>>> WE ARE RECORDING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE SEPTEMBER 14th, 2021
MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:32 A.M.
I'M LISA HERBOLD CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
CHAIR HERBOLD.
>> HERE.
>> THAT IS FOUR PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA WE WILL BE
HEARING THREE PRIMARY ITEMS.
THE FIRST IS STATUS REPORT ON
THE PAY-UP POLICY PROPOSAL.
DISCUSSION OF ONE OF THE DRAFT
UNINTRODUCED BILLS THE ONE THAT
COVERS MINIMUM COMPENSATION,
FLEXIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
ISSUES.
THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO A
PRESENTATION FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO WILL
PRESENT THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT ANALYSIS FOR EXPANDING
THE PREFILING DIVERSION PROGRAM
TO ADULTS 25 AND OLDER.
THIS IS LONG BEEN A PRIORITY
FOR THE COUNCIL LED BY PREVIOUS
CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
THEN WE WILL HEAR A BILL
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT RELATING TO THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT PROHIBITING
TRAINING, EXCHANGES AND
PARTNERSHIPS WITH CERTAIN
GOVERNMENTS.
WE WERE INTENDING TO HEAR A
PRESENTATION FROM THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT LEAD AND
REACH AND RESPONSE TO STATEMENT
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT 6 A 1,
HOWEVER WE WERE NOT ABLE TO
HEAR THAT REPORT TODAY AND LOOK
FORWARD TO RESCHEDULING AT A
FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETING.
WITH THAT WE'LL MOVE ON TO
APPROVING OUR AGENDA FOR THE
COMMITTEE MEETING.
IF IT THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME WE'LL TRANSITION
INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WILL MODERATE PUBLIC COMMENT
IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE 20
SPEAKERS, 19 SPEAKERS.
>> CHAIR, THERE WAS JUST
SEVERAL THAT SIGNED UP.
THERE ARE 39 NOW.
>> 39.
OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE AS
MANY SPEAKERS AS WE POSSIBLY
CAN EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN
ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.
I'LL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND THE ORDER WHICH THEY
ARE REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO DO SO,
YOU CAN SIGN UP BY GOING TO THE
PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME
YOU WILL HEAR A PROMPT AND ONCE
YOU HEAR THAT PROMPT YOU NEED
TO PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
WHICH YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR TIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE A
LOTTED TIME.
ONCE THE SPEAKER HEARS THE
TIME, WE ASK YOU BEGIN TO WRAP
UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE A
LOTTED TIME PROVIDED THE
SPEAKERS MIC WILL BE MUTED
AFTER TEN SECONDS TO ALLOW US
TO HEAR FROM THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE AND IF
YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING
THE MEETING, PLEASE DO SO VIA
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE
LISTENING OPTION LISTED ON THE
AGENDA.
THERE ARE 39 PEOPLE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND SO TO
ALLOW FOR AS MANY SPEAKERS AS
POSSIBLE IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS I PROPOSE TO SUSPEND
THE RULES TO ALLOW AN
ADDITIONAL 20 MINUTES OF PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR A TOTAL OF 40
MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS PUBLIC
COMMENT HAS BEEN EXTENDED.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT HAS
JOINED THE MEETING.
GREETINGS, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
SO MOVING INTO PUBLIC COMMENT I
WILL START READING TWO NAMES AT
A TIME.
THE FIRST IS HOWARD FOLLOWED BY
BLYTH.
HOWARD.
>> YOU'VE IGNORED THE FACT THAT
MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY
SPD.
THAT THE SPD KEEPS KILLING
FOLKS EXPERIENCING MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS AND THAT THE SPD
FACES NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE
ABUSE OF PROTESTERS LAST YEAR.
THEN THERE WERE LAST MONTH'S
HEADLINES.
FEDERAL MONITORS COST MILLIONS
WITH DISPUTED RESULTS,
SEATTLE'S POLICE WATCHDOG IS
THE CASE IN POINT.
OR REPORT SEATTLE POLICE STOP
BLACK PEOPLE, NATIVE AMERICANS
AT A FAR HIGHER RATE THAN WHITE
PEOPLE OR ORDER TO RESIGNS,
CLAIMS PUTS OPA ALLEGIANCES.
OPA AND THE OIG ALONG WITH
POSSIBLE CRIMINAL ACTS
COMMITTED BY OPA DIRECTOR.
DURING COUNCIL BREAK, OPA
DIRECTOR RELEASED A STUNNINGLY
INCOMPETENT INVESTIGATION INTO
THE LAST YEAR'S MURDER BLAMING
TERRY DEATH ON HIS OWN CHOICES
AND DECISIONS.
THIS COMMITTEE MUST HOLD THE
PUBLIC FORUM TO INVESTIGATE
THESE SHOCKING FAILURES AND
SCANDALS.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BLYTH
FOLLOWED BY NEBIT.
>> HI, I RENT AND WORK IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND I'M
CALLING IN TO URGE THE
COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATON BANNING SEATTLE
POLICE FROM TRAINING WITH
COUNTRIES THAT HAVE VIOLATED
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK
YOU TO THE ACTIVISTS,
ORGANIZERS TO END THE DEADLY
EXCHANGE.
THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF
AMERICA AND ESPECIALLY COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT'S OFFICE WHO HAVE
BEEN FIGHTING FOR THIS
LEGISLATION.
UNFORTUNATELY BUT NOT
SURPRISINGLY HERBOLD AND THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT
INTRODUCED AN AMOUNT THAT WOULD
WEAKEN OUR LEGISLATION AND
MIGHT EXCLUDE THE ISRAELI STATE
FROM BEING COVERED BY THE LAW.
LAST SUMMER'S HARASS TORIC
BLACK LIVES MOVEMENT.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND
DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONTROLLED
CITIES ACROSS AMERICA CARRIED
OUT VIOLENT OPPRESSION OF
PEACEFUL MARCHES.
FAILED TO HOLD SEATTLE POLICE
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS VIOLENCE.
IN ADDITION TO BANNING SPD FROM
LEARNING HOW TO BRUTALIZE
PEOPLE FROM NATIONS.
WITH FULL POWERS OVER THE
POLICE.
THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NEBITT.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING.
COUNCIL BILL 12012 STARTED AS
AN ANTI-ISRAEL INITIATIVE.
NOW IT PRETENDS TO BE AN ANTI-
POLICE BILL.
IT IS STILL AN ANTI-ISRAEL AND
ANTI-SEMITIC EFFORT.
THE CAMPAIGN BEHIND THE BILL AS
YOU JUST HEARD IS ALL ABOUT
ISRAEL.
IF PASSED IT WILL BE
WEAPONNIZED AGAINST ISRAEL AND
AGAINST JEWS.
IT WILL START WITH PROTESTS AND
MAY END WITH VIOLENCE.
THIS IS COMPLETELY FORESEEABLE
AND ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE.
YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE
SEATTLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH ITS
POLICE FORCE IT SHOULD REFORM
THE POLICE.
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL DID NOT
CAUSE SPD'S PROBLEMS.
POINTING FINGERS AT OTHER
COUNTRIES AND SCAPEGOATING
PEOPLE DOES NOTHING TO IMPROVE
PUBLIC SAFETY OR ADDRESS POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.
VOTE NO ON THIS HATEFUL AND
DANGEROUS BILL.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SAMYA AND I'M
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3. TO
END THE DEADLY EXCLANG.
WE KNOW A SAFE AND HEALTH YES
SEATTLE MUST BE GROUNDED IN
RESPECT FOR ALL PEOPLE.
SPD HAS SHOWN DOCUMENTED
PATTERNS OF VIOLENCE AND RACISM
AND ARE UNDER COURT
SUPERVISION.
THE CURRENT EXCHANGES WITH
MILITARY ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
SPD TO EXCHANGE WORSE
PRACTICES.
WORSE PRACTICES FOR ISRAEL
MEANS DECADES OF DOCUMENTED
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS,
SURVEILLANCE.
THIS VIOLENCE HAS NO PLACE
ANYWHERE.
WE CAN MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT
BECOME COMMON PRACTICE HERE.
WE MUST STOP USING OUR
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT VIOLATIONS
OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.
WE INVESTING IN COMMUNITY MAKES
US SAFE.
NOT RACIST AND MILITARIZED
POLICING.
END THE DEADLY EXCHANGE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHELBY
FOLLOWED BY ANNA.
>> HI THERE.
I'M A JEWISH RESIDENT WHO LIVES
IN DISTRICT 2 AND I'M CALLING
IN SUPPORT OF BILL CV 12142.
AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, JUST
REALLY CALLING ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT SPD
FROM TRAINING WITH ALL
COUNTRIES COMMITTING ON GOING
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
THIS FEELS SO NO NONSENSE AND
WE KNOW WE SHOULD BE INVESTING
IN WAYS OF SAFETY THAT ARE
CENTERED IN BIPOC COMMUNITIES
AND SPECIFICALLY BLACK LIVE
COMMUNITIES.
WHEN WE INVEST IN THOSE
SOLUTIONS WE KEEP ALL OF US
MORE SAFE INSTEAD OF SPENDING
RESOURCES ON THESE EXCHANGES
AND WORST PRACTICES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR
HEARING THIS.
I THINK THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL
AND BEAUTIFUL ACT THAT WE CAN
TAKE IN OUR CITY TO PROTECT
HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
>> ANNA POWELL.
FOLLOWED BY ABBY BROOK.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M ON THE GOVERNMENT
REGISTRATIONS TEAM FOR
DOORDASH.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE OUR CONCERNS WITH THE
POLICY PROPOSAL.
WE CARE ABOUT THE DRIVERS,
CUSTOMERS AND RETAILERS WITH
WHO WE PATROLLER AND WE'RE
EAGER TO PROMOTE THEIR
INTERESTS, INCLUDING THE
IMPORTANCE OF FLEXIBLE WORK.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST AND
ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH EACH OF
YOU TO FIND A WORKABLE
COMPROMISE.
TO GET THIS LEGISLATION RIGHT
WE RECOMMEND CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION OF AN ARRAY OF
HIGHLY COMPLICATED REGULATORY
PROVISIONS.
TOOK TWO YEARS TO DEVELOP.
CNCs ARE DIFFERENT FROM TNCs IN
NUMEROUS WAYS.
THIS WORK WILL REQUIRE MORE
CAREFUL DELIBERATION.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S
OPPORTUNITY FOR MEANINGFUL
NEGOTIATION AND RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST THE PROCESS AND
TIMELINE THAT ALLOWS NECESSARY
EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND PROPOSALS
TO DEVELOP DNC STANDARDS THAT
ARE PRODUCTS AND HONEST
DIALOGUES BETWEEN STAKE
HOLDERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ABBY AND
ABBY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY NINA.
>> HI, I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 3 AND I'M SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL 12042.
THIS LEGISLATION IS IN LINE
WITH DEFUND MOVEMENTS WHICH WE
HEARD STRONG SUPPORT OF
YESTERDAY.
AS IT WILL AID IN
DEMILITARIZING AND MAKE SEATTLE
COMMUNITIES TRULY SAFER.
MYKONOS SENSE FOR SPD TO BE
TRAINING WITH COUNTRIES THAT
VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS ACCORDING
TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.
THIS LEGISLATION MUST BE
PASSED.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NINA.
FOLLOWED BY EMILY.
>>> MY NAME IS NINA AND I AM A
JEWISH RESIDENT OF SEATTLE.
I'M ALSO CALLING TO ASK YOU TO
SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL 12142 TO
PROHIBIT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT FROM TRAINING WITH
COUNTRIES THAT ARE COMMITTING
HUMAN RIGHTS BLOUSES AS MANY
OTHERS HAVE SAID, THIS BILL IS
COMMON SENSE FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
AS A HUMAN RIGHTS CITY AFFIRMED
RESOLUTION 31858 AND 31929 THE
CITY IS ENDORSING.
WE NEED TO STAND BEHIND THOSE
COMMITMENTS TO PROTECT THE
HUMAN RIGHTS OF THOSE IN OUR
CITY.
WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN
COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS
RATHER THAN MILL TARRIZATION.
THIS IS AN EASY AND LOGICAL
BILL FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
BE PASSING.
I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO BE
VOTING IN FAIR OF IT.
>> EMILY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
SONYA.
EMILY.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING MANY ME
SPEAK TODAY.
I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK THE
RANK AND FILE ACTIVISTS
INCLUDING JEWISH VOICE OF PEACE
AND ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT FOR BRINGING FORWARD
THIS LEGISLATION TODAY TO END
THE DEADLY EXCHANGE.
AND STOP TRAINING WITH NATION
STATES WHO HAVE VIOLATED BASIC
HUMAN RIGHTS.
I ESPECIALLY DO THOUGH WANT TO
WHILE I'M APPEALING FOR ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE YES, I
WANT TO SPEAK REALLY STRONGLY
AGAINST COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD'S AMENDMENT.
I THINK ESPECIALLY IT'S REALLY
THAT IT'S WRITTEN TO
POTENTIALLY INCLUDE THE ISRAELI
STATE.
NOTICE THAT REFERS TO
INVESTIGATIONS QUOTE WITHIN THE
COUNTRY OR TERRITORY
BOUNDARIES.
THE ICC INVESTIGATIONS AS YOU
KNOW ARE ABOUT ISRAELI HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN GAZA AND
THE WEST BANK, WHICH WILL ARGUE
ARE NOT TECHNICALLY WITHIN
ISRAEL OR ITS TERRITORIAL
BOUNDARIES.
THIS IS PROBLEMATIC AND I DON'T
THINK IT SHOULD --
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SONYA AND
FOLLOWED BY TAMARA.
>> HI, I'M A WORKING MOM.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF
THE ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZERS
WITHIN THE EXCHANGE, THE JEWISH
VOICE FOR PEACE AND ESPECIALLY
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT'S OFFICE
WHO HAS BROUGHT FORWARD THIS.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST HERBOLD'S
AMENDMENT TODAY.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND OTHER
DEMOCRATS ARE ARGUING THIS
AMENDMENT SIMPLIFIES THINGS.
I THINK IT DOES THE OPPOSITE.
IT'S A MEMO SPENDING PAGES
EXPLAINING THE SPD WOULD HAVE
TO DO RESEARCH TO DETERMINE IF
A COUNTRY THEY WANT TO TRAIN
WITH HAS VIOLATED HUMAN RIGHTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A
DIFFICULT SEARCH.
I DON'T AGREE THERE'S ANY
PROBLEM.
IF THE POLICE CAN'T DO THAT
RESEARCH, HOW ON EARTH DO THEY
EVER SOLVE CRIMES?
THERE'S ASO A PROBLEM THAT'S
BE ADDRESSED ABOUT EXCLOUTING
IMPORTANT LANGUAGES.
SO WHAT I REALLY THINK
DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT HAS
FAILED TO HOLD SEATTLE POLICE
ACCOUNTABLE.
WE NEED AN OVERSIGHT BOARD.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
IF YOU HIT STAR 6.
YOU HAVE TO HIT STAR 6 PLEASE.
THERE YOU GO.
PERFECT.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS MARY.
I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE
ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE IN
SEATTLE.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE MY CONCERNS
WITH THE ORDINANCE INTRODUCED
BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S TAKEN
U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT ON TRIPS
ABROAD TO WIDEN THEIR
PERSPECTIVES AND SHARE BEST
PRACTICES WE HAVE AN INTEREST
IN THIS POLICY.
ACCORDING TO THE PROPOSAL IN IT
YOU READ IT THERE ARE DOZENS OF
COUNTRIES THAT WOULD BE
RESTRICTED FROM PARTNERING WITH
SPD AND THE TERM PARTNERING IS
NOT DEFINED AND COULD HAVE FAR
RANGING PUBLIC SAFETY
IMPLICATIONS.
CANADA, BRITAIN, FRANCE, ITALY,
CHINA, EVEN THE UNITED STATES
FOR OUR OWN HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSES.
BY PREVENTING SPD FROM
PARTNERING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
IN OUR OWN COUNTRY, LAW
ENFORCEMENT FROM BORDER
COUNTRIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
FROM ALLIED COUNTRIES HOW CAN
WE ASSURE OUR LOCAL POLICE
DEPARTMENT SHARES INTELLIGENCE
WORTH PUBLIC SAFETY AND
CONDUCTS DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS.
THIS ORDINANCE IS A SMALL ILL
CONCEIVED PROPOSAL THAT DOES
NOT ADDRESS SYSTEMIC RACISM OR
HOLISTICLLY REFORM POLICING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING.
>> THANK YOU.
SPEAKER IS TRAVONA.
>> HI.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2.
I'M CALLING TODAY TO DEMAND THE
PASSING OF 120142.
AS A BLACK WOMAN PART OF THREE
GENERATIONS FROM SEATTLE I HAVE
SEEN REPEATED PATTERNS OF
VIOLENCE, RACISM FROM SPD.
SPD IS UNDER COURT SUPERVISION
FOR EXCESSIVE FORCE.
SPD LITERALLY BRUTALIZED
PROTESTERS FOR MONTHS.
I WAS TEAR GASSED WHILE I WAS
TALKING ABOUT THE ATROCITIES
THAT FOLKS FACE AROUND THIS
CITY.
12,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOLD
YOU LOUD AND CLEAR ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH, DEFUND SPD.
INFORMS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS LEGISLATION SUPPORTS THESE
ON GOING DEMANDS BY CUTTING
BACK ON FUNDING FOR MILITARY
TRAINING THAT PUTS THE
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE IN DANGER.
STOP SPD FROM TRAINING WITH
FOREIGN MILITARIES LIKE THE
ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES.
DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THIS
DEADLY EXCHANGE AND I
RELINQUISH THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> ALTHOUGH ON MY TRACKING
SHEET MARKED SPOKE, I BELIEVE
WE SKIPPED OVER HER.
LET'S GO BACK UP TO TAMARA
WILSON.
YOU STILL WITH US?
WE'LL NEED YOU TO HIT STAR 6 IF
YOU ARE.
THERE YOU GO.
>> HELLO.
YES, HI.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK.
I LIVE IN BEACON HILL AND I
WORK IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
I AM CALLING BECAUSE I AM A
BLACK LIVES MATTER ORGANIZER.
LAST YEAR I WITNESSED SPD
ATTACK PROTESTERS IN THE
LARGEST MULTIRACIAL MOVEMENT IN
OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY WITH TEAR
GAS AND RUBBER BULLETS.
THAT WAS UNTIL COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT LED THE WAY ON BANNING
THE POLICE FROM USING CHEMICAL
WEAPONS ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.
LATER IN THE YEAR I SAW THE
FREE PALESTINE MOVEMENT ERUPT
ACROSS THE WORLD AND LEARNED IN
REALTIME HOW INTERRELATED BOTH
OF OUR STRUGGLES AGAINST RACIST
OPPRESSION OF THE BLACK AND
PALESTINIAN COMMUNITIES ARE
LINKED IN A VERY MATERIAL WAY.
LINK BETWEEN OUR POLICE FORCES.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE
PREZZIVE CROWD CONTROL TACTICS
THAT SPD ENGAGES IN ARE NOT
INTERRELATED.
