>> MORNING, EVERYBODY. HI. WELC.
MY NAME'S MARK McENTIRE, I'M THE
DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY'S OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, AND
WE'RE HERE TODAY ON THIS FOGGY
TUESDAY WITH A VERY IMPORTANT
ANNOUNCEMENT. WE'RE LAUNCHING
THE NEW STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND
TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES
THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY VANM
AND DAMAGES TO THEIR BRICK AND
MORTAR OPERATIONS. THE CITY IS
GOING TO USE NEARLY $2 MILLION
OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO
HELP BUSINESS OWNER RES PAIRTO
CURRENT PROPERTY DAMAGE OR BE
REIMBURSED FOR COSTS THEY'VE
PAID FOR PAST DAMAGES THAT
OCCURRED ON OR AFTER JANUARY
1st OF 2021. EXCUSE ME, 2022. E
2022. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE WEEKS
TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS
PROGRAM, MAKING SURE WE GIVE
PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO APPLY. ITS
APPLY. IT'S GOING TO BE A
ROLLING APPLICATION PROCESSING
UNTIL ALL FUNDS ARE SPENT. OVER
THE PAST TWO YEARS, OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN DOING
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO STAY
OPEN, SUPPORT THEIR EMPLOYEES,
SERVE THE PUBLIC, AND MAKE A
LIVING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR
FAMILIES. WE KNOW THAT WHEN A
BUSINESS'S WINDOWS IS SHATTERED
OR THEIR DOORS ARE BROKEN AND
OTHER FORMS OF VANDALISM, IT
CAN PUT A BUSINESS IN FINANCIAL
DISTRESS, FORCE THEM TO SHUT
DOWN TEMPORARILY TO CLEAN UP
AND REPAIR, AND IMPACTS THE
LOOK AND FEEL OF THE BUSINESS
DISTRICT AS A WHOLE. AS PEOPLE
ARE WALKING AROUND, IT'S
CREATING A FEELING OF DISARRAYT
DISARRAY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT
DOES IMPACT THOSE BUSINESS
OWNERS AND THEIR STAFF'S SENSE
OF SAFETY AND HOPE. THIS IS A
KEY PART OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO
BRING SPARK AND VIBRANCY BACK
TO SEATTLE THIS. FUND IS GOING
TO FILL THE GAP WE'VE HEARD
LOUD AND CLEAR FROM BUSINESS
LEADERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE'RE GOING
TO PROVIDE SOME FINANCIAL
RELIEF TO THOSE NEEDING TO FIX
EXISTING TAGS OR REIMBURSE
THOSE WHO HAVE PAID FOR PAST
DAMAGES. WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO
A BASELINE OF SOME STABILITY. S
STABILITY. THIS IS GOING TO HELP
BUSINESSES AVOID HAVING TO FILE
A CLAIM WITH THEIR INSURANCE
COMPANY AND RISK HAVING THEIR
DEDUCTIBLE INCREASE. WE TRY TO
TURN THE CORNER ON THE PANDEMIC
TOWARD RECOVERY. THIS IS NOT
GOING TO SOLVE ALL OF OUR PUBLC
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES OR
SMALL BUSINESS NEEDS, BUT IT
DOES PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE --
IT DOES SUPPORT THE CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH. IT'S
ALSO JUST A GREAT WAY OF THE
CITY SHOWING UP IN A WAY THAT
BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE ASKED US
TO SHOW UP IN YEARS PAST. THIS
IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW WE
BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE ECONOMY
WHERE INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES
-- AND HOPEFULLY GENERATE
LONG-TERM WEALTH AND THRIVE. WH
THRIVE. WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT,
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MAYOR
HARRELL FOR ADDITIONAL REMARKS.
REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD DAY. CLAP ON
A GOOD DAY. GOOD DAY TO BE ALI.
THIS IS EXCITING PROJECT THAT
WE'RE DOING. AND I FIRST WANT
TO RECOGNIZE THE OWNER OF
CEDARS RESTAURANT, THE GO-TO
DISH, BUTTER CHICKEN AND GARLIC
BREAD NAAN.
>> CORRECT.
>> THAT'S THE GO TO. IF THERE'SG
THERE'S ANYTHING IN THIS
BROADCAST, LET'S TALK ABOUT
THAT. IN ADDITION TO THIS
PROGRAM THAT WE'RE ROLLING OUT,
I WANT TO START BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT PARTICULARLY
IN THIS AREA THIS IS -- LAST
FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN TOUGH IN
THE U DISTRICT. WE DON'T TAKE
LIGHT OF THAT WHENEVER WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY,
WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
PEOPLE BEING INJURED IN
SHOOTINGS. THAT WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT PROTECTING OUR STUDENT
POPULATION, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS,
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR
CHARTER RESPONSIBILITY, AS I'VE
SAID BEFORE, ARE TO KEEP PEOPLE
SAFE. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS
CONFERENCE IS ABOUT, BUT OUR
COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND OUR CT
OUR COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION ARE SORT OF PART
AND PARCEL OF BUILDING THE ONE
SEATTLE CONCEPT THAT WE'VE DONE
SINCE WE'VE TAKEN OFFICE. I
WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WE'RE
FULLY COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. I
HAVE A CALL LATER TODAY, I
BELIEVE, WITH THE PRESIDENT. WE
PRESIDENT. WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING
TO LEADERS LIKE DON BLAKENEY OE
OF THE U DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP
AND OTHERS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
