>>> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
TODAY IS TUESDAY, AUGUST THE
SECOND.
THIS IS A MEETING OF SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL.
WILL THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING PLEASE COME TO ORDER?
IT IS TO: 01.
I AM DEBORA JUAREZ.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT POINT
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT POINT
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
THE MAC PRESENT POINT
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT ?
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESENT POINT BACK
THANK YOU.
MOVING ALONG IN OUR AGENDA, IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
COUNSELOR MOSQUEDA IS EXCUSED
FROM TODAY'S MEETING.
NOT HEARING OR SEEING
OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA IS INDEED EXCUSED FROM
TODAY'S MEETING.
MOVING ON IN OUR AGENDA TO
PRESENTATIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON WILL
PRESENT A PROCLAMATION ON
NATIONAL FARM TO MARKET A WEEK.
THE PROCLAMATION WILL BE FIRST
PRESENTED, THEN THE FLOOR WILL
BE OPEN FOR COMMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS.
AFTER COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS,
WE WILL SUSPEND RULES TO ALLOW
OUR GUEST TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION AND PROVIDE
COMMENTS AS WELL.
AS A MEMBER NELSON, PLEASE
PRESENT YOUR PROCLAMATION AND
WALK US THROUGH THIS.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
AUGUST 7th THROUGH AUGUST 13th
IS NATIONAL FOOD MARKET WEEK.
THIS PROCLAMATION DECLARES NEXT
WEEKEND AS SEATTLE FARMERS
MARKET WEEK.
THANKS TO -- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
, FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR
OFFICE.
SEATTLE HAS MORE THAN 17
FARMERS MARKETS IN THE CITY,
FROM COLUMBUS CITY TO PIKE PLACE
, CAPITOL HILL, THE BALLARD,
LAKE CITY.
THESE FARMERS MARKETS ASSIST
WITH DISTRIBUTION OF LOCAL,
FRESH PRODUCE OF SEATTLE,
GENERATE INCOME THAT SUPPORTS
THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALL
FARMS, AND ALSO CONTRIBUTED
MORE THAN $18.5 MILLION TO THE
LOCAL ECONOMY LAST YEAR.
SO, THE ONGOING PANDEMIC HAS
BEEN AN IMPORTANT REMINDER THAT
FARMERS MARKETS ASSIST WITH AN
IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF BRINGING
COMMUNITY TOGETHER, AND ALSO
ACT AS MEANINGFUL OUTLETS FOR
NEW, BEGINNING AGRICULTURAL AND
FOOD PRODUCERS.
ONE AMAZING EXAMPLE THIS YEAR
IS THE GROWTH OF LILY SALVADOR,
FROM MARKET STALLS, AT THE WEST
SEATTLE AND UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
FARMERS MARKET, TO THEIR OWN
BRICK AND MORTAR STOREFRONT.
THESE FARMER'S MARKETS ALSO
SERVE AS INCUBATORS TO LONG-
TERM BRICK AND MORTAR
BUSINESSES.
-- TO SPEAK A LITTLE ON OUR
BEHALF.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR
SIGNING ON TO THE PROCLAMATION.
I GIVE THE FLOOR TO JENNIFER.
THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL BE SEATED
TO ALLOW OUR GUEST TO ACCEPT
THE PROCLAMATION AND PROVIDE
SOME REMARKS.
HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTION, COUNSEL RULES ARE
INDEED SUSPENDED.
JENNIFER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER,
PRESIDENT FLOREZ.
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, FOR THE INTRODUCTION,
AND FOR COORDINATING THE
RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL FARMERS
MARKET WEEK.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONTINUED
SUPPORT AND INVESTMENT IN OUR
CITY FARMERS MARKETS, MORE
IMPORTANTLY IN EQUITABLE FOOD
ACCESS AND IN LOCALLY GROWN
FOOD.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD FARMERS MARKETS
IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL
ORGANIZERS IN OUR CITY
COLLABORATING ON THE
PROCLAMATION.
AMONG THEM, PIKE PLACE, QUEEN
AND, THE SEATTLE FARMERS MARKET
ASSOCIATION, AND THE DELL RIDGE
FARMERS MARKET.
WE ALL SHARE A MISSION TO
STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL FOOD
SYSTEM BY CONNECTING SEATTLE
RESIDENTS DIRECTLY TO PRODUCERS
AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS.
IN TURN, OUR MARKETS HAVE
PROVIDED MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS
TO FRESH, CULTURALLY RELEVANT
FOOD SOURCES.
JUST LAST YEAR, THEY PROVIDED
MORE THAN $1.2 MILLION IN LOCAL
FOOD TO FOOD INSECURE HOUSES IN
SEATTLE THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE
FRESH BOX AND SNAP MARKET
MATCH.
OUR MARKETS COUNCILMEMBER,
NELSON MENTIONED ALSO, ACT AS
INCUBATORS.
SHE MENTIONED THE SALVADORAN
GOODS BY LILIANA -- AND THEIR
FAMILY.
THEY SOLD IN THE MARKET FOR
MORE THAN 15 YEARS BEFORE
OPENING THEIR STOREFRONT ON
AVALON WEIGHT RECENTLY, IN WEST
SEATTLE.
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO SUPPORT AND
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BEGINNING
BIPOC PRODUCERS , FROM
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS
FARMERS TO FOOD ENTREPRENEURS
LIKE LILY.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS AND
POLICY THAT ENABLE OUR MARKETS
TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, NEIGHBORHOOD FROM
LAKE CITY DOWN TO SOUTHPARK.
EXAMPLES OF THAT, FOOD FRESH
BOX, SNAP MARKET MATCH, THE
CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO REDUCE
PERMANENT BARRIERS NOT ONLY IN
MARKET, BUT FARM STANDS AND
LOCAL FOOD BUSINESSES. AND THE
CITY'S RECENT SUPPORT ON THE
EXPANSION AND RELOCATION OF THE
CAPITOL HILL MARKET TO THE NEW
LIGHT RAIL STATION IN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S DISTRICT
. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION ON
BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO
IN OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, DO YOU
WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE
BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
>> ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY
COLLEAGUES?
>> I THINK I ASKED THAT BEFORE.
WE OKAY?
>> I THINK WE ARE GOOD.
>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER, FOR
BEING HERE TODAY.
SO, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF
OUR AGENDA.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME, WE
WILL OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
REMOTE SPEAKERS, THIS TIME, WE
WILL DO IT IN REVERSE.
SINCE WE HAVE EIGHT FOLKS IN
CHAMBERS, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE
THE EIGHT INDIVIDUALS IN A
CHAMBER FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL
BE FOLLOWED -- SORRY, WE WILL
DO THE EIGHT PEOPLE IN THE
CHAMBER FIRST, THEN WE WILL DO
THE 48 FOLKS WHO ARE CALLING IN
REMOTELY.
BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER 50 PEOPLE,
WE ARE GOING TO LIMIT YOUR
COMMENTS TO ONE MINUTE.
WE WILL DO THE IN CHAMBER FOLKS
FIRST, THEN WE WILL MOVE TO THE
FOLKS CALLING IN REMOTELY.
MADAME CLERK, DO YOU WANT TO --
I WILL HAND IT O█VER TO YOU.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THE
RECORDING OF THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> SORRY, I AM HAVING SOME
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH
THIS.
>> OKAY.
WE CAN HOLD. OH, THERE WE GO.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE.
WE ARE THE EMERALD CITY, THE
CITY OF THE FLOWERS, AND A CITY
OF GOODWILL, BUILT ON
INDIGENOUS LAND, THE TRADITIONAL
TERRITORY OF THE -- PEOPLES.
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WELCOMES REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT,
AND IS EAGER TO HEAR FROM THE
RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A
VERBAL PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU MAY
REGISTER TWO HOURS PRIOR TO THE
MEETING, VIA THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WEBSITE.
HERE IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEEDINGS.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
ON THE COUNCIL WEBSITE.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN
THEY REGISTERED ONLINE, AND USE
THE MEETING I.D.
AND PASSCODE THAT WAS EMAILED
UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS.
A REMINDER: THE SPEAKER MEETING
I.D.
IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL
LISTEN LINE MEETING I.D.
PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA.
ONCE A SPEAKER'S NAME IS
CALLED, THE SPEAKER'S
MICROPHONE WILL BE ON MUTED AND
AN AUTOMATED PROMPT WILL SAY
"THE HOST WOULD LIKE YOU TO
UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE."
THAT IS YOUR CUE THAT IT IS
YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
AT THAT TIME, YOU MUST PRESS
STAR SIX.
YOU WILL THEN HEAR A PROMPT
"YOU ARE ON MUTED."
BE SURE YOUR PHONE IS UNMUTE IT
ON YOUR END SO YOU WILL BE
HEARD.
AS A SPEAKER, BEGIN BY SPEAKING
YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM YOU ARE
ADDRESSING.
A CHIME WILL SOUND WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME.
AS A GENTLE REMINDER, TO WRAP
UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AT THE END OF THE ALLOTTED
TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED, AND THE NEXT SPEAKER
REGISTERED WILL BE CALLED.
ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE COMPLETED
PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENTS,
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
PUBLIC COMMENT LINE, AND JOIN
US BY FOLLOWING THE MEETING VIA
SEATTLE CHANNEL BROADCAST OR
THROUGH THE LISTENING LINE
OPTION LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC COMMENT IF
THE SYSTEM IS ABUSED, OR IF THE
PROCESS IMPEDES THE COUNCIL'S
ABILITY TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS
ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY.
ANY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS
DISRUPTIVE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS
OR THAT IS NOT FOCUSED ON AN
APPROPRIATE TOPIC AS SPECIFIED
IN COUNCIL RULES MAY LEAD TO A
SPEAKER BEING MUTED BY THE
PRESIDING OFFICER.
OUR HOPE IS TO PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITY FOR PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL ASSIST
OUR ORDERLY CONSIDERATION OF
ISSUES BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT
"YOU HAVE BEEN ON MUTED."
THANK YOU, SEATTLE.
>> I WILL BEGIN WITH IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU HAVE STILL NOT SIGNED UP
-- ON THE LIST, JUST MARIA AND
HUDSON.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS MARIA HUDSON.
I AM OF THE DAUGHTER OF THE
RETIRED SUPERVISOR FOR THE CITY
OF SEATTLE -- THE DAUGHTER OF A
RETIRED PROFESSOR FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
I, MYSELF, AND AN ALUMNA.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE
TRAFFICKING, WHERE WHITE
TEACHERS ARE ALLOWING WHITE
VIOLENCE WITH IMPUNITY.
THERE ARE STATUTES IN WHICH
THEY ARE ROUTING US TO CIVIL
COMPLAINT AND AVOIDING,
PREVENTING PROSECUTION FOR
CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS
THAT -- THERE ARE VIOLATIONS OF
CHILD PROTECTION RIGHTS, WHERE
TEACHERS, POLICE OFFICERS,
JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, ARE
SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THEM, ARE
NOT BEING ENFORCED.
WE ARE IN OUR SECOND LAWSUIT
FOR CHILD ABUSE WITH THE
BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT
BECAUSE OF THIS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ADAM
MYERS.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
HI THERE, EVER MY NAME IS --
MYERS.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME,
I LOVE YOU. I
WORK -- AMAZON FRESH GROCERY
STORE IN AURORA VINEYARD,
SEATTLE.
I NEED TO TELL YOU TO VOTE NO
ON ENDING HAZARD PAY FOR
FRONTLINE GROCERY WORKERS.
WE ARE GETTING COVID EXPOSURE
NOTIFICATIONS ALL OF US, DAILY,
FROM OUR EMPLOYERS.
IT COSTS US SO MUCH MONEY.
I AM NOT AN ALIEN, SO I WILL
NOT GET ANY RACE -- ONLY PAY
CUT, IF YOU AND HAZARD PAY.
ESPECIALLY DURING THIS 40 YEAR
HIGH INSULATION.
-- AND VOTE NO ON ENDING HAZARD
PAY FOR FRONTLINE GROCERY
WORKERS.
-- COUNCILMEMBERS -- HAZARD PAY
-- MEETING -- RECOGNIZING THE
RISK OF IN PERSON.
I SAW TWO PEOPLE --
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS OLIVIA
-- LAST NAME STARTS WITH A
CAPITAL S, I APOLOGIZE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS OLIVIA.
I AM A MEMBER OF EOCW 3000 I'M
HERE TOLD DEMOCRATS ARE CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON ENDING
HAZARD PAY.
THE FACT A LOT OF YOU FELT WE
WOULD NOT HEAR YOU TIPTOEING
AROUND TRYING TO GET RID OF
HAZARD PAY FOR THE FOURTH TIME
JUST TELLS US GROCERY WORKERS
YOU THINK WE ARE BLIND.
NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT,
LOSING THE FOUR DOLLARS WILL BE
A MAJOR PAY CUT FOR MOST UNION
MEMBERS, AND THAT DOES NOT EVEN
INCLUDE GROCERY WORKERS WHO DO
NOT HAVE A UNION.
WE CONSTANTLY DEAL WITH
COWORKERS BEING EXPOSED TO
COVID AND NOW MONKEYPOX.
-- STOCKING THE SHELVES, AND
SOME OF US HAVE NO HOME TO GO
TO AFTER WORKING A 12 HOUR
SHIFT.
PHYSICAL, MENTAL HEALTH AND
FAMILIES AT RISK.
-- THE WORKERS THAT FEED YOUR
CITY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS THOMAS
DUDLEY.
>> HELLO, KESSEL, MY NAME IS
THOMAS DAGLEY.
I AM NOT A GROCERY STORE WORKER
CURRENTLY, BUT I MOVED TO
SEATTLE LOOKING FOR WORK IN THE
GROCERY SECTOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DECIDED
AGAINST IT, BECAUSE I THOUGHT
YOU WOULD REMOVE THE HAZARD PAY
IN AN UNTIMELY MANNER,
PROVIDING LITTLE OR NO ABILITY
TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY AND
MAINTAIN AN APARTMENT IN THE
CITY.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU
ALL TO RECOGNIZE YOU ARE
REMOVING ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT BEDROCK'S OF YOUR
COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO
CONTRIBUTE BACK TO SEATTLE.
REMOVING THAT FOUR DOLLARS WILL
CAUSE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE
CITY TO SPEND THEIR MONEY
ELSEWHERE.
THAT IS NOT GOING TO HELP
ANYONE EXCEPT THE PEOPLE WHO
OWN THESE GIANT GROCERY STORE
CHAINS.
I THINK IT IS FUNNY THAT SO
MANY OF YOU ARE HERE REMOTELY,
EXCEPT FOR TWO OF YOU, BUT YOU
ARE ASKING US TO MASK UP IN THE
BUILDING.
10 PEOPLE DIED JUST A FEW DAYS
AGO.
EVERY DAY, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
DIE, YET YOU STILL ASK PEOPLE
TO COME IN TO GROCERY STORES TO
WORK.
PLEASE VOTE NO, DO NOT AND
HAZARD PAY UNTIL THE PANDEMIC
IS OVER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX --
>> [ SINGING IN FOREIGN
LANGUAGE ] -- PSYCHOPATHIC
SPEAK FROM THE HEAVEN.
MY NAME IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN, AND
I AM SICK AND TIRED WHEN --
MAFIA, YOU KNOW WHAT?
POLICE IS PURE -- I DO NOT
UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE
PRIVILEGE MORE THAN ME.
IS NOT EQUAL PROTECTION.
EVERYBODY WHO COME HERE, I
SPEND TIME -- SUPPOSED TO HAVE
TOO MANY, BUT BECAUSE I SPOKE
FROM THE HEAVEN, NO, FROM THE
SKY, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEAN?
EVERYBODY FOR ONE MINUTE, THIS
NOT EQUAL PROTECTION.
YOU TOTALLY CUT PEOPLE RIGHT
HERE FOR TWO MINUTES.
WE, FOR ONE PARTICULAR REASON,
BECAUSE WE WANT TO EXPLAIN US.
FOR ONE MINUTE?
YOU CANNOT EVER MAKE IN THE
TOILET.
THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW.
STAND UP, AMERICA.