I'M CALLING TO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
LEGISLATION.
I WANT TO SPEAK AGAINST
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL GO BACK TO CAROLYN
HATHAWAY.
FOLLOWED BY DANIEL.
YOU HAVE TO HIT STAR 6 TO SPEAK.
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME PLEASE HIT
STAR 6. ONE MORE TIME.
CARE LIP LIN, IF YOU CAN HEAR
ME, HIT STAR 6.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> GREAT.
WORKS TO CREATE FRIENDSHIPS
BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
CITIZENS.
BELIEVING IN THE POWER OF
CITIZEN DIPLOMACY.
WE SUPPORT IMPROVING HUMAN
RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD NOT BY
VILIFYING FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS
BUT BY REACHING OUT AND
ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING PEOPLE
AROUND THE WORLD.
WE INFLUENCE THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS.
DO NOT CREATE ARTIFICIAL
BARRIERS THAT SEPARATE OUR
PEOPLE AND DISCOURAGE
COLLABORATIVE WORK.
THIS BEGAN AS ARRASSIST ANTI-
ISRAEL INITIATIVE WHERE IN
SEATTLE WE BENEFIT EVERY DAY
FROM EXCHANGES WITH ISRAEL IN
TRADE, EDUCATION, MEDICINE,
AGRICULTURE AND SECURITY.
NOW WILL IMPACT MORE COUNTRIES
WHICH ARE WORKING WITH US TO
BUILD BETTER LIVES FOR THEIR
CITIZENS.
THIS LEGISLATION HAS UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
IT CONDEMNS THE COLLABORATIVE
INTERNATIONAL WORK THAT
ENCOURAGES GOOD BEHAVIOR.
PLEASE STOP IT NOW.
THANK YOU.
DANIEL FOLLOWED BY JEREMY.
WE NEED YOU TO HIT STAR 6. I'M
NOT SURE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
CAN YOU HIT STAR 6 SO WE CAN
HEAR YOU?
OKAY.
ONE MORE TIME, DANIEL.
YOU'RE THE NEXT SPEAKER.
WE NEED YOU TO HIT STAR 6 SO WE
CAN HEAR YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO
DANIEL.
LET'S MOVE ON TO JEREMY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS JEREMY.
ALIVE IN DISTRICT 6 AND I AM
CALLING IN TO SUPPORT CB
120142.
IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO STOP
TRAINING WITH POLICE AND
MILITARY FORCES THAT HAVE KNOWN
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
I THINK IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE MATH
THERE.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT
ENDING THIS DEADLY EXCHANGE.
THANKS.
>> HENRY FOLLOWED BY JIM.
>> HELLO.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE OF PEOPLE
STRUGGLE.
MORE THAN 350 ORGANIZATIONS AND
MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES ACROSS
THE WORLD.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTS THE
END THE DEADLY EXCHANGE
LEGISLATION.
WE STAND WITH OUR MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS AND WHICH HAVE
BEEN FIRELESSLY ADVANCING THIS
EFFORT.
WE STAND AGAINST 73 YEARS OF
ILLEGAL SETTLER COLONIAL
OCCUPATION OF THE SOVEREIGN
NATION OF PALESTINE.
DO WE WANT TO LEARN FROM WAR
CRIMINALS LIKE THE ISRAELI
DEFENSE FORCES.
THE IBF IS RECOGNIZED BY
NUMEROUS GOVERNMENTS AND
INSTITUTIONS.
AS A GROSS AND HABITUAL
VIOLATOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
TREATED AS ENEMY COMBATANTS.
I ASK THE CITY COUNCIL DO WE
WANT TO TEACH THE SPD HOW TO
TREAT THE SEATTLE POPULATION AS
ENEMY COMBATANTS.
AS IO, PS IMPOSES IMPERIALIST
WARS ABROAD.
>> TIM IS SHOWING AS NOT
PRESENT.
WE'LL GO DOWN TO LINDA.
LINDA.
>> EXCHANGE A CONSPIRACY THEORY
OPPOSING THE DEADLY EXCHANGE
BILL.
CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT TENDS TO
WHITEWASH THE HISTORY OF
AMERICAN RACISM AND RESULTING
EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE BY
POLICE TOWARDS BLACK PEOPLE IN
AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT THE
CONVERSATION TO DISCOURAGE
ISRAEL.
AMERICA HAS ENOUGH OF ITS OWN
RACISM TO EXPLAIN POLICE
BRUTALITY.
THE IDEA TRAINING FROM ISRAEL
IS RELATED TO POLICE VIOLENCE
TOWARDS BLACK PEOPLE IS A
DANGEROUS AND FALSE CONSPIRACY
THEORY.
THE PURVEYORS OF ANTI-SEMITISM
NEVER TALK ABOUT THE END GAME.
TALKING ABOUT THE TWO STATE
SOLUTION OR MAKING THE MIDDLE
EAST ONLY ARAB WITH NO JEWISH
STATE.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLY
FOLLOWED BY DANIEL.
I'M SORRY, DANIELLE.
CARLY.
CARLY, I SEE YOU ARE OFF MUTE.
WE'RE HALFWAY THERE.
WE'RE NOT HEARING YOU.
YOU'RE BACK ON MUTE AGAIN.
STAR 6 PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS CARLY BROOKS AND I
REPRESENT THE COALITION OF ANTI-
RACIST WHITES.
WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION OF 6000
WHITE RESIDENTS OF THE SEATTLE
AREA AND WE STAND IN STRONG
SUPPORT TO END THE DEADLY
EXCHANGE.
WE HAVE MOBILIZE THE ALONGSIDE
OUR COMMUNITIES LAST SUMMER IN
THE UPRISING TO PROTEST POLICE
BRUTALITY.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN
INTERNATIONAL CRISIS OF STATE
REPRESSION.
I WANT TO ASK THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WHETHER WE WANT TO BE
SEEN AS A HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATOR
IN COLLABORATION WITH SOME OF
THE WORST PURVEYORS OF STATE
VIOLENCE.
OR WE WANT TO BE SEEN AS A CITY
THAT STANDS FOR ALL PEOPLES
RIGHTS TO UPLIFT THEIR VOICES
IN DEFENSE AGAINST ABUSE BY THE
STATE.
I ENCOURAGE THE CITY OF SEETHE
TOLL VOTE AGAINST -- TO STAND
AGAINST THESE EXCHANGES AND TO
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIELLE
FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS DANIELLE AND I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WORKING
WASHINGTON AND FAIRWORK CENTER
AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
PAY UP POLICY.
CAN BE A LIFELINE FOR WORKERS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MORE THAN
40,000 PEOPLE IN OUR CITY
WORKING ON THESE APPS BUT THEY
AREN'T PROTECTED BY MINIMUM
WAGE AND OTHER BASIC LABOR
STANDARDS JUST BECAUSE OF WHO
THEY WORK FOR AND WHAT THEY DO.
THE POLICY YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT
TODAY.
TRANSPARENTSY AND OTHER BASIC
PROTECTIONS.
EXCLOUTING DOMESTIC WORKERS,
FARM WORKER.
WE CAN CLOSE THIS LOOPHOLE AND
THE EXCLUSION OF GIG WORKERS
TOO.
TODAY IS A BIG STEP FORWARD.
KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM AND MAKE
SEATTLE A LEADER ON NATIONAL
WORKER RIGHTS ONCE AGAIN.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN
FOLLOWED BY EMILY.
>> HI, I'M A FORMER GIG WORKER
ON POSTMATES AND UBER.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF
SEEING GIG WORK APPS MANIPULATE
AND EXPLOIT THE LAW.
I STARTED DOING GIG WORK IN
2014 BECAUSE I NEEDED TO MAKE
ENDS MEET WHILE WORKING IN IF
THE NONPROFIT SECTOR.
I DON'T DO GIG WORK ANY MORE,
BUT I DO WORK WITH JOB TRAINING
PROGRAMS AND NONPROFITS ACROSS
THE CITY AND STATE.
MANY TIMES I'VE SEEN CLIENTS IN
THESE PROGRAMS LEAVE SUPPORT,
LEAVE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES
BECAUSE THEY'RE SOLD FALSE
PROMISES FROM THESE APP COMPANY
THIAZINE EVERY PAN OUT INTO
REAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE
SECURITY OF EMPLOYMENT THAT
ALMOST EVERY OTHER SECTOR
GUARANTEES.
WE CAN CHANGE THAT BY HOLDING
THESE APP COMPANIES
ACCOUNTABLE, RAISING AND
GUARANTEEING DECENT PAY AND
LISTENING TO GIG WORKERS ABOUT
THEIR NEEDS, GIVING THEM A
VOICE AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
WE NEED THE PAY UP POLICY FOR
GIG WORKERS IN 2021 BECAUSE
IT'S WHAT IS RIGHT, WHAT IS
FAIR AND WHAT IS EQUITABLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
EMILY IS SHOWING AS NOT
PRESENT.
IF THAT CHANGES WE'LL COME BACK
TO EMILY.
NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO CARMEN
FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE.
CARMEN.
>> HELLO.
GIG WORKERS NEED LAWMAKERS TO
STANDARDIZE PAY AND SET
STANDARDS FOR EMERGING BILLION
DOLLAR INDUSTRY BY PASSING THE
PROPOSED PAY UP POLICY.
I AM PARTIALLY DISABLED.
THE GIG INDUSTRY IS THE ONLY
INDUSTRY THAT ALLOWED ME TO SET
MY OWN HOURS WHILE WORKING AT A
PACE AND INTENSITY THAT I'M
PHYSICALLY COMFORTABLE WITH.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH HIDDEN
DISABILITIES DEPEND ON GIG
WORK.
GIG WORK IS OUR ONLY SOURCE OF
INCOME.
GIG WORKERS SHOULD BE AFFORDED
THE SAME RIGHTS AS TRADITIONAL
EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE NOT DISPOSABLE AND
SHOULD NOT BE EXPLOITED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER MICHELLE
FOLLOWED BY ELENA.
YOU'RE STILL ON -- NEED TO HIT
STAR 6 TO GET OFF MUTE PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
>> HI, SORRY.
SO I AM ALSO A GIG WORKER.
I WORK WITH INSTA CART AND I AM
HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PAY IN
TRANSPARENCY.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A LOT
OF CONTROL OVER THINGS THAT
HAPPEN ON OUR ORDERS SUCH AS
TRAFFIC AND BUSYNESS AND THINGS
THAT ARE OUT OF STOCK.
WE GET DINGED FOR THAT AND
INSTA CART REALLY DOESN'T MAKE
ANY KIND OF CONCESSIONS FOR
THAT.
LAST WEEK I DID AN ORDER IT
TOOK ME 45 MINUTES TO GET
THROUGH JUST THE CHECKOUT AREA
SO THAT $40 THAT REALLY WAS
PRETTY GOOD PAY ENDED UP BEING
LESS THAN $15, PROBABLY LIKE
$10 AN HOUR.
THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN'T
CONTROL AND I WASN'T ABLE TO
TAKE ANOTHER ORDER.
I WASN'T ABLE TO DO ANYTHING
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY TIME I'M
STANDING THERE AND NOT GETTING
PAID FOR.
THAT'S JUST NOT OKAY.
IT'S NOT VERY EQUAL AND I THINK
WE NEED TO HAVE A PAY FORWARD.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELENA
FOLLOWED BY KEVIN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
HERE IN SUPPORT OF PAY UP.
WE HAVE BEEN PART OF LABOR
COMMUNITY ALLIANCES OVER MANY
YEARS TO WIN GROUND BREAKING
CAMPAIGNS THAT HAVE MADE
SEETHAL NATIONAL LEADER IN
LABOR STANDARDS.
GIG WORKERS HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED
FROM THESE STANDARDS AND ARE
STILL LEFT BEHIND.
GIG COMPANIES GET AWAY WITH
PAYING AS LITTLE AS $2 A JOB TO
THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK.
WE HAVE ALLOWED THESE COMPANIES
TO PAY EFFECTIVELY A SUBMINIMUM
WAGE FOR THE POSTMANNALLZED
WORKERS.
IT'S WELL PAST TIME TO CLOSE
THIS LOOPHOLE IN OUR LABOR
STANDARD.
RAISING PAY AND PROVIDING BASIC
PROTECTIONS TO OUR LOWEST PAID
WORKERS IS A KEY PIECE OF AN
EQUITABLE RECOVERY ALONGSIDE
THE ACT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
TODAY' HEARING ON PAY
FLEXIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
POSSIBILITIES IS A GREAT STEP
FORWARD.
PLEASE KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM AND
GET PAY UP PASSED INTO LAW.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY AVIONA THERE YOU
GO.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KEVIN BOLT.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE PAY UP
CAMPAIGN.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT STABLE PAY.
I PERFORM GIG WORK PART TIME.
LACK OF TRANSPARENTSY CREATES
GIG WORKER UNCERTAINTY.
WE ASK THE SEATTLE CITY COUNSEL
SILL TO PASS A PAY-UP POLICY
BECAUSE WE NEED ADEQUATE
REPRESENTATION.
I WANT THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
TO FOCUS ON STABLE PAY SO GIG
ORGANIZERS MAY CONTINUE TO WORK
MORE EFFECTIVELY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND
PATIENCE AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I TOO AM A GIG WORKER AND A
MEMBER OF THE PAY-UP CAMPAIGN.
I BELIEVE THE PAY-UP POLICY
WILL HELP SO MANY HAD AT
TERNTIVE WORK SYKES.
I WANT THIS TO BE PUT IN ACTION
THIS YEAR.
I STARTED DOING GIG WORK IN
2017 BECAUSE MY MOM WAS ILL.
I'VE EXPERIENCED UNWARRANTED
PENALTIES, UNREALISTIC DRIVING
EXPECTATIONS FROM APPS
ASSIGNING SENIORITY TO FOLKS
WHO HAVE BEEN LOGGED IN LONGER
THAN I HAVE.
FOR ME THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF
THE PURPOSE OF USING GIG WORK.
FOR MY LIFE I NEED TO BE ABLE
TO LOG IN TO SEE ALL THE
OPTIONS AT FULL TRANSPARENTSY
AND CHOOSE THE DELIVERIES THAT
ARE GOING TO SERVE ME.
NOT SEND ME 20-MILES FROM MY
HOME FOR LOW PAY THAT DOESN'T
EVEN EQUATE THE GAS I NOW HAVE
AS AN EXPENSE TO GET BACK HOME
OR TO MY OTHER GIG.
WE CAN CHANGE THAT BY LIFTING
FULL PAY OUTS FOR THE AVAILABLE
GIGS.
WE NEED THE PAY-UP POLICY FOR
GIG WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARY.
MARY FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA.
MARY IS SHOWING AS NOT PRESENT
THOUGH SO LET'S MOVE FORWARD IF
THAT CHANGES WE'LL GO BACK TO
MARY.
FOR NOW WE'LL MOVE TO PATRICIA
AND PATRICIA WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY KATY.
PATRICIA. YOU'RE ON MUTE.
WE NEED YOU TO HIT STAR 6. I'M
SORRY, PATRICIA.
PLEASE HIT STAR 6.
>> I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
PAY-UP POLICY.
I WORK IN THE GIG ECONOMY
BECAUSE OF AGEISM AND THE WORK
TRAVELS WITH ME.
I CAN DO UBER EATS AND DOORDASH
ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
I WORKED IN THE SEATTLE AREA
THIS SUMMER AT FIRST I COULD
MAKE $300 AND THEN AN ALGORITHM
MADE IT POSSIBLE IT TO WORK THE
SAME AMOUNT OF HOURS AND PUT IN
THE SAME AMOUNT OF GAS AND ONLY
MAKE $200.
I GUESS THEY CALL THIS
THROTTLING.
SO I WORKED ALL DAY EVERY DAY
FOR PERSONAL REASONS AND SIX
WEEKS I PUT 10,000 MILES ON MY
VEHICLE.
I DON'T THINK THAT I COULD
REPLACE THAT VEHICLE WITH THE
MONEY THAT I MADE IF I WERE TO
BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT.
AS DRIVERS WE GENUINELY CARE
ABOUT OUR CLIENTS AND SOMETIMES
WE HAVE TO TAKE TIME.
UBER EATS HAVE A TENDENCY TO
SEND DRIVERS ON ERRONEOUS
ROUTES.
IF IT WE WERE PAID BY THE
MINUTE BY THE MILE.
>> WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OUT OF
SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND UNTIL
NEEDED.
THAT MEANS THE WORK WE DO GOES
UNNOTICED AND IS QUITE HONESTLY
TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
IT STARTS WITH A MINIMUM AGE
FOR EVERYBODY.
>> SIX WEEKS.
10,000 MILES.
MY GOODNESS.
FOR HARD WORKING PEOPLE OF
COLOR, INTEGRATION STATUS.
INFLICTED AMONGST PEOPLE OF
COLOR, IMMIGRANTS WORLDWIDE.
NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD EARNED
POSSESSION FOR HARD WORKING
PEOPLE.
SEATTLE RIGHT NOW GIVES
OPPORTUNITIES TO FORTITUDE AND
THE WAY WE WERE BACK IN 2016
WHEN WE HAD 58 CRANES AND THE
WHOLE WORLD WAS LOOKING AT US
AS A LEADER.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE
A LEADER.
EVERYONE THAT WORKS HARD EVERY
DAY AND MAKE THEM GET PAID AND
BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR
FAMILIES EQUALLY AS WELL AS
OTHER PEOPLE DO.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DYE YA.
FOLLOWED BY JASON.
>> I'M FOR THE PAY-UP POLICY.
I WORK FOR POST MATES SINCE
2019.
I CURRENTLY WORK FOR UBER EATS.
I NEEDED SOMETHING THAT HAD
FLEXIBLE HOURS AND PAY TO
SUPPLEMENT MY ONLY OTHER
INCOME.
I SUPPORT ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER
AS WELL.
HE GUIDELINES AND BASIC
RENT IS TWO-THIRDS OF MY
SALVAGE REPORT.
I ORDER NOW FOR ABOUT $5 OR 6
TAKING DELIVERIES TO WEST
SEATTLE BUT WITH THE COST OF
GAS, CAR PAYMENTS, INSURANCE
AND ALL OF THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE.
I ALSO HAVE AN INJURY TO MY ARM
RIGHT NOW.
CAN'T REALLY TAKE OFF WORK.
THAT REFLECTS THE INSTABILITY
OF THE JOB.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THESE
COMPANIES THINK YOU NEED TO CUT
OUR PAY.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ESSENTIAL
WORKERS HOWEVER IT'S AN
INEQUITABLE PAY GAP.
INCREASE THE FLEXIBILITY OF
ORDERS AND PAY WHAT WE DESERVE
FOR EVERY MINUTE WORKED AND
TRAVEL.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON
REEVES.
FOLLOWED BY CARRIE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR THE
LAST TWO YEARS IN ADVOCACY FOR
THE PAY-UP CAMPAIGN AND PAY
STANDARDS AND FLEXIBILITY.
