>>> OUR SPONSORS AARP OF
SEATTLE.
SALES FORCE AND TABLO.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I'M ESSEX PORTER.
I WILL BE YOUR MODERATOR AND
THREE DISTINGUISHED REPORTERS
HANNA KIM AND HANNA SCOTT.
BRUCE HARRELL AND LORENA
GONZALEZ.
USE THE # LAW ELECTS.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE A
MINUTE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION
WITH A FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL GET 90
SECONDS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
AND TALK ABOUT THEIR VISION FOR
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH
AND WE ARE ASKING THEM TO SHARE
JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT
THEMSELVES THAT MOST OF US
DON'T KNOW.
THE ORDER WAS DETERMINED ABOUT
A COIN FLIP AND BRUCE HARRELL
WON THAT LAST WEEK AND THIS
WEEK IT IS MS. GONZALEZ TURN.
GOOD EVENING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
US.
I AM HONORED TO BE HERE WITH
YOU.
I AM A LATINO AND THE FIRST
LATINO IN THE HISTORY FOR YOUR
CANDIDATE TO BE SEATTLE'S FIRST
EVER ELECTED WOMAN OF COLOR TO
BE YOUR MAYOR.
YOU KNOW, AS SOMEBODY WHO HAD
MATERNITY LEAVE TO COME BACK
AND LEAD THE RECOVERY IN COVID
I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO GET TO
WORK QUICKLY AND URGENTLY AND
TO HELP LEAD ON THE PANDEMIC
THAT IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME
PANDEMIC.
COVID CERTAINLY HIT US HARD
HERE IN SEATTLE.
BUT WE GOT TO WORK QUICKLY TO
GIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
DIRECT RELIEF TO SMALL
BUSINESSES AND TO FAMILIES AND
TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS
THE CITY.
IN THIS RACE, I BELIEVE I AM
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CANDIDATE FOR
ALL PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
I HAVE WORKED ON GUN SAFETY
LAWS.
I HAVE INCREASED SERVICES TO
THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE.
I HAVE PAST HISTORIC
LEGISLATION TO HOLD OUR POLICE
OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE AND MY
VISION FOR THE CITY IS TO
CREATE A SAFE AND HEALTHY CITY
FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND
WHILE HIRING MORE POLICE
OFFICERS IS AN OPTION IT WILL
NOT JEN NER RATE TRUE EQUALITY.
AND I DON'T LIKE RONYONS.
THAT IS WHAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT
KNOW ABOUT ME.
>> MR. HARRELL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS JOURNEY TO BE THE MAYOR IS
EXCITING.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO EVERYONE
ABOUT NEW LEADERSHIP.
WE FIND THAT UNIFYING SEATTLE
AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY, MAKING
SURE THAT EVERYONE GETS SEVEN
MINUTE RESPONSE TIMES IS A
FEELING OF BEING SAFE AND JUST
ENJOY A QUALITY OF LIFE THAT
THIS IS RESONATING THEY WANT
POLICE REFORM AND THEY KNOW MY
BACKGROUND FOR POLICE REFORM.
WE HAVE BEEN WARMLY RECEIVED IN
NORTHGATE OR THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT SHAKING HANDS AND
TALKING TO PEOPLE.
WE HAVE A SPECIFIC PLAN AND
TALKING ABOUT INCREASING OUR
INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY
BUT NOT A MILITARIZED UNIT.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING
SOME NEW KIND OF PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICERS.
RECRUITING FOR COMMUNITIES THAT
WANT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AS
WELL AND MAKE NO MISTAKE.
I'M NOT DEFUNDING THE POLICE AS
MY OPPONENT HAS MADE IT A
PURPOSEFUL DRIVEN PART TO
DEFUND THE POLICE.
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE KNOW THAT
90% OF THE COSTS PERSONNEL
RELATED.
WE NEED EFFECTIVE POLICE
DEPARTMENTS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THESE
QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
GETTING US READY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF
FUN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET STARTED WITH THAT
CONTROVERSIAL AD THAT FOLKS
WERE SEEING A FEW DAYS AGO AND
YOU HAVE DENOUNCED THAT
ADMINISTER HARRELL AS RACIST.
IN 2017 THE AD BRINGS UP
SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID THAT
YOU SAID THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE
TO JUSTIFY NOT CALLING FOR ED
MURRAY TO RESIGN OVER NUMEROUS
CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT
ALLEGATIONS.
SO IF YOU ARE ELECTED MAYOR,
HOW CAN POLICE OFFICERS BE
EXPECTED TO TREAT SEXUAL
ASSAULT SURVIVORS WITH RESPECT
AND COMPASSION SEEING THE
EXAMPLE YOU SET YEARS AGO.
>> LET ME BE CRYSTAL CLEAR.
THAT I SUPPORT SURVIVORS AND
VICTIMS.
THAT IN MY DEFENSE OF THE
PROCESS BY WHICH WE REACH
TRUTH, MANY OF YOU KNOW THE
EMITT TILL STORY AND WHY WE
HAVE TO RESPECT THE PROCESS BY
WHICH INVESTIGATIONS WOULD GO.
I SAID THE SAME THING THAT
SALLY CLARK AND COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ SAID THAT IS A SURVIVER
HERSELF.
LET'S NOT THWART THAT PROCESS
BUT I STAND WITH SURVIVERS AND
WHAT WE SAW DURING THIS LAST
WEEK PERHAPS IN A HAIL MARY
CHANCE TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR
RACIST AD BUT WHAT WE SAW WAS
MORE IMPORTANT AND MORE
INSPIRATIONAL AS WE SAW
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING UP
AND SAY TO THE GONZALEZ
CAMPAIGN, STOP THAT, THAT IS
DIVISIVE AND THAT IS HURTFUL
AND THAT BRINGS UPON PEOPLE OF
COLOR THAT WE DO NOT WANT IN
SEATTLE SO I WAS HAPPY TO SEE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REACT
WITHIN 24 HOURS OF WHAT WE SAW.
I WILL NOT BE TONE-DEAF MAYOR.
IF I MESS UP, I WILL SAY I
MESSED UP.
I RESEARCH THE RIGHT BECAUSE I
AM HUMAN BUT I WILL TELL THE
SURVIVORS AND THE VICTIM AND WE
HAD A PERSON IN OUR PRESS
CONFERENCE SAY THAT WORK THAT I
HAVE DONE FOR SURVIVERS AND
PROUDLY AND I WANT TO THANK
THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAME FORWARD
TO DEFEND MY RECORD.
>> MS. GONZALEZ AS YOU ANSWER
THAT QUESTION AND RESPOND LET
ME PUT ANOTHER FACET OF THE
QUESTION TO YOU, IF YOU WEREN'T
SENSITIVE TO THE RACIAL
STEROTYPES FOR A VOTE HOW CAN
YOU EXPECT POLICE OFFICERS TO
BE SENSITIVE TO THE RACIAL BIAS
IN THEIR WORK?
>> LISTEN, I WANT TO START OFF
BY YOU KNOW ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
AS A WOMAN OF COLOR MYSELF, AS
SOMEBODY WHO IDENTIFIES AS
MEXICAN AMERICAN, I HAVE ALSO
BEEN SUBJECTED TO
DISCRIMINATION AND OPPRESSION
IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I HAVE APOLOGIZED AND WILL
CONTINUE TO APOLOGIZE TO
MEMBERS OF OUR MEMBERS OF COLOR
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT IS
WHY WE TOOK DOWN THE AD.
THAT SHOWS I AM REFLECTIVE
INDIVIDUAL AND THAT I LISTEN
AND I'M WILLING TO LEARN.
THE FACT THAT REMAINS IN THIS
INSTANCE HOWEVER THAT MY
OPPONENT WORK TO SHIELD ED
MURRAY FROM ANY KIND OF
CONSEQUENCE POLITICAL OR
OTHERWISE AS A RESULT OF FIVE
CREDIBLE ACCUSATIONS OF CHILD
SEXUAL ABUSE AND TO THIS DAY HE
HAS NOT MEANINGFUL APOLOGIZED
TO THE THOUSANDS OF SEXUAL
ABUSE SURVIVERS AND HAVE SEEN
WHETHER HE LEARNED HIS LESSON
GLUE ARE SORRY FOR THE WAY THE
AD WAS DONE.
DO YOU AGREE THAT AD WAS
RACIST?
>> I HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR THE
HARM THAT AD HAS CAUSED AND I
HAVE HEARD FROM BY POCK
SURVIVERS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
THE NEED TO INTEREST BY POCK
VOICES AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE
HARM THAT WAS CAUSED AS A
RESULT OF THAT AD AS EXACTLY
WHY I LISTENED AND WE TOOK DOWN
THE AD.