STOP THIS REEKING IDIOT FROM
HEAVEN.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NATE.
>> I WAS PREPARING FOR TWO
MINUTES, I WILL HAVE TO GO
FAST.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS NATE PER DOWN,
SPEAKING ABOUT INAUGURAL
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS COUNCIL.
I WAS BORN -- FOR THE END OF
LAST MILLENNIUM, THANKS THE
PEOPLE WHO ALLOWED MY PARENTS
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
I GREW UP ON THE EASTSIDE, OR
UNIVERSITY DEGREES IN
WASHINGTON, NEVER LIVED OUTSIDE
WASHINGTON STATE, I HAVE NOW
LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR 15 YEARS,
CURRENTLY IN DISTRICT TWO.
IN THE PAST, I HAVE BEEN PROUD
TO VOTE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT, ALSO A MEMBER OF
SOLIDARITY GROUP, WHICH
CELEBRATES -- COMMUNITY OF
40,000+ FOLKS WHO PAY RENT TO
-- WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE BUT THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT EMERITUS COUNCIL FOR
HEARING PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ANY REASONABLE PERSON WHO WILL
CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND BELIEVES
IN JUSTICE WOULD I BE ARGUED
AGAINST AN AIC.
DURING COMMITTEE MEETING ON
THURSDAY, WE ELABORATE A MODEL
THIS IS.
WE RECOMMEND INCLUDING --
SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY'S
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY.
ON THURSDAY, WE BORE WITNESS TO
TEXTBOOK ERASURE. THANK YOU,
MADAM PRESIDENT,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU TO ALL NINE WONDERFUL
MEMBERS OF SEATTLE'S INAUGURAL
--
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I WILL SAY GOOD DAY.
MY NAME IS MARGUERITE
BROUSSARD, I AM FROM SEATTLE.
I PUT DOWN INDIGENOUS FOLKS,
BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING
GOING ON WITH THE FACT THAT IT
WAS A WOMAN WHO SPOKE FROM THE
D'WAMISH TRIBE.
SHE MADE A STATEMENT THAT NO
ONE FROM THE D'WAMISH TRIBE WAS
ACCEPTED OR ASKED TO BE ON A
CERTAIN COMMITTEE.
I AM SAYING I AM AN INDIGENOUS
BLACK PERSON.
I AM NOT ON ANY COMMITTEE.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED TO DO
ANYTHING REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
MY PEOPLE.
BUT I DO SOMETHING IMPORTANT
FOR THEM EVERY DAY.
DON'T YOU THINK THAT IS KIND OF
SCREWED UP?
AND I AM FROM HERE, OKAY?
SO, IF WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS
RIGHT, WE CANNOT KEEP ON GOING
LIKE MISSY ELLIOTT, TALKING
ABOUT REVERSE IT, REVERSE IT.
NO, WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING
NOW TO CHANGE THE ORDER OF THE
DAY.
YOU GOING TO GIVE CREDENCE TO
US, TOO, AND START BY ALWAYS
SAYING ALL THIS INDIGENOUS
OTHER FOLK, AND LEAVING US OUT.
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENTARY.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER REGISTERED.
IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED,
PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE BEFORE
THE COMMENT.
CONCLUDES.
OUR FIRST CALLER IS BRIAN CLARK.
>> HELLO, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS
BRIAN.
I AM A MEMBER -- CALLING TO
OPPOSE ENDING HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY WORKERS.
ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS LAST WEEK
THAT MENTIONED HAZARD PAY WERE
OPPOSED TO ENDING IT.
GROCERY WORKERS WHO FOUND THE
TIME TO SPEAK WERE ABLE TO BE
CLEAR TO YOU THAT -- WAGES.
SOME PEOPLE SAID THEY HAVE BEEN
GETTING DAILY, SOMETIMES MORE
THAN DAILY EXPOSURE
NOTIFICATIONS FROM THEIR
STORES. A
FOUR DOLLAR PER HOUR PAY CUT
WOULD MEAN MANY COULD NOT EVEN
AFFORD TO WORK, WITH INFLATION
AT A 40 YEAR HIGH.
COVID MIGHT BE LESS LETHAL, BUT
THERE ARE MANY CHAOTIC
CONSEQUENCES TO EXPOSURE OR
ILLNESS, LIKE INABILITY TO
AFFORD FOOD, HOUSING, MEDICINE,
OR CHILDCARE.
IT IS SHAMEFUL ALL THE
DEMOCRATS TRIED TO AND HAZARD
PAY IN DECEMBER WHEN WE DO THE
OMICRON VARIANT WAS ON ITS WAY.
EMBARRASSED AGAIN BY BETRAYING
THE WORKING PEOPLE OF THE CITY
IN FAVOR OF LARGE GROCERY STORE
OWNERS.
VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIELLE
CAVANAUGH.
DANIEL, I SEE YOU ARE MUTED.
IF YOU COULD, PRESS STAR SIX,
AND ALSO MAKE SURE YOUR PHONE
IS NOT MUTED, AS WELL.
>> I SEE THIS TILE, UP THERE.
>> CORRECT.
HE STILL IS MUTED.
WE CAN MOVE ONTO THE NEXT COLOR
>> NEXT SPEAKER WOULD BE STEVE
HUBER.
>> HI, COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT MORRIS, CHAIR
NELSON OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND
COSPONSORS PEDERSEN AND
STRAUSS.
I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL
TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR THE
SUPPORT.
MY NAME IS STEVE COOPER, I AM
PRESIDENT OF -- RESTAURANTS
HERE, LOCALLY, AND SEATTLE
RESTAURANT ALLIANCE.
OBVIOUSLY, THE PANDEMIC HAS
BEEN INCREDIBLY HARD ON
RESTAURANTS, AS YOU KNOW ALL
TOO WELL.
SMARTLY PUT IN PLACE EMERGENCY
ORDERS, WHICH WE ARE VERY
GRATEFUL, THOUGH THEY SEEM TO
BE GETTING READY TO EXPIRE.
HOWEVER, YOU ARE ALSO TAKING
SMART MOVES TO PERMANENTLY MAKE
A CAP ON THE DELIVERY FEES, AS
THIS WILL HELP FACILITATE AN
EQUITABLE RECOVERY.
THE BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN
THE DOOR DASH AND FOR EACH OF
THE WORLD AND THE SMALL MOM-AND-
POP RESTAURANTS THEY NEGOTIATE
WITH IS REALLY AN IMBALANCE
THAT -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT
, AND YOUR CITY'S RESTAURANTS
ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN
RETURN.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS EMILY BOYER.
>> I AM EMILY, WITH SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO
ON ENDING HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY WORKERS BUT AS A FRONT-
LINE WORKER MYSELF, I AM
APPALLED AT THAT SELF-DESTRUCT
PROGRESSIVES WOULD EVEN
CONSIDER SUCH A THING IN THE
MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC THAT HAS
KILLED OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY ALONE.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JORDAN
AND BOAST.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL
POINT MY NAME IS JORDAN VAN
BOAST.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO
ON ENDING HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY WORKERS.
YESTERDAY'S COVID DATA
INDICATED AN AVERAGE OF 695 NEW
CASES PER DAY IN KING COUNTY.
THE PANDEMIC HAS NOT GONE AWAY.
SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE MOST
EXPENSIVE CITIES IN THE U.S.
CORPORATIONS ARE MAKING RECORD
PROFITS WHILE THE AVERAGE
LABORER STRUGGLES WITH
INFLATION AND HIGH RENT.
DO WE REMEMBER THEM WHEN WE SIT
DOWN TO EAT?
THE PEOPLE WHO SMILE AT US AT
THE CHECKOUT STAND AS THEY RISK
THEIR HEALTH DAY IN AND DAY OUT
SO WE CAN PUT FOOD ON OUR
TABLE?
PLEASE EXPRESS GRATITUDE AND
SUPPORT, RATHER THAN DISOWN
THEM WITH A SLAP IN THE FACE
PAY CUT.
NEW UNION RAISES WILL BE
INSIGNIFICANT BY COMPARISON AND
WILL NOT BALANCE THIS LOSS OF
INCOME, AND DO NOT APPLY TO
NONUNION WORKERS.
PLEASE ACT WITH COMPASSION AND
JUSTICE, AND VOTE NO ON ENDING
HAZARD PAY.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT COLOR IS ZACHARY
KIRSCHBAUM.
>> HELLO, I AM ZACHARY
KIRSCHBAUM, SEATTLE DISTRICT 6,
CALLING ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON
CANCELING STATE HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY WORKERS BUT I CANNOT
BELIEVE WE HAVE TO KEEP SUCH A
CLOSE EYE ON THE COUNCIL TO
LOOK AT ARE THE PEOPLE THEY
PROMISE TO REPRESENT THAT I
CANNOT FIGURE WHAT YOU ARE
DESPERATE TO END AID TO SOME OF
THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS NO WONDER DEMOCRATS ARE
LOSING VOTES TO CANDIDATES ON
THE RIGHT, SINCE YOU MAKE IT SO
CLEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN HOW --
FACTUAL BASIS BUT CAN YOU
IMAGINE SUBSISTING ON A $.15
RAISE WHILE THE CITY FULLY
RESCINDS AID?
COVID IS A DAILY THREAT, AND
YOUR BOSS WITHHOLD PROFIT.
WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR, IF NOT
THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT?
WHO BENEFITS FROM THIS
LEGISLATION?
BIG BUSINESS OR WORKERS?
REWARD HARD WORK IN PUBLIC
SERVICE OR EXULTATION OF LABOR?
NO MORE EXCUSES, VOTE NO.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT CALLER IS JOE --
CITIGROUP?
JOE, I SEE YOU ARE MUTED STILL.
>> HOW ABOUT NOW?
>> MY NAME IS JOE SIGREW A D4
RESIDENT, A NUMBER OF SEATTLE
ASSOCIATE TEACHER ASSOCIATION
URGE ALL DEMOCRATS ON CITY
COUNCIL DID NOT KNOW TODAY ON
ENDING THE FOUR DOLLAR PER HOUR
HAZARD PAY FOR OUR CITY'S
GROCERY WORKERS.
GROCERY WORKERS THEMSELVES HAVE
SPOKE ABOUT THE DEVASTATING
IMPACT COVID HAS HAD ON
WORKPLACE FUNCTION, STAFFING,
AND THEIR OVERALL HEALTH.
AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, I
SYMPATHIZE WITH ALL THIS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE BEYOND
SHAMEFUL FOR DEMOCRATS TO CUT
THESE WORKERS PAY, ESPECIALLY
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE VERY
SURGEON RISING AND INFLATION.
IT HAS ALREADY BEEN REMARKABLY
ANTIWORKER AND ANTI-LABOR FOR
COUNSEL DEMOCRATS TO PUT HAZARD
PAY ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK SEVEN
TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR.
WE ALSO CANNOT ACCEPT THE RACE
TO THE BOTTOM LOGIC PUT FORWARD
BY COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA THAT
-- ALREADY CUT HAZARD PATENT
AND SEATTLE SHOULD, TOO.
INSTEAD, WE NEED TO BUILD
MOVEMENTS TO FIGHT FOR HAZARD
PAY EVERYWHERE.
STRONG CONTRAST, BUILDING A
MILITANT LABOR MOVEMENT, AND
SHOULD EXPAND THE AMAZON TAX TO
PAY FOR IT.
SOLIDARITY WITH GROCERY WORKERS.
>> NEXT CALL IS JESSICA SCALZO
>> HI, MY NAME IS JESSICA.
I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OF
COMPASSIONATE PEER COUNSELING,
AND A FORMER GROCERY WORKER FOR
13 YEARS AT TRADER JOE'S.
I AM CALLING URGING THE COUNCIL
TO VOTE NO ON ENDING THE FOUR
DOLLAR HAZARD PAY FOR OUR
CITY'S FABULOUS GROCERY
WORKERS.
INFLATION IS AT A 40 YEAR HIGH.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE
WOULD WANT TO SQUEEZE MORE
MONEY OUT OF GROCERY WORKERS
WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINE,
OVERWORKED, BURNED-OUT, AND
BARELY ABLE TO GET BY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN CEOs OF GROCERY
CHAINS MADE MILLIONS LAST YEAR.
ENDING HAZARD PAY WILL NOT
BRING GROCERY PRICES DOWN.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE BA 5
VERY DESERVING, AND OFFICES OF
PUBLIC SERVICE LIKE THE POLICE
STATION ARE STILL CLOSED DUE TO
COVID.
IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE WE ARE
STILL CUTTING PEOPLE ON THE
FRONT LINE, HOWEVER OTHER
PLACES ARE STILL TREATING IT AS
A REAL THREAT.
PLEASE VOTE NO.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS FOX
MATTHEWS.
THEN, WE WILL CIRCLE BACK TO
DANIEL CAVANAGH.
FOX MATTHEWS?
>> HI, MY NAME IS FOX MATTHEWS.
I AM A DASHER BASED IN THE
SEATTLE AREA.
I AM HERE TO URGE THE COMMITTEE
TO RECONSIDER THE NEW PRICE
CONTROL ON ASSET-BASED FOOD
DELIVERY COMMISSION.
THIS TYPE OF POLICY COULD
NEGATIVELY IMPACT "INDEPENDENT"
WORKERS LIKE ME.
I HAVE RELIED ON THE DOOR DASH
APP OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO
PICK UP WORK ON MY OWN SCHEDULE
AND PUT MY NEWBORN CHILD INTO
PRIORITY AS I PURSUE MY PASSION
IN THEATER AND ARTS.
RAISING FEES DUE TO THE
COUNCIL'S PROPOSED RULES WILL
NOT JUST HURT DASHES LIKE ME,
BUT ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES
AND STORES AS WELL.
I UNDERSTAND THE GOOD INTENTION
OF THIS REGULATION, BUT THIS
NEW RULE COULD ULTIMATELY HURT
THE VERY RESTAURANTS THE
COUNCIL IS LOOKING TO HELP, AND
HER HARD-WORKING PEOPLE LIKE
ME.
I URGE YOU TO AMEND THE
LEGISLATION SO IT WILL NOT
INCLUDE HURTFUL CUSTOMER FEES,
AND BRING ASSET-BASED DELIVERY
WORKERS TO THE TABLE ALONGSIDE
RESTAURANT AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
TO PRESERVE ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> CIRCLING BACK TO DANIEL
CAVANAGH.
DANIEL, YOU ARE STILL MUTED.
IF YOU COULD, PRESS STAR SIX.
ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE
FORWARD, THEN.
NEXT SPEAKER IS RUTH BLENDER?
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS RUTH BLENDER MEN.
I AM -- ALTERNATIVE, ALSO --
COUNSEL TO VOTE NO ON ENDING
HAZARD PAY.
COVID CASES HAVE BEEN ON THE
RISE AGAIN.
THERE IS NO CASE TO NOT
CONTINUE PROTECTIONS WE HAVE
BEEN OFFERING GROCERY WORKERS.
OBVIOUSLY, THESE COMPANIES HAVE
IN BRINGING IN RECORD PROFITS,
CEOs CLAIMING ASTRONOMICAL
SALARIES.
MEANWHILE, INFLATION AND
SKYROCKETING RENTS ARE
SQUEEZING EVERY LAST DOLLAR OUT
OF WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE.
WORKERS REPRESENTED BY -- WILL
RECEIVE A SMALL RAISE WITH
THEIR NEW CONTRACT, BUT IT JUST
DOES NOT COMPARE.
MOST WORKERS WILL STILL TAKE A
HUGE PAY CUT IT HAZARD PAY IS
ENDED.
THAT IS NOT EVEN MENTIONING
FRONT-LINE WORKERS NOT
REPRESENTED BY A UNION.
ENDING HAZARD PAY WOULD BE
REALLY DEVASTATING TO SO MANY,
AND A TOTAL BETRAYAL OF THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE WHO VOTED
Y'ALL INTO OFFICE.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA
POWELL.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANNA POWELL.
I AM -- RELATIONS MANAGER FOR
DOOR DASH, HERE IN SEATTLE.