SINCE I'VE STARTED COMING HERE
DOING THE WORK EVERY SINGLE
YEAR THAT THERE IS NO STANDARD
APPELLATE FORMS COME UP WITH
NEW WAYS TO GET MORE MONEY FOR
LESS.
TO GET MORE MONEY OUT OF OUR
POCKETS.
MORE WORK OUT OF OUR GIG
WORKERS AND PAY OUT LESS.
THIS IS NOT HARD MATHEMATICS.
WHEN THEY ASK FOR MORE TIME FOR
TRUE DILIGENCE WHAT THEY'RE
ASKING FOR IS MORE TIME TO
FIGURE OUT BETTER WAYS TO TAKE
MORE MONEY FROM HARD WORKING
SEETHE.
WE'VE DONE THIS WORK.
WE'RE HARD WORKING PEOPLE.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING
CRAZY.
JUST PLEASE PASS THE PAY-UP
TRANSPARENCY POLICIES.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARRIE
LISTED AS NOT PRESENT.
WE WILL GO BACK THROUGH AND TRY
FOLKS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY
LISTED AS NOT PRESENT AFTER WE
GET THROUGH THE LIST.
WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE TO GO.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LEIF FOLLOWED
BY KIM.
>> I AM ON-OFF GIG WORKER IN
THE SEATTLE AREA.
I'VE NOTICED THERE'S A BIG
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UBER EATS
HAS I THINK MADE MORE PROGRESS
THAN THE OTHER SERVICES BUT WE
STILL SEE A LOT OF SERVICES
THAT ARE JUST OFFERING HORRIBLE
PAY RATES AND A LOT OF TIMES IT
CAN BE SO BAD THAT IT'S --
UNLESS YOU HAVE A VERY
EFFICIENT CAR THAT YOU'RE STILL
SPENDING SO MUCH ON GAS THAT
IT'S NOT EVEN, YOU'RE ALMOST
NOT ABLE TO TURN A PROFIT AND
THIS IS JUST NEEDS TO BE
FIXED.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KIM AND KIM
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SUSAN.
>> HI, KIMBERLY WOLF.
REGARDING THE PAY UP POLICY,
THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS IN
HERE, YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE
DISAPPOINTED YOU TOOK THE
ASSOCIATED TIME FROM 1.25 DOWN
TO 1.21.
AND I DON'T AGREE WITH THE
REMOVAL OF THE REQUIREMENT TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF
AGGREGATES RECORDS.
GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO THE
PUBLIC.
BUT GENERALLY I LOVE THIS.
YOU'VE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB.
I DO WANT TO TURN YOUR
ATTENTION TO ONE OTHER THING
THAT HASN'T BEEN MENTIONED
MUCH.
THERE'S A LARGE COHORT OF GIG
WORKERS THAT HAVE DISABILITIES.
BOTH OBVIOUS AND HIDDEN.
THERE ARE OTHER VULNERABLE
GROUPS BEING DISADVANTAGED BY
THE LACK OF PAY STANDARDS AND A
PAY FLOOR.
GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO RELY ON
APP-BASED WORK BECAUSE REGULAR
9 TO 5 WORK ISN'T A REAL OPTION
FOR THEM.
PROPER COMPENSATION CREATES
ECONOMIC HEALTH IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> NEXT WE'LL GO ON TO SUSAN
COP EARLMAN.
HEAR FROM SOME OF THE FOLKS
LISTED AS NOT PRESENT.
SUSAN.
>> I JOINED THE CALL OF 58
ORGANIZATIONS IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL BILL 120-0412 INCLUDING
CARE WASHINGTON TO CRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE.
JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE.
ONE AMERICA.
SEATTLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
TRANSIT WRITERS UNION.
VETERANS FOR PEACE AND
WASHINGTON FOR BLACK LIVES.
WE CALL ON YOU TO COMMIT TO
MAKING SEATTLE SAFER.
ANY COUNTRY THAT VIOLATES HUMAN
RIGHTS.
IT IS COMMON SENSE THAT THE SPD
SHOULD NOT TRAIN WITH ANY OTHER
WITH A PATTERN OF PERSISTENT
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL
MEMBERS ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO
SIMPLIFY AND STRENGTHEN THE
LEGISLATION.
I HOPE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO CLARIFY
WHILE ENSURING THAT THE
ORDINANCE HOLDS THE SPD AND ANY
COUNTRY IT TRAINS WITH TO A
GENUINE RESPECT FOR THE
HUMANITARIAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU, SUSAN.
NOW JUST GOING BACK UP TO FOLKS
WHO WERE LISTED AS NOT PRESENT
WHO I NOW SEE PRESENT.
WE'VE GOT MARY LOU.
>> I'M NOT MARY BUT I WAS ASKED
TO UNMUTE.
I'M DAN KAVANAUGH.
>> GO AHEAD, DAN.
WE HAVE MARY ALSO.
>> YES, HELLO.
>> MARY, GO AHEAD AND WE'LL.
>> I'LL MUTE SO MARY CAN.
>> THANK YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE.
>> YES, HELLO.
HI.
THIS IS MARY AND I AM I WORK
PART TIME AND I'M A MEMBER OF
PAY-UP.
BEFORE I WAS WORKING ABOUT 20
HOURS A WEEK AND I WAS DOING
INSTA CART SHOPPING FOR FOOD.
I EARNED MAYBE BETWEEN $350
ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN I LEARNED
ABOUT THE TAXES FOR DRIVING.
THAT'S A LOT OF MUST BE THAT'S
COMING OUT OF MY INCOME.
AND I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE KIND OF
CHEATING THE SYSTEM IS CHEATING
ME.
AND I'M NOT GETTING PAID
ENOUGH.
MY OTHER PART-TIME JOB THEY DID
INCREASE THE PAY AND THEY
DECIDED SO I'VE BEEN DECIDING
TO FOCUS ON THAT WORK MORE.
BECAUSE I'M ABLE TO SAVE MORE
MONEY THROUGH IT.
AND YOU KNOW WITH THIS GIG
WORKER I THINK ALL GIG JOBS
SHOULD BE PAYING THE SAME AS
THE OTHER ONE.
I THINK THIS PAY UP BILL IS A
GOOD ONE.
THANK YOU.
>> SOUNDS LIKE I'M UNMUTED.
MY NAME IS DAN.
I'M A RENTER.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO GIVE A
BIG THANK YOU TO THE HUNDREDS
OF RANK AND FILE ACTIVISTS
ORGANIZERS WITHIN THE DEADLY
EXCHANGE, SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE, DEMOCRATIC
SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA AND
ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT'S OFFICE WHO HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING TO BAN SEATTLE POLICE
FROM TRAINING WITH NATION
STATES THAT HAVE VIOLATED
INTERNATIONALLY AGREED UPON
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND I WANT
TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THE
AMENDMENT FROM COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD THAT SAYS WELL, EXCEPT
THE ONES THAT SEATTLE POLICE
HAVE BEEN TRAINING WITH LIKE
ISRAEL.
WEAKENING THE BAN ON POLICE USE
OF TEAR GAS AND CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS ESSENTIALLY SAYING IT'S
UP TO THE POLICE'S DISCRETION.
THERE'S A TRUCK-SIZED LOOPHOLE
BUT IT'S NOT JUST HERBOLD, IT'S
THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT
WHO HAVE FAILED TO HOLD POLICE
ACCOUNTABLE.
WE NEED COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
LEGISLATION AND A BOARD WITH
FULL POWERS OVER THE POLICE.
>> THANK YOU.
WITH THAT THE OTHER SPEAKERS
WHO WERE LISTED AS NOT HAVE
PRESENT ARE STILL LISTED AS NOT
PRESENT.
WE WILL WITH THAT END PUBLIC
COMMENT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ IN
THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
>> ANESTHESIOLOGY ITEM NUMBER
1. PAY-UP POLICY PROPOSAL DRAFT
LEGISLATION FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO JUST A COUPLE OF
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, JUST WANT
TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND AS WE
HEARD FROM MANY FOLKS SPEAKING
TODAY, THERE HAS BEEN EFFORTS
AMONG INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME
PRIOR TO OUR BEGINNING STAKE
HOLDER PROCESS EARLY IN JUNE.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
SINCE WE BEGAN MEETING EARLY IN
JUNE MY OFFICE AND STAFF FROM
OTHER COUNCIL OFFICES HAVE MET
TEN TIMES TO HEAR FEEDBACK FROM
OVER 30 STAKE HOLDERS INCLUDING
REPRESENTATIVES FROM NETWORK
COMPANIES, WORKER ADVOCATES AND
WORKERS.
ON JULY 13th COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF REPORTED TO THIS
COMMITTEE UPDATING US ON THOSE
MEETINGS BASICALLY WALKING US
THROUGH THE ISSUES THAT THERE
ARE DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE
MADE.
THE TOPICS BEING DISCUSSED IN
THE STAKE HOLDER FEEDBACK WE'VE
RECEIVED THUS FAR ON THOSE
BROAD ISSUES WITHIN THE CONTEXT
OF THIS POLICY.
THOSE STAKE HOLDER
CONVERSATIONS HAVE INFORMED THE
DRAFT LEGISLATION BEING
DISCUSSED TODAY AND AGAIN WHEN
I SAY DRAFT I DON'T MEAN JUST
PREAMENDMENT, I MEAN THIS BILL
HAS NOT YET BEEN INTRODUCED.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDITIONAL
TIME BEFORE INTRODUCING THIS
BILL AND THE OTHER BILLS THAT
WILL NEED TO BE CONSIDERED
ALONG WITH IT.
GATHERING THIS MUCH FEEDBACK IS
VERY, VERY HEND HELPFUL.
I REALLY HOPE TO CONTINUE
REFINING THE DRAFT PRIOR TO
INTRODUCTION WHICH AGAIN WILL
NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER
CONCLUSION OF THE COUNCIL'S
BUDGET PROCESS.
AND WITH THOSE OPENING REMARKS
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO KARINA TO
WALK THROUGH HER PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM KARINA FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
I'M GOING TO BEGIN BY UPLOADING
MY PRESENTATION.
>> THIS IS A PRESENTATION THAT
WILL BE FAMILIAR TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.
IT IS SIMILAR TO THE
PRESENTATION THAT I PROVIDED IN
IT MID JULY ON THE PAY-UP
PROPOSAL.
THIS PRESENTATION REFLECTS
COUNCIL MEMBER POLICY DECISIONS
AND REFLECTS CHANGES FROM THE
PROPOSAL THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN
JULY.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT THOSE.
I'LL GO OVER THE PROPOSAL
FAIRLY QUICKLY SINCE IT WAS
DISCUSSED IN JULY.
SO TO BEGIN THE PAY-UP PROPOSAL
AS IT IS CALLED WOULD BE SUITE
OF LABOR STANDARDS THAT WOULD
OFFER PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS.
THERE ARE UP TO EIGHT
CATEGORIES OF PRESENTATIONS.
SEVERAL WITHIN AN ADVISORY
BOARD.
THERE WOULD BE AMENDMENTS TO
THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE THAT WAS
PASSED LAST YEAR JUST TO MAKE
SURE THAT ALL OF THE PROVISIONS
AND THAT LEGISLATION LINE UP
AND ALIGN WITH THE WORKER
PROPOSAL.
PROBABLY UP TO SIX DIFFERENT
PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND THE
ONE THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED THIS
MORNING IS WHAT'S CALLED THE
MINIMUM COMPENSATION
LEGISLATION IT ADDRESSES THOSE
TOP THREE TOPICS OF PAY
STRUCTURE, TRANSPARENCY AND
FLEXIBILITY.
MINIMUM COMPENSATION WOULD BE A
CREATION OF A NEW TITLE.
TITLE 8 SO EVERYTHING IN THAT
TITLE WOULD BE RELATED TO LABOR
STANDARDS AND YOU'D SEE HERE
THIS IS 8.37.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND BOOKMARK
THAT.
AND IN ADDITION TO THE THREE
MAIN COMPONENTS OF PAY
STRUCTURE TRANSPARENCY AND
FLEXIBILITY, LABOR STANDARD
COMPONENTS OF NOTICE OF RIGHTS,
RECORDKEEPING, PROHIBITIONS
AGAINST RETALIATION.
IT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AND
ENFORCED BY THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS.
THE POLICY GOALS OF A MINIMUM
COMPENSATION PAY STRUCTURE
WOULD BE TO SET A SINGLE PAY
STANDARD FOR ALL BUSINESSES TO
ENSURE TO COMPENSATE WORKERS IF
IT R THEIR TIME AND THEIR
EXPENSES.
THE TYPES OF WORKERS COVERED
WOULD BE THOSE PROVIDING ON
DEMAND OR PRESCHEDULED PHYSICAL
SERVICES SO THAT WOULD NOT
COVER AT-BASE WORKERS THAT HAVE
BEEN DEEMED TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT
BARGAINING POWER AND INFLUENCE
OVER THEIR TERMS AND CONDITIONS
OF WORK.
THERE WOULD BE A LIST CREATED
BY OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
THAT WOULD EXEMPT CERTAIN TYPES
OF SERVICES THAT COULD ONLY BE
PERFORMED WITH LICENSES.
ALSO THOSE WITH THAT WOULD
INCLUDE CREATIVE WORK AND SALE
OR RENTAL OF GOODS OF REAL
ESTATE.
THE TYPES OF NETWORK COMPANIES
THAT WOULD BE COVERED WOULD BE
THOSE THAT HAVE 250 OR MORE AT-
BASE WORKERS WORLDWIDE
REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY WORK.
THE INITIAL POLICY DECISIONS
FOR THESE THRESHOLD ISSUES
INCLUDE REMOVAL OF AN EXEMPTION
FOR ONLINE ORDERS RESULTING IN
THE PAYMENT OF 1000 OR MORE
DOLLARS.
ALSO BASED ON STAKE HOLDER
FEEDBACK THERE IS A NEW
REQUIREMENT FOR OLS OR I GUESS
THE ABILITY OF OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS TO ENGAGE IN
DISCRETIONARY RULE MAKING WHAT
KIND OF WORK CONSTITUTES
ENGAGED TIME WHEN IT MIGHT SEEM
TO BE LIKE A NOT WORK RELATED
ACTIVITY.
IF THERE'S AN OVERNIGHT PET
SITTING SERVICE THE WORKER
MIGHT BE ENGAGED IN SLEEP TIMES
OR OTHER PERIODS OF OFFDUTY
TIME WHEN THEY CAN PURSUE THEIR
OWN PERSONAL ACTIVITIES.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE MIGHT BE
OVERNIGHT HOME CARE.
FOR THOSE SORTS OF SITUATIONS
THAT OLS DIRECTOR COULD ISSUE
RULES ON WHAT WOULD RISE TO THE
LEVEL OF COMPENSABLE TIME AND
NONCOMPENSABLE TIME IN THOSE
SITUATIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD I SEE YOU
HAVE A QUESTION.
>> THAT WAS AN ERROR.
I RAISED A ENTHIS OPEN LOWERED
MY HAND.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> UNDERSTOOD.
JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS
ISSUED SIMILAR KINDS OF RULES
FOR WHAT INSTITUTES WORK TIME
FOR OVERNIGHT LIVE IN HOME CARE
WORKERS AND THE EMPLOYMENT
CONTEXT.
SO THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR
ISSUING THESE KINDS OF RULES.
NEXT THE HEART OF THE
LEGISLATION, THE PAY STANDARD
FOR WORKERS IT WOULD BE
COMPRISED OF A MINIMUM PAY FOR
EACH MINUTE THAT THE WORKER
ENGAGES IN WORK.
ALSO A MINIMUM PAID FOR EACH
ENGAGED MILE.
THE FORMULA FOR EACH ENGAGED
MINUTE INCLUDES THE BASE RATE
OF WHATEVER THE MINIMUM
COMPENSATION IS FOR EMPLOYEES
IN SEATTLE BROKEN DOWN TO A PER
MINUTE STANDARD ALONG WITH
ADDITIONAL PAY FOR EXPENSES
THAT THE WORKERS ARE BEARING.
THE ASSOCIATED COST FACTOR AND
A TIME THEY'RE COMPLETING THEIR
WORK THAT MIGHT NOT BE
REFLECTED IN THE ACTUAL TIME
THAT ERR ENGAGING IN THE
SERVICES.
I'LL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION
ON THAT AS I GO THROUGH EACH OF
THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
FACTORS.
I'LL GO BACK AND GIVE A 2021
EXAMPLE.
SO FOR THE ASSOCIATED COST
FACTOR, AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE
PAYMENT FOR THE BASELINE
EXPENSES THAT ARE BORN BY APP-
BASED WORKERS.
AND THE DIRECTOR WOULD BE THE
ABILITY TO ADJUST THE
ASSOCIATED COST FACTOR IN THE
FUTURE AFTER THREE YEARS -- [
INAUDIBLE ] -- YOU SEE HERE A
LIST OF THE TYPE OF EXPENSES
THAT THE WORKERS.
PAYROLL TAX.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO STAY PAY
FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.
WORKERS COMPENSATION.
ET CETERA.
SO WHEN THE EXPENSES FOR THOSE
ARE ADDED UP IT COMES TO A
TOTAL RATE OF 1.13.
THE TIME FACTOR, SAME PREMISE.
IT WOULD BE PAYMENT FOR THE
ADDITIONAL WORKING TIME THAT A
WORKER NEEDS TO ENGAGE IN TO
COMPLETE THE SERVICES FOR THE
COMPANIES.
AND YOU SEE HERE WHAT COMPRISES
THAT TIME IT'S TIME TO TAKE
REST BREAKS.
TIME TO REVIEW OFFERS.
TIME TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE
NEXT OFFER.
TIME TO COMPLETE ADMINISTRATIVE
TASKS.
IN TOTAL THIS RESULTS IN 12.5
MINUTES OF TIME.
TWO THINGS TO NOTE.
FIRST THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN
THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS DISCUSSED
IN MID JULY HAD THIS HAD A
TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS REDUCED THAT TO
12.5 MINUTES IN THE
PRESENTATION THAT WAS LOADED TO
THE AGENDA MY ERROR.
I NOTED IT WAS 11 MINUTES
INSTEAD OF 12.5.
THIS PRESENTATION HAS BEEN
REVISED AND I'LL BE SURE TO GET
THAT REVISED VERSION TO THE
CLERK SO THAT EVERYONE CAN HAVE
THAT FOR THEIR RECORDS.
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS REDUCED THE
TIME AND THE AREA OF REVIEWING
OFFERS.
DOWN FROM 5 MINUTES TO THREE
MINUTES AND THEN THE TIME FOR
ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS THREE
MINUTES TO TWO MINUTES.
ALTOGETHER IT IS A TOTAL OF
12.5 MINUTES.
THE MILEAGE FACTOR IS SOMETHING
THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO EACH
ENGAGED MILE THAT THE WORKER
HAS TO COMPLETE AN OFFER.
IT WOULD PAY WORKERS FOR MILES
THEY DRIVE THAT ARE NEEDED TO
PERFORM THE WORK BUT MIGHT NOT
NECESSARILY BE REFLECTED IN A
TIME IT TAKES TO COMPLETE AN
OFFER.
