>>> WE'RE GOING TO GET GOING
HERE, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, MAYO
BRUCE HARRELL.
>> ALL RIGHT. [ APPLAUSE ] THAT
WAS -- MARKHAM McENTIRE,
DIRECTOR -- OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. AND I DON'T THINK
HE NEEDED NOTES FOR THAT
INTRODUCTION. BUT I'M SO EXCITE
TO WORK WITH MARK AND I MEAN,
YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO HEAR
FROM MARKHAM ON AGRANULAR LEVEL
ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON. FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU FOR ALL BEING
HERE, YOU ARE ALL BUSY PEOPLE.
BUT THE SUCCESS OF THIS CITY AN
INDEED THIS REGION, DEPENDS ON
SOME OF THE DECISIONS OUR
ADMINISTRATION MAKES BUT ALSO
OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT. SO
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM SOME
SPEAKERS HERE AND WE'RE GOING T
LAY OUT PART OF A GAME PLAN AND
LET ME GATHER MY NOTES HERE
BECAUSE MANY OF YOU DIDN'T JUST
MEET ME AND I KNOW I SOMETIMES
RIFF. [ LAUGHTER ] AND I WANT T
MAKE SURE I CAPTURE ALL OF OUR
SALIENT POINTS. SO FIRST OF ALL
I WANT TO THANK CHRISTINA WHO I
STANDING WITH ME NOW. CHRISTINA
CAPALONG FOR WELCOMING US HERE
IN THIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
PIONEER SQUARE. [ APPLAUSE ] SO
PIONEER SQUARE WHERE WE'RE
STANDING SORT OF REPRESENT WHAT
IS WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, ONE
OF OUR NEWEST SEATTLE RESTORED
LOCATIONS WHERE WE'VE COME
TOGETHER AND LOOK AT FORMERLY
VACANT AREAS AND LOOK HOW HOW
CAN WE ACTIVATE THEM. BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, LISTEN AND TALK TO
EACH OTHER AND COME UP WITH NEW
IDEAS. HOW CAN WE CRITICIZE THE
MAYOR'S DEPARTMENT. NO LET'S NO
DO THAT. BUT ALL SUBJECTS ARE
FAIR TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE IN
THOSE DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS THA
ARE HAPPENING RIGHT HERE AND
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WE WILL GE
GETTER, THIS IS SORT OF -- WE'R
VERY INTENTIONAL WHY WE WANTED
TO BE HERE, THEIR MISSION AND
I'LL JUST READ THIS TO SERVE AN
AMPLIFY BIPOC VOICES AND
INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION
THROUGH FOOD, MUSIC AND ART.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE
BUSINESSES THAT WILL FILL
DOWNTOWN AS WE'LL TALK ABOUT A
LITTLE BIT MORE TODAY. AGAIN
ALSO HEAR FROM OUR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MARKHAM
McENTIRE AND COUNCILMEMBER SARA
NELSON AND SHE'S A CHAMPION FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES WE ALL KNOW.
AND SO -- [ APPLAUSE ]
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON ASTUTELY
PLANTED A FEW STEEDS IN THE
AUDIENCE, YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT
YOU HAVE TO DO. I'M JUST JOKING
AND SO I WILL INTRODUCE HER AS
WELL. AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM
SOME FINAL SPEAKERS, JESSICA --
I PRACTICED THIS --
GUYVERNOVSKI. IN THE BALLPARK?
OKAY. JESSICA AND ERICA VASQUEZ
THEY OWN THE RIVER. AND I THINK
MANY OF YOU ARE WATCHING WHAT
RIVERS TO OPEN UP IN OCTOBER
2022. AND THEIR VINTAGE CLOTHIN
CURATOR AND STYLIST AND JESSICA
IS A FINE ARTIST WHOSE WORK
FOCUSES ON INTERSECTIONALITY. S
HAVING SAID THAT. LET ME TALK
ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- SOM
IDEAS THAT I BROACHED IN MY CIT
-- STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. I
TALKED ABOUT WE'RE TRYING TO
DESIGN WHAT A NEW DOWNTOWN WILL
LOOK LIKE. AND I SAID TERMS LIK
IF WE DON'T GET THIS RIGHT
DOWNTOWN, NOT TO THE EXCLUSION
OF A NEIGHBORHOODS OR THE
BUSINESS DISTRICTS, BUT I
RECOGNIZE DURING THAT -- THOSE
REMARKS THAT THIS IS SORT OF TH
EPICENTER OF A LOT OF COMMERCE
ACTIVITY. A LOT OF RESIDENTS
DOWN HERE, AND A LOT OF ACTION
DOWN HERE AND WE WANTED TO GET
IT RIGHT. IF WE FAILED
EVERYTHING ELSE WOULD FALL FLAT
I THINK THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GE
QUITE FRANKLY IS THAT PEOPLE AR
SEEING PROGRESS AS WE MOVED. I
REFER TO IT IN MY CITY -- STATE
OF THE CITY ADDRESS AS THE KIND
OF SPACE NEEDLE THINKING AND
LONG-TERM TRANSFORMATIONAL
ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE WANTED TO
SEE. WE CAN REDEFINE WHAT OUR
DOWNTOWN COULD BE. THIS PART OF
OUR DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN AN
AS MARKHAM GETS INTO IT A LITTL
DETAIL. I NEED TO MAKE SOMETHIN
VERY CLEAR. THIS SUMMER RIGHT
AROUND THE JUNE TIME FRAME YOU
ARE GOING TO SEE A MORE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND YOU ARE
GOING TO SEE BETWEEN NOW AND
LEADING UP TO JUNE, A -- A FEW
ANNOUNCEMENTS ON COMPONENTS OF
IT. AND THE REASON WHY WE'RE
GOING ABOUT IT THAT WAY IS
NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE TO FIRST OF
ALL, WE WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT WE
CAN PAY FOR. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
OUR FINANCE PROJECTIONS AND ALS
WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS AS WE
BUILD A COLLECTIVE VISION. AND
WE WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON'S CITY COUNCILMAN ON
LEGISLATION AND SO IT'S NOT THE
KIND OF ACTIVITY IF IT IS GOING
TO BE SUSTAINABLE AND BIG BOX
THINKING, OUT OF THE BOX
THINKING, CREATIVE THINKING,
THAT CAN'T BE DONE LIKE THIS.
AND UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION, WE
WILL NOT DO IT LIKE THAT.
BECAUSE THAT MAY NOT BE
SUSTAINABLE. YES, WE WANT
SHORT-TERM VICTORIES. YES, BUT
WE ALSO WANT SUSTAINABLE CHANGE
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER MOST
IN THIS CITY. SO YOU ARE GOING
TO HEAR BETWEEN NOW AND THIS
SUMMER, SOMETIME IN JUNE, MORE
TO COME. BUT THIS -- BUT THIS
MORNING, WE WANT -- THIS
AFTERNOON WE WANT TO SHARE SOME
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE
TAKING. I HOPE THAT MANY OF YOU
HAVE SEEN THROUGH OUR EFFECTIVE
USE OF CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING
AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS THAT
WORK ON 3rd AVENUE AND THE PIPE
PINE CORRIDOR AND LITTLE SAIGON
AND BELLTOWN THAT YOU HAVE
ALREADY SEEN PROGRESS. ARE WE
HAPPY AND SATISFIED WITH
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING? OF
COURSE NOT. BUT YOU ARE SEEING
TRAJECTORY THAT WE ARE NOT
AFRAID TO TAKE ACTION. AND WE
LEAD WITH PEOPLE FIRST AND WE
LEAD ON OUR VALUES OF EMPATHY
AND COMPASSION. YOU HAVE SEEN
OUR UNIFIED CARE TEAM HELPING
PEOPLE MOVE INDOORS AND
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE TENTS
DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS. YOU SEE
THAT. AND WE SHIFTED UNDER MY
LAST BUDGET PROPOSAL, A
NEIGHBORHOOD MODEL SAYS THE
ACTUAL WORKER DOING THE WORK. O
THE GROUND, AND I HAD BREAKFAST
WITH THEM LAST WEEK. WE TALKED
ABOUT TEAMWORK WHAT IT MEANS TO
BE ON THE FLOOR SO TO SPEAK
DOING THE WORK AND HOW TO KEEP
THEM INSPIRED AND HOW THEY CAN
KNOW THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS
WHEN THEY'RE WORKING DOING THIS
KIND OF WORK. YOU HAVE SEEN THE
OUTREACH THAT THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY'S PARTNERSHIP FOR ZER
REACHED THE 3rd AVENUE PROJECT
AND WE DELIVER CARE. MEMBERS
RIGHT HERE DOING THIS KIND OF
WORK AND YOU SEE AND READ ABOUT
WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THE WORK
THEY'RE DOING JUST GOES BEYOND
PICKING UP A PAYCHECK. THEY'RE
PUTTING HEARTS INTO THIS WORK
AND PEOPLE ARE STILL SEEING THE
PROGRESS THAT WE ARE MAKING.
AGAIN, I KNOW LISA GUY DAD IS
HERE AND SHAWN BLACKWELL FROM P
A AND DOMINIC DAVIS AND FAMILY,
TABITHA DAVIS AND MICHAEL KOA
WALL SKI. I SLAUGHTERED THAT
ONE. AND GADARENE DON AND I'M
JUST CALLING OFF A FEW NAMES
THAT I ASKED MY STAFF. I SAID
GIVE ME FEW NAMES AND I KNOW
ALMOST ALL OF THEM. I SAID GIVE
ME A FEW NAMES I CAN GIVE SOME
SHOUT-OUTS AND THEY'LL GIVE ME
SOME GRACE IF I MESSED UP THE
PRONUNCIATIONS. YES. [ APPLAUSE
] AND YOU SAW THE WORK DOWN AT
THE PIKE PINE CORRIDOR
STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS WHERE
WE'RE TRANSITIONS DOWNTOWN
INTERSECTIONS ON THE -- IN THAT
PARTICULAR AREA AND WE'RE TRYIN
TO IMPROVE WALKABILITY AND
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. YOU HAVE SEE
THROUGH OUR UTILITIES AND
IMPROVED LITTER PICKUP AND OUR
COMPREHENSIVE GRAFFITI PLAN
WE'RE TRYING TO DO. ALL OF THES
COMPONENTS QUITE FRANKLY I
BELIEVE THAT THE CITY ARE
WORKING -- WORKING WITH THE
RIGHT VALUES AND RIGHT
COMMITMENT. WITH THE RIGHT
ENERGY LEVEL TO GET OUR CITY
WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. SO YOU
WILL HEAR ON OUR DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN D. E. C. K.. I
LIKE THE WORD DECK. YOU WILL
HEAR MARKHAM LEAD US INTO A
LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON
SPECIFICALLY WHAT THAT ENTAILS.
