>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HER
TODAY FOR THE IN PERSON AND
VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FRO
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
REGARDING THE SELECT HOUSING
LEVY COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING,
SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO
TALKING ABOUT THE 2023 SEATTLE
HOUSING LEVY. THE DATE IS
APRIL 19, 2023 AND THE TIME IS
4:32. AGAIN, THIS IS A FULL
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HEAR FROM
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNIY ABOUT
THE PROPOSED 2023 HOUSING LEVY
AS TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE THAT THE COUNCIL JUST
BEGAN DELIBERATING THIS MONTH.
WE WILL HAVE NEXT MONTH AND THE
FOLLOWING MONTH TO GO OVER ANY
ADDITIONAL IDEAS THAT MEMBERS O
THE COMMUNITY OR OUR COLLEAGUES
HAVE. AND THAT IS THE SOLE
PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA OR THE PUBLIC HEARING
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE FOR WHO IS PRESEN
WITH US IN THE PUBLIC HEARING
THIS AFTERNOON?
>> COUNCIL NUMBER HERBOLD?
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MADAM CHAIR MONQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> THAT IS SIX PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM FOLKS.
WE HAVE 27 PEOPLE SIGNED UP
ONLINE, AND WE HAVE SIX PEOPLE
IN PERSON. WE WILL GO AHEAD AN
DO THE FIRST THREE IN PERSON
AND THEN THE FIRST THREE ONLINE
THE NEXT THREE IN PERSON AND TH
NEXT THREE ONLINE, AND THEN WE
WILL STAY ONLINE SO THAT WE CAN
KEEP IT BALANCED HERE TODAY. W
WILL PROVIDE A FULL TWO MINUTE
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I DON'T THINK THAT I NEED TO
RUN THE VIDEO, BUT AS A
REMINDER, YOU WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENT. PLEASE
KEEP YOUR COMMENTS FOCUSED ON
THE 2023 PROPOSED HOUSING LEVY.
IF YOU DO HIT THE END OF YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME, WHICH WILL BE TW
MINUTES, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED. PLEASE DO SEND IN ANY
REMAINING COMMENTS THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE. FOR FOLK
THAT ARE LISTENING ONLINE, IT
WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD
DISCONNECT AFTER YOUR ALLOTTED
TIME AND WE WILL MAKE SURE TO
CONTINUE BROADCASTING ON THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE OTHER
LISTEN IN OPTIONS PROVIDED ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. JUST BEFORE WE
JUMP INTO IT, WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE WITH US
TODAY. THOSE WHO ARE EITHER
IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL AND THOSE
LISTENING IN, BUT NOT AS PART O
THE ROLLCALL THIS MORNING .4
THIS AFTERNOON. THIS IS ONE OF
TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SOLELY
DEDICATED TO THE HOUSING LEVY
PROPOSAL. HELLO, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND WELCOME. IN
ADDITION TO THESE PUBLIC
HEARINGS THAT WE ARE HAVING NOW
AND AT THE END OF MAY, WE ALSO
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT AT THE TOP OF EACH
MEETING, WHICH WE WILL HAVE A
NUMBER OF COMING UP IN MAY AND
IN JUNE. JUST AS A REMINDER, I
WANT TO THANK FOLKS FROM THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND OUR
CENTRAL STAFF WHO PROVIDED TWO
MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE
OF THE LAST THREE WEEKS TO
PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF THE HOUSIN
INVESTMENTS FROM THE PREVIOUS
HOUSING LEVY. I JUST WANT TO
REITERATE THE AMAZING SUCCESS
THAT SEATTLE HAS HAD WITH OUR
HOUSING LEVY INVESTMENTS WITH
MORE THAN 16,000 PEOPLE
ESTIMATED TO LIVE IN LEVY
SUPPORTED HOUSING THAT WE HAVE
ALREADY INVESTED IN AT ANY
GIVEN TIME. THAT IS A HUGE
ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE WERE ALSO A
NATIONAL LEADER IN PUTTING
FORWARD A HOUSING LEVY PROPOSAL
AND HAVE SEEN NOT ONLY WILD
SUPPORT FOR IT, BUT HAVE HAD
WILD SUCCESS, IN MY OPINION.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SURPASS OU
INITIAL EXPECTATIONS OF HOW MAN
UNITS WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE, AND ALSO HOW MANY
PEOPLE WE WERE GOING TO SERVE
WHO CAME IN AND OUT OF THOSE
UNITS. THROUGH THE HOUSING LEVY
IN SEATTLE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE T
INVEST IN FIRST-TIME
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, IN
ADDITION TO CREATING MORE RENTA
UNITS. WE HAVE CREATED HOUSING
STABILITY FOR THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES. AS WE KNOW, THIS
PROVIDES A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR
MAINTAINING HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING. THAT WAY PEOPLE
CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY, ECONOMY, CREATE
PATHWAYS OUT OF GENERATIONAL
POVERTY, AND WORK TOWARDS
GREATER ECONOMIC STABILITY AND
SELF RESILIENCY AND
SUSTAINABILITY FOR COMMUNITIES
AND FAMILIES. AS WE TALKED
ABOUT THIS MORNING, IN OUR
COMMUNITY MEETING AND TWO WEEKS
AGO IN THE PUBLIC MEETING, WE
HAVE SEEN A HUGE RETURN ON
THESE INVESTMENTS. THERE IS A
CLEAR ROI, AND WE SHOULD BE
PROUD OF THIS AS A COMMUNITY.
FOR ALL OF ITS AMAZING PROGRESS
THAT WE HAVE CHAMPIONED AND BEE
ABLE TO TALK ABOUT, WE KNOW IT
IS NOT ENOUGH. TOO MANY FOLKS
ARE FALLING INTO HOUSING
INSTABILITY AND OFTEN THAT LEAD
TO HOMELESSNESS. AND SO THIS
HOUSING LEVY AS PART OF THE
SOLUTION. IT PROVIDES AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RENEW THE
PACKAGE AND ALSO BE BOLD IN
PUSHING FORWARD WITH NEW IDEAS
AND NEW WAYS TO CREATE ACCESS T
AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
HOMEOWNERSHIP, SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES, AND GREATER RESILIENC
FOR OUR COMMUNITY. FINALLY, OU
AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORTS THA
WE PASSED IN 2016, WE HAVE BEE
ABLE TO SEE HOW DURING THE COVI
PANDEMIC THOSE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR
FOLKS AT THE LOWEST INCOME HAVE
ALLOWED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
HOUSE FOLKS. MORE PEOPLE,
UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE FOUND
THEMSELVES IN GREATER ECONOMIC
INSECURITY AND THIS HOUSING
INSECURITY AS SO MANY PEOPLE
LOST THEIR LIVELIHOODS DURING
COVID. WE SAW THE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON FOLK
OF COLOR DURING COVID. MORE
PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS AND
HOUSING IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
SO WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING THA
WE CAN AS WE THINK ABOUT
REINVESTING IN DOWNTOWN AND
REINVESTING IN OUR ECONOMY AND
INVESTING IN HOUSING. IT IS A
GOOD ECONOMIC GENERATOR FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES AND FOR
INDIVIDUALS. I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING PART OF THE
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION TO TAKE
ON THIS ENTIRE PACKAGE. IT IS
A LARGE CHALLENGE AND A HUGE
OPPORTUNITY. A SEVEN YEAR PATH
FORWARD TO INVESTING IN WORKING
FAMILIES IN OUR ECONOMY BY
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
HOUSING AND STABLE HOUSING
THROUGH THE WORKFORCE THAT
PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
FROM YOU. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE
TO SEE FROM THE PACKAGE WE HAVE
BEEN PRESENTED WITH? WE TALKED
THIS MORNING ABOUT HOW THESE
HOUSING OPTIONS CAN COVER
CHILDCARE, SMALL-BUSINESS
SUPPORT, COMMUNITY SPACE, AND
CREATING MORE THAN JUST A UNIT,
BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
FAMILIES WHO LIVE THERE, BUT
ALSO THE BROADER ECONOMY AND FO
THE BROADER POPULATION. SO
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR
QUESTIONS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY
WEIGHING IN. WE WILL GET RIGHT
INTO IT. OKAY, THANKS AGAIN FO
BEING HERE. WE ARE GOING TO
START A TWO MINUTE TIMER AND I'
GOING TO CALL THE THREE PEOPLE
IN PERSON. CLIFF HAWTHORNE?
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR BEIN
THE FIRST TO SIGN UP FOLLOWED B
DAVID BAKER AND TYREE BERNARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CLIFF.
>> IT AFTERNOON. THANK YOU
CHAIRPERSON MONQUEDA AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I AM THE
ADVOCACY POLICY MEMBER FOR
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY . I AM
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT FOR THE
PROPOSED RENEWAL OF THE HOUSING
LEVY AT 970 MILLION. FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING
WORK ON THIS. THE SEATTLE
HOUSING LEVY IS IMPACTFUL AND
GROUND BREAK . AS WE JUST
HEARD, IT HAS MADE A HUGE
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF SO
MANY SEATTLEITES. THERE ARE
970 MILLION INVESTMENT OVER
SEVEN YEARS AND 51 MILLION FOR
HOMEOWNERSHIP, SPECIFICALLY WIL
FINALLY ALLOW THOSE WHO NEED A
HOME TO HAVE A SAFE AND
AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE. RIGH
NOW WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF 30,00
AFFORDABLE HOMES AT 50% AMI OR
LESSON FOR THOSE SLIGHTLY ABOVE
AS WELL. ONE OF OUR RECENT
HOMEOWNERS THAT YOU MAY HAVE
SEEN ON THE NEWS, AMBER CORTEZ,
A LOCAL CULTURE WORKER, WAS
STRUGGLING TO CONTINUE LIVING I
SEATTLE, AND SHE WOULD HAVE BEE
PRICED OUT OF THE CITY IF NOT
FOR HABITATS CAPITOL VIEW
DEVELOPMENT. INCLUDING HER
NEIGHBORS . SO WE STILL NEED T
CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE ENTIR
HOUSING CONTINUUM MOVING
FORWARD. FOUR PEOPLE LIKE
AMBER AND ALSO HER NEIGHBORS AS
WELL AS SO MANY OTHER
SEATTLEITES. THANKS TO THE
LEVY, OVER 16,000 PEOPLE WHO AR
NURSES, WHO ARE GROCERY STORE
WORKERS, WHO ARE BUS DRIVERS,
ARE LIVING IN HOMES HERE IN
SEATTLE AND ARE ABLE TO BE PART
OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MAN
OF THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.
