.
>>> I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING
ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND LEADERS IN
THE CITY AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS
AND ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE
STANDING WITH ME AS FRIENDS AND
COLLEAGUES TO DISCUSS WHAT IS
THE MOST DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC
OF OUR CITY.
HOW WE DEAL WITH THOSE PEOPLE
OPENLY USING ILLEGAL DRUGS, HOW
WE ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT BEGS THE QUESTION IN SEATTLE
OF WHO ARE WE AND WHO ARE WE TO
BECOME.
IF YOU DID NOT KNOW WHO I WAS,
I'M MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
OUR PURPOSE HERE IS SIMPLE.
TO DEFINE WITH CLARITY AS A
WORKING GROUP WHAT WILL OCCUR
WITHIN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS
REGARDING THIS HOW AND HOW WE
WILL DISCUSS AN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THE ISSUES I JUST DISCUSSED.
BUT TODAY WE WILL ALSO DISCUSS
THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
LED UP TO LAST TUESDAY'S
JUNE 6TH CITY COUNCIL DECISION
NOT TO ADOPT THE STATE LAW.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE ADOPTION
HAD IT PASSED WOULD HAVE
ALLOWEDED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
PROSECUTE CRIMES FOR PUBLIC
CONSUMPTION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS.
PUBLIC CONSUMPTION OF ILLEGAL
DRUGS REMAINS ILLEGAL EITHER
WAY.
PERHAPS THERE WAS A
MISCONCEPTION ON THAT POINT.
BUT IF WE'RE TO BE HONEST, THE
OUTCRY AND FRUSTRATION COMING
OUT OF LAST WEEK'S VOTE IS NOT
REALLY ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR PROSECUTION AND THOSE CASES.
IT'S ABOUT THE CONDITIONS ON OUR
STREET.
IT'S ABOUT THE HEALTH CRISIS
PLAYING OUT IN FRONT OF OUR EYES
AND THE PEOPLE SUFFERING AND
DYING FROM A NEW KIND OF POISON.
AND HOW THOSE ELEMENTS COMBINED
ALL TOGETHER MAKE OUR NEIGHBORS
FEEL UNSAFE AND UNWELCOME.
THAT'S OUR GREATEST FEAR.
TO FEEL UNSAFE.
TO BELIEVE OUR LIVES ARE AT RISK
AND TO BELIEVE OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT ALL FOUR CORNERS,
EXECUTIVE, COUNCIL, MUNICIPAL
COURT JUDGES AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHAT IS WORSE
IS TO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE
INCAPABLE OF UNWILLING TO
ADDRESS IT.
I BEG TO DIFFER.
LES LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED.
THIS YEAR IN OLYMPIA SENATE BILL
5536 WAS INTRODEUCED TO FIX THE
BLAKE DECISION BUT IN THREE DAYS
IN APRIL FINAL LEGISLATION COULD
NOT BE REACHED.
OUR TEAM, BRIM ANTLY LED BY A
FORMALLY ELECTED OFFICIAL GAIL
TARLETON AND HER TEAM ACTIVELY
WORKED ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE
THEY KNEW OUR DIRECTIVE.
OUR DIRECTIVE WAS NOT TO HAVE A
PIECE MALE APPROACH ON THIS
CRITICAL ISSUE.
THIS IS BAD POLICY BY THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND THE STATE.
WE'VE TALKED LOUDLY AND
ARTICULATELY ABOUT A PIECEMEAL
APPROACH AND WHY THAT COULD BE
DEVASTATING FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
AFTER THE SESSION ENDED ON
APRIL 23RD, WE WENT INTO FULL
BLOWN LOBBYING MODE AND NINE
DAYS LATER THE GOVERNOR CALLED A
SPECIAL SESSION THAT WOULD BE
CALLED TO FIX THE BLAKE
DECISION.
AND WITHIN THOSE NINE DAYS CITY
ATTORNEY ANNE DAVIDSON AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS SARAH NELSON AND
ALEX PETERSON HELD A PRESS
CONFERENCE WITH A LOCAL FIX TO
THE BLAKE DECISION RECOGNIZING
THAT OLYMPIA HAD NOT PASSED
LEGISLATION TO PROTECT SEATTLE.
THEY RESUBMITTED THE LEGISLATION
AFTER THE STATE ADDRESSED BLAKE.
AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN
AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEY
KNOW THAT EVERY YEAR THAT'S WHAT
THE CITY ATTORNEY DOES.
THEY LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN
OLYMPIA AT THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
THERE'S NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT
THAT PROCESS.
IN FACT THAT'S THEIR DUTY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED ON JUNE 6TH
JUST FORGET ABOUT THE VOTE FOR
ONE MINUTE.
WAS THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS
OF LIFE POURED THEIR HEART OUT
IN TESTIMONY.
THIS SAY RESURRECTION ON THE WAR
AGAINST DRUGS.