ABOUT MANY THINGS. OF COURSE,
PUBLIC SAFETY AND ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION. WE BELIEVE IN A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO
PUBLIC SAFETY WHERE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION
AND CREATING WELCOMING,
ACTIVATED SPACES BECOMES PART
OF OUR CRITICAL STRATEGY. WHEN
I ANNOUNCED OUR BUDGET, I HAD A
PHRASE IN THERE THAT ASKED THE
QUESTION WHEN THE PLYWOOD COMES
DOWN, WHAT WILL GO UP. AND WE
SORT OF WANTED TO TEE IT UP IN
THAT SENSE THAT WHEN WE COME
OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND EMERGE
THROUGH WHAT THIS COUNTRY AND
WHAT MAJOR CITIES ARE GOING
THROUGH, WHAT WILL THIS NEW
CITY LOOK LIKE. WELL, WE KNOW
THAT OUR NEW STOREFRONT REPAIR
FUND, WHICH WILL PROVIDE
BUSINESSES UP TO $2,000 TO
REPAIR OR REIMBURSE PRATT
DAMAGE. PART OF THE $2 MILLION
INVESTMENT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS N
DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY. WE
RECOVERY. WE'VE HEARD FROM
BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS
DISTRICT LEADERS THAT THEY WANT
PROPERTY CRIME TO STOP. I DON'T
KNOW THE PERSONAL STORY, BUT I
KNOW PERSONAL STORIES FROM
BUSINESS OWNERS, HAVING BEEN A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF. TT
MYSELF. THAT OFTEN YOU START
WITH JUST A VISION. YOU TAKE A
RISK. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A
SAYING IN BUSINESS THAT YOU
REALLY CAN'T MAKE -- YOU HAVE
TO CREATE THE VALUE, WHETHER
IT'S A SERVICE OR PRODUCT, AND
HOPE THAT PEOPLE COME. WHEN YOU
OPEN UP THE DOORS, YOU DON'T
KNOW IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE
PERSON OR 100 PEOPLE, BUT
YOU'RE HOPEFUL. IF THERE'S ONLE
ONLY ONE PERSON, YOU HAVE TO GO
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN I DO
BETTER. EVERY DAY YOU'RE
REACTIONARY BUT PROACTIVE. THEE
PROACTIVE. THESE KINDS OF
PARTNERSHIPS BECOME IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THE CITY HAS TO
RECOGNIZE, AND MARKHAMMACK TIRE
McENTIRE IS ONE OF THE BEST. TS
BEST. THAT'S WHAT THIS
REPRESENTS. NOW, THIS IDEA CAME
FROM LISTENING TO SMALL
BUSINESSES, SAYING HOW WE CAN
STEP UP. OED WORKED DIRECTLY
WITH BUSINESS DISTRICTS TO RUNA
RUN A SUCCESSFUL PILOT PROGRAM,
INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. THIS IS A
PRACTICAL PROGRAM TO MAKE
THINGS BETTER. WE ARE NOT
SAYING THAT THIS IS THE WHOLE
SOLUTION, BUT IT'S A STEP
FORWARD. AND THAT'S WHAT WE
STRIVE FOR EVERY DAY, A STEP
FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
DIRECTION. NOW, ULTIMATELY THIS
IS NOT ABOUT REPLACING BROKEN
WINDOWS BUT ABOUT OPENING
THINGS BACK UP AND HELPING PUT
EYES BACK ON THE STREET TO
ACTIVATE OUR COMMUNITIES. MAKIG
COMMUNITIES. MAKING THIS A CITYS
CITY THAT'S INVITING NOT JUST TS
TO VISITORS AND TOURISTS BUT TO
NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE HAVE A
COUPLE OF COUNCILMEMBERS HERE,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, YOU'LL
SEE ME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
MONTHS HUG THEM FREQUENTLY,
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW HOLDING
THE BUDGET, AND IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S -- WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE
GOING THE AGREE ON EVERYTHING,
BUT IT MEANS WE ARE NOT
QUESTIONING EACH OTHER'S INTENS
OTHER'S INTENTIONS OR MOTIVES, T
MOTIVES, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
GET TO A REALLY GOOD PLACE. ANI
PLACE. AND I HAVE TRUSTED IT'S
GOING TO BE A GREAT PROCESS. I
EXPECT DEBATE, AS THERE SHOULD
BE. BUT I'LL TELL YOU THAT
THESE TWO COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
DEMONSTRATING CLEARLY THEIR
COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION AND ECONOMIC,
WHAT I'LL CALL ECONOMIC HOPE
AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, LOOKING
AT ALL SMALL BUSINESSES AND
UNDERREPRESENTED BUSINESSES ALL
AROUND THE 84 SQUARE MILES OF
THIS CITY. SO I'M VERY HONORED
TO HAVE THEM STAND WITH US IN A
UNITED FRONT TRYING TO DO WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO. COUNCILMEMR
DO. COUNCILMEMBER SARAH NELSON A
BUSINESS OWNER, KNOWS EXACTLY
THE ISSUES I DESCRIBED WITH MO,
YOU CAN CALL ME BRUCE TOO. MAYR
TOO. MAYOR HARRELL, ACTUALLY. JT
ACTUALLY. JUST KIDDING. YOU ALLK
ALL SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE WHEN
IT COMES TO SMALL BUSINESS. THS
BECOMES CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. WE
DON'T EXPECT THINGS TO BE FIXED
OVERNIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY. BUT
WHAT WE DO EXPECT TO HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS
WE DEVELOP AND THAT OUR EVERY
SINGLE PROGRAM WE DO, OUR
RECOMMENDATIONSHIPS WITH
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OUR
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE STATE
GOVERNMENT, THAT THAT AGAIN IS
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.D
DIRECTION. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
DOING. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
COUNCILMEMBER SARAH NELSON. I
LOOK FORWARD TO OUR
PARTNERSHIP. YOU REPRESENT THE
BEST OF THE BEST. SMALL
BUSINESSES PUTTING THEIR OWN,