DURING THE PANDEMIC THEY DID
FANTASTIC WORK THAT I CANNOT
BEGIN TO FATHOM THE KIND OF
STRESS AND SACRIFICES THEY HAD
TO MAKE. AND SO, WHEN IT COME
TO AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP,
THIS TRIPLES THE FUNDING
COMPARED TO THE LAST LEVY. IT
HELPS US REALIZE THE THE GOALS
THESE GOALS ARE MORE PRESSING
GIVEN THE RACIAL HOMEOWNERSHIP
GAP IN SEATTLE. PARTICULARLY
FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE
SYSTEMATICALLY DISPLACED FROM
THE CITY. I STRONGLY URGE YOU T
SUPPORT THE PROPOSED FUNDING
LEVELS. LET'S CREATE A SAFE
AND DECENT PLACE FOR EVERYONE T
LIVE, THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR GETTING US STARTE
HERE THIS AFTERNOON. I WANTED
TO ASK I.T., IF YOU COULD HELP
OUT, THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT
ARE TRYING TO DIAL IN REMOTELY,
AND THEY ARE LETTING ME KNOW
THEY ARE GETTING A BUSY SIGNAL.
SO IF THERE IS ANY SUPPORT THAT
CAN BE PROVIDED TO I.T. FOR
FOLKS DIALING IN REMOTELY, WE
WILL GET THAT HANDLED. SORRY
ABOUT THAT, DAVID. COME ON UP,
--
>> GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE MEMBER
OF CITY COUNCIL. I AM DAVID
BAKER AND I'M A PROJECT MANAGER
WITH HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY LAND
TRUST. WE COMBINE HOUSING
DEVELOPED WITH EDUCATION,
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION AND OTHE
SERVICES TO CREATE A GROWING
INVENTORY OF PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOMES AND TO ENHANCE
HOMEOWNER SUCCESS. EVERY HOME
WE DEVELOP AND SELL AT AN
AFFORDABLE PRICE TO AN INCOME
QUALIFIED BUYER IS KEPT
AFFORDABLE TO ALL FUTURE BUYERS
OF THE 245 HOMES IN OUR TRUST
MORE THAN 200 HAVE BENEFITED
FROM CITY FUNDING WITH THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THOSE FUNDS COMING
FROM THE LEVY. WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR THE GENEROSITY OF SEATTLE
CITIZENS AND SUPPORT THE FUNDIN
STREAM AS A MODEL FOR OTHER
COMMUNITIES. THE PROPOSED LEVY
IS A CONTINUATION OF SMART
INVESTMENT AND A FULL CONTINUUM
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDING
HOMEOWNERSHIP. THE SIGNIFICANT
BOOST IN HOMEOWNERSHIP INCLUDE
RESOURCES FOR PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOMES, DOWN PAYMENT
ASSISTANCE, AND SUPPORT FOR LOW
INCOME HOMEOWNERS TO REMAIN
HOUSED. TRIPLES THE FUNDING
FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HELPS US
REALIZE SEATTLE'S A T GOALS FO
PUTTING HOMEOWNERSHIP WITHIN
REACH OF PEOPLE HARMED
DISCRIMINATION, RACIAL
COVENANTS, AND REDLINING. THE
LEVY CREATES HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE LIKE
SIOBHAN, A SINGLE MOM THAT USED
TO LIVE WITH HER FIVE CHILDREN
IN A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT. TH
CASE MANAGER, WHO WORKS TO HELP
OTHERS FIND HOUSING, SHE AND HE
CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO RETURN TO
THEIR HOME NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO
THEIR SCHOOLS BY BUYING A HOME
MADE AFFORDABLE BY LEVY FUNDS.
ON BEHALF OF STAFF AND
STAKEHOLDERS, I URGE YOU TO
RENEW THE LEVY AT $970 MILLION.
THIS WILL GIVE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND
AN AFFORDABLE HOME IN SEATTLE,
REALIZING OUR SHARED VISION FOR
AN AFFORDABLE, EQUITABLE,
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU FOR CORRECTING ME. AND
JUST DRAW THE MICROPHONE A
LITTLE CLOSER.
>> I AM GOOD TO GO? FORGIVE ME
FOR NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE
POLITICAL NATURE OF THIS. I A
A MECHANICAL ENGINEER. ALSO HAV
A BACKGROUND IN CIVIL
ENGINEERING AND ECONOMICS FROM
SCHOOL. I WANTED TO FIRST
START OFF SAYING I AM FULLY IN
SUPPORT OF THE HOUSING LEVY AT
$970 MILLION. I WOULD EVEN LIK
TO SEE IT FURTHER, BUT OVER THE
TIME OF YOU GUYS DEVELOPING
THIS LEVY AND GOING TO SOME OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I FEEL LIK
THERE IS THIS INCREASED FOCUS O
THE NEED FOR THIS HOUSING. AS
YOU GUYS ESTABLISHED, THERE IS
SIGNIFICANT NEED, BUT I FEEL
LIKE NOT ALL BUILDINGS ARE
CREATED EQUAL, AND WITH MY
EXPERIENCE DESIGNING BUILDINGS,
I WANT TO URGE A CONTINUAL
DEDICATION TOWARDS -- THESE
BUILDINGS. I KNOW THAT YOU
GUYS HAVE A EVERGREEN
SUSTAINABILITY CHECKLIST AND
SOME OTHERS TO GUIDE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THESE LIKE
STANDARDS TO GUIDE THE BUILDING
OF THESE BUILDINGS. BUT I DON'T
THINK THAT [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
AND WITH THIS NEW $970 MILLION,
I DON'T THINK THAT YOU REALLY
HAVE AN EXCUSE TO PICK AND
CHOOSE BETWEEN SUPPLY AND NEED,
BUT SUPPLYING THEM WITH BAD
HOUSES. I THINK THAT YOU CAN
ACCOMPLISH BOTH TASKS TOGETHER,
AND I URGE AN INVESTMENT IN
SUSTAINABILITY WITH THESE HOUSE
AS YOU DEVELOP THEM, AND JUST
PROPER DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
INSTEAD OF JUST LIKE -- I HAVE
GOTTEN THE SENTIMENT THAT IT IS
LIKE PUMP IT OUT BECAUSE WE NEE
IT NOW TYPE OF THING. BUT YOU
CAN ACHIEVE BOTH THINGS. YOU CA
PUMP IT OUT, BUT BILLED IT
CONSIDERING THE LIFECYCLE OF TH
BUILDING. AND THIS IS JUST THE
BEGINNING. SO YOU SIGNING THIS
LEVY IS JUST THE START OF THE
PROCESS. THERE BUILDINGS THAT
WILL BE UP FOR 50 UP TO 100
YEARS. KEEP IN MIND THE
LIFECYCLE OF THOSE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S G
TO THE FOLKS ONLINE. WE WILL D
THREE PEOPLE ONLINE AND COME
BACK TO THE ROOM. JESSE
FRIEDMAN FOLLOWEDBY DENNIS
SILT, AND MICHAEL C WORTH. GOO
AFTERNOON, JESSE.÷SIX TO MUTE
AS A REMINDER FOR FOLKS AND MAK
SURE THAT ONLINE YOU ARE ALSO
OFF MUTE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
JESSE FRIEDMAN AND I'M THE
POLICY DIRECTOR AT YOUTH CARE
FOR SUPPORT OF [ INDISCERNIBLE
] PROPOSAL. THE CURRENT LEVY
PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE
PREVENTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM WHIC
SERVES MAINLY LGBTQ+ YOUNG
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. THERE HAS NEVER
BEEN A MORE URGENT TIME FOR US
TO SHOW UP FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE
THE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] AND THE
HOUSING LEVY MAKES IT POSSIBLE.
IN 2021, YOUTH CARE, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY
HOUSING WAS FORTUNATE TO RECEIV
CONSTRUCTION OF THE
CONSTELLATION CENTER ON CAPITOL
HILL WHICH WILL PROVIDE HOUSIN
AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR HOUSING
INSECURE YOUNG PEOPLE.
UNFORTUNATELY OVER THE PAST YEA
ALONE THE COST OF THE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] PORTION OF THE
PROJECT HAS INCREASED BY OVER
$1.5 MILLION. AND NEARLY
INSURMOUNTABLE INCREASE FOR
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS. THE
LEVY PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TODAY
IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO THINK
BIGGER ABOUT ADJUSTING TO THE
HOUSING CRISIS, TO MAKE SURE
THAT ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS CAN
AFFORD TO TAKE ON THE PROJECT
THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED, AND
CAN ENSURE THAT WHEN YOUTH CAR
YOUNG PEOPLE EXIT PROGRAMMING
THERE IS AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF
TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO
MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS
THROUGHOUT ADULTHOOD. THIS LEV
ALSO PROVIDES US WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS ANOTHER
URGENT NEED IN OUR REGION, [
INDISCERNIBLE ] FRONT-LINE
NONPROFIT WORKERS. THIS PROPOSA
TAKES AN IMPORTANT STEP IN
ADDRESSING THE LOW WAGES THAT
LEAVE WORKERS HOUSING INSECURE
AND THE HOUSING PROGRAMS
UNDERSTAFFED. TWO ADDRESS THIS
A RECENT REPORT RECOMMENDS AN
IMMEDIATE 7% INCREASE FOR
FRONTLINE STAFF IN ADDITION TO
SUBSTANTIAL WAGE INCREASES IN
THE COMING YEAR. I RECOMMEND
THAT THE COMMITTEE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THE DEFENDING
PLAN OF THE LEVY TO ENSURE THE
ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DO NOT CONTINUE EMPTY AND
UNUSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION AND I URGE THE
COUNCIL SUPPORT OF THIS HISTORI
LEVY WHICH SUPPORTS OUR MOST
VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH. THE NEXT
PERSON IS DENNIS, FOLLOWED BY
MICHAEL. GOOD AFTERNOON,
DENNIS.
>> GERMAN MONQUEDA AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THANK YOU FO
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT. MY NAME IS
DENNIS AND I WORK AT [
INDISCERNIBLE ] HOUSING, 1200
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS IN
SEATTLE. ON BEHALF OF THOSE
COLLEAGUES I APPLIED THE
SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY PROPOSAL A
970 MILLION OVER SEVEN YEARS AN
ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL [
INDISCERNIBLE ] OVER TWO YEARS
THAT PARTY HOUSE 500 PEOPLE.
WE WILL [ INDISCERNIBLE ] FOR
MANY. THE CITY'S FIRST
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING HIGH-RISE .
WITHOUT THE HOUSING LEVY MANY [
INDISCERNIBLE ] CALL HOME.
