2026-10-06 - Select Budget Committee

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] -- GOOD AFTERNOON. THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 1:24 P.M. OCTOBER 6th, 2025. I'M DAN STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE

ROLL? -- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. -- HERE. -- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. HERE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HERE. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HERE. COUNCILMEMBER LIN. --

HERE. -- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. HERE. CHAIR STRAUSS. -- HERE. -- SEVEN PRESENT. -- THANK YOU. AND FOR THOSE NOT PRESENT, THEY WILL BE EXCUSED. AND TO EVERYONE WAITING IN LINE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR

PATIENCE AND MY APOLOGIES FOR THE THE UNFORESEEN DELAY. WE WILL GET DOWN TO BUSINESS RIGHT NOW AND WE WILL BE HERE AS LONG AS YOU ARE HERE. THE ONLY ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND

SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. I'M GOING TO DO JUST A BRIEF REMARK ABOUT HOW THIS WILL WORK. WE WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S

SESSION WITH REMOTE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. ANYONE CAN SIGN UP UNTIL 3 P.M. AT 3 P.M. ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE. WE WILL NEED TO RECESS AROUND 4 P.M. OR SO. WE HOPE THAT WE WILL GET THROUGH EVERYONE

WHO'S SIGNED UP REMOTELY TO SPEAK BEFORE 4 P.M.. THAT BEING SAID, IF WE DON'T, THEN WE'LL JUST HOLD YOU OVER UNTIL FIVE, AT WHICH POINT WE'LL GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ONLINE AND IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.

IF WE GET THROUGH EVERYONE'S PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE 3 P.M., WE WILL COME BACK AT 3 P.M. TO HEAR ANYONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP BETWEEN THE END OF COMMENTS PROVIDED AND THE END OF REGISTRATION THEN, AT 5

P.M., WE WILL BEGIN IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT. SO IF YOU ARE HERE FOR THE IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU WILL SIGN UP AT 4:30 P.M. DOWN IN THE LOBBY. AND SO WE'LL DO THIS SESSION RIGHT NOW, AND THEN

WE'LL CLOSE THE VIRTUAL ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND WE WILL, FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON, YOU'LL LINE UP DOWN IN THE LOBBY, THEY'LL COME THROUGH WITH CLIPBOARDS AND HAVE YOU

SIGN UP WHILE YOU'RE IN LINE. AND IT'S AT 430 AT THE LATEST. IT COULD START AS EARLY AS FOUR, SO. SO SIGN UP OFFICIALLY STARTS AT 430. WE WILL CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 5 P.M. UNTIL EVERYONE IS

HEARD AGAIN. IF THERE ARE REMOTE, PUBLIC COMMENTERS WILL BE HERE OR IF THERE'S REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE'LL GO BACK AND FORTH FOR EVERYONE IN PERSON. WE'LL BE HERE AS LONG AS IT TAKES. REGARDLESS IF

YOU ARE REMOTE OR IN PERSON, YOU WILL RECEIVE ONE MINUTE 30s TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS THAT IF YOU ARE PART OF A GROUP OF THREE OR MORE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC, IN-PERSON PUBLIC

COMMENT AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMBINE YOUR TIME. GROUPS WILL RECEIVE FOUR MINUTES 30s TO GIVE THEIR COMMENTS, BUT PEOPLE IN THAT GROUP WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE SEPARATE INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THE

SAME IS TRUE IF YOU GIVE VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT IS YOU. YOU'RE NOT COMING THIS AFTERNOON IF YOU'RE COMING. SO IF YOU'RE SIGNED UP NOW BUT YOU WANT TO COME IN PERSON, CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER,

PLEASE. AND IF YOU WANT TO REVIEW THIS PROCESS IN DETAIL, THEY ARE LISTED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING, WHICH IS HERE AT THE FRONT. IT'S POSTED OUTSIDE AND IT'S ONLINE. WITH THAT, LET'S BEGIN. SO

CLERK, IF YOU CAN READ THE ONLY ITEM INTO THE RECORD AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS PRESENT WITH US AS WELL. -- EXCUSE ME. THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY'S 2027 GENERAL REVENUE SOURCES, INCLUDING A

POSSIBLE PROPERTY TAX LEVY, INCREASE IN THE MAYOR'S 2020 728 PROPOSED BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM -- WONDERFUL. SO WE'RE GOING TO GET IN EACH SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE MODERATED

IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED. YOU WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE REMAINING OF YOUR TIME. SPEAKERS. MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO

NOT END THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST. I'M GOING

TO CALL JUST IN GROUPS, SO FOLKS KNOW. FIRST, I'M GOING TO CALL OUT THE NAMES OF FOLKS WHO ARE NOT PRESENT ONLINE. MICHAEL HERSCHENSOHN, EMPEROR VON DOOM LEGIONNAIRES. KIMBERLY HARRELL, JOAQUIN OOI,

TERRY ANDERSON, ALEXANDER JOHNSON, KIMBERLY HILL. WE'RE GETTING A NUMBER OF THESE IN REPEATS. SO IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP ONLINE, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR THE INSTRUCTIONS. WITH THAT, OUR FIRST GROUP

OF SPEAKERS IS KATE RUBIN, FOLLOWED BY RYAN TAILLON, DENNIS SILLS, AMANDA FISHER, LIZ VIVIAN, CLIFFORD CAWTHORN. SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST. AND PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AS

YOU BEGIN. KATE, I SEE YOU'RE HERE STAR. -- AS A REMINDER. YES, YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR 69 ONCE SHE'S HEARD THAT SHE'S BEEN UNMUTED. THANK YOU. -- GREAT. -- MY NAME IS KATE RUBIN. I'M A RENTER IN

DISTRICT TWO, AND I'M THE CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE. IF THE CITY IS SERIOUS ABOUT IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY, KEEPING PEOPLE SAFELY AND STABLY HOUSED HAS TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL PRIORITY OF THIS

BUDGET. WE URGE YOU TO ADD A MINIMUM OF $500,000 FOR TENANT SERVICES, LEGAL AID, RENTER SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY AND RENTERS RIGHTS. EDUCATION HELPS PEOPLE RESOLVE HOUSING CRISES BEFORE THEY LOSE THEIR

HOMES. SEATTLE'S POPULATION IS MORE THAN HALF RENTERS. NATIVE AMERICAN, HISPANIC AND LATINO RENTERS FACE A DISPROPORTIONATE RISK OF EVICTION AND ARE OVERREPRESENTED AMONG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING

HOMELESSNESS. THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IS TO PREVENT IT. YET AS EVICTIONS REACH RECORD LEVELS AND THE COST OF PROVIDING THESE SERVICES CONTINUES TO RISE. THE PROPOSED BUDGET

INVESTS LESS IN TENANT SERVICES THAN WAS INVESTED IN 2023. SEATTLE CENTER PROTECTIONS ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS RENTERS ABILITY TO EXERCISE THEM, AND THE CITY'S ABILITY TO ENFORCE THEM. IN ADDITION TO

ADDING AT LEAST $500,000 FOR TENANT SERVICES, WE URGE YOU TO FULLY FUND THE NEW EXPANDED ENFORCEMENT TASKED WITH THE JUNK FEES BILL. ADOPT THE PROPOSED $11 INCREASE IN BIENNIAL RENTAL REGISTRATION

FEES WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTIONS OR CARVE OUTS. ONLY $0.46 PER MONTH. THAT'S A VERY MODEST REGULATORY COST OF DOING BUSINESS. WE ALSO SUPPORT REDIRECTING THE $30 MILLION SPENT ON SWEEPS TOWARD PERMANENT

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND CREATING SUSTAINABLE, PROGRESSIVE REVENUE TO ADDRESS OUR HOUSING CRISIS. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS RYAN TOWN, FOLLOWED BY DENNIS SILLS AND THEN AMANDA FISHER. RYAN, I

SEE YOU'RE HERE. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. THANKS. WELCOME -- HI THERE. MY NAME IS RYAN TALON. I'M A REGISTERED NURSE AT HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER AND I'M A RESIDENT OF CAPITOL HILL. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT

THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET AND ITS NINE GUARANTEES. AS A NURSE, I SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR BUDGET CHOICES EVERY SINGLE DAY. I CARE FOR PEOPLE IN CRISIS. CRISIS THAT ARE OFTEN THE RESULT OF A LACK OF

HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND ACCESSIBLE SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT. WE CANNOT TREAT OUR WAY OUT OF A PROBLEM THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT A LACK OF CARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL

INVESTMENTS WE CAN MAKE IS IN A CIVILIAN LED MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE. THE CARE PROGRAM IS A VITAL PART OF PUBLIC SAFETY. YET THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO PROHIBIT IT FROM DOING THE WORK

THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO. WE ARE USING VULNERABLE PEOPLE AS POLITICAL PAWNS TO MANUFACTURE A RELIANCE ON ARMED POLICE FOR NONVIOLENT CRISES. THIS IS NOT ONLY INHUMANE, IT IS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. I

URGE THE COUNCIL TO FUND THE 14 VACANT CARE POSITIONS. RESPONDING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS TEAM COST A FRACTION OF WHAT IT COSTS TO SEND AN ARMED OFFICER, AND THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR CIVILIAN

RESPONDERS CAN HELP PEOPLE IN CRISIS WITHOUT INJURY TO ANYONE INVOLVED. INVESTING IN CARE IS INVESTING IN SAFETY, AND I URGE YOU TO FUND THOSE 14 CARE POSITIONS AND MOVE SEATTLE TOWARDS A PUBLIC

SAFETY SYSTEM THAT TRULY MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU RYAN. UP NEXT IS DENNIS HILLS, FOLLOWED BY AMANDA D FISHER AND THEN LIZ VIVIAN. DENNIS, I SEE YOU'RE HERE. STAR.

WELCOME. TAKE IT AWAY. -- HI, MY NAME IS DENNIS HILLS WITH THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION. ON BEHALF OF DSA, MORE THAN 600 MEMBERS AND THE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. WE APPRECIATE MAYOR

WILSON'S APPROACH TO EXPAND CRITICAL SERVICES WHILE STREAMLINING AND MAKING SEATTLE MORE EFFICIENT. YOU WILL HEAR FROM MANY OF OUR AMBASSADORS LATER TODAY. WE SUPPORT 37 MILLION FOR SHELTER EXPANSION

IN THE 13% INCREASE IN SPD AND PUBLIC SAFETY. WE ALSO SUPPORT A $650,000 INVESTMENT TO EXPAND STREETS TO HOUSING ACROSS THE CITY. WE ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT AND CARE TEAM TO STRENGTHEN DOWNTOWN, GROW JOBS AND BROADEN OUR TAX BASE. ESSAY PUBLISHED A REPORT LAST WEEK THAT SHOWS SEATTLE LOST 18,000 JOBS BETWEEN 2024 AND 2025, CONTRIBUTING TO

VACANCIES, DECLINING COMMERCIAL VALUES AND HIGHER RESIDENTIAL TAX BURDENS. 70% OF JOBS WERE LOST IN OUR DOWNTOWN CORE. THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THAT SEATTLE IS AN OUTLIER RELATIVE TO OTHER CITIES IN OUR

REGION AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT GREW JOBS. A SEPARATE REPORT PUBLISHED MONDAY WITH THE CHAMBER HIGHLIGHTS OUR UNSUSTAINABLE RELIANCE ON A HANDFUL OF EMPLOYERS. THRIVING CITIES NEED CONFIDENCE IN

PUBLIC SAFETY, VIBRANCY, A BROAD TAX BASE AND PREDICTABLE TAXES. THIS BUDGET INVESTS MORE IN THESE KEY AREAS WHILE MOVING TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY AND LONG TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO

PARTNERING WITH EACH OF YOU ON THESE PRIORITIES. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. AND I SEE AMANDA FISHER IS ALREADY HERE AND ALREADY OFF MUTE. WELCOME, AMANDA. -- THANK YOU. HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS AMANDA

FISHER AND I AM CO-CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN D1, RESIDENT IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE

OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED 2027 BUDGET CUTS $26,500 FROM THE DISABILITY COMMISSION'S ACCESSIBILITY FUNDING. THIS FUNDING PROVIDES ESSENTIAL ACCOMMODATIONS THAT ALLOW COMMISSIONERS

WITH DISABILITIES TO FULLY PARTICIPATE AND HELP THE CITY MEET ITS LEGAL OBLIGATIONS. UNDER TITLE TWO OF THE ADA, WHICH REQUIRES STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO GIVE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AN EQUAL

OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM ALL PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDES SERVING ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. WHAT IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING IS THAT THIS DECISION WAS MADE WITHOUT CONSULTATION FROM THE DISABILITY

COMMISSION. I URGE COUNCIL TO WORK WITH OCR TO IDENTIFY COST SAVINGS OF $26,500 ELSEWHERE, WHILE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE DISABILITY COMMISSION ON HOW BEST TO MEET THEIR ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS.

ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT OPTIONAL IN CIVIC PARTICIPATION MUST BE EQUITABLE FOR ALL. NOT ONLY IS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IT'S THE LAW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE. -- THANK YOU. AND UP

NEXT IS LIZ VIVIAN, FOLLOWED BY CLIFFORD CAWTHORN AND THEN HOWARD GREENWICH AND LIZ. YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. WELCOME. HI -- HI. THANK YOU. THIS IS LIZ. VIVIAN, INTERIM EDDIE AT AURORA COMMONS TO

COMMENT ON THE BUDGET. ONE OF OUR PRIMARY OFFERINGS IS THE SAFE, HEALTHY, EMPOWERED OR SHE. WE RUN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EDISON. THE CITY HAS BEEN A PARTNER OF THE SHE CLINIC SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN

2018, AND TOGETHER WE'VE GIVEN MORE THAN 600 WOMEN QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE, TRAUMA INFORMED HEALTH CARE IN A SAFE SPACE THEY TRUST IN EACH OF THE LAST FOUR BIENNIUMS FUNDING FOR THE CLINIC AT AURORA

COMMONS HAS COME FROM A COUNCIL AD TO THE CITY BUDGET. WE ARE RESPECTFULLY ASKING THE SAME THIS YEAR, A $215,000 INVESTMENT. EACH OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS. SPECIAL THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR HER

LEADERSHIP ON MAKING THIS AMENDMENT. AND TO THOSE OF YOU CONSIDERING CO-SPONSORING TO ALL COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WITH A RESOUNDING YES TO FUND THE CLINIC. ALSO, I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH BUDGET

YEAR, BUT PLEASE DON'T BALANCE OUR REQUESTS BY TAKING AWAY FROM OTHER VITAL WORK. I AM EQUALLY HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOU TO FULLY FUND OUR SISTER ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO END HOMELESSNESS, COMMERCIAL

SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. MANY, MANY THANKS. -- THANK YOU LIZ. UP NEXT IS CLIFFORD CAWTHORN, FOLLOWED BY HOWARD GREENWICH AND THEN TINA BOUCHER. CLIFF, I SEE

YOU'RE HERE. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE AND YOU'RE OFF MUTE. WELCOME, MY FRIEND. -- THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD. IT'S GOOD TO HEAR YOU. MY NAME IS CLIFF COCHRAN. GOOD AFTERNOON, SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO

REPRESENT THE SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST HOUSING JUSTICE WORKING GROUP. TODAY. YOU MANY OF YOU KNOW ME FROM DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, BUT I'M HERE SPECIFICALLY TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE FULL FUNDING OF

TENANT SERVICES IN 2728 BIENNIAL CITY BUDGET, WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO AT LEAST ANOTHER 500,000. FOR TENANT SERVICES. SO, AS PROPOSED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET AND ADOPT A $11 RENTAL REGISTRATION INSPECTION

FEE WITHOUT EXCEPTION. WHILE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOESN'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT FOR PROFIT HOUSING DOES, DOES THIS MOSS COST WILL HELP TO STABILIZE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE INTERMEDIATE LONG RUN.

THOUSANDS OF SEATTLEITES OVERALL HAVE BEEN LAID OFF IN HOUSING PROVIDERS AND COUNSELORS HAVE INDICATED THAT EVICTIONS ARE PREDICTED TO INCREASE IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE WITHOUT HOUSING

STABILITY, SEATTLEITES WILL GO BACKWARDS IN TERMS OF OBTAINING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT TO MENTION EVER BEING ABLE TO OWN A HOME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE TENANT EDUCATION, SUPPORT AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.

STAYING HOUSED BE HARDER FOR SEATTLEITES IN A RACIAL, HOUSING AND HOMEOWNERSHIP GAPS WILL CONTINUE TO BE SPREAD ACROSS ALL ELIGIBLE UNITS. AT THE CURRENT LEVEL, WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS, AND ADDING 500,000

TENANT SERVICES. THE BUDGET WILL FUND SERVICES AT THE BARE MINIMUM, WHILE KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION IN ADDITIONAL COSTS. SEATTLE SEATTLE'S GROWTH IS FUELED BY PEOPLE, BY WORKERS, SO PLEASE FULLY FUND

TENANT SERVICES. -- THANK YOU CLIFF. UP NEXT IS HOWARD, AND YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. HOWARD, TAKE IT AWAY. -- GREAT. -- GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR STRAUSS AND COUNCIL. HOWARD. I'M THE RESEARCH DIRECTOR AT

PUGET SOUND. SAGE. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MAYOR WILSON'S PROPOSED EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. FUNDING OF $26 MILLION FOR BOTH 2027 AND 2028, AND AS YOU CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET PRIORITIES, I WANT TO

HIGHLIGHT AN UNDERRATED BENEFIT OF EDDIE EDDIE PROJECTS. PDA PROJECTS ARE INVESTMENTS IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES. PROJECTS LIKE EL CENTRO'S PLAZA DE MAESTAS, AFRICATOWN PLAZA INTERIMS, UNCLE BOB'S PLACE,

AND MANY MORE ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE CITY AND REGION FOR CULTURAL VALUE. SOCIAL GATHERING AND RECREATION. AND WITH PEOPLE GATHERING THEIR MONEY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SMALL

BUSINESS, NO MARKET RATE DEVELOPER BUILDS PLACES LIKE THESE. IT'S THE SAME REASON WHY PIKE PLACE MARKET IS SUCH A MASSIVE TOURIST DESTINATION. WHEN YOU TAKE THE PROFIT OUT OF LAND STEWARDSHIP

STEWARDSHIP, IT BECOMES TRANSFORMATIONAL. WE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED LEVEL OF SPENDING FOR EDDIE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS TINA BOUCHER, GERRY GERALD DAVIS AND THEN ALICE LOCKHART.

TINA, YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. WELCOME. -- THANK YOU. TINA. SO I FOUND MAYOR WILSON'S BUDGET A REFRESHING READ. SEATTLE'S BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARE SYSTEMS PROBLEMS. AND WE WILL NOT SOLVE THEM. BUDGETING

ONE DEPARTMENT AT A TIME. THE QUESTION SHOULD BE WHAT ARE THE CITYWIDE GOALS? WHERE IS THE CAPACITY INSUFFICIENT? WHERE IS THE SYSTEM GETTING STUCK? AND ARE WE INVESTING IN THE POINTS THAT WILL

ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WHOLE? HOMELESSNESS IS ONE EXAMPLE. IF WE HAD SHELTER BUT LACK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EXITS, PEOPLE

SIMPLY BACK UP AT THE NEXT POINT IN THE SYSTEM. PUBLIC SAFETY. ANOTHER POLICE, FIRE CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSE, PROSECUTION, FOLLOW UP SERVICES ALL PLAY DIFFERENT ROLES. BUT WHEN ONE PART LACKS

CAPACITY, THE PROBLEM DOES NOT DISAPPEAR. IT SHIFTS SOMEWHERE ELSE, OFTEN AT GREATER COST. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE AREAS AND EXAMPLES. SO THE BUDGET QUESTION CANNOT SIMPLY BE HOW MUCH EACH DEPARTMENT

OR PROGRAM RECEIVES. IT HAS TO BE WHAT CAPACITY ARE WE BUYING, WHERE THE BOTTLENECKS ARE, WHETHER THE PIECES ARE SIZED AND CONNECTED WELL ENOUGH TO PRODUCE RESULTS. IF WE DO NOT BUDGET THIS WAY, WE

RISK SPENDING MORE WHILE SIMPLY MOVING PRESSURE FROM ONE PART OF GOVERNMENT TO ANOTHER. WE NEED A BUDGET THAT STRENGTHENS SYMPTOMS, NOT JUST SILOS. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU TINA. UP NEXT IS BRUCE

HARRELL, FOLLOWED BY ALICE LOCKHART AND THEN BEATRIX KELLY. DARYL, YOU'RE HERE AND OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY. -- THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DARYL DAVIS AND I'M THE SENIOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

AT THE TUBMAN CENTER FOR HEALTH AND FREEDOM. I'M SPEAKING TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY INVEST $390,000 IN TUBMAN HEALTH AS A PART OF OUR 2027 BUDGET TO SUPPORT CONTINUITY OF CARE. THE FEDERAL RETREAT FROM

HEALTH CARE IS MOVING COSTS AND RESPONSIBILITY DOWNSTREAM, AND OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE THE ONES WHO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THIS GOVERNMENT HEALTH. WE SERVE BLACK LGBTQIA, AND MARGINALIZED

COMMUNITIES WHOSE ACCESS TO CARE IS BEING CONSTRAINED BY FEDERAL POLICIES. WE ARE ALREADY RECEIVING PATIENTS WHOSE SERVICES HAVE BEEN CUT AND CURTAILED, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ABSORBING HIGHER COSTS AND

GREATER DEMAND. FOR THOUSAND IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN KING COUNTY. WHILE MEDICAID COVERAGE LAST WEEK, ON OCTOBER 1st, AND IT'S ESTIMATED THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS, HR ONE WILL CONTINUE TO EXACERBATE

THE EXPERIENCE AND ACCESS OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHO ARE SEEKING ESSENTIAL CARE. THESE PEOPLE DESERVE QUALITY CARE. THESE PEOPLE DESERVE AFFORDABLE CARE, AND IT'S ON YOU TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO

RECEIVE THIS. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE MET WITH MANY OF YOU ABOUT THIS REQUEST. YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WORK THAT TUBMAN IS DOING. YOU KNOW ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT WORK. AND WITH OUR WORK BEING

BASED IN THE CITY AND SOUTHEND, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THE HEALTH OF A NEIGHBORHOOD AND PEOPLE THAT ARE THE BACKBONE OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN SEATTLE. IT'S IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER TO

SUPPORT ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES. DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. PLEASE REACH OUT. -- THANK YOU. DARYL. UP NEXT IS ALICE LOCKHART, FOLLOWED BY PETER KELLY AND ELIZABETH ALICE. TAKE IT

AWAY. -- GOOD AFTERNOON, BUDGET COMMITTEE. I'M ALICE LOCKHART WITH 350 SEATTLE AND THE SEATTLE SOLIDARITY BUDGET. I'M AGAIN CONCERNED THAT THE BUDGET CONTINUES TO USE JUMP START TO FUND PREVIOUSLY

GENERAL FUND PRIORITIES AND KEEPS MOVING GENERAL FUND STUFF ON TO JUMP START AT THE EXPENSE OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE, REAL COMMUNITY SAFETY AND LEAVING PROVIDERS IN PROGRAMS, IN EDDIE PROGRAMS AND THE

LIKE. FIGHTING FOR SCRAPS. AS LAST YEAR, GREEN NEW DEAL AND EDDIE RECEIVE ONLY FOUR AND 5% OF JUMPSTART FUNDING. WHEN THE INTENT AND THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS FOR 9% EACH. BECAUSE OF THIS, TENANT SERVICES

IS UNDERFUNDED BY AT LEAST HALF $1 MILLION. PLEASE FIX THIS. TENANT SERVICES WORKERS HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE IN YEARS. PLEASE FIX THIS TOO. AND ONLY ONE OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD'S TOP

PRIORITIES FROM THE DOCUMENT I'M SURE THEY'VE SHARED WITH YOU IS MET. PLEASE DO FIX THIS. THE BUDGET OVERINDULGED. INVEST IN PROVEN INEFFECTIVE INCREASES IN POLICE, IN SWEEPS AND IN DANGEROUS TO OUR

CITIZENS WITH ICE ON OUR STREETS EVERY DAY AND ABLE TO LISTEN IN ON OUR CAMERAS. DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS SURVEILLANCE. PLEASE. NOT THESE. NO MORE CUTS TO JUMPSTART SPEND CATEGORIES, PLEASE INVEST IN

COMMUNITY SAFETY, LIKE KEEPING RENTERS HOUSED AND CLIMATE RESILIENT. -- THANK YOU ALICE, AND FEEL FREE TO SEND IN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENT, COMMENTS. BEATRIX, I SEE YOU'RE HERE. TAKE IT AWAY -- HI. GOOD

AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BEATRIX KELLY AND I'M THE HOUSING ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR AT THE LOW INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE. I ALSO LIVE AND WORK IN DISTRICT THREE. I WANT TO START OFF

BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS FOR PRIORITIZING SHELTER EXPANSION AND FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE SURROUNDING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS LIVING IN RVS. THE 2027 2028 BUDGET PRESERVES

ESSENTIAL ITEMS, INCLUDING FUNDS FOR SHELTER, EXPANSION AND FOOD BANK SERVICES. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE RESERVES SET ASIDE IN ANTICIPATION OF HUD'S CUTS. THIS IS A GREAT START. HOWEVER, THE

CURRENT BUDGET DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. THE CITY NEEDS TO EXPAND HIGH SHELTER, HIGH QUALITY, SHELTER BASED ON STUDY, 63% OF PEOPLE LIVING IN UNSHELTERED IN SEATTLE HAVE COMPLEX NEEDS, INTENTIONALLY

DESIGNED STRUCTURES AND PROGRAMS ARE ESSENTIAL TO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. JOURNEYS TO GETTING HOUSED. WE WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT SUPPORT THE PDA'S EFFORTS TO INCREASE HIGH SUPPORT SHELTERS.

IF WE HAVE. AS WE HAVE FOUND, THE MODEL TO BENEFIT LEHI'S PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS, LIHI BEGAN INTEGRATING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES INTO EVERY TINY HOUSE VILLAGE. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE FUNDS INITIALLY

GRANTED DID NOT ALLOW US TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL IN FULL. OUR HOPE IS TO SEE WRAPAROUND FUND SERVICES IMPLEMENTED AT SHELTER PROGRAMS ACROSS SEATTLE. MUCH LIKE OUR FELLOW ADVOCATES, GIVING PUBLIC

COMMENT TODAY. FINALLY, IN ADDITION. JUST KIDDING. WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK GOING INTO THIS BUDGET SEASON AND HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE COMMUNITY INPUT TO MAKE THESE. -- THANK YOU. BEATRIX.

UP NEXT IS ELIZABETH, FOLLOWED BY LINDA MITCHELL. AND THEN KEITH ERVIN. WELCOME, ELIZABETH. I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE. -- THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH ARCHAMBAULT, AND I LIVE IN AN AFFORDABLE APARTMENT

IN SOUTH LAKE UNION. PEOPLE NEED HOMES. AFTER A BRIEF LIVED EXPERIENCE BEING WITHOUT A PERMANENT HOME. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND MY AFFORDABLE APARTMENT AS A LOW INCOME SENIOR. IT'S NOT DIFFICULT

TO TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CONTINUE HAVING MY INCOME CONTROL PLACE FOR BOTH MY HEALTH AND SAFETY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT IT. JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NEED HOMES. THE

MAYOR'S BUDGET HAS FUNDING TO INCREASE AND SUSTAIN CAPACITY FOR SHELTERS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU KEEP THIS FUNDING IN YOUR BUDGET PROPOSAL, BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NEED HOMES. THANK

YOU FOR HEARING ME SPEAK TODAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ON YOUR HUMAN SERVICES ACTIVITY IN THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. HI. -- THANKS. UP NEXT, WE HAVE LINDA MITCHELL, FOLLOWED BY KEITH ERVIN AND

THEN MICHAEL HERSHON. YOU ARE NOT PRESENT. SO I'M GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE JUST TO READ THE NAMES THAT ARE NOT PRESENT, THAT ARE CLOSE HERE. SO MICHAEL HERSHON, ROSE LEGIONNAIRES, KIMBERLY HARRELL,

YOU'RE ALL WITHIN THE NEXT GROUP OF TEN AND YOU ARE NOT PRESENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL WITH THE CALL IN INSTRUCTIONS FARTHER DOWN THE LINE. JOAQUIN OOI KIMBERLY HARRELL TO LUNA READ

BLUE, GRAY RUBINSTEIN, WILLIAM KELLY, DAVID TOLEDO, PAMELA SEA MONSTER, LAUREL H. EDWARD. DUMAS, NICOLE. ROBINSON. YOU ARE ALSO NOT PRESENT, BUT YOU'RE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE. SO LINDA, FOLLOWED BY

KEITH. MICHAEL, YOU ARE NOT PRESENT, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE MACKAY. LINDA, I SEE YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE. TAKE IT AWAY. -- HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M LINDA MITCHELL WITH MARY'S

PLACE. AS YOU DELIBERATE ON THIS BUDGET, WE URGE YOU TO KEEP THE MAYOR'S SHELTER. ACCELERATOR INITIATIVE FULLY FUNDED AND TO UPHOLD THE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT THAT AT LEAST TWO OF THE NEW SHELTERS

SPECIFICALLY SERVE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. EVERY NIGHT, 40 TO 50 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN CALL THE KING COUNTY INTAKE LINE THAT MARY'S PLACE OPERATES SEEKING SHELTER, BUT ONLY A FEW CAN COME INSIDE.

MANY ARE SLEEPING IN CARS OR UNSAFE SITUATIONS WHILE THEY WAIT FOR CHILDREN. THE HARM LASTS LONGER AFTER THOSE NIGHTS. HOMELESSNESS DISRUPTS THEIR HEALTH AND LEARNING, AND CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE IT

ARE MORE LIKELY TO FACE IT. AS ADULTS. THIS INVESTMENT MEANS THAT MORE FAMILIES WILL HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO STABILIZE AND MOVE TOWARD HOUSING. FAMILY HOMELESSNESS IS LARGELY HIDDEN, SO THESE FAMILIES

RARELY SHAPE THE PUBLIC PICTURE OF THE CRISIS. AND THAT'S WHY THE FAMILY SHELTER COMMITMENT MATTERS SO MUCH. WITHOUT IT, FAMILIES RISK BEING LEFT OUT OF NEW CAPACITY. NO CHILD SHOULD SLEEP OUTSIDE.

PLEASE PROTECT THIS FUNDING AND THE COMMITMENT TO FAMILY SHELTER. MARY'S PLACE STANDS READY TO PARTNER WITH YOU. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU LINDA. UP NEXT IS KEITH IRVIN, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL, WHO'S NOT

PRESENT. AND THEN CHRISTINE MCKAY. KEITH, YOU'RE OFF MUTE. WELCOME MY FRIEND. -- GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN STRAUSS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KEITH URBAN. I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE SINCE 1984. I'M

HERE AS A FATHER, A GRANDFATHER, AND A MEMBER, MEMBER OF PEOPLE FOR CLIMATE ACTION IN SEATTLE. I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR ONE OF THE CITY'S SMALLEST DEPARTMENTS, THE OFFICE OF

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT. OUR CITY HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS TOWARD ITS SCIENCE BASED CLIMATE GOALS IN THE BUILDING EMISSIONS PERFORMANCE STANDARD WILL OVER TIME REMOVE CLIMATE WRECKING GASES FROM

LARGE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. BUT WE ARE FAR OFF COURSE FROM MEETING THE CITY'S CLIMATE GOALS FOR 20, 30 OR 2050. THE FACT IS, WE DON'T HAVE A REALISTIC PLAN OR THE NEEDED FUNDING TO END POLLUTION FROM

BUILDINGS AND VEHICLES, THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD REDUCE OSC'S ALREADY MEAGER RESOURCES FOR ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHALLENGE. PLEASE MAINTAIN THE CURRENT LEVEL OF EFFORT, WHILE ALSO ENSURING THAT

THE UPCOMING CLIMATE ACTION PLAN UPDATE GIVES US A PATHWAY TO MAKING SEATTLE EMISSIONS FREE AND PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS FROM THE NOW UNAVOIDABLE EFFECTS OF EXTREME WEATHER. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU,

KEITH. MICHAEL HIRSH IS STILL NOT PRESENT, SO WE WILL MOVE FORWARD. CHRISTINE MCKAY, EMPEROR VICTOR VON DOOM, ANDREW WEINGARTEN, JONES AND THEN ROSE LEGIONNAIRES, YOU'RE NOT PRESENT, FOLLOWED BY MEGAN

FOLLOWED BY KIMBERLY HARRELL, WHO'S NOT PRESENT. THANKS FOR APOLOGIES IF I'VE MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME. CHRISTINE. I SEE YOU'RE HERE. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. THERE YOU ARE. WELCOME. TAKE IT AWAY -- GOOD

AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRIS MCKAY. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING BUSINESSES IN DISTRICT ONE. I'M HERE TODAY TO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE SHELTER

EXPANSION PROPOSED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET IN WEST SEATTLE. WE HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT THEY NEED. WE'VE SEEN

PEOPLE LIVING UNSHELTERED, STRUGGLING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, WHILE NEARBY BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ARE LEFT TRYING TO MANAGE SITUATIONS THEY SIMPLY AREN'T

EQUIPPED TO SOLVE. SHELTER ALONE ISN'T ENOUGH. WE NEED HIGH SUPPORT SHELTER WITH PROFESSIONAL 24/7 STAFFING, LOW CASELOADS AND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO MOVE PEOPLE TOWARD STABILITY AND PERMANENT

HOUSING, WE NEED BOTH SHELTER AND HOUSING, AND WE NEED THEM TO WORK TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, I'D JUST LIKE TO MENTION ON SPD, I SUPPORT THE COST SAVINGS IDENTIFIED IN DECREASING POLICE RECRUITMENT, AND

I SUPER ENCOURAGE INVESTMENTS IN SPD STAFFING. WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR POLICE FORCE AND ENSURE THEIR TRAINING IS NOTHING BUT THE BEST. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK. -- THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS

EMPEROR VON DOOM, FOLLOWED BY ANDREW WEINGARTEN. JONES. I SEE THERE'S EMPEROR EMPEROR STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. THERE YOU ARE. WELCOME. -- USED THE WRONG ROOM AT THE TOP OF SEATTLE'S ICONIC SPACE NEEDLE.

DOOM HAS BEEN WATCHING QUITE TO FIX THE L8 KETTLE YOU SQUANDERED THE OPPORTUNITY THE DOOM IS GIVING YOU ALLOWED YOU TO REIGN AS THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND JOIN WITH MY OTHER

ACOLYTES, JOE WIN AND GOVERNOR GREGOIRE TO PUSH THE MASS EXPANSION OF DOOM THREE. YOU WILL FAIL TO COVER UP THE SEATTLE POLICE USES OF TRANSPORTATION CAMERAS, AND HE'S REPORTER EXPOSED 11 MILLION OF

YOUR WASTE. THE SEATTLE TIMES QUOTED YOU AS A SAYING THAT YOU WOULD DO BETTER IN TERMS OF OVERSIGHT OF MY NEW SURVEILLANCE WEAPON. DO NOT ACCEPT FAILURE. SO DO THE HONORABLE THING. WALK AWAY FROM YOUR

POSITION AS CHAIR. THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CONTINUE TO SERVE DOOM AS MY ACOLYTE, BUT DOOM DOES NOT ACCEPT YOUR RIVERA. HIM. I KNOW YOU WILL MAKE EXCELLENT REPLACEMENTS TO RUBBERSTAMP CONTINUED

EXPANSION OF SURVEILLANCE THROUGHOUT SEATTLE. DO EXACTLY AS FOLLOWED MY ORDERS WITHOUT QUESTION, AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED CORRECTLY. OR DO -- THANK YOU EMPEROR FOR CALLING IN TODAY. FOLLOWED.

FOLLOWING IS ANDREW WEINGARTEN. JONES ROSE LEGIONNAIRES. YOU'RE NOT PRESENT, FOLLOWED BY MEGAN KISKADDON, FOLLOWED BY KIMBERLY HARRELL, WHO'S NOT PRESENT, FOLLOWED BY ELENA HORNE, ELIANA HORNE, EXCUSE

ME, ANDREW, I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME. -- GOOD AFTERNOON, BUDGET COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS ANDREW WEINGARTEN JONES, AND I'M A STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT, THE PRIMARY

LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDER FOR LOW INCOME TENANTS IN KING COUNTY. I AM A DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT IN JP ATTORNEY FOR THREE YEARS IN A TENANTS RIGHTS ATTORNEY FOR TEN. WHEN THE WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE PASSED

ITS FIRST IN THE NATION STATEWIDE RIGHT TO COUNSEL LAW IN 2021, IT CAME WITH THE IMPLICIT AND AT TIMES EXPLICIT PROMISE THAT ALL LOW INCOME TENANTS WILL BE REPRESENTED IN EVICTION CASES. WITH THE

MASSIVE SPIKE IN FILINGS. IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO KEEP UP WITH THOSE DEMANDS. IN NUMEROUS CASES, OUR SHARPLY TRAINED LEGAL ADVOCATES ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL

DEFENSES, WHETHER IT'S LANDLORDS CHARGING RENT AND FEES THAT THEY ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SERVING TENANTS WITH DEFECTIVE OR MISLEADING NOTICES OR LANDLORDS ALLEGING LEASE VIOLATIONS DEVOID OF CONTEXT AND

REQUIRING FURTHER FACT FINDING FOR OTHER CASES WHERE WE CAN'T IDENTIFY DEFENSES, WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST IN NUMEROUS OTHER WAYS BY FACILITATING RENT ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS, NEGOTIATING MOVE OUT

AGREEMENTS OR ENTERING INTO OTHERWISE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL SETTLEMENTS. POINT BEING, IN ALMOST EVERY CASE, WE ARE ABLE TO PREVENT EVICTIONS AND MEANINGFULLY PROVIDE SOMETIMES LIFE CHANGING BENEFITS TO

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR CLIENTS, BOTH OUR ATTORNEYS, GETTING NONSTOP NEW ASSIGNMENTS AND APPEARING MULTIPLE DAYS A WEEK IN COURT FOR HEARINGS, MUCH LESS FULL BLOWN TRIALS. COUPLED WITH THE RAPID

PACE OF WASHINGTON'S, IN MANY WAYS STILL ANTIQUATED EVICTION PROCESS, OUR ABILITY TO FULLY OFFER OUR SERVICES IS ALWAYS IN JEOPARDY. WE NEED TO SEE THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO FUND ANOTHER 500,000

SERVICES, TO FUND MORE ATTORNEYS AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. -- THANKS, ANDREW ROSE LEGIONNAIRES IS STILL NOT PRESENT FOLLOWED FOLLOWING GOING TO MEGAN KISCADEN, ELIANA

HAWN, LISA ROSE, MEGAN, YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. WELCOME. TAKE IT AWAY -- HEY, I'M MEGAN KISCADEN, I'M THE EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF ON THE BOARDS IN UPTOWN, AND I'M ALSO CO-CHAIR OF THE

SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALSO CONSIDERATION ON TODAY'S BUDGET FEEDBACK. I'LL BE SPEAKING SPEAKING ABOUT THE ARTS BUDGET, I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE THAT THE ONE

TIME REALLOCATION OF 1.5 MILLION IN ADMISSIONS TAX THAT WAS IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, THAT WENT FROM THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, REROUTED TO SEATTLE CENTER AND PARKS AND REC, NOT BE CONTINUED AND

ABSOLUTELY NOT BE MADE ONGOING, WHICH IT'S NOW IN ARTS 009 B ONE. LAST YEAR, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH PUT FORWARD A BUDGET ACTION THAT MADE THAT REDIRECTION OF THOSE FUNDS.

LAST TIME. ONE TIME FOR LAST YEAR, AND THEN THIS YEAR IT'S IN THERE AS ONGOING. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE TO RESTORE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE ADMISSIONS TAX TO THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE. THERE

ARE TRUSTED OFFICE FOR THE ARTS AND THE TRUE INTENTION OF THE AD TAX DOLLARS. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. WE HAVE ELIANA HORN FOLLOWED BY LISA ROSE AND TALENA REED. ELIANA, YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. TAKE

IT AWAY. ELIANA YOU MIGHT HAVE HIT MUTE ON YOUR PHONE BECAUSE YOU ARE OFF MUTE ON OUR PROGRAM. -- THERE YOU ARE. -- WELCOME. -- GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS ELIANA HORN. I AM ON STAFF

WITH PUGET SOUND, SAGE AND A MEMBER OF THE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE ADVISORY BOARD. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FUNDING OF $26 MILLION FOR 2027

AND 2028, AND URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO PROTECT THIS VITAL FUNDING. I THINK COUNCILMEMBERS KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE EDDIE PROGRAM HAS BECOME TO WORKING CLASS BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, AND STAYING

ANCHORED IN THEIR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS. AND OVER THE LAST DECADE, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE ECOSYSTEM HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED AND GIVEN US A FIGHTING CHANCE TO COMBAT DISPLACEMENT AND KEEP

COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS IN PLACE. AS THE CITY CHANGES. I ALSO URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW EDDIE PROJECTS AS INVESTMENTS IN OUR INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMUNITY

ORGANIZATIONS DON'T JUST BUILD HOUSING, THEY BUILD PLACES THAT WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES CAN GATHER AND WHERE ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED. THINK ABOUT ALL THE PLAZAS, CHILD CARE SPACE, MEETING ROOMS AND

PLACES FOR ELDERS AND YOUTH AT EDDIE CREATED OVER THE LAST DECADE BEFORE REDUCING A PROGRAM LIKE EDDIE FOR INCREASES TO SPD CRIMINAL COURT OR INCARCERATION SPENDING, YOU SHOULD SEE EDDIE AS CREATING

PUBLIC SAFETY EQUAL TO THOSE, IF NOT BETTER. SO PLEASE PROTECT THIS VITAL FUNDING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. -- THANK YOU. ELIANA. UP NEXT IS LISA ROSE, FOLLOWED BY TALINA REED. AND THEN CARISSA

ADAMS. AND YOU'RE OFF MUTE. LISA, WELCOME. -- THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS LISA ROSE. I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING A LOCAL GROUP OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT

REOPENING THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN 2020 AFTER YEARS OF PROGRAM CUTS, THE COMMUNITY LOST 100% OF ITS PUBLIC RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS. WITH THE CENTER CLOSURE OF THE 26 COMMUNITY CENTERS ACROSS THE CITY.

