>>> GOOD MORNING.
THE MARCH REGULAR SCHEDULED
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:30 A.M.
I AM TAMMY MORALES, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL TO ROLL.
COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
NEW BE PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR --
>> PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS IS EXCUSED FOR TODAY.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE HAVE A GREAT AGENDA TODAY.
WE HAVE 15 APPOINTMENTS THAT
WILL BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL GO THROUGH THOSE FIRST.
THE APPOINTMENT OF DEREK
WHEELER SMITH.
AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON
GENERATIONAL WEALTH BUILDING
STRATEGIES WILL BE WELCOMED BY
GUESTS FROM CHICAGO AND
RICHMOND VIRGINIA.
WE HAVE A VOTE ON COUNSEL BILL
-- WHICH IS THE RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE ORDINANCE IN THE CITY.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE WILL HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TWO
SPEAKERS THAT ARE JOINING
REMOTELY AND 11 SPEAKERS HERE
IN PERSON.
WE WILL OPEN THE IN PERSON AND
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
AND I WILL MODERATE IT IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER.
20 MINUTES FOR EACH SPEAKER AND
I MIGHT INCREASE THAT TO 25.
EVERYONE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES
TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON THE SPEAKERS
VIRTUALLY AND THEY CAN BEGIN
SPEAKING.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK OR WOULD LIKE TO, YOU CAN
SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WHEN YOU'RE CALLED, BEGIN BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
YOU WILL HAVE 10 SECONDS AND
YOU WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN THERE
IS 10 SECONDS LEFT.
WE ASK THAT YOU WRAP UP YOUR
COMMENT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE
ONTO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE
LISTENING AND YOU ARE VIRTUAL,
YOU CAN DO SO ON THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN AND WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS THAT ARE
VIRTUAL.
FIRST WILL START WITH ANDREW
AND LEN ELIJAH SMITH.
>> I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE
APPOINTMENT OF -- DEREK HAS BEEN
AFFLUENT IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
AND HAVING SOMEONE WITH
ALIGNMENT WITH ANTI-LGBTQ
ORGANIZATIONS IN THESE PUBLIC
SPACES, I DO NOT FEEL
COMFORTABLE MAKING APPOINTMENTS.
I THINK IT IS A DISSERVICE TO
MY COMMUNITY AND IT IS A RISK
TO THE COMMUNITY.
IT IS ALSO A SEGUE TO PUSH,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
CIVIL RIGHTS AND HOMOPHOBIC
AGENDAS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT
WE DO NOT NEED IN SEATTLE.
I WOULD BE REALLY DISAPPOINTED
TO SEE THAT IT IS TASKED BY
THIS COMMUNITY AND I REALLY
HOPE THAT THE VOICES OF THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITIES ARE TAKEN
INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DISCUSSING
HIS APPOINTMENT.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIJAH
SMITH.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS ELIZA SMITH AND I
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THE
PREVIOUS SPEAKER SPOKE.
I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
THE APPOINTMENT FOR DEREK WESER
SMITH.
MY REASONING FOR THIS IS
BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN HIM IN
COMMUNITY, HE HAS A GRASP OF
THE ISSUES THAT ARE PROMINENT
IN FOLLOWING HIS WORKS.
TRYING TO CONNECT WITH MULTIPLE
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND I WAS
REALLY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT HE
HAD AROUND RACIAL SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND THE CHALLENGING WORK
FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN THE
COMMUNITY.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY THAT
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A PLUS BY
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
YEAH, DEREK WAS THERE AND WE
PUT TOGETHER THE CHILDREN'S
MARCH IN 2020 AND WE REALLY
SPOKE PROUD WITH THE WORK
FORWARD.
NONE OF US ARE PERFECT PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT
THERE IS GROWTH IN THE AREA AND
THAT HIS APPOINTMENT WILL BE
MORE INCLUSIVE.
I WAS NOT AWARE WHAT WAS STATED
BEFORE.
I WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY TO
SUPPORT DEREK BECAUSE I'VE SEEN
HIM AND I HAVE GOTTEN TO SIT
DOWN AND TALK WITH HIM.
THAT IS ALL WE NEED IN
POSITIONS OF GOVERNMENT
ENTITIES WEANING PEOPLE WHO ARE
ATTACHED TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT,
ELIJAH.
IT LOOKS LIKE CARLO LYNCH HAS
JOINED US VIRTUALLY.
IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE PRESS
á6 I SEE YOU LISTED AS PRESENT,
YOU CAN PRESS á6 TO BEGIN.
OKAY.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS MARGUERITE
BECHARD FOLLOWED BY CAROLINE
MALONE.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS MARGUERITE LORI
BECHARD, FOR THOSE WHO CALL ME
LORI.
I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
ME AND EVERYONE ELSE, THAT IS
MY BABY.
I HEARD SOMETHING YESTERDAY
ABOUT NITA WHITFIELD AT THE
COUNTY LEVEL IT IS NOT WORKING.
SHE HAS TO REPORT TO THE
GOVERNOR, I GUESS.
THIS MASS GOES DOWN THE STREAM.
I AM NOT BUYING INTO IT.
I HAVE HAD SO MANY COMPLAINTS
AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE, YOU
WILL SAY, WHY HAVE YOU NOT BEEN
THE DIRECTOR?
I DO NOT HAVE THE ON PAPER
CREDENTIALS AS SUCH, I WILL NOT
PROMOTE ANYTHING THAT IS
CAUSING OUR PEOPLE TO
DISINTEGRATE AND LEAVE THIS
LANDED EARLIER THAN THEY
SHOULD.
THE GOD THAT I SERVE, HE IS THE
GIVER OF LIFE, HE CAN TAKE IT
AWAY AT ANY TIME.
I AM TALKING ABOUT THE STUFF
THAT YOU WANT US TO BELIEVE IN.
I WILL NOT BELIEVE IN IT UNTIL
I SEE REAL CHANGE.
IHAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TELL
THESE PEOPLE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE
TO ME DOWN YOUR.
IF YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH,
THE DEVIL IS UNDER MY FOOT
RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE I AM SICK AND TIRED, I
AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK
AND TIRED OF COMING DOWN HERE
AND HAVING TO FACE YOU PEOPLE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
YOU DO NOT TALK BACK AND YOU
SET UP THERE JUST LIKE THE KING
COUNTY PEOPLE AND CUT YOU OFF
IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR SPEECH
AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE
FREE SPEECH.
>> THANK YOU.
CAROLINE MALONE FOLLOWED BY
TERRY HOLSTON.
>> I AM CAROLINE MALONE.
MY ISSUE INVOLVES CIVIL RIGHTS,
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND HOUSING
RIGHTS ALL INTERTWINED AROUND
VIOLENT WHITE MALE SEATTLE
COPS, ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING SPACE
IN MY APARTMENT BUILDING AT
CHANCERY PLACE APARTMENT IN
RETALIATION FOR MY STREETCORNER
PROTEST POSTERS AT FOURTH AND
JAMES, FIFTH AND CHERRY, RIGHT
IN FRONT OF THEIR DOOR.
I AM ROUTINELY LOCKED OUT BY
MANAGERS OR POLICE BECAUSE
MANAGERS ARE NOT THERE ON THE
WEEKEND.
ALL OF MY CALLS ARE
INTERCEPTED, I AM UNDER 24 HOUR
SURVEILLANCE AND I AM
THREATENED WITH EVICTION SO
REGULARLY UNTIL I IGNORE IT AND
TELL THEM TO TAKE ME TO COURT.
I AM EXERCISING MY RIGHTS, MY
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PROTEST
INJUSTICES BY POLICE.
I AM SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN
THIS ARTICLE.
ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT,
HELPFUL, PER GROSS OF MEMBERS
UNDER HOSTILITIES THREAT,
MISTREATMENT, HARASSMENT.
I DO NOT EVEN COMPARE WITH THE
DETECTIVE, COOKIE BODINE.
I AM A BLACK WOMAN, WHENEVER WE
ARE SPEAKING OUT, THEY ARE
CALLED CRAZY BLACK WOMEN.
I WILL CONTINUE TO GO FORTH AND
SPEAK OUT ABOUT THESE WHITE,
MALE COPS LIVING IN MY
BUILDING, SURVEILLING ME
ILLEGALLY.
WHO IS PAYING FOR THEM TO LIVE
IN MY BUILDING?
YOU SHOULD CHECK INTO IT.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE HOLLY KIERSTEN
FOLLOWED BY TL YARBOROUGH.
>> HELLO, I AM A LONGTIME SOUTH
SEATTLE RESIDENT, I'M SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF APPOINTING DEREK
WHEELER SMITH FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
WORKING FROM 6:00 P.M.
TO -- HIS PASSION FOR JUSTICE
AND CARE FOR OTHERS HAS NEVER
WAVERED IN THE 25 YEARS I HAVE
KNOWN HIM.
WEATHER COACHING OR MENTORING
STUDENTS OR AS AN
ADMINISTRATOR, WE HAVE WATCHED
HIS LEADERSHIP CAPACITY GROW AT
EVERY TURN AND EVERY CHALLENGE.
HIS COMMITMENT TO FACILITATOR
LEADERSHIP IS INFORMED BY THOSE
EARLY EXPERIENCES OF STREET
YOUTH WORK.
HE WOULD REACH OUT TO SIMPLY
SHARE HIS HEART ON BEING A HOST
AND NOT HERO.
IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, THIS IS
THE KIND OF INSIGHTFUL AND
CIVIC LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED.
HE IS GENUINELY CONNECTED TO
THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE HE LEADS
INSTITUTIONALLY AND IS IN THE
COMMUNITY.
HAVING WATCHED THE DEREK LEAD,
I CAN SAY WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF
CERTAINTY, HIS ABILITY TO HOLD
THE COMMUNITY IN ONE HAND AND
THE INSTITUTIONAL ROLE AND
RESPONSIBILITY IN THE OTHER IS
FORMIDABLE AND IMPRESSIVE.
I KNOW THIS BECAUSE DEREK HAS
HAD CARD HARD CONVERSATIONS AND
DOES NOT SHY AWAY FROM THE HARD
PARTS BECAUSE THIS IS WHO HE
IS.
IS HIS ABILITY TO DEFUSE
CONFLICT AT THE TABLE IS AND A
MAJOR PART OF HIS PERSON.
YES, WE DISAGREE, HE CALLED ME
ON IT.
HE CHALLENGED ME ON HOW I
SHOWED UP TO THE SPACE AND I
NEVER FELT THREATENED OR LIKE
HE WAS ALLOWING HIS POSITION TO
OVERPOWER THE MOMENT.
I HOPE YOU VOTE TO CONFIRM
DEREK FOR THE DIRECTOR'S ROLE
IN THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
AND HIS COMMITMENT TO
COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP IS
WHAT WE NEED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WE HAVE TINA YARBOROUGH.
>> I AM A LONGTIME SEATTLE
RESIDENT.
I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
DEREK WHEELER SMITH.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS NOW WHAT
DO YOU NEED TO DO?
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BECOME?
HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE'S WORK
FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS AND I
WITNESSED HIM BE THE CHANGE
THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS NEEDED.