THIS WILL HAVE A DEADLY
CONSEQUENCE FOR PEOPLE
STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AND
WILL ONCE AGAIN
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
OTHERS WOULD DISAGREE.
THEY SAY THIS IS A TOOL TO GET
PEOPLE HELP.
THE WAR ON DRUGS IS FEAR
MONGERING.
THE AVERAGE TIME FOR A
MISDEMEANOR IS THREE DAYS IN THE
LOCAL JAIL.
THIS IS AN ADOPTION OF STATE LAW
AND ONE TOOL TO GET PEOPLE IN
TREATMENT.
THE FEAR NOW SOH THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL HAD MADE A DECISION THAT
IS MISALIGNED WITH STATE LAW AND
MISALIGNED WITH THE VAST
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHAT THE VAST
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WANT IN THIS
CITY.
THE MA I DON'T/OF WHICH ELECTED
ME AS THEIR MAYOR.
AND THEN THAT BEGS THE QUESTION
AS TO WHAT MY ADMINISTRATION HAS
BEEN DOING DURING THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS DURING THIS
DEBATE.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE'VE BEEN
DOING.
WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN A LOT OF
WORK.
SPD HAS RECOVERED OVER 1 MILLION
MILLS OF FENTANYL IN JUST THE
FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
THAT'S ENOUGH TO KILL EVERYONE
IN SEATTLE.
THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS IN SEATTLE
REPORTED MAJOR VIOLENT CRIMES
ARE DOWN 19% COMPARED TO THE
SAME PERIOD IN 2022.
FROM 1,837 INCIDENTS TO 1,473
NOTABLY ROBBERIES ARE DOWN 30%
AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS DOWN
37%.
SHOTS FIRED, SHOTS FIRED EVENTS
ARE DOWN 18.1%.
YEAR TO DATE, RIGHT NOW SPD HAS
RECOVERED OVER 491 GUNS, THE
SECOND HIGHEST TOTAL ON RECORD.
ON TOP OF THE NEARLY 1350 GUNS
THEY RETRIEVED LAST YEAR.
THE LAST QUARTERLY UPDATE TO THE
ONE SEATTLE HOMELESSNESS ACTION
PLAN WEBSITE SHOOTINGS AT
ENCAMPMENTS ARE DOWN
APPROXIMATELY 808% FROM THE 2022
SECOND QUARTER PEAK.
LET ME BE MORE SPECIFIC.
FROM 71 TO 13.
REPORTED MAJOR PROPERTY CRIME
HAS DECREASED 23.1% IN THE FIRST
FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR COMPARED
TO THE SAME PERIOD IN 2022.
AGAIN, LET ME BE SPECIFIC.
15,710 INCIDENTS DOWN TO 12,086.
ALL REPORTED OTHER CRIMES
INCLUDING MISDEMEANORS, DRUG,
LIQUOR, TRESPASS AND ALL OTHER
CRIMES NOT INCLUDED IN MAJOR
CRIMES DECLINED 67.8% IN -- 6.8%
IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE
YEAR COMPARED TO 2022.
8,058 TO 7,507.
OVERALL ALL REPORTED CRIME
DECLINED 17.7% IN THE FIRST FOUR
MONTHS COMPARED TO THE SAME
PERIOD IN 2022.
THIS IS THE LOWEST NUMBER OF
REPORTED CRIMES IN THE PREVIOUS
FOUR YEARS.
SPD WE RECOGNIZED THAT IN
PREVIOUS YEARS OUR SEXUAL
ASSAULT UNIT PROVIDING LESS THAN
OPTIMAL RESULTS.
WE INCREASED DOUBLED FROM FOUR
TO EIGHT THE NUMBER OF
DETECTIVES IN THIS ARENA PER
SUNT TO MY EXECUTIVE ORDER AND
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS CAME FROM
ADVOCATES AND SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS WHO ARE PART OF THE
ADVISORY PANEL ON SEXUAL
ASSAULT.
WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN THE WORK.
I TALKED ABOUT HOMELESSNESS IN
THE REALM OF PUBLIC SAFETY
BECAUSE SOMETIMES THESE ISSUES
GET INTERMINGLED.
I'LL BE THE FIRST TO SAY THAT
NOT ALL HOMELESSNESS SITUATIONS
PRESENT -- BUT IF YOU LOOK AT.
VERIFIED PUBLIC SPACES AND TENT
COUNTS THEY'VE DECREASED BY 42%.
LAST YEAR WE MADE MORE THAN
1,800 REFERRALS.
RESPONSE TIMES TO PRIORITY ONE
CALLS, 911 CALLS, ARE JUST ABOVE
THE SEVEN MINUTES WHICH IS THE
GOAL WE SET TO DESIRED TIME FOR
OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND IN ALL THIS WORK, THE USE OF
FORCE IS DOWN IN MOST BY LESS
THAN 1%.
THAT'S EFFECTIVE CONSTITUTIONAL
POLICING.
