>> I CAN BEGIN?
>> YES, YOU CAN BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYBODY. TODAY IS TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 14th. THIS IS THE
MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL, AND I'M NOW CALLING IT
TO ORDER. IT IS TO: 01. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ.
>> PRESENT.
>> 8 PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE
ON TO OUR AGENDA, I WANT TO ADD
A FEW NOTES FOR TODAY. WE HAVE
A FULL AGENDA TODAY. WE HAVE
SIX AGENDA ITEMS, WHICH
COMPROMISE THREE RESOLUTIONS
AND THREE COUNCIL BILLS, AND
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO START
TODAY'S AGENDA WITH A
PRESENTATION FROM MR. ROBERT
DELLUMS, SOLICITING THOSE THAT
IT'S NO LONGERVALENTINE'S DAY,
IT'S ROBERT DELLUMS DAY, AND
THAT WILL BE PRESENTED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. SO WITH
THAT, AS I JUST SHARED , I'M
GOING TO HANDED OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS TO PRESENT
HIS PROCLAMATION, WHICH WE ALL
SIGNED YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE,
AND , MR. LEWIS, AFTER YOU ARE
DONE SPEAKING, THEN WE WILL
SEE IF ANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES
WANT TO ADD ANYTHING, AND THEN
I WILL MOVE TO SUSPEND THE
RULES TO ALLOW OUR GUEST, TO
SPEAK. SO WITH THAT, MR. -- I
DON'T KNOW WHY SEMESTER.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THINK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. IT'S A GREAT HONOR
TODAY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT
THIS PROCLAMATION THAT WE
WORKED ON COLLABORATIVELY WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO RECOGNIZE
THE CAREER OF ACHIEVEMENT TO
OUR COMMUNITY FROM DIRECTOR
ROBERT NELLUMS, WHO IS HERE IN
THE WILL GALLERY WITH US THIS
AFTERNOON. I READ THE WORDS OF
THE PROCLAMATION INTO THE
RECORD DURING OUR COUNCIL
BRIEFING WHEN WE PROVIDED OUR
INITIAL REMARKS, SO I'LL JUST
SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE
GENERALLY, AND THEN GIVE
COLLEAGUES THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DO SO AS WELL. IT WAS A REALLY
GREAT PRIVILEGE YESTERDAY
EVENING TO JOIN A GATHERING OF
THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY AND CITY
OFFICIALS TO SPEND AN ENTIRE
EVENING TOASTING AND HONORING
DIRECTOR NELLUMS 'S LEADERSHIP,
AND, AS HE IS QUICK TO POINT
OUT, ABOUT HIS TEAM, BUT HE
WORKS WITH EVERY, TO BUILD
CENTER CAMPUS, AND I'M TO SAY
THAT HIS TEAM IS -- IN -- WITH
US ARE -- A -- A DELEGATION --
I SHOULD SAY. OF THE SEATTLE.
I, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO'S
PERSONALLY -- WITH THE SEATTLE
-- SO SOMEONE WHO WENT TO HIGH
SCHOOL THERE EPICENTER SCHOOL,
AND, AND I, I, I DARESAY THAT
MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES LIVED
UP TO THE EXPECTATION THAT
DIRECTOR NELLUMS HAD AS HE
STOPS PEOPLE ON THE CAMPUS TO
ASK IF THEY'RE CAUSING TROUBLE
TODAY. BECAUSE THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT PART OF KEEPING THAT
CAMPUS ACTIVATED AND
INTERESTING. I CAN SAY THAT
DURING THE TENURE OF DIRECTOR
NELLUMS'S LEADERSHIP, THAT
CAMPUS HAS UNDERGONE SOME OF
THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE
THAT IT HAS SINCE THE WORLD'S
FAIR , THAT, THAT INTERCEPTED
AND INITIALLY LAID OUT THAT
CAMPUS. THIS HAS BEEN A PERIOD
OF LEADERSHIP THAT HAS SEEN A
COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE KEY
ARENA PARCEL TO BECOME CLIMATE
PLEDGE ARENA. THIS IS
LEADERSHIP THAT HAS SEEN A
COMPLETE OVERHAUL AND
RETROFITTING OF THE MONORAIL ,
THE INSTALLATION OF THE GLASS
MUSEUM , A NEW PERMANENT HOME
FOR K EXP IN THE NORTHWEST
ROOMS . I MEAN, WE CAN JUST GO
DOWN THE LIST, CULMINATING IN
COMING UP WITH A PLAN BEFORE
NELLUMS HAS GONE ON TO HIS
WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT TO, TO
TAKE THE LAST PART, PART OF
THE CENTER CAMPUS THAT NEEDS TO
BE ACTIVATED, MEMORIAL STADIUM,
AND PLANS TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY BETWEEN THE
CITY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON TO
REALLY REJUVENATE THAT STADIUM
TO BE AN ASSET FOR THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY FOR DECADES INTO THE
FUTURE. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S ,
IT'S, IT'S GREAT TO BE IN A
POSITION TO HONOR A LEGACY OF
GREAT ACHIEVEMENT AND
CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY
THIS AFTERNOON AT THE BEGINNING
OF OUR MEETING, AND I'M VERY
PROUD TO GIVE THIS
PROCLAMATION FROM ALL OF US ON
THE COUNCIL DAIS AND FOR MAYOR
HAROLD TODAY IN OPEN SESSION
AND COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO
DIRECTOR NELLUMS , TO WISH
DIRECTOR NELLUMS THE BEST IN
HIS RETIREMENT, AND HOPE THAT
WE CAN CONTINUE IN HIS
RETIREMENT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
HIS GUIDANCE, HIS WISDOM, HIS
ADVICE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN
BUILDING A STRONG MILL CITY AND
A STRONGER SEATTLE CITY CAMPUS.
IN SO MUCH FOR JOINING US,
DIRECTOR NELLUMS, AND THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TO
OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. ARE THERE ANY
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE COMMENTS REGARDING THE
PROCLAMATION? MY UNDERSTANDING
IS -- OKAY, GOOD.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I KNOW
THAT YOU TRUNCATED ALL OF
ROBERTS A COUPLE MINUTES ,
BECAUSE IF YOU HAD NOT, WE
WOULD BE HERE FOR ANOTHER 29
YEARS, MAYBE 30 YEARS. MUCH
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I
REMEMBER WHAT SEATTLE CENTER
WAS LIKE 17 YEARS AGO, 20
YEARS AGO, AND WE HAD THE SAME
INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR THE MOST
PART. I MEAN, YOU -- HEARING
EVERYTHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS JUST SAID, YOU BROUGHT IN
SO MUCH MORE VIBRANCE. BUT THEN
YOU ALSO TOOK WHAT WE ALREADY
HAD AND ADDED THAT VIBRANCY TO
IT. YOU MADE IT A PLACE THAT IS
MORE WELCOMING , AND REALLY, TO
BE OUR TRUE CENTRAL PART OF THE
CITY, FROM FOLKLIFE TO A NEW
ARENA TO THE REMAKE OF THE,
THE SPACE NEEDLE. IT IS WHERE
OUTSIDERS FROM SEATTLE THINK OF
WHEN THEY THINK OF SEATTLE .
AND I KNOW THIS MIGHT BE A
CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC, BUT YOU
EVEN EXPANDED THE BOUNDARIES
WITH THE SEASCAPE RESTART OVER
THERE ON BROAD. I MEAN, THIS
IS THE ABILITY TO TAKE A
DECOMMISSIONED STREET AND TURN
IT INTO A PLACE THAT IS
WELCOMING TO ALL. YOU'VE
TRANSFORMED OUR CITY. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND IT IS
SO APPROPRIATE TO BE ON
VALENTINE'S DAY, BECAUSE
FOREVER , YOU WILL BE IN
SEATTLE'S HEART.
>> WOW. I DON'T THINK I CAN
TOP THAT, BUT -- DO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANYTHING ELSE
TO SHARE BEFORE I SPEAK? NOT
SEEING ANY. MR. NELLUMS, IS MR.
NELLUMS PRESENT?
>> YES.
>> IS HE GOING TO COME UP TO
THE PODIUM? THANK YOU. SO I'M
GOING TO COME ON UP, MR.
NELLUMS. I'M GOING TO MAKE MY
COMMENTS, AND THEN I THINK
WE'RE GOING TO SUSPEND THE
RULES, BUT FIRST, MR. NELLUMS ,
YOU TOOK AWAY VALENTINE'S DAY,
SO I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY WITH
THAT. SECOND OF ALL, YOU'RE A
DEAR FRIEND, AND I'M SORRY I
MISSED YOUR PARTY LAST NIGHT.
YOU'RE GOING AWAY, BUT I SEE
YOU ALL THE TIME, AND TODAY IS
TACO TUESDAY, SO I WILL SEE YOU
AT SOME POINT. WE HAVE WORKED
TOGETHER FOR ALMOST EIGHT
YEARS, AND DOING CLIMATE
PLEDGE ARENA AND ALL THE OTHER
STUFF WE DID WITH THE NHL, AND
I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON, YOU
WERE A STALWART. YOU WERE, YOU
ARE SUCH A SUPPORTER FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE SEATTLE
CENTER CAMPUS , WITH ALL THE
DIFFERENT PARTIES, PROFIT AND
NONPROFIT, THAT WE DEALT WITH,
AND GETTING IT DONE, ACROSS THE
FINISH LINE, GETTING IT THROUGH
COMMITTEE, AND I REALLY, AS YOU
KNOW, VALUE OUR FRIENDSHIP. AND
YOU SAW WHAT I WROTE ON THE
PROCLAMATION IN BIG RED
LETTERS, PLEASE DON'T GO, BUT
YOU'RE GOING ANYWAY. AND WELL
DESERVED. AND I JUST WANT YOU
TO KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'LL BE
MISSED, AND I KNOW WE WILL SEE
MORE OF YOU , BECAUSE YOU'RE
NOT LEAVING THE CITY. SO WITH
THAT, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES , SO IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, I WILL
SUSPEND THE RULES AND ALLOW OUR
GUEST, MR. NELLUMS, AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. ESTHER
NELLUMS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU TO ALL OF
THE COUNCILMEMBERS. IT IS MY
HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY . I, I,
I GOT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
EVERYBODY'S BEEN SO KIND AND
SAYING SO MANY NICE THINGS AND
SO FORTH, I FEEL LIKE I DIED,
AND, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT
A PLACE LIKE SEATTLE CENTER IN
OUR CITY IS THAT YOU DON'T NEED
A TICKET TO BE THERE. YOU DON'T
NEED ANYTHING . YOU, YOU'RE
WELCOME. YOU'RE HONORED TO
COME. AND IT GIVES YOU A SENSE
THAT YOU BELONG, AND THAT'S THE
MOST POWERFUL THING THAT YOU
CAN HAVE , THAT YOU ACTUALLY
BELIEVE THAT YOU BELONG
SOMEWHERE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE
TRY TO DO THERE. AND SO I, I
WOULD JUST LIKE TO TELL YOU
THAT IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK
AS DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE CENTER.
I SO WANT TO THANK EACH AND
EVERYONE OF YOU, BECAUSE EVEN
THOUGH I, I HAVE THE MOST FUN
JOB IN THE CITY , YOU MIGHT
HAVE THE TOUGHEST JOB IN THE
CITY. AND SO I JUST WANT YOU
TO KNOW THAT WE RECOGNIZE
THAT, AND WE REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK
AND ALL THE HELP AND ALL THE
LEADERSHIP AND ALL THE DRIVE
THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO US AND TO
ME TO HELP CREATE SUCH A
WONDERFUL GYM FOR THE CITIZENS
OF SEATTLE. AND I , WITH THAT,
I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK EACH AND
EVERYONE OF YOU, AND I HOPE, I
HOPE I'LL BE ABLE TO SEE YOU
AGAIN ONE DAY SOON. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. NELLUMS.
YAY! ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO NOW
THAT IT'S , IT'S STILL NOT,
IT'S NOT VALENTINE'S DAY, IT'S
MR. NELLUMS DAY, WE'LL MOVE ON,
WITH OUR, WITH OUR AGENDA, TO
PUBLIC COMMENT. SO BEFORE WE
BEGIN, LET ME ASK THE
QUESTION. I HAVE A FEW
QUESTIONS TO MAKE.
>> SORRY TO INTERRUPT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, BUT COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS IS THAT THE PROCLAMATION
TO MR. NELLUMS.
>> OH, I'M SORRY. I DID NOT
SEE THAT. I APOLOGIZE. ARE WE
ON CAMERA WITH THAT?
>> IF THEY WOULD GO INTO THE
CAMERA VIEW, THEY CAN.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> I THOUGHT MR. -- I THOUGHT
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WAS COMING
DOWN TO THE PODIUM. THERE WE
ARE. WONDERFUL.
>> SO, DIRECTOR,
CONGRATULATIONS. HAPPY ROBERT
NELLUMS DAY.
>> HAPPY ROBERT NELLUMS DAY.
>> I ASKED THE SEATTLE CENTER
STAFF IF I COULD GET A PICTURE
WITH THE DIRECTOR AND THE
PROCLAMATION, SO.
>> THE CLERKS, THEY MAY WANT
TO TURN THE MICROPHONE ON AT
THE PODIUM.
