
WORKING WITH HANNAH FROM THE
DISABILITIES COMMISSION ON
PUTTING TOGETHER A PANEL, A
TOWNHALL PANEL FEATURING
ACTIVISTS WHO ARE LGBTQ AND WHO
HAVE DISABILITIES SPEAKING TO
LIFE AT THE INTERSECTION OF
THOSE IDENTITIES AND AS
SOMEBODY WITH A DISABILITY THIS
IS A TOPIC OF INTEREST THAT I'M
HOPING WE CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH
ON INTO NEXT YEAR.
THAT WAS A GREAT HIGHLIGHT, I
REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH
HANNAH.
SOME OF THE REASONS I'M HOPING
TO STAY ON THE COMMISSION IS
I'M HOPING TO INCREASE
TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN THE
COMMISSION AND THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK
LAST YEAR THAT TRANSPARENCY IS
NOT THERE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
DO NOT TRUST THE WORK WE DID OR
THE THOUGHT PROCESS SO I'M
HOPING WE CAN KIND OF DEMYSTIFY
SOME OF THAT FOR THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY.
HOPING TO KEEP EXPERIENCES AND
PERSPECTIVES IN DECISION-MAKING
PROCESSES AND CONTINUE ON AND
ANTIRACIST JOURNEY AND ALSO
PERSONAL INTERESTS OF MINE ARE
HEALTHCARE, WE ARE LUCKY TO LIVE
IN A LGBTQ FRIENDLY CITY WITH A
LOT OF GREAT HEALTHCARE
RESOURCES FOR THEM BUT THAT
DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE LGBTQ
COMPETENT.
SO TRYING TO WORK ON WHAT DOES
IT MEAN TO BE COMPETENT WHEN
PROVIDING CARE MEANING YOU
DON'T EVER TO A TRANS PATIENT
BY THEIR DEAD NAME, THOSE TYPES
OF THINGS AND WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO COME
UP WITH STANDARDS THAT CAN BE
ADOPTED BY HEALTHCARE
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE WHAT DOES IT
MEAN TO BE COMPETENT WHEN
PROVIDING CARE?
NOT JUST FRIENDLY.
SO THAT'S SOME OF THE REASONS
WHY AM HOPING TO STAY ON THE
COMMISSION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU,. REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
BRINGING THE INTERSECTIONAL
LENS TO THIS WORK, SO IMPORTANT
TO BRING YOUR IDENTITY TO THIS.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED, SO YOU
HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
WORKING ON THIS COMMISSION
ALREADY.
AS SOMEBODY WHO THINKS A LOT
ABOUT HOW WE SUPPORT OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE BETTER CAN YOU TALK ABOUT
WHAT YOU THINK THE CITY COULD
BE DOING BETTER TO SUPPORT
LGBTQ YOUTH?
>> YES, SO I THINK THERE ARE
SEVERAL THINGS.
FIRST INCREASING TRANSPARENCY
BY USING SOCIAL MEDIA OR OTHER
PLATFORMS THAT ARE UTILIZED BY
YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHICS AND REALLY
TRYING TO FOSTER A TWO-WAY
DIALOGUE THROUGH THOSE PLATFORMS
. SO, BEFORE JOINING THE
COMMISSION, IT WAS HARD TO FIND
INFORMATION ABOUT THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION OR JUST THE
COMMISSION IN GENERAL,
DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS IN
GENERAL SO I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT THE CITY AND THE
COMMISSION COULD BE DOING BETTER
IS AGAIN LEVERAGING THOSE
PLATFORMS AND TRYING TO
COMMUNICATE THROUGH THOSE AND
SOLICITING FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE
USING INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK AND
FACEBOOK.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
OKAY TERRIFIC.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBERS I WILL MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT 1772
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY WILL OCCUR PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AYE
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AYE
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT YES.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES YES.
FOUR IN FAVOR, NOT OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES IN THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
APPOINTMENT BE CONFIRMED WILL
BE SENT TO THE FEBRUARY 1st
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH OKAY WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEMS TWO
AND THREE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEMS TWO AND THREE
APPOINTMENTS 1618 AND 1627 THE
APPOINTMENTS OF REBECCA BRYANT
AND ABRIEL JOHNNY AS MEMBERS
OF THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION TERMS TO JULY 1st
2022.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I BELIEVE MARTA IDOWU WILL
PRESENT THESE APPOINTEES.
>> YES THANK YOU.
THIS IS MARTA IDOWU FROM THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION IS
COMPOSED OF 21 ACCOMPLISHED
INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TOGETHER
AS VOLUNTEERS TO RESEARCH,
ANALYZE AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS BY ADVISING THE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON ISSUES
THAT FACE WOMEN IN SEATTLE, THE
COMMISSION MEETS MONTHLY TO
ADDRESS A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES
INCLUDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
FOR WOMEN, RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE, WOMEN'S HEALTH, HEALTH
OUTCOMES FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN
AND WOMEN OF COLOR, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND HIGH QUALITY
CHILDCARE, WOMEN'S ROLES AS
CAREGIVERS, VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN AND THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES
IMMIGRANT WOMEN FACE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
STARTING A RECRUITMENT NEXT
MONTH FOR THE COMMISSIONERS.
WE ARE DOWN SEVEN SEATS AND I
WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THE
APPOINTEES, ABRIEL JOHNNY AND
REBECCA BRYANT HAVE BEEN
PARTICIPATING AND DOING WORK OF
THE COMMISSION AND WE ARE HAPPY
TO BRING THEM FORWARD TODAY AND
I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE .
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GREAT THANK YOU REBECCA WHY
DON'T WE START WITH YOU?
NICE TO SEE YOU.
I KNOW YOU HAVE GOT A KEEN GRASP
ON HOW GOVERNMENT CAN HELP THE
COMMUNITY GIVEN YOUR WORK WITH
CONGRESSMAN SMITH.
I WELCOME YOU TO SAY A FEW
REMARKS AND IF YOU CAN TALK
ABOUT WHAT YOU HOPE TO WORK ON.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
DEFINITELY THE WORK WITH THE
CONGRESSMAN, FOR THOSE OF YOU
NOT FAMILIAR WITH HIS DISTRICT,
HE REPRESENTS THE NINTH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SO THAT
IS FROM THE EAST SIDE THROUGH
SOUTH SEATTLE TO TACOMA.
TACOMA WAS MY FIRST
INTRODUCTION TO WASHINGTON
STATE.
I GREW UP IN COLORADO BUT CAME
HERE IN 2006 AND NEVER LOOKED
BACK.
THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I HAVE
LIVED AND VOTED OTHER THAN
WASHINGTON D.C. WHEN I WORKED
FOR THE CONGRESSMAN.
I THINK YOU KNOW THERE ARE SO
MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE
IS A COMMISSION AND I HOPE TO
BRING TO IT RECENT EXPERIENCE
WITH THE CONGRESSMAN AND AFTER
LEAVING HIS OFFICE I WENT TO
WORK SO I AM THE COMMUNITY
RELATIONS MANAGER AT FRED HUTCH
SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE
COMMISSION FRED HUTCH HAS A
GREAT HISTORY OF WORKING ON
WOMEN'S HEALTH GENERALLY BUT
MORE RECENTLY SINCE I BEGAN
SERVING AS AN INTERIM
COMMISSIONER FOR THE LAST YEAR
FRED HUTCH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
ORGANIZATIONS TO COME OUT TO
SAY RACISM IS A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS.
I WAS SO PROUD TO WORK FOR AN
ORGANIZATION THAT WAS READY TO
SAY THAT AND I HOPE TO BRING
THAT LENS TO MY CONTINUED WORK
ON THE COMMISSION.
TO TALK TO SOME OF THE WORK
I'VE DONE I AM HAPPY TO SPEAK
TO WHATEVER YOU THINK IS MOST
IMPORTANT.
>> THAT IS GREAT.
I APPRECIATE HEARING WHAT YOU
WERE WORKING ON WITH THE
CONGRESSMAN AND THE ROLE YOU
ARE PLAYING NOW.
COLLEAGUES ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR REBECCA? OKAY
THANK YOU REBECCA.
LET'S GO TO ABRIEL JOHNNY.
WELCOME, IF YOU CAN TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WORK, IN
READING YOUR APPLICATION PACKET
I WAS INTERESTED TO SEE THE
REAL FOCUS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
IN CREATING GENDER SAFE
COMMUNITIES.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE
BIT FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT THAT
MEANS AND WHAT YOU THINK THE
CITY NEEDS TO BE DOING TO GET
US THERE.
>> SURE.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND
, I LIKE TO BRING A HOLISTIC
PERSPECTIVE.
I HAVE MY BACHELORS FROM THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON AND MASTERS
IN POLITICAL MANAGEMENT FROM
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.
I PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS A
SPECIALIST FOR THE HEALTH
FOUNDATION AS A STAFFER AS WELL
AS I WORKED AS A COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT MANAGER FOR
HEALTHIER HERE WORKING ON THE
MEDICATION INFORMATION PAPERS.
MY FOCUS IS TRIBAL HEALTH
EQUITY.
AND SO SOME OF THE MAIN ISSUES
I HAD IN MY APPLICATION WERE TO
FOCUS ON INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND
THE HEALTH CRISIS NOT ONLY
THROUGH THE STRESS AND PROVIDES
FOR FAMILIES.
SOME OF THE WORK I'M DOING IN
MY PROFESSIONAL SPACE IS TO
ADDRESS HEALTH EQUITY FROM A
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH
FOCUS.
AND PROVIDING EQUITABLE ACCESS
WHICH OF COURSE IS RELEVANT
THERE.
THOSE MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE THEY
HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT TO WOMEN'S
HEALTH OR THE WORK THAT THE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION IS DOING BUT
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND
THE STRESS IS
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING
WOMEN IN MULTIPLE WAYS.
