1 00:00:01,734 --> 00:00:03,767 ♪♪ 2 00:00:03,767 --> 00:00:06,667 -Hello, I'm your host Bryan Callahan. 3 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:08,133 How will a new State law affect 4 00:00:08,133 --> 00:00:11,400 Seattle's efforts to criminalize public drug use? 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,000 What's the latest on a plan to improve public safety 6 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:15,968 and revitalize Downtown? 7 00:00:15,968 --> 00:00:18,901 And what's next for the newly-established Seattle 8 00:00:18,901 --> 00:00:20,133 Film Commission? 9 00:00:20,133 --> 00:00:21,501 I'm talking to Seattle Councilmember 10 00:00:21,501 --> 00:00:24,834 Sara Nelson and a special guest to answer these questions 11 00:00:24,834 --> 00:00:26,434 and the ones you're sending in too. 12 00:00:26,434 --> 00:00:28,234 Next on Council Edition. 13 00:00:28,234 --> 00:00:30,567 -This is a crisis and the community, 14 00:00:30,567 --> 00:00:32,934 the City I think, needs a means of intervention. 15 00:00:32,934 --> 00:00:35,300 -We have to have both a law enforcement 16 00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:37,567 and a Social Services response. 17 00:00:37,567 --> 00:00:38,801 They are always combined. 18 00:00:38,801 --> 00:00:40,334 -All that and more coming up 19 00:00:40,334 --> 00:00:43,434 next on City Inside Out Council Edition. 20 00:00:43,434 --> 00:00:52,501 ♪♪ 21 00:00:52,501 --> 00:01:01,667 ♪♪ 22 00:01:01,667 --> 00:01:03,868 -And here we are with Councilmember Sara Nelson 23 00:01:03,868 --> 00:01:05,734 and a special guest, Jon Scholes, 24 00:01:05,734 --> 00:01:08,234 the CEO and President of the Downtown Seattle Association, 25 00:01:08,234 --> 00:01:09,701 to help add some perspective. 26 00:01:09,701 --> 00:01:11,467 Jon, thank you very much for being here. 27 00:01:11,467 --> 00:01:12,901 -My pleasure. -And, Councilmember Nelson, 28 00:01:12,901 --> 00:01:14,133 always good to see you. 29 00:01:14,133 --> 00:01:15,534 Let me start with you if I could. 30 00:01:15,534 --> 00:01:17,667 Help us get a broad picture of what the City is working 31 00:01:17,667 --> 00:01:20,367 on right now in Downtown with the Activation Plan 32 00:01:20,367 --> 00:01:21,968 that the mayor launched last month. 33 00:01:21,968 --> 00:01:24,567 The idea was to crack down on drug-dealing crimes, 34 00:01:24,567 --> 00:01:26,534 launch an expansion of Seattle Fire's Health 35 00:01:26,534 --> 00:01:29,501 One unit with a focus on overdose response, 36 00:01:29,501 --> 00:01:32,200 and connecting with people who have substance use orders 37 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,033 through what's called "contingency management," 38 00:01:34,033 --> 00:01:35,834 providing incentives like gift cards 39 00:01:35,834 --> 00:01:39,067 if they're able to complete some of the drug treatment services. 40 00:01:39,067 --> 00:01:41,334 Give us an update on how this is going so far. 41 00:01:41,334 --> 00:01:44,100 -Those were all components of the Executive Order. 42 00:01:44,100 --> 00:01:46,434 And I stood on the stage next to Mayor Harrell, 43 00:01:46,434 --> 00:01:47,801 and I endorsed that 44 00:01:47,801 --> 00:01:50,901 because we have got to focus on substance use disorder 45 00:01:50,901 --> 00:01:54,534 and expand the treatment and services that are available. 46 00:01:54,534 --> 00:01:56,133 And I spoke specifically 47 00:01:56,133 --> 00:02:01,234 about the Contingency Management Pilot Project because it's new. 48 00:02:01,234 --> 00:02:02,634 Now, I know that there's some talk about, 49 00:02:02,634 --> 00:02:05,200 oh, you're just going to give gift cards to people. 50 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:06,901 -Yeah, people have said you're bribing people 51 00:02:06,901 --> 00:02:08,434 or something along those lines. What do you say to that? 52 00:02:08,434 --> 00:02:10,701 -Let me tell you why this is new and important. 53 00:02:10,701 --> 00:02:14,200 It's because it rewards sobriety. 54 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,801 So let's talk about how it's going to be implemented. 55 00:02:16,801 --> 00:02:18,467 Clinic Housing is a partner, 56 00:02:18,467 --> 00:02:22,000 so those are people that will be enrolled in this program. 57 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:23,434 It's not just going up the street 58 00:02:23,434 --> 00:02:25,534 and handing out gift cards first of all. 59 00:02:25,534 --> 00:02:28,868 And second of all, this is a new approach. 60 00:02:28,868 --> 00:02:30,567 Contingency management is considered 61 00:02:30,567 --> 00:02:33,033 one of the most effective interventions 62 00:02:33,033 --> 00:02:34,133 when it comes to addiction, 63 00:02:34,133 --> 00:02:35,868 especially when paired with counseling 64 00:02:35,868 --> 00:02:40,334 and maybe following inpatient or intensive outpatient services. 65 00:02:42,467 --> 00:02:47,601 By rewarding sobriety, which is proved through a urine test, 66 00:02:47,601 --> 00:02:51,667 it provides a space for people to make a different decision 67 00:02:51,667 --> 00:02:54,133 about potentially going into treatment. 68 00:02:54,133 --> 00:02:55,467 And that is new. 69 00:02:55,467 --> 00:02:56,834 That is a new approach, 70 00:02:56,834 --> 00:03:00,534 and that is why I think it's important that we try it 71 00:03:00,534 --> 00:03:02,501 and that we prove that it can succeed. 72 00:03:02,501 --> 00:03:04,300 -Okay, got it. Anything so far? 73 00:03:04,300 --> 00:03:05,767 I know we're just maybe a month in. 74 00:03:05,767 --> 00:03:08,100 Any results that you can tell us about, or are we still waiting? 75 00:03:08,100 --> 00:03:11,701 -I believe that it is still in the planning phase. 76 00:03:11,701 --> 00:03:13,200 -The process -- okay, fair enough. 77 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:14,701 Jon, I wanted to make sure I talked about 78 00:03:14,701 --> 00:03:15,868 what the DSA is doing here, 79 00:03:15,868 --> 00:03:17,667 the Downtown Seattle Association. 80 00:03:17,667 --> 00:03:19,200 You have your Downtown ambassadors, 81 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:20,667 very hands-on in this situation, 82 00:03:20,667 --> 00:03:23,334 administering naloxone drug overdose treatment 83 00:03:23,334 --> 00:03:25,100 to 81 people since January. 84 00:03:25,100 --> 00:03:26,367 And that's just the start. 85 00:03:26,367 --> 00:03:28,234 I want to talk more about the DSA's role 86 00:03:28,234 --> 00:03:30,367 when it comes to drug activity Downtown 87 00:03:30,367 --> 00:03:33,300 and also your assessment of the City's efforts to revitalize 88 00:03:33,300 --> 00:03:36,534 Downtown from that public safety perspective to start, please. 89 00:03:36,534 --> 00:03:38,000 -Yeah, the crisis around drugs, 90 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,567 the crisis around fentanyl that's facing our city today 91 00:03:40,567 --> 00:03:44,367 I think is the most significant crisis in front of us. 92 00:03:44,367 --> 00:03:46,334 We've lost more people to drug deaths 93 00:03:46,334 --> 00:03:49,133 since March of 2020 than we have to COVID. 94 00:03:49,133 --> 00:03:52,400 The increase from '21 to '22 was over 70% 95 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,534 when it comes to overdose deaths within the city of Seattle. 