>>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE,
WELCOME TO CITY HALL. THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS
COUNCIL VACANCY PUBLIC FORUM.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
SEATTLE CITY CLUB . I'M HERE
WITH MY COLLEAGUES, JEFF, AND
ANDREW, WHO WILL BE HELPING OUT
TONIGHT. WE APPRECIATE YOU
TAKING THE TIME OUT TO BE PART
OF THIS FORUM. WHETHER YOU ARE
HERE IN PERSON OR WATCHING US
ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. WE DO
HAVE A TWO HOUR TIME BLOCK FOR
THIS FORUM, AND A FINALIST FOR
THE COUNCIL POSITION EIGHT.
WE WILL GET IN AS MANY
QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE
REQUESTING ANY AUDIENCE
QUESTIONS BE SUBMITTED THROUGH
OUR LINK THAT SOME OF YOU MAY
HAVE ALREADY USED. THE QR CODE
CAN ALSO ACCESS THAT PAGE. IT
SHOULD BE ON THE SCREEN FOR
THOSE WATCHING AT HOME RIGHT
NOW, AS WELL AS THE Q OUT -- QR
CODES BROUGHT THE ROOM. IF YOU
WISH TO HANDWRITE YOUR
QUESTION, PLEASE DO SO AND
HANDED TO ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES
DURING THE BREAK. THEY WILL
ENTER INTO THE PORTAL AS WELL.
ALL OF THE QUESTIONS SUBMITTED,
WHETHER WE RUN OUT A MEMO, WILL
BE FORWARDED ON TO THE CITY
COUNCIL TOMORROW IN TIME FOR
THEIR COUNCIL MEETING ON
JANUARY 22nd. PLEASE DO NOT
PANIC IF WE DO NOT GET TO YOUR
QUESTION. COUNCIL WILL GET IT
AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
YOU ON MONDAY. FOR TONIGHT'S
FORUM, WE ARE KEEPING IT PRETTY
SIMPLE. WE WILL DO 60 SECOND
INTRODUCTIONS FOR EACH OF OUR
CANDIDATES. WE WILL START
ASKING QUESTIONS THAT WERE
COMPILED FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS
THAT SUBMITTED THEM. ONCE WE
GET THROUGH QUESTIONS WILL TAKE
A SHORT BREAK AND COME BACK AND
ASK AUDIENCE QUESTIONS. THERE
WILL BE A SIX QUESTION
LIGHTNING ROUND, THE FUN
PADDLES IN FRONT OF THE
CANDIDATES WILL COME IN HANDY.
WE WILL END WITH CLOSING
REMARKS THAT WILL ALSO BE 60
SECONDS. WITH THAT, WHO IS
READY TO BEGIN? I WILL START
WITH THE PERSON THAT IS CLOSEST
TO ME AND ASKED THEM GO -- TO
GO DOWN THE LINE. VIVIAN, IF
YOU WOULD GO FOR US.
>> HI, I AM VIVIAN SONG AND I
AM SEEKING THE APPOINTMENT TO
THE VACANCY ON SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL. I'M A SCHOOL BOARD
DIRECTOR FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND A MOM TO FOUR
CURRENT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.
I'M ALSO A PRIVATE-SECTOR
PROFESSIONAL WITH OVER 15
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FINANCE
AND OPERATIONS. I WILL BE
BRINGING A COLLABORATIVE
APPROACH TO PUBLIC SERVICE,
RELEVANT TO FINANCE AND FIRST
HANDS EXPERIENCE TO THE
RESIDENTS IN SEATTLE. MY
MOTIVATION TO SERVE ON THE CITY
COUNCIL COMES FROM MY
DEDICATION TO MAKING SEATTLE
THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD IN
WHICH TO LEARN, WORK, AND RAISE
A FAMILY. AS AN ELECTED SCHOOL
BOARD DIRECTOR, I SEE HOW MANY
OF OUR CITY CHALLENGES
INTERSECT FROM REACHING THEIR
FULLEST PERFECT -- POTENTIAL.
THE AREAS WE NEED TO MAKE THE
MOST PROGRESS ON IT IS PUBLIC
SAFETY, HOMELESSNESS,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC
VITALITY. THAT'S WHY AM
SEEKING TO WORK ON THESE ISSUES
DIRECTLY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, I AM HERE TODAY
BECAUSE I LOVE THE CITY AND
SEE THE CHALLENGES SEATTLE
CURRENTLY FACES. WANT TO BARTER
CHALLENGES IN A MEANINGFUL
WAY. WHILE THIS IS A TURNING
POINT TO ESTABLISH A BETTER
FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT AND
FOSTER OUR NEXT ROUND OF
GROWTH, INCLUSIVE ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY CALLING
SEATTLE THEIR HOME. STILL
PREPARING TO WELCOME ALL THE
PEOPLE YET TO MAKE THEIR --
THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY THEIR HOME.
MY FAMILY OWNS A SMALL HOTEL
WHICH WE HAVE CONVERTED INTO
AN EMERGENCY SHELTER TO HELP
HOUSE UNHOUSED. WE ARE ABLE TO
FIND NOVEL SOLUTIONS TO OUR
PROBLEMS. TAKE PRIDE IN THE
FACT THAT NOT ONLY DID WE STEP
UP WHEN ASKED, BUT IT'S AN
EXAMPLE HOW PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL
IN ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR MOST
VITAL ISSUES AND NEEDS. I
BELIEVE MY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
AS A RESIDENTS, RUNNING MY
FAMILY BUSINESS, SERVING AND
VOLUNTEERING ON NONPROFITS IN
THE CITY, AND BEING A MEMBER
OF THE GREATER ASIAN COMMUNITY
GIVE ME A GREATER PERSPECTIVE
TO BRING US TOGETHER.
>> THAT'S TIME, SORRY.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING
TONIGHT. MY NAME IS MARK
SULLIVAN. I THINK TO REPRESENT
YOU ON CITY COUNCIL. I AM A
NATIVE SEATTLEITE, BORN AND
RAISED . I ACTUALLY LIVE IN MY
CHILDHOOD HOME MY GRANDPARENTS
BUILT ON BEACON HILL. A HOME
THAT FORTUNATELY ENOUGH HAS
BEEN KEPT IN THE FAMILY.
KEEPING HOMES IN FAMILIES AND
BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH
IS IMPORTANT TO ME. MY REASON
FOR WANTING TO RUN AND SERVE IS
VERY SIMPLE. SEATTLE IS MY
HOME. I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF MY
HOME. JUST LIKE ALL OF OUR
HOMES, EVERY NOW AND THEN, OUR
HOME IS IN NEED OF A LITTLE
REPAIR. WE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES, HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS. INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS. THE
LIST GOES ON. I FEEL THAT BY
WORKING TOGETHER AND
COLLABORATIVELY, WORKING IN
RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP S
SIDE-BY-SIDE, WE CAN ADDRESS
THOSE CHALLENGES. I WANTED TO
BE AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THIS
--
>> I'M SORRY, THAT'S TIME.
>> I WILL STOP TALKING.
>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING. I
AM STEVE. I AM HONORED TO BE
AMONG THE EIGHT FINALISTS FOR
THE COUNCIL SEE NUMBER EIGHT.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COME OUT AND ANSWER QUESTIONS
DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLIC. I
BELIEVE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE ANSWER THE PUBLIC'S
QUESTION IN A TRANSPARENT WAY
BECAUSE THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHO
WE WORK FOR, THE PUBLIC. I AM
A LIFELONG SEATTLEITE AND I AM
RAISING MY FAMILY IN THE CITY.
I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY, SAFETY, AND THE
ENVIRONMENT, AND WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO LEAVE FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS. I HAVE SPENT MY
ENTIRE ADULT LIFE IN PUBLIC
SERVICE BY SEEKING JUSTICE. MY
CURRENT JOB HAS ALLOWED ME TO
ACHIEVE IMPROVEMENTS BY
COLLABORATING ACROSS CITY
DEPARTMENTS WITH NONPROFITS ,
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND BUSINESS. THE VOTERS IN
THE LAST ELECTION WERE CLEAR
ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED. I HEARD
THE CALL AND I AM RESPONDING. I
AM VERY HOPEFUL THE CITY WILL
MAKE PROGRESS WITH THIS
UPCOMING COUNCIL AGENDA AND
HAVE REAL CHANGE.
>> THAT IS TIME. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS --
I'M HERE AS A
FOURTH-GENERATION
JAPANESE-AMERICAN, SEEK AN
APPOINTMENT TO THE COUNCIL SEAT
POSITION NEEDS. I HAVE A
COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE
COMMUNITY. MY WORK AT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE FOR THE LAST DAY
AND A HAVE YEARS HAVE GIVEN ME
A STRONG SKILL SET THAT CAN ADD
TO THE VALUE OF CITY COUNCIL IN
MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH
BUDGETS, NOTABLE DEPARTMENTS,
AND I FEEL THIS WILL HELP US AS
WE MOVE INTO SOME OF THE LARGER
ISSUES PART -- SUCH AS PUBLIC
SAFETY, HOUSING, STABILITY,
ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION, AND
ESPECIALLY OUR UPCOMING BUDGET
DEFICIT . MY EXPERIENCE WITH
DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS TO
CONTRACTS WE MANAGE, IS A SKILL
I FEEL THE COUNCIL WILL BENEFIT
FROM. THERE WILL BE VERY REAL
IMPACTS ON CITIZENS OF OUR CITY
IF WE START LOOKING AT PROGRAMS
WITHOUT HAVING GOOD BACKGROUND
INFORMATION. I'M A HARD WORKER.
I COME MULTITASK. I
COLLABORATE WELL EVEN IF WE
DISAGREE ON POLICY DIFFERENCES.
I FEEL MY CORE BELIEFS ARE HOW
I WAS RAISED. THAT'S WHY AM
SEEKING THIS APPOINTMENT THERE,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, HI, EVERYONE. MY
NAME IS -- MY MOTIVATION IS
SIMPLE. I AM HERE BECAUSE MY
WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN ABOUT
DEDICATION TO A LIFETIME OF
SERVICE , SERVICE OF OTHERS,
MORE THAN MYSELF. I AM HERE .
SIMPLE. THE CITY ASKED ME TO.
A COUNCILMEMBER ASKED ME TO
SUBMIT A NAME TO HELP . WHETHER
I'M THE BEST FIT TO JOIN THEM
TO SERVE THE CITY. I DON'T
HAVE ANY FANCY AGENDA. I
DON'T HAVE ANY INCREDIBLE
LOFTY GOALS. I AM HERE TO SERVE
YOU. I'M HERE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
SUCCEED . WHEN THEY SUCCEED ,
WE ALL SUCCEED. IF YOU ASK ME,
I LOVE NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAVE
GROWN UP IN NEIGHBORHOODS. I
LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT
NEIGHBORHOODS. IF THERE'S A
PRIORITY YOU WANT TO PUT A PEN
ON, I WANT TO HELP THE COUNCIL
TO DO A BETTER OUTREACH TO ALL
THE NEIGHBORHOODS . TO LEARN
FROM YOU, AND FIX ALL SMALL
PROBLEMS. THAT'S HOW WE HAVE
VICTORIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HI, MY NAME IS TANYA. I GREW
UP IN BEACON HILL. I WORKED IN
MY FAMILY BUSINESS . AND NOW
THE CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT . I NOW LIVE IN
RAINIER VALLEY. I HAVE SEEN THE
CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS IN
SEATTLE. I'VE SEEN WHAT
HAPPENS TO NEIGHBORHOODS WHO
DON'T HAVE A VOICE. I WANT TO
CHANGE THAT. I KNOW HOW TO
ACHIEVE THAT HER PUBLIC SAFETY.
I RUN A GROUP THAT IS
CONSIDERED AN ALTERNATIVE TO
POLICING. WE GO OUT AND
DE-ESCALATE FIGHTS. AT THE SAME
TIME WE PROVIDE MUTUAL AID TO
OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS. I KNOW
HOW TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. MY FAMILY RENOVATED
HOTEL INTO WORKFORCE APARTMENTS
THAT ONLY CHARGES OUR RESIDENTS
A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR INCOME,
SO NO ONE IS FORCED TO PAY
THEIR RENT THEY CANNOT AFFORD.
I ALSO THOUGHT OF -- AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION ON ONE OF THE
MOST ENDANGERED BIRDS IN THE
NATION. I HAVE LEARNED THAT IN
ORDER TO BE HEARD WE HAVE TO
MAKE PEOPLE IN POWER LISTEN.
I KNOW WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER
. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR CITIES
SAFER AND AFFORDABLE FOR
EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JUAN . I ALSO
GREW UP ON BEACON HILL AND THE
SOUTH END OF SEATTLE. THREE
THINGS I WANT TO LEAVE YOU TO
UNDERSTAND. NUMBER ONE, I CAN
WIN THIS CITYWIDE. THIS IS A
MOMENTOUS OPPORTUNITY WE ARE
TAKING ON. I WORKED FOR KING
COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO RAN FOR
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. WE
HAVE COMPLEX POLICY, CHALLENGES
WE WERE WORKING ON. WE WERE
ABLE TO BALANCE AND MANAGE THAT
AND ALSO WORK WITH HIM,
INCLUDING YOU -- INCLUDING
LAND-USE. EVEN SAVE THE
FOOTBALL TEAM. WE WERE ABLE TO
GET THAT MAN ELECTED GOVERNOR,
MANAGING THE OFFICE, AND THE
IMPORTANT THING GETTING BACK TO
CONSTITUENTS TO THE EXPERIENCE
I GAINED FROM IN THE WORK I'VE
DONE IN THE LAST DECADE IN
TERMS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. I
WORKED ON MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES
IN THIS COMMUNITY AND MANY
LEADERS. PROVIDING THE
STRUCTURE. ALSO ABOUT ME AND
MY REPUTATION, I PLAY NICE IN
THE SANDBOX. I AM MOTIVATED BY
THIS INCREDIBLE CITY COUNCIL WE
ELECT. I WOULD LOVE TO BE A
PART OF THAT. I THINK MY
PERSONALITY RESONATES WITH THIS
GROUP AND I AM EXCITED TO BE A
PART OF THAT IF SELECTED.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO
START OUR FIRST QUESTION. THE
FIRST SET OF QUESTIONS WE ARE
GOING TO ASK HER THE QUESTIONS
THAT WERE COLLECTED FROM
NUMEROUS IMMUNITY GROUPS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THIS
FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM THE
PIONEER SQUARE RESIDENTS
COUNCIL. IT IS A SIMPLE
QUESTION. WHAT EXPERIENCE DO
YOU HAVE WITH LARGE BUDGETS?
>> FROM THE PIONEER SCHOOL
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, WHAT
EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WITH
LARGE BUDGETS? I HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH LARGE BUDGETS
SINCE I WAS A COLONIST STUDENT.
WE HAD A $500,000 -- I DON'T
WANT TO GO INTO WHAT YEAR THAT
WAS. SERIOUSLY, WE HAD A
$500,000 BUDGET WE HAD TO MAKE
DECISIONS ON . AT KING COUNTY I
WORKED WITH MULTIPLE
DEPARTMENTS AND GROUPS ON
LARGE BUDGET EXPERIENCE AND
CHALLENGES THAT DEAL WITH
COUNTY BUDGET. I HAVE WORKED
CURRENTLY AT WHAT WORKS
NORTHWEST WHERE THE GOVERNOR OF
AFFAIRS DIRECTOR. I'VE BEEN
ABLE TO RAISE THE AWARENESS ON
THE BLOOD SUPPLY AND SECURE
MONEY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN
AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE WE NEED TO
PROMOTE BLOOD DONATIONS. CITY,
MUNICIPAL, FEDERAL AND STATE
LEVEL. I HAVE MORE THAN
ENOUGH, I THINK, BUDGET
EXPERIENCE.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL COME DOWN
THIS WAY. I DID NEGLECT TO SAY
60 SECONDS FOR EACH ANSWER.
>> WAS I UNDER 60 SECONDS?