LET ME TELL YOU WHERE ELSE WE'VE
BEEN.
WE'VE BEEN HOLDING THE HAND OF
DEVON PICKET'S MOTHER AND WIFE
WEEPING AT HIS FUNERAL SERVICE.
BEAUTIFUL YOUNG MAN MURDERED AS
A RESULT OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND
DISPAIR.
THE PRESS WAS THERE.
WE SPENT HOURS AT THE FUNERAL
SERVICE WITH THE BLACK ACTIVIST
COMMUNITY ATTENDING ELIJAH
LEWIS'S SERVICE WHERE HE DIED
PROTECTING THE LIFE OF HIS
9-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW.
TO LISTEN TO HIS NEPHEW WHO WAS
SHOT IN THE LEG SEVERAL SAY TO
US MY UNCLE DIED BECAUSE HE
PROTECTED ME FREQUENT THE BAD
THING.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH GROUPS
LIKE COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS.
GOING DEEP IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH
PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED TRAUMA TO
SAVE THEIR LIVES AND ALLOW THEM
TO BE PROTECTED MEMBERS OF
SOCIETY.
WE'VE BEEN LAUNCHING REACH OUT
AT INGRAM HIGH SCHOOL WHERE 17
YEAR OLD EBENEEZER HALE WAS
KILLED WHERE WE'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH OTHERS REDUCING VIOLENCE
TENDENCIES AND TRAUMA UNTREATED
REALIZING THAT IS THE UPSTREAM
WORK WE HAVE TO DO.
WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?
YOU SEE I GET EMOTIONAL.
BETTER LOOSEN UP THIS TIE.
WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN THE HARD
WORK TO SAVE THIS CITY.
LET ME MAKE SOMETHING ELSE
CLEAR.
ON THIS WAR ON DRUGS.
THE VOICE OF THE UNHEARD.
I'M STANDING HERE WITH BROIL
DARYL POWELL AND JIMMY BUCHA IN,
NAN BECAUSE FOR SOME OF YOU THE
WAR ON DRUGS WAS SOMETHING YOU
READ ABOUT IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.
WE LIVED THROUGH IT.
WE CRIED THROUGH IT.
>>> GOT MY GAME FACE BACK ON.
WATCH OUT FOR ME.
DO YOU THINK FOR A MOMENT I
WOULD LEAD THIS CITY WITHOUT
COMPASSION.
WITHOUT TREATING PEOPLE WITH
DRUG ADDICTION.
THESE BROTHERS NORMALLY SINCE I
WAS 8 YEARS OLD, HIS FATHER AND
HIS UNCLE WERE MY BASEBALL
COACH.
WE SURVIVED THE WAR ON DRUGS.
THIS BROTHER WENT TO HARVARD.
GOT HIS MBA.
HE'S THE BISHOP OF A NATIONAL
CHURCH AND SUCCESSFUL
ENTREPRENEUR.
WE SURVIVED THE WAR ON DRUGS.
SO WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS
COULD BE A WAR ON DRUGS.
DON'T DISMISS WHAT THEY ARE
SAYING BECAUSE YOUR VOICE MAY
NOT ALWAYS BE AT THE CENTER OF
POLICY BECAUSE OUR VOICES WERE
NOT AT THE CENTER OF THAT
POLICY.
OUR VOICES WERE NOT AT THE
CENTER OF THAT POLICY AND I NEED
THIS ENTIRE CITY TO RECOGNIZE
AND NOT BE DISMISSIVE WHEN
PEOPLE LIVE WITH TRAUMA BECAUSE
OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS
COUNTRY.
ONE SEATTLE MEANS THAT WE LISTEN
TO THE UNDERDOG ONCE IN A WHILE.
WE DON'T DISMISS ANYONE.
I AM STANDING WITH LEADERS
BEHIND ME COMMITTED TO DOING
THIS KIND OF WORK.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO.
THIS WORKING GROUP, THIS WORK
GROUP, WE WILL PASS A LAW THAT
ALLOWS OUR DEPARTMENT TO MAKE
ARRESTS.
I'M UNAMBIGUOUS ON THAT BUT WE
WILL DO THAT WITH COMPASSION TO
PROTECT PEOPLE WHEN WE HAVE TO.
BUT OUR VALUES WILL ALWAYS BE TO
LEAD WITH COMPASSION.
WITH HELP.
WITH LOVE.
ALWAYS.
THIS ORDINANCE TAKES IT ON A
GRANULARE LEVEL ON WHAT THESE
OFFICERS WILL DO WHEN THEY
ENCOUNTER SOMEONE USING DRUGS.
THEY WILL EVALUATE WHETHER
THEY'RE A THREAT TO THEMSELVES
ONLY, A THREAT TO OTHERS, AND
LET ME BE CLEAR, PEOPLE SHOULD
NOT BE DEMONIZE BECAUSE THEY
WANT TO WALK DOWN THE STREET.
THEY WANT TO SHOP.