FROM A MULTI-DYNAMIC FACET AND
SO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE
RELEVANT CARE INVESTING IN
TRADITIONAL MEDICINES OR IN
INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS WHICH
PROVIDE WOMEN AND INDIGENOUS
WOMEN MORE ACCESS TO CULTURALLY
RELEVANT CARE AND NOT ONLY
PHYSICAL HEALTH, EMOTIONAL,
MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH. A
HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE TO ENSURE
OUR RELATIVES DON'T GO MISSING
FROM EMOTIONAL OR MENTAL
DISTRESS WHICH
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS THESE
FAMILIES.
>> THANK YOU, I AM REALLY
EXCITED TO SEE YOU JOINING THIS
COMMISSION AND BRINGING SO MANY
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND
EXPERIENCES TO WHAT IS A
REALLY, AS HE SAID, BRINGING
THE HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF
HOW TO TREAT A WHOLE PERSON AND
ESPECIALLY SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE
KIND OF HISTORIC TRAUMA THAT SO
MANY OF OUR INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES HAVE IS GOING TO BE
REALLY IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION
TO THIS WORK SO THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
>> YES IF I MAY.
I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OF
HER, SO GOOD TO SEE HER ONE OF
HER BEST AND BRIGHTEST.
SHE HAS BEEN PART OF THE
COMMUNITY AND HER FATHER IS AN
AMAZING MAN I HAVE KNOWN HIM
FOR MANY YEARS.
WATCHING HER GROW UP AND NOW
SITTING ON THE BOARD AND GOING
TO D.C. AND COMING HOME, YOU
ARE NOT TELLING EVERYONE WHAT A
GREAT DESIGNER YOU ARE.
CLOTHING AND JEWELRY.
AMAZING.
SO FOR ME I HAVE BEEN WATCHING
HER GROW AND CERTAINLY
PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY,
HAVING HER ON THE BOARD AND ON
PROUD. MILY MAKES ME REALLY -
THIS IS WHAT WE STRIVE FOR IN
INDIAN COUNTRY.
YOU LEAD TO LEAVE, YOU LEAVE
THE SPACE AND YOU KNOW THIS
GENERATION WILL LEARN WHAT THEY
LEARN FROM THEIR ELDERS ON HOW
TO TREAT PEOPLE, HOW TO BEHAVE,
HOW TO BE GOOD AND KIND AND WE
DO NOT DWELL ON THE TRAUMA, WE
DWELL ON THE RESILIENCY BECAUSE
THAT'S WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE.
SO IT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY TO
SEE HER TODAY.
THANK YOU.
> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
VERY GOOD.
ANYONE ELSE?
OKAY VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU.
I NOW MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 1618 AND 1627.
MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
[ ROLL CALL ]
>> THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
SORRY I SHOULD HAVE ANNOUNCED I
AM HERE NOW.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, WELCOME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WOULD
YOU LIKE TO VOTE?
>> YES I VOTE AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR NOT OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT WILL
BE CONFIRMED SENT TO THE
FEBRUARY 1st CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
OKAY MOVING ON WILL OCCUR
PLEASE READ ITEMS FOUR THROUGH
10 INTO THE RECORD.
>> ITEMS FOUR THROUGH 10,
APPOINTMENTS 1767 THROUGH 1771
AND 1773 AND 1774 THE
APPOINTMENT OF RYAN BUSH AS A
MEMBER FOR TERM OCTOBER 31st
22, THE APPOINTMENTS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS OF STEVEN PRAY ,
MANUEL VENEGAS AND CHRISTOPHER
BROWN AS MEMBERS FOR TERMS TO
OCTOBER 31st 2021.
REAPPOINTMENT OF LATOSHA CORELL
AS MEMBER TO A TERM TO APRIL
3020 21 AND THE APPOINTMENTS
AND REAPPOINTMENT OF BRETT
PEPOWSKI AND JESSI MURRAY AS
MEMBERS FOR TERMS TO APRIL 30th
2022.
>> VERY GOOD OKAY.
I AM GOING TO PASS THIS TO MOLLY
TO PRESENT THE APPOINTEES.
AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM THE
APPOINTEES.
>> I WILL START WITH RYAN
SERVING ON THE LGBTQ COMMISSION
CURRENTLY SERVING AS A SENIOR
MANAGER OF MARKETING
COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE NONPROFIT
COMMUTE SEATTLE.
OVER NINE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
DEVELOPING DIGITAL AND
TRADITIONAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS.
HE HAS BEEN ATTENDING A COUPLE
MEETINGS LAST COUPLE MONTHS AND
AT THE ANNUAL RETREAT SO I WILL
HAND IT OVER TO HIM TO SPEAK
MORE.
>> HI EVERYONE THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME.
I AM RYAN BUSH, I LIVE IN THE
NORTHEAST SEATTLE DISTRICT 4
REGION.
I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE
COMMISSION.
I HAVE A PASSION FOR CONNECTING
PEOPLE TO RESOURCES.
I REALLY HAVE THIS PASSION FOR
TRANSPORTATION AND
TRANSPORTATION ACCESS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO HAVE SOMEONE ON THE
COMMISSION THAT KEEPS TAXES TO
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOP OF
MIND.
I THINK SEATTLE IS VERY
FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT
TRANSPORTATION OPTION AND
UNFORTUNATELY THE PANDEMIC HAS
CHANGED THAT QUITE A BIT BUT I
THINK IT IS EVEN NOW MORE
IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ABOUT WAYS THEY CAN
ACCESS TRANSPORTATION.
THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND
BEING ABLE TO GIVE A VOICE TO
PEOPLE THAT MOST LIKELY WOULD
NEVER REACH OUT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE
MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND BEING ON THE
NORTHEAST SIDE WHERE AREAS ARE
NOT SERVED BY TRANSIT AS MUCH,
THERE'S NOT AS MANY LGBTQ
MEMBERS THAT ARE ACTIVELY
INVOLVED.
SO FINDING WAYS TO REACH THEM
AND GIVE THEM OPEN LINES OF
COMMUNICATION IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME.
YEAH.
>> THANK YOU, RYAN.
>> COLLEAGUES ANY QUESTIONS?
I WAS GOING TO ASK WHERE YOU
WANT TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION
BUT YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE
QUESTION.
EXCITED TO HAVE ANOTHER ADVOCATE
FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
ON BOARD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
I DON'T SEE ANY.
OKAY THANK YOU.
LET'S MOVE ON TO STEVEN.
>> YES STEVEN HAS BEEN
ATTENDING MEETINGS REGULARLY
AND ABOUT HANDED OVER TO HIM.
>> MY NAME IS STEVEN PRAY . I
LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL ON TENDON
UNION SO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
IS MY COUNCILMEMBER IN THE
THIRD DISTRICT.
I THINK.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN KENT
TWO, WASHINGTON A SUBURB IN
KING COUNTY SOUTH OF SEATTLE.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE PROPER
5 1/2 YEARS NOW.
WHEN I ATTENDED LAW SCHOOL.
I AM AN ATTORNEY NOW, I WANT TO
BE ON THE COMMISSION BECAUSE I
HAVE BEEN IN MY JOB AS A
LEADING REPRESENTATIVE SINCE I
HAVE WORKED WITH A COUPLE OF
YOU GUYS BEFORE BUT I HAVE BEEN
DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH I FELT I
COULD BRANCH OUT AND TAKE ON
MORE SO I FIGURED WHAT BETTER
PLACE TO START THAN MY OWN
COMMUNITY.
NOT A GOOD PLACE TO END BUT A
GOOD PLACE TO START.
I SAW THE POSTING AND DECIDED
TO GO FOR IT.
THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT I THINK
ARE FACING THE COMMUNITY.
DEFINITELY TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY STILL SEE A
DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT ON
TRANSGENDER BROTHERS AND
SISTERS.
I BELIEVE WHEN YOU HELP THE MOST
DEPRESSED IT RISES THE TIDE FOR
EVERYBODY.
REGARDLESS OF GENDER OR RACE.
SO ASIDE FROM THAT I THINK
THERE IS A LOT OF SUBSTANCE
ABUSE ISSUES WITHIN THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT A FUN SUBJECT TO TALK
ABOUT BUT IT IS PREVALENT AND I
THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
IT GOES HAND-IN-HAND WITH
MENTAL HEALTH.
YOU KNOW IT'S KIND OF WHICH
CAME FIRST TO BOTH OF THE ISSUES
ARE PRETTY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY
HEART.
I AM RELATIVELY NEW SO I LIKE
TO LEARN FROM A COLLEAGUES WHO
HAVE BEEN DOING THIS LONGER
THAN I HAVE SO RATHER THAN
COMING IN WITH AN AGENDA AND
HOW TO DO IT I PLAN ON DOING
SOME LISTENING AND LEARNING.
SO, THIS YOU KNOW GENERAL PLAN
THAT I HAVE IS SUBJECT TO
CHANGE AS I LEARN.
WHAT I HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH I
GUESS IT'S A CLICHC BUT IF I
COULD REALLY EVEN HELP ONE
PERSON THEN IT IS WORTH IT.
HOPEFULLY WE DO MORE THAN THAT
BUT EVEN ONE PERSON MAKES IT
WORTH IT.
SO, YEAH THAT'S WHAT AND WHY
WANT TO BE ON THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU, STEVEN.
COLLEAGUES ANY QUESTIONS ? I AM
NOT SEEING ANY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS
SOMETHING TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU.
SO, THANK YOU STEVEN FOR WHAT
YOU WERE SAYING.
YES, CAPITOL HILL IS INDEED IN
DISTRICT THREE.
ACTUALLY, IT IS REALLY
INTERESTING YOU MENTIONED
CAPITOL NOT ONLY BECAUSE YOU
LIVE THERE BUT BECAUSE AS YOU
CORRECTLY TALKED ABOUT THE NEEDS
OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AS A
WHOLE BUT SPECIFICALLY THE NEED
TO FIGHT AGAINST THE OPPRESSION
OF THE TRENDS COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT REALLY
COINCIDES WITH A CONVERSATION
ABOUT CAPITOL HILL AND THE CORE
OF THE CITY AND THAT THIS FALLS
ON, YOU KNOW IT'S VERY RELEVANT
TO DISTRICT 3 BUT NOT JUST
DISTRICT 3. IT IS A CITYWIDE
QUESTION BUT THE POINT IS
CAPITOL HILL USED TO BE REALLY
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY CAME OF ITS OWN.