>> YOU WERE GOOD.
>> I ALSO RUN A SMALL BUSINESS.
THAT'S HOW I GREW UP. WORKING
IN MY FAMILY BUSINESS. THE
REDEVELOPMENT OF LOUISA HOTEL,
WHEN THE BUILDING CAUGHT ON
FIRE, WE IMMEDIATELY HAD TO GET
A $2 MILLION EMERGENCY
STABILIZATION LOAN FROM THE
BANK. THAT WAS FOLDED INTO $30
MILLION LOAN TO REBUILD . WE
JUST FINISHED CONSTRUCTION IN
2019. WE HAVE 84 PEOPLE THAT
CALL THE BUILDING HOME. I HAVE
WORKED IN A LOT OF NONPROFITS,
CHARITIES . I HAVE ALSO HELPED
CONSERVE A JAZZ MURAL FROM THE
PROHIBITION ERA . WORKING AND
TRYING TO FIND GRANTS. SO FAR
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT $200,000
INTO CONSERVING THAT MURAL FOR
GENERATIONS TO COME. WITH A
COMMUNITY WATCH GROUP, WE HAD
TO FUND THAT ENTIRELY ON OUR
OWN. WE DON'T HAVE MUCH HELP
FROM THE CITY. WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON CROWDFUNDING AND
TRYING TO APPLY FOR GRANTS WE
CAN FIND. I DO HAVE EXPERIENCE
IN SMALL AND BIG BUDGETS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE AN
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WORKING
AND DEALING WITH LARGE BUDGETS.
I SERVED ON AN EXECUTIVE BOARD
FOR LARGE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION IN EDUCATION HERE
IN SOUTH SEATTLE. I HOPE MY
FAMILY RUN A COUPLE OF STRIP
MALLS IN KING COUNTY. I SERVED
AS A STAFF WITH ADAM SMITH. I
HELP HIM IN OVERSIGHT IN THE
AREAS OF FINANCE. I HOPE THE
REGION TO THE TOP ONE, $40
MILLION. THE REGIONAL
EDUCATION. THE APPLICATION TO
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE
MISSION CONTINUES, I WAS
ORIGINAL OPERATIONS MANAGER
AND DIRECTOR OPERATING
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUDGET S AS
WELL AS STAFF BUDGET. I HAVE AN
EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN LARGE
BUDGETS.
>> THANK YOU. FOR GO TO THE
NEXT PERSON, IF I CAN ASK
EVERYONE TO SILENCE THEIR
BONES. I FORGOT TO SAY THAT AT
THE BEGINNING. MY COLLEAGUE
TOLD ME TO SAY IT, AND I
FORGOT. IF YOU WOULD SILENCE
YOUR PHONES, WE WOULD GREATLY
APPRECIATE IT.
>> I HAVE ABOUT 10 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE FROM A NONPROFIT
SECTOR. I WORKED WITH GIRL
SCOUTS , I HAD A SMALL BUT
MIGHTY TEAM OF 300
INDIVIDUALS. BOTH PRIVATE
FUNDING AND OTHER GENERAL FUNDS
WE GOT THROUGH THE
ORGANIZATION. FAST FORWARD TO
MY EXPERIENCE WORKING AT THE
CITY. I CURRENTLY MANAGE A
PORTFOLIO OF CONTRACTS OVER $20
MILLION. 50 DIFFERENT SERVICE
PROVIDERS. THAT EXPERIENCE IS
SOMETHING THAT COMES DIRECTLY
OUT OF THE CITY BUDGET
PROCESSES. MY EXPERIENCE IN
CITY GOVERNMENT, I THINK, IS
PROBABLY THE BEST ANSWER FOR
THIS QUESTION IN TERMS OF
EXPERIENCE WITH BUDGETS. THE
MAYOR PUTS FORWARD HIS SPEECH,
EMMA DOMICH COUNCIL HAS TO
APPROVE IT. HOW DOES IT IMPACT
OUR COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY? THAT
PROCESS IS SOMETHING THAT GOES
THROUGH QUICKLY IN TERMS OF
CONTRACT. THE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE WE HAVE TO PROVIDE
ALL 50 OF THE AGENCIES WHEN IT
COMES TO DOING INVOICES AND
BUDGETS. THOSE BUDGETS CAN
RANGE FROM $50,000 TO 1.5
MILLION. SOME OF THESE AGENCIES
ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT
LEVEL FUNDS.
>> TIME. THANK YOU.
>> CURRENTLY, I AM THE POST
COMMANDER OF A NONPROFIT IN
WEST SEATTLE, THE VETERANS OF
FOREIGN WARS. WE HAVE A MEAGER
BUDGET. THAT'S NOT WHERE I
HAVE MOST OF MY BUDGET
EXPERIENCE. IN THE ARMY
NATIONAL GUARD IN 2015, I WAS
RESPONSIBLE OF THE BUILDING OF
A MILLION-DOLLAR BUILDING THAT
HAD A SKIFF INVOLVED.
INFORMATION FACILITY. IT WAS
CALLED THE INFORMATION
OPERATIONS RESOURCE CENTER.
ALONG WITH THAT WE HAD OVER 800
SOLDIERS I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
. ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT, HIGH
TECH EQUIPMENT WE WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR AND MAINTAINING
THAT. ALONG WITH THAT CAME THE
TRAINING AND SALARIES OF ALL
OF THOSE DIFFERENT ENTITIES
INVOLVED. HERE AT THE CITY , I
RUN A DOWNTOWN PRECINCT WHERE
WE HAVE OVER 100 OFFICERS . AND
A BUDGET I MANAGE THERE AS
WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HAVING EXPERIENCE IN THE
MILITARY, WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE
FOR BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF THE
RESOURCES WE HAD IN MY
PARTICULAR UNITS. I DID NOT
GET TO WRITE THE BUDGETS. I WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THE
MONEY WE HAD WAS SPENT WHILE.
AGAIN, BEING RESPONSIBLE , A
STEWARD OF THOSE RESOURCES. IN
TERMS OF OTHER BUDGETARY
EXPENSES, I RAN A SMALL
BUSINESS. I HAD TO SECURE
CLIENTS, SECURE THE
CONTRACTORS TO SERVE THOSE
CLIENTS . BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
PAYROLL. BOOKKEEPING AND
ACCOUNTING. I HAVE ALSO BEEN
ON THE BOARD OF ORGANIZATIONS
THAT HAVE $20 MILLION BUDGETS.
MAKING SURE WE ARE BEING
FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH
THE RESOURCES WE'VE GOT. HAVE
I DEALT WITH MULTIBILLION-DOLLA
R BUDGETS? NO. HAVE I BEEN A
GOOD STEWARD OF THE BUDGETS
I'VE HAD OVERSIGHT OF? YES.
WHEN WE ARE SPENDING YOUR MONEY
, WE NEED TO BE ASKING
OURSELVES, WHAT ARE WE
SPENDING, WHAT ARE WE SPENDING
ON, WHAT ARE OUR RESULTS. SO
WE GET THE BEST RETURN ON
INVESTMENT FOR YOUR MONEY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RUNNING MY FAMILY BUSINESS I
NAVIGATED THROUGH MULTIPLE
ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS. I HAVE
ALSO GONE THROUGH MULTIMILLION
DOLLAR RENOVATION IN 2019. AND
THEN CAME THE PANDEMIC HAD TO
PROVE IT. I REALIZED IF WE
DIDN'T HAVE IT WE WOULD LOSE
EVERYTHING. I HAD AN OBLIGATE
TORY DUTY TO THE BUSINESS. I
FELT -- DURING THAT TIME I
SERVED ON A COMMITTEE, DURING
COVID, TWO HEDGE THE BUDGETING
THING -- IN CASE THINGS DRIED
UP OR THE WORLD ENDED, AS WE
ALL THOUGHT IT WOULD. INSTEAD
OF HAVING A DEFICIT, WE
ACTUALLY CAME IN WITH AN
INCREASE IN REVENUE. IN ALL MY
EXPERIENCES, I WOULD TAKE THE
SAME APPROACH TO THE CITY
BUDGET AND MAKE SURE WE WERE
LOOKING AT THE BUDGET,
REVIEWING IT, CUTTING COSTS
WHERE WE CAN AND LOOKING AT
OTHER WAYS FOR FUNDING IT
BEFORE RAISING TAXES. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
DIRECTOR, YOUR PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY IS SEEING OVER
-- OVERSEEING AND IMPROVING THE
BUDGET. SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HAS A $1.2 BILLION OPERATING
BUDGET, WHICH IS QUITE
COMPARABLE TO THE CITY'S
OPERATING BUDGET OF $1.6
BILLION. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
ALSO HAS BEEN RUNNING A BUDGET
DEFICIT IN RECENT YEARS. THE
LAST TWO YEARS I HAD TO CLOSE A
$100 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT
AND GO THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT
PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING WHICH
WE WOULD BE MAKING AN
UNDERSTANDING WHAT TRADE-OFFS
WE WOULD BE CHOOSING. EVERY
EFFORT TO PROTECT THE BEST
POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR
STUDENTS. THE WAY WE DID THAT
WAS TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE OUR
THREE ACADEMIC GOALS AND GO
LINE BY LINE AND ENSURE THE
BUDGET MATCHES AND IS DIRECTLY
DRIVING THOSE GOALS. WE WERE
ALSO MAKING SURE WE WERE
MAKING PROGRESS AND MEASURING
RESULTS. I HAVE EXPERIENCE
WORKING IN A SMALL LEGISLATIVE
BODY OF SEVEN PEOPLE TO APPROVE
AND OVERSEE A LARGE PUBLIC
BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT QUESTION
I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH,
MARK, WE WILL GO TO THE RIGHT.
AND THEN WE CIRCLE BACK. YEAH,
YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS QUESTION
COMES FROM THE TRANSIT WRITERS
UNION. I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TO
RESTRICT YOURSELF TO ONE
ANSWER ON THIS. IF THE CITY
HAS TO MAKE CUTS , WHAT WOULD
YOU PROPOSE CUTTING , AND WHY?
I AM SURE THERE'S A LOT, BUT
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO PICK
ONE THING, AND WHY.
>> OF I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION
ABOUT WHAT TO CUT AND WHY, JUST
ONE THING.
>> WHATEVER YOU CAN SQUEEZE IN
THE NEXT 45 SECONDS.
>> OKAY.
>> I'M GOING TO NEED 35 TO
THINK OF IT. THERE REALLY IS A
TOUGH QUESTION. IT'S A TOUGH
ONE TO ANSWER. IF I HAD TO COME
UP WITH JUST ONE THING -- I AM
HAVING DIFFICULTY THINKING OF
ONE THING WE WOULD CUT. WHAT
ARE WE SPENDING OUR MONEY ON,
AND WHAT IS OUR TURN AROUND
INVESTMENT FOR THOSE
EXPENDITURES. IF WE ARE DOING
SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK,
STOP DOING AND PUT THE FUNDS
WERE TO HAVE A BETTER RESULT.
>> OKAY.
>> THANKS FOR GOING FIRST,
MARK.
>> IT WAS RANDOM, I PROMISE.
>> I WOULD TRY TO CUT
PROGRAMMING THAT WAS REDUNDANT.
THE SAME THING ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS COSTING US MORE
MONEY. BRING ARE ALL UNDER ONE
ROOF. I WOULD LOOK THROUGH THE
BUDGET , ANALYZE OUR
INVESTMENT. WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE ACHIEVING OUR
NEEDS AND SERVING THE
COMMUNITY.
>> I THINK THIS IS A NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION TO ANSWER.
THE APPROACH I WOULD HAVE IS TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE OUR THREE
PRIORITIES? THE ONES I HAVE
ARTICULATED ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT
OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS PANEL HAVE
ARTICULATED. ADDRESSING PUBLIC
SAFETY. ADDRESSING OUR
HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS , AND ENSURING
WE HAVE ECONOMIC VITALITY IN
SEATTLE. THROUGH THAT LENS, WE
GO DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT
AND ASKED THEM WHAT IS THE
CONSTITUENT SERVICE YOU ARE
DELIVERING AND HOW DOES A
REALLY TOEWS THESE THREE
OBJECTIVES? WHAT ARE THE
REDUNDANT SERVICES YOU HAVE?
ARE THEY AVAILABLE FOR CUTTING?
I KNOW FROM MY EXPERIENCE AT
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IT IS HARD
TO CUT ONE THING. A BETTER
APPROACH IS TO SET A PERCENTAGE
TARGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND
HAVE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS MAKE
A DETERMINATION TO GET A TOTAL
AMOUNT THAT WE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU . FOR 12 YEARS I
WAS A MANAGER AT THE RESEARCH
CENTER FOR CANCER. THERE WAS
A YOUNG MAN ABOUT HIS AGE . THE
DOCTOR MADE THIS UNBELIEVABLE
PRESENTATION ABOUT CANCER
RESEARCH. THE YOUNG PERSON
ASKED HIM A QUESTION. HE SAID,
I DON'T KNOW. I THOUGHT THAT
WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
ANSWERS FROM A NATIONAL
DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST. I
DON'T KNOW. THE ANSWER TO THE
QUESTION, AND I KNOW THERE ARE
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN
HERE FOR CERTAIN AMOUNTS OF
TIME. I WOULD SIT DOWN AND
ANSWER THIS QUESTION IN A
MINUTE. I DON'T KNOW. THE
IMPACTS THOSE HAVE ON FAMILIES,
I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
SIT HERE AND TELL YOU A 32nd
ANSWER WHATEVER CUT WITHOUT
HAVING TO DO SERIOUS STUDYING
AND ANALYSIS. I WOULD HAVE TO
SAY, I DON'T KNOW.
>> OKAY.
>> I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE
MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY IN OUR PROCESS.
WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE
EXERCISE OF GOING TO EACH
DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY AND
TRYING TO FIND METRICS OF
SUCCESS. WE NEED TO BE LOOKING
AT EVERYTHING FROM A WHOLE MAKE
SURE WHAT WE ARE DOING IS
WORKING. BEFORE WE CAN GO AHEAD
AND LOOK AT WHAT COULD POSSIBLY
BE CUT. IT SHOULD BE RESULTS
BASED.
>> THANK YOU. THE BEST ANSWER
IS I AGREE WITH JUAN . I DON'T
KNOW. THE I DON'T KNOW IS NOT
BECAUSE I DON'T CARE. THE I
DON'T KNOW IS NOT BECAUSE --
IT SIMPLY I DO NOT HAVE THE
INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN FRONT
OF ME. IT'S NOT BECAUSE I'M
INDECISIVE. I CAN BE VERY
DECISIVE. I NEED TO KNOW BEFORE
I CAN DECIDE. ANY RESPONSIBLE
LEADER MUST EXERCISE THAT
PROCESS. SOME FOLKS SAY IT'S
REDUNDANCY. SOME IS A GOOD
THING. HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S NOT
A GOOD THING. SOME REDUNDANCY
MATTERS. THE POINT OF SUCCESS
OR NOT. I AGREE WITH JUAN ON
THIS ISSUE. IT IS GOING TO BE
A PROCESS WITH OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS. IF IT'S GOING
TO BE GROWING PAINS, WE NEED TO
EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING
TOGETHER. WE NEED TO BE
TRANSPARENT. WE NEED TO
COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE
RESIDENTS. SO WE CAN GROW. WE
HAVE A SHARED EXPERIENCE.
>> TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION.
JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I
THINK THE ANSWER IN ONE WORD
OR STATEMENT, IN THIS SETTING,
I THINK IT'S A SET UP TO ASK
US WHAT WE WERE CUT, TO SEE IF
SOMEONE WOULD CATCH US IN
SOMETHING. FROM A DEPARTMENT
PERSPECTIVE AND WORKING WITHIN
THE CITY UNDER THE BUDGET
DEFICIT IS SOMETHING WE TALKED
ABOUT. WHAT OTHER CUTS THAT ARE
COMING DOWN THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT. AS A CUTTING TO
THE COMMUNITY? FOR ME, WHAT
SOME PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED IS
GOING TO THESE APARTMENTS AND
-- DEPARTMENT AND SEEING WHERE
THERE SPENDING IS UP. AND
ASKING WHY THEY MIGHT BE UNDER
SPENT, OR WHY THERE MIGHT BE
OVERSPEND ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO WE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED
DECISION. THE $250 MILLION
DEFICIT. DOING 1 MILLION HERE
AND THERE IS NOT REALLY GOING
TO GET US VERY FAR. THAT'S
GOING TO HAVE GREAT IMPACT ON
THE COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION IF THEIR TOTAL
BUDGET IS ONLY 5 MILLION HOW
CAN WE LOOK AT THINGS MORE
HOLISTICALLY AND KNOW WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE
BIG DECISIONS. HAS TO BE
INFORMED. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
INFORMATION AT THIS POINT TO
SET UP HERE AND GIVE YOU THE
ANSWER YOU REALLY WANTED TO.
THANK YOU.
>> I LIKE OUR CITY COUNCILS
APPROACH, AND WHAT I'VE HEARD
FROM THE COUNCILMEMBER
STARTING THE CYCLE WITH AN
AUDIT TO SEE WHAT WE ARE
SPENDING OUR MONEY ON. THE CITY
IS PROJECTED TO HAVE A $250
MILLION SHORTFALL. WE NEED TO
LOOK AT WHAT IS WORKING AND
WHAT IS NOT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT
THE DATA BEHIND THAT AND FIND
OUT EXACTLY WHERE OUR MONEY IS
GOING, AND WHERE ARE WE
DUPLICATING OUR EFFORTS? FOR
ME, PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER
ONE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT'S ONE
PLACE I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE
ANY CUTS. I'VE BEEN
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EMPHASIS
WE HAVE ON 12th AND JACKSON.
IT'S VITALLY CRITICAL FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD UP THERE THAT WE
CONTINUE WITH OUR EFFORTS. WE
DO THAT THROUGH A LOT OF
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ,
NONPROFITS, AND OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS. SAME THING AT
THIRD AND PINE. WE HAVE A
PRIME HOTSPOT DOWN THERE. WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF
HOMICIDES AND REDUCING THOSE .
THOSE ARE WHERE I WOULD PUT MY
PRIORITIES.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO TO
THE NEXT QUESTION -- THIS IS
GREAT SO FAR. IF I COULD HAVE
YOU GUYS BRING YOUR MICROPHONES
A LITTLE CLOSER. SOME OF YOU
SPEAK REALLY SOFT. WHICH I
LIKE, BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN HEAR
YOU. NEXT ONE, I'M GOING TO
START WITH TONYA ON THIS ONE.
TOTAL LONG, SO I WILL REPEAT IT
IF NECESSARY. STILL TO THE
RIGHT FROM THAT PERSON. GOOD
VERIFICATION QUESTION. STATE
LAW ENACTED UNDER HOUSE BILL
1110 ALLOWS CITIES TO PRESERVE
LIMITED AMOUNTS OF
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LAND.
THE QUESTION IS, WHICH
NEIGHBORHOODS IN SEATTLE , IF
ANY, SHOULD NOT BE OF ZONED?
PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.
>> WE HAVE TO BUILD MORE
HOUSING AND WE HAVE TO BUILD
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I
DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I KNOW WE HAVE TO CONSIDER
DISPLACEMENT ESPECIALLY. AND
THE DECISIONS GOING FORWARD.
ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE SOUTH
SEATTLE WORK PEOPLE ARE BEING
FORCED OUT. WE NEED TO
EXAMINE THIS ON A NEIGHBORHOOD
BY NEIGHBORHOOD BASIS. WE DO
HAVE TO BUILD MORE HOUSING. WE
HAVE TO SHARE IN TRYING TO
DIVERSE THE KINDS OF HOUSING
WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY FOR
FAMILIES. AND FOR PEOPLE TO BE
ABLE TO AGE IN PLACE AND TO BE
ABLE TO WORK AND LIVE HERE.
>> TO ME, THIS ISSUE IS A
MATTER OF EQUITY. I AM A
RENTER. THE MANY RESIDENTS IN
THE CITY , THERE ARE MORE
RENTERS THAN HOMEOWNERS.
THAT'S JUST A MATTER OF FACT.
THIS IMPACTS ME. THE
QUESTIONS IMPACT ME. AND IMPACT
OTHER PEOPLE, TOO. BECAUSE THIS
IS A MATTER OF EQUITY, EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD MUST OF ZONED.
HOW ? THAT'S GOING TO BE A
MATTER WE HAVE TO DISCUSS
AROUND EQUITY ISSUES. HOW TO
ADDRESS THAT. WE BENEFIT, AND
WE SHARE THE BURDENS . WE GROW
AND BENEFIT FROM EACH OTHER.
THIS IS HOW WE MOVE AS A CITY.
THIS IS A VISION MAYOR HARRELL
IS TALKING ABOUT. ONE SEATTLE.
IF IT'S ONE SEATTLE, THEN WE
ALL MUST SHARE THE BURDEN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SIMILAR TO THE LAST
QUESTION, WHAT AREAS SHOULD NOT
BE OF ZONED AND IGNORING THE
NUANCE IN THIS QUESTION. WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES OR ZONING. WE HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT FAMILIES -- IF YOU
ARE UP ZONING THE AREA AND THEY
ARE BEING PUSHED OUT, WHAT
IMPACT ARE YOU HAVING FOR
GENERATIONS TO COME? WHAT PART
ARE YOU PLAYING IN
GENTRIFICATION? I THINK WE CAN
LOOK AT SOME OF THE HOUSING
ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE CROPPING
UP THROUGH ENTITIES LIKE AFRICA
TOWN. WE HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE NORTH LOT. THERE ARE
ALL THESE OTHER POSSIBILITIES
THAT COULD ADDRESS THE HOUSING
MEANS WITHOUT MAKING THE GRAND
STATEMENT THAT THIS AREA
SHOULD NOT BE UP SOON, OR EVERY
SINGLE AREA SHOULD BE. NOT
THINKING WITH THOSE IMPACTS
COULD BE. THAT SINGLE-FAMILY
HOME MAY BE THEIR ONLY FORM OF
GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS I LOOK UP POSITION EIGHT
AND THE COMMUNITY THAT
CANDIDATE WILL BE CHAIRING ,
AND THE SUSTAINABILITY AND
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WILL
NEED TO BE UPDATED THIS YEAR,
THIS QUESTION FALLS RIGHT IN
LINE WITH THOSE ISSUES. IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE
INTELLIGENT DECISIONS,
WELL-THOUGHT-OUT . WE DON'T
HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
IT HAS TO BE UP ZONED ALONG
TRANSIT LINES. WE HAVE TO LOOK
AT DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. OUR URBAN VILLAGES,
AS MENTIONED IS NOT. AND THAT
ONE SEATTLE PLAN AS WELL. AND
HOW THAT'S GOING TO FEED INTO
THAT PLAN DEVELOPMENT OF
SEATTLE. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE
DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT TWO. I
WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE SOUTH
PRECINCT. I KNOW UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES SOMETIMES TAKE THE
BRUNT OF THESE DECISIONS. IF
YOU LOOK AT OUR TRANSIT LINE
AND WHERE IT RUNS ALONG THE
SURFACE STREETS, ATTRACTED BY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THAT IS TIME.
>> BUT IS NOT EQUITABLE.
THANKS.
>> LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER
PANELISTS, IT'S DIFFICULT TO
ANSWER THIS QUESTION . I COME
AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE. HAVING BENEFITED
FROM A HOME THAT WAS PASSED
DOWN TO ME, SO I HAVE
GENERATIONAL WEALTH , WHEREAS A
LOT OF FOLKS I GREW UP WITH ,
THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE FAMILY
HOMES. THEY LOST OUT ON THE
GENERATIONAL WEALTH. IF YOU
READ THE SEATTLE TIMES PIECE
THIS PAST WEEKEND FOR
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HOW MUCH
GENERATIONAL WEALTH HAS BEEN
LOST OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE OF
HOUSING POLICIES. WE ARE
TALKING BILLIONS THAT AFFECT
FAMILIES LIKE MINE. NEIGHBORS
LIKE MINE. YES, I AGREE, IF WE
ARE GOING TO BE DOING ANY KIND
OF UPCOMING -- OF UP ZONING IT
TAKES TIME. I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT DISPLACEMENT. I'VE SEEN
THAT DISPLACEMENT. I HAVE LIVED
THAT DISPLACEMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T THINK
ANYONE DISAGREES WITH THE FACT
THAT WE NEED MORE HOUSING
ACROSS THE SPECTRUM. MARKET
RATE , AFFORDABLE,
TRANSITIONAL, ALL OF THE ABOVE.
IF WE CAN GET OUR HOUSING
SUPPLY TO MEET THE DEMAND, IT
WILL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME MORE
AFFORDABLE. YES, WE DON'T
WANT TO DISPROPORTIONATELY
DISPLACE COMMUNITIES IN
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT WE
DO NEED TO BE PROACTIVE. THE
CITY CONTINUES TO GROW. WE
CANNOT CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR
HOUSING POLICIES THAT HAVE NOT
SERVED AS WELL AND LED TO THIS
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WE ARE ALL
FEELING OUR BELTS TYPE --
TIGHTENING. I SUPPORT BUILDING
HOUSING IN ALL THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK IF WE, AS A CITY,
ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ADDRESSING
OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS,
THIS SUCCESSION DOESN'T REALLY
MAKE SENSE IN A CITY THAT IS
GROWING LIKE SEATTLE. I WOULD
NOT BE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING
THIS EXEMPTION. I DON'T HAVE
A PREFERENCE FOR A
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE REALITY IS ,
THIS UP ZONING CHANGE WOULD NOT
HAVE HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.
THEREFORE, IT'S INCUMBENT ON
US AS ELECTED LEADERS TO ENGAGE
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO
ENSURE GENTRIFICATION AND
DISPLACEMENT DOES NOT THIS
PORTION OF HARM NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE HAVE ALREADY OBSERVED THE
CHANGES. WE WILL HAVE
OPPORTUNITY TO MITIGATE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THAT. I
THINK THIS IS A TREMENDOUS
OPPORTUNITY . WE HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO BRING AMENITIES
LIKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY
CENTERS TO MORE PARTS OF OUR
COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT THE UP
ZONING WILL HELP DRIVE THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF
HOMESITE. THE POINT MARK MADE
ABOUT GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES IS A
REAL ONE. VERY IMPORTANT, IN
TERMS OF HOW WE DO THAT,
ESPECIALLY FOR UNDER
REPRESENTATIVE AND MINORITY
COMMUNITIES. THAT'S AN AREA
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT. AS FAR
AS THE UP ZONING , AND I THINK
ONE OF THE CANDIDATES TOUCHED
ON IT, THE MORE WE CAN BUILD.
WE NEED TO GIVE OPPORTUNITIES
TO DEVELOP THAT. DEVELOP
OPTIONS. WE ALSO HAD TO TAKE A
LOOK AT WHAT THIS MEANS TO
CITIES OUTSIDE OF OUR
JURISDICTIONS. WHERE YOUNGER
TRANSITIONAL FAMILIES AND
SINGLE PEOPLE ARE WORKING IN
THE CITY AND HAVE TO GET INTO
THE CITY. TRANSIT HAS TO PLAY A
ROLE WITH THAT. THERE IS MUCH
MORE INTO THIS IN REGARDS TO
HOW WE WORK TO DEVELOP THOSE
TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES. I THINK
WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND WORK
TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO CREATE
THOSE LEVELS OF ZONING SO WE
CAN GET THE HOUSING, AND ALSO
KEEP IT AFFORDABLE. I AM STILL
A RENTER . THAT'S WHAT THIS
WILL DO.
>> THANK YOU. THIS NEXT
QUESTION IS PIGGYBACKING OFF
WHAT MANY OF YOU HAVE TALKED
ABOUT. ANOTHER HOUSING
QUESTION. THIS IS FROM HABITAT
FOR HUMANITY. WHAT POLICIES
WOULD YOU SUPPORT TO PROMOTE
BIPOC OWNERSHIP IN THE CITY?
LET'S START WITH STEPHEN ON
THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR
THAT QUESTION. WHEN I WAS IN
THE ARMY OVER IN NORTH
CAROLINA , GOING THROUGH THE
ENGINEERING COURSE, WE
ACTUALLY DID SOME VOLUNTEER
WORK WITH HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY. IT'S A TERRIFIC
ORGANIZATION THAT PRESIDENT
CARTER HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN.
YEAH, I THINK HOMEOWNERSHIP
SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS
ACHIEVABLE BY EVERYBODY. IN
SEATTLE, IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE
AND THAT IS A BIG CONCERN FOR
ME. WITH YOUNG KIDS . GROWING
UP AND WONDERING HOW THEY ARE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN
SEATTLE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT
THAT. THERE ARE THINGS I
THINK WE AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY
CAN DO TO EASE SOME OF THOSE
BURDENS ON THE IMPOVERISHED.
THERE'S ALSO SOME BUDGETARY
THINGS WE CAN LOOK AT
SOLUTIONS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. EARLIER I MENTIONED
THE HOMEOWNERSHIP GROUP .
WORKING TO KEEP FAMILIES IN
THEIR HOMES , AS OPPOSED TO
BEING DISPLACED. FINDING
RESOURCES FOR THEM. EDUCATION.
EVEN LOOKING AT LOW-COST,
NO-COST HOME REPAIRS. ANYBODY
HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE
PROPERTY DAMAGE AS RESULT OF
THAT? WE DID. IT WAS NOT CHEAP
TO TAKE CARE OF. WHEN FACED
WITH THAT CATASTROPHIC
EXPENSE, SOME HOMEOWNERS MAY
HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT SELLING
AS OPPOSED TO HOLDING ONTO IT.
I BELIEVE THIS ORGANIZATION IS
ONE THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE STAY
IN THEIR HOMES. THE OTHER THING
THAT JUST CAME OUT TODAY, THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE HAS
INVESTED 312.6 MILLION IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WASHINGTON RESIDENTS.
>> THAT'S TIME.
>> DARN, I WAS JUST GETTING
GOING.
>> THANK YOU. SORRY. AS MARK
STATED, BLACK LEGACY HOMEOWNERS
-- AND I JUST READ THE ARTICLE
THIS WEEKEND. IT'S WONDERFUL.