I WANT TO SHIFT A LITTLE BIT TO
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT I'M
ISSUING TODAY. WE SAID FROM THE
BEGINNING THAT IF OUR DOWNTOWN
DOESN'T FEEL SAFE, THAT IT ISN'
SAFE. WE WILL FAIL AS A CITY. I
JUST BELIEVE THAT. IN A FENTANY
CRISI OUR STREETS IS CAUSING
DEATH AND DISORDER. I CAN'T
MINCE WORDS THERE. WE HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO DO MORE FROM THOS
SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE
DISORDER. FOR ALL OF OUR
NEIGHBORS. FENTANYL CRISIS IS
JUST PLAYING OUT ON OUR STREETS
AND WE SEE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY
AND IT'S PLAYING OUT IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE ALL ARE
AFFECTED BY THIS. THERE'S NO ON
THAT GOES UNAFFECTED. OUR
EXECUTIVE ORDER CITES MANY
STATISTICS. 589 OVERDOSE DEATHS
IN SEATTLE IN 2022 WITH THE
MAJORITY ATTRIBUTED TO FENTANYL
AND METHAMPHETAMINES COMPARED T
ONLY 342 IN 2021 BUT EVEN 342
WAS ALARMING. THAT WAS AN
INCREASE OF 72% OVERDOSE IS THE
LEADING CAUSE OF UNINTENTIONAL
FATAL INJURY IN KING COUNTY. AN
IT'S OUR MOST VULNERABLE WHO AR
IMPACTED. DISPROPORTIONATELY
LIVING UNSHELTERED AND QUITE
FRANKLY THIS IS TRAGIC. I'M
READING SOME -- SOME MATERIAL I
THE "SEATTLE TIMES" RIGHT NOW
AND WHEN I READ THE STATISTICS
MA WE'RE SEEING, MANY OF YOU IT
MAY BE ACADEMIC. I'M READING
ABOUT FAMILIES THAT I GREW UP
WITH. I'M READING ABOUT FAMILIE
THAT -- WHOSE PARENTS THAT I
KNOW. AND SO AS MAYOR, I HAVE A
SENSE OF URGENCY THAT I DON'T
KNOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE FEEL. I
DON'T COMPARE MYSELF IN THAT
SENSE. I JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS
REAL WORK THAT I'M PUT IN THIS
POSITION FOR A REASON. AND ONE
OF THOSE REASONS TO ADDRESS THI
CRISIS AND IT DOESN'T START WIT
ME POINTING THE FINGER AT ANYON
FAILING THEIR JOB. I'M IN THIS
TOGETHER. THESE NUMBERS ARE
STAGGERING OF WHAT'S COMING INT
OUR CITY. OKAY? AND YEAH, POINT
THE FINGER AT ME IF YOU'D LIKE
BUT I HAVE A GREAT TEAM. I
CONSIDER EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM
PART OF OUR TEAM. TRYING TO GET
THIS WORK DONE. SO -- [ APPLAUS
] SO OUR STRATEGY UNTIL ESSENCE
IS A TWO PRONGED EFFORT. YES, A
LAW ENFORCEMENT APPROACH TO
DISRUPT THE DISRUPTION AND
DISTRIBUTION AND AND I'LL READ
THAT AGAIN. A LAW ENFORCEMENT
APPROACH TO DISRUPT THE
DISTRIBUTION AND SALE OF
SYNTHETIC DRUGS AND ARREST AND
HOLD ACCOUNTABLE NARCOTICS
TRAFFICKERS. [ APPLAUSE ] OKAY?
AND THAT'S -- COUPLED WITH AND
PART OF AN EVIDENCE BASED PUBLI
HEALTH APPROACH TO SUPPORT
PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTIO
TO THESE DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES.
AND PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE PART OF
ONE PRONG AND HAVE IT CALIBRATE
OR OUTWEIGH THE OTHER PRONG.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT. SO PART OF OUR EXECUTIVE
ORDER RECOGNIZED THIS BALANCE.
SO PART OF THAT BALANCE IS TO
DIRECT THAT I WILL BE DOING
THROUGH THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER,
DIRECTING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO BE JOINED BY THE
FIRE CHIEF HAROLD COG BEGINS AN
THE POLICE CHIEF ADRIAN DIAZ
RIGHT HERE. DIRECTING THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
PRIORITIZE EFFORTS TO DISRUPT
THE DISTRIBUTION AND SALE OF
NARCOTICS IN CONCERT WITH OTHER
LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. AND
THAT WOULD FURTHER OUR
COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTE ATTORNEY'S OFF
U.S. ATTORNEY. THE DEA. THE FBI
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY. SO WE WILL BE
CONVENING A WORKING TASK FORCE
TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW THAT
WORKS FROM A COORDINATED EFFORT
THAT'S PART OF IT. IF YOU ARE
HARMING OUR COMMUNITIES BY THIS
ACTIVITY, WE HAVE TO COORDINATE
OUR EFFORTS AND MAKING SURE THA
HARM STOPS AND THAT IS DEALING
WITH THE SELLING AND TRAFFICKIN
OF THESE -- DEADLY DRUGS. WE
HAVE TO HOLD THOSE PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE. SO OUR OFFICERS AR
COMMITTED TO THIS WORK AS OUR
PARTNERS. LAST FRIDAY, FOR
EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A SHOOTING
NEAR 2nd AND ICE. MANY OF YOU
READ ABOUT THAT. OUR OFFICERS
QUICKLY MADE AN ARREST AND FOUN
A GUN AND SUSPECTED FENTANYL AN
THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTORS WHO
WERE IN COURT SATURDAY MORNING.
THAT'S THE KIND OF MACHINE THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH,
WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OU
OTHER PARTNER. WE'RE GOING TO
THROUGH OUR TASK FORCE, FINE
TUNE OUR TACTICAL STRATEGIES IN
THIS REGARD. NOW FOR THOSE WHO
ARE SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE US
ISSUE, IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR WE
NEED TO -- WE NEED INNOVATIVE
PROGRAMS TO RESPOND TO OVERDOSE
AND WE NEED TO CONNECT THEM WIT
PROVEN TREATMENT AND RECOVERY
SERVICES. I SORT OF LOOK AT THI
CRISIS AS A BEFORE, DURING AND
AFTER APPROACH. SO OUR EXECUTIV
ORDER IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS IT
FROM THAT STANDPOINT. SO LOOKIN
AT WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE, WE ARE
PILOTING A RESEARCH BASED DRUG
ABATEMENT PROGRAM KNOWN AS
CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT IN AN
EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS
WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER T
ACCEPT TREATMENT SERVICES BY
PROVIDING -- LET ME JUST PUT IT
THIS WAY. AND I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON IS GOING T
TALK A LOT ABOUT THIS. WE WILL
DO WHAT MAKES SENSE TO GET
PEOPLE IN THE TREATMENT. WE WIL
DO WHAT MAKES SENSE TO GET
PEOPLE IN TREATMENT. ONE -- PAR
OF THE PROGRAM ARE LOW DOLLAR
GIFT CARDS AS AN EXAMPLE. BUT
THAT'S PART OF A PHILOSOPHY TO
DO THE OUTREACH AND DEVELOP THE
RELATIONSHIPS ESPECIALLY IF
PEOPLE REALIZE THEY DON'T CHANG
THEIR WAY, THEY WILL DIE. SO --
DURING THE OVERDOSES THAT WE
SEE, AND MANY OF YOU HAVE EITHE
SEEN IT FIRSTHAND OR YOU HAVE
READ ABOUT IT. WE'RE GOING TO B
LAUNCHING A PILOT EXPANSION OF
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S
HEALTH ONE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE A
OVERDOSE RESPONSE UNIT DEDICATE
TO SWIFTLY ENGAGING OVERDOSE
SURVIVORS TO INCREASE ACCEPTANC
OF SERVICES OR REFERRALS. NOW I
THINK WHAT THAT -- THAT MAY NOT
HAVE BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND I HAVE
THE CHIEF HERE TO HELP ME
DESCRIBE IT IN BETTER DETAIL,
BUT WE REALIZE THAT AS SAD AS
SIT TO SEE AN OVERDOSE, THEY'RE
HAPPENING AND THEY'RE HAPPENING
IN ALARMING NUMBERS. THE
QUESTION BECOME Z HOW DO WE WOR
WITH THOSE RESPONDERS, NOT TO
ARREST, BUT TO RAPIDLY GIVE THE
THE HELP, THE LIFE SAFETY
SERVICES QUICKLY AND TO BE
NIMBLE TO DO THAT. AND SO WE'RE
LOOKING AT HOW TO EXPAND THE
PROGRAM AND HEALTH ONE AND GET
PEOPLE THE NEED THAT -- THE
URGENT NEED THAT THEY HELP. [
APPLAUSE ] SO PART OF THAT WOR
INCLUDES EXPANDING ACCESS TO
OVERDOSE REVERSAL MEDICATIONS -
BRAND NAME KNOWN AS NARCAN THAT
MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH
PARTICULARLY IN HIGH OVERDOSE
LOCATIONS. WE'LL GO FURTHER BY
INCREASING ACCESS TO PROVEN
TREATMENT AND MEDICATION
SERVICES TO HELP BREAK THE HOLD
OF ADDICTION. WE KNOW THAT THIS
DRUG IS CHEAP TO PRODUCE. IT'S
CHEAP TO SELL. IT -- IT IS SO
POWERFUL THAT IT OVERCOMES THE
INVOLUNTARY IMPULSE TO BREATHE.