THEIR MOST PRECIOUS COMMODITY
IN PLAY FOR US TO BE A BETTER
CITY, WHICH IS YOUR TIME, YOUR
ENERGY, YOUR COMMITMENT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, AND I PRESENT YU
COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR HARRELL. AND
THANK YOU, MO. WE WERE TALKING
EARLIER TODAY THAT WHEN I WAS A
GRAD STUDENT AT UW BACK IN THE
EARLY '90s, THIS IS WHERE I
WOULD TREAT MYSELF WHEN I COULD
AFFORD IT. SO THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US TODAY. SO THIS IS THE
FIRST TIME THAT I'VE BEEN BACKE
BACK SINCE JANUARY WHEN LESS
THAN A MONTH ON THE JOB I CAME
HERE TO DO A TOUR OF SMALL
BUSINESSES. AND I WAS JOINED
BY, WELL, PEOPLE FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVISON, CHIEF DIAZ,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. WE WERE
HERE AT THE INVITATION OF DON
BLAKENEY TO TOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESSES. DON HAD WRITTEN AN
EMAIL TO ALL OF COUNCIL SAYING
OUR COMMUNITY IS UNDER ATTACK.N
ATTACK. IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS
ALONE OVER 20 BUSINESSES HAVE
HAD THEIR WINDOWS BASHED IN,
SHOT, MELTED, AND REMOVED ALL
TOGETHER DURING A STRING OF
EVENTS FROM REPEATED ACTS OF
RAGE TO COORDINATED THEFT
RINGS. AND SO WE WALKED AROUND
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND LISTENED
AS ONE EMPLOYER AFTER ANOTHER
TOLD US THEIR STORY. THEY WERE
SIMILAR TO THOSE I'D HEARD ON
TOURS OF COLUMBIA CITY AND
BELLTOWN AND COUNTLESS EMAILS
THAT OUR OFFICE HAD RECEIVED. D
RECEIVED. AND YOU KNOW, FOR
EXAMPLE, I LIVE RIGHT OVER
THERE, ABOUT SEVEN BLOCKS AWAY
AS THE CROW FLIES, AND MY
NEIGHBORHOOD STORE HAS HAD ITS
WINDOWS BROKEN BY ROCKS THROWN
IN. WE -- MY STAFF AND I WENT
TO COLUMBIA CITY AND VISITED
THE LITTLE SMOKE SHOP ON
RAINIER AVENUE THAT A TRUCK
JUST DROVE THROUGH JUST TO GET
AT THE ATM INSIDE. SO THESE
STORIES ARE NOT UNCOMMON. I'M
SURE YOU'VE HEARD THEM FROM
YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOU'VE SEEN
THEM YOURSELF. I DECIDED THAT
WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING, AND I
WANTED TO BRING VISIBILITY TO
THIS ISSUE. AND I'M CHAIR OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND WE
CANNOT HAVE RECOVERY IN THIS
CITY WITHOUT A FOUNDATION OF
PUBLIC SAFETY. AND SO ON -- I
THINK IT WAS FEBRUARY 9th, I
CONVENED A PANEL OF SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS AND
REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS THE
CITY. AND WE'RE TALKING WEST
SEATTLE AND THE CID, BALLARD, R
BALLARD, PIONEER SQUARE, SODO,
ET CETERA. I INVITED THEM NOT
TO JUST TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT
OF CRIME BUT ALSO TO COME WITH
SOME IDEAS, SOME CONCRETE WAYS
THAT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE
IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO THESE
BUSINESS OWNERS. AND SO THAT'S
WHAT WE CAME UP WITH. THEY
ASKED FOR AT THE TOP OF THEIR
LIST ASSISTANCE REPLACING
DAMAGED STOREFRONTS. AND IN
CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, A BROKEN
EXTERIOR DOOR, GLASS DOOR,
COSTS ABOUT AT LEAST $2,000 TO
REPLACE. AND YOU CAN'T JUST
BILL YOUR INSURANCE, AS WAS
NOTED BEFORE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T
WANT TO LOSE YOUR POLICY. YOU
DON'T WANT YOUR PREMIUMS TO GO
UP. AND SO THIS IS A COST WHEN
REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS
ENOUGH TO CLOSE A BUSINESS. YOU
KNOW, FRANKLY, IT REALLY IS. IS
IS. IT'S EXPENSIVE AND WE JUST
SAW LAST FRIDAY THAT A
RESTAURANT IN LITTLE SAIGON
CLOSED ON FRIDAY. BUSINESS HAS
BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS
OR SO. SO ANYWAY, WE'VE ALREADD
ALREADY ADDRESSED THE ELEPHANT
IN THE ROOM, AND I HAVE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY CRIME
DOES NOT COMPARE TO THE HORRORS
THAT OCCURRED OVER THIS PAST
WEEKEND IN THE U DISTRICT, SO I
-- MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE,
WELL, TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR
LOVED ONES WHO'VE BEEN INJURED
OR KILLED AND ALSO TO A
COMMUNITY THAT'S GOT A LOT OF
REALLY POSITIVE THINGS GOING ON
RIGHT NOW. LOOK JUST OUT THE
WINDOW, CHANGE, POSITIVE ENERG,
POSITIVE ENERGY, NOW IN SHOCK
OVER WHAT HAPPENED. BUT ALL
THINGS ALONG THE WHOLE SPECTRUM
OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS
THAT THIS CITY IS EXPERIENCING
RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THAT DEMANDS
ACTION. DEMANDS THAT WE DO
SOMETHING. AND SOME THINGS ARE
EASIER TO ADDRESS THAN OTHERS,
RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
DOING TODAY. AND I HAVE TO SAY
THAT AS WE COMPREHENSIVELY WORK
TOWARDS IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THESE
STOREFRONT REPAIR GRANTS WILL
DO SOMETHING DIRECT. THEY WILL
PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE. THEY
GET CASH IN THE HANDS OF SMALL
BUSINESSES TO GO ON DOING
BUSINESS HERE. AND IT GOES
BEYOND THAT. IT GOES BEYOND
SIMPLY HELPING THE INDIVIDUAL
BUSINESS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE
A BUNCH OF STOREFRONTS THAT ARE
BOARDED UP IN A NEIGHBORHOOD,
IT BRINGS DOWN THE CHARACTER,
THE MORALE. AND SO WHAT WE'RE
REALLY TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS
REVITALIZATION. IT'S ABOUT
BRINGING OUR CITY BACK. IT'S
ONE STEP ALONG THE -- ALONG
THAT LONG CONTINUUM, AND I'M
PROUD THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY
MAKING A DIFFERENCE. SO I WANT
TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FOR JOINING ME IN THIS EFFORT
AND SENDING THE SIGNAL TO OUR
SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT
YOUR VOICE MATTERS AT CITY
HALL. IT MATTERS. WE'RE
LISTENING, WE'RE TRYING TO
HELP. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD
LIKE TO INTRODUCE DON BLAKENEYN
BLAKENEY. DON AND HIS TEAM AT
THE U DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP
PRODUCE SEASONAL EVENTS AND
PARTNER WITH AREA ORGANIZATIONS
TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND BRING
VISITORS TO THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT EVENTS SUCH AS U
DISTRICT NIGHT OUT, THE ANNUAL
STREET FAIR, SUMMER MOVIE
NIGHTS, AND NEW FESTIVALS LIKE
BOBA FEST AND THE CHERRY
BLOSSOM FESTIVAL. THAT'S IN
ADDITION TO ALL THE WORK THAT
HE DOES CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR NETWORKING AND COLLABORATIN
AND COLLABORATION TO THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT BUSINESS
NETWORK AND THE MANY OTHER
SERVICES THEY PROVIDE TO LOCAL
BUSINESSES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
BIAs DO. SO WITH THAT, TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. I'M GOING TO ADJUST
THIS HERE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MAYOR HARRELL. EXCELLENT.,
HARRELL. EXCELLENT. HELLO, I'M N
I'M DON BLAKENEY, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE U DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP. I'M THRILLED TO
WELCOME MAYOR HARRELL,
COUNCILMEMBERS NELSON AND
PEDERSEN, AND DIRECTOR McENTIRE
TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THIS
MORNING. ON BEHALF OF OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS
THAT OPERATE HERE, I'D LIKE TO
THANK OUR CITY PARTNERS FOR
THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING
SEATTLE'S UNIQUE AND VIBRANT
BUSINESS DISTRICTS. OUR
ORGANIZATION, AS SARA NELSON
MENTIONED, WORKED TO PROMOTE
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT BY
PROVIDING A RANGE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. WE
PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,
NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANING, SAFETY
AMBASSADORS, MARKETING AND EVE,
PLANNING AND POLICY WORK, AS
WELL AS HOMELESS OUTREACH. STAG
OUTREACH. STANDING HERE TODAY,
IT'S NOT HARD TO NOTICE THE U
DISTRICT'S IN A FORTUNATE
POSITION TO BE ONE OF SEATTLE'S
FASTEST-GROWING NEIGHBORHOODS
WITH THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTIAL
UNITS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WITH
20 NEW TOWERS COMING IN, THEY
WILL REDEFINE THE SKYLINE OF
NORTH SEATTLE. STUDENTS AND
FACULTY ARE BACK ON CAMPUS, AND
WE HAVE A NEW LIGHT RAIL STATIN
RAIL STATION THAT BRINGS PEOPLE
FROM AROUND THE REGION, INCLUDG
REGION, INCLUDING ROOSEVELT HIGH
SCHOOL, WHERE HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS COME DOWN FOR BUBBLE
TEA, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF BUBBLE
TEA. HOWEVER, AS WE SAW THIS
WEEKEND, THIS VIBRANCY AND
PROSPERITY IS FRAGILE AND CAN'T
BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. LIKE MANY
CITIES, SEATTLE IS FACING MAJOR
ISSUES THAT IMPACT
NEIGHBORHOODS AND NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED. IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR
AGO THE U DISTRICT SAW A RASH
OF VANDALISM THAT RESULTED IN
30 SMALL BUSINESSES HAVING
THEIR STOREFRONT WINDOWS
BROKEN, DAMAGED, OR BASHED. IN
SOME WAS RELATED TO
SMASH-AND-GRAB THEFTS, MOST WAS
CAUSED BY PEOPLE LIVING WITH
DEEP, UNADDRESSED, BEHAVIORAL H
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. ON
AVERAGE, A BROKEN WINDOW CAN
COST BETWEEN $1,000 AND $2,500
TO REPLACE. ONE OF OUR NEW
BUSINESSES HAD TO SPEND OVER
$5,000 BEFORE THEY OPENED TO
WELCOME CUSTOMERS IN. THIS IS A
LOT FOR A SMALL BUSINESS TO
ABSORB IN NORMAL TIMES, LET
ALONE DURING A PANDEMIC WHEN
THESE IMPACTS ARE COMPOUNDED. H
COMPOUNDED. WITH ALL OF THE
OTHER STRESSES THAT A SMALL
BUSINESS COULD BE FACING AT
THIS TIME, IT'S NO SURPRISE
REPAIRING A FRONT WINDOW COULD
FALL LOWER ON A LIST OF
PRIORITIES BEHIND STAFFING AND
OTHER COST OF GOODS. WHILE WE
ARE -- HOWEVER, WHEN ADDED, IT
CAN HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, SENDING A MESSAGE
PEOPLE ARE NOT WELCOME HERE. I
WANT TO THANK THE CITY AND THE
U DISTRICT BIA FOR MOVING
QUICKLY LAST WINDOW TO SET UP
PILOT WINDOW REPAIR FUND WHICH
OFFERED $1,000 IN FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO ANY BUSINESS WHO
HAD SEEN WINDOWS BROKEN OR
VANDALIZED. THIS HAD AN IMMEDIE
AN IMMEDIATE POSITIVE IMPACT ON
THE LOOK AND FEEL OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND BECAME THE
FOUNDATION FOR THE PROGRAM THAT
WE'RE HERE TO ANNOUNCE TODAY
AND HAS ALREADY SERVED OVER 30
BUSINESSES IN THE U DISTRICT. E
DISTRICT. THESE GRANTS HAVE
PROVIDED MUCH-NEEDED HELP TO
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND HAVE
DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED THE