>> DO YOU WANT TO BE MORE
SPECIFIC ABOUT WHETHER YOU FEEL
THE AD WAS RACIST?
>> I THINK THAT I'M
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE WAS
HARM CAUSED BY THE AD
SPECIFICALLY TO COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
AND IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT
I HAD WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS,
IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT THE
AD WAS NO LONGER PRODUCTIVE
BECAUSE OF THE HARM THAT IT WAS
CAUSING AND IT WAS RESULTING IN
DOING THE LAST THING I WANTED
TO DO WHICH WAS CREATE HARM
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
AND ALSO CREATING SILENCE
AMONGST -- AMONGST BYPOCK
SURVIVERS.
I RECOGNIZE THAT WAS A MISSED
OPPORTUNITY AND I AM DEEPLY
SORRY FOR THAT.
>> MR. HARRELL YOUR FINAL
SHOTS.
>> I NEVER DEFENDED ED MURRAY.
I WAS LIED TO BY ED MURRAY BUT
I NEVER DEFENDED HIM.
LET ME QUOTE A CASE THE KING
COUNTY EQUITY NOW AN
ORGANIZATION THAT THE CITY HAS
INVESTED MILLIONS INTO FIGHT
RACISM AND TO FIGHT FOR SOCIAL
JUSTICE.
I WILL QUOTE THEIR EVALUATION
OF MY OPPONENT.
LORENO HAS A HISTORY OF ANTI
BLACK RACISM AND UNTRUSTED IN
THE COMMUNITY.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?
>> WELL, I BELIEVE THAT THE Q
SAID THIS AND SHE HAS NOT
APOLOGIZED AND SHE HAS NOT AND
A MAILER WENT OUT WITH A BLACK
AND WHITE PICTURE STANDING NEXT
TO A RAPE VICTIM THAT WENT
AHTRA ELNASHAR SHE QUOTE,
UNQUOTE TOOK THE AD DOWN.
AS OF NOON TODAY THE AD WAS
STILL RUNNING ON HER SOCIAL
MEDIA AND I HAVE HAD REPORTS OF
THAT.
SO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES
ALL ACROSS THE RACIAL SPECTRUM
HAVE SAID IT WAS RACIST, NUMBER
ONE, AND NUMBER TWO, IT WAS NOT
AN APOLOGY.
AND --
>> I'M SORRY.
I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF SO WE CAN
MOVE ON.
>> BUT THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN
AND THAT'S THE KIND OF UNITY
THAT WE WILL WANT TO SEE.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE PARTLY IN THE
PREDICAMENT WE HAVE BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING
OWNERSHIP.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
HANNA SCOTT.
>> AND THANK YOU ESSEX.
CANDIDATE GONZALEZ WE WILL TALK
TO YOU.
SPD IS DOWN AND THEY WANT ABOUT
1400 OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN
MENTIONED LAST YEAR DURING THE
PROTEST FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF
GEORGE FLOYD AND YOU CAME OUT
AND PUBLICLY SUPPORTED
DEFUNDING POLICE BY 50%.
DO YOU STILL HOLD THAT POSITION
AND WHAT SIZE OF POLICE FORCE
DOES SEATTLE NEED.
>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
THE CITY IN THIS HISTORIC
MOMENT TO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE
HOW WE CAN INVESTIGATE IN
COMMUNITY BASE SAFETY AND
NONLAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS AND
WHAT KINDS OF BODY OF WORK NEED
TO TWO AWAY FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO OTHER SYSTEMS
THAT ARE MORE CAPABLE OF
DEALING WITH THOSE ISSUES.
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT VALUE TO
HOLD AND I HELD THAT LAST
SUMMER AS WELL AND I WILL KEEP
TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN
CONTINUE TO NOT JUST SIMPLY
REFORM A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR
FIND A NEW OFFICER BUT HOW WE
ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY TRANSFORM
PUBLIC SAFETY IN A WAY THAT
PRODUCES TRUE EQUITABLE
COMMUNITY SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE
CITY.
NOW I HAVE SUPPORTED AND WILL
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT FULLY
FUNDING THE HIRING PLANS
PROPOSED BUT THE HARD WORK OF
EVALUATING WHAT THE RIGHT SIZE
IS ABOUT OUTCOMES AND THE
OUTCOMES FOR ME IS MAKING SURE
THAT OUR CHILDREN COME HOME AT
NIGHT AND DON'T SUFFER POLICE
VIOLENCE.
>> AND WE ARE OUT OF TIME FOR
THAT PART OF THE ANSWER.
I DO WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU
QUICK.
THE QUESTION I GET MOST OFTEN
IN REPORTING ON THIS
REIMAGINING OF PUBLIC SAFETY
AND THAT ENTIRE DISCUSSION IS
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
WHERE IS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY FOR
THOSE PARTS OF THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY THAT DON'T FEEL LIKE
THEY ARE BEING PROTECTED RIGHT
NOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
OFFICERS TO RESPOND TO THEIR
CALLS?
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT FEEL THEY
ARE OVERMISSED ESPECIALLY IN
THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
I HAVE HEARD A LOT FROM THEM
ABOUT HOW THEY WANT RESPONSIBLE
PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES THAT
AREN'T GOING TO RESULT IN
BODILY HARM.
THEY WANT TO DE MILITARIZE
POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND WE WANT
TO CREATE THE HIGHEST
ACCOUNTABILITY POSSIBLE AND
HOLD THE LINE ON THIS SO WE CAN
ACHIEVE REFORM.
>> CANDIDATE HARRELL STARTING
AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT
QUESTION, WHAT SIZE OF THE --
WHAT SIZE DO YOU THINK THE
CEILING POLICE DEPARTMENT
SHOULD BE AND WHAT FORMALLY
WOULD YOU DO TO COMING UP WITH
THAT?
>> IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF
POLICE OFFICERS THAT IS ONE OF
THE METRICS AROUND 1550.
ABOUT 1550 AUTHORIZED
POSITIONS.
WHEN I WAS PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR
FOR FOUR YEARS RIGHT BEFORE MY
OPPONENT WE HAD 1550.
WE HAD AUTHORIZED POSITIONS AND
1432 FILLED.
UNDER HER CHAIR SHE BECAME THE
CHAIR PUBLIC SAFETY AFTER I
DID, WE LOST 143 OFFICERS.
THAT WOULD BE 40 OFFICERS PER
PRECINCT.
THIS HAS A REAL EFFECT ON OUR
ABILITY TO RESPOND TO CRIMES IN
PROGRESS.
SERVE MINUTE RESPONSE TIMES.
MY OPPONENT HAS REVIEWED
PERHAPS FIVE BUDGETS AND I
THING THEY WANT THE MAYOR JUST
FOR THE STRAIGHT TALK.
WE WILL RECRUIT FROM
COMMUNITIES AND HAVE A NEW
POLICE OFFICER, ONE THAT DOES
NOT CARRY A GUN AND BADGE AND
WORK WITH COMMUNITIES AND HAVE
A CITYWIDE SUMMIT AND GOING TO
NEIGHBORHOODS AND SAY WHAT DOES
PUBLIC POLICE WORK LOOK AND SHE
IS ON RECORD SAYING SHE IS
GOING TO DE FUND BY 50% AND IF
THAT WERE TO BE ACHIEVED SHE
WOULD HAVE TO LAY OFF EVERY
SINGLE OFFICER.
YOU WOULD THINK A PERSON WELL
VERSED IN THE BUDGET WOULD KNOW
WITH THE PERSONNEL COSTS OF THE
DEPARTMENT AND WAS A KNEE-JERK
REACTION AND THE CITY DESERVES
A MORE THOUGHTFUL APPROACH.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE A REBUTTAL?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WILL START FROM THE END.
ACTUALLY THE WORDS THAT I SAID
THAT WOULD HAVE TO LAY OFF
EVERY PERSON WAS ACTUALLY WHAT
I SAID IN RESPONSE TO A
PROPOSAL FROM A DIFFERENT
COLLEAGUE THAT WAS BRINGING
FORWARD A 50% REDUCTION.
THOSE ARE THE WORDS I SAID IN
SUPPORT OF MY VOTE.
NO, ON THAT PARTICULAR MEASURE.
NOW, MY OPPONENT WANTS US TO
BLEAK THAT ONLY ISSUE OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
STAFFING.
IS HIRING.
BUT LET'S BE REAL.
THERE ARE DEEP-SEATED CULTURAL
ISSUES AT SPD FROM HAVING THE
LARGEST CONTINGENT OF FOLKS AT
THE INSURRECTION, TWO OFFICERS
GOT FIRED IN THAT AND FROM
REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH THE
VACCINE MANDATE.
THESE ARE DEEP-SEATED PROBLEMS
THAT THE MAYOR MUST GET TO WORK
IMMEDIATELY.