THIS IS A -- AN UNPRECEDENTED
KIND OF DRUG THAT WE'RE FACED
WITH. SO WHILE WE DO OUR
OUTREACH AND OUR UP STREAM WORK
DURING THE OVERREACH. WE HAVE T
BE NIMBLE AND THAT'S PART OF
EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT DESCRIBES
THAT. NOW -- ON THE -- BACK END
OF SOME OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING
WE'RE GOING TO BE CONVENING A
MEETING WITH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
PARTNERS TO ESTABLISH A
POST-OVERDOSE DIVERSION FACILIT
WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE BROUGHT
AFTER NONFATAL OVERDOSES TO
RECOVER AND WE HAVE TO CITE IT
AND WE HAVE TO FUND IT AND FIND
A WAY TO FUND AND IT WE HAVE TO
WORK WITH FUNDING PARTNERS BUT
PARTICULARLY WE REALIZE THAT WE
HAVE A SHORTAGE OF THIS KIND OF
ACCESS OR THESE TYPES OF
FACILITIES. SO THAT'S WHAT WE
NEED TO EXPLORE. WE'RE NOT JUST
LOOKING AT THE ONE MONTH
PICTURE. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
ONE YEAR PICTURE AND TWO YEAR
PICTURES SO WE THINK THAT'S
GOING TO BE CRITICAL WORK THAT
WE DO. OUR EXECUTIVE ORDER ALSO
-- TAKES ADDITIONAL ACTIONS
BEYOND THESE. THE LAST TWO I'LL
HIGHLIGHT ARE THE FORMATION
AGAIN OF THIS PUBLIC HEALTH WOR
GROUP. HERE WE WANT TO GET
EVERYONE IN A ROOM. WE HAVE
STRONG PARTNERS IN THE CALENDAR
AND WE HAVE STRONG PARTNERS IN
THE STATE. AND AS A CITY, I
THINK WE'RE SHOWING WHAT HAPPEN
WELL WHEN WE'RE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WELL. AND SO WE
LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT
ACTUAL WORK GROUP WITH OUR
PARTNERS AND I WANT TO THANK DR
KAHN FOR BEING HERE AND THAT'S
GOING TO BE GREAT WORK WHERE WE
CAN THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND
LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY AND LOO
AT BEST PRACTICES AND MAKE SURE
THAT OUR MACHINE IS WORKING BES
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT WORK
AND THEN AS I MENTIONED EARLIER
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE.
HOW DO WE STRATEGIZE BETTER AND
HOW WE DO AFTER THOSE IN NEED
THAT NEED TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. KNOWING THIS
CROSSES SEVERAL POLICE-TYPE
JURISDICTIONS? SO THESE TWO
BODIES OF WORK WILL HELP ENSURE
WE ARE -- WE KEEP ACTING ON THI
ISSUE. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO
MARKHAM I WANT TO SAY -- SAY
THIS. I KNOW PEOPLE WANT
IMMEDIATE FIXES. YOU HAVE PUT U
WITH A LOT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS IN THIS CITY. WE'RE SEEIN
PROGRESS. BUT YOU HAVE A --
DEDICATED ECOSYSTEM. NOT JUST
THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION. I'M
NOT GOING TO CALL MANY OF YOU
OUT BUT I KNOW WHICH
ORGANIZATIONS YOU LEAD.
EVERYBODY'S IN ON THIS. SO WHEN
I TALK ABOUT WHEN WE HAVE OUR
ONE DAY OF SERVICE ON MAY 20th.
YEAH, THAT'S A SHAMELESS PLUG
THERE. OUR ONE DAY OF SERVICE O
MAY 20th WHERE WE BRING ALL
HANDS TOGETHER, WE'LL PLANT
FLOWERS AND WE'LL ABATE SOME
GRAFFITI. WE'LL PICK UP LITTER.
IT GOES BEYOND THAT. IT'S A
RECOGNITION THAT WE'RE ALL IN
THIS TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. I'M NOT GOING TO
CALL THE ORGANIZATIONS OUT. BUT
THEY STEM FROM PEOPLE ON THE
GROUND DOING THE WORK. THEY STE
THE CULTURE AND ARTS THAT'S SO
VIBRANT. THEY -- THEY INCLUDE
PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT BUSINESSES
SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE.
MUSICIANS, POLICE, FIRE,
NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATES, WE HAVE
-- I'M ACTUALLY DEALT A PRETTY
DARN GOOD HAND TO BE IN THE CIT
AND BE MAYOR OF THIS GREAT CITY
THIS WEEK I'M GOING TO BE
TALKING TO MANY OTHER MAYORS
ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
HERE AND HAVING SAID THAT, OUR
DAP PLAN, OUR DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN, CONTAININGS
SEVERAL NUGGETS THAT YOU WILL
SEE IMMEDIATELY AND WITH THAT
I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE MARKHAM
McENTIRE, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFIC
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MARKHAM? [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU MAYOR, I'M MARKHAM
McENTIRE THE DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE. AND TH
MAYOR IS CHARGED OED WITH
DEVELOPING THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN. AND I'M REALLY
EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING
THIS PLAN FOR A WHILE AND IT'S
REALLY FUN TO BE ABLE TO COME
TALK ABOUT GIVE YOU GUYS A
PREVIEW OF WHAT'S TO COME BUT
ALSO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE
GOING DODD RIGHT NOW. DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE. IT'S THE HEART OF OUR
CITY. AND AT THIS TIME IT'S
UNDERGOING TO METAMORPHOSIS.
WHICH GIVES US A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY TO IMAGINE WHAT
DOWNTOWN MEANS FOR CENTS AND
WORKERS AND BUSINESSES.
FUNDAMENTALLY DOWNTOWN RUNS ON
PEOPLE. IT'S FOCUSSEN OW HOW TO
GET MORE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. AND A
THE MAYOR SAID REPEATEDLY WE'RE
NOT THE SAME WE WERE IN 2019.
THAT'S OKAY. THAT GIVES US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTIONS THA
SET US ON NEW COURSE FOR THE
DECADES TO COME. SO WHAT YOU AR
GOING TO HEAR TODAY IS THE FIRS
PHASE OF OUR PLAN. WE RECOGNIZE
THAT AS THE MAYOR IS SAYING THI
ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN EVER
NIGHT. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A
QUICK FIX BUT WE DO WANT TO
DISPLAY HOW WE NEED TO MOVE WIT
URGENCY BECAUSE OF THE HEART OF
THE CITY ISN'T JUST THE ECONOMI
ENGINE BUT IT PUMPS LIFE
VITALITY AND ENERGY INTO EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS AND THE
CITY. AS WELL AS DRAWS US IN TO
CELEBRATE TOGETHER WHAT MAKES
SEATTLE DIFFERENT AND WHAT MAKE
US UNIQUE AND YES, WHAT MAKES U
COOL. IT REALLY IS CORE TO OUR
CITY IDENTITY. SO AS I MENTIONE
EARLIER, OUR OVERALL OBJECTIVE
WITH THIS PLAN IS TO GET MORE
PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. TO DO THAT,
WE'VE SET SEVEN GOALS. AND FOR
THOSE OF WHO YOUER MORE VISUAL
WE ACTUALLY HAVE THEM ON A GIAN
EASEL OVER THERE FOR YOU TO
CHECK OUT. FIRST IS CREATING A
DOWNTOWN THAT'S SAFE AND
WELCOMING FOR ALL TO LIVE, WORK
AND VISIT. SECOND IS
TRANSFORMING DOWNTOWN INTO A
THRIVING RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR PEOPLE FROM AL
WALKS OF LIFE. THIRD IS
REESTABLISH A VIBRANT AND
DIVERSITIED WORKER ECOSYSTEM
THAT DELIVERS UNIQUE VALUE FOR
PEOPLE WORKING IN DOWNTOWN.
FOURTH IS REENVISIONING DOWNTOW
AS SEATTLE'S HUB FOR ARTS AND
CULTURE AND ENTERTAIN. FIFTH IS
REINVIGORATING DOWNTOWN AS THE
COMMERCIAL HEARTBEAT OF THE
CITY. SIXTH IS COMMITTING TO OU
ETHOSAS THE EMERALD CITY BY
PROMOTING A HEALTHY AND
SUSTAINABILITY GREEN CITY. AND
FINALLY, SEVENTH IS MAKING
DOWNTOWN A TOP DESTINATION FOR
VISITORS FROM THE PUGET SOUND
REGION AND BEYOND. THANK YOU
THANK YOU ALL. IN DEVELOPING
THESE GOALS WE SOUGHT INPUT AND
IDEAS FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS TO
UNDERSTAND WHO DOWNTOWN IS FOR
WHAT MA INSPIRES THEM ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF A TRANSFORMED
DOWNTOWN. WE TALKED TO LOTS OF
PEOPLE AND GROUPS ORGANIZATIONS
MANY OF WHOM ARE IN THE ROOM.
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP. WE
ALSO SURVEYED RESIDENTS. WE
HEARD THAT SAFETY IS ESSENTIAL
AND THE ACTIONST THE MAJOR JUST
ANNOUNCED IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP
TOWARDS REBUILDING CONFIDENCE
AND TRUST FOR SEATTLE AREA
RESIDENTS, WORKER AND VISITORS.
AND IN THEIR OWN WORDS, WE HEAR
FROM PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS
THAT SAFETY AND HEALTH IS
TOPMOST PRIORITY WHEN THINKING
ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN.
OUR DOWNTOWN NEIGHBOR AND
RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALSO WAN
TO EXPERIENCE MORE. THEY WANT
MORE DIVERSE SMALL BUSINESSES
AND THEY WANT MORE AFFORDABLE
ARTS CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT
EXPERIENCES AND WE'VE HEARD VER
LOUDLY WAS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO
BRING THEIR FAMILIES DOWNTOWN.