OVERALL VIBRANCY OF OUR
DISTRICT. I THANK THE MAYOR,
MAYOR HARRELL, AND COUNCILMEMBR
AND COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND
PEDERSEN AND DIRECTOR McTIRE. D
McTIRE. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE
THE THIRD GENERATION OWNER OF
THE CEDARS RESTAURANT, A MEMBER
OF THE PARTNERSHIP, AND A
BENEFICIARY OF THE PILOT WINDOW
PROGRAM, MO KAHN.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. I'M
HONORED TO HOST BRUCE AND THE
ENTIRE TEAM. THE LAST THREE YES
THREE YEARS IN THE U DISTRICT
HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY HARD
AND, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, MY
FATHER CAME HERE ABOUT 40 YEARS
AGO WITH ZERO MONEY IN HIS
POCKET AND WORKED SMALL JOBS
LITERALLY THROUGH PERSEVERANCE,
HARD WORK, AND GRIT WAS ABLE TO
PURCHASE RESTAURANTS AND BUILD
AT LEAST 15 RESTAURANTS
THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE CAREER. L
CAREER. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP
HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOUGH. THE LAST
THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN
EXCEPTIONALLY TOUGH. BUT WITH
THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE U
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP AND THE
SUPPORT OF THE CITY, WE FEEL
LIKE OUR VOICE IS BEING HEARD.D
WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING SEEN
AND SUPPORTED. AND SO
INITIATIVES LIKE THIS JUST, YOU
KNOW, ECHO THE WHOLE NARRATIVE
OF, YOU KNOW, HARD WORK AND
PERSEVERANCE THAT WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE. BUT IT MAKES
US FEEL GOOD THAT WE HAVE A
COMMUNITY AND A CITY THAT'S
REALLY FOCUSSING ON SMALL
BUSINESSES TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT US. SO I JUST WANT TO
THANK MAYOR HARRELL, DON,
DANIEL, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM
HERE IN THE U DISTRICT AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. I LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUALLY WORKING WITH
EVERYBODY TO MOVE THINGS FORWA.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, MO. THANKS AGAIN FOR
HOSTING US AND SHARING YOUR
STORY. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE
THANKS TO MAYOR HARRELL AND HIS
LEADERSHIP AND HIS WILLINGNESS
TO FOCUS ON ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION AND ECONOMIC
HOPE. I WANT TO THANK BOTH
COUNCILMEMBERS NELSON AND
PEDERSEN FOR THEIR COMMITMENT
TO LISTENING TO SMALL
BUSINESSES AT CITY HALL AND
CHAMPIONING POLICIES FOR THEM.I
THEM. I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM
AT OED FOR TAKING THIS IDEA AND
RUNNING WITH IT. IT WAS A
HURRY-UP EXERCISE, BUT OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE IN NEED,
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING
HAPPEN. AND I WANT TO THANK DON
AND HIS TEAM AT U DISTRICT PARP
U DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP FOR
RAISING THIS, AS WELL AS THE
OTHER BIAs AND COMMUNITY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS FOR LIFTING
UP THEIR NEEDS IN THEIR
BUSINESS DISTRICTS IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND BRINGING THEM
TO THE CITY. AS MAYOR HARRELL
SAID, PARTNERSHIP IS
FOUNDATIONAL FOR PROGRESS. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CITY'S AT
AN EXCELLENT PARTNER, WE'RE
LISTENING, THEY'RE TRYING TO PE
TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
TO PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE
FACING. WITH THAT, WE'D LOVE TO
OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS
FROM THE AUDIENCE. YES?
>> FOR KIRO NEWS RADIO, I'M
WONDERING WHY THINGS LIKE
GRAFFITI AND SHOPLIFTING AREN'T
COVERED. A LOT OF BUSINESSES
ARE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF
DOLLARS AT A TIME CLEANING UP
GRAFFITI. IT SEEMED LIKE THIS
DOESN'T COVER THAT. I'M
WONDERING, AS COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON MENTIONED, IT CAN COST 0
COST $2,000 TO REPAIR A WINDOW
AT ANY TIME. IF ALL THEY APPLY
FOR IS $2,000, IT WOULD SEEM
LIKE THAT WOULD ONLY COVER ONE
TIME ONE OF THESE CRIMES
HAPPENING WHEN CLEARLY THIS IS
HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
>> I'LL ANSWER THE LAST QUESTIOT
QUESTION FIRST AND WORK BACK. $,
BACK. $2,000, WE WANTED TO SERVE
AS MANY BUSINESSES AS POSSIBLES
POSSIBLE. THAT'S PART OF THE
REASON WE CHOSE IT. AS DON
MENTIONED, WE'VE DONE A PILOT ,
PILOT PROGRAM, LOOKED AT AVERAGE
COSTS FOR A BROKEN WINDOW
REPAIR AND FELT THAT $2,000 WAS
KIND OF RIGHT IN THAT RANGE OF
WHAT IT WOULD COST A BUSINESS.E
BUSINESS. WE WOULD CERTAINLY
LOVE TO HELP MORE, BUT WE'RE
LOOKING AT KIND OF THE FUNDS TT
FUNDS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AND
TRYING TO MAKE A PROGRAM THAT'S
GOING TO HELP AS MANY
BUSINESSES AS POSSIBLE OUT OF E
OF THE GATE. AS FAR AS GRAFFITIE
GRAFFITI, THERE ARE OTHER
PROGRAMS THE CITY AND OTHERS
CAN OFFER FOR ABATEMENTS. IT'S
SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR HOW
WE CAN PREVENT IT BUT ALSO THEN
TRY TO REMOVE IT AND SIMILAR TO
THIS PROGRAM, LOOK AT HOW IT'S
COSTING A BUSINESS AND WHAT CAN
THE CITY DO IN PARTNERSHIP TO
TRY AND HELP RELIEVE THAT. YES?