>> FINAL REBUTTAL.
>> UNDER HER CHAIR FOR THE FOUR
YEARS CRIME WENT UP 22%.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE HAD THE WORSE HOMICIDE RATE
WE HAD IN 26 YEARS AND THEY ARE
STILL TALKING AND PERPETUATING
THE NARRATIVE.
LET'S DEFUND THE POLICE BY 50%.
I WILL REIMAGINE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WITH THIS CITY, WITH
COMMUNITIES BUT I BELIEVE THAT
THE CITY WANTS A MAYOR THAT HAS
A THOUGHTFUL STRATEGIC APPROACH
ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY
POLICING AND MAKING SURE EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD IS SAFE REGARDLESS
AS TO WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS
IN THE CITY.
ALL NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SAFE AND
DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE GOING TO
REIMAGINE TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU AND
THE NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM DAVID KROMAN.
>> THANK YOU.
SINCE 2012 SEATTLE HAS SPENT
OVER $100 MILLION TOWARDS
POLICE REFORM AS PART OF THE
FEDERALLY MANDATED CONSENT
DECREE.
IN THE WAKE OF LAST YEAR'S
PROTEST, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT
MONEY WAS WELL SPENT?
AND THAT OFFICERS ARE TODAY
BEING HELD PROPERLY ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
>> CANDIDATE HARRELL.
>> I DON'T THINK MONEY HAS BEEN
SPENT NEARLY AS EFFECTIVELY OR
EFFICIENTLY AS IT SHOULD BE AND
UNDER OUR APPROACH WITH ALL
MAJOR INVESTMENTS PUBLIC SAFETY
OR HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY OR
CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY WE WILL
OPEN UP ALL OF THE BOOKS.
WE WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO SEE
EXACTLY WHERE THEIR INVESTMENTS
ARE GOING AND WHAT THE OUTCOMES
ARE AND WE WILL DRIVE.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT A
HOMELESSNESS FORM BUT I HAVE TO
HUM A FEW BARS BECAUSE THAT IS
THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.
WE WILL SHOW COST PER PERSON
AND COST PER UNIT AND WHERE WE
ARE NOW AND WHERE WE HAVE TO
GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE PARKS
INTO HOUSING.
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACH WILL
BE THE EXACT SAME WAY THAT WE
HAVE TO SHOW EFFICIENCY AND
GOVERNMENT AND WE ARE NOT DOING
THAT.
THAT'S WHY I AM SPECIFIC ON THE
NUMBERS.
WE ARE LOOKING THAT NOW AMIDST
THIS I KNOW MY PROPONENT IS
PROPOSING FOUR MILLION OF CUTS
TO SPD DURING THIS CURRENT
BUDGET CYCLE.
SO NO, WE ARE NOT SPENDING OUR
MONEY EFFICIENTLY AND UNDER THE
HARRELL ADMINISTRATION WE WILL.
>> TO FOLLOW UP AS YOU
MENTIONED YOU WERE THE CHAIR OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR MUCH OF
THE PERIOD THAT I JUST
MENTIONED SO IF IT WAS NOT
BEING SPENT EFFECTIVELY AT THE
TIME, DO YOU BEAR SOME
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT?
>> I WILL BEAR RESPONSIBILITY
IF THE CITY COUNCIL, ALL NINE
OF US WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT
IN OUR BUDGETING PROCESS.
THE FACT THE MAYOR HAS DIRECT
OVERSIGHT.
THE MAYOR CAN DECIDE WHAT KIND
OF HEAD COUNTS HE OR SHE WANTS.
WHERETHEY CAN REORGANIZE AND
STRUCTURE THE DEPARTMENT TO BE
MORE EFFICIENTLY.
THAT IS A STRUGGLE OF A
COUNCILMEMBER WHEN SOMETIMES
YOU ARE NOT GETTING ALL OF THE
INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS
THE MAYOR'S SHORTSTOP.
BUT I WILL BE THE FIRST TO SAY
IF I COULD HAVE BEEN MORE
EFFECTIVE AND CITY IN CITY
GOVERNMENT WHEN I WAS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR TWELVE YEARS I
WILL BEAR THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
>> MS. GONZALEZ THE SAME
QUESTION WAS THE ONE HUNDRED
MILLION SPENT EFFECTIVELY AND
ARE THE OFFICERS BEING HELD
ACCOUNTABLE UNDER THE CURRENT
SYSTEM IF.
>> IT IS INTERESTING IN
RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION MY
OPPONENT EVENTUALLY DOES NOT
WANT TO ANSWER WHETHER OR NOT
REFORM HAS BEEN WORKING AT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE
CONTACTS THAT SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT SPENT ALMOST AN
ENTIRE MONTH TEAR GASSING, TEAR
GASSING HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, BOTH
ONES THAT WERE PROTESTING AND
ONES THAT WERE JUST LIVING IN
CAPITOL HILL.
THAT ELICITED 18,000
COMPLAINTS.
INCLUDING COMPLAINTS SHOWING
OFFICERS KNEELING ON
INDIVIDUALS' NECK, THE VERY
THING THAT KILLED GEORGE FLOYD.
SO, NO, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUR
MONEY'S WORTH.
AND SPD IS NO LONGER JUST A
DEPARTMENT WE NEED TO REFORM.
WE MUST TRANSFORM IT IN ORDER
TO DO THAT THE NEXT MAYOR AGAIN
MUST KNOW AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THE REFORM WE HAVE DONE TO DATE
HAS BEEN IMPORTANT BUT HAS BEEN
INSUFFICIENT TO TRULY KEEP OUR
COMMUNITY SAFE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
HANNA KIM.
>> SO MY TOPIC IS ABOUT REPEAT
OFFENDERS SOMETHING THAT MANY
OF US KNOW WELL IN SEAT.
A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE
BEHIND A LOT OF THE CRIME.
MANY TIMES THEY ARE CYCLING IN
AND OUT OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
WITH NO MEANINGFUL
INTERVENTION.
THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR SEATTLE
AGAIN WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY AND
NOT JUST IDEAS HERE BUT
STRATEGY AND ACTIONS THAT YOU
WOULD TAKE AS MAYOR THAT YOU
THINK WOULD MOVE THE NEED OLD
THIS ISSUE.
MS. GONZALEZ YOU HAVE THE FLOOR
FIRST.
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO GET TO
THE UNDERLYING ROOT CAUSE SO
LONG AS WE BRING BACK THE
FAILED POLICIES OF THE PAST
WHICH ARE FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT
ARRESTING AND INCARCERATING AND
PERPETUATING THOSE CRIMINAL
CONVICTIONS WE WILL CONTINUE TO
SEE THE OUTCOMES THAT YOU ARE
DESCRIBING.
SO REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO
WITH THIS RELATIVELY SMALL
UNIVERSE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT
ARE CONTINUING TO BE INVOLVED
WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM IS REALLY ENGAGE IN DEEP
CASE MANAGEMENT, CONNECT THEM
WITH PROGRAMS LIKE LEAD AND
OTHER RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
PROGRAMS THAT THEY WILL BEGIN
TO IDENTIFY THEIR HOUSING NEEDS
AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS,
THEIR HOUSING NEEDS.
AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
TRANSFORMING PEOPLE FROM
ENGAGING IN THIS NEGATIVE
BEHAVIOR TO BEING A MORE
POSITIVE PRODUCTIVE, STABLE
MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT IS GOING TO BE A LASTING
SOLUTION SO AS WE TAKE THIS
APPROACH WE WILL SEAT OUTCOMES.
>> YOU BROUGHT UP LEADS AND A
PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN AROUND
FOR A WHILE AND SOME MIGHT SAY
IT IS AN OLD PROCESS.
WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT
MEANINGFUL OUTCOME THAT SEATTLE
EYES WANT TO SEE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS,
ACTIONABLE ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD
TAKE RATHER THAN SAYING WE NEED
TO DO MORE WITH LEAD BECAUSE IT
IS A PROGRAM THAT ALREADY
EXISTS RIGHT NOW?
>> LEAD IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING
AND IT DOES HAVE -- IT DOES
HAVE GOOD OUTCOMES.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE STARVE
IT FOR RESOURCES.
EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO RESTORE
ITS FUNDING OR FIGHT FOR ITS
FUNDING OR SPEND TIME TALKING
ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET IT
ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED.
SO THE PROGRAM WORKS.
WHAT IS NOT WORKS IS CONTINUING
TO FUND PROGRAMS LIKE THAT AND
OTHERS THAT REALLY DO GO
FURTHER UPSTREAM.
ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES AND
SOLVE FOR THESE CRITICAL PUBLIC
SAFETY, PUBLIC HAMILTON AND
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE WE
UNDERINVEST.