SO NONEXCLUSIVE LIST OF
EXAMPLES COULD BE THE 1.25-
MILES TO TRAVEL TO THE NEXT
LOCATION OR 1.25-MILES TO
TRAVEL TO THE PLACE FOR A REST
BREAK OR RESTROOM ACCESS.
ALTOGETHER IT'S A MILEAGE
FACTOR OF 1.25.
SO WHEN THESE FACTORS ARE
PLUGGED IN TO THE FORMULA YOU
CAN SEE HERE THAT THE PER
MINUTE AMOUNT TO GET TO THE
SEATTLE MINIMUM WAGE.
GETS YOU TO 28 CENTS.
AND THEN THAT WOULD BE -- I SEE
I DIDN'T FIX THIS SO I
APOLOGIZE.
I'M SORRY.
IT'D BE 1.21 TIMES 1.13.
I APOLOGIZE.
I DID NOT UPDATE THIS TO
REFLECT THE NEW AMOUNTS SO I
WILL UPDATE THOSE AND THAT WILL
REFLECT THE CORRECT PER MINUTE
OF ENGAGED TIME.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU DO GET A SENSE OF THE
FORMULA.
THERE IS ALSO A MINIMUM AMOUNT
PER OFFER AND THAT WOULD BE AT
LEAST $5.
NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE SERVICE
IS, THE OFFER WOULD NEED TO AT
LEAST PAY $5.
AND THEN THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS DIRECTOR WOULD BE
ABLE TO ANNUALLY ADJUST THAT
MINIMUM OFFER AMOUNT OR WOULD
HAVE TO EVERY YEAR TO REFLECT
THE RATE OF INFLATION.
WE SEE A LIST OF POLICY
DECISIONS IN THE AREA OF PAY
STRUCTURE.
ASSOCIATED TIME FACTOR 15
MINUTES TO 12.5 MINUTES.
NEW REQUIREMENT FOR
DISCRETIONARY RULE MAKING.
THE DIRECTOR WOULD IN AND OUT
HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THE
ASSOCIATED TIME FACTOR BASED ON
NEW INFORMATION THAT THE
DIRECTOR WOULD HAVE THAT
PREVIOUSLY WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO
THE DIRECTOR.
THE NEW REQUIREMENT FOR THREE
YEARS BEFORE THE DIRECTOR CAN
ADJUST THAT ASSOCIATED COST
FACTOR OR THE TIME FACTOR.
THE NEXT MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE
LEGISLATION IS ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY.
MAKING SURE THAT WORKERS AND
CUSTOMERS HAVE INFORMATION THEY
NEED IN ORDER TO SELECT THE
OFFERS THAT THEY FULFILL AND
CUSTOMERS TO KNOW WHAT
COMPANIES TO SUPPORT SO THEY
KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE
GROUND WITH THEIR PURCHASES.
THE MAJOR PART OF TRANSPARENCY
IS THE WOULD BE THE WORKERS
RIGHT TO UP FRONT INFORMATION
ABOUT THEIR OFFERS.
YOU CAN SEE HERE A LIST OF WHAT
WOULD COMPRISE ALL OF THAT
INFORMATION.
THEY'D BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT
FOR AT LEAST THREE MINUTES.
THEY'D HAVE A BEST ESTIMATE OF
ENGAGED TIME AND MILEAGE TO
COMPLETE THE OFFER.
GUARANTEED MINIMUM AMOUNT OF
PAYMENTS.
LOCATION OF WORKS.
THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT OF
WORK AND CONTENTS OF UNSEALED
PRODUCTS.
THEY WOULD RECEIVE INFORMATION
WHEN HANDLING CONTENTS OF
UNSEALED PRODUCTS MIGHT POSE
HEALTH RISKS OR VIOLATE THEIR
OWN PERSONAL BELIEFS.
NEXT WOULD BE ELECTRONIC
RECEIPTS SENT TO WORKERS AND
CUSTOMERS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF
COMPLETING THOSE OFFERS, WEEKLY
INFORMATION TO THE WORKERS ON
COMPLETING THEIR OFFERS AND
PAYMENT.
14 DAYS OF NOTICE BEFORE ANY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THEIR
PAYMENT STRUCTURE AND THEN
DISCLOSURE TO OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS OF AGGREGATE RECORDS
OF WORK PERFORMED BY THE
WORKERS AND THE OFFERS MADE TO
THE WORKERS.
THE POLICY DECISIONS, YES,
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I JUST WANT TO FLAG FOR
FOLKS GENERAL AWARENESS AND
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT
LAST AREA OF TRANSPARENCY MAY
RESULT IN SOME AMENDMENTS TO
THE LEGISLATION THAT WE
RECENTLY PASSED THAT COVERS A
BROADER GROUP OF CONTRACT
WORKERS BUT IS ALSO FOCUSED ON
TRANSPARENCY FOR CONTRACT
WORKERS.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> SO ARE YOU SPEAKING OF THE
DISCLOSURE TO OFFICE OF LABOR.
OH, THE WORD DISCLOSURE.
I SEE HOW THAT LED TO YOUR
QUESTION.
NUMBER FIVE RELATES TO --
>> NO, OH NO.
I WAS -- THE LEGISLATION THAT
THE COUNCIL PASSED I GUESS WAS
IT MAY OR JUNE FOR THE
TRANSPARENCY RIGHTS OF
CONTRACTED WORKERS, THAT
ORDINANCE COVERED A BROADER
GROUP OF CONTRACTED WORKERS
THAN THE ONE WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY IN THIS BILL.
THERE MAY NEED TO BE SOME
AMENDMENTS TO THAT ORDINANCE IN
ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS,
THE TRANSPARENCY GOALS IN THIS
ORDINANCE.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES.
YES.
ABSOLUTELY.
WRIT LARGE I THOUGHT YOU WERE
REFERRING TO NUMBER FIVE ON
THAT LIST.
>> BUT YEAH, GO AHEAD, KARINA.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE WILL NEED
AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THESE TWO LAWS ALIGN WITH EACH
OTHER AND THAT ORDINANCE IS
MUCH BROADER.
HOWEVER IT DOES HAVE SOME
COMPONENTS THAT WERE DRAFTED
WITH INTENTION OF COVERING THE
EXPERIENCES OF APP-BASED
WORKERS.
THESE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION
HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE COMPANIES.
SO THERE WILL NEED TO BE SOME
AMENDMENTS.
>> NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT, CAN
WE TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT
ITEM FIVE SINCE WE DID HEAR
SOME MENTION OF IT IN PUBLIC
COMMENT.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE QUESTION OF THE AGGREGATE
OFFERS ON FACILITATED BY THE
WORKER PLATFORM AND WHAT WAS
NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PARTICULAR
POLICY PREFERENCE EXPRESSED BY
THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.
>> YEAH.
THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WOULD
HAVE REQUIRED THE COMPANIES TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC DISCLOSURES.
SOME SORT OF WEBSITE OR PLACE
THAT THE COMPANIES WOULD SHARE
WITH THE WORLD AGGREGATED
INFORMATION ON OFFERS
FACILITATED ON THIS WORKER
PLATFORM.
A WHOLE HOST OF INFORMATION
ABOUT WORKER EARNINGS AND OTHER
ITEMS.
THE CHANGE TO THIS IS THAT
INSTEAD OF COMPANIES REQUIRING
THAT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC,
THE COMPANIES WOULD PROVIDE
THAT INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO
OLS IN BOTH AGGREGATED AND
DISAGGREGATED FORMAT.
WOULD PROVIDE OLS WITH A
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO USE
THAT INFORMATION TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE
WORLD OF APP-BASED WORK.
TO USE IT FOR THEIR ENFORCEMENT
AND THEY COULD MANIPULATE THAT
TO HELP INFORM THEIR
IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT
EFFORTS.
THAT INFORMATION COULD STILL BE
REQUESTED AS PART OF A PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE REQUEST BY THE
PUBLIC.
BUT IT WOULDN'T BE MADE
DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC IN THE
WAY THAT IT WAS IN THE INITIAL
PROPOSAL.
THE STRUCTURE OF COMPANIES
PROVIDING LABOR STANDARDS WITH
A WIDE RANGE OF DATA MIRRORS
THE RECORDS REQUIREMENT AND THE
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY
MINIMUM COMPENSATION ORDINANCE
THAT'S REQUIRED TO PAY RIDE
SHARE DRIVERS MINIMUM
COMPENSATION AS WELL.
THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR THIS IDEA
THAT EXISTS FOR TNCs AND RIDE
SHARE DRIVERS.
THIS WOULD MIRROR IT FOR APP-
BASED WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YOU SEE THOSE POLICY
DECISIONS THERE.
LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING
ELSE WE HAVEN'T ALREADY
DISCUSSED.
NUMBER ONE, THE INITIAL
PROPOSAL, HAD A REQUIREMENT TO
PROVIDE BUSINESSES WITH
ELECTRONIC RECEIPTS.
THAT REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN
REMOVED.
ALONG WITH THE REQUIREMENT TO
PROVIDE WORKERS WITH ANNUAL AND
QUARTERLY TAX INFORMATION.
THEN THE CHANGE TO THE PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE THAT WAS REQUIRED OF
COMPANIES THAT WAS JUST
DISCUSSED.
>> I WANT TO FLAG THE DECISION
TO NOT HAVE THAT BE A
REQUIREMENT IS NOT A COMMENT ON
WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A GOOD IDEA
OR A BAD IDEA.
IT JUST DOES NOT FIT WITHIN THE
SCOPE OF THIS ORDINANCE WHICH
IS NOT FOCUSED ON THE RIGHTS OF
THIRD PARTY BUSINESSES BUT IS
FOCUSED ON THE RIGHTS OF
CONTRACT WORKERS.
THERE MAY BE ANOTHER PLACE
WHERE WE WANT TO CONSIDER
INCLUSION OF A REQUIREMENT LIKE
THIS.
>> THEN THE FINAL MAJOR POLICY
PIECE OF THIS LEGISLATION
REGARDS FLEXIBILITY AND THE
WORKER'S ABILITY TO FREELY
CHOOSE JOBS.
REFLECT JOBS AND BE ABLE TO DO
WORK THAT FITS THEIR SCHEDULE.
ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE
CATEGORIZED AS INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS.
SO THIS LIST ITEMIZES THE
FLEXIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
NO REQUIREMENTS TO BE A LOGGED
ON TO THE PLATFORM FOR SPECIFIC
DATES OR TIMES.
NO ADVERSE ACTION BASED ON
AVAILABILITY.
RIGHT TO CANCEL AN OFFER WITH
CAUSE AND SO ON.
NO POLICY DECISIONS IN THAT
AREA WHICH BRINGS THIS
PRESENTATION TO NEXT STEPS.
THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF
ISSUES FOR FURTHER
CONSIDERATION AWAITING FEEDBACK
FROM STAKE HOLDERS.
AND OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS.
THOSE WOULD INCLUDE HE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE LAW.
MAKING SURE TO ALLOW OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS SUFFICIENT TIME
TO DEVELOP RULES AND
IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTREACH.
AND FOR THE COMPANIES TO
DEVELOP THEIR METHODS FOR
COMPLYING WITH THIS ORDINANCE
AS WELL.
NEXT JOINT LIABILITY FOR END
CONSUMER.
THIS TOPIC ADDRESSES SITUATIONS
WHERE THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT
WOULD THE CONSUMER EVER BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH
THIS ORDINANCE.
WHETHER IT BE THE PAYMENT
THAT'S MADE TO THE WORKER OR
INFORMATION THAT'S REQUIRED OF
THE CUSTOMER OR REQUIRED OF THE
COMPANY TO GIVE THE WORKER
ABOUT PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF
AN OFFER OR CONTENTS OF
UNSEALED DISTRICTS.
SO THE WAY THE LEGISLATION IS
WRITTEN RIGHT NOW IS THAT IT
DOES NOT DEFINITIVETY SAY
WHETHER THE END CONSUMER WOULD
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE.
IT'S OPEN ENDED AND IT WOULD BE
DETERMINED ON A CASE BY CASE
BASIS.
IT'S SORT OF STANDARD LANGUAGE
IN EMPLOYMENT LAW FOR EMPLOYEES
FOR JOINT LIABILITY.
IT'S WHETHER AN ENTITY IS
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
ACCOUNTABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR
CONTROLLING THE WORKER.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S IN THIS
LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW.
SO IT WOULD BE NO DEFINITIVE
STATEMENT ON THE END CONSUMER.
HOWEVER THE INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR PROTECTIONS
ORDINANCE HAS DEFINITIVE
LANGUAGE THAT DOES NOT HOLD THE
END CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE FOR
COMPLIANCE.
SO IT SORT OF IS RELATED TO
AMENDING THAT LAW BUT THERE
COULD BE A DECISION ON EITHER
TO DEFINITIVELY SAY SOMETHING
úIN THIS LAW OR TO AMEND THE
OTHER LAW TO REMOVE THAT
LANGUAGE.
THEY SHOULD BE CONSISTENT.
>> WHY WOULD WE WANT TO HOLD
THE CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE?
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO
BE THE SUBJECT OF AN E-MAIL
CAMPAIGN FROM UBER EATS OR
INSTA CART USERS ON THAT.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE
INTENT TO HOLD THE USERS OF
THESE APPS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ACTIONS OF THE APPS.
I'M CONCERNED.
ARE YOU JUST FLAGGING THAT THIS
IS SOMETHING UNDEFINED OR WOULD
THERE BE A POLICY REASON TO
HAVE JOINT LIABILITY?
>> THERE COULD BE A BENEFIT TO
LEAVING IT OPEN ENDED.
DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE
LEGAL PROTECTION THERE COULD BE
REASON FOR END CONSUMERS TO BE
RESPONSIBLE.
CURRENTLY FOR THE DOMESTIC
WORKER RIGHTS ORDINANCE THERE'S
OPEN LANGUAGE THAT DOESN'T SAY.
IT'S GOT THE ACTING INDIRECTLY
OR DIRECTLY LANGUAGE THAT THIS
LAW HAS AND OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS HAS INTERPRETED IT AS
HOLDING AN END CONSUMER
RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLYING WITH
THE DOMESTIC WORKER BILL OF
RIGHTS.
IF AN END CONSUMER IS PAYING A
COMPANY TO DELIVER A SERVICE
AND THAT CONSUMER DOESN'T HAVE
INPUT INTO WHAT IS PAID TO THE
WORKER.
IT'S LIKE GOING INTO A STORE
AND BUYING A SHIRT.
THAT CONSUMER COUNT HAVE ANY
IMPACT ON WHAT THE COMPANY PAYS
THE WORKER TO SELL THAT SHIRT.
HOWEVER THERE ARE SOME
SITUATIONS, SOME LAWS WHERE THE
END CONSUMER COULD INFLUENCE
HOW THE WORKER IS TREATED.
FOR EXAMPLE THINKING OF
DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT.
IN THE CONTEXT OF DOMESTIC
WORKERS INTERFERING TO TAKE A
MEAL BREAK OR A REST BREAK.
IT WOULD DEPEND ON EACH KIND OF
LAW.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS IS CONCERNED IF
THERE'S DIFFERENT LANGUAGE AND
DIFFERENT LAWS THAT COULD
NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE
INTERPRETATION OF DOMESTIC
WORKER BILL OF RIGHTS.
THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE
DOMESTIC WORKERS COULD BE HIRED
VIA AN APP.
THAT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
>> HOW IS THE TNC LEGISLATION
HANDLE IT ISSUE OF JOINT
LIABILITY?
>> MY SENSE IS THAT IT PROBABLY
HAS THAT SAME OPEN ENDED
LANGUAGE OF ACTING INDIRECTLY
OR DIRECTLY.
>> I'M STRUGGLING WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENS DIRECTLY IN BETWEEN THE
CONSUMER AND THE WORKER.
I'M STRUGGLING TO IMAGINE A
SCENARIO WHERE THE END CONSUMER
HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOW THE
APP TREATS THE WORKER.
WITH THE EXCLUSION OF SOMETHING
THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN THE
INTERACTION BETWEEN FOR THAT,
YOU KNOW, THAT SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME WHEN YOU'RE HAVING AN
INTERACTION.
APPRECIATE YOU FLAGGING THE
ISSUE.
>> THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR
NOT TO DEFINITIVELY SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
OR JUST TO LEAVE IT AS IS AND
TO ALLOW OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS TO DEVELOP POLICY
GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION TO THE
COMMUNITY WHICH COULD CONSIST
OF OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS IS
NOT GOING TO -- A POLICY
DECISION TO NOT PRIORITIZE ANY
ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST A
CONSUMER OR HOW THEY WOULD
ANALYZE THAT SITUATION.
SO SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> THE THIRD ISSUE FOR
CONSIDERATION IS DEFINITIONS
AND CATEGORIES OF TYPES OF
OFFERS AND THERE'S BEEN
FEEDBACK THAT FROM IT OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS THAT THE
CATEGORIES OF ON DEMAND AND
VERSUS PRE-SCHEDULED OFFERS
COULD BE, THEY'RE SO PRECISE
ESPECIALLY FOR THE PRESCHEDULED
TYPES OF OFFERS THAT CAN COULD
LEAD TO INEFFICIENT ENFORCEMENT
IF THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GO
INTO EVERY SINGLE OFFER FOR AN
ENTIRE COMPANY AND HUNDREDS OF
WORKERS AND MULTIPLE OFFERS
COMPLETED EACH DAY TO DETERMINE
IS IT THIS OFFER OR THAT OFFER?
SO THERE'S SOME THOUGHT THAT
MAYBE COULD BE DONE ON MAYBE
WAYS TO SHORE UP THESE
DEFINITIONS TO MAKE THEM MORE
BROAD.
ANOTHER IDEA COULD BE TO AMEND
THE RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS.
PROVIDE OFF WAS OF LABOR
STANDARDS WITH SPREADSHEETS
THAT WHAT THESE OFFERS FALL
INTO.
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT WORK.
COMPANY WOULD DO IT FOR THEM
AND THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO
PROVIDE THOSE RECORDS.
ANOTHER IDEA COULD BE FOR THE
RECEIPTS TO WORKERS TO HAVE
THAT INFORMATION.
THIS OFFER OR THAT OFFER.
WEEKLY STATEMENTS TO HAVE THAT
INFORMATION AS WELL.
A VARIETY OF IDEAS FOR HELPING
TO MAKE ENFORCEMENT EASIER FOR
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS AND
TO HELP WORKERS UNDERSTAND WHAT
RIGHTS THEY HAVE AND WHAT
PAYMENT.
NEXT IS A NOTICE OF CONTENTS OF
UNSEALED PRODUCTS.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S A REQUIREMENT
FOR NOTICE OF THOSE CONTENTS.
WHEN THERE MIGHT BE A
POSSIBILITY OF THOSE CONTENTS
VIOLATING PERSONAL BELIEFS.
SOMEONE MIGHT NOT WANT TO
TRANSPORT A PARTICULAR KIND OF
ITEM.
THAT IS QUITE BROAD.
