1 00:00:03,701 --> 00:00:06,467 -Hello. I'm your host, Brian Callanan. 2 00:00:06,467 --> 00:00:08,067 Council President Debora Juarez 3 00:00:08,067 --> 00:00:10,534 won't be on the Seattle City Council next year, 4 00:00:10,534 --> 00:00:13,267 deciding not to run again after two terms. 5 00:00:13,267 --> 00:00:15,801 What's she most proud of, what were her biggest challenges, 6 00:00:15,801 --> 00:00:18,501 and what guidance does she have for a council coming in 7 00:00:18,501 --> 00:00:19,968 with six new members? 8 00:00:19,968 --> 00:00:21,334 Our exit interview with 9 00:00:21,334 --> 00:00:23,901 Seattle City Council president Deborah Juarez 10 00:00:23,901 --> 00:00:25,534 next on "Council Edition". 11 00:00:25,534 --> 00:00:27,200 -The times it was good, it was really good. 12 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,234 The times, even when it was bad, I reminded myself, 13 00:00:30,234 --> 00:00:31,667 "This is what leaders go through. 14 00:00:31,667 --> 00:00:32,901 This is what you're supposed to." 15 00:00:32,901 --> 00:00:35,367 It isn't all fun and ice cream socials. 16 00:00:35,367 --> 00:00:36,734 -All that and more 17 00:00:36,734 --> 00:00:40,033 coming up next on "City Inside/Out: Council Edition". 18 00:00:40,033 --> 00:00:49,167 ♪♪ 19 00:00:49,167 --> 00:00:58,267 ♪♪ 20 00:00:58,267 --> 00:01:00,734 Council President Juarez, thank you very much for being here. 21 00:01:00,734 --> 00:01:01,934 I wanted to let you know 22 00:01:01,934 --> 00:01:03,434 I'm going to be collecting your key card 23 00:01:03,434 --> 00:01:05,701 at the end of this interview, so I hope you're ready for that. 24 00:01:05,701 --> 00:01:06,968 I did want to talk about this. 25 00:01:06,968 --> 00:01:08,167 You're not running for another term. 26 00:01:08,167 --> 00:01:09,434 -You got to wrestle me for it. -I know, I know. 27 00:01:09,434 --> 00:01:10,367 It's going to take a while here. 28 00:01:10,367 --> 00:01:11,868 -You don't want that on TV. 29 00:01:11,868 --> 00:01:13,934 -No, no, but I just think about the different accomplishments 30 00:01:13,934 --> 00:01:15,534 that you've had over your past couple terms. 31 00:01:15,534 --> 00:01:17,100 The Indigenous Advisory Council, 32 00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:18,634 the work you've done to reshape the Waterfront, 33 00:01:18,634 --> 00:01:20,934 the Iceplex, the Seattle Krakens' practice facility 34 00:01:20,934 --> 00:01:22,167 up there at Northgate, 35 00:01:22,167 --> 00:01:23,133 light rail expansion. 36 00:01:23,133 --> 00:01:25,100 It's a big list. -Climate pledge. 37 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:27,267 -There's a ton of things that we could talk about here. 38 00:01:27,267 --> 00:01:28,901 Is there something that stands out to you 39 00:01:28,901 --> 00:01:30,834 that you're the most proud of, or how do you look at it? 40 00:01:30,834 --> 00:01:33,100 -Oh, man, that's a tough question because I know 41 00:01:33,100 --> 00:01:35,467 you and I've talked about this before being on your show. 42 00:01:35,467 --> 00:01:38,067 -Yeah. -I don't know. 43 00:01:38,067 --> 00:01:39,901 I think the things that stand out for me, 44 00:01:39,901 --> 00:01:43,367 as far as leadership, has always been my kind of North Star, 45 00:01:43,367 --> 00:01:45,100 is it's important to lead, 46 00:01:45,100 --> 00:01:47,567 but also lead behind brick and mortar. 47 00:01:47,567 --> 00:01:49,334 So the Waterfront, 48 00:01:49,334 --> 00:01:50,901 the John Lewis Bridge, 49 00:01:50,901 --> 00:01:54,100 Climate Pledge Arena, Kraken Community Iceplex, 50 00:01:54,100 --> 00:01:56,868 the new community center we're going to get in Lake City, 51 00:01:56,868 --> 00:01:58,400 and then what we've done citywide, 52 00:01:58,400 --> 00:01:59,734 particularly with the Waterfront, 53 00:01:59,734 --> 00:02:01,267 and, you know, there's -- I don't want to sound -- 54 00:02:01,267 --> 00:02:03,534 because it's not all me. It's working with the executive, 55 00:02:03,534 --> 00:02:05,033 the city departments in the community, 56 00:02:05,033 --> 00:02:08,100 but I can't say there was one -- 57 00:02:08,100 --> 00:02:09,601 I mean, there are some big moments, 58 00:02:09,601 --> 00:02:11,968 certainly when we were negotiating for the NHL 59 00:02:11,968 --> 00:02:13,467 to come here and Climate Pledge, 60 00:02:13,467 --> 00:02:14,834 and certainly when we were wanting 61 00:02:14,834 --> 00:02:17,200 to make sure the Kraken Community Iceplex 62 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,033 and also the Seattle Storm Training Center, 63 00:02:20,033 --> 00:02:23,133 even though Stewie's not with us anymore. 64 00:02:23,133 --> 00:02:24,901 You know, she's in New York, 65 00:02:24,901 --> 00:02:27,167 but women's sports means so much to me. 66 00:02:27,167 --> 00:02:28,667 Working with the Seattle Reign, 67 00:02:28,667 --> 00:02:31,701 Seattle Storm, Rise Above, women's sports, 68 00:02:31,701 --> 00:02:33,567 Native American kids. 69 00:02:33,567 --> 00:02:35,734 But I really like to shop around the city 70 00:02:35,734 --> 00:02:37,467 and work with district council members 71 00:02:37,467 --> 00:02:39,834 where they had land and property. 72 00:02:39,834 --> 00:02:41,601 For me as a leader -- and I'm not saying 73 00:02:41,601 --> 00:02:43,334 this against any other leader -- 74 00:02:43,334 --> 00:02:46,734 to build city and community is about creating -- 75 00:02:46,734 --> 00:02:49,834 building brick and mortar, and creating jobs, not just taxing. 76 00:02:49,834 --> 00:02:51,100 And that's important to me. 77 00:02:51,100 --> 00:02:54,033 And I think I can actually, in good conscience, 78 00:02:54,033 --> 00:02:56,701 with a good heart, say we built some great stuff, 79 00:02:56,701 --> 00:03:01,000 we provided jobs for labor, building, industry, ironworkers, 80 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:02,534 and I want to continue to do that. 81 00:03:02,534 --> 00:03:03,968 -Well, let me ask about this. 82 00:03:03,968 --> 00:03:06,400 You've seen a lot of challenges in your two terms as well. 83 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,767 Is there a decision you wish you had back, 84 00:03:08,767 --> 00:03:11,133 or, you know, a moment in time where you said to yourself, 85 00:03:11,133 --> 00:03:14,334 "I wish I could have guided the the narrative a different way 86 00:03:14,334 --> 00:03:16,567 for the City Council"? Any any thoughts on that? 87 00:03:16,567 --> 00:03:18,067 -I didn't think you were going to ask me that. 88 00:03:18,067 --> 00:03:19,300 -I had to. -You had to. 89 00:03:19,300 --> 00:03:20,634 I was like, "Is he going to ask me that?" 90 00:03:20,634 --> 00:03:23,734 You know, that is such a difficult question. 91 00:03:23,734 --> 00:03:25,767 Maybe I'll do a follow-up show with you. 92 00:03:25,767 --> 00:03:28,067 -Yeah, right. -I can't -- 93 00:03:28,067 --> 00:03:30,767 Because if I say no, then it sounds arrogant 94 00:03:30,767 --> 00:03:32,801 and like I think everything I did was right. 95 00:03:32,801 --> 00:03:35,267 If I say yes, I can't really -- 96 00:03:35,267 --> 00:03:38,334 There are periods where I felt like, you know, 97 00:03:38,334 --> 00:03:42,667 we could have done more where -- particularly on the taxing issue 98 00:03:42,667 --> 00:03:47,167 on the head tax. 99 00:03:47,167 --> 00:03:49,934 But those don't just happen in a moment. 