IT HAS A RICH HISTORY OF
ACTIVISM IN THE 80s ESPECIALLY
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, THE
FIGHT TO HAVE RESEARCH DONE ON
THIS, THIS YOU KNOW REALLY
TRAGEDY THAT WAS DEVOURING THE
COMMUNITY.
AND REALLY RAISING AWARENESS.
IT WAS NOT ONLY A QUESTION OF
SCIENCE, IT WAS A QUESTION OF
POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND THEN OF
COURSE AFTER THAT, FIGHTING FOR
THE REFERENDUM 74 AND CAPITOL
HILL BEING THE SPACE WERE THE
FIRST TRENDS GROUP WAS
ORGANIZED AND AM PROUD AND
HONORED MY OFFICE HAS HAD THE
TRACK RECORD OF BEING THE ONLY
CANDIDATE, AT THAT TIME IN 2013
WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE
TO HAVE JOINED AND SINCE THEN
OF COURSE IT HAS REALLY GAINED
A LOT OF MOMENTUM BUT ALSO
THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO.
SO I WAS EAGER TO HEAR ABOUT
WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW IN
TERMS OF YOUR ROLE AND THE
LGBTQ COMMISSION, IT'S ROLE, IT
DOES HAVE A ROLE AND HAS TAKEN
COURAGEOUS AND EVEN
CONTROVERSIAL POSITIONS AND
THAT IS GOING TO BE MORE AND
MORE IMPORTANT AS WE GO ON.
I THINK THE ADVOCACY OF THE
COMMISSION AROUND HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AND THIS IS WHAT
I MEANT ABOUT CAPITOL HILL.
THE RENT IS SO HIGH THAT SOME
OF THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS
COMMUNITY AND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD,
MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN PUSHED
OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ENTIRELY AND PERMANENTLY.
NOT TO MENTION THE SCOURGE OF
HOMELESSNESS THAT IS HITTING SO
MANY NEIGHBORS.
I THINK THE COMMISSION HAS A
HISTORIC ROLE TO PLAY NOW IN
THE COMING DAYS.
NOT ONLY LIMITING ITSELF TO
LOCAL ISSUES BUT REALLY RAISING
YOUR VOICE ON THE NEED FOR
MEDICARE FOR ALL.
THAT COVERS GENDER AND GENDER
HEALTH AND THIS IS A PIVOTAL
MOMENT.
WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC
ADMINISTRATION IN THE WHITE
HOUSE.
WE HAVE DEMOCRATIC CONTROL IN
CONGRESS.
IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY IF WE
SQUANDER THIS MOMENT SO I THINK
ACTIVISTS LIKE YOUR SELF AND
THE ROLE YOU PLAY WILL BE
CRUCIAL.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR
THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU THINK, YOU
THINK THIS COULD REALLY
BLOSSOM.
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LI SHIP.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN
REPRESENTING CAPITOL HILL AND
FIGHTING FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS.
IN TERMS OF HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY YOU ARE RIGHT, IF
SOMEBODY RENTS IN CAPITOL HILL
IT IS EXPENSIVE.
WE HAVE A BIG LGBTQ PRESENCE.
IT IS PROBLEMATIC FOR WHAT IS A
SAFE HAVEN AND A SAFE
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN FILLED
WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK
LIKE ME AND THAT HAS DISPLACED
A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT I THINK
THAT GETS TO THE NEXT QUESTION
ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO.
ABSOLUTELY WE SHOULD LOOK AT
THIS BIG PICTURE.
I'M FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND CAPITOL
HILL.
IF YOU WERE TO THROW A DART ON
THE MAP OF THE BEST PLACES TO
LIVE FOR LGBTQ PERSON AND YOU
HIT CAPITOL HILL THAT IS A
LOTTO TICKET SO I UNDERSTAND I
AM PRIVILEGED TO BE WHERE I AM
AND I WOULD LOVE TO YOU SEATTLE
AS AN EXAMPLE FOR A LOT OF
OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE A LOT OF
WORK TO DO.
I MEAN WE HAVE WORK TO DO BUT
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF GREAT
WORK WE NEED TO BE PROUD OF AND
REALLY BE USED AS A MODEL
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
WE DO HAVE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY
IN FEDERAL AND AT THE STATE
LEVEL AND I DO THINK AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, PEOPLE VOTED AND
GAVE WHAT I THINK WAS MANDATE
FOR REASON AND THERE NEEDS TO
BE FOLLOW THROUGH ON A HOST OF
ISSUES.
SO I MEAN FOR THE SAKE OF
BREVITY THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
WE COULD DO AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL BUT I AM IN SOLIDARITY
WITH YOU THAT YOU KNOW HELPING
LGBTQ PEOPLE EVERYWHERE IS A
KEY THING FOR ALL OF US AND I
HOPE WE CAN DELIVER AT THE
STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
I'M A LITTLE NEWER TO THE
COMMISSION BUT I'M HOPEFUL WE
CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH
WHAT YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU.
SEATTLE HAS A HISTORY OF
LEADING THE CHARGE ON SOME
REALLY PROGRESSIVE THINGS AND I
THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE
OF A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE THE
PLATFORM AND THE ABILITY TO
MAKE SOME MOVEMENT.
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK
FROM ALL OF YOU.
OKAY LET'S MOVE ON TO BRETT.
>> BRETT IS SEEKING APPOINTMENT
ON THE COMMISSION AND HAS BEEN
ATTENDING MEETINGS REGULARLY
INCLUDING THE ANNUAL RETREAT SO
I WILL HANDED OVER TO BRETT
>> GOODMAN EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS BRETT PEPOWSKI.
I USED TO LIVE IN CHICAGO AND
MOVED HERE TO BE CLOSE TO SOME
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE
COMMISSIONS I REALLY VALUE AND
I'M A PROUD DISTRICT 3
RESIDENT.
ACADEMICALLY MY BACKGROUND IS
IN BIOLOGY AND RESEARCH BUT I
HAVE BEEN WORKING MORE IN THE
TEACHING AND SOCIAL SERVICES
REGION SO USED TO TUTOR AND BE
A TEACHING AID AT A PUBLIC HIGH
SCHOOL AND I HAVE WORKED IN
SOME SHELTERS AND PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
NOW I WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN
EMERGENCY SERVICE CENTER.
I GET PEOPLE TO DOCTORS
APPOINTMENTS AND I'M ON THE
ANTI-COVID TEAM FOR THE
INTERNAL PUBLIC HEALTH GROUP.
IN MY OUT OF WORK LIFE I HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF
VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY
ACTIVITIES.
THE REASON I WANT TO SERVE ON
THE COMMISSION IS BECAUSE IN MY
CAREER I HAVE FOCUSED A LITTLE
BIT MORE ON HELPING INDIVIDUALS
AND I HAVE REALIZED I STARTED
POPPING UP SYSTEMS THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO FAIL OR ONLY WORK
HALFWAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET AWAY FROM
PROPPING UP THOSE SYSTEMS AND
START REDESIGNING THOSE SYSTEMS
SO THAT THEY WORK BETTER AND
DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TUTORS AND
TEACHING AIDS AND CASE MANAGERS
BECAUSE THEY WILL WORK WITHOUT
THOSE THINGS. I WOULD LIKE TO
AMPLIFY MY COMMUNITY VOICES TO
INFORM REPRESENTATIVES HOW THEY
CAN AFFECT THOSE CHANGES.
WHAT I SEE IS SOME OF THE
BIGGEST PROBLEMS NOT JUST IN
THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY BUT IN
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OR
REALLY THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES
IS PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO
EARN THE RIGHT TO BE A LIFE.
HOUSING, FOOD, MEDICAL CARE ARE
TREATED AS LUXURIES AND THEY'RE
JUST HUMAN RIGHTS.
EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
ACCESS THEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON
INCREASING ACCESS TO THAT AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL FOR NOW, SO
INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, PREVENTING FOOD
DESERTS AND HELPING PEOPLE GET
TO FOOD BANKS AS NEEDED.
THINGS LIKE THAT AND ALSO
INCREASING EDUCATION IN GENERAL
MEDICAL ACCESS FOR TRENDS PEOPLE
ESPECIALLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE,
THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
I WANT TO HOLD PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE.
I THINK THIS PAST SUMMER HAS
SHOWN A LOT OF ISSUES IN THE
GOVERNMENT WHERE THERE WERE
TONS OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS
CALLING FOR THE DEFUNDING OF
POLICE AND THAT HAS KIND OF
FALLEN THROUGH.
WE HAVE MADE DEMANDS VERY CLEAR
AND HAS NOT HAPPENED TO THE
EXTENT THAT IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
AND THAT IS TRUE WITH OTHER
ISSUES LIKE TAXING BIG BIG
BUSINESS AND INCREASING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO I AM HERE TO REMIND PEOPLE
OF COMMITTEE DEMANDS TO AMPLIFY
COMMUNITY VOICES AND TO PASS
THAT ON TO OFFICIALS AND TO
HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND I EXPECT TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE AT THE SAME TIME.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS I HOPE TO
ACCOMPLISH.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT IS SHAMEFUL AND YOU ARE
RIGHT IN MANY CASES PEOPLE HAVE
TO DEMONSTRATE THEY HAVE A
RIGHT TO BE ALIVE AND THAT IS
PART OF THE SYSTEM.
ALL THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE
OPPRESSING PEOPLE, THAT'S PART
OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DISMANTLE SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ADVOCACY AND YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE TO KEEP
MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR BRETT?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT .
>> NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION.
JUST TO REGISTER MY
APPRECIATION FOR THE COMMENTS
MADE.
ESPECIALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE
FACT THAT, ESPECIALLY THERE MAY
BE A LITTLE BIT, THIS MAY BE A
SUBJECTIVE QUESTION IN SOME
MINDS BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE
BRETT DESCRIBING THE ROLE IS
ACTUALLY HOLDING ELECTED
OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.
