>>> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON,
THE JANUARY 25, 2022 MEETING OF
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME
TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:00, OR 2:03.
I'M DEBORA JUAREZ, PRESIDENT OF
THE COUNCIL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> STRAUSS?
HERBOLD?
>> YES.
HERE, PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WILL BE
ABSENT.
HE'S EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S
MEETING.
NO OBJECTION.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS INDEED
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
PRESENTATIONS, I'M NOT AWARE OF
ANY PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
LET'S GO TO APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES.
THE MINUTES OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY 18,
2022 HAVE BEEN REVIEWED.
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES WILL BE SIGNED?
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES.
NOW GO TO APPROVAL OF THE IRC.
THAT'S THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
IRC WILL BE ADOPTED.
IT IS INDEED ADOPTED.
LET'S SEE.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENERAL DA, IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
WILL BE ADOPTED.
LET'S SEE.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE WILL
OPEN THE REMOTE COMMENT PERIOD
FOR ITEMS ON THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA.
FOUR ITEMS ON THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA AND THE COUNCIL'S WORK
PROGRAM.
IT REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY
INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS.
HOWEVER, AS A REMINDER, THE CITY
COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
ELIMINATE THESE PERIODS IF WE
DEEM THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED
OR IS NO LONGER SUITABLE FOR
ALLOWING OUR MEETINGS TO BE
CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY.
OUR CITY CLERK WILL MONITOR THIS
PERIOD, AND I WILL HAND IT OFF
TO OUR MADAME CLERK.
AND I UNDERSTAND MADAME CLERK,
THAT WE HAVE 15 PEOPLE SIGNED
UP?
CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
I'LL LET YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS MEETING IS UP TO 20
MINUTES, EACH SPEAKER WILL BE
GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER USED FROM THIS
REGISTRATION AND USING THE
MEETING PHONE NUMBER, ID, AND
PASS CODE EMAILED TO THEM UPON
CONFIRMATION.
THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE
GENERAL MEETING LISTEN LINE
CALL-IN INFORMATION.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN
REGISTERED AND USE THE ID AND
PASS CODE.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS DIFFERENT
FROM THE GENERAL MEETING LINE ON
THE AGENDA.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A
CONFIRMATION, CHECK YOUR SPAM OR
JUNK EMAIL FOLDERS.
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED WILL BE THE
SPEAKER'S CUE THAT IT IS THEIR
TURN TO SPEAK, AND THEN THE
SPEAKER MUST PRESS STAR SIX TO
BEGIN SPEAKING.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY STATING
YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM THAT YOU
ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME, WE ASK
YOU BEGIN TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENT, THE SPEAKER'S
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE,
AND IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, DO SO
VIA SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE
LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED ON THE
AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OEN AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX ONCE YOU HEAR THE PROMPT YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
I'LL CALL ON THE FIRST TWO
SPEAKERS, AND THE FIRST IS
HOWARD GAIL, AND THE SECOND
SPEAKER IS RACHEL IBARRA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
HOWARD GAIL, DISTRICT SEVEN
SPEAKINGS ON OUR FAILED POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
THIS MORNING THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE FEDERAL
COURT MONITOR'S REPORT ON SPD
CRISIS INTERVENTION, A REPORT
BASED ON THE FLAWED AND
SELF-SERVING STATISTICS PROVIDED
BY THE SPD.
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ACCEPTED
FALSE ASSERTIONS BY THE MONITOR
DESPITE DATA TO THE CONTRARY
WITH NO COUNCILMEMBER ASKING
QUESTIONS AND DEMANDING A
FOLLOW-UP OR AN INDEPENDENT
ASSESSMENT.
CHARLEENA LYLES, DANNY
RODRIGUEZ, RYAN MATTHEW SMITH,
TERRY J., DEREK J. HAYDEN, AND
THE PERSON STILL UNNAMED KILLED
ON JANUARY 5th.
THESE ARE THE NINE PEOPLE IN
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS KILLED BY
THE SPD IN THE LAST SIX AND A
HALF YEARS AND UNACCOUNTED FOR
IN THE DATA PRESENTED BY THE SPD
AND THE MONITOR.
ERASED FROM LIFE, DENIED AN
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION,
HOMICIDES COVERED UP BY FAILED
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM, AND NOW
SEATTLE HAS EVEN ERASED THEM
FROM ITS DATABASE.
WE NEED TO BUILD THROUGH CITY
INITIATIVE A POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT
PROVIDES FULL CIVILIAN COMMUNITY
CONTROL OVER POLICE POLICY,
POLICE MISCONDUCT
INVESTIGATIONS, AND POLICE
DISCIPLINE.
WE CAN'T HAVE A COURT MONITOR
AND A CITY COUNCIL, CPC, OPA,
OIG SIMPLY RECONSTITUTING FLAWED
DATA FROM THE SPD.
GO TO SEATTLESTOP.ORG TO FIND
OUT HOW.
SEATTLESTOP.ORG.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RACHEL
IBARRA, FOLLOWED BY BARBARA
FINNY.
>> HELLO, I'M RACHEL IBARRA.
I'M SPEAKING TO THE RESOLUTION
KSHAMA SAWANT REPRESENTED -- OR
PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL TODAY.
I'VE WORKED IN THE SERVICE
INDUSTRY SINCE I WAS 17.
I COUNT MYSELF AMONG THE PEOPLE
WHO GENUINELY LOVE THE WORK.
I ENJOY CHATTING WITH PEOPLE.
SOMETHING IS BEAUTIFUL ABOUT
TAKING ON ANOTHER PERSON'S NEEDS
FOR JUST A SECOND, MAKING
SOMETHING IN THEIR DAY A LITTLE
EASIER.
BUT I AND MANY, MANY OTHERS HAVE
ALSO BEEN TORN DOWN ENDLESSLY BY
THE CONDITIONS WE'RE EXPECTED TO
WORK IN AND LIVE IN.
THERE IS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
IN THIS INDUSTRY BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, AND THESE UNSAFE
WORKING CONDITIONS HAVE MADE IT
WORSE.
WE FACE CUSTOMERS WHO REFUSE TO
WEAR MASKS AND POLICY THAT IS
PUT PROFIT, NOT PEOPLE, FIRST.
AND WE DO ALL OF THIS WHILE
BEING EXPECTED TO SMILE AND MAKE
A CONNECTION WITH EVERYONE WHO
WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR.
STARBUCKS GIVES US THE BARE
MINIMUM AND GETS AWAY WITH
CALLING IT PROGRESSIVE.
STARBUCKS DOES NOT PAY A LIVING
WAGE, PROVIDE ADEQUATE,
ACCESSIBLE HEALTH INSURANCE OR
MAINTAIN ENOUGH STAFF.
THEY CALL US PARTNERS.
I'VE EVEN BEEN TOLD WE'RE ONE
BIG FAMILY.
WELL THEN, I ASK, WOULD YOU SEE
FAMILY LIVE IN POVERTY IF YOU
COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I SUSPECT THAT YOU WOULDN'T.
WE THE EMPLOYEES OF STARBUCKS
ASK THAT THE COUNCIL STAND BY US
IN OUR FIGHT IN THE RESOLUTION
PRESENTED TODAY AND LET
STARBUCKS KNOW IN THEIR HOMETOWN
WE WILL DEMAND BETTER FROM THEM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BARBARA
FINNY.
FOLLOWED BY DAVID HANES.
>>.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL, MY NAME IS
BARBARA FINNY, I'M A DELEGATE TO
THE MLK LABOR COUNCILS FOR FG
3917 AND A MEMBER OF SEATTLE
GSA, A RETIRED RN SPEAKING IN A
PERSONAL CAPACITY.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE TO EXTEND AND
NOT END HAZARD PAY FOR SEATTLE
GROCERY WORKERS.
EXTEND IT THROUGH THE END OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
AND FURTHER, EXPAND HAZARD PAY
TO MORE SEATTLE FRONTLINE
WORKERS.
PER UW MEDICINE TWEET YESTERDAY,
QUOTE, KING COUNTY HOSPITALS ARE
IN THE WORST SITUATION YET IN
THE PANDEMIC, UNQUOTE.