96 00:03:55,534 --> 00:04:00,501 So this is a significant public health safety/moral emergency 97 00:04:00,501 --> 00:04:04,501 that we need to take on with new strategies and new approaches. 98 00:04:04,501 --> 00:04:08,234 Like Councilmember Nelson noted, there's not one answer. 99 00:04:08,234 --> 00:04:10,434 There's not a city around the country that's got the answer. 100 00:04:10,434 --> 00:04:12,000 So we've got to try some new things, 101 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,100 and we need to move with urgency. 102 00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:16,834 Our ambassador team, which is about 100-plus individuals 103 00:04:16,834 --> 00:04:18,300 working full-time in the Downtown, 104 00:04:18,300 --> 00:04:22,968 began carrying Narcan in June of last year on a voluntary basis. 105 00:04:22,968 --> 00:04:24,300 If they wanted to do it, 106 00:04:24,300 --> 00:04:25,901 we would train them and equip them. 107 00:04:25,901 --> 00:04:28,033 Most of our folks are carrying it today. 108 00:04:28,033 --> 00:04:29,767 Since the beginning of this year, 109 00:04:29,767 --> 00:04:32,067 they've administered it over 80 times. 110 00:04:32,067 --> 00:04:34,968 Our contract at private unarmed security also carries it, 111 00:04:34,968 --> 00:04:37,300 so they've been administering it as well on top of the 112 00:04:37,300 --> 00:04:40,767 80 incidents in administration that I noted earlier. 113 00:04:40,767 --> 00:04:44,133 So we're using it far more often than we'd like. 114 00:04:44,133 --> 00:04:45,667 The good news is we're saving lives. 115 00:04:45,667 --> 00:04:48,634 But the bad news is there's lots of people still out 116 00:04:48,634 --> 00:04:49,901 using dangerous drugs, 117 00:04:49,901 --> 00:04:51,634 and we've got to take that head-on. 118 00:04:51,634 --> 00:04:53,033 -Thank you very much for that. 119 00:04:53,033 --> 00:04:55,367 Councilmember Nelson, the City has had an emphasis patrol 120 00:04:55,367 --> 00:04:57,167 of Seattle police officers 121 00:04:57,167 --> 00:04:58,901 around Third Avenue for more than a year now, 122 00:04:58,901 --> 00:05:02,100 which is really a center point in terms of this drug activity. 123 00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:04,367 And we got this e-mail about the situation from Brit, 124 00:05:04,367 --> 00:05:06,067 one of our viewers, who writes this. 125 00:05:06,067 --> 00:05:08,501 "What happens after emphasis patrols are done in the are 126 00:05:08,501 --> 00:05:09,868 and crime moves back? 127 00:05:09,868 --> 00:05:11,968 How do we make sure that we're not just moving people 128 00:05:11,968 --> 00:05:13,200 that are committing the crimes 129 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:14,801 from neighborhood to neighborhood?" 130 00:05:14,801 --> 00:05:16,534 This is a criticism I know you've heard before. 131 00:05:16,534 --> 00:05:19,100 Can you talk about that in terms of what's happening Downtown 132 00:05:19,100 --> 00:05:20,467 and what you're trying to do there? 133 00:05:20,467 --> 00:05:23,200 -Well, it's not just one action first of all. 134 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:27,234 So we have got to address drug use 135 00:05:27,234 --> 00:05:28,567 from a number of different perspectives. 136 00:05:28,567 --> 00:05:30,667 We already spoke about 137 00:05:30,667 --> 00:05:32,901 the Contingency Management intervention. 138 00:05:32,901 --> 00:05:33,934 -Right. -But we have also 139 00:05:33,934 --> 00:05:35,400 just dropped legislation 140 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,634 to prohibit the public use of drugs. 141 00:05:37,634 --> 00:05:39,434 -Right. -And that is important 142 00:05:39,434 --> 00:05:42,934 because that is what's causing the negative impacts 143 00:05:42,934 --> 00:05:46,501 that people are writing to me to complain about. 144 00:05:46,501 --> 00:05:49,067 And we've got employers that are saying that their workers 145 00:05:49,067 --> 00:05:50,300 don't want to return to the office 146 00:05:50,300 --> 00:05:51,801 because they don't want to get on the bus. 147 00:05:51,801 --> 00:05:55,868 I mean, King County Metro installed filters on buses 148 00:05:55,868 --> 00:05:59,467 to study the circulation of fentanyl smoking within to see 149 00:05:59,467 --> 00:06:02,167 whether or not it's having a bad impact on the drivers. 150 00:06:02,167 --> 00:06:04,133 So this is an emergency. 151 00:06:04,133 --> 00:06:06,634 So there is a law enforcement component, 152 00:06:06,634 --> 00:06:09,367 and that is hopefully going to be stronger incentive 153 00:06:09,367 --> 00:06:10,834 to get people into treatment. 154 00:06:10,834 --> 00:06:12,000 -Okay. -So that is just one thing. 155 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:13,868 We've also got to incentivize 156 00:06:13,868 --> 00:06:15,734 more businesses to come Downtown. 157 00:06:15,734 --> 00:06:17,767 -Yeah, mm-hm. -And that is something 158 00:06:17,767 --> 00:06:20,734 that the DSA has weighed in on and I think rightly. 159 00:06:20,734 --> 00:06:21,968 We have to do everything 160 00:06:21,968 --> 00:06:24,834 we possibly can to bring more business down there. 161 00:06:24,834 --> 00:06:26,534 That will add life to the street, 162 00:06:26,534 --> 00:06:29,868 and it will also generate more General Fund revenue 163 00:06:29,868 --> 00:06:32,367 so that we can continue on these programs you've mentioned. 164 00:06:32,367 --> 00:06:34,300 -Can you hold on that economic piece for just a second? 165 00:06:34,300 --> 00:06:35,968 Because I wanted to go back to that idea 166 00:06:35,968 --> 00:06:37,734 of the public use of drugs. 167 00:06:37,734 --> 00:06:39,133 And you worked on this-- 168 00:06:39,133 --> 00:06:41,434 or you have been working on this with Councilmember Pedersen. 169 00:06:41,434 --> 00:06:44,767 You had a press conference with City Attorney Ann Davison 170 00:06:44,767 --> 00:06:46,367 not too long ago about this. 171 00:06:46,367 --> 00:06:47,701 And I wanted to put it in perspective 172 00:06:47,701 --> 00:06:50,267 because very recently, before we recorded this show, 173 00:06:50,267 --> 00:06:52,767 the State of Washington placed this Blake bill 174 00:06:52,767 --> 00:06:54,934 Fix as it was called in a special session there. 175 00:06:54,934 --> 00:06:57,467 So this made drug possession in our state a gross misdemeanor. 176 00:06:57,467 --> 00:06:59,300 It also criminalized drug use 177 00:06:59,300 --> 00:07:02,801 and added $44 million in drug treatment statewide. 178 00:07:02,801 --> 00:07:04,767 And I was looking at this because you recently made 179 00:07:04,767 --> 00:07:06,434 this announcement that I think you want 180 00:07:06,434 --> 00:07:08,734 to keep pursuing this public drug use bill. 181 00:07:08,734 --> 00:07:11,367 And I'm trying to figure out, okay, if the State passed a law, 182 00:07:11,367 --> 00:07:13,434 why does Seattle need its own law? 183 00:07:13,434 --> 00:07:15,601 -Because we're talking about misdemeanor offenses, 184 00:07:15,601 --> 00:07:20,067 which means that the City Prosecutor files the charges. 185 00:07:20,067 --> 00:07:22,267 So therefore, there needs to be a law 186 00:07:22,267 --> 00:07:24,968 within the SMC giving here that authority. 