SO THERE'S ALREADY PRECEDENT IN
EMPLOYMENT LAW THAT EMPLOYERS
ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS AND SO
THAT COULD BE SOMETHING TO
CONSIDER PERHAPS REPLACING THE
CONCEPT OF MIGHT VIOLATE
PERSONAL BELIEFS WITH MIGHT
VIOLATE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
AND THEN THAT WOULD HAVE A
WHOLE BODY OF LAW TO HELP
COMPANIES AND WORKERS NAVIGATE
THOSE SITUATIONS.
IT WOULD BE NARROWER.
THAT WOULD BE THE RESULT OF
THAT.
OTHER ISSUES FOR FURTHER
CONSIDERATION REGARD
ENFORCEMENT.
RIGHT NOW THE LAW ALLOWS OFFICE
OF LABOR STANDARDS TO DESIGNATE
A MINIMUM DAILY AMOUNT FOR
MONEY THAT IS OWED TO THE WORKS
IF THE COMPANY DOESN'T PROVIDE
SUFFICIENT RECORDS TO MAKE A
PRECISE DETERMINATION ON THAT
REMEDY.
IT WOULD LIKE OR COULD HELP
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS TO AT
LEAST SET A FLOOR FOR A MINIMUM
AMOUNT.
THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR
THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, I BELIEVE THAT TNC
RIDE SHARE MINIMUM COMPENSATION
ORDINANCE HAS A MINIMUM DAILY
AMOUNT OF $200.
THIS LEGISLATION HAS A
COMPLAINT PROCEDURE SIMILAR TO
THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE.
RIGHT NOW IS OPEN ENDED.
IF THERE'S AN INTEREST IN
HAVING SPECIFIC PROTOCOLS THEN
THAT IS SOMETHING FOR COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO CONSIDER.
THE ENFORCEMENT SECTION HAS A
NAVIGATION PROGRAM.
ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS IN THE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
PROTECTION ORDINANCE.
THIS IS AN OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT
PROVIDES INFORMATION TO WORKERS
ON COURT PROCEDURES AND COURT
SYSTEMS SO THEY CHOOSE TO USE
THAT FORUM FOR RESOLVING
COMPLAINTS AND BELIEFS THAT
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PAID
PROPERLY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT WANT TO
INCLUDE INFORMATION ON PRIVATE
ARBITRATION AS PART OF THAT
PROGRAM GIVEN THAT MANY WORKERS
ARE REQUIRED TO SETTLE DISPUTES
THROUGH PRIVATE ARBITRATION.
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
IT WOULDN'T BE LEGAL ADVICE.
IT WOULD JUST BE SIMPLY
INFORMATION ON HOW TO NAVIGATE
PRIVATE ARBITRATION SYSTEMS.
AND THEN NEXT, POTENTIALLY A
NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE SINCE THE
PRECONTRACT AND DISCLOSURES AND
PAYMENT DISCLOSURES ARE
DIFFERENT THAN A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT AND SIMILAR THAN WHAT
IS REQUIRED IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
AND DO COVER APP-BASED WORKERS.
SO THEN AS FAR AS FUTURE
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT WILL THERE
WILL BE MEETINGS TO ADDRESS ALL
THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
YOU SEE HERE A POSSIBLE WAY TO
ORGANIZE THEM.
MINIMUM COMPENSATION.
RIGHT TO ACCESS WORK.
THAT WOULD BE DEACTIVATION AND
BACKGROUND CHECKS.
ACCESS TO RESTROOMS.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
ADVISORY BOARD.
PROTECTIONS AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION AND RIGHT TO
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS.
THEN AMENDMENTS TO THE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
LEGISLATION.
AND THAT IS ALL FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
WONDERING REAL QUICKLY TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TOPIC OF
AN ISSUE JUST BECAUSE I HAVE A
FEELING IT'LL COME UP AGAIN AND
THIS IS RELATING TO DISCUSSION
AROUND AN OPT OUT OF PAYMENT
FOR ENGAGED MILES AT THE IRS
STANDARD MILEAGE RATE.
THIS DRAFT LEGISLATION INCLUDES
THE USE OF THE IRS STANDARD
MILEAGE RATE FOR SOME QUESTION
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD
ALLOW FOR A POSSIBLE OPT OUT
BECAUSE OF A BELIEF THAT
DRIVERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
ITEMIZE THEIR DEDUCTIONS WITH
THE -- WHEN FILING WITH THE IRS
IF THIS LANGUAGE WAS LEFT IN.
WONDERING IF YOU COULD COVER
THAT TOO.
>> YEAH, SO THAT ISSUE CAME UP
IN STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WHETHER
OR NOT WORKERS WOULD BENEFIT
FROM THE ABILITY TO OPT OUT OF
PAYMENT FOR THEIR ENGAGED
MILES.
THAT PAYMENT WOULD BE AT THE
STANDARD IRS MILEAGE RATE WHICH
IS 56 CENTS CENTS PER MILE.
I'M GOING TO SCROLL BACK SEMI
SLOWLY BACK TO THE FORMULA.
MORE RESEARCH WOULD BE HELPFUL
FOR HELPING COUNCIL MEMBERS
MAKE THIS DETERMINATION.
INITIALLY MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT PAYMENT FROM IT COMPANIES
IS SIMPLY PAYMENT.
SO THE WAY THAT THE COMPANIES
GET TO HOW MUCH THEY PAY WOULD
BE ESTABLISHED BY THIS
ORDINANCE WHICH IS LIKE A WAGE
AN HOUR ISSUE IS ONE WAY OF
THINKING IT.
WHEN WORKERS GET THAT PAYMENT
THEY'D BE FREE TO CHOOSE
WHETHER TO DO STANDARD
DEDUCTIONS OR ITEMIZED
DEDUCTIONS OR NO DEDUCTIONS.
THAT WOULD BE AN IRS TAX ISSUE.
SO THAT STILL NEEDS TO HAVE
MORE RESEARCH.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING LISTED ON
HERE BUT THAT IS HAPPENING
BEHIND THE SCENES TO GATHER
MORE INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS?
LOOKING FOR ANY RAISED HANDS.
NOT SEEING ANY.
I DON'T HEAR FROM ANYBODY.
I'LL JUST CLOSE DISCUSSION ON
THIS PARTICULAR UPDATE.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS
OF EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
THE EFFORTS OF THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS TO BE ENGAGED
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
DRAFT BILL AND OF COURSE KARINA
AND COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF AND
THE WORK OF OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBER STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED THUS FAR.
STAKE HOLDER CONVERSATIONS TO
DISCUSS THIS PROPOSED MINIMUM
COMPENSATION.
TRANSPARENCY LEGISLATION.
IT IS ONE OF SEVERAL BILLS I
THINK A MINIMUM THREE OR FOUR
BILLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
LIKELY ON THE SCHEDULE WE'RE ON
CONTINUE INTO THE NEW YEAR.
I RECOGNIZE THAT OUR FOLKS WHO
ARE ASSOCIATED WITH WORK
WASHINGTON AND THE PAY UP
CAMPAIGN ARE REALLY HOPING THAT
WE HAVE A FULL VOTE BEFORE THE
END OF THE YEAR.
MY GOAL IS TO INTRODUCE THE
PRIMARY BILL.
THE BILL THAT HANDLES THE ISSUE
OF MINIMUM COMPENSATION
FLEXIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY TO
HAVE THAT INTRODUCED BY THE END
OF THE YEAR.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE REALLY
THIS IS A SOFT OF CHECK IN WITH
COMMITTEE MEMBERS SO THAT WHEN
THESE BILLS ARE MOVING FORWARD
THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH
THE CONCEPTS THAT WE'RE MAKING.
SOME PRELIMINARY DECISIONS ON
IN THIS DRAFT BILL SO WHEN
SOMETHING IS INTRODUCED THAT
WOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THE COB
SEPTEMBERS.
IF NOT, SUPPORTIVE OF THE
DECISIONS MADE.
SO THAT IF YOU FEEL THAT A
DIFFERENT POLICY CHOICE SHOULD
BE MADE ON SOME OF THESE
CONCEPTS THAT YOU ARE WELL
INFORMED.
I WANT TO CLOSE OUT WITH
SOMETHING I READ ON LABOR DAY
SEATTLE TIMES REPORTER AND HE
WAS WRITING IN RECOGNITION OF
LABOR DAY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF
THE GROWING PREVAIL LANCE OF
GIG WORK AND IMPEDIMENTS TO
ORGANIZED LABOR.
IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR THE
PENDULUM TO SWING BACK TO MORE
FAIRNESS.
SEATTLE WILL BE A GOOD PLACE TO
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC THAT I
HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE
THAT SO AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST
WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
POLICY.
THANK YOU ALL.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON
THE AGENDA.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ IN
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO.
PRE-FILING DIVERSION RACIAL
EQUITY TOOLKIT REPORT FOR
ADULTS 25 YEARS OLD AND OLDER.
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS JOINING US
TODAY AS WELL AS THE ATTORNEY
PETE HOLMES.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME IN
YOUR BUSY DAY TO BRIEF US IN
COMMITTEE.
I'LL HAVE SOME OPENING REMARKS
BUT PERHAS IF IT WE COULD
FIRST JUST DO QUICK
INTRODUCTIONS FROM THE
PRESENTERS THAT WOULD BE
APPRECIATED.
>> SURE.
I'M PETE HOLMES YOUR CITY
ATTORNEY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M JENNA ROBERTS AN ASSISTANT
CITY ATTORNEY DOING A PREFILING
DIVERSION WORK.
>> AND I'M DAICIA MESTAS FROM
CHOOSE 180.
>> THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
HAS OPERATED A PRE-FILING
DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR ADULTS
AGE 18 TO 24.
THE KEY FOCUS OF TODAY'S
PRESENTATION IS THE RACIAL
EQUITY TOOLKIT FOR EXPANDING
THE PRE-FILING DI VERSION
PROGRAM TO ADULTS 25 AND OLDER.
COUNCIL REQUESTED THIS AS A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
ADOPTED WITH THE 2020 BUDGET
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
LIKE MANY HAD THINGS THIS IS
TAKING ADDITIONAL TIME TO THE
IMPACT OF -- DUE TO THE IMPACT
OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.
I AM SO PLEASED THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS BEEN
WORKING WITH DUE DILIGENCE AND
ATTENTION TO THIS PRIORITY.
WORK ON THESE ISSUES DATES BACK
TO THE ESTABLISHMENT IN 2015 BY
THE CITY COUNCIL OF A PRISONER
AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
REENTRY WORK GROUP WHICH ISSUES
ITS REPORT IN 2018.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR NOT JUST
THE OUTCOME OF THE PREFILING
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT KIT ON
THE EXPANSION OF PREFILING
DIVERSION.
A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON
THE SUCCESS OF THE EXISTING
PROGRAM CHOOSE 180.
DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS WE
WEREN'T ABLE TO HEAR IN THAT IN
COMMITTEE.
WE'LL TOUCH ON THAT AS WELL.
WANT TO MENTION IN MY -- THE
FIRST POINT I MADE WAS A
REFERENCE TO THE EXISTING PRE-
FILING DIVERSION PROGRAM.
úI DESCRIBED IT AS THE PROGRAM
FOR ADULTS AGE 18 TO 24.
WANT TO JUST SUGGEST THAT EVEN
THOUGH THAT AGE OF FOLKS IS
MAYBE CONSIDERED ADULTS THAT
FROM WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT THAT THIS IS A
POPULATION OF FOLKS WHO REALLY
BENEFIT FROM PRE-FILING
DIVERSION BECAUSE OF THEIR
YOUTH.
BUT THAT SAID, WE HAVE LEARNED
A LOT OF LESSONS ABOUT THIS
PROGRAM THAT IS FOCUSED ON
YOUNG PEOPLE AND I I'M
OPTIMISTIC THAT SOME OF THOSE
LESSONS LEARNED SHOW THIS IS A
GOOD PROGRAM FOR OLDER FOLKS AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
VIRTUALLY ALBEIT.
IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO SPEAK
HERE TODAY.
I DO WANT TO KEEP MY REMARKS
SHORT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HEAR
ABOUT THE MEAT OF THE PROGRAM
FROM JENNA AND DAICIA.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT
YOU SAID.
WE GO BACK TO 2017.
YOU PROVIDED THE FUNDING SO WE
COULD START THIS PROGRAM.
IT WAS DEDICATED FROM IT THE
BEGINNING TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TODAY FROM
JENNA AND DAICIA THAT THIS HAS
BEEN A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS TO
RECEIVE SUPPORT, OPPORTUNITIES
OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY
BY WAY OF DIVERSION IN A WAY
THAT INCREASES PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE PREFILING
DIVERSION TEAM LEAD AND HEAR
ABOUT THE EFFORTS ON OUR
EFFORTS, THE OFFICE WIDE TO
MINIMIZE THESE IMPACTS OF THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
THIS TEAM WAS A PROUD MEMBER OF
THE REENTRY WORK GROUP.
IT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE
COUNCIL'S REPEAL OF THE
LOITERING CRIMES.
THE TEAM REPRESENTS THE OFFICE
AND ON THE JAIL USE REVIEW
TEAM.
LOOKS AT WAYS TO DECREASE THE
CRIMINAL SYSTEM.
THE SAME TEAM PARTNERED WITH
THE CITIES AND COUNTIES FOR
FINE AND FEE JUSTICE GRANT AND
WHICH HAS LED US TO PRESENT
WORKING ON CREATING A VICTIMS
COMPENSATION FUND AND DRIVER'S
LICENSE REFORMS.
THE TEAM IS A MEMBER OF THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZED WASHINGTON
DRIVERS LICENSING TASK FORCE.
THAT WAS ACTIVE IN EFFORTS
REVOLVING AROUND DRIVING LAW
LICENSE.
THAT IN TURN LED TO THE SUPREME
COURT ISSUING AN ORDER TO PAUSE
LICENSE SUSPENSIONS DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
THIS TEAM IS ALSO WORKED ON A
NUMBER OF EFFORTS RELATED TO
CLEARING OLD WARRANTS NOT
COVERED BY THE WARRANT SUNSET
POLICY AND INCLUDES A MOTION
THAT JENNA SUBMITTED ASKING THE
COURT TO CLEAR WARRANTS FOR
PROSTITUTION CASES.
SOME OF WHICH WERE ISSUED AS
FAR BACK AS THE EARLY 2000S.
SO I'M GOING TO CLOSE BY SAYING
THIS PROGRAM CAPTURES THE
ESSENCE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S
NEAR AND DEAR TO ME.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THIS CITY AND
ITS EFFORTS TO REDUCE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IN A
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND I'M
ASKING YOU AND THANKS YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT AND ASKING YOU TO
EXPAND IT.
NONE OF THIS WORK THOUGH LET'S
BE REALLY CLEAR, WOULD BE
POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY
THAT GUIDED THE WORK AND THE
NONPROFIT COMMUNITY PARTNERS
WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE
WORK.
AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY ONCE
AGAIN THAT CHOOSE 180 HAS BEEN
A GOD SEND.
THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR FUNDING
THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT TO
LOOK AT THIS PROGRAM TO EXPAND
IT FOR YOUNG ADULTS 25 AND
OLDER.
YOU KNOW THE AMAZING THING IS
YOU SHOULD TAKE CREDIT.
YOU SOUGHT THIS FUNDING TWO
WEEKS BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD WAS
MURDERED.
I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING
YOU SHOULD ALL KEEP IN MIND.
IT DEMONSTRATES YOUR FORESIGHT
AND THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE
HAVE HAD TO TRY AND ADVANCE THE
CAUSE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THE EXPANSION WHILE I'M IN
OFFICE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WORK THAT'S
HOPEFULLY GOING TO START NEXT
YEAR.
WE'RE NOT SURE WHO IS GOING TO
BE LEADING THIS OFFICE AT THAT
POINT.
I'M COMMITTED AND THAT'S WHY
I'M HERE TO MAKE SURE THE TOOL
IS AVAILABLE, THE EXPANDED TOOL
KIT.
I WOULD JUST ADD AS A CLOSING
úCOMMENT THAT EVERYBODY FOR
PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH
DIVERSION AS A PRINCIPLE, OUR
NUMBERS SHOW THAT THE THOUSANDS
YOU DEEP BACKLOG WE NEED THIS
TOOL.
TO THE HATERS OUT THERE, AND
THERE ARE HATERS OUT THERE, I
JUST WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THAT
OUR NUMBERS, OUR DATA SHOW THE
PROGRAM IS EFFECTIVE.
AND THAT WE ARE SIMPLY NOT
GOING TO WORK OUR WAY THROUGH A
THOUSANDS DEEP CRIMINAL CASE
BACKLOG WITHOUT PROGRAMS LIKE
THIS.
SO THANK YOU.
PROMISE I'D TRY TO KEEP IT
BRIEF.
WE CAN DO BOTH AND JENNA, I'M
GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
GOING TO MISS WORKING WITH YOU.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, PETE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
TO DATE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE STEWARDS RE PRE-FILING
DIVERSION PROGRAMS.
A FAMILY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM IN
PARTNERSHIP AND A RELIANCING
PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
WITH LELO.
FOCUS ON THE MAINSTREAM
DIVERSION PROGRAMS.
THE YET TO BE DEVELOPED ADULT
DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR
INDIVIDUALS OVER 25 AND OLDER
FOR WHICH WE JUST CONCLUDED OUR
TOOLKIT.
WE'LL FOCUS MOST OF TODAY'S
PRESENTATION ON THE RACIAL
EQUITY TOOL KIT.
I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO FIRST
HEAR ABOUT THE MODEL OF
DIVERSION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY.
SO AT THIS POINT IT'S MY
PLEASURE TO TURN IT OVER TO
DAICIA MESTAS CHOOSE 180'S
WORKSHOP COORDINATOR TO PROVIDE
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
CHOOSE HAS BEEN SUPPORTING
YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY DURING
THESE TOUGH TIMES.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
DURING COVID WE ONLY HAD TO
TAKE A MONTH OFF THEN WE WERE
ABLE TO QUICKLY SHIFT OUR
WORKSHOPS TO AN ONLINE PLATFORM
AND WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE
LAPTOPS TO THE YOUNG ADULTS
THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH OR IF
THEY WERE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WE WERE ABLE TO
MEET WITH THEM IN A PARK
SETTING OUTSIDE THAT WAY WE
COULD GO THROUGH OUR CURRICULUM
WITH THEM WHICH CONSISTS OF A
GOAL SETTING EXERCISE THAT WE
CALL COMPASS AND ONCE THEY ARE
DONE WITH THE WORKSHOP AND THEY
GET THEIR CHARGE DIVERTED WE'RE
ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH A
SPECIALIST THAT DOES THINGS
LIKE MENTORSHIP OR HELP THEM
SEARCH AND APPLY FOR JOBS.
AND WE ALSO RECEIVED A GRANT
WHERE WE WERE ABLE [ INAUDIBLE
] INCARCERATED OR HAVE SOME
INVOLVEMENT IN THE SYSTEM SO
WE'RE ABLE TO RELATE TO THEM IN
THAT WAY.