COMMUNITY CENTER IS THE ONLY CENTER THAT IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IT'S CURRENTLY USED AS A LICENSED CHILD CARE SITE ONLY. WHILE THE CENTER'S ROLE AS A CHILDCARE SITE IS IMPORTANT, THE CLOSURE OF THE

CENTER LEFT US WITHOUT AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY HUB AND GATHERING SPACE, ALKI NEEDS SAFE SPACES NOW. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MAKES NEWS FOR ROBBERIES AND GUN VIOLENCE. TEENS NEED SAFE PLACES TO GO WITH STAFF AND

ACTIVITIES. FAMILIES AND OLDER RESIDENTS NEED PLACES TO CONNECT AND NOT FEEL ISOLATED. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS A NEIGHBORHOOD HUB. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT PARKS DOES NOT HAVE THE BUDGET TO REOPEN THE

COMMUNITY CENTER. RECENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO THE CENTER DURING THE ALKI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION. THE BUILDING IS READY. WE JUST NEED THE CITY TO FUND THE STAFF

TO OPEN IT TO THE BROADER PUBLIC. WE'RE REQUESTING AN ALLOCATION OF $250,000 IN THE PARKS BUDGET TO FULLY REOPEN AND STAFF THE COMMUNITY CENTER. PLEASE RESTORE ONE OF THE VITAL HEARTS OF OUR

COMMUNITY, OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. -- THANK YOU. LISA. UP NEXT IS TALINA READ, FOLLOWED BY TERESA ADAMS, THEN JOAQUIN UY. -- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TAWANNA REED

AND I'M WITH THE TENANTS UNION OF WASHINGTON STATE I ECHO WHAT SEATTLE HAS ALREADY STATED IN NORTHWEST JUSTICE PROJECT HAS ALREADY STATED REGARDING ADDING ANOTHER $500,000 FOR TENANT SERVICES AT THE

TENANTS UNION. WE'VE SEEN A. AN INCREASE IN INTAKES. WORKSHOP REGISTRANTS AND JUST FOLKS WHO ARE FACING EVICTION. AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. I ALSO URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE FULL

$11 INCREASE IN RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES PAID BY LANDLORDS, AND JUST CONTINUE TO TO SUPPORT THESE SERVICES. AND SINCE EVERYBODY HAS ALREADY SAID WHAT I WANTED TO SAY, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS

UNACCEPTABLE TO THREATEN OR HARASS PUBLIC SERVANTS. WHILE MOST SYSTEMS ARE ARE BROKEN AND PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE, PEOPLE DESERVE TO SHOW UP TO WORK AND NOT BE THREATENED. PEOPLE DESERVE SAFE

AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND IT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THREATEN ANYBODY. AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU ALL TAKE, TAKE, LISTEN TO WHAT THE THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING AND DO YOUR BEST TO SHOW UP FOR, FOR YOUR

CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. -- THANKS, TALINA. UP NEXT IS CARISSA ADAMS, FOLLOWED BY JOAQUIN OOI, THEN AMY BAILEY, AND CARISSA, I SEE YOU'RE HERE. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. THERE YOU ARE. WELCOME. -- HI. THANK

YOU. MY NAME IS CARISSA ADAMS AND I'M THE INSTITUTIONAL GIVING OFFICER AT SEATTLE CHILDREN'S THEATER LOCATED IN DISTRICT SEVEN. AND I AM RESPECTFULLY ASKING FOR MEANINGFUL FUNDING TO SUPPORT ARTS AND

CULTURE THROUGH SHIELD SEATTLE. EVERY DAY, SEATTLE'S CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE SERVICES THAT GO FAR BEYOND ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. ONE OF SEATTLE CHILDREN'S THEATERS, MANY ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS

PROVIDES FREE FIELD TRIP TICKETS TO SEE A PLAY, SOMETIMES FOR THEIR FIRST TIME, AND IN SCHOOL DRAMA WORKSHOPS TO ALL FIRST AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS IN SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND LAST YEAR, WE SERVED

OVER 5000 STUDENTS. THIS PROGRAM REACHES STUDENTS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE LITTLE OR NO ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL THEATER AND CREATES IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. AFTER

BRINGING THEIR CLASS TO SEAT, ONE TEACHER TOLD US, SEEING A BOOK COME TO LIFE HELPED REINFORCE LITERACY COMPREHENSION SKILLS. THIS IS JUST ONE IMPACT OF THIS VERY VALUABLE WORK. SHIELD SEATTLE GIVES

THE COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT THIS WORK, AND SO MANY PROGRAMS LIKE IT BY OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS SEATTLE. AT A TIME WHEN FEDERAL FUNDING IS DISAPPEARING AND OPERATING COSTS CONTINUE TO

RISE, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO INCLUDE MEANINGFUL FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE IN THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU TERESA. UP NEXT IS JOAQUIN, FOLLOWED BY AMY BAILEY AND TERRY ANDERSON. AND

JOAQUIN, I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME. -- HELLO, MY NAME IS JOAQUIN AND I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE INTERIM POLITICAL TEEN REPRESENTING OVER 3300 CITY OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEES. IN 1980,

MY FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO CLEVELAND, OHIO FROM THE PHILIPPINES, WHERE MY FATHER HAD WORKED AS A POLICE OFFICER. HOWEVER, HIS COMMENDATIONS AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TRANSFER TO THE

U.S. HE WAS UNABLE TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER HERE. HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO START ALL OVER. BUT THEN HE GOT A VERY LUCKY BREAK. HE WAS ABLE TO SECURE A JOB WITH THE CITY OF CLEVELAND PUBLIC SAFETY

DEPARTMENT AS A CIVIL INVESTIGATOR. HE WAS SO PROUD OF HIS JOB. I REMEMBER CLEARLY EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING THE TIME AND EFFORT HE PUT INTO PREPARING HIS STARCHED BUTTON UP SHIRT, TIE CLIPS AND POLISHED

SHOES. IT WAS WITH GREAT. OR. WHENEVER I VISITED MY DAD AT HIS CLEVELAND CITY HALL OFFICE, THAT PUBLIC SECTOR JOB ENABLED US TO BUY OUR FIRST HOUSE, OUR FIRST CAR, AND EVEN OUR FIRST FAMILY VACATION.

AND 40 YEARS LATER, IT ALLOWED MY FATHER TO RETIRE IN COMFORT. AS DAD REACHED THE END OF HIS LIFE, HE TOLD ME THAT HIS CITY JOB WAS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF ACHIEVING HIS AMERICAN DREAM. I'M HERE TODAY

TO REMIND YOU THAT BEHIND EVERY PUBLIC SERVANT IS A FAMILY ACHIEVING THEIR OWN VERSION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. A DREAM DEFERRED. SHOULD THIS BUDGET RETAIN THE CURRENT CUTS, THE CITY OF SEATTLE PUBLIC

SERVICE BEHIND EVERY EMPLOYEE, THE FAMILY, A WHOLE UNIVERSE OF PEOPLE, A COMMUNITY AND A LOSS OF EVEN ONE JOB. IN THIS CURRENT ECONOMY WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING. IN A CITY AS EXPENSIVE AS

SEATTLE COUNCILMEMBERS, THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE CITY, RAISING FAMILIES, SUPPORTING THEIR NEIGHBORS, VOLUNTEERING FOR LOCAL ORGS, AND HELPING SEATTLE THRIVE. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU

CAN TO SAVE. -- THANK YOU. JOAQUIN. UP NEXT, WE HAVE AMY, FOLLOWED BY TERRY ANDERSON AND THEN ANDY JENSEN. AND AMY, YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME. -- YES, HELLO. MY NAME IS AMY

BAILEY. I'M VICE CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, -- WHERE I CHAIR THE HOUSING TASK FORCE. BUT I'M SPEAKING PERSONALLY AS A HOMEOWNER. AND MY CIVIC ROLE AND AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER. OUR

CITY'S LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS TERRIFYING. HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT, AND AS SUCH, WE FACE NOT JUST A HOUSING CRISIS, BUT A HUMAN RIGHTS. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE NEED MORE SHELTER BEDS AND

MORE EMERGENCY HOUSING. I URGE YOU TO ALSO USE JUMP START FUNDS AND WHATEVER RESOURCES YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THE CITY, AND SUPPORT A LIVING

WAGE FOR HUMAN SERVICE PROFESSIONALS. MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED TO SEATTLE IN 1997. I'VE WORKED IN NONPROFIT EDUCATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH SECTORS. THE PEOPLE I'VE WORKED WITH NEARLY ALL HAVE COLLEGE

DEGREES AND FREQUENTLY GRADUATE EDUCATIONS. BUT EVEN HIGHLY EDUCATED WORKERS IN THESE SECTORS DON'T EARN ENOUGH TO PAY SEATTLE'S ASTONISHINGLY HIGH RENT. SO THEY MOVE TO KENT, TO EVERETT, TO TACOMA.

COWORKER AFTER COWORKER HAVE MOVED AWAY BECAUSE OF THESE HOUSING COSTS. MANY OF THEM REORIENT THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES TO THEIR NEW COMMUNITIES, AND WE LOSE EXPERIENCED WORKERS IN THESE CRITICAL

AREAS. THE CURRENT SITUATION IS THE RESULT OF OUR HISTORICAL POLICY CHOICES AND THE CHOICES YOU WILL MAKE. SO PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING. INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MAKE SURE OUR TEACHERS, OUR

HUMAN. -- THANK YOU AMY. AND PLEASE DO FEEL FREE TO SEND IN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. TERRY ANDERSON, I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE, FOLLOWED BY ANDY. AND THEN GURNEY'S. TERRY, WELCOME. -- GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY

COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS TERRY ANDERSON AND I WORK FOR THE TENANTS UNION OF WASHINGTON STATE. I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO URGE YOU TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR TENANT SERVICES IN THE CITY BUDGET BY AT LEAST

$500,000 AND TO INCREASE RENTAL REGISTRY FEES BY $11 WITHOUT EXEMPTIONS. TENANTS IN SEATTLE ARE EXPERIENCING A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND STABILITY CRISIS FOR MANY RENTERS, AND UNEXPECTED EXPENSE.

MISSING A DAY OF WORK OR A RENT INCREASE CAN MEAN LOSING THEIR HOME HOUSING INSTABILITY DOES NOT AFFECT TENANTS EQUALLY. IMMIGRANTS, BLACK AND BROWN HOUSEHOLDS, LOW INCOME FAMILIES, SENIORS, PEOPLE

WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES ARE ALWAYS HIT HARDEST. THESE TENANTS OFTEN FACE ADDITIONAL DISCRIMINATION AND OTHER BARRIERS. THE TENANTS UNION OF WASHINGTON STATE IS A CRITICAL

PART OF PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE, WE TALKED TO TENANTS EVERY DAY ON OUR HOTLINE AND IN WORKSHOPS, COUNSELING, LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND TENANT ORGANIZING CAN RESOLVE ISSUES

BEFORE THEY BECOME AN EVICTION. INVESTING IN TENANT SERVICES NOT ONLY HELPS RENTERS, IT ALSO STABILIZES THE HEALTH OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND EVERYONE IN SEATTLE. PLEASE INCREASE FUNDING FOR TENANT SERVICES

BY AT LEAST $500,000 IN ORDER TO REACH COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT AND DISRUPTION, PLEASE ADOPT THE FULL $11 INCREASE IN RENTAL REGISTRATION TO PAY FOR ENFORCEMENT OF RENT

PROTECTIONS. EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN HELPING -- THANK YOU TERRY. UP NEXT IS ANDY JENSEN, FOLLOWED BY SEPTIC AND THEN CANDICE SAGAN, ANDY, I SEE YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. WELCOME. TAKE IT AWAY -- HI,

MY NAME IS ANDY JENSEN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND I'M A PROUD GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL PARENT AND A MEMBER. OF THE SHIELD SEATTLE FUNDING WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL FUNDING TO CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN

SEATTLE THAT SERVE THE REGION'S STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PHOENIX, SEATTLE, AND LECTURES IN SOUTH END STORIES PROVIDE AMAZING ACCESS TO STUDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO

ATTEND. THESE PERFORMANCES, HAVE THESE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, WHETHER THEY'RE ETHNIC ORGANIZATIONS OR IN THEIR SCHOOLS OR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT

STUDENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO EXPAND THEIR EDUCATION. AND WHILE IT'S MY REMAINING TIME, I'D LIKE TO SECOND MARGARET KISKADDEN REQUEST TO RETAIN THE 1.5 OF THE ADMISSIONS TAX FROM SEATTLE CENTER TAX.

THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. -- THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE'VE GOT SEPT JOURNÉES FOLLOWED BY CANDICE AND THEN CASTILLO HIGHTOWER. SEPT I SEE YOU'RE HERE. STAR SIX TO

UNMUTE AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S BEEN HERE IN PERSON SINCE JUST ABOUT THE START OF THIS. APOLOGIES FOR NOT MENTIONING THAT ON THE RECORD SEPT. WE'RE STILL WAITING ON YOU TO HIT STAR SIX ON YOUR END.

STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. THERE YOU ARE. WELCOME -- GREAT. HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT THE BUDGET. MY NAME IS SETH. I USE THEY THEM PRONOUNS AND

I'M THE ADVOCACY AND PROGRAM MANAGER WITH QUEER POWER ALLIANCE. WE WORK TO BUILD QUEER POWER FOR COLLECTIVE LIBERATION. WE HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS WITH THE BUDGET, INCLUDING THE NEED FOR EXPANDED

FUNDING FOR SHELTERS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS, AND THE REJECTION OF THE PROPOSED RV PARKING BAN. WITH MY LIMITED TIME, I'LL

FOCUS ON THE LAST TWO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN RVS NEED STABILITY AND SAFE PARKING THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS, NOT AN RV BAN. CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS AND LIVING SITUATIONS HAS NEVER

ADDRESSED THE ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS. INSTEAD, THE CITY SHOULD INVEST IN SAFE PARKING WITH SERVICES. RV STORAGE WHILE PEOPLE ACCESS SHELTER AND HOUSING AND HIGH QUALITY COMMUNITY BASED OUTREACH

THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE TO HOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES. PLEASE REJECT THE RV BAN AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HELPFUL PARTS OF THAT PROPOSAL. SAFE PARKING, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND RV STORAGE. WE'RE ALSO

CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF FUNDING FOR SDCI COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION GRANTS. THESE FUNDS ENABLE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS TO CONNECT WITH RENTERS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND RESOURCES WE PROVIDE WITH

KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS AND BUILD MORE EQUITABLE HOUSING SYSTEMS. PLEASE INCREASE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH SDC. -- THANK YOU. SET UP NEXT IS CADEN

SAGAN, FOLLOWED BY CASTIEL HIGHTOWER AND THEN CHRIS CORREA. CADENCE, YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME. -- YES. HI. MY NAME IS CADEN SAGAN. I AM ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE SEATTLE LGBTQ

COMMISSION. I AM CALLING IN TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION FUNDING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. IT LOOKS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE CUT. SPECIFICALLY, THE

FACILITATION BUDGET, WHICH, SOMEWHAT IRONICALLY, IS CRUCIAL FOR HELPING THE DISABLED FOLK IN THAT COMMISSION TO TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE CIVIC SPACES AS WELL AS FOR OTHERS. AND I'M WORRIED THAT THIS

DEFUNDING COULD VIOLATE TITLE TWO OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AS WELL AS JUST BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE VALUES THAT I HAVE FELT. AND SEATTLE HAS, HAS DECLARED PUBLICLY THAT IT HOLDS.

AND I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO FIND OTHER AREAS TO CUT. I KNOW THAT THE BUDGET IS TOUGH THIS YEAR, BUT THAT THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO PINCH PENNIES OR CUT CORNERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. -- THANK

YOU. CADENCE. UP NEXT IS CASTIEL HIGHTOWER, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS CURRY AND THEN STEPHANIE KISMET. CASTIEL, WELCOME. -- HI, MY NAME. -- IS CASTIEL AND I AM THE SISTER OF HERBERT HIGHTOWER JR., WHO WAS

MURDERED BY SEATTLE POLICE WHILE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. MY FAMILY KNOWS FIRSTHAND HOW RETRAUMATIZING IT IS TO BE DENIED VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND AND HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO FIND RESOURCES

WHILE GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE AT THE HANDS OF THE POLICE. SO FOR MANY YEARS, I AND FAMILIES LIKE MINE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO CREATE AN OFFICE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THAT VERY SUPPORT. I'M

ASKING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY IN THE WAKE OF YET ANOTHER SEATTLE POLICE KILLING OF KEENAN PEARSON, WHOSE FAMILY IS IN NEED OF SUPPORT AS WE SPEAK AND AS THE. AS THE MAYOR PROPOSES A $68.

MILLION BUDGET INCREASE FOR THE POLICE TO SUPPORT THE URGENTLY NEEDED LEGISLATION THAT IS ASKING FOR ONLY $50,000. OUR FAMILIES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SUFFER SIMPLY BECAUSE OUR VICTIMIZER IS A

POLICE OFFICER. WE DESERVE BETTER AND SO DOES THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. CASTIEL. UP NEXT, WE HAVE CHRIS KURIA, FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE STEVE SMITH. AND THEN JOAQUIN IS DUPLICATE. SO VALEN

SOLOMON, AFTER THAT, CHRIS, I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE. WELCOME. -- YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE CHAIR STRAUSS. COUNCILMEMBERS IN THE CHAMBER, FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. I'M CHRIS, I AM SPEAKING IN

MY CAPACITY AS ONE OF THE CHAIRS OF THE SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION TO ECHO MY SUPPORT FOR MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WITHIN THE SEATTLE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION, AND

SPECIFICALLY TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED 2027 2028 BUDGET, WHICH, AS IT STANDS, THE PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD CUT PORTIONS OF THE DISABILITY COMMISSION'S FACILITATION BUDGET, WHICH ARE CRUCIAL TO PROVIDING

ACCESS TO CIVIC SPACES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. SO I ALSO WANT TO FLAG THAT THIS PROPOSAL COULD INFRINGE ON THE DISABILITY COMMISSIONER'S GUARANTEED RIGHTS UNDER THE ADA TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN

GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS WITH FULLY FUNCTIONAL ACCESS NEEDS. AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT MY DISABILITY COMMISSION COLLEAGUES PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN CHAMPIONING OUR COMMUNITY'S ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS. THEIR

INVOLVEMENT IN FUNCTIONING AND FUNDING DECISIONS SHOULD BE PARAMOUNT, ESPECIALLY IF FUNDING CUTS COULD HINDER THEIR ABILITY TO FULFILL THEIR MANDATE. SO TODAY, I ASK THE COUNCIL TO AMEND THE PROPOSED

BUDGET TO PROTECT THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION FUNDING AND TO MAINTAIN CONTINUITY OF ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH THEM AS VITAL PARTNERS IN OUR CIVIC PROCESS. AND THEN ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, I WANT

TO CLOSE BY ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY STABILIZATION FUND. BY ADOPTING THIS ONGOING BUDGETARY COMMITMENT TO LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITIES. SO THANKS FOR YOUR

TIME AND CONSIDERATION. -- THANKS, CHRIS. WE'LL TAKE THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTERS. STEPHANIE STEVE SMITH, FOLLOWED BY VALEN, SOLOMON AND THEN ALICIA RUIS. STEPHANIE, I SEE YOU'RE HERE. STAR SIX TO

UNMUTE. I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE. WELCOME STEPHANIE, YOU MIGHT BE MUTED ON YOUR OWN PHONE. YOU'RE NOT MUTED ON OUR THERE YOU ARE. WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW. WELCOME. -- THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS

STEPHANIE AND I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY DINING PROGRAM AT SOUND GENERATIONS. I AM SPEAKING TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE MEALS PARTNERSHIP COALITION. I AM HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT PERMANENT

FUNDING FOR MEAL PROGRAMS. I WANT TO THANK MAYOR KATIE WILSON FOR INCLUDING 1 MILLION IN PERMANENT FUNDING FOR MEAL PROGRAMS IN THE 2027 BUDGET. THANK YOU ALSO TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOY HOLLINGSWORTH

AND COUNCILMEMBER ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK FOR BOTH OF YOUR LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR FOOD ACCESS. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUSTAIN THIS INVESTMENT IN THE FINAL BUDGET. THE COMMUNITY DINING

PROGRAM PROVIDES FRESH, NUTRITIOUS AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT MEALS TO OLDER ADULTS WHILE SOCIALIZING WITH OTHERS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SITES WE SERVE HOT MEALS AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AT 16

LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SEATTLE. LAST YEAR, BUDGET SHORTFALLS, STAFFING CHALLENGES, AND RISING FOOD COSTS REQUIRED US TO WORK WITH HALF OF OUR MEAL LOCATIONS TO RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF MEALS SERVED

SUSTAINED MEAL PROGRAM FUNDING HELPS OFFSET THESE PRESSURES BY PROVIDING VALUABLE FOOD RESOURCES, INCLUDING LOCALLY GROWN ITEMS, AND REDUCING THE OVERALL COST OF OUR MEAL PROGRAM. SUSTAINING THIS

MODEST INVESTMENT HELPS ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE SERVING THE OLDER ADULTS WHO RELY ON OUR MEAL PROGRAM. AGAIN, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE STEVE SMITH WITH THE COMMUNITY DINING PROGRAM AT SOUND

GENERATIONS, AND I URGE YOU TO SUSTAIN THE FUNDING FOR MEAL PROGRAMS INCLUDED IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. STEPHANIE. UP NEXT, WE HAVE VALEN SOLOMON, FOLLOWED BY ALICIA

RUIZ AND EDGAR ESPINO, AND VALEN. YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. WELCOME. -- THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BALLARD SOLOMON AND I AM A MANAGING ATTORNEY WITH THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT. I ENTERED

D3, I'M SPEAKING TO UNDERSCORE AND HIGHLIGHT THE HISTORIC DEMAND FOR TENANT SERVICES AND TENANT SERVICES FUNDING WITHIN SEATTLE. SPECIFICALLY, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADD AT LEAST ANOTHER $500,000 FOR

TENANT SERVICES, IN ADDITION TO WHAT IS ALREADY PROPOSED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. WITHOUT THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THOUSANDS OF SEATTLEITES WILL REMAIN AT AN INCREASED RISK OF EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS

AS MANY ORGANIZATIONS STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR TENANT SERVICES. SJP IS A RIGHT TO COUNSEL EVICTION DEFENSE SERVICE PROVIDER FOR SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY, AND OUR OFFICE

REPRESENTS MOST TENANTS FACING EVICTION IN BOTH SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY. SINCE THE LAPSE OF MANY COVID ERA EVICTION PROTECTIONS AROUND 2023, EVICTIONS HAVE CONTINUED TO SKYROCKET AND THIS YEAR IS NO

DIFFERENT. KING COUNTY IS ON TRACK TO FAR SURPASS THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR ANNUAL NUMBER OF EVICTION CASES FILED, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MARCH 2026, WE SAW OVER 1000 EVICTION CASES FILED WITHIN KING COUNTY

ALONE, MORE THAN DOUBLING THE HISTORIC AVERAGE FOR THE PREVIOUS DECADE. PREVIOUSLY, THAT 1000 EVICTION CASE NUMBER IS A NUMBER THAT WE NEVER THOUGHT WE'D SEE, AND NOW IT HAS BECOME CLOSE TO THE NEW

NORMAL, WITH CASES HOVERING BETWEEN 800 AND 900 PER MONTH SINCE MARCH 2026, THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IS SIMPLY TO PREVENT IT, AND IT SERVICES HELP RENTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

STAY HOUSED. AND THIS IS WHY WE ASK THE COUNCIL TO ADD AT LEAST ANOTHER $500,000 TO TENANT SERVICES TO. -- THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS ALICIA RUIZ, FOLLOWED BY EDGAR ALLAN POE ALEXANDRA, I SEE YOUR OFF MUTE

ALREADY. TAKE IT AWAY. WAIT, HOLD ON A SECOND. -- THANK YOU. -- ALEXANDRA, YOU GOT BUMPED UP. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR COMMENT SINCE YOU'RE HERE WITH US. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO ALICIA

RUIZ. SO, ALEXANDRA, APOLOGIES FOR THE CONFUSION. TAKE IT AWAY. -- NO WORRIES. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M ALEXANDRA JOHNSON WITH THE DUWAMISH RIVER COMMUNITY COALITION, SPEAKING

FOR SOUTH PARK AND GEORGETOWN IN A PERSONAL RESIDENT OF THE SEVEN YEAR BUDGET GROWS POLICE BY 68 MILLION AND PRECINCT PATROL BY 41 MILLION. WHILE COLLABORATIVE POLICING GETS JUST 1.4 SHIFT SOME OF

THAT GROWTH TO SAVE THE 14 CARE CRISIS RESPONDER POSITIONS SLATED FOR ELIMINATION. PROTECT EVERY DOLLAR OF EDDIE GRANTS AND KEEP OVERHEAD DOLLARS OFF OF THEM. ANTI-DISPLACEMENT IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

STUDIES SHOW THAT WHEN NEIGHBORS ARE PUSHED OUT, THE TIES THAT KEEP A BLOCK SAFE GO WITH THEM. EDDIE KEEPS COMMUNITIES ROOTED. LAST YEAR, THE PROGRAM FUNDED 33 COMMUNITY LED PROJECTS, INCLUDING IN

SOUTH PARK, WITH MHA REDUCTIONS ON THE TABLE AND FAMILIES ALREADY STRETCHED TO THE BREAKING POINT, IT'S MORE CRUCIAL THAN EVER TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND COMMUNITY LED ANTI-DISPLACEMENT WORK. THE FOOD

EQUITY FUND DROPS TO ABOUT 1 MILLION IN GRANTS NEXT YEAR, WITH A DEEPER CUT PLANNED FOR 2028. RESTORE IT OR FUND THE TEN FOOD DESERT NEIGHBORHOODS THE CITY ITSELF NAMED, INCLUDING SOUTH PARK AND

GEORGETOWN, KEEP FRESH BUCKS AND FOOD BANKS FUNDING ONGOING. PARKS CAPITAL IS BACK, BUT ALL EIGHT NEW COMMUNITY CENTER AND FIELD PROJECTS ARE NORTH AND CENTRAL. IT MIGHT BE UNINTENTIONAL, BUT THE

CONSEQUENCES OF OMITTING SOUTH SEATTLE AND BUDGET PLANS ARE EXTREMELY REAL FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING INTENSIFIED HEAT EFFECTS, EXACERBATED FLOODING, POOR AIR QUALITY AND AN ABSENCE OF PLACES TO PUBLICLY

AND SAFELY RECREATE. KEEP SPU DUWAMISH VALLEY SEDIMENT AND WATER RESILIENCE FUNDING HOLE, INCLUDING THE SOUTH PARK PUMP STATION, DO NOT FURTHER DIVERT JUMP-START FUNDS FROM THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE AND

FUND TREES WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED MOST. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. ALEXANDRA AND ALICIA IS WITH US AND ALREADY OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY, FOLLOWED BY EDGAR AND THEN POE. -- GOOD AFTERNOON. -- CHAIR STRAUSS

AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M ALICIA RUIZ WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, SEATTLE KING AND KITTITAS COUNTY. EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL I TALKED TO TELLS ME THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONE OF THEIR TOP

PRIORITIES. EVERY SINGLE ONE AND EVERY BUDGET SEASON, WHEN THERE'S A HOLE TO FILL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP IS AMONG THE FIRST THINGS YOU RAID THIS. THIS ISN'T A PRIORITY. THAT'S A PIGGY

BANK. YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHOUT DEDICATED FUNDING TO BUILD IT. BEACHES DON'T BUILD POOR FOUNDATIONS, AND PRESS RELEASES DON'T HAND FAMILIES KEYS. MONEY DOES. JUMPSTART WAS SOLD TO

VOTERS AS A COMMITMENT TO HOUSING, TREATING IT AS A SLUSH FUND FOR EVERYTHING ELSE BREAKS THAT PROMISE. IF HOUSING IS YOUR PRIORITY, SHOW IT. KEEP YOUR PROMISE TO THE VOTERS OF THIS CITY BY

PRIORITIZING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP, NOT JUST WITH YOUR WORDS, BUT WITH YOUR WALLET, TOO. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU, ALICIA. FOLLOWED BY NEXT WE'LL HAVE EDGAR, FOLLOWED BY POE, AND THEN

CYNTHIA IRVIN. EDGAR, WELCOME. AND I SEE YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY. -- SWEET. THANK YOU. HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS EDGAR ESPINO. MY PRONOUNS ARE HE HIM. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT

FIVE AND I WORK IN DISTRICT ONE, TWO AND THREE. AND I AM THE POLICY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, A HUMAN SERVICE NONPROFIT THAT SERVES THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS

SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY. I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE SHELTER EXPANSION PROPOSED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET RESPONSE TO UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN LACKING THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE

WORK BEING DONE, BUT RATHER DUE TO A LACK OF INVESTMENT AND A STRONG STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK TO BACK UP SAID FUNDS. THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO CHANGE THAT. WE KNOW THAT BETTER RESPONSE TO UNSHELTERED

HOMELESSNESS IS POSSIBLE. JUST THIS YEAR, THE PIONEER SQUARE STREET HOUSING PROJECT PLACED 87% OF INDIVIDUALS TO APPROPRIATE SHELTERS AND HOUSING. LET'S MAKE ACTIONS LIKE THIS INTO POLICY AND NOT JUST

A ONE TIME THING. FUNDING PROGRAMS LIKE THIS MAKES THAT POSSIBLE. SHELTERS AND HOUSING INVESTMENT CANNOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS. WE NEED BOTH, AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF EITHER. THE MAYOR'S

BUDGET CREATES A BUFFER TO OFFSET THE EXPECTED IMPACTS OF THE TRUMP'S FUNDING SHIFTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE CRUCIAL PIECE OF THIS PUZZLE. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO

CONSIDER SHELTER EXPANSION PROPOSED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU, EDGAR. UP NEXT, WE HAVE POE, FOLLOWED BY CYNTHIA IRVIN AND KIMBERLY HARRELL. IS NOT PRESENT STILL. AND SO BEFORE WE

MOVE ON, I DO SEE THAT ROSE LEGIONNAIRES HAS JOINED US. SO WE WILL GO. POE, CYNTHIA AND THEN ROSE AND POE. I SEE YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. WELCOME -- THANK YOU. HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M WITH THE

WASHINGTON HOUSING ALLIANCE. TENANT PROTECTIONS NEED STRONG ENFORCEMENT TO BE EFFECTIVE TENANT PROTECTIONS WITH LITTLE TO NO ENFORCEMENT IS LEGISLATION THAT IS MISSING TEETH AND VULNERABLE TO

EXPLOITATION BY THOSE WHO'S WHO OPPOSE TENANT PROTECTIONS. AND WHILE PROFITS GO UP FOR THEM, EVICTIONS GO UP FOR US. IN ADDITION TO WHAT MAYOR WILSON HAS PROPOSED, AT LEAST ANOTHER 500,000 FOR TENANT

SERVICES IS WHAT'S NEEDED TO PREVENT FURTHER COLLAPSE OF VITAL SERVICES THAT TENANTS NEED JUST TO THRIVE. THE 2026 LEVEL ALONE DOES NOT PROVIDE THE CAPACITY NEEDED TO MEET CURRENT DEMAND. I ENCOURAGE

DOUBLING THIS FUNDING IN THE FUTURE. WE WANT TO PREVENT LOSS OF HOUSING AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS. AT THE SAME TIME. FOR THE MANY AT RISK HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE IN HARM'S WAY BECAUSE THEY BARELY AFFORD TO

MAKE ENDS MEET EVERY MONTH, THAT'S HEAVY ON ANYONE. AND IN THE LONG RUN, IMPACTS EVERYONE. FAMILIES LIKE MINE RELY ON FOOD BANKS AND EBT CARDS JUST TO KEEP FOOD ON THE TABLE. AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE

MANY HOUSEHOLDS THAT RELATE TO BEING STRETCHED THIN. LASTLY, WE ALSO URGE YOU TO ADOPT A FULL $111 INCREASE IN RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES PAID BY LANDLORDS BIANNUALLY TO PAY FOR ENFORCEMENT OF RENTAL

PROTECTIONS WITHOUT EXEMPTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL. -- THANK YOU. POE. UP NEXT IS CYNTHIA IRVIN, FOLLOWED BY ROSE LEGIONNAIRES AND THEN HALLEY WILLIS. CYNTHIA, WELCOME STAR SIX TO UNMUTE

CYNTHIA. ON YOUR END, CYNTHIA, YOU'LL NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX AT THIS TIME. WHY DON'T WE LEAVE CYNTHIA PROMOTED. BUT LET'S ALSO PROMOTE ROSE ROSE STAR SIX TO UNMUTE ROSE. -- YOU ARE -- THERE YOU ARE.

ROSE. -- HELLO. COUNCILMEMBERS. YES. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. THE COUNCIL SESSION TODAY. AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, THERE'S SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. ONE OF THE

THINGS IS THAT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE, THESE SWEEPS HAVE CONTINUED WITH UNBRIDLED VIGOR AND DESTRUCTION. JUST THIS WEEK, WE HAVE FOOTAGE OF SPD TAKING PEOPLE'S BELONGINGS AND

THROWING THEM IN DUMPSTER TRUCKS WHERE THEY CAN NO LONGER HAVE THEM ANYMORE. WE HAVE NONPROFITS THAT ARE GIVING PEOPLE TENTS. THE TENTS ARE THEN TAKEN BY THE POLICE THAT ARE NOW THROWN IN THE DUMPS.

WE ARE HAVING MONEY TAKEN FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT IS JUST THROWN OUT FOR NO REASON. IT DOES NOT HELP ANYONE. IT DOES NOT SERVE ANY OF OUR ANY OF OUR PURPOSES OR OUR NEEDS. WE NEED AN UNDERSTANDING

THAT THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE CANNOT EXIST IN THIS CURRENT PARADIGM. IT NEEDS TO EXIST IN SUCH A WAY WHERE WE SEE PEOPLE AS INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPASSION AND RESPECT. IF THERE IS NOT SHELTER SPACE, WE

CANNOT AFFORD TO THROW PEOPLE FROM PLACE TO PLACE. THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE AND IT IS UNETHICAL. AND I THINK ALL OF YOU ALL KNOW THIS. WE NEED TO HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IS

A PERSON, THAT SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT, AND WE NEED TO SHOW THEM THAT THAT THIS IS A SEATTLE FOR US ALL, NOT JUST A SEATTLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOUSED AND THOSE THAT HAVE MADE IT, BUT ALL OF THOSE WHO

HAVEN'T. THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THINGS. THERE IS A $1.2 MILLION GRANT FROM THE SALVATION ARMY THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING US, AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM. I HAVE DONE

MORE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE THAN I'VE SEEN THEM DO. -- THANK YOU. ROSE. UP NEXT IS CYNTHIA IRVIN, FOLLOWED BY HALLEY WILLIS AND THEN SCOTT NELSON. CYNTHIA, YOU'RE STILL WITH US. SO STAR SIX TO

UNMUTE CYNTHIA, CYNTHIA IRVIN. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT COUPLE SPEAKERS, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO CYNTHIA AT THE END. UP NEXT IS HALLEY WILLIS, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT NELSON AND THEN JESSIE

SIMPSON. HALLEY, WELCOME. -- THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS HOLLY WILLIS, POLICY MANAGER WITH THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS, WHICH INCLUDES OVER 50 MEMBER

ORGANIZATIONS WHO SHELTER, HOUSE AND CARE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY. WE'RE THRILLED THAT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDS SHELTER, AND WE URGE YOU TO

PROTECT THIS HISTORIC INVESTMENT. THESE NEW SHELTERS WILL SERVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE WITH SIGNIFICANT UNMET NEEDS. IT WILL SAVE LIVES AND GIVE PEOPLE A SAFE PLACE TO REST, HEAL AND

CONNECT TO A PERMANENT HOME WHILE WE EXPAND SHELTER, WE NEED TO PROTECT THE PERMANENT HOMES THAT PEOPLE LIVE IN RIGHT NOW. WE URGE YOU TO PROTECT CONTINGENCY FUNDS TO KEEP SEATTLE RESIDENTS HOUSED.

WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CUTS OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING, IT TAKES PEOPLE TO DO ALL OF THIS WORK TO HELP PEOPLE. WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO BUILD ON RECENT PROGRESS AND INVEST IN WAGE EQUITY FOR THE

STAFF WHO KEEP SHELTERS, HOMES AND SERVICES RUNNING EVERY DAY. THAT WILL REDUCE TURNOVER AND VACANCIES AND ALLOW STAFF TO BUILD THE EXPERTISE THAT MAKES THESE SERVICES MOST SUCCESSFUL. AS WE LOOK

TOWARDS 2028, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO RAISE THE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE THAT WE NEED TO HELP MORE PEOPLE GET ALL THE WAY HOME. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. HALLEY. UP NEXT IS SCOTT NELSON,

FOLLOWED BY JESSIE SIMPSON AND THEN WALTER HATCH. -- HEY. HELLO. MY NAME IS SCOTT NELSON AND I LIVE IN THE CITY DISTRICT TWO, AND I AM A CO-CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION. THIS BUDGET

PROPOSES TO DEFUND THE ACCESSIBILITY BUDGET OF THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION, SLASHING THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR FACILITATION FOR ACCESSIBLE ACCOMMODATION IN HALF. THIS BUDGET ITEM WAS INSTITUTED

BACK IN 2022 AFTER YEARS OF RELYING ON UNCERTAIN UNDERSPEND FUNDS TO MAKE THE COMMISSION ACCESSIBLE TO ITS MAJORITY MEMBERSHIP WITH DISABILITIES. I ASKED COUNCIL TO SUPPORT AN AMENDMENT TO PRESERVE

THIS FUNDING AND TO OPPOSE THE DEFUNDING OF THE ACCESSIBILITY BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR COUNCIL'S CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ATTENTION TO MATTERS OF DISABILITY RIGHTS. -- THANKS, SCOTT. UP

NEXT IS JESSIE SIMPSON, FOLLOWED BY WALTER HATCH AND THEN DAVID MENTZ. JESSIE, I SEE YOU'RE HERE. AND OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY. -- HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M JUSTIN SIMPSON WITH THE

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK MAYOR WILSON FOR PROPOSING A BUDGET THAT MAKES SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN WHAT IS A DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR, JUST UNDER 350

MILLION. THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX IS A MAJOR REASON THAT THIS INVESTMENT IS POSSIBLE, OR IT'S ACROSS THE FULL CONTINUUM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HELPING BUILD NEW HOMES, STABILIZE AFFORDABLE BUILDINGS

WITH DEBT RESTRUCTURING, KEEP SUPPORTIVE HOUSING STAFFED AND OPERATING, AND HELPS FAMILIES BUY PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES. ADDITIONALLY, PET INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

HAVE HELPED COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS SECURE PERMANENT SPACES, KEEP CULTURAL VENUES, SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY ANCHORS ROOTED IN NEIGHBORHOODS FACING DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES. BUT WE'RE STILL FALLING

SHORT OF THE ORIGINAL PROMISE OF JUMPSTART THIS PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE DEDICATED 62% OF THE REVENUE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COMPARED TO JUST OVER 30% IN THIS BIENNIAL BUDGET OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

OVERALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENT HAS STAYED FLAT AS BOTH NEEDS AND COSTS HAVE RISEN SUBSTANTIALLY. I RESPECTFULLY ASK COUNCIL TO DO TWO THINGS IN THIS BUDGET. FIRST, TO INVEST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EDDIE WITH THE BUDGET, AND SECOND, TO PASS A RESOLUTION THAT CHARTS CLEAR COURSE BACK TO DEDICATING 62% OF THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN FUTURE BUDGETS.

THANKS. -- THANK YOU. JESSE. -- UP NEXT IS WALTER HATCH, FOLLOWED BY DAVID MINTZ AND THEN ETHAN BRISCOE. WALTER, WELCOME -- HI THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS WALTER HATCH, AND I'M A VOLUNTEER

WITH THE BALLARD TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS. AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR SHELTER EXPANSION. WE HAVE 18,000 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN KING COUNTY, AND ONLY ABOUT 6000 SHELTER

BEDS. THE MATH IS JUST WRONG. THE NEED FOR GREATER CAPACITY IS OBVIOUS. PEOPLE ARE DYING ON OUR STREETS BECAUSE WE ARE FAILING TO PROVIDE BETTER OPTIONS. AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO QUICKLY SUGGEST

THAT OVER THE NEXT YEAR, BEFORE WE ENTER ANOTHER BUDGET CYCLE, WE REALLY NEED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN ACTUAL HOUSING FIRST PLAN TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS. SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY ARE

NOW RESPONDING TO THIS CRISIS IN A CHAOTIC WAY. I DEAL WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FRUSTRATED TO THE POINT OF EXHAUSTION BY OUR INCOHERENT SYSTEM, MOVING PEOPLE FROM CASE TO CASE WORKER WITHOUT EVER

COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESSING THEIR NEEDS. WE HAVE AS MANY AS 150 TO 200 NONPROFITS IN SEATTLE CHASING CONTRACT DOLLARS, BUMPING INTO EACH OTHER. WE HAVE NO COORDINATION, NO OVERSIGHT, NO REAL PLAN. WHAT

WE HAVE HERE IS A NONPROFITS FIRST SYSTEM, NOT A HOUSING FIRST SYSTEM. IT IS NOT WORKING FOR ANYONE EXCEPT MAYBE THE BIG PROVIDERS. IT'S WAY, WAY PAST TIME FOR AN ACTUAL PLAN FOR ACTUAL LEADERSHIP. IT

REQUIRES POLITICAL WILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. -- THANK YOU WALTER. UP NEXT IS DAVID, FOLLOWED BY ETHAN BRISCOE AND THEN WILL OBERST. DAVID, YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY. -- GREAT. THANK YOU,

CHAIR STRAUSS AND HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M DAVE AND I'M HERE TO LARGELY ECHO WHAT MANY PRIOR CALLERS HAVE STATED, AND THAT IS TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN SHELTER AND SERVICES.