187 00:07:24,968 --> 00:07:26,200 -Seattle Municipal Code, keep going. 188 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,901 -Exactly, and so things don't just 189 00:07:28,901 --> 00:07:31,834 automatically get integrated into our Municipal Code 190 00:07:31,834 --> 00:07:35,968 if it's our City officials that are going to be regulating it. 191 00:07:35,968 --> 00:07:39,467 So that is why Council has to act and create a law 192 00:07:39,467 --> 00:07:43,601 to give her the authority to work on these things. 193 00:07:43,601 --> 00:07:47,634 And it's not necessarily a decision to keep people in jail. 194 00:07:47,634 --> 00:07:50,234 It's a decision to divert them to treatment 195 00:07:50,234 --> 00:07:52,868 or other diversion programs so that they can get help. 196 00:07:52,868 --> 00:07:53,934 -Okay, thank you. 197 00:07:53,934 --> 00:07:55,300 This is a very important distinction here 198 00:07:55,300 --> 00:07:57,601 because I get so many different comments about this. 199 00:07:57,601 --> 00:07:59,267 And I know you have heard these too, Jon. 200 00:07:59,267 --> 00:08:00,534 I want to bring you in here too 201 00:08:00,534 --> 00:08:01,801 because there's always some disagreement 202 00:08:01,801 --> 00:08:04,100 about the use of law enforcement in these situations. 203 00:08:04,100 --> 00:08:05,968 I had one social media commentor write this 204 00:08:05,968 --> 00:08:07,334 when I posted about this. 205 00:08:07,334 --> 00:08:09,634 "After five decades of the war on drugs and the deaths 206 00:08:09,634 --> 00:08:11,968 at King County Jail, do you consider prosecution 207 00:08:11,968 --> 00:08:14,534 the right tool to address substance abuse? 208 00:08:14,534 --> 00:08:17,501 I know the DSA was supportive of this City law on public drug use 209 00:08:17,501 --> 00:08:18,868 before the State acted. 210 00:08:18,868 --> 00:08:20,567 A lot of other business groups around the city 211 00:08:20,567 --> 00:08:21,767 said that as well. 212 00:08:21,767 --> 00:08:23,734 Do you still support this idea of a City law 213 00:08:23,734 --> 00:08:24,868 on public drug use?" 214 00:08:24,868 --> 00:08:26,200 -Yeah, I think the community, the City, 215 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:30,300 needs a means of intervention to intervene in people 216 00:08:30,300 --> 00:08:32,934 that are significantly harming themselves 217 00:08:32,934 --> 00:08:35,434 using public areas to do so. 218 00:08:35,434 --> 00:08:37,767 This is a deadly poison. 219 00:08:37,767 --> 00:08:39,501 We're seeing more and more people die 220 00:08:39,501 --> 00:08:42,000 every year from fentanyl. 221 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,868 The new versions of fentanyl tranq 222 00:08:43,868 --> 00:08:46,300 that are coming into our community are even more deadly. 223 00:08:46,300 --> 00:08:49,367 People are losing their limbs, having significant wounds. 224 00:08:49,367 --> 00:08:51,133 So this is a crisis. 225 00:08:51,133 --> 00:08:52,734 And the community, the City, 226 00:08:52,734 --> 00:08:54,534 I think needs a means of intervention. 227 00:08:54,534 --> 00:08:56,567 This is poison being peddled, possessed, 228 00:08:56,567 --> 00:08:58,334 and used in public areas. 229 00:08:58,334 --> 00:09:00,834 And we regulate lots of behavior of what you can 230 00:09:00,834 --> 00:09:02,501 and can't do in public areas -- 231 00:09:02,501 --> 00:09:05,734 on sidewalks, near schools, near bus stops. 232 00:09:05,734 --> 00:09:07,334 And I think the use of fentanyl 233 00:09:07,334 --> 00:09:10,334 should be one of those that we regulate. 234 00:09:10,334 --> 00:09:13,334 Our ambassadors that do carry Narcan have been exposed 235 00:09:13,334 --> 00:09:17,300 to second-hand fentanyl smoke over the last several weeks. 236 00:09:17,300 --> 00:09:19,434 We've had three individuals exposed. 237 00:09:19,434 --> 00:09:21,701 They have to then have Narcan administered to themselves. 238 00:09:21,701 --> 00:09:23,334 One of them spent the night in Harbor View. 239 00:09:23,334 --> 00:09:27,133 So there are real impacts to the general public from the public 240 00:09:27,133 --> 00:09:29,434 use of some of these very deadly and dangerous drugs. 241 00:09:29,434 --> 00:09:30,534 -Got it. Councilmember -- 242 00:09:30,534 --> 00:09:31,868 -I want to add to that. 243 00:09:31,868 --> 00:09:34,000 -Yeah, please, yeah. -We do have laws on the books 244 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:38,934 that prohibit the consumption of alcohol and cannabis in public. 245 00:09:38,934 --> 00:09:43,200 But there has never been a law in Seattle 246 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,534 to prohibit the use of other drugs that are illegal. 247 00:09:46,534 --> 00:09:50,267 And our silence on this issue is raising alarm 248 00:09:50,267 --> 00:09:52,000 from my constituents who want to know, 249 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,234 "What are we doing about this?" 250 00:09:54,234 --> 00:09:55,567 -Can you help me out with that balance though 251 00:09:55,567 --> 00:09:58,267 between the tool of law enforcement 252 00:09:58,267 --> 00:09:59,901 and the tool of treatment? 253 00:09:59,901 --> 00:10:01,234 I don't want to say versus each other 254 00:10:01,234 --> 00:10:02,734 because I think they can work together. 255 00:10:02,734 --> 00:10:04,534 But I think there has to be a balance there. 256 00:10:04,534 --> 00:10:06,000 That's what I've heard from a lot of people too. 257 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,200 -Absolutely. -And I think you would agree. 258 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,501 -Can you tell me how you balance that? 259 00:10:09,501 --> 00:10:10,834 Because I don't think the idea is to try 260 00:10:10,834 --> 00:10:12,901 and get as many people in jail as possible. 261 00:10:12,901 --> 00:10:14,367 -No, it is not. 262 00:10:14,367 --> 00:10:17,000 We know that jail is a harmful environment for many reasons. 263 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,100 We also know that it is the entry point into treatment 264 00:10:20,100 --> 00:10:21,601 for many people. 265 00:10:21,601 --> 00:10:25,601 And we know that an interaction with an officer on the street 266 00:10:25,601 --> 00:10:29,834 can lead to a prefiling diversion. 267 00:10:29,834 --> 00:10:32,000 And we're spending millions of dollars 268 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,667 on our law enforcement diversion programs. 269 00:10:34,667 --> 00:10:38,834 So we do have some of the infrastructure -- the tools, 270 00:10:38,834 --> 00:10:44,067 the programs -- in place, and this is another avenue 271 00:10:44,067 --> 00:10:47,033 to get people into the treatment that they need. 272 00:10:47,033 --> 00:10:48,901 -Okay. -And I will say that for those 273 00:10:48,901 --> 00:10:51,434 that say, "Well, jail's not the answer." 274 00:10:51,434 --> 00:10:53,801 We have to have both a law enforcement 275 00:10:53,801 --> 00:10:56,033 and a Social Services response. 276 00:10:56,033 --> 00:10:57,334 They are always combined. 277 00:10:57,334 --> 00:10:59,901 I can tell you having been in inpatient treatment, 278 00:10:59,901 --> 00:11:04,167 a lot of those people got there from a court order, 279 00:11:04,167 --> 00:11:06,968 from jail, from another different program 280 00:11:06,968 --> 00:11:09,300 but because there was a legal intervention. 