A QUOTE TWEET FROM THE NEW YORK
TIME, AVOID CLOSE SPACES,
CROWDED SPACES, AND CLOSE
CONTACT SETTINGS, END QUOTE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT GROCERY
WORKERS FACE ALL SHIFT LONG
EVERY DAY, CLOSE SPACES, CROWDED
SPACES, AND CLOSE CONTACT
SETTING.
OUR MAYOR HARRELL SAYS THE HARD
TRUTH IS THAT WE ARE NOT OUT OF
THE WOODS YET, AND WE MUST
CONTINUE TO ACT LIKE IT, END
QUOTE.
AND THAT'S CORRECT.
PLEASE STAND -- PLEASE KEEP THE
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS.
I ALSO CALL ON YOU TO VOTE FOR
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION URGING STARBUCKS TO
RESPECT CARD CHECK NEUTRALITY
AND ITS UNIONIZING STORES IN
SEATTLE, IN OTHER WORDS NOT TO
INTERFERE WITH WORKER'S EFFORTS
TO UNIONIZE.
TONIGHT AT CAL ANDERSON PARK IS
A SOLIDARITY RALLY IN SUPPORT OF
UNIONIZING STARBUCKS WORKERS AND
SOLIDARITY WITH STARBUCKS
WORKERS, ALL FRONTLINE WORKERS
AND UNIONIZING STARBUCKS
WORKERS, SOLIDARITY.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAYNES, FOLLOWED BY JULIA BUCK.
>> THANK YOU.
DAVID HAYNES, DISTRICT SEVEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE NEED
TO EXTEND HAZARD PAY AND POINT
OUT THERE'S NO INDICATION OF
WHAT COUNCIL IS AUTHORIZING TO
BE PAID AND BUILT THIS WEEK.
NOW, OUR DEMOCRACY PROVIDES A
LEGISLATIVE PEN THAT'S SUPPOSED
TO PROTECT THE WORKERS, THE
PEOPLE, AND DISCIPLINE THE GREED
AND KEEP THE CAPITAL GAINS FROM
ABUSING LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT'S
GOING TO WALL STREET MIDDLEMEN,
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT ARE
DRAINING THE LIFE BLOOD OF
AMERICANS, PROVING CAPITALISM IS
ABUSIVE WHEN IT'S FREE TO RIP
OFF THE WORKERS WHILE SECURING
RECORD PROFITS FOR NONWORKING
MIDDLEMEN SHAREHOLDERS OF WALL
STREET BUYING OFF OUR TAINTED
REPUBLIC AND FRAUDULENT
DEMOCRACY.
THE WORKERS NEED A THREE AND A
HALF DAY WORKWEEK, SEVEN-DAY
PAY, WITH A DOUBLING OF THE JOBS
TO BOOST MORALE.
WITH ALL THE MONEY REDIRECTED
AND TAKEN FROM THE MOST CORRUPT
ENTITY WITHIN CAPITALISM,
NAMELY, THE MIDDLEMEN OF CAPITAL
GAINS RIPPING OFF AND STEALING
FROM THIS NATION EVERY
THREE-MONTH QUARTERLY REPORT.
TAKE A LOOK AT KROGER PROFITS.
THEY SOARED AS BIG BUSINESS
PROVES THEY HATE THE WORKERS,
TOSSING THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPECT
IN THE TRASH, BECAUSE THERE'S
PLENTY MORE DESPERATE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF.
CITY COUNCIL HAS TO IMPROVE
THEIR USE OF THE DEMOCRACY PEN
TO PROTECT THE WORKERS DOING ALL
THE WORK.
AND SECONDLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND,
THERE IS A PROBLEM AT PIER 62
WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT SECURITY GUARDS
HANGING OUT WITH THEIR FRIENDS
ON THE PIER WITH A TOXIC ENGINE
RUNNING, RUINING THE ONLY PLACE
A LOCAL RESIDENT HAS ACCESS TO.
AT 10:00 P.M., THE SAME
UNPROFESSIONAL PARKS AND
RECREATION PIER 62 SECURITY
GUARDS EVIDENTLY GETTING
PAID 24/7 TO HANG ON THE PIER
TREAT LOCALS, LIKE MYSELF, LIKE
CRIMINALS IF THEY GO ON THE PIER
AFTER 10:00 P.M.
SECURITY REFUSING TO KEEP SAFE,
ALLOW IMPROPER USE ALL NIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIA
BUCK, FOLLOWED BY BRENT HAYES.
>>>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JULIA BUCK, I'M A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX AND A
MEMBER OF 3650 SEATTLE AND
SEATTLE DSA.
I AM CALLING TO ASK CITY COUNCIL
NOT TO REPEAL THE HAZARD PAY FOR
ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND GROCERY
WORKERS.
JUST YESTERDAY THE CITY COUNCIL
EXTENDED THE TELEWORK POLICY FOR
THE DEPARTMENT AND THE STIPEND
FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE
OF THE PANDEMIC.
THIS WAS -- THIS IS A REASONABLE
MOVE, AS OUR COVID CASES ARE
HIGHER NOW THAN THEY HAVE BEEN
AT ANY POINT DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
HOWEVER, IT MAKES LITTLE SENSE
FOR THE COUNCIL TO EXTEND THESE
PROTECTIONS TO THEMSELVES AND
OTHER LEGISLATORS AND THEN DENY
THEM TO GROCERY WORKERS WHO ARE
FORCED TO WORK IN PERSON BY THE
NATURE OF THEIR POSITIONS AND
WHO HAVE BORNE THE BRUNT OF
FEEDING PEOPLE FOR THIS ENTIRE
PANDEMIC.
I WOULD URGE CITY COUNCIL TO
PLEASE KEEP HAZARD PAY IN PLACE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRENT
HAYES, FOLLOWED BY STAR WILLIE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS BRENT
HAYES, AND I AM A BARISTA
WORKING AT THE 1200 WEST LAKE
AVENUE STARBUCKS LOCATION.
PARTNERSHIP IS A WORD THAT I
FEEL IS FREQUENTLY THROWN AROUND
AT STARBUCKS, AND TO ME A WORD
LIKE THAT SHOULD HOLD MORE
WEIGHT THAN IT DOES.
IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE A VOICE.
IT MEANS WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE
TABLE AND A CHANCE TO INFLUENCE
THE CHANGE BEING MADE IN OUR
STORES.
THIS IS WHY I'M CALLING TODAY.
IT IS TO DISCUSS KSHAMA SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION AND SHOW SOLIDARITY
WITH THE WORKING CLASS, BECAUSE
WE HAVE BEEN BLIND SIDED BY
CHANGES IN PANDEMIC BENEFITS,
REMOVAL OF HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROTOCOLS, AND WE HAVE BEEN
CRAMMED INTO SPACES WITH NOT
ENOUGH SPACE OR RESOURCES TO
ENABLE US TO REMAIN SAFE DURING
THIS PANDEMIC.
IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF
OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES,
OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES,
TO STAND TOGETHER AS TRUE
PARTNERS.
WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS
THE $4 HAZARD PAY AND THE
REMOVAL OF SUCH.
AS A WORKER IN THE SERVICE
INDUSTRY, IT IS BASICALLY
INSULTING THE NOTION THAT DURING
A TIME WHERE WE NEED TO WORK IN
ORDER TO KEEP A ROOF OVER OUR
HEADS YET ARE AT RISK, AND OUR
FAMILIES ARE AT RISK DUE TO
COVID, WE ARE UNABLE TO ACTUALLY
DO SO.
CUTS IN HOURS BECAUSE BUSINESSES
CANNOT BE OPEN FOR AS LONG.
CUTS IN HOURS BECAUSE CEOs ARE
TAKING LOSSES BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC AND DO NOT WANT TO PAY
US.
ALL OF THIS IS UNFAIR.
AND THAT $4 HAZARD PAY REALLY
WAS A BUFFER.
I'M CALLING UPON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO SUPPORT STARBUCKS
WORKERS UNITED IN OUR EFFORTS TO
UNIONIZE OUR STORES.
AND I'M CALLING UPON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO REINSTATE THE $4
HAZARD PAY AND APPLY IT TO THE
FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN
THE BACKBONE OF SEATTLE,
TIRELESSLY RISKING THEIR LIVES
SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE
WEALTHY CAN ENJOY THEIR DINNER,
THEIR COFFEE, OR A MOVIE.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT CALLER IS STAR
WILLIE, FOLLOWED BY B.J.
