♪
>> I AM ON.
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
IT IS 9:30 4 AM.
I AM THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER LISA
HERBOLD.
WE WILL QUICKLY GO OVER OUR
AGENDA FOR TODAY.
WE ARE GOING TO START WITH
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
WE WILL FOLLOW WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT AND THEN OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS TODAY, WE WILL HEAR
FROM SPD CHIEF BEST ON A
BRIEFING ON THE RECENT DOWNTOWN
SHOOTINGS AND THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT RESPONSE AND
ACTIONS.
WE WILL HEAR A NUMBER OF FIRE
CODE ADVISORY BOARD
APPOINTMENTS.
THEN WE ARE GOING TO HEAR A
RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE
CITY'S EFFORTS TO CONSIDER
RAISING IN THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS A NUMBER OF
ITEMS WE HAVE HEARD IN A
PREVIOUS PUBLIC HEARING, RELATED
TO THE 2021 CONTRACT RENEWAL,
SPECIFICALLY AROUND POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
THEN WE WILL FINISH UP THE
MORNING WITH A REPORT ON THE
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET ADDS,
úRELATED TO THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
THIS COMMITTEE HAS OVERSIGHT
NOT ONLY OF PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES, BUT HUMAN SERVICES
ISSUES, EXCLUDING THOSE RELATED
TO HOMELESSNESS INVESTMENTS.
MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS HAS OVERSIGHT OF.
WE WILL HEAR BACK A SUMMARY
FROM CENTRAL STAFF ON THE
STATUS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THOSE HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET
ADDS.
SINCE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK
TODAY, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT HOW WE WILL BE
HANDLING PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE 30 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK.
BECAUSE THE CHIEFS TIME IS SO
DEAR, WHAT WE WILL DO IS HEAR
FROM HALF OF THOSE 15 PEOPLE
AND THEN WE WILL TAKE A BREAK
AND WE WILL HEAR FROM THE CHIEF
AND THEN REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT
TO HEAR FROM THE REST OF THE
SPEAKERS.
WITH THAT, IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO
APPROVE THE AGENDA.
SEEING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA IS APPROVED.
NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT AND AGAIN, WE HAVE 30
PEOPLE SIGNED UP AT THIS POINT,
SO WE WILL TAKE THE FIRST 20
MINUTES WORTH OF SPEAKERS.
BECAUSE AFTER THAT, AFTER THE
FIRST 20 MINUTES WORTH OF
SPEAKERS, WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE
A PROCEDURAL VOTE TO EXTEND THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BEYOND 20
MINUTES.
AND AGAIN WE WILL DO THAT AFTER
HEARING FROM CHIEF BEST.
WITH THAT, ALEX WILL BE YOUR
TIMEKEEPER.
HE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU
HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT TO SPEAK
AND HE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN
YOUR TIME IS UP.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL READ NAMES INTO THE
RECORD TWO AT A TIME AND I
REQUEST THAT YOU TAKE THE
MICROPHONE, TWO AT A TIME, SO
WE CAN ENSURE A SMOOTH
PROGRESSION OF FOLKS TO THE
MICROPHONE AND PROMPT, TIMELY
PUBLIC COMMENT.
WITH THAT I WILL BEGIN.
WE WILL START WITH JIM
ERICKSON, FOLLOWED BY PATRICK
FOLEY.
>> I AM JIM ERICKSON, A
RESIDENT -- I'M DISAPPOINTED
WITH THE DETERIORATING CRIME
CONDITIONS.
TO FAVORABLY COMPARE SEATTLE
CRIME WITH OTHER CITIES.
INSTEAD I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS
ON CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENTS
WITHIN SEATTLE.
GOING FORWARD, PLEASE CONSIDER
UTILIZING THREE METRICS OF
SUCCESS.
CRIME STATS, PERSON CRIME AND
PROPERTY CRIME ON THE POLICE
DASHBOARD WERE TEMPORARILY
SUSPENDED IN MAY, 2019.
LET'S ACTIVATE THOSE STATS SO
THE PUBLIC CAN MEASURE YEAR-
OVER-YEAR IMPROVEMENT IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE SEATTLE POPULATION IS
GROWING AND WE NEED TO INCREASE
THE SPD HEADCOUNT.
IF COPS ARE LEAVING FASTER THAN
WE ARE RECRUITING, WE NEED TO
TRY SOMETHING NEW.
LET'S ORGANIZE ORGANIZATIONAL
IMPROVEMENTS IN SEATTLE CITY
GOVERNMENT, BASED ON BEST
PRACTICES IN OTHER CITIES, SUCH
AS MINNEAPOLIS.
FR EXAMPLE IN SEATTLE, OUR
CITY ATTORNEY IS AN ELECTED
POSITION.
IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE MAYOR
APPOINTS THE CITY ATTORNEY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
NATALIA WIKI.
>> I AM PATRICK FOLEY, FROM
LAKE UNION PARTNERS.
WE ARE A SMALL DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY AND MY PARTNERS AND I
ARE BEHIND THE STATE HOTEL
PROJECT AT SECONDHAND PIKE,
WHICH IS A HISTORIC
PRESERVATION.
ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO THERE WERE
PEOPLE WITH THE CITY, THE
CURRENT MAYOR AT THE TIME, THAT
ASKED US TO TAKE THIS PROJECT
ON BECAUSE OF STREET CRIME AND
THE DILAPIDATED BUILDING THAT
HAD BEEN SITTING THERE FOR MANY
YEARS.
SO WE MADE THE EFFORT TO MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AT THAT
CORNER.
YES IT WAS A GOOD PROJECT AND A
GOOD INVESTMENT, BUT AT THE
SAME TIME WE FELT IT WAS A
CIVIC DUTY, BECAUSE MY PARTNERS
AND I LOVE THIS CITY.
SINCE WE TOOK THE PROJECT ON,
IT WAS A MASSIVE RENOVATION.
A $40 MILLION INVESTMENT AT THE
CORNER.
SINCE WE OPENED LAST MARCH, WE
HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT CRIME
AROUND THE BUILDING.
WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE RUN INTO THE
RESTAURANT, THROWING THINGS,
MAKING A SCENE.
COMING INTO THE LOBBY.
GOING TO THE BATHROOM ON THE
WINDOWS WHILE GUESTS ARE
SITTING AT THE RESTAURANT.
SALES ARE DOWN AT THE
RESTAURANT.
WE HAVE HAD STAFF CHASED OUT OF
THE BUILDING.
WE INCREASED SECURITY BY
$20,000 PER YEAR BEYOND WHAT WE
HAD IN OUR BUDGET.
WE RARELY SEE POLICE DOWN
THERE.
THE CHIEF WAS NICE ENOUGH TO
MEET WITH ME AND I HAVE A LOT
OF RESPECT FOR HER, BUT I
BELIEVE HER HANDS ARE TIED TO
SOME EXTENT.
WE ASKED FOR STREET PATROLS AND
WE GOT THAT FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS
AND THEN IT WENT AWAY.
WE ARE STRUGGLING.
OUR SALES ARE DOWN AND I AM
JUST ASKING THAT YOU
RECONSIDER, WHATEVER POLICY YOU
HAVE IN PLACE FOR ARRESTING
PEOPLE AND THEN LETTING THEM
OUT, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS A
FAILED EXPERIMENT.
I AM JUST ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE HAVE NORA CHAN.
>> GOOD MORNING, I AM A
RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER IN
SEATTLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THIS COUNSEL FOR
THEIR EFFORTS TO UPHOLD THE
RIGHTS OF MINORITIES AND
UNDERPRIVILEGED PERSONS WITHIN
OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT SAID, THE DESIRE TO BE
POLITICALLY CORRECT VERSUS
COMMUNITY CORRECT IS DESTROYING
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
UNDERMINING THE SAFETY OF THOSE
WHO LIVE, WORK AND VISIT THE
CITY.
BY LETTING CONVICTED CRIMINALS
BACK ON THE STREETS TO REEK
MORE CHAOS AND COMMIT MORE
CRIMES IS VIOLATING OUR RIGHT
TO SAFETY.
AS A TAXPAYER AND A CITIZEN,
SAFETY IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT,
WHICH WE EXPECT TO BE UPHELD BY
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT,
PROSECUTORS AND LEGISLATORS.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO
EXPRESS THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE
IN THE CITY IN WHICH I LIVE.
EXISTING POLICIES -- EXISTING
POLICIES ARE FAILING TO PROTECT
OUR CITIZENS.
AS LEGISLATORS, YOU ANSWER TO
US.
YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
I AM REQUESTING THAT EXISTING
POLICIES BE EVALUATED TO
DETERMINE IF THEY, THEMSELVES,
ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE SOCIAL
CONDITIONS OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, WHICH ARE NOW
VIOLATING MY RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> CATHERINE STANFORD.
>> MY NAME IS NORA CHAN, THE
FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF SENIORS
IN ACTION FOUNDATION IN
CHINATOWN.
THE JOB OF OUR CITY IS TO BE
SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR ALL WHO
LIVE, WORK OR VISIT HERE.
DOWNTOWN IS EVERYONE'S
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIRD AND PINE STREET IS ONE OF
THE BUSIEST CORNERS OF THE
CITY.
THE CURRENT SITUATION IS
UNACCEPTABLE.
WE MUST TAKE BOLD ACTIONS TO
ENSURE THE CENTER OF OUR CITY
IS SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR ALL.
WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO
PROTECT OUR LOW INCOME AND
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
SMALL BUSINESS IN PARTICULAR
ARE WONDERFUL AND THERE HAS BEEN
LOTS OF STEALING AND CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY ON THIRD AVENUE IN
CHINATOWN DISTRICT.
THIRD AVENUE IS THE CENTER OF
PUBLIC LIFE IN SEATTLE, HOME TO
ARTS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS,
REGIONAL ATTRACTIONS, SMALL
BUSINESSES BUT -- SMALL
BUSINESSES, RETAILERS, CIVIC
SPACE AND THE MOST USED
CORRIDOR IN THE REGION.
CHINATOWN HAS OUR OWN MUSEUM,
LOTS OF RESTAURANTS WITH
DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOOD TO EAT
AND IT IS CHEAP, TOO.
BUT FOR FAR TOO LONG, CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY HAS PERSISTED ALONG
PORTIONS OF THIS AREA.
LED BY A DEEPLY ROOTED DRUG
MARKET THAT ALL TOO OFTEN LEAD
TO VIOLENCE.
THIS IMPACTS VISITORS, WORKERS,
TOWNSHIP RIDERS AND THE MOST
VULNERABLE AMONG US, THOSE
LIVING ON THE STREET AND IN LOW
INCOME HOUSING.
CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE ARE UP
MORE THAN 40% OVER THE COURSE OF
TWO YEARS IN THIS AREA OF
DOWNTOWN AND CHINATOWN.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY OBJECTIVE.
I RAISED $175,000 TO PUT UP
CAMERAS, BUT LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE
AGAINST IT.
>> CAN YOU WRAP UP PLEASE?
>> BECAUSE THEY WORRY ABOUT
FACIAL RECOGNITION.
SO PLEASE HELP SEATTLE TO FEEL
SAFE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBER
AND CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE,
LISA HERBOLD, AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS CATHERINE STANFORD
AND I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE
BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF
SEATTLE KING COUNTY, BUT HERE
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MANY OF
THOSE WHO HAVE BUILDINGS AND
PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
THIS HAS BEEN A CONCERN, THE
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, OF HOURS
FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND BECAUSE
IT HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO FESTER
AND CONTINUE, WE BELIEVE WE ARE
AT THE TIPPING POINT.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
SAFETY OF OUR TENANTS, ABOUT
OUR STAFF AND ABOUT THE PEOPLE
WHO SERVICE OUR BUILDINGS.
WE ARE HAVING MORE AND MORE
CHALLENGES ACTUALLY GETTING
FOLKS TO COME AND DO THE WORK
IN OUR BUILDINGS.
THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE, OUR
TENANTS DON'T FEEL SAFE.
I AM GOING TO SAY THAT I HAVE
BEEN WORKING IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE FOR OVER 30 YEARS, FIRST
AS DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE AT
PIKE PLACE MARKET AND THEN WITH
MY BUSINESS AT THIRD AND
STEWART.
SO I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING
ABOUT, AS FAR AS WHAT I SEE ON
THE STREETS ON A DAILY BASIS
AND HOW OUR PUBLIC SAFETY HAS
TRULY ERODED IN THE DOWNTOWN
AREA.
I WALK AROUND ALL THE TIME.
SO WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU COME
UP WITH AND FULLY SUPPORT A
STRATEGIC PLAN THAT IS
SUSTAINABLE AND THAT WILL
CONTINUE.
THIS WILL TAKE A WHILE TO UNDO
ALL OF THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN
DONE.
SO WE ARE ASKING, THE TIME IS
UP, TO GET THIS DONE.
APPRECIATE IT.
THANKS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
MARK GARRISON AND I AM A
DOWNTOWN RESIDENT.
I HAVE BEEN FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I LIVE OVER BY THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY AND LAST YEAR THERE WAS
A SHOOTING AT THE LIBRARY.
I BELIEVE IT WAS A HOMICIDE.
IT LEFT A BULLET HOLE IN THE
WINDOW.
THE LIBRARY WAS QUICK ENOUGH TO
HAVE THAT IMMEDIATELY REPAIRED.
AFTER THE RECENT SHOOTINGS, HOW
LONG WILL IT TAKE US TO REPAIR
OUR REPUTATION AS A CITY AND AT
WHAT PRICE?
THOSE OF US WHO LIVE AND WORK
DOWNTOWN, WE PAY THE HIGHEST
PRICE IN WHERE WE WALK AND
WHERE WE CHOOSE TO AVOID TO
WALK.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS A
SOCIETY TO DEAL WITH THIS
DILEMMA AND WE HAVE DECREASED
CONFIDENCE EVERY DAY WITH THIS
MADNESS.
FIRST OF ALL OUR LEADERS, OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, IN OUR CIVIC
RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITY TO
SOLVE THIS SUCCESSFULLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> JIM ROWE.
>> MY NAME IS JEREMY, I HAVE
BEEN A DRIVER FOR METRO FOR THE
LAST 18 YEARS.
MANY OF OUR DRIVERS KNOW THAT
THIRD AVENUE IS NOTORIOUS FOR
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.
WE HAVE BUSES THEY GO THROUGH
THAT ACT AREA DAY AND NIGHT.
RECENTLY, WE RECEIVED MANY
WORDS OF THANKS FOR THE WAY OUR
DRIVERS AND SO MANY OTHER
MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF HANDLED
THIS FRIGHTENING SITUATION.
TRANSIT CONTROL WORKED HARD TO
REROUTE BUSES OUT OF THE AREA
AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE FROM THE
CHAOS.
WE AT THE UNION ARE PROUD OF
ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE OUT
THERE DRIVING, WORKING IN THE
TUNNEL, THE TRANSIT CONTROL AND
EVERY OTHER PART OF THE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
THE COMMUNITY IS OURS.
EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE
SAFE.
THE STREETS ARE OWNED I THE
CITIZENS AND THAT MAKES THE
CITY THRIVE.
WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO WAIT
FOR A BUS, WALK TO WORK OR WALK
THE BEAUTIFUL STREETS OF
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND NOT BE
AFRAID.
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS
EMPLOYEES OF KING COUNTY TO
PROTECT THOSE THAT VISIT THE
CITY.
IT IS ALSO OUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO PROTECT THE TRANSIT
OPERATORS.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, NOT JUST
TALK ABOUT IT.
PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE RELYING ON
IT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE HAVE DAVID HAYNES.
>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR,
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK THIS MORNING.
MY NAME IS JIM ROWE.
I LIVE DOWNTOWN ON SECOND AND
PIKE.
I HAVE TWO ADULT DAUGHTERS AND
A 2 1/2-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON, WHO
OCCASIONALLY LIKES TO SPEND
TIME WITH ME.
THEY WILL COME DOWNTOWN TO DO SO
AND THAT IS BECOMING LESS AND
LESS OF A TREAT FOR THEM,
BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME DOWN
THEY MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT
THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.
I AM ALSO THE OWNER AND
OPERATOR OF THREE DOWNTOWN
RESTAURANTS.
METROPOLITAN GRILL, THE OYSTER
HOUSE AND HEART READ PROVISIONS.
I TALKED TO A LOT OF GUESTS.
I TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND
I CONSTANTLY HEAR THAT PEOPLE
DO NOT FEEL SAFE COMING
DOWNTOWN.
IT IS REFLECTED IN OUR
BUSINESS.
OUR GUEST COUNTS, OUR REVENUES,
ARE DOWN.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE EMPLOY
ABOUT 400 PEOPLE AND WHEN I
SENT OUT A MESSAGE LAST NIGHT
TO CANCEL A MEETING THIS
MORNING, SO THAT I COULD BE
HERE, THIS IS A NOTE THAT I GOT
FROM OUR HUMAN RESOURCES
EXECUTIVE.
SHE SAID FOR THE LONG LIFE OF
OUR COMPANY, WE HAVE TRAINED
OUR PEOPLE TO BE WELCOMING AND
HOSPITABLE TO OUR GUESTS.
NOW WE ARE SCHEDULING SAFETY
TRAINING AND HOW TO DE-ESCALATE
THE THREATENING SITUATIONS THAT
COME INTO OUR RESTAURANTS OFF
THE STREETS.
VERY SAD.
THAT DOESN'T MENTION THEIR NEED
TO COME TO WORK, LEAVING WORK,
THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.
I LOVE OUR CITY.
I LOVE THE REPUTATION OUR CITY
HAS IS A SAFE PLACE.
THAT REPUTATION AND THAT
REALITY IS VERY MUCH IN
JEOPARDY AND THERE IS A LOT OF
FACTORS WE CAN ATTRIBUTE TO
THAT, BUT I WOULD SAY MUCH OF IT
HAS TO DO WITH THE CHOICES WE
MAKE AS A CITY AND AS CITY
LEADERS.
MY HOPE IF ANYTHING POSITIVE
COMES OUT OF THE HORRIFIC
EVENTS OF LAST WEEK, IS THAT IT
SERVES AS A WAKE-UP CALL.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I BELIEVE IT IS CHRISTIAN
CASHING IN.
>> UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICE
REFORM HAS CAUSED SOCIETAL
IMPLOSION.
IN 2012, THE MAYOR AND U.S.
ATTORNEY SABOTAGED THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE REFORM
BY SLIPPING A SENTENCE IN THAT
SAID LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS
WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM JAIL.
THIS RESULTED IN PROSECUTORS
AND COPS REFUSING TO GO AFTER
AND JAIL EVIL DRUG PUSHERS,
DESTROYING LIVES DAILY.
NOW WE HAVE RACIST POLICE
LEADERSHIP GETTING RICH OFF
OVER TIME, NOT FIGHTING CRIME,
WHILE PREVIOUS COUNSEL
SQUANDERED THEIR PRIVILEGE,
ALLOWING LOBBYING EFFORTS OF THE
POLICE DIRECTOR WHO IS ALSO THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER, TO ADD CRACK,
METH AND HEROIN, THEN GIVE HER
MILLIONS UNDER LAW ENFORCEMENT
ASSISTANCE WITH ONE CAVEAT,
GUARANTEEING ILLEGAL ALIENS
PUSHING DRUGS WILL ALSO BE
EXEMPTED FROM JAIL AND
DEPORTATION, ALL WHILE COPS
CONDUCT A WAR ON HOMELESS,
ACTING LIKE A HERO TO THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BLAMING --
FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS.
WE HAVE COPS INCAPABLE OF
STOPPING DRUG PUSHERS, WHICH IS
DIRECTLY RELATED TO ALL OF THE
VIOLENCE.
WE NEED TO FIRE THE POLICE
CHIEF, THE PROSECUTORS AND THE
MAYOR, AND FIX THE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL REFORM BY
TAKING THAT ONE SENTENCE OUT
THAT EXEMPTS DRUG PUSHERS FROM
JAIL.
NO SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL,
INCLUDING FIRST WORLD LED BY A
TREASONOUS GOVERNMENT.
>> PRINCETON -- IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> AND CHRISTIAN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY DAVID WHITMAN.
IS THERE NO CHRISTIAN?
OKAY, WE WILL HEAR FROM DAVID
WHITMAN, THEN.
NO DAVID WHITMAN?
OKAY.
BRIAN THOMPSON.
NO ONE BRIAN THOMPSON.
JIM MILLER?
THANK YOU.
AND JIM MILLER WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY SABRINA VILLANOVA AND HOWARD
ANDERSON.
>> THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS
HEARING TODAY.
I AM JIM MILLER, THE PRESIDENT
OF THE BELLTOWN BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION.
RECENTLY APPOINTED TO THE
BELLTOWN UNITED BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
I SERVE ON THE METROPOLITAN
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF
DIRECTORS AND I AM ALSO THE
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE
MILLIONAIRE CLUB CHARITY.
I'VE BEEN WORKING DOWNTOWN FOR
10 YEARS.
I MOVE DOWNTOWN TWO YEARS AGO
TO EXPERIENCE URBAN LIVING, BUT
NOT TO EXPERIENCE WHERE I MUST
NAVIGATE MY WAY AROUND CRIME.
MY EXPERIENCES MIRROR MANY.
THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR
MANY YEARS.