>> I WANT TO BRING UP THIS CASE
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT
REMEMBER.
FRANCISCO CALDERON IS A
PROLIFIC OFFENDER WITH 70 PLUS
CONVICTIONS, HIS SISTER SAYS HE
IS A HARM TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS
IN COMMUNITY AND WANTED MENTAL
HEALTH AND SHE WANTED HEALTH
BUT HE CYCLED IN AND OUT OF THE
SYSTEM SO WHY IS IT THAT WE
HAVE SO MANY CASES LIKE THAT
RIGHT NOW?
WHY CAN'T WE GET A HANDLE ON
PROLIFIC OFFENDERS LIKE THAT?
>> BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
AVAILABLE THAT ARE APPROPRIATE
FOR PEOPLE WITH THAT HIGH OF
ACUITY NEED AND THAT'S A FACT.
WE ARE 46th IN THE NATION IN
TERMS OF ACCESS TO MENTAL
HEALTH FOR ADULTS LIKE THE ONE
YOU JUST DESCRIBED AND THE NEXT
MAYOR HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
INCREASE THAT FUNDING BY MAKING
SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO THE
WEALTHYIST AMONG US AND THE
MOST PROFITABLE CORPORATIONS TO
HELP FUND MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES WHILE WE LOBBY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE
STATE GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE
WHEN WE GET THE NEW REVENUE IN
PLACE.
>> YOU SAID IT YOURSELF.
YOU SAID LET'S DO SOME STRAIGHT
TALK.
SO CAN WE GET SOME STRAIGHT
TALK ON THIS ISSUE?
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
I KNOW IN THAT THE PAST OTHER
CANDIDATES HAVE SAID JAIL AND
PROBATION IS NOT THE ANSWER.
SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
>> I LIKE STRAIGHT TALK AND
YOUR HEARING RHETORIC FROM MY
OPPONENT.
LET ME BE SPECIFIC ON THE
PROGRAM.
A PERSON LIKE THAT, THAT IS A
REPEAT OFFENDER, THAT IS NOT
HEALTHY OR NORMAL BEHAVIOR THE
CLINICIANS WOULD CALL IT A
SOCIAL DEVIANT AND WHY A PERSON
KEEPS DOING THAT.
THAT IS NOW HOW WE ARE RAISED
TO BE.
THE FIRST THING THAT WE HAVE TO
DO, INCREASING HUMAN
EFFECTIVENESS, ONE OF MANY
CURRICULUMS THAT TALKS AND
EXAMINES WHY A PERSON DOES WHAT
THEY DO THAT IS MISALIGNED WITH
NORMAL BEHAVIOR.
SO UNDER OUR PROGRAM WE WILL
INTRODUCE THIS CURRICULUM,
INCREASING HUMAN EFFECTIVENESS
AND HAVE SEATTLE'S EMPOWER MANY
AND OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM WHERE
WE WILL BRING IN MENTORS,
PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME IN FROM
THAT LIFE TO SHOW THEM WHY YOU
DO NOT NEED TO REPEATEDLY
COMMIT CRIMES.
WE HAVE TO -- PART OF THE
HARRELL ADMINISTRATION WE TALK
OVER AND OVER THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN ME OR MY COUSIN OR
SOMEBODY I GREW UP, WE WILL USE
MENTORS AND CLINICIANS AND
UNLOCK THOSE KEYS.
WE TALK ABOUT A CAMPAIGN TO
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS
HEALTH CARE AND A COMPONENT
WOULD BE TO LOOK AT THE
IMPEDIMENTS OF WHO THEY ARE AND
WHO THEY CAN BECOME.
REALIZE THIS.
THIS IS IMAGING FROM EXTERNAL
SOURCES AND DECADES AND DECADES
OF A SYSTEMIC POURING OF DRUGS
IN COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 400 YEARS
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OR
SOME CASES OR SOMEONE COMING
FROM ABUSE.
IT DOESN'T KNOW A COLOR.
THERE'S IMPEDIMENTS.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT COMMON
IMPEDIMENTS THAT EVERY HUMAN
BEING HAS.
THESE REPEAT OFFENDERS POO WE
HAVE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND
SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT
PERSON BECAUSE THEY ARE HARMING
THEMSELVES AND THAT IS NOT THE
KIND OF PERSON THAT WE CAN
NUTURE AND BUILD IN SEATTLE.
THAT'S WHAT OUR CANDIDACY IS
ALL ABOUT.
BUILDING A PATHWAY TO SELF
OPTIMIZATION FOR EVERY HUMAN
BEING.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT NEW
PROGRAM IS GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE?
>> BECAUSE IT DOES AROUND THE
WORLD.
IT HAS HELPED ME PERSONALLY.
IT HELPS EVERYBODY I KNOW
BECAUSE WE GO THROUGH THIS
CURRICULUM THAT WHEN YOU LOOK
AT WHY WE ACT THE WAY WE DO, WE
ACT IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR
DOMINANT BELIEF SYSTEM.
IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE A BAD
PERSON.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND
THINK I WAS RAISED THIS WAY,
ALL I KNOW HOW TO DO IS TAKE.
THAT'S WHAT I DO, YOU WILL
CONTINUE TO TAKE AND ARRESTING
THIS PERSON AND LETTING ON AND
ARRESTING THEM WILL NOT WORK.
YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THEIR
IMPEDIMENTS TO SELF
OPTIMIZATION AND CLINICIANS
WILL TALK ABOUT IT AND
CRIMINOLOGISTS AND BEHAVIOR
SCIENTISTS WILL HAVE TO TALK
ABOUT IT AND WE WILL HAVE TO
INCORPORATE THAT.
IN THE PREAMBLE OF OUR CHARTER
WE MUST PRESERVE THE SAFETY,
HEALTH AND WELFARE OF OUR
PEOPLE.
WHEN YOU HEAR DEFUND THE POLICE
BY 50% YOU ARE IGNORING OUR
CHARTER PURPOSE AND THAT'S THE
KIND OF MAYOR I HOPE TO BE.
>> TIME IS UP.
NEXT QUESTION FROM ESSEX.
>> AND I WANT TO STICK WITH THE
QUESTION.
I HAVE ANOTHER SUBJECT TO TALK
ABOUT BUT I WANT TO STAKE WITH
THIS SUBJECT.
I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE
FAIR TO COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ,
IF YOU WANT TO TAKE MAYBE 20
SECONDS AND JUST WRAP UP THAT
SUBJECT BEFORE I MOVE ON TO A
DIFFERENT SUBJECT WITH MR.
HARRELL.
>> SURE.
WHAT I THINK I AM HEARING ARE
QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS PEOPLE
WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
MENTAL AND HEALTH ISSUES WITH
MENTORING AND A MOTIVATION
COURSE OR A SELF AFFIRMATION
COURSE.
I DON'T THINK THAT MENTORS ARE
GOING TO BE ADEQUATELY ADDRESS
SOMEBODY'S NEEDS THAT HAVE
SCHIZOPHRENIA, OPIOID ADDICTION
AND HOUSING INSTABILITY IN THE
CITY AND REALLY WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT IS GETTING TO THE
ROOT CAUSES.
HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TREATMENT
FOR THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE
RESULTING IN THEM ENGAGING IN
THIS BEHAVIOR?
HOW DO WE FUND THAT TREATMENT
AND HOW DO WE ADDRESS THEIR
HOUSING INSTABILITY TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY CAN HEAL,
RECOVER AND GET OUT OF THE
CYCLE OF INCARCERATION.
>> LET ME STOP THRU.
OUR NEXT ROUND OF QUESTIONS
BEGIN WITH MR. HARRELL AND THIS
IS A QUESTION FROM THE PUBLIC.
SOMEONE FROM HILLMAN CITY AND
THIS VOTER FROM HILLMAN CITY IS
TALKING ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND
TELLING US THAT THEY BELIEVE
THAT GUN VIOLENCE HAS NOT
RECEIVED NEARLY ENOUGH
ATTENTION FROM CITY LEADERSHIP
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
THEY'RE ASKING WHAT WILL YOU DO
TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE
PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH END
WHERE SHOOTINGS ARE TAKING THE
LIVES OF TEENAGE AND YOUNG
PEOPLE OF COLOR AT ALARMING
RATE.
>> I AGREE AND APPRECIATE THE
QUESTION.
THE FIRST THING IS ADD A
CABINET LEVEL POSITION TO
MONITOR THE GUNSHOTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND INVEST IN
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND WORK TO GET THE RCW9.4.290
RELEASED.
THE EXEMPTION RULE ON THAT
PROHIBITS CITIES FROM
REGULATING THIS SPACE.
WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW STATES
THAT HAVE THIS RESTRICTION AND
WITH THAT WE WILL MAKE SURE WE
CAN TAKE A GUN FROM SOMEONE
THAT IS INTOXICATED.