LAST.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS STAR WILLIE, AND I'M
A BLEE STA AT STARBUCKS AND A
RENTER IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M CALLING TODAY TO ECHO THE
OTHER STARBUCKS WORKERS THAT
HAVE CALLED IN AND VOICE THAT I
STRONGLY SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION DEMANDING
THAT STARBUCKS BOSSES
IMMEDIATELY STOP THEIR SHAMEFUL
INVESTING AND ACCEPT CARD CHECK
NEUTRALITY.
I DON'T HAVE ILLUSION THAT IS
THE EXECUTIVES WILL DO THIS
BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO
DO, AND WE REALLY COULD USE THE
SUPPORT OF CITY COUNCIL FOR THE
FIGHT AHEAD.
WE AS WORKERS NEED TO FIGHT TO
FORCE THEM TO CONCEDE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR PUTTING
FORTH THIS RESOLUTION AND ALWAYS
STANDING WITH WORKERS IN TRUE
SOLIDARITY WITH YOUR ACTIONS.
MY MESSAGE TO THE EIGHT
DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL IS
THAT I HEAR YOU SAYING AN THAT
YOU SUPPORT WORKERS AND YOU
SUPPORT UNIONS.
BUT WHAT WE WANT AND WHAT WE
NEED IS NOT WORDS BUT ACTIONS.
SO I'LL SAY IT LOUD AND CLEAR,
IF YOU DON'T VOTE YES ON THIS
RESOLUTION, IF YOU VOTE NO OR
TRY TO WATER IT DOWN, THEN NO,
YOU ARE NOT PRO-WORKER NOR
PRO-UNION.
YOU ARE PRO-EXPLOITATIONS OF
WORKERS BY THE WEALTHY.
IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
STAND WITH STARBUCKS WORKERS NOW
BY ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE
OTHER CALLERS IN VOICING MY
STRONG SUPPORT TO EXTEND AND NOT
END THE HAZARD PAY TO GROCERY
WORKERS.
THE PANDEMIC IS RAGING ON, AND
GROCERY WORKERS AND OTHER
FRONTLINE WORKERS ARE OUT THERE
EVERY DAY TAKING CARE OF US ALL.
THEY DESERVE THE PROTECTION IN
THE FORM OF HAZARD PAY.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS B.J.
LAST, FOLLOWED BY SARAH PAPIN.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS B.J.
LAST,
I'M A BALLARD RESIDENT AND A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I ASK COUNCIL TO UPHOLD THE
MAYOR'S VETO.
COUNCIL SHOULD NOT END HAZARD
PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS WHILE
THE COVID PANDEMIC IS STILL
GOING.
THE COVID PANDEMIC IS ABSOLUTELY
STILL ONGOING.
THREE HOURS AD 52 MINUTES,
ANOTHER KING COUNTY RESIDENT
DEAD OF COVID.
NATIONALLY, SOMEONE IN THE U.S.
IS DIAGNOSE OF COVID EVERY 36
SECONDS.
SO DURING ABOUT EACH CALLER SO
FAR ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE IN THE
U.S. HAVE DIED OF COVID.
THIS IS WHY THIS MEETING IS
BEING HELD REMOTELY AND WHY CITY
COUNCIL EXTENDED THE TELEWORK
STIPEND YESTERDAY.
COUNCIL SHOULD NOT END HAZARD
PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS WHILE IT
IS WORKING REMOTELY.
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS
SHOULD REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL
THE COUNCIL OR MAYOR TERMINATES
THE COVID CIVIL EMERGENCY, IN
EFFECT SINCE MARCH 2020.
GROCERY WORKERS DID NOT START
RECEIVING HAZARD PAY UNTIL
ALMOST A YEAR AFTER THE
PROCLAMATION OF THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY.
THEY SHOULD NOT LOSE HAZARD PAY
BEFORE THE CIVIL EMERGENCY IS
OVER.
THANK YOU, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH
PAPIN, FOLLOWED BY GIANNA REEVE.
>> HI, I'M CALLING TO URGE YOU
TO SIGN COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION TO CALL FOR
STARBUCKS TO CEASE ITS LATENT
UNION TACTICS.
IT'S ENGAGING IN AN OBVIOUS
ANTI-UNION CAMPAIGN.
STARBUCKS INSISTS THEY ARE NOT
ANTI-UNION AND DRESSES UP THEIR
TACTICS BY BEING PRO-PARTNER.
DOES STARBUCKS THINK IT'S
EMPLOYEES ARE STUPID?
FRANKLY IT IS AN INSTOULT MY
INTELLIGENCE AND MY COWORKER'S
INTELLIGENCE.
IT'S EMBARRASSING TO WATCH.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION, AND I ALSO --
RESOLUTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH US
AS WE FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS TO
UNIONIZE.
I ALSO URGE THE COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO VOTED TO TAKE AWAY THE VITAL
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS,
WHO ARE PROVIDING US WITH LABOR
AT INCREDIBLE RISK TO THEMSELVES
TO CHANGE YOUR MIND AND RESTORE
THAT PAY.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT CALLER IS GIANNA
REEVE, FOLLOWED BY SAM WHITE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS GIANNA REEVE,
I AM A SHIFT SUPERVISOR AND
BARISTA FROM BUFFALO, NEW YORK,
AND I AM CALLING YOU TODAY TO
DEMAND YOU VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH
STARBUCKS WORKERS, AND THAT
EXECUTIVES MUST IMMEDIATELY STOP
THEIR UNION BUSTING.
I KNOW WHAT THE UNION BUSTING
LOOKS LIKE.
I WAS AT THE HEART OF IT FOR
MONTHS, AND I KNOW THAT
STARBUCKS CANNOT BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE IN NOT BRINGING THAT
TO SEATTLE.
TO BRINGING THAT TO THEIR
HOMETOWN.
WE NEED TO DEMAND THAT THEY
STOP.
THEY WILL HOST CAPTIVE AUDIENCE
MEETINGS, THEY WILL THREATEN
THEIR PARTNERS, THEY WILL PUSH
US AND MANIPULATE US,
PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND THROUGH THE
BENEFIT THAT IS THEY GIVE US
NOW.
THEY WILL TRY TO FORCE US IN ANY
WAY TO VOTE NO, TO GIVE US AN
UNFAIR ELECTION.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT I AM IN STRONG AGREEMENT,
WE MUST UPHOLD THE $4 AN HOUR
FOR GROCERY WORKERS.
THEY RISK THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY
TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD THAT PEOPLE
NEED TO SURVIVE, AND THEY NEED
TO SURVIVE AS WELL.
IF WE DON'T UPHOLD THIS FOR
GROCERY WORKERS, WHAT ARE WE
DOING?
THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT DO WORK
THAT WE CONSIDER ESSENTIAL
MONTHS AGO.
AND NOW WE WANT TO TAKE THIS
AWAY FROM THEM.
WE WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE
SECURITY THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
AND IF YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS AND
THE RESOLUTION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS BROUGHT
IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, AND FORM, IF
YOU SO MUCH AS TRY TO DILUTE IT,
YOU ARE AGAINST IT.
SO PLEASE, VOTE YES.
THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAM
WHITE, FOLLOWED BY CASEY MOORE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SAM WHITE.
I AM A UNION BARISTA, I'M A
FRONTLINE WORKER THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC.
WHILE THESE CORPORATIONS,
INCLUDING STARBUCKS, HAVE MADE
RECORD PROFITS, PASSING ON ALL
THE RISKS OF THAT WORK ON TO
THESE WORKERS, ON TO MY UNION
SIBLINGS AND MY FELLOW BARISTAS
WHO WERE TRYING TO FORM UNIONS,
PASSING ON ALL THE RISKING TO
US, BUT NONE OF THE FRUITS OF
OUR LABOR.
I AGREE WITH WHAT'S BEEN SAID
ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL GETTING
TO TELEWORK WHILE WE HAVE TO
WORK IN PERSON.
THAT BRINGS ME TO AGREEING WITH
THE NEED TO KEEP HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY STORE WORKERS.