POLITICAL LEADERS CHANGE,
POLICE CHIEFS CHANGE, BUT WHAT
HASN'T CHANGED IS CONSISTENCY
OF CRIME AND LAWLESSNESS.
INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED ARE KNOWN,
PROLIFIC OFFENDERS.
RELEASING PROLIFIC OFFENDERS
BACK ON THE STREET IS NOT A
SOLUTION, BUT A SYMPTOM OF A
BROKEN SYSTEM.
IT IS TIME TO RESTORE BROKEN
TRUST AND FIX THE BROKEN SYSTEM.
>> AFTER SABRINA AND HOWARD, WE
WILL TAKE A PAUSE TO HEAR FROM
THE POLICE CHIEF.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
SABRINA VILLANOVA AND I AM HERE
ON BEHALF OF TENANTS IN THE
BUILDINGS I MANAGE.
ONE IS ON THIRD AND STEWART AND
I HEAR DAILY FROM TENANTS ABOUT
THE CRIME THEY ARE DEALING
WITH, THE HARASSMENT AND
ASSAULTS.
JUST LAST WEEK, TO REINFORCE
THAT THIS IS NOT NEW, WE HAD A
SMALL TEA SHOP AND THERE WAS A
WOMAN THAT WAS RANDOMLY
ASSAULTED.
PUNCHED IN HER SIDE, IN HER
FACE.
WE HAVE IT ON VIDEO.
THEY DEAL WITH THIS EVERY DAY.
IT IS GETTING WORSE, IT IS NOT
GETTING BETTER, AND PEOPLE ARE
LEAVING SEATTLE.
WE HAVE DATA TO SHOW THEY ARE
NOT RENEWING THEIR LEASES.
úCLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS DON'T
FEEL SAFE, SO THEY ARE NOT
COMING TO PATRONIZE BUSINESSES
DOWNTOWN AND BUSINESSES ARE
LEAVING.
THE FOLKS I AM REPRESENTING OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES.
TWO, THREE, FIVE PEOPLE
COMPANIES.
COUNSELORS, CHIROPRACTORS,
PIANO MAKERS.
IT IS REALLY THE COMPANIES THAT
MAKE UP THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY,
SO WE ARE REALLY ASKING YOU TO
ADDRESS THE PROLIFIC OFFENDERS.
YOU KNOW A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE
ARE REPEAT PEOPLE COMMITTING
CRIMES.
PLEASE ENFORCE THE LAW AND HOLD
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
>> I HAVE BEEN A PROPERTY OWNER,
A BUSINESS OWNER, LONGTIME
TENANT, GOING BACK TO THE 70s.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE POLICE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
ONE OF THE POINTS A FORMER
SPEAKER MENTIONED IS ABOUT THE
POLICE ISSUE AND THAT IS ONE
THAT I THINK IN RECENT
COMMENTS, NOBODY HAS REALLY
BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE THAT WE
ARE UNDERSTAFFED.
25 YEARS AGO WE WERE
UNDERSTAFFED 50.
NOW I THINK IT IS TWO OR 300,
FOR A CITY OF THIS SIZE AND
WITH THE GROWTH WE HAVE HAD, WE
ARE NOT GOING TO GET A HOLD OF
OUR STREET AGAIN BY JUST
SHIFTING MORE POLICE DOWNTOWN
AND IGNORING THE REST OF THE
CITY.
PLEASE LOOK AT THAT ISSUE.
THE OTHER THING IS THE MENTALLY
ILL.
I HAVE SEEN MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE THAT ARE HANDICAPPED,
THEY ARE ON THE STREET AND THEY
ARE SITTING THERE AND NOT BEING
ATTENDED TO.
SPECIAL NEEDS HAVE TO BE
ADDRESSED AT THE PROBLEM.
THE DRUG ISSUE IS HUGE AND WE
HAVE A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES THAT
FOLLOW FROM THOSE TWO THINGS.
THE MENTALLY ILL, INADEQUATELY
COVERED AND THE DRUG ISSUE.
WE NEED HELP IN A WAY TO REALLY
DEAL WITH THAT IN A HARD WAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT, I WOULD REQUEST THAT
CHIEF BEST JOIN US AT THE TABLE
AND BEFORE I HANDED OVER, I
WANT TO DO A LITTLE CONTEXT
SETTING AS IT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO THE COUNSEL'S
ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.
CONTEXT SETTING THAT FOR THIS
YEAR'S WORKPLAN, I THINK WAS
INITIATED THROUGH LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET PROCESS.
I WILL DO A DEEPER DIVE ON MY
2020 WORKPLAN AT A LATER DATE
AND I ENCOURAGE YOUR INPUT AND
PARTICIPATION TO THAT WORKPLAN,
BUT RIGHT NOW I WILL TALK VERY
BRIEFLY ABOUT THE BUDGET
ACTIONS THIS COUNSEL TOOK LAST
YEAR AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC
SAFETY.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL
JUSTICE WERE AT THE CENTER OF
THE BUDGET WORK THE PREVIOUS
COUNCIL DID IN THE 2020 BUDGET.
THEY MADE ADDITIONS CONSISTENT
WITH AUTHORITY OVER THAT
BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES
APPROVING SPENDING AND
OVERSIGHT, SO SOME OF THE
ACTIONS WILL REQUIRE OR REQUEST
REPORTS.
THAT IS ONE OF THE WAYS WE WORK
WITH THE EXECUTIVE, TO GET
OUTCOMES ON PROGRAMS THAT WE
MAY HAVE ASKED THE EXECUTIVE TO
WORK ON DEVELOPING.
FIRST I WANT TO TOUCH VERY
QUICKLY ON THE ISSUE OF
STAFFING.
IN MY TIME ON THE CITY COUNCIL
WE HAVE INCREASED THE SIZE OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET BY
$100 MILLION OVER ABOUT FOUR
YEARS.
A LOT OF THOSE DOLLARS HAVE
BEEN DEVOTED TO INCREASING THE
SIZE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTIES THAT WE
HAVE HAD IN MEETING OUR HIRING
GOALS, AND ALSO REDUCING OR
ADDRESSING RETENTION AND
REDUCING SEPARATIONS.
A LOT OF THAT MONEY HAS BEEN
SPENT ON OVERTIME, SO WE ARE
STILL GETTING SOME OF THE
INCREASED HOURS ON THE STREET,
BUT WE ARE NOT GETTING AS MANY
OF THE NEW OFFICERS AS WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE.
THERE HAS BEEN STRONG CONSENSUS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT WE DO
NEED TO GROW THE SIZE OF OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO, SOME OF THE BUDGET ACTIONS
THAT COUNSEL REQUESTED IN
NOVEMBER FOR THIS YEAR WILL BE
TO GET AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER
PROGRAM AND ONGOING REPORTS ON
ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER
PROGRAM IS A COUNSEL
INITIATIVE.
TWO YEARS AGO THE COUNCIL
IDENTIFIED FUNDING IN THE
BUDGET TO REESTABLISH THIS
VERY POPULAR PROGRAM THAT
ALLOWS, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
ALLOWS POLICE OFFICERS, SWORN
OFFICERS, TO SPEND MORE TIME ON
CORRECTIVE POLICING.
WE ALSO ARE GOING TO RECEIVE
ONGOING REPORTS FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ON MEETING OUR
STAFFING GOALS, AS IT RELATES
TO OUR PLAN TO ADD 200 OFFICERS
AND THOSE STAFFING REPORTS WILL
INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE GOALS
RELATED TO NEW HIRING, BUT ALSO
OUR GOALS RELATED TO RETENTION.
THE COUNSEL APPROVED FUNDING
RECOMMENDED BY THE MAYOR AND
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
A RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
PLAN AND ASSISTANCE DERIVING
FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS
INCLUDED IN THE FINAL REPORT OF
THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
WORKGROUP, GREAT WORK THAT WAS
DONE LAST YEAR.
OTHER FOCUSES THAT THIS COUNSEL
REALLY DRILL DOWN ON LAST YEAR,
RELATE TO BOTH THE HIGH JAIL
USER INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO
ADDRESS WHAT SOME PEOPLE REFER
TO AS PROLIFIC OFFENDERS.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR FROM THE
MUNICIPAL COURT ON HOW TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES,
SO WE WILL BE RECEIVING A
REPORT -- ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT A
HIGH BARRIER PROBATION PROGRAM.
WE ARE ASKING THAT THE CITY
AUDITOR REVIEW THE PROBATION
PROGRAM.
WELL, YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT
HOW WE ARE DEALING WITH HIGH
UTILIZER'S, PEOPLE CYCLING IN
AND OUT OF JAIL AND I AM
LETTING YOU KNOW THE WORK THAT
IS BEING DONE TO MAKE CHANGES.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE LOOKING
AT ANALYSIS FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR AN IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN FOR WHAT IS CALLED PEACE
CONFERENCING, AGAIN, FOR HIGH
BARRIER INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING
METRICS OF SUCCESS.
LASTLY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
DIVERSION PROGRAMS THE COUNSEL
INVESTED IN.
$3.5 MILLION IN ONGOING FUNDS
FOR LEAD.
A $500,000 FOR YOUTH DIVERSION
AND THEN ANOTHER $1.3 MILLION
FOR ANOTHER SET OF YOUTH
DIVERSION PROGRAMS.
FINALLY WE ARE REQUESTING THE
REPORT ON EXPANDING PREFILING
DIVERSION OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 25.
LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO SHARE
WITH THE FOLKS AT THIS TABLE,
AS WELL AS THE VIEWING PUBLIC
AND THE AUDIENCE, AN UPDATE
FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE
SUSPECTS INVOLVED WITH
WEDNESDAY'S SHOOTING.
TWO OF THE SUSPECTS INVOLVED
HAD NO CRIMINAL CASES REFERRED
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SO THE HIGH UTILIZATION ARE
CASES THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO
THE KING COUNTY, THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE DEALS WITH
MISDEMEANORS, SO TWO OF THE
SUSPECTS HAVE ZERO CASES
REFERRED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
THE THIRD SUSPECT HAD THREE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROPERTY
DESTRUCTION CASES REFERRED IN
2015 AND THEY HAD NO VICTIM
PARTICIPATION, SO THEY WERE NOT
PURSUED.
THERE WAS ONE THEFT CASE, WHERE
THE CITY ATTORNEY PLED, CHARGED
THE SUSPECT AND THE INDIVIDUAL
PLED GUILTY.
THIS IS THE ENTIRETY OF THE
CASES REFERRED AND HANDLED BY
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
INVOLVING THE SUSPECTS.
THERE PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WERE
REFERRED TO OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO
HANDED OVER TO CHIEF BEST.
>> IS THIS ON?
THERE WE GO.
WILL THE SLIDES BE UP FOR US?
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> IF THE GREEN LIGHT IS ON,
YOU SHOULD BE ON, YOU JUST HAVE
TO GET RIGHT UP ON IT.
THERE YOU GO.
>> I WILL TRY TO GET CLOSE SO
PEOPLE CAN HEAR.
LET ME START BY SAYING GOOD
MORNING TO EVERYONE.
THANK YOU CHAIRMAN AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS FOR INVITING ME HERE
TODAY TO TALK TO YOU AT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE ABOUT HOW THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
WORKING TO MAKE SUBSTANTIATIVE
CHANGES TO THE CONDITIONS IN THE
PIKE PINE CORRIDOR.
LET ME START BY SEEING WHAT
HAPPENED LAST WEEK AT THIRD AND
PINE WAS COMPLETELY
UNACCEPTABLE.
I KNOW EACH OF US WAS THINKING
ABOUT THOSE WHO WERE HURT AND
WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT KIND OF
VIOLENCE IN THE CITY AND WE
HAVE TO DO MORE.
THAT IS WHY I AM HERE TODAY TO
DISCUSS THIS.
I WANT TO TELL ALL THE FOLKS I
HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENTS,
WE HEAR YOU, WE HEAR YOUR
CONCERNS AND THEY ARE VERY
VALID.
WE WILL TAKE EVERY EFFORT TO
MAKE SURE WE KEEP THIS CITY
SAFE.
NORA CHAN IN PARTICULAR, WHEN
YOU SAID THE HEART OF OUR CITY
SHOULD BE SAFE AND WELCOMING
FOR ALL, I COULD NOT AGREE WITH
YOU MORE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE
BEING HEARD AND THESE ISSUES
ARE IMPORTANT TO US PERSONALLY
AND PROFESSIONALLY.
BEFORE I GET INTO THE
PRESENTATION, I WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO AGAIN THANK ALL THE
FIRST RESPONDERS, PARTICULARLY
THE OFFICERS OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR
WORK THAT DAY AT THIRD AND PINE
AND THE WORK THEY DO EVERY DAY.
WE ARE ASKING MORE OF THEM THAN
EVER BEFORE AND THEY NEED TO
KNOW THEY ARE BEING SUPPORTED
AND THAT WE SUPPORT THEM.
LAST BUT FINALLY ON THIS ISSUE,
I THINK THE MEDIA FOR
CONTINUING TO PROVIDE PHOTOS OF
THOSE WANTED FUGITIVES WE ARE
LOOKING FOR WHO WERE INVOLVED
IN THE SHOOTING AT THIRD AND
PINE.
I AM GOING TO START WITH A FEW
DATA SLIDES AND THEN I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR CHRIS
FISHER AND COME BACK WITH MORE
INFORMATION.
FIRST I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, AS
I SAID MULTIPLE TIMES,
STATISTICS DON'T MATTER TO THE
PERSON WHO HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF
A CRIME.
WE KNOW THAT, BUT WE DO NEED TO
USE STATISTICS TO PROVIDE
IMPORTANT CONTEXT AND GUIDANCE
ABOUT WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS
OUR EFFORTS AND WHAT WE NEED TO
DO.
IT CAN'T BE A GUESSING GAME.
WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME STATISTICS
TO VALIDATE WHAT WE ARE DOING.
ACROSS THE CITY IN 2019 WE SAW
A 3% DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME.
A 5% DECREASE IN PROPERTY CRIME
AND AN OVERALL 5% DECREASE IN
MAJOR CRIME.
I HAVE HEARD THE STATEMENTS
BEFORE --
>> PLEASE, I NEED -- SILENCE,
PLEASE.
>> PLEASE ALLOW ME TO FINISH.
I WILL TAKE MY TURN AND YOU CAN
TAKE YOURS.
I HAVE HEARD THE STATEMENTS
BEFORE THAT OF COURSE CRIME IS
DOWN, PEOPLE HAVE STOPPED
REPORTING.
>> I WOULD REQUEST THAT THEY'RE
NO LONGER BE ANY DISRUPTION OF
THE CHIEFS PRESENTATION.
>> ONE THING WE KNOW IS THAT
EVERY YEAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY
AND CERTAINLY ACROSS THE CITY,
THAT SOME CRIMES DO GO
UNREPORTED.
WE KNOW THAT.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT CERTAIN
CRIMES, MURDER, BURGLARY AND
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT, DO HAVE
HIGH LEVELS OF REPORTING.
IF YOU WALK OUTSIDE AND YOUR
CAR WAS STOLEN, YOU REPORT IT.
IF SOMEONE BREAKS INTO YOUR
HOME AND START STEALING PROPERTY
AND RIFLING THROUGH YOUR
PERSONAL ITEMS, IT'S REPORTED.
IF SOMEONE IS MURDERED IN THE
STREET, IT GETS REPORTED.
WE KNOW THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY
SCIENTIFICALLY OR RESEARCH-
BASED TO BE TRUE AND WE SAW A
DECREASE IN THOSE CATEGORIES IN
2019.
IN THE WEST PRECINCT
SPECIFICALLY, WE HAD AN
INCREASE OF 3% OF REPORTED
VIOLENT CRIME, MOST OF THAT
ATTRIBUTED TO AGGRAVATED
ASSAULTS AND RAPES.
THE WEST PRECINCT COVERS
PIONEER SQUARE, QUEEN AND AND
DOWNTOWN.
IN DOWNTOWN, THE SMALLEST
REPORTING AREA WE CAN LOOK AT
THAT INCLUDES THE PIKE/PINE
CORRIDOR, WE SAW A 5% DECREASE
IN REPORTS OF VIOLENT CRIME.
THE NUMBERS ARE SMALL, BUT 2019
WAS DOWN COMPARED TO MOST OTHER
MAJOR CRIME CATEGORIES.
I AM GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO
ONE OF MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES
AND MEMBERS OF MY TEAM, DOCTOR
CHRIS FISHER.
HE WILL TAKE US THROUGH A FEW
MORE OF THE DATA POINTS, THEN
WE WILL CONCLUDE WITH WHAT WE
ARE DOING TO ADDRESS THE
CURRENT ISSUES AND CURRENT
STATE OF DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
I WILL BE BRIEF.
WE JUST WANT TO GIVE CONTEXT.
SO THIS IS OUR DASHBOARD.
WE DO A BIWEEKLY MEETING WHERE
WE GO THROUGH THIS WITH ALL OF
OUR COMMANDERS AND FOCUS ON
WHERE WE SEE CRIME TRENDS.
THESE SLIDES, ONCE CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION HAS BEEN REJECTED,
ARE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THE
COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT THE
PUBLIC DASHBOARD.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.
WE CHANGED OUR RECORD
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THIS YEAR AND
ABOUT ISSUES MAKING SURE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE YEAR THAT
EVERYTHING STAYS CONSISTENT
FROM ONE SYSTEM TO THE NEXT.
THAT IS WHY WE DO POST THE
SLIDES PUBLICLY, BUT OUR PLAN
IS TO GET THAT UP SHORTLY.
THE DATA TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING
NONSTOP TO GET THAT UP.
OVERALL, THE WEST PRECINCT, IT
WAS A MIX.
SOME MAJOR CRIMES GOING DOWN.
ROBBERY, BURGLARY, THEFT.
SOME INCREASES.
SEXUAL ASSAULT, AGGRAVATED
ASSAULT AND MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHART ON THE
BOTTOM, THE DARK BLUE IS 2018.
THE LIGHT GRAY LINE IS 2019,
MONTH BY MONTH.
MOST MONTHS OVERALL WERE BELOW
2018.
SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER
WERE ABOVE, BUT GENERALLY THE
PRECINCT AS A WHOLE WAS A
POSITIVE STORY IN TERMS OF
WHERE THE MAJOR CRIME
CATEGORIES WERE GOING,
PARTICULARLY THE DECREASE IN
PROPERTY CRIME AND DECREASES IN
ROBBERY AND HOMICIDE.
FOCUSING SPECIFICALLY ON THE
DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL MICRO
COMMUNITY POLICING PLAN THAT
INCLUDES THE PIKE/PINE CORRIDOR.
WHAT WE SEE IS DECREASES IN
ROBBERY, THEFT AND MOTOR
VEHICLE THEFT.
AGAIN AS THE CHIEF MENTIONED,
OVERALL COMPARED TO A PRECINCT
OR CITY THESE NUMBERS ARE
SMALL.
PERCENTAGE CHANGES ARE LARGE,
BUT WE DID SEE FIVE ADDITIONAL
SEXUAL ASSAULTS, EIGHT
ADDITIONAL AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS
AND 18 MORE BURGLARIES.
MOVING TO GUN VIOLENCE, THIS IS
SHOTS FIRED.
WE TRACK SHOTS FIRED IN THREE
DIFFERENT WAYS.
CRIMINAL DISCHARGE OF A WEAPON,
PROVEN BY EYEWITNESS OR
EVIDENCE, BE IT SHELL CASINGS
OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
THAT IS THE DARK BLUE ON THE
GRAPH.
THE LIGHT GRAY AS NONFATAL
SHOOTINGS, WHERE SOMEONE WAS
HIT BY A BULLET.
AND THE DARK GRAY ON THE END,
THOSE ARE FATAL SHOOTINGS WHERE
SOMEONE WAS KILLED BECAUSE OF
GUNFIRE.
THESE ARE INCIDENTS, NOT THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE HIT.
WHAT WE DO SEE IS WEST
PRECINCT, SHOTS FIRED IN 2019
OVERALL WAS DOWN, WITH NINE
FEWER SHOTS FIRED, TWO
ADDITIONAL NONFATAL SHOOTINGS
AND THE SAME NUMBER OF FATAL
SHOOTINGS, COMPARING 2019 TO
2018.
WE STARTED COLLECTING DATA IN
2012.
EVERY WEEK A DETECTIVE GOES
THROUGH EVERY INCIDENT THAT MAY
INVOLVE A SHOTS FIRED AND
REVIEWS THEM.
THAT IS HOW WE COMPILE THIS.
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR SHOTS
FIRED.
YOU CAN SEE GOING BACK TO 2012,
THE GENERAL TREND FOR SHOTS
FIRED IN THE WEST PRECINCT.
>> IS SHOTS FIRED STILL
DEPENDENT ON SOMEBODY MAKING A
COMPLAINT?
>> GENERALLY, YES.
IF OFFICERS SAW A VEHICLE OR
HOME THAT HAD GUN HOLES IN IT,
IT IS VERY LIKELY THEY WOULD
NOTE THAT AND IT COULD BECOME A
SHOTS FIRED INCIDENT, PROPERTY
DAMAGE FROM A PROACTIVE
DEPLOYMENT OF OFFICERS.