AS WE KNOW, THOSE ARE IN CRITICAL SHORT SUPPLY IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT SHELTER AND SERVICES PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL FOUNDATION IN OUR OVERALL RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS. WE SIMPLY NEED MORE

SAFE INSIDE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO, AND WE NEED THOSE PLACES TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH HOUSING, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, AND OTHER SERVICES. AND WE ALSO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT

PERCEIVED TRADE OFFS BETWEEN SHELTER AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING REALLY PRESENT A FALSE CHOICE. WE MUST HAVE BOTH, AND WE CAN DO SO. WE NEED TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BECOMING HOMELESS. WE NEED TO BUILD

DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PROVIDE SHELTER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO ARE ALREADY OUTSIDE SEATTLE'S CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSAL RECOGNIZES THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH BY COMBINING NEARLY 1000 NEW SHELTER

BEDS WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE, PREVENTION AND HOUSING INVESTMENTS. SO I URGE YOU TO PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN THESE INVESTMENTS. IF WE IN SEATTLE EXPECT PEOPLE TO COME INSIDE AND TO MOVE TOWARD STABILITY,

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS SOMEWHERE TO GO AND THAT THERE IS A MEANINGFUL SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IN SHELTER AND PERMANENT HOUSING. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. DAVID. UP NEXT IS ETHAN BRISCOE,

FOLLOWED BY WILL OBERST AND THEN SASHA JACOBSON ETHAN, YOU'RE HERE. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. THERE YOU ARE. TAKE IT AWAY. -- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? MY NAME IS ETHAN BRISCOE. I'M A LONG SEATTLE RESIDENT, A

HOMEOWNER UP IN DISTRICT FIVE OF SEATTLE, FIREMAN AND A SHOP STEWARD FOR IF LOCAL 27 SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS UNION. I'M CURRENTLY ASSIGNED UP TO LADDER COMPANY FIVE AT THE FIRE STATION. 31 IN NORTHGATE

AND LIVE IN THE FIRE DISTRICT THAT I SERVE. I SEE THE VALUE FIRSTHAND IN ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED SO FAR TODAY THAT ARE PART OF THIS PROPOSED BUDGET TO INCLUDE MARY'S PLACE LIHI, THE

EXPANSION OF SHELTERS, HOUSING AND SAFE SPACES. MY TIME IN SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT STARTED IN 2018, AND I'VE SERVED THE CITY OF SEATTLE THROUGH THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND OUR HIRING WOES THAT WE'VE

FACED WITHIN RECENT YEARS. SINCE MY EMPLOYMENT, I'VE REGULARLY WORKED A MINIMUM OF 500 HOURS OF OFF SHIFT WORK OR OVERTIME EVERY YEAR, OFTEN EXCEEDING THAT NUMBER. THOSE HOURS WERE SPENT SERVING THE

CITIZENS THAT I'VE SWORN TO PROTECT, ENSURING SAFE STAFFING LEVELS ON EMS AND FIRE SUPPRESSION UNITS, WORKING WITH CASE MANAGERS TO OUTREACH DISENFRANCHIZED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE HEALTH

ONE PROGRAM, INCLUDING MANY HOURS AT OUR TRAINING DIVISION WITH NEW FIREFIGHTERS AS IT SITS, THIS MANIFESTATION OF THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET WILL HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFFING

GOAL IMPACT. ALL OF THE PROGRAMS LISTED ABOVE, BUT WILL, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IMPACT THE CITIZENS WHOM I SERVE. SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN UTILIZING OVERTIME HOURS TO SUPPLEMENT SHORT STAFFING

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MY EMPLOYMENT. AND WHILE AS A TAXPAYER OF BULK OF THE IMPACT ON THE CITY'S COFFERS AS A FIREFIGHTER AND CITIZEN, I APPRECIATE GREATLY THE CONTINUED COVERAGE. PLEASE INCREASE THE

SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET FOR 2027 2028. -- THANK YOU. ETHAN. UP NEXT IS WILL OBERST, FOLLOWED BY SASHA JACOBSON AND THEN VICTORIA WATTS. -- HI, MY NAME IS WILL OBERST, YOUR DIRECTOR OF DRINKS

AND DEMOCRACY AS A RENTER IN DISTRICT THREE WITH MULTIPLE JOBS IN BOTH RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY, I FULLY SUPPORT THE $11 INCREASE IN ANNUAL LANDLORD FEES WITHOUT AMENDMENT, EVEN IF THE FEE IS PASSED ON

TO ME, THIS NOMINAL FEE SPREAD ACROSS OUR NEARLY 200,000 ELIGIBLE RENTAL UNITS, SHOULD FULLY FUND THE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WHO WILL HELP ENFORCE AND EDUCATE ABOUT OUR NEW RENTER PROTECTION LAWS. I

STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE SAFE HOUSE, A HEALTHY COALITION. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF RENTERS RIGHTS, AND I HOPE YOU GET TO GO ENJOY SOME OF THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY. THANK YOU. --

THANK YOU WILL. LUCKILY WE HAVE WINDOWS. WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE UNTIL 8 OR 9 P.M. TONIGHT. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE. I APPRECIATE THE NOTE THOUGH. OFF TO SASHA JACOBSON. VICTORIA WATTS, AND THEN

LYDIA RUBENSTEIN. SASHA, YOU'RE ALREADY HEARING OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME. -- HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TASHA JACOBSON AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, A NURSE CASE MANAGER AT A LOCAL

HOSPITAL HERE, AND ECHO A LOT OF WHAT I'VE HEARD TODAY. I WANT TO APPRECIATE PEOPLE FOR BRINGING THINGS UP. I AM ACTUALLY TODAY TALKING AS A MUSICIAN AND ARTIST AND WANT TO DISCUSS THE OPEN LETTER

THAT HAS BEEN SENT FROM THE SEATTLE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY. WITH OVER 800 SIGNATURES AND OVER 100 REPRESENTED ORGANIZATIONS REQUESTING THAT A MINIMUM OF $8 MILLION BE REDIRECTED FROM THE PROPOSED

$68 MILLION SPD BUDGET. WE FOUND OVER THIS SUMMER THAT INVESTING IN ARTS AND COMMUNITY DURING FIFA WORLD CUP CREATED A REDUCTION IN VIOLENCE, AND THAT NEEDS TO KEEP HAPPENING EVEN WHEN WE'RE NOT ON

THE WORLD STAGE. WE KNOW THAT RESEARCH SHOWS EXPOSURE TO ARTS AND CULTURE HELPS CHILDREN PROCESS TRAUMA. IT HELPS PEOPLE ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY. IT DECREASES VIOLENCE. AND WITH THE THE CONSTANT

ONSLAUGHT OF INCREASINGLY WORSENING ATTACKS ON ALL OF OUR RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY THOSE BEING DIRECTLY IMPACTED, ARTS AND CULTURE PROVIDE RELIEF, DISTRACTION, ENGAGEMENT,

CONNECTION, GROWTH AND SUPPORT. PLEASE MOVE THIS MONEY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, SASHA. AND THEN UP NEXT WE HAVE VICTORIA WATTS, FOLLOWED BY LYDIA RUBENSTEIN AND

THEN MR. ALVAREZ. VICTORIA, WELCOME. VICTORIA STAR SIX TO UNMUTE VICTORIA. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE'LL LEAVE VICTORIA HERE AND WE'LL GO ON TO LYDIA RUBENSTEIN, FOLLOWED BY MR. ALVAREZ, AND THEN OLIVIA

LINDSTROM. IT'S AYE RUBENSTEIN. I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY. -- HELLO, MY NAME IS LYDIA RUBENSTEIN. I'M A RENTER LIVING IN DISTRICT DISTRICT THREE AND A TENANT EDUCATOR AND ADVOCATE WITH THE

TENANTS UNION OF WASHINGTON. AS RENTERS, WE PASSED SOME REALLY VITAL TENANT PROTECTIONS JUST THIS YEAR. AND IN ORDER TO ENSURE THESE PROTECTIONS AND ALL THE OTHER ONES WE FOUGHT FOR ARE EFFECTIVELY

ENFORCED, WE MUST SUPPORT AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR TENANT SERVICES. YOU CAN DO THIS BY ENSURING AT LEAST $500,000 PER TENANT SERVICES GET ADDED TO THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AMOUNT. IT'S NO SURPRISE

THAT AS OUR RENTER MAJORITY CITY GROWS, THE TENANT SERVICES RESOURCES SHOULD MATCH. THAT'S NOT HAPPENING AT THIS TIME. MANY SERVICES HAVE HAD TO REDUCE CAPACITY. AS YOU'VE HEARD, DESPITE THE NEED

BEING GREATER THAN EVER. FOR THESE REASONS, WE ALSO URGE THAT YOU ADOPT THE VERY MINIMAL $11 INCREASE IN RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES PAID BY LANDLORDS BY ANNUALLY TO ACTUALLY ENSURE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE

TENANT PROTECTIONS THAT WE ALL KNOW WILL HELP KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED HEALTHY AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT EVERYONE IN SEATTLE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ECHO ALL THE DEMANDS THAT EVERY

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER ON THIS CALL HAS. STATED SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES ARE HOMELESSNESS SERVICES. THESE ARE ALL CONNECTED. THE MORE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE TO KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHY AND SAFE OR

TRYING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THE CITY BENEFITS AND ANYTHING THAT GOES TOWARDS CRIMINALIZING OR HURTING PEOPLE IS ONLY GOING TO MAKE THINGS WORSE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU,

LYDIA. WE'RE GOING TO TRY VICTORIA AGAIN. BUT WE SEE MR. ALVAREZ IS ALREADY OFF MUTE BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT TO DO. TAKE IT AWAY, MR. ALVAREZ. WELCOME. GOOD TO HEAR YOU. -- OKAY. THANK YOU. -- I WANT

COUNCIL TO INVEST IN PEOPLE ACROSS ALL COMMUNITIES. I WANT MY NEIGHBORS TO HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET AS RENTS KEEP RISING. I WANT OUR CITY TO HELP THEM STAY IN THEIR HOME. I WANT SHELTER AND TINY

HOMES FOR UNHOUSED PEOPLE. IF PEOPLE NEED HELP WITH THEIR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL WELL-BEING, OUR COUNCIL MUST PROVIDE THE SERVICES NEEDED TO STAVE OFF THAT CRISIS. I WANT FAMILIES TO THRIVE IN OUR CITY

AND COMMUTE LESS SO THAT PARENTS CAN BE INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES. I WANT ALL KIDS TO HAVE MORE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AFTER SCHOOL AND ON WEEKENDS. I WANT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO WORK FOR ALL

OF US, JUST AS HARD AS WE ALL WORK TO MAKE SEATTLE THE GREATEST CITY IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. -- THANK YOU, MR. ALVAREZ WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING VICTORIA

WATTS, AND SO WE'LL COME BACK AT THE VERY END. VICTORIA, YOU MAY NEED TO CALL BACK IN AT THIS POINT. I'M GOING TO CALL THROUGH OUR REMAINING PUBLIC SPEAKERS WHO ARE PRESENT. AND OLIVIA, I SEE YOU'RE

OFF MUTE, SO JUST HANG TIGHT WITH ME REAL QUICK. THE SPEAKERS WHO ARE NOT PRESENT. SO IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED RIGHT NOW, THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO CALL IN. THAT IS BLUE. GRAY. WILLIAM KELLEY,

PAMELA, SEA MONSTER, LAUREL H. EDWARD DUMAS, NICOLE ROBINSON, DAVID HAYNES, WYKING GARRETT. I'M NOW GOING TO CALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE AND IN THE ORDER, AND I'M GOING TO CALL EVERYONE IN THE ORDER

IN WHICH THEY ARE SIGNED UP. IF YOU ARE NOT PRESENT, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE MOVING THROUGH AND THEN COME BACK TO THOSE NOT PRESENT AT THE END. UP NEXT, IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER, WE HAVE OLIVIA

LINDSTROM, AARON TULLOCH, BLUE GRAY, KAY VAN PETTEN, WILLIAM KELLY, DAVID TOLEDO, PAMELA SEA MONSTER, LAUREL H. EDWARD DUMAS, JOSEPH BLAKEMAN, NICOLE ROBINSON, SAM. WOLFSON, EL CREE, DAVID HAINES,

WYKING GARRETT, AND SHIRLEY LEUNG. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND THROUGH OLIVIA LINDSTROM, YOU'RE UP NEXT. WELCOME. THANKS FOR BEING OFF MUTE -- THANK YOU. HI, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS OLIVIA

AND I'M A RENTER LIVING IN NORTH BEACON HILL. I'M HERE TO SPECIFICALLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADD AT LEAST ANOTHER $500,000 FOR TENANT SERVICES TO WHAT IS PROPOSED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET TO ADOPT THE FULL

$11 INCREASE IN RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES PAID BY LANDLORDS BY ANNUALLY TO PAY FOR ENFORCEMENT OF RENTER PROTECTIONS WITHOUT EXEMPTIONS, AND TO REDIRECT THE $68 MILLION EARMARKED IN THE BUDGET FOR MORE

POLICE TOWARDS SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER PROGRAMS. INSTEAD, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN STABLE HOUSING, TENANT PROTECTIONS, PUBLIC SPACE, OUR SCHOOLS AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, AND THE ARTS. WE

CAN PRIORITIZE STABILITY, SAFETY AND AFFORDABILITY BY KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSED, KEEPING PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND KEEPING PUBLIC SPACE WELCOMING, BEAUTIFUL AND WELL LOVED. AS A MEMBER OF A

OF A DIVERSE, WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE RENTERS, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THE KIND OF INVESTMENTS WHICH STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY

BELONG AND ARE GROUNDED IN PLACE, PEOPLE CAN MAKE THE CHANGES NECESSARY TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND BUILD CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES. AGAIN, I AM URGING CITY COUNCIL TO ADD AT LEAST

$500,000 TO TENANT SERVICES FUNDING AND ADOPT THE $11 FEE. -- THANK YOU. AND UP NEXT IS AARON TULLOCH, FOLLOWED BY BLUE. GRAY, WHO IS NOT PRESENT, FOLLOWED BY KATIE VAN PETTEN, WHO IS AARON. WELCOME

-- GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR STRAUSS AND MEMBERS OF THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS AARON TULLOCH. I'M LEGISLATIVE AIDE WITH FMS GLOBAL STRATEGIES, TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF. WE BUILD BACK BETTER

ALLIANCE ON THE MAYOR'S 2027 TO 28 PROPOSED BUDGET. WE SUPPORT THIS BUDGET WITH AMENDMENTS. EQUITY IS NOT A STATEMENT OF VALUES. IT IS A SET OF CHOICES WRITTEN INTO A SPENDING PLAN. AND WE ASK YOU TO

MAKE THREE. FIRST, PROTECT THE LIBERTY PROJECT. THIS COUNCIL INVESTED $500,000 TO THE WORK IN 2026 IN THE BUDGET, AND THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL CONTINUES THAT COMMITMENT. WE ASK YOU TO KEEP IT INTACT. THE

LIBERTY PROJECT GIVES BLACK OWNED AND OTHER UNREPRESENTED SMALL BUSINESSES HANDS ON SUPPORT IN ACCOUNTING, MARKETING, BUSINESS STRATEGY AND CONTRACTING. THIS IS NOT AN ABSTRACT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS CAPACITY, REVENUE OWNERSHIP AND WEALTH BUILDING FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY HAD LESS ACCESS TO ALL FOUR. SECOND, AT AT LEAST 500,000 TO TENANT SERVICES. THAT MONEY PAYS FOR A LAWYER

AT AN EVICTION HEARING, MEDIATION BEFORE A CASE IS FILED, AND EDUCATION ON TENANT RIGHTS. THE PROPOSAL HOLDS IT FLAT, WHILE EVICTION FILINGS HAVE REACHED RECORD HIGHS TWO YEARS IN A ROW, THIRD, ADOPT

THE FULL $11 RENTAL UNIT FEE IT PAYS TO ENFORCE THE CITY'S NEW LIMIT ON FEES. LANDLORDS CHARGE TENANTS. THE OWNER BEHIND THE COUNTER AND THE RENTER UPSTAIRS ARE OFTEN IN THE SAME FAMILY. WE ASK THAT

THE COUNTY, THE COUNCIL PROTECT THE LIBERTY PROJECT AT 500,000 FOR TENANT SERVICES AND ADOPT THE $11 RENTAL UNIT FEE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. AARON. THE NEXT PERSON PRESENT IS DAVID TOLEDO, FOLLOWED

BY THE NEXT PERSON PRESENT, JOSEPH LAKEMAN. SAM WOLFSON EL CREA, SHIRLEY LEUNG. DAVID, I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE. WELCOME MY FRIEND. GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU. -- THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT

UNIFIED OUTREACH. THERE'S TWO OTHER SPEAKERS BEHIND ME. PAMELA SIMON AND EDWARD DUMAS. I WILL BE REPRESENTING THEM SO THEY WON'T BE CALLING IN. WE'RE HERE TO ASK FOR UNIFIED OUTREACH TO RECEIVE A ONE

TIME ALLOCATION OF $100,000 UNIFIED OUTREACH IS A BIPOC LED 501 C THREE, WHICH HAS BEEN SERVING SEATTLE FOR OVER 25 YEARS. WE ARE A BIG UMBRELLA. WE DO ART INFUSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH

INCLUDE WORKING WITH AT RISK YOUTH GANG INTERVENTION, VIOLENCE REDUCTION, HOMELESS OUTREACH, WORK READINESS AND ARTS PROGRAMS, ENRICHMENT, CULTURAL EVENTS. AGAIN, WE SERVE BIPOC, ESL, SPECIAL NEEDS

STUDENTS. SO AGAIN, IT'S A BIG ORGANIZATION. IT'S A LOT TO WRAP YOUR HEADS AROUND. BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE 25 YEARS OF SERVICE. WE ARE ASKING FOR A ONE TIME ALLOCATION TO KEEP OUR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION

RUNNING WE WE FEEL THAT WE ARE A PROVEN ENTITY AND THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE RUNNING AND SUCCEEDING. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOMELESS OUTREACH, HOW

IMPORTANT ARTS AND CULTURE ARE. VIOLENCE REDUCTION. I HOPE MY TIME IS GOING TO GO OVER AS I'M SPEAKING FOR PAMELA AND EDWARD AS WELL. BUT AGAIN, OUR OUTREACH IS A BIG UMBRELLA. WE REACH A LOT OF THE

ORGANIZATIONS. -- WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE REAL QUICK. DAVID. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS GROUPS OF PEOPLE TOGETHER. THERE'S NOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN LIEU OF. BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO

RUN THE CLOCK FOR ANOTHER 10 SECONDS FOR YOU TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. -- OKAY. -- SO WITH THAT MISCOMMUNICATION . -- YEAH, WE MISUNDERSTOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO

AGAIN, PLEASE COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE LOVE ON UNIFIED OUTREACH, UNIFIED OUTREACH, LOVE ON UNIFIED OUTREACH. WE'RE 25 YEARS OF SERVING THE CITY. PLEASE SUPPORT US. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU, DAVID, AND

THANK YOU FOR JESTING WITH ME RIGHT THERE. UP NEXT, WE HAVE JOSEPH LAKEMAN, SAM WOLFSON, L CREE, SHIRLEY LEUNG JOSEPH, YOU'RE HERE WITH US. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. JOSEPH. JOSEPH. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING

TO KEEP ON MOVING. SAM WOLFSON L CREE. SHIRLEY. LEUNG. SAM, I SEE YOU'RE WITH US. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. -- HI SORRY. ONE SECOND. HI. MY NAME IS SAM WOLFSON. I'M A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT AND I'M A

MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON THE SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION. BUT TODAY I'M SPEAKING IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY. I WANT TO URGE CITY COUNCIL TO INCREASE THE PROPOSED FUNDING FOR TENANT SERVICES IN

THE MAYOR'S BUDGET BY AT LEAST 500,000. BECAUSE THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INCREASED COSTS OF PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND SHOULD BE INCREASED TO AT LEAST

MATCH THE CURRENT DEMAND. I ALSO SUPPORT FULLY ADOPTING THE PROPOSED $11 BIENNIAL RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES TO SUPPORT JUNK FEE ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER KINDS OF ENFORCEMENT, AND I DON'T SUPPORT ALLOWING

ANY EXEMPTIONS TO THESE FEES. RENTER PROTECTIONS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THEIR ENFORCEMENT, AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS IS TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED IN THE FIRST PLACE. SEATTLE IS A

MAJORITY RENTER CITY, AND FURTHERMORE, RENTERS REPRESENT LOWER INCOME POPULATIONS WITH FEWER RESOURCES AT OUR DISPOSAL, WE DESERVE FOR OUR WELL-BEING TO BE PRIORITIZED BY CITY GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU.

-- THANK YOU, SAM. UP NEXT IS EL CREE, FOLLOWED BY SHIRLEY LUNG. AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK THROUGH THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT BUT HAVE NOT COME OFF MUTE. OH, ACTUALLY, EL, IF YOU COULD HANG TIGHT WITH ME,

SINCE I KNOW YOU'RE A PRO HERE. JOSEPH LAKEMAN IS NOW OFF MUTE. JOSEPH, CAN YOU CONFIRM YOU'RE ABLE TO SPEAK RIGHT NOW? -- YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME? -- YEP. WE'RE GOING TO ROLL WITH YOU, JOSEPH, AND THEN

WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU. EL, THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE. EL -- ALL RIGHT. -- THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JOSEPH LOCKMAN. DIFFICULTY IN MEETING MY. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF ASIAN COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICE.

FIRST OF ALL, SPEAKING IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE TO MAYOR WILSON FOR PROPOSING A BUDGET THAT FULLY PRESERVES THE FUNDING. I'M CONCERNED THAT SOME

OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS MIGHT BE USING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CUT EDDIE FOR OTHER PRIORITIES THAT ARE NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE INTENT OF THE JUMPSTART TAX. I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO PROTECT AND

PRESERVE THIS PROPOSED FUNDING. IT'S AN IMPORTANT IT DEEPLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM THAT I'M HELPING TO ANCHOR SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT IN OUR CITY. WE KNOW

THE PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL. IT'S HIGHLY VALUED, AND IT'S SERVING SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, MANY OF WHOM ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO AND PART OF THE

COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AS ASIAN COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE STRONGLY SUPPORT SHELTER EXPANSION PROPOSED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET, NOTING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY KNOW

THAT THIS WORKS AND WE NEED TO INVEST IN SHELTER THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE HIGHEST ACUITY NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE'RE SERVING. I'M SURE THAT THERE

THROUGHPUT TO HOUSING AND FULLY FUNDING THE STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND EMBRACE NEW OR EXPANDED SHELTERS. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. JOSEPH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME AS

WE WERE DOING THAT REAL TIME. MOVING AROUND. NO PROBLEM. I SEE YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE. CAN'T CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND TAKE IT AWAY. -- OH MY GOSH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. EVERYBODY HERE. IT'S

SIMPLE. YOU KNOW NICK'S THE 66. I'M OLD SCHOOL AND I CAME UP WITH THAT. YOU KNOW IT'S VERY EASY. 66 NEW COPS, YOU KNOW LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT WE'RE STRUGGLING OUT HERE. AND

WHEN YOU ADD 66 TO THE PAYROLL, IT'S GOING TO END UP TO BE LIKE $8 MILLION OVER THIS BUDGET CYCLE THAT SHE SET. THE CITY HAS PROPOSED. AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS A MANAGEMENT ISSUE. YOU

HAVE SIX COPS SHOWING UP TO UNLOCK A BATHROOM IN CAL ANDERSON. YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON THAT JUST DON'T JUSTIFY THIS. AND 66 FROM MY YEARS AS A BUDGET ANALYST, HOW DO YOU COME UP

WITH THAT NUMBER? IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD DAYS BEING IN DEFENSE CONTRACTING. IT'S SORT OF A SWAG. AND IF YOU KNOW, ANYHOW, I'LL GET OFF OF THAT. PLEASE LOOK AT YOUR EMAILS. I'VE EMAILED Y'ALL SOME OF

THE PROPOSALS. I WOULD ASK THAT AS WE LOOK AT THIS BUDGET CYCLE, LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY HEADQUARTERED IN SEATTLE, AND LET'S KEEP THE FUNDS HERE AND LET'S TAKE OUT THESE 66 COPS

AND START FUNDING SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE STONE SOUP CREW, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS SO MASSIVE, THE AVOIDED COST OF SUPPORTING US AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE US. AND KAWHI IS

INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. PLEASE LOOK AT YOUR EMAILS AND LOOK AT THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE PASSED ON TO YOU. I ABSOLUTELY. -- THANK YOU. L AND FOLLOWING L IS DAVID HAYNES,

WHO'S NOW PRESENT, FOLLOWED BY SHIRLEY LEUNG. DAVID STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. WELCOME DAVID STAR SIX. THERE YOU ARE. WELCOME. -- HI. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. -- YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT GEORGE FLOYD,

PROTESTERS SHUT DOWN CITY HALL WAY BACK IN THE DAY, AND THEY SHIFTED ROUGHLY $100 MILLION. AND THAT IS STILL TAKING PLACE. AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT YOU INVEST IN RUNNING

INTERFERENCE FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD. WE NEED BETTER OVERSIGHT AND LEGISLATION IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY REALM, AND THE OVERSIGHT AND INTERPRETATION OF WHAT ALL

THESE NONPROFITS ARE DOING THAT ARE BASICALLY INFILTRATED. THE 911 CIVILIAN DISPATCH AND ARE GETTING IN THE WAY OF PROACTIVE CRIME FIGHTING, STILL RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR MISDEMEANOR DRUG CRIMES THAT

THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS TOLD THE POLICE CHIEF THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE. AND YET COUNCIL KEEPS LYING TO THEMSELVES ABOUT THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY LEGISLATION THAT IS COMPLETELY FAILED ON PEOPLE, YOU

KNOW, PUSHING PEOPLE OUT OF ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER SIDE AND MANIPULATING THE STATISTICS IS NOT GOING TO WORK. BUT SPENDING $100 MILLION TO PAY OFF BLACK LIVES MATTER AND GEORGE FLOYD, PROTESTERS RUNNING

INTERFERENCE FOR FELONS, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXACERBATE THE CRISIS AND TAKE AWAY THE CAPACITY THAT'S NEEDED FOR INNOCENT HOMELESS. BUT YOU ALL NEED TO REIMAGINE WHAT REGIONAL RESPONSE IS

AND USE THE STATE RESOURCES AND THE FEDERAL RESOURCES TO SAVE MONEY ON THE $37 MILLION FOR A THOUSAND MEASLY CAPACITY SHELTER BEDS AND BUILD WAY MORE THAN THAT AT A LOT LESS COST. THAT WOULD BE A LOT

MORE FIRST WORLD AND EVEN THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP YOU STAND UP. THE AUTHORIZED ENCAMPMENTS INSTEAD OF RELYING ON SHARON LEE HIRED A SUBCONTRACTOR WITH A USED TRACTOR TO MOVE UP SOME DIRT AND TAKE.

-- THANK YOU DAVID. UP NEXT IS SHIRLEY LEUNG, AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THOSE THAT ARE SIGNED UP. BUT WERE NOT PRESENT PREVIOUSLY. SHIRLEY, I SEE YOU'RE HERE. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. THANK YOU. WELCOME.

-- HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SHIRLEY AND I LIVE IN LAKE CITY. PLEASE ADD AT LEAST ANOTHER 500 K FOR TENANT SERVICES TO THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. TENANT SERVICES, RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND STRONGER RENTER

PROTECTIONS PREVENT PEOPLE FROM FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS. WE KNOW THAT PREVENTION IS ALWAYS THE BEST MEDICINE, SO LET'S TAKE GOOD CARE OF OUR RENTERS BY FUNDING THE THINGS THAT KEEP THEM HOUSED.

PLEASE ALSO ADOPT THE FULL $11 INCREASE IN RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES PAID BY LANDLORDS EVERY TWO YEARS TO FUND RENTAL JUNK FEES AND ENFORCEMENT. I ALSO URGE THE COUNCIL TO DEFLATE OUR BLOATED POLICE

BUDGET, WHICH TAKES MONEY AWAY FROM MEETING THE REAL NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE LIKE SHELTER, FOOD, EDUCATION, SIDEWALKS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE. THE ONLY THINGS I'VE EVER PERSONALLY

SEEN SEATTLE COPS DO ARE ONE TERRORIZE, HURT, AND KILL MY UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS. TWO DRAW THEIR GUNS WHILE RUNNING AFTER TEENAGERS SHOUTING, YOU'RE GONNA GET SHOT! AND POINTING THE GUN AT ME WHILE I'M IN

THE WAY. DRIVE RECKLESSLY HIT MY NEIGHBOR'S CARS AND POLLUTE MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MOTOR OIL. AND OF COURSE, STANDING AROUND DOING NOTHING AND WASTING MY MONEY. ALL OF THIS MAKES ME LESS SAFE. AND FOR

THE PRIVILEGE IT COSTS 25%, OVER 25%, OR OVER 6,000,600 MILLION OF OUR BUDGET. SPENDING THIS MONEY IN LITERALLY ANY OTHER WAY, BUT ESPECIALLY ON HOUSING, WOULD COMPLETELY TRANSFORM OUR CITY FOR THE

BETTER. THANKS. -- THANK YOU. -- SHIRLEY, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE TOP AND WORK OUR WAY THROUGH. WE HAVE CYNTHIA IRVIN AND KAY VAN PETTEN, WHO HAVE CALLED IN. I'M GOING TO READ THE NAMES OF THOSE

WHO ARE NOT PRESENT. IT IS NOW AFTER 3 P.M.. AND SO REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. SO IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE ABOUT FOUR, FIVE MINUTES AT MOST TO CALL IN. YOU CAN CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR THE CALL IN

INSTRUCTIONS. MICHAEL HERSHON KIMBERLY HARRELL VICTORIA WATTS BLUE GRAY. WILLIAM KELLY I HEARD PAMELA SEA MONSTER, LAUREL H. AND EDWARD DUMAS ARE NOT CALLING IN. NICOLE ROBINSON K Y KING GARRETT.

THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE LISTED, NOT PRESENT AND HAVE SIGNED UP. I WILL NOW GO THROUGH THE REMAINING TWO THAT WE HAVE PRESENT. CYNTHIA IRVIN AND THEN KAY VAN PETTEN. CYNTHIA, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT

PHONES FOR YOU CALLING IN RIGHT NOW. WHICHEVER ONE YOU'RE ON, PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. AND WE AND YOU'LL BE LIVE WITH US. SO CYNTHIA IRVIN, STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. CYNTHIA. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO

PAUSE ON CYNTHIA KAY VAN PETTEN, I SEE YOU'RE WITH US. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. YOU'RE OFF MUTE. WELCOME. -- HEY, Y'ALL. GOOD AFTERNOON. -- GOOD AFTERNOON. -- I'M KEVIN AND I'M A WORKING MUSICIAN IN

SEATTLE. MUSIC COMMISSIONER SPEAKING IN MY INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY TODAY, MUSIC MAKES SEATTLE FEEL LIKE HOME AND THE PEOPLE CREATING IT NEED TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. SO I STAND WITH ARTISTS AND CULTURAL

WORKERS ASKING FOR PAID COMMUNITY LED PROGRAMING YEAR ROUND. PLEASE FUND NEIGHBORHOOD MUSIC PERFORMANCES INCLUDING ARTIST FEES AND PRODUCTION COSTS, WHILE PROTECTING EXISTING MUSIC PROGRAMS AND DIRECT

ARTIST GRANTS. THIS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PAID WORK FOR MUSICIANS, CUSTOMERS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES, AND SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT VENUES TO ADVANCE MUSIC MISSION, PLEASE SPONSOR A COUNCIL BUDGET

ACTION FUNDING. A ONE YEAR MUSICIAN LAUREATE PILOT IN ITS 2027 BUDGET WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND OED CONFIRMING COSTS AND FUNDING. SOURCE. I'M ADVANCING THIS PROPOSAL THROUGH MY COMMISSION WORK. A VISIBLE

CHAMPION FOR SEATTLE MUSIC THROUGH PAID PERFORMANCES, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND VENUE PARTNERSHIPS. PLEASE HELP US TURN OUR CITY OF MUSIC VISION INTO PAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING ARTISTS. THANK YOU

SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS. -- THANK YOU. KAY. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE CYNTHIA ONE LAST TRY HERE IF YOU WANT TO REPROMOTE CYNTHIA. SHE'S NO LONGER CALLED IN OKAY. WELL, THIS IS ME TRYING TO STALL

JUST A SECOND TO SEE IF SOMEBODY CALLS RIGHT BACK IN GOOD TO SEE YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. -- GOOD TO SEE YOU, BUDGET CHAIR. -- HERE WE ARE. SO CYNTHIA STILL HAS NOT CALLED IN. AND WE WILL WE WILL END

THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. AND SO WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE SCHEDULED TIME FOR REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND WE HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH EVERYONE WHO IS VIRTUALLY PRESENT. AND SO WE WILL NOW MOVE

TO RECESS. AND IF YOU SPOKE THIS MORNING, PLEASE KNOW THAT THAT WAS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. SO PLEASE SAVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE OF COMING DOWN HERE FOR THE IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH IS

RESERVED FOR FOLKS THAT DID NOT PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ALREADY TODAY. AND SO IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 4:59 P.M.. SO WE'LL START RIGHT AT FIVE. AND

SO COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE BE PRESENT AT 4:59 P.M.. AGAIN, MY APOLOGIES FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A LATE START AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE WITH THAT. WE ARE HEARING NO OBJECTIONS. THIS MEETING IS IN

RECESS UNTIL 5 P.M.. 459. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. -- THANK YOU. CAN YOU HIT THE MICS -- [MUSIC]

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] -- GOOD EVENING. THE. OCTOBER 6th, 2026 SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING WILL COME TO BACK TO ORDER. IT IS 5:01 P.M.. I'M DAN STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? -- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HERE. COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. -- HERE. -- PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH. PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER. JUAREZ. -- HERE. -- COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.

COUNCILMEMBER LIN. -- HERE. -- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. HERE. CHAIR STRAUSS. PRESENT SEVEN. PRESENT. -- THANK YOU. WE HAVE ALREADY READ THE ITEMS INTO THE RECORD. AS THIS MEETING TECHNICALLY STARTED THIS

AFTERNOON AT 1 P.M. FOR VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENTERS, I WILL GO OVER THE RULES ONCE MORE, WHICH IS. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10

SECONDS REMAIN OF YOUR TIME. SPEAKERS. MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF YOU DO NOT END YOUR COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME. WE DO REQUEST THAT IF YOU ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH SOMEONE, YOU USE JAZZ HANDS

RATHER THAN CLAPPING, SIMPLY SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THE PROCESS MOVING AND THAT EVERYONE CAN HEAR AS WE CALL PEOPLE'S NAMES. IF YOU ARE IN A GROUP, WE ARE OFFERING FOUR MINUTES 30s, WHICH FOR GROUPS OF

THREE OR LARGER, WHICH IS THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AS THREE PEOPLE GET. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WITH THE FIRST SET OF GROUPS, SO WE'LL HANDLE THAT AS IT GOES. BUT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE

GROUPS, EVERYONE IN THE GROUP COMES UP AND HANDS IN YOUR NUMBER. I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST WITH PRONUNCIATION. I'M NOT PERFECT. AND I'M OFTENTIMES WRONG. AND SO I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE IF I DO GET YOUR

NAME WRONG. FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE DAIS. MY APOLOGIES. WE DO HAVE A FORMER COUNCILMEMBER IN ATTENDANCE. I HAVE ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST. SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD

LIKE TO STAY IN THE ORDER IN WHICH SHE REGISTERED. SO THANK YOU AND GOOD TO SEE YOU. WITH THAT. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER OBJECTIONS, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT INTO THIS PUBLIC HEARING. I'M GOING TO DO

MY BEST TO BOTH BE TAKING MY TALLIES AND CALLING THE NAMES, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO GO THROUGH EVERYONE'S PUBLIC COMMENT. THE PARKING GARAGE ACROSS THE STREET DOES CLOSE AT

10 P.M., AND SO WE'LL JUST IF WE GET TO THAT LATE, WE'LL BE MAKING SOME ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THAT. WITH THAT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES FANTASTIC. AND WE GOT COUNCILMEMBER BOB KETTLE COUNCILMEMBER

JUAREZ ON THE LINE. WONDERFUL. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO READ THE FIRST BUNCH OF NAMES, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO START ROLLING. TYLER VASQUEZ, LARS ERICKSON, DENISE KELLY OH, HELLO. LEONARD MITCHELL,

JULIA, ROBERT DAN WISE, J V EDDIE MAHONEY AND KAREN ESTEVAN. AND IF FOLKS JUST WANT TO LINE UP RIGHT HERE AND WE'LL JUST, WE'LL JUST TICK. TYLER, ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU. -- AND I'LL BE CLOSE TO THE

MIC. -- OH YEAH. AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SPEAK MOST OF THEM CLOSE TO THE MIC. YEP. IF YOU HEAR ME SAY MICK JAGGER THAT MEANS JUST GET A LITTLE CLOSER. WE'LL START YOUR TIME AS SOON AS YOU START TALKING

WITH THAT. OVER TO YOU, TYLER. WELCOME -- GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M TYLER VASQUEZ WITH CASCADE BICYCLE CLUB. WE ADVOCATE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE ON THE SEATTLE STREETS.

THOSE WALKING, ROLLING, BIKING AND ACCESSING ACCESSING TRANSIT, THE SAFER STREETS INITIATIVE ALSO CALLS THEM VULNERABLE TRAVELERS. OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK IS CITYWIDE AND SO IS THE NEED FOR SAFETY.

WE KNOW THAT WHAT WORKS AS OF 2025, THE FEDERAL LIST OF PROVEN SAFETY COUNTERMEASURES INCLUDE BICYCLE LANES, WALKWAYS, LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS AND SAFE SPEED LIMITS. EVERYONE OF THEM COSTS MONEY

TO BUILD. THIS SUMMER, THE MAYOR AND ALSO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE PUT FORWARD POLICY THAT MAKES THOSE TRAVELING IN OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SAFER. AND WE MUST PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE USERS

OF VULNERABLE USERS. A BUDGET IS WHERE THOSE POLICIES BECOME REAL. THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED A BUDGET BUDGET THAT PRESERVES THIS FUNDING IN A HARD FISCAL YEAR. NOW IT'S COUNCIL'S TURN TO MAKE SURE WE

PRESERVE THAT FUNDING. WE'RE WHAT WATCHING CLOSELY, AND WE HOPE THAT THIS BUDGET RECOGNIZES THE POLICIES THAT ARE IN COMMITTEE, IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND ALSO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER. THANK YOU.

-- THANK YOU. TYLER. UP NEXT IS LARS ERICKSON, FOLLOWED BY DENISE KELLY. -- GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR STRAUSS AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS LARS ERICKSON. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SEATTLE METRO CHAMBER

AND OUR 2600 MEMBERS. WE URGE YOU TO PROTECT THE CORE FRAMEWORK OF MAYOR WILSON'S PROPOSED BUDGET. IT DEMONSTRATES THAT SEATTLE CAN MAKE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING

AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICES WHILE MAINTAINING FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND AVOIDING NEW BUSINESS TAXES AT A TIME OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY. THAT BALANCE IS WORTH PRESERVING AS YOU CONSIDER AMENDMENTS, PLEASE

PRESERVE THE PATHWAY TO 1250 POLICE OFFICERS AND MAINTAIN INVESTMENTS IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, RESIST EFFORTS TO ADD NEW BUSINESS TAXES OR UNDO THE FISCAL

DISCIPLINE THAT MAKES THESE INVESTMENTS POSSIBLE. SEATTLE'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON BOTH BEING BOTH SAFE AND ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP THOSE PRIORITIES FRONT AND CENTER AS YOU

FINALIZE THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU LARS. UP NEXT IS DENISE, FOLLOWED BY ODA DENISE, WELCOME. -- GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS DENISE PEREZ LAWLEY. I LIVE AND WORK IN

DISTRICT ONE. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING THIS BUDGET CYCLE. I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR SHELTER EXPANSION IN SUPPORT OF HOUSING THAT IS PROPOSED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. IT REMAINS

ONE OF THE THINNEST PARTS OF OUR SHELTER CONTINUUM, EVEN THOUGH MANY PEOPLE LIVING UNSHELTERED IN SEATTLE HAVE COMPLEX NEEDS THAT REQUIRE THIS LEVEL OF CARE. EVERY PERSON HAS A UNIQUE PATH FORWARD

STABILITY AND RECOVERY. BUT THAT PATH BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE RIGHT SUPPORT AROUND THEM. I SUPPORT SHELTER REQUIRES INVESTMENT, HIGH QUALITY, LOW CASELOAD SUPPORT SERVICES WITH 24 OVER

SEVEN STAFFING AND ACCESS TO SAFETY AND DE-ESCALATION RESOURCES, I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE GET THIS RIGHT. AS THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF COLEAD AT PDA, I WITNESSED PEOPLE MOVE FROM THE

STREETS INTO SAFETY, STABILITY IN TEMPORARY LODGING BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED INDIVIDUALIZED CARE AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT. NUMEROUS PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO BUILD TRUST WITH CONSISTENT STAFF MEMBERS,

DEVELOP DAILY ROUTINES, AND TAKE THE NEXT STEPS TO PERMANENT HOUSING AND STABILITY. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU DENISE. UP NEXT IS ODA, FOLLOWED BY LEONARD AND THEN JULIA ODA. WELCOME. HELLO, HELLO. HI.