THAT IS THE WAY WE WOULD SEE IT
THROUGH MY OFFICE.
THAT IS THE ROLE AND THAT'S WHY
I WAS MENTIONING EARLIER
SOMETIMES COMMISSIONERS HAVE TO
TAKE COURAGEOUS OR
CONTROVERSIAL POSITIONS ON WORK
THAT WILL NOT BE EASY BUT I
THINK THAT WOULD BE THE CORRECT
THING TO DO.
YOU WOULD MUCH RATHER DO THE
CORRECTING NOT THE EASY THING
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
MENTIONING THAT.
I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT MY
STAFF AND I WILL ALWAYS BE A
PLACE WHERE YOU CAN TURN TO IN
THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE A TRACK
RECORD OF NOT SHYING AWAY FROM
DIFFICULT THINGS IN REAL NOT
CHOSEN THE EASY THING TO DO AND
I THINK THE DIFFICULT THINGS
ARE THE THINGS TO BE DONE
ESPECIALLY AS PEOPLE ARE
STRUGGLING AND IT IS OUR JOB.
IT IS OUR DUTY TO FIGHT FOR
THEM.
I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THE
QUESTION OF TAXING BIG BUSINESS
BECAUSE YES THE COUNCIL DID THE
RIGHT THING LAST SUMMER BY
PASSING THE AMAZON TAX BUT THAT
IS NOT ENOUGH AND IN FACT THE
QUESTION OF COVERT RELIEF DOES
COME UP NOW AND IF YOU LOOK AT
THE PROFITS SOME OF THE
CORPORATIONS HAVE MADE, IN FACT
WITH THE CITY IS NOW RAISING IS
A BIG BUSINESS TAX WILL NOT BE
ENOUGH AND IT IS A LIFE
QUESTION SO IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT YOU MENTION THAT.
IT HAS TO INCLUDE THE QUESTION
OF CREATING GREEN JOBS ON A BIG
SCALE AND OF COURSE I WOULD
ECHO WHAT WAS SAID IS THESE
QUESTIONS ARE AT THE STATE AND
FEDERAL LEVEL.
THE MORE WE ARE ABLE TO WIN ON
THE CITY LEVEL, IT CREATES
MOMENTUM AND PRESSURE ON
ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE STATE
AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
OKAY.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET US
THROUGH THE LAST FEW QUICKLY.
OUR PRESENTERS HAVE A LIMITED
TIME SO COUNCILMEMBERS I KNOW
MOVE THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
1767 THROUGH 1771 AND 1773 AND
1774.
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED AND TO
PROVE CONFIRMATION.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> WILL YOU CALL COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
>> OKAY.
FOUR IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> OKAY LET'S MOVE ON.
PLEASE READ ITEMS 11 THROUGH 14
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS 11 TO 14.
APPOINTMENT 1775 THROUGH 1778
THE APPOINTMENT OF HANNAH
WILSON AS MEMBER FOR A TERM TO
APRIL 30th 2021.
THE REAPPOINTMENTS OF ANQUIDA
ADAMS AND DANIEL KOGITA AS
MEMBERS FOR A TERM TO APRIL 30
2022 AND THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
KAITLIN SKILTON FOR A TERM TO
OCTOBER 31 2022.
>> VERY GOOD.
SORRY I JUST LOST MY PLACE.
I WILL PASS IT TO MOLLY BREWER.
>> THANK YOU I WILL INTRODUCE
HANNAH, SEEKING APPOINTMENT ON
THE DISABILITY COMMISSION.
HANNAH HAS BEEN AN ENGAGED
MEMBER FOR THE LAST YEAR AND I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO HANNAH.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS HANNAH WILSON.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION
FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW DO THEY
GET ENGAGED PROGRAM.
OUTSIDE OF THE COMMISSION I
CURRENTLY AM A BAR MANAGER AT
AN URBAN FARM CALLED YES FARM
THROUGH THE BLACK FARMERS
COLLECTIVE.
SO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING AND
FIGURING OUT WAYS TO ADDRESS
ISSUES OF FOOD JUSTICE AND
STRIVING FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
FOR ALL IDENTITIES.
I ACTUALLY CAME TO SEATTLE 5
1/2 YEARS AGO TO STUDY
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
SINCE THEN MY WORK HAS BEEN
CENTERED AROUND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE AND CLIMATE JUSTICE IN
THE WAYS MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES ARE IMPACTED FIRST
BY ISSUES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND
THE REASON WHY THIS WORK IS
IMPORTANT TO ME IS BECAUSE I AM
A DEAF DISABLED QUEER BLACK
WOMAN AND THIS WORK HAS BEEN
HEAVING FOR ME AND HAS BEEN
IMPORTANT TO SEE THE WAYS I CAN
BRING THAT INTERSECTIONAL LENS
TO THIS WORK TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE WHO HAS MARGINALIZED
IDENTITIES IS REPRESENTED IN
THE WORK THAT I DO AND IN THE
WORK THAT THE CITY DOES AS WELL.
LIKE NATE SAID WE HAD A GREAT
COLLABORATION WITH THE LGBT
COMMISSION TO CREATE A PANEL OF
QUEER DISABLED ACTIVISTS AND
ELEVATE THEIR WISDOM TO SHARE
THAT WITH THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY
WITH THE TOWNHALL.
I WANT TO CONTINUE DOING THAT
TYPE OF EDUCATION WORK AS A WAY
TO RECRUIT MORE FOLKS TO THE
DISABILITY COMMISSION AND
ELEVATE THOSE VOICES.
UNIT BECAUSE THEY ARE NEEDED
MORE THAN EVER.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO DO IS
ALSO TRY TO ADDRESS THE
CHALLENGES WITH GIVING THE ON
HOUSED COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE
MORE RESOURCES BECAUSE A LARGE
PORTION OF THE ON HOUSED
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE IS
DISABLED OR REPRESENT OTHER
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES SO I'M
VERY CURIOUS ABOUT THE WAYS WE
CAN WORK WITH OTHER COMMISSIONS
AND THE CITY TO ADDRESS THAT AS
WELL.
SO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
AS I CONTINUE MY WORK WITH THE
DISABILITY COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS A PLANNER I WILL SAY I AM
THRILLED TO SEE ANOTHER PLANNER
GETTING INVOLVED ESPECIALLY ONE
WHO IS FOCUSED ON THOSE ISSUES
AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF PUBLIC
HEALTH AND CONSERVATION AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
CONTINUE SERVING.
PAST YOUR GET ENGAGED
APPOINTMENT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FOR HANNAH?
VERY GOOD.
COLLEAGUES I'M OF THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 1775 AND 1778.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ENTHUSIASM.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
APPOINTMENTS BE CONFIRMED WILL
BE SENT TO FEBRUARY 1st CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR CITY
AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE HOLDING US
ACCOUNTABLE.
PLEASE DO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN
TOUCH WITH OUR OFFICES AS
COMMISSIONERS AS YOU THINK
ABOUT NEW POLICY IDEAS AND WAYS
WE CAN SERVE NEIGHBORS BETTER.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO BE
HEARING FROM YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS AND WE WILL SEE
YOU ALL FEBRUARY 1st.
OKAY LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 15
PLEASE READ ITEM 15 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE PRESENTATION ON THE
ARTS PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY.
>> VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU.
I AM REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THE
DIRECTOR HERE, THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR AND AS WE THINK ABOUT
WAYS TO ADDRESS THE HISTORY OF
RACIAL INEQUALITY IN OUR CITY
ABOUT TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY
DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASE
OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS
OWNERSHIP AND LAND OWNERSHIP
THE PROJECT WE ARE ABOUT TO
HEAR ABOUT OFFERS A COMPELLING
EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN DO THAT
AND DEMONSTRATES THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE TO CENTER RACIAL
EQUITY AS WE ARE MAKING PUBLIC
INVESTMENT THAT WILL CREATE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
I WANT TO HANDED OVER TO THE
FOLKS AT THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE TO SHARE THEIR PLANS
FOR THE PDA AND CULTURAL SPACE
AGENCY AND LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING YOUR COMMENTS.
I WILL HAND OVER TO YOU GUYS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
THANK YOU ON THE COUNCIL FOR
MAKING TIME FOR US TODAY.
I AM RANDY ENGSTROM , FOR SEVEN
MORE DAYS I AM THE DIRECTOR FOR
THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
THREE THINGS QUICKLY.
FOR SEVERAL SAY THANK YOU TO
THE COUNCIL BECAUSE I SPENT SIX
YEARS ON THE SEATTLE ARTS
COMMISSION GOING BACK TO 2005.
8 1/2 YEARS IN THIS JOB.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES I WORKED
WITH YOU STARTING IN THE
YOUNGSTOWN DAYS WHEN I WAS IN
ARTS COMMISSIONER.
AND COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS I AM
REMINDED OF YOU VISITING KING
STREET STATION SHORTLY AFTER
YOU WERE ELECTED.
SO AS BOOK ENDS THE COUNCIL HAS
BEEN SUCH AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER
TO ME AS AN ADVOCATE, VOLUNTEER
COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR SO
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUES AND
FOR BELIEVING IN ARTS AND
CULTURE BECAUSE YOUR
PARTNERSHIP MADE A LOT OF THIS
POSSIBLE.
SECONDLY I WANT TO INTRODUCE
CALANDRA CHILDERS WHO HAS BEEN
MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR SEVEN
YEARS.
MY ABSOLUTE PARTNER IN CRIME IN
EVERY WAY.
SOMEONE WHO I HAVE THE UTMOST
CONFIDENCE IN.
SHE IS BRILLIANT AND
COLLABORATIVE AND TRUSTED AND I
HAVE ALL THE FAITH IN THE WORLD
AND HER LEADERSHIP TO CARRY
THIS OFFICE THROUGH THE NEXT
YEAR AND WHATEVER CHANGES MAY
COME.
FINALLY TO INTRODUCE THE HOST
OF THE NEXT 25 MINUTES OR SO
MR. MATTHEW RICHTER.