I HEARD FROM A TRADER JOE'S
WORKER HOW THAT $4 CUSHION IS
PROTECTION AGAINST HAVING TO GO
INTO WORK SICK, KNOWINGLY
PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK, BECAUSE
THERE'S NO OTHER SAFETY NET
THAT.
$4 CUSHION IS IN PLACE OF ALL
THE OTHER SAFETY NETS AT WORK WE
SHOULD HAVE.
SO PLEASE KEEP HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY WORKERS, AND GROCERY
WORKERS NEED A UNION, AND SO
DOES STARBUCKS WORKERS AND
BARISTAS.
STARBUCKS HAS CONSISTENTLY PUT
PROFITS OVER THEIR WORK PARTNERS
THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
RENT HAS GONE UP 25% IN THE LAST
YEAR IN THIS CITY WHILE
INFLATION HAS GONE UP 5%.
BARISTAS ARE TAKING PAY CUTS AND
NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP PACE.
SO I'M URGING THE CITY COUNCIL
TO VOTE YES ON KSHAMA SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH
STARBUCKS WORKERS TRYING TO FORM
A UNION.
AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU'RE
NOT PROGRESSIVE IF YOU'RE NOT
PRO-UNION, IF YOU'RE NOT CLEARLY
ON THE SIDE OF WORKERS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW
WHAT SIDE YOU'RE ON.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS
RESOLUTION, STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE WORKERS AND DENOUNCE
STARBUCKS' CORPORATE UNION
BUSTING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CASEY
MOORE, FOLLOWED BY JONATHAN
CRUZ.
>> HI, MY NAME IS CASEY MOORE,
AND I AM A BARISTA FROM A
STARBUCKS BARISTA FROM BUFFALO
WHO HAS COME ALL THE WAY TO
SEATTLE IN ORDER TO SUPPORT MY
FELLOW PARTNERS IN SEATTLE
ORGANIZING A UNION AND SUPPORT
COUNCILWOMAN SAWANT'S RESOLUTION
TO CALL ON STARBUCKS TO HEND
THEIR UNION BUSTING.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT
THIS COMPANY HAS DONE, WHEN WE
LAUNCHEDERS IN BUFFALO AT THE
END OF AUGUST, THEY HAVE BROUGHT
IN OVER 100 MANAGERS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY INTO OUR STORES TO SPY
ON US, TO INTIMIDATE US, TO
THREATEN US.
THEY HAVE MANAGERS, IMAGINE THE
PERSON THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR
GIVING YOU YOUR PAYCHECK COMING
AND PULLING YOU OFF THE FLOOR
PERSONALLY AND TELLING YOU THEY
WOULD BE HEARTBROKEN,
HEARTBROKEN, IF YOU VOTED YES TO
THE JUNE YOP.
THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING FROM
CLOSE STORE THAT IS ARE FILING
FOR UNION ELECTIONS, AND THEY
HAVE TURNED THEM INTO A TRAINING
CENTER IN ORDER TO TRY TO TRAIN
AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE IN
ORDER TO DILUTE THE UNION VOTE.
SEATTLE IS THE HOME OF
STARBUCKS.
YOU GUYS ARE WHERE IT STARTED.
STARBUCKS IS -- IT'S COMING FROM
HERE, AND IT'S AN ORGANIZATION
THAT CALLS ITSELF PROGRESSIVE,
THAT SAYS IT'S PRO-PARTNER, THAT
SAYS IT CARES ABOUT ITS WORKERS.
ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET A
VOICE ON THE JOB.
IT'S SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE WHAT
THEY'VE BEEN DOING.
THEY'VE ESSENTIALLY BEEN WAGING
PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE ON US TO
TRY TO GET US TO VOTE NO TO THE
UNION.
AND THEY'VE SAID TIME AND TIME
AGAIN THAT THEY'RE NOT
ANTI-UNION, AND IT'S NOT TRUE.
THE UNION BUSTING TACTICS THAT
THEY'VE DONE IN BUFFALO AND NOW
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT HAS TO
STOP IN SEATTLE, AND YOU ALL
HAVE THE POWER TO STOP IT FROM
HAPPENING, AS BEING THE HOME OF
STARBUCKS, THIS IS IN YOUR
HOMETOWN, AND YOU HAVE THE
ABILITY TO TAKE A STAND AND HOLD
THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND BE THE
COMPANY THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT
THEY CAN BE.
WE'RE FIGHTING TO MAKE STARBUCKS
A BETTER COMPANY AND A BETTER
PLACE TO WORK.
YOU ALL CAN BE TRAIL BLAZERS IN
SETTING AN EXAMPLE AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
AND WE ALSO STAND WITH GROCERY
WORKERS FOR THE $4 HAZARD PAY.
IT'S A NECESSITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JONATHAN
CRUZ, FOLLOWED BY WILL JOHNSON,
WHO IS NOT PRESENT, AND THEN
FOLLOWED BY ANNE WOODFORD, WHO
IS THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JONATHAN
CRUZ, AND I AM A GROCERY WORKER
AT TRADER JOE'S.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE MAKING
DECISION THAT IS DETERMINE MY
LIVELIHOOD DO SO, AS IN THE CASE
OF TODAY, FROM THE COMFORT OF
THEIR HOMES BEHIND THE SAFE WALL
OF A WEBCAM AND A KEYBOARD.
WHILE FOLKS WITH MONEY AND
SECURITY CAN PRETEND EVERYTHING
IS FINE, THOSE IN THE SERVICE
INDUSTRY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO
FACE THE GRINDING REALITIES OF
THIS PANDEMIC AS THE SYSTEMS WE
RELY ON FOR FOOD, SAFETY, GOODS,
AND OUR FRAGILE HEALTH BEND AND
BREAK, NOT ONLY UNDER THE
ENDLESS STRESSES OF ILLNESS BUT
FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THOSE
WITH THE POWER TO HELP.
AS GROCERY WORKERS -- AS A
GROCERY WORKER WITH A CHRONIC
CASE OF ASTHMA THAT FEELS LIKE
IT'S GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY, I
WHEEZE THROUGH MY SHIFTS FACING
CLOSE CONTACT WITH HUNDREDS OF
STRANGERS.
ONLY THE BAREST ATTEMPT AT
SAFETY IS PROVIDED TO ME.
ALL SAFETY MEASURES ARE ENFORCED
TO THE LEGAL MINIMUM BY THOSE
WITH FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN
THINGS SEEMING AS NORMAL AS
POSSIBLE.
MY SITUATION IS NOT UNIQUE.
IN FACT, I HAVE IT A LOT BETTER
THAN MOST.
MY INDUSTRY AT LEAST GETS THE
CONSOLATION OF HAVING A $4 AN
HOUR BUMP TO SOFTEN THE CHOICE
OF FOREGOING WAGES TO STAY AT
HOME WHEN SICK.
EVEN THOUGH, I'VE SEEN MANY NOT
AFFORD BUT TO WORK DURING COVID.
HAZARD PAY SHOULD BE EXPANDED,
IF ANYTHING, NOT ELIMINATED.
YOU HAVE A MORAL -- I'M
DEMANDING TODAY THAT ALL CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS UPHOLD THE HAZARD
PAY AND THAT YOU VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH
STARBUCKS WORKERS AND THAT THE
EXECUTIVE MUST IMMEDIATELY STOP
UNION BUSTING.
I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
BARISTAS FIGHTING FOR THEIR
RIGHTS AND EVERY WORKER
OVERLOOKED HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> AND THE LAST SPEAKER IS ANNE
WOODFORD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANNE WOODFORD,
AND I AM A WORKER AT A TRADER
JOE'S STORE IN SEATTLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY
COUNCIL TO PLEASE EXTEND THE
HAZARD PAY.
IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT ALMOST
TWO YEARS WORKING EVERY DAY WITH
THE PUBLIC.
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF COVID,
ENFORCING RULE, NOT ENFORCING
RULES, HAVING PROTECTION, IE
PLEXIGLAS BETWEEN US AND OUR
CUSTOMERS, ALLOWING SOCIAL
DISTANCING IN THE BREAK ROOMS,
ALL OF THOSE SAFEGUARDS HAVE NOW
DISAPPEARED FOR US, AND YET WE
ARE EXPECTED TO COME TO WORK
WITH A SMILE ON OUR FACE.