STAND AT A BUS STOP AND NOT BE
AROUND OPEN AIR DRUG DEALING.
OUR OFFICERS WANT CLARITY ON
WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.
SO LET ME BE CLEAR.
THEY WILL HAVE THAT CLARITY IN
THE WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
IN THE COMING WEEKS.
THIS SYSTEM DESIGN GROUP WILL
WORK WITH THE PASSION THAT I
HAVE.
THAT'S MY JOB.
THE MUNICIPAL COURT, THE CITY
ATTORNEY WILL BE HARD AT WORK
DESIGNING WHAT A NEW COMMUNITY
COURT LOOKS LIKE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN CLOSING.
BE PROUD OF THEM.
I WILL SAY THAT.
BECAUSE WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE
WORK WE'RE DOING AND I'LL GO
BACK INTO THE PRECINCTS AND SAY
I WILL UPHOLD YOU WHEN YOU LOOK
AT OUR COMMUNITY AND SEE YOUR
FACE.
WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE STRUGGLING
OUT HERE WITH ADDICTION ISSUES,
I DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE A BAD
HUMAN BEING.
I WANT YOU TO SEE SOMEONE THAT
NEEDS HELP.
AND IF YOU ARE PROTECTING
SOMEONE AND HAVE YOU TO MAKE
ARRESTS, WE WILL HAVE YOUR BACK
BECAUSE YOU'LL DO IT LAWFULLY
AND CONSTITUTIONALLY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT UNITY IN OUR
COMMUNITY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
ONE SEATTLE.
UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DEDICATED OUR
LIVES TO.
YOU KNOW, THEY PROBABLY HEARD ME
GIVE A THOUSAND SPEECHES.
THEY KNOW I WAKE UP, I GOT
WHAT'S CALLED 4:00 IN THE
MORNING COURAGE.
WE DOE THIS WORK.
DEDICATE OURSELVES TO THIS WORK.
AND WHEN OUR COMMUNITY IMPLODES
AND HAS PROBLEMS WITHIN OUR OWN
COMMUNITY, WE DON'T SAY WE DON'T
BELIEVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE RIGHT.
WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
SO AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK
WE DON'T ADVOCATE OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES TO BUILD ONE
SEATTLE.
IT'S NOT A PERIOD OF
FRAGMENTATION.
IT'S A PERIOD OF RESILIENCE.
ONE SEATTLE IS OUR NORTH STAR.
YESTERDAY SUE BIRD -- SHE TALKED
ABOUT DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP
STYLES AND SAYS SOME PEOPLE CAN
LEAD LIKE A SHEPARD.
LEAD FROM BEHIND IN THE MIDDLE
BUT YOU ALWAYS KNOW THE FLOCK
ALWAYS KNOWS THERE'S GREEN
PASTURES.
UNLIKE A COWBOY.
COWBOYS SIT THERE AND PUT THAT
LASSO OUT AND PULL SOMEONE BACK
IN LINE AND SHOW THAT CALF WHO'S
BOSS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE SHEPARDS
TOGETHER.
I BELIEVE WE WON'T FAIL BECAUSE
I KNOW THE TALENT WE HAVE BEHIND
US.
I KNOW OUR NORTH STAR.
OUR EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL
ACCOMPANY THIS ORDINANCE IS
GOING TO ACTUALLY COUNT HOW MANY
PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE ON OUR
STREETS USING DRUGS.
WE ARE DATABASED IN OUR
APPROACH.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET
THE BLOOMBURG FOUNDATION A GOLD
RATING ON HOW WE USE DATA.
I OPEN UP DATA.
I SAID IN OUR ADMINISTRATION
WE'LL LEAD WITH DATA.
WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR YOU TO SEE.
RIGHT NOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
OUT THERE USING IT.
AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR
YOU'LL SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE
ARRESTED, DIVERTED, TREATED.
YOU'LL GET AS MUCH DEMOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION YOU CAN.
I BELIEVE IN THE GOODNESS OF THE
PEOPLE AROUND ME.
NO TIME FOR GRANDSTANDING.
NO TIME FOR PUNCHING DOWN AT
ANYONE.
BUT THE CITY COUNCIL TOOK A HIT
LAST WEEK, I TOOK A HIT.
IF I TOOK A HIT, MY COMMUNITY
TAKES A HIT.
IN A ONE SEATTLE APPROACH I
DON'T START PUNCHING DOWN AT
PEOPLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED LAST
WEEK.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
DO.
NOW I'M GOING TO LIGHTEN IT UP
AND SAY TO ALL OF YOU THAT THIS
IS WHERE WE SHINE.
WE DON'T HIDE.
WE DON'T PUNCH AT EACH OTHER.
WE GET THROUGH IT AND WE BECOME
RESILIENT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS
ORDINANCE ACROSS FINISH LINE.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE OUR OFFICERS
THE CLARITY THEY NEED.