THEY FEEL HEARD AND WE ALSO
HAVE A COUNSELOR THEY'RE ABLE
TO GO SEE FOR FREE.
WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
WANT TO STAY CONNECTED TO US
AFTER OUR WORKSHOPS AND WE'RE
ABLE TO HELP THEM OUT WITH A
LOT OF THINGS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAICIA.
I THINK THE REAL THING THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE WITH
PETE AND DAICIA IS THIS
PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE.
BEAUTY IS THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
COMMUNITY AND IT ALLOWS
COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE YOUNG
PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH
THE PROGRAM IN A WAY THAT THEY
ARE, YOU KNOW, CHOOSING TO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CHOOSE.
THE DESIGN OF THE PROGRAM IS
REALLY TO GIVE THEM ALL THESE
EXTENDED SUPPORTS THAT THEY CAN
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND THEY
CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE WORK WITH
CHOOSE 180 FOR MONTHS INTO
YEARS.
THIS IS A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM
THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO BE
WORKING WITH CHOOSE 180 AN WE
SO A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR
EXPANDING THIS TYPE OF
PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY TO
ALLOW THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE AGES 25 AND ABOVE.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN 2018 THE
REENTRY WORK GROUP RECOMMENDED
EXPANDING AS ONE OF ITS CORE
STRATEGIES.
OUR OFFICE WAS IN FULL SUPPORT
OF THIS AND WE'RE THANKFUL THAT
COUNCIL PROVIDED FUNDING FOR US
TO UNDERGO THAT TOOLKIT.
IN THE WINTER OF 2021 WE
PARTNERED WITH BAKER CONSULTING
WHO HOSTED A TOTAL OF SEVEN
FOCUS GROUP SESSIONS WITH TWO
DIFFERENT GROUPS OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
THE GROUPS CONSISTED OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WELL KNOWN
AND TRUSTED.
VARIOUS EXPERIENCES WERE
REPRESENTED.
INCLUDING LIVED EXPERIENCE.
PROGRAM DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT
EXPERIENCE.
YOUTH ADVOCATES.
THOSE WHO CURRENTLY AND
FORMERLY WORKED IN THE CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM.
PROBATION, COURT OPERATIONS,
LEGAL DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION.
THE PARTICIPANTS MET VIRTUALLY
AND THE FINAL REPORT CONTAINS
SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE DIVERSION SHOULD BE AS
BROAD AS POSSIBLE WHEN IT COMES
TO CHARGES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE
WITH MANY PEOPLE CALLING TO
DIVERT ALL BUT THE MOST SERIOUS
CRIMES.
WE MUST ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO
DIVERSIONS.
CRIMINAL HISTORY EXCLUSION,
ARBITRARY REFERRALS AND
FINANCIAL BARRIERS.
NUMBER THREE, THAT THE
DIVERSION PROGRAM MUST BE
DESIGNED AND DELIVERED BY
COMMUNITY AND NUMBER FOUR THAT
SERVICES MUST FOCUS ON
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES.
WE HAVE MET THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS IT SHOULD BE
NOTED THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT
PERSPECTIVE AMONG SOME
COMMUNITY MEMBERS CALLING FOR
ABOLITION OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM.
THE PREFILING DIVERSION PROGRAM
IS DESIGNED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS
RECEIVE THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED
TO THRIVE.
92% OF THE YOUNG ADULTS WHO
HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM HAVE
NOT HAD ANOTHER CRIMINAL
CONVICTION.
TO INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND
WE HOPE FUNDING WILL BE
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE TO EXPAND
THE PROGRAM BEGINNING NEXT
YEAR.
I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> SURE.
>> YEAH, YEAH, THANKS SO MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION.
I KNOW WE HAD INTENDED TO HEAR
FROM YOU ALL SOONER AND THE
AGENDA GOT AWAY FROM US AND WE
DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
WANTED TO START OFF BY JUST
PUBLICLY EXPRESSING MY
APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE FOR
THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF CITY
ATTORNEY PETE HOLMES WHO HAS
BEEN OUR CITY ATTORNEY FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS HERE AT THE
CITY.
AND PETE, I REALLY DO WANT TO
AGO KNOWLEDGE.
I KNOW YOU'VE GIVEN US CREDIT
FOR ADVANCING THE FUNDING FOR
THIS PROGRAM.
I FIRST STARTED TALKING TO YOU
ABOUT YOUR VISION AROUND
RECIDIVISM PROGRAMMING AND
REALLY TRULY A HARM REDUCTION
APPROACH TO PROSECUTORIAL WORK
IN 2014 WHEN I WAS LEGAL
COUNCIL TO THE THEN MAYOR.
YOU DIDN'T GET THE FUNDING YOU
ENVISIONED AND WANTED THEN AND
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE
ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN
IT 2015 AND YOU AND I GOT TO
WORK EARLY ON ON CHAMPIONING
AND ENVISIONING WHAT THIS
PROGRAM COULD LOOK LIKE.
WE ALL PUSHED OURSELVES TO
REALLY CENTER RACIAL EQUITY AND
HAVE THAT ANALYSIS IN THE
CENTER OF THIS WORK TO PRODUCE
THE OUTCOMES WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT NOW.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF CREDIT FOR LEADING
THE WAY TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY
ON MAKING THESE INVESTMENTS IN
THE FIRST PLACE AND ON CREATING
THE FOUNDATION THAT IS
NECESSARY TO REALLY TRULY
ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF WHY
YOUNG FOLKS BECOME ENGAGED WITH
A CRIMINAL SYSTEM TO BEGIN
WITH.
I THINK THAT YOU HAVE
ACKNOWLEDGED TOGETHER WITH OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT THE
RESPONSE OF GOVERNMENT IS NOT
TO JUST CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN
FAILED POLICY OF INCARCERATION
BUT TO REALLY TRULY UNDERSTAND
THE ROOT CAUSES OF WHAT IS
CREATING THIS BEHAVIOR AND TO
INVEST IN SOLUTIONS TO THOSE
ROOT CAUSES AND TO DIVERT YOUTH
TOWARDS A LIFE OF, YOU KNOW,
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE THE CITY
CARE ABOUT THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND
BELONGING WITHIN OUR CITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
THE WORK OF YOU DONE TOGETHER
WITH CHOOSE 1807 AND OTHERS
WITHIN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE TO REALLY BRING US TO A
PLACE WHERE WE SHOULD ALL BE
PROUD OF THE RESULTS WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THIS IS THE REALLY IMPORTANT
AND HARD WORK THAT IS NOT
ALWAYS POPULAR AS YOU
MENTIONED.
BUT SHOULD BE.
THIS IS REALLY A GOOD STANDARD
AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE
TO CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THESE
EFFORTS TOGETHER WITH YOU AND
WITH OUR PARTNERS AT CHOOSE
180.
CONGRATULATIONS ON GOOD WORK.
WE'LL MISS YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE
AND YOUR STEWARDSHIP OF THESE
PROGRAMS ON THE INSIDE.
I HAVE NO DOUBT YOU'LL CONTINUE
TO ADVOCATE AND PUSH US AS A
CITY TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE IN
THIS SPACE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE
REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT.
WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT ALONE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
HAND IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS WHO I WANT TO JUST ALSO
THANK HIM FOR HIS ROLE IN THE
WORK AROUND CHOOSE 180.
I REMEMBER I THINK IT WAS IN
MAYBE 2019 I HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF WATCHING COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS CONDUCT A CHOOSE 180
SESSION AND RECOGNIZED THAT HE
HAS DONE SOME HANDS ON WORK OF
THESE TYPES IT OF DIVERSION
PROGRAMS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
I'M THE NEXT PANEL PRESENTER SO
THANKS FOR INTRODUCING ME.
NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.
I APPRECIATE.
I THINK THAT WAS IN THE FALL OF
2018.
THAT IS A GOOD SEGUE.
>> YEAH.
BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T A COUNCIL
MEMBER.
>> I WAS NOT MOONLIGHTING AS A
CHOOSE 180 SESSION COORDINATOR
AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
THIS JOB KEEPS US BUSY ENOUGH.
I DID JUST WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT I
GUESS I'LL JUST START SINCE OF
YOU CUED IT UP THIS WAY HOW
EXCEPTIONALLY FORMATIVE THAT
WORK WITH CHOOSE 180 WAS TO MY
OWN CONCEPTIONS AND IDEAS ABOUT
HOW JUSTICE CAN AND SHOULD
WORK.
THE ABILITY TO BE HANDS ON AND
REALLY SEE THE POSSIBLE OF SO
MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO
RISE ABOVE AND SHAPE AND FORM A
NEW SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
REALLY SHOWS WE CAN DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND THAT
OUR UNCHALLENGED PRECONCEPTIONS
ABOUT HOW JUSTICE IS
ADMINISTERED IN THIS COUNTRY
AND ABROAD IS NOT HOW THINGS
HAVE TO BE.
THERE ARE MODELS THAT ARE
SUCCESSFUL IN IT PROVIDING
RESULTS.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE
PRELIMINARY STAGE OF THIS
PROGRAM OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS IS WE HAVE DATA THAT
CONFIRMS THAT.
IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING WE'RE
SAYING OR ASPIRING TO WE HAVE
DATA THAT SHOWS HOW WE CAN
SCALE CERTAIN PRACTICES.
PARTICULARLY IN OUR MISDEMEANOR
PRACTICE.
ONLY ADJUDICATES MISDEMEANORS.
THERE'S BEEN FAIRLY WIDESPREAD
CONFUSION ABOUT THAT IN A LOT
OF QUARTERS.
I DO THINK THAT IT REALLY SHOWS
HOW THERE'S A LOT OF ADVANTAGES
THAT I THINK WE HAVE IN THE
CITY FROM HAVING A SYSTEM THAT
PRIMARILY INTERSECTS AND DEALS
WITH MISDEMEANORS WHERE THIS
KIND OF EXPERIMENTATION.
SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE TYPES OF
OFFENSES IN THE DIFFERENT AND
INNOVATIVE WAY.
IT WAS A REALLY GREAT
PRIVILEGE, PETE, TO BE AN
ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY THAT
HELPED PIONEER THIS PROGRAM
UNDER JENNA'S LEADERSHIP OVER
MY YEARS OF SERVICE AND YOUR
OFFICE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
THAT CONTINUING BECOMING A
LARGER PART OF OUR PRACTICE AND
BECOMING A CORNERSTONE OF HOW
WE DO THIS WORK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
SINCE WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING
INTO THE BUDGET CYCLE VERY
SOON.
THAT'S SEPTEMBER 27th WHERE THE
MAYOR NOT GOING TO ASK IF YOU
KNOW WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET.
BUT I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW
WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PUT FORWARD A
REQUEST FOR THE EXPANSION OF
THIS PROGRAM.
>> WE DID.
THERE'S SOME SUPPORT IN THERE.
>> WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SEE WHAT THAT REQUEST IS.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS REALLY BITTERSWEET FOR
ME TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU
FOR SO MANY YEARS PRIOR TO YOUR
BECOMING CITY ATTORNEY.
PRECURSOR TO THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION.
THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL
ACCOUNTABILITY REVIEW BOARD.
SO MANY YEARS AGO.
YOUR COMMITMENT TO CRIMINAL
SYSTEM REFORM IS, YOU KNOW,
UNPARALLELED FOR THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
REALLY RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE
TOP SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT
I'VE HAD PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH
OVER THE YEARS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
ON THIS EFFORT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, HERBOLD.
WE GO WAY BACK.
THANK YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO GET EMOTIONAL
HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO WILL CLERK PLEASE READ IN
AGENT ITEM NUMBER 3.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120-0142.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUST A QUICK OPENING REMARK
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO
CENTRAL STAFF.
WANT TO, WELL BEFORE I TURN IT
OVER TO CENTRAL STAFF I WANT TO
PROVIDE THE SPONSOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE
PROPOSAL.
BEFORE DOING SO I WANT TO THANK
THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING BOTH IN
FAVOR OF THIS LEGISLATION AS
WELL AS FOLKS WHO HAVE MADE I
THINK HOPEFULLY SOME PRODUCTIVE
CRITIQUE OF THE LEGISLATION AS
ORIGINALLY CONCEIVES.
ALSO APPRECIATE AMONG THE FOLKS
WHO ARE PROPONENTS THE PATIENCE
THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD.
WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT IN
NEARLY EVERY PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
MEETING OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS.
URGING THIS COMMITTEE TO TAKE
UP THIS LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
TESTIMONY AND YOUR PATIENCE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE AND
EVERYONE WHO IS WATCHING OR
LISTENING TO THIS MEETING.
MY COUNCIL OFFICE HAS WORKED
CLOSELY WITH A WIDE RANGE OF
UNION AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
BLACK LIVE THE MATTER AND
PALESTINIAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS TO
BAN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT FROM ENGAGING IN
TRAINING WITH STATES OR STATE
AGENCIES AND NATION STATES OR
NATION STATE AGENCIES THAT ARE
INTERNATIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATORS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
ACTIVISTS. SPECIAL THANKS TO
THE RANK AND FILE MEMBERS OF
ASSOCIATION WHO PASSED -- WHO
PUT FORWARD A RESOLUTION IN
THEIR REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
WHICH PASSED WITH AN
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'M
HAVING THE PRIVILEGE OF
THANKING IN THIS WAY.
AS COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL RECALL
SEA MEMBERS PLAYED A CRITICAL
ROLE FOR US TO WIN THE RENTERS
RIGHTS FROM MY OFFICE TO BAN
SCHOOL YEAR EVICTIONS OF PUBLIC
SCHOOL WORKERS AND SCHOOL
STUDENTS.
THIS TYPE OF RANK AND FILE
UNION LED ACTIVITIES SO CRUCIAL
IN PUTTING TOGETHER A
PROGRESSIVE AGENDA.
THIS LEGISLATION BEFORE THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TODAY
WOULD BAN SEATTLE POLICE FROM
TRAINING OR HAVING ANY EXCHANGE
WITH POLICE FORCES,
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, SECURITY
SERVICES OR OTHER ARMED FORCES
OF ANY NATION.
THE INTERNATIONAL BILL OF
RIGHTS WHICH TOGETHER FORM THE
BASIC HUMANITARIAN STANDARDS
THAT HAVE BEEN AGREED UPON
INTERNATIONALLY OVER THE LAST
70 YEARS.
COMMITTING TO UPHOLD CIVIL AND
HUMAN RIGHTS AND IN FACT NOT
PASSING THIS LEGISLATION IN ITS
FORM WITHOUT WATERING IT DOWN,
WITHOUT INTRODUCING AMBIGUITIES
WOULD CONTRADICT THE
RESOLUTIONS AND POLICY.
SOME OF THE OPPONENTS HAVE
CLAIMED THIS UNJUSTLY SINGLES
OUT THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
IT DOES NOT AS ANY PLAIN
READING SHOWS THE BILL BANS
TRAINING WITH THE MILITARY
POLICE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES
AND SECURITY FORCES OF ANY
STATE FOUND TO VIOLATE THESE
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS.
IT SHOULD BE MENTIONED THAT
THESE ARE VERY BASIC STANDARDS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS OVER
AND ABOVE WHAT IS AGREED UPON
BY MAINSTREAM ORGANIZATIONS.
WHICH THE SPD HAS DONE IN THE
PAST.
RESPONSIBLE FOR BRUTALIZING THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE FOR DECADES
AND WERE ROUNDLY CONDEMNED
WORLDWIDE BY LABOR UNIONS,
FAITH COMMUNITIES, JEWISH
COMMUNITIES.
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS.
PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS.
THIS PAST SPRING FOR THEIR
BRUTAL AND DISPROPORTIONATE
ASSAULT ON THE PEOPLE OF GAZA.
THEIR ATTEMPTED EVICTION OF
PALESTINIANS FROM THEIR HOMES
AND THEIR INSTIGATION OF
VIOLENT RIGHT WING MOBS.
ALSO I WOULD HAVE THE PUBLIC
RECALL THE LETTER THAT COUNCIL
MEMBERS MOSQUEDA AND HERBOLD
SENT TO PRESIDENT BIDEN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
BY ISRAELI HUMAN RIGHTS,
MAINSTREAM HUMAN RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE FOUND TO
HAVE REPEATEDLY VIOLATED THE
GENEVA VIOLATIONS.
SYSTEMIC HUMAN AND POLITICAL
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND THEIR
IMPORTANT REPORT TITLED.
ACROSS THE BOARD.
IF THERE ARE OTHER NATION
STATES.
AS THE ISRAELI STATE HAS DONE.
I WOULD ALSO SHARE THAT THIS
SUMMER MY OFFICE CIRCULATED IN
THE COMMUNITY CALLING ON SUCH A
BAN AND THE RESPONSE WAS
REMARKABLE WITHIN THE FIRST 48
HOURS.
MORE THAN 4800 COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAD SIGNED.
JUST WANTED TO SHARE ONE OR TWO
COMMENTS FROM THE PEOPLE
BECAUSE THESE ARE VOICES OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND IT'S IMPORTANT
TO INCLUDE THAT IN OUR
DISCUSSION.
A RESIDENT WROTE GENEVA
CONVENTION VIOLATORS HAVE NO
PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IS SEATTLE A POLICE STATE CITY
AFFILIATED WITH THE WORST
OFFENDERS.
KATHERINE A MEMBER OF CIU 775.
OUR POLICE ARE TOO MILITARIZED.
COPSRESIPCOPS PRECIPITATE.
LOCAL 280 WROTE SIMPLY, OUR
COMMUNITY IS NOT A WAR ZONE.
TARRIZATION OF OUR POLICE FORCE
HAS ON ON GOING POST 9/11 AND
HAS ONLY GONE TO ENDANGER OUR
PEOPLE AND CREATE FEAR,
MISTRUST AND ANGER TOWARDS THE
PEOPLE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TRUST.
COMMENT GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT
THE VIOLATIONS OF THE GENEVA
CONVENTION.
I WON'T GO ON.
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO
RESTRICTIONS ON SEATTLE LAW ON
SEATTLE POLICE ENGAGING IN SUCH
TRAINING AND THAT'S WHY THIS
LEGISLATION IS NECESSARY AND OF
COURSE IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT
THIS IS COMING IN THE WAKE OF
HISTORIC GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS.
I HOPE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL SEE
THIS LEGISLATION AS PART OF THE
WORK THAT BASICALLY EVERY
COUNCIL MEMBER HAS PLEDGED TO
DO IN RESPONDING TO THE DEMAND
FROM THE BLACK LIVES MOVEMENT.
I WILL RESERVE COMMENTS FOR
WHEN WE COME TO THE DISCUSSION
ON THE AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT.
I THINK YOU IN YOUR
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS RAISE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF BACKGROUND
THEY WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT
WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT.
THIS VERSION OF THE BILL SEEKS
TO IDENTIFY VERIFIABLE HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS USING A
NATION NEUTRAL STANDARD.