THEY WANT MORE FAMILY-ORIENTED
ACTIVITIES. SO OVERALL, WE HEAR
THAT YES, PEOPLE HAVE LEGITIMAT
CONCERNS ABOUT WHERE DOWNTOWN I
NOW BUT A MAJORITY ARE VERY
EXCITED ABOUT IT FUTURE. THE
MEET THE ASPIRATIONS WE'VE BEEN
WORKING CLOSE CONCERT WITH OTHE
CITY DEPARTMENTS AS THE SUCCESS
OF THIS PLAN REQUIRES THE CITY
TO TAKE A ONE SEATTLE APPROACH
WHERE WE DEVELOP IDEAS ACROSS
THE DEPARTMENTS AND BREAK DOWN
SILOS TO MAKE OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT MORE CREATIVE AND
MORE EFFECTIVE. I REALLY WANT T
THANK ALL THE DIRECTORS AND
THEIR TEAMS WHO HAVE BEEN
INVESTING SO MUCH TIME AND
ENERGY AND EFFORT INTO THIS
PLANNING EFFORT. SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ALSO RECOGNIZE THIS
PLAN REQUIRES A PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND
PHILANTHROPIC SECTORS. WE NEED
BUY IN FROM THE WHOLE CITY TO
MAKE THIS WORK. WE'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH SELECT GROUPS TO
DEVELOP THESE IDEAS AND ARE
EXCITED TO DO MORE WORK AND
COLLABORATION WITH DIFFERENT AN
DIVERSE GROUPS INTO THE FUTURE.
WE ALSO KNOW HA REVITALIZING
DOWNTOWN IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM
AND THAT NO SINGLE ACTION WILL
SOLVE IT. IT'S NOT ONE THING AN
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN QUICKL
NECESSARILY. IT IS GOING TO BE
COLLECTION OF ACTIONS DONE OVER
CONTINUUM OF TIME. AND SO WE
HAVE THREE ELEMENTS TO FOCUS ON
WE HAVE THE IMMEDIATE BOLD
ACTIONS THAT WE'LL BE
IMPLEMENTING NOW. WE'VE GOT
ACTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE OVER
THE NEXT THREE YEARS. AND THEN
WE'VE GOT TRANSFORMATIVE IDEAS
FOR THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN WELL
INTO THE FUTURE. SO RIGHT NOW
I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH
SOME OF THE KEY IMMEDIATE
ACTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE
ROLLING OUT WITH DETAILS ABS
SOME OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS
COMING IN FUTURE WEEKS. THE GOO
NEWS IS WE HAVE A LOT TO LOOK
FORWARD TO COMING UP IN THE
SUMMER. WE HAVE THE MLB ALL-STA
GAME COMING AND WE HAVE THE
COOPERATION CONFERENCE WITH ASI
PACIFIC AND MANY OTHER EVENTS
AND WE REALLY WANT TO BE SURE
THAT WE TAKE ACTION NOW TO PUT
OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD AND REALL
SURF THE WAVE OF CROWDS COMING
INTO SEATTLE ALL THROUGH THE
SUMMER. FIRST AS WE'VE MENTIONE
IT STARTS WITH ADDRESSING PUBLI
HEALTH AND SAFETY THE MAYOR'S
EXECUTIVE ORDER ON SYNTHETIC
DRUG USE. BUT FOR THE OTHER
BUCKETS FOR OUR NEAR TERM
EFFORTS THREE CATEGORIES.
FILLING VACANT STORE FRONTS AND
CLEANING AND BEAUTYING DOWNTOWN
AND ACTIVATING SPACES. WE'VE
BEEN DOING THE PROGRAMCALLED
SEATTLE RESTORED WHICH SO FAR
HAS RESTORED 93 STORE FRONTS AN
WE'RE EXCITED TO ACTIVATE UP TO
30 STORE FRONTS OVER THE SUMMER
THANK YOU TO CHRISTINA FOR
HOSTING US. THIS IS A LOVELY
SPACE AND PART OF THE SEATTLE
RESTORED. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FO
THINGS TO DO, JUST GO TO
SALTRESTORED.COM AND FIND ALL
THE LOVELY ACT VISES, REALLY FU
TO GO SEE. TO BEAUTIFY AND
ENHANCE THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMEN
ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL THE
APPROVE THE TEN YEAR EXTENSION
OF THE TEN YEAR PROGRAM AND ALS
ANNOUNCING IN ADDITION TO THAT
ONE TIME CONTRIBUTION TO
SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND CLEANING
SERVICES THIS YEAR. WE RECOGNIZ
NOT ALL PARTS OF THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION ZONE, AGAIN THERE'S
AN EASEL WITH THE FULL MAP IF
YOU ARE A VISUAL LEARNER. NOT
ALL PARTS OF THE DAP ZONE ARE
INCLUDED AND WE'RE ALSO GOING T
BE FUNDING NEW TRASH AND LITTER
REMOVAL AS WELL AS GRAFFITI
ABATEMENT REMOVAL SERVICES
FOCUSING ON CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. [
APPLAUSE ] WE ALSO KNOW THAT
LIGHTING IS A KEY PART OF
PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO
THEIR FEELING SAFE AND WE'RE
GOING TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING
STREET AND SIDEWALK LIGHTING IN
AREA OF DOWNTOWN ESPECIALLY
WHERE CRIME AND DISRDER ARE
CONCENTRATED. ALSO VERY EXCITED
TO BE PARTNERING WITH OUR ARTS
DEPARTMENTS. AS THEY'RE GOING T
BE WORKING WITH LOCAL ARTISTS T
PAINT NEW MURALS THROUGH THE
SPATIAL JUSTICE THROUGH STREET
ART PROGRAM BRINGING MORE LIGHT
AND COLOR DOWNTOWN. AS THE MAYO
SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ON
SEATTLE DAY OF SERVICE ON MAY
20th. EVERY SEATTLE PERSON THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE WHOLE CITY EFFORT TO IMPROV
DOWNTOWN. LOTS OF PROJECTS THAT
ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING
DOWNTOWN SO IF YOU HAVE NOT SIG
UP TODAY. SO AS PART OF
ACTIVATING OUR PUBLIC SPACES I'
EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE REOPENING CITY HALL
PARK ON JUNE 15th. WITH NEW
PROGRAMMING, SAFETY, LIGHTING
ENHANCEMENTS, SECURITY, AND
ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO DRAW
PEOPLE INTO THE PARK INCLUDING
MOVIE DAYS AND JUMBO CHESS
BOARD, CONCERTS AND FOOD TRUCKS
AND MORE. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE
REALLY EXCITING. [ APPLAUSE ]
ADDITIONALLY, WE'LL BE ENHANCIN
PUBLIC SPACES BY INSTALLING A
NETWORK OF KIOSKS, DIGITAL ONES
DOWNTOWN WITH PROGRAMMING LIKE
WAY FINDING TO HELP PEDESTRIANS
NAVIGATE AROUND DOWNTOWN. ALSO
ENCOURAGING MORE FREQUENT
CLOSINGS OF DOWNTOWN STREETS FO
POTENTIAL EVENTS SUCH AS PERHAP
ON STREET PICKLEBALL
TOURNAMENTS. FIRST THURSDAY ART
WALK AND STREET FESTIVALS AND
MUSIC CONCERTS. WE'RE ALSO GOIN
TO BE INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR FOOD TRUCK OPERATORS AND
POP-UP VENDORS TO ESTABLISH A
PRESENCE DOWNTOWN BY WAIVING
STREET USE PERMIT TREES AND ALS
GOING TO BE REQUESTING OF THE
WASHINGTON STATE LIQUOR AND
CANNABIS BOARD TO ISSUE SIP AND
STROLL PERMITS PARTICULARLY FOR
FIRST THURSDAY ART WALK SO
PATRONS CAN CARRY A BEVERAGE
FROM GALLERY TO GALLERY AS THEY
WALK. FINALLY EXTENDING THE
SOUND TRANSIT TUNNEL WITH
BUSKERS AND TRYING TO IMPROVE
THE LIFE UNDER THE STREETS AS
WELL AS ON TOP OF THE STREETS.