WE'RE GOING TO ALIGN OURSELF
WITH WHAT THE CITY WANTS WHICH
IS A SAFE AND HEALTHY SEATTLE.
WITH THAT, I'LL PART BY SAYING
ONE SEATTLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS I
BELIEVE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SAW MY WIFE'S HAND GO UP BUT
YESTERDAY I SAID THIS AND I
VOUCH FOR THIS.
EVERYWHERE YOU GO IN THE CITY
RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE SAYING
THIS: I LIKE WHERE WE'RE
HEADING.
I LIKE WHAT I'M SEEING.
I WANT TO SEE ARE YOU ALL
GETTING THAT AS WELL?
>> YES.
>> I LIKE THE TRAJECTORY THAT
THE CITY IS GOING.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH SOME TOUGH
TIMES, SEATTLE.
I SAW THE MOST IMPORTANT HAND GO
UP AND THAT IS MY WIFE.
FIRST LADY, YOU HAVE THE -- COME
UP RIGHT HERE.
>> YES, IT IS TRUE I'M THE FIRST
LADY BUT I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE.
AND I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE AND
I WANT TO THANK NOT ONLY MY
HUSBAND, OUR MAYOR, BUT
EVERYBODY WHO IS STANDING HERE.
TO ME, THIS IS LEADERSHIP.
AND I'M THE LEADERSHIP CHAIR FOR
THE FOSTER BUSINESS -- I KNOW
WHAT LEADERSHIP IS.
THIS IS LEADERSHIP.
THIS IS COMMITMENT.
THIS IS COMPASSION.
AND THIS IS LOVE AND THIS IS
SEATTLE AND I AM SO PROUD TO BE
PART OF THIS TEAM.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
.
>> OKAY. I SEE A HAND.
>> YOU SAID WE WILL PASS A LAW
THAT ALLOWS OUR DEPARTMENT TO
MAKE ARRESTS.
TO BE CLEAR, THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED
TO MAKE ARRESTS, RIGHT?
>> CORRECT.
>> AND THEN PREVIOUSLY YOU
ENCOURAGED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
TO FOCUS ON HIGH LEVEL
DISTRIBUTORS.
IS THERE SPECIFIC EDICT YOU'VE
GIVEN TO NOT MAKE ARRESTS ON
MISDEMEANOR DRUG CHARGES?
>> NO.
THERE IS NOT AN EDICT.
I'VE SAID NOT TO MAKE ARRESTS ON
DRUG CHARGES.
>> WILL THIS BE DONE BY JULY 1ST
AND WHAT IS THE RISK TO THE CITY
IF NOT?
>> GOOD QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW.
I'M USING THE TERM COMING WEEKS
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT RESTS WITH
THE CITY COUNCIL.
I HAVE IN MY MIND WHAT A GREAT
ORDINANCE COULD LOOK LIKE.
THE PARAMETERS ACCOMPANY WITH AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER BUT I WAS TOLD
DON'T USE A SPECIFIC DATE BUT TO
BE A LITTLE MORE DIRECT, I KNOW
THEY DO GO ON BREAK BY THE LAST
WEEK OF AUGUST AND SO WE HOPE TO
GET IT ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE THEN
BUT I WON'T COMMIT THE CITY
COUNCIL.
THAT MIGHT BE A MORE APPROPRIATE
QUESTION FOR THEM.
I'LL TELL WHAT YOU, THIS WORK
GROUP WE'LL START WORKING
IMMEDIATELY ON THIS ORDINANCE
AND EXECUTIVE ORDER.
>> YES.
>> THE KEY VOTE IN THIS COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS.
HE'S INDICATED HE WANTS SOME
SORT OF THERAPEUTIC COURT TO
REPLACE COMMUNITY COURT.
WHAT'S IN THE WORKS FOR THAT?
>> VERY GOOD.
AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WE HAD LIKE
A PREGAME HUDDLE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF I SAID --
LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR.
I'M GOING TO LEAD ON WE HAVE TWO
VERY OUTSTANDING MUNICIPAL COURT
JUDGES HERE.
WE HAVE ANNE DAVIDSON FROM THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HERE.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE COMMITTED
TO FIGURING THAT OUT.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL AND MY OFFICE WE LOOK AT
THE BUDGET AND RESOURCES
ALLOCATED SOD WE ARE THERE FOR
WHAT I WILL ALL ANCILLARY
SUPPORT.
I'LL CALL IT ANCILLARY SUPPORT
BECAUSE THAT'S A RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE PROSECUTORS AND
DEFENSE BAR AND THE COURT SYSTEM
THAT SHOULD BE WORKED OUT.
SO I'M CONFIDENT AND BY ALL
MEANS IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO
SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE, YOU CAN.
I'M CONFIDENT THEY WILL COME UP
WITH A SUBSTITUTION FOR
COMMUNITY COURT.
AND LET ME SAY SOMETHING ELSE
ABOUT IT.
I'LL GIVE MY OPINION ON THAT.