$4 AN HOUR EXTRA HAZARD PAY HAS
HELPED PEOPLE, AS JONATHAN SAID,
BE ABLE TO TAKE A DAY OFF FROM
WORK, GO FIND A TEST, AND BE
ABLE TO ENSURE THEIR OWN
COWORKER'S SAFETY AS WELL AS
THEIR OWN.
NOT TO MENTION THE GENERAL
PUBLIC.
OUR STORE HAS HAD OVER 15 CASES
OF COVID IN THE LAST THREE
WEEKS.
MOST OF THEM WHO HAVE GIVEN IT
TO A COWORKER WHILE ON SITE.
THAT DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE
CHANCE WE HAVE PASSED IT ON TO
THE PUBLIC, TO CHILDREN WHO WERE
IN THE STORE, TO ELDERLY PEOPLE
WHO WERE IN THE STORE.
WE COME TO WORK BECAUSE IT IS
OUR JOB, AND WE'RE THERE
PROVIDING FOOD TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
PLEASE EXTEND THE HAZARD PAY
UNTIL THE STATE OF EMERGENCY,
THE END OF THE PANDEMIC, IS
HERE.
YOU MUST GIVE US THAT BREAK,
PLEASE, CITY OF SEATTLE COUNCIL.
ALSO, PLEASE PASS THE RESOLUTION
PRESENTED BY SAWANT TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT'S THE
END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK.
SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU
TOOK TO CALL IN AND LET US KNOW
WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WERE ABOUT
TODAY'S AGENDA.
WE'VE REACHED THE END OF OUR
ALLOTTED TIME FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
SO MOVING ON TO ON THE AGENDA TO
PAYMENT OF THE BILLS.
PAYMENT OF THE ILL BES, PLEASE
READ THE TITLE, MADAME CLERK.
>> THE WEEK OF JANUARY 10, 2022
THROUGH JANUARY 142022 AND
ORDERING THE PAYMENT THEREOF.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120261, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
BEING SECONDED, THE BILL PASSED.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
HEARING
AND SEEING NO COMMENTS, MADAME
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> NELSON?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> LET'S LOOP BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES, AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO
SOME OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS, AND
FIRST UP WE HAVE, AS YOU HEARD,
RECONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL -- --
>> -- HAZARD PAY REQUIREMENTS
AND AUTOMATICALLY REPEALING THE
ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK.
I'M CALLING UP THE
RECONSIDERATION OF PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 120119 TO CONSIDER
PASSAGE OF THE BILL AND THE
MAYOR'S VETO.
THE RECONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL
BILL 120119 IS NOW PENDING
BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
BEFORE I GO TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR
SOME COMMENTS, I WANT TO ADD --
I WANT TO ADD A FEW -- I WANT TO
KIND OF CONTEXTUALIZE WHERE
WE'RE AT WITH THIS PARTICULAR
ORDINANCE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING
HERE TODAY.
AND THEN I'LL GO TO MY
COLLEAGUES FOR SOME COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, CARINA BULL AND SARA
MACE.
SO I JUST WANT TO PUT HOW THIS
-- HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY.
SO FOR REFERENCE, THIS IS A
QUICK HAZARD PAY TIMELINE.
SO ON JANUARY 2 #, 2021, COUNCIL
PASSED EMERGENCY ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHING HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY EMPLOYEES.
THE VOTE WAS 8-0.
EVERYONE VOTED YES, AND I DID
NOT VOTE BECAUSE I WAS NOT HERE.
SO ANYWAY, ON FEBRUARY 3rd,
HAZARD PAY FOR THE GROCERY
ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT.
AND THEN FROM THERE WE STARTED
WITH COUNCIL BILL 120119, WHICH
IS WHAT'S BEFORE US TODAY, AND
THOSE ARE THE AMENDMENTS TO THE
HAZARD PAY FOR THE DWROESRY
EMPLOYEES.
THAT IS THIS WOULD BE THE BILL
TO END HAZARD PAY REQUIREMENTS
UPON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
ORDINANCE.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE
US TODAY.
ON JULY 9, 2021, OUT OF
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
COMMITTEE, FINANCE AND HOUSING,
THE BILL WAS VOTED OUT OF
COMMITTEE, 4-0.
IN FAVOR WERE CHAIR MOSQUEDA,
COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
AND I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD ABSTAINED.
THEN ON JULY 27th, AUGUST 9th,
SEPTEMBER 13th, THIS COUNCIL
HELD THE BILL ON THOSE THREE
DATES.
ON JULY 27th, COUNCIL VOTED TO
HOLD PASSAGE OF THE BILL 7-0,
NOT PRESENT WAS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND MOSQUEDA.
ON AUGUST 9th, THIS COUNCIL
AGAIN VOTED TO HOLD PASSAGE OF
THE BILL.
IT WAS 8-0.
THE ONLY PERSON NOT PRESENT THAT
DAY WAS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
THEN ON SEPTEMBER 13th, COUNCIL
VOTED AGAIN TO HOLD PASSAGE OF
THE BILL.
IT WAS A 9-0 VOTE.
SO EVERYBODY VOTED YES ON
SEPTEMBER 13th TO HOLD PASSAGE
OF THIS PARTICULAR BILL.
THIS BILL THEN WENT TO THE FULL
COUNCIL AGAIN ON MONDAY,
DECEMBER 13, 2021, AND THE VOTE
WAS 8-0 TO END HAZARD PAY.
EVERYONE WAS PRESENT EXCEPT FOR
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
SO THAT'S WHY THE VOTE WAS 8-0.
SO ON DECEMBER 27, 2021, MAYOR
DURKAN GOT THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, AND SHE VETOED IT
AND RETURNED THE BILL BACK TO
COUNCIL.
SO HERE WE ARE TODAY, EXACTLY
ONE YEAR TO THE DAY, JANUARY 25,
2022, SO COUNCIL WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RECONSIDER
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
SO I'M GOING TO, AT THIS TIME,
TURN IT OVER TO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUE THAT IS MAY HAVE SOME
COMMENTS TO SAY, AND THEN I'M
GOING TO GIVE SOME INSTRUCTION
ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON
THIS.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO OPEN
UP THE FLOOR.
COLLEAGUES?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I SEE
YOUR HAND IS UP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE, MADAME PRESIDENT,
YOUR SHARING OF THE HISTORY OF
THE COUNCIL'S DECISION TO NOT
ACT ON THE SUSPENSION OF HAZARD
PAY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
AND APPRECIATE THAT THAT -- THE
ACTIONS THE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN IN
THE PAST TO NOT VOTE ON THIS
LEGISLATION REFLECTED THE
UNCERTAINTY THAT MANY
COUNCILMEMBERS HAD AROUND THE
TIMING.
WHEN I DID VOTE ON THE HAZARD
PAY -- THE ENDING OF THE HAZARD
PAY, THE LEGISLATION, I DID SAY
PUBLICLY AT THAT TIME THAT I
RECOGNIZE THAT WE MAY NEED TO
REVISIT IT BECAUSE OF THE
UNCERTAINTY.
AND THIS VOTE WAS MORE THAN --
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A
WEEK BEFORE THE OMICRON SURGE.
OF OMICRON SURGE HADN'T HAPPENED
YET.
MANY OF US SAID WHEN WE VOTED ON
THE TERMINATION OF HAZARD PAY
THAT WE MAY NEED TO REVISIT IT
AND THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT
PUBLIC HEALTH IS THE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY AS WE CONTINUE TO GET
UPDATED ADVICE FROM PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT WE MUST
REACT QUICKLY TO PROTECT THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
I ISSUED A STATEMENT AFTER THE
MAYOR'S VETO OF COUNCIL'S BILL
SAYING THAT I SUPPORTED IT, AND
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TODAY TO
AFFIRM MY SUPPORT OF CONTINUED
HAZARD PAY FOR THESE FRONTLINE
WORKERS AT ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD
LIKE TO COMMENT?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
I'M GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF
THE PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE BECAUSE
I THINK YOU DID THE RIGHT THING
IN DECEMBER IN SUNSETTING THE
INCREASE, WHICH WE PASSED AS
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION BEFORE THE
VACCINE WAS WIDELY AVAILABLE.