THAT. YES?
>> HOW MANY BUSINESSES -- PILOT
PROGRAM?
>> ACTUALLY, DON, I POINT TO
YOU.
>> I'M LOOKING AT DANIEL. I
THINK IT'S ABOUT 35, AT LEAST
IN OUR PILOT PROGRAM. I KNOW
THERE'S ANOTHER PILOT PROGRAM
IN PIONEER SQUARE. THAT MONEY
CAME FROM A COMBINATION OF CITY
GRANT FROM OED AND THE BIA
FUNDS. THERE WAS A $20,000
MATCH FROM BOTH SIDES. A
$40,000 POT WE PULLED FROM.
>> QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET AND
-- FOR MAYOR HARRELL. I'M
WONDERING, ARE YOU PROPOSING IN
INVESTING IN THE PROGRAM CALLED
SHOT SPOTTER IN THE -- WHY
INVEST IN THAT WHEN IT'S --
PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE IN THEIR
CONCERNS OF POLICING?
>> SO IMPLICIT IN YOUR QUESTIONS
ARE A FEW FACTS YOU CITED
INCORRECTLY. LET ME CORRECT
YOU. SHOT SPOTTER IS NOT LISTED
IN THE BUDGET AS A TECHNOLOGY
CALLED ACOUSTIC GUNFIRE
LOCATING SYSTEM. THAT'S
TECHNOLOGY. SHOT SPOTTER'S ONE
OF MANY COMPANIES THAT OFFERS
THIS TECHNOLOGY. SO I DON'T
BELIEVE THE TERM SHOT SPOTTER'S
IN THE BUDGET, NUMBER ONE. NUMR
TWO, IT'S NEVER TOUTED AS A GUN
PREVENTION OR VIOLENCE
PREVENTION TOOL. IT'S AN
EVIDENCE-GATHERING TOOL. AND
WHAT OCCURS, OFTEN AFTER THE
FACT, IS THAT PEOPLE LOOK FOR
CAMERA TECHNOLOGY, THEY TOOK
TALK TO EYEWITNESS -- PEOPLE
WHO ARE ACTUALLY ON THE SCENE O
SCENE TO SEE WHAT OCCURRED. CAMA
OCCURRED. CAMERA TECHNOLOGY
BECOMES A USEFUL TOOL IN
GATHERING EVIDENCE. IT
TRIANGULATES THE SIGNAL AND
DISTINGUISHES A FIRECRACKER OR
A CAR ENGINE FROM THE DISTINCT
SOUND OF A GUNFIRE, GUNSHOT. AD
GUNSHOT. AND WITHIN A CERTAIN
FOOT RADIUS, IT CAN TELL WHERE
THE SHOT WAS FIRED. RIGHT NOW A
COMPLAINT-BASED SYSTEM WOULD
SIMPLY BE SOMEONE CALLING IN TO
SAY I HEARD SHOTS FIRED. WHERES
FIRED. WHERE WAS IT FIRED? I
DON'T KNOW, IT WAS OUTSIDE
SOMEWHERE. SO THIS TECHNOLOGY
ALLOWS OUR EVIDENCE GATHERERS
TO DETERMINE WHERE THE SHOTS
WERE FIRED AND AS AN ANCILLARY
PIECE OF EQUIPMENT CAN
TRIANGULATE THE SOUND AND GO TO
WHERE IT WAS. PERHAPS THERE
WOULD BE A CAR SPEEDING AWAY. O
AWAY. SO CITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY HAVE USED THIS
TECHNOLOGY AS AN
EVIDENCE-GATHERING TOOL, NOT A
VIOLENCE-PREVENTION TOOL, AND
IT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE. AND SO WE
THINK THAT A PILOT EXPLORING
THIS TECHNOLOGY WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE, AND WE PUT IT IN
OUR BUDGET. DID THAT ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION? YES?
>> QUESTION ABOUT REPAIR FUND,
HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE DOLLED
OUT? FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE? F
SERVE? IF I'M A BUSINESS LOOKINO
LOOKING TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS,
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO. GIVE US
SOME GUIDANCE.
>> SURE. AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE
DOING THIS ON A ROLLING BASIS.E
BASIS. ONCE THE APPLICATIONS
OPEN ON OCTOBER 18th, IT'S
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. WE ARG
ARE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY
THE PANDEMIC, SO WOMEN AND
MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES, AS L
AS WELL AS IN CERTAIN CENSUS
TRACKS THAT HAVE HAD HIGHER
PROPORTION OF IMPACT FOR THE
PANDEMIC OR CRIME. SO IT'S
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. THAT'S
PART OF THE REASON WE WANTED TO
ANNOUNCE IT AHEAD OF WHEN THE
ACTUAL APPLICATION LAUNCHES, SO
WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT AND
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN
IMPACTED HAVE A CHANCE TO APPLY
AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.
>> THERE ARE RULES ABOUT GROSS
REVENUE TO MAKE SURE IT'S A
SMALL BUSINESS, AND ALSO JUST
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT -- DOES THAT
RAISE EQUITY CONCERNS?
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EQUITY
CONCERNS. FIRST AND FOREMOST,
MAKING SURE WE TRANSLATE ALL
THE MATERIALS INTO A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES SO PEOPLE
CAN ACCESS IT. WE'RE WORKING
WITH A VARIETY OF NEIGHBORHOOD
AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO MAKE
SURE THEY'RE DOING OUTREACH AND
PROVIDING SOME TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO HELP FILL OUT THE
FORMS. SORRY, WHAT WAS THE
FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION?
>> I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE'S A
GROSS REVENUE, AND RULES ABOUT
SUCH. AND ALSO THIS, CAN YOU
ONLY APPLY ONCE?
