♪°7
>>> WE ARE RECORDING.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
GOOD AFTERNOON. TODAY IS
TUESDAY, APRIL 4th. THIS IS THE
ME AT MEETING OF THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL. I'M DEBORA
JUAREZ, CALLING THEM MEETING
TO ORDER. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ?
>> PRESENT.
>> MADAM CLERK , BEFORE WE GO
FURTHER, I SHOULD ADD THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING
BUT WE DO HAVE ANOTHER
COUNCILMEMBER WHO WISHES TO BE
EXCUSED. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
WILL BE AT EXCUSED FROM
TODAY'S MEETING. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
IS EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S
MEETING. MOVING ON, WE HAVE
THREE PRESENTATIONS TODAY. ONE
FROM COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WITH
THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN WHICH
WE HAVE GUESTS, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, WITH HER PROCLAMATION
FOR APRIL 6th BEING -- DAY AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WILL
HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR SEXUAL
ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH FOR THE
MONTH OF APRIL. BEFORE WE BEGIN
LET ME ADD A A FEW WORDS. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON FOR
BEING COUNSEL MEMBER PRESIDENT
PRO TEM IN MY ABSENCE
YESTERDAY. I APPRECIATE IT. I
SELDOM TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE MORE PERSONAL ISSUES BUT
I DO HAVE MS AND SOMETIMES I
HAVE THESE DAYS WHERE THINGS
ARE NOT GOOD AND I JUST WANT TO
THANK ALL OF YOU, EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT STEP UP
AND LIGHTEN MY LOAD AND HELP ME
AND CHECK ON ME. I HOPE THE
PUBLIC CAN SEE THAT WE MAY ALL
HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES BUT AT
THE END OF THE DAY WE ALL GUIDE
EACH OTHER. I COULDN'T ASK FOR
A BETTER GROUP OF PEOPLE TO
STEP UP FOR ME. TAKE SOME
ISSUES FOR ME. STEP IN FOR ME.
GIVE ME A CALL AND GIVE ME A
CHECK TO SEE IF I'M OKAY.
TODAY'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE
ROUGH AND IF IT GETS ROUGHER,
I'VE GOT COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
READY TO STEP IN AND BE
COUNSEL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
AGAIN. WITH THAT, LET'S MOVE
ON TO PRESENTATIONS. OUR FIRST
PRESENTATION , WE WILL START
TODAY WITH COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
AND CL PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS A
GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BE JOINED BY
OUR LEADERSHIP FROM THE PUBLIC
LIBRARY INCLUDING TOM FAY OUR
CHIEF LIBRARIAN WHO IS NOW
APPROACHING TO THE FRONT OF THE
ROOM. I WOULD JUST SAY, ONE OF
THE FIRST APPOINTMENTS THAT WE
WORKED WITH THE LIBRARY BOARD
ON, EARLY IN THE NEW
ADMINISTRATION WAS TOM'S
ASCENSION TO THE LEADERSHIP OF
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND
WE HAVE REALLY BEEN THROUGH A
DIFFICULT TIME COMING OUT OF
COVID WITH A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS
EXPERIENCING AROUND
STAFFING, PROGRAMMATIC
EXPANSION, FOR ALL THE THINGS
THE COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON AND
IT'S GREAT TO SEE TOM AND HIS
LEADERSHIP TEAM RISE TO THAT
LEVEL OF MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING
IN THE COMMUNITY. MAKING SURE
WE HAVE THINGS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
TO DO AFTER SCHOOL. MAKING SURE
WE ARE CONTINUING TO DIGITIZE
AND MAKE ACCESSIBLE THE
COLLECTIONS WE ALL DEPEND UPON
IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. AND AS
SOMEONE WHO I KNOW ON THIS
DAIS WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE GROWN UP IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND RELIED ON
PROGRAMMING AT THE LIBRARY.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS BEEN
VERY ELOQUENT ABOUT THAT. I
LEARNED HOW TO USE A COMPUTER
AT THE GREENWOOD BRANCH AT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND IT'S
ALWAYS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY, AND PRESENT TO
COMMITTEE . AN EVEN GREATER
TREAT TO HAVE PRESENTATIONS IN
CHAMBERS FROM THE LEADERSHIP
TEAM DURING FULL COUNSEL. WITH
THAT I WANT TO HAND IT OVER TO
OUR LIBRARY TEAM THAT HAVE
APPROACHED THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY PORTION IN THE
CENTER OF CHAMBERS AND GIVE
THEM THE FLOOR FOR TODAY'S
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AND THANK YOU PRESIDENT
JUAREZ AND OTHER MEMBERS. WE
ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT OUR SEATTLE READS
PROGRAM. OUR PROGRAMMING IS NOW
COMING BACK INTO BEING IN
PERSON AS WELL AS IN SOME CASES
BEING A HYBRID. FOR SOME
ADDITIONAL EXCITING NEWS, WE
WERE ABLE TO BRING ON THE FIRST
PHASE OF OUR EXPANDED LEVY
HOURS. MORE OPEN HOURS. ON
MONDAY. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT
THAT. MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
FOLKS TO ACCESS THE LIBRARY.
AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, WE
ARE CELEBRATING OUR 25th YEAR
OF SEATTLE READS THIS YEAR.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WAS
DEVELOPED AND CREATED HERE IN
SEATTLE THAT IS NOW GLOBAL.
THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES IN THE
WORLD TODAY RUNNING A PROGRAM
VERY SIMILAR TO THIS WHICH IS
ONE COMMUNITY READING ONE BOOK.
WE ARE PROUD OF ALL THOSE WHO
CREATED THIS PROGRAM , WHO RAN
IT FOR MANY YEARS, AND IT'S MY
GREAT PLEASURE TODAY TO HAVE
BRANDON WHO IS OUR LITERATURE
AND HUMANITIES PROGRAM MANAGER
WHO NOW RUNS THIS GREAT
PROGRAM. SHE'S GOING TO GIVE
YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS
YEAR'S SEATTLE READS.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, TOM. HI,
EVERYBODY. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE
WITH YOU TO CHAT ABOUT SEATLLE
READS. SEATTLE IS A UNESCO CITY
OF LITERATURE AND ONE OF THE
REASONS WE REDESIGNATED IS
BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO
AT THE LIBRARY AND SEATTLE
READS AND THE IMPACT OF THAT
HELPS MAKE OUR LITERARY
ECOSYSTEM IN SEATTLE SO GREAT.
AS TOM MENTIONED, SEATTLE READS
IS A PROGRAM THAT WAS CREATED
IN 1998 AT THE LIBRARY AND THE
IDEA IS THAT WE INVITE
EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY TO
READ THE SAME BOOK AND THEN
DISCUSS IT IN THEIR HOMES WITH
THEIR COMMUNITIES , HOUSES OF
WORSHIP AND AT THE LIBRARY. SO
THIS YEAR, THE SELECTED BOOK
IS THE SWIMMERS BY JULIE --
JULIE IS GOING TO BE DOING FOUR
PROGRAMS WITH US IN MAY AND AS
TOM MENTIONED, BECAUSE IT'S THE
25th ANNIVERSARY OF SEATTLE
READS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A
REALLY WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO
HONOR SOMEBODY WHO HAD ACTUALLY
BEEN PART OF THE PROGRAM IN THE
PAST. SO JULIE CAME IN 2005
FOR WHAT WAS HER DEBUT NOVEL,
WHEN THE EMPEROR WAS DIVINE AND
WE THOUGHT WE WOULD INVITE HER
BACK TO TALK ABOUT HER LATEST
BOOK AND ALSO REFLECT ON THE
IMPACT OF BEING AT SEATTLE
READS AT SUCH AN EARLY POINT
IN HER CAREER. WE THOUGHT THAT
WOULD BE A FUN CONVERSATION TO
HAVE. I THOUGHT I WOULD TELL
YOU A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE
BOOK. GIVE YOU A LITTLE TASTE.