THIS PROPOSAL STAGGERING
HOUSING NEEDS. THIS LEVY IS
NOT JUST ABOUT DOLLARS, IT IS
ABOUT MAKING THINGS BETTER FOR
THE NEIGHBORS. ONE RESIDENT
WAS HOMELESS FOR 20 YEARS, AND
THEN IT TOOK MANY PHONE CALLS
TO RECEIVE HOUSING. RESIDENTS
COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND
COMMUNITIES, AND MANY ARE
VETERANS. PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT YEARS O
EVEN DECADES TO FIND AN
AFFORDABLE HOME. HOUSING URGE
THE COMMITTEE TO ADVANCE THE
PROPOSAL AND LISTS ALL AREAS OF
LEVY PROGRAMS TO MEET THE
DIVERSE CHALLENGES. WE SUPPORT
ADDITIONAL [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
STAFF WHO PROVIDE HUMAN
SERVICES EVERY DAY. WE HAVE
SEEN ANALYSIS BY THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING THAT MANY PROVIDERS [
INDISCERNIBLE ] STAFF. AS WE
OPEN MORE BUILDINGS TO MEET TH
NEEDS OF OUR CITY, WE TAKE ON
MORE AND MORE BUT NOT MATCHING
THAT WITH RESOURCES. THE
PROPOSAL CAN CHANGE THAT AND
HELPS LIFT SOME LINE WORKERS AN
PROVIDE TRULY COMPETITIVE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] SUPPORT HOUSIN
OPERATES [ INDISCERNIBLE ] ARE
OFTEN INSUFFICIENT. AND WE ARE
GRATEFUL THAT THE CITY IS
CONSIDERING STEPS TO HELP THE
HUMAN SERVICE SECTOR. THIS
PROPOSAL COUPLED WITH WORKFORC
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] JUMPSTART
VERSUS [ INDISCERNIBLE ] FOR
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WORKERS THA
WE URGE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE NEXT
PERSON IS --
>> MICHAEL.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SOUTHEAST EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT
OR SEED. WE ARE A NONPROFIT
WHICH PROVIDES AFFORDABLE
APARTMENTS TO FAMILIES AND
SENIORS IN THE SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE. I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR
OF THE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] LEVY.
WAS ABLE TO RAISE MY OWN KIDS
FOR A DECADE IN AN AFFORDABLE
APARTMENT FUNDED BY THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING. WE SAVED OUR MONEY
AND WERE ABLE TO GET A DOWN
PAYMENT AND BUY A HOME. THIS
LEVY IS THE SINGLE BEST TOOL W
HAVE TO HELP PEOPLE WITH
AFFORDABILITY AND ADDRESS THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS THAT SEATTL
AND THE REGION FACES. IT IS
JUST ONE ORGANIZATION AND WE
ALONE HAVE MULTIPLE SITES FOR
DEVELOPING MORE AFFORDABLE
HOMES. RIGHT NOW I'M LOOKING
AT ONE OF OUR LOTS THAT COULD B
DEVELOPED INTO AFFORDABLE
APARTMENTS, SCREAMING FOR MORE
AFFORDABLE HOMES. THE GREATEST
CONSTRAINT WE HAVE IS PUBLIC
FUNDING FOR THESE NEW
APARTMENTS. IN ADDITION TO
THESE CAPITOL DOLLARS, THE LEVY
ALSO HELPS PREVENT HOMELESSNESS
BY INVESTING IN RESIDENT
SERVICES AND EVICTION PREVENTIO
FOR THOSE NEIGHBORS IN NEED.
I URGE YOU TO BE BOLD AND RENEW
THE LEVY AT 970 MILLION. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, W
ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO IN
PERSON. WE HAVE JESSE SIMPSON
FOLLOWED BY MARK. GOOD
AFTERNOON, JESSE.
>> HEY, I AM JESSE SIMPSON,
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS POLICY
MANAGEMENT CONSORTIUM [
INDISCERNIBLE ] SEATTLE FACES
AND EXACERBATED HOUSING CRISIS.
WE NEED MORE THAN 30,000
AFFORDABLE HOMES RIGHT NOW AND
THE SHORTAGE WILL ONLY GROW
OVERTIME UNLESS WE ACT TO MEET
THE MOMENT AND CREATE MORE
AFFORDABLE AND ABUNDANT HOUSING
FOR OVER 40 YEARS THE HOUSING
LEVY HAS BEEN FOUNDATIONAL FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.
THE LEVY IS AN EFFECTIVE
SOLUTION WITH A CONSISTENT
RECORD OF VOTER SUPPORT .16
THOUSAND FAMILIES AND
INDIVIDUALS LIVE IN LEVY FUNDED
HOMES. THESE ARE ESSENTIAL
WORKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY. THEY WOULD OTHERWISE
NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE IN QUALIT
HOMES IN SEATTLE. THIS LEVY
RENEWAL AT 970 MILLION WILL
BUILD ON THIS LEGACY. IT WILL
CREATE AFFORDABLE HOMES, KEEP
FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES, AND
MOVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS
INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. THE
PROPOSED RENEWAL FOR THE LEVY
WILL BUILD 35 UP TO 100
AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR FAMILIES
WHO NEED THEM MOST AND STABILIZ
HOUSING FOR 4500 MORE PEOPLE WH
WOULD OTHERWISE FACE OF
ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS. I
WILL ALSO INVEST IN WORKERS THA
TURNED BUILDINGS INTO HOMES, AN
ENSURE THAT SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
ARE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO
NEED THEM. BY INVESTING IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF ALL TYPES
THE LEVY WILL STABILIZE HOUSING
FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FOR
GENERATIONS TO COME. I URGE YO
TO PASS THIS AMBITIOUS $970
MILLION LEVY RENEWAL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND
WELL, MARK, FOLLOWED BY PAULINE
>> THANK YOU, GERMAN MONQUEDA
AND VICE CHAIR HERBOLD , AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MARK AND I AM A BOARD MEMBER.
SERVE ON THE BOARD OF PLYMOUTH
HOUSING. YOU HEARD DENNIS
ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBE WHY THIS IS
NECESSARY . I AM GRATEFUL FOR
THE HARD WORK ALL OF YOU ARE
PUTTING IN THROUGH THIS
COLLABORATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE
PROCESS, AND 100% ENDORSE THIS
$970 MILLION OVER SEVEN YEARS.
FOR THE SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY
PROPOSAL, AND I ENCOURAGE THE
COUNCIL TO MOVE IT FORWARD. AS
DENNIS MENTIONED, PLYMOUTH HAS
BEEN SCALING UP , TO MEET THIS
CRITICAL NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY
WE ADMIRE THE COUNCIL TAKING
BOLD STEPS TO SCALE UP AS WELL.
WE STARTED IN THE 80s WITH 17
UNITS. WE ARE NOW SERVING 1200
RESIDENTS, AND LIKE DENNIS
MENTIONED, WE WILL HAVE 170
RESIDENTS SERVED BY THE END OF
THIS NEXT TWO YEAR PERIOD. WE
WILL RAISE PRIVATE DOLLARS THAT
WE CAN LEVERAGE AGAINST THESE
PUBLIC FUNDS. WE WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK TO CREATE THE WRAPAROUN
, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT
CREATE THE 97% SUCCESS RATE FO
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THE SOLUTION WORKS BECAUSE WE
ARE RECONNECTING PEOPLE WITH
THEIR LIVES BY PUTTING A ROOF
OVER THEIR HEAD, NUMBER ONE, AN
THEN ALLOWING THEM TO RECONNECT
WITH THEIR OWN LIVES BY
PROVIDING THEM WITH THE SERVICE
THEY NEED. THAT IS RESOURCE
INTENSIVE WORK, FOLKS. THAT
MEANS PROVIDING THE RESOURCES T
PAY THESE PEOPLE ON THE FRONT
LINES THE WAGES THAT THEY
DESERVE TO ALLOW THEM TO DO
THEIR JOBS WITH DIGNITY IS OF
UTMOST IMPORTANCE. WE APPLAUD
YOUR EFFORTS IN THIS REGARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY T
PROVIDE THIS PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS PRODUCTIVE PROCESS HAS
RESULTED IN A STRONG PROPOSAL
THAT WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PROCEE
WITH. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. AND
PAULINE? YOU ARE WELCOME TO TAL
NOW.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> HI, MY NAME IS PAULINE . I
IS AMERICANIZED FROM THE DUTCH.
AND, I DO -- I AM AFFILIATED
WITH THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION
BUT I'M SPEAKING MORE ON MY OWN
BEHALF TODAY, SO -- PEOPLE KNO
ME AS THE TRANSIT FERRY AND
THEY SEE ME DOING CLEANUP ALL
OVER THE PLACE. I --
ESPECIALLY TARGET AREAS NEAR
BALLARD AND THIRD AND PIKE
SOUTHBOUND METRO BUS STOP 522.
AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT I
THE COMMUNITY SEES REAL CHANGE
AND SEES MORE CLEANUP OF TRASH
AND WASTE, THAT MAYBE WE CAN
HAVE SEEN CONVERSATIONS WITHOU
SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER ABOUT
HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND ALL TH
COMMUNITY NEEDS OUT THERE. I
DO BELIEVE THAT PERHAPS
HOUSING LEVEES TARGETING --
TAXING HOMEOWNERS HAS MAYBE
BEEN OVERUSED, BECAUSE IT IS A
POPULAR FUNDING SOURCE TO GO AN
-- I THINK IF THE SMALLER
BUSINESSES SAW MORE CLEANUP AND
SUPPORT AND MAYBE GRANT MONEY
TO HELP REPAIR ALL THE DAMAGES
FROM BROKEN WINDOWS AND ALL THA
STUFF, IF THERE WERE SUPPORT,
AND A LARGER SOURCE OF FUNDING
COMING FROM INCREASED SALES TAX
-- THAT COULD BE CONSIDERABLE
I KNOW THAT METRO OR BALLARD
MEDICAL CENTER AND BLAZING
BAGELS MIGHT AGREE BECAUSE I
HAVE BEEN CLEANING IN THEIR
AREAS AND ALSO THE HOMELESS
PEOPLE ON THIRD AVENUE HAVE
NOTICED. THEY SEEM TO LIKE
WHAT I DO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> YOU'RE WELCOME TO, OKAY,
WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT OVER TO TH
FOLKS THAT ARE LISTED TO SIGN U
ON THE REMOTE OPTION HERE. SO W
WILL CONTINUE WITH THAT. LET ME
FIND THAT SHEET. APOLOGIES. BRI
FOLLOWED BY ALLISON AND
PATIENCE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BRIE.