281 00:11:09,300 --> 00:11:10,601 -Got it. -And I think they have 282 00:11:10,601 --> 00:11:13,100 to acknowledge too just how deadly these drugs are. 283 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:14,801 I mean, that is a difference from where we were 284 00:11:14,801 --> 00:11:16,901 in the 1980s in this country. 285 00:11:16,901 --> 00:11:18,300 -Yeah. -And if we had people climbing 286 00:11:18,300 --> 00:11:20,334 to the top of the Space Needle today, 287 00:11:20,334 --> 00:11:22,767 sitting on the edge, and then jumping off, 288 00:11:22,767 --> 00:11:24,234 we would intervene as a community. 289 00:11:24,234 --> 00:11:26,033 And that is in effect what we have 290 00:11:26,033 --> 00:11:28,400 when we have so many people using fentanyl 291 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,501 and even more dangerous versions on our streets. 292 00:11:32,501 --> 00:11:34,701 And their chances of death are high. 293 00:11:34,701 --> 00:11:35,734 If you've overdosed once, 294 00:11:35,734 --> 00:11:37,934 your chances of dying are even higher. 295 00:11:37,934 --> 00:11:40,300 So this is a serious public health emergency. 296 00:11:40,300 --> 00:11:42,267 It's costing lives. It's costing a lot of money. 297 00:11:42,267 --> 00:11:43,467 -Thank you for that. 298 00:11:43,467 --> 00:11:44,834 I want to switch gears if I can a little bit, 299 00:11:44,834 --> 00:11:46,701 Councilmember Nelson, and talk about what's happening 300 00:11:46,701 --> 00:11:48,267 on the business activation side of things. 301 00:11:48,267 --> 00:11:49,667 You touched on this earlier. 302 00:11:49,667 --> 00:11:51,601 Because I know the City is working hard to fill up 303 00:11:51,601 --> 00:11:53,133 vacant office spaces Downtown. 304 00:11:53,133 --> 00:11:55,367 City Hall Park is set to reopen in June, 305 00:11:55,367 --> 00:11:56,868 other initiatives there as well. 306 00:11:56,868 --> 00:11:58,801 And I wonder if you could keep this question in mind -- 307 00:11:58,801 --> 00:12:00,067 we received this via e-mail -- 308 00:12:00,067 --> 00:12:02,100 when it comes to revitalizing Downtown. 309 00:12:02,100 --> 00:12:03,367 Jimmy wrote this. 310 00:12:03,367 --> 00:12:05,701 "What success metrics do you think are important 311 00:12:05,701 --> 00:12:07,133 for the City to strive for? 312 00:12:07,133 --> 00:12:08,601 How do we measure those?" 313 00:12:08,601 --> 00:12:09,767 I want to try to talk about this -- 314 00:12:09,767 --> 00:12:12,133 the overall plan for business revitalization 315 00:12:12,133 --> 00:12:14,100 and how will you say, "This is a success"? 316 00:12:14,100 --> 00:12:16,467 You can measure this as a success this summer 317 00:12:16,467 --> 00:12:17,868 and going forward. 318 00:12:17,868 --> 00:12:20,968 -Well, I think a success would be the number of people 319 00:12:20,968 --> 00:12:22,534 that are circulating Downtown. 320 00:12:22,534 --> 00:12:25,334 And the Seattle Times ran an article last week, 321 00:12:25,334 --> 00:12:28,100 I believe, talking about -- I think it was at about 40%. 322 00:12:28,100 --> 00:12:29,267 Jon would know this better. 323 00:12:29,267 --> 00:12:30,601 -Yeah, mm-hm. 324 00:12:30,601 --> 00:12:32,567 -That is lower than most cities across the country. 325 00:12:32,567 --> 00:12:35,567 -Right, talking about offices and people returning 326 00:12:35,567 --> 00:12:36,734 to work compared to pre-pandemic. 327 00:12:36,734 --> 00:12:38,701 -It's tracking cellphone data. -Right. 328 00:12:38,701 --> 00:12:40,634 -So it's workers and visitors 329 00:12:40,634 --> 00:12:44,334 and people going to school, et cetera. 330 00:12:44,334 --> 00:12:45,667 So that would be a metric. 331 00:12:45,667 --> 00:12:47,300 I want to see that number go up. 332 00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:49,934 I want to see office vacancy rates go down. 333 00:12:49,934 --> 00:12:51,767 Right now, it's 22%. 334 00:12:51,767 --> 00:12:56,534 That is -- that's bad, and it's up 4% from a year ago 335 00:12:56,534 --> 00:12:58,033 when it was 18%. 336 00:12:58,033 --> 00:13:00,934 So that is another metric. 337 00:13:00,934 --> 00:13:02,400 Return to work...employers 338 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,133 can tell you how many people are coming back to work. 339 00:13:05,133 --> 00:13:07,767 -Right. -And so all of these 340 00:13:07,767 --> 00:13:09,934 are statistics that we can track. 341 00:13:09,934 --> 00:13:11,634 But I also think it's a feel. 342 00:13:11,634 --> 00:13:12,501 -Yeah. -I think it's a feel 343 00:13:12,501 --> 00:13:13,868 that you get from Downtown. 344 00:13:13,868 --> 00:13:19,400 And there are -- Downtown is a vibrant place right now, 345 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,000 thanks largely to the work of the ambassadors in DSA, 346 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,634 what they're doing to activate public spaces. 347 00:13:24,634 --> 00:13:28,200 And we've got the All Star Games coming up in about 50 days.- 348 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,801 Yeah. -So it's up to us policymakers 349 00:13:31,801 --> 00:13:35,901 to create the conditions for people to want to come Downtown. 350 00:13:35,901 --> 00:13:38,601 So it's the Downtown Activation Plan 351 00:13:38,601 --> 00:13:42,367 and some of the items in there, and more will be unveiled 352 00:13:42,367 --> 00:13:44,567 in the next couple months according to Mayor Harrell. 353 00:13:44,567 --> 00:13:45,934 -Yeah. 354 00:13:45,934 --> 00:13:47,400 -But it's also public safety first and foremost. 355 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,133 People have to feel safe Downtown. 356 00:13:49,133 --> 00:13:50,801 -Yeah, thank you for tying those together. 357 00:13:50,801 --> 00:13:52,501 Jon, let's try to dive into some of these numbers 358 00:13:52,501 --> 00:13:55,200 because I know you were glued to the screen every day 359 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,567 when we talk about the Downtown Recovery Dashboard 360 00:13:57,567 --> 00:13:59,400 that DSA has available right now, 361 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,601 especially that returning to the office piece. 362 00:14:01,601 --> 00:14:03,067 The May figures, as I've seen them, 363 00:14:03,067 --> 00:14:06,901 show that we're just above that 40% office occupancy level 364 00:14:06,901 --> 00:14:08,634 compared to pre-pandemic times. 365 00:14:08,634 --> 00:14:11,167 This does not show, however, the impact of Amazon returning 366 00:14:11,167 --> 00:14:14,100 a lot of workers to job on May 1st in South Lake Union. 367 00:14:14,100 --> 00:14:15,734 What are the numbers telling you? 368 00:14:15,734 --> 00:14:17,334 -The first week of May when Amazon returned, 369 00:14:17,334 --> 00:14:19,801 we had more people working Downtown relative 370 00:14:19,801 --> 00:14:21,400 to the same period in 2019 371 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:22,968 than we've had since the start of the pandemic. 372 00:14:22,968 --> 00:14:24,734 So we're headed in the right direction. 373 00:14:24,734 --> 00:14:27,434 It's been a slow and steady return to office. 