WE WILL RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF
GUNS A PERSON CAN BUY AS AN
EXAMPLE AND INCREASE THE
BACKGROUND CHECK AND INTRODUCE
TECHNOLOGY.
ACOUSTIC GUNFIRE LOCATION THAT
CAN PIVOT AROUND AND FIND
EXACTLY WHERE IT IS.
IT IS COMPLAINT BASED.
WE KNOW THE PROBLEM WITH THE
COMPLAINT BASED SYSTEM AND THAT
HAS WORKED EFFECTIVELY IN OUR
CITIES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
>> YEAH, I WANT TO START BY
CENTERING THE LIVES OF THOSE
THAT HAVE BEEN LOST TO GUN
VIOLENCE.
ALL OF US KNOW SOMEONE THAT HAS
BEEN LOST TO GUN VIOLENCE
WHETHER A THIRD PARTY OR A
RESULT OF SUICIDE.
GETTING GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS
OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE
THEM IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO DO AS A CITY.
AND WHILE MY OPPONENT FOCUSES
ON BUILDING THE BUREAUCRACY HOW
TO POTENTIALLY ACHIEVE THAT, I
BELIEVE THAT REALLY TRULY
ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE MEANS
INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS FOR
PREVENTABLE SUICIDES FOR
EXAMPLE.
I WAS THE SPONSOR FOR GUN
SAFETY STORAGE LAW AND
INCREASING PENALTIES FOR
FIREARMS THAT WERE NOT REPORTED
LOST OR STOLEN.
THAT'S A PROVEN STRATEGY TO
PREVENT THAT.
SECONDLY, WHEN I TALKED TO
YOUNG MEN, YOUNG BLACK MEN IN
THE SOUTH END ABOUT WHAT THEY
NEED TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE,
THEY TELL ME IT IS MENTAL
HEALTH TO DEAL WITH THEIR
GENERATIONAL TRAUMA JOBS AND
HOUSING THAT IS STABLE.
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT
AS MAYOR I WILL SEE TO INVEST
INTO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS
AND THE ITEMS BEING EXPRESSED
TO ME THAT ARE MOST DEEPLY
NEEDED TO GET TO THE ROOT
CAUSE.
>> MR. HARRELL AS YOU RESPOND
TO THAT, WOULD YOU ALSO RESPOND
TO THE CRITICISM.
YOU MENTIONED ACOUSTIC GUNSHOT
LOCATION SYSTEMS.
THERE'S CRITICISM THAT THOSE
SYSTEMS INTRUDE WITH
COMMUNITIES AND LEAD TO MORE
BIAS POLICING.
WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT?
>> THAT IS NOT A TRUE
STATISTIC.
IT ALLOWS THE CITY TO
ACCURATELY MEASURE WHERE
GUNFIRE IS.
WE HAVE SEEN IN COMPLAINT BASED
SYSTEMS PARTICULARLY
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THE
COMPLAINTS ARE NOT AS HIGH AND
SO WHAT I WANT THE CITY TO DO
IS FORCE THE CITY TO RESPOND TO
ACTUAL GUNFIRE SOCIETY IS
ACTUALLY EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY SO
MANY CITIES HAVE EMPLOYED IT.
WE DO NOT WANT OVERMISSED
COMMUNITIES AND THAT IS WHY WE
ARE CREATING A NEW PUBLIC
SAFETY OFFICER.
THOSE THAT ARE CULTURALLY
COMING FROM THE COMMUNITIES AND
THEY WILL BE UNARMED AND THEY
WILL BE MASTERS AT MEDIATION
AND DE-ESCALATION AND WALKING
AROUND THE COMMUNITIES.
WHAT MY OPPONENT GOES MORE
BUREAUCRACY IS BASELESS.
WE HAVE TO OWN THE ISSUE FIRST.
>> LET ME STOP THRU AND FINAL
REBUTTAL?
>> SURE.
I THINK THAT YOU KNOW IN THE
SPIRIT OF BEING SUPER STRAIGHT
ABOUT WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS,
IT IS A SURVEILLANCE
TECHNOLOGY.
A TECHNOLOGY THAT IS DESIGNED
TO SURREAL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
AND I THINK THAT IS THE WRONG
APPROACH.
SURE, IT MIGHT HELP US FIND A
FEW ADDITIONAL AREAS WHERE
GUNSHOTS HAVE BEEN FIRED BUT IT
WILL NOT PREVENT THOSE GUNSHOTS
FROM OCCURRING IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
MY VISION IN THIS AREA IS TO
PREVENT THE GUNSHOTS IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
WE DO THAT BY GETTING THE HANDS
OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND BY
GIVING OUR YOUTH AND OTHERS IN
OUR COMMUNITY THE TOOLS THEY
NEED TO SURVIVE AND BE
RESILIENT AND THAT IS JOBS,
HOUSING AND BETTER EDUCATION SO
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO RESORT
TO GUNS AS THE ANSWER.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
HANNA SCOTT.
>> AGAIN.
THANK YOU, ESSEX.
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
CANDIDATE GONZALEZ I WANT TO
ASK YOU ABOUT A LETTER THAT WAS
SIGNED BY MORE THAN 150
BUSINESSES AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AND FOLKS THAT LIVE IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND SENT TO
CITY COUNCIL WITH THE DO YOU
WANT SEATTLE ASSOCIATION.
URGENT REQUEST TO ADDRESS
SPECIFICALLY THE CRIMINAL
SHOPLIFTING ORGANIZATIONS,
RINGS.
NOT PEOPLE THAT SHOPLIFT
BECAUSE THEY ARE HUNGRY OR OUT
OF A NEED OR THAT ARE FENCING
OPERATIONS AND SHOPLIFTING
RINGS THAT ARE MAKING IT VERY
DIFFICULT FOR THE BUSINESSES TO
SUCCEED AND HAVING IN SOME
CASES TO HIRE PRIVATE SECURITY
AND THAT THEY ALL COLLECTIVELY
FELT A THREAT TO THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY.
WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU DO
TO TACKLE THOSE TYPES OF
OPERATIONS.
>> I THINK THAT WHAT WE DO IS
WE WORK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY,
WHOEVER THE NEXT CITY ATTORNEY
IS GOING TO BE AND REALLY START
THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME
WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE
PROGRAMS RELATED TO BOTH
IDENTIFYING THOSE KINDS OF
SHOPLIFTING RINGS THAT ARE
ACTUALLY ORGANIZED CRIME AND
JUST SURVIVAL CRIMES AS YOU'VE
ACKNOWLEDGED IN YOUR QUESTIO
AND WE MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS
WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO
BE ABLE TO DO THE PROPER
INVESTIGATION.
NOW, LISTEN.
I GET TO TALK TO SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS ALL OVER THE CITY ALL
THE TIME, MANY OF WHOM I AM
LUCKY ENOUGH TO CALL MY FRIENDS
AND I HEAR THE STORIES FROM
THEM ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO DO
BUSINESS IN THIS CITY.
FOR A LOT OF REASONS INCLUDING
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SADDLED
DOING SOCIAL WORK AS WELL AS
PROTECTING THEIR INVENTORY.
SO I GET IT.
THE WAY THAT WE ARE DOING
PUBLIC SAFETY NOW HAS FAILED A
LOT OF US AND THAT'S WHY MY
VISION IS FOCUSED ON LET'S GET
TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE THINGS
AND HAVE THE SHORT-TERM
SOLUTIONS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS
THOSE REAL CRIMINAL ELEMENTS
THROUGH OUR DETECTIVES AND
INVESTIGATIVE UNITS AND BEGIN
THE PROCESS OF REDUCING THOSE
INCIDENTS TO BEGIN WITH.
>> JUST A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.
IS ROOM FOR ONE OF THOSE
SOLUTIONS TO BE PROSECUTION?
>> WELL, I DON'T MAKE CHOICES
AROUND PROSECUTION.
I AM NOT A PROSECUTOR BUT I DO
THINK THAT IF THERE ARE LARGE
CRIMINAL ELEMENTS THAT ARE
ORGANIZED CRIME AND OTHERWISE
YOU KNOW I WOULD EXPECT THAT
THE CITY ATTORNEY OR THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR DEPENDING ON
THE CRIME WOULD EXERCISE THEIR
PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION.
>> THANK YOU.
CANDIDATE HARRELL, THE SAME
QUESTION, HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS
THOSE TYPES OF CRIMINAL PRICES?
>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU QUALIFIED
IT AS OPPOSED TO A PERSON THAT
IS JUST STEALING BECAUSE THEY
ARE HUNGRY AND YOU MADE A CLEAR
DISTINCTION AND YOU YOUR
TALKING TO A PERSON THAT HAS
DEFENDED PEOPLE IN SHOPLIFTING
I HAVE HAD PARENTS COME IN AND
SAY WOULD YOU HELP MY CHILD INI
HAVE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS BUT
I DON'T -- YOU WANT STRAIGHT
TALK.