THE LIAISON FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THE ONLY CULTURAL SPACE LIAISON
IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE
PRO-GENERATOR OF THE CULTURAL
SPACE PROGRAM OUT OF WHICH THE
CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY WAS BORN.
WHEN I WAS INTERVIEWING MATTHEW
IN MY OFFICE AS A FINALIST FOR
THIS ROLE, HE SAID THAT WHAT HE
WOULD TRY TO DO WHEN HE CAME TO
THE JOB WAS THROWN ABOUT 30
IDEAS AT THE WALL AND SEE WHAT
WOULD STICK AND THEN THOSE
IDEAS WOULD BE THE POLICIES WE
WOULD USE TO ADVANCE
AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY.
SEVERAL YEARS LATER IN 2017 WE
PUBLISHED THE CAP REPORT, 30
IDEAS AND ONE OF THE IDEAS WAS
SO INTERESTING IT WARRANTED ITS
OWN REPORT, THE IDEA OF
CREATING A PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY SPECIFICALLY TO ACT
AS A REAL ESTATE INTERMEDIARY
TO BUILD COMMUNITY WEALTH AND
PRESERVE CULTURAL SPACE.
SO WITH THAT I HAND IT OVER TO
MR. MATTHEW RICHTER WITH TALK
TO YOU ABOUT THE CULTURAL SPACE
.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING.
I WILL SHARE MY SCREEN AND
BEGIN THE POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION.
THUMBS UP IF FOLKS CAN SEE THE
FIRST LIGHT OF THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING
CLEARLY COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE SO
DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAN THEY
WERE BEFORE COVID AND THAT THEY
WILL BE AFTER SO I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ELEPHANT IN
THIS ROOM.
CULTURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE
RESPONDED BY BUILDING
EXPERIMENTAL STRUCTURES FOR
BELONGING AND CONNECTION AS WE
STARE AT EACH OTHER THROUGH
THESE MACHINES BUT AS WE
RECOVER AND VENTURE OUT AND TO
GATHER AND CELEBRATE ITS THESE
SPACES THAT WILL LEAD THE WAY
BACK TO A FUNCTIONAL AND CIVIC
LIFE.
IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME THE
ROARING 20s FOLLOWED THE 1918
PANDEMIC AND IT IS CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES THAT WILL DRIVE
THAT RETURN IN THE COMING YEARS.
WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IS TO CREATE
A STRUCTURE TO WHICH CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR CAN BENEFIT
IN A LITERAL WAY FROM THE
RENAISSANCE THAT THEY CREATE.
FIRST, WHY ARE WE ORGANIZING
THIS WORK AROUND CULTURAL SPACE
AND STRATEGY FOR SUPPORTING
COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING?
WE HAVE FOUND THE PRESENCE OF A
CULTURAL SPACE AND OF ACTIVITY
AND NEIGHBORHOODS DRIVES THESE
VIBRANCY METRICS AND I PUT GIANT
AIR QUOTES AROUND VIBRANCY
METRICS.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SITE IS A
CULTURAL SPACE DRIVING ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT THAT DRIVES
COMMUNITY COHESION AND
NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY.
THESE NUMBERS COMPARE ONE BLOCK
IN SEATTLE WITH A CULTURAL
SPACE TO AN EQUIVALENT BLOCK
WITHOUT A CULTURAL SPACE.
ALSO AS WE START SAYING A PIECE
ABOUT HOW WE DEFINE CULTURAL
SPACE AND WE BRING A BROAD
DEFINITION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
GALLERIES, THE FEEDERS AND THE
CINEMAS BUT ALSO THE ARTIST
STUDIOS, COMMUNITY MEETING
SPACES, SMALL BUSINESSES,
RECORD SHOPS AND BARBERSHOPS.
CULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTERS.
COMMUNITY FACING SMALL
BUSINESSES.
WHICH ARE TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS
WE CAN BE.
WE INTEND TO FOLLOW THE
GUIDANCE AROUND PORNOGRAPHY
WHICH IS WHILE IT'S HARD TO
NAIL DOWN THE DEFINITION YOU
KNOW ONE WHEN YOU SEE ONE.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS ONGOING
NEEDS ASSESSMENT AROUND
CULTURAL SPACE AND WHAT YOU CAN
SEE REFLECTS A LIST DEVELOPED
THROUGH A SERIES OF REGULAR
TOUCH POINTS SO WE HAVE THE
ANNUAL CONFERENCE CALLED SQUARE
FEET SEATTLE.
WE DO REGULAR SURVEYS ONLINE
ENGAGING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKITS ON THE
CULTURAL SPACE.
WE HAVE ONE ON THIS PROJECT.
WE DO A ASSET MAPPING PROJECT
WITH THE BASE COHORT EQUITABLY
CERTIFICATION COHORT PROGRAM
FOR DISTRICTS AND CITYWIDE
CULTURE AND IT'S ONE OF THE
MORE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL BODIES
OF WORK I HAVE COME ACROSS IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WHAT IS A PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY?
THE PDA MECHANISM WAS DEVELOPED
IN WASHINGTON STATE TO STEWARD
REAL PROPERTY FREE CIVIC
PURPOSE.
THE EIGHT EXISTING PDAS ARE
LISTED AND THEY ARE ALL MISSION
ORGANIZED AROUND THE CREATION
OF A TYPE OF SPACE.
EITHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR
THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC
LANDMARKS OR SPECIFIC
COMMUNITIES OR OTHER CIVIC
PRIORITIES.
I HAVE INCLUDED DATES OF THEIR
FAMILY, A NEW PDA HAS NOT BEEN
LAUNCHED IN SEATTLE FOR ALMOST
40 YEARS.
THIS IS THE MOST INTERESTING
THING ABOUT THE FORM A PDA IS A
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
IT IS A OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF
CITY GOVERNMENT IT IS SUBJECT
TO THE SAME RULES AND
RESTRICTIONS WHICH MEANS YOU
CAN TRANSFER RESOURCES AND
PROPERTY WITH OR WITHOUT
CONSIDERATION FROM THE RCW SO
IT TRANSFERS WITHIN CITY
GOVERNMENT FROM ONE DEPARTMENT
TO ANOTHER AND I'M
OVERSIMPLIFYING THAT BUT THE
BASIC RELATIONSHIP IS INTENDED
TO BE VERY CLOSE.
FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE THESE
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE AUTONOMY WITH
INDEPENDENT DECISION-MAKING
POWER.
THEY CAN BE RESPONSIVE TO
COMMUNITY.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE
GOVERNING BODY AND ONCE APPROVED
THESE BODIES ARE INDEPENDENT
WITH LIABILITY SHIELDING
BETWEEN THE CITY AND PDA SO
IT'S THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
FOR THIS KIND OF WORK.
IT IS IMPORTANT THIS SLIDE SHOW
UP IS LITERALLY THE FIRST PAGE
OF THE CHARTER OF THE NEW
ORGANIZATIONAL.
THE IDEAS AND IDEALS THAT DON'T
JUST LIVE INTERNALLY IN THE
ORGANIZATION, THE ORGANIZATION
PRESENTS THEM VERY PUBLICLY AND
CONSISTENTLY AND THEY WERE
DEVELOPED THROUGH COMMUNICATION
AND THEY ARE SIGNAL OF THE
COMMITMENT BACK TO COMMUNITIES.
WHO RUNS THIS THING?
WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE BUILD
ARTS SPACE EQUITABLY COHORT SO
WE HAVE A GROUP OF 50 LEADERS,
20 IN EACH YEAR COHORT ALL FROM
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
SPECIFICALLY FROM REAL ESTATE,
ARTS AND CULTURE, PHILANTHROPY,
FINANCE ETC.
THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE FIRST
COHORT GRADUATING IN THE SECOND
ON BOARDING.
THE FOLKS WHO GRADUATED THE
PROGRAM ARE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE
IN THE CONSTITUENCY OF THE NEW
ORGANIZATION, THE CONSTITUENCY
WILL NOMINATE ALL THE POTENTIAL
GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
THAT PROCESS HAS BEGUN THIS
MONTH AND IT WILL CONTINUE IN
THE SPRING WHEN THE CONSTITUENCY
RESENTS TO THE MAYOR AND THE
WILL MAYOR WILL PRESENT TO YOU
MEMBERS.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVES ALL THE
PDA GOVERNMENT MEMBERS LIKE THE
APPOINTMENTS YOU WERE DOING
EARLIER TODAY.
THE CONSTITUENCY IS ALSO THE
AMBASSADORS FOR PROPERTY
OPPORTUNITIES AND FOR PROGRAM
PARTNERSHIPS.
THEY PRIORITIZE AND RECOMMEND
PROPERTIES IN PROGRAMMING TO
THE STAFF AND COUNCIL OF THE
CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY AND WHAT
YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE ARE
THE TYPES OF SPACES AND SITE
CONTROL ON THE LEFT AND SIMILAR
TYPES OF POTENTIAL PROGRAMMING
PARTNERSHIPS ON THE RIGHT.
THESE ARE THE SPACES WHERE THE
ORGANIZATION SHOWS UP AND THE
ACTIVITIES THAT SHOW UP IN
THOSE SPACES.
THIS WHOLE PROJECT IS CENTERED
ON THE IDEA THAT THE CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES THAT DRIVE THE
CREATION OF VALUE OR MOST
DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD
TAKE PART IN THE GROWTH OF THE
VALUE.
SO, AS ONE OF THE ADVISORS HAS
SAID THE MEASURE MOST REAL
ESTATE ORGANIZATIONS IS THE
GROWTH OF THE BALANCE SHEET OF
THE INCREASE YEAR-OVER-YEAR IN
THE SQUARE FEET THAT IT OWNS
THE MEASURE OF THIS
ORGANIZATION WILL BE THE SPEED
AT WHICH IT TRANSFERS THE
OWNERSHIP, SQUARE FEET INTO THE
COMMUNITIES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF MECHANISMS
FOR MAKING THAT REALITY.