>> YES. WE'RE BASING THIS OFF OR
OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS
STABILIZATION FUNDS, THAT WE
RAN A NUMBER OF ROUNDS OF
THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. IT'S
BUSINESSES WITH UNDER $7
MILLION IN REVENUE AND UNDER 50
EMPLOYEES. AND SO WE'RE
DEFINITELY TRYING TO TARGET IT
TOWARDS SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT
WE'RE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT S
THAT THERE'S A DIVERSITY OF
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT
HAVE DIFFERENT REVENUE
PICTURES, FOR INSTANCE, GROCERY
STORES TYPICALLY HAVE HIGHER
NET REVENUES. WE WANTED A
THRESHOLD THAT WAS INCLUSIVE AS
POSSIBLE BUT ALSO REALLY TRYING
TO FOCUS ON THOSE THAT ARE MOST
IN NEED. YES?
>> YOU MENTIONED THE CENSUS
FACTS, CAN YOU TESTIFY HOW WE
NORMALLY DECIDE WHICH AREAS
WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECTED AND WHAT SOME OF THOSE
AREAS ARE?
>> WE'VE DONE SOME KIND OF DEEP
DIVES INTO THE DATA ABOUT
PANDEMIC IMPACTS. AND SO
ACTUALLY ON OUR WEBSITE, I
THINK WE'VE GOT REALLY GOOD
INFORMATION, SOME DATA WITH
SOME MAPPING ON IT, SO YOU CAN
SEE VISUALLY BUT ALSO CLICK IN
AND SEE FINER DETAIL ABOUT HOW
WE'VE MADE THOSE DECISIONS. I
POINT BACK TO THE GREAT WORK
THE OED STAFF HAS DONE WITH FEL
DOLLARS UP TO THIS POINT IN A HP
BASIS.
>> SO THIS GOES BACK TO JANUARY.
JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. HAVE YOU
SEEN A --
>> 2021?
>> IT'S 2021. OKAY. ACTUALLY,
THAT PROBABLY ANSWERED MY
QUESTION.
>> THERE WE GO.
>> WHAT ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND
DETERRENT FOR THOSE WHO
ACTUALLY BREAK THE WINDOWS. PEE
WINDOWS. PEOPLE MIGHT SEE THIS
AND SAY, WELL, WHAT'S BEING DOE
BEING DONE TO ACTUALLY STOP THE
DAMAGE FROM OCCURRING. HOW
WOULD ANYBODY, IF YOU ADDRESS
THAT.
>> I MEAN, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A
-- LIKE A DIRECT PUBLIC SAFETY,
SAFETY MEASURE, BUT WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE, AS
DON WAS SAYING, WE'VE GOT MORE
EYES ON THE STREET, THAT WE'VE
GOT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT FEEL
WELCOMING AND ARE ASKING,
INVITING PEOPLE IN. AND THAT AS
PEOPLE ARE WALKING AROUND THEY
GET A SENSE OF VIBRANCY AND
COMMUNITY. THOSE HAVE BEEN
PROVEN IN TERMS OF
COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY TO
LOWER OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES, BUT AS FAR AS TARGETING
PREVENTION, THAT'S CERTAINLY
SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT,
MAYOR HARRELL IS WORKING ON,
THE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE WORKING
ON, INCLUDING IT IN BUDGET
CONSIDERATIONS. THIS IS ONE
PIECE. THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE
A PANACEA. IT'S A FOCUSED, TARD
FOCUSED, TARGETED SOLUTION
THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE TO SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AND THE COMMUNITIES
THEY'RE IN.
>> YOU SAID YOU WANTED IT TO BE
INVITING FOR ALL RESIDENTS. TAG
RESIDENTS. TAKING ALL OF THAT
TOGETHER, ANECDOTALLY, SOME OF
MY COLLEAGUES GOING TO THE
MARINERS GAMES IN RECENT DAYS
HAVE TALKED WITH TOURISM LIGHT
RAIL. ONE GUY FROM AUSTRALIA
SAID HE FELT SO UNSAFE HERE HE
WILL NEVER COME BACK TO
SEATTLE. SO MOVING FORWARD, HOW
CAN, YOU KNOW, YOUR BUDGET OR
OTHER THINGS MOVING FORWARD
ADDRESS ALL OF THAT, SINCE YOU
SAY IT IS IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS?
ADDRESS?
>> WELL, I THINK OUR BUDGET
REFLECTED OUR COMMITMENT TO PUC
TO PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE WANTED
TO BE INVITING. I LED WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY, WHERE MOST OF
OUR MONEY GOES TO ANYWAY. QUITE
FRANKLY, ON THE LAST QUESTION,
TO PIGGY BACK ON THE QUESTION T
QUESTION THAT ERIC BURNETT
ASKED, THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT
STRATEGIES. AS I SAID, THE AGLS
SYSTEM THAT ERIK HAD ASKED
ABOUT IS NOT A CRIME PREVENTION
STRATEGY, IT'S AN
EVIDENCE-GATHERING STRATEGY
FIXING BROKEN WINDOWS WHILE
ACTIVATING COMMUNITIES. WE KNOW
THAT ACTIVATION DOES PLAY A
ROLE. QUITE CANDIDLY, WE'RE NOT
TOUTING THAT AS OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY STRATEGY. IT'S ONE
COMPONENT OF ACTIVATING AREAS.I
AREAS. I THINK WHAT WE'VE TRIEDO
TRIED TO DO IN OUR
ADMINISTRATION IS CHANGE THE
NARRATIVE TO WHERE WE REALIZE
HOW SAFETY SHOULD BE A UNITING
ELEMENT IN OUR CITY. WHEN I
TALK ABOUT MORE POLICE
OFFICERS, PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING
IN MIND THAT I'M TRYING TO
CREATE A NEW YORK-LIKE
PRESENCE. NO, WE WANT A
SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF POLICE
OFFICERS TO HELP US ACTIVATE
COMMUNITIES, BUILD TRUST, HAVE
EYES ON THE GROUND. WHEN I HEAR
STORIES LIKE THIS PERSON FROM
AUSTRALIA -- YOU SAID
AUSTRALIA, I THINK. I THEN TAKE
BACK TO MY TEAM IS HOW CAN WE
MAKE PEOPLE NOT ONLY BE SAFER
BUT FEEL SAFER. SOMETIMES
THERE'S THE PERCEPTION THAT
THEY'RE NOT SAFE. SOMETIMES
THEY'RE NOT SAFE. SO WHETHER
IT'S HOW THEY FEEL OR WHAT THEY
-- AS A PERCEPTION OR THE
ACTUAL FACT THAT WE'RE BRINGING
REAL STRATEGIES THAT WORK. SO
I'M WILLING TO EXPLORE NEW
TECHNOLOGY, NEW IDEAS. AND
QUITE CANDIDLY, THEY COME WITH
SOME LEVEL OF CONTROVERSY. AND
I'M ALWAYS PREPARED TO DEFEND
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. I GO
TO OTHER CITIES AND I ASK
WHAT'S WORKING. WHAT'S WORKINGS
WORKING. IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT
QUESTION. WHAT'S WORKING TO
MAKE OUR BUSINESSES FEEL SAFER,
PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFER. AND YOU
TRY TO DEFEND NEW APPROACHES,
BUT AS I SAID REPEATEDLY, THE
STATUS QUO IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO
THIS MAN, OKAY?