IF THEY FIND SHELL CASINGS AND
NO ONE REPORTED ANYTHING, IT IS
HARD FOR THEM TO KNOW THAT IS A
NEW SHELL CASING.
SOMEONE DIDN'T DROP IT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT GOT
MISSED.
SO FOR RANDOM SHOTS FIRED WITH
NO HARD EVIDENCE OTHER THAN
CASINGS, IT IS PROBABLY NOT,
BUT IF AN EYEWITNESS CALLED AND
SAID I SAW SOMEONE SHOOTING,
EVEN IF WE CAN'T FIND EVIDENCE
THAT WOULD GET COUNTED.
>> I MENTION THIS, BECAUSE I AM
CONCERNED THAT THE SHOTS FIRED
STATS MIGHT REPLICATE SOME OF
THE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE HEARD
ABOUT PROPERTY CRIMES.
A REDUCTION IN COMPLAINTS,
RATHER THAN A REDUCTION IN
SHOTS FIRED.
I KNOW IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT
1, BOTH IN SOUTH DELRIDGE AND
SOUTH PARK, PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE
OF SHOTS FIRED ARE INCREASES,
BUT THE REPORTING DOESN'T ALWAYS
REFLECT THE LEVEL OF INCREASE
PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING DAY
TODAY, BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST
DON'T CALL THEM IN ANYMORE.
>> CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED
THE ACOUSTIC GUNSHOT LOCATOR
SYSTEMS, THEY GENERALLY FIND 50
TO 60% OF SHOTS FIRED ARE
REPORTED.
DEPENDING ON THE CITY.
A LOT OF THAT IS CULTURAL AND
THE VOLUME OF SHOTS FIRED, BUT
THAT IS WITH THE RESEARCH SHOWS
ABOUT REPORTING OF SHOTS FIRED.
THEN FOR DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL,
ON SHOTS FIRED, GENERALLY THE
NUMBERS ARE FAIRLY CONSISTENT
AND SMALL FOR YEAR-TO-YEAR.
NOT A LOT OF VARIATION YEAR-TO-
YEAR.
MOST YEARS ARE 11.
WE HAVE A FEW YEARS WHERE WE
HAD 14, BUT NOT A LOT OF
VARIABILITY IN THE SHOTS FIRED
REPORTING.
YOU DO SEE SOME DIFFERENCE IN
THE DISTRIBUTION OF WHETHER IT
IS JUST SHOTS FIRED OR SOMEONE
HIT.
IN 2019 THERE WERE SIX SHOTS
FIRED, FOR NONFATAL SHOOTINGS
AND ONE FATAL SHOOTING.
AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE SOME
CONTEXT FOR THE DISCUSSION AND
I WILL NOW TURN IT BACK TO
CHIEF BEST TO GO OVER WHAT THE
PLANS ARE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
IN PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THE
PRESENTATION, YOU CAN DO THAT
AND YOU CAN SIGN UP OVER THERE.
>> OKAY, I WILL CONTINUE WITH
MY PRESENTATION.
FIRST, I HAVE DETAILS OF THE
PAST FEW DAYS AND I WANT TO
SUMMARIZE WHERE WE ARE.
WE KNOW WE CAN'T CHANGE THE
ENTIRE AREA OVERNIGHT, NOR CAN
WE RESOLVE THE COMPLEX ISSUES
THAT COME TOGETHER TO LEAD TO
GANG VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS, ADDICTION AND IN
AFFORDABILITY.
BUT WE ARE FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS
AND LAUNCHED SOME NEW THINGS.
FIRST IS THE MOBILE PRECINCT.
WE ARE PUTTING IT AS A BASE
LOCATION WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN
CORRIDOR.
PIKE/PINE IN PARTICULAR.
EITHER IN THE 1500 BLOCK OF
THIRD AVENUE OR AT WEST LINK.
WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING HIGH
VISIBILITY FOOT AND BIKE BEATS
IN THE AREA, INCLUDING BRINGING
DETECTIVES, YOU KNOW ON REGULAR
DUTY TIME, TO PUT ON A UNIFORM
TO BE VISIBLE AND PRESENT IN
THE AREA.
WE HAVE ALSO COMMITTED COMMAND
STAFF, MYSELF INCLUDED, TO BE
IN THE AREA AT LEAST THREE
HOURS PER WEEK, UNIFORMED, SO
HAVE A FULL, VISIBLE PRESENCE
IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
USE THAT INCREASED VISIBILITY
TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SAFER IN
THE AREA.
THE ROTATING NON-911 RESPONDERS
TO AUGMENT RESOURCES, WHICH
MEANS PEOPLE WE ARE PULLING IN
FROM OTHER AREAS ARE FROM THE
ANTICRIME TEAM OR COMMUNITY
POLICE TEAM, WHO ROTATE IN
PERIODICALLY AND UNIFORM TO
HELP WITH THE RESOURCES IN OUR
DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR.
ADDITIONALLY WE ARE MAKING SURE
HIS PEOPLE COME OUT OF THE
ACADEMY, NOT GOING INTO DETAILS
ABOUT STAFFING ISSUES, I THINK
YOU ALL KNOW WE HAVE THEM.
AS THEY COME OUT OF THE ACADEMY
WE WILL DEPLOY MORE RESOURCES
TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THEIR
STAFFING UP TO THEIR AUGMENTED
LEVEL.
THAT SHOULD HELP WITH
DEPLOYMENTS.
WE ARE ALSO FOCUSING THE WORK
OF COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS.
THEY HAVE THREE PRIMARY PRONGS.
YOUTH INTERVENTION, COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND ALSO SYSTEM
NAVIGATORS TO ASSIST US IN
REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE
A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES WHERE WE
CAN REFER THEM TO ASSIST AND WE
WILL REDEPLOY THEM WITH A
PARTICULAR FOCUS DOWNTOWN.
WHEN MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS
COME ON BOARD, WE WILL ASK THEM
TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO OUR
DOWNTOWN AREA, AS WELL.
THE EXPANSION OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENTS HEALTH ONE
RESOURCE, HAVING THAT
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE AVAILABLE
TO HELP MAKE REFERRALS, WE
THINK WILL ALSO BE OF BENEFIT
TO THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR.
THEN WE ARE WORKING WITH
PRIVATE BUILDING SECURITY TO
IDENTIFY PROBLEMS THEY ARE
SEEING, AS WELL.
I HAVE COMMUNICATION WITH THEM,
WITH THE OFFICERS IN THE AREA.
THE INCREASED VISIBILITY IN THE
WESTLAKE AREA IS INTENDED TO
PREVENT CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS
THROUGH DISCOURAGING IT IN THE
FIRST PLACE AND BEING RIGHT
THERE IF SOMEONE IS COMMITTING
A CRIME IN FRONT OF AN OFFICER,
SO WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE AND
QUICK RESPONSE.
AS WE NOTED BEFORE, EXTRA
RESOURCES IN THE AREA ARE NOT
NEW.
EXCUSE ME.
BUT A LOT OF TIME THOSE
RESOURCES HAVE NOT BEEN
UNIFORMED AND NOT BEEN VISIBLE
OFFICERS.
THE DAY WE HAD THE MASS ATTACK
IN DOWNTOWN, WE WERE DOING A
BUY BUST IN THE AREA, TRYING TO
TAKE A DRUG DEALER INTO
CUSTODY.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES
WE ARE DEPLOYING THAT ARE NOT
ALWAYS AS VISIBLE AS OUR HIGH
VISIBILITY PRESENCE.
WE ARE WORKING ON THESE
PROLIFIC DEALERS IN THE
DOWNTOWN CORE.
THE SUCCESS OF THIS EFFORT WILL
BE IN THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS.
OF COURSE IF WE SEE SIGNIFICANT
PERSISTENT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR WE
WILL ARREST PEOPLE AND WE DO
ARREST PEOPLE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
PROSECUTORS TO APPROPRIATELY
HOLD THOSE INDIVIDUALS
ACCOUNTABLE.
AGAIN, IF SOMEONE NEEDS
SERVICES AND ARE NOT
VICTIMIZING OTHERS, THERE IS
ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIVERT
THEM AND RESOURCES THEY NEED
THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE
OFFICERS AND MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS THAT WILL BE IN THE
AREA.
WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTIGATIONS
AND INTERVENTION IT IS IMPORTANT
TO THINK ABOUT THREE VERY REAL
CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING IN
THIS AREA.
REALLY THE WHOLE CITY AND IN
SOME CASES THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
IT IS A COMBINATION OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS, PEOPLE
LIVING IN SHELTERED AND
OUTSIDE.
THE NARCOTICS TRADE THAT PEOPLE
ARE SO WORRIED ABOUT.
ADDITIONALLY, GANG AND GUN
VIOLENCE.
EACH AREA BRINGS UNIQUE ISSUES
THAT MAKE PEOPLE FEEL UNSAFE
AND ACTUALLY MAKE PEOPLE
UNSAFE.
THEY EACH NEED A SPECIFIC TYPE
OF RESPONSE.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING TO
ARREST MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN
THE RECENT SPATE OF SHOOTINGS
WE'VE HAD.
WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL ARRESTS
SHARED VIA THE MEDIA AND ARE
CLOSE TO MAKING EVEN MORE.
GETTING DANGEROUS INDIVIDUALS
OFF THE STREET IMMEDIATELY
MAKES EVERYONE SAFER.
THE CITY AND THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ARE WORKING WITH
TRUSTED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
TO DEVELOP YOUTH AND GANG
VIOLENCE INTERVENTION EFFORTS.
IN ADDITION TO THE RECENTLY
RELEASED REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS
YOU'VE SEEN FROM OUR HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE MAYOR HAS PULLED TOGETHER
TEAMS FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE AND OTHERS TO FOCUS ON
THE MOST SIGNIFICANTLY VIOLENT
AND CRIMINAL ACTORS.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT, WE ARE WORKING ON
A HOST OF ISSUES THERE.
WE NEED TO DO THIS, WE KNOW IT
HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE.
AS SOMEONE MENTIONED IN PUBLIC
COMMENT, IT NEEDS TO BE
SUSTAINABLE.
WE NEED A WAY TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE KEEPING EFFORTS FOCUSED AND
LONG-TERM AND WE ARE WORKING
WITH PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THOSE
CONDITIONS THAT RESEARCH HAS
SHOWN CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTS THAT
ATTRACT AND SUPPORT CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR.
FIRST WE HAVE A COORDINATED
EFFORT AROUND THIRD AVENUE AND
PIKE/PINE FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
WE HAVE DONE CRIME PREVENTION.
WE WANT TO ACTIVATE THE SPACES
DOWN THERE, SO PEOPLE SEE A
VISIBLE PRESENCE.
NOT ONLY POLICE OFFICERS, BUT
OTHER PERSONNEL WHO CAN ASSIST
IN THIS.
AS WELL WE ARE WORKING WITH
METRO AND SOUND TRANSIT
RELATING TO ISSUES AROUND THE
BUS STOPS AND TUNNEL ENTRANCES
THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
ADDITIONALLY WE ARE WORKING
WITH BUSINESS LEADERS, MANY OF
WHOM ARE HERE TODAY.
WE ARE ENGAGING THEM AS
STAKEHOLDERS IN THE OUTCOME,
WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND
WE'RE MEETING WITH THEM
ROUTINELY.
TALKING WITH BUSINESS OWNERS TO
TRY TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS
TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT
THEY ARE SEEING.
I AM GOING TO CLOSE BY SAYING
THAT I CONFIRM THIS CANNOT BE A
FLASH IN THE PAN RESPONSE.
WE ARE USING RESOURCES THAT
WILL NOT DRAW OFF OF 911
RESPONDERS IN OTHER AREAS OF
THE CITY.
WE HAVE TO USE THIS APPROACH TO
GET US THROUGH THE NEAR TERM
AND WE ARE ASSESSING OTHER
OPTIONS THAT CAN ALLOW AN
EFFORT LIKE THIS TO BE
MAINTAINED WELL INTO THE
FUTURE, WHEN ISSUES OF BEEN
FULLY ADDRESSED.
AGAIN, SUSTAINABILITY IS KEY,
MAKING SURE WE HAVE LONG-TERM
RESULTS SO WE ARE NOT SITTING
AT THIS TABLE IN THE FUTURE,
TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR
DECADES.
WE WILL ADDRESS AS MUCH OF THIS
WORK WITH REGULAR TIME AND
RESOURCES AS WE CAN, BUT THERE
WILL BE OVERTIME EXPENDITURES
AS WELL.
WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WITH ON-
DUTY RESOURCES, BUT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.
AGAIN, PUTTING DETECTIVES IN
THE FIELD TO ASSIST WITH HIGH
VISIBILITY SUPPORT.
WE WILL ALSO BE SUPPORTING
INVESTIGATIVE WORK AND IT WILL
REQUIRE SOME OVERTIME SPENDING,
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ADDRESSING THE NARCOTICS ISSUES
THAT ARE CURRENT IN TOWN AND
WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR CITY
PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE
ACCOUNTABILITY IN THIS AREA.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF BEST.
I WANT TO ASK, PARTICULARLY A
COUNCIL MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS
DISTRICT 7 AND DOWNTOWN,
WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR THE
CHIEF BEFORE SHE LEFT?
>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST, CHIEF BEST, I WANT TO
SAY HOW GREATLY APPRECIATIVE I
AM FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OVER THE
LAST WEEK.
AS SOMEONE WHO PERSONALLY HAS A
PO BOX AT THIRD AND UNION, WHO
WALKS THAT CORRIDOR ON A NEAR
DAILY BASIS.
WHO COULD HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN
IN THAT CORRIDOR ON ANY GIVEN
WEEK DAY AT 5:00 P.M.
I FEEL THIS VERY ACUTELY AND
SHARE THE FRUSTRATION OF MY
NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS
IN THAT CORRIDOR.
I DO WANT TO START BY
RECOGNIZING THE WORK THAT FIRST
RESPONDERS DID.
I REALLY APPRECIATE POLICE WERE
ABLE TO BE ON THE SAME WITHIN
15 SECONDS.
THE LIFE-SAVING MEASURES
APPLIED TO THE VICTIMS OF THIS
TRAGEDY UNDOUBTEDLY PREVENTED
FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE.
THE QUICK WORK OF POLICE IN
IDENTIFYING THREE SUSPECTS AND
QUICKLY REMANDING ONE OF THEM
INTO CUSTODY.
I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT
THE PROFESSIONALISM AND GREAT
WORK OF NOT ONLY THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, EMTS, NURSES.
ACTUALLY, THE METRO DRIVERS.
THANK YOU AS WELL FOR THE WORK
THAT METRO DRIVERS DID IN
QUICKLY REROUTING AND
COOPERATING WITH THE
INVESTIGATION.
SO I JUST WANT TO PREFACE MY
QUESTIONS WITH THAT GRATITUDE.
AND IT HAS BEEN GOOD TO GET
INFORMATION AND BRIEFINGS OVER
THE COURSE OF THE LAST WEEK
FROM YOU AND THE DEPARTMENT.
EVERYONE HAS BEEN PROFESSIONAL
AND COORDINATION HAS BEEN CLOSE.
THIS PRESENTATION, I NOTICED IT
WASN'T KIND OF LOADED INTO OUR
PRESENTATION MATERIALS.
CHRIS, IF YOU COULD SEND THAT
TO MY OFFICE I WOULD LIKE TO
SEND AN UPDATE TO MY DISTRICT
TO LET FOLKS KNOW, ESPECIALLY
THE IMMEDIATE NEXT STEPS THAT
THE DEPARTMENT IS TAKING IN THE
CORRIDOR.
ONE OTHER AREA THAT I WANTED TO
FLAG THAT STOOD OUT FOR ME AND
I THINK IT IS AN AREA WHERE MY
OFFICE WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON
POSSIBLE STRATEGIES OR
RESOURCES, IS THAT AT LEAST TWO
OF THE SUSPECTS, MAYBE ALL
THREE OF THE SUSPECTS, HAD
ACTIVE WARRANTS AT THE TIME
THEY WERE AT THE CORNER ON
THIRD AND PINE.
I KNOW THERE IS AN ACTIVE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TEAM
THAT OPERATES OUT OF THE
PRECINCT TO GO AND FIND AND
REMAND FOLKS ON A DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS WENT BACK INTO
CUSTODY AND I WONDER IF THERE
IS A WAY THAT WE CAN ENHANCE
THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THAT
TEAM AND THE DEPARTMENT EVEN
FURTHER TO BE MORE EFFICIENT
AND EFFECTIVE AT FINDING FOLKS
IN THE CORRIDOR WITH ACTIVE
WARRANTS, PARTICULARLY VIOLENT
FELONIES, WHERE A SUPERIOR
COURT JUDGE HAS ORDERED THEY BE
REMANDED BACK BECAUSE THEY WANT
TO COMPEL THEIR APPEARANCE FOR
A HEARING OR A TRIAL OR
WHATEVER ACTION IN COURT THEY
ARE ON A WARRANT STATUS FOUR.
I THINK GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE AND
KNOWING WARRANTS ARE TYPICALLY
ISSUED WITH ALL THE TYPICAL
INFORMATION AND THE PHOTOGRAPH,
THAT THAT COULD BE AN AREA OF
COOPERATION THAT COULD GET
FOLKS WHO POSE POTENTIAL HARM
IN THE CORRIDOR BACK INTO
SUPERIOR COURT QUICKLY.
I JUST WONDERED IF YOU COULD
SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT
POTENTIALLY HERE AND WAYS WE
MIGHT WORK TOGETHER ON
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD TEAM
THAT GOES OUT EVERY DAY AND
THEY HAVE MADE ARRESTS FOR
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE
DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR WHO HAVE
WARRANTS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU IN ANY WAY WE CAN ENHANCE
THAT TEAM AND THOSE EFFORTS TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING THAT
INFORMATION, BUT THEY DO A LOT
OF WORK IN THE AREA ALREADY.
THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING
IN THE WORK THEY ARE DOING.
WE ARE OPEN TO INCREASING THAT
EFFORT ANYWAY WE CAN AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T WANT TO STOP FOLKS
FROM ASKING QUESTIONS THEY MAY
HAVE, BUT I ALSO WANT TO BE
RESPECTFUL OF HER TIME.
SHE CAME WITH A VERY SHORT
NOTICE ON MY BEHALF AND I KNOW
SHE HAS ANOTHER PRESSING
APPOINTMENT.
>> I THINK WE HAVE LIKE 10 MORE
MINUTES BEFORE WE NEED TO HEAD
OUT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF BEST, FOR
BEING HERE TODAY AND THANKS
EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR
COMING AND SHARING YOUR
FRUSTRATION.
ONE THING I DIDN'T SEE IN THE
PRESENTATION, I AM GLAD CHAIR
HERBOLD SAID WE WOULD TALK
ABOUT IT IN THE FUTURE, BUT THE
ISSUE OF POLICE STAFFING.
TALKING TO MY RESIDENCE IN THE
PAST YEAR, ONE OF THE KEY
THEMES IS WE NEED MORE POLICE
OFFICERS AND I AGREE WITH THAT.
LOOKING BACK AT THE STATISTICS,
BACK IN 2014, WHEN I WAS A
LEGISLATIVE AIDE, WE HAD ABOUT
1355 OFFICERS AND FIVE YEARS
LATER WE JUST HAVE 58 MORE
OFFICERS, SO THAT IS ONLY 11
NEW OFFICERS EACH YEAR.
SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT
AND I KNOW THERE WAS A REPORT
DONE IN 2016 CALLING FOR 175
MORE OFFICERS.
I WANT TO SAY I WANT TO BE
SUPPORTIVE OF HOW TO HELP
RETAIN YOUR OFFICERS.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT A GREAT
JOB THEY DID IN THIS TRAGEDY,
SO WE WANT MORE OF THEM.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN THERE
IS A CRISIS, THAT OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE STILL FULLY
STAFF.
EVERYBODY DESERVES TO FEEL
SAFE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE
IN OUR CITY.
WE WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF
THAT AND PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY
OFFICE IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT.
STAFFING IS ONE OF OUR MOST
CRITICAL ISSUES.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE PUT TOGETHER
A TEAM TO HELP US WORK NOT ONLY
ON HIRING AND RECRUITING, BUT
RETENTION AS WELL OF OFFICERS.
WE ARE ON AN UPWARD TREND, BUT
WE COULD DEFINITELY USE MORE
STAFFING.
THE END OF THE YEAR, 16 MORE
THAN WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH.
WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL ACADEMY
CLASS.
WE DO IMMEDIATE HIRING, SO THE
MINUTE WE HAVE PEOPLE HIRED WE
ARE BRINGING THEM ON.
THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR'S OFFICE
APPROVED A LATERAL BONUS
INCENTIVE, AS WELL AS A NEW
RECRUIT INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE
WHO COME ONTO THE ORGANIZATION.
SO WE ARE WORKING ON A LOT OF
FRONTS, AGAIN, MAKING SURE WE
SUPPORT THE OFFICERS AND THAT
THEY KNOW THAT WE SUPPORT THEM
FULLY.
IT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PIECE
OF THIS AS WELL, BUT THERE IS
NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE
HIRING, RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION OF MEN AND WOMEN ON
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND
FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS TO HELP US
IN THAT EFFORT.
>> AGAIN, IN ANOTHER COUPLE OF
WEEKS WE WILL BE ASKING YOU TO
GIVE US A REPORT ON THE 2019
GOALS, VERSUS WHAT WAS
ACHIEVED.