TEACHING AND SERVING WITHIN
SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS,
PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS
FOR RESOURCES FOR SOME OF THE
MOST IMPACTED MEMBERS.
TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF GUN
VIOLENCE IN ALIGNMENT WITH HIS
CURRENT WORK.
HIS TIME ON THE GROUND DOES NOT
GIVE HIM ONLY EXPERIENCE AND
PERSPECTIVE FOR SYSTEMIC AND
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND HIS
PEERS DEVOTION TO JUSTICE.
LOVING HUSBAND, DEVOTED FATHER,
I HAVE WATCHED HIM SERVED BY
EXAMPLE, THEY ARE PILLARS
ENSURING DEREK WHEELER SMITH.
IN THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
IS THE NEXT DIRECTION FOR DEREK
WHEELER SMITH.
TO BE A LEADER OF CHANGE
REQUIRES INTEGRITY AND A PERSON
OF STRENGTH AND CHARACTER.
HE HAS FAR-REACHING ROOTS AND
HIS COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, IS UNWAVERING WITH
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A LEADER
FOR A BELOVED COMMUNITY.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL LEAD
WITH THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE
FOR THIS CITY AND HE WEARS MANY
HATS AND SERVES IN A VARIETY OF
ROLES.
HE IS A TORCHBEARER FOR
JUSTICE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WE HAVE MICHELLE --
FOLLOWED BY DEREK POWELL.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM THE FOUNDER OF EXXON STAGE
THEATER.
I HAVE KNOWN DEREK WHEELER
SMITH FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND
HE IS ONLY MAN THAT I HAVE
NEVER KNOWN TO USE TWO LAST
NAMES.
AT A TIME WHEN OTHER PEOPLE
LOOKED AT WAYS THEY COULD
REDUCE OR STREAMLINE THEIR
IDENTITY AND THE AMOUNT OF
SPACE THAT THEY WOULD TAKE UP,
DEREK GIFTED HIMSELF WITH THE
FULL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF WHO HE
IS AND WHERE HE COMES FROM.
HE MADE ROOM AND GAVE RESPECT
TO THE THINGS THAT MAKE HIM WHO
HE IS.
IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT WE ARE
HERE TO DISCUSS AND AFFIRM HIM
FOR A POSITION THAT DOES THE
SAME.
HE IS REGULARLY CONSIDERING THE
QUALITY OF THE SYSTEMS THAT
CHALLENGE OUR LIVABILITY.
HE QUESTIONS THE INTEGRITY OF
OUR SYSTEM, ECONOMICS, AND EVEN
ECOLOGY AND WE HAVE WATCHED HIM
GO BEYOND BEING QUESTIONING TO
ENGAGING.
I HAVE WORKED IN THE CHURCH,
THE BLACK CHURCH, MORE OFTEN
THAN WE WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE, THE CHURCH CAN BE
A BIT -- PASTORS THAT WOULD
TAKE KIDS TO CAMP, WE HAD ONE
YEAR TO DECIDE WHICH KIDS WE
WOULD TAKE TO CAMP.
WE WOULD BRING THE KIDS THAT WE
WOULD BE SURE WOULD NOT
EMBARRASS US.
DEREK WHEELER SMITH WOULD OFTEN
BRING THOSE KIDS.
BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT THOSE BOYS
DESERVED ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY
AND EVERY KID, ONCE IN THEIR
LIFE, REGARDLESS OF RACE,
SEXUALITY OR AFFILIATION, THEY
DESERVE TO GO TO CAMP AT LEAST
ONCE IN THEIR LIFE.
DEREK IS COMMITTED TO
RESPECTING WOMEN, HE IS
UNMATCHED IN THIS WAY.
HE ADORES HIS WIFE, STEPHANIE
AND HIS DAUGHTERS.
HE HAS BEEN A COACH AT THE HIGH
SCHOOL FOR THE GIRLS TEAM. IN
THAT ROLE, HE ACKNOWLEDGES ALL
GIRLS, STRAIGHT, WHITE, BLACK,
ASIAN, LATINO, HE GAVE THEM HIS
RELENTLESS SUPPORT.
I DO STAND HERE TO SAY THAT HIS
CONFIRMATION AND HIS SERVICE IS
IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WE HAVE DEREK POWELL
FOLLOWED BY CHARLES DAVIS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF DEREK
WHEELER SMITH TO BE IN THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. I
REPRESENT THE NCAA PEEP AND I
ECHO THE COMMENTS MADE HERE ON
THIS MIKE HERE.
DEREK AND I WERE INVOLVED POST
GEORGE FLOYD AND THE PANDEMIC
WHEN WE WERE BROWSING OUR
COMMUNITY IN CRISIS.
DEREK WAS A SPEARHEAD IN
HELPING US ORGANIZE A GROUP
AROUND MENTAL HEALTH SO THAT WE
COULD TAKE CARE OF OUR MENTAL
HEALTH DURING THE PANDEMIC AND
POST GEORGE FLOYD.
DEREK HAS REJECT WAS AT THE
NAACP AND HE WANTS US TO MAKE
SURE THAT AS A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION WE ARE INVOLVED IN
THE PROCESS.
I HAVE KNOWN DEREK IN THE LAST
FIVE OR SIX YEARS
PROFESSIONALLY.
I KNOW HE IS FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND ME KNOWING HIM AS
ADULT AND A COMMUNITY
COLLABORATOR THAT WANTS TO
BRING THE COMMUNITY ALONG AND I
VERY WELL SUPPORT HIM AS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS.
>> NEXT WE HAVE CHARLES DAVIS.
>> GOOD MORNING, I AM THE OWNER
OF DAVIS TEXAS BARBECUE.
I WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMENT
OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY.
WHEN PEOPLE PUT THINGS IN THE
PAPER, THEY TAKE IT AND RUN
WITH IT.
I PERSONALLY KNOW MR. WHEELER.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE
PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SO MUCH IN
JUDGMENT THAT DO NOT KNOW HIM
PERSONALLY.
DEREK IS A GREAT PERSON AND A
GREAT LEADER.
WE HAVE DONE MANY COMMUNITY
EVENTS TOGETHER.
I HAVE CALLED HIM AT 1:00, 2:00
, IN THE MORNING.
EVEN CHILDHOOD TRAUMAS THAT I
HAVE HAD.
HE HAS TALKED ME THROUGH IT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FOR
THE WORK HE HAS DONE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
I AM NOT A GREAT SPEAKER AT ALL.
HE SAYS TO SAY THINGS THAT ARE
ON YOUR HEART AND I FIRMLY
BELIEVE THAT.
HE IS A GREAT LEADER FOR THIS
POSITION.
I HAVE THE BEST BARBECUE IN
TOWN.
>> WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON
THAT.
HE CAN BE SURE OF THAT.
THANK YOU.
NEXT IS CLEO FORD FOLLOWED BY
CYNTHIA GREEN.
>> I AM AN ATTORNEY IN THE AREA
AND I HAVE BEEN HERE ALL OF MY
LIFE.
I AM ON BEHALF OF DEREK WHEELER
SMITH I THINK HE IS QUALIFIED
AND SHOULD BE IN THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS.
I WATCHED HIM CLIMB THIS HILL.
WE WATCHED HIM GO FROM A COACH,
PASTOR, PRINCIPAL, CONSULTING,
AND A DIRECTOR.
HE HAS GREAT LEADERSHIP SKILLS
AND LEADS BY EXAMPLE AND I HAVE
SEEN HIM PERSONALLY DO IT.
HE HAS ORGANIZED PEACEFUL
PROTEST AND RALLY.
HE HAS BUILT INITIATIVES AROUND
KIDS.
THERE IS NO BETTER PERSON FOR
THE JOB.
DEREK WILKIN PINS --
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
CYNTHIA GREEN.
>> MS. GREEN, OLDHAM MIC CLOSER
TO YOU.
>> I AM CYNTHIA GREEN AND I AM
HERE IN FAVOR OF DEREK WHEELER
SMITH.
I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT HIS
QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME THE
LEADER OF THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS.
THOSE QUALIFICATIONS GO FAR
BEYOND HIS EDUCATION AND
EXPERIENCE.
THEY SPEAK OF HIS COMPASSION
AND HIS LOVE FOR HIS FELLOW
HUMAN BEINGS.
MONTHS AGO, MY FAMILY LOST ONE
OF ITS YOUNGEST MEMBERS TO A
FREAK ACCIDENT.
AS WE TRY TO PROCESS HIS DEATH,
THE SUDDENNESS OF THE TRAGEDY
INTRODUCED LOADS OF CHAOS INTO
OUR LIVES.
WE ASK DEREK IF HE WOULD DO THE
EULOGY AT MY SON'S FUNERAL.
BECAUSE OF OUR PARTICULAR
FAMILY DYNAMICS, AND LACK OF
AGREEMENT OVER THE SERVICE, HE
WAS ASKED TO BE ON STANDBY
UNTIL THE VERY LAST MINUTE.
KNOWING HE HAD TO PREPARE A
EULOGY THAT HE MIGHT NEVER GIVE
, KNOWING HE HAD TO TAKE TIME
AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY FOR A
MOMENT THAT MY NEVER CALM, HE
AGREED WITHOUT PROTEST.
WE LET HIM KNOW THAT HE WAS
NEEDED, THE NIGHT BEFORE THE
FUNERAL AND HE CAME WITHOUT
FANFARE OR SELF-IMPORTANCE,
HONORING MY SON WITH A EULOGY
THAT BROUGHT US COMFORT, HOPE,
AND PEACE.
A LEADER SHOWS UP FOR OTHERS,
EVEN WHEN IT IS HARD.
EVEN WHEN THERE IS CHAOS.
EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO SPOTLIGHT.
HE IS THE TYPE OF HUMAN BEING
WHERE I TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING
THAT HE IS OVERSEEING THE CIVIL
RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING.
IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE WITH
EVERYBODY.
I AM WITH COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS, MY NAME IS KIM
FORD.
USUALLY MORE COMFORTABLE NOT
MAKING OR WRITING.
I WROTE SOME THINGS OUT.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
CONFIRMATION OF DEREK WHEELER
SMITH AS A DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
ONE OF THE SADDEST DAYS WAS
WHEN DAVE DEREK LEFT AS THE
DIRECTOR A COMMUNITY PUBLIC
HEALTH APPROACH TO GUN
VIOLENCE.
WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY IS
HELPING UNDERSTAND THE REASON
THAT HE NEEDED TO GO.
IT WAS A MAJOR LOSS.
DEREK FEELS A PERSONAL DUTY TO
CHANGE THE STATE OF THE WORLD,
THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
HE HAS A BELIEVE IN MAKING THE
CHANGE HIMSELF AND NOT WAITING
FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT.
HE BELIEVES IN DEFENDING THOSE
WITHOUT POWER AND WHEN THEY
NEED, CHALLENGING THOSE WITH
POWER.
DEREK IS A NONCONFORMIST AND HE
CHALLENGES THE STATUS QUO.
THAT IS WHY HE CREATED THIS.
HE IS A REBEL WITH A CAUSE AND
HE WILL ACT IN AN
UNCONVENTIONAL WAY.