-- MY NAME IS. -- YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE THE TALLER ONE. YEAH. -- HI. MY NAME IS ODA AND I LIVE IN MARINA JAMES ON AURORA, AND I LIVED THERE SINCE JULY. I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR. I SUPPORT

SHELTER. IT HAS HELPED ME WHERE I CAN. I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF. IT HELPED ME GET MY LICENSE, MY PASSPORT, AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT I COULDN'T DO. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT. IT HELPED ME FIX MY

LEGAL ISSUES AND NOW I'M ABLE TO START LOOKING FOR FOR WORK. I'M SO EXCITED TO START MY NEW JOURNEY. AND IT'S IN LARGE PART DUE TO THIS PROGRAM. PLEASE MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR HI SUPPORT SHELTER AND

THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU ODA. UP NEXT IS LEONARD, FOLLOWED BY JULIA AND THEN DAN WEISS. LEONARD, WELCOME. -- GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS LEONARD AND I AM HERE

TONIGHT REPRESENTING THE COLEAD PROGRAM. I AM CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF THE SHELTER WHERE I HAVE BEEN A PARTICIPANT IN THE PROGRAM FOR THE PAST YEAR. I AM. SORRY. I AM HERE TO URGE THE CITY AND THE

STATE TO CONTINUE FULL FUNDING FOR HI SUPPORT SHELTERS. HI. SUPPORT SHELTERS ARE NOT JUST FOR A PLACE OR ARE NOT JUST A PLACE TO SLEEP. THEY ALSO PROVIDE THE CRITICAL WRAPAROUND SERVICES LIKE MENTAL

HEALTH CARE, CASE MANAGEMENT AND STABILITY THAT PEOPLE TRULY NEED, NEED NEED TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES. WITHOUT THIS SPECIFIC MODEL OF CARE AND THE DEDICATED STAFF BEHIND IT, WHAT FINDING A PATHWAY TO

LONG TERM STABILITY WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MANY OF US. PLEASE PROTECT THIS VITAL LIFELINE AND MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR HI SUPPORT SHELTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. -- THANK YOU

LEONARD. UP NEXT IS JULIA, FOLLOWED BY DAN WEISS AND THEN J. V. MORNING, JULIA. GOOD EVENING. -- OKAY. -- IT'S TIME. IT'S TIME TO PUT PUT OUR GAS. EXCUSE ME. OUR FOOT ON THE GAS FOR. HI. SUPPORTIVE

SHELTER FOR OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED. MY NAME IS JULIA THEOBALD. I AM A THIRD PIKE PINE RESIDENT. YOU MAY RECALL THAT I AND MANY OTHERS WERE HERE THIS SUMMER TO SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION'S HI SUPPORT

SHELTER PLAN EXPANSION. WE WERE THRILLED WITH YOUR SUPPORT OF THAT, BUT WE SAID WE'D BE BACK. BACK TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO FUND THAT PLAN DURING THE BUDGET SEASON. WE'RE BACK AND IT'S TIME, AS MY

NEIGHBORS AND I PROACTIVELY WORK TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF CHRONIC CRIMES, OF DESPERATION, NEGLECT, AND ADDICTION. AT THE CORNER OF THIRD AND PINE AND PIKE ON ON OUR NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORS IN NEED, THE

NUMBER ONE OBSTACLE WE FACE IS NOT LACK OF POLICE. IT IS LACK OF SHELTER AND IN PARTICULAR LACK OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. MIND YOU, I AM NOT A DEFUND THE POLICE PERSON. I BELIEVE IN A STRONG POLICE

FORCE AND GIVING THEM THE ROBUST TECHNOLOGY AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB WELL. BUT IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, THIS IS IT. WE ARE

STANDING ON THE PRECIPICE OF A DRASTIC FEDERAL CUT THAT WILL PUT MANY OF OUR EXISTING FOLKS BACK ON THE STREET, LET ALONE. -- THANK YOU JULIA. UP NEXT IS DAN WISE, FOLLOWED BY JAY AND THEN EDDIE

MAHONEY. -- GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS DAN WISE, AND I'M WITH A SMALL NEW NONPROFIT CALLED EVERYONE DESERVES HOUSING. I'M HERE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF EXPANDING SHELTER IN SEATTLE,

PARTICULARLY DESIGNED TO SERVE FOLKS WITH COMPLEX SERVICE NEEDS. AT EDDIE, WE SUPPORT. WE OPERATE HI SUPPORT SHELTER THAT IS A TRIAGE POINT TO HOUSING. OUR MODEL PROVIDES 24 HOUR ON SITE SUPPORT WITH

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, MEALS. CASE MANAGERS FROM EARLY IN THE MORNING TO LATE IN THE EVENING. WE HAVE A HIGH TOLERANCE FOR SHENANIGANS AND A LOT OF COMPASSION. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE HAVE

EXPERIENCED PROFOUND TRAUMA AND PREVIOUSLY BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM SERVICES, AND WE STRIVE TO UNDERSTAND THE REASONS BEHIND A PERSON'S ACTIONS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PERSON IS ANGRY AND THEY KNOCK OVER

A TABLE, WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF THE PERSON. RATHER THAN DOLING OUT CONSEQUENCES FOR THE BROKEN TABLE, SEATTLE NEEDS MORE SHELTER THAT'S PREPARED TO WELCOME PEOPLE AS THEY ARE,

NOT AS WE THEY WISH THEY WOULD BE. AND I URGE YOU TO KEEP SUPPORTING HI SUPPORT SHELTER GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. -- THANK YOU DAN. UP NEXT IS JOY, THEN EDDIE, AND THEN KAREN. -- HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS JAY AND I WORK FOR EVERYONE DESERVES HOUSING. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT. HI SUPPORT SHELTERS. THERE'S MANY WAYS TO EXIT HOMELESSNESS AND FOR THOSE WITH COMPLEX NEEDS. HI SUPPORT TUTORS, DESIGNS

TO TO SUPPORT THEM BY PROVIDING LIKE OUTDOOR SPACE, SMOKING AREAS, INTENSIVES CASE MANAGEMENT, ACCESS TO RECOVERY SERVICES, ALL THIS. YESTERDAY I HAD A CLIENT WHO I HAVE SERVED FOR PROBABLY THREE

MONTHS. HE CAME TO ME AND HE SAID, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. I WAS DOWN BEFORE AND TODAY I AM ON MY FEET AGAIN. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND I WANT TO BRING YOUR PIZZA

SOMETIMES. AND I SHARE THAT WITH MY COLLEAGUES HOPE LOOKING FORWARD. IF WE CAN SERVE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF THEM TO GET INTO HOUSING AND THEIR CAREERS, I THINK IT WOULD BE MEANINGFUL. SO I AM HERE

TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. JAY. UP NEXT IS EDDIE, FOLLOWED BY KAREN. AND THEN I'M GOING TO READ THE NEXT. WE'VE GOT JAMIE FACKLER, JESSIE WATSON, LESLIE BERNSTEIN, DWIGHT W, MARGARET

SHIELD, EMILY MEYER, LARISSA BROWN, RON ABRAM, FLO BAUMAN, ALEX WITT, EDDIE, WELCOME. -- THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER. MY NAME IS EDDIE MAHON AND I'M ALSO WITH EVERYONE DESERVES HOUSING AND WITH

BAYSIDE ENHANCED SHELTER. I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE PEOPLE I MEET EVERY DAY WHO ARE LIVING UNSHELTERED. THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS. MANY HAVE SURVIVED YEARS OF TRAUMA, ILLNESS, ADDICTION AND

INSTABILITY. WHAT THEY NEED IS NOT JUST A BED FOR THE NIGHT. THEY NEED A MEANINGFUL, MEANINGFUL SUPPORT AND A CLEAR PATH FORWARD. AT BAYSIDE, WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE MAKE INCREDIBLE PROGRESS IN THE SHORT

TIME THAT WE HAVE BEEN OPEN. WHEN THEY HAVE ACCESS TO INTENSIVE SUPPORT, CONSISTENT RELATIONSHIPS AND HOUSING FOCUSED SERVICES. I'VE ALSO SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE RESOURCES AREN'T AVAILABLE.

SEATTLE NEEDS SEATTLE NEEDS MORE, NEEDS MORE HIGH SUPPORT SHELTERS, AND MORE HOUSING OPTIONS. WITHOUT THEM, PEOPLE REMAIN STUCK IN CRISIS AND IN SHELTERS, BECOME OVERWHELMED WITH THEM. PEOPLE CAN

STABILIZE, RECOVER AND MOVE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. I URGE YOU TO INVEST IN BOTH. THESE ARE NOT JUST BUDGET DECISIONS, BUT THEY ARE DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE A CHANCE TO SUCCEED, LIVE

AND THRIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. -- THANK YOU. EDDIE. UP NEXT IS KAREN, FOLLOWED BY JAMIE AND THEN JESSE. KAREN, WELCOME. -- THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS

KAREN. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PROTECT 17, A LABOR UNION REPRESENTING OVER 3000 WORKERS HERE AT THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO FIND WAYS OTHER THAN LAYOFFS TO CLOSE THE BUDGET GAP.

I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT TWO PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP FOR THIS CITY EVERY DAY. ALEX IS A DATA TECHNICIAN AT THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. HIS JOB IS TO HELP PEOPLE FIND WHAT THEY'VE LOST A STOLEN CAR, A

MISSING COWORKER, A CHILD WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT HOME FROM SCHOOL. TWO OF THE POSITIONS THAT MAKE THAT WORK POSSIBLE ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. THE AUTO RECORD STAFF WHO REUNITE PEOPLE WITH THEIR STOLEN

VEHICLES HASSLE FREE AT AN ALREADY STRESSFUL MOMENT. AND THE RECORDS UNIT STAFF WHO MAKE SURE RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS THEIR OWN CASE FILES ON WHAT MIGHT BE THE WORST DAY OF THEIR LIVES. LISA IS A PERSON,

ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WHO WORKS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SHE'S BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN 16 YEARS AS THE FOOD EQUITY FUND PROJECT MANAGER. SHE CONNECTS GRASSROOTS GROUPS LIKE A SMALL

NONPROFIT IN RAINIER, RUNNING LOW ON FUNDS TO FEED HOMEBOUND SENIORS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP GOING. THIS PATTERN CONTINUES ACROSS FIVE DEPARTMENTS. PLEASE, THIS IS TOO MUCH TO PAY. AND

WE'RE HERE ASKING YOU TO FIND OTHER WAYS. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS JAMIE FACKLER, FOLLOWED BY JESSE WATSON, LESLIE BERNSTEIN. -- YEAH. THANK YOU. CHAIR STRAUSS AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I REALLY

DO NOT ENVY YOU IN IN THIS ROLE. THERE'S A LOT OF TOUGH DECISIONS TO BE MADE IN REALLY DIFFICULT TIMES FACING THE CITY. AS I WORK AT SDCI AS A BUILDING INSPECTOR, I'M A PROTECH 17 MEMBER AND A SHOP

STEWARD THERE. WE HAVE SEVEN OF THE JOB CUTS SEVEN OF THE LAYOFFS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALSO GOT A LOT OF POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING LET GO THAT ARE UNFILLED. BUT SEVEN OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE AT SDCI. WE

HAVE TWO FOLKS THAT WORK IN LAND USE THAT HOST THE IN-PERSON PUBLIC MEETINGS. SO PRIMARILY DESIGN REVIEW, BUT ALSO FOR LAND USE DECISIONS. SO DATA CENTERS IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, THOSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO

HOST THOSE MEETINGS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE ONLY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MEETINGS OR FROM THE CITY THAT ARE AT THOSE MEETINGS. SO, SO WE'RE LOSING THOSE FOLKS. UNFORTUNATELY, IN THESE CUTS, WE

ALSO HAVE STRATEGIC ADVISOR POSITIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE LOST. AND THOSE ARE IN SLATED FOR LAYOFFS OR IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. AND IN OUR REINFORCED MASONRY PROGRAM, THOSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE

IMPACTED. SO VERY SPECIALIZED ROLES. AND SO REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET. AND REALLY WHAT SDCI NEEDS IS MORE PERMITS COMING IN THE DOOR. AND THAT'S SOMETHING

THAT'S IN YOUR ABILITY TO DO RELATED TO MH FEES. YOU KNOW, WHAT COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER IS PROPOSING AND EVEN LOOKING AT MH FURTHER AND HOW CAN WE REALLY SPUR DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS DESPERATELY WHAT THIS

DEPARTMENT NEEDS? THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU JAMIE. UP NEXT IS JESSIE WATSON WATSON, FOLLOWED BY LESLIE AND THEN DWIGHT WICKERSHAM. -- HELLO, CHAIR STRAUSS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JESSE

WATSON. I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR INSPIRE WASHINGTON, OUR STATE'S CULTURAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING SCIENCE, HERITAGE AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS THE BROAD CREATIVE ECONOMY, INCLUDING

INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND VENUES. I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, FUNDING SEATTLE'S CULTURAL SECTOR IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR CITY'S ECONOMY. WE CREATE JOBS, ATTRACT VISITORS, SUPPORT

SMALL BUSINESSES, PROVIDE MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS TO ALL AGES, AND HELP MAKE SEATTLE A VIBRANT PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, WORK AND VISIT. BUT WE PROVIDE THAT VALUE WHILE OPERATING IN ONE OF THE

COUNTRY'S MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES. WITH RISING COSTS HITTING US AT EVERY TURN, THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE HAS NOT RECEIVED INCREASE IN GRANT FUNDING IN DECADES, AND IT IS TIME WE ARE GRATEFUL TO

COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR CREATING THE SHIELD SEATTLE INITIATIVE AND TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH FOR INCLUDING ARTS AND CULTURE AS AN ALLOWABLE USE. INSPIRE WASHINGTON SEES THIS AS AN OBVIOUS

PLACE TO FUND THE ARTS AND CULTURE. BUT OF COURSE, WE ARE HAPPY TO UTILIZE FUNDS WHEREVER YOU SEE FIT. THE COUNTY HAS STEPPED UP IN A BIG WAY TO SUPPORT THIS SECTOR, AND NOW WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO

DO THEIR PART AND INVEST IN THE VALUABLE WORK WE DO AND PROTECT THE JOBS OF CULTURAL WORKERS WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE. PLEASE INCLUDE ARTS AND CULTURE IN THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU JESSE. UP

NEXT IS LESLIE, FOLLOWED BY DWIGHT AND THEN MARGARET. WELCOME, LESLIE. -- GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD. -- YEP. THAT'S WHY YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD ON REAL QUICK. RESTART YOUR TIME. JUST AND JODY CAN WE

RESTART HER TIME. -- GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS LESLIE RAY BERNSTEIN. I AM A SEATTLE NATIVE AND CURRENTLY A TRUSTEE SERVING ON THE ARTS FUND BOARD. I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE. ART IS AN

ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF AN ENGAGED AND CONNECTED CITY, AND THEREFORE DESERVES PUBLIC SUPPORT. SHIELD SEATTLE MEANS PROTECTING THE CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKES SEATTLE A CITY WHERE PEOPLE BELONG,

PARTICIPATE, AND IMAGINE A FUTURE TOGETHER. PLEASE INCLUDE ARTS AND CULTURE IN SHIELD SEATTLE FUNDING. ART HAS THE POWER TO CONNECT, HEAL AND INSPIRE AT ITS BEST, ART IS THE HEART OF ENGAGEMENT, THE

HEART OF HEALING, AND THE HEART OF CONNECTION AND BELONGING. THEATER, MUSIC, STORYTELLING, DANCE, VISUAL ART AND HISTORY ARE EXPRESSIONS OF OUR SHARED HUMANITY BEYOND WORDS. ART IS THE UNIVERSAL

LANGUAGE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU LESLIE. UP NEXT IS DWIGHT, FOLLOWED BY MARGARET AND THEN EMILY. WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE YOU, DWIGHT. CITY COUNCIL. -- MY NAME IS. -- DWIGHT WISKIRCHEN, A SUPERVISOR FOR

THE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY REGARDING THE THE GROWING HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN SEATTLE. I MYSELF WAS HOMELESS FOR 20 YEARS AND AS A SUPERVISOR, I SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE

STRUGGLING EACH DAY. AND THE INCREASING NUMBER OF TENTS IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE PIONEER SQUARE STREETS TO HOUSING INITIATIVE PRODUCED RESULTS, GETTING MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE CONNECTED

TO THE RIGHT KIND OF SHELTER OR HOUSING. APPROPRIATE HOUSING MAKES IT MORE LIKELY PEOPLE WILL STAY ON THE PATH TO STABILITY. WE'VE SEEN THE DIFFERENCES THAT INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALIZED CARE

CAN MAKE. NOW WE NEED TO TAKE THAT. NOW WE NEED THE TOOLS TO MAKE IT REALITY. ALL AROUND THE CITY. WE'VE HAD RECENT SUCCESS IN SEATTLE. WE NEED TO INVEST IN SHELTERS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR

NEIGHBORS, WHO HAVE THE HIGHEST NEEDS, AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE SET UP FOR SUCCESS. AND WE NEED TO FULLY FUND STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE EXPAND SHELTER CAPACITY. THANK YOU. --

THANK YOU. DWIGHT. UP NEXT IS MARGARET, FOLLOWED BY EMILY. AND THEN. -- WE HAD A GROUP. -- OH, THIS WAS A GROUP. OKAY, SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DID YOU ALL SIGN UP UNDER ONE NAME? SO THEN WHAT I'M GOING

TO ASK YOU TO DO. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES TO DO THE OTHER TWO FOLKS. BUT YOU GOT TO SAY YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD AND I'M GOING TO WRITE IT DOWN. -- HI, MY NAME IS JAMES MARTINEZ,

FORMERLY OF DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR. NOW I'M A SUPERVISOR FOR THE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR THE FROM BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE GROWING

HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN OUR CITY. I WAS HOMELESS FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS, AND AS A SUPERVISOR, I SEE A GROWING NUMBER OF TENTS DOWNTOWN. I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE STREETS TO HOUSING INITIATIVE

PRODUCED A LOT OF RESULTS. WE PLACED 85. 87% OF WERE PLACED INTO THE APPROPRIATE SHELTERS. AND I JUST WANT TO AGAIN SAY THAT WE SHOULD COMPLETE. PLEASE FULLY FUND THE STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT OUR

NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE CAN EXPAND SHELTERS. THANK YOU. -- WONDERFUL. AND WHAT WAS YOUR NAME, MY FRIEND? -- ME? YEAH, I'M BEN IVANOV, I'M IN DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR WITH THE MAYOR IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. I

SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE GROWING HOMELESSNESS CRISIS GRIPPING OUR CITY. I WAS HOMELESS FOR FIVE YEARS, AND AS AN AMBASSADOR, I SEE PEOPLE STRUGGLING EVERY DAY. THE REALITY OF HIGH SUPPORT SHELTER

IS CRITICAL TO SOLVING THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITY. MY LIFE IS EXAMPLE OF THAT. I WAS EVEN AN EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. I WAS HOMELESS FOR FIVE YEARS TOO. WE NEED STAFFING TO ENSURE LOWER

CASE LOADS AROUND THE CLOCK. MANAGEMENT ISSUES IMPACTING HOMELESSNESS DON'T HAVE REGULAR OFFICE HOURS? PLEASE INVEST TO SHELTERS THAT HELP THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS. GET HOUSING SO THEY CAN BECOME

SUCCESSFUL, BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY. LIKE I HAVE. PLEASE FULLY FUND STRATEGY TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE CAN EXPAND SHELTER CAPACITY. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. BEN AND BEN, WHAT'S

YOUR LAST NAME? -- IVAN -- IVANOV. THANK YOU MARGARET. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. WELCOME. -- GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MARGARET CHILD FROM LAKE CITY SPEAKING FOR FUNDING MORE SHELTER WITH

SERVICES, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND FOOD SECURITY. YOUR INVESTMENTS IN STREET OUTREACH, SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ARE WORKING, BUT WE NEED MORE. I'M ON THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF THE OLYMPIC HILLS

TINY HOUSE VILLAGE. AND IN JUST THIS PAST SIX MONTHS, 24 CHRONICALLY UNHOUSED PEOPLE FROM LAKE CITY WITH HIGH NEEDS, INCLUDING SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MOVED INTO TINY HOMES. THERE ARE FEWER TENTS ON OUR

STREETS. THE PDA COLEAD STAFF PROVIDE PATIENT AND PERSISTENT CASE MANAGEMENT CONNECTIONS TO SERVICES AND ENSURE THE VILLAGE IS A GOOD NEIGHBOR. IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, EIGHT OF THE TOTAL 45 RESIDENTS

HAVE STABILIZED ENOUGH TO MOVE TO PERMANENT HOUSING. NOW, EIGHT MORE PEOPLE CAN COME INTO THAT EFFECTIVE SHELTER. SO NOW IS THE TIME TO ACCELERATE, TO CREATE MORE PATHWAYS FROM STREETS TO SHELTER TO

HOUSING. PLEASE FULLY FUND THE SHELTER ACCELERATOR. PLEASE ALSO SUPPORT A WAGE EQUITY INCREASE FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKFORCE WHO DO THIS CRITICAL WORK. AND THEN YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DO MORE, FASTER.

REDIRECT THE 30 MILLION A YEAR SPENT ON POINTLESS, CRUEL SWEEPS TO TINY HOMES, SANCTIONS TENT CITIES, VEHICLE SAFE LOTS, SEVERE WEATHER, SHELTER AND SERVICES. AND THEN LASTLY, THERE IS JUST NO HEALTH

WITHOUT FOOD. AND IN LAKE CITY THAT EXTRA FUNDING FOR FRESHBOOKS AND FOOD BANKS HAS REALLY HELPED US. WE'RE A GROCERY DESERT. PLEASE SUPPORT THAT ONGOING FUNDING. THANK YOU FOR WORKING SO HARD ON THIS

AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. -- THANK YOU MARGARET. UP NEXT IS EMILY, FOLLOWED BY LARISSA AND THEN RON. -- HI. HI. MY NAME IS EMILY MEYER AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF HI SUPPORT SHELTER.

ALSO, I WORK FOR THE ORGANIZATION. EVERYONE DESERVES HOUSING AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TOO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ON THE STREETS OF SEATTLE WHOSE NEEDS ARE NOT BEING MET BY THE CURRENT SHELTER SYSTEM,

OR WHO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE OUR CURRENT SHELTERS. I SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET TO EXPAND HI SUPPORT SHELTERS WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH VISITS ON SITE, IN THE SHELTER WHERE THEY ARE,

HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN THE SHELTER WHERE THEY ARE, AND HAVE THEIR NEEDS MET IN A WAY THAT OUR CURRENT SYSTEM DOESN'T ALLOW. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE SHELTER ACCELERATOR PROJECT THAT WILL

DEVELOP CAPACITY FOR MORE OF THESE HI SUPPORT SHELTER TO MEET THE UNMET NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU EMILY. UP NEXT IS LARISSA, FOLLOWED BY RON, THEN FLO, AND THEN

ALEX. LARISSA, WELCOME. -- HELLO. THANK YOU. I AM LARISSA, I WORK FOR EVERYONE DESERVES HOUSING. IN MY EXPERIENCE, I SUPPORT SHELTERS AND HOUSING ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED. SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I

SUPPORT SHELTERS AND HOUSING, PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF SUPPORT THAT POSITIVELY IMPACTS THE LIVES OF SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS, OUR HOMELESS POPULATIONS. THE HIGH SUPPORT SHELTERS AND

HOUSING PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT SERVICE TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING THE APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO UNHOUSED ADULTS, AS WELL AS ALLOWING THE PUBLIC AREAS TO BE USED AS INTENDED WITH SUPPORT, WHICH

SUPPORTS ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES WE GET TO SEE THESE OUR CLIENTS COME IN AT THEIR WORST, AND WE GET TO HELP THEM WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, JUST BASIC NEEDS THAT

ARE NOT BEING MET WHILE THEY'RE ON THE STREETS. AND THEN WE GET TO HOUSE THEM. AND IT JUST IT'S A ROTATION. THE DOOR OPENS UP, WE GET TO GET MORE PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, GET MORE PEOPLE INTO HOUSING

AND SUPPORT THEM WITH THEIR NEEDS IN BETWEEN THAT TIME. SO WE'RE NOT JUST HOUSING THEM, WE'RE HELPING THEM TO BE STABLE. -- GET A LITTLE CLOSER. THAT'S ALL. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. LARISSA. UP

NEXT IS RON FLO. THEN ALEX, I'M GOING TO READ THE NEXT TEN NAMES. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT SIGNS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. THE RULE HERE IS THAT YOU CANNOT BLOCK THE PERSON BEHIND YOU. SO IF YOU CANNOT

SEE, TAP YOUR NEIGHBOR ON THE SHOULDER AND THANK YOU. AFTER ALEX WILL BE MORGAN GROBAN, JASON AYE, LIN DRAKE, WILLIAM KELLY MARTA JOHNSON, ALAN BE ALLEN F SOLAR PLUMBER. MARTA CARDONA. FIRST NAME

STARTS WITH M, LAST NAME STARTS WITH A C. RON, GREAT TO SEE YOU. WELCOME. -- GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS RON ABRAHAM AND I WORK AT BAYSIDE ENHANCED SHELTER. EVERY DAY I MEET PEOPLE LIVING

OUTSIDE WHO WANT. THEY WANT STABILITY, SAFETY AND HOUSING, BUT NEED MORE MORE SUPPORT THAN A TRADITIONAL SHELTER CAN PROVIDE. MANY ARE MANAGING SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS,

TRAUMA AND OTHER COMPLEX CHALLENGES. AT BAYSIDE, WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE ARE GIVEN THE RIGHT LEVEL OF SUPPORT. THEY HAVE ACCESS TO INTENSIVE, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, RECOVERY RESOURCES AND

STAFF WHO BUILD TRUST OVER TIME. THIS CREATES REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE FORWARD. EXCUSE ME. TO MOVE TOWARD PERMANENT HOUSING AND STABILITY. THE THE REALITY IS THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH

HIGH SUPPORT SHELTER BEDS IN SEATTLE. TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM THESE PROGRAMS ARE LEFT WITH NOWHERE APPROPRIATE TO GO. AT THE SAME TIME, SHELTERS NEED STRONGER PATHWAYS INTO HOUSING SO PEOPLE

CAN SUCCESSFULLY MOVE ON AND MAKE MORE ROOM FOR OTHERS WHO NEED THE HELP. I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING HIGH SUPPORT SHELTERS AND PERMANENT HOUSING IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET. THESE INVESTMENTS SAVE

LIVES, IMPROVE COMMUNITY OUTCOMES, AND CREATE A MORE EFFECTIVE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND LEADERSHIP. -- THANK YOU RON. UP NEXT IS FLO, FOLLOWED

BY ALEX FLO. WELCOME. -- TURN UP THE MICROPHONE. -- SO I WILL DO JODY. I GOT. -- IT RIGHT. -- SO WE'RE GOING TO JUST DO A QUICK PAUSE. PLEASE DON'T YELL FROM THE AUDIENCE. I WILL DO A BETTER JOB OF

INTERRUPTING PEOPLE TO SAY YOU NEED TO GET, WE CALL IT MICK JAGGER CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONE. SO IF YOU HEAR ME JUST START SAYING MICK JAGGER, THAT MEANS JUST GET CLOSE. BUT THERE'S NO WAYS TO CHANGE

THE MICROPHONE LEVEL. AND WE DO NEED TO ENSURE DECORUM. SO PLEASE, WE'LL START WITH YOU AGAIN, FLO. GREAT TO SEE YOU. GOOD EVENING. -- THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS FLO BEAUMONT

AND I AM HERE FOR SHELTER EXPANSION. I'M A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WITH. EVERYONE DESERVES HOUSING AND THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO STOOD UP THE FIRST OF THE DESPERATELY NEEDED ADDITIONAL ENHANCED SHELTERS.

THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR A VERY LONG TIME WITHOUT HOMES, WITHOUT EVEN SHELTER, JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE. WE NEED MORE HIGH SUPPORT, SHELTER FOR ADULTS WITH HIGH NEEDS. THE DAMAGES

ALONG THE ROAD TO LONG TERM HOMELESSNESS DO NOT HEAL OVERNIGHT, AND THEY DO NOT HEAL WITHOUT EXPERT INTERVENTION. BUT WITH THE RIGHT SKILLED SUPPORT, PEOPLE CAN AND DO RECOVER. AT BAYSIDE SHELTER,

WHERE THE PAINT IS BARELY DRY, THEY'VE ALREADY GOTTEN SEVERAL PEOPLE INTO APPROPRIATE PERMANENT HOUSING, WHICH IS AMAZING. IT'S JUST BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO. OTHER PROVIDERS

KNOW WHAT TO DO. LET'S DO MORE OF IT. LET'S DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. UNTIL PEOPLE HAVE HOMES. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU FLO. UP NEXT IS ALEX. AND THEN MORGAN AND JASON. WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

-- GOOD, GOOD. GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALEX RIOS AND I AM THE KITCHEN MANAGER AT THE CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB. A MEMBER OF THE MEALS PARTNERSHIP COALITION. I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT

PERMANENT FUNDING FOR MEAL PROGRAMS. I WANT TO THANK MAYOR KATIE WILSON FOR INCLUDING ONE $1 MILLION IN PERMANENT FUNDING FOR MEAL PROGRAMS IN THE 2027 BUDGET. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUSTAIN THIS

INVESTMENT IN THE FINAL BUDGET. I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOY HOLLINGSWORTH AND COUNCILMEMBER ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK FOR AYE FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON FOOD ACCESS FUNDING. THE CHIEF SEATTLE

CLUB IS LOCATED IN PIONEER SQUARE AND IS ONE OF THE FEW MEAL PROGRAMS IN SEATTLE THAT SERVE THE URBAN NATIVE COMMUNITY. WE ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK SERVING HOT BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. LAST YEAR WE

SERVED OVER 71,000 MEALS TO OUR TO OUR COMMUNITY. IF THIS FUNDING IS TAKEN AWAY OR REDUCED, IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO PURCHASE AND SERVE. CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD TO OUR TO OUR

RELATIVES. WE. WE USE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE BISON, ELK AND OTHER WILD GAME AS WELL AS WILD RICE AND SEAFOOD FROM LOCAL TRIBES. WE ALSO PURCHASE FRESH PRODUCE FROM LOCAL FARMERS AS WELL. THESE MEALS

ARE IMPORTANT IN BRINGING OUR RELATIVES TOGETHER AND KEEPING THEM HEALTHY AND SUSTAINED PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS ALEX RIOS WITH THE CHIEF SEATTLE

CLUB, AND I URGE YOU TO SUSTAIN THE FUNDING FOR HOT MEAL PROGRAMS INCLUDED IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. THANK YOU. -- VERY WELL SAID, ALEX. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO MORGAN, JASON AND LIN. WELCOME.

HI, HI. -- HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MORGAN. I'M A GREENWOOD RESIDENT AND I WORK IN THE U DISTRICT AS THE KITCHEN MANAGER FOR TEEN FEED, A MEMBER OF THE MEALS PARTNERSHIP COALITION. AT TEEN FEED, WE

PREPARE 100 MEALS A NIGHT AND SERVE DINNER TO UNHOUSED AND FOOD INSECURE YOUTH EVERY SINGLE NIGHT OF THE YEAR. THIS TIME LAST YEAR, I STOOD HERE ASKING FOR MONEY FOR MEAL PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE WERE IN A

CRISIS AND THE CITY RESPONDED, ALLOCATING $1 MILLION IN ONE TIME EMERGENCY FUNDING. BUT IF THAT WAS A CRISIS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE IN NOW BECAUSE OUR NUMBERS HAVE DOUBLED SINCE THEN. THE ECONOMIC

CONDITIONS, THE CUTS TO SNAP, THE PRICE OF GROCERIES. IT'S REALLY TOUGH OUT THERE. THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET MAKES THAT MILLION DOLLARS FOR MEAL PROGRAMS PERMANENT. AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO KEEP

IT THAT WAY. THIS MONEY HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY IMPACTFUL FOR OUR ABILITY TO FEED KIDS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR FOR INCLUDING IT IN A BUDGET. THANK YOU TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOY HOLLINGSWORTH

AND COUNCILMEMBER ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR FOOD ACCESS ACROSS THE CITY, AND THANK YOU IN ADVANCE, EVERYONE ON THIS COMMITTEE FOR LEAVING THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET

UNCHANGED FOR MEAL PROGRAM INVESTMENT. AND I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A WORD OF WARNING. WE MUST, AS A CITY, CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE AND ADEQUATELY FUND FOOD ACCESS. EVEN IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT FOOD IS A

HUMAN RIGHT. WELL, WHEN PEOPLE START TO GO HUNGRY, THAT BECOMES A PUBLIC SAFETY PROBLEM. -- THANK YOU MORGAN. UP NEXT IS JASON LIN AND THEN WILLIAM KELLY -- GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS

JASON AUSTIN, PROGRAM DIRECTOR WITH THE MEALS PARTNERSHIP COALITION. I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT PERMANENT FUNDING FOR MEAL PROGRAMS. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR INCLUDING $1 MILLION IN PERMANENT

FUNDING FOR MEAL PROGRAMS IN THE 2027 BUDGET. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUSTAIN THIS INVESTMENT IN THE FINAL BUDGET, AND I ALSO WANT TO CALL OUT COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH AND COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR

THEIR LEADERSHIP IN CHAMPIONING FOOD ACCESS FUNDING. THE 58 MEMBERS OF THE MEALS PARTNERSHIP COALITION, OR MPC, ARE THE FRONT LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST HUNGER IN SEATTLE. THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS AN

ECOSYSTEM OF MOSTLY VOLUNTEER RUN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, EACH ONE MEETING A UNIQUE NEED NOT SERVED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. TO HIGHLIGHT AN EXAMPLE OF THIS, MOST FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS OPERATE MONDAY

THROUGH FRIDAY, LEAVING A CRITICAL GAP IN WEEKEND SERVICE. THIS GAP IS FILLED BY OUR MEMBER PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WHICH IS THE ONLY SUNDAY FREE BREAKFAST PROVIDER OPEN

TO ALL IN BELLTOWN. THIS GAP IS ALSO FILLED BY LAKE CITY LIFELINE, A ALL VOLUNTEER MUTUAL AID ORGANIZATION SERVING FOOD AND COMMUNITY EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY IN NORTH SEATTLE. BOTH OF THESE

ORGANIZATIONS RELY ON THIS FUNDING TO MAINTAIN CURRENT LEVELS OF SERVICE. EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN SEATTLE CONTAINS AT LEAST ONE MPC PROGRAM, WORKING HARD TO MEET THE UNIQUE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF

OUR NEIGHBORS. AGAIN, I URGE YOU TO SUSTAIN THIS CRUCIAL INVESTMENT IN THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BUDGET. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. -- THANK YOU. JASON. UP NEXT, LIN FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM AND THEN

MARTHA JOHNSON. -- GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL. MY NAME IS LIN DRAKE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE TO OUR GREAT CITY OF SEATTLE. I'M FROM THE ALKI BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TWO

DIFFERENT THINGS. ONE HERE TO SUPPORT SHELTER EXPANSION. I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO GLASS YARD COMMONS OPENING UP IN WEST SEATTLE. I THINK NEXT MONTH. AND I ALSO FOLLOW THE EXCELLENT WORK OF

PROFESSOR GREG COLBURN FROM UW ON HOMELESSNESS. AND ACCORDING TO HIS STUDIES, WE'RE DOING EXACTLY THE RIGHT THING BY EXPANDING SHELTER. LOOK HIM UP. HE'S DOING SOME GREAT WORK ON THAT. WE ALSO HE DOES

MENTION WE NEED A LOT MORE THREE AND FOUR BEDROOM HOMES. FAMILIES ARE REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME RENTING WHEN THE ONLY AVAILABLE HOMES ARE ONE AND TWO BEDROOMS. AND I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO A

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER IN ALKI. ON ANOTHER TOPIC REGARDING THE POLICE BUDGET, I WANT TO SAY I'M STRONGLY IN FAVOR EXPANDING OF OUR CARE CRISIS RESPONDERS UNDER AMY BARDEN AND EXPANDING OUTREACH TO

SEATTLE YOUTH THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS PROGRAMS, EXPANDED PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND JOB PROGRAMS AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. -- THANK

YOU. LYNN. UP NEXT IS WILLIAM MARTIN AND THEN ALAN. AND IF I CAN'T SEE THE PERSON BEHIND THE SIGN, THAT MEANS YOU'RE BLOCKING SOMEBODY'S VIEW. SO THANK YOU. TAKE IT AWAY. -- HELLO. I AM HERE WITH

INSPIRE WASHINGTON TO SUPPORT THE FUNDING OF PUBLIC ARTS AND CULTURE. AND I HAVE A POEM FOR YOU. A SINGLE STRING BREAKS A BUNCH. MAKE A ROPE. LET US BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. THE TOLL THAT HEAVY WORK.

LET US PACK ROOMS, FILL AND CREATE SPACES. BUILD A HOME FOR OUR CREATIVES. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED IN LIKE WRANGLING CATS AND DOGS. CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE SPIRIT OF BAYANIHAN

THAT IS FILIPINO FOR THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, PROVIDING A HOME FOR UNITY AND PRODUCTIVITY. SHARP AS A TACK, MARKED UP LIKE OUR FIELD CALENDARS. I JUST PRAY FOR YOU ALL TO GET THE REST YOU DESERVE. THE

BUDDHA SAID. AMBITION, LIKE LOVE, DOES NOT WANT OBSTACLE NOR DELAY. HOW YOU SEE EACH EACH DAY INSPIRES ME. LET US CONTINUE TO FUND THE PUBLIC ARTS. THE ROOM GETS DARK WHEN THERE IS NO ARTISTIC BEAUTY

TO BRING LIGHT TO OUR CITY. FUN PUBLIC ARTS. -- WILLIAM, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE NEXT. DOOZY TO HOT MARK. THE WELCOME. -- OKAY, THAT FEELS DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK.

MY NAME IS MARTA. I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ABOUT 75 SEATTLEITES, A PART OF FORT SEATTLE. FIRST I WANT TO SAY I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT SEASON, SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AS WE ENTER

THIS 2027 BUDGET PROCESS, WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN SHELTER AND PERMANENT HOUSING. THE REALITY IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE LIVING UNSHELTERED IN SEATTLE HAVE COMPLEX

NEEDS, YET HI SUPPORT SHELTER MAKES UP ONLY ABOUT 10% OF THE CURRENT SHELTER SYSTEM. WE KNOW IT WORKS IN THE JUNE STREETS HOUSING EFFORT IN PIONEER SQUARE THAT FOR SEATTLE SUPPORTED 87% OF PEOPLE WHO

HAD BEEN CHRONICALLY UNSHELTERED WERE CONNECTED TO SHELTER OR HOUSING THAT MET THEIR NEEDS. THAT SHOWS US THAT PROGRESS IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND THE RIGHT STRATEGY. SO AS YOU

WORK THROUGH THE BUDGET, WE URGE YOU TO INVEST IN MORE HIGH SUPPORT SHELTER, MORE PERMANENT HOUSING, AND CLEAR PATHWAYS FROM SHELTER INTO HOUSING. WE HAVE THE TOOLS. WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS READY TO DO

THE HARD WORK, AND WE JUST NEED TO NOW SCALE UP THE CAPACITY TO MEET THE CHALLENGE. THANK YOU ALL. -- THANK YOU. MARTHA. UP NEXT IS ALLEN, FOLLOWED BY ALLEN, FOLLOWED BY SOLAR ALLEN. -- TWO, ALLEN'S.

-- TWO, ALLEN'S. -- HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALLEN BRYANT. I'M A 26 YEAR OLD CLASSICAL COMPOSER AND PIANIST AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SEATTLE COMPOSERS ALLIANCE. I COME TO YOU TODAY TO SPEAK

ON MY EXPERIENCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING THE ARTS. AT 14 YEARS OLD, I WAS DISABLED BY A NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDER, ONE THAT ROBBED ME OF A TRADITIONAL EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION. I SUFFERED GREAT

PAINS AND PRIVATIONS AND CAME TO FALL INWARD AND ISOLATE DEEPLY. AT 18, I LIKED TO. I LEARNED TO WRITE AND PRODUCE MUSIC AS AN ESCAPE FROM MY ISOLATION. I WAS WRITING CONSTANTLY, SEEING IT AS MY ONLY

WAY OUT, USING IT AS A FORM OF THERAPY. BY 23, I HAD BUILT UP A CADRE OF FRIENDS AND PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS AROUND ME THROUGH SUPPORT FROM THE SEATTLE COMPOSERS ALLIANCE, I APPLIED FOR A GRANT FROM

THE CITY TO PERFORM. IT WAS GRANTED TO ME, AND IN THE SUMMER OF 2024, I PUT ON A PERFORMANCE DEDICATED TO THE CYCLE OF HEALING, TAKING THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS AND SOUNDTRACKING THEM. LIVE. WHAT AT

ONE POINT WAS MY OWN. THERAPY, BECAME MY UPLIFTING AND BECAME OTHERS HEALING. I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT THE DIRECT GRANT SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO OUR

CULTURE, OUR COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL FABRIC THAT SHIELD SEATTLE DEDICATES 10% OF ITS FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. -- THANK YOU. ALLEN. WITH THAT, ALLEN, WELCOME.