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE, PLEASE.
>> GREETINGS CHAIR MOSQUEDA,
FEIS CHAIR HERBOLD, AND MEMBERS
OF THE COUNCIL. I WORK FOR ACHD
A COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATION
THAT SERVES THE GREATER --
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE AND SOUTH
KING COUNTY. AND WE ARE PROUD T
SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF THE
SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY. AS A NEW
COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPER
FOCUSSING ON CULTURALLY SPECIFI
BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR LARGER
INTERGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS,
THIS FUNDING IS CRITICAL TO
ADVANCING HOMEOWNERSHIP IN OUR
REGION, INCLUDING THE AFFORDABL
TOWNHOME PROJECT WE ARE WORKING
TO BRING ONLINE IN SEATTLE THIS
YEAR. THERE IS ALREADY A HIGHER
COST TO HOMEOWNERSHIP DUE TO
WASHINGTON'S CONDO LIABILITY
LAWS, WHICH INCREASE THE COST O
INDIVIDUAL UNITS BY TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. AND OF
COURSE, THIS IS IN ADDITION TO
SHARPLY INCREASE CONSTRUCTION
AND LENDING COST, UNIT
INFLATION, AND THIS LEVY MUST
MATCH THE TRUE COST OF
HOMEOWNERSHIP IN OUR REGION. WE
ALSO, OF COURSE, KNOW THAT
HOUSING IS A CONTINUUM AND THE
STABILITY IS CRITICAL TO
HOMEOWNERSHIP AS WELL AS ACCESS
TO AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS.
FAMILIES CANNOT MOVE INTO
HOMEOWNERSHIP WITHOUT ACCESS TO
OPTIONS AND A STRONG COMMITMENT
TO TENANT SUPPORT. WE KNOW THIS
DEEPLY. FROM 2020 TO 2022 WE
WERE A RENTAL ASSISTANCE
PROVIDER, GIVING OUT $38 MILLIO
TO THOUSANDS OF TENANTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY, IN ADDITION TO
PROVIDING CRITICAL EVICTION
PREVENTION SERVICES. WE KNOW TH
DIFFICULTIES THAT WORKING
FAMILIES AND OUR ELDERS WHO REN
FACE. THE PROTECTIONS AND
ASSISTANCE WE SAW DURING
COVID-19 ARE STILL NEEDED TODAY
IN FACT, THEY WERE ALWAYS
NEEDED. PRIOR TO COVID-19 WE HA
VIRTUALLY NO SAFETY NET, AND WE
KNOW HOMELESSNESS CAN BE TRACED
TO EVICTION. WE'VE SEEN TIME AN
TIME AGAIN TENANTS WHO'VE
REMAINED HOMELESS FOR YEARS OVE
AN EVICTION ON THEIR RECORD,
MANY TIMES FOR JUST A MONTH OF
RENT. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK O
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITIES WE
SERVE, AND AGAIN VOICE OUR
STRONG SUPPORT FOR A HOUSING
LEVY THAT REPRESENTS THE MANY
NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
LEADERSHIP, AND HAVE A GREAT
DAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALLISON
FOLLOWED BY PATIENCE. STAR SIX,
ALLISON. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO
AHEAD AND TEE UP PATIENCE.
ALLISON JUST HIT STAR SIX WHEN
YOU'RE READY. OKAY, PATIENCE,
PLEASE GO AHEAD IF YOU CAN, STA
SIX. CAN FOLKS HEAR ME ON THE
ONLINES? THERE WE GO, I SEE
PATIENCE UNMUTED.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
MOSQUEDA, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS PATIENCE,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM.
HDC TOGETHER WITH OUR MEMBERS
AND PARTNERS STRONGLY SUPPORT
THE PROPOSAL TO RENEW THE
HOUSING LEVY AT $970 MILLION.
THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISI
HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER IN OUR
COMMUNITY. CHAIR, YOU SAY THIS
VERY WELL IN THE MEETING IN THE
MORNING, WE FACE A SHORTAGE OF
30,000 HOMES, AFFORDABLE HOMES
FOR PEOPLE WITH THE LOWEST
INCOMES. THIS SHORTAGE DEMANDS
THAT WE RISE TO MEET THE MOMENT
AND THIS PROPOSAL MEETS THE
MOMENT. RENEWING AND EXPANDING
THE LEVY TO CREATE MORE THAN
3,000 AFFORDABLE RENTAL AND
OWNERSHIP HOMES FOR PEOPLE AND
FAMILIES WHO NEED THEM MOST AND
PREVENTING THOUSANDS FROM
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS
FUNDAMENTALLY THE TASK OF OUR
MOMENT. IT IS THE TASK OF OUR
GENERATION. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP CARRYING FORWAR
A 40-YEAR TRADITION AND
COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSIN
THROUGHOUT THE CITY BY RENEWING
THIS LEVY. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
INVESTMENTS IN BOTH RENTAL AND
HOMEOWNERSHIP MAINTAINED IN THE
PROPOSAL, INVESTMENTS IN
FRONTLINE STAFF WHO TURN
BUILDINGS INTO HOMES, SUSTAINED
IN THIS PROPOSAL, INVESTMENTS
ACROSS THE BOARD AS WE MOVE THI
PROPOSAL FORWARD AND WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO SEE SOME WORK IN
INCORPORATING SUPPORT FOR
RESIDENT SERVICES AND SUPPORTIV
HOUSING BUILDINGS. WE NEED A
FIGHTING CHANCE AT MAINTAINING
AND GROWING AFFORDABLE HOMES IN
OUR CITY. IN A CITY OF RISING
COST FOR RENT, FOR HEALTHCARE,
FOR FOOD, WE CAN'T REDUCE OR
PREVENT HOMELESSNESS WITHOUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I THANK YOU
FOR TAKING ON THIS WORK AND
RUNNING WITH THE BATON. WE
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND ALLISON, YOU
ARE WELCOME TO GO NEXT, FOLLOWE
BY TIFFANY McCOY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA,
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW,
THANKS.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FO
THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THIS
PUBLIC COMMENT. GOOD EVENING TO
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS. FOR THE
RECORD, MY NAME IS ALLISON. I'M
THE DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE/KIN
COUNTY COALITION ON
HOMELESSNESS. AND WE MOBILIZE
OUR COMMUNITY TO CHALLENGE
SYSTEMIC CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS
AND ADVOCATE FOR HOUSING
JUSTICE. WE ARE HERE TO STRONGL
SUPPORT YOUR WORK TO REVIEW AND
THEN PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS A
HOUSING LEVY AT $970 MILLION OR
HIGHER. BECAUSE, AS YOU HAVE
HEARD FROM ALL PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS, THIS LEVY IS
EFFECTIVE, IT IS EFFICIENT, AND
IT IS ESSENTIAL. TODAY I JUST
WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME SMALL
INSIGHT INTO THE SIGNIFICANCE O
A SPECIFIC PART OF THE PROPOSAL
TO INVEST IN THE WORKERS WHO AR
THE ONES WHO, AS SEVERAL HAVE
SAID, TURN EVERY UNIT INTO A
HOME. IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO ADVANCE
SUSTAINABILITY AND WAGE EQUITY
IN ITS CONTRACTS WITH COMMUNITY
AGENCIES. THE STAFF WHO WORK
NIGHT SHIFTS, WHO HELP PEOPLE,
SOMETIMES AFTER YEARS OR DECADE
OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,
TRAUMA, AND SIGNIFICANT
DISABILITY, HELP PEOPLE SETTLE
INTO THEIR NEW HOMES AND CONNEC
TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THOSE
STAFF ARE THEMSELVES STRUGGLING
WE WORKED VERY HARD AT THE STAT
LEGISLATURE TWO YEARS AGO TO
SECURE A COMPLETELY INADEQUATE
BUT NECESSARY WORKER'S STY PEND
FOR PEOPLE IN HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES AND HOUSING. AND THE
COALITION SURVEYED FRONTLINE
STAFF TO ASK THEM WHAT THEY HAV
USED THEIR UP TO $1,200,
ONE-TIME STIPEND FOR. PEOPLE
HAVE USED THOSE STIPENDS TO PAY
OFF LOAN, TO GET CURRENT ON
THEIR DEBT, TO PAY THEIR OWN
RENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK T
MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF THIS
HOUSING LEVY AND FOR RENEWING I
WITH SERIOUS ATTENTION TO THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE HEART.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALLISON
PLEASE SEND IN THE REST OF YOUR
COMMENTS. I'M SORRY THAT LAST
SENTENCE GOT CUT OFF. APPRECIAT
YOUR TESTIMONY. TIFFANY, TIFFAN
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TINA. GOOD
MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON,
TIFFANY.
>> CHAIR MOSQUEDA, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, I'M TIFFANY
McCOY, THE ADVOCACY DIRECTOR AT
REAL CHANGE CALLING IN TO
VOCALIZE OUR STRONG SUPPORT OF
THE HOUSING LEVY, THE RENEWAL.
AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL
GOING BIG IN THIS YEAR'S
RENEWAL. A LOT OF OUR VENDORS A
REAL CHANGE DEPEND ON THE
HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE PRODUCED
THROUGH THE HOUSING LEVY AND
HAVE BEEN PULLED IN OFF THE
STREETS BECAUSE OF HOUSING LEVY
DOLLARS SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AND WE ARE ALSO
EXTREMELY HAPPY TO SEE THE $51
MILLION SET ASIDE TO ADDRESS
RACIAL INEQUITIES AND BLACK
HOMEOWNERSHIP IN THIS PACKAGE A
WELL. AND JUST WANT TO, YEAH,
GIVE ANOTHER ENDORSEMENT AND
CONTINUING TO HOUSE MORE OF OUR
NEIGHBORS IN THE CITY, SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. TINA FOLLOWED BY
JOSH CASTLE. EXCUSE ME. TINA,
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YO
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS FOR HAVING
ALL OF US HERE TO SPEAK TODAY.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK
YOU'RE DOING TO CREATE A REAL
EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSIN
NETWORK IN OUR CITY AND REGION.