WE HAVE SLIGHTLY EXCEEDED OUR
GOALS, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY.
IF YOU WANT A COPY OF THAT
REPORT, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT
FOR MY COMMITTEE MEETING IN A
COUPLE OF WEEKS.
FEEL FREE TO EMAIL MY OFFICE
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND
YOU THAT REPORT.
IN ADDITION, I WOULD LOVE TO
SHARE WITH YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN AND ANYONE ELSE
INTERESTED, THE RECOMMENDATIONS
COMING OUT OF THE RECRUITMENT
AND RETENTION REPORT AND THESE
ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SPD IS
WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING THIS
YEAR, ALONG WITH THE BONUS
PROGRAM THAT YOU MENTIONED.
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
I FORGOT TO DO SO.
>> ONE ADDITIONAL THING I
FORGOT TO MENTION IS WE ARE
WORKING ON WELLNESS ISSUES.
WE HAD A RECENT PRESENTATION
FOR OFFICER WELLNESS.
I THINK NONE OF YOU ARE NOT
AWARE THAT NATIONALLY THERE HAS
BEEN A TREND IN OFFICER
SUICIDES AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE
SURE OFFICERS ARE HEALTHY AND
WELL IN THEIR CURRENT
ENVIRONMENT, SO THAT IS ANOTHER
ISSUE THAT WILL BE COMING ON
BOARD AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TODAY AND SHARING YOUR
INFORMATION.
AS MANY FOLKS AS STATED, THIS IS
A LONG-STANDING ISSUE.
DOWNTOWN AT THESE PARTICULAR
INTERSECTIONS HAVE HAD ISSUES
FOR DECADES AND AS YOU
MENTIONED, THERE ARE
INTERSECTING ISSUES CAUSING
THESE CHALLENGES.
YOU MENTIONED BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH, NARCOTICS,
HOMELESSNESS, GANG VIOLENCE.
WHILE WE KNOW EACH OF THESE MAY
REQUIRE SPECIFIC RESPONSES,
DEPENDING ON PARTICULAR ISSUES,
I WONDER IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT
THE DOZENS OF INITIATIVES WE
HAVE.
WE HAVE A YOUTH VIOLENCE
PREVENTION INITIATIVE.
WE HAVE THE LEAD PROGRAM.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT WORK GROUPS
THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND IT SEEMS TO ME
THAT IF WE WERE MORE STRATEGIC
THINKING ABOUT OUR OUTCOMES AND
DID A BETTER JOB OF
COORDINATING SOME OF THESE,
THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MOVE
THE BALL FORWARD AND MAKE SOME
REAL CHANGES IN THE KINDS OF
INTERACTIONS HAPPENING ON THE
STREET.
I WONDER IF YOU COULD JUST TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF
THOSE INITIATIVES AND IF THERE
IS A WAY WE COULD START TO
COORDINATE THOSE BETTER.
I KNOW AT THE STATE LEVEL RIGHT
NOW THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT A
NEW COORDINATED BODY FOR
FIREARM SAFETY, FOR EXAMPLE, TO
REALLY START COLLECTING DATA IN
A WAY THAT IS TARGETED AND
STRATEGIC AND HELPS US START TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT INTERVENTIONS
WE NEED, BUT AS YOU MENTIONED
THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER
CHALLENGES, TOO.
SO I BELIEVE THAT OPEN FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER, I
COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
WE DO NEED TO HAVE A
COORDINATED EFFORT AND
RESPONSE.
THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
ANSWER TO THE THINGS WE ARE
SEEING IN THE STREETS AND SOME
OF THE BEHAVIORAL CRISIS ISSUES
IN PARTICULAR.
ONE THING WE PLAN TO DO IN
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS COME
ON BOARD IS IN THEIR ROLE AS
SYSTEM NAVIGATORS, TO MAKE SURE
THEY ARE NOT LOOKING AT A SILO.
THEY ARE WORKING WITH HEALTH
ONE, WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS,
WORKING WITH ALL OF THE
PROVIDERS THAT THE HUMAN
SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS BROUGHT
ON AS WELL.
AND ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF THE
PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESSES ARE
BRINGING IN SOCIAL WORKERS FOR
THEIR BUSINESSES, TOO.
NONE OF THIS CAN BE DONE IN A
VACUUM.
IT WILL TAKE A COORDINATED
EFFORT.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
SHARING INFORMATION AND
REFERRALS, THAT WILL ONLY MAKE
DOWNTOWN OR ANYPLACE IN THE
CITY FOR THAT MATTER BETTER AND
SAFER FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING
THE PEOPLE WE ARE ENGAGING WHO
REALLY COULD USE THOSE SERVICES
TO HELP THEM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I HAD ONE MORE NOTE, AND I
DIDN'T WANT TO BE REMISS AND
FORGET THIS.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN CONVENING A
WORKGROUP WITH PUBLIC HEALTH, A
LOT OF SERVICES PROVIDERS THERE.
WE FOCUS ON INTERVENTION AND
PREVENTION FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AND YOUTH VIOLENCE.
I THINK AGAIN, COMING TOGETHER
AND LOOKING AT THESE THINGS
HOLISTICALLY AND NOT IN SILOS
WILL HELP US DOWN THE LINE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AGAIN I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU
ARE GIVING THIS COMMITTEE AND
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON SHORT
NOTICE AND MY MANY THANKS AND
GRATITUDE FOR THE FIRST
RESPONDERS IN YOUR DEPARTMENT
AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THEY
PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE
EVERY DAY AND I APPRECIATE
THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS
COUNSEL AND MOVING FORWARD OUR
GOALS OF SAFER COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW WE WILL RETURN TO PUBLIC
COMMENT, BUT I STILL NEED TO
MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE
AGENDA TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC
COMMENT BEYOND 20 MINUTES.
IF THAT IS OKAY WITH FOLKS, I
WILL SO MOVE.
>> SECOND.
>> NONE OPPOSED, THE MOTION
PASSES AND THE AGENDA IS
AMENDED.
WE WILL HAVE JENNIFER, FOLLOWED
BY CARL HAGLUND.
AGAIN, IF FOLKS COULD TAKE THE
MICROPHONE TO AT A TIME OR AT
LEAST LINEUP, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
AND I AM SORRY, I DID WANT TO
MAKE ONE EXTRA CLARIFICATION.
BECAUSE OF THE OTHER ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA, I WOULD ASK THAT
YOU TRY TO KEEP REMARKS TO ONE
MINUTE FOR THE SECOND STAGE OF
PUBLIC COMMENT.
JUST DO YOUR BEST.
I WILL NOT BE REAL STRICT.
>> THANKS.
FOR YEARS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND
CITIZENS WHO LIVE, WORK AND
SHOP IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE HAVE
BEEN PLEADING WITH CITY
OFFICIALS TO PUT AN END TO THE
LAWLESSNESS OCCURRING.
EACH TIME WE HEAR YOU ARE
WORKING ON IT, YOU'RE DRAFTING
A ROBUST RESPONSE AND THIS
BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE AND
WON'T BE ALLOWED.
THAT IS UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT
HAPPENS.
ENOUGH LIPSERVICE.
STOP TALKING AND START ACTING.
LET'S TALK ABOUT REPEAT
OFFENDERS.
YOU ALL HAVE DEVELOPED THE
PROTOCOL.
YOU LEGALIZED NARCOTICS.
A PERSON CAN'T WITH SEVEN GRAMS
OR UNDER OF HEROIN IS NO LONGER
A LAWBREAKER.
PROSTITUTION IS LEGAL.
LITTERING IS LEGAL.
DEFECATING IN PUBLIC IS LEGAL.
DRINKING IN PUBLIC IS LEGAL AND
IT APPEARS BY ALL ACCOUNTS, YOU
HAVE MADE DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS
LEGAL OR MAYBE YOU'RE JUST
RENAMING CRIMES SO WE DON'T
LOOK SO BAD.
A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING IS NOW
CALLED AN ILLEGAL DISCHARGE OF
A FIREARM?
THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR
CRIME.
IT WILL LEAD TO CONSTANT
LAWLESSNESS.
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, KING
COUNTY COUNCIL, ALL MUST
MANDATE LAWN ORDER BE RESTORED.
NO DIVERSION PROGRAMS, THEY ARE
NOT WORKING.
WE NEED MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT,
PLEASE.
INSTEAD OF UTILIZING EXTRA SPACE
AT THE KING COUNTY JAIL FOR THE
HOMELESS, IT SHOULD'VE BEEN
LEFT A JAIL WITH TRUE
WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
CAN YOU ALL SEE THE SUFFERING
ASSOCIATED WITH LAWLESSNESS?
THIS IS NOT COMPASSION.
LASTLY, SINCE THEY SEEM TO BE
IN HIDING, I AM CALLING OUT --
THEY NEED TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC
AND SOON.
THEY MUST PROSECUTE LAWBREAKERS
TO THE FULLEST.
STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS MUST BE
FOLLOWED.
THE MORE RAPIDLY THEY MOVED TO
DO THIS, THE MORE THEY WILL
RESTORE THE TRUST OF THE
PEOPLE.
AND PLEASE, PLEASE LISA, GET
READY TO NEGOTIATE THE 2021
CONTRACT AND BE FAIR AND HONEST
IN YOUR NEGOTIATIONS.
WE HAVE OUTSTANDING OFFICERS
WHO SERVE AND PROTECT US DAILY.
THEY DESERVE RESPECT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE MORE THING.
IN CLOSING, I USED TO TELL MY
KIDS NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS AFTER
MIDNIGHT IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
NOW IT IS DAY OR NIGHT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> CARL HAGLUND, TIME FOR ME.
GOOD MORNING GUYS, I AM A
LITTLE NERVOUS.
I DON'T TYPICALLY SPEAK IN
PUBLIC.
IT WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MY TENANT
GETTING HIT IN THE FACE OR
SOMEONE PRACTICING SHOOTING MY
TENANTS COMING OUT OF THE
BUILDING.
OR THE WOMAN WITH THE NINE
MILLIMETER WHO THREATENED MY
CONSTRUCTION TEAM.
BUT I AM GOING TO SPEAK WITH
THE TRAGEDY OF THESE THREE
SHOOTERS, HOPELESSLY TRAPPED IN
THEIR ADDICTIONS.
ARRESTED 50 TIMES AND YOU KEPT
LETTING THEM GO.
25 TIMES AND THEY LET THEM GO.
THE THIRD SHOOTER, ADMONISHED
BY FOUR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES
BECAUSE THEY KEPT CARRYING A
GUN.
THESE PEOPLE ARE TRAPPED IN
THEIR ADDICTIONS AND THE
CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE IS
NOT ABOUT THE 1%.
WE HAVE A LARGE IN-HOUSE
CONSTRUCTION REMODELING TEAM,
CREATING GOOD HOUSING SINCE
1992.
THAT IS THE CONVERSATION ABOUT
THE 1%.
IT NEEDS TO BE ABOUT THE 1% OF
THE 1%.
THE HUNDRED PEOPLE TRAPPED ON
OUR STREETS AND WE ARE PLAYING
CATCH AND RELEASE AS IF IT IS A
BASS FISHING CONTEST.
THAT NEEDS TO STOP AND WE NEED
TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.
>> I AM LOU BOND, MANAGER OF
THE NORWALK TOWER.
I HAVE BEEN THERE 33 YEARS.
WE ARE RIGHT AT THIRD AND PIKE.
WE REPRESENT 30 SOME SMALL
BUSINESSES AND THE WALGREENS IN
OUR CORNER.
HOW MANY MORE MUST DIE?
HOW MANY MORE MUST BE HURT?
IT IS TERRIBLE.
WHAT I DIDN'T NOTICE IN THE
STATS WERE STABBINGS.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AROUND US
THAT ARE THREATENED BY KNIVES.
WE HAD SOMEONE ACROSS THE
STREET IN FRONT OF THE THAI
RESTAURANT ON PIKE STREET, WHO
WAS MURDERED.
STABBED.
THAT DIDN'T SHOW UP.
THAT WAS THE DAY BEFORE.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
HERE IS THE PROBLEM.
WE DON'T SAY NO TO BAD BEHAVIOR.
WE HAVE TO AS A CULTURE, AS A
COMMUNITY, SAY NO TO BAD
BEHAVIOR.
PEOPLE THAT ARE ADDICTED TO
DRUGS, WE NEED TO TAKE THEM OFF
THE STREETS.
THIS IS A FAILED EXPERIMENT,
TRYING TO DEAL WITH DRUG
ADDICTION ON THE STREETS.
MENTAL ILLNESS ON THE STREETS.
IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.
IT IS ALL OF OUR FAULT.
WE HAVE TO STAND TOGETHER.
WE HAVE TO PUT RESOURCES
TOGETHER AND SAY WE ARE TAKING
DRUG ADDICTION OFF THE STREET.
WE HAVE TO GET BEHIND THIS.
MENTAL ILLNESS, WE HAVE TO GET
THEM OFF THE STREET.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THESE TO
CONTINUE TO PERSIST ON THE
STREETS.
IT IS NOT A FOR PEOPLE TO SLEEP
IN OUR ALLEYS.
>> THANK YOU, MISTER BOND.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING NOW.
IT IS NOT OKAY.
>> -- FOLLOWED BY REBECCA,
LET'S SEE -- GO AHEAD, AMY.
>> MY NAME IS AMY DARLING.
I WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE IN
A MEDICAL DENTAL BUILDING AND I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE AMOUNT
OF FEAR AND FRUSTRATION THAT I
HEAR IN THIS ROOM.
THE THING THAT IS REMARKABLE IS
WE ARE TUNED INTO THE FIGHT OR
FLIGHT MECHANISM IN OUR HEARTS.
IT SEVERS OUR CAPACITY TO BE
EMPATHIC, SO THERE IS A HUGE
DIVIDE BECAUSE WE CAN'T HEAR
EACH OTHER.
MY ENCOURAGEMENT IS WE TRY TO
FEEL OUR FEET ON THE GROUND AND
TRY TO HEAR EACH OTHER.
ALLOW THE PERSON IN FRONT OF
THEMICROPHONE TO SPEAK.
I WAS IN MY CLINIC WHEN THE
SHOOTING HAPPENED ON WEDNESDAY
AND I WALKED DOWN THIRD AND
PINE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THERE IS A VERY PREDOMINANTLY
WHITE DEMOGRAPHIC IN THIS ROOM
RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE ACCUSTOMED
TO FEELING SAFE AND SECURE AND
THAT IS A PRIVILEGE.
UNFORTUNATELY NOT HELD BY ALL
PEOPLE IN THIS CITY AND THIS
COUNTRY.
MY CONCERN ACTUALLY ARRIVING IN
THIS ROOM TODAY IS TO REALLY
ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL, AS
YOU ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS
REGARDING THE CONTRACT.
THE CONCERNS I HEAR EXPRESSED
TODAY ARE ABOUT IMPUNITY.
IMPUNITY FOR PEOPLE HARMING
OTHER PEOPLE AND NOT BEING HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
AS YOU BRING YOUR EYES TO THE
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, MY DESIRE
IS NOT THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES
AND THE TRAGEDIES OF THIS WORK
WEEK BE UTILIZED FOR A HEAVY
HAMMER AND STAMP IN THE
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, BUT
INSTEAD, LIKE WITH SPELL CHECK
AND ANTIQUATED, BEFORE OUR
DEVICES DID IT ALL FOR US, TO
BRING YOUR EYES WITH IMPUNITY
TO THE CONTRACT.
IT WILL NOT BE HIGHLIGHTED IN
BOLD.
IT IS GOING TO BE LIMITED AND
EMBEDDED IN ALL PARTS OF THE
CONTRACT.
PLEASE, VALUE ALL LIVES.
OUR BLACK AND BROWN BROTHERS
AND SISTERS, THAT THEY RECEIVE
CARE AND RESPECT IN THE SAME
WAY EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS ROOM
DESERVES.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER, WHOSE NAME
IS REBECCA.
AND I THINK IT IS -- IS THERE
ANY REBECCA HERE?
>> I HAVE TO GO RUN MY BUSINESS,
SO I WILL TAKE REBECCA'S
POSITION BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
SITTING HERE TOO LONG DAY
>> I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO CALL
THE NEXT PERSON.
>> I KNOW, LET ME FINISH.
I WILL MAKE IT EASY BECAUSE I
HAVE TO GO RUN MY BUSINESS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
>> SIR, WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
>> MY NAME IS -- AND I OWN
CHERRY STREET COFFEEHOUSE.
>> YOU ARE NOT SIGNED UP AT
ALL?
>> I AM, YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK
HARDER.
FIRST, I WANT TO GIVE MY LOVE
AND RESPECT ALL OF YOU THAT YOU
TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR
THE CITY.
I GIVE MY LOVE AND RESPECT TO
POLICE AND FIRE, BUT I GIVE MY
LOVE AND RESPECT AND GRATITUDE
FOR ALL OF YOU WHO MAKE OUR
COMMUNITY A COMMUNITY, RATHER
THAN JUST KEEP CLAPPING FOR
POLICE AND FIRE.
I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE
LAST 30 YEARS.
NOT FOUR YEARS OR EIGHT YEARS,
I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 30 YEARS.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD
APPRECIATE US AND GIVE US THE
RESPECT WE DESERVE.
I THINK WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
SOUNDS NAIVE.
I THINK THE SENSE OF URGENCY IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT.
WE HEARD THIS BEFORE.
THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD A
HOSPITAL AND WE NEED TO START
TO THINK LIKE THAT.
PUTTING MORE OFFICERS, THAT
THEY ARE GOING TO GET MENTALLY
ILL PEOPLE BACK TO JAIL, THAT
WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT.
YOU NEED TO BUILD INSTITUTIONS
THAT TAKE CARE OF THE MENTALLY
ILL PEOPLE AND DRUG USERS.
I THINK THAT IS URGENT TO DO.
PLEASE ELEVATE THE SENSE OF
URGENCY, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT
WE NEED, THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE JEAN DORSETT, NEXT
SIGNED UP.
IS THERE A GENE IN THE ROOM?
JEAN DORSETT?
ALL RIGHT, THEN WE WILL MOVE ON
TO HOWARD GAIL.
>> HI, CAN PEOPLE HERE?
I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT ITEM 7,
THE UPCOMING CONTRACT.
AND I WILL MAKE THIS BRIEF.
RIGHT NOW WHAT HAPPENS IN
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS IS A
COMPLETE BLACK BOX AND THE ONLY
WAY TO PIERCE THAT AND REALLY
UNDERSTAND HOW WE LOSE
ACCOUNTABILITY IS TO HAVE
SOMEONE ON THE NEGOTIATING
COMMITTEE.
I AM A LITTLE HORRIFIED THAT
WHAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT
TODAY, THE RESOLUTION IS A
RECAPITULATION OF WHAT IS
ALREADY SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
YOU GUYS ONLY HAVE TWO MEETINGS
BEFORE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
BEGIN, SO THERE IS A REAL SENSE
OF URGENCY.
I WILL LEAVE IT THERE.
I DID EMAIL EVERYONE ON THE
COMMITTEE THIS NOTE AND I HOPE
IT IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
FINALLY I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS.
I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S CONCERNS.
I AM ALSO LOOKING AROUND.
I GO TO LOBBY DAYS FOR MENTAL
HEALTH.
WE ARE NUMBER 50 FOR PROVIDING
MENTAL HEALTH IN THIS COUNTRY,
THIS STATE.
OKAY.
THE QUESTION IS, I DON'T
RECOGNIZE ANY FACES HERE.
WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING IN THE
MAYHEM AND CHAOS DOWNTOWN IS
THE OUTCOME.
SO WE CAN'T BE ANGRY AT AN
OUTCOME WHEN WE HAVE NOT BEEN
PAYING ATTENTION.
OKAY.
UNLESS YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF
PEOPLE.
I HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE HERE, IF
YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS.
IF YOU ONLY WANT TO JAIL
PEOPLE, I DON'T WANT TO SEE
YOU.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO HELP PEOPLE, THEN
COME --
>> PAUL, FOLLOWED BY GREG
SMITH.
>> MY NAME IS POLLY AND TODAY I
AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
UPCOMING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
BETWEEN THE POLICE UNION AND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE UNION CONTRACT IS PUBLIC
ENEMY NUMBER ONE IN REGARDS TO
UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICING.
THE REASON A SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICER CAN PUNCH AN UNARMED
AND HANDCUFFED WOMAN IN THE FACE
AND STILL NOT GET FIRED, THAT'S
BECAUSE OF THE UNION CONTRACT.
HOW DO WE GET HERE?
THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE HELD IN
SECRET IN THE PROCESS IS
DELIBERATELY WRAPPED IN
CONFUSION.
THERE IS THE LABOR RELATIONS
POLICY COMMITTEE, HOWEVER THEY
ARE NOT A VEHICLE FOR POLICE
REFORM, BUT ACTUALLY ARE USED
TO UNDERMINE REFORM.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALE IS, YOUR
MEMBERSHIP IS DEEPLY CONCERNING
TO ME, BECAUSE WHAT YOU DON'T
KNOW WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU.
SIMPLY PUT, IF A COUNCILMEMBER
IS ON THE LR PC, THEY CAN'T
LATER VOTE NO ON THE POLICE
UNION CONTRACT.