374 00:14:27,434 --> 00:14:29,267 And we know that more employers 375 00:14:29,267 --> 00:14:31,534 are sort of following Amazon's lead 376 00:14:31,534 --> 00:14:34,901 and bringing workers back into the office 377 00:14:34,901 --> 00:14:37,200 at a similar rate of three or more days a week. 378 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,467 Redfin made an announcement, DocuSign, 379 00:14:39,467 --> 00:14:40,734 other Downtown employers. 380 00:14:40,734 --> 00:14:42,634 So I think the pendulum has really shifted away 381 00:14:42,634 --> 00:14:44,067 from majority remote work, 382 00:14:44,067 --> 00:14:46,000 which is where we've been in here in Seattle 383 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,434 over the last three years or so. 384 00:14:48,434 --> 00:14:50,801 And employers and employees, I think, 385 00:14:50,801 --> 00:14:54,400 are seeing again the benefits of being together in person -- 386 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,000 maybe not five days a week but a majority of the week. 387 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,267 And we think when we get back to a majority of people 388 00:14:59,267 --> 00:15:01,601 back in their offices the majority of the week -- 389 00:15:01,601 --> 00:15:02,834 we think that's good for Downtown, 390 00:15:02,834 --> 00:15:04,167 but it can also be good for workers, 391 00:15:04,167 --> 00:15:07,701 good for culture, good for organizations and companies. 392 00:15:07,701 --> 00:15:09,901 We've done a lot to create a lot better environment 393 00:15:09,901 --> 00:15:12,267 Downtown for workers to return. 394 00:15:12,267 --> 00:15:14,501 The first three months of this year, 395 00:15:14,501 --> 00:15:15,868 violent crime is down 28% 396 00:15:15,868 --> 00:15:18,300 compared to the first three months of last year. 397 00:15:18,300 --> 00:15:20,100 A year-and-a-half ago, we had 150 tents 398 00:15:20,100 --> 00:15:21,834 around the sidewalks in public areas 399 00:15:21,834 --> 00:15:24,667 Downtown -- today, maybe 10 or so. 400 00:15:24,667 --> 00:15:26,100 So the streets are more welcoming, 401 00:15:26,100 --> 00:15:28,534 healthy, safer, cleaner for everybody. 402 00:15:28,534 --> 00:15:29,801 -Got it. 403 00:15:29,801 --> 00:15:31,234 And I want to make sure I touched on a headline 404 00:15:31,234 --> 00:15:33,501 that might have passed under the radar for a lot of folks, 405 00:15:33,501 --> 00:15:35,868 and that's the Metropolitan Improvement District. 406 00:15:35,868 --> 00:15:37,667 The Council worked on reapproving this, 407 00:15:37,667 --> 00:15:38,868 and I think this is kind of 408 00:15:38,868 --> 00:15:40,567 one of those stories behind the story here. 409 00:15:40,567 --> 00:15:42,534 Can you talk about who sponsored this? 410 00:15:42,534 --> 00:15:43,868 This is a big part of making sure 411 00:15:43,868 --> 00:15:46,934 there are ambassadors and other activities Downtown, 412 00:15:46,934 --> 00:15:48,467 Can you talk about that piece, please? 413 00:15:48,467 --> 00:15:50,968 -Yeah, Downtown wouldn't be what it is, 414 00:15:50,968 --> 00:15:54,334 what we know it to be right now, without the MID. 415 00:15:54,334 --> 00:15:56,934 -Mm-hm. -And I think that we all owe 416 00:15:56,934 --> 00:16:00,067 a debt of gratitude to the ambassadors 417 00:16:00,067 --> 00:16:02,267 and also to the rate payers, the property owners, 418 00:16:02,267 --> 00:16:03,734 who have agreed. 419 00:16:03,734 --> 00:16:07,267 They asked to charge themselves money to clean our streets, 420 00:16:07,267 --> 00:16:12,234 remove graffiti, give tourists directions, 421 00:16:12,234 --> 00:16:16,400 staff the summer parks concert series, et cetera. 422 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:18,267 -Yeah. -And so there's so much 423 00:16:18,267 --> 00:16:20,234 that the MID does for Downtown. 424 00:16:20,234 --> 00:16:22,200 I can't imagine Downtown without it. 425 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,868 And so, yes, that was an easy sell (laughing) 426 00:16:25,868 --> 00:16:29,634 to renew it because every 10 years it is up for renewal. 427 00:16:29,634 --> 00:16:30,634 -Right, got it. 428 00:16:30,634 --> 00:16:32,100 Jon, some thoughts about the MID? 429 00:16:32,100 --> 00:16:33,801 I think it's one of those, again, stories behind the story 430 00:16:33,801 --> 00:16:35,300 that not a lot of people know about. 431 00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:37,801 But this was a big deal that a lot of those property owners 432 00:16:37,801 --> 00:16:39,734 said even in the dire straits that some of them 433 00:16:39,734 --> 00:16:41,734 are in with the amount of dollars 434 00:16:41,734 --> 00:16:43,200 they've lost over the last several years, 435 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:44,634 they're saying, "Yes, we want this." 436 00:16:44,634 --> 00:16:46,334 Talk to us about the MID and what it means. 437 00:16:46,334 --> 00:16:47,767 -Yeah, I think it shows the optimism 438 00:16:47,767 --> 00:16:49,834 that property owners have in Downtown's future, 439 00:16:49,834 --> 00:16:51,267 that our best days are really ahead. 440 00:16:51,267 --> 00:16:53,367 Yeah, we've been through a tough couple of years. 441 00:16:53,367 --> 00:16:56,200 But there's a lot of bullishness about what's to come. 442 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:57,968 And we're grateful for the support 443 00:16:57,968 --> 00:17:00,234 of Councilmember Nelson, Lewis, and Mayor Harrell, 444 00:17:00,234 --> 00:17:01,667 to make sure this got authorized. 445 00:17:01,667 --> 00:17:04,767 About 1,250 property owners said, "Yeah, keep charging us. 446 00:17:04,767 --> 00:17:07,267 And more so, we'd actually like to contribute more 447 00:17:07,267 --> 00:17:10,567 for cleaning, safety, security, concerts, 448 00:17:10,567 --> 00:17:13,434 events, activation, beautification in our Downtown. 449 00:17:13,434 --> 00:17:15,534 So we'll go from collecting and spending about 450 00:17:15,534 --> 00:17:19,200 $15-and-a-half million this year to about $18.5 next year. 451 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:20,400 That's going to mean more cleaning, 452 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:21,901 more feet on the street, more events, 453 00:17:21,901 --> 00:17:24,367 more parks and public spaces that are activated. 454 00:17:24,367 --> 00:17:27,133 And getting those basics right has always been important 455 00:17:27,133 --> 00:17:28,767 in creating a safe and healthy city, 456 00:17:28,767 --> 00:17:30,367 a place where people want to go spend time. 457 00:17:30,367 --> 00:17:32,701 So it's great for visitors, workers, and residents. 458 00:17:32,701 --> 00:17:34,634 And we're going to see more of it starting in July. 459 00:17:34,634 --> 00:17:35,901 -And I have something to add there. 460 00:17:35,901 --> 00:17:37,133 -Please. 461 00:17:37,133 --> 00:17:39,567 -Because these are actual jobs with benefits, 462 00:17:39,567 --> 00:17:43,267 with I believe starting salaries $20 or something like that. 463 00:17:43,267 --> 00:17:45,534 -Yeah. -And you should have seen 464 00:17:45,534 --> 00:17:48,200 the energy -- the positive energy in Chambers 465 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,000 when this was discussed in my committee. 