THANK YOU. -- GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ALLEN FRANCIS AND I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR. AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR'S SHELTER EXPANSION, HAVING PERSONALLY BENEFITED FROM SCHAEFER

SELF-MANAGED SHELTER MODEL, I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW VITAL PEER LED, LOW BARRIER REFUGE CAN BE WHEN PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, DIGNITY, AUTONOMY AND COMMUNITY MATTER. SHARES MODEL GIVES PEOPLE

A SAFE PLACE TO STABILIZE, SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND BEGIN REBUILDING LIVES. TONIGHT, I URGE YOU TO INVEST IN SOLUTIONS THAT KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED AND HELP THEM SURVIVE WHEN THEY LOSE HOUSING. PLEASE ADD

500,000 FOR TENANT SERVICES SO RENTERS CAN ACCESS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO AVOID DISPLACEMENT. ADOPT THE $11 RENTAL REGISTRATION FEE WITHOUT EXEMPTIONS. SO THE PROGRAM IS ADEQUATE. ADEQUATELY FUNDED

AND EFFECTIVE. DO NOT BAN RV LIVING BECAUSE FOR MANY PEOPLE, IT REMAINS THE LAST FORM OF SHELTER WHEN NO OTHER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. AND PLEASE PRESERVE MAYOR WILSON'S PROPOSED 37 MILLION FOR SHELTER

EXPANSIONS SO SEATTLE CAN FUND ALL TYPES OF SHELTERS AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. EVERY SHELTER BED, EVERY SAFE PLACE MATTERS. WITHOUT SHELTER, PEOPLE DIE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU ALAN. UP NEXT IS

SOLAR, FOLLOWED BY MARTA. AND THEN MARNETTE. -- GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT SHELTER EXPANSION. MY NAME IS SOLAR AND I WORK WITH PLYMOUTH HOUSING,

A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING NONPROFIT HERE IN SEATTLE. SHELTER PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN SAVING LIVES. WE NEED ALL FORMS OF SHELTER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THIS MOMENT, WHERE UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS HAS

CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN OUR CITY, I URGE COUNCIL TO MAINTAIN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED SHELTER EXPANSION PLAN AND FUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO HELPING PEOPLE NAVIGATE THE HOMELESS

SERVICES SYSTEM. BUT SHELTER IS NOT ENOUGH. WE ARE FACING AN IMPENDING CRISIS IN OUR STATE. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PIPELINE, NEW CONSTRUCTION OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS STAGNANT AND

THEREFORE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO MOVE INTO SHELTER WILL HAVE VERY LIMITED OPTIONS TO MOVE OUT INTO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT THEY MAY NEED. WITHOUT NEW HOUSING OPTIONS, SHELTERS WILL FILL AND ACCESS

WILL BE LIMITED. PLEASE FUND BOTH SHELTER AND HOUSING. -- THANK YOU. SOLAR UP NEXT IS MARTA, FOLLOWED BY MARNETTE AND THEN AMARANTA. COUNCILMEMBER SHAMA SAWANT, JUSTIN BARR, NEIL PATEL, JOE SEGURA,

MARTA, GREAT TO SEE YOU. -- YEAH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR MAKING THE TIME TO HEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS TODAY. MY NAME IS MARTA KIRAN AND I'M THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER AT THE LOW INCOME

HOUSING INSTITUTE. FIRSTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMEMBERS AND MAYOR WILSON FOR THE GOOD WORK YOU HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT SHELTER EXPANSION IN THE CITY. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO LIFT UP THOSE WHO ARE

UNHOUSED LIVING IN RVS. LEHIGH IS IN THE PROCESS OF OPENING WHAT WILL BE THE CITY'S ONLY RV SAFE PARKING LOT IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AND OUR SECOND AS A SHELTER PROVIDER. WE'RE HONORED TO SUPPORT THIS

PARTICULAR POPULATION. BUT AS THE COUNCIL WILL BE MAKING DECISIONS REGARDING RV LEGISLATION SOON, WE ASK THAT YOU INCREASE RV SAFE LOTS IN SEATTLE. ALONGSIDE THESE EFFORTS, THERE IS CURRENTLY NOT

ENOUGH SHELTER OR RV PARKING SPACES ALLOCATED, WHICH WOULD LEAVE UNHOUSED RESIDENTS WITH NOWHERE TO BE REFERRED. IN OUR EFFORTS TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION, LEHIGH HAS IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL SECOND

LOCATION WHERE AN RV PARKING SAFE -- A LOT. -- WOULD BE. -- POSSIBLE, BUT WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE THIS SHELTER OPTION A REALITY. ADDITIONALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR AN

INCREASE IN SUPPORT, SHELTER AND SOCIAL SERVICES. AS WRAPAROUND SERVICE PROVIDERS, WE HOPE TO SEE THIS PROVEN BEST PRACTICE EXPAND ACROSS THE CITY TO SUPPORT OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. MEMBERS FLOURISH

INTO THE NEXT OF THEIR LIVES. WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK GOING INTO THIS BUDGET SEASON, AND HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO RELY ON COMMUNITY INPUT TO MAKE THESE IMPORTANT DECISIONS AND FURTHER EXPAND SHELTER

AND HOUSING OPTIONS IN SEATTLE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. MARTA MARTINEK IS UP NEXT, FOLLOWED BY AMARANTHA. -- HI. GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. MY NAME IS

MANI CHUA. I HAVE A TERRIBLE HANDWRITING. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CLARION WEST WRITERS WORKSHOP. WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY NOT HAD A LOCATION IN TOWN, BUT NOW WE ARE WORKING WITH COMMON AREA

MAINTENANCE AND DISTRICT SEVEN. THIS IS A PART OF A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT THAT WILL DO WHAT MANY ARTS COLLABORATIVES DO AND OFFER A COMBINATION OF HOUSING AND ARTS PROJECTS AND SHARED RESOURCES. ALL

OF US, I THINK HERE TODAY WITH THE ARTS SECTOR AND WITH ALL OF THE HOUSING GROUPS ARE FACING HUGE, REAL FINANCIAL STRAINS. I THINK WORSE THAN WE SAW IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. MANY OF THIS IS DUE TO CUTS

IN FEDERAL FUNDING, BUT ALSO UNCERTAINTY IN THE GRANTS WORLD FROM COUNTY, STATE AND AND FEDERAL AND OTHER AND LOCAL INDEPENDENT FOR OVER 45 YEARS, CLARION WEST HAS BEEN BRINGING WRITERS TO SEATTLE,

AND WE'VE BEEN PART OF SEATTLE'S THRIVING LITERARY SCENE. THESE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE ARTS SECTOR, ACT AS THEIR OWN ECONOMIC ENGINE, CREATING JOBS, CREATING SIGNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR

THE LOCAL BOOKSTORES, PAYING INSTRUCTORS, DRIVING TOURISM, AND CONTRIBUTING TO SEATTLE'S ECONOMIC VITALITY. OUR FOCUS AT CLARION WEST IS ON SPECULATIVE FICTION, SOMETHING THAT PACIFIC NORTHWEST IS

KNOWN FOR. FOR MANY GREAT SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY WRITERS HAVE CALLED SEATTLE THEIR HOME. OUR WORK ENGAGES READERS BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, AND WE HOST EVENTS FOR OVER 1500 WRITERS AND

READERS ANNUALLY. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOU TO INCLUDE THE FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE. -- THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE AMARANTHA TORRES, FORMER COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT JUSTIN BERRY AMARANTHA. GREAT TO

SEE YOU. -- HI THERE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS AMARANTHA TORRES AND I'M THE CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COALITION ENDING GENDER BASED VIOLENCE. CORNELL, 57, EPSTEIN

KING COUNTY ASSESSOR. WILSON RAPE ACADEMY. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE AND TRULY UNACCEPTABLE. THE BURDEN THAT WE ASK VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS TO CARRY IN THE ABSENCE, ABSENCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY, OUR 30 PLUS

MEMBER PROGRAM SUPPORT VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS EVERY DAY SO THEY AREN'T ALONE. THEY GO TO COURT, THEY PARTNER WITH POLICE. THEY GO TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY BEAR WITNESS. THEY HOLD SPACE. WE BELIEVE THIS

WORK IS VITAL, AND WE BELIEVE THIS WORK SHOULD BE FUNDED AT A LEVEL COMMENSURATE WITH THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM. EVERYONE KNOWS A SURVIVOR. EVEN IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU DO. YOU KNOW A SURVIVOR OF GENDER

BASED VIOLENCE. BUT THERE ARE NO NEW INVESTMENTS FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS IN THIS BUDGET. LET'S CHANGE THAT TOGETHER. LET'S INVEST UPSTREAM TO PREVENT THIS HORRIFIC ABUSE FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST

PLACE. LET'S INVEST IN THE ROBUST SERVICES SURVIVORS DESERVE WHEN THEY DISCLOSE ABUSE IN SUCH COURAGEOUS AND HEARTBREAKING WAYS. PLEASE INCLUDE THIS LIFE SAVING WORK IN THE BUDGET. WE ALSO SUPPORT

PROTECTING FUNDING FOR FOOD BANKS, MEAL PROGRAMS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND QUEER AND TRANS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SUPPORTING SURVIVORS AS WELL. WE ALSO URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT WAGE EQUITY FOR HUMAN

SERVICE WORKERS AND INCREASING HI SUPPORT SHELTER AS THE BUDGET WORK, THE HARD WORK OF BUDGET CONTINUES. WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THANKS FOR THE TIME. -- THANK YOU. AMARANTHA. UP

NEXT IS FORMER COUNCILMEMBER SHAMA SAWANT, JUSTIN BARRETT AND THEN NEIL PATEL. -- CAN WE SPEAK AS A GROUP. -- AND HOW MANY OF YOU. -- TWO, THE THREE OF US. -- FOR THREE? YES YOU MAY. THAT WORKS OUT

WELL. WE WILL SET YOUR TIME FOR FOUR MINUTES. 30s. -- THANK YOU. -- AND TAKE IT AWAY. -- I'M. I WAS THE LONE INDEPENDENT REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALIST ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. DOMINATED SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL

FOR A DECADE, FROM 2014 THROUGH 2023, DEMOCRATIC PARTY MAYOR KATIE WILSON RAN AS A SELF-DESCRIBED SOCIALIST. NOW SHE HAS DELIVERED A BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT CUTS THE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS AND

ESSENTIAL SERVICES BY TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND GIVES A SHOCKING $68 MILLION MORE FOR SEATTLE POLICE. THIS PROPOSED POLICE FUNDING INCREASE IS FAR HIGHER THAN THE 9% YEARLY AVERAGE POLICE

BUDGET INCREASED BY THE PRO WEALTHY, PRO-POLICE FORMER MAYOR, DEMOCRAT BRUCE HARRELL. IRONICALLY, KATIE WILSON WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE PROGRESSIVE ALTERNATIVE TO BRUCE HARRELL. WILSON HAS CLAIMED THAT

BUSINESSES ARE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, FRAGILE AT A TIME WHEN SEATTLE WAS JUST RANKED AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST CITIES, WITH THE FIFTH HIGHEST LEVEL OF GDP PER PERSON IN THE WORLD, THE IDEA OF DEMOCRATIC

PARTY POLITICIANS CALLING THEMSELVES PROGRESSIVE OR EVEN SOCIALIST AND BEING COMPLETELY UNWILLING TO FIGHT AGAINST THE BILLIONAIRES AND MULTI-MILLIONAIRES IS A TOTAL DEAD END FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

WE NEED LEADERSHIP WITH A CLASS STRUGGLE BASED FIGHTING STRATEGY, WHICH IS WHAT I DID WITH MY SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL OFFICE. RATHER THAN BUILD A CAREER FOR MYSELF, I USED MY OFFICE RELENTLESSLY TO BUILD

MASS MOVEMENTS OF WORKING PEOPLE. THROUGH MY OFFICE. WE LAUNCHED A 15 NOW MOVEMENT, AND WE WON THE NATION'S HIGHEST MINIMUM WAGE FOR SEATTLE BECAUSE OF WE WON INFLATION INCREASES. THE WAGE HAS BEEN

GOING UP. AND IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE $22.14 AN HOUR. WE LAUNCHED THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT. WE DEFEATED BILLIONAIRES LIKE JEFF BEZOS AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO WIN

THE HISTORIC AMAZON TAX. BILLIONAIRES AND MULTI-MILLIONAIRES HAVE ACCUMULATED UNTOLD WEALTH BY EXPLOITING WORKERS AND THE PLANET. JUST A FEW HOURS AGO, THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED THAT THE STOCK

MARKET REACHED A RECORD HIGH. TODAY, VITAL HUMAN SERVICES SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO COMPETE FOR THE MOST MINIMAL FUNDING. WE NEED TO TAX THE RICH, STARTING WITH A MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE AMAZON TAX IN

2023. I CO-FOUNDED WORKER STRIKE BACK, A NATIONWIDE ORGANIZATION THAT IS CONTINUING THE CLASS STRUGGLE BASED FIGHTING STRATEGY. WORKER STRIKE BACK HAS ALREADY WON SOME CRUCIAL VICTORIES SINCE ITS

LAUNCH IN 2024. THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, ALL OF THEM DEMOCRATS LED BY JOY HOLLINGSWORTH, BROUGHT A BILL TO UNDERMINE OUR MINIMUM WAGE VICTORY BY TRYING TO MAKE WAGE TIERS PERMANENT. IT WOULD HAVE

HELD SOME MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS PERMANENTLY AT A LOWER MINIMUM WAGE AND AFFECTED MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. BUT WORKERS STRIKE BACK, ORGANIZED, MOBILIZED WORKING PEOPLE, AND WE DEFEATED THIS SHAMEFUL

ATTEMPT BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ATTACK THE POOREST WORKERS. THEN LAST YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL DEMOCRATS TRIED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS REPEALING THE UNPRECEDENTED RENTER'S RIGHTS. WE WENT

THROUGH MY OFFICE, LIKE THE $10 CAP ON LATE RENT FEES, WORKERS STRIKE BACK AND RENTERS ORGANIZED AND DEFEATED. THAT ATTEMPT. ALSO, NOT ONLY THAT, WE FORCED CATHY MOORE, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO BROUGHT

THAT SHAMEFUL BILL FORWARD, TO RESIGN IN DISGRACE. THIS FIGHTING STRATEGY IS WHAT'S NEEDED FOR WORKING PEOPLE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE CRISES WE FACE THE INSANE COST OF LIVING, THE LACK OF HOUSING, THE

TERRIBLE HEALTH CARE SITUATION, ICE, TERROR. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA, THE BRUTAL OCCUPATION OF PALESTINIAN LANDS, THE GENOCIDE IN SUDAN, AND FOREVER IMPERIALIST WAR, ALL OF WHICH

BENEFITS AND PROFITS. THE BILLIONAIRE AND MULTIMILLIONAIRE CLASS INTERNATIONALLY. I URGE WORKING PEOPLE TO JOIN WORKER, STRIKE BACK AND JOIN OUR INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL RALLY ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15th AT

12 NOON, WHERE WE WILL BE RALLYING TO DISCUSS THE STRATEGY OF HOW TO END THE GENOCIDE AND OCCUPATION, HOW TO WIN AN END TO ALL MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL, WHICH IS VERY MUCH LINKED TO ALL THE MASSIVE

BUDGET CUTS THAT WE ARE FACING, NOT ONLY IN SEATTLE, BUT STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY. THAT IS AT 12 NOON ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15th. LET'S FIGHT AGAINST THE BILLIONAIRE CLASS, TAX THE RICH, RAISE THE

AMAZON TAX SOLIDARITY. -- THANK YOU AND BEFORE YOU, -- [APPLAUSE] -- SIR -- BEFORE YOU GO, JUSTIN, THIRD PERSON THAT DROPPED YOUR NUMBER. WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? MATTHEW. MATTHEW, WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME?

BALLARD. WHAT NUMBER DID YOU HAVE? YOU DIDN'T. 60 SOMETHING MATTHEW MALLOY. GOTCHA. THANK YOU. YOU'RE TOTALLY FINE. I JUST GOT TO KEEP THE RECORD STRAIGHT WITH THAT JUSTIN, THEN NEIL, THEN JOE.

JUSTIN, WELCOME. -- I'M JUSTIN AYE, RENTER IN QUEEN ANNE AND A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK. MAYOR WILSON'S BUDGET PROPOSAL RAISES THE POLICE BUDGET BY $68 MILLION, CUTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY $65

MILLION AND CUTS OTHER VITAL SERVICES. IT ADDS ZERO NEW TAXES ON THE RICH. THIS IS AN OPEN BETRAYAL OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT. IT'S AN OPEN BETRAYAL OF WORKING PEOPLE, AND DOUBLY SO COMING

FROM A SELF-IDENTIFIED SOCIALIST. IT REPRESENTS A SHAMELESS CONTINUATION OF THE HOUSING CRISIS. WHAT WE NEED IN THE BUDGET IS SLASH THE FUNDING FOR POLICE, RAISE THE AMAZON TAX TO FUND A MASSIVE

EXPANSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHELTERS, THE ARTS, SOCIAL SERVICES, ALL THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY, THE DEMOCRATS ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE SHOWN THEMSELVES TO BE TOTALLY

UNWILLING TO FIGHT FOR WORKING PEOPLE AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES. THEY HAVE SIDED WITH BIG BUSINESS OVER AND OVER. WE NEED TO BUILD A FIGHTING MOVEMENT TO GO TO WAR AGAINST THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL. AND

THE DEMOCRATS PUTTING IT FORWARD. SHARMA SWAN, WHO JUST SPOKE, DID THIS MANY TIMES DURING HER DECADE AS A SOCIALIST ON THE CITY COUNCIL. SHE LED THE MOVEMENT THAT WON THE AMAZON TAX IN THE FIRST

PLACE. LET'S BUILD A FIGHTING MOVEMENT TO RAISE THE AMAZON TAX AND STOP THESE CUTS. -- THANK YOU JUSTIN. UP NEXT -- [APPLAUSE] -- IS NEIL CALVIN. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE STOP CLAPPING

SO WE CAN KEEP MOVING OVER TO YOU, NEIL. AND THEN JOE. -- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M NEIL PATEL, TEN. YEAR RESIDENT. SPS PARENT MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK, REPRESENTING SMALL BUSINESS IN

GEORGETOWN. I COME WITH FOUR FACTS AND SOME QUESTIONS. FACT ONE SINCE 2021 NON PENSION SEATTLE POLICE BUDGETS GREW AN AVERAGE OF $20.5 MILLION ANNUALLY. THAT'S FACTORING IN BUDGET CUTS IN 2021. THAT'S

$104 MILLION SINCE 2022. FACT TWO IN THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME, WE HAD 5483 VIOLENT CRIMES PER YEAR. THIS NUMBER HAS NOT CHANGED TO ANY DEGREE OF STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN FOUR YEARS. FACT THREE ON

2020 NUMBERS, THE OFFICE OF THE SPD CEO ALONE GETS $35 MILLION IN TAXPAYER MONEY. THAT FIGURE IS JUST 70 IS 70% OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET SHORTFALL FOR THIS BUDGET? FACT FOUR I AM STILL WAITING FOR

SOUTH PRECINCT TO LIFT A FINGER TO ADDRESS AN AUGUST SHOOTING IN GEORGETOWN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. EVERY CITY AGENCY I'VE DEALT WITH FROM OPCD TO SDCI HAS BEEN SUPER HELPFUL TO ME, AND THEY'RE ALL

FACING CUTS. THAT LEAVES ME WITH SOME QUESTIONS. QUESTION ONE DO WE REALLY FEEL LIKE MORE COPS IS WORKING BECAUSE THE DATA DOESN'T SEEM TO SUPPORT THAT? QUESTION TWO WHAT DOES SPD NEED 68 MILLION MORE

DOLLARS FOR THAT? THEY CAN'T ALREADY AFFORD AIRCRAFT CARRIER. QUESTION THREE WHY ARE WE SHAKING DOWN OPCD SDCI FIREFIGHTERS, HOUSING TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS TO GIVE $68 MILLION TO AN AGENCY THAT HAS YET

TO DEMONSTRATE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT. AND MY FINAL QUESTION IS TO ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH? -- THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. -- [APPLAUSE] -- NEIL -- UP NEXT IS JOE AND

THEN RACHEL SNELL AND THEN AIDAN BERNHARDT, JACK KELLY, AND THEN INSPIRE WASHINGTON. -- MY NAME IS JOE. I'M A MUSIC TEACHER AND MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK. AND I OPPOSE THE MAYOR'S PRO-POLICE ANTI-

WORKER BUDGET. AS A TEACHER AND FORMER SPS EMPLOYEE, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE NEED IS MORE SOCIAL SERVICES FUNDED, AND WE NEED TO FUND THEM BY INCREASING THE AMAZON TAX. THIS BUDGET PROPOSES

CUTTING $65 MILLION FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER CUTS TO SOCIAL SERVICES, WHILE INCREASING THE SPD BUDGET BY 68 MILLION. WASHINGTON IS HOME TO 12 BILLIONAIRES AND OVER 130 MILLIONAIRES CENTERED

IN THE SEATTLE AREA. SEATTLE'S ECONOMY IS DOMINATED BY SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST TECH CORPORATIONS IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING AMAZON, GOOGLE AND MICROSOFT. MEANWHILE, THE COST FOR ALL LIVING PEOPLE IS

BECOMING ABSOLUTELY WORSE. THE MAYOR RECENTLY STATED RIGHT QUOTE, RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE GOOD OPTIONS TO RAISE MORE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE THAT DON'T COME WITH GREAT RISKS. BUT THIS END QUOTE. BUT THIS

IS JUST UNTRUE. COWERING TO CORPORATIONS THREATS WILL NOT HELP US. WHEN BOEING BOEING WAS GIVEN A TAX HANDOUT IN 2013, THEY STILL MOVED 13,000 JOBS OUT OF THE STATE. WE NEED TO BUILD A MOVEMENT TO TAX

THE RICH HERE AND TO TAX THEM ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY. THE MAYOR IS EXPOSING HER FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES AS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST, WITH THE APPROACH OF REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALIST. SAWANT, WHO SPOKE

TODAY, SHARMA WENT TO WAR AGAINST BIG BUSINESSES IN SEATTLE AND WON THE AMAZON TAX. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WORKING PEOPLE NEED TO USE THAT FIGHTING APPROACH. WE NEED A NEW PARTY FOR THE WORKING

CLASS, AND WE NEED TO TAX THE RICH SO THAT WE CAN FULLY FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION, PUBLIC HOUSING AND ALL PUBLIC SERVICES. -- YEAH. -- THANK YOU JOE LITTLE CALVIN, A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDS. RACHEL

SNELL AND AIDEN. RACHEL, WELCOME. -- HI. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, COUNCIL CHAIR STRAUSS AND MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RACHEL SNELL, AND I URGE YOU TO FUND 440,000 FOR COMMUNITY LED

VOTER EDUCATION FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY, RENTERS, LGBTQIA RESIDENTS, LGBTQ RESIDENTS, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE TOO OFTEN BEEN LEFT OUT

OF DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR HOMES, SAFETY, LIVELIHOODS, AND FUTURE RANKED CHOICE VOTING CAN GIVE US MORE MEANINGFUL CHOICES TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES WHO TRULY REFLECT OUR VALUES WITHOUT FEAR OF WASTING

A VOTE. BUT A BETTER VOTING SYSTEM ONLY WORKS WHEN EVERY VOTER UNDERSTANDS AND FEELS CONFIDENT USING IT. PLEASE INVEST IN TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNERS, MULTILINGUAL AND ACCESSIBLE MATERIALS OUTREACH.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE TOGETHER, RANKED CHOICE VOTING EMPOWERING AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF US. AND PLEASE SUPPORT EXPANDING OF SHELTERS AS WELL. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU RACHEL. UP NEXT IS AIDEN, FOLLOWED BY A

GROUP OF THREE. OKAY, SO IF YOU ARE A GROUP, YOU HAVE TO TELL ME AT THE START, NOT AT THE END. OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVING FORWARD. PLEASE TELL ME AT THE START, NOT THE END. SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT

THREE. JODI, IF YOU COULD HELP ME OUT HERE, IF WE COULD PUT JUST THREE MINUTES ON THE CLOCK, SINCE THEY ALREADY USED A MINUTE 30, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TELL ME YOUR NAMES. WHAT ARE. -- YOU DOING? I'M A

CTE TEACHER IN BALLARD. -- HANG TIGHT, MY FRIEND. WHAT NUMBER WERE YOU? -- WAS IT 32? 37? -- 37? -- REACH -- RACHEL SNELL YEAH, SHE WAS THE FIRST ONE. -- OKAY, SO YOUR NAME ONE MORE TIME. -- ALEX. --

ALEX, SPELL THE LAST NAME. -- SCHOKKING. -- GREAT. AND THEN WHO ELSE IS WITH YOU? -- CAROLINE, GILBERT, CAROLINE. -- AND I ASSUME YOU DID NOT GET A NUMBER. GREAT. NO, NOT A PROBLEM. AND THEN LAST ONE.

-- LUCAS PHIPPS. ALSO PART OF THAT GROUP. -- LUCAS PHIPPS. WONDERFUL. SO YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES REMAINING. TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME. GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. -- GREAT. I'M ALEX, I'M A FREMONT RESIDENT AND

A TEACHER AT BALLARD HIGH SCHOOL TEACHING ENGINEERING. AS WE'VE BEEN HEARING HERE TODAY, WE HAVE SO MANY BIG PROBLEMS AS A CITY AND THEY ALL NEED DEMOCRATIC SOLUTIONS. LIKE THERE IS NO OBVIOUS ANSWER

HERE. THERE'S ONLY TRADE OFFS TO MAKE. AND I THINK RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT PROCESS GOING FORWARD. FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS COLLECTIVELY. THAT'S COMING

NEXT YEAR FOR PRIMARIES IN SEATTLE. BUT SUCCESS IS NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEED. A QUARTER OF MY STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE VOTING FOR THE FIRST TIME NEXT YEAR, AND WE REALLY NEED TO PUT OUR BEST FOOT

FORWARD HERE. SO I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT BOTH WITH YOUR ENERGY, TIME AND BUDGET, A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING HERE. MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A GRANT TO SEE WHO UNDERSTANDS

THE SYSTEM OR NOT. WHERE ARE THERE HOLES THAT WE SHOULD PLUG SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND CAN VOTE SUCCESSFULLY, SO THAT WE CAN REALLY LEAD THE WAY FOR WASHINGTON AS A STATE THAT REALLY COULD BENEFIT

FROM RANKED CHOICE VOTING AT ALL LEVELS. AND AFTER THAT, EVEN NATIONALLY. SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING HERE. THANK YOU. THANKS. -- HI. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TODAY. MY NAME. MY

NAME IS CAROLINE GILBERT AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 36. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO INVEST 440,000 IN RANKED CHOICE VOTING VOTER EDUCATION FOR THE 2027 PRIMARY ELECTIONS. WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO SEATTLE, I

LEARNED HOW POWERFUL, ACCESSIBLE VOTER EDUCATION CAN BE. I HAD NEVER VOTED BY MAIL BEFORE, BUT THE KING COUNTY VOTER PAMPHLET HELPED ME UNDERSTAND HOW VBM WORKS AND MADE IT EASY FOR ME TO MAKE A

VOTING PLAN. THAT'S NOT THE REALITY FOR EVERYONE, THOUGH. IF WE WANT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IMPLEMENTATION TO BE EQUITABLE, WE HAVE TO REACH OUR NEIGHBORS IN WAYS THAT ARE CULTURALLY COMPETENT,

ACCESSIBLE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, GROUNDED IN THEIR COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS. THIS FUNDING WOULD GIVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY EMBEDDED IN OUR COMMUNITIES WITH LOWER PROPENSITY VOTERS THE

RESOURCES THEY NEED TO REACH AND SUPPORT VOTERS THEY SERVE. WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING. WE CAN BUILD A BETTER SYSTEM THAT ENGAGES OR ENCOURAGES ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS, BUT ONLY

IF VOTERS UNDERSTAND THE NEW BALLOT AND TRUST THAT THEIR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED THE WAY THEY INTEND. WE ONLY HAVE ONE SHOT TO DO THIS RIGHT AND FULLY FUNDING OUR EDUCATION ENSURES NO VOTER IS LEFT

BEHIND. THANK YOU. -- LUCAS PHIPPS ALSO ASKING TO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING EDUCATION FOR THE 2027 PRIMARY ELECTIONS. SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE WASHINGTON BUS, WHICH IS BASED IN SEATTLE

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, THE WASHINGTON BUS IS THE LARGEST YOUTH BASED BUILDING ORGANIZATION IN WASHINGTON DEDICATED TO THE CIVIC AND POWER OF YOUNG VOTERS. AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR YOUTH BASE, WE

KNOW YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE WILL, BUT OFTEN NOT THE WAY. THIS YEAR IN SEATTLE, WE SAW VOTER TURNOUT AT JUST 4.5% OF VOTERS AGE 17 TO 24, AND 17% OF VOTERS AGED 25 TO 34. IF YOUNG PEOPLE. IN THE FUTURE,

WE MUST PROTECT THEIR PRESENT BY FUNDING THE EDUCATION THEY NEED TO BE CIVICALLY INVOLVED, ACTIVE AND LISTENED TO. IN A WORLD THAT HAS SEEN DISINFORMATION RUN RAMPANT, THEY NEED TO TRUST LOCAL

SOURCES. -- THANK YOU. -- AND NOW WE HAVE AIDEN. IS THAT RIGHT? AND JODY, IF YOU COULD PROMOTE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, WHO'S BEEN HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT, AIDEN WELCOME. -- HELLO AND GOOD EVENING. MY NAME

IS AIDEN AND I'M A VOTER IN DISTRICT FIVE. I'M HERE TO COMMENT ON THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET SPENDING DISCIPLINE, IS THAT WE'VE DECIDED TO REBRAND AUSTERITY INTO. I LOOK AT THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, AND

I GET VERY CONFUSED BECAUSE I DIDN'T ORDER MY TOAST WITH ANY ENGLISH BREAKFAST TEA THIS MORNING. I'M MORE OF A COFFEE GUY MYSELF. TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE THE AUSTERITY HAS LEFT THE TEA DRINKERS. WE'RE AT

THE START OF A GLOBAL BONDS CRISIS. I UNDERSTAND THE URGENT NEED TO CLOSE THE BUDGET GAP. THAT'S A REALLY EASY EXISTING MECHANISM TO DO THAT, THOUGH. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. CLOSE THE GAP BY INCREASING

REVENUE, INCREASE THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL TAXES. AGAIN, WHAT A LUDICROUS CLAIM TO SAY THAT THE DOWNTOWN TECH FIRMS ARE TOO FRAGILE TO PAY JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR THE MASSIVELY PROFITABLE TECH WORKERS

THEY EMPLOY. THOSE TECH WORKERS LOVE THE CITY, AND WOULDN'T MIND CHIPPING IN MORE IF THEY KNEW IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ARE WE ACTUALLY TAKING THE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION AND OTHER BIG BUSINESS

INTERESTS? RED HERRING ARGUMENT SERIOUSLY? THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS A NATIONAL PHENOMENON. IT IS OUTSIDE THE CITY'S CONTROL. BELLEVUE IS GROWING FASTER BECAUSE IT IS LITERALLY MORE

ROOM TO GROW. SAME GOES FOR THE EMPTY OFFICE BUILDING PROBLEM THAT IS DIRECTLY DOWNSTREAM OF COVID. DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT INCREASING THE POLICE BUDGET IS GOING TO FIX OUR NATIONAL CRISIS OF

TECH MONOPOLIES, NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE TO SOCIETY. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU AIDEN. UP NEXT IS JACK. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE INSPIRE WASHINGTON GROUP. SO THAT MIGHT TAKE A MINUTE JUST TO

GET US ALL ORGANIZED. WELCOME, JACK. -- THANK YOU. GOOD TO BE HERE. EVENING, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK KELLY. I'M A MEMBER AND ORGANIZER WITH THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT REGARDING

TWO NOTES ON THE TENANT SERVICES LINE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET ITEM ONE, I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO PLEASE ADD AT LEAST $500,000 TO THE TENANT SERVICES BUDGET. WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE BARE MINIMUM TO KEEP

TENANT SERVICES A SERVICE SERVICES THAT ARE VITAL TO OUR RENTERS, VITAL TO MAINTAINING AND CREATING STABLE COMMUNITIES, AND ULTIMATELY A STABLE CITY BY KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSED. SO PLEASE, WE ASK FOR

ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF $500,000 TO ENSURE THAT THESE SERVICES CONTINUE. NEXT, URGING THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE FULLY ADOPT THE $11 IN INCREASE RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES PAID BY LANDLORDS BY ANNUALLY TO PAY

FOR ENFORCEMENT OF RENTER PROTECTIONS, AND TO DO SO WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS. OUR RENTERS AND THEIR PROTECTIONS NEED TEETH. THEY NEED TO BE ENFORCED, AND WE ARE URGING THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE ADOPT THE FULL

$11 INCREASE IN FEES. AND LASTLY, IN SOLIDARITY, PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHELTER EXPANSION PROGRAM. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU JACK. SO WITH INSPIRE WASHINGTON, I SEE MY GREAT FRIENDS HERE. YOU WERE NUMBER

4040. -- YES. -- RIGHT. AND YOU ALL JUST SIGNED UP AS ONE. SO I'M GOING TO DO THIS. KAREN. -- KAREN. LUND. MARLETTE. BUCHANAN. MANNY. COWLING. -- MARLETTE. CANNON. AND MANNY. GREAT. YOU'LL HAVE FOUR

MINUTES AND 30s. WELCOME. GREAT TO SEE YOU. -- HELLO. MY NAME IS KAREN LUND. I'M THE PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF TAPROOT THEATER COMPANY, LOCATED IN GREENWOOD, WHICH IS DISTRICT SIX COUNCILMEMBERS.

WHEN YOU FUND THE ARTS, YOU'RE NOT ONLY FUNDING WHAT HAPPENS ON STAGE, YOU'RE INVESTING IN THE ECONOMIC LIFE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. A TAPROOT PERFORMANCE MEANS DINNER AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT, COFFEE DOWN

THE BLOCK, SHOPPING NEARBY, AND FRIENDS GATHERING IN GREENWOOD. THE ACTIVITY SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESSES, CREATES JOBS, AND MAKES OUR CITY'S BUSINESS DISTRICT PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE. WE SAW THAT

IMPACT CLEARLY DURING OUR HVAC EMERGENCY, WHEN PERFORMANCES WERE AT RISK. BUSINESSES AND NEIGHBORS STEPPED FORWARD WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT, VITAL TESTIMONY AND ENCOURAGEMENT. ENCOURAGEMENT NOT SIMPLY

TO SAVE A THEATER, BUT TO PROTECT A VITAL PART OF GREENWOOD'S IDENTITY AND ECONOMY. ARTS FUNDING IS NOT A LUXURY, AND IT'S NOT MERELY ENTERTAINMENT, IT IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY

INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE. WHEN YOU INVEST IN THE ARTS, YOU INVEST IN RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND A STRONGER SEATTLE. PLEASE MAKE SUSTAINED ARTS FUNDING A CLEAR PRIORITY. -- GOOD EVENING,

COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M MARLETTE BUCHANAN, I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COYOTE CENTRAL, LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC CENTRAL DISTRICT OF DISTRICT THREE. EACH YEAR, WE SERVE MORE THAN 1000 YOUNG PEOPLE

THROUGH HANDS ON ARTS AND ARTISAN BASED CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS LED BY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AT COYOTE, YOUNG PEOPLE DISCOVER THEIR TALENTS, BUILD CONFIDENCE AND FIND BELONGING ALONGSIDE CARING ADULTS.

THEY DEVELOP CREATIVE SKILLS THAT CAN SHAPE THEIR FUTURES AND LIVELIHOODS. I URGE YOU TO DEDICATE 10% OF SHIELD SEATTLE FUNDING TO ARTS AND CULTURE. THIS INVESTMENT SUSTAINS YOUTH PROGRAMS, SUPPORTS

THE LIVELIHOODS OF TEACHING ARTISTS AND OTHER DEDICATED WORKERS, AND KEEPS CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES ACCESSIBLE ACROSS OUR CITY. PLEASE PROTECT THE PLACES WHERE SEATTLE'S YOUNG PEOPLE LEARNED THAT THEIR

CREATIVE VOICES AND THEIR FUTURES MATTER. THANK YOU. -- HARD TO FOLLOW UP THOSE AMAZING CHANGE MAKERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM MANNY CAWALING, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR

INSPIRE WASHINGTON. FROM SEATTLE TO SEDRO WOOLLEY TO SPOKANE. WE ARE THE STATE'S CULTURAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION INSPIRED BY THE LONG LIST OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS, WE OPEN DOORS TO SCIENCE,

HERITAGE AND THE ARTS. I SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE VOICE. HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS PAY DUES TO FUEL OUR CREATIVE AND CULTURAL AMBITIONS, AND NEARLY 900 NONPROFITS AND ARTISTS BENEFIT

FROM OUR ADVOCACY FOR KING COUNTY'S DOORS OPEN PROGRAM. THE VAST MAJORITY ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT HERE IN SEATTLE, THERE IS NO PLACE MORE EXPENSIVE OR WHERE THE STAKES ARE HIGHER FOR CREATING AND

OPERATING CULTURAL PROGRAMS. I THINK ALL OF YOU ARE FAIRLY CLEAR ON OUR REQUEST, AS OUTLINED BY OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, JESSIE WATSON. SO I WANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT INSPIRES ME AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR

THIS CAMPAIGN. DID YOU KNOW THAT 94% OF ALL CULTURAL BUDGET BUDGETS ARE HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE? SO EVEN THOUGH THE KING COUNTY MONEY IS GREAT, THE STAKES AND THE COSTS ARE HIGHER HERE. WE

HAVE ALL THE JOBS WE WANT TO KEEP, THE JOBS I HAVE ALSO BEEN IN THIS JOB FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND AS I HOPE YOU GUYS KNOW, I'M PRETTY EASY TO TALK TO AND VERY LIKABLE. SO I HEAR A LOT OF STORIES, AND IF I

COULD VULCAN MIND MELD WITH YOU SO YOU COULD UNDERSTAND ALL THE COFFEES, ALL THE LUNCHES. I LIVE IN LOTS OF CONES OF SILENCE. I NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, OUR CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

ARE STRUGGLING. IT IS HARD. EVERY YEAR THEY ARE BARELY GETTING BY. MANY OF THEM MAY NOT MAKE IT. I ALSO KNOW THIS AS A PERSON THAT'S RUN ORGANIZATIONS. I WAS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AT LANGSTON HUGHES.

I WAS THE ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AT THE NORTHWEST ASIAN AMERICAN THEATER. HOW DO WE GET BY? WE MAKE SACRIFICES. WE HOLD OUR OWN PAYCHECKS. WE PAY FOR THINGS OUT OF OUR OWN POCKETS. WE WORK REALLY

HARD. WHEN I WAS REPLACED IN MY LAST JOB, THEY HIRED FIVE PEOPLE TO REPLACE ME. THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. CITY PROTECT THE ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTOR. MAKE INVESTMENT. -- THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ARTISTIC CREATIONS YOU CREATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. UP NEXT, WE HAVE WE'RE GOING TO GO. WE ARE NOW 41 OUT OF 110. WE'VE GOT MIRO S K, WHO IS NEXT. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A

MINUTE TO WORK THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE. MIRO, ARE YOU WITH US TODAY? HERE WE ARE. MIRO. EITHER MIKE. USUALLY THE TALLER ONE'S A LITTLE EASIER TO USE. -- MY NAME IS

MIRO SK. I'M HERE AS A FELLOW IMPACTED RESIDENT AND FAMILY MEMBER IN SOLIDARITY WITH FAMILIES OF HERBERT HIGHTOWER, JR., KEENAN PEARSON AND MORE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO POLICE BRUTALITY. MY

BROTHER WAS MURDERED BY CBP ON SEPTEMBER 20th, 2025, AND BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER I HAVE BEEN A TARGET OF STATE VIOLENCE THAT HAS INCLUDED INFILTRATION OF MY LIFE, SURVEILLANCE, STALKING, HARASSMENT,

RETALIATION AND THREATS. THIS HAS AT TIMES RESULTED IN LOSS OF HOUSING RESOURCES, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND MORE. I KNOW VISCERALLY HOW THOSE WITH STATE POWER WILL STOP AT

NOTHING TO DISMANTLE THE STABILITY OF THOSE WHO WITNESS THEIR ABUSES, AND TO SEE FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY BLACK FAMILIES, ASKING FOR SO LITTLE WHILE. YOU ADD 60 MILLION FOR COPS UNDER THE GUISE OF PUBLIC

SAFETY IS GUTTING. I HAVE NO DOUBT, FAR MORE THAN THEIR ASK WILL GO TOWARDS COUNTERINSURGENCY AGAINST EVERY FAMILY MEMBER WHO SEEKS JUSTICE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES, AND ANYONE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEM. AS

THE MAYOR DOES. EXACTLY WHAT I PRESUME SHE ALWAYS INTENDED TO BETRAY EVERY ORGANIZER AND VOTER WHO BROUGHT HER TO POWER. THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS CYNICALLY BOLSTER YOUR IMAGE AS A SANCTUARY CITY, AND,

AT MINIMUM, DOUBLE THE BUDGET FAMILIES HAVE ASKED FOR ON THEIR TERMS. OR REVEAL YOURSELVES IN THE CITY AS EXACTLY WHAT EVERY ORIGINAL TARGET OF THE STATE ON THIS LAND HAS ALWAYS KNOWN YOU TO BE. OUR

COLONIAL EUGENICIST ENFORCERS. DEFUND THE POLICE, DIVEST FROM APARTHEID, GENOCIDAL ISRAEL, FUND IMPACTED FAMILIES AND SURVIVORS OF STATE VIOLENCE. -- THANK YOU. MIRO. UP NEXT, WE'VE GOT THE CHURCH

COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE. DO YOU HAVE THREE CARDS? SO I'M JUST YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW ME WHAT NUMBER THAT IS SO I CAN MARK YOU OFF MY LIST. WE GOT 40. SO THAT'S THE 42. DID ANYONE ELSE FROM YOUR GROUP

SIGN UP? -- WE WERE TOLD TO SIGN UP AS A GROUP. -- OKAY, COOL. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. JODY. DO WE NEED TO GET THEIR NAMES? GREAT. WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THAT. YOU'VE GOT FOUR MINUTES. 30s

SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH PAST THE MISCOMMUNICATIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS. OVER TO YOU, MY FRIENDS. GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL. -- MY NAME IS BROTHER STEVE JERBY. I WORSHIP IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND

I LIVE AND VOTE IN DISTRICT FOUR. SACRED STORIES ARE OFTEN ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ABUNDANCE AND SCARCITY AND ABUNDANCE THAT SAYS THERE IS ENOUGH IN CREATION. THERE IS ENOUGH GOODNESS AND THE

RESISTANCE AGAINST PEOPLE WHO IMPOSE SCARCITY UPON COMMUNITIES. THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE IS A COMMUNITY OF ABUNDANCE IN CHRISTIAN TRADITION. WE HAVE A STORY ABOUT A GATHERING OF A HUGE

CROWD, AND WITH ONLY A FEW LOAVES AND FISHES, EVERYONE WAS FED. AND NOT ONLY THAT, THERE WERE LEFTOVERS TO GO. TODAY WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ABUNDANCE. -- GREAT. -- GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RACHEL AND

I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH THE CHURCH COUNCIL. AS PEOPLE OF FAITH AND CONSCIENCE, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PASS A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES OF ABUNDANCE IN A COMMUNITY CARE. THE FIRST PLACE WE WANT TO

START IS WITH PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES ON THE GLOBE, WITH HUGE DISPARITIES BETWEEN THE HIGHEST AND LOWEST LOWEST INCOME EARNERS. IT'S UNJUST TO BALANCE THE BUDGET

ON THE WORKERS, WHEN WHAT WE NEED ARE NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE. WE ARE ALSO PRO PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PROTECT FUNDING FOR SHELTERS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOOD SECURITY AND SUPPORTS

FOR OUR MIGRANT AND QUEER NEIGHBORS. THESE INVESTMENTS BUILD SAFETY THAT LASTS IN WAYS THAT REACTIONARY RESPONSES NEVER WILL. BELIEVING THAT POLICING AND SURVEILLANCE ARE ONLY PATHS TO SAFETY IS

SCARCITY, THINKING, OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE LEADERS WHO FIGHT SO THAT EVERYONE HAS ENOUGH. EVERYONE LIVES WITH DIGNITY AND REAL SAFETY, AND EVERYONE EATS. HELP US BUILD THAT ABUNDANT FUTURE. -- HI, MY

NAME IS CHLOE GUILLOT. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE AND I WORSHIP IN DISTRICT SIX. AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, I BELIEVE IN THE MODEL OF THE EARLY CHURCH THAT REDISTRIBUTED ALL THAT THEY OWN TO THAT

EVERYTHING WAS SHARED WERE THOSE WITH ABUNDANCE GAVE TO THOSE IN NEED. AND THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THIS COUNCIL EMBRACE AN ABUNDANCE ABUNDANCE MINDSET AND PURSUE PROGRESSIVE

REVENUE. I THINK WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM THAT MODEL AND THE MODEL OF THOSE WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US, OUR CHURCH AND BALLARD DOES A FREE MEAL FOR OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY EVERY WEEK. AND

JUST LAST WEEK, I WATCHED AS A WOMAN WHO HAD JUST LOST HER HOUSING WALKED IN AND A ROOM FULL OF FOLKS, MOST OF THEM UNHOUSED THEMSELVES, RALLIED TOGETHER TO GATHER WHATEVER FOOD, RESOURCES AND

SUPPLIES THEY COULD BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GIVE WHAT LITTLE EXTRA THEY HAD TO PROVIDE THIS WOMAN WITH A WAY TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT. THAT'S COMMUNITY CARE, AND THAT'S COMMUNITY SAFETY. IF EVEN

THOSE WHO HAVE SO LITTLE CAN GIVE WHAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THEIR COMMUNITY SAFER, WHY DON'T WE ASK THOSE WHO HAVE OVER AND ABUNDANT WHAT THEY NEED TO REDISTRIBUTE THEIR WEALTH BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY?

WHY DON'T WE TAX MILLION AND BILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFE FOR ALL? -- I'M REVEREND LEE CAROL DOVE, PASTOR OF SEATTLE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND DISTRICT THREE. I

ALSO LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE. AND THIS STORY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN OUR CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE, THE STORY OF LOAVES AND FISHES. YOU KNOW, WHEN THE DISCIPLE, WHEN JESUS SAYS, THESE PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY,

THE DISCIPLES SAY, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO FEED THEM. THEY COULDN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT THERE MIGHT BE PLENTY OF LOAVES AND FISHES OUT THERE COUNCILMEMBERS THERE'S PLENTY

OUT THERE. YOU'RE JUST NOT CHOOSING TO UTILIZE IT. WE CAN FEED OUR NEIGHBORS. WE CAN PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS AND INVEST IN REAL FORMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, LIKE HOUSING, FOOD PROGRAMS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SO PLEASE, THIS BUDGET SEASON, PLEASE USE YOUR IMAGINATIONS. MAYBE EVEN BE A BIT DARING. PLEASE. PEOPLE NEED IT. CHOOSE ABUNDANCE OVER SCARCITY. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND WE'LL SEE YOU ALL --

[LAUGHTER] -- SOON -- THANK YOU. CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE. UP NEXT, WE HAVE MLC TYLER MESSMAN SEVEN SPEAKERS, CARTER NELSON, ANNIE KAGI, REBECCA O'NEILL KIM GIORDANO, AND JONATHAN GONZALEZ

HAMEL. GREAT TO SEE YOU. WELCOME. -- GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO. CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, I APPRECIATE YOU. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. MY NAME IS SAI HAMEL. I'M FROM SHEA AND I LIVE IN TENT CITY FOR.