IF YOU ELIMINATE SOMETHING THAT
PEOPLE PUT A LOT OF WORK IN, YOU
HAVE TO BE QUICKER OR YOU HAVE
TO QUICKLY FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE
SUBSTITUTION.
I KNOW THEY'RE ALREADY HAVING
THESE CONVERSATIONS.
WE HAD A MEETING THIS MORNING
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ANNE
DAVIDSON AND HER TEAM AND THE
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AND HER
TEAM AND WE ALL MET THIS MORNING
TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT AN
ALTERNATIVE PATH BASED ON
TREATMENT, DIVERSION WILL
EVOLVE.
THAT WILL LIKELY NOT BE IN THE
ORDINANCE BECAUSE THAT'S A
DIFFERENT ISSUE OUTSIDE THE
SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE.
>> YOU SAID YOU HAVE IN YOUR
MIND THE PERFECT ORDINANCE.
CAN YOU EXPAND?
>> SURE.
LET ME ALSO MAKE IT CLEAR BEFORE
I EXPAND THAT THIS IS THE
EXECUTIVE'S IDEA.
WHAT I HOPE YOU HEARD IS WE
CENTER THE VOICE OF THE
COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT
BEEN CENTERED.
THAT'S THE TREATMENT COMMUNITY.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPACTED
COMMUNITY.
THAT DID NOT OCCUR.
SO THIS IS WHAT MY ORDINANCE
WANTS TO LOOK LIKE.
CLARITY FOR THE OFFICERS.
IF YOU SEE A PERSON THAT IS
THREATENING SOMEONE PERHAPS THEY
HAVE -- THEY COULD HAVE WARRANTS
OUT FOR THEIR ARREST, THEY COULD
BE VIOLENT.
WE DON'T KNOW.
AND THERE COULD BE DRUG USE
AROUND THE DOWNTOWN CORE AND
REMEMBER I WAS THE FIRST
PROPONENT OF BODY CAMERAS.
SO MANY WHEN I OFFICERS ARREST
YOU WILL SEE WHAT THEY DO.
OKAY. SO IF THERE'S A LAWFUL
CONSTITUTIONAL ARREST MADE
BECAUSE THIS PERSON POSES A
THREAT, IT WILL BE MADE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE
PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE DYING
BECAUSE THEY'RE SICK AND
UNHEALTHY.
THEY'VE BEEN TRAUMATIZED.
THEY'RE LIVING WITH TRAUMA.
AND I'M HERE WITH MY CHILDHOOD
FRIENDS BECAUSE THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN US.
WE CAN WALK THESE STREETS AND
WILL SEE PEOPLE WE GREW UP WITH.
THEY'RE KILLING THEMSELVES.
THAT'S OUR TREATMENT BASED
MODEL.
SO IN OUR OTHER MODELS AND MR.
DAVES HERE DOES A LOT OF WORK IN
THIS REALM DEALING WITH PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING TRAUMA.
SO OUR ORDINANCE WILL TALK ABOUT
HOW WE DEAL, WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED
TO DO FOR THAT PERSON WHO JUST
NEEDS HELP.
IT'S NOT A WAR ON DRUGS.
IT'S A WAR ON HEALTH.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE HEALTHY.
>> YOU SAID THAT SOMEONE WHO
GOES IN ARRESTED ON A
MISDEMEANOR CHARGE WILL BE IN
FOR THREE DAYS BUT IT TAKES
SEVEN DAYS IN JAIL FOR YOU TO BE
ON TREATMENT FOR DRUG ADDICTION.
SO WHY ARE WE PUTTING PEOPLE IN
JAIL?
>> WE'RE PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL
BECAUSE THEY ARE A THREAT OR
HARM TO OTHERS IS WHY WE PUT
PEOPLE IN JAIL.
THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLE'S SAFETY
AT RISK.
THAT IS WHAT THE LAW IS THERE
FOR.
THAT'S WHY WE ARREST.
>> WHAT ABOUT THEIR SAFETY?
>> THE SAFETY THERE BEING WHAT?
THE PERSON -- WHAT ABOUT THEIR
SAFETY.
OKAY. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I'M
MAKING MYSELF CLEAR.
WHAT I HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID IS
IN OUR MODEL AND ORDINANCE, THE
SAFETY OF EVERYONE MATTERS.
THEIR HEALTH MATTERS.
SO WE WILL HAVE OTHER SKILL SETS
DEALING WITH A PERSON THAT IS
NOT SAFE BECAUSE OF THEIR DRUG
USE.
THEIR ILLEGAL USE.
AGAIN, OUR OFFICERS WILL BE
GIVEN THIS KIND OF CLARITY IN
HOW THEY APPROACH THESE ISSUES
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS
MISSING IN THE DISCUSSION AND
REMEMBER THE BLAKE DECISION
STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN
2021.