THE EARLIER VERSION OF THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE IT WAS
INTRODUCED WAS A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT EXCLUSIVELY
BANNED EXCHANGES, TRAININGS,
AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH ISRAEL
AND I INFORMED THE PROPONENTS
OF THIS LEGISLATION THAT I WAS
UNINTERESTED IN INTRODUCING A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT
CALLED OUT A PARTICULAR COUNTRY
AND REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR
EFFORTS TO WORK TO FULFILL MY
GOALS FOR THIS LEGISLATION
ALTHOUGH I'M NOT THE SPONSOR I
AM THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE
AND THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT MY
WILLINGNESS TO PUT THIS ON AN
AGENDA IN MY COMMITTEE WAS TIED
TO THAT PARTICULAR CRITERIA AND
OBJECTIVE.
WITH THAT I WILL HAND OVER TO
CENTRAL STAFF TO WALK US
THROUGH THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
GREG DOSS HERE WITH ANN GORMAN
WHO IS GOING TO BE GIVING HER
FIRST CENTRAL STAFF
PRESENTATION TODAY.
I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A QUICK
OVERVIEW AND THEN TURN IT OVER
TO ANN TO PROVIDE ANALYSIS ON
THE BILL AND THEN TOGETHER
WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER A COUPLE
OF AMENDMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED
ON THE BILL.
SO JUST BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION
THIS BILL COUNCIL BILL 120142
WOULD PROHIBIT S, D TRAINING
WITH CERTAIN FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS.
IT DOES SO IN A MANNER THAT
WOULD PROHIBIT EXCHANGES,
PARTNERSHIPS WITH MILITARY
FORCES OR POLICE FORCES OR
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES OR
SECURITY SERVICES OR ARMED
FORCES OF ANY COUNTRY AND
PROHIBITING TRAVEL TO ANY
FOREIGN COUNTRY THAT IS, THAT
MEETS THREE DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES.
ONE THAT IS NOT A PARTY TO THE
INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL
AND POLITICAL RIGHTS.
ANOTHER THAT IS NOT A PARTY TO
THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AND
CULTURAL RIGHTS.
THAT'S SORT OF THE FIRST
CATEGORY.
THE SECOND ONE IS THAT IT HAS
BEEN FOUND THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN
FOUND IN THE LAST TEN YEARS BY
AN INTERNATIONAL COURT OR
UNITED NATIONS BODY TO HAVE
BEEN VIOLATING EITHER OF THOSE
TWO COVENANTS I JUST MENTIONED
OR THIRD, AND THE LAST BUCKET
IS THAT IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED
BY AN INTERNATIONAL COURT OR UN
BODY TO HAVE COMMITTED
VIOLATIONS OF THE FOURTH GENEVA
CONVENTION OR THAT HAS NOT --
AND THAT SUCH VIOLATIONS HAVE
NOT BEEN FULLY REMEDIED TO THE
SATISFACTION OF THAT COURT OR
THE BODY THAT DOCUMENTED THOSE
VIOLATIONS.
IF A COUNTRY FITS INTO ANY ONE
OF THOSE THREE CATEGORIES SPD
COULD NOT TRAIN WITH THEM.
ACTUALLY IN A MUCH WIDER WAY
COULDN'T COORDINATE EXCHANGES
OR POTENTIALLY EVEN COMMUNICATE
IN ANY TRAINING CAPACITY WITH
THEM.
SO WITH THAT I'M GOING TO TURN
IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE ANN WHO
WILL TELL YOU ABOUT SOME REALLY
GOOD EXTENSIVE WORK THAT SHE
HAS DONE ANALYZING THIS BILL
AND ITS EFFECT ON TRAINING WITH
SPD IN THE CONTEXT OF HUMAN
RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
WHICH I THINK YOU'LL FIND FROM
WHAT ANN SAYS IS NOT THAT EASY
TO UNDERSTAND.
GO AHEAD, ANN, PLEASE.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, GREG.
THANK YOU.
IN RESEARCHING THIS BILL AND
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW
AND TREATIES MORE GENERALLY, WE
UNEARTHED A COUPLE OF POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS FOR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS IN THINKING ABOUT THIS
BILL.
IT COULD BE DIFFICULT FOR SPD
STAFF TO DETERMINE THE
COUNTRIES THAT HAD VIOLATED THE
ICCPR AND IESCR AND OR THE
FOURTH GENEVA CONVENTION.
OR TO DETERMINE IF ANY COUNTRY
HAD REMEDIED VIOLATIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE PAST.
THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT
THERE IS NO PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT HAVE
VIOLATED THESE TREATIES OR THIS
CONVENTION OR THAT HAVE
REMEDIED PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED
VIOLATIONS.
THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED THE
UN JURISPRUDENCE DATABASE BUT
ITS OUTPUT IS PDF DOCUMENTS,
NOT DATA.
WHICH IS WHAT SPD WOULD NEED IN
ORDER TO APPLY THE LEGISLATION
AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
SECOND CONSIDERATION IS THAT
THESE TREATIES THE ICCPR AND
IASCR ARE NOT THE ONLY MEASURES
OF A COUNTRY'S HUMAN RIGHTS
PRACTICES.
BOTH OF THOSE TREATIES WERE
ESTABLISHED IN 1966 AND SINCE
THEN THE INNOVATED NATIONS HAS
CREATED EIGHT ADDITIONAL TREATY
BODIES.
EACH OF WHICH HAS A SPECIFIC
PURVIEW RESPECT TO HUMAN
RIGHTS.
EACH OF THESE TREATIES
ADDRESSES SUBJECTS OR ASPECTS
OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABOUT WHICH THE
ISCR AND ICCPR WERE SILENT.
SO THAT'S JUST A CONSIDERATION
THOSE TWO DOCUMENTS MAY NOT
IDENTIFY EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE
INTERESTED IN IDENTIFYING.
FINALLY, AS GREG STARTED TO
TALK ABOUT, THE BROAD LANGUAGE
IN A BILL WOULD PROHIBIT
TRAINING PROGRAMS, EXCHANGES OR
PARTNERSHIPS WITH POLICE FORCES
IN COUNTRIES THAT MET THE
BILL'S CRITERIA.
IT DOES NOT DEFINE THESE TERMS
SO THERE'S SOME CONCERN THAT IF
THEY WERE INTERPRETED BROADLY
SPD WOULD BE ENJOINED FROM SOME
ACTIVITIES SUCH ACTIVITIES AS
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH,
LEARNING AND TEACHING BEST
PRACTICES AND SIMPLY DISCUSSION
OF ISSUES RELATED TO LAW AND
JUSTICE AND CROSS NATIONAL
ISSUES.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
I SEE YOUR HAND.
>> THANK YOU.
WOULD THIS BE A TIME FOR
GENERAL QUESTIONS TO CENTRAL
STAFF?
>> INDEED.
>> OKAY.
WELL FIRST I WANT TO THANK GREG
AND ANN FOR CUEING THIS UP AND
FINALLY HAVING A HEARING ON
THIS.
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THIS FOR A WHILE.
I WAS SURPRISED TO REVIEW THIS
AND SEE THERE'S NOT A TRAINING
DEFINITION.
I MEAN IF WE'RE PROHIBITING
TRAINING, I WOULD THINK WE'D
WANT TO BE FAIRLY CLEAR ABOUT
WHAT PRACTICES WE'RE
PROHIBITING.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER
AREA OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THE
DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT
COUNTRIES FALL IN THE BOX.
I DID LOOK AT THE SUMMARY IN
ONE OF THE ATTACHMENTS AND IT
LOOKS LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE
NO TRAINING IN ST. KITTS AND
NEVIS IN OUR FUTURE, THAT'S
GOOD, BUT I DID JUST WANT TO
ASK BECAUSE I THINK IN ADDITION
TO FINDING WHAT COUNTRIES FALL
IN THOSE BOXES IS ALSO
DETERMINING WHAT CONDUCT IS
PROHIBITED AND THERE DOESN'T
SEEM TO BE ANY DEFINITIONS IN
THIS THAT GIVE GUIDANCE TO THE
DEPARTMENT.
>> CENTRAL STAFF IF YOU WANT TO
TAKE THIS ON.
THIS IS AN ISSUE I DID FLAG FOR
CENTRAL STAFF.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
WORKING ON THAT ISSUE BETWEEN
NOW AND FULL COUNCIL.
BUT COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF?
>> NO, I AGREE COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES
WE FLAG IN OUR STAFF REPORT
THAT THE LANGUAGE IS VERY
BROAD.
DEFINITIONS WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THAT WAS A CONCERN OF SPD AS
WELL.
>> CAN I ASK JUST A QUICK
FOLLOW UP THEN?
BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS IS
ALSO RELATED IF IT WE -- SO IF
IT WE DO ULTIMATELY DEFINE
TRAINING, I DO HAVE ANOTHER
QUESTION IN TERMS OF WHEN IT
WOULD KICK IN.
I MEAN I KNOW THIS IS NO LONGER
A BILL SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
ISRAEL, BUT IN ONE OF THE
FORMULAS ENVISIONED ISRAEL
WOULD BE INCLUDED IN A COUNTRY
THAT WOULD FALL WITHIN THE
SCOPE OF THIS ORDINANCE.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME
CONVERSATION PUBLICLY ABOUT AN
ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE EXCHANGE
THAT FORMER CHIEF BEST ATTENDED
A FEW YEARS AGO IN ISRAEL WHICH
HAS BEEN CITED AS A REASON TO
REATE THIS ORDINANCE TO
PREVENT THAT FROM OCCURRING.
I'M NOT AWARE WHETHER OR NOT
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY
PAID FOR THAT EXCHANGE.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK
I'LL ACTUALLY REQUEST
INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT
AND THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE
ON IF EITHER ARE WATCHING
PLEASE SEND IT TO MY OFFICE.
IF THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE
MERELY INVITED CHIEF BEST AND
THEN PAID FOR HER EXPENSES ON
THAT EXCHANGE, MY READ OF THIS
IS THAT WOULD NOT ACTUALLY BE
IMPACTED BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT
IS NOT PAYING.
SHE WAS INVITED IN HER PERSONAL
CAPACITY.
OBVIOUSLY IF THE DEPARTMENT DID
PAY FOR IT, THAT WOULD BE
DIFFERENT.
BUT MY QUESTION NOW IS IF THAT
DISTINCTION THAT I'M THROWING
OUT THERE IS AN ACTUAL
DISTINCTION OR IF IT WOULD
COVER PERSONAL CAPACITY EVEN IF
NO SEATTLE MONEY WENT TO PAY
FOR IT.
>> I THINK THE ORDINANCE REFERS
TO PARTICIPATION NOT WHO IS
PAYING.
BUT I WILL LET COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF HANDLE THAT ONE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER I THINK THAT
ANY TIME AN SPD OFFICER IS
WEARING A UNIFORM AND
REPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT
THEY ARE REPRESENTING THE SPD
POLICY MANUAL.
I THINK THAT I WOULD BE
FORBIDDEN UNDER THIS ORDINANCE
FROM PARTICIPATING IN THAT
TRAINING.
I WILL CLARIFY WITH THE LAW
DEPARTMENT.
IF THEY WENT AS A CIVILIAN
WITHOUT REPRESENTING A
DEPARTMENT ON THEIR PERSONAL
TIME, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING
THAT I WOULD HAVE TO -- I'LL
ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON.
>> BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S --
GO, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY.
GREG'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT
ACTUALLY WHEN MY OFFICE WAS
LOOKING AT DRAFTING THIS, WE
INTENTIONALLY AVOIDED USING
LANGUAGE THAT WOULD MAKE IT
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT PUBLIC
RESOURCES BEING USED FOR THIS.
OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE IN OUR
VIEW MUCH MORE EGREGIOUS IF
PUBLIC RESOURCES WERE USED FOR
SUCH EXCHANGES AND SUCH
TRAINING SESSIONS, BUT WE DON'T
WANT TO RESTRICT IT JUST TO
THAT.
IT WOULD BE OPPOSED REGARDLESS
AS GREG EXPLAINED.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, AS AN
EXAMPLE IF AN SPD OFFICER IS
WEARING THE UNIFORM AND THEY'RE
WORKING AN OFFDUTY JOB AT A
NIGHTCLUB, THEY STILL HAVE TO
ABIDE BY THE SPD POLICY MANUAL
AND THEY STILL HAVE TO
REPRESENT THE DEPARTMENT.
SO THE SAME WOULD BE TRUE IF
THEY WERE FLYING OVERSEAS TO
TRAIN WITH A FOREIGN MILITARY.
IF THEY WERE WEARING THE
UNIFORM AND REPRESENTING THE
DEPARTMENT THEN I DON'T BELIEVE
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO
WITH THIS LEGISLATION IN PLACE.
>> BUT TO USE AN EXAMPLE OF
SOMETHING THAT WOULD PROBABLY
FALL OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE IF AN
SPD OFFICER LET'S SAY WENT AND
DID BIRTHRIGHT, RIGHT?
LIKE IN IT ISRAEL.
ON THEIR OWN TIME JUST AS A
CIVILIAN THAT HAS NO NEXUS
WHATSOEVER WITH, YOU KNOW, A
MILITARY EXCHANGE OR TRAINING
THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF THE
SCOPE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE
GOING OVER THERE AS, YOU KNOW,
JUST AS AN INDIVIDUAL RATHER
THAN AS AN OFFICER.
>> I DOUBT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO PROHIBIT THAT.
I'D HAVE TO CHECK WITH THE
ATTORNEYS.
>> AND TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT
SEEKING TO PROHIBIT THAT.
I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY THE SCOPE
OF THE ORDINANCE SINCE IN
CORNERS IT'S UNVAGUE AND
NONCLEAR.
I APPRECIATE THAT CENTRAL STAFF
BELIEVES THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE
THE SCOPE.
>> YEAH.
I WILL GET BACK TO YOU WITH AN
OFFICIAL LEGAL ANSWER.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD THAT I MEAN
I'M, YEAH, WOULD APPRECIATE
CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
IN MY VIEW JUST TO REITERATE
WHAT I BELIEVE GREG SAID AND
FORGIVE ME IF I'M MISQUOTING
YOU.
IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE SAYING
I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT WHICH
IS THAT ON OUR MIND TOO, WHEN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS GO FOR
SUCH TRAINING SESSIONS, I DON'T
IMAGINE THAT AS INFORMALLY
GOING AS INDIVIDUALS THEY WILL
BE GOING THERE IN SOME SHAPE OR
FORM REPRESENTING THE
DEPARTMENT AND AS GREG SAID IN
THEIR UNIFORM OR I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE PHRASING IS, BUT
BASICALLY REPRESENTING THE
DEPARTMENT IN SOME SHAPE OR
FORM.
AS FAR AS THE QUESTION OF WHAT
POLICE OFFICERS DO IN
INFORMALLY, YEAH, THIS
LEGISLATION IS NOT GOING TO
ADDRESS ALL THE WRONG DOING
INFORMALLY ON THEIR OWN TIME IN
PLAIN CLOTHES.
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS WENT TO
THE CAPITOL TO PARTICIPATE IN
FAR RIGHT RIOTS.
SO YES, WE WILL NEED AN ELECTED
COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT THAT IS WHY
WE ARE ARGUING FOR THAT.
BUT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
WHAT WE HAVE OBSERVED WHICH IS
SPD OFFICERS GOING FOR
LEGITIMATELY SANCTIONED,
LEGALLY SANCTIONED TRAINING
SESSIONS WITH NATION STATES OR
AGENCIES OF NATION STATES THAT
HAVE VIOLATED INTERNATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED STANDARDS OF HUMAN
RIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> UM, THANK YOU.
SO I MAY HAVE JUST STOPPED
MYSELF OUT OF MY QUESTION.
I WAS INTERESTED IN WHAT KINDS
OF TRAININGS WE MIGHT BE
TALKING ABOUT.
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE THE
MILITARIZED -- TRAININGS TO
LEARN TACTICAL THINGS THAT I
WILL SAY RIGHT NOW THAT I
OBJECT TO THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED
IS THE LANGUAGE IS BROAD AND
COULD POTENTIALLY PROHIBIT
COLLABORATION AND BEST
PRACTICES.
EVEN IF THE DEPARTMENT IS
SENDING OFFICERS FOR WHAT MAY
BE PRESUMED BEST PRACTICE IT
STILL SEEMS COUNTER TO WHAT WE
AS A HUMAN RIGHTS CITY WOULD BE
WANTING TO SUPPORT.
BUT DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC
EXAMPLES OF WHAT OUTSIDE OF
SORT OF TACTICAL TRAINING THEY
MIGHT BE GOING TO PARTICIPATE
IN?
>> ANN AND I TALKED WITH SPD
LAST WEEK.
WE ASKED THEM ABOUT EXAMPLES OF
TRAININGS OR CONVERSATIONS
THEY'VE HAD WITH COUNTRIES
RECENTLY.
THEY SAID THEY HAD REACHED OUT
TO THE UK AND SWEDEN ABOUT SOME
CROWD CONTROL TACTICS THAT HAD
BEEN USED IN THOSE COUNTRIES
AROUND LESS LETHAL WEAPONS.
WAYS TO EMPLOY DEMONSTRATION OR
CROWD CONTROL WITHOUT USE OF
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS MAYBE THAT
WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE WHERE THEY
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO
COLLABORATE WITH FOREIGN
COUNTRIES.
THAT MIGHT BE THE KIND OF
COLLABORATION THAT COULD HAPPEN
THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF
MILITARY TACTICS OR TRAINING IF
THAT'S AN EXAMPLE YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO
HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL
CONVERSATION AFTER VOTING IN
COMMITTEE BEFORE FULL COUNCIL
ON THAT ISSUE.
APPRECIATE YOUR RAISING IT,
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> SO THIS IS ALONG THE SAME
LINES AS COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
AND MORALES' LINE OF
QUESTIONING WHICH IS SORT OF
GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF THE TYPE OF ACTIVITY WE'RE
LOOKING TO PROHIBIT OR
OTHERWISE RESTRICT BY THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I DO RECALL AND PERHAPS GREG
AND ANN YOU CAN HELP ME TRACK
THIS DOWN.
I TRIED TO DO A QUICK SEARCH OF
MY E-MAIL ENWAS NOT SUCCESSFUL
IN IT TRACKING DOWN THEN
ASSISTANT CHIEF LESLIE
CORDNER'S RESPONSE TO A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
THAT THE COUNCIL SUPPORTED I
BELIEVE IT WAS IN 2018, THAT
WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT THAT REQUESTED OR MAYBE
IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN
THAT REQUESTED A LIST OF
TRAININGS IN THIS AREA.
AGAIN IT'S GOING TO BE OUTDATED
BECAUSE IF IT I RECALL
CORRECTLY THAT WAS PRODUCED TO
US IN 2018 BUT IT MIGHT BE THE
MOST RECENT COMPILATION OF THE
KINDS OF TRAININGS THAT WERE
RELATED TO THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE
DISCUSSING NOW.