YOU HAVE TO USE THE -- YOU HAVE
TO ENFORCE THE LAWS.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO STUTTER.
THOSE LAWS ARE THERE FOR A
REASON.
NOW WE ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHY
THIS OCCURS, THESE SHOPLIFTING
RINGS ARE VERY ORGANIZED OFTEN.
SO WE HAVE TO ALSO UNDERSTAND
BETTER THE CULTURE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY
GRAFFITI QUESTIONS BUT THE
GRAFFITI IS DRIVING ME CRAZY IN
THE CITY.
IN ADDITION TO USING THE
EXISTING LAWS ON THE BOOKS WE
ARE GOING TO FIND OUT WHY THAT
IS OCCURRING.
IN ALL OF THIS ANTI SOCIAL
BEHAVIOR WE HAVE TO DO A DEEPER
DIVE IN UNDERSTANDING THE ROOT
CAUSES.
THE SHOPLIFTING RINGS WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT DEFUNDING THE
POLICE, DEFUNDING THE POLICE AS
MY OPPONENT HAS SAID, THEY LIKE
THAT BECAUSE THEY REALIZE WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EYES ON THE
GROUND.
WE CAP RESPOND TO CRIMES IN
PROGRESS.
>> I NEED TO WRAP THAT UP.
>> I WILL WRAP IT UP WITH THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND ANY REBUTTAL TO THOSE
COMMENTS.
>> SURE MY OPPONENT WANTS TO
NOT CRIMES TO BE ENFORCED.
AND YOU CAN'T VIT BOTH WAYS.
THE REALITY IS THAT THERE ARE
INDIVIDUALS ENGAGING IN
ORGANIZED CRIMES AND THEY
SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND HELD
INTO ACCOUNT UNDER THE EXISTING
LAWS AND THEN THE LAST THING I
WANT TO SAY IS LISTEN, MY
OPPONENT KEEPS HAVING A
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT YOU AGREE WITH THE SLOGAN
AND I'M FOCUSED ON OUTCOMES.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE REAL
SOLUTIONS ARE TO ADDRESSING
PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT'S BROADEST
TERMS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT HIRING
MORE GUNS AND BADGES AT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
IT IS ALSO ABOUT SETTING UP
ALTERNATIVES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND INVESTING IN COMMUNITY
BASED SAFETY INITIATIVES AND
INVESTING IN OUR COLLECTIVE
SAFE AND HEALTH, NOT JUST
THROUGH POLICING BUT THROUGH
THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW MAKE US
A HOLE LIVEABLE VIBRANT
COMMUNITY.
>> AND FINAL THOUGHTS.
CANDIDATE HARRELL.
>> IT IS MORE THAN A SLOGAN BUT
A RECOGNITION WHEN SHE TRIES TO
MOVE OUT OF THE NARRATIVE OF
DEFUND THE POLICE THAT SHE
EMBRACED I UNDERSTAND THEIR
PAIN.
THEY DID MOT WANT TO DE
MILITARIZE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL ME
GROWING UP IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT IN THE 60s AND 70s.
I KNOW WHAT THAT IS ABOUT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REIMAGINING
WITH A SMARTER APPROACH, THAT
IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
I DON'T STRUGGLE BECAUSE THE
CITY KNOWS ME.
THEY KNOW THAT I HAVE SPENT MY
LIFE DEFENDING PEOPLE WHO
NEEDED A DEFENSE.
SO I DON'T HAVE TO MIX WORDS
WHEN I TALK ABOUT USING THE
LAW.
WE ARE NOT DECRIMINALIZING
POVERTY AT ALL.
>> I WANT TO BROADEN THAT
SHOPLIFTING QUESTION TO MORE OF
CRIME IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
I HEARD FROM A WOMAN THE OTHER
DAY, SHE LIVES IN PIONEERS
SQUARE AND OWNS A CLOTHING
STORE AND FEELS UNSAFE WALKING
TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND
BUSINESSES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA
HAVE CLOSED BECAUSE OF COVID
BUT BUSINESS OWNERS ARE SAYING
LOOK, WE CAN'T GET BACK TO THE
ECONOMIC REVIVAL THAT WE NEED
AFTER THE PANDEMIC IF WE DON'T
PUT PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN, I WILL START
WITH YOU MR. HARRELL.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN?
>> I HAVE TOURED ALMOST EVERY
BUSINESS DISTRICT INCLUDING
DOWNTOWN WITH SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AND I LISTENED TO THEM
AND NIE KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.
THEY WANT TO LOOSEN UP THE THE
BUILT STRUCTURE AND TO USE THE
PANDEMIC ECONOMIC PLAN TO BRING
IN INVESTMENTS AND USE CRIME
PREVENTION THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
BUILD IN THE RIGHT AREA SO THAT
PEOPLE CAN FEEL SAFE.
THEY WANT US TO ENFORCE THE
LAWS AND MOVE PEOPLE FROM
ENCAMPMENTS AND HOUSING AND
THEY WANT US TO HAVE A SENSE OF
URGENCY AND THEY WANT ACCESS TO
CAPITAL AND I TALKED ABOUT AT
THE PREVIOUS FORUM AND THAT'S
WHY THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT GROUP IS GOING TO
BE SO PHENOMENAL TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES BUT THEY WANT ACTION
AND THEY WANT CHANGE OF
LEADERSHIP.
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR
AND THAT'S WHY I THINK WE
PRESENT THE STRONGEST CASE FOR
LEADERSHIP.
>> COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
>> SURE.
DOWNTOWN, LET'S JUST SORT OF
SET THE SCENE HERE IT IS THE
PART OF THE CITY THAT HAS THE
HIGHEST DENSITY OF SERVICE
PROGRAMS AND HAS THE -- HAS
ABOUT 800 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
HARDEST TO SERVE.
SERVE THE HIGHEST NEEDS KIND OF
INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND WE ALSO HAVE A
DOWNTOWN CORE THAT IS LARGELY
STILL EMPTY AND IN LARGE PART
BECAUSE OF COVID AND BECAUSE
WORKERS ARE NOT COMING BACK TO
THOSE BIG TALL OFFICE SPACES
THAT CONTINUE TO BE
UNDERUTILIZED OR NOT USED AT
ALL.
AND SO WE -- FOR ME, MY FOCUS
IS GOING TO BE ON ADDRESSING
THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT
IS LEADING TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES THAT YOU DESCRIBED IN
YOUR QUESTION.
THERE IS NO DOUBT MANY
INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS DOWNTOWN HAVE
PROFOUND CHRONIC NEEDS THAT CAN
BE MET IF WE INVEST IN HIGH
ACUITY SHELTERS.
IF WE FOCUS OUR EFFORTS IN
DOWNTOWN AND IF WE QUICKLY
BEGIN TO CONNECT THOSE
INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSING AND
THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND
THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED TO BE
ABLE TO BE PERMANENTLY HOUSED
AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN.
>> ONE THING I HEAR A LOT FROM
THE COMMUNITY WHETHER PEOPLE
LIVE THERE OR WORK THERE IS THE
CURRENT RESPONSE TIMES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2019 WE HAD
SIX MINUTE RESPONSE TIMES FOR
PRIORITY ONE CALLS.
WHEN I SAY PRIORITY ONE,
EMERGENCY HIGH LEVEL CALLS AND
SOMETIMES THIS IS LIFE AND
DEATH.
SO RIGHT NOW THAT CURRENT
RESPONSE TIME IS MORE THAN TEN
MINUTES.
IS THAT ACCEPTABLE?
>> I'M GOING TO DIRECT THAT
QUESTION TO YOU, FIRST SINCE
YOUR ON THE COUNCIL AND MAYBE
YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT AND I WANT
TO HAVE MR. HARRELL ANSWER THAT
AS WELL.
>> THE REALITY IS THAT OFFICERS
DON'T JUST RESPOND TO TIER ONE
CALLS, THE HIGHEST PRIORITY
CALLS, THEY HAVE TO RESPOND TO
ALL OF THEM INCLUDING THOSE
THAT DON'T MERIT LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE BECAUSE IT
IS AFTER THE FACT AND ALL THAT
NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THAT A
REPORT NEEDS TO BE HAPPEN.
THERE'S A REPORT THAT CAME OUT
THAT SAID THAT CLOSE TO 60% OF
THE CALLS THAT SPD IS CURRENTLY
RESPONDING TO ARE FOR
NONVIOLENT, NON-URGENT CRIMES.
SO THAT IS WHERE I WANT TO
FOCUS.
I WANT TO FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTING
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS THAT
EFFICIENCY ISSUE SO THAT WE ARE
CLEARING UP THE KINDS OF CALLS
THAT WE ARE ASKING OFFICERS TO
TAKE SO THEY HAVE TIMES TO
RESPOND MORE QUICKLY TO THOSE
TIER ONE CALLS.
THAT IS A BASIC EFFICIENCY
THING THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT
AWAY.
AND THAT -- THOSE ARE THE KINDS
OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I WANT
TO PUT INTO PLACE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE MEETING THE TRULY
MEETING THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO
NEED AN ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT
RESPONSE AND GET ONE QUICKLY.
>> TIME IS UP.
>> THERE IS A TEN MINUTE
RESPONSE TIME ACCOUNTABLE?
>> NO.
>> IT IS NOT.
WE WILL MEASURE IT.
WHEN I WAS PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR
WE WOULD GO TO MEETINGS,
MONTHLY MEETINGS AND MEASURE
THE RESPONSE TIMES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS
PARITY IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS BY
THE WAY AND DRIVE TO IT A SEVEN
MINUTE RESPONSE TIME AND THAT
IS WHEN YOUR INVESTMENT
STRATEGY BECOMES CRITICAL
BECAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ARE SAYING THAT THEY NEED MORE
RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND
PARTICULARLY TO 911 CALLS CRIME
IN PROGRESS AND ALL CRIMES.
NOW HAVING SAID THAT, AGAIN THE
RHETORIC IS THAT YOU HAVE TO
SORT OF LISTEN TO IT.
THAT MY OPPONENT WOULD NOT MEET
WITH THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION.
WOULDN'T EVEN FILL OUT A
QUESTIONNAIRE WHEN ALL THEY
WERE ASKING IS WHAT IS YOUR
PLAN REALIZING THAT A SMALL
BUSINESS IS DOWN THERE.
THERE ARE NEIGHBORHOOD
ADVOCATES AND PEOPLE ARE LIVING
THERE AND SUBSIDIZED HOUSING
AND WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?
MY OPPONENT WOULD NOT MIX WITH
THOSE FOLKS AND THAT IS THE
MAYOR'S JOB TO LISTEN TO
EVERYBODY AND THAT IS WHAT WE
DID AND THAT IS WHY WE KNOW
WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE TIMES
THEY WANT.
TEN MINUTES IS UNACCEPTABLE AND
SEVEN MINUTES IS.
>> HOW WILL YOU DO THAT WITH
THE CLIMATE RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU
HAVE OFFICERS LEAVING THE FORCE
WILLINGLY AND SOME SAY BECAUSE
OF THE POLITICAL RHETORIC.
HOW DO YOU CONVINCE OFFICERS TO
COME TO A FORCE TO SEATTLE AND
EXCHANGE THE RESPONSE TIMES AS
YOU SAID?
>> THAT IS THE JOB OF THE MAYOR
TO COACH, TO INSPIRE AND TO
CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.
TO LOVE THE CITY AND LOVE THE
PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
THAT IS MY JOB TO BE THE
BIGGEST CHEER LEAD FER I CAN
AND WORK WITH THE PEOPLE WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT AND WORK WITH
THE COMMUNITIES AND BRING THEM
TOGETHER LIKE THE COMMUNITY
CAME TOGETHER TO OPPOSE RACIST
AD WE BILL COMMUNITY TOGETHER
AND GO TO BASKETBALL GAMES AND
WE GO TO FOOTBALL GAMES AND
SOCCER GAMES AND GET THE POLICE
OFFICERS TALKING TO THE
COMMUNITY.
WE START BUILDING THAT
TOGETHER.
THIS IS NOT EASY WORK.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE ALSO GOING
TO BUILD AT THE SAME TIME A NEW
KIND OF OFFICER.
A COMMUNITY SAFETY OFFICER TYPE
THAT IS CERTIFIED THROUGH OUR
COLLEGE SYSTEM THAT WILL COME
WITH A NEW SKILL SET.
NOW THIS WILL TAKE A FEW YEARS
TO GET IT TO WHERE WE WANT IT
TO BE BUT UNDER OUR LEADERSHIP
WE WILL START WITH CHANGING THE
NARRATIVE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY
WANTS TO BE PROTECTED AND I
TAKE THAT OATH OF OFFICE BY THE
POLICE OFFICERS VERY SERIOUSLY.
THAT'S WHY I TALKED ABOUT THE
GEORGE FLOYD MURDER.
BECAUSE IF A POLICE OFFICER
CANNOT SAY THAT WAS MURDER,
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE
HARRELL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
LET'S MAKE THAT CLEAR.
>> I WANT TO GIVE YOU A
RESPONSE TO THAT.
>> SURE.
NOW I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR.
THAT SPD IS A POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT IS UNDER REFORM FOR QUITE
SOME TIME.
AND INSPITE OF THAT, WE SEE
THAT IT HAS REALLY DEEP
CULTURAL ISSUES.
AGAIN HAS OFFICERS GOING TO THE
INSURRECTION AND TWO WERE
ULTIMATELY FIRED.
REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH THE
VACCINE MANDATE AND TEAR
GASSING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN
THE CITY ELICITING 18,000
INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW
THEY HANDLED A PROTEST IN THE
CITY.
THESE ARE REAL SIGNIFICANT
ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE
ADDRESSED BY THE NEXT MAYOR AND
HAS TO BE DONE URGENTLY AND THE
REALITY IS THAT OFFICERS THAT
DO NOT WANT TO BE ON BOARD WITH
HIGHER ACCOUNTABILITY, OFFICERS
THAT WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO BE
IN THIS MOMENT SCRUTINIZED AT
HISTORIC LEVEL ARE NOT GOING TO
WANT TO WORK AT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
IN FACT SOME ARE MAKING CHOICES
TO LEAVE NOW PRECISELY BECAUSE
OF THAT AND IN OTHER INSTANCES
BECAUSE OF THE VACCINE MANDATE.
WE DO NEED TO HIRE ADDITIONAL
OFFICERS WITHIN THE BUDGET AND
MAKE SURE WE HAVE BUDGET
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THOSE
OFFICERS NEED TO BE ONBORED
WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AND
WE WILL ROOT OUT BAD COPS THAT
SHOULD NOT BE ON THE FORCE AND
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE INCREASE THE CIVILIANIZATION
AND THE TRANSPARENCY OF HOW WE
DISCIPLINE AND HOLD THE
OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE TO RESTORE
TRUST.
>> WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE ON.
DAVID KROMAN NEXT QUESTION.
>> IN THE WAKE OF THE PROTEST
LAST YEAR THERE WAS TALK ABOUT
POLICE OFFICERS SPECIFICALLY IN
MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS.
THE QUESTION COMES WITH SOME
INPUT FROM A VOTER IN WEST
SEATTLE THAT WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT IS THE IDEAL ROLE FOR
POLICE OFFICERS WHEN IT COMES
TO RESPONDING TO BEHAVIORAL AND
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND AS
MAYOR HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT
VISION A REALITY AND WE WILL
START WITH YOU CANDIDATE
GONZALEZ.
>> YES, THE STATE LAST YEAR DID
RA LOT OF REFORM WORK.
ONE OF THE PIECES OF REFORM
THAT THEY PASSED IS TO CREATE
STRICTER STANDARDS FOR OFFICERS
THAT ARE DEALING WITH
INDIVIDUALS AND MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS.
RIGHT NOW THAT IS CREATING
QUITE A BIT OF DIFFICULTY IN
TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND HOW
OFFICERS ARE DEALING WITH THOSE
WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND
IF THEY GET IT WRONG THEY WILL
LOSE THEIR CREDENTIALS.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO WORK
WITH OUR BEHAVIORAL HEAL
SERVICE PROVIDER COMMUNITY TO
BUILD THE STANDARDS WITHIN THE
CITY THAT CREATE CLEAR RULES
AND TRAINING AVAILABLE TO
OFFICERS THAT NEED TO RESPOND
TO THOSE RARE INSTANCES WHERE
THEY ARE NEEDED TO INTERVENE
AND WE NEED TO WHILE WE DO THAT
FOCUS ON STANDING UP THE
BEHAVIOR HEALTH SERVICES AND
CENTERS ACROSS THE CITY THAT WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
INDIVIDUALS HAVE A PLACE TO
HEAL, TO CALM DOWN AND TO GET
THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED TO
NO LONGER BE A DANGER TO
THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.
>> SO FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, DO
YOU THINK THAT THERE WILL
ALWAYS BE A PLACE FOR CRISIS OR
FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO BE
INVOLVED IN CRISIS RESPONSE?