THAT KIND OF COVERS WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE DOING FOR FILLING
STORE FRONTS AND CLEANING AND
BEAUTIFYING DOWNTOWN AND
ACTIVATING PUBLIC SPACES IN
ADDITION TO ADDRESSING PUBLIC
SAFETY THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER. BUT AS I MENTIONED,
THERE'S A CONTINUUM OF ACTIONS
HERE AND WE DON'T WANT TO JUST
FOCUS ON THE NEAR TERM. THINK
MIDTERM AND LONG-TERM. WE HAVE
THE REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY T
TRANSFORM DOWNTOWN AND MAKE IT
DISTRICT FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
AND INCUBATOR FOR DIVERSE SMALL
BUSINESSES AND A UNIQUESOME
GATHERING PLACE. I DID WANT TO
GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES O
WHERE WE'RE GOING. SOMETHING
THAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IS UP
ZONING SELECT BLOCKS IN THE
RETAIL CORE FOR HIGH-RISE
RESIDENTIAL TOWERS WITH
SIGNIFICANT INCENTIVES TO
INCLUDE CHILD CARE AND EDUCATIO
FACILITIES. PRIMARILY INTENDED
TO CREATE SPACE FOR FUTURE
DOWNOWN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY OR
K-8 SCHOOLS. REALLY TRANSFORMIN
DOWNTOWN INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALSO HAVE LEGISLATION PROPOSING
ZONING CHANGES IFER INDUSTRIAL
MARITIME LANDS TO COUNCIL TO
HELP STIMULATE THE CREATION OF
30,000 NEW FAMILY WAGE JOBS AND
APPROXIMATELY 3,000 NEW HOUSING
UNITS. THIS IS ALSO GOING TO
TRANSFORM THE STADIUM DISTRICT
AND UNLOCK ADDITIONAL HOTEL AND
ENTERTAINMENT AND RESTAURANT AN
BAR DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS REALLY
EXCITING. SO I RECOGNIZE THIS A
LONG LIST OF ACTIONS AND IT'S
CERTAINLY EMPHASIZING SOME OF
THE IMMEDIATE STUFF THAT WE'RE
WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. BUT I WAN
TO COME BACK TO THE
OVERAVERAGING PURPOSE OF THIS
PLAN. IT'S TO BRING PEOPLE
DOWNTOWN. WE BELIEVE THAT BY
ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY AND
FILLING VIE CANT STORE FRONTS
AND CLEANING AND BEAUTYING AND
ACTIVATING THE PUBLIC SPACES, W
CAN MAKE DOWNTOWN MORE WELCOMIN
AND INVITING RIGHT NOW. BUT THI
IS NOT TO SAY THAT WE THINK
THAT'S ENOUGH. WE KNOW THAT
THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE. WE NEE
TO DO MORE, WE NEED TO DREAM
MORE. AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED
TO BE ANNOUNCING MORE OF THE
PLAN TO COME. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT MOMENT BOTH FOR
DOWNTOWN'S HISTORY BUT ALSO FOR
ITS FUTURE AND THE WITH THE
MAYOR'S PLAN WE INTEND TO BRING
NEW THINKING AND NEW
COORDINATION AND NEW PEOPLE TO
HELP DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ACHIEVE
THE PROMISE FOR NOW AND FOR THE
FUTURE. REALLY AT ITS CORE, THE
MESSAGE I WANT TO COMMUNICATE I
THAT NONE OF THIS WILL HAPPEN I
YOU AREN'T A PART OF IT BECAUSE
DOWNTOWN IS FOR YOU. THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, MARKHAM. WE'RE
GOING TO -- I'D LIKE TO
INTRODUCE REINTRODUCE
COUNCILMEMBER SARAH NELSON WHO
WE ARE -- WE LOOK FORWARD TO HE
TALKING ABOUT IN THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER PART SOME OF THE
CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM A
BUSINESS STANDPOINT. I MEAN,
MANY OF YOU KNOW SHE IS
EXTREMELY EXPERIENCED IN SMALL
BUSINESS. SMALL BUSINESSES. AND
WE -- LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING
THAT SKILLSET ON THE COUNCIL
ALWAYS LOOKING AT IT THROUGH TH
EYES OF A SMALL BUSINESS. I
PRESENT TO YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SARA NELSON. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR HARRELL.
THANK YOU MARKHAM. I'M SARA
NELSON. I CAN TELL YOU THE
IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS WILL
DIRECTLY BENEFIT SMALL
BUSINESSES. DOWNTOWN. [ APPLAUS
] AND YOU CAN COUNT ON MY FULL
SUPPORT ON THEIR IMPLEMENTATION
AND WHATEVER ELSE IS TO COME. S
I COULD TALK ABOUT SMALL
BUSINESSES AND MAKING DOWNTOWN
MORE LIVABLE AND PROSPEROUS AND
FUN ALL DAY BUT I'M HERE TO TAL
ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER. AND
DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME SO
I'LL JUST GET TO IT. SO
YESTERDAY, A STORY IN THE TIMES
QUOTED A 27-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO HA
BEEN CONNECTED TO HOUSING BUT
PREFERRED LIVING ON 3rd AVENUE.
AND AS SAYING LET'S SEE, AS
SAYING, MY ADDICTION LEADS ME T
JUST STAY OUT HERE. AND THAT'S
EVIDENCE OF WHAT WE ALREADY
KNOW. THAT ADDICTION IS BOTH
CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE OF CHRONI
HOMELESSNESS AND MEANWHILE, MOR
AND MORE PEOPLE ARE DYING EVERY
DAY. SO -- THAT'S JUST A REALIT
HERE AND SO LAST YEAR, I CALLED
ON THE EXECUTIVE TO PUT FORWARD
A PLAN TO BROADEN OUR APPROACH
TO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND
ALSO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THE
SERVICES, THE TREATMENT SERVICE
THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. AND
BECAUSE IT WAS APPARENT TOME
THAT WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION
TO STEP OPPOSER EFFORTS AND TRY
SOMETHING NEW. [ APPLAUSE ] AND
THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER SPEAKS TO
THAT URGENCY. SO IT'S -- LIKE
YOU SAID, IT IS -- IT'S A LOT O
LITTLE STEPS AND IT'S A LOT OF
SMALL ACTIONS BUT I WANT TO
FOCUS ON ONE ASPECT OF THIS AND
THIS IS THE CONTINGENCY
MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM. THIS
PROGRAM, THIS METHOD, IS A
PROVEN METHOD THAT REWARDS
PEOPLE WHO FOR STAYING SOBER.
AND WHO WANT TO GET ON THE PATH
TO RECOVERY. I'LL SAY THAT AGAI
MORE ARTICULATELY. CONTINGENCY
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REWARDS
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAY SOBER
AND GET ON A PATH TO LONG-TERM
RECOVERY. NO MATTER WHAT THEIR
ADDICTION. SO IT COULD BE
FENTANYL. IT COULD BE ANYTHING.
AND THAT IS -- THAT IS WHAT I
THINK IS INNOVATIVE ABOUT THIS
APPROACH. SO THAT IS INNOVATIVE
AND THAT'S DEFINITELY NEW. AND
THIS IS WHAT I'M PARTICULARLY
INTERESTED IN IN THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER AMONG ALL OTHER THINGS. S
-- THIS IS PERSONAL FOR ME.
BECAUSE I -- IF I HADN'T SOUGHT
RECOVERY THROUGH IN-PATIENT
TREATMENT, I WOULD NOT BE
STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW. [
APPLAUSE ] AND -- I'M NOT -- AN
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT
EVERYBODY DESERVES THE SAME
CHANCE TO GET WELL. AND SO
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
HERE. WE HAVE GOT TO STABILIZE
PEOPLE. AND INSENT RISE RECOVER
AND ALSO EXPAND SERVICES AND
REMOVE BARRIERS TO REHAB SO THA
IF PEOPLE WANT TO GET AND STAY
CLEAN, THEY CAN. AND SO -- [
APPLAUSE ] WHAT I REALLY WANT
TO -- WHAT I MOST WANT TO SAY I
THIS GIVES ME HOPE AND THANK YO
VERY MUCH, MAYOR HARRELL. AND
EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE FOR THIS
EXECUTIVE ORDER.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. I ALWAYS THINK IT'S VER
BEAUTIFUL WHEN A PERSON PULLS
UPON THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES TO
DRIVE CHANGE AND I THINK --
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM JESSIC
AND ERICA AND THAT'S WHAT THEY
ARE DOING. THEIR CREATIVE IN
MAKING SEATTLE VIBRANT IN THEIR
STORE, THE RIVER, WHERE AGAIN
ONE IS A CURATOR AND THE OTHER
ONE IS LOOKING AT AGAIN, THEIR
LIFE EXPERIENCES AND SHOWING IT
IN PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. SO
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM JESSIC
AND ERICA. I DON'T KNOW THE
ORDER. BUT YOU BOTH CAN COME UP
AND -- DO YOUR THING. THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU. HELLO EVERYONE.
THIS IS -- IT'S A BIT SURREAL A
I'M STANDING UP THERE REALIZING
THAT DAYS LIKE THIS HAVE
DIRECTLY IMPACTED ME. AND IT'S
REALLY EASY TO BE ON THE OUTSID
OF IT. AND NOT SEE THAT YOU GUY
ARE ACTUALLY MEETING AND DOING
ALL OF THESE THINGS FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES LIKE MINE. SO I JUST
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR -- [
APPLAUSE ] I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCI
TEAM FOR GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY
AND HAVING -- CREATING SPACE FO
WOMEN LIKE US TO BE IN THIS
ROOM. AND TO BE UP HERE
SPEAKING. THAT'S -- HUGE. I'D
ALSO LIKE TO THANK CHRISTINA
CAPALONG AGAIN. GREAT FRIEND OF
MINE. A LEADER. AND A FELLOW
ENTREPRENEUR. MY NAME IS ERICA
VASQUEZ. OWNER AND CURATOR OF
FRIDAY VINTAGE AND A CO-OWNER O
RIVER. SORRY. A LITTLE BIT OF -
WE'RE HERE TODAY AS GRATEFUL
PARTICIPANTS OF THIS SEATTLE
RESTORED PROGRAM. RIVER IS AN
EVENT VENUE AVAILABLE TO RENT
FOR ANY PURPOSE. OUR TAG LINE I
THAT WE'RE AN EVENT SPACE WITH
CRUSH ON CREATIVES. AS WE
SPECIFICALLY WANT TO PLATFORM
LOCAL CREATIVES. WE'RE CALLED
RIVER BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE A
DROP IN THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF
SUCCESS FOR ALL OF THESE
ARTISTS. WE'VE HELD NIGHT
MARKETS CONCERTS AND SHOWS,
WORKSHOPS AND ART SHOWS. OUR
ACTIVISM AND PUPPY YOGA. SHALL
BE NOTED. I PERSONALLY BELIEVE
SEATTLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF A
REBIRTH. AND IT'S UP TO US TO
CULTIVATE THE FOUNDATION IN
WHICH IT STANDS ON MOVING
FORWARD. WITH THIS IN MIND, I'M
-- OFTEN CONVICTED TO DO WHAT I
CAN WITH WHAT I HAVE. AND
SEATTLE RESTORED HAS BEEN A KEY
IN EQUIPPING US TO DO JUST THAT
WE'VE BEEN -- WE HAVE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THAT RIVER
HAS HAD ON FELLOW SMALL BUSINES
OWNERS AND CREATIVES. AND WE'LL
CONTINUE TO PUT OUR ALL INTO IT
AS LONG AS THIS PROGRAM IS HERE
WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF
CULTIVATING AND CREATING A SAFE
SPACE FOR ARTS, CULTURE AND
ENTERTAINMENT. MAKING THESE
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. I BELIEVE
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK
ABOUT HOW WE CAN EQUIP, TRAIN,
AND GUIDE THESE BUSINESS OWNERS
INTO SUCCESS AND REVENUE THAT
WILL ONLY HELP ELEVATE OUR CITY
THE SEATTLE RESTORE PROGRAM IS
GIFT. THE QUESTION IS NOW, HOW
DO WE EQUIP AND SUPPORT THESE
BUSINESS OWNERS FOR THE GROWTH
AND SUCCESS OF OUR CITY?