>> IT, IT IS ON, BUT I'LL RAISE
THE VOLUME.
>> THANKS. JUST TELL ME WHEN,
MADAM CLERK.
>> WE MAY PROCEED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SO LET ME ASK A
FEW QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE
FORWARD. HOW MANY FOLKS DO HAVE
REMOTE -- HAVE CALLED IN?
>> WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 135
REMOTE. AMELIA CANNOT KNEW NO
HOW MANY IN PERSON.
>> WE HAVE THREE IN PERSON.
>> OKAY. SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO , SINCE WE HAVE
OVER 130 CALLERS. FIRST OF
ALL, WE WILL LET THE FOLKS THAT
ARE PHYSICALLY THERE GO FIRST .
WE WILL DO ONE HOUR OF PUBLIC
COMMENT . I WANT TO LET THE
PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT
VOTING ON COUNCIL BILL 120511,
THE CAST ORDINANCE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS
SPOKEN TO, AND WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT SINCE, I THINK, JANUARY
18th. IT WILL BE VOTED ON NEXT
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21st , SO I'M
HOPING IF WE DON'T GET TO ALL
THE CALLERS TODAY, THAT THOSE
FOLKS CALLED BACK NEXT TUESDAY,
WHEN THIS FULL COUNCIL WILL BE
VOTING ON THAT COUNCIL
ORDINANCE. COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, YOU HAVE YOUR HAND
UPWARD
>> THANK YOU. I FIRST OF ALL
JUST WANTED TO APOLOGIZE FOR
BEING LATE AND LET MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT I'M HERE,
AND THEN JUST SECONDLY, THANK
YOU FOR ACCOMMODATING AS MANY
AS POSSIBLE. I WILL JUST COME
ON MY END, APPEAL THAT WE
LISTEN TO EVERYBODY. OBVIOUSLY,
THERE WILL BE PEOPLE -- I
WELCOME EVERYBODY TO SPEAK, BUT
SPECIFICALLY THE REASON I'M
ASKING THAT WE LISTEN TO
EVERYONE TODAY IS BECAUSE THERE
IS, THERE ARE -- I KNOW THAT
THERE ARE MANY FROM OPPRESSED
CASTE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE
SIGNED UP TODAY FOR THEM. IT IS
A HUGE DEAL THAT THEY'RE
SPEAKING UP OPENLY. IT'S ALMOST
LIKE COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET
FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY,
BECAUSE IT CARRIES A REAL, A
REAL SOCIAL PRICE FOR THEM TO
DO THIS, SO THEY'RE SHOWING A
LOT OF COURAGE, SO I HOPE WE
ARE, THE COUNCIL, ABLE TO
LISTEN TO THEM, ALTHOUGH I KNOW
THEY WILL BE SPEAKING NEXT
TUESDAY AS WELL, BUT I THINK WE
SHOULD HEAR THEM ALL TODAY AS
WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNSEL NUMBER
SAWANT. I SHOULD ADD THAT I DO
HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE CALLERS
AND THEIR NAMES. I HAVE IT
PRINTED OUT. EACH COLOR WILL
HAVE ONE MINUTE, AND WE'LL SEE
WHERE WE'RE AT IN ONE HOUR.
MADAM CLERK WILL LET US KNOW
WHEN WE GET CLOSE TO ONE HOUR.
AND WITH THAT, AGAIN, I JUST
WANT TO REITERATE FOR FOLKS, WE
ARE NOT VOTING ON THAT TODAY.
THEY WILL BE VOTING ON THAT
NEXT TUESDAY. SO WITH THAT ,
MADAM CLERK, EVERYONE GETS ONE
MINUTE , AND I WILL HANDED OVER
TO YOU TO GIVE THE
INSTRUCTIONS, AND THEN WE WILL
START THE CLOCK FOR ONE HOUR
AFTER THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE. WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY, THE CITY OF
FLOWERS AND THE CITY OF
GOODWILL. BUILT ON INDIGENOUS
LAND , THE TRADITIONAL
TERRITORY OF THE STATELESS
PEOPLES. THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WELCOMES REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT , AND IS EAGER TO HEAR
FROM RESIDENCE OF OUR CITY. IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A SPEAKER
AND PROVIDE A VERBAL PUBLIC
COMMENT, YOU MAY REGISTER TWO
HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING THE
OTHER SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WEBSITE . HERE'S SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PROCEEDINGS. SPEAKERS
ARE CALLED UPON IN THE ORDER
IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE. EACH
SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM THE
PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN THEY
REGISTERED ONLINE AND USED THE
MEETING I.D. AND PASSCODE THAT
WAS EMAILED UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN
EMAIL CONFIRMATION, PLEASE
CHECK YOUR SPAM OR JUNK MAIL
FOLDERS. A REMINDER: THE
SPEAKER MEETING I.D. IS
DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL
LISTEN LINE MEETING I.D.
PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA. ONCE A
SPEAKER'S NAME IS CALLED, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE ON
MUTED , AND AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT
WILL SAY, THE HOST WOULD LIKE
YOU TO UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE.
THAT IS YOUR CUE THAT IT'S YOUR
TURN TO SPEAK. AT THAT TIME,
YOU MUST PRESS STAR SIX. YOU
WILL THEN HEAR A PROMPT OF ,
YOU ARE ON MUTED. BE SURE YOUR
PHONE IS ON MUTED ON YOUR END,
SO THAT YOU WILL BE HEARD. AS
A SPEAKER, YOU SHOULD BEGIN BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING. A
CHIME WILL SOUND 110 SECONDS
ARE LEFT IN YOUR ALLOTTED TIME.
AS A GENTLE REMINDER TO WRAP UP
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. AT THE
END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME, YOUR
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED , AND
THE NEXT SPEAKER REGISTERED
WILL BE CALLED. ONCE SPEAKERS
HAVE COMPLETED PROVIDING THE
COMMENT, PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND
JOIN US BY FOLLOWING THE
MEETING THE SEL CHANNEL
BROADCAST OR THROUGH THE
LISTENING LINE OPTION LISTED ON
THE AGENDA. THE COUNCIL
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ELIMINATE
PUBLIC COMMENT IF THE SYSTEM
IS BEING ABUSED. OR IF THE
PROCESS IMPEDES THE COUNCIL'S
ABILITY TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS
ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY. ANY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE
THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO THESE
PROCEEDINGS OR THAT IS NOT
FOCUSED ON AN APPROPRIATE TOPIC
AS SPECIFIED IN COUNCIL RULES,
MAY LEAD TO THE SPEAKER BEING
MUTED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
OUR HOPE IS TO PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL ASSIST
OUR ORDERLY CONSIDERATION OF
ISSUES BEFORE THE COUNCIL. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN. AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT
OF , YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
THANK YOU, SEATTLE.
>> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY. ONE
MINUTE. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION
TO THAT 10 SECOND RING SO WE
DON'T HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF. ALL
RIGHT. LET'S GO.
>> WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE IN
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS. THE
TIME IS NOW 2:18 P.M. . THE
FIRST SPEAKER IS MARGUERITE
BECHARD.
>> FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS
MARGUERITE BECHARD , AND SECOND
OF ALL, I DON'T SEE MY FACE,
AND I GUESS IT'S IRRELEVANT
FOR US TO EVEN MAKE COMMENT ,
THAT OUR FACES DON'T APPEAR
BEFORE US ANYMORE , OKAY? SO
MAYBE I NEED TO CHANGE MY
PROFESSION AND GET ME A CAMERA
. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION
FOR D'VONNE PICKETT JR. WAY.
I'M SAYING SOMETHING BECAUSE
I'M DEEPLY SADDENED THAT HE
WAS ASSASSINATED , HE WAS
MURDERED OVER THERE BY HIS
BUSINESS , IN FRONT OF HIS
BUSINESS. I NEVER MET HIM. MY
NEPHEW KNEW HIM AND OTHER
PEOPLE KNEW HIM. AND I WENT
AND TOOK SOME FLOWERS OVER
THERE, BECAUSE THAT HURTS. WHEN
ANY OF US DROP LIKE THAT, I
DON'T CARE IF IT'S LIKE THAT
OR THE POLICE KILLING US, WE
SUFFER. AND I'M JUST REALLY
GRIEF STRICKEN BEHIND THAT ,
BUT IF YOU SAY YOU WANT TO, GO
AHEAD AND HONOR HIM, BECAUSE I
BELIEVE YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER -- OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX RUBIN.
THERE
>> I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
SOMETHING WHAT IS THE MOVED
AGENDA NUMBER 4. IT IS VERY
INTERESTING FOR ME HERE. OH, I
FORGOT , YOU DON'T SHOW MY
FACE, SO I CAN SPEAK TO
EVERYBODY. YEAH. SOMEONE RIGHT
NOW, RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY. YOU CUT
EVERYBODY. YOU, RIGHT NOW, GO
HOME, YOU KNOW. WHY YOU ACTING
LIKE IT. I ASK YOU. WHY WE
CANNOT SPEAK LIKE CIVILIZED
PEOPLE. SOMEONE TRIED,
ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS NOT ONLY
ABOUT SPEECH. IT'S ABOUT
EVERYTHING THAT MUST COME FOR
US IN MONTHS. IT'S A NIGHTMARE.
NO FACES, NO HUMAN AIDE. WHY
ARE YOU DOING THIS? YOU'RE
ACTING LIKE A DIRTY NAZI
SPAKE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS DAVID TOLEDO.
>> OH, DAVID!
>> HI THERE. MY NAME IS DAVID
TOLEDO. I AM ADDRESSING THE
PUBLIC SAFETY PORTION . SORRY
TO , TO RUIN WHAT SHOULD BE A,
A, A JOYOUS OCCASION WITH MR.
NELLUMS 'S CELEBRATION, BUT THE
REASON THAT I CAME DOWN HERE
TODAY IS BECAUSE, LAST WEEK, A
VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE LOST
HER YOUNGER BROTHER TO FENTANYL
. SORRY. I KNOW A FEW OF YOU ,
SOME, SOME OF YOU I COME I
HAVEN'T MET PERSONALLY, BUT
SOME OF YOU I HAVE, AND MY
BACKGROUND IS THAT I, I DO WORK
WITH A LOT OF YOUTH PROGRAMS .
I TRY TO WRAP THIS UP QUICKLY.
BASICALLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY,
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT ARE ALREADY
ACTIVE AND TRYING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE OUT THERE. I ALSO
WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE WHAT
BRUCE, WHAT MAYOR HERRELL IS
DOING, AND I JUST WANT TO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK WITH THEM
TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCES THAT
SEATTLE NEEDS. THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE'LL NOW MOVE
INTO REMOTE SPEAKERS, AND OUR
FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
MOHAMMED LESS INITIAL A.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS
MOHAMMED. I'M CALLING IN TO
SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION.
CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU MIGHT BE
HEARING. BEING SALVATION
MYSELF, I CAN AFFIRM THAT CASTE
IS PRESENT IN THE SOUTH ASIAN
COMMUNITY IN THE U.S., AND IT
IMPACTS THE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.
THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS
LEGISLATION WILL SINGLE OUT
SOUTH ASIANS IS LIKE SAYING
THAT RELIGION PROTECTION IS
ANTI-CHRISTIAN, OR THE
PROTECTION AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA
CHOCOLATES NON-MUSLIMS OF THE
WHOLE. AND GENDER
DISCRIMINATION PROTECTION IS
NOT ANTI-MEN. PEOPLE DESERVE
TO HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS
OPPORTUNITIES , AND TO NOT HAVE
THEIR NAME OR FAMILIAL
BACKGROUND HOLD THEM BACK. I
URGE THIS COUNCIL, NEXT WEEK,
TO VOTE UNANIMOUSLY IN SUPPORT
OF THIS ORDINANCE AND TO SEND A
STRONG SIGNAL NATIONWIDE TO
THOSE WHO, FOR SOME REASON, ARE
BEING OPPOSED TO CREATING A
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. THANK YOU
AGAIN.
>>. OUR NEXT SPEAKER .
>> HI, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M
A JOURNALIST . I WAS BORN IN
THE LOWER CASTE FAMILY, AND I
GREW UP HIDING MY CAST FOR THE
FEAR OF BEING DISCRIMINATED.
WHEN I MOVED TO THE U.S. IN
2014, I HAD HOPES TO FIND A
CASHLESS UTOPIA WHERE I WOULD
FINALLY BE FREE TO LIVE WITHOUT
HIDING. THAT WASN'T THE CASE.
2016, I HAD FACED IMMENSE
HATRED FROM DOMINIC CASTE
COMMUNITY WHICH MAKES A
MAJORITY OF THE INDO-AMERICAN
POPULATION. I HAVE BEEN THE
TARGET OF COORDINATED ONLINE
ATTACKS . IN ABSENCE OF ANY
LAWS, AMERICANS ARE LEFT
VULNERABLE TO CASTE
DISCRIMINATION FACED IN
WORKPLACES, PLACES OF WORSHIP,
AND ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE THEIR OWN. WELL-FUNDED
CAMPAIGNS FROM DOMINANT CASTE
INDIVIDUALS , ALLEGE THAT
RACISM DOESN'T EXIST. I URGE
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES
ON THE ORDINANCE PENCILING
CASTE DISCRIMINATION. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
.