THAT INVENTORY OF TRAINING TO
REFRESH OUR MEMORIES ON THE
KINDS OF TRAININGS THAT SPD WAS
DOING RELATED TO THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT WAS THIS
WAS BEING ADVOCATED FOR BY MANY
OF THE SAME ACTIVISTS THAT ARE
ENGAGED IN THIS LEGISLATION AS
WELL.
AND I DO SEE FOR WHAT IT'S
WORTH, I DO SEEM TO RECALL THAT
CHIEF BEST'S TRIP WAS PAID FOR
IN PART AT LEAST BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> MUCH APPRECIATED.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, I SEE
YOUR HAND RAISED.
>> YEAH, I WANT TO SIGNAL MY
INTEREST FOR CENTRAL STAFF
BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION
PARTICULARLY AROUND THE -- IT
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WOULD BE
AFFECTED FROM THE LIST OF
COUNTRIES IN THE MEMO THAT WAS
DISTRIBUTED THIS MORNING.
BECAUSE SWEDEN AND THE UNITED
KINGDOM DON'T APPEAR TO BE ON
IT.
I THIS AGOOD POINT IS RAISED
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF
QUESTIONS PARTICULARLY IN
WESTERN EUROPE WHO HAVE
DEVELOPED REALLY EFFECTIVE AND
GOOD PRACTICES AROUND
DEESCALATION AND MORE PEACEFUL
METHOD OF CROWD CONTROL THAT WE
WOULD WANT SPD TO AVAIL ITSELF
OF.
AS WE DO PUT TOGETHER A
DEFINITION OF TRAINING MAKING
SURE WE DON'T INADVERTENTLY
EXCLUDE SEEKING OUT BEST
PRACTICES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
REGARDING DEESCALATION
CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE A
LOT OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS
AROUND THE WORLD THAT COULD
TEACH US QUITE A BIT ABOUT IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS GOING
TO BE AS RELEVANT GIVEN THE
LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT I'M
LOOKING AT THAT ARE INCLUDED IN
THE CURRENT LEGISLATION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW.
>> PERFECT SEGUE.
I THINK FOR THE DISCUSSION OF
THE AMENDMENTS BECAUSE HOW I
CHOSE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE
IN THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION WAS
TO CREATE OBJECTIVE STANDARDS
OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS THAT
WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH THAT
EVEN ABSENT A MORE NARROW
DEFINITION OF TRAININGS,
EXCHANGES AND PARTNERSHIPS, UM,
IT'S HARD TO CONCEIVE OF MANY
OF THESE COUNTRIES HAVING BEST
PRACTICES THAT WE WOULD WANT TO
EMULATE.
BUT I STILL RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE IS -- IT IS UNKNOWN
WHETHER OR NOT EITHER ONE OF
THESE AMENDMENTS ARE GOING TO
PASS AND IF THERE IS APPETITE
FR MORE DISCUSSION AROUND THAT
ITEM.
SO WITH THAT CENTRAL STAFF CAN
YOU MOVE INTO THE DISCUSSION OF
THE TWO AMENDMENTS BEFORE US?
>> SO AMENDMENT A SIMPLIFIES
THE EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR
POTENTIAL SPD PARTNERS ACROSS
ANY OF THE.
THE CURRENT EXCLUSION CRITERIA
REFERENCE A VIOLATION OF ONE OF
THOSE TWO TREATIES OR THE
FOURTH JOE KNOW HAVE GENEVA
CONVENTION.
A NONPRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
OR PAST FINDING BY THE
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT.
AND THE ICCS WORK PROGRAM AND
HISTORY ARE READILY AVAILABLE
ONLINE.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING SPD STAFF
WOULD BE ABLE TO CHECK AND KNOW
THEY ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE
LEGISLATION.
BANS ALL SPD TRAINING WITH
FOREIGN MILITARIES.
>> WITHOUT THE EXCLUSION
CRITERIA?
>> YES, CORRECT.
THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION.
AMENDMENT B ADDS APP EXCLUSION
CRITERIA.
A DOCUMENTATION OF A FOURTH
GENEVA CONVENTION VIOLATION BY
AN INTERNATIONAL OR
INTERGOVERNMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS
ORGANIZATION.
THE CURRENT EXCLUSION CRITERIA
REQUIRES THAT VIOLATION BE
DOCUMENTED BY AN INTERNATIONAL
COURT OR UN BODY SO AMENDMENT B
OPENS IT UP ALLOWING MORE
ORGANIZATIONS TO DOCUMENT A
FOURTH GENEVA CONVENTION
VIOLATION.
WHICH WOULD EXCLUDE THE
VIOLATOR COUNTRY FROM ANY KIND
OF SPD PARTNERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
DESCRIPTION.
SO LET'S FIRST GET TO THE VOTE
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND THEN
WE CAN MOVE INTO GREATER
DISCUSSION AROUND THE
AMENDMENT.
I MOVE COUNCIL BILL 12041
TODAY.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU BOTH.
SO AMENDMENT A IS THE POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT THAT ANN JUST WENT
OVER FIRST THAT IS THE
AMENDMENT THAT I AM SPONSORING.
I MOVE AMENDMENT A AS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR AMENDMENT
A?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
SO AGAIN AS MENTIONED I'D LIKE
THE GOAL WITH AMENDMENT A IS
UNAMENDED THIS LEGISLATION
CONCEIVABLY COULD KIN
CORPORATE, SCOOP UP HUNDREDS OF
COUNTRIES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
BILL AND THE IMPLEMENTATION AND
THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE BILL IS
UNDERSTANDABLE AND
STRAIGHTFORWARD FOR SPD TO BE
ABLE TO IMPLEMENT.
MY GOALS ARE VERIFIED CRITERION
THAT ARE BOTH BASED IN THE
FOREGROUNDING OF HUMAN RIGHTS
AND ARE EASY FOR STAFF TO APPLY
BECAUSE HAVING VERIFIABLE LIST
IS NOT ONLY NECESSARY FOR
IMPLEMENTATION IT'S NECESSARY
FOR ENFORCEMENT.
THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT
SIMPLIFIES THE PROPOSED
STANDARDS THAT WOULD BE USED TO
EXCLUDE FOREIGN POLICE AGENCIES
AND INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AND
SECURITY AGENCIES AS TRAINING
PARTNERS WITH SPD AND DOING SO
IT ESTABLISHES, AGAIN, EASILY
VERIFIED CRITERION.
>> IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS
RIGHT IT BANS ALL TRAINING WITH
MILITARIES BUT MAY STILL ALLOW
TRAINING WITH OTHER POLICE
DEPARTMENTS OR INTELLIGENCE
AGENCIES OR OTHER ACTORS; IS
THAT --
>> AS LONG AS -- THERE ARE NO
EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR TRAINING
WITH MILITARY.
SPD WILL NOT TRAIN WITH ANY
MILITARY IN ANY COUNTRY
IRREGARDLESS OF THEIR HUMAN
RIGHTS STANDARDS.
>> WHICH I APPRECIATE, BUT WHAT
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS
THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES IN
GOVERNMENT THAT AREN'T
MILITARIES THAT STILL ENGAGE IN
PRACTICES THAT VIOLATE HUMAN
RIGHTS.
>> SO THAT'S WHY THE
LEGISLATION IS BEYOND JUST
FOREIGN POLICE AGENCIES BUT
ALSO INCLUDES INTELLIGENCE
AGENCIES AND SECURITY SERVICENS
SECURITY SERVICESOVER
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES THAT ARE
TRIGGERED BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS
CRITERION IN THE AMENDMENT.
THE TRAININGS, EXCHANGES, WOULD
BE BANNED.
FOR ALL THREE OF THOSE TYPES OF
AGENCIES.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
THAT'S IN THE BASE LEGISLATION
THAT CLARIFICATION.
JUST ON THE AMENDMENT AND ALSO
ON THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP
OR THE POINTS THAT CAME UP
ABOUT WE DON'T WANT TO SCOOP UP
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEST
PRACTICES, OF COURSE I WANT TO
BE CLEAR AS THE LEGISLATION
THAT ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER,
ZERO EVIDENCE, ACTUALLY, THAT
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN
SEATTLE HAS MADE ANY EFFORT TO
GET EDUCATED ON PRESUMING WE
ALL HAVE AGREEMENT ON WHAT BEST
PRACTICES WOULD CONSTITUTE.
NONVIOLENT DEESCALATION
PRACTICES.
ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT HAS
NECESSITATED THIS LEGISLATION
AND WHY THESE ACTIVISTS HAVE
BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS.
TRAINING SESSIONS THAT HAVE
BEEN SOUGHT BY THE POLICE OR
ENGAGED IN BY THE POLICE IN
WHATEVER WAY HAVE BEEN TOWARDS
REPRESSIVE MEASURES FROM
COUNTRIES THAT HAVE WRONG TRACK
RECORD OF USING THOSE
REPRESSIVE MEASURES.
I THINK THAT ON COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD'S AMENDMENT, WE -- I
APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF THE
AMENDMENT BUT PERHAPS.
IT
>> The civil and political
rights.
I.C.E.
-- -- Country territories
boundaries exist situation and
the -- By the international --
Of violation -- B which is
investigations of potential
human rights violations within
the -- For territory boundary.
As we know human rights
violations, -- In the nation's
boundaries but outside.
The police -- So under the --
Violations the military is
occupying -- Would not qualify.
That is our language reading of
the amendment.
It can be --
>> We were talking about,
activities that are occurring
in territories within the
boundaries of, of countries, I
believe -- Drafted this, this
language, to be inclusive, I
appreciate the concern you are
raising.
That we might want to replace
the words territories with
occupied territories with -- We
would love to hear from --
>> -- Investigation is always
taking place within it
geographically circumscribed
area.
It has a definite starting
point.
ICC investigator take a long
time.
Because they give themselves
permission to investigate
incidents that may have taken
place over many many years.
And over a broad geographical
territory.
In the sense that we want an
objective metric, the ICC non-
preliminary investigation seems
to be one that will work, that
has a wide purview.
The language was written to
match what is available as an
objective metric.
We can certainly take another
look at how the ICC mixed
investigations.
>> I think we wait until you
look at it more.
My goal is to ensure this is
not targeting any particular
country.
I'm concerned if we insert
occupied territory words will
make exclusions and lean more
towards a country specific
director.
>> And I just ask one question?
If they do want to address an
elegant study off-line.
I'm not sure how adding this
language would have the effect
you're saying.
Exclude.
It's additional.
We don't see is adding this as
precluding the process.
I understand what you're
saying.
Future studies that take many
years.
They have a broad geographical
scope.
I don't see these precluding
any of that in any way.
I see a is a good thing.
It actually makes for what is
-- To make sure it doesn't --
In that sense I do bring this
forward as an amendment to your
-- Seeing it in that white
>> I understand the question.
I don't want right now to
characterize how the
international criminal Court
describes its own work.
The current language is in
alignment with how -- Describes
its work.
I would just want to go back
and revisit it to make sure the
proposed new language does not
add a nuance that is not present
and how the ICC administers
cases.
I originally raise my hand, I
just want to add for everyone's
consideration, international
human rights administration and
treaty law is more listening
company.
We have been hesitant to draw
our own conclusions about what
we think the treaty say what we
think is included and excluded.
The few hear me being very
careful in what I'm willing to
commit to, it is because the
context is very complex and
outside most people's area of
expertise.
I apologize for that.?
I do think it's worth noting
and has worked with the city's
OA are and that University of
Washington to try and interpret
the spirit that is well outside
of central staff's expertise.
We are doing the best we can.
>> This work often makes
experts out of people -- So
thank you so much.
I would like to call a role on
the amendment.
Called roll.?
-- Controls.
>> I.
>> Yes.
The maggots.
>> --?
Abstain.
>> Thank you so much.
I'm sorry I didn't get the
answer to this question.
The chair of this meeting I'm
unsure how passage of the
cement affects the mimic B. I
believe amendment B changes a
section.
Am I correct?
>> Correct.
>> Okay, I guess it's not
really necessary question
because we just voted in favor
of the mimic couple a. We are
unlikely to go in favor of an
amendment that would undo what
would just voted on.
Is at your understanding of the
action with district?
>> Yes.
It is my understanding.
The amendment was something --
Pointed out and proposed was.
>> Your memory, a memory A
eliminated C. The reference to
documentation for a United
natives body.
Councilmember Sawant's set
essentially it would've changed
C. In a sense your amendment
eliminated from the underlying
legislation, the piece
councilmember -- Amendment
would change.
>> Thank you so much.
With that I think we can move
forward.
I move cancel bill 1201 is
amended.
Is there a second?
>> Second.
>> Thank you.
Will the clerk please call for
role on the -- Is amended?
>> President Gonzales.
>> Abstain.
>> Councilmember Lewis.
>> Abstain.
>> Councilmember Mireles.
>> Yes.
>> Councilmember --
>> Guess.
>> Chair --
>> Yes.
>> Three in favor to abstained.
>> Thank you so much.
Given we have a divided vote,
we will need to hold this bill
from consideration by the full
Council on the next regularly
scheduled meeting on the 20th.
We will look at the 27th and
full Council.
And I -- To work on some of the
issues that we discuss in
committee -- I appreciate
everybody staying with us so we
can get -- If there are no
further comments or questions,
the next --
>> Sorry.
>> All right.
>> I am not sure you have a
divided --
>> All because it is
abstention.
>> Sorry.
>> We can confirm that with the
clerk who is on the line.
My understanding is
abstention's don't count as a
divided report.
Only --
>> We will confirm that is the
case but I am pretty sure that
is what the city Council rules
tell us.
There was not an opportunity to
engage in conversation or make
comments before we call the
role.
If it is appropriate Madam
chair, I would like to just
make just some brief comments.
Great.
I am abstaining on this bill
from now because I really think
there are several moving pieces
still related to the underlying
legislation.
I have heard several times
during our conversation during
committee there will be some
more information and follow-up
during the interim between now
and counsel on September 20th.
I would like to have the
benefit of understanding how
those pieces are moving about
within the context of the, the
underlying bill before, before
I, I make a decision on, as to
whether I support, the, the
bill or not.
I will say that I, I want to
caution the counsel based on
conversations I have had, with
stakeholders in this area
particularly with members of
the Jewish community about the
language that we are using in
advocating for or against this
particular piece of
legislation.
I have heard multiple times now
from members within the Jewish
community given the uprise in
hate crimes in our Jewish
community there are significant
concerns about how language
used in the counsel and
advocating for this bill may be
received by the Jewish
community.
I think it is incumbent upon us
whether you agree or disagree
with the fundamental issues
related to matters in the
Middle East, I do thick it's
important for us to be
responsible and how, we are, we
are speaking about the issues
that we care about.
So we are not creating division
amongst our community here.
So that we are not exacerbating
the sentiment of, anti-Semitism
within our local Jewish
communities.
I agree with the concepts that
we should not be engaging as a
city with, with countries who
have verifiable significance of
human rights violations.
We do this often even in our
own country where we engage in
conversations related to
boycotts.
Because of states positions on
issues like immigration and on
women's rights, and
reproductive justice, LGBTQ
writes, this is not unusual for
the city to take a position.
Against another jurisdiction
because of the poor track
record on issues of human
rights, civil rights, immigrant
rights, women rights, I see
this is consistent with that.
I also want us in the course of
engaging in this conversation
being mindful of the impact
this can and does create with
our local Jewish community.
I have heard directly from them
how it impacts their safety and
their feeling of belonging in
our city.
Thank you for the opportunity
to explain my abstention.
I also wanted to just end by
saying the city clerk has
confirmed with me abstention's
does not count as a divided
report.
This bill can't go forward on
the 20th of September now.
>> Councilmember Alice.
>> In queue.
Thank you for the reminder.
Thank you for your remarks as
well.
I think we have all learned
over the last year and a half
communities are not monolithic.
We have folks that have
differences of opinion about
all of the things we do at the
counsel.
This is certainly no different.
As a member of the Jewish
community this is something I
support.
I just wanted to, folks to know
I think it's important we know
there are differences in all of
our different communities.
And communities across the
country taken similar action to
make sure they do not send
local police to train with
foreign militaries and other
foreign police departments.
Cities in North Carolina,
Vermont, Massachusetts, agree
local police departments should
not be participating in
exchange trips to learn,
particularly to learn very
often the kind of extreme anti-
terrorists active but you end
up using to police the black
and brown committees.
In my opinion that is the real
matter here.
We don't want the police report
and coming back with tactics
when we know there is already
very often a abuse of power --
So I know the bill is not
focused necessarily on the use
of public dollars.
I do occur with the policy
imperative -- Should not spend
dollars to send our officers
abroad.
We all know we have incredible
need here for service that
supports our most honorable
communities.
That said, the counsel has long
-- Of human rights and dignity
for everyone.
Including somebody referenced
earlier the passage of
resolutions that declared
Seattle a human Wright City.
And as a former Seattle human
rights commission myself, I am
really committed to passing a
policy that moves us as a
municipality toward actively
ensuring and endorsing the
rights that are set out in
Universal declaration of human
rights.
The U.S. doesn't even follow
some of those precepts.
We don't abide by the economic
justice elements.
Of this declaration.
I thick it's important we
acknowledge that and move
towards the goal of protecting
everyone's dignity and
acknowledging the human rights
of folks abroad and communities
here, by ending participation
in programs that lead to the
militarization of our police
department.
I am happy to support this.
And look forward to being able
to do something in the future.
>> I think Councilwoman Lewis
wanted to speak.
>> I was just calling people in
the order they have to raise.
I apologize.
Go ahead.
>> I will be brief.
Council President Gonzales, I
cannot vote for or against this
legislation until we have a
training definition.
This substantially is a
ordinance about training and
protocols run training.
I don't really see how I can
pass judgment on it without
knowing what the scope of what
coverage is going to be.
So that is my abstention today.
I look forward to amendments
that will flush that out and
answer those questions.
Man thank you.
>> Thank you.
I sure appreciate --
>> I'm really sorry guys.
I'm just really focus on trying
to get everybody out of here.
I was afraid I was going to
start losing people.
I apologize.
>> No problem.
I am able to make closing
remarks -- I will clarify for
the record that -- Mast --
Struggle really, it's not just
in Seattle but it is
nationwide.
I know members of the Jewish
community -- It's not
appropriate to think as any
religious community is
monolithic.
People have their own point of
view of what kind of society
they want to live in.
-- Wide range of points of view.
-- Excellent ideas from the
left-wing and progressive
Jewish mini from Black Lives
Matter, socialist, Palestinian
activists.
Including -- Organizations
especially members of the
Jewish community through -- And
Jewish -- -- The religious
communities including --
Community not in our name.
-- Human rights and reject the
-- Justified opposition --
Violence and oppression to be
-- I don't accept that -- We as
a progressive city, -- And we
stand with every community --
I'm really excited this
organization has reached this
point.
I would really urge all -- So
far that I urge all
councilmembers who -- And last
but not least -- Thank you.
>> Thank you.
I have nothing to add to all of
the great remarks made.
The safety and human services
committee will be a special
committee.
It is scheduled for December
24th.
Before we adjourn, just
checking to make sure there are
no further comments.
They're not.
The time is 12: 26.
We are adjourned.
Thank you so much.