466 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,200 You can check it out on the award-winning Seattle Channel. 467 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,334 -You better believe it, yeah. 468 00:17:53,334 --> 00:17:55,667 -But my point is that small businesses, 469 00:17:55,667 --> 00:17:59,834 MID Ambassadors, business/building owners, 470 00:17:59,834 --> 00:18:02,067 residents, they all came forward and said, 471 00:18:02,067 --> 00:18:03,968 "This is absolutely important. 472 00:18:03,968 --> 00:18:06,534 We appreciate this work. Please pack this." 473 00:18:06,534 --> 00:18:08,968 -Okay, I need to start wrapping up with the both of you. 474 00:18:08,968 --> 00:18:11,701 Maybe, Councilmember Nelson, you can give us a view of 475 00:18:11,701 --> 00:18:14,000 where are we going to be on this revitalizing 476 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,367 Downtown discussion. 477 00:18:15,367 --> 00:18:16,467 Take me a year from now. 478 00:18:16,467 --> 00:18:17,634 Do you have some thoughts about that? 479 00:18:17,634 --> 00:18:19,400 There's a lot of plans in place right now. 480 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:20,734 How is this going to -- 481 00:18:20,734 --> 00:18:22,033 what's this going to look like a year from now? 482 00:18:22,033 --> 00:18:23,400 - It's going to look even better. 483 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:27,634 Look, we are planning now for the All Star Games. 484 00:18:27,634 --> 00:18:29,300 That's in 50 days. -Mm-hm. 485 00:18:29,300 --> 00:18:31,868 -Next year, we'll be planning for the World Cup, all right? 486 00:18:31,868 --> 00:18:35,634 We've got a brand-new Convention Center, 487 00:18:35,634 --> 00:18:37,067 and so there is a lot 488 00:18:37,067 --> 00:18:39,267 that's positive that's happening right now. 489 00:18:39,267 --> 00:18:41,868 We have got to implement the programs on the books 490 00:18:41,868 --> 00:18:45,701 and at the same time make sure that we're delivering 491 00:18:45,701 --> 00:18:47,534 the basic service of public safety. 492 00:18:47,534 --> 00:18:49,033 -Okay, thank you. Jon, some final thoughts 493 00:18:49,033 --> 00:18:51,567 about where we might be in terms of Downtown safety, 494 00:18:51,567 --> 00:18:53,934 in terms of Downtown business next year? 495 00:18:53,934 --> 00:18:55,100 -Yeah, I'm encouraged. 496 00:18:55,100 --> 00:18:56,400 Clearly, we have a lot of work left to do. 497 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:58,200 And clearly, we're still in a fragile spot -- 498 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,100 but really encouraged with the progress. 499 00:19:00,100 --> 00:19:02,901 Just this month, we had about a dozen announcements 500 00:19:02,901 --> 00:19:05,033 of new businesses, reopened businesses, 501 00:19:05,033 --> 00:19:07,100 or businesses that will soon open -- 502 00:19:07,100 --> 00:19:10,767 restaurant, retail, bars, cafes. 503 00:19:10,767 --> 00:19:12,133 So we're seeing a lot more activity 504 00:19:12,133 --> 00:19:13,567 at the ground level of Downtown, 505 00:19:13,567 --> 00:19:16,334 the things that people want to go do for fun 506 00:19:16,334 --> 00:19:17,934 that are important to drawing people back. 507 00:19:17,934 --> 00:19:19,634 And then we've got some of these big milestones 508 00:19:19,634 --> 00:19:22,200 that Councilmember Nelson mentioned, 509 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,767 and those are going to be terrific. 510 00:19:23,767 --> 00:19:25,501 Our summer is going to be gangbusters 511 00:19:25,501 --> 00:19:27,267 with a record cruise season. 512 00:19:27,267 --> 00:19:28,968 Conventions are back -- 513 00:19:28,968 --> 00:19:31,300 big concerts, big sporting events, of course 514 00:19:31,300 --> 00:19:33,467 All Star Week. 515 00:19:33,467 --> 00:19:35,701 And we're going to be much closer to opening things 516 00:19:35,701 --> 00:19:37,868 like the Waterfront Park, which is going to be- 517 00:19:37,868 --> 00:19:39,167 -A gamechanger, I think. 518 00:19:39,167 --> 00:19:41,501 If you haven't been Downtown in a few years 519 00:19:41,501 --> 00:19:43,067 and you still haven't been Downtown, 520 00:19:43,067 --> 00:19:45,300 this is going to be the reason you kind of reintroduce yourself 521 00:19:45,300 --> 00:19:47,601 to Downtown -- open in 2025. 522 00:19:47,601 --> 00:19:50,334 So we're cutting the ribbon on a bunch of major moves 523 00:19:50,334 --> 00:19:52,400 and major projects that have been in place for, 524 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,968 in some cases, two decades that other cities would just die for. 525 00:19:55,968 --> 00:19:59,968 And we've got a collection of them here to open, to celebrate. 526 00:19:59,968 --> 00:20:01,868 And I think they're going to help fuel our recovery. 527 00:20:01,868 --> 00:20:03,100 -All right, well, we'll see what happens over 528 00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:05,267 the next few months and next year as well. 529 00:20:05,267 --> 00:20:06,334 Jon, thank you very much, 530 00:20:06,334 --> 00:20:07,567 I really appreciate you being here. 531 00:20:07,567 --> 00:20:08,667 -My pleasure. -And I'm going to ask 532 00:20:08,667 --> 00:20:10,067 more questions of Councilmember Nelson 533 00:20:10,067 --> 00:20:12,434 one-on-one here, so you stay right there. 534 00:20:12,434 --> 00:20:14,100 We will be right back. 535 00:20:14,100 --> 00:20:15,300 ♪♪ 536 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:17,534 This summer, the city of Seattle wants to fill up 537 00:20:17,534 --> 00:20:19,801 20 vacant storefronts in Downtown 538 00:20:19,801 --> 00:20:21,901 and throughout the city with pop-up shops, 539 00:20:21,901 --> 00:20:23,634 events, and art installations. 540 00:20:23,634 --> 00:20:24,634 Want to learn more? 541 00:20:24,634 --> 00:20:27,133 Check out SeattleRestored.org. 542 00:20:27,133 --> 00:20:29,133 And we are back with Councilmember Sara Nelson 543 00:20:29,133 --> 00:20:30,367 here on Council Edition. 544 00:20:30,367 --> 00:20:31,667 Thanks for sticking around here. 545 00:20:31,667 --> 00:20:33,200 I wanted to talk about trees with you. 546 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:34,834 I know this has been a very contentious issue 547 00:20:34,834 --> 00:20:36,300 for the Council. 548 00:20:36,300 --> 00:20:38,667 Here in May, you're going to be passing a set of new regulations 549 00:20:38,667 --> 00:20:39,901 intended to protect trees 550 00:20:39,901 --> 00:20:42,133 and also preserve housing development. 551 00:20:42,133 --> 00:20:43,968 I think you bring a different perspective to this 552 00:20:43,968 --> 00:20:45,501 because this is something the Council 553 00:20:45,501 --> 00:20:46,968 has been talking about a long time, 554 00:20:46,968 --> 00:20:49,167 maybe back even when you were a legislative assistant 555 00:20:49,167 --> 00:20:50,767 under Richard Conlin many years ago. 556 00:20:50,767 --> 00:20:52,901 But you are one of the newer Councilmembers here 557 00:20:52,901 --> 00:20:55,934 taking a look at this maybe with some fresh eyes here. 558 00:20:55,934 --> 00:20:57,200 What are you seeing here? 559 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:58,801 Where have you tried to guide this conversation? 560 00:20:58,801 --> 00:21:00,501 -Well, it's funny you mentioned Richard Conlin 561 00:21:00,501 --> 00:21:02,734 because, yes, I was a staffer. 562 00:21:02,734 --> 00:21:04,834 He was actually the Councilmember that formed 563 00:21:04,834 --> 00:21:06,100 the Urban Forestry Commission. 564 00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:07,200 -Right. -Right, and so I 565 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,367 was working for him from 2002 to 2013 566 00:21:10,367 --> 00:21:11,868 with a couple years' break in there. 567 00:21:11,868 --> 00:21:16,334 -Yeah. -And back then it was -- 568 00:21:16,334 --> 00:21:19,033 I hate to make myself sound like the old person 569 00:21:19,033 --> 00:21:20,400 who walked 10 miles through the snow. 570 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:21,601 -Sure, sure, sure. 571 00:21:21,601 --> 00:21:24,567 -But basically, it was almost inconceivable 572 00:21:24,567 --> 00:21:27,968 that we could regulate trees on private property. 573 00:21:27,968 --> 00:21:29,334 And so look how far we've come. 574 00:21:29,334 --> 00:21:30,367 -Mm-hm. 575 00:21:30,367 --> 00:21:32,567 -That's a part of the perspective 576 00:21:32,567 --> 00:21:34,834 that I bring that this is -- 577 00:21:34,834 --> 00:21:37,300 when you look at the conversation back then, 578 00:21:37,300 --> 00:21:38,667 this is new. -Yeah. 579 00:21:38,667 --> 00:21:41,701 -And I have to say though that this has been 580 00:21:41,701 --> 00:21:44,567 an active conversation for the years before I got here. 581 00:21:44,567 --> 00:21:47,634 So I had a lot of bringing myself up-to-speed. 582 00:21:47,634 --> 00:21:49,734 And it was really a difficult process 583 00:21:49,734 --> 00:21:51,400 because there were about -- I don't know -- 584 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:54,968 40 or 50 amendments that we had to digest at the last minute. 585 00:21:54,968 --> 00:21:56,200 -Oh, yeah. 586 00:21:56,200 --> 00:22:01,133 -So I went in knowing that trees are beloved. 587 00:22:01,133 --> 00:22:05,367 And people are very emotional about trees, as am I. 588 00:22:05,367 --> 00:22:06,701 -Mm-hm. 589 00:22:06,701 --> 00:22:11,267 -And so we're never going to be able to preserve enough. 590 00:22:11,267 --> 00:22:13,634 According to the people that know these things, 591 00:22:13,634 --> 00:22:16,801 this will result in the protection I think of 592 00:22:16,801 --> 00:22:20,968 about 57,000-58,000 more trees than had we done it otherwise. 593 00:22:20,968 --> 00:22:22,300 -Okay. -At the same time, 594 00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:24,300 we've got a housing affordability crisis, right? 595 00:22:24,300 --> 00:22:26,534 -Right, yeah, so tell me about that balance. 596 00:22:26,534 --> 00:22:29,434 That's the toughest part. -I know, it's difficult. 597 00:22:29,434 --> 00:22:32,734 People like to say it's not trees or housing, it's both. 598 00:22:32,734 --> 00:22:33,934 And I believe that. 599 00:22:33,934 --> 00:22:35,667 However, the devil is in the details. 600 00:22:35,667 --> 00:22:38,300 -Yeah. -And I think that what 601 00:22:38,300 --> 00:22:39,901 the builders of housing wanted -- 602 00:22:39,901 --> 00:22:41,400 and these aren't big developers. 603 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:45,467 These are the people that build the homes that people live in, 604 00:22:45,467 --> 00:22:47,667 single-family homes, et cetera. 605 00:22:47,667 --> 00:22:48,868 -Yeah. -What they needed 606 00:22:48,868 --> 00:22:50,100 was some certainty 607 00:22:50,100 --> 00:22:53,901 about how they could build on a parcel of land. 608 00:22:53,901 --> 00:22:55,734 -Yeah. -And up to this point, 609 00:22:55,734 --> 00:22:58,000 if there was a tree there, they had to figure out 610 00:22:58,000 --> 00:22:59,200 how they could get the FAR 611 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:00,901 in that limited space, et cetera. 612 00:23:00,901 --> 00:23:02,200 And that was taking time. 613 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:03,767 -The floor area ratio, thank you, keep going. 614 00:23:03,767 --> 00:23:05,501 -And that was slowing down the production 615 00:23:05,501 --> 00:23:07,534 of much-needed housing. -Yeah, right. 616 00:23:07,534 --> 00:23:09,200 -And so that was the tension 617 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,167 that we went into this legislation with. 618 00:23:11,167 --> 00:23:15,734 And as Councilmember Strauss said in the very beginning, 619 00:23:15,734 --> 00:23:18,067 pretty much everybody has a complaint about this. 620 00:23:18,067 --> 00:23:21,834 And so therefore, maybe we're doing the right thing. 621 00:23:21,834 --> 00:23:25,300 What I said after that marathon day of amendments -- 622 00:23:25,300 --> 00:23:30,501 I actually said that I felt really ambivalent, 623 00:23:30,501 --> 00:23:36,601 and I still do precisely because of the difficulty of talking 624 00:23:36,601 --> 00:23:42,434 about our living plants that beautify our city, 625 00:23:42,434 --> 00:23:48,467 that cool our climate, and anyway that are rare. 626 00:23:48,467 --> 00:23:51,567 However, they do grow back or they can be replanted. 627 00:23:51,567 --> 00:23:53,000 -Sure. -We have to take the long term. 628 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:54,267 So I guess what I'm just saying 629 00:23:54,267 --> 00:23:57,133 is that I understand the concerns on both sides. 630 00:23:57,133 --> 00:24:01,467 And I think that we came out with a piece of legislation 631 00:24:01,467 --> 00:24:03,901 that did its best to answer those concerns. 632 00:24:03,901 --> 00:24:05,000 -Thank you for that. 633 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:06,200 I wanted to move on to something else, 634 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:07,634 the Seattle Film Commission. 635 00:24:07,634 --> 00:24:09,901 You and I talked about this last year on Council Edition. 636 00:24:09,901 --> 00:24:11,501 -Right. -It seems like just yesterday. 637 00:24:11,501 --> 00:24:12,868 You brought this up again maybe back then. 638 00:24:12,868 --> 00:24:15,501 But now we have this 13-member Board finally been set, 639 00:24:15,501 --> 00:24:16,901 starting to meet. 640 00:24:16,901 --> 00:24:18,400 And the back story, folks, there's some State money, 641 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:19,901 new state money out there that lets 642 00:24:19,901 --> 00:24:21,801 Seattle offer some tax incentives 643 00:24:21,801 --> 00:24:23,267 to entice film crews to come here 644 00:24:23,267 --> 00:24:26,200 so we don't have the last of a set-in-Seattle/shot-in 645 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:27,734 Vancouver ever again. 646 00:24:27,734 --> 00:24:31,200 Tell us what it's going to do, its priorities moving forward. 647 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:32,901 -Right, well, I love working on something 648 00:24:32,901 --> 00:24:35,000 that is noncontroversial, let me just say. 649 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:36,267 -Sure. 650 00:24:36,267 --> 00:24:37,501 -Because this was a priority coming into office 651 00:24:37,501 --> 00:24:39,534 because I learned how important the film industry 652 00:24:39,534 --> 00:24:45,267 was to jobs, economic growth, and to advancing equity 653 00:24:45,267 --> 00:24:47,834 as well as forming a pipeline for young people 654 00:24:47,834 --> 00:24:49,801 who want to work in the industry. 