100 00:03:49,934 --> 00:03:53,400 Those are, like -- They build upon weeks and months 101 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,801 and years of coming to where -- 102 00:03:55,801 --> 00:03:59,167 You start at A, but working with community staff, 103 00:03:59,167 --> 00:04:02,567 community leaders, your colleagues, the executive, 104 00:04:02,567 --> 00:04:04,501 you start gelling an opinion 105 00:04:04,501 --> 00:04:06,133 and then you arrive somewhere else. 106 00:04:06,133 --> 00:04:09,467 And so no, I can't really, like, pinpoint something. 107 00:04:09,467 --> 00:04:11,601 I wish I could. 108 00:04:11,601 --> 00:04:14,133 There's a couple of times that I felt, like, 109 00:04:14,133 --> 00:04:18,501 I wanted to say, but as an elected, 110 00:04:18,501 --> 00:04:21,467 I needed to keep a level head and recognize 111 00:04:21,467 --> 00:04:23,467 that I represent not all of -- 112 00:04:23,467 --> 00:04:25,234 I mean, we represent all of Seattle, 113 00:04:25,234 --> 00:04:26,968 but our voice for the region, 114 00:04:26,968 --> 00:04:29,100 our congressional delegation was important, too, 115 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:30,501 and I didn't want to harm their work 116 00:04:30,501 --> 00:04:31,868 and the things they were doing. 117 00:04:31,868 --> 00:04:33,767 And I didn't want to make it all personal either. 118 00:04:33,767 --> 00:04:35,467 -Yeah, yeah. Thank you. 119 00:04:35,467 --> 00:04:37,601 And I'm sure there's a follow up show there somewhere. 120 00:04:37,601 --> 00:04:40,067 -There is, yeah. -But let me talk about this, 121 00:04:40,067 --> 00:04:42,734 this idea of lead to leave. 122 00:04:42,734 --> 00:04:44,033 You've spoken about this before. 123 00:04:44,033 --> 00:04:46,934 It's a phrase attributed to our uncle Billy Frank Jr., 124 00:04:46,934 --> 00:04:48,968 the late Native American activist and leader. 125 00:04:48,968 --> 00:04:50,367 We actually had a viewer e-mail 126 00:04:50,367 --> 00:04:52,667 come in about your leadership style here. 127 00:04:52,667 --> 00:04:54,234 This is from Derrick Bellegarde, 128 00:04:54,234 --> 00:04:56,634 who is the executive director of the Chief Seattle Club. 129 00:04:56,634 --> 00:04:58,667 He wrote this, and this is just half of the e-mail. 130 00:04:58,667 --> 00:04:59,734 I'll make sure you get the whole thing. 131 00:04:59,734 --> 00:05:00,934 So Derrick wrote this. 132 00:05:08,501 --> 00:05:09,868 -[ Laughs ] 133 00:05:26,167 --> 00:05:27,834 I wanted you to talk about that lead to leave 134 00:05:27,834 --> 00:05:29,200 and what Derrick just said right there. 135 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,100 -Yeah, 136 00:05:31,100 --> 00:05:33,400 that's very heartfelt from Derrick. 137 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,033 As you know, I was raised in Indian Country 138 00:05:36,033 --> 00:05:37,534 between the Puyallup Reservation, 139 00:05:37,534 --> 00:05:39,100 the Yakima Reservation, and the Blackfeet, 140 00:05:39,100 --> 00:05:40,834 and I grew up in tribal council meetings 141 00:05:40,834 --> 00:05:43,801 where women were mainly leaders, and men as well, 142 00:05:43,801 --> 00:05:45,534 and I have to say this on a personal note -- 143 00:05:45,534 --> 00:05:47,734 I learned about leadership 144 00:05:47,734 --> 00:05:50,133 differently than I think a lot of my colleagues. 145 00:05:50,133 --> 00:05:53,501 And in Indian Country, Uncle Billy used to say that, 146 00:05:53,501 --> 00:05:55,400 you know, you lead to leave 147 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,567 and you're bringing up this next set of leaders. 148 00:05:57,567 --> 00:05:58,868 You know, you're instilling in them 149 00:05:58,868 --> 00:06:01,133 not only the mentorship and the pride, 150 00:06:01,133 --> 00:06:03,834 but love, humiliation, and humor. 151 00:06:03,834 --> 00:06:06,467 And then I added, "Leave a legacy." 152 00:06:06,467 --> 00:06:07,734 That is, like, brick and mortar, 153 00:06:07,734 --> 00:06:08,968 whatever it is that you can say, 154 00:06:08,968 --> 00:06:10,501 "I was here with a group of people. 155 00:06:10,501 --> 00:06:12,634 I didn't do it myself, and we built this. 156 00:06:12,634 --> 00:06:15,400 And you know how we built it? We built it with consensus, 157 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:16,968 we built it with diplomacy, 158 00:06:16,968 --> 00:06:19,734 and we also built it with laughter and kindness." 159 00:06:19,734 --> 00:06:22,133 And, you know, so I kind of stepped into a world 160 00:06:22,133 --> 00:06:23,701 where leadership styles were different, 161 00:06:23,701 --> 00:06:25,133 even though I worked for a couple of governors 162 00:06:25,133 --> 00:06:26,334 and did different things. 163 00:06:26,334 --> 00:06:29,501 I'm not obviously immune to the non-Indian world, 164 00:06:29,501 --> 00:06:32,434 but I really, really embraced 165 00:06:32,434 --> 00:06:34,868 who Deborah was and what I've learned 166 00:06:34,868 --> 00:06:37,200 as a Native American Latina woman about leadership, 167 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,133 and some of my style was different. 168 00:06:39,133 --> 00:06:40,601 But one thing I've learned, 169 00:06:40,601 --> 00:06:42,200 and I've shared this, and I'll say it again, 170 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,033 because I know you want to hear this, 171 00:06:44,033 --> 00:06:47,300 where I come from, in my culture, 172 00:06:47,300 --> 00:06:50,133 being direct and honest is a sign of respect. 173 00:06:50,133 --> 00:06:51,701 It means I can look you in the eye 174 00:06:51,701 --> 00:06:54,367 and I can tell you what I think, and that's not rude, 175 00:06:54,367 --> 00:06:57,834 and I noticed that non people, maybe non-Natives, I don't know, 176 00:06:57,834 --> 00:07:00,701 they find that, like, kind of -- that's rude to be 177 00:07:00,701 --> 00:07:02,534 so direct and so honest, 178 00:07:02,534 --> 00:07:04,300 but I'm giving you the respect 179 00:07:04,300 --> 00:07:08,100 that I'm listening to you, I'm hearing you, 180 00:07:08,100 --> 00:07:11,100 and I want to get to consensus or I want to get to yes, 181 00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:13,968 and if I have to back off on my no, then I can do that. 182 00:07:13,968 --> 00:07:15,834 But the way you start is being honest. 183 00:07:15,834 --> 00:07:17,133 And so when people -- you know, 184 00:07:17,133 --> 00:07:18,501 Seattle's known for the kind of hand-wringing, 185 00:07:18,501 --> 00:07:21,033 passive aggressive, not saying what you mean, 186 00:07:21,033 --> 00:07:23,801 and my staff knows this -- "GTP, get to the point. 187 00:07:23,801 --> 00:07:25,100 Just tell me what it is." 188 00:07:25,100 --> 00:07:27,467 I'm not going to hide the ball. 189 00:07:27,467 --> 00:07:29,300 I'm not going to play games. 