MY NAME'S TINA. I'M THE DIRECTO
OF HOUSING SERVICES FOR COMPASS
HOUSING ALLIANCE. WE CURRENTLY
PROVIDE ALMOST 700 AFFORDABLE
UNITS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AN
KING COUNTY AREA. HOUSING BOTH
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL
AND FAMILIES AS WELL AS
LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS, INCLUDING
SENIORS, PEOPLE ON FIXED
INCOMES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREAD
SERVED, VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVE
OUR COUNTRY IN RECENT YEARS AND
HISTORICALLY. OUTSIDE OF THIS
FUNDING, WE NEED TO PROVIDE
UNITS. WE ALSO NEED TO PROVIDE
SERVICES, AS OTHER OF MY
COLLEAGUES ON THIS CALL HAVE
MENTIONED. JUST PROVIDING A ROO
OVER THEIR HEADS IS JUST THE ON
STEP TO CREATE THE STABILITY
THAT PEOPLE DESERVE AND NEED IN
OUR WORLD. SO THE RENEWAL OF
THIS HOUSING LEVY IS REALLY AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS BOTH THE
PROBLEM OF THE LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS WELL AS
MORE WAGES FOR NONPROFIT WORKER
IN THE HUMAN SERVICES FIELD. AS
MANY OF YOU HAVE READ IN THE
NEWS AND OTHER TIMES, THE
CHALLENGES OUR STAFF ARE FACING
IS SO CRITICAL. I MYSELF HAVE
WORKED TWO GRAVE SHIFTS IN THE
LAST TWO WEEKS. ONE OF MY
MANAGERS WORKED A 24-HOUR SHIFT
LAST MONDAY. WE -- IT'S HARD TO
FIND QUALIFIED, QUALITY
EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE THE SKILL
SETS TO DO THIS WORK AT THE
WAGES PAYING. THIS IS NOT JUST
THE DO-GOODER JOB ANYMORE. WE
ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WITH
CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES FROM
PHYSICAL HEALTH TO MENTAL
HEALTH, AND WE NEED THE RIGHT
PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITMENT,
COMPASSION, AND DESIRE AND SKIL
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU'RE
DOING AND THE ADVOCACY PRESENTE
TODAY AND HAVE IN THE PAST YEAR
TO INCREASE OUR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING MARKET.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE
SEND IN THE LAST SENTENCE AS
WELL. JOHN CASTLE.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, OR IS IT
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR MOSQUEDA AN
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
JOSH, AND I'M THE COMMUNITY
HOUSING DIRECTOR FOR THE
LOW-INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE AN
OF THE SEATTLE/KING COUNTY
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS. I'M
HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE SEATTLE
HOUSING LEVY AT $970 MILLION,
AND I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK ON
THIS. WE ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORT
THE INCLUSION OF FUNDING FOR
RESIDENT SERVICES AND NON-PSH
PROPERTIES. LEHIGH AS AN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDER HAS
LEVIED FUNDS FOR NUMEROUS
PROJECTS, SUCH AS AURORA HEIGHT
HOUSING, THE FREY APARTMENTS,
GOOD SHEPHERD HOUSING. AS A
RESULT OF THESE LEVY
INVESTMENTS, LEHIGH HAS BEEN
ABLE TO LEVERAGE DOLLARS TO
CREATE HUNDREDS OF NEW UNITS OF
HOUSING FOR OUR MOST LOW-INCOME
RESIDENTS, IN PARTICULAR PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. JUST
THIS LAST YEAR LEHIGH HAS BEEN
ABLE TO HOUSE 281 PEOPLE WHO
WERE HOMELESS, MOST OF WHOM HAD
BEEN CHRONICALLY HOMELESS. WE
KNOW WE HAVE A STEEP SHORTAGE O
UNITS FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS
WHILE THOUSANDS OF SEATTLEITES
ARE EXPERIENCING HOUSING
INSECURITY, OFTEN AT RISK OF
FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS. THIS
IS THE CRUCIAL INVESTMENT TO
RESPOND TO SUCH AN URGENT NEED
AND WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. AT THIS
POINT I THINK I HAVE ONE MORE
PERSON SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT IN THE ROOM. SO WE WILL
GO AHEAD AND COME BACK TO THE I
THE ROOM, AND THEN WE'LL DO THE
NEXT TEN FOLKS LISTED ONLINE.
MISS MARGUERITE, YOU ARE WELCOM
TO COME AND PRESENT. ONE SECOND
MA'AM, LET'S START YOUR TIME
AGAIN AND MAKE SURE YOUR
MICROPHONE'S ON. OKAY, LET'S TR
AGAIN.
>> MY NAME IS MARGUERITE, AND I
GUESS I WOULDN'T MISS THIS FOR
LIFETIME. I'M JUST REALLY
SHOCKED AND APPALLED AND
DISMAYED. THIS IS 2023 AND THIS
RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION IS AL
AROUND HOUSING AND EVERYTHING
THAT YOU DO. JUST LOOK ACROSS
THIS COUNTRY AND SEE WHAT'S
HAPPENING TO INDIGENOUS BLACK
PEOPLE AS FAR AS THEM TRYING TO
GET ANYTHING. THEY'RE KILLING
US. THEY'RE TRYING TO HOODWINK
AND DUPE AND BAMBOOZLE US. AND
YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE, YOU HAVE
COMMISSIONS, AND YOU HAVE ALL O
THIS GARBAGE THAT I'M ABOUT TO
TAKE THIS RIGHT NOW AND THROW I
IN THAT TRASH CAN, BECAUSE I
FEEL THAT ANOTHER GENERATION
HAVING TO SUFFER UP UNDER
ANYTHING THAT OUR CONSTITUTIONA
RIGHTS RIGHT NOW IS BEARING NO
GROUND IN THIS HISTORY OF THIS
COUNTRY. TYRE NICHOLS IS DEAD.
THINK SOMEBODY ELSE DIED AT THE
HANDS OF SOMEBODY THAT JUST
DIDN'T CARE ABOUT US. AND YOU
GOING TO TELL ME YOU GUYS CARE
ABOUT US DOWN HERE. THE DEVIL I
A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN
HIM. AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
EXACTLY WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
YOU'RE GOING TO REAP WHAT YOU
SOW, BECAUSE WE ALL GOT A RIGHT
TO BE HERE, EVEN THOSE HOMELESS
PEOPLE DOWN THERE. YOU KNOW WHA
I DID THE OTHER DAY, INSTEAD OF
CRITICIZING THEM I STOOD THERE
AND PRAYED FOR THEM. AND MY
GIRLFRIEND WAS STANDING RIGHT
THERE. SHE WAS WONDERING WHAT
WAS GOING ON. BECAUSE THEY NEED
PRAYER. THEY DON'T NEED TO HAVE
ALL THIS FLIP-FLOP MESS GOING O
AROUND THEM. GIVE THEM SOME
PEOPLE THAT GOT A HEART FOR
MANKIND DOWNTOWN. AND FIX THIS
SITUATION OR GET OUT OF YOUR
PROFESSION, LIKE I TOLD THE
OTHER ONE. GO WALK YOUR DOG AND
WORK IN YOUR GARDEN IF YOU'RE
NOT --
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKERS
ARE ANDREA AND BRIAN LLOYD. GOO
EVENING, ANDREA.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING CHAIR
MOSQUEDA. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> I CAN, THANK YOU, YES.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO
YOUR LONGSTANDING DEDICATION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALSO SO
MANY OF THE REST OF THE COUNCIL
FOR THIS WORK. I'M CHIEF
OPERATIONS OFFICER AT PLYMOUTH
HOUSING, AND I'M JOINING MY
COLLEAGUE TONIGHT DENNIS, WHO
YOU HEARD EARLIER, AND OUR BOAR
MEMBER MARK. I'M SHARING
PLYMOUTH'S STRONG SUPPORT TO
RENEW THE HOUSING LEVY AT $970
MILLION. OVER -- YEAR OVER YEAR
WE'VE EXPERIENCED ABOUT 30%
VACANCY IN OUR FRONTLINE
POSITIONS. OUR LOW WAGES WERE
RESULTING IN MASSIVE TURN WROEF
AND IMPACTING OUR RESIDENT
SUCCESS. LAST FALL WE DECIDED W
COULD NO LONGER OPERATE WITHOUT
INVESTING IN LIVING WAGES, AND
WE RAISED OUR FRONTLINE WAGES
EVEN WITHOUT HAVING THE FUNDING
TO COVER IT. PLYMOUTH ADOPTED A
BUDGET THIS YEAR THAT INCLUDED
DEFICIT OF MORE THAN $2 MILLION
JUST FOR THE FRONTLINE WAGES.
AND IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH. MORE
THAN 55% OF OUR WORK FORCE
CURRENTLY IS PAID LESS THAN $30
AN HOUR. SO FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS
SEATTLE RESIDENTS HAVE COME
TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THIS HOUSIN
LEVY. IT'S A PROVEN SOLUTION. W
KNOW THIS IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW,
AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO RENEW
THE LEVY AT $970 MILLION TO
ENSURE THAT THE CRITICAL WAGES
FOR OUR STAFF AND SO THAT WE CA
CONTINUE TO EXPAND TO MEET THE
NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I
YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEX
SPEAKER IS BRIAN LLOYD FOLLOWED
BY LISA. GOOD EVENING, BRIAN.
>> GOOD EVENING, HELLO,
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT
THE HOUSING LEVY. MY NAME IS
BRIAN LLOYD, I AM WITH BEACON
DEVELOPMENT GROUP. WE'RE A
NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPER WHO
HAS THE HONOR OF WORKING ON
PROJECTS WITH PARTNERS LIKE EL
CENTRO, SEATTLE CLUB, AND
ETHIOPIAN VILLAGE. THE HOUSING
LEVY IS THE MOST IMPACTFUL
POLICY TOOL WE HAVE TO COMBAT
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING
INSECURITY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE
OF WORKING ON FOUR HOUSING LEVY
CAMPAIGNS, PHONE BANKS, DOOR
KNOCKING, AND MULTIPLE LEVY
PLANNING COMMITTEES AND
STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. AND THE
AMAZING THING FROM MY VANTAGE
POINT SO FAR IN THIS LEVY IS HO
ALIGNED ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS
HAVE BEEN IN THE SIZING AND THE
FUNDING PLAN FOR THIS LEVY. IT'
EXCITING. IT'S DRAMATIC AND
GIVES US ENERGY TO MOVE FORWARD
GREAT WORK BY THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ON THIS ISSUE SO FAR. THE $970
MILLION FIGURE IS SIGNIFICANT
AND ALSO ACHIEVABLE. THE LEVY
WILL PRODUCE THOUSANDS OF UNITS
IT WILL PROVIDE SERVICES AND
RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO THOUSANDS
MORE. AND SOMETHING NEW, AS HAS
BEEN MENTIONED, IT WILL HELP PA
LIVING WAGES FOR THE FRONTLINE
STAFF THAT MAKE THIS WORK
POSSIBLE. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED,
THE BIGGEST BARRIER WE HAVE TO
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR
COMMUNITY IS AVAILABILITY OF
RESOURCES. SO THIS LEVY IS
ESSENTIAL WORK FOR US RIGHT NOW
SO PLEASE ADVANCE THIS LEVY FOR
THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITY AND ITS
RESIDENTS. THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. LISA FOLLOWED BY CAMILLA.