>> HI. I URGE THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES AND
BAND CASTE DISCRIMINATION.
CASTE IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE.
JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS
COMPLEX IS NOT A REASON TO DENY
PEOPLE A LIFE OF DIGNITY. JUST
BECAUSE AMERICANS ARE
UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT OF
CASTE DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE
SHOULD BE NO LAW ON IT. IN
FACT, WHAT IS COMPLEX IS THAT
PEOPLE HAVE TO HIDE THEIR
IDENTITY TO LIVE A LIFE OF
DIGNITY. COMPLEXES THAT PEOPLE
HAD TO SUFFER THROUGH
DISCRIMINATION. PEOPLE FOUND
LGBTQ ISSUES COMPLEX. AS A
LOWER CASTE MEMBER, I HAVE
FACED DISCRIMINATION. EXCLUSION
IS A COMMON PRACTICE AMONG
DOMINANT CASTE MEMBERS. I URGE
YOU TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE AND
TAKE THIS HISTORIC STEP. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS PER SEAN'S NAME ON.
>> HELLO , MY FAVORITE COUNSEL.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IN SEATTLE, AND
TO VOTE UNANIMOUSLY NEXT WEEK.
VOTE YES UNANIMOUSLY. I URGE
THE COUNCILMEMBERS SAY THE
ORDINANCE WAS TOO COMPLEX. LET
ME TELL YOU WHAT IS COMPLEX.
WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO THIS
COUNTRY WHO HAS FACED PAST
DISCRIMINATION IN THEIR
HOMELAND TO LIVE AMERICAN
DREAM, BUT IS DISCRIMINATED
BACK TO THE SAME SOCIETY,
THAT'S COMPLEX. IF A
COUNCILMEMBER CANNOT UNDERSTAND
THAT, MAYBE WE SHOULD REPLACE
THE COALITION WITH OUR DIVISION
INTELLIGENCE. HUMANITARIAN
ENOUGH . THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
, THE LESS INITIAL P.
>> YES. I URGE ALL SEATTLE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES TO
BAN CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION.
I MIGRATED TO AMERICA 10 YEARS
AGO SO THAT I COULD BUILD A
LIFE IN A PROGRESSIVE SOCIETY,
BUT I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED.
I URGE THE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS IN SEATTLE,
WASHINGTON STATE , IN SPITE OF
MUCH OPPOSITION, TO LOOK AT
THIS MATTER . WE CANNOT LET
THIS BE CONTINGENT . I WILL
STOP HERE . THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MEN MEETS THING.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ONE OF
THE LEADERS FROM THE NATIONAL
ACADEMIC COALITION FOR CASTE
EQUITY, AND WE'RE A NATIONAL
ACROSS AMERICA ADVOCATING FOR
CASTE EQUITY IN HIGHER
EDUCATION. I'M HERE TODAY TO
URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE
ORDINANCE TO ADD CASTE AS A
PROTECTED CATEGORY BUT WE
RECENTLY EXECUTED A CATHOLIC IN
HIGHER ACTIVATION SURVEY.
EXPERIENCED CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. FURTHER, 75%
OF THEM DID NOT REPORT TO THE
UNIVERSITY'S BECAUSE CASTE WAS
NOT ADDED TO THE PROTECTED
CATEGORY, AND THE DI
DEPARTMENT LACKED CASTE
COMPETENCY DUE TO A LACK OF
PROVISIONS AND TRAINING. THE
MEMBERS HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON HAVE ALSO REPORTED
DISCRIMINATION AND ARE A PART
OF . SO IT'S YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY, AS THEIR
REPRESENTATIVE, TO MOVE TO
PROTECT THEM. I URGE YOU TO
NOT BE DISTRACTED BY THOSE
AGAINST CIVIL RIGHTS, AS
THEY'RE OPERATING FROM A PLACE
OF BIGOTRY AND DISINFORMATION,
AND WE CONDEMN THEIR ONGOING
ATTACKS ON CIVIL RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS. AS A NATIONAL
ACADEMIC COALITION FOR CASTE
EQUITY, WE ASK YOU TO STAND ON
THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
.
>> DEAR COUNCIL, I URGE YOU TO
VOTE YES ON THIS CASTE
ORDINANCE. I'M DIRECTOR OF THE
QUALITY LABS. AND WE ARE PART
OF A CASTE EQUITY COALITION OF
OVER 30 ORGANIZATIONS
REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF
AMERICANS. THE DATA AND THE
REPORTS ARE CLEAR. CASTE IS IN
SEATTLE, AND WE MUST ASK TO
STOP THIS GREAT DISCRIMINATION.
EACH OF THE SPEAKERS HERE IN
THIS COALITION ARE BRAVING AND
DEATH THREATS, DISINFORMATION,
GAS LIGHTING, AND EVEN OUR JOBS
TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER, AND
WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE
WANT NO ONE ELSE TO EXPERIENCE
THE TERRIBLE MESS OF THIS CASTE
BIGOTRY. SO LET ME MAKE THIS
VERY CLEAR. ADDING CASTE ONLY
IMPACTS THOSE THAT WANT TO
DISCRIMINATE. IF YOU ARE NOT A
BIGOT , THIS POLICY WILL NOT
HARM YOU. THAT IS WHY WE NEED
YOU TO ACT . WE CAN ONLY HEAL
FROM CASTE IF WE BAN IT, AND WE
ASK YOU TO STAND ON THE SIDE OF
HISTORY AND ALL TO VOTE YES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. I
STRONGLY SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE
TO BAN CASTE DISCRIMINATION.
THIS ORDINANCE WILL PROTECT ME
AND MY FAMILY, AS WE BELONG TO
THE OPPRESSED CASTE COMMUNITY.
I DID NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND WHY
HE DID THAT AT THAT MOMENT IT
IS WAY OF TREATING ME AND
COLLABORATING WITH ME ON WORK
HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED
THEREAFTER. HE WAS SUPPOSEDLY ,
HE FIGURED OUT MY CASTE STATUS
AND DECIDED HIS ATTITUDE FOR
ME CHANGED FOR THE WORSE. I AM
SURE EACH AND EVERY OPPRESSED
CASTE PERSON WORKING IN ANY
MAJOR TECH FIRM WILL HAVE ON TO
SOME LEVEL OF EXPLICIT
DISCRIMINATION. THEREFORE, I
STRONGLY URGE THIS COUNCIL TO
VOTE UNANIMOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF
THIS ORDINANCE TO TEXT ME AND
MY FAMILY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
, WITH THE LESS INITIAL A.
>> HI. HI. I GRADUATED FROM
WASHINGTON, AND ONCE, A FRIEND
OF MINE SAID THAT HIS CASTE
WAS GIVEN BY GOD, AND THAT
SOME PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO COME
TO THE U.S. BECAUSE THEIR SEAT
IS BEING TAKEN AWAY BY THE LESS
DESERVING CASTE. HE IS NOW A
TECH WORKER AND LEADS A TEAM IN
SEATTLE. TO SUCH AN EXTENT.
OSTRACIZED AND BARRED FROM
BEING TOUCHED. I AM MARRIED TO
AN ISLAMIC WOMAN. MY WIFE IS
NOT YET DETECTED FOR MY OWN
FAMILY MY FOR DISCRIMINATION,
BECAUSE CASTE IS NOT A
PROTECTED CATEGORY IN THE USA.
WE NEED LAWS AND POLICIES IN
SUPPORT OF THE SPIRIT I URGE
THOSE TO VOTE YES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KUMAR.
>> HELLO. I URGE THIS COUNCIL
TO PASS THIS BILL. I HAVE
FACED DISCRIMINATION AT
WORKPLACE WHILE WORKING IN
SEATTLE DUE TO MY LOWER CASTE
STATUS I'VE BEEN DENIED RAISES
AND PROMOTIONS DUE TO MY LOWER
CASTE STATUS IN SEATTLE.
ADDITIONALLY, I'VE PLAYED
MATCHMAKER FOR MARRIAGES IN
THE SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY, AND
I HAVE SEEN, OVER THE LAST 15
YEARS, THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY
MY CLIENTS REPEATEDLY WHO ARE
OPPRESSED CASTE PEOPLE THAT
THEY WANT TO FIND BOYS AND
GIRLS TO MARRY ONLY OF HIGHER
CASTE SO THAT THEY CAN MAINTAIN
THEIR BLOODLINE. THIS IS HOW
DISGUSTING THIS CASTE MIND-SET
IS. VOTE YES, AND PROTECT THE
CASTE OPPRESSED. REMEMBER, THIS
WILL DOES NOT TARGET ANY
RELIGION, BUT IT'S TARGETS THE
DISCRIMINATORY MIND-SET. THE
WORLD IS WATCHING.
COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE BE ON
THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
.
>> YEAH. HI. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE TO
TASTE DISCRIMINATION IN SEATTLE
CITY. I BELONG TO THE
COMMUNITY FORMERLY KNOWN AS
UNTOUCHABLES. I MOVED TO THE
USA TO HAVE A LIFE FREE OF
CASTE DISCRIMINATE, WERE ONLY
HARD WORK WILL MATTER FOR MY
STATUS. UNFORTUNATELY, HERE, I
HAVE FACED CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATE AND IN ALL PLACES,
INCLUDING MY WORKPLACE. I'VE
BEEN SHAMED . MOST OF THE --
CASTE BASE PROMOTIONS ARE GIVEN
IN THE WORKPLACE. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO OUTLAW CASTE
BASED DISCRIMINATION , AND FOR
THE CITY AND COUNTY TO DO THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER,
LESS INITIAL P.
>> DEAR COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M A
WRITER AND A TECH WORKER. I
WOULD LIKE TO URGE THE COUNCIL
TO VOTE YES FOR BANNING CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. BEING A WOMAN
OF COLOR, THOUGH I CAN'T SAY I
DID NOT FACE RACISM OR SEXUAL
ASSAULT PERSONALLY IN THIS
COUNTRY, BUT I THINK THE LAW
THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR
EVERYONE IN THIS SOCIETY. I
CONSIDER PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE
THOSE LAWS PAYING WAY TO THE
AGGRESSORS. I URGE YOU TO MAKE
THAT DISCRIMINATION ILLEGAL AND
VOTE YES FOR THE ORDINANCE.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE BY
UNANIMOUSLY VOTING YES. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
.
>> HELLO. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE CITY. I KNOW WHAT MY
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES . IT
IMPACTS ALL SOUTH ASIANS,
FOLLOWING THEM EVERYWHERE THEY
GO, INCLUDING WORKING-CLASS IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. SOUTH
ASIANS ARE NOT ONE OF US AND
COUNSELED US COMMUNITY HAS
HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED.
I CAN SAY THIS IS AN
INTERSECTIONAL ISSUE. IT IS
SIMULTANEOUSLY A LABOR FROM A
HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROBLEM. JUST
BAN THE CITY IS ALL OPPRESSED
COMMUNITIES TO HAVE CORPORATE
ACTION. THIS IS PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE VERY
LARGE SOUTH ASIAN POPULATION
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. SO
PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE YES NEXT
WEEK ON THIS ORDINANCE. THANK
YOU.
>> THINK OF IT OUR NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> CITY COUNCILMEMBERS , CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, I HOPE I'M
AUDIBLE. CALLING IN TO SUPPORT
THE ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. OVER THE LAST
52 YEARS I HAVE BEEN IN THIS
COUNTRY, I'VE BEEN BENEFITED BY
THE SOCIAL JUSTICE EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY . DISCRIMINATION
IN ANY FORM, RACE, COLOR,
CREED, AND CASTE IS AGAINST
HUMANITY , AND WILL DETER THE
WELL-BEING AND GROWTH OF EVERY
INDIVIDUAL IN THE SOCIETY FOR
ALL, TODAY AND TOMORROW. I URGE
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES
ON THE ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT TO
BAN CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION
IN SEATTLE CITY, AND MAKE
SEATTLE THE HISTORICAL SOLUTION
IN SUPPORT OF ALL PEOPLE
OPPRESSED BY CASTE IN THE
UNITED STATES. HANK YOU IN
ADVANCE FOR ALL YOUR
UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> DEAR COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M
WORKING AT A SOFTWARE
PROFESSIONAL. I URGE ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. I WAS
DISCRIMINATED FOR SOMETHING
THAT'S BEYOND MY CONTROL, MY
CASTE. I WAS HATED AND
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, BECAUSE
I'M A NONVEGETARIAN, SO I
CHOOSE TO EAT FOOD AS MY OWN
RIGHTS HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES. I'M SO SAD TO SEE MY
OWN BROTHERS AND SISTERS OPPOSE
THIS ORDINANCE WHEN THIS
ORDINANCE IS REQUESTING JUST
THE EQUAL RIGHT , A LIFE OF
DIGNITY. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK
FOR? DEAR COUNCILMEMBERS, IT IS
MY HUMBLE REQUEST OF YOU TO
HELP ERADICATE THIS INHUMAN
PRACTICE OF CASTE. YOU ARE THE
FIRST ONES TO LOOK INTO IT WITH
ALL YOUR POWERS , AND OUR
FUTURE DEPENDS ON YOU. DO THE
RIGHT THING, AND UNANIMOUSLY
PASSED THE ORDINANCE TO BAN
CASTE DISCRIMINATE IN THE
SEATTLE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS PAUL .