THREE, DEREK IS RESOURCEFUL AND
HE MAKES CONNECTIONS HE CREATED
CONNECTIONS LOCALLY AND HELPED
IT TO BE CHOSEN BY THE WHITE
HOUSE AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY
BALANCE INTERVENTION COMMUNITY
AND FINALLY, DEREK DOES NOT
GIVE UP.
HE IS NOT DETERRED BY
OPPOSITION AND THE HOSTILITIES
OF OTHERS.
WHEN HE FACES OBSTACLES, HE
PUSHES BACK AND WHEN BUILDING
YOUTH DETENTION, HE DID NOT
SLOW DOWN.
HE CHANGED ORGANIZATION SO THAT
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS CAN CHANGE
THE WORLD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WE HAVE KEITH HATCH BREATH.
>> I CAME TO SEATTLE IN 2016
FROM PRISON AND THE DUMPSTER
FROM CHICAGO.
I DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
LIFE. WHEN I MET DEREK AND HIS
BROTHER, THEY GAVE ME SOME
OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE ME AT
THE PLACE WHERE I AM AT TODAY.
I TOLD HIM ONE TIME, I SAID, I
NEVER HAD AN EXAMPLE, BROTHERS
OR SISTERS OR A MOTHER OR
FATHER.
I TOLD DEREK, I WANT TO BE LIKE
YOU.
I WANT TO BE PROFESSIONAL LIKE
YOU.
TODAY I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
ENGAGEMENT COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS.
I HAVE A JOB OPPORTUNITY THAT
HIM AND STEFAN GAVE ME AS THE
FORCED EMPLOYEE FOR WDC.
I'M A SAFETY GUEST SPECIALIST.
THROUGH DEREK'S LEADERSHIP AND
GUIDANCE, I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT
WITH MARCUS FOR THE JUSTICE AND
EQUITY COMMITTEE.
I SIT ON THE BOARD FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC DEFENSE.
AS THE ONLY NONATTORNEY.
I AM PART OF THE KING COUNTY
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MEDIATION
AND I NEVER WOULD'VE GOT TO
WHERE I WAS AT IF I HAD NOT
ENCOUNTERED DEREK WHEELER.
WHATEVER IT IS THAT HE IS UP FOR
, I DO NOT KNOW ALL OF THE
PROFESSIONAL TERMS AND TITLES
AND STUFF, HE DESERVES IT.
HE MADE A TRANSFORMATION IN MY
LIFE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME,
IMAGINE WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH
THIS NEW POSITION.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WE HAVE JOHN FOLLOWED BY
NATE MILES
>> IT IS HARD TO FOLLOW UP
THOSE STORIES.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE AND FORMER SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER.
AT ONE POINT IN TIME, I WAS THE
DEPARTMENT HEAD OF WHAT IS NOW
FOUR DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
APPOINTMENT OF DEREK WHEELER
SMITH AS A DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
I AM COMPELLED TO SPEAK THIS
MORNING BECAUSE I'M CONVINCED
OF DEREK'S CAPABILITIES AND
CAPACITY TO CHANGE OUR CITY.
HE WILL TURN OUR CITY INTO
SOMETHING MORE THAN WE ARE.
HIS BACKGROUND HAS BEEN
DOCUMENTED IN THE MAYORS PACKET
.
'S VISION REACHES DEEPER THAN
THAT.
IT REACHES DEEP INTO THE CITY
BY CREATING CO-WARDS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES
IN RACE INITIATIVES.
FURTHER BEYOND THAT, HIS VISION
TO CREATE A MORE JUST AND
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY IS
TRANSFORMATIVE.
WITH THAT, I WOULD RECOMMEND
THAT THIS COMMITTEE SUPPORTS
HIS NOMINATION AS THE DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
>> WE HAVE EXCEEDED THE TIME
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE
FIVE PEOPLE LEFT HIM I WOULD
ASK THAT WE CAN EXTEND, MAYBE
WE CAN HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR THE
LAST ABUSE ACRES PLEASE GO
AHEAD, MR. MILES.
>> THANK YOU.
I GAVE THE HONOR TO GOD WHO IS
THE HEAD OF MY LIFE AND MADAM
CHAIR, THE COMMITTEE, I'M NOT
HERE TO SOME SORT MR. WHEELER
SMITH I WANT TO ASK YOU TO
SUPPORT HIM BASED ON ANYTHING
THAT IS IN THE PACKET.
IF THINGS ARE FINE AND GOOD AND
THERE WAS NOT RACISM, WE WOULD
NOT HAVE TO DO THAT.
I AM HERE TO DO AS DR. KING
SAID, I AM ASKED TO DO WHAT IS
ON PAPER.
YOU SAID THAT YOU WANTED
SOMEBODY THAT THE SENIORS WERE
GOING TO BE PROTECTED BY I
WOULD UNDERSTAND IF WE DO NOT
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT WE DO
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT TODAY
IT IS UP TO US TO FIND SOMEBODY
WHO WILL WORRY ABOUT THEM.
THIS MAYOR HAS PUT FORWARD
SOMEBODY WHERE WE HAVE SEEN
THEM IN COMMUNITY DO THIS DAY
IN AND DAY OUT.
YOU HAVE HEARD TESTIMONY ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHANGED LIVES.
WE BROUGHT IT TO YOU.
WE HAVE A NICE CITY HERE.
ALL WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO NOW,
IS TO TAKE THIS AUTHENTIC
PERSON THAT HAS SHOWN TIME AND
TIME AGAIN THAT HE IS WILLING
TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE DR.
KING'S DREAM A REALITY AND TO
MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER BY DOING
THE EASY THING AND APPOINTING
HIM TO THIS POSITION.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, WE
ASK THAT YOU APPOINTED DEREK
WHEELER SMITH TO THIS POSITION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE
WHO ARE ONLINE,WE WILL TRY
THEM AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME FOR
THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
I WILL NOT GO INTO DETAIL,
ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU AS A
FRIEND, AS A COLLEAGUE WHEN IT
COMES TO WATCHING A PERSON
GROW, AND DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PEOPLE.
YOU WILL GET AN INNOVATIVE AND
TRANSFORMATIVE LEADER THAT HAS
A HIGH VALUE THAT WILL BE ABLE
TO CREATE ACCESS WITH COMMUNITY
FOR THE CHANGE THAT YOU WANT TO
SEE IN SEATTLE.
I HAVE WORKED AS PART OF THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN KING
COUNTY.
I HAVE WATCHED THAT CHANGE.
I HAVE WATCHED THE PERSISTENCE
TO PUSH THE COMMUNITY TO DO
SOME THINGS THAT WE NEVER
THOUGHT WE COULD DO.
THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THIS
POSITION AND FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO UNLIKE DEREK WHEELER SMITH,
THE CONFIRMATION IS THAT HE
WILL PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HIS
MOUTH IS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE TWO FOLKS PRESENT
ONLINE.
WE WILL TRY THEM BEFORE WE WRAP
UP.
CARLA LYNCH, IF YOU ARE HERE,
PLEASE PRESS á6.
>> GOOD MORNING, CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM HERE TO COMMENT IN SUPPORT
OF MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE,
DEREK WHEELER SMITH.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING
ALONGSIDE DEREK FOR FIVE YEARS
TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES.
I WATCHED AS HE CONSISTENTLY
APPROACHED HIS WORK WITH AN
ASSET-BASED LENS.
FOCUSING ON WHAT WAS POSSIBLE
FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, TO
SUPPORT THEM.
AS SUCH, HE DEMONSTRATED WHAT
INCLUSION LOOK LIKE FOR ALL.
HE WAS DEDICATED TO WIDENING
CONCERN FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST
IMPACTED BY THE DECISIONS THAT
WE MAKE.
BUILDING COMMUNITY, BUILDING
BRIDGES, INCLUDING AGENCY FOR
ALL PEOPLE HAS BEEN THE
CORNERSTONE OF HIS ENTIRE
PROFESSIONAL CAREER.
HE IS A VALUABLE LEADER THAT
BRINGS THESE SAME ATTRIBUTES TO
HIS ROLE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
WE HAVE EARNED THE TRUST AND
RESPECT OF THOSE WHO ARE
WORKING TO UNDO INEQUITIES SO
THAT EVERYONE CAN THRIVE.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO
CONFIRM DEREK AS THE DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
HIS COMMITMENT TO THE
ADVANCEMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS
SETS THE STAGE FOR CONTINUED
PROGRESS IN CREATING A
COMMUNITY THAT RESPECTS THE
VOICES OF ALL AS WE
COLLECTIVELY WORK TO GET RID OF
THE GENERATIONAL IMPACT OF
RACISM AND THOSE IN
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE LAST SPEAKER THAT IS
PRESIDENT IS CURTIS BROWN.
CURTIS, IF YOU ARE ON, PLEASE
PRESS á6.
>> I'M ON VACATION, MY FAMILY
HAS LEFT ME BECAUSE I HAD TO BE
HERE ON A PHONE CALL TO SUPPORT
DEREK WHEELER SMITH.
DEREK IS A PERSON WHO CALLS ME
AND TEXAS ME ABOUT SOME WAY
THAT HE WANTS TO FURTHER OUR
WORK FOR THE PLACEMENT HERE IN
SEATTLE.
HE WILL SPEND TWO HOURS IN
CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE THAT
TRUST IS DEVELOPED.
DEREK IS A PERSON THAT GETS
STUFF DONE.
I HAVE KNOWN DEREK LESS THAN A
YEAR.
DEREK TREATS ME ENTRUSTS ME
LIKE WE HAVE BEEN LIFETIME
FRIENDS.
IN A WORLD OF DISTRUST, THAT IS
SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT NOW.
FOR THE RELATIONSHIPS TO END
STRUCTURAL RACISM IN ALL THESE
ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN OUR
COMMUNITY TODAY.
I PASSIONATELY SUPPORT DEREK
WHEELER SMITH FOR THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS AND I WANT HIS
APPROVAL.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AND WE WILL MOVE
ON TO THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
WE YOU PLEASE CALL THE HOLE.
>> AGENDA ITEMS 1-15.
APPOINTMENTS 2481 THROUGH 2895.
THE REFUGEE COMMISSION, THE
MARKETPLACE HISTORICAL
COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT COMMISSION FOR A
BRIEF DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE CONSENT AGENDA FUNCTIONS AS
THE FULL CONSENT AGENDA.
THEY CAN PULL ITEMS FOR WHAT
THEY CHOOSE OR THEY CAN VOTE ON
THE ITEMS AS A PACKAGE.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO PULL TO DISCUSS?
OR ANYTHING THAT THE APPOINTEES
WOULD LIKE TO BE TO ABOUT THE
APPOINTMENT?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY.
OKAY.
WE WILL MOVE APPROVAL TO THESE
APPOINTMENTS.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> NOW WE CAN RECOMMEND THE
APPROVAL OF THESE APPOINTMENTS.
CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> HIGH .
>> CHAIR MORALES?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THE COUNCIL APPROVES OF THE
APPOINTMENTS AND WILL BE SENT
TO THE APRIL 4th CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
16 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 16.
APPOINTMENT 2497.