AND NOW 87.5% OF RESIDENTS OVER
16 ARE VACCINATED, AND 5 YEARS
AND UP, 83% ARE VACCINATED.
SO YOU KNOW, MAYOR DURKAN VETOED
COUNCIL BILL 120119 WHICH
REVEALED HAZARD PAY SHORTLY
AFTER -- MAYBE JUST DAYS AFTER
OMICRON CAME ON THE SCENE AND
BEFORE WE KNEW ABOUT ITS
TRANSMISABILITY OR ITS VEER
LENS.
IT'S ESTIMATED IT'LL PEAK IN
FEBRUARY, AND LOCALLY THE
SEATTLE/KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH DASHBOARD SHOWS TODAY
THAT THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES IN
SEATTLE IS DOWN 49% FROM LAST
WEEK.
SO THE POINT IS THAT CONDITIONS
HAVE CHANGED.
AND SINCE YOUR ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION.
WASHINGTON ENDED ITS OFFICIAL --
I MEAN ITS -- IT RE-OPENED
OFFICIALLY IN JUNE.
SCHOOLS ARE BACK OPEN FOR GIN
PERSON LEARNING.
JUST TODAY UW ANNOUNCED IT WOULD
GO BACK TO IN PERSON, AND OUR
OWN LIBRARIES ARE RE-OPENED, AND
OUR LIBRARIANS AREN'T GETTING
HAZARD PAY.
SO HERE'S WHY THIS MATTERS.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH PCC AND THE
INDEPENDENT GROCERS, AND THEY'RE
REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THIS
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR
VIABILITY, BECAUSE IF THEY
CLOSE, THOSE JOBS GO AWAY AND
THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOSES THAT
ASSET.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ONE
EXAMPLE OF THE GROCERY OUTLET IN
DISTRICT TWO THAT DID CLOSE.
SO THAT IS WHY I'M CONCERNED.
AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
KROGER HERE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
LARGELY FAMILY-OWNED, MANY OF
THEM FAMILY OWNED, AND IF THEY
DON'T RAISE THEIR -- IF THEY
DON'T CLOSE, THEY MIGHT HAVE TO
RAISE THEIR PRICES.
AND WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH PRICES WITH ALL
THE SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS.
THEY'RE ALREADY GOING UP, AND
WORK FAMILIES ARE HURTING.
SO THAT IS THE CRUX OF THE
MATTER FOR ME.
IF WE VOTE NO ON THIS
LEGISLATION, IN OTHER WORDS,
SCENE THE MAYOR'S VETO, THIS
HAZARD PAY INCREASE WILL BE IN
PLACE INDEFINITELY, OR UNTIL THE
MAYOR CALLS AN END TO THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY.
AND RIGHT NOW MOST OF THE OTHER
JURISDICTIONS HAVE ALREADY
SUNSET OR REPEALED THEIR HAZARD
PAY.
I THINK MAYBE BURIEN AND EDMONDS
ARE TWO EXCEPTIONS, BUT THE VAST
MAJORITY, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF
THEM, HAVE ENDED THIS.
AND UNITED FOOD WORKERS OF
AMERICA, LOCAL 21 DID SIGNAL
IT'S -- NEGOTIATING OTHER
CONTRACTS.
SO THAT WORK IS ONGOING RIGHT
NOW AND IT WAS SAID IN COMMITTEE
IN DECEMBER THAT THIS
LEGISLATION WAS NOT INTENDED TO
BE A PERMANENT WAGE REPLACEMENT.
AND SO LET'S LET WAGES BE DEALT
WITH IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
SO IF WE PASS THIS PROPOSED
SUBSTITUTE, THE $4 AN HOUR WAGE
WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR ANOTHER
MONTH, FOR 30 DAYS.
WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE -- HAVE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT OMICRON AT
THAT POINT, AND I BELIEVE THAT,
YOU KNOW, THIS CITY'S GOING TO
KEEP CHANGING ALL THE TIME.
NOW THERE'S A NEW OMICRON
VARIANT.
BUT THE POINT IS WE HAVE TO
FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, AND
THAT IS -- AND THE MAYOR'S
LETTER IN VETOING THIS SAID
THAT, I'LL QUOTE IT, IN THE NEW
YEAR, THE INCOMING
ADMINISTRATION AND CITY COUNCIL
WILL HAVE THE BENEFIT OF MUCH
MORE INFORMATION REGARDING
OMICRON AND ITS IMPACTS, AND CAN
WORK WITH ORGANIZED LABOR, OTHER
WORKERS, AND IMPACTED BUSINESSES
TO EVALUATE THE APPROPRIATE NEXT
STEPS.
AND I THINK WE'RE AT THAT TIME
FOR APPROPRIATE NEXT STEPS, AND
THAT IS WHY I AM GOING TO VOTE
IN FAVOR OF THIS LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ.
COLLEAGUES, AS YOU KNOW, I VOTED
FOR THE ORIGINAL BILL IN JANUARY
OF 2021 TO SUPPORT SEATTLE
GROCERY WORKERS AND REQUIRE
THEIR EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE
HAZARD PAY.
I ALSO SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO KEEP
IT IN PLACE FOR A FULL YEAR, DUE
IN PART TO THE EARLIER DELTA
VARIANT OF THE CORONAVIRUS.
I HAVE BEEN, HOWEVER, TORN ABOUT
WHETHER TO CONTINUE TO REQUIRE
THOSE PAYMENTS INTO 2022.
JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO ON DECEMBER
13th, EIGHT OF US VOTED TO
SUNSET THIS HAZARD PAY.
I KNOW SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES,
INCLUDING COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
ARE MAKING GOOD POINTS ABOUT WHY
TO SUPPORT AND UPHOLD MAYOR
DURKAN'S DECISION A MONTH AGO.
ULTIMATELY, HOWEVER, I'VE
DECIDED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH MY
DECEMBER 2021 VOTE, AND SO I'LL
BE VOTING TO OVERRIDE THE VETO
OF OUR FORMER MAYOR, SO THE
HAZARD PAY REQUIREMENTS COULD
SUNSET IN 30 DAYS.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
FRONTLINE WORKERS IN NUMEROUS
INDUSTRY THAT IS BRAVELY SERVE
SEATTLE EVERY DAY SHOULD NOT
ONLY BE PAID WELL BUT ALSO BE
ABLE TO WORK THE QUANTITY OF
HOURS THEY NEED.
AND A KEY QUESTION FOR ME IS
WHEN IS IT A CITY GOVERNMENT'S
ROLE TO INTERVENE AND REQUIRE
BUSINESS OWNERS TO PAY ABOVE
THEIR CURRENT COMPENSATION.
THE PANDEMIC HAS SPURRED THE
CREATION AND EXPANSION OF MANY
RELIEF PROGRAMS FUNDED BY
SEVERAL DIFFERENT SOURCES, AND
I'VE SUPPORTED NEARLY ALL OF
THESE INTERVENTIONS BECAUSE A
PANDEMIC IS AN EXTRAORDINARY
CRISIS WARRANTING EXTRAORDINARY
RESPONSES.
IN MY ORIGINAL VOTE IN JANUARY
2021, A YEAR AGO, TO SUPPORT
GROCERY WORKERS, IT RECEIVED
CRITICISM FROM SEVERAL OF MY
CONSTITUENTS WHEN THE
CINCINNATI-BASED KROGER COMPANY
ANNOUNCED THE CLOSING OF A
CHERISHED QFC GROCERY STORE IN
THE WEDGEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT I STAND BY MY ORIGINAL VOTE
A YEAR AGO, BUT I NEED TO
EXPLAIN WHY I THINK WE SHOULD
OVERRIDE THE MAYOR'S LAST-MINUTE
VETO OF OUR SUNSET LEGISLATION.
AGAIN, SEATTLE HAS IMPOSED THIS
SPECIAL HAZARD PAY FOR A YEAR.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY WOULD NOT
END IMMEDIATELY BUT RATHER AFTER
30 DAYS.
DR. FAUCI RECENTLY ANNOUNCED
THAT THINGS LOOK LIKE THEY'RE
GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
TODAY THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED THEY WILL
BE RETURNING TO IN-PERSON
CLASSES NEXT WEEK.
BEYOND THE GOVERNMENT-IMPOSED
MINIMUM WAGE, I BELIEVE WORKERS
AND THEIR EMPLOYERS SHOULD
NEGOTIATE COMPENSATION AND
BENEFITS WITHOUT A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT DICTATING WHAT THEY
MUST BE.
THE LOCAL UNION, UNITED FOOD AND
COMMERCIAL WORKERS, UFCW LOCAL
21, IS VERY EFFECTIVE THROUGHOUT
WASHINGTON STATE AND BEYOND IN
ADVOCATING FOR THE GROCERY
WORKERS THEY REPRESENT AND
ORGANIZING THOSE WHO MAY WANT TO
FORM A UNION AND IN INFLUENCING
POLICYMAKERS.
TEMPORARY HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY
WORKERS ALREADY ENDED MONTHS AGO
IN ALL 35 CALIFORNIA
JURISDICTIONS THAT ORIGINALLY
REQUIRED IT.
AND IT HAS ALSO ENDED IN ABOUT
HALF OF THE WASHINGTON STATE
JURISDICTIONS THAT REQUIRED IT.
ENDING THE HAZARD PAY IN SEATTLE
COULD MAKE IT MORE FINANCIALLY
FEASIBLE FOR OTHER STORES TO
MOVE INTO THE WEDGEWOOD LOCATION
AND OPEN STORES THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE OR TO REMAIN IN
BUSINESS.
AS WE STRIVE TO EMERGE FROM THE
COVID PANDEMIC, I BELIEVE IT MAY
BE TIME TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM
SOME OF THE EMERGENCY MEASURES
WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE OVER THE
PAST TWO YEARS, UNLESS SUCH
MEASURES ARE REQUIRED BY PUBLIC
HEALTH AUTHORITIES OR FUNDED BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SO I'LL BE VOTING TO
OVERRIDE THE MAYOR'S VETO TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT,
YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP.
PLEASE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> I AM, OF COURSE, OPPOSING THE
LEGISLATION ORIGINALLY SPONSORED
BY SELF-DESCRIBED -- MOSQUEDA
THAT WOULD END THE $4 HAZARD PAY
THAT GROCERY WORKERS DEPEND ON
DURING THIS EMERGENCY.
IN OTHER WORDS, I AM VOTING TO
UPHOLD THE VETO FROM THE
OUTGOING MAYOR.
WE KNOW THAT OVER 330 COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAVE EMAILED THE
COUNCIL, SAYING THE COUNCIL
CANNOT DARE TO REPEAL THE HAZARD
PAY.
WE'VE SEEN A PETITION TO THE
COUNCIL FROM TRADER JOE'S
WORKERS, OVER 40 TRADER JOE'S
WORKERS HAVE SIGNED THIS
PETITION URGING THE COUNCIL TO
MAINTAIN THE HAZARD PAY.
IN DECEMBER, THIS BILL CAME TO
THE COUNCIL FOR A VOTE ON A DAY
THAT I WAS OUT SICK, AND
SCANDALOUSLY, ALL OF THE OTHER
EIGHT COUNCILMEMBERS WERE
PRESENT.
ALL DEMOCRATS VOTED TO END THE
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS.
THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AS
I HAD EXPLAINED IN COUNCIL
MEETINGS THROUGHOUT LAST SUMMER
WHEN THIS BILL ENDING HAZARD PAY
ALMOST CAME TO A VOTE SEVERAL
TIMES, BUT THE VOTE WAS,
QUOTE,UNQUOTE, HELD, WHICH MEANS
DELAYED AT THE TIME.
GROCERY WORKERS HAVE RISKED
THEIR LIVES ON POVERTY WAGES TO
MAKE FOOD AVAILABLE TO ALL OF
SOCIETY THROUGHOUT THIS DRY SIS.
I HAVE REPEATEDLY ARGUED THAT
THE HAZARD PAY SHOULD NOT ONLY
BE MAINTAINED FOR GROCERY
WORKERS BUT SHOULD BE EXTENDED
TO ALL FRONTLINE WORKERS FOR AS
LONG AS THIS PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY LASTS.
TO GET A SENSE OF HOW
ANTI-WORKER THE DEMOCRATS ENDING
OF THE GROCERY WORKER HAZARD PAY
WAS, CONSIDER THIS STUDY IN
WASHINGTON, CALIFORNIA, AND
COLORADO.
THIS SURVEY SHOWS THAT WHILE
KROGER CEO MADE $22 MILLION LAST
YEAR, MOST OF THE COMPANY'S
FRONTLINE WORKERS FACED
HOMELESSNESS, EVICTION, OR
HUNGER.
THE STUDY SURVEYED A STAGGERING
SO,000 WORKERS, AND FOUND THAT
MORE THAN THREE QUART IRES ARE
FOOD INSECURE, 14% FACED
HOMELESSNESS IN THE PAST YEAR,
AND REAL WAGES HAVE DECREASED.
THE HAZARD PAY SHOULD LAST AS
LONG AS THE HEALTH EMERGENCY
LASTED.
AS LONG AS THERE IS AN
EMERGENCY, HAZARD PAY IS THE
LEAST THAT GROCERY WORKERS
SHOULD BE GETTING.
FORMER MAYOR DURKAN VETOED THE
END OF HAZARD PAY WHICH WAS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO.
SHE WAS A CARPET POLITICIAN, BUT
SHE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO VETO,
BECAUSE THE BILL HIT HER DESK
WHEN OMICRON STARTED SWEEPING
THE CITY.
COUNCILMEMBERS, AND AS YOU'VE
HEARD TODAY, HAVE ATTEMPTED TO
EXCUSE THEIR ANTI-WORKER VOTE IN
DECEMBER BY SAYING THEY COULD
NOT HAVE PREDICTED OMG CHRON.
WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT OMICRON
COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PRECISELY
PREDICTED, THAT IS NOT THE
QUESTION AT ALL.
THE QUESTION IS WHY WERE
COUNCILMEMBERS, MANY OF THESE
SELF-DESCRIBED PROGRESSIVE
COUNCILMEMBERS, SO EAGER TO END
THE HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY
WORKERS, SO EAGER THEY COULD NOT
WAIT FOR THE OFFICIAL END OF THE
SITUATION IN OUR CITY.
KROGER EXECUTIVES GET TO BE SAFE
AND WORK FROM HOME.
NONE OF THESE EXCUSES ARE
ACCEPTABLE.
AND COUNCILMEMBERS NELSON AND
PEDERSEN NOT ONLY SAY THAT THEY
BELIEVE THAT VOTING TO END
HAZARD PAY IN DECEMBER WAS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO BUT ALSO SAY
THAT THEY'RE VOTING TO END
HAZARD PAY NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE DEADLY OMICRON SURGE.
THIS IS JUST STUNNING.
MY ALLEGIANCE IS TO THE GROCERY
WORKERS, NOT TO THE BOSSES AT
KROGER.
AS I SAID, I'LL BE VOTING TO
MAKE HAZARD PAY.
I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO REVERSE
THE SCANDALOUS POSITION YOU TOOK
IN DECEMBER AND VOTE TO REVERSE
HAZARD PAY.
I WANT TO URGE ALL WORKER PEOPLE
IN SEATTLE TO SUPPORT GROCERY
WORKERS AS THEY FIGHT THIS YEAR
FOR A DECENT CONTRACT.
I UNDERSTAND WITH STARBUCKS
WORKERS FIGHTING TO UNIONIZE AND
TO PUSH FOR RANK AND FILE DRIVEN
DEMOCRATLY ORGANIZED UNIONS.
I ALSO WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, I
WANT TO SAY THAT LAST YEAR
ACROSS THE COUNTRY INFLATION FAR
OUTPACED WAGES.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE AVERAGE
FAMILY TOOK A REAL PAY CUT.
A PAY CUT IN REAL TERMS LAST
YEAR BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WAGES
MAY HAVE GONE UP IN NOMINAL
TERMS, INFLATION HAS OUTPACED
IT.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S ASSERTION
THAT PRICE INCREASES ARE SOMEHOW
CAUSED BY THE TINY WAGE
INCREASES BY THE LOWEST WAGE
WORKERS UNFOUNDED.
THIS HAS NO BASIS IN STATISTICAL
EVIDENCE.
WAGES ARE FALLING BEHIND PRICES.
GROCERY WORKERS NEED HAZARD PAY
AND A SUBSTANTIAL RAISE, SAFE
WORKING CONDITIONS, AND DECENT
HOURS.
I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH
GROCERY WORKERS IN THEIR FIGHT
TO PROTECT HAZARD PAY AND WITH
ALL GROCERY WORKERS WHETHER
THEY'RE UNIONIZED OR NOT WHO ARE
FIGHTING FOR THIS HAZARD PAY AND
FOR ALL NONUNIONIZED GROCERY
WORKERS TO GET UNIONIZED AND
FIGHT FOR A GOOD CONTRACT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ANYONE
WOULD LIKE TO SAY BEFORE I SAY A
FEW CLOSING COMMENTS?
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR COMMENTS, BUT I JUST
WANT TO ADD THAT MEMBERS ARE
REMINDED IT IS NEVER IN ORDER TO
ATTACK THE INTEGRITY OF YOUR
COLLEAGUES FOR WHY THEY ARE
VOTING THE WAY THEY ARE VOTING.
IT'S -- EVERY MEMBER SHOULD BE
REMINDED THAT IT'S NEVER AN
ORDER TO MAKE PERSONAL COMMENTS
OR UNDERMINE WHAT PARTY ANY OF
US BELONG TO.
I THINK EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO
RELY ON EACH OTHER AND HOLD EACH
OTHER ACCOUNTABLE TO THE RULES
OF CIVILITY, DECOR RUM, AND
KINDNESS.
SO WHILE YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH
THE VOTE OF OUR COLLEAGUES,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, AND YOU
MAY NOT AGREE WITH WHAT YOU DEEM
ANY PARTICULAR PARTY, IT'S
REALLY ISN'T HELPFUL FOR THE
DEBATE AND CIVILITY AND FOR
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE
FORD WARD AND TO THE DISCUSSION,
QUITE FRANKLY, ABOUT HOW WE
APPROACH NOT JUST TODAY'S WORK
IN FRONT OF US BUT EVERY DAY THE
WORK IN FRONT OF US.
I WILL ADD, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, YOU DID REFER TO THE
MAYOR'S VETO LETTER, WHICH WAS
DATED DECEMBER 27th, AND I --
MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CORRECT ME,
THAT'S IN THE CLERK FILE,
CORRECT?
>> THE ACTUAL MAYORAL VETO LET
SER PART OF THE RECORD AND IS ON
THE AGENDA -- TODAY'S AGENDA AS
WELL.
>> OKAY.
IF SOMEBODY WHO'S'S BEEN
LISTENING AND WANTS TO ACCESS
THAT LETTER, THEY CAN EASILY
ACCESS IT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT, ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
>> SO WITH THAT, IS THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY, I DON'T
SEE ANY.
I'M GOING TO GIVE A FEW MORE
COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING
TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS VOTE.
SO HERE WE GO.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU MADAME
CLERK, AND CARINA BULL, FOR
ASSISTING US WITH THE PROCEDURAL
PIECE OF THIS.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW VOTE
TO RECONSIDER PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120119 AND TO EITHER
OVERRIDE OR SCENE THE MAYORAL
VETO.
DURING ROLL CALL, COUNCILMEMBERS
WILL EITHER VOTE AYE TO PASS THE
BILL AND OVERRIDE THE MAYOR'S
VETO, OR NO TO NOT PASS THE BILL
AND SCENE THE VETO.
IF THE VOTE ON THE MOTION IS
TIED OR TWO-THIRDS, THAT IS SIX
OR MORE VOTES NO, THE BILL
FAILS, AND THE VETO IS SCENED.
IF THE VOTE ON THE MOTION IS SIX
OR MORE VOTES IN FAVOR, THE BILL
PASSES, THE VETO IS OVERRIDDEN,
AND ALL PROVISIONS WITHIN THE
BILL GO INTO EFFECT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE
PROCEDURAL VOTE?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I MIGHT HAVE HEARD IT TWO
DIFFERENT WAYS, SO IF WE'RE
VOTING TO OVERRIDE, IS THAT A
YES OR A NO?
>> I'M JUST GETTING TO THAT.
>> OKAY, THANKS.
ALL RIGHT.
>> I'M GOING TO READ A LITTLE
BIT MORE, THEN I'M JUST GOING TO
WRAP IT UP, OKAY?
AS A REMINDER, COUNCILMEMBERS
WILL EITHER VOTE YES TO PASS THE
BILL AND OVERRIDE THE MAYOR'S
VETO OR NO TO NOT PASS THE BILL
AND SUSTAIN THE VETO.
A VOTE OF YES ENDS HAZARD PAY.
ENDS HAZARD PAY AND OVERRIDES
THE VETO.
AND A VOTE OF NO WILL SUSTAIN
HAZARD PAY.
IT WOULD NOT OVERRIDE THE VETO.
SO WITH THAT, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
SO WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL OF -- ON THE PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 120119 AND THE
CONSIDERATION OF THE MAYORAL.
>> NELSON?
>> YES.
>> PAID CERTAIN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> LEWIS?
NO.
>> MO RALESS?
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> NO.
>> TWO IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED.
>> SO THAT MEANS THE MOTION
FAILS, CORRECT, MADAME CLERK,
AND THE BILL DOES NOT PASS AND
THE VETO IS SUSTAINED.
>> THAT IS CORRECT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
OKAY, SO WE ARE DONE WITH THAT.
OKAY, CAN WE READ THE NEXT -- WE
HAVE ANOTHER VOTE HERE.
MADAME CLERK, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE
SOMETHING FROM COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS ON PUBLIC ASSETS IN THE
HOMELESS COMMUNITY.
CAN YOU READ THAT INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AAN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE
DEED
TO CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 5910 CORSON AVENUE
SOUTH, PARCEL A, AND 933 SOUTH
DORIS STREET, PARCEL B, SEATTLE
FOR GENERAL MUNICIPAL PURPOSES,
TO BE USED FOR CONSOLIDATION OF
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARYb
BUILDING MAINTENANCE,
CUSTODIAL, LANDSCAPING,
STORAGE, AND FLEET FACILITIES
AT ONE SITE, AND
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
?
>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE THE
COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR.
OR MADAME PRESIDENT, RATHER.
AS YOU'RE AWARE AS A MEMBER OF
THE COMMITTEE, WE HAD A ROBUST
DISCUSSION ON THIS BILL IN A
PRESENTATION FROM INTERIM
LIBRARIAN DISCUSSING THIS
PROPERTY SWAP IN THE GEORGETOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD TO ACQUIRE
FACILITIES FOR THE LIBRARY TO
USE FOR STORAGE AND OTHER
CUSTODIAL AND MAINTENANCE
ACTIVITIES TO SUSTAIN THE
LIBRARY SYSTEM.
THIS WAS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED
DEAL BY THE SEATTLE LIBRARY
BOARD AND THEN SENT ALONG AND
REFERRED FOR THE COMMITTEE'S
CONSIDERATION.
THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY -- AND
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE NOW.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SUPPLEMENTAL
QUESTIONS OR TO BRING THIS
MATTER TO A VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU
HAVE FOR COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
HIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE IN FRONT
OF US?
SEEING NONE, IS THERE ANYTHING
YOU WANT TO ADD TOWARDS THE END
THERE, MR. LEWIS?
>> NO THANK YOU, MADAME
PRESIDENT.
>> AND YOUR HAIR LOOKS FINE.
>> IT'S THE OMICRON LENGTH HERE.
THAT'S WHY I GOT TO GET IN TO
GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
BUT I'VE BEEN STUDIOUSLY
SELF-ISOLATING AS EVIDENCED.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
SO NOT SEEING ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL?
>> NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES,
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WOULD THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
MOVING ON TO OTHER BUSINESS, IS
THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY?
SEEING NONE, I WILL ADD THAT
EVERYBODY'S HAIR LOOKS GOOD
TODAY.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL SEE YOU
GUYS NEXT WEEK AT OUR REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETING ON FEBRUARY
1st AT 2:00.
HAVE A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.