>> HI. I AM PAUL. HI. I AM PAUL
, A DALIT AMERICAN WORKING
AS I.T. ARCHITECT. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO UNANIMOUSLY
VOTE YES ON THE ORDINANCE
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA TO BAN CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION IN THE GREAT
CITY OF SEATTLE. THOUGH I LEFT
MY COUNTRY 24 YEARS AGO AND
MIGRATED HERE, THE CASTE
DISCRIMINATION STILL CONTINUING
IN THE CITY. SO IT'S FATEFUL,
ESPECIALLY FOR MY KIDS GROWING
UP IN THE CITY . THE IS THE
FEAR OF WORK LACE HARASSMENT ,
THE LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR ME
AND MY KIDS FROM THE CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IN THE CITY WILL
ENSURE OUR TRUE FREEDOM
ENJOYED LIKE OTHER PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY. I REQUEST ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO OUTLAW THIS
CASTE DISCRIMINATION. THANK
YOU, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
WE'RE ON SPEAKER NUMBER 19.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M
SPEAKING TODAY AS SOMEONE BORN
INTO A DOMINANT CASTE
COMMUNITY, BUT IS OPPOSED TO
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION. I'M
ASKING COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
YES ON THE ORDINANCE TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
ISSUE OF CASTE MIGHT BE NEW TO
MANY OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL.
GIVEN THIS, I'D LIKE TO URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO CONSIDER THE
FACT THAT THE CONSTITUTION OF
INDIA EXPLICITLY ADDRESSES THE
ISSUE OF CASTE, AND HAS BANNED
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION.
SEATTLE IS NOT A PART OF THE
DEEP SOUTH, AND NEITHER ARE WE
, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE
ISSUE OF DISCRIMINATION IS THE
SAME, AND A VOTE OF YES IS A
VOTE AGAINST BIGOTRY AND
DISCRIMINATION. WHICH HAVE
EQUALLY IMPORTANT CONSEQUENCES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
. SORRY.
>> YES. YEAH. I'M A SOFTWARE
ENGINEER FROM A COMPUTER
COMPANY. I'M ORIGINALLY FROM
SOUTH ASIA. I URGE YOU ALL,
COUNCILMEMBERS, TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE PROPOSED TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION.
CASTE SYSTEM IS AN INTRINSIC
PART OF THE SOCIETY IN SOUTH
ASIA. SOME CASTE ARE DOMINANT,
AND SOME ARE NOT. IN THE
WORKPLACE, I HAVE SEEN
OPPORTUNITIES AND PROMOTIONS
BEING GIVEN TO EMPLOYEES OF A
DOMINANT CASTE. CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IS A HUMAN
RIGHTS ISSUE. ADDING CASTE IS
A PROTECTED CLASS WILL SUPPORT
PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND
LET SEATTLE BE THE FIRST ONE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI. I URGE ALL SEATTLE
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
YES TO BAN CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION. SO I'M A
MEMBER OF THE DOMINANT CASTE,
AND I'VE SEEN CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION . FOR EXAMPLE ,
A COUSIN OF MINE REFUSES TO EAT
IN OUTSIDE RESTAURANTS BECAUSE
THEN HE'D BE BY PEOPLE OF OTHER
CASTES, AND SHE CONSIDERS IT
EASIER. ONCE COMPLAINED TO ME
THAT , THAT OFFICE WORK,
DESPITE BEING FROM THE SAME
DOMINANT IT CASTE, GIVE THEM A
LOT OF WORK TO DO. SO IT'S
SCARY TO IMAGINE THESE PEOPLE,
LIKE THEM, WOULD TREAT THOSE
FROM THEIR CASTE, ESPECIALLY
THE DOMINANT CASTE. ALSO, I'VE
HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM THE
DOMINANT CASTE SAY THAT PEOPLE
OF THE DOMINANT CASTE ARE
NATURALLY MORE INTELLIGENT AND
GET INTO LESS FIGHTS THAN THE
SO-CALLED LOW CASTE PEOPLE. SO
ALL THESE SUGGESTED CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION IS MANIFESTING
IN WORK, AND I THEREFORE URGE
THE COUNCIL, OUTLAW.
>> THINK OF IT OUR NEXT SPEAKER
.
>> WHAT NUMBER IS THAT, MADAME
CLERK?
>> NUMBER 23.
>> OKAY.
>> HELLO. THERE SHE IS. HELLO.
>> HI. YES. HELLO. I URGE ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE VOTE
YES ON THE ORDINANCE . I AM A
CASTE MARGINALIZED FACULTY
MEMBER , AND SUPPORT THE
RESEARCH THAT IS DONE BY
QUALITY LABS. THEY REALLY NEED
TO BE CENTERING AND LISTENING
TO DALIT AND CASTE OPPRESSED
FOLKS. JUST LIKE WHITE FOLKS
DON'T GET TO DEFINE RACE AND
RACISM, CASTE FOLKS DON'T GET
TO DEFINE WHAT CASTE AND CASTE
IS AMISS. TALKING ABOUT CASTE
IS NOT ANTI-HINDU IN THE SAME
WAY TALKING ABOUT RACE IS NOT
ANTIWHITE, OR TALKING ABOUT
DISABILITY ANTI-ABLE BODIES, OR
GENDER, AND I MEN, AND SO ON.
THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF DALIT
AND CASTE OPPRESSED FOLKS ARE
THE ONLY TESTAMENTS NECESSARY
TO INCLUDE CASTE AS A PROTECTED
CATEGORY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS HANNAH .
>> HI. I'M A VOTER IN DISTRICT
3. I'M ALSO CALLING IN TO URGE
THAT THE COUNCILMEN PASS
COUNCILMEMBERS TREND LINES
PROPOSING. THIS IS A VERY
SERIOUS ISSUE IN THE U.S. I
THINK ALL THE COMMENTS TODAY
REALLY SPEAK TO THAT. IN
CALIFORNIA, AN APPEALS COURT
ALLOWED THE DEPARTMENT OF FAIR
AND LIMITED HOUSING TO PROCEED
WITH A RULING ALLEGING THAT A
DALIT ENGINEER , THEY WERE
ACTIVELY TARGETED BY THE
DOMINANT CASTE MANAGERS THERE,
AND DENIED PROFESSIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE OF HIS
CASTE BACK ROUND. A NEW YORK
TIMES COLUMNIST WROTE ABOUT
THIS, THAT THE TECHNOLOGY GIANT
GOT AWAY WITH IGNORING THE
PERSISTENT CASTE DISCRIMINATION
BECAUSE AMERICAN LAWS DON'T
RECOGNIZE CASTE DISCRIMINATION
AS A VALID FORM OF EXCLUSION.
SO I'D DON'T THINK WE SHOULD
PRETEND THAT WE DON'T ALREADY
KNOW THE EXACT THINGS THAT ARE
CONSTANTLY HAPPENING IN
SEATTLE. THE EXPERIENCES OF
EVERYONE CALLING IN TODAY
SHOULD BE ALL THE PROOF YOU
NEED. WE CAN'T ALLOW THIS TO
CONTINUE IN SEATTLE. ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE VOTING
ON YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE NEXT WEEK.
NO EXCUSES. NO DELAYS. STOP
CASTE DISCRIMINATION NOW.
>> OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
ANDRE .
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ANDRE. I
STRONGLY URGE THIS MOTION TO
SAY YES AND BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. THIS ORDINANCE
WILL PROTECT ME AND MY FAMILY
MEMBERS , AS WE BELONG TO THE
OPPRESSED CASTE COMMUNITY. ME
AND MY WIFE WORK IN I.T. YES,
MY WIFE IS IN THE MIDDLE .
YES, , YES, BECAUSE OF CASTE
DISCRIMINATION, I HAVE BEEN
RIDICULED. YES, I HAVE LOST
CHANCE. NO ONE IS FREE UNTIL
EVERYONE IS FREE. SO I URGE
ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SAY
YES AND SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE
TO BAN CASTE DISCRIMINATION.
YANKEE.
>>. OUR NEXT SPEAKER .
>> I'M A LEADING COMPANY IN
THE U.S. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE TO BAN
CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN SEATTLE
CITY TO PROTECT US AND OUR
CHILDREN. RACE IS A PROTECTED
CATEGORY, BUT CASTE MUST BE A
PROTECTED CATEGORY BECAUSE
CASTE DISCRIMINATION HAPPENS.
CASTE DISCRIMINATION IS A
THING OF THE PAST, MY CHILDREN
DON'T KNOW ABOUT CASTE, CASTE
DOESN'T EXIST IN THE USA, CASTE
DUST CREATES DISCRIMINATION,
AND SO ON, MUST BE OUTRIGHTLY
REJECTED, AS THEY HAVE NO
BEARING ON THE PERSON
EXPERIENCING CASTE
DISCRIMINATION, WHICH IS
TRAUMATIC, DEPRESSING . IT'S A
GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, AND
MUST BE BANNED IMMEDIATELY.
LET ALL CASTE MEMBERS TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING HUMAN
BY BIRTH AS ALL OTHER HUMANS
DO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI. I'M A MEMBER OF A
STUDY CIRCLE , AND A SENIOR
ENGINEERING MANAGER AT A TECH
COMPANY. I URGE ALL SEATTLE
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
YES ON THE PROPOSAL TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION.
BEING A MEMBER OF A BACKWARD
CASTE, I EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND
IS TERMINATION FROM A DOMINANT
CASTE COLLEAGUE, BEEN INVITED
TO THEIR HOUSE. AFTER, I
OBSERVED THAT THE KIDS AND THE
ELDERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD HAVE
ENDED UP DOING THE SAME , AND I
ENDED UP DOING THE SAME, AND
THERE WAS AN AWKWARDNESS
DISPLAYED BY THE LEAK, AND A
RECOMMENDATION TO WASH MY
HANDS AFTER THE MEAL.
SIMILARLY, WHEN WE, AS A
FAMILY, WERE LOOKING FOR
PROSPECTIVE HOMES IN THE U.S.,
THERE WAS EXPLICIT
SPECIFICATIONS IN THE PROFILE
OF THE ROOM FROM UPPER CASTE
LIVING IN THE U.S. AGAINST
ENTERTAINING PROSPECTS FROM
OTHER AND BACKWARD CASTES.
FEELS LIKE PROTECTING THE
LENIENCY IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR
THESE DOMINANT CASTES, ALL OF
WHICH IS PROOF THAT CASTE BASE
THIS TERMINATION EXISTS IN THE
U.S. AND IS NOT A JOKE. I URGE
THE --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
.
>> I'M LOOKING AT MICROSOFT,
AND I WOULD LIKE TO URGE
EVERYONE TO UNANIMOUSLY VOTE
IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE
BANNING CASTE DISCRIMINATION. I
WANT EVERYBODY TO OPPOSE
RIGHT-WING POINTS. ONE OF THE
OPPOSING POINTS MADE IS THAT
THE LAW IS UNENFORCEABLE
BECAUSE CASTE HAS NO VISIBLE
MARKERS. WELL, THAT IS THE
SAME FOR RELIGION AND SEXUAL
ORIENTATION. ALSO DON'T HAVE
VISUAL MARKERS. THOSE FACING
CASTE DISCRIMINATION NEED TO
RELY ON CERTIFICATION TO EXPOSE
WHAT IS TAKING PLACE, MUCH LIKE
VICTIMS OF OTHER FORMS OF
DISCRIMINATION, SUCH AS
RELIGION AND ACTUAL ORIENTATION
DO. THE SECOND POINT THAT I
WANT TO REBUT IS THE ALLEGATION
THAT THE ORDINANCE IS BASED ON
DATA FROM ANY QUALITY LABS.
THE SAME DATA OF THE
WASHINGTON POST, THE SEATTLE
TIMES, AND THE NEW YORK TIMES.
PERHAPS IT DOESN'T MEET . CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS , TAKE THE
ALLEGATION SERIOUSLY. NEED TO
DECIDE WHICH SIDE THEY'RE ON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SONJA. SONJA?
>> SONJA, ARE YOU THERE? WE
CAN COME BACK.
>> YEAH, LET'S COME BACK TO
THAT ONE.
>> SORRY. I'M SO SORRY.
>> IT'S OKAY. GO AHEAD.
>> CAN I START?
>> YES.
>> I'M SONJA. I'M CALLING IN
SUPPORT OF THE CASTE
LEGISLATION , AND ASK YOU TO
PASS IT WITHOUT ANY LOOPHOLE.
THIS WEEK, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE
OF DATA, WE KNOW THAT IT'S A
VERY SERIOUS ISSUE . ONE FOR
CASTE OPPRESSED PEOPLE FACE
PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ASSAULT,
AND 7% FACE WORK LACED
DISCRIMINATION. WITHOUT BASIC
PROTECTION. IN THESE STUDIES
HAVE BEEN HEAVILY ORIENTED IN
THE TECH INDUSTRY, WERE SOUTH
ASIANS ARE EMPLOYED IN LARGE
NUMBERS, AND SEATTLE BEING A
BIG ONE. PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING IN
A VERY CREATIVE WAY TO PROVIDE
YOU MORE INFORMATION TO CREATE
A DECISION, SO I HOPE WE'RE NOT
GOING TO HAVE A STUDY, I DON'T
THINK WE NEED ANOTHER STUDY.
SOME PEOPLE WHO DO THIS KIND OF
FEAR MONGERING, THEY FAILED TO
TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE THE ONES
WHO ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE
THE SOURCE OF OPPRESSION. NOW,
SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES HAVE
ALREADY BANNED DISCRIMINATION
ON THEIR CAMPUSES. THIS WOULD
BE GROUNDBREAKING IF YOU WILL
PASS THIS YEAR. IT WILL MAKE
THE SEATTLE THE FIRST
JURISDICTION TO BAN CASTE
OPPRESSION. IT'S A BIG DEAL. BE
A PART OF THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. I
STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE
TO BAN CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION. YOU MAY HAVE
HEARD THAT CASTE
DISCRIMINATION DOES NOT HAPPEN
IN SEATTLE. THIS ARGUMENT IS
RIDICULOUS. CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION IS RAMPANT IN
INDIA, SO IT'S IMPOSSIBLE THAT
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SOUTH
ASIANS IN SEATTLE TECH CENTER
HAVE NOT IMPORTED IT HERE.
OUTLINED, CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION IS NOT ABOUT
PROPAGATING HATE AGAINST
HINDUS. THIS ORDINANCE IS IN
TARGETING ONE GROUP. IT'S
ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE PROTECTION
UNDER THE LAW WHEN THEY HAVE
BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.
WHILE THERE ARE LOTS OF RACISTS
SPEAKING FOR AND AGAINST IT,
THIS ISSUE IS NOT COMPLEX. IT'S
A SIMPLE MATTER OF HUMANITY AND
EQUITY. THIS COUNCIL HAS TIME
AND AGAIN COURAGEOUSLY STOOD
IN FAVOR OF ELIMINATING
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
IMMIGRANTS, AGAINST LGBTQ
PEOPLE, AGAINST WOMEN'S BODIES.
I AM URGING YOU TO DO SO ONCE
AGAIN BY VOTING YES ON THE
ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT CASTE
BASED DISCRIMINATION. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER
.
>> HELLO. HELLO. I NAME IS
DASH, AND I'M A MAN OF COLOR.
I WAS BORN IN INDIA AND MOVED
TO THE U.S. IN 1996, AND
SEATTLE IN 2001. SINCE THEN,
I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING IN THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY. I'VE NEVER
HEARD OF ANY CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION WHILE BEING IN
THE U.S. FOR THE LAST 22 YEARS.
I'M SHOCKED THAT THERE HAVE
BEEN SO MANY COOKED UP STORIES
ABOUT INDIA, IT'S CASTE SYSTEM
, HERE IN THE U.S. RIGHT HERE.
KSHAMA SAWANT, OUR
COUNCILMEMBER, HAS COME UP WITH
A NEW VEHICLE, PROTECTING ALL
KINDS OF DISCRIMINATION. ALL
THE STORIES . MY APPEAL TO ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS , PLEASE GO BY
THE FACTS. PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
IS MAIA CAMPBELL.
>> HI.
>> HELLO?
>> URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS --
HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HI. I, I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE, IN SEATTLE CITY. I
COME FROM CASTE OPPRESSED
COMMUNITY, AND I'M A MEMBER OF
AN ASSOCIATION OF NORTH
AMERICA. I ALSO WORK AT
AMAZON. THIS ORDINANCE WILL
GIVE A PUSH TO COMPANIES LIKE
AMAZON WITH 1.5 MILLION
EMPLOYEES TO ACT ADD CASTE AS
A PROTECTED CATEGORY. AMAZON
HAS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
SOUTH ASIAN , SOUTH ASIAN
EMPLOYEES, AND TECH COMPANIES
GIVE A LOT OF POWER TO THE
MANAGERS WHO DECIDE TO HIRE,
PROMOTE, OR FIRE . I HAVE
EXPERIENCED BIAS WHEN I HAD A
DOMINANT CASTE MANAGER WORKING
FOR ANOTHER COMPANY. THAT'S
WHY I DON'T DISCLOSE MY TRUE
IDENTITY AT MY WORKPLACE. CASTE
PROTECTIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT
FOR PEOPLE FROM OPPRESSED
COMMUNITIES TO TRY AT THE
WORKPLACE, SO I FULLY SUPPORT
THE SEATTLE ORDINANCE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WITH THE LAST INITIAL C.
>> ARE YOU THERE?
>> OKAY. WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT SPEAKER. AND DON'T FORGET
TO PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HELLO?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HI, CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME?
>> YES. GO AHEAD BUT
>> HI. I'M A TECH WORKER , AND
I URGE, AND I URGE ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE NO ON
THIS CASTE ORDINANCE. IT, IT
SEEMS TO ME, AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSING THIS
BILL, THAT THE BILL IS BEING
RUSHED, AND I DON'T SEE A NEED
FOR IT, BECAUSE MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MANY
MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON
CASTE, IT'S ORIGINS, AND SOUTH
ASIAN RELIGION TO MAKE AN
INFORMED DECISION, AND
RIGHTFULLY SO, BECAUSE IT'S NOT
A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG
SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY IN THE
U.S. AS SOMEONE WANTS US TO
BELIEVE. THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE, AND THE EVIDENCE THAT
THEY HAVE SHOWN HAS BEEN
DEBUNKED BY NONE OTHER THAN
PURE RESEARCH. THE VAST
MAJORITY OF HINDUS IN THE U.S.
DON'T INTEGRATE THEMSELVES WITH
ANY CASTE, BUT YOU WILL BE
FORCING SOUTH ASIANS TO
IDENTIFY AND STICK WITH THE
CASTE THEY ARE BORN IN,
UNFORTUNATELY. I URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE NO ON
THIS BILL WITHOUT ANY FURTHER
STUDY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, EVERYONE. I'M A SOUTH
ASIAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT,
BORN IN A DOMINANT CASTE
COMMUNITY. I'VE WITNESSED HOW
PREVALENT CASTE DISCRIMINATION
IS IN MANY OF THE SOUTH ASIAN
COMMUNITIES AROUND ME. THEY
COUNCILMEMBER MENTIONED THAT
MANY EMAILS AGAINST THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION, AND
ASKED, WHERE IS THE OPPOSITION
COMING FROM? I WILL SAY THAT
OPPOSITION IS COMING FROM
PEOPLE LIKE SOMEONE WHO IS HERE
ON THIS VERY COUNSEL IN
FEBRUARY 2020. THE COUNCIL
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE
RESOLUTION CONDEMNING IT. JUST
WANTED TO TALK TO 100 BIGOTED
PEOPLE, THEY THINK THAT CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IS NOT AN ISSUE,
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE
MANY CASTE OPPRESSED SOUTH
ASIANS IN SEATTLE HAVE
CONTINUALLY BEEN DESCRIBING HOW
IMPORTANT THIS ISSUE IS. I URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES TO
SIDE WITH THE CASTE OPPRESSED
AND NOT TO SUPPORT THE RIGHT
WING BIGOTS AND TROLLS WHO
OPPOSE THIS MEASURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KAYLA NICHOLSON.
>> KAELIN?
>> OKAY. WE CAN COME BACK TO
KAELIN IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> OKAY.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> OH, YES, WE CAN PRINT
>> HI, MY NAME IS KAYLA
NICHOLSON. I WANT TO START BY
SAYING I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY
DISGUSTING TO REFER TO THESE
COURAGEOUS PERSONAL STORIES
FROM DALIT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS
COOKED UP STORIES , AND
ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL, AND I
CERTAINLY HOPE THE DEMOCRATIC
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL NOT ALIGN
THEMSELVES WITH SUCH OFFENSIVE
USE. THE FACT THAT AMERICAN
LAWS DON'T RECOGNIZE CASTE
DISCRIMINATION MEANS THAT
COMPANIES AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS
CAN OPERATE IN WILLFULLY
FINANCE OF THE BRUTAL REALITIES
OF CASTE OPPRESSION. IN FACT,
NUMEROUS STUDIES , MANY OF THEM
ORIENTED TOWARD THE TECH
SECTOR, HAVE DETERMINED THE
PRESENCE OF CASTE OPPRESSION
IN THE U.S. THIS ORDINANCE HAS
THE SUPPORT OF OVER 50
ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE
ALPHABET WORKERS UNIONS, WHICH
IS A UNIT OF GOOGLE WORKERS WHO
RECENTLY SAID THAT THE FIGHT
FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF CASTE
OPPRESSED PEOPLE IS A WORKER'S
RIGHT. IF SEATTLE BECOMES THE
FIRST UNITED DATES JURISDICTION
TO BAN CASTE OPPRESSION, IT
WILL BE THE FIRST SUCH LOT
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE
OF SOUTH ASIA. THIS WOULD BE AN
INCREDIBLY POWERFUL STEP
FORWARD FOR THE MOVEMENT
AGAINST CASTE OPPRESSION ALL
ACROSS THE WORLD. I'LL BE AT
CITY HALL NEXT PERSON IN
TUESDAY AT NOON FOR THE RALLY
IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE. I
HOPE TO SEE MANY OF TODAY'S
COLORS THERE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI. I , I STRONGLY ENDORSE
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL'S
PROPOSED ORDINANCE BANNING
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION AS
A DOMINANT CASTE HINDU AND
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR. I HOLD
SEVERAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING
THOSE OF CLASS, CASTE, AND
PROFESSION. CASTE IS A SOCIAL,
CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL
HIERARCHY ROOM UTTERED THAT
CONTINUES TO PROLIFERATE BOTH
WITHIN AND OUTSIDE SOUTH ASIA.
SOUTH ASIANS CAN REJECT CASTE
BASED BUSINESS, AND DO SO
ETHICALLY BY ACKNOWLEDGING
THEIR COMPLICITY IN CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION, AND SEEKING TO
BUILD MORE INCLUSIVE
COMMUNITIES. ARGUMENTS THAT
CASTE IS A IS NO LONGER
PREVALENT IN HINDU OR SOUTH
ASIAN COMMUNITIES ARE
DISINGENUOUS, WITHOUT MERIT,
AND NEGATE THE EXPERIENCES OF
CASTE OPPRESSED PEOPLE. THE
PROTECTIONS AGAINST CASTE BASED
TERMINATION THIS ORDINANCE
PROVIDES THE APARTMENT IS
SPECIFICALLY.
[ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASMINE.
>> I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE YES
, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT.
GO AHEAD.
>> I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE YES
ON THE ORDINANCE PROPOSED TO
BEEN CASTE THIS COMBINATION.
I'M A MEMBER , I HAVE
EXPERIENCED THIS COMBINATION
IN THE U.S., MOST RECENTLY HAVE
EXPERIENCED MICROAGGRESSIONS AT
A TECH STARTUP I USED TO WORK
AT WHO ALSO HAS OFFICES IN
SEATTLE. I WAS CONSTANTLY
ASKED WHERE MY FAMILY IS FROM
AND WHAT MY REAL LAST NAME WAS.
THIS WAS DELIBERATELY ASK TO
KNOW MY CASTE BACKGROUND. IS A
CASTE OPPRESSED PERSON I FELT
UNCOMFORTABLE AND PROTECTIONS
MUST BE IN PLACE. CASTE IS
REAL AND IT'S HERE IN THE U.S.
PASSING THIS ORDINANCE , THE
ONLY PEOPLE IT WILL AFFECT OUR
BIGGEST. IT WILL NATIONALLY
REQUIRE -- PLEASE PASS THE
ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER .
>>
>> I DON'T SEE THEIR TITLE.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER WHICH IS GOMEZ.
>> YES.
>> I SEE THEY ARE THERE.
>> I AM A PHYSICIAN AND I
SUPPORT THE BAN ON CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. A CULTURE OF
SILENCE PREVAILS THIS ISSUE.
IT COVERS FIFTH OF THE
POPULATION 104 MILLION
INDIANS. BUT MOST OF THAT IN
THE U.S. COMES FROM HIGH CASTE
TO IT BEST TO KEEP SILENT
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T FACED THIS
COMBINATION THEMSELVES. THEY
CONDONE THIS DISGUSTING
PRACTICE. ORIGINATING FROM
CASTE BASED LIFESTYLE, SHARKEY
LEAD TO THE PRACTICE OF
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION , DENIAL
OF EDUCATION AND WORK
OPPORTUNITY. AND EVEN THE BASIC
HUMANITY. EVERY DAY I READ
STORIES OF VIOLENCE ,
LYNCHINGS, AND KILLINGS OF THE
MOST MARGINALIZED AND
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST PEOPLE.
THIS MUST NOT TAKE ROOT IN THE
U.S. EQUALITY ARE THE
FOUNDATION OF THIS NATION.
CASTE IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
BRIGITTA.
>> I'M LOOKING TO SEE THE
TILE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
TO VOTE YES ON THE ORDINANCE TO
BAN CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION
IN SEATTLE. I AM A CASTE
PRIVILEGED INDEED AMERICAN AND
I WAS RAISED CHRISTIAN. I KNOW
FIRSTHAND CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION IS ACROSS
RELIGION EVEN THOSE THAT ARE
CASHLESS SUCH AS CHRISTIANITY.
CASTE AND CASTE MARKERS ARE
NOT ONLY PRESENT IN SOUTH ASIAN
SOCIETY , INCLUDING IN MY LAST
NAME AND MANY OTHER LAST NAMES.
I URGE YOU ALL TO PASS THIS
SIMPLE BUT HISTORICAL
ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TRICIA
>> I AM A MEDICAL STUDENT AND
DOMINANT CASTE INTO. HINDU.
I URGE ALL TO VOTE YES TO BAN
CASTE BASED THIS COMBINATION IN
SEATTLE. CASTE PRIVILEGED
INDEED AMERICANS MAY FEEL WE
ARE READ FROM THE CASTE SYSTEM
BUT WE ARE THE ONES IN
PRIVILEGED DON'T FEEL IT EACH
DAY. IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
CENTER THE EXPERIENCE OF THOSE
FOLKS SAYING IT'S A REAL FACT
AND CONTINUE TO FACE
DISCRIMINATION ON UNIVERSITY
CAMPUSES AS HAS BEEN EXPLICITLY
CLEAR TO THE VARIOUS FOLKS WHO
HAVE COME HERE AND SHARE THEIR
TRAUMA. REINFORCING
STEREOTYPES IS NOT THE GOAL.
HOWEVER PROTECTING FROM FUTURE
AND CURRENT DISCRIMINATION IS.
IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE AND I
URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE YES. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> IS A HINDU AMERICAN I
STAND OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSED
CASTE ORDINANCE. I DO NOT HAVE
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] STANDING
WITH ME. THIS ORDINANCE IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND IS
POTENTIALLY -- AND
POTENTIALLY ALSO CONTINUES TO
LABEL ANYONE WHO DOES NOT AGREE
WITH HER AND IS A RIGHT WINGED
BASSIST . SHE CANNOT ANSWER
QUESTIONS AS TO WHY THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE CLAIMING THEY ARE
DISCRIMINATED ARE THE SAME
PEOPLE ARE BEING HIRED BY THE
SO-CALLED DOMINANT UPPER-CLASS
MANAGERS. DOES THAT MAKE ANY
LOGIC? AT THE SAME TIME THE
GROUP OF PEOPLE WANT TO CALL
OUT BLOODLINES THAT NEED TO BE
KEPT PURE BUT SELF IDENTIFY AS
-- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] I URGE
THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE NO
ON THE ORDINANCE.
>> ERROR NEXT SPEAKER IS MY UP.
MAYA .
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I URGE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO VOTE YES ON THE ORDINANCE
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT TO BAN CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION. THIS IS NOT A
COMPLEX ISSUE. CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IS HAPPENING AND
NEEDS RELIEF IN SEATTLE. WE
STAND BEHIND EQUALITY LAB DATA
WHICH HAS BEEN COOPERATED BY
MAJOR NEWS OUTLETS LIKE THE NEW
YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST,
BLOOMBERG AND MORE. THE ONLY
PEOPLE THIS ORDINANCE WOULD
IMPACT OUR THE BIGOTED WHO WANT
TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO
DISCRIMINATE. PLEASE STAND FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS AND ENSURE SEATTLE
IS A WELCOMING CITY TO ALL.
PLEASE VOTE YES. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I AM A SOUTH ASIAN AMERICAN
MUSICIAN WITH THE MUSICAL --
AND I URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
PASS THIS ORDINANCE TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE. A GROUP OF LARGE WE
CANNOT DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM THE
FACT THAT OPPRESSIVE CASTE IN
THE COMMUNITIES HAVE DULY
RELIED ON AND ERASED THE LABOR
OF CASTE OPPRESSED CREATORS,
AND INNOVATORS INCLUDING
INSTRUMENT MAKERS, DANCERS,
PERFORMERS, ACTORS AND
CRAFTSMEN. CASTE DISCRIMINATION
HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR
MILLENNIA AS A FORM OF ARTISTIC
APPROPRIATION, PHYSICAL
VIOLENCE, ECONOMIC AND
DISENFRANCHISED. FOR THIS SAKE
OF OUR COMMUNITY INEQUITY IN
THE U.S. AND IN SOUTH ASIAN WE
STRONGLY ADVOCATE AGAINST
CASTE DISCRIMINATION TO ENSURE
SAFETY FOR CASTE OPPRESSED
CREATORS -- THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I SEE THEY ARE NOT UNMUTED.
STAR SIX.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HI. I SUPPORT THE CITY
COUNCIL GO TO MAKE CASTE
DISCRIMINATION ILLEGAL. I LIVED
IN CALIFORNIA FOR THE PAST 13
YEARS AND I'M TIRED OF
WITNESSING DISCRIMINATION AND
VERBAL HARASSMENT BY DOMINANT
CASTE IN THE IT'S. ENCOURAGED
BY THE PREJUDICES THEY HOLD AND
THE PRIVILEGES THEY ENJOYED IN
INDIA. I WANT THEM TO KNOW THE
CONSEQUENCES OF DOING THE SAME
IN THE U.S., THEIR CONSEQUENCES
LIKE RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL
PREJUDICES. I PLEAD WITH THE
CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON THE
ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I WORKED IN THE I.T.
INDUSTRY. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY
SUPPORT THE CASTE ORDINANCE
FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE
COMING FROM THE UPPER CASTE
COMMUNITY'S. I'VE EXPERIENCED
IT FROM MY UPPER CASTE
NEIGHBORS. THEY START THE
CONVERSATION TRYING TO KNOW MY
CASTE AND WHEN THEY VISITED MY
HOUSE THEY SAW PICTURES AND
LEARNED I WAS NOT FROM THE
COMMUNITY. THEY'VE STOPPED
COMING TO MY PLACE AFTER THAT
NCIDENT AND MADE ME FEEL LIKE
I DON'T BELONG HERE. I DO NOT
WANT MY CHILDREN TO EXPENSES,
HENCE I URGE COMES MEMBERS TO
VOTE YES ON THE ORDINANCE TO
BAN CASTE BASED THIS
COMBINATION.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
OLIVER WILSON.
>> I NAME IS OLIVER AND I URGE
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES
ON THE ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE. I AM A WHITE TRANSIT
PERSON AND ALSO TECH WORKER. I
WANT TO SPEAK TO THE DISGUSTING
ATTACKS AGAINST PEOPLE AND
OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS. WE
KNOW ANY TENDER BATTLES FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS, -- THESE CURRENT
ATTACKS ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT WORKERS FACE FROM
MANAGEMENT AS THEY FIGHT FOR
SAFER AND MORE EQUITABLE
WORKPLACES. AS A TECH WORKER I
KNOW CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION
OCCURS IN TECH WORKPLACES.
CASTE IS A WORKERS RIGHTS
ISSUE. WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO
NOT UNDERMINE THE WORK OF THE
OPPRESSED AND ENSURE THE SAFETY
OF EVERYONE IN SEATTLE. IT IS
CLEAR THAT CASTEISM IS IN
SEATTLE AND THIS NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED. PLEASE PASS THIS
ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER .
>> THERE THEY ARE.
>> HI. GREAT. THANK YOU. I AM
A ORGANIZER BASED IN THE BAY
AREA. AND GIVING COMMENT ON
BEHALF OF THE ALLIANCE OF SOUTH
ASIANS TAKING ACTION WHICH IS A
BAY AREA ORGANIZATION
PRESENTING ROUGHLY 40 MEMBERS
AND ABOUT 500 VOLUNTEERS. THE
MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE INDIAN
AMERICAN AND OF HINDU DISSENT
AS WELL AS FROM PRIVILEGE CASTE
BACKGROUNDS. MANY OF OUR
MEMBERS AND LEADERS HAVE
FAMILY IN SEATTLE. I PERSONALLY
HAVE 16. OUR ORGANIZATION WAS
FORMED IN JANUARY 2000 AND
RESPONSE TO CHARGES AGAINST A
LOCAL LANDLORD IN THE CITY OF
BERKELEY WHO WAS CONVICTED OF
BRINGING DOZENS OF PEOPLE FROM
RURAL INDIA TO WORK FOR LITTLE
OR NO PAY IN HIS RESTAURANT AND
BUSINESSES. THESE PEOPLE WERE
PREDOMINANTLY, IF NOT ENTIRELY
COMPRISED OF LOW CASTE WORKERS.
AS AN ORGANIZATION FOUNDED
AND INFORMED BY THE FOLKS FROM
EQUALITY LAB, WE URGE YOU TO
UNANIMOUSLY
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO PASS THE
ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION. I AM A DOMINANT
CASTE PERSON WHO WAS RAISED
HINDU AND CASTE IS A GLOBAL
ISSUE THAT IMPACTS IN THE A
COMMUNITY'S ACROSS THE GLOBAL .
AS SUCH WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT
GLOBALLY. WE CAN'T LET HINDU
CASTE PRIVILEGE PEOPLE, MY
COMMUNITY, WITHHOLD PROTECTION
FROM PEOPLE. FOR MULTIPLE
RELIGIONS AND SO ON. AS
SOMEONE RAISED HINDU I SEE HOW
THE COMMUNITY PRETENDS CASTE
IS DOESN'T EXIST IN THE U.S. IT
IS INCORRECT. THE REALITY IS IT
DOES EXIST. IT MUST BE A CORE
PART OF ANTIDISCRIMINATION
PROTECTION ACROSS THE WORLD.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I URGE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES
TO BAN CRAFT CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. YES, THEY
DISCRIMINATE. IT EXISTS AND
LOOK WHO IS OPPOSING. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] WE LOVE OUR
PEOPLE GET ARE ASHAMED BY
IMPORTING CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. PLEASE, I URGE COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO VOTE YES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER .
>> HELLO, I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. TO BAN
CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN SEATTLE
50. I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE
DISGUSTING ATTEMPTS, I AM A
DOMINANT CASTE UNIVERSITY
STUDENT AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO
THE DISGUSTING ATTACKS AGAINST
EQUALITY LABS AND OTHER CIVIL
RIGHTS GROUPS FOR FACING THE
SILENCE. WE KNOW THAT ANY TIME
CIVIL RIGHTS TO OPPONENTS WILL
STEP FORWARD. THESE ARE NO
DIFFERENT THAN THE WHITE
SUPREMACIST TRYING TO BAN AND
OUTLAW CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
DO NOT UNDERMINE THE WORK OF
THE OPPRESSED. ENSURE THE
SAFETY OF ALL IN THIS
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. THIS
DISCRIMINATION NEEDS TO BE
URGENTLY ADDRESSED. PLEASE
SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE BY
UNANIMOUSLY VOTING YES.
>> THANK YOU. AFTER THIS NEXT
SPEAKER, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE
WILL BE AT ONE HOUR.
>> LET ME ADD THIS. LET'S DO
THIS LAST CALLER FOR ONE
MINUTE. AND I WILL MAKE SOME
COMMENTS AND WE WILL GO
FORWARD. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. LAST SPEAKER.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I AM A COMMUNITY CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGIST AND I WORK , I AM
HINDU AND A PRACTICING BUDDHIST
AND FIRST-GENERATION IMMIGRANT
FROM INDIA. I'M CALLING IN
SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE. IT IS A VERY
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE WORK
WITH THE COMMUNITY AND AS
SOMEONE WHO'S CASTE PRIVILEGE
MYSELF I HAVE SEEN THE
INDELIBLE IMPACT OF CASTE
OPPRESSION AND I HAVE KNOWN
HOW UPPER CASTE COMMUNITY'S
CONTINUE TO INVALIDATE THE
STRUGGLE. IS A SEATTLE MEMBER ,
A SEATTLE CITY PERSON, I CAN
SPEAK STRONGLY ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF BANNING CASTE
BASED DISCRIMINATION BEGINNING
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THIS
WILL BE HISTORIC BECAUSE WE
CANNOT ALLOW HINDU NATIONALISTS
OR UPPER CASTE HINDUS TO ALLOW
THE DANGERS OF OUR ANCIENT
SCRIPTURES. CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IS A COMPLETE
PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE
OUTLAWED AND I URGE THIS
COUNCIL TO WORK IN FAVOR OF
BANNING CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAD OVER 135
COLORS. WE GOT TO 57 . WE ARE
GOING TO END THE PUBLIC ON IT
AT THIS POINT. I DID WANT TO
SHARE AGAIN, WE ARE NOT VOTING
ON THIS TODAY. YOU HAVE ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO DO TWO THINGS.
YOU CAN KEEP SENDING EMAILS
THAT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING. AND
YOU CAN ALSO CALL IN ON
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AT 2:00
AT WHICH FULL COUNCIL WILL BE
VOTING ON THIS LEGISLATION HAS
BEEN PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. WITH
THAT, WE ARE ENDING PUBLIC
COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON,
THE AGENDA. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION I MOVE TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR.
NOT HEARING OR SEEING OBJECTION
THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. MOVING
ON, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION I
MOVED TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. NOT
SEEING OR HEARING AN OBJECTION.
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. MOVING
ONTO HER CONSENT CALENDAR,
LET'S SEE, THE ITEMS ON CONSENT
CALENDAR TODAY INCLUDE THE
MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 7, 2023.