GOOD EVENING, LISA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
MOSQUEDA AND MEMBERS OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
LISA, AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY. THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS A
PROUD PARTNER OF THE SEATTLE
HOUSING LEVY WITH A LONG HISTOR
OF SUPPORTING IT DATING BACK TO
2002. WE CURRENTLY HAVE
COMMITTED A COMBINED TOTAL OF
ABOUT 1,200 PROJECT-BASED
VOUCHERS FOR EXTREMELY
LOW-INCOME -- EXCUSE ME,
EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME -- TO MAKE
THOSE HOUSING AVAILABLE. THE
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS HA
NEVER BEEN GREATER IN SEATTLE.
RENTING AN APARTMENT OR BUYING
HOME IS OUT OF REACH FOR MANY.
AND THIS SHORTAGE WILL ONLY GRO
OVER TIME IF WE DON'T RISE TO
MEET IT. FOR THE PROPERTIES THA
WE MANAGE, WE HAVE OVER ABOUT A
FIVE-YEAR WAIT LIST FOR PUBLIC
HOUSING AND WHEN WE LAST OPENED
OUR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER,
OFTEN CALLED SECTION 8 WAIT
LIST, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY
25,000 PEOPLE APPLY FOR 2,500
SPOTS. SO THE NEED IS GREAT. AN
AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO
EXPERIENCE A HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT
THREATENS THE WELL BEING OF
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND HOMELES
HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR COMMUNITIES,
WE APPLAUD AND SUPPORT THE
PROPOSAL TO RENEW THE LEVY AT
$970 MILLION. THE DRAMATIC
INCREASE OF HOUSING COST IS
IMPACTING LIVABILITY OF SEATTLE
THE HOUSING LEVY IS THE ANSWER
AND WILL HELP US MEET THE URGEN
DEMANDS AT THIS MOMENT,
ACCELERATE, AND LEVERAGE
INVESTMENTS FOR LOW-INCOME
PEOPLE AND FAMILIES TO CONTINUE
TO LIVE IN SEATTLE. AND WE ASK
THAT YOU DO THIS ALSO WITH LEVY
THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS. WE ARE
PLEASED TO SIGH SUPPORT FOR OUR
FELLOW PARTNERS FOR ADDRESSING
THE WAGE GAP AND ISSUES THAT AR
HAPPENING FOR SO MANY HOUSING
AND HOMELESS PROVIDERS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND
CAMILLA FOLLOWED BY JOEL. GOOD
EVENING, CAMILLA.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING
SO MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND
STRONG ACTIVISTS FOR THIS ISSUE
MY NAME IS CAMILLA, AND I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF REAL
CHANGE. REAL CHANGE IS AN
ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS FOR
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
WHILE PUBLISHING A LOCAL,
INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER. WE
REPRESENT A COMMUNITY OF
HUNDREDS OF REAL CHANGE VENDORS
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, AND POVERTY WHO
EARN AN INCOME THROUGH LOW
BARRIER WORK OPPORTUNITIES,
SELLING THE REAL CHANGE
NEWSPAPER. I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE NEEDS
OF OUR COMMUNITY WHEN I VOICE M
WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF THIS
NEEDED INVESTMENT IN HOUSING
HERE. REAL CHANGE MEMBERS ARE
AMONG THE MEMBERS WHO WILL
BENEFIT FROM THESE UNITS. WE AR
IN THE MIDST OF A PAINFUL AND
GROWING HOUSING AND
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. IT IS AT
LEVELS THAT IMPACT THE
LIVABILITY OF OUR CITY, AND WE
MUST RENEW AND EXPAND THIS LEVY
TO CONNECT NEIGHBORS TO THE
HOUSING THAT THEY NEED TO
SURVIVE AND THRIVE HERE. THIS
CRITICAL LEVY WILL MAKE AN
IMPACT ON THE UNITS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AND WE NEED TO GO EVEN
FURTHER. RISING RENT AND
COMPOUNDING ISSUES AROUND
HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABILITY
ARE DEVASTATING. THIS YEAR IS A
OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP FOR
HOUSING AT A CRITICAL TIME.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND JOEL. FOLLOWED BY
KIMBERLY. KIMBERLY, IT HAS YOU
LISTED AS NOT PRESENT, SO IF YO
ARE LISTENING, PLEASE DIAL IN.
GO AHEAD, JOEL.
>> HELLO CHAIR MOSQUEDA AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS JOEL
AND I'M A PRINCIPAL AT EDGE
DEVELOPERS, AN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPER HERE IN
SEATTLE. AS A MEMBER OF THE
CONSORTIUM AND THE LARGER
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY, I
URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE $970
MILLION HOUSING LEVY UP FOR
RENEWAL. SEATTLE'S LONGTIME
SUPPORT AND PASSAGE OF PREVIOUS
HOUSING LEVIES HAS SET THE BAR
FOR WHAT CITIES IN OUR STATE CA
DO TO LEVERAGE OTHER SOURCES IN
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AN AWARD OF CITY
HOUSING LEVY IS THE FIRST
IMPORTANT INFLUENTIAL STEP IN
SECURING OTHER PUBLIC RESOURCES
THE LEVY IS INFLUENTIAL IN THAT
THE AMOUNT IS TYPICALLY THE
LARGEST PUBLIC AWARD AMONGST
OTHER LOCAL AND STATE SOURCES.
SEATTLE'S HOUSING LEVY HAS
PROMPTED OTHER CITIES TO
CONSIDER AND ADOPT THEIR OWN
LEVY. I BELIEVE THE HOUSING LEV
PLAYED AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN
INFLUENCING TWO OF OUR LARGEST
TECH FIRMS TO PLEDGE HUNDREDS O
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SUPPORT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY
AND COUNTY. THE WORK IS NEVER
DONE, AND OUR NEED IN SEATTLE I
AS GREAT AS EVER. I CANNOT
IMAGINE OUR CITY WITHOUT THESE
IMPORTANT FUNDS THAT ARE
CRITICAL TO THE FURTHER
CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN OTHER COMMUNITY
SPACES, OFTEN LOCATE ON THE
GROUND FLOOR OF THESE
DEVELOPMENTS. PLEASE RENEW THE
LEVY AT THE PROPOSED $970
MILLION. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
KIMBERLY, I SEE YOU STILL LISTE
AS NOT PRESENT. WE CAN COME BAC
TO YOU IF YOU DIAL IN. KIMBERLY
PLEASE DIAL BACK IN. MARK LEE
FOLLOWED BY RICHARD CONLIN.
EXCUSE ME, I DID NOT SEE YOU ON
OUR LIST. I WOULD HAVE HAPPILY
COME TO YOU FIRST. WE WILL HAVE
MARK AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
CONLIN. GOOD EVENING, MARK. STA
SIX, THANK YOU.
>> HI, COUNCILMEMBER AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
MARK LEE, SENIOR HOUSING MANAGE
FOR THE SEATTLE CHINATOWN
NATIONAL DISTRICT PDA. WE
PROVIDE 283 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN THE CID AND WILL BE
DOUBLING OUR PORTFOLIO OVER THE
NEXT TWO YEARS THANKS TO THE
HOUSING LEVY FUNDING. WE AND OU
PARTNERS STRONGLY SUPPORT
RENEWING THE LEVY AT $970
MILLION SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE HOUSING PROJECTS TO MEE
THE NEEDS OF OUR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR FAMILIES IN THE CID
THE DRAMATIC INCREASE OF COSTS
HAS IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITIES AN
IT'S THREATENING THE LIVABILITY
OF SEATTLE. IT WILL HELP US MEE
THE URGENT DEMANDS OF THIS
MOMENT, ACCELERATE LEVERAGE
INVESTMENT SO THAT LOW-INCOME
FAMILIES, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES CAN LIVE HERE NOW
AND IN THE FUTURE. IT WILL FUND
SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THIS WOULD
HELP SUSTAIN OUR RESIDENT
PROGRAM, WHICH HAS HELPED
RESIDENTS STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
WE URGE YOU RENEW THE LEVY AT
$970 MILLION, THIS WILL HELP
PEOPLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER RICHARD CONLIN,
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR
MOSQUEDA. THIS IS RICHARD
CONLIN, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THEIR
WORK, ESPECIALLY ON HOUSING.
THIS HOUSING LEVY IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT, AND I FIRST WANT TO
SAY THAT AS A HOMEOWNER AND
PROPERTY TAXPAYER, I STRONGLY
SUPPORT MAYOR HARRELL'S $970
MILLION PROPOSAL. IT ADDRESSES
OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING GAP. IT'
A BOLD STEP. IT'S THE RIGHT SIZ
FOR SEATTLE. I'M ALSO HERE AS A
REPRESENTATIVE OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS A
NONPROFIT THAT OWNS FOUR ACRES
IN GEORGETOWN. AND WE ARE
CONSTRUCTING FIVE BUILDINGS WIT
600 UNITS OF WORKFORCE HOUSING,
AVAILABLE TO THOSE MAKING 60% O
MEDIAN INCOME OR BELOW. INCLUDE
IN OUR DEVELOPMENT WILL BE AN
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER
FACILITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
IN THE ARTS AND OTHER KINDS OF
COMMUNITY AMENITIES. OUR FIRST
BUILDING, WE BELIEVE WILL BE
FUNDED WITHOUT LEVY FUNDS, BUT
THE OTHER FOUR WILL NEED GAP
FUNDING LIKE THE FUNDS THAT THE
LEVY COULD PROVIDE. THERE'S
29,000 JOBS WITHIN A HALF MILE
OF OUR PROJECT, WHICH IS WHY TH
MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL
COUNCIL HAS WELCOMED OUR PROJEC
AND SAID IT'S THE KIND OF THING
THAT THEY WANT TO SEE HAPPEN.