I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE COPIES
BUT JUST TO WHET YOUR APPETITE,
THE SWIMMERS BEGINS AS A STORY
OF WHAT HAPPENS TO A GROUP OF
RECREATIONAL SWIMMERS WHEN A
CRACK APPEARS IN THE BOTTOM OF
THE SWIMMING POOL BUT THE BOOK
IS REALLY AN EXPLORATION OF
MEMORY AND ITS LOSS AND WHAT
WE OWE ONE ANOTHER WHEN THE
THINGS THAT BIND US TOGETHER
FAIL. THE SWIMMERS IS
PRIMARILY ABOUT DEMENTIA AND
MEMORY LOSS BUT ALSO EXAMINES
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MOTHERS
AND DAUGHTERS AND TOUCHES ON
THE NCARCERATION OF
JAPANESE-AMERICANS DURING WORLD
WAR TWO. AS YOU MAY KNOW,
JULIE IS A REALLY
WELL-RESPECTED WRITER. SHE IS
THE RECIPIENT OF A GUGGENHEIM
FELLOWSHIP AND HER FIRST NOVEL
WON A 2003 ASIAN AMERICAN
LITERARY AWARD AND THE SAME
YEAR, THE AMERICAN LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION ALEX AWARD. HER
SECOND NOVEL, THE BUDDHA IN THE
ATTIC WAS A BEST SELLER AND A
FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK
AWARD IN 2011 AND WON THE 2012
PENN FAULKNER AWARD FOR
FICTION. SO WE ARE THRILLED
SHE IS COMING BACK TO SEATTLE
AND THIS YEAR WE ARE GOING TO
BE DOING FOUR PROGRAMS WITH HER
AND WE ARE WORKING WITH TWO
SENIOR CENTER PARTNERS. WE ARE
WORKING WITH SOUTHEAST SEATTLE
SENIOR CENTER AND THE
GREENWOOD SENIOR CENTER IN
ADDITION TO DOING PROGRAMMING
AT LIBRARY BRANCHES AND WE
PRIORITIZE DOING PROGRAMMING
DURING THE DAY BECAUSE THE BOOK
DOES FOCUS ON FOLKS
EXPERIENCING MEMORY LOSS AND
AGING IN PLACE. WE WANTED TO
PRIORITIZE MAKING THE PROGRAMS
AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE, SO
THREE OF THE FOUR PROGRAMS
WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE DAY
TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY AND WE
ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE PROGRAMS SHED LIGHT ON
DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S. SO,
WE ORGANIZE THEM TO COINCIDE
WITH DEMENTIA AWARENESS WEEK
WHICH IS THE 15th THROUGH THE
21st OF MAY. AND JUST AHEAD OF
JUNE WHICH IS ALZHEIMER'S AND
BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH. SO,
THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY ABOUT
REACHING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND
SO WE ARE THRILLED THAT WE HAVE
SO MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT
HAVE ALREADY COME ON BOARD FOR
THE PROGRAM. WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE ART MUSEUMS CREATIVE
AGING PROGRAMS. THE MEMORY HUB
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
BRAIN AND WELLNESS CENTER, THE
GREENWOOD SENIOR CENTER, AND
THEN SHOW AND ALL OF THESE
PARTNERS HAVE REALLY
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PROGRAM
AND EAGER TO ENGAGE WITH US. WE
WERE ABLE TO INTEGRATE READING
SUGGESTIONS INTO THE PRINTED
MATERIALS FOR THE PROGRAM AND
THEN, THE CREATIVE AGING
PROGRAM AND MEMORY HUB ARE
HOSTING A VERY COOL
COMPLEMENTARY EVENT THAT
INCLUDES A FACILITATED GALLERY
WALK THAT FOCUSES ON AN ART
SHOW THAT TIES INTO THE THEMES
IN THE BOOK AND THEN,
AFTERWARDS, THE HOST WILL
MODERATE A DISCUSSION OF THE
SWIMMERS. ONE OF THE WAYS THAT
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
READ IS WE DISTRIBUTE BOOKS
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. IN
ADDITION TO THE MORE THAN 300
COPIES THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE
CATALOGUED, WE JUST CHECK OUT
AT THE LIBRARY. WE ARE
DISTURBING MORE THAN 1600 HOOKS
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WITH
ABOUT 30% OF THEM GOING TO
PRIORITIZE COMMUNITIES. WE
ALSO WIDENED OUR DISTRIBUTION
POINTS TO INCLUDE NON-LIBRARY
LOCATIONS LIKE A CRs, DENSHO,
THE FRYE ART MUSEUM AND THE
SENIOR CENTERS. AND WE LOVE TO
HAVE ARTISTIC ELEMENTS AS PART
OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL AS
ANOTHER ENTRY POINT INTO
DISCUSSING THE BOOK. THIS
YEAR, WE HAVE INVITED A CUT
PAPER ARTIST TO CREATE WHAT
SHE CALLS A MEMORY NET WHICH
WILL BE INSPIRED BY THE
SWIMMERS AND WE WILL HOPE TO
DISPLAY THE MEMORY NET AS PART
OF JULIE'S PROGRAMS WITH US IN
MAY AND IT WILL BE ON DISPLAY
AT CENTRAL LIBRARY THROUGH JUNE
AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE FINAL
ELEMENT OF THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM
. BECAUSE IT'S OUR 25th
ANNIVERSARY, WE THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE A WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY TO HOST AN EXHIBIT
AT CENTRAL LIBRARY THAT LOOKS
BACK ON THE 25 YEARS OF THE
PROGRAM. IT WILL TAKE PLACE IN
OUR LEVEL EIGHT GALLERY SPACE
AT CENTRAL LIBRARY AND THE
EXHIBIT WILL FEATURE POSTERS,
PHOTOS, VIDEO, EPHEMERA, AND
OTHER ITEMS FROM THROUGHOUT THE
PROGRAM'S HISTORY. IT WILL
HONOR THE WORK OF THE PROGRAMS
EARLY STEWARDS, NANCY PEARL AND
CHRIS HIGASHI. AND IT WILL
COVER THE HISTORY AND TIMELINE
AS WELL AS ITS IMPACT. IT WILL
RUN FROM APRIL 24th THROUGH
JUNE 26th. WE ARE VERY EXCITED
TO CELEBRATE SEATTLE READS ON
THE 25th ANNIVERSARY IN THE
SWIMMERS THIS YEAR AND WE HOPE
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN US FOR
THE PROGRAM. THANKS.
>> GREAT. I SEE WE HAVE A HAND
UP. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT. I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING
BEFORE US AND LETTING US KNOW
ABOUT SEATTLE READS.
CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW YOUR
LIBRARIANS DO SO MUCH MORE
THAN TEACH PEOPLE TO READ. YOU
ARE A SAFE PLACE FOR SO MANY
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I
WANTED TO GIVE THEM ALSO
RECOGNITION IN THIS MOMENT AND
I COULDN'T HELP BUT RECOGNIZE
YOU, AS WELL . YOU SEEM TO BE
THE ONE I ALWAYS CALL WHEN I
NEED HELP WITH OUR LIBRARIES.
YOU HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM. THANK
YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO
YOUR CITY.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY? THANK
YOU FOR THE BOOK. I HAVE TO
SAY IT'S ONE PERK OF BEING A
CITY COUNCILMEMBER IS EVERY
YEAR I GET A FREE BOOK OF WHAT
WE ARE READING AND I ACTUALLY
READ WHEN THE EMPEROR WAS
DIVINE , YEARS AGO. SO, THANK
YOU FOR THAT. IS THERE
ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, DO YOU
WANT TO CLOSE US OUT ON THIS?
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR
PARTNERS AT THE LIBRARY FOR
COMING HERE AND GIVING THAT
PRESENTATION. HAVING THE
LIBRARY IN MY COMMITTEE IS A
TROOP PLEASURE AS A LIFELONG
PATRON AND SUPPORTER OF YOUR
WORK. THANKS FOR COMING AND
SHARING THAT WITH US THIS
AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. WE WILL
MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA. I
UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A CHANGE
APPEAR. I UNDERSTAND,
YESTERDAY, WE HAD A
PROCLAMATION FOR APRIL 6th TO
BE SEJAL DAY. SO,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I'M
GOING TO HAND THE FLOOR OVER TO
YOU TO GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE .
>> SOUNDS GOOD. I WANT TO THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR
ADDING YOUR NAME TO OUR
CLLEAGUES WHO HAVE UNANIMOUSLY
ADDED THEIR NAMES TO HONOR
SEJAL PARIKH , CHIEF OF STAFF
IN OUR OFFICE AND STRATEGIC
MIND AND MASTER ON PUBLIC
POLICY CRAFTING OF THE LAST
FIVE, GOING INTO SIX YEARS ON
BEHALF OF MY TEAM AND REALLY
ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY AND OUR
CITY'S RESIDENCE. WE ARE SO
THRILLED THAT SHE HAS CHOSEN
TO WORK IN PUBLIC POLICY TO
ADVANCE LABOR STANDARDS, AND TO
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
FOUGHT FOR ADDITIONAL
TRANSPARENCY ON ACCOUNTABILITY
ON OUR BUDGET. YESTERDAY, I
READ A NUMBER OF HER
ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY , WORKING FAMILIES,
AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND
FOLKS, I REALLY APPRECIATE
EVERYBODY SIGNING ON TO THE
PROCLAMATION. WE HAVE ALSO
RECEIVED THE SIGNATURE FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND WE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW
SEJAL'S BIG PUSH ON POLICY
IDEAS AND THE WORK SHE HAS DONE
ON BRINGING TOGETHER DIVERSE
COALITIONS HAS LED TO SHAKING
THINGS UP, PUSHING AGAINST THE
STATUS QUO, CREATING HISTORY ,
NOT JUST WITHIN OUR CITY BUT
ACROSS THE NATION ON THE
POLICIES THAT SHE HAS HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEARHEAD AND I
AM SO EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO HONOR HER WORK WITH US
AND HER TENURE AT THE CITY
FROM 4:00 TO 6:00 IN GEORGETOWN
AND WE WILL BE PRESENTING HER
OFFICIALLY WITH THE SEJAL
PARIKH DAY PROCLAMATION SIGNED
BY OUR COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR
THIS THURSDAY. THERE'S GOING TO
BE A HANDFUL OF FOLKS WHO WILL
ALSO BE MAKING COMMENTS ON THAT
DAY IN GEORGETOWN BUT I WOULD
INVITE ANYBODY WHO IS NOT ABLE
TO COME WITH US THAT DAY OR
WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING
OFFICIALLY HERE TODAY TO DO SO,
BUT JUST KNOW THAT THERE IS
MORE CELEBRATION AND MORE WORDS
OF APPRECIATION FOR SEJAL TO
COME ON THURSDAY AS WE PRESENT
THIS PROCLAMATION TO HER ON HER
OFFICIAL DAY, HER LAST DAY,
APRIL 6th.
>> I'M SORRY I WASN'T HERE
YESTERDAY. I THINK -- WELL,
THE BEST THING ABOUT SEJAL,
SHE IS A MICHIGAN WOLVERINE,
SO THAT'S HOW WE BOND DURING
FOOTBALL. SO, I HOPE SEJAL IS
WATCHING SO I CAN APPROPRIATELY
EMBARRASS HER. I'M GOING TO
MISS HER BUT I KNOW SHE'S NOT
GOING FAR AND SHE WILL STILL BE
IN OUR SEATTLE FAMILY MAKING
SURE POLICY AND OTHER GOOD
THINGS HAPPEN TO OUR GREAT
CITY. SO, I WILL LEAVE IT AT
THAT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE
BEFORE I MOVE ON?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> I WILL MAKE IT SUPER QUICK.
I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO
SHARE MY APPRECIATION YESTERDAY
AND AM GOING TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY NOW. IT'S BEEN SUCH
A FANTASTIC LEADER HELPING
WORKERS RAISE THEIR VOICES AND
FIGHT FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
SHE HAS WORKED ON SCORES OF
POLICIES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN
MORE FAIRNESS FOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE AND I MOST CLOSELY
WORKED WITH SEJAL EVEN BEFORE
SHE CAME TO THE CITY WHEN SHE
LED LEADER STAKEHOLDER
ADVOCACY IN SUCCESSFULLY
PASSING SEATTLE SECURE
SCHEDULING LAW. ONE OF THE
FIRST IN THE NATION. THIS LAW
HAS RESULTED IN NEARLY $6
MILLION IN THE POCKETS OF
NEARLY 50,000 SEATTLE WORKERS.
SEJAL NOT ONLY GROUNDS HER
WORK BY CENTERING WORKERS
VOICES, SHE DOES SO WITH
INTEGRITY, TENACITY, AND
SOMETIMES, WITH FUN . I KNOW
THAT I, LIKE MANY OF US, AM SO
EXCITED TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES
NEXT AND NO DOUBT HER WORK WILL
CONTINUE TO DRIVE SEATTLE
CLOSER TO GOVERNING WITH
POLICIES THAT MORE CLOSELY
MATCH OUR VALUES AS A CITY.
THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT'S A LOT OF
WORDS FOR SEJAL. I HOPE SHE IS
WATCHING. WITH THAT, LET'S
MOVE ON IN OUR AGENDA TO OUR
NEXT . YOU HAVE A
PROCLAMATION, TO MAKE APRIL
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.
I WILL SEE IF ANYONE HAS
COMMENTS THEN MOVED TO SUSPEND
THE RULES TO ALLOW OUR GUESTS
TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION AND
PROVIDE COMMENT. GO AHEAD.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND COLLEAGUES FOR JOINING ME
AND MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL FOR
DECLARING APRIL SEXUAL ASSAULT
AWARENESS MONTH. WE ALSO HAVE
-- IN CHAMBERS TODAY TO OFFER
HER REMARKS AND MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION TO
ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION IN
PERSON. THANK YOU, EVERYONE,
FOR BEING HERE. BEING THERE.
THIS YEAR'S SEXUAL ASSAULT
AWARENESS THEME IS DRAWING
CONNECTIONS, PREVENTION
DEMANDS EQUITY. COMMUNITIES,
ORGANIZATIONS, AND
INSTITUTIONS, TO LIFT OURSELVES
UP AND ALSO LIFT UP THE SYSTEM
SURROUNDING US TO BUILD RACIAL
EQUITY AND RESPECT. CALL TO
ACTION ISSUED BY THE SEATTLE
COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESEARCH
CENTER FOR THIS MONTH IS THAT
-- ARE CALLING OUR COMMUNITY
TO -- PEOPLE WHO ACTIVELY TAKE
STEPS TO PREVENT SEXUAL
VIOLENCE. YOU DON'T NEED A
SUPERHERO CAPE TO STAND UP TO
SEXUAL VIOLENCE. AN UP
STANDER IS AN ALLY. SOMEONE
WHO HELPS ANOTHER PERSON WHO
IS TOO INCAPACITATED TO FIND A
SAFE WAY HOME AFTER A PARTY.
AND IF SOMEONE TELLS YOU
THEY'VE BEEN A VICTIM OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT, YOU CAN BE AN
UPSTANDER BY LISTENING WITHOUT
JUDGMENT, BEING SUPPORTIVE, AND
SHARING A 24 HOUR RESOURCE
LINE FOR FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL
HELP AND INFORMATION.
ANSWERING THAT CALL RIGHT HERE
, TODAY, BECAUSE WE KNOW, SADLY
THAT MANY PEOPLE LISTENING
TODAY HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL
ASSAULT . IF YOU ARE SEEKING
HELP FOR YOURSELF, A FRIEND,
FAMILY MEMBER, OR ANYONE ELSE
THAT YOU KNOW, THE RESOURCE
LINE IS 888- 998- 6423 . OR GO
TO --.ORG. JUST WANT TO ALSO
REMARK THAT DENIM DAY FALLS ON
APRIL 26th THIS YEAR. REMINDER
TO FOLKS TO WEAR DENIM AS A
MEANS OF PROTESTING AGAINST THE
MISCONCEPTIONS OF SEXUAL
VIOLENCE. AND I AM SO GRATEFUL
TO THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSION
REPRESENTATIVES AND CHRISTINA
FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO SHARE
THEIR REMARKS ABOUT SEXUAL
ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH AND
THANK YOU TO MY VICE CHAIR.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. HE IS
DOING DOUBLE DUTY TODAY ON
PROCLAMATIONS. I APPRECIATE YOU
. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. IS THERE ANYONE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANY
COMMENTS BEFORE I MOVE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES? I AM NOT
SEEING ANY. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, COUNSEL RULES WILL
BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW OUR
GUESTS. AND I'M GUESSING THEY
WILL ALL INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
AGAIN. NOT HEARING AN
OBJECTION, COUNSEL RULES ARE
SUSPENDED. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
I GET THIS RIGHT. WE HAVE TONYA
FROM HSD. WE HAVE SARAH LIU
FROM THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION AND ALSO CHRISTINA.
CORRECT? ALL THREE? YES?
>> THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> OKAY. GREAT. NOW THAT WE
HAVE SUSPENDED THE RULES, OUR
GUESTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION AND
PROVIDE REMARKS. THIS WOULD BE
YOUR OPPORTUNITY NOW. YOU ARE
NOW RECOGNIZED.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA'S OF ITS
KEY AND I AM ONE OF THE
CO-CHAIRS ON THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION. AND WITH
THAT, TO REALLY SAY THANK YOU
BECAUSE INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES ARE ANYWHERE FROM
THREE TO SEVEN TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SEXUAL
ASSAULT IN OUR COMMUNITY AS
WELL AS STRUGGLE WITH BEING
SERIOUSLY TAKEN BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS MEDICAL
PERSONNEL AND WE ALSO HAVE
MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO
STRUGGLE WITH THE ABILITY TO
EVEN REPORT SUCH INSTANCES LIKE
OUR INDIVIDUALS AND FRIENDS IN
THE DEAF LINED COMMUNITY. SO,
THIS PROCLAMATION IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO THE DISABILITY
COMMISSION AND THE AWARENESS
THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT REALLY DOES
STRIKE HOME WITH OUR MEMBERS
WITH DISABILITIES IN THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH TODAY FOR HAVING ME
AND FOR THE PROCLAMATION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST WANT
TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A
TOUGH SUBJECT. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER WORE AS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP . THANK YOU TO
CHAIR HER BOLD FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN THE WORK WE DO
TOGETHER BEHIND-THE-SCENES AS
WELL AS IN COMMUNITY AND OF
COURSE, VICE CHAIR LEWIS FOR
HANDING US THE PROCLAMATION.
AND FOR YOUR WORK AND BEING A
CHAMPION. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO HUMANIZE THE WORK FOR ALL
THESE ROOT REASONS. THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION,
DISABILITY SERVICES -- EXCUSE
ME DISABILITY COMMISSION ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT LEADERS IN
PROVIDING VOICE. THE REASON I
CAME IN PERSON TODAY FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC
IS BECAUSE THE HUMAN SERVICE
DEPARTMENT IS VERY COMMITTED TO
THIS WORK AND WE KNOW THAT
THROUGH OUR FUNDING AND POLICY
WORK BUT AS A LEADER IN THIS
SPACE I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT I AM PERSONALLY COMMITTED
AS WELL. IT IMPACTS ALL OF US
IN SOME WAY, WHETHER DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY. IT DOESN'T
MATTER YOUR GENDER, YOUR AGE,
WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE WORLD --
UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ALL ARE
ADDRESSING AND WE NEED TO
COMBAT . ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS MAKING
SURE THAT, AS YOU SAID SO
BEAUTIFULLY , THAT PEOPLE ARE
EDUCATED AND THAT WE STAND UP
AND VOICE THAT VIOLENCE IS
NOT OKAY. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
IT'S NOT OKAY. AND SO, WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT A PROCLAMATION OR
AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEAR DENIM ,
AND I'M PREVIEWING PART OF MY
OUTFIT FOR YOU, A LITTLE EARLY,
AS INSPIRATION. IT'S REALLY
BECAUSE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
PROMOTE THIS. AND IT'S A
CONVERSATION STARTER AND IF WE
CAN SPUR THAT CONVERSATION AND
BUILD THE CONFIDENCE IN PEOPLE
ASKING FOR HELP OR SEEKING
RESOURCES, THEN , WE'VE DONE
SOMETHING GOOD TOGETHER AND WE
HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. I WANT
TO MENTION PART OF THE WORK
THAT HSD IS DOING OUTSIDE OF
FUNDING. WE ARE GOING TO BE
LIFTING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE PART OF THAT .
I'M NOT A HASHTAG PERSON SO I'M
GOING TO HAVE TO READ THIS IT I
KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT. THE
HASHTAG HSD BELIEVES
SURVIVORS. I APPRECIATE WHAT
YOU SAID THAT WE NEED TO
LISTEN AND BE AVAILABLE AND
BELIEVE . UNDERSCORING ONE
MORE TIME, APRIL IS THE MONTH.
BUT APRIL 26th IS WHEN WE CAN
WEAR DENIM SO THAT WE CAN SPUR
THAT CONVERSATION AND WITH
THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KIM.
DID WE HAVE ANOTHER GUEST? NO?
>> I THINK THAT IS ALL WE'VE
GOT FOR TODAY. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU FOR -- WAS IT
CHRISTINA? AND TONYA ? AND
DIRECTOR KIM? THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US TODAY.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I KNOW
YOU DO THIS EVERY YEAR AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. IT SHOULD
DO MORE THAN JUST ONCE A YEAR
AND A MONTH. AND I'M JUST GOING
TO SAY THIS IN ALL CANDID . YOU
AND I ARE LITTLE BIT OLDER SO
WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE HISTORY
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND VIOLENCE
AND HOW IT WENT FROM NOT BEING
REPORTED TO BEING A MISDEMEANOR
TO FINALLY BEING A FELONY TO
HAVING THESE OPERATIONAL
DISCUSSIONS WITH SPD ON
TRAFFICKING AND THE ISSUES
BEHIND THE SCENES. I WANT TO
THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS
BRING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT.
SOMETIMES I TEASE YOU ABOUT
DENIM DAY BUT I KNOW IT COMES
FROM A GOOD PLACE AND I LOVE
THAT YOU REMIND US ABOUT THIS
ALL THE TIME ESPECIALLY NOW
THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH A LOT
OF TRAFFICKING WITH CHILDREN
AND THE INTERNET. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS FOR MY COLLEAGUES? IS
THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO END
WITH, COUNCILMEMBER, BEFORE WE
MOVE ON?
>> I DON'T THINK I COULD TOP
THE COMMENTS BY YOURSELF,
MADAM PRESIDENT OR OUR GUESTS
TODAY. WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO OUR
GUESTS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON
TO PUBLIC COMMENT. MADAM CLERK,
HOW MANY FOLKS DO WE HAVE
SIGNED UP REMOTELY AND HOW MANY
IN CHAMBERS?
>> WE HAVE 15 REMOTE SPEAKERS
AND TWO IN CHAMBERS.
>> OKAY. LET'S START WITH
EVERYBODY GETTING TWO MINUTES
AND WE WILL ALLOW OUR FOLKS ,
OUR VISITORS IN PERSON,
SPEAKERS TO SPEAK FIRST. WE
WILL TAKE THE FIRST TWO
SPEAKERS IN CHAMBERS AND THEN
GO TO OUR REMOTE COLLARS.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IN
CHAMBERS IS LLOYD ELLIOTT .