>> ONE MORE BUDGET QUESTION. TH-
>> ON TOPIC?
>> I THINK IT'S ON TOPIC,
BUSINESS RELATED IN THE SENSE
OF DISORDER AND SAFETY.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> DOES YOUR BUDGET PROCESS HAVE
MANDATORY -- FOR HOMELESS HUMAS
HUMAN SERVICES CONTRACTS, THAT
CONTRADICTS SOMETHING YOU SAID
A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH
COUNCIL. CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT?
>> YEAH. YOU KNOW, IN YOUR
QUESTIONS, I'M JUST GOING TO BE
HONEST WITH YOU. YOU USE WORDS
THAT I SORT OF PUSH BACK ON A
LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I DIDN'T SAY
OUR POLICIES WERE
CONTRADICTORY. WHAT I SAID IN
2019, I BELIEVE, AS THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT IS WE HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE AGAIN, AND I'M PAR
PHRASING MY OWN LEGISLATION
HERE, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE AGAN
RECOGNIZE AGAIN THAT SOCIAL
WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNS
HEALTH COUNSELORS ARE UNDERPAIDD
THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT. SIMY
THAT. SIMPLY PUT, NOT ONLY DO WE
HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THEIR WAGES,T
WAGES, BUT WE HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT THE PIPELINE OF PEOPLE
GOING INTO THIS WORK. SO MY
PROPOSAL, DEALING WITH $128 MIN
$128 MILLION PLUS DEFICIT, I'M
ASKING DEPARTMENTS TO TIGHTEN
THEIR BELT TO LOOK AT WHERE WE
CAN SAVE MONEY. WE CAME UP WITH
AN INCREASE OF 4%, WHICH WOULD
IN THE LONG TERM CREATE
ANYWHERE BETWEEN, I BELIEVE, $7
MILLION TO $12 MILLION OR SO IN
SAVINGS, WHICH COULD ALLOW US
TO DO OTHER THINGS TO HELP THE
SAME COMMUNITIES THAT THEY
SERVE. AND OTHER RECOGNIZING
THAT THE COUNCIL WILL LOOK AT
THAT AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE
DIALOGUES AND WHAT MAKES SENSED
SENSE. AND SO WE THINK THAT WHAT
WE PROPOSE IS CONSISTENT WITH
THE VALUES THAT WE SET FORTH. E
FORTH. THE FACT IS IS THAT
INFLATION IS VERY, VERY HIGH
RIGHT NOW. IT'S HURTING EVERYO,
RIGHT NOW. IT'S HURTING EVERYON,
RIGHT NO
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE
STATE AND THE COUNTY AND OTHERS
OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING TO
GRAPPLE WITH THIS. AND WE
THOUGHT WE HAD COME UP WITH
WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A BALANCEDL
A BALANCED PROPOSAL MEETING THE
VALUES THAT I STAND FOR AND THE
VALUES THAT I'VE LEGISLATED IN
THE PAST. THE BUDGET IS A
PROCESS, AND THERE'S GOING TO
BE MANY COMPONENTS OF A SEVERAL
PAGE THICK BUDGET THAT THEY
WILL GO THROUGH AND COMB, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO BEING AVAILABLE
TO DEFEND ANYTHING THAT WE
PROPOSE IN THE BUDGET, AND
THAT'S PART OF THE
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT THE
CITY UNDERTAKES EVERY YEAR. THK
YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THE GO TO
IS WHAT?
>> BUTTER CHICKEN.
>> GARLIC NAA N.
>> GARLIC NAAN. THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE. IN ALL SERIOUS,
ALL SERIOUSNESS, I DO WANT TO
CLOSE WITH SOMETHING I SAID
EARLIER. WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE'S BEEN SOME ISSUES HERE
THAT BEG THE QUESTION ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY. I TRY TO LEVEL -
WHEREVER I GO -- SO I WILL TRY
-- I WILL TRY NEW THINGS, NEW
STRATEGIES, AND I EXPECT
PUSHBACK. THAT'S FAIR. BUT I
CLOSE WITH SAYING MY FIRST, MY
CHARTER RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. AND WHERE
WE HAVE FAILED, WE WILL OPENLY
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. WHERE WE CAN
GET BETTER, WE'LL OPENLY
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. BUT WE'LL
KEEP PLOWING AHEAD WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, BUSINESS OWNER,
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS, EVEN THE
MEDIA TO GET OUR CITY SAFE ONCE
AGAIN IN A PLAY FOR CALLING
SEATTLE THE GREATEST CITY IN
THIS COUNTRY. THANK YOU VERY MH
FOR BEING HERE.