IT TOOK THE LEGISLATURE A COUPLE
OF YEARS TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
DO YOU THINK THE CITY COUNCIL
CAN FIGURE THIS OUT IN A WEEK?
WE CENTER THE VOICES OF MANY
PEOPLE, THOSE WHO WANT TO FEEL
SAFE AND BE DOWNTOWN AND HAVE A
GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE AND THOSE
THAT ARE SICK.
I THINK I'VE MADE THAT CLEAR BUT
I'LL KEEP SAYING IT UNTIL IT IS
CLEAR.
>> IT SEEMS A BIG PART OF WHAT
IS MISSING IS MORE AVAILABLE
TREATMENT OPTIONS.
CAN YOU SPEAK AT ALL TO WHAT YOU
MIGHT BE DOING OR CONSIDERING TO
IMPROVE TREATMENT OPTIONS?
>> ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT
THE CITY HAS HISTORICALLY
STRUGGLED WITH AND EVEN NOW IS
WHERE DO YOU TAKE A PERSON OTHER
THAN TO JAIL FOR TREATMENT?
THE CRISIS CARE CENTER THAT
PASSED NORTH OF $1 BILLION OVER
NINE YEARS WILL ESTABLISH THOSE.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE
NEXT MONTH OR SO, NEXT COMING
WEEKS IS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR
AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
WHERE CAN WE TAKE PEOPLE TO GET
TREATMENT.
WE'RE DOING AN ASSET REVIEW TO
SEE WHERE IN THE MEANTIME BEFORE
THESE FACILITIES ARE SITED WHERE
WE CAN TAKE THEM AND THAT IS A
TREATMENT BASED APPROACH.
WE ALSO REALIZED THAT CHIEF DIAZ
TALKED THIS MORNING ABOUT OUR
CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT WHERE WE'RE
TAKING PEOPLE AND WE KNOW THAT
THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES TAKING
PEOPLE TO HOSPITALS THEY ARE NOT
FULLY STAFFED TO TAKE IN PEOPLE
THAT NEED HELP SO THE SITING IS
SOME OF THE WORK WE'RE GOING TO
BE LOOKING INTO
>> ARE YOU SAYING IF SOMEONE IS
JUST USING DRUGS ON THE STREET
OR IN POSSESSION OF DRUGS THE
POLICE WILL NOT TAKE THEM TO
JAIL AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT A
THREAT OR PRESENTING A THREAT.
>> LET ME BE CLEAR.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO THE
WORK.
YOU'RE ASKING FOR SPECIFICS ON
THE ORDINANCE WE'RE GOING TO
PASS.
I WAS VERY INTENTIONAL IN MY
TERMS. I SAID WE WILL RECONCILE
STATE AND CITY LAW, YES.
AND THEN WE'LL COME UP WITH AN
ORDINANCE ALLOWING US TO MAKE
LAWFUL ARRESTS, YES.
WE'LL COME UP WITH A STRATEGY TO
GIVE OUR OFFICERS CLARITY AND
HOW THEY'LL MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE WHO NEED TREATMENT GET
TREATMENT AND WE'RE GOING TO DO
THIS COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER.
WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
COURT SYSTEM, THE CITY ATTORNEYS
OFFICE.
>> IN THE MEANTIME SOMEONE IS
USING DRUGS BUT NOT NECESSARILY
POSING A THREAT.
>> YOUR QUESTION IS IN THE
MEANTIME WHICH IS THE NEXT
COUPLE OF WEEKS.
YOU WANT ME TO DESCRIBE THE NEXT
COUPLE OF WEEKS?
>> CLARIFY WHAT YOUR DIRECTIVE
IS TO SPD.
>> SO MY DIRECTIVE TO SPD WILL
BE BASICALLY WHAT THEY'VE BEEN
DOING.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING A PRETTY GOOD
JOB ON OPEN AIR DRUG USE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE
SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT.
RIGHT NOW THE COUNTY -- KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR MADE IT CLEAR
THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
PROSECUTE.
THE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW SINCE
2012 DOES NOT ALLOW THE CITY
ATTORNEYS OFFICE THE ABILITY TO
PROSECUTE.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THAT URGENCY
OF THE HOUR THAT WE'RE WORKING
ON RIGHT NOW.
SO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS,
IT WILL BE STATUS QUO FOR THE
NEXT COUPLE OF WEAKS.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I HOPE
I GAVE YOU ENOUGH DATA TO
SUGGEST THAT IS NOT THE WILD
WEST OUT THERE.
WE ARE WORKING HARD.
AND THIS MISNOMER THAT SEATTLE
IS DYING OR SUFFERING YOU
WEREN'T WITH US YESTERDAY.
RIGHT NOW IN THIS BEAUTIFUL JUNE
12G9 DAY, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT
CONTINUE TO LOVE THIS SEATTLE
AND LIKE WHERE WE'RE HEADING.
THESE PROBLEMS WERE NOT STARTED
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED
IN TWO WEEKS.
I HOPE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS
THAT.