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ. PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
I LIVE IN DES MOINES'S,
WASHINGTON. I AM A LIFELONG
SEATTLE RESIDENT. WENT TO
SCHOOL HERE AT THE U DUB. I
GOT A LOT OF LOVE FOR SEATTLE.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
SUPPORT IN THESE PROCLAMATIONS
THAT ARE MAKING THEIR WAY
THROUGH THE SAILOR SEE
COMMUNITY. IT STARTED IN FORT
TOWNSEND IN DECEMBER 2022. THEY
WERE THE FIRST CITY TO ADAPT
THIS PROCLAMATION AND IT
RECOGNIZES LEGAL RIGHTS FOR THE
RESIDENT ORCA'S. AND IT WAS
FOLLOWED BY LANGLEY, HARBOR,
AND MY CURRENT HOME CITY OF
DES MOINES'S. THE ORIGINAL IDEA
CAME FROM LEGAL RIGHTS OF THE
SAILOR SEE , A LOCAL
ORGANIZATION AND LAW CENTER
AND IT BASICALLY ASKED FOR
SUPPORT FOR THE SOUTHERN
RESIDENTS WHO NEED A LOT OF
HELP THESE DAYS. THEY ARE AN
ENDANGERED SPECIES AND WE ARE
TRYING TO BUILD THAT SUPPORT. I
BELIEVE THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY
BECAUSE THE CITY OF SEATTLE
LEAVES A SPACE THE SEATTLE
AQUARIUM AND THE DIRECTOR OF
THE AQUARIUM -- DECIMATED
THE SOUTHERN RESIDENTS. THEY
VIOLENTLY TOOK 50 OF THEIR
BABIES. THEY DROWNED FOUR OF
THEM AND TRIED TO BURY THEM
WITH CHAINS AND ROCKS SO NOBODY
WOULD SEE THEM AND THAT'S THE
MAIN REASON WHY THEY ARE ON THE
ENDANGERED LIST RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE VERY SLOW BREEDING AND
THEY DIDN'T RECOVER TOO WELL.
THERE IS ONE LEFT. THE REST
DIED IN CAPTIVITY. YOU'VE
PROBABLY SEEN THE NEWS. THEY
ARE MAKING A BIG EFFORT TO --
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE
NATION WHO HAVE GIFTED ME THIS
LINK IT HERE. I'M LEARNING A
LITTLE BIT WITH THIS EFFORT
AND FOR THESE PROCLAMATIONS AS
WELL AND WE ASK FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST IN
PERSON SPEAKER IS MARGUERITE
RYSZARD.
>> MY NAME IS MARGUERITE AND I
JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AM IN
SYMPATHY RIGHT NOW OF ELIJAH
LEWIS AND HIS FAMILY WITH THE
DEATH THAT HAPPENED ON CAPITOL
HILL KNOWN AS CAPITAL KILLED.
HE WAS KILLED UP THERE AND HIS
NEPHEW WAS WOUNDED. GETTING
DOWN TO BRASS TACKS, WHICH IS
THE ASPECT OF THIS CIVIL
RIGHTS APPOINTMENT , I THINK I
MAY NEED TO SAY SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T
SEEM TO GET IT. I THINK IT'S
BECAUSE SO MUCH RACISM AND
DISCRIMINATION AND THEM NOT
SHOWING OUR FACE . HE HAD SUCH
A BEAUTIFUL BLANKET. IT WAS
EVEN DESERVING OF BEING ON THE
SCREEN. BUT THEY DONE WIPED OUR
FACES OUT FOR COMING UP IN
HERE UNLESS YOU ARE A
PRIVILEGED CHARACTER. SO WHY
DO WE NEED A CIVIL RIGHTS
OFFICE AND ANYBODY APPOINTED
DOWN THERE IF WE CAN'T EVEN
GET OUR BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS?
IT'S RIDICULOUS. EVEN OVER
THERE AT THE KING COUNTY
COURTHOUSE IN THE CHAMBERS,
THEY MUTE YOU FOR YOUR FREE
SPEECH. YOU ARE NOT SEEING
ANYTHING WRONG BUT THEY CUT
YOUR MIC OFF. WHAT IS THIS
INSANITY? IT'S TIME FOR YOU
YOUNG PEOPLE TO RISE UP, JUST
LIKE THEY DID IN THE 60s. THIS
IS RIDICULOUS WHAT THEY ARE
DOING IN THIS TOWN. THIS IS
RIDICULOUS AND I'M GOING TO
CONTINUOUSLY SPEAK OUT AGAINST
IT BECAUSE IT'S WRONG, OKAY?
YOU'VE GOT FOLK UP IN HERE,
ALL KIND OF ILLNESSES .
WHATEVER ILLNESS THAT YOU WANT
TO CALL AN ILLNESS, PEOPLE ARE
SUFFERING FROM IT RIGHT NOW AND
THE PANDEMIC DIDN'T HELP NONE.
BUT I'M HERE TO LET YOU KNOW,
YOU BETTER NEVER RUN UP ON ME.
YOU BETTER NOT RUN UP ON
NOTHING THAT I OWN. THAT'S MY
FAMILY AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT IS
CLOSE TO ME BECAUSE A LOT OF
PEOPLE -- NEXT TIME.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR
REMOTE SPEAKERS. OUR FIRST
REMOTE SPEAKER THAT IS SIGNED
UP AND LISTED AS PRESENT IS
BRETT -- AND A REMINDER FOR
YOUR REMOTE COLIN SPEAKERS,
YOU WILL NEED TO PRESS ÷6 TO
SPEAK.
>> HELLO. AM I COMING THROUGH?
>> YEP.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, I AM
BROOKE . I AM THE LGBTQ
COMMISSIONER AND CO-CHAIR BUT
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR I'M
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF
TODAY NOT THE COMMISSION. HERE
TO TALK ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT
OF DEREK WHEELER SMITH FOR OCR
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I
OPPOSE THE APPOINTMENT OF HIM
UNTIL HE HAS TAKEN
ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISPLAYED
TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION AND
SUPPORT FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK
WE DO. CRITICAL CONNECTIONS
BETWEEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. OUR LAST
DIRECTOR UNDERSTOOD THIS AND
COMMUNICATED WITH US REGULARLY
TO SPEEDILY ADDRESS OUR
FEEDBACK . ON THE OTHER HAND,
MR. LOUIS SMITH HAS ATTENDED
ONE OF OUR MEETINGS WHERE HE
GAVE VAGUE ANSWERS TO MY
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE
COULD COLLABORATE WITH HIS
OFFICE AND HAS NEVER EMAILED US
DIRECTLY. IN FEBRUARY, THE
SEATTLE COMMISSION HOSTED A
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT .
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF WHEELER
SMITH PREVENTED ANOTHER CITY
DEPARTMENT FROM ADVERTISING FOR
OUR COMMUNITY EVENT AND TWO
DAYS BEFORE THE EVENT LOST
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING
FROM ONE OF OUR SPONSORS. MR.
WHEELER SMITH DID THIS WITHOUT
CONTACTING US DIRECTLY TO
EXPLAIN WHY HE PULLED THE
ADVERTISING AND BUDGETING AND
WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE
THE ISSUES WITH US. GIVEN THIS
UNDERMINING OF HIS OWN
COMMISSION AND LACK OF
TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION
I ASKED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
NOT APPOINT MR. WHEELER SMITH
UNTIL OR UNLESS HE HAS
CORRECTED THESE WRONGS. THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS OLIVIA.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YEP. GO AHEAD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS OLIVIA AND
I'VE COME BEFORE YOU TO SPEAK
IN SUPPORT OF DERRICK WHEELER
SMITH AS THE PERMANENT DIRECTOR
. IF YOU KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT
CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL 18 YEARS
AGO, YOU KNOW THAT IT WASN'T A
PLACE OF SUCCESS THAT IT IS
KNOWN AS TODAY. AND ALTHOUGH
IT WAS FULL OF EXCELLENCE AT
THAT TIME, MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T
SEE IT THAT WAY. I'M SO
GRATEFUL THAT DERRICK WHEELER
SMITH DID. HE CAME INTO MY LIFE
18 YEARS AGO. I WAS A
14-YEAR-OLD FRESHMAN AT
CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL. JOINED
THE BASKETBALL TEAM AND THE
COACH HAD TAKEN ON WHAT MANY
PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS AN
IMPOSSIBLE TASK. THE TASK OF
BEING ABLE TO SEE EXCELLENCE IN
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM THAT
FRANKLY HAD BEEN FORGOTTEN. BUT
THAT IS ONE OF HIS UNIQUE GIFTS
AS A LEADER. SEEING EXCELLENCE
AND DRAWING IT OUT OF
UNEXPECTED PLACES AND DOIG SO
WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS WILLING TO
TAKE ON SUCH A DAUNTING TASK.
SO DERRICK CAME TO CLEVELAND
TO COACH A GROUP OF GIRLS WHO
HAD NO PROSPECTS OF MAKING
HISTORY OR WINNING A FIRST
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL
GAME. OUR MORALITY WOULDN'T
EVEN LET US BELIEVE THAT WE
COULD REACH SUCH HEIGHTS. BUT
DERRICK BROUGHT AN EVO'S THAT
WAS CONTAGIOUS AND ENOUGH TO
MAKE -- THIS IS ABOUT MORE
THAN BASKETBALL. THAT WAS MY
FIRST INTERACTION WITH DERRICK
BUT HE WASN'T JUST TEACHING US
SKILLS AND DRILLS BUT ABOUT
LIFE AND LEADERSHIP AND
COMPASSION, SELF-LOVE, AND
COMMUNITY. I COULD GO ON. SO,
DERRICK HAS BEEN A MENTOR TO ME
AND MENTOR TO MANY OTHERS IN
THE CITY. IT'S CLEAR THAT
DERRICK HAS WORKED TO BE IN A
POSITION TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
THIS ROLE AND IS QUALIFIED TO
BE ABLE TO DO SO. AND I KNOW
THAT HE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF HE
DIDN'T SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR
EXCELLENCE AND SO, WITH THAT I
CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER
CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION. I
STRESS DERRICK COULD HANDLE
THE MANTLE OF THIS ROLE WITH
COURAGE, HUMANITY AND
COMPASSION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CLAUDIA PANETTA.