THE COMMUNITY ONLY NEEDS THREE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO REJECT A
PROPOSED CONTRACT, HOWEVER, THE
FIVE LR PC MEMBERS MUST VOTE
YES ON THE PROPOSED CONTRACT
FOR THE CITY MAY FACE A LAWSUIT
FOR NEGOTIATING IN BAD FAITH.
SO THE OPPONENTS OF POLICE
REFORM, DEFENDERS OF RACIST
POLICING, MANY OF THE PEOPLE
SHOUTING LOCK THEM UP IN THIS
AUDIENCE, THEY WANT PEOPLE LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALE IS ON THE
LR PC TO ENSURE YOUR VOICE AND
THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY IS
SILENCED.
IN OTHER WORDS IT IS A TRAP.
SO I ASK YOU TO LEAVE THE LR PC
IMMEDIATELY.
FINALLY, THERE SHOULD BE A
TECHNICAL ADVISOR AT THE TABLE
REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY AT
ALL TIMES.
THE CITY MUST DO BETTER ON THIS
CONTRACT AND IT IS TIME THE
COMMUNITY HAD A VOICE.
>> -- FOLLOWED BY JONAS JOHNSON.
>> HI, I AM GREG SMITH AND I AM
A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT.
úI AM A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
DOWNTOWN.
I'M A PARTNER IN ANY SMALL
BUSINESSES.
I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN FOR OVER
40 YEARS.
MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT IT HAS
NEVER BEEN WORSE THAN IT IS
TODAY, FROM A SAFETY
PERSPECTIVE.
I BELIEVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF
ALL SEATTLEITES, IT IS OUR
COMMUNITY AND CITY THAT FEEL
SAFE.
I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, THAT
IS WHAT YOU WANT.
WE DO NOT HAVE THAT.
AS AN EXAMPLE, THE CURRENT JAIL
WE HAVE TODAY THAT WAS ONCE
OVERCAPACITY IS AT 25% FULL.
GROWING UP THERE WAS A TV SHOW
I USED TO WATCH AND THE THEME
SONG WAS, DON'T DO THE CRIME IF
YOU CAN'T DO THE TIME, SUNG BY
SAMMY DAVIS JUNIOR.
SEATTLE'S THEME SONG TODAY
WOULD BE DO THE CRIME, BECAUSE
YOU WON'T PAY THE TIME.
BASED ON MY PAST EXPERIENCE
WITH THE CITY GOVERNMENT, I
DON'T THINK MUCH WILL CHANGE
UNTIL THE PUBLIC MANDATES IT.
I HOPE I AM WRONG.
WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT WE NEED
AND WHAT I AM FOCUSING ON IS A
CITIZENS INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS
PUBLIC SAFETY.
I BELIEVE THAT CAN BE PASSED BY
THE VOTING PUBLIC AND FORCE THE
PROSECUTOR, THE CITY COUNCIL
AND MAYOR'S OFFICE TO BE FORCED
TO COME UP WITH SPECIFIC WAYS
TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.
THANK YOU.
>> JONAS JOHNSON, FOLLOWED BY
FRANK KATZ.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JONAS JOHNSON
AND I AM A LOCAL REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPER AND OWNER.
I'M A THIRD-GENERATION
SEATTLEITE AND MY FAMILY HAS
OWNED PROPERTY AT FIRST AND
PIKE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
I THINK THE CURRENT WAY WE ARE
HANDLING THE DRUG EPIDEMIC AND
MENTAL ILLNESS IS INHUMANE AND
UNACCEPTABLE.
AT OUR BUILDING IN WESTLAKE WE
HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS BREAK-INS.
WE HAVE HAD DRUG ISSUES AND
OFTEN PEOPLE ENTERING THE
BUILDING UNARMED.
BECAUSE OF THIS, POLICE HAVE
BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE
SITUATION.
WE HAVE HAD TO HIRE 24-HOUR
SECURITY AT THE BUILDING.
BUSINESS OWNERS WANT TO BE PART
OF THIS SOLUTION, BUT IT IS NOT
A BURDEN WE CAN BEAR ALONE AND
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE
STRONG ACTION.
I GREW UP HALF MY LIFE IN
SWEDEN, A PLACE THAT IS OFTEN
WRONGLY UNDERSTOOD AS A MODEL
OF LENIENCY.
THEY ARE TOUGH ON DRUGS AND
TOUGH ON VIOLENCE.
THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH,
THOUGH.
THEY HAVE AN APPROACH OF
HELPING THE SICK, VERSUS
PUTTING PEOPLE BEHIND BARS.
KINDNESS AND COMPASSION NEED TO
BE ATTACKED, WE NEED TO ATTACK
THE DRUG EPIDEMIC AT ITS CORE.
WE NEED TO EMPOWER POLICE TO DO
ARRESTS, BUT WE ALSO NEED
MANDATORY REHABILITATION.
WE NEED TO TAKE AGGRESSIVE
ACTION.
I AM HAVING MY FIRST CHILD IN
ONE MONTH AND I DON'T WANT HER
TO GROW UP IN A CITY WHERE WE
TURN A BLIND EYE TO HUMAN
SUFFERING.
THESE ARE NOT THE VALUES I
STAND FOR AND THIS IS NOT WHAT
I WANT TO TEACH MY FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> BYRON MADSON.
>> THINK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING THIS HEARING.
I APPRECIATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE THOUGHTS.
I HAVE LIVED IN A LOT OF
CITIES, IN A LOT OF DOWNTOWN
CORRIDOR SEND I HAVE RUN A LOT
OF BUSINESSES.
I LIVE AT SECOND AND PIKE AND
WORK IN WESTLAKE.
I WON'T REPEAT EVERYTHING
EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, BUT I
DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE
NEED TO DEAL WITH ISSUES LIKE
HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH.
THESE ARE CRITICAL ISSUES WE
HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN MY
EXPERIENCES SOMETIMES YOU HAVE
TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING.
I AM SURE YOU HAVE HEARD ALL
THE STORIES.
HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT?
ONE BITE AT A TIME.
THIRD AND VINE IS A VERY
SPECIAL AREA AND FRANKLY, WE,
AS A COMMUNITY, HAVE CREATED
THIS PROBLEM.
WE HAVE STORES FULL OF LUXURY
GOODS.
A VERY EASY TRANSPORTATION.
VERY LITTLE POLICE PRESENCE.
WE HAVE DIFFICULTY ENFORCING
THE LAW.
WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED DRUG
SALES ARE TAKING PLACE ON EVERY
CORNER.
PEOPLE URINATING AND DEFECATING
ALL OVER THE STREET.
PEOPLE PEEING ON THE RESTAURANT
WINDOWS OF THE PLACES NEARBY.
IT IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE AND
IT NEEDS SPECIAL ATTENTION.
MAYBE IF WE CAN FOCUS ON ONE
PLACE, MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE
PLACES, ONE IN EACH DISTRICT.
BUT WE CAN'T JUST FOCUS ON THE
BIG ISSUES, WE HAVE TO START
BUILDING AND HAVING SOME
SUCCESS.
ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IS I
THINK WE HAVE TO THINK VERY
HARD ABOUT THE CHOICES WE WILL
MAKE.
WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE
WILL SPEND OUR MONEY ON NEW
STREETCARS OR NEW FACILITIES TO
TREAT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES.
WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE
WANT TO PROTECT EVERYBODY BY
KEEPING EVERYBODY OUT OF JAIL
OR ALLOWING FOR THE FACT THAT
SOME PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES 30 OR
40 TIMES.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT
THOSE TWO THINGS.
OBVIOUSLY I APPRECIATE WHAT THE
COUNCIL HAS DONE.
I HOPE THERE IS SOME WAY WE CAN
GET LEADERSHIP ACROSS ALL THESE
IMPORTANT AREAS, BECAUSE IT IS
NOT ANY ONE PERSON'S PROBLEM.
THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWED BY JEAN BURRIS.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS BRIAN
MADSON.
ONE COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE
PRELIMINARILY, IT GOES TO YOUR
COMMENT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE
FACT THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN THE SHOOTING LAST
WEEK, IT SEEMED THE CITY WASN'T
AWARE OF THEM BECAUSE OF THE
MISDEMEANORS, BUT THEY WERE
ARRESTED MULTIPLE TIMES.
I AM LEFT ASKING, HOW IN THE
WORLD COULD IT POSSIBLY BE THAT
THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IS NOT
COMMUNICATING WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO YOU KNOW
YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE AND
JOIN FORCES.
IT FELT LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO
DEFRAY RESPONSIBILITY.
TO ME IT JUST PUTS THE
RESPONSIBILITY MORE SQUARELY ON
THE CITY, AS TO WHAT IS BROKEN,
AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE STREETS ARE
SAFE.
SO I WILL GO BACK FROM THE
RECENT SPEAKERS AND TALK MORE I
SUPPOSE ON THE PEOPLE I SEE
EVERY DAY.
I FEEL LIKE NOT ALL OF US SEEM
TO BE WALKING THE SAME STREETS
I DO, BECAUSE MY WEDNESDAY
MORNING STARTED OFF THE SAME
WAY IT HAS THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
I WALK FROM THE TRANSIT CENTER,
UNDERNEATH THE OVERPASS.
THE SAME TENSE, THE SAME ONES
ON FOURTH AVENUE, RISKING MY
LIFE GETTING HIT BY TRAFFIC TO
AVOID THEM.
I LOOK AT NEEDLES ON THE GROUND.
IT HAPPENS AND HAS BEEN
HAPPENING.
AS YOU KNOW I HAVE SENT EMAILS
TO THIS COUNSEL FOR FIVE YEARS
AND FINALLY GOT A RESPONSE FROM
ANDREW, LISA, AND ONE OTHER
PERSON LAST WEEK.
I HAVE CONSTANTLY TRIED TO
BRING ATTENTION TO THE FACT
THAT NOTHING IS CHANGING.
I COULD TAKE ALL OF CARMEN
BEST'S PRESENTATION AND BOIL IT
DOWN TO ONE THING AND THAT IS,
ALLOW THE POLICE OFFICERS TO DO
THEIR JOB.
ALSO, MORE SPECIFICALLY I THINK
THAT THE POLICIES NEED TO BE
PUT IN PLACE FROM THE STANDPOINT
OF, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE
POLICE OFFICERS.
I KNOW A S.W.A.T.
COMMANDER.
I HEAR TOO MANY TIMES THEY WILL
NOT ARREST SOMEBODY BECAUSE
THEY FACE SO MANY
RESPONSIBILITIES AND INTERNAL
INVESTIGATIONS BROUGHT ABOUT BY
THE DOJ THING THAT OCCURRED A
NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THAT BINDS
THEM IN RED TAPE.
THE INABILITY TO BE EFFECTIVE
IN THEIR JOBS.
ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS BE
EFFECTIVE IN THEIR JOBS AND BE
ALLOWED TO PERFORM THEIR
DUTIES.
THAT'S IT, THAT'S ALL THAT
NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
EVERYTHING I SEE ON THE STREETS
WILL SIMPLY DISAPPEAR.
I ASK MYSELF, WHY CAN I GO TO
BELLEVUE AND NOT SEE THE SAME
THING?
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE ALLOWED
TO DO THEIR JOB.
>> THANK YOU.
>> -- FOLLOWED BY GRETCHEN
TAYLOR.
>> HI, JEAN BURRIS, THANKS FOR
HAVING THIS MEETING.
I AM A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT.
I LIVE A BLOCK AWAY FROM THIRD
AND PINE, WHERE THE SHOOTING
OCCURRED.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR ABOUT A
DECADE.
I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT
BEHIND THE STATEMENTS THAT WE
CAN'T ALLOW THIS TO BE THE NEW
NORMAL, BUT TO TELL YOU THE
TRUTH, FOR THOSE OF US THAT
LIVE THERE, THAT RANKED AS
TERRIBLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH WHAT
IS GOING ON, BECAUSE IT IS THE
NORMAL OF WHAT WE HAVE
EXPERIENCED FOR A GOOD LONG
TIME.
I WAS HERE THREE YEARS AGO
BEFORE THIS VERY COMMITTEE
AFTER AN ALMOST IDENTICAL EVENT
OCCURRED AT THE IDENTICAL SPOT.
A MULTI-VICTIM SHOOTING AT RUSH
HOUR AT THIRD AND PINE AND WE
HEARD A LOT OF THE SAME
SENTIMENTS FOR ACTION AND TO DO
SOMETHING.
THREE YEARS LATER, BUDGET
PRIORITIES DO NOT REFLECT THAT
ANYONE ACTUALLY TOOK THOSE
CONCERNS SERIOUSLY.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE HARD
CHOICES ABOUT HOW WE ALLOCATE
THE BUDGET IN THIS CITY AND
PRIORITIZE THE THINGS THAT NEED
TO BE OR A TASTE.
PUBLIC SAFETY HAS TO BE NUMBER
ONE.
OTHER PRIORITIES SUFFER FROM
NOT ADDRESSING THAT.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHO DO YOU
THINK LIVES ABOVE THAT
McDONALD'S AND WITHIN THOSE
BLOCKS?
LOTS OF PEOPLE IN LOW OR NO
INCOME HOUSING WILL ALSO
DESERVE TO BE SAFE AND DESERVE
TO HAVE THE VERY TEMPTATIONS OF
CRIME AND DRUGS THAT PROBABLY
GOT INTO THAT SITUATION IN THE
FIRST PLACE ELIMINATED FROM
THEM, SO THEY HAVE A CHANCE.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT TRANSIT
AND CLIMATE CHANGE?
IT IS CRIMINAL TO MAKE SOMEONE
WAIT FOR A BUS ON THIRD AVENUE.
IT IS INSANE.
NO ONE WILL DO IT AND AS
BUSINESSES LEAVE, TAX REVENUES
WILL PLUMMET AND OUR PRIORITIES
WILL GO BY THE WAYSIDE.
>> PLEASE WRAP IT UP, PLEASE.
>> WE NEED BUDGETS THAT REFLECT
THAT PRIORITY AND TAKE CARE OF
IT FIRST.
THANK YOU.
>> GRETCHEN TAYLOR, FOLLOWED BY
CINDY PIERCE.
>> I AM GRETCHEN TAYLOR WITH
THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY
ALLIANCE.
OUR DOWNTOWN CORE IS IN
FREEFALL.
WE ARE WITNESSING A CRISIS, A
CRISIS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
A CRISIS FOR THE BUSINESSES
DOWNTOWN.
A CRISIS FOR MANY OF US IN OUR
CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTED
LEADERS TO TAKE BACK OUR
STREETS.
BAND-AID FIXES, QUICK FIXES,
AREN'T GOING TO CUT IT ANYMORE.
QUICK FIXES, TOO, QUOTE, TRY TO
STEM THE CRIME, VIOLENCE, THE
GANG ACTIVITY AND DRUG USE, OR
SIMPLY DESIGNED TO MAKE THE
DESIGNER, THE CREATOR OF THAT
QUICK FIX, FEEL-GOOD AND TO
GIVE BUSINESS OWNERS AND
RESIDENTS HOPE THAT SOMEONE IN
CHARGE HAS A SOLUTION.
WE ARE LOSING HOPE.
WE ARE LOSING HOPE FOR THE
FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
WE ARE LOSING HOPE THAT OUR
ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL REGAIN
COMMON SENSE.
AND ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT WILL
STOP THE VIOLENCE.
KEEP US SAFE AND REGAIN THE
RULE OF LAW ON OUR STREETS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PIERCE, FOLLOWED BY MIGUEL --
CINDY PIERCE.
ALL RIGHT, ANDREW.
ALEX.
TAMMY.
YOU ARE NEW, YOU HAVE FRESH
IDEAS.
WE ARE GOING TO EXPECT A LOT
OUT OF YOU.
WE HAVE COME HERE FOR SIX YEARS
AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND I AM
GOING TO RELY ON THE THREE OF
YOU TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE CAN DO IT.
WE CAN MAKE THIS CITY SAFER AND
THE FIRST THING I WANT YOU TO
THINK ABOUT IS THIS LEAD
PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM THAT HAS NOT HAD
ANY DATA.
I MEAN, I AM LOOKING AT YOUR
MEMO TO THE MAYOR AND YOU DON'T
HAVE ANY DATA TO BACK UP LEAD.
THAT IS ALL I WANT TO SAY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, CAREFUL
WITH THAT PROGRAM AND I WILL
RELY ON THE THREE OF YOU TO
MAKE IT WORK.
THANKS.
>> MIGUEL.
FOLLOWED BY ERIC SALINGER.
>> HEARING YOU TALK SOUNDS LIKE
YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING UNDER
CONTROL AND I DON'T KNOW HOW
YOU LIVE IN THIS FANTASY WORLD.
I THINK BASED ON THE RESULTS
THIS COMMISSION SHOULD BE
DISSOLVED.
YOU GUYS SHOULD JUST QUIT.
THIS IS EVERYTHING WE HEARD
TODAY.
I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT ALL
THIS, BUT YOU SEEM TO KEEP
DOING THE SAME THINGS OVER AND
OVER AND EXPECTING SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
THOSE OF US WHO REMEMBER NEW
YORK CITY IN THE 1980S, IT
WASN'T CLEAN OR FIXED OR
PROBLEMS SOLVED BY PEOPLE LIKE
YOU, WHO ARE AFRAID TO TAKE
RISKS AND BY OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE UNPOPULAR
DECISIONS AND YOU HAVE TO
REALLY TRY NEW THINGS AND THAT
IS NOT HAPPENING HERE.
I SEE PEOPLE DOING POWERPOINTS
AND CONGRATULATING ONE ANOTHER
ON A JOB WELL DONE AND I THINK
IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP.
WE ARE TIRED OF THE SAME THING
OVER AND OVER AND I DON'T WANT
TO LIVE IN A CITY SURROUNDED BY
FILTH AND CRIMINALS AND DRUG
ADDICTS AND ALL THESE PEOPLE
NEED HELP, BUT THE HEALTH IS
NOT REALLY BEING LENIENT TO
PEOPLE WITH MORE AND MORE
CRIMINALS THAN EVERYWHERE ELSE.
>> ERIC SALINGER, FOLLOWED BY
MIKE STERN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ERIC SALINGER
AND I HAVE NEVER REALLY COME TO
A THING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
I LIVE DOWNTOWN AND I WORK
DOWNTOWN AND I AM REALLY UPSET
BY WHAT IS GOING ON DOWNTOWN,
BUT THE THING IS THAT FOR ME,
THE BUCK STOPS AT THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WHERE I LIVE I TALK TO PEOPLE
AND EVERYONE KIND OF LAUGHS
THAT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING.
I WAS AT A COFFEE SHOP AND
THERE WAS A GUY TALKING ABOUT
HOW HE BASICALLY CHASED DOWN
SOMEONE WHO STOLE A WOMAN'S
PURSE AND GOT THE PURSE BACK.
I SAID DID YOU REPORTED TO THE
POLICE?
THEY LAUGHED AND SAID THEY ARE
NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
THAT IS THE ATTITUDE I HEAR.
I HEAR ABOUT TRANSIT SECURITY
JOKING HOW THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING.
I READ THE NEWS AND IN THE NEWS,
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
GIVES A TEACHER WHO PUNCHES A
STUDENT, 32 HOURS OF COMMUNITY
SERVICE.
WHAT IS IN THE NEWS IS THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAITS 200
SOME DAYS TO PROSECUTE, BUT
BEFORE THE INK IS DRY ON THE
VOTE TALLY, WE HAVE A LAWSUIT.
SO THE SEATTLE TIMES REPORTS
THAT THEY HAVE MORE MONEY, MORE
STAFF, AND PROSECUTE LESS
PEOPLE.
I THINK IT IS COMO REPORTS THE
PET SHOP I GO TO, THE OWNER
GETS BEAT UP BY A HOMELESS
PERSON AND BECAUSE THE PERSON
IS HOMELESS, THE CITY ATTORNEY
WON'T PROSECUTE.
SO IT IS HARD FOR ME TO FEEL
LIKE I CAN SUPPORT POLICE
OFFICERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
DOING THEIR JOB.
BUT WHEN I LOOK, IT ALL GETS
PASSED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU, PLEASE WRAP IT
UP.
>> I THINK WE NEED TO HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT IS ALL I
HAVE TO SAY, SO THANK YOU.
>> DO WE HAVE MARK STERN?
IF THERE IS NO MARK STERN, I
WILL MOVE TO THE FINAL SPEAKER
WHO WE HAVE SIGNED UP AND IT IS
DON BUCKLEY.
>> HI, I AM WITH THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION AND I WANT
TO COME HERE FIRST AND FOREMOST
TO EXPRESS OUR CONDOLENCES FOR
THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND
COWORKERS OF THE INNOCENT LIVES
OF THOSE AFFECTED BY LAST
WEEK'S SHOOTINGS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
FOR THE HEROIC RESPONSE.
IT SAVES LIVES AND IS AN
EXAMPLE OF HOW TO DO THIS
COMPLICATED WORK IN AN URBAN
SETTING.
THE HEART OF OUR CITY SHOULD
FEEL SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR ALL
WHO WORK AND LIVE OR VISIT
DOWNTOWN.