APPOINTMENT OF DEREK WHEELER
SMITH TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
CIVIL RIGHTS FOR A BRIEF
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE MAYOR HAS TRANSLATED HIS
APPOINTMENT PACKETS.
I WANT TO THANK OUR COLLEAGUES
FOR YOUR QUESTIONS THAT WE
SUBMITTED AND I WANT TO THINK
DIRECTOR WHEELER SMITH FOR THE
THOUGHTFUL RESPONSES.
THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DIVE DEEPER IF YOU HAVE
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR YOU
NEED CLARIFICATION, WE WILL
GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I DO WANT TO ASK THE DEPUTY WAY
HERE -- TO WELCOME YOU BOTH TO
THE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME?
>> IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE
TO INTRODUCE THE REPRESENTATIVE
OR THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS,
DEREK WHEELER SMITH.
HE THOSE WHO KNOW BETTER THAN
MOST, ENFORCES LAWS AGAINST
ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION, WHICH
YOU ALL HAVE ADOPTED AND LEADS
THE RACE IN THIS INITIATIVE.
TO END INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AT
THE CITY AND CITYWIDE.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT MAYOR
HAROLD HAS NOMINATED A SUPER
START TO SPEARHEAD THIS WORK.
I COULD PROBABLY END MY
COMMENTS THERE BECAUSE I THINK
THE POLYMERIC PUBLIC COMMENT
REFLECTS THE NATURE AND THE
WORK THAT DEREK WHEELER SMITH
WILL BRING TO THIS OFFICE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON A FEW
OTHER POINTS TO REINFORCE THE
COMMENTS THAT YOU HEARD
EARLIER.
DEREK HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE IN
THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.
YOU MAY KNOW HIM, HE STARTED
THE ROAD MAP TO ZERO YOUTH
DETENTION AND A REGIONAL PUBLIC
SAFETY PLAN TO ADDRESS GUN
VIOLENCE.
HE WAS PREVIOUSLY THE LEAD ON
EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND
FACILITATING RACIAL EQUITY
TRAININGS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
HE HAS DEEP ROOTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY AS YOU HAVE HEARD AT
THE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
BEFORE HE REFERRED HIS
NOMINATION FOR YOU TODAY.
INCLUDING EMPLOYEES ON THE
TEAM, BOTH DIRECT AND NON-
REPORT TO DEREK.
FURTHER, MAYOR HAROLD TOOK A
CLOSE REVIEW OF HIS WORK OVER
THE LAST YEAR.
HE RECOGNIZED THE PASSION, THE
DEDICATION AND SPIRIT THAT
DEREK BRINGS TO THE OFFICE.
WHAT IS KEY WITH DEREK IS THAT
WE HAVE A TRUE COLLABORATOR IN
HIM.
I AM SURE, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, BASED ON THE WORK THAT
YOU HAVE DONE ON THE ORDINANCE
THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER LATER
TODAY.
WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO STAFF, A
WORD KEPT COMING UP THAT
REFLECTS HIS APPROACH TO WORK.
COACH.
DURING THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC,
HE WAS FACING A 35% STAFF
VACANCY RATES THAT CAUSE THE
TEAM CONSIDER A BURNOUT AND HE
REALIZED HE COULD NOT TACKLE
THE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES AHEAD
WITHOUT A HEALTHY AND RESTORED
TEAM.
HE TOOK THE TIME THIS YEAR TO
ENGAGE, MENTOR, AND PROVIDE
TRAININGS SO THAT HE COULD
DEVELOP STAFF TO CREATE
LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS.
TODAY, THE STAFF VACANCY RATE
IS ONLY 6%.
THROUGH HIS EFFORTS AS WORD OF
HIS TEAM, THAT THE DEPARTMENT
ELIMINATED WHICH WAS A
CONSIDERABLE BACKLOG OF CIVIL
RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS.
A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT, IT TAKES
INTEGRITY, PASSION, AND A DRIVE
FOR CHANGE.
PERSONALLY, I HAVE SEEN HIM TO
BE ONE OF THE MOST INSIGHTFUL
AND EMPATHETIC LEADERS THAT I
HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
HIS COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE IS
UNDENIABLE.
AFTER TALKING WITH HIM IN
REVIEWING HIS RECORD, YOU WILL
AGREE THAT HE IS THE RIGHT
PERSON TO LEAD THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS.
WITH THAT, LET ME TURN THINGS
OVER TO DEREK FOR HIS REMARKS
BEFORE --
>> THANK YOU TO THE DEPUTY
CHAIR AND THE COMMITTEE.
I AM HONORED TO BE HERE FOR MY
CONFIRMATION FOR THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS.
I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF
MANY FOLKS WHO HAVE SACRIFICED
FOR ME TO ENJOY MY LIFE AS IT
IS.
EACH OF US IMPRINTS THE PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD AROUND US.
AS MUCH WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE
ARE PRESENT, IN WHATEVER WE DO.
THEIR CALLINGS FOR LIFE, THEIR
CALLINGS FOR OUR TIME.
I SPENT MY LIFE PREPARING TO
MEET THIS MOMENT.
THIS CALLING IS SO TENDER AND
SO URGENT, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS
COAX MY OWN BUS TO SELF AND THE
BEST SELF OF OTHERS INTO THE
LIGHT.
I SEE OUR BELOVED CITY AS A
PLAYGROUND WHERE THE MOST
VULNERABLE CAN FLOURISH.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
AND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
COLLEAGUES, AS I MENTIONED, WE
ALL HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE
APPOINTMENT PACKET AND THE
WRITTEN QUESTIONS.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH
AND IF FOLKS HAVE OTHER
QUESTIONS, WE CAN MOVE ON.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WHEELER
SMITH.
AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR MENTIONED,
WE WILL BE CONSIDERING THE
ORDINANCE LATER THIS AFTERNOON,
LATER THIS MORNING.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
YOUR VISION FOR THAT ORDINANCE
AND ESPECIALLY, AS A CITY, WE
CAN ENSURE THAT THOSE
PRINCIPLES ARE INTEGRATED
THROUGHOUT THE CITY BECAUSE THE
WHOLE POINT IS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE MEANS.
CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ON
HOW WE CAN WORK WITH OTHER
DEPARTMENTS TO INTEGRATE THAT
WORK?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT
OUT TO THE FANTASTIC STAFF IN
THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
MORE SPECIFICALLY AS WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE ORDINANCE LED
BY DAVITA INGRAM.
ALL OF THIS WORK HAS BEEN
TAKING PLACE FOR THE LAST 19
YEARS.
WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT
THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE
TWO BRIDGE WITH SO MANY
DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND BE
ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND PUSH
THIS ORDINANCE FORWARD.
AS WE THINK ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER
COLLABORATIVELY ACROSS THE
CITY, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE
PROCESS OF CONVENING EACH
DEPARTMENT HEAD TO BE ABLE TO
TALK ABOUT A COHORT MODEL AND
HOW WE CAN DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL
LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND HOW WE
INTEGRATE THE WORK OF THE
CHANGED TEAMS AND WE CAN LOOK
AT THE EXTERNAL IMPACT THAT WE
CAN HAVE.
WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE SLIDABLY
COMPLEX ISSUES BY WORKING IN
SILOS AND PRETENDING THAT ONE
ORGANIZATION OR OUR OWN
DEPARTMENT CAN SOLVE THESE
COMPLEX ISSUES.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO THINK
COLLECTIVELY AND POSE SOME
GUIDING QUESTIONS INSTEAD OF
THE CURRICULUM THAT GIVES
ANSWERS AND REALIZED THAT THE
BRILLIANCE IS IN THE ROOM WITH
THESE LEADERS.
WE LOOK AT THE EXTERNAL IMPACT
THAT WE CAN HAVE ON THE
COMMUNITY.
PUTTING THAT IN CREATION WITH
COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO DOING
THINGS TO COMMUNITY.
WE ARE EXCITED THAT THIS
ORDINANCE GIVES TO THAT.
IT PROVIDES WITH THE NECESSARY
SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO CARRY
THIS WORK AND VISION FORWARD.
TO BE ABLE TO REALLY CREATE THE
EQUITABLE CITY INTERNALLY AND
EXTERNALLY FOR STAFF AND ALSO
FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE VACANCY
HAS SHRUNK GIVEN THE IMPORTANT
WORK YOU HAVE TO DO.
YOU ARE SOMETIMES ADDING TO
YOUR WORK BY INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF PROTECTED CLASSES IN
THE CITY.
THE NEW ECONOMIC FORECAST LAST
WEEK WITH THE NATIONAL PICTURE
HERE REMINDS US THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING FISCAL VOLATILITY,
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU PLAN
TO STAFF THROUGH THESE
UNCERTAIN TIMES.
WE NEED TO SHORTEN THE CLOSURE
RATE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS.
YOU HAVE A BIG JOB TO DO WITH
WHAT IS ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
RIGHT NOW WITH BEING ABLE TO
INCREASE RESOURCES.
HOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE BEING
ABLE TO MANAGE THAT?
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR THIS
QUESTION.
THIS BRINGS UP A VERY IMPORTANT
QUESTION WHEN IT COMES TO
ENFORCING CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE
LACK OF OUTREACH OF STAFFING
CAPACITY TO ENSURE THE
COMPLIANCE THAT WE KNOW IS
IMPORTANT.
EVERY TIME THAT THE CITY
COUNCILADOPTS A NEW LAW, THERE
IS A COMPANY WITH THE ONGOING
OUTREACH BUDGET TO ENFORCE THE
NEW CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS.
IT WAS IN 2019.
WE ALSO HAVE RAISE INEQUITY TO
LOSE SKILLED STAFF TO OTHER
JOBS IN THE CITY AND THE
PRIVATE SECTOR HE AND THAT HAS
LED TO THE INVESTIGATIONS AND
IMPACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE.
NEW LAWS ARE PASSED THAT
REQUIRE TRACKING AND DIFFERENT
INVESTIGATION TOOLS COMPARED TO
CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS AND WE HAVE A
OUTDATED DATABASE WHEN IT COMES
TO THE WORKFLOW AND BEING ABLE
TO ACCESS DIFFERENT KINDS OF
LAWS FOR THE DIFFERENT REPORTS
THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS WANT.
BEING ABLE TO SOLVE FOR THAT,
THAT IS CREATING A CULTURE INTO
PLACE AND ENGAGING IN THE KINDS
OF PRACTICES THAT ARE MAGNETIC.
THE SECOND THING THAT I WILL
SAY, IT IS REALLY SHIFTING OUR
THINKING.
WE FUNCTION FROM A SCARCITY
MODEL AND MENTALITY.
WE OFTEN TIMES FOCUS ON A LACK
AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH.
THAT PROVIDES THE CONDITIONS
FOR VIOLENCE.
THE REASON WHY I TALK ABOUT
THIS COHORT MODEL IS BECAUSE WE
HAVE TO THINK STRATEGICALLY
ABOUT PHYSICAL BLENDING.
HOW DO WE LEVERAGE THE
RESOURCES THAT WE DO HAVE AND
HOW TO ENGAGE FOLKS IN
PHILANTHROPY AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR WHO WOULD LOVE TO ENGAGE
IN STRATEGIES THAT I WOULD SAY
REFLECT THE ECOSYSTEM OF CHANGE
IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES?