THERE ARE MANY GROUPS, HABITAT
FOR HUMANITY, AND OTHER GROUPS
THAT POPPED UP DURING THE
PANDEMIC TO HELP WITH THE
OWNERSHIP . ONE THING THAT IS
MY STRONG SUIT IS BRINGING
COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO SOLVE
PROBLEMS. I WOULD BRING
TOGETHER ALL THE PLAYERS THAT
HAVE STARTED TO DO THIS, AND
ASK WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR
THE CITY TO SUPPORT THEM AND
CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE REACH .
TO PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY THEY
NEED SO WE CAN HELP SEATTLE
GROW IN AN INCLUSIVE AND
PRODUCTIVE WAY. THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD PURSUE THREE
STRATEGIES. THE FIRST STRATEGY
IS INDEED TO INVEST IN
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES IN
LEARNING HOW TO PURCHASE A
HOME. IT'S A VERY
INTIMIDATING PROCESS. THE
SECOND APPROACH IS TO INCREASE
THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING IN
SEATTLE. THAT WOULD CERTAINLY
BRING DOWN THE PRICES OF
HOUSING AND MAKE IT MUCH MORE
ACCESSIBLE TO MORE POTENTIAL
HOMEOWNERS. I THINK, FINALLY,
THE CITY CAN PLAY A ROLE IN --
PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS.
AMAZON HAS A PROGRAM THAT
PROVIDES LOW INTEREST RATE
LOANS TO HELP DRIVE BIPOC
OWNERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> AS I SAID IN THE PRIOR
QUESTION, I AM ON THE BOARD OF
HOMESITE. OUR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, DARRELL SMITH , THIS
WILL BE A 32nd COMMERCIAL.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
DOING. THAT'S WHAT HOMESITE
DOES. I WILL SUPPORT PROGRAMS
LIKE THAT TO HELP BIPOC
COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO
FIND A HOME THAT IS AFFORDABLE.
ALSO, THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE.
ONE REASON WHY I'M STILL A
RENTER IS BECAUSE I CAN'T
AFFORD DOWN PAYMENT. ONE THING
HOMESITE DOES IS LOOK FOR DOWN
PAYMENT ASSISTANCE . YOUNGER
COUPLES, YOUNGER CHILDREN, IF
YOU'RE LOOKING TO FIND THE
DOWN PAYMENT FOR A HOUSE. SOME
OF THE HOUSES IN SEATTLE ARE SO
EXPENSIVE THAT THE DOWN PAYMENT
BECOMES A MAJOR ISSUE. THOSE
TYPES OF PROGRAMS WE DEVELOPED
THROUGH THOSE COMMUNITY-BASED
PROGRAMS, I THINK, ARE
CRITICAL. THINGS I WOULD LOOK
AT SUPPORTING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM INTERESTED IN THINGS
LIKE LAND TRUST. THE BRIGHTON
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP IS LOOKING
AT THIS , TRYING TO CROWN FUND
PROPERTY BY BLOCK SO EVERY
NEIGHBOR COULD HAVE A LITTLE
PIECE OF INVESTMENT WHERE THEY
CAN GENERATE THAT GENERATIONAL
WEALTH. I ALSO THINK AS A
FAMILY, WHEN WE ARE BUILDING
THE HOTEL AND IT CAUGHT ON
FIRE, WE HAVE THE HARDEST TIME
TRYING TO FIND ALONE AS A
FAMILY OF COLOR. WE WERE TURNED
DOWN EVERYWHERE. ONE SMALL
COMMUNITY BANK THAT HELPED US
OUT AND WAS ABLE TO HELP US
GET EGGS -- GET US GOING. A
LOT OF FAMILIES AND SENIORS
CAN'T AFFORD THEIR TAXES. TO
MAKE SURE THERE'S EDUCATION
OUT THERE HELPING THEM TO
NAVIGATE SYSTEMS WHERE THEY CAN
GET A TAX BREAK . ALSO THINGS
LIKE WHEN THERE'S INHERITANCE
TAX INVOLVED. WHEN PROPERTIES
PASSED DOWN FROM FAMILY TO
FAMILY, MAKING SURE THE
EDUCATION IS THERE TO SET THEM
UP SO THEY ARE NOT PAYING THE
EXORBITANT TAX SO THE PROPERTY
CAN REMAIN IN THEIR FAMILY.
>> TIME, SORRY.
>> OKAY.
>> I WILL EXTEND 10 SECONDS
TO THE HOMESITE INFOMERCIAL. I
HAVE BEEN A FAMILY OF HOMESITE.
I HAVE WORKED AT GETTING
VETERANS AND MYSELF INVOLVED
WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. I WOULD
LIKE TO BRING MY EXPERIENCE AND
COLLABORATION NOT JUST WITH
NONPROFIT, NOT JUST WITH
RELYING ON OUR CITY TAX FOR
THAT. BRING TO BEAR MY
EXPERIENCE IN COLLABORATION
WITH CITY, STATE, FEDERAL TO
BRING ABOUT SOME OF THESE
INVESTMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
VERY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
HELP SOLVE AND MITIGATE THIS
PROBLEM. AND WE'VE GOT TO
JOIN OTHER -- GET EVERYBODY TO
FIX THIS ONE PROBLEM. THAT'S
THE REGRESSIVE NATURE OF UPSIDE
DOWN TAX TO DATE. THANK YOU.
>> MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE
TO START WITH OFFICE OF HOUSING
AND SEE WHAT PROGRAM THEY HAVE
THAT CAN SUPPORT BIPOC
FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS TO
MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE HOME,
OR TO SEEK OWNERSHIP OF THEIR
HOME. IT WOULD ALSO BE WORTH
LOOKING AT IF THERE'S A WAY TO
CREATE BENEFITS OR INCENTIVES
TO SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES
AND FINDING WAYS TO SUBSIDIZE
HOUSING OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WERE
THERE ONLY FORM OF WEALTH MAY
BE THAT HOME. HOW CAN WE WORK
THEM -- WITH THEM TO SAME
PLACE. THERE'S A PROGRAM
CALLED MINOR HOME REPAIR. IT IS
WHAT IT SAYS. THE MINOR HOME
REPAIR SERVICE THAT ALLOWS
PEOPLE TO HAVE IMPROVEMENTS
MADE TO THE HOME SO THEY CAN
STAY IN THEIR HOME. GRAB BARS,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE ARE
ENCOURAGING AND HELPING PEOPLE
AND SUPPORTING THEM SO THEY CAN
REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES. THANK
YOU.
>> NOW, THIS WILL BE OUR LAST
QUESTION BEFORE OUR BREAK. I
AM GOING TO START WITH YOU ON
THIS ONE. THIS IS FROM SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS. LAKE
CITY WAY, RAINIER AVENUE SOUTH,
AM OKAY AVENUE SOUTH AND --
ARE THE FIVE TOP MOST
DANGEROUS STREETS IN THE CITY
WHERE PEOPLE ARE WALKING,
BIKING, DRIVING AND TAKING
TRANSIT. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO
FIX THIS?
>> THIS GOES TO PLANNING. IT
GOES TO NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. I
WOULD WORK WITH OUR
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND
COLLABORATE WITH OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS. THERE'S A LOT
OF GOOD, SMART PEOPLE THAT CAN
HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, FOR
SURE. I EXPERIENCE THIS
DANGEROUS STUFF WHEN I WAS
HAVING A SMALL BUSINESS AND
MOVED ON MLK. THE FACT THAT
TRANSIT WAS BUILT ON SURFACE,
AND NOT ELSEWHERE WAS A MAJOR
CAUSE FOR DEATH IN ACCIDENTS
AND INJURIES. GOES TO EQUITY.
THE ISSUES AROUND IMPACTING
COMMUNITIES OF COLORS AND
IMMIGRANTS THAT DON'T HAVE A
VOICE AND I'M NOT ABLE TO HAVE
THE POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT POWER
THEY NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR
THEM. I WOULD WORK WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, TO RAISE
-- TO PRIORITIZE THIS ISSUE
THAT IS IMPACTING PEOPLE
TREMENDOUSLY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION,
BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK IT HAS
A ONE SIZE FITS ALL TYPE
RESPONSE. THE NEEDS ARE VERY
DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF THE
VOLUME OF TRANSIT WE SEE .
AURORA VERSUS THE PEDESTRIANS,
OR STUDENTS WE MAY SEE CROSSING
RAINIER OR AM OKAY. THE MIDDLE
SCHOOL FOR EXAMPLE. THE
QUICKER WINS WOULD BE LOOKING
AT LIGHTING. ALSO LOOKING AT
PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AROUND
THE AREA. PUBLIC SAFETY IS A
CONCERN, YOUR FOOT TRAFFIC IS
GOING TO DECREASE. IF SOMEONE
IS GOING TO DRIVE TO AN AREA
BUT THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE,
OBVIOUSLY IS GOING TO IMPACT
THE FOOT TRAFFIC. IF PEOPLE
ARE NOT GOING TO THE AREAS WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT ON THESE
IMPACTED STREETS, EVERYTHING IS
A DOMINO EFFECT. WE WILL SEE
THAT AFFECT . IT ALSO IMPACTS
THE BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE AREAS. I
THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT
SOME OF THE TOP CONCERNS ARE
FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
ARE USING THE STREETS OR
VISITING THOSE AREAS, AND WHAT
THEIR CONCERNS ARE WHEN THEY
ARE TRAVELING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN MY JOB I HAVE WORKED AT
ALL PARTS OF THE CITY ALONG
THESE VARIOUS STREETS. MUCH OF
THAT HAS BEEN ON A BICYCLE IS A
DAILY RIDER. I CAN TELL YOU,
IT IS DANGEROUS. WE HAVE
STARTED WITH PAINT AS OUR
BICYCLE LANE SOLUTION. IT IS
TIME WE ADVANCE TO PROTECT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE , WITH VISION
ZERO. WE WANT TO GET TO ZERO
FATALITIES RELATED TO TRAFFIC
COLLISIONS. WE ARE NOT GETTING
THERE. WE NEED TO STEP THAT UP.
WE HAVE PEDESTRIANS AND
BICYCLISTS BEING KILLED IN OUR
CITY. REGULARLY. IT IS VERY
CONCERNING TO ME. I THINK, WITH
YOU BIKES AND SCOOTERS , AND
THE LACK OF HELMETS, AND LACK
OF ENFORCEMENT , THE ROADS HAVE
GOTTEN VERY DANGEROUS. WE NEED
TO FIX THAT. I WILL DO
EVERYTHING I CAN ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO ENSURE OUR
TRANSPORTATION IS SAFE AND
EFFECTIVE FOR ALL MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I DEFINITELY WANT TO ECHO
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE
BEEN SET. STRUCTURE FOR OUR
BITE -- BIKES. INDUSTRY AND
SAFETY, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE
TRANSIT CORRIDORS. PART OF IT
ALSO COMES DOWN TO JUST DRIVER
AWARENESS, DRIVER EDUCATION.
SOMETIMES PEDESTRIAN
AWARENESS, PEDESTRIAN
EDUCATION. IT'S AMAZING HOW
MANY TIMES I SEE PEOPLE WALKING
DOWN THE STREET INTO TRAFFIC
LOOKING AT THEIR PHONE. IT IS,
LIKE, DON'T DO THAT. THERE IS
A TARGET ZERO EVER MENTION
LOOKING TO REDUCE TRAFFIC
FATALITIES TO ZERO. A
MULTICOUNTY EFFORT. ONE THING
WE CAN DO IS NOT ONLY WORK WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ON TRAFFIC
CALMING, LET'S WORK WITH THEM
ON SYNCHRONIZING ALL OF OUR
TRAFFIC SIGNALS SO THINGS CAN
FLOW BETTER. THAT'S ONE OF
THE THINGS I WOULD FOCUS ON THE
MOST.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IN MY
CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST
YEAR, I HAVE LEARNED THAT
THEY HAVE NEVER INTEGRATED THE
TRANSIT, VICKI TAYLOR BICYCLE
-- ONTO ONE INTEGRATED REPORT.
THEY ALL WORK INDIVIDUALLY. I
THINK THE FIRST PRIORITY WOULD
BE TO BRING THEM ALL TOGETHER
AND OVERLAY THEM SO WE CAN
ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT THERE
IS A MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC.
WHETHER PEDESTRIAN, VEHICULAR,
BICYCLE, TRANSIT. MOVING
EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
ALSO BRINGING TOGETHER THE
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN ALL
THESE AREAS. MLK , RAINIER,
LAKE CITY, AURORA. THOSE ARE
THE ONES THAT LIVE, BREATHE AND
SEE THE TRAFFIC FATALITIES
BETTER THAN ANY OF US CAN SAY
SITTING HERE. WORKING WITH
THOSE COMMUNITIES AND GETTING
THEIR INPUT TO ACTUALLY GET
SOLUTIONS THAT SERVE THEM.
THANK YOU.
>> AS A SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR,
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
CITY OF SEATTLE SCHOOL TRAFFIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. I AM
RELATIVELY FAMILIAR WITH SOME
OF THE STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE
USED TO ADDRESS PEDESTRIAN AND
BIKE SAFETY. THE GOOD NEWS IS
THERE ARE TOOLS. WE KNOW WHAT
THE TOOLS ARE. WE CAN IMPROVE
LIGHTING IN THOSE AREAS.
INSTALL SPEED ZONES AND
CAMERAS. I THINK THE ISSUE TO
DATE HAS BEEN AROUND INVESTMENT
AND PRIORITY OF INVESTMENTS.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE
WITNESSING PEDESTRIAN DEATHS
AND BIKE ACCIDENTS IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAVE NOT BEEN
INVESTED IN AND PRIORITIZE TWO
DATES. I, AS A COUNCILMEMBER,
WILL WORK WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVE TO BE SURE WE DO
PRIORITIZE THAT. A LARGE
SOURCE OF, UNFORTUNATELY ,
ACCIDENTS ARE UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS. IF WE BEGAN SERIOUS
WORK ON TRYING TO ADDRESS OUR
PROBLEM WITH HOMELESSNESS, THAT
WILL BE A GOOD STRATEGY TO
REDUCING TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS TO
PEDESTRIANS AND BIKE RIDERS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THIS IS -- AND I
CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL AREAS OF
THE CITY, AND I WILL SPEAK FOR
MY OWN, THIS IS A PROBLEM OF
HUMAN NATURE. MAYBE GETTING
FIVE MORE MINUTES STARTED ON
THEIR DAY, OR SOME SORT OF
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
PEOPLE DRIVE -- NOT ALL PEOPLE,
BUT A PERCENTAGE DRIVE TOO
FAST. WE SEE THIS ON THE
LAKESIDE AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY DAUGHTER WAS BUILT LIKE A
MILKSHAKE. SHE WOULD RUN IN HER
BODY WHICH SHE SAID SHE WAS
GOING DOWN THIS NARROW
SIDEWALK. SOMETIMES IT WOULD
LOOK LIKE SHE WOULD VEER INTO
TRAFFIC. THERE ARE CARS COMING
DOWN A 25 MILE-AN-HOUR ROAD
THAT ARE GOING 40 MILES AN
HOUR. I AM SITTING HERE HOPING
SHE DOESN'T FALL OFF BECAUSE I
DON'T KNOW IF -- WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN. TRYING TO WORK
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. I SEE
IT DOWN SOME OF THE BUSIER
STREETS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU CAN SEE THE 225 BLACK
LATINO MEN GOING DOWN THE
STREET. A GUY GOES WHIZZING BY
ME. ALMOST IT'S ME. THEN HE
LOOKED AT ME AND THEN HE TOOK
OFF. I JUST YELLED AT HIM. SLOW
DOWN. WE NEED TO LOOK FOR WAYS
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING TOO
FAST.
