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Let's talk a little bit about Greg Spotts.

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You know, when we look at transportation
 or transportation systems,

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this is critically important
 in our 84 square miles of the city

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and even beyond that. We know
 we need a system that is not only reliable

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and versatile, but clearly we must lead
 with safety and equity.

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The director of SDOT is critical
 in this task.

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Everyone looks at this particular position
 every DN ... every mayor, sir,

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wants to put his or her
 DNA on this position, so to speak.

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And following
 a comprehensive national search,

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we hit the jackpot. 

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in Greg Spotts. 

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I think he's just the best of the best. 

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He's a leader committed to public service
 and equitably serving

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the transportation needs of
 of all communities and all people.

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That becomes particularly significant.

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I also want to thank
 Adiam Emery for her consistent

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I don't want to say nagging voice,
 but that's 

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the only voice is her
 her consistent voice.

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I say, Mayor, we have to get this right.

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We have to get this right. 

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And we will search high and low
 to get it right.

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A little bit about Greg's
 and we got it right.

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Adiam, thanks for your leadership.

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A little bit about his history

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for those who just don't know, 

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Greg, as recently served as the Executive
 Officer and chief sustainability officer

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at the Los Angeles
 Bureau of Street Services,

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where Greg shaped policy supporting

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active transportation solutions,
 climate change adaptation and vehicle

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emissions reductions, and the adoption
 of a sustainable construction practice.

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In other words,
 looking at systemically how we put that

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in terms of what we build.

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He led three constituent facing divisions,
 providing pothole

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repair, tree trimming and monitoring
 the public's use of streets and sidewalks.

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And that's why repeatedly talk about
 let's get the basics right first.

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Right. I needed that kind of leader. 

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Not that they weren't getting it right,
 but can I have someone double down on that

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kind of emphasis?

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A few things about his. 

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And I also want to mention
 that in Los Angeles,

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he made investments in particularly
 in underserved communities,

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including mobility improvements, tree
 planting and solar reflective

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pavement, coatings to reduce urban heat.

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These experiences that he built,

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these commitments will serve us all
 well here in Seattle.

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So what are some of stronger attributes?

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So I ask around and I asked this
 during the search process.

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He's a forward thinker,
 an environmentally conscious leader,

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a strong collabor ... collaborator.

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He's focused on equity,
 safety and sustainability.

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He intends to use data and evidence

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to to respond to our biggest challenges.

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And quite honestly, he's pretty mean
 when it comes to social media

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as well as he's a he's
 out there and we like that.

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He understands, appreciates 

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our priorities, like Vision Zero,
 the maintenance of our aging

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transportation infrastructure system
 and crafting the next generation of

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our revenue package
 that we're real proud that has passed.

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And for voters consideration coming up,
 everything we've done and will have to do.

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He recognizes how we have to lead
 with community input and have community

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and voices enhance our our system
 by improving what we invest in.

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And quite honestly,
 just after a short time 

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of being on the job,
 he's made an incredible impact.

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We talked a little bit, communicate
 a little bit over the weekend about a

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a death
 we had by cyclists under West Seattle.

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And I watched him on YouTube and

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all I can say is you get it. 

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You get you get what safety is about. 

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You get what

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when when when 

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people say someone's car centric
 or someone's transit centric or someone's

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bike centric, you get the idea that we got

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to calm everyone down
 and have rational discussions.

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You can't you can't fake that stuff. 

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You either have it or you don't. 

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So having said that, Greg,
 thank you for coming

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to from Los Angeles,

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California to beautiful Seattle.

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What was the term 

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your AP said?  Seattle shines.

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That's what he said. 

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Seattle shines. 

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I'm going to steal that. 

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And he said to shine Seattle. 

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And in as we go through the formality
 piece, the oath of office

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will be administered by our interim city
 clerk, Elizabeth Adkisson,

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and the ceremonial pen
 will be fixed by Cameron Keyes.

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And we'll ask after that for Greg
 just to share a few, few brief words.

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So come forward.
 Let's get the pinning going.

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Okay, please step forward.

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Raise your right hand and repeat after me.

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- I Greg Spotts
- I Greg Spotts

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Swear or affirm

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swear

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That I possess
 all of the qualifications

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- that I possess, all of the qualifications
- prescribed in the Seattle City Charter

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- prescribed in the Seattle City Charter
- and the Seattle Municipal Code

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- and the Seattle Municipal Code
- for the position of 

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for the position

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the Director of the Seattle Department
 of Transportation,

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the director of the Seattle Department
 of Transportation

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 that I will support

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- that I will support
- the Constitution of the United States.

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The Constitution of the United States, 

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the Constitution
 of the State of Washington,

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the Constitution of the State of Washington

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- and the charter and ordinances
- and the charter and ordinances

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- of the City of Seattle
- of the City of Seattle.

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- And that I will faithfully conduct myself
- And that I will faithfully conduct myself

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as the director of the Seattle Department
 of Transportation.

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As the director of the Seattle Department
 of Transportation.

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Congratulations.

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(applause)

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- Thank you.
- Thank you.

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- Thank you so much. 
- Congratulations

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(applause)

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That's Cameron Keyes,
who was in my college dorm at Yale.

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And how many years
 have you been with the city Cameron?

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- 25
 - 25 years with the city of Seattle.

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Thank you, Mayor Harrell, for calling me
 into service for Seattleites.

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Thank you, Executive General Manager 
 Adiam Emery for being such a great partner.

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And thank you to my college friend Cameron Keyes

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for penning me just now. 

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I moved from Los Angeles to Seattle 

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29 days ago, and as promised,
 I hit the ground running and walking

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and scooting and biking and riding metro
 and riding sound transit.

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As part of my listening tour,
 I've been exploring Seattle's

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neighborhoods, parks and shorelines,
 meeting residents, small business owners,

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school administrators and parents
 and organizations of all sizes

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from the Cascade Bike Club to the Port
 of Seattle, from Disability Rights Washington

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to the Lake City Collective,
 and the Multicultural Community Coalition.

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I've been touring street
 construction projects

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and I visited the inner
 workings of multiple bridges.

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I've heard the Mayor say 

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several times that he doesn't want to play
 small ball, he wants to play big ball

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and I agree. 

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I didn't leave behind my entire support
 system in Los Angeles to play small ball.

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As I progress in my first year
 as SDOT director,

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I'll be working with our staff
 and stakeholders to bring forth big ball

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ideas on safety, mobility,

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equity, sustainability,
 placemaking, greening

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and reducing the carbon
 emissions of our municipal fleet.

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I promise to work collaboratively
 to listen to community members

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and bring folks to the table
 who may not even be aware

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there is a table. 

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I want to thank each and every Seattleite
who's welcomed me to town

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and shared your aspirations and opinions
 about transportation.

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I'm thrilled to see so much engagement
 and passion

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about our mobility and streetscape
 and to that server in Ravenna.

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You're right, the 62 is,
 in fact, the best bus in the system.

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Thank you very much.