>> I THINK IN LIMITED NUMBER OF
SITUATIONS THERE WILL BE A NEED
FOR BEHAVIORAL HEAL PROVIDERS
TO CALL ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT
TO HELP.
THOSE INSTANCES HAVE BEEN
DESCRIBED TO ME BY THE SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERTS IN THIS AREA
INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF CREATING
HARM TO THEMSELVES AND REAL
HARM AS IN DEATH OR SERIOUS
BODILY HARM TO EITHER
THEMSELVES OR TO OTHER
INDIVIDUALS.
SO THAT CALL NEEDS TO BE MADE
BY THOSE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
A DEPARTMENT THAT IS NIM BELL
ENOUGH TO RESPOND TO THOSE RARE
OCCASIONS THAT THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO NEED TO RESPOND TO.
TOGETHER WITH THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SERVICE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
CANDIDATE HARRELL WHAT IS THE
IDEAL ROLE FOR POLICE WHEN IT
COMES TO RESPONSE.
>> THERE ARE ANSWERS OUT THERE.
EUGENE OREGON THEY DEPLOYED A
PROGRAM CALLED CA HOOTS AND
THEY MAKE SURE THAT GUN BADGE
ARE NOT THERE AND THE RIGHT
KIND OF FIRST RESPONDERS IS
THERE.
MANY MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS.
WHAT THEY DO IN EUGENE OREGON
AND SAVE $14 MILLION AND ABLE
TO GET THE ARMED POLICE DOWN TO
LESS THAN ONE PERCENT.
BY MAKING SURE THE RIGHT FIRST
RESPONDERS SHOWED UP.
WHAT WE WILL DO LOOKING AS A
MODEL WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT
THE RIGHT FIRST RESPONDERS SHOW
UP AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE
CREATING AND I GOT TO TELL YOU
I AM MOST PROUD OF THE
FIREFIGHTERS ENDORSEMENT AND
WHAT DO THEY DO WHEN THEY SHOW
UP?
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BACK END,
THE SAFE HARBOR.
RIGHT NOW THAT ARE SOBRIETY
CENTERS AND WE DON'T WANT TO
TAKE A PERSON IN A MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS TO JAIL.
WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THIS
PERSON TO HARBOR VIEW BECAUSE
THEY CAN GET RELEASED OUT.
WE WANT THE INDIVIDAL
MANAGEMENT FOLLOWED UP.
THE FIRST RESPONDER WILL NOT BE
A GUN AND BADGE BUT TAKE THIS
PERSON TO THE SAFE HARBOR TO
FOLLOW UP WITH THE TREATMENT.
THAT IS THE DISCUSSION.
NOT JUST THE FIRST RESPONDERS
BUT WHERE THEY TAKE THEM.
>> CAHOOTS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR
A WHILE AND WHY ARE WE HAVING
THE CONVERSATION NOW?
>> I THINK THE COUNTRY WOKE UP
AFTER GEORGE FLOYD.
FOR MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT
WAS NOT A ININSTANCE.
I CAN GO BACK MANY YEARS ABOUT
THE SITUATIONS IN SEATTLE BUT
THE REIMAGINING CONVERSATION OR
ASKING EVERYONE AND THE YOUNG
PEOPLE GET THIS STUFF THAT WHAT
WILL IT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU
REIMAGINE THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT?
WE WILL BE AGGRESSIVE DOING
THAT.
A NEW SKILL SET SHOWING UP.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE NEW
SKILL SET WILL NOT SEE CHARLENE
LYLES AS A THREAT BUT A PERSON
IN NEED OF HELP.
THIS IS GOING TO BE EXCITING
WORK BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU
THAT WHEN WE REDUCE THE GUN AND
BADGE GOING OUT, WE WILL BE
ABLE TO RESPOND TO THOSE CRISIS
SITUATIONS AND THOSE VIOLENT
SITUATIONS THAT WE DO NEED A
GUN AND BADGE.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITIES AND PARTICULARLY IN
THESE HEALTH CRISIS.
WE ARE EXCITED AND QUITE CANDID
THAT IS WHAT THE CITY IS ASKING
ABOUT AND NOT THE OTHER ISSUES
TO DEAL WITH DURING THE
CAMPAIGN.
THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE ASKING
FOR AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL
DELIVER ON.
>> THANK YOU AND NEXT QUESTION
COMES FROM HANNA SCOTT.
>> AND THIS I WILL START WITH
YOU CANDIDATE GONZALEZ,
RECENTLY THERE WAS A REPORT
THAT WAS DELIVERED TO THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL THAT
LOOKED AT TRAFFIC STOPS AND HOW
THEY RELATE TO RACE.
THAT REPORT FOUND THAT
ESSENTIALLY THERE WERE MORE
BLACK DRIVERS BEING PULL OVER
BY SP D THAT WERE NOT CARRYING
GUNS OR DOING ANYTHING ELSE
CRIMINAL.
THERE WERE MORE BEING PULL OVER
THAN THE WHITE COUNTERPARTS
THAT DID HAVE A GUN OR WERE
DOING SOME SORT OF CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR.
DO YOU SUPPORT BASED ON THAT
DATA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE
CONVERSATION THAT ARE GOING ON
IN THIS SPACE DOING AWAY WITH
TRAFFIC STOPS OR LIMITING
TRAFFIC STOPS BY SEATTLE
POLICE?
>> SO JUST TWO THINGS REALLY
QUICKLY.
ONE IS WE ALREADY HAVE A
CAHOOTS VERSION.
WE HAVE A HEALTH ONE MOBILE AND
TRIAGE TO DEAL WITH LOWEST
ACUITY NEEDS.
WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT
PARTICULAR ISSUE AND REALLY
QUICKLY.
WHAT OUR CHALLENGE THAT THE
CITY IS DOING WITH MORE SEVERE
HIGH NEEDS ACUTE BEHAVIOR
HEALTH ISSUES AND SO THAT IS I
THINK A DISTINCTION BETWEEN MY
RESPONSE AND THAT OF MY
OPPONENT.
THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION, YOU
KNOW, MY OPPONENT LIKES TO TALK
ABOUT A BIAS FREE POLICING
ORDINANCE THAT HE PASS ROD THE
CITY COUNCIL.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE REPORT
PROVES IT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A
LESS BIAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
EVEN IN THE WAKE OF THE PASSAGE
OF THAT ORDINANCE.
SO WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IS
REAL STRUCTURAL CHANGE.
NOT JUST A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
TO ME THAT MEANS REMOVING
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT FROM THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND COMMUNICATIONS TO
ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.
>> AND FINAL TO YOU CANDIDATE
HARRELL.
THE CURRENT COUNCIL HAS DROPPED
THE BALL THEY ARE MEASURING
TERRY STOPS STOP AND FRISK
SITUATIONS AND ON ROUTINE
TRAFFIC STOPS I WANT TO KNOW
WHO IS BEING RACIALLY PROFILED
AND WHO GETS A WARNING AND WHO
GETS A CITATION.
AND ACCORDING TO THE REVIEW
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ARE NOT
MEASURING THIS AS REQUIRED BY
REQUIRED BY THE LAW THAT MY
OPPONENT SUPPORTED.
SO IT IS CLEAR THAT I AM
PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING SURE
THAT WE HAVE EQUITY IN
POLICING.
IT IS ALSO CLEAR THAT I WILL
TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF POLICE
OFFICERS THAT MAKES SENSE THE
KIND OF RESPONSE TIMES THAT WE
WANT.
SO ONCE AGAIN THEY HAVE DROPPED
THE BALL ON CRITICAL ORDINANCE
THAT WE WILL MEASURE AND WE
WILL DO EFFECTIVE JOB UNDER MY
ADMINISTRATION.
>> WE ARE JUST PERFECTLY OUT OF
TIME AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME.
ESSEX.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
REALLY GREAT DEBATE.
WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME.
WE WANT TO THANK OUR COULDS
LOREN AGONZALEZ AND BRUCE
HARRELL.
AND OUR MODERATORS.
ELECTION DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY,
NOVEMBER 2nd, YOU HAVE TO HAVE
YOUR BALLOT POSTMARKED BY THAT
DATE OR DROP IT IN ONE OF THE
DROP BOXES BY 8:00 NEXT TUESDAY
NIGHT.
THEY SHUT THEM PRECISELY AT
8:00.
YOU GOT TO GET THERE IN TIME TO
VOTE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING AND
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
TONIGHT'S DEBATE FROM SEATTLE
WITH THE THANKS SEATTLE CITY
CLUB COALITION IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH TVW, THE STATEWIDE PUBLIC
AFFAIRS NETWORK AND CROSS CUT.
WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MANY
MEDIA SPONSORS AND OUR SPONSORS
INCLUDING AARP OF SEATTLE.
SALES FORCE.
AND TABLOID.