>> I KNOW PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE
PROBLEM HAVE THE SOLUTIONS. I
KNOW MANY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUPS WHO ARE DEALING WITH
THOSE STREETS HAVE PLANS. I SAW
IN 2015 , MOVE LEVY, THERE WERE
PROJECTS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO
BE FUNDING THAT PLAN THAT HAVE
NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED ON SOME
OF THE STREETS. I THINK WE NEED
TO BRING TOGETHER NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUPS, STAKEHOLDERS, SEE WHAT
THEY WANT, AND TO SEE IT GETS
FUNDED. AND THAT WE FULFILL THE
2015 MOVE LEVY GOING FORWARD
AND PRIORITIZE THAT. I KNOW
THAT LEVY WAS , I GUESS, VERY
AMBITIOUS. I THINK WE NEED TO
HAVE THESE AMBITIOUS PLANS. WE
NEED TO FULFILL THEM.
TRANSPORTATION LEVY IS COMING
UP AGAIN THIS NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. HOW DO
WE MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER?
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE ARE
GOING TO TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK
AND COME BACK TO OUR AUDIENCE
QUESTIONS. IF YOU ARE ON -- GO
AHEAD AND SUBMIT YOUR
QUESTIONS. YOU CAN UP ABOUT
SOME OF THOSE YOU AGREE WITH.
WE WILL COME BACK IN 10 MINUTES
AND CONTINUE.
>> WELCOME TO OUR POTENTIAL
VACANCY PUBLIC FORM. WE JUST
COMPLETED ONE ROUND OF
QUESTIONS FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS
THAT SUBMITTED EARLIER. NOW WE
ARE TURNING TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, THERE ARE 50 IN OUR
PORTAL, WHICH WE ARE EXCITED
ABOUT, BUT PLEASE REMEMBER, ALL
THE QUESTIONS WILL GO TO THE
CITY COUNCIL TOMORROW SO THEY
CAN HAVE THEM FOR THE MEETING
ON THE 22nd WHERE THEY MAY BE
ASKED THERE. DON'T BE
DESPONDENT IF WE DID NOT GET TO
IT TONIGHT. THE
DECISION-MAKERS WILL GET A HOLD
OF THOSE QUESTIONS AS WELL. DO
I WANT TO START WITH THIS TIME?
ARE YOU READY? THIS ONE
ACTUALLY COMES FROM THE
WASHINGTON YOUTH ALLIANCE. IF
APPOINTED, DO YOU COMMIT TO
INCREASING OR MAINTAINING
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR
YOUTH THAT PASSED IN THE 2023
BUDGET? PLEASE START SMALL,
IT'S OKAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
THIS ACTUALLY HITS REALLY
CLOSE TO HOME, JUST IN THE WORK
I DO RIGHT NOW IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE A
STRONG DIVISION CALLED YOUTH
AND FAMILY EMPOWERMENT. SOME OF
THE SUPPORTS WE DO PROVIDE, IN
THE DIVISION AND THE DIVISION I
AM OVER, WHICH IS -- DOES
CONTRIBUTE TO OVERALL MENTAL
HEALTH. WHEN WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT LARGER ISSUES OR PUBLIC
SAFETY, WE HAVE TO THINK SOME
OF THOSE CAUSES. SOMETIMES
IT'S RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS ARE SITUATION WHERE
SOMEONE COULD BENEFIT FROM
ADDED SUPPORT. I WOULD
DEFINITELY SUPPORT YOUTH
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND
MAKING SURE THAT IT'S
ACCESSIBLE. LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
SOMETIMES IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT
SCHOOLS, SOMETIMES IT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SOMETIMES DURING SCHOOL HOURS
EVENT. WE HAVE TO MAKE IT
ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY WHO
FEELS THEY NEED THAT SERVICE.
THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD ABSOLUTELY INCREASE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IT
NEEDS TO BE FULLY FUNDED. WE
CAN LOOK AT ON THE STREETS AND
SEE WHAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES LOOK LIKE.
THE SOONER WE ADDRESS THEM,
THE BETTER OFF WE ARE. I HAVE
WORKED WITH OUR DISABLED
VETERANS AND THEY STRUGGLE
WITH SOME MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES,
JUST -- ALONG WITH ADDICTION,
JUST LIKE EVERY COMMUNITY IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. FOR OUR
CHILDREN, I THINK, WE PULL OUT
ALL THE STOPS. I WOULD
INCREASE. THANK YOU.
>> YES.
>> YES, MENTAL HEALTH IS
IMPORTANT. IN PARTICULAR,
COMMUNITIES IN BIPOC WHERE IT
IS STIGMATIZED, WE NEED MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES AT A YOUNGER
AGE TO GET THE RESOURCES
EVERYONE NEEDS. WORK WITH THE
STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE ALREADY
DOING THE JOB AND REACHING OUT
TO THE YOUTH TO ENSURE WE ARE
GETTING THE PROPER CHANNELS
OUT. YES.
>> THE GENESIS OF THIS
INVESTMENT THE COUNCIL MADE,
WHICH WAS A $20 MILLION ANNUAL
AND THEN SPENT -- ANNUAL
INVESTMENT WAS IN RESPONSE TO
A TRAGIC SHOOTING AT A HIGH
SCHOOL. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT
EVENT, THE COUNCIL AND AMERICAN
TOGETHER AND IDENTIFIED $4
MILLION OF FUNDING TO PILOT
AND ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. I THINK
THERE WERE PROMISING RESULTS.
THAT'S WHY THEY MADE A
COMMITMENT OF $20 MILLION GOING
FORWARD. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE STATE
LEGISLATOR CURRENTLY ONLY FUNDS
ONE COUNSELOR FOR EVERY 1500
STUDENTS. THIS IS DRIVEN BY A
STUDENT GROUP THAT WAS TRYING
TO DRIVE THAT RATIO CLOSE TO
ONE FOR EVERY 250 STUDENTS. I
THINK IT'S BEST PRACTICE. THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
COLLEGES. I'M VERY EXCITED THE
CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE
TREMENDOUS NEED IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND IT'S COMING
DIRECTLY FROM OUR STUDENTS. I
THINK OUR STUDENTS SHOULD TAKE
TREMENDOUS PRIDE AND TAKE
EVERY EFFORT TO PROTECT IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY WIFE, SARA, IS A MENTAL
HEALTH SARA -- THERAPIST. I
SAT ON THE BOARD FOR FIVE
YEARS. THIS IS A PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT TO ME,
100% YES.
>> COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC,
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED MORE
SUPPORT THAN EVER KNOW. I
BELIEVE WE CAN DO MORE. IT'S
NOT JUST MENTAL HEALTH, BUT
THIS VACANCY , THE ARTS AND
CULTURE COMMITTEE, CITY
LIGHTS, WE ALL HAVE
RESPONSIBILITY. EVERY
DEPARTMENT HAS IT IN HOW WE
RAISE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. THAT'S
AN AMAZING START, BUT WE
DEFINITELY COULD DO MORE IN
FUNDING IN TERMS OF MENTAL
HEALTH AND OTHER AREAS AS WELL.
>> MENTAL HEALTH IS PERSONAL TO
ME. IF YOU LOOKED AT ME AND
TALK TO ME, KNOW ME ALL YOUR
LIFE, YOU WOULD NOT KNOW THAT I
HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE.
I OWN MOUNT. I AM A
BENEFICIARY OF THAT. I STRUGGLE
WITH MENTAL HEALTH. MOST OF MY
TIMES AFTER LEAVING THE
SERVICE. THAT'S A STRUGGLE.
I DON'T THINK MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES ARE UNIQUELY CHALLENGING
TO YOUTH. BUT I WHOLEHEARTEDLY
, YOU KNOW, JUST FROM AN
EMPATHY , JUST FROM DIRECT
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, OF COURSE,
WE SHOULD MAINTAIN IT FOR OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE. I WOULD EXPAND
AND CHALLENGE THE MAYOR AND THE
REST OF THE COMMUNITY. YOU CAN
DO SOMETHING. YOU DON'T NEED
MONEY TO BE KIND . YOU DON'T
NEED MONEY TO CARE. YOU DON'T
NEED MONEY TO REACH OUT AND
SAY , I SEE YOU. I HEAR YOU. I
WANT TO BE WITH YOU.
>> TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
THAT ANSWER. I APOLOGIZE IF I
PUT YOUR NAME. THANK YOU. I
HAVEN'T PICKED ON YOU, SO NOW
IT'S TIME. THIS QUESTION IS ,
THERE ARE MANY DEMANDS OF A
COUNCILMEMBER, INCLUDING
REGULAR VOTING. DO YOU HAVE A
CONSISTENT HISTORY ON VOTING ON
LOCAL MATTERS AS A PRIVATE
CITIZEN?
>> THANK YOU. I TURNED 18 FOR
THE GORE AND BUSH ELECTION. I
VOTED AT MY FORMER ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL AND WOULD DRIVE BACK
THERE EVERY ELECTION. AS I WAS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
, TOO. UNTIL I CHANGED MY
REGISTRATION TO SEATTLE. I
ACTIVELY VOTED SINCE I WAS 18,
EXCEPT FOR A FEW WHEN I LIVED
ON THE EAST COAST, BECAUSE I
DID NOT GET MY BALLOT IN TIME,
OR A COUPLE OF TRIPS DURING THE
PRIMARY I MISSED MY BALLOT. I
HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY VOTING SINCE
I WAS 18, YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHEN I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH
SCHOOL, I HELPED MY
GRANDFATHER, WHO WAS A REFUGEE,
STUDY FOR HIS U.S. EDITION OF
-- U.S. CITIZEN EXAM. MY
VOTING RECORD IS NEARLY PERFECT
. IN WASHINGTON STATED IS
PERFECT. WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO
HAVE THE EASE AND CONVENIENCE
OF MAIL IN VOTING.
>> I REMEMBER VIVIDLY MY FIRST
TIME VOTING IN THE 1984
ELECTIONS. I REMEMBER THE NEWS
COMING ON THAT RONALD REAGAN
DEFEATED WALTER. I WALKED UP
TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND I
CAST MY VOTE. I VOTED SINCE I
WAS 18 YEARS OLD. I HAVE VOTED
AND ALL LOCAL ELECTIONS. WHEN I
WAS IN THE STATE OF OREGON.
WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE I VOTED
THERE. WHEN I WAS IN GEORGIA I
VOTED THERE AS WELL. I HAVE
BEEN A LIFELONG VOTER. I THINK
IT'S PART OF OUR POLITICAL
PROCESS. THE MOST IMPORTANT
PART OF OUR POLITICAL PROCESS.
I HAVE VOTED IN ALL OF THOSE
ELECTIONS.
>> MY VOTING RECORD HAS NOT
BEEN GOOD, AND I ON THAT. I
KNOW IT'S A MISTAKE . IF I
COULD GO BACK IN TIME I WOULD
CHANGE IT. I COME FROM A
COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT VOTE.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT
POLITICS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
SURVIVAL. I DON'T WANT TO
MAKE THAT AN EXCUSE, BUT THE
PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I HAVE
BEEN ACTIVELY OUT THERE TRYING
TO REGISTER PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO
LIPS IS NEVER VOTED BEFORE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THEIR 80s,
90s, REFUGEES WHO VOTED FOR
THE VERY FIRST TIME THIS PAST
ELECTION. A VERY IMPORTANT
QUESTION TO ASK IS HOW WE
ENGAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE FARTHEST
AWAY FROM GOVERNMENTS. WHO DO
NOT SEE THE VISIBLE
IMPROVEMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO
GOVERNMENT. HOW DO WE ENGAGE
THOSE VOTERS? YOU GO INTO THE
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT'S AND YOU SEE THE
GRAFFITI AND THE DISINVESTMENT.
THAT IS A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE
VOTERS. HOW DO WE ENGAGE THE
GROUP? I SEE IT AS GOING
FORWARD . AN OPPORTUNITY AND A
RESPONSIBILITY TO LEARN FROM MY
MISTAKES . IN THE FUTURE BE
ABLE TO ENGAGE VOTERS AND TRY
TO GET THEM REGISTERED AND
INVOLVED IN THE GOVERNMENT
PROCESS.
>> TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I LOVE VOTING. I LOVE
VOTING SO MUCH THAT I JOINED
THE SERVICE TO DEFEND AND LAY
MY LIFE DOWN TO DEFEND VOTING.
I LOVE VOTING SO MUCH THAT
SINCE I LEFT THE SERVICE I
EVENTUALLY GOT NOMINATED AND
-- UNANIMOUS VOTES BY KING
COUNTY COUNCIL TO LET ME COME
AND PLAY AS A MEDICINE --
MEMBER OF THE OVERSIGHT OF THE
ELECTIONS. PART OF IT IS ABOUT
LEARNING AND ENGAGING WITH ALL
GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HELP THOSE
WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED THROUGH
THE VOTING PROCESS. THE NUMBER
ONE THING LOOKS CAN GET
INVOLVED IN IS THROUGH LANGUAGE
ACCESS. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
DIVERSE CITIES IN THE REGION,
THE STATE. THERE ARE SO MANY
PEOPLE -- YOU SPEAK ENGLISH
BETTER THAN ME. TRUST ME. I AM
A FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANT.
ONE OF THE REFUGEES FROM
VIETNAM. LANGUAGE ACCESS IS SO
IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.
>> I DEFINITELY REMEMBER GOING
WITH MY MOM TO VOTE BECAUSE IT
WAS SO FUN TO PUNCH THROUGH
THE LITTLE BALLOT. PULLING THE
CURTAIN TO MAKE SURE IT WAS A
PRIVATE EXPERIENCE. WHEN I
TURNED 18 I GOT MY LICENSE,
ALBEIT IT WAS LIKE HIM I HAD TO
GET MY LICENSE I COULD DRIVE IN
A CARPOOL TO UW. I WAS ABLE TO
REGISTER TO VOTE IN ONE FELL
SWOOP. I HAVE VOTED SINCE THEN.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT MAKING
VOTER REGISTRATION EASY,
COMBINING IT WITH SOMETHING
LIKE THE LICENSING PROCESS
MADE IT EASY FOR ME AS AN
18-YEAR-OLD. IF YOU CAN THINK
ABOUT ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO MAKE
SURE THAT EXPERIENCE REACHES
EVERYBODY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YEAH, I REGISTERED TO VOTE
WHEN I WAS 18. I VOTED IN EVERY
ELECTION SINCE THEN. EVEN
WHILE DEPLOYED OVERSEAS, I MADE
SURE I HAD MY BALLOT AND I
SUBMITTED MY VOTE. MY WIFE IS
AN IMMIGRANT TO THIS COUNTRY ,
AND SHE IS NOW A NATURALIZED
CITIZEN. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR
HER TO DO THAT SO SHE COULD
ALSO TAKE PART IN OUR
ELECTIONS. I HAVE THREE TEENAGE
CHILDREN , AND I AM HAPPY TO
SAY THAT THE WASHINGTON STATE
DRIVERS LICENSE MAKES IT
INCREDIBLY EASY TO REGISTER TO
VOTE. SO MY DAUGHTER VOTED
THIS LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR, MY
SON WILL TURN 18 . BOTH KIDS
AND BOTH PARENTS WILL VOTE. I
AM HAPPY THAT I STRESSED ABOUT.