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE COMMENT, NOT A
QUESTION.
>> IN THE LAST MEETING I SPOKE
IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE AND I
BASICALLY SAID, I AM EXCITED
ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT GIVES A
NOD TO THE NEED OF METRICS TO
MEASURE HOW EFFECTIVELY WE ARE
IMPLEMENTING THE PRINCIPLES
BEHIND THE ORDINANCE IN REAL
LIFE OUT THERE.
I THINK MY QUESTION BECAUSE DO
YOU HAVE A TIMELINE TO GET THE
METRICS TO US?
I THINK THAT THE TIMELINE
STARTS TODAY.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO KNOW IF WE
HAVE SOMEONE HEADING UP THIS
EFFORT THAT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN
COMMUNITY.
YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN
ANYBODY ELSE, IF WHAT WE ARE
DOING IS MAKING AN IMPACT ON
THE LIVES OF PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF
FOLLOWING A CHECKLIST, I TRUST
YOUR CONNECTIONS AND NETWORK
AND THE TESTIMONY OF THE PEOPLE
HERE, THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
KNOW IF WE COULD HAVE BEEN
DOING SOMETHING BETTER, AND WE
CAN BEST PUT OUR MONEY WHERE
OUR MOUTH IS WITH THE
ORDINANCE, I DID NOT WANT TO
TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.
THE INTEGRITY THAT PEOPLE SPOKE
OF IN YOU, I TRUST THAT WE ARE
ON A GOOD PATH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO
SERVE.
>> COLLEAGUES, OTHER QUESTIONS?
IF YOU ARE RAISING YOUR HAND, I
CANNOT SEE IT.
PLEASE SPEAK UP.
OKAY.
ANY CLOSING REMARKS?
DEPUTY MAYOR?
>> I THINK REALLY THE PUBLIC
COMMENT AND THE WORDS ON THE
PAPER, YOU HAVE THE PAPERS IN
FRONT OF YOU.
YOU HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT
DR. -- THE MAYORS VERY EXCITED
FOR THE WORK THAT HE CAN DO.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE, I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU AND I AM
EXCITED ABOUT EXPLORING THE
ECOSYSTEM YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IT FEELS LIKE A PLAYSPACE
STRATEGY THAT YOU ARE LEANING
TOWARD WHICH ARE PROVEN TO BE
VERY EFFECTIVE IN OTHER FUNDING
ENVIRONMENTS, THE COMMUNITY IN
THE AT COOK COUNTY HAVE BEEN
DOING FOR A LONG TIME.
I APPRECIATE IN YOUR WRITTEN
RESPONSES, NOT MEASURING WHAT
WE ARE DOING IN TERMS OF THE
OUTCOMES FOR THE RF IS BUT WE
WILL KNOW WHEN THE SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS OF THE COMMUNITY
STARTS TO CHANGE.
IT IS ALL ABOUT MOVING UPSTREAM
AND INVESTING IN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE
UPSTREAM SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE
TO RESPOND TO VIOLENCE AND POOR
HEALTH OUTCOMES AND WE ARE
STARTING TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS
WAY FURTHER UP.
I FEEL LIKE WE ARE ON THE SAME
PAGE ABOUT THAT.
I APPRECIATE THAT AND I REALLY
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU.
THANK YOU.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES, I THINK WE
ARE READY FOR A VOTE.
GOVERNOR, WE PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
OH, THANK YOU, CLERK, I'M GOING
TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE
APPOINTMENT, 02497, CAN I HAVE
A SECOND?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
YOU NOW PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR MORALES?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES ON APRIL
2020 FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING, I
REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
PASSAGE, HAVE A GOOD DAY.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES, WE WILL MOVE
TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
WE YOU PLEASE READ THE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 17, THE PANEL ON
THE MUNICIPAL RULE ON BUILDING
GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR
DISCUSSION?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE HAVE
WITH US, I'M VERY EXCITED TO
SAY, TWO FOLKS THAT ARE JOINING
, SORRY JUST LOST TRACK OF MY
NOTES.
FROM CHICAGO AND RICHMOND
VIRGINIA.
JUST BY WAY OF A LITTLE BIT OF
CONTEXT, THIS COMMITTEE HAS HAD
WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS IS
RESEARCHING AND THE GOAL OF THE
INITIATIVE IS TO IDENTIFY
COMMUNITY CENTER SOLUTIONS TO
THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP AND THIS
IS OUR WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD STARTED
THIS WORK AFTER WITNESSING THE
TRAUMA OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE
FLOYD AND IT IS ROOTED IN THE
MOVEMENT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.
WE ARE EXPLORING WEALTH
BUILDING STRATEGIES THAT THE
CITY CANCELED WORD AND FACILITY
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
COMMUNITY.
THERE IS SIMILAR WORK HAPPENING
IN OTHER CITIES AND WE HAVE
EXTENDED UP INVITATIONS TO
CHICAGO AND RICHMOND
GENERATIONAL WEALTH BUILDING
INITIATIVES TO SHARE THEIR
EXPERIENCE WITH US.
WE'RE JOINED TODAY FROM CHICAGO
BY -- PLEASE TELL ME I SAID
THAT RIGHT.
>> YOU DID.
>> THANK YOU.
THE COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING
LEAD FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
FROM RICHMOND VIRGINIA, WE HAVE
REGINALD GORDON WHO IS THE
CHIEF FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE
OFFICE OF HUMAN SERVICES,
WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE DID NOT
ASK THE GUESTS TO CREATE A
PRESENTATION, THERE IS NOT AID
DOCUMENT ON THE AGENDA, WE WILL
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE POSTED
ONTO THE AGENDA.
THIS IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO TALK ABOUT THE NUTS
AND BOLTS FOR HOW THESE
MUNICIPALITIES WILL ESTABLISH
THEIR OFFICES AND TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT IMPLEMENTATION LOOKS LIKE.
THAT IS THE CONVERSATION WE
WILL BE HAVING TODAY.
I WILL START BY ASKING OUR
GUESTS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
AND THEIR DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF HOW YOU
DECIDED THE INITIAL STEPS TO
GET TO THE POINT OF CREATING
THIS.
COLLEAGUES, I DO WANT TO SAY, I
DO HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS,
THIS IS MEANT TO BE A
DISCUSSION, CHIME IN, FOLLOW-
UP, AND THIS IS FOR US TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THESE OFFICES
GOT SET UP. HE FEELS LIKE WE
MIGHT BE LEANING IN THAT
DIRECTION.
OKAY, I WILL ASK YOU TO START.
IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT CHICAGO.
>> HIGH, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS BECCA AND I WORK FOR
THE CITY OF CHICAGO IN THE
MAYORS OFFICE AND I SIT IN THE
OFFICE OF EQUITY AND RACIAL
JUSTICE . THE HISTORY OF THAT
OFFICE WHICH HOUSES AND IN 2019
, WHEN MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WAS
ELECTED APPOINTED THE CHIEF
EQUITY YOU OFFICE THAT SITS IN
THE MAYORS OFFICE.
MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CREATED THAT
ROLE AND IN NOVEMBER OF 2022,
LAST YEAR DURING THE BUDGET
SEASON, IT WAS PASSED THROUGH
THE MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE THAT
THE OFFICE OF RACIAL JUSTICE
WITH THE ROLE OF EQUITY OFFICE
OR WILL BE A PERMANENT PICTURE
OF CHICAGO'S CITY GOVERNMENT.
THE OFFICE DOES A NUMBER OF
THINGS, INCLUDING INSTITUTIONAL
CHANGE EFFORTS, TRAINING OF THE
CITY DEPARTMENTS WHEN IT COMES
TO DEVELOPING RACIAL EQUITY
GOALS, DRIVING HEALING
INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT
COMMUNITY AND SENDING UP NEW
INITIATIVES AND POLICIES.
COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING IS
WHEN THE -- I AM HAPPY TO SHARE
MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT ENTAILS
WHERE I COULD PAUSE AND THEN WE
CAN GET INTO IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MR. GORDON, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MORALES AND
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING
ME TO SHARE.
I AM THE DEPUTY CHIEF
ADMINISTRATOR OF HUMAN SERVICES
IN RICHMOND.
WE ARE ALL PART OF THE MAYORS
CABINET.
WHEN I FIRST CAME TO RICHMOND
SIX YEARS AGO, I CAME AS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING.
I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE
ORIGIN STORY OF THE OFFICE.
RICHMOND IS A MEDIUM-SIZED CITY
IN THE ATLANTIC. THE 2013 OR
2014 WAS ABOUT 26% AND THE
MAYOR AT THAT POINT, BLACK
MAYOR, MIKE JONES, CONVENED THE
ANTI-POVERTY COMMISSION.
ON THAT COMMISSION, I DID NOT
WORK FOR THE CITY, I WAS AHEAD
OF A NONPROFIT.
THERE WERE 60 PEOPLE ON THE
COMMISSION AND WE SPENT SEVERAL
MONTHS DISSECTING THE ISSUE OF
POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
RICHMOND IS AN INDEPENDENT CITY
AND THEY HAVE COUNTIES THAT
SURROUND RICHMOND TO STUDY HOW
WE CAN FIND SOLUTIONS FOR
ECONOMIC PUBLIC MOBILITY.
THEY ARE SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE
COMMISSION FOR TRANSPORTATION,
CHILDCARE ISSUES AND THE
COMMISSION AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS
HAD ABOUT 50 RECOMMENDATIONS.
AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST WAS THE
RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY TO
CREATE THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY
WELFARE.
ALL OF US HAD BEEN THROUGH THIS
SEVERAL TIMES.
THERE WERE MANY REPORTS.
THERE WAS NO ENTITY THAT HAD
THIS RESPONSIBILITY FOR
EXECUTING THOSE INITIATIVES OR
MAYBE IT WOULD LANGUISH ON A
SHELF SOMEWHERE.
ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMISSION, A PROFESSOR FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND TOOK
THE LEAD TO COME AND SUPPORT
THE SABBATICAL FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND AND
WORKED WITH THE CITY OF
RICHMOND TO PULL TOGETHER WHAT
WAS NECESSARY TO CREATE THE
STANDALONE OFFICE WITHIN THE
CITY GOVERNMENT THE CITY
COUNCIL CREATED THE ORDINANCE
WHERE MY PROFESSOR WAS ACTUALLY
THE FIRST DIRECTOR.
I WAS THE SECOND DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE AND THAT IS IN THE
PORTFOLIO WHERE I STILL HAVE A
CONNECTION TO IT.
>> THANK YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
NOTICED AS WE WERE RESEARCHING
DIFFERENT CITIES, THERE ARE
DIFFERENT KEY COMPONENTS TO THE
WEALTH BUILDING STRATEGY.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT CHICAGO'S
COMPONENTS AND WHAT I MEAN BY
THAT, IN RICHMOND, IT IS BASED
AROUND EDUCATION AND HOUSING
ISSUES.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT INVESTMENT
STRATEGY FEES AND HOME OWNERSHIP
. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR
ELEMENTS ARE AND WHY THOSE ARE
THE THINGS THAT ARE PRIORITIZED
TO US.