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, ILL KEEP
THIS SHORT AND SWEET. MY NAME I
JESSICA ALSO CO-OWNER OF RIVER
AND I WANTED TO JUST SHARE A
COUPLE OF STORIES YOU KNOW. IN
2020 I THINK ALL OF US CAN
REMEMBER JUST DRIVING DOWN THE
DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR. AND
EVERYTHING WAS BOARDED UP AND
NOBODY WAS HERE, IT FELTLIKE A
GHOST TOWN AND DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
OUR CITY THAT WE HAD GROWN TO
LOVE. I REMEMBER THE CITY
ACTUALLY -- I THINK PARTNERED
WITH SHAUN PIKE ALSO A PARTNER
WITH SEATTLE RESTORED. TO --
HIRE ARTISTS TO BEAUTIFY THESE
BOARDED UP WINDOWS. AND IT'S --
IT'S IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A SMALL
ACT. BUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, AND
I HOPE MANY OF YOU CAN RELATE T
THIS, DRIVING THROUGH DOWNTOWN
AGAIN AND SEEING THE LIFE COME
BACK THROUGH THE EXPRESSION OF
THE ARTS, AND COLOR, WAS JUST -
IT GAVE ME HOPE. THAT WE WERE
GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS AND
WE'RE STILL HERE. AND I ALSO
JUST WANTED TO YOU KNOW, TIE
THAT INTO NOW WHEN YOU WALK OR
DRIVE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, YOU WIL
SEE SEATTLE RESTORED DECALS ALL
OVER THE WINDOWS. RIGHT? SO
THEY'RE ACTIVATING EMPTY STORE
FRONTS AND WINDOWS WITH ART AND
WITH CREATIVE BUSINESSES, AND
IT'S JUST FEELING LIKE OUR CITY
IS COMING ALIVE AGAIN. THIS IS
THE NEXT STEP IN ALL OF THAT.
AND I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. [
LAUGHTER ] GIVE ME ONE SECOND.
SIMILAR TO HOW AFTER THE BLACK
PLAGUE, THE RENAISSANCE WAS
BIRTHED. AALONG WITH ERICA I
REALLY BELIEVE WE'RE ENTERING I
ANOTHER RENAISSANCE ERA COMING
OUT OF COVID. AND CREATIVES ARE
ALWAYS ON THE FRONT LINES OF
REVOLUTION AND CHANGE. AND
THEY'RE BRINGING IN NEW TYPES O
THINKING, EXPRESSION, IDEAS, AN
THAT IS SO CRUCIAL TO SOCIETY.
AND I'M SO EXCITED AND PROUD TO
BE A PART OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. AND THE SEATTLE
RESTORED PROGRAM. BECAUSE THE
WAY THE CITY PARTNERS WITH
CREATIVES IS UNLIKE ANYTHING I
HAVE EVER SEEN AND I WANT TO
JUST COMMEND AND HONOR THE
CITY'S EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE
EFFORTS TO BRING OPPORTUNITY AN
BREAKTHROUGH TO CREATIVES IN TH
CITY. THEY REALLY HAVE -- YOU
KNOW, HELD OUT THEIR HAND TO US
CREATIVE AND HELPED US FIND OUR
FOOTING AND ARE REALLY JUST
LAUNCHING US OFF INTO THE NEXT
LEVEL OF OUR CAREERS SO MUCH
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU ERICA. AND
JESSICA. WHERE I GREW UP WHEN
PEOPLE LIKE THAT, SOMEONE SAYS
CAN I GET AN AMEN? THAT'S WHAT
THEY DO. SO WE'RE GOING TO OPEN
IT UP FOR A LITTLE Q&A. I'M
GOING TO ASK THAT YOU HELP ME
NAVIGATE THROUGH ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIAT
TIME. GO AHEAD JAMIE.
>> GO AHEAD ERICA. [ INAUDIBLE
QUESTION ]
>> YEAH. I'M GOING TO ASK BOTH
MY CHIEFS TO COME UP HERE
BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE A LITTLE
MORE OF AGRANULAR RESPONSE. IN
FACT, I MAY ASK ONE OF YOU TO -
ERICA, DO YOU MIND REPEATING TH
QUESTION?
>> YES -- [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION
AND HOW WILL IT BE YOU KNOW,
BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO PEOPLE WH
DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE HOSPITA
WHEN -- ORDINARILY WOULD WALK
AWAY? WHAT'S GOING TO GET THEM
THERE?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY
NAME IS HAROLD S COGGINS FIRE
CHIEF. THE HEALTH ONE PROGRAM
HAS BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE 2019.
THE FIREFIGHTERS AND CASE
MANAGERS DO INCREDIBLE WORK IN
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. AND
REALLY THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL
ABOUT. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO B
ADDING ON THE STREET IS WHEN A
PERSON HAS AN OVERDOSE, NOT ONL
911 IS CALLED AND WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN NOW IS HEALTH ONE IS
ALSO GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT
OVERDOSE BUT HEALTH ONE COMES
WITH CASE MANAGERS AND
FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE TRAINED
DIFFERENTLY. TO ACTUALLY TALK T
FOLKS AND REALLY EXPLAIN THE
RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO
THEM. SO WHEN THE FIRE UNITS
LEAF, THE POLICE UNITS LEAVE,
HEALTH ONE WILL STILL BE ON THE
SCENE AND THEY'RE GOING TO OFFE
UP ALL THE RESOURCES, NOT JUST
THE DAY OF. THEY'RE GOING TO
CHECK IN THE DAY AFTER. THE DAY
AFTER. JUST LIKE WE DO CASE
MANAGEMENT FOR PEOPLE IN CRISIS
WHERE PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS AND S
MANY OTHER THINGS. SO OUR GOAL
IS TO OFFER THE RESOURCES AND
GET THEM TO WHERE THEY NEED TO
BE. AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS CAN BE
PRETTY PERSISTENT IN GETTING
PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
>> WILL THIS BE STAFFED LIKE
SERVICE WORKERS OR ORGANIZATION
AROUND THE CITY?
>> I'LL TAKE THAT. SO -- I THIN
JUST TO BE CLEAR, SO THOSE
FOLLOWING THE ISSUE, I SAID IN
MY PREPARED REMARKS, THAT WE'RE
GOING TO CITE, EXPLORE FUNDING
FOR AND WORK WITH PUBLIC HEALTH
PARTNERS TO ACCOMPLISH A POST
OVERDOSE DIVERSE FACILITY WHERE
PEOPLE CAN BE BROUGHT AFTER
NONFATAL OVERDOSES TO RECOVER
AND GET STABILIZED WITH
MEDICATION AND ACCESS RESOURCES
SO FULL DISCLOSURE. HOW IT'S
STAFFED AND HOW WE FUND IT,
THAT'S THE WORK WE'RE TRYING TO
DO NOW. BECAUSE IN LOOKING AT
THE NUMBERS OF FATALITIES AND
OVERDOSES, WE REALIZED THAT IS
SORT OF A GAP IN THE TREATMENT
SCENARIO. THAT'S THE WORK WE'RE
-- I CAN'T ANSWER SPECIFICALLY
ON HOW SPECIFICALLY IT WILL BE
STAFFED BUT IT'S A GOOD
QUESTION. SO THANK YOU. [
INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> YEAH. SO -- WE WANT TO TAKE
IT AGAIN, CHIEF?
>> SURE. [ LAUGHTER ]
ABSOLUTELY. SO MANY OF YOU KNOW
WE HAVE THREE HEALTH ONE UNITS
ON THE STREET RIGHT NOW. AND WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD OVER THE
LAST YEAR TO GET OUR STAFFING T
WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. OREXISING
HEALTH ONE UNITS ARE GOING TO
TAKE ON THIS WORK. AND THIS IS
GOING TO BE ANOTHER THING THAT
THEY CAN PROVIDE. SO WE'RE USED
TO THAT. WE'RE OUT IN THE
STREETS EVERY DAY AND WE'RE OUT
IN THE FIELD EVERY DAY. SO IT'S
NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING WHILE WE
RUN THE PILOT. WE WANT TO GET
THREE TO SIX MONTHS WORTH OF
INFORMATION AND WE'LL BE ABLE T
BRING THAT BACK TO THE MAYOR.
>> ON THE -- [ INAUDIBLE
QUESTION ]
>> RESPOND TO THE MID FUNDING
COMPONENT OF YOUR QUESTION.
>> SURE, SO THERE'S A -- RENEWA
FEE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT THAT'S AT COUNCIL RIGH
NOW THAT WOULD BE FOR THE TEN
YEARS AND FOR THE SHORT TERM
REALLOCATING THE FEDERAL
RECOVERY FUNDS FOR THE ONE-TIME
INVESTMENT INTO EXPANDED
CLEANING SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU. NO.
>> ASHLEY AND THEN SPICE? [
INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> SURE. WHAT I'M HEARING IN
YOUR QUESTION IS SAFE
CONSUMPTION SITES AND SO REACT
TO THAT. SO -- FIRST OF ALL, WE
ARE -- WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT
WHERE IT'S WORKING AND WHERE
IT'S NOT. AND I THINK WE LOOKED
AT SAN FRANCISCO WHERE I DON'T
THINK IT WAS WORKING NEARLY AS
OPTIMAL AS THEY WERE HOPING IT
WOULD. AND SO WORKING AGAIN WIT
OUR HEALTH PARTNERS WE JUST
CONTINUED TO EXPLORE IT. I HAVE
BEEN ON RECORD FOR SUPPORTING
IT. BUT I THINK THAT ONE MEANS
TO TREAT PEOPLE OR TO GET THEM
NUMBER ONE, IN AN AREA WHERE WE
CAN CONVERSE AND HAVE
CONVERSATIONS AND HAVE IT
SOMEWHAT CENTRALIZED BUT MAKE
SURE THAT IF THEIR SAFETY TO BE
-- TO COW IN THIS KIND OF
ACTIVITY, THAT WE CAN HELP THEM
WITH THAT. NOT SO MUCH SO WE'RE
ENABLING IT, BUT WE'RE TREATING
IT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS I
THAT I DON'T KNOW IF ALL THE
DATA IS IN ON WHETHER SAFE
CONSUMPTION SITES WORK OR NOT.