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE
LOW TURNOUT OUR CITY HAS. I
THINK OUR FELLOW -- I THINK
OUR FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS .
THANK YOU.
>> I, TOO, REGISTERED TO VOTE
WHEN I TURNED 18. WHILE I WAS
OVERSEAS WITH THE MILITARY, I
STILL SUBMITTED MY BALLOT IN AN
ABSENTEE FASHION FOR THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. JUST TO ECHO WHAT
HAS BEEN SAID , VOTER TURNOUT.
DEFINITELY NEED TO INCREASE IT.
DEFINITELY NEED TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO TURN OUT, BUT ALSO
GIVE THEM A REASON TO TURN OUT.
AS PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID,
DON'T GET MAD, VOTE. THAT'S
WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE
ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER TO DO.
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. VOTE.
>> WE ARE GOING TO STAY ON THAT
LINE OF THINKING. ONE, I WILL
STAY WITH YOU AND COME BACK
THIS WAY. THIS IS MY QUESTION.
HOW WOULD YOU GET MORE PEOPLE,
MORE RESIDENTS, MORE YOUTH
TYPICALLY ENGAGED. AS YOU
MENTIONED DURING THE LAST
QUESTION ABOUT LOW VOTER
TURNOUT. HOW WOULD YOU, AS AN
ELECTED VOTER -- GET CITIZENS
INVOLVED?
>> I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT
QUESTION ON SO MANY DIFFERENT
LEVELS. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING
ON A BILL RIGHT NOW TO ENGAGE
CURRICULUM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO
START LEARNING ABOUT BLOOD
DONATION. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE AT
ONE OF THE LOWEST POINTS IN
AMERICAN HISTORY . THERE'S
MANY REASONS FOR THAT. WE THINK
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF
THE EQUATION. MAKING SURE THEY
ARE LEARNING ABOUT IT IN
SCHOOLS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO REMAIN ACTIVE YOURSELF.
THAT'S WHY I SERVE ON BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS AND GET OUT
THERE AND DO THIS. CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT ALSO INCLUDES
PARTICIPATION IN NOT ONLY
ATHLETICS, WHICH IS A PASSION
OF MINE, BUT MY KIDS WERE
INVOLVED IN DANCING AND PLAYING
INSTRUMENTS AND HELPING THEM
DEVELOP AND FIND DIFFERENT WAYS
THEY CAN FIND THEIR TRUE
PASSION. THROUGH ARTS,
LEISURE, CULTURE AND A VARIETY
OF WAYS. WE HAVE TO MOTIVATE
ADULTS TO DO THAT AS WELL.
ANOTHER EXPERIENCE I HAD AS A
JUROR TWO YEARS AGO. THAT'S
ANOTHER THING. SO MANY PEOPLE
OF COLOR ARE NOT PARTICIPATING
IN JURIES. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT
PROCESS OF IT IS WILL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I COME FROM A COMMUNITY OF
REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS , MOSTLY
NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS. I THINK
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE
LANGUAGE ACCESS. NOT ONLY THAT
, BUT LETTING COMMUNITIES KNOW
THAT IF THEY WANT TO BE HEARD,
THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT. HOW DO
WE ENGAGE COMMUNITIES INTO CITY
HALL, COUNTY HALL? THAT STARTS
WITH EVERYONE OF US AT THE
GRASSROOTS LEVEL. HOW DO WE --
HOW ARE WE ABLE TO LET PEOPLE
KNOW YOUR VOICE MATTERS. I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DO BECOME
DISENFRANCHISED. IN TERMS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE, I THINK SETTING
THE EXAMPLE, IN FAMILIES,
SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS,
ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMS, THIS
IS HOW YOU CAN ENACT CHANGE.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING IN YOUR
COMMUNITY YOU FEEL STRONGLY
ABOUT, THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT.
HAVE TO GET ENGAGED WITH THE
PROCESS IF YOU WANT TO MAKE
THINGS BETTER.
>> I DO HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE
IN TERMS OF ENGAGING YOUNG
PEOPLE TO BE MORE CYNICALLY
ENGAGED. I ASK SOME OF THE
YOUTH I MENTOR, I ASKED THEM
TO DESIGN THEIR OWN IMAGES AND
STUFF SO THEY CAN -- AS A PART
OF VOTING ENGAGEMENT WITH KING
COUNTY ELECTIONS. I HAVE A
RECORD OF DOING THAT. I ALSO
THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, IT'S NOT JUST
ABOUT VOTING. AT SO MANY
THINGS. IT BEGINS WITH LETTING
YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW THEY OWN THE
STUFF. THEY OWN THE GOVERNMENT.
HEY, IF PARENTS CAN BE FORCED
TO BUY TOYS FOR KIDS, KIDS CAN
FORCE PARENTS TO VOTE. YOU NEED
TO LET THEM BE A PART OF THAT
OWNERSHIP AND DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS ABOUT HOW TO ENGAGE IN
LEARNING ON THEIR GOVERNMENT.
I TOOK MY DAUGHTER UP TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO SAY HI AND
DEMAND THAT SHE BE SEATED AT
THE MAYOR'S CHAIR. THAT BEGINS
WITH A LOT OF THAT. YOU ALL
HAVE YOU WITH US EACH ONE OF US
HAS A DUTY TO BE MORE
CYNICALLY ENGAGED. THANK YOU.
>> WE DO HAVE YOUTH PROGRAMMING
THAT ENCOURAGES CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT AND GETTING YOUTH
INVOLVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
LIKE PEOPLE SAID, IT DOES GO
BEYOND VOTING. ALL KIDS IN
SCHOOLS KNOW THAT IF THE
TEACHER ASKS THEM TO VOTE ON
SOMETHING TO DO, THEY KNOW
WHAT IT MEANS. THE RESULT ON
THE VOTE. IF WE CAN DRAW
CORRELATIONS TO THE LARGER
GOVERNMENT, OR LARGER
LEGISLATION THAT CAN IMPACT
THEM, OR IMPACT THEM AS ADULTS,
THAT'S HOW YOU GET THEM
INVOLVED. YOU DRAW THE
CORRELATIONS TO ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL. WHEN I VOTE, THIS IS
WHAT IT MEANS AND IS GREAT.
WHEN I AM 18 I CAN HAVE GREATER
IMPACT. THE COALITION HAS A
PROGRAM WHERE ONE OF THEIR
GOALS IS TO HAVE CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT. I THINK IF WE HAVE
OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO
PROGRAMS THAT HELP THEM SEE
THEIR VOTE IMPACTS DIRECTLY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AGREE. THE IMPORTANCE OF
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT , I THINK, IT
ALSO STARTS AT HOME. I VISITED
THE CAPITOL WITH EACH OF MY
CHILDREN TO STRESS THE
IMPORTANCE OF OUR GOVERNMENT .
I WAS PROUD I ANSWER THE
QUESTION CORRECTLY . THERE ARE
42 STEPS ON OUR CAPITOL. WE ARE
THE 42nd STATE ADMITTED TO THE
UNION. I KNOW THAT WAS
SOMETHING I HAD FROM THE
SOLDIERS I SERVED IN THE
WASHINGTON NATIONAL GUARD. THE
U.S. FLAG HAS 42 STARS ON IT.
ALSO, I THINK, WE NEED TO
ADDRESS INSTITUTIONAL RESELLERS
-- RACISM. WE HAVE -- IF THIS
STARTS A HOME AND THEY DON'T
HAVE A HOME LIFE, WE NEED TO
REACH OUT TO THEM AND ENGAGE IN
THAT . LIKE I SAID, THE DRIVERS
LICENSE NOW, IT'S EASY TO
REGISTER WHEN YOU GET YOUR
DRIVERS LICENSE. WE ALSO HAVE A
LARGE NUMBER OF USED -- YOUTHS
THAT ARE NOT INTERESTED IN
DRIVING. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK
TO DO.
>> TIME. HELLO.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT --
>> I DIDN'T TOUCH ANYTHING.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO RECLAIM MY
TIME.
>> YOU WERE OVERTIME WHEN IT
WENT DARK.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLOSE WITH
THIS, WHAT JFK SAID. IT'S BY
ACTIONS AND NOT BY WORDS. IT'S
GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO
CHANGE THIS. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SHOULD I GO OR PAUSE?
>> GO.
>> OKAY. IF WE WANT OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE TO BE ENGAGED AND
INVOLVED, WE HAVE TO BE SIMPLY
ENGAGED AND INVOLVED. WE ARE
GOING TO BE SETTING THE EXAMPLE
FOR IT. WHEN I THINK ABOUT
PAST ELECTIONS, WHEN I LOOK AT
TURNOUT, VOTER TURNOUT . 19% OF
THE PRECINCT, IT'S HOW MANY
PEOPLE TURNED OUT. WHY ARE
FOLKS STAYING HOME? AGAIN, IS
IT THAT THEY DON'T FEEL THEIR
VOICE IS GOING TO COUNT, OR
THEY DON'T FEEL THERE'S A
REASON FOR THEM TO ENGAGE?
THANK YOU. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
THAT AS WELL. AGAIN, IT DOES
BEGIN WITH THE ADULTS IN THE
ROOM. IF WE WANT YOUNG PEOPLE
TO BE INVOLVED, WE HAVE TO BE
INVOLVED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS QUESTION.
WE'VE HAD OUR NANNY FOR 3 1/2
YEARS NOW . WHEN SHE FIRST
JOINED US, SHE WAS APPLYING
FOR CITIZENSHIP. SHE HAD OUR
ENTER -- INTERVIEW SCHEDULED
IN OCTOBER. EVERY MORNING WE
WOULD GO OVER THE 100 QUESTIONS
AND OSCAR THREE QUESTIONS. MY
SON WHO WAS FOUR AT THE TIME
CANNOT READ. SO HE COULD ASK
OUR NANNY OPERAS -- BREAKFAST.
HE KNEW MOST OF THE ANSWERS
BEFORE SHE TOOK HER EXAM. THE
FUNNY THING IS HE WOULD GO TO
SCHOOL AND ASK THE SAME
QUESTIONS AGAIN TO HIS FRIENDS
IN THE CLASS. THE TEACHER
EMAILED ME TO ASK ME, WHAT IS
GOING ON. ONE STORY SHORT,
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT START THAT
YOUTH. SHOWING THEM THEY CAN
BE EMPOWERED. ANOTHER THING
HE'S ASKED FOR IS A BALLAD. I
THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE
SOME SORT OF YOUTH BALLAD WE
PHOTOCOPIED OUR SO HE CAN BE
PART OF THE PROCESS. A WAY FOR
THEM TO FEEL THEIR VOICES
BEING HEARD IN A PROACTIVE WAY.
ALSO TEACH THEM. WE DON'T HOW
TO VOTE, IT'S DAUNTING AND
INTIMIDATING. I HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE VOTERS GUIDE WHEN I AM
VOTING, SO I CANNOT IMAGINE
BEING 18 WITH NO GUIDE IS -- NO
GUIDANCE.
>> WE AS A LECTOR -- AS
ELECTORS NEED TO DEMONSTRATE
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET
INVOLVED. AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE
WHEN YOUTH GETS INVOLVED. THIS
CITY COUNCIL REACTED TO IT AND
STARTED WITH IT. THE
FOLLOWING YEAR BECAME $20
MILLION. THAT WAS INITIATED BY
AN ORGANIZATION CALLED SEATTLE
STUDENT UNION. THAT STUDENT
UNION IS GROWING THEIR
MEMBERSHIP , AND HAS BECOME THE
WASHINGTON YOUTH ALLIANCE. I
THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT ELECTED LEADERS GIVE YOUNG
PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENACT
A CHANGE IN THEIR OWN
COMMUNITIES AND MAKE GOOD ON
THEM. WE SHOULD CONSIDER
ALLOWING YOUNG PEOPLE TO SERVE
ON OUR COMMISSIONS. I KNOW
COUNCIL PRESIDENT THINKS THE
APPLICANTS AND ENCOURAGED THEM
TO JOIN COMMISSIONS. I INVITE
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO JOIN AS
WELL AND GET INVOLVED IN OUR
CITY THAT WE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHAT I HEARD WAS THAT IF
CITY CLUB WAS TO START YOUTH
INITIATIVE, YOU ARE ALL GOING
TO HELP OUT. THAT'S WHAT I
HEARD.
>> OKAY, WE ARE GOING BACK TO
BUDGET NOW. I'M GOING TO SAY,
LET'S START WITH STEVE AGAIN.
THERE IS A LARGE BUDGET
SHORTFALL AS WITH MOST
ORGANIZATIONS. DEEPER --
SUPPORT THE REVENUE OPTIONS
PRESENTED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, OR CUTS TO SERVICE?
>> THANK YOU. WHEN IT COMES TO
BUDGET, I THINK WE NEED TO
AUDIT THE BUDGET, AS I SAID
EARLIER, AND LOOK AT WHERE WE
CAN CUT BEFORE WE LOOK AT ANY
INCREASES IN OUR FUNDING, ANY
TAXATION. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE
SHOULD HAVE A PROGRESSIVE TAX
NOT A REGRESSIVE TAX. THAT IS
SOMETHING I SUPPORT. I AM NOT
COMFORTABLE RAISING TAXES UNTIL
WE KNOW WE ARE -- ONE THING I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT . I AM A
SUPPORTER OF A SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE BEEN
WITHOUT A RAISE FOR A WHILE.
IT'S ALSO ALTERNATIVES TO
POLICING WHERE WE CAN SAVE
MONEY. IT IS CHEAPER FOR OTHER
PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO SOMEONE
SLEEPING IN THE DOORWAY THAN IT
IS TO HAVE A FIRE TRUCK OR
POLICE CAR SHOW UP TO THOSE LOW
CALLS. I THINK WE CAN SAVE
MONEY THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE QUESTION IS, WHETHER, TO
SUPPORT FORMER COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA IDEAS , IT'S NOT
EITHER/OR. I THINK IT'S BOTH.
WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT -- AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, WHAT ARE WE
SPENDING? WHAT ARE WE SPENDING
IT ON? WHAT'S OUR RETURN ON
INVESTMENT. IF WE ARE SPENDING
MONEY ON STUFF THAT DOESN'T
WORK, LET'S STOP DOING THAT
AND RECOUP THOSE FUNDS TO PUT
IT TOWARDS THINGS THAT ARE MORE
NECESSARY AND NEEDED. AT THE
SAME TIME, YEAH, LET'S LOOK
AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF
INVESTMENTS. LET'S LOOK AT,
FOR EXAMPLE, A PUBLIC BANK.
WHERE THE CITY CAN BORROW
AGAINST ITS OWN ASSETS TO FUND
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS,
HOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES.
NORTH DAKOTA DESERTS. THERE IS
NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T LOOK AT
THAT AS A POTENTIAL OPTION FOR
OURSELVES AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK WE BOTH -- OH WENT
TO SEATTLE LIGHTS . AUDIT,
REVIEW, THE BUDGET. I DON'T
THINK THE REVIEW OF THE BUDGET
HAS DONE IT MANY YEARS. WE
NEED TO TRIM WHERE WE CAN. I
DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO
FIND $250 MILLION IN SAVINGS TO
THE AUDIT, BUT WE WILL FIND
SOMEBODY. AND ALSO LOOK AT OUR
RESTRICTED FUNDS AND SEE IF WE
CAN USE THEM, MAYBE A PORTION
OF THEM, TO HELP PLUG THE HOLE.