>> FOLKS, LISTEN FOR THE
CHIME. WE HATE CUTTING PEOPLE
OFF. WHEN YOU HEAR THE CHIME
YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS. I KNOW
WHEN THE COLLAR IS CALLING, IF
THEY ARE NOT LISTENING FOR THE
CHIME, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU GET
CUT OFF. IF YOU COULD PAY
ATTENTION TO THAT, THAT WOULD
BE GREAT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
CLAUDIA.
>> HELLO, FOLKS. HI,
EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS
CLAUDIA. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF
WORKING WITH DERRICK WHEELER
SMITH AT KING COUNTY TOWARDS
THE INITIATIVE OF -- AND I AM
HERE TO SPEAK TO SUPPORT HIS
APPOINTMENT AS DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS OF
SEATTLE. DURING THE TIME THAT I
WORKED WITH DERRICK, WE WORKED
IN A VERY DIFFICULT ,
POLITICALLY TENSE ,
CONTROVERSIAL ENVIRONMENT, AND
IT WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
TO WORK WITH A MAN WHO I SAW
WAS WILLING TO WALK IN
INTEGRITY WITH HIS VALUES AND
THE THINGS THAT HE PROMOTED.
IN WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT AND
LEADERSHIP, THESE ROLES ARE
VERY DIFFICULT TO WALK. BEING
A BLACK MAN, I WATCHED HOW
DERRICK WAS CONSTANTLY WALKING
ON FINE LINES AND I LEARNED TO
ADMIRE HIS COURAGE AND RESPECT
HIM AS A MENTOR. ANOTHER THING
THAT I LOVED ABOUT HIS
LEADERSHIP IS THAT HE BALANCES
COMPASSION AND INTELLECTUALISM
EXCEPTIONALLY. HE IS WELL
READ AND HE KNOWS THE SUBJECT
MATTER OF RACE EQUITY. HE ALSO
KNOWS HOW TO PUT IT INTO
PRACTICE AND, AT THE SAME TIME,
HE BALANCES THAT WITH HIS
APPROACH AS A COMPASSIONATE
LEADER. I RESPECT AND ADMIRE
DERRICK. I THINK THAT HE
HANDLES SITUATIONS EXTREMELY
WELL AND I ALSO THINK THAT HE
IS --
>> LOST HER.
>> HELLO? IF SHE CALLS BACK
WILL GIVE HER ANOTHER --
>> THE COLLAR HAS DROPPED OFF.
SORRY.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE DO
HAVE CHRISTINA IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK. CAN WE FINISH THAT UP?
>> ABSOLUTELY. HELLO,
CHRISTINA. ABSOLUTELY. LET HER
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. SHE IS
SPEAKING TO THE PROCLAMATION,
CORRECT?
>> I'M NOT SURE BUT SHE WILL
USE HER TWO MINUTES OF PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I'M SPEAKING
ABOUT WHAT HAS JUST BEEN
RECENTLY DISCUSSED. EXCUSE ME.
MR. WHEELER SMITH. AS AN
INDIVIDUAL ON THE DISABILITY
COMMISSION I HAVE TRIED FOR
MONTHS TO REACH MR. WHEELER
SMITH AND AFTER I HAD TO GO
THROUGH A MORE PUBLIC CHANNEL
OF EMAILS SAYING I CAN'T REACH
HIM DID I GET ANY CALL BACK.
HE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WELL
VERSED IN THE WAY OF
DISABILITY AND DISABILITY
MATTERS. HE HAS BEEN TO OUR
COMMISSION ONCE, WHEREAS I
HAVE BEEN ON THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION AS A
MEMBER OR SOMEBODY WATCHING IN
FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS NOW. AND
OUR FORMER DIRECTOR AT LEAST
CAME OUT FOUR OR FIVE OR SIX
TIMES A YEAR AND PARTICIPATED
IN OUR EVENT AND MAINTAINED
THAT COMMUNICATION WITH US
THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN WITH MR.
WHEELER SMITH, AND I FEEL THAT
, AT THIS POINT, HE WOULD NOT
BE A WELL-SUITED FIT FOR US
AT THE DISABILITY COMMISSION
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T REACH OUT.
HE DOESN'T PARTICIPATE WITH US.
WE DON'T HEAR FROM HIM AND WE
DON'T HEAR FROM HIM AT ALL.
FRANKLY, FOR US AT THE
DISABILITY COMMISSION, IT DOES
NOT SEEM TO BE A GOOD FIT. HE
MIGHT HAVE SOME GOOD SKILLS ON
RACIAL EQUITY BUT DISABILITY
EQUITY AND DISABILITY SOCIAL
JUSTICE IS ALSO EQUALLY
IMPORTANT HERE IN SEATTLE. SO
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE BACK INTO
OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS. THE NEXT
REMOTE SPEAKER WILL BE PATTY
HAYES. REMINDER TO PLEASE PRESS
STAR STICKS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS
PATTY HAYES AND I AM CALLING
IN TO SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT
OF DERRICK WHEELER SMITH. AS
THE COUNCIL KNOWS, I HAVE
WORKED WITH DERRICK AS A
SUPERVISOR WHEN HE WAS AT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM .
I REALLY THINK HE IS A LEADER
IN COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.
THERE WERE IDEAS BROUGHT
FORWARD IN A COURAGEOUS VOICE
AND THE ABILITY TO INSPIRE
AND BRING SOUND ANALYSIS . HE
BUILT A REGIONAL APPROACH TO
GUN VIOLENCE FROM SCRATCH AND
THAT APPROACH WAS SO WELL
THOUGHT OF THAT THE WHITE
HOUSE ACTUALLY INVITED HIM TO
THE TABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
CONSORTIUM. IN 2020, I, ALONG
WITH EXECUTIVE -- DECLARED
RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS AND DERRICK WAS PART OF
THE TEAM AND AN INTEGRAL PART
OF MAPPING OUT THE INITIAL
STEPS THAT THE COUNTY TOOK AS
PART OF THAT DECLARATION AND
THAT IS UP WITH THE $25 MILLION
FUNDING INVESTING IN THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHER
EFFORTS THAT CONTINUE TO THIS
DAY. I BELIEVE DERRICK CAN
PROVE TO BE A BRIDGE AND AN
ASSET AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT
IN THIS POLARIZING TIME. WE'VE
ALREADY SEEN SOME THINGS IN
THIS FIRST YEAR OF IMPACT HE
HAS HAD AND IT IS WITH
CONFIDENCE THAT I SUPPORT HIS
CONFIRMATION . THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD TO HEAR FROM
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHARON.
>> SHARON? I SEE SHARON --
>> SHE IS PRESENT BUT SHE IS
MUTED.
>> ÷6. I SEE HER TILE.
SHARON, WHAT WE WILL DO IS GO
TO THE NEXT CALLER AND THEN
WE WILL TAKE YOU WHEN YOU GET
ONLINE. GO AHEAD WITH THE NEXT
CALLER.
>> OUR NEXT CALLER IS SEAN
GOOD. SEAN?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO CALL IN. I'M
GOING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
DERRICK AYLER SMITH FOR THIS
APPOINTMENT. OVER THE COURSE
OF MY LIFE I'VE HAD THE
PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH HIM IN A
VARIETY OF CAPACITIES. IN
ADDITION TO THE LAST DECADE OR
SO THAT I'VE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING CLOSELY
WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
AND SEATTLE AND ONE OF THE
GREATEST CHALLENGES IS ALL OF
YOU ARE SO WELL ACQUAINTED AND
THERE IS THIS ACCOUNTABILITY TO
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE COUNCIL
AND THE DUALITY OF THIS ROLE
THAT REQUIRES THE PERSON IN IT
TO HOLD THE MESSY MIDDLE AND
STAND IN THE TENSION OF IT ALL
AND DO IT WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF
INTEGRITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
IS FRUSTRATING ME THE MOST
TIMES ABOUT DERRICK AND ONE OF
THE THINGS I AM MOST
APPRECIATIVE ABOUT. THERE HAVE
BEEN MANY MOMENTS WHERE I
WANTED HIM TO MOVE MORE
AGGRESSIVELY TOWARD THE AGENDA
THAT I HELD TO BE TRUE AND HE
CONSISTENTLY BROUGHT ME BACK TO
A PLACE OF COMPROMISE AND
UNDERSTANDING AND
RECONCILIATION THAT ALLOWED US
TO MOVE FORWARD AS A COLLECTIVE
BODY, COLLECTIVE US, AND A WAY
THAT GALVANIZED INSTEAD OF
TORE APART . IT'S
CHARACTERISTIC THAT DERRICK
HOLDS THIS ABILITY TO STAND AT
ATTENTION THAT I THINK MOST
APPROPRIATELY RIGHTLY FITS HIM
TO LEAD IN THIS WAY. AND I
WILL ALSO ECHO SOME OF THE
SENTIMENTS OF THE PREVIOUS
FOLKS WHO OFFERED TESTIMONY
THAT DERRICK IS ABSOLUTELY
PROFICIENT IN DIVERSITY,
EQUITY INCLUSION EFFORTS AND HE
IS INCREDIBLY WELL READ
INDIVIDUAL WHO IS MORE THAN
ADAPT AT STUDYING UP ON THE
AREAS THAT HE HAS LESS
INFORMATION ON TO BE ABLE TO
HELP BRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE
INTO THE SPACE TO MAKE
DECISIONS THAT BENEFIT A BROAD
COLLECTIVE GROUP OF
INDIVIDUALS. OUR CITY IS BETTER
WITH DERRICK WHEELER SMITH AT
THIS POST AND I'M GRATEFUL
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
SOMEONE LIKE HIM SERVING IN
THIS WAY. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD
MULLEN. RICHARD?
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
RICHARD MULLEN AND I APPRECIATE
BEING HERE TODAY. I SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF DERRICK WHEELER
SMITH. I AM AN AFRICAN-AMERICA
N MAN. I AM A BUSINESS OWNER
AND ENTREPRENEUR AND -- BUT
TODAY I WANT TO SPEAK ON
DERRICK, THE PERSON. WHEN I SEE
DERRICK, THE HUSBAND, WHEN I
SEE DERRICK, THE FATHER , WHEN
I SEE DERRICK, THE BROTHER AND
FRIEND, I SEE A PERSON AND I
HAVE EXPERIENCED A PERSON OF
INTEGRITY. OF GREAT CONVICTION.
AND, TRULY, A LOVE FOR ALL
PEOPLE. I THINK, IN OUR
CONVERSATIONS THROUGHOUT THE
YEARS, THE TENSION THAT I FIND
IS DERRICK IS WILLING TO GO
INTO THE DEEP END OF
CONVERSATIONS AND DEFEND
PEOPLE THAT INDIVIDUALS MAY
DISCARD OR DISAGREE WITH. I
FIND DERRICK THERE ON DEFENSE
FOR THEM. I'VE SEEN IT IN OTHER
DEBATES AND CONVERSATIONS. HE
AND I HAVE HAD SPIRITED DEBATES
AND CONVERSATIONS AND I CAN SAY
THAT HE IS A PERSON WHO DOES
LOVE ALL HUMAN BEINGS . AND I
FEEL CONFIDENT THAT HE IS
SUITED TO WALK FORWARD AS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS. I'M CONFIDENT.
MY FAMILY IS CONFIDENT THAT HE
IS SOMEONE THAT WE NEED AT
THAT PLACE AND ON THAT PLATFORM
. I'M HONORED TO NOTE HIM. I'M
HONORED TO STAND BY HIM. AND I
APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME HERE
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHARON.
>> SHARON, IT IS ÷6. THERE YOU
GO.
>> I'M SHARON , GIVING
WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT FOR YOUR
CONFIRMATION OF DERRICK WHEELER
SMITH AS DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. I'VE
WITNESSED HIS LIFE OF JUSTICE
FOR THE RESTORATION AND
STRIVING OF OUR BEAUTIFUL
BELOVED COMMUNITY. I MET
DERRICK 25 YEARS AGO . HE CAME
ALLIED ALONGSIDE STUDENTS. HE
LEADS WITH BRILLIANCE AND
BRINGS LIFE TO THOSE SERVED
FOR THEIR AND OUR COMMUNITIES
LONG-TERM GAIN. YOUTH WOUNDED
BY TRAUMA HAD PREVIOUS
HISTORIES WITH ADULTS MAKING
DECISIONS TO PUT THEM OUT,
STATING THEY HAD NO FUTURE.
DERRICK'S ACUTE VISION SEES
BEYOND THE EVIDENCE TO THE
GREATNESS WITHIN THAT YEARNS
FOR RELEASE. MICHELANGELO
SAID, I SAW AN ANGEL IN THE
MARBLE AND CARVED UNTIL I SET
HIM FREE. DERRICK CAN LEASE
YOUTH INTO NEW LIFE AND NEW
FUTURE. HE DOESN'T GET MIRED
IN WHAT IS WRONG. HE
STRATEGICALLY DIRECTS TIME,
ENERGY, AND STAKEHOLDERS TO
BUILD WHAT IS RIGHT. NATIONAL
PROGRAMS, RACIAL EQUITY. HE IS
NOW POISED TO BRING HIS KEEN
WISDOM, INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP ,
AND COLLABORATIVE WORK TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. DERRICK'S
INTEGRITY EMBODIES ALL THAT IS
GOOD, EXCELLENT, HONORABLE,
RIGHT, AND PRAISEWORTHY. HE
WILL ENGAGE YOU AND THE CITY AT
THAT LEVEL. YOUR DECISION TO
CONFIRM DERRICK WHEELER SMITH
WILL HAVE IMMEDIATE IMPACT AND
LONG-TERM RESULTS TO LIVE THAT
RIALTO REALITY OF ONE SEATTLE.
A THRIVING CITY. GOOD,
EXCELLENT, RIGHT FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU, SHARON.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LEAH
NATTA .
>> HELLO, I AM HERE TO OFFER
ENTHUSIASTIC COMMENT IN SUPPORT
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DERRICK
SMITH. I HAVE KNOWN DERRICK
FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS AND HAVE
HAD APPROXIMATE VIEW OF HIM
AND HIS LEADERSHIP AS A
COMMUNITY LEADER AND PUBLIC
SERVANT AND THOUGHTFUL PARENT
TO THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND
MANY MORE, AS A LOVING HUSBAND,
AND AS A COACH, AS YOU HEARD
ALREADY TODAY TO YOUNG PEOPLE
BUT ALSO TO ADULTS ON AND OFF
OF THE COURT AND ALSO AS A
STRATEGIC LEADER OF WORK. AS
DERRICK'S SUPERVISOR WHEN HE
WAS LEADING NATIONAL YOUTH
EMPOWERMENT COMMITTEES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, IN THAT ROLE AND
COUNTLESS WAYS SENSE, I'VE
SEEN HIM PARTNER WITH LEADERS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL
TYPES TO GET THINGS DONE FOR
THE COLLECTIVE GOOD . HE
EFFECTIVELY NAVIGATES THE
NUANCES OF A MULTIRACIAL
SOCIETY FOCUSED ON THE EQUITY
FOR ALL. TO WITNESS HIM WORK
WITH FOLKS OF ALL GENDERS,
WHITE BODIES AND BODIES OF
CULTURE, FOLKS OF ALL SEXUAL
ORIENTATIONS, MARGINALIZED
POPULATIONS AS WELL AS CIVIC
AND BUSINESS LEADERS, HIS
INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT TO
TRUTH IS UNMATCHED IN MY
EXPERIENCE AND I'VE WORKED WITH
MANY LEADERS. I KNOW THIS FROM
THE WORK THAT I'VE SEEN HIM DO
IN OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP
BUT ALSO IN THE BROADER
COMMUNITY. HE IS FIERCELY
COMMITTED TO TRUTH AND JUSTICE
FOR ALL BUT HE IS ALSO
COMMITTED TO RECONCILIATION AND
RESTORATION FOR ALL THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN HARMED. MY
UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY'S
VISION IS NOT ONLY TO DO THE
WORK OF REDUCING BARRIERS,
EQUITY AND ENFORCING LAWS BUT
TO PROACTIVELY FACILITATE
HEALING AND BELONGING. DERRICK
IS A LEADER UNIQUELY GIFTED TO
LEAD BOTH OF THOSE. FROM
ACCOUNTABILITY AND DUTY TO
UNDERSTANDING THE NUANCE NEEDED
TO CREATE A CULTURE OF HEALING
THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS IN NEED
OF AND OUR CITY. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME AND I'M CONFIDENT
THAT DERRICK WILL SURPASS YOUR
EXPECTATIONS IN THIS ROLE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLARD
JIMERSON.
>> IT IS ÷6. I SEE YOUR TILES
SO I KNOW YOU ARE ON THE LINE.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME BACK?
WE CAN MOVE ON TO DAVID HAVE
HEARD .
>> LET'S DO THAT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID.
>> HELLO, HOW YOU DOING? MY
NAME IS DAVID, CURRENTLY THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
FREEDOM PROJECT AND I WANT TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF DERRICK
WHEELER SMITH. I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THE PLEASURE TO
BE ABLE TO WORK WITH HIM AS A
LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS CAME TOGETHER TO
COME BACK. THE GUN VIOLENCE IN
OUR COMMUNIT. AND HIS ABILITY
TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THAT PROCESS
AND SUPPORT US IN ALL THE
DIFFICULTIES IT IS TO TAKE SO
MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND
VANTAGE POINTS AND LEAD US ON
A REGIONAL APPROACH TO A
PROBLEM THAT IS -- THAT HAS
DECIMATED OUR COMMUNITY. THE
ROOT CAUSES THAT HAD SET THE
TABLE FOR THOSE RESULTS. I
REALLY WANT TO SPEAK TO -- A
LOT OF FOLKS HAVE SAID A LOT OF
THINGS ABOUT THE BRILLIANCE OF
DERRICK WHEELER SMITH AND HOW
HE SHOWS UP TO DO THE WORK AND
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIS
COMPASSIONATE NATURE AND HIS
ABILITY TO STAY CONNECTED WITH
PEOPLE AS WE TRAVERSE THE
DIFFICULTIES OF SOME OF THESE
PATHS I HAD FOR HIM. AND I
THINK HE MIGHT BE UNIQUELY
QUALIFIED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL
WITH ALL THE DIFFICULTIES OF A
POSITION AS SUCH AND TO DO SO
WITH THE COMPASSION NECESSARY .
MY HOPE IS THAT FOLKS ARE ABLE
TO SEE THAT IN DIFFICULT WORK
LIKE THESE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO
SHOW UP PERFECTLY AND AT
TIMES, THINGS MIGHT NOT GO AS
PLANNED BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WE
COULD ALL GIVE THE SUPPORT
NECESSARY SO THAT HE CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE HE IS IDEAL
TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THESE
WATERS BECAUSE OF HIS VALUE
AND WHO HE IS AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
MORE SO THAN WHAT NOSE. AND I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT AS
FLUID AS HE IS IN RACIAL --
WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE
FRAMEWORK, THAT FRAMEWORK GIVES
YOU THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO
ACCEPT THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF
OPPRESSION THAT AFFECT OUR
COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT IF YOU
PROMOTE THEM TO THE POSITION IT
WOULD BE BEST FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS EDWARD PURPOSE.
>> GO AHEAD, MR. PURPOSE.
>> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
>> YEP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PROGRESS
-- HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
MR. DERRICK WHEELER SMITH. I
FIRST MET HIM THROUGH THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I WENT TO
MEET HIM CONCERNING SOME
SUPPORT THAT HE WAS GOING TO
PROVIDE ON BEHALF OF THE WORK
THAT MY ORGANIZATION WAS DOING
FOR YOUNG FOLKS AND PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. I ENDED UP RECEIVING
-- FROM THE WONDERFUL WORKS
THAT HE WAS ALREADY DOING AND
WANTING TO MAKE THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS A BETTER ENVIRONMENT
WHEN IT COMES TO THE GROUPS
THAT WE PROVIDE IN ADDITION TO
THAT , MY ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN
PROVIDING RESOURCES AND
SERVICES TO GREENHILL JUVENILE
PRISON . IT WAS A WEEKEND AND
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO
TO GREENHILL AND IN ORDER TO
BE A LIGHT LIKE MISS MY
ANGELOU SAID, BE A LIGHT . TO
BE A RAINBOW IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S
LIFE. SO, WHAT DERRICK WHEELER
DID WAS COME AND HE DIDN'T HAVE
TO BUT HE CAME TO SUPPORT YOUTH
HE NEVER MET BEFORE WHO DIDN'T
HAVE SUPPORT AND SO, HE SPENT
ALL DAY WITH THEM ALONGSIDE OF
MYSELF AND A FEW OTHERS , BUT
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. IT
JUST SHOWS A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT HIS COMPASSION AND HIS
HEART AND THE REASONS WHY HE
DOES WHAT HE DOES. LASTLY, I
ALSO WORKED WITH HIM IN THE
CAPACITY OF THE REGIONAL
PEACEKEEPERS FOR SAFETY AND
JUST NOTICING HIS LEADERSHIP
ONCE AGAIN IN THIS THIRD
CAPACITY IS SOMETHING THAT I
REALLY SEE WHEN IT COMES TO
HIS LEADERSHIP. I DO BELIEVE
HE IS THE BEST ONE FOR THIS
PARTICULAR POSITION WHEN IT
COMES TO OCR . I BELIEVE WE ALL
NEED TO GALVANIZE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ANDREW .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
ANDREW AND TODAY, I STAND ON
THE MEMORY OF BLACK ACTIVISTS
LIKE -- AND MARSHALL JOHNSON.