INVESTMENT TRUSTS, OWNERSHIP
PARTNERSHIPS OF DIFFERENT KINDS,
THERE ARE PARTNERS TO ENGAGE
AND LEVERAGE ON BEHALF OF
COMMUNITY OWNERS LIKE SOCIAL
IMPACT INVESTORS AND THE CITY
PORTFOLIO OF SURPLUS PROPERTY
AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE IDEAS ON
THIS SLIDE AS WELL.
THE CITY ARTS OFFICE HAS
COMMITTED $500,000 PER YEAR FOR
THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO SUPPORT
STARTUP OPERATIONAL COSTS.
WE'RE ALSO COMMITTING HALF OF
MY TIME THIS COMING YEAR TO
SUPPORTING THE CONSTITUENCY
SUPPORTING THE NEW COUNCIL AND
INCOMING STAFF.
WE HAVE EXPLORED THE POTENTIAL
OF BONDING AGAINST A DEDICATED
INCOME STREAM WITHIN THE ARTS
BUDGET WHICH IS A FUNDING
PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN PAUSED
DUE TO COVERT BUDGET CUTS BUT
WE HOPE TO REOPEN ITS IMPORTANCE
IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.
IT WAS A BIG PART OF THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DID A OVER
THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH THE
VALUE OF THAT SUPPORT.
WE ARE DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS
AND HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS WITH
THE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
PIPELINE PROJECTS AND THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING PIPELINE OF
PROJECTS.
BEFORE WE CLOSE WANT TO SHARE
SOME PROJECT TYPES.
A CAVEAT THESE ARE COMPLETELY
HYPOTHETICAL.
THEY DO NOT HAVE ORGANIZATIONS
OR DRESSES CONNECTED, THESE ARE
HERE TO PAINT A FULLY REALIZED
PICTURE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
ANY RESEMBLANCE TO ACTUAL
CULTURAL SPACE IS COINCIDENTAL.
THE FIRST IS A FILM FESTIVAL
CENTER.
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1017 FILM
FESTIVALS ARE IN TOWN WITH NO
PERMANENT DEDICATED SPACE AND
EACH YEAR THEY HAVE TO SEARCH
FOR PROGRAM SPACE FOR
CELEBRATION SPACE, EDUCATION
SPACE AND ADMIN SPACE SO WHAT
IF THERE WAS A HOME BASE FOR
ALL THE FILM FESTIVALS THAT
EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS OR EVERY
MONTH WAS CELEBRATING AND
CENTERING DIFFERENT CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES.
LIKE THE LATINO FILM FESTIVAL,
JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL, BLACK
FILM FESTIVAL, ETC.
ARTIST STUDIO CLUSTERS IS ONE
OF THE MOST IN DEMAND TYPES OF
SPACES.
STUDIO SPACE, REHEARSAL OR
RECORDING SPACE.
ALSO ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
TYPES OF SPACES IN SEATTLE.
SOME EXAMPLES WOULD BE SEEN
ARTS AT HOME AND CITY OR THE
STUDIOS IN WEST GEORGETOWN.
THEY BOTH SAY THEY HAVE WAITING
LISTS THREE TIMES LONGER THAN
THE ACTUAL CAPACITY.
THERE IS ENORMOUS DEMAND IN THE
SPACE REALLY BUILDS RESILIENCE
IN THE CULTURAL COMMUNITY JUST
IN THE PROXIMITY OF SHARING
WALLS.
THIS TALKS ABOUT THE MODEL FOR
CULTURAL SPACE OWNERSHIP,
EQUITY IN THESE PROPERTIES.
WHERE THE AGENCY WOULD STAND IN
AS AN INTERMEDIARY OWNER THAT'S
MISSION DRIVEN TO SHARE THE
PROPERTY OVER TIME TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND TO VALUE ASSETS
THAT ARE NOT PURELY FINANCIAL.
TO VALUE SWEAT EQUITY AND OTHER
TYPES OF CAPITAL THAT CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES CAN BRING TO THE
TABLE IN EXCHANGE FOR OWNERSHIP.
THERE IS THIS ISSUE
>> AND WE GO BACK TO THE OTHER
SLIDE? SORRY DID I MISS THIS,
I'M LOOKING AT THE SLIDE AND
WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHAT
IS THE OR A BRAND-NEW BUILD TO
SUIT FIVE OVER ONE?
>> ENTERING INTO A DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIP, NOT JUST
STRUCTURES THAT EXIST, SORRY
THAT IS WRITTEN VERY CASUALLY.
NOT JUST LOOKING AT THOSE THAT
EXIST, FIVE OVER ONE IS A MIXED
BUILDING, FIVE STORIES OF
APARTMENTS OVER SINGLE-STORY
COMMERCIAL SPACE ON THE GROUND.
SO WE COULD LOOK AT DEVELOP
PARTNERSHIPS AND PARTNER WITH A
HOUSING DEVELOPER TO CREATE A
MIXED-USE BUILDING INCLUDING
CULTURAL SPACE ON THE GROUND
FLOOR. WHERE THE GROUND FLOOR
WOULD BE OWNED BY THE CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> NOT ONLY JUST OBVIOUSLY LOW
INCOME BUT MIXED MARKET RATE
MIXED-USE OR MIXED INCOME?
>> THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE
BEEN HAVING ARE WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO
BE RESTRICTED.
IT COULD BE A MIX OF INCOME
LEVEL UNITS FOR SURE.
WE COULD WORK WITH A PRIVATE
DEVELOPER FOR EXAMPLE.
>> THE FEARS IF YOU PLACE THIS
IN AREAS WHERE HOUSING IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN THE CULTURAL
SPACE OR WHATEVER THEN YOU
DON'T WANT TO SEE EMPTY SPACES.
>> AGREED.
>> I HAVE SEEN THIS IN GERMANY
WHERE THEY DID MIXED-USE LOW
INCOME CULTURAL SPACE AT THE
BOTTOM WITH ALL THE FANFARE AND
IT ENDED UP NOT BEING USED.
THE REASON WHY IT CAUGHT MY EYE
AS WE HAD TO TOUR THESE AREAS
WHERE THEY TOOK OVER THE LAND
AND PUT IN MIXED RATES AND
EVERYONE LOVED IT 10 YEARS AGO
AND THEN WE WALKED THROUGH AND
THEY SAID SOMETHING WE DID NOT
REALIZE HIS PEOPLE WERE MORE
CONCERNED ABOUT WEARING HAVING
SOMEWHERE TO LIVE SO THE
CULTURAL SPACE WAS EMPTY AND
YOU CANNOT LIVE IN IT BECAUSE
IT WAS NOT MADE FOR SOMEONE TO
LIVE IN.
SO THAT'S WHY I WAS LOOKING AT
THAT.
>> I HAVE LOOKED AT THAT PROJECT
AND I UNDERSTAND IT.
THERE WAS NOT A CENTRALIZED
MISSION DRIVEN ORGANIZATION
THAT WAS TASKED WITH FILLING
THE SPACE, IT WAS LEFT TO THE
DEVELOPERS TO HAVE THE MARKET
FILL THEM IN BUT THIS
ORGANIZATION IS SPECIFICALLY
DEVELOPING A PORTFOLIO OF
CULTURAL PARTNERS TO THE
CONSTITUENCY SO EVEN IF THE
ORGANIZATION WERE TO GO IN AND
SOMETHING DID NOT WORK OUT IN
YEAR TWO OR THREE OR WHATEVER,
THERE WOULD BE A ROSTER OF
ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS SO
THE SPACE IS ALWAYS ACTIVATED.
IT IS ON THE SPACE AGENCY TO
CONSISTENTLY FILL THE SPACE.
WHICH IS A CHALLENGE.
NOT SAYING IT IS EASY BUT THERE
IS A WHOLE ORGANIZATION MISSION
DRIVEN TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
YOU'RE NOT WAITING FOR
ORGANIZATIONS TO SHOW UP WITH
MARKET FORCES BEHIND THEM.
GALA SPACE IS ONE OF THE LAST
PRESENTATIONS I WANT TO POINT
TO.
WHEN NONPROFITS THROW
FUNDRAISERS TYPICALLY ANYWHERE
FROM 5000 TO $15,000 GOES TO
THE VENUE.
THE COMPETITION FOR THESE SPACES
LIKE WEDDINGS AND CORPORATE
ROLLOUT EVENTS.
IF YOU WERE TO CREATE A MISSION
DRIVEN SPACE TO CELEBRATE THESE
ORGANIZATIONS IT WOULD BE FULL
350 NIGHTS A YEAR.
THIS IS ONE THAT DOES HAVE SOME
REALITY.
A PROJECT IN MOTION AROUND
SUPPORTING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
ECOSYSTEM.
A SPACE THAT WOULD COMBINE THE
WORK OF THE OFFICE AROUND
CREATIVE INDUSTRY, YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT AND EQUITABLE SPACE
CONTROL.
A BLENDED FOOTPRINT OF YOUTH
SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AND
INDEPENDENT ARTISTS.
WE'RE HAPPY TO PRESENT MORE
ABOUT THAT AT A LATER DATE IF
THAT IS OF INTEREST.
A QUICKTIME ON.
WE SPENT THE LAST THREE OR FOUR
YEARS EXPLORING AND AUTHORIZING,
ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND
RUNNING THE TOOLKIT ON THE
PROJECT.
THIS MONTH WE ARE FORMING THE
CONSTITUENCY AND THAT
CONSTITUENCY WILL DELIVER A
SLATE OF NOMINEES FOR THE
GOVERNING COUNCIL TO THE MAYOR
AND THEN WE WILL HAND THEM TO
YOU IN THE SPRING.
THIS SUMMER THE COUNCIL WILL
ENGAGE IN A HIRING PROCESS AND
ENGAGE EXECUTIVE STAFF THAT WE
WILL BE SUPPORTING THROUGH THE
OFFICE.
AND THEN THE INITIAL PROJECTS
AND PARTNERSHIPS SHOULD BE
ANNOUNCED IN THE FALL OF 21
WHICH SHOULD ALLOW US TO CUT
RIBBONS ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER IN
THE SUMMER OR FALL OF 22.
THAT ENDS THE PRESENTATION.