IF WE ARE UNABLE TO DO THAT,
WE CAN GO IN AND ASK
SEATTLEITES FOR TAX RATES.
THEY ARE NOT OPPOSED TO IT,
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
SPENDING -- WE ARE SPENDING
THE MONEY IN A PROPER AND
ACCOUNTABLE WAY. I WOULD MAKE
SURE WE DO THAT BEFORE WE COME
TO THE TABLE TO SAY, PLEASE
GIVE US MORE MONEY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY EXPERIENCE AND TRYING TO
CLOSE A $100 MILLION BUDGET
DEFICIT, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO START WITH CLEAR
OBJECTIVES OF WHAT YOU ARE
TRYING TO ACHIEVE. WORKING
WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS, MAKING
SURE THAT THE WORK OF THEIR
ORGANIZATION IS DRIVING THOSE
OBJECTIVES. IT'S MEASURABLE.
WE CAN DEMONSTRATE RESULTS. I
DO THINK IT WOULD BE
CHALLENGING TO IDENTIFY $250
MILLION OF CUT WITH THIS
BUDGET IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT
OF TIME. IT'S IMPORTANT TO
LOOK AT ALL THE OPTIONS AND
MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS ON THE
TABLE. THE IMPORTANT POINT FOR
TAXATION IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO
BE A CLEAR PURPOSE FOR IT.
AGAIN, THAT GOES BACK TO THE
NECESSITY OF HAVING CLEAR
OBJECTIVES FOR WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS A CITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION SO
DIFFICULT TO ANSWER IN THE
ABSTRACT AND GIVEN A 32nd
TIMEFRAME AND TRYING TO ANSWER
IN A SHORT TIMEFRAME. THE
BOTTOM LINE ISSUE IS THIS, WE
AS A COMMUNITY JUST ELECTED AN
INNOVATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE
CITY COUNCIL THE NEW COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I KNOW THERE ARE
EXISTING COUNCILMEMBERS AND
FOLKS WHO HAVE IDEAS. I AM OPEN
TO ALL IDEAS. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT IN THIS NEW ERA OF
COLLABORATION, EVEN IF THERE
ARE PEOPLE WHO PHILOSOPHICALLY
HAVE DIFFERENCES THAN ME, WE
ALL WANT THE SAME THING. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I
LISTEN TO THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS, WE WORK IN A
COLLABORATIVE ENGAGED
ENVIRONMENT TO LOOK AT THE
ISSUES. THEY HAVE IMPACT ON SO
MANY DIFFERENT AREAS AND
ULTIMATELY, PEOPLE. I THINK WE
HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT
AS WELL. I WOULD SAY I'D BE
WORKING WITH THIS INNOVATION
AND COLLABORATION THAT HAS BEEN
EXPRESSED. I WILL LISTEN TO ALL
AVENUES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BUDGETS ARE TIGHT FOR
EVERYBODY. WE HAVE PEOPLE ALL
ACROSS THE CITY WHO ARE JUST
TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. I
WOULD APPROACH THIS FROM A
SMALL BUDGET PERSPECTIVE. WE
HAVE A BUDGET AND WE HAVE TO
MAKE IT WORK. AS I SAID
EARLIER, WE HAVE TO HAVE
METRICS FOR SUCCESS, FOR
RESULTS, FOR EVERY SINGLE
DEPARTMENT, AGENCY . WE NEED TO
KNOW THAT THEY ARE MEETING
THESE RESULTS. WHICH INCLUDES
AN AUDIT OF ALL CAN BE ABLE TO
LOOK AT THE INFORMATION BEFORE
WE GO TO LAST RESORTS. I KNOW
THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A COUPLE
OF THINGS AND WENT THROUGH AN
EXERCISE OF LEGALITY BEFORE
THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED. WE
DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT
IDEAS AS WELL AS FIGHT FOR A
LESS AGGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM
THAN THE STATE LEGISLATOR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YEAH, I THINK I AM IN
AGREEMENT WITH MANY OF MY --
CAN I CALL YOU COLLEAGUES YET?
>> SURE.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU. AROUND THE
EFFICACY AND SINCERITY AROUND
THE AUDIT. WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE. WHAT
WE ARE SPENDING ON. WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN SPENDING ON. HAVE WE
GOT A GOOD RETURN OF
INVESTMENT FOR THE THINGS WE
SPENT? AGAIN, NOT ALL SPENDING
IS BAD SPENDING. SOMETIMES WE
NEED TO SPEND MORE. MY GOSH, I
WORKED FOR A MEMBER OF
CONGRESS. TRYING THE FEDERAL
BUDGET. WE HAVE TO WORK ON IT.
I AM ALL IN FAVOR OF THE
SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION. WE
HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND
IDENTIFY WHERE WE CAN SAVE,
WHERE WE SHOULD INVEST TOGETHER
AND COME UP WITH COLLABORATIVE
AND GREATER SOLUTIONS EVEN ON
THIS CHALLENGE. THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD ECHO WHAT MARK SAID.
IF YOU TELL SOMEONE YOU WILL
RAISE TAXES YOU WILL GET AN
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE OR ACTION.
IF YOU SAY WE ARE MAKING
PROGRAM CHANGES YOU WILL GET A
SIMILAR REACTION. I THINK
SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONSIDER
IS WHAT CAN THIS IMPACT ON US
AS EMPLOYEES AND HOW CAN THIS
IMPACT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WE ARE FUNDING IN
THOSE PROGRAMS? SOMETHING I
THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO
THINK ABOUT, WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT BUDGET OR PROGRAM
CUTS, THINK ABOUT THE STAFF YOU
ARE IMPACTING THROUGH THOSE
CUTS. A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THE
LOW STAFF, MAKING THE LOWEST
AMOUNT OF WORK HE -- WORKERS.
IF WE LOOK AT MAKING CUTS TO
STAFF, WHAT IMPACT ARE WE
HAVING? IT'S A RIPPLE EFFECT.
IF SOMEONE LOSES THEIR JOB AND
ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO AFFORD
THE HOUSING. WE CREATED THAT
HOUSING INSTABILITY FOR THEM.
NOW THEY ARE SEEKING HOUSING
ELSEWHERE. ONCE AGAIN, I THINK
IT'S BOTH. WE HAVE TO TAKE
GUIDANCE FROM DEPARTMENTS TO
KNOW THERE ARE SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS ON THEIR BUDGETS.
>> THIS WILL BE OUR LAST
AUDIENCE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO
INTO THE LIGHTNING ROUND OUT
YOUR CLOSING COMMENTS. I'M
GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EASY ONE.
OF COURSE, MY SCREEN MOVES AS
SOON AS I FIND IT. IN 2023 --
AND WE WILL START WITH YOU ON
THIS ONE. IN 2023, ENCAMPMENT
REMOVALS COST ABOUT $30
MILLION. DATA SHOWS THAT MOST
PEOPLE DO NOT TAKE OFFERS OF
SHELTER. WHAT SHOULD -- SHOULD
THE CITY SLOW DOWN THE
REMOVALS, OR WHAT WOULD YOU
PROPOSE INSTEAD?
>> I ALSO COME BACK WITH I
DON'T KNOW. IT IS A HUGE
CHALLENGE. IT'S A HUMAN COST.
IT'S DISHEARTENING . I'VE
DISCLOSED WITH YOU THAT I HAVE
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. I
ALSO NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT
THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED
HOMELESSNESS BEFORE MY LIFE.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED
HOMELESSNESS, I DON'T THINK
ABOUT WHETHER I WILL BE FORCED
TO MOVE . ALL MY STUFF HAS BEEN
THROWN AWAY, OR -- I DO NOT
THINK ABOUT IT. I STRIVE TO
SURVIVE. IF SOMEONE WANTED ME
TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE I WILL GO
SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT THESE HUMAN
DIMENSIONS. I CAN'T GIVE THE
ANSWER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
ENCAMPMENTS, I THINK WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT WRAPAROUND
SERVICES WE ARE OFFERING
PEOPLE. THE OUTREACH TO THESE
AREAS OR ENCAMPMENTS MAY NOT BE
SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED
IN . IF THE SHELTER IS ALLOWING
MEN OR WOMEN AND YOU ARE NOT
ABLE TO LIVE WITH HER PARTNER,
THAT TEND LOOKS A LITTLE
BETTER BECAUSE YOU ARE ABLE TO
STAY WITH YOUR FAMILY.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR
PETS. THERE ARE PLENTY OF
PEOPLE THAT FEED THEIR PETS
BETTER THAN WE EAT AS HUMANS.
THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND
COMPARABILITY IS , IF YOUR
HOUSE LIST, YOU DO NOT HAVE
THAT SAME FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE
AROUND. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
WRAPAROUND SERVICES, IT'S NOT
THE ONLY THING. WE HAVE TO LOOK
AT SOME OF THE ROOT CAUSES.
MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IMPACTING
THEM AND PROHIBIT THEM FROM
BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE
HOME OR LIVE ELSEWHERE THEN AN
ENCAMPMENT. AT THE ROOT OF IT,
TOO, WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT
THE OUTREACH LOOKS LIKE. WE
KNOW THAT FROM DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES, SOMETIMES YOU FEEL
MORE COMFORTABLE WITH PEOPLE
YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH. PEOPLE
WHO LOOK LIKE YOU AND SPEAK THE
LANGUAGE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHEN
TALKING ABOUT OUR UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS. THAT IS NOT ILLEGAL,
AND THEY ARE NOT CRIMINALS. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HOMELESSNESS. WE ARE NOT
COMBINING THOSE TWO ISSUES.
THEY'RE VERY SEPARATE. THERE
ARE PEOPLE THAT OUR UNHOUSED
THAT ARE GOING THROUGH MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES THAT HAVE DRUG
ADDICTION ISSUES THAT NEED
HELP. SERIOUS HELP. WE ARE
SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT
IS NOT GETTING BETTER. WE NEED
TO LOOK AT WHY THAT IS. I AGREE
THAT THESE ENCAMPMENT SWEEPS
AND SPENDING $30 MILLION TO DO
IT AGAIN TWO BLOCKS OVER IS NOT
EFFECTIVE. WE NEED MORE
PERMANENT SOLUTIONS. I THINK
THE CITY EXPECTED KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESS -- TO FIND
THE ORIGINAL SOLUTIONS FOR OUR
REGION. I DON'T THINK THAT IS
BEEN EFFECTIVE. WE NEED TO LOOK
AT WHETHER WE CONTINUE WITH
THAT OR NOT. AND HOW WE DO GET
PEOPLE INDOORS, BECAUSE WE
CAN'T LEAVE THEM ON THE
STREET. THANK YOU.
>> I WILL TRY TO BURY -- PS
BRIEF.
>> A LOT OF FOLKS I GET FROM
-- CAUSE I GET FROM FOLKS ARE
ABOUT HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS. I
EMPATHIZE WITH THEM BEING
HOMELESSNESS -- HOMELESS IS
NOT ILLEGAL. JUST BECAUSE
SOMEONE IS HOMELESS DOES NOT
MEAN THERE ARE CRITICAL. WE
HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH
ADDRESSES IS -- WITH ADDRESSES
COMMITTING CRIMES. WE NEED TO
PROVIDE ADDRESSES FOR THOSE ON
THE STREET. WANT TO SOLVE THE
ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS, LET'S
BUILD HOUSING. WITH THE PEOPLE
INSIDE. LET'S PROVIDE THE
WRAPAROUND CASE SO THEY CAN
STAY IN THEIR HOUSING. LET'S
NOT DO CONGREGATE SHELTERS
BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO GO
THERE. LET'S PROVIDE HOUSING
SO SOMEONE CAN TAKE THEIR PETS,
TAKE THEIR PARTNER, THAT
DOESN'T REQUIRE THEM TO BE
SOBER. THERE'S A MODEL THAT
ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DRINK. VERY
FEW .
>> THANK YOU.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITY, WE
ALL KNOW WE ARE FACING THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. I DO
BELIEVE ALL OF THESE TOPICS ARE
INTERTWINED. HOMELESSNESS,
PUBLIC SAFETY AND
AFFORDABILITY. WE NEED MORE
HOUSING SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE
OFF THE STREETS INTO A BED WITH
AN ADDRESS TO ALLOW THEM
CONSISTENT SERVICES AND PEOPLE
TO VISIT THEM. WE ALSO NEED TO
GET HOUSING ENCAMPMENTS OUT OF
THE RIGHT AWAY AND MAKE SURE
IT'S SAFE FOR EVERYONE. WE
NEED TO DO IT WITH COMPASSION.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE THERE
AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING
ILLEGAL. WE ALSO NEED TO
ADDRESS ALL OF THESE ISSUES
HEAD ON TO MAKE A DENT IN OUR
HOMELESSNESS POPULATION .
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
STUDY AND UNDERSTAND WHY
THEY'RE NOT BEING ACCEPTED AND
WHY IT'S NOT AN ATTRACTIVE
OPTION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT FOR A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE,
THEY HAVE BUILT COMMUNITIES IN
THEIR TENT ENCAMPMENTS AND
THEIR POSSESSIONS ARE THERE.
THE CITY SHOULD BE PRODUCING
STRATEGIES THAT ARE MORE
IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS AND ARE
MORE A BRIDGE TO PERMANENT
HOUSING. TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
ARE AN EXCELLENT SOLUTION. I
WAS TALKING TO SHARON LEE, AT
LOW INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE,
AND I THINK IT'S QUITE
EFFICIENT TO BUILD TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES. ONE TINY HOUSE COSTS
$4000. YOU CAN DO ABOUT 50 TINY
HOUSES, AND THE COST LESS THAN
$1 MILLION TO OPEN ONE. GOING
FORWARD, THE OPERATING COST IS
$100,000 A YEAR. TO THINK THIS
IS A VERY IMMEDIATE TERM
SOLUTION WE SHOULD BE PURSUING
, IT DEFINITELY WOULD ADDRESS
SOME OF THE REASON WHY IT'S NOT
AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS 10 YEARS
AGO, AND I COULD BE OFF BY A
YEAR, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER
WHICH MAYOR, BUT THERE WAS A
REPORT IN THE SEATTLE TIMES I
SAW THAT HAD DATA. I AM A
BELIEVER IN A DATA DRIVEN
APPROACH AS WE LOOK AT THIS
ISSUE. SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT
THE HOMELESS IN THE ABSTRACT.