MANY OF THESE EMPLOYEES COMMUTE
AN HOUR OR MORE EACH WAY EVERY
DAY. AND THAT GENERATES
GREENHOUSE GASES, IT GENERATES
TRAFFIC CONGESTION. WE DID A
CALCULATION AND BELIEVE THAT IF
WE CAN HOUSE 500 OF THESE
EMPLOYEES IN OR UNITS WE WILL
SAVE 1 MILLION HIGHWAY MILES A
YEAR. THIS IS A CLIMATE CHAIN
SOLUTION AS WELL. THE LEVY IS
CRUCIAL FOR SUPPORTING WORKFORC
HOUSING. I WANT TO ASK THE
COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THESE
RESOURCES CONTINUE TO BE
AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE MAKING 60%
OR LESS. THOSE WHO WORK IN
SEATTLE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO LIV
IN THE CITY NEED THIS KIND OF A
INVESTMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH
AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
DIALLING IN, AND YOUR SERVICE
COUNCILMEMBER. KATE SMITH
FOLLOWED BY JESS. GOOD EVENING,
KATE. AND JUST STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE. KATE, I SEE YOU STILL
MUTED. JUST HIT STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE. AND AS YOU DO THAT, WE
ARE GOING TO ALSO TEE UP JESS.
AND GOOD EVENING, JESS. JUST
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE AS WELL.
THERE WE GO. GOOD EVENING, JESS
>> GOOD EVENING CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
GOOD EVENING. THANKS TO YOU AND
THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JESS, AND
I'M AN ARCHITECT AND CITY
PLANNER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AT ENVIRONMENTAL WORK, OPERATIN
OUT OF HISTORIC FIRE STATION 70
IN CAPITOL HILL. WE OFFER OUR
WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT FOR THE
RENEWAL AND EXPANSION OF THE
HOUSING LEVY. OUR NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION HAS WORKED WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACROSS
SEATTLE FOR THE PAST 53 YEARS T
PROVIDE HUMANE AND WELL DESIGNE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE WE
BELIEVE HOUSING IS A HUMAN
RIGHT. TO DATE IT'S BEEN OUR
HONOR TO DESIGN OVER 1,318
AFFORDABLE HOMES THAT WERE
FUNDED BY THE HOUSING LEVY AND
THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING. THIS HELPS
MEET CRUCIAL NEEDS IN OUR CITY.
WE WERE ONE OF THE FOUNDING
MEMBER OF THE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM, AND WE
JOIN OUR FELLOW MEMBERS AND
PARTNERS TODAY TO URGE YOU TO
RENEW THE HOUSING LEVY AT $970
MILLION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JESS,
GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE AGAIN.
AND KATE SMITH, WE'LL COME BACK
TO YOU. KATE, STAR SIX TO UNMUT
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME. AND WE'LL
ALSO TEE UP DONALD KING. GOOD
EVENING. GOOD EVENING, DONALD.
SEE YOU UNMUTED, PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
MOSQUEDA AND MEMBERS OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE 2023
HOUSING LEVY. I'M DONALD KING,
AND I'M PRESIDENT AND CEO OF TH
NEHEMIAH INITIATIVE SEATTLE. TH
NEHEMIAH INITIATIVE SEATTLE IS
HELPING OUR BLACK FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WITH DEVELOPMENT
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THEIR
SURPLUS PROPERTIES. AND ON
BEHALF OF THE NEHEMIAH
INITIATIVE OF SEATTLE AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS, I URGE YOU TO
PASS THROUGH YOUR COMMITTEE
POSITIVELY ON THE RENEWAL OF TH
SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY. WE SUPPOR
BOTH THE RENEWAL AND THE
EXPANSION OF THE HOUSING LEVY
BECAUSE THIS YEAR'S HOUSING LEV
IS GROWING TO MEET THE GROWING
NEEDS OF OUR BLACK COMMUNITY.
WITH EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY
THAT IS SUBJECTED TO RAPID
DISPLACEMENT RESULTING IN A
SEATTLE THAT IS LESS DIVERSE
THAN IT HAS BEEN IN DECADES.
WE'RE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE BLACK
HOME INITIATIVE, AND WE BELIEVE
THAT PASSAGE OF THE LEVY WILL
HELP US REALIZE SEATTLE'S EQUIT
GOALS BY ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY
BOOSTING INVESTMENTS AND
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP THAT
CAN BEGIN TO REDUCE THE
BLACK/WHITE WEALTH GAP BY
ENABLING MORE BLACK HOMEOWNERS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT INCREASE
IN THEIR WEALTH. I URGE YOU TO
RENEW THE LEVY AT $970 MILLION.
THIS WILL GIVE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND
AN AFFORDABLE HOME IN SEATTLE,
REALIZING THAT OUR SHARED VISIO
FOR AN AFFORDABLE, EQUITABLE,
AND INCLUSIVE -- IS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO. THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND JUS
SEE KATE SMITH OFF MUTE, SO
WE'LL COME BACK TO KATE, AND
THEN WE'LL GO TO JOE THOMPSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, KATE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU.
I'M KATE SMITH, A PRINCIPLE WIT
SMR ARCHITECTS AND THE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM'S BOARD
PRESIDENT. I'M 100% IN SUPPORT
OF THE PROPOSED SEATTLE HOUSING
LEVY RENEWAL AT $970 MILLION.
THE LEVY HISTORICALLY HAS
SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT,
REHABILITATION, AND OPERATIONS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOU
SEATTLE. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'R
NEVER ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE
DEMAND. WE NOW HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY WITH THE PROPOSED
LEVY TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT. WE
NEED A LIVABLE AND EQUITABLE
CITY FOR ALL LEVELS OF INCOME.
COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES NEED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BOTH RENTAL
AND FOR SALE OPTIONS, WHERE
THEY'VE BEEN HISTORICALLY
ROOTED. THE PEOPLE WHO NEED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AREN'T JUST
THOSE CURRENTLY UNHOUSED. IT'S
ALSO TEACHER, FRONTLINE STAFF,
YOUR COWORKERS, YOUR FRIENDS,
YOUR CHILDREN'S FAMILIES. WE
NEED TO SUPPORT THEM TOGETHER B
RENEWING THE SEATTLE HOUSING
LEVY AT $970 MILLION. THANK YOU
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU. AND
WE'LL GO BACK TO JOE. JOE
THOMPSON, GOOD EVENING .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
MOSQUEDA AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS JOE THOMPSON, AND I AM
THE PRESIDENT OF MERCY HOUSING
NORTHWEST, AND I URGE YOU TO
RENEW THE LEVY AT $970 MILLION.
RENEWAL AT THIS LEVEL WILL GIVE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO FIND AN
AFFORDABLE HOME IN SEATTLE AND
HELP US REALIZE OUR SHARED
VISION OF AN AFFORDABLE,
EQUITABLE, AND AN INCLUSIVE
COMMUNITY. THE HOUSING LEVY HAS
CREATED OR PRESERVED OVER 16,00
AFFORDABLE HOMES IN SEATTLE OVE
NEARLY 40 YEARS. IT IS A PROVEN
EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. WITHOUT ITS
RENEWAL AT THIS LEVEL,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION I
SEATTLE WILL COME TO A VIRTUAL
STANDSTILL. MY ORGANIZATION IS
BOTH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDER AND A SERVICE PROVIDER
FOR OUR RESIDENTS. IT'S CRUCIAL
THIS LEVY INCLUDE RESIDENT
SERVICES. EVEN BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, RESIDENT ACUITY HAD
INCREASED DRAMATICALLY AT ALL
OUR COMMUNITIES. DURING AND
SINCE THE PANDEMIC IT HAS
EXPLODED. RESIDENT SERVICES
HELPED FAMILIES NOT ONLY AVOID
EVICTIONS BUT ACHIEVE HOUSING
SUCCESS AND THE OTHER CRITICAL
NEEDS AND PLAN FOR BETTER
TOMORROWS FOR THEMSELVES AND
THEIR CHILDREN. WE NEED THESE
FUNDS TO LEVERAGE THE FULL POWE
OF HOUSING AND TO BETTER COME -
PLEASE SUPPORT THE LEVY, AND
PLEASE INCLUDE FUNDS FOR
LIFE-CHANGING RESIDENT SERVICES
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY, THE
NEXT PERSON THAT WE HAVE IS
ELIZABETH. ELIZABETH, WE'LL BE
-- EXCUSE ME, ELIZABETH WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY VI LEE. GOOD
EVENING, ELIZABETH.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU
AND THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
ELIZABETH, AND I AM A LOW-INCOM
SENIOR THAT'S CURRENTLY LIVING
IN A LEHIGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING
UNIT IN SOUTH LAKE UNION. AND I
WANTED TO CALL AND LEND MY
SUPPORT TO THE RENEWAL OF THE
2023 SEATTLE LEVY BECAUSE THE
FIRST BARRIER TO GETTING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ACTUALLY
HAVE THE HOUSING BUILT AND
MAINTAINED. SO I THINK THAT WE
CAN'T CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WITHOUT THIS RENEWAL OF THIS
EXCEPTIONAL LEVY, 2023. AND
BECAUSE IT WILL PROVIDE A
DEDICATED FUNDING STREAM. SO I
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY T
SPEAK TODAY.
>> EXCELLENT, THANKS FOR
DIALLING IN. VI, VI LEE, IT SAY
YOU'RE NOT PRESENT. IF YOU ARE
LISTENING AND YOU'D LIKE TO DIA
BACK IN, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND DO
SO. AND I DO SEE THAT KIMBERLY
IS ON THE LINE NOW, SO WE'LL GO
TO KIMBERLY FOLLOWED BY JAMES.
GOOD EVENING, KIMBERLY.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN
MOSQUEDA. I APPARENTLY CALLED I
ON THE WRONG LINE WHEN YOU WERE
CALLING MY NAME EARLIER. MY NAM
IS KIMBERLY, I'M THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
AT PLYMOUTH HOUSING. I'VE BEEN
JOINED BY A NUMBER OF COLLEAGUE
THIS EVENING. TRULY GRATEFUL TO
YOU, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND
FOR ALL OF THOSE WORKING IN
SUPPORT OF THE HOUSING LEVY.