THIRD AVENUE IS THE CENTER OF
OUR PUBLIC LIFE AND IT BRINGS
úFROM DOWNTOWN PEOPLE FROM ALL
OVER THE CITY AND EACH COUNCIL
DISTRICT, EVERY DAY ON THE BUS.
IT CARRIES ABOUT 52,000 PEOPLE
PER DAY AND IT NEEDS TO FEEL
SAFE.
FOR TOO LONG THE CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY HAS PERSISTED AND IT
IS A LONG-STANDING DRUG MARKET
FED BY THIS COMMUNITY.
CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE ARE
CONTINUING TO RISE IN THE WEST
PRECINCT AND THIS HAS TO STOP.
WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A
CITY AND USE ALL THE TOOLS WE
HAVE, WHETHER IT IS LEAD, CASE
CONFERENCING OR MORE COPS.
IT IS TIME TO TAKE THIRD AVENUE
BACK AND TIME TO FIX THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT
SEEMS TO BE FAILING US, SO THIS
DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
>> THERE IS ONE MORE SPEAKER.
WE HAVE MARGARET BECHARD.
>> GOOD DAY EVERYONE.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT I AM
THOROUGHLY HEARTBROKEN, BECAUSE
I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE AND
WHENEVER I SEE SOMEBODY THAT IS
LIKE MYSELF, DOING SOMETHING
WRONG, I AM SAYING, SHOOTING
SOMEBODY AND KILLING SOMEBODY,
AND THEN THE ONES WHO HAVE GUNS
OFFICIALLY, THAT WE SAY ARE
SUPPOSED TO SERVE AND PROTECT,
THEY SHOOT AND KILL, TOO, AND
GET AWAY WITH IT.
I HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH
DEGRADATION SPEAKING OUT.
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION
DOES NOT HAVE THE CHIEF SITTING
THERE, SO WHO ARE YOU TALKING
TO, A WALL.
THE WALL OF PEOPLE WHO BUILT
ANOTHER WALL AND AFTER THEY GOT
THROUGH WITH THAT, THEY BUILT
ANOTHER WALL.
THE CONSTITUTION TALKS ABOUT WE
THE PEOPLE WILL FORM A MORE
PERFECT UNION, BECAUSE WE LIVE
IN AN IMPERFECT SOCIETY.
YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE EVIL OUT
THERE.
SO THAT IS WHAT I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT.
YOU COME DOWN HERE -- GOOD LUCK
WITH THIS, OKAY.
GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK FOLKS WERE
COMING DOWN AND TALKING TO US
TODAY AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
JOIN US IN THE FUTURE AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO JOINING YOU IN
PARTNERSHIP ON ADDRESSING THESE
ISSUES.
IF YOU COULD READ, ALEX, ITEMS
NUMBER TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE
AND SIX, INTO THE RECORD
TOGETHER.
>> ITEM 2, APPOINTMENT 01533,
REAPPOINTMENT OF TARA HENRIKSEN
TO THE SEATTLE FIRE CODE
ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM TO
AUGUST 31, 2021.
ITEM 3, APPOINTMENT 01534,
REAPPOINTMENT OF FRITZ CHESS TO
THE SEATTLE FIRE CODE ADVISORY
BOARD.
APPOINTMENT 01535,
REAPPOINTMENT OF KURT HOWELL
LUSTIG TO THE SEATTLE FIRE CODE
ADVISORY BOARD.
APPOINTMENT 01536,
REAPPOINTMENT OF BRAD
MIDDLETON.
AND ITEM NUMBER SIX,
APPOINTMENT 01537,
REAPPOINTMENT OF HUGO SOTELO
TO THE SEATTLE FIRE CODE
ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM TO
MAY 31, 2022.
>> THANK YOU, IF WE COULD DO A
QUICK ROUND OF INTRODUCTIONS
AND THEN A BRIEF WORD ON THE
ADVISORY BOARD AND WHAT IT
DOES.
>> I AM THE TECHNICAL ADVISOR
FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
OUR FIRE MARSHAL WAS UNABLE TO
USE HIS ALLOCATED DAYS, SO I
BROUGHT OUR ASSISTANT FIRE
MARSHAL WITH US TODAY.
SO I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR
FIVE RE-APPOINTEES TO THE
ADVISORY BOARD.
THEY DO A VITAL ROLE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
THEY HELP KIND OF PUT TOGETHER
THE SEATTLE FIRE CODE.
THE REVIEW THE AMENDMENTS WE
PROPOSE.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY
THESE LAST SIX MONTHS, GOING
OVER THE DIFFERENT CHAPTERS IN
THE FIRE CODE AND WE ARE
CONTINUING ABOUT EVERY TWO
WEEKS RIGHT NOW, SO FIRST I
WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT --
TARA HENRIKSEN.
SHE IS A CHEMICAL ENGINEER AND
FILLS THAT ROLE ON OUR BOARD.
SHE HAS BEEN VITAL WITH SOME OF
THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT HAVE
BEEN OUT THERE, INCLUDING
HYDROGEN.
WITHOUT HER EXPERTISE, WE WOULD
BE MISSING OUT ON SOME OF THE
VITAL PROVISIONS THAT ARE IN
THE FIRE CODE.
SO, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO ONE
AT A TIME --
>> YOU CAN GO THROUGH AND TALK
ABOUT THEM ALL.
JUST FOR MY CO-COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, SINCE THESE ARE ALL
REAPPOINTMENTS, WE DON'T
REQUIRE THEM TO JOIN US IN
COMMITTEE.
IF THEY WERE NEW APPOINTMENTS,
WE WOULD WANT THEM TO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVE.
BUT GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE SERVED
WELL ENOUGH TO BE REAPPOINTED,
WE DEFER TO THAT
RECOMMENDATION.
>> WE APPRECIATE THAT AND WITH
THAT, IT IS A 15 MEMBER
ADVISORY BOARD.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 12 OF THE 15
MEMBERS FILLED, SO WE HAVE
THREE VACANCIES RIGHT NOW.
ONE IS IN THE INSURANCE
INDUSTRY AND TO OUR PUBLIC
POSITIONS.
SO AS COUNCILMEMBERS IF YOU
HAVE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO FILL A
VITAL ROLE WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ON AN ADVISORY BOARD,
HAVE THEM CONTACT ME AND WE
WILL PUT THEIR APPLICATION
THROUGH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
>> ON THAT, BEFORE WE MOVE ON,
THE ROSTER SUGGESTS THAT ALL OF
THE APPOINTMENTS HAVE THE MAYOR
AS THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY.
IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THERE
ARE PARTICULAR SEATS THAT ARE
PERMITTED FOR THE COUNCIL TO BE
THE APPOINTED AUTHORITY, SO
WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS YOU
HAVE VACANCIES AND WOULD
CONSIDER PUTTING THEM FORWARD
AS A MAYORAL APPOINTEE.
>> ABSOLUTELY, WHAT WE DO IS WE
TAKE THE APPLICATIONS, LOOK AT
THEM AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO
THE MAYOR AND ASK THE MAYOR TO
PLEASE SUPPORT THOSE POSITIONS.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE ON
TO FRITZ CHESS.
FRITZ CHESS, THE R&D LEADER FOR
EDEN LABS.
HE HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF THE
ADVISORY BOARD, BASED ON HIS
EXPERTISE IN MARIJUANA
EXTRACTION.
WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL AN
ADMINISTRATIVE RULE THAT HELPS
US IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE THE
SEATTLE FIRE CODE.
THERE IS A NEW CHAPTER IN THE
FIRE CODE THIS YEAR, WITH EXTRA
ACTION EQUIPMENT AND HE IS PART
OF THE REVIEW PROCESS WITH
THAT.
SO HIS EXPERTISE IS HELPING US
DIGEST THAT AND GET THAT MOVED
FORWARD.
FRITZ CHESS IS ANOTHER PERSON
WE WOULD LIKE TO BE
REAPPOINTED.
KURT HOWELL LUSTIG , BIO
TECHNICAL.
HE IS OUR LABS RESEARCH
REPRESENTATIVE.
THERE IS ALSO A NEW CHAPTER IN
THE FIRE CODE THAT I WILL TALK
ABOUT WITH HUGO, OUR LAST
MEMBER, WHICH DEALS WITH HIGHER
EDUCATION LABORATORIES.
AGAIN, KURT'S BACKGROUND IN
LABS IS ANOTHER GREAT ADDITION
TO US TO HELP REPRESENT THAT
INDUSTRY WHEN WE HAVE NEW
CHAPTERS IN THE FIRE CODE THAT
REPRESENT THAT INDUSTRY.
HE IS ABLE TO SPEAK ON THEIR
BEHALF.
BRAD MIDDLETON.
SO, BRAD'S POSITION IS WITH THE
BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS
ASSOCIATION.
HE IS THEIR REPRESENTATIVE.
HE WORKED WITH URBAN
RENAISSANCE GROUP.
BRAD HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL
MEETINGS I HAVE BEEN AT,
BESIDES THE ADVISORY BOARD.
OTHER MEETINGS WE HAVE GONE TO
TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE
SEATTLE FIRE PREVENTION OFFICE.
BRAD IS THERE TO REPRESENT THE
BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS
ANY TIME THERE IS SOMETHING
THAT MIGHT BE A REQUIREMENT
THAT IS HARD AND FAST IN THE
SEATTLE FIRE CODE.
BRAD WILL SAY, IS THERE A CHANCE
THAT WE CAN MAYBE JUST WORK
THROUGH THOSE AND FIND
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN MAKE
THINGS MORE PALATABLE TO THE
BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS.
SO BRAD DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB
REPRESENTING THE GROUP.
AND I THINK HUGO, HUGO WORKED
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
AND HE STEPPED UP AND IS ONE OF
OUR VICE CHAIRS RIGHT NOW.
HE ALSO HAS A CERTIFICATION AS
A FIRE INSPECTOR, SO THAT IS
SOMETHING I AM HAPPY HE WENT
THROUGH AND GOT.
ALSO A CERTIFIED FIRE
INVESTIGATOR, ALSO.
HE FILLS THE ROLE OF OUR MAJOR
INSTITUTIONS AND WITH THAT IS
THE NEW CHAPTER I WAS TALKING
ABOUT WITH HIGHER EDUCATION
LABORATORIES.
WE WERE ABLE TO USE HIS
CONNECTIONS THROUGH UW TO TAKE
AN ENTIRE CHAPTER AND DECIDE
NOT TO MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES.
THEY REVIEWED IT WITH THEIR
GROUP AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO US
WITH ANY CHANGES THEY
SUGGESTED, SO WE WORKED
TOGETHER WITH THEM AND WITHOUT
HIS SUPPORT WE WOULD BE MISSING
THAT CONNECTION WITH UW.
SO WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR ALL
OF THESE APPOINTMENTS TO BE
REAFFIRMED AND WE CAN CONTINUE
ON WITH THE GOOD WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
WHEN DO WE EXPECT
RECOMMENDATIONS?
>> YOU WILL BE SEEING IT, THE
2018 FIRE CODE HAS BEEN
REVIEWED BY THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON AND GOES INTO EFFECT
JULY 1 OF THIS YEAR, SO THE
COUNCIL WILL BE SINGING WORK
PROBABLY IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
>> AND MAYBE WE WILL HAVE SOME
OF THE FIRE CODE BOARD MEMBERS
COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THE
PRESENTATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY, OUR CHAIRPERSON
WILL DEFINITELY BE THERE, BUT
WE WILL INVITE ALL OF THEM.
>> I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE
THAT THIS ENTITY HAS
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC ISSUE
AREA EXPERTISE AND SO THESE
FIVE FOLKS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF
US TODAY, ONE FILLS THE
REQUIREMENT FOR A CHEMICAL
ENGINEER.
THE OTHER ONE FULFILLS A
REQUIREMENT FOR SOMEBODY WITH
EXPERIENCE IN MANUFACTURING.
ONE FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENT
FOR EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH
LABS.
ONE REPRESENTS -- AND ONE IS
REPRESENTING SEATTLE'S MAJOR
INSTITUTIONS.
I THINK THAT FRAMEWORK NOT ONLY
ALLOWS FOR RELEVANT EXPERTISE
TO BE REPRESENTED ON THE
ADVISORY BOARD, BUT ALSO ALLOWS
FOR A SORT OF FEEDBACK LOOP FOR
THOSE WHO REPRESENT LARGER
ORGANIZATIONS.
SO I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT
GOING INTO THIS.
PLEASE LET THE APPOINTEES KNOW
THAT WE APPRECIATE THEIR
ONGOING WORK.
ANY QUESTIONS?
OKAY, WITH THAT I WILL MOVE
APPOINTMENT 01533, APPOINTMENT
01534, APPOINTMENT 01535,
APPOINTMENT 01536, AND
APPOINTMENT 01537.
>> SECONDED.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR -- NONE
OPPOSED, NONE ABSTAINING.
THOSE FIVE APPOINTMENTS WILL
MOVE ON TO FULL COUNCIL ON
MONDAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ALEX, CAN YOU READ ITEM 7 IN
THE RECORD PLEASE.
>> ITEM 7, RESOLUTION 31 930, A
RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE CITY'S
GOOD FAITH INTENT TO CONSIDER
RAISING IN THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS KILLED
2021 CONTRACT RENEWAL POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY PROPOSALS THAT
HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE
PUBLIC AND THE CITY'S POLICE
OVERSIGHT AGENCIES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING
US.
WE CAN DO A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS AND THEN WE WILL
TURN IT BACK OVER TO GREG.
>> Q, GREG DOSS, CENTRAL STAFF.
>> COCHAIR OF THE CPC.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
TODAY.
BEFORE GREG SHARES WITH THE
COUNCIL AT THIS TABLE TODAY, AS
WELL AS THE VIEWING PUBLIC, THE
CONTENTS OF THIS RESOLUTION,
JUST A QUICK BIT OF BACKGROUND.
THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY
CHAIR, NOW COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
PRESIDED OVER A PUBLIC HEARING
FOR THE END OF LAST YEAR.
THAT PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED
BY THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO HEAR
FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,
THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
CONSIDERATION IN NEGOTIATIONS
IN THE SPOG CONTRACT.
THAT PUBLIC HEARING HAS TO
úHAPPEN 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THE
BEGINNING OF CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS.
WE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, AS WELL AS WE HEARD
ALSO FEEDBACK AND COMMENT FROM
THE THREE LEGS OF OUR PUBLIC
ACCOUNTABILITY STOOL.
THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL
ACCOUNTABILITY, THE OFFICE OF
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE
COMMUNITY POLICING -- AND THIS
RESOLUTION IS INTENDED TO
IDENTIFY SOME OF THE THINGS WE
HEARD.
WE PASSED RESOLUTIONS AFTER THE
PUBLIC HEARING IN PAST YEARS.
WE HAVE NOT DONE SO EVERY TIME,
BUT WE HAVE DONE SO IN PAST
YEARS.
AS THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE
I THINK IT IS A USEFUL EXERCISE
JUST TO SORT OF SOCIALIZE THE
COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC ON WHAT
THE TOP, IMPORTANT ISSUES ARE,
PRIOR TO US GOING INTO
NEGOTIATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, YOU
DID A GREAT JOB SUMMARIZING.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO ADD BUT I
WILL READ THE APPROPRIATE
MEASURES IN THE RESOLUTION, SO
THEY ARE ON THE RECORD.
SEVERAL STATEMENTS, SEVERAL
PAGES, I AM JUST GOING TO HIT
THE HIGH POINTS.
ONE OF THEM INDICATES THE CITY
COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE
SACRIFICES AND CONTRIBUTION OF
THE POLICE GUILD MEMBERS AND
STRIVES TO ENSURE THE CITY
ACHIEVES ITS PUBLIC SAFETY
GOALS, WHILE BEING STRONG
PARTNERS IN ONGOING EFFORTS TO
IMPLEMENT REFORM AND
ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURES.
STATEMENTS NOTE THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE RIGHT OF
THE GUILD AND ALL EMPLOYEES TO
COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN FOR WAGES,
HOURS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
FOR ALL OF THE MEMBERS.
THEY INDICATE THAT THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
SPOG WILL EXPIRE DECEMBER 31,
2020.
PARTIES WILL BEGIN NEGOTIATING
THE CONTRACT IN MARCH OF THIS
YEAR.
THEY CITE SUBSECTION 4.0 4.120,
WHICH REQUIRES THE LABOR POLICY
AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEES
TOLD A HEARING ON THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND THAT
MEETING HAS TO BE 90 DAYS
BEFORE BARGAINING BEGINS WITH
THE GUILD.
THEY INDICATE THAT SUCH A
HEARING WAS HELD DECEMBER 5, AS
YOU MENTIONED, AND THERE WAS
INPUT RECEIVED FROM THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS.
THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION AND OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY, SITTING WITH ME.
AS WELL AS 32 CITIZENS THAT
PROVIDED PERSONAL TESTIMONY OR
REPRESENTED NONPROFIT GROUPS OR
HAD A STAKE IN COMMUNITY POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
FINALLY, THE STATEMENTS NOTE
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED AT
THE SAME TIME AS THE LAST SPOG
AGREEMENT, RESOLUTION 3.815
WHICH RECOMMENDS THE CITY
PETITION THE COURT TO CHANGE
CERTAIN CONTRACT TERMS, SOME OF
WHICH WERE ARTICULATED IN THE
HEARING ON DECEMBER 5. THE
OPERATIVE SECTION SIMPLY STATES
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WILL
CONSIDER IN GOOD FAITH WHETHER
OR NOT TO CARRY FORWARD THESE
INTERESTS THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION,
DEVELOPMENT OF BARGAINING GOALS
AND OBJECTIVES AND FACILITATING
COMMUNITY POLICE DIALOGUE.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WASHINGTON
LAW REQUIRES ANY CHANGES TO BE
BARGAINED WITH EMPLOYEE
REPRESENTATIVES, THE CITY WILL
SEEK TO DISCHARGE SUCH
OBLIGATIONS IN GOOD FAITH.
AS YOU REQUESTED, FOLKS TO MY
LEFT HAVE PROVIDED WRITTEN
INPUT THAT SUPPORTS THEIR
STATEMENTS ON DECEMBER 5 AND
THOSE LETTERS ARE READY TO BE
ATTACHED TO THIS RESOLUTION AT
THE END OF THIS HEARING.
>> THANK YOU.
SO WE DO HAVE POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THAT, I
WANT TO GIVE THE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM OPA, OIG
AND THE CPC AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK TO THE PRIORITIES
CONTAINED IN THIS RESOLUTION.
>> SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING US TODAY AND THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US AT THE DECEMBER 5
HEARING.
OBVIOUSLY, MORE THAN ANYTHING
OPA DOES, THIS CONTRACT IMPACTS
US THE MOST.
PROBABLY 90% OF OUR
INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVE OFFICERS
AND SERGEANTS WHO ARE PART OF
THE SPOG UNION.
IN ADVANCE OF THE DECEMBER 5
HEARING, BOTH OIG AND OPA
IDENTIFIED WHAT OUR PRIORITIES
ARE FOR THE CONTRACT.
OF COURSE WE COULDN'T GIVE
EVERYTHING.
IT IS A LONG CONTRACT.
I THINK 3.6 IS, YOU KNOW, 20
PAGES OR SO, SO THERE IS A LOT
THERE.
GENERALLY I THINK OPA'S THOUGHTS
FALL INTO THREE CATEGORIES.
FIRST, THEY CONCERN THE
DEADLINE I THINK EVERYONE IS
FAMILIAR WITH.
THE DEADLINE GOVERNS WHEN OPA
HAS TO COMPLETE INVESTIGATION
IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN FINDINGS OR
IMPOSE DISCIPLINE.
UNDER THE SPM A CONTRACT, THE
CITY NEGOTIATED A VERY
SIMPLIFIED DEADLINE.
IT IS WHEN OPA KNEW OR SHOULD
HAVE KNOWN OF THE CONDUCT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE ASKING
IS THE CITY CONSIDER
SIMPLIFYING THAT TO MAKE IT
EASIER TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE
OFFICERS THEMSELVES.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT PULLING
THE DEADLINE.
RIGHT NOW IT DOES NOT HOLD IN A
CRIMINAL CASE IS BEING
INVESTIGATED.
FOR EXAMPLE, OPA RECEIVES A
CRIMINAL ALLEGATION.
IF IT OCCURS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, WE SEND IT BACK TO THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF WE DO SO, THE TIMELINE
DOESN'T STOP RUNNING.
THE CLOCK STEEPS TICKING.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE CASE IS NOT
DONE FOR FOUR MONTHS, WE GET IT
BACK WITH ONLY TWO MONTHS LEFT
IN OUR TIMELINES.
I WILL JUST GO THROUGH IN BIG
STEPS, BUT ALSO WE HAD THOUGHTS
ABOUT ARBITRATION.
I THINK WE RECOGNIZE IT IS AN
OPTION THAT EVERY OTHER LABOR
UNION HAS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE WAYS IN
WHICH ARBITRATION COULD BE
IMPROVED, SO FOR EXAMPLE, NO
MORE REVIEW OF THE CHIEF'S
DECISION.
RIGHT NOW AN ARBITRATOR WHEN
THEY REVIEW WHAT THE CHIEF
DECIDED CAN LOOK AT THE RECORD
FROM STEP ONE.
CAN RE-CREATE THE RECORD.