190 00:07:29,300 --> 00:07:31,534 I'm not saying that I don't know how to negotiate 191 00:07:31,534 --> 00:07:34,100 or just kind of, you know, keep things close to the vest, 192 00:07:34,100 --> 00:07:35,934 but at the same time, people deserve honesty, 193 00:07:35,934 --> 00:07:37,167 and I always wanted to give it to them, 194 00:07:37,167 --> 00:07:38,634 even if they didn't want to hear it. 195 00:07:38,634 --> 00:07:40,400 -Okay, let me ask this question 196 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,300 because we have you leaving here. 197 00:07:42,300 --> 00:07:43,367 There's going to be six new members 198 00:07:43,367 --> 00:07:44,634 on the council next year. 199 00:07:44,634 --> 00:07:46,901 We got this e-mail in from Brian who asked this. 200 00:07:51,067 --> 00:07:52,434 Some thoughts about that? 201 00:07:52,434 --> 00:07:54,834 -Well, my advice to the new council coming on board 202 00:07:54,834 --> 00:07:56,367 is that they work together 203 00:07:56,367 --> 00:07:58,434 and that they walk into each other's offices. 204 00:07:58,434 --> 00:08:02,434 And we could do that before 2020 and -- Well, not always. 205 00:08:02,434 --> 00:08:04,834 I had some colleagues that had never been 206 00:08:04,834 --> 00:08:07,234 in the office of other colleagues for, like, a decade. 207 00:08:07,234 --> 00:08:08,367 -Right. 208 00:08:08,367 --> 00:08:09,868 -I made it my point to always be able -- 209 00:08:09,868 --> 00:08:11,100 There's not one office 210 00:08:11,100 --> 00:08:13,634 I couldn't walk into and talk to people. 211 00:08:13,634 --> 00:08:15,167 I always wanted to know where people were at, 212 00:08:15,167 --> 00:08:17,167 and my advice is to stay -- 213 00:08:17,167 --> 00:08:18,734 And I know this sounds almost simplistic, 214 00:08:18,734 --> 00:08:20,033 and I'm not trying to be negative, 215 00:08:20,033 --> 00:08:23,200 but just to be kind and honest and open 216 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,634 and just recognize it's not about your base, 217 00:08:25,634 --> 00:08:27,267 it's not about your district. 218 00:08:27,267 --> 00:08:28,667 It is about all of Seattle, 219 00:08:28,667 --> 00:08:32,567 whether you're a business, a nonprofit, environmentalist. 220 00:08:32,567 --> 00:08:34,968 I mean, whether you're a -- you know, 221 00:08:34,968 --> 00:08:37,501 a conglomerate or you're a corporation, 222 00:08:37,501 --> 00:08:41,000 because at the end of the day, we all love this great city, 223 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,634 and the people that are coming in, 224 00:08:43,634 --> 00:08:46,400 besides the advice, is just remember to laugh 225 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,968 and be kind, go out and have coffee, talk things over, 226 00:08:49,968 --> 00:08:51,901 and I think I said this on your show a long time ago 227 00:08:51,901 --> 00:08:54,400 when I first got elected about the district system. 228 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,501 You know, it was really refreshing and I learned -- 229 00:08:56,501 --> 00:08:58,100 and this whole new group, by the way, 230 00:08:58,100 --> 00:09:00,100 isn't going to be burdened by an old system. 231 00:09:00,100 --> 00:09:02,133 They're all brand new, so they get it now. 232 00:09:02,133 --> 00:09:03,334 They understand the districts. 233 00:09:03,334 --> 00:09:04,534 -It's been established for a while now. 234 00:09:04,534 --> 00:09:06,200 -And I started out with that. 235 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,167 And so, I was really --- I liked it, 236 00:09:08,167 --> 00:09:10,000 that I could walk into, like, Councilor Herbert's office 237 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:11,701 and say, "Hey, this is going on in West Seattle." 238 00:09:11,701 --> 00:09:13,033 I remember when all those trees got cut. 239 00:09:13,033 --> 00:09:14,133 -Yeah, right. -I was like, 240 00:09:14,133 --> 00:09:15,567 "Well, where is this? What happened?" 241 00:09:15,567 --> 00:09:17,968 So, she's explaining it to me. I had her come to committee. 242 00:09:17,968 --> 00:09:21,033 I could work with Sally Bagshaw, who was representing downtown, 243 00:09:21,033 --> 00:09:23,067 and that's how we got all the Waterfront stuff done 244 00:09:23,067 --> 00:09:23,901 and Climate Pledge. 245 00:09:23,901 --> 00:09:25,167 That was her district. 246 00:09:25,167 --> 00:09:26,734 She knew her constituents. 247 00:09:26,734 --> 00:09:28,167 And then I got to meet those people 248 00:09:28,167 --> 00:09:30,100 and people I never would have met. 249 00:09:30,100 --> 00:09:31,133 And so -- 250 00:09:31,133 --> 00:09:32,734 -Bob Donegan says hi, by the way. 251 00:09:32,734 --> 00:09:34,968 -The two Bobs. Yes, the two Bobs. 252 00:09:34,968 --> 00:09:39,501 So there is some real synergy and beauty 253 00:09:39,501 --> 00:09:41,000 in representing the district. 254 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,567 But as I said, and I learned this from "Star Trek" -- 255 00:09:43,567 --> 00:09:45,000 yes, and I always use this line, 256 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:46,968 but I've never said where I attribute it to -- 257 00:09:46,968 --> 00:09:49,167 that I represent the city, 258 00:09:49,167 --> 00:09:51,501 but I honor the needs of my district. 259 00:09:51,501 --> 00:09:54,767 Pothole, lights, homelessness, public safety, 260 00:09:54,767 --> 00:09:56,334 garbage pickup, lights. 261 00:09:56,334 --> 00:09:57,534 -Yeah. -That's the stuff, 262 00:09:57,534 --> 00:09:58,567 because people -- -Sidewalks. 263 00:09:58,567 --> 00:09:59,968 -Sidewalks. Those are he calls we get, 264 00:09:59,968 --> 00:10:01,033 and they're legit. 265 00:10:01,033 --> 00:10:04,167 And so, someone calls and says, you know 266 00:10:04,167 --> 00:10:05,400 "Can you get a crosswalk here? 267 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,434 Can you get a light here? Can you fix a sidewalk?" 268 00:10:07,434 --> 00:10:09,267 I know where that is in D5, 269 00:10:09,267 --> 00:10:11,400 and I can call whose ever head of SDOT 270 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,300 or whomever and say, "Look, there's a problem here." 271 00:10:13,300 --> 00:10:15,367 -Can you get a little more specific, though, 272 00:10:15,367 --> 00:10:17,400 on challenges that are ahead for this new council? 273 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,567 I think about there's a big budget deficit 274 00:10:19,567 --> 00:10:21,033 they're going to have to reckon with. 275 00:10:21,033 --> 00:10:23,934 There's an issue with, "Okay, how are we going to enforce 276 00:10:23,934 --> 00:10:24,934 drug use and possession?" 277 00:10:24,934 --> 00:10:25,968 There's a big debate over that 278 00:10:25,968 --> 00:10:27,434 in the council over this past year. 279 00:10:27,434 --> 00:10:29,334 Can you look at that? 280 00:10:29,334 --> 00:10:30,934 Are those the two challenges that are big 281 00:10:30,934 --> 00:10:32,234 that are ahead of them, 282 00:10:32,234 --> 00:10:33,901 or how do you look at the biggest challenges ahead 283 00:10:33,901 --> 00:10:35,067 for this new council? 284 00:10:35,067 --> 00:10:36,767 -You know, I don't know. I can't really answer 285 00:10:36,767 --> 00:10:38,434 what I think are the big challenges, 286 00:10:38,434 --> 00:10:41,601 but I can say this -- We have taken it away. 287 00:10:41,601 --> 00:10:44,734 We've cleared the road for them on the big stuff, okay? 288 00:10:44,734 --> 00:10:48,167 We've set up these alternative system with 911, 289 00:10:48,167 --> 00:10:50,801 the public safety, passing the drug law, 290 00:10:50,801 --> 00:10:53,267 working with City Attorney Davidson, 291 00:10:53,267 --> 00:10:57,467 working with municipal court, the jail. 292 00:10:57,467 --> 00:10:59,934 So there will be the standard challenges 293 00:10:59,934 --> 00:11:02,133 of any elected leader, right? 