SO -- THAT'S NOT PART OF OUR
PLAN RIGHT NOW. WE'RE KEEPING
THE LINES OPEN SO TO SPEAK AND
WE'RE LOOKING WHAT THE THE STAT
AND WHAT THE COUNTY WILL DO IN
THIS REGARD AS WELL AND THAT'S
PART OF OUR DISCUSSION. IT'S NO
PART OF THE CURRENT PLAN BUT WE
HAVE NOT EXCLUDED IT OUT AS
POSSBILITY AND I DON'T KNOW IF
ANYBODY WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING T
THE SAFE CONSUMPTION SITES. BUT
I CONTINUE TO BE INTRIGUED BY
THE CONCEPT. BUT AGAIN, AND I'M
NOT ASKING YOU. BECAUSE I'M HER
FOR YOU TO ASK ME QUESTIONS. BU
I ASKED PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
WHERE IS IT WORKING EFFECTIVELY
IS IT AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY? AN
IF IT'S AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY
AND WE SEE PROVEN OUTCOMES, WE
WILL DO IT HERE, I WILL PUSH
FORWARD AND AGAIN OUR HEALTH
PARTNERS ARE STUDYING IT
PROBABLY MORE THAN WE ARE AS
WELL KNOWING THAT THEY'RE --
SORT OF EXPERTS IN THAT. AND DR
FLANAGAN, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING
TO ADD, I'D BE MORE THAN WILLIN
TO LISTEN BUT IT'S NOT PART OF
THE CURRENT PLAN RIGHT NOW. [
INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> YOU TALK ABOUT IT WORKING
WITH -- COMBAT ALCOHOLISM. JUST
SORT OF LIKES THIS LOCATION WE'
LIKE TO SET ASIDE FOR PEOPLE TO
BE ALLOWED TO DRINK AND SOMEONE
TO USE FENTANYL KIND OF THE --
CAN YOU SWEAR WHY ONE SUBSTANCE
IS SOMETHING -- ENCOURAGING USE
OF THAN THE OTHER ONE?
>> I'LL TALK ABOUT THE SIP AND
STROLL THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CRU
OF THE QUESTION. THAT IS NOT
DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE
ALCOHOLISM. OR THE ENCOURAGE
SOMEONE TO DRINK. IT'S MEANS TH
ACTIVATE AND WE REALIZE THAT IF
WE'RE ACTIVATING STREETS AND
CLOSING STREETS DOWN AND
BRINGING IN CULTURE AND ARTS AN
MUSIC, IT MAY BE IMPRACTICAL FO
THE PERSON THAT HAS A PERFECT
DRINK IN THEIR HAND AND WANTS T
SEE THE BUDDIES NEXT DOOR TO
HAVE TO POUR IT OUT OR GULP IT
DOWN AND WALK. WE THINK THIS CO
A MEANS THAT QUITE FRANKLY OTHE
CITIES HAVE DRIED. AND IT'S NOT
A -- I KNOW THIS PERSON RIGHT
HERE IS CRINGING ON WHAT I'M
ABOUT TO SAY. WHEN I STARTED
RIFFING ANSWERS LIKE THIS. BUT
WE THINK -- MARKHAM USED THE
WORD COOL. WE THINK IT COULD BE
A COOL PART OF SEATTLE WITHIN
REASON. WITHIN REGULATION.
WITHIN COMMON SENSE. AND SO
QUITE FRANKLY, THESE KINDS OF -
IDEAS. THEY'RE COMING FROM
BUSINESS OWNERS AND PEOPLE THAT
GO DOWNTOWN. AND SEEING WHAT
THEY LIKE TO MAKE IT MORE ACTIV
AND SO -- YOU KNOW, I SUPPOSE
SOMEONE COULD TRANSLATE IT THAT
WE'RE ENCOURAGING ALCOHOL USE.
WELL, WE'RE ENCOURAGING
VIBRANCY. AND ACTIVISM WITHIN
REASON. SO THAT'S JUST MY
REACTION. SO. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> LAST ONE. JONATHAN?
>> MAYOR -- [ INAUDIBLE QUESTIO
] I'M SORRY.
>> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU START. [
INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
>> WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING A
LOT OF OPERATIONS THAT ARE -- O
SORRY.
>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> YES, SO THE QUESTION IS IS
THAT IN HIS ENCOUNTERS, A LOT O
THE CURRENT PEOPLE THAT ARE
DISTRIBUTING SMALL TIME
DISTRIBUTION ARE CURRENTLY USER
AND REALLY JUST TRYING TO KEEP
AND MAINTAIN THEIR HABIT. WHAT
WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN FOCUSING ON
IS LARGE-SCALE DISTRIBUTION.
WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE
CARTELS SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE FEDERAL
PARTNERS AND ACTUALLY
IDENTIFYING THOSE PEOPLE AND
WE'VE RECOVERED ALMOST CLOSE YO
KNOW OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS,
ALMOST 4 MILLION PILLS WHICH IS
-- OBVIOUSLY ENOUGH TO KILL THI
ENTIRE CITY. BUT NOT ONLY JUST
WE ACTUALLY JUST RECOVERED 62
POUNDS OF METHAMPHETAMINES. AND
SO IT'S NOT JUSTIFIABLE NIL THA
IS ACTUALLY HITTING OUR
COMMUNITIES. IT IS OTHER DRUGS
THAT ARE STILL ALSO BEING A BIG
PRODUCT OF IT. AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS THE BIG TIM
DEALERS THAT ARE BRINGING IN TH
DISTRIBUTION AND TRYING TO PREY
AND HARM ON THE COMMUNITY. WE'R
HOPING WE CAN ACTUALLY SHORE UP
WITH THE STATE LEGISLATION, THE
BLAKE DECISION. AND THAT WILL
ALLOW US TO REALLY BE ABLE TO
FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE
INTO TREATMENT TO REDUCE DEMAND
AND THAT WILL ALSO BE ANOTHER
COMPONENT OF THIS LEVEL OF --
ENFORCEMENT BUT ALSO EDUCATIONA
STRATEGY AS WELL. [ INAUDIBLE
QUESTION ]
>> WHERE'S THE LINE? YOU KNOW,
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A FULL
LINE. I THINK THAT WE FIND THAT
BIG DISTRIBUTORS H COME IN AND
TARGET YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE
SMALLER PEOPLE. BUT WE DO
RECOVER SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW,
THE DEALERS AT THE LOCAL YOU
KNOW, STREET LEVEL. BUT MOST OF
THE TIMES THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY
RECOVERING LARGE-SCALES OF
NARCOTICS. OR HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND
THAT'S REALLY WROTE WE'RE
POUTING A LOT OF INVESTMENT IS
WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL
PARTNERS AND DOING A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT INVESTIGATIONAL SKILL
TO BE ABLE TO RECOVER LARGE
AMOUNTS OF DOPE. [ INAUDIBLE
QUESTION ]
>> GIVING AWAY NEEDLES, METH
PIPES, RUBBER BANDS, SO ON AND
SO FORTH, YET WE'VE SEEN A
RECORD NUMBER OF DRUG OVERDOSE
DEATHS. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS
STRATEGY NEEDS TO BE RETHOUGHT
AND ALSO HOW IT WILL HARM
REDUCTION AS IS BEING PART OF
YOUR NEW TREATMENT PROGRAM?
>> I GUESS I'LL RESPOND TO THE
QUESTION BY SAYING -- WHEN WE
PROVIDE SERVICES OR GIVE
PRODUCTS, OUR INTENT IS ALWAYS
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SAVE LIVES
THAT OUR NORTH STAR IS SAVING
LIVES AND REALIZING PEOPLE ARE
USING DRUGS ARE BASICALLY
KILLING THEMSELVES. AND RATHER
THAN SIT IDLY BY WHILE WE LOSE
PRECIOUS LIVES, WE WILL TRY TO
MAKE IT SAFER. AND THEREIN LIES
THE ABILITY TO DO OUTREACH. TO
TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO CHANGE
THEIR LIVES. TO GET THEM TO THE
EXPERT PROVIDERS AND SO AGAIN,
THE NUMBERS I THINK AND I WANT
TO -- BRING RECENT ATTENTION TO
SOME OF THE ARTICLES THAT ARE
COMING OUT IN THE MEDIA TODAY,
THEY'RE SEEING THE NUMBER OF --
THE AMOUNT OF DRUGS THAT HAVE
BEEN POURED INTO OUR
COMMUNITIES. AND SO WE WILL
CONTINUE A MULTIFACETED
STRATEGY. AS I SAID, WE WILL --
WE WILL LEAD WITH SAFETY. WE
WILL LEAD WITH EQUITY AND
REALIZING AGAIN, THAT THIS
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS
PEOPLE OF COLOR PARTICULARLY IN
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
AND NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
AND OTHER COMMUNITIES. WE'RE
TRYING TO MAKE IT SAFE. AND I
KNOW WE SUBJECT OURSELVES TO
CRITICISM BY SAYING WE CAN BE
ENABLING THE PROBLEM. I'LL TAKE
THAT CRITICISM IF IT MEANS
SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU
SOME BACKUP A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE --
>> I COULD USE IT. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> ABOUT SOME OF THE -- THE
QUESTIONS AROUND ENFORCEMENT OF
DISTRIBUTION LAWS AND ET CETERA
AND JUST SAY THAT YOU STARTED
YOUR SPEECH SAYING THAT WE ARE
NOT GOING TO BE EMBARRASSED I'M
PARAPHRASING BUT WE'RE NOT GOIN
TO BE EMBARRASSED TO RECOGNIZE
THAT FENTANYL IS KILLING PEOPLE
AND THERE IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT
COMPONENT TO THIS. SO IT'S NOT
NECESSARILY -- WE DON'T HAVE TO
REALLY DEFINE WHAT IS SMALL,
WHAT IS LARGE. BUT THIS IS --
THIS IS SHOWING SOME NEW RESOLV
AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.