DOOR DASH KNOWS THAT PRICE
CONTROLS LEAD TO HIGHER COSTS
FOR CUSTOMERS, FEWER ORDERS,
AND REVENUES TO LOCAL
RESTAURANTS, AND FEWER EARNING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DASHES.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE OPPOSED TO
THE LEGISLATION TODAY THAT
WOULD MAKE THEM PERMANENT, HERE
IN THE SEATTLE.
THIS LEGISLATION IS
UNNECESSARY, AS DOOR DASH
ALREADY OFFERS A 15% PRICING
PLAN FOR ANY SMALL OR MEDIUM-
SIZED RESTAURANT THAT WANTS IT.
NOT JUST IN SEATTLE, BUT ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
RESTAURANTS ALSO HAVE THE
FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE THEIR
PLAN -- AND OTHER APP BASED
PLATFORMS HAVE HELPED THEM
EXPAND CUSTOMER REACH AND GROW
BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE
PANDEMIC.
75% OF RESTAURANTS AGREED THAT
DOOR DASH HAS ALLOWED THEM TO
REACH NEW CUSTOMERS.
69% OF RESTAURANTS SAY THEY
HAVE ACQUIRED NEW DYNEIN
CUSTOMERS THROUGH DOOR DASH.
THE ODDS OF STAYING OPEN DURING
COVID-19 ARE EIGHT TIMES MORE
LIKELY FOR RESTAURANTS ON DOOR
DASH.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS BEVERLY
HENNE.
>> WILL COME, NAME IS BARBARA
HENNE, CURRENT DELEGATE TO --
LABOR COUNSEL UNDER
CONFEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES LOCAL 3197.
I STRONGLY URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO LISTEN TO
GROCERY WORKERS AND FOLLOW THE
LEAD OF COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT, TO STAND WITH GROCERY
WORKERS, NOT GROCERY
PROFITEERS.
VOTE NO ON ENDING HAZARD PAY
FOR SEATTLE GROCERY WORKERS.
OVER. VID EMERGENCY IS NOT
WE ARE IN A SURGE OF THE MOST
TRANSMISSIBLE VARIANT YET.
HOSPITALS ARE OVER CAPACITY,
PEOPLE VACCINATED OR NOT ARE
GETTING COVID, A FRIGHTENING
NUMBER ARE GETTING ALONG
SYMPTOMS.
ENDING HAZARD PAY FOR FRONT
GROCERY WORKERS IS ANTIWORKER,
CRUEL, AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
VOTE NO ON ENDING HAZARD PAY
FOR SEATTLE GROCERY WORKERS.
THEY PUT IN LONG HOURS,
CONTINUE TO TAKE GREAT RISKS TO
PROVIDE COMMUNITIES WITH FOOD,
KEEP STORES OPEN, CLEAN, AND
SAFE.
THE UNION GROCERY STORE I SHOP
HAS ONLY A SKELETON CREW.
EVERY DAY, WORKERS SAY THEY ARE
IN
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS JOEL CROFT.
>> JOEL CROFT, WE CANNOT HEAR
YOU.
CAN YOU CHECK IF --
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JOELLE KRAFT.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HAVING THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TODAY BUT
I AM CONCERNED THIS IS THE
SEVENTH TIME WE HAVE HAD TO
COME IN THAT THE DEMOCRATS ON
ELECTION DAY WHEN A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE NOT VOTED, ARE
DECIDING TO CUT HAZARD PAY IN
THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC WHEN
THAT IS THE REASON WE HAVE
HAZARD PAY.
I HAVE HEARD DEMOCRATS HAVE
BEEN SAYING WELL, OTHER CITIES
ARE GETTING RID OF IT, SO WE
CAN, TOO.
THAT, AGAIN, IS A RACE TO THE
BOTTOM.
YOU ARE TELLING ALL YOUR
WORKERS AND ALL THE PEOPLE YOU
CONSIDER TO BE "ESSENTIAL", YOU
TELL ALL OF US YOU DO NOT CARE,
AND YOU ACTUALLY CONSIDER US TO
BE YOUR LITTLE WORKER BEES THAT
WILL DO ANYTHING.
YOU DO NOT CARE IF WE DIE.
A FRIEND OF MINE WORKS AT
TRADER JOE'S.
IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, SHE HAS
HAD 35 COVID CALL OUT IN HER
ONE STORE.
SHE HAS BEEN OUT OVER 20 TIMES
THIS YEAR, ALL BECAUSE -- AND
IS BARELY SURVIVING.
YOU TAKE THOSE FOUR DOLLARS
AWAY, YOU WILL DESTROY MORE
LIVES.
ACT LIKE DEMOCRATS, NOT
REPUBLICANS.
VOTE NO.
>> NEXT CALLER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS HOLLY CHIEF, I AM
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE NORTHWEST
GROCERY ASSOCIATION.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
RAISING THE ISSUE OF PROVIDING
-- HAZARD PAY IN SEATTLE.
GROCERY STORES HAVE BEEN OPEN
TO HELP COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR THE WORK OF OUR EMPLOYEES
AND MANAGEMENT TEAMS TO ENSURE
OUR STORES ARE A SAFE, CLEAN
ENVIRONMENT FOR COMMUNITIES TO
SHOP.
WE HAVE TURNED AN IMPORTANT
CORNER IN COVID, IN THAT
VACCINES ARE READILY AVAILABLE
TO ANY AND ALL.
TO EMPLOYEES, MANAGERS, AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO OUR
COMMUNITY, WHO SHOP IN OUR
STORES.
THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE WHEN
HAZARD PLAY WENT INTO PLACE 18
MONTHS AGO.
AS YOU KNOW, ONLY SOME OF
GROCERY STORES IN SEATTLE HAVE
BEEN MANDATED TO PAY HAZARD
PAY, WHILE ALL OTHER BUSINESSES
IN THE CITY HAVE NOT.
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, ALL
BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR
THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR.
MANY OF OUR MEMBER STORES AND
THEIR LABOR UNIONS HAVE
RATIFIED NEW UNION CONTRACTS,
WHICH WE HAVE AGREED TO.
WE ASK YOU NOW TO MOVE FORWARD
BEYOND THESE REGULATIONS.
THE NORTHWEST GROCERY
ASSOCIATION URGES YOU TO VOTE
YES TODAY TO END HAZARD PAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ISAAC
MILLER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ISAAC.
I AM FROM A SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
CALLING IN TODAY TO ASK THE
CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON
ENDING HAZARD PAY.
IT WOULD BE A MAJOR PAY CUT FOR
WORKERS.
THE LATEST VARIANT CAUSES A
MAJORITY OF NEW CASES, 85%,
NOW.
ALL THE DATA WE ARE SEEING IS
THAT VACCINATION AND PREVIOUS
INFECTION OFFER ALMOST NO
PROTECTION.
IT OBVIOUSLY STILL CONSTITUTES
-- REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE --
MOVES TO CUT HAZARD PAY NOT
ONCE OR TWICE, BUT SEVEN
DIFFERENT TIMES IN THIS LAST
YEAR IS RIDICULOUS.
YOU MUST KNOW THAT IS
RIDICULOUS, ESPECIALLY AS WE
ENTER A PERIOD OF RECORD RECORD
INFLATION.
TAKING AWAY PROTECTIONS FROM
WORKING PEOPLE SHOULD BE THE
LAST THING ON YOUR MIND.
WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO HELP BIG
CORPORATIONS SAVE MONEY DURING
DIFFICULT TIMES BUT NOT WORKING
TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES SAVE
MONEY?
IF YOU REALLY REPRESENTED OUR
INTERESTS, THIS WOULD BE THE
TIME TO THINK ABOUT INCREASING
HAZARD PAY, EXPANDING IT TO
MORE WORKPLACES.
DO IT BY TAXING CORPORATIONS
THAT MADE BILLIONS OF PROFITS
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS BRIAN --
>> HI, MY NAME IS BRIAN
RODRIGUEZ.
I AM A DANCER AND CONSTITUENT
BASED IN SEATTLE BUT I NEED TO
SPEAK AGAINST THE NEW PRICE
CONTROL ON APP BASED FOOD
DELIVERY YOUR COMMISSIONS
CONCERNING THE BUSINESS CARDS
DELIVERED LIKE WORKING AS A
DELIVERY DRIVER WITH DOOR DASH
HAS GIVEN THE FLEXIBILITY TO
PICK UP ADDITIONAL WORK WHEN I
CAN, TO SAVE UP TO FINISH
COLLEGE, AND HAVE "MORE
FINANCIAL FREEDOM" IS THE
FAMILY.
GETTING HIM I WAS UP, IN FACT,
I HAD A FULL-TIME JOB AS --
TREPIDATION COORDINATOR FOR
SEATTLE, BUT EVEN DELIVERING A
FEW HOURS EACH WEEK WITH APPS
LIKE THAT HAS GONE A LONG WAY
TO REACHING MY LIFE GOALS.
WHILE WELL-INTENTIONED, THE
COUNCIL COULD ULTIMATELY HURT
THE VERY RESTAURANT THEY ARE
LOOKING TO HELP WITH THIS BILL
-- WILL NOT INCLUDE -- CUSTOMER
FEES -- AT BASED WORKERS TO THE
TABLE ALONGSIDE -- AND SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER TO DISCUSS HOW
WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK
TOGETHER TO SERVE ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY FOR INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS LIKE ME WITH OUR
SCRIPTS.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS MARCOS --
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MARCOS --
I AM PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF
SEATTLE -- CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
SPEAKING AGAINST THE PROPOSAL ON
MOBILE APPS.
WE HAVE BEEN FAIRLY WORRIED,
BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN
INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATIONS
REGARDING THE LATINO BUSINESS
-- WE ARE THE ONLY LATINO
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE HAD ALREADY TWO APOLOGIES
FROM COUNCILMEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE THEM VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING CALLED US, AT LEAST
INCLUDE US FOR THESE PROPOSALS
NEXT TIME.
WE KNOW THE NEEDS OF OUR
BUSINESS MORE THAN -- MANY OF
OUR MEMBERS HAVE ENTERED A
PARTNERSHIP WITH THIRD-PARTY
DELIVERY APPS WITH A CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERMS --
OF WORKING WITH DELIVERY
PARTNERS.
DOOR DASH, FOR ONE, HAS --
FLEXIBLE AND TRANSPARENT
PRICING STRUCTURE, ENABLING
BUSINESS OWNERS TO CHOOSE
DELIVERY POSITIONS LIKE THE ONE
ALREADY --
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS TIFFANY
SANDERS.
>> MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS?
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
CITY COUNCIL, HELIPAD MY NAME
IS TIFFANY SANDERS, A
REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR LOCAL,
NEIGHBORHOOD QFC GROCERY STORE.
I TRULY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
THIS FORWARD TODAY.
AS YOU KNOW, WE RECENTLY
REACHED A RECORD-BREAKING
AGREEMENT WITH UFCW, WHICH THE
UNION ITSELF CALLED HISTORIC.
IT PROVIDES ASSOCIATES WITH
INDUSTRY-LEADING PAY, A COMPANY
FUNDED PENSION, SAFETY AND
TRAINING, AT NO ADDED COST TO
THE INDUSTRY'S LEADING
HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FOR BOTH
PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME
ASSOCIATES.
AS YOU ALSO KNOW, THE COVID
VACCINE IS AVAILABLE.
WE HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY AND
DILIGENTLY TO BRING EQUITABLE
ACCESS TO THE VACCINE, BOTH FOR
OUR ASSOCIATES, AS WELL AS FOR
EVERY PERSON IN THE COMMUNITIES
WHERE WE OPERATE.
WE HOPE YOU WILL VOTE YES TO
MOVE FORWARD AND SUNSET HAZARD
PAY AS WE USHER IN THIS NEW
CONTRACT.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS JONATHAN
BISHOP SKI-CRUISE
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JONATHAN BISHOFSKI-
CRUZ AND I WILL SPEAK ON
GROCERY HAZARD PAY.
BY NOW, YOU ARE ALL AWARE OF
THE LIFELONG HEALTH EFFECT AND
TRAUMA THAT CAN BE SO EASILY
APPLIED TO A WORKER WHO WAS SO
AM I GET TO CATCH COVID.
IN JULY -- 32 -- AT MY STORE
BUT WE MAINTAIN ON AVERAGE, A
GROUP JUST UNDER 110.
IF WE LOOK AT -- LAST TIME CITY
COUNCIL VOTED TO END HAZARD
PAY, THAT NUMBER GOES UP TO 67
SINCE SEPTEMBER.
IT IS SHAMEFUL TO DENY THE
REALITY OF THE PANDEMI THAT
CONTINUES TO RAVAGE THE WORKING
CLASS.
WE CANNOT -- JOBS.
OUR ONLY CHOICE IS TO RISK OUR
HEALTH -- STATISTICALLY
UNAVOIDABLE, TO THE POINT OF
EMOTIONAL NUMBNESS EVERY DAY.
MAINTAINING HAZARD PAY -- HAVE
THE POWER TO DO.
IT IS VERY TELLING THAT THE
ONLY PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF ENDING
IT CALLING IN OUR PEOPLE AT THE
TOP OF THE GROCERY STORES,
WHILE THOSE OF US AT THE BOTTOM
DIE.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS ANN WOODFORD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ANN
WOODFORD.
I AM A CURRENT GROCERY STORE
WORKER AT TRADER JOE'S.
MY TRADER JOE'S CURRENTLY HAS
99 EMPLOYEES.
OF THOSE 99 EMPLOYEES, 17
CONTRACTED THE COVID-19 VARIANT
DURING THE MONTH OF JULY.
THE REST OF US REMAIN GOING TO
WORK, OVERWORK, OVERSTRESSED.
EVERY DAY, ON A DAILY BASIS.
FOR THE CITY SEATTLE COUNCIL TO
CALL VOTE AND HAZARD FOR THE
SEVENTH TIME WHILE THE MAJORITY
OF THEM ARE STILL WORKING
REMOTELY IS SHAMEFUL.
IF YOU WANT TO END HAZARD PAY,
GET BACK TO THE OFFICE, SHOW UP
IN PERSON, AND PUT YOURSELF AT
RISK WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC
LIKES GROCERY STORE WORKERS DO
EVERY DAY.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, VOTE NO
ON ENDING HAZARD PAY.
KEEP IT FOR US, KEEP US
WORKING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS TRENT WILL.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS TRENT WU,
A GROSS AROMA SEATTLE.
UNION MEMBER.
I CALLED HIM LAST WEEKEND TO
ASK YOU TO KEEP HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY WORKERS.
THE SITUATION HAS NOT CHANGED
FROM LAST WEEK TO THIS WEEK.
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE STILL BAD FOR
GROCERY WORKERS.
WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
OUT SICK.
WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE GETTING
EXPOSED TO COVID EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE PEOPLE GETTING INJURED
BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO
WORK HARDER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE
WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF.
IF YOU CUT HAZARD PAY, YOU WILL
LOSE GROCERY WORKERS AND YOU
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP STORES
OPEN IN THE CITY, AND PEOPLE
WILL NOT HAVE FOOD.
PLEASE DO NOT CUT IT FOR THE
WELL-BEING OF SEATTLE.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> CHAD -- OUR NEXT CALLER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JACK FRANCIS,
I LIVE IN THE U DISTRICT.
I AM CALLING IN TO DEMAND THE
CITY COUNCIL NOT END HAZARD PAY
FOR GROCERY STORE WORKERS.
IT IS STILL COVID.
COVID IS STILL HAPPENING.
CASES -- ABSOLUTELY INSANE WHAT
THEY ARE DOING TO PEOPLE THAT
OVER 1 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE
DIED FROM COVID AS IT BEGAN,
OVER 100,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN
ORPHANED.
PLEASE ALLOW THESE WORKERS TO
COLLECT THEIR 400 PENNIES PER
HOUR THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY
DESERVE TO HAVE.
THESE PEOPLE ARE ESSENTIAL
WORKERS.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE A GROSS
RESULT WITHOUT THEM.
THEY ARE BURNING THEMSELVES OUT
AND DYING.
THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING
ORPHANED, MAYBE NOT HERE IN
SEATTLE, BUT DEFINITELY IN
OTHER CITIES AND STATES
THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY.
WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH
WORKING PEOPLE, NOT WITH
CORPORATIONS.
THANK YOU, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> NEXT CALLER, SARA JAMES.
>> VOTE NO ON ENDING HAZARD PAY
FOR GROCERY WORKERS.
WE STILL SEE AN AVERAGE OF 700
NEW CASES PER DAY.
HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THIS VASTLY
UNDERREPRESENT THE ACTUAL
INFECTION RATE.
THE CURRENT VARIANT -- IT IS
SHAMEFUL THAT A COUNSEL OF
"PROLABOR" DEMOCRATS -- STILL
LOSING HOURS DUE TO COVID
EXPOSURE.
THESE WORKERS PUT FOOD ON OUR
TABLE THROUGH THE ENTIRE
PANDEMIC -- CITY COUNCIL COULD
EVEN CONSIDER STRIPPING THESE
WORKERS PAY BELOW POVERTY WAGE,
ESPECIALLY WHILE SEEING HIGH
COVID NUMBERS AND RECORD
INFLATION.
WE SHOULD EXPAND HAZARD PAY
RATE AND MINIMUM WAGE, NOT
PUSHING ALREADY STRAINED
WORKERS TO THE BREAKING POINT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATTHEW
HENDERSON.
>> MATTHEW, ARE YOU THERE?
I SEE HE IS ON MUTED.
>> MIGHT WANTS TO UNMUTE HIS
TELEPHONE?
IF HIS TELEPHONE IS ON MUTED.
PRESS STAR SIX ONE MORE TIME,
PLEASE.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW HENDERSON.
WE ASK YOU, OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS, TO VOTE NO ON ENDING
HAZARD PAY.
I AM A GROCERY STORE WORKER,
HERE IN SEATTLE, AND HAVE BEEN
FOR SIX YEARS.
THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC, IT IS
STILL VERY REAL.
BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR
BUSINESS, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS
TO REDUCE PROTECTIONS.
WE DO NOT MAKE MUCH MONEY.
WE LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
WE ARE LOW-WAGE WORKERS WHO
HISTORICALLY HAVE NOT BEEN WELL
COMPENSATED FOR THE HARD
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WORK.
SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WE ARE
STILL VERY UNDERSTAFFED.
WITH 5000 GROCERY EMPLOYEES
HERE IN SEATTLE, AND BY PROXY
10,000 LOVED ONES, THIS HAZARD
PAY, COUPLED WITH THE HEALTH
AND PHYSICAL EFFECT OF THE
PANDEMIC, IS JUST A SMALL
LIFESAVER, BUT A MASSIVE RELIEF
FOR OUR STRUGGLE.
THIS WILL COST YOU ON THE
COUNCIL NOTHING, BUT IT WILL
COST US IN OUR FAMILIES
EVERYTHING.
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
SUNSET HAZARD PAY ARE THOSE WHO
WILL PROFIT.
WE ARE NOT PROFITING, WE ARE
JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE.
WITH THAT, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS BRETT JAMES.
>> THIS IS BRETT JAMES,
SPEAKING ON HAZARD PAY.
I WAS A USCW MEMBER FOR FIVE
YEARS.
THE CITY ATTEMPTS TO END HAZARD
PAY IS AN UTTER DISGRACE.
WORK IS NO LESS HAZARDOUS NOW
THAN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
PANDEMIC.
WORKERS ARE STILL FORCED TO
TAKE TIME OFF DUE TO EXPOSURE.
COVID NUMBERS ARE SOARING, EVEN
DESPITE LESS REPORTING TO THE
HOME TESTING.
ALL THIS AT A TIME WHEN
INFLATION HAS RISEN SO HIGH
THAT OUR $15 MINIMUM WAGE, WON
BACK IN 2016, SHOULD BE CLOSER
TO $19.
WHY ARE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
ATTEMPTING TO TAKE AWAY INCOME
FROM GROCERY WORKERS WHEN,
INSTEAD, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
YOU SHOULD BE FIGHTING TO RAISE
MINIMUM WAGE AND MAKE THIS
HAZARD PAY A MOOT POINT?
DO BETTER FOR THE WORKING
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
VOTE NO.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS PRESTON SEBU
POINT
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS PRESTON, A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4, A RANK-
AND-FILE MEMBER OF THE ALPHABET
WORKERS UNION.
I HAD TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE RANK-AND-FILE OF THE
MARTIN LUTHER KING COUNTY LABOR
COUNCIL AND UFCW 3000.
ALSO WITH ANY WORKER IN ANY
GROCERY STORE, INCLUDING TRADER
JOE'S, WHO ARE CURRENTLY NOT
UNION BUT FIGHTING TO JOIN US.
I AM ONCE AGAIN ASKING CITY
COUNCIL DEMOCRATS TO STAND WITH
WORKING PEOPLE, NOT THE
CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE MADE
MILLIONS OR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
HAZARD PAY MEANS HAZARD PAY, AS
IN THERE IS A RISK THAT IS
HAPPENING TO PEOPLE'S LIVES, IN
THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS, IN
THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS.
LAST I CHECKED, COVID IS STILL
A THING.
LAST I CHECKED, INFLATION IS
STILL A THING.
LAST I CHECKED, RENT IS STILL
GOING UP IN THIS CITY.
THE VERY LEAST YOU CAN DO IS
VOTE NO ON ENDING HAZARD PAY.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS MARGO
STEWART.
MARGO STEWART, I SEE YOU ARE
STILL MUTED.
PRESS STAR SIX, PLEASE?
>> HI, MY NAME IS MARGO.
I LIVE ON FIRST HILL, I AM
CALLING FROM WORK TO DEMAND THE
COUNCIL VOTE NO TODAY ON THE
SHAMEFUL ATTEMPT TO CUT THE
FOUR DOLLAR HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY WORKERS IN THE MIDDLE
OF AN ONGOING HEALTH AND
ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT I THINK IT
IS STRIKING BUT NOT SURPRISING
THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
DEMOCRATS HAVE TRIED TO SNEAK
THIS BLATANTLY ANTI-WORKER
ATTACK FORWARD WITHOUT ANY
ANNOUNCEMENT.
AS MANY HAVE SAID, IT IS THE
SEVENTH TIME IN THE PAST YEAR
THEY HAVE ATTENDED AND HAZARD
PAY, EACH TIME WITH THE
PANDEMIC STILL ONGOING.
GROCERY WORKERS STILL REMEMBER
HOW IN DECEMBER, EVERY DEMOCRAT
ON THE COUNCIL SHAMEFULLY VOTED
TO RETURN HAZARD PAY AT THE
START OF THE DEADLY OMICRON
SURGE AT A MEETING WHERE
COUNCILMEMBER SOMEWHAT, WHO WAS
THE ONLY VOICE IN OPPOSITION TO
ENDING HAZARD PAY, WAS OUT
SICK.
RIGHT NOW, IN ADDITION TO --
ILLINOIS AND CALIFORNIA HAVE
JUST DECLARED STATE OF
EMERGENCY AROUND THE MONKEYPOX
OUTBREAK.
IT IS BREWING IN WASHINGTON AS
WELL.
THESE ARE DIRECT AND OBVIOUS
THREAT TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
OF WORKERS.
STILL ROUGHLY 10% INFLATION OF
FOOD AND GAS AND OTHER NEEDS,
WORKERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE ENDS
MEET.
ENDING HAZARD PAY RIGHT NOW
WOULD BE REALLY --
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIA BUCK.
>> HELLO, COUNSEL.
MY NAME IS JULIA -- RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 6. I AM CALLING ASK
THE COUNCIL PLEASE NOT END
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY STORE
WORKERS.
COVID IS STILL AT A HIGH RATE
OF SPREAD.
GROCERY WORKERS ARE UNDERGOING
GREATER RISKS BECAUSE THEY NEED
TO BE IN CONTACT WITH THE
PUBLIC.
ON TOP OF THAT, THE HAZARD PAY
AUGMENTS WORKER'S EARNINGS, SO
IT IS MORE POSSIBLE TO TAKE A
SICK DAY IF THAT IS NOT
COMPENSATED, OR IF A SHIFT
NEEDS TO BE MISSED.
THAT MAKES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY
SAFER.
SO, I ASKED THE COUNCIL TO
PLEASE NOT END HAZARD PAY, AS
COVID CONTINUES.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK
COUNSEL TO PLEASE -- AMENDMENT
TO MAKE SURE THAT -- DELIVERY
FEES THAT -- EARNINGS ARE NOT
AFFECTED BY THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHIE TY.
>> HELLO, THIS IS RICHIE TY.
I AM A MEMBER OF -- WORKERS
UNION.
I AM CALLING TO URGE OUR
DEMOCRATIC CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO VOTE NO ON ENDING HAZARD PAY.
I AM AN OFFICE WORKER, WE
CERTAINLY HAVE LESS EXPOSURE
THAN GROCERY STORE WORKERS, YET
I HAVE SEEN MY FAMILY MEMBERS
GET COVID.
I HAVE SEEN MY IMMEDIATE
COWORKERS GET COVID.
IN MY SITUATION, I DO NOT
INTERACT WITH THE AMOUNT OF
PEOPLE THAT FRONTLINE GROCERY
STORE WORKERS DO.
WHEN WE GET SICK, WE CAN DO
SOME OF OUR WORK REMOTELY.
BUT WE RELY ON OUR GROCERY
STORE WORKERS TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE ABLE TO STAY FED.
THIS IS AT A TIME WHEN
INFLATION IS AT AN ALL-TIME
HIGH.
I PERSONALLY DO NOT THINK THIS
IS THE TIME TO TAKE AWAY THE
FOUR DOLLARS AN HOUR OUR
GROCERY WORKERS RELY ON TO GET
BY.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER, JOHN HARSHMAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JOHN HARSHMAN, A
GROCERY WORKER IN WEST SEATTLE,
A MEMBER OF UFCW 3000 THAT I'M
ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON
REPEALING HAZARD PAY.
AS YOU HAVE HAD MEMBERS OF THE
GROCERY INDUSTRY CALL IN AND
SAY THAT READILY AVAILABLE
VACCINES ARE A REASON YOU
SHOULD REPEAL IT, I THINK WE
CAN SEE IN THE REPORTS ON THE
LATEST SURGE OF THE OMICRON
VARIANT, IT IS GETTING PAST
THOSE VACCINES.
IT IS GETTING PAST PEOPLE WHO
HAVE HAD COVID AS LITTLE AS
THREE WEEKS BEFORE.
THERE IS NO FOOT TO STAND ON
TRYING TO TAKE IT AWAY.
WE ARE DEFINITELY IN THE MIDDLE
OF A SURGE RIGHT NOW, AS
EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THE
MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL IS
STILL MEETING REMOTELY.
IT WOULD JUST BE CRUEL FOR YOU
TO PULL IT AWAY AT THIS TIME.
WE ARE STILL SEEING NEW CASES
COMING DAILY.
PEOPLE -- FROM HAVING COVID ARE
HAVING TO LEAVE WORK EARLY
BECAUSE OF THE FATIGUE.
EVERYBODY IS STRETCHED THIN.
YOU ARE PUTTING THE COMMUNITY
AT RISK FOR FOOD SAFETY ISSUES
BY PULLING THIS AWAY.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS CARL DYER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS CARL.
I AM A FORMER FOOD SERVICE
WORKER.
I AM CALLING ON THE CITY
COUNCIL DEMOCRATS TO EXTEND THE
VITAL HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY
WORKERS.
-- WITH THOSE IN THE DEMOCRATIC
AS I WAS NOTIFIED THAT BY THIS
CLAIM -- UFCW UNION KROGER
CONTRACT EXCUSE OF THIS PAY
CUT, IN THE MIDST OF THE SURGE
OF THE BA5 VARIANT.
IF ANYTHING, HAZARD PAY SHOULD
BE EXTENDED.
NOT ONLY WOULD ENDING IT BE
ABLE TO GROCERY WORKERS, IT
WOULD BE A BLOW TO THEIR
CHILDREN, PARTNERS, PARENTS,
AND ALL FAMILY MEMBERS
DEPENDENT ON THESE LABORERS.
STAND WITH FRONT-LINE WORKERS,
NOT WITH GROCERY CORPORATIONS
MAKING RECORD PROFITS IN THIS
HISTORIC INFLATION.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
WILL VOTE NO.
HOW WILL SELF-DESCRIBED
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS VOTE?
THANKS.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS EDEN CAROL.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS AIDAN.
I AM A MEMBER OF SCIU
NORTHWEST, WHERE WE ARE ALSO IN
THE LAST MONTH SEEING A SURGE
IN THE COVID CASES.
THIS IS NO TIME TO END HAZARD
PAY.
THIS ISSUE, AS WE SEE -- AND
ELSEWHERE, ULTIMATELY RESULT IN
A LACK OF WORKER HEALTH
MANAGEMENT.
FAILING THAT, THE MINIMUM WAGE
SHOULD BE $30 PER HOUR.
FAILING THAT, WE CANNOT GO
BACKWARD.
WITH THE DOOR DASH THING, THAT
MAY ALSO BE ULTIMATELY -- A
SIGN OF WORK IS LACK OF HEALTH
MANAGEMENT, WHEN WORKERS ARE
CAUGHT BETWEEN -- THE
RESTAURANT EMPLOYERS AND THE
DOOR DASH EMPLOYERS.
NOT THAT POWER IS NECESSARILY
EQUAL BETWEEN THOSE.
-- RETURN TO SANTA CRUZ, WHERE
IN SOME WAYS THINGS ARE WORSE
WITH HOMELESS FOLKS, BUT THEY
HAVE --
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS EMILY
MacARTHUR.
>> HI, MY NAME IS EMILY.
I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT TWO,
HERE TO CALL FOR A NO VOTE ON
REPEALING HAZARD PAY.
I AM GLAD TO KNOW I DO HAVE TO
WONDER WHETHER CUSTOMER SAWANT
WILL VOTE FOR THIS, BUT WITH
THE TRACK RECORD OVER THE LAST
SEVEN TIMES, WHAT ABOUT THE SO-
CALLED PREVENTIVE THE PROGRESS
OF THE PRESS?
-- TRYING TO DELIVER PUBLICLY
NECESSARY GOODS, BUT THE
REALITY IS THE KROGER CEO MADE
$18 MILLION LAST YEAR.
FOUR DOLLARS PER HOUR HAZARD
PAY IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WORKERS BEING ABLE TO HOLD ON,
BETWEEN STORES BEING STAFFED OR
NOT.
THE UFCW CONTRACT DOES NOT
REPLACE HAZARD PAY EVEN AT ITS
HIGHEST RAISES, AND IT DOES NOT
COVER NONUNION WORKERS.
THE REASON FOR HAZARD PAY IS WE
ARE IN AN EMERGENCY.
HOUSING -- THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
-- TO DECLARE A HOUSING
EMERGENCY THEN CONTINUE
BUSINESS WITH USUAL WITH
HANDOUTS TO CORPORATE
DEVELOPERS AND REFUSING TO
FIGHT FOR RENT CONTROL.
THE REALITY IS, EVEN AS
NATIONALLY DEMOCRATS HAVE
STOPPED FUNDING COVID TESTING
OR EMERGENCY ROUNDS OF
BOOSTERS, WE ARE STILL IN AN
EMERGENCY.
BUT NOTE AND HAZARD PAY.
SUPPORT GROCERY WORKERS NOT
BOSSES, -- DO NOT HAVE A LEG TO
STAND WITHOUT A PROSPECTIVE
SPEAKER IS LUCAS.
LUCAS, I SEE YOU ARE STILL ON
YOU.
IF YOU COULD, PRESS STAR SIX?
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER AND CIRCLE BACK TO
LUCAS.
NEXT SPEAKER -- THAT NEXT
SPEAKER IS ALYSSA KAUFMAN -- IF
YOU ME, THERE IS LUCAS.
>> IT WOULD NOT UNMUTE.
>> GO AHEAD, LUCAS.
WE HEAR YOU.
>> I'M SORRY.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS LUCAS -- I AM
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF --
120372.
I WANT TO ASK YOU NOT TO CANCEL
PANDEMIC HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY
WORKERS.
AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WE
ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC.
COVID CASES ARE WORSE NOW THAN
THEY WERE FOR ALMOST ALL OF
2021, AND NOW THERE IS
MONKEYPOX TO WORRY ABOUT.
LIMB. Y WORKERS RISK LIFE AND
LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE GOT SICK,
LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED, LOTS
OF PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED
PERMANENT CONSEQUENCES FROM
COVID.
EVEN THE DOUBLY AND TRIPLY
VACCINATED.
A LOT OF GROCERY WORKERS ARE
ALSO SUPPORTING MULTIPLE
PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN,
ELDERLY, PEOPLE
IMMUNOCOMPROMISED OR CANNOT
WORK.
THE TERROR OF GETTING SICK IS
SOMETHING I CAN DO SKYPE ONLY
IS NAUSEA.
A FOUR DOLLAR PAY DECREASE IN
THE FACE OF THAT IS A SLAP IN
THE FACE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
LACK OF RENT CONTROL OR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IN 2021, FOR A FULL-TIME WORKER
TO AFFORD A TWO BEDROOM
APARTMENT IN SEATTLE, WOULD
NEED ALMOST $30 PER HOUR.
HAS INCREASED SINCE THEN.
I AM ASKING YOU TO LEAVE THE
HAZARD PAY INCREASE IN PLACE,
AND CONSIDER EXTENDING IT TO
OTHER INDUSTRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS ALYSSA
KAUFMAN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ALYSSA
KAUFMAN, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4.
I AM CALLING TO URGE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE NO ON
ENDING THE FOUR DOLLAR PER HOUR
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY STORE
WORKERS.
INFLATION IS AT A 40 YEAR HIGH.
THERE IS AN ACUTE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS.
MOREOVER, COVID VARIANTS --
GROCERY WORKERS AT A HUGE RISK.
IT IS NOT THE TIME.
IN THESE CONDITIONS, EVEN
MAKING AN ARGUMENT TO END
HAZARD PAY IS OFFENSIVE.
I AM BAFFLED AND HORRIFIED THAT
THIS IS THE SEVENTH TIME IN ONE
YEAR THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL HAS
PUT ENDING GROCERY HAZARD PAY
ON THE AGENDA.
YOU KNOW THIS IS MORALLY WRONG
AND LOGISTICALLY UNSOUND.
YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO TREAT OUR
GROCERY WORKERS THIS WAY.
DO THE RIGHT THING FOR YOUR
CITY AND VOTE NO ON ENDING
HAZARD PAY FOR OUR CITIES
GROCERY WORKERS.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS MADELINE
BANKS.
>> MY NAME IS MADDIE, A VOTER
IN DISTRICT 3. I AM CALLING
TODAY TO URGE THE DEMOCRATS ON
THE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON
ENDING HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY
WORKERS.
AS LONG AS WORKERS ARE AT RISK
OF COVID, HAZARD PAY SHOULD
STAY IN PLACE.
IT IS A BETRAYAL THAT THE
COUNCIL CONTINUES TO PUT
CORPORATE INTERESTS OVER
WORKERS.
THE BA5 VARIANT IS MORE
INFECTIOUS THAN PREVIOUS
VARIANTS, AND PRIOR EXPOSURE
AND VACCINE IMMUNITY IS NOT
SLOWING IT THE WAY IT HAS
PREVIOUS VACCINES.
-- DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT
MARGINALIZED WORKERS.
THE UNION PAY RATES HAVE BEEN
BROUGHT UP.
AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED,
LOT OF GROCERY WORKERS IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE ARE NOT
UNIONIZED.
EVEN THOSE WHO WOULD WOULD ONLY
SEE AT MAXIMUM A TWO DOLLAR PER
HOUR PAY RAISE, AND AT MINIMUM
A $.15 PAY RAISE.
WORKERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO
AFFORD NOT JUST TO PUT
THEMSELVES -- BUT ALSO TO
ACCOMMODATE FOR HOW OVERWORKED
AND OVERLOOKED THEY ARE
CURRENTLY BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS THELMA JONES.
THELMA, I SEE YOU ARE STILL ON
MUTE.
IF YOU COULD, PRESS STAR SIX.
OR DOUBLE CHECK THAT YOUR PHONE
IS NOT MUTED.
>> JODI, WHAT NUMBER ARE WE ON?
>> WE HAVE SIX SPEAKERS LEFT,
AND WE MISSED A PERSON IN THE
AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE A
CHANCE.
>> OKAY.
CAN WE COME BACK TO THELMA?
>> SURE.
>> OKAY.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BRANDON
COMSTOCK.
NEXT SPEAKER IS TAMMY HENDRICK?
>> THANK YOU, COUNSEL, FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
MY NAME IS TAMMY HENDRICK, WITH
WASHINGTON FOOD INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION.
I REPRESENT INDEPENDENT GROCERS
AND CONVENIENCE STORES IN
SEATTLE.
WE WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
FOR CONSIDERING 120372 ON
HAZARD PAY.
WE -- SAFE WORKPLACES SINCE THE
START OF THE PANDEMIC.
THIS HAS IMPACTED -- AND WE
HAVE HAD RECORD LOSSES IN
SEATTLE.
WE HAVE HAD OWNERS LEAVE SEATTLE
BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD
TO STAY IN BUSINESS.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER
ENDING HAZARD PAY FOR THE SAKE
OF THE CAPITALISTS.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS LOGAN SWAN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS LOGAN SWAN, A
DISTRICT TWO RENTER, UNION
IRONWORKER AND LONGSHOREMEN,
CALLING IN SOLIDARITY WITH MY
GROCERY STORE SIBLINGS FOR
THEIR HAZARD PAY.
COVID IS NOT OVER.
JUST IN THE LAST MONTH, MYSELF
AND OTHERS I HAVE WORKED WITH
HAVE GOT COVID.
IS NOT SOMETHING ANY OF US HAVE
TIME FOR, WITH RISING RENT AND
INFLATION.
ENDING ANY TYPE OF PAY IS NOT A
NEUTRAL POSITION.
THE VOTE NO IS ATTENTIVE THE
WORKERS.
THE VOTE YES IS TO STAND WITH
BUSINESS AND CEOs AND
PROFITEERS THAT YOU CAN HEAR
THAT JUST BASED ON WHO IS
CALLING IT.
WORKERS OPPOSE ENDING IT,
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
EMPLOYERS ARE TELLING YOU TO
ROUTE THIS MONEY INTO THEIR OWN
úPOCKETS.
-- ONLY COUNSEL TO SUPPORT
WORKERS AND OPPOSE ENDING
HAZARD PAY -- CORPORATE
DEMOCRATS PUSHING ANTI-WORKER
BILL FOR THE SEVENTH TIME IN
ONE YEAR.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIELLE
WING.
>> HI, I AM DANIEL, A RANCHER
IN SEATTLE, ALSO AN AMAZON
WAREHOUSE WORKER, SPEAKING IN
SOLIDARITY WITH GROCERY STORE
WORKERS.
SECOND THE TESTIMONY WITH OTHER
WORKERS THAT COVID IS NOT OVER.
ON OUR AMAZON AGENCY APP, WE
GET A NOTIFICATION ALMOST EVERY
DAY ABOUT A KNOWN COVID
INFECTION IN OUR WAREHOUSE.
THERE IS NO BASIS TO END HAZARD
PAY FOR GROCERY STORE WORKERS
WHO HAVE KEPT OUR ECONOMY AND
SOCIETY RUNNING THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC.
THERE IS NO REASON OTHER THAN
BENDING TO THE INTEREST OF
GROCERY STORE BUSES WILL
CONTINUE TO MAKE RECORD
PROFITS.
EVEN IF COVID WERE NO LONGER A
RISK TO WORKERS, WE ARE STILL
FEELING THE WEIGHT OF OUT-OF-
CONTROL RENT AND GAS PRICES.
INCREASING PRICES AT GROCERY
STORES MAKING IT SO THESE
WORKERS CAN BARELY AFFORD TO
SHOP AT THE PLACE THEY WORK.
IT REALLY DOES NOT MATTER WHAT
COMPLICATED JUSTIFICATION YOU
TRY TO COME UP WITH FOR ENDING
THIS HAZARD PAY.
WHETHER IT HAS TO DO WITH
FUTURE RAISES FROM UNION
CONTRACT OR SOME INSANE
NARRATIVE THAT COVID HAS
SOMEHOW GONE BACK TO NORMAL.
PERFECT WAY FOR DEMOCRATS AND
CITY COUNCIL SIDED WITH THE
GROCERY STORE ASSOCIATION AND
THEIR PROFITS TO TAKE AWAY FOUR
DOLLARS PER HOUR FROM PEOPLE.
>> NEXT SPEAKER -- WE WILL
CIRCLE BACK TO THELMA JONES.
THELMA JONES?
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> HI, MY NAME IS THELMA JONES,
A LOCAL UNION MEMBER, 3000 UFCW
GROCERY STORE WORKERS.
METROPOLITAN MARKET IN SEATTLE.
I URGE ALL THE DEMOCRATS
SEATTLE COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
NO TO CONTINUE HAZARD PAY.
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, PLEASE VOTE
NO TO CONTINUE HAZARD PAY.
THANK YOU.
>> LAST PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKER
IN PERSON IS REX.
>> MY NAME IS REX.
I AM URGING, PLEADING YOU GUYS
NOT TO END HAZARD PAY.
YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ALL THE
REASONS TODAY WHY WE SHOULD
KEEP IT.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD ONE GOOD,
FACTUAL REASON TO TAKE IT AWAY.
WHO ARE YOU GUYS TRYING TO HELP?
ARE YOU HERE TO HELP
CONSTITUENTS OR BIG BUSINESS?
WE FACE AN ECONOMIC AND HEALTH
CRISIS.
WE -- I SAW YOU, THERE.
I THANK YOU.
I DO NOT WANT YOU GUYS TO
POSTPONE THIS VOTE AGAIN.
I WANT YOU TO PUT A REST TO
THIS.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO VOTE NO ON
ENDING HAZARD PAY.
THANK YOU GUYS.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT LIST.
>> MADAM CLERK?
>> YES?
>> WE HAVE ONE PERSON WHO CAME
IN.
>> WE HAVE CONCLUDED ALL OUR
PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
>> O? I THOUGHT WE HAD ANOTHER
PERSON THAT CAME INTO CHAMBERS.
>> WE WERE SWIFT AND EFFICIENT.
HE HAS ALREADY SPOKEN.
>> SORRY, I THOUGHT HE WAS
CALLING IN.
I DID NOT LOOK AT THE SCREEN.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE
REGISTERED SPEAKERS, BOTH
REMOTE AND IN PERSON.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW CLOSED.
ON OUR AGENDA, WE WILL MOVE ON
TO ADOPTION OF THE INTRODUCTORY
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
INTRODUCTORY REFERRAL CALENDAR
WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING AND SEEING NO OBJECTION,
IRC IS ADOPTED.
MOVING ON TO ADOPTION OF THE
AGENDA.
IF THERE IS KNOWLEDGE
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
MOVING ON TO ADOPTION OF THE
CONSENT CALENDAR.
WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE
PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR?
NOT HEARING OR SEEING ANY, WE
WILL MOVE ON.
SO, I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WILL BE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE
ON THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SO WHAT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> YES.
THE COUPLE OF UMBRELLAS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> YES.
TO BACK SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED.
WILL BE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES AND
LEGISLATION ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ON MY PATH.
MOVING ON, I BELIEVE WE HAVE
FIVE MATTERS ON OUR COMMITTEE
REPORT, BEGINNING WITH ITEM
NUMBER ONE.
WILL BE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL NUMBER 120 7320,
RELATING TO A POINT IN SEATTLE,
SECTIONS 100.0 30 AND --
ORDINANCE 126274, TO ESTABLISH
A NEW DATE FOR ENDING HAZARD
PAY REQUIREMENTS AND
AUTOMATICALLY REPEALING THE
ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVED TO PASS COUNSEL BILL
120372.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO PASS THIS BILL AGAINST THE
WISHES OF OUR CONSTITUENTS
FEBRUARY 3rd 2021, ORDINANCE
126274, KNOWN AS THE HAZARD PAY
FOR GROCERY EMPLOYEES
ORDINANCE, REQUIRING GROCERY
BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEES
WITH HAZARD PAY FOR WORK
PERFORMED IN SEATTLE DURING THE
COVID-19 EMERGENCY. THE HAZARD
PAY WAS INTENDED TO COMPENSATE
GROCERY WORKERS FOR THE RISKS
OF WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES
OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, IMPROVE
THEIR FINANCIAL ABILITY TO
ACCESS RESOURCES TO STAY SAFE
AND HEALTHY, AND ENCOURAGE THEM
TO CONTINUE THEIR VITAL WORK
AND SUPPORT THE WELFARE OF THE
GREATER COMMUNITY THAT DEPENDS
ON GROCERIES FOR SAFE RELIABLE
ACCESS TO FOOD.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD END
HAZARD PAY REQUIREMENTS IN
RECOGNITION OF THE "PROGRESS"
MADE TOWARD SUPPORTING THE
"HEALTH AND SAFETY" OF WORKERS
AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HIGH
RATES OF VACCINATION AND
"REDUCED" NUMBERS OF COVID-19
CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.
BEFORE I MOVE ANY FURTHER, ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
AFTER COUNCIL NUMBER SAWANT
WILL BE COUNCILMEMBER MORALES,
GO AHEAD COUNCIL MEMBER
SOMEWHAT.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL VOTE KNOW YET AGAIN ON
THIS BILL TO END HAZARD PAY
FOR OUR CITY GROCERY WORKERS.
AS OF THE BA FIVE COVID
VARIANTS ARE JUST, AS INFLATION
STRETCHES WORKER'S PAYCHECK TO
THE BREAKING POINT, BIG
BUSINESS AND DEMOCRATIC
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE SHAMEFULLY
DEDICATED TO CUTTING WAGES OF
ESSENTIAL CITY WORKERS BY FOUR
DOLLARS PER HOUR, WHICH IS WHAT
THIS BILL WILL DO.
GROCERY WORKERS AND ALL FRONT-
LINE WORKERS HAVE MADE
INCREDIBLE SACRIFICES DURING
THE PANDEMIC, AND THEY DESERVE
A RAISE, NOT A PAY CUT.
TODAY IS THE SEVENTH TIME THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT LEGISLATION
TO END HAZARD PAY ON THE
COUNCIL AGENDA SINCE LAST YEAR.
I CANNOT THINK OF ANY OTHER
ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN TRIED SO
MANY TIMES IN ONE YEAR.
COMPARE THIS TO HOW, IN THE
LAST 40 YEARS, THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT ONCE
PUT ENDING THE STATEWIDE BAN ON
RENT CONTROL UP FOR A VOTE.
THEY HAVE CONTROLLED THE
GOVERNOR'S MANSION FOR 30 OF
THE LAST 30 YEARS, THE SENATE
FOR 20 YEARS, THE HOUSE FOR 23
YEARS, AND HAVE CONTROLLED ALL
THREE FOR 15 OF THOSE 30 YEARS.
THIS IS TRULY REVEALING ABOUT
THE REAL PRIORITIES OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
TO DATE, MY SOCIAL COUNSEL
OFFICE IS THE ONLY ONE
CONSISTENTLY OPPOSED ENDING
HAZARD PAY.
PRESSURE -- SUPPORT FOR HAZARD
PAY FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO DELAY
THE VOTE FROM SEPTEMBER 13th
LAST YEAR, AT WHICH POINT ALL
EIGHT DEMOCRATS VOTED YES TO
END HAZARD PAY, A BILL
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
-- UNABLE TO ATTEND, BUT I MADE
MY OPPOSITION TO ENDING HAZARD
PAY DURING THE PANDEMIC
PERFECTLY CLEAR.
WITH THE OMICRON VIRUS GLARING
AT THAT TIME, MAYOR -- WAS
FORCED TO VETO THAT CRUEL
MEASURE.
-- FROM GROCERY WORKERS IN
PUBLIC COMMENT LAST WEEK, THIS
WEEK, AND PREVIOUSLY.