294 00:11:02,133 --> 00:11:05,934 But as far as -- You know, I can't anticipate it isn't 295 00:11:05,934 --> 00:11:08,434 going to be anything different than any other elected, 296 00:11:08,434 --> 00:11:10,801 and they're all adults that come from professional fields 297 00:11:10,801 --> 00:11:13,868 that ran for their office, campaigned for ten months. 298 00:11:13,868 --> 00:11:14,934 They're all being onboarded. 299 00:11:14,934 --> 00:11:17,234 They understand what their job is. 300 00:11:17,234 --> 00:11:20,968 I'm actually -- And I know electeds say this a lot, 301 00:11:20,968 --> 00:11:22,334 but I actually am really excited 302 00:11:22,334 --> 00:11:24,000 to see this new council get to work 303 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,634 and build on the stuff that these last councils have done. 304 00:11:27,634 --> 00:11:28,767 -Thank you. 305 00:11:28,767 --> 00:11:30,100 I want to make sure I ask this question too, 306 00:11:30,100 --> 00:11:32,467 because you worked hard to establish the governance, 307 00:11:32,467 --> 00:11:34,968 Native Communities and Tribal Governments Committee. 308 00:11:34,968 --> 00:11:36,767 Do you worry that that committee goes away 309 00:11:36,767 --> 00:11:38,968 without you being there, without an indigenous member 310 00:11:38,968 --> 00:11:40,100 on the city council? 311 00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:41,200 -No, because that's why we created 312 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:42,801 the Indigenous Advisory Council 313 00:11:42,801 --> 00:11:44,534 that is in the Department of Neighborhoods 314 00:11:44,534 --> 00:11:47,467 and staffed by Francesca, who I absolutely adore, 315 00:11:47,467 --> 00:11:49,133 who came from the Seattle Indian Health Board. 316 00:11:49,133 --> 00:11:52,267 And so Francesca chairs that nine member board. 317 00:11:52,267 --> 00:11:54,367 Four them are elected leaders from tribal governments, 318 00:11:54,367 --> 00:11:56,901 actual -- you know, on council, 319 00:11:56,901 --> 00:11:59,901 and so, I already know who -- 320 00:11:59,901 --> 00:12:02,367 I'm pretty sure I know who's going to absorb that committee, 321 00:12:02,367 --> 00:12:04,901 and no, I'm not, because that was the whole point of me 322 00:12:04,901 --> 00:12:07,901 taking the IAC and institutionalizing it 323 00:12:07,901 --> 00:12:11,400 and having a staff where it will not go away, 324 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,767 where they will provide guidance not only 325 00:12:13,767 --> 00:12:16,067 to the legislative branch, but working with Tim Reynon, 326 00:12:16,067 --> 00:12:19,133 who is the tribal liaison in the executive side, 327 00:12:19,133 --> 00:12:20,801 and Tim knows all these folks as well, 328 00:12:20,801 --> 00:12:23,167 when he was on tribal council at Puyallup 329 00:12:23,167 --> 00:12:24,901 and legal counsel for Puyallup. 330 00:12:24,901 --> 00:12:27,234 So we've really worked up a great -- 331 00:12:27,234 --> 00:12:29,734 I'm trying to think of a sports analogy that you would like. 332 00:12:29,734 --> 00:12:31,133 A deep bench. -Sure, sure. 333 00:12:31,133 --> 00:12:32,267 -A deep bench. -Oh, there you go. 334 00:12:32,267 --> 00:12:33,601 -Is that what I say? I'm getting it now. 335 00:12:33,601 --> 00:12:35,167 -Now that's one of Mayor Harold's too, I think. 336 00:12:35,167 --> 00:12:36,601 -What happened to the Mariners, by the way? 337 00:12:36,601 --> 00:12:38,067 -That's a whole nother story. 338 00:12:38,067 --> 00:12:40,067 But it sounds like that that committee is going to be there, 339 00:12:40,067 --> 00:12:42,334 and I think you were very intentional about this. 340 00:12:42,334 --> 00:12:43,901 Because you're not on the council, 341 00:12:43,901 --> 00:12:46,701 doesn't mean that Native American issues, 342 00:12:46,701 --> 00:12:49,033 indigenous issues are not going to continue to be looked at. 343 00:12:49,033 --> 00:12:50,300 I think that's an important part of it. 344 00:12:50,300 --> 00:12:51,734 -Well, that's an example of lead to leave. 345 00:12:51,734 --> 00:12:53,100 -Yeah. 346 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:54,801 -I mean, I can stand up and, you know, have rallies 347 00:12:54,801 --> 00:12:56,667 and go on and on and on and slogans and T-shirts, 348 00:12:56,667 --> 00:12:58,701 but what do I leave behind? -Yeah. 349 00:12:58,701 --> 00:13:01,267 -And I can look back and say, "The IAC was created. 350 00:13:01,267 --> 00:13:03,367 It's funded. It's not going anywhere. 351 00:13:03,367 --> 00:13:04,934 They will tackle issues of missing 352 00:13:04,934 --> 00:13:06,834 murdered indigenous women and girls. 353 00:13:06,834 --> 00:13:09,467 They will tackle the issues of the Violence Against Women Act. 354 00:13:09,467 --> 00:13:11,234 They will tackle the issues of housing 355 00:13:11,234 --> 00:13:12,601 and working with Derrick Bellegarde 356 00:13:12,601 --> 00:13:14,868 and all the other folks, Esther Lucero, 357 00:13:14,868 --> 00:13:17,200 the Salient Health Board, all of us are connected. 358 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,267 We all know each other, and I'm not going anywhere. 359 00:13:19,267 --> 00:13:21,100 -Yeah. Alright. Well, thank you for that. 360 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:23,701 I wanted to make sure I got back to this whole district piece, 361 00:13:23,701 --> 00:13:26,100 because you have been such a passionate representative, 362 00:13:26,100 --> 00:13:29,033 advocate, defender of District 5 in North Seattle 363 00:13:29,033 --> 00:13:30,267 on your time on the council. 364 00:13:30,267 --> 00:13:32,400 We got a question that came in about that. 365 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:33,801 Your old pal, Kevin Schofield... 366 00:13:33,801 --> 00:13:34,968 -Oh, Kevin. 367 00:13:34,968 --> 00:13:36,234 -...from Seattle City Council Insight. 368 00:13:36,234 --> 00:13:37,601 He says he would love to meet up with you 369 00:13:37,601 --> 00:13:38,434 after the New Year. 370 00:13:38,434 --> 00:13:39,567 Drinks are on him. 371 00:13:39,567 --> 00:13:41,167 Not that last part, but I made that up. 372 00:13:41,167 --> 00:13:43,000 But hopefully Kevin will figure it out with you. 373 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:44,601 At any rate, Kevin asked this. 374 00:13:49,601 --> 00:13:51,133 -Well, the biggest misconception, 375 00:13:51,133 --> 00:13:52,834 one of the reasons why I decided to run 376 00:13:52,834 --> 00:13:54,801 was -- I knew I was going to run for something at some point. 377 00:13:54,801 --> 00:13:56,701 I'm just glad we went to a district system -- 378 00:13:56,701 --> 00:13:59,133 is I think people think that all the issues, 379 00:13:59,133 --> 00:14:02,100 societal ills, if you will, or whatever, 380 00:14:02,100 --> 00:14:05,534 and everything that's unhappy or people aren't happy with 381 00:14:05,534 --> 00:14:07,567 happens south of the ship canal. 