WHO IS OUT THERE AND WHY THEY
ARE OUT THERE. I REMEMBER IN
THE INFORMATION THE DATA AT
THAT TIME HAD, THERE WAS A
PERCENTAGE OF AROUND 18% THAT
WAS TRANSITIONING FROM FOSTER
CARE PROGRAMS. AROUND 12%
WORKING PART-TIME JOBS AND THEY
WERE HOMELESS. FROM THE
DISPROPORTIONATE COMMUNITIES,
WE HAD -- THAT HAD SERVED IN
THE MILITARY. THEY WERE
SUFFERING WITH PTSD. WE NEED
TO HAVE DATA SO WE CAN FIND OUT
SOME OF THE SPECIFIC ROOT
CAUSES, AND THAT WILL HELP US
FIND THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES IN
THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE -- OUR
HOMELESS POPULATION NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SOME OF THE WORK I'VE BEEN
DOING ON THE COMMUNITY WATCHES
, WE GO INTO THE INK AILMENTS
AND BUILD TRUST. WE FIND OUT
THERE BACK STORY, ROOT CAUSE,
WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR, WHAT
THEY WANT. COMMUNITY ASPECT IS
VERY IMPORTANT. BUILDING THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS, IT'S ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT. I KNOW WE CAN'T
ALL AGREE THEY ARE TERRIBLE. WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
WRAPAROUND SERVICES ARE
AVAILABLE. MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES. ADDICTION TREATMENT
SERVICES. BEEN ABLE TO BUILD
COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND
TRUST IS VERY IMPORTANT TRYING
TO GET PEOPLE INSIDE AND TRYING
TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR, WHAT THE ROOT
CAUSES, AND BEING ABLE TO
HOLISTICALLY HELP PEOPLE. WE
TRIED TO FIND LONG-TERM
SOLUTIONS . MANY PEOPLE WHO
HAVE FOUND SHELTER COME BACK TO
ENCAMPMENTS. THAT'S WHERE
THEIR FRIENDS ARE. WE REALLY
HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW , GOING
FORWARD, EVERY INDIVIDUAL
PERSON -- AND WE CAN'T JUST
MAKE ASSUMPTIONS -- BUT THROUGH
MY COMMUNITY WATCH WE SEE HOW
-- YES, THANK YOU.
>> YOU ALL GET TO COLLECTIVELY
REST YOUR VOICES FOR SECOND
AND USURER PADDLES. WE HAVE
LIGHTNING ROUND QUESTIONS. ONCE
WE ARE DONE WITH EACH ONE, YOU
WILL JUST RAISE YOUR PADDLE ,
THUMBS UP IF YOU LIKE IT,
THUMBS DOWN IF YOU DON'T.
READY? I'M SORRY? YES. LET
THE AUDIENCE SEE IT. OKAY.
FIRST ONE IS, DO YOU SUPPORT
PASSING NEW PROGRESSIVE TAXES,
SUCH AS A CEO PAY RATIO TAX ,
CITY LEVEL CAPITOL GAINS TAX,
AND OR INCREASING JUMPSTART TO
RAISE FUNDS TO HELP BUILD THE
BUDGET GAP? OKAY. PLANNERS
TELIS YOU CAN'T MANAGE WHAT
YOU DON'T COUNT. WOULD YOU
SUPPORT REQUIRING THE CITY TO
PRODUCE AN INVENTORY OF ALL
RENTAL HOUSING TO INCLUDE LOW
INCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
WILL YOU SUPPORT REVIEWING AND
FIXING PROBLEMS THIS YEAR BY
AMENDING THE 2022 TREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE PASSED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL? WILL YOU
SUPPORT REVIEWING AND FIXING
PROBLEMS BY AMENDING THE 2022
TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE?
WOULD YOU SUPPORT A AMENDMENT
TO THE CURRENT ORDINANCE TO
ADD 8000 LARGE AND HEALTHY
TREES ON THE PERIMETERS OF LOTS
TO THAT LIST OF TREES
PROTECTED DURING DEVELOPMENT?
THE AMENDMENT. YEAH. THAT
WOULD BE A GOOD FOLLOW-UP FOR
NEXT TIME. TWO MORE. THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY SAFETY
PROGRAM HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN
SUPPORTING REGIONAL AND ONGOING
GUN VIOLENCE PRODUCTION --
PROTECTION. BUT ONLY FEW WILL
YOU SUPPORT EXPANDING THIS
CITYWIDE. LAST, BUT NOT LEAST
, WILL YOU SUPPORT CREATING AN
INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT OF
CLIMATE , AND THE ENVIRONMENT
WITH AN URBAN FORESTRY
DIVISION TO CONSIDER -- TO
CONSOLIDATE THESE ISSUES IN
ONE DEPARTMENT FOR BETTER
OVERSIGHT? ALL RIGHT. NOW IT
IS TIME FOR CLOSING COMMENTS.
EACH PERSON WILL HAVE 60
SECONDS. SINCE I STARTED WITH
VIVIAN IN THE BEGINNING, WE
WILL START WITH JUAN AND COME
BACK THIS WAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALISHA.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY CLUB.
THINGS TO MY COLLEAGUES. THANKS
FOR EVERYONE SHOWING UP THIS
EVENING. THREE THINGS I WANT
YOU TO WALK AWAY. NUMBER ONE, I
CAN WIN CITYWIDE. I CAN BUILD
SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS IN
CONSECUTIVE YEARS. I HAVE
EXPERIENCED THAT. WE DID THAT
BACK IN 1996. I UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE. ALSO, WORKING TO
MAKE SURE WE BUILD A VERY
STRONG CAMPAIGN. I CAN RAISE
THE MONEY. I AM REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THAT ASPECT OF IT. I HAVE
AN UNBELIEVABLE NETWORK. I'M
GOING TO THINK SO MANY OF MY
FOLKS LISTENING AND WATCHING
TONIGHT. IT'S BEEN REMARKABLE
THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS. ALL THE
TEXT I RECEIVED HAVE BEEN
REMARKABLE. COMBINED WITH
POLICY EXPERIENCE, COMBINED
WITH THE POLITICAL EXPERIENCE,
I THINK I CAN BE A VERY
EFFECTIVE CANDIDATE. ONCE
AGAIN, INNOVATIVE AND
COLLABORATION HAS BEEN MY
REPUTATION. I AM LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORK WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL. I WANT TO LEAVE YOU
WITH ONE MORE THOUGHT.
>> QUICKLY.
>> IF WE COULD ALL BE HEROES --
WE COULD ALL BE HEROES IF YOU
DONATE BLOOD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I CONSIDER MYSELF A DAUGHTER
OF SEATTLE. I LIVED HERE MY
ENTIRE LIFE. I LOVE MY CITY. I
HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. I
HAVE BEEN OUT THERE DOING THIS
WORK. PUBLIC SAFETY . I AM OUT
IN ENCAMPMENTS . I'M OUT ON
THE STREETS. I'VE BEEN DOING
IT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. I
ALSO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE
IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I SERVED
ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
HISTORIC RESERVATION. I ALSO
HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WHEN
IT COMES TO LIFTING AND
AMPLIFYING VOICES AND BRINGING
PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER ENGAGED
IN CITY HALL FOR INTUIT'S
CHAMBERS. I'VE DONE THIS FOR
YEARS. I PLAN TO DO IT AT A
HIGHER LEVEL. I THINK A LOT OF
ISSUES WE ARE SEEING IN SOUTH
SEATTLE, WE SEE IN THE
ENTIRETY OF SEATTLE. I'VE HAD
THESE EXPERIENCES TACKLING
THESE ISSUES. BOOTS IN THE
GROUND FROM A GREAT THROUGH
-- FROM A GRASSROOTS LEVEL. IT
WOULD BE AMAZING TO HELP UPLIFT
VOICES, GET PEOPLE ENGAGED ON A
HIGHER LEVEL. TOGETHER WE CAN
MAKE SEATTLE BETTER. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I ALMOST FORGOT TO BRING THE
MIC TO MYSELF. THANK YOU,
EVERYONE. THANK YOU TO THE 72
APPLICANTS WHO PUT THEIR NAMES
AND. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU
WERE SEEN AND HEARD . THE OTHER
60 SOMETHING. THAT YOU ARE
IMPORTANT , EVEN THOUGH YOU
ARE NOT HERE. YOU'RE AN
IMPORTANT ANSWER TO THE
CHALLENGES AND YOU CAN PROVIDE
SOLUTIONS MOVING FORWARD. FOR
ME, I HAVE A RESUME THAT CAN
RIVAL AND COMPARE . I'M
PROUD OF MY RECORD WITH WHAT I
HAVE DONE WITH ANY OF THE
PEOPLE HERE. WHAT I WANT TO
IMPART UPON YOU IS THAT I HAVE
, IN MY LIVED EXPERIENCE, MY
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE,
CONSCIOUSNESS OF CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY . I AM ABLE TO
CONNECT. I HAVE A DEEP ANTHONY
-- EMPATHY I CONNECT WITH
MANY PEOPLE ACROSS SECTORS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE WHO HAS
ATTENDED TONIGHT. I COME FROM A
LEGACY OF ACTIVISM. THAT HAS
CREATED MY CORE FOUNDATIONAL
BELIEFS AND MY COMMITMENT TO
SEATTLE AS A SERVANT. I WENT TO
DO MY BEST TO SERVE OUR
COMMUNITIES. I FEEL MY STRONG
EXPERIENCE IN -- MY
FAMILIARITY WITH DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS AND BUDGET
PROCESSES WILL BE OF VALUE TO
CITY COUNCIL AS WE START TO
TACKLE SOME OF THE ISSUES WE
ARE ALREADY BEHIND ON, TO BE
HONEST. I FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD
BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME
TO LEND MY EXPERIENCE AND
EXPERTISE FROM THE CITY SIDE TO
A COUNCIL THAT IS VERY NEW AND
HISTORICALLY WE WILL HAVE SIX
NEW PEOPLE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE BUILD TRUST IN THE
COMMUNITY. THAT'S VERY
IMPORTANT AT CITY COUNCIL
LEVEL, BUT WITHIN THE
GOVERNMENT AS A WHOLE. BOTTOM
LINE, WANT TO MAKE SURE SEATTLE
WILL BE A GREAT CITY FOR MY
CHILDREN AND GENERATIONS TO
COME. THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY
HERE AND ONLINE FOR BEING
ENGAGED. THE APPOINTMENT TO
THE CITYWIDE COUNCIL SEAT
SHOULD BE ABOUT MORE THAN ONE
DISTRICT OR ONE TOPIC. I THINK
MY ANSWERS HAVE SHOWN THAT I
KNOW THE CITY. I KNOW A
VARIETY OF TOPICS AND CAN SPEAK
INTELLIGENTLY ABOUT THEM. I
KNOW THE CITY. I KNOW THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RANIER AND
MATTHEWS BEACH. I KNOW WHAT
CONCERNS EACH OF THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS. I AM FAMILIAR
WITH GOLDEN GARDENS, KUBOTA
GARDENS AND -- I WORK DIRECTLY
WITH TWO -- WITH SOUTH PARK ,
LINCOLN PARK AND EXPERIENCE THE
PROBLEMS IN EACH. IT INCLUDES
FIXING A BUDGET SHORTFALL,
UPDATING THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
PUBLIC SAFETY. MY BACKGROUND
EXPERIENCE WILL BE AN ASSET TO
THE WORK BEING DONE BY THE CITY
COUNCIL. I THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I ALSO WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE WHO IS HERE TONIGHT.
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY,
WONDERFUL PANEL. I WANT TO ECHO
OR BUILD UPON SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT WERE SAID. THIS
APPOINTMENT IS ABOUT BEING AN
APPLICANT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
NOT ONE DISTRICT, NOT ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT ONE
DEMOGRAPHIC ALL OF US. ONE OF
THE THINGS I BRING TO THE TABLE
THAT SETS ME APART IS THE
HISTORY OF COALITION BUILDING.
WORKING WITH NEIGHBORS ,
BUSINESS COMMUNITIES,
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO SOLVE
PROBLEMS FOR FOLKS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. I HAVE BEEN
FOCUSED, IN THE PAST 32 YEARS
OF SERVING THE CITY IN GETTING
THINGS DONE. WHAT I BRING TO
THE TABLE IS A HISTORY OF
GETTING THINGS DONE. THAT'S
WHAT I INTEND TO BRING TO THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. I THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR
ATTENTION, I THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE, AND I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SEATTLE CITY CLUB
FOR HOSTING THIS FORM. THANK
YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED
AND ASKED QUESTIONS. SUBMITTED
THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED
THIS EVENING. FROM MY
CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST
YEAR, I BELIEVE ALL OF US WANT
TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT IS AND
FEEL SAFE. THAT PROVIDES
RESOURCES FOR THOSE THAT NEED
THEM, AND WE CAN AFFORD NOT
ONLY TO LIVE IN THE CITY NOW,
BUT GROW OLD HERE. IF I AM
APPOINTED TO THE SEATS, I WILL
DO ALL I CAN AS A
REPRESENTATIVE TO MAKE SURE
THIS IS A REALITY, AND WE ARE
ABLE TO WALK AROUND IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND FEEL SAFE FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS. IT WILL
TAKE US WORKING TOGETHER
COLLECTIVELY WITH HOUSING
ADVOCATES, DEVELOPERS, FIRST
RESPONDERS, SOCIAL WORKERS,
RESIDENTS, EMPLOYEES AND
ENGAGING EVERYONE AT THE
PRIVATE, PUBLIC, NONPROFIT
SECTOR TO COME TOGETHER AND
ENSURE WE ARE A CITY THAT IS
SAFE AND COMPASSIONATE AND
AFFORDABLE. NOT ONLY FOR THOSE
OF US WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO MAKE
SEATTLE HOME, BUT IT'S ALSO
INCLUSIVE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO
COME HERE. THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY, AND I HOPE TO BE
OLD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE CURRENT
CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE THIS A
REALITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TONIGHT WE HAVE DISCUSSED
SOME OF THE CITY'S
CHALLENGES. I BELIEVE WE CAN
MAKE PROGRESS ON SAFETY,
HOMELESSNESS AND VITALITY. WE
NEED TO SCALE OUR POLICE FORCE
TO THE GROWING NEEDS OF OUR
CITY AND INVEST IN THINGS LIKE
THE NEW CARE DEPARTMENT. PLAN
FOR THE FUTURE TO END
HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE NEED TO
DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH. THAT'S
THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES ALL THE
THINGS WE WANT TO ACHIEVE FOR
OUR CITY. I AM READY TO GET TO
WORK. I'M ALSO READY TO GET TO
WORK AS CHAIR OF CITY LIGHTS OF
SUSTAINABILITY IN ARTS AND
TACKLE CHALLENGES SUCH AS THE
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND
SNOWPACKED AND THEREFORE OUR
POWER RESOURCE. INVESTING IN
THE ELECTRICAL GRID . I AM
READY TO WORK WITH REGIONAL
STAKEHOLDERS TO FIND SOLUTIONS
TO HONOR THE RIGHTS OF OUR
INDIGENOUS NATIONS. MY SERVICE
AS A SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR
PREPARES ME WELL FOR SERVICE ON
THE LIBRARIES EDUCATION
COMMITTEE AS VICE CHAIR AS
WELL. CRITICALLY, I'M READY TO
TACKLE OUR $250 MILLION BUDGET
DEFICIT, RING IN MY
PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL SKILLS
IN THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE OF
OVERSEEING A $1.2 BILLION
OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
>> THAT'S TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR
BEING HERE. THIS WAS WAY MORE
FUN THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING
TO BE. THANK YOU. AGAIN, I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE
WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE FORUM
TONIGHT, IN PERSON AND ONLINE.
THANK YOU TO THE CANDIDATES FOR
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SEEK A SPOT
ON THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU TO
THE CITY STAFF AND SEATTLE
CHANNEL FOR WORKING QUICKLY TO
HELP US PULL THIS TOGETHER.
ALSO, MY STAFF AND
VOLUNTEERING BOARD. WE WANT TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT CITY CLUB.
PLEASE FIND US ONLINE.
OTHERWISE, PLEASE HAVE A SAFE
EVENING. IT WILL BE UP FOR THE
REST OF THIS , WHERE YOU
SUBMITTED YOUR QUESTIONS. WE
WILL PUBLISH THE RESULTS
TOMORROW. THANK YOU.