>> FOR US, I WOULD JUST START
BY SAYING THAT OUR WORKAROUND
COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING IS
ONE OF THE MANY INITIATIVES
THAT THE OFFICE IS UNDERTAKING.
OFTEN THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST
QUESTIONS THAT WE GET.
WE HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC
DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY WEALTH
BUILDING.
FOR EVERY CITY THAT IS THINKING
ABOUT UNDERTAKING SOMETHING
LIKE THIS.
I AM VERY BIG ON SHARED
LANGUAGE AND DEFINITIONS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST
EXERCISES THAT WE DID WAS TO
COME UP WITH WHAT THE
DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY WEALTH
BUILDING IS.
FOR A LOT OF US, THE WORK THAT
WE DO AS THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS
THINKING ABOUT THE LEFT-HAND
SIDE.
WHATEVER LANGUAGE THEY ARE
USING, THEY ARE OFTEN TALKING
ABOUT BUILDING THE WEALTH OF
ONE INDIVIDUAL AND ONE
HOUSEHOLD.
WEALTH BUILDING IS TALKED ABOUT
WHAT YOU OWN, NOT WHAT YOU OWN,
HOW TO INCREASE ONE'S INCOME AND
ASSET OWNERSHIP.
IT IS OFTEN THINKING ABOUT THE
HOUSEHOLD LEVEL.
MAYBE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OR
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WHAT DOES IT
LOOK LIKE FOR THE HOUSEHOLD.
WE FOUND A GAP WITHIN THE
STRATEGY AND WHAT WE SAW WHEN
LOOKING AT THE LANDSCAPE
ANALYSIS WAS THAT THERE IS A
BODY OF WORK EMERGING AROUND
COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY, IT IS
ABOUT THE SHARED WEALTH.
WHAT ASSETS ARE THEY OWNING
TOGETHER?
WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A GAP
FOR THE BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT COMMUNITY
WEALTH BUILDING WILL LOOK LIKE.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF
CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS
LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.
WE BORROW FROM THE DEMOCRACY
COLLABORATIVE.
I'M SURE YOU ARE ALL FAMILIAR
WITH THEIR WORK.
AND WE DECIDED AND GOT FEEDBACK
FROM PEOPLE LOCALLY.
WE NEED OUR OWN DEFINITION AND
WE BORROWED FROM THE DEMOCRACY
COLLABORATIVE AND OTHER
NATIONAL LEADERS IN THIS SPACE.
IT IS AN APPROACH TO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
THERE IS SHARED OWNERSHIP AND
CONTROL OF COMMUNITY ASSETS.
WE STILL SAID WE NEED TO
FURTHER DESIGN THOSE WORDS.
WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY
SHOULD BE LOCAL, DEMOCRATIC AND
SHARED.
WE DID A LOT OF WORK TO BREAK
DOWN WHAT THIS WORK IS MEANT TO
BE HYPER- LOCAL.
HOW DO FOLKS BUY BACK THE BLOCK.
WE THINK ABOUT FOLKS THAT LIVE
AND WORK IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
DEMOCRATIC IS BIG, THINKING
ABOUT MODELS IN THE COLLECTIVE
DECISION-MAKING.
YOU HAVE THE OWNER OF THE
BUSINESS AND THE EMPLOYEES AND
THE LANDLORD AND THE TENANT AND
THERE IS A SEPARATION BETWEEN
WHO PROFITS AND WHO MAKES
DECISIONS.
WE LOOK AT MODELS THAT ALLOW
FOR THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE.
AND LASTLY, SHARED.
WITH HOW THE DEMOCRACY
COLLABORATIVE SPEAKS ABOUT THE
WORK.
HOW THE COMMUNITY LEADERS SPEAK
ABOUT IT, HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT
THE ASSETS THAT ARE SHARED AS
BROADLY AS POSSIBLE.
ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN
ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD TO CALL ON
A DEVELOPMENT?
AND SO ON.
I WILL FAST-FORWARD AND I WILL
BE HAPPY TO SHARE THESE SLIDES
AFTERWARDS.
A COMMON QUESTION THAT WE GET,
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OWNERSHI IS
OKAY?
WE HAVE DEVELOPERS WANTING TO
DO DIFFERENT PROJECTS, IT IS
10% IS OWNED BY THE COMMUNITY,
IS THAT OKAY?
I WANT THEM TO BE 100% OWNED
AND CONTROLLED BY THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WANT TO INVEST
IN MODELS THAT ARE 51% OR MORE.
DOING A DEEP DIVE TO PUT
TOGETHER SOME FRAMEWORK TO HELP
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF MODELS IN THIS SPACE.
I WILL SHARE THIS AFTER.
AFTER MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS,
WE WILL FOCUS ON THESE FOUR
AREAS.
WANT TO EXPLORE COMMUNITY
WEALTH BUILDING WITH LOCAL AND
DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED.
AND ALSO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.
WE SELECTED A MODEL IN EACH OF
ONE'S, LOOKING AT THE
COOPERATIVE BUSINESS OWNERSHIP
AND STEWARDSHIP.
WE DESIGNED A PROGRAM TO
SUPPORT THIS.
YOU ALL KNOW ON THIS CALL, FOR
US, IT IS NOT JUST THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.
IT IS AROUND RACIAL EQUITY AND
JUSTICE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OUTCOMES
AND OUTPUTS, IT IS NOT ABOUT
HOW MANY DOLLARS GO IN
SOMEONE'S POCKET.
HERE IS THE WORKER COOPERATIVE.
IT IS OWNED BY FORMERLY
INCARCERATED BLACK MEMBERS IN
CHICAGO.
THEY COULD SPEAK ABOUT THEIR
OWNERS AS YOU CAN SEE LISTED
HERE.
I WILL END WITH THESE LAST TWO
SLIDES, WE AVERAGE $15-$15
MILLION FROM THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT.
OBVIOUSLY THAT IS ONE OF THE
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.
WE CARVED OUT $15 MILLION TO
SUPPORT THIS WORK.
WE LEARNED THREE THINGS FROM
THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SHOULD
DO.
THE FIRST IS TO STRENGTHEN THE
ECOSYSTEM AND TO BUILD A
PIPELINE OF PROJECTS.
THE THIRD IS TO INVEST IN LARGE-
SCALE PILOT PROJECTS TO PROVIDE
PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR THIS WORK.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE PILOT
PROJECTS FROM THE CITY, YOU
FOCUS ON ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
ONE CAN UNITY BASED ORGANIZATION
THE CHAMPION IN THE FACE OF THE
WORK AND THE COMMUNITY REALLY
SAID THAT WE REALLY NEED TO
INVEST IN THE --
>> THAT WAS GREAT.
THANK YOU.
I WILL ASK ONE QUESTION BEFORE
ASKING MR. GORDON TO SPEAK.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE
FOR HOW THIS UNFOLDED?
>> YES.
WE SPENT THE FIRST YEAR.
WE STARTED IN 2020, SIMILAR TO
YOU, THAT SUMMER, OF COURSE IT
WAS THE HEIGHT OF COVID AND
DURING THE UPRISING.
A LOT OF THIS WORK WAS ELEVATED
AS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT
HELPING COMMUNITIES AND
HISTORICALLY THIS INVESTED IN
NEIGHBORHOODS TO CONTROL THE
ASSETS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE SPENT OF THAT YEAR DOING A
LOT OF RESEARCH.
MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH
NATIONAL LEADERS, THE DEMOCRACY
AT WORK INSTITUTE, THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN
CHICAGO AND FOLKS WHO HAVE DONE
SOME RESEARCH IN THIS AREA AND
THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE SPENT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS
DOING HEAVY RESEARCH AND
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING.
A LOT OF FOLKS DID NOT HAVE
TRUST OR FAITH IN US.
WE HAD TO SPEND SIX MONTHS
HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND THEN
AT THE START OF 2021, WE PUT
TOGETHER THE FIRST ROOM WORKING
GROUP THAT WOULD HELP US TO
ARTICULATE THAT WE ARE WORKING
ON THESE FOUR AREAS AND THEY
HELPED US TO DO THE LANDSCAPE
AREAS ON THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN
DONE BY THE FOLKS ON THE GROUND
WE DID NOT FOR THE FIRST SIX
MONTHS OF 2021 WITHOUT WORKING
GROUP PUTTING TOGETHER A
STRATEGY.
IN JUNE OF 2021 WE DID A HUGE
CONVENING OF THE CITY.
JUST TO FURTHER GET THAT WORD
OUT THERE.
WE KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A PITCH FOR
MONEY.
THAT NOVEMBER, THE MAYOR
ANNOUNCED THAT WE WOULD BE
GETTING $15 MILLION IN THE
PILOT.
AND THEN IN 2022, WE HAVE
ASSEMBLED A BIT OF A SMALL OF A
ADVISORY COUNCIL AND NOW WE ARE
KIND OF IMAGE.
WE HAVE AWARDED THE FIRST PHASE
OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTEES
AND WE JUST RECEIVED 95
APPLICATIONS FOR THE PIPELINE
BUILDING.
THAT IS FOR THE PLANNING AND
PREDEVELOPMENT GRANTS THAT WE
WILL ANNOUNCE THIS MAY AND WE
WANT THE THIRD AND FINAL AMOUNT
OF MONEY IN Q3 OF THIS YEAR.
SINCE IT IS FUNDED, EVERYTHING
WILL BE ALLOCATED BY THE END OF
2024 AND SPENT BY 2026.
WE HOPE THAT THE WORK CONTINUES
TO GROW AND EXPAND.
>> FANTASTIC, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
MR. GORDON.
PLEASE.
>> THAT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE,
CHICAGO.
YOU KNOW, IT IS INTERESTING.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE
TALKING TO BOTH OF US AND YOU
ARE GOING TO STRENGTHEN YOUR
COMMUNITY WELFARE.
WE LANDED ON THIS EARLIER, THE
CREATION OF THIS OFFICE.
THE FIRST MUNICIPALITY IN THE
COUNTRY TO CREATE THE OFFICE IN
2015. OVER TIME, WE WERE ABLE
TO FINE TUNE OUR OBJECTIVE.
WHEN IT WAS FIRST CREATED, WE
HAVE A GOAL TO REDUCE THE
POVERTY RATE BY 40% AND THE
CHILD POVERTY RATE BY 50% BY 23.
THERE WERE ALL THESE
COMPONENTS, SYSTEMIC AND
OTHERWISE THAT LED TO THE HIGH
LEVEL OF POVERTY IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE HAD CAREER STATIONS OPEN FOR
FOLKS TO COME IN AND KIND OF
CAREER CONNECT WITH THE
SPECIALISTS TO KNOW WHAT
BARRIERS THEY FACED ON A
REGULAR BASIS AND WHAT WE DO
FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE OR
LITERALLY CONNECTING THE TWO
RESOURCES SO THAT THEY COULD
FIND EMPLOYMENT THAT WOULD
INCREASE THEIR INCOME AND TO
GET THEM ON THE TRAJECTORY FROM
CRISIS TO THRIVING.
ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT,
ONCE WE STARTED THAT, WE THEN
AND WE STILL DO HAVE THE
CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD THAT IS
COMPRISED OF PEOPLE WHO DO THIS
EVERY DAY.