THE STRENGTH OF A SEATTLE
WORKER WHO SPOKE TODAY AND LAST
WEEK, AND WAS A MEMBER OF UFCW
LOCAL 3000 SAID WE ARE
BASICALLY HANGING BY A THREAD.
IF THAT THREAD, HAZARD PAY, IS
CUT, IT WILL DEVASTATE THE
GROCERY WORKERS IN THIS STATE.
IN CONTRAST, KROGER CEO RODNEY
McMILLAN TOOK HOME A COOL $18
MILLION LAST YEAR.
-- PRESIDENT JANET McCOLLUM WAS
PAID $11.7 MILLION.
THE COMPANIES THEY HAD UP OUR
MAJOR CHAINS.
THE MANY BRANDS OWNED BY KROGER
INCLUDE QVC AND FRED MEYER,
WHILE ALBERTSON'S AND SAFEWAY
AND OTHER RESPITE THEY ARE
HIKING FOOD PRICES FOR WORKING
PEOPLE WHILE WREAKING BILLIONS
IN PROFITS.
EVEN -- STAFF HAVE NOTICED THAT
THE BILL TO END HAZARD PAY WILL
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BLACK
AND BROWN WORKING PEOPLE.
ANALYSIS DIRECTLY STATES
"ENDING HAZARD PAY REQUIREMENTS
FOR GROCERY STORE EMPLOYEES
COULD HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACT ON GROCERY WORKERS WHO
IDENTIFY AS BLACK, INDIGENOUS,
AND PEOPLE OF CALLER . THE
RISKS OF WORKING DURING
PANDEMIC ARE ESPECIALLY
SIGNIFICANT FOR BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS WORKERS BECAUSE THEY
ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN THE LOW-
WAGE WORKFORCE, MORE LIKELY TO
EARN LOW INCOMES, AND
DISPROPORTIONATE --
VACCINATIONS AND KEY INDICATORS
OF COVID-19 ACTIVITY.
THERE ARE DISPROPORTIONATE HIGH
RATES OF COVID CASES,
HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND DEATHS IN
COMMUNITIES OF CALLER, WITH THE
HIGHEST RATE IN ALL THREE
CATEGORIES FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN
AND PACIFIC ISLANDER RESIDENTS,
SECOND HIGHEST RATE FOR
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, INDIAN,
ALASKAN NATIVE RESIDENTS.".
-- RECOGNIZES THAT "THE CENTERS
FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION HAS DETERMINED THAT
COVID TRANSMISSION IN KING
COUNTY IS AT A HIGH LEVEL."
SO, WHAT POSSIBLE JUSTIFICATION
COULD THERE BE FOR ENDING
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS?
UNLESS ELECTED OFFICIALS WANT
TO TELL THE TRUTH AND SAID THEY
ARE SIMPLY RAISING THE PROFITS
OF BIG BUSINESSES THAT THE
EXPECTED WORKERS?
MOVING FORWARD, THE ENDING
HAZARD PAY BILL FOR A VOTE IN
SEPTEMBER -- MOSQUEDA ARGUED
SEATTLE SHOULD END HAZARD PAY
BECAUSE OTHER WORK OTHER CITIES
AND ALREADY UNDER THEIRS.
-- CANNOT ACCEPT THIS RACE TO
THE BOTTOM ARGUMENT.
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL ALSO NOTE A
POINT BETWEEN THE NEW CONTRACT
BETWEEN UFCW 3000 AND MAJOR
GROCERY BUSES.
I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL MESSAGES
TO THAT EFFECT THAT I HAVE
HEARD IT FALSELY CLAIMS THAT
SEATTLE HAS A PAY MUST BE
REPEALED BEFORE UFCW MEMBERS
CAN GET THE NEGOTIATED PAY
RAISES.
A PLAIN READING OF THE UNION
CONTRACT SHOWS THIS IS UTTERLY
UNTRUE.
THE NEW CONTRACT STATES THAT
THE 2022 PAY INCREASES ARE
"EFFECTIVE ON THE FIRST DAY OF
THE CONTRACT OR THE FIRST
SUNDAY AFTER HAZARD PAY ENDS,
WHICHEVER IS LATER, BUT NO
LATER THAN AUGUST 28th 2022.
" IN OTHER WORDS, DESERVING
WORKERS WILL GET THEIR PAY
RAISES AUGUST 28, BEFORE THIS
BILL WOULD EVEN TAKE EFFECT,
WHETHER OR NOT SEATTLE'S HAZARD
PAY REMAINS.
-- WILL ALSO NO DOUBT ARGUE THAT
UFCW MEMBERS WILL GET
SUBSTANTIAL RAISES IN THE
CONTRACT, AND THAT ENDING
HAZARD PAY WILL NOT RESULT IN
LOST WAGES OR HARDSHIP.
WELL, YOU ALREADY HEARD FROM
THE WORKERS THEMSELVES.
WE ALSO SHOULD POINT OUT THIS
MATH DOES NOT ADD UP.
UNION REPRESENTED WORKERS WILL
RECEIVE A RAISE THIS YEAR OF
$.15 PER HOUR FOR NEW HIRES,
TWO DOLLARS PER HOUR FOR MOST
WORKERS WITH OVER 2.5 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE.
WORKERS WITH NO UNION WILL NOT
GET EVEN THOSE RAISES.
NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT,
LOSING FOUR DOLLARS PER HOUR
WILL BE A MAJOR PAY CUT FOR
MOST UNION MEMBERS, NOT TO
MENTION WORKERS WITHOUT UNIONS.
NOT TO MENTION, THE FOUR
DOLLARS PER HOUR IS HAZARD PAY
TO COMPENSATE FOR THE
ADDITIONAL RISKS WHICH GROCERY
WORKERS STILL FACE DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
THE RAISES IN THE CONTRACT
BARELY KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.
THEY ARE NO REPLACEMENT FOR
HAZARD PAY.
LET ME BE CLEAR.
ENDING HAZARD PAY WILL NOT
LOWER FOOD PRICES.
THESE CORPORATE CHAINS HAVE NOT
AND WILL NOT RETURN THOSE
"SAVINGS" TO CONSUMERS.
KROGER AND OTHER SUPERMARKET
CORPORATIONS ARE PROFITING
HANDSOMELY FROM INFLATION,
WHICH, ACCORDING TO A RECENT
BLOOMBERG ARTICLE, "REMAINS
UNIMPAIRED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
COMES TO FOOD COSTS, WHICH ROSE
5% IN JUNE FROM A YEAR AGO, THE
LARGEST INCREASE SINCE 1981."
THE FACTS ARE ABSOLUTELY DAMNING
. FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO VOTE TO
END HAZARD PAY, IT IS CLEAR
WHICH SIDE THEY ARE ON.
I STILL URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
VOTE NO ON ENDING HAZARD PAY,
BUT IF DEMOCRATS AND HAZARD PAY
NOW, THEY WILL BE DOING MORE
THAN TERMINATING A CRUCIAL
PUBLIC POLICY.
THEY WILL BE SAYING, IN THE
MIDST OF THIS ONGOING HEALTH
EMERGENCY, THAT THE LIVES AND
WELL-BEING OF FRONT-LINE
GROCERY WORKERS DO NOT MATTER,
WHERE THE PROPHET OF THE
WEALTHY REMAIN SUPREME.
AS -- JAMES SAID TODAY, WHY ARE
CITY COUNCIL NUMBERS FIGHTING
TO TAKE AWAY HAZARD PAY WHEN
INSTEAD YOU SHOULD ALL BE
FIGHTING TO INCREASE MINIMUM
WAGE AND MAKE THIS HAZARD PAY A
MOOT POINT?
I AGREE WITH BRETT.
IN FACT, THE CITY COUNCIL
SHOULD BE MAKING THESE FOUR
DOLLARS AN HOUR PERMANENT FOR
GROCERY WORKERS.
IN FACT, ALL WORKERS IN THE
CITY DESERVE AT LEAST THAT MUCH
OF A PAY RAISE.
IN FACT, MUCH MORE, GIVEN THE
SKYROCKETING COST OF LIVING IN
THE CITY, AND THE HISTORIC
LEVEL OF INFLATION WE ARE
EXPERIENCING NATIONWIDE, IN
THIS HISTORIC CRISIS OF THE
GLOBAL SYSTEM OF CAPITALISM.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT
THIS WILL SHOW IF DEMOCRATS
VOTE TO END HAZARD PAY WILL
ONCE AGAIN REMIND THE WORKING
PEOPLE THAT WE CANNOT RELY ON
THIS PARTY THAT PRIMARILY
REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF BIG
BUSINESS AND THE WEALTHY.
WE HAVE ORGANIZED
INDEPENDENTLY, BOTH THROUGH
SOCIAL STRUGGLES AND THROUGH
THE LABOR MOVEMENT BY BUILDING
A MILITANT FIGHTING LABOR
MOVEMENT -- AS A MEMBER SAID
EARLIER IN PUBLIC,.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
AS WAS ALLUDED TO, THE
ESSENTIAL STAFF MEMBER WE
RECEIVED ABOUT THIS BILL DID
CLARIFY THAT IF THE BILL
PASSES, HAZARD PAY REQUIREMENTS
WOULD END 30 DAYS AFTER THE
MAYOR SIGNED THE LEGISLATION.
SO, LIKELY BETWEEN AUGUST 25th
AND SEPTEMBER 4th.
AND THAT WORKERS UNDER THE
NEGOTIATED COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WILL BE
ELIGIBLE FOR ADDITIONAL WAGES
úSTARTING AUGUST 28th.
SO THAT COULD BE BETWEEN FOUR
DOLLARS AND NINE DOLLARS ADDED
TO THEIR PAY OVER THE COURSE OF
THE AGREEMENT.
I AM GLAD TO KNOW THAT
REPRESENTED WORKERS WILL GET
THE RAISES THEY DESERVE, AND
THAT THE UNION HAS BEEN SUCH A
STRONG ADVOCATE FOR MAKING
THESE RAISES PERMANENT, WHICH I
THINK IS THE KEY IMPETUS BEHIND
THIS LEGISLATION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
EVEN SO, WE ARE ONCE AGAIN IN A
HIGH TRANSMISSION PERIOD FOR
COVID IN KING COUNTY.
THE MAYOR HAS NOT ENDED THE
CIVIL EMERGENCY, AND GROCERY
WORKERS ARE STILL AT INCREASED
RISK FOR EXPOSURE, ESPECIALLY
NOW THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK
THEY DO NOT NEED MASKS ANYMORE.
SO, FOR THESE REASONS, I WILL
VOTE NO ON REPEALING HAZARD PAY
FOR GROCERY WORKERS.
THAT IS ALL I GOT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
ALL RIGHT.
ANY OTHERS BEFORE WE MOVE
FORWARD TO THE VOTE?
ALL RIGHT, I DO NOT SEE ANY.
CALL THE ROLL ON PASSING --
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOMEWHAT?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT WARRANTS?
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE BILL PASSES.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
MOVING ON IS THE ITEM NUMBER
TWO, FROM THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE.
IMPORT, PLEASE READ ITEM TWO
INTO THE RECORD.
>> FINANCIAL HOUSING COMMITTEE
120366, ORDINANCE 126 490,
ADOPTED IN 2022 BUDGET,
INCLUDING 2022 THROUGH 2027 --
PROGRAM.
THIS BILL WAS HELD IN CITY
COUNCIL JULY 26, 2022.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS ORIGINALLY SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, BUT I
UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS
WHAT HE IS UP TODAY.
OUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOU WANT
TO WALK US THROUGH THIS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AS WAS INDICATED AT BRIEFING
THIS WEEK, THIS BILL HAS BEEN
HELD OVER, SO I WILL MOVE TO
PUT IT IN FRONT OF US TODAY,
BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE HAVE A
SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF VOTES TO
PASS IT TODAY.
I MOVE THAT COUNCIL BUILT
123066 BE PUT BEFORE THE
COUNCIL.
>> SECOND.
>> THEN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
CAN MAKE FURTHER REMARKS, IF
THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AT
THIS TIME.
>> THINK IT WILL DO, BECAUSE IT
IS CONFUSING, HERE.
YOU GO AHEAD AND DO OPENING
REMARKS ON BEHALF OF COUNSELOR
MOSQUEDA.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND YOU WILL TAKE
CARE OF THE AMENDMENT, FOR
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WILL MOVE THE AMENDMENT AFTER
MAKING JUST A FEW MORE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
JUST TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE,
THIS IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
BILL TO TUNEUP THE COUNCIL
BUDGET IN THE MIDDLE OF 2022.
AS COUNSEL COLLEAGUES WILL
RECALL, GIVEN THE UPCOMING
BUDGET UNCERTAINTY, THERE WAS
SOME DEGREE OF ADJUSTMENT BY
THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION TO
COUNCIL THAT BE PUT IN THE
BUDGET IN THE FALL.
THIS LEGISLATION RECONCILES
THOSE BUDGET ADS, TO
CONSOLIDATE -- FISCAL POSITION
OF THE CITY.
SO, WE HELD THE BILL BECAUSE IT
DOES REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY
OF YES VOTES TO ALTER A BILL
THAT HAS BUDGET IMPLICATIONS.
THIS IS THE OVERVIEW FOR
COUNTABLE 120366.
THERE IS AN AMENDED I WILL
BRING, THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD IS THE PRIME SPONSOR,
BUT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
THAT IS AMENDMENT A, WHICH HAS
BEEN DISTRIBUTED -- BACK ONE
MOMENT.
YOU JUST DID THE INTRODUCTION
FOR THE LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
I NEED TO ASK, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES
BEFORE WE MOVED TO YOUR
AMENDMENT?
NONE.
OKAY.
WITH THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER
LOUIS, GO AHEAD WITH YOUR
MOTION TO MOVE AMENDMENT A
POINT
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I MOVE AMENDMENT A TO COUNCIL
BUILT 120366.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND THE BILL.
I SECONDED, SHOULD NOT HAVE
DONE IT.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT A. COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS -- IN THIS GESTURE, ON
BEHALF OF COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, NOW ADDRESS THE
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
THIS BILL REVISES A PROVISO
THAT WAS PART OF OUR INITIAL
BUDGET PACKAGE. IT PLACED ON
THE SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE BUDGET, FOR PREFILING
DIVERSION IN THE 2022 ADOPTED
BUDGET.
IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, ABOUT
$1.1 MILLION FOR PREFILING
DIVERSION PROGRAMS. COUNCIL
BUILT 120366 TRANSFERS 200,000
-- $200,100 FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S APARTMENT TO THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR
PREFILING DIVERSION CONTRACTS.
THIS AMENDMENT WAS REQUESTED BY
THE EXECUTIVE, BUT WAS
INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT OF THE
SENTIMENTAL BUDGET WHEN
TRANSMITTED.
SO, THIS IS AN EFFORT BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND MAYOR
HAROLD TO MAKE SURE THIS IS
INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE, AND
COULD, I GUESS, BE
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT WAY, AS A
TECHNICAL FIX, ALTHOUGH IT DOES
HAVE SUBSTANTIAL IMPLICATIONS
FOR COUNSEL BILL 120366, BUT
WAS THE WILL OF THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE AND MAYOR HAROLD THAT
THIS BE INCORPORATED INTO THE
BILL.
AS A POLICY MATTER, THE HERALD
ADMINISTRATION ANTICIPATES
SEEING A PREFILED DIVERSION
MONEY BEING HOUSED IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR
CONVERSATION THIS FALL.
CENTRAL STAFF EMAILED THIS
AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS ON
FRIDAY, JULY 22nd.
I DO NOT KNOW IF THE HERBOLD
OFFICE HAS RECEIVED OR FIELDED
QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES ABOUT
IT.
THEY DID WANT TO INCLUDE THE
DATE WHEN THIS AMENDMENT WAS
INITIALLY CIRCULATED.
>> THANK YOU.
POLLYS, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
REGARDING THE AMENDMENT
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS JUST
PRESENTED?
ALL RIGHT.
NOT SEEING ANY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE
ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT A?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEARSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL NEVER SOMEWHAT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL NUMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALE IS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT WARRANTS?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSE.