PAYROLL BILL COUNCIL BILL
120510. AND FIVE APPOINTMENTS
TO THE SEATTLE DESIGN
COMMISSION RECOMMENDED BY THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE. ARE THERE
ANY COUNCILMEMBERS THAT WOULD
LIKE TO REMOVE ANY OF THESE
ITEMS FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR
TO BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY AT
THE END OF THE AGENDA? OKAY. I
DO NOT SEE ANYBODY RAISING
THEIR HAND. OKAY. I MOVED TO
ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR?
>>
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND THEN
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE CONSENT
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES IN THE LEGISLATION ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR ON MY
BEHALF. MOVING ON IN OUR
AGENDA TO COMMITTEE REPORTS.
WE HAVE SIX MATTERS ON THE
AGENDA. THREE COUNCIL BILLS AND
THREE RESOLUTIONS. WE ARE GOING
TO START WITH COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, BEFORE THAT PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
COUNCIL BILL 120487, AND
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
FLOODPLAINS FOURTH EXTENSION OF
INTERIM REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED
BY ORDINANCE 126113, AND AS
AMENDED BY ORDINANCE 126536,
FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS,
TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO RELY ON
UPDATED NATIONAL FLOOD
INSURANCE RATE MAPS TO OBTAIN
FLOOD INSURANCE THROUGH THE
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY'S FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS THE
FOURTH FLOODPLAIN EXTENSION OF
INTERIM REGULATIONS, FEDERAL
REGULATIONS REQUIRE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO UPDATE LOCAL
FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS WITHIN
SIX MONTHS OF THE FEMA UPDATE
TO ENSURE ONGOING PARTICIPATION
OF THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM. PARTICIPATION ALLOWS
OWNERS OF THE PROPERTIES IN
FEMA MAPPED FLOOD ZONES TO
PURCHASE FEDERALLY BACKED
FLOOD INSURANCE REQUIRED FOR
FEDERAL LOANS. THOSE INTERIM
DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS HAVE
BEEN EXTENDED SEVERAL TIMES
WHILE THE PORT OF SEATTLE AND
CITY OF SEATTLE REACH AGREEMENT
ABOUT HOW SOME REGULATIONS MAY
BE APPLIED. I CAN TELL YOU AT
THE OUTSET OF THESE
CONVERSATIONS IT WASN'T GOING
SO WELL AND THE REPORTS I'M
RECEIVING TODAY IS THAT THE
CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING VERY
WELL WHICH MAKES ME VERY HAPPY.
BECAUSE, THIS IS THE FOURTH
EXTENSION AND I'M HOPING THE
LAST EXTENSION OF THIS INTERIM
FLOODPLAIN REGULATION. 120487
WOULD EXTEND THE INTERIM
FLOODPLAIN RELEVANT
REGULATIONS FOR ANOTHER SIX
MONTHS. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
HER FRIENDS AT THE PORT FOR
COMING INTO THE CONVERSATION
IN COLLABORATION AND THANK YOU
TO THE FOLKS THAT TCI ARE
COMING INTO THE CONVERSATION
WITH PROSPECTIVE OF
CLLABORATION BECAUSE IT'S IN
OUR BEST INTEREST TO WORK
TOGETHER, NEGATE OUR
DIFFERENCES AND PASS FINAL
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AS
PRESIDING OFFICER I'M OPENING
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNCIL
BILL 120487. AS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS SAID,
IT'S THE FOURTH EXTENSION OF
THE INTERIM REGULATIONS
ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE
126113 AND AS AMENDED BY
ORDINANCE 126536 FOR AN
ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS TO ALLOW
INDIVIDUALS TO RELY ON UPDATED
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE RATE
MAPS TO OBTAIN FLOOD INSURANCE
THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCIES, FEMA,
FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.
MADAME CLERK, MY UNDERSTANDING
IS WE HAD TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP.
NUMBERS 38 AND 100 TO TO SPEAK
TO THE MATTER. ARE THEY STILL
AVAILABLE?
>> WE ALSO WANT TO CHECK WITH
THE CLERK IN CHAMBERS TO SEE IF
WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP IN
PERSON.
>> OKAY, I DON'T HAVE THE NAME
OF THE FIRST PERSON. BUT I DO
HAVE NUMBER 100 TOO. I WILL
LET YOU HANDLE IT FROM HERE,
WHO IS AVAILABLE TO SPEAK. FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS
MATTER.
>> OKAY. I WILL START WITH
THE TWO REMOTE I KNOW WE HAVE.
I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO OPEN THE
PUBLIC HEARING. DID WE DO THAT,
I'M SORRY.
>> YES I DID. I WILL OPEN IT
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M NOT
HERE TODAY. OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING
, AGAIN THIS HAS TO RELATE TO
THE ITEM AT HAND, EXCUSE ME,
IS IT MAYA ? ARE YOU ON THE
LINE? I DON'T SEE A TILE .
>> SHE MAY HAVE HUNG UP AFTER
MAKING HER EARLIER COMMENT.
THE NEXT AND I BELIEVE ONLY
OTHER REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTOR
IS THOMAS . ARE YOU STILL WITH
US?
>> I DO NOT SEE HIM. HE WAS
NUMBER 100 TOO.
>> THERE HE IS. WE SEE A TILE.
STAR SIX. HE IS ON THE LINE.
I THINK YOU JUST NEED TO DO
STAR SIX. WE CAN WAIT. HE HAS
BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME. OVER
ONE HOUR. IT IS STAR SIX.
>> ARE THERE ANY IN-PERSON
COMMENTERS?
>> HOW ABOUT WE DO THIS? I DO
NOT SEE HIM UNMUTE HIMSELF.
>> NO. WE CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING. HE IS WELCOME TO SEND
IN WRITTEN COMMENTS.
>> LET'S DO THAT. IT IS STAR
SIX, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE
HAVING DIFFICULTY MUTING
YOURSELF, OR US GETTING TO
YOU. SO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
ASK IS THAT YOU PROVIDE WRITTEN
COMMENTS AND WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE FORWARD ON THE AGENDA.
DOES THAT SOUND OKAY, MADAME
CLERK?
>> AT THIS POINT, YES.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS
OUR LAST SPEAKER TO PRESENT ,
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE.
I'M GOING TO CLOSE THIS MATTER.
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
COUNCIL BILL 20487 AS DESCRIBED
BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS
NOW CLOSED. WITH THAT I MOVED
TO PAST COUNCIL BILL 120487.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO PASS THE BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, IS
THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE
TO ADD BEFORE WE GO TO THE
BOAT?
>> NOTHING FURTHER.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. CALL
THE VOTE?
>> AYE.
>>>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND THEN
OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
MOVING ON IN OUR AGENDA TO ITEM
NUMBER TWO, IT LOOKS LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA HAS A
RESOLUTION FOR US. ADAM CLERK,
PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER TWO
INTO THE RECORD.
>> A RESOLUTION PROVIDING AN
HONORARY DESIGNATION OF UNION
STREET BETWEEN 21st AND 22nd
STREETS AS D'VONNE PICKETT JR.
WAY.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS
RESOLUTION IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO PROVIDE AND UNDERRATE
IS A NATION OF UNION STREET
BETWEEN 21st AND 22nd STREETS
AS D'VONNE PICKETT JR. WAY. IT
HAS BEEN AN HONOR FOR ME AND MY
TEAM TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH
HIS FAMILY ON THIS LEGISLATION
IN FRONT OF US. I WANT TO THANK
HIS MOTHER AND ALSO CRAIG HIS
BROTHER. I WANT TO THANK HIS
SISTER AND ALL OF THE FAMILY
WHO'VE BEEN WORKING WITH US AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN ADDITION
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO COME TOGETHER
TO PUT FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION
IN FRONT OF US. AS FOLKS KNOW,
D'VONNE PICKETT JR. WAS A
PILLAR AND BELOVED MEMBER OF
OUR COMMUNITY. HE WAS A LEADER
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AND
SEATTLE AT LARGE. HE WAS A
FATHER, A MENTOR, ENTREPRENEUR,
AND CO-OWNER ALONG WITH HIS
WIFE. AND LIFELONG COMMUNITY
MEMBER AS WELL. HE WAS SHOT
AND KILLED OUTSIDE THE POSTMAN
TO 19th, 2022. A DEVASTATING
LOSS FOR THIS CITY , FOR THIS
FAMILY, FOR ALL OF HIS FRIENDS
AND THE BROADER SEATTLE
COMMUNITY. HE IS SURVIVED BY
HIS WIFE AND HIS THREE
CHILDREN AND HIS EXTENDED
FAMILY. HE LEAVES BEHIND MANY
MOURNERS IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND ACROSS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. BY BRINGING FOR THIS
RESOLUTION TODAY, IT PROVIDES
AN HONORARY CHANGE AND THIS IS
ONE WAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO
HONOR AND REMEMBER THE LIFE AND
LEGACY OF D'VONNE PICKETT
JR.. HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND SEATTLE
COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE
ON FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. US
IS JUST ONE WAY WE WILL MAKE
SURE. I WANT TO PULL FROM A
FEW EXPERTS FROM THIS
RESOLUTION WHICH WERE DRAFTED
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HIS FAMILY.
IN THE RESOLUTION YOU SEE IT
SAYS, WHERE AS ONE OF HIS
BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT TO DATE
WAS OPENING THE POSTMAN BACK
IN AUGUST 2018. NAMED IN
COMMEMORATION OF HIS
GREAT-GRANDFATHER , A RETIRED
INDIVIDUAL FROM THE U.S.
POSTAL SERVICE AFTER 37+ YEARS.
A BUSINESS THAT D'VONNE HAD
MADE INTO AN ESSENTIAL CENTER
OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF
SEATTLE. WHERE AS D'VONNE
INTERNALIZED THE BELIEF THAT
BEING OVER ALL THEIR ENDEAVORS
PARTICULARLY IN HIS ROLE AS A
FAMILY PATRIARCH, AS A MENTOR
AND FRIEND TO ALMOST EVERYONE
HE ENCOUNTERED THROUGHOUT HIS
LIFE. A SENTIMENT HE OFTEN
UNIQUELY EXPRESSED IN THE FORM
OF HIS FAVORITE CATCHPHRASE,
STOP PLAYING. AND WHERE AS
D'VONNE PICKETT JR.'S PERSONAL
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE INSPIRED
HIS VISION AND COMMITMENT IT
WAS A DRIVING FORCE IN
EMPOWERING THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
AS WELL AS OTHER CITIES IN THE
UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE
WORLD. TOUCHED BY HIS PRESENCE
AND INSPIRATION. THIS
LEGISLATION IS BEING BROUGHT
FORWARD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
D'VONNE'S FAMILY AND SUPPORT
AND FEEDBACK FROM THE MAYOR AND
COSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. THERE WILL BE AN
UNVEILING CEREMONY OF THE
STREET RENAMING AT 21st IN
UNION NEXT WEEK , FEBRUARY 22.
THE RESOLUTION WILL BE FORMALLY
PRESENTED AND WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN HIS
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THE BROADER
SEATTLE COMMUNITY TO HONOR HIM,
HIS LEGACY AND HIS LIFE'S WORK
NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT, FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN
BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY.
AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES, I HOPE
YOU WILL JOIN US IN HONORING
D'VONNE PICKETT JR. AND HIS
LIFE LEGACY.
>> THANK YOU. I MADE A MISTAKE,
MADAME CLERK, I SHOULD'VE MOVED
TO ADOPT IT. LET ME DO THAT
NOW. I MOVED TO ADOPT
RESOLUTION 32081. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD , WE ALL
HAD A COPY OF IT AND READ
THROUGH. AT THIS TIME YOU HAVE
ADDRESSED IT ONCE, I'M GOING TO
LET YOU DO ARE CLOSING
ARGUMENTS. I MEAN CLOSING
STATEMENTS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COLLEAGUES THAT WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK TO THIS RESOLUTION
HONORING THE HONORARY
DESIGNATION FOR D'VONNE PICKETT
JR. WAY? ANY OF HER OTHER
COLLEAGUES? NOT SEEING ANY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, DO YOU
WANT TO CLOSE US OUT BEFORE WE
MOVED TO A VOTE?
>> NO, AGAIN, I WANT TO THINK
HIS FAMILY. WE KNOW THEY WILL
BE PRESENT WITH US NEXT WEEK.
HAD ENCOURAGE THEM TO HOLD
THEIR COMMENTS UNTIL THE
CEREMONY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CELEBRATING ALL THAT D'VONNE
BROUGHT TO THE COMMUNITY AND
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT ON THE
22nd. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. WITH THAT, WITH THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION?
>>>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED. THE CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT. PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE RESOLUTION ON MY BEHALF.
THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM
NUMBER THREE UNDER THE
TRANSPORTATION AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE
WHICH IS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, ADAM CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER THREE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AN ORDINANCE GRANTING DUNN
LUMBER COMPANY PERMISSION TO
CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN, AND
OPERATE A PRIVATE COMMUNICATION
CONDUIT UNDER AND ACROSS LATONA
AVENUE NORTHEAST, NORTH OF
NORTHEAST NORTHLAKE WAY, FOR A
15-YEAR TERM, RENEWABLE FOR ONE
SUCCESSIVE 15-YEAR TERM;
SPECIFYING THE CONDITIONS UNDER
WHICH THIS PERMIT IS GRANTED;
AND PROVIDING FOR THE
ACCEPTANCE OF THE PERMIT AND
CONDITIONS. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. COLLEAGUES, AS I NOTED IN
COUNCIL BRIEFING YESTERDAY,
BUILT 120506 WOULD GRANT FINAL
APPROVAL TO DUNN LUMBER COMPANY
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION,
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF A
COMMUNICATION CONDUIT USING A
15 YEAR TERM PERMIT. LAST YEAR
THE COUNCIL GRANTED CONDITIONAL
APPROVAL FOR DUNN LUMBER VIA
32053, THAT RESOLUTION DIRECTED
SDOT TO DRAFT THE ORDINANCE
THE GRANTS THE FINAL APPROVAL
FOR THE TERM PERMIT. THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF BOTH
DETERMINED DUNN LUMBER HAD MET
THE CONDITIONS FROM THE
INITIAL APPROVAL. THE TERM
PERMIT WAS RECOMMENDED
UNANIMOUSLY BY THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS PRESENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. ANY COMMENTS FOR MANY
OF OUR COLLEAGUES? NOT SEEING
ANY AND I DON'T SEE ANY
CLOSING REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE BILL PASSES.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
FOUR WHICH IS ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER FOUR INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR,
COUNCIL BILL 120507. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO CITY
STREETS; DESIGNATING THE NAME
OF A NEW STREET CONSTRUCTED AS
PART OF THE CENTRAL WATERFRONT
PROJECT, AS ELLIOTT WAY.
>> COLLEAGUES, 120507 WOULD
DESIGNATE THE NAME OF A NEW
STREET CREATED AS PART OF A
CENTRAL WATERFRONT PROJECT
BETWEEN FELL STREET AND PIKE
STREET. THIS WAS RECOMMENDED
ANONYMOUSLY. THANK YOU.
>> ANY COMMENTS FOR MY
COLLEAGUES? NOT SEEING ANY.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
VOTE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>>
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES. THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT AND PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF. MOVING ON TO ITEM
NUMBER FIVE. IT IS
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AGAIN. A
RESOLUTION. PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER FOUR , FIVE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> RESOLUTION 32079. A
RESOLUTION GRANTING CONCEPTAL
APPROVAL TO CONSTRUCT,
MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE A
TRANSFORMER AND RETAINING WALL
AT 63rd AVENUE SOUTHWEST,
INTERSECTING WITH BEACH DRIVE
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST SPOKANE
STREET, TO SUPPORT THE
OPERATION OF THE ALKI WET
WEATHER TREATMENT STATION
FACILITY AND 63rd AVENUE PUMP
STATION FACILITY IN THE WEST
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD, AS
PROPOSED BY KING COUNTY. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> COLLEAGUES, IT WOULD
PROVIDE KING COUNTY WITH OUR
CITIES CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL TO
CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE
AN ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMER
RETAINING WALL. THIS IS IN WEST
SEATTLE. IS THE TITLE
MENTIONED, EXACT LOCATION,
AFTER COUNCIL GRANTS THIS
INITIAL APPROVAL, THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WILL NEGOTIATE THE FINAL
APPROVAL AND THEN WE WILL SEE
THEM BACK IN COMMITTEE FOR
FINAL APPROVAL. THIS IS THE
INITIAL CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL
VIA RESOLUTION. OUR COMMITTEE,
INCLUDING OUR DISTRICT 1
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IC, THIS CAME
OUT OF COMMITTEE. UNANIMOUSLY.
>> YES.
>> GREAT. ANY COMMENTS BEFORE
WE MOVED TO A VOTE? I DON'T
SEE ANY. AM GUESSING YOU ARE
OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THERE IS ONE.
>> I HAVE MY REAL HAND UP
INSTEAD OF MY VIRTUAL HAND.
>> I CAN'T SEE YOU. THERE YOU
ARE. YOUR TITLE IS NOT A. GO
AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
. I APOLOGIZE.
>> DON'T. I CLOSED OUT OF THE
ZOOM SYSTEM. I WAS RELYING ON
MY ACTUAL PHYSICAL HAND WHICH
I SHOULDN'T TOO. REAL QUICKLY,
THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR REACHING OUT TO
MY OFFICE BEFORE THE ITEM WAS
UP IN COMMITTEE. AND, WORKING
WITH ME ON THE TIMING OF THE
VOTE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REACH OUT TO CONSTITUENTS IN
THE AREA TO FIND OUT A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCES WITH THE PROJECT. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK KING COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
, SPECIFICALLY THE WASTEWATER
TREATMENT DIVISION, THEIR
STAFF MET WITH MY OFFICE TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS. AND OF
COURSE THANKS AS ALWAYS TO
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF FOR
HELPING MY OFFICE TO FIELD A
QUESTION FROM CONSTITUENTS. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE YOU GOING TO
STAY ON THE SCREEN,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ? ARE WE
GOOD?
>> WE ARE GOOD.
>> WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU
WANT TO ADD BEFORE WE VOTE?
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE ALL GOOD. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
>>
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED. THE CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF. ITEM NUMBER SIX.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
ONE. THIS IS ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. PLEASE
READ ITEM 6 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX,
RESOLUTION 32080. A RESOLUTION
PROVIDING AN HONORARY
DESIGNATION OF ALASKAN WAY
BETWEEN DEARBORN AND PINE
STREETS, AND ELLIOTT WAY
BETWEEN PINE AND BELL STREET AS
DZIDZILALICH. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE RESOLUTION BE
ADOPTED.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, IT IS ALL YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES,
RESOLUTION 32080 WOULD NATE
AND HONORARY STREET NAME. THE
PRIMARY STRETCH OF ALASKAN
WEIGHT WOULD BE DESIGNATED
DZIDZILALICH WHICH MEANS
LITTLE CROSSING OVER PLACE .
THAT LEGISLATION IS COSPONSORED
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT WAR IS
AND COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW
COMMENTS BUT I WANT TO SEE IF
THERE ANY COLLEAGUES WHO WANT
TO SPEAK BEFORE I SPEAK AND
THEN LET COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN CLOSE US OUT. OKAY.
NOT SEEING ANY. I HAVE SOME
PREPARED COMMENTS. FIRST OF ALL
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT
THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING FOR
MORE THAN A DECADE WITH TRIBAL
PARTNERS AND LEADERS TO ELEVATE
CULTURE AND HISTORY AS PART OF
THE WATERFRONT SEATTLE PROGRAM.
THESE EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN
A SERIES OF PUBLIC ART, RAMMING
AN INTERPRETIVE ELEMENTS THAT
WILL BE PART OF THE NEW
WATERFRONT. THROUGH THE
DISCUSSIONS THE CONCEPT EMERGED
OF GIVING A NEWLY REBUILT
ALASKAN WAY A TRIBAL PLACE
NAME AND USING THE ORIGINAL
LANGUAGE OF THE TRIBES. THE
HONORARY NAME , DZIDZILALICH,
IS ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO HONOR
THE LAND AND TO RECOGNIZE THE
HISTORY OF OUR COLLECTIVE
WATERFRONT. FOR THOUSANDS OF
YEARS, OR AS WE LIKE TO SAY,
FOR TIME IMMEMORIAL, A VILLAGE
ON SEATTLE'S WATERFRONT WAS THE
CENTER FOR TRAVEL FISHING AND
TRADE AND WAS KNOWN AS
DZIDZILALICH. I'M TRYING TO
WORK THAT IN. MANY THANKS TO
THE SUQUAMISH AND TRIBAL
COUNCILS AND NATION AND
LEADERSHIP WHO PROVIDED
GUIDANCE TO THE CITY, THE
SEATTLE MAYOR'S OFFICE. OFFICE
OF THE WATERFRONT AND CIVIC
PROJECTS IN THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DURING THE PROCESS OF SELECTING
DZIDZILALICH IS THE HONORARY
NAME. THERE WILL BE NEW STREET
SIGNS INSTALLED IN THE COMING
MONTHS TO REFLECT THIS
IMPORTANT ACKNOWLEDGMENT. IT
IS CRUCIAL WE CONTINUE TO LOOK
FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO RECOGNIZE
SEATTLE'S TRIBAL HISTORY,
CULTURE AND REPRESENTATION IN
THIS CITY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
ADD, WE HAVE THE ACTUAL
TRADITIONAL HISTORY
REPRESENTATIVE . I THINK THAT
IS IMPORTANT THAT THE REAL ART
OF THE FOLKS IN PEOPLE WHO'VE
LIVED HERE FOR TIME IMMEMORIAL
IS REFLECTED IN OUR
ARCHITECTURE, ART, CULTURE,
NAMING OF PLACES AND WE DON'T
JUST FIND OURSELVES DOING LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. WITH THAT, IS
THERE ANYTHING ELSE?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. YOU ARE
GOOD?
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY IT ONE
MORE TIME?
>> DZIDZILALICH.
>> RIGHT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> I WANT TO SAY AND HOW MANY
AND IMPRESSED WITH HOW MANY
TIMES COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
HAS SAID IT. I'M GOING TO SAVE
MY EMBARRASSMENT. THIS IS THE
WAY WE HONOR THE LAND IN WHICH
WE STAND ON. IT'S REALLY
IMPRESSIVE TO SEE IT SAID SO
MANY TIMES. THANK YOU.
>> IT IS A SIDE NOTE, AS A
NATIVE PERSON, I JUST WANT TO
THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR BEING SO
OPEN AND ALL THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS FOR RECOGNIZING
THAT AND UNDERSTANDING THE
HISTORY AND CULTURE AND WHITES
IMPORTANT. SO WHEN PEOPLE COME
HERE, THEY KNOW THEY ARE
KNOWING THEY ARE IN COASTAL
SALISH COUNTRY. IS CALL THE
ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
>> OKAY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
RESOLUTION ON MY BEHALF. ALL
RIGHT, I THINK THAT CONCLUDES
OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS. MOVING
ALONG ON THE AGENDA, THERE WERE
NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. THERE ARE NO
RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION
AND ADOPTION CALENDAR OR OTHER
RESOLUTIONS, I'M SORRY. MOVING
ON TO OTHER BUSINESS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I
UNDERSTAND YOU WOULD LIKE TO
RESEND YOUR ABSENCE FROM NEXT
WEEK'S FEBRUARY 21 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I THINK THERE WAS CONFUSION
WHEN I FIRST ASKED FOR IT. I
WENT BACK AND TRIED TO MAKE
SURE I HAD THE RIGHT DATES IN
THE RECORD A FEW WEEKS AGO.
BUT, I WILL NOT BE ABSENT NEXT
WEEK. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE
I'M NOT NOTED AS BEING GONE ON
FEBRUARY 21. IN FACT, I THINK
MY PLANS ARE TO BE HERE ON
MARCH 21st AS WELL. NO NEED
FOR AN EXCUSED.
>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO
ADD TO THAT, WHEN YOU'RE GOING
TO BE HERE OR WHEN YOU'RE NOT ?
>> I'M GOING TO BE HERE.
>> OKAY, GOOD. I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS HIS
HAND A. LET ME DO THIS FIRST,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. LET ME
GET THIS DONE SO I DO IT
RIGHT. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S EXCUSED ABSENCE
FROM FEBRUARY 21 WILL BE
RESCINDED . DOES ANYONE OBJECT
TO COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
NOT BEING HERE OR BEING HERE?
NO ONE OBJECTS. GREAT. LET'S
MOVE ON. GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A
PERSONAL CONFLICT ON OUR
FEBRUARY 21 MEETING, SO I AM
DOING THE OPPOSITE, REQUESTING
TO BE EXCUSED FOR THAT SESSION
. AND, I GUESS TAG TEAMING
OUT WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. REQUESTING TO BE
EXCUSED FOR THE 21st FULL
COUNCIL MEETING.
>> WE WILL SWAP COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA BACK IN AND YOU BACK
OUT. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WILL BE
ABSENT DEBRIS 21st. THAT IS
NEXT TUESDAY. NOT SEEING ANY
OBJECTION, YOU ARE EXCUSED,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. NOW IT IS
MY TURN. I'M GOING TO BE OUT OF
TOWN, IN WASHINGTON, D.C. NEXT
WEEK, I WOULD LIKE TO EXCUSE
MYSELF, I THINK I SAID IT
BEFORE BUT I WILL SAY IT AGAIN,
NEXT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WILL
SERVE AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO
TEM AND WILL PRESIDE OVER THAT
MEETING. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO
EXCUSE MYSELF. ANY OBJECTION?
OKAY. NOT HEARING OR SEEING
ANY OBJECTION, I AM EXCUSED
FROM THE COUNCIL MEETING NEXT
TUESDAY. BEFORE I GO TO
ADJOURN, IS THERE ANY OTHER
BUSINESS, COLLEAGUES? ALL
RIGHT. THIS DOES CONCLUDE THE
ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. THE NEXT REGULARLY
SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
WILL BE HELD FEBRUARY 21, NEXT
TUESDAY. WITH THAT, THANK YOU
ALL, WE ARE ADJOURNED. WELL
DONE, EVERYBODY.