I STAND ON THE STABBING OF MY
BACK FOR BEING A BOY AND A
SOCIETY THAT HAD NO SPACE FOR
ME. I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT
DERRICK IS A GREAT LEADER. I DO
ADMIRE HIS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
AND ALL HE HAS DONE , BUT I'M
SAYING IT'S NOT THE TIME RIGHT
NOW TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO HAS
PROMOTED HOMOPHOBIA IN THE
COMMUNITY. A HOMOPHOBIC PASTOR
WORKING WITH HOMOPHOBIC
ORGANIZATIONS. A TIME WHEN WE
HAVE A WAVE OF LGBTQ BILLS ALL
OVER THE STATE. NOT THE TIME
WHEN UGANDA JUST PASSED AN
ANTI-LGBTQ BILL WITH THE DEATH
PENALTY AS THE SENTENCE FOR
PEOPLE WHO AREN'T STRAIGHT. I
JUST WANT TO CHALLENGE THE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THINK , WHAT
MESSAGE ARE WE GOING TO SEND TO
LACK CHILDREN QUICK ? BLACK
DISABLED CHILDREN? WE GOING TO
SAY IT'S NOT IMPORTANT TO US?
IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT
DISCUSSION. I THINK DERRICK
WOULD MAKE A GREAT LEADER BUT,
FIRST OF ALL, LET HIM TAKE
TIME TO UNDO THE HARM THAT HAS
BEEN DONE. LET HIM TAKE TIME TO
SIT DOWN WITH THE COMMUNITY TO
TALK ABOUT -- AND THEN APPOINT
HIM AS THE LEADER BUT PLEASE
NOT NOW . NOT NOW WHEN WE ARE
STILL GRIEVING AND IN PAIN
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR
NATION. OUR BLACK TRANS
SIBLINGS ARE BEING KILLED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL TRY
WILLARD JIMERSON ONE MORE TIME.
>> THERE YOU ARE.
>> HELLO?
>> WE HEAR YOU NOW.
>> MY APOLOGIES. I AM HERE AT
I NEWBORN SON'S DOCTOR'S VISIT
AND I JUST ANNOUNCED THAT, TO
MAKE IT CLEAR , MYSELF AND MY
FAMILY TO BE PRESENT FOR THIS
CALL IN APPOINTING DERRICK
WHEELER SMITH IN THIS POSITION.
THESE ARE SOME ASPECTS THAT
DERRICK HAS SHOWN. I WANT TO
ANNOUNCE THAT DERRICK IS AN
OUTSTANDING LEADER. I'VE WORKED
WITH HIM . HE WAS THE DIRECTOR
FOR THE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH -- HE BROUGHT ME ON
THIS THE FACILITATOR AND HE IS
A LIFELONG SEATTLE RESIDENT.
SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY TREMENDOUSLY.
LOOKING AT SOME OF THE MOST
UNDERPRIVILEGED FOLKS AS A
RESOURCE TO BRING TO THE TABLE
INCLUDING MYSELF . I WENT TO
PRISON AT 13 AND CAME HOME AT
33 AND HE FOUND SPACE AT THE
TABLE TO INCLUDE FOLKS LIKE
MYSELF WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED,
AS YOU HEARD TODAY. DERRICK HAD
THE ABILITY TO WORK ACROSS
VARIOUS COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS. HE IS SPECIAL IN
EVERY REGARD. BASED ON OUR
COMMUNITY, INCLUDING RACIAL
DISPARITIES, INCARCERATION,
GUN VIOLENCE, ET CETERA,
DERRICK HAS -- WHO IS
RESOURCEFUL INTO A SPACE OF
INFORMATION TO OPERATION WHERE
HE HAS LED THE TRANSFORMATION
TO THE BENEFIT OF SEATTLE
THROUGHOUT KING COUNTY. I ALSO
WANT TO NOTE THAT DERRICK IS AN
OUTSIDE OF THE BOX THINKER. HE
HAS THE ABILITY TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY AND MY
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH HIM, HE
HAS ALWAYS BEEN ATTENTIVE TO
THE NEEDS OF THOSE AROUND US
AND CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER
TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL. HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE PROVIDED US
A VACANT IMPACT ON MY GROWTH
AS A LEADER. HE'S HELPED ME
DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF HOW TO MOVE PROCESSES FROM
TALK TO ACTION.
>> I'M SORRY. YOUR TWO MINUTES
WERE UP, SIR.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR
COMMENTERS TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. I ALWAYS CAUTION
PEOPLE, WHEN YOU CALL IN,
PLEASE LISTEN FOR THE CHIME. I
HATE HAVING TO CUT PEOPLE OFF.
SO, WE ARE DONE. WE HAVE THE
COLORS ONLINE AND HE FOCUS IN
CHAMBERS THAT WE ARE NOW DONE
WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC
COMMENT AND WE WILL MOVE ON IN
OUR AGENDA. I WANT TO THANK
THOSE WHO CALLED IN AND WHO
APPEARED IN PERSON TO SPEAK TO
TODAY'S APPOINTMENT. I'M GOING
TO MOVE TO ADOPTION OF THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION IT IS
ADOPTED. NOT SEEING OBJECTION,
IT IS ADOPTED. MOVING ON TO
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. NOT
SEEING ANY OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. I WANT TO
MOVE TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
EXCUSE ME. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR
INCLUDE THE MINUTES OF MARCH
28th, PAYROLL BILL, COUNSEL
BILL 120540 . WE HAVE ONE
CLICK FILE. CITY COUNCIL MODIFY
THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
SURVEILLANCE USAGE REVIEW
SCHEDULE. AND, COMING OUT OF
COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES 'S
COMMUNITY. WE HAVE 15
APPOINTMENTS . I'M NOT SURE
OF EACH APPOINTMENT THAT'S NOT
LISTED FOR ME. I JUST KNOW
THEY SAID THERE WERE 15 OF
THEM. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING
ABLE TO ARTICULATE WHERE THOSE
APPOINTMENTS ARE TOO. AND WE
ALSO HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS
COMING OUT OF COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD'S COMMITTEE. ARE THERE
ANY COUNCILMEMBERS THAT WOULD
LIKE TO ADOPT? I'M SORRY, ANY
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE
TO REMOVE ANYTHING FROM TODAY'S
CONSENT CALENDAR? SEEN NONE, I
MOVED TO ADOPT A CONSENT
CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECONDED.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WITH THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> THANK YOU, THE CONSENT
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. MINUTES
AND LEGISLATION OR THE
APPOINTMENT ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF. LET'S
MOVE TO OUR COMMITTEE REPORT.
TODAY WE HAVE ONE ITEM FROM
THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S EDUCATION
CIVIL RIGHTS AND CULTURE
COMMITTEE. AND, BEFORE WE
BEGIN, COUNSELOR MORALE AS WAS
EXCUSED TODAY. COUNSELOR LEWIS
WILL BE STEPPING INTO OFFER
UPDATED INFORMATION ON MR.
DERRICK WHEELER SMITH. CAN YOU
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM ONE?
>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
EDUCATION, CULTURE COMMITTEE
REPORT , APPOINTMENT -- THE
APPOINTMENT OF DERRICK WHEELER
SMITH FOR A TERM TO THE
MAYOR'S DISCRETION. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
COUNCIL CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENT.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, AS I
SHARED, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
IS EXCUSED TODAY. I WILL OPEN
HE FLOOR FOR COUNCILME
LEWIS, THEN OPEN THE FLOOR FOR
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS TO MAKE
COMMENTS THEN I WILL SUSPEND
THE RULES. OUR GUEST, THE
APPOINTEE CAN HAVE THE FLOOR.
WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME
PRESIDENT. I COULD NOT BE MORE
PLEASED TO MOVE THE UNANIMOUS
COUNCILMEMBER RECOMMENDATION
FROM THE COMMITTEE TO CONFIRM
INTERIM DIRECTOR DERRICK
WHEELER SMITH TO BE OUR
PERMANENT DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
. THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S EDUCATION
CIVIL RIGHTS AND CULTURE
COMMITTEE CONSIDERED INTERIM
DIRECTOR WHEELER SMITH'S
NOMINATION AFTER HEARING STRONG
PUBLIC TESTIMONY IN FAVOR OF
HIS CONFIRMATION AT OUR MEETING
LAST WEEK. COLLEAGUES IN THE
PUBLIC KNOW THAT EXTENSIVE
PUBLIC COMMENT TESTING TO THE
DEPTH OF COMMUNITY COMMITMENT
AND STRENGTH OF CHARACTER IS
RARE IN CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
AND SPEAKS TO THE UNIQUENESS OF
DERRICK WHEELER SMITH AS A
NOMINEE FOR OUR CONSIDERATION
TODAY AND IT WAS VERY MOVING
TO HEAR EXTENSIVE TESTIMONY,
NOT ONLY TODAY BUT ALSO DURING
THE COMMITTEE MEETING. REALLY,
SHOWING HOW MUCH OF AN
EXCEPTIONAL NOMINEE WE HAVE
BEFORE US TO LEAD THIS
IMPORTANT DEPARTMENT. INTERIM
THE DIRECTOR WHEELER SMITH
HAS LED THE EFFORTS IN KING
COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT
THE ROAD TO ZERO YOUTH
DETENTION AND COLLABORATION
ALSO WITH CITY LEADERSHIP AND
A REGIONAL PLAN TO ADDRESS GUN
VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY GUN
VIOLENCE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE PREVIOUS SERVICE FOR
DIRECTOR WHEELER SMITH WAS ,
ADVOCATING FOR OPPORTUNITIES
FOR STUDENTS AND FACILITATING
RACIAL EQUITY TRAINING FOR
FACULTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS ACHIEVING
ITS GOALS ON RACE AND EQUITY
IN ITS CURRICULUM . INTERIM
DIRECTOR WHEELER SMITH JOINED
THE SEATTLE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS AT AN EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING TIME AT THE HEIGHT
OF THE PANDEMIC WITH A DEPLETED
AND EXHAUSTED WORKFORCE. 35%
VACANCY RATE AT ONE POINT IN
THE WORKFORCE OF THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS. THROUGH HIS
LEADERSHIP, STAFFING AND
MORALE HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED .
THERE ARE ONLY TWO POSTED
VACANCIES AT THIS POINT. A
CONSIDERABLE RECOVERY AND
MUCH-NEEDED BOOST OF
CONFIDENCE IN THE WORK AND
ABILITY OF THAT CRITICAL
OFFICE. AS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES ALSO KNOWS , AS FORMER
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION, HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THAT
OFFICE FULLY STAFFED FOR ITS
IMPORTANT OVERSIGHT AND EQUITY
ROLES THAT IT HAS IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. INTERIM DIRECTOR
WHEELER SMITH HAS BEEN A
FIXTURE HERE ON THE SECOND
FLOOR WORKING WITH MAYOR BRUCE
HARRELL AND THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL ON CRAFTING AN
ORDINANCE TO CODIFY A LOT OF
OUR POLICIES IN THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE AREA
A LONG OVERDUE LEGISLATIVE
EFFORT THAT HAS ADVANCED
CONSIDERABLY FURTHER THAN IT
EVER HAS IN THE PAST AND WE
EXPECT TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE FOR
FULL COUNSEL CONSIDERATION IN
SHORT ORDER DUE IN NO SMALL
PART TO THE ATTENTION AND FOCUS
DIRECTOR WHEELER SMITH HAS PUT
INTO THAT EFFORT. HAVING
REVIEWED AND EVALUATED HIS
RECORD, HAVING ASSESSED HIS
COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND
HIS AMBITIONS FOR THIS OFFICE,
THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION OF
DERRICK WHEELER SMITH AND I DO
SO HERE ASK THAT COLLEAGUES
FOLLOW THAT RECOMMENDATION AND
THAT WE CAN CONFIRM INTERIM
DIRECTOR WHEELER SMITH TO BE
OUR PERMANENT LEADER OF THE
SEATTLE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES
COMMENTS? IN REGARDS TO THIS
MR. WHEELER SMITH BEFORE WE GO
TO A VOTE? COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU. AS PRIOR CHAIR
FOR FOUR YEARS OF THE COUNCIL
COMMITTEE WITH OVERSIGHT OF THE
SEATTLE OFFICE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS, I REALLY WANT TO THANK
DIRECTOR WHEELER SMITH FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN THIS
IMPORTANT POSITION AT THIS
IMPORTANT TIME AND FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION IN THE COUNCILS
CONFIRMATION PROCESS. I
APPRECIATE YOU HAVE SERVED IN
AN INTERIM ROLE AT A VERY
IMPORTANT TIME, FILLING THE
POSITION PREVIOUSLY HELD BY
LOCKHART. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THE TESTIMONY OF EVERYONE WHO
CONTACTED THE COUNCIL AND
TESTIFIED ABOUT YOUR
CONFIRMATION. YOU HAVE BEEN
HAILED AS AN INTELLECTUAL AND
COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEING.
TRUSTWORTHY, RELIABLE, AND WITH
A WISE AND STRATEGIC --
IMBUED WITH TRUST AND
INTEGRITY. YOU HAVE ALSO
HAILED -- I AM QUOTING FROM
EMAILS RECEIVED. WE ALSO
RECEIVED OUTRAGE FROM SOME
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS SUPPORTIVE
COMMISSIONS AND I RECENTLY MET
WITH MEMBERS FROM EACH OF THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND
THE DISABILITIES COMMISSION. WE
HEARD FROM SOME OF THEM TODAY.
I TRUST THAT DIRECTOR WHEELER
SMITH WILL LEAD THE WAY FOR
HEALING RELATIONSHIPS WITH
COMMISSIONERS AND TAKE CONCRETE
STEPS AND ACTIVELY COLLABORATE
WITH COMMISSIONERS IN THEIR
EFFORTS TO FULLY FULFILL THEIR
ROLES TO OUR CITY. IF THERE IS
ANYTHING AT ALL I CAN DO TO
ASSIST IN THAT ENDEAVOR, DON'T
HESITATE TO CALL ME. THANK YOU
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO
SERVE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNSELOR FOR
THOSE WORDS. I KNOW YOU HAVE
SOME INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY
HERE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS BEFORE WE GO TO A
VOTE? THEN I WILL HAND OVER
THE FLOOR TO MR. WHEELER SMITH.
ALL RIGHT. I DO NOT SEE ANY OF
MY COLLEAGUES OTHER COMMENTS.
COUNSELOR LEWIS, IS THERE
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO CLOSE
WITH BEFORE WE GO TO A VOTE?
>> NO, MADAME PRESIDENT. VERY
EXCITED TO CONFIRM INTERIM
DIRECTOR WHEELER SMITH IN THIS
POSITION AND LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING DIRECTLY
POSTCONFIRMATION WHEN WE
SUSPEND THE RULES FROM THE
NOMINEE.
>> PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> THANK YOU. THE APPOINTMENT
PASSES. CLERK , WOULD YOU
PLEASE SIGNATURE TO THE
APPOINTMENT ON MY BEHALF. WHAT
I'M GOING TO DO NOW,
CONGRATULATIONS. I'M GOING TO
MOVE AND STRUGGLED. PEOPLE
WHO PIONEERED AND FOLKS WHO
DIED SO THAT I COULD BE PRESENT
IN THIS MOMENT. 55 YEARS AGO
TODAY, APRIL 4th, DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING WAS ASSASSINATED.
BEFORE HE WAS ASSASSINATED, HE
WAS INTENTLY FOCUSED ON
CREATIVE MALADJUSTMENT. THE
IDEA THAT PEOPLE SHOULD REFUSE
TO NORMALIZE ANY QUALITY AND
WORK CONTINUOUSLY TO EXPOSE
INJUSTICE SO WE CAN EMERGE FROM
THE BLEAK BY WOMEN. THERE
WERE MEN WHO GOT THE CREDIT FOR
IT BUT THAT MOVEMENT HAPPENED
BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLE
LEADERS WHO PRODUCED CIVIL
RIGHTS IN THE SHADE,
ORGANIZING ONE OF THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENTS OF OUR
TIME AND THE BUS BOYCOTT.
JoANNE ROBINSON, LOTTIE GREEN.
AND THEN THERE'S FOLKS WHO DO
THE CRITICISM OVER HIS
SEXUALITY. HAD TO ACT AS AN
INFLUENTIAL ADVISER BUT HAD TO
DO IT BEHIND THE SCENES TO
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS LIKE DR.
KING. FREEDOM, AT THE END OF
THE DAY CONTINUES TO BE A
CONSTANT STRUGGLE AND THAT
STRUGGLE REQUIRES ALL OF US TO
COMMIT DAILY TO BRIDGE
DIFFERENCES SO THAT WE BUILD
SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES OF
BELONGING FOR EVERYONE,
ESPECIALLY THE PERSECUTED
CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I AM HONORED TODAY
FOR THE CONFIDENCE OF MAYOR
BRUCE HARRELL TO APPOINT ME TO
THIS POST AND YOUR VOTES OF
CONFIDENCE . I AM GRATEFUL FOR
THE REMARKABLE STAFF THAT I GET
TO WORK WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY
AND OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY. MY
BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. AND ALL THE
SHOULDERS THAT I STAND ON
TODAY. I AM NOT SELF-MADE. I
AM LAND MADE. ANCESTRY MADE. I
AM COMMUNITY MADE, AND I
COMMIT TO CONTINUING TO BUILD
BRIDGES OF POWER, JUSTICE AND
LOVE AS WE CARRY KING'S LEGACY
OF CREATING AN ECONOMY WHERE
EVERYONE BELONGS AND CAN INSURE
DIGNITY AND SECURITY SO ALL
OUR FAMILIES CAN THRIVE. THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SERVE OUR GREAT CITY AND TO DO
SO IN THIS CAPACITY AS THE NEXT
DIRECTOR OF OFFICE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WHEELER
SMITH AND CONGRATULATIONS. IS
THERE ANYTHING ELSE? I'M REALLY
GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP -- BECAUSE
I REMEMBER READING LOST PROFIT
PUBLICLY 15 YEARS AGO. THE
SECOND BOOK HAS COME OUT,
WHICH I OWN BUT HAVE NOT READ.
I HOPE SOME OF OUR YOUNG FOLKS
OUT THERE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE WHO HE WAS AND WHEN YOU
READ LOST PROFIT AND THE WHOLE
HISTORY OF THE MARCH ON
WASHINGTON, IT WAS REALLY ABOUT
ECONOMIC SOVEREIGNTY AND IT IS
A POWERFUL BOOK AND VERY FEW
PEOPLE KNOW THAT ABOUT HIM .
IT'S A GREAT BOOK TO READ SO I
AM GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP,
DIRECTOR. AND YOU HEARD PUBLIC
COMMENT. YOU HEARD THE GREAT
THINGS FROM SOME OF OUR
COLLEAGUES. I DON'T KNOW YOUR
HISTORY WITH THE COUNTY AND
THE CITY AND I'M HAPPY YOU GOT
THIS APPOINTMENT TODAY. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE I MOVE ON
TO THE AGENDA? I KNOW THAT I
ASKED EARLIER BEFORE THE VOTE
BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?
WITH THAT, DIRECTOR WHEELER
SMITH, CONGRATULATIONS AND
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU. MADAME CLERK, IF
WE MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA, THERE
WERE NEW NO ITEMS THAT WERE
REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR.
REGARDING ADOPTION OF OTHER
RESOLUTIONS THERE WERE NO OTHER
RESOLUTIONS TO ADOPT. OTHER
BUSINESS? IS THERE ANY OTHER
BUSINESS THAT HAS COME BEFORE
COUNSEL? I DO NOT SEE ANY
HANDS UP. WITH THAT, THIS DOES
CONCLUDE THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THE NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY
COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD
APRIL 11th AND WITH THAT, WE
ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU,
EVERYBODY.
>> RECORDING STOPPED.
♪°7