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION
CARRIES, THE AMENDMENT IS
ADOPTED.
THE AMENDED BILL IS BEFORE THE
COUNCIL NOW.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS BEFORE
WE GO TO THE ACTUAL VOTE ON THE
AMENDMENT BILL?
I DO NOT SEE ANY.
MADAM KURT, DO WE CALL THE ROLE
NOW?
SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS, IS
THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT AT?
>> NO, MADAM PRESIDENT, THANK
YOU, I AM READY TO VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE
ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> I AM SORRY, PRESIDENT.
WAS THE MOTION MOVED TO PASS AS
AMENDED?
I MISS THAT.
>> YEAH.
IT IS OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES POINT
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SOMEWHAT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL NUMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES POINT
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL NUMBER NELSON?
>> YES POINT
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT WARRANTS?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSE.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AS AMENDED.
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER THREE,
FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TECHNOLOGY AND CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE.
I WILL HAND IT OVER THE COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON IN A MINUTE, BUT
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM
THREE INTO THE RECORD.
>> ITEM THREE, APPOINTMENT 2279,
AS DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT --
CONFIRMED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, YOU ARE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
TO ADDRESS HIS POLICY
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED TO BE
ABLE TO ADVANCE THE NOMINATION
OF MARGO McINTYRE TO BE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BE THE FIRST -- DIRECTOR WITH
FORMAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
POLICY MAKING EXPERIENCE, MOST
RECENTLY LEADING ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT EQUITY PARTNERSHIPS
AND ORIGINAL WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT AS -- VICE
PRESIDENT OF'S METROPOLITAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
OED'S MISSION IS TO BUILD
INCLUSIVE ECONOMY WHERE
EVERYONE CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE.
THEY DO THIS THROUGH STRATEGIES
AND INVESTMENTS THAT OPEN DOORS
AND REMOVE BARRIERS TO WEALTH
BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY
EXCLUDED FROM SUCH
OPPORTUNITIES.
INTERIM DIRECTOR McINTYRE HAS
BEEN BUSY BRINGING HIS
KNOWLEDGE TO BEAR ON FULFILLING
THAT MISSION.
SINCE HE HAS BEEN AT THE HELM,
HE HAS LOST THE CAPITAL ACCESS
PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES LOW AND
ULTIMATELY FORGIVABLE LOANS TO
SMALL BUSINESSES, LAUNCHED AND
EXPANDED THE SEATTLE
RESTORATIVE PROGRAM THAT FILLS
EMPTY STOREFRONTS AND GIVES
SMALL BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS A
PLACE TO DO BUSINESS. JUST
TODAY, I SPOKE AT AN EVENT
ANNOUNCING THAT UP TO 30 SMALL
BUSINESSES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR
GRANTS UP TO $100,000 FOR
INTENDED IMPROVEMENTS.
THEN, LATER THIS YEAR, WILL
LAUNCH A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERSHIP PROGRAM, ENABLING
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO
ACTUALLY PURCHASE THEIR SPACE,
WHICH IS THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE
THE DISPLACEMENT OF BIPOC OWNED
BUSINESSES AND KEEP THAT WEALTH
IN COMMUNITY.
SO, HE HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON
ATTAINING OUR EQUITY, SOCIAL
JUSTICE, AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
POLICY GOALS BY GETTING
RESOURCES DIRECTLY INTO THE
HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED
THEM MOST, AND COLLABORATING
WITH OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING, AND THE
OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS, TO DO THAT.
SO, AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER,
I HAVE SEEN MR. McINTYRE IN THE
WILD, ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF
SMALL BUSINESSES.
I AM PLEASED, AND I JUST CANNOT
THINK OF ANYBODY MORE
EXPERIENCED OR KNOWLEDGEABLE TO
ACCEPT THIS ROLE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES' SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNSELOR NELSON.
COLLEAGUES, DOES ANYONE HAVE
COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD
ON THE CONFIRMATION REGARDING
MR. McINTYRE?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
WARRANTS.
I WILL VOTE NO ON THE
APPOINTMENT OF MARK McINTYRE TO
BE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MR. McINTYRE WAS WITH THE
SEATTLE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE FOR YEARS IN VARIOUS
CAPACITIES, INCLUDING AS
PRESIDENT AND CEO IN 2020,
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT LAST
YEAR.
AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, THE
CHAMBER REPRESENTS THE
INTERESTS OF MANY OF THE
BIGGEST CORPORATIONS AND THE
WEALTHIEST INDIVIDUALS IN THIS
STATE.
THE CHAMBER HAS A LONG HISTORY
OF OPPOSING ANY AND EVERY
PROGRESSIVE MEASURE THAT WOULD
MAKE THE LIVES OF WORKING
PEOPLE BETTER, INCLUDING PAID
SICK LEAVE, THE $15 AN HOUR
MINIMUM WAGE, THE AMAZON TAX,
AND IMPORTANTLY, ENDING THE
STATEWIDE RENT CONTROL BEEN.
THIS SHOULD NOT COME AS A
SURPRISE TO ANYONE.
THE CHAMBER EXISTS TO ADVOCATE
FOR THE PROCESS AND WEALTH OF
THE RICHEST PEOPLE.
THAT IS WHAT THEY DO.
THEIR POSITION ON EVERY ISSUE
CONFORMS TO THE INTERESTS AND
GREED OF THE WAY THE RICH ARE
DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO THE
INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF WORKING
PEOPLE.
THE CHAMBER OPPOSES EVEN A
SMALL PROGRESSIVE MEASURES
BECAUSE THEY KNOW IF THEY
DELIVER REAL, MATERIAL GAINS TO
WORKING PEOPLE, THAT IT EATS
INTO CORPORATE PROFITS.
BECAUSE WHEN WORKING PEOPLE
FIGHT AND WIN SOMETHING, IT
RAISES THEIR MORALE TO FIGHT
FOR MORE.
IN HIS CAPACITY AS A PUBLIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CHAMBER,
MR. McINTYRE REPEATEDLY OPPOSED
THE AMAZON TAX THE BIG BUSINESS
PAYROLL TAX, AND -- THAT MY
OFFICE FOUGHT FOR AND WON AS
PART OF THE AMAZON TAX MOVEMENT
THAT HE SENT MANY EMAILS TO THE
CHAMBER EMAIL LIST AND THE
COUNCILMEMBERS URGING THE BIG
BUSINESS TAX NOT BE PASSED.
AFTER IT WAS PASSED, HE URGED
IT BE RECONSIDERED.
THEN, FINALLY, HE AND THE
CHAMBER ANNOUNCED THEIR LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE BIG BUSINESS TAX.
I AM HAPPY TO NOTE THAT LAWSUIT
WAS RECENTLY DEFEATED IN COURT,
BUT THIS IS PRETTY BLATANT,
HAVING SOMEBODY AT THE HELM OF
A CITY DEPARTMENT WHO ACTUALLY
HEADED UP THE EFFORT TO HAVE A
LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TAX THAT
WAS PASSED BY OUR CITY.
TO BE CLEAR, THIS WAS NOT
SIMPLY OCCASIONAL EMAILS SENT
BY HIM AND THE CHAMBER.
IT WAS A SERIOUS CAMPAIGN THAT
BIG BUSINESS BUT REAL RESOURCES
INTO IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID
PAYING EVEN A SHRED OF THEIR
FAIR SHARE OF TAXES IN A CITY
THEY ARE MAKING UNAFFORDABLE.
JUST AS EXAMPLE, I WANT TO
REPORT AN EXCERPT FROM MR.
McINTYRE'S TRACKS TO CHAMBER
MEMBERS ON APRIL 15, 2020 HE
SAID "HI, SEATTLE METRO CHAMBER
MEMBERS.
THE CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCED ITS
SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING HEARINGS
ON THE 1.3 PAYROLL TAX PROPOSED
BY -- PLEASE SIGN THIS LETTER
CALLING ON THIS COUNCIL TO
REJECT THIS TAX ON JOBS AND
FOCUS ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
SENDING -- SEATTLE.COM.
FIND THE CHANGE.ORG PETITION.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO --
PROPOSAL.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ETHNIC
BUSINESS COALITION, JACK
McCULLOUGH, PARTNER AT
McCULLOUGH, HILL, LARRY, AND
DEMPSEY -- STRATEGIC EXPLAIN
THE PROPOSAL AND THE DANGER IT
PRESENTS TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY".
BY THE WAY, TAYLOR -- THE
PERSON HE QUOTES, WAS
ULTIMATELY AND VICIOUSLY
OPPOSED TO THE $15 PER HOUR
MINIMUM WAGE -- CITY COUNCIL
MANY TIMES TO SPEAK AGAINST IT.
THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. McINTYRE
IS NOT A PERSONAL QUESTION, IT
IS A QUESTION OF PUBLIC POLICY.
MR. McINTYRE HAS NOT SAID
ANYTHING LATELY TO INDICATE --
AFTER HIS APPOINTMENT, OF HIS
NOMINATION FOR THE SOPRANOS
ANNOUNCED, HE HAD NOT SAID
ANYTHING TO INDICATE HIS
OPINION SINCE LEAVING THE
CHAMBER HAS ALTERED IN ANY WAY,
INCLUDING HIS AGGRESSIVE
OPPOSITION TO THE AMAZON TAX, A
TAX, BY THE WAY, WHOSE REVENUES
HAVE FINALLY BEGUN FUNDING
DESPERATELY NEEDED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, AND A TAX THAT WAS
TRULY INDISPENSABLE FOR
PREVENTING THE MOST DISASTROUS
AUSTERITY AGAINST WORKING
PEOPLE AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS LAST
YEAR.
AT THE JUNE COMMITTEE MEETING
WHEN I ASKED HIM FOR
ALTERNATIVE TO SOCIAL
PROGRESSIVE -- HE WOULD
PROPOSE, AS HE WAS DEEPLY
OPPOSED TO THE TEXT, HE HAD NO
RESPONSE.
I ALSO ASKED WHAT VISION HE AND
THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BRING IN
LIGHT OF THE LOOMING RECESSION,
WITH ALREADY RECORD LEVELS OF
INFLATION, AND THE BURDEN OF
THE PANDEMIC BEING SHOULDERED
BY WORKING PEOPLE AND THE MOST
STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESSES.
AS PART OF HIS RESPONSE, HE
SAID "IN ANY DOWNTURN, THERE IS
ALWAYS OPPORTUNITY". IN MY
VIEW, THIS IS A FRIGHTENING
STATEMENT, BECAUSE THE FACT
THERE IS OPPORTUNITY IN A
DOWNTURN IS VERY TRUE FOR BIG
BUSINESS.
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HAZARD PAY,
AND RECORD PROFITS AND HAD HIM
FREE INCREASE FOR GROCERY
CORPORATIONS WHILE THE WORKERS
ARE ABSOLUTELY STRUGGLING TO
GET BY, MANY OF THEM DEALING
WITH EVEN HOMELESSNESS, HAVING
TO LIVE IN CARS.
THIS IS TRUE FOR BASICALLY
EVERY CORPORATION YOU NAME.
THE CORPORATION, MAJOR
SHAREHOLDERS EXECUTIVES AND
BILLIONAIRES, THEY RAKE IT IN
DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT
WORKING PEOPLE HAVE BECOME MUCH
WORSE OFF DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SO, IN A DOWNTURN, IT IS TRUE
FOR BIG BUSINESS AND THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES, BUT IT IS NOT
TRUE FOR WORKING PEOPLE, AND
NOT TRUE FOR MANY OF THE MORE
PRECARIOUSLY POSITIONED SMALL
ENTERPRISES.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS,
CAPITALISM IS A ZERO-SUM GAME.
WHEN BIG BUSINESS TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF "OPPORTUNITIES" IN
A HISTORIC CRISIS, THAT MEANS
THEY ARE MAKING MONEY AT THE
EXPENSE OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
SUFFERING MORE THAN USUAL.
I WILL NOT BOW FOR A DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR WHO PUBLICLY ADVOCATES
FOR THE PROFITS OF BIG BUSINESS
AT THE EXPENSE OF WORKING
PEOPLE.
THE GOALS OF BIG BUSINESS AND
THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE ARE
COMPLETELY AT ODDS WITH THE
STATED OBJECTIVE OF THE
DEPARTMENT, OF HELPING TO BUILD
INCLUSIVE ECONOMY AND REMOVING
BARRIERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
SOMEWHAT.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE COMMENTS
BEFORE I HAND IT OFF TO
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON FOR
CLOSING REMARKS?
ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, DO YOU
HAVE CLOSING REMARKS BEFORE WE
GO TO VOTE?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I AM HERE.
I WOULD SIMPLY ADD THAT INTERIM
DIRECTOR McINTYRE IS THE RIGHT
PERSON TO TAKE OED TO THE NEXT
LEVEL.
ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT
HIS VISION FOR OED AND WHAT HIS
TEAM IS WORKING ON CAN REFER TO
THE RESPONSES HE PROVIDED TO
THE QUESTIONS --
>> THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL ROLE ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNSEL NEVER SOMEWHAT?
>> NO.
>> HOW SOME OF HER STRESS?
>> YES.
>> CUSTOMER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> HAS A MEMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNSEL NUMBER WARRANTS?
>> YES.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED
POINT
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION
CARRIES, AND APPOINTMENT IS
CONFIRMED.
CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR
McINTYRE.
YOU AND I RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE
BRIEF REMARKS TO THE COUNCIL,
NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
CONFIRMED.
ALSO FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
I UNDERSTAND WE WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO SEE YOU ON SCREEN,
WHICH IS FINE.
SO, GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR
McINTYRE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND THANKS TO THE
COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION
OF MY SERVICE IN THIS NEW ROLE
AS DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I AM EXCITED FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE A MOMENT, NOW, WHEN
THERE IS TURNING THE CORNER ON
THE PANDEMIC, THERE IS
TREMENDOUS ENERGY IN THE CITY,
WANTED TO GO FORWARD AND BE
THAT LEADER IN THE NATION FOR A
MORE EQUITABLE, MORE INCLUSIVE
ECONOMY.
WE ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR
SEATTLE TO RETAKE OUR POSITION
AS A REGIONAL LEADER AND
PARTNER, AND NOT DO THINGS IN
SILOS BUT COLLABORATIVELY.
THERE IS ONE SILVER LINING WE
HAVE LEARNED FROM THIS
PANDEMIC, THAT WE ARE STRONGER
TOGETHER.
SO, IS PLAYING THAT ROLE AT THE
REGIONAL STAGE, TRYING TO LIFT
UP THE ENTIRE YOU JUST SOUND
REGION IS GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
EACH OF YOU ON YOUR ECONOMIC
GOALS, BOTH TO HELP BUSINESSES
AND WORKERS IN THIS CITY.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONVERSING WITH YOU,
UNDERSTANDING YOUR PRIORITIES.
I BELIEVE THAT PARTNERSHIP
LEADS TO PROGRESS.
I AM EAGER TO BE YOUR PARTNER
IN THIS NEW ROLE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE END, I WANT TO THANK
YOU, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO
MEET AGAIN.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME
AND THE TIME WE WILL HAVE IN
THE FUTURE TO MEET AGAIN, ABOUT
HOW WE WILL LOOK AT THE
ECONOMIC VITALITY OF TRIBES AND
LEVERAGING SOVEREIGNTY FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
VITALITY, NOT JUST WITHIN CITY
LIMITS BUT IN THE REGION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THOSE
EFFORTS.
THAT HAS BEEN A LONG PROJECT OF
MINE, AS YOU KNOW, FOR DECADES.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT
MEETING TO DO SOME WORK ON
THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM EAGER FOR THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO ITEM
NUMBER FOUR, THIS ALSO COMES
FROM COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK READ ITEM NUMBER
FOUR INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM FOUR, 120378,
RELATING TO CITY LIGHT
DEPARTMENT, AUTHORIZING GENERAL
MANAGER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER OF CITY LIGHT, JEFF
ESKEW, IN OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT, AND
TELLING MEDICATIONS AGREEMENT,
BOTH WITH PUBLIC UTILITY
DISTRICT NUMBER ONE OF
SNOHOMISH COUNTY AND --
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT BOTH
PASTORS
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS LED TO LEGISLATION RENEWS
A PAIR OF 1991 AGREEMENT
BETWEEN CITY LIGHT AND PUBLIC
UTILITY DISTRICT 1 OF SNOHOMISH
COUNTY.
THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE IN
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
AGREEMENT, AND A
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGREEMENT.
UNDER THOSE AGREEMENTS, CITY
LIGHT AGREED TO OPERATE A
SUBSTATION AT NORTH MOUNTAIN TO
SERVE THE DISTRICT CUSTOMERS IN
THE TOWN OF DARRINGTON. IN
RETURN, THE DISTRICT AGREED TO
REIMBURSE CITY LIGHTS COST.
THIS ORDINANCE WILL CONTINUE
THOSE AGREEMENTS, AND EXTEND
THEM ANOTHER 20 YEARS TO AUGUST
2022.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE US THE
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON JUST TEED
UP?
I DO NOT SEE ANY.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, CAN WE
MOVE TO A VOTE?
ARE YOU OKAY?
>> FINE.
>> OKAY, WILL CLERK PLEASE CALL
ROLE ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNSEL NUMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES
>> COUNSEL NEVER SOMEWHAT?
>> YES.
>> HAS NEVER STRESS?
>> YES.
>> CUSTOMER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNSEL NEVER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> NELSON?
>> YES.
HE MET COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT
HORACE CUTIE JACK YES.
MAC SEVEN IN FAVOR, THE POST
RESPECT THANK YOU.
BILL PASSED, CHARLES ON IT.
MADAME CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
SO, MOVING IN AND TO ITEM
NUMBER FIVE, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, THIS IS YOURS AS WELL,
WILL CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER FIVE AND THE RECORD IS
MECCA DID ITEM FIVE, 20379,
REGULATIONS OF FOOD DELIVERY
PLATFORMS ESTABLISHING
REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD DELIVERY
PLATFORMS PROVIDING DELIVERY
SERVICE AT A RESTAURANT
AMENDING CHAPTER 7.30,
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS AND AMENITIES TO MAKE
THANK YOU, CUSTOMER NELSON, I
KNOW YOU ARE CHAIR OF
COMMITTEE, BUT COUNCIL MEMBERS
PEDERSEN AND STRAUSS ARE
COSPONSORS, SO I WOULD LOOK TO
YOU TO SEE HOW YOU WANT TO
HANDLE THIS.
DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE IT AND
ALLOW YOUR COSPONSORS TO SAY A
FEW WORDS BEFORE WE MOVE INTO
AMENDMENTS?
>> MY COMMITTEE WAS BUT THE
HOST OF THIS LEGISLATION.
SO, I WILL EXTEND THE SPEAKING
TO THE COSPONSORS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRESS?
AND COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YEAH, PEDERSEN CAN GO
FIRST.
>> OKAY.
>> ACCU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND
CHAIR NELSON.
-- THIS SMALL BUSINESS
LEGISLATION, WHICH I COSPONSOR
WITH COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
WILL CONTINUE THE CAP ON FEES
THAT SEATTLE RESTAURANTS PAY TO
THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY COMPANIES.
THAT 15% CAP, WHICH HAS BEEN IN
PLACE THE PAST TWO YEARS, HAS
PROVEN TO BE REASONABLE, AS
WELL AS VITAL FOR SUPPORTING
SEATTLE'S DIVERSE RESTAURANTS
THAT HAVE STRUGGLED MIGHTILY TO
SURVIVE IN OUR CITY.
OUR LEGISLATION ADDS
FLEXIBILITY BY ENABLING
RESTAURANTS TO PAY HIGHER FEES
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FROM THE
DELIVERY PLATFORMS ADDITIONAL
SERVICES, SUCH AS MARKETING.
LEGISLATION WAS RECOMMENDED
UNANIMOUSLY BY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO THANK CHAIR NELSON
FOR PROVIDING TIME IN HER
COMMITTEE FOR THIS.
BECAUSE SEATTLE'S EMERGENCY
ORDER FOR THE PANDEMIC WILL END
SOON, OUR DIVERSE LOCAL
RESTAURANTS FACE A FINANCIAL
CLIFF UNLESS WE TAKE SWIFT
ACTION.
SO, I HOPE CITY COUNCIL WILL
APPROVE IT TODAY AND THE MAYOR
WILL SIGN IT SOON, SO SEATTLE'S
DIVERSE LOCAL RESTAURANTS CAN
THRIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNSEL NUMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR THE PARTNERSHIP
ON THIS.
WE KNOW THIS LAW HAS WORKED FOR
THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS.
WE NOTE CAPPING FOOD DELIVERY
FEES DURING THE PANDEMIC
BENEFITED BOTH OUR SMALLEST
BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS.
THIS IS ABLE TO SPUR OUR
ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE IN
RESTAURANTS TO BE ABLE TO SHARE
THEIR GIFTS FURTHER THAN JUST
THEIR OWN SEATING AREA.
THIS WAS GOOD FOR SEATTLE
RESIDENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC,
IT REMAINS A FOUNDATION FOR
LONG-TERM RECOVERY, AND SMALL
BUSINESS LEGISLATION MEANS
RESTAURANTS HAVE MORE CONTROL
OVER THEIR ECONOMIC SURVIVAL,
THAT SUPPORTS A VIBRANT,
DIVERSE RESTAURANT SCENE, HERE
IN SEATTLE.
I LIKE THIS BILL BECAUSE IT IS
COMMON SENSE PROTECTION FOR
RESTAURANTS, TOURIST, AND
FOODIES ALIKE.
JOIN YOU IN HIS MEETING FROM A
DISTRICT OFFICE IN BALLARD,
WHERE WE HAD A VIBRANT
RESTAURANT SCENE, WE ALSO HAVE
A DENSE AREA OF PEOPLE LIVING
IN THE NOT SO DENSE AREA WHERE
PEOPLE LIVE -- I AM CONSTANTLY
SEEING THE FOOD DELIVERY
PROGRAMS WORKING, HERE.
THIS BILL MAKES SURE OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE PROTECTED. IT
REALLY SETS THEM UP FOR A LONG-
TERM RECOVERY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, ALL THE
SUPPORTERS THAT CAME INTO MY
OFFICE, AND COUNSELOR NELSON
FOR MAKING THIS A SPEEDY
PROCESS.
OF COURSE, COUNSEL NUMBER
PEDERSEN FOR PARTNERSHIP IT'S
MAC YOU CAN HOLD UP ON THE
THANK YOU STILL THE END, OKAY?
WE STILL HAVE STUFF TO DO.
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, DO ANY OF
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE COMMENTS OR
ANYTHING ELSE TO PUT FORWARD?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I AM
LOOKING AT YOU.
>> I MOVED TO AMEND COUNSEL
120379, AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT A VERSION 2, WHICH
WAS RECENTLY SUBMITTED
>> THANK YOU BUT IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND THE
BILL AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
A 2, AND COUNCILMEMBER -- MOVED
AND SECONDED.
SO, COUNCILMEMBER MORALE IS, AT
THIS TIME, DO YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT YOUR AMENDMENT?
>> SURE, THANK YOU.
SO, I DO WANT TO NOTE UP FRONT,
THIS IS VERSION 2 OF THE
AMENDMENT.
IT CREATES A SMALL TECHNICAL
CHANGE, TO STREAMLINE.
BASICALLY, THIS WOULD PROHIBIT
FOOD DELIVERY PLATFORMS FROM
REDUCING COMPENSATION OF
PLATFORM WORKERS IN ORDER TO
COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE.
THIS LANGUAGE IN THE REMEDY
SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE, FOOD
DELIVERY WORKERS WOULD HAVE
RIGHT TO FILE CIVIL ACTION TO
ENFORCE THE REQUIREMENT.
I AM BRINGING THIS BECAUSE, IN
EARLY 2020, MY OFFICE WORKED
WITH THEN-COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ ON THE ORIGINAL BILL
TO ENSURE WORKER PROTECTION WAS
INCLUDED.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
IS INCLUDED HERE, AS WELL.
THE INDUSTRY DID SUPPORT A
SIMILAR FEE CAP LEGISLATION IN
MINNEAPOLIS.
THAT PROVISION DID INCLUDE A
PROVISION TO PREVENT DEDUCTIONS
FROM WORKER'S COMPENSATION.
I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE RAN
THE AMENDMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE
OFFICE TODAY.
WE HEARD BACK THAT THIS WAS
GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH PAST
PRACTICE ON OTHER LABOR LAWS,
TO PROHIBIT ACTIONS BY
EMPLOYERS FROM REDUCING PAY.
SO, I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT, AS A CITY, WE MAKE A
CLEAR STATEMENT THAT PLATFORM
COMPANIES CANNOT REDUCE THE PAY
OF WORKERS IN ORDER TO COMPLY
WITH THE NEW ORDINANCE.
I THINK THIS CHANGE REPRESENTS
THAT BROAD BELIEF, THAT BOSSES
SHOULD NOT STEAL FROM THEIR
WORKERS.
SO, I MOVE THAT WE AMEND AND ASK
FOR MY COLLEAGUE'S SUPPORT.
>> COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT A VERSION
2? I AT DO NOT SEE ANY.
YES?
>> YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
JUST WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC, WHAT VERSION 2
IS.
I THINK WE HAVE GOT VERSION --
WE DO HAVE THE AMENDMENT ONLINE
ON THE AGENDA.
IT IS JUST THAT I THINK WHAT IS
BEING MOVED IS A VERSION OF THAT
REMOVED SOME REDUNDANT TEXT
FROM IT.
SO, JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE
RECORD, AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, CORRECT ME IF I AM
WRONG, BUT VERSION 2 IS
LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY 7.30
.033, AND IT IS LOOKING AT
SUBSECTION B. IT IS REMOVING --
IT IS STREAMLINING IT BY
REMOVING "UNLESS THE FOOD
DELIVERY PLATFORM CAN PROVE ITS
DECISION TO TAKE THE ACTION
WOULD HAPPEN IN THE ABSENCE OF
THIS CHAPTER 7.30 GOING INTO
EFFECT". SEE, THAT PORTION IS
REMOVED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS SAW THIS VIA
EMAIL CIRCULATED BY CENTRAL
STAFF, BUT JUST FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, I WANT TO PUT THAT ON
THE RECORD, THAT IS CORRECT,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
MET CORRECT, THAT IS VERSION 2.
THE MAC THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
THE AMENDMENT A VERSION 2 IS
ONLINE, THOUGH.
THE CORRECT ONE IS POSTED.
>> YEAH, WE ARE GOOD.
BUT THANK YOU.
>> COUNSEL -- OLD HAND OR NEW
HAND?
>> THIS IS A NEW HAND.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR
BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT
FORWARD, WORKING WITH EVERYONE
TO FINE TUNE IT.
THAT IS ALL.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK EVERYBODY, WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD.
OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE
ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT A
VERSION 2?
>> COUNSEL NUMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER SO WHAT?
>> YOU YES PERSPECTIVE NUMBER
STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>>, BLUESKY PETE MacKANIN
>> COUNSEL NUMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
THE NEXT DOESN'T QCD MAC NO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT LAWRENCE?
>> YES.
THE
>> SIX IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION
CARRIES, AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED,
AND THE AMENDED BILL IS NOW
BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
N THE AMENDED BILL?
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
IS THERE ANY CLOSING REMARKS
FROM EITHER SPONSOR BEFORE WE
GO TO VOTE?
NOPE?
OKAY.
WE ARE GOOD.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON IS
TRYING TO BE RECOGNIZED POINT
>> I DID NOT SEE THAT, SORRY.
SHE IS NOT ON MY SCREEN.
>> SORRY, I WAS WAVING MY
HANDS, HERE.
THE SEATTLE RESTAURANT ALLIANCE
HAS 2400 MEMBERS WHO ARE
STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM LOST
REVENUE DURING THE PANDEMIC,
AND THE LAST THING THEY NEED ON
TOP OF ASK LEADING INFLATION IS
A SUDDEN INCREASE IN THE FEE
FOR THE SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN A
LIFELINE.
THESE RESTAURANTS MAKE UP THE
FABRIC OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, MY
CONSTITUENTS HAVE ASKED FOR
THIS MODULATION.
I THINK COSPONSORS,
COUNCILMEMBERS PEDERSEN AND
STRAUSS, FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, SORRY I DID NOT
SEE YOU.
YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT TILE UP IN
HERE.
SO, WE HAVE DONE THAT, YOU DID
YOUR CLOSING REMARK.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK?
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL AS
AMENDED?
>> COUNSEL NUMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNSEL NUMBER SO WHAT?
>> YES IT'S MAC COUNSEL NUMBER
STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> YES THE
>> COUNSEL NUMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
MAC COUNSEL NUMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNSEL NUMBER FOUR IS?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSE.
>> THANK YOU, BILL PASSED AS
AMENDED, WILL SIGN IT.
A NUMBER, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMITTEE
REPORTS.
I AM GOING TO MOVE ON ON THE
AGENDA.
NEXT IS ITEMS TO MOVE FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR.
NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR, SO WE WILL
MOVE ON TO ADOPTION OF OTHER
RESOLUTIONS.
THERE ARE NO OTHER RESOLUTIONS
FOR AMENDMENT OR ADOPTION
TODAY.
BEFORE I ADJOURN, IS THERE ANY
OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
COUNSEL TODAY?
>> MADAM PRESIDENT?
>> YES?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, HERE ON
THE COUNCIL DAIS, I DO HAVE A
VERY BRIEF ITEM I WOULD HAVE
MENTIONED THAT BRIEFING, BUT WE
HAD NOT NAILED THIS DOWN AT THE
TIME.
THAT IS FOR TWO ADDITIONAL
PUBLIC HEARINGS WE WILL HOLD ON
THE METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEFLY MENTION
THAT, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
PUBLIC WATCHING THE MEETING.
THIS INFORMATION HAS ALSO BEEN
DISTRIBUTED TO COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES DURING OUR MEETING
BY DAVID THORPE IN OUR OFFICE.
I WILL BRIEFLY READ THESE TWO
PUBLIC IN PERSON HEARINGS, THE
FIRST IS MONDAY, AUGUST 15th,
FROM 6:00 P.M.
-- STARTING AT 6 P.M., AT THE
RAYNER BEACH COMMUNITY CENTER
IN DISTRICT 2. THE SECOND IS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th, AT
6:00 P.M., AT THE NORTHGATE
COMMUNITY CENTER, IN DISTRICT
5. THESE MEETINGS ARE NOT GOING
TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR CALL IN
COMMENT, THEY WILL ONLY BE FOR
IN PERSON COMMENTS.
I DO WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY
THAT ALL OUR METROPOLITAN PARK
DISTRICT MEETINGS IN COUNCIL
CHAMBERS DO ALLOW COMMENTS FOR
DIAL IN.
BUT THE PURPOSE OF THESE IS
REALLY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE IN SOUTH
AND NORTH SEATTLE, TO PROVIDE
IN PERSON COMMENTS AT AN
EVENING SESSION, IF THAT IS
THEIR PREFERENCE TO EXPRESS
FEEDBACK ON THE METROPOLITAN
PARK DISTRICT.
SO, I WILL MENTION THESE AGAIN
IN BRIEFING NEXT MONDAY.
LIKE I STATED, THESE HAVE BEEN
DISTRIBUTED TO COUNSEL OFFICES,
BUT I WANTED TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO LET EVERYBODY
KNOW.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
AS FORMER PRESIDENT OF MPD, I
CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
DOING HIS COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
BECAUSE OF IT, YOU KNOW, LOTS
OF PROJECTS ARE ON HOLD.
IT IS NICE WE ARE COMING BACK
TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY
AGAIN FOR OUR SIX YEAR CYCLE
PLAN.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
OKAY.
ANYTHING ELSE?
I DO NOT SEE ANY.
COLLEAGUES, THIS DOES CONCLUDE
OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS FOR
TODAY.
AT OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ON
TUESDAY, AUGUST 9th.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL
AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU.