>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
THIS MORNING.
TODAY AND VERY EXCITED TO SIGN
FOUR BILLS RELATED TO
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE.
I AM JOINED BY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND LEADERS WHO HAVE
BEEN ADVOCATING FIERCELY IN
THIS SPACE AND I AM VERY PROUD
TO STAND UNITED WITH THEM.
I WILL INTRODUCE SOME OF THE
MORE SPECIFICALLY IN A FEW
MOMENTS.
ULTIMATELY THESE BILLS REFLECT
OUR EFFORTS AS A CITY. THEY ARE
BASED ON SAFETY.
WE WANT EVERY WOMAN AND PERSON
SEEKING AN ABORTION TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS TO SEEK
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE WITH
SAFETY.
QUITE HONESTLY, IT IS AS SIMPLE
AS THAT BUT THE WORK IS HARDER
TO IMPLEMENT.
WITH THAT SAID I WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE OTHER EVENTS THAT
HAVE OCCURREDOVER THE WEEKEND
THE INVOLVED SAFETY.
WE HAD A RASH OF SHOOTINGS OVER
THE WEEKEND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW
INCLUDING ONE WHERE A 14-YEAR-
OLD GIRL WAS INJURED AND
ANOTHER WERE A MAN WAS KILLED
NEAR CAL ANDERSON PARK.
WE HAD SOMEONE KILLED BY A
LIGHT RAIL TRAIN ON SUNDAY AT
MT. A CRUSTACEAN.
BAKER STATION.
WILL DETAILS ARE STILL BEING
INVESTIGATED WE KNOW THAT THESE
KINDS OF TRAGEDIES ARE QUITE
FRANKLY UNACCEPTABLE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND IN THIS
COUNTRY.
IN ALL OF THESE INSTANCES, I
FIRST WANT TO EXPRESS MY
HEARTFELT SYMPATHY TO THE
FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND
COMMUNITIES IMPACTED.
SAFETY, AS MAYOR, MY CORE
CHARTER RESPONSIBILITY, SEATTLE
MUST BE A PLACE THAT IS SAFE.
THAT MATTERS WHEN YOU ENJOY A
PARK TOMORROW WHEN YOU TAKE
LIGHT RAIL, AND PARTICULARLY AS
WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS
MORNING, AND YOU ARE SEEKING
REPRODUCTIVE CARE.
THIS MUST BE A CITY WERE SAFETY
IS AN INHERENT RIGHT.
SO TODAY WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO
ENSURE ABORTION AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE IS SAFE
AND ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS AND
VISITORS.
AM GRATEFUL AND PROUD TO BE
JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AS WELL
AS LEADERS IN THE REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS SPACE WHO RECOGNIZE HOW
CRITICAL OF A MOMENT THIS IS IN
OUR CITY, OUR STATE AND OUR
COUNTRY.
I WANT ALSO TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WAS NOT
HERE TODAY BUT SPONSORED
LEGISLATION WE WILL SIGN HERE
TODAY.
BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
OVERTURNED ROE VERSUS WADE WE
RECOGNIZE IMMEDIATELY HOW THE
DECISION COULD IMPACT AND
THREATEN THE HEALTH OF WOMEN.
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE AND THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST, AND INDEED,
THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY.
THIS IS, WE BELIEVE,
FUNDAMENTALLY DANGEROUS AND BAD
POLICY.
OUR RESPONSE COLLECTIVELY, AND
I EMPHASIZE COLLECTIVELY,
WASN'T JUST THE CITY COUNCIL OR
THE MAYOR, OUR COLLECTIVE
COMMUNITY RESPONSE WAS BASED ON
ACTION AND WORKING TOGETHER TO
PUT AN MEMORIALIZE IN THE FORM
OF LEGISLATION BILLS TO ENSURE
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IN
SEATTLE.
IT WAS BASED ON EQUITY AND AN
UNDERSTANDING THAT OFTEN THE
WOMEN MOST LIKELY TO BE
IMPACTED ARE WOMEN OF COLOR.
I WILL JUST TALK LATELY ABOUT
THESE IMPORTANT BILLS, I THINK
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY EXPLAIN
THEM IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
CONSTABLE 12037, AS PEOPLE WERE
SEEKING ABORTIONS AS A
PROTECTIVE CLASS, THEREFORE
ENSURING THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS ARE
PROTECTED UNDER OUR CODE.
COUNCIL BILL 120376 CREATES A
MISDEMEANOR CHARGE FOR PEOPLE
WHO ENCROACH ON INDIVIDUALS
SEEKING ABORTIONS OR GENDER-
AFFIRMING CARE.
BILLS ARE SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
SEATTLE ESTABLISHED AS A
CENTURY CITY FOR THOSE SEEKING
ABORTION CARE IN PURSUIT OF OUT-
OF-STATE WARRANTS RELATED TO
ABORTIONS BY SEATTLE POLICE.
THAT WAS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCIL BILL 120366 IS
LEGISLATION, THANK YOU TO THE
COUNCIL FOR PASSING THAT BILL,
IT WAS PART OF OUR SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET WHERE WE ARE
APPROPRIATING $250,000 TO FUND
EXPANDED ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CARE BY MAKING AN
INVESTMENT IN NORTHWEST
ABORTION ACCESS FUND.
YOU WILL HEAR FROM THEM IN A
FEW MOMENTS.
BEFORE I RELINQUISH THE
MICROPHONE, TWO LITERS STANDING
WITH ME, WE HAVE TO FULLY
UNDERSTAND THIS IS A UNITED
AMENDMENT.
TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND OUR
CITIES EMBRACE OF SOME OF OUR
CORE VALUES THAT I THINK MAKES
SEATTLE VERY SPECIAL.
OUR FIGHT FOR PRIVACY, FREEDOM,
AND OUR SHARED VALUES BASED ON
LOVE, EMPATHY, SYMPATHY, ALL OF
THE COMPASSION WHEN WOMEN ARE
SEEKING REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE.
I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK IN
THIS SPACE, AND SHE WILL SAY A
FEW WORDS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR HARRELL.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE
ADVOCATES HERE WITH US TODAY.
REALLY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY
WITH ALL OF THEM AND I AM SORRY
IT'S UNDER THESE PARTICULAR
CIRCUMSTANCES BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT WE BEGIN THE WORK OF
MAKING SURE THE PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE ARE PROTECT DID.
I AM COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I
REPRESENT DISTRICT 2, FROM
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL TO RENO
BEACH.
I SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIR OF
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY BOARD
OF HEALTH.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
JOINING US TODAY AND THINK
MAYOR HARRELL FOR HIS
PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT.
MAKING SURE WE HAVE ACCESS TO
ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE CARE
IN THE CITY.
WE ARE JOINED BY COMMUNITY
PARTNERS WHO HELPED SHAPE THE
LEGISLATION BEING SIGNED TODAY.
AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK
LEGAL VOICE, PLANNED PARENTHOOD
VOICE AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUE
COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE PARTNERING
ON THIS HISTORIC MOMENT AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE.
ON ANOTHER NOTE I TOOK OFFICE
APPROXIMATELY 50 DAYS BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC STARTED.
SO THIS IS MY FIRST BILL
SIGNING CEREMONY AS A
COUNCILMEMBER.
SO THANK YOU.
I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY
FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY.
ON JUNE 24 THE SUPREME COURT
DISREGARDED 50 YEARS OF
PRECEDENTS AND ACHIEVED THEIR
AGENDA TO TAKE AWAY A PERSON'S
RIGHT TO CHOOSE BY FORCING
PEOPLE TO GIVE BIRTH AGAINST
THEIR WILL.
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME IN OUR COUNTRY'S
HISTORY THAT A FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHT HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM
OUR COUNTRYMEN.
PEOPLE.
THIS IS NO LONGER THREE ARTICLE
EXERCISE.
WE SEE ASSAULTS ON OR
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
WE SEE THE REDUCTION OF RIGHTS
AND EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT
HAS A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN
ENSURING BODILY AUTONOMY FOR
OUR NEIGHBORS AND ENSURING WE
ALL HAVE ACCESS TO SELF-
DETERMINATION.
RECENTLY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE
FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
RELEASED A LOCAL REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOM INDEX.
IT REPORTED ON 50 U.S. CITIES.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE
ASSESSED IN THE INDEX WAS
ANTIDISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION.
OVERALL SEATTLE RECEIVED ONLY
THREE OUT OF FIVE STARS ON THE
REPORT.
SO WE KNOW THAT AS A CITY AND
THE COUNCIL , DISCRIMINATION
CONTINUES TO EXIST IN THE CITY.
AND WE KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT
OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE'S RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS FIRST STEP
TODAY.
SIGNING THESE BILLS, TO PROTECT
PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING TO
OBTAIN A SAFE MEDICAL PROCEDURE.
A SAFE, LEGAL MEDICAL
PROCEDURE.
AND WE ARE LIVING IN REAL TIME
AS THE ONGOING IMPACTS TO THIS
SUPREME COURT DECISION
CONTINGENT TO BECOME OBVIOUS TO
US.
WE HAVE TO BE BOLD AND
COURAGEOUS AND STAND FOR OUR
VALUES DURING THIS PIVOTAL TIME.
WHILE WE KNOW THAT HERE IN
SEATTLE AND IN WASHINGTON WE
HAVE THE SECURE RIGHT TO
ABORTION, TOO MANY ACROSS THE
COUNTRY DO NOT.
JUST THIS PAST WEEK IDAHO OUT
LOUD OUTLAWED ABORTION AFTER
SIX WEEKS.
WE ANTICIPATE A 300% INFLUX OF
PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTION CARE IN
SEATTLE.
WE HAVE TO ADD EVERY TOOL IN
OUR TOOLBELT TO ENSURE THAT
HEALTHCARE ACCESS IS PROTECTED.
FOR SEATTLEITES AND ALL THOSE
WHO WILL BE COMING TO SEEK CARE.
FROM A MUNICIPAL STANDPOINT
THESE BILLS CREATE PROTECTIONS
THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO
EXTEND CARE TO PEOPLE WHO WILL
BE CROSSING STATE LINES AS THEY
SEEK CARE IN OUR STATE.
WHILE IT MAY BE UNLIKELY THAT
WE WILL SEE ABORTION
RESTRICTIONS IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, IT IS PROBABLE THAT
STATE-LEVEL LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
WILL CREATE CONFUSION ABOUT THE
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE AFFORDED
TO OUR NEIGHBORS, OR THE
RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE IN ANY
GIVEN CASE.
SO THESE BILLS ARE INTENDED TO
PROVIDE CLARITY ABOUT ACTIONS
THAT THE CITY WOULD TAKE IN
SPECIFIC SITUATIONS.
AS MAYOR HARRELL MENTIONED,
COUNCIL BILL 120374 ADDS
PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
SEEKING OR HAVE RECEIVED
ABORTIONS, IT CREATES A
PROTECTED CLASS FOR THEM.
COUNCIL BILL 120376 CREATES A
MISDEMEANOR CHARGE FOR PEOPLE
WHO ENCROACH ON INDIVIDUALS
SEEKING ABORTION OR GENDER-
AFFIRMING CARE.
I WANT TO THANK AGAIN
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND HER
STAFF ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON
THIS LEGISLATION.
THE SUPREME COURT'S DRAFT
OPINION WAS LEAKED.
THESE TWO BILLS ARE JUST THE
BEGINNING OF PROTECTIONS WE
HAVE, BOTH OF US HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON IN OUR OFFICES.
WITH MIKE COLLEAGUE'S SUPPORT I
AM ALSO HOPING WE WILL PASS
LEGISLATION THAT WILL REGULATE
PRICES CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS.
CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TO
PERSUADE PREGNANT PEOPLE
AGAINST HAVING ABORTIONS.
THEY OFTEN APPEAR TO OPERATE AS
AN ABORTION CLINIC THAT
PROVIDES EMERGENCY
CONTRACEPTION OR REFERRAL TO
THOSE SERVICES, BUT THEY DO NOT
ACTUALLY PROVIDE THIS
INFORMATION ONCE A PATIENT
ANSWERS.
INSTEAD REDIRECTING THEM TO
ADOPTION OR OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
ARE LEGISLATION WOULD WORK TO
ENSURE THAT THESE FACILITIES
CANNOT MAKE PUBLIC STATEMENTS
THAT ARE FALSE OR MISLEADING BY
CREATING PENALTIES FOR CREATING
ENGAGING DECEPTIVE PRACTICES.
WE ARE MODELING THIS
LEGISLATION ON AN ORDINANCE IN
SAN FRANCISCO WHERE THEY HAVE
BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN
UPHOLDING THIS ORDINANCE.
SO, AS ELECTED, IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE COME TOGETHER, THAT WE
ORGANIZED TO ENSURE THAT
EVERYONE HAS A FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND THE RIGHT
TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR
OWN BODIES.
I AM PROUD TO STAND FIRM
ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES AND
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TODAY AND
DECLARE THAT SEATTLE IS A CITY
WHERE WE STRENGTHEN EXISTING
PROTECTIONS AND WE CREATE
SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE SEEKING ABORTION CARE.
THE FIGHT FOR REPRODUCTIVE
JUSTICE WILL CONTINUE AND I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THESE FIGHTS
AT EVERY LEVEL THAT I CAN.
TANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
AND I WILL HEAD OVER TO MY
COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD .
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU BOTH MAYOR HARRELL,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
EVERYONE IN SEATTLE HAS HEARD
ABOUT THE BIG ONE, THE
CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKE THAT
WILL OCCUR AT ANY MOMENT. AND
THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IS
AN EARTHQUAKE.
IT IS THE BIG ONE.
THE IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF
PREGNANT PEOPLE TO RECEIVE SAFE
AND MEDICALLY SOUND HEALTHCARE
AND MAKE EXTREMELY PERSONAL
úDECISIONS THAT WILL AFFECT THE
ENTIRE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES
AND THAT OF THEIR LOVED ONES.
LIKE THE EARTHQUAKE WE KNOW IS
COMING, IT WILL ALSO CREATE A
TITLE WAVE IN THE FORM OF AN
INFLUX OF MEDICAL REFUGEES WHO
LIVE IN STATES WHERE THEY ARE
SUDDENLY UNABLE TO GET THE
HEALTH CARE THAT THEY NEED.
AND THEY ARE FORCED TO CROSS
STATE LINES IN SEARCH OF IT.
EXPERTS EXPECT WASHINGTON STATE
TO SEE A FOURFOLD INCREASE IN
PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTIONS HERE.
A TITLE WAVE THAT IS GATHERING
FORCE AS WE SPEAK. HERE IN
SEATTLE WE MUST BE READY FOR
THEM AND MEET THEM WITH THE
CARE AND PROTECTION THAT IS
LACKING IN THEIR HOME STATES.
THE REALITY IS THAT PREGNANT
PEOPLE, WHETHER RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE OR THESE MEDICAL
REFUGEES FROM FURTHER AFIELD,
DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME
TO MAKE THESE DIFFICULT
DECISIONS.
AND WE KNOW THAT REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CARE DELAYED IS ALMOST
ALWAYS MORE DIFFICULT, MORE
EXPENSIVE, AND MORE RISKY.
I THINK MAYOR HARRELL FOR
ANSWERING THE COUNCIL'S CALL TO
APPROPRIATE $250,000 THIS YEAR
FOR THE NORTHWEST ABORTION
ACCESS FUND WHICH WILL SMOOTH
THE WAY AND PROVIDE A CENTRAL
CARE FOR THE TITLE WAVE OF
MEDICAL REFUGEES FORCED TO
TRAVEL HERE FOR REPRODUCTIVE
CARE.
I THINK COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
AND HER STAFF AND CHRISTINA IN
MY OFFICE FOR WORKING HARD TO
IDENTIFY EARLY, SAVVY,
REGULATORY FIXES THAT WE ARE
CELEBRATING HERE TODAY.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
EVEN THOUGH COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT CAN'T BE HERE TOGETHER,
HER BILL THAT RECOGNIZES THAT
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS OF
OTHER STATES, INCLUDING
COOPERATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
FROM OTHER STATES IN SEEKING
WARRANTS, IS LEGISLATION THAT
OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
HAVE SIMILARLY ADOPTED FROM NEW
ORLEANS, BOISE, DAYTON, ATLANTA,
ATHENS, NASHVILLE,AUSTIN,
ITHACA, AND WASHINGTON, D.C.
THESE ARE OTHER CITIES IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE EITHER
MADE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE
LAWS THE LOWEST LAW ENFORCEMENT
PRIORITY FOR THEIR LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, OR
OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED THEIR
CITIES AS SANCTUARY CITIES.
I PLEDGE I WILL CONTINUE TO
AGGRESSIVELY SEEK WAYS TO
PROTECT AND EXPAND ABORTION
ACCESS FOR EVERYONE WHO SEEKS
HEALTHCARE HERE IN SEATTLE.
AS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
REFERENCED , THE ABORTION
CRISIS CLINICS, SIMILAR BUT
UNIQUE, AND EQUALLY HARMFUL
POLICY ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESSED,
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
PATIENTS WERE BEING CARED IN
RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED
HEALTHCARE FACILITIES WHICH
COMPRISE AN ESTIMATED HALF OF
OUR HOSPITAL BEDS.
AGAIN, THESE ARE DIFFERENT THAN
CRISIS CENTERS.
THEIR HOSPITALS.
THESE HOSPITALS ARE ALLOWED TO
DENY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
TO THE PATIENT DUE TO RELIGIOUS
BIAS AND NO ONE IS EVER
REQUIRED TO TELL THE PATIENT
THAT THEY ARE GETTING DENIED
CARE OR THAT THERE IS A
PROCEDURE THAT COULD HELP THEM
IF ONLY THEY HAD GONE TO AN
UNBIASED THE PROVIDER.
SOME RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED
HOSPITALS WILL PROVIDE
PROCEDURES TO SAVE THE PREGNANT
PERSON'S LIFE, BUT ONLY WHEN IT
IS IMMEDIATE RISK WHICH IS NOT
CLEAR LINE.
THE RESULT IS THAT SOME
PATIENTS ARE LITERALLY SENT
HOME TO WAIT. THEY WAIT TO GET
SICKER, THEY WAIT UNTIL THE
PAIN IS WORSE.
AND THEY WAIT UNTIL THE HIGHEST
RISK IN THEIR LIFE IS IN
DANGER.
AND NO ONE, AGAIN, IS REQUIRED
TO TELL THEM THEY CAN GET
TREATED AND TAKEN CARE OF
IMMEDIATELY IF THEY WENT TO
DIFFERENT FACILITY.
OUR STATE REQUIRES HOSPITALS TO
POST INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT
THE REPRODUCTIVE, GENDER-
AFFIRMING AND LIFE OF AND
SERVICES THAT ARE AND ARE NOT
AVAILABLE THERE, BUT THEY ARE
NOT REQUIRED TO GIVE THAT
INFORMATION, TO HAND THAT
INFORMATION OVER TO PATIENTS.
I WANT THAT INFORMATION IN
PATIENTS HANDS WHEN THEY MOST
NEEDED.
WHEN THEY ARE MAKING
APPOINTMENTS AND SHOWING UP FOR
URGENT CARE.
THERE WILL BE SO MANY MORE
NEEDS AS MEDICAL REFUGEES
ARRIVED AND OPPONENTS OF
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ATTEMPT TO
FIND WAYS TO STOP PREGNANT
PEOPLE FROM GETTING THE
HEALTHCARE THEY DESERVE.
I WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH
ALL OF HER INCREDIBLE LOCAL
ADVOCATES AND PROVIDERS ON THE
FRONTLINES.
PUBLIC HEALTH, AND OUR BOARD OF
HEALTH, TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS
NEEDS AS THEY EMERGE.
MANY THANKS TO LEGAL VOICE, PRO-
CHOICE WASHINGTON AND PLANNED
PARENTHOOD ALLIANCE ADVOCATES.
LASTLY I WANT TO MAKE IT
ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT ABORTION
REMAINS SAFE AND LEGAL HERE IN
SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON STATE.
THERE IS SO MUCH DISINFORMATION
RIGHT NOW.
I WILL CONTINUE SAYING AND
FIGHTING TO ENSURE THAT ANYONE
SEEKING UNBIASED REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CARE CAN FIND IT HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM
AMANDA SAXTON FROM NORTHWEST
ABORTION ACCESS FUND.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS AMANDA SAXTON.
I AM HERE WITH MY FELLOW BOARD
MEMBER CINDY ON BEHALF OF THE
NORTHWEST ABORTION ACCESS FUND.
FIRST I WANT TO EXTEND A LARGE
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CITY
LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY MAYOR
HARRELL AND COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR SHOWING UP AND
INVESTING IN SEATTLE'S LOCAL
ABORTION FUND ESPECIALLY IF
IT'S A CRITICAL TIME.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING A
PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL HELP US
FULFILL OUR MISSION FUNDING
ABORTION AND BREAKING DOWN
BARRIERS TO ACCESS IN THE
NORTHWEST.
FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT KNOW,
THE NORTHWEST ABORTION ACCESS
FUND SERVES ALASKA, IDAHO,
OREGON AND WASHINGTON.
WE HAVE HELP ENSURE ACCESS TO
ABORTION CARE SINCE THE MID-
1990S BY SENDING MONEY DIRECTLY
TO CLINICS AND HELPING PEOPLE
GET TO AND FROM THEIR POINT
SAFELY.
THIS CAN MEAN PROVIDING THINGS
LIKE AIRPLANE TICKETS, HOTEL TO
STAY IN, CHILDCARE COSTS AND
MORE.
WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW
IMPORTANT THESE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION ARE IN THIS
POLITICAL MOMENT.
NEARLY HALF THE FUNDING
PROVIDED BY THE NORTHWEST
ABORTION ACCESS FUND IN 2021
WENT TO CALLERS FROM IDAHO, A
STATE CURRENTLY SET TO MAKE
NEARLY ALL ABORTION ILLEGAL AS
OF AUGUST 25.
ABORTION BANS IN OTHER STATES
WILL CREATE A HEAVY IMPACT ON
RESOURCES DUE TO THE INFLUX OF
PEOPLE RECEIVING OR IN MEETING
CARE.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE GIVEN
THAT SEATTLE CONTINUES TO SHOW
WE BELIEVE IN MAKING A PERSON
ACCESSIBLE.
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE
WORRYING ABOUT BEING HARASSED.
ADDITIONALLY PROVIDING DIRECT
INVESTMENT IN THE NORTHWEST
ABORTION ACCESS FUND WILL ALLOW
US THESE TO RELEASE THE
FINANCIAL BURDEN OF PEOPLE
SEEKING CARE.
AS WELL AS COMPENSATING LOCAL
CLINICS.
WE'VE SEEN IMPACT OF THE
SUPREME COURT'S DECISION TO
OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE.
WE HAVE ASSISTED NEARLY 3 TIMES
THE AMOUNT OF COLORS SINCE THE
SUPREME COURT DECISION HAPPENED
THAN WE DID IN THE SAME
TIMEFRAME 2021.
ABORTION FUNDS WILL CONTINUE TO
DRIVE COMPASSIONATE CARE AND
RESOURCES TO HELP ENSURE ALL
INDIVIDUALS CAN ACCESS ABORTION
REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE,
DEMOGRAPHICS OR INCOME.
THANKS.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> BEFORE WE ACTUALLY DO THE
FORMAL BILL SIGNING,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES MADE A
POINT I WANTED TO DOUBLE DOWN
ON.
SHE THANKED HER STAFF FOR THE
WORK THAT WAS DONE IN THIS
SPACE FOR HER.
AS A FORMER COUNCILMEMBER, I
KNOW THE STAFF DID ALL THE WORK.
SO THAT IS WHERE THE MAGIC
HAPPENS, WE WOULD BE DERELICT
IN OUR DUTIES IF WE DIDN'T
THANK THE STAFF FOR THIS WORK.
I ALSO THINK IT WAS MENTIONED
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I BRING
RECOGNITION TO THE MANY GROUPS
HERE.
THERE ARE MORE THAN LISTED HERE
BUT AGAIN WE HAVE LEGAL VOICE,
PRO-CHOICE WASHINGTON, PLANNED
PARENTHOOD ALLIANCE ADVOCATES,
THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION,
AS WE HEARD FROM AMANDA,
NORTHWEST ABORTION ACCESS FUND ,
AND THE WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION
OF IMMIGRANT AND SOLIDARITY
NETWORK. I MIGHT HAVE MISSED
THAT.
WAISN.
THERE MANY ORGANIZATIONS WHO
COULDN'T JOIN US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BEFORE I TAKE Q&A WERE GOING TO
DO THE FORMAL BILL SIGNING.
LET'S DO IT.
>> MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO
TYPOS.
>> [LAUGHTER]
>>
>> ALL RIGHT, IT IS NOW LAW.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> OKAY, WE WILL TAKE SOME Q&A.
>> IT DID PASS ON MY COMMITTEE
ON MONDAY.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> YES.
BUT THE IDEA IS TO PROHIBIT
FALSE ADVERTISING FOR THE KINDS
OF SERVICES THAT ARE ACTUALLY
PROVIDED INSIDE.
AND THEN ANOTHER PIECE WE ARE
TRYING TO DO IS ADDRESS THE
DIGITAL PRIVACY ISSUES.
BECAUSE WHAT A LOT OF THESE,
YOU CAN PROBABLY SPEAK CLOSER
TO THIS THAN I CAN, A LOT OF
THE ISSUES WE ARE ALSO FINDING
IS IT BECAUSE THESE ENTITIES
DON'T HAVE LICENSED MEDICAL
PROVIDERS IN THEM AND THEY ARE
COLLECTING A LOT OF HEALTH
INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE AS THEY
COME IN THE DOOR, THEY ARE
REQUIRED THERE IS NO PRIVACY
PROTECTION REQUIRED BECAUSE
THESE AREN'T MEDICAL FACILITIES
TAKING INFORMATION.
SO THEY ARE USING THAT SORT OF
THE POTENTIAL IS THEY CAN USE
THAT INFORMATION TO TRACK WHO
IS SEEKING ABORTION CARE AND
THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS
FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE COMING
FROM STATES WHERE THIS IS
ILLEGAL NOW.
SO, IT IS TRYING TO ADDRESS
BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> IT IS HARD TO KNOW BECAUSE
THEY CHANGE THEIR SCIENCE, THEY
CHANGE THEIR WEBSITES.
THEY ARE TOTALLY CLEAR.
WE ARE ESTIMATING THERE ARE TWO
OR THREE INCLUDING A MOBILE
CLINIC THAT OPERATES IN CELL
SEATTLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE --
THERE ARE TWO THAT WE KNOW OF.
AND ABOUT 50 ACROSS WASHINGTON
STATE.
>> WE KNOW THAT SHOULD [
INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] WHAT DOES
CONSTITUTE ENCROACHING?
>> SO, IT IS WITHIN, OH MY
GOSH, AND FORGETTING, 10 FEET
OF SOMEONE WHO IS TRAINED TO
ENTER THE CLINIC.
OR, HARASSING A PROVIDER WHO IS
GOING INTO THE CLINIC.
SO, THE ISSUE REALLY IS TRYING
TO CREATE A SAFE BUFFER FOR
PEOPLE GOING IN.
I AM SURE WE HAVE ALL SEEN WHAT
HAPPENS IN PLANNED PARENTHOOD
AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS, AS
SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN TEXAS,
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A
REGULAR EVENT, PEOPLE HARASSING
, DEMONSTRATING. SO WE CAN
EXPECT THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE
HAPPENING AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING
TO BE USING THOSE SERVICES OR
PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES WILL
BE PROTECTED.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WAS
ON A ROLL.
I LET HER TAKE SOME QUESTIONS.
GO AHEAD.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> THE ANSWERS ARE FAIRLY
SIMPLE IN NATURE.
WE HAVE TOO MANY GUNS OUT THERE
AND TOO MANY GUNS IN THE WRONG
HANDS.
SO AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT
NONPOLICE RESPONSES, WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
WITH SOLUTIONS THAT ARE COMING
FROM THE COMMUNITY, DEALING
WITH COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
DEALING WITH TRAUMA, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THE UPSTREAM WORK
, WE THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE
VERY MEANINGFUL.
WE ALSO ARE CONCERNING
OURSELVES WITH EAT FIVE OR 10
YEAR PICTURE IN THE CITY AND
COUNTRY.
THAT IS WHY I PUSH SO HARD FOR
EXEMPTION FROM RCW ESTATE
EXEMPTION LOT OR THINK CITY
SHOULD HAVE LESS ABILITY ON HOW
THEY REGULATE GUNS.
AND GUN SAFETY.