655 00:24:49,801 --> 00:24:52,467 And we're losing those people to Portland 656 00:24:52,467 --> 00:24:54,834 and to Vancouver to the north. 657 00:24:54,834 --> 00:24:56,734 -Yeah, cost of living is a big part of it. 658 00:24:56,734 --> 00:24:57,801 -Right, and it's also because 659 00:24:57,801 --> 00:24:59,000 there's more opportunity in those cities. 660 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:00,167 -Right, okay, yeah. -And it's also because 661 00:25:00,167 --> 00:25:02,434 they have invested in their film industry 662 00:25:02,434 --> 00:25:04,767 by having things like a Film Commission. 663 00:25:04,767 --> 00:25:05,868 -Yeah. -What does that do? 664 00:25:05,868 --> 00:25:08,367 Why is it just not another commission? 665 00:25:08,367 --> 00:25:12,234 It's because it shows that local government has skin in the game. 666 00:25:12,234 --> 00:25:15,501 And we are trying to make it easier to make film here -- 667 00:25:15,501 --> 00:25:17,367 not just for outside production 668 00:25:17,367 --> 00:25:21,200 but for our already-existing people in the industry 669 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:22,968 and the talent that lives right here. 670 00:25:22,968 --> 00:25:24,000 -Yeah. -So this will be 671 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:26,701 an 11-member Commission, 672 00:25:26,701 --> 00:25:30,300 and they represent every single segment of the film industry 673 00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:31,734 from onscreen talent 674 00:25:31,734 --> 00:25:34,567 to postproduction editing, everything in between. 675 00:25:34,567 --> 00:25:37,300 We've got labor, education, 676 00:25:37,300 --> 00:25:39,801 and of course we've got a representative from SIFF. 677 00:25:39,801 --> 00:25:43,267 -Right. -So we need industry experts 678 00:25:43,267 --> 00:25:47,067 to tell City policymakers what we need to do 679 00:25:47,067 --> 00:25:48,934 to make it easier to make film here 680 00:25:48,934 --> 00:25:52,033 so that we can reclaim our natural position 681 00:25:52,033 --> 00:25:54,133 as the best film-making city in the nation. 682 00:25:54,133 --> 00:25:55,334 -And you've brought up SIFF there, 683 00:25:55,334 --> 00:25:57,067 the Seattle International Film Festival, 684 00:25:57,067 --> 00:26:00,534 which is going on right now all around Seattle here in May. 685 00:26:00,534 --> 00:26:03,200 It just seems like an exciting time to be connected to SIFF 686 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,300 and to see this industry start to grow. 687 00:26:05,300 --> 00:26:07,467 Because not only are we talking about the festival, 688 00:26:07,467 --> 00:26:10,234 but SIFF purchasing the Cinerama Theater. 689 00:26:10,234 --> 00:26:11,634 It seems like a very interesting time 690 00:26:11,634 --> 00:26:13,133 to get involved in this industry. 691 00:26:13,133 --> 00:26:15,000 What's your insight there? 692 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,300 -I can only explain the energy 693 00:26:17,300 --> 00:26:18,767 in the room when that was announced. 694 00:26:18,767 --> 00:26:20,200 I was there on opening night. 695 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,634 And when Tom Mara, the new director, 696 00:26:23,634 --> 00:26:26,567 unveiled this news, the excitement was palpable. 697 00:26:26,567 --> 00:26:27,601 People got on their feet. 698 00:26:27,601 --> 00:26:30,200 There was a roar of applause. 699 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:33,734 So that just shows you how meaningful it was 700 00:26:33,734 --> 00:26:37,100 to reopen this iconic theater 701 00:26:37,100 --> 00:26:41,300 and also to have it in the hands of the venerable SIFF. 702 00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:44,100 -Yeah. -And so that is the last star 703 00:26:44,100 --> 00:26:47,033 in the alignment of many stars 704 00:26:47,033 --> 00:26:51,234 to advance our mission of boosting film here. 705 00:26:51,234 --> 00:26:52,634 You mentioned the incentives. 706 00:26:52,634 --> 00:26:54,334 -Right. -Those $15 million -- 707 00:26:54,334 --> 00:26:59,868 that was $13 million new dollars to incentivize film production. 708 00:26:59,868 --> 00:27:03,234 That's not quite Atlanta or Vancouver, but it's more. 709 00:27:03,234 --> 00:27:04,300 And that's at the State level. 710 00:27:04,300 --> 00:27:06,601 And I thank Washington Film Works. 711 00:27:06,601 --> 00:27:08,667 Then we've got Harbor Island Studios. 712 00:27:08,667 --> 00:27:10,200 -Right. -The County's investment 713 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:13,701 in a sound studio, state-of-the-art sound studio, 714 00:27:13,701 --> 00:27:16,434 which we have not had since 1996. 715 00:27:16,434 --> 00:27:19,167 Now we have a Film Commission that puts Seattle on the map 716 00:27:19,167 --> 00:27:21,400 and shows people that we care. 717 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:24,367 And now we have this venerable, 718 00:27:24,367 --> 00:27:27,501 iconic theater that's going to reopen. 719 00:27:27,501 --> 00:27:29,000 -Yeah, it's massive news. 720 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,200 And I guess I'll wrap up with one quick question here for you. 721 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:33,434 So if a filmmaker had to make the movie, 722 00:27:33,434 --> 00:27:35,834 What Councilmember Nelson is Doing This Summer, 723 00:27:35,834 --> 00:27:37,033 what would that look like? 724 00:27:37,033 --> 00:27:38,534 Is it just one shot of you watching 725 00:27:38,534 --> 00:27:40,200 the Seattle Channel, or what? 726 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:41,601 [Laughter] 727 00:27:41,601 --> 00:27:45,100 -Gosh, it's me going to a lot of meetings, frankly. 728 00:27:45,100 --> 00:27:48,501 -Okay. -So that is -- 729 00:27:48,501 --> 00:27:50,601 I'm going to have to roll that through my mind. 730 00:27:50,601 --> 00:27:51,367 -Please, I know. 731 00:27:51,367 --> 00:27:53,868 -But I did sit in a move 732 00:27:53,868 --> 00:27:57,701 to watch the showing of Year of the Fox. 733 00:27:57,701 --> 00:27:59,234 -Oh, wow, okay. -I went to that. 734 00:27:59,234 --> 00:28:01,300 And that was fun because the director 735 00:28:01,300 --> 00:28:03,133 and the cast members and production crew 736 00:28:03,133 --> 00:28:05,234 got up there on stage, answered questions. 737 00:28:05,234 --> 00:28:06,534 And that was fun for me. 738 00:28:06,534 --> 00:28:08,367 -Okay. -And so if you were to just ask 739 00:28:08,367 --> 00:28:10,133 what is the movie of Sara Nelson 740 00:28:10,133 --> 00:28:11,601 in the next couple weeks, it's more of that. 741 00:28:11,601 --> 00:28:13,000 -Just watching more movies, right. 742 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:14,167 -Yeah. -Councilmember Nelson, 743 00:28:14,167 --> 00:28:15,667 thank you very much for being here. 744 00:28:15,667 --> 00:28:17,968 And we'll see you next time on Council Edition. 745 00:28:17,968 --> 00:28:25,033 ♪♪ 746 00:28:25,033 --> 00:28:32,100 ♪♪ 747 00:28:32,100 --> 00:28:39,467 ♪♪