WE'RE DEALING WITH HUNDREDS OF
YEARS OF INSTITUTIONAL
DISCRIMINATION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIVES THAT
CONTINUE TO BE TRAUMATIZED IN
THE CITY AND COUNTRY.
SO IF YOU WANT SOMETHING IN THE
NEXT TWO MONTHS, I DIDN'T SIGN
UP TO FIX NIT THE NEXT TWO
WEEKS.
I SIGNED UP TO FIND SUSTAINABLE
SOLUTIONS TO CREATE A ONE
SEATTLE MODEL WHERE EVERYONE IS
SAFE AND EVERYONE IS HEALTHY AND
THAT IS THE TRAJECTORY THAT
WE'RE ON.
WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE IT DOWN.
>> TWO MORE QUESTIONS.
>> YES, SIR.
>> AS OF RIGHT NOW WHAT THIS NEW
ORDINANCE WILL LOOK LIKE IS
UNKNOWN.
YOU CAN SAY POLICE WILL HAVE
CLARITY WHEN EVERYONE TALKS OR
WHEN WE ALL GO REPORT.
IS THAT FAIR?
>> ARE YOU SAYING WHAT THE
ORDINANCE LOOKS LIKE OR OUR
OFFICERS ARE DOING?
WHAT OUR OFFICERS ARE DOING?
>> WHEN THIS ORDINANCE PASSES
HOW DO YOU DEFINE WHEN SOMEONE
MAKES AN ARREST IT WILL BE CLEAR
THEN.
>> LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
THE OFFICERS CAN MAKE AN ARREST
FOR UNLAWFUL DRUG USE RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE AUTHORIZED.
THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTORS
OFFICE DECLINED -- THEY'RE
SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO PROSECUTE.
BUT LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR IF I
HAVEN'T ALREADY, I BELIEVE IN MY
HEART THE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING
DRUGS MANY OF THEM ARE SICK.
THEY ARE UNHEALTHY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND
FILL OUR JAILS WITH SICK PEOPLE.
SO WE ARE CONTINUING IN OUR
INVESTMENT STRATEGY ON GROUPS
LIKE YOU SEE STANDING WITH ME
RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH OUR CRISIS
UNIT.
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH OUR MEDIC
ONE AND TWO SYSTEM.
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH OUR REACH
OUT SYSTEM WHICH IS BASED ON
MODEL ONE AND TWO IN TERMS OF
DEALING WITH OUR TRAUMATIZED
YOUTH.
ARE YIELDING RESULTS.EGY WHICH
I WILL CONTINUE MEETING WITH OUR
OFFICERS.
OUR EXECUTIVE ORDER WILL COUNT
TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
NONE OF YOU CAN TELL ME RIGHT
NOW I THINK WITH A LEVEL OF
ACCURACY ON EXACTLY WHAT THE
PROBLEM IS.
WE HAVE NOT QUANTITY IDENTIFIED
IT.
NO MAYOR HAS QUANTITY IDENTIFIED
IT.
WE WILL QUANTITY IDENTIFY IT SO
IT'S NOT THIS NEBRASKA LOUSE
CONCEPT TO -- NEBULOUS CONCEPT
TO HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING
DRUGS.
ALL OUR SOLUTIONS UNDER MY
ADMINISTRATION ARE SUSTAINABLE
SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR SUSTAINABLE
OUTCOMES.
[INDISCERNIBLE AUDIO].
>> I SAID WHAT I SAID.
THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID.
I'M NOT SURE YOU'RE SAYING IT
RIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO -- I MEAN,
IT'S BEEN RECORDED.
GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE RECORD.
I'VE SAID A LOT THE LAST 45
MINUTES SO IF THAT'S WHAT YOU
HEARD, YOU DIDN'T SAY IT THE
RIGHT WAY OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS
ABOUT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> LASTLY YOU GOT REALLY
EMOTIONAL TALKING ABOUT LIVING
THROUGH THE WAR ON DRUGS.
THE ACTIVISTS ACCUSED ANNE
DAVIDSON'S DRUG BILL OF
PERPETUATING THE WAR ON DRUG AS,
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT
ASSESSMENT?
>> NO.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE ATTEMPT
THERE WAS TO PERPETUATE THE WAR
ON DRUGS.
I THINK THE ATTEMPT THERE WAS TO
RECONCILE STATE LAW WITH CITY
LAW TO GIVE HER OFFICE THE
ABILITY TO USE
THAT TOOL AS A MEANS TO GET
PEOPLE HELP AND TREATMENT AND
QUITE CANDIDLY, UNDER MY
ADMINISTRATION IS THE EXECUTIVE
OF THIS CITY WE'RE NOT GOING TO
REINSTITUTE THE WAR ON DRUGS.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WAS THE
INTENT.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I HOPE I AM QUOTED ACCURATELY
AND LET'S MAKE IT A GREAT DAY
BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO GET TO
WORK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]