AND THIRD, WE WOULD LIKE MORE
POLICE RESPONSE, POLICE PRESENCE
, THE RIGHT KIND OF POLICE, THE
RIGHT NUMBER OF POLICE,
CULTURALLY COMPETENT POLICE.
AND THAT IS WHAT MIGHT
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PLAN
IS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE.
AGAIN, WE LOOK AT SHORT-TERM
SOLUTIONS AND LONG-TERM
SOLUTIONS. AND OF COURSE, THIS
IS FACING OUR COUNTRY, NOT JUST
SEATTLE.
AND WE HOPE TO BE A LEADER IN
THIS SPACE BECAUSE AS I SAID IN
MY REMARKS ON REPRODUCTIVE
JUSTICE, MY CORE RESPONSIBILITY
IS TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.
YES?
PLEASE.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE
WORDS ABOUT SOME INVESTMENTS
THAT THE CITY HAS MADE TO THE
WORK THE KING COUNTY IS DOING
THROUGH THE, GOSH, THE REGIONAL
PEACEKEEPERS COLLECTIVE.
IN PARTICULAR THERE IS A
HOSPITAL-BASED PROGRAM THAT
INTERVENES WITH BOTH THE VICTIMS
AND THE PERPETRATORS AS WELL AS
THE FAMILIES OF GUN VIOLENCE.
AND THEY ARE SEEING A LOT OF
PROMISING RESULTS FROM THE
INVESTMENTS IN THOSE SERVICES
WITH THE PARTICULAR COHORT THEY
WORK WITH.
BUT WE ARE SEEING GUN VIOLENCE
IN AN OLDER POPULATION THAN THE
POPULATION THAT THIS HOSPITAL
BASED PROGRAM WORKS WITH.
AND SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT
WAYS TO EXPAND THAT PARTICULAR
INTERVENTION TO THOSE WHO ARE
OVER 25 YEARS OLD.
I THINK HAVING CONVERSATIONS
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF HER
UPCOMING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD .
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] ALL
WILL
>> SO TYPICALLY I DON'T DISCUSS
ART TACTICAL DECISIONS.
THE WAY WE GO ABOUT IT IS WE
LOOK AT THE DATA.
I SPEND A LOT OF WEEKENDS AT
POLICE PRECINCT TALKING TO
OFFICERS AND CAPTAINS.
WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING ON A DAY-
TO-DAY BASIS.
I LISTEN TO TACTICAL DECISIONS
FROM THOSE WHO ARE EXPERTS IN
THIS SPACE.
AS YOU WELL KNOW WE ARE SHORT
OFFICERS.
AND SO, TO THE EXTENT I
INCREASE PRESENCE IN ONE AREA
IT MAY BE DEFICIENT IN ANOTHER
AREA.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION
DIRECTLY, WE WILL CONSIDER
EVERYTHING TO KEEP THE CITY
SAFE.
WE LITERALLY MEET DAILY AND
HAVE A DAILY CONVERSATION ON
WHAT MAKES SENSE TO KEEP
EVERYONE SAFE.
I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT SEATTLE
IS NO EXCEPTION TO IS HAPPENING
IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE LIVE HERE.
WE ARE CONCERNING OURSELVES
AROUND SEATTLE BUT IF YOU READ
THE NEWSPAPERS YOU WILL SEE
THERE ARE SHOOTINGS ALL OVER
THIS COUNTRY OCCURRING.
THIS IS A BAD THING.
GO AHEAD.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> SO, AS I SAID, ONE REASON
WHY I DON'T OPENLY TALK ABOUT
TACTICAL DECISIONS, BECAUSE
THOSE OFTEN COMMITTING CRIMES
OR LISTENING TO THE WORDS I
SAY.
WE ARE VERY SMART IN OUR
APPROACH, VERY CONSTITUTIONAL
IN OUR APPROACH.
I THINK IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR
THE MAYOR IN THE CITY TO
CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT TACTICAL
DECISIONS.
THAT'S WHY TALK ABOUT VALUES.
AND I EMPHASIZE THAT, THE KIND
OF OFFICER I WANT AND ARE HAVING
. I WILL STOP THERE.
OKAY, I THINK WE'RE GOOD ON
QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU
EVERYBODY.