SO, THAT IS SOMETHING WE THINK
COULD BE DISCUSSED.
ONE THING OPA FEEL STRONGLY
ABOUT IS MANDATORY TRANSFERS.
WE REFERENCED THIS IN OUR
LETTER WE SUBMITTED.
RIGHT NOW THERE IS NOT REALLY A
SYSTEM OF MANDATORY TRANSFERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU LOOK WORK IN
PATROL AND IF YOU'RE LUCKY
ENOUGH TO APPLY TO A SPECIALTY
UNIT, YOU DO THAT.
IF YOU CAN GET IN.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE
OUT OF A SPECIALTY UNIT, SO
THERE ARE OFFICERS ENDING UP IN
PATROL FOR 15 OR 20 YEARS AND I
THINK THEY WANT OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD DO
IT, THAT IS FOR THE EXPERTS,
BUT A CONCEPT TO MOVE PEOPLE
AROUND THE CITY WOULD GIVE
PATROL OFFICERS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GROW IN THEIR CAREERS AND
MORE PEOPLE WOULD STAY AND WANT
TO BE WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IF THAT WAS THE
CASE.
ONE ADDITIONAL THING NOTED IN
OUR LETTER THAT WE SUBMITTED
YESTERDAY WAS WE HAVE BEEN
FOCUSING A LOT ON SUPERVISOR
HANDLING OF MINOR MISCONDUCT.
YOU KNOW IN ITS PUREST FORM WE
BELIEVE OPA SHOULD FOCUS ON
SERIOUS MISCONDUCT.
EXCESSIVE FORCE, VIOLATIONS OF
LAW, SEARCH AND SEIZURE
VIOLATIONS.
WE DO FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO
EMPOWER SUPERVISORS TO HANDLE
SMALL ISSUES.
FOR EXAMPLE, NOTHING COMPLETED
OR A TRAINING BEING MISSED.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED, ALL OF
THOSE CASES WOULD COME TO OPA
AND I THINK THE DEPARTMENT IS
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THERE ARE ASPECTS OF THAT THAT
WILL HAVE TO BE BARGAINED WITH
THE UNION, SO WE ARE HOPEFUL
THAT WILL HAPPEN AND I THINK IT
WILL BE A BENEFIT FOR OPA AND
THE OFFICERS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER
ISSUES.
I CAN ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THE
COUNCIL HAS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD MORNING MADAM CHAIR,
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
FIRST, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
EXPRESSES HER REGRETS THAT SHE
COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
I WILL BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE
CONTENTS OF THE LETTER YOU HAVE
BEFORE YOU TODAY.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S
COMMENTS FOCUS AROUND THREE
PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE THE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRIORITIES
AT THE OFFICE THAT ARE BEING
OFFERED TO YOU.
THOSE ARE FIRST PUBLIC TRUST.
THE IDEA THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE
TRANSPARENCY AND ALSO CLARITY.
SO BEING CLEAR AND
UNDERSTANDABLE, SO HAVING THAT
BE A THEME THAT GOES THROUGH
THE REVIEW OF THE SPA
AGREEMENTS.
PART OF THAT INCLUDES THE
CAPTURE CULTURE OF
ACCOUNTABILITY.
FOSTERING THE RIGHT APPROACH
AND ATTITUDE TOWARD EFFECTIVE
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BUILDING
THAT BRIDGE WITH COMMUNITY.
SECONDLY, FAIR OUTCOMES.
A PRIORITY FOR THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL'S LOOKING AT STEPS IN
THE CONTRACT THAT AFFECT
PROCEDURAL JUSTICE.
IN ORDER TO HAVE FAITH IN THE
OUTCOME, THERE HAS TO BE FAITH
THAT THE PROCESS WAS A GOOD
ONE.
BOTH PERCEIVED AS FAIR FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE ELEMENTS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS I WILL COVER
THAT SPEAK TO THAT.
THIRDLY, MAKING SURE THOSE
PROVISIONS CONTINUING TO GET
FUNDS OVER TIME.
SO, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S
RECOMMENDATIONS, THE FIRST HAS
BEEN ECHOED BY THE COMMUNITY
AND THE PARTNERS AT THE TABLE
AND THAT HAS BEEN THE IDEA OF
AN EXTERNAL ADVISOR OR SOME SORT
OF NEUTRAL ADVISOR PRESENCE
THAT CAN PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY
TO THE BARGAINING PROCESS.
THERE IS ALSO AN ELEMENT IN
THAT NEUTRAL ADVISOR ALSO, THAT
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
TECHNICAL ADVICE AND THERE IS
CERTAINLY PRECEDENT AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OVERSIGHT
ENTITIES THAT THE TECHNICAL
ADVICE THAT THE THREE ENTITIES
CAN PROVIDE CONTINUES TO BE
PART OF THAT PROCESS.
BOTH AGENDA SETTING AS IS
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AS WELL.
PARTICULAR POINTS RELATED TO
THE CONTRACT HAVE BEEN
ARTICULATED PREVIOUSLY, SO I
WILL BE BRIEF.
THE FIRST IS SUBPOENA POWER.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND
OTHERS INCLUDING THE COUNCIL
HAVE REPEATEDLY HEARD IN
TALKING TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS,
THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING DATA.
SO SUBPOENA POWER IS NOT
NECESSARILY IN THE SAME WAY
THAT OPA MIGHT NEED SUBPOENA
POWER.
THIS IS SUBPOENA POWER FOR
SYSTEMIC OVERSIGHT FOR THE
AUDITING FUNCTION OF THE
OFFICE.
SO IT IS CRITICAL FOR THAT THAT
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL BE ABLE
TO GET INFORMATION SHE NEEDS
FOR A FAIR AND EFFECTIVE AUDIT,
AT THE TIME SHE NEEDS IT.
SO YOU HAVE PUBLIC MECHANISMS
LIKE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.
YOU HAVE YOUR USUAL ROUTES OF
ORDINATION AND COOPERATION, BUT
SUBPOENA POWER IS THE FINAL
ANSWER IN THE GAME.
IF THINGS AREN'T WORKING.
IF YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED
SOMETHING, THAT AUTHORITY, THAT
BACKSTOP NEEDS TO BE THERE TO
SUPPORT THE AUTHORITY OF THE
OFFICE TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR WHAT
IT MEANS, OUTSIDE WHAT IS
ALREADY PROVIDED BY CITY LAWS.
AND THROUGH THE SPOG CONTRACT.
SECONDLY, HAVING ALL MISCONDUCT
ALLEGATIONS HELD TO A
PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE
STANDARD.
AND THE TIMELINE THAT THE
DIRECTOR HAS SPOKEN TO, HAVING
CLARITY AROUND WHAT STARTS THAT
180 DAY CLOCK AND PROVISIONS
FOR TOLLING AND OTHER ASPECTS
RELATED.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT PROCEDURAL
FAIRNESS, IT IS IF THE PROCESS
IS CLEAR, IT BUILDS TRUST THAT
THIS IS A SYSTEM EVERYONE
AGREED TO.
THIS IS WHAT THIS STEP IS.
THIS IS WHAT TRIGGERS IT AND
THEN YOU CAN HAVE A
CONVERSATION.
LET'S FIRST GET WHAT DOES IT
MEAN TO START THAT CLOCK.
ARBITRATION IS A THEME THAT HAS
RESONATED WITH BOTH OVERSIGHT,
THE MAYOR AND THE COURT AS
WELL.
HAVING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE THERE.
THAT INCREASES TRANSPARENCY AND
EFFICIENCY OF THAT PROCESS.
UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITIES
AND THE PRECEDENTS INVOLVED IN
ALL OF THAT, BUT RECOGNIZING
THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING
CLARITY IN PERCEPTIONS OF
FAIRNESS AROUND THAT AS WELL.
FINALLY, CIVILIAN SWORN
INVESTIGATIVE STAFFING IS A NEW
CONCEPT THAT HAS NOT BEEN
RAISED BEFORE, THAT THE IG IS
HIGHLIGHTING.
THAT IS THAT IN THE CONTRACT
THAT ALLOWS OPA TO HIRE UP TO
TWO CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS.
THAT REPRESENTS A RELATIVELY
SMALL PROPORTION OF THE AMOUNT
OF INVESTIGATORS ON STAFF, SO
THE REST WOULD BE SWORN
OFFICERS.
WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS PASSED,
THE IDEA WAS, WHAT IS THE RIGHT
MIX?
WHAT PERCENTAGE MAKE SENSE?
ALL CIVILIAN, NO CIVILIAN, SOME
MIXED.
WHEN YOU START WITH A LIMIT OF
TWO OUT OF 10, YOU ARE ALREADY
CONSTRAINING THE ABILITY TO
INVESTIGATE WHAT IS THE RIGHT
MIX.
SO JUST ENCOURAGING HAVING THE
FREEDOM WITHIN THAT PROCESS TO
BE ABLE TO FULLY EXPLORE THAT
QUESTION, GET TO THE RIGHT
ANSWER AND WHEN EVERYONE AGREES
ON WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS,
NOT HAVING TO GO THROUGH
ANOTHER ROUND OF BARGAINING FOR
FINAL IMPLEMENTATION OF WHAT
THAT MODEL MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
I WOULD CONCLUDE BY SAYING IN
TERMS OF STRENGTHENING
OVERSIGHT INDEPENDENCE, THAT THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL LOOKS FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THE CITY AND
MAINTAINING THE STRENGTH WITH
OVERSIGHT PARTNERS AND RESOURCE
STAFFING AND THE ABILITY TO
ENSURE THE SYSTEM IS DOING WHAT
IT IS SUPPOSED TO.
>> THANK YOU AND BEFORE WE MOVE
ON, I KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE
THAT ALL THREE OF THE OVERSIGHT
BODIES FLAG.
I DO WANT TO FLAG -- I AM
INTERESTED IN HAVING AN OFF-
LINE CONVERSATION ABOUT
ARBITRATION IN LIGHT OF
APPENDIX C IN THE DECEMBER 13,
2019, FILING THAT ADDRESSES
WHAT I PERCEIVED AS MANY OF THE
CONCERNS WITH ARBITRATION.
WITH A NEW, RANDOMIZED
SELECTION PROCESS AND
IDENTIFIED QUALIFICATIONS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MOVING
INTO NEGOTIATIONS I HAVE A GOOD
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOUR
ONGOING ISSUES ARE WITH
ARBITRATION, GIVEN THIS NEW
ARRANGEMENT THAT HAS BEEN
WORKED OUT BETWEEN SEATTLE
HUMAN RESOURCES AND SPOG AS IT
RELATES TO ARBITRATORS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO ALL OF
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXTERNAL
ADVISOR, ACCOUNTABILITY EXPERTS
BEING PART OF THE BARGAINING
GOING FORTH.
ALSO, NUMBER ONE HERE IS THE
BURDEN OF PROOF AND STANDARDS
OF REVIEW.
WE WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO
RETURN TO A USE OF PREPONDERANT
STANDARDS FOR ALL ALLEGATIONS
OF MISCONDUCT.
ALSO WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT
THE REFORMING OF THE
CALCULATION OF THE 180 DAY
TIMELINE AND I HAVE TO
REITERATE THAT BECAUSE IT HAS
BEEN CLEARLY ARTICULATED BY THE
OTHER SPEAKERS.
ALSO THE AUTHORITY FOR SUBPOENA
POWER HAS BEEN THERE.
ALSO, REFORMING THE FEATURES OF
DISCIPLINE TO AFFECT PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE AND WHAT IS THE
STANDARD OF REVIEW?
THE OTHER ONE THAT REALLY
STANDS OUT IS THE DISHONESTY.
TO REMOVE REQUIREMENTS THAT
INTENTIONALITY MUST BE PROVEN
AND ALSO, THE LAST PART OF THAT
IS THE OBLIGATION TO BE HONEST
SHOULD EXTEND TO ALL ACTIONS
AND STATEMENTS.
NOT ONLY DURING THE INTERVIEW,
BUT ALL ALONG.
LET'S SEE HERE.
TO ENSURE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT
AUTHORITY INCLUDES ALLOCATION OF
CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT THIS IS THERE AND TO
CONTINUE.
ANDREW ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE
TOOLING THAT IS NECESSARY THERE.
ANOTHER ONE ALSO IMPORTANT IS
THAT THE CHIEF SHOULD BE
EMPOWERED TO PLACE EMPLOYEES ON
LEAVE WITHOUT PAY IF THERE IS
AN ALLEGATION.
I THINK THAT NEEDS TO GO BACK
INTO THAT.
ALSO, REFORM AROUND SECONDARY
EMPLOYMENT.
THAT WAS A PROBLEM ALSO.
ALSO REVISING THE STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS BECAUSE SOMETIMES
YOU FIND OUT LATER THAT THE
RECORDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN HELD
LONGER, ESPECIALLY IN POLICE
BRUTALITY CASES AND STUFF LIKE
THAT.
SO I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE IS
PRETTY MUCH ARTICULATED BY THE
TWO PARTNERS.
>> FANTASTIC, THANK YOU ALL.
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE
INTO AMENDMENTS?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
THANKS EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE
TODAY.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY, WHEN WE
APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION, GREG
MENTIONED THE LETTERS ARE BEING
ATTACHED.
THESE ARE VERY THOUGHTFUL
LETTERS.
THOROUGH.
I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE
VOTING ON THE RESOLUTION IS NOT
TO VOTE ON THE LETTERS, CORRECT?
THAT IS JUST SORT OF A CLERK
FILE, NOT THAT WE ARE APPROVING
THE LETTERS.
>> I BELIEVE THE AMENDMENT IS
TO ATTACH THEM TO THE
RESOLUTION AS AN ATTACHMENT,
NOT THAT WE ARE APPROVING THE
LETTERS, BUT IT IS A RESOURCE
THAT IS REFERRED TO IN THE
RESOLUTION ITSELF AS IN, SEE
ATTACHMENT ONE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE
APPROVING THE LETTERS.
>> IT IS IN THE WHEREAS
STATEMENTS WHERE THEY REFERENCE
THE LETTERS.
I THINK RESOURCE IS A GOOD WAY
TO DESCRIBE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SOMETIMES WE USE CLERK FILES
IF WE ARE PASSING AN ORDINANCE.
SINCE THIS IS A RESOLUTION,
SIMPLY INCLUDING AN ATTACHMENT
I THINK IS A CLEANER WAY TO
HAVE EVERYTHING BE IN PLACE.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO
PROPOSE AMENDMENT ONE TO
COUNCIL RESOLUTION 3190 AND
THIS IS THE AMENDMENT -- OH,
HERE, I SHOULD MAKE SURE YOU
ALL HAVE COPIES OF THESE
PACKETS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, MAY I ADD ONE
THING TO MY COMMENTS?
I THINK I WOULD DRAW A
DIFFERENTIATION THAT IF THE
COUNCIL WERE TO TRY TO SEND A
STATEMENT APPROVING THE CONTENT
OF THE LETTERS, YOU WOULD WANT
TO DO THAT IN THE OPERATIVE
SECTION.
YOU WOULD SAY THE COUNCIL IS
HEREBY ADOPTING OR PROVING THE
CONTENT OF THE LETTERS.
SO THAT IS WHY I SEE IT MORE AS
A REFERENCE OR A RESOURCE.
>> THANK YOU.
SO THIS AMENDMENT IS A
TECHNICAL CHANGE.
IT ADDS TO THE WHEREAS
STATEMENT, THE SPECIFIC
CITATION FOR THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE PROVISION THAT
IS REFERENCED.
SO ON LINE 2, LINE 9 AFTER
WHEREAS, THE AMENDMENT IS TO
DELETE THE WORD THE.
AND PAGE 2, LINE 9, AFTER THE
ABBREVIATION, WOULD ADD
SUBSECTION 4.0 4.12 0G.
AND THEN OF COURSE, WE WILL
RENUMBER THE SECTIONAL LINES
ACCORDINGLY.
THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE AMENDMENT
ONE.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR -- AND
DEPOSED AND ABSTAINING.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO, ATTACHES
TO THE RESOLUTION A LETTER
WHICH SUPPORTS THE CPC
STATEMENTS MADE ON PAGES TWO
AND THREE.
SO THE AMENDMENT ITSELF ON PAGE
3, LINE 9, AFTER THE WORD
DECISIONS WE HAD THESE
PRIORITIES ARE FURTHER DETAILED
IN A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 25,
2019 IS ATTACHMENT ONE TO THIS
RESOLUTION.
PAGE 7, AFTER LINE 13, WE ADD
THE WORDS ATTACHMENT ONE.
CPC, RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING
CITY OF SEATTLE LABOR
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICERS KILLED AND
SEATTLE POLICE MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION, NOVEMBER 25, 2019.
THEN WE RENUMBER SECTIONS AND
LINES ACCORDINGLY.
I MOVE AMENDMENT TWO.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> I AM GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM
THE THREE OF THEM, JUST BECAUSE
--
>> OH, ONE ABSTAINING, SORRY.
>> I WILL JUST ABSTAIN FROM
ADDING THE THREE LETTERS,
BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF
IT.
I AM NOT ON THE LABOR RELATIONS
POLICY COMMITTEE, SO I PREFER
TO ABSTAIN.
>> ALL RIGHT, I ASSURE YOU,
THESE HAVE ALL BEEN REVIEWED BY
THE LOT APARTMENT --
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> PROPOSED AMENDMENT THREE TO
RESOLUTION 31930, THIS
AMENDMENT ATTACHES TO THE
RESOLUTION A LETTER FROM THE
OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH AGAIN
SUPPORTS THE STATEMENTS MADE BY
THE OPA AND OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL ON PAGES THREE AND
FOUR.
SO THIS AMENDMENT ON PAGE 4,
LINE 4, AFTER PROCESS, ADDS THE
WORDS THESE PRIORITIES ARE
FURTHER DETAILED IN A LETTER
FROM THE OPA DATED JANUARY 27,
2020, AS ATTACHMENT TO TO THE
RESOLUTION.
THEN WE ADD THE WORDS, ADD
ATTACHMENT TO, UPCOMING
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS KILLED.
JANUARY 27, 2020, AND WE
RENUMBER THE SECTION AND LINES
ACCORDINGLY.
I MOVE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
THREE.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
ONE ABSTAINED, NONE OPPOSED.
THE AMENDMENT PASSES, AND THEN
THE FINAL AMENDMENT IS PROPOSED
AMENDMENT FOR TO COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 31930 AND THIS
AMENDMENT ATTACHES TO THE
RESOLUTION THE LETTER FROM THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY WHICH SUPPORTS A
STATEMENT MADE BY THE OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL AND OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ON PAGES
THREE AND FOUR.
SO THIS AMENDMENT ON PAGE 4,
LINE 4, AFTER THE WORD PROCESS,
ADDS THESE PRIORITIES ARE
FURTHER DETAILED IN A LETTER
FROM THE OIG DATED JANUARY 7,
2020, AS ATTACHMENT THREE.
AND PAGE 7, LINE 13, ADDS THE
WORDS ATTACHMENT THREE,
FEEDBACK REGARDING SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICERS, CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITY,
JANUARY 27, 2020.
AND AGAIN, RE-NUMBERS THE
SECTIONS AND LINES ACCORDINGLY.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I
WOULD LIKE TO MOVE AMENDMENT
FOR --
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR -- SO, THE AMENDMENT
PASSES, THREE APPROVING AND ONE
ABSTENTION.
AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THE
AMENDED VERSION, 31930 BEFORE
US, ARE THERE ANY THOUGHTS OR
COMMENTS?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION.
IN THE BE IT RESOLVED SECTION
WHERE IT SAYS FACILITATING
COMMUNITY POLICE DIALOGUE, JUST
FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR ME, CAN
WE CLARIFY WHAT THAT MEANS?
FACILITATING COMMUNITY POLICE
DIALOGUE.
>> IS THIS ONE OF THE RECITALS?
>> IT IS BE IT RESOLVED,
SECTION 1. THE END OF THE FIRST
SENTENCE.
>> IT IS SORT OF A GENERAL
STATEMENT OF ONE OF THE GOALS
THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND
THE INTENT IS TO EXPRESS AN
ONGOING INTEREST IN DIALOGUE
BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND
POLICE.
>> OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> THAT IS AN ONGOING GOAL FOR
OUR PRESENTATIONS.
>> I WONDERED IF IT HAD TO DO
WITH COMMUNITY POLICING, BUT IT
IS MORE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
THE COMMUNITY AND POLICE.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHERS?
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT I MOVE
AMENDMENT RESOLUTION 31930.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR --
>> AND ONE ABSTENTION.
SO THIS WILL MOVE TO FULL
COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 10.
AND OUR LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA
IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, ALEX, CAN
YOU READ IT TO THE RECORD.
>> ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, REPORT ON
2020 COUNCIL BUDGET ADDS TO THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> WE CAN BE JOINED AT THE
TABLE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE
EVERYBODY'S PATIENTS GETTING
THROUGH A LONG AGENDA.
WE CAN DO SOME INTRODUCTIONS.
>> ALY PENNUCCI, CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> AMY GORE, CENTRAL STAFF.