382 00:14:07,567 --> 00:14:10,133 And we've learned, and I've watched the statistics, 383 00:14:10,133 --> 00:14:12,067 and I think "The Seattle Times" did a story on it as well, 384 00:14:12,067 --> 00:14:14,100 in the beginning. I don't know if they followed up. 385 00:14:14,100 --> 00:14:17,968 But we started out with 49% renters and 51% homeowners, 386 00:14:17,968 --> 00:14:19,901 and that now has switched. -Yeah. 387 00:14:19,901 --> 00:14:22,701 -And the growth there -- I think people just didn't look north 388 00:14:22,701 --> 00:14:24,300 to see how much land there was 389 00:14:24,300 --> 00:14:26,400 and connecting with North Seattle College 390 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,601 and, like, Northgate Mall and the Simon properties, 391 00:14:28,601 --> 00:14:30,634 and because in my former job, 392 00:14:30,634 --> 00:14:32,300 what I did was economic development, 393 00:14:32,300 --> 00:14:34,801 so of course I made friends with all these huge, 394 00:14:34,801 --> 00:14:36,868 corporate real estate landowners, 395 00:14:36,868 --> 00:14:37,901 that were like, you know, 396 00:14:37,901 --> 00:14:39,234 "What are you doing with this property? 397 00:14:39,234 --> 00:14:40,400 How can the city use it?" 398 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:41,834 And I think the big misconception is that 399 00:14:41,834 --> 00:14:44,367 somehow, that it was old and stale 400 00:14:44,367 --> 00:14:45,734 and there was not going to be any more growth. 401 00:14:45,734 --> 00:14:47,968 And as you know, I fought hard for the 130th Street 402 00:14:47,968 --> 00:14:49,567 and worked on the North -- -For light rail. 403 00:14:49,567 --> 00:14:51,334 -Yeah, yeah, for Northgate Rail, too. 404 00:14:51,334 --> 00:14:52,667 And you know, what people don't know 405 00:14:52,667 --> 00:14:55,133 is a lot of people live right in Shoreline 406 00:14:55,133 --> 00:14:56,868 and come to the city of Seattle to work. 407 00:14:56,868 --> 00:14:59,667 So when we got the numbers working with Mr. Rogoff 408 00:14:59,667 --> 00:15:01,200 when he was at Sound Transit 409 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,834 and then Julie Timm and working for 130th, 410 00:15:03,834 --> 00:15:05,300 the numbers were off the charts on 411 00:15:05,300 --> 00:15:08,334 onboarding at Northgate alone and now with 130th, 412 00:15:08,334 --> 00:15:10,934 and then I got the statistics from the Leiwekes 413 00:15:10,934 --> 00:15:12,767 on the Kraken Community Iceplex, 414 00:15:12,767 --> 00:15:15,667 and they anticipate a million visitors in one year. 415 00:15:15,667 --> 00:15:17,300 And we got two hotels coming up there, 416 00:15:17,300 --> 00:15:18,667 working with the Simon folks. 417 00:15:18,667 --> 00:15:22,434 And so, when you have that kind of economic vitality, 418 00:15:22,434 --> 00:15:25,200 I just hope it sets an example for other districts, 419 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,667 welcoming or not -- hopefully more welcoming -- 420 00:15:27,667 --> 00:15:29,267 not just for business, 421 00:15:29,267 --> 00:15:32,033 but for housing, you know, 422 00:15:32,033 --> 00:15:35,033 to look at more type of housing, 423 00:15:35,033 --> 00:15:36,334 mixed income housing, 424 00:15:36,334 --> 00:15:37,968 affordable housing, 425 00:15:37,968 --> 00:15:40,334 and kind of get away from just 426 00:15:40,334 --> 00:15:42,133 "We can only have single family zoning." 427 00:15:42,133 --> 00:15:43,534 -Right. 428 00:15:43,534 --> 00:15:45,868 Well, that's a big challenge ahead for this next council. 429 00:15:45,868 --> 00:15:47,367 How do you reckon with that one? 430 00:15:47,367 --> 00:15:50,467 Because you think about a city that's growing. I know I do too. 431 00:15:50,467 --> 00:15:52,834 How does that figure into the future of this city 432 00:15:52,834 --> 00:15:55,067 and what this council has on its plate for next year? 433 00:15:55,067 --> 00:15:56,400 -Well, it's going to have to be a big shift, 434 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:57,801 and there's another whole story there, 435 00:15:57,801 --> 00:16:00,501 as you know, with redlining and how the city came about. 436 00:16:00,501 --> 00:16:01,968 Well, you can't grow more land, 437 00:16:01,968 --> 00:16:04,501 but you really have to recalibrate 438 00:16:04,501 --> 00:16:07,267 how you think about what a city looks like 439 00:16:07,267 --> 00:16:08,400 in being urban. 440 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,234 You need green space, 441 00:16:10,234 --> 00:16:13,100 but you also need to recognize that this city is growing. 442 00:16:13,100 --> 00:16:14,701 We're a world class city. 443 00:16:14,701 --> 00:16:16,767 We are the gem, I think, of the northwest. 444 00:16:16,767 --> 00:16:19,434 And no offense to any other city in the state of Washington, 445 00:16:19,434 --> 00:16:22,133 but people come to Washington to come to Seattle, 446 00:16:22,133 --> 00:16:23,968 and now they want to live here, and we have tech here. 447 00:16:23,968 --> 00:16:26,167 We have a lot of great, good things here. 448 00:16:26,167 --> 00:16:29,234 And so we have to get away from the 1950s thinking 449 00:16:29,234 --> 00:16:31,234 that you can just have this huge lot 450 00:16:31,234 --> 00:16:32,801 and it's just yours and that's it. 451 00:16:32,801 --> 00:16:35,234 And I know that goes to the principles of private property, 452 00:16:35,234 --> 00:16:36,434 and I get that, 453 00:16:36,434 --> 00:16:38,667 but there's a new generation of thinking, 454 00:16:38,667 --> 00:16:40,634 you know, "This land can be for all of us. 455 00:16:40,634 --> 00:16:42,868 We can all have neighborhoods of that." 456 00:16:42,868 --> 00:16:44,767 And so, I think that's important. 457 00:16:44,767 --> 00:16:47,334 -Okay. I do want to talk about this job, 458 00:16:47,334 --> 00:16:49,634 and I know for you and other council members, 459 00:16:49,634 --> 00:16:51,467 it's become a lot more challenging 460 00:16:51,467 --> 00:16:52,367 over the last decade, 461 00:16:52,367 --> 00:16:54,434 and I'm thinking back to 2020, 462 00:16:54,434 --> 00:16:56,334 when the council was in the middle of this debate 463 00:16:56,334 --> 00:16:57,501 over police funding, 464 00:16:57,501 --> 00:16:59,234 protesters went to your home, threatening you, 465 00:16:59,234 --> 00:17:01,367 breaking into your car, all these awful things, 466 00:17:01,367 --> 00:17:02,734 defacing your house there. 467 00:17:02,734 --> 00:17:04,100 I guess do you see Seattle as 468 00:17:04,100 --> 00:17:06,267 more dangerous politically right now 469 00:17:06,267 --> 00:17:09,601 or more polarized politically than when you took office? 470 00:17:09,601 --> 00:17:13,033 -Well, I think it started -- 471 00:17:13,033 --> 00:17:14,434 Well, I think it started, 472 00:17:14,434 --> 00:17:17,834 but I think President Trump really allowed 473 00:17:17,834 --> 00:17:19,667 and said it was okay. 474 00:17:19,667 --> 00:17:21,400 And we didn't just see it in the city. 475 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,234 You're still seeing it nationally, right? 476 00:17:23,234 --> 00:17:25,667 You saw what happened to the folks who work in, 477 00:17:25,667 --> 00:17:29,000 like, the voter, school boards. 478 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,834 Now it's commonplace to turn on, you know, 479 00:17:31,834 --> 00:17:36,133 MSNBC or CNN or whatever and see people being violent, 480 00:17:36,133 --> 00:17:37,267 getting doxed. 481 00:17:37,267 --> 00:17:38,868 -At some council meeting or whatever it was. 482 00:17:38,868 --> 00:17:40,167 Yeah. Right. 