THIS HOUSING LEVY PROVIDES
NEEDED SUPPORT TO PLYMOUTH
HOUSING. IT ALLOWS US TO PROVID
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND CARE TO
MORE THAN 1,200 RESIDENTS. THAT
NUMBER WILL SOON GROW TO BETWEE
1,600 AND 1,700 IN THE NEAR
FUTURE. IT'S OUR HOPE WHILE MAN
OF OUR RESIDENTS WILL RECEIVE
PROBATE SERVICES THAT A NUMBER
WILL GRADUATE INTO HOUSING WITH
ONGOING SUPPORT. THE RESIDENTS
THAT WE ARE RECEIVING TO PROVID
SERVICES TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT AS A RESULT OF THE
TRAUMA THEY'VE EXPERIENCED WHIL
THEY ARE UNHOUSED AND EVEN PRIO
TO BECOMING UNHOUSED. THE
SUPPORT THAT WE PROVIDE INCLUDE
A STABLE FRONTLINE WORKFORCE WH
EARNED A LIVING WAGE. THE STAFF
ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE
COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITY
PROVIDES STABILITY AND WELL
BEING TO OUR RESIDENTS. IN
ADDITION WE ARE BUILDING OUT
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO
MAINTAIN HOUSING STABILITY,
WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY AT A
LEVEL OF 97%. FINALLY, OUR UNIT
REQUIRE UPKEEP, REPAIR,
MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT SERVICES I
ORDER TO ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS
ARE LIVING IN A CLEAN AND SAFE
ENVIRONMENT. I 100% SUPPORT THE
LEVY OF $970 MILLION OVER SEVEN
YEARS SO THAT EVERY MEMBER OF
OUR COMMUNITY CAN HAVE A PLACE
THAT THEY CAN CALL HOME. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AND I'M GLAD YOU
WERE ABLE TO DIAL BACK IN. JUST
FOR OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE
VIEWING PUBLIC, WE ARE GETTING
TOWARDS THE END OF THE FOLKS WH
SIGNED UP. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE
WHO ARE PRESENT TO TESTIFY AND
THAT WOULD BE JAMES, VANESSA,
AND DENNIS RODRIGUEZ. AND TWO
THAT ARE LISTED TO SPEAK BUT AR
NOT PRESENT, CALMIDI AND VI LEE
IF YOU DO HEAR YOUR NAME, AND
YOU'RE NOT DIALLED IN YET, CALL
US, AND WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU
THEN. IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE G
AHEAD, JAMES.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MY
NAME IS JAMES. I'M THE SENIOR
PASTOR OF DAMASCUS INTERNATIONA
FELLOWSHIP THAT'S LOCATED IN
COLUMBIA CITY, AND I'M ALSO ON
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE
NEHEMIAH INITIATIVE. AND I WANT
-- AND I APPRECIATE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU
THIS EVENING CONCERNING THE
HOUSING LEVY. WE APPLAUD THE
PROGRESS THAT THE LEVY HAS MADE
OVER THE YEARS BY THE FIRST TIM
HOMEOWNERS AND ALSO THE 16,000
LEVY-SUPPORTED HOMEOWNERS. SO W
APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK
THAT YOU ARE DOING, BUT WE ALSO
URGE YOU TO EXPAND YOUR SUPPORT
TO FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WH
ARE -- MANY OF US ARE LAND RICH
AND CASH POOR. AND SO AS WE
SUPPORT THIS $970 MILLION LEVY,
WE UNDERSTAND THAT SEATTLE HAS
REPUTATION OF BEING VERY
INNOVATIVE AND VERY INCLUSIVE
AND EQUITABLE. AND SO THE
NEHEMIAH INITIATIVE ACTS AS AN
ADVOCATE. AND OUR GOAL IS TO
PROPOSE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS TH
HOUSING SHORTAGES. SO AS
ADVOCATES FOR THAT WHICH IS
DIVERSE AND THAT WHICH IS -- IT
IMPACTS TRADITIONAL ETHNIC
ENCLAVES, THEN WE HAVE BEEN
LAMENTING THE DISPLACEMENT OF
MANY OF OUR LOCAL BLACK
RESIDENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO
REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY AS LONG
AS BLACK BUSINESSES AND BLACK
CHURCHES. AND SO THE NEHEMIAH
INITIATIVE, WHAT WE UNDERSTAND
IS THE POWER OF LAND. AND SO WE
ARE URGING YOU AND ASKING YOU
FOR THIS $970 MILLION LEVY SO W
CAN ALSO ADDRESS THE NEEDS,
BECAUSE AS CHURCHES, AS BLACK
CHURCHES, WE HAVE MANY
UNDERUTILIZED PLACES AND SPACES
IN OUR LAND THAT WE WANT TO NOW
DEDICATE FOR -- TO ADDRESS THE
QUIET CRISIS, WHICH IS A LACK O
SENIOR HOUSING. SO WE URGE YOU
AND WE THANK YOU AND WE
APPRECIATE YOU FOR THIS BOLD
STEP. THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND VANESSA, GOOD
AFTERNOON. VANESSA, YOU'RE
WELCOME TO SPEAK IF YOU CAN HEA
ME. JUST DOUBLE CHECK YOU'RE OF
MUTE. LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE -- OH,
THERE WE GO, HI, VANESSA.
>> HI. I'M VANESSA, AN ATTORNEY
AND ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF THE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM.
IN MY WORK AS AN ATTORNEY, I
REPRESENT DEVELOPERS AND OWNERS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS THEY
CLOSE ON FINANCING TO
REHABILITATE OUR CONSTRUCTIVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'M HERE
TODAY TO EXPRESS MY STRONG
SUPPORT OF THE HOUSING LEVY
RENEWAL AT $970 MILLION. JUST I
THE LAST TWO YEARS CANTOR TAYLO
HAS CLOSED ABOUT 19 TRANSACTION
FINANCED WITH CITY DOLLARS,
PRIMARILY LEVY DOLLARS SO. IT'S
SAFE TO SAY THAT NO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN SEATTLE CAN EXIST
WITHOUT FUNDING. IT WILL PREVEN
THOUSANDS MORE FROM EXPERIENCIN
HOMELESSNESS. THIS ONLY
SCRATCHES THE SURFACE TO MEET
THE REGION'S CURRENT AND
PROJECTED HOUSING NEEDS, SO I
URGE YOU TO TAKE BOLD ACTION.
THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT, AND WE LOVE THE
KIDDOS IN THE BACKGROUND. THANK
YOU FOR THAT AS WELL. THE LAST
PERSON PRESENT TO SPEAK WITH US
IS DENISE RODRIGUEZ AND VI LEE,
CALMIDI, IF YOU ARE LISTENING,
YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO DIAL IN.
>> HE CAN'T MAKE IT.
>> HELLO. HELLO, DENISE.
>> HI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS DENISE
RODRIGUEZ, AND I AM EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON
HOMEOWNERSHIP RESOURCE CENTER.
OUR MISSION IS TO INCREASE AND
PRESERVE HOMEOWNERSHIP IN
WASHINGTON, WE DO THAT BY
EEDUCATING AND EMPOWERING
CURRENT AND FUTURE HOMEOWNERS.
WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE HTC AS
WELL AS THE BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP
INITIATIVE. AND I WAS PART OF
THE GROUP THAT IMPROVED THE
HOMEOWNERSHIP RATES FOR BLACK,
INDIGENOUS, AND -- TO RENEW THE
SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY AT $970
MILLION. OVER HALF OF ALL
RESIDENTS OF LEVY-FUNDED HOMES
ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE SEATTL
HOUSING LEVY ADVANCES HOUSING
JUSTICE AND RACIAL EQUITY AND
SHOULD BE RENEWED AT THE
PROPOSED $970 MILLION LEVEL. TH
HOUSING LEVY WORKS TO BRIDGE TH
RACIAL WEALTH AND HOMEOWNERSHIP
GAP BY CREATING SAFE, STABLE,
AND AFFORDABLE HOME OPTIONS FOR
HOUSEHOLDS OF COLOR WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY DISPLACED,
RENT BURDENED, AND DISHOUSED. I
WILL CREATE AND MAINTAIN 360
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW
DEVELOPMENT, FOR CLOSURE
PREVENTION ASSISTANCE, DOWN
PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND HOME
REPAIR GRANTS. AS A SUPPORTER O
THE BLACK HOME INITIATIVE, I
URGE YOU TO JOIN ME IN ENSURING
THIS WORK CAN BE DONE. THE
HOUSING LEVY IS OUR BEST TOOM
FOR INVESTING IN THE PERMANENT
AFFORDABLE HOMES SEATTLE SO
DESPERATELY NEEDS. PLEASE RENEW
THE LEVY AT THE $970 MILLION
LEVEL AND SEND IT TO THE VOTERS
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
TOGETHER WITH EVERYONE WHO
TESTIFIED IN FAVOR TODAY AND
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO
REALIZE OUR SHARED VISION FOR A
AFFORDABLE, EQUITABLE, AND
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. FEEL FREE
TO REACH OUT WITH ANY QUESTIONS
OR REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION. AND I WANT TO THAN
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
WELL, THAT IS A GREAT NOTE TO
END ON. I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELS
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
THANKS, COUNCILMEMBERNELSON. SO
WE GOT THROUGH EVERYBODY WHO WA
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AN
ALL THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM AND
ONLINE. REMINDER THAT WE WILL
HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MAY 31st,
AGAIN IN THE EVENING OR LATE
AFTERNOON TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE
AS MANY FOLKS AS POSSIBLE WHO
MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN PROVIDIN
US WITH ANY FEEDBACK AT THAT
JUNCTURE. WE'LL HAVE REMOTE AND
IN-PERSON PUBLIC TESTIMONY AS
WELL. THAT'S MAY 31st AT 4:30
P.M. WE WILL HAVE OUR NEXT
MEETING ON THE HOUSING LEVY
COMING UP ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 3rd
AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING, WHERE
AGAIN WE WILL START WITH AN
OVERVIEW FROM THE COMMUNITY WIT
THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN
GET INTO THE CENTRAL STAFF'S
PRESENTATION WITH POTENTIAL
ISSUES FOR IDENTIFICATION AND
POTENTIAL MODIFICATIONS. I WANT
TO UNDERSCORE THE REALLY NEAR
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT TODAY, VERY
MUCH GLOWING ENTHUSIASM FROM
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, BOTH
FOR THE AMOUNT AND FOR THE TYPE
OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE INCLUDED I
THE PROPOSED LEVY. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO BUILDING ON THOSE
GREAT COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
SHARED WITH US TODAY, AND THANK
TO THE FOLKS WHO MADE THIS
EVENING'S PRESENTATION POSSIBLE
THE CLERKS, JODY, EMILIA, THE
CLERKS FROM MY OFFICE, I.T., AN
THE WHOLE CREW, SEATTLE CHANNEL
AS WELL THE COMMS TEAM, AND ALL
OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS HERE WITH
US THIS EVENING, ALONG WITH
AARON HOUSE, WHO LEADS OUR WORK
ON HOUSING AND CHIEF OF STAFF I
OUR OFFICE. IF THERE'S NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS -- HEARING
NONE, OUR COMMITTEE IS
ADJOURNED. SEE YOU ON MAY 3rd.
THANKS, EVERYONE.