AND I JUST -- I CAN'T RESIST BU
THE -- THERE WAS SOME STRUGGLE
AROUND -- I THINK THAT THE --
THERE'S A FALSE EQUIVALENCY
BETWEEN THE SIP AND STROLL IDEA
WHICH IS GREAT FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES. AND FOR DOWNTOWN
SPACES. AND -- CONSUMPTION SITE
FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS. AND SO ONE I
ILLEGAL. ONE IS NOT. AND SO I D
THINK -- I WANTED TO JUST
PROVIDE SOME -- JUST SOME
THOUGHTS COMING FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE ON THE WAYS IN WHIC
THE MAYOR'S PLAN IS DIFFERENT.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MEET PEOPLE
WHERE THEY'RE AT. AND WE CANNOT
GIVE UP ON THEM. THAT MEANS WE
HAVE TO -- WE HAVE TO BE BOLD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE HAVE TIME FOR TWO MORE
QUESTIONS. DOUG AND AJ. [
INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> IS THAT 30,000 UNITS THAT
MARKHAM MENTIONED IN OF HOUSING
IN ADDITION TO THE 30,000 --
JOBS? AND -- IS THAT UNDER
EXISTING ZONING OR ARE YOU
PROPOSING SORT OF A REZONING --
RESIDENTIAL TOWERS.
>> SURE, MARKHAM?
>> SO THERE ARE TWO THINGS WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT THERE. ONE
WAS UP ZONING IN THE RETAIL COR
WHICH WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING AN
THAT WOULD INCLUDE SOME
INCENTIVES AROUND CHILD CARE AN
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. THEN
SEPARATE TO THAT, THERE'S ZONIN
AROUND THE INDUSTRIAL AND
MARITIME LANDS AND IT WAS --
HOPING TO STIMULATE CREATION OF
30,000 FAMILY WAGE JOBS. AND
THEN 3,000 UNITS OF HOUSING
WITHIN THAT PARCEL. AND THEN
THAT DIRECTLY APPLIES TO THE
ZONE WITH THE STADIUM DISTRICT.
UNLOCKING POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND HOTEL AND
RESTAURANT AND BARS-TYPE STUFF.
WE ALSO HAVE A FACT SHEET THAT
THINK HAS MORE OF THE DETAILS I
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THEM.
>> AJ?
>> YEAH. SO -- I'M SORRY -- IF
IT'S TOO OBVIOUS. BUT --
APOLOGIES. BUT WHAT I'M HEARING
YOU GUYS SAY IS THAT THE BIG
PROBLEM DOWNTOWN 3rd IN THOSE
AREAS, IS SAFETY CONCERNS. AND
THAT COMES FROM CRIME, DRUG
RELATED, AND PROBLEMS WITH
ADDICTIONS, OVERDOSES. AND THE
PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT IS TO
ARREST DRUG DEALERS AND THEN TO
PROVIDE VOLUNTARY TREATMENT
SERVICES TO PEOPLE. LEAVING LIK
-- THEM WITH LIKE GIFT CARDS? I
THAT -- PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU
GUYS ARE SAYING?
>> NO.
>> NO, OKAY. THAT'S ALL -- TO
ADDRESS -- CRIME --
>> I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH
CHANNEL 21. AND THEN YOU WILL
CATCH -- 90% OF WHAT WE SAID.
YOU CAUGHT LIKE -- 10% OF IT AN
THAT WAS INCORRECT OR
INACCURATE. SO I COULD -- IN
FACT. LET'S JUST START IT ALL
OVER AGAIN. BECAUSE THAT
SIMPLIFIES IT IN A DISTORTED
WAY.
>> WHAT'S DIFFERENT?
>> YEAH.
>> VOLUNTARY SERVICES. THAT
SOUND LIKE THE SAME STUFF.
RIGHT?
>> AGAIN, THAT'S NOT WHAT WEE
SAID AND IT MIGHT BE WHAT YOU
HEARD THROUGHOUT -- HOW YOU ARE
LISTENING TO IT. LET ME RESPOND
TO YOUR QUESTION AND I DON'T
EVEN TAKE IT -- I'M NOT
DEFENSIVE TO THE QUESTION.
>> OKAY.
>> DON'T CONFUSE THE ORDER WITH
WHICH WE DESCRIBED THINGS IN IT
PRIORITY. I USE THE WORD
CALIBRATION. THAT UNDER OUR
ADMINISTRATION, WELL REALIZED
AND I SAID AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN
READ ABOUT PEOPLE DYING WITH
DRUGS, I NOSE THESE FAMILIES,
OKAY? MOST OF OUR STRATEGIES AR
AROUND PREVENTION, TREATMENT,
AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE
THAT IS ALL EMBEDDED IN OUR
FENTANYL EXECUTIVE ORDER. TO
MAKE SURE THAT I'M COORDINATING
WITH OUR COME COUNTY AND OUR
STATE PARTNERS AND LOOKING AT
FELLOW RESOURCES COMING UP WITH
BEST PRACTICES. LOOKING AT
ANYTHING THAT WORKS TO GET
PEOPLE IN TREATMENT. AND QUITE
FRANKLY, I THINK THERE'S AN
INTENSITY IN OUR EFFORTS THAT'S
UNPRECEDENTED. BUT I'M NOT GOIN
TO MINCE WORDS BY SAYING IF YOU
LOOK AT THE DATA OF DRUGS
POURING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, AND
HOW IT IS GOING ABOUT IT, THAT
AS THE MAYOR, I WILL HOLD THE
TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT HOW WE DO
ENFORCE THE EXISTING LAWS. THAT
IS AN ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY. AND
THAT'S THE CALIBRATION OF WHAT
-- THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND I
KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS
ROOM THAT QUITE FRANKLY WHEN
THEY SEE THE AMOUNT OF DRUGS,
THIS -- THE MATH INVOLVED OF TH
NUMBER OF DRUGS BEING TAKEN WHE
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRODUCTS
THAT ARE NOW -- $33 OR $34 TO
PURCHASE WITH A HIGH THAT MAY
LAST YOU KNOW, 20 OR 30 MINUTES
IT IS SO ADDICTING LIKE I SAID
THAT IT OVERCOMES THE
INVOLUNTARY IMPULSE TO BREATHE.
PEOPLE THAT ARE BRINGING THAT
INTO OUR COMMUNITY. THAT
EVERYONE IN HERE I BELIEVE LOVE
THAT WE HAVE TO ENFORCE THE
LAWS. THAT'S THE OTHER
CALIBRATION. NOW -- DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE, EVEN WITH PEOPLE
HEALING. AND EFFECTIVE AND
CONSTITUTIONAL ENFORCEMENT
STRATEGIES AND YOU KNOW, SIDE
NOTE THAT SOME OF THE FILINGS
THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY DONE IN
SEATTLE INDICATES THAT OUR USE
OF FORCE IS LESS THAN 1%. ON HO
WE GO ABOUT MAKING OUR ARRESTS.
NOW I MEET WITH POLICE OFFICERS
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK
THAT THEY ARE DOING. TO MAKE
SURE THAT WHEN WE MAKE ARRESTS,
WE'RE DOING IT LAWFULLY AND
CONSTITUTIONALLY. THAT'S KIND O
THE STRATEGY. BUT IN ADDITION T
THAT, WE HAVE -- WE HAVE THE
CREATIVE COMMUNITY AND I LOVE
THE NOTION THAT THIS IS A TIME
COMING INTO 2023 AND '24 WHEN
LET THE CREATIVE JUICES HELP
BUILD THE SEATTLE THAT WE WANT
TO BE AND WE HAVE VOICES THAT
OFTEN HAVE BEEN UNHEARD. IN OUR
-- THAT'S A BIG PART OF
ACTIVATION. WE WANT TO BE FUN.
FOR PEOPLE TO GO DOWNTOWN.
EXCITING. WE WANT TO GIVE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES AND NEW VOICES.
MAYBE YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT. BUT
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BIPOC
COMMUNITIES AS ONE EXAMPLE. WE
TALK ABOUT MAUL BUSINESSES AND
WE TALK ABOUT THE CREATIVE
CULTURE. I TALKED ABOUT MUSIC
AND ARTS. THAT'S TO MAKE -- A
PLACE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AN
ECONOMIC JOURNEY AND A PLACE TO
GO. SO MAYBE YOU CAN SIMPLIFY I
IN HOW YOU DID AND I -- I HEAR
YOU. BUT THE PROGRAM ON A
GRANULAR LEVEL WHEN MARKHAM
TALKED ABOUT ZONING LAWS AND UP
ZONING AND I TALK ABOUT BRINGIN
IN COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, IT ALL FITS
TOGETHER. SO TO SIMPLIFY IT IN
ONE OR TWO SENTENCES IT SORT OF
DOES THAT, SIMPLIFIES IT AND I
THINK IT MISSES THE POINT. SO I
THINK -- YOU GUYS -- YOU ALL
UNDERSTAND THE VISION. AND I
HOPE YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
VISION. YOU DON'T. YOU ARE STIL
SHAKING YOUR HEAD? OKAY, WELL,
THEN, YOU ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY
ONE IN THE ROOM THAT DOESN'T
UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE I SAW A
LOT OF HEADS NOTHING. BUT I'LL
BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MEET WITH
YOU OFFLINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
QUESTION, OKAY, ONE SEATTLE. YO
HELPING ME BUILD IT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]