483 00:17:40,167 --> 00:17:41,801 -I'm hoping that we've reached a tipping point, 484 00:17:41,801 --> 00:17:43,834 that now people are kind of coming back to like, 485 00:17:43,834 --> 00:17:45,367 "That's not okay." 486 00:17:45,367 --> 00:17:47,334 You can be angry at a council member, 487 00:17:47,334 --> 00:17:48,868 you can not like their opinion, 488 00:17:48,868 --> 00:17:50,968 but you don't get to come to their house at night 489 00:17:50,968 --> 00:17:52,400 with a mask on on a bullhorn 490 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,934 and call them violent names and threaten them. 491 00:17:54,934 --> 00:17:57,200 I think that we've really pulled back from that. 492 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,367 I think we were just in a dark place, 493 00:17:59,367 --> 00:18:01,100 because I want it to be good for my children 494 00:18:01,100 --> 00:18:03,000 and your children and my grandkids, 495 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,100 and I think we're moving back away from that. 496 00:18:05,100 --> 00:18:06,667 And I think this next election cycle 497 00:18:06,667 --> 00:18:08,234 is really going to set the tone. 498 00:18:08,234 --> 00:18:09,868 -Yeah. You were very forceful 499 00:18:09,868 --> 00:18:11,701 about your pushing back against that, 500 00:18:11,701 --> 00:18:14,133 and I know a lot of people criticized you at that time, 501 00:18:14,133 --> 00:18:17,267 but it just seemed important for you to draw that line, 502 00:18:17,267 --> 00:18:18,534 or how did you look at that? 503 00:18:18,534 --> 00:18:20,467 I know that was a very difficult time in your life there. 504 00:18:20,467 --> 00:18:22,167 -Well, it wasn't about -- And thank you for that. 505 00:18:22,167 --> 00:18:25,000 I remember you and I talking during that difficult time. 506 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,133 It was about drawing a line, but it was also something more, 507 00:18:28,133 --> 00:18:30,467 about the humanity for me, 508 00:18:30,467 --> 00:18:33,133 is that when you start othering people, 509 00:18:33,133 --> 00:18:35,834 then that gives you permission to do violent things, 510 00:18:35,834 --> 00:18:37,968 and death and rape threats were just -- 511 00:18:37,968 --> 00:18:39,801 I wasn't prepared for that. 512 00:18:39,801 --> 00:18:42,868 But the other part of it was, 513 00:18:42,868 --> 00:18:44,534 no one signs up for a job like that, 514 00:18:44,534 --> 00:18:45,868 and that's why I was worried that people 515 00:18:45,868 --> 00:18:47,868 wouldn't run for office, because that's -- 516 00:18:47,868 --> 00:18:49,000 In fact, I had a lot -- 517 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,367 I can think of at least a dozen people 518 00:18:50,367 --> 00:18:51,868 that wanted to run for office, 519 00:18:51,868 --> 00:18:53,634 but saw what happened to me and said, "Oh, my God. 520 00:18:53,634 --> 00:18:56,834 I'm not going to do that. I can't have that." 521 00:18:56,834 --> 00:18:58,767 But it also was about just -- 522 00:18:58,767 --> 00:19:00,334 When you say, I kind of drew a line, 523 00:19:00,334 --> 00:19:02,367 this is something that's -- 524 00:19:02,367 --> 00:19:04,868 hopefully, it will always be conventional wisdom. 525 00:19:04,868 --> 00:19:06,501 It's just common sense. 526 00:19:06,501 --> 00:19:08,067 You just don't treat people like that. 527 00:19:08,067 --> 00:19:09,367 -Yeah. -And so, I'm hoping 528 00:19:09,367 --> 00:19:11,434 that we get away from that, and I think we are. 529 00:19:11,434 --> 00:19:12,701 -Thank you very much. 530 00:19:12,701 --> 00:19:14,267 I wanted to talk about what's next for you, 531 00:19:14,267 --> 00:19:15,834 and we actually got an e-mail 532 00:19:15,834 --> 00:19:17,601 from a viewer about this as well, 533 00:19:17,601 --> 00:19:19,767 and that viewer is Mayor Bruce Harrell, 534 00:19:19,767 --> 00:19:21,100 who had this suggestion here. 535 00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:22,334 He wrote this. 536 00:19:27,367 --> 00:19:28,501 What do you think? 537 00:19:28,501 --> 00:19:30,400 -Oh, mascot. Really? Is that what Bruce said? 538 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:32,300 Okay, well... 539 00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:34,434 [ Laughs ] 540 00:19:34,434 --> 00:19:36,133 That's actually pretty funny, 541 00:19:36,133 --> 00:19:37,968 because you know how Native Americans feel about mascots. 542 00:19:37,968 --> 00:19:39,601 -Oh, dear. Okay. Alright, alright. 543 00:19:39,601 --> 00:19:40,901 -Step back. Step back. 544 00:19:40,901 --> 00:19:42,100 -But no, I have not. 545 00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:44,033 I have no idea what I'm going to do. 546 00:19:44,033 --> 00:19:45,234 I have to look for a job. 547 00:19:45,234 --> 00:19:46,601 -Oh, come on. You've got something. 548 00:19:46,601 --> 00:19:47,868 -Why can't you and I have a show? No, I don't. 549 00:19:47,868 --> 00:19:50,501 -I'm sure we will. -I don't. I do not have a job. 550 00:19:50,501 --> 00:19:52,267 -You're not, like... -I'm going to get a job. 551 00:19:52,267 --> 00:19:54,467 -...attorney or something like that or back to... 552 00:19:54,467 --> 00:19:56,434 -I don't -- You know, I'm... 553 00:19:56,434 --> 00:19:58,200 I've been around long enough to, like -- 554 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:02,634 Okay, we're talking public defender, pro tem judge... 555 00:20:02,634 --> 00:20:03,734 -Yes. 556 00:20:03,734 --> 00:20:05,334 -...King County Superior Court judge, 557 00:20:05,334 --> 00:20:07,367 legal counsel to two governors, 558 00:20:07,367 --> 00:20:09,067 partner in a law firm, 559 00:20:09,067 --> 00:20:11,067 then I run for office. 560 00:20:11,067 --> 00:20:13,100 It's, like, a lot of that stuff, I've done, 561 00:20:13,100 --> 00:20:15,067 and I don't really want to go back to it, 562 00:20:15,067 --> 00:20:16,634 but I can tell you what I'm interested in. 563 00:20:16,634 --> 00:20:21,801 I'm interested in sports, indigenous children, 564 00:20:21,801 --> 00:20:25,634 I'm interested in the intersectionality of sports, 565 00:20:25,634 --> 00:20:26,934 children. 566 00:20:26,934 --> 00:20:30,434 I work really well with Coach Wilkins. 567 00:20:30,434 --> 00:20:31,767 He's been a big supporter of mine. 568 00:20:31,767 --> 00:20:33,067 -Yeah. Coach Money. 569 00:20:33,067 --> 00:20:34,501 -And also, I like to build things. 570 00:20:34,501 --> 00:20:37,200 I like to build big things. I like big projects. 571 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:38,467 And so, even though, you know, 572 00:20:38,467 --> 00:20:40,934 I have my issues with developers or whatever, 573 00:20:40,934 --> 00:20:43,200 but when people and I see a vision together, 574 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:45,334 we may have different ways of how we get there, 575 00:20:45,334 --> 00:20:46,601 but I like doing that because I think 576 00:20:46,601 --> 00:20:48,934 once you create that kind of -- you have a vision 577 00:20:48,934 --> 00:20:50,501 and you have the brick and mortar 578 00:20:50,501 --> 00:20:54,601 and you create jobs and people come there, it creates vitality. 