WE STARTED WITH THE CRISIS
LADDER.
ONE OF THE CABINET MEMBERS SAID,
IT WOULD BE MORE HELPFUL TO PUT
DOLLAR AMOUNTS ON THAT LADDER.
SO THAT ALL OF US WILL KNOW,
WHAT IS THE GOAL.
IF YOU ARE A SINGLE MOTHER OF
TWO KIDS FOR A TWO PARENT
HOUSEHOLD WITH ONE CHILD, WE
TRY TO MAKE ME LADDER TO MATCH
THE DEMOGRAPHICS TO THE
SPECIFIC HOUSEHOLDS.
WHAT WE LEARNED, AND THIS IS
HARD TO EMBRACE AT TIMES.
IT IS ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
ALL THESE BIG GOALS FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT AS PEOPLE
WALKED IN THE DOOR, WE HAD TO
START AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF
SUPPORT.
WE DID TRY TO ENCOURAGE
ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES.
WE FOUND FEW PEOPLE WHO COULD
COME TO US THAT ARE READY TO GO
FROM WHERE THEY ARE, MAKING
SEVEN DOLLARS AN HOUR TO HAVING
THE COURAGE OR THE ENERGY TO
HAVE SOMETHING MORE CREATIVE
ENTREPRENEURIAL SHIP.
WE WANTED TO EXPAND OUR
APPROACH TO HAVE BETTER SUPPORT
OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
WHAT WE USED FOR THIS APPROACH
WAS MANY LIVES TO SELF-
SUFFICIENCY.
WE HAD CASE MANAGERS,
EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS WHO DID
A COMPLETE ASSESSMENT AND
ANALYSIS OF THAT HOUSEHOLD.
FOR HOW MUCH INCOME IS IN THE
HOUSEHOLD AND HOW THEY KIDS ARE
DOING IN SCHOOL.
IT IS LABOR-INTENSIVE.
WE GO TO THE SCHOOL WITH THE
PARENTS, THE MOTHER, THE FATHER
, WORK WITH A PARTICULAR
BUSINESS TO SEE IF WE CAN GET
THE RIGHT TRAINING FOR THE
INDIVIDUALS TO MOVE UP TO A NEW
ABILITY OF EMPLOYMENT.
IT IS THEN, WE CAN SERVE
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT WAY.
OUR ORIGINAL GOAL WAS TO GET
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT OF
POVERTY EACH YEAR.
THAT WAS NOT GOING TO SERVE ANY
OF US TO KEEP USING THAT
LANGUAGE.
EVERYONE HAD A DIFFERENT
STARTING POINT.
NOW WE HAVE EXPANDED THE
APPROACH FOR A NEW HOLISTIC
MANAGEMENT.
THERE ARE OTHER GROUPS IN TOWN
THAT DO WORKFORCE TRAINING.
PEOPLE WHO JUST NEED TO GET THE
JOB, GO TO OUR WORKFORCE
PARTNER, IF YOU ARE ON THE
TRAJECTORY FOR WEALTH BUILDING,
COME TO US.
WE HAVE ONE THAT IS MORE
INTENSIVE WORK TWO-TIERED.
WITHIN COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING
WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE
TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WITH THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE NETWORK.
WE ALSO HAVE THE MAYOR'S YOUTH
ACADEMY.
LEADERSHIP AND EMPLOYMENT
TRAINING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE SO
THAT WE CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF
POVERTY IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
WE ARE THE CONVENERS.
MY OFFICE OF HUMAN SERVICES IS
THE BACK BONE OF RICHMOND.
IT IS THE SAME FAMILIES.
EVERY OTHER WEEK, THE HEAD OF
THE HOUSING GROUP WHICH IS THE
FOOD BANK OF OLDER ADULTS AND
PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE
RICHMOND POLICE THEN PEOPLE WHO
ARE ENGAGED IN THE ENGAGEMENT
AREA AND PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL
DISABILITIES.
EVERY WEEK, WE HAVE A CALL.
WE COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
AND HOW THEY CONTRAST TO
CHICAGO.
WE STARTED OFF BRINGING IT ALL
IN HOUSE.
STEP ONE IS THIS WORKFORCE
PIECE.
THESE STRONG ALLIES WITH THE
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST WITH
PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING COMMUNITY
WEALTH BUILDING.
WE JUST NEED WAYS TO CONNECT ON
A REGULAR BASIS.
MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE IN TOWN CAN
TAKE THE LEAD ON
ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET MORE
AND MORE PEOPLE TO A LEVEL
WHERE THEY CAN HAVE ECONOMIC
SUCCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR FOLKS WHO HAD A WHOLE BUNCH
OF QUESTIONS.
GO AHEAD.
>> I WANT TO BE AWARE OF TIME.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING SO MUCH
OF YOURS TODAY.
LET ME ASK ONE MORE QUESTION.
I WILL OPEN IT UP TO MY
COLLEAGUES.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
FUNDING. MAINLY WHAT I WANT TO
ASK IS IF YOU CAN SHARE SOME OF
THE INITIAL OUTCOMES OR IMPACTS
THAT YOU NOTICED IN THE WORK
THAT YOU ARE DOING AS WE ARE
HAVING DISCUSSIONS.
IN CHICAGO, IT IS RELATIVELY
NEW.
IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT YOU
HAVE NOTICED AS A RESULT OF
THIS?
>> WE HAVE BEEN USING THE
POVERTY RATE AS AN INDICATOR.
THE PANDEMIC OCCURRED AND THAT
IS A STRONG INDICATOR.
THE POVERTY LEVEL HAS DROPPED 6%
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE
OFFICE.
THERE IS A NEW CONNECTIVE
TISSUE BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS TO
SAY, LET'S HAVE A STRATEGY AND
APPROACH FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES USING THE NETWORK OF
PROVIDERS.
HOPEFULLY THAT HAS LED TO
HOUSEHOLDS BEING ABLE TO FIND
JOBS AND CAREERS GOING FORWARD.
MANY GENTLEMEN COME TO US, THIS
IS A BIG SUCCESS STORY.
IT IS SO TYPICAL FOR RICHMOND.
HE HAD BEEN INCARCERATED FOR 20
YEARS.
WHEN YOU GET OUT OF PRISON,
USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS, IT IS
HARD TO FIND A JOB.
HE WAS DIRECTED TO COME TO THE
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY WEALTH
úBUILDING.
HE SPOKE TO AN EMPLOYMENT
SPECIALIST AND WE REALIZE THAT
HE HAD A WIFE WHO HAD
EMPLOYMENT AND HE CAME BACK
INTO THAT HOUSEHOLD AND WE SAID
THAT WE WOULD PAY THROUGH OUR
CONNECTIONS WITH THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HIS TRAINING
TO GET THE CDL.
YOU WENT THROUGH THAT, AND WAS
STELLAR ADDED AND WAS EMPLOYED
IMMEDIATELY AND AS HE DID THAT,
HE REALIZED THERE WAS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO HAVE HIS
OWN BUSINESS.
HE AND HIS WIFE DECIDED THAT
THEY WOULD SAVE HIS INCOME SO
THAT HE COULD PURCHASE HIS OWN
TRUCK AND TRAILER AND HE DID
THAT, HE STARTED THAT BUSINESS
AND THEN BUILT A HOME IN THE
COUNTY.
FROM THE TIME THAT HE INTERACTED
WITH US IN THE TIME THAT HE
STARTED BUILDING HIS OWN HOME
WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS.
WE USE HIM AS A TEMPLATE FOR
HOW YOU SHOULD DO IT.
UNDERSTANDING THE SKILLS, THE
CHALLENGES, WITHIN THE ENTIRE
HOUSEHOLD AND THEN USING OUR
RESOURCES, WE HAD A STATE GRANT
FOR A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM.
IT COST ABOUT $8000 AND WE WERE
ABLE TO GET HIM ON HIS WAY FOR
HIS NEW CAREER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR CHICAGO, AS WE HAVE JUST
RELEASED SOME OF THESE GRANTS,
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF -- THE
BROADER IMPACT METRICS.
WE WILL HAVE MORE TO SHARE BY
THE END OF THE YEAR.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT TO BE
MEASURED INTERNALLY.
A LOT OF WHAT WE DO IS THINKING
ABOUT SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES THAT ARE
DIFFERENT IN DEPARTMENTS.
THIS ADVISORY COUNSEL IS NOT A
CUSTOMARY WAY IN WHICH WE DO
WORK.
WE ARE CENTERING COMMUNITY
LEADERS AND VOICES IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WORK, THAT
IS ONE THING WE ARE TRYING TO
MEASURE.
WEALTH BUILDING IS A TERM THAT
IS VERY COMPLEX.
BEING ABLE TO MEASURE HOW MUCH
OUR DEPARTMENTS AND STAFF IN
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ARE DIVING
INTO THAT NUANCE AND THEY ARE
BEING SPECIFIC ABOUT WHICH
PARTS OF WEALTH BUILDING THAT
THEY ARE IMPACTING FOR THE
RESIDENCE AND EXPANDING THEIR
DEFINITION OF WEALTH BUILDING.
ONE THING I SEE FOR SUCCESS IS
FOLKS OFTEN TIMES LOOKING AT
TRADITIONAL AND FINANCIAL
ESCALATION AS A METHOD.
WE ARE OFTEN NOT GIVING A LOT
OF CREDIT TO ANTI-GENTRIFICATION
COOPERATIVES THAT ACTUALLY
SUPPRESS OR LIMIT HOW MUCH
EQUITY CAN BE GAINED FROM
OWNING A PROPERTY.
THAT WAS A BIG SHIFT THAT WE
HAD TO TAKE ON FOR FOLKS.
IT IS NOT WEALTH BUILDING IF I
CANNOT JUST WATCH MY HOUSE
APPRECIATE OVER TIME.
WE HAVE TO SAY, THAT IS WHAT IS
CAUSING GENTRIFICATION IN THESE
COMMUNITIES.
THESE FOLKS ARE BEING PUSHED
OUT.
WE ARE CREATING A MODEL THAT
SAYS THAT THEY CAN LIVE THEIR
AND THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE
TO AFFORD TO LIVE THERE, THAT
IS WEALTH BUILDING, BEING ABLE
TO STAY IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS A
FORM OF WEALTH.
THE MINESHAFT MIND-SET SHIFTING
HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
>> I THOUGHT ABOUT ONE THING
WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO MEASURE
THIS BUT WE NOW HAVE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE INTERACTED WITH THE
PROGRAM AND ONE INDIVIDUAL CAME
TO US AND SAID THAT WE HAD
SAVED HIS LIFE.
AFTER ABOUT A MONTH OF
BRAINSTORMING, WE LANDED ON THE
CREATION OF AMBASSADOR.
THESE PEOPLE LIVE IN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT MIGHT BE
UNDERSERVED OR UNDER RESOURCED
TO SOME DEGREE.
THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR
INTERACTION TO US.
THANKS TO THIS GUIDANCE, MY
STAFF WOULD NOT BE THE BEST
FACE FOR THIS WORK.
IT WOULD NEED TO BE YOUR NEXT-
DOOR NEIGHBOR OR YOUR FRIEND
WHO LIVES IN THE SAME
NEIGHBORHOOD.