>> THANK YOU, I HAVE ASKED
CENTRAL STAFF BECAUSE OF
CONCERNS WE'VE BEEN HEARING
FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE
PACE OF THE EXECUTIVE'S
IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNCIL
BUDGET PRIORITIES ENACTED IN
THE NOVEMBER COUNCIL VOTE AND I
HAVE ASKED THAT WE, AS A
COUNSEL, CONSIDER THAT OUR
EXPECTATIONS FOR THOSE BUDGET
ADDS BE TEMPERED BY AN
NDERSTANDING OF WHETHER
THESE ARE EXPANSIONS OF
EXISTING CONTRACTS OR
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PROGRAMS.
SO CENTRAL STAFF HAVE WORKED
WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT ON GETTING SOME
CLARITY ON WHICH ITEMS THE
EXECUTIVE FEELS ARE EXTENSIONS
OF EXISTING CONTRACTS.
WHICH ITEMS MIGHT BE SERVICES
AGENCIES ALREADY PROVIDE, BUT
WE ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER OR
NOT TO GO OUT FOR A NEW RFP AND
WHICH ITEMS ACTUALLY REQUIRE
SOME PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT,
BECAUSE WE ARE CONTEMPLATING
FINDING A SERVICE THAT IS NOT
CURRENTLY FUNDED AT ALL.
SO, AMY AND ALY HAVE PUT
TOGETHER A SUMMARY THAT I THINK
CAN INFORM OUR EXPECTATIONS.
I WILL CLARIFY THESE ARE ONLY
-- THESE ARE ALL OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT ADS THAT DO
NOT INCLUDE THE HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES ADDS IN LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, OF WHICH
THERE ARE MANY.
BUT THAT FALLS INTO THE
BAILIWICK OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS.
SO WITH THAT I TURN IT OVER.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
AS YOU MENTIONED, ALY AND I ARE
HERE TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON
THE STATUS OF COUNCIL ADDITIONS
TO THE 2020 BUDGET.
LAST FALL , COUNCIL APPROVED
SEVERAL CHANGES INCLUDING YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH EDUCATION,
LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED
DIVERSION AND HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS MEMO
DOES NOT REFLECT HOMELESSNESS.
LAST WEEK, CENTRAL STAFF MET TO
DISCUSS THE STATUS OF EXECUTING
CONTRACTS WITH PROVIDERS TO FUND
PRIORITIES IN THE 2020 BUDGET.
IN GENERAL THEY FALL INTO FOUR
CATEGORIES.
FIRST WOULD BE AN ADDITION TO
AN EXISTING CONTRACT.
THIS IS WHEN HST ALREADY HAS A
CONTRACT WITH AN APPROPRIATE
SERVICE PROVIDER AND CAN ADD A
NEW OR EXPANDED PROGRAM TO THAT
CONTRACT.
THE GOAL IS TO BE COMPLETED BY
JANUARY 31 OF THIS YEAR.
CONTRACTS INCLUDE $124,000 FOR
SEX INDUSTRY WORKER DIVERSION
PROGRAMMING.
$10,000 FOR TRANSPORTATION AND
ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS AND
$15,000 FOR EDUCATIONAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS TARGETED TO THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN DS BORA.
THE SECOND CATEGORY WOULD BE NEW
SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACTS.
THIS IS WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE
TO USE A SINGLE CONTRACT,
RATHER THAN COMPETITIVE
BIDDING.
THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THESE
COMPLETED BY FEBRUARY 29, 2020.
IT INCLUDES $140,000 FOR THE
HARM REDUCTION PROGRAM FOR
STREET-BASED SEX WORKERS.
THIRD, WE HAVE NO, SOLE-SOURCE
CONTRACTS THAT INCLUDE CAPITAL
COST.
FOR EXAMPLE, BUILDING A HEALTH
CLINIC.
CONTRACTS OF CAPITAL COST OF
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND
REQUIRE FURTHER LEGAL REVIEW.
HSD INDICATED THEY WILL TAKE
LONGER THAN THE SOLE-SOURCE
CONTRACTS THEY WERE TRYING TO
GET DONE BY THE END OF
FEBRUARY, BUT DID NOT HAVE AN
EXACT TIMELINE AT THE END OF
OUR MEETING LAST WEEK.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE 1.8
MILLION TO CONSTRUCT A HEALTH
CLINIC.
FINALLY, THERE WERE THREE
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WERE
INVOLVED IN ONGOING
DISCUSSIONS.
HSD INDICATED THEY WERE
DELIBERATING ABOUT THESE ADS TO
DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE
CONTRACTING APPROACH, SOLE-
SOURCE OR AN RFP, OR THE SCOPE
OF WORK THAT WILL BE FUNDED.
THIS WORK INCLUDES OUTREACH TO
RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS AND
INPUT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
HST DID NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC
TIMELINE FOR THESE CONTRACTS
AND THIS CATEGORY INCLUDED
$522,000 FOR YOUTH DIVERSION,
COMMUNITY BUILDING AND
EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
$3.5 MILLION FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION
AND $755,000 FOR FOOD ACCESS
AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS.
WE WILL BE MEETING AGAIN WITH
HST STAFF SOON TO GET ANOTHER
UPDATE AND HOPEFULLY GET
CLARITY ON THE EXPECTED
TIMELINES IN THESE ONGOING
DISCUSSION CATEGORY.
>> ON THOSE TWO ITEMS, THE
$300,000 FOR ONE TIME GENERAL
FUND FOR YOUTH DIVERSION,
COMMUNITY BUILDING AND
EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND THE
$222,000 FOR SIMILAR OBJECTIVES,
I REMEMBER THERE WAS A GREAT
DEAL OF DISCUSSION DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS ABOUT THE NEED
TO PROVIDE THIS FUNDING, BECAUSE
IT COULD BE USED TO IMMEDIATELY
AUGMENT EXISTING CONTRACTS.
I APPOINTED TO THE $1.3 MILLION
IN FUNDING AND NEW DOLLARS THAT
THE COUNCIL PROVIDED IN 2018 FOR
-- WE VOTED IN 2018 TO ALLOCATE
IN 2020, $1.3 MILLION IN YOUTH
DIVERSION FUNDS THAT WAS GOING
TO BE THE DISPERSION OF THOSE
FUNDS, DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY-
BASED PROCESS, THAT THE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS WAS ENGAGED IN.
AND WE HAVE A TIMELINE FOR THAT
AND THE FUNDING IS, FOR THE
MOST PART, ON TRACK WITH WHAT
WE WERE TOLD IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS.
BUT THE NEED FOR THESE FUNDS,
THAT ARE IN HSD'S BUDGET, IT
WAS DESCRIBED THAT THEY WOULD
BE ALLOCATED MORE QUICKLY WITH
MORE URGENCY IF WE PROVIDED
THAT FUNDING TO HSD, THEN IF WE
WAITED FOR THE COMMUNITY DRIVEN
GRANT PROCESS THAT SOC R WAS
LEADING FOR THE ANTICIPATED
2020 FUNDING FOR A VERY SIMILAR
PROGRAM.
SO IT SOUNDS TO ME THOUGH THAT
WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED TO HAPPEN
WITH THESE FUNDS AND THEM
GETTING OUT THE DOOR VERY
QUICKLY IS NOT LIKELY, BASED ON
THE FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS
IDENTIFIED AS AN EXISTING
CONTRACT, THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT THE
EXPECTED TIMING IN 2020 AND THE
ONLY INFORMATION WE HAVE IS
ONGOING DISCUSSION.
>> RIGHT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF
WE CAN MAKE A CLAIM ABOUT HOW
QUICKLY IT WILL GO.
HST WAS NOT READY TO COMMIT TO
THE JANUARY OR FEBRUARY
DEADLINE AT OUR MEETING LAST
WEEK.
IT DID NOT, WHEN WE WERE
DISCUSSING THEM, SOUND QUITE AS
COMPLICATED AS SOME OF THE
OTHER LONG-TERM CONTRACTS, BUT
WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THEM,
ABSOLUTELY.
>> I THINK FOLLOWING UP -- I
MEAN, WE KNOW WHAT SOME OF THE
SERVICES THAT THE COUNCIL WAS
ANTICIPATING WOULD BE PROVIDED
WITH THESE FUNDS.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ENSURE
THAT THE CONVERSATIONS ARE
HAPPENING WITH THE PROVIDERS OF
THOSE SERVICES.
AND I WOULD ASK, AGAIN, GIVEN
THE COUNCILS EXPECTATION FOR
THIS FUNDING, IT WOULD BE GREAT
TO PRESS A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT
WE ANTICIPATE FOR EXPECTED
TIMING.
>> I THINK IN CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS
REVIEWING THE FUNDING PROCESS
MANUAL THAT SORT OF LAYS OUT
BEST CIRCUMSTANCES THE EXPECTED
WAY THAT THEY SORT OF MANAGE
DIFFERENT BUDGET CHANGES AND
THAT SORT OF THING.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
POINTED OUT IN THAT GUIDELINE
AS THEY DEVELOP A FUNDING
PROCESS GUIDELINE.
SO THAT IS ONE OF THE ASKS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT FOR THOSE
CONTRACTS THAT WE DON'T EXPECT
TO SEE OR THEY ARE NOT
COMMITTING TO GET OUT THE DOOR
IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.
CAN WE SEE THAT TIMELINE AND
UNDERSTAND WHERE THE QUESTIONS
ARE?
I THINK THE CONVERSATION
FLUCTUATED BETWEEN AN URGENCY
OF FUNDING AND ALSO THAT THE
$1.3 MILLION ADDED PREVIOUSLY
BY THE COUNCIL WAS, YOU KNOW,
IN THE WHOLE COMMUNITY DRIVEN
PROCESS, AND ALL OF THOSE
THINGS WAS IMPORTANT, BUT NOT
SUFFICIENT FOR ALL OF THOSE
PROGRAMS SO IT WAS BOTH AN
URGENCY AND WE NEED STILL MORE
THAN THAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY ARE
WANTING TO TALK TO THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS THEY WERE NAMED
SPECIFICALLY IN THE BUDGET,TO
UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPECTATIONS
IN TERMS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF
THE FUNDING BETWEEN THE
ORGANIZATIONS AND THOSE TYPES
OF THINGS, SO WE WILL PUSH A
LITTLE BIT AND TRY TO GET MORE
DETAILED INFORMATION FOR THE
COMMITTEE.
>> IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO
UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE
IDENTIFIED AS NEW, AS OPPOSED
TO EXISTING, BECAUSE I WAS
UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SOME
OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
PROVIDE THE SERVICES WE ARE
INTERESTED IN PROVIDING DO HAVE
CURRENT CONTRACTS WITH THE
CITY.
>> I THINK AT LEAST ONE I KNOW
OF HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY,
BUT IT IS THROUGH DOM AND SOME
OF THEM HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY
FUNDED, BUT I AM NOT AWARE OF
ANY CURRENT CONTRACT HE'S WITH
HST SPECIFICALLY.
>> SO IT IS NOT WHICH
ORGANIZATION --
>> THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING,
BUT WE CAN DOUBLE CHECK
EVERYTHING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE
OSC SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
BUDGET ACTION FOR MICRO GRANTS
TO INCLUDE FRESH FOOD OPTIONS.
THESE ARE TERMED EXISTING
CONTRACTS, WHICH IMPLIES
CONTRACTING SHOULD BE COMPLETED
BY JANUARY 31, YET BOTH ARE
LISTED AS IN ONGOING
DISCUSSION, WITH NO FURTHER
DETAILS.
DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION?
>> SURE, THESE ARE MOST LIKELY
EITHER GOING TO BE PROPORTIONAL
ADDITIONS TO EXISTING CONTRACTS,
OR THEY WILL GO THROUGH SOME
PROCESS TO CHOOSE ONE OR MORE
EXISTING CONTRACTS.
I THINK THEY JUST HAVEN'T MADE
THAT DECISION YET, WHETHER IT
WILL BE PROPORTIONALLY
DISTRIBUTED OR IF CERTAIN
CONTRACTS WILL BE SELECTED FOR
A LARGER PORTION OF THOSE
FUNDS.
>> OKAY, BUT NO FEELING THAT WE
WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE
DECISIONS BY AN EXPECTED
TIMELINE?
>> NOT YET, NO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHILE I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING
THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER.
IT ALLOWS US TO FOLLOW-UP ON
WHAT WE KNOW AND DON'T KNOW.
ONE OF THE ITEMS IN THE LETTER
I WANTED TO PUT A FINE POINT
ON, SIMILAR ISSUE AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, SOMETHING
THAT IS IDENTIFIED AS AN
EXISTING CONTRACT, BUT YET
LISTED IN THE CHART IS AN
ONGOING DISCUSSION WITHOUT A
LOT OF DETAILS AND THAT IS THE
COUNCIL'S INTENT TO EXPAND THE
LEAD PROGRAM.
I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
ANXIETY IN THE PUBLIC AROUND
THE TIMING FOR THE EXPANSION OF
THE PROGRAM.
LEAD HAS A VERY GOOD OUTCOME.
AROUND RECIDIVISM AND OTHER
PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
THERE IS ONGOING DISCUSSION
ABOUT FURTHER DEVELOPING THOSE
REPORTING MEASURES.
THERE IS NOTHING TO SUGGEST
THAT THEY ARE NOT MEETING AND
EXCEEDING THE REPORTING
MEASURES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY
REQUIRING.
THE ONGOING REPORTING ON.
I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
EXPRESSED CONCERN, BECAUSE SOME
OF THIS EXPANSION LAST YEAR FOR
THE PROGRAM IS TO EXPAND INTO
THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS THAT MANY
OF US ON THE COUNCIL REPRESENT.
THE COUNCIL ALLOCATED AN
ADDITIONAL $3.5 MILLION TO
FULLY FUND THE PROGRAM HELPING
ADDRESS SOME OF OUR MOST
DIFFICULT CHALLENGES AND TO
ENSURE THAT OUR CITY'S MOST
VULNERABLE CITIZENS CAN AVOID
THE REVOLVING DOOR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHICH WE HEARD
A LOT FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT
THIS MORNING, WHEN APPROPRIATE
AND POSSIBLE, WHILE ALSO
IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY
OUTCOMES.
RIGHT NOW, LEAD HAS RESERVED
REFERRALS FOR 300 INDIVIDUALS
WHO THEY ARE UNABLE TO SERVE
DUE TO A LACK OF RESOURCES.
THEY ARE ALSO UNABLE TO TAKE
NEW REFERRALS, A KEY COMPONENT
OF THIS PROGRAM.
THERE IS EVERY REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT THE TRUE NEED IS
MUCH GREATER, WHICH IS WHY THE
COUNCIL ADDED ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES.
THE BACKLOG COMPRISES WHAT IS
KNOWN AS SOCIAL CONTACTS.
THE LEAD PROGRAM HAS A
PRIORITIZATION PROCESS AND
SOCIAL CONTACT REFERRALS, WHICH
AGAIN ARE WHAT THE BACKLOG ARE
COMPOSED OF, ARE INDIVIDUALS
WHO OFFICERS HAVE REASON TO
BELIEVE COMMIT CRIMES DUE TO
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OR POVERTY,
BUT THEY MAY NOT HAVE PROBABLE
CAUSE TO MAKE AN ARREST FRAYED
THE VERTEBRAL CRIME AT THE
MOMENT.
BUT THAT SON SOCIAL CONTACT
REFERRALS CAN GIVE AN
ALTERNATIVE TO REFER THEM TO
úLEAD.
THEY TRY HARD TO PRIORITIZE
SOCIAL CONTACT REFERRALS FROM
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS IN
OUR CITY, BECAUSE AGAIN, LEAD
IS A PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM THAT
EXISTS TO PRIORITIZE RESPONDING
TO EMERGING PUBLIC SAFETY AND
DISORDER ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY
THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE LIVE
AND WORK.
THE CONCERN THAT I THINK WE ALL
SHARE ABOUT THE CURRENT
PROPOSAL OF FUNDING.
THE CURRENT CASELOAD AND BACKLOG
IS THAT IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR THEM TO REALLY TAKE HIGH-
PRIORITY ARREST REFERRALS AND
THEY CANNOT OPERATE AS A
PROGRAM, WITHOUT BEING ABLE
AGAIN, THE BACKLOG IS LARGELY
SOCIAL CONTACT REFERRALS.
IT HAS BEEN DE-PRIORITIZED
BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER NEED TO
TAKE THE HIGHER PRIORITY ARREST
REFERRALS.
THAT, AGAIN, IS PART OF OUR
INTEREST AND DESIRE TO EXPAND
THIS PROGRAM GEOGRAPHICALLY.
SO WHERE I APPRECIATE THE
CORRESPONDENCE WE RECEIVED FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE YESTERDAY
AND I APPRECIATE THE CLARITY OF
WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS A LETTER THAT I
WOULD LIKE US TO SEND.
I AM DISTRIBUTING IT IN MY
COMMITTEE BECAUSE THIS IS A
LETTER FROM MY COMMITTEE AND
BECAUSE WE HAVE OPEN PUBLIC
MEETING ISSUES.
WE HAVE TO SIGN IT IN OPEN
SESSION.
SO THIS LETTER HAS FOUR
OBJECTIVES.
ONE IS TO CONFIRM THE MAYOR'S
COMMITMENT THAT THE CITY
INTENDS TO PROVIDE PROGRAM
FUNDING IN 2020 THAT INCLUDES
THE COUNCILS ADDITIONAL $3.5
MILLION INVESTMENT.
THE PURPOSE IS TO EXECUTE A
CONTRACT FOR THE ADDITIONAL
FUNDS BY MARCH 1 OF THIS YEAR,
WITH PROVISION OF PERFORMANCE
DATA TO BE COLLECTED THAT MAY
BE MODIFIED BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT
BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
TO AFFIRM THAT LEAD IS A PUBLIC
SAFETY PROGRAM AND NOT A
HOMELESSNESS INTERVENTION
PROGRAM AND FOR ONGOING
INFORMATION I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY I HAVE HAD TO SPEAK
DIRECTLY WITH THE MAYOR ON
THIS, AS WELL AS THE DEPUTY
MAYOR, BUT THERE IS STILL A
NEED TO GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF SOME OF THE
CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND SO THE
LETTER ITSELF CONTAINS
QUESTIONS WE WOULD LIKE SOME
ANSWERS TO.
AND THEN ALSO I JUST WANT TO
PASS AROUND TO COMPLETE THE
PACKET, THE ATTACHMENTS THAT
WILL ACCOMPANY THE LETTER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GREG, DID I MISS ANYTHING
THAT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION
HERE?
>> YOU SELDOM MISS ANYTHING,
BUT I MIGHT MENTION ONE NUANCE
THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE
BACKLOG, THE 300 INDIVIDUALS
WAITING TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE
LEAD PROGRAM, THERE IS ONE
OTHER ISSUE AND THAT IS AS THE
PROGRAM EXPANDED LAST YEAR, INTO
SOTO AND NORTH PRECINCT, THEY
STRETCHED TOO FAR AND NOW EACH
CAST CASE MANAGER HAS 45 CASES.
IT IS NOT JUST THE NEW MONEY
ALLOWING THE CITY TO ADDRESS
THE BACKLOG.
IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW THE PROGRAM
TO RIGHT SIZE THEIR CASE
MANAGER CLIENT LOAD AND IF THAT
DIDN'T HAPPEN, THEY WOULD
ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO BACKWARDS.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE THEIR
CASES, THEY BELIEVED BY 46%.
AND YOU MAY HAVE SAID THAT --
>> I DID NOT SAY IT, SO IT IS
VERY HELPFUL, THANK YOU.
ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING
TOGETHER THIS LETTER TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND IN READING
THE LETTER I AGREE WITH WHAT
YOU HAVE HERE, I JUST WANT TO
STATE THAT MY INTERPRETATION OF
THE LETTER IS THERE IS STILL --
YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE HARD
WORK DONE BY PREVIOUS COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO MAKE
SURE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
STICKS WITH PERFORMANCE-BASED
CONTRACTS AND I DON'T SEE
ANYTHING INCONSISTENT WITH THAT
IN THE LETTER, SO I APPRECIATE
THAT COMMITMENT TO PERFORMANCE-
BASED CONTRACTS.
I KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES
WITH COLLECTING THE OUTCOME
DATA ON RECIDIVISM.
WE OBVIOUSLY WANT TO SEE THAT,
THE SUCCESS OF LEAD, CONTINUE
WITH THE OUTCOMES AND IT IS
CHALLENGING SOMETIMES TO
COLLECT THAT DATA, BUT I AM
HOPEFUL THAT LEAD AND HST WILL
WORK OUT WHERE TO GET THAT
DATA, SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING
THAT TOGETHER.
>> I AM OPTIMISTIC, TOO, AND
WORKING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
PART OF THE CONVERSATION MOVING
FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, I WILL PASS THE
LETTER FOR SIGNING.
AND I WILL FILIBUSTER HERE FOR
A MINUTE, WHILE ALL OF THE
SIGNATURES GET ADDED TO, SO WE
ARE TRULY IN OPEN SESSION.
BUT WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK THE WORK THAT CENTRAL
STAFF IS DONE ON THE OVERALL
FUNDING ISSUE AND IN PARTICULAR
THE WORK THAT GREG DOSS HAS
DONE THIS WEEK ON TWO OF OUR
HOT ISSUES ON THE COMMITTEE
AGENDA TODAY, SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
WITH THAT IT IS 12:0 7 PM AND
IF THERE IS NO OTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE,
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
>> THANKS, EVERYBODY.