579 00:20:54,601 --> 00:20:56,767 It gets people worth to have a job. 580 00:20:56,767 --> 00:20:58,868 If I had a perfect city, 581 00:20:58,868 --> 00:21:01,334 it would be a city where people can just walk to their job. 582 00:21:01,334 --> 00:21:03,133 They can walk over here and drop off their kids, 583 00:21:03,133 --> 00:21:04,934 walk to their job, pick up their kids, 584 00:21:04,934 --> 00:21:06,634 go to the store, and walk home. 585 00:21:06,634 --> 00:21:07,901 That's my vision because I grew up 586 00:21:07,901 --> 00:21:08,767 in a neighborhood like that. 587 00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:09,834 -Right. 588 00:21:09,834 --> 00:21:11,133 -And I'd love to see that for the city. 589 00:21:11,133 --> 00:21:12,534 -And I think about that intersectionality. 590 00:21:12,534 --> 00:21:14,334 You talk about working with indigenous kids, 591 00:21:14,334 --> 00:21:17,033 working with sports, et cetera. 592 00:21:17,033 --> 00:21:20,167 The work that you've done with ReWa up in North Seattle 593 00:21:20,167 --> 00:21:22,567 and helping a number of kids actually get on the ice 594 00:21:22,567 --> 00:21:24,334 or see ice for the first time in their lives 595 00:21:24,334 --> 00:21:25,968 with some of these kids from North Africa, 596 00:21:25,968 --> 00:21:27,267 et cetera, that are out there. 597 00:21:27,267 --> 00:21:28,601 -English is their second language. 598 00:21:28,601 --> 00:21:30,501 -Right. Right. But ice skating is their first. 599 00:21:30,501 --> 00:21:32,667 It's been really interesting to see that. 600 00:21:32,667 --> 00:21:33,968 Can you talk about that? Because I thought 601 00:21:33,968 --> 00:21:36,167 that was a very interesting part of your history, 602 00:21:36,167 --> 00:21:38,334 and I think your legacy, too, up in North Seattle. 603 00:21:38,334 --> 00:21:39,834 -Well, I want to give a huge shout out -- 604 00:21:39,834 --> 00:21:41,934 I hope she watches this -- to Susan Lee at ReWa, 605 00:21:41,934 --> 00:21:43,534 but let me just say this -- 606 00:21:43,534 --> 00:21:48,901 before there was NHL, OVG, the Kraken, 607 00:21:48,901 --> 00:21:50,300 we were working with Susan Lee 608 00:21:50,300 --> 00:21:54,901 and now Deputy Mayor Burgess on all the pre-K buildings, 609 00:21:54,901 --> 00:21:56,400 and I just had the idea like, "Okay, 610 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:58,601 once we start doing these pre-K buildings, we got the funding, 611 00:21:58,601 --> 00:21:59,801 the brick and mortar, 612 00:21:59,801 --> 00:22:00,968 kids can come here. 613 00:22:00,968 --> 00:22:02,534 We're going to have a second one." 614 00:22:02,534 --> 00:22:05,701 We are having a second pre-K building in D5. 615 00:22:05,701 --> 00:22:07,067 We have one in Rainier Valley. 616 00:22:07,067 --> 00:22:08,734 We have one on Beacon Hill, 617 00:22:08,734 --> 00:22:10,133 and working with Susan Lee 618 00:22:10,133 --> 00:22:12,934 and, you know, OVG One Roof Foundation has been so good. 619 00:22:12,934 --> 00:22:15,734 They're like, "Okay, we're going to dedicate every Wednesday 620 00:22:15,734 --> 00:22:18,167 to bringing in these big busses 621 00:22:18,167 --> 00:22:19,367 and bringing these kids," 622 00:22:19,367 --> 00:22:20,667 and I've been there a couple of times. 623 00:22:20,667 --> 00:22:21,968 I think I was on your show telling you. 624 00:22:21,968 --> 00:22:23,033 Lacing their little -- 625 00:22:23,033 --> 00:22:24,267 -Yeah, tying up those skates. Yeah. 626 00:22:24,267 --> 00:22:25,868 -And just watching all these parents out there 627 00:22:25,868 --> 00:22:27,701 from all these different countries, 628 00:22:27,701 --> 00:22:30,367 English is mainly their second language, but just -- 629 00:22:30,367 --> 00:22:32,434 I don't even know how to say it without sounding corny. 630 00:22:32,434 --> 00:22:36,000 Watching them watch their kids get out there on ice 631 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:37,367 was just amazing, 632 00:22:37,367 --> 00:22:38,634 and a quick little story. 633 00:22:38,634 --> 00:22:40,167 -Yeah. -Nice little kid. 634 00:22:40,167 --> 00:22:42,501 He couldn't have been more than three. 635 00:22:42,501 --> 00:22:43,868 I was standing next to Susan. 636 00:22:43,868 --> 00:22:45,834 I was on the ice, unfortunately, and they got it on camera. 637 00:22:45,834 --> 00:22:47,601 I did not want to be on the ice, but I went out there. 638 00:22:47,601 --> 00:22:50,000 I hadn't ice skated in probably 20 years, 639 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:51,267 and he was holding on to me, 640 00:22:51,267 --> 00:22:52,734 and I thought for sure I was going to crush him. 641 00:22:52,734 --> 00:22:54,801 I thought I was going to fall. I was telling him to get off, 642 00:22:54,801 --> 00:22:56,534 but English is not his first language. 643 00:22:56,534 --> 00:22:58,968 I had to holler at Susan and say, 644 00:22:58,968 --> 00:23:01,634 "Can you tell him in Chinese?" And she did. 645 00:23:01,634 --> 00:23:03,734 And then he just immediately just threw -- 646 00:23:03,734 --> 00:23:05,901 he bolted me and he just, like, threw me away. 647 00:23:05,901 --> 00:23:07,234 -See ya. -Yeah, exactly. 648 00:23:07,234 --> 00:23:08,367 But the point is -- 649 00:23:08,367 --> 00:23:11,834 And then having Tod Leiweke come down 650 00:23:11,834 --> 00:23:14,834 and say hi to the kids and just -- 651 00:23:14,834 --> 00:23:16,033 I don't even know how to explain it. 652 00:23:16,033 --> 00:23:18,234 I wish people would go and watch how these -- 653 00:23:18,234 --> 00:23:19,968 I know people are always mad at Seattle City Council 654 00:23:19,968 --> 00:23:21,200 and the letters we get, 655 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:22,567 and they're always angry about something, 656 00:23:22,567 --> 00:23:24,601 but we really did some good stuff, 657 00:23:24,601 --> 00:23:25,868 and those are the kind of moments 658 00:23:25,868 --> 00:23:27,601 that I really will cherish and love, 659 00:23:27,601 --> 00:23:29,100 and I hopefully will continue to work with 660 00:23:29,100 --> 00:23:30,167 Susan Lee at ReWa. 661 00:23:30,167 --> 00:23:32,267 -Got it, and it turns out a few people 662 00:23:32,267 --> 00:23:34,000 had some ideas about what you're going to do next. 663 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:35,734 We had another one of our viewers 664 00:23:35,734 --> 00:23:37,767 by the name of Councilmember Alex Pedersen, 665 00:23:37,767 --> 00:23:39,300 who wrote this one in. 666 00:23:39,300 --> 00:23:40,234 He writes this. 667 00:23:53,901 --> 00:23:55,267 That's from Councilmember Pedersen. 668 00:23:55,267 --> 00:23:56,934 Any thoughts on that career path? 669 00:23:56,934 --> 00:23:58,467 -That's actually an ongoing joke 670 00:23:58,467 --> 00:24:00,501 that's been going on for two years between myself, 671 00:24:00,501 --> 00:24:03,100 Councilmember Pedersen and Councilmember Strauss, 672 00:24:03,100 --> 00:24:04,767 when we were fighting about the streeteries 673 00:24:04,767 --> 00:24:06,167 and all the stuff -- This is another example. 674 00:24:06,167 --> 00:24:08,133 Behind the scenes, I was like, "No." 675 00:24:08,133 --> 00:24:10,033 And then then we worked it out, worked it out. 676 00:24:10,033 --> 00:24:11,601 And then -- So, I was telling Dan, 677 00:24:11,601 --> 00:24:12,767 I said, "If I can get it -- I -- 678 00:24:12,767 --> 00:24:14,167 So you're telling me I don't need a permit 679 00:24:14,167 --> 00:24:16,200 to open up my garage and make frybread?" 