I AM HAPPY WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT
A SPECIFIC SLIDE OR I CAN STOP
THE SCREEN SURE AND WE CAN HAVE
MORE OF A CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MATTHEW.
THAT WAS VERY EXCITING.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
MAYBE WE CAN GO BACK TO THE
FINANCE.
USED TO WORK AT A FINANCIAL
INTERMEDIARY FOR PROJECTS LIKE
THIS OR ENTITIES LIKE THIS SO
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, THAT
MISSION DRIVEN PIECE YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT IS THE CRITICAL
PIECE THAT'S MISSING AS
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WAS SAYING
THE PROJECTS THAT LEAD TO EMPTY
SPACE ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND
WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF IN MY
DISTRICT WITH APARTMENTS ABOVE
AND THEN THE STREET-LEVEL LEFT
BLANK AND I THINK THE CRITICAL
PIECE IS BEING INTENTIONAL
ABOUT DESIGNING THAT SPACE OR
TARGETING A PARTICULAR TENANT
OR PARTICULAR ANCHOR TENANT OR
OTHERS TO BE IN THERE EVEN IF
IT IS A SMALL SPACE FOR
PERFORMANCE OR PRODUCTION OR
REHEARSAL.
HAVING THE PDA OFFERS THE
ABILITY TO HOLD LAND AND THOSE
DECISIONS WOULD BE DRIVEN BY
COMMUNITIES REQUESTING A
PARTICULAR SPACE BUT THE
QUESTION IS HOW DO WE BUY IT.
YOU MENTIONED ON A DIFFERENT
SLIDE THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
TRUST IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A
FINANCE MECHANISM TO DO THINGS
LIKE THIS.
COLLEAGUES WE WILL BE HEARING
LATER IN THE YEAR FROM THE
FOLKS IN PORTLAND.
WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH THE
MERCY CORPS FOLKS IN PORTLAND
TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY IN
SEATTLE ABOUT HOW WE COULD ALSO
CREATE A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
TRUST TO ALLOW FOR NEIGHBORS TO
BUY SHARES INTO POSSIBLE
BUILDINGS LIKE THIS.
I WONDER IF YOU CAN TALK A
LITTLE ABOUT, SORRY THE
PREVIOUS SLIDE BUILDING
COMMUNITY WEALTH.
IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT
FINANCING TOOLS THAT COULD BE
USED TO SUPPORT INTEREST COMING
FROM THE COMMUNITY.
>> THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
TRUST AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO
THOSE FOLKS IN PORTLAND.
MY SENSE IS THAT'S NOT THE
MODEL WHERE YOU DEVELOP THE
FINANCING, THE SHARE OF THE
FINANCING COMES FROM
INSTITUTIONAL SOURCES.
THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TRUST
IS A MECHANISM FOR ALLOWING
MINORITY SHARE OWNERSHIP IN
COMMUNITY.
THESE SMALL THOUSAND DOLLAR
SHARES THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN BUY
AND BE PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
GROWTH.
YOU MENTIONED WORKING WITH THEM
THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
GROUND-FLOOR ACTIVATION.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE
DOWNTURN IN 2008 AND 2009 THE
GROUND-FLOOR ACTIVATION AT THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT HAS
REMAINED CONSISTENTLY ROBUST.
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH CDF I LIKE
CRAFT THREE ANOTHER'S
REPRESENTED IN THE BASE PROGRAM
DIRECTLY.
WITH LOCALLY OWNED BANKS AND
CREDIT UNIONS TO LOOK AT
FINANCING OPTIONS AND ALSO THE
SOCIAL IMPACT INVESTMENT GROUPS
LIKE SENTRY CAPITAL A SOCIAL
JUSTICE CENTERED INVESTMENT
TRUST.
AND I MADE MENTION IN THE
FINANCE SLIDE ONE OF THE
MECHANISMS THAT WE LOOKED AT
PRE-COVID WAS USING A FUND
WITHIN THE ARTS OFFICE CALLED
THE CULTURAL FACILITIES FUND
AND TAKING A PORTION, BONDING
AGAINST IT CREATING A LARGE
POOL OF CAPITAL THAT THE OFFICE
WOULD THEN PAY DOWN OVER A
COUPLE OF DECADES THROUGH BOND
DEBT SERVICE BY CREATING A POOL
OF CAPITAL TO INVEST IN THESE
SPACES.
THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT
INSTITUTIONAL STREAMS TO BRING
IN LARGE INFUSIONS OF CAPITAL
TO ACQUIRE THESE PROPERTIES OFF
THE BAT.
PHILANTHROPY ALSO, WE HAVE BEEN
HAVING CONVERSATIONS LOCALLY
AND NATIONALLY AND LEVERAGING
THOSE THREE STREAMS, CITY
BONDING POTENTIAL SOCIAL IMPACT
INVESTMENT PHILANTHROPY SO I
GUESS FOUR STREAMS BECAUSE
TRADITIONAL LENDING AS WELL ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY
INVESTMENT.
ALL FOUR ARE MISSION DRIVEN TO
STAND IN AS THE CAPITAL AS THE
COMMUNITY BUILDS THE CAPACITY
TO BUY OUT THE SHARES FROM US.
NO ONE IS DRIVEN TO MAKE A
PROFIT, NO ONE IS DRIVEN TO HOLD
ONTO THAT ASSET AS I MENTIONED.
WE ARE MISSION DRIVEN TO HAND
THE EQUITY STAKE, THE OWNERSHIP
TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE SHARE OF THE CAPITAL IS NOT
EXPECTED TO COME FROM COMMUNITY
AS THE DOWN PAYMENT CASH,
THAT'S NOT REALISTIC, THE GOAL
IS FOR THE CAPITAL TO SHOW UP
OVER TIME AND FOR THE CULTURAL
SPACE AGENCY TO BE THE LONG-
TERM PARTNER TO ALLOW FOR THAT
TO HAPPEN SUSTAINABLY.
>> THANK YOU MATTHEW.
COLLEAGUES.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
>> YES, IT IS COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
ONE THAT COMES TO MIND
IMMEDIATELY IS WHAT DOES THIS
CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY AS A PDA,
NUMBER ONE WOULD YOU LOOK AT
YOUR ADDRESS EXISTING CULTURAL
SPACES?
>> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO START
NAMING VULNERABLE SPACES, I
DON'T WANT TO PUT A SPOTLIGHT
ON ANY PARTICULAR SPACE, THERE
ARE A SERIES OF VULNERABLE
CULTURAL SPACES IN SEATTLE THAT
ARE AT HOME IN THEIR CURRENT
FACILITIES WITH NO OWNERSHIP IN
THEIR VULNERABLE TO THE MARKET
FORCE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, IF
WE CAN HELP THESE FACILITIES
ACQUIRE MORE APPROPRIATE
FACILITIES, YOU KNOW THE
WAREHOUSE IN SOTO TYPE OF MODEL
WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THOSE
MODELS AS WELL.
>> IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WANT TO
MAKE A STATEMENT FIRST AND THEN
ASK A QUESTION.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF A LAWSUIT BUT WE'RE TRYING
TO SAVE THE SEATTLE ARCHIVES
BUILDING AND THE BUILDING AS
YOU KNOW IS NOT AS OLD AS THE
BLUE MOON WAS CERTAINLY OLDER
THAN THE SHOW BOX AND THE OTHER
CONCERN THAT I HAVE ABOUT WHO
DECIDES WHERE A CULTURAL SPACE
IS, TAKE FOR EXAMPLE DAYBREAK
STAR. THE CITY OWNS THE
PROPERTY.
IT IS A CULTURAL SPACE IN
SEVERE DISREPAIR . HOUSES PDA
WHICH CAN ASSUME AND ISSUE
THAT, HOW IS THIS ORGANIZATION
GOING TO HELP THOSE SPACES THAT
NEED HELP RIGHT NOW?
WHEN SO MUCH, WHEN PEOPLE WERE
DOING SAVE THE SHOW BOX I
REMEMBER THINKING I WISH THEY
WOULD COME OUT THIS FERVENTLY
WHEN WE HAVE OTHER CULTURAL
SPACES AND OTHER THINGS THAT
DEMAND JUST AS MUCH ATTENTION
THAT NOBODY CARES ABOUT BECAUSE
SOCIETY HAS DETERMINED WHAT IS
A CULTURAL SPACE.
THEY DETERMINE WHAT IS WORTH
PRESERVING WITHOUT RECOGNIZING
AS YOU ALL KNOW THAT THERE WERE
ATTEMPTS TO ERASE AND GET RID
OF ANYTHING THAT REPRESENTED
INDIGENOUS PRESENCE, ASIAN OR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESENCE, I
COULD GO ON AND ON BUT I WON'T.
THERE'S SOME HYPOCRISY IN THAT
AND THAT IS ANNOYING AND AS
FORMER LEGAL COUNCIL ON THE
INDIAN SERVICE COMMISSION WHICH
IS A PDA LIKE THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET WHICH CAME OUT OF THE
COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANTS OF THE
70s.
I AM HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING
HOW THIS WILL ADDRESS NUMBER
ONE, CULTURAL SPACES WE HAVE
NOW THAT NEED IT AND NUMBER TWO
HOW WE ARE GOING, HOW ARE YOU
GOING TO PAY FOR THIS, I MEAN I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN
COMPLETELY RELY WHEN YOU KEEP
SAYING THE COMMUNITY, HOW DOES
COMMUNITY BUILT CAPITAL?
SO THERE IS COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
? WE USE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME
AND SOMETIMES IT BECOMES A
CATCHPHRASE.
>> MAYBE I WILL TAKE THOSE IN
REVERSE ORDER.
HOW DOES COMMUNITY BUILT
CAPITAL IS A GIANT QUESTION AND
WE HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE
SOLUTION.
IT IS A SLOW PROCESS AND I
DON'T KNOW WE CAN MAKE THE
PROCESSMUCH FASTER.
WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A SLOW
PROCESS AND TAKES TIME AND
BECAUSE IT TAKES TIME YOU NEED
A LONG-TERM INTERMEDIARY
PARTNER TO STEP IN TO SUPPORT
THE ORGANIZATION AND COMMUNITY
WHILE THEY TAKE A DECADE OR TWO
DECADES TO RAISE THE CAPITAL.
TO NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE WHIMS
OF THE MARKET THAT OWNS YOUR
BUILDING IN A PRIVATE SCENARIO
THAT MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT USE
FOR THE BUILDING, MAY WANT TO
CASH OUT OF THE BUILDING, MAY
NEED TO INCREASE YOUR RENT OR
WHATEVER, TO HAVE A MISSION
DRIVEN WORKER, FOR THE
OWNERSHIP THAT'S IMPORTANT.
HOW DO WE SUPPORT EXISTING
SPACES IS WRAPPED UP IN THAT AS
WELL.
CAN WE STAND IN AND CREATE AT
LEAST A MISSION DRIVEN PARTNER
AS OWNERHIP ENTITY INSTEAD OF
A MARKET THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE
COMMUNITY'S INTEREST IN MIND.
WE ALREADY REACHED OUT AND I
AGREE THE MOVEMENT OF THOSE
ARCHIVES IS DESIGNED WHILE I
WILL NOT PRESUME THAT IT'S
GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT OF
SEVERELY LIMITING THE ADVOCACY
AND THE SELF ORGANIZING THAT
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ARE ABLE
TO DO AND WE HAVE ALREADY
REACHED OUT TO LEADERS
INCLUDING COLLEEN AT THE
SEATTLE CLUB AND MIKE AT UNITED
INDIGENOUS TRIBES TO SEE IF THE
CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY COULD BE
A PARTNER.
IS THERE A PLACE FOR THE AGENCY
TO SUPPORT ANY OF THE ADVOCACY
THERE AND TRY TO GET INTO THE
CALL THE OTHER DAY THAT WAS
FULL AND HOSTED TO THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
THAT'S VERY MUCH ON THE RADAR
AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT
THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT
TYPICALLY DO NOT GET TO SHINE
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A PRESERVATION
IN THE WAY THAT FOR EXAMPLE THE
SHOW BOX DID SEVERAL YEARS AGO
WHEN IT CAME OUT AS A HOT SPOT
OF PRESERVATION IN THIS TOWN.
I KNOW I MOVED BACKWARDS
THROUGH THOSE, NOT SURE IF I
ADDRESSED ALL THE PIECES OF
THAT BUT TO THE CENTRAL
QUESTION WHERE DOES THE CAPITAL
COME FROM?
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WITH
COMMUNITY CAPITAL?
WE TALKED ABOUT TIME HONESTLY,
PHILANTHROPY THEY HAVE TO
RAISE, INDIVIDUALS AND
COMMUNITY THEY HAVE TO ORGANIZE,
DIFFERENT ASSETS THAT WILL COME
IN OVERTIME AND CAN WE CREATE
AN ENTITY THAT WILL ALLOW
COMMUNITIES THAT TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
COLLEAGUES?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS OR
ANYONE COME OFF MUTE.
OKAY.
VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TO ALL OF YOU.
ANYTHING ELSE, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS YOU WANT TO MAKE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MADAM CHAIR CAN MAKE A BRIEF
COMMENT?
I'M SORRY.
>> YES PLEASE, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
>> I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
GO BACK TO YOUR COMMENTS
EARLIER WHEN YOU ARE THANKING
ALL OF US ON THE COUNCIL FOR
OUR SUPPORT. I DO VERY FONDLY
REMEMBER BACK WHEN WE COULD
HAVE CONGREGATE GATHERINGS AND
TALKING TO YOU ABOUT A YEAR AGO
AND HAD BIG PLANS BACK THEN FOR
FIRST THURSDAY TO BE PART OF MY
MONTHLY ROUTINE ON THE COUNCIL.
I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF THOSE
HYPOTHETICAL PLANS.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
RELAY BACK YOUR KIND WORDS AND
SAY THAT YOU WILL BE VERY MUCH
MISSED BY MYSELF AND I'M SURE
BY MY COLLEAGUES AS YOU GO ON
TO NEW CHALLENGES AND I GREATLY
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. NOT
ONLY AS A COUNCILMEMBER BUT AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS KNOWN YOU FOR
MANY YEARS TO THE WASHINGTON
BUS AND A LOT OF YOUR OTHER
CIVIC ACTIVITIES.
GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR
CONTRIBUTION.
I DO APPRECIATE, I THINK ALL OF
US SHOULD ASPIRE TO AGE AS
GRACEFULLY IN POSITIONS OF
LEADERSHIP AS YOU HAVE.
YOU DON'T LOOK A DAY OLDER THAN
WHEN YOU TOOK OVER OFFICE AND
THAT WILL NOT BE SOMETHING I
WILL BE ABLE TO SAY FOR MYSELF
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU
HAVE HANDLED SUCH A DIFFICULT
JOB WITH GRACE AND YOU ARE
LEAVING THE DEPARTMENT IN SUCH
A GREAT CONDITION AND YOU WILL
BE SORELY MISSED AND I HOPE WE
CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN OTHER WAYS IN THE
CITY AS WE MOVE ON TO NEW
CHALLENGES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
I WANT TO ECHO THOSE COMMENTS.
WE WILL MISS YOU AND WANT TO
WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR NEXT
MOVE. AND JOY BEACON HILL AND
LOOK FORWARD TO LOOKING FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU CALANDRA
AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS WORK
KEEPS MOVING FORWARD, SO THANK
YOU ALL OF YOU.
HAVE A FABULOUS AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OKAY LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM
16.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE READ AN M-
16 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 16 COUNCIL BILL
119982.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
SEATTLE COMMISSION FOR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES, CHANGING THE
NAME TO THE SEATTLE DISABILITY
COMMISSION.
REQUESTING THAT THE CODE REVISOR
REVISED THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE ACCORDINGLY.
>> VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.
I WILL SAY I SERVED AS A HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSIONER SEVERAL
YEARS AGO AND AT THAT TIME THIS
CONVERSATION WAS GOING ON.
SO, I AM EXCITED TO HEAR THAT
THE COMMISSION HAS MADE A
DECISION, HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT.
I WILL PASS THIS ON TO HELEN
GEBRAMLAK TO PRESENT THE
PROPOSED CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
LIKE YOU SAID, THE CONVERSATION
HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE
SOME TIME IN THE FULL
COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN
JUNE TO MAKE THE CHANGE.
I WILL GO OVER BRIEFLY A COUPLE
OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE
CHANGE.
THE FIRST AND PRIMARY ONE IS TO
BROADEN INCLUSIVITY.
THE DISABILITY COMMISSION OR
COMMUNITIES ARE VERY DIVERSE
CULTURALLY AND POLITICALLY JUST
LIKE ANY OTHER COMMUNITY.
AND, WITHIN THAT THERE ARE A
PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT SELF
IDENTIFICATION PREFERENCES AND
REALLY THERE ARE MAIN CAMPS I
WILL TALK ABOUT.
THE FIRST IS KNOWN AS PERSON
FIRST LANGUAGE WHICH IS
REFLECTED IN THE CURRENT
CONSTRUCTION OF THE NAME, THAT
IS THE COMMISSION FOR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES.
OTHER EXAMPLES ARE A WOMAN WITH
SCHIZOPHRENIA, A FARMER WHO IS
BLIND, IT'S REALLY LANGUAGE
THAT AIMS TO CENTER THE WHOLE
PERSON WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THE
DISABILITY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO
PREFER PERSON FIRST LANGUAGE
BUT THERE ARE ALSO FOLKS WHO
PREFER IDENTITY FIRST LANGUAGE
AND THAT IS WHAT IT SOUNDS
LIKE.
SAYING DISABLED PERSON,
AUTISTIC ACCOUNTANT, A DEAF
WOMAN AND THERE ARE CERTAIN
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES FOR THAT
SUCH AS THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND
ARTISTIC COMMUNITY FOR
INSTANCE.
THERE IS A STRONG CULTURAL
PREFERENCE FOR IDENTITY FIRST
LANGUAGE AND THERE IS A HOST OF
OTHER REASONS ONE MIGHT PREFER
IDENTITY FIRST LANGUAGE.
THE COMMISSION DECIDED TO MOVE
AWAY FROM EITHER USING PERSON
FIRST LANGUAGE OR IDENTITY FIRST
LANGUAGE AND INSTEAD USE A
CONSTRUCTION SEATTLE DISABILITY
COMMISSION WHICH CLEARLY STATES
THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE
COMMISSION, THE COMMUNITIES
THAT THE COMMISSION REPRESENTS
WITHOUT NECESSARILY EXCLUDING
ANY PARTS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES
WHO MAY HAVE A PREFERENCE.
SECONDLY YOU KNOW, THIS ALSO
PUTS THE COMMISSION NAME IN
LINE WITH THE OTHER COMMUNITY
CENTERED CITY COMMISSIONS LIKE
THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION,
SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION.
SO LIKE I SAID THE COMMISSION
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN JUNE IN
ORDER TO GET THE NAME CHANGE
REFLECTED IN THE CODE THAT
REQUIRES COUNCIL ACTION AND
THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING
THAT.
I HAVE HELD THAT ATTENTION
MYSELF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
WHICH OF THOSE PERSON FIRST
DISABILITY FIRST IS APPROPRIATE
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT DEPENDS
ON WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO.
SO I'M GLAD THE COMMISSION HAS
REACHED CONSENT.
I WILL ASK IF COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR HELEN. OKAY.
VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH HELEN.
COUNCIL MEMBERS I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 11 9982.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
MOVED AND SECONDED TO WHEN
PASSAGE OF THE BILL, ANY FINAL
COMMENTS?
OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> THANK YOU.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND
COMMITTE RECOGNITION THAT THE
BILL PASS TO BE SENT TO THE
FEBRUARY 1st CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
COLLEAGUES ANY OF THE QUESTIONS
OR GOOD OF THE ORDER?
NO? ALL RIGHT IN THAT CASE THIS
CONCLUDES THE JANUARY 22nd 2021
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING
EVERYBODY.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.