SO I'M HERE TO JUST READ THIS FOR YOU UNDERSTAND IT. SO WITHOUT SHELTER, PEOPLE WILL DIE PLEASE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET EDITION OF $37 MILLION FOR NEW SHELTER NEXT YEAR. IT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED AND

WE ALL. WE NEED ALL KINDS OF SHELTERS, INCLUDING MORE DEMOCRATICALLY OPERATED AND COMMUNAL SELF-MANAGED SHELTERS LIKE SHEA WILL PLEASE ALSO SUPPORT THE REQUEST OF STATE HOUSE. STAY HEALTHY COALITION

TO ADD $500,000 IN FUNDING, INCLUDING FOR TENANTS IN TENANT SERVICES NEXT YEAR. OKAY. WITHOUT IT, MORE PEOPLE WILL BECOME HOMELESS. PLEASE. FINALLY, DO NOT RENT. DO NOT BURN. WHEN THE RV DWELLERS FROM

OUR. FROM OUR CITY FOR FORCING THEM FORCING A NEW A NEW PROTEIN. PERMITTING SYSTEM. A PERMITTING SYSTEM. THIS -- [LAUGHTER] -- WOULD. -- [LAUGHTER] -- THIS WOULD HURT MORE PEOPLE IN LOSING THEIR

HOMES, THEIR VEHICLES. SO YES, FINALLY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. -- THANK YOU. JAMIL. AND NEXT UP WE HAVE TYLER FOLLOWED BY SEVEN. AND THEN CARTER -- GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS TYLER AND I'M

THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF SCARECROW VIDEO IN THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT LOCATED IN DISTRICT FOUR. SCARECROW HAS BEEN AN ICONIC SEATTLE INSTITUTION SINCE 1988 AND PROUDLY NONPROFIT SINCE 2014. WE ARE

THE WORLD'S LARGEST PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE PHYSICAL MEDIA LIBRARY, LIBRARY, EXCUSE ME. REPRESENTING DEEP AND DIVERSE WELLS OF CINEMATIC CULTURE FROM 138 COUNTRIES AND IN 129 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. IN AN

ERA WHEN ACCESS TO HUMAN STORIES IS INCREASINGLY SHAPED BY ALGORITHMS AND CONSOLIDATION, PEOPLE ARE YEARNING FOR REAL WORLD, COMMUNITY BASED ALTERNATIVES. AND THAT'S WHY OUR AUDIENCE HAS GROWN 20%

YEAR OVER YEAR SINCE 2023. BUT AS THE COST OF EVERYTHING HAS INCREASED AND FUNDING HAS BECOME LESS CERTAIN, OUR RESOURCES HAVE STRUGGLED TO KEEP PACE WITH THE COMMUNITY NEED. BUT WE ARE PART OF A

CULTURAL FABRIC THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO SUSTAINING VIBRANT, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND CREATIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH. SO PLEASE INCLUDE MEANINGFUL FUNDING INCREASES FOR ARTS AND CULTURE IN THIS BUDGET THROUGH

SHIELD SEATTLE AS INVESTING IN CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IS WHAT DRIVES SUSTAINABLE LOCAL GROWTH AND MAKES OUR COMMUNITIES STRONG, RESILIENT AND UNIQUE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. -- THANK YOU. TYLER. SEVEN.

THEN CARTER, THEN ANNIE, THEN REBECCA. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING. -- GOOD EVENING. CHAIR STRAUSS AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS SEVEN SKY, PRESIDENT OF THE SEATTLE COMPOSERS ALLIANCE FROM DISTRICT ONE. I

SERVE ON THE SEATTLE MUSIC COMMISSION AND THE SOUTH PARK COMMUNITY CENTER ADVISORY COUNCIL. BUT TONIGHT I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SCA. I'M ASKING YOU TO RESERVE 10% OF SEATTLE SHIELD FOR ARTS AND CULTURE.

LAST MONTH, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FINISHED DECOMPILING, A NINTENDO GAME A TEAM WORKED ON FOR SIX YEARS AND RESEARCHERS REBUILT AN OLD APPLE OPERATING SYSTEM FROM MACHINE CODE IN THREE DAYS. TODAY,

IT'S GAMES AND OLD SOFTWARE. TOMORROW IT'S THE APPS SEATTLE RUNS ON YOUR OWN BUDGET BOOK SAYS TECH HEAVY SECTORS HAVE LOST 45,000 REGIONAL JOBS SINCE 2022, AND TEN COMPANIES, MOSTLY IN TECH, PAY 70%

OF JUMPSTART. THAT IS A LOT OF EGGS IN ONE BASKET. AI CANNOT IMITATE A LIVE SHOW, A MUSIC LESSON OR THE EXPERIENCES FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT TODAY AS SOFTWARE CONTINUES TO BECOME MORE

VULNERABLE TO AI RECONSTRUCTION, RISKING FURTHER LOCAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, SEATTLE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LEADER IN INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITIES, ARTS AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. AGAIN, PLEASE

RESERVE 10% OF SEATTLE SHIELD FOR ARTS AND CULTURE TO PROTECT EXPERIENCES AND NOT PRODUCTS THAT AI CAN COPY. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. SEVEN AND CARTER'S UP NEXT. JODY, IS IT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THESE

BLINDS NOW THAT THE SUN HAS SET FANTASTIC THANK YOU. AND WHEN YOU'RE READY, CARTER, TAKE IT AWAY. -- ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, CHAIR STRAUSS AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. CARTER NELSON, ON BEHALF OF CREDO,

WASHINGTON STATE, THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE WORKFORCE, SUPPORTING THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY FROM BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS TO OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS.

WE WANT TO FIRST THANK MAYOR WILSON FOR PUTTING FORWARD A TRANSPARENT BUDGET THAT AVOIDS NEW TAXES AND REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IN TOUGHER ECONOMIC TIMES. THAT SIGNALS A

PRAGMATIC APPROACH AND THE STABILITY THAT WE NEED TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND JOB GROWTH. AS COUNCIL REVIEWS THE BUDGET, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PRESERVE THAT APPROACH BY MAINTAINING A SUSTAINABLE FISCAL

STRATEGY THAT DOES NOT CREATE LARGER BUDGET CHALLENGES IN FUTURE YEARS. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, WE HOPE THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS MAYOR WILSON'S RESPONSIBLE APPROACH THAT MAINTAINS RESERVES AND ADDRESSES THE

STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT. EVEN IN THE OUT YEARS OF 2029 AND 2030, BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS AND INVESTORS ALL BENEFIT FROM PREDICTABILITY AND CONFIDENCE IN THE CITY'S FISCAL MANAGEMENT. A STRONG ECONOMY,

RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING AND EFFECTIVE CITY SERVICES ARE NOT COMPETING PRIORITIES. THEY GO HAND IN HAND. WE ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT A BUDGET THAT PROTECTS THOSE PRINCIPLES AND OFFER OUR SUPPORT TO

AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD ADVANCE BUDGET SUSTAINABILITY OR MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS ON PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. -- THANK YOU. CARTER. UP NEXT IS ANNIE KAGI, REBECCA O'NEILL.

AND THEN KIM GIORDANO. -- HELLO, CHAIR STRAUSS. -- MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ANNIE AND I'M HERE WITH INSPIRE WASHINGTON TO SPEAK TO ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING THROUGH SHIELD SEATTLE AND THE

ADMISSIONS TAX. I WORK FOR SEATTLE THEATER GROUP IN DISTRICT SEVEN, WHERE I FUNDRAISE FOR HISTORIC THEATER PRESERVATION AND ACCESS TO ARTS EDUCATION AND LIVE PERFORMANCE FOR COMMUNITIES TRADITIONALLY

EXCLUDED FROM THE ARTS. I'M ALSO A DANCER, A PARENT OF A YOUNG ARTIST, AYE D5, LAKE CITY RESIDENT, AND A LOCAL CHILD OF THE 80s WHO REMEMBERS WHEN SEATTLE WAS A NATIONAL EXAMPLE FOR THE CITY'S SUPPORT

OF ARTS AND CULTURE. I BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN HELP US AND HELP SEATTLE TO ONCE AGAIN BE A CREATIVE SECTOR LEADER. OTHERS SPOKE TO THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF A STRONG CULTURAL SECTOR, BUT I ALSO ASK YOU TO

CONSIDER HOW CREATIVE EXPERIENCES IMPACT OUR HUMANITY AND OUR HEALTH, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN-PERSON CONNECTION IS PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. THERE'S A REASON THE STATE IS PARTICIPATING IN AN

UPCOMING PILOT PROGRAM SUPPORTING PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO GO EXPERIENCE ART WITH FEDERAL CUTS. I KNOW YOU FACE TOUGH BUDGET DECISIONS. AYE. SOME OF YOU MAY VIEW ARTS AND CULTURE AS AN ADD ON

RATHER THAN AN ESSENTIAL PUBLIC GOOD, BUT I INVITE YOU TO BE AN ALLY FOR HUMANITY. PLEASE MAINTAIN 10% FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE THROUGH SHIELD SEATTLE AND REJECT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO REALLOCATE

2 MILLION ADMISSION ADMISSIONS TAX REVENUE AWAY FROM ARTS AND CULTURE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU ANNIE. UP NEXT IS REBECCA KIM AND THEN JONATHAN -- GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS REBECCA

O'NEILL. I AM AN ACTOR, A DIRECTOR AND THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE SHATTERED GLASS PROJECT. WE ARE A THEATER COMPANY AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF WOMEN, NON-BINARY AND TRANSGENDER THEATER MAKERS. WE ARE

PROUD TENANTS OF THE MLK CENTER IN DISTRICT THREE, WHERE I ALSO LIVE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUNDING, ARTS AND CULTURE, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE. IN THE CASE OF MY COMPANY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

INCUBATING THE CAREERS OF NEW THEATER MAKERS, BRINGING NEW, UNIQUE PLAYS TO OUR COMMUNITY, CURATED AND CREATED BY PEOPLE WHOSE VOICES ARE VASTLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE THEATER. HOWEVER, OUR

PROGRAMING IS SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM FEDERAL NEA FUNDING BECAUSE OF OUR FOCUS ON GENDER AND GENDER IDENTITY. I AM HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO PROVIDE ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING AND SUPPORT FROM THE

SEATTLE SHIELD SHIELD, SEATTLE FUNDING POT TO LIFT UP THE PROGRAMS AND VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE LGBTQ PLUS ARTISTS, WOMEN ARTISTS, AND OTHER VULNERABLE ARTISTS

AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS. AS MY COMPANY DOES. PLEASE INVEST IN THE VALUABLE WORK THAT WE DO BY INCLUDING ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING IN THIS BUDGET, I WOULD LIKE TO LAST NOTICE THAT I'M FEELING A LITTLE

UPSTAGED BY MY FRIENDS FROM THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE, WHO BROUGHT -- [LAUGHTER] -- PROPS. -- [LAUGHTER] -- SO THANK YOU. -- THERE'S ALWAYS THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING THAT WILL HAPPEN LATER

IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS. WITH THAT, KIM, YOU'RE UP NEXT. AND THEN JONATHAN GONZALEZ, I'M GOING TO READ THE NEXT ROUND OF NAMES. WE'VE GOT SHIVA SHAH S, HANNAH JONES, DEWI TRAN, RILEY DOLAN, GERT

MASTERSON, JEFF MILLER, LIAM, RONNIE, SAM W, GWENDOLYN HART, AND THEN FRIDAY X WITH THAT. KIM, GREAT TO SEE YOU. -- GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KIM GIORDANO. I AM AN OPERA SINGER AND THE COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR FOR NORTHWEST OPERA IN SCHOOLS. ET CETERA. OR NOISE. AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE THROUGH SHIELD SEATTLE NOISE IS AN OPERA COMPANY BASED IN DISTRICT SIX,

SERVING AN AVERAGE OF 10,000 SEATTLE CHILDREN AND SENIORS. EACH YEAR. WE TOUCH EVERY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT THROUGH OUR ON SITE PERFORMANCE TOURS AND ARTS EDUCATION. WE ALSO HIRE UP TO 20 ARTS WORKERS

PER YEAR. WE ARE A SMALL NONPROFIT, BUT WE DO LOUD WORK. THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ARTS AND CULTURE AS A QUALIFIED USE OF SHIELD SEATTLE FUNDS AND AGREEING WITH OVER 70% OF THE VOTERS. SO PLEASE NOW

FOLLOW THROUGH. BUILD A BUDGET THAT INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR OUR GREAT CITY'S ARTS AND CULTURE ORGS LIKE NOISE REACH SO MANY UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING ARTS JOBS. EXACTLY WHAT

SHIELD SEATTLE WAS IN PART PASSED TO SUPPORT LOSING MILLIONS IN ARTS FUNDING WHILE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC DOES THE OPPOSITE FOR OUR ARTS ECONOMY. THE ARTS ALLOW US TO BE WHO WE ARE WHILE

DISCOVERING WHO WE CAN BE. SEATTLE IS ARTS FORWARD IN SO MANY WAYS. LET'S ALSO BE FORWARD IN HOW WE FUND IT. PLEASE MAKE SOME NOISE AND SOME BUDGET ROOM FOR ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE GREAT CITY OF

SEATTLE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU, KIM. YOU'RE NOT JONATHAN. IS JONATHAN HERE? -- NO, JONATHAN'S. -- NOT HERE. YOU HAVE HIS CARD, CORRECT. OKAY. SO YOU HAVE CARD. CAN YOU SHOW ME CARD 50. THERE WE GO.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME? ONE MORE. -- TIME. -- ZACH. GREAT TO SEE YOU. TAKE IT AWAY. ZACH. -- HIGH COUNCIL, I'M ZACH MCCARTHY, FIRST TIME PUBLIC COMMENTER HERE. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN OVER EXCESSIVE

RELIANCE ON AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS IN THE STATE BUDGET. THESE CAMERAS ARE DESIGNED FOR REVENUE TO LESSEN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER TIME. WE CAN CREATE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL WITHOUT PUTTING

SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING INTO A REVENUE SOURCE. THAT'S NOT EXPECTED TO GENERATE STEADY REVENUE OVER TIME. WE NEED MONEY FOR PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN IN OUR

CITY, NOT MORE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS. PLEASE PRIORITIZE SAFE STREETS OVER FUNDING FOR MORE COPS. I ATTENDED THE GHOST GHOST BIKE PUT UP FOR CHRISTIAN SAILOR ON 12th IN LEARNED JUNE 1st. BICYCLE

FATALITY IS ONE TOO MANY. PLEASE CONSIDER HAVING REVENUE GENERATED IN THE BUDGET THAT ALLOWS EVERYONE TO GET HOME SAFELY, NOT JUST PEOPLE. IN 2000 2,000 POUND METAL DEVICES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. --

THANK YOU ZACH. UP NEXT IS SHIVA HANNAH JONES, DEWEY TRAN, WELCOME -- HELLO. -- YEAH. MICK JAGGER, YOU GOTTA GET CLOSE. -- GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS SHIVA AND I'M THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR FOR FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT PARK. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO INCLUDE FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE WATERFRONT SHUTTLE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY METRO IN 2026 YEAR TO DATE, WATERFRONT PARK RECORDED

MORE THAN 6 MILLION VISITS FROM OVER 4 MILLION VISITORS, UP 73% SINCE 2024. AS WATERFRONT PARK BECOMES MORE AND MORE A PART OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE'S LIVES, RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIONS ARE

ESSENTIAL. THIS SUMMER, THE WATERFRONT SHUTTLE CARRIED OVER 124,000 RIDERS FROM MEMORIAL DAY THROUGH LABOR DAY, A 65% INCREASE OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND OUR GUEST EXPERIENCE SURVEY OF THE PARK ALSO

REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSIT. OVER 67% OF RESPONDENTS THIS YEAR REPORTED ARRIVING BY PUBLIC BUS, LIGHT RAIL OR SHUTTLE, AND 17% OF THOSE RESPONDENTS ALSO IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A DISABILITY. FOR

PEOPLE WHO FACE BARRIERS RELATED TO DISTANCE, HILLS OR TRANSFERS, THE SHUTTLE CAN MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN REACHING AND ENJOYING NOT ONLY THE WATERFRONT, BUT THE REST OF DOWNTOWN. THE

WATERFRONT SHUTTLE LINKS WATERFRONT PARK WITH SEATTLE CENTER PIONEER SQUARE AND THE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, ALLOWING PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY AND BROADER REGION TO ACCESS ONE OF THE CITY'S

MOST TREASURED CIVIC ASSETS. I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO INCLUDE DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THE WATERFRONT SHUTTLE IN THE 2027 BUDGET, AND CONTINUE THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY METRO ON A LONG TERM

SOLUTION FOR TRANSIT ACCESS TO THE. A WELCOMING WATERFRONT DEPENDS ON PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO REACH IT. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU SHIVA AND WELL SAID. LAST YEAR IN OUR PUBLIC HEARING, WE HAD A CONVERSATION

ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS A DENNY'S ON LAKE CITY WAY. IN FACT, THERE WAS. IT WAS JUST A LONG TIME AGO. TODAY I WILL ASK, AND IF YOU KNOW WHAT PUBLIC BUILDING IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS THE HIGHEST

PARTICIPATION ENTRANCE ADMISSION, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PUT IT. THAT'S THE QUESTION. FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING. WE ARE AT 52 OUT OF 110, SO WE'RE ABOUT A HALF WAY. IF WE STAY AT THIS PACE, WE'LL BE

DONE JUST AFTER 8 P.M.. WITH THAT, HANNAH, WELCOME. -- HI. -- MY NAME IS HANNAH JONES AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE. I SUPPORT THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET DEMANDS AND THEIR NINE GUARANTEES. I WANT TO LIVE IN

A CITY THAT OFFERS GUARANTEED INCOME, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, COMMUNICATION, CARE, FOOD, AND A LIVING WAGE. AS SOMEONE WHO HELPS FOLKS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD MOVE WHEN THEY

ARE FREQUENTLY SWEPT, THE SAME PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I SEE THE HARM CAUSED AND HOW OFTEN NO APPROPRIATE SHELTER IS OFFERED. I FULLY SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET FOR ADDING ADDITIONAL SHELTER

CAPACITY. HOWEVER, CONSIDERING THAT 30 MILLION IS SPENT ON THE INEFFECTIVE AND INHUMANE ENCAMPMENT SWEEPS, I STRONGLY URGE CITY COUNCIL TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SERVICES BEYOND

THE 37 MILLION AND DECREASE FUNDING FOR SWEEPS. HOUSING FIRST IS HUMANE, COST EFFECTIVE AND THE MOST EVIDENCE BASED SOLUTION TO SOLVING THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SERVICES CREATE

PUBLIC SAFETY. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO REDIRECT THE 13% INCREASE OF SPD'S BUDGET TO INSTEAD SUPPORT PEOPLE'S BASIC NEEDS. PLEASE INCREASE FUNDING FOR RENTAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED.

INVEST IN HIGH QUALITY OUTREACH AND SAFE PARKING LOTS FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR RVS. INCREASE WAGES OF FRONTLINE STAFF WHO SHELTER, HOUSE AND CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STOP FUNDING HARMFUL.

EXPENSIVE SURVEILLANCE. -- THANK YOU. THANK YOU HANNAH. -- UP NEXT IS DEWI TRAN, RILEY DOLAN, KURT MASTERSON, AND JEFF MILLER. WELCOME. -- HI, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS DEWI TRAN AND I WORK AT DC

HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE NONPROFIT. I ALSO LIVE IN THE U DISTRICT. I AM ADVOCATING FOR PRIORITIZING INVESTMENTS IN SHELTER, EXPANSION. I WAS GOING TO STAND UP HERE AND CATASTROPHIZE ABOUT WHAT WOULD

HAPPEN IF WE DON'T INVEST IN SHELTER EXPANSION, BUT INSPIRED BY SOME OF THE TESTIMONY EARLIER TODAY, I WANTED TO I REWROTE MY COMMENTS. I REWROTE MY COMMENTS BECAUSE I WANT US TO INVEST IN HOPE. THIS

IS THE HOPE A YOUNG MAN FEELS BECAUSE HE CAN NOW REGULARLY SEE A DOCTOR, BECAUSE HE SHELTERED. THIS IS THE HOPE A MOTHER FEELS BECAUSE SHE NO LONGER WORRIES ABOUT HER CHILD SLEEPING OUTSIDE. AND IT'S

A HOPE THAT I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS FEEL WHEN SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN OUTSIDE FOR MANY YEARS FINALLY ACCEPTS SHELTER. THESE MOMENTS OF HOPE ARE MOMENTS THAT I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST

MONTH. AND LORD KNOWS I NEED MORE OF THESE MOMENTS. PLEASE INVEST IN HOPE BY INVESTING IN SHELTER, EXPANSION. I ALSO WANT TO CLOSE MY COMMENTS BY SHARING MY PERSPECTIVE AS A PRESIDENT OF THE U.

DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT PRIORITIZING INVESTMENT IN SHELTER EXPANSION NOT ONLY SAVES THE LIVES OF OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, BUT IT UPLIFTS THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD. INVESTMENT IN

SHELTER EXPANSION IS NOT ONLY AN INVESTMENT IN THE INDIVIDUALS LIVING OUTSIDE, BUT IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY. AND IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE VIBRANCY OF OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YES, TO SHELTER. EXPANSION. YES TO SHELTER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. DEWI. AND I SEE THIS NEXT GROUP MAY WANT TO DO YOU WANT TO DO GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL -- I BELIEVE INDIVIDUAL SO WE

CAN HAVE MORE TIME TO SPEAK. -- ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT WE'VE GOT RILEY DOLAN, KURT MASTERSON, JEFF MILLER, LIAM ROONEY, SAM W TAKE IT AWAY RILEY. THANK YOU. -- SAVING LIVES AND PROTECTING PROPERTY IS

THE MISSION OF THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT. MY NAME IS RILEY DOLAN. I AM A FIREFIGHTER ON LADDER 11 IN WEST SEATTLE. THE MAYOR OF THE CITY IS PROPOSING CUTTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BY $7.1 MILLION AND

REDUCING OUR MINIMUM STAFFING. HERE'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE WHY THAT'S A BAD IDEA. TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS WORKING OVERTIME ON ENGINE 35 IN THE CROWN HILL NEIGHBORHOOD. AT 4:53 P.M., WE WERE DISPATCHED FOR A

GARAGE FIRE. WE ARRIVED IN TWO MINUTES. THERE WERE FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE ROOF. LESS THAN TWO MINUTES LATER, WE WERE ABLE TO FULLY PUT ON OUR GEAR, GRAB OUR TOOLS, LAY OUT OUR HOSE,

CHARGE THE HOSE LINE AND START PUTTING WATER ON THE FIRE. AT THIS POINT, PROPANE TANKS NEXT TO THE GARAGE WERE ON FIRE. THREE MINUTES AFTER THAT, THE FIRE WAS DECLARED UNDER CONTROL. LADDER EIGHT FROM

BALLARD ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER WE DID AND COMPLETED A SEARCH OF THE HOUSE BEFORE THE FIRE WAS UNDER CONTROL. AN ELDERLY COUPLE WAS LIVING IN THAT HOUSE WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. IF WE DIDN'T ARRIVE AS

QUICKLY AS WE DID, THE FIRE WOULD HAVE SPREAD TO THE HOUSE AND THE CAR PARKED OUTSIDE AND THE STORY COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE TRAGIC. I WAS WORKING OVERTIME BECAUSE THE REGULAR PERSON ON THAT SHIFT

HAD TO CALL OUT THAT DAY. I WAS PRETTY TIRED. I HAD ALREADY WORKED 24 HOUR SHIFT THE DAY BEFORE, NOT ON OVERTIME, AND I HAD MY REGULAR 24 HOUR SHIFT THE DAY AFTER THIS FIRE, WE SHOW UP WHEN GAPS EXIST

IN STAFFING IN ORDER TO FULFILL OUR MISSION OF SAVING LIVES AND PROTECTING PROPERTY. WITHOUT THIS FUNDING TO FILL THESE GAPS, SIX UNITS WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT OF SERVICE EVERY DAY. DON'T CUT THE SEATTLE

FIRE DEPARTMENT. GO TO FIREFIGHTERS SAVE LIVES.COM. -- HOW ABOUT NOW? YOU CAN ALL HEAR ME. NOW I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, RILEY, FOR THE SECOND CHANCES THAT YOU PROVIDE PEOPLE. IT MIGHT BE STRANGE

THAT I'M STANDING THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE THING IS BECAUSE I HAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY BODY, THAT DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE IF I HADN'T HAD THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAVED MY LIFE. THANK

YOU. WITH THAT, I'VE GOT KURT GERHARDT, JEFF. LIAM. SAM, TAKE IT AWAY. -- JEFF MILLER. I'LL SPEAK. YOU'RE STILL MY THUNDER COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. SO MY NAME IS JEFF MILLER. I'M A SEATTLE FIREFIGHTER,

AND I WORK ON CAPITOL HILL. I LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE. MY WIFE AND TWO BOYS. I BROUGHT ONE OF MY BOYS. THIS IS WILLIAM AND COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. WE WERE HERE ON SEPTEMBER 24th, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE

SAID WAS THAT THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT GIVES PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE, AND IT RESONATED WITH YOU BECAUSE THE NEXT DAY IN THIS ROOM, YOU TOLD YOUR STORY. I THINK 22 YEARS AGO, YOU WERE HIT BY

A TRUCK IN BALLARD AND YOU HAVE TO REFRESH MY MEMORY. BUT YOU EXPRESSED SUCH GRATITUDE THAT SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS WERE THERE WITHIN FOUR MINUTES TO GIVE YOU THAT SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. AND YOU

EXPRESSED EQUALLY YOUR GRAVE CONCERN. IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD RIGS OUT OF SERVICE THAT DAY AND WE COULDN'T BE THERE, MAKE IT THERE IN LESS THAN FOUR MINUTES. SO I IMPLORE THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL TO REJECT

ANY CUTS TO FIRE BECAUSE IF ONE PERSON DOESN'T GET THAT SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE, IT MEANS THIS CITY WILL HAVE FAILED THEM. THANK YOU -- WELL SAID. JEFF. -- LIAM. SEE, YOU'RE UP NEXT. -- GOOD EVENING. --

MY NAME IS LIAM MAHONEY. I'M ONE OF THE VICE PRESIDENTS ON LOCAL 27. I'M ALSO A FIREFIGHTER ON LADDER THREE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. I'M LIMPING AROUND RIGHT NOW. I SQUIRTED A DISC AT A FIRE ABOUT A

MONTH AGO. SO I'VE GOT I NEED THE CITY HAS TO PAY OVERTIME FOR SOMEBODY TO KEEP LADDER THREE IN SERVICE WHILE WHILE I GET BETTER. BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO SHOWED UP ON FRIDAY TO

OUR MEMORIAL. IT MEANS A LOT THAT YOU HELPED US MOURN LARRY DAHL. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITIZENS HERE WHO ARE SHOWING US SUPPORT. I MEAN, WE'RE SPREAD REALLY THIN AND IT'S A REAL MORALE BOOST.

BUT I WANTED TO CALL THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION TO THE LOOMING MEDICARE CUTS AS A RESULT OF H.R. ONE, AS WELL AS THE STATE CONTEMPLATING CUTS TO APPLE HEALTH. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STOP GETTING HEALTH,

REGULAR HEALTH CARE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP GETTING SICK, AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CALL 911 MORE. THAT MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE THE ER. WE ARE HEALTH CARE OF LAST RESORT, AND WE ARE

GOING TO GET SPREAD THINNER AND THINNER, EVEN AT OUR CURRENT LEVELS. WE'RE GOING TO BE SPREAD THIN. SO I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I WANT PEOPLE TO CONSIDER THE YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT MAKING A BUDGET FOR LAST

YEAR. WE'RE MAKING A BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. AND NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE HARD. SO WITH THAT, I'LL PASS. THANKS. -- THANK YOU. LIAM, SAM OR GERT? DO YOU STILL WANT TO TALK? SAM? -- HI. MY NAME IS SAM

AND I'M A SEATTLE FIREFIGHTER. I WORK ON CAPITOL HILL AT STATION 25. I LIVE IN THE RAINIER VALLEY, AND I HAVE FAMILY IN THEIR 80s WHO LIVE IN LAKE CITY. I HAVE A SISTER IN WEST SEATTLE. I GREW UP IN

THIS CITY. I WAS ON SHIFT LAST NIGHT AND EVERY SINGLE UNIT IN STATION 25 WAS ON A RUN. AND THEN ANOTHER EMERGENCY CALL CAME IN. THAT MEANS THE NEXT UNIT HAS TO RESPOND FROM BELLTOWN. THIS MEANS

THERE'S A DELAY. THIS IS THE CURRENT REALITY. THIS WAS LAST NIGHT. THIS IS A MONDAY IN OCTOBER. WE NEED MORE RESOURCES, NOT LESS. IF WE DO NOT INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERYONE IN

THIS ROOM WILL WAIT LONGER. WHEN YOU CALL 911, THAT MEANS WAITING LONGER WHEN THERE'S A FIRE IN YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE OR A HEART ATTACK DOWN THE STREET. THIS BUDGET WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT RESPONSE TIMES

TO MY FAMILY AND TO ALL YOUR FAMILIES. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. -- SAM, IS GERT STILL WITH US AND WANT TO TALK? -- YEAH, BUT. -- I DON'T. I'M ALL GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU GERT. I JUST WANT TO

TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. WHEN YOU SAVE LIVES OR HELP PEOPLE, YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO GO ON TO BE AN INVADER, AN INNOVATOR, OR IN MY CASE, A COUNCILMEMBER

OR AN ARTIST OR JUST THE ABILITY TO GO HOME AND SAY, I LOVE YOU TO THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER MOST. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. WITH THAT, WE'VE GOT GWENDOLYN HART, FOLLOWED BY FRIDAY X M

SMITH, EDDIE SON ELENA ROCKY, KYOTO, KYOTO. I'M. SO THAT'S THE FIRST NAME I'VE REALLY MESSED UP TODAY. AND THEN ALEX BENNETT WISE AND ELLIOT, GWENDOLYN, WELCOME. -- WE SIGNED UP AS A GROUP. -- YOU

WANT TO DO A GROUP? YES. OKAY. -- SO YOU HAVE THREE OF US AND I'M GOING TO GO AFTER THEM. -- SO LET ME JUST CHECK YOUR. SO SHOW ME YOUR CARDS. 60 YOUR FRIDAY X AND THEN YOUR 59. GWENDOLYN 6261. ANYONE

ELSE WITH YOU? -- FOUR OF US. -- COOL. WE'LL DO FOUR MINUTES. -- 30s GREAT -- YEAH. MY NAME IS M SMITH. I'M A MEMBER OF LABOR MILITANT UNITED FRONT FOR A WORKERS PARTY. AND SEATTLE DSA. KATIE WILSON'S

BUDGET IS AN ATTACK ON WORKERS IN THIS CITY. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY AGAIN, SOLIDARITY WITH THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION WHO ARE FACING A $7 MILLION CUT IN THEIR OVERTIME

FUND ON TOP OF EXISTING SHORT STAFFING SOLIDARITY, ALSO WITH THE HOUSING ACTIVISTS HERE WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST A $68 MILLION CUT TO HOUSING FUNDS, THERE'S ACTIVISTS LIKE ANGELIQUE WHO ARE FIGHTING

FOR FUNDING FOR SKILLS TO LIVE, TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR HOMELESS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THIS CITY, SOLIDARITY WITH PROTEC 17 AND OTHER CITY WORKERS WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST LAYOFFS IN THIS BUDGET AND

SOLIDARITY WITH EVERYONE HERE PROTESTING THE $68 MILLION INCREASE TO THE POLICE BUDGET AND FOR RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY RESOURCES, WHICH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS SPENT SIX YEARS

TRYING TO OBSTRUCT. WE HAVE A FACT SHEET THAT HAS MORE THAT IS JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF THE CUTS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN THIS BUDGET. WHAT COULD WE DO WITH $68 MILLION THAT'S GOING TO THE POLICE?

WE COULD FUND A PUBLIC SUBSIDIZED GROCERY STORE IN EVERY DISTRICT OF THIS CITY. WE COULD FUND FIVE FREE PUBLIC HEALTHCARE CLINICS. WE COULD FUND A NEW PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT EVERY YEAR, CREATING

1600 NEW PUBLIC, PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE UNITS OVER THE NEXT DECADE. AND INSTEAD, THAT MONEY IS GOING TO THE COPS EVERYWHERE. THIS ISN'T JUST SEATTLE EVERYWHERE. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS CUTTING PUBLIC

SERVICES. THEY ARE RAISING TAXES ON WORKING CLASS PEOPLE, AND THEY ARE SHOVELING MORE MONEY TO THE POLICE. THIS IS HAPPENING IN SAN FRANCISCO, MINNEAPOLIS RIGHT NOW. ZORAN MAMDANI IS -- ASKING FOR

2.5% CUTS FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE CITY, AND HE'S PRIVATIZING PUBLIC HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITY. THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE TRUMP AND MANY DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING A $1.5 TRILLION WAR BUDGET. THE

DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS A CAPITALIST PARTY. THEY REPRESENT BIG BUSINESS, BIG CORPORATE LANDLORDS AND THE POLICE. THIS BUDGET IS NOT A FLUKE. THIS IS THE POLICY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. AND THIS IS THE

POLICY OF THE WHOLE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. IT'S TELLING THAT NOT ONE OF THE SUPPOSEDLY PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THIS BUDGET. EDDIE LIN ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK DIONNE FOSTER. NOT ONE HAS

SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THE $68 MILLION INCREASE TO THE POLICE. NOT ONE HAS SAID THEY WILL VOTE AGAINST THESE CUTS TO HOUSING AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES. AND OF COURSE, THE BUDGET ITSELF WAS INTRODUCED BY A

SO-CALLED SOCIALIST DEMOCRAT, KATIE WILSON. AGAIN, THIS IS THE POLICY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. IT IS AN ANTI-WORKER PARTY. JUST YESTERDAY, FERRY WORKERS WENT OUT ON A SICK. BECAUSE THE STATE DEMOCRATS

WON'T GIVE THEM A RAISE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON THIS MERRY GO ROUND UNTIL WE DECIDE THAT WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. AND I WANT TO ECHO NEIL, WHO SPOKE EARLIER. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO

HAVE ENOUGH? SO LIKE I SAID, I'M HERE WITH LABOR MILTON AND SEATTLE DSA. I SAW FORMER COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WAS HERE EARLIER, PROTEC AND THE FIREFIGHTERS. WE NEED TO GET ORGANIZED TOGETHER. THE LEFT IS

SPLINTERED INTO 100 ORGANIZATIONS. SOME OF THEM ARE HOPELESSLY ATTACHED TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. OTHERS REFUSE TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF WHATEVER PETTY DIFFERENCES EXIST. WE NEED TO BRIDGE

THOSE SECTARIAN DIVIDES. WE NEED TO TAKE REAL STEPS TOWARDS A WORKERS PARTY IN SEATTLE THAT CAN CHALLENGE THE POWER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. AND THAT'S WHY WE LAUNCHED UNITED FRONT FOR A WORKERS

PARTY. SO PLEASE, IN MY LAST FEW SECONDS, I WANT TO GIVE SOME TIME TO FRIDAY, SIGN THE PETITION. WE PASSED AROUND SOME INFO THAT HAS A PETITION SHEET. TAKE A PETITION. WE HAVE OVER 600 PEOPLE WHO HAVE

SIGNED UP. HELP US GET TO 1000 BY NOVEMBER 5th. SHOW THAT WE ARE ORGANIZED. THIS IS A TOOL TO HELP US GET ORGANIZED. COME OUT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10th TO RAINIER BEACH COMMUNITY CENTER FOR OUR MONTHLY

MEETING. COME OUT ON OCTOBER 15th. THAT'S A DSA STOP THE CUTS MEETING AND THEN COME OUT AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 5th AT 5 P.M. TO THE NEXT BUDGET HEARING. WE'RE SAYING NO CUTS TO PUBLIC SERVICES, NO LAYOFFS

OF CITY WORKERS, NO INCREASE OF THE POLICE BUDGET AND TAX, THE RICH NOT WORKING PEOPLE. AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, NO FAITH IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WE NEED THE REST OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT HERE. WE NEED

EVERYONE HERE. WE NEED TO COMBINE THESE FIGHTS AND INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL. I'LL SEE MY LAST 20s. HI. -- MY NAME IS FRIDAY. -- I'M SPEAKING WITH LABOR WITH THE UNITED FRONT FOR WORKERS PARTY

ABOUT THESE BUDGET CUTS. THE CITY IS FEEDING WORKERS FUTURES INTO THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE CUT $14 MILLION FROM ROAD MAINTENANCE, 500 BEDS FROM SHELTERS, AND $68 MILLION FROM HOUSING,

AND HAVE SHIFTED ALL OF THAT MONEY TOWARDS SPD. WILL SPD FIX THE ROADS? WILL SPD HOUSE OUR NEIGHBORS IN CRISIS? WILL SPD BUILD NEW HOUSING UNITS? WE SAY NO. NO INCREASES TO SPD BUDGET, NO LAYOFFS FOR

CITY WORKERS, NO CUTS TO PUBLIC SERVICES, NO NEW TAXES ON THE WORKING CLASS OF SEATTLE. WE MUST GO AFTER THE HOARDS OF WEALTH THAT IN THIS CITY, INSTEAD OF REACHING INTO WORKERS POCKETS FOR PENNIES.

THANK YOU -- THANK YOU, FREY -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. EVERYONE. NEXT, WE HAVE ELENA ARAKI. AND THEN COCO. COCO. OH, MAN, I'M JUST MESSING THIS UP. I'M SO SORRY. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SCHOOL ME

WHEN YOU COME UP, BUT, ELENA, GREAT TO SEE YOU. -- HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ELENA ARAKAKI, AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING FRIENDS OF LITTLE SAIGON IN DISTRICT TWO. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU FOR TWO THINGS.

FIRST, TO MAINTAIN EDDIE FUNDING TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT IN HIGH RISK COMMUNITIES, AND SECOND, TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED SHELTER EXPANSION PLAN. AS DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES AND AFFORDABILITY

ISSUES CONTINUE TO GROW, THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT IS CRUCIAL. THE LITTLE SAIGON LANDMARK PROJECT, WHICH IS SLATED TO BREAK GROUND THIS YEAR, WAS AN ORIGINAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

THAT WILL BRING A VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER AND FAMILY HOUSING TO LITTLE SAIGON, A PROJECT THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER A DECADE. INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES IS ALSO GOOD FOR PUBLIC

SAFETY. A SOCIALLY CONNECTED, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY IS ONE THAT'S MOST RESISTANT TO CRIME. WE URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN THE PROPOSED EDDIE FUNDING. WE ALSO REQUEST THAT YOU SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S

PROPOSED SHELTER EXPANSION PLAN. WE KNOW THAT A BETTER RESPONSE TO UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IS POSSIBLE. JUST THIS YEAR, THE PIONEER SQUARE STREETS TO HOUSING PROJECT PLACED 87% OF INDIVIDUALS INTO

APPROPRIATE SHELTER AND HOUSING. LITTLE SAIGON HAS BEEN STRUGGLING FOR YEARS WITH CONCENTRATED HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC DRUG USE AND OPEN STREET VENDING. WE'RE LOSING BUSINESSES EVERY MONTH. THE SOLUTION

IS NOT TO LOCK PEOPLE AWAY, BUT TO PROVIDE LASTING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS STABILITY. WE NEED TO INVEST IN SHELTER THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR HIGHEST ACUITY NEIGHBORS, AND

PRIORITIZE PEOPLE WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS TO GET INTO HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES. ONLY THEN WILL WE START TO SEE NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN LITTLE SAIGON. PLEASE FULLY FUND HIGH SUPPORT SHELTER UNITS

CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. ELENA. I'M NOT GOING TO TRY A FOURTH TIME. JUST SCHOOL ME WHEN YOU COME UP, PLEASE. -- HI. MY NAME IS KOKORO ORIAKU. I'M HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO

DIVERT THE INCREASE IN POLICE FUNDING TO OTHER PROGRAMS. ALEX S VITAL ARGUES IN THE END OF POLICING, REAL PUBLIC SAFETY COMES FROM INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST IN MORE OFFICES IN A DEFICIT YEAR,

SPD BUDGET HAS GROWN BY 68 MILLION. THAT IS A 13.9% INCREASE, AND THAT'S ABOUT 50 MORE 50 TIMES MORE. THE ENTIRE CITY'S ARTS EDUCATION BUDGET, WHICH SHOWS WHERE THE CITY'S PRIORITY LIES. THE

EDUCATION, THE ARTS AND EDUCATION BUDGET IS ONE THAT SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTS PEOPLE GETTING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND GETTING ARTS EDUCATION. YET THE CITY IS CHOOSING TO DIVERT THE FUNDS

INTO SPD WHEN THERE ARE NO METRICS THAT SHOWS THAT CRIME IS ACTUALLY RISING IN SEATTLE. SO I'M ASKING THE MAYOR TO READ, REDISTRIBUTE THAT FUND INTO HOUSING BECAUSE 2014, OUT OF THE 24 CIVILIAN CRISIS

RESPONDER POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED LAST YEAR, THOSE OF ALL THOSE FUNDINGS, AND THERE IS NO RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT MORE POLICE ACTUALLY MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER. SO PLEASE DO WHAT IS WHAT THE RESEARCH

ACTUALLY SUPPORTS. AND. -- THANK YOU. -- AND NEXT WE HAVE ALEX BOOTH. THEN BENNETT H Ys SHAH. WELCOME, ALEX. -- GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALEX BOOTH. I LIVE IN GREEN LAKE IN DISTRICT

SIX AND I'M AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARCHITECT. SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSING JUSTICE WORKING GROUP OF THE SEATTLE DSA, THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA IN 2023, KATIE WILSON HELPED WRITE A

TRANSIT RIDERS UNION REPORT CALLED PROGRESSIVE TAX OPTIONS FOR SEATTLE. IT LISTED 26 PROGRESSIVE TAXATION OPTIONS, INCLUDING EASY WINS. SHE HAD THREE YEARS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE OPTIONS, AND SHE

HAD NINE MONTHS AS MAYOR TO BUILD A BUDGET AND SOMEHOW COULDN'T MANAGE TO PROPOSE A SINGLE NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE IN ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES ON EARTH. SO WE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO HOLD THE MAYOR

ACCOUNTABLE TO HER OWN WORK AND PRIORITIES. KEEP JUMP-START HOUSING DOLLARS FOR HOUSING AND SHELTER PASS PROGRESSIVE REVENUE THIS CYCLE AND FUND SHELTERS. NOT NEW POLICE AND NOT SWEEPS. YOU WANT A

STRONG ECONOMY. YOU FUND HOUSING THAT PUTS PEOPLE TO WORK AND BUILDS HOMES FOR THE WORKERS AND INDUSTRIES WE WANT HERE. IT LEAVES RENTERS WITH MONEY LEFT TO SPEND. THAT'S A STRONG ECONOMY. KATIE'S

BUDGET IS NOT THE SEATTLE DSA WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS AMENDMENTS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET. THANK YOU. -- THANKS, ALEX BENNETT, I NEVER KNEW YOUR LAST NAME UNTIL TODAY. -- YEAH. --

HOW ABOUT THAT? YEAH. LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. -- RESCUED BY FIREFIGHTERS. SO HERE WE ARE. YOU KNOW. -- YOU NEVER KNOW THE SECOND CHANCE THAT THEY'LL GIVE US. -- ALL RIGHT. SO GOOD EVENING

COUNCIL. SO HERE WE ARE. THIS COMES UP YEAR AFTER YEAR. BUT I THINK THAT EVERY SITTING PERSON ON THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION. WHY DO YOU THINK THE HOMELESSNESS LEVEL IS

HIGHER PER CAPITA IN THIS CITY? AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF NEW HOMELESSNESS? PEOPLE FLOWING INTO THE HOMELESS POPULATION? BECAUSE HERE'S THE THING. EVERY CITY HAS SOME

BASELINE AMOUNT OF HOMELESSNESS AND CRIME, AND THAT'S WHY I'M NOT A POLICE ABOLITIONIST. AND SOME PEOPLE GET MAD AT ME ABOUT THAT. I'M STILL FRIENDS WITH SOME OF THEM. I JUST SAY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND

HOW THIS COULD WORK. IF YOU ABOLISH ALL THE POLICE. BUT IF YOUR CITY HAS MORE HOMELESSNESS AND MORE CRIME AND MORE PROBLEMS DOWNSTREAM FROM PEOPLE HAVING CRISIS IN PUBLIC, THAT'S A SYMPTOM THAT

SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG. THAT'S NOT HUMAN NATURE. THAT IS SOME SORT OF POLICY FAILURE. AND I THINK THAT PART OF BEING A PUBLIC OFFICE IS YOU SHOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHY DO YOU

THINK IT IS MORE HERE THAN THAN IN OTHER PLACES? NOW, I THE COPS COME TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS. WHATEVER YOU SAY ABOUT SPD, THEY DO COME AND YOU CAN ASK THEM QUESTIONS AND I

BELIEVE THEM WHEN THEY SAY THAT THEY NEED EVERY AVAILABLE OFFICER. I DON'T I DON'T AGREE. I BELIEVE THAT THEY BELIEVE IT. BUT HERE'S THE THING. EVEN IF I THINK THEY'RE WRONG ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE

POLICE, BUT EVEN IF THEY WERE RIGHT, THAT'S A SIGN THAT SOMETHING HAS FAILED MORE UPSTREAM. WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON WHAT IS THE UPSTREAM PROBLEM THAT LED TO MORE PEOPLE IN PUBLIC CRISIS THAT LED FOR

THE. IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED MORE POLICE THAN AVERAGE FOR THIS CITY, SOMETHING HAS GONE. WRONG. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. BENNETT. UP NEXT, WE HAVE WEISHAAR FOLLOWED BY RHEA LANKFORD, ELLIOT SHAW,

CALEB AYE, CLARISSA PEREZ, JULIE C, AND I'LL KEEP GOING FROM THERE. BUT RHEA, GREAT TO SEE YOU. WELCOME. -- HELLO. MY NAME IS WISP. -- I'M A LOW INCOME RENTER OF DISTRICT THREE AND I'M HERE TO

REPRESENT. -- TIME OUT. WE'RE GOING TO GO. PAUSE. ARE YOU NUMBER 69? -- YES. OR 67. -- 67. YOU ARE WISE. WHICH IS WHAT WISP THAT IS WHY I THANK YOU. APOLOGIES BACK TO YOU. -- OKAY. HI. HELLO. MY NAME

IS WISP. I'M A LOW INCOME RENTER OF DISTRICT THREE. ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY FRIENDS OF DISTRICT FOUR, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE SOLITARY BUDGET AND THE DEMANDS OF THE NINE GUARANTEES. SPECIFICALLY

THE DEMANDS FOR HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION. AS A LOW INCOME RENTER, I RELY ON A LOT OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY, INCLUDING THE HEALTH THROUGH HOUSING PROGRAM, JUST TENANT PROTECTIONS. AND I

WOULD HOPE THAT WITH THE PROPOSAL FOR THE BUDGET, THAT MORE FUNDING IS PUT TOWARDS TENANT PROTECTIONS. ALSO SOMETHING THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD MENTIONED TONIGHT IS, MORE ALLOCATION TOWARDS OUR

TRANSPORTATION, SPECIFICALLY PUBLIC FACILITIES LIKE SEATING AND PUBLIC RESTROOMS. THERE. MY FRIENDS OVER IN DISTRICT FOUR, PARTICULARLY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO STAND AROUND WHEN THEY WAIT FOR THEIR

BUSSES DUE TO A LACK OF SEATING AT THE BUSSES, AND ALSO JUST A GENERAL LACK OF PUBLIC RESTROOMS TO USE WITHIN SEATTLE. YEAH, THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU WISP. NEXT IS RHEA, FOLLOWED BY ELLIOT. WELCOME. --

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RHEA LANKFORD. I WAS BORN IN SEATTLE AND I'M HOMELESS HERE. NOW. I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO MANY PEOPLE NAME THE SAME FAILURES. NOT ENOUGH SHELTER EXISTS, NOT ENOUGH WAGES, NOT

ENOUGH FUNDING, NOT ENOUGH STAFF, NOT ENOUGH HOUSING. NOT ENOUGH. BUT IF EVERY SOLUTION DEPENDS ON MORE MONEY MOVING THROUGH THE SAME STRUCTURE, THERE WOULD NEVER BE ENOUGH. SEATTLE ALREADY HAS PIECES

OF A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE OF DIFFERENT STRUCTURES. FOOD BANKS OFTEN SUPPORT PEOPLE MORE DIRECTLY THAN SNAP SLIDING SCALE AND FREE CLINICS EXISTS. TRANSIT IS FOUNDATIONAL AS GAS AND LIVING COSTS RISE

DURING COVID, SOME PAYMENT BARRIERS WERE REDUCED, SOCIETY STILL FUNCTIONED, SOME ESSENCE CITY TO STUDY AND PILOT A DIFFERENT MODEL, A LONG TERM SHELTER HOUSING COMMUNITY IN AN UNUSED OFFICE BUILDING.

MAYBE A. CONNECT WITH THE UW FOOD BANKS, CLINICS, TRANSIT AND PUBLIC INTEREST WORK. PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE BUILDING COULD LIVE IN THE BUILDING, TOO, MAYBE REDUCING COMMUTE PRESSURE, RENT PRESSURE, AND

SEPARATION FROM THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE THAT THEY KIND OF TRY TO HELP. RESIDENTS WOULD NOT BE FORCED INTO LABOR BY MEANINGFUL, VOLUNTARY TASKS OR MEANINGFUL, VOLUNTARY TASKS COULD EXIST. ARCHIVE

TRANSCRIPTION MAY BE CITY ADMIN SUPPORT, FOOD PRESERVATION, BUILDING CARE, PLANTING AND DOCUMENT WORK. THIS IS NOT ANOTHER SHELTER. IT'S SELF-SUSTAINABLE FOUNDATION, HOUSING, FOOD CARE, TRANSIT ACCESS

AND MEANINGFUL WORK WITHOUT MAKING SURVIVAL DEPENDENT ON WAGES. -- RHEA, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING WITH US THIS EVENING. CHEERS. I'M GOING TO READ THE NEXT GROUP AFTER ELLIOT, WE'VE GOT CALEB,

CLARISSA, JULIE, SOPHIA. SEE, ARIANA, RILEY, VALERIA E, LYDIA O T LU BLUE AND CARL NELSON. WITH THAT. ELLIOT, WELCOME. -- HI THERE. MY NAME IS ELLIOT SHAW. YOU CAN JUST CALL ME ELLIE. I LIVE IN

DISTRICT THREE, AND WHILE I THINK THE BUDGET HAS HELPED STABILIZE A LOT OF THINGS, I'M VERY DISQUIETED BY THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO NEW TAX REVENUE. A NEW YORK CITY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY

HAS FAMOUSLY GOTTEN RID OF THEIR DEFICIT ENTIRELY AND HAS REALLY EXPANDED ALL OF THEIR PUBLIC SERVICES. AND THEY DID THIS BY BY TAXING THE RICH. I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT HERE,

TOO. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. AND IF WE TAX THE RICH AND DO SO PROPORTIONATELY, WE COULD HELP. WE COULD HELP TO FUND ALL OF THESE OTHER SERVICES THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IN THIS

MEETING HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT. YEAH. FROM HOMELESSNESS TO THE FIREFIGHTERS TO AND TO THE ART. EVERYTHING. AND IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY OBVIOUS SOLUTION TO ME. AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR

THIS COUNCIL TO, TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR FUNDING. AND THAT DEFICIT IS REALLY GOING TO GET IN THE WAY OF THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. -- THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. -- NO ONE HAS GUESSED AT

WHICH PUBLIC BUILDING HAS THE MOST. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S ADMISSION BECAUSE THERE'S NO FEE FOR IT. BUT IF ANYONE KNOWS THE HIGHEST USED PUBLIC BUILDING IN OUR CITY, JUST WORK IT INTO YOUR PUBLIC

COMMENTS WITH THAT, CALEB. CLARISSA, JULIE, SOPHIA, ARIANNA. AND I'VE GOT CLARISSA, JULIAN, SOPHIA WANTING TO BE A GROUP. IS THAT CORRECT. -- OR JUST INDIVIDUALS NOW? SOUNDS GOOD. IS NO LONGER HERE.

-- FANTASTIC. SO CALEB, IS THAT. YEAH. TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME YEAH. TALLER ONES BETTER. MICK JAGGER. YEAH. -- ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CALEB. I AM A SEATTLE COLLEGE STUDENT, AND I

LEFT CLASS EARLY JUST TO SPEAK WITH YOU GUYS. SO I REQUEST THAT YOU LOOK AT THE SEAL BEHIND YOU. OUR CITY IS BUILT ON THE IMAGE OF A BROWN MAN, AND THERE IS A BLACK LIVES MATTER SIGN IN THE LOBBY OF

THIS BUILDING. AND I AM A PROJECT BALDWIN STUDENT, WHICH MEANS I BENEFIT FROM A PROGRAM DEDICATED TO LOW INCOME AND BLACK AND BROWN MEN. SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND BROWN COUNCIL IN

FRONT OF ME, I ASK HOW WE RAISE THE SPD'S BUDGET TO 80 OR SORRY, $68 MILLION, WHICH COULD GO TO HIGH SUPPORT SHELTERS, EDUCATION AND ARTS PROGRAMS. I USED TO LIVE ON 12th AND JACKSON. AND SO WITH

EXPERIENCE, I TELL YOU, COUNCIL, THAT WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN RENOVATION AND NOT BRUTALIZATION. WITH THAT, I ASK OUR CITY TO DELEGATE OUR FUNDS TO BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND NOT JAILING THEM. THANK

YOU COUNCIL. -- THANK YOU. AND BEFORE YOU LEAVE. CAN YOU SHOW ME YOUR NUMBER JUST SO I SEE IT? 71 OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME, CLARISSA. -- HI. OH, SORRY CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YEAH. OKAY.

OKAY. HELLO. SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CLARISSA PEREZ. OR AS ARTISTS KNOW ME, LA FLOR, CHICANA. AND I'M A RECENT UW SOCIAL WORK UNDERGRAD. I'M ALSO A HIP HOP RESIDENT ARTIST AT 1111 ON THE

BLOCK AND THE FOUNDER OF JOY IN THE HOOD, A YOUTH HEALING ARTS COLLECTIVE THAT I FORMED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. INSPIRED BY MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH VIOLENCE AND DANGER. BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL, MY BROTHER LOST

HIS LIFE TO GANG VIOLENCE. I SURVIVED A SUICIDE ATTEMPT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AND SIX MONTHS AFTER THAT, MY MOTHER WOULD LOSE HER LIFE TO DRUG ADDICTION. THIS ALL HAPPENED BEFORE I GRADUATED WHILE I WAS

ALSO IN HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS APPOINTED BY THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TO SERVE ON THE SEATTLE YOUTH COMMISSION TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY FROM 2016 TO 2018. AND I'M STANDING UP HERE NOW, TEN YEARS

LATER, WITH MY LIFE EXPERIENCE AND TO UPHOLD THAT MISSION TO YOU ALL. NOW, AS AN ADULT IN COLLEGE GRADUATE, I HAVE SPACE AND TIME TO THINK DEEPLY OF WHAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED MY MOM AND BROTHERS

DEATH. WHEN I THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE SAVED THEM, I THINK ABOUT THE INTRICATE ART MY BROTHER WOULD DRAW ON EVERY PRISON LETTER ENVELOPE HE SENT ME, OR THE JOURNAL OF POEMS I FOUND FROM MY MOM AFTER

SHE DIED. MORE THAN JUST MY MOM AND BROTHER AND MORE THAN WHAT KILLED THEM, THEY WERE ARTISTS AND HUMANS AT THEIR CORE, AT TIMES I WONDER IF THEY WOULD STILL BE ALIVE IF PUBLIC SAFETY LOOKED LIKE ART

INSTEAD OF POLICE AND PUNISHMENT. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I AM ONLY ALIVE AND HAVE SURVIVED THESE LAST TEN YEARS BECAUSE OF ART, POETRY, RAP AND HIP HOP. -- AND. -- ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT WERE

MADE AVAILABLE TO ME. ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR IS 8 MILLION OF THAT 68 MILLION BUDGET. THANK YOU. -- [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] -- THANK YOU. WELCOME, JULIE. -- THANK YOU. -- MY NAME IS JULIE CHANG. I'M A

COMMUNITY MEMBER, CAPITOL HILL BUSINESS OWNER, AND I AM THE PRIMARY AUTHOR OF THE ART AND CULTURE IS PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE OPEN LETTER. IT IS BACKED BY OVER 800 SIGNERS AND 110 ORGANIZATIONS,

AND CLIMBING HOURLY. THE REASON WHY WE HAVE SUCH THIS ORGANIC GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT IN UNDER TWO WEEKS IS BECAUSE THIS SUMMER'S HISTORIC CITYWIDE DECLINE IN VIOLENT CRIME WAS NOT DRIVEN BY

SURVEILLANCE OR INCREASED POLICING AT THE STADIUM ALONE. THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. IT DIRECTLY FOLLOWED THE CITY'S $3.6 MILLION INVESTMENT IN 80 COMMUNITY LED ART ORGANIZATIONS, AND IT WOULD

BE ENTIRELY NEGLIGENT TO DISMISS THIS AS CORRELATION. CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH FROM RANDOMIZED HOUSING STUDIES TO NATIONAL SAFETY DATA, IT CONSISTENTLY PROVES THAT RESOURCING COMMUNITY SPACES, IT

INCREASES WHAT WE CALL NATURAL SURVEILLANCE, THE SURVEILLANCE OF THE PEOPLE AND REDUCES VIOLENT CRIME FROM UP TO 36 TO 40%. CREATIVE PLACEMAKING THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE IS ONE OF THE MOST

ECONOMICALLY EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THAT IS NOT ARGUABLE, AS FACTS. YET THIS ADMITS THIS DEFICIT. THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS ADDING 68 MILLION TO SPD, REWARDING THIS CONSTRAINED

POLICING MODEL AND IS HEGEMONIC POLICE GUILT THAT IS CONSISTENTLY BETRAYING PUBLIC TRUST. Y'ALL, YOU KNOW IT. WE JUST SAW IT LAST WEEK AGAIN, RIGHT? WITH THE 13 MILLION OVERPAY. SO GIVEN THESE

REALITIES, WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL TO DIRECT JUST 8 MILLION INTO ARTS AND CULTURE, CREATIVE PLACEMAKING SHOUTS OUT TO THE FAMILY INSPIRE WASHINGTON FOR THIS. BUT THIS SHOULDN'T COME FROM OTHER --

[APPLAUSE] -- SERVICES. -- [APPLAUSE] -- THANK YOU. -- I'M GOING TO JUST DO A QUICK REMINDER. WE LOVE SNAPS. WE LOVE HANDS. THE CLAPPING SLOWS THINGS DOWN. SO DOES TALKING. SOFIA. SOFIA'S NOT

SPEAKING. ARIANA SORRY ABOUT THAT. ARIANA, I SHOULD RECOGNIZE YOU. -- HELLO, MY NAME IS ARIANA RILEY AND I LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE. WE ARE HERE YET AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD NOT BE DEFUNDING THE

CITY AT LARGE IN ORDER TO FUND THE POLICE. IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION OVER AND OVER, YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHEN WE COULD JUST DEFUND THE POLICE AND FUND OTHER CITY PROGRAMS

AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTEAD, AND MANY PROBLEMS WOULD BE SOLVED. OTHER PEOPLE HERE HAVE HAD GREAT SUGGESTIONS FOR WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD GO. INSTEAD, PEOPLE DID NOT VOTE FOR A SOCIALIST MAYOR TO

HAVE NO ACTUAL SOCIALISM OCCUR, AND TO SEE BUDGET CUTS TO USEFUL SERVICES, BUT NOT THE POLICE. IF THERE IS A BUDGET CRISIS, THEN THE LAST THING WE NEED TO BE DOING IS INCREASING THE POLICE BUDGET,

PROPOSING TO ENGAGE IN PROFLIGATE SPENDING BY THROWING MOUNDS OF CASH AMOUNTS OF CASH AT THE COPS AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERYONE ELSE, IS JUST PLAIN IRRESPONSIBLE. AS COUNCILMEMBERS WHO REPRESENT THE

PUBLIC, I URGE YOU TO DO YOUR JOB AND PASS A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC, ENGAGE IN TRUE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND CUT THE POLICE BUDGET. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU ARIANA,

VALERIA, LYDIA LIU BLUE AND THEN CARL NELSON. -- VALERIA. -- THAT'S NUMBER 76. VALERIA -- VALERIA. HELLO. -- COUNCILMEMBERS. YOU CAN CALL ME VAL. I'M A NON-BINARY HONDURAN AMERICAN ARTIST THAT IS PART

OF THE HOT ROD SUMMER ART COLLECTIVE, AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT AND RESEARCH DIRECTOR OF CENTER ON CONTEMPORARY ART, THE OLDEST ARTS NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO CONTEMPORARY ARTS IN SEATTLE. WE HAVE 46

YEARS WORTH OF ARCHIVES FROM OUR OWN PROGRAMING, BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS WHY WE HAVE STAYED ALIVE SO LONG IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SUPPORTED ARTISTS FROM HAVING CUTTING EDGE EXHIBITIONS LIKE

JAMES CHARLES SOLO SHOW IN 1982, TO WORKING WITH SUB-POP TO FEATURE BANDS SUCH AS NIRVANA AND MUDHONEY AT OUR SPACE IN 1989, WE GOT OUR START IMMEDIATELY ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GIVING ARTISTS

THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW THEIR ART. WHEN CONTEMPORARY ART WAS STILL A NEWER CONCEPT AND LARGER GALLERIES WEREN'T YET SO OPEN TO ARTISTS THAT ARE MORE EXPERIMENTAL AND OFF THE BEATEN PATH. NOW WE

ARE FOCUSING ON UNDERSTANDING OUR PAST THROUGH ACTIVATING AND EXHIBITING OUR ARCHIVES, AS WELL AS PARTNERING AND HOSTING ART COLLECTIVES THAT DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN SPACE TO SUPPORT THE FUTURE. I COME

TO YOU ASKING TO MOVE $8 MILLION FROM THE SPD BUDGET TO ARTS AND CULTURE. SHOUT OUT JULIE CHEN SCHULMAN AND ON THE BLOCK IN ORDER TO BETTER SUSTAIN THE ARTS ECOSYSTEM IN THE CITY. BECAUSE I KNOW FROM

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT BEING A WORKING ARTIST IN THIS CITY HAS NOT BEEN HONORED AND SUSTAINED ENOUGH. WE NEED TO DO MORE. IT WOULD BE MY HONOR, AND IT IS ONE OF MY DREAMS TO DEDICATE MY WORKING LIFE

TO SUPPORTING OTHER ARTISTS. AND THAT REALITY IS ONLY SUSTAINABLE IF I CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A LIVING BY DOING SO. -- THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU, VAL. LYDIA LOU BLUE, YOU'RE UP NEXT. -- HELLO. I'M HERE TO

VOICE MY APPROVAL FOR BUDGET ITEMS THAT SUPPORT HOMELESS RESPONSE SERVICES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED ME IN GETTING OFF THE STREET, BUT TO NOT ALLOW THAT PERSONAL SUCCESS TO PUT BLINDERS ON ME THAT PREVENT

ME FROM SEEING THAT UNSHELTERED, HOMELESS NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCED THE BRUNT OF POLICE VIOLENCE UNDER THE GUISE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, IN THE FORM OF SWEEPING. I WANT COUNCIL TO CONTINUE FUNDING THE PROVEN

HUMAN SERVICES THAT GET AND KEEP PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND ALLOCATE THE $68 MILLION PROPOSED POLICE BUDGET TO THAT END, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SPD IS ENGAGING IN A VIOLENT, POLITICALLY RETRIBUTIVE

CRACKDOWN ON THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY OUT OF THE NOTION THAT THERE IS A MODERN ANTIFA GANG LIKE THERE USED TO BE RACE BASED MAFIAS, BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ARE HIRED FROM EASTERN WASHINGTON. AND EVEN AS FAR

AS IDAHO, WHERE THEY VOTED AGAINST THE PROTECTIONS THAT WE LIVE BY, BY FUNDING AND HIRING MORE POLICE OFFICERS, WE ARE GIVING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE VANGUARD. IT HAS ROUTINELY THREATENED TO USE AS

PRETEXT FOR AN INVASION OF OUR CITY, LIKE 2020, LIKE MINNEAPOLIS LAST YEAR, AND LIKE LA. PLEASE DEFUND SPD AND ALSO WE HAPPEN TO HAVE SOME VIOLENT, TRANSPHOBIC BIGOTS IN THE ROOM WITH US TODAY. SO IF

ANY TRANS PEOPLE COULD PLEASE REMAIN UNTIL THE END OF MEETING, WE CAN COORDINATE A BUDDY SYSTEM AND I'LL MAKE IT HOME SAFELY THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. LYDIA LOU, YOU'RE UP NEXT. -- TRANS PEOPLE DO NOT

NEED 66 NEW COPS TO HOSE US IN. CAL ANDERSON, PAM BONDI, WHO IS A EXTREMIST PODCASTER, HAS SHOWN UP WITH TRUMP AT THE ANTIFA ROUNDTABLE WITH OTHER WASHINGTON BASED EXTREMISTS AND IS ALREADY

COORDINATING STUFF. SPECIFICALLY, THIS IS THE SAME PERSON WHO MADE A HIT PIECE AGAINST A TRANS SUPPORTING DETECTIVE THAT BULLIED THAT PERSON OFF THE FORCE. THAT IS THE CALIBER OF PERSON WHO IS IN THE

SPD NOW, AND WE CAN'T HAVE ANY MORE UNTIL WE START GETTING RID OF THE VIOLENT, BIGOTED ONES THAT BEAT US. THIS IS A FOOTHOLD FOR THE FED. THEY HAVE MET WITH TRUMP. YOU CAN'T. THE ONLY REASON THIS

THREAT EXISTS FOR US IS BECAUSE YOU DON'T FIRE VIOLENT, BIGOTED ONES. STOP THE SWEEPS. DON'T HIRE ANY COPS UNTIL YOU GET RID OF THIS PRESSURE THAT IS BUILDING ON OUR HEADS. AND ANDERSON, IT WILL HIT

US FIRST, BUT IT WILL HIT YOU AFTERWARDS. -- THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU, LOU. AND IF ANYONE IS FEELING UNSAFE AS THEY ARE LEAVING, YOU CAN STAY IN CHAMBERS AND WE'LL HELP YOU CREATE A PLAN TO GET HOME

SAFE. WITH THAT BLUE -- WE CONSTANTLY FEEL UNSAFE. WE CONSTANTLY FEEL UNSAFE BECAUSE THIS CITY COUNCIL, THIS CITY GOVERNMENT IS GIVING A LOT OF MONEY TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING US UNSAFE. WE WANT

TO BE SAFE. I WANT TO LIVE IN A SEATTLE THAT IS BEAUTIFUL AND VIBRANT AND LIVELY AND FULL OF ART, WHERE PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP CAN GET IT EASILY. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I CHALLENGE YOU

TO USE YOUR IMAGINATION, TO USE YOUR EMPATHY AND TO USE YOUR SKILLS AS POLITICIANS TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN. DEDICATE YOUR TIME. DEDICATE YOUR ENERGY TO PROTECTING AND INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE OF

SEATTLE. NURTURE THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. IT'S FRANKLY INSULTING THAT $68 MILLION IS EVEN POSSIBLY GOING TO THE POLICE. IT'S DISGUSTING. THEY ARE ATTACKING US ACTIVELY AND SHAMELESSLY. THIS IS AN

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MOMENT IN HISTORY, AND I BEG YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU, BLUE. AFTER THE ONE AND ONLY CARL NELSON, WE'VE GOT KAT MUNSON, CLIVE HAYWARD, NATALIE MORGAN,

ROBERTO MARQUEZ, MARISA PEREZ, CEDAR, NADIA MILLER, ASHLEY AYE C AND THEN HANNAH ZIFF WITH THAT CARL NELSON. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY FRIEND. -- HELLO, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. --

MY NAME IS. -- CARL NELSON. I'M A 17 YEAR RENTER OF DISTRICT FOUR, A FOUNDING MEMBER AND CO-CHAIR OF THE CEDAR CROSSING TENANTS ASSOCIATION AND A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER BOARD

OF DIRECTORS. HOWEVER, I AM HERE IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ADDING 500,000 TO THE MAYOR'S BUDGET FOR TENANT SERVICES AND TO ADOPT THE $11 INCREASE IN RR I O FEES. A STORY

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MY FORMER LANDLORD TRIED TO MAKE ME IN. SIX OF MY NEIGHBORS VACATE OUR BUILDING SO HE COULD RENOVATE IT. HE NEGLECTED TO TELL ANY OF US THAT WE QUALIFIED FOR TENANT RELOCATION

ASSISTANCE, AND WHEN I TOLD MY NEIGHBORS ABOUT OUR RIGHTS, HE RETALIATED BY TRYING TO EVICT ME PERSONALLY. WITH THE HELP OF BOTH SDCI AND TENANT SERVICES, I WAS ABLE TO FORCE HIM TO RESCIND TWO

ILLEGAL EVICTION ATTEMPTS. AND WHEN I FINALLY MOVED OUT, TENANT SERVICES WERE CRITICAL IN HELPING ME FILE A SMALL CLAIMS LAWSUIT I NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY RECLAIM MY DAMAGE DEPOSIT AND HELP MY

NEIGHBORS TO DO THE SAME. THIS YEAR, THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL ACTED BOLDLY WHEN IT VOTED TO BAN JUNK FEES. AND WHEN I SEE GENEROUS FUNDING TO THINGS LIKE, SAY, THE POLICE OVERTIME BUDGET, I CAN TELL

YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF ADEQUATELY FUNDING ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THE LAWS ARE OBEYED, AND RENTAL LAWS WHICH PROTECT TENANTS ARE NO DIFFERENT. SO I URGE YOU TODAY, ADD $500,000 TO

TENANT SERVICES AND ADOPT THE FULL $11 INCREASE IN RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES TO PAY FOR THAT, TO MAKE SURE ALL THE MAJORITY OF SEATTLEITES ENJOY THE FULL PROTECTION OF THE LAW WHEN THEY PAY FOR THE

ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU CARL. STILL, NOBODY'S TAKING A GUESS AT WHAT IS THE MOST FREQUENTED PUBLIC BUILDING IN OUR. -- CITY, THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, CENTRAL BRANCH. --

ALMOST. -- ALMOST. -- OR I'M WRONG WITH THAT. CAT MUNSON IS NEXT. CAT, YOU ARE UP. WE'LL START YOUR TIME WHEN YOU. -- WANT TO. THAT'S WHAT THE GOOGLE TOLD ME. SO, YOU KNOW, TAKE IT UP WITH THEM. 2

MILLION VOTERS OR VISITORS. THAT'S THAT'S THE. -- WORD. 2 MILLION ANNUALLY. -- 2 MILLION. ANNUALLY ANNUALLY. -- THAT'S AI TRICKING US ALL. I GOT A BETTER ANSWER FOR YOU AT THE END OF THIS PUBLIC

HEARING. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO START YOUR TIME, CAPTAIN MUNSON, FOLLOWED BY CLIVE. -- ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW MY NAME. D4 RESIDENT. I WORK FOR SOUND GENERATIONS, MEALS ON WHEELS, AND MORE, AS WE'RE

KNOWN. AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE COALITION FOR EQUITABLE AGING AND THE PINK SCARVES THAT YOU SEE HERE TONIGHT, THAT EVERYONE IN LINE TOOK WHEN I FOISTED IT ON UPON THEM, OR IN SUPPORT OF HUMAN

SERVICES. SO THE SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES COALITION REPRESENTS IS A MEDIA COALITION REPRESENTING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COALITIONS, INCLUDING THE COALITION FOR EQUITABLE AGING. HOW MANY TIMES CAN I SAY

COALITION IN ONE SENTENCE? OKAY, SO I WANT TO SPEAK JUST BRIEFLY IN SUPPORT SPECIFICALLY OF ONE OF THE MARGINALIZED GROUPS THAT WE SERVE, AND THAT IS LOW INCOME OLDER ADULTS, THE SILVER TSUNAMI HAS

HAS HIT THE COUNTRY. BABY BOOMERS ARE NOW 80 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2030 IN KING COUNTY, WE WILL HAVE MORE RESIDENTS OVER 60 THAN UNDER 18. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. AND AS THE CALLOUS AND ONEROUS

MEDICARE AND MEDICAID CHANGES AS A RESULT OF H.R. ONE START TO HIT THIS POPULATION, THEY ARE INCREASINGLY TURNING TO OUR LOCAL SENIOR CENTERS TO MEET BASIC NEEDS, NOT CONNECTION TO SERVICES, TO HELP

WITH THE RIDICULOUS DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE GETTING THESE SERVICES FOR MEALS, FOR BASIC MEALS EVERY DAY, AND FOR CONNECTION. BECAUSE WE KNOW THEIR. -- HEALTH. -- THEIR HEALTH

SUFFERS WHEN THEY WHEN THEY LACK SOCIAL CONNECTION. SO ANYWAY, JUST PLEASE FUND SENIOR CENTERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. -- THANK YOU. THANK YOU CAT. UP NEXT, WE HAVE CLIVE HAYWARD, NATALIE MORGAN AND

HUMBERTO MARQUEZ. CLIVE, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. -- I'LL GO WITH THE SEATTLE ARMORY. IS THAT. -- CLIVE HAS GOT THE. AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND, THE SEATTLE ARMORY HAS NEARLY 1 MILLION VISITORS PER MONTH.

DURING FIFA THEY HAD OVER 1 MILLION PER MONTH AS COMPARED TO THE AQUARIUM AND THE ZOO. THAT HAS JUST OVER 1 MILLION PER YEAR. AND AS KAT MUNCHKIN MEANT, KAT MUNSON MENTIONED, THE SEATTLE PUBLIC

LIBRARY IS ABOUT 2 MILLION PER YEAR. CLIVE IS GOING TO TELL YOU NOW WHY HE KNOWS THIS -- YOU'RE HEARING TODAY ABOUT URGENT NEEDS FOR ARTS, FIRE DEPARTMENT, HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING. SEATTLE

SHOULD NOT SPEND SCARCE PUBLIC MONEY ON SECURITY STAFF AND SPD TO SUPPRESS ARTISTS FREE SPEECH, AND THEN PAY LAWYERS TO DEFEND THOSE RESTRICTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 27th, I WAS TRESPASSED. FROM THE NEW

WATERFRONT PARK FOR ENTERTAINING TOURISTS, FOR PRACTICING MAGIC. WHEN I RETURNED, I WILL POTENTIALLY GO TO JAIL FOR CRIMINAL TRESPASS. SEATTLE HAS REPEATEDLY SPENT PUBLIC MONEY TO DEFENDING AND LOSING

FREE SPEECH CASES IN FEDERAL COURT, AND THESE ARE NOT SMALL SUMS. IN 2024, TUSCAN CASE RESULTED IN $1.4 MILLION SETTLEMENT ON AUGUST 6th, YOUR WATERFRONT COMMITTEE MEETING COULD NOT OR WAS ASKED WHAT

CRITERIA WAS USED TO DESIGNATE FOR THE DESIGNATED FREE SPEECH ZONES. THEY WERE ANSWERED THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A CRITERIA OR MEASURING TOOL. SO MY BUDGET QUESTION IS HOW MUCH TAXPAYER MONEY ARE WE

SPENDING ON SECURITY, POLICE ENFORCEMENT AND LAWYERS TO CRIMINALIZE FREE SPEECH AND FORCE AND DEFEND RESTRICTIONS THAT THE SEATTLE CENTER ADMITS THAT HAS NO CRITERIA OR MEASURING TOOL FOR. THAT'S

MONEY THAT COULD BE GOING TO VITAL SERVICES. -- THANK YOU CLIVE. NATALIE. FOLLOWED BY HUMBERTO, MARISSA AND CEDAR. WELCOME. -- GOOD EVENING, SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS NATALIE AND I PROUDLY LIVE

IN BEACON HILL IN SEATTLE'S DISTRICT TWO, AND I ACTUALLY JUST WORK DOWN THE STREET HERE DOWNTOWN. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING, VOTER EDUCATION FOR THE 2027 PRIMARY

ELECTION. I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT DEMOCRACY FUNCTIONS BEST WHEN EVERYONE IS ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR VOICE, VOICE, OR THAT SEATTLE HAS BEEN A PROUD LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO SENSIBLE, INCLUSIVE

DEMOCRACY REFORMS. I ALSO DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING WAS STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY VOTERS IN 2022. YOU ALREADY KNOW ALL OF THIS. WHAT I NEED YOU TO KNOW TODAY IS THAT WE NEED YOUR

HELP. THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME TO IMPLEMENT THIS IMPORTANT CHANGE TO HOW WE VOTE. IT'S A CRITICAL STEP AS WE MOVE TOWARDS A TRULY REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE MORE VOTERS AND

BUILD BACK AT LEAST SOME OF THE TRUST IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES THAT HAS BEEN STEADILY ERODING. WE CAN DO THIS BY ENSURING THE ROLLOUT OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN SEATTLE IS DONE PROACTIVELY. THAT

INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHANGE IS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY VOTER IN THE CITY, AND BY SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CONTINUE THE WORK THEY DO ALL ACROSS SEATTLE TO MAKE SURE

EVERY VOICE IS HEARD. SEATTLE VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY ASKED FOR THIS, AND SEATTLE VOTERS CARE ABOUT DEMOCRACY. I'M NUMBER 83 IN LINE, AND I'M NOT EVEN THE LAST ONE HERE. ON A TUESDAY EVENING. YOU, THE

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL CAN MAKE SURE US VOTERS HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVE IN THE CITY, NO MATTER WHAT LANGUAGE WE SPEAK, THIS ONE TIME INVESTMENT WILL

BE PAYING US BACK FOR DECADES, AND I HOPE YOU SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR DEMOCRACY. PROVIDING FUNDING FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING EDUCATION. THANK YOU. --

THANK YOU, UMBERTO, FOLLOWED BY MARISSA CEDAR, NADIA. -- HELLO THERE. HI. -- COUNCIL. MY NAME IS UMBERTO MARQUEZ. I'M A DISTRICT RESIDENT AND I WORK AT EL CENTRO DE LA RAZA, WHERE I DO VOTER EDUCATION

AND OUTREACH. BUT I AM HERE ON A PERSONAL CAPACITY. YEAH. I'M ASKING YOU TO FULLY FUND THE PROPOSED $444,000 FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING EDUCATION. AS OF THE LAST SENTENCE, WE KNOW THAT HERE IN SEATTLE,

ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR HOUSEHOLDS HAS PEOPLE WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH AS THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE LIVING HERE. AND THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO GROW AND GROW AND GROW AS WE COME MORE AND MORE DIVERSE AND MORE

BEAUTIFUL HERE IN SEATTLE. AND AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH THE LATINO AND SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY, I KNOW THAT TRANSLATION SERVICES ARE GOOD, BUT THEY'RE NOT ENOUGH. THEY'RE NOT REAL EDUCATION. YOU

NEED MORE OUTREACH TO REACH PEOPLE WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH. YOU NEED, YOU KNOW, TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNERS. YOU NEED PEOPLE THERE TO LIKE, SET GOOD EXAMPLES AND HOW THIS NEW PROCESS IS GOING TO WORK.

YEAH. WITHOUT THAT OUTREACH, WE KNOW THAT IMMIGRANT, REFUGEE AND MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITIES ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO BE LEFT BEHIND WHEN THIS NEW TYPE OF VOTING IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED NEXT YEAR. I

ALSO WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE SOLIDARITY TO THE EXPANSION OF SHELTERS. YOU KNOW, I LIVE BY JOSE RIZAL PARK, MY 12th AND JACKSON, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, THE FBI PUT OUT A REPORT ABOUT

THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND I THINK ONE OF THE UNDERLYING STORIES IN THAT IS THAT A LOT OF THE COPS HAVE LOST THEIR EMPATHY TOWARDS POOR PEOPLE, TOWARDS HOMELESS PEOPLE, TOWARDS PEOPLE OF

COLOR. AND WHEN I SEE COPS RESPOND TO THESE COMMUNITIES AND JACKSON, I SEE THAT SAME LOSS OF EMPATHY. I THINK EXPANSION OF SHELTERS WILL DO A GREAT JOB IN, YOU KNOW, FIXING A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS.

THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU, MARISSA. CEDAR. NADIA. ASHLEY, YOU'RE ALL IN LINE. I'M GOING TO STOP CALLING YOUR NAMES. MARISSA, GREAT TO SEE YOU. -- GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO. GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND

COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARISSA PEREZ. I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT ONE, AND I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES COALITION, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 240 HUMAN SERVICE

AGENCIES ACROSS OUR CITY. THIS BUDGET MAKES FOOD, BANK AND MEAL FUNDING PERMANENT. IT EXPANDS SHELTER, AND IT SETS ASIDE RESERVES AGAINST FEDERAL CUTS. THESE ARE SUCCESSES THAT WERE DRIVEN BY

COMMUNITY VOICES, AND WE ASK YOU TO SUSTAIN THEM. HOWEVER, THE HEADLINE THAT HSD HAS KEPT HOLE IN THIS BUDGET IS INACCURATE. MOST INCREASES IN THAT 5.8% INCREASE IN THE HSD BUDGET ARE FUNDING

ALIGNMENTS AND SWAPS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS THAT DO NOT REACH THE SERVICE PROVIDERS. OUR COMMUNITY RELIES ON OVER $28 MILLION IN ONE TIME AND TWO TIME FUNDING THAT WERE ADDED VIA COMMUNITY VOICES AND

SERVICE AGENCY ADVOCACY HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. THIS WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT ORGANIZATIONS IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT. FEDERAL ACTIONS ARE STILL CAUSING HARMS TO OUR COMMUNITY, FROM DIRECT CUTS TO

TIGHTENING GRANT REQUIREMENTS AND INCREASINGLY PUNITIVE FUNDING RESTRICTIONS. THE COMING H.R. ONE CUTS WILL IMPACT EVERY SINGLE SECTOR, AS PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD,

HOUSING OR OTHER BASIC NEEDS. AGENCIES IN EVERY DISTRICT WILL ABSORB THE INCREASED NEED AT A TIME WHEN SKYROCKETING COSTS ARE FORCING THOSE SAME AGENCIES TO MAKE ENDS MEET WITH FEWER RESOURCES. AS

YOU'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN, INCREASING POLICE WHILE CUTTING SERVICES IS THE SAME DISASTROUS, NEARSIGHTED APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT TO CHANGE FOR YEARS. INVEST WHERE NEED IS

GROWING. INVEST IN GENDER BASED VIOLENCE SERVICES, HUMAN SERVICES ARE NOT A LUXURY. THEY AREN'T DISCRETIONARY AND THEY AREN'T OPTIONAL. -- THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. MARISSA. CEDAR. NADIA. ASHLEY.

CEDAR. WELCOME. -- HELLO. -- I AM HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO FUND SERVICES THAT COMMUNITIES DEPEND UPON. PROGRAMS SUCH AS RELIABLE MEALS FOR KIDS, FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND FOOD ACCESS. WHEN

ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE CUT. RESIDENTS DESERVE CLEAR EXPLANATION ON THE CHOICES MADE AND THE NEEDS BEING PRIORITIZED BEFORE CUTTING THESE SERVICES, YOU NEED TO EXAMINE POLICE SPENDING AND USER

OPPORTUNITIES TO REDIRECT AND REDUCE POLICE BUDGET. TO MAKE AND MAKE THESE FIGURES PUBLIC, THE BUDGET SHOULD REFLECT CARE FOR THE PUBLIC. MORE POLICE AND GUNS OVER SOCIAL NEEDS AND SUSTAINABILITY.

FOOD HOUSING DOES NOT PROMOTE TRUST NOR MONEY SHOULD BE ALLOTTED TO POLICE, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE 13 MILLION THAT THE POLICE WAS OVERPAID. WE HAVE A CHOICE TO PREPARE FOR THE COMING CHANGES AND

DISRUPTIONS TO OUR SUPPLY CHAIN BY FINDING FUNDING SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS SUCH AS BEACON FOOD, FOREST AND THE EQUINOX IN GEORGETOWN, OR USE MILITARIZING THE POLICE AS A SOLUTION TO ALL OF OUR SOCIETY'S

PROBLEMS. AND SPEAKING ON THE $68 MILLION THAT WE PROPOSED TO POLICE, A LOT OF THAT WOULD PROBABLY GO TO LRADS AND MILITARY DRONES. BUT YEAH. -- THANK YOU. CEDAR. NEXT IS NADIA. WELCOME, NADIA OH. --

HEY, Y'ALL. -- I'M NADIA MILLER, I AM A SEATTLEITE AND ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF BLACK AND TAN HALL. I'VE BEEN BUILDING THAT BUSINESS FOR TEN YEARS. I'M A MOTHER. I'M ALSO THE CURRENT PROGRAMS

MANAGER AT THE SEATTLE CHAPTER OF BLACK PANTHER PARTY INTERPRETIVE CENTER, WHICH I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH. BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY THE CITY IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, AND

I'M HERE TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE LETTER THAT JULIE CHANG SCHULMAN PUT TOGETHER AND HAS BEEN STEWARDING FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY. SO WE ASK HIM FOR A REDIRECTION OF THAT 8 MILLION FROM THE PROPOSED

$68 MILLION SPD BUDGET INCREASE INTO THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, AND TO DEDICATE THESE FUNDS SPECIFICALLY FOR 2027, GRANTMAKING AND CREATIVE PLACEMAKING AND PUBLIC ART ACTIVATIONS. AND SINCE I GOT

A LITTLE TIME, WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK AND TOUCH ON IS JUST YOUR HUMANITY. I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO ONE OF THESE BEFORE, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY POWERFUL HEARING MY COMMUNITY SPEAK TO YOU ALL. I DON'T ENVY YOU

FOR THE TASK THAT YOU HAVE, BUT I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR UP HERE, AND I HAVE A LOT OF INTERSECTIONALIT Y. SO TO GIVE YOU A CLEAR ACTION ITEM WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS HARD WORK AND

PEOPLE ARE ASKING YOU TO DEFUND THE POLICE, WHICH IS NOT AN EASY TASK BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BIGGEST GANG IN THIS COUNTRY. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO BE REVOLUTIONARY AND TO REACH OUT TO SOME OF THE GREAT

MINDS THAT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING. YOU HAVE OUR INFORMATION. JULIE CHANG SCHULMAN IS ONE OF THEM AND ASK FOR HELP. WE HAVE THE SOLUTIONS AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU. MAYBE YOU BUY US LUNCH

AND PROVIDE SOME SNACKS. -- THANK YOU. NADIA. UP NEXT IS ASHLEY. AND THEN AYE AND THEN HANNAH -- HI EVERYONE. YOU HEARD EARLIER FROM ODA AND LEONARD, TWO OF OUR PARTICIPANTS. AND I'M GOING TO READ

SOMETHING FROM MELISSA, WHO HAD TO GO BECAUSE SHE WAS FALLING ASLEEP. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MELISSA AND I LIVE AT ARENA JAMES SHELTER IN NORTHGATE. SHELTERS LIKE MINE AREN'T JUST

OVERNIGHT BEDS. THEY OFFER WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND GIVE US HOPE. SOMETHING SO MANY LACK. WE GET A ROOM, A KEY, REAL SECURITY AND STAFF WHO TREAT US LIKE FAMILY. WE CAN STAY 30 OR 60 YEARS, MANY DAYS

AS NEEDED WHILE RECEIVING HELP, OBTAINING IDS, ACCESSING BENEFITS, CONNECTING TO HEALTHCARE, RESOLVING LEGAL ISSUES AND SECURING PERMANENT HOUSING. WHEN SHELTERS LACK SPACE, EMERGENCY SERVICES,

HOSPITALS AND PUBLIC SPACES BEAR THE STRAIN, COSTING TAXPAYERS MORE WHILE SOLVING LESS FUNDING. ENHANCED SHELTERS LIKE TARINA JAMES PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION TO STABILIZE LIVES, BRIDGE PEOPLE DIRECTLY

INTO LONG TERM HOUSING, AND BRIDGE PEOPLE DIRECTLY INTO LONG TERM HOUSING. PLEASE PRIORITIZE EXPANDING FUNDING FOR EXPANDED FUNDING FOR ENHANCED SHELTER ACROSS SEATTLE. AND JUST WITH THE LAST 30s REAL

QUICK IN SOLIDARITY, I WANT TO FLAG THE NEED TO PROTECT CONTINGENCY FUNDS THAT WILL PROTECT OUR HOUSING SYSTEMS NO MATTER WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES. AND WE COULDN'T DO OUR WORK WITHOUT

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES AROUND THE CITY. AND SO PLEASE PRESERVE THE FUNDING FOR THE SHE CLINIC AND AURORA COMMONS. PLEASE ADD INVESTMENTS TO GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES, AND PRESERVE

INVESTMENTS IN FOOD ACCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. -- THANK YOU. ASHLEY, AYE, YOU'RE UP NEXT. LOVE YOUR EARRINGS. -- OH THANK YOU. CAN YOU SAY THE FULL NAME? BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT

AYE. -- I GOT YOU AS A. -- AYE. OKAY. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO OTHER A'S. OKAY. SEATTLE'S HOMICIDE RATES FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY TO AUGUST OF LAST YEAR DROPPED 43% COMPARED TO THE SAME

PERIOD THE PREVIOUS YEAR. VIOLENT CRIME RATES FOR THAT PERIOD DROPPED 23%, AND PROPERTY CRIME RATES DROPPED 18.7%. THE BALLOONING COST OF POLICE AND SURVEILLANCE SIPHONED FUNDS FROM EFFECTIVE

SOLUTIONS TO PREVENTING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE. AND, ACCORDING TO SPD'S OWN SURVEY, FEWER THAN 40% OF SEATTLEITES ACTUALLY APPROVE OF THEIR JOB. AN ALL TIME LOW. DESPITE THIS, 53% OF THE GENERAL FUND IS

BEING SPENT ON POLICING, ALL WHILE THE SPD CURRENTLY OWES THE CITY $13 MILLION. SPD OFFICERS SHOOT MORE PEOPLE PER ARREST THAN 68% OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THEY'VE BEEN

RESPONSIBLE FOR 36 DEATHS BETWEEN 2013 TO 2025, WITH THREE PEOPLE KILLED BY SPD OVER THE PAST YEAR. OKAY, STUDIES HAVE DEMONSTRATED A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN INCREASES IN POLICE BUDGETS AND THE

NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED BY THE COPS. THIS BUDGET GETS SPD AN INCREASE IN FUNDING OF 13.8%, WHILE OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE GETTING THEIR FUNDING CUT. ALL RIGHT, SO AT THE SAME TIME, 65 MILLION IS BEING

TRANSFERRED FROM THE OFFICE OF HOUSING. SO WHILE A PERSON IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, IT'S COST THE CITY ONLY $68 A DAY, IT COSTS $152 A DAY TO HAVE A PERSON INCARCERATED. STABLE HOUSING LEADS TO 27% DROP

IN KING COUNTY JAIL OKAY. -- BUDGET HOLDS. WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY AND HOUSING AND NOT FUNDING FOR CAMERAS OR KILLER COPS. THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. -- THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE I'M GOING TO

CALL A BUNCH OF NAMES. FOR JUST ONE SECOND. WE GOT HANNAH ZIFF, SAM WOLF, MATT OFFENBACHER, SAM GORDON, LEE MILLER, SAM WOLSTEIN, DANE PESCHEL, VANESSA VILLALOBOS, SLEIMAN, A KEN FAGAN, AND CLAIRE

KANTOR. WITH THAT, HANNAH, WELCOME. -- THANK YOU. I'M HANNAH FROM PIONEER SQUARE. I STAND WITH EVERYONE'S COMMENTS TODAY EXCEPT FOR THE SECOND REMOTE COMMENTER WAS COUNTER TO EVERYTHING ELSE I'VE

HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY. OUR AIM IS TO HAVE A VIRTUOUS CYCLE AND BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US, THE CITIZENS, AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS. SEATTLE HAS EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR A

BULL ECONOMY AND TO TURN OUR BUDGET DEFICIT INTO A SURPLUS. THERE'S A LOT OF UNMET DEMAND IN SEATTLE FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. WE HAVE THE RAW MATERIALS TO MEET OUR OWN DEMANDS AND STIMULATE OUR OWN

ECONOMY. THE CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALL PROMOTE THE MANUFACTURING OF OUR OWN RAW MATERIALS LOCALLY TO MEET OUR OWN DEMANDS, NAMELY ANOTHER CONCRETE PLANT AND TURNING RAW TIMBER INTO

BUILDING MATERIALS. THEY SHOULD BE PROMOTING THE HOUSING ECONOMY ON EVERY LEVEL POSSIBLE, AS AGGRESSIVELY AS POSSIBLE. LOCAL DEVELOPERS HAVE A VAST WANT FOR WORKERS. HOPEFULLY IN THE NEW PLAN, WE WILL

DIRECTLY CREATE, PROMOTE AND INCENTIVIZE THE TRAINING OF BLUE COLLAR WORKERS, SPECIALIZED AND NONSPECIALIZED IN ORDER TO BUILD THESE HOMES AND FACILITIES THAT OUR CITY HAS ACTUAL DEMAND FOR FILLING IN

EMPTY PLOTS WILL CONNECT DOTS AND SOLVE OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WANT FOR BLUE COLLAR WORKERS IS THE MISSING CARD IN THIS LOCAL ECONOMY. THE CITY SHOULD ALSO FOCUS ON TURNING A PROFIT FROM

CORPORATE STAKEHOLDERS. I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT WE WILL RENEW OUR LEASE WITH THE MILITARY FOR 35 ACRES, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF INCREASING OUR RATE TO AT LEAST MEET INFLATION AND IDEALLY

HELP REDUCE OUR BUDGET DEFICIT. AS A RULE, ALL OF OUR DEALINGS WITH CORPORATE STAKEHOLDERS SHOULD REDUCE OUR BUDGET DEFICIT. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK RIVERA FOR KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BUDGET. I THINK

WE COULD TURN IT INTO A SURPLUS AND AROUND 15 YEARS, AT A RATE OF TEN SEATTLE IS PROFITABLE. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU HANNAH. NEXT. SAM. MATT. SAM. -- GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SAM WOLF. I WORK

FOR PDA AS THE LOCAL POLICY DIRECTOR. TONIGHT I'M HERE FOR SHELTER, SPECIFICALLY. HI. SUPPORT SHELTER. YOU'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL VOICES TONIGHT ABOUT THIS YEAR'S STREETS TO HOUSING EFFORT THAT TOOK

PLACE IN PIONEER SQUARE, WHERE NEARLY 90% OF UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS SLEEPING OVERNIGHT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE MATCHED TO APPROPRIATE SHELTERS OR HOUSING. THESE OUTCOMES ARE REPLICABLE. THEY WERE

POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF AN OUTREACH STRATEGY THROUGH WHICH WE COULD REALLY IDENTIFY PEOPLE'S NEEDS, BUILD TRUST TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH. FOR OVER 60% OF

SEATTLE'S UNSHELTERED POPULATION, THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES ARE HI SUPPORT SHELTER. YET THIS TYPE OF SHELTER UNIT COMPRISES ONLY 10% OF OUR CURRENT SHELTER SUPPLY. THIS DISPARITY SETS OUR CEILING. WE

KNOW HOW TO DO THIS WORK. OUR UNSHELTERED NEIGHBORS, OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT SEATTLE ARE READY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE. PLEASE MAINTAIN THE PROPOSED INVESTMENTS IN HI SUPPORT

SHELTER AND LET US TURN THE CORNER ON THIS CRISIS. AND ON A RELATED NOTE, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PUT IN A WORD TO PRESERVE FUNDING FOR THE SHE CLINIC. AURORA COMMONS IS ONE OF LEAD'S KEY PARTNERS ON THE

AURORA CORRIDOR, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE DOING THE WORK UP THERE WITH EVEN FEWER RESOURCES THAN THERE ARE ALREADY. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU, SAM. MATT OFFENBACHER STILL AROUND. MATT IS GONE.

MOVING ON TO SAM GORDON. SAM, WELCOME -- HI. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M SAM GORDON, RESIDENT AND LOCAL ARTIST IN BALLARD SEATTLE CUTTING FUNDS TOWARD FOOD SECURITY, HOUSING AND THE ARTS IS NOT IN THE BEST

INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS THAT ARE ALREADY FEELING THE PINCH OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, AND WE MAKE DO TRYING TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS BEST WE CAN AND USE WHAT

RESOURCES WE HAVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. BUT IT ISN'T ENOUGH. FOOD, WATER, SHELTER AND CREATIVITY THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR A THRIVING CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. -- THANK YOU

SAM LEE MILLER. ALLISON, I HAVE YOU UP LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM. -- I ACTUALLY HAVE MATT OFFENBACHER NUMBER HERE, WHICH I WAS TOLD TO SHOW UP AND USE. -- THAT WOULD BE A FIRST FOR THE EVENING. ARE YOU

OKAY? WAITING FOR YOUR TURN OR DO YOU NEED TO GO RIGHT? -- IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO GO? I RESPECT THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY LIKE ME HAS BEEN WAITING HERE FOR A LONG NIGHT. I WOULD LOVE TO JUST BRIEFLY SAY MY

PIECE IF I CAN. -- I'M GOING TO MAKE THE EXCEPTION RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THIS A EXCEPTION AGAIN. WE HAD REAL PROBLEMS LAST YEAR WHEN I LET A GROUP OF STUDENTS UP, AND THEN THE OTHER

STUDENTS DIDN'T GET TO GO. WE'VE ONLY GOT 18 SPEAKERS LEFT, SO. -- THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND THANKS TO MY FELLOW WAITING CITIZENS, ALISON EISINGER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY

COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS. GOOD EVENING. COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M I'M HERE TO SPEAK BROADLY IN SUPPORT OF SOME REALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF MAYOR WILSON'S BUDGET, PRIMARILY, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, THE

EXTRAORDINARY ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT OF RESOURCES IN QUALITY SHELTER AND SERVICES THAT ARE A NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT PART OF OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO HELP PEOPLE GET ALL THE WAY HOME. AND I ALSO

FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AS I THINK YOU ALL UNDERSTAND AND CERTAINLY EVERYONE ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS UNDERSTANDS, THAT ACTUALLY, I DON'T LIKE THIS BUDGET VERY MUCH, BUT I UNDERSTAND

THE NEED TO EXERCISE THE KIND OF SMALL C CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO THE BUDGET THAT THIS BUDGET REFLECTS. AND YOU HAVE HEARD AND WE SEE AND FEEL AND HEAR EVERY DAY, THAT IT IS STILL NOT SUFFICIENT TO DO

THE THINGS THAT THIS BUDGET, LIKE KING COUNTY'S BUDGET, MUST DO, PROTECT THE HOUSING, SHELTER AND SERVICES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY INVESTED IN AND ENSURE THAT WE DO MORE TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BECOMING

HOMELESS. SO I WANT TO ASK YOU TO REALLY CONSIDER WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPONSOR ADDITIONAL 400,000 OR $600,000, AND WHERE YOU WILL HAVE THE GUTS. -- THANK YOU SAM LEE MILLER, SAM WOLSTEIN.

NUMBER 9495, 94. LEE. COME ON UP -- MY NAME IS LEE MILLER AND I'M A DISTRICT VOTER. I WAS GOING TO TRY TO USE RESEARCH AND METICULOUS ARGUMENTS TO CONVINCE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST WILSON'S BUDGET, WHICH

WILL TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM THE PARAMEDICS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GIVE IT TO SPD TO HIRE 66 MORE COPS TO CONVINCE YOU THAT COPS ARE NOT A RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC MONEY. I WAS GOING TO

BRING UP THINGS LIKE SHON BARNES $700,000 SEVERANCE PAYOUT, SPD HISTORY OF VOTER FRAUD, SPD'S VERY AVOIDABLE MILLION DOLLAR CARBON MONOXIDE LAWSUIT. SPD KILLING JAHNAVI KANDULA WITH RECKLESS DRIVING

AND GIVING. HAVING TO GIVE HER FAMILY $29 MILLION. SPD ALSO KILLS BLACK AND RACIALIZED PEOPLE LIKE DEREK HAYDEN, AYAHUASCA, TOGO, CHARLENA LYLES AND TOO MANY MORE TO LIST. THEY ARE JUST NOT A GOOD USE

OF PUBLIC MONEY. BUT THE MORE I KEPT THINKING ABOUT IT, THE MORE I REALIZED THAT RATIONAL ARGUMENTS DO NOT CONVINCE PEOPLE. INSTEAD, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT SIX SEATTLE COPS WERE AT JANUARY 6th. WE

LIVE UNDER RISING FASCISM, AND YOU WERE ON THE VERGE OF HIRING 66 MORE COPS. THIS BEGS THE QUESTION ARE YOU STUPID? BECAUSE ASIDE FROM BOB KETTLE, NONE OF YOU LOOK STUPID. COPS DO NOT PROTECT PEOPLE.

THEY DO NOT PROTECT DEMOCRACY. THEY PROTECT INSTITUTIONAL POWER. AND RIGHT NOW, INSTITUTIONAL POWER IS THROWING PEOPLE INTO DEATH CAMPS. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP ANYONE SAFER BY HIRING MORE COPS. THEY

ROUTINELY GET AWAY WITH KILLING PEOPLE. PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT. -- THANK YOU. LEE SAM WILSON, DANE. MICHAEL. SAM W SAM W WU. AUSTIN. SAM AUSTIN. GOING ONCE, TWICE. DANE. PESCHEL, DANE. PESCHEL GOING

ONCE, GOING TWICE. VANESSA. VILLALOBOS, VANESSA VILLALOBOS ONCE. TWICE SLAMMING UP A SLAMMING ONCE, TWICE. KEN FAGAN, KEN. KEN FAGAN ONCE. TWICE. CLAIRE CANTOR. CLARA WE'RE ALMOST TO ALISON'S NAME.

MEGAN PATEL. LYNN SANDSMARK. LINA. OF COURSE. SORRY. LINA. I AM READING ENGLISH. I SWEAR. GOOD TO SEE YOU. -- THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE STILL. ALL RIGHT. CHAIR STRAUSS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY

NAME IS LENA SANDSMARK, AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT A STATEWIDE ARTS ORGANIZATION CALLED SHUNPIKE. OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT ONE, BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR 250 PLUS PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS

WHO WE SERVE THROUGH OUR FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, ARE IN ALL OF SEATTLE'S DISTRICTS AND BEYOND AS PART OF THE CITY'S CULTURAL SECTOR. WE'RE ALSO AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR CITY'S ECONOMY. WE CREATE

JOBS, ATTRACT VISITORS. WE SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. IN FACT, WE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND WE HELP MAKE SEATTLE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, WORK AND VISIT. WE RUN SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT

ALL ASPECTS OF OUR SECTOR. TODAY I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT JUST ONE OF THEM. OUR STOREFRONTS AND ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN ACTIVATING EMPTY STOREFRONTS AND OFFICE SPACES IN OUR REGION ON

AND OFF, DEPENDING ON FUNDING, SINCE THE WAKE OF THE ZERO EIGHT ECONOMIC RECESSION, THIS TYPE OF ACTIVATION AND SUPPORT NOT ONLY HELPS THE CREATIVE SECTOR BY HELPING ARTISTS SECURE NEW LEASES IN

COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS ONCE THEIR RESIDENCY IS OVER, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE THEY CAN GROW AUDIENCES AND ATTRACT POTENTIAL ART BUYERS. IT ALSO HELPS MAINTAIN PROPERTY VALUES AND KEEPS NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER. WE

ALL KNOW THAT UNIQUE SHOPS WHO ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS NOT ONLY ATTRACT VISITORS, BUT ALSO HELP REDUCE PROPERTY DESTRUCTION AND OTHER CRIME. WE PROVIDE THIS VALUE TO THE SECTOR AND THE PUBLIC WHILE

OPERATING IN ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES. WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO DO. -- PLEASE SUPPORT THE ARTS. SORRY, I RAN OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU -- ANY WE GOT JOHN CURRY FOLLOWED BY

ANGELIQUE. I SAW ANGELIQUE EARLIER. THERE SHE IS. WE GOT JOHN CURRY THOSE JOHN CURRY HERE. GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. ANGELIQUE YOU'RE UP. COME ON UP. FOLLOWED BY MEREDITH RUFF. KELSEY TIMMER FATIMA

DIN, SONIA HERRERA, MELISSA EAGER THERE YOU ARE. ANGELIQUE. TAKE IT AWAY. -- GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. AFTER LISTENING TO THE LAST MEETING, I HEARD THE CITY TALKING ABOUT STABILIZATION, BEHAVIOR CHANGE

AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY HOUSED. THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I BELIEVE SKILLS TO LIVE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AND PAIRED WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS ALREADY DOING THIS WORK. SKILLS TO LIVE IS NOT

TRYING TO REPLACE HOUSING PROVIDERS, OUTREACH TEAMS, OR CASE MANAGERS. IT IS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN WHAT ALREADY EXISTS. ORGANIZATIONS MAY BE ABLE TO GET SOMEONE HOUSED, BUT THEY MAY NOT ALWAYS HAVE

THE STAFFING TIME OR STRUCTURED CURRICULUM TO HELP THAT PERSON ADJUST TO EVERYDAY LIFE. AFTER THE KEY IS HANDED OVER, THE CURRICULUM WAS BUILT FOR THAT GAP. IT TEACHES PRACTICAL SKILLS AROUND ROUTINE

COMMUNICATION, LANDLORD EXPECTATIONS, MAINTAINING A HOME, MANAGING CONFLICT, AND CHANGING BEHAVIORS THAT MAY HAVE HELPED SOMEONE SURVIVE OUTSIDE BUT CAN BE CREATED PROBLEMS ONCE THEY ARE HOUSED. THOSE

NUMBERS ARE CONCERNS BEING DISCUSSED. SHOW THAT PLACEMENT ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH. IF PEOPLE ARE CYCLING BACK INTO HOMELESSNESS, THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER PLACEMENT. SO PAIR SKILLS TO

LIVE WITH A HOUSING ORGANIZATION THAT NEEDS A STRONGER AFTERCARE COMPONENT, PAIR IT WITH A PROVIDER THAT WANTS TO BE BETTER HOUSING RETENTION SKILLS TO LIVE. BECOME ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT HELP PEOPLE

PRACTICE. NOW. BETTER BEHAVED. BUILD STABILITY AND TO COPE THEIR HOUSING. REMEMBER, IT'S NOT ABOUT GETTING HOUSED, IT'S ABOUT STAYING HOUSED. -- WELL SAID ANGELIQUE, WELL SAID. GOT MEREDITH RUFF,

FOLLOWED BY KELSEY FATIMA. WELCOME -- SO I HAVE A REAL CURIOSITY. BOTH BASED ON THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND ALSO SOME OF YOUR VOTING RECORDS. HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER ASKED THE QUESTION, DO MORE

POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS REDUCE CRIME? HAVE YOU EVER DONE THAT INVESTIGATION? I KNOW MY FRIEND HERE SAID DATA IS NOT GOING TO CONVINCE YOU. I'M NOT REALLY HERE TO CONVINCE YOU ALL. I'M HERE TO

TALK TO THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE EITHER YOU DID DO THE INVESTIGATION AND YOU KNOW THAT I CAN BRING UP A STUDY RIGHT NOW, LIKE A META ANALYSIS PUBLISHED IN THE TRANSLATIONAL JOURNAL CRIMINOLOGY OF OVER 60

STUDIES OVER DECADES, DIFFERENT POLICE DEPARTMENTS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. AND THAT STUDY FOUND THAT ADDING POLICE -- OFFICERS HAS A MINUSCULE, STATISTICALLY INSIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON CRIME RATES,

PUTTING MORE POLICE ON THE STREET DOES NOT REDUCE CRIME. SO YOU ARE EITHER DID YOUR RESEARCH AND YOU ARE CYNICALLY OFFERING UP A TOUGH ON CRIME STANCE BECAUSE YOU WANT YOUR FUNDERS, THE REAL ESTATE

DEVELOPERS, THE MICROSOFTS, THE STARBUCKS, THE BIG BUSINESS TO KEEP ON DONATING TO YOUR CAMPAIGNS OR YOU NEVER DID THE RESEARCH AND THAT IS YOUR JOB. THIS IS THE THIRD LARGEST DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY

OF SEATTLE. THIS IS OVER $900 BILLION. $900 MILLION. EXCUSE ME. LIKE DO SOMETHING THAT WORKS. DO NOT GIVE A DEPARTMENT 60 MILLION MORE DOLLARS TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS WHEN THAT DOESN'T REDUCE CRIME.

THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. MEREDITH. UP NEXT IS KELSEY, FOLLOWED BY FATIMA, SONIA, AND MELISSA. KELSEY. KELSEY, NUMBER 106. EXCUSE ME, FRIEND WHO'S IN THE FRONT TALKING TO SECURITY. IF YOU'RE BLOCKING

SOMEBODY'S VIEW OF THE DAIS, YOU CAN'T STAND. THERE'S SOMEBODY DIRECTLY BETWEEN YOU AND ME. MY FRIEND -- IS THERE ANYONE WHO OBJECTS TO ME STANDING? -- THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION. PLEASE STOP. WE ARE

ALMOST DONE. WE ARE ALMOST DONE. -- POINT OUT THE PERSON WHO'S SHAKING THEIR HEAD. NO. SO I MAY BE SINGLED OUT BY THE MEDIA. -- YOU CAN BE ANYWHERE IN THIS ROOM AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT BLOCKING ANYONE.

KELSEY. NOT HERE. FATIMA. AND THEN SONIA. WELCOME. -- THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, CHAIR STRAUSS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS FATIMA RAMDEEN AND I WORK AT REFUGEE ARTISAN INITIATIVE, WHICH IS A

NONPROFIT IN SEATTLE EMPOWERING REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT WOMEN THROUGH CULTURAL ARTS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL CIRCULAR ECONOMY. I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR THE CITY'S $326,000

INVESTMENT IN REI THROUGH THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE. SHOUT OUT TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, ALEXIS AND KELLY

BROWN. AS AN IMMIGRANT MYSELF, I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW TRANSFORMATIVE THESE FUNDS ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR ENTIRE FAMILIES AND GENERATIONS TO COME. ME STANDING HERE IS A RESULT OF

FUNDING SIMILAR TO THIS, THAT MY FAMILY WAS ABLE TO BE EMPOWERED BY THE WOMEN WE SERVE FACE REAL BARRIERS, LANGUAGE HIRING, DISCRIMINATION, LIMITED ACCESS TO CULTURAL SENSITIVITY, SENSITIVE SUPPORT.

MANY HAVE NEVER HELD A JOB. SOME ARE ILLITERATE IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGES. YET OVER THE PAST YEAR, WITH THE CITY'S HELP, REI SERVED IS SERVING 60 WOMEN, MOST WITH HOUSEHOLDS OF MORE THAN FOUR DEPENDENTS

EARNING LESS THAN $50,000 ANNUALLY. LAUNCHED FIVE MICRO-BUSINESSES PLACED 12 WOMEN INTO JOBS ACROSS MULTIPLE SECTORS, AND WE JUST KNOW THIS FUNDING WORKS. WE ASK THAT THE CITY CONTINUE INVESTING AT

LEAST $250,000 ANNUALLY IN REI AND MAINTAIN THE VITAL GENERAL FUND SUPPORT FOR SEATTLE'S BROADER CULTURAL ARTS SECTOR INSTEAD OF SLASHING IT. HONORING REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND VULNERABLE

COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE BOARD. THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND THESE WOMEN ALSO NEED AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE, HUMAN SERVICES. SO THANK. -- YOU FOR TIME. YAY! -- THANK YOU, DJ

D5 COMING THROUGH LOUD AND CLEAR. SONIA, OVER TO YOU. -- HI, MY NAME IS SONIA, ORGANIZE WITH THE SEATTLE ALLIANCE AGAINST RACISM, POLITICAL REPRESSION. AND I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH SEATTLE

SOLIDARITY BUDGETS NINE GUARANTEES AS WAS STATED EARLIER. SO I WON'T GET INTO THAT. I'M ALSO FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE A STAFF MEMBER AT THE U. DISTRICT FOOD BANK, WHERE WE'RE SEEING MASSIVE INCREASES IN

THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES WHO SERVE YEAR AFTER YEAR, ESPECIALLY AS SNAP BENEFITS CONTINUE TO GET CUT, WHICH MEANS WE NEED ALL THE FUNDING WE CAN GET. WE HOST SATELLITE PANTRIES AND FOOD DESERTS LIKE

MAGNUSON PARK AND OTHER AREAS. OUR CUSTOMERS RANGE FROM COLLEGE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO THE ELDERLY TO RECENT MIGRANTS TO OUR HOUSELESS NEIGHBORS. AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. OUR RECENT CENSUS, THE

VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE SERVED THROUGH OUR SATELLITE PANTRIES ONLY ATE FOOD FROM WHAT WE COULD PROVIDE FOR THEM. MANY PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO GO TO TRADITIONAL STORES, TO A LACK OF ACCESS TO FOR A

VARIETY OF REASONS. TRANSPORTATION, LACK OF FUNDS ENTIRELY. AND FOOD BANKS AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE HOUSING, SCHOOLS, HEALTH CARE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND MORE NEED MORE FUNDING. THAT FUNDING

CAN EASILY COME FROM SPD'S PORTION OF THE BUDGET. SPD HAS MURDERED THREE PEOPLE IN THE LAST YEAR, SINCE THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE WAS LIFTED LAST YEAR. JACK CHRISTIAN NELSON AND MOST RECENTLY, KEENAN

PEARSON, WITH NO TRANSPARENCY IN VARYING WAIT TIMES, UPWARDS OF 2 TO 3 MONTHS OR MORE. FOR INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS FOR VARIOUS BODIES. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE

BEATEN AND SHOT BY OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE WOMAN IN BEACON HILL SHOT AFTER. -- CALLING FOR HELP FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. FUNDING THE VIOLENT KILLER COPS AND CUTTING OTHER VITAL

AND LIFE SAVING DEPARTMENTS WOULD SHOW ME AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND IN THE CITY THAT YOUR ALLIANCE AND CARE DOES NOT LIE WITH US, BUT WITH THE BULLIES AT FOG PUSHING A COP CENTERED SURVEILLANCE

CITY. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. -- UP NEXT, WE HAVE MELISSA EAGER, FOLLOWED BY JESSE KENT, DANIEL AND WYKING GARRETT. ARE YOU HERE OR THAT NAME WAS CROSSED OFF? THEN WE HAVE DANIEL W AND HEATHER W

MELISSA EAGER, MELISSA EAGER ONCE, TWICE, NOT PRESENT. JOY. JESSE ONCE. TWICE. NOT PRESENT. LET ME CHECK THIS. ANYONE HAS. IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THAT HAS NOT SPOKEN? GREAT.

WE'RE GOING TO. SO WHAT ARE YOUR NUMBERS? 115 WE DON'T. HAVE YOU SIGNED UP? COME ON UP IF YOU WOULD. IF YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN YET OR NOT BEEN PART OF A GROUP, COME ON UP AND I'LL JUST TAKE YOUR NAME. --

HEY, I'M DANIEL WITH UNITED FRONT FOR A WORKERS PARTY. I GOT HERE A LITTLE BIT LATE AFTER WORK, AND I JUST WANTED TO REMARK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME OUT TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS BUDGET. MANY PEOPLE

SPOKE VERY POWERFULLY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING THINGS LIKE TENANT SERVICES, VARIOUS ARTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, OR FIREFIGHTERS THAT KEEP US SAFE. AND I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HERE ON CITY

COUNCIL, THEY MIGHT TAKE SOME OF THIS FEEDBACK AND ADJUST THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THESE SERVICES AREN'T COMPLETELY DECIMATED, AND THEY'LL SAY THEY'VE LISTENED TO OUR FEEDBACK AND THEY'VE

RESPONDED, AND THEY WOULDN'T TECHNICALLY BE LYING, BUT I DO NOT TRUST THEM TO DO THIS WITHOUT DEFUNDING SOMETHING ELSE IMPORTANT, LIKE HOUSING, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY POINTED OUT THIS

CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET IS ALREADY RAIDING THE AMAZON TAX THAT WAS FOUGHT FOR BY A MOVEMENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS. THE DEMOCRATS ARE OPERATING ON A PRETTY FUNDAMENTAL LOGIC, KATIE WILSON SAID.

WE HAVE A BUDGET DEFICIT, SO SOMETHING'S GOT TO GET CUT. IT'S A ZERO SUM GAME AND WE SHOULD NOT BE BEGGING THE CITY COUNCIL, DEMOCRATS TO FUND THIS OR THAT. CRUCIAL SERVICES, KNOWING THAT THEY'D BE

MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS TO BALANCE OUT THAT BUDGET. WE SHOULD REFUSE THE LOGIC OF AUSTERITY THAT WHILE THE STOCK MARKET IS STILL BREAKING RECORDS, WE, THE WORKING CLASS, HAVE TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS AND

PAY FOR THE BUDGET CRISIS. THE RULING CLASS CREATED. SO I THINK MANY PEOPLE MADE SOME CLEAR DEMANDS MADE TODAY TO TAX THE RICH, TO NOT INCREASE FUNDING TO THE COPS WHO MURDER AND BRUTALIZE PEOPLE OF

COLOR, QUEER YOUTH, THE HOMELESS AND THE POOR WITH IMPUNITY. THESE ARE BARE MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE DEMANDS FOR A BUDGET, AND THE DEMOCRATS WILL NEVER GIVE AN INCH TO THEM IF WE DON'T FORCE THEM TO. SO WE

HAVE TO GET ORGANIZED TO FIGHT FOR THIS. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO US JUST BECAUSE OF THIS MEETING. SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE SIGN UP TO GET ORGANIZED WITH US ON OUR PETITION, COME OUT TO OUR PUBLIC

MEETING THIS SATURDAY AT RAINIER BEACH COMMUNITY CENTER AT 2 P.M., AND LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO COMBINE OUR FORCES. -- THANK YOU. AND THEN ARE YOU HEATHER? YEAH. WELCOME. ANYONE ELSE? IF YOU WOULD LIKE

TO SPEAK AND HAVE NOT SPOKEN, NOW'S THE TIME TO SIGN UP -- HOMELESS IS EXPENSIVE, NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING IT, BUT ALSO FOR THE GOVERNMENT. IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO LOCK PEOPLE AWAY THAN IT

IS TO PROVIDE THEM HOUSING. IT'S EXPENSIVE FOR THE STATE HOSPITALS TO MAKE UP THE COST OF PAYING FOR UNSAFE LIVING CONDITIONS. MANY PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES IN. IT IS EXPENSIVE TO FORCE THESE

COMMUNITIES FROM PLACE TO PLACE THROUGH SWEEPS. THE FACT THAT CUTS TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE ARE MADE TO SEEM PALATABLE WITHOUT EVEN CONSIDERING INCREASING TAXES ON WEALTHY CORPORATIONS WHO MAKE OBSCENE

PROFITS OFF THESE PEOPLE. JUST SHOWS WHERE THERE. THE ALLIANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL LIES. IT SIGNALS THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SELL OUT WORKERS AND STUDENTS WHILE BRINGING THE FORCE OF THE STATE DOWN ON

THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY ITS INCOMPETENCE. FUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL NOT FIX A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM CAUSED BY MONEYED INTERESTS, BUT IT DOES GIVE SOME A LEG TO STAND ON WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE DAY

WHEN WE CAN FINALLY ADDRESS THE ROT THAT MAKES THESE DESPICABLE LIVING CONDITIONS POSSIBLE. IN ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES IN THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD -- THANK YOU, HEATHER

AND GWENDOLYN, YOU WERE PART OF THE GROUP. THAT WAS EARLIER. -- SOMEONE GAVE ME THEIR NUMBER, BUT ALSO OUR GROUP HAD 40s LEFT ON THE CLOCK. I CAN JUST SPEAK TO THAT TIME, AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP

EVERYONE HERE TOO MUCH LONGER. -- I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU 30s. -- 30 IS FINE. -- GREAT. OKAY. AND THEN ANYONE ELSE OKAY. IF YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE LINE UP NOW BECAUSE OUR

SIGN UP SHEETS GOT A LITTLE WEIRD AT THE END. GWENDOLYN 30s FOR YOU. SURE. -- SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS ON THIS COUNCIL. SO. DIONNE FOSTER ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK AND EDDIE.

LIN, YOU'VE SEEN OVER 100 PEOPLE TODAY SHOW UP TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT. STAY HERE UNTIL YOU KNOW THE DARK HOURS OF THE NIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US HAD TO GO HOME NOW, BUT THIS IS STILL ALL ON

RECORD. SO WILL YOU PLEDGE RIGHT NOW TO VOTE NO ON ANY BUDGET WITH CUTS TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND A POLICE DEPARTMENT INCREASE? YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY LAST YEAR ON A REGRESSIVE BUDGET.

SO WILL YOU TAKE A STAND THIS TIME AND CHOOSE PEOPLE OVER PARTY? THANK YOU. YES OR NO ANSWER. -- THANK YOU. GWENDOLYN. AND YOUR NAME? MY FRIEND. -- RICK MCKINNON. -- RICK MCKINNON. GREAT. TAKE IT

AWAY, RICK. WELCOME. -- THANK YOU. YEAH. READY? -- ANYTIME. YOU'RE READY. -- WE'RE READY. ALL RIGHT. SO A FEW WEEKS AGO, I WAS UP ON CAPITOL HILL ON BROADWAY AND SAW A MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR WITH ONE OF

THOSE EMERGENCY BLANKETS OVER HIS SHOULDERS, AND HE WAS SLEEPING OUT ON THE STREET THAT WAY THAT NIGHT. AND I JUST THOUGHT, MY GOD, THIS IS MY CITY, MY HOME. THIS IS OBSCENE POVERTY IN OUR FACE, IN

OUR MIDST, AND WE CAN'T SEEM TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND IT REALLY IS SO TROUBLING TO ME, SO TROUBLING. I WANTED TO SHARE A COUPLE THOUGHTS. ONE, COULD THE CITY IDENTIFY PROPERTY WHERE PEOPLE COULD

CAMP LEGALLY, OFFICIALLY, YOU COULD BRING IN PORTA POTTIES, WHATEVER, SOME HYGIENE TO PROVIDE FOR THEM, BUT THAT MIGHT BE BETTER THAN HAVING THEM MOVE AROUND AND SWEEP AND HAVE TO HAVE TO CAMP

ILLEGALLY AND THEN BE SWEPT AWAY. SO THAT WOULD BE ONE SOLUTION. ARE THERE PUBLIC BUILDINGS THAT ARE EMPTY THAT COULD BE USED FOR MATS ON THE GROUND? SHELTER 24/7 YEAR ROUND MATCH ON THE GROUND

SHELTER. SOMETHING ELSE THAT I THINK WOULD BE VERY USEFUL AND WOULD BE COST EFFECTIVE. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BE SWEEPING PEOPLE ON A REGULAR BASIS? I'M SURE IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE. YOU HAVE CITY

OFFICIALS DOING IT AND THEN YOU, THE POLICE, AS A BACKUP TO PROVIDE SECURITY. AND THAT'S VERY EXPENSIVE. SO I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FINANCIALLY TO. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU RICK. -- [APPLAUSE]

[APPLAUSE] -- MY NAME IS ROSE. HERIOT. I'M THE STRATEGIC ORGANIZING. -- HANG ON. WE GOT WE'RE JUST I'M JUST GOING TO WRITE ROSE. HARRIET. AND THEN WE'RE JUST GOING TO ANYTIME YOU'RE READY, TAKE IT

AWAY. THANKS, ROSE. -- ORGANIZING DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE. -- JUSTICE. -- WHICH IS A HEALING, ENGAGING ART SPACE. WE'VE COME HERE YEAR AFTER YEAR TO LET YOU KNOW THAT POLICE DO NOT MAKE US SAFE. I'M HERE

WITH THE YOUTH DEMANDS THAT WE CAME IN 2024 THAT HAVEN'T ACTUALLY CHANGED. THEY TOLD THE COUNTY, THE CITY AND ANY ENTITY THAT WOULD LISTEN, THAT POLICE DO NOT MAKE YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE. THEY'VE SAID THEY

DON'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE LOCKED AWAY. THAT DOESN'T MAKE US SAFE EITHER. THEY'VE ALSO SAID THAT THEY WOULD LIKE YOU TO FUND BIPOC YOUTH LED PROGRAMS, HAVE HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS, MEANING BATHROOMS FOR

HOUSELESS FOLKS, SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN SAFELY SLEEP, HOUSING FOR ALL HEALTHY FOOD AND CLEAN WATER FOR ALL EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND BASIC SUPPLIES FOR ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WE WORK WITH. KNOW

WHAT WE. WE SHOULD ALL KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE PROVIDED FOR, THEY'RE SAFER. I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO RESPOND TO TRAGIC SHOOTINGS WITH MORE POLICE, BUT WE KNOW THEY DON'T PREVENT VIOLENCE AND OFTEN

COME AFTER TO CAUSE MORE HARM. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING THE PROBLEMATIC REACTIONS THAT CAME IN THE 90s, INSTEAD OF REPEATING THE HISTORY THAT WE FOUND TO BE SO HARMFUL TO OUR COMMUNITIES, LET'S TAKE THE

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL. DO NOT INCREASE THE POLICE BUDGET BY ANY MONEY, AND THEN PUT ALL THAT MONEY INTO THE THINGS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US. KEEP THEM SAFE.

THAT WILL KEEP US ALL SAFE, THAT WILL KEEP US ALL FED. AND UNLESS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. -- IN FRANCE RIGHT NOW AT YOUR DOORSTEP, BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE INSPIRED BY THOSE

ACTIONS THAT YOU DON'T LISTEN -- [APPLAUSE] -- TO. -- [APPLAUSE] -- THANK YOU. -- AND DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK YEAH. COME ON UP. WE'RE STILL OPEN. WHAT'S YOUR NAME THOUGH? -- MIC. BECAUSE I'M TALL. --

YES, BUT WHAT'S YOUR NAME? -- BY YAEL MEDIA. -- BY T NIGHTINGALE. -- LIKE THE NIGHTINGALE, BUT WITH A V. -- COOL. WELCOME. THANK YOU. YEAH. -- AND JUST GO WHENEVER I'M READY. -- WHENEVER YOU START

TALKING, WE'LL START THE CLOCK. -- EXCELLENT. -- I AM HERE AS INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND ALSO AS AS A HUMAN BEING. AND I HAVE LIVED HERE SINCE 2013. AND PARTICULARLY IN 2020 WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED

BY DEREK CHAUVIN AND THE UPRISING OF BLACK LIVES MATTER HAPPENED. THAT IS WHEN I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT POLICING IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WILL NEVER I CAN NEVER UNSEE AND UNKNOW WHAT I HAVE LEARNED,

PARTICULARLY THE UNITED. PARTICULARLY THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IS ONE OF THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY. THEY USE LRADS. THEY USE RIOT GEAR. THEY USE PEPPER SPRAY. THEY USE THOSE RUBBER BULLET THINGS,

WHICH ARE NOT ACTUALLY RUBBER BULLET. THEY HAVE A METAL CORE TO THEM. THEY MENACE THE PUBLIC WITH BATONS. THEY TEAR GASSED THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CAL ANDERSON PARK. AND JUST LAST THIS THIS LAST

SUMMER, THEY TEAR GASSED AND TERRORIZED A QUEER COMMUNITY IN A QUEER NEIGHBORHOOD. WHAT KIND OF A MESSAGE DO YOU THINK THAT SENDS? AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT $68 MILLION AS THE BASE BUDGET. WE'RE

TALKING ABOUT $68 MILLION IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE COST OF THE ARTS AT THE COST OF HEALTH, HOUSING, PUBLIC SERVICES. THIS IS A DISMALLY SHAMEFUL. -- IT IS. -- [APPLAUSE] -- YES. -- THANK YOU. ANYONE

ELSE? I'LL JUST CALL OUT. YOU, MY FRIEND. YOU WERE EVEN HERE DURING VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT TO WATCH US. DO YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING WITH US? ALL RIGHT, BEAR, JUST FIGURED I'D CHECK IN. ANYONE ELSE

HERE WANT TO SHARE PUBLIC COMMENT? COME ON UP. JUST LET ME KNOW YOUR NAME SO I CAN ADD YOU TO THE LIST. -- AARON. -- AARON. E OR A A. -- A RINARIN. -- ALL RIGHT, TAKE IT AWAY -- DEFUND POET. -- OKAY

-- ANYONE ELSE? THAT DOES CONCLUDE OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. WE WILL RECONVENE NEXT TUESDAY FOR CENTRAL STAFF ISSUE IDENTIFICATION, WHICH IS THE SECOND STAGE OF OUR BUDGET.

AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE WILL BE ADJOURNED. SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. -- THANK YOU. --

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