680 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:17,834 And Dan's like, "Only if you hire me." 681 00:24:17,834 --> 00:24:20,200 I say, "Okay, Dan and Alex are going to be back there 682 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:21,434 with the oil frying it. 683 00:24:21,434 --> 00:24:23,067 My job is just to be the pretty face in front." 684 00:24:23,067 --> 00:24:25,634 -Employee number one and two. -One and two, yeah. 685 00:24:25,634 --> 00:24:28,167 -I'll make sure I pay them $15 minimum wage. 686 00:24:28,167 --> 00:24:31,234 -And I guess I got to ask, are you more Indian tacos 687 00:24:31,234 --> 00:24:33,968 or do you put the powdered sugar on top? 688 00:24:33,968 --> 00:24:35,667 -No, I don't do powdered sugar. 689 00:24:35,667 --> 00:24:36,667 -See, I was going to say. -That ain't right. 690 00:24:36,667 --> 00:24:38,100 I don't know what you -- 691 00:24:38,100 --> 00:24:39,467 -No no, no, I'm not I'm not down with it either. 692 00:24:39,467 --> 00:24:41,834 -You ruined it. You know what you did to mac and cheese. 693 00:24:41,834 --> 00:24:43,667 You know what y'all did to that. -Oh, I see. 694 00:24:43,667 --> 00:24:44,968 -Potato salad. -I see how it is. 695 00:24:44,968 --> 00:24:46,334 -The bland potato salad. 696 00:24:46,334 --> 00:24:48,100 Did you ever watch "Black Jeopardy!"? 697 00:24:48,100 --> 00:24:49,267 -Sure, sure. 698 00:24:49,267 --> 00:24:50,734 I want to do a Native American "Jeopardy!" 699 00:24:50,734 --> 00:24:52,067 -Okay. 700 00:24:52,067 --> 00:24:53,801 -So we don't put the powdered sugar on our frybread. 701 00:24:53,801 --> 00:24:54,701 -Okay. -Okay? It's butter, 702 00:24:54,701 --> 00:24:56,200 maybe some honey sometimes. 703 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:57,234 -Right. -Maybe a little jam. 704 00:24:57,234 --> 00:24:58,400 -And that's it That's all you need. 705 00:24:58,400 --> 00:24:59,567 -And then we have the Indian taco, 706 00:24:59,567 --> 00:25:01,133 which is a mix of, you know, 707 00:25:01,133 --> 00:25:03,567 what I am -- half Mexican, half Native American, 708 00:25:03,567 --> 00:25:05,734 and then we'll do the Indian taco. 709 00:25:05,734 --> 00:25:07,167 -You said it. You said it. -I did. 710 00:25:07,167 --> 00:25:10,000 -I guess I just -- I need to start wrapping up with you, 711 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:12,267 but I think that your native identity 712 00:25:12,267 --> 00:25:15,000 is such a big part of this job and what you are, 713 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,200 and I just -- I wanted to open up the floor here 714 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,234 to any words you wanted to say 715 00:25:19,234 --> 00:25:21,734 to people live in Seattle, people live in D5, 716 00:25:21,734 --> 00:25:24,834 people you've worked with on the council or the mayor's office. 717 00:25:24,834 --> 00:25:27,000 Any final thoughts to wrap up here? 718 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:28,367 -Well, I think people forget that, 719 00:25:28,367 --> 00:25:31,667 you know, my dad is first generation, 720 00:25:31,667 --> 00:25:34,267 and was a truck driver and really big 721 00:25:34,267 --> 00:25:38,901 in the labor movement down in Modesto and Bakersfield 722 00:25:38,901 --> 00:25:41,801 and, you know, my mom and dad divorced, 723 00:25:41,801 --> 00:25:43,501 but I would spend time with my father, 724 00:25:43,501 --> 00:25:46,501 and I have a huge family in Bakersfield, nieces and nephews, 725 00:25:46,501 --> 00:25:48,801 and I have a huge family on the Blackfeet Reservation 726 00:25:48,801 --> 00:25:54,033 and on the Yakima Reservation and Puyallup, for that matter. 727 00:25:54,033 --> 00:25:55,234 You know, kind of when people say, 728 00:25:55,234 --> 00:25:57,000 "Oh, you know, people of color" or "BIPOC", 729 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,467 I always kind of, like, get a little cringey about that, 730 00:25:59,467 --> 00:26:01,634 because I am so much more than that, 731 00:26:01,634 --> 00:26:04,100 just like you are, right? 732 00:26:04,100 --> 00:26:05,434 I guess what I want to say is, 733 00:26:05,434 --> 00:26:07,234 and I didn't really get a chance to say this 734 00:26:07,234 --> 00:26:08,434 last night at the party. 735 00:26:08,434 --> 00:26:09,834 They had to say goodbye to us. 736 00:26:09,834 --> 00:26:14,734 But -- Besides, I had a phenomenal, phenomenal staff. 737 00:26:14,734 --> 00:26:16,000 It's staff that makes you look good. 738 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:18,300 It's your chief of staff. It's your comms person. 739 00:26:18,300 --> 00:26:20,267 They're the ones that make you look good on camera 740 00:26:20,267 --> 00:26:22,734 and prep you and do your memos, 741 00:26:22,734 --> 00:26:24,367 but I don't think people know, 742 00:26:24,367 --> 00:26:26,868 and maybe I should have said it more. 743 00:26:26,868 --> 00:26:29,801 This is one of the best jobs I've ever had, 744 00:26:29,801 --> 00:26:34,267 and it has been such an honor to represent this great city. 745 00:26:34,267 --> 00:26:36,167 I mean it, and I truly, from -- 746 00:26:36,167 --> 00:26:38,767 I am not a phony person. 747 00:26:38,767 --> 00:26:40,267 The times it was good, it was really good. 748 00:26:40,267 --> 00:26:43,267 The times, even when it was bad, I reminded myself, 749 00:26:43,267 --> 00:26:45,067 "This is what leaders go through. 750 00:26:45,067 --> 00:26:46,167 This is what you're supposed to. 751 00:26:46,167 --> 00:26:49,167 It isn't all fun and ice cream socials." 752 00:26:49,167 --> 00:26:51,834 But I would do it again in a heartbeat, 753 00:26:51,834 --> 00:26:54,567 but it really is time to leave, you know what I mean? 754 00:26:54,567 --> 00:26:57,200 It's time for this next group to come in 755 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,501 and say, "These are the sensibilities 756 00:26:59,501 --> 00:27:02,234 in 2024 of our city." 757 00:27:02,234 --> 00:27:03,834 I ran in 2015. 758 00:27:03,834 --> 00:27:05,200 A lot has changed. 759 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:06,434 And, you know, 760 00:27:06,434 --> 00:27:08,067 I don't think I'm going to go away from politics. 761 00:27:08,067 --> 00:27:09,767 I think there might be something out there for me. 762 00:27:09,767 --> 00:27:11,167 But, you know, I might want your job, too. 763 00:27:11,167 --> 00:27:12,767 I don't know. It looks like you look -- 764 00:27:12,767 --> 00:27:14,868 It's pretty, pretty kush around here. 765 00:27:14,868 --> 00:27:17,133 -I wouldn't say that. I wouldn't say that at all. 766 00:27:17,133 --> 00:27:18,667 Council President Deborah Juarez, thank you. 767 00:27:18,667 --> 00:27:19,801 -Oh, man. Thank you. 768 00:27:19,801 --> 00:27:21,367 -Always. Always. -Always. Always a pleasure. 769 00:27:21,367 --> 00:27:22,834 And go, Mariners. Go, Huskies. 770 00:27:22,834 --> 00:27:24,033 -Alright. We'll see what happens. 771 00:27:24,033 --> 00:27:25,634 They got a big, big game ahead of them. 772 00:27:25,634 --> 00:27:27,133 Council President Juarez, thank you so much, 773 00:27:27,133 --> 00:27:29,667 and thanks to everybody watching right here on Seattle Channel. 774 00:27:29,667 --> 00:27:32,000 This is "Council Edition". We'll see you next time. 775 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:33,434 -Goodbye. 776 00:27:33,434 --> 00:27:40,767 ♪♪ 777 00:27:40,767 --> 00:27:48,133 ♪♪ 778 00:27:48,133 --> 00:27:55,467 ♪♪