HE MOBILIZED ABOUT 20 PEOPLE AT
FIRST, THEY UNDERSTOOD THE
PROCESS AND UNDERSTOOD THE
SYSTEMS AND THEN WENT OUT TO
TRY AND ENCOURAE PEOPLE TO
COME FORWARD ON THE NETWORKS.
IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
WHEN THE PANDEMIC OCCURRED,
THEY WENT FROM 22 TO 70 PEOPLE.
WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE SHUT DOWN,
THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS TURNED
INTO OUR AMBASSADORS.
WE WERE RECOGNIZED BY THE
STATE, THE CITY COUNCIL AND NOW
THE AMBASSADORS HAVE BECOME
PART OF THE CITY BUDGET.
IT IS A FORMAL ASPECT OF HOW WE
DO CIVIL ENGAGEMENT WITH
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
COMMUNITY GIVING US CONSISTENT
FEEDBACK.
IN 2017 WE RECEIVED THE
CULTURAL HEALTH PRIZE FOR THIS
APPROACH TO COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT WHICH HAS LED TO
WEALTH BUILDING THE WAY THAT WE
DESCRIBED.
>> THAT IS GREAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE
GRAPPLING WITH, WHAT IS THE
CITY'S ROLE IN DOING THIS WORK?
I THINK THE QUESTION IS A GOOD
ONE ABOUT HOW MUCH OUR
DEPARTMENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT
COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING MEANS
AND WEATHER THEY ARE
CONTRIBUTING TO IT OR GETTING
IN THE WAY OF IT.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION
FOR US TO BE GRAPPLING WITH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE
TODAY.
I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO
TO YOUR WEBSITE FOR THE
FINANCIAL REPORT FROM 2021 IN
VIRGINIA AND IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING, I ZEROED
IN ON THE OWNERSHIP I AGREE THAT
THE ABILITY TO MANAGE THEIR
ASSETS, THE CONSTITUTION
PROHIBITS THE GIFTING OF PUBLIC
FUNDS.
THAT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT
FOR THE GRANTS TO OWN AND
IMPROVE THEIR COMMERCIAL SPACE
AND THE SAME THING FOR
HOMEOWNERSHIP ET CETERA.
I WILL SAY, THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOES HAVE
THE OPTION TO GET AROUND THESE
IN THE COMMUNITY WE ARE WORKING
WITHIN THESE CONSTRAINTS.
DO THEY HAVE A SIMILAR KIND OF
RESTRICTION AND MAYBE OFF-LINE
I COULD LEARN ABOUT HOW YOU
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FULFILL YOUR
MISSION WITH THIS RESTRICTION.
DO YOU HAVE OFFICES OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU ARE
WORKING IN TANDEM WITH?
WE DO NOT WANT TO SILENCE THE
EFFORTS AROUND THE SHARED
OMISSION TO CREATE COMMUNITY
WEALTH. IT IS SHARED ACROSS THE
BOARD.
I'M WONDERING HOW YOU WORKED
WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES WITHIN
YOUR GOVERNMENT.
>> THAT IS QUITE THE RESTRAINT.
WE DO NOT HAVE THAT.
WE HAVE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO
GIVE THINGS TO THE NON-PROFITS.
THE TWO THINGS THAT CAME TO
MIND, CREATIVE THINGS THAT YOU
HAVE THOUGHT THROUGH.
THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS GRANT
WHICH IS GOING TO FUND THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS,
THERE ARE FREE SERVICES THAT
WILL GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT IS SOME GOOD WORK THAT CAN
HAPPEN.
I LOVE PARTNERING WITH
PHILANTHROPY AND THAT IS
ANOTHER ROUTE POTENTIALLY.
YOU WANT TO DO THINGS WITH YOUR
OWN VALOR AS CITY GOVERNMENT.
YOU CAN INFLUENCE BOTH NATIONAL
FOUNDATIONS TO GIVE MONEY TO
THOSE ENTITIES.
IT HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL FOR
THEM AS WELL.
WE CAN MAKE SOMETHING MORE
CREDIBLE AND LEGITIMATE AND YOU
CAN THINK OF THAT SOMEWHERE
ELSE.
WORKED IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS
AND I THINK THAT IS BEEN A HUGE
BENEFIT FOR THIS WORK.
I THINK YOUR POINT, THE BEAUTY
OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS THAT
WE OVERSEE MANY DEPARTMENTS SO
THAT THIS WORK HAS BEEN IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THREE
DEPARTMENTS SPECIFICALLY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER
PROTECTIONS.
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.
THINKING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE,
AND SMALL BUSINESS.
I HAVE SOME DREAMS ABOUT THE
NEXT EVOLUTION OF THIS WORK.
THE ARTS DEPARTMENT WHERE THERE
IS A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE
AROUND THE NARRATIVE WORK, AND
THINKING ABOUT ARTISTS IN THIS
WORK.
ARTIST HOUSING AND SHARED ART
SPACES.
THAT IS A PERSONAL PASSION OF
MINE.
>> JUST ONE DEPARTMENT.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
>> THAT ALL SOUNDED GREAT.
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A
DIFFERENCE.
I AM LIVING NEXT DOOR TO MY
COLLEAGUE WHO IS THE DEPUTY
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE DEVELOPER.
AND WE ARE IN CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO
TEAMS.
RICHMOND IS TRYING TO ATTRACT
BUSINESSES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO INCLUDE IN OUR
PROFILE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
AN APPROACH TOWARDS COMMUNITY
WEALTH BUILDING.
THAT CAN LEAD TO EMPLOYEES FROM
THAT PERSPECTIVE BUSINESS.
WE HAVE HAD SOME BUSINESSES AND
LARGE CORPORATIONS TO MOVE THE
HEADQUARTERS TO RICHMOND.
THEY WERE IMPRESSED THAT THIS
MAYOR AND THE PREVIOUS MAYOR
HAD THAT KIND OF ENERGY.
WE DO HAVE THAT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, WE ARE
ONE OF THE PILOT CITIES FOR
GUARANTEED INCOME.
OUT OF CALIFORNIA THEY LAUNCHED
THAT.
WE ARE ON THE SECOND COHORT OF
36 FAMILIES THAT ARE RECEIVING
$500 PER MONTH FOR TWO YEARS.
THE FIRST COHORT JUST ENDED.
THIS WAS ABOUT CARES ACT
FUNDING AND FOUNDATION DOLLARS.
WE ARE TESTING THIS BECAUSE IF
WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS IS
A CREDIBLE WAY TO NAVIGATE THEM
THROUGH THE CHALLENGES AND
BARRIERS THAT WE CURRENTLY FACE
THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO SHIFT
PUBLIC DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THIS
KIND OF DIRECT CASH PAYMENT.
WE HAD THE COUNCIL ON BOARD, WE
WILL USE THE DATA TO MAKE OUR
CASE.
IT IS BEING STUDIED BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
I CANNOT DO CLOSE EVERYTHING AS
OF YET.
WE WILL HAVE SOME REALLY
AMAZING RESULTS OF THE
DIFFERENCE THAT THE INFLUX OF
CASH MAKES ON A HOUSEHOLD AS
THEY JOURNEY TOWARDS MORE
STABILITY.
BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE IN OTHER
ACTIVITIES, HOUSING OR
EMPLOYMENT.
>> THAT IS GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
HERE IN WASHINGTON, WE ALSO
HAVE A COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR
GUARANTEED INCOME.
WE ARE REALLY STARTING TO HAVE
THAT CONVERSATION IN THE STATE
LEGISLATOR AS WELL.
YOU ARE RIGHT.
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT INDIVIDUALS
AND HOUSEHOLDS HAVE IMMEDIATE
NEEDS.
MOST PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD A
$400 EMERGENCY.
THIS IS HOW WE CAN START TO
ADDRESS THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RESULTS
OF THE STUDIES OF THESE PILOTS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I KNOW WE ARE OVER TIME.
WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING SO
MUCH TIME WITH US TODAY.
MY NORTHSTAR IN THIS WORK IS
REALLY TO TRY AND CLOSE THE
RACIAL WEALTH GAP.
WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ONE HERE
IN SEATTLE.
I AM EXCITED THAT THE CITY IS
MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE
PRIORITIES TO UNDO THE HARM
THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND YOUR TALENT WITH THIS.
I HOPE THIS IS THE FIRST OF
MANY INTERACTIONS THAT WE HAVE
IS WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE THIS
WORK FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH
US TODAY.
I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU TO
SEE IF WE CAN GET THOSE SLIDES,
WE NEED TO POST THEM AS THEY
ARE PART OF THE MEETING TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD DAY.
OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE DO HAVE ONE MORE AGENDA
ITEM.
I WILL ASK YOU TO READ THE LAST
AGENDA ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 18.
THANK YOU.
COUNSEL BILL 120625 WITH THE
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES FOR
THE CITY POLICY FOR A BRIEF
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> I DO WANT TO CLARIFY,
COUNSEL BILL 120525.
THAT IS CORRECT, IF THAT IS NOT
WHAT I SAID, THAT IS WHAT I
MEANT.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS THE SECOND MEETING TO
DISCUSS THIS COUNSEL BILL
REACHES FOR THE RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE
HERE.
IT IS A CITY POLICY.
AT THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING
WE HEARD THE PRESENTATION FROM
THE DEPARTMENT AND WE ADOPTED A
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT AND WE NOW
HAVE BEFORE US THE AMENDED BILL.
AND I WANT TO SAY, THAT WAS THE
FIRST CONVERSATION.
THIS IS THE SECOND.
I WANT TO GIVE TIME IF THERE IS
QUESTIONS.
TO HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS.
AND WANTED TO SAY AGAIN, THIS
WORK IS REALLY SETTING THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AS THE CITY HAS
A HISTORY OF RACISM BAKED INTO
OUR PRACTICES, OUR INSTITUTIONS
AND THAT IT HAS HAD DEVASTATING
EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
THIS IS NOT NEW WORK FOR US.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING WORK FOR A
LONG TIME IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING
SIMILAR WORK.
THIS IS THE CHANCE TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMENDED
BILL?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY.
OKAY.
AS I SAID, THIS IS WORK THAT I
REFERENCED EARLIER WHEN DIRECTOR
WHEELER SMITH WAS HERE.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
BILL FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
DOMINIC STEVENS FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN A HUGE
HELP TO US AS WE WORK THROUGH
THIS BILL.
MY CHIEF OF STAFF END AS WELL,
A BIG SHOUT OUT TO -- WHO HAS
WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR YEARS NOW
TO WORK ON THIS BILL.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, THEN
I AM GOING TO MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND THIS BILL
FOR APPROVAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE.
DEVON, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR SWANS?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE MOTION CARRIES ON THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
WE APPROVE COUNSEL BILL 525
WILL BE SENT TO THE APRIL 15th
2023 COUNCIL MEETING.
COLLEAGUES, THAT IS ALL WE HAVE
TODAY.
UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO
DELIBERATE ON?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
THIS CONCLUDES THE MARCH 24